Bring the middleware functionality back into Payload 3.0

[r1tsuu]

Something that I haven't seen discussed, but I think we should be able to apply middlewares just like we did with 2.0 and Express.

Examples of the usage:
Logging, analytics, caching, custom endpoints specific authentication / context modification (DRY)

Express next function could be replaced with this logic:

1. If we didn't return Response from our middleware, the next middleware / actual handler will be executed with passed req through. It would be also nice to be able here to modify headers of the future response.
2. In case if we returned Response - exit the execution context
3. In case of an error within the middleware execution, catch it in the same way as we currently do in our endpoints.

[JeffreyArts]

Could you please provide some context on how the 3.0 version operates different from Payload 2.0? I have no hands-on experience (yet) with version 3.0, but your remark sounds valuable to me. Removing the option to add middleware sounds like a step towards blackboxing, which sounds contradictory to Payloads (publicly communicated) philosophy/vision.

[r1tsuu]

There's no middleware option in the config anymore, that's it. What's different - instead of Express we use Next.js now for the HTTP API

[JeffreyArts]

Where can I learn more on the inclusion of NextJS into Payload? I just have written a plugin that is dependent on the opportunity to add middleware to Express. Also, by not including express at all, it would be able to write micro services that could be run without any visual interface, which I found rather powerful. But a tighter integration with Next.js sounds like every Payload instance will automatically fire up a server instance, which would not be desirable. I might be wrong on this (since I haven't read into this subject) but it raises some flags for me. Thank you for bringing this to my attention :)

[r1tsuu]

Actually Payload 3 doesnt require Next.js for the Local API to be working, it's just for the admin panel / REST / GraphQL. You have abillity to just use the Payload instance in your non Next.js app