Recursive schema evaluation - stop evaluating initial value for empty array

[Monteth]

Uniforms go through the schema to get starting values for the following fields. Therefore, during the initial load, it must go through all the 'leaves' of the schema tree. This eager approach prevents us from processing recursive schemas. However, this doesn't have to be the case.

When we think about different types of recursive schemas, they only make sense when they can be completed in a finite amount of time. This requires specific points where the evaluation can stop. An array has a built-in mechanism for this. It can contain one or multiple values to continue expanding the tree, or it can have 0 elements to close off a branch. This enables us to evaluate a recursive schema and create a finite model. In this model, the 'leaves' can consist of empty arrays.

Consider this schema, where we can add multiple children on different levels, and it will only evaluate the next tree level when we add a new value to the model (+ button).
So the schema of the family tree is potentially infinite, but the model is finite.

{
  "type": "object",
  "properties": {
    "name": { "type": "string" },
    "children": {
      "type": "array",
      "items": { "$ref": "#" }
    }
  }
}

const model = {
  "children": [
    {
      "name": "Emma",
      "children": [
        {
          "name": "Olivia"
        },
        {
          "name": "Sophia",
          "children": [
            {
              "name": "Zoe"
            }
          ]
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "name": "Alice"
};

[codecov]

Codecov Report

All modified and coverable lines are covered by tests ✅

Project coverage is 94.50%. Comparing base (49715f4) to head (124e714).
Report is 2 commits behind head on master.

Additional details and impacted files

@@            Coverage Diff             @@
##           master    #1282      +/-   ##
==========================================
- Coverage   94.61%   94.50%   -0.11%     
==========================================
  Files         231      231              
  Lines        3823     3824       +1     
  Branches     1030     1030              
==========================================
- Hits         3617     3614       -3     
- Misses         82       83       +1     
- Partials      124      127       +3     

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[kestarumper]

We talked internally with @Monteth, and we also want to include a basic cycle detection mechanism to prevent freezing the browser tab (prevent infinite loops). Here's the proof of concept https://runkit.com/monteth/json-schema-cycles-detector.