chore: add initial snippet for @inject directive

README.md

@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ The snippets are generally broken up into functional areas, with each folder cov
 ### Custom Directives
 
 - [@dbquery](dbquery/README.md) - Use `@dbquery` for connecting to databases, including pagination and filtering.
+- [@inject](injection/README.md) - Use `@inject` for dependency injection, extracting context variables and making them available to multiple fields.
 - [@materializer](materializer) - Use of `@materializer` to extend types by linking disparate backends into a single unified view.
 - @rest - Connects to REST APIs
   - [rest](rest/README.md) - Use of `@rest` for connecting to REST endpoints, including pagination.

injection/README.md

@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+# @inject
+
+The `@inject` directive enables dependency injection in GraphQL schemas by allowing one field to inject expansion variables into other fields within the same request.
+
+## How @inject Works
+
+1. A field annotated with `@inject` is resolved first when any target field is accessed
+2. The injecting field must return an object with key-value pairs
+3. These pairs become expansion variables available to target fields
+4. Target fields can access these variables using the standard expansion variable syntax
+5. The `on` argument specifies which fields have access to the injected variables
+
+## Schema Structure
+
+```graphql
+# Extract expansion variables from X into any selection of `Query.*`
+_inject_x: JSON
+  @inject(on: [{ expose: true, types: "Query", fields: ".*" }])
+  @materializer(
+    query: "products"
+    arguments: { name: "category", const: "electronics" }
+  )
+```
+
+## Snippets
+
+- [user-context](user-context) - Demonstrates simple user context injection for regional e-commerce operations with role-based filtering and currency conversion.

injection/user-context/README.md

@@ -0,0 +1,89 @@
+# Inject user context
+
+This example demonstrates how to use the `@inject` directive.It provides a powerful way to extract context information (like user preferences, regional settings, and role) and make it available as expansion variables to multiple fields in a single request. This enables clean, reusable context patterns without repetitive parameter passing.
+
+- **Injection field**: `_inject_user_context` - automatically resolved without parameters
+- **Target fields**: `orders`, `products`, `recommendations` - can access injected variables
+- **Context variables**: `preferred_region`, `currency`, `role`, `language`, `default_user_id`
+
+## How It Works
+
+1. **Context Extraction**: The `_inject_user_context` field provides default user context
+2. **Automatic Injection**: Target fields automatically receive context as expansion variables  
+3. **Flexible Usage**: Target fields can use optional `userId` parameters to override defaults
+4. **Shared Context**: Multiple operations in one request share the same injected context
+
+**Note**: The injection field cannot have required parameters - it must be resolvable without arguments.
+
+## Schema Structure
+
+```graphql
+_inject_user_context: JSON
+  @inject(on: [{ expose: true, types: "Query", fields: "orders|products|recommendations" }])
+  @value(script: { ... })  # Returns default context
+```
+
+## Example operations
+
+### Using Default Context
+
+```graphql
+query UserDashboardDefault {
+  orders(limit: 3) {        # Uses injected context
+    id
+    customerName
+    total
+  }
+  products(category: "electronics") {  # Uses injected context  
+    id
+    name
+    price
+  }
+}
+```
+
+### Overriding with Explicit Parameters
+
+```graphql
+query UserDashboardExplicit($userId: ID!) {
+  orders(userId: $userId, limit: 3) {  # Overrides default userId
+    id
+    customerName
+    total
+  }
+}
+```
+
+## Try it out
+
+Deploy the schema from `injection/user-context`:
+
+```bash
+stepzen deploy
+```
+
+### Sample Operations
+
+1. **Get Orders by UserID:**
+
+```bash
+stepzen request -f operations.graphql --operation-name=UserOrdersExplicit --var userId=1
+```
+
+2. **Get Products by UserID:**
+
+```bash
+stepzen request -f operations.graphql --operation-name=UserProductsExplicit --var userId=2 --var category="electronics"
+```
+
+3. **Get Recommendations by userId:**
+
+```bash
+stepzen request -f operations.graphql --operation-name=UserRecommendationsExplicit --var userId=2 --var count=2
+```
+
+4. **multiple injected operations:**
+
+```bash
+stepzen request -f operations.graphql --operation-name=UserDashboardDefault
+```

injection/user-context/api.graphql

@@ -0,0 +1,219 @@
+# A simple user context injection example to demonstrate the @inject directive.
+# This shows how user context can be (extracted and) injected into multiple operations.
+
+type Order {
+  id: ID!
+  customerName: String!
+  total: Float!
+  status: String!
+  region: String!
+}
+
+type Product {
+  id: ID!
+  name: String!
+  category: String!
+  price: Float!
+  region: String!
+  inStock: Boolean!
+}
+
+type Recommendation {
+  productId: ID!
+  productName: String!
+  score: Float!
+  reason: String!
+}
+
+type Query {
+  """
+  default user context becomes available as expansion variables to any field matching the visibility pattern.
+  """
+  _inject_user_context: JSON
+    @inject(
+      on: [
+        {
+          expose: true
+          types: "Query"
+          fields: "orders|products|recommendations"
+        }
+      ]
+    )
+    @value(
+      script: {
+        language: ECMASCRIPT
+        src: """
+        function getValue() {
+          // In real applications, this could come from headers or other sources.
+          return {
+            "preferred_region": "US_WEST",
+            "currency": "USD",
+            "role": "premium",
+            "language": "en",
+            "default_user_id": "1"
+          };
+        }
+        getValue()
+        """
+      }
+    )
+
+  """
+  Get orders filtered by user's preferred region and role.
+  Uses injected expansion variables: preferred_region, role, default_user_id etc.,
+  """
+  orders(userId: ID, limit: Int = 10): [Order]
+    @rest(
+      endpoint: "stepzen:empty"
+      ecmascript: """
+      function transformREST(s) {
+        // Access injected expansion variables
+        var region = get('preferred_region');
+        var role = get('role');
+        var defaultUserId = get('default_user_id');
+        var userId = get('userId') || defaultUserId;
+        var limit = get('limit');
+
+        // Mock orders data
+        var allOrders = [
+          {id: "1", customerName: "Acme Corp", total: 1500.0, status: "completed", region: "US_WEST", userId: "1"},
+          {id: "2", customerName: "Tech Solutions", total: 850.0, status: "pending", region: "US_EAST", userId: "2"},
+          {id: "3", customerName: "Euro Marketing", total: 1200.0, status: "completed", region: "EU_WEST", userId: "2"},
+          {id: "4", customerName: "Asia Dynamics", total: 2500.0, status: "processing", region: "ASIA", userId: "3"},
+          {id: "5", customerName: "West Coast Inc", total: 1800.0, status: "completed", region: "US_WEST", userId: "1"},
+          {id: "6", customerName: "London Ltd", total: 950.0, status: "pending", region: "EU_WEST", userId: "2"}
+        ];
+
+        // Filter by user ID first
+        var userOrders = allOrders.filter(function(order) {
+          return order.userId === userId;
+        });
+
+        // Filter by user's preferred region
+        var filteredOrders = userOrders.filter(function(order) {
+          return order.region === region;
+        });
+
+        // Role-based filtering
+        if (role === "standard") {
+          filteredOrders = filteredOrders.filter(function(order) {
+            return order.status === "completed";
+          });
+        }
+
+        // Apply limit
+        if (limit && limit > 0) {
+          filteredOrders = filteredOrders.slice(0, limit);
+        }
+
+        return JSON.stringify(filteredOrders);
+      }
+      """
+    )
+
+  """
+  Get products available in user's region with currency conversion.
+  Uses injected expansion variables: preferred_region, currency etc.,
+  """
+  products(userId: ID, category: String): [Product]
+    @rest(
+      endpoint: "stepzen:empty"
+      ecmascript: """
+      function transformREST(s) {
+        var region = get('preferred_region');
+        var currency = get('currency');
+        var defaultUserId = get('default_user_id');
+        var userId = get('userId') || defaultUserId;
+        var category = get('category');
+
+        // Mock products data
+        var allProducts = [
+          {id: "p1", name: "Laptop Pro", category: "electronics", price: 1299.99, region: "US_WEST", inStock: true},
+          {id: "p2", name: "Office Chair", category: "furniture", price: 299.99, region: "US_WEST", inStock: true},
+          {id: "p3", name: "EU Laptop", category: "electronics", price: 1199.99, region: "EU_WEST", inStock: true},
+          {id: "p4", name: "EU Desk", category: "furniture", price: 399.99, region: "EU_WEST", inStock: false},
+          {id: "p5", name: "Asia Tablet", category: "electronics", price: 599.99, region: "ASIA", inStock: true},
+          {id: "p6", name: "Monitor 4K", category: "electronics", price: 499.99, region: "US_WEST", inStock: true}
+        ];
+
+        // Filter by user's preferred region
+        var filteredProducts = allProducts.filter(function(product) {
+          return product.region === region;
+        });
+
+        // Filter by category if provided
+        if (category) {
+          filteredProducts = filteredProducts.filter(function(product) {
+            return product.category === category;
+          });
+        }
+
+        // Convert currency for EUR users
+        if (currency === "EUR") {
+          filteredProducts = filteredProducts.map(function(product) {
+            return Object.assign({}, product, {
+              price: Math.round(product.price * 0.85 * 100) / 100
+            });
+          });
+        }
+
+        return JSON.stringify(filteredProducts);
+      }
+      """
+    )
+
+  """
+  Get personalized product recommendations based on user context.
+  Uses injected expansion variables: preferred_region, role, language etc.,
+  """
+  recommendations(userId: ID, count: Int = 5): [Recommendation]
+    @rest(
+      endpoint: "stepzen:empty"
+      ecmascript: """
+      function transformREST(s) {
+        var region = get('preferred_region');
+        var role = get('role');
+        var language = get('language');
+        var defaultUserId = get('default_user_id');
+        var userId = get('userId') || defaultUserId;
+        var count = get('count') || 5;
+
+        // Mock recommendations based on region (from injected context)
+        var recommendations = [];
+
+        if (region === "US_WEST") {
+          recommendations = [
+            {productId: "p1", productName: "Laptop Pro", score: 0.95, reason: "Popular in your region"},
+            {productId: "p6", productName: "Monitor 4K", score: 0.88, reason: "Great for productivity"},
+            {productId: "p2", productName: "Office Chair", score: 0.82, reason: "Highly rated locally"}
+          ];
+        } else if (region === "EU_WEST") {
+          recommendations = [
+            {productId: "p3", productName: "EU Laptop", score: 0.92, reason: "EU optimized model"},
+            {productId: "p4", productName: "EU Desk", score: 0.79, reason: "Matches local preferences"},
+            {productId: "p7", productName: "EU Monitor", score: 0.85, reason: "Energy efficient"}
+          ];
+        } else if (region === "ASIA") {
+          recommendations = [
+            {productId: "p5", productName: "Asia Tablet", score: 0.90, reason: "Regional bestseller"},
+            {productId: "p8", productName: "Wireless Mouse", score: 0.84, reason: "Compact design"},
+            {productId: "p9", productName: "Keyboard Pro", score: 0.81, reason: "Multi-language support"}
+          ];
+        }
+
+        // Premium users get enhanced recommendations (from injected context)
+        if (role === "premium") {
+          recommendations.forEach(function(rec) {
+            rec.score += 0.05;
+            rec.reason = "Premium: " + rec.reason;
+          });
+        }
+
+        // Limit count
+        recommendations = recommendations.slice(0, count);
+
+        return JSON.stringify(recommendations);
+      }
+      """
+    )
+}

injection/user-context/index.graphql

@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+schema
+  @sdl(
+    files: ["api.graphql"]
+    # Visibility controls how fields are exposed to GraphQL introspection
+    # and field references through @materializer, @inject, etc.
+    #
+    # Only expose the main query fields that users should interact with.
+    # The _inject_user_context field is hidden from external schema but
+    # still accessible for injection into the target fields.
+    visibility: [
+      {
+        expose: true
+        types: "Query"
+        fields: "orders|products|recommendations"
+      }
+    ]
+  ) {
+  query: Query
+}