docs: add ONBOARDING.md engineering onboarding guide #36114
+302
−5
There are no files selected for viewing
This file contains hidden or bidirectional Unicode text that may be interpreted or compiled differently than what appears below. To review, open the file in an editor that reveals hidden Unicode characters.
Learn more about bidirectional Unicode characters
This file contains hidden or bidirectional Unicode text that may be interpreted or compiled differently than what appears below. To review, open the file in an editor that reveals hidden Unicode characters.
Learn more about bidirectional Unicode characters
| Original file line number | Diff line number | Diff line change |
|---|---|---|
| @@ -0,0 +1,296 @@ | ||
| # dotCMS Core — Engineering Onboarding | ||
|
|
||
| Welcome to **dotCMS/core**. This guide gets you from a fresh clone to your first | ||
| merged PR. It complements (does not replace) [`CLAUDE.md`](CLAUDE.md), which is the | ||
| canonical reference for build commands, project structure, and coding patterns. | ||
|
|
||
| > **How to use this with Claude Code:** open the repo and ask Claude things like | ||
| > *"help me set up my environment"*, *"run just the FooTest integration test"*, or | ||
| > *"walk me through opening my first PR"*. The repo-specific skills listed below are | ||
| > aware of dotCMS conventions. | ||
|
|
||
| > **See also:** [`dotFrontendOnboarding.md`](dotFrontendOnboarding.md) and | ||
| > [`dotBackendOnboarding.md`](dotBackendOnboarding.md) for deeper, discipline-specific | ||
| > onboarding. | ||
|
|
||
| --- | ||
|
|
||
| ## 1. Day-one environment setup | ||
|
|
||
| ### Prerequisites (versions are enforced — wrong versions fail the build) | ||
|
|
||
| ```bash | ||
| sdk env install # Java 25 via SDKMAN, pinned in .sdkmanrc | ||
| nvm use # Node 22.15+ via nvm, pinned in .nvmrc | ||
| ``` | ||
|
|
||
| - **Java:** core modules compile to and run on Java 25. A wrong JDK gives cryptic | ||
| compile errors — check `java -version` first when a build misbehaves. | ||
| - **Node:** the `core-web/` frontend build fails on the wrong Node version. Always | ||
| `nvm use` from the repo root before touching frontend code. | ||
| - **Docker:** required for `just dev-run` and Docker-backed tests. dotCMS runs in | ||
| Docker by default, so **you do not need a local PostgreSQL or Elasticsearch | ||
| install** — they come up in containers. | ||
| - **`just`:** the command runner used throughout this guide. | ||
| ```bash | ||
| brew install just | ||
| ``` | ||
|
|
||
| ### Recommended IDEs | ||
|
|
||
| - **Backend (Java):** IntelliJ IDEA — open the root `pom.xml` to import. | ||
| - **Frontend (Angular/TS):** VS Code or Cursor, optionally with the **Nx Console** extension. | ||
|
|
||
| ### Install dependencies + first build | ||
|
|
||
| ```bash | ||
| just install-all-mac-deps # installs/validates Git, JDK, Docker, etc. (macOS) | ||
| ``` | ||
|
|
||
| Then build (pick by scope): | ||
|
|
||
| ```bash | ||
| # Core + in-project deps — the everyday build (~2-3 min) ✅ | ||
| ./mvnw install -pl :dotcms-core --am -DskipTests | ||
|
|
||
| # Equivalent via just | ||
| just build-select-module dotcms-core | ||
|
|
||
| # Full rebuild, skip Docker image (~8-15 min) | ||
| just build-no-docker # = ./mvnw clean install -DskipTests -Ddocker.skip | ||
| ``` | ||
|
|
||
| > `./mvnw install -pl :dotcms-core -DskipTests` (without `--am`) can fail with | ||
| > missing in-project deps — prefer the `--am` form or `just build-select-module`. | ||
|
|
||
| ### Run it locally | ||
|
|
||
| ```bash | ||
| # Backend in Docker (PostgreSQL + Elasticsearch + dotCMS) | ||
| just dev-start-on-port 8080 # default port is 8082 if omitted; `just dev-start` picks a random port | ||
| just dev-stop # stop it | ||
| just dev-run # run with Glowroot profiler | ||
|
|
||
| # Frontend dev server (use `yarn nx`, never bare `nx`) | ||
| cd core-web && yarn nx serve dotcms-ui | ||
| # served at http://localhost:4200/dotAdmin | ||
| ``` | ||
|
|
||
| ### Common day-one snags | ||
|
|
||
| | Symptom | Likely cause | Fix | | ||
| |---|---|---| | ||
| | Weird compile errors | Wrong JDK | `sdk env install`, confirm `java -version` is 25 | | ||
| | Frontend build fails immediately | Wrong Node | `nvm use` from repo root | | ||
| | `nx: command not found` / odd nx behavior | Used bare `nx` | Use `yarn nx ...` | | ||
| | Build "missing dependency" | Forgot `--am` | `./mvnw install -pl :dotcms-core --am -DskipTests` | | ||
| | **Puppeteer Chromium ARM64 build failure** (Apple Silicon, `dotcms-core-web` FAILURE) | Puppeteer can't fetch an arm64 Chromium | See "Apple Silicon / Puppeteer" below | | ||
|
|
||
| #### Apple Silicon / Puppeteer Chromium fix | ||
|
|
||
| On M-series Macs the frontend build can fail with *"The chromium binary is not | ||
| available for arm64"*. Fix it by pointing Puppeteer at a Homebrew Chromium and | ||
| skipping its download (add the exports to your `~/.zshrc` / `~/.bashrc`): | ||
|
|
||
| ```bash | ||
| brew install chromium | ||
| export PUPPETEER_EXECUTABLE_PATH=$(which chromium) | ||
| export PUPPETEER_SKIP_CHROMIUM_DOWNLOAD=true | ||
| source ~/.zshrc # or ~/.bashrc | ||
| ``` | ||
|
|
||
| --- | ||
|
|
||
| ## 2. Mental model of the codebase | ||
|
|
||
| ``` | ||
| core/ | ||
| ├── dotCMS/ # Backend Java | ||
| │ └── src/main/java/com/ | ||
| │ ├── dotcms/ # Modern, domain-driven — PREFER THIS for new code | ||
| │ └── dotmarketing/ # Legacy (15+ yrs), still very much alive | ||
| ├── core-web/ # Frontend: Angular 21+ / Nx monorepo (see core-web/CLAUDE.md) | ||
| ├── dotcms-integration/ # Integration tests (DB + Elasticsearch) | ||
| ├── dotcms-postman/ # Postman API tests | ||
| ├── bom/application/pom.xml # THE place for dependency versions | ||
| └── parent/pom.xml # Maven plugin management | ||
| ``` | ||
|
|
||
| **Two things to internalize early:** | ||
|
|
||
| 1. **`com.dotcms.*` vs `com.dotmarketing.*`** — new work goes in `dotcms.*`. You'll | ||
| still read and patch `dotmarketing.*` constantly; touch it surgically and follow | ||
| its existing patterns rather than modernizing wholesale mid-PR. | ||
| 2. **Backend vs frontend are separate build worlds.** Many tasks are backend-only or | ||
| frontend-only. Know which one your change lives in before you start. | ||
|
|
||
| Deeper architecture: [`docs/core/ARCHITECTURE_OVERVIEW.md`](docs/core/ARCHITECTURE_OVERVIEW.md). | ||
|
|
||
| --- | ||
|
|
||
| ## 3. Testing — fast iteration without the 60-minute trap | ||
|
|
||
| > ⚠️ **Never run the full integration suite** (`dotcms-integration`) locally — it's | ||
| > 60+ minutes. Always target a class or method. Test modules also **silently skip** | ||
| > unless you pass the explicit `skip=false` flag. | ||
|
|
||
| ### Backend integration tests | ||
|
|
||
| ```bash | ||
| # One integration test class / method | ||
| ./mvnw verify -pl :dotcms-integration -Dcoreit.test.skip=false -Dit.test=ContentTypeAPIImplTest | ||
| ./mvnw verify -pl :dotcms-integration -Dcoreit.test.skip=false -Dit.test=MyTest#testMethod | ||
| ``` | ||
|
|
||
| **Fastest loop (IDE):** boot services once, then run/debug individual tests with | ||
| breakpoints from IntelliJ. | ||
|
|
||
| ```bash | ||
| just test-integration-ide # boots PostgreSQL + Elasticsearch + dotCMS | ||
| # → run/debug your test class in the IDE | ||
| just test-integration-stop # tear down when done | ||
| ``` | ||
|
|
||
| **Debug the running app:** `just dev-run-debug-suspend` starts dotCMS in Docker | ||
| waiting on debug port **5005** for your IDE to attach. | ||
|
|
||
| ### Postman API tests | ||
|
|
||
| ```bash | ||
| just test-postman ai # a single collection (recommended) | ||
| just test-postman all # all collections (slower) | ||
| ``` | ||
|
|
||
| ### Frontend tests | ||
|
|
||
| ```bash | ||
| cd core-web && yarn nx test <project> # Jest + Spectator | ||
| ``` | ||
|
|
||
| **Spectator conventions** (enforced in review): | ||
|
|
||
| ```typescript | ||
| // ✅ select elements by data-testid | ||
| const button = spectator.query(byTestId('submit-button')); | ||
| // ✅ set inputs via the API, never assign the property directly | ||
| spectator.setInput('inputProperty', 'value'); | ||
| // ✅ test user-visible behavior, not implementation details | ||
| spectator.click(byTestId('save-button')); | ||
| expect(spectator.query(byTestId('success-message'))).toBeVisible(); | ||
| ``` | ||
|
Member
There was a problem hiding this comment. Perhaps a section explaining what a starter is |
||
|
|
||
| More detail: [`docs/testing/`](docs/testing/) and [`docs/frontend/TESTING_FRONTEND.md`](docs/frontend/TESTING_FRONTEND.md). | ||
|
|
||
| --- | ||
|
|
||
| ## 4. Repo-specific landmines (memorize these) | ||
|
|
||
| - **Dependency versions → `bom/application/pom.xml` ONLY.** Never add versions to | ||
| `dotCMS/pom.xml`. | ||
| - **`openapi.yaml` is auto-generated.** Don't hand-edit it. Change the Java | ||
| `@Operation` / `@Parameter` annotations, regenerate with | ||
| `./mvnw compile -pl :dotcms-core -DskipTests`, and commit the regenerated yaml | ||
| with your Java change. CI verifies they match. | ||
| - **Config & logging:** use `Config.getStringProperty(...)` and `Logger.info(this, ...)`. | ||
| Never `System.out`, `System.getProperty`, or `System.getenv`. | ||
| - **REST `@Schema` must match the actual return type** — see | ||
| [`dotCMS/src/main/java/com/dotcms/rest/CLAUDE.md`](dotCMS/src/main/java/com/dotcms/rest/CLAUDE.md). | ||
| - **Security:** no hardcoded secrets, validate all input, never log sensitive data. | ||
| - **Progressive enhancement:** when you edit a file, leave it a little better — | ||
| add generics, replace legacy logging, use modern Angular (`@if` not `*ngIf`, | ||
| `input()` not `@Input()`), add missing `@Override`/`@Nullable`. | ||
|
|
||
| --- | ||
|
|
||
| ## 5. Useful local configuration | ||
|
|
||
| - **Admin password:** `export DOT_INITIAL_ADMIN_PASSWORD=admin` before first run. | ||
| - **Feature flags:** flags are **on by default**. To turn one off, set it to `false` | ||
| in your docker-compose file or in `dotmarketing-config.properties`. When a feature | ||
| ships, its `FF=false` entry must be **removed** from `dotmarketing-config.properties` | ||
| — removing it enables the implemented feature by default. | ||
| - When referencing a flag, add the **`DOT_`** prefix to its name (e.g. the flag | ||
| `FEATURE_FLAG_SEO_IMPROVEMENTS` becomes `DOT_FEATURE_FLAG_SEO_IMPROVEMENTS`). | ||
| - The list of available flags lives in | ||
| [`dotCMS/src/main/java/com/dotcms/featureflag/FeatureFlagName.java`](dotCMS/src/main/java/com/dotcms/featureflag/FeatureFlagName.java). | ||
| - **Edit JSPs without rebuilding:** mount the webapp html dir into the Tomcat root | ||
| via a docker-compose volume (see [`docs/infrastructure/`](docs/infrastructure/) / | ||
| the frontend docker-compose for the exact mapping). | ||
| - **Override language files:** mount your local | ||
| `dotCMS/src/main/webapp/WEB-INF/messages` into the container the same way. | ||
|
|
||
| --- | ||
|
|
||
| ## 6. Your first PR — end to end | ||
|
|
||
| 1. **Branch** from up-to-date `main` following the naming convention in | ||
| [`docs/core/GIT_WORKFLOWS.md`](docs/core/GIT_WORKFLOWS.md). | ||
| 2. **Commit** using conventional commits (`feat:`, `fix:`, `docs:`, …). | ||
| 3. **Open the PR** linked to its issue. Expectations and the PR template are in | ||
| [`docs/core/GITHUB_ISSUE_MANAGEMENT.md`](docs/core/GITHUB_ISSUE_MANAGEMENT.md). | ||
| 4. **CI / merge queue:** dotCMS uses **GitHub's native merge queue** — the final gate | ||
| before code lands on `main`. An approved, ready PR isn't merged directly. It's added | ||
| to a queue where GitHub creates a temporary `merge_group` branch containing your PR | ||
| plus any PRs already ahead of it, then runs the merge-queue workflow against that | ||
| combined code. Only if it passes does GitHub fast-forward `main`. | ||
| - **Some required checks to enter the queue:** Unit / Integration / Postman test | ||
| validation (test run green), security checks for code vulnerabilities, and at | ||
| least **1 reviewer approval**. | ||
| - **Typical wait:** ~1 hour average to merge. | ||
| - Pipeline reference: [`docs/core/CICD_PIPELINE.md`](docs/core/CICD_PIPELINE.md). | ||
|
Member
There was a problem hiding this comment. Shouldn't this also include the setup of PGP for verified commits? |
||
| 5. **When CI fails:** ask Claude Code to run the **`cicd-diagnostics`** skill — it | ||
| knows how to read dotCMS build failures and flaky tests. | ||
|
|
||
| --- | ||
|
|
||
| ## 7. Claude Code skills available in this repo | ||
|
|
||
| You don't have to discover these the hard way — they encode dotCMS conventions: | ||
|
|
||
| - **`triage`** — triage GitHub issues (validate, dedupe, research) before they're worked. | ||
| - **`cicd-diagnostics`** — diagnose failing CI runs, broken builds, flaky tests, merge-queue blocks. | ||
| - **`gh-issue-troubleshoot`** — take a GitHub issue from description to a proposed code fix. | ||
| - **`dotcms-github-issues`** (create / find / query / update) — manage issues via repo templates. | ||
| - **`vtl-migration`** — migrate legacy VTL custom-field templates (Dojo/Dijit → `DotCustomFieldApi`). | ||
| - **`check-release-rollback`** — assess whether a release can be safely rolled back. | ||
| - **`angular-developer`** + Nx skills (`nx-generate`, `nx-run-tasks`, `nx-workspace`) — frontend work. | ||
|
|
||
| Ask Claude *"what skills can help with X?"* if you're unsure. | ||
|
|
||
| --- | ||
|
|
||
| ## 8. People, comms & where knowledge lives | ||
|
|
||
| > This is the highest-value section and the least discoverable by reading code. | ||
| > The owning team should keep it current. | ||
|
|
||
| - **Slack channels:** | ||
| - `#eng` — general engineering. | ||
| - `#eng-adrs` — ADR (architecture decision record) discussions. | ||
| - `#be-code-review` — look here for PR review requests ("likes"). | ||
| - `#guild-*` — topic-specific discussions (per guild). | ||
| - `#feat-*` — feature-related discussions. | ||
| - `#team-*` — team-specific discussions. | ||
| - **Everything else** (who owns what, runbooks, issue tracker & | ||
| boards, release process & cadence): see our | ||
| **How we do Engineering** doc. | ||
|
|
||
| --- | ||
|
|
||
| ## 9. Reference docs (load on demand) | ||
|
|
||
| - Architecture: [`docs/core/ARCHITECTURE_OVERVIEW.md`](docs/core/ARCHITECTURE_OVERVIEW.md) | ||
| - Git workflows: [`docs/core/GIT_WORKFLOWS.md`](docs/core/GIT_WORKFLOWS.md) | ||
| - CI/CD: [`docs/core/CICD_PIPELINE.md`](docs/core/CICD_PIPELINE.md) | ||
| - Security: [`docs/core/SECURITY_PRINCIPLES.md`](docs/core/SECURITY_PRINCIPLES.md) | ||
| - Backend (Java/Maven): [`docs/backend/`](docs/backend/) — start with | ||
| [`JAVA_STANDARDS.md`](docs/backend/JAVA_STANDARDS.md) and [`MAVEN_BUILD_SYSTEM.md`](docs/backend/MAVEN_BUILD_SYSTEM.md) | ||
| - Frontend (Angular/TS): [`core-web/CLAUDE.md`](core-web/CLAUDE.md) and | ||
| [`docs/frontend/`](docs/frontend/) — start with [`ANGULAR_STANDARDS.md`](docs/frontend/ANGULAR_STANDARDS.md) | ||
| - Testing: [`docs/testing/`](docs/testing/) | ||
| - The `justfile` at the repo root — the source of truth for `just` commands. | ||
|
|
||
| --- | ||
|
|
||
| *Maintained by the Engineering Team. Spot something stale or wrong? Open a PR against | ||
| this file and ping the `#eng` or `#be-code-review` channels.* | ||
This file contains hidden or bidirectional Unicode text that may be interpreted or compiled differently than what appears below. To review, open the file in an editor that reveals hidden Unicode characters.
Learn more about bidirectional Unicode characters
Oops, something went wrong.
Add this suggestion to a batch that can be applied as a single commit.
This suggestion is invalid because no changes were made to the code.
Suggestions cannot be applied while the pull request is closed.
Suggestions cannot be applied while viewing a subset of changes.
Only one suggestion per line can be applied in a batch.
Add this suggestion to a batch that can be applied as a single commit.
Applying suggestions on deleted lines is not supported.
You must change the existing code in this line in order to create a valid suggestion.
Outdated suggestions cannot be applied.
This suggestion has been applied or marked resolved.
Suggestions cannot be applied from pending reviews.
Suggestions cannot be applied on multi-line comments.
Suggestions cannot be applied while the pull request is queued to merge.
Suggestion cannot be applied right now. Please check back later.
There was a problem hiding this comment.
Choose a reason for hiding this comment
The reason will be displayed to describe this comment to others. Learn more.
test-karate ?