Scaffold Code And Folder Structure Setup For PantryPilot

Hey guys! Let's dive into the crucial first step of our project: setting up the scaffold code and folder structure. This is Issue 0, and it's all about laying a solid foundation for everything else we'll be building. We're focusing on the bostdiek and PantryPilot categories here, so let's make sure we get this right.

Description

The main goal here is to create all the necessary directories and placeholder files that our backlog assumes will be there. Think of it as setting up the skeleton of our project so that when we start adding the meat, everything has a place to go. This means creating folders in apps/backend, apps/frontend, shared, db, and other relevant locations.

Developer Story

As a new contributor, the last thing you want is to spend time figuring out where files should go. You want to jump straight into coding! That's why this issue is so important. We want a fully-formed directory layout with minimal stub files so that anyone can start coding immediately without having to overthink the structure. It’s all about making the onboarding process as smooth as possible.

Acceptance Criteria

Okay, so how do we know when we've nailed this? Here are the acceptance criteria we need to meet:

• Folder Structure: All folders from the README tree should exist in apps/backend, apps/frontend, shared, db, etc. This ensures consistency and makes it easy to navigate the project.
• Service Root Placeholders: Each service root needs a placeholder file. This is like planting a flag to mark the spot. Specifically, we need:
  • apps/backend/src/main.py with a “Hello, world” FastAPI app stub. This is our starting point for the backend.
  • apps/frontend/src/main.tsx rendering a minimal React root component. This is the foundation for our user interface.
  • shared/types/.gitkeep and shared/utils/.gitkeep (or equivalent). These ensure that Git tracks these directories even if they're empty.
  • db/schema.sql and db/entrypoint.sh stubs. These are crucial for setting up our database.
• Root Files: We need to have the following root files in place:
  • README.md: This is the project's home page, so it's super important.
  • LICENSE: Specifies how the code can be used and distributed.
  • .gitignore: Prevents unnecessary files from being committed to the repository.
  • Makefile (with placeholder targets): Simplifies common development tasks.
  • docker-compose.yml (empty services keys): Sets up the Docker environment for the project.
• CI Check: We need a Continuous Integration (CI) check that verifies the structure hasn’t drifted. This ensures that our project structure remains consistent over time.

Let's break down these acceptance criteria further to really understand why they're important.

Folder Structure: Why It Matters

Having a well-defined folder structure is critical for any project, especially one that's likely to grow over time. Think of it as the blueprint for a building. If the blueprint is messy or unclear, the building is going to be a disaster. The same goes for code. A clear folder structure:

• Improves Navigation: It makes it easier to find the files you're looking for. No more hunting around aimlessly!
• Enhances Collaboration: When everyone knows where things are supposed to go, it reduces confusion and makes it easier to work together.
• Promotes Scalability: A well-organized structure makes it easier to add new features and components without turning the project into a tangled mess.

For our project, we're specifically looking at folders in apps/backend, apps/frontend, shared, and db. Let's quickly touch on why each of these is important:

• apps/backend: This is where all our server-side code lives. This might include APIs, business logic, and anything else that runs on the server.
• apps/frontend: This is where our user interface (UI) code lives. This is what users will interact with directly.
• shared: This is for code that's used by both the backend and the frontend. Things like data models or utility functions might go here.
• db: This is for anything related to our database, such as schema definitions or migration scripts.

Service Root Placeholders: Setting the Stage

Creating placeholder files in each service root is like setting the stage for the actors. These files serve as the initial entry points for our different services. Let's look at each one:

• apps/backend/src/main.py with a “Hello, world” FastAPI app stub: This is the starting point for our backend application. FastAPI is a modern, fast (high-performance), web framework for building APIs with Python. The “Hello, world” stub is a simple way to verify that our backend is running correctly.
• apps/frontend/src/main.tsx rendering a minimal React root component: This is the entry point for our frontend application. React is a popular JavaScript library for building user interfaces. The minimal root component ensures that our frontend can be rendered in a browser.
• shared/types/.gitkeep and shared/utils/.gitkeep (or equivalent): These files are a bit different. They're not actual code, but they serve an important purpose. Git, the version control system we're using, doesn't track empty directories. So, if we have a directory like shared/types that's currently empty, Git will ignore it. The .gitkeep file is a workaround. It's an empty file that we add to the directory to force Git to track it. This is important because we want to ensure that these directories are part of our repository even if they don't contain any files yet.
• db/schema.sql and db/entrypoint.sh stubs: These files are essential for setting up our database. schema.sql will contain the SQL code that defines the structure of our database, such as tables and columns. entrypoint.sh is a shell script that will be executed when our database container starts up. This might include tasks like creating the database or running migrations.

Root Files: The Project Essentials

The root files are like the essential documents that come with a house. They provide important information about the project and how it should be handled. Let's take a look:

• README.md: This is the most important file in the project. It's the first thing that people will see when they visit our repository. It should contain a description of the project, instructions on how to set it up and run it, and any other relevant information. Think of it as the project's home page.
• LICENSE: This file specifies the terms under which our code can be used and distributed. It's crucial for open-source projects because it tells people what they can and can't do with our code. There are many different types of licenses, so we need to choose one that fits our project's needs.
• .gitignore: This file tells Git which files and directories should be ignored. This is important for preventing sensitive information (like API keys) or unnecessary files (like build artifacts) from being committed to the repository.
• Makefile (with placeholder targets): A Makefile is a file that contains a set of rules for building and running our project. It simplifies common development tasks, such as running tests or building the application. Placeholder targets are like empty functions that we can fill in later.
• docker-compose.yml (empty services keys): Docker Compose is a tool for defining and running multi-container Docker applications. The docker-compose.yml file is used to configure our application's services, such as the backend, frontend, and database. Empty services keys mean that we've set up the basic structure of the file, but we haven't yet defined the services.

CI Check: Ensuring Consistency

Finally, we need a Continuous Integration (CI) check that verifies our project structure. CI is a practice of automating the integration of code changes from multiple contributors into a single project. A CI check for our project structure will automatically verify that all the required folders and files are in place. This is important for preventing structural drift, which can happen when developers accidentally create files in the wrong place or forget to create a necessary file.

Conclusion

So, that's Issue 0! It might seem like a lot of setup, but it's all about building a solid foundation for our project. By creating the necessary folders, placeholder files, and CI checks, we're setting ourselves up for success. This ensures that everyone can start coding quickly and efficiently, without having to worry about the underlying structure. Let's get this done, guys, and move on to the exciting stuff!