Chatwoot Development Guidelines

Build / Test / Lint

• Setup: bundle install && pnpm install
• Run Dev: pnpm dev or overmind start -f ./Procfile.dev
• Seed Local Test Data: bundle exec rails db:seed (quickly populates minimal data for standard feature verification)
• Seed Search Test Data: bundle exec rails search:setup_test_data (bulk fixture generation for search/performance/manual load scenarios)
• Seed Account Sample Data (richer test data): Seeders::AccountSeeder is available as an internal utility and is exposed through Super Admin Accounts#seed, but can be used directly in dev workflows too:
  • UI path: Super Admin → Accounts → Seed (enqueues Internal::SeedAccountJob).
  • CLI path: bundle exec rails runner "Internal::SeedAccountJob.perform_now(Account.find(<id>))" (or call Seeders::AccountSeeder.new(account: Account.find(<id>)).perform! directly).
• Lint JS/Vue: pnpm eslint / pnpm eslint:fix
• Lint Ruby: bundle exec rubocop -a
• Test JS: pnpm test or pnpm test:watch
• Test Ruby: bundle exec rspec spec/path/to/file_spec.rb
• Single Test: bundle exec rspec spec/path/to/file_spec.rb:LINE_NUMBER
• Run Project: overmind start -f Procfile.dev
• Ruby Version: Manage Ruby via rbenv and install the version listed in .ruby-version (e.g., rbenv install $(cat .ruby-version))
• rbenv setup: Before running any bundle or rspec commands, init rbenv in your shell (eval "$(rbenv init -)") so the correct Ruby/Bundler versions are used
• Always prefer bundle exec for Ruby CLI tasks (rspec, rake, rubocop, etc.)

Code Style

• Ruby: Follow RuboCop rules (150 character max line length)
• Vue/JS: Use ESLint (Airbnb base + Vue 3 recommended)
• Vue Components: Use PascalCase
• Events: Use camelCase
• I18n: No bare strings in templates; use i18n
• Error Handling: Use custom exceptions (lib/custom_exceptions/)
• Models: Validate presence/uniqueness, add proper indexes
• Type Safety: Use PropTypes in Vue, strong params in Rails
• Naming: Use clear, descriptive names with consistent casing
• Vue API: Always use Composition API with <script setup> at the top

Styling

• Tailwind Only:
  • Do not write custom CSS
  • Do not use scoped CSS
  • Do not use inline styles
  • Always use Tailwind utility classes
• Colors: Refer to tailwind.config.js for color definitions

General Guidelines

• MVP focus: Least code change, happy-path only
• No unnecessary defensive programming
• Ship the happy path first: limit guards/fallbacks to what production has proven necessary, then iterate
• Prefer minimal, readable code over elaborate abstractions; clarity beats cleverness
• Break down complex tasks into small, testable units
• Iterate after confirmation
• Avoid writing specs unless explicitly asked
• Remove dead/unreachable/unused code
• Don’t write multiple versions or backups for the same logic — pick the best approach and implement it
• Prefer with_modified_env (from spec helpers) over stubbing ENV directly in specs
• Specs in parallel/reloading environments: prefer comparing error.class.name over constant class equality when asserting raised errors

Codex Worktree Workflow

• Use a separate git worktree + branch per task to keep changes isolated.
• Keep Codex-specific local setup under .codex/ and use Procfile.worktree for worktree process orchestration.
• The setup workflow in .codex/environments/environment.toml should dynamically generate per-worktree DB/port values (Rails, Vite, Redis DB index) to avoid collisions.
• Start each worktree with its own Overmind socket/title so multiple instances can run at the same time.

Commit Messages

• Prefer Conventional Commits: type(scope): subject (scope optional)
• Example: feat(auth): add user authentication
• Don't reference Claude in commit messages

PR Description Format

• Start with a short, user-facing paragraph describing the product change.
• Add a Closes section with relevant issue links (GitHub, Linear, etc.).
• For feature PRs, add How to test from a product/UX standpoint.
• For bugfix PRs, use How to reproduce when helpful.
• Optionally add a What changed section for implementation highlights.
• Do not add a How this was tested section listing specs/commands.

Project-Specific

• Translations:
  • Only update en.yml and en.json
  • Other languages are handled by the community
  • Backend i18n → en.yml, Frontend i18n → en.json
• Frontend:
  • Use components-next/ for message bubbles (the rest is being deprecated)

Ruby Best Practices

• Use compact module/class definitions; avoid nested styles

Enterprise Edition Notes

• Chatwoot has an Enterprise overlay under enterprise/ that extends/overrides OSS code.
• When you add or modify core functionality, always check for corresponding files in enterprise/ and keep behavior compatible.
• Follow the Enterprise development practices documented here:
  • https://chatwoot.help/hc/handbook/articles/developing-enterprise-edition-features-38

Practical checklist for any change impacting core logic or public APIs

• Search for related files in both trees before editing (e.g., rg -n "FooService|ControllerName|ModelName" app enterprise).
• If adding new endpoints, services, or models, consider whether Enterprise needs:
  • An override (e.g., enterprise/app/...), or
  • An extension point (e.g., prepend_mod_with, hooks, configuration) to avoid hard forks.
• Avoid hardcoding instance- or plan-specific behavior in OSS; prefer configuration, feature flags, or extension points consumed by Enterprise.
• Keep request/response contracts stable across OSS and Enterprise; update both sets of routes/controllers when introducing new APIs.
• When renaming/moving shared code, mirror the change in enterprise/ to prevent drift.
• Tests: Add Enterprise-specific specs under spec/enterprise, mirroring OSS spec layout where applicable.
• When modifying existing OSS features for Enterprise-only behavior, add an Enterprise module (via prepend_mod_with/include_mod_with) instead of editing OSS files directly—especially for policies, controllers, and services. For Enterprise-exclusive features, place code directly under enterprise/.

Branding / White-labeling note

• For user-facing strings that currently contain "Chatwoot" but should adapt to branded/self-hosted installs, prefer applying replaceInstallationName from shared/composables/useBranding in the UI layer (for example tooltip and suggestion labels) instead of adding hardcoded brand-specific copy.