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Dependency & Base Image Maintenance

This section documents how dependencies and Docker base images are maintained across the monorepo. It provides:

  • Shared principles & workflows
  • Tooling and automation overview (CI validation)
  • Per-ecosystem maintenance guides (Java, Node/TypeScript, Python, Docker, etc.)

Scope

Covers version management, update cadence, validation steps, and security considerations for:

  • Application & library runtime dependencies
  • Build tooling (compilers, test frameworks, linters)
  • Infrastructure/runtime images (Docker base images)
  • Version catalogs and lock files

Goals

  • Ensure consistent, reproducible builds
  • Minimize upgrade risk via automation + validation
  • Surface and remediate security vulnerabilities quickly
  • Provide contributors a clear, repeatable process

Update Cadence (Baseline)

Category Patch/Minor Major Security/Critical
Java Libraries Weekly (batched) Quarterly or as needed ASAP (hotfix branch)
Node/TypeScript Weekly (Renovate) Framework-aligned (e.g., Angular/TS) ASAP
Python Bi-weekly or on-demand Semiannual ASAP
Docker Base Images Weekly digest scan As runtime LTS shifts ASAP
Dev Tooling (lint/test) Weekly With ecosystem majors ASAP

(Adjust these values if policy differs.)

Roles & Responsibilities

Actor Responsibility
Automation (?) Proposes routine updates, groups safe changes
Reviewer (Maintainer) Validates breaking changes, merges safe PRs
Security Lead (optional) Prioritizes CVE remediation
Release Manager Includes notable upgrades in release notes

Standard Workflow

  1. Automation or maintainer opens a branch / PR.
  2. CI runs: build, tests, lint, security scan (if configured).
  3. Reviewer validates:
  4. No unexpected API breaks
  5. Performance or memory not degraded (spot check)
  6. Release notes for majors referenced
  7. Merge with conventional commit message.
  8. Aggregate dependency changes into periodic changelog / release notes.

Branch & Commit Conventions

  • Branch: chore/deps/<ecosystem>-<yyyymmdd> or security/deps/<id>
  • Commit: chore(deps): bump <lib> to <version>
  • For majors with breaking changes: include a BREAKING CHANGE: footer summarizing migration notes.

Risk Categorization

Risk Level Indicators Action
Low Patch updates, clearly backward-compatible Auto-merge (if policy allows)
Medium Minor updates with possible transitive shifts Manual review
High Major version, peer dependency shifts, build tool changes Dedicated test focus, maybe staging deploy
Critical Security vulnerability fix Expedite, limited scope branch

Validation Checklist (Pre-Merge)

  • All relevant tests pass
  • Build artifacts produced successfully
  • No new lint/type errors
  • Version catalog / lock file updated (if applicable)
  • For majors: migration notes reviewed
  • For Docker: image builds locally and starts successfully

Ecosystem Guides

Continue to the Java guide to begin contributing detailed instructions.