June 2022¶

Published on July 1, 2022

Welcome to our June 2022 update! This month marked a transformative period for the Challenge Registry platform with 43 pull requests merged to the main branch. Our development efforts were led by @tschaffter, @rrchai, and @vpchung, focusing on major architectural restructuring, Java ecosystem expansion, and comprehensive UI modernization.

Summary¶

Total Pull Requests: 43 merged PRs
Key Focus: Microservices architecture transformation and multi-application platform evolution
Major Projects: Challenge Registry platform restructuring, Java shared libraries, UI v3 implementation

Technical Architecture Overview¶

Multi-application platform transformation¶

June represented a pivotal month in our platform evolution with the complete restructuring of the monorepo to support multi-application and microservice architecture. We implemented comprehensive project renaming conventions, established database service isolation with dedicated MariaDB, MongoDB, and PostgreSQL instances, and created standardized development workflows that support both standalone and integrated service deployment.

Java ecosystem foundation¶

The introduction of shared Java libraries marked a significant milestone in our backend development strategy. We established Maven-based dependency management, implemented comprehensive linting and testing frameworks, and created reusable components that streamline microservice development across the platform ecosystem.

User interface modernization initiative¶

Our frontend development reached new heights with the implementation of UI v3 design standards across critical user interfaces. We modernized the login experience, transformed navigation components with enhanced theming capabilities, and established consistent design patterns that improve both accessibility and user engagement throughout the platform.

Development environment standardization¶

Significant improvements to our development infrastructure included comprehensive devcontainer integration, automated dependency caching in CI workflows, and enhanced project management tools. These changes ensure consistent development experiences across different environments while optimizing build performance and developer productivity.

Pull Requests Merged¶

Platform infrastructure¶

#390: Restore challenge-registry-ui tests
#389: Fix error 130
#387: Fix lombok extension
#381: Add rest client icon
#379: Fix target build-image of microservices that depend on a local lib
#376: Lint challenge-user-service and challenge-core-service
#373: Setup maven cache in CI workflow
#366: Explore the creation of a shared Java library
#360: Fix coverage in CI workflow
#284: Upgrade monorepo to support multi-app and microservice architecture
#282: Remove extension orta.vscode-jest
#275: Remove duplicated vs code settings
#272: Source dev-env.sh if found in current directory
#270: Use docker run to import and export KC data
#265: Use challenge-devcontainer:5ad791b9
#264: Fix devcontainer definition

Challenge registry platform¶

#359: Update Footer Component
#354: Update login page to UI v3
#353: Update navbar to UI v3
#278: Fix challenge registry blank page
#287: Rename project db-cli to challenge-db-cli
#290: Remove login projects
#304: Add alias challenge-docker-stop to stop running containers
#305: Add challenge-registry-prepare alias

Development environment enhancements¶

#374: Update draw.io library and instructions
#281: Add badge to open repo in devcontainer
#271: Add unzip and vim to devcontainer
#269: Remove Google identity provider data
#254: Push devcontainer to new Docker Hub repository

Documentation and project management¶

#295: Update readme
#294: Add install alias
#303: Add list of contributors to the README

Community Impact¶

June 2022 marked a turning point in our platform's architectural maturity and development velocity. The successful implementation of multi-application support demonstrates our commitment to building scalable, maintainable solutions that serve the broader scientific community. Our focus on standardizing development practices and improving user experience reflects our dedication to creating tools that researchers can rely on for critical computational challenges.

The establishment of comprehensive Java ecosystem support opens new possibilities for backend service development, while our UI modernization efforts ensure that users have access to intuitive, accessible interfaces. These foundational improvements position the platform for sustained growth and enhanced community engagement.

Thank You¶

Last but certainly not least, a big Thank You to the contributors of the Sage monorepo.

We're building the future of computational challenges, and every contribution brings us closer to empowering researchers worldwide. Join us in creating tools that advance scientific discovery.