[PP-1] [META] 7. Content Templates — aka "default layouts" — affects the tree+props data model (#3455629) · Issues · project / canvas

[PP-1] [META] 7. Content Templates — aka "default layouts" — affects the tree+props data model

>>> [!note] Migrated issue   Reported by: [wim leers](https://www.drupal.org/user/99777) Related to !62 >>> <h3 id="summary-problem-motivation">Problem/Motivation</h3> One of the <a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1OpETAzprh6DWjpTsZG55LWgldWV_D8jNe9AM73jNaZo/edit?gid=1721130122#gid=1721130122">product requirements</a> is <code>7. Content type templates</code>: <blockquote> As a builder, I want to create and modify content type templates for how content of a specific content type will be displayed. I want to be able to create multiple templates for a given content type (view mode). Within the template, I want to add components that may or may not map to fields in the content type. </blockquote> This is too high-level to implement. Additional context exists in @lauriii's write-up at <a href="https://www.drupal.org/project/experience_builder/issues/3452440" title="Status: Closed (fixed)">#3452440: Page Builder Research 2024</a>, specifically: <blockquote> Layout Builder <ul> <li>Users are often using Layout Builder either for defining the display template for structured content, or for page building. It doesn't work as well for hybrid content because a) overrides apply to the whole display template b) there is no way to centrally update pages. Therefore, some users resort to using Layout Builder for managing the display template and Paragraphs for page building.</li> </ul> </blockquote> (Emphasis mine.) In other words: Experience Builder (XB) must be more flexible/granular than Layout Builder (LB). We've gone ahead in the <code>0.x</code> branch with @effulgentsia's <a href="https://www.drupal.org/project/drupal/issues/3440578" title="Status: Postponed">#3440578: [PP-2] JSON-based data storage proposal for component-based page building</a> "JSON storage with <code>tree</code> and <code>props</code> stored separately" approach, which definitely allows for the above, but there's many aspects undefined. Let's define them. Critical context: @lauriii's video on this subject: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0LWqoqFmBY">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0LWqoqFmBY</a> — see <a href="https://www.drupal.org#comment-15646756">#19</a>. <h4 id="summary-steps-reproduce">Steps to reproduce</h4> N/A <h3 id="summary-proposed-resolution">Proposed resolution</h3> Clarify the precise interpretation of this requirement and capture it as a architecture decision record (<a href="https://git.drupalcode.org/project/canvas/-/work_items/3454669" class="drupalorg-gitlab-link">https://git.drupalcode.org/project/canvas/-/work_items/3454669</a>), because it deeply impacts both technical architecture and UX. In the <a href="https://wimleers.com/xb-week-5#chaos-origin">discussions</a> we had about that requirement, plus subsequent discussions, this is what I understand to be the more precise interpretation of that user story: <ol> <li>the first content type template ("default layout") for a bundle MUST be for the <code>default</code> view mode </li><li>there MAY be one content type template per view mode (default/full/teaser/search/…) </li><li>any change to a content type template MUST propagate to all entities of that content type (entity bundle) </li><li>the UX for defining a content type template MUST have affordances to indicate to the Site Builder persona: A) which parts will be editable by the Content Creator persona (i.e. "unlocked"), B) that this is a template, not a concrete entity, C) which fields in the content type (i.e. <code>FieldConfig</code>s) do not yet have a representation in the content type template <ul> <li>👆 For A): in a content type template, it's possible to mark slots as "unlocked", meaning the Content Creator can add additional components to it (later also with restrictions, see <code>17. Restrict nested components</code>) </li><li>👆 For A): in a content type template, it's possible to mark component subtrees as "unlocked", meaning the Content Creator can change that component subtree (later also with restrictions, see <code>17. Restrict nested components</code>) </li></ul> </li> <li>when creating content entities of that content type (entity bundle), the Content Creator sees: <ul> <li>the element/component library appears in the left sidebar — if there's >=1 unlocked slot/component subtree </li><li>the static prop values in the right sidebar, to edit them — if a placed component is selected on the canvas with >=1 unlocked static prop </li><li>the dynamic prop values in the right sidebar (aka the content type's <code>FieldConfig</code> fields) </li></ul> </li> </ol> Data model diagram in <a href="https://git.drupalcode.org/project/experience_builder/-/blob/0.x/docs/diagrams/data-model.md?ref_type=heads">HEAD</a> 🆚 the <a href="https://git.drupalcode.org/issue/experience_builder-3455629/-/blob/3455629-content-type-template-diagram/docs/diagrams/data-model.md">above</a> (The exact UX is out of scope here — this is only capturing what must be possible to do/not do, restrict/not restrict, inherit/override, etc.) <h4>Creative freedom 🆚 design consistency</h4> Consequence/purpose: the ability to lock/unlock slots and component subtrees allows the Site Builder to define the creative freedom of the Content Creator on a per-content type basis, which is another way of saying: controlling how rigid/consistent/enforced the layouts are. <h3 id="summary-remaining-tasks">Remaining tasks</h3> Discuss the above, and answer the open questions below: <h4>Open questions</h4> <ol> <li>@lauriii indicated in that discussion that creating a content type template should not be a required step. How is that possible? Does that mean starting out with an full-creative-freedom canvas? </li><li>When there's multiple entity view displays (i.e. for multiple view modes) that use XB (so not just XB for <code>default</code> and no XB for <code>teaser</code>), how do per-entity overrides or additions work? Because an unlocked slot may not exist in all entity view displays, nor may an unlocked component subtree. </li></ol> Related: @catch in <a href="https://www.drupal.org/project/drupal/issues/3440578" title="Status: Postponed">#3440578: [PP-2] JSON-based data storage proposal for component-based page building</a> and other comments in that issue. <h2 id="issues">Issues</h2> 🚧Work in progress. 🚧 This is following the example set in <a href="https://www.drupal.org/project/experience_builder/issues/3499919" title="Status: Closed (fixed)">#3499919: [Meta] Plan for in-browser code components</a>. Each lane can happen in parallel, within a lane, much work is sequential. Details TBD. <dl> <dt>Lane 1: <code>ContentTypeTemplate</code> config entity infrastructure</dt> <dd> 🚧 List very incomplete; work in progress! <ol> <li><a href="https://www.drupal.org/project/experience_builder/issues/3511366" title="Status: Closed (fixed)">#3511366: [META] Introduce a `ContentTypeTemplate` config entity + related infrastructure</a> </li><li>Make <code>ComponentTreeItem</code> respect the relevant <code>ContentTypeTemplate</code> during saving </li><li>Make <code>ComponentTreeItem</code> respect the relevant <code>ContentTypeTemplate</code> during rendering </li><li><a href="https://www.drupal.org/project/experience_builder/issues/3452848" title="Status: Closed (duplicate)">#3452848: [PP-1] Test coverage to prove configurable fields cannot be deleted from content entity types if they are used in XB Content Type Template</a> </li><li>Internal HTTP API support: implement <code>XbHttpApiEligibleConfigEntityInterface</code>, add <code>XbConfigEntityHttpApiTest::testContentTypeTemplate()</code> </li><li>Auto-save support </li><li>… </li></ol> </dd><dt>Lane 2: SDC/code component shape matching for all core field types</dt> <dd>⚠️ This is actually an assumption for this epic/meta/plan/capability, but the XB codebase has not yet reached this point. So this being listed here is for pragmatism/realism reasons. </dd> <dd> 🚧 List very incomplete; work in progress! <ol> <li><a href="https://www.drupal.org/project/experience_builder/issues/3512433" title="Status: Closed (fixed)">#3512433: Provide visibility into which (core) field types (74%), field type props (63%) can be mapped into Content Type Templates vs not, and which field widgets (36%) are supported</a> </li><li><a href="https://www.drupal.org/project/canvas/issues/3467870" title="Status: Closed (fixed)">#3467870: Support `{type: array, …}` prop shapes</a> </li><li><a href="https://www.drupal.org/project/experience_builder/issues/3456008" title="Status: Closed (works as designed)">#3456008: [later phase] Support matching enum SDC prop shapes against DynamicPropSources, not only generating StaticPropSources</a> </li></ol></dd> <dt>Lane 3: Redux integration for all core field widgets</dt> <dd>⚠️ This is actually an assumption for this epic/meta/plan/capability, but the XB codebase has not yet reached this point. So this being listed here is for pragmatism/realism reasons. </dd> <dd> 🚧 List very incomplete; work in progress! <ol> <li><a href="https://www.drupal.org/project/canvas/issues/3463842" title="Status: Postponed">#3463842: [META] Redux sync on ALL prop types, not just ones with a single [value] property</a> </li></ol> </dd> <dt>Lane 4: UI for creating/editing the <code>ContentTypeTemplate</code> config entity</dt> <dd>🛑 blocked on design</dd> <dd>🛑 blocked on <code>ContentTypeTemplate</code> HTTP API support</dd> <dt>Lane 5: UI for creating/editing a content entity that uses a <code>ContentTypeTemplate</code> config entity</dt> <dd>🛑 blocked on design</dd> <dd>🛑 blocked on <q>Make <code>ComponentTreeItem</code> respect the relevant <code>ContentTypeTemplate</code> during saving</q></dd> <dd>🛑 blocked on <q>Make <code>ComponentTreeItem</code> respect the relevant <code>ContentTypeTemplate</code> during rendering</q></dd> </dl> > Related issue: [Issue #3440578](https://www.drupal.org/node/3440578) > Related issue: [Issue #3452440](https://www.drupal.org/node/3452440) > Related issue: [Issue #3444424](https://www.drupal.org/node/3444424) > Related issue: [Issue #3481720](https://www.drupal.org/node/3481720) > Related issue: [Issue #3462235](https://www.drupal.org/node/3462235)

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