Guiding Principles

The Ellemment Stack is built on a foundation of carefully considered principles that guide all development decisions and features.

Core Principles

Service Minimization

"Build what you can, integrate what you must"

• Self-host services when feasible
• Run within app instances where possible
• Reduce external dependencies
• Lower operational costs
• Minimize complexity

Feature Focus

"Essential features, exceptional implementation"

• Focus on common use cases
• Avoid feature bloat
• Keep the core lean
• Document examples separately
• Maintain clear boundaries

Frictionless Setup

"Production-ready from day one"

• Minimize time to deployment
• Defer service integration
• Enable incremental adoption
• Support free-tier exploration
• Streamline configuration

Adaptable Architecture

"Built for change"

• Support evolving requirements
• Enable service swapping
• Balance opinions with flexibility
• Allow custom implementations
• Maintain upgrade paths

Unified Approach

"One clear path forward"

• Single implementation pattern
• Consistent documentation style
• Clear best practices
• Unified coding standards
• Standard workflows

Offline-First Development

"Development without dependencies"

• Support offline development
• Mock external services
• Local-first architecture
• Minimal external requirements
• Development isolation

Implementation Guidelines

Code Organization

1. Consistent Structure

   • Clear directory layout
   • Standard naming conventions
   • Predictable file locations
   • Logical grouping

2. Feature Implementation

   • Self-contained modules
   • Clear dependencies
   • Minimal coupling
   • Documented interfaces

3. Service Integration

   • Mock-first approach
   • Clear boundaries
   • Pluggable architecture
   • Fallback behavior

Development Experience

1. Local Development

   • Fast feedback loops
   • Minimal dependencies
   • Clear error messages
   • Automated tooling

2. Documentation

   • Clear examples
   • Practical use cases
   • Inline comments
   • Comprehensive guides

3. Testing

   • Offline-capable tests
   • Consistent patterns
   • Mock integrations
   • Clear assertions

Application Examples

Service Minimization

// Prefer built-in solutions when possible
import { createLocalCache } from './cache/local'
import { createExternalCache } from './cache/external'
export const cache = process.env.USE_EXTERNAL_CACHE
? createExternalCache()
: createLocalCache()

Feature Focus

// Include essential features with clear extension points
export class CoreFeature {
  constructor(options = defaultOptions) {
    this.configure(options)
  }
extend(plugin) {
// Clear extension mechanism
this.plugins.add(plugin)
}
}

Frictionless Setup

// Defer service initialization until needed
export async function initializeService() {
  if (!isServiceRequired()) {
    return createMockService()
  }
  return createRealService()
}

Best Practices

1. Feature Addition

   • Document use case
   • Consider alternatives
   • Evaluate complexity
   • Plan migration path

2. Service Integration

   • Start with local version
   • Document requirements
   • Provide mock implementation
   • Enable easy switching

3. Documentation

   • Clear examples
   • Implementation guide
   • Configuration options
   • Common pitfalls

For detailed implementation guidance, refer to:

• Development Guide
• Deployment Process
• Architecture Decisions