What's new in Intent Architect (August 2023)

Welcome to the August 2023 edition of highlights of What's New in Intent Architect.

Update details

Import OpenApi / Swagger documents into the Services Designer

We have released a new Metadata import tool which can import OpenApi / Swagger (3.*) documents and produce an Intent Architect Service Package. Service can be imported in either the CQRS or traditional services paradigm.

Here is an example of having imported the Pet Store 3 Swagger.

Pet Store Import

For more information on accessing and using the tool, check out the documentation.

Modeling different Document DB technologies with-in one application

When creating a Domain Modelling package and marking it as a Document DB backed model, through the use of the Document Database package stereotype, you can now specify which Document DB technology you want this model to be realized as. This stereotype has a Provider property, to specify which specific type of Document Db technology the Domain Package should be realized in. This drop down has the following options.

  • Default (None selected), if no provider is specified and you have a single Document DB Provider module installed (e.g. Intent.CosmosDB), that module will be used by default.
  • Custom, the backing implementation will need to be implemented through custom code.
  • Dynamic installed module providers (e.g. CosmosDB, MongoDd, Dapr), any Document DB Provider implementing modules will show as options here.

If you have multiple Document DB technologies you would need to configure which Domain Packages are for which Document DB technologies.

Configure you Document DB Provider

Available from:

  • Intent.Metadata.DocumentDB 1.1.3

With the following DocumentDB providers

  • Intent.CosmosDB 1.0.0-alpha.14
  • Intent.MongoDb 1.0.3
  • Intent.Dapr.AspNetCore.StateManagement 1.1.0

Azure Pipelines Module

Scaffolds a basic Azure Pipelines pipeline which will attempt to compile your solution on every commit and ensure there are no outstanding Intent Architect changes.

Azure Pipelines screenshot

See the module's readme for more information.

Available from:

  • Intent.ContinuousIntegration.AzurePipelines 1.0.0

Shorthand C# Code Management Attributes

Alternative shorthand code management attributes such as [IntentIgnore] or [IntentIgnoreBody] can now be used. These have been introduced as a less verbose option to the already existing instructions such as [IntentManaged(<Mode>, Body = <Mode>)].

[IntentIgnore]
[IntentFullySignature]
public void ChangeCountry(string country)
{
    throw new NotImplementedException();
}

For more information, refer to the docs.

Available from:

  • Intent.RoslynWeaver 4.2.0

File level C# Code Management "Tag Mode" control

It is now possible to specify that Tag Mode is explicit or implicit at a file level whereas before it could only be configured globally in application settings.

For more information, refer to the docs.

Available from:

  • Intent.RoslynWeaver 4.2.0

Module Server

A self-hostable "Module Server" in the form of a Docker image is now available. The Module Server Client CLI can be used to upload Modules and Application templates to it and then Intent Architect clients can be configured to use the server as a repository for your organization's custom Modules and Application Templates.

Azure Create Web App screenshot

For full details, refer to the docs.

Module building tutorial updated to use the File builder pattern

On our documentation website, we have updated the Module building tutorial to use the File Builder template paradigm, to be more inline with our own current template building practices.

You can find the start of the tutorial here.

Dapr - Configuration module

A new module which implements patterns for working with Dapr (Distributed Application Runtime) Configuration component, alongside our existing Dapr modules. The Dapr Configuration component is all about centralizing configuration for distributed systems.

Check out the module documentation for full details.

Available from:

  • Intent.Dapr.AspNetCore.Secrets 1.0.0

Dapr - Secrets module

A new module which implements patterns for working with Dapr (Distributed Application Runtime) Secrets component, alongside our existing Dapr modules. The Dapr Secrets component is all about centralizing secrets for distributed systems.

Check out the module documentation for full details.

Available from:

  • Intent.Dapr.AspNetCore.Configuration 1.0.0

Dapr - CRON Binding module

Right-click any Command and apply the Dapr Cron Binding stereotype to have it invoked by Dapr on that CRON schedule.

Screenshot of Command with Dapr Cron Binding stereotype applied

See the module's readme for more information.

Available from:

  • Intent.Dapr.AspNetCore.Bindings.Cron 1.0.0

MassTransit Finbuckle integration

Our MassTransit module now supports consuming and propagating tenancy information in message headers, when used in conjunction with Finbuckle.

Check out the module documentation for full details.

Available from:

  • Intent.Eventing.MassTransit 5.2.0

Improved Queue Trigger support in Azure Functions applications

Our AzureFunctions module now has improved support for Queue Triggers. These improvement allow for:

  • Gaining access to the message envelope
  • Contracting response messages

Check out the module documentation for full details.

Available from:

  • Intent.AzureFunctions 4.0.7

Abstract domain operations

In the domain designer, operations can now bw marked as abstract resulting in the expected abstract implementation.

Available from:

  • Intent.Entities 4.3.7

DataAnnotation validations on Blazor data contracts

Blazor proxies now produce DataAnnotation validation attributes, like Required on DTO contracts inline which any validations configured on the services themselves.

Available from:

  • Intent.Blazor.HttpClients 2.0.1

FluentValidation Custom Validators

It is now possible to apply Custom Validator Rules which allow custom failure messages to be specified. Previously it was only possible to add Predicate Validator.

This information is also documented in the module's readme.

Available from:

  • Intent.Application.FluentValidation 3.7.3

Azure Functions using System.Text.Json instead of Newtonsoft.Json

The Azure Functions patterns are now utilizing the utilizing System.Text.Json over the previously used Newtonsoft.Json. This change aims to offer improved performance and reduced memory footprint for serverless workloads.

Available from:

  • Intent.AzureFunctions 4.0.8

CSharpFileBuilder offers CSharpEnum as part of builder pattern suite

Building Modules using the C# File Builder now has Enums as part of its builder suite.

new CSharpFile("Project.Domain", "Enums")
    .AddUsing("System")
    .AddEnum("AddressType", e =>
    {
        e.AddAttribute(@"[Description(""Address Type"")]");
        e.AddLiteral("Residential", "1");
        e.AddLiteral("PostOffice", "2");
        e.AddLiteral("Office", "3");
    });

Available from:

  • Intent.Common.CSharp 3.3.40

Intent.Application.MediatR.CRUD.Tests now supports new test cases and more

Generates unit tests for Paginated services, caters also for commands projecting onto Entity constructors and improved stability changes.

Note

Some unit test names and unit test logic has been updated to conform with other names and to fix certain test logic.

See the module's readme for more information.

For a full list of changes refer to the release notes.

Available from:

  • Intent.Application.MediatR.CRUD.Tests 1.2.0

New delayed publishing messages for MassTransit

Publish messages that will be dispatched at a future date using your Message Broker.

See the module's readme for more information.

Available from:

  • Intent.Eventing.MassTransit.Scheduling 1.0.0

Override topic names in MassTransit

Applying the Message Topology Settings stereotype on a message allows you to change the Entity Type which translates into a Message Broker's topic / exchange name.

Message Topology Example

Available from:

  • Intent.Eventing.MassTransit 5.2.0

Specify Retry policy in MassTransit

Specify the default retry policy in MassTransit by selecting one of the newly added retry policies.

Retry Policy Setting

See the module's readme for more information.

Available from:

  • Intent.Eventing.MassTransit 5.2.0