name	scaffolding-microservice
description	Scaffolds an Express.js microservice with JSON file storage, JWT auth, and audit logging. It creates data files, route handlers, server wiring, and tests following a consistent factory function pattern.
argument-hint	Describe the service (e.g., "feature flag service with CRUD operations and audit trail")

Scaffolding Microservice

Use this skill when the user asks to scaffold a service, create a new microservice, build an API, create an API, or add a resource.

Scaffolding Checklist

Follow these steps in order. Do not skip steps or reorder them.

Step 1 - Create Data Files

Create backend/data/{resource}.json with an empty array [] or seed data if provided. Create backend/data/audit-log.json with an empty array []. Create backend/data/users.json with default admin/user accounts for development.

Step 2 - Create Route Handlers

Create backend/routes/{resource}.js using the factory function pattern:

Export a function that receives a deps object ({ readData, writeData, authenticateToken, uuidv4 })
Return an Express Router
Include CRUD endpoints with input validation
Protected mutations require deps.authenticateToken middleware
Every mutation appends to the audit log via deps.writeData

See templates.md for the route skeleton.

Step 3 - Create Route Index

Create backend/routes/index.js to compose all routers:

Import each route factory
Call each with the shared deps object
Mount routers on their base paths (e.g., /api/flags, /api/audit-log, /api/auth)

Step 4 - Create Server

Create backend/server.js with:

Express app setup with CORS and JSON body parsing
JWT authenticateToken middleware function
readData / writeData helpers for JSON file storage
A deps object bundling all shared utilities
Route wiring via routes/index.js
Server start on port 3500

See templates.md for the server skeleton.

Step 5 - Wire and Verify

Ensure all routes are registered in routes/index.js. Ensure server.js imports and uses the composed router. Verify the server starts without errors: node backend/server.js.

Step 6 - Create Tests

Create backend/tests/{resource}.test.js with:

Jest + supertest
describe block per route group
it block per scenario (success + error cases)
Test descriptions start with "should"
Test status codes: 200, 201, 400, 401, 404, 409

See templates.md for the test skeleton.

Step 7 - Run Tests

Run npm run test:backend and fix any failures before finishing.

Conventions

All comments start with generated-by-copilot:
camelCase for variables and functions
kebab-case for URL paths and flag names
PascalCase for React components
Routes export factory functions, never side-effect imports
userId and createdBy come from the JWT token, never from the request body
Error responses use { error: 'message' } format
Flag names validated with ^[a-z0-9-]+$
Descriptions capped at 200 characters
Environment must be one of: development, staging, production

What This Skill Does NOT Cover

Docker or containerization
CI/CD pipelines
Deployment configuration
Logging frameworks

name	scaffolding-microservice
description	Scaffolds an Express.js microservice with JSON file storage, JWT auth, and audit logging. It creates data files, route handlers, server wiring, and tests following a consistent factory function pattern.
argument-hint	Describe the service (e.g., "feature flag service with CRUD operations and audit trail")