hackerspace.sh/docs/ARCHITECTURE.md

Hackerspace.sh - Architecture Documentation

Last Updated: 2026-03-10
Version: 1.0.0
Status: Pre-Production Audit

---

1. System Overview

Hackerspace.sh is a comprehensive member management platform designed for hackerspaces, makerspaces, and community workshops. It provides tools for:

• Member Management: Registration, approval workflows, role assignment, payment tracking
• Task & Chore System: Recurring tasks, assignment, claiming, completion tracking
• Project Management: Kanban-style project tracking with area assignments
• Financial Operations: Payment reconciliation, multi-platform integration (PayPal, Zeffy, Venmo)
• Communications: Real-time chat via Supabase Realtime
• Knowledge Base: Documentation, secrets vault, area lead management
• Contacts Management: Vendor, supplier, and partner directory

---

2. Technology Stack

Frontend

Technology	Version	Purpose
Next.js	16.x	React framework with App Router
React	19.2	UI library
TypeScript	5.x	Type safety
Tailwind CSS	4.x	Styling
shadcn/ui	Latest	Component library
Lucide React	Latest	Icons

Backend

Technology	Version	Purpose
Supabase	Latest	PostgreSQL database, Auth, Realtime
Next.js Server Actions	-	Server-side mutations
Row Level Security (RLS)	-	Database-level authorization

Infrastructure

Service	Purpose
DigitalOcean Droplet	Self-hosted runtime (Docker, systemd, Caddy with Let's Encrypt)
Self-hosted Supabase	Postgres, GoTrue (auth), PostgREST, Realtime, Studio
Resend	Transactional email (SMTP)

---

3. Project Structure

/
├── app/                          # Next.js App Router
│   ├── (app)/                    # Protected app routes (require auth)
│   │   ├── comms/               # Real-time chat
│   │   ├── contacts/            # Vendor/supplier directory
│   │   ├── dashboard/           # Main dashboard
│   │   ├── import/              # CSV/database import
│   │   ├── members/             # Member management
│   │   ├── ops/                 # Knowledge base, secrets, area leads
│   │   ├── payments/            # Payment reconciliation
│   │   ├── projects/            # Project kanban
│   │   ├── settings/            # Space settings, integrations
│   │   ├── tasks/               # Tasks & chores
│   │   └── layout.tsx           # App shell with sidebar
│   ├── auth/                    # Auth callback routes
│   ├── login/                   # Login page
│   ├── signup/                  # Signup flow (create/join space)
│   ├── globals.css              # Global styles
│   ├── layout.tsx               # Root layout
│   └── page.tsx                 # Landing page (redirect)
├── components/
│   ├── ui/                      # shadcn/ui components
│   ├── app-shell.tsx            # App wrapper
│   ├── app-sidebar.tsx          # Navigation sidebar
│   ├── task-claim-button.tsx    # Task claiming component
│   └── theme-provider.tsx       # Dark/light theme
├── lib/
│   ├── supabase/
│   │   ├── admin.ts             # Service role client (bypasses RLS)
│   │   ├── client.ts            # Browser client
│   │   ├── proxy.ts             # Middleware session refresh
│   │   └── server.ts            # Server Component client
│   ├── actions.ts               # All server actions (CRUD)
│   ├── auth-actions.ts          # Auth-specific actions
│   ├── types.ts                 # TypeScript interfaces
│   └── utils.ts                 # Utility functions (cn)
├── scripts/                     # SQL migrations
│   ├── 000_reset_schema.sql    # Schema reset (dev only)
│   ├── 001_create_schema.sql   # Initial schema
│   ├── 002-011_*.sql           # Incremental fixes
│   └── patch-dashboard.mjs     # Utility script
├── middleware.ts                # Auth middleware
├── docs/                        # This documentation
└── [config files]               # next.config, tsconfig, etc.

---

4. Authentication Flow

4.1 Sign Up (New User)

[User] → /signup
    │
    ├─→ Step 1: Account info (name, email, password)
    ├─→ Step 2: Choose Create or Join space
    │
    ├─→ [Create Space Flow]
    │   └─→ supabase.auth.signUp() with metadata:
    │       {
    │         space_action: 'create',
    │         space_name, space_slug, space_city, invite_code
    │       }
    │       └─→ DB Trigger: handle_space_signup()
    │           └─→ INSERT spaces → INSERT space_members (admin)
    │
    └─→ [Join Space Flow]
        └─→ supabase.auth.signUp() with metadata:
            {
              space_action: 'join',
              join_invite_code
            }
            └─→ DB Trigger: handle_space_signup()
                └─→ INSERT space_members (member, status based on require_approval)

4.2 Sign In

[User] → /login
    │
    └─→ supabase.auth.signInWithPassword()
        └─→ Middleware refreshes session
            └─→ App layout checks space_members
                └─→ Has membership? → /dashboard
                └─→ No membership? → /signup

4.3 Returning User (Authenticated, No Space)

[User] → /signup (with active session)
    │
    └─→ Detects user via supabase.auth.getUser()
        └─→ Shows space selection (create/join) only
            └─→ Calls server action: createSpace() or joinSpace()
                └─→ Uses admin client (bypasses RLS)

---

5. Database Schema

5.1 Core Tables

Table	Purpose	Key Fields
spaces	Hackerspace instances	id, name, slug, invite_code, require_approval
space_members	User membership records	user_id, space_id, role, tier, status, approved
tasks	Tasks and chores	type, status, area, claimed_by, recurrence
projects	Project tracking	status (kanban), area, tags, due_date
knowledge_base	Documentation	visibility, is_pinned, area
secrets	Encrypted credentials	value, area (admin only)
area_leads	Area leadership	area_code, lead_id, status
contacts	Vendor directory	contact_type, group_label
payments	Payment records	platform, amount, member_id, link_status
comms_channels	Chat channels	channel_type, area_reference
comms_messages	Chat messages	channel_id, user_id, content
integrations	Platform connections	platform, is_connected, config
activity_log	Audit trail	action, entity_type, entity_id

5.2 Enums (Exact Values)

Enum	Values
member_role	admin, board, treasurer, member, associate
member_tier	plus, basic, associate
member_status	current, late, inactive, unverified
task_type	chore, task
task_status	open, claimed, in_progress, overdue, due_today, completed, done, blocked
recurrence_type	none, daily, weekly, biweekly, monthly
project_status	backlog, in_progress, review, done, blocked
kb_visibility	all_members, board, admin_only
contact_type	vendor, supplier, partner, landlord, city
payment_platform	paypal, zeffy, venmo, cash
payment_link_status	linked, unlinked
channel_type	general, area, ops, project

---

6. Authorization Model

6.1 Role Hierarchy

Admin (full access)
  │
  ├─ Board (members, payments, projects, board-level secrets)
  │   │
  │   ├─ Treasurer (payments, financial data)
  │   │
  │   └─ Member (tasks, projects, comms, public KB)
  │       │
  │       └─ Associate (read-only, can claim chores)

6.2 RLS Policies Summary

Table	SELECT	INSERT	UPDATE	DELETE
spaces	Own space	Admin client	Admin	-
space_members	Same space	Self/Admin	Self/Admin	Admin
tasks	Members	Members	Members	Members
projects	Members	Members	Members	Members
knowledge_base	Members (visibility-scoped)	Members	Members	Board/Admin
secrets	Admin/Board	Admin	Admin	Admin
payments	Treasurer/Board/Admin	Treasurer/Admin	Treasurer/Admin	Treasurer/Admin
comms_*	Members	Members	-	Board/Admin

---

7. Server Actions Reference

7.1 Authentication (lib/auth-actions.ts)

Action	Parameters	Role Required	Description
signIn	email, password	None	Authenticate user
signUp	email, password, fullName, action, ...	None	Create account
signOut	-	Authenticated	End session
getUser	-	Authenticated	Get current user
getCurrentMembership	-	Authenticated	Get member + space
createSpace	spaceName, spaceSlug, spaceCity, displayName	Authenticated	Create new space
joinSpace	inviteCode, displayName	Authenticated	Join existing space

7.2 Tasks (lib/actions.ts)

Action	Parameters	Role Required
createTask	title, description?, type, area?, recurrence?, due_date?	Member
claimTask	taskId	Member
completeTask	taskId	Claimant
deleteTask	taskId	Member

7.3 Projects (lib/actions.ts)

Action	Parameters	Role Required
createProject	title, description?, area?, tags?, due_date?	Member
updateProjectStatus	projectId, status	Member
deleteProject	projectId	Member

7.4 Members (lib/actions.ts)

Action	Parameters	Role Required
addMember	display_name, email, phone?, handle?, tier, role, ...	Admin/Board
updateMember	memberId, updates	Admin/Board
approveMember	memberId	Admin/Board
removeMember	memberId	Admin
importMembers	rows[]	Admin/Board

7.5 Payments (lib/actions.ts)

Action	Parameters	Role Required
logCashPayment	amount, from_note, member_id?, transaction_date?	Treasurer/Admin
linkPaymentToMember	paymentId, memberId	Treasurer/Admin
importPaymentsCsv	rows[]	Treasurer/Admin

7.6 Knowledge Base & Secrets (lib/actions.ts)

Action	Parameters	Role Required
createKbEntry	title, content, area?, visibility?, is_pinned?, tags?	Member
updateKbEntry	entryId, updates	Member
deleteKbEntry	entryId	Board/Admin
createSecret	title, value, description?, area?	Admin/Board
deleteSecret	secretId	Admin
upsertAreaLead	area_code, area_name, lead_id?, lead_handle?, status?	Admin/Board

7.7 Contacts (lib/actions.ts)

Action	Parameters	Role Required
createContact	name, contact_type, email?, phone?, ...	Member
updateContact	contactId, updates	Member
deleteContact	contactId	Member

7.8 Settings (lib/actions.ts)

Action	Parameters	Role Required
updateSpaceSettings	name?, slug?, city?, require_approval?, public_member_directory?	Admin
saveIntegration	platform, config	Admin
disconnectIntegration	platform	Admin
rotateWebhookSecret	-	Admin

---

8. Real-time Features

8.1 Comms (Chat)

The comms feature uses Supabase Realtime for live messaging:

// Client-side subscription
const subscription = supabase
  .channel(`channel:${channelId}`)
  .on('postgres_changes', {
    event: 'INSERT',
    schema: 'public',
    table: 'comms_messages',
    filter: `channel_id=eq.${channelId}`
  }, payload => {
    setMessages(prev => [...prev, payload.new])
  })
  .subscribe()

8.2 Default Channels

Created automatically via DB trigger when a space is created:

• general - General discussion
• announcements - Official announcements
• random - Off-topic
• facilities - Building/equipment issues

---

9. File Structure Details

9.1 Page Components Pattern

Each feature follows a consistent pattern:

feature/
├── page.tsx          # Server Component - fetches data
└── feature-client.tsx # Client Component - UI + interactivity

Example: Tasks

• page.tsx: Fetches tasks, members, passes to client
• tasks-client.tsx: Renders tabs, modals, handles CRUD actions

9.2 Supabase Client Usage

Location	Client	Use Case
Server Components	lib/supabase/server.ts	Data fetching with RLS
Client Components	lib/supabase/client.ts	Realtime, client mutations
Server Actions	lib/supabase/server.ts	Protected mutations
Admin Operations	lib/supabase/admin.ts	Bypasses RLS (signup)
Middleware	lib/supabase/proxy.ts	Session refresh

---

10. Security Considerations

10.1 RLS (Row Level Security)

All tables have RLS enabled. Policies enforce:

• Users can only see data from their space
• Role-based write permissions
• Admin client used only for initial space/member creation

10.2 Admin Client Safety

The admin client (SUPABASE_SERVICE_ROLE_KEY) is used ONLY for:

1. Creating spaces during signup (trigger handles member creation)
2. Adding first member to space
3. Operations where RLS would create circular dependencies

Never expose to client-side code.

10.3 Secrets Storage

Integration credentials stored in integrations.config (JSONB):

• Values stored with _set indicators
• UI shows masked values
• Consider encryption at rest for production

---

11. Environment Variables

Variable	Required	Description
NEXT_PUBLIC_SUPABASE_URL	Yes	Supabase project URL
NEXT_PUBLIC_SUPABASE_ANON_KEY	Yes	Supabase anon key
SUPABASE_SERVICE_ROLE_KEY	Yes	Admin operations
SUPABASE_JWT_SECRET	Yes	JWT verification

---

12. Migration History

Script	Description
001	Initial schema (13 tables, all enums)
002	Schema fixes, create_default_channels trigger
003	Signup trigger (handle_space_signup)
004	RLS helper functions
005	Additional RLS fixes
006	Comprehensive RLS rewrite
007	Added task_status 'done', contacts note/group_label
008	space_members.approved default=true
009	Member INSERT RLS, UNIQUE(space_id,email)
010	Fixed channel trigger (removed description column)
011	Fixed enum values (active→current, pending→unverified)

Migrations 012-026 are tracked authoritatively in docs/DATABASE_SCHEMA.md (governance kernel, areas, forum/tiers/roles/invites, configurable onboarding, customizable permissions + Ops ACLs, self-change hardening, and 026 custom forms + waivers).

Forms & waivers (migration 026 — Phase 1: schema + RLS)

forms and form_submissions back a custom form/waiver builder. Phase 1 is schema + RLS only; server actions, the builder UI, the public /f/[slug] page, onboarding integration, and retro-linking are later phases. Security shape: all submissions (anonymous, public-authenticated, or members) are written by a single validated server action using the service client AFTER server-side schema validation and snapshotting (same pattern as finishOnboarding); the form_submissions table has no INSERT/UPDATE/DELETE policy, so RLS hard-denies every non-service client and submissions are immutable. The public fill page is served by a service-client server action, so the anon Postgres role gets no grant on forms. Form management is gated by the new additive forms.manage permission via user_has_permission.

---

13. Known Limitations

1. No test suite - Unit, integration, and E2E tests needed
2. Payment integrations - UI only, no actual OAuth/API
3. Import feature - UI only, no file processing
4. Database connector - UI only, not implemented
5. Social auth - GitHub/Google buttons present but not wired
6. Webhook endpoint - URL shown but no actual endpoint
7. Email notifications - Not implemented
8. Search - Client-side only, no full-text search