Architecture Reference Documentation

This directory contains comprehensive technical documentation for the VerticalFarm OS architecture. These documents provide in-depth coverage of system design, implementation patterns, and architectural decisions.

📚 Documentation Structure

Core Architecture

• System Architecture - Complete system design and component interactions
• Service Layer Architecture - Critical service layer patterns and implementation
• Data Flow Patterns - How data moves through the system
• Architecture Patterns - Key architectural patterns and principles

Component Architecture

• Frontend Architecture - Next.js 15 application architecture
• Backend Architecture - FastAPI service architecture
• Database Design - PostgreSQL schema and relationships
• Edge Computing - Cloudflare Workers and Edge Functions

Feature Architecture

• Authentication & Authorization - Security and access control
• Automation System - Scheduled tasks and rules engine
• Caching Strategy - Performance optimization through caching
• Layer Overlay System - Visual information layers

Integration & Deployment

• Service Integration - How services communicate
• Deployment Architecture - Infrastructure and deployment patterns
• Monitoring & Observability - System health and performance tracking

Patterns & Best Practices

• Component Patterns - React component architecture
• API Design Patterns - RESTful API conventions
• Security Patterns - Security best practices
• Performance Patterns - Optimization strategies

🎯 How to Use This Documentation

For New Developers

1. Start with System Architecture for the big picture
2. Read the architecture relevant to your role (Frontend/Backend/Full-Stack)
3. Study Architecture Patterns to understand our conventions
4. Review Service Layer Architecture - this is critical!

For Experienced Developers

• Use these documents as reference when implementing new features
• Ensure new code follows the patterns documented here
• Update documentation when making architectural changes
• Consult specific sections as needed

For Architects & Tech Leads

• Review all documents for complete system understanding
• Use for architectural decision making
• Reference in design reviews
• Keep documentation updated with architectural evolution

🔑 Critical Concepts

Service Layer (Most Important!)

NEVER bypass the service layer - All data operations MUST go through services. This is our most critical architectural pattern.

// ✅ CORRECT
const farmService = FarmService.getInstance()
const farms = await farmService.getFarmsByUser(userId)

// ❌ WRONG - Never direct Supabase calls
const { data } = await supabase.from('farms').select('*')

Multi-Tenant Architecture

Each farm is completely isolated, ensuring: - Data privacy between users - Independent automation execution - Failure isolation - Scalable operations

Real-time Architecture

The system uses a hybrid approach: - Cached data for static/slow-changing content - Real-time subscriptions for live updates - Service layer for business logic

📋 Quick Reference

Technology Stack

Layer	Technology	Purpose
Frontend	Next.js 15, React 19	User interface
Backend	FastAPI, Python 3.13	Business logic
Database	PostgreSQL (Supabase)	Data persistence
Edge	Cloudflare Workers	Caching & IoT
Real-time	Supabase Realtime	Live updates
Auth	Supabase Auth	Authentication

Key Patterns

• Singleton Services - getInstance() pattern
• Server Components - Default for pages
• Row Level Security - Database isolation
• Event-Driven Updates - Real-time subscriptions
• Layered Architecture - Clear separation of concerns

Performance Targets

• Initial page load: < 1s
• API response time: < 200ms
• Real-time latency: < 100ms
• Cache hit ratio: > 80%

🔄 Document Maintenance

These documents are living references that should be updated when: - Making significant architectural changes - Adding new system components - Changing core patterns - Deprecating existing patterns

Last comprehensive review: January 2025

📚 Related Documentation

• Getting Started Guide
• API Documentation
• Development Guide
• Deployment Guide
• Security Documentation

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For questions about the architecture or suggestions for improvements, please consult the development team or submit a pull request with proposed changes.