bitpoll-nix/memory-bank/activeContext.md

Active Context: Bitpoll Nix Flake

Current Work Focus

Project Status: COMPLETE AND FUNCTIONAL

The Bitpoll Nix flake is fully implemented and working. All core requirements have been met:

• ✅ Package builds successfully - Nix derivation creates working Bitpoll package
• ✅ Dependencies resolved - All Python dependencies properly managed
• ✅ NixOS service functional - Complete systemd service with security hardening
• ✅ Management commands work - Django admin commands accessible
• ✅ Data persistence implemented - All data stored in /var/lib/bitpoll
• ✅ Security hardening complete - Comprehensive systemd restrictions
• ✅ Documentation comprehensive - README and example configuration provided

Current State

The project is in a maintenance and enhancement phase. The core functionality is stable and ready for production use.

Recent Changes

Fixed Issues (Completed)

1. Django Import Errors: Resolved missing Django modules through proper Python environment setup
2. Dependency Management: Fixed missing packages by combining nixpkgs and pip installation
3. Python Path Issues: Corrected PYTHONPATH configuration in wrapper scripts
4. Encryption Key Support: Added proper Fernet key generation capabilities
5. Service Integration: Complete systemd service with automatic migrations and static file collection

Implementation Highlights

• Hybrid Dependency Strategy: Core packages from nixpkgs, missing packages via pip
• Build-time Configuration: Generated settings_local.py with secure defaults
• Security-first Design: Comprehensive systemd hardening and user isolation
• Production Ready: Automatic database migrations and static file management

Next Steps

Immediate Priorities

1. Monitor Usage: Track adoption and gather user feedback
2. Update Dependencies: Keep Bitpoll and nixpkgs versions current
3. Documentation Updates: Enhance examples and troubleshooting guides
4. Testing Improvements: Add automated testing for different configurations

Enhancement Opportunities

1. PostgreSQL Integration: Improve PostgreSQL configuration options
2. Backup Solutions: Add built-in backup and restore capabilities
3. Monitoring Integration: Add Prometheus metrics and health checks
4. Multi-instance Support: Support for multiple Bitpoll instances
5. Container Support: Docker/Podman integration for non-NixOS systems

Long-term Goals

1. Upstream Integration: Contribute package to nixpkgs
2. Community Building: Establish user community and contribution guidelines
3. Enterprise Features: Advanced authentication and authorization options
4. Performance Optimization: Caching and performance improvements

Active Decisions and Considerations

Technical Decisions Made

1. Python Environment Strategy: Use python3.withPackages + pip for comprehensive coverage
2. Configuration Approach: Build-time generation with runtime overrides
3. Security Model: Dedicated user with comprehensive systemd hardening
4. Data Organization: Single directory structure for easy backup/restore

Ongoing Considerations

1. Dependency Updates: Balance stability vs. latest features
2. Configuration Complexity: Keep simple while allowing customization
3. Performance vs. Security: Optimize within security constraints
4. Maintenance Burden: Minimize ongoing maintenance requirements

Important Patterns and Preferences

Code Organization Patterns

• Flake Structure: Single flake.nix with embedded configurations
• Module Design: Self-contained NixOS module with comprehensive options
• Documentation: Inline documentation with external examples
• Testing: Manual testing with clear verification steps

Configuration Patterns

• Layered Configuration: Build-time → Deploy-time → Runtime
• Secure Defaults: Production-ready defaults with development overrides
• Environment Variables: Support for external secret management
• Validation: Clear error messages for misconfigurations

Security Patterns

• Principle of Least Privilege: Minimal permissions and access
• Defense in Depth: Multiple security layers
• Secure by Default: No insecure default configurations
• Audit Trail: Comprehensive logging and monitoring capabilities

Learnings and Project Insights

Key Insights

1. Nix Packaging Complexity: Django applications require careful dependency management
2. Security Importance: Users expect production-ready security out of the box
3. Documentation Critical: Clear examples are essential for adoption
4. Testing Necessity: Manual testing catches real-world deployment issues

Technical Learnings

1. Python Path Management: Critical for Django applications in Nix
2. systemd Integration: Proper service configuration requires comprehensive hardening
3. Build vs Runtime: Clear separation of build-time and runtime concerns
4. Configuration Generation: Build-time generation simplifies deployment

Process Learnings

1. Iterative Development: Start simple, add complexity gradually
2. User Feedback: Real-world usage reveals important requirements
3. Documentation First: Good documentation drives better design
4. Security Review: Security considerations should be built-in, not added later

Current Challenges

Technical Challenges

1. Dependency Tracking: Keeping up with upstream Bitpoll changes
2. Python Ecosystem: Managing complex Python dependency trees
3. Configuration Complexity: Balancing simplicity with flexibility
4. Performance Optimization: Optimizing within Nix constraints

Operational Challenges

1. User Support: Providing support for diverse deployment scenarios
2. Testing Coverage: Ensuring compatibility across different NixOS versions
3. Documentation Maintenance: Keeping documentation current and accurate
4. Community Building: Growing user and contributor community

Project Context

Development Environment

• Primary Platform: macOS development, Linux deployment
• Nix Version: Flakes-enabled Nix with NixOS 25.05
• Testing: Manual testing on NixOS systems
• Repository: Git repository with flake.lock for reproducibility

Collaboration Patterns

• Solo Development: Currently single maintainer
• Issue Tracking: Git repository issues for bug reports and features
• Documentation: Comprehensive README with examples
• Community: Open source with GPL-3.0 license

Quality Standards

• Code Quality: Clean, well-documented Nix expressions
• Security Standards: Comprehensive security hardening
• Documentation Standards: Clear, comprehensive, example-driven
• Testing Standards: Manual verification with real deployments