Auto-detect app layout and generate files in correct path (flat vs modern) by Copilot · Pull Request #51 · ColdBox/coldbox-cli

Copilot · 2026-04-10T09:45:38Z

Modern ColdBox templates (boxlang, modern) place app source under /app/, but all coldbox create * commands hardcoded paths like handlers, models, views — requiring developers to cd app or manually pass directory=app/models every time.

Changes

models/BaseCommand.cfc

Added getAppPrefix(cwd) — returns "app/" if both /app and /public directories exist (modern layout), "" otherwise. Delegates detection to the existing Utility.detectTemplateType().

All 13 coldbox create commands — default directory params now use getAppPrefix(getCWD()) & "<dir>":

Command	Affected params
`handler`	`directory`, `viewsDirectory`
`model`, `service`, `orm-entity`, `orm-service`, `orm-virtual-service`	`directory`
`view`, `layout`, `interceptor`	`directory`
`resource`	`handlersDirectory`, `viewsDirectory`, `modelsDirectory`
`orm-crud`	`handlersDirectory`, `viewsDirectory`

tests/, modules/, and resources/ paths are intentionally unchanged — those remain at the project root in both layouts.

Behavior

# Flat layout project → /handlers/users.cfc
# Modern layout project → /app/handlers/users.cfc
coldbox create handler users

# Override still works in either layout
coldbox create model User directory=custom/path

Agent-Logs-Url: https://github.com/ColdBox/coldbox-cli/sessions/04af5f58-9949-47ba-a2d6-e374e82d64f8 Co-authored-by: lmajano <137111+lmajano@users.noreply.github.com>

Copilot

Pull request overview

This PR improves the ColdBox CLI generators to automatically target the correct app source directory based on whether the project uses a modern (/app + /public) or flat layout, reducing the need for manual directory= overrides.

Changes:

Added BaseCommand.getAppPrefix(cwd) to map detected layout → app/ prefix or no prefix.
Updated coldbox create * generators to default output directories to getAppPrefix(getCWD()) & "<dir>" for handlers/models/views/layouts/interceptors (and related CRUD/resource params).
Documented the new behavior in README.md and noted it in changelog.md.

Reviewed changes

Copilot reviewed 14 out of 14 changed files in this pull request and generated 10 comments.

Show a summary per file

File	Description
README.md	Documents modern vs flat layout detection and where generators will output files.
changelog.md	Adds an Unreleased note about automatic layout detection for generators.
models/BaseCommand.cfc	Introduces `getAppPrefix(cwd)` helper based on `Utility.detectTemplateType()`.
commands/coldbox/create/handler.cfc	Defaults `directory` and `viewsDirectory` to respect detected layout.
commands/coldbox/create/interceptor.cfc	Defaults `directory` to respect detected layout.
commands/coldbox/create/layout.cfc	Defaults `directory` to respect detected layout.
commands/coldbox/create/model.cfc	Defaults `directory` to respect detected layout.
commands/coldbox/create/service.cfc	Defaults `directory` to respect detected layout.
commands/coldbox/create/view.cfc	Defaults `directory` to respect detected layout.
commands/coldbox/create/resource.cfc	Defaults `handlersDirectory`/`viewsDirectory`/`modelsDirectory` to respect detected layout.
commands/coldbox/create/orm-crud.cfc	Defaults `handlersDirectory`/`viewsDirectory` to respect detected layout.
commands/coldbox/create/orm-entity.cfc	Defaults `directory` to respect detected layout.
commands/coldbox/create/orm-service.cfc	Defaults `directory` to respect detected layout.
commands/coldbox/create/orm-virtual-service.cfc	Defaults `directory` to respect detected layout.

Copilot · 2026-04-10T10:23:17Z

README.md

+| Layout | Detection | App Code Location | Tests Location |
+| ------ | --------- | ----------------- | -------------- |
+| **Modern** | Both `app/` and `public/` directories exist | `/app/models`, `/app/handlers`, etc. | `/tests/` |
+| **Flat** | Default (no `app/` + `public/`) | `/models`, `/handlers`, etc. | `/tests/` |


The Flat layout detection description is slightly inaccurate. The code treats a project as "flat" whenever both app/ and public/ are not present (i.e., either folder missing), not only when neither exists. Update the table wording to match the actual detection behavior.

Suggested change

| **Flat** | Default (no `app/` + `public/`) | `/models`, `/handlers`, etc. | `/tests/` |

| **Flat** | Default (when either `app/` or `public/` is missing) | `/models`, `/handlers`, etc. | `/tests/` |

Copilot · 2026-04-10T10:23:18Z

models/BaseCommand.cfc

+	 * @return string "app/" for modern layout, "" for flat layout
+	 */
+	function getAppPrefix( required cwd ){
+		return variables.utility.detectTemplateType( cwd ) == "modern" ? "app/" : "";


Use arguments.cwd when calling detectTemplateType() to match the explicit argument scoping used elsewhere in this component (and avoid any potential name collisions with variables in other scopes).

Suggested change

return variables.utility.detectTemplateType( cwd ) == "modern" ? "app/" : "";

return variables.utility.detectTemplateType( arguments.cwd ) == "modern" ? "app/" : "";

Copilot · 2026-04-10T10:23:18Z

commands/coldbox/create/service.cfc

 		boolean tests               = true,
 		testsDirectory              = "tests/specs/unit",
-		directory                   = "models",
+		directory                   = getAppPrefix( getCWD() ) & "models",
 		description                 = "I am a new service",


The command help/docs above still state the default output directory is /models, but the default now depends on layout detection (models vs app/models). Update the description/param docs so the displayed CLI help matches the new behavior.

Copilot · 2026-04-10T10:23:18Z

commands/coldbox/create/handler.cfc

 		actions                  = "",
 		boolean views            = true,
-		viewsDirectory           = "views",
+		viewsDirectory           = getAppPrefix( getCWD() ) & "views",
 		boolean integrationTests = true,
 		appMapping               = "/",
 		testsDirectory           = "tests/specs/integration",
-		directory                = "handlers",
+		directory                = getAppPrefix( getCWD() ) & "handlers",
 		description              = "I am a new handler",


The command documentation currently says the handler default directory is /handlers (and the @directory param says it defaults to handlers), but the default now depends on layout detection (handlers vs app/handlers, and similarly for viewsDirectory). Update the help text/param docs so the CLI help matches the new behavior.

Copilot · 2026-04-10T10:23:19Z

commands/coldbox/create/view.cfc

 		required name,
 		boolean helper  = false,
-		directory       = "views",
+		directory       = getAppPrefix( getCWD() ) & "views",
 		boolean open    = false,


The command docs above still state the default view directory is /views, but the default now depends on layout detection (views vs app/views). Update the description/param docs so the CLI help matches the new behavior.

Copilot · 2026-04-10T10:23:19Z

commands/coldbox/create/layout.cfc

 		required name,
 		boolean helper  = false,
-		directory       = "layouts",
+		directory       = getAppPrefix( getCWD() ) & "layouts",
 		boolean open    = false,


The command docs above still state the default layout directory is /layouts, but the default now depends on layout detection (layouts vs app/layouts). Update the description/param docs so the CLI help matches the new behavior.

Copilot · 2026-04-10T10:23:19Z

commands/coldbox/create/interceptor.cfc

 		description     = "I am a new interceptor",
 		boolean tests   = true,
 		testsDirectory  = "tests/specs/interceptors",
-		directory       = "interceptors",
+		directory       = getAppPrefix( getCWD() ) & "interceptors",
 		boolean open    = false,


The command docs above still state the default interceptor directory is /interceptors, but the default now depends on layout detection (interceptors vs app/interceptors). Update the description/param docs so the CLI help matches the new behavior.

Copilot · 2026-04-10T10:23:19Z

commands/coldbox/create/model.cfc

 		boolean tests               = true,
 		testsDirectory              = "tests/specs/unit",
-		directory                   = "models",
+		directory                   = getAppPrefix( getCWD() ) & "models",
 		description                 = "I am a new Model Object",


The command docs above still state the default model directory is /models, but the default now depends on layout detection (models vs app/models). Update the description/param docs so the CLI help matches the new behavior.

Copilot · 2026-04-10T10:23:20Z

commands/coldbox/create/orm-crud.cfc

 		required entity,
 		pluralName        = "",
-		handlersDirectory = "handlers",
-		viewsDirectory    = "views",
+		handlersDirectory = getAppPrefix( getCWD() ) & "handlers",
+		viewsDirectory    = getAppPrefix( getCWD() ) & "views",
 		boolean tests     = true,


The @handlersDirectory / @viewsDirectory parameter docs still say the defaults are handlers and views, but the defaults now depend on layout detection (handlers vs app/handlers, views vs app/views). Update the help text so the CLI help matches the new behavior.

Copilot · 2026-04-10T10:23:20Z

commands/coldbox/create/resource.cfc

 		properties           = "",
 		modulesDirectory     = "modules_app",
-		handlersDirectory    = "handlers",
-		viewsDirectory       = "views",
-		modelsDirectory      = "models",
+		handlersDirectory    = getAppPrefix( getCWD() ) & "handlers",
+		viewsDirectory       = getAppPrefix( getCWD() ) & "views",
+		modelsDirectory      = getAppPrefix( getCWD() ) & "models",
 		boolean tests        = true,


The @handlersDirectory / @viewsDirectory / @modelsDirectory parameter docs still say the defaults are handlers, views, and models, but the defaults now depend on layout detection (* vs app/*). Update the help text so the CLI help matches the new behavior.

Initial plan

a0e832e

Copilot AI assigned Copilot and lmajano Apr 10, 2026

Copilot started work on behalf of lmajano April 10, 2026 09:45 View session

Copilot AI linked an issue Apr 10, 2026 that may be closed by this pull request

Setting to specify app path #50

Closed

Copilot AI and others added 2 commits April 10, 2026 09:53

Add app layout detection for all code generation commands

c418cd0

Agent-Logs-Url: https://github.com/ColdBox/coldbox-cli/sessions/04af5f58-9949-47ba-a2d6-e374e82d64f8 Co-authored-by: lmajano <137111+lmajano@users.noreply.github.com>

Fix ternary scope: use unscoped cwd in getAppPrefix per CFML convention

a1e3a7e

Agent-Logs-Url: https://github.com/ColdBox/coldbox-cli/sessions/04af5f58-9949-47ba-a2d6-e374e82d64f8 Co-authored-by: lmajano <137111+lmajano@users.noreply.github.com>

Copilot AI changed the title ~~[WIP] Add setting to specify app path for coldbox-cli~~ Auto-detect app layout and generate files in correct path (flat vs modern) Apr 10, 2026

Copilot AI requested a review from lmajano April 10, 2026 09:55

Copilot finished work on behalf of lmajano April 10, 2026 09:55

lmajano marked this pull request as ready for review April 10, 2026 10:15

Copilot AI review requested due to automatic review settings April 10, 2026 10:15

lmajano merged commit 49a4191 into development Apr 10, 2026
5 checks passed

lmajano deleted the copilot/add-app-path-setting branch April 10, 2026 10:16

Copilot started reviewing on behalf of lmajano April 10, 2026 10:16 View session

Copilot AI reviewed Apr 10, 2026

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Auto-detect app layout and generate files in correct path (flat vs modern)#51

Auto-detect app layout and generate files in correct path (flat vs modern)#51
lmajano merged 3 commits intodevelopmentfrom
copilot/add-app-path-setting

Copilot AI commented Apr 10, 2026 •

edited

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	\| Flat \| Default (no `app/` + `public/`) \| `/models`, `/handlers`, etc. \| `/tests/` \|
	\| Flat \| Default (when either `app/` or `public/` is missing) \| `/models`, `/handlers`, etc. \| `/tests/` \|

	return variables.utility.detectTemplateType( cwd ) == "modern" ? "app/" : "";
	return variables.utility.detectTemplateType( arguments.cwd ) == "modern" ? "app/" : "";

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Copilot AI commented Apr 10, 2026 •

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