Content Migrations in Contember

Introduction

Content migrations within Contember are designed to manage and transform the existing data in your database. This is achieved using GraphQL queries, which provide a powerful and versatile approach to data manipulation.

Setting Up Content Migration Files

Content migration files should be added to the api/migrations directory in your Contember project. The naming convention for these files is YYYY-MM-DD-HHMMSS-label, which ensures they are executed in the correct order and are easy to identify.

Example File Name: 2023-10-26-150000-add-english-locale.js

Using the CLI to create blank migration files

You can use the Contember CLI to create blank migration files. Simply run the following command and provide a label for your migration.

npm run contember migrations:blank <label>

Depending on the complexity of your migration, you can choose to use a JSON, JavaScript (JS), or TypeScript (TS) file. By default, the CLI will create a TypeScript file.

Defining Migrations in JSON

Content migrations can be defined in JSON, using a single "query" or an array of "queries".

Single Query Example

{
  "query": "mutation { createLocale(data: { code: \"en\" }) { ok errorMessage } }"
}

Multiple Queries Example

{
  "queries": [
    {
      "query": "mutation { createLocale(data: { code: \"en\" }) { ok errorMessage } }"
    },
    {
      "query": "mutation { createLocale(data: { code: \"fr\" }) { ok errorMessage } }"
    }
  ]
}

Defining Migrations in JavaScript or TypeScript

For more advanced use cases, JS or TS can be used to define migrations.

Single Query with Variables

export default {
  query: `
    mutation CreateLocale($data: LocaleCreateInput) {
      createLocale(data: $data) {
        ok
        errorMessage
      }
    }
  `,
  variables: {
    data: {
      code: "en"
    }
  }
};

Multiple Queries with Variables

export default {
  queries: [
    {
      query: `
        mutation CreateLocale($data: LocaleCreateInput) {
          createLocale(data: $data) {
            ok
            errorMessage
          }
        }
      `,
      variables: {
        data: {
          code: "en"
        }
      }
    },
    { 
      // Second query
    }
  ]
};

Utilizing Functions in Migrations

Functions in migration files provide a higher level of control and the ability to perform dynamic operations.

export default async function () {
  // Fetch data, execute queries, and perform other asynchronous operations here.

  // Return content migrations if needed
  return {
    queries: [
        // Individual queries
    ]
  };
};

Validating Mutation Results

It's crucial to fetch the "ok" and "errorMessage" fields for top-level mutations to ensure they have executed successfully. Contember CLI checks these fields by default, but you can bypass this check (not recommended) by including checkMutationResult: false in your query object.

Applying Migrations

To run your content migrations, use the Contember CLI’s migrations:execute command.

npm run contember migrations:execute

Execution Model for Function Migrations

Function migrations introduce a unique execution model. The CLI orchestrates the migrations, grouping non-function migrations into a single transaction, while function migrations are executed separately, each in its own transaction.

Execution Flow Example:

• Transaction 1:

  • Schema Migration A
  • Content Migration B
  • Schema Migration C

• Function Migration (Separate Transaction):

  • Execute exported function and await result
  • If the function returns content migrations, send them to the migration API

• Subsequent Non-Function Migrations (New Transaction)

Note: Due to this model, it’s advisable to run function migrations independently to avoid complications, as some migrations might succeed even if others fail.