{"id":"69831c61e0179656010f4d8e","title":"2026 02 04","path":"how-to/committee/release-notes/2026-02-04","contentMarkdown":"# 04-Feb-2026 — Deploy, Secrets and 5 more areas: 7 features and 1 fix [#146](https://github.com/nbarrett/ngx-ramblers/issues/146)\n\n## [build 460](https://github.com/nbarrett/ngx-ramblers/actions/runs/21667082209) — [commit dff051b](https://github.com/nbarrett/ngx-ramblers/commit/dff051b465a53e2ebad3155ca3c6bf08b9eca8de)\n\n_____\n\n- Add fly.toml to Dockerfile so it's available in deployed environments\n- Simplify fly deployment to read fly.toml directly instead of requiring fallback\n- Fix Environment type usage in env-config and env-core\n- Add FLICKR_SCRAPE_DUMP_DIR to Environment enum\n(ref: #146)\n\n### **secrets**: add database-first secrets loading for deployed servers ([#146](https://github.com/nbarrett/ngx-ramblers/issues/146))\n\nAdd loadSecretsWithFallback and loadSecretsForEnvironmentFromDatabase\nto support reading secrets from the database ENVIRONMENTS config when\nrunning on deployed servers. Falls back to file-based secrets for local\ndevelopment.\nSecrets are built from:\n- Global aws config and secrets from EnvironmentsConfig\n- Per-environment aws, mongo, and secrets from EnvironmentConfig\n- MongoDB URI is constructed from mongo config fields\n\n### **cli**: add GitHub secrets sync command for environment management ([#146](https://github.com/nbarrett/ngx-ramblers/issues/146))\n\nAdd ngx-cli github command with reconcile, sync, and push subcommands\nto manage the CONFIGS_JSON GitHub secret from the database source of truth.\nThis enables regular syncing when environments are created or modified.\n\n### **backup**: global AWS credentials, S3 path improvements, and DRY refactoring ([#146](https://github.com/nbarrett/ngx-ramblers/issues/146))\n\n## User Guide\n### Global Backup Configuration\nYou can now configure global AWS credentials in the Settings tab under 'Global AWS S3 Configuration'.\nThis allows a single set of credentials to manage backups across all environments, with per-environment\nsettings used as fallback.\n**New Settings Fields:**\n- Access Key ID\n- AWS access key with S3 permissions\n- Secret Access Key\n- Corresponding secret key\n### Backup Improvements\n- Backups are now organised by environment and timestamp in S3: `//`\n- Upload progress is displayed in the History tab logs\n- Server-side logging reduced to show only meaningful operations\n### Environment Configuration\n- MongoDB URI can now be pasted directly\n- fields auto-populate from the connection string\n- All environment configs support AWS, MongoDB, and Fly.io credentials in one place\n## Technical Changes\n### S3 Path Construction\n- New `backup-paths.ts` with pure utility functions for S3 key construction\n- 22 unit tests covering path building and parsing\n- Simplified path structure: `/` instead of `//`\n### DRY Refactoring\n- Consolidated `uploadDirectoryToS3` from 3 duplicate implementations into `server/lib/aws/s3-utils.ts`\n- Added factory functions: `createEmptyAwsConfig()`, `createEmptyMongoConfig()`\n- `EnvironmentBackupConfig` and `BackupConfig` now type aliases for `EnvironmentConfig` and `EnvironmentsConfig`\n- Eliminated inline interface definitions in favour of model imports\n### Credential Resolution\n- `preferredCredentials()` method prioritises global AWS credentials over per-environment\n- `preferredBucket()` and `preferredRegion()` follow same pattern\n- `bucketExists()` check prevents AccessDenied errors when credentials lack CreateBucket permission\n### Code Quality\n- Removed verbose debug logging from backup controller and websocket server\n- Method naming follows project conventions (no 'get' prefix)\n- All config model types centralised in `environment-config.model.ts`\n\n### **environment-setup**: comprehensive environment management overhaul with API and MongoDB migration ([#146](https://github.com/nbarrett/ngx-ramblers/issues/146))\n\nIntroduces new environment configuration API, MongoDB cluster-based config, and enhanced UI with vendor branding and dashboard links.\n**New Environment Configuration API:**\n- RESTful endpoints for reading and writing environment configurations\n- `EnvironmentConfigService` for centralised config management\n- Separation of concerns: environment config extracted from backup/restore\n- Config initialisation from files with validation and error handling\n**MongoDB Configuration Migration:**\n- Migrate from `uri` field to `cluster` field in MongoDB configuration\n- Cluster field stores cluster name without .mongodb.net suffix\n- Database migration script (20260201000000) converts existing records\n- Backward compatible: handles both legacy URI and new cluster formats\n- Improved regex parsing for cluster extraction from URIs\n**Enhanced Environment Setup UI:**\n- Vendor logos in all configuration section headings\n- Ramblers logo dynamically loaded from System Settings\n- AWS, MongoDB, and Fly.io static brand logos\n- External link buttons for quick dashboard access:\n- AWS S3 Console (global and per-environment bucket views)\n- MongoDB Atlas dashboard\n- Fly.io app-specific dashboard\n- Deployed application URL\n- Environment list alphabetically sorted by name\n- Improved visual spacing and button styling consistency\n**Backend Architecture Improvements:**\n- New `environments-config.ts` module for config operations\n- Enhanced `config-initializer` with cluster field population\n- Updated backup/restore service to use new config service\n- CLI tools migrated to cluster-based MongoDB configuration\n- Fly.toml path resolution fixed for compiled environments\n**Technical Implementation:**\n- New `EnvironmentConfig` and `EnvironmentsConfig` models\n- Integration with SystemConfigService for dynamic Ramblers logo\n- Custom `.btn-outline-flyio` styling for brand consistency\n- Shared `sortBy()` utility for environment sorting\n- Type-safe API routes with proper error handling\n\n### **environment-setup**: add automated environment creation and CLI enhancements ([#146](https://github.com/nbarrett/ngx-ramblers/issues/146))\n\nNew Features for Users:\nEnvironment Setup (Web UI)\nThe new Environment Setup page (Admin > Environment Setup) allows administrators to\ncreate complete NGX-Ramblers environments for new Ramblers walking groups through a\nguided wizard:\n1. Enter your Ramblers API key and select your walking group\n2. Configure external services (MongoDB, AWS, Brevo email, maps)\n3. Set up an admin user account\n4. Deploy to fly.io with one click\nThe wizard handles all infrastructure provisioning automatically including:\n- Cloud database setup and configuration\n- File storage (AWS S3) with secure credentials\n- Application deployment to fly.io\n- Sample content and admin menu setup\n- Optional standard assets (logos, icons, backgrounds) copied to S3\nCommand Line Interface (CLI)\nA new CLI tool is available for power users and automation. See the full reference\nguide at: Admin > How-To > Technical Documents > \"NGX Ramblers CLI Reference Guide\"\nQuick start:\nnpm run cli -- # Run from project root\nnpm link && ngx-cli # Or install globally (optional)\nCommon commands:\nngx-cli l dev my-group # Start local development\nngx-cli l list # List available environments\nngx-cli db seed my-group --fresh # Fresh database seed with migrations\nngx-cli db seed my-group --sync # Seed and sync walks from Ramblers API\nngx-cli f deploy my-group # Deploy to fly.io\nngx-cli des my-group # Destroy environment completely\nngx-cli bak create my-group # Backup an environment\nngx-cli bak restore my-group # Restore from backup\nInteractive mode: Run commands without arguments to get a selection menu.\nUse arrow keys to navigate, ESC to go back, q to quit.\n---\nTechnical Changes:\nCLI Implementation:\n- Add command aliases (env, db, val, des, l, f, a, bak)\n- Add positional arguments instead of --name options\n- Add interactive navigation with inquirer.js\n- Add port availability checking for local dev\n- Run migrations automatically after database seeding\n- Add backup/restore commands (bak create, bak restore, bak list)\nDatabase & Migrations:\n- Add Duplicate Page Content and Venue Settings to admin menu\n- Add showPlaceholderImage to walks action buttons\n- Include all 23 production admin menu items in migrations\nEnvironment Setup Service:\n- Integrate with Ramblers API for group validation\n- Automate AWS S3/IAM resource creation\n- Automate fly.io deployment with secrets\n- Create database config templates for new groups\n- Add WebSocket progress feedback for real-time step updates\n- Add copyStandardAssets option to seed S3 with logos/icons/backgrounds\n- Add OS Maps and reCAPTCHA defaults from environment variables\n- Add detailed MongoDB connection error messages with suggestions\n- Add ENVIRONMENT_SETUP_ENABLED env var to control UI access\n\n### **release-notes**: add technical article publishing script\n\n- Add publish-technical-article.ts for publishing markdown articles to CMS\n- Use shared date utilities and UIDateFormat enum for DRY date formatting\n- Add DAY_MONTH_YEAR_DASHED format to UIDateFormat enum\n- Disable Manage Venues button when form is disabled\n- Remove unused code from venue-lookup.ts\n\n### **paths**: use resolveClientPath for non-vcs file access ([#146](https://github.com/nbarrett/ngx-ramblers/issues/146))\n\nFix path resolution for secrets and configs.json files when running\nin production mode where code executes from ts-gen directory.","contentHtml":"

04-Feb-2026 — Deploy, Secrets and 5 more areas: 7 features and 1 fix #146

\n

build 460 — commit dff051b

\n
\n
    \n
  • Add fly.toml to Dockerfile so it's available in deployed environments
    • \n
  • Simplify fly deployment to read fly.toml directly instead of requiring fallback
    • \n
  • Fix Environment type usage in env-config and env-core
    • \n
  • Add FLICKR_SCRAPE_DUMP_DIR to Environment enum\n(ref: #146)
    • \n
\n

secrets: add database-first secrets loading for deployed servers (#146)

\n

Add loadSecretsWithFallback and loadSecretsForEnvironmentFromDatabase\nto support reading secrets from the database ENVIRONMENTS config when\nrunning on deployed servers. Falls back to file-based secrets for local\ndevelopment.\nSecrets are built from:

\n
    \n
  • Global aws config and secrets from EnvironmentsConfig
    • \n
  • Per-environment aws, mongo, and secrets from EnvironmentConfig
    • \n
  • MongoDB URI is constructed from mongo config fields
    • \n
\n

cli: add GitHub secrets sync command for environment management (#146)

\n

Add ngx-cli github command with reconcile, sync, and push subcommands\nto manage the CONFIGS_JSON GitHub secret from the database source of truth.\nThis enables regular syncing when environments are created or modified.

\n

backup: global AWS credentials, S3 path improvements, and DRY refactoring (#146)

\n

User Guide

\n

Global Backup Configuration

\n

You can now configure global AWS credentials in the Settings tab under 'Global AWS S3 Configuration'.\nThis allows a single set of credentials to manage backups across all environments, with per-environment\nsettings used as fallback.\nNew Settings Fields:

\n
    \n
  • Access Key ID
    • \n
  • AWS access key with S3 permissions
    • \n
  • Secret Access Key
    • \n
  • Corresponding secret key
    • \n
\n

Backup Improvements

\n
    \n
  • Backups are now organised by environment and timestamp in S3: <environment>/<timestamp>/
    • \n
  • Upload progress is displayed in the History tab logs
    • \n
  • Server-side logging reduced to show only meaningful operations
    • \n
\n

Environment Configuration

\n
    \n
  • MongoDB URI can now be pasted directly
    • \n
  • fields auto-populate from the connection string
    • \n
  • All environment configs support AWS, MongoDB, and Fly.io credentials in one place
    • \n
\n

Technical Changes

\n

S3 Path Construction

\n
    \n
  • New backup-paths.ts with pure utility functions for S3 key construction
    • \n
  • 22 unit tests covering path building and parsing
    • \n
  • Simplified path structure: <env>/<timestamp> instead of <env>/<db>/<timestamp>
    • \n
\n

DRY Refactoring

\n
    \n
  • Consolidated uploadDirectoryToS3 from 3 duplicate implementations into server/lib/aws/s3-utils.ts
    • \n
  • Added factory functions: createEmptyAwsConfig(), createEmptyMongoConfig()
    • \n
  • EnvironmentBackupConfig and BackupConfig now type aliases for EnvironmentConfig and EnvironmentsConfig
    • \n
  • Eliminated inline interface definitions in favour of model imports
    • \n
\n

Credential Resolution

\n
    \n
  • preferredCredentials() method prioritises global AWS credentials over per-environment
    • \n
  • preferredBucket() and preferredRegion() follow same pattern
    • \n
  • bucketExists() check prevents AccessDenied errors when credentials lack CreateBucket permission
    • \n
\n

Code Quality

\n
    \n
  • Removed verbose debug logging from backup controller and websocket server
    • \n
  • Method naming follows project conventions (no 'get' prefix)
    • \n
  • All config model types centralised in environment-config.model.ts
    • \n
\n

environment-setup: comprehensive environment management overhaul with API and MongoDB migration (#146)

\n

Introduces new environment configuration API, MongoDB cluster-based config, and enhanced UI with vendor branding and dashboard links.\nNew Environment Configuration API:

\n
    \n
  • RESTful endpoints for reading and writing environment configurations
    • \n
  • EnvironmentConfigService for centralised config management
    • \n
  • Separation of concerns: environment config extracted from backup/restore
    • \n
  • Config initialisation from files with validation and error handling\nMongoDB Configuration Migration:
    • \n
  • Migrate from uri field to cluster field in MongoDB configuration
    • \n
  • Cluster field stores cluster name without .mongodb.net suffix
    • \n
  • Database migration script (20260201000000) converts existing records
    • \n
  • Backward compatible: handles both legacy URI and new cluster formats
    • \n
  • Improved regex parsing for cluster extraction from URIs\nEnhanced Environment Setup UI:
    • \n
  • Vendor logos in all configuration section headings
    • \n
  • Ramblers logo dynamically loaded from System Settings
    • \n
  • AWS, MongoDB, and Fly.io static brand logos
    • \n
  • External link buttons for quick dashboard access:
    • \n
  • AWS S3 Console (global and per-environment bucket views)
    • \n
  • MongoDB Atlas dashboard
    • \n
  • Fly.io app-specific dashboard
    • \n
  • Deployed application URL
    • \n
  • Environment list alphabetically sorted by name
    • \n
  • Improved visual spacing and button styling consistency\nBackend Architecture Improvements:
    • \n
  • New environments-config.ts module for config operations
    • \n
  • Enhanced config-initializer with cluster field population
    • \n
  • Updated backup/restore service to use new config service
    • \n
  • CLI tools migrated to cluster-based MongoDB configuration
    • \n
  • Fly.toml path resolution fixed for compiled environments\nTechnical Implementation:
    • \n
  • New EnvironmentConfig and EnvironmentsConfig models
    • \n
  • Integration with SystemConfigService for dynamic Ramblers logo
    • \n
  • Custom .btn-outline-flyio styling for brand consistency
    • \n
  • Shared sortBy() utility for environment sorting
    • \n
  • Type-safe API routes with proper error handling
    • \n
\n

environment-setup: add automated environment creation and CLI enhancements (#146)

\n

New Features for Users:\nEnvironment Setup (Web UI)\nThe new Environment Setup page (Admin > Environment Setup) allows administrators to\ncreate complete NGX-Ramblers environments for new Ramblers walking groups through a\nguided wizard:

\n
    \n
  1. Enter your Ramblers API key and select your walking group
    2. \n
  2. Configure external services (MongoDB, AWS, Brevo email, maps)
    3. \n
  3. Set up an admin user account
    4. \n
  4. Deploy to fly.io with one click\nThe wizard handles all infrastructure provisioning automatically including:
    5. \n
\n
    \n
  • Cloud database setup and configuration
    • \n
  • File storage (AWS S3) with secure credentials
    • \n
  • Application deployment to fly.io
    • \n
  • Sample content and admin menu setup
    • \n
  • Optional standard assets (logos, icons, backgrounds) copied to S3\nCommand Line Interface (CLI)\nA new CLI tool is available for power users and automation. See the full reference\nguide at: Admin > How-To > Technical Documents > "NGX Ramblers CLI Reference Guide"\nQuick start:\nnpm run cli -- # Run from project root\nnpm link && ngx-cli # Or install globally (optional)\nCommon commands:\nngx-cli l dev my-group # Start local development\nngx-cli l list # List available environments\nngx-cli db seed my-group --fresh # Fresh database seed with migrations\nngx-cli db seed my-group --sync # Seed and sync walks from Ramblers API\nngx-cli f deploy my-group # Deploy to fly.io\nngx-cli des my-group # Destroy environment completely\nngx-cli bak create my-group # Backup an environment\nngx-cli bak restore my-group # Restore from backup\nInteractive mode: Run commands without arguments to get a selection menu.\nUse arrow keys to navigate, ESC to go back, q to quit.
    • \n
\n
\n

Technical Changes:\nCLI Implementation:

\n
    \n
  • Add command aliases (env, db, val, des, l, f, a, bak)
    • \n
  • Add positional arguments instead of --name options
    • \n
  • Add interactive navigation with inquirer.js
    • \n
  • Add port availability checking for local dev
    • \n
  • Run migrations automatically after database seeding
    • \n
  • Add backup/restore commands (bak create, bak restore, bak list)\nDatabase & Migrations:
    • \n
  • Add Duplicate Page Content and Venue Settings to admin menu
    • \n
  • Add showPlaceholderImage to walks action buttons
    • \n
  • Include all 23 production admin menu items in migrations\nEnvironment Setup Service:
    • \n
  • Integrate with Ramblers API for group validation
    • \n
  • Automate AWS S3/IAM resource creation
    • \n
  • Automate fly.io deployment with secrets
    • \n
  • Create database config templates for new groups
    • \n
  • Add WebSocket progress feedback for real-time step updates
    • \n
  • Add copyStandardAssets option to seed S3 with logos/icons/backgrounds
    • \n
  • Add OS Maps and reCAPTCHA defaults from environment variables
    • \n
  • Add detailed MongoDB connection error messages with suggestions
    • \n
  • Add ENVIRONMENT_SETUP_ENABLED env var to control UI access
    • \n
\n

release-notes: add technical article publishing script

\n
    \n
  • Add publish-technical-article.ts for publishing markdown articles to CMS
    • \n
  • Use shared date utilities and UIDateFormat enum for DRY date formatting
    • \n
  • Add DAY_MONTH_YEAR_DASHED format to UIDateFormat enum
    • \n
  • Disable Manage Venues button when form is disabled
    • \n
  • Remove unused code from venue-lookup.ts
    • \n
\n

paths: use resolveClientPath for non-vcs file access (#146)

\n

Fix path resolution for secrets and configs.json files when running\nin production mode where code executes from ts-gen directory.

\n"}