Data Model

This section details the fundamental data model that underpins the entire MSDN platform. Understanding this model is crucial for effectively interacting with, managing, and extending our services.

Core Entities

The MSDN data model is built around several core entities, each representing a distinct concept within the system:

• Project: Represents a distinct development effort or initiative. Projects can contain multiple modules and are the primary organizational unit.
• Module: A sub-component of a Project. Modules group related code, documentation, and resources.
• Document: Represents a single piece of documentation. This can be a tutorial, API reference, conceptual overview, or any other form of written content.
• CodeSnippet: A small, reusable block of code, often associated with a specific programming language or task.
• Resource: Any external asset linked to a Project, Module, or Document, such as images, videos, or external links.

Relationships

These entities are connected through defined relationships:

• A Project can contain many Modules.
• A Module belongs to exactly one Project.
• A Module can contain many Documents.
• A Document belongs to exactly one Module.
• A Document can contain multiple CodeSnippets.
• A CodeSnippet can be referenced by multiple Documents.
• A Project, Module, or Document can be associated with multiple Resources.

Attributes

Each entity possesses a set of attributes that describe its properties. Common attributes include:

• Common Attributes:
  • id: Unique identifier for the entity.
  • name: A human-readable name for the entity.
  • description: A brief summary of the entity.
  • createdAt: Timestamp of creation.
  • updatedAt: Timestamp of last modification.
• Specific Attributes:
  • Document: title, content (text, Markdown, HTML), version, language.
  • CodeSnippet: code (the actual code), language, tags.
  • Project: status (e.g., 'Active', 'Archived'), ownerId.

Data Types

Attributes are defined with specific data types to ensure data integrity. Standard types include:

• String: For textual data like names, descriptions, titles, and code content.
• Integer: For numerical identifiers and counts.
• Timestamp: For date and time information.
• Boolean: For true/false values.
• Array: For lists of items, such as tags for a code snippet or associated resources.
• Enum: For predefined sets of values, like project status or document language.

Example

Let's consider a simple scenario: a "Getting Started" document within the "Web Development" module of a "Frontend Framework" project.

This would be represented as:

{
  "project": {
    "id": "proj_123",
    "name": "Frontend Framework",
    "description": "Core concepts and usage of the new frontend framework.",
    "status": "Active",
    "createdAt": "2023-01-15T10:00:00Z",
    "updatedAt": "2023-10-27T14:30:00Z"
  },
  "module": {
    "id": "mod_456",
    "projectId": "proj_123",
    "name": "Web Development",
    "description": "Guides for building web applications.",
    "createdAt": "2023-01-15T11:00:00Z",
    "updatedAt": "2023-10-20T09:00:00Z"
  },
  "document": {
    "id": "doc_789",
    "moduleId": "mod_456",
    "title": "Getting Started with Components",
    "content": "# Creating Your First Component\n\nThis guide will walk you through creating a basic component...",
    "version": "1.0",
    "language": "en",
    "createdAt": "2023-02-01T12:00:00Z",
    "updatedAt": "2023-10-25T16:00:00Z"
  },
  "codeSnippets": [
    {
      "id": "cs_abc",
      "documentId": "doc_789",
      "language": "javascript",
      "code": "function MyComponent() {\n  return 
Hello, World!
;\n}",
      "tags": ["component", "react", "basic"]
    },
    {
      "id": "cs_def",
      "documentId": "doc_789",
      "language": "html",
      "code": "<div id='app'></div>",
      "tags": ["html", "entrypoint"]
    }
  ],
  "resources": [
    {
      "id": "res_xyz",
      "documentId": "doc_789",
      "type": "image",
      "url": "/assets/images/component_diagram.png",
      "altText": "Diagram showing component structure"
    }
  ]
}