AIML-230: Harden coding standards and practices [STACKED]

[ChrisEdwards]

✅ Rebased onto main after PR #28 merged (2025-11-14)

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Why: The Problem We're Solving

The mcp-contrast codebase lacked consistent tooling and standards for code formatting, style, and maintainability. This creates several problems:

1. Inconsistent formatting - No automated enforcement led to varying styles across files
2. Verbose code - Manual type declarations and wildcard imports reduced readability
3. Package naming error - The sdkexstension package had a spelling error that needed correction
4. Lack of standards - No documented coding conventions for AI assistants or developers

These issues make the code harder to maintain, review, and extend. As the project grows and more developers contribute, consistent standards become critical to velocity and code quality.

What: Changes Made

This PR introduces five key improvements to establish a solid foundation for code quality:

1. Spotless Maven Plugin - Automated code formatting with Google Java Format
2. var Keyword Refactoring - 549 local variable declarations simplified using type inference
3. No Wildcard Imports Standard - 5 wildcard imports converted to 30 explicit imports
4. Package Spelling Fix - Renamed sdkexstension → sdkextension (72 files affected)
5. Updated Documentation - CLAUDE.md now documents coding standards

Impact: 158 files changed, +23,357/-14,075 lines (includes package rename history preservation)

How: Implementation Approach

1. Spotless Integration (Commit a6e5cef)

Added Maven plugin with Google Java Format 1.26.0:

• Automatic enforcement - Runs on validate phase, fails build if formatting violations exist
• Configuration - Matches aiml-services repository pattern for consistency
• One-command fix - mvn spotless:apply reformats entire codebase
• Developer friendly - Clear error messages guide fixes

2. var Keyword Migration (Commit 5579444)

Systematic refactoring following these rules:

• Use var when type is obvious from right-hand side (constructors, method calls)
• Keep explicit types for primitives, null assignments, ambiguous cases
• Collections retain type parameters for clarity

Examples:

// Before
TraceFilterForm filterForm = new TraceFilterForm();
List<VulnLight> vulnerabilities = new ArrayList<>();

// After  
var filterForm = new TraceFilterForm();
var vulnerabilities = new ArrayList<VulnLight>();

Distribution:

• Service classes: 70 replacements
• SDK extension: 29 replacements
• Data/mapper/utils: 13 replacements
• Test classes: 437 replacements
• Total: 549 var replacements

3. Explicit Imports Standard (Commits cc85cf9, a7812f6)

Converted all wildcard imports to explicit imports:

• Documented standard in CLAUDE.md first
• Converted 5 wildcards → 30 explicit imports across codebase
• Improved IDE support - Better autocomplete and navigation

4. Package Spelling Correction (Commit 1f197f5)

Fixed sdkexstension → sdkextension:

• Used git mv to preserve file history (49 files)
• Updated package declarations in all moved files
• Updated imports in 23 files referencing the package
• Updated documentation (CLAUDE.md, plans)

5. Documentation Updates

Added "Coding Standards" section to CLAUDE.md with:

• Prefer var for local variables when type is obvious
• No wildcard imports - all imports must be explicit
• Use isEmpty() instead of size() > 0 for collection checks

Step-by-Step Walkthrough

Phase 1: Establish Standards

Commit cc85cf9 - Document no wildcard imports standard

• Added rule to CLAUDE.md Coding Standards section
• Provides guidance for AI assistants and developers

Commit 90f699d - Document prefer var for local variables

• Added rule with examples to CLAUDE.md
• Clarifies when to use vs avoid var

Phase 2: Add Tooling

Commit a6e5cef - Add Spotless Maven plugin

• pom.xml: Added plugin configuration (lines 127-150)
• Configured Google Java Format 1.26.0
• Set to automatically check on every build
• Formatted all 96 Java files in codebase
• Updated CLAUDE.md with usage instructions

Key features:

<plugin>
  <groupId>com.diffplug.spotless</groupId>
  <artifactId>spotless-maven-plugin</artifactId>
  <version>2.43.0</version>
  <executions>
    <execution>
      <phase>validate</phase> <!-- Runs automatically -->
      <goals><goal>check</goal></goals>
    </execution>
  </executions>
</plugin>

Phase 3: Apply Standards

Commit 5579444 - Refactor to use var keyword

• 34 files modified across main and test code
• 549 local variable declarations updated
• All changes follow documented standard
• Zero behavioral changes - purely stylistic

Commit a7812f6 - Convert wildcard imports

• 5 wildcard imports → 30 explicit imports
• Files: ADRService, AssessService, SCAService, SDKExtension, SDKHelper
• Improved code clarity and IDE navigation

Phase 4: Fix Technical Debt

Commit 1f197f5 - Fix package spelling

• Renamed 49 files: sdkexstension → sdkextension
• Updated 23 import statements
• Preserved git history with git mv
• Fixed embarrassing typo

Testing

Test Results

Tests run: 250
Failures: 0
Errors: 0
Skipped: 0
Build: SUCCESS

Verification Performed

Unit Tests (224 tests):

• All service tests pass
• All data model tests pass
• All utility tests pass

Integration Tests (26 tests via mvn verify):

• Real API connectivity verified
• Actual Contrast data retrieval tested
• Session metadata integration confirmed

Code Quality Checks:

• Spotless formatting verified: mvn spotless:check
• All files pass Google Java Format rules
• Zero formatting violations

Manual Verification:

• Built JAR successfully: mvn clean package
• Tested MCP server startup
• Verified version logging displays correctly

Test Coverage Notes

• No behavioral changes - All modifications are stylistic
• Zero test modifications needed - Tests still valid
• Type inference verified - Compiler confirms all var usages

Additional Context

Related Work

This PR is Phase 1 of a larger code quality initiative. Future work includes:

• Phase 2 (AIML-231/mcp-eu1): AssertJ adoption, test logging, mock() standards
• Tracked in separate beads for focused review

Bead Tracking

Completed beads in this PR:

• ✅ mcp-bxm - Add Spotless Maven plugin
• ✅ mcp-424 - Update to use var keyword
• ✅ mcp-68y - Document no wildcard imports standard
• ✅ mcp-i2k - Convert wildcard imports to explicit
• ✅ mcp-unm - Fix package spelling

Parent epic: mcp-uuv (AIML-230)

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Reviewer Checklist

• All 5 commits follow logical progression
• Spotless configuration matches aiml-services pattern
• var keyword usage follows documented standards
• No wildcard imports remain in codebase
• Package rename preserved git history correctly
• All 250 tests pass
• Code compiles without warnings
• CLAUDE.md documentation is clear and complete

Commands for Reviewers

# Verify tests pass
mvn clean verify

# Check formatting compliance  
mvn spotless:check

# Build and verify JAR
mvn clean package
java -jar target/mcp-contrast-*.jar --help

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Related Issues:

• Jira: AIML-230
• Parent bead: mcp-uuv
• Child beads: mcp-bxm, mcp-424, mcp-68y, mcp-i2k, mcp-unm

🤖 Generated with Claude Code

[Copilot]

Pull Request Overview

This PR implements comprehensive code quality improvements through automated formatting and modernized coding practices. It introduces Spotless Maven plugin for consistent code formatting, adopts the var keyword for improved readability, converts wildcard imports to explicit imports, and corrects a package naming typo throughout the codebase.

• Added Spotless Maven plugin with Google Java Format for automated code formatting enforcement
• Modernized 549 local variable declarations to use var keyword across main and test code
• Converted 5 wildcard imports to 30 explicit imports and documented "no wildcard imports" standard
• Fixed package naming: renamed sdkexstension to sdkextension across 72 files with git history preserved

Reviewed Changes

Copilot reviewed 130 out of 153 changed files in this pull request and generated no comments.

Show a summary per file

File	Description
ADRServiceIntegrationTest.java	Applied var keyword and reformatted with Spotless; updated import from old sdkexstension to sdkextension package
PaginationHandler.java	Applied var keyword to local variables and reformatted code with Spotless
SessionMetadataResponse.java	New file created in corrected sdkextension package with Spotless formatting
MetadataSession.java	Package declaration corrected from sdkexstension to sdkextension
MetadataField.java	Package declaration corrected from sdkexstension to sdkextension
AgentSession.java	New file created in corrected sdkextension package with Spotless formatting
LibraryObservationsResponse.java	New file created in corrected sdkextension package with Spotless formatting
LibraryObservation.java	New file created in corrected sdkextension package with Spotless formatting
Server.java (routecoverage)	New file created in corrected sdkextension package with Spotless formatting
RouteDetailsResponse.java	New file created in corrected sdkextension package with Spotless formatting
RouteCoverageResponse.java	New file created in corrected sdkextension package with Spotless formatting
RouteCoverageBySessionIDAndMetadataRequestExtended.java	New file created in corrected sdkextension package
Route.java	New file created in corrected sdkextension package with Spotless formatting
Observation.java	New file created in corrected sdkextension package with Spotless formatting
App.java (routecoverage)	New file created in corrected sdkextension package with Spotless formatting
Metadata.java	New file created in corrected sdkextension package with Spotless formatting
Field.java	New file created in corrected sdkextension package with Spotless formatting
ApplicationsResponse.java	New file created in corrected sdkextension package with Spotless formatting
Application.java	New file created in corrected sdkextension package with Spotless formatting
UserInput.java (adr)	New file created in corrected sdkextension package with Spotless formatting
Story.java	Package declaration corrected from sdkexstension to sdkextension
StackFrame.java	New file created in corrected sdkextension package with Spotless formatting
Server.java (adr)	New file created in corrected sdkextension package with Spotless formatting
Request.java	Package declaration corrected from sdkexstension to sdkextension
HttpRequest.java	New file created in corrected sdkextension package with Spotless formatting
EventSummary.java	New file created in corrected sdkextension package with Spotless formatting
EventDetails.java	New file created in corrected sdkextension package with Spotless formatting
Event.java	New file created in corrected sdkextension package with Spotless formatting
Chapter.java	New file created in corrected sdkextension package with Spotless formatting
AttacksResponse.java	New file created in corrected sdkextension package with Spotless formatting
AttacksFilterBody.java	New file created in corrected sdkextension package with Spotless formatting
AttackEvent.java	New file created in corrected sdkextension package with Spotless formatting
Attack.java	New file created in corrected sdkextension package with Spotless formatting
Application.java (adr)	New file created in corrected sdkextension package with Spotless formatting
Server.java (data)	New file created in corrected sdkextension package with Spotless formatting
Rule.java	New file created in corrected sdkextension package with Spotless formatting
ProtectData.java	Package declaration corrected from sdkexstension to sdkextension
LibraryVulnerabilityExtended.java	Package declaration corrected from sdkexstension to sdkextension
LibraryExtended.java	New file created in corrected sdkextension package with Spotless formatting
Library.java	New file created in corrected sdkextension package with Spotless formatting
LibrariesExtended.java	Package declaration corrected from sdkexstension to sdkextension
ImpactStats.java	New file created in corrected sdkextension package with Spotless formatting
CvssV3.java	New file created in corrected sdkextension package with Spotless formatting
CveData.java	New file created in corrected sdkextension package with Spotless formatting
Cve.java	New file created in corrected sdkextension package with Spotless formatting
App.java	New file created in corrected sdkextension package with Spotless formatting
SessionMetadata.java	New file created in corrected sdkextension package with Spotless formatting
SDKHelper.java	New file created in corrected sdkextension package with var keyword applied and Spotless formatting
SDKExtension.java	New file created in corrected sdkextension package with var keyword applied and Spotless formatting
VulnerabilityContext.java	Updated import from sdkexstension to sdkextension package and applied Spotless formatting
HintUtils.java	Applied var keyword to local variables and reformatted with Spotless
StackLib.java	Removed unused import and reformatted with Spotless

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[seschis]

The generated test plans in here are nice, but I'm a little concerned that as more people work on the code, they won't get maintained unless you use claude to generate all tests. It also kinda creates 2 sources of truth. Historically the test code itself is supposed to be the source of truth for what is being tested and expected outcomes. These test plans sort of duplicate that knowledge in two places and appear easy to become out of sync.
The best approach I've seen to creating something more non-developer-friendly for reading what the tests are doing has been test patterns and frameworks like RSpec, which was popularized by Ruby. Is the output of RSpec what you are trying to communicate with these generated test plan documents?

[ChrisEdwards]

Well crap. Those generated plans were supposed to be gitignored. They are how I personally test with copilot with the real mcp server. I will remove them in the next PR. There aren't mean to be used by devs. Its an extra layer of protection for me to make sure the AI is able to understand the tool descriptions, etc. They have been useful as I change these things, but shouldn't be necessary as ongoing tests. Committing them was an accident.