Koan Bootstrap & Auto-Registration

Core Principle

services.AddKoan() is the ONLY line needed in Program.cs. The framework discovers and registers everything through auto-registration. No manual service registration. No manual configuration. Just add package references and everything wires up automatically.

Revolutionary "Reference = Intent" Pattern

Adding a package reference automatically enables functionality:

<!-- Add MongoDB connector -->
<PackageReference Include="Koan.Data.Connector.Mongo" Version="0.6.3" />
<!-- Now MongoDB is discovered, configured, and available automatically -->

<!-- Add AI capabilities -->
<PackageReference Include="Koan.AI" Version="0.6.3" />
<!-- Now AI services are auto-registered and ready to use -->

No manual registration in Program.cs. The framework handles everything.

Minimal Program.cs Template

using Koan.Core;

var builder = WebApplication.CreateBuilder(args);

// ONE LINE - framework handles all dependencies
builder.Services.AddKoan();

var app = builder.Build();

// Middleware auto-configured by framework
app.Run();

That's it. 8 lines total. No manual service registration. No manual middleware configuration. The framework discovers:

• Data adapters
• AI providers
• Authentication providers
• Entity controllers
• Background services
• Message queues
• Everything else

When This Skill Applies

Invoke this skill when:

• ✅ Setting up new projects
• ✅ Debugging initialization issues
• ✅ Adding framework modules
• ✅ Troubleshooting boot failures
• ✅ Creating application-specific services
• ✅ Understanding assembly discovery

KoanAutoRegistrar Pattern

What It Is

KoanAutoRegistrar is how you register application-specific services (not framework services - those auto-register). Create one per application/module.

When to Create One

Create KoanAutoRegistrar when you have:

• Application-specific business logic services
• Custom background workers
• Domain-specific infrastructure
• Third-party service integrations

Template

// File: /Initialization/KoanAutoRegistrar.cs
using Koan.Core;
using Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection;
using Microsoft.Extensions.Configuration;
using Microsoft.Extensions.Hosting;

namespace MyApp.Initialization;

public sealed class KoanAutoRegistrar : IKoanAutoRegistrar
{
    public string ModuleName => "MyApp";

    public string? ModuleVersion =>
        typeof(KoanAutoRegistrar).Assembly.GetName().Version?.ToString();

    public void Initialize(IServiceCollection services)
    {
        // Register application-specific services here
        services.AddScoped<ITodoService, TodoService>();
        services.AddScoped<IEmailService, EmailService>();
        services.AddSingleton<ICacheService, RedisCacheService>();
        services.AddHostedService<BackgroundCleanupWorker>();
    }

    public void Describe(BootReport report, IConfiguration cfg, IHostEnvironment env)
    {
        report.AddModule(ModuleName, ModuleVersion);
        report.AddNote("Application services registered");
        report.AddNote($"Environment: {env.EnvironmentName}");
    }
}

Discovery Rules

The framework automatically discovers IKoanAutoRegistrar implementations:

1. Assembly Scanning: Scans all loaded assemblies at startup
2. Interface Detection: Finds types implementing IKoanAutoRegistrar
3. Instantiation: Creates instance and calls Initialize()
4. Boot Reporting: Calls Describe() to populate boot report

You don't call it. The framework finds and executes it automatically.

What NOT to Do

❌ WRONG: Manual Service Registration in Program.cs

var builder = WebApplication.CreateBuilder(args);

// ❌ DON'T DO THIS - breaks auto-registration pattern
builder.Services.AddScoped<ITodoRepository, TodoRepository>();
builder.Services.AddDbContext<MyDbContext>();
builder.Services.AddScoped<ITodoService, TodoService>();

builder.Services.AddKoan(); // Too late, order matters

Why wrong?

• Breaks "Reference = Intent" pattern
• Creates registration order dependencies
• Duplicates framework auto-registration
• Makes Program.cs grow uncontrollably

✅ CORRECT: Use KoanAutoRegistrar

// Program.cs stays minimal
var builder = WebApplication.CreateBuilder(args);
builder.Services.AddKoan();
var app = builder.Build();
app.Run();

// Application services in KoanAutoRegistrar
public sealed class KoanAutoRegistrar : IKoanAutoRegistrar
{
    public void Initialize(IServiceCollection services)
    {
        services.AddScoped<ITodoService, TodoService>();
    }
}

❌ WRONG: Multiple AddKoan() Calls

// ❌ DON'T DO THIS
builder.Services.AddKoan();
builder.Services.AddKoanData();    // Redundant
builder.Services.AddKoanWeb();     // Redundant
builder.Services.AddKoanAI();      // Redundant

Why wrong? AddKoan() already discovers and registers ALL Koan modules automatically.

✅ CORRECT: Single AddKoan()

builder.Services.AddKoan(); // Discovers and registers everything

Boot Report & Diagnostics

Viewing Boot Report

// In Development environment
if (KoanEnv.IsDevelopment)
{
    var logger = app.Services.GetRequiredService<ILogger<Program>>();
    KoanEnv.DumpSnapshot(logger);
}

Output shows:

[INFO] Koan:discover postgresql: server=localhost;database=myapp... OK
[INFO] Koan:modules data→postgresql
[INFO] Koan:modules web→controllers
[INFO] Koan:modules ai→openai
[INFO] Koan:modules MyApp v1.0.0

Boot Report Structure

public void Describe(BootReport report, IConfiguration cfg, IHostEnvironment env)
{
    // Add module to report
    report.AddModule(ModuleName, ModuleVersion);

    // Add informational notes
    report.AddNote("Services registered: TodoService, EmailService");
    report.AddNote($"Data source: {cfg["Koan:Data:Sources:Default:Adapter"]}");

    // Add warnings if needed
    if (!cfg.GetSection("Email:Smtp").Exists())
    {
        report.AddWarning("Email configuration missing - notifications disabled");
    }
}

Environment Detection

Use KoanEnv for environment-aware logic:

public void Initialize(IServiceCollection services)
{
    // Development-only services
    if (KoanEnv.IsDevelopment)
    {
        services.AddScoped<ISeedService, DevelopmentSeedService>();
    }

    // Production-only services
    if (KoanEnv.IsProduction)
    {
        services.AddSingleton<IEmailService, SendGridEmailService>();
    }

    // Container-specific configuration
    if (KoanEnv.InContainer)
    {
        services.AddSingleton<IHealthCheckService, ContainerHealthCheck>();
    }

    // Dangerous operations gated by flag
    if (KoanEnv.AllowMagicInProduction)
    {
        services.AddScoped<IAdminService, AdminService>();
    }
}

Configuration Reading

Use framework configuration helpers:

public void Initialize(IServiceCollection services)
{
    var sp = services.BuildServiceProvider();
    var cfg = sp.GetRequiredService<IConfiguration>();

    // Read with fallback chain: setting → env var → default
    var apiKey = Configuration.Read(
        cfg,
        defaultValue: "dev-key",
        "App:ApiKey",           // Config path
        "APP_API_KEY"           // Environment variable
    );

    services.AddSingleton(new ExternalApiClient(apiKey));
}

Debugging Bootstrap Issues

Symptom: Service Not Found

System.InvalidOperationException: Unable to resolve service for type 'ITodoService'

Cause: KoanAutoRegistrar not discovered or not registering service

Solution:

1. Verify file exists at /Initialization/KoanAutoRegistrar.cs
2. Verify class implements IKoanAutoRegistrar
3. Verify class is public and not internal
4. Check boot logs for module registration

Symptom: Provider Not Available

[ERROR] Koan:discover mongodb: connection failed
[INFO] Koan:modules data→json (fallback)

Cause: Provider package referenced but connection failed

Solution:

1. Verify connection string in appsettings.json
2. Check service is running (Docker, local install)
3. Verify network connectivity
4. Check boot report for detailed error

Symptom: Assembly Not Loaded

[WARNING] Koan:modules MyModule not discovered

Cause: Assembly not referenced or not loaded at startup

Solution:

1. Verify <ProjectReference> or <PackageReference> exists
2. Check assembly is copied to output directory
3. Add explicit assembly reference if needed:

   var assembly = Assembly.Load("MyModule");
   

Bundled Templates

• templates/Program.cs.template - Minimal Program.cs
• templates/KoanAutoRegistrar.cs.template - Complete registrar template
• templates/KoanAutoRegistrar-with-options.cs.template - Registrar with configuration options
• templates/appsettings.json.template - Koan configuration structure

Reference Documentation

• Full Guide: docs/guides/deep-dive/bootstrap-lifecycle.md
• Troubleshooting: docs/guides/troubleshooting/bootstrap-failures.md
• Auto-Provisioning: docs/guides/deep-dive/auto-provisioning-system.md
• Sample: samples/S0.ConsoleJsonRepo/Program.cs (Minimal 20-line bootstrap)
• Sample: samples/S1.Web/Program.cs (Web bootstrap with lifecycle)

Advanced: Module Loading Order

Modules load in this order:

1. Core - Foundation services
2. Data - Repository abstractions
3. Adapters - Concrete providers (Mongo, Postgres, etc.)
4. Domain - Entity registrations
5. Web - Controllers, middleware
6. Application - Your KoanAutoRegistrar

Dependencies are resolved automatically. You never need to specify order manually.

Advanced: Conditional Registration

public void Initialize(IServiceCollection services)
{
    var sp = services.BuildServiceProvider();
    var cfg = sp.GetRequiredService<IConfiguration>();

    // Feature flags
    if (cfg.GetValue<bool>("Features:EmailNotifications"))
    {
        services.AddScoped<INotificationService, EmailNotificationService>();
    }
    else
    {
        services.AddScoped<INotificationService, NoOpNotificationService>();
    }

    // Provider-specific services
    var dataProvider = cfg["Koan:Data:Sources:Default:Adapter"];
    if (dataProvider == "mongodb")
    {
        services.AddSingleton<IMongoIndexManager, MongoIndexManager>();
    }
}

Framework Compliance

Bootstrap patterns are mandatory in Koan Framework:

• ✅ Use AddKoan() for all framework registration
• ✅ Use KoanAutoRegistrar for application services
• ✅ Keep Program.cs minimal (under 20 lines)
• ❌ Never manually register framework services
• ❌ Never duplicate framework configuration
• ❌ Never call AddDbContext, AddControllers, etc. manually

The framework handles everything through auto-discovery.