theia IDE Migration - Immediate Next Steps

Created: 2025-10-26 Current Build: Build #10 running (Cargo dependency fixes) Migration Analysis: See THEIA-MIGRATION-analysis.md for complete details

Key Discovery: theia-ide Structure

The theia-ide submodule is simpler than expected - it's a product distribution, not the full theia framework monorepo.

Structure:

theia-ide/
├── applications/
│   ├── browser/      # Browser application (target)
│   └── electron/     # Electron application
├── theia-extensions/ # Custom extensions directory
├── lerna.json        # Monorepo orchestration
├── package.json      # Root workspace
└── yarn.lock         # Yarn dependencies

Build System:

Lerna + Yarn workspaces (NOT npm)
Build extensions first, then applications
No src/ directory in applications (created during build)

Simplified Migration Path

Option 1: theia Extension (RECOMMENDED)

Create custom Coditect extension in theia-extensions/coditect-branding/

Advantages:

✅ Clean separation (Coditect code isolated)
✅ Easy to maintain (one directory)
✅ Follows theia best practices
✅ Can be reused across applications

Implementation:

# 1. Create extension directory
mkdir -p theia-ide/theia-extensions/coditect-branding/src

# 2. Copy branding files
cp theia-app/src/browser/coditect-chat-welcome-provider.tsx \
   theia-ide/theia-extensions/coditect-branding/src/
cp theia-app/src/browser/coditect-branding-frontend-module.ts \
   theia-ide/theia-extensions/coditect-branding/src/

# 3. Create package.json
cat > theia-ide/theia-extensions/coditect-branding/package.json << 'EOF'
{
  "name": "theia-ide-coditect-ext",
  "version": "1.65.100",
  "private": true,
  "dependencies": {
    "@theia/ai-chat-ui": "1.65.1",
    "@theia/core": "1.65.1"
  },
  "theiaExtensions": [
    {
      "frontend": "lib/coditect-branding-frontend-module"
    }
  ],
  "scripts": {
    "build": "tsc",
    "watch": "tsc -w",
    "clean": "rimraf lib"
  }
}
EOF

# 4. Create tsconfig.json
cat > theia-ide/theia-extensions/coditect-branding/tsconfig.json << 'EOF'
{
  "extends": "../../configs/base.tsconfig",
  "compilerOptions": {
    "rootDir": "src",
    "outDir": "lib"
  }
}
EOF

# 5. Build extension
cd theia-ide
yarn install
yarn build:extensions
yarn build:applications

Duration: 2-3 hours

Option 2: Direct Application Modification

Add branding directly to applications/browser/

Advantages:

✅ Faster initial setup
✅ No lerna complexity

Disadvantages:

❌ Harder to maintain (mixed with theia code)
❌ Conflicts with git submodule updates
❌ Not reusable

NOT RECOMMENDED - Use Option 1 instead.

Immediate Action Items

1. Wait for Build #10 (IN PROGRESS)

Status: Archive creation phase (31,752 files) ETA: 25-35 minutes remaining Command: Monitor /tmp/build-log-v10.txt

Verification:

tail -f /tmp/build-log-v10.txt

Success Criteria:

✅ All 6 stages compile without errors
✅ Rust binaries build successfully (codi2, monitor)
✅ Image pushed to Artifact Registry
✅ Build marked as SUCCESS (not FAILURE)

2. Test theia-ide Local Build (AFTER Build #10)

Objective: Verify theia-ide builds before adding Coditect branding

Commands:

cd /home/hal/v4/PROJECTS/t2/theia-ide
yarn install
yarn build

Expected Output:

✓ Extensions built
✓ Applications built
✓ Browser app ready at applications/browser/lib/

Duration: 10-15 minutes (yarn install + build)

Success Criteria:

✅ No TypeScript compilation errors
✅ applications/browser/lib/backend/main.js exists
✅ Can run yarn browser start without errors

3. Add MCP SDK Dependency

Why: theia-ide missing @modelcontextprotocol/sdk (required for MCP integration)

File: theia-ide/applications/browser/package.json

Change:

{
  "dependencies": {
    // ... existing dependencies ...
    "@modelcontextprotocol/sdk": "1.20.1"  // ADD THIS
  }
}

Command:

cd theia-ide/applications/browser
yarn add @modelcontextprotocol/sdk@1.20.1

Verification:

grep modelcontextprotocol theia-ide/applications/browser/package.json
# Expected: "@modelcontextprotocol/sdk": "1.20.1"

4. Create Coditect Branding Extension

Directory: theia-ide/theia-extensions/coditect-branding/

Files to Create:

package.json - Extension metadata
tsconfig.json - TypeScript configuration
src/coditect-chat-welcome-provider.tsx - Robot logo + welcome message
src/coditect-branding-frontend-module.ts - InversifyJS rebind

Copy Strategy:

# Copy source files from theia-app
cp theia-app/src/browser/*.tsx theia-ide/theia-extensions/coditect-branding/src/
cp theia-app/src/browser/*.ts theia-ide/theia-extensions/coditect-branding/src/

Build:

cd theia-ide
yarn build:extensions
yarn build:applications

Duration: 2-3 hours

5. Update theia-IDE Configuration

File: theia-ide/applications/browser/package.json

Change Application Name:

{
  "theia": {
    "frontend": {
      "config": {
        "applicationName": "Coditect AI IDE",  // CHANGE from "theia IDE"
        "defaultTheme": "dark",
        "defaultIconTheme": "vs-seti",
        "preferences": {
          "ai.openai.apiKey": "",
          "ai.ollama.models": []
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

6. Add 30+ VSCode Extensions

Strategy: Copy plugin URLs from theia-app/package.json to theia-ide/package.json

File: theia-ide/package.json

Change:

{
  "theiaPlugins": {
    // Existing plugins (keep these)
    "eclipse-theia.builtin-extension-pack": "...",

    // ADD 30+ plugins from theia-app
    "ms-python.python": "https://open-vsx.org/api/ms-python/python/2024.16.1/file/ms-python.python-2024.16.1.vsix",
    "vscode-eslint": "https://open-vsx.org/api/dbaeumer/vscode-eslint/3.0.10/file/dbaeumer.vscode-eslint-3.0.10.vsix",
    "prettier-vscode": "https://open-vsx.org/api/esbenp/prettier-vscode/10.4.0/file/esbenp.prettier-vscode-10.4.0.vsix",
    // ... copy all 30+ URLs
  }
}

Command:

yarn download:plugins

Duration: 5-10 minutes

7. Update Dockerfile (Build #11 Preparation)

File: dockerfile.combined-fixed

Current (theia-app):

FROM node:20 AS theia-builder
WORKDIR /app/theia-app
COPY theia-app/package*.json ./
RUN npm ci
COPY theia-app/ .
RUN npm run prepare

New (theia-ide):

FROM node:20 AS theia-builder
WORKDIR /app/theia-ide

# Copy workspace root
COPY theia-ide/package.json theia-ide/yarn.lock theia-ide/lerna.json ./

# Copy applications
COPY theia-ide/applications ./applications

# Copy extensions (including Coditect branding)
COPY theia-ide/theia-extensions ./theia-extensions

# Install dependencies
RUN yarn install --frozen-lockfile

# Build extensions first
RUN yarn build:extensions

# Build browser application
RUN yarn build:applications

Key Changes:

Switch from npm ci → yarn install --frozen-lockfile
Copy entire workspace structure (root + applications + extensions)
Run yarn build:extensions before yarn build:applications

8. Test Docker Build Locally

Before submitting Build #11, test locally:

cd /home/hal/v4/PROJECTS/t2
docker build -f dockerfile.combined-fixed -t test-theia-ide:local .

Expected Duration: 25-30 minutes

Verification:

docker run -p 3000:3000 test-theia-ide:local
# Open http://localhost:3000
# Verify: "Coditect AI Agents" welcome message
# Verify: Robot logo displays

9. Submit Build #11 (Production Deployment)

Prerequisites:

✅ Build #10 successful
✅ Local Docker build successful
✅ Coditect branding verified locally
✅ theia-ide submodule committed to git

Commands:

# Commit theia-ide changes
git add theia-ide
git commit -m "feat: Migrate to Eclipse theia IDE v1.65.100 with Coditect branding"

# Submit Cloud Build
gcloud builds submit --config cloudbuild-combined.yaml \
  --project serene-voltage-464305-n2 2>&1 | tee /tmp/build-log-v11.txt

Monitor:

tail -f /tmp/build-log-v11.txt

Expected Duration: 30-45 minutes

Risk Mitigation

Rollback Strategy

If Build #11 fails or theia-ide has issues:

Keep theia-app in Dockerfile:

# Stage: theia-builder-fallback (theia-app)
FROM node:20 AS theia-builder-fallback
COPY theia-app/ .
RUN npm run prepare

Use ARG to switch:

ARG USE_THEIA_IDE=false
FROM theia-builder${USE_THEIA_IDE:+-ide} AS theia-final

Deploy fallback if needed:

gcloud builds submit --config cloudbuild-combined.yaml \
  --substitutions=_USE_THEIA_IDE=false

Testing Checklist

Before considering migration complete:

Success Metrics

Phase 2 Success (Branding Integration)

✅ Extension builds: yarn build:extensions completes
✅ Application builds: yarn build:applications completes
✅ Welcome message: "Coditect AI Agents" appears
✅ Logo renders: Robot icon displays
✅ Theme integration: CSS variables work correctly

Phase 4 Success (Docker Integration)

✅ Docker build: No errors during build
✅ Container starts: Port 3000 accessible
✅ Branding preserved: Coditect branding in container
✅ Plugins load: All 30+ extensions functional

Phase 5 Success (GKE Deployment)

✅ Build #11 SUCCESS: All stages compile
✅ Deployment updates: Zero downtime
✅ Production verification: https://coditect.ai/theia loads
✅ End-to-end testing: Create file, edit, save, delete

Timeline Estimate

Phase	Duration	Dependencies
Build #10 completion	20-30 min	Currently running
Test theia-ide build	10-15 min	Build #10 success
Add MCP SDK	5 min	theia-ide builds
Create Coditect extension	2-3 hours	MCP SDK added
Update configuration	15 min	Extension created
Add 30+ plugins	10 min	Configuration updated
Update Dockerfile	30 min	All above complete
Test Docker build	25-30 min	Dockerfile updated
Submit Build #11	30-45 min	Docker test success

Total: ~6-8 hours (includes testing and verification)

Current Status

Build #10: ⏳ IN PROGRESS (archive creation phase) theia-ide submodule: ✅ ADDED (commit 9b5870cd, v1.65.100) Migration analysis: ✅ COMPLETE (THEIA-MIGRATION-analysis.md) Next action: ⏳ WAIT for Build #10 completion

Command to Monitor:

tail -f /tmp/build-log-v10.txt

Last Updated: 2025-10-26 23:25 UTC Owner: Migration team Status: Preparation complete, awaiting Build #10

Key Discovery: theia-ide Structure​

Simplified Migration Path​

Option 1: theia Extension (RECOMMENDED)​

Option 2: Direct Application Modification​

Immediate Action Items​

1. Wait for Build #10 (IN PROGRESS)​

2. Test theia-ide Local Build (AFTER Build #10)​

3. Add MCP SDK Dependency​

4. Create Coditect Branding Extension​

5. Update theia-IDE Configuration​

6. Add 30+ VSCode Extensions​

7. Update Dockerfile (Build #11 Preparation)​

8. Test Docker Build Locally​

9. Submit Build #11 (Production Deployment)​

Risk Mitigation​

Rollback Strategy​

Testing Checklist​

Success Metrics​

Phase 2 Success (Branding Integration)​

Phase 4 Success (Docker Integration)​

Phase 5 Success (GKE Deployment)​

Timeline Estimate​

Current Status​

Key Discovery: theia-ide Structure

Simplified Migration Path

Option 1: theia Extension (RECOMMENDED)

Option 2: Direct Application Modification

Immediate Action Items

1. Wait for Build #10 (IN PROGRESS)

2. Test theia-ide Local Build (AFTER Build #10)

3. Add MCP SDK Dependency

4. Create Coditect Branding Extension

5. Update theia-IDE Configuration

6. Add 30+ VSCode Extensions

7. Update Dockerfile (Build #11 Preparation)

8. Test Docker Build Locally

9. Submit Build #11 (Production Deployment)

Risk Mitigation

Rollback Strategy

Testing Checklist

Success Metrics

Phase 2 Success (Branding Integration)

Phase 4 Success (Docker Integration)

Phase 5 Success (GKE Deployment)

Timeline Estimate

Current Status