11 - Feature Plan: System Builder

Parent: [Webshop-Index Webshop Index] Previous: [Webshop-10-Feature-Gap-Cart-Discounts 10 - Feature Gap: Cart Discounts] Next: [Webshop-12-Staging-Sandbox-Deployment 12 - Staging Sandbox Deployment] Source: Comfac Webshop Wiki - Chapter 11

Status: 🔴 Not Implemented | Priority: High

Vision

A configurable product builder where customers can assemble multi-component systems (servers, desktops, maker kits, open-source hardware platforms) from a template of compatible components, with real-time pricing, compatibility enforcement, and the ability to save/load configurations.

Use Cases

1. Server Builder - Customer selects: chassis, CPU, RAM (qty/type), storage (multiple drives), NIC, PSU, OS 2. Desktop Builder - Case, motherboard, CPU, GPU, RAM, storage, PSU, peripherals 3. Maker Kit Builder - Board (RPi, Arduino, etc.), sensors, actuators, enclosure, power supply 4. Future platforms - Any multi-component configurable product

New DocTypes Needed

System Builder Template

- Name, description, image - Category (Server, Desktop, Maker Kit, etc.) - Child table: Component Slots

 - Slot name (e.g., "CPU", "RAM", "Storage Bay 1")
 - Required (yes/no)
 - Min/Max quantity
 - Allowed Item Group or explicit item list
 - Default selection (if any)

Compatibility Rule

- Rule name - Rule type: "Requires", "Excludes", "Max Qty", "Min Qty" - Source slot + attribute/item filter - Target slot + attribute/item filter - Error message

Saved Configuration

- User (Customer) - Template reference - Name (user-defined) - Child table: selected items per slot - Total price, status (draft/shared/ordered)

Integration with Existing Variant System

Each component slot can reference:

- An Item Group (e.g., "DDR5 RAM") - A Template Item (using variant attributes for selection) - Specific Item codes

The existing variant_selector/utils.py logic for filtering valid combinations can be reused within each slot.

Compatibility Engine

For each user selection:
1. Check all Compatibility Rules
2. Filter available options in other slots
3. Return: valid_options, warnings, errors

Example rules:
- CPU Socket LGA1700 REQUIRES Motherboard Socket LGA1700
- RAM Type DDR5 EXCLUDES Motherboard Type DDR4
- Total PSU Load <= PSU Wattage
- Max 4 RAM sticks if Motherboard RAM Slots = 4

Pricing
- Each component priced individually from Price List
- Bundle Pricing Rules can apply (e.g., "10% off complete system")
- Show per-component price + total system price
- Discounts visible per-component and total savings

Cart Integration
When "Add System to Cart":

- Create a Product Bundle or Packed Item approach
- Add all components as Quotation Items, linked as a group
- Or: create a single "System" line item with packed items detail

UI Flow
1. Choose Template (e.g., "1U Rack Server")
2. For each slot:
- Browse/filter compatible components
- See price, availability, specs
- Select and configure (qty, variant attributes)
3. Real-time:
- Compatibility checks
- Running total
- Power budget / capacity warnings
4. Save Configuration (optional)
5. Add to Cart

Implementation Phases
Phase 1: Foundation
- Create System Builder Template DocType
- Create Component Slot child table
- Basic UI: template selection, slot browsing
- Simple "add all to cart" (no compatibility engine yet)

Phase 2: Compatibility
- Create Compatibility Rule DocType
- Build rule evaluation engine
- Real-time filtering of valid options
- Warning/error display

Phase 3: Save & Share
- Saved Configuration DocType
- User dashboard for saved configs
- Share via URL
- Load/clone/modify

Phase 4: Advanced
- Power/thermal budget calculation
- AI-assisted recommendations
- Preset "popular configurations"
- Comparison between configurations
- Integration with BOM for manufacturing

Technical Challenges
1. Performance: Evaluating compatibility across many items/rules in real-time
2. Attribute mapping: Different items have different attributes; need a normalized way to express compatibility
3. Cart representation: How to group system components in a Quotation
4. Pricing complexity: Component discounts + bundle discounts + system-level pricing rules
5. Stock: All components must be available simultaneously

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