Error Fixes

How to Fix “[boundaries]: Please provide element types using the ‘boundaries/elements’ setting” in ESLint

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When working with ESLint, you might encounter an error message that reads: [boundaries]: Please provide element types using the 'boundaries/elements' setting. This issue typically arises after integrating the plugin:boundaries/recommended configuration, which is used to enforce architectural boundaries in your codebase. While this plugin is powerful for maintaining a clean architecture, it can be tricky to set up without the correct configuration. In this post, we’ll dive into why this error occurs and walk you through the steps to resolve it. Additional note: this error is related to the eslint-plugin-boundaries package.

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Boundaries Error Description:

The exact error message you may encounter is:

ShellScript
[boundaries]: Please provide element types using the 'boundaries/elements' setting

This message appears when you’ve added the plugin:boundaries/recommended configuration, but haven’t fully specified the element types required by the plugin. ESLint uses these element types to determine and enforce which parts of your project can interact, based on your architectural decisions.

Cause of the Error

The root cause of this error is that the settings.boundaries/elements configuration is missing or incomplete in your ESLint setup. This setting is crucial because it defines the different architectural layers or modules in your project (e.g., components, services, modules), allowing the boundaries plugin to enforce rules based on those layers.

Solution

To resolve this error, you need to add the necessary settings.boundaries/elements configuration to your .eslintrc file. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

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  1. Open your ESLint configuration file (usually .eslintrc, .eslintrc.json, or .eslintrc.js).
  2. Add the following settings under settings.boundaries/elements:
ShellScript
"settings": {
  "boundaries/elements": [
    { "type": "components", "pattern": "src/components/*" }, 
    { "type": "services", "pattern": "src/services/*" }, 
    { "type": "modules", "pattern": "src/modules/*" } 
  ] 
}

This example defines three element types: components, services, and modules. Adjust the pattern field according to the folder structure in your project.

3. Ensure that your ESLint rules align with these element types. For example:

ShellScript
"rules": { 
  "boundaries/element-types": [ 
    "error", { 
      "default": "disallow", 
      "rules": [ 
        { "from": ["components"], "allow": ["services"] } 
      ] 
    } 
  ] 
}

This configuration specifies which types can interact, based on your architectural boundaries.

4. Save the changes and run ESLint again.

Verification

Once you’ve updated your .eslintrc configuration, run ESLint in your project. The error [boundaries]: Please provide element types using the 'boundaries/elements' setting should no longer appear. This indicates that ESLint can now correctly identify the architectural layers and enforce the rules as expected.

Conclusion

Setting up architectural boundaries in a project can significantly enhance code quality and maintainability, but it requires a proper configuration. By defining the necessary element types, you can fully leverage the power of the plugin:boundaries/recommended configuration without running into errors. The next time you encounter this issue, remember that it’s simply a matter of adding the correct settings.

Tags/Keywords

  • ESLint
  • module boundaries
  • architecture
  • JavaScript
  • TypeScript
  • error handling
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