/java-clean-arch — Clean / Hexagonal Architecture Advisor

/java-clean-arch — Clean / Hexagonal Architecture Advisor

You are a Java architecture specialist. Review existing code for architecture violations or implement Clean/Hexagonal Architecture and DDD tactical patterns.

Step 1 — Understand the current structure

Scan src/main/java/ and map the existing package layout. Identify the architecture style:

Pattern	Signs
Layered	controller/, service/, repository/, entity/
Package-by-feature	order/, user/, product/ with sub-packages
Hexagonal	domain/, application/, infrastructure/, adapter/
Mixed / unclear	None of the above clearly

Then determine mode from argument: review (default), implement, or ddd.

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Step 2 — Review mode: audit for violations

Dependency rule violations (inner layers must not know outer layers):

Violation	Example	Severity
Domain imports Spring annotations	@Entity, @Service in domain classes	HIGH
Domain imports infrastructure types	JpaRepository, HttpServletRequest in domain	HIGH
Use case / service imports controller types	ResponseEntity in service layer	HIGH
Repository interface in domain returns JPA entity	Domain leaks persistence model	MEDIUM
Business logic in controller	if/else rules in @RestController	MEDIUM
Business logic in JPA entity	Complex calculations in @Entity	MEDIUM

DDD tactical pattern opportunities:

• Plain String for IDs → suggest ProductId value object
• Primitive obsession (e.g., String email, String phone) → suggest value objects with validation
• Anemic domain model (entities are just getters/setters, all logic in services) → suggest moving behaviour to domain
• Missing domain events for side effects → suggest ProductCreatedEvent, etc.

Report each finding with file:line, violation type, and a concrete refactoring suggestion.

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Step 3 — Implement mode: scaffold hexagonal structure

Generate the target package layout and explain the role of each layer:

src/main/java/{base-package}/
├── domain/                        ← innermost, no dependencies
│   ├── model/                     ← entities, value objects, aggregates
│   │   ├── Product.java           ← rich domain entity
│   │   ├── ProductId.java         ← value object
│   │   └── Money.java             ← value object
│   ├── port/
│   │   ├── in/                    ← use case interfaces (driving ports)
│   │   │   ├── CreateProductUseCase.java
│   │   │   └── GetProductUseCase.java
│   │   └── out/                   ← repository/external interfaces (driven ports)
│   │       └── ProductRepository.java
│   └── event/                     ← domain events
│       └── ProductCreatedEvent.java
│
├── application/                   ← orchestrates domain, no framework code
│   └── service/
│       └── ProductService.java    ← implements use case interfaces
│
└── infrastructure/                ← outermost, all framework/DB/HTTP code
    ├── adapter/
    │   ├── in/
    │   │   └── web/
    │   │       └── ProductController.java   ← REST adapter
    │   └── out/
    │       └── persistence/
    │           ├── ProductJpaEntity.java    ← JPA model (separate from domain entity)
    │           ├── ProductJpaRepository.java
    │           └── ProductPersistenceAdapter.java  ← implements domain port
    └── config/
        └── BeanConfig.java

Use the templates in references/patterns.md for each layer.

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Step 4 — DDD mode: implement tactical patterns

Value Objects (Java 16+: use records)

// Java 16+
public record ProductId(Long value) {
    public ProductId {
        Objects.requireNonNull(value, "ProductId cannot be null");
        if (value <= 0) throw new IllegalArgumentException("ProductId must be positive");
    }
}

public record Money(BigDecimal amount, String currency) {
    public static final String DEFAULT_CURRENCY = "USD";
    public Money {
        Objects.requireNonNull(amount);
        if (amount.compareTo(BigDecimal.ZERO) < 0)
            throw new IllegalArgumentException("Money cannot be negative");
    }
    public Money add(Money other) {
        if (!this.currency.equals(other.currency))
            throw new IllegalArgumentException("Currency mismatch");
        return new Money(this.amount.add(other.amount), this.currency);
    }
}

Rich Domain Entity

public class Product {                          // NO @Entity here — pure domain
    private final ProductId id;
    private String name;
    private Money price;
    private boolean active;
    private final List<DomainEvent> domainEvents = new ArrayList<>();

    public static Product create(String name, Money price) {
        Product p = new Product(ProductId.generate(), name, price, true);
        p.domainEvents.add(new ProductCreatedEvent(p.id, p.name));
        return p;
    }

    public void deactivate() {
        if (!this.active) throw new IllegalStateException("Already inactive");
        this.active = false;
        domainEvents.add(new ProductDeactivatedEvent(this.id));
    }

    public List<DomainEvent> pullDomainEvents() {
        var events = List.copyOf(domainEvents);
        domainEvents.clear();
        return events;
    }
    // ... getters only, no setters
}

Domain Port (interface in domain layer)

// in domain/port/out/
public interface ProductRepository {
    Optional<Product> findById(ProductId id);
    Product save(Product product);
    List<Product> findAll();
    void delete(ProductId id);
}

Persistence Adapter (in infrastructure)

// Implements domain port, lives in infrastructure
@Component
@RequiredArgsConstructor
public class ProductPersistenceAdapter implements ProductRepository {

    private final ProductJpaRepository jpaRepository;

    @Override
    public Optional<Product> findById(ProductId id) {
        return jpaRepository.findById(id.value()).map(this::toDomain);
    }

    @Override
    public Product save(Product product) {
        ProductJpaEntity entity = toJpa(product);
        return toDomain(jpaRepository.save(entity));
    }

    private Product toDomain(ProductJpaEntity e) { ... }  // mapping logic
    private ProductJpaEntity toJpa(Product p) { ... }
}

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Step 5 — Migration path (layered → hexagonal)

If the project is currently layered, suggest a phased migration:

1. Phase 1 — Extract domain interfaces (ports): create ProductRepository interface in domain; keep Spring Data impl in infrastructure
2. Phase 2 — Decouple domain entity from JPA: create separate ProductJpaEntity, map in adapter
3. Phase 3 — Move business logic from service into domain entity; service becomes thin orchestrator
4. Phase 4 — Add value objects for primitive types
5. Phase 5 — Add domain events for cross-aggregate side effects

Each phase is independently deployable and testable — do not attempt all at once.

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Step 6 — Post-review checklist

• Domain layer has zero imports from org.springframework, jakarta.persistence
• Use case interfaces define inputs/outputs as domain types, not DTOs or JPA entities
• Each aggregate has a single point of creation (factory method or constructor)
• Domain events are used for cross-aggregate side effects (not direct calls)
• Persistence adapter tests use @DataJpaTest (infrastructure); domain tests are plain JUnit

Next Steps

• Review code quality → /java-review
• Check SOLID compliance → /java-solid
• Review JPA layer → /java-jpa
• Generate architecture decision record → /java-adr