espocrm

EspoCRM Development

Overview

EspoCRM is a metadata-driven CRM platform where configuration lives in JSON files, business logic belongs in Services, and data access happens through ORM EntityManager. This skill enforces architectural patterns to prevent common mistakes like passing Container dependencies, bypassing the service layer, or implementing business logic in hooks.

When to Use This Skill

Activate when developing custom EspoCRM modules, entities, relationships, hooks, services, API endpoints, or integrations. Use especially when: working with ORM (EntityManager required), implementing business logic (belongs in Services), creating hooks (use interfaces), modifying metadata (requires cache rebuild), building custom field types, creating complex queries with SelectBuilder, implementing custom API actions, or packaging extensions.

The Iron Law

BUSINESS LOGIC IN SERVICES, NOT HOOKS | DATA ACCESS VIA ENTITYMANAGER, NEVER DIRECT PDO | NEVER PASS CONTAINER AS DEPENDENCY

Accessing Container directly or writing business logic in hooks violates architecture.

Core Architecture Principles

1. Metadata-Driven: Entity definitions, layouts, field configs live in JSON
2. Service Layer: All business logic implemented in Service classes
3. ORM EntityManager: Central access point for all database operations
4. Dependency Injection: Constructor injection, never pass Container
5. Hook System: Lifecycle events for validation and side effects (not business logic)
6. Repository Pattern: Entities accessed through repositories

Quick Start

1. Setup Development Environment - Use ext-template, work in src/ directory (EspoCRM 7.4+), understand metadata structure: custom/Espo/Modules/{ModuleName}/Resources/metadata/

2. Access Data with EntityManager

   use Espo\ORM\EntityManager;
   
   public function __construct(private EntityManager $entityManager) {}
   
   // Find entity
   $account = $this->entityManager->getEntityById('Account', $id);
   
   // Query with conditions
   $collection = $this->entityManager
       ->getRDBRepository('Contact')
       ->where(['accountId' => $accountId])
       ->find();