Habi what-a-tat ? Create a Sitecore Helix solution from scratch using PowerShell

This post is all about creating a Helix based solution from scratch. Please watch the video for additional information and a demo of the script. I really discourage people from using Habitat as the base to create new solutions. Hopefully this script will help.

Also refer to Marc Duiker’s Hands-on with Sitecore Helix: Anatomy of the Add-HelixModule.ps1 PowerShell script.

So in order to create a Helix solution from scratch, we do not have any tool at this moment. We either manually build it or use Habitat as a base. I do not recommend using Habitat and modifying that solution to fit your needs.

To start of with, the best way to automate this is to use PowerShell scripts inside of the Visual Studio IDE via the Package Manager Console. We need to use DTE (EnvDTE).

Download the HabitatSolutionScript.ps1 from https://gist.github.com/akshaysura/184132f67decb749ae235b602351832c

Open Visual Studio IDE

Open Package Manager Console

Type in $profile

Open that location in Windows explorer. You might not have NuGet_profile.ps1 at that location. Create one.

Open the NuGet_profile.ps1 and insert the following line and modify the path to your HabitatSolutionScript.ps1

. “D:\Projects\PowerShell\HabitatSolutionScript.ps1”

Save and close NuGet_profile.ps1

Restart your Visual Studio IDE and open Package Manager Console

Type in let and tab or you could type in the whole command Lets-Rumble

Follow the on screen prompts and enjoy your solution. I would recommend watching the video for additional information.

The script is not tested so please use it at your own risk. Since it required an empty folder, it won’t affect your existing code/solutions.

 

 

Please contribute to this script and hopefully we can make it better for the entire community.

#paths to the project templates on your system
$global:classTemplate = "D:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 14.0\Common7\IDE\ProjectTemplatesCache\CSharp\Windows Root\Windows\1033\ClassLibrary\csClassLibrary.vstemplate"
$global:webTemplate = "D:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 14.0\Common7\IDE\ProjectTemplatesCache\CSharp\Web\1033\WebApplicationProject40\EmptyWebApplicationProject40.vstemplate"

#variable used to store the path for the empty Habitat folder
$global:helixPath =""

#empty variable used to store the solution name
$global:solutionName = ""

#empty variable used to store the project names like Habitat to which we will add .Website
$global:projectNames = New-Object System.Collections.ArrayList

#empty variable used to store the feature name prefix like Sitecore.Foundation to which we will add foundation projects
$global:foundationNamePrefix = ""

#list of foundation projects to create
$global:foundationNames = New-Object System.Collections.ArrayList


#empty variable used to store the feature name prefix like Sitecore.Feature to which we will add feature projects
$global:featureNamePrefix = ""

#list of features to create
$global:featureNames = New-Object System.Collections.ArrayList


#Setup the folders to create
$global:folderPaths = @("\etc","\lib","\scripts","\specs","\src\Feature","\src\Foundation","\src\Project","\src\Project\Common\code","\src\Project","\src\Project\Common\code","\src\Project\Common\serialization")

$global:projectPath = "\src\Project\"
$global:foundationPath = "\src\Foundation\"
$global:featurePath = "\src\Feature\"
$global:srcFolder = "\src"
$global:codeFolder = "\code"
$global:rolesFolder = "\roles"
$global:serializationFolder = "\serialization"
$global:testsFolder = "\Tests"


$global:testProjectName = "Tests"
$global:websiteName = "Website"

$global:ConfigFolderName = "Configuration"
$global:FeatureFolderName = "Feature"
$global:FoundationFolderName = "Foundation"
$global:ProjectFolderName = "Project"


$global:solution = $null

<# Prompt to confirm solution creation. #>
function Confirm-Creation
{
     param (
           [string]$Title = 'Create Helix Solution?'
     )

     Write-Host "================ $Title ================"
     
     Write-Host "1: Continue"
     Write-Host "q: Press 'q' to Quit"
}

<# Prompt to accept Projects #>
function Accept-Projects
{
     param (
           [string]$Title = 'Enter Project Names/Tenants/Sites - Site1 etc'
     )

cls
     Write-Host "================ $Title ================"
     
     Write-Host "1: Create a Project."
     Write-Host "q: Press 'q' to exit this prompt and continue to create Foundation projects."
}

<# Prompt to accept Foundation projects #>
function Accept-FoundationProjects
{
     param (
           [string]$Title = 'Enter Foundation Project Name(s)'
     )

cls     
     Write-Host "================ $Title ================"
     
     Write-Host "1: Create a Foundation Project."
     Write-Host "q: Press 'q' to exit this prompt and continue to create Feature projects."
}

<# Prompt to accept Feature projects #>
function Accept-FeatureProjects
{
     param (
           [string]$Title = 'Enter Feature Project Name(s)'
     )
     cls
     Write-Host "================ $Title ================"
     
     Write-Host "1: Create a Feature Project."
     Write-Host "q: Press 'q' to exit this prompt and continue."
}

<# Purpose is get the information for the folder in which we are going to create the folder structure #>
function Get-HabitatFoundationFolder
{
    #Get path and validate the path
    $global:helixPath = $input = Read-Host "Please specify the path to an empty folder"

    if($global:helixPath -eq "")
    {
        Write-Host "Select a valid folder path."
        exit
    }

    if ( -not (Test-Path $global:helixPath -PathType Container) ) 
    { 
        Write-Host "Select a valid folder."
        exit
    }

    $directoryInfo = Get-ChildItem $global:helixPath | Measure-Object
    if ($directoryInfo.count -gt 0)
    {
        Write-Host "Folder is not empty."
        exit
    }
}

<# Purpose is to create the base folder structure of the Habitat solution. Step 1. #>
function Create-HabitatFoundationFolders
{

    foreach ($path in $global:folderPaths)
    {
        $newFolder = $global:helixPath + $path
        New-Item -ItemType Directory -Path $newFolder -Force    
    }

    $solution = Get-Interface $dte.Solution ([EnvDTE80.Solution2])
    $parentProject = $solution.AddSolutionFolder($global:FoundationFolderName)
    $parentSolutionFolder = Get-Interface $parentProject.Object ([EnvDTE80.SolutionFolder])

    foreach ($foundation in $global:foundationNames)
    {
    
        $newFolder = $global:helixPath + $global:foundationPath + $foundation + $global:codeFolder
        $projectName = $global:foundationNamePrefix + "." + $foundation
        $testsProjectName = $global:foundationNamePrefix + "." + $foundation + "." + $global:testProjectName

        $childProject = $parentSolutionFolder.AddSolutionFolder($foundation)
        $childSolutionFolder = Get-Interface $childProject.Object ([EnvDTE80.SolutionFolder])

        $projectFile = $childSolutionFolder.AddFromTemplate($global:webTemplate,$newFolder, $projectName);

        $newFolder = $global:helixPath + $global:foundationPath + $foundation + $global:rolesFolder
        New-Item -ItemType Directory -Path $newFolder -Force    

        $newFolder = $global:helixPath + $global:foundationPath + $foundation + $global:serializationFolder
        New-Item -ItemType Directory -Path $newFolder -Force    

        $newFolder = $global:helixPath + $global:foundationPath + $foundation + $global:testsFolder
        $projectFile = $childSolutionFolder.AddFromTemplate($global:classTemplate,$newFolder, $testsProjectName);
    }

    $solution = Get-Interface $dte.Solution ([EnvDTE80.Solution2])
    $parentProject = $solution.AddSolutionFolder($global:FeatureFolderName)
    $parentSolutionFolder = Get-Interface $parentProject.Object ([EnvDTE80.SolutionFolder])

    foreach ($feature in $global:featureNames)
    {
        $newFolder = $global:helixPath + $global:featurePath + $feature + $global:codeFolder
        $projectName = $global:featureNamePrefix + "." + $feature
        $testsProjectName = $global:featureNamePrefix + "." + $feature + "." + $global:testProjectName

        $childProject = $parentSolutionFolder.AddSolutionFolder($feature)
        $childSolutionFolder = Get-Interface $childProject.Object ([EnvDTE80.SolutionFolder])

        $projectFile = $childSolutionFolder.AddFromTemplate($global:webTemplate,$newFolder, $projectName);

        $newFolder = $global:helixPath + $global:featurePath + $feature + $global:rolesFolder
        New-Item -ItemType Directory -Path $newFolder -Force    

        $newFolder = $global:helixPath + $global:featurePath + $feature + $global:serializationFolder
        New-Item -ItemType Directory -Path $newFolder -Force    

        $newFolder = $global:helixPath + $global:featurePath + $feature + $global:testsFolder
        $projectFile = $childSolutionFolder.AddFromTemplate($global:classTemplate,$newFolder, $testsProjectName);
    }

    $solution = Get-Interface $dte.Solution ([EnvDTE80.Solution2])
    $parentProject = $solution.AddSolutionFolder($global:ProjectFolderName)
    $parentSolutionFolder = Get-Interface $parentProject.Object ([EnvDTE80.SolutionFolder])

    foreach ($project in $global:projectNames)
    {
        $newFolder = $global:helixPath + $global:projectPath + $project + $global:codeFolder
        $projectName = $global:solutionName + "." + $project + "." + $global:websiteName

        $parentSolutionFolder = Get-Interface $parentProject.Object ([EnvDTE80.SolutionFolder])
        $childProject = $parentSolutionFolder.AddSolutionFolder($project)
        $childSolutionFolder = Get-Interface $childProject.Object ([EnvDTE80.SolutionFolder])

        $projectFile = $childSolutionFolder.AddFromTemplate($global:webTemplate,$newFolder, $projectName);

        $newFolder = $global:helixPath + $global:projectPath + $project + $global:rolesFolder
        New-Item -ItemType Directory -Path $newFolder -Force    

        $newFolder = $global:helixPath + $global:projectPath + $project + $global:serializationFolder
        New-Item -ItemType Directory -Path $newFolder -Force    
    }

    Write-Host "Done creating Habitat Foundation Structure."
}

<# Purpose is to accept inputs #>
function Accept-VSSolutionNames
{
    do
    {
        cls
        $input = Read-Host "Please specify you solution name. This could be the company name or overall solution name. e.g. Acme or MSFT "

        if([string]::IsNullOrWhiteSpace($input))
        {
            Write-Host "Empty solution name. Try again."
        }
        else
        {
            $global:solutionName = $input
        }
    }
    until (-not([string]::IsNullOrWhiteSpace($global:solutionName)))

    do
    {
        $global:foundationNamePrefix = Read-Host "Please specify you foundation name prefix. e.g."$global:solutionName".Foundation"

        if([string]::IsNullOrWhiteSpace($global:foundationNamePrefix))
        {
            Write-Host "Empty foundation name prefix. Try again."
        }
    }
    until (-not([string]::IsNullOrWhiteSpace($global:foundationNamePrefix)))

    do
    {
        $global:featureNamePrefix = Read-Host "Please specify you feature name prefix. e.g."$global:solutionName".Feature"

        if([string]::IsNullOrWhiteSpace($global:featureNamePrefix))
        {
            Write-Host "Empty feature name prefix. Try again."
        }
    }
    until (-not([string]::IsNullOrWhiteSpace($global:featureNamePrefix)))

    do
    {
         Accept-Projects
         $input = Read-Host "Enter your Project name/Tenant/Site name or q to continue. (Habitat or Site1)"
         if ($input -eq 'q')
         {
            break         
         }
         elseif (-not([string]::IsNullOrWhiteSpace($input)))
         {
               $global:projectNames.Add($input)
               #create foundation project          
         }
    }
    until ($input -eq 'q')

    do
    {
         Accept-FoundationProjects
         $input = Read-Host "Enter your Foundation project name or q to continue."
         if ($input -eq 'q')
         {
            break         
         }
         elseif (-not([string]::IsNullOrWhiteSpace($input)))
         {
               $global:foundationNames.Add($input)
               #create foundation project          
         }
    }
    until ($input -eq 'q')

    do
    {
         Accept-FeatureProjects
         $input = Read-Host "Enter your Feature project name or q to continue."
         if ($input -eq 'q')
         {
            break         
         }
         elseif (-not([string]::IsNullOrWhiteSpace($input)))
         {
               $global:featureNames.Add($input)
               #create feature project          
         }
    }
    until ($input -eq 'q')
}

<# Confirm selections/input #>
function Confirm-VSSolutionNames
{
    cls
    Write-Host "Solution Name:" $global:solutionName
    Write-Host "Project Names:" $global:projectNames
    Write-Host "Foundation Name Prefix:" $global:foundationNamePrefix
    Write-Host "Feature Name Prefix:" $global:featureNamePrefix
    Write-Host "Foundation Projects:" $global:foundationNames
    Write-Host "Feature Projects:" $global:featureNames

    Confirm-Creation

    $input = Read-Host "Enter 1 to continue or q to exit."
    if ($input -eq 'q')
    {
        exit
    }
    elseif ($input -eq '1')
    {
        $dte.Solution.Create($global:helixPath, $global:solutionName)
        $global:solution = $dte.Solution
        $dte.ExecuteCommand("File.SaveAll")

        Create-HabitatFoundationFolders

        $solution = Get-Interface $dte.Solution ([EnvDTE80.Solution2])
        $parentFolder = $solution.AddSolutionFolder($global:ConfigFolderName)
        $dte.ExecuteCommand("File.SaveAll")
    }
}

<# Start function #>
function Lets-Rumble
{
    Write-Host "    )                 (                                  (                         "
    Write-Host " ( /(     (           )\ )     (         )               )\ )                   )  "
    Write-Host " )\())  ( )\(     )  (()/(     )\  (  ( /((             (()/(    (  (        ( /(  "
    Write-Host "((_)\  ))((_)\ ( /(   /(_)) ( ((_)))\ )\())\  (   (      /(_)) ( )( )\ `  )  )\()) "
    Write-Host " _((_)/((_)((_))\()) (_))   )\ _ /((_|_))((_) )\  )\ )  (_))   )(()((_)/(/( (_))/  "
    Write-Host "| || (_))| |(_|(_)\  / __| ((_) (_))(| |_ (_)((_)_(_/(  / __| ((_|(_|_|(_)_\| |_   "
    Write-Host "| __ / -_) || \ \ /  \__ \/ _ \ | || |  _|| / _ \ ' \)) \__ \/ _| '_| | '_ \)  _|  "
    Write-Host "|_||_\___|_||_/_\_\  |___/\___/_|\_,_|\__||_\___/_||_|  |___/\__|_| |_| .__/ \__|  "
    Write-Host "                                                                      |_|          "

    Get-HabitatFoundationFolder
    Accept-VSSolutionNames
    Confirm-VSSolutionNames
}

If you have any questions or concerns, please get in touch with me. (@akshaysura13 on twitter or on Slack).