## Part 1 - Exact scope of the current PR (#21964)
close https://github.com/twentyhq/core-team-issues/issues/2586
This PR introduces `searchFieldMetadata` as a first-class flat metadata
entity and migrates the existing search surface onto it, with **no
change to which records are searchable** (ISO with `main`).
In scope (what the PR does):
- New flat entity `searchFieldMetadata` (universalIdentifier,
applicationId, **`position`**, maps, conversions), registered in the
central flat-entity constants and the migration build orchestrator.
- `searchVector.asExpression` is **derived server-side** from
`searchFieldMetadata` rows (validated by `isSafeTsVectorExpression`);
never trusted from client input.
- **Derivation order is deterministic, driven by each row's `position`**
([compute-search-vector-as-expression-from-search-field-metadatas.util.ts](packages/twenty-server/src/engine/metadata-modules/flat-search-field-metadata/utils/compute-search-vector-as-expression-from-search-field-metadatas.util.ts)),
replacing the previous non-deterministic `(createdAt, id)` sort. That
sort collapsed to random UUIDs for standard fields (same `createdAt`),
so any rename/relabel rewrote the `STORED` generated column to a
logically-identical-but-textually-different expression and produced a
permanent per-workspace diff vs the standard definition. Ordering now
equals provisioning order; ties break on `universalIdentifier`.
- Provisioning at object creation mirrors the existing surface exactly
**and seeds `position`**:
- custom objects -> the `name` field only, at `position: 0`
([build-default-search-field-metadatas-for-custom-object.util.ts](packages/twenty-server/src/engine/metadata-modules/object-metadata/utils/build-default-search-field-metadatas-for-custom-object.util.ts))
- standard objects -> their curated `SEARCH_FIELDS_FOR_*` sets,
`position` = the curated index
- Backfill (instance + workspace commands in `2-16`) provisions rows for
existing workspaces with the same surface **and the same positions**
(standard from the curated standard maps, custom `name` = `0`), scoped
to the workspace's own custom application
([build-search-field-metadata-backfill-operations.util.ts](packages/twenty-server/src/database/commands/upgrade-version-command/2-16/utils/build-search-field-metadata-backfill-operations.util.ts)).
The `position` column is added in the same `2-16` fast instance command
as `universalIdentifier`/`applicationId`.
- Field rename of an already-indexed field recomputes `asExpression`
(positions preserved, so order is stable)
([recompute-search-vector-on-field-rename.util.ts](packages/twenty-server/src/engine/metadata-modules/flat-field-metadata/utils/recompute-search-vector-on-field-rename.util.ts)).
- Field delete drops the matching row(s) and recomputes; remaining rows
keep their relative order (no renumber)
([from-delete-field-input-to-flat-field-metadatas-to-delete.util.ts](packages/twenty-server/src/engine/metadata-modules/flat-field-metadata/utils/from-delete-field-input-to-flat-field-metadatas-to-delete.util.ts)).
- Object relabel is **additive** and ISO/regression-fix only: it indexes
the new label identifier **appended last (`position = max(existing) +
1`)** without dropping `name`
([recompute-search-vector-on-label-identifier-update.util.ts](packages/twenty-server/src/engine/metadata-modules/flat-object-metadata/utils/recompute-search-vector-on-label-identifier-update.util.ts)).
This is a deliberate, temporary bridge.
Explicitly OUT of scope (deferred):
- No API to edit `searchFieldMetadata` (no user-facing search-field
configuration, including `position` — it is internal and only written by
provisioning/backfill/recompute).
- No auto-indexing of arbitrary searchable fields. Creating a custom
TEXT/EMAILS/etc. field does NOT add it to search (the
`computeSearchFieldMetadataCreationForFields` behavior was removed in
`e6820ad`).
- No field-type-transition handling (field type is immutable - not in
`FLAT_FIELD_METADATA_EDITABLE_PROPERTIES`, so that path was dead code).
- No `position` validation (uniqueness/range) and no multi-vector /
per-field `weight` config — deferred to the configurable-search
follow-up (#1428).
Net: `searchFieldMetadata` becomes the source of truth for the *same*
surface as `main`. The only intentional divergences from `main` are
"relabel preserves `name`" (additive) and the deterministic
`position`-ordered `asExpression` (a correctness/perf fix that is
byte-identical to provisioning order, so it does not change the
searchable surface).
---------
Co-authored-by: Félix Malfait <felix@twenty.com>
Paul Rastoin
e9d5d71cd3