MVVM development guidance

Use this skill whenever MVVM is the primary pattern in play—new view models, model validation, or wiring UI components to observable commands.

Core packages

• packages/mvvm-core implements the foundational concepts (BaseModel, RestfulApiModel, BaseViewModel, commands, observable collections, QueryStateModel, DI container). Refer to references/mvvm-core-overview.md for the current shape of each export and the signals-core/Zod patterns the library enforces.
• packages/models and packages/view-models build on mvvm-core and publish workspace-friendly entry points (@repo/models, @repo/view-models). Whenever you create new data shapes or view logic, keep them under these packages so multiple apps can import from the same build outputs.

Model helpers (packages/mvvm-core/src/models)

• BaseModel centralizes data$, isLoading$, and error$ observables plus setData, setLoading, setError, and a validate helper wired to a Zod schema. Every shared model should inherit from it to get consistent state tracking and disposal semantics.
• RestfulApiModel wraps Fetcher, baseUrl, endpoint, schema, and initialData. Its fetch, create, update, and delete methods reuse the executeApiRequest/optimistic flows from BaseModel, so you do not re-implement loading/error handling or validation.
• QueryStateModel, ObservableCollection, and the other helpers in packages/mvvm-core/src/models layer on top when you need caching, pagination, or custom change events for lists of entities.

ViewModel helpers (packages/mvvm-core/src/viewmodels)

• BaseViewModel exposes the underlying model's signals and maps error$ into a validationErrors$ computed signal. Use addSubscription + dispose() to keep signal subscriptions disciplined.
• RestfulApiViewModel wires a RestfulApiModel into consumable data$, isLoading$, error$, selectedItem$, and CRUD Commands (fetch, create, update, delete). Each command already exposes execute(), isExecuting$, and canExecute$, so hook those observables to buttons/spinners.
• The factory createReactiveViewModel (and ViewModelFactoryConfig) keeps view model setup consistent—feed it the same config object you use for the RestfulApiModel, and it instantiates the pair for you.

Concrete CRUD example

Every new feature should follow the pattern captured in references/mvvm-crud-flow.md: export a shared model config, pass it to createReactiveViewModel, and let each app subscribe to data$/isLoading$ while triggering fetchCommand.execute() inside lifecycle hooks (see apps/mvvm-react/src/components/Dashboard.tsx). This keeps shared packages reusable and apps focused on rendering observable updates.

Application integration

• The React, Angular, Vue, and vanilla MVVM starter apps under apps/mvvm-* all subscribe to observables exposed by view models. apps/mvvm-react/README.md contains a concrete Dashboard example: use the provided useObservable hook, call fetchCommand.execute() on mount, and dispose of the view model when the component unmounts. See references/mvvm-react-example.md for the distilled workflow.
• Match the React example for other frameworks: the View should only subscribe to ViewModel streams (data$, isLoading$, error$, computed observables) and trigger commands (fetchCommand, createCommand, etc.). Keep models/test suites decoupled from view-layer hooks so you can reuse them across apps.

Practices & verification

• Always call dispose() on view models when a component, page, or route is torn down to clean up subscriptions and commands.
• Favor Zod schemas defined next to the model for compile-time and runtime validation; pass them into BaseModel/RestfulApiModel constructors to get automatic error handling.
• Commands (Command, fetchCommand, createCommand, etc.) expose canExecute$ and isExecuting$. Wire UI states (disabled buttons, loading spinners) directly to those observables for consistent UX.
• For tests, rely on the workspace Vitest setup (apps/mvvm-react/vitest.config.ts) so the same alias map (React component → shared view models) is used in vitest run. Mock fetchers or provide stubbed signals (signal() from @web-loom/signals-core) when exercising models/view models.

When extending the pattern

1. Add new model/view model packages under packages/*; export them via the existing exports fields and keep package.json scripts consistent (build, test, check-types, lint).
2. Update any consuming app’s Vite/Vitest alias map so @repo/models and @repo/view-models resolve to ../../packages/.../src during development and testing.
3. Keep the MVVM core README (and this skill) in sync when you change base behaviors (new observables, command features, etc.).

Leverage the reference files for concrete snippets, and re-run npm run test/turbo run dev after wiring a new view model to ensure observables and commands behave as expected.