ADR-0030: Pinned Moodle prerelease channels¶

Status¶

Proposed

Context¶

At baseline 77ce7ce, src/shared/version-resolver.js lists stable releases and moving main. Its metadata already has gitRef, but scripts/fetch-moodle-source.sh defaults to the channel name instead. Upstream has published v5.3.0-beta; users need to test that release separately.

Problem¶

How can the selector and build pipeline expose a specific prerelease without silently replacing the default stable playground or following development HEAD?

Decision drivers¶

Reuse branch metadata, bundle generation, snapshots and WASM patches.
Make the prerelease visible and keep stable defaults unchanged.

Options considered¶

Option 1: Use main¶

No new channel, but cannot identify the published beta independently.

Option 2: Pin an explicit experimental channel¶

One metadata entry and build target; adopts new beta/RC refs deliberately.

Evidence¶

Baseline source paths above at 77ce7ce establish current behavior.
Moodle beta tag.
5.3 requirements: PHP 8.3/8.4.
tests/shared/version-resolver.test.js checks selection, compatibility, runtime IDs, manifest paths and retained default.

Decision¶

Add MOODLE_503_BETA, selected by ?moodle=5.3, with gitRef=v5.3.0-beta. This is a local channel ID, not an assertion that an upstream branch exists. Source fetching reads the existing metadata's gitRef, with explicit GIT_REF still taking precedence. Manifests link to the resolved source commit. Include the channel in both all-branch build commands. Do not change defaults.

Consequences¶

Positive¶

Stable and experimental assets/snapshots have separate paths.

Negative¶

One extra bundle adds build time and artifact size.

Neutral¶

Subsequent beta/RC adoption remains a reviewed pin/label update, not automatic.

Risks¶

Prereleases may break SQLite/WASM patches even if native PHP installation works. Browser rendering must be checked; a successful bundle alone is insufficient.

Validation¶

Build the pinned source and SQLite snapshot; run resolver/unit tests and tests/e2e/moodle-53-beta.spec.mjs on Chromium and Firefox with PHP 8.3 and 8.4. See the test/runbook for commands and recorded results.

Follow-up work¶

For later prereleases update the pin, label and exact-release assertion together. For final, add MOODLE_503_STABLE after upstream creates it and validate again; do not promote this beta channel or change stable defaults implicitly.