Generators

Belt generators scaffold code and infrastructure for common patterns. Run belt generate --help to see all available generators (built-in + plugins).

Built-in Generators

Resource (scaffold)

Creates model + controller + routes + schema entry:

belt generate resource post title:string body:text user_id:string status:string
belt g resource comment body:text author:string post_id:string

This is the most common generator — it sets up everything for a new REST endpoint.

Model

Creates just the model file + schema entry:

belt generate model post title:string body:text user_id:string
belt g model payment amount:number currency:string

Controller

Creates just the controller:

belt generate controller posts
belt g controller admin/users

Environment

Scaffolds a new Terraform environment directory:

belt generate environment staging
belt g environment prod

Frontend

Adds a frontend framework to the project:

belt generate frontend react
belt generate frontend vue
belt generate frontend svelte
belt generate frontend react --name ops --path ops-app

--name and --path scaffold an additional SPA and register it in config/frontends.yml. See belt explain frontend.

Views

Generates React pages for a resource's REST actions:

belt generate views post title:string body:text status:string
belt g views comment body:text author:string
belt g views bag --frontend ops

When the app has multiple frontends, pass --frontend <name> (or mark one default: true in config/frontends.yml).

Auth

Sets up Cognito authentication:

belt generate auth
belt g auth --provider cognito

Field Types

When specifying fields, use these types:

Type	DynamoDB Type	Notes
`string`	S	Default if no type given
`text`	S	Same as string (semantic hint)
`number`	N	Numeric values
`boolean`	BOOL	True/false
`list`	L	Array values
`map`	M	Nested objects

Destroying Generated Code

Every generator has a matching destroy command:

belt destroy resource post
belt destroy model comment
belt destroy controller admin/users
belt destroy environment staging
belt destroy frontend
belt destroy frontend --frontend ops
belt destroy views post

Non-interactive environment teardown

belt destroy environment is interactive by default: it prompts before running terraform destroy and again before deleting local files. For CI pipelines and agents that spin up ephemeral per-PR environments and tear them down on merge, use --full:

belt destroy environment pr-1234 --full

--full (alias -y) runs the whole teardown with zero prompts: it always runs terraform destroy (when terraform state is present), then deletes the local infrastructure/<env>/ files.

Flag comparison:

Flag	terraform destroy	Deletes local files	Prompts
(none)	Prompted	Prompted	Yes
`--full` / `-y`	Always (if state exists)	Yes	No
`--force` / `-f`	Skipped (leaves cloud resources)	Yes	No
`--skip-terraform`	Never	Yes	Final delete only

--force is for the "just clean up my local files" case — it intentionally leaves cloud infrastructure running. Reach for --full when you want the environment fully gone.

Plugin Generators

Gems that follow the Belt plugin contract are auto-discovered:

belt generate messaging     # from belt-messaging gem
belt generate pay           # from belt-pay gem
belt generate --help        # lists all available generators

Generator Workflow (Common Pattern)

# 1. Generate the resource
belt generate resource order item_id:string quantity:number total:number status:string

# 2. Generate DynamoDB table from schema
belt setup tables dev01

# 3. Deploy
belt deploy dev01