home / skills / zhanghandong / rust-skills / m09-domain
This skill helps you model domain concepts in Rust by guiding entity vs value object, aggregates, and repository patterns for correct invariants.
npx playbooks add skill zhanghandong/rust-skills --skill m09-domainReview the files below or copy the command above to add this skill to your agents.
---
name: m09-domain
description: "CRITICAL: Use for domain modeling. Triggers: domain model, DDD, domain-driven design, entity, value object, aggregate, repository pattern, business rules, validation, invariant, 领域模型, 领域驱动设计, 业务规则"
user-invocable: false
---
# Domain Modeling
> **Layer 2: Design Choices**
## Core Question
**What is this concept's role in the domain?**
Before modeling in code, understand:
- Is it an Entity (identity matters) or Value Object (interchangeable)?
- What invariants must be maintained?
- Where are the aggregate boundaries?
---
## Domain Concept → Rust Pattern
| Domain Concept | Rust Pattern | Ownership Implication |
|----------------|--------------|----------------------|
| Entity | struct + Id | Owned, unique identity |
| Value Object | struct + Clone/Copy | Shareable, immutable |
| Aggregate Root | struct owns children | Clear ownership tree |
| Repository | trait | Abstracts persistence |
| Domain Event | enum | Captures state changes |
| Service | impl block / free fn | Stateless operations |
---
## Thinking Prompt
Before creating a domain type:
1. **What's the concept's identity?**
- Needs unique identity → Entity (Id field)
- Interchangeable by value → Value Object (Clone/Copy)
2. **What invariants must hold?**
- Always valid → private fields + validated constructor
- Transition rules → type state pattern
3. **Who owns this data?**
- Single owner (parent) → owned field
- Shared reference → Arc/Rc
- Weak reference → Weak
---
## Trace Up ↑
To domain constraints (Layer 3):
```
"How should I model a Transaction?"
↑ Ask: What domain rules govern transactions?
↑ Check: domain-fintech (audit, precision requirements)
↑ Check: Business stakeholders (what invariants?)
```
| Design Question | Trace To | Ask |
|-----------------|----------|-----|
| Entity vs Value Object | domain-* | What makes two instances "the same"? |
| Aggregate boundaries | domain-* | What must be consistent together? |
| Validation rules | domain-* | What business rules apply? |
---
## Trace Down ↓
To implementation (Layer 1):
```
"Model as Entity"
↓ m01-ownership: Owned, unique
↓ m05-type-driven: Newtype for Id
"Model as Value Object"
↓ m01-ownership: Clone/Copy OK
↓ m05-type-driven: Validate at construction
"Model as Aggregate"
↓ m01-ownership: Parent owns children
↓ m02-resource: Consider Rc for shared within aggregate
```
---
## Quick Reference
| DDD Concept | Rust Pattern | Example |
|-------------|--------------|---------|
| Value Object | Newtype | `struct Email(String);` |
| Entity | Struct + ID | `struct User { id: UserId, ... }` |
| Aggregate | Module boundary | `mod order { ... }` |
| Repository | Trait | `trait UserRepo { fn find(...) }` |
| Domain Event | Enum | `enum OrderEvent { Created, ... }` |
## Pattern Templates
### Value Object
```rust
struct Email(String);
impl Email {
pub fn new(s: &str) -> Result<Self, ValidationError> {
validate_email(s)?;
Ok(Self(s.to_string()))
}
}
```
### Entity
```rust
struct UserId(Uuid);
struct User {
id: UserId,
email: Email,
// ... other fields
}
impl PartialEq for User {
fn eq(&self, other: &Self) -> bool {
self.id == other.id // Identity equality
}
}
```
### Aggregate
```rust
mod order {
pub struct Order {
id: OrderId,
items: Vec<OrderItem>, // Owned children
// ...
}
impl Order {
pub fn add_item(&mut self, item: OrderItem) {
// Enforce aggregate invariants
}
}
}
```
---
## Common Mistakes
| Mistake | Why Wrong | Better |
|---------|-----------|--------|
| Primitive obsession | No type safety | Newtype wrappers |
| Public fields with invariants | Invariants violated | Private + accessor |
| Leaked aggregate internals | Broken encapsulation | Methods on root |
| String for semantic types | No validation | Validated newtype |
---
## Related Skills
| When | See |
|------|-----|
| Type-driven implementation | m05-type-driven |
| Ownership for aggregates | m01-ownership |
| Domain error handling | m13-domain-error |
| Specific domain rules | domain-* |
This skill guides domain modeling decisions for Rust systems using domain-driven design (DDD) principles. It helps distinguish entities, value objects, aggregates, repositories, and services, and maps those domain concepts to Rust patterns and ownership models. Use it to design robust, invariant-preserving domain types before coding.
The skill inspects a domain concept and asks key design questions: identity, invariants, and ownership. It traces decisions upward to business rules and downward to implementation patterns (newtypes, private constructors, trait-based repositories, ownership choices like Arc/Rc). It provides pattern templates, quick references, and common pitfalls to avoid.
How do I decide Entity vs Value Object?
Ask whether identity matters. If two instances must be distinguished by a stable id, model as an Entity. If equality by value is sufficient and instances are interchangeable, use a Value Object.
Where do I enforce business invariants?
Enforce them in constructors or methods on the aggregate root with private fields. Use type-state patterns for complex transitions to prevent invalid states.