Add comprehensive GitHub Copilot instructions for BEXIS2 Core development

.github/copilot-instructions.md

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+# BEXIS2 Core Development Instructions
+
+Always reference these instructions first and fallback to search or bash commands only when you encounter unexpected information that does not match the info here.
+
+BEXIS2 is a comprehensive data management platform built with .NET Framework 4.8, ASP.NET MVC, C#, and PostgreSQL. It features a modular architecture with 76+ C# projects and a modern SvelteKit frontend.
+
+## Working Effectively
+
+### Bootstrap and Build the Repository
+- Install Visual Studio 2019+ or .NET Framework 4.8 SDK (Windows required for .NET Framework projects)
+- Install Node.js 20+ and npm for Svelte frontend components
+- Install PostgreSQL 12+ database server
+- Clone and set up the BEXIS2 Workspace repository (separate dependency)
+
+### Build Commands (NEVER CANCEL - Set 60+ minute timeouts)
+**Svelte Frontend (Works on Linux/macOS/Windows):**
+```bash
+cd Console/BExIS.Web.Shell.Svelte
+rm -rf node_modules package-lock.json  # If npm install fails
+npm install                             # 2-3 minutes. May need retry due to rollup issues
+npm run build                          # 13 seconds - builds frontend assets
+npm run test:unit                      # Runs unit tests with Vitest
+npm run lint                           # Lints TypeScript/Svelte code (has formatting issues)
+npm run check                          # TypeScript checking (has known errors in docs processing)
+```
+
+**.NET Framework Projects (Windows Only):**
+```bash
+# Using Visual Studio or MSBuild
+msbuild BExIS++.sln /p:Configuration=Debug    # 15-20 minutes. NEVER CANCEL. Set timeout to 60+ minutes
+# Or using dotnet (limited compatibility)
+dotnet restore BExIS++.sln                    # May fail on some projects - use NuGet Package Manager in VS
+```
+
+**Database Setup:**
+- Install PostgreSQL server locally (port 5432)
+- Create database: `bexis2test` (for development/testing)
+- Default credentials: username=`postgres`, password=`1`
+- Connection string format: `Server=localhost;Port=5432;Database=bexis2test;Userid=postgres;Password=1;Pooling=true;MinPoolSize=2;MaxPoolSize=100;ConnectionIdleLifetime=3600;`
+
+### Running the Application
+**NEVER run without proper database and workspace setup - the application will fail**
+
+**Frontend Development (Independent):**
+```bash
+cd Console/BExIS.Web.Shell.Svelte
+npm run dev                            # Starts SvelteKit dev server on port 5173
+npm run preview                        # Preview production build
+```
+
+**Full Application (.NET + Database Required):**
+- Set up Web.config from Web.config.sample with proper database connection
+- Configure workspace path in Web.config
+- Use IIS Express or Visual Studio F5 to run BExIS.Web.Shell project
+- Application requires workspace files and database to start properly
+
+## Validation
+
+### ALWAYS Test Frontend Changes
+- Run `npm run build` in Console/BExIS.Web.Shell.Svelte - NEVER CANCEL (13 seconds)
+- Run `npm run test:unit` to execute unit tests
+- Run `npm run lint` before committing - **NOTE**: Has known formatting issues to fix
+- TypeScript checking (`npm run check`) has known errors in documentation processing code
+
+### Manual Validation Scenarios
+**After making frontend changes:**
+1. Build Svelte project successfully
+2. Run unit tests and ensure they pass
+3. Test in browser that components render correctly
+4. Verify no console errors in browser developer tools
+
+**After making .NET changes:**
+1. Build solution in Visual Studio without errors
+2. Run relevant NUnit tests (if database available)
+3. Start application and verify it loads without exceptions
+4. Test basic navigation and module functionality
+
+### Testing Infrastructure
+- **Frontend**: Vitest unit tests, Playwright end-to-end tests, ESLint + Prettier
+- **.NET**: NUnit unit tests, MSTest integration tests
+- **Test command timing**: Frontend tests: 1-2 seconds, .NET tests: varies by scope
+
+## Important File Locations
+
+### Configuration Files
+- `Console/BExIS.Web.Shell/Web.config.sample` - Main application configuration template
+- `Console/BExIS.Web.Shell.Svelte/package.json` - Frontend dependencies and scripts
+- `BExIS++.sln` - Main Visual Studio solution file (76 projects)
+- `.nuget/NuGet.Config` - NuGet package source configuration
+
+### Key Directories
+- `Console/BExIS.Web.Shell/` - Main ASP.NET MVC web application
+- `Console/BExIS.Web.Shell.Svelte/` - Modern SvelteKit frontend
+- `Components/` - Core system components (AAA, DLM, DCM, IO, etc.)
+- `Modules/` - Feature modules (RPM, SAM, DIM, etc.)
+- `Libraries/` - External dependencies
+- `database update scripts/` - SQL scripts for database migrations
+
+### Project Architecture
+**Components by Function:**
+- `AAA` - Authentication, Authorization, Accounting
+- `DLM` - Data Lifecycle Management
+- `DCM` - Data Collection Management  
+- `DDM` - Data Discovery Management
+- `IO` - Input/Output operations
+- `XML` - XML processing utilities
+- `Utils` - Common utilities
+- `Vaiona` - Core framework libraries
+
+## Common Commands Reference
+
+### Build Timing Expectations
+- Svelte npm install: 2-3 minutes (may require retry)
+- Svelte build: 13 seconds
+- Svelte tests: 1-2 seconds
+- .NET solution build: 15-20 minutes MINIMUM - NEVER CANCEL
+- .NET test runs: 5-15 minutes depending on scope
+
+### Frequent Issues and Solutions
+**npm install fails with rollup error:**
+```bash
+rm -rf node_modules package-lock.json
+npm install
+```
+
+**npm run lint fails with formatting issues:**
+```bash
+npm run format                          # Fix formatting before linting
+```
+
+**Visual Studio build fails:**
+- Restore NuGet packages in Package Manager Console
+- Check that .NET Framework 4.8 is installed
+- Verify PostgreSQL connection string in config files
+
+**Database connection issues:**
+- Ensure PostgreSQL service is running
+- Check connection string format and credentials
+- Verify database `bexis2test` exists
+
+### Repository Structure Quick Reference
+```
+/home/runner/work/Core/Core/
+├── BExIS++.sln                    # Main solution file
+├── Console/
+│   ├── BExIS.Web.Shell/           # ASP.NET MVC app
+│   └── BExIS.Web.Shell.Svelte/    # SvelteKit frontend
+├── Components/                     # Core components
+├── Modules/                        # Feature modules
+├── Libraries/                      # External libs
+└── database update scripts/        # SQL migrations
+```
+
+## Critical Warnings
+- **NEVER CANCEL** build operations - .NET builds take 15-20+ minutes minimum
+- **ALWAYS** set timeouts of 60+ minutes for build commands
+- **Database required** - Application cannot run without PostgreSQL and workspace setup
+- **Windows required** - .NET Framework projects require Windows development environment
+- **Workspace dependency** - Requires separate BEXIS2 Workspace repository setup
+- **Frontend can be developed independently** - Svelte project works without full backend setup