Spike: decouple frontend from default backend build and split CI triggers by surface area

[Copilot]

The repository currently couples UI and server changes in build/deployment flow, increasing unnecessary rebuild scope and slowing isolated delivery. This change spikes a split-friendly model: backend pipelines run independently by default, while frontend packaging remains explicitly opt-in.

• Build decoupling (Maven)

  • Moved frontend build/bundling (frontend-maven-plugin + static copy step) behind an explicit Maven profile.
  • Backend packaging is now backend-only by default; legacy bundled artifact behavior is preserved via a flag.

• CI/CD trigger separation

  • Updated maven.yml to ignore frontend-only and frontend-workflow-only changes.
  • Updated node.js.yml to trigger only on frontend/workflow changes.
  • Result: backend and frontend pipelines execute on their own change domains instead of both running for every change.

• Operational guidance for split-repo transition

  • README now documents:
    • backend-only default packaging
    • opt-in bundled mode for compatibility
    • version-coordination guidance to reduce frontend/backend deploy skew risk

<profile>
  <id>bundle-frontend</id>
  <activation>
    <property>
      <name>bundleFrontend</name>
      <value>true</value>
    </property>
  </activation>
  <!-- frontend build + static asset copy plugins -->
</profile>

Warning

Firewall rules blocked me from connecting to one or more addresses (expand for details)

I tried to connect to the following addresses, but was blocked by firewall rules:

• ads.mozilla.org
  • Triggering command: /usr/lib/firefox/firefox /usr/lib/firefox/firefox --marionette -headless -no-remote -profile /tmp/rust_mozprofile1YV8wj (dns block)
  • Triggering command: /usr/lib/firefox/firefox /usr/lib/firefox/firefox --marionette --headless --disable-gpu --window-size=1920,1080 -no-remote -profile /tmp/rust_mozprofileOYjyzN (dns block)
  • Triggering command: /usr/lib/firefox/firefox /usr/lib/firefox/firefox --marionette --headless --disable-gpu --window-size=1920,1080 -no-remote -profile /tmp/rust_mozprofileWG6Q5y (dns block)
• detectportal.firefox.com
  • Triggering command: /usr/lib/firefox/firefox /usr/lib/firefox/firefox --marionette --headless --disable-gpu --window-size=1920,1080 -no-remote -profile /tmp/rust_mozprofileOYjyzN (dns block)
  • Triggering command: /usr/lib/firefox/firefox /usr/lib/firefox/firefox --marionette --headless --disable-gpu --window-size=1920,1080 -no-remote -profile /tmp/rust_mozprofileWG6Q5y (dns block)
  • Triggering command: /usr/lib/firefox/firefox /usr/lib/firefox/firefox --marionette -headless -no-remote -profile /tmp/rust_mozprofile1YV8wj (dns block)
• firefox.settings.services.mozilla.com
  • Triggering command: /usr/lib/firefox/firefox /usr/lib/firefox/firefox --marionette --headless --disable-gpu --window-size=1920,1080 -no-remote -profile /tmp/rust_mozprofileOYjyzN (dns block)
  • Triggering command: /usr/lib/firefox/firefox /usr/lib/firefox/firefox --marionette --headless --disable-gpu --window-size=1920,1080 -no-remote -profile /tmp/rust_mozprofileWG6Q5y (dns block)
  • Triggering command: /usr/lib/firefox/firefox /usr/lib/firefox/firefox --marionette -headless -no-remote -profile /tmp/rust_mozprofile1YV8wj (dns block)
• incoming.telemetry.mozilla.org
  • Triggering command: /usr/lib/firefox/firefox /usr/lib/firefox/firefox --marionette -headless -no-remote -profile /tmp/rust_mozprofile1YV8wj (dns block)
  • Triggering command: /usr/lib/firefox/firefox /usr/lib/firefox/firefox --marionette --headless --disable-gpu --window-size=1920,1080 -no-remote -profile /tmp/rust_mozprofileOYjyzN (dns block)
  • Triggering command: /usr/lib/firefox/firefox /usr/lib/firefox/firefox --marionette --headless --disable-gpu --window-size=1920,1080 -no-remote -profile /tmp/rust_mozprofileWG6Q5y (dns block)
• ironoc.net
  • Triggering command: /usr/lib/firefox/firefox /usr/lib/firefox/firefox --marionette -headless -no-remote -profile /tmp/rust_mozprofile1YV8wj (dns block)
• support.mozilla.org
  • Triggering command: /usr/lib/firefox/firefox /usr/lib/firefox/firefox --marionette --headless --disable-gpu --window-size=1920,1080 -no-remote -profile /tmp/rust_mozprofileOYjyzN (dns block)
  • Triggering command: /usr/lib/firefox/firefox /usr/lib/firefox/firefox --marionette --headless --disable-gpu --window-size=1920,1080 -no-remote -profile /tmp/rust_mozprofileWG6Q5y (dns block)
• www.ironoc.net
  • Triggering command: /usr/lib/firefox/firefox /usr/lib/firefox/firefox --marionette -headless -no-remote -profile /tmp/rust_mozprofile1YV8wj (dns block)

If you need me to access, download, or install something from one of these locations, you can either:

• Configure Actions setup steps to set up my environment, which run before the firewall is enabled
• Add the appropriate URLs or hosts to the custom allowlist in this repository's Copilot coding agent settings (admins only)

[Copilot]

Pull request overview

This PR spikes a split-friendly build/CI model by making backend Maven packaging backend-only by default, while keeping the legacy “bundled frontend into backend artifact” flow available via an explicit opt-in flag. It also updates GitHub Actions triggers so frontend and backend workflows run only when their respective surfaces change.

Changes:

• Move frontend build + static asset copy Maven plugins behind a bundle-frontend profile activated via -DbundleFrontend=true.
• Split CI triggers: maven.yml ignores frontend-only/workflow-only changes; node.js.yml runs only for frontend/workflow changes.
• Update README with new backend-only default build guidance and split-coordination notes.

Reviewed changes

Copilot reviewed 4 out of 4 changed files in this pull request and generated 1 comment.

File	Description
README.md	Documents backend-only default packaging, opt-in bundled mode, and CI split guidance.
pom.xml	Moves frontend build/copy plugins into an opt-in Maven profile.
.github/workflows/node.js.yml	Restricts Node CI triggers to frontend and relevant workflow file changes.
.github/workflows/maven.yml	Prevents Maven CI from running on frontend-only and frontend-workflow-only changes.

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