Files
Oleg Isonen 2df130171f feat: Resolve asset references as structured metadata (#6184)
## Summary

- add exact `$ref` asset values that resolve to Asset Manager metadata
- keep plain local asset paths returning URL strings for backward
compatibility
- derive reference metadata from the canonical asset object so newly
added asset fields flow through automatically
- let Assets query output fields select only the metadata returned,
including nested arrays
- carry the same resolved shape through preview, generated preview,
published runtime, and static export
- document the syntax and accessible image binding in Content Engine and
MCP docs

## Design

The source document declares only the relationship:

```yaml
featureImage:
  $ref: ./assets/hero.png
```

The Assets query controls projection with fields such as
`properties.featureImage.src` and `properties.featureImage.description`.
Selecting `properties.featureImage` returns the canonical Asset Manager
asset metadata together with the resolved `src`. The Content Engine
runtime contract accepts the canonical asset object instead of
maintaining a second metadata field list; `url` becomes `src`, and
internal `contentRef` is not exposed.

Plain strings retain their existing URL-string result. Existing document
`$ref` behavior is preserved by resolving structured asset metadata only
when the target is a known non-document asset.

## Verification

- [x] Content Engine full test suite: 298 tests
- [x] SDK full test suite: 517 tests
- [x] Asset repository tests: 39 tests
- [x] CLI prebuild tests: 58 tests
- [x] Content Engine, SDK, Asset Uploader, CLI, and Project Build
typechecks
- [x] Repository lint
- [x] Content Engine and MCP documentation generation and tests
- [x] Generated API check
- [x] Local fixture build and generated fixture update
- [x] New behavior tests demonstrated fail before/pass after the
implementation
- [ ] Complete fixture sync (development API currently rejects this
branch's newer CLI protocol; local fixture build passes)
- [ ] Agent evaluations (not run; require explicit approval)

## Checklist

- [x] Local structured references return field-selected metadata
- [x] Newly added canonical asset fields flow through without a Content
Engine whitelist change
- [x] Plain-path queries remain backward compatible
- [x] Nested object and array projection
- [x] External URL strings remain usable
- [x] Missing or null descriptions allow `??` fallback to the title
- [x] Expanded metadata counts toward query result-size limits
- [x] Documentation impact reviewed and Content Engine and MCP docs
updated
- [ ] Missing asset targets return a non-failing unresolved value and
dedicated diagnostic
- [ ] Apply the resource and Image binding changes to the separate
Webstudio blog project

## Known limitation

A `$ref` whose asset target no longer exists is not yet converted into
an unresolved asset value with a dedicated diagnostic. This PR
intentionally does not claim that acceptance criterion yet.

Ref #6179
2026-08-19 01:11:41 +02:00
..