# Add Feature > Add support for a new Bicep language feature to bicep-docs. Follows the fixture → build → inspect ARM JSON → update internal code pipeline. Use when the user wants to implement a new capability identified by the bicep-researcher agent. Use when this capability is needed. - Skill: `tomevault-io/add-feature-3` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 2 files) - Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add tomevault-io/add-feature-3` - Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/tomevault-io/add-feature-3/raw - Safety review: pending (external: skill-scanner PASS, skillspector PASS) - Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex - Category: DevOps & Infra - Author: tomevault-io (https://skillmd.com/u/tomevault-io) - Updated: 2026-09-17 - Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/tomevault-io/add-feature-3 --- # Add a new Bicep language feature to bicep-docs The canonical implementation pipeline: 1. Write a minimal Bicep fixture that exercises the new feature 2. Compile it with `az bicep build` to produce real ARM JSON 3. Inspect the ARM JSON to understand the exact schema 4. Update `internal/types/types.go` — add fields to the right struct(s) 5. Update `internal/types/unmarshal.go` — add JSON unmarshaling for new fields 6. Update `internal/markdown/markdown.go` — add rendering (new column, row, or section) 7. Update `internal/markdown/create.go` if a new section toggle is needed 8. Add test cases to the relevant `*_test.go` files 9. Verify: `go test ./...` then `task lint` --- ## Step 1 — Write the Bicep fixture Create `test/.bicep` with the **minimum** Bicep that exercises the new feature. Keep it alongside the existing `test/any.bicep` pattern — one focused fixture per capability. ```bicep // test/secure-params.bicep (example for @secure() feature) @secure() param adminPassword string @secure() param config object ``` Also add a companion fixture in `internal/template/testdata/.bicep` if the feature needs to be covered by the template package unit tests (check whether existing fixtures like `extended.bicep` can be extended instead of creating a new one). --- ## Step 2 — Compile to ARM JSON ```bash az bicep build --file test/.bicep --outfile test/.json ``` If `az` is not available, try `bicep build test/.bicep --outfile test/.json`. Read the generated JSON immediately — it is the ground truth for what bicep-docs must parse. --- ## Step 3 — Inspect the ARM JSON Focus on the sections that bicep-docs parses: | Bicep construct | ARM JSON location | |---|---| | Parameters | `$.parameters.` | | Outputs | `$.outputs.` | | Variables | `$.variables` | | User-defined types (UDDTs) | `$.definitions.` | | User-defined functions (UDFs) | `$.functions[*].members.` | | Resources | Not in ARM JSON — parsed from `.bicep` source | | Modules | Not in ARM JSON — parsed from `.bicep` source | Identify: which new JSON key(s) appear? What is their type (bool, string, object, array)? Are they present on existing objects or do they introduce a new top-level section? --- ## Step 4 — Update `internal/types/types.go` Add fields to the relevant struct(s). Follow existing patterns: - Use `json:"keyName"` struct tags matching the ARM JSON key exactly. - Use `omitempty` for optional fields. - Use pointer types (`*bool`, `*string`) when the zero value (`false`, `""`) would be indistinguishable from "field absent" — especially important for bool flags. - For nested objects, add a new named struct rather than an anonymous one. ```go // Example: adding Secure to Parameter and Output type Parameter struct { // ... existing fields ... Secure bool `json:"-"` // derived from type string; not a direct JSON field } ``` If the feature introduces a new top-level ARM JSON section (rare), add it to `Template` struct and add a corresponding `Section` constant and `ParseSectionFromString` case. --- ## Step 5 — Update `internal/types/unmarshal.go` Add or extend the `UnmarshalJSON` method for the affected type. The existing pattern uses a type alias to avoid infinite recursion: ```go func (p *Parameter) UnmarshalJSON(data []byte) error { type Alias Parameter aux := &struct{ *Alias }{Alias: (*Alias)(p)} if err := json.Unmarshal(data, &aux); err != nil { return err } // Handle type/ref first (existing) tr, err := unmarshalTypeOrRef(data) if err != nil { return err } p.Type = tr // NEW: derive Secure from the resolved type string p.Secure = p.Type == "secureString" || p.Type == "secureObject" return nil } ``` For fields that appear as nested JSON objects (e.g., `discriminator`), unmarshal a minimal helper struct: ```go var raw struct { Discriminator *struct { PropertyName string `json:"propertyName"` Mapping map[string]any `json:"mapping"` } `json:"discriminator"` } if err := json.Unmarshal(data, &raw); err != nil { return err } if raw.Discriminator != nil { u.Discriminator = &Discriminator{ PropertyName: raw.Discriminator.PropertyName, Mapping: raw.Discriminator.Mapping, } } ``` --- ## Step 6 — Update `internal/markdown/markdown.go` Find the function that generates the affected section (e.g., `generateParametersSection`, `generateUserDefinedDataTypesSection`). Follow the `MarkdownTable` pattern: ```go // To add a "Secure" column to Parameters: // 1. Add "Secure" to the headers slice // 2. Add the value to each row slice in the same position headers := []string{"Name", "Status", "Type", "Secure", "Description", "Default"} // ... row := []string{ p.Name, p.GetStatus().String(), extractType(p.Type), boolToYesNo(p.Secure), // new field p.Description, formatDefault(p.DefaultValue), } ``` The `--show-all-decorators` flag pattern (see `showAllDecorators` parameter in `generateParametersSection`) controls whether sparse columns are shown. Consider whether the new column should be gated behind that flag or always shown. For a completely new section, follow the pattern of `generateUserDefinedDataTypesSection`: create a `generateSection` function, add it to `create.go`'s `GenerateDocumentation` dispatch, and add a `Section` constant. --- ## Step 7 — Add test cases ### Unit test for the new field (`internal/types/*_test.go`) Add a table-driven test case to the existing test that covers the struct being changed. Use a real ARM JSON snippet (copy from the compiled fixture) as the input: ```go { name: "secure_string_param", input: []byte(`{"type":"secureString","metadata":{"description":"admin password"}}`), expectedResult: types.Parameter{ Type: "secureString", Secure: true, Description: "admin password", }, expectedError: nil, }, ``` ### Markdown rendering test (`internal/markdown/*_test.go`) Add a case to the relevant table-driven test in `create_test.go` or `markdown_test.go` that exercises the new column/section with a minimal `types.Template`. ### Template/parse test (`internal/template/*_test.go`) If the feature affects parsing of the `.bicep` source (not just ARM JSON), add the fixture to the testdata directory and add a test case in `parse_test.go` or `build_test.go`. --- ## Step 8 — Verify ```bash go test ./... task lint ``` Fix any lint issues before considering the feature done. Pay attention to: - `funlen` violations if a table or switch grew too long — may need `//nolint:funlen // reason` - `mnd` (magic numbers) for any new numeric constants — define them as named constants - `godot` — all new exported comments must end with a period --- > Source: [christosgalano/bicep-docs](https://github.com/christosgalano/bicep-docs) — distributed by [TomeVault](https://tomevault.io).