fix(cache): use user-writable ~/.serve.zone/dcrouter for TsmDB and centralize data path logic

changelog.md

@@ -1,5 +1,14 @@
 # Changelog
 
+## 2026-02-12 - 5.0.4 - fix(cache)
+use user-writable ~/.serve.zone/dcrouter for TsmDB and centralize data path logic
+
+- Default TsmDB storage changed from /etc/dcrouter/tsmdb to ~/.serve.zone/dcrouter/tsmdb
+- Introduced dcrouterHomeDir, dataDir, and defaultTsmDbPath in ts/paths.ts
+- CacheDb now defaults to defaultTsmDbPath when no storagePath is provided
+- DcRouter initialization updated to use paths.defaultTsmDbPath; README and readme.hints updated to document the new defaults
+- Avoids /etc permission issues and prevents starting a real MongoDB process in tests by using a user-writable default path
+
 ## 2026-02-12 - 5.0.3 - fix(packaging)
 add files whitelist to package.json and remove Playwright-generated screenshots
 

readme.hints.md

@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ Source at `../../push.rocks/smartmta`, release with `gitzone commit -ypbrt`
 ### SmartProxy v23.1.2 Route Validation
 - SmartProxy 23.1.2 enforces stricter route validation
 - Forward actions MUST use `targets` (array) instead of `target` (singular)
-- Test configurations that call `DcRouter.start()` need `cacheConfig: { enabled: false }` to avoid `/etc/dcrouter` permission errors
+- Test configurations that call `DcRouter.start()` need `cacheConfig: { enabled: false }` to avoid starting a real MongoDB process in tests
 
 ```typescript
 // WRONG - will fail validation
@@ -693,7 +693,7 @@ The configuration UI has been converted from an editable interface to a read-onl
 ## Smartdata Cache System (2026-02-03)
 
 ### Overview
-DcRouter now uses smartdata + LocalTsmDb for persistent caching. Data is stored at `/etc/dcrouter/tsmdb`.
+DcRouter now uses smartdata + LocalTsmDb for persistent caching. Data is stored at `~/.serve.zone/dcrouter/tsmdb`.
 
 ### Technology Stack
 | Layer | Package | Purpose |
@@ -747,7 +747,7 @@ await email.delete();
 const dcRouter = new DcRouter({
   cacheConfig: {
     enabled: true,
-    storagePath: '/etc/dcrouter/tsmdb',
+    storagePath: '~/.serve.zone/dcrouter/tsmdb',
     dbName: 'dcrouter',
     cleanupIntervalHours: 1,
     ttlConfig: {

readme.md

@@ -219,7 +219,7 @@ const router = new DcRouter({
   storage: { fsPath: '/var/lib/dcrouter/data' },
 
   // Cache database
-  cacheConfig: { enabled: true, storagePath: '/etc/dcrouter/tsmdb' },
+  cacheConfig: { enabled: true, storagePath: '~/.serve.zone/dcrouter/tsmdb' },
 
   // TLS & ACME
   tls: { contactEmail: 'admin@example.com' },
@@ -388,7 +388,7 @@ interface IDcRouterOptions {
   };
   cacheConfig?: {
     enabled?: boolean;                   // default: true
-    storagePath?: string;                // default: '/etc/dcrouter/tsmdb'
+    storagePath?: string;                // default: '~/.serve.zone/dcrouter/tsmdb'
     dbName?: string;                     // default: 'dcrouter'
     cleanupIntervalHours?: number;       // default: 1
     ttlConfig?: {
@@ -734,7 +734,7 @@ An embedded MongoDB-compatible database (via smartdata + LocalTsmDb) for persist
 ```typescript
 cacheConfig: {
   enabled: true,
-  storagePath: '/etc/dcrouter/tsmdb',
+  storagePath: '~/.serve.zone/dcrouter/tsmdb',
   dbName: 'dcrouter',
   cleanupIntervalHours: 1,
   ttlConfig: {

ts/00_commitinfo_data.ts

@@ -3,6 +3,6 @@
  */
 export const commitinfo = {
   name: '@serve.zone/dcrouter',
-  version: '5.0.3',
+  version: '5.0.4',
   description: 'A multifaceted routing service handling mail and SMS delivery functions.'
 }

ts/cache/classes.cachedb.ts

@@ -1,11 +1,12 @@
 import * as plugins from '../plugins.js';
 import { logger } from '../logger.js';
+import { defaultTsmDbPath } from '../paths.js';
 
 /**
  * Configuration options for CacheDb
  */
 export interface ICacheDbOptions {
-  /** Base storage path for TsmDB data (default: /etc/dcrouter/tsmdb) */
+  /** Base storage path for TsmDB data (default: ~/.serve.zone/dcrouter/tsmdb) */
   storagePath?: string;
   /** Database name (default: dcrouter) */
   dbName?: string;
@@ -29,7 +30,7 @@ export class CacheDb {
 
   constructor(options: ICacheDbOptions = {}) {
     this.options = {
-      storagePath: options.storagePath || '/etc/dcrouter/tsmdb',
+      storagePath: options.storagePath || defaultTsmDbPath,
       dbName: options.dbName || 'dcrouter',
       debug: options.debug || false,
     };

ts/classes.dcrouter.ts

@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ export interface IDcRouterOptions {
   cacheConfig?: {
     /** Enable cache database (default: true) */
     enabled?: boolean;
-    /** Storage path for TsmDB data (default: /etc/dcrouter/tsmdb) */
+    /** Storage path for TsmDB data (default: ~/.serve.zone/dcrouter/tsmdb) */
     storagePath?: string;
     /** Database name (default: dcrouter) */
     dbName?: string;
@@ -349,7 +349,7 @@ export class DcRouter {
 
     // Initialize CacheDb singleton
     this.cacheDb = CacheDb.getInstance({
-      storagePath: cacheConfig.storagePath || '/etc/dcrouter/tsmdb',
+      storagePath: cacheConfig.storagePath || paths.defaultTsmDbPath,
       dbName: cacheConfig.dbName || 'dcrouter',
       debug: false,
     });

ts/paths.ts

@@ -8,11 +8,17 @@ export const packageDir = plugins.path.join(
 );
 export const distServe = plugins.path.join(packageDir, './dist_serve');
 
-// Configure data directory with environment variable or default to .nogit/data
-const DEFAULT_DATA_PATH = '.nogit/data';
-export const dataDir = process.env.DATA_DIR 
-  ? process.env.DATA_DIR 
-  : plugins.path.join(baseDir, DEFAULT_DATA_PATH);
+// Default base for all dcrouter data (always user-writable)
+export const dcrouterHomeDir = plugins.path.join(plugins.os.homedir(), '.serve.zone', 'dcrouter');
+
+// Configure data directory with environment variable or default to ~/.serve.zone/dcrouter/data
+const DEFAULT_DATA_PATH = plugins.path.join(dcrouterHomeDir, 'data');
+export const dataDir = process.env.DATA_DIR
+  ? process.env.DATA_DIR
+  : DEFAULT_DATA_PATH;
+
+// Default TsmDB path for CacheDb
+export const defaultTsmDbPath = plugins.path.join(dcrouterHomeDir, 'tsmdb');
 
 // MTA directories 
 export const keysDir = plugins.path.join(dataDir, 'keys');

ts_web/00_commitinfo_data.ts

@@ -3,6 +3,6 @@
  */
 export const commitinfo = {
   name: '@serve.zone/dcrouter',
-  version: '5.0.3',
+  version: '5.0.4',
   description: 'A multifaceted routing service handling mail and SMS delivery functions.'
 }