All our link validation, and conversion from url -> route/model/query is expensive and prone to bugs. Instead, if people enter a link, we can just use it as-is.
Originally all this extra logic was added to handle unusual situations like `/safe-mode`, `/my/...`, etc. However, all of these are now handled correctly by our Ember router, so there is no need for it.
Now, we just pass the user-supplied `href` directly to the SectionLink component, and let Ember handle routing to it when clicked.
The only functional change here is that we no longer validate internal links by parsing them with the Ember router. But I'd argue this is fine, because the previous logic would cause both false positives (e.g. `/t/123` would be valid, even if topic 123 doesn't exist), and false negatives (for routes which are server-side only, like the new AI share pages).
Before this change, links which required full reload because they are not in ember routes like `/my/preferences` or links to docs like `/pub/*` were treated as real external links. Therefore, they were opening in self window or new tab based on user `external_links_in_new_tab` setting.
To be consistent with behavior when full reload links are in the post, they are treated as internal and always open in the same window.
* DEV: move sidebar community section to database
Before, community section was hard-coded. In the future, we are planning to allow admins to edit it. Therefore, it has to be moved to database to `custom_sections` table.
Few steps and simplifications has to be made:
- custom section was hidden behind `enable_custom_sidebar_sections` feature flag. It has to be deleted so all forums, see community section;
- migration to add `section_type` column to sidebar section to show it is a special type;
- migration to add `segment` column to sidebar links to determine if link should be displayed in primary section or in more section;
- simplify more section to have one level only (secondary section links are merged);
- ensure that links like `everything` are correctly tracking state;
- make user an anonymous links position consistence. For example, from now on `faq` link for user and anonymous is visible in more tab;
- delete old community-section template.
David Taylor
Krzysztof Kotlarek