Secure Multi-Version Odoo Development: Client Confidentiality in Practice

In the world of enterprise ERP development, protecting client confidentiality is as crucial as writing clean code. Today, I'll share how we've built a professional Odoo development environment that prioritizes security and client anonymity while maintaining efficient development workflows.

Security First: Client Obfuscation

Before diving into the technical setup, let's address a critical aspect: client confidentiality. Our directory structure uses a numerical coding system instead of client names:

source/
└── 17.0/
    ├── 000/    # Client Project A
    ├── 029/    # Client Project B
    ├── 030/    # Client Project C
    └── 036/    # Client Project D

Why Numerical Client IDs?

  1. Privacy Protection : No client names in file paths or repository names
  2. Screen Safety : Safe for screen sharing during team meetings
  3. Data Security : Reduced risk of accidental client information exposure
  4. Compliance : Supports GDPR and other privacy regulations
  5. Professional Discretion : Maintains client confidentiality in public repositories

The Technical Architecture

Our development environment combines security with efficiency:

Directory Structure with Privacy in Mind

odoo/
├── .devcontainer/          # Containerized environments
└── source/                 # Version-controlled source code
    └── 17.0/
        ├── [CLIENT_ID]/   # Numeric client identifiers
        ├── 3p/            # Third-party modules
        ├── enterprise/    # Odoo enterprise modules
        └── odoo/          # Odoo community source

Secure Configuration Management

We use environment variables to keep sensitive information out of version control:

# .env.template (committed to repo)
DEV_DATABASE=client_${CLIENT_ID}
DEV_DB_HOST=db
DEV_DB_USER=odoo
DEV_POSTGRES_PASSWORD=${SECURE_PASSWORD}

VS Code Workspace Configuration

Our workspace configuration maintains privacy:

{
    "folders": [
        {
            "name": "🚀 Project ${CLIENT_ID}",  // No client names
            "path": "./source/17.0/${CLIENT_ID}"
        }
    ]
}

Client ID Management

Best Practices

  1. Central Registry
    • Maintain a secure, encrypted mapping of client IDs to client names
    • Limit access to need-to-know basis
    • Use a separate system from development environment
  2. ID Assignment
    • Use sequential numbers for new clients
    • Never reuse IDs, even after project completion
    • Document ID assignments in a secure location
  3. Communication Protocol
    • Use client IDs in team communications
    • Avoid client names in commit messages
    • Use private channels for client-specific discussions

Security Measures

Code and Repository Level

  1. Repository Access
    • Private repositories for client-specific code
    • Careful management of GitHub/GitLab access
    • Regular access audits

Development Environment

  1. Container Security
    # Secure container configuration
    FROM odoo:17.0
    USER root
    # Minimal privilege principle
    RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y \
        git \
        python3-pip \
        --no-install-recommends
  1. Data Protection
    • Separate data directories per client
    • Automated cleanup of test data
    • Encrypted backups

Implementation Guide

  1. Initial Setup
    • Create a secure client ID registry
    • Set up the directory structure
    • Configure development containers
  2. New Client Onboarding
    • Assign next available client ID
    • Create client-specific workspace
    • Document in secure registry
  3. Team Training
    • Privacy policy review
    • Security protocols
    • Client ID system usage

Benefits

  • Enhanced Privacy : No exposed client information
  • Professional Image : Demonstrates security consciousness
  • Scalability : Easy to add new clients
  • Compliance : Supports privacy regulations
  • Team Efficiency : Clear, secure communication

Conclusion

In professional Odoo development, protecting client confidentiality is non-negotiable. This setup provides a robust framework for maintaining security while enabling efficient development. The initial investment in setting up proper client obfuscation pays dividends in professional relationships and regulatory compliance.

How do you handle client confidentiality in your development environment? Share your thoughts below (keeping client details private, of course!).

in Dev