#VFB-236 - Use v3 cache server and build backend only if flag set to true

[jrmartin]

Conditional Backend Build:

• Added a new build argument BUILD_BACKEND to the Dockerfile, which controls whether backend dependencies and the backend itself are installed during the Docker build. If BUILD_BACKEND is set to "false", backend installation steps are skipped, improving build flexibility. [1] [2]
• Updated the deployment pipeline (codefresh-dev.yaml) to pass the BUILD_BACKEND environment variable to the Docker build process, ensuring consistent behavior across environments.

Frontend Configuration:

• Changed the default API URL in vite.config.js to use https:/v3-cached.virtualflybrain.org instead of the previous development URL, aligning the frontend with the new backend endpoint.

[Copilot]

Pull request overview

This PR introduces a build-time flag to optionally skip installing/building the backend in the Virtual Fly Brain Docker image, updates the dev deployment pipeline to pass that flag through, and repoints the frontend’s default API base URL to the v3 cached server.

Changes:

• Add Docker build arg BUILD_BACKEND and conditionally run backend dependency/package installation based on its value.
• Pass BUILD_BACKEND through the Codefresh dev pipeline into the Docker build.
• Update the frontend Vite config default API URL to the v3 cached endpoint.

Reviewed changes

Copilot reviewed 3 out of 3 changed files in this pull request and generated 4 comments.

File	Description
deployment/codefresh-dev.yaml	Forwards BUILD_BACKEND as a Docker build argument in the dev pipeline.
applications/virtual-fly-brain/frontend/vite.config.js	Changes the fallback API URL used when VFB_DOMAIN is not provided.
applications/virtual-fly-brain/Dockerfile	Adds conditional backend install/build steps controlled by BUILD_BACKEND.

---

💡 Add Copilot custom instructions for smarter, more guided reviews. Learn how to get started.

[chatgpt-codex-connector]

💡 Codex Review

Here are some automated review suggestions for this pull request.

Reviewed commit: 8187c6fa21

ℹ️ About Codex in GitHub

Your team has set up Codex to review pull requests in this repo. Reviews are triggered when you

• Open a pull request for review
• Mark a draft as ready
• Comment "@codex review".

If Codex has suggestions, it will comment; otherwise it will react with 👍.

Codex can also answer questions or update the PR. Try commenting "@codex address that feedback".

[Copilot]

Pull request overview

Copilot reviewed 4 out of 4 changed files in this pull request and generated 4 comments.

---

💡 Add Copilot custom instructions for smarter, more guided reviews. Learn how to get started.