feat: system attributes as pseudo-types (AutoOwner, AutoChangedBy, etc.)

Replace STORE OWNER/CHANGED BY/CREATED DATE/CHANGED DATE syntax on
CREATE ENTITY with pseudo-typed attributes in the attribute list:

  Owner: AutoOwner,
  ChangedBy: AutoChangedBy,
  CreatedDate: AutoCreatedDate,
  ChangedDate: AutoChangedDate

These follow the AutoNumber pattern — the type name communicates
"system-generated, read-only". DESCRIBE now outputs them as regular
attributes. ALTER ENTITY SET/DROP STORE remains for toggling on
existing entities.

Also fixes Mendix 11.9.0 BSON field rename (HasOwner → HasOwnerAttr)
and version-aware writer output.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.6 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>

Author: ako

.claude/skills/mendix/generate-domain-model.md

@@ -198,16 +198,14 @@ CREATE PERSISTENT ENTITY Module.Photo (
 
 #### System Attributes (Auditing)
 
-Mendix supports four built-in auditing properties on persistent entities. These are stored at the entity level (not as regular attributes) and the system fills them automatically:
+Mendix supports four built-in auditing properties on persistent entities. Declare them as regular attributes using pseudo-types (like `AutoNumber`):
 
-| Clause | Effect |
-|--------|--------|
-| `STORE OWNER` | Adds `System.owner` association to System.User; set on insert |
-| `STORE CHANGED BY` | Adds `System.changedBy` association to System.User; updated on every commit |
-| `STORE CREATED DATE` | Adds `CreatedDate` (DateTime); set on insert |
-| `STORE CHANGED DATE` | Adds `ChangedDate` (DateTime); updated on every commit |
-
-**Position**: STORE clauses go AFTER the closing parenthesis of attributes, before the semicolon. They can appear in any order.
+| Pseudo-Type | System Attribute | Set When |
+|-------------|-----------------|----------|
+| `AutoOwner` | `System.owner` (→ System.User) | Object created |
+| `AutoChangedBy` | `System.changedBy` (→ System.User) | Every commit |
+| `AutoCreatedDate` | `CreatedDate` (DateTime) | Object created |
+| `AutoChangedDate` | `ChangedDate` (DateTime) | Every commit |
 
 ```sql
 /**
@@ -216,12 +214,12 @@ Mendix supports four built-in auditing properties on persistent entities. These
 CREATE PERSISTENT ENTITY Sales.Order (
   OrderNumber: AutoNumber,
   TotalAmount: Decimal NOT NULL,
-  Status: Enumeration(Sales.OrderStatus) NOT NULL
-)
-STORE OWNER
-STORE CHANGED BY
-STORE CREATED DATE
-STORE CHANGED DATE;
+  Status: Enumeration(Sales.OrderStatus) NOT NULL,
+  Owner: AutoOwner,
+  ChangedBy: AutoChangedBy,
+  CreatedDate: AutoCreatedDate,
+  ChangedDate: AutoChangedDate
+);
 ```
 
 To enable/disable on existing entities, use ALTER ENTITY:
@@ -234,8 +232,8 @@ ALTER ENTITY Sales.Order DROP STORE CHANGED BY;
 
 **When to use auditing:**
 - Compliance/regulated domains (finance, healthcare) — use all four
-- User-generated content — use STORE OWNER for ownership rules
-- "Recently modified" lists — use STORE CHANGED DATE
+- User-generated content — use AutoOwner for ownership-based access rules
+- "Recently modified" lists — use AutoChangedDate
 - Avoid on high-volume system tables (every write touches the audit columns)
 
 #### Non-Persistent Entity

cmd/mxcli/help.go

@@ -133,6 +133,10 @@ var attributeTypes = map[string]string{
 	"DateTime":          "Date and time combined (DateAndTime also accepted)",
 	"Date":              "Date only (no time component)",
 	"AutoNumber":        "Auto-incrementing integer",
+	"AutoOwner":         "System.owner association (auto-set on create)",
+	"AutoChangedBy":     "System.changedBy association (auto-set on commit)",
+	"AutoCreatedDate":   "CreatedDate: DateTime (auto-set on create)",
+	"AutoChangedDate":   "ChangedDate: DateTime (auto-set on commit)",
 	"Binary":            "Binary data (files, images)",
 	"HashedString":      "Securely hashed string (for passwords)",
 	"Enumeration(Name)": "Reference to an enumeration (e.g., Enumeration(MyModule.Status))",

cmd/mxcli/help_topics/entity.txt

@@ -41,25 +41,27 @@ Attribute Constraints:
   Note: CALCULATED attributes are only supported on persistent entities.
 
 System Attributes (auditing):
-  STORE OWNER           - Adds System.owner association (System.User)
-  STORE CHANGED BY      - Adds System.changedBy association (System.User)
-  STORE CREATED DATE    - Adds CreatedDate attribute (DateTime, auto-set on insert)
-  STORE CHANGED DATE    - Adds ChangedDate attribute (DateTime, auto-set on every commit)
+  AutoOwner             - System.owner association (auto-set on create)
+  AutoChangedBy         - System.changedBy association (auto-set on every commit)
+  AutoCreatedDate       - CreatedDate: DateTime (auto-set on create)
+  AutoChangedDate       - ChangedDate: DateTime (auto-set on every commit)
 
-  These clauses go AFTER the closing parenthesis of attributes:
+  These are pseudo-types like AutoNumber — list them as regular attributes:
 
   CREATE PERSISTENT ENTITY MyModule.AuditedEntity (
-    Name: String(100)
-  )
-  STORE OWNER
-  STORE CHANGED BY
-  STORE CREATED DATE
-  STORE CHANGED DATE;
+    Name: String(100),
+    Owner: AutoOwner,
+    ChangedBy: AutoChangedBy,
+    CreatedDate: AutoCreatedDate,
+    ChangedDate: AutoChangedDate
+  );
 
   Use ALTER ENTITY to toggle on existing entities:
     ALTER ENTITY MyModule.Entity SET STORE OWNER;
     ALTER ENTITY MyModule.Entity DROP STORE CHANGED DATE;
 
+  To toggle on existing entities, use ALTER ENTITY SET/DROP STORE.
+
 Complete Example:
   CREATE PERSISTENT ENTITY MyModule.Customer (
     -- Customer identification

cmd/mxcli/lsp_completions_gen.go

@@ -97,25 +97,25 @@ CREATE OR MODIFY PERSISTENT ENTITY Sales.Customer (
 
 ## System Attributes (Auditing)
 
-Persistent entities can track who created/modified objects and when, using built-in system attributes. Add these clauses after the closing parenthesis:
+Persistent entities can track who created/modified objects and when. Declare them as regular attributes using pseudo-types (like `AutoNumber`):
 
 ```sql
 CREATE PERSISTENT ENTITY Sales.Order (
   OrderNumber: AutoNumber,
-  TotalAmount: Decimal
-)
-STORE OWNER
-STORE CHANGED BY
-STORE CREATED DATE
-STORE CHANGED DATE;
+  TotalAmount: Decimal,
+  Owner: AutoOwner,
+  ChangedBy: AutoChangedBy,
+  CreatedDate: AutoCreatedDate,
+  ChangedDate: AutoChangedDate
+);
 ```
 
-| Clause | System Attribute | Type | Set When |
-|--------|-----------------|------|----------|
-| `STORE OWNER` | `System.owner` | Association → System.User | Object created |
-| `STORE CHANGED BY` | `System.changedBy` | Association → System.User | Every commit |
-| `STORE CREATED DATE` | `CreatedDate` | DateTime | Object created |
-| `STORE CHANGED DATE` | `ChangedDate` | DateTime | Every commit |
+| Pseudo-Type | System Attribute | Set When |
+|-------------|-----------------|----------|
+| `AutoOwner` | `System.owner` (→ System.User) | Object created |
+| `AutoChangedBy` | `System.changedBy` (→ System.User) | Every commit |
+| `AutoCreatedDate` | `CreatedDate` (DateTime) | Object created |
+| `AutoChangedDate` | `ChangedDate` (DateTime) | Every commit |
 
 Toggle on existing entities with ALTER ENTITY:
 

docs-site/src/language/entities.md

@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ CREATE PERSISTENT ENTITY Module.Photo (
 |-----------|--------|-------|
 | Create entity | `CREATE [OR MODIFY] PERSISTENT\|NON-PERSISTENT ENTITY Module.Name (attrs);` | Persistent is default |
 | Create with extends | `CREATE PERSISTENT ENTITY Module.Name EXTENDS Parent.Entity (attrs);` | EXTENDS before `(` |
-| Create with auditing | `CREATE PERSISTENT ENTITY Module.Name (attrs) STORE OWNER STORE CHANGED BY STORE CREATED DATE STORE CHANGED DATE;` | System attributes added automatically |
+| Create with auditing | `CREATE PERSISTENT ENTITY Module.Name (attrs, Owner: AutoOwner, ChangedBy: AutoChangedBy, CreatedDate: AutoCreatedDate, ChangedDate: AutoChangedDate);` | Pseudo-types like AutoNumber |
 | Create view entity | `CREATE VIEW ENTITY Module.Name (attrs) AS SELECT ...;` | OQL-backed read-only |
 | Create external entity | `CREATE EXTERNAL ENTITY Module.Name FROM ODATA CLIENT Module.Client (...) (attrs);` | From consumed OData |
 | Create external entities | `CREATE [OR MODIFY] EXTERNAL ENTITIES FROM Module.Client [INTO Module] [ENTITIES (...)];` | Bulk from $metadata |

docs/01-project/MDL_QUICK_REFERENCE.md

@@ -2,21 +2,16 @@
 -- System Attribute Examples (Issue #182)
 -- ============================================================================
 --
--- Mendix persistent entities support four optional system attributes that
--- provide built-in auditing:
+-- Mendix persistent entities support four optional system attributes for
+-- built-in auditing. Declare them as pseudo-types (like AutoNumber):
 --
---   STORE OWNER         -> System.owner association
---   STORE CHANGED BY    -> System.changedBy association
---   STORE CREATED DATE  -> CreatedDate attribute (DateTime)
---   STORE CHANGED DATE  -> ChangedDate attribute (DateTime)
+--   AutoOwner          -> System.owner association (auto-set on create)
+--   AutoChangedBy      -> System.changedBy association (auto-set on commit)
+--   AutoCreatedDate    -> CreatedDate: DateTime (auto-set on create)
+--   AutoChangedDate    -> ChangedDate: DateTime (auto-set on commit)
 --
--- This file demonstrates enabling these flags both during CREATE ENTITY
--- (as entity options) and via ALTER ENTITY (SET / DROP).
---
--- Usage:
---   1. Connect to your project: CONNECT LOCAL 'app.mpr';
---   2. Execute: EXECUTE SCRIPT 'mdl-examples/doctype-tests/26-system-attribute-examples.mdl';
---   3. Roundtrip: DESCRIBE ENTITY SysAttrTest.<EntityName>
+-- This file demonstrates enabling these both during CREATE ENTITY
+-- (as pseudo-typed attributes) and via ALTER ENTITY (SET / DROP STORE).
 --
 -- ============================================================================
 
@@ -31,22 +26,22 @@ CREATE MODULE SysAttrTest;
  */
 CREATE OR MODIFY PERSISTENT ENTITY SysAttrTest.AuditedRecord (
   Title: String(200) NOT NULL,
-  Amount: Decimal
-)
-STORE OWNER
-STORE CHANGED BY
-STORE CREATED DATE
-STORE CHANGED DATE;
+  Amount: Decimal,
+  Owner: AutoOwner,
+  ChangedBy: AutoChangedBy,
+  CreatedDate: AutoCreatedDate,
+  ChangedDate: AutoChangedDate
+);
 
 -- ============================================================================
 -- Example 2: Subset of system attributes
 -- ============================================================================
 
 CREATE OR MODIFY PERSISTENT ENTITY SysAttrTest.LogEntry (
   Message: String(500),
-  Level: String(20)
-)
-STORE CREATED DATE;
+  Level: String(20),
+  CreatedDate: AutoCreatedDate
+);
 
 -- ============================================================================
 -- Example 3: ALTER ENTITY to enable flags after creation
@@ -67,10 +62,10 @@ ALTER ENTITY SysAttrTest.Customer SET STORE CHANGED DATE;
 -- ============================================================================
 
 CREATE OR MODIFY PERSISTENT ENTITY SysAttrTest.TempRecord (
-  Payload: String(100)
-)
-STORE OWNER
-STORE CREATED DATE;
+  Payload: String(100),
+  Owner: AutoOwner,
+  CreatedDate: AutoCreatedDate
+);
 
 -- Disable both flags
 ALTER ENTITY SysAttrTest.TempRecord DROP STORE OWNER;

mdl-examples/doctype-tests/26-system-attribute-examples.mdl

@@ -31,6 +31,10 @@ const (
 	TypeDateTime
 	TypeDate
 	TypeAutoNumber
+	TypeAutoOwner       // System.owner association (auto-set on create)
+	TypeAutoChangedBy   // System.changedBy association (auto-set on commit)
+	TypeAutoCreatedDate // CreatedDate DateTime (auto-set on create)
+	TypeAutoChangedDate // ChangedDate DateTime (auto-set on commit)
 	TypeBinary
 	TypeEnumeration
 	TypeEntity          // Entity reference (for microflow parameters)
@@ -58,6 +62,14 @@ func (k DataTypeKind) String() string {
 		return "Date"
 	case TypeAutoNumber:
 		return "AutoNumber"
+	case TypeAutoOwner:
+		return "AutoOwner"
+	case TypeAutoChangedBy:
+		return "AutoChangedBy"
+	case TypeAutoCreatedDate:
+		return "AutoCreatedDate"
+	case TypeAutoChangedDate:
+		return "AutoChangedDate"
 	case TypeBinary:
 		return "Binary"
 	case TypeEnumeration:

mdl/ast/ast_datatype.go

@@ -42,11 +42,7 @@ type CreateEntityStmt struct {
 	Position         *Position
 	Documentation    string
 	Comment          string
-	CreateOrModify   bool // true for CREATE OR MODIFY
-	StoreOwner       bool // STORE OWNER (system attribute)
-	StoreChangedBy   bool // STORE CHANGED BY (system attribute)
-	StoreCreatedDate bool // STORE CREATED DATE (system attribute)
-	StoreChangedDate bool // STORE CHANGED DATE (system attribute)
+	CreateOrModify bool // true for CREATE OR MODIFY
 }
 
 func (s *CreateEntityStmt) isStatement() {}

mdl/ast/ast_entity.go

@@ -98,9 +98,28 @@ func (e *Executor) execCreateEntity(s *ast.CreateEntityStmt) error {
 	}
 
 	// Create attributes and build name-to-ID map for validation rules and indexes
+	// Also detect pseudo-types (AutoOwner, AutoChangedBy, etc.) and set entity flags
+	var storeOwner, storeChangedBy, storeCreatedDate, storeChangedDate bool
+
 	var attrs []*domainmodel.Attribute
 	attrNameToID := make(map[string]model.ID)
 	for _, a := range s.Attributes {
+		// Pseudo-types: set entity flags instead of creating attributes
+		switch a.Type.Kind {
+		case ast.TypeAutoOwner:
+			storeOwner = true
+			continue
+		case ast.TypeAutoChangedBy:
+			storeChangedBy = true
+			continue
+		case ast.TypeAutoCreatedDate:
+			storeCreatedDate = true
+			continue
+		case ast.TypeAutoChangedDate:
+			storeChangedDate = true
+			continue
+		}
+
 		// CALCULATED attributes are only supported on persistent entities
 		if a.Calculated && !persistable {
 			return fmt.Errorf("attribute '%s': CALCULATED attributes are only supported on persistent entities", a.Name)
@@ -235,10 +254,10 @@ func (e *Executor) execCreateEntity(s *ast.CreateEntityStmt) error {
 		ValidationRules: validationRules,
 		Indexes:         indexes,
 		EventHandlers:   eventHandlers,
-		HasOwner:        s.StoreOwner,
-		HasChangedBy:    s.StoreChangedBy,
-		HasCreatedDate:  s.StoreCreatedDate,
-		HasChangedDate:  s.StoreChangedDate,
+		HasOwner:        storeOwner,
+		HasChangedBy:    storeChangedBy,
+		HasCreatedDate:  storeCreatedDate,
+		HasChangedDate:  storeChangedDate,
 	}
 
 	// Set generalization (inheritance) if specified