It is critical. When I create a project through composer I am trying to manage my installation using code - using devops. If I add a plugin or apply a patch I will manage it through composer. I will push the codebase to our internal github so that other developers can check out the internal install with all plugins, theme etc.
This is the process I have become used to over many years in the Drupal community. I think it is common practice in multiple other communities as well.
I have also been thinking about this one a little since I posted it.
If composer is the recommended way to create a new install I think we may have this backwards. A .gitignore file is provided with Mautic no matter the download method but right now it only works with the distribution download?
git checkout - Target audience = core developers mainly. A .gitignore file would be nice but the audience is expected to be able to manage.
composer install - Target audience = integrators, consultancies, ambitious self-hosters, larger internal IT groups. A preset .gitignore file is desired to manage the install using devops principles unless an alternate is suggested. EG. perhaps a Makefile
Distribution download - Target audience = end users, small business/one person shops etc. No gitignore file is needed.
Hmm, in that case all you need to add to Git is composer.json, perhaps composer.lock, right? So do you need to ignore the whole Mautic? Perhaps create a PR with the changes you need in the .gitignore so we can see what you are proposing but I’m afraid it will conflict with the changes needed for development.
I’d think that in this age the preferred way how to install Mautic is GitHub - mautic/docker-mautic: Docker Image for Mautic. I’m trying to build a CI/CD repo where it would track changes and directly deploy the plugins and themes directly to a VPS. Take a look if it is something that would suite your needs. Perhaps we could join forces to make it bulletproof.