feat(Config): Implement configuration severity policy and logging mechanism (#23284)

.github/workflows/dashboard-ci.yml

@@ -74,11 +74,16 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Configure AzerothCore settings
         run: |
-          # Create basic configuration
+            touch conf/config.sh
-          cp conf/dist/config.sh conf/config.sh
+            echo 'MTHREADS=4' >> conf/config.sh
-          # Configure dashboard
+            echo 'CBUILD_TESTING=ON' >> conf/config.sh
-          sed -i 's/MTHREADS=.*/MTHREADS="4"/' conf/config.sh
+            echo 'AC_ENABLE_ROOT_CMAKE_INSTALL=1' >> conf/config.sh
-          sed -i 's/CBUILD_TESTING=.*/CBUILD_TESTING="ON"/' conf/config.sh
+            echo 'export AC_CONFIG_POLICY=$AC_CONFIG_POLICY_PRESET_ZERO_CONF' >> conf/config.sh
+            echo 'AC_ENABLE_CONF_COPY_ON_INSTALL=0' >> conf/config.sh
+            cat conf/config.sh
+
+            # debug content of AC_CONFIG_POLICY
+            ./acore.sh config show AC_CONFIG_POLICY
 
       - name: Test module commands
         run: |
@@ -92,8 +97,6 @@ jobs:
           ./acore.sh module update --all
 
       - name: Run complete installation (deps, compile, database, client-data)
-        env:
-          AC_ENABLE_ROOT_CMAKE_INSTALL: 1
         run: |
           # This runs: install-deps, compile, database setup, client-data download
           ./acore.sh init
@@ -113,12 +116,14 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Test authserver dry-run
         run: |
+          source ./acore.sh config load
           cd env/dist/bin
           timeout 5m ./authserver -dry-run
         continue-on-error: false
 
       - name: Test worldserver dry-run
         run: |
+          source ./acore.sh config load
           cd env/dist/bin
           timeout 5m ./worldserver -dry-run
         continue-on-error: false

apps/bash_shared/common.sh

@@ -1,17 +1,19 @@
 function registerHooks() { acore_event_registerHooks "$@"; }
 function runHooks() { acore_event_runHooks "$@"; }
 
-#shellcheck source=../../conf/dist/config.sh
+function acore_common_loadConfig() {
-source "$AC_PATH_CONF/dist/config.sh" # include dist to avoid missing conf variables
+    #shellcheck source=../../conf/dist/config.sh
+    source "$AC_PATH_CONF/dist/config.sh" # include dist to avoid missing conf variables
 
-# first check if it's defined in env, otherwise use the default
+    # first check if it's defined in env, otherwise use the default
-USER_CONF_PATH=${USER_CONF_PATH:-"$AC_PATH_CONF/config.sh"}
+    USER_CONF_PATH=${USER_CONF_PATH:-"$AC_PATH_CONF/config.sh"}
 
-if [ -f  "$USER_CONF_PATH" ]; then
+    if [ -f  "$USER_CONF_PATH" ]; then
-    source "$USER_CONF_PATH" # should overwrite previous
+        source "$USER_CONF_PATH" # should overwrite previous
-else
+    else
-    echo "NOTICE: file <$USER_CONF_PATH> not found, we use default configuration only."
+        echo "NOTICE: file <$USER_CONF_PATH> not found, we use default configuration only."
-fi
+    fi
+}
 
 #
 # Load modules

apps/bash_shared/defines.sh

@@ -25,4 +25,6 @@ export AC_PATH_MODULES="$AC_PATH_ROOT/modules"
 
 export AC_PATH_DEPS="$AC_PATH_ROOT/deps"
 
+export AC_BASH_LIB_PATH="$AC_PATH_DEPS/acore/bash-lib/src"
+
 export AC_PATH_VAR="$AC_PATH_ROOT/var"

apps/bash_shared/includes.sh

@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@ source "$AC_PATH_DEPS/acore/bash-lib/src/event/hooks.sh"
 # shellcheck source=./common.sh
 source "$AC_PATH_SHARED/common.sh"
 
+acore_common_loadConfig
+
 if [[ "$OSTYPE" = "msys" ]]; then
     AC_BINPATH_FULL="$BINPATH"
 else

apps/compiler/includes/functions.sh

@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
 
+# shellcheck source=../../../deps/acore/bash-lib/src/common/boolean.sh
+source "$AC_BASH_LIB_PATH/common/boolean.sh"
+
 # Set SUDO variable - one liner
 SUDO=""
 
@@ -135,7 +138,8 @@ function comp_compile() {
       echo "Done"
       ;;
     linux*|darwin*)
-      local confDir=${CONFDIR:-"$AC_BINPATH_FULL/../etc"}
+      local confDir
+      confDir=${CONFDIR:-"$AC_BINPATH_FULL/../etc"}
 
       # create the folders before installing to
       # set the current user and permissions
@@ -145,6 +149,8 @@ function comp_compile() {
       mkdir -p "$confDir"
       mkdir -p "$confDir/modules"
 
+      confDir=$(realpath "$confDir")
+
       echo "Cmake install..."
       $SUDO cmake --install . --config $CTYPE
 
@@ -161,18 +167,25 @@ function comp_compile() {
         $SUDO setcap cap_sys_nice=eip "$AC_BINPATH_FULL/authserver"
       fi
 
-      [[ -f "$confDir/worldserver.conf.dist" ]] && \
-          cp -v --no-clobber "$confDir/worldserver.conf.dist" "$confDir/worldserver.conf"
-      [[ -f "$confDir/authserver.conf.dist" ]] && \
-          cp -v --no-clobber "$confDir/authserver.conf.dist" "$confDir/authserver.conf"
-      [[ -f "$confDir/dbimport.conf.dist" ]] && \
-          cp -v --no-clobber "$confDir/dbimport.conf.dist" "$confDir/dbimport.conf"
 
-      for f in "$confDir/modules/"*.dist
+      if ( isTrue "$AC_ENABLE_CONF_COPY_ON_INSTALL" ) then
-      do
+        echo "Copying default configuration files to $confDir ..."
-          [[ -e $f ]] || break  # handle the case of no *.dist files
+        [[ -f "$confDir/worldserver.conf.dist" && ! -f "$confDir/worldserver.conf" ]] && \
-          cp -v --no-clobber "$f" "${f%.dist}";
+            cp -v "$confDir/worldserver.conf.dist" "$confDir/worldserver.conf"
-      done
+        [[ -f "$confDir/authserver.conf.dist" && ! -f "$confDir/authserver.conf"  ]] && \
+            cp -v "$confDir/authserver.conf.dist" "$confDir/authserver.conf"
+        [[ -f "$confDir/dbimport.conf.dist" && ! -f "$confDir/dbimport.conf" ]] && \
+            cp -v "$confDir/dbimport.conf.dist" "$confDir/dbimport.conf"
+
+        for f in "$confDir/modules/"*.dist
+        do
+            [[ -e $f ]] || break  # handle the case of no *.dist files
+            if [[ ! -f "${f%.dist}" ]]; then
+                echo "Copying module config $(basename "${f%.dist}")"
+                cp -v "$f" "${f%.dist}";
+            fi
+        done
+      fi
 
       echo "Done"
       ;;

apps/installer/includes/config/config-main.sh

@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+
+CURRENT_PATH=$( cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")" || exit ; pwd )
+
+# shellcheck source=./config.sh
+source "$CURRENT_PATH/config.sh"
+
+acore_dash_config "$@"
+ 

apps/installer/includes/config/config.sh

@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+
+CURRENT_PATH=$( cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")" || exit ; pwd )
+
+# shellcheck source=../../../bash_shared/includes.sh
+source "$CURRENT_PATH/../../../bash_shared/includes.sh"
+# shellcheck source=../includes.sh
+source "$CURRENT_PATH/../includes.sh"
+# shellcheck source=../../../bash_shared/menu_system.sh
+source "$AC_PATH_APPS/bash_shared/menu_system.sh"
+
+function acore_dash_configShowValue() {
+    if [ $# -ne 1 ]; then
+        echo "Usage: show <VAR_NAME>"
+        return 1
+    fi
+
+    local varName="$1"
+    local varValue="${!varName}"
+    if [ -z "$varValue" ]; then
+        echo "$varName is not set."
+    else
+        echo "$varName=$varValue"
+    fi
+}
+
+function acore_dash_configLoad() {
+    acore_common_loadConfig
+    echo "Configuration loaded into the current shell session."
+}
+
+# Configuration management menu definition
+# Format: "key|short|description"
+config_menu_items=(
+    "show|s|Show configuration variable value"
+    "load|l|Load configurations variables within the current shell session"
+    "help|h|Show detailed help"
+    "quit|q|Close this menu"
+)
+
+# Menu command handler for configuration operations
+function handle_config_command() {
+    local key="$1"
+    shift
+    
+    case "$key" in
+        "show")
+            acore_dash_configShowValue "$@"
+            ;;
+        "load")
+            acore_dash_configLoad
+            ;;
+    esac
+}
+
+function acore_dash_config() {
+    menu_run_with_items "CONFIG MANAGER" handle_config_command -- "${config_menu_items[@]}" -- "$@"
+    return $?
+}
+

apps/installer/includes/functions.sh

@@ -183,3 +183,5 @@ function inst_download_client_data {
         && echo "Remove downloaded file" && rm "$zipPath" \
         && echo "INSTALLED_VERSION=$VERSION" > "$dataVersionFile"
 }
+
+

apps/installer/includes/includes.sh

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 CURRENT_PATH=$( cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")" ; pwd )
 
+# shellcheck source=../../bash_shared/includes.sh
 source "$CURRENT_PATH/../../bash_shared/includes.sh"
 
 AC_PATH_INSTALLER="$AC_PATH_APPS/installer"
@@ -9,14 +10,14 @@ AC_PATH_INSTALLER="$AC_PATH_APPS/installer"
 J_PATH="$AC_PATH_DEPS/acore/joiner"
 J_PATH_MODULES="$AC_PATH_MODULES"
 
+# shellcheck source=../../../deps/acore/joiner/joiner.sh
 source "$J_PATH/joiner.sh"
 
-if [ -f "$AC_PATH_INSTALLER/config.sh"  ]; then
+# shellcheck source=../../compiler/includes/includes.sh
-    source "$AC_PATH_INSTALLER/config.sh" # should overwrite previous
-fi
-
 source "$AC_PATH_APPS/compiler/includes/includes.sh"
 
+# shellcheck source=../../../deps/semver_bash/semver.sh
 source "$AC_PATH_DEPS/semver_bash/semver.sh"
 
+# shellcheck source=../includes/functions.sh
 source "$AC_PATH_INSTALLER/includes/functions.sh"

apps/installer/includes/modules-manager/modules.sh

@@ -59,7 +59,6 @@ else
     C_GREEN=''
     C_YELLOW=''
     C_BLUE=''
-    C_MAGENTA=''
     C_CYAN=''
 fi
 
@@ -174,42 +173,8 @@ function inst_module_list() {
 # Usage: ./acore.sh module <search|install|update|remove> [args...]
 #        ./acore.sh module                    # Interactive menu
 function inst_module() {
-    # If no arguments provided, start interactive menu
+    menu_run_with_items "MODULE MANAGER" handle_module_command -- "${module_menu_items[@]}" -- "$@"
-    if [[ $# -eq 0 ]]; then
+    return $?
-        menu_run_with_items "MODULE MANAGER" handle_module_command -- "${module_menu_items[@]}" --
-        return $?
-    fi
-    
-    # Normalize arguments into an array
-    local tokens=()
-    read -r -a tokens <<< "$*"
-    local cmd="${tokens[0]}"
-    local args=("${tokens[@]:1}")
-
-    case "$cmd" in
-        ""|"help"|"-h"|"--help")
-            inst_module_help
-            ;;
-        "search"|"s")
-            inst_module_search "${args[@]}"
-            ;;
-        "install"|"i")
-            inst_module_install "${args[@]}"
-            ;;
-        "update"|"u")
-            inst_module_update "${args[@]}"
-            ;;
-        "remove"|"r")
-            inst_module_remove "${args[@]}"
-            ;;
-        "list"|"l")
-            inst_module_list "${args[@]}"
-            ;;
-        *)
-            print_error "Unknown module command: $cmd. Use 'help' to see available commands."
-            return 1
-            ;;
-    esac
 }
 
 # =============================================================================

apps/installer/main.sh

@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ menu_items=(
     "docker|dr|Run docker tools"
     "version|v|Show AzerothCore version"
     "service-manager|sm|Run service manager to run authserver and worldserver in background"
+    "config|cf|Configuration manager"
     "quit|q|Exit from this menu"
 )
 
@@ -100,6 +101,9 @@ function handle_menu_command() {
             bash "$AC_PATH_APPS/startup-scripts/src/service-manager.sh" "$@"
             exit
             ;;
+        "config")
+            bash "$AC_PATH_APPS/installer/includes/config/config-main.sh" "$@"
+            ;;
         "quit")
             echo "Goodbye!"
             exit

apps/installer/test/test_module_commands.bats

@@ -751,5 +751,5 @@ EOF
 
     run inst_module "unknown-command"
     [ "$status" -eq 1 ]
-    [[ "$output" =~ "Unknown module command" ]]
+    [[ "$output" =~ "Invalid option" ]]
 }

apps/startup-scripts/src/simple-restarter

@@ -51,6 +51,8 @@ fi
 while true; do
     STARTING_TIME=$(date +%s)
 
+    echo "AC_CONFIG_POLICY: $AC_CONFIG_POLICY"
+    
     # Use starter script to launch the binary with all parameters
     "$STARTER_SCRIPT" "$BINPATH" "$BINFILE" "$GDB_FILE" "$CONFIG" "$SYSLOG" "$SYSERR" "$GDB_ENABLED" "$CRASHES_PATH"
 

conf/dist/config.sh

@@ -118,6 +118,12 @@ export CCACHE_DIR=${CCACHE_DIR:-"$AC_PATH_VAR/ccache"}
 #
 export AC_ENABLE_ROOT_CMAKE_INSTALL=${AC_ENABLE_ROOT_CMAKE_INSTALL:-0}
 
+#
+# Enable copying configuration files on install
+# Default: 1 (true)
+#
+export AC_ENABLE_CONF_COPY_ON_INSTALL=${AC_ENABLE_CONF_COPY_ON_INSTALL:-1}
+
 ##############################################
 #
 #  GOOGLE PERF TOOLS
@@ -182,4 +188,34 @@ export MODULES_EXCLUDE_LIST=""
 NO_COLOR=${NO_COLOR:-}
 FORCE_COLOR=${FORCE_COLOR:-}
 
+##############################################
+#
+#  CONFIGURATION SEVERITY POLICY
+#
+#  Controls how the core reacts to missing configuration files,
+#  missing/unknown options and invalid values.
+#  The policy string follows the format "key=severity" separated by commas.
+#  Supported severities: skip, warn, error, fatal.
+#  Possible keys: default, missing_file, missing_option, critical_option,
+#  unknown_option, value_error.
+#
+#  Examples:
+#    export AC_CONFIG_POLICY="$AC_CONFIG_POLICY_PRESET_DEFAULT"
+#    export AC_CONFIG_POLICY="default=skip,critical_option=fatal,unknown_option=warn"
+#    export AC_CONFIG_POLICY="missing_file=fatal,missing_option=error"
+#
+#  Presets:
+#    AC_CONFIG_POLICY_PRESET_DEFAULT     -> mirrors the core default behaviour
+#                                          (errors on missing files, fatal on critical)
+#    AC_CONFIG_POLICY_PRESET_ZERO_CONF  -> skips non-critical gaps so the core
+#                                          can boot from environment defaults
+#    AC_CONFIG_POLICY_PRESET_STRICT     -> escalates everything to errors/fatals
+#
+
+export AC_CONFIG_POLICY_PRESET_ZERO_CONF='default=skip'
+export AC_CONFIG_POLICY_PRESET_DEFAULT='missing_file=error,missing_option=warn,critical_option=fatal,unknown_option=error,value_error=error'
+export AC_CONFIG_POLICY_PRESET_STRICT='default=error,missing_file=fatal,missing_option=error,critical_option=fatal,unknown_option=error,value_error=error'
+
+export AC_CONFIG_POLICY=$AC_CONFIG_POLICY_PRESET_DEFAULT
+
 

deps/acore/bash-lib/src/common/boolean.sh

@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+function isTrue() {
+  local val
+  val=$(echo "$1" | tr '[:upper:]' '[:lower:]')
+  [[ "$val" == "1" || "$val" == "true" || "$val" == "yes" || "$val" == "on" ]]
+}

doc/ConfigPolicy.md

@@ -0,0 +1,101 @@
+# Configuration Severity Policy
+
+The configuration loader can decide how strictly it should react when it
+encounters missing files, undefined options or invalid values. This document
+describes the available knobs and provides ready-to-use presets.
+
+## Severity Levels
+
+Each policy entry maps a **key** to one of the following severities:
+
+| Severity | Description                                                                 |
+|----------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
+| `skip`   | Ignore the problem and continue silently.                                   |
+| `warn`   | Log a warning and continue.                                                 |
+| `error`  | Log an error and continue (useful to surface issues without aborting).      |
+| `fatal`  | Log a fatal message and abort the process immediately.                      |
+
+## Policy Keys
+
+The following keys can be customised:
+
+| Key                | Applies to                                                            |
+|--------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------|
+| `default`          | Fallback severity for any key that is not explicitly overridden.     |
+| `missing_file`     | Missing or empty configuration files (worldserver.conf, modules, …). |
+| `missing_option`   | Options looked up in code but not present in any config file.         |
+| `critical_option`  | Required options (`RealmID`, `*DatabaseInfo`, …).                     |
+| `unknown_option`   | Options found in optional configs that the core does not recognise.   |
+| `value_error`      | Options that cannot be converted to the expected type.                |
+
+> Critical options remain fatal by default to prevent the core from booting with
+> incomplete database details; you can relax them if required.
+
+## Configuration Channels
+
+### `config.sh`
+
+`conf/dist/config.sh` exposes the `AC_CONFIG_POLICY` variable alongside a few
+presets:
+
+```bash
+# Mirrors the default behaviour (errors, with fatal criticals)
+export AC_CONFIG_POLICY="$AC_CONFIG_POLICY_PRESET_DEFAULT"
+
+# Skip anything non-critical so the core can bootstrap from defaults + env vars
+export AC_CONFIG_POLICY="$AC_CONFIG_POLICY_PRESET_ZERO_CONF"
+
+# Treat everything strictly (useful for CI)
+export AC_CONFIG_POLICY="$AC_CONFIG_POLICY_PRESET_STRICT"
+```
+
+The presets are defined as:
+
+```bash
+AC_CONFIG_POLICY_PRESET_DEFAULT='missing_file=error,missing_option=warn,critical_option=fatal,unknown_option=error,value_error=error'
+AC_CONFIG_POLICY_PRESET_ZERO_CONF='default=skip,critical_option=fatal,unknown_option=warn,value_error=warn'
+AC_CONFIG_POLICY_PRESET_STRICT='default=error,missing_file=fatal,missing_option=error,critical_option=fatal,unknown_option=error,value_error=error'
+```
+
+Modify or extend these entries to suit your deployment.
+
+### Environment Variable
+
+The runtime honours the `AC_CONFIG_POLICY` environment variable, so you can
+override the policy without editing `config.sh`:
+
+```bash
+export AC_CONFIG_POLICY="default=skip,critical_option=fatal"
+./acore.sh run-worldserver
+```
+
+### CLI Override
+
+Every server/tool executable accepts `--config-policy`:
+
+```bash
+./bin/worldserver --config-policy="missing_file=fatal,unknown_option=warn"
+./bin/authserver --config-policy "$AC_CONFIG_POLICY_PRESET_STRICT"
+```
+
+The CLI flag takes precedence over the environment and `config.sh`.
+
+## Quick Presets
+
+| Preset        | Intended use                                                              |
+|---------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
+| `legacy`      | Default behaviour before this feature (errors for missing files/options). |
+| `zero-conf`   | Zero-touch deployments; rely on defaults/env vars where possible.         |
+| `strict`      | Fail-fast in CI or controlled environments.                               |
+
+Feel free to clone these presets and store your own variants inside
+`config.sh` or deployment scripts.
+
+## Tips
+
+- Pair `fatal` severities with monitoring so regressions in configuration
+  surface quickly.
+- When experimenting locally, start with `zero-conf` and elevate specific keys
+  to `error`/`fatal` as you validate your setup.
+- Remember that number parsing errors (`value_error`) often indicate typos;
+  keep them at least `error` unless you have a very good reason.

src/common/Configuration/Config.cpp

@@ -21,10 +21,14 @@
 #include "StringFormat.h"
 #include "Tokenize.h"
 #include "Util.h"
+#include <algorithm>
+#include <cctype>
 #include <cstdlib>
 #include <fstream>
+#include <locale>
 #include <mutex>
 #include <unordered_map>
+#include <unordered_set>
 
 namespace
 {
@@ -34,13 +38,14 @@ namespace
     std::unordered_map<std::string /*name*/, std::string /*value*/> _configOptions;
     std::unordered_map<std::string /*name*/, std::string /*value*/> _envVarCache;
     std::mutex _configLock;
+    ConfigPolicy _policy;
 
-    std::vector<std::string> _fatalConfigOptions =
+    std::unordered_set<std::string> _criticalConfigOptions =
     {
-        { "RealmID" },
+        "RealmID",
-        { "LoginDatabaseInfo" },
+        "LoginDatabaseInfo",
-        { "WorldDatabaseInfo" },
+        "WorldDatabaseInfo",
-        { "CharacterDatabaseInfo" },
+        "CharacterDatabaseInfo",
     };
 
     // Check system configs like *server.conf*
@@ -62,6 +67,29 @@ namespace
         return foundAppender != std::string_view::npos || foundLogger != std::string_view::npos;
     }
 
+    Optional<ConfigSeverity> ParseSeverity(std::string_view value)
+    {
+        if (value.empty())
+            return std::nullopt;
+
+        std::string lowered(value);
+        std::transform(lowered.begin(), lowered.end(), lowered.begin(), [](unsigned char c) { return std::tolower(c); });
+
+        if (lowered == "skip")
+            return ConfigSeverity::Skip;
+
+        if (lowered == "warn" || lowered == "warning")
+            return ConfigSeverity::Warn;
+
+        if (lowered == "error")
+            return ConfigSeverity::Error;
+
+        if (lowered == "fatal" || lowered == "abort" || lowered == "panic")
+            return ConfigSeverity::Fatal;
+
+        return std::nullopt;
+    }
+
     template<typename Format, typename... Args>
     inline void PrintError(std::string_view filename, Format&& fmt, Args&& ... args)
     {
@@ -77,6 +105,138 @@ namespace
         }
     }
 
+    template<typename Format, typename... Args>
+    inline void LogWithSeverity(ConfigSeverity severity, std::string_view filename, Format&& fmt, Args&&... args)
+    {
+        std::string message = Acore::StringFormat(std::forward<Format>(fmt), std::forward<Args>(args)...);
+
+        switch (severity)
+        {
+            case ConfigSeverity::Skip:
+                return;
+            case ConfigSeverity::Warn:
+            {
+                if (IsAppConfig(filename))
+                    fmt::print("{}\n", message);
+
+                LOG_WARN("server.loading", message);
+                return;
+            }
+            case ConfigSeverity::Error:
+            {
+                if (IsAppConfig(filename))
+                    fmt::print("{}\n", message);
+
+                LOG_ERROR("server.loading", message);
+                return;
+            }
+            case ConfigSeverity::Fatal:
+            {
+                if (IsAppConfig(filename))
+                    fmt::print("{}\n", message);
+
+                LOG_FATAL("server.loading", message);
+                ABORT(message);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    ConfigPolicy ApplyPolicyString(ConfigPolicy policy, std::string_view input)
+    {
+        if (input.empty())
+            return policy;
+
+        std::vector<std::pair<std::string, ConfigSeverity>> overrides;
+        Optional<ConfigSeverity> defaultOverride;
+
+        std::string tokenBuffer(input);
+        for (std::string_view rawToken : Acore::Tokenize(tokenBuffer, ',', false))
+        {
+            std::string token = Acore::String::Trim(std::string(rawToken), std::locale());
+            if (token.empty())
+                continue;
+
+            auto separator = token.find('=');
+            if (separator == std::string::npos)
+                continue;
+
+            std::string key = Acore::String::Trim(token.substr(0, separator), std::locale());
+            std::string value = Acore::String::Trim(token.substr(separator + 1), std::locale());
+
+            if (key.empty() || value.empty())
+                continue;
+
+            auto severity = ParseSeverity(value);
+            if (!severity)
+                continue;
+
+            std::transform(key.begin(), key.end(), key.begin(), [](unsigned char c) { return std::tolower(c); });
+
+            if (key == "default")
+            {
+                defaultOverride = severity;
+                continue;
+            }
+
+            overrides.emplace_back(std::move(key), *severity);
+        }
+
+        if (defaultOverride)
+        {
+            policy.defaultSeverity = *defaultOverride;
+            policy.missingFileSeverity = *defaultOverride;
+            policy.missingOptionSeverity = *defaultOverride;
+            policy.criticalOptionSeverity = *defaultOverride;
+            policy.unknownOptionSeverity = *defaultOverride;
+            policy.valueErrorSeverity = *defaultOverride;
+        }
+
+        for (auto const& [key, severity] : overrides)
+        {
+            if (key == "missing_file" || key == "file")
+                policy.missingFileSeverity = severity;
+            else if (key == "missing_option" || key == "option")
+                policy.missingOptionSeverity = severity;
+            else if (key == "critical_option" || key == "critical")
+                policy.criticalOptionSeverity = severity;
+            else if (key == "unknown_option" || key == "unknown")
+                policy.unknownOptionSeverity = severity;
+            else if (key == "value_error" || key == "value")
+                policy.valueErrorSeverity = severity;
+        }
+
+        return policy;
+    }
+
+    ConfigPolicy ApplyPolicyFromArgs(ConfigPolicy policy, std::vector<std::string> const& args)
+    {
+        for (std::size_t i = 0; i < args.size(); ++i)
+        {
+            std::string const& arg = args[i];
+            std::string_view value;
+
+            constexpr std::string_view shortOpt = "--config-policy";
+
+            if (arg.rfind(shortOpt, 0) == 0)
+            {
+                if (arg.size() == shortOpt.size() && (i + 1) < args.size())
+                {
+                    value = args[i + 1];
+                    ++i;
+                }
+                else if (arg.size() > shortOpt.size() && arg[shortOpt.size()] == '=')
+                {
+                    value = std::string_view(arg).substr(shortOpt.size() + 1);
+                }
+
+                if (!value.empty())
+                    policy = ApplyPolicyString(policy, value);
+            }
+        }
+
+        return policy;
+    }
+
     void AddKey(std::string const& optionName, std::string const& optionKey, std::string_view fileName, bool isOptional, [[maybe_unused]] bool isReload)
     {
         auto const& itr = _configOptions.find(optionName);
@@ -86,7 +246,7 @@ namespace
         {
             if (!IsLoggingSystemOptions(optionName) && !isReload)
             {
-                PrintError(fileName, "> Config::LoadFile: Found incorrect option '{}' in config file '{}'. Skip", optionName, fileName);
+                LogWithSeverity(_policy.unknownOptionSeverity, fileName, "> Config::LoadFile: Found incorrect option '{}' in config file '{}'. Skip", optionName, fileName);
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_ABORT_INCORRECT_OPTIONS
                 ABORT("> Core can't start if found incorrect options");
@@ -111,13 +271,10 @@ namespace
 
         if (in.fail())
         {
-            if (isOptional)
+            ConfigSeverity severity = isOptional ? ConfigSeverity::Skip : _policy.missingFileSeverity;
-            {
+            LogWithSeverity(severity, file, "> Config::LoadFile: Failed open {}file '{}'", isOptional ? "optional " : "", file);
-                // No display erorr if file optional
+            // Treat SKIP as a successful no-op so the app can proceed
-                return false;
+            return severity == ConfigSeverity::Skip;
-            }
-
-            throw ConfigException(Acore::StringFormat("Config::LoadFile: Failed open {}file '{}'", isOptional ? "optional " : "", file));
         }
 
         uint32 count = 0;
@@ -181,13 +338,10 @@ namespace
         // No lines read
         if (!count)
         {
-            if (isOptional)
+            ConfigSeverity severity = isOptional ? ConfigSeverity::Skip : _policy.missingFileSeverity;
-            {
+            LogWithSeverity(severity, file, "> Config::LoadFile: Empty file '{}'", file);
-                // No display erorr if file optional
+            // Treat SKIP as a successful no-op
-                return false;
+            return severity == ConfigSeverity::Skip;
-            }
-
-            throw ConfigException(Acore::StringFormat("Config::LoadFile: Empty file '{}'", file));
         }
 
         // Add correct keys if file load without errors
@@ -382,7 +536,6 @@ T ConfigMgr::GetValueDefault(std::string const& name, T const& def, bool showLog
     std::string strValue;
 
     auto const& itr = _configOptions.find(name);
-    bool fatalConfig = false;
     bool notFound = itr == _configOptions.end();
     auto envVarName = GetEnvVarName(name);
     Optional<std::string> envVar = GetEnvFromCache(name, envVarName);
@@ -401,23 +554,23 @@ T ConfigMgr::GetValueDefault(std::string const& name, T const& def, bool showLog
     {
         if (showLogs)
         {
-            for (std::string s : _fatalConfigOptions)
+            bool isCritical = _criticalConfigOptions.find(name) != _criticalConfigOptions.end();
-                if (s == name)
+            ConfigSeverity severity = isCritical ? _policy.criticalOptionSeverity : _policy.missingOptionSeverity;
-                {
-                    fatalConfig = true;
-                    break;
-                }
 
-            if (fatalConfig)
+            if (isCritical)
-                LOG_FATAL("server.loading", "> Config:\n\nFATAL ERROR: Missing property {} in config file {}, add \"{} = {}\" to this file or define '{}' as an environment variable\n\nYour server cannot start without this option!",
+            {
+                LogWithSeverity(severity, _filename,
+                    "> Config:\n\nFATAL ERROR: Missing property {} in config file {}, add \"{} = {}\" to this file or define '{}' as an environment variable\n\nYour server cannot start without this option!",
                     name, _filename, name, Acore::ToString(def), envVarName);
+            }
             else
             {
                 std::string configs = _filename;
                 if (!_moduleConfigFiles.empty())
                     configs += " or module config";
 
-                LOG_WARN("server.loading", "> Config: Missing property {} in config file {}, add \"{} = {}\" to this file or define '{}' as an environment variable.",
+                LogWithSeverity(severity, _filename,
+                    "> Config: Missing property {} in config file {}, add \"{} = {}\" to this file or define '{}' as an environment variable.",
                     name, configs, name, def, envVarName);
             }
         }
@@ -433,7 +586,8 @@ T ConfigMgr::GetValueDefault(std::string const& name, T const& def, bool showLog
     {
         if (showLogs)
         {
-            LOG_ERROR("server.loading", "> Config: Bad value defined for name '{}', going to use '{}' instead",
+            LogWithSeverity(_policy.valueErrorSeverity, _filename,
+                "> Config: Bad value defined for name '{}', going to use '{}' instead",
                 name, Acore::ToString(def));
         }
 
@@ -447,7 +601,6 @@ template<>
 std::string ConfigMgr::GetValueDefault<std::string>(std::string const& name, std::string const& def, bool showLogs /*= true*/) const
 {
     auto const& itr = _configOptions.find(name);
-    bool fatalConfig = false;
     bool notFound = itr == _configOptions.end();
     auto envVarName = GetEnvVarName(name);
     Optional<std::string> envVar = GetEnvFromCache(name, envVarName);
@@ -466,23 +619,23 @@ std::string ConfigMgr::GetValueDefault<std::string>(std::string const& name, std
     {
         if (showLogs)
         {
-            for (std::string s : _fatalConfigOptions)
+            bool isCritical = _criticalConfigOptions.find(name) != _criticalConfigOptions.end();
-                if (s == name)
+            ConfigSeverity severity = isCritical ? _policy.criticalOptionSeverity : _policy.missingOptionSeverity;
-                {
-                    fatalConfig = true;
-                    break;
-                }
 
-            if (fatalConfig)
+            if (isCritical)
-                LOG_FATAL("server.loading", "> Config:\n\nFATAL ERROR: Missing property {} in config file {}, add \"{} = {}\" to this file or define '{}' as an environment variable.\n\nYour server cannot start without this option!",
+            {
+                LogWithSeverity(severity, _filename,
+                    "> Config:\n\nFATAL ERROR: Missing property {} in config file {}, add \"{} = {}\" to this file or define '{}' as an environment variable.\n\nYour server cannot start without this option!",
                     name, _filename, name, def, envVarName);
+            }
             else
             {
                 std::string configs = _filename;
                 if (!_moduleConfigFiles.empty())
                     configs += " or module config";
 
-                LOG_WARN("server.loading", "> Config: Missing property {} in config file {}, add \"{} = {}\" to this file or define '{}' as an environment variable.",
+                LogWithSeverity(severity, _filename,
+                    "> Config: Missing property {} in config file {}, add \"{} = {}\" to this file or define '{}' as an environment variable.",
                     name, configs, name, def, envVarName);
             }
         }
@@ -509,7 +662,8 @@ bool ConfigMgr::GetOption<bool>(std::string const& name, bool const& def, bool s
     {
         if (showLogs)
         {
-            LOG_ERROR("server.loading", "> Config: Bad value defined for name '{}', going to use '{}' instead",
+            LogWithSeverity(_policy.valueErrorSeverity, _filename,
+                "> Config: Bad value defined for name '{}', going to use '{}' instead",
                 name, def ? "true" : "false");
         }
 
@@ -558,17 +712,27 @@ std::string const ConfigMgr::GetConfigPath()
 #endif
 }
 
-void ConfigMgr::Configure(std::string const& initFileName, std::vector<std::string> args, std::string_view modulesConfigList /*= {}*/)
+void ConfigMgr::Configure(std::string const& initFileName, std::vector<std::string> args, std::string_view modulesConfigList /*= {}*/, ConfigPolicy policy /*= {}*/)
 {
     _filename = initFileName;
     _args = std::move(args);
+    _policy = policy;
+
+    if (char const* env = std::getenv("AC_CONFIG_POLICY"))
+        _policy = ApplyPolicyString(_policy, env);
+
+    _policy = ApplyPolicyFromArgs(_policy, _args);
+
+    _additonalFiles.clear();
+    _moduleConfigFiles.clear();
 
     // Add modules config if exist
     if (!modulesConfigList.empty())
     {
         for (auto const& itr : Acore::Tokenize(modulesConfigList, ',', false))
         {
-            _additonalFiles.emplace_back(itr);
+            if (!itr.empty())
+                _additonalFiles.emplace_back(itr);
         }
     }
 }

src/common/Configuration/Config.h

@@ -18,10 +18,29 @@
 #ifndef CONFIG_H
 #define CONFIG_H
 
+#include <cstdint>
 #include <stdexcept>
 #include <string_view>
 #include <vector>
 
+enum class ConfigSeverity : uint8_t
+{
+    Skip,
+    Warn,
+    Error,
+    Fatal
+};
+
+struct ConfigPolicy
+{
+    ConfigSeverity defaultSeverity = ConfigSeverity::Warn;
+    ConfigSeverity missingFileSeverity = ConfigSeverity::Error;
+    ConfigSeverity missingOptionSeverity = ConfigSeverity::Warn;
+    ConfigSeverity criticalOptionSeverity = ConfigSeverity::Fatal;
+    ConfigSeverity unknownOptionSeverity = ConfigSeverity::Error;
+    ConfigSeverity valueErrorSeverity = ConfigSeverity::Error;
+};
+
 class ConfigMgr
 {
     ConfigMgr() = default;
@@ -32,7 +51,7 @@ class ConfigMgr
 public:
     bool LoadAppConfigs(bool isReload = false);
     bool LoadModulesConfigs(bool isReload = false, bool isNeedPrintInfo = true);
-    void Configure(std::string const& initFileName, std::vector<std::string> args, std::string_view modulesConfigList = {});
+    void Configure(std::string const& initFileName, std::vector<std::string> args, std::string_view modulesConfigList = {}, ConfigPolicy policy = {});
 
     static ConfigMgr* instance();
 

src/common/Logging/Log.cpp

@@ -211,13 +211,16 @@ void Log::ReadLoggersFromConfig()
         AppenderConsole* appender = new AppenderConsole(NextAppenderId(), "Console", LOG_LEVEL_DEBUG, APPENDER_FLAGS_NONE, {});
         appenders[appender->getId()].reset(appender);
 
-        Logger* rootLogger = new Logger(LOGGER_ROOT, LOG_LEVEL_ERROR);
+        Logger* rootLogger = new Logger(LOGGER_ROOT, LOG_LEVEL_WARN);
         rootLogger->addAppender(appender->getId(), appender);
         loggers[LOGGER_ROOT].reset(rootLogger);
 
         Logger* serverLogger = new Logger("server", LOG_LEVEL_INFO);
         serverLogger->addAppender(appender->getId(), appender);
         loggers["server"].reset(serverLogger);
+
+        highestLogLevel = LOG_LEVEL_INFO;
+        return;
     }
 }
 

src/server/apps/authserver/Main.cpp

@@ -278,7 +278,8 @@ variables_map GetConsoleArguments(int argc, char** argv, fs::path& configFile)
         ("help,h", "print usage message")
         ("version,v", "print version build info")
         ("dry-run,d", "Dry run")
-        ("config,c", value<fs::path>(&configFile)->default_value(fs::path(sConfigMgr->GetConfigPath() + std::string(_ACORE_REALM_CONFIG))), "use <arg> as configuration file");
+        ("config,c", value<fs::path>(&configFile)->default_value(fs::path(sConfigMgr->GetConfigPath() + std::string(_ACORE_REALM_CONFIG))), "use <arg> as configuration file")
+        ("config-policy", value<std::string>()->value_name("policy"), "override config severity policy (e.g. default=skip,critical_option=fatal)");
 
     variables_map variablesMap;
 

src/server/apps/worldserver/Main.cpp

@@ -423,7 +423,7 @@ bool StartDB()
     MySQL::Library_Init();
 
     // Load databases
-    DatabaseLoader loader("server.worldserver", DatabaseLoader::DATABASE_NONE, AC_MODULES_LIST);
+    DatabaseLoader loader("server.worldserver", DatabaseLoader::DATABASE_MASK_ALL, AC_MODULES_LIST);
     loader
         .AddDatabase(LoginDatabase, "Login")
         .AddDatabase(CharacterDatabase, "Character")
@@ -433,7 +433,7 @@ bool StartDB()
         return false;
 
     ///- Get the realm Id from the configuration file
-    realm.Id.Realm = sConfigMgr->GetOption<uint32>("RealmID", 0);
+    realm.Id.Realm = sConfigMgr->GetOption<uint32>("RealmID", 1);
     if (!realm.Id.Realm)
     {
         LOG_ERROR("server.worldserver", "Realm ID not defined in configuration file");
@@ -710,7 +710,8 @@ variables_map GetConsoleArguments(int argc, char** argv, fs::path& configFile, [
         ("help,h", "print usage message")
         ("version,v", "print version build info")
         ("dry-run,d", "Dry run")
-        ("config,c", value<fs::path>(&configFile)->default_value(fs::path(sConfigMgr->GetConfigPath() + std::string(_ACORE_CORE_CONFIG))), "use <arg> as configuration file");
+        ("config,c", value<fs::path>(&configFile)->default_value(fs::path(sConfigMgr->GetConfigPath() + std::string(_ACORE_CORE_CONFIG))), "use <arg> as configuration file")
+        ("config-policy", value<std::string>()->value_name("policy"), "override config severity policy (e.g. default=skip,critical_option=fatal)");
 
 #if AC_PLATFORM == AC_PLATFORM_WINDOWS
     options_description win("Windows platform specific options");

src/server/database/Database/DatabaseLoader.cpp

@@ -24,6 +24,24 @@
 #include <errmsg.h>
 #include <mysqld_error.h>
 #include <thread>
+#include <string_view>
+namespace
+{
+    std::string const EMPTY_DATABASE_INFO;
+    std::string const LOGIN_DATABASE_INFO_DEFAULT = "127.0.0.1;3306;acore;acore;acore_auth";
+    std::string const WORLD_DATABASE_INFO_DEFAULT = "127.0.0.1;3306;acore;acore;acore_world";
+    std::string const CHARACTER_DATABASE_INFO_DEFAULT = "127.0.0.1;3306;acore;acore;acore_characters";
+    std::string const& GetDefaultDatabaseInfo(std::string_view name)
+    {
+        if (name == "Login")
+            return LOGIN_DATABASE_INFO_DEFAULT;
+        if (name == "World")
+            return WORLD_DATABASE_INFO_DEFAULT;
+        if (name == "Character")
+            return CHARACTER_DATABASE_INFO_DEFAULT;
+        return EMPTY_DATABASE_INFO;
+    }
+}
 
 DatabaseLoader::DatabaseLoader(std::string const& logger, uint32 const defaultUpdateMask, std::string_view modulesList)
     : _logger(logger),
@@ -38,7 +56,8 @@ DatabaseLoader& DatabaseLoader::AddDatabase(DatabaseWorkerPool<T>& pool, std::st
 
     _open.push([this, name, updatesEnabledForThis, &pool]() -> bool
     {
-        std::string const dbString = sConfigMgr->GetOption<std::string>(name + "DatabaseInfo", "");
+        std::string const& defaultDatabaseInfo = GetDefaultDatabaseInfo(name);
+        std::string const dbString = sConfigMgr->GetOption<std::string>(name + "DatabaseInfo", defaultDatabaseInfo);
         if (dbString.empty())
         {
             LOG_ERROR(_logger, "Database {} not specified in configuration file!", name);

src/tools/dbimport/Main.cpp

@@ -109,8 +109,8 @@ bool StartDB()
 
     DatabaseLoader loader =
         modules.empty() ? DatabaseLoader("dbimport") :
-        (modules == "all") ? DatabaseLoader("dbimport", DatabaseLoader::DATABASE_NONE, AC_MODULES_LIST) :
+        (modules == "all") ? DatabaseLoader("dbimport", DatabaseLoader::DATABASE_MASK_ALL, AC_MODULES_LIST) :
-        DatabaseLoader("dbimport", DatabaseLoader::DATABASE_NONE, modules);
+        DatabaseLoader("dbimport", DatabaseLoader::DATABASE_MASK_ALL, modules);
 
     loader
         .AddDatabase(LoginDatabase, "Login")
@@ -140,7 +140,8 @@ variables_map GetConsoleArguments(int argc, char** argv, fs::path& configFile)
         ("help,h", "print usage message")
         ("version,v", "print version build info")
         ("dry-run,d", "Dry run")
-        ("config,c", value<fs::path>(&configFile)->default_value(fs::path(sConfigMgr->GetConfigPath() + std::string(_ACORE_DB_IMPORT_CONFIG))), "use <arg> as configuration file");
+        ("config,c", value<fs::path>(&configFile)->default_value(fs::path(sConfigMgr->GetConfigPath() + std::string(_ACORE_DB_IMPORT_CONFIG))), "use <arg> as configuration file")
+        ("config-policy", value<std::string>()->value_name("policy"), "override config severity policy (e.g. default=skip,critical_option=fatal)");
 
     variables_map variablesMap;