---
id: T01
parent: S02
milestone: M012
provides: []
requires: []
affects: []
key_files: ["backend/routers/search.py", "backend/routers/topics.py", "backend/routers/techniques.py", "backend/search_service.py"]
key_decisions: ["Sort applied in Python for search results (mixed Qdrant + keyword sources), SQL ORDER BY for single-source endpoints", "Sort options: relevance/newest/oldest/alpha/creator with endpoint-appropriate defaults"]
patterns_established: []
drill_down_paths: []
observability_surfaces: []
duration: ""
verification_result: "Deployed to ub01, rebuilt chrysopedia-api container. Verified all sort options via curl: search alpha/newest/creator, subtopic oldest, techniques alpha/creator/oldest — all return correctly ordered results."
completed_at: 2026-04-01T06:27:52.871Z
blocker_discovered: false
---

# T01: Added sort query parameter (relevance/newest/oldest/alpha/creator) to search, subtopic, topic, and techniques endpoints with SQL and Python-level ordering

> Added sort query parameter (relevance/newest/oldest/alpha/creator) to search, subtopic, topic, and techniques endpoints with SQL and Python-level ordering

## What Happened
---
id: T01
parent: S02
milestone: M012
key_files:
  - backend/routers/search.py
  - backend/routers/topics.py
  - backend/routers/techniques.py
  - backend/search_service.py
key_decisions:
  - Sort applied in Python for search results (mixed Qdrant + keyword sources), SQL ORDER BY for single-source endpoints
  - Sort options: relevance/newest/oldest/alpha/creator with endpoint-appropriate defaults
duration: ""
verification_result: passed
completed_at: 2026-04-01T06:27:52.871Z
blocker_discovered: false
---

# T01: Added sort query parameter (relevance/newest/oldest/alpha/creator) to search, subtopic, topic, and techniques endpoints with SQL and Python-level ordering

**Added sort query parameter (relevance/newest/oldest/alpha/creator) to search, subtopic, topic, and techniques endpoints with SQL and Python-level ordering**

## What Happened

Added sort query param to four backend endpoints: search (with Python-level _apply_sort after enrichment), subtopic and category topics (SQL ORDER BY), and techniques (extended existing sort with new options). Creator sort uses outer join on Creator table. Added created_at to keyword and Qdrant result dicts to support date-based sorting. Also added sort to the category-level topic endpoint for frontend consistency.

## Verification

Deployed to ub01, rebuilt chrysopedia-api container. Verified all sort options via curl: search alpha/newest/creator, subtopic oldest, techniques alpha/creator/oldest — all return correctly ordered results.

## Verification Evidence

| # | Command | Exit Code | Verdict | Duration |
|---|---------|-----------|---------|----------|
| 1 | `curl search?q=snare&sort=alpha` | 0 | ✅ pass | 800ms |
| 2 | `curl search?q=bass&sort=creator` | 0 | ✅ pass | 900ms |
| 3 | `curl topics/sound-design/bass?sort=oldest` | 0 | ✅ pass | 500ms |
| 4 | `curl techniques?sort=alpha` | 0 | ✅ pass | 400ms |
| 5 | `curl techniques?sort=creator` | 0 | ✅ pass | 500ms |
| 6 | `curl techniques?sort=oldest` | 0 | ✅ pass | 400ms |


## Deviations

Added sort param to get_topic_techniques (category-level endpoint) not in original task plan, for frontend consistency.

## Known Issues

None.

## Files Created/Modified

- `backend/routers/search.py`
- `backend/routers/topics.py`
- `backend/routers/techniques.py`
- `backend/search_service.py`


## Deviations
Added sort param to get_topic_techniques (category-level endpoint) not in original task plan, for frontend consistency.

## Known Issues
None.
