Improve logging and infrastructure variable consistency

Changes:
- Migrate Authentik to journald logging (remove file-based logs)
- Update Gitea to use infrastructure variables for PostgreSQL access
- Add comprehensive logging documentation to deployment guide
- Add infrastructure variable pattern guide to integration docs

Authentik Logging:
- Remove LogDriver=k8s-file from server and worker containers
- Remove logs directory creation from user setup tasks
- Update deployment guide with journald examples and JSON log patterns

Gitea Infrastructure Variables:
- Add infrastructure dependencies section to role defaults
- Replace hardcoded paths with postgresql_unix_socket_directories variable
- Replace hardcoded 'postgres' group with postgresql_client_group variable
- Add infrastructure variable validation in tasks
- Remove manual socket permission override (handled by infrastructure)

Documentation:
- Add journald logging best practices to service integration guide
- Add infrastructure variable pattern documentation with Gitea example
- Update Authentik deployment guide with journald commands and JSON filtering
- Document benefits: centralized logging, single source of truth, maintainability

Validated on arch-vps:
- Authentik logs accessible via journalctl and podman logs (identical output)
- Gitea user added to postgres-clients group (GID 962)
- No PostgreSQL socket permission errors after service restart

docs/authentik-deployment-guide.md

@@ -453,35 +453,64 @@ curl -v https://auth.jnss.me/
 
 #### Key Log Locations
 
-```bash
-# Authentik application logs
-ssh root@your-vps "cat /opt/authentik/logs/server.log"
-ssh root@your-vps "cat /opt/authentik/logs/worker.log"
+Authentik uses **journald** for centralized logging. Both `journalctl` and `podman logs` provide access to the same log stream:
 
-# systemd service logs
+```bash
+# View Authentik logs via journalctl (system-wide logging)
 ssh root@your-vps "journalctl -u authentik-server -f"
 ssh root@your-vps "journalctl -u authentik-worker -f"
 
+# View Authentik logs via podman (container-specific)
+ssh root@your-vps "podman logs -f authentik-server"
+ssh root@your-vps "podman logs -f authentik-worker"
+
+# View recent logs with timestamp (last 50 lines)
+ssh root@your-vps "journalctl -u authentik-server --lines 50 --no-pager"
+
+# Filter logs by time
+ssh root@your-vps "journalctl -u authentik-server --since '10 minutes ago'"
+ssh root@your-vps "journalctl -u authentik-server --since '2025-12-14 16:00:00'"
+
+# Search logs for specific patterns
+ssh root@your-vps "journalctl -u authentik-server | grep ERROR"
+ssh root@your-vps "journalctl -u authentik-worker | grep 'database connection'"
+
 # Caddy logs for reverse proxy issues
 ssh root@your-vps "journalctl -u caddy -f"
 ```
 
+**Note**: Logs are in JSON format with structured fields (timestamp, level, logger, event, etc.).
+
 #### Common Log Patterns
 
-**Successful startup**:
-```
-INFO     authentik.core.signals: authentik 2025.10.x starting
-INFO     authentik.core.models: Database version up-to-date
+Authentik logs are in **JSON format** for structured analysis. Here are common patterns:
+
+**Successful API request**:
+```json
+{"auth_via": "secret_key", "domain_url": "0.0.0.0", "event": "/api/v3/outposts/proxy/", 
+ "level": "info", "logger": "authentik.asgi", "method": "GET", "status": 200, 
+ "timestamp": "2025-12-14T16:13:17.269312"}
 ```
 
-**Database connection success**:
-```
-INFO     authentik.core.db: Connected to database via unix socket
+**Startup and initialization**:
+```json
+{"event": "updating brand certificates", "level": "info", 
+ "logger": "authentik.router.brand_tls", "timestamp": "2025-12-14T16:13:17Z"}
 ```
 
-**Cache connection success**:
+**Warning patterns**:
+```json
+{"event": "No providers assigned to this outpost, check outpost configuration", 
+ "level": "warning", "logger": "authentik.outpost.proxyv2"}
 ```
-INFO     authentik.core.cache: Connected to cache via unix socket
+
+**Filtering JSON logs by level**:
+```bash
+# Filter by error level
+ssh root@your-vps "journalctl -u authentik-server --since today | grep '\"level\":\"error\"'"
+
+# Filter by specific event
+ssh root@your-vps "journalctl -u authentik-server | grep '\"event\":\"database connection\"'"
 ```
 
 ## Performance Monitoring

docs/service-integration-guide.md

@@ -343,6 +343,193 @@ If you get permission denied errors:
    - Verify container process has correct supplementary groups
    - Verify services are in `/system.slice/`
 
+5. **Logging**:
+   - Use **journald** (Podman's default) for system-level containers
+   - Never use file-based logging (`LogDriver=k8s-file`) for system services
+   - Access logs via `journalctl -u service-name` or `podman logs container-name`
+   - Logs are automatically persistent and integrated with systemd
+
+6. **Infrastructure Variables**:
+   - Always use infrastructure variables (e.g., `{{ postgresql_unix_socket_directories }}`)
+   - Never hardcode infrastructure paths or group names
+   - Define infrastructure dependencies in application role defaults with read-only notice
+   - Validate infrastructure variables exist in tasks before use
+
+## Logging Best Practices
+
+System-level containers should **always use journald** for logging integration with systemd.
+
+### Why Journald for System Containers
+
+- **Centralized logging**: All service logs accessible via `journalctl`
+- **Persistent by default**: Logs survive container restarts
+- **No disk management**: systemd handles log rotation and retention
+- **Unified interface**: Same logging interface as native systemd services
+- **Query capabilities**: Filter by time, level, service, or pattern
+
+### Configuration
+
+**Do NOT use file-based logging** in system containers:
+
+```ini
+# ❌ WRONG - File-based logging (rootless pattern)
+[Container]
+LogDriver=k8s-file
+LogOpt=path=/opt/service/logs/app.log
+Volume=/opt/service/logs:/opt/service/logs
+```
+
+**Use journald (Podman's default)** for system containers:
+
+```ini
+# ✅ CORRECT - journald logging (system-level)
+[Container]
+ContainerName=myservice
+Image=myservice:latest
+# No LogDriver needed - journald is default
+```
+
+### Accessing Logs
+
+Both `journalctl` and `podman logs` provide access to the **same log stream**:
+
+```bash
+# Via journalctl (system-wide)
+journalctl -u myservice -f                    # Follow logs
+journalctl -u myservice --lines 50            # Last 50 lines
+journalctl -u myservice --since "10 min ago"  # Time-filtered
+journalctl -u myservice | grep ERROR          # Pattern search
+
+# Via podman (container-specific) 
+podman logs -f myservice                      # Same output as journalctl
+podman logs --tail 50 myservice
+```
+
+### JSON Structured Logging
+
+Many modern applications (like Authentik) output JSON-formatted logs:
+
+```bash
+# Filter JSON logs by field
+journalctl -u authentik-server | grep '"level":"error"'
+journalctl -u authentik-server | grep '"event":"database connection"'
+
+# Pretty-print JSON logs with jq
+journalctl -u authentik-server --output=cat | jq '.'
+```
+
+## Infrastructure Variable Pattern
+
+Application roles should **reference** infrastructure variables, never redefine them.
+
+### Pattern Overview
+
+**Infrastructure roles** (PostgreSQL, Valkey) define and export variables:
+```yaml
+# roles/postgresql/defaults/main.yml
+postgresql_unix_socket_directories: "/var/run/postgresql"
+postgresql_client_group: "postgres-clients"
+postgresql_port: 5432
+
+# roles/postgresql/tasks/main.yml
+- name: Export PostgreSQL client group GID as fact
+  set_fact:
+    postgresql_client_group_gid: "{{ getent_group[postgresql_client_group].1 }}"
+```
+
+**Application roles** reference these variables (never redefine):
+```yaml
+# roles/myservice/defaults/main.yml
+# =================================================================
+# Infrastructure Dependencies (Read-only)
+# =================================================================
+# These variables reference infrastructure services defined by their roles
+# Applications MUST NOT modify these values - they are provided by infrastructure
+
+postgresql_unix_socket_directories: "/var/run/postgresql"
+postgresql_client_group: "postgres-clients"
+postgresql_port: 5432
+```
+
+### Using Infrastructure Variables
+
+**In application role defaults**:
+```yaml
+# Use infrastructure variables for configuration
+myservice_db_host: "{{ postgresql_unix_socket_directories }}"
+myservice_db_port: "{{ postgresql_port }}"
+```
+
+**In application role tasks**:
+```yaml
+# Validate infrastructure variables exist
+- name: Validate infrastructure variables are defined
+  assert:
+    that:
+      - postgresql_unix_socket_directories is defined
+      - postgresql_client_group is defined
+    fail_msg: "Missing required infrastructure variables"
+
+# Use variables for group membership
+- name: Add service user to PostgreSQL client group
+  user:
+    name: "{{ myservice_user }}"
+    groups: "{{ postgresql_client_group }}"
+    append: true
+
+# Use variables for database operations
+- name: Create database via socket
+  postgresql_db:
+    name: "{{ myservice_db_name }}"
+    login_unix_socket: "{{ postgresql_unix_socket_directories }}"
+```
+
+### Example: Gitea Role
+
+See `roles/gitea/` for a complete example of infrastructure variable usage:
+
+**defaults/main.yml**:
+```yaml
+# Infrastructure Dependencies section
+postgresql_unix_socket_directories: "/var/run/postgresql"
+postgresql_client_group: "postgres-clients"
+postgresql_port: 5432
+
+# Database Configuration using infrastructure variables
+gitea_db_host: "{{ postgresql_unix_socket_directories }}"
+gitea_db_port: "{{ postgresql_port }}"
+```
+
+**tasks/main.yml**:
+```yaml
+# Validate infrastructure variables
+- name: Validate infrastructure variables are defined
+  assert:
+    that:
+      - postgresql_unix_socket_directories is defined
+      - postgresql_client_group is defined
+
+# Use infrastructure variables
+- name: Add git user to PostgreSQL client group
+  user:
+    name: git
+    groups: "{{ postgresql_client_group }}"
+    append: true
+
+- name: Create Gitea database
+  postgresql_db:
+    name: gitea
+    login_unix_socket: "{{ postgresql_unix_socket_directories }}"
+```
+
+### Benefits
+
+1. **Single Source of Truth**: Infrastructure paths defined once
+2. **Consistency**: All services use same socket paths and groups
+3. **Maintainability**: Change infrastructure path in one place
+4. **Validation**: Catch missing dependencies early via assertions
+5. **Documentation**: Clear separation between infrastructure and application
+
 ## Authentication Integration with Authentik
 
 ### Overview

roles/authentik/tasks/user.yml

@@ -29,7 +29,6 @@
     - "{{ authentik_home }}"
     - "{{ authentik_home }}/data"
     - "{{ authentik_home }}/media"
-    - "{{ authentik_home }}/logs"
 
 - name: Get authentik user UID and GID for container configuration
   shell: |

roles/authentik/templates/authentik-server.container

@@ -11,11 +11,6 @@ EnvironmentFile={{ authentik_home }}/.env
 User={{ authentik_uid }}:{{ authentik_gid }}
 PodmanArgs=--group-add {{ postgresql_client_group_gid }} --group-add {{ valkey_client_group_gid }}
 
-# Logging configuration
-LogDriver=k8s-file
-LogOpt=path={{ authentik_home }}/logs/server.log
-Volume={{ authentik_home }}/logs:{{ authentik_home }}/logs
-
 # Volume mounts for data and sockets
 Volume={{ authentik_media_dir }}:/media
 Volume={{ authentik_data_dir }}:/data

roles/authentik/templates/authentik-worker.container

@@ -11,11 +11,6 @@ EnvironmentFile={{ authentik_home }}/.env
 User={{ authentik_uid }}:{{ authentik_gid }}
 PodmanArgs=--group-add {{ postgresql_client_group_gid }} --group-add {{ valkey_client_group_gid }}
 
-# Logging configuration
-LogDriver=k8s-file
-LogOpt=path={{ authentik_home }}/logs/worker.log
-Volume={{ authentik_home }}/logs:{{ authentik_home }}/logs
-
 # Volume mounts for data and sockets
 Volume={{ authentik_media_dir }}:/media
 Volume={{ authentik_data_dir }}:/data

roles/gitea/defaults/main.yml

@@ -39,9 +39,10 @@ caddy_sites_enabled_dir: "/etc/caddy/sites-enabled"
 # =================================================================
 
 # Gitea manages its own database (Unix socket connection)
+# Uses infrastructure variables for consistent socket path reference
 gitea_db_type: "postgres"
-gitea_db_host: "/run/postgresql"  # Unix socket directory
-gitea_db_port: 5432
+gitea_db_host: "{{ postgresql_unix_socket_directories }}"  # Unix socket from infrastructure
+gitea_db_port: "{{ postgresql_port }}"
 gitea_db_name: "gitea"
 gitea_db_user: "gitea"
 gitea_db_password: "{{ vault_gitea_db_password }}"
@@ -65,6 +66,16 @@ gitea_require_signin: false
 # SSH settings
 gitea_start_ssh_server: true
 
+# =================================================================
+# Infrastructure Dependencies (Read-only)
+# =================================================================
+# These variables reference infrastructure services defined by their roles
+# Applications MUST NOT modify these values - they are provided by infrastructure
+
+postgresql_unix_socket_directories: "/var/run/postgresql"
+postgresql_client_group: "postgres-clients"
+postgresql_port: 5432
+
 # =================================================================
 # Rick-Infra Integration Notes
 # =================================================================

roles/gitea/tasks/main.yml

@@ -2,6 +2,15 @@
 # Gitea Service Role - Self-Contained Implementation
 # Manages Gitea Git service with own database
 
+- name: Validate infrastructure variables are defined
+  assert:
+    that:
+      - postgresql_unix_socket_directories is defined
+      - postgresql_client_group is defined
+      - postgresql_port is defined
+    fail_msg: "Missing required infrastructure variables. Ensure PostgreSQL role has run first."
+    success_msg: "Infrastructure variables validated successfully"
+
 - name: Install Gitea from Arch repository
   pacman:
     name: gitea
@@ -43,23 +52,16 @@
     group: "{{ gitea_group }}"
     mode: '0700'
 
-# Socket access setup (following Authentik pattern)
-- name: Add git user to postgres group for socket access
+# Socket access setup (using infrastructure variables)
+- name: Add git user to PostgreSQL client group for socket access
   user:
     name: "{{ gitea_user }}"
-    groups: postgres
+    groups: "{{ postgresql_client_group }}"
     append: true
 
-- name: Ensure git can access PostgreSQL socket directory
-  file:
-    path: "/var/run/postgresql"
-    mode: '0770'
-    group: postgres
-  become: true
-
 - name: Test PostgreSQL socket connectivity
   postgresql_ping:
-    login_unix_socket: "/var/run/postgresql"
+    login_unix_socket: "{{ postgresql_unix_socket_directories }}"
     login_user: "{{ gitea_user }}"
   become: true
   become_user: "{{ gitea_user }}"
@@ -70,7 +72,7 @@
     name: "{{ gitea_db_user }}"
     password: "{{ gitea_db_password }}"
     encrypted: yes
-    login_unix_socket: "/var/run/postgresql"
+    login_unix_socket: "{{ postgresql_unix_socket_directories }}"
     login_user: postgres
   become: true
   become_user: postgres
@@ -81,7 +83,7 @@
     owner: "{{ gitea_db_user }}"
     encoding: UTF8
     template: template0
-    login_unix_socket: "/var/run/postgresql"
+    login_unix_socket: "{{ postgresql_unix_socket_directories }}"
     login_user: postgres
   become: true
   become_user: postgres
@@ -92,7 +94,7 @@
     privs: ALL
     type: database
     role: "{{ gitea_db_user }}"
-    login_unix_socket: "/var/run/postgresql"
+    login_unix_socket: "{{ postgresql_unix_socket_directories }}"
     login_user: postgres
   become: true
   become_user: postgres