feat(backend): sort applications and workspaces alphabetically (#41253)

## Description
Made changes in backend to sort applications and workspaces in
alphabetic order
Also added feature flag control to this functionality.

Fixes #31108

## Automation

/test Workspace

### 🔍 Cypress test results
<!-- This is an auto-generated comment: Cypress test results  -->
> [!TIP]
> 🟢 🟢 🟢 All cypress tests have passed! 🎉 🎉 🎉
> Workflow run:
<https://github.com/appsmithorg/appsmith/actions/runs/17998282833>
> Commit: ff76753e19106314d21cc4b9548177fe8f93339d
> <a
href="https://internal.appsmith.com/app/cypress-dashboard/rundetails-65890b3c81d7400d08fa9ee5?branch=master&workflowId=17998282833&attempt=1"
target="_blank">Cypress dashboard</a>.
> Tags: `@tag.Workspace`
> Spec:
> <hr>Thu, 25 Sep 2025 06:09:23 UTC
<!-- end of auto-generated comment: Cypress test results  -->


## Communication
Should the DevRel and Marketing teams inform users about this change?
- [ ] Yes
- [ ] No


<!-- This is an auto-generated comment: release notes by coderabbit.ai
-->
## Summary by CodeRabbit

* **New Features**
* Optional alphabetical ordering for workspaces and applications on the
Home page, toggleable via a new feature flag.
* Home view now chooses between case-insensitive alphabetical sorting
and the existing “recently used” ordering based on that flag.

* **Tests**
* Added automated tests verifying alphabetical workspace ordering and
exact name sequencing.
<!-- end of auto-generated comment: release notes by coderabbit.ai -->

---------

Co-authored-by: Abhijeet <abhi.nagarnaik@gmail.com>

app/server/appsmith-interfaces/src/main/java/com/appsmith/external/enums/FeatureFlagEnum.java

@@ -31,6 +31,10 @@ public enum FeatureFlagEnum {
     release_git_autocommit_eligibility_enabled,
     release_dynamodb_connection_time_to_live_enabled,
     release_reactive_actions_enabled,
+    /**
+     * Feature flag to enable alphabetical ordering for workspaces and applications
+     */
+    release_alphabetical_ordering_enabled,
 
     // Add EE flags below this line, to avoid conflicts.
 }

app/server/appsmith-server/src/main/java/com/appsmith/server/applications/base/ApplicationServiceCE.java

@@ -29,6 +29,10 @@ public interface ApplicationServiceCE extends CrudService<Application, String> {
 
     Flux<Application> findByWorkspaceIdAndBaseApplicationsInRecentlyUsedOrder(String workspaceId);
 
+    Flux<Application> findByWorkspaceIdAndBaseApplicationsInAlphabeticalOrder(String workspaceId);
+
+    Flux<Application> findByWorkspaceIdAndBaseApplicationsForHome(String workspaceId);
+
     Mono<Application> save(Artifact application);
 
     Mono<Application> updateApplicationWithPresets(String branchedApplicationId, Application application);

app/server/appsmith-server/src/main/java/com/appsmith/server/applications/base/ApplicationServiceCEImpl.java

@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 package com.appsmith.server.applications.base;
 
+import com.appsmith.external.enums.FeatureFlagEnum;
 import com.appsmith.external.models.ActionDTO;
 import com.appsmith.external.models.Policy;
 import com.appsmith.server.acl.AclPermission;
@@ -36,6 +37,7 @@ import com.appsmith.server.repositories.NewActionRepository;
 import com.appsmith.server.services.AnalyticsService;
 import com.appsmith.server.services.AssetService;
 import com.appsmith.server.services.BaseService;
+import com.appsmith.server.services.FeatureFlagService;
 import com.appsmith.server.services.PermissionGroupService;
 import com.appsmith.server.services.SessionUserService;
 import com.appsmith.server.services.UserDataService;
@@ -59,6 +61,7 @@ import reactor.core.publisher.Mono;
 
 import java.time.Instant;
 import java.util.ArrayList;
+import java.util.Comparator;
 import java.util.HashMap;
 import java.util.HashSet;
 import java.util.List;
@@ -90,6 +93,7 @@ public class ApplicationServiceCEImpl extends BaseService<ApplicationRepository,
     private final WorkspaceService workspaceService;
     private final WorkspacePermission workspacePermission;
     private final ObservationRegistry observationRegistry;
+    private final FeatureFlagService featureFlagService;
 
     private static final Integer MAX_RETRIES = 5;
 
@@ -108,7 +112,8 @@ public class ApplicationServiceCEImpl extends BaseService<ApplicationRepository,
             UserDataService userDataService,
             WorkspaceService workspaceService,
             WorkspacePermission workspacePermission,
-            ObservationRegistry observationRegistry) {
+            ObservationRegistry observationRegistry,
+            FeatureFlagService featureFlagService) {
 
         super(validator, repository, analyticsService);
         this.policySolution = policySolution;
@@ -122,6 +127,7 @@ public class ApplicationServiceCEImpl extends BaseService<ApplicationRepository,
         this.workspaceService = workspaceService;
         this.workspacePermission = workspacePermission;
         this.observationRegistry = observationRegistry;
+        this.featureFlagService = featureFlagService;
     }
 
     @Override
@@ -214,6 +220,63 @@ public class ApplicationServiceCEImpl extends BaseService<ApplicationRepository,
                         })));
     }
 
+    /**
+     * This method is used to fetch all the applications for a given workspaceId. It sorts the applications in
+     * alphabetical order by name.
+     * For git connected applications only default branched application is returned.
+     *
+     * @param workspaceId workspaceId for which applications are to be fetched
+     * @return Flux of applications sorted alphabetically
+     */
+    @Override
+    public Flux<Application> findByWorkspaceIdAndBaseApplicationsInAlphabeticalOrder(String workspaceId) {
+
+        if (!StringUtils.hasLength(workspaceId)) {
+            return Flux.error(new AppsmithException(AppsmithError.INVALID_PARAMETER, FieldName.WORKSPACE_ID));
+        }
+
+        // Read the workspace
+        Mono<Workspace> workspaceMono = workspaceService
+                .findById(workspaceId, workspacePermission.getReadPermission())
+                .switchIfEmpty(Mono.error(
+                        new AppsmithException(AppsmithError.ACL_NO_RESOURCE_FOUND, FieldName.WORKSPACE, workspaceId)));
+
+        return workspaceMono.thenMany(this.findByWorkspaceId(workspaceId, applicationPermission.getReadPermission())
+                .sort(Comparator.comparing(application -> application.getName().toLowerCase()))
+                .filter(application -> {
+                    /*
+                     * Filter applications based on the following criteria:
+                     * - Applications that are not connected to Git.
+                     * - Applications that, when connected, revert with default branch only.
+                     */
+                    return !GitUtils.isArtifactConnectedToGit(application.getGitArtifactMetadata())
+                            || GitUtils.isDefaultBranchedArtifact(application.getGitArtifactMetadata());
+                }));
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * This method is used to fetch all the applications for a given workspaceId. It sorts the applications based
+     * on feature flag - either alphabetically or by recently used order.
+     * For git connected applications only default branched application is returned.
+     *
+     * @param workspaceId workspaceId for which applications are to be fetched
+     * @return Flux of applications sorted based on feature flag
+     */
+    @Override
+    public Flux<Application> findByWorkspaceIdAndBaseApplicationsForHome(String workspaceId) {
+        Mono<Boolean> isAlphabeticalOrderingEnabled =
+                featureFlagService.check(FeatureFlagEnum.release_alphabetical_ordering_enabled);
+        return isAlphabeticalOrderingEnabled.flatMapMany(isEnabled -> {
+            if (isEnabled) {
+                // If alphabetical ordering is enabled, then we need to sort the applications in alphabetical order
+                return findByWorkspaceIdAndBaseApplicationsInAlphabeticalOrder(workspaceId);
+            } else {
+                // If alphabetical ordering is disabled, then we need to sort the applications in recently used order
+                return findByWorkspaceIdAndBaseApplicationsInRecentlyUsedOrder(workspaceId);
+            }
+        });
+    }
+
     @Override
     public Mono<Application> save(Artifact artifact) {
         Application application = (Application) artifact;

app/server/appsmith-server/src/main/java/com/appsmith/server/applications/base/ApplicationServiceImpl.java

@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import com.appsmith.server.repositories.ApplicationRepository;
 import com.appsmith.server.repositories.NewActionRepository;
 import com.appsmith.server.services.AnalyticsService;
 import com.appsmith.server.services.AssetService;
+import com.appsmith.server.services.FeatureFlagService;
 import com.appsmith.server.services.PermissionGroupService;
 import com.appsmith.server.services.SessionUserService;
 import com.appsmith.server.services.UserDataService;
@@ -39,7 +40,8 @@ public class ApplicationServiceImpl extends ApplicationServiceCECompatibleImpl
             UserDataService userDataService,
             WorkspaceService workspaceService,
             WorkspacePermission workspacePermission,
-            ObservationRegistry observationRegistry) {
+            ObservationRegistry observationRegistry,
+            FeatureFlagService featureFlagService) {
         super(
                 validator,
                 repository,
@@ -54,6 +56,7 @@ public class ApplicationServiceImpl extends ApplicationServiceCECompatibleImpl
                 userDataService,
                 workspaceService,
                 workspacePermission,
-                observationRegistry);
+                observationRegistry,
+                featureFlagService);
     }
 }

app/server/appsmith-server/src/main/java/com/appsmith/server/controllers/ce/ApplicationControllerCE.java

@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ public class ApplicationControllerCE {
     public Mono<ResponseDTO<List<Application>>> findByWorkspaceIdAndRecentlyUsedOrder(
             @RequestParam(required = false) String workspaceId) {
         log.debug("Going to get all applications by workspace id {}", workspaceId);
-        return service.findByWorkspaceIdAndBaseApplicationsInRecentlyUsedOrder(workspaceId)
+        return service.findByWorkspaceIdAndBaseApplicationsForHome(workspaceId)
                 .collectList()
                 .map(applications -> new ResponseDTO<>(HttpStatus.OK, applications));
     }

app/server/appsmith-server/src/main/java/com/appsmith/server/controllers/ce/WorkspaceControllerCE.java

@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ public class WorkspaceControllerCE {
     @GetMapping("/home")
     public Mono<ResponseDTO<List<Workspace>>> workspacesForHome() {
         return userWorkspaceService
-                .getUserWorkspacesByRecentlyUsedOrder()
+                .getUserWorkspacesForHome()
                 .map(workspaces -> new ResponseDTO<>(HttpStatus.OK, workspaces));
     }
 }

app/server/appsmith-server/src/main/java/com/appsmith/server/services/UserWorkspaceServiceImpl.java

@@ -19,7 +19,8 @@ public class UserWorkspaceServiceImpl extends UserWorkspaceServiceCEImpl impleme
             PermissionGroupService permissionGroupService,
             OrganizationService organizationService,
             WorkspacePermission workspacePermission,
-            PermissionGroupPermission permissionGroupPermission) {
+            PermissionGroupPermission permissionGroupPermission,
+            FeatureFlagService featureFlagService) {
 
         super(
                 sessionUserService,
@@ -29,6 +30,7 @@ public class UserWorkspaceServiceImpl extends UserWorkspaceServiceCEImpl impleme
                 permissionGroupService,
                 organizationService,
                 workspacePermission,
-                permissionGroupPermission);
+                permissionGroupPermission,
+                featureFlagService);
     }
 }

app/server/appsmith-server/src/main/java/com/appsmith/server/services/ce/UserWorkspaceServiceCE.java

@@ -25,4 +25,8 @@ public interface UserWorkspaceServiceCE {
     Mono<Boolean> isLastAdminRoleEntity(PermissionGroup permissionGroup);
 
     Mono<List<Workspace>> getUserWorkspacesByRecentlyUsedOrder();
+
+    Mono<List<Workspace>> getUserWorkspacesInAlphabeticalOrder();
+
+    Mono<List<Workspace>> getUserWorkspacesForHome();
 }

app/server/appsmith-server/src/main/java/com/appsmith/server/services/ce/UserWorkspaceServiceCEImpl.java

@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 package com.appsmith.server.services.ce;
 
+import com.appsmith.external.enums.FeatureFlagEnum;
 import com.appsmith.server.constants.FieldName;
 import com.appsmith.server.domains.PermissionGroup;
 import com.appsmith.server.domains.User;
@@ -13,6 +14,7 @@ import com.appsmith.server.exceptions.AppsmithError;
 import com.appsmith.server.exceptions.AppsmithException;
 import com.appsmith.server.helpers.AppsmithComparators;
 import com.appsmith.server.repositories.UserRepository;
+import com.appsmith.server.services.FeatureFlagService;
 import com.appsmith.server.services.OrganizationService;
 import com.appsmith.server.services.PermissionGroupService;
 import com.appsmith.server.services.SessionUserService;
@@ -32,6 +34,7 @@ import reactor.util.function.Tuple2;
 import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.Collection;
 import java.util.Collections;
+import java.util.Comparator;
 import java.util.HashSet;
 import java.util.List;
 import java.util.Map;
@@ -54,6 +57,7 @@ public class UserWorkspaceServiceCEImpl implements UserWorkspaceServiceCE {
     private final OrganizationService organizationService;
     private final WorkspacePermission workspacePermission;
     private final PermissionGroupPermission permissionGroupPermission;
+    private final FeatureFlagService featureFlagService;
 
     @Autowired
     public UserWorkspaceServiceCEImpl(
@@ -64,7 +68,8 @@ public class UserWorkspaceServiceCEImpl implements UserWorkspaceServiceCE {
             PermissionGroupService permissionGroupService,
             OrganizationService organizationService,
             WorkspacePermission workspacePermission,
-            PermissionGroupPermission permissionGroupPermission) {
+            PermissionGroupPermission permissionGroupPermission,
+            FeatureFlagService featureFlagService) {
         this.sessionUserService = sessionUserService;
         this.workspaceService = workspaceService;
         this.userRepository = userRepository;
@@ -73,6 +78,7 @@ public class UserWorkspaceServiceCEImpl implements UserWorkspaceServiceCE {
         this.organizationService = organizationService;
         this.workspacePermission = workspacePermission;
         this.permissionGroupPermission = permissionGroupPermission;
+        this.featureFlagService = featureFlagService;
     }
 
     @Override
@@ -419,4 +425,39 @@ public class UserWorkspaceServiceCEImpl implements UserWorkspaceServiceCE {
                 // collect to list to keep the order of the workspaces
                 .collectList());
     }
+
+    /*
+     * Returns a list of workspaces for the current user, sorted in alphabetical order.
+     *
+     * @return Mono containing the list of workspaces
+     */
+    @Override
+    public Mono<List<Workspace>> getUserWorkspacesInAlphabeticalOrder() {
+        return workspaceService
+                .getAll(workspacePermission.getReadPermission())
+                .sort(Comparator.comparing(workspace -> workspace.getName().toLowerCase()))
+                .collectList();
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns a list of workspaces for the current user, sorted based on feature flag.
+     * If alphabetical ordering is enabled, returns workspaces in alphabetical order.
+     * Otherwise, returns workspaces in recently used order.
+     *
+     * @return Mono containing the list of workspaces
+     */
+    @Override
+    public Mono<List<Workspace>> getUserWorkspacesForHome() {
+        Mono<Boolean> isAlphabeticalOrderingEnabled =
+                featureFlagService.check(FeatureFlagEnum.release_alphabetical_ordering_enabled);
+        return isAlphabeticalOrderingEnabled.flatMap(isEnabled -> {
+            if (isEnabled) {
+                // If alphabetical ordering is enabled, then we need to sort the workspaces in alphabetical order
+                return getUserWorkspacesInAlphabeticalOrder();
+            } else {
+                // If alphabetical ordering is disabled, then we need to sort the workspaces in recently used order
+                return getUserWorkspacesByRecentlyUsedOrder();
+            }
+        });
+    }
 }

app/server/appsmith-server/src/main/java/com/appsmith/server/services/ce_compatible/ApplicationServiceCECompatibleImpl.java

@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import com.appsmith.server.repositories.ApplicationRepository;
 import com.appsmith.server.repositories.NewActionRepository;
 import com.appsmith.server.services.AnalyticsService;
 import com.appsmith.server.services.AssetService;
+import com.appsmith.server.services.FeatureFlagService;
 import com.appsmith.server.services.PermissionGroupService;
 import com.appsmith.server.services.SessionUserService;
 import com.appsmith.server.services.UserDataService;
@@ -34,7 +35,8 @@ public class ApplicationServiceCECompatibleImpl extends ApplicationServiceCEImpl
             UserDataService userDataService,
             WorkspaceService workspaceService,
             WorkspacePermission workspacePermission,
-            ObservationRegistry observationRegistry) {
+            ObservationRegistry observationRegistry,
+            FeatureFlagService featureFlagService) {
         super(
                 validator,
                 repository,
@@ -49,6 +51,7 @@ public class ApplicationServiceCECompatibleImpl extends ApplicationServiceCEImpl
                 userDataService,
                 workspaceService,
                 workspacePermission,
-                observationRegistry);
+                observationRegistry,
+                featureFlagService);
     }
 }

app/server/appsmith-server/src/test/java/com/appsmith/server/services/UserWorkspaceServiceTest.java

@@ -377,4 +377,40 @@ public class UserWorkspaceServiceTest {
                 .cleanPermissionGroupCacheForUsers(List.of(api_user.getId(), test_user.getId()))
                 .block();
     }
+
+    @Test
+    @WithUserDetails(value = "api_user")
+    public void getUserWorkspacesInAlphabeticalOrder_WhenUserHasWorkspaces_ReturnsWorkspacesSortedAlphabetically() {
+
+        List<String> existingWorkspaceNames =
+                workspaceService.getAll().map(Workspace::getName).collectList().block();
+
+        // Arrange: Create multiple workspaces with different names
+        List<String> workspaceNames =
+                new java.util.ArrayList<>(List.of("Zebra Workspace", "Alpha Workspace", "Beta Workspace"));
+        assert existingWorkspaceNames != null;
+        for (String name : workspaceNames) {
+            Workspace workspace = new Workspace();
+            workspace.setName(name);
+            // Ensures default permission groups & current user access are created
+            workspaceService.create(workspace).block();
+        }
+
+        // Act: Call the method to get the user's workspaces in alphabetical order
+        Mono<List<Workspace>> workspacesMono = userWorkspaceService.getUserWorkspacesInAlphabeticalOrder();
+
+        // Assert: Verify the workspaces are returned in alphabetical order
+        StepVerifier.create(workspacesMono)
+                .assertNext(workspaces -> {
+                    assertThat(workspaces).isNotNull();
+                    assertThat(workspaces).hasSize(3 + existingWorkspaceNames.size());
+                    List<String> workspaceNamesList =
+                            workspaces.stream().map(Workspace::getName).collect(Collectors.toList());
+                    workspaceNames.addAll(existingWorkspaceNames);
+                    List<String> sortedExistingWorkspaceNames =
+                            workspaceNames.stream().sorted().toList();
+                    assertThat(workspaceNamesList).containsExactly(sortedExistingWorkspaceNames.toArray(new String[0]));
+                })
+                .verifyComplete();
+    }
 }