fix(settings): give every user a settings row

V20 adds the row for old users, registration inserts one. The mapper fallback (en, system) disagreed with the column defaults.

src/main/java/auth_service/modules/registration/persistence/RegisteredUserRepositoryImpl.java

@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ public class RegisteredUserRepositoryImpl implements RegisteredUserRepository {
         if (id == null) {
             throw new IllegalStateException("No id for the new user");
         }
+        jdbc.update("INSERT INTO user_settings (user_id) VALUES (?)", id);
         return id;
     }
 }

src/main/java/auth_service/modules/user/persistence/UserRepository.java

@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 package auth_service.modules.user.persistence;
 
-
 import auth_service.modules.user.model.Appearance;
 import auth_service.modules.user.model.ProfileStyle;
 import auth_service.modules.user.model.Tile;
@@ -8,7 +7,6 @@ import auth_service.modules.user.model.SteamIdHolder;
 import auth_service.modules.user.model.User;
 import auth_service.modules.user.model.UserSettings;
 import jakarta.transaction.Transactional;
-import jakarta.validation.constraints.NotNull;
 
 import java.util.List;
 import java.util.Optional;
@@ -22,9 +20,6 @@ public interface UserRepository {
      */
     Optional<User> findById(long userId);
 
-    @NotNull
-    UserSettings findSettingsByUserId(String userId);
-
     @Transactional
     void updateSettings(long userId, String displayName, UserSettings settings);
 

src/main/java/auth_service/modules/user/persistence/UserRepositoryImpl.java

@@ -14,12 +14,10 @@ import jakarta.persistence.EntityManager;
 import jakarta.persistence.PersistenceContext;
 import jakarta.persistence.TypedQuery;
 import jakarta.transaction.Transactional;
-import jakarta.validation.constraints.NotNull;
 import org.springframework.stereotype.Repository;
 
 import java.util.List;
 import java.util.Optional;
-import java.util.UUID;
 
 @Repository
 public class UserRepositoryImpl implements UserRepository {
@@ -33,7 +31,6 @@ public class UserRepositoryImpl implements UserRepository {
         var userEntity = userEntityCriteriaQuery.from(UserEntity.class);
 
         // Fetch the settings eagerly using a LEFT JOIN to prevent N+1 queries.
-        // A LEFT JOIN ensures the user is returned even if no settings exist yet.
         userEntity.fetch("settings", jakarta.persistence.criteria.JoinType.LEFT);
 
         userEntityCriteriaQuery.select(userEntity).where(criteriaBuilder.equal(userEntity.get("id"), userId));
@@ -45,44 +42,16 @@ public class UserRepositoryImpl implements UserRepository {
                 .map(EntityMapper::mapToModel);
     }
 
-    @Override
-    public @NotNull UserSettings findSettingsByUserId(String userId) {
-        UserSettingsEntity entity = entityManager.find(UserSettingsEntity.class, UUID.fromString(userId));
-
-        if (entity == null) {
-            // Return defaults if none exist yet
-            return UserSettings.builder()
-                    .language("")
-                    .theme("light")
-                    .build();
-        }
-
-        return UserSettings.builder()
-                .language(entity.getLanguage())
-                .theme(entity.getTheme())
-                .build();
-    }
-
     @Transactional
     @Override
     public void updateSettings(long userId, String displayName, UserSettings settings) {
-        var userEntity = entityManager.find(UserEntity.class, userId);
+        UserSettingsEntity settingsEntity = settingsOf(userId);
-        if (userEntity == null) {
-            throw new UserNotFoundException("Could not find user with id " + userId);
-        }
-
-        var settingsEntity = userEntity.getSettings();
-        if (settingsEntity == null) {
-            settingsEntity = new UserSettingsEntity();
-            settingsEntity.setUserId(userId);
-            userEntity.setSettings(settingsEntity);
-        }
-
         settingsEntity.setLanguage(settings.getLanguage());
         settingsEntity.setTheme(settings.getTheme());
         settingsEntity.setPublicProfile(settings.isPublicProfile());
 
-        userEntity.setDisplayName(displayName);
+        // settingsOf loaded the user: find answers from the persistence context.
+        entityManager.find(UserEntity.class, userId).setDisplayName(displayName);
     }
 
     @Transactional
@@ -125,23 +94,16 @@ public class UserRepositoryImpl implements UserRepository {
         settingsEntity.setProfileBackgroundAppid(style.backgroundAppid());
     }
 
-    /**
+    // Every user has a settings row since V20; registration inserts it.
-     * The settings row of the user, created with the defaults of the user_settings columns when there is none.
-     */
     private UserSettingsEntity settingsOf(long userId) {
         UserEntity userEntity = entityManager.find(UserEntity.class, userId);
         if (userEntity == null) {
             throw new UserNotFoundException("Could not find user with id " + userId);
         }
-        UserSettingsEntity settingsEntity = userEntity.getSettings();
+        if (userEntity.getSettings() == null) {
-        if (settingsEntity == null) {
+            throw new IllegalStateException("User " + userId + " has no settings row");
-            settingsEntity = new UserSettingsEntity();
-            settingsEntity.setUserId(userId);
-            settingsEntity.setLanguage("");
-            settingsEntity.setTheme("light");
-            userEntity.setSettings(settingsEntity);
         }
-        return settingsEntity;
+        return userEntity.getSettings();
     }
 
     @Override

src/main/java/auth_service/modules/user/persistence/entities/UserSettingsEntity.java

@@ -1,9 +1,5 @@
 package auth_service.modules.user.persistence.entities;
 
-import auth_service.modules.user.model.Appearance;
-import auth_service.modules.user.model.ProfileStyle;
-import auth_service.modules.user.model.Tile;
-import auth_service.modules.user.model.UserSettings;
 import jakarta.persistence.Column;
 import jakarta.persistence.Entity;
 import jakarta.persistence.Id;
@@ -35,12 +31,11 @@ public class UserSettingsEntity {
     @Column(name = "public_profile", nullable = false)
     private boolean publicProfile;
 
-    // Java defaults as well: a row created here, not by the migration, must not insert null.
     @Column(nullable = false)
-    private String accent = Appearance.DEFAULT.accent();
+    private String accent;
 
     @Column(nullable = false)
-    private String corners = Appearance.DEFAULT.corners();
+    private String corners;
 
     @Column(name = "wide_layout", nullable = false)
     private boolean wideLayout;
@@ -52,13 +47,13 @@ public class UserSettingsEntity {
     private Long bannerAppid;
 
     @Column(name = "show_banner", nullable = false)
-    private boolean showBanner = Appearance.DEFAULT.showBanner();
+    private boolean showBanner;
 
     @Column(name = "profile_accent", nullable = false)
-    private String profileAccent = ProfileStyle.DEFAULT.accent();
+    private String profileAccent;
 
     @Column(name = "profile_corners", nullable = false)
-    private String profileCorners = ProfileStyle.DEFAULT.corners();
+    private String profileCorners;
 
     @Column(name = "profile_banner_appid")
     private Long profileBannerAppid;
@@ -76,5 +71,5 @@ public class UserSettingsEntity {
 
     @JdbcTypeCode(SqlTypes.ARRAY)
     @Column(name = "profile_tiles", nullable = false)
-    private List<String> profileTiles = Tile.storedAll(UserSettings.DEFAULT_PROFILE_TILES);
+    private List<String> profileTiles;
 }

src/main/java/auth_service/modules/user/persistence/mapper/EntityMapper.java

@@ -9,8 +9,6 @@ import auth_service.modules.user.persistence.entities.UserEntity;
 import auth_service.modules.user.persistence.entities.UserSettingsEntity;
 import auth_service.shared.security.Role;
 
-import java.util.List;
-
 public abstract class EntityMapper {
 
     private EntityMapper() {
@@ -21,33 +19,23 @@ public abstract class EntityMapper {
             return null;
         }
 
-        // 1. Map the settings if they exist, otherwise use defaults
+        UserSettingsEntity settings = entity.getSettings();
-        UserSettings settingsModel;
+        if (settings == null) {
-        if (entity.getSettings() != null) {
+            throw new IllegalStateException("User " + entity.getId() + " has no settings row");
-            settingsModel = UserSettings.builder()
-                    .language(entity.getSettings().getLanguage())
-                    .theme(entity.getSettings().getTheme())
-                    .publicProfile(entity.getSettings().isPublicProfile())
-                    .appearance(new Appearance(entity.getSettings().getAccent(), entity.getSettings().getCorners(),
-                            entity.getSettings().isWideLayout(), entity.getSettings().getBackgroundAppid(),
-                            entity.getSettings().getBannerAppid(), entity.getSettings().isShowBanner()))
-                    .profileStyle(new ProfileStyle(entity.getSettings().getProfileAccent(),
-                            entity.getSettings().getProfileCorners(), entity.getSettings().getProfileBannerAppid(),
-                            entity.getSettings().getProfileBackgroundAppid()))
-                    .dashboardTiles(entity.getSettings().getDashboardTiles() == null ? null
-                            : entity.getSettings().getDashboardTiles().stream().map(Tile::parse).toList())
-                    .profileTiles(entity.getSettings().getProfileTiles().stream().map(Tile::parse).toList())
-                    .favoritePlatform(entity.getSettings().getFavoritePlatform())
-                    .build();
-        } else {
-            // No settings row. "" means no language chosen, as in a new row; the frontend keeps its own.
-            settingsModel = UserSettings.builder()
-                    .language("")
-                    .theme("system")
-                    .build();
         }
-
+        UserSettings settingsModel = UserSettings.builder()
-        // 2. Map the main user fields and attach the settings
+                .language(settings.getLanguage())
+                .theme(settings.getTheme())
+                .publicProfile(settings.isPublicProfile())
+                .appearance(new Appearance(settings.getAccent(), settings.getCorners(), settings.isWideLayout(),
+                        settings.getBackgroundAppid(), settings.getBannerAppid(), settings.isShowBanner()))
+                .profileStyle(new ProfileStyle(settings.getProfileAccent(), settings.getProfileCorners(),
+                        settings.getProfileBannerAppid(), settings.getProfileBackgroundAppid()))
+                .dashboardTiles(settings.getDashboardTiles() == null ? null
+                        : settings.getDashboardTiles().stream().map(Tile::parse).toList())
+                .profileTiles(settings.getProfileTiles().stream().map(Tile::parse).toList())
+                .favoritePlatform(settings.getFavoritePlatform())
+                .build();
 
         return User.builder()
                 .id(entity.getId())
@@ -62,13 +50,4 @@ public abstract class EntityMapper {
                 .settings(settingsModel)
                 .build();
     }
-
+}
-    public static UserSettingsEntity toPersistence(long userId, UserSettings settings) {
-        UserSettingsEntity entity = new UserSettingsEntity();
-        entity.setUserId(userId);
-        entity.setLanguage(settings.getLanguage());
-        entity.setTheme(settings.getTheme());
-        entity.setPublicProfile(settings.isPublicProfile());
-        return entity;
-    }
-}

src/main/resources/db/migration/V20__Settings_Row_For_Every_User.sql

@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+-- Registration made no settings row, so the code had fallback defaults that disagreed with the column defaults.
+-- Every user gets the row now, with the column defaults ('' = no language chosen, 'light' as decided in item 25).
+INSERT INTO user_settings (user_id)
+SELECT u.id FROM users u WHERE NOT EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM user_settings s WHERE s.user_id = u.id);

src/test/java/auth_service/configuration/security/ExpiredAccessTokenTest.java

@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ class ExpiredAccessTokenTest extends AbstractIntegrationTest {
         jdbc.update("DELETE FROM users WHERE email = ?", EMAIL);
         jdbc.update("INSERT INTO users (email, password, enabled, steam_id) VALUES (?, ?, true, NULL)",
                 EMAIL, passwordEncoder.encode(PASSWORD));
+        addSettingsRows();
     }
 
     private String expiredAccessCookie() throws Exception {

src/test/java/auth_service/configuration/security/SessionFlowTest.java

@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@ class SessionFlowTest extends AbstractIntegrationTest {
         jdbc.update("DELETE FROM users WHERE email = ?", EMAIL);
         jdbc.update("INSERT INTO users (email, password, enabled, steam_id) VALUES (?, ?, true, NULL)",
                 EMAIL, passwordEncoder.encode(PASSWORD));
+        addSettingsRows();
     }
 
     private MockHttpServletResponse login() throws Exception {

src/test/java/auth_service/configuration/security/SteamLinkFlowTest.java

@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@ class SteamLinkFlowTest extends AbstractIntegrationTest {
         jdbc.update("INSERT INTO users (email, password, enabled) VALUES (?, ?, true)", EMAIL, passwordEncoder.encode(PASSWORD));
         // Someone who typed the same ID in before Steam linking existed.
         jdbc.update("INSERT INTO users (email, password, enabled, steam_id) VALUES (?, 'x', true, ?)", TYPIST, STEAM_ID);
+        addSettingsRows();
         when(steamOpenIdService.loginUrl(anyString(), anyString())).thenReturn("https://steamcommunity.com/openid/login?test");
     }
 

src/test/java/auth_service/modules/account/api/DeletedAccountFlowTest.java

@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@ class DeletedAccountFlowTest extends AbstractIntegrationTest {
         deleteAccount(access, PASSWORD).andExpect(status().isNoContent());
         Long newUser = jdbc.queryForObject("INSERT INTO users (email, password, enabled) VALUES (?, 'x', true) RETURNING id",
                 Long.class, newEmail);
+        addSettingsRows();
 
         try {
             assertThat(userService.linkVerifiedSteamId(newUser, steamId)).isEqualTo(SteamLinkOutcome.LINKED);

src/test/java/auth_service/modules/admin/api/AdminFlowTest.java

@@ -48,8 +48,10 @@ class AdminFlowTest extends AbstractIntegrationTest {
 
     private long insertUser(String email, String role) {
         jdbc.update("DELETE FROM users WHERE email = ?", email);
-        return jdbc.queryForObject("INSERT INTO users (email, password, enabled, role, display_name) VALUES (?, ?, true, ?, ?) "
+        Long id = jdbc.queryForObject("INSERT INTO users (email, password, enabled, role, display_name) VALUES (?, ?, true, ?, ?) "
                 + "RETURNING id", Long.class, email, passwordEncoder.encode(PASSWORD), role, email.substring(0, 16));
+        addSettingsRows();
+        return id;
     }
 
     @BeforeEach

src/test/java/auth_service/modules/hint/api/HintFlowTest.java

@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ class HintFlowTest extends AbstractIntegrationTest {
         jdbc.update("DELETE FROM users WHERE email = ?", email);
         jdbc.update("INSERT INTO users (email, password, enabled, role, display_name) VALUES (?, ?, true, ?, ?)",
                 email, passwordEncoder.encode(PASSWORD), role, email.substring(0, 16));
+        addSettingsRows();
     }
 
     @BeforeEach

src/test/java/auth_service/modules/registration/persistence/RegisteredUserRepositoryTest.java

@@ -56,6 +56,16 @@ class RegisteredUserRepositoryTest extends AbstractPersistenceTest {
         assertEquals("USER", saved.get("role"));
     }
 
+    @Test
+    void save_CreatesTheSettingsRowWithTheColumnDefaults() {
+        long id = registeredUserRepository.save(registration("row@example.com", null));
+
+        Map<String, Object> settings = jdbc.queryForMap("SELECT * FROM user_settings WHERE user_id = ?", id);
+        assertEquals("", settings.get("language"));
+        assertEquals("light", settings.get("theme"));
+        assertEquals(false, settings.get("public_profile"));
+    }
+
     // V19: a second account under the same email in other case is refused by the database too.
     @Test
     void emailsThatDifferOnlyInCase_AreOneAccount() {

src/test/java/auth_service/modules/user/persistence/UserRepositoryTest.java

@@ -43,9 +43,26 @@ class UserRepositoryTest extends AbstractPersistenceTest {
                 .flatMap(userRepository::findById);
     }
 
+    // Registration inserts the settings row in production; the entity alone does not.
+    private UserEntity persisted(UserEntity user) {
+        entityManager.persist(user);
+        jdbc.update("INSERT INTO user_settings (user_id) VALUES (?)", user.getId());
+        entityManager.clear();
+        return user;
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    void findById_SettingsRowMissing_Throws() {
+        UserEntity user = entityManager.persistFlushFind(UserEntity.builder().email("norow@example.com")
+                .password("password").enabled(true).registrationDate(LocalDateTime.now()).build());
+        entityManager.clear();
+
+        assertThrows(IllegalStateException.class, () -> userRepository.findById(user.getId()));
+    }
+
     @Test
     void updateSettings_KeepsADeleteThatCommittedAfterTheLoad() {
-        var user = entityManager.persistFlushFind(UserEntity.builder().email("race@example.com").password("password")
+        var user = persisted(UserEntity.builder().email("race@example.com").password("password")
                 .enabled(true).registrationDate(LocalDateTime.now()).build());
         // The delete request commits after the settings request loaded the user.
         jdbc.update("UPDATE users SET deleted_at = NOW() WHERE id = ?", user.getId());
@@ -67,8 +84,7 @@ class UserRepositoryTest extends AbstractPersistenceTest {
                 .steamId(123456L)
                 .registrationDate(LocalDateTime.now())
                 .build();
-        entityManager.persist(userEntity);
+        persisted(userEntity);
-        entityManager.flush();
 
         // Act
         var result = findByEmail(email);
@@ -89,8 +105,7 @@ class UserRepositoryTest extends AbstractPersistenceTest {
                 .steamId(123456L)
                 .registrationDate(LocalDateTime.now())
                 .build();
-        userEntity = entityManager.persist(userEntity);
+        userEntity = persisted(userEntity);
-        entityManager.flush();
 
         var settings = UserSettings.builder()
                 .language("de")
@@ -112,13 +127,12 @@ class UserRepositoryTest extends AbstractPersistenceTest {
     void findByEmail_NoSteamId() {
         // Arrange
         var email = "nosteam@example.com";
-        entityManager.persist(UserEntity.builder()
+        persisted(UserEntity.builder()
                 .email(email)
                 .password("password")
                 .enabled(true)
                 .registrationDate(LocalDateTime.now())
                 .build());
-        entityManager.flush();
 
         // Act
         var result = findByEmail(email);
@@ -129,7 +143,7 @@ class UserRepositoryTest extends AbstractPersistenceTest {
     }
 
     private UserEntity user(String email, Long steamId, boolean verified) {
-        UserEntity user = entityManager.persist(UserEntity.builder()
+        UserEntity user = persisted(UserEntity.builder()
                 .email(email)
                 .password("password")
                 .enabled(true)
@@ -137,7 +151,6 @@ class UserRepositoryTest extends AbstractPersistenceTest {
                 .steamIdVerified(verified)
                 .registrationDate(LocalDateTime.now())
                 .build());
-        entityManager.flush();
         return user;
     }
 
@@ -173,7 +186,7 @@ class UserRepositoryTest extends AbstractPersistenceTest {
 
     @Test
     void setVerifiedSteamId_DeletedUser_IsRefused() {
-        var deleted = entityManager.persistFlushFind(UserEntity.builder().email("deleted@example.com").password("password")
+        var deleted = persisted(UserEntity.builder().email("deleted@example.com").password("password")
                 .enabled(true).registrationDate(LocalDateTime.now()).build());
         jdbc.update("UPDATE users SET deleted_at = NOW() WHERE id = ?", deleted.getId());
 
@@ -196,19 +209,18 @@ class UserRepositoryTest extends AbstractPersistenceTest {
     @Test
     void displayName_StoredAndCheckedCaseInsensitive() {
         // Arrange
-        var owner = entityManager.persist(UserEntity.builder()
+        var owner = persisted(UserEntity.builder()
                 .email("owner2@example.com")
                 .password("password")
                 .enabled(true)
                 .registrationDate(LocalDateTime.now())
                 .build());
-        var other = entityManager.persist(UserEntity.builder()
+        var other = persisted(UserEntity.builder()
                 .email("other2@example.com")
                 .password("password")
                 .enabled(true)
                 .registrationDate(LocalDateTime.now())
                 .build());
-        entityManager.flush();
         var settings = UserSettings.builder().language("en").theme("light").build();
 
         // Act
@@ -224,13 +236,12 @@ class UserRepositoryTest extends AbstractPersistenceTest {
 
     @Test
     void updateSettings_StoresPublicProfile_AndFindByEmailReadsIt() {
-        var userEntity = entityManager.persist(UserEntity.builder()
+        var userEntity = persisted(UserEntity.builder()
                 .email("public@example.com")
                 .password("password")
                 .enabled(true)
                 .registrationDate(LocalDateTime.now())
                 .build());
-        entityManager.flush();
 
         userRepository.updateSettings(userEntity.getId(), "Lobo",
                 UserSettings.builder().language("de").theme("dark").publicProfile(true).build());
@@ -240,33 +251,14 @@ class UserRepositoryTest extends AbstractPersistenceTest {
         assertTrue(findByEmail("public@example.com").orElseThrow().getSettings().isPublicProfile());
     }
 
-    @Test
-    void updateAppearance_WithoutSettingsRow_CreatesItAndFindByEmailReadsIt() {
-        var userEntity = entityManager.persist(UserEntity.builder()
-                .email("appearance@example.com")
-                .password("password")
-                .enabled(true)
-                .registrationDate(LocalDateTime.now())
-                .build());
-        entityManager.flush();
-
-        userRepository.updateAppearance(userEntity.getId(), new Appearance("orange", "round", true, 620L, 1086940L, false));
-        entityManager.flush();
-        entityManager.clear();
-
-        var settings = findByEmail("appearance@example.com").orElseThrow().getSettings();
-        assertEquals(new Appearance("orange", "round", true, 620L, 1086940L, false), settings.getAppearance());
-    }
-
     @Test
     void updateSettings_KeepsTheAppearance() {
-        var userEntity = entityManager.persist(UserEntity.builder()
+        var userEntity = persisted(UserEntity.builder()
                 .email("keep@example.com")
                 .password("password")
                 .enabled(true)
                 .registrationDate(LocalDateTime.now())
                 .build());
-        entityManager.flush();
         userRepository.updateAppearance(userEntity.getId(), new Appearance("pink", "sharp", false, 220L, null, true));
         entityManager.flush();
 
@@ -279,29 +271,14 @@ class UserRepositoryTest extends AbstractPersistenceTest {
         assertEquals(new Appearance("pink", "sharp", false, 220L, null, true), settings.getAppearance());
     }
 
-    @Test
-    void findByEmail_WithoutSettingsRow_HasTheDefaultAppearance() {
-        entityManager.persist(UserEntity.builder()
-                .email("defaults@example.com")
-                .password("password")
-                .enabled(true)
-                .registrationDate(LocalDateTime.now())
-                .build());
-        entityManager.flush();
-
-        assertEquals(Appearance.DEFAULT, findByEmail("defaults@example.com").orElseThrow()
-                .getSettings().getAppearance());
-    }
-
     @Test
     void updateProfileStyle_IsReadBackAndStartsWithTheDefaults() {
-        UserEntity userEntity = entityManager.persist(UserEntity.builder()
+        UserEntity userEntity = persisted(UserEntity.builder()
                 .email("style@example.com")
                 .password("password")
                 .enabled(true)
                 .registrationDate(LocalDateTime.now())
                 .build());
-        entityManager.flush();
         assertEquals(ProfileStyle.DEFAULT, findByEmail("style@example.com").orElseThrow()
                 .getSettings().getProfileStyle());
 
@@ -315,13 +292,12 @@ class UserRepositoryTest extends AbstractPersistenceTest {
 
     @Test
     void updateTiles_AreReadBackAndKeptByUpdateSettings() {
-        UserEntity userEntity = entityManager.persist(UserEntity.builder()
+        UserEntity userEntity = persisted(UserEntity.builder()
                 .email("tiles@example.com")
                 .password("password")
                 .enabled(true)
                 .registrationDate(LocalDateTime.now())
                 .build());
-        entityManager.flush();
         UserSettings fresh = findByEmail("tiles@example.com").orElseThrow().getSettings();
         assertNull(fresh.getDashboardTiles());
         assertEquals(UserSettings.DEFAULT_PROFILE_TILES, fresh.getProfileTiles());
@@ -343,7 +319,7 @@ class UserRepositoryTest extends AbstractPersistenceTest {
 
     @Test
     void updateFavoritePlatform_StoresAndClears() {
-        UserEntity userEntity = entityManager.persist(UserEntity.builder()
+        UserEntity userEntity = persisted(UserEntity.builder()
                 .email("favorite@example.com")
                 .password("password")
                 .enabled(true)
@@ -365,7 +341,7 @@ class UserRepositoryTest extends AbstractPersistenceTest {
 
     @Test
     void updateDashboardTiles_NullResetsToTheDefault() {
-        UserEntity userEntity = entityManager.persist(UserEntity.builder()
+        UserEntity userEntity = persisted(UserEntity.builder()
                 .email("reset@example.com")
                 .password("password")
                 .enabled(true)

src/test/java/auth_service/modules/user/persistence/mapper/EntityMapperTest.java

@@ -1,16 +0,0 @@
-package auth_service.modules.user.persistence.mapper;
-
-import auth_service.modules.user.persistence.entities.UserEntity;
-import org.junit.jupiter.api.Test;
-
-import static org.assertj.core.api.Assertions.assertThat;
-
-class EntityMapperTest {
-
-    @Test
-    void mapToModel_UserWithoutSettingsRow_HasNoLanguage() {
-        UserEntity entity = UserEntity.builder().id(1L).email("a@b.c").role("USER").build();
-
-        assertThat(EntityMapper.mapToModel(entity).getSettings().getLanguage()).isEmpty();
-    }
-}

src/test/java/auth_service/shared/test/AbstractIntegrationTest.java

@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
 package auth_service.shared.test;
 
 import org.junit.jupiter.api.Tag;
+import org.springframework.beans.factory.annotation.Autowired;
 import org.springframework.boot.test.context.SpringBootTest;
+import org.springframework.jdbc.core.JdbcTemplate;
 import org.springframework.test.context.ActiveProfiles;
 import org.springframework.boot.testcontainers.service.connection.ServiceConnection;
 import org.springframework.test.context.DynamicPropertyRegistry;
@@ -33,6 +35,17 @@ public abstract class AbstractIntegrationTest {
         postgres.start();
     }
 
+    @Autowired
+    private JdbcTemplate baseJdbc;
+
+    /**
+     * For users a test inserts by SQL. Registration inserts the row itself.
+     */
+    protected void addSettingsRows() {
+        baseJdbc.update("INSERT INTO user_settings (user_id) SELECT u.id FROM users u "
+                + "WHERE NOT EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM user_settings s WHERE s.user_id = u.id)");
+    }
+
     // No key is committed: a fresh one per JVM.
     private static final KeyPair KEYS = generateKeys();