itelescope/docs/project-setup.md
Laurence 3fad877dee Bootstrap: Default Workflow scaffold
Repo created for a reference/review of the iTelescope.net remote telescope
network. This commit copies the Default Workflow in (CLAUDE.md and docs/ from
the Default-Workflow repo), adds a .gitignore (secrets and scratch), and fills
in state/PROJECT.md with the objective: review every telescope on the network
and provide a choosing guide, using only public sources (support article and
the maintained Google Sheet; the go.itelescope.net launchpad is login-only).
2026-07-17 14:20:36 +01:00

2.1 KiB

Project setup

How to start a new project on the Default Workflow. Do this once, at the beginning of a project, before any feature work.

1. Create the repository

  • Create an empty repo on the forge (git.discworld.casa or wherever the project lives).
  • Clone it, or git init locally and add the remote.
  • The trunk branch is main unless the forge defaults to master; either is fine, be consistent and refer to it as "the trunk" in docs.

2. Copy the workflow files in

From this Default-Workflow repo, copy into the new project root:

  • CLAUDE.md - so every session loads the workflow automatically.
  • docs/ - the detailed workflow docs (or link to them if you prefer one source of truth; copying keeps the project self contained and offline readable).
  • templates/* into state/ (see next step).

3. Create the state directory

The state/ directory is the project's memory. It replaces chat history. Copy the templates and fill in the project specifics:

state/
  PROJECT.md      - objectives, scope, description, who it is for
  ARCHITECTURE.md - how the system is built and why
  DECISIONS.md    - dated log of decisions and their rationale
  TODO.md         - what is done, in progress, and pending
  NOTES.md        - working notes, gotchas, environment quirks

Fill in PROJECT.md first. It anchors every later session. A session that reads only PROJECT.md, TODO.md and DECISIONS.md should understand what the project is and what to do next.

4. Add a .gitignore

Ignore build artefacts, dependencies, secrets and local scratch. Never commit tokens or credentials.

5. First commit

Commit the scaffold to the trunk directly (this is bootstrap, not a feature):

git add .
git commit

Write a full commit message describing what the scaffold contains and why. From here on, all work follows the Workflow: a branch per feature.

Checklist

  • Repo created and remote set
  • CLAUDE.md and docs/ present in project root
  • state/ created from templates, PROJECT.md filled in
  • .gitignore in place, no secrets tracked
  • Scaffold committed to the trunk