# Repository Guidelines

## Project Scope
- Mission: Build a single lifelong Nova with identity anchored in weights, safe on‑the‑fly learning, and reliable tool use.
- Core principles: Identity in‑weight (Soul), safe plasticity via Mask (≤5%), ephemeral Fast‑Weights, grammar‑constrained tool calls, auditable evolution with clear rollback.
- Blueprints: Soul+Mask+Fast‑Weights, Neuro‑Cellular Autonomy; update protocols with EMA/EWC/guards; eval gates and metrics for promotion.

## Project Structure & Modules
- Numbered folders (`00_`–`14_`) are the source of truth.
- Key paths: `00_overview/`, `01_goals_scope/`, `02_architecture/`, `04_decisions/`, `05_experiments/`, `06_metrics/`, `08_evals/`, `10_protocols/`, `11_data/`, `13_receipts/`; entry index: `index.md`.

## Build, Test, and Development
- View locally/GitHub; lint: `markdownlint '**/*.md'` or `prettier -w '**/*.md'`.
- JSON check: `jq . 13_receipts/RECEIPT_TEMPLATE.json`; schema: `npx ajv -s 13_receipts/SCHEMA.json -d 13_receipts/*.json`.

## Coding Style & Naming
- Markdown: wrap ~100 cols, 2‑space indent, `-` lists.
- File names: ADRs `ADR-####-kebab.md`; logs `YYYY-MM-DDThh:mm:ssZ_LOG.md`; keep `00_`…`14_` prefixes.

## Testing & Tracking
- Experiments must be reproducible; record IO and deltas in `13_receipts/`.
- Eval gates live in `08_evals/`; metrics in `06_metrics/`. Include expected results.

## Branching & Commits
- Branches: `main` (stable), `develop` (integration), `feature/*`, `release/*`, `hotfix/*`.
- Commit cadence: small, frequent commits with detailed bodies; link ADRs/issues and affected paths. Use Conventional Commits (`feat|fix|docs|chore|refactor|test`).
- PRs: target `develop`; include summary, rationale, receipts/indices updates, and screenshots/snippets for major changes.

## Contributor Workflow
- Design changes via `04_decisions/ADR-TEMPLATE.md` (one ADR per decision).
- Add experiments with `05_experiments/EXPERIMENT_TEMPLATE.md`; update receipts and indices.
- Append to `03_research_logs/` only; never rewrite history. Update `index.md`/READMEs when adding artifacts.

## Documentation & Continuous Tracking
- Every meaningful change updates related docs and indices the same day.
- Experiments/turns produce receipts in `13_receipts/` (validate against schema when applicable).
- Research logs are append‑only and timestamped per session.
- PRs must call out impacted eval gates (`08_evals/`) and metrics (`06_metrics/`).