# STARTFRESH.md

## General Approach to New Projects

This document serves as a template and set of guiding principles for starting any new project, capturing the preferred methodology and structural rules.

### 1. Design & Architecture Philosophy
- **Self-Sufficiency:** Minimize external dependencies. Prefer tech stacks that offer local control and self-hosting capabilities (e.g., Python backend, PostgreSQL database).
- **Tidy First, Fancy Later:** Focus initially on clean structures, functional layouts, and standard technologies. Complex visuals and design polish should only be added once the foundational logic is proven.

### 2. Repository Rules
- **Containment:** No documents outside the folder. All project-related documents, notes, and files must reside strictly within the repository.
- **Conciseness:** Keep documentation brief, clear, and to the point.
- **Single Source of Truth:** Use single, dedicated documents for specific types of information to avoid fragmentation.

### 3. Required Foundational Documents
Every new project should initialize with the following document structure:

*   **`RULES.md`**: To declare foundational repository and workflow rules.
*   **`ARCHITECTURE.md`**: To collect all architectural decisions, technology stack choices, and integration strategies.
*   **`PLAN.md`**: To track ongoing steps, categorized by short, medium, and long-term goals. *Must be revised after each PR.*
*   **`COMPONENTS.md`**: To track specific components used in the project. *Rule: Only add components to this document once they have been actively included and utilized in the codebase.*