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+# Standard DevOps Framework
+
+Standard is a Nix Flakes-based DevOps framework that organizes your development lifecycle into Cells (folders) and Cell Blocks (Nix files). It provides a CLI/TUI for discovering and running targets across the entire SDLC.
+
+**ALWAYS follow these instructions first and fallback to search or exploration commands only when you encounter unexpected information that does not match the information here.**
+
+## Working Effectively
+
+### Prerequisites and Installation
+- **CRITICAL**: Install Nix package manager first:
+  ```bash
+  curl -L https://nixos.org/nix/install | sh
+  ```
+  or use the Determinate Systems installer:
+  ```bash
+  curl --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 -sSf -L https://install.determinate.systems/nix | sh -s -- install
+  ```
+- Install direnv for automatic environment loading:
+  ```bash
+  # See https://direnv.net/docs/installation.html for your platform
+  curl -sfL https://direnv.net/install.sh | bash
+  ```
+- Configure your shell for direnv (add to `.bashrc`/`.zshrc`):
+  ```bash
+  eval "$(direnv hook bash)"  # or zsh
+  ```
+
+### Environment Setup and Entry
+- **ALWAYS** start by entering the development environment:
+  ```bash
+  direnv allow
+  ```
+  **First time takes 5-15 minutes** - NEVER CANCEL. This downloads and builds the development dependencies.
+- Alternative environment entry (if direnv fails):
+  ```bash
+  direnv allow || nix develop -c "$SHELL"
+  ```
+  **Takes 5-15 minutes** - NEVER CANCEL.
+- **After making changes to Nix files**, reload the environment:
+  ```bash
+  direnv reload
+  ```
+- **Verify environment loaded correctly**:
+  ```bash
+  std --help  # Should show Standard CLI help
+  ```
+
+### Build Commands
+- **Build the entire project** - NEVER CANCEL: Build takes 10-30 minutes. Set timeout to 45+ minutes:
+  ```bash
+  nix build
+  ```
+- **Build and check all flake outputs** (includes tests):
+  ```bash
+  nix flake check
+  ```
+  **Takes 15-45 minutes** - NEVER CANCEL. Set timeout to 60+ minutes.
+- **Build specific targets** using the Standard CLI:
+  ```bash
+  std  # Launch the TUI to see available targets
+  std //local/shells:default  # Build specific target
+  ```
+- **Verify build without execution**:
+  ```bash
+  nix build --dry-run
+  ```
+
+### Testing
+- **Run snapshot tests** - NEVER CANCEL: Tests take 5-15 minutes. Set timeout to 30+ minutes:
+  ```bash
+  namaka check
+  # or via Standard CLI:
+  std //tests/checks/snapshots:eval
+  ```
+- **Run all CI checks** as they would run in GitHub Actions:
+  ```bash
+  nix flake check
+  ```
+  **Takes 15-45 minutes** - NEVER CANCEL. Set timeout to 60+ minutes.
+
+### Formatting and Linting
+- **ALWAYS run formatting before committing** (CI will fail otherwise):
+  ```bash
+  treefmt
+  ```
+- **Format only changed files**:
+  ```bash
+  treefmt $(git diff --name-only --cached)
+  ```
+- **License compliance check** (required for CI):
+  ```bash
+  reuse lint
+  ```
+
+## Validation
+
+### Manual Validation Requirements
+**ALWAYS run these validation steps after making changes:**
+
+1. **Environment validation**: Verify the development environment loads correctly:
+   ```bash
+   direnv reload && echo "Environment loaded successfully"
+   ```
+
+2. **Build validation**: Ensure the project builds successfully:
+   ```bash
+   nix build && echo "Build completed successfully"
+   ```
+
+3. **Standard CLI validation**: Test the CLI functionality:
+   ```bash
+   std --help  # Should show help without errors
+   std  # Should launch TUI - exit with 'q'
+   ```
+
+4. **Test validation**: Run the test suite:
+   ```bash
+   namaka check && echo "All tests passed"
+   ```
+
+5. **Documentation validation**: If docs were modified, build them:
+   ```bash
+   mdbook build  # Builds to docs/book/
+   ```
+   **Takes 2-5 minutes** - do not cancel.
+
+### Critical Validation Scenarios
+After making code changes, ALWAYS test these complete workflows:
+
+1. **Fresh environment setup** (simulates new contributor):
+   ```bash
+   direnv disallow && direnv allow
+   # Should complete without errors in 5-15 minutes
+   ```
+
+2. **Full development cycle**:
+   ```bash
+   # Make a trivial change, then:
+   treefmt                    # Format code
+   nix build                  # Build project  
+   namaka check               # Run tests
+   reuse lint                 # Check licenses
+   ```
+
+3. **Template functionality** (if templates were modified):
+   ```bash
+   nix flake init -t .#minimal /tmp/test-project
+   cd /tmp/test-project && direnv allow
+   # Should work without errors - takes 5-15 minutes first time
+   ```
+
+4. **Subflake lock file updates** (for maintainers):
+   ```bash
+   # When updating Standard framework itself:
+   ./.github/workflows/update-subflake.sh
+   # This updates src/local/flake.lock and src/tests/flake.lock
+   ```
+
+## Common Tasks
+
+### Repository Structure
+```
+.
+├── .envrc                  # direnv configuration - auto-loads dev environment
+├── flake.nix              # Main Nix flake definition - project entry point  
+├── dogfood.nix            # Project self-configuration - how std uses itself
+├── src/
+│   ├── local/             # Local development environment
+│   │   ├── shells.nix     # Development shells - FREQUENTLY MODIFIED
+│   │   ├── configs.nix    # Tool configurations (treefmt, nixago, etc.)
+│   │   └── tasks.nix      # Automation tasks
+│   ├── std/               # Standard framework core - MAIN CODEBASE
+│   │   ├── fwlib/         # Framework library - core abstractions
+│   │   │   ├── actions/   # Build/run actions for targets
+│   │   │   └── blockTypes/ # Cell Block type definitions
+│   │   ├── cli.nix        # CLI/TUI implementation
+│   │   └── templates/     # Project templates
+│   └── tests/             # Test suites - snapshot tests
+├── docs/                  # Documentation source (mdbook)
+│   ├── explain/           # Why Nix? Why Standard? 
+│   ├── tutorials/         # Step-by-step guides
+│   ├── guides/            # How-to guides
+│   └── reference/         # API documentation
+└── .github/workflows/     # CI/CD pipelines - uses std-action
+```
+
+### Frequently Modified Files
+- `src/local/shells.nix` - Add tools, modify dev environment
+- `src/local/configs.nix` - Configure treefmt, linting, nixago tools
+- `src/std/fwlib/blockTypes/` - Extend Standard with new block types
+- `src/std/templates/` - Add/modify project templates  
+- `docs/` - Documentation updates
+- `flake.nix` - Project inputs and core configuration
+
+### Standard Framework Concepts
+- **Cells**: Folders that group related functionality (e.g., `local`, `std`, `tests`)
+- **Cell Blocks**: Nix files that define outputs (e.g., `shells.nix`, `packages.nix`)
+- **Targets**: Individual functions/packages within Cell Blocks
+- **Actions**: Operations you can perform on targets (build, run, etc.)
+
+### Key Commands Reference
+```bash
+# Environment
+direnv allow              # Enter dev environment (5-15 min first time)
+direnv reload            # Reload after changes
+nix develop             # Alternative environment entry
+
+# Building  
+nix build               # Build everything (10-30 min, NEVER CANCEL)
+std                     # Launch TUI to see targets
+std //local/shells:default  # Build specific target
+
+# Testing
+namaka check            # Run snapshot tests (5-15 min, NEVER CANCEL)
+nix flake check         # Run all checks (15-45 min, NEVER CANCEL)
+
+# Formatting & Linting
+treefmt                 # Format all files (REQUIRED before commit)
+reuse lint              # Check license compliance
+
+# Documentation
+mdbook build            # Build documentation (2-5 min)
+mdbook serve            # Serve docs locally at localhost:3000
+```
+
+### File Watching and Live Reload
+- The `.envrc` file automatically watches relevant Nix files for changes
+- When you modify shell configurations, direnv will prompt to reload
+- Documentation can be live-reloaded: `mdbook serve`
+
+### Troubleshooting
+- **"command not found: std"**: Run `direnv reload` or `nix develop -c "$SHELL"`
+- **Build failures**: Check `nix log` output for specific errors; try `nix build --show-trace` for more details
+- **Slow builds**: This is normal for Nix - do not cancel, builds are cached after first success
+- **direnv not working**: Ensure direnv is installed and shell hook is configured
+- **Network errors during setup**: Some dependencies require internet access; check firewall/proxy settings
+- **Flake lock issues**: In subflakes, run `./.github/workflows/update-subflake.sh` to update lock files
+- **"error: getting status of '/nix/store/...'**: Usually means incomplete download; try `nix build` again
+- **Out of disk space**: Nix store can get large; run `nix-collect-garbage` to clean up
+
+### Performance Notes
+- **First-time setup**: Expect 5-15 minutes for initial environment build
+- **Subsequent environment loads**: Usually under 30 seconds due to Nix caching
+- **Full builds**: 10-30 minutes depending on what changed
+- **Tests**: 5-15 minutes for complete test suite
+- **CI builds**: 15-45 minutes for full CI pipeline
+
+**CRITICAL TIMING REMINDERS:**
+- **NEVER CANCEL** any nix build, test, or environment setup commands
+- Always set timeouts to at least 2x the expected time
+- Use `timeout` values of 60+ minutes for builds and 30+ minutes for tests
+- If a command appears stuck, wait at least 15 minutes before investigating
+
+### Integration with CI
+- All formatting and linting must pass for CI to succeed
+- CI uses the same Standard framework via `divnix/std-action`
+- Local validation with `nix flake check` mirrors CI exactly
+- Always run `treefmt` and `reuse lint` before pushing
+- **CI timing expectations**: Full CI takes 15-45 minutes across multiple platforms (Linux/macOS)
+
+### Common Development Patterns
+
+#### Adding a new tool to the development environment:
+1. Edit `src/local/shells.nix` 
+2. Add package to `commands` list with appropriate category
+3. Run `direnv reload` to update environment
+4. Test with the new tool available
+
+#### Modifying Standard framework behavior:
+1. Core logic in `src/std/fwlib/` 
+2. Block types in `src/std/fwlib/blockTypes/`
+3. Actions in `src/std/fwlib/actions/`
+4. Always run full test suite after changes
+
+#### Working with documentation:
+1. Source in `docs/` using mdbook format
+2. Live preview: `mdbook serve` at localhost:3000
+3. Build: `mdbook build` outputs to `docs/book/`
+4. Documentation includes auto-generated API docs via paisano-preprocessor
+
+#### Template development:
+1. Templates in `src/std/templates/`
+2. Test with: `nix flake init -t .#<template-name> /tmp/test`
+3. Verify template works: `cd /tmp/test && direnv allow`
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