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+# Phase 1: Foundation - Context
+
+**Gathered:** 2026-02-04
+**Status:** Ready for planning
+
+
+## Phase Boundary
+
+Validate the Scala/ZIO stack end-to-end with working database and deployment infrastructure. This includes Mill build setup, ZIO HTTP server, PostgreSQL integration via Quill, database migrations, repository pattern, and Pulumi deployment configuration.
+
+
+
+
+## Implementation Decisions
+
+### Database Conventions
+
+**Migrations:**
+- Timestamped migration files (20260204_create_users.scala)
+- Migrations require both up() and down() methods (rollbacks mandatory)
+- Migration history tracked in `summer_migrations` database table
+- Migrations run manually via CLI command, not automatically on startup
+- Plugin uninstall prompts user whether to keep or drop data
+
+**Naming:**
+- snake_case for all table and column names (PostgreSQL convention)
+- Core tables prefixed with `summer_` (summer_users, summer_pages)
+- Plugin tables prefixed with `vendor_plugin_` (golem15_queststream_quests)
+- Single shared schema (no separate PostgreSQL schemas per plugin)
+
+**Standard Columns:**
+- Scaffolded models include id, created_at, updated_at by default (Winter/October convention)
+- These can be removed if not needed
+- Soft deletes opt-in per model (add SoftDelete trait when needed)
+
+### Repository Design
+
+- Trait + Live implementation pattern (trait UserRepository, class UserRepositoryLive)
+- Typed error ADT (sealed trait with NotFound, Conflict, ValidationError, etc.)
+
+### Build & Run Experience
+
+**Commands:**
+- `mill run` - Simple start
+- `mill dev` - Watch mode with file watching and auto-reload
+- `summer init` - Interactive project initialization
+- `summer check` - Production config validation (DB connection, env vars)
+- Full DB command suite: migrate, rollback, reset, seed, status, create-migration
+- Scala seed classes for populating test data
+
+**Server:**
+- Default port 8080
+- Hot-reload of Scala code in development
+- Global `--debug` flag for verbose output across all commands
+
+**Logging:**
+- Colorized console output in development
+- SQL query logging hidden by default, enabled via flag
+
+**CLI Style:**
+- Friendly output with progress indicators, success/error messages
+- ASCII art SummerCMS banner with sun
+
+**Configuration:**
+- HOCON files (application.conf) with environment overrides
+- Environment variables override HOCON values (Typesafe Config pattern)
+- PostgreSQL only (no SQLite option)
+
+**Build Artifacts:**
+- Fat JAR by default
+- GraalVM native image as optional build target
+
+### Deployment Setup
+
+**Cloud Providers:**
+- Multi-provider abstraction (AWS, GCP, Hetzner)
+- Dockerfile included in project (users build their own images)
+
+**Secrets:**
+- Pulumi encrypted secrets for DB passwords, API keys
+
+**Database Provisioning:**
+- Configurable: can provision new PostgreSQL or connect to existing
+
+**SSL/TLS:**
+- Let's Encrypt automatic certificate provisioning
+
+**CDN:**
+- Optional add-on (basic deployment works without)
+
+### Claude's Discretion
+
+- Foreign key constraint enforcement strategy
+- ZIO effect return type patterns for repositories
+- Transaction handling approach (explicit wrapper vs service layer)
+- Health check endpoint design (/health vs /health + /ready)
+- Pulumi stack organization (per-environment vs single stack)
+- Deployment documentation depth for Phase 1
+
+
+
+
+## Specific Ideas
+
+- Migration pattern should match Winter/October: scaffold includes id + timestamps by default, removable if not needed
+- CLI should have ASCII art sun banner for SummerCMS identity
+
+
+
+
+## Deferred Ideas
+
+None — discussion stayed within phase scope
+
+
+
+---
+
+*Phase: 01-foundation*
+*Context gathered: 2026-02-04*