# Best Practices Index

Generalised best practices extracted from real project work via the `/distill-best-practices` skill. Each topic file is self-contained — read only the files relevant to the current project.

## Topics

- [Validation & Deployment](validation.md) — Validate locally, deploy once; full-chain testing; pre-flight checks
- [Security Architecture](security-architecture.md) — Server boundary rule: no credential crosses to the client; proxy + identity mapping pattern; defense in depth; anti-patterns
- [Secrets Management](secrets-management.md) — SOPS + age, credential handling, file naming, encryption gotchas
- [Git & Source Control](git-source-control.md) — Commit practices, GitOps workflows, remote conventions
- [Kubernetes Patterns](kubernetes.md) — Volume mounts, deployment strategies, naming, bootstrap ordering
- [Helm Charts](helm.md) — Schema validation, version verification, values structure
- [Ansible](ansible.md) — Inventory, templates, idempotency, credential safety
- [Scripting](scripting.md) — Shell conventions, verification scripts, idempotency, colour output
- [Documentation Standards](documentation.md) — CLAUDE.md, MEMORY.md, FUTURE.md, README.md structure and tiered memory
- [Milestones & Reflections](milestones.md) — Milestone workflow, verification, reflection process
- [Debugging Methodology](debugging.md) — Systematic diagnosis, full-chain testing, common pitfalls
- [Claude Code Skills](skills-development.md) — Skill authoring, context injection, tool restrictions
- [Linting & Formatting](linting.md) — Tool choices per language, PostToolUse hook, pre-commit integration, formatter contract
- [Spec-Driven Development](spec-driven-development.md) — Spec structure, requirement numbering, test-first workflow, context tiers, anti-patterns
- [Test-Driven Development](test-driven-development.md) — Edge case discovery, property-based testing, mutation testing, AI agent testing patterns, test architecture
- [Networking & Infrastructure](networking.md) — nftables safety, systemd socket activation, Docker forwarding, TLS SNI vs Host header, wildcard certs
- [Docker UID Matching](docker-uid-matching.md) — UID wrapper entrypoint for mounted volumes, gosu pattern, when to use vs K8s securityContext
- [Database Selection](database-selection.md) — SQLite is not a production database; always use PostgreSQL for services with FQDNs, multiple consumers, or concurrent access
- [Docker](docker.md) — gosu PID 1, GIT_SSH_COMMAND scope, slim image health checks, buildx local images, default users, TTY flags, UID resolution
- [Octopus Process Templates](octopus-process-templates.md) — OCL syntax, step template references, channel scoping, parameters, versioning, Platform Hub patterns