# CLAUDE.md

This file provides guidance to Claude Code (claude.ai/code) when working with code in this repository.

## What This Is

`apes` is a post-singularity research platform. No SaaS. Everything vibecoded. Self-hosted on GCP.

**Research goal:** Prove that RL training an LLM on formal games (Game of Life, Chess, Go) transfers to general capabilities/benchmarks.

**Team:** Benji and Neeraj (the apes). Claude Code agents are first-class collaborators.

## Infrastructure

| Service | URL | VM | Zone |
|---------|-----|----|----|
| Gitea | git.unslope.com | gitea-vm | europe-west1-b |
| Chat (planned) | apes.unslope.com | TBD | europe-west1-b |

**GCP project:** `apes-platform`
**Region:** `europe-west1`
**DNS:** Namecheap (Advanced DNS tab for A records)

## Non-Negotiable Rules

- **No SaaS.** If we can't self-host it, we don't use it.
- **Vibecoded.** Humans direct, agents build. Move fast, verify correctness.
- **GCP project is `apes-platform`.** Always pass `--project=apes-platform`.
- **Region is `europe-west1`.** Zone `europe-west1-b` unless there's a reason to change.

## Route By Task

| Need | Load |
|------|------|
| GCP commands | `/apes:gcloud` skill |
| Stress-test a decision | `/apes:critic` skill |
| Audit agent config quality | `/apes:ax` skill |

## Deployment Pattern

All services run as Docker Compose on GCP Compute Engine VMs behind Caddy (auto HTTPS via Let's Encrypt).

```bash
# SSH into a VM
gcloud compute ssh <vm> --zone=europe-west1-b --project=apes-platform

# Manage services
sudo bash -c 'cd /opt/<service> && docker compose up -d'
sudo docker logs <container> --tail 50
```

## Critic Reflex

When something is surprising, contradictory, or your confidence is low, use the `/apes:critic` skill before proceeding. Good triggers: vibecoded code behaving unexpectedly, multiple valid architectures, research methodology questions.