Claude Code — Session Instructions

This file is your starting point for every Claude Code session on this project. Paste it (or reference it) at the start of each session to give Claude Code full context.

Project Summary

We are building a local-first restaurant POS system. Full architecture and specs live in the /pos-build-guide/ folder. Always read the relevant guide file before starting work on any component.

Guide Files

00_PROJECT_OVERVIEW.md — Architecture, stack, build order
01_LOCAL_BACKEND.md — FastAPI backend (build this first)
02_WAITER_PWA.md — Waiter-facing PWA (build second)
03_MANAGER_DASHBOARD.md — Manager web app (build third)
04_CLOUD_BACKEND.md — Cloud licensing backend (build fourth)
05_SYSADMIN_PANEL.md — Sysadmin cloud panel (build last)

Git Workflow

The project uses git. Commit after every meaningful milestone (e.g. after scaffolding a phase, after a feature is working, after a bug fix).
Always commit before starting a new phase or major refactor.
Keep commit messages short and descriptive. No co-author lines needed.
Never commit .env, *.db, or license_state.json — they are in .gitignore.

Ground Rules for Claude Code

Read the guide before writing code. Each guide has schema, endpoints, and UX specs. Follow them.
Local backend first. Nothing else can be built or tested without it.
Ask before deviating. If something in the spec seems wrong or ambiguous, ask — don't invent.
Keep business logic in the backend. Frontends are display + interaction only.
Never store sensitive data in frontend localStorage beyond token + username.
All prices are stored and calculated on the backend. Frontend only displays them.
The unit_price on order_items is a snapshot — it must be copied from the product price at the time of ordering, not referenced dynamically.
Printer failures must never block order saves. Log and continue.

Current Build Phase

Update this line as you progress: Phase 1: Local Backend — [x] Complete. Smoke tested: health, auth, products, tables, orders, printer routing all working. Phase 2: Waiter PWA — [ ] Not Started Phase 3: Manager Dashboard — [ ] Not Started Phase 4: Cloud Backend — [ ] Not Started Phase 5: Sysadmin Panel — [ ] Not Started

Environment Variables

Local Backend (.env)

SITE_ID=
CLOUD_URL=https://your-vps.com
SECRET_KEY=generate-a-long-random-string
LICENSE_GRACE_HOURS=24
DATABASE_URL=sqlite:///./pos.db

Waiter PWA (.env)

VITE_API_URL=http://192.168.1.10:8000

Manager Dashboard (.env)

VITE_API_URL=http://192.168.1.10:8000

Cloud Backend (.env)

SECRET_KEY=different-long-random-string
DATABASE_URL=postgresql://...  (or sqlite for dev)

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