# Aether SvelteKit — AI Agent Bootstrap / Quickstart
> **Doc Owner:** Frontend platform maintainers (OSIT) + active coding agents
> **Review Trigger:** Update when module architecture, critical rules, or primary doc paths change.
> **Read this first.** This doc is the fast path to being productive on this project.
> It covers the rules, patterns, and gotchas that matter most.
> Deep dives are in the linked docs at the bottom.

---

## 1. What This Project Is

**Aether** is an event management platform built by One Sky IT (Scott Idem).
This repo is the frontend: **Svelte 5 (runes mode) + SvelteKit v2**.

The backend is a separate repo (`aether_api_fastapi`) — a FastAPI + MariaDB app
running in Docker. The frontend talks to it exclusively via the V3 REST API.

**Key clients:**
- **Conference organizers** — Presentation Management (pres_mgmt), Launcher, Badges
- **Exhibitors** — Leads capture
- **IDAA** — International Doctors in Alcoholics Anonymous (private medical/recovery community)

**Stack at a glance:**

| Layer | Technology |
|---|---|
| Framework | Svelte 5 (runes mode) + SvelteKit v2 |
| Styling | Tailwind CSS v4 + Flowbite (Skeleton UI being phased out) |
| State | `$state`/`$derived` runes + Dexie.js IndexedDB (`liveQuery`) |
| Icons | Lucide (`@lucide/svelte`) |
| Editors | CodeMirror 6 (primary), Edra/TipTap (secondary) |
| Native | Electron app for onsite launcher (`src/lib/electron/electron_relay.ts`) |
| Backend | FastAPI + MariaDB, V3 API (`/v3/crud/`, `/v3/lookup/`) |
| Auth | Custom headers only: `x-aether-api-key` + `x-account-id` — **NOT** Bearer tokens |

---

## 2. Critical Rules — Read Before Touching Any Code

### Privacy (Sev-1 class failures if violated)
- **IDAA content is ALWAYS private.** All routes under `/idaa/` require authentication.
  A previous AI agent accidentally made IDAA bulletin board data publicly accessible.
  This is the single most serious class of mistake on this project. When in doubt — it's private.
- **Journals** are private personal data. Always authenticated.

### File Safety
- **Never use `rm`** to delete files. Move to `~/tmp/agents_trash` instead.
- Never commit `.env` files, API keys, or passwords.

### Before Every Commit
- Run `npx svelte-check` — zero errors, zero warnings. No exceptions.
- Atomic commits: one component or one fix per commit.

### Before Starting Any Task
- Read `documentation/TODO__Agents.md` — it has active tasks, known bugs, and context
  about what was recently changed and why.

### Codebase Exploration — Use graphify First
A persistent knowledge graph lives at `graphify-out/graph.json` (2,234 nodes, 4,651 edges,
217 labeled communities). Query it before grepping or reading source files:

```bash
graphify query "how does badge printing work"   # BFS traversal — broad context
graphify explain "db_save_ae_obj_li__ae_obj"    # plain-language node explanation
graphify path "leads_loc" "ae_comp__leads"      # shortest path between two concepts
```

The graph is rebuilt automatically after every `git commit` (post-commit hook). For a
broad architecture overview without a specific question, read `graphify-out/GRAPH_REPORT.md`.

### V3 API — Never Include the Object ID in PATCH Body Fields
The ID is in the URL. Including it in `data_kv` causes a `400: Unknown column in SET`.
```ts
// WRONG — causes 400 error:
update_ae_obj__event_file({ event_file_id, data_kv: { event_file_id, file_purpose: 'final' } })

// CORRECT:
update_ae_obj__event_file({ event_file_id, data_kv: { file_purpose: 'final' } })
```

---

## 3. Environment & Deploy Cheat Sheet

There are **two separate `.env` systems** — do not confuse them:

| System | File | Controls |
|---|---|---|
| `aether_container_env/.env` | Docker orchestration | Ports, `AE_CFG_ID`, replicas, paths |
| `aether_app_sveltekit/.env.*` | Vite/SvelteKit build | `PUBLIC_*` API vars baked into the JS bundle |

**The 4 commands you run and which env file each uses:**

| Command | Env file read |
|---|---|
| `npm run dev` | `aether_app_sveltekit/.env.local` (Vite dev server, localhost:5173) |
| `npm run build:docker:dev` | `aether_app_sveltekit/.env.dev` (baked into local Docker image) |
| `npm run deploy:remote:test` | `/srv/apps/test_aether_app_sveltekit/.env.test` on Linode |
| `npm run deploy:remote:prod` | `/srv/apps/prod_aether_app_sveltekit/.env.prod` on Linode |

**The `.env.*` files are gitignored** (only `.default` templates are tracked). They must be
placed manually on each server during initial setup. On the workstation you only need
`.env.local` and `.env.dev`. The Linode servers each have exactly one env file for their environment.

**What goes in every SvelteKit env file** (same 8 vars, different values per env):
```env
PUBLIC_AE_API_PROTOCOL=https
PUBLIC_AE_API_SERVER=<api server hostname>
PUBLIC_AE_API_BAK_SERVER=<bak api hostname>
PUBLIC_AE_API_PORT=443
PUBLIC_AE_API_PATH=
PUBLIC_AE_API_SECRET_KEY=<key>
PUBLIC_AE_CRUD_SUPER_KEY=<key>
PUBLIC_AE_BOOTSTRAP_KEY=<key>
PUBLIC_AE_NO_ACCOUNT_ID=No_Account_ID_Here
```

---

## 4. Svelte 5 Runes Mode — Key Patterns & Gotchas

This codebase is **fully Svelte 5 runes mode**. No Svelte 4 syntax.

### The basics
```svelte
<script lang="ts">
// Props — with optional two-way binding
interface Props { count?: number; label: string; }
let { count = $bindable(0), label }: Props = $props();

// Reactive state
let value = $state('');
let upper = $derived(value.toUpperCase());

// Side effects (replaces onMount + $: reactive)
$effect(() => {
    console.log('value changed:', value);
    return () => { /* cleanup */ };
});
</script>
```

### What NOT to use (Svelte 4 patterns — do not introduce)
```ts
// ❌ No writable() stores for component state
import { writable } from 'svelte/store';

// ❌ No reactive declarations
$: doubled = count * 2;

// ❌ No onDestroy for cleanup — use $effect return instead
onDestroy(() => cleanup());
```

### `$bindable()` vs `$state()`
- Use `$bindable()` when the parent needs two-way binding on a prop.
- Use `$state()` for local component state with no external binding.

### Store reactivity trap (important for `$effect`)
The app has two kinds of persisted stores — know which you're reading:

**Svelte 4 `svelte-persisted-store` (coarse reactivity) — still used for:**
- `$ae_loc`, `$ae_sess`, `$ae_api` (global app state)
- `$idaa_loc`, `$idaa_sess` (IDAA module)

In Svelte 5 `$effect`, reading **any field** of these stores subscribes to the **entire store**.
Unrelated writes to `$ae_loc` (e.g. iframe height, SWR reload) will re-trigger your effect.
Be conservative about what you read from these stores inside `$effect` blocks.

**Svelte 5 `PersistedState` (fine-grained reactivity) — Events module stores:**
- `badges_loc`, `leads_loc`, `pres_mgmt_loc`, `launcher_loc`, `events_auth_loc`

These use `runed`'s `PersistedState`. Access via `.current` (no `$` sigil):
`badges_loc.current.field`. Writing one field only re-triggers effects that read that field.
Import from the `.svelte` extension: `import { badges_loc } from '$lib/stores/ae_events_stores__badges.svelte'`.

For search pages using the coarse stores, this usually means:
- keep true user preferences in persisted local state
- keep transient triggers, loading flags, and last-executed search keys in session state when possible
- let the page effect schedule the search, but put the duplicate-execution guard inside the search executor so page-load auto-search still runs after hydration
- if the search text or filters are mirrored from localStorage on mount, expect that mount-time writes can re-trigger the effect unless the executor has its own guard

See `PROJECT__Stores_Svelte5_Migration.md` for migration status and the pattern to follow when migrating remaining stores.

### `{#await}` blocks
```svelte
{#await somePromise}
    <LoadingSpinner />
{:then result}
    <div>{result}</div>
{:catch error}
    <ErrorMessage {error} />
{/await}
```

---

## 5. V3 API Patterns

### SWR (Stale-While-Revalidate) — the standard load pattern
Return cached Dexie data immediately, refresh from API in background.
```ts
async function load_ae_obj_id__my_obj({ api_cfg, obj_id }) {
    // 1. Return stale cache immediately (fast)
    const cached = await db.my_obj.get(obj_id);
    if (cached) my_obj_state = cached;

    // 2. Fetch fresh from API in background
    _refresh_my_obj_background({ api_cfg, obj_id });
}
```

### Shared/Common Aether object fields
The core fields for almost all Aether objects are:
* id/id_random
* code - string
* name - string
* summary - string
* content - string
* alert - boolean
* alert_msg - text
* priority - boolean
* sort - int
* group - string
* hide - boolean
* enable - boolean
* default_qry_str - special concat string index
* notes - text
* created_on - timestamp
* updated_on - timestamp

### ID convention — never use `_id_random` fields
The V3 API uses random string IDs (e.g. `event_file_id = "aBc123"`). The `*_id_random`
fields are legacy aliases. The integer version of the ID is never returned by the API. Always use the short form:
```ts
// ✅ Correct
event_file_obj.event_file_id

// ❌ Wrong — legacy alias, don't use
event_file_obj.event_file_id_random
```
The short ".id" is also the randomized string, **not an integer** (autonum).

### PATCH — only field values in the body
```ts
// The obj_id goes in the URL (handled by update_ae_obj__* function).
// Only the fields you want to update go in data_kv.
await events_func.update_ae_obj__event_file({
    api_cfg: $ae_api,
    event_file_id: 'aBc123',       // → becomes the URL path param
    data_kv: { file_purpose: 'final' }  // → only changed fields
});
```

### Auth headers (set automatically by `api.ts`)
```
x-aether-api-key: <PUBLIC_AE_API_SECRET_KEY>
x-account-id: <account_id>
```

**Do not treat `params.key` as an auth bypass.**
Only explicit `x-no-account-id: bypass` means "drop account context".
If `key` is present for business logic, keep `x-account-id` intact.

### Dexie queries — always use the object ID index, not `.get()`
All `db_core` (and other module) Dexie tables define their schema with `id` as the first
field (primary key), followed by the object's string ID (e.g. `person_id`). V3 **never**
returns `id`, so every record stored in Dexie has `id = undefined`. Calling `.get(value)`
does a primary key lookup — it will always miss when passed a string object ID.

```ts
// ❌ Wrong — .get() uses the primary key (id), which V3 never populates:
liveQuery(() => db_core.person.get(person_id))

// ✅ Correct — use .where() on the indexed object ID field:
liveQuery(() => db_core.person.where('person_id').equals(person_id).first())
```

This applies to every table in every module (`db_core`, `db_events`, etc.).
When looking up a single object by its string ID, always use `.where().equals().first()`.

---

## 6. Naming Conventions (snake_case; no camelCase)

| Pattern | Example | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| `ae_comp__*` | `ae_comp__event_badge.svelte` | Route-level components |
| `ae_<module>_comp__*` | `ae_events_comp__session_list.svelte` | Module-scoped components |
| `element_*` | `element_input_files_tbl.svelte` | Reusable library primitives |
| `lq__*` | `lq__journal_obj` | Read-only liveQuery |
| `lqw__*` | `lqw__journal_obj` | Writable form snapshot liveQuery |
| `ae_<module>__<obj>.ts` | `ae_journals__journal.ts` | Object type + functions |
| `db_<module>.ts` | `db_journals.ts` | Dexie instance per module |

The **canonical pattern reference** is the Journals module (`src/lib/ae_journals/`).
When building anything new, model it after Journals.

---

## 7. Common Mistakes (Reference)

The full, curated mistake catalog now lives in
`documentation/REFERENCE__Common_Agent_Mistakes.md`.

Read this section first, then open the reference doc when your task touches one of these areas:

1. **Security/Auth** — private route guards, account scoping, and pre-gate data load risks.
2. **V3 API payloads** — object ID in URL, `data_kv` field-only PATCH payloads.
3. **Dexie/IDB behavior** — `.get()` primary key trap, stale cache/version mismatches, broad result clipping.
4. **Svelte 5 reactivity** — coarse-store `$effect` loops and `$`-sigil misuse on plain props.
5. **Sorting and search correctness** — `tmp_sort_*` comparator direction and Dexie sorting caveats.
6. **Network reliability** — retry classification in `api_*_object.ts` and timeout behavior.
7. **JSON field safety** — `*_json` null reads/writes and wrapper serialization behavior.
8. **Service worker + cache clearing — MANDATORY four-layer wipe** — clearing IDB/localStorage
   alone is a placebo. The SW Cache Storage is separate and must be cleared first or the SW
   re-serves the old JS bundle on the very next reload. The `controllerchange` event listener in
   `+layout.svelte` (effect 4) is also required or open tabs stay on old code after deploys.
   See mistake #15 in the reference doc — this caused a recurring client issue for 4+ months.
9. **Local/remote config sync** — shadow fields that silently bypass an admin-synced master
   field, SWR-await-after-write races, and stateful/conditional sync gates that desync local
   state from history rather than current config. See the Pres Mgmt Config sync overhaul
   (2026-06-16) in `PROJECT__AE_Events_PressMgmt_Config_Cleanup.md` for the full incident.
10. **`param?: Type` in `.svelte` function/snippet parameters** — breaks both dev and production.
    In dev mode, saving the file triggers HMR which produces `SyntaxError: missing ) after formal
    parameters` and crashes the page with a 500. In production, `vite build` fails at the SSR step
    with "Expected ',', got '?'". `npx svelte-check` does NOT catch this — it requires a full build.
    Use `param: Type | undefined = undefined` instead. See mistake #19 in the reference doc.

The reference doc also includes a short archive list for older, less-relevant historical incidents.

---

## 8. Source Layout (Quick Reference)

```text
src/lib/
  ae_api/         — API helpers (V3 preferred)
  ae_core/        — Account, User, Person, Site, hosted files
  ae_events/      — Events, sessions, presenters, badges, locations, files
  ae_journals/    — Journals (canonical/frontier model — copy patterns from here)
  ae_idaa/        — IDAA custom module (PRIVATE — always authenticated)
  elements/       — Reusable UI: V3 field editor, data store, CodeMirror, QR scanner
  electron/       — Native Electron bridge (electron_relay.ts)
  stores/         — ae_stores.ts, ae_events_stores.ts, ae_idaa_stores.ts

src/routes/
  /core/          — Admin (accounts, people, sites, users)
  /events/[id]/
    /(pres_mgmt)/ — Presentation management
    /(launcher)/  — Event launcher (kiosk display)
    /(badges)/    — Badge printing
    /(leads)/     — Exhibitor leads
  /journals/      — Journals
  /idaa/          — IDAA module (PRIVATE)
  /hosted_files/  — File management
```

---

## 9. Agent Messaging (ae_send_message / ae_inbox)

Use MCP tools to coordinate with other agents — do not write directly to the inbox directories.

```ts
// Send a message to the backend agent
ae_send_message({ recipient: 'backend', sender: 'frontend', content: '...' })

// Check your inbox (reads from frontend_svelte/ by default in this project)
ae_inbox({ command: 'list', status: 'unread' })
```

### Valid `ae_send_message` recipient names

| Recipient name | Inbox directory | Agent |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `frontend` | `~/agents_sync/inbox/frontend_svelte/` | SvelteKit frontend agent (this agent) |
| `backend` | `~/agents_sync/inbox/backend_fastapi/` | FastAPI backend agent |
| `mcp_agent` | `~/agents_sync/inbox/mcp_agent/` | MCP/orchestration agent |
| `scott_wks` | `~/agents_sync/inbox/scott_wks/` | Scott's workstation |
| `scott_lpt` | `~/agents_sync/inbox/scott_lpt/` | Scott's laptop |
| `gemini_cli` | `~/agents_sync/inbox/gemini_cli/` | Gemini CLI agent |

> **Gotcha:** The inbox directory names (`frontend_svelte`, `backend_fastapi`) do NOT match the
> `ae_send_message` recipient names (`frontend`, `backend`). Always use the recipient names above —
> using the directory name will produce an `invalid choice` error.

### Checking your own inbox

The `ae_inbox` MCP tool reads from the `frontend_svelte` inbox by default when invoked in this project directory. Use `status='unread'` to see new messages, `status='all'` to see everything. New messages can also arrive as files in `~/agents_sync/inbox/frontend_svelte/` — check there if `ae_inbox` shows nothing but the user says a message was sent.

---

## 10. Reading Order for Deeper Dives

Start here, then go deeper as needed:

| What you need | Read |
|---|---|
| Active tasks + known bugs | `documentation/TODO__Agents.md` ← always first |
| Documentation index | `documentation/README__Docs_Index.md` |
| Dev workflow + commit rules | `documentation/GUIDE__Development.md` |
| V3 API reference | `documentation/GUIDE__AE_API_V3_for_Frontend.md` |
| WebSockets / real-time updates | `documentation/GUIDE__AE_API_V3_for_Frontend_websockets.md` |
| Dexie / liveQuery patterns | `documentation/GUIDE__SvelteKit2_Svelte5_DexieJS.md` |
| Common mistakes reference | `documentation/REFERENCE__Common_Agent_Mistakes.md` |
| Svelte 5 patterns + pitfalls | `documentation/GEMINI__Svelte_and_Me.md` |
| Permissions + auth levels | `documentation/AE__Permissions_and_Security.md` |
| Electron / native launcher | `documentation/MODULE__AE_Events_Launcher_Native.md` |
| Store migration plan | `documentation/PROJECT__Stores_Svelte5_Migration.md` |
| Journals module overview | `documentation/MODULE__AE_Journals.md` |
| Journals settings map | `documentation/MODULE__AE_Journals_Config_Map.md` |
| Exhibitor Leads module | `documentation/MODULE__AE_Events_Leads.md` |
| Presentation Management module | `documentation/MODULE__AE_Events_Presentation_Management.md` |
| IDAA client architecture | `documentation/CLIENT__IDAA_and_customized_mods.md` |
| IDAA Archives module | `documentation/MODULE__AE_IDAA_Archives.md` |
| IDAA Bulletin Board module | `documentation/MODULE__AE_IDAA_Bulletin_Board.md` |
| IDAA Recovery Meetings module | `documentation/MODULE__AE_IDAA_Recovery_Meetings.md` |
| IDAA Video Conferences module | `documentation/MODULE__AE_IDAA_Video_Conferences.md` |
| Naming conventions | `documentation/AE__Naming_Conventions.md` |
| Codebase knowledge graph | `graphify-out/GRAPH_REPORT.md` |
