rule-file-organizationlisted

## Never Put in Project Root - Archive files (`prd-archive-*.json`) - Backup files (`prd-backup-*.json`) - Handoff files (`handoff-*.md`) - Audit/report markdown files (`AUDIT-*.md`, `*-report.md`) - Any generated `.md` or `.json` artifacts from skills ## Output Directory Map | Type | Path | Retention | |------|------|-----------| | Archives | `.claude/archives/prd-archive-*.json` | 30 days | | Backups | `.claude/archives/prd-backup-*.json` | 7 days | | Handoffs | `.claude/handoffs/handoff-*.md` | 7 days | | Reports | `.claude/reports/*.md` | 7 days | | Screenshots | `.claude/screenshots/*.png` | Cleaned each run | | Sprint History | `.claude/sprint-history.md` | Persistent | | Agent Memory | `.claude/agent-memory/*.md` | Persistent (audit-patterns.md, brainstorm-history.md) | | Session carriers | `.claude/memory-sessions/*` | Deleted at SessionEnd. Holds **verbatim user prompts** — the directory writes its own `.gitignore` so it can never be committed. Never move these files elsewhere. | | Compaction snapshot | `.claude/pre-compact-state.json` | Overwritten each compaction | ## Rules - Create subdirectories on first use (`mkdir -p` / `New-Item -Force`) - Only `prd.json` and source code belong in project root - If a skill generates a file, it goes under `.claude/` - Add `.claude/` to `.gitignore` (it's ephemeral tooling state)