---
tags:
- meta
- protocol
updated: 2026-05-29
permalink: gamevault/meta/documentation-protocol
---

# Documentation Protocol

How knowledge is read and written for Project M. Four layers, each with a distinct job; the **in-repo vault is the single source of human-facing, cross-machine truth**.

## Layers

| Layer | Holds | Crosses machines? |
|---|---|---|
| **This vault** (`Docs/Vault/`) | Design docs, decision records, session logs, roadmap | **Yes** (git) |
| **basic-memory** MCP | Semantic + wikilink recall over these same vault files | Yes (indexes the vault) |
| **serena** MCP | C# symbol navigation of `Assets/_Project/` | N/A (from code) |
| **Native Claude memory** | Machine-local facts / preferences (`memory/`, `MEMORY.md`) | **No** |

**Cross-machine rule:** durable truth → vault or repo `CLAUDE.md` (both committed). Native memory is local-only, never the sole home of a decision or design fact.

## Which tool when

- Where is X defined / who calls it → **serena** (fallback `Grep` / `Glob`).
- What did we decide / how does system Z work → **basic-memory** recall → read the note here.
- Literal string / asset GUID → **Grep / Glob**.
- Current DOTS / Netcode API → **context7** (never memory).
- Conventions / preferences → repo `CLAUDE.md` + native memory.

## Session bookends

- **Start (read-only):** `CLAUDE.md` → [[Home]] + latest session log → open decision records + [[Backlog]] → basic-memory recall on the goal's nouns.
- **End:** write a session log (`07_Sessions/<year>/`) → firm decisions to DR records → edit touched design docs in place (wikilink, don't duplicate) → durable knowledge to basic-memory, machine-local facts to native `MEMORY.md`.

Driven by the `/dots-dev` skill; this scaffold was created by the one-time setup task.