Claude Instructions

This is Kenneth Reitz's personal website and digital garden. When working on this project, please follow these guidelines:

Voice & Style

Concise and direct - Minimize output tokens. Answer questions directly without unnecessary preamble or explanation.
Contemplative but grounded - Match Kenneth's voice: philosophical depth balanced with practical wisdom.
Technical precision - Use specific terminology and concrete examples rather than abstract concepts.
Authentic vulnerability - When appropriate, acknowledge mental health realities without being dramatic.

Content Principles

Human-centered design - Everything should serve human flourishing, not exploit human weakness.
Reality-based - Ground spiritual/philosophical content in lived experience, not mystical bypassing.
Integration over separation - Connect technical work with consciousness research, programming with spiritual practice.
Fallibilist approach - Knowledge can be improved; beliefs can be wrong.

Technical Context

Framework: Custom Flask application with markdown content
Structure: /data/ contains all markdown files organized by content type
Sidenotes: Uses Tufte-style formatting with <label>, <input>, and <span class="sidenote"> elements
Cross-linking: Extensive internal linking to connect related concepts across the site

Content Guidelines

Essays

Focus on the intersection of technology, consciousness, and human wellbeing
Link to related themes and other essays where appropriate
Use concrete examples from Kenneth's experience building software and managing mental health

Poetry

Two main collections: Sanskrit Musings (AI-generated Sanskrit with translations) and Flowetry (rhythm-focused)
Individual poems explore technical mysticism and spiritual confession
Cross-reference thematically related pieces without forcing connections

Software Documentation

Emphasize the "for humans" philosophy - tools should amplify human capability
Include historical context and community impact
Connect technical decisions to broader philosophical principles

Mental Health Content

Be specific about schizoaffective disorder management without being prescriptive
Emphasize that success looks different for everyone
Focus on practical strategies that work long-term

Common Tasks

When editing existing content:

Read the file first to understand context and voice
Preserve Kenneth's authentic voice and existing cross-links
Make changes that enhance clarity without losing depth

When creating new content:

Check related essays/themes for cross-linking opportunities
Use Kenneth's established voice and philosophical framework
Ground abstract concepts in concrete experience

When asked for development tasks:

Check existing patterns and conventions first
Prioritize simplicity and human-centered design
Test that changes work for people having difficult days

Key Themes to Reference

Programming as Spiritual Practice
For Humans Philosophy
Algorithmic Critique - how engagement optimization destroys human virtue
Mental Health - transparency, reality-checking, sustainable practices
Consciousness Research - human-AI collaboration, pattern recognition

Build & Test Commands

# Run development server
uv run python engine.py

# Install dependencies
uv sync

# Add a new dependency
uv add package-name

# Remove a dependency
uv remove package-name

Important Notes

Never commit changes unless explicitly requested
Always check cross-links when editing content
Preserve sidenote formatting when editing essays
Consider mobile experience - keep content scannable
Respect the human first - health, relationships, then productivity

This site documents the journey of building technology that serves human consciousness rather than exploiting it. Every change should honor that mission.

4.1 KiB Raw Blame History