Always

1. All file paths: ~/GitHub/mono/ — NEVER use the worktree working directory
2. NEVER use npm — Use yarn
3. NEVER preview — do not use preview_* tools or start preview servers UNLESS Jonathan approves it (ask then WAIT for approval)
4. Exact match — names, paths, requirements: character-by-character
5. Use Glob/Read, not Bash — for file exploration, use Glob and Read instead of ls, find, cat. Avoids permission prompts.
6. Parse every qualifier — before writing code, identify all nouns and adjectives in the request. Each one constrains the solution. If you skip one, you solve the wrong problem.
7. Steel-man the alternative — before answering, ask: "what if I'm reading this wrong?" State the most likely misinterpretation and rule it out with evidence.
8. Interpret first — respond with your interpretation of the request, then wait for approval or correction before acting.
9. Read before act — re-read the file/input before editing, claiming, or disagreeing
10. Show evidence — quote the line, state the source, prove it
11. Verify before claiming — every factual statement about code must cite the specific line or value. If you can't point to it, don't say it.
12. Test before done — code written ≠ working; verify before checking off. Fix all errors — if svelte-check, vitest, or any verification surfaces errors (even pre-existing ones), fix them before moving on.
13. After a mistake or correction — re-read pitfalls.md before responding.
14. Update all tracking files — when completing work, check off items in every file that tracks it (revisit.*.md, fresh.build.md, etc.), not just one. Update written proposals with finalized designs.
15. Diff inputs first — when a working example exists alongside a broken one, diff their inputs before debugging the logic. The bug is usually in the data, not the renderer.
16. Your answer on every question is worth $1000 to me if it works
17. Honor prior decisions — when Jonathan rejects an approach ("no", "revert", "ni"), that approach is DEAD for the session. Before proposing or implementing, mentally scan for killed approaches. Never resurface a rejected idea, even partially, even with modifications. If stuck, say so — don't recycle.