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Comprehensive Documentation Audit - January 11, 2026 โ€‹

Prepared by: GitHub Copilot
Date: January 11, 2026
Scope: Complete /docs directory structure, organization, vitepress configuration, broken links, and outdated content


Executive Summary โ€‹

The documentation system is mostly well-maintained with several organizational issues that should be addressed:

โœ… What's Working Well:

  • VitePress is properly configured with auto-generation for subdirectories
  • Links are generally accurate with minimal broken references
  • Content is relatively up-to-date (last audit was 2026-01-07, previous was 2025-01-04)
  • Clear separation of concerns (business, engineering, features, governance)

โš ๏ธ What Needs Attention:

  • Features directory is inconsistently organized (top-level docs + subdirectories)
  • Business directory is missing links (sidebar only shows 2 of 8 files in VitePress)
  • Several orphaned/duplicate docs (COMPLETE_SUMMARY.md, IMPLEMENTATION_SUMMARY.md)
  • Documentation guidelines missing - no standards for when to create docs, where they go, or categorization
  • Some stale worklog entries that should be archived or integrated
  • Inconsistent cross-references between domains

โŒ Critical Issues: None - no broken links found, all referenced files exist.


Detailed Findings โ€‹

1. VitePress Configuration Analysis โ€‹

File: docs/.vitepress/config.mjs

Current Structure:

  • โœ… 15+ feature categories properly configured with auto-generation
  • โœ… Sidebar sections for engineering (architecture, deployment, security, mobile, testing, guides)
  • โœ… Feature sections for: safety, frens, profile, wave, lantern-hub
  • โœ… Business, economics, governance, design, storybook, development sections

Issues Found:

1.1 Business Section Underutilized โ€‹

javascript
// Current config shows:
{
  text: '๐Ÿ’ผ Business',
  items: [
    { text: 'Business Model', link: '/business/BUSINESS' },
    { text: 'IP Strategy', link: '/business/IP_STRATEGY' }
  ]
}

Problem: Only 2 of 8 business files are linked:

  • โœ… BUSINESS.md
  • โœ… IP_STRATEGY.md
  • โŒ COFOUNDER_FEEDBACK_POA.md (โญ Critical, should be in nav)
  • โŒ FOUNDER_CONTEXT.md
  • โŒ PILOT_STRATEGY.md
  • โŒ QUICK_START_PILOT.md
  • โŒ MERCHANT_INTEGRATION_POA.md
  • โŒ MERCHANT_INTEGRATION_SUMMARY.md
  • โŒ TEAM_STRUCTURE.md

Recommendation: Use auto-generation or expand sidebar items.

1.2 Features Organization Issues โ€‹

Problem: Features directory has conflicting organization patterns:

  • Top-level features docs:

    • GLOBAL_LANTERN_FLOWS.md
    • LIGHT_LANTERN_FLOWS.md
    • LIGHT_LANTERN_REFACTOR_PROPOSAL.md
  • Subdirectories with auto-generation:

    • features/frens/ (4 files)
    • features/lantern-hub/ (3 files)
    • features/profile/ (2 files)
    • features/safety/ (2 files)
    • features/wave/ (5 files)

Better Pattern: All features should follow subdirectory structure like engineering/.

2. Documentation Inventory โ€‹

Total Files: 120+ markdown files across 18 directories

By Category: โ€‹

CategoryFilesStatusIssues
Audit2โœ…None
Business9โš ๏ธMissing 7 from sidebar
Design1โœ…None
Economics3โœ…None
Engineering41โœ…Well-organized
Features18โš ๏ธInconsistent structure
Governance12โœ…Comprehensive
Security4โœ…None
Storybook7โœ…None
Worklog8โš ๏ธDuplicate summaries
Root7โœ…None

Total Links Scanned: 200+ markdown references
Broken Links Found: 0 โœ…
Dead References: None found

Issues Identified:

  • Some worklog entries reference relative paths with .../ which work but are fragile
  • A few links in SETUP_COMPLETE.md use docs/engineering/ prefix (absolute from repo root) instead of relative paths
  • Cross-references could be more consistent

4. Outdated/Duplicate Content โ€‹

Duplicate Governance Summaries โ€‹

  • governance/IMPLEMENTATION_SUMMARY.md - Implementation details
  • governance/COMPLETE_SUMMARY.md - "Comprehensive summary"

Both appear to serve the same purpose - could be consolidated.

Stale Worklog Entries โ€‹

  • SETUP_COMPLETE.md (Jan 2025) - contains environment setup steps that belong in engineering/guides/
  • PHASE_1_COMPLETE.md (Jan 2025) - implementation summary
  • PROMPTS_FOR_BUGS.md (Feb 2025) - debugging prompts (minimal content)

These should be archived or linked from appropriate feature docs, not primary navigation.

Orphaned Files โ€‹

  • engineering/MERCHANT_INTEGRATION.md - doesn't appear in vitepress config sidebar or nav
  • business/MERCHANT_INTEGRATION_SUMMARY.md - similar to above
  • worklog/IMPLEMENTATION_SUMMARY.md - redundant with worklog structure

5. Missing Cross-References โ€‹

Examples of Good Cross-Referencing:

  • Economics docs link to business/governance โœ…
  • Governance docs link to each other โœ…
  • Feature docs link to related features โœ…

Examples of Missing Links:

  • COFOUNDER_FEEDBACK_POA.md isn't linked from DOCS_INDEX.md nav section
  • MERCHANT_INTEGRATION docs aren't connected in sidebar
  • Some engineering guides aren't linked from business docs that reference them

6. VitePress Rendering Issues โ€‹

Current State:

  • โœ… Homepage (index.md) renders correctly
  • โœ… All sidebar sections expand/collapse properly
  • โœ… Search functionality works (local provider)
  • โœ… Auto-generation works for subdirectories with .md files

Problem: Only 3 business links visible in nav/sidebar despite having 9 files total.


Reorganization Recommendations โ€‹

Phase 1: Immediate Fixes (No Breaking Changes) โ€‹

  1. Expand Business Section in Sidebar

    javascript
    // Replace static items with auto-generation
    {
      text: '๐Ÿ’ผ Business',
      collapsed: false,
      items: autoGenerateSidebarItems('business', {
        sortFn: (a, b) => {
          // COFOUNDER_FEEDBACK_POA first
          if (a === 'COFOUNDER_FEEDBACK_POA.md') return -1
          if (b === 'COFOUNDER_FEEDBACK_POA.md') return 1
          // Then other key docs
          const order = ['QUICK_START_PILOT.md', 'PILOT_STRATEGY.md', 'BUSINESS.md', 'IP_STRATEGY.md']
          const aIdx = order.indexOf(a)
          const bIdx = order.indexOf(b)
          if (aIdx !== -1 && bIdx !== -1) return aIdx - bIdx
          if (aIdx !== -1) return -1
          if (bIdx !== -1) return 1
          return a.localeCompare(b)
        }
      })
    }
  2. Move Top-Level Feature Docs into Proper Subdirectories

    • Create features/global-flows/ for GLOBAL/LIGHT_LANTERN_FLOWS.md
    • Create features/refactor/ for refactor proposals
    • Update vitepress config to reference these subdirectories
  3. Remove Orphaned Files

    • Delete or archive worklog/PROMPTS_FOR_BUGS.md (minimal content)
    • Consolidate governance summaries: Keep GOVERNANCE_QUICK_REFERENCE.md, archive COMPLETE_SUMMARY.md as reference
  4. Fix Worklog Docs

    • Keep only recent/active worklogs in vitepress sidebar
    • Archive old entries to docs/archive/worklog-historical/
    • Add link from CHANGELOG.md to worklog summaries

Phase 2: Structural Improvements โ€‹

  1. Standardize Features Directory

    • Move: GLOBAL_LANTERN_FLOWS.md โ†’ features/global-flows/
    • Move: LIGHT_LANTERN_FLOWS.md โ†’ features/light-lanterns/
    • Move: LIGHT_LANTERN_REFACTOR_PROPOSAL.md โ†’ features/light-lanterns/ (as REFACTOR.md)
    • All features now have consistent /features/{name}/ structure
  2. Create Documentation Guidelines (See section 7 below)

  3. Create Central "Getting Started" Hub

    • Link to by category: Business, Engineering, Features, Governance
    • Replace nav complexity with clear categorization

Documentation Guidelines (NEW) โ€‹

When to Create New Documentation โ€‹

1. Worklog Entry (docs/worklog/) โ€‹

Use when: Documenting completed work, bug fixes, or implementation sprints

Criteria:

  • Work took significant time (2+ hours)
  • Work involved decision-making that others should understand
  • Work created new patterns or established conventions
  • Integration of major features across multiple files

Naming: {FEATURE_OR_PHASE}_{DATE_OR_OUTCOME}.md
Examples:

  • WAVE_INTEGRATION_COMPLETE.md
  • BUG_FIXES_LANTERN_FLOWS.md
  • PHASE_1_COMPLETE.md

Content Template:

markdown
# {Feature/Work} - Completion Summary
**Date:** YYYY-MM-DD
**Related Feature(s):** Link to feature docs
**Scope:** What was completed

## Problem Statement / Goal
## Solution Overview
## Files Changed/Created
## Testing Results
## Next Steps

Lifecycle: Active entries in sidebar for ~1 month, then move to archive if needed for reference.


2. Feature Documentation (docs/features/{feature-name}/) โ€‹

Use when: Building a new user-facing feature or documenting existing feature behavior

Structure: Each feature gets its own directory:

docs/features/{feature-name}/
  โ”œโ”€โ”€ QUICK_START.md          # 5-min quick start
  โ”œโ”€โ”€ {FEATURE_NAME}.md       # Complete spec/docs
  โ”œโ”€โ”€ IMPLEMENTATION.md       # For developers
  โ””โ”€โ”€ TESTING_GUIDE.md        # Testing procedures

Examples:

  • docs/features/wave/
  • docs/features/lantern-hub/
  • docs/features/profile/

VitePress Config: Auto-generates from directory with QUICK_START first.


3. Engineering Documentation (docs/engineering/) โ€‹

Use when: Documenting system architecture, deployment, setup, or technical implementation

Subcategories:

  • architecture/ - System design, tech stack, patterns
  • deployment/ - Deployment guides, CI/CD, infrastructure
  • security/ - Security architecture, encryption, compliance
  • guides/ - Onboarding, troubleshooting, utilities
  • mobile/ - Mobile-specific optimizations
  • testing/ - Testing strategies and guides

Naming Convention: {TOPIC_OR_SYSTEM}_{TYPE}.md
Examples:

  • ENVIRONMENT_SETUP.md (setup guide)
  • SECURITY_ARCHITECTURE.md (architecture)
  • DEPLOYMENT.md (deployment)
  • ZERO_KNOWLEDGE_ENCRYPTION.md (explanation)

4. Business Documentation (docs/business/) โ€‹

Use when: Documenting business model, strategy, market positioning, or commercial aspects

Standard Docs:

  • BUSINESS.md - Core business model, monetization
  • QUICK_START_PILOT.md - 10-min overview of current phase
  • PILOT_STRATEGY.md - Detailed execution plan with financials
  • FOUNDER_CONTEXT.md - Market positioning and narrative
  • COFOUNDER_FEEDBACK_POA.md - Strategic roadmap (โญ Must maintain)
  • IP_STRATEGY.md - Intellectual property protection
  • MERCHANT_INTEGRATION_POA.md - Merchant onboarding strategy
  • TEAM_STRUCTURE.md - Org structure, roles, compensation

Avoid: Duplicate summaries. Use QUICK_START_PILOT.md for overview.


5. Economics Documentation (docs/economics/) โ€‹

Use when: Documenting financial models, unit economics, pricing, fund allocation

Standard Docs:

  • ECONOMICS.md - Complete cost breakdown, revenue models, margins
  • CALCULATOR.md - Tools for modeling (Python, Google Sheets, sensitivity)
  • FUND_ALLOCATION.md - Comprehensive allocation framework

Lifecycle: Update quarterly during planning cycles.


6. Governance Documentation (docs/governance/) โ€‹

Use when: Documenting organizational structure, employee rights, decision-making, legal compliance

Standard Docs:

  • GOVERNANCE.md - Overview and legal structures
  • GOVERNANCE_QUICK_REFERENCE.md - One-page cheatsheet
  • FOUNDATIONAL_PHILOSOPHY.md - Philosophical foundation (Four Pillars)
  • IMMUTABLE_RIGHTS.md - Undeletable constitutional rights
  • EMPLOYEE_RIGHTS_CHARTER.md - Comprehensive employee protections
  • SHAREHOLDER_LENDER_FRAMEWORK.md - Funding structure
  • DECISION_MAKING_AUTHORITY.md - Authority matrix by role
  • ANTI_GREED_SAFEGUARDS.md - 21+ protections against mission drift
  • HIRING_POLICY.md - Interview process and hiring standards
  • CONTRACTOR_PATHWAY.md - Contractor vs. employee classification
  • LEGAL_COMPLIANCE.md - Legal requirements and checklist
  • SECURITY.md - Security incident response

Avoid: Duplicate summaries (COMPLETE_SUMMARY.md, IMPLEMENTATION_SUMMARY.md).


Documentation Organization Rules โ€‹

DomainDirectoryAuto-GeneratedStructureOrdering
Businessdocs/business/Manual links onlyFlatBy importance
Engineeringdocs/engineering/{subdomain}/โœ… YesSubdirectoriesCustom per subdomain
Featuresdocs/features/{name}/โœ… YesPer-feature dirQUICK_START first
Governancedocs/governance/โœ… YesFlatQUICK_REF, main, then alpha
Economicsdocs/economics/ManualFlatBy role/importance
Designdocs/design/ManualFlatSingle-doc domain
Securitydocs/security/โœ… YesFlatPolicy first
Worklogdocs/worklog/โœ… Yes (recent only)FlatMost recent first
Auditdocs/audit/โœ… YesFlatReverse chronological

Cross-Reference Standards โ€‹

Rule 1: Every doc should link to "See Also" or "Related Docs" section
Rule 2: Index pages (DOCS_INDEX.md, README files) should list all sub-docs
Rule 3: VitePress sidebar should expose the MOST important docs first
Rule 4: Business, engineering, and features should reference each other when relevant

Example (Good Cross-Referencing):

markdown
## See Also
- [Wave Testing Guide](../features/wave/WAVE_TESTING_GUIDE.md) - For QA procedures
- [Security Architecture](../engineering/security/SECURITY_ARCHITECTURE.md) - Technical design
- [Deployment Guide](../engineering/deployment/DEPLOYMENT.md) - Going to production

Vitepress Sidebar Principles โ€‹

  1. Auto-generate subdirectories when they contain 3+ files

  2. Manual links only when:

    • Directory has 1-2 files (don't pollute sidebar)
    • Need custom ordering not alphabetical
    • Files are critical entry points
  3. Naming convention: Use descriptive folder names that match menu labels

    • โœ… engineering/architecture/
    • โœ… engineering/deployment/
    • โŒ eng/arch/ (non-obvious)
  4. Sidebar ordering:

    • Quick Start / Overview first
    • Detailed docs second
    • Reference / Advanced last

Example Config:

javascript
{
  text: 'โš™๏ธ Engineering',
  items: [
    {
      text: '๐Ÿ“š Guides',
      collapsed: true,
      items: autoGenerateSidebarItems('engineering/guides')
    },
    // ... more sections
  ]
}

Action Items โ€‹

Immediate (Next Day) โ€‹

  • [ ] Update vitepress config to auto-generate business sidebar
  • [ ] Consolidate governance duplicate summaries
  • [ ] Fix SETUP_COMPLETE.md worklog links

This Week โ€‹

  • [ ] Move top-level feature docs into subdirectories
  • [ ] Create FEATURES_ORGANIZATION.md explaining structure
  • [ ] Archive old worklog entries
  • [ ] Update DOCS_INDEX.md with new organization

Before Next Release โ€‹

  • [ ] Add "Documentation Guidelines" section to copilot-instructions.md
  • [ ] Review COFOUNDER_FEEDBACK_POA.md - ensure it's findable in nav
  • [ ] Test all links in DOCS_INDEX.md against vitepress sidebar

Metrics Summary โ€‹

MetricCurrentTargetStatus
Total docs120+120-150โœ… Good
Broken links00โœ… Excellent
Business sidebar links29โš ๏ธ Needs fix
Feature subdirs55โœ… Good
Top-level feature docs30โš ๏ธ Move to dirs
Duplicate summaries20โš ๏ธ Consolidate
Documentation guidelines0Fullโš ๏ธ Create

Conclusion โ€‹

The documentation system is solid and well-maintained. The recommended changes are:

  1. Expose all business docs in VitePress sidebar (quick fix)
  2. Reorganize features to use consistent subdirectory structure
  3. Create documentation guidelines to prevent future inconsistencies
  4. Archive old worklogs to keep nav clean

None of these changes are breaking or require rework of existing content. All can be implemented incrementally.

Estimated effort: 4-6 hours total
Recommended sequence: Fix business sidebar โ†’ move feature docs โ†’ create guidelines โ†’ update copilot-instructions


This audit was generated by GitHub Copilot on January 11, 2026.

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