# Governance Docs Maintenance Policy
**Last Updated:** 2026-04-05

## Canonical Source Rule
- [ ] `docs/00-governance/*` is the canonical planning and execution source.
- [ ] Prefer updating canonical governance docs over duplicating guidance elsewhere.

## Historical/Contextual Docs (Read-Only by Default)
Treat these as non-canonical unless explicitly requested by task scope:
- `README.md`
- `docs/README.md`
- `PROJECT_HANDOVER.md`
- `DESIGNED_VS_IMPLEMENTED_GAP_ANALYSIS.md`
- `docs/INDEX.md`

## Update Triggers
- [ ] Update `docs/00-governance/active_work.md` when priorities, status, blockers, or ownership change.
- [ ] Update `docs/00-governance/roadmap.md` when milestone sequence, scope, or timing changes.
- [ ] Update `docs/00-governance/decisions.md` when durable architecture tradeoffs/decisions are made.
- [ ] Update `CLEANUP_LOG.md` when cleanup debt is created, resolved, or deferred.

## Compile Knowledge Capture (Concise and Durable)
When a compile issue occurs, record:
- [ ] Prevention rule in `docs/00-governance/compile_guardrails.md`.
- [ ] Error fingerprint + fix in `docs/00-governance/common_failures.md`.
- [ ] Reusable pattern and anti-pattern in `docs/00-governance/patterns_and_antipatterns.md`.

## Documentation Hygiene
- [ ] Keep entries concise, actionable, and dated.
- [ ] Link to authoritative rules instead of duplicating long guidance.
- [ ] Do not update unrelated docs in the same task.