8.6 KiB
Development Decision History - Neural Nexus
This document tracks all major development decisions made during the project lifecycle, providing context for future reference and team knowledge transfer.
Decision Log Format
Each entry includes:
- Date: When the decision was made
- Context: Situation that required the decision
- Decision: What was chosen
- Rationale: Why this choice was made
- Alternatives: Other options considered
- Impact: Effects on development and architecture
- Status: Current, Modified, or Superseded
June 2025 Decisions
Decision 001: Single-File Game Architecture
Date: June 13, 2025
Context: Choosing development approach for HTML5 game
Decision: Build complete game in single index.html file
Rationale:
- Simplifies deployment (no build process)
- Easier for contributors to understand
- Immediate testing and iteration
- Perfect for GitHub Pages hosting
Alternatives Considered:
- Multi-file structure with build process
- Framework-based architecture (React, Vue)
- Game engine approach (Phaser.js)
Impact: Enables rapid prototyping and simple deployment
Status: Current
Decision 002: Vanilla JavaScript Over Frameworks
Date: June 13, 2025
Context: Technology stack selection for game engine
Decision: Use vanilla ES6+ JavaScript without external frameworks
Rationale:
- Maximum performance control
- No external dependencies to manage
- Smaller bundle size
- Educational value for learning web technologies
Alternatives Considered:
- React for component structure
- Vue.js for simpler framework approach
- Game-specific frameworks like Phaser
Impact: Requires more manual implementation but provides full control
Status: Current
Decision 003: Canvas 2D for Game Rendering
Date: June 13, 2025
Context: Graphics rendering technology choice
Decision: HTML5 Canvas 2D API for all game graphics
Rationale:
- Excellent performance for 2D graphics
- Full control over rendering pipeline
- Wide browser compatibility
- Sufficient features for puzzle game needs
Alternatives Considered:
- WebGL for hardware acceleration
- DOM manipulation for game elements
- SVG for vector graphics
Impact: Enables 60fps performance with fine-grained control
Status: Current
Decision 004: Glassmorphism UI Design
Date: June 13, 2025
Context: Visual design direction for user interface
Decision: Modern glassmorphism design with blur effects
Rationale:
- Contemporary, premium appearance
- Fits neural network technological theme
- Creates visual depth without overwhelming gameplay
- Differentiates from basic web games
Alternatives Considered:
- Flat material design
- Skeuomorphic interface
- Minimalist approach
Impact: Defines entire visual language and CSS architecture
Status: Current
Decision 005: Progressive Difficulty Algorithm
Date: June 13, 2025
Context: Game balance and player engagement strategy
Decision: Algorithmic difficulty scaling based on level progression
Rationale:
- Maintains challenge as players improve
- Prevents frustration through gradual increase
- Allows fine-tuning based on player data
- Infinite content generation capability
Implementation:
const nodeCount = Math.min(5 + Math.floor(level * 0.7), 12);
const timeLimit = Math.max(45, 60 - Math.floor(level / 3) * 2);
Alternatives Considered:
- Fixed difficulty levels
- Player-selected difficulty
- Adaptive difficulty based on performance
Impact: Core to long-term player engagement and retention
Status: Current
Decision 006: Mobile-First Responsive Design
Date: June 13, 2025
Context: Cross-platform compatibility requirements
Decision: Design primarily for mobile, enhance for desktop
Rationale:
- Puzzle games popular on mobile devices
- Touch interaction naturally translates to mouse
- Ensures excellent mobile experience
- Larger touch targets benefit accessibility
Implementation Approach:
- Base styles for mobile (320px+)
- Progressive enhancement for larger screens
- Touch target minimum 44px
- Gesture-based interactions
Alternatives Considered:
- Desktop-first with mobile adaptation
- Separate mobile and desktop versions
- Mobile-only approach
Impact: Influences all UI design and interaction patterns
Status: Current
Decision 007: GitHub-Based Dual Repository Structure
Date: June 13, 2025
Context: Project organization and documentation strategy
Decision: Separate repositories for game code and Claude Project methodology
Rationale:
- Clean separation of concerns
- Game repository showcases development skills
- Claude Project repository demonstrates systematic approach
- Both serve as templates for future projects
Repository Structure:
neural-nexus-game: Game code and development documentationneural-nexus-claude-project: Claude Project workflow and methodology
Alternatives Considered:
- Single repository with folders
- Multiple repositories for different aspects
- Documentation-only repository
Impact: Creates reusable development methodology and clean portfolio pieces
Status: Current
Decision 008: Session-Based Development Workflow
Date: June 13, 2025
Context: Claude Project context management and knowledge retention
Decision: Structured session start/end workflow with mandatory consolidation
Rationale:
- Prevents context loss between sessions
- Captures decisions and rationale systematically
- Builds knowledge base incrementally
- Maintains development momentum
Workflow Components:
- Session start prompt for context setting
- Mandatory session end consolidation
- Weekly progress reviews
- Stage transition assessments
Alternatives Considered:
- Ad-hoc development without structure
- Daily summary instead of session-based
- Automated context capture
Impact: Ensures consistent progress and knowledge retention
Status: Current
Decision Review Process
Monthly Reviews
- Assess whether decisions are achieving intended goals
- Identify decisions that may need modification
- Document lessons learned from implementation
- Plan updates based on new information or changing requirements
Decision Modification Process
- Document current status and why change is needed
- Analyze impact on existing implementation
- Consider alternatives within current constraints
- Plan implementation strategy
- Update related documentation
- Communicate changes to team/stakeholders
Decision Success Metrics
- Technical Decisions: Performance targets, maintainability, scalability
- Design Decisions: User satisfaction, engagement metrics, accessibility
- Process Decisions: Development velocity, knowledge retention, team efficiency
Future Decisions to Track
Upcoming Decision Points
- Audio system implementation approach
- Save game data structure and storage method
- Tutorial system design and implementation
- Achievement system architecture
- Level editor technical approach
Decision Templates
Technical Decision Template
### Decision XXX: [Title]
**Date:** [Date]
**Context:** [Situation requiring decision]
**Decision:** [What was chosen]
**Rationale:** [Why this choice]
**Alternatives:** [Other options considered]
**Implementation:** [How it will be built]
**Impact:** [Effects on project]
**Success Metrics:** [How to measure success]
**Status:** [Current/Modified/Superseded]
Design Decision Template
### Decision XXX: [Title]
**Date:** [Date]
**Context:** [Design challenge or requirement]
**Decision:** [Design direction chosen]
**User Impact:** [How this affects player experience]
**Rationale:** [Why this approach]
**Design Alternatives:** [Other approaches considered]
**Implementation:** [How to achieve this design]
**Success Metrics:** [User satisfaction, engagement measures]
**Status:** [Current/Modified/Superseded]
Knowledge Extraction
Patterns for Future Projects
- Single-file architecture works well for simple games
- Vanilla JavaScript provides excellent performance control
- Mobile-first design ensures broad compatibility
- Structured development workflow prevents context loss
- Documentation-driven development improves long-term maintenance
Anti-Patterns Identified
- Premature optimization before core mechanics proven
- Complex architecture before understanding requirements
- Neglecting mobile experience in favor of desktop polish
- Inconsistent development practices leading to context loss
Last Updated: June 2025
Next Review: July 2025 (Monthly decision review)