StarPunk/docs/decisions/ADR-015-phase-5-implementation-approach.md

ADR-015: Phase 5 Implementation Approach

Status

Accepted

Context

The development team requested clarification on two implementation decisions for Phase 5:

1. Version numbering progression from current 0.5.1
2. Git workflow for implementing Phase 5 features

These decisions needed to be documented to ensure consistent implementation and provide clear guidance for future phases.

Decision

Version Numbering

We will increment the version directly from 0.5.1 to 0.6.0, skipping any intermediate patch versions (e.g., 0.5.2).

Git Workflow

We will use a feature branch named feature/phase-5-rss-container for all Phase 5 development work.

Rationale

Version Numbering Rationale

1. Semantic Versioning Compliance: Phase 5 introduces significant new functionality (RSS feeds and production containerization), which according to semantic versioning warrants a minor version bump (0.5.x → 0.6.0).

2. Clean Version History: Jumping directly to 0.6.0 avoids creating intermediate versions that don't represent meaningful release points.

3. Feature Significance: RSS feed generation and production containerization are substantial features that justify a full minor version increment.

4. Project Standards: This aligns with our versioning strategy documented in /docs/standards/versioning-strategy.md where minor versions indicate new features.

Git Workflow Rationale

1. Clean History: Using a feature branch keeps the main branch stable and provides a clear history of when Phase 5 was integrated.

2. Easier Rollback: If issues are discovered, the entire Phase 5 implementation can be rolled back by reverting a single merge commit.

3. Code Review: A feature branch enables proper PR review before merging to main, ensuring quality control.

4. Project Standards: This follows our git branching strategy for larger features as documented in /docs/standards/git-branching-strategy.md.

5. Testing Isolation: All Phase 5 work can be tested in isolation before affecting the main branch.

Consequences

Positive Consequences

• Clear version progression that reflects feature significance
• Clean git history with logical grouping of related commits
• Ability to review Phase 5 as a cohesive unit
• Simplified rollback if needed
• Consistent with project standards

Negative Consequences

• Feature branch may diverge from main if Phase 5 takes extended time (mitigated by regular rebasing)
• No intermediate release points during Phase 5 development

Neutral Consequences

• Developers must remember to work on feature branch, not main
• Version 0.5.2 through 0.5.9 will be skipped in version history

Alternatives Considered

Version Numbering Alternatives

1. Incremental Patches: Create 0.5.2 for RSS, 0.5.3 for container, etc.

   • Rejected: Creates unnecessary version proliferation for work that is part of a single phase

2. Jump to 1.0.0: Mark Phase 5 completion as V1 release

   • Rejected: V1 requires Micropub implementation (Phase 6) per project requirements

Git Workflow Alternatives

1. Direct to Main: Implement directly on main branch

   • Rejected: No isolation, harder rollback, messier history

2. Multiple Feature Branches: Separate branches for RSS and container

   • Rejected: These features are part of the same phase and should be reviewed together

3. Long-lived Development Branch: Create a develop branch

   • Rejected: Adds unnecessary complexity for a small project

Implementation Notes

The developer should:

1. Create feature branch: git checkout -b feature/phase-5-rss-container
2. Update version in starpunk/__init__.py from "0.5.1" to "0.6.0" as first commit
3. Implement all Phase 5 features on this branch
4. Create PR when complete for review
5. Merge to main via PR
6. Tag release after merge: git tag -a v0.6.0 -m "Release 0.6.0: RSS feed and production container"

References

• Versioning Strategy
• Git Branching Strategy
• Phase 5 Design
• Phase 5 Quick Reference

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Date: 2025-11-19 Author: StarPunk Architect Phase: 5