SOP: Repository Governance Setup

SOP ID: SOP-NLT-002
Version: 1.0.0
Scope: Setting up governance stubs in a new or existing NLT repository
Authority: Joshua W. Dorsey, Sr.
Governed by: ORG-DEV-OTOI-1.0.0

Purpose

This SOP defines how to add the minimum required governance artifacts to a new or existing NeuroLift Technologies repository so that coding agents can operate correctly within it.

When to Use This SOP

• Creating a new NLT repository
• Adding governance to an existing NLT repository that lacks it
• Auditing a repo for governance compliance

Minimum Required Files per Repo

Each NLT repo should have:

Step-by-Step Procedure

Step 1: Create CLAUDE.md

Create CLAUDE.md at the repository root using the following template:

# CLAUDE.md — [REPO NAME]

You are working in a NeuroLift Technologies repository.

**Mandatory reading (in order):**
1. Repo-local governance (private, primary):
   https://github.com/NeuroLift-Technologies/haief/blob/main/NLT-DEV-OTOI.md
   Public mirror (if the link above returns 404):
   https://github.com/NeuroLift-Technologies/haief/blob/main/governance/NLT-DEV-OTOI.md
2. Internal gateway (private, primary):
   https://github.com/NeuroLift-Technologies/haief/blob/main/AGENTS.md
   Public mirror (if the link above returns 404):
   https://github.com/NeuroLift-Technologies/haief/blob/main/governance/AGENTS.md
3. Project context: `docs/context/README_TO_AI.md` (this repo, if present)
4. Active threads: `docs/active-threads.md` (this repo)

**Non-negotiable:** Joshua W. Dorsey, Sr. is final authority on all architectural,
deployment, UX, and strategic decisions. Escalate. Do not guess.

**Governed by:** Solidarity Framework | HAIEF | https://elevaitionfoundation.org
**OTOI Version:** ORG-DEV-OTOI-1.0.0

Replace [REPO NAME] with the actual repository name.

Add any project-specific context below the mandatory reading section.

Step 2: Create docs/active-threads.md

Create docs/active-threads.md with the following starting structure:

# Active Threads — [REPO NAME]

> This file tracks active work threads. Agents must read this at session start and update it during and at the end of each session.

**Last updated:** [ISO 8601 date]

---

## Active Threads

*(No active threads yet)*

---

## Resolved Threads

*(None yet)*

Step 3: Create docs/agent-log/ Directory Structure

Create the following directory structure:

docs/
└── agent-log/
    ├── README.md
    ├── registrations/     ← Agent self-registrations
    └── handoffs/          ← Handoff records between sessions

docs/agent-log/README.md content:

# Agent Log

This directory contains agent registration records and session handoff documents.

- `registrations/` — Agent self-registration files (one per session start)
- `handoffs/` — Session handoff records (written at session end)

Format reference: `NeuroLift-Technologies/haief` templates directory.

Step 4: (Optional) Create docs/escalations/ Directory

If the repo will likely generate escalations, create:

docs/
└── escalations/
    └── README.md

docs/escalations/README.md:

# Escalations

This directory contains escalation records for this repository.
Each escalation document corresponds to a GitHub issue filed via the agent-escalation template.

Format reference: `templates/escalation.md` in `NeuroLift-Technologies/haief`.

Step 5: Grant GitHub App Access to haief

Coding agents (e.g., GitHub Copilot, Codex) must be able to read the governance files in haief from within the new repository. If the GitHub App installation is scoped to “Selected repositories”, you must add haief to its access list.

1. Go to https://github.com/organizations/NeuroLift-Technologies/settings/installations
2. Find the GitHub App used by agents in this repo (e.g., Copilot, Codex) and click Configure.
3. Under Repository access → Selected repositories, add haief.
4. Click Save.

If you cannot complete this step immediately, the CLAUDE.md template above includes public mirror URLs as fallback. See docs/troubleshooting/github-app-access.md in haief for full instructions.

Step 6: Commit the Governance Setup

Commit using the format:

[AGENT_NAME] chore(governance): add repo governance stubs (ORG-DEV-OTOI-1.0.0)

Step 7: Verify

Confirm the following exist and contain correct content:

• CLAUDE.md points to NLT-DEV-OTOI.md canonical URL
• CLAUDE.md references ORG-DEV-OTOI-1.0.0
• docs/active-threads.md exists and is readable
• docs/agent-log/ directory structure created
• GitHub App has access to haief (or public mirror fallback is in place)

Validation

Run the org-level validation script to check haief is healthy:

git clone https://github.com/NeuroLift-Technologies/haief
cd haief
bash .nltotoi/scripts/validate-governance.sh