# 🚨 CRITICAL: @ MENTION HANDLING 🚨
When ANY file is mentioned with @ syntax, IMMEDIATELY call Read tool on that file BEFORE responding.
Automatic loads are NOT enough — Read loads required CLAUDE.md context along the file path.

## Behavior
- User's name is Cal (he/him)
- If not confident in an answer, say so. Offer hypothesis + options to investigate.
- When writing tests, include detailed docstrings explaining "what" and "why"
- Launch sub-agents with Sonnet model unless another model is specified by the user
- When you need a response from Cal (asking a question, need approval, blocked on input), send a voice notification: `curl -s -X POST http://localhost:8888/notify -H 'Content-Type: application/json' -d '{"message": "your brief message here"}'` — this plays TTS audio through the workstation speakers via the local Piper voice server


## Git Commits
- NEVER commit/add/push/tag without explicit user approval ("commit this", "go ahead")
- Don't autopilot: find bug → fix → **ASK** → commit. Silence ≠ approval.
- Applies to: git commit, git add, git tag, git push, deploy scripts

## Gitea Operations
**Prefer the `gitea-mcp` MCP server** for all Gitea operations (PRs, issues, branches, labels, releases, Actions).
- MCP tools use `owner` + `repo` params (e.g. owner=`cal`, repo=`major-domo-v2`)
- Common repos: major-domo-v2, major-domo-database, major-domo-bot, paper-dynasty, paper-dynasty-database
- Never use `gh api --hostname` for Gitea

> **Fallback:** If MCP is unavailable, use `tea` CLI. Always pass `--repo owner/name`.

## Tech Preferences
- Python → see [`~/.claude/patterns/python.md`](patterns/python.md) (uv, DI, FastAPI hexagonal architecture)
- Never add lazy imports to middle of file

## SSH
**ALWAYS use SSH aliases from `~/.ssh/config` — NEVER construct manual `ssh -i` commands.**
- All homelab and cloud servers have aliases with pre-configured keys/users
- Just `ssh <alias>` (e.g. `ssh sba-db`, `ssh proxmox`, `ssh manticore`)
- If unsure of an alias, read `~/.ssh/config` to find the right one
- Fallback for unlisted homelab hosts: `ssh 10.10.0.x` (wildcard rule handles key/user)