> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://aidocs.ethanbragdon.icu/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Project Lifecycle

> Manage a Starfire AI project from creation through active work, maintenance, completion, archive, and deletion.

# Project lifecycle

A project usually moves through several phases even when Starfire does not expose those phases as formal status values.

## 1. Create

Define ownership, name, durable instructions, and the initial collaborators or organization context.

## 2. Build context

Add the resources the project needs:

* relevant conversations
* files
* Knowledge sources
* repositories
* research outputs
* agents or workflows

Avoid importing unrelated material simply because it might be useful someday.

## 3. Active work

Use the project as the context boundary for related Chat, Research, FORGE, and automation work.

Review project instructions whenever requirements change materially.

## 4. Maintenance

Long-running projects need maintenance:

* refresh repository Knowledge
* replace stale documents
* remove duplicated sources
* review member access
* review automation
* remove obsolete instructions
* inspect storage and artifact retention

## 5. Completion

When the main objective is complete, capture important final decisions and outputs in durable resources rather than leaving them only in one chat.

## 6. Archive

If archiving is available, archive projects that are no longer active but still valuable for reference. Archived work should remain distinct from active projects so navigation and retrieval stay focused.

## 7. Delete

Delete only when the project and dependent resources are no longer needed.

Before deletion, check:

* downloadable artifacts
* Knowledge sources
* organization ownership requirements
* automation
* developer integrations
* legal or business retention requirements that apply to your organization

<Warning>
  Deleting a project can affect access to dependent project resources. Do not treat deletion as a way to clean up a sidebar until you have reviewed what the project owns.
</Warning>