# Claude Instructions for WLED Screen Controller
## CRITICAL: Git Commit and Push Policy
**🚨 NEVER CREATE COMMITS WITHOUT EXPLICIT USER APPROVAL 🚨**
**🚨 NEVER PUSH TO REMOTE WITHOUT EXPLICIT USER APPROVAL 🚨**
### Strict Rules
1. **DO NOT** create commits automatically after making changes
2. **DO NOT** commit without being explicitly instructed by the user
3. **DO NOT** push to remote repository without explicit instruction
4. **ALWAYS WAIT** for the user to review changes and ask you to commit
5. **ALWAYS ASK** if you're unsure whether to commit
### Workflow
1. Make code changes as requested
2. **STOP** - Inform user that changes are complete
3. **WAIT** - User reviews the changes
4. **ONLY IF** user explicitly says "commit" or "create a commit":
- Stage the files with `git add`
- Create the commit with a descriptive message
- **STOP** - Do NOT push
5. **ONLY IF** user explicitly says "push" or "commit and push":
- Push to remote repository
### What Counts as Explicit Approval
✅ **YES - These mean you can commit:**
- "commit"
- "create a commit"
- "commit these changes"
- "git commit"
✅ **YES - These mean you can push:**
- "push"
- "commit and push"
- "push to remote"
- "git push"
❌ **NO - These do NOT mean you should commit:**
- "that looks good"
- "thanks"
- "perfect"
- User silence after you make changes
- Completing a feature/fix
### Example Bad Behavior (DON'T DO THIS)
```
❌ User: "Fix the MSS engine test issue"
❌ Claude: [fixes the issue]
❌ Claude: [automatically commits without asking] <-- WRONG!
```
### Example Good Behavior (DO THIS)
```
✅ User: "Fix the MSS engine test issue"
✅ Claude: [fixes the issue]
✅ Claude: "I've fixed the MSS engine test issue by adding auto-initialization..."
✅ [WAITS FOR USER]
✅ User: "Looks good, commit it"
✅ Claude: [now creates the commit]
```
## IMPORTANT: Auto-Restart Server on Code Changes
**Whenever server-side Python code is modified** (any file under `/server/src/` **excluding** `/server/src/wled_controller/static/`), **automatically restart the server** so the changes take effect immediately. Do NOT wait for the user to ask for a restart.
**No restart needed for frontend-only changes.** Files under `/server/src/wled_controller/static/` (HTML, JS, CSS, JSON locale files) are served directly by FastAPI's static file handler — changes take effect on the next browser page refresh without restarting the server.
### Restart procedure
Use the PowerShell restart script — it reliably stops only the server process and starts a new detached instance:
```bash
powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "c:\Users\Alexei\Documents\wled-screen-controller\server\restart.ps1"
```
**Do NOT use** `Stop-Process -Name python` (kills unrelated Python processes like VS Code extensions) or bash background `&` jobs (get killed when the shell session ends).
## Default Config & API Key
The server configuration is in `/server/config/default_config.yaml`. The default API key for development is `development-key-change-in-production` (label: `dev`). The server runs on port **8080** by default.
## Project Structure
This is a monorepo containing:
- `/server` - Python FastAPI backend (see `server/CLAUDE.md` for detailed instructions)
- `/client` - Future frontend client (if applicable)
## Working with Server
For detailed server-specific instructions (restart policy, testing, etc.), see:
- `server/CLAUDE.md`
## UI Conventions for Dialogs
### Hints
Every form field in a modal should have a hint. Use the `.label-row` wrapper with a `?` toggle button:
```html
Hint text
```
Add hint text to both `en.json` and `ru.json` locale files using a `.hint` suffix on the label key.
### Select dropdowns
Do **not** add placeholder options like `-- Select something --`. Populate the `