Garage Construction Project

Documentation System Development - Session Notes

6 min read

Documentation System Development - Session Notes

Current Status (2025-10-22 Evening)

Completed This Session

1. Spelling Corrections

  • ✅ Fixed “Cratherm” → “Creatherm” across 11 files
  • ✅ Updated all references in main documents and photo descriptions
  • Files corrected:
    • Timeline.md
    • Construction Videos.md
    • Initial Build.md
    • Hershberger’s Contract.md
    • HVAC Strategy.md
    • index.md
    • 7 photo documentation files

2. Product Documentation System

  • ✅ Created comprehensive 30-Vendors & Contacts/Products Used.md
  • ✅ Documented 14+ products with full specifications:
    • Creatherm radiant floor panels
    • Burnished Slate metal roofing
    • Dutch Lap Herringbone siding
    • Genie 6170 jackshaft garage door openers
    • Versetta Ledgestone (Plum Creek) stone veneer
    • Oxygen barrier PEX tubing
    • Mitsubishi MXZ Hyper-Heat mini-split system
    • PEX components and fittings
    • Structural materials
    • Utility infrastructure
  • ✅ Added manufacturer links and specifications
  • ✅ Created inline product links in key documents:
    • Initial Build.md
    • Hershberger’s Contract.md
    • HVAC Strategy.md
    • index.md

3. Documentation System Guide

Created comprehensive 7-document guide in 90-Reference/Documentation System Guide/:

00 - Overview.md

  • System introduction and benefits
  • Real-world example from garage project
  • Component overview
  • Success metrics

01 - Obsidian Setup and Configuration.md

  • Installation steps
  • Essential plugins setup
  • Configuration recommendations
  • Template creation
  • Git integration

02 - Vault Structure and Organization.md

  • Phase-based organization principles
  • Complete folder structure breakdown
  • File naming conventions
  • Tag strategies
  • Scaling guidelines

03 - Web Publishing with Quartz.md

  • Quartz installation and configuration
  • GitHub Pages deployment
  • Customization options
  • Troubleshooting

04 - Documentation Workflows.md

  • Meeting documentation workflow
  • Decision documentation process
  • Photo documentation step-by-step
  • Vendor/order tracking
  • Product specification workflow
  • Progress updates
  • Time-lapse video integration

05 - AI Integration and Automation.md

  • Claude Code integration
  • AI-assisted workflows
  • Photo analysis automation
  • Product research
  • Time savings metrics
  • Security considerations

06 - Advanced Features and Best Practices.md

  • Advanced Dataview queries
  • Graph view optimization
  • Performance tuning
  • Backup strategies
  • Lessons learned
  • Best practices checklist

Guide Statistics:

  • ~15,000 words of detailed documentation
  • 100+ code examples and configurations
  • 50+ real-world examples from garage project
  • Complete workflows for common tasks
  • Troubleshooting guides

4. Git Commits

  • ✅ Commit 1d8941f: “fix: correct Creatherm spelling and add product documentation”
  • ✅ Commit 9ef154b: “docs: add comprehensive Documentation System Guide”

Current Branch

  • Branch: feature/web-presentation
  • Status: All changes committed
  • Ready for: Merge to main or continue development

Next Steps & Recommendations

Immediate Next Steps (High Priority)

  1. Privacy & Security Review

    • Review PII Audit Report in 90-Reference/PII Audit Report.md
    • Decide which files/content to exclude from public site
    • Manually review 13 image files in pictures/ directory for sensitive content
    • Update quartz.config.ts with ignore patterns for sensitive content
    • Test build to verify sensitive content is excluded

  2. Construction Progress

    • Verify pressure test results (24-hour hold at 60-70 PSI)
    • Install ½” PEX conduit for slab temperature sensor
    • Document pressure test completion
    • Take photos of pre-pour status
    • Update construction progress when concrete poured

  3. Documentation Maintenance

    • Review and publish Documentation System Guide (consider if it should be public or private)
    • Update timeline with today’s documentation work
    • Consider creating index page for Documentation System Guide

  4. Web Publishing

    • Build and preview Quartz site with new documentation
    • Verify all new product links work correctly
    • Test Documentation System Guide rendering
    • Deploy updates to GitHub Pages

Medium Priority

  1. Documentation System Enhancements

    • Create template vault based on this project for future use
    • Add quick-start guide for new users
    • Create video walkthrough of the documentation system
    • Write blog post about the system (optional)

  2. Product Documentation

    • Research and add any missing products as they’re specified
    • Add product links for items currently marked “TBD”
    • Consider adding product comparison notes (e.g., why Genie vs. Chamberlain)

  3. Photo Documentation

    • Continue documenting construction progress with photos
    • Use AI to generate initial photo descriptions (saves 20-30 min per photo)
    • Create photo galleries by construction phase
    • Add before/after comparisons

Future Enhancements

  1. Advanced Features

    • Implement advanced Dataview queries from guide
    • Create dashboard with key metrics (budget, timeline, completion %)
    • Add Gantt chart visualization (via plugin or external tool)
    • Integrate with project management tools if needed

  2. Sharing & Collaboration

    • Share Documentation System Guide with community
    • Create GitHub template repository for others to use
    • Write case study for Obsidian forums
    • Consider presenting at local maker/builder meetup

Technical Notes

File Locations

  • Products Used: content/30-Vendors & Contacts/Products Used.md
  • Documentation Guide: content/90-Reference/Documentation System Guide/
  • Session Notes: content/90-Reference/Documentation System Guide/SESSION-NOTES.md (this file)
  • PII Audit Report: content/90-Reference/PII Audit Report.md - Comprehensive privacy analysis

Key Patterns Established

  • Product Documentation: Centralized in Products Used page with manufacturer links
  • Inline Linking: Product names link to Products Used page for easy reference
  • AI Assistance: Claude Code saves ~30-45 hours on documentation tasks
  • Photo Workflow: Photo file + matching .md description file
  • Naming Convention: Consistent patterns across all document types

Configuration Files

  • CLAUDE.md: AI assistant instructions (project-specific)
  • quartz.config.ts: Quartz configuration for web publishing
  • .gitignore: Excludes Templates, .obsidian, ChatGPT Summaries from web

Git Workflow

  • Branch: feature/web-presentation
  • Commits: Use conventional commit format (feat:, fix:, docs:, etc.)
  • Co-authoring: Include Claude Code attribution in commits

Questions to Consider

For Next Session

  1. Documentation Guide Visibility

    • Should Documentation System Guide be public or private?
    • Add to main index page as a featured resource?
    • Create separate “Guide” section in navigation?

  2. Product Documentation Strategy

    • Continue adding products as project progresses?
    • Add cost information (requires privacy consideration)?
    • Include vendor performance notes?

  3. Web Publishing Updates

    • Deploy latest changes to GitHub Pages?
    • Update homepage to highlight Documentation System Guide?
    • Add search functionality customization?

  4. AI Integration

    • Document specific Claude Code prompts used?
    • Create prompt library for common tasks?
    • Add examples of AI-generated vs human-edited content?

Resources for Continuation

Key Documents to Reference

External Resources

Time Investment Today

  • Spelling corrections: ~15 minutes
  • Product documentation creation: ~90 minutes
  • Documentation System Guide writing: ~3 hours
  • Total: ~4.5 hours

Value Generated

  • Complete product catalog with manufacturer links
  • Comprehensive guide enabling system replication
  • Corrected terminology across all documents
  • Foundation for sharing knowledge with community
  • Estimated future time savings: 40+ hours for similar projects

Notes for Claude Code

Context for Future Sessions

This session focused on:

  1. Correcting product name spelling (Creatherm)
  2. Creating comprehensive product documentation
  3. Building complete Documentation System Guide

The vault now has:

  • Clean, consistent product naming
  • Centralized product specifications with manufacturer links
  • Complete guide for others to replicate this documentation approach
  • All changes committed to feature/web-presentation branch

Patterns Established

  • Use Products Used page as central product catalog
  • Link product names inline to Products Used entries
  • Include manufacturer links and specifications
  • Cross-reference related documents
  • Maintain real-world examples in guides

AI Assistance Approach

  • Provide context and examples
  • Reference existing patterns
  • Review and verify all output
  • Iterate for improvements
  • Document time savings

Summary

Session Goals: ✅ All Completed

  1. ✅ Fix Creatherm spelling across vault
  2. ✅ Create comprehensive product documentation system
  3. ✅ Build replicable Documentation System Guide

Key Achievement: Created complete, professional guide enabling anyone to replicate this documentation approach for their own complex projects.

Ready for Next Session: Construction progress updates, web publishing, and continued refinement.

Session completed: 2025-10-22 11:30 PM Next session: Resume with construction updates and web publishing deployment

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