project

Type: noun
Register: technical, operator
Domain: platform-wide

Definition

An overarching goal that houses kanban boards, user stories, and architecture notes together. A project is the container that gives meaning to all the work inside it — the boards implement the stories through the architecture, and the project is why they exist.

Properties

• Overarching goal — a project exists because something needs to exist in the world (Westside basketball program management, pal-e-docs knowledge platform, MCD expense tracking)
• Houses kanbans — one or more permanent boards that implement the project's user stories. Boards are the execution vehicles.
• Has user stories — what users need, indexed on the project page as user-story notes
• Has architecture — how the system is shaped, three diagram notes (domain, dataflow, deployment)
• Has repos — where the code lives. A project may span multiple repos ({project}-app, {project}-api, {project}-playground)
• Has a project page — the entry point note (project-{slug}) that ties everything together

Why it matters

Without a project, boards are disconnected task lists. User stories float without context. Architecture diagrams describe nothing. The project is the goal that gives all of these purpose. When you ask "why does this board exist?" the answer is the project.

Distinguishes from

Term	Difference
board	A board is an implementation vehicle WITHIN a project. A project houses one or more boards. See definition-board.
repo	A repo is where code lives. A project may have multiple repos. Repos are tools; the project is the goal.
plan	Deprecated. Plans were the old decomposition tool. Boards replaced them. See convention-kanban-over-plans.

Examples

• westside-basketball — Westside Kings & Queens program management. Multiple boards, 10+ repos, 30+ user stories.
• pal-e-docs — Knowledge platform. Boards for API work, app work, agency work.
• twitch-2k-wager — PlayMe2K wager platform.

Relations

• houses: board (one or more)
• houses: user story (indexed on project page)
• houses: architecture notes (domain, dataflow, deployment)
• contains: repos