SuperClaude/CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md

Code of Conduct

🤝 Our Commitment

SuperClaude Framework is committed to fostering an inclusive, professional, and collaborative community focused on advancing AI-assisted software development. We welcome contributors of all backgrounds, experience levels, and perspectives to participate in building better development tools and workflows.

Our Mission: Create a supportive environment where software developers can learn, contribute, and innovate together while maintaining the highest standards of technical excellence and professional conduct.

Core Values: Technical merit, inclusive collaboration, continuous learning, and practical utility guide all community interactions and decisions.

🎯 Our Standards

Positive Behavior ✅

Professional Communication:

• Use clear, technical language appropriate for software development discussions
• Provide constructive feedback with specific examples and actionable suggestions
• Ask clarifying questions before making assumptions about requirements or implementations
• Share knowledge and experience to help others learn and improve

Collaborative Development:

• Focus on technical merit and project goals in all discussions and decisions
• Respect different experience levels and provide mentorship opportunities
• Acknowledge contributions and give credit where appropriate
• Participate in code review with constructive, educational feedback

Inclusive Participation:

• Welcome newcomers with patience and helpful guidance
• Use inclusive language that considers diverse backgrounds and perspectives
• Provide context and explanations for technical decisions and recommendations
• Create learning opportunities through documentation and examples

Quality Focus:

• Maintain high standards for code quality, documentation, and user experience
• Prioritize user value and practical utility in feature discussions
• Support evidence-based decision making with testing and validation
• Contribute to long-term project sustainability and maintainability

Community Building:

• Participate in discussions with good faith and positive intent
• Share workflows, patterns, and solutions that benefit the community
• Help others troubleshoot issues and learn framework capabilities
• Celebrate community achievements and milestones

Unacceptable Behavior ❌

Disrespectful Communication:

• Personal attacks, insults, or derogatory comments about individuals or groups
• Harassment, trolling, or deliberately disruptive behavior
• Discriminatory language or behavior based on personal characteristics
• Public or private harassment of community members

Unprofessional Conduct:

• Deliberately sharing misinformation or providing harmful technical advice
• Spamming, advertising unrelated products, or promotional content
• Attempting to manipulate discussions or decision-making processes
• Violating intellectual property rights or licensing terms

Destructive Behavior:

• Sabotaging project infrastructure, code, or community resources
• Intentionally introducing security vulnerabilities or malicious code
• Sharing private or confidential information without permission
• Deliberately disrupting project operations or community activities

Technical Misconduct:

• Submitting plagiarized code or claiming others' work as your own
• Knowingly providing incorrect or misleading technical information
• Ignoring security best practices or introducing unnecessary risks
• Circumventing established review processes or quality gates

Community Violations:

• Violating project licensing terms or contributor agreements
• Using community platforms for commercial promotion without permission
• Creating multiple accounts to circumvent moderation or bans
• Coordinating attacks or harassment campaigns against community members

📋 Our Responsibilities

Project Maintainers

Community Standards Enforcement:

• Monitor community interactions and maintain professional discussion standards
• Address code of conduct violations promptly and fairly
• Provide clear explanations for moderation decisions and consequences
• Ensure consistent application of community standards across all platforms

Technical Leadership:

• Maintain project quality standards through code review and architectural guidance
• Make final decisions on technical direction and feature priorities
• Ensure security best practices and responsible disclosure handling
• Coordinate release management and compatibility maintenance

Inclusive Community Building:

• Welcome new contributors and provide onboarding guidance
• Facilitate constructive discussions and help resolve technical disagreements
• Recognize and celebrate community contributions appropriately
• Create opportunities for skill development and knowledge sharing

Transparency and Communication:

• Communicate project decisions and rationale clearly to the community
• Provide regular updates on project status, roadmap, and priorities
• Respond to community questions and concerns in a timely manner
• Maintain open and accessible communication channels

Conflict Resolution:

• Address interpersonal conflicts with fairness and professionalism
• Mediate technical disagreements and help find consensus solutions
• Escalate serious violations to appropriate enforcement mechanisms
• Document decisions and maintain consistent enforcement policies

Community Members

Technical Contribution Quality:

• Follow established coding standards, testing requirements, and documentation guidelines
• Participate in code review process constructively and responsively
• Ensure contributions align with project goals and architectural principles
• Test changes thoroughly and provide clear descriptions of functionality

Professional Communication:

• Communicate respectfully and professionally in all community interactions
• Provide helpful feedback and ask clarifying questions when needed
• Share knowledge and help others learn framework capabilities
• Report technical issues with clear reproduction steps and relevant context

Community Participation:

• Read and follow project documentation, including contributing guidelines
• Respect maintainer decisions and project direction while providing constructive input
• Help newcomers learn the framework and contribute effectively
• Participate in discussions with good faith and focus on technical merit

Responsible Behavior:

• Report code of conduct violations through appropriate channels
• Respect intellectual property rights and licensing requirements
• Maintain confidentiality of private information and security-sensitive details
• Use community resources responsibly and avoid disruptive behavior

Continuous Learning:

• Stay updated on project changes, best practices, and security considerations
• Seek feedback on contributions and incorporate suggestions for improvement
• Share experiences and patterns that benefit the broader community
• Contribute to documentation and educational resources when possible

🚨 Enforcement

Reporting Issues

Reporting Channels:

Primary Contact:

• Email: anton.knoery@gmail.com (monitored by conduct team)
• Response Time: 48-72 hours for initial acknowledgment
• Confidentiality: All reports treated with appropriate discretion

Alternative Channels:

• GitHub Issues: For public discussion of community standards and policies
• Direct Contact: Individual maintainer contact for urgent situations
• Anonymous Reporting: Anonymous form available for sensitive situations

What to Include in Reports:

• Clear description of the incident or behavior
• Date, time, and location (platform/channel) where incident occurred
• Names of individuals involved (if known and relevant)
• Screenshots, links, or other evidence (if available)
• Impact on you or the community
• Previous related incidents (if applicable)

Reporting Template:

**Incident Description:**
[Clear summary of what occurred]

**Date/Time/Location:**
[When and where the incident took place]

**Individuals Involved:**
[Names or usernames of people involved]

**Evidence:**
[Links, screenshots, or other supporting information]

**Impact:**
[How this affected you or the community]

**Additional Context:**
[Any other relevant information or previous incidents]

Support for Reporters:

• Guidance on documentation and evidence collection
• Regular updates on investigation progress
• Protection from retaliation or further harassment
• Resources for additional support if needed

Investigation Process

Investigation Process:

Initial Response (24-48 hours):

• Acknowledge receipt of report to reporter
• Review submitted evidence and documentation
• Identify conduct team members for investigation (avoiding conflicts of interest)
• Take immediate action if required to prevent ongoing harm

Investigation Phase (3-7 days):

• Gather additional information and evidence as needed
• Interview relevant parties while maintaining confidentiality
• Consult with other maintainers and conduct team members
• Review similar past incidents for consistency in handling

Decision and Response (7-14 days from initial report):

• Determine whether code of conduct violation occurred
• Decide on appropriate consequences based on severity and impact
• Communicate decision to reporter and involved parties
• Implement consequences and monitoring as appropriate

Timeline Extensions:

• Complex cases may require additional investigation time
• Reporter notified of any delays with updated timeline
• Urgent cases prioritized for faster resolution
• External consultation may be sought for serious violations

Documentation and Follow-up:

• All incidents documented for pattern recognition and consistency
• Follow-up communication to ensure resolution effectiveness
• Policy updates if investigation reveals gaps or improvements needed
• Community notification for serious violations affecting project safety

Confidentiality:

• Investigation details kept confidential to protect all parties
• Information shared only with conduct team and relevant maintainers
• Public disclosure only when necessary for community safety
• Reporter identity protected unless they consent to disclosure

Possible Consequences

Consequence Levels:

Level 1: Education and Guidance

• For: Minor violations, first-time issues, misunderstandings
• Actions: Private conversation, resource sharing, clarification of expectations
• Examples: Inappropriate language, unclear communication, minor disruption
• Monitoring: Informal follow-up to ensure improvement

Level 2: Formal Warning

• For: Repeated minor violations, moderate behavioral issues
• Actions: Written warning, specific behavior changes required, defined monitoring period
• Examples: Continued disrespectful communication, ignoring feedback, minor harassment
• Monitoring: Structured check-ins and progress evaluation

Level 3: Temporary Restrictions

• For: Serious violations, repeated warnings ignored, significant disruption
• Actions: Temporary ban from specific platforms, contribution restrictions, supervision required
• Duration: 1-30 days depending on severity
• Examples: Personal attacks, deliberate misinformation, persistent harassment

Level 4: Long-term Suspension

• For: Severe violations, pattern of harmful behavior, community impact
• Actions: Extended ban from all community platforms and contribution activities
• Duration: 3-12 months with defined rehabilitation requirements
• Examples: Serious harassment, security violations, malicious code submission

Level 5: Permanent Ban

• For: Extreme violations, threats to community safety, legal violations
• Actions: Permanent removal from all community spaces and activities
• No Appeals: Reserved for the most serious violations only
• Examples: Doxxing, threats of violence, serious legal violations, coordinated attacks

Appeals Process:

• Available for Levels 2-4 within 30 days of decision
• Must include acknowledgment of behavior and improvement plan
• Reviewed by different conduct team members than original decision
• Appeals focus on process fairness and proportionality of consequences

🌍 Scope

GitHub Repositories:

• SuperClaude Framework main repository and all related repositories
• Issues, pull requests, discussions, and code review interactions
• Repository wikis, documentation, and project boards
• Release notes, commit messages, and repository metadata

Communication Platforms:

• GitHub Discussions and Issues for project-related communication
• Any official SuperClaude social media accounts or announcements
• Community forums, chat channels, or messaging platforms
• Video calls, meetings, or webinars related to the project

Events and Conferences:

• SuperClaude-sponsored events, meetups, or conference presentations
• Community workshops, training sessions, or educational events
• Online events, webinars, or live streams featuring SuperClaude
• Informal gatherings or meetups organized by community members

External Platforms:

• Stack Overflow, Reddit, or other platforms when discussing SuperClaude
• Social media interactions related to the project or community
• Blog posts, articles, or publications about SuperClaude Framework
• Professional networking platforms when representing the community

Private Communications:

• Direct messages between community members about project matters
• Email communications related to project contributions or support
• Private discussions about technical issues or collaboration
• Mentorship relationships formed through community participation

Representation Guidelines: When representing SuperClaude Framework in any capacity:

• Professional behavior expected regardless of platform or context
• Community standards apply even in informal settings
• Consider impact on project reputation and community relationships
• Seek guidance from maintainers when uncertain about representation

💬 Guidelines for Healthy Discussion

Technical Discussion Best Practices:

Focus on Merit:

• Base arguments on technical evidence, user value, and project goals
• Provide specific examples, benchmarks, or test results to support positions
• Consider multiple perspectives and trade-offs in complex decisions
• Acknowledge when you lack expertise and seek input from domain experts

Constructive Disagreement:

• Disagree with ideas and approaches, not individuals
• Explain reasoning clearly and provide alternative solutions
• Ask clarifying questions to understand different viewpoints
• Find common ground and build consensus through collaboration

Knowledge Sharing:

• Share context and background for technical decisions
• Explain concepts clearly for community members with different experience levels
• Provide links to documentation, examples, or external resources
• Contribute to collective understanding through detailed explanations

Decision Making:

• Respect maintainer authority for final technical decisions
• Provide input early in the decision process rather than after implementation
• Accept decisions gracefully while maintaining option for future discussion
• Focus on implementation quality and user impact over personal preferences

Community Discussion Guidelines:

Inclusive Participation:

• Welcome newcomers and provide context for ongoing discussions
• Use clear language and avoid excessive jargon or insider references
• Provide multiple ways to participate (writing, examples, testing, etc.)
• Encourage diverse perspectives and experience sharing

Productive Conversations:

• Stay on topic and maintain focus on actionable outcomes
• Break complex discussions into smaller, manageable topics
• Summarize long discussions and highlight key decisions or next steps
• Use threading and clear subject lines to organize related discussions

🎓 Educational Approach

Educational Philosophy:

SuperClaude Framework prioritizes education and growth over punishment when addressing community issues. We believe most conflicts arise from misunderstandings, different experience levels, or lack of context rather than malicious intent.

Learning-Focused Enforcement:

• First response focuses on education and clarification of expectations
• Provide resources and examples for better community participation
• Connect community members with mentors and learning opportunities
• Emphasize skill development and professional growth through participation

Conflict Resolution Approach:

• Address underlying causes of conflicts rather than just symptoms
• Facilitate direct communication between parties when appropriate
• Provide mediation and guidance for technical and interpersonal disagreements
• Focus on finding solutions that benefit the entire community

Progressive Development:

• Recognize that community participation skills develop over time
• Provide scaffolding and support for newcomers learning professional communication
• Create opportunities for community members to learn from mistakes
• Celebrate growth and improvement in community participation

Restorative Practices:

• Encourage acknowledgment of harm and genuine efforts to make amends
• Focus on rebuilding trust and relationships after conflicts
• Provide pathways for community members to contribute positively after violations
• Balance accountability with opportunities for redemption and growth

Community Learning:

• Use conflicts as learning opportunities for the entire community
• Share lessons learned (while protecting individual privacy)
• Update policies and practices based on community experience
• Build collective wisdom about effective collaboration and communication

📞 Contact Information

Conduct Team

Conduct Team:

• Primary Contact: anton.knoery@gmail.com
• Team Composition: Selected maintainers and community members with training in conflict resolution
• Response Time: 48-72 hours for initial acknowledgment
• Availability: Monitored continuously with escalation procedures for urgent issues

Team Responsibilities:

• Review and investigate code of conduct violation reports
• Provide guidance on community standards and policy interpretation
• Mediate conflicts and facilitate resolution between community members
• Recommend policy updates based on community needs and experiences

Expertise Areas:

• Technical Guidance: Code review standards, contribution quality, project architecture
• Community Building: Inclusive participation, mentorship, conflict resolution
• Security: Vulnerability reporting, responsible disclosure, safety protocols
• Legal Compliance: Licensing, intellectual property, harassment prevention

Confidentiality and Impartiality:

• All conduct team members trained in confidential information handling
• Recusal procedures for cases involving personal relationships or conflicts of interest
• External consultation available for complex cases requiring specialized expertise
• Regular training updates on best practices for community management

Contact Preferences:

• Email: anton.knoery@gmail.com for all formal reports and inquiries
• Anonymous: Anonymous reporting form available for sensitive situations
• Urgent: Emergency contact procedures for immediate safety concerns
• Follow-up: Scheduled check-ins for ongoing cases and policy discussions

Project Leadership

Project Leadership:

• Maintainers: @SuperClaude-Org maintainer team on GitHub
• Issues: GitHub Issues with conduct or community labels for public policy discussions
• Email: anton.knoery@gmail.com for general leadership questions

Leadership Responsibilities:

• Policy Development: Creating and updating community standards and enforcement procedures
• Strategic Direction: Ensuring community policies align with project goals and values
• Resource Allocation: Providing support and resources for community management
• Final Appeals: Serving as final authority for serious enforcement decisions

Escalation Procedures:

• Level 1: Conduct team handles day-to-day community management
• Level 2: Project maintainers involved for policy questions and serious violations
• Level 3: Project leadership council for appeals and policy changes
• External: Legal counsel or external mediation for extreme cases

Policy Questions:

• Community Standards: Interpretation of code of conduct and enforcement guidelines
• Inclusion Practices: Guidance on inclusive participation and accessibility
• Technical Standards: Integration of community standards with technical contribution requirements
• External Relations: Representation of community standards in external partnerships

Public Communication:

• Transparency: Regular updates on community health and policy effectiveness
• Education: Resources and training for community members and contributors
• Accountability: Public reporting on enforcement actions and policy changes
• Feedback: Open channels for community input on policies and procedures

🙏 Acknowledgments

Code of Conduct Sources:

This code of conduct draws inspiration from several established community standards and best practices:

Primary Sources:

• Contributor Covenant: Industry-standard framework for open source community standards
• Python Community Code of Conduct: Emphasis on technical excellence and inclusive participation
• Mozilla Community Participation Guidelines: Focus on healthy contribution and conflict resolution
• GitHub Community Guidelines: Platform-specific behavior standards and enforcement practices

Professional Standards:

• ACM Code of Ethics: Professional computing and software development standards
• IEEE Code of Ethics: Engineering ethics and professional responsibility
• Software Engineering Body of Knowledge: Best practices for collaborative software development
• Open Source Initiative: Community building and governance best practices

Academic Research:

• Diversity and Inclusion in Open Source: Research on effective inclusive community practices
• Conflict Resolution in Technical Communities: Evidence-based approaches to technical disagreement
• Psychological Safety in Teams: Creating environments for effective collaboration and learning
• Community of Practice Theory: Building knowledge-sharing communities

Legal and Compliance:

• Anti-Harassment Laws: Applicable legal standards for workplace and community behavior
• International Human Rights Standards: Universal principles for respectful interaction
• Platform Terms of Service: Compliance with GitHub and other platform community standards
• Accessibility Guidelines: Ensuring inclusive participation for diverse abilities and backgrounds

📚 Additional Resources

Community Building Resources:

Inclusive Participation:

• Mozilla's Inclusion and Diversity Guide - Practical strategies for inclusive communities
• GitHub's Open Source Guide - Community building and maintenance
• CHAOSS Diversity & Inclusion Metrics - Measuring community health and inclusion
• Turing Way Community Handbook - Collaborative research community practices

Conflict Resolution:

• Contributor Covenant Enforcement Guide - Best practices for code of conduct enforcement
• Restorative Justice in Tech - Alternative approaches to community conflict
• Crucial Conversations - Professional communication and difficult conversations
• Harvard Negotiation Project - Interest-based negotiation and conflict resolution

Bystander Intervention:

• Recognize: Identify when community standards are being violated or when someone needs support
• Assess: Evaluate the situation and determine the most appropriate response
• Act: Intervene directly, seek help from moderators, or provide support to affected parties
• Follow Up: Check on involved parties and report incidents to appropriate authorities

Professional Development:

• Software Engineering Ethics - Professional standards for computing professionals
• IEEE Computer Society Code of Ethics - Technical professional standards
• Open Source Citizenship - Responsible open source participation
• Tech Workers Coalition - Collective action and professional responsibility

Educational Resources:

• Unconscious Bias Training - Understanding and addressing implicit bias
• Active Bystander Training - Intervention strategies for harassment and discrimination
• Psychological Safety - Creating safe environments for collaboration

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Policy Maintenance:

Last Updated: December 2024 (SuperClaude Framework v4.0) Next Review: June 2025 (Semi-annual review cycle) Version: 4.1.1 (Updated for v4 community structure and governance)

Review Schedule:

• Semi-Annual Reviews: Policy effectiveness assessment and community feedback integration
• Incident-Based Updates: Policy updates following significant enforcement actions or lessons learned
• Community-Driven Changes: Updates based on community proposals and feedback
• Legal Compliance Updates: Updates to maintain compliance with changing legal standards

Change Process:

• Minor Updates: Clarifications, contact updates, and resource additions
• Major Updates: Substantial policy changes with community discussion and feedback period
• Emergency Updates: Critical changes for community safety with immediate implementation
• Community Input: Regular solicitation of feedback through surveys and open discussions

Community Acknowledgments:

SuperClaude Framework's inclusive and professional community culture benefits from the active participation of contributors who embody these values in their daily interactions and technical contributions.

Community Contributors:

• Community members who model professional communication and inclusive participation
• Contributors who provide mentorship and support to newcomers and fellow developers
• Individuals who report issues constructively and help maintain community standards
• Advocates who promote the framework and community in external venues

Positive Impact Recognition:

• GitHub Contributors - Technical and community contributions
• Community discussions highlight helpful guidance, mentorship, and collaborative problem-solving
• Regular appreciation for inclusive behavior and professional communication
• Annual community recognition for outstanding contributions to community culture

Growing Community: The SuperClaude community continues to grow through shared commitment to technical excellence, inclusive collaboration, and continuous learning. Community-focused contributions, from welcoming newcomers to facilitating productive discussions, strengthen the environment for all participants.

Join Our Community: Whether you're contributing code, improving documentation, helping others learn, or participating in discussions, your commitment to professional and inclusive behavior helps build a better software development community for everyone. Every positive interaction contributes to our collective success and the advancement of AI-assisted development tools.