docs: initialize project

Visual Linux distribution customization platform with 3D builder interface, starting with Omarchy/CachyOS.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>

.planning/PROJECT.md

@@ -0,0 +1,93 @@
+# Debate
+
+## What This Is
+
+Debate is a web-based platform that lets users visually customize Linux distributions by selecting, combining, and overriding "opinions" - preconfigured choices about packages, window managers, themes, and system configurations. Users build a 3D stack of layers, resolve conflicts visually, and generate a custom bootable ISO. The platform supports saving and sharing configurations ("speeches") with the community.
+
+Starting with Omarchy (DHH's opinionated Arch/Hyprland distribution) as the first "opening statement," the long-term vision is to become the default way people get Linux - any distribution, customized to their needs.
+
+## Core Value
+
+**Make Linux customization visual and accessible to people who aren't Linux experts.**
+
+If the 3D builder doesn't make selecting and combining Linux options feel approachable and even fun, nothing else matters.
+
+## Requirements
+
+### Validated
+
+(None yet - ship to validate)
+
+### Active
+
+- [ ] 3D stack visualization for building configurations
+- [ ] Overlay system with dependency resolution and conflict detection
+- [ ] Visual conflict resolution ("objections" with concede/rebut options)
+- [ ] ISO generation from valid configurations
+- [ ] ISO caching for identical configurations
+- [ ] Save/load configurations ("speeches")
+- [ ] User accounts with authentication
+- [ ] Publish speeches with tags ("topics")
+- [ ] Browse and filter community speeches
+- [ ] Speech ratings/popularity tracking
+- [ ] Community overlay contribution workflow
+- [ ] CachyOS + Omarchy as initial opening statement
+- [ ] Hyprland platform support (from Omarchy)
+- [ ] Additional window managers (Sway, i3, KDE, COSMIC, GNOME)
+
+### Out of Scope
+
+- Mobile application - web-first, desktop browser target
+- Direct installation to hardware - users download ISO and install themselves
+- Paid/premium tiers - v1 is free to establish user base
+- Enterprise features - focus on individual users and community
+- Cross-distribution support in v1 - starting with Arch-based only (Fedora, Ubuntu etc. are future phases)
+
+## Context
+
+**Technical environment:**
+- Build server available: 6 cores, 64GB RAM, NVMe storage
+- Self-hosted infrastructure
+- Native Python/Node development with Docker for databases/services
+
+**Upstream dependencies:**
+- Omarchy (https://github.com/basecamp/omarchy) - no coordination with maintainers, independent project
+- CachyOS repositories for optimized Arch packages
+- Need to research Omarchy internals to map opinions to overlays
+
+**Market context:**
+- Growing Linux adoption driven by Windows dissatisfaction, Steam Deck success, creator influence
+- Gap exists between "overwhelming choice" and "take it or leave it" distro opinions
+- No existing tool offers visual 3D configuration building
+
+**Terminology:**
+The product uses debate/speech terminology throughout:
+- Speech = saved configuration
+- Opening statement = base distribution
+- Platform = window manager
+- Rhetoric = theming/ricing
+- Talking points = application bundles
+- Closing argument = system configuration
+- Objection = conflict detected
+- Deliver = generate ISO
+
+## Constraints
+
+- **Visual identity**: 3D visualization is the core differentiator - not optional, essential to the product
+- **Base distribution**: Starting with CachyOS/Arch only; cross-distro support deferred to future phases
+- **Build environment**: ISO builds run in sandboxed environment for security
+- **Performance**: 3D UI must run at 60fps on mid-range hardware; 2D fallback for low-end devices
+- **Independence**: No upstream coordination with Omarchy - must be resilient to their changes
+
+## Key Decisions
+
+| Decision | Rationale | Outcome |
+|----------|-----------|---------|
+| Start with Omarchy/CachyOS | Proves the concept with an explicitly "opinionated" distro; DHH's profile creates marketing hooks | - Pending |
+| 3D visualization required | Core differentiator; no existing tool offers this | - Pending |
+| Debate terminology | Creates memorable brand identity; "debate opinions" is the product concept | - Pending |
+| Self-hosted infrastructure | Build server already available; full control over build environment | - Pending |
+| Greenfield implementation | No legacy constraints; can build architecture correctly from start | - Pending |
+
+---
+*Last updated: 2026-01-25 after initialization*