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+# @targetd Development Guide
+
+## Project Overview
+
+This is a **Deno-first monorepo** for a type-safe targeting and feature flag
+system. The architecture enables dynamic content delivery based on query
+conditions, with packages distributed via JSR (JavaScript Registry).
+
+**Core concept**: Store flat key-value rules with targeting conditions, query at
+runtime to get the matching payload. Think feature flags meets content
+management.
+
+## Architecture
+
+### Package Structure
+
+- **@targetd/api** - Core in-memory data store with targeting engine. All other
+  packages depend on this.
+- **@targetd/server** - Express-based HTTP server exposing api via REST
+  endpoints
+- **@targetd/client** - Type-safe HTTP client for querying server instances
+- **@targetd/fs** - File-based rule loading (JSON/YAML) with hot-reloading
+- **@targetd/explode** - Utility to transform flat keys (`app.title`) into
+  nested objects
+- **@targetd/date-range** - Built-in targeting descriptor for date range
+  matching
+- **@targetd/json-schema** - JSON Schema generation from Zod schemas
+
+### Key Patterns
+
+**Targeting Descriptors**: Objects with `predicate`, `queryParser`, and
+`targetingParser` that define how to match query values against targeting rules.
+See
+[createTargetingDescriptor.ts](packages/api/src/createTargetingDescriptor.ts)
+and built-in predicates in
+[packages/api/src/predicates/](packages/api/src/predicates/).
+
+**PromisedData Pattern**: The `Data.create()` builder uses
+[PromisedData](packages/api/src/PromisedData.ts) to enable fluent async
+configuration before resolving to a `Data` instance.
+
+**Type Inference**: Heavy use of TypeScript's type system with Zod schemas. The
+`Data` class uses complex type inference (`DT.Meta`) to ensure payloads,
+targeting, and queries are type-safe across the API.
+
+### Creating Custom Targeting Descriptors
+
+Targeting descriptors define how query parameters match against targeting rules.
+Create custom ones for domain-specific logic:
+
+```typescript
+import { createTargetingDescriptor } from '@targetd/api'
+import { array, string } from 'zod/mini'
+
+// Simple equality check with optional query
+const customEquals = createTargetingDescriptor({
+  predicate: (query) => (target) => !query || query === target,
+  queryParser: string(),
+  targetingParser: string(),
+  requiresQuery: false, // Evaluates even without query parameter
+})
+
+// Complex async predicate (e.g., database lookup)
+const userSegment = createTargetingDescriptor({
+  predicate: (userId) => async (segment) => {
+    if (!userId) return false
+    const user = await fetchUser(userId)
+    return user.segments.includes(segment)
+  },
+  queryParser: string(),
+  requiresQuery: false,
+  targetingParser: string(),
+})
+
+// Multiple value matching with negation
+const platformMatch = {
+  predicate: (query) => (targets) => {
+    if (!query) return true
+    return targets.some((t) =>
+      t.startsWith('!') ? t.slice(1) !== query : t === query
+    )
+  },
+  queryParser: string(),
+  requiresQuery: false,
+  targetingParser: array(string()),
+}
+```
+
+See [@targetd/date-range](packages/date-range/src/index.ts) for a real-world
+example that evaluates against current time when no query is provided.
+
+## Development Workflow
+
+### Commands
+
+```bash
+# Run all tests (from root)
+deno task test
+
+# Run tests and potentially install development dependencies
+deno task test:dev
+
+# Type check all packages
+deno task check
+
+# Format code
+deno fmt
+
+# Lint code
+deno lint
+
+# Run package-specific tests
+cd packages/api && deno task test
+```
+
+### Testing
+
+- Uses **Deno's built-in test runner** (`Deno.test`)
+- Snapshot testing with `@std/testing/snapshot`
+- Tests live in `test/` directories alongside `src/`
+- Async predicates are common - see
+  [Data.test.ts](packages/api/test/Data.test.ts#L16-L20) for examples
+
+### Adding New Packages
+
+1. Create `packages/[name]/` directory
+2. Add `deno.json` with package metadata, exports, and workspace imports
+3. Add to workspace array in root `deno.json`
+4. Add to `release-please-config.json` for automated releases
+5. Add to `.release-please-manifest.json` with initial version (e.g.,
+   `"packages/[name]": "0.0.0"`)
+6. Structure: `src/index.ts` (exports), `test/*.test.ts`, `README.md`,
+   `LICENSE`, `CHANGELOG.md`
+
+## Important Conventions
+
+**Import Paths**: Use `.ts` extensions in imports, even though it's Deno. Use
+workspace references like `@targetd/api` in package dependencies.
+
+**Zod Schemas**: For new code and public examples, prefer `import { z } from 'zod'`
+for consistency with the root README and package READMEs. Some internal,
+performance-sensitive modules may instead use `zod/mini` for schemas and
+`zod/v4/core` for types; when editing those files (e.g.
+[packages/api/src/Data.ts](packages/api/src/Data.ts#L22-L25)), follow the
+existing local style.
+
+**Exports**: Each package has `src/index.ts` as the main export in `deno.json`.
+Re-export types with `export type *` and utilities appropriately.
+
+**Formatting**: Single quotes, no semicolons (enforced by `deno fmt` config).
+
+**Commits**: Conventional commits enforced via commitlint. Use `fix:`, `feat:`,
+`chore:`, etc.
+
+## Release Process
+
+- **Automated via Release Please** on pushes to `master`
+- Each package has independent versioning
+- Tags follow pattern: `@targetd/[package]-v[version]`
+- Published to **JSR** (not npm), accessible via `jsr:@targetd/[package]`
+- GitHub Actions workflow: test → release-please → publish to JSR
+
+## Common Pitfalls
+
+1. **Targeting predicates may receive undefined queries**: Predicates can see
+   `undefined` when `requiresQuery: false` or when a query key is present but
+   parsed/cast to `undefined` (for example, an empty string). Return an
+   appropriate default (often `true` or `false`) in these cases.
+
+2. **Rules order matters**: First matching rule wins. Always add fallback rules
+   (no targeting) last.
+
+3. **Type inference can be tricky**: The `Data<$>` generic carries
+   payload/targeting/query types. Use helper types in `types/` directories when
+   extending.
+
+4. **File-based rules structure**: Files must export objects where keys are
+   payload names containing `rules` arrays. See
+   [packages/fs/test/fixtures/rules/](packages/fs/test/fixtures/rules/).
+
+5. **Express middleware order**: In `@targetd/server`, query casting happens
+   before error handling. Custom middleware should follow this pattern.
+
+## Debugging Type Inference Issues
+
+The `Data<$>` generic uses complex type inference that can sometimes be
+challenging:
+
+**Strategy 1: Extract intermediate types**
+
+```typescript
+// Instead of chaining everything
+const data = await Data.create()
+  .usePayload({ foo: z.string() })
+  .useTargeting({ bar: targetIncludes(z.string()) })
+  .addRules('foo', rules)
+
+// Break it down to inspect types
+const step1 = Data.create()
+const step2 = step1.usePayload({ foo: z.string() })
+const step3 = step2.useTargeting({ bar: targetIncludes(z.string()) })
+type Step3Type = Awaited<typeof step3> // Inspect in IDE
+```
+
+**Strategy 2: Use helper types from `types/` directories**
+
+```typescript
+import type { DT, PT, QT, TT } from '@targetd/api'
+
+// Access inferred types explicitly
+type MyPayloads = PT.InferPayloads<typeof data>
+type MyQuery = QT.InferQuery<typeof data>
+type MyTargeting = TT.InferTargeting<typeof data>
+```
+
+**Strategy 3: Check Zod import paths**
+
+- Use `zod/mini` for schemas: `import { z } from 'zod/mini'`
+- Use `zod/v4/core` for types: `import type { output } from 'zod/v4/core'`
+- Mixing imports can break type inference
+
+**Common error: "Type instantiation is excessively deep"**
+
+- Usually means Zod schema is too complex or circular
+- Break complex schemas into smaller named schemas
+- Check for accidental circular references in targeting descriptors
+
+## External Dependencies
+
+- **Zod v4** - Schema validation and type inference (core dependency)
+- **Express** - HTTP server (server package only)
+- **@johngw/fs** - Author's file system utilities (fs package)
+- **fast-deep-equal** - Deep equality checks in targeting
+- **YAML** - File format support in fs loader
+
+## Quick Reference
+
+**Add a new targeting predicate**: Create in `packages/api/src/predicates/`,
+follow pattern from
+[targetIncludes.ts](packages/api/src/predicates/targetIncludes.ts).
+
+**Add middleware to server**: See
+[packages/server/src/middleware/](packages/server/src/middleware/) for examples.
+
+**Test async predicates**: Wrap predicates that return promises in `await` or
+use `setTimeout` helper - see
+[Data.test.ts](packages/api/test/Data.test.ts#L16-L20).
+
+**Transform flat keys to nested**: Use `@targetd/explode` with `.` separator to
+convert `app.title` → `{ app: { title: ... } }`.
+
+**Type-safe client queries**: Pass your `Data` instance to `Client` constructor
+for full type inference on queries and responses.