docs: nested CLAUDE.md via init-deep

Slim root CLAUDE.md (90 lines) and add 7 nested CLAUDE.md
files for progressive disclosure. Each nested file loads
automatically when Claude reads files in that directory.

Nested files:
- game/        scenarios + NPC phrases (source-of-truth)
- tools/       Python tooling (Runtime 3, TTS, MCP, dev CLI)
- tests/       Python unittest patterns
- specs/       contracts governance
- frontend-scratch-v2/  React 19 + Blockly + Vite (legacy)
- frontend-v3/ pnpm monorepo (production target)
- desktop/     Electron Zacus Studio (macOS)

Root CLAUDE.md gains a Where-to-Look table and pointer to
nested guidance. ESP32_ZACUS submodule is intentionally not
covered (separate repo with its own CI).

CLAUDE.md

@@ -1,93 +1,90 @@
 # CLAUDE.md
 
-This file provides guidance to Claude Code (claude.ai/code) when working with code in this repository.
+Guidance for Claude Code working in this repository.
 
 ## Overview
 
-**Le Mystère du Professeur Zacus** — hybrid educational escape room game with ESP32-S3 hardware, React authoring studio, and a portable Runtime 3 scenario engine. Scenarios are authored in YAML, compiled to a portable IR, and executed on both web and ESP32 targets.
+**Le Mystère du Professeur Zacus** — hybrid educational escape room game with ESP32-S3 hardware, React authoring studios, and a portable Runtime 3 scenario engine. Scenarios are authored in YAML, compiled to a portable IR, and executed on both web and ESP32 targets.
 
 ## Build & Test
 
 ```bash
-# Full validation pipeline
-make all-validate
+make all-validate                                # Full pipeline (scenario + audio + printables + runtime3)
+make content-checks                              # Schema validation only
 
-# Content checks (schema validation for scenarios, audio, printables)
-make content-checks
-
-# Runtime 3 — compile, simulate, verify, test
-make runtime3-compile                    # YAML → Runtime 3 IR
-make runtime3-simulate                   # simulate scenario execution
-make runtime3-verify                     # verify pivot logic
-make runtime3-test                       # Python unittest suite
-
-# Frontend (React 19 + Blockly + Vite)
-cd frontend-scratch-v2
-npm test                                 # Vitest (18 tests)
-npm run build                            # tsc -b + vite build
-npx vitest run tests/specific.test.ts    # single test
+# Runtime 3
+make runtime3-compile                            # YAML → IR
+make runtime3-simulate                           # Execute IR
+make runtime3-verify                             # Verify pivots
+make runtime3-test                               # Python unittest
 
 # Compile a specific scenario
 python3 tools/scenario/compile_runtime3.py game/scenarios/zacus_v2.yaml
 
 # Dev CLI (12 actions)
 ./tools/dev/zacus.sh content-checks
-./tools/dev/zacus.sh runtime3-compile
 ./tools/dev/zacus.sh voice-bridge start|stop|status|test
 ```
 
+Frontend, desktop, and tooling commands live in their nested CLAUDE.md.
+
 ## Architecture
 
-### Data Flow
 ```
 YAML scenario → compile_runtime3.py → Runtime 3 IR → ESP32 / Web player
                                                     ↓
                                               Voice bridge → Piper TTS (Tower:8001)
                                                     ↓
-                                              Hints engine → /hints/ask (3 puzzles, 3 levels)
+                                              Hints engine → /hints/ask
 ```
 
-### Key Components
+Key surfaces:
+- **Scenario IR**: `game/scenarios/zacus_v2.yaml` → `tools/scenario/compile_runtime3.py` → portable Runtime 3 IR. Contract: `specs/ZACUS_RUNTIME_3_SPEC.md`.
+- **Authoring**: `frontend-scratch-v2/` (legacy single-app) and `frontend-v3/` (pnpm monorepo, dashboard + editor + simulation).
+- **Firmware**: `ESP32_ZACUS/` submodule (separate repo, separate CI). Freenove ESP32-S3 + PlatformIO. NPC engine, voice pipeline, vision/QR, media manager.
+- **Voice / NPC**: Piper TTS on Tower:8001 (zacus voice = tom-medium). NPC phrases in `game/scenarios/npc_phrases.yaml`. MP3 pool generator: `tools/tts/generate_npc_pool.py`.
+- **MCP hardware**: `tools/dev/mcp_hardware_server.py` (stdio, 6 tools).
+- **Desktop hub**: `desktop/` (Electron, macOS, bundles V3 frontends, talks USB serial).
 
-- **Scenario engine**: `game/scenarios/zacus_v2.yaml` is the canonical source. Runtime 3 spec in `specs/ZACUS_RUNTIME_3_SPEC.md`.
-- **Frontend studio** (`frontend-scratch-v2/`): React 19 + Blockly 12.4 + Monaco Editor + Zod validation. Vite bundler, TypeScript.
-- **ESP32 firmware** (`ESP32_ZACUS/` submodule): Freenove ESP32-S3, PlatformIO build. Separate repo with its own CI. Contains voice pipeline scaffold, audio/vision/QR detection, media manager.
-- **Runtime 3 compiler** (`tools/scenario/compile_runtime3.py`): YAML → portable IR with pivots, zones, triggers.
-- **Voice pipeline**: Piper TTS on Tower:8001 (3 voices: zacus=tom-medium, siwis, upmc), ESP-SR for wake word. Voice bridge routes `[HINT:puzzle:level]` to hints engine.
-- **MCP hardware server** (`tools/dev/mcp_hardware_server.py`): 6 tools, stdio transport for hardware interaction.
-- **TUI dashboard** (`tools/dev/zacus_tui.py`): 12 actions, logs, CI mode.
-- **Analytics**: ESP32 module + 6 web endpoints + Dashboard UI.
-- **NPC Engine** (`ESP32_ZACUS/ui_freenove_allinone/include/npc/npc_engine.h` + `src/npc/npc_engine.cpp`): Lightweight C state machine for Professor Zacus NPC. Trigger rules (stuck timer, QR scan, fast/slow progress, hint request), mood system (neutral/impressed/worried/amused), hybrid audio routing (live Piper TTS when Tower reachable, SD card MP3 fallback). NPC phrase bank in `game/scenarios/npc_phrases.yaml`.
-- **TTS Client** (`ESP32_ZACUS/ui_freenove_allinone/include/npc/tts_client.h` + `src/npc/tts_client.cpp`): HTTP client for Piper TTS on Tower:8001 with health-check, PSRAM WAV buffer, and SD card fallback. Voice: tom-medium.
-- **NPC Phrase Bank** (`game/scenarios/npc_phrases.yaml`): All Professor Zacus lines in French, organized by category: hints (3 levels × 6 scenes), congratulations, warnings, personality comments (by mood), adaptation phrases (skip/challenge/timer), narrative bridges, false leads, and ambiance (intro/outro/idle).
-- **NPC MP3 Pool Generator** (`tools/tts/generate_npc_pool.py`): Python tool that reads `npc_phrases.yaml`, calls Piper TTS API for each phrase, writes MP3 files to `hotline_tts/`, and generates `hotline_tts/manifest.json`. Idempotent (skips already-generated files). Run: `python3 tools/tts/generate_npc_pool.py [--dry-run]`.
+## Where to Look
 
-### AI Integration
-- 6 AI agent definitions in `.github/agents/` (voice, tts, vision, hints, audio_gen, mcp)
-- Hints engine: anti-cheat, 3 difficulty levels, per-puzzle context
-- Spec: `specs/AI_INTEGRATION_SPEC.md`
+| Task | Location |
+|------|----------|
+| Edit scenarios, NPC phrases, prompts | `game/` |
+| Modify Runtime 3 compiler / validators / TTS pool / dev CLI | `tools/` |
+| Authoring UI (legacy) | `frontend-scratch-v2/` |
+| Authoring UI / dashboard / simulation (current) | `frontend-v3/` |
+| Zacus Studio macOS app | `desktop/` |
+| Add or change a contract spec | `specs/` |
+| Python tests (Runtime 3, NPC) | `tests/` |
+| Firmware code | `ESP32_ZACUS/` submodule (own repo) |
 
 ## Canonical Files
 
 | File | Role |
 |------|------|
-| `game/scenarios/zacus_v2.yaml` | Scenario source of truth (v3, Runtime 3) |
-| `game/scenarios/npc_phrases.yaml` | Professor Zacus NPC phrase bank (all categories, French) |
-| `tools/tts/generate_npc_pool.py` | NPC MP3 pool generator (Piper TTS → hotline_tts/) |
-| `specs/ZACUS_RUNTIME_3_SPEC.md` | Runtime contract definition |
+| `game/scenarios/zacus_v2.yaml` | Scenario source of truth |
+| `game/scenarios/npc_phrases.yaml` | NPC phrase bank (FR) |
+| `specs/ZACUS_RUNTIME_3_SPEC.md` | Runtime contract |
 | `specs/AI_INTEGRATION_SPEC.md` | AI layer architecture |
-| `Makefile` | Main automation entry point |
+| `Makefile` | Top-level automation |
 | `docs/QUICKSTART.md` | Getting started |
 | `docs/DEPLOYMENT_RUNBOOK.md` | Field deployment |
-| `docs/debt/codex-firmware-fixes-to-apply.md` | Pending firmware fixes (I2S, CORS, AP password) |
-
-## Language & Communication
-
-- User speaks **French**, code and docs in **English**
-- Respond in French for conversation, English for code/comments/commits
+| `docs/debt/codex-firmware-fixes-to-apply.md` | Pending firmware fixes |
 
 ## Infrastructure
 
-- **Tower** (`clems@192.168.0.120`): Piper TTS FR on port 8001
-- **KXKM-AI** (`kxkm@kxkm-ai`): RTX 4090, GPU inference
-- SSH is key-based only, never use sshpass
+- **Tower** (`clems@192.168.0.120`): Piper TTS FR on `:8001` (voices: tom-medium / siwis / upmc).
+- **KXKM-AI** (`kxkm@kxkm-ai` via Tailscale): RTX 4090, GPU inference.
+- SSH is key-based only — never `sshpass`.
+
+## Language
+
+User speaks French → respond in French. Code, comments, commits, docs → English. Full diacritics required in French.
+
+## Nested Guidance
+
+Domain-specific rules live in nested `CLAUDE.md` files and load automatically when you read files in those directories. Closest file wins. Current nested:
+
+- `game/`, `tools/`, `tests/`, `specs/`
+- `frontend-scratch-v2/`, `frontend-v3/`, `desktop/`

desktop/CLAUDE.md

@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+# Desktop — Zacus Studio
+
+macOS Electron control hub for Professeur Zacus escape room kits. Bundles the V3 frontends, talks to ESP32 over USB serial, and ships notarised universal/arm64 builds.
+
+## Layout
+
+```
+src/
+  main/              # Electron main process (Node) — IPC, serial, app lifecycle
+  preload/           # Context-bridge preload (exposes safe APIs to renderer)
+  renderer/          # React renderer (UI)
+scripts/
+  build-frontends.sh # Bundles frontend-v3 apps into resources/
+  notarize.js        # Apple notarization (post-build hook)
+resources/           # Bundled frontend artefacts + assets
+```
+
+## Commands
+
+```bash
+npm install                  # Triggers electron-builder install-app-deps + electron-rebuild
+npm run dev                  # Concurrent main + renderer
+npm run build                # tsc main + vite renderer
+npm run build:mac            # Universal (x64 + arm64) installer
+npm run build:mac-arm64      # Apple Silicon only
+npm run rebuild-native       # zacus-native addon for current Electron ABI
+```
+
+## Patterns
+
+- Three tsconfigs (`tsconfig.main.json`, `tsconfig.renderer.json`, root) — never share between processes; main and renderer have different module systems.
+- Serial port access lives in `src/main/` only. Renderer talks via `preload` IPC, never imports `serialport`.
+- Native modules (`serialport`, `zacus-native`) need rebuilding for Electron's Node ABI — run `npm run rebuild-native` after Electron upgrades.
+- Notarization requires `APPLE_ID`, `APPLE_APP_SPECIFIC_PASSWORD`, `APPLE_TEAM_ID` env vars; never commit them.
+
+## Frontend Bundle
+
+`scripts/build-frontends.sh` builds `frontend-v3/` apps and copies them into `resources/`. Run it before `electron-builder` if frontend changed.
+
+## Anti-Patterns
+
+- Calling `require('serialport')` from renderer (security: nodeIntegration must stay false)
+- Hardcoding device paths (`/dev/cu.usbserial-*`) — enumerate at runtime via `serialport.list()`
+- Skipping notarization on release builds (Gatekeeper will block)
+- Bundling V2 frontend instead of V3 — V2 is dev-only

frontend-scratch-v2/CLAUDE.md

@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+# Frontend Scratch V2
+
+Authoring studio: React 19 + Blockly 12 + Monaco Editor + Zod + Vite 7 + Vitest 3. TypeScript strict.
+
+## Layout
+
+```
+src/
+  App.tsx, main.tsx          # Entry
+  components/                # UI (scenario editor, blocks, panels)
+  lib/
+    api.ts                   # ESP32/runtime HTTP client
+    runtime3.ts              # Runtime 3 IR types + compiler bindings (TS mirror of Python)
+    scenario.ts              # Scenario YAML/JSON helpers
+    useRuntimeStore.ts       # Zustand-style runtime state hook
+  __tests__/                 # Co-located unit tests
+tests/
+  scenario-runtime3.test.ts  # Integration test against real fixtures
+```
+
+## Commands
+
+```bash
+npm run dev        # Vite dev server
+npm run build      # tsc -b && vite build
+npm test           # Vitest run (18 tests)
+npm run lint       # ESLint flat config
+```
+
+## Patterns
+
+- `lib/runtime3.ts` is the TS mirror of Python `tools/scenario/runtime3_common.py` — keep field names + optionality identical. When the Python IR changes, update both in the same PR.
+- Validate scenario imports through Zod schemas, not raw `JSON.parse` — Zod errors surface bad fixtures during dev.
+- Blockly toolbox/blocks live in `components/scenario-editor/` — register custom blocks before `Blockly.inject`.
+- Monaco editor language is YAML; load worker via Vite import, never CDN.
+
+## Tests
+
+- Vitest config inherits from `vite.config.ts`. Use `vitest run --reporter verbose` for diff output.
+- Cross-stack invariant tests (Python compile → TS replay) live in `tests/scenario-runtime3.test.ts`. Run them locally before claiming Runtime 3 work is done.
+
+## Anti-Patterns
+
+- Drifting `lib/runtime3.ts` types from the Python compiler — schedule a sync, don't bandaid
+- Calling `fetch()` outside `lib/api.ts` — keep network code centralised
+- Using `any` to escape Zod typing — narrow with `z.infer` instead
+- Importing from `frontend-v3/` packages — V2 and V3 share no runtime code

frontend-v3/CLAUDE.md

@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+# Frontend V3 (Monorepo)
+
+pnpm + turbo monorepo. Three apps + three shared packages. Node ≥20, pnpm ≥9.
+
+## Layout
+
+```
+apps/
+  dashboard/         # Live game-master dashboard (analytics, control)
+  editor/            # Scenario editor (V3 successor of frontend-scratch-v2)
+  simulation/        # Runtime simulator / playtest UI
+packages/
+  scenario-engine/   # Runtime 3 IR + execution (shared core)
+  shared/            # Cross-app utilities, types, constants
+  ui/                # Shared component library
+```
+
+## Commands
+
+```bash
+pnpm install            # Bootstrap workspace
+pnpm dev                # turbo run dev (all apps)
+pnpm --filter dashboard dev   # Single app
+pnpm build              # turbo run build
+pnpm test               # turbo run test
+pnpm typecheck          # turbo run typecheck
+pnpm lint               # turbo run lint
+```
+
+## Patterns
+
+- `scenario-engine` is the canonical TS Runtime 3 implementation. New apps consume it; do not fork the IR.
+- All cross-app types live in `packages/shared` — never copy-paste types between apps.
+- Components shared across ≥2 apps move to `packages/ui`. Keep app-local components in `apps/<app>/src/components`.
+- Turbo cache keys: ensure `inputs` in `turbo.json` cover all source paths; missing globs cause stale cache.
+
+## V2 vs V3
+
+- `frontend-scratch-v2/` is the legacy single-app Vite playground. V3 is the production target.
+- When porting features from V2, extract reusable logic into `packages/scenario-engine` or `packages/shared` first.
+- Do not symlink or import across V2/V3 boundaries.
+
+## Anti-Patterns
+
+- Adding deps to root `package.json` (use the relevant app/package)
+- Bypassing turbo with manual `tsc` invocations — breaks cache invalidation
+- Circular dependencies between packages (turbo will warn; fix immediately)
+- Publishing `packages/*` to npm — they're internal workspace-only

game/CLAUDE.md

@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+# Game Content
+
+Source-of-truth for scenarios, NPC dialogue, and prompts. Edits here propagate to firmware, frontends, and TTS pools.
+
+## Canonical Files
+
+| File | Role |
+|------|------|
+| `scenarios/zacus_v2.yaml` | Master scenario (Runtime 3 IR source) |
+| `scenarios/npc_phrases.yaml` | All Professor Zacus lines (FR), categorised |
+| `prompts/` | LLM prompt templates for hints/coherence |
+
+## Editing Rules
+
+- IDs are foreign keys: changing `puzzle.id` or `zone.id` breaks audio + printables manifests, firmware bundles, and frontend tests. Sync cross-file when renaming.
+- Never edit `exports/` or generated MD — regenerate via `tools/scenario/export_md.py`.
+- French dialogue only in `npc_phrases.yaml`; full diacritics required.
+- New NPC phrase categories must be added to schema validator and `tools/tts/generate_npc_pool.py`.
+
+## Validate Before Commit
+
+```bash
+python3 tools/scenario/validate_scenario.py scenarios/zacus_v2.yaml
+python3 tools/scenario/compile_runtime3.py scenarios/zacus_v2.yaml
+python3 tools/audio/validate_manifest.py ../audio/manifests/zacus_v2_audio.yaml
+python3 tools/printables/validate_manifest.py ../printables/manifests/zacus_v2_printables.yaml
+```
+
+## Anti-Patterns
+
+- Editing generated outputs in `exports/` instead of YAML source
+- Renaming IDs without grepping the repo for cross-references
+- Adding NPC phrases without regenerating the MP3 pool
+- Mixing French narrative with English code identifiers in YAML values

specs/CLAUDE.md

@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+# Specs
+
+Contracts between firmware, frontends, tooling, and AI agents. Treat each spec as a versioned interface — a breaking change here triggers work in 2+ subsystems.
+
+## Canonical Specs
+
+| Spec | Governs |
+|------|---------|
+| `ZACUS_RUNTIME_3_SPEC.md` | Scenario IR + execution semantics |
+| `AI_INTEGRATION_SPEC.md` | Agent layer (hints, voice, vision, TTS, audio_gen, MCP) |
+| `FIRMWARE_WEB_DATA_CONTRACT.md` | ESP32 ↔ frontend HTTP/WebSocket payloads |
+| `MCP_HARDWARE_SERVER_SPEC.md` | MCP stdio tools (6) for hardware interaction |
+| `MEDIA_MANAGER_*` | Media manager (firmware/frontend/runtime/sync) |
+| `STORY_DESIGNER_SCRATCH_LIKE_SPEC.md` | Frontend Blockly-like authoring |
+| `STORY_RUNTIME_API_JSON_CONTRACT.md` | Runtime API JSON shape |
+| `LOCAL_AI_STUDIO_SPEC.md` | Local AI studio integration |
+| `QA_TEST_MATRIX_SPEC.md` | QA matrix + acceptance criteria |
+
+## Editing Rules
+
+- A spec change is a contract change. List affected consumers in the PR description.
+- Bump the version header at the top of the file when altering existing fields; never silently rename keys.
+- New spec docs must be linked from root `CLAUDE.md` "Canonical Files" if they introduce a new contract.
+- Pair runtime/frontend spec changes — the matching `tools/scenario/compile_runtime3.py` and `frontend-scratch-v2/src/lib/runtime3.ts` updates ship in the same PR.
+
+## Anti-Patterns
+
+- "Implementation detail" comments in specs — if it's not part of the contract, remove it
+- Adding fields without specifying optionality, defaults, and version
+- Letting the IR drift between Python compiler and TS runtime without updating the spec first
+- Documenting hardware pins/ports here — they belong in `ESP32_ZACUS/` firmware sources

tests/CLAUDE.md

@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+# Tests
+
+Python unittest suite covering Runtime 3 IR, NPC engine integration, and scenario invariants.
+
+## Layout
+
+| File / Dir | Scope |
+|------------|-------|
+| `test_npc_engine.py` | NPC state machine (triggers, mood, rule firing) |
+| `test_npc_integration.py` | NPC ↔ TTS ↔ phrase bank wiring |
+| `test_npc_phrases_schema.py` | `npc_phrases.yaml` schema invariants |
+| `runtime3/` | Runtime 3 compiler/IR/pivot tests |
+
+## Running
+
+```bash
+python3 -m unittest discover -s tests           # full suite
+python3 -m unittest tests.test_npc_engine       # single module
+make runtime3-test                              # via Makefile target
+```
+
+## Patterns
+
+- Use `unittest.TestCase`, not pytest fixtures (suite is stdlib-only).
+- Load YAML fixtures from `game/scenarios/`, never inline them — tests must catch drift in real content.
+- For NPC trigger timing tests, inject a fake clock; never rely on `time.sleep`.
+- Snapshot the compiled Runtime 3 IR in `runtime3/` tests — diff failures should point at the offending pivot/zone ID.
+
+## Anti-Patterns
+
+- Mocking `compile_runtime3.py` output instead of running it on real fixtures
+- Tests that pass when YAML IDs are renamed but downstream consumers break
+- Importing from `tools/` without going through public functions
+- Suppressing UnicodeDecodeError on French content — fix the encoding instead

tools/CLAUDE.md

@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+# Tools
+
+Python tooling for scenario compilation, validation, voice pipeline, MCP hardware, and dev workflow.
+
+## Layout
+
+| Subdir | Purpose |
+|--------|---------|
+| `scenario/` | Runtime 3 compiler, validator, simulator, pivot verifier, MD/firmware exporters |
+| `audio/` | Audio manifest validator |
+| `printables/` | Printables manifest validator |
+| `tts/` | NPC phrase pool generator (Piper TTS → `hotline_tts/`) |
+| `stt/` | Speech-to-text helpers |
+| `dev/` | TUI dashboard, MCP hardware server, `zacus.sh` CLI (12 actions) |
+| `playtest/` | Playtest harness |
+| `setup/`, `repo_state/`, `requirements/`, `images/`, `test/` | Auxiliary |
+
+## Conventions
+
+- Every script accepts `--help` (argparse). Run it before invoking with new args.
+- Idempotent by default — generators (e.g. `tts/generate_npc_pool.py`) skip already-produced artefacts. Add `--force` flags rather than breaking idempotency.
+- Scripts run from repo root; use repo-relative paths via `pathlib.Path(__file__).resolve().parents[N]`.
+- All scenario tools share `scenario/runtime3_common.py` for IR types — extend it, don't redefine types per script.
+
+## Validate Changes
+
+```bash
+python3 -m py_compile <changed_files>
+python3 tools/scenario/<changed_script>.py --help
+make all-validate                          # if scenario tools changed
+python3 -m unittest discover -s tests      # if NPC/runtime touched
+```
+
+## Anti-Patterns
+
+- Hardcoding machine-specific paths/ports (Tower IP `192.168.0.120` is acceptable but should be overridable via env)
+- Requiring chat interaction when a local prompt/script wait suffices
+- Diverging IR shape between `compile_runtime3.py` and `runtime3_common.py`
+- Adding new validators without wiring them into `Makefile` `all-validate`
+- Writing to `game/scenarios/exports/` directly — only `export_md.py` does that