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+# AGENT.md — Stacks Wars Backend
+
+Canonical docs: https://docs.stackswars.com/
+
+Do not invent architecture. Prefer docs + `sw-domain` / `sw-plugin` contracts.
+
+## Workspace
+
+| Crate | Owns |
+|-------|------|
+| `sw-domain` | Shared IDs, lobby/game/accounting DTOs |
+| `sw-plugin` | `GameFactory`, `GameEngine`, `GameHost`, registry, kit |
+| `sw-server` | Axum HTTP + WS, persistence, vault verification, host impl |
+
+Game engines live in separate crates (crates.io `sw_*`), not inside `sw-server` sources. Register them in `crates/sw-server/src/games.rs`.
+
+## Boundaries
+
+1. **Domain ownership** — types and invariants belong in `sw-domain`. Servers/plugins consume them; do not fork duplicate structs in routes.
+2. **Plugin purity** — game crates talk to the platform only through `GameHost`. No SQL, Redis, Hiro, or vault calls inside games.
+3. **One plugin identity** — do not mix path and crates.io `sw-plugin` in one build (duplicate traits). Align versions intentionally.
+4. **Event-driven rooms** — engines push state via host broadcast/send; HTTP is for auth, lobby setup, wallet, and claims — not per-move gameplay.
+
+## WebSocket
+
+- Multiplexed endpoint `/app` with topic subscriptions.
+- Game actions → `GameEngine::handle_action`.
+- Preserve existing message shapes (`camelCase`) unless coordinating a versioned break.
+
+## Transactions / vault
+
+- Paid lobbies: verify on-chain vault txs before seating.
+- Settle via `complete_match` → claim intents → client vault claim; do not invent a second payout path.
+- Respect fee/entry limits in server config.
+
+## Database
+
+- Schema changes = new migrations under `backend/migrations/`.
+- Use existing SQLx patterns; no ad-hoc dual ORMs.
+- Redis is for seats, cache, short-lived coordination — not source of truth for balances (Hiro FT is).
+
+## Games
+
+- Implement `GameFactory` + `GameEngine`; set production `dev_id` from the developer’s platform user id.
+- Register in `games.rs` and depend on the published crate version for deploy builds.
+- Details: https://docs.stackswars.com/develop/interfaces
+
+## Don’t
+
+- Publish crates under MIT; use the Stacks Wars Custom License for platform/game code.
+- Commit `.env` secrets or oracle mnemonics into the repo.