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name: structure-boundaries description: 'Use when navigation is costly or module boundaries feel blurry due to messy directories, inconsistent naming, or cross-boundary imports. Goal: make architecture and dependency direction readable from the tree and imports, with minimal churn.' metadata: short-description: Clear boundaries

Structure & Boundaries

A good project layout makes intent obvious: where code belongs, what it does, and which parts depend on which.

Core Principle

Structure should reflect responsibility and boundaries. Directories and imports should let a reader infer the architecture without opening many files.

Directory Organization

List vs Dict

Use one of these meanings per directory level.

List pattern: children are interchangeable items of the same kind. Use plural or category-like parent names.

Copyoperations/
  articles/
  comments/
  users/

Test: can you add another sibling without changing what the parent means?

Dict pattern: children are distinct roles (fixed set of responsibilities).

Copyproject/
  operations/   # business logic
  services/     # integrations / IO
  utils/        # domain-free primitives

Test: does each child have a unique, non-interchangeable purpose?

Avoid mixing both meanings at the same level.

Flat when possible

Prefer shallow trees. Add a subdirectory only when a real grouping exists (many files, or clear sub-roles).

Naming

Names assume directory context

File names should describe what it is, not repeat the directory’s meaning.

Copyoperations/articles/
  publish.py
  validate.py

Avoid vague buckets (misc, helpers, manager) unless the responsibility is truly precise.

Shared code conventions

• …kit suffix: shared code for a specific layer or domain boundary.
  • Use when code is reused across siblings within that boundary.
  • Meaning: “tooling/support code for X”, not a new domain.
• utils/: domain-free utilities only.
  • No business terms, no project-layer dependencies.
  • If something belongs to a domain or layer, prefer placing it in that domain/layer (or its …kit) instead of utils.

Imports as Boundary Signals

Imports should make relationships obvious:

• Within a boundary (same directory/subtree): use the local convention (often relative or shortest local path).
• Across boundaries (parent/sibling/other layers/domains): use explicit absolute paths to make crossing visible.
• Avoid “upward” relative imports that hide boundary crossing.

A healthy codebase tends to have a clear dependency direction (e.g., higher-level logic depends on lower-level utilities/integrations, not the reverse). Flag boundary violations.

Review Process

1. Identify the project’s main boundary axes (layer, domain). Keep one primary axis per directory level.
2. Classify each directory level as List or Dict; rename/restructure to remove ambiguity.
3. Flatten over-nesting; create subdirectories only for real grouping.
4. Fix naming to be context-aware and non-redundant.
5. Align imports so boundary crossings are visible and dependency direction is consistent.
6. Propose a minimal-change plan: smallest set of moves/renames that improves readability.

Review Checklist

• Each directory level has a single meaning: List or Dict.
• The tree makes responsibilities and boundaries obvious.
• Names are concise given directory context.
• The hierarchy is flat unless grouping is justified.
• Imports make boundary crossings and dependency direction easy to see.
• utils/ stays domain-free; shared code lives in the right …kit boundary when applicable.