Complete this procedure in one trusted local Git repository before a SwarmCraft project exists.
Before you start
You need Visual Studio Code with the SwarmCraft extension, a signed-in SwarmCraft account, Codex or GitHub Copilot installed and signed in, and one trusted Git workspace. The repository does not need a remote, first commit, protected default branch, or clean working tree.
Deep Discovery is account-enabled during rollout. If registration is unavailable, use Deep Discovery recovery. Reinstalling cannot bypass account eligibility.
1. Choose the local AI provider
Run SwarmCraft: Choose AI Provider, then select Codex or GitHub Copilot.
Local: provider work, source files, drafts, and paths. Leaves the machine: nothing at this step. Owner review: confirm the chosen provider may process the material you expose to it. Complete: the provider works in its own chat and appears ready in SwarmCraft.
2. Start the discovery
- Open the repository folder in VS Code.
- Run
SwarmCraft: Start Deep Discovery. - Select the exact workspace if VS Code has multiple roots.
- Wait for registration and seeding to finish.
The extension opens docs/discovery/README.md, expands Deep Discovery, and attempts a local SwarmCraft: Start Deep Discovery commit containing only allowlisted seed paths. Raw sources and unrelated work are never staged.
Local: the binding, seed files, repository path, and commit. Registration sends only account-owned workspace metadata. Owner review: select the exact workspace before accepting local initialization. Complete: the guide opens and Deep Discovery appears in the sidebar. A Git failure may leave a visibly uncommitted but valid start.
3. Resume safely
Run SwarmCraft: Resume Deep Discovery or use the discovery status-bar item. Account, API-origin, and schema mismatches block instead of silently rebinding. A copied repository intentionally keeps its binding; a deleted server workspace requires a new binding without deleting local files.
Local: all discovery files. Leaves the machine: only metadata needed to verify the binding. Owner review: resolve account or environment mismatches explicitly. Complete: the sidebar returns to the last valid stage.
4. Gather and select sources
Put candidate plain-text evidence in docs/discovery/sources/. For a PDF or other binary, create a reviewed Markdown sidecar and keep the original local. Use Sources to select the exact supporting set. Start $swarmcraft-discover in Codex or /discover in Copilot, answer the four opening questions one at a time, then say gathering is complete.
Local: binary originals, unselected files, paths, and material outside the selected set. May leave through your provider: only material you deliberately expose in that provider session. Owner review: remove secrets, confirm authority, and select the exact packageable text or sidecars. Complete: Sources shows the intended set as selected and ready.
If a source is missing, stale, unsupported, or too large, use source recovery.
5. Review all nine documents
Review goals, actors, workflows, data, integrations, experience, quality and operations, decisions and risks, and acceptance scenarios. Resolve conflicts and placeholders. Each document must be reviewed or marked NOT_APPLICABLE with a justification.
Local: documents, prototype, citations, conflicts, and review state. Leaves the machine: nothing through SwarmCraft at this step. Owner review: every document needs an explicit outcome. Complete: all nine lifecycle rows show reviewed or justified with no blocking placeholder.
If a document blocks preparation, use document recovery.
6. Prepare and authorize the package
Select Prepare Discovery Package. SwarmCraft validates the binding, review state, selected-source digests, sidecars, secrets, file types, size, and estimated generation budget without calling the local provider.
swarmcraft discovery prepare --workspace .
swarmcraft discovery validate --workspace .
Inspect every included path, document and source count, byte and token estimate, and SHA-256 digest. Select Upload Discovery Package only when the preview matches your intent. Any input change requires a new preview and consent.
Local: raw binaries, excluded files, repository paths, and unrelated work. Leaves the machine: only the previewed text and metadata bound to the displayed digest. Owner review: authorize that exact digest. Complete: the sidebar offers Review Deep Discovery Pricing and Create Project and the Discoveries workspace shows the admitted package.
If preparation, upload, or generation stops, use package recovery.
Continue to project creation
Review the quote and create the project. The quote contains the 1,600-credit orchestration fee plus estimated measured server AI usage. Approval creates one project and board directly; there is no subscription, hidden Blueprint, or second board approval.