Archive
Previous documentation structures and deprecated patterns preserved for historical reference.
Previous Structure (Pre-Taxonomy Migration)
Before the taxonomy-based reorganization on 2025-09-08, QED used a three-book structure:
Book 1: Foundation Patterns
Focused on client-safe AI integration strategies for consultants.
- Basic patterns and principles
- Low-risk implementations
- Getting started guides
Book 2: Production Frameworks
Provided risk assessment and framework selection guidance.
- Framework comparisons
- Production deployment patterns
- Scaling strategies
Book 3: Advanced Integration
Covered enterprise patterns and complex scaling scenarios.
- Multi-agent systems
- Enterprise integration
- Advanced architectures
Migration Rationale
The three-book structure was replaced because:
- Linear progression didn't match usage patterns - Users needed to jump between books based on specific needs
- Risk profiles crossed book boundaries - High-risk patterns appeared in "Foundation" while low-risk patterns were in "Advanced"
- Context was more important than progression - Startups and enterprises needed different patterns regardless of "level"
- Discovery was difficult - Finding relevant patterns required checking multiple books
See ADR: Taxonomy-Based Structure (decisions/2025-09-08-taxonomy-based-structure.md) for full details.
Deprecated Patterns
Pattern: Monolithic AI Assistant
Deprecated: January 2025 Reason: Replaced by modular, composable patterns Replacement: Multi-Agent Orchestration
Pattern: Direct API Key Management
Deprecated: December 2024 Reason: Security and scalability concerns Replacement: Authentication and Identity
Pattern: Local-Only Development
Deprecated: November 2024 Reason: Team collaboration requirements Replacement: From Local to Collaborative
Historical Documents
Original Manifesto (September 2024)
The original QED vision document emphasized:
- Practitioner-first approach
- Evidence-based methodology
- Client safety and risk awareness
- No framework evangelism
These principles remain core to QED but are now expressed through:
Early Evaluation Framework (October 2024)
The initial four-tier knowledge management system:
- Research Collection
- Critical Analysis
- Proven Practice
- Decision Records
This framework evolved into the current taxonomy system with:
- Domain classification
- Risk profiles
- Context tags
- Maturity levels
Lessons from Previous Structures
What Worked
- Clear progression path for beginners
- Separation of concerns by complexity
- Strong emphasis on evidence
What Didn't Work
- Rigid linear structure
- Difficult cross-referencing
- Inconsistent risk classification
- Poor discoverability
What We Learned
- Users need multiple navigation paths
- Context matters more than complexity
- Risk should be explicitly classified
- Patterns need rich metadata
Accessing Historical Content
Previous versions of the documentation are available in git history:
# View the last commit before taxonomy migration
git checkout 667e726^
# View specific file history
git log --follow src/SUMMARY.md
# Compare old and new structures
git diff 667e726^ HEAD -- src/SUMMARY.md
Future Considerations
As QED continues to evolve, we anticipate:
Potential Enhancements
- Interactive pattern discovery tools
- Automated pattern recommendations
- Dynamic risk assessment calculators
- Pattern dependency visualization
Structural Evolution
- Graph-based navigation
- AI-powered search and filtering
- Personalized learning paths
- Community-contributed patterns
Contributing Historical Context
If you have historical context about QED's evolution:
- Document specific dates and decisions
- Provide evidence and rationale
- Link to relevant commits or issues
- Submit via repository pull request
This archive preserves QED's evolution for future reference and learning.