Institutional Memory

The Beta Chapter

Before They Build ran as a public beta from Edition 13 through Edition 15 (spring–summer 2026). Every edition of the beta is preserved with its original number and retrospective at the beta log. The transition to Version 1.0 is described in the launch note.

Major pivots

• Newsletter → no newsletter
  We reserved a signup, then withdrew it. A civic publication is not a marketing channel.
• Accounts → local-only storage
  Local storage keeps the reader's data on the reader's device. No breach exposure, no retention burden.
• Opinion pieces → framework
  The Community Impact Review handbook replaced the impulse to take sides on individual developments.
• SaaS UI → publishing register
  Rounded cards and soft shadows gave way to serif print, hairline rules, and colophons.
• Comments/forum → corrections inbox
  Conversation lives elsewhere. We accept corrections, not comments.

Rejected ideas

Seriously considered, publicly declined. See the public roadmap for the full "Explicitly Not Doing" list.

• Push notifications.
• Social sharing buttons.
• 'Recently viewed' history.
• Author bios (everything is 'Editorial Team').
• A blog (we ship Field Reports instead).
• Ambient AI assistants.
• Points, badges, or leaderboards.

Historic bylaws

Every per-pass bylaw file from the beta chapter is preserved under mem/preferences/. Bylaws 1–41 are canonicalized in docs/v1-editorial-standards.md alongside the new Bylaws 42–49 adopted at V1.0.