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+# Claude Code Development Guide for ArchiveBox
+
+## Quick Start
+
+```bash
+# Set up dev environment
+uv sync --dev
+
+# Run tests as non-root user (required - ArchiveBox refuses to run as root)
+sudo -u testuser bash -c 'source .venv/bin/activate && python -m pytest archivebox/tests/ -v'
+```
+
+## Development Environment Setup
+
+### Prerequisites
+- Python 3.11+ (3.13 recommended)
+- uv package manager
+- A non-root user for running tests (e.g., `testuser`)
+
+### Install Dependencies
+```bash
+uv sync --dev
+```
+
+### Activate Virtual Environment
+```bash
+source .venv/bin/activate
+```
+
+## Running Tests
+
+### CRITICAL: Never Run as Root
+ArchiveBox has a root check that prevents running as root user. Always run tests as a non-root user:
+
+```bash
+# Run all migration tests
+sudo -u testuser bash -c 'source /path/to/.venv/bin/activate && python -m pytest archivebox/tests/test_migrations_*.py -v'
+
+# Run specific test file
+sudo -u testuser bash -c 'source .venv/bin/activate && python -m pytest archivebox/tests/test_migrations_08_to_09.py -v'
+
+# Run single test
+sudo -u testuser bash -c 'source .venv/bin/activate && python -m pytest archivebox/tests/test_migrations_fresh.py::TestFreshInstall::test_init_creates_database -xvs'
+```
+
+### Test File Structure
+```
+archivebox/tests/
+├── test_migrations_helpers.py    # Schemas, seeding functions, verification helpers
+├── test_migrations_fresh.py      # Fresh install tests
+├── test_migrations_04_to_09.py   # 0.4.x → 0.9.x migration tests
+├── test_migrations_07_to_09.py   # 0.7.x → 0.9.x migration tests
+└── test_migrations_08_to_09.py   # 0.8.x → 0.9.x migration tests
+```
+
+## Test Writing Standards
+
+### NO MOCKS - Real Tests Only
+Tests must exercise real code paths:
+- Create real SQLite databases with version-specific schemas
+- Seed with realistic test data
+- Run actual `python -m archivebox` commands via subprocess
+- Query SQLite directly to verify results
+
+### NO SKIPS
+Never use `@skip`, `skipTest`, or `pytest.mark.skip`. Every test must run.
+
+### Strict Assertions
+- `init` command must return exit code 0 (not `[0, 1]`)
+- Verify ALL data is preserved, not just "at least one"
+- Use exact counts (`==`) not loose bounds (`>=`)
+
+### Example Test Pattern
+```python
+def test_migration_preserves_snapshots(self):
+    """Migration should preserve all snapshots."""
+    result = run_archivebox(self.work_dir, ['init'], timeout=45)
+    self.assertEqual(result.returncode, 0, f"Init failed: {result.stderr}")
+
+    ok, msg = verify_snapshot_count(self.db_path, expected_count)
+    self.assertTrue(ok, msg)
+```
+
+## Migration Testing
+
+### Schema Versions
+- **0.4.x**: First Django version. Tags as comma-separated string, no ArchiveResult model
+- **0.7.x**: Tag model with M2M, ArchiveResult model, AutoField PKs
+- **0.8.x**: Crawl/Seed models, UUID PKs, status fields, depth/retry_at
+- **0.9.x**: Seed model removed, seed_id FK removed from Crawl
+
+### Testing a Migration Path
+1. Create SQLite DB with source version schema (from `test_migrations_helpers.py`)
+2. Seed with realistic test data using `seed_0_X_data()`
+3. Run `archivebox init` to trigger migrations
+4. Verify data preservation with `verify_*` functions
+5. Test CLI commands work post-migration (`status`, `list`, `add`, etc.)
+
+### Squashed Migrations
+When testing 0.8.x (dev branch), you must record ALL replaced migrations:
+```python
+# The squashed migration replaces these - all must be recorded
+('core', '0023_alter_archiveresult_options_archiveresult_abid_and_more'),
+('core', '0024_auto_20240513_1143'),
+# ... all 52 migrations from 0023-0074 ...
+('core', '0023_new_schema'),  # Also record the squashed migration itself
+```
+
+## Common Gotchas
+
+### 1. File Permissions
+New files created by root need permissions fixed for testuser:
+```bash
+chmod 644 archivebox/tests/test_*.py
+```
+
+### 2. DATA_DIR Environment Variable
+Tests use temp directories. The `run_archivebox()` helper sets `DATA_DIR` automatically.
+
+### 3. Extractors Disabled for Speed
+Tests disable all extractors via environment variables for faster execution:
+```python
+env['SAVE_TITLE'] = 'False'
+env['SAVE_FAVICON'] = 'False'
+# ... etc
+```
+
+### 4. Timeout Settings
+Use appropriate timeouts for migration tests (45s for init, 60s default).
+
+### 5. Circular FK References in Schemas
+SQLite handles circular references with `IF NOT EXISTS`. Order matters less than in other DBs.
+
+## Architecture Notes
+
+### Crawl Model (0.9.x)
+- Crawl groups multiple Snapshots from a single `add` command
+- Each `add` creates one Crawl with one or more Snapshots
+- Seed model was removed - crawls now store URLs directly
+
+### Migration Strategy
+- Squashed migrations for clean installs
+- Individual migrations recorded for upgrades from dev branch
+- `replaces` attribute in squashed migrations lists what they replace
+
+## Debugging Tips
+
+### Check Migration State
+```bash
+sqlite3 /path/to/index.sqlite3 "SELECT app, name FROM django_migrations WHERE app='core' ORDER BY id;"
+```
+
+### Check Table Schema
+```bash
+sqlite3 /path/to/index.sqlite3 "PRAGMA table_info(core_snapshot);"
+```
+
+### Verbose Test Output
+```bash
+sudo -u testuser bash -c 'source .venv/bin/activate && python -m pytest archivebox/tests/test_migrations_08_to_09.py -xvs 2>&1 | head -200'
+```