---
name: MasterBooter Side Project
description: Howard's personal side project at C:\MasterBooter — Windows deployment toolkit, separate from client/MSP work. Do not mix with clients/ content.
type: project
---

MasterBooter is Howard's personal Rust + Slint Windows deployment toolkit at `C:\MasterBooter`. Single-portable-EXE targeting IT/MSP/repair-shop techs. Four modes: Backup/Restore, Windows Deploy, WinPE Builder (WinRE-based), System Prep. Public GitHub repo: `Howweird/Masterbooter`.

**Why:** Side project separate from Arizona Computer Guru client work. Howard is learning Rust through it — code is heavily commented by design. Not a commercial product yet, no paying customers.

**How to apply:**
- When Howard mentions MasterBooter, WinPE builder, winpe.rs, deploy.rs, etc., context is `C:\MasterBooter`, NOT the `clients/` folder in ClaudeTools.
- Don't log MasterBooter sessions to `clients/` — they are personal project work, not customer engagements.
- Project has its own `C:\MasterBooter\CLAUDE.md` with its own rules. Follow those when in that directory.
- Heavy comments are intentional (learning), not tech debt.

**Key docs in C:\MasterBooter:**
- `VISION.md` — goals, 4 modes
- `REQUIREMENTS.md` — feature tracking (sections 1-10 complete, Section 11 added 2026-04-17 with F1-F25 planned)
- `DECISIONS.md` — ADRs (ADR-001 through ADR-014, Rust/Slint switch is ADR-005)
- `EXPANSION_PLAN.md` — full roadmap added 2026-04-17, phased execution plan
- `TODO_CLEANUP.md` — refactor backlog from March 2026 code review
- `CHANGELOG.md` — actively maintained

**Current status (2026-04-17):** v0.2.1 released. Phase 1 reliability work starting — logging, tempfile, DISM /English, quick-xml, tests, CLI, GHA. Then 26 new features (F1-F25) across 4 tiers + tool swaps.

**Reference programs Howard studies for ideas** (all in `C:\Users\howar\ClaudeSourceFiles\` or `C:\`):
- AMPIPIT (C:\AMPIPIT) — primary Rust+Slint reference
- GhostWin — Rust WIM/deploy reference
- d7x (C:\Users\howar\ClaudeSourceFiles\d7x) — MSP tool catalog inspiration (55+ bundled tools)
- Windows Setup Helper, Unattend Generator, SysprepPreparator, PhoenixPE