claudetools/.claude/memory/proposal_identity_centralization.md

Proposal: Centralize Machine-Specific Config in identity.json

Problem

Machine-specific settings are scattered across scripts with repeated detection logic:

• Ollama endpoint probed with curl on every use
• Python interpreter tried in sequence (py, python3, python)
• Hostname detection ($COMPUTERNAME vs hostname)
• Platform-specific path guessing

Solution

Store all machine-specific config in identity.json. Scripts read once, no probing.

Proposed Schema (Full)

{
  "user": "mike",
  "full_name": "Mike Swanson",
  "email": "mike@azcomputerguru.com",
  "role": "admin",
  "machine": "GURU-5070",
  "platform": "windows",
  "architecture": "amd64",

  "paths": {
    "claudetools_root": "D:/claudetools",
    "vault_path": "D:/vault"
  },

  "python": {
    "command": "py"
  },

  "ollama": {
    "endpoint": "http://localhost:11434",
    "fallback": "http://100.101.122.4:11434",
    "prose_model": "qwen3:8b"
  },

  "mode": "general",
  "last_updated": "2026-05-26T19:00:00Z"
}

Ollama Integration (Current vs Proposed)

Current (OLLAMA.md pattern):

if curl -s -m 2 http://localhost:11434/api/tags >/dev/null 2>&1; then
    OLLAMA="http://localhost:11434"
else
    OLLAMA="http://100.101.122.4:11434"  # Beast via Tailscale
fi

Proposed:

OLLAMA=$(jq -r '.ollama.endpoint // "http://100.101.122.4:11434"' "$IDENTITY_PATH")

Validation script (run during onboarding or manually):

# .claude/scripts/validate-ollama.sh
ENDPOINT=$(jq -r '.ollama.endpoint' .claude/identity.json)
if ! curl -s -m 2 "$ENDPOINT/api/tags" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
    echo "[WARNING] Ollama endpoint $ENDPOINT unreachable"
    FALLBACK=$(jq -r '.ollama.fallback' .claude/identity.json)
    echo "Trying fallback: $FALLBACK"
    if curl -s -m 2 "$FALLBACK/api/tags" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
        echo "Fallback works. Update identity.json endpoint to: $FALLBACK"
    fi
fi

Per-Machine Config Examples

GURU-5070 (Mike's primary, Windows):

{
  "ollama": {
    "endpoint": "http://localhost:11434",
    "fallback": "http://100.101.122.4:11434",
    "prose_model": "qwen3:8b"
  },
  "python": {"command": "py"},
  "platform": "windows"
}

GURU-BEAST-ROG (always-on Ollama host):

{
  "ollama": {
    "endpoint": "http://localhost:11434",
    "fallback": "http://localhost:11434",
    "prose_model": "qwen3:14b"
  },
  "python": {"command": "python3"},
  "platform": "windows"
}

GURU-KALI (no local Ollama, remote only):

{
  "ollama": {
    "endpoint": "http://100.101.122.4:11434",
    "fallback": "http://100.101.122.4:11434",
    "prose_model": "qwen3:14b"
  },
  "python": {"command": "python3"},
  "platform": "linux"
}

Howard-Home (local Ollama):

{
  "ollama": {
    "endpoint": "http://localhost:11434",
    "fallback": "http://100.101.122.4:11434",
    "prose_model": "qwen3:14b"
  },
  "python": {"command": "python3"},
  "platform": "windows"
}

Migration Path

1. Add fields to identity.json template in CLAUDE.md onboarding
2. Send coord message to all machines: "Update identity.json with Ollama/Python config"
3. Each machine runs validation script, auto-detects, writes config
4. Update syncro.md, OLLAMA.md, sync.sh to read from identity.json
5. Remove detection logic from scripts

Benefits

• Faster: No curl probe on every Ollama call (saves 2 seconds)
• Explicit: Machine declares "I use local Ollama" vs "I use remote"
• Auditable: cat .claude/identity.json shows full machine config
• Consistent: Same pattern as claudetools_root / vault_path (already working)
• Offline-safe: Scripts work without network probe (use declared endpoint)

Rollout

Use coord API to send migration instructions to each machine (same pattern as claudetools_root rollout today).