phg/hosts-go
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hosts-go/memory-bank/productContext.md
phg d66ec51ebd feat: Initialize hosts-go project with foundational structure and core functionality 
- Created activeContext.md and productContext.md to outline project goals and current focus.
- Established progress.md to track project milestones and tasks.
- Developed projectbrief.md detailing application overview, requirements, and directory structure.
- Documented systemPatterns.md to describe architecture and design patterns used.
- Compiled techContext.md to specify technologies and development setup.
- Implemented comprehensive unit tests in models_test.go for HostEntry and HostsFile functionalities.
2025-08-12 22:41:33 +02:00

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Product Context: hosts-go

Why This Project Exists

The /etc/hosts file is a critical system file that maps hostnames to IP addresses, but managing it manually is cumbersome and error-prone. Users currently face several pain points:

  • Manual editing: Requires opening /etc/hosts in a text editor with sudo privileges
  • Format preservation: Easy to accidentally break formatting or lose comments
  • Entry management: No easy way to temporarily disable entries without deleting them
  • DNS resolution: Manual IP address updates when hostnames change
  • Organization: No built-in sorting or reordering capabilities

Problems It Solves

  1. Safe editing: Provides a structured interface that validates changes before writing
  2. Entry activation: Toggle entries on/off without losing the configuration
  3. Organization: Sort and reorder entries intuitively
  4. DNS integration: Automatically resolve hostnames to current IP addresses
  5. Comment preservation: Maintain documentation alongside entries
  6. Permission handling: Only request sudo access when actually editing

How It Should Work

Core User Experience

  • View mode by default: Browse entries safely without modification risk
  • Explicit edit mode: Clear transition to editing with permission request
  • Two-pane interface: List view + detail view for efficient navigation
  • Keyboard-driven: Fast navigation and actions via keyboard shortcuts
  • Visual feedback: Clear indicators for active/inactive entries and changes

Key Workflows

  1. Browse entries: Launch app, see all current hosts entries with status
  2. Quick activation: Toggle entries on/off with simple keypress
  3. Edit existing: Select entry, enter edit mode, modify details
  4. Add new: Create new hostname mappings with validation
  5. DNS resolution: Update IP addresses automatically from DNS
  6. Reorder entries: Drag/move entries to organize logically

User Experience Goals

Immediate Value

  • Zero learning curve: Intuitive interface familiar to CLI users
  • Safety first: Hard to accidentally break the hosts file
  • Speed: Faster than manual editing for common tasks

Long-term Benefits

  • Organized hosts: Keep entries structured and documented
  • Confidence: Know changes are validated before applied
  • Efficiency: Common tasks become single keystrokes

Target Users

  • Developers: Managing local development environments
  • System administrators: Bulk hosts file management
  • Network engineers: Testing connectivity and DNS overrides
  • Security professionals: Blocking/redirecting malicious domains

Success Metrics

  • Users prefer this tool over manual /etc/hosts editing
  • Reduces hosts file corruption incidents
  • Speeds up common host management tasks
  • Provides confidence in making changes