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+# Phase 7: GitOps Foundation - Context
+
+**Gathered:** 2026-02-03
+**Status:** Ready for planning
+
+
+## Phase Boundary
+
+Register TaskPlanner with existing ArgoCD installation and verify GitOps workflow. ArgoCD server is already running and accessible — this phase applies the Application manifest and confirms auto-sync, self-heal, and deployment triggering work correctly.
+
+
+
+
+## Implementation Decisions
+
+### Infrastructure State
+- ArgoCD already installed and running in `argocd` namespace
+- UI accessible at argocd.kube2.tricnet.de (TLS configured)
+- Gitea repo credentials exist (`gitea-repo` secret) — same user can access TaskPlanner repo
+- Application manifest exists at `argocd/application.yaml` with auto-sync and self-heal enabled
+
+### What This Phase Delivers
+- Apply existing `argocd/application.yaml` to register TaskPlanner
+- Verify Application shows "Synced" status in ArgoCD UI
+- Verify auto-deploy: push to helm/taskplaner/values.yaml triggers deployment
+- Verify self-heal: manual pod deletion restores to Git state
+
+### Repository Configuration
+- Repo URL: https://git.kube2.tricnet.de/tho/taskplaner.git
+- Use existing Gitea credentials (same user works for all repos)
+- Internal cluster URL may be needed if external URL has issues
+
+### Claude's Discretion
+- Whether to add repo credentials specifically for TaskPlanner or rely on existing
+- Exact verification test approach
+- Any cleanup of placeholder values in application.yaml (e.g., registry secret)
+
+
+
+
+## Specific Ideas
+
+- The `argocd/application.yaml` has a placeholder for registry secret that needs real credentials
+- Sync policy already configured: automated prune + selfHeal
+- No webhook setup needed for now — 3-minute polling is acceptable
+
+
+
+
+## Deferred Ideas
+
+None — discussion stayed within phase scope.
+
+
+
+---
+
+*Phase: 07-gitops-foundation*
+*Context gathered: 2026-02-03*