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+# CLAUDE.md
+
+This file provides guidance to Claude Code (claude.ai/code) when working with code in this repository.
+
+## Project Overview
+
+The Dedicated Admin Operator is a Kubernetes operator for OpenShift Dedicated that manages permissions via RoleBindings for all client-owned namespaces. It automatically assigns proper permissions to the `dedicated-admins` group when new namespaces are created and maintains these permissions against unauthorized removal.
+
+## Core Components
+
+### Controllers
+- **Namespace Controller** (`pkg/controller/namespace/`): Watches for new namespaces and creates RoleBindings for `admin` and `dedicated-admins-project` ClusterRoles to the `dedicated-admins` group
+- **RoleBinding Controller** (`pkg/controller/rolebinding/`): Watches for deletion of operator-owned RoleBindings and recreates them
+- **Operator Controller**: Manages resources that OLM cannot handle (Service, ServiceMonitor, ClusterRoleBinding)
+
+### Key Packages
+- `pkg/dedicatedadmin/`: Core logic for dedicated admin management and blacklist handling
+- `pkg/metrics/`: Prometheus metrics exposure
+- `config/`: Operator configuration constants
+- `cmd/manager/`: Main entry point using operator-sdk framework
+
+## Development Commands
+
+### Building and Testing
+```bash
+# Build the operator binary
+make gobuild
+
+# Run tests
+make gotest
+
+# Run Go checks (format, vet)
+make gocheck
+
+# Full test including env validation
+make test
+
+# Clean build artifacts
+make clean
+```
+
+### Docker Operations
+```bash
+# Build Docker image
+make build
+
+# Push to registry
+make push
+
+# For local testing with dirty checkout
+ALLOW_DIRTY_CHECKOUT=true make build
+```
+
+### Environment Variables
+Key Makefile variables that can be overridden:
+- `OPERATOR_NAME`: defaults to value from config/config.go
+- `OPERATOR_NAMESPACE`: defaults to value from config/config.go
+- `IMAGE_REGISTRY`: defaults to quay.io
+- `IMAGE_REPOSITORY`: defaults to $USER
+- `ALLOW_DIRTY_CHECKOUT`: set to true for local testing
+
+### SyncSet Generation
+```bash
+# Generate syncset templates (requires oyaml: pip install oyaml)
+make generate-syncset
+```
+
+## Architecture Notes
+
+### Operator SDK Framework
+This operator uses the operator-sdk framework with controller-runtime. The main entry point sets up:
+1. Manager with watch namespace from environment
+2. Scheme registration for core and monitoring APIs
+3. Controller registration via `controller.AddToManager()`
+4. Metrics startup
+5. Signal handling for graceful shutdown
+
+### Blacklist Mechanism
+The operator uses a blacklist to avoid giving admin permissions to infrastructure/cluster-admin namespaces. This blacklist is loaded from configuration and tracked in metrics.
+
+### Resource Management Philosophy
+Per README: Resources are managed externally by Hive via SelectorSyncSet rather than bundled with OLM, as OLM cannot properly update or delete bundled resources. This simplifies deployment and ensures proper reconciliation.
+
+### Manual Testing Workflow
+For testing new operator versions:
+1. Remove OLM subscription if present
+2. Build and push image with custom repository
+3. Deploy manifests with updated image reference
+4. Validate functionality
+
+## Key Files
+- `Makefile`: Main build system entry point
+- `project.mk`: Project-specific configuration
+- `standard.mk`: Standard build targets and variables
+- `manifests/`: Kubernetes resource definitions
+- `cmd/manager/main.go`: Operator entry point
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