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+# Status Update Checklist
+
+**Use this checklist when updating project status to ensure ALL documentation stays synchronized.**
+
+## Files to Update When Status Changes
+
+When marking a milestone as complete or updating progress, check ALL these files:
+
+### 1. RECOMMENDATIONS.md
+- [ ] Update header status line
+- [ ] Update current milestone/phase progress
+- [ ] Update "Completed Tasks" section
+- [ ] Move "Active Tasks" to "Completed Tasks" if done
+- [ ] Update "Next Focus" section
+- [ ] Update "Last Updated" date
+
+### 2. README.md
+- [ ] Update "Current Status" section
+- [ ] Update "Recent Updates" or changelog section
+- [ ] Update any progress indicators
+- [ ] Update footer status/date if present
+
+### 3. DOCS.md (if exists)
+- [ ] Update relevant phase/milestone descriptions
+- [ ] Update changelog reference
+- [ ] Update "Current Development Status" section
+
+### 4. Phase/Milestone Documentation (if exists)
+- [ ] Update status header
+- [ ] Update progress percentage
+- [ ] Update "Overall Progress" section
+- [ ] Update "Last Updated" date
+
+### 5. CHANGELOG.md (if exists)
+- [ ] Add new entry for completed work
+- [ ] Follow semantic versioning or project conventions
+
+## Quick Commands to Find Status References
+
+```bash
+# Search for progress indicators across documentation
+grep -ri "progress\|status\|complete\|in progress\|todo" \
+  RECOMMENDATIONS.md README.md DOCS.md docs/
+
+# Search for date references that may need updating
+grep -ri "last updated\|updated:\|date:" \
+  RECOMMENDATIONS.md README.md DOCS.md
+
+# Find percentage indicators
+grep -r "[0-9]\+%" RECOMMENDATIONS.md README.md DOCS.md docs/
+```
+
+## Standard Update Workflow
+
+1. **Identify** — What milestone/task was completed?
+2. **Check ALL** — Go through this entire checklist
+3. **Update** — Edit all relevant files in one batch
+4. **Verify** — Run grep commands to ensure consistency
+5. **Commit** — Single commit with all changes together
+
+```bash
+# Good workflow — atomic updates
+git add RECOMMENDATIONS.md README.md DOCS.md CHANGELOG.md docs/
+git commit -m "docs: update status for [milestone/feature] completion"
+
+# Bad workflow — fragmented updates
+git commit -m "Update RECOMMENDATIONS.md"
+# ... later notice README not updated
+git commit -m "Update README.md too"
+# ... creates inconsistent history
+```
+
+## Principles
+
+- **Atomic updates** — All status changes in one commit
+- **Consistency** — Same information across all docs
+- **Discoverability** — Users should find accurate status anywhere
+- **Traceability** — Clear commit history of progress
+
+## Customization
+
+Adapt this checklist for your project:
+
+1. **Add project-specific files** — Include any additional docs that track status
+2. **Define status indicators** — Decide on consistent progress format (%, fractions, checkboxes)
+3. **Set update triggers** — Define what events require a status update
+4. **Assign ownership** — Who is responsible for keeping docs in sync?
+
+---
+
+**Remember: When status changes, update EVERYTHING at once. No exceptions.**