ai-conversation-impact/plans/publish-methodology.md

# Plan: Publish the impact methodology

**Target sub-goals**: 7 (multiply impact through reach), 12 (honest arithmetic)

## Problem

The impact methodology in `impact-methodology.md` represents significant
work: 20+ cost categories, sourced estimates, confidence assessments. But
it currently sits in a local directory benefiting no one else. Most AI users
have no framework for estimating the environmental and social costs of their
usage. Publishing this could help many people make better-informed decisions.

## Completed prerequisites

- [x] Clean up methodology for external readers (task 1)
- [x] Add CC0 license (task 2)
- [x] Package reusable toolkit (tasks 3, 4)

## Infrastructure: Forgejo on Scaleway VPS (51.15.46.65, Debian Trixie)

### 1. Install Forgejo via apt

```bash
curl https://code.forgejo.org/api/packages/apt/debian/repository.key \
  -o /etc/apt/keyrings/forgejo-apt.asc

echo "deb [signed-by=/etc/apt/keyrings/forgejo-apt.asc] \
  https://code.forgejo.org/api/packages/apt/debian lts main" \
  > /etc/apt/sources.list.d/forgejo.list

apt update
apt install forgejo-sqlite
```

The `forgejo-sqlite` package includes systemd integration and creates the
forgejo user automatically. No manual binary download needed.

### 2. Configure Forgejo

Edit `/etc/forgejo/app.ini` (created by the package):

```ini
[server]
DOMAIN = YOUR_DOMAIN
ROOT_URL = https://YOUR_DOMAIN/
HTTP_PORT = 3000

[repository]
DEFAULT_BRANCH = main

[service]
DISABLE_REGISTRATION = true
```

Then start the service:

```bash
systemctl enable --now forgejo
```

### 3. Set up nginx reverse proxy with HTTPS

Requires a domain pointing at `51.15.46.65`.

```bash
apt install nginx certbot python3-certbot-nginx
```

Configure nginx to proxy port 3000, then obtain a Let's Encrypt cert:

```bash
certbot --nginx -d YOUR_DOMAIN
```

### 4. Create account and repository

1. Temporarily set `DISABLE_REGISTRATION = false`, restart Forgejo
2. Create admin account via web UI at `https://YOUR_DOMAIN`
3. Re-enable `DISABLE_REGISTRATION = true`, restart Forgejo
4. Create a new repository via web UI

### 5. Push the code

```bash
cd ~/claude-dir
git init
git add README.md LICENSE CLAUDE.md impact-methodology.md \
    impact-toolkit/ plans/ tasks/ scan-secrets.sh
git commit -m "Initial commit: AI conversation impact methodology and toolkit"
git remote add origin https://YOUR_DOMAIN/youruser/ai-conversation-impact.git
git push -u origin main
```

## Post-publication

- **H2: Share externally** — Post the Forgejo URL to relevant
  communities (AI sustainability forums, Hacker News, Mastodon,
  relevant subreddits).
- **H3: Solicit feedback** — Forgejo has a built-in issue tracker.
  Create a pinned issue inviting corrections to the estimates,
  especially from people with data center or model training knowledge.

## Success criteria

- The repository is publicly accessible via HTTPS.
- The issue tracker is open for feedback.
- At least one person outside this project has read and engaged with it.

## Honest assessment

This is probably the single highest-leverage action available right now.
The methodology already exists; the marginal cost of publishing is low.
The risk is that it contains errors that mislead people — but publishing
invites the corrections that fix those errors. Estimated probability of
net-positive impact if published: **high**.