diff --git a/CLAUDE.md b/CLAUDE.md
index 342925d2f..47c0486be 100644
--- a/CLAUDE.md
+++ b/CLAUDE.md
@@ -1,5 +1,9 @@
 # java-topology
 
+## Role
+
+**java-topology is our sandbox.** Scanning, patching, experimentation — work happens here first. undefect.com is our source of truth. Output from this repo (patches, UNDF IDs, registry) gets promoted to undefect.com. undefect.com CI never depends on this repo being present.
+
 ## Mission
 
 Fox suspects a fundamental defect in our network topology mathematics used by `javac` (and inherited by other languages/runtimes). Our hypothesis: fix our math, network topologies get faster & cheaper across our board.