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Step-by-Step Guide for Self-Publishing the Platform as a Searchable Reference Work

v1.0 · Created May 7, 2026 for v3.3.1 (Milestone B1 prep materials per the v3.2.9 What Done Looks Like decision framework) · Jason Robertson · Ohio · 2026

# Purpose

This checklist walks through the concrete actions required to satisfy Milestone B1 (self-publication as searchable reference work) per the v3.2.9 What Done Looks Like decision framework. When all steps are complete, the platform exists on a permanent domain, is discoverable through standard web search, has citation metadata in multiple academic formats, is durably archived in an institution that issues citation handles, and presents itself as a serious analytical contribution rather than a personal blog post. Sub-meaning C1 of legislative engagement (citable reference work) is also satisfied at the same time.

This document is the lead author's execution checklist; the actions described are the lead author's to take. The checklist provides specific recommendations rather than abstract options where possible; recommendations reflect the lead author's stated constraints (sole authorship for now; committed but unspecified resource envelope; optimization for Tier One and Tier Two readiness). Where lead-author preferences may vary, alternatives are noted.

# Prerequisites

Before starting Step One, confirm: the platform package version is the version intended for publication (v3.3.0 or later as appropriate; the version published can be updated later but the initial publication should be a stable shipped version); the lead author has the documents reviewed by trusted readers (Milestone A criterion), or a decision has been made to publish a known-imperfect version with an explicit intent to iterate; the lead author has approximately ten to fifteen hours of attention available across the steps below (the work can be done over a few days or stretched across weeks); the lead author has approximately two hundred to four hundred dollars available for the year-one infrastructure costs (domain registration, hosting, optional supplements). The financial envelope is small relative to other Milestone investments.

# Step One: Domain Registration

Goal: register a permanent domain name that will host the platform indefinitely. The domain becomes the platform's canonical web address.

## Recommended Domain Name Candidates

Specific candidates (check availability at registration time; this list reflects what was available as of May 2026 but availability can change). Strong candidates: wethepeopleplatform.org (most direct match to platform name; .org signals non-commercial intent appropriate for policy work); wethepeoplepolicy.org (slight rephrase; usable if .org variant of platform name is unavailable); americanprosperityplatform.org (subtitle-derived; signals platform's substantive focus); jasonrobertson.org (lead-author-named; works if lead author wishes platform discoverable through author-search). Acceptable fallbacks: wethepeopleplatform.us (US-specific TLD; signals American policy focus); wethepeople.policy (descriptive .policy TLD if .org variant unavailable). Avoid: .com TLD (signals commercial intent that the platform's policy character doesn't match); shortened or initialized variants (wtpp.org or similar; loses readability and discoverability).

## Recommended Registrar

Cloudflare Registrar is the best balance of cost, privacy protection, and integration with hosting. Cloudflare charges domain registration and renewal at wholesale rate (no markup), provides free WHOIS privacy by default (the lead author's home address is not exposed in WHOIS records), and integrates seamlessly with Cloudflare Pages hosting recommended in Step Two. Annual cost approximately fifteen dollars for .org TLDs; .us is similar; .policy is higher (approximately fifty dollars annually). Alternative registrars acceptable if Cloudflare Registrar is unavailable for the chosen TLD: Porkbun (similar wholesale pricing model; free WHOIS privacy); Namecheap (slightly higher cost; free WHOIS privacy first year then small annual fee). Avoid: GoDaddy (higher costs; aggressive upselling); registrars that bundle privacy as a paid add-on.

## Domain Registration Action Steps

First: visit the chosen registrar's website. Second: search for the chosen domain name to confirm availability. Third: complete registration with the lead author's contact information; ensure WHOIS privacy is enabled (it is by default at Cloudflare and Porkbun). Fourth: enable domain auto-renewal so the domain doesn't expire unexpectedly; set up a calendar reminder for thirty days before annual expiration as a backup. Fifth: enable two-factor authentication on the registrar account (the domain is a critical asset; account compromise would let an attacker hijack the platform's web identity). Sixth: record the registrar account credentials in a password manager along with backup recovery codes for two-factor authentication. The domain is now registered. DNS configuration is part of Step Two.

# Step Two: Hosting Setup

Goal: deploy the platform's web-facing components (the GUI navigator, citation pages, bio, license, downloadable package archive) on a hosting environment that is reliable, low-cost, and minimally administrative-burdensome.

## Recommended Hosting Service

Cloudflare Pages is the strongest choice. Reasons: it serves static content (HTML, JavaScript, JSON) at no cost on the free tier, which is sufficient for this platform's needs (the GUI and supporting files are well within Cloudflare Pages free tier limits); it integrates with Cloudflare DNS automatically so domain-to-hosting setup is essentially one-click after Step One's domain registration is complete; it provides global content delivery network distribution, so visitors anywhere in the world get fast page loads; it offers free SSL/HTTPS certificates automatically, which is essential for credibility (a non-HTTPS site looks suspicious to credentialed readers). Acceptable alternatives if Cloudflare is unavailable or unsuitable: Netlify (similar feature set; easy to use; free tier is generous); GitHub Pages (free if the platform is hosted from a public GitHub repository; limitations on traffic and build minutes; integration with custom domain works but requires DNS configuration). Avoid: traditional hosting providers like GoDaddy or HostGator (higher cost; more administrative overhead; outdated workflows); WordPress.com (designed for content-management; unnecessary for static publication).

## Hosting Setup Action Steps

First: create a Cloudflare account if not already created (the same account used for the registrar in Step One). Second: in Cloudflare Pages, create a new project named 'we-the-people-platform' or similar. Third: connect a Git repository where the platform's web-facing files are stored. The simplest approach: create a public GitHub repository (or Git provider of choice) with the package's web-facing content (the platform_index.html file, platform_catalog.js, platform_catalog.json, platform_index_README.md, and the deployment bundle files described in the v3.3.1 patch). Push the content to the Git repository. Fourth: in Cloudflare Pages, point the project at the Git repository; build settings can be left at defaults (no build command needed for static HTML/JS). Fifth: in Cloudflare Pages, configure the custom domain (the domain registered in Step One); Cloudflare auto-configures DNS. Sixth: verify HTTPS is working by visiting the domain in a browser. Seventh: verify the GUI navigator loads correctly and search/filter functions work. The platform is now publicly accessible.

## Hosting Maintenance

Once set up, hosting requires minimal maintenance. Updates to the platform are deployed by pushing changes to the Git repository; Cloudflare Pages rebuilds automatically. Monthly cost expectation: zero on the Cloudflare Pages free tier; this is sufficient for the expected traffic volume (Tier One and Tier Two readiness implies tens to hundreds of unique visitors per month at most for the first year, well within free tier). If traffic eventually exceeds free tier limits, the upgrade path is straightforward and inexpensive.

# Step Three: Permanent Archival Deposit

Goal: deposit the platform package in a durable archive that issues citation handles, ensuring the platform exists as a citable reference even if the lead author's hosting infrastructure later lapses. Archives are belt-and-suspenders against link rot.

## Recommended Primary Archive: Zenodo

Zenodo is operated by CERN and provides free permanent archival deposit for research outputs. Each deposit receives a Digital Object Identifier (DOI), the gold-standard citation handle for academic work. DOIs persist permanently; even if Zenodo were ever to discontinue (highly unlikely given CERN backing), DOI registration ensures the reference can be located. Zenodo deposits accept files up to fifty gigabytes total per record (the platform package is well under five megabytes, so this is generous). Zenodo supports versioned records (v3.3.1, v3.3.2, etc.) under a single 'concept DOI' that always resolves to the latest version, so academic citations can either pin to a specific version or to the always-latest concept DOI. Zenodo is the strongest single choice for primary archive.

## Recommended Secondary Archive: Internet Archive

The Internet Archive (archive.org) provides web archival in addition to file-deposit archival. Two complementary deposits are recommended. First: deposit the platform package zip file as a regular Internet Archive item; this provides redundancy against Zenodo unavailability. Second: use the Wayback Machine to archive the live platform website pages (platform homepage, GUI navigator, individual document pages); this preserves the website state in addition to the package contents. Internet Archive deposits do not issue DOIs but provide stable URLs that function as citation handles for non-academic adopters.

## Zenodo Deposit Action Steps

First: create a Zenodo account (free; sign up using ORCID iD if the lead author has one, or use email otherwise; ORCID iD authentication is preferred for academic discoverability). Second: create a new upload. Third: upload the platform package zip file (We_The_People_Platform_v3.3.1.zip or whatever the published version is). Fourth: complete the metadata form. Recommended metadata: Resource Type = Software (because the platform contains structured analytical models and a calculator); Communities = (none initially; can be added later if a relevant community exists); Title = 'We The People Platform: An Architecture for Shared Prosperity (v3.3.1)' or similar; Authors = lead author with ORCID iD if available; Description = the platform's executive summary (the citation_apa.txt or citation_chicago.txt content adapts well); Keywords = policy platform, fiscal architecture, sovereign fund, universal healthcare, universal childcare, paid family leave, long-term care, civic infrastructure, wage floor, taxation; License = Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0); Version = 3.3.1; Publication Date = the actual publication date. Fifth: publish. Zenodo issues a DOI and a permanent URL within minutes. Sixth: record the DOI in the citation_metadata files (the deployment bundle includes citation files that reference the Zenodo DOI; update those files with the actual DOI before deploying via Cloudflare Pages).

## Internet Archive Deposit Action Steps

First: create an Internet Archive account if not already created (free). Second: visit archive.org and click 'Upload'. Third: upload the platform package zip file. Fourth: complete the metadata form (similar to Zenodo but with a slightly different schema). Fifth: publish. The platform is now permanently archived. Sixth: separately, visit https://web.archive.org/save/ and enter the platform's homepage URL (the domain registered in Step One). Click Save to capture the live site in the Wayback Machine. Repeat for the GUI navigator URL and any other key pages. Internet Archive crawls public sites automatically over time as well, but explicit save requests ensure capture happens immediately upon publication.

# Step Four: Citation Metadata Page

Goal: provide structured citation metadata in multiple formats so academic readers can cite the platform in their own work using their preferred citation tool.

## Required Citation Formats

Four citation formats cover the vast majority of academic and policy-practitioner usage. BibTeX (.bib): used by LaTeX-based authors, common in economics, mathematics, computer science. RIS (.ris): used by Zotero, EndNote, Mendeley, and other reference managers. APA: text-format for general academic use, especially in social sciences. Chicago: text-format for humanities and policy work (the Chicago Manual of Style is the dominant citation style for policy and government writing).

## Citation Page Action Steps

The v3.3.1 deployment bundle (delivered as part of this iteration) includes citation files in all four formats: citation.bib, citation.ris, citation_apa.txt, and citation_chicago.txt. After Zenodo deposit (Step Three), update each file's DOI field with the actual DOI Zenodo issued. The citation files reference v3.3.1 by default; for subsequent versions, update the version string and DOI in each file. Deploy the four files alongside the GUI on the Cloudflare Pages site, accessible at URLs like wethepeopleplatform.org/citation.bib (or similar; URL structure is up to the lead author). Add a Citation page to the GUI navigator linking to all four files; the link can be added to platform_index.html or to a separate citation.html page. The citation page is one of the most-visited pages by serious academic adopters, so its visibility matters.

# Step Five: Lead-Author Bio and Disclosure Page

Goal: maintain the platform's lead-author non-credentialing transparency through a bio page that readers can find before they engage with platform content. This is a core element of the platform's intellectual honesty: readers know upfront who is behind the platform and what their relevant background is.

## Bio Page Content

The v3.3.1 deployment bundle includes lead_author_bio.md as a deployable bio page. The content covers: name and contact (Jason Robertson; contact mechanism per Step Seven); current professional role (Senior Data Integration Engineer); relevant background to platform work (data analysis, fiscal modeling, systems thinking); explicit non-credentialing disclosure (no PhD in economics, no JD, no policy think tank affiliation; the lead author is a private citizen who has done substantial analytical work and is presenting it for engagement); founding-stake context (this platform began as personal analytical work and has been iterated through structured engagement with AI models for review and refinement); how to read the platform given the lead-author background (rigor and methodological honesty; explicit acknowledgment of empirical-defensibility limits in the Open Issues Registry; engagement plan for credentialed external review as Milestone A execution proceeds).

The bio file is markdown so it can be rendered by static-site generators or copy-pasted into a hosting environment as needed. Deploy it at /bio.html or /about.html on the Cloudflare Pages site. Add a navigation link to the bio from the GUI navigator's homepage.

## Disclosure Page Content

The v3.3.1 deployment bundle includes disclosure.md as a separate disclosure page. Content covers: the platform's intellectual-honesty conventions; the Open Issues Registry's external-expertise tracking; the Sources and Derivation Convention; the Comprehensive Verification Report; the platform's iteration history with link to VERSIONLOG; the platform's commitment to update the disclosure as engagement uncovers new limits or as the lead author's circumstances change (e.g., if the sole-authorship constraint relaxes). The disclosure file is also markdown; deploy at /disclosure.html or /transparency.html.

# Step Six: License Declaration

Goal: declare the legal terms under which the platform may be used, adapted, or shared. License declaration is required for serious adopters because organizations need legal clarity before they can use platform components in their own work.

## Recommended License: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International is the recommended license. Reasons: Attribution requires anyone using the platform's content to credit the lead author; this maintains the lead author's connection to the work even as it is adapted by others. NonCommercial restricts commercial use; the platform is a public-interest analytical work, not a commercial product, and the lead author's intent is that for-profit entities not extract value from the work without negotiating separately. ShareAlike requires that adaptations be released under the same license, ensuring derivatives remain in the public-interest commons rather than being privatized through repackaging. The 4.0 International version is the current revision of the CC license suite and is well-supported by legal interpretations across jurisdictions.

Acceptable alternatives if CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 is for some reason unsuitable: CC BY 4.0 (more permissive; allows commercial use with attribution; appropriate if the lead author's primary concern is broad dissemination rather than commercial-use restriction); CC BY-SA 4.0 (allows commercial use but requires share-alike). Avoid: 'all rights reserved' (legally restrictive; impedes the platform's intended adoption); custom licenses (legal complexity; reduces adoption because organizations must perform their own legal review).

## License Declaration Action Steps

The v3.3.1 deployment bundle includes LICENSE.md with the recommended CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 declaration. Deploy the file as /LICENSE.md or /license.html on the Cloudflare Pages site. Add a license notice to the GUI navigator's homepage and to the platform package README. Include the license declaration in the Zenodo deposit metadata (Step Three already references this). Optionally, add Creative Commons license badges to key platform pages; the CC website provides badge images at a stable URL.

# Step Seven: Contact Mechanism

Goal: establish a way for readers, advocacy organizations, journalists, academics, and policy practitioners to engage with the lead author about the platform.

## Recommended Contact Approach

Email is the simplest and most accessible contact mechanism. Recommended approach: register a dedicated email address at the platform's domain (e.g., contact@wethepeopleplatform.org or jason@wethepeopleplatform.org). Cloudflare provides email forwarding free of charge: incoming email at the platform domain forwards to the lead author's regular email account; outbound email from the lead author's regular email account can use a sender alias matching the platform domain. This separates platform correspondence from the lead author's personal email while keeping the operational simplicity of a single inbox. Spam filtering through the regular email account handles the spam load.

## Contact Mechanism Alternatives

If a dedicated email is not practical, alternatives include: a contact form on the website (more privacy-protective for the lead author; requires form-processing service like FormSpree or Cloudflare Workers; slightly more setup); a public statement of contact-on-request (the platform homepage notes that contact is available on request through professional channels, e.g., LinkedIn); explicit no-contact-mechanism (publishing without contact is less common but acceptable for some publications; reduces unsolicited engagement but also reduces opportunity for substantive engagement). The recommendation is dedicated email because it best supports Milestone A engagement (substantive correspondence with academic reviewers) and Milestone C3 engagement (advocacy organization outreach).

## Contact Mechanism Action Steps

First: in Cloudflare Email Routing (free service), configure email forwarding from the chosen address(es) at the platform domain to the lead author's existing email account. Second: verify the forwarding works by sending a test email. Third: configure the lead author's regular email client to send mail using the platform-domain alias when corresponding about the platform; this requires SPF and DKIM records configured on the platform domain (Cloudflare provides automatic configuration). Fourth: add the contact email to the platform homepage, the bio page, and the disclosure page. Fifth: document the contact email in the citation files so academic readers can reach the lead author through standard channels.

# Step Eight: Initial Public Announcement

Goal: create initial discoverability for the platform by announcing its existence in places where the target audience (academics, policy practitioners, advocacy organization staff, journalists) is likely to encounter it.

## When to Announce

Recommended timing: after Steps One through Seven are complete (the platform is live, archived, citable, contactable) and after a few days of internal verification (links work; pages render; emails arrive). Premature announcement before infrastructure is ready creates a poor first impression. The lead author can announce as soon as comfortable; there is no specific external timing constraint.

## Where to Announce

Recommended announcement venues: the lead author's existing professional network (LinkedIn primarily; the lead author works in data integration which has a substantial LinkedIn presence; a thoughtful post explaining the platform's existence and inviting engagement reaches the right initial audience); the lead author's personal social network as appropriate (Twitter/X or Bluesky if the lead author maintains either); academic and policy email lists if the lead author has access (e.g., subject-specific listservs); relevant subreddits if the lead author has a track record there (r/PoliticalDiscussion, r/economics for specific elements; care required to comply with subreddit norms about self-promotion); Mastodon if the lead author has a presence there. Avoid: paid promotion or boost services (signals commercial intent that doesn't match the platform's character); aggressive cross-posting (signals spam); over-claiming about the platform's status (e.g., 'the definitive policy reform proposal' rather than 'an analytical platform open for engagement'). The recommended tone is curious-and-engaged-but-modest: 'I've been working on this; here it is; I'd value substantive feedback'.

## What to Say

Recommended announcement structure: a short post (200-400 words for LinkedIn; shorter for social media) covering: what the platform is (an architecture for systematic policy reform across nine pillars covering retirement security, education, healthcare, childcare, mental health, civic infrastructure, paid family leave, long-term care, and a wage-floor-replacing-deductions tax architecture); why it exists (frustration with piecemeal policy debate; conviction that systematic redesign is achievable; commitment to working through the analytical detail); explicit honesty about its status (extensively analyzed but not externally validated; the Open Issues Registry tracks limits requiring external review; the platform is shared for engagement, not as a finished product); explicit invitation (substantive feedback welcome; particular interest in credentialed reviewers in specific areas); link to the platform domain. The deployment bundle includes README_PUBLIC.md as an announcement template.

# Verification: Confirming Milestone B1 Satisfaction

Once Steps One through Eight are complete, verify Milestone B1 satisfaction against the criteria in 05_What_Done_Looks_Like.docx. Required: domain registered (Step One). Hosting environment supports GUI navigator and downloadable package (Step Two). Permanent archival deposit at Zenodo with DOI (Step Three). Internet Archive secondary archive with stable URL (Step Three). Citation metadata in multiple formats (Step Four). Lead-author bio and disclosure pages (Step Five). License declaration (Step Six). Contact mechanism integrated (Step Seven). All criteria satisfied. Sub-meaning C1 of Milestone C (citable reference work) is automatically satisfied at the same time. The platform is now public, durable, citable, and engageable.

# Cross-References

This document operationalizes Milestone B1 from the v3.2.9 What Done Looks Like decision framework (05_What_Done_Looks_Like.docx). It is paired with the v3.3.1 deployment bundle (lead_author_bio.md, disclosure.md, citation files in four formats, LICENSE.md, README_PUBLIC.md, domain_candidates.md) which are the deployable artifacts the checklist references. After Milestone B1 is satisfied, the next execution sequence step is Step Two (Milestone A engagement: sending academic outreach letters; commissioning the audit; initiating tribal consultation), which requires its own execution-prep work that this document does not cover. That work is the subject of a future iteration's preparation materials.