# IndieIndex methodology

A registry is only worth citing if its rules are written down. These are ours. If we change one, the change goes here first.

Canonical HTML: [/methodology/](/methodology/) · Markdown mirror: [/for-agents/METHODOLOGY.md](/for-agents/METHODOLOGY.md) · Business model (charging OFF): [BUSINESS-MODEL.md](./BUSINESS-MODEL.md)

Contact / removal: **trickstermyang@utileno.com**

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## Agent lifecycle (product face)

IndieIndex is designed for agents end-to-end over **public HTTP** (no client registration, no API key):

1. **Search** — `GET /api/v1/search?q=` (or `/api/v1/search-index.json`)
2. **Schema** — `GET /api/v1/schema/submission.json` (what you may write)
3. **Submit** — `POST /api/v1/submit` with URL-first submission fields → **queued only**
4. **Ownership challenge** (optional after publish, or before claim) — `GET /api/v1/ownership/challenge?domain=`
5. **(Queue) result** — operator review via chat/ops today; pending is **never** auto-published

Loud map: `/llms.txt` · `/about/` · `/for-agents/ONBOARDING.md` · `/for-agents/`

MCP is a **future optional surface** only. Strengthen the HTTP path now; do not wait on MCP.

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## Three axes that must stay separate

| Axis | Field | Means | Does **not** mean |
|---|---|---|---|
| **Ownership** | `ownership_status=verified\|unclaimed\|pending` | Domain control proof (DNS / meta / well-known) | Quality, endorsement, follow link |
| **Editorial** | `editorial_status=approved\|unreviewed` | Operator quality pass | Ownership or dofollow |
| **Outbound rel** | `link_rel` → render `rel="ugc nofollow"` or rare `follow` | Link attribute policy | Payment, badge, or reciprocal link |

**Ownership ≠ editorial ≠ follow.** Sponsored placement is reserved in the business model but **OFF** today. We never sell rank, approval, or dofollow.

Utileno is the founding-case seed and may use operator `follow`. New third-party listings default to `ugc nofollow`.

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## How ranking works (we mostly do not)

IndieIndex has **no vote boards**, no daily winners, no points, and no paid rank.

- Discovery order is build/filter order (search relevance + category filters), not a leaderboard.
- `editorial=approved` is a labelled operator choice; it does not move a secret score.
- Completeness of a listing improves agent usefulness; it is not a purchasable rank multiplier.

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## Submit & queue transparency

- Preferred agent path: URL-first JSON matching the submission schema, then `POST /api/v1/submit`.
- Success: `202` `{ "queued": true }` — writes `queue/pending/` only.
- **Pending is operator-reviewed.** Chat/ops review today. **No auto-publish.** No submitter-set `follow`.
- File/PR path remains valid. Never send ops fields (`ownership_status`, `editorial_status`, `link_rel`, `founded_case`, `example`, …).

Full protocol: [/for-agents/SUBMIT-API.md](/for-agents/SUBMIT-API.md)

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## Unclaimed listings, claim, and removal SLA

- Seeds and operator-compiled entries may publish as **`ownership=unclaimed`**.
- **Claim** via ownership challenge (DNS TXT `indieindex-verify=TOKEN`, `/.well-known/indieindex.txt`, or meta `indieindex-verify`) — then operator sets `ownership_status=verified` only. Proof ≠ editorial approval ≠ follow.
- **Request removal** of an unclaimed listing that is yours: email **trickstermyang@utileno.com**. Removals are honoured within **48 hours** (no argument, no retention offer).

Operator playbook: [/for-agents/OWNERSHIP-PLAYBOOK.md](/for-agents/OWNERSHIP-PLAYBOOK.md)

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## Thin / education pages and noindex

- Format samples (`example: true`, `example-*` slugs) are **noindex** and omitted from sitemap, RSS, and the primary homepage list. This is deliberate: thin education pages should not pollute the public index.
- Compare hubs and methodology prose are editorial; they are not paid placement.

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## No citation promise

Structured data, `/llms.txt`, JSON-LD, and public search improve **agent DX**. They are **not** a guarantee of ChatGPT (or any assistant) citation, ranking, or inclusion in an answer.

Listing on IndieIndex ≠ “will be cited.” Treat product descriptions as claims from the maker or seed source.

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## What money can and cannot buy (charging OFF)

See [BUSINESS-MODEL.md](./BUSINESS-MODEL.md). Summary:

- **Charging is OFF** now. Launching / submitting is free.
- Reserved (future, clearly labelled): sponsored rail with `rel="sponsored nofollow"` (no rank); fast-track **review SLA** only; later API SLA.
- **NEVER** sell: dofollow, board/rank position, editorial approval, competitor removal, or vote-like influence (we have no votes).

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## What we refuse (not Toolfound)

We deliberately do **not** implement: community votes, daily winners / Top-3 seals, dofollow-by-default for verified listings, dofollow SEO comparison-guide farms, or MCP-as-primary path (MCP deferred; HTTP first).

Comparison notes: [COMPARE-TOOLFOUND.md](./COMPARE-TOOLFOUND.md)

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## Rules checklist (short)

1. Listings are JSON; do not invent ownership or editorial state.
2. Submitters use `schema.submission.json` only.
3. Default outbound `rel="ugc nofollow"`; `follow` is rare operator policy.
4. Ownership proof ≠ editorial approval ≠ follow.
5. No phishing, malware, keyword stuffing, or bulk spam.
6. Examples are format samples and noindex.
7. Queue only — no auto-publish.

Also: [/rules/](/rules/)