wikize-refs

name	Wikize Refs
description	Use when editing BSSw.io markdown files that need formal external citations/references, when converting inline external links into BSSw reference-style links, or when running `utils/wikize_refs.py` to regenerate or verify the auto-generated references block.

Wikize Refs

Use this skill for BSSw.io *.md files that manage external references with utils/wikize_refs.py.

Canonical References

Read only what you need:

• Citation syntax, footnote style, and generated-block behavior: docs/pages/bssw/bssw_wikize_refs.md
• When formal citations are appropriate, plus DOI/internal-vs-external link rules: docs/pages/bssw/bssw_styling_common.md
• Review and pre-publish expectations: docs/pages/bssw/bssw_content_publishing.md
• Tool invocation details and common modes: utils/README.md

Compact Workflow

1. Inspect the target *.md file and confirm formal citations are warranted for this content type and article length.

2. Keep the author-managed source references as column-0 GFM reference definitions, usually near the end of the file above the auto-generated block: [label]: URL "Short title {Full bibliographic text}"

3. In body text, cite with <sup>[label]</sup> or <sup>[label1],[label2]</sup>. Follow BSSw punctuation guidance and use straight quotes only in reference definitions.

4. Prefer DOI URLs when available. Use absolute URLs for external resources and relative .md links for BSSw internal content.

5. Do not hand-edit anything containing sfer-ezikiw or the generated ### References section. Regenerate it with the tool.

6. From the repo root, normally run:

   ./utils/wikize_refs.py -i path/to/file.md
   

   Useful alternatives:

   ./utils/wikize_refs.py -o /tmp/file-gen.md path/to/file.md
   ./utils/wikize_refs.py -u path/to/file.md
   ./utils/wikize_refs.py --help
   

7. Review the diff. Expected results:

   • inline <sup>[label]</sup> citations rewritten to generated numeric refs such as <sup>[1]</sup>
   • original link definitions renamed with -sfer-ezikiw
   • a generated ### References section appended
   • rerunning the tool should be idempotent

8. -i creates file.md~ unless -s is used. Handle that backup intentionally and do not commit it by accident.

9. Before finalizing content for publishing, ensure the file has been rerun through wikize_refs.py -i.

Examples

• Current article example: Articles/Blog/2026-03-modern-memory-safe-cpp.md
• Historical applications found in git history: e8c606ee, f1421315, c20101be

Notes

• Avoid -c/--check-links unless network access is intentionally available.
• The repo convention is to edit the human-authored references and rerun the tool, not to patch the generated block manually.