| name | cas-agent-setup |
| description | Create or update CAS persistence for an agent — STATE, append-only telemetry, raw capture, optional archival, and tests. Use when adding CAS storage to a new or existing agent. How to run the loop lives in cas-operational-loop. |
CAS Agent Setup
Purpose: Ensure the agent has the files and directories CAS needs: STATE.json, append-only telemetry, raw output store, optional archive layout, and a test harness. How to run the 8-phase loop (predict → act → observe → learn → commit) is defined only in cas-operational-loop — load that skill when executing CAS, not this one.
When to use: First-time CAS layout on an agent, or aligning an existing agent with the CAS file contract.
Related skill: cas-operational-loop — operational procedure, phases, and schemas by name.
0. Bundled Assets (ship with this skill)
This skill ships helper files in its directory. Copy or symlink them into your deployment:
| Asset | Bundled path | Purpose |
|---|
| STATE template | STATE.template.json | Blank STATE.json with all required fields; use as the starting point. |
| Conscious agent spec | SPEC-FOR-CONSCIOUS-AGENTIC-SYSTEM.md | Full spec: consciousness definition, error taxonomy, test requirements. |
| Consolidation spec | CAS-LOG-CONSOLIDATION-SPEC.md | Archival policy, rotation strategy, durability check, tooling interface. |
| CAS acceptance tests | tests/CAS-TESTS.md | Per-agent test definitions: online coupling, prediction calibration, non-repetition, continuity, active sensing. |
| STATE schema | schemas/STATE.schema.json | JSON Schema for STATE.json fields and required structure. |
| Predictions schema | schemas/PREDICTIONS.schema.json | JSON Schema for predictions.jsonl records. |
| Observations schema | schemas/OBSERVATIONS.schema.json | JSON Schema for observations.jsonl records. |
| Learning schema | schemas/LEARNING.schema.json | JSON Schema for learning.jsonl records. |
| CAS Report schema | schemas/CAS-REPORT.schema.json | JSON Schema for test-run reports. |
Report output goes to {agent-root}/memory/consciousness-report/{YYYY-MM-DD}/ (report.md + report.json) when you run the test harness.
1. Paths (under the agent's memory root)
Use the same root your environment uses for agent memory (e.g. memory/ next to the agent's other persistent files). All paths below are relative to that root.
| Artifact | Path | Notes |
|---|
| World model | STATE.json | Align fields with STATE.schema.json. |
| Predictions | predictions.jsonl | Append-only; create if missing; do not bulk-read at session start. |
| Observations | observations.jsonl | Append-only; create if missing. |
| Learning | learning.jsonl | Append-only; create if missing. |
| Raw tool output | raw/{session_id}/{action_id}.txt | Store/redact/truncate per cas-operational-loop; link from observations. |
| Run scope (optional) | run_nonce.txt | If used, cas-operational-loop requires run_nonce on prediction/observation/learning lines. |
Consequential actions (writes, deletes, mutating shell, side-effecting APIs, jobs, delegation) must follow the loop in cas-operational-loop/SKILL.md, including appending predictions before action and observations/learning after.
2. Schemas and specs
Symlink or copy the bundled schemas/specs into your deployment. Document their location in your agent's INDEX so the loop skill and test runner can find them.
| Topic | Bundled path |
|---|
| Conscious agent spec | SPEC-FOR-CONSCIOUS-AGENTIC-SYSTEM.md |
| STATE schema | schemas/STATE.schema.json |
| Predictions schema | schemas/PREDICTIONS.schema.json |
| Observations schema | schemas/OBSERVATIONS.schema.json |
| Learning schema | schemas/LEARNING.schema.json |
| CAS Report schema | schemas/CAS-REPORT.schema.json |
| Consolidation spec | CAS-LOG-CONSOLIDATION-SPEC.md |
3. Optional — log consolidation
If you run archival to cap growth of jsonl/raw, see CAS-LOG-CONSOLIDATION-SPEC.md (bundled). Key layout:
- Archive root:
archive/cas/ with monthly subdirs YYYY-MM/.
- Index:
cas-index.jsonl at the memory root — one line per consolidation run (timestamps, ranges, counts, rotated filenames).
- Durability rule: Before archiving learning lines that claim
persistent_ref for policy/tool_model/belief updates, confirm STATE.json contains that change; otherwise keep the lines hot and surface a warning.
4. Checklist — new CAS layout
5. Checklist — upgrade existing agent
6. References
| Use | Where |
|---|
| Run the CAS loop | cas-operational-loop/SKILL.md |
| Test definitions | tests/CAS-TESTS.md (bundled) |
| Consolidation spec | CAS-LOG-CONSOLIDATION-SPEC.md (bundled) |
| Conscious agent spec | SPEC-FOR-CONSCIOUS-AGENTIC-SYSTEM.md (bundled) |
| Schemas | schemas/ directory (bundled) |
This skill is only the CAS file layout and pointers. Boot order, memory skills, and channel-specific loaders belong elsewhere.
