| name | polyflow-glossary |
| description | Extract canonical domain terms into CONTEXT.md. Flag ambiguities (same word, different meanings) and synonyms (different words, same meaning). Re-invoking updates the file in place. Use when authoring or updating CONTEXT.md, or when a new domain term emerges in conversation. |
PolyFlow: Ubiquitous Language
Vocabulary
See polyflow meta-skill.
When to Use
- Authoring
CONTEXT.md for the first time (Phase B of PolyFlow rollout)
- A new domain term emerged in conversation and should be added
- Auditing existing terminology for ambiguity (same word, multiple meanings) or synonyms (different words, same meaning)
- Before any architectural conversation that depends on shared language
The Flow
1. Read Current State
- If
CONTEXT.md exists: read it. Identify clusters and gaps.
- Read recent code in the relevant area: router file, service file, schema, page. Names in code are the de facto terminology.
- Read recent ADRs in
docs/adr/ for terms decided there.
2. Extract Terms
Walk the conversation + relevant code. Pull out:
- Nouns — entities and value objects in your domain
- Verbs — domain operations (e.g., negotiate, queue, withdraw, settle, escalate)
- Status enums — explicit lifecycle states (e.g.,
OrderStatus, MessageStatus)
- Relationships — cardinalities between entities (one-to-many, many-to-many)
3. Flag Conflicts
Two questions to ask the user for each conflict:
- Ambiguity: "The word
X is used for both A and B. Which canonical meaning, and what should the other one be renamed to?"
- Synonyms: "The codebase uses both
User and Account for the same concept. Which is canonical? The other becomes a deprecated alias."
Propose recommended answers. Don't just dump the conflicts on the user.
4. Write CONTEXT.md
Default location: /CONTEXT.md at repo root. (Mattpocock convention.)
Format:
# <Project> Domain Language
## <Cluster Name> (e.g., "Identity & Accounts")
| Term | Definition (one sentence) | Aliases to avoid |
|---|---|---|
| **User** | Canonical noun for an authenticated account. | Account (legacy), Customer (billing-layer only) |
| **Category** | A primary classification used for matching/filtering. | Type, Tag, Vertical |
## <Next Cluster>
...
## Relationships
- **EntityA** → **EntityB**: many-to-many via a join table.
- **EntityA** → **EntityC**: one-to-many; EntityCs are managed by an automated process.
5. Re-invoke Behavior
If CONTEXT.md already exists:
- Read it
- Add new terms in their existing cluster (or create a new cluster)
- Update evolved definitions
- Refresh the example dialogue if present
- Don't duplicate; merge
Hard Rules
- One sentence per definition. If you need a paragraph, the term is too vague — split it.
- Domain terms only. Skip generic programming concepts (function, class, etc.).
- Be prescriptive. Pick canonical synonyms; don't list every variant as equally valid.
- Cardinality in bold. "User has many Orders."
- Never auto-commit. Append CONTEXT.md changes to a stage; ask before commit.
Hand-offs
- New ADR needed (decision behind a term) → write under
docs/adr/
- Terms reveal architectural friction →
polyflow-improve-architecture
