| name | kb-layers |
| description | Manage the project's layer vocabulary — list allowed layers with file counts, add new layers, or safely remove unused layers. Reads the shelf-index for usage data; writes CLAUDE.md atomically. No agent dispatch. |
| disable-model-invocation | false |
| argument-hint | [--add <layer> | --remove <layer> [--force]] |
Manage KB Layer Vocabulary
Lightweight: This skill reads only index metadata and writes CLAUDE.md. Inline execution is acceptable — no agent dispatch needed.
Manage the project's allowed layer vocabulary for the layer: frontmatter field in library files.
Arguments
| Form | Description |
|---|
| (none) | List allowed layers with file counts from shelf-index |
--add <layer> | Add a layer to the allowed set |
--remove <layer> | Remove a layer (refused if any file uses it) |
--remove <layer> --force | Remove a layer bypassing usage check |
Preflight
Read CLAUDE.md and locate the [Knowledge Base] section. Extract library_path (default library/) and shelf_index_path (default library/_shelf-index.md).
Steps
1. Resolve configuration
Read CLAUDE.md [Knowledge Base] section to resolve library_path and shelf_index_path.
2. Run kb_layers.py
python3 -c "
import sys, os, importlib.util
PLUGIN_ROOT = os.environ.get('CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT', '')
SCRIPTS = os.path.join(PLUGIN_ROOT, 'scripts')
INIT = os.path.join(SCRIPTS, '__init__.py')
if os.path.isfile(INIT) and 'sdlc_knowledge_base_scripts' not in sys.modules:
spec = importlib.util.spec_from_file_location(
'sdlc_knowledge_base_scripts', INIT,
submodule_search_locations=[SCRIPTS])
if spec and spec.loader:
mod = importlib.util.module_from_spec(spec)
sys.modules['sdlc_knowledge_base_scripts'] = mod
spec.loader.exec_module(mod)
from sdlc_knowledge_base_scripts.kb_layers import main
args = ['--project-dir', '<project_dir>', '--shelf-index-path', '<shelf_index_path>']
# Append --add <layer>, --remove <layer>, or --force as appropriate
sys.exit(main(args))
"
Replace <project_dir> with the project root and <shelf_index_path> with the resolved path.
3. Report the result
Print the script output. For list mode:
# Project layer set
Mode: defaults
Allowed layers:
- methodology (15 files)
- evidence (22 files)
- domain ( 7 files)
- development ( 3 files)
What this skill does NOT do
- Does not read library file content (only the shelf-index Layer: entries)
- Does not rename
layer: values in existing library files — do that manually and run kb-rebuild-indexes
- Does not dispatch any agent
Errors
- Invalid layer name — must match
^[a-z][a-z0-9-]*$ (lowercase, hyphenated)
- Layer in use — use
--force to remove anyway (leaves dangling references; kb-lint --strict-layer will catch them)
- Last remaining layer — cannot remove; at least one layer value is required
Examples
/sdlc-knowledge-base:kb-layers
/sdlc-knowledge-base:kb-layers --add regulatory
/sdlc-knowledge-base:kb-layers --remove clinical-evidence
/sdlc-knowledge-base:kb-layers --remove methodology --force
