| name | ckis-decision-log |
| description | Capture a decision in the CKIS decision-log format and route it to the right destination (project _overview.md, permanent note, or CHANGELOG). Use when [OWNER] says "log decision <title>" or "I'm deciding to <X> — log it." Asks at most one clarifying question; outputs a copy-pasteable block; updates _MEMORY.md Open Decisions. |
CKIS Decision Log
Capture decisions in a consistent, reviewable format. Route them to the correct durable home.
When to invoke
[OWNER] says one of:
log decision <title>
- "Capture this as a decision."
- "Log this in the decision log."
If the user is just thinking out loud, do NOT invoke this skill — that's a daily-note or quick-capture concern.
Workflow
- Read
01-systems/ckis/06-decision-execution-and-review-protocol.md §1 and §9.
- Identify required fields:
- Date — today by default.
- Project / area — infer from context; ask if ambiguous.
- Status —
proposed unless [OWNER] says it's already adopted.
- Decision — verbatim from Eduardo (one line).
- Why — at most 3 bullets.
- Alternatives considered — bulleted; ask if missing.
- Trade-offs accepted — bulleted; ask if missing.
- Reversal cost —
low | medium | high. Ask if missing.
- Review-by — optional.
- Linked notes — wikilinks to anything cited.
- Ask at most one clarifying question — pick the most load-bearing missing field. Don't ask a flurry of questions.
- Render the decision-log block:
## Decision: <title>
- Date: YYYY-MM-DD
- Project / area: <project>
- Status: <status>
- Decision: <one-line summary>
- Why:
- <reason 1>
- <reason 2>
- Alternatives considered:
- <alt 1>
- <alt 2>
- Trade-offs accepted:
- <trade-off>
- Reversal cost: <low | medium | high>
- Review-by: <YYYY-MM-DD or empty>
- Linked notes: [[…]]
- Pick destination:
- Project-specific → append to
03-projects/<project>/_overview.md under a ## Decisions section (create the section if missing).
- System-level (touches CKIS itself) → entry in
01-systems/ckis/CHANGELOG.md AND edit the relevant CKIS file.
- Cross-cutting / personal / strategic → new permanent note
05-knowledge/permanent-notes/decision-<slug>.md.
- Write the entry to the chosen destination.
- Update
_MEMORY.md:
- If
Status: proposed → add to "Open decisions" (avoid duplicates).
- If
Status: adopted and a matching item exists in "Open decisions" → remove it from there.
- If reverting/superseding → keep both entries; cross-link.
- Output: confirm path written, show the rendered block, list
_MEMORY.md edits made.
Rules
- Never rewrite or delete a previous decision entry. Add a new one and mark the old as
superseded.
- Never silently change
_MEMORY.md beyond the Open decisions list — surface other suggested edits in the report.
- Always use wikilinks for
Linked notes, not raw paths.
- Always include
Reversal cost — it's the field that matters most when reviewing decisions later.
QA Checklist
Do Not
- Make the decision for Eduardo. Capture, don't decide.
- Pad with explanation Eduardo didn't ask for.
- Auto-promote a
proposed decision to adopted without confirmation.