knowledge-layers

name	knowledge-layers
type	reference
description	Use when deciding where knowledge goes or reading/writing durable docs: AGENTS.md, .context/, KB, docs/, and work directories.
model-invocable	true

Knowledge Layers

Load /qi-layer when writing or editing AGENTS.md or .context/ files: it owns the craft (four principles, contents guidelines, what doesn't belong). Load /information-hierarchy if not already loaded for disclosure tiers. Load /llm-writing if not already loaded.

The Five Layers

Layer	What it holds	When to use it
AGENTS.md	Intent and mental model for a directory	First thing agents read on entry; what to understand before working here
.context/CONTEXT.md	Contracts, architecture, rationale	Reference depth, co-located with the code it describes
KB	Cross-cutting decisions, domain concepts, patterns	Spans directories; outlives sessions; no single directory owns it
docs/	User-facing documentation	Different audience, different update cadence
Work directory	Temporary design decisions and scratch	Not colocated with durable content; scoped to an active work item

Placement Rules

If knowledge is scoped to one directory → .context/. If it's intent/mental-model for a directory → AGENTS.md. If it spans directories or isn't anchored to code → KB. If it's for end users → docs/. If it's a temporary work artifact → work directory.

When in doubt, colocate. Knowledge that lives far from what it describes rots faster: changes to the code don't trigger awareness that a distant doc needs updating.

Current Truth Over History

Every layer holds the best current understanding. When content is superseded, delete it or (for KB pages) move it to archive/ (.kgignore'd, excluded from the knowledge graph). Live content never references archived content. Pages read as current truth, never narrate their own evolution.

Deletion needs no replacement. A page whose subject is gone, or that describes behavior the system no longer has, gets deleted on sight — even with nothing new to write in its place. Stale knowledge is worse than a gap: agents load it and reason from it.

Git history is the archive. Commit untracked files before deleting them so the removal lands in history, and say what was removed and why in the commit message. Deletion is cheap because nothing tracked is ever truly lost.

Decision records are the exception: preserve superseded decisions in place when they explain why the system changed. Mark the old decision as superseded and link to the replacement.

KB Conventions

Structure

Read the KB's own AGENTS.md before writing. Each KB defines its local structure, naming, validation commands, and governance. Treat this skill as the cross-project default; the local KB guide wins for that KB. See resources/bootstrap.md for a suggested starting layout.

Wiki Page Conventions

Follow /information-hierarchy. One concept per document; name files by what they describe (token-validation.md), not when (auth-redesign-notes.md). Cross-reference instead of re-explaining. Load /shared-dao for vocabulary methodology. Use mermaid for anything spatial; capture what code can't easily tell you.

Operations

Ingest: new information enters the KB. Read the source, extract key knowledge, write or update wiki pages, and update indexes/cross-links touched by the change.

Maintain: keep the wiki current per Current Truth Over History above.

Lint: health-check the wiki. Look for contradictions, stale claims, orphan pages, missing cross-references. Use /md-validation for link checking and diagram validation.

Flag content needing human attention with > [!FLAG] **Needs human review**.