continuous-learning

name	continuous-learning
description	[DEPRECATED - use continuous-learning-v2] Legacy v1 stop-hook skill extractor. v2 is a strict superset with instinct-based, project-scoped, hook-reliable learning. Do not invoke v1; route continuous learning, session learning, and pattern extraction requests to continuous-learning-v2.
origin	ecc

Continuous Learning Skill - DEPRECATED

DEPRECATED 2026-04-28. Use continuous-learning-v2 instead. v2 is a strict superset: stop-hook observation becomes PreToolUse/PostToolUse observation, full skills become atomic instincts with confidence scoring, and global-only storage becomes project-scoped plus global promotion.

This file is kept for archival reference and backward compatibility with existing installs.

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Original v1 Documentation (archival)

Automatically evaluates OpenAI Codex sessions on end to extract reusable patterns that can be saved as learned skills.

When to Activate

• Setting up automatic pattern extraction from OpenAI Codex sessions
• Configuring the Stop hook for session evaluation
• Reviewing or curating learned skills in ~/.codex/skills/learned/
• Adjusting extraction thresholds or pattern categories
• Comparing v1 (this) vs v2 (instinct-based) approaches

Status

This v1 skill is still supported, but continuous-learning-v2 is the preferred path for new installs. Keep v1 when you explicitly want the simpler Stop-hook extraction flow or need compatibility with older learned-skill workflows.

How It Works

This skill runs as a Stop hook at the end of each session:

1. Session Evaluation: Checks if session has enough messages (default: 10+)
2. Pattern Detection: Identifies extractable patterns from the session
3. Skill Extraction: Saves useful patterns to ~/.codex/skills/learned/

Configuration

Edit config.json to customize:

{
  "min_session_length": 10,
  "extraction_threshold": "medium",
  "auto_approve": false,
  "learned_skills_path": "~/.codex/skills/learned/",
  "patterns_to_detect": [
    "error_resolution",
    "user_corrections",
    "workarounds",
    "debugging_techniques",
    "project_specific"
  ],
  "ignore_patterns": [
    "simple_typos",
    "one_time_fixes",
    "external_api_issues"
  ]
}

Pattern Types

Pattern	Description
error_resolution	How specific errors were resolved
user_corrections	Patterns from user corrections
workarounds	Solutions to framework/library quirks
debugging_techniques	Effective debugging approaches
project_specific	Project-specific conventions

Hook Setup

Add to your ~/.codex/settings.json:

{
  "hooks": {
    "Stop": [{
      "matcher": "*",
      "hooks": [{
        "type": "command",
        "command": "~/.codex/skills/continuous-learning/evaluate-session.sh"
      }]
    }]
  }
}

Why Stop Hook?

• Lightweight: Runs once at session end
• Non-blocking: Doesn't add latency to every message
• Complete context: Has access to full session transcript

Related

• The Longform Guide - Section on continuous learning
• /learn command - Manual pattern extraction mid-session

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Comparison Notes (Research: Jan 2025)

vs Homunculus

Homunculus v2 takes a more sophisticated approach:

Feature	Our Approach	Homunculus v2
Observation	Stop hook (end of session)	PreToolUse/PostToolUse hooks (100% reliable)
Analysis	Main context	Background agent (Fast)
Granularity	Full skills	Atomic "instincts"
Confidence	None	0.3-0.9 weighted
Evolution	Direct to skill	Instincts → cluster → skill/command/agent
Sharing	None	Export/import instincts

Key insight from homunculus:

"v1 relied on skills to observe. Skills are probabilistic—they fire ~50-80% of the time. v2 uses hooks for observation (100% reliable) and instincts as the atomic unit of learned behavior."

Potential v2 Enhancements

1. Instinct-based learning - Smaller, atomic behaviors with confidence scoring
2. Background observer - Fast agent analyzing in parallel
3. Confidence decay - Instincts lose confidence if contradicted
4. Domain tagging - code-style, testing, git, debugging, etc.
5. Evolution path - Cluster related instincts into skills/commands

See: docs/continuous-learning-v2-spec.md for full spec.