brain-ingest

name	brain-ingest
description	Ingest a new source into the wiki. Reads the source, summarizes it, creates a wiki/sources/ page, updates affected topic and entity pages, flags contradictions, and logs the activity. Trigger phrases: /brain-ingest, ingest [file or URL], add this source, read and file this, process this article/paper/note.
argument-hint	File path (e.g. raw-sources/articles/my-article.md), URL, or leave blank if source is pasted in chat

Brain Ingest

Runs the full 9-step ingest workflow defined in CLAUDE.md. Do not skip steps.

Brain Discovery

All commands target the default brain registered in ~/.claude-second-brain/config.toml. Resolve paths at call time via the claude-second-brain CLI — do not bake paths into this file:

BRAIN_PATH=$(npx -y claude-second-brain path)       # absolute path to the default brain's directory

qmd commands go through the CLI proxy, which sets INDEX_PATH for you:

npx -y claude-second-brain qmd -- query -c wiki "<terms>"

Pass --brain <name> before the -- to target a non-default brain.

Inputs

• File path — a file in raw-sources/articles/, raw-sources/pdfs/, or raw-sources/personal/
• URL — fetch and read the full content directly
• Pasted text — treat whatever the user has shared as the source

Workflow

Step 1 — Read the source

• File: use the Read tool on the provided path
• URL: fetch and read the full content
• Pasted text: treat as the source directly

Step 2 — Discuss with the user

• Summarize the source in 3–5 bullets
• Ask: what aspects matter most? Anything to emphasize or skip?
• Let the user's response shape which topics get deep treatment before proceeding

Step 3 — Create source summary page

• File: $BRAIN_PATH/wiki/sources/[slug].md (slug = kebab-case from title)
• Sections: title, author/date, one-paragraph abstract, key claims (bulleted), notable quotes (max 3), synthesis note, links to wiki pages this source touches
• Frontmatter: type: source-summary, tags, updated: YYYY-MM-DD

Step 4 — Update wiki/index.md

• Add the new source to the Sources Ingested section: one-line description + [[wiki/sources/slug]] link

Step 5 — Identify affected wiki pages

• Run: npx -y claude-second-brain qmd -- query -c wiki "<source topic and key claims>"
• Also Glob $BRAIN_PATH/wiki/*.md and $BRAIN_PATH/wiki/sources/*.md to catch anything qmd missed
• List all pages to create or update before proceeding

Step 6 — Update or create wiki pages

• For each affected page: read it, integrate the new information, add [[wiki/sources/slug]] to sources frontmatter, update updated date
• Create new topic/entity pages for anything that doesn't have one yet
• Write synthesis, not transcription — your own words, with source attributions
• Cross-link aggressively: any topic or entity mentioned should use [[wiki/page]]

Step 7 — Flag contradictions

• If the source contradicts anything on an existing page, add a > [!WARNING] Contradiction callout
• State both positions and both sources explicitly

Step 8 — Update wiki/overview.md

• Only if the source shifts the high-level synthesis or introduces a significant new theme
• Otherwise skip this step

Step 9 — Append to log

• Append to $BRAIN_PATH/wiki/log.md (never overwrite):

  ## [YYYY-MM-DD] ingest | Source Title
  
  [[wiki/sources/slug]] | Pages touched: [[wiki/page1]], [[wiki/page2]], ...
  

Hard Rules

• Never modify anything in raw-sources/ — immutable raw inputs
• Every wiki page must have frontmatter with at least type and updated
• One source summary page per source — never merge two sources into one