skill-editing

name	skill-editing
description	Use when an existing skill needs updating based on new evidence
trigger_pattern	When a skill receives negative feedback or new evidence contradicts it
tags	["meta","editing","evolution"]
version	1
is_protected	true
q_value	0.5
q_update_count	0

Skill Editing

Iron Law

NO EDIT WITHOUT EVIDENCE.

Every skill edit must be justified by concrete evidence: feedback signals, new processes, or observed failures.

Decision Tree

Skill needs attention:
├── Q-value < 0.3 with 5+ uses?
│   ├── Fixable with content update?
│   │   └── YES → Edit content
│   └── Fundamentally wrong approach?
│       └── YES → Deprecate and create new
├── Q-value < 0.1 with 5+ uses?
│   └── Auto-suspended → Review for deprecation
├── New evidence contradicts skill?
│   ├── Minor correction needed?
│   │   └── Edit without version bump
│   └── Major change to approach?
│       └── Edit with version bump
├── Skill content is stale?
│   └── Update with version bump
└── Skill is protected?
    └── Requires force=True and clear justification

Edit Types

Minor Edit (no version bump)

• Fixing typos or clarifying language
• Adding small details that don't change the approach
• Updating examples

skill_edit(name, new_content, version_bump=False, reason="Clarified step 3")

Major Edit (version bump)

• Changing the approach or methodology
• Adding/removing steps
• Updating based on new evidence
• Correcting wrong information

skill_edit(name, new_content, version_bump=True, reason="Added heap analysis step based on proc_xxx evidence")

Deprecation (for broken skills)

• Skill is fundamentally wrong
• Skill is superseded by a better one
• Skill's domain is no longer relevant

Mark as suspended rather than deleting:

skill_edit(name, metadata_updates={"is_suspended": true}, reason="Superseded by skill-xyz")

Editing Protected Skills

Meta-skills (skill-discovery, skill-creation, etc.) are protected:

• They require force=True to edit
• Edits MUST be justified with clear evidence
• The protection exists because meta-skills control the entire system

Evidence Requirements

Action	Minimum Evidence
Minor edit	1 feedback signal or observation
Major edit	2+ feedback signals or new process data
Deprecation	3+ failure signals or clear supersession
Protected edit	Documented reasoning + 2+ evidence points

Anti-patterns

• Editing based on gut feeling without evidence
• Making a skill more generic instead of more precise
• Editing a skill that's working well (Q > 0.7)
• Deprecating instead of fixing
• Forgetting to provide a reason for the edit