dev-note-distil

Turn pending raw developer notes into durable topic knowledge and keep the global topic TOC aligned.

This is a reader-facing synthesis pass over accumulated dev-notes. It is not for runtime memory consolidation and not for post-cycle compounding.

This skill exists to prevent raw dev notes from becoming a pile of fragments that never turn into reusable understanding.

HARD-GATE: template-first, no exceptions

Before creating or updating any markdown artifact for this workflow:

1. Read references/topic-template.md.
2. Read references/topics-index-template.md.
3. Read references/topic-merge-rules.md.
4. If the intended artifact does not match those templates, stop.

Do not patch topic files freeform. Do not treat TOPICS.md as optional cleanup. Do not create extra markdown reports in v1.

Output contract

This skill may create or update only these markdown artifacts in v1:

• dev-notes/distil/topics/<slug>/<slug>.md
• dev-notes/distil/TOPICS.md
• dev-notes/raws/YYYYMMDD.md status fields for raw notes that were actually distilled

Topic files must follow references/topic-template.md. The global index must follow references/topics-index-template.md.

Required inputs

Read the pending raw notes first. Look for raw-note entries that have not been distilled yet.

When relevant, also read the current distilled topic files and the current TOPICS.md so the update is based on existing knowledge, not on naming guesses.

Workflow

1. Collect pending raw notes

Identify raw-note entries still awaiting distillation. Use the raw note content as the evidence base.

Do not invent stronger conclusions than the cited notes support. If a note is thin, distill it carefully and mark uncertainty through precise wording instead of polishing it into false certainty.

2. Decide merge vs create

Load references/topic-merge-rules.md before deciding.

Default behavior:

• merge into an existing topic when the core reusable lesson overlaps strongly
• create a new topic only when the lesson is genuinely distinct

Do not create a new topic only because the wording differs. Do not force unrelated notes into one topic just to keep the list short.

3. Normalize topic files while updating them

If a topic file exists but does not match references/topic-template.md, normalize it while applying the update.

Do not preserve inconsistent structure just to minimize churn. A managed topic artifact should stay reusable after every update.

4. Update the topic knowledge

For each affected topic file:

• update frontmatter fields honestly
• keep source_notes grounded in the raw entries actually used
• refine Core idea, Heuristics, Common failure shapes, and Examples from notes
• keep Related topics useful but lean

Each topic file represents a stable concept, not a run log.

5. Rebuild the global TOC

After changing the topic set or topic summaries, rebuild dev-notes/distil/TOPICS.md using references/topics-index-template.md.

This is required, not optional. If topics change, the index changes too.

Do not leave TOPICS.md stale because the user did not mention it explicitly. The index is part of the managed output contract of this skill.

6. Update raw note status

Mark the raw note entries as distilled and record which topic slugs they fed.

Use this minimal provenance convention for every distilled raw entry:

• set **Status:** distilled
• set **Distilled into:** [topic-slug, ...] with only the topic slugs actually updated/created from that note

Do not add extra status fields or narrative run logs in raw notes. Keep this update factual. Do not claim a note was distilled into a topic it did not actually influence.

7. Return a short confirmation

After the update, respond briefly with:

• how many raw notes were distilled
• which topics were created or updated
• whether the global TOPICS.md index was rebuilt

Do not create a markdown run summary. Just confirm in chat.

Red flags

Stop and correct the approach if any of these appear:

• treating TOPICS.md as optional or deferrable
• patching an inconsistent topic file without normalizing it to the template
• creating near-duplicate topics because wording differs
• writing a cleaner conclusion than the raw notes actually support
• creating any extra .md artifact without a matching hard template

Handoff

Distillation complete. If the user wants to capture more in-session learnings later, return to `pulse:dev-note`.