Agent skill

knowledge-synthesis

Cross-project pattern recognition — abstract, generalize, connect, store at the highest true level

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Install this agent skill to your Project

npx add-skill https://github.com/majiayu000/claude-skill-registry/tree/main/skills/other/other/knowledge-synthesis-fabioc-aloha-airs-data-analysis

SKILL.md

Knowledge Synthesis Skill

Extract the reusable from the specific. Store at the highest level that remains true.

The Synthesis Process

1. Abstract — Strip project-specific details

Before (project-specific) After (abstracted)
"In Alex extension, synapses.json breaks when files are renamed" "Connection metadata breaks when target files are renamed"
"We migrated knowledge files to skills/" "When reorganizing knowledge files, update all internal references"
"Alex's dream runs brain-qa.ps1" "Automated health checks should run validation scripts"

Test: Would this insight help someone who's never seen this project?

2. Generalize — Find the abstraction level

Level Example Store As
Project-specific "Alex uses synapses.json" Don't store globally
Technology-specific "JSON schema files break silently on rename" GI-* insight
Architecture pattern "Self-referencing metadata needs rename-aware tooling" GK-* pattern
Universal principle "Metadata that references other files is fragile by nature" GK-* (high value)

Store at the highest level that remains true. If generalizing makes it wrong, stay specific.

3. Connect — Link to existing knowledge

Before creating new knowledge, check: does this extend an existing pattern?

Signal Action
"We solved this before in project X" Extend existing GK-* with new example
"This is the third time I've seen this" Promote from insight (GI-) to pattern (GK-)
"This contradicts what we knew" Update existing pattern, note the exception
"This is entirely new" Create new GI-* insight, observe before promoting

4. Store — Right format, right location

Type Prefix Criteria Location
Pattern GK-* Proven in 2+ projects, abstracted, actionable patterns/
Insight GI-* Single observation, timestamped, may not generalize insights/

Quality bar: 10 great patterns > 100 mediocre notes.

Pattern Triggers

Signal During Work Synthesis Opportunity
"We did this before" Recurring solution → pattern candidate
Same bug in different context Missing knowledge → capture the fix pattern
"This works everywhere" Universal principle → high-value pattern
"I wish I'd known this earlier" Onboarding knowledge → insight worth capturing
"This is not obvious" Non-obvious insight → capture the why

Promotion Checklist (Insight → Pattern)

Before promoting a GI-* insight to GK-* pattern:

  • Abstracted from original project context
  • Named with clear, searchable slug
  • Tagged with relevant categories
  • Connected to existing patterns (if related)
  • Includes at least one concrete example
  • The generalization is still true (not over-abstracted)

Anti-Patterns

Don't Why Do Instead
Store every learning Creates noise, reduces signal Filter for non-obvious insights
Copy-paste project specifics Not reusable outside original context Abstract first
Create near-duplicates Fragments knowledge Extend existing patterns
Over-generalize "Always do X" is usually wrong Include scope and exceptions
Skip examples Abstract knowledge is hard to apply Include 1-2 concrete examples

Synthesis During Meditation

Phase 2 of meditation is the natural synthesis point:

  1. Review session insights (Phase 1 output)
  2. For each insight: Abstract → check if existing pattern covers it → extend or create
  3. Connect new entries via synapses to related skills
  4. Verify the global knowledge index is updated

Synapses

See synapses.json for connections.

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