knowledge-consolidation

# COG Knowledge Consolidation Skill

## Purpose
Transform scattered insights from braindumps, daily briefs, and check-ins into coherent frameworks and "single source of truth" knowledge documents through pattern recognition and systematic synthesis.

## When to Invoke
- User wants to consolidate their insights
- User says "consolidate knowledge", "build frameworks", "synthesize insights"
- Time for periodic knowledge base maintenance (weekly, monthly, quarterly)
- User wants to extract patterns from accumulated braindumps
- Before major decisions that could benefit from framework consultation

## Agent Mode Awareness

**Check `agent_mode` in `00-inbox/MY-PROFILE.md` frontmatter:**
- If `agent_mode: team` — delegate scanning and pattern extraction to parallel sub-agents (e.g., one per domain: personal braindumps, professional braindumps, project-specific content, daily briefs). Each agent identifies themes and patterns, then a synthesis agent combines findings into frameworks.
- If `agent_mode: solo` (default) — handle all scanning, pattern recognition, and framework building directly. No delegation.

## Pre-Flight Check

**Get current timestamp (REQUIRED before generating any files):**

1. Run `date '+%Y-%m-%d %H:%M'` using Bash to get the actual current date and time
2. Store this value and use it for the `created:` frontmatter field
3. NEVER guess or fabricate the time — always use the value returned by the `date` command

## Process Flow

### 1. Data Gathering

**Scan vault for unprocessed or partially processed content:**

- All braindumps since last consolidation:
  - `02-personal/braindumps/`
  - `03-professional/braindumps/`
  - `04-projects/*/braindumps/`
  - `00-inbox/braindump-*.md` (mixed domain)

- Daily briefs and check-ins:
  - `01-daily/briefs/`
  - `01-daily/checkins/`

- Any meeting transcripts or project documents in:
  - `04-projects/*/planning/`
  - `04-projects/*/resources/`

**Determine scope:**
- Ask user: "What time period should I analyze? (last week, last month, last quarter, all time, or custom range?)"
- Identify unprocessed content (check for `status: "captured"` or missing consolidation metadata)

**Gather statistics:**
- Total documents to analyze
- Breakdown by domain and type
- Date range coverage

### 2. Pattern Recognition

Apply systematic pattern detection across all content:

#### Frequency Analysis
**What comes up repeatedly?**
- Identify themes mentioned across multiple documents
- Track topic frequency and clustering
- Recognize persistent questions or concerns
- Spot recurring action items or decisions

#### Temporal Clustering
**What insights emerged together?**
- Group related insights by time period
- Identify how thinking evolved over time
- Recognize inflection points where thinking shifted
- Map catalysts that triggered changes

#### Domain Correlation
**What patterns cross domains?**
- Personal insights affecting professional thinking
- Professional learnings applied to projects
- Project experiences informing personal growth
- Strategic themes spanning all domains

#### Contradiction Analysis
**Where does thinking conflict?**
- Identify contradictory thoughts or approaches
- Recognize evolution vs. inconsistency
- Understand resolution or ongoing tension
- Track perspective shifts over time

#### Cross-Cutting Patterns
**Meta-patterns across all dimensions:**
- Decision-making approaches
- Problem-solving strategies
- Learning patterns
- Emotional/energy patterns
- Relationship patterns
- Creative processes

### 3. Framework Development

Synthesize patterns into actionable frameworks:

#### Identify Core Principles
**From scattered insights to fundamental truths:**
- What patterns reveal deeper principles?
- What rules or heuristics emerge?
- What mental models are forming?
- What strategies are proving effective?

#### Test Against Evidence
**Validate frameworks with source material:**
- Do source insights support these principles?
- Are there counter-examples or exceptions?
- How confident can we be in this framework?
- What are the boundary conditions?

#### Define Boundaries
**When does framework apply/not apply?**
- What contexts does this framework serve?
- What are its limitations?
- When should it NOT be used?
- What assumptions does it rely on?

#### Create Applications
**How to use this framework:**
- Specific use cases
- Decision-making applications
- Problem-solving templates
- Practical implementation steps

### 4. Knowledge Integration

Update and create knowledge base documents:

#### Update Existing Frameworks

For each framework that needs updating:

```markdown
---
type: "consolidated-knowledge"
domain: "[primary-domain]"
framework: "[framework-name]"
created: "[original-date]"
last_updated: "YYYY-MM-DD"
consolidation_id: "[consolidation-session-id]"
source_documents: [count]
status: "stable|working|emerging"
tags: ["#framework", "#consolidated", "#[topic]"]
---

# [Framework Name]

## Framework Overview
[Clear description of what this framework is and what it helps with]

**Status:** [Stable | Working | Emerging]
**Last Updated:** [Date]
**Source Insights:** [count] documents analyzed

---

## Core Principles

### Principle 1: [Name]
**Statement:** [Clear, concise principle statement]

**Evidence:**
- [[braindump-YYYY-MM-DD]] - [supporting insight]
- [[daily-brief-YYYY-MM-DD]] - [supporting evidence]
- [[checkin-YYYY-MM-DD]] - [pattern observation]

**Evolution:** [How this principle has developed or been refined]

**Confidence:** [High|Medium|Low] - [reasoning]

### Principle 2: [Name]
[Same structure as Principle 1]

### Principle 3: [Name]
[Same structure as Principle 1]

---

## Applications & Use Cases

### Use Case 1: [Scenario]
**When to Apply:** [Specific situation]

**How to Apply:**
1. [Step 1]
2. [Step 2]
3. [Step 3]

**Expected Outcomes:** [What to expect]

**Example:** [Real example from user's experience]

### Use Case 2: [Scenario]
[Same structure as Use Case 1]

---

## Boundaries & Limitations

**This