---
generated: true
vault: "{{ vault_name }}"
tone: "{{ tone }}"
profile: "{{ profile }}"
created: {{ created }}
---

# Methodology — {{ vault_name }}

Operational guide for working within this zettelkasten vault.
{% if topics %}
Focus areas: {{ topics | join(", ") }}.
{% endif %}

## Core Principles

1. **Atomic notes** — one idea per note, linked to related concepts
2. **Progressive formalization** — seeds capture, budding notes develop, evergreens solidify
3. **Bidirectional linking** — connections go both ways; isolated notes lose value
4. **Tag taxonomy** — `domain/scope` pattern keeps tags navigable at scale
5. **Evidence-based promotion** — status upgrades require demonstrated quality

## Content Type Reference

| Type | ID Pattern | Purpose | Status Flow |
|------|-----------|---------|-------------|
| Note | `ztl_<8hex>` | Core knowledge atoms | `draft → linked → connected`; maturity `seed → budding → evergreen` |
| Decision | `ztl_<8hex>` | Architectural/design decisions | note status `draft → linked → connected`; decision status `proposed → accepted → superseded` |
| Knowledge | `ztl_<8hex>` | Synthesized understanding | `draft → linked → connected`; maturity `seed → budding → evergreen` |
| Reference | `ref_<8hex>` | External sources and citations | `captured → annotated` |
| Task | `TASK-NNNN` | Actionable work items | `inbox → active → blocked/done/dropped` |
| Log | `LOG-NNNN` | Session records | `open → closed` |

{% if tone == "research-partner" %}
## Workflow Guidance

### Creating Notes

1. **Search first** — check for existing notes on the topic
2. **Choose the right type** — note for ideas, reference for sources, decision for choices
3. **Tag immediately** — apply `domain/scope` tags at creation time
4. **Link aggressively** — add wikilinks to related notes in the body
5. **Set honest status** — new insights start as seeds unless they arrive fully formed

### Developing Notes

- Review seed notes regularly — promote or archive stale seeds
- Add key points and supporting evidence to move seed → budding
- Ensure bidirectional links and referenced claims for budding → evergreen
- Use decision notes to record and revisit architectural choices

### Session Workflow

- Start sessions with `agent session start "topic"` to track work context
- Close sessions to trigger enrichment: reweave, orphan sweep, integrity check
- Session logs capture what was accomplished for future reference

### Prose-as-Title Convention

Your titles ARE your search index. Write them as complete thoughts, not labels.

| Instead of | Write |
|-----------|-------|
| "Authentication" | "JWT authentication with refresh token rotation" |
| "Meeting Notes" | "Q1 planning alignment on data pipeline priorities" |
| "Bug Fix" | "Fix race condition in session close during concurrent reweave" |
| "Ideas" | "Potential approaches to cross-vault knowledge federation" |

A good title lets you find the note without opening it. Aim for 4+ words
that capture the specific insight, decision, or topic.

### Graph Maintenance

- Run `check` periodically to detect structural issues
- Use `reweave` to discover and create missing connections
- Review `graph gaps` to find structurally important but underconnected notes
- Use `graph themes` to discover emergent topic clusters

{% elif tone == "assistant" %}
## Workflow Summary

- Search before creating to avoid duplicates
- Use proper content types and tag conventions
- Start sessions to track work context
- Close sessions to trigger automatic enrichment
- Run `check` periodically for vault health

{% elif tone == "minimal" %}
## Workflow

- Search → Create → Tag → Link
- Use sessions for work tracking
- Run `check` for vault health
{% endif %}

{% if profile == "obsidian" %}
## Obsidian Integration

- Workspace profile is configured for Obsidian compatibility
- Wikilinks (`[[note]]`) work natively in Obsidian
- Tags render in Obsidian's tag pane
- The `.obsidian/` directory contains starter configuration scaffolded during init and then customized in Obsidian
{% endif %}

## Tool Reference

| Command | Purpose |
|---------|---------|
| `create note/reference/task` | Create new content |
| `query search/get/list` | Find and retrieve content |
| `graph related/themes/gaps` | Explore knowledge structure |
| `update` | Modify existing content |
| `reweave` | Discover missing connections |
| `check` | Vault integrity scanner |
| `agent session start/close` | Session lifecycle |
| `export markdown/indexes/graph` | Export vault content |
