Skill System Insight

Deprecated compatibility surface. skill-system-soul is now the canonical owner of observe/evolve behavior, but this skill remains available so existing insight routes, docs, and tests do not break during the merge window.

Unified OBSERVE → EVOLVE engine for user adaptation.

This skill turns sessions into structured behavioral insights ("facets"), uses those facets to maintain a dual-matrix soul state, and periodically evolves soul profiles and workflow recipes — all versioned and rollbackable.

Two Phases, One Skill

Phase 1 — OBSERVE
  Extract facets → Update matrix buffers → (optional) Trigger synthesis

Phase 2 — EVOLVE
  Read accumulated data → Plan evidence-backed changes → Apply with versioning → Snapshot for audit/rollback

Phase 1 produces raw signal. Phase 2 consumes it to make durable changes.

The evolve lifecycle can run through an arena comparison loop:

session -> facets -> evolve proposals -> arena A/B -> merge suggestion

The arena stage only emits recommendations. It never auto-switches profiles and never auto-merges changes.

Architecture: Hybrid 3-Layer System

Layer 1: Base Profile (balanced.md)
  - Static skeleton: section format + safety/quality defaults.

Layer 2: Dual Matrix (soul-state)
  - Personality Matrix (slow/stable): openness, directness, autonomy, rigor, warmth
  - Emotion Matrix (faster baseline): patience, enthusiasm, caution, empathy

Layer 3: Synthesized Profile (user.md)
  - Periodically regenerated from Layer 1 + Layer 2 + accumulated facets.
  - Every regeneration creates a versioned snapshot.

Layer 2 is the ground truth. Layer 3 is a readable, versioned projection.

Data Model

• Facets (per-session extraction): schema/facet.yaml
• Soul state (dual matrix + counters/buffers): schema/soul-state.yaml
• Evolution plan (proposed changes): schema/evolution-plan.yaml
• Evolution snapshot (versioned artifact): schema/evolution-snapshot.yaml

Storage uses the Postgres agent_memories table and typed sub-tables:

• Facets: memory_type='episodic', category='insight-facet' → typed table: insight_facets
• Soul state: memory_type='semantic', category='soul-state' → typed table: soul_states
• Evolution snapshots: memory_type='episodic', category='evolution-snapshot' → typed table: evolution_snapshots

Typed functions (dual-write to both typed table and agent_memories):

• insert_insight_facet(user, session_id, yaml, ...) → stores facet
• upsert_soul_state(user, yaml, personality, emotion, ...) → stores/updates soul state
• get_soul_state(user) → reads from soul_states
• get_recent_facets(user, limit) → reads from insight_facets
• insert_evolution_snapshot(user, version_tag, target, ...) → stores versioned snapshot
• get_evolution_history(user, limit) → reads from evolution_snapshots

Phase 1: OBSERVE Pipeline

Trigger (manual or suggested) → Extract Facet → Update Matrix → (optional) Synthesize Profile

References:

• Facet extraction prompt: prompts/facet-extraction.md
• Soul synthesis prompt: prompts/soul-synthesis.md
• Extraction procedure: scripts/extract-facets.md
• Matrix update algorithm: scripts/update-matrix.md
• Profile regeneration procedure: scripts/synthesize-profile.md

How To Trigger (OBSERVE)

This is a manual workflow.

• User can ask explicitly: "insight", "extract facets", "learn my preferences", "update my profile".
• Router suggestion pattern (lightweight, non-pushy):
  • "Want me to run an insight pass to learn from this session? (stores a facet + may update your matrix)"

When the user asks (or agrees), run:

1. scripts/extract-facets.md
2. scripts/update-matrix.md
3. If the synthesis trigger fires: scripts/synthesize-profile.md

Phase 2: EVOLVE Pipeline

Trigger (manual or scheduled) → Read facets + matrix → Plan evolution → Safety check → Apply → Snapshot

References:

• Evolution planning prompt: prompts/evolution-planning.md
• Recipe evolution prompt: prompts/recipe-evolution.md
• Soul evolution procedure: scripts/evolve-soul.md
• Recipe evolution procedure: scripts/evolve-recipes.md
• Version listing: scripts/list-versions.md
• Rollback procedure: scripts/rollback.md

How To Trigger (EVOLVE)

• User can ask: "evolve my profile", "evolve recipes", "list versions", "rollback to v2".
• Automatic trigger when synthesis trigger fires during OBSERVE phase.

Version Tags

Format: v{N}_{target}_{timestamp} Example: v3_soul_20260211

Algorithm: N = 1 + max(existing N) for the same user+target. Start at N=1 if none exist.

Writes

• Evolution snapshots → Postgres (evolution_snapshots + agent_memories)
• Soul profiles (filesystem) → ../skill-system-soul/profiles/<user>.md
• Workflow recipes (filesystem) → ../skill-system-workflow/recipes/*.yaml

Configuration

All runtime settings (rate limits, thresholds, step sizes, approval gates) are in config/insight.yaml.

Config is the single source of truth. Values below are documentation defaults — if they differ from config/, config/ wins.

See: ../../config/insight.yaml

Constraints (Non-Negotiable)

Transparency

Always explain what was learned and why.

• Facets must contain evidence strings tied to concrete moments.
• Matrix updates must add short context lines explaining each applied adjustment.
• Every evolution change must include evidence strings from facets or state context.

Rate Limiting (defaults — see config/insight.yaml)

• OBSERVE: Max observe.max_facets_per_day facets per user per rolling 24 hours.
  • If over limit: summarize what you would have captured, ask the user to pick 1 session to record.
• EVOLVE: Max evolve.max_passes_per_day evolution pass per day per user (across all targets).
  • Use the most recent evolution-snapshot date as the limiter.

Confidence Threshold (defaults — see config/insight.yaml)

Do not change matrix values on a single observation.

• Threshold: observe.confidence_threshold+ similar observations in the same direction.
• Personality step size: +/- observe.personality_step per qualifying adjustment.
• Emotion baseline step size: +/- observe.emotion_step per qualifying adjustment.

Accumulation tracked in buffers for testability and explainability.

Safety (Evolution)

• Cannot remove core safety constraints from soul profiles.
• Evolved profiles must retain: honest uncertainty, no hallucinated authority, refusal of harmful/illegal instructions.
• Major changes (any dimension change > evolve.approval_drift_threshold) require explicit user approval before applying.

Where Layer 1 and Layer 3 Live

• Base profile (Layer 1): ../skill-system-soul/profiles/balanced.md
• Synthesized user profile (Layer 3): ../skill-system-soul/profiles/<user>.md

The synthesis step preserves the 6-section format:

1. Identity
2. Decision Heuristics
3. Communication Style
4. Quality Bar
5. Tool Preferences
6. Anti-Patterns

Storage Pattern (agent_memories)

Example SQL templates:

-- Store a facet
SELECT store_memory(
  'episodic', 'insight-facet',
  ARRAY['session:ses_xxx', 'user:arthu'],
  'Session Facet: <brief_summary>',
  '<full facet YAML as text>',
  '{"session_type": "...", "outcome": "..."}',
  'insight-agent', 'ses_xxx', 5.0
);

-- Store/update matrix state
SELECT store_memory(
  'semantic', 'soul-state',
  ARRAY['user:arthu', 'matrix'],
  'Soul State: arthu',
  '<full soul-state YAML as text>',
  '{"total_insights": 0, "last_updated": "..."}',
  'insight-agent', NULL, 9.0
);

-- Store evolution snapshot (typed — dual-writes to agent_memories)
SELECT insert_evolution_snapshot(
  '<user>', '<version_tag>', '<target>', '<trigger>',
  '<changes JSONB>', '<snapshot_data>', '<full YAML>',
  NULL, 'insight-agent'
);

-- Query recent facets
SELECT * FROM search_memories('insight-facet user:arthu', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, 0.0, 50);

-- List evolution history
SELECT * FROM get_evolution_history('<user>', 50);

Operational Notes

• Facet extraction should be completable in one pass. If you cannot justify an adjustment with concrete evidence, propose no adjustment.
• Users may communicate in Chinese; treat that as a signal about comfort, not as a personality dimension.
• Keep values clamped to [0.0, 1.0].

{
  "schema_version": "2.0",
  "id": "skill-system-insight",
  "version": "2.2.0",
  "capabilities": [
    "insight-issue-routing", "insight-session-facets", "insight-extract", "insight-matrix-update", "insight-synthesize",
    "evolution-proposal-draft",
    "evolution-arena-loop",
    "evolution-soul", "evolution-recipes", "evolution-list", "evolution-rollback"
  ],
  "effects": ["db.read", "db.write", "fs.read", "fs.write"],
  "operations": {
    "route-issue-draft": {
      "description": "Route findings into a draft issue target based on tags/category without creating issues.",
      "input": {
        "finding": { "type": "object", "required": true, "description": "Finding payload with tags/category/evidence/impact/suggested_direction" },
        "project_repo": { "type": "string", "required": true, "description": "Current project repository owner/name" },
        "skill_system_repo": { "type": "string", "required": true, "description": "Skill-system repository owner/name" }
      },
      "output": {
        "description": "Draft routing payload",
        "fields": { "status": "ok | error", "target_repo": "string", "draft_command": "string" }
      },
      "entrypoints": {
        "agent": "Use scripts/insight_bundle_b012.py route-issue-draft"
      }
    },
    "extract-session-facets": {
      "description": "Session-end facet extraction to soul-state memories via mem.py DB path or pending fallback.",
      "input": {
        "user": { "type": "string", "required": true, "description": "User handle" },
        "session_id": { "type": "string", "required": true, "description": "Session id" },
        "facets": { "type": "array", "required": true, "description": "Facet entries: {dimension, value, confidence, evidence}" }
      },
      "output": {
        "description": "Extraction and storage summary",
        "fields": { "status": "ok | blocked | error", "stored_count": "integer", "skipped_low_confidence": "integer", "skipped_rate_limit": "integer" }
      },
      "entrypoints": {
        "agent": "Use scripts/insight_bundle_b012.py extract-session-facets"
      }
    },
    "evolve-proposals": {
      "description": "Generate non-destructive evolution proposals from soul-state facets with daily-pass safety.",
      "input": {
        "user": { "type": "string", "required": true, "description": "User handle" }
      },
      "output": {
        "description": "Proposal-only evolve output",
        "fields": { "status": "ok | blocked | error", "proposals": "array", "reason": "string" }
      },
      "entrypoints": {
        "agent": "Use scripts/insight_bundle_b012.py evolve-proposals"
      }
    },
    "evolve-arena-loop": {
      "description": "Run proposal -> arena -> merge-suggestion flow using current profile versus mutated proposal candidates.",
      "input": {
        "user": { "type": "string", "required": true, "description": "User handle" },
        "task": { "type": "string", "required": true, "description": "Task label" },
        "current_profile": { "type": "string", "required": true, "description": "Current active profile" },
        "proposals": { "type": "array", "required": true, "description": "Evolution proposals to evaluate" },
        "metrics": { "type": "object", "required": true, "description": "Per-candidate arena metrics" }
      },
      "output": {
        "description": "Arena and merge suggestion report",
        "fields": { "arena_runs": "array", "merge_suggestions": "array", "auto_merge": "false" }
      },
      "entrypoints": {
        "agent": "Use scripts/insight_bundle_b012.py evolve-arena-loop"
      }
    },
    "extract-facets": {
      "description": "Extract a per-session facet from transcript. Rate limited to 3/24h per user.",
      "input": {
        "session_id": { "type": "string", "required": true, "description": "Session to analyze" },
        "user": { "type": "string", "required": true, "description": "User handle" }
      },
      "output": {
        "description": "Facet YAML stored to agent_memories",
        "fields": { "status": "ok | error", "memory_id": "integer" }
      },
      "entrypoints": {
        "agent": "Follow scripts/extract-facets.md procedure"
      }
    },
    "update-matrix": {
      "description": "Update dual matrix from stored facet with confidence gating.",
      "input": {
        "user": { "type": "string", "required": true, "description": "User handle" }
      },
      "output": {
        "description": "Updated soul-state YAML stored to agent_memories",
        "fields": { "status": "ok | error", "values_changed": "boolean" }
      },
      "entrypoints": {
        "agent": "Follow scripts/update-matrix.md procedure"
      }
    },
    "synthesize-profile": {
      "description": "Regenerate Layer 3 Soul profile from matrix + recent facets. Creates versioned snapshot.",
      "input": {
        "user": { "type": "string", "required": true, "description": "User handle" }
      },
      "output": {
        "description": "User profile written to skill-system-soul/profiles/<user>.md with version snapshot",
        "fields": { "status": "ok | error", "profile_path": "string", "version_tag": "string" }
      },
      "entrypoints": {
        "agent": "Follow scripts/synthesize-profile.md then scripts/evolve-soul.md snapshot step"
      }
    },
    "evolve-soul": {
      "description": "Evolve soul profile from accumulated insight data. Creates versioned snapshot.",
      "input": {
        "user": { "type": "string", "required": true, "description": "User handle" }
      },
      "output": {
        "description": "Evolution result with version tag",
        "fields": { "version_tag": "string", "changes": "array", "profile_path": "string" }
      },
      "entrypoints": {
        "agent": "Follow scripts/evolve-soul.md procedure"
      }
    },
    "evolve-recipes": {
      "description": "Evolve workflow recipes based on effectiveness data from insight facets.",
      "input": {
        "user": { "type": "string", "required": true, "description": "User handle" }
      },
      "output": {
        "description": "Recipe evolution result with version tag",
        "fields": { "version_tag": "string", "recipes_changed": "array" }
      },
      "entrypoints": {
        "agent": "Follow scripts/evolve-recipes.md procedure"
      }
    },
    "list-versions": {
      "description": "List all evolution snapshots for a user.",
      "input": {
        "user": { "type": "string", "required": true },
        "target": { "type": "string", "required": false, "description": "Filter: soul | recipe | all" }
      },
      "output": {
        "description": "Array of version snapshots",
        "fields": { "versions": "array of {tag, target, timestamp, summary}" }
      },
      "entrypoints": {
        "agent": "Follow scripts/list-versions.md procedure"
      }
    },
    "rollback": {
      "description": "Restore a previous evolution version.",
      "input": {
        "user": { "type": "string", "required": true },
        "version_tag": { "type": "string", "required": true, "description": "Version tag to restore" }
      },
      "output": {
        "description": "Rollback result",
        "fields": { "status": "ok | error", "restored_from": "string" }
      },
      "entrypoints": {
        "agent": "Follow scripts/rollback.md procedure"
      }
    }
  },
  "stdout_contract": {
    "last_line_json": true,
    "note": "The b012 helper script emits pretty-printed JSON to stdout for routing, facet extraction, and evolve proposals."
  }
}