Runtime Configuration (Step 0 — before any processing)

Read these files to configure domain-specific behavior:

1. ops/derivation-manifest.md — vocabulary mapping, platform hints

   • Use vocabulary.notes for the notes folder name
   • Use vocabulary.note / vocabulary.note_plural for note type references
   • Use vocabulary.verify for the process verb in output
   • Use vocabulary.topic_map for MOC references
   • Use vocabulary.templates for the templates folder path
   • Use vocabulary.cmd_reflect for redirect when missing connections found

2. ops/config.yaml — processing depth, verification settings

   • processing.depth: deep | standard | quick
   • processing.verification.description_test: true | false
   • processing.verification.schema_check: true | false
   • processing.verification.link_check: true | false

If these files don't exist, use universal defaults.

Processing depth adaptation:

Depth	Verification Behavior
deep	Full verification: cold-read prediction, complete schema check, exhaustive link verification, MOC coverage, orphan risk analysis, content staleness detection, bundling analysis
standard	Balanced: cold-read prediction, schema check, link verification, MOC coverage
quick	Basic: schema check, link verification only. Skip cold-read prediction and health analysis

EXECUTE NOW

Target: $ARGUMENTS

Parse immediately:

• If target contains a note name: verify that specific note
• If target contains --handoff: output RALPH HANDOFF block at end
• If target is "all" or "recent": verify recently created/modified notes
• If target is empty: ask which note to verify

Anti-Shortcut Warning

Before marking verification as passed, you MUST complete ALL four categories:

1. COMPLETE description quality test — cold-read the title + description, predict what the note contains, compare against actual content. A description that merely restates the title FAILS.

2. COMPLETE schema validation — check ALL required fields from the template schema, verify ALL enum values are valid, confirm ALL constraints are met. A single missing required field FAILS.

3. COMPLETE link verification — confirm ALL wiki links in the note resolve to existing files. A single dangling link FAILS.

4. COMPLETE {DOMAIN:topic map} integration — verify the note appears in at least one {DOMAIN:topic map}'s Core Ideas section with a context phrase. A note with no {DOMAIN:topic map} mention FAILS.

Do NOT declare success after checking only one or two categories. ALL FOUR must pass.

Execute these steps IN ORDER:

Step 0: INDEX FRESHNESS CHECK

Before any retrieval tests, verify the semantic search index is current:

1. Try mcp__qmd__vector_search with a simple test query to confirm MCP availability
2. If MCP is unavailable (tool fails or returns error), try qmd CLI (qmd status) to confirm local CLI availability
3. If either MCP or qmd CLI is available, proceed to Step 1
4. If neither MCP nor qmd CLI is available: note "retrieval test will be deferred" and proceed — do NOT let index issues block verification

The index freshness check prevents false retrieval failures on recently created notes. If the index is stale, retrieval test results should be interpreted with that context.

Step 1: RECITE (cold-read prediction test)

CRITICAL: Do NOT read the full note yet. Only read frontmatter.

This step tests whether the title + description alone enable an agent to predict the note's content. The cold-read constraint is the entire point — reading the note first contaminates the prediction.

1. Read ONLY title + description

Use Read with a line limit to get just the first few lines of frontmatter. Extract:

• Title (the filename without .md)
• Description (the description field)

Do NOT scroll past the frontmatter closing ---.

2. Form prediction

Before reading further, write out what you expect:

• Core argument: what claim does this note make?
• Mechanism: what reasoning or evidence does it use?
• Scope: what boundaries does the argument have?
• Likely connections: what other notes would it reference?

Write this prediction explicitly in your output. It must be specific enough to be wrong.

3. Read full note content

NOW read the complete note. Compare against your prediction.

4. Score prediction accuracy (1-5)

Score	Meaning	Threshold
5	Perfect — description fully captured the argument	Pass
4	Strong — minor details missed, core predicted	Pass
3	Adequate — general area right, missed key aspects	Pass (minimum)
2	Weak — significant mismatch between prediction and content	FAIL
1	Failed — note argued something different than expected	FAIL

Passing threshold: 3 or above.

5. Run semantic retrieval test

Test whether the description enables semantic retrieval:

• Tier 1 (preferred): mcp__qmd__vector_search with query = "[the note's description text]", collection = "{vocabulary.notes_collection}", limit = 10
• Tier 2 (CLI fallback): qmd vsearch "[the note's description text]" --collection {vocabulary.notes_collection} -n 10
• Tier 3: if both MCP and qmd CLI are unavailable, report "retrieval test deferred (semantic search unavailable)" — do NOT skip silently

Check where the note appears in results:

• Top 3: description works well for semantic retrieval
• Position 4-10: adequate but could improve
• Not in top 10: flag — description may not convey the note's meaning

Why vector_search specifically: Agents find notes via semantic search during reflect and reweave. Testing with keyword search tests the wrong retrieval method. Full hybrid search with LLM reranking compensates for weak descriptions — too lenient. vector_search tests real semantic findability without hiding bad descriptions behind reranking.

6. Draft improved description if needed

If prediction score < 3:

• Diagnose the failure: too vague? missing mechanism? wrong emphasis? restates title?
• Draft an improved description that would score higher
• If you have Edit tool access: apply the improvement

7. Combined scoring

Prediction Score	Retrieval Rank	Suggested Action
4-5	top 3	Description works — no changes needed
3-4	top 5	Adequate — minor improvements possible
3+	6-10	Investigate — passes prediction but weak retrieval
any	not in top 10	Flag for review — description may not enable retrieval
< 3	any	FAIL — description needs rewriting

Step 2: VALIDATE (schema check)

Read the template that applies to this note type. Determine the template by checking:

• Note location (e.g., {DOMAIN:notes}/ uses the standard note template)
• Type field in frontmatter (if present, may indicate a specialized template)

If the vault has templates with _schema blocks, read the _schema from the relevant template for authoritative field requirements. If no _schema exists, use the checks below as defaults.

Required fields (FAIL if missing):

Field	Requirement	Severity
description	Must exist and be non-empty	FAIL
Topics footer or topics field	Must reference at least one {DOMAIN:topic map}	FAIL

Description constraints (WARN if violated):

Constraint	Check	Severity
Length	Should be ~50-200 characters	WARN
Format	Single sentence, no trailing period	WARN
Content	MUST add NEW information beyond title	WARN
Semantic value	Should capture mechanism, not just topic	WARN

How to check "adds new info": Read the title, read the description. If the description says the same thing in different words, it fails this check. A good description adds: mechanism (how/why), scope (boundaries), implication (what follows), or context (where it applies).

YAML validity (FAIL if broken):

Check	Rule	Severity
Frontmatter delimiters	Must start with --- and close with ---	FAIL
Valid YAML	Must parse without errors	FAIL
No unknown fields	Fields not in the template	WARN

Domain-specific field enums (WARN if invalid):

If the note has fields with enumerated values (type, category, status, etc.), check them against the template's _schema.enums block. Each invalid enum value produces a WARN.

Relevant notes format (WARN if incorrect):

Constraint	Check	Severity
Format	Array with context: ["[[note]] -- relationship"]	WARN
Relationship type	Should use standard types: extends, foundation, contradicts, enables, example	INFO
Links exist	Each referenced note must exist as a file	WARN

Topics format (FAIL if invalid):

Constraint	Check	Severity
Format	Array of wiki links: ["[[topic]]"]	FAIL
Links exist	Each {DOMAIN:topic map} must exist as a file	WARN

Composability (WARN if fails):

Check	Rule	Severity
Title test	Can you complete "This note argues that [title]"?	WARN
Specificity	Is the claim specific enough to disagree with?	WARN

Step 3: REVIEW (per-note health checks)

Run these 5 checks on the note:

1. YAML frontmatter integrity

• File starts with ---, has closing ---
• YAML parses without errors
• No duplicate keys

2. Description quality (independent of recite)

• Description is present and non-empty
• Description adds information beyond the title
• Description is not just the title rephrased

3. {DOMAIN:topic map} connection

• Note appears in at least one {DOMAIN:topic map}'s Core Ideas section
• How to check: grep for [[note title]] in files that serve as {DOMAIN:topic map}s
• The note's Topics footer references a valid {DOMAIN:topic map}
• A note with no {DOMAIN:topic map} mention is orphaned — FAIL

4. Wiki link density

• Count outgoing wiki links in the note body (not just frontmatter)
• Expected minimum: 2 outgoing links
• If < 2: flag as sparse — the note is not participating in the graph
• Sparse notes should be routed to /reflect for connection finding

5. Link resolution

• Scan ALL wiki links in the note — body, frontmatter relevant_notes, and Topics
• For each [[link]], confirm a matching file exists in the vault
• Exclude wiki links inside backtick-wrapped code blocks (single backtick or triple backtick) — these are syntax examples, not real links
• A single dangling link = FAIL with the specific broken link identified

Deep-only checks (when processing.depth = deep):

6. Orphan risk assessment

• Count incoming links: grep for [[note title]] across all .md files
• If 0 incoming links: AT RISK — note exists but nothing references it
• If 1 incoming link: LOW RISK — single point of connection
• If 2+ incoming links: OK

7. Content staleness detection

• Read the note's content and assess whether claims still seem current
• Check if referenced concepts/tools/approaches have changed
• Flag anything that reads as potentially outdated

8. Bundling analysis

• Does the note make multiple distinct claims that could be separate notes?
• Check: could you link to part of this note without dragging unrelated context?
• If yes: flag for potential splitting

Step 4: APPLY FIXES

If you have Edit tool access, apply fixes for clear-cut issues:

Auto-fix (safe to apply):

• Improved description if recite score < 3
• Missing --- frontmatter delimiters
• Trailing period on description
• Missing Topics footer (if obvious which {DOMAIN:topic map} applies)

Do NOT auto-fix (requires judgment):

• Bundled notes (splitting requires understanding the claims)
• Content staleness (needs human review of factual accuracy)
• Missing connections (use /reflect instead — connection finding is its own phase)
• Ambiguous {DOMAIN:topic map} assignment (when note could fit multiple)

Step 5: Compile Results

Combine all checks into a unified report:

=== VERIFY: [note title] ===

RECITE:
  Prediction score: N/5
  Retrieval rank: #N (or "not in top 10" or "deferred")
  Description: [pass/improved/needs work]

VALIDATE:
  Required fields: [PASS/FAIL — detail]
  Description constraints: [PASS/WARN — detail]
  Topics format: [PASS/FAIL — detail]
  Optional fields: [PASS/WARN/N/A]
  Relevant notes: [PASS/WARN/N/A]
  Composability: [PASS/WARN]

REVIEW:
  Frontmatter: [PASS/FAIL]
  Description quality: [PASS/WARN]
  {DOMAIN:topic map} connection: [PASS/FAIL — which {DOMAIN:topic map}]
  Wiki links: N outgoing [PASS/WARN if < 2]
  Link resolution: [PASS/FAIL — broken links listed]

Overall: [PASS / WARN (N warnings) / FAIL (N failures)]

Actions Taken:
- [List of fixes applied, or "none"]

Recommended Actions:
- [List of suggested next steps, or "none"]
===

Step 6: Update task file and capture observations

• If a task file is in context (pipeline execution): update the ## Verify section with results
• Reflect on the process: friction? surprises? methodology insights? process gaps?
• If any observations worth capturing: create atomic note in the observations directory per the observation capture pattern
• If --handoff in target: output RALPH HANDOFF block (see below)

START NOW. The reference material below explains philosophy and methodology — use to guide reasoning, not as output to repeat.

---

Verify

Combined verification: recite (description quality) + validate (schema compliance) + review (health checks). Three lightweight checks in one context window.

philosophy

verification is one concern, not three.

recite tests whether the description enables retrieval. validate checks schema compliance. review checks graph health. all three operate on the same note, read the same frontmatter, and together answer one question: is this {DOMAIN:note} ready?

running them separately meant three context windows, three subagent spawns, three rounds of reading the same file. the checks are lightweight enough (combined context ~15-25% of window) that they fit comfortably in one session while staying in the smart zone.

"the unit of verification is the {DOMAIN:note}, not the check type."

execution order matters

Recite MUST run first. The cold-read prediction test requires forming an honest prediction from title + description BEFORE reading the full note. If validate or review ran first (both read the full note), the prediction would be contaminated. Recite's constraint: predict first, read second.

Index freshness runs before everything. The retrieval test in recite depends on semantic search having current data. Without a freshness check, recently created notes produce false retrieval failures that obscure actual description quality issues.

After recite reads the full note, validate and review can run in any order since they both need the full content.

recite: description quality

the testing effect applied to vault quality. read only title + description, predict what the note argues, then check. if your prediction fails, the description fails.

why this matters: descriptions are the API of the vault. agents decide whether to load a note based on title + description. a misleading description causes two failure modes:

• false positive: agent reads the note expecting X, wastes context on Y
• false negative: agent skips the note because description doesn't signal relevance

both degrade the vault's value as a knowledge tool.

retrieval test rationale: agents find notes via semantic search during reflect and reweave. testing with BM25 keyword matching tests the wrong retrieval method. full hybrid search with LLM reranking compensates for weak descriptions — too lenient. vector_search tests real semantic findability without hiding bad descriptions.

validate: schema compliance

checks against the relevant template schema:

Check	Requirement	Severity
description	Must exist, non-empty	FAIL
topics	Must exist, array of wiki links	FAIL
description length	< 200 chars	WARN
description content	Adds info beyond title	WARN
description format	No trailing period	WARN
domain enum fields	Valid values per template _schema.enums	WARN
relevant_notes format	Array with context phrases	WARN
YAML integrity	Well-formed, --- delimiters	FAIL
Composability	Title passes "This note argues that [title]" test	WARN

FAIL means fix needed. WARN is informational but worth addressing.

template discovery: The skill reads the template for the note type to get its _schema block. If no template exists or no _schema block is found, fall back to the default checks above.

review: per-note health

5 focused checks per note (not a full vault-wide audit):

1. YAML frontmatter — well-formed, has --- delimiters, valid parsing
2. Description quality — present, adds info beyond title, not a restatement
3. {DOMAIN:topic map} connection — appears in at least one {DOMAIN:topic map}
4. Wiki link count — >= 2 outgoing links (graph participation threshold)
5. Link resolution — all wiki links point to existing files (full body scan, excluding backtick-wrapped examples)

plus 3 deep-only checks for comprehensive audits: 6. Orphan risk — incoming link count (is anything pointing here?) 7. Content staleness — does the content still seem accurate? 8. Bundling — does the note make multiple distinct claims?

common failure patterns

Pattern	Symptom	Fix
Title restated as description	Recite score 1-2, prediction trivially correct but content is richer	Rewrite description to add mechanism/scope
Missing {DOMAIN:topic map}	Review fails MOC check	Add to appropriate {DOMAIN:topic map} or create Topics footer
Dangling links	Review fails link resolution	Remove link, create the target note, or fix the spelling
Sparse note	< 2 outgoing links	Route to /reflect for connection finding
Schema drift	Enum values not in template	Update note to use valid values, or propose enum addition

batch mode (--all)

When verifying all notes:

1. Discover all notes in {DOMAIN:notes}/ directory
2. For each note, run the full verification pipeline
3. Produce summary report:
   • Total notes checked
   • PASS / WARN / FAIL counts per category
   • Top issues grouped by check type
   • Notes needing immediate attention (FAIL items)
   • Pattern analysis across failures

Performance note: In batch mode, the recite cold-read test runs honestly for each note. Do not "warm up" by reading multiple notes first — each prediction must be genuinely cold.

standalone invocation

/verify [note]

Run all three checks on a specific note. Full detailed report.

/verify --all

Comprehensive audit of all notes in {DOMAIN:notes}/. Summary table + flagged failures.

/verify --handoff [note]

Pipeline mode for orchestrator. Runs full workflow, outputs RALPH HANDOFF block.

handoff mode (--handoff flag)

When invoked with --handoff, output this structured format at the END of the session:

=== RALPH HANDOFF: verify ===
Target: [[note name]]

Work Done:
- Recite: prediction N/5, retrieval #N, [pass/fail]
- Validate: [PASS/WARN/FAIL] (N checks, M warnings, K failures)
- Review: [PASS/WARN/FAIL] (N checks, M issues)
- Description improved: [yes/no]

Files Modified:
- {DOMAIN:notes}/[note].md (description improved, if applicable)
- [task file path] (Verify section updated, if applicable)

Learnings:
- [Friction]: [description] | NONE
- [Surprise]: [description] | NONE
- [Methodology]: [description] | NONE
- [Process gap]: [description] | NONE

Queue Updates:
- Mark: verify done for this task
=== END HANDOFF ===

task file update

When a task file is in context (pipeline execution), update the ## Verify section:

## Verify
**Verified:** [UTC timestamp]

Recite:
- Prediction: N/5 — [brief reason]
- Retrieval: #N via MCP vector_search or CLI vsearch (or "deferred")
- Description: [kept/improved — brief note]

Validate:
- Required fields: PASS
- Description constraints: PASS (147 chars, adds mechanism)
- Topics: PASS (["[[topic]]"])
- Optional: [status]

Review:
- Frontmatter: PASS
- {DOMAIN:topic map} connection: PASS ([[topic]])
- Wiki links: N outgoing
- Link resolution: PASS (all resolve)

Overall: [PASS/WARN/FAIL]

Pipeline Chaining

Verify is the final pipeline phase. After verification completes:

• manual: Output "Verified. Pipeline complete." — no next step
• suggested: Output completion summary AND suggest marking task done in queue
• automatic: Task marked done, summary logged to task file

If verification FAILS (recite score < 3 or any FAIL-level issue), do NOT mark done. Instead:

• Output what failed and what needs fixing
• Keep task at current_phase: "verify" for re-run after fixes

The chaining output uses domain-native vocabulary from the derivation manifest.

queue.json update (interactive execution)

When running interactively (NOT via orchestrator), YOU must execute queue updates:

TIMESTAMP=$(date -u +"%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%SZ")
jq '(.tasks[] | select(.id=="TASK_ID")).status = "done" | (.tasks[] | select(.id=="TASK_ID")).completed = "'"$TIMESTAMP"'"' ops/queue/queue.json > tmp.json && mv tmp.json ops/queue/queue.json

The queue path uses the domain-native operations folder. Check ops/ or equivalent.

critical constraints

never:

• read the note before forming the recite prediction (cold-read is the whole point)
• auto-fix FAIL-level issues without flagging them in the report
• skip the semantic retrieval test without reporting "deferred"
• leave failures without suggested improvements
• declare PASS after checking only some categories

always:

• run recite FIRST (before validate/review — execution order is load-bearing)
• be honest about prediction accuracy (inflated scores defeat the purpose)
• suggest specific improved descriptions for score < 3
• report all severity levels clearly (PASS/WARN/FAIL)
• update task file if one is in context
• capture observations for friction, surprises, or methodology insights