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para-pkm
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PARA PKM
Organize by actionability, not topic. Projects/Areas/Resources/Archives for optimal AI navigation. Monthly review cadence.
Core Concepts
- Projects = Time-bound goals with deadlines (completes → Archives); includes
projects/stories/for job applications - Areas = Ongoing responsibilities (use
_overview.mdper area for context) - Resources = Reference material; when unsure, put here temporarily
- Archives = Inactive items from any category
Decision Tree
Has deadline/end state? → Projects
Ongoing responsibility? → Areas
Reference material? → Resources (default for uncertain items)
Completed/inactive? → Archives
Quick Start
python scripts/init_para_kb.py <name>- Creates PARA +projects/stories/+ navigation- Identify projects (deadlines) → areas (ongoing) → resources (reference)
python scripts/generate_nav.py- Generate AI navigation
Scripts
| Script | Purpose | Usage |
|---|---|---|
init_para_kb.py | Scaffold new KB | <name> [--path <dir>] |
validate_para.py | Check structure, detect anti-patterns | [path] |
archive_project.py | Archive with metadata (date, origin) | <project-file> [--kb-path] |
generate_nav.py | Create AI nav (<100 lines) | [--kb-path] [--output] |
Templates
| Template | Purpose |
|---|---|
assets/AGENTS.md.template | AI navigation index |
assets/project.md.template | Project file structure |
assets/area-overview.md.template | Area _overview.md format |
assets/README.md.template | Knowledge base README |
Patterns by Role
- Developers:
projects/active/features/bugs,areas/professional-development/,resources/coding-standards/ - Consultants:
projects/active/deliverables +projects/stories/,areas/consulting/clients/,resources/templates/ - Researchers:
projects/active/papers/grants,areas/research-program/,resources/literature-review/ - Product Builders:
projects/active/launches,areas/product-development/{active,research,graduated,legacy}/
Complex Scenarios
Client = project + relationship: projects/active/client-x.md (deliverables) + areas/consulting/clients/client-x.md (relationship, billing)
Research lifecycle: areas/product-development/{research → graduated → active → legacy} with cross-references
Anti-Patterns
- inbox/ folder (capture directly into PARA; use Resources when uncertain)
- Deep nesting (max 2-3 levels; flat > nested)
- Topic-based organization ("work/personal" → use actionability)
- Todo folders (tasks belong with their projects/areas)
- Perfectionism (move freely as understanding evolves; monthly review catches misplacements)
Content Lifecycle
Resources → Projects → Archives (research → active work → completed)
Areas → Archives (no longer responsible)
Projects ⟺ Areas (goal becomes ongoing or vice versa)
AI Navigation & Success Tips
- Keep nav under 100 lines; point to paths not files; minimize tokens
- Start simple ("What am I working on now?"); one home per item (use links)
- Monthly review: archive completed, reassess areas; let patterns emerge
References
- para-principles.md - Complete PARA method, "actionability not topic" principle
- decision-guide.md - Detailed decision tree with edge cases
- common-patterns.md - Proven patterns for different roles
- ai-navigation.md - AI-friendly navigation best practices
Overview
PARA PKM organizes knowledge by actionability using Projects, Areas, Resources, and Archives. It emphasizes AI-friendly navigation, scalable structure, and a monthly review cadence to keep knowledge current.
How This Skill Works
It applies a simple decision tree to place items: deadlines → Projects, ongoing work → Areas, references → Resources, and completed items → Archives. Scaffolding scripts like init_para_kb.py create the PARA structure and navigation, while generate_nav.py produces a compact AI-friendly index.
When to Use It
- Create a new PARA knowledge base from scratch.
- Organize or reorganize existing knowledge bases into PARA structure.
- Decide where content belongs in PARA (Projects vs Areas vs Resources vs Archives).
- Create AI-friendly navigation files for knowledge bases.
- Archive completed projects to Archives and keep structure clean.
Quick Start
- Step 1: python scripts/init_para_kb.py <name> - Creates PARA + projects/stories + navigation
- Step 2: Identify projects (deadlines) → areas (ongoing) → resources (reference)
- Step 3: python scripts/generate_nav.py - Generate AI navigation
Best Practices
- Limit nesting to 2-3 levels for flat, AI-friendly navigation.
- Anchor Areas with an _overview.md to provide context.
- Decide item placement using the decision tree: deadlines → Projects, ongoing → Areas, uncertain → Resources, completed → Archives.
- Run validate_para.py regularly to detect anti-patterns.
- Keep navigation under 100 lines and link to paths rather than specific files.
Example Use Cases
- A development team uses PARA PKM to track feature work (Projects) and engineering responsibilities (Areas).
- A consultant stores client deliverables (Projects), client relationships (Areas), and reusable templates (Resources).
- A researcher manages grants and papers (Projects) and research programs (Areas) with literature references (Resources).
- A product team plans launches (Projects) and product development (Areas) with specs in Resources.
- A freelancer archives completed tasks (Archives) and maintains a reference library (Resources).
Frequently Asked Questions
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