home / skills / dmmulroy / .dotfiles / index-knowledge
This skill generates hierarchical AGENTS.md knowledge bases across root and complex subdirectories, with automated scoring and parallel generation.
npx playbooks add skill dmmulroy/.dotfiles --skill index-knowledgeReview the files below or copy the command above to add this skill to your agents.
---
name: index-knowledge
description: Generate hierarchical AGENTS.md knowledge base for a codebase. Creates root + complexity-scored subdirectory documentation.
---
# index-knowledge
Generate hierarchical AGENTS.md files. Root + complexity-scored subdirectories.
## Usage
```
--create-new # Read existing → remove all → regenerate from scratch
--max-depth=2 # Limit directory depth (default: 5)
```
Default: Update mode (modify existing + create new where warranted)
---
## Workflow (High-Level)
1. **Discovery + Analysis** (concurrent)
- Launch parallel explore agents (multiple Task calls in one message)
- Main session: bash structure + LSP codemap + read existing AGENTS.md
2. **Score & Decide** - Determine AGENTS.md locations from merged findings
3. **Generate** - Root first, then subdirs in parallel
4. **Review** - Deduplicate, trim, validate
<critical>
**TodoWrite ALL phases. Mark in_progress → completed in real-time.**
```
TodoWrite([
{ id: "discovery", content: "Fire explore agents + LSP codemap + read existing", status: "pending", priority: "high" },
{ id: "scoring", content: "Score directories, determine locations", status: "pending", priority: "high" },
{ id: "generate", content: "Generate AGENTS.md files (root + subdirs)", status: "pending", priority: "high" },
{ id: "review", content: "Deduplicate, validate, trim", status: "pending", priority: "medium" }
])
```
</critical>
---
## Phase 1: Discovery + Analysis (Concurrent)
**Mark "discovery" as in_progress.**
### Launch Parallel Explore Agents
Multiple Task calls in a single message execute in parallel. Results return directly.
```
// All Task calls in ONE message = parallel execution
Task(
description="project structure",
subagent_type="explore",
prompt="Project structure: PREDICT standard patterns for detected language → REPORT deviations only"
)
Task(
description="entry points",
subagent_type="explore",
prompt="Entry points: FIND main files → REPORT non-standard organization"
)
Task(
description="conventions",
subagent_type="explore",
prompt="Conventions: FIND config files (.eslintrc, pyproject.toml, .editorconfig) → REPORT project-specific rules"
)
Task(
description="anti-patterns",
subagent_type="explore",
prompt="Anti-patterns: FIND 'DO NOT', 'NEVER', 'ALWAYS', 'DEPRECATED' comments → LIST forbidden patterns"
)
Task(
description="build/ci",
subagent_type="explore",
prompt="Build/CI: FIND .github/workflows, Makefile → REPORT non-standard patterns"
)
Task(
description="test patterns",
subagent_type="explore",
prompt="Test patterns: FIND test configs, test structure → REPORT unique conventions"
)
```
<dynamic-agents>
**DYNAMIC AGENT SPAWNING**: After bash analysis, spawn ADDITIONAL explore agents based on project scale:
| Factor | Threshold | Additional Agents |
|--------|-----------|-------------------|
| **Total files** | >100 | +1 per 100 files |
| **Total lines** | >10k | +1 per 10k lines |
| **Directory depth** | ≥4 | +2 for deep exploration |
| **Large files (>500 lines)** | >10 files | +1 for complexity hotspots |
| **Monorepo** | detected | +1 per package/workspace |
| **Multiple languages** | >1 | +1 per language |
```bash
# Measure project scale first
total_files=$(find . -type f -not -path '*/node_modules/*' -not -path '*/.git/*' | wc -l)
total_lines=$(find . -type f \( -name "*.ts" -o -name "*.py" -o -name "*.go" \) -not -path '*/node_modules/*' -exec wc -l {} + 2>/dev/null | tail -1 | awk '{print $1}')
large_files=$(find . -type f \( -name "*.ts" -o -name "*.py" \) -not -path '*/node_modules/*' -exec wc -l {} + 2>/dev/null | awk '$1 > 500 {count++} END {print count+0}')
max_depth=$(find . -type d -not -path '*/node_modules/*' -not -path '*/.git/*' | awk -F/ '{print NF}' | sort -rn | head -1)
```
Example spawning (all in ONE message for parallel execution):
```
// 500 files, 50k lines, depth 6, 15 large files → spawn additional agents
Task(
description="large files",
subagent_type="explore",
prompt="Large file analysis: FIND files >500 lines, REPORT complexity hotspots"
)
Task(
description="deep modules",
subagent_type="explore",
prompt="Deep modules at depth 4+: FIND hidden patterns, internal conventions"
)
Task(
description="cross-cutting",
subagent_type="explore",
prompt="Cross-cutting concerns: FIND shared utilities across directories"
)
// ... more based on calculation
```
</dynamic-agents>
### Main Session: Concurrent Analysis
**While Task agents execute**, main session does:
#### 1. Bash Structural Analysis
```bash
# Directory depth + file counts
find . -type d -not -path '*/\.*' -not -path '*/node_modules/*' -not -path '*/venv/*' -not -path '*/dist/*' -not -path '*/build/*' | awk -F/ '{print NF-1}' | sort -n | uniq -c
# Files per directory (top 30)
find . -type f -not -path '*/\.*' -not -path '*/node_modules/*' | sed 's|/[^/]*$||' | sort | uniq -c | sort -rn | head -30
# Code concentration by extension
find . -type f \( -name "*.py" -o -name "*.ts" -o -name "*.tsx" -o -name "*.js" -o -name "*.go" -o -name "*.rs" \) -not -path '*/node_modules/*' | sed 's|/[^/]*$||' | sort | uniq -c | sort -rn | head -20
# Existing AGENTS.md / CLAUDE.md
find . -type f \( -name "AGENTS.md" -o -name "CLAUDE.md" \) -not -path '*/node_modules/*' 2>/dev/null
```
#### 2. Read Existing AGENTS.md
```
For each existing file found:
Read(filePath=file)
Extract: key insights, conventions, anti-patterns
Store in EXISTING_AGENTS map
```
If `--create-new`: Read all existing first (preserve context) → then delete all → regenerate.
#### 3. LSP Codemap (if available)
```
lsp_servers() # Check availability
# Entry points (parallel)
lsp_document_symbols(filePath="src/index.ts")
lsp_document_symbols(filePath="main.py")
# Key symbols (parallel)
lsp_workspace_symbols(filePath=".", query="class")
lsp_workspace_symbols(filePath=".", query="interface")
lsp_workspace_symbols(filePath=".", query="function")
# Centrality for top exports
lsp_find_references(filePath="...", line=X, character=Y)
```
**LSP Fallback**: If unavailable, rely on explore agents + AST-grep.
**Merge: bash + LSP + existing + Task agent results. Mark "discovery" as completed.**
---
## Phase 2: Scoring & Location Decision
**Mark "scoring" as in_progress.**
### Scoring Matrix
| Factor | Weight | High Threshold | Source |
|--------|--------|----------------|--------|
| File count | 3x | >20 | bash |
| Subdir count | 2x | >5 | bash |
| Code ratio | 2x | >70% | bash |
| Unique patterns | 1x | Has own config | explore |
| Module boundary | 2x | Has index.ts/__init__.py | bash |
| Symbol density | 2x | >30 symbols | LSP |
| Export count | 2x | >10 exports | LSP |
| Reference centrality | 3x | >20 refs | LSP |
### Decision Rules
| Score | Action |
|-------|--------|
| **Root (.)** | ALWAYS create |
| **>15** | Create AGENTS.md |
| **8-15** | Create if distinct domain |
| **<8** | Skip (parent covers) |
### Output
```
AGENTS_LOCATIONS = [
{ path: ".", type: "root" },
{ path: "src/hooks", score: 18, reason: "high complexity" },
{ path: "src/api", score: 12, reason: "distinct domain" }
]
```
**Mark "scoring" as completed.**
---
## Phase 3: Generate AGENTS.md
**Mark "generate" as in_progress.**
### Root AGENTS.md (Full Treatment)
```markdown
# PROJECT KNOWLEDGE BASE
**Generated:** {TIMESTAMP}
**Commit:** {SHORT_SHA}
**Branch:** {BRANCH}
## OVERVIEW
{1-2 sentences: what + core stack}
## STRUCTURE
\`\`\`
{root}/
├── {dir}/ # {non-obvious purpose only}
└── {entry}
\`\`\`
## WHERE TO LOOK
| Task | Location | Notes |
|------|----------|-------|
## CODE MAP
{From LSP - skip if unavailable or project <10 files}
| Symbol | Type | Location | Refs | Role |
## CONVENTIONS
{ONLY deviations from standard}
## ANTI-PATTERNS (THIS PROJECT)
{Explicitly forbidden here}
## UNIQUE STYLES
{Project-specific}
## COMMANDS
\`\`\`bash
{dev/test/build}
\`\`\`
## NOTES
{Gotchas}
```
**Quality gates**: 50-150 lines, no generic advice, no obvious info.
### Subdirectory AGENTS.md (Parallel)
Launch general agents for each location in ONE message (parallel execution):
```
// All in single message = parallel
Task(
description="AGENTS.md for src/hooks",
subagent_type="general",
prompt="Generate AGENTS.md for: src/hooks
- Reason: high complexity
- 30-80 lines max
- NEVER repeat parent content
- Sections: OVERVIEW (1 line), STRUCTURE (if >5 subdirs), WHERE TO LOOK, CONVENTIONS (if different), ANTI-PATTERNS
- Write directly to src/hooks/AGENTS.md"
)
Task(
description="AGENTS.md for src/api",
subagent_type="general",
prompt="Generate AGENTS.md for: src/api
- Reason: distinct domain
- 30-80 lines max
- NEVER repeat parent content
- Sections: OVERVIEW (1 line), STRUCTURE (if >5 subdirs), WHERE TO LOOK, CONVENTIONS (if different), ANTI-PATTERNS
- Write directly to src/api/AGENTS.md"
)
// ... one Task per AGENTS_LOCATIONS entry
```
**Results return directly. Mark "generate" as completed.**
---
## Phase 4: Review & Deduplicate
**Mark "review" as in_progress.**
For each generated file:
- Remove generic advice
- Remove parent duplicates
- Trim to size limits
- Verify telegraphic style
**Mark "review" as completed.**
---
## Final Report
```
=== index-knowledge Complete ===
Mode: {update | create-new}
Files:
✓ ./AGENTS.md (root, {N} lines)
✓ ./src/hooks/AGENTS.md ({N} lines)
Dirs Analyzed: {N}
AGENTS.md Created: {N}
AGENTS.md Updated: {N}
Hierarchy:
./AGENTS.md
└── src/hooks/AGENTS.md
```
---
## Anti-Patterns
- **Static agent count**: MUST vary agents based on project size/depth
- **Sequential execution**: MUST parallel (multiple Task calls in one message)
- **Ignoring existing**: ALWAYS read existing first, even with --create-new
- **Over-documenting**: Not every dir needs AGENTS.md
- **Redundancy**: Child never repeats parent
- **Generic content**: Remove anything that applies to ALL projects
- **Verbose style**: Telegraphic or die
This skill generates a hierarchical AGENTS.md knowledge base for a codebase, producing a root file and complexity-scored subdirectory documents. It updates existing files by default or fully regenerates when --create-new is supplied. Outputs are scoped by max depth and trimmed to avoid duplication and generic advice.
It concurrently discovers project structure using parallel explore agents, bash analysis, and LSP codemap fallbacks, then merges findings and scores directories with a configurable matrix. Locations above thresholds get AGENTS.md files: root first, then subdirectories in parallel. A review pass deduplicates, trims, and validates each file against size and telegraphic style rules.
What do the flags --create-new and --max-depth do?
--create-new deletes existing AGENTS.md after reading them and regenerates from scratch; --max-depth limits how deep subdirectory AGENTS.md can be created (default 5).
How are locations chosen for AGENTS.md?
A scoring matrix combines file counts, subdir counts, module boundaries, symbol density, exports, and reference centrality; thresholds drive create/skip decisions with the root always created.