distill
Use when agent instruction files (AGENTS.md, rules/) need analysis, trimming, or restructuring. Orchestrates /imperatives → /policy-algebra → /visualize into a distillation pipeline.
What this skill does
# /distill
Distill agent instruction files into structured imperatives, compose with policy algebra, and visualize the rule system. Three-stage pipeline.
## Usage
```
/distill # full pipeline on default files
/distill ai-workspace/rules/*.md # specific targets
/distill --stage imperatives # run only extraction
/distill --stage compose # run only policy algebra (requires prior extraction)
/distill --stage visualize # run only visualization (requires prior composition)
```
## Pipeline
```
┌─────────────┐ ┌──────────────┐ ┌─────────────┐
│ /imperatives │────▶│/policy-algebra│────▶│ /visualize │
│ extract │ │ compose │ │ render │
└─────────────┘ └──────────────┘ └─────────────┘
│ │ │
JSONL file Starlark block Mermaid diagrams
```
### Stage 1 — Extract (`/imperatives`)
1. Invoke `/imperatives` with the target files (or defaults: `ai-workspace/rules/*.md` + `AGENTS.md`).
2. Save output to `ai-workspace/research/<name>-imperatives.jsonl`.
3. Present the summary (count, level breakdown, scope breakdown).
Ask the user: **"Review the extraction before composing? (y/continue)"**
- If yes: present the JSONL for review, wait for feedback, re-extract if needed.
- If continue: proceed to Stage 2.
### Stage 2 — Compose (`/policy-algebra`)
1. Project the JSONL to natural-language bullets: `<level>[ NOT] <subject> <predicate>[ when <when>]` — one bullet per imperative.
2. Invoke `/policy-algebra` with the projected bullets.
3. Save the Starlark composition to `ai-workspace/research/<name>-policy.md`.
4. Present the surfaced structure (decision functions, branching points).
### Stage 3 — Visualize (`/visualize`)
1. For each major decision function in the Starlark output, invoke `/visualize`.
2. Content shape is typically graph (decision trees) → Mermaid flowcharts.
3. Append diagrams to the policy doc.
## Naming
The `<name>` slug defaults to the current date + "distill" (e.g., `2026-05-04-distill`). Override with `--name <slug>`.
## Output
All artifacts land in `ai-workspace/research/`:
- `<name>-imperatives.jsonl` — structured extraction
- `<name>-policy.md` — Starlark composition + diagrams
## Failure modes
| Condition | Behavior |
|---|---|
| /imperatives finds zero imperatives | Report and stop. No point composing empty input. |
| /policy-algebra unavailable | Skip Stage 2, warn. Stage 3 can still visualize the JSONL directly. |
| User interrupts between stages | Artifacts from completed stages are preserved. Resume with `--stage`. |
## When to use
- AGENTS.md or rules/ grew past a size threshold and needs trimming
- Before a major restructuring of agent instruction files
- To audit what rules actually exist vs what you think exists
- As input to a plan that modifies the rule system
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