How do I install the Know Code skill?

Run npx skillmds@latest add chtnnh/know-code in your terminal (requires Node.js), paste this page's agent-chat prompt into Claude, Cursor, or any MCP-connected agent, or download the SKILL.md file and copy it into your agent's skills directory.

Is Know Code safe to use?

This skill has not completed SkillMD's automated safety review yet. SkillMD never runs a skill's scripts for you; review the SKILL.md before installing.

Which AI agents work with Know Code?

This skill is tagged as working with Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex. SKILL.md is an open format, so most agents that read a skills directory can load it too.

Is Know Code free to use?

Yes. Installing skills from SkillMD is free. This skill is licensed under MIT.

Who published Know Code?

chtnnh (@chtnnh) published this skill. Their other Agent Skills are listed on their SkillMD profile.

Know Code by chtnnh — Agent Skill

Name: Know Code
Author: chtnnh

Know Code

Gate git commit, git push, and PR creation until the human passes a comprehension quiz about the current code changes. Use when commit/push/PR is blocked by know-code, when the user asks to run know-code or verify they understand the diff, or before shipping. Start with know-code range begin for multi-commit work. Run know-code questions before writing the quiz. Agent proposes grades; human reviews and attests grade/pass.

chtnnh 6885016 4 files · 7.3 KB Updated Sep 17, 2026

File contents

know-code

Read references/question-templates.md, references/levels.md, and references/grading-rubric.md before quizzing or grading.

Flow (range — one quiz per feature branch)

attest-init (once) → range begin → teach → taught (human seal)
  → questions → quiz validate → ask → grade propose (agent) → grade --review (human) → pass (human)
  → commit → range seal → push

0. Range + attest

know-code attest-init          # human, once per machine
know-code range begin          # pin merge-base — quiz covers all commits until seal
know-code range status         # check active session

1. Teach + seal

Run know-code-teach, then human:

know-code taught

Re-seal taught when the diff hash changes.

2. Question quota (agent)

know-code questions --json
know-code questions --template   # starter quiz.json skeleton
know-code quiz validate

Write exactly minQuestions entries in .know-code/quiz.json (see quiz docs).

3. Quiz

Agent starts the server; human answers in the browser (not chat):

know-code ask --quiz .know-code/quiz.json
know-code ask --no-open        # SSH / headless

4. Agent grading proposal

After ask, read .know-code/answers.json and write .know-code/grade-proposal.json:

know-code grade propose --json   # rubric context

Follow references/grading-rubric.md. Never run grade --score or pass.

5. Human review + seal

know-code grade --review
know-code pass

6. Commit + range seal

know-code commit -m "<message>"   # or -F file; always adds trailer
know-code range seal              # optional: --rewrite (force-push)

Gated by hooks: git commit, git push, gh pr create, glab mr create.

Debugging

know-code status --json
know-code doctor

Hard rules

Run know-code questions before writing the quiz
Agent writes grade-proposal.json; human runs grade --review
Never forge seals or set KNOW_CODE_ATTEST_PASSPHRASE / KNOW_CODE_OVERRIDE from the agent
Quiz in the browser, not chat
2+ commits before push → use range begin

Docs: https://kc.chtnnhfoundation.org

---name: know-codedescription: Gate git commit, git push, and PR creation until the human passes a comprehension quiz about the current code changes. Use when commit/push/PR is blocked by know-code, when the user asks to run know-code or verify they understand the diff, or before shipping. Start with know-code range begin for multi-commit work. Run know-code questions before writing the quiz. Agent proposes grades; human reviews and attests grade/pass.license: MIT---# know-codeRead `references/question-templates.md`, `references/levels.md`, and `references/grading-rubric.md` before quizzing or grading.## Flow (range — one quiz per feature branch)```textattest-init (once) → range begin → teach → taught (human seal) → questions → quiz validate → ask → grade propose (agent) → grade --review (human) → pass (human) → commit → range seal → push```### 0. Range + attest```bashknow-code attest-init # human, once per machineknow-code range begin # pin merge-base — quiz covers all commits until sealknow-code range status # check active session```### 1. Teach + sealRun **know-code-teach**, then human:```bashknow-code taught```Re-seal `taught` when the diff hash changes.### 2. Question quota (agent)```bashknow-code questions --jsonknow-code questions --template # starter quiz.json skeletonknow-code quiz validate```Write **exactly** `minQuestions` entries in `.know-code/quiz.json` (see [quiz docs](https://kc.chtnnhfoundation.org/docs/quiz)).### 3. QuizAgent starts the server; **human answers in the browser** (not chat):```bashknow-code ask --quiz .know-code/quiz.jsonknow-code ask --no-open # SSH / headless```### 4. Agent grading proposalAfter `ask`, read `.know-code/answers.json` and write `.know-code/grade-proposal.json`:```bashknow-code grade propose --json # rubric context```Follow `references/grading-rubric.md`. **Never** run `grade --score` or `pass`.### 5. Human review + seal```bashknow-code grade --reviewknow-code pass```### 6. Commit + range seal```bashknow-code commit -m "<message>" # or -F file; always adds trailerknow-code range seal # optional: --rewrite (force-push)```Gated by hooks: `git commit`, `git push`, `gh pr create`, `glab mr create`.## Debugging```bashknow-code status --jsonknow-code doctor```## Hard rules- Run **`know-code questions`** before writing the quiz- Agent writes **`grade-proposal.json`**; human runs **`grade --review`**- Never forge seals or set `KNOW_CODE_ATTEST_PASSPHRASE` / `KNOW_CODE_OVERRIDE` from the agent- Quiz in the **browser**, not chat- 2+ commits before push → use **`range begin`**Docs: https://kc.chtnnhfoundation.org

Frequently asked questions