darkroomengineering Context doc — domain language + ADRs
Two persistent artifacts that stop agent drift across sessions:
CONTEXT.md— the project's glossary. The terms domain experts and engineers both use. Updated inline as decisions crystallize.docs/adr/— architecture decision records. One paragraph per hard-to-reverse trade-off.
This skill produces both. Other skills read them via DOMAIN-AWARENESS.md (consumer rules in the same directory).
Workflow
Interview the user relentlessly about every aspect of the plan, terminology, or area in question until you reach shared understanding. Walk down each branch of the design tree, resolving dependencies one at a time. For each question, propose a recommended answer.
One question at a time. Wait for feedback before continuing.
If a question can be answered by reading code, read the code instead. Don't ask the user what git blame will tell you.
During the session
Challenge against the glossary. When the user uses a term that conflicts with the existing language in CONTEXT.md, call it out: "Your glossary defines 'cancellation' as X, but you seem to mean Y — which is it?"
Sharpen fuzzy language. When the user uses vague or overloaded terms, propose a precise canonical term. "You're saying 'account' — do you mean the Customer or the User? Those are different things."
Discuss concrete scenarios. When domain relationships are being discussed, stress-test them with specific scenarios. Invent edge cases that force the user to be precise about boundaries between concepts.
Cross-reference with code. When the user states how something works, check whether the code agrees. Surface contradictions: "Your code cancels entire Orders, but you just said partial cancellation is possible — which is it?"
Update CONTEXT.md inline. When a term is resolved, update the file right there. Don't batch. Format: see CONTEXT-FORMAT.md.
Don't couple CONTEXT.md to implementation. Only include terms meaningful to domain experts. "Timeout" is generic; "ShipmentDispatched" is domain.
File structure
For the directory layout (single-context vs multi-context with CONTEXT-MAP.md), see DOMAIN-AWARENESS.md. Create files lazily — no CONTEXT.md? Create one when the first term is resolved. No docs/adr/? Create it when the first ADR is needed.
Offer ADRs sparingly
See ADR-FORMAT.md for the three-criterion threshold (hard to reverse, surprising without context, real trade-off) and the format. If a decision misses any criterion, skip the ADR. Most decisions don't qualify.