Forge Mindmap

Forge Mind Map (WP4)

A Forge mind map is a small node/edge graph — a root idea with branches and leaves — that the Lead generates to visualize a plan, an architecture, or a mission decomposition. It is built and stored by .claude/forge-bin/forge-mindmap.cjs, a zero-dependency writer that stores the structured JSON (and optional Mermaid/markdown sidecars) under .claude/forge-mindmaps/.

When the Lead generates one

• To visualize a plan, architecture, or mission decomposition once it has real branching structure (a root idea with several sub-areas) — not for a flat 2-3 item list where prose is clearer.
• Typically right after a Master Plan or Deep Learn Mode pass, so the map reflects real decisions already made, not a guess.
• Not needed for a trivial, single-path task.

How

1. Write the structure as an indented plain-text outline (2-space or tab indent = depth; the first line is the root):

   Mission Control Phase 2
     WP4 Mind Map
       Writer (forge-mindmap.cjs)
       Radial lens (dashboard)
     WP5 Next Work Package
   

2. Build + store it:

   node .claude/forge-bin/forge-mindmap.cjs from-outline '<outline-text>' <map_id> --write --run <run_id> --mermaid
   

   • Omit --write to preview the parsed {nodes, edges} JSON without persisting anything.
   • --mermaid also writes a <map_id>.mmd Mermaid sidecar (graph TD, guarded — never crashes on odd input).
   • --run <run_id> logs mindmap_generated to that run's dashboard events — only fires once the map was actually written.
   • Already have a built {map_id, title?, nodes, edges} object instead of an outline? Use write directly: node .claude/forge-bin/forge-mindmap.cjs write '<map-json>' --write --run <run_id>.

What it produces

.claude/forge-mindmaps/<map_id>.json (the stored {map_id, title, nodes, edges, _generated}), optionally <map_id>.mmd (Mermaid) and <map_id>.md (nested outline), and an appended row in .claude/forge-mindmaps/index.jsonl. The dashboard's MIND MAP lens reads the latest stored map read-only and renders it as a root-centered radial graph (root at the center, branches/leaves on rings by depth, no node overlap).

Honesty rule (non-negotiable)

• Real structure only. Every node reflects an actual part of the plan/architecture the Lead decided on — no filler branches, no invented depth just to make the map look bigger.
• Secrets are auto-redacted. Every string in the map is redacted (forge-store.cjs's redactValue) before it is written to disk — never write a raw secret into a mind map.
• The MIND MAP lens is read-only. There is no write endpoint on the dashboard for mind maps; the only way to create or change one is forge-mindmap.cjs write/from-outline. With no stored map yet, the lens shows an honest empty state — it never fabricates nodes.