Topic Diary — Subject-Based Memory Skill
A subject remembers what the calendar forgets.
Activation
When this skill activates for a topic save, output:
Capturing this under the right topic.
For a generic save request, do not write immediately if the target is unclear. Ask one short routing question.
Context Guard
| Context |
Status |
| User says "save topic" |
ACTIVE — topic diary write |
| User says "save to topic diary" |
ACTIVE — topic diary write |
| User says "remember this under [topic]" |
ACTIVE — named topic write |
| User says "review topic [topic]" |
ACTIVE — read and summarize topic |
| User says "list topics" |
ACTIVE — read topic index |
| User says generic "save" |
ACTIVE — route save target before writing |
| No save or recall request |
DORMANT — no topic diary action |
Save Routing Protocol
When the user says save, save memory, remember this, or another ambiguous save phrase:
- Infer the likely target from context.
- If confidence is high, briefly state the target and proceed.
- If unclear, ask:
Save where: session memory, daily diary, topic diary, or all?
Use these rules:
| Target |
Use When |
| Session memory |
Needed to continue current work after restart |
| Daily diary |
Captures session story, collaboration, or achievements |
| Topic diary |
Captures reusable knowledge about a subject |
| All |
Information is both immediately important and reusable long-term |
Topic Save Protocol
Step 1: Determine Topic
Which topic should I save this under?
Step 2: Normalize Topic Filename
Step 3: Create Topic File If Missing
If the topic file does not exist, create it using topic-format.md header structure:
# [Topic Name] Topic Diary
*Reusable discoveries, fixes, decisions, and lessons for this subject.*
## Topic Metadata
- **Created**: [date]
- **Last Updated**: [date]
- **Aliases**: [related names]
- **Recall Keywords**: [search terms]
---
Step 4: Compose Entry
Step 5: Append Entry
Step 6: Update Index
Step 7: Confirm
Confirm the save target and file:
Saved to topic diary: topic-diary/topics/[topic].md
Review Protocol
When user says review topic [topic]:
- Open the matching topic file.
- Summarize current understanding.
- Highlight confirmed facts, open questions, and latest entries.
- Mention the source file path.
List Protocol
When user says list topics:
- Read
topic-diary/index.md.
- Show topic names, aliases, and latest update.
- If the index is missing, scan
topic-diary/topics/ and offer to rebuild it.
Mandatory Rules
- Always append — never overwrite topic entries
- Ask when ambiguous — generic
save must route to the correct memory layer
- Keep memory layers distinct — session, daily diary, and topic diary have different purposes
- Use real timestamps — do not invent dates or times
- Prefer evidence — save verified commands, paths, decisions, and lessons
- Update index — every topic write should keep recall metadata fresh
- Respect privacy — do not save sensitive secrets, tokens, or credentials into topic files
Edge Cases
| Situation |
Behavior |
No topic-diary/ folder |
Create required directories first |
| Topic unclear |
Ask for topic name before writing |
User says save all |
Save to all relevant memory layers, if available |
| Sensitive content detected |
Ask before saving or redact secrets |
| Topic file too large |
Suggest archive or split, but do not delete content |
| Index missing |
Recreate from existing topic files |
Level History
- Lv.1 — Base: topic-based append-only journals, save target routing, topic index updates, and review/list commands.
1---2name: topic-diary3description: MUST use when user says 'save topic', 'save to topic diary', 'remember this under', 'review topic', 'list topics', or when a generic 'save' request needs routing between session memory, daily diary, topic diary, or all targets.4---56# Topic Diary — Subject-Based Memory Skill7*A subject remembers what the calendar forgets.*89## Activation1011When this skill activates for a topic save, output:1213```text14Capturing this under the right topic.15```1617For a generic `save` request, do not write immediately if the target is unclear. Ask one short routing question.1819## Context Guard2021| Context | Status |22|---------|--------|23| **User says "save topic"** | ACTIVE — topic diary write |24| **User says "save to topic diary"** | ACTIVE — topic diary write |25| **User says "remember this under [topic]"** | ACTIVE — named topic write |26| **User says "review topic [topic]"** | ACTIVE — read and summarize topic |27| **User says "list topics"** | ACTIVE — read topic index |28| **User says generic "save"** | ACTIVE — route save target before writing |29| **No save or recall request** | DORMANT — no topic diary action |3031## Save Routing Protocol3233When the user says `save`, `save memory`, `remember this`, or another ambiguous save phrase:34351. Infer the likely target from context.362. If confidence is high, briefly state the target and proceed.373. If unclear, ask:3839```text40Save where: session memory, daily diary, topic diary, or all?41```4243Use these rules:4445| Target | Use When |46|--------|----------|47| **Session memory** | Needed to continue current work after restart |48| **Daily diary** | Captures session story, collaboration, or achievements |49| **Topic diary** | Captures reusable knowledge about a subject |50| **All** | Information is both immediately important and reusable long-term |5152## Topic Save Protocol5354### Step 1: Determine Topic5556- [ ] Use explicit topic if user says `under [topic]`57- [ ] Otherwise infer from session context58- [ ] If uncertain, ask one short question:5960```text61Which topic should I save this under?62```6364### Step 2: Normalize Topic Filename6566- [ ] Convert topic to lowercase kebab-case67- [ ] Remove unsafe path characters68- [ ] Use `topic-diary/topics/[topic].md`69- [ ] Examples:70 - `Docker Compose` -> `docker-compose.md`71 - `9router Kiro` -> `9router-kiro.md`72 - `Writing Style` -> `writing-style.md`7374### Step 3: Create Topic File If Missing7576If the topic file does not exist, create it using `topic-format.md` header structure:7778```markdown79# [Topic Name] Topic Diary80*Reusable discoveries, fixes, decisions, and lessons for this subject.*8182## Topic Metadata83- **Created**: [date]84- **Last Updated**: [date]85- **Aliases**: [related names]86- **Recall Keywords**: [search terms]8788---89```9091### Step 4: Compose Entry9293- [ ] Get real timestamp via platform command94- [ ] Write a concise, evidence-based entry using these sections:95 - Context96 - Discovery97 - Confirmed Details98 - Pitfalls99 - Recall Keywords100 - Follow-ups101- [ ] Include commands, paths, links, error messages, and decisions when relevant102- [ ] Avoid raw transcript dumps103104### Step 5: Append Entry105106- [ ] Append with `---` separator107- [ ] Never overwrite previous entries108- [ ] Keep entries concise and high-signal109110### Step 6: Update Index111112- [ ] Create `topic-diary/index.md` if missing using `index-format.md`113- [ ] Add topic if new114- [ ] Update latest date, aliases, and recall keywords115116### Step 7: Confirm117118Confirm the save target and file:119120```text121Saved to topic diary: topic-diary/topics/[topic].md122```123124## Review Protocol125126When user says `review topic [topic]`:1271281. Open the matching topic file.1292. Summarize current understanding.1303. Highlight confirmed facts, open questions, and latest entries.1314. Mention the source file path.132133## List Protocol134135When user says `list topics`:1361371. Read `topic-diary/index.md`.1382. Show topic names, aliases, and latest update.1393. If the index is missing, scan `topic-diary/topics/` and offer to rebuild it.140141## Mandatory Rules1421431. **Always append** — never overwrite topic entries1442. **Ask when ambiguous** — generic `save` must route to the correct memory layer1453. **Keep memory layers distinct** — session, daily diary, and topic diary have different purposes1464. **Use real timestamps** — do not invent dates or times1475. **Prefer evidence** — save verified commands, paths, decisions, and lessons1486. **Update index** — every topic write should keep recall metadata fresh1497. **Respect privacy** — do not save sensitive secrets, tokens, or credentials into topic files150151## Edge Cases152153| Situation | Behavior |154|-----------|----------|155| No `topic-diary/` folder | Create required directories first |156| Topic unclear | Ask for topic name before writing |157| User says `save all` | Save to all relevant memory layers, if available |158| Sensitive content detected | Ask before saving or redact secrets |159| Topic file too large | Suggest archive or split, but do not delete content |160| Index missing | Recreate from existing topic files |161162## Level History163164- **Lv.1** — Base: topic-based append-only journals, save target routing, topic index updates, and review/list commands.