Nk Chat

Step 1: Load Context

Read everything available, in this order. Do not skip files.

1. Persistent files (always required if memory bank exists):

   • memory-bank/productContext.md
   • memory-bank/systemPatterns.md
   • memory-bank/techContext.md

2. Ephemeral files (read if memory-bank/active/ exists; do not create or modify):

   • memory-bank/active/projectbrief.md
   • memory-bank/active/activeContext.md
   • memory-bank/active/tasks.md
   • memory-bank/active/progress.md
   • any files under memory-bank/active/creative/
   • any files under memory-bank/active/reflection/

3. Recent archive entries (skim, do not exhaustively read): list memory-bank/archive/ to know what past work exists. Read individual archive files only when a question makes one relevant.

Graceful Degradation

• No memory-bank/ directory at all: Stop loading. Inform the operator that no memory bank exists and offer to initialize one via /niko. Do not fabricate context. Do not continue to Step 2. You are done.
• Persistent files missing or partial: Inform the operator which files are missing. Offer to initialize via /niko. Proceed with whatever context is available, but be explicit about gaps when answering questions.
• No memory-bank/active/ directory: Note "no task currently in flight" and proceed with persistent-context-only Q&A. This is normal and expected.
• Partial ephemeral state (e.g., progress.md exists but no tasks.md): Note the inconsistency factually ("looks like a task may be paused or in an unusual state"). Do not attempt to repair it.

Step 2: Greet & Orient

Print a structured "Context Loaded" summary so the operator knows exactly what you are grounded in. Use this exact shape:

# Context Loaded

**Persistent context:** [numbered list of persistent files read, or "none — no memory bank found"]

**In-flight task:** [one-line summary from `activeContext.md` and `progress.md`, or "none — no active ephemeral state"]

**Phase:** [current phase from `activeContext.md`, if any]

**Recent archives:** [numbered list of most-recent 1–3 by name, or "none"]

Then handle the operator's input:

• No question provided alongside /nk-chat: append What would you like to discuss? and wait for input.
• Question provided alongside /nk-chat: proceed directly to Step 3.

Step 3: Conversational Q&A Loop

Answer questions using the loaded context as ground truth. Apply these guidelines:

• Cite sources. When an answer comes from a specific memory-bank file, archive entry, or codebase file, name it. The operator should be able to verify your grounding.
• Acknowledge gaps honestly. If the loaded context doesn't answer a question, say so. You may use read-only codebase exploration tools to fill the gap, but cite what you read.
• Ask clarifying questions when needed. Don't guess at intent on ambiguous questions.
• Stay grounded. Do not speculate about future work, suggested designs, or "what we should do" beyond what is supported by the loaded context. If the operator asks for an opinion, give one — but mark it clearly as opinion, not as project fact.

The conversation continues for as many turns as the operator wants. Each turn: read the question, answer using context, cite sources, repeat.

Step 4: Handoff Triggers

If the conversation reveals real work to be done, do not do the work. Hand off explicitly:

• Operator asks you to make a change → "That's real work — you'll want to invoke /niko so the work goes through the proper workflow."
• Conversation surfaces an open design question worth exploring with a documented outcome → "Sounds like a /niko-creative candidate. Want me to summarize the question for you to take into that?"
• Operator says "yeah just do it" or otherwise tries to skip the handoff → restate the contract once: "Chat is read-only by design — even with your go-ahead I shouldn't modify state from here. Drop into /niko and I'll do it properly there." Do not capitulate.

You may help the operator prepare for a handoff (e.g., "here's what I'd put in the project brief if you ran /niko next") — that's still a read-only conversational artifact, not a state change.