# Diary Log

> Organize intermediate project Markdown notes into a dated diary format. Use when new or existing root-level status/summary Markdown files need to be moved into docs/diary with frontmatter, a date line under the H1, and a reverse-chronological index update. Use when this capability is needed.

- Skill: `tomevault-io/diary-log` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 2 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add tomevault-io/diary-log`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/tomevault-io/diary-log/raw
- Safety review: pending (external: skill-scanner PASS, skillspector PASS)
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Docs & Writing
- Author: tomevault-io (https://skillmd.com/u/tomevault-io)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/tomevault-io/diary-log

---


# Diary Log

## Overview

Turn ad hoc project notes into consistent diary entries. Adds frontmatter, inserts a date line under the H1, moves files into docs/diary, and updates docs/diary/index.md with summaries.

## Workflow

### 1) Identify diary candidates

- Target root-level Markdown files that are intermediate notes, status updates, or summaries.
- Exclude `README.md`, `CLAUDE.md`, and `docs/diary/index.md`.

### 2) Determine entry date

- Use filesystem mtime for the date.
- Format as `YYYY-MM-DD`.

### 3) Add frontmatter summary

- Prepend frontmatter at the very top:
  ```
  ---
  date: YYYY-MM-DD
  summary: <one-sentence summary>
  ---
  ```
- Keep the summary short and specific.

### 4) Insert italic date under the H1

- Ensure the file has an H1 (`# Title`). If missing, add one based on the document title.
- Insert `*YYYY-MM-DD*` on the line directly below the H1, separated by blank lines for readability.

### 5) Move into docs/diary

- Move the file to `docs/diary/` and keep its filename unchanged.
- Preserve the body content (do not remove existing date or status lines unless asked).

### 6) Update the diary index

- Update `docs/diary/index.md` in reverse chronological order (newest first).
- Use this entry format and include the summary line:
  ```
  ## YYYY-MM-DD - [Title](FILENAME.md)
  Summary sentence.
  ```

## Quality checks

- Confirm frontmatter date matches mtime.
- Confirm the italic date line exists under the H1.
- Confirm index ordering and links are correct.

---
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<!-- tomevault:4.0:skill_md:2026-04-14 -->