Recursive Training

recursive-training

Purpose

Use this skill after a repository has accumulated completed recursive-mode runs and you want to turn repeated successes or failures into durable, repo-local guidance.

The canonical workflow still lives in /.recursive/RECURSIVE.md. This skill owns only the training, loading, and memory-discipline layer that sits around completed runs.

When to use it

Use recursive-training to:

• extract cross-run learnings from completed recursive-mode runs
• keep those learnings in /.recursive/memory/ instead of ad hoc mirrors
• refresh memory after Phase 8 locks
• load only the most relevant prior learnings before a new run starts
• provide startup guidance without mutating the memory plane

Hard rules

1. Repository-local only. Training data and extracted memory stay inside the current repo.
2. No parameter updates. Learning happens through files in /.recursive/memory/, not model mutation.
3. /.recursive/memory/ is the only canonical store. Pointer files are bootstrap-managed and non-authoritative.
4. All markdown under /.recursive/run/<run-id>/ is eligible training input, not just 00-08.
5. Group runs by subsystem only. The extractor assigns task types per learning item.
6. Use contrastive extraction when both winners and losers exist; fall back to winner-only extraction for high-quality repos.
7. Every extracted item must remain evidence-grounded in completed runs.
8. Training scripts do not own AGENTS.md; bootstrap owns bridge-file updates.

Training model

recursive-training combines two ideas:

• ReasoningBank-style memory items for structured, reusable extracted guidance
• Training-free GRPO-style comparison for contrastive winner/loser extraction when variance exists

At a high level:

1. Parse all markdown artifacts from completed runs.
2. Infer the dominant subsystem from changed paths and evidence across those artifacts.
3. Classify each subsystem group as contrastive, winner-only, or insufficient.
4. Ask the extractor for structured learning items.
5. Write those items into:
   • /.recursive/memory/domains/<subsystem>.md
   • /.recursive/memory/training/<task-type>.md
6. Refresh the memory registry/startup guidance without treating pointer files as authoritative memory.

For the full schema, grouping logic, evidence signals, and extraction contracts, see:

• references/memory-architecture.md
• references/phase8-and-loading.md

Phase 8 and loading boundary

Phase 8 records the current run's observations in 08-memory-impact.md.

Training then turns many completed runs into cross-run memory.

That means:

• 08-memory-impact.md is run-local capture
• recursive-training-phase8-trigger.py is the handoff after Phase 8 locks
• recursive-training-grpo.py builds prompts and writes memory after extraction
• recursive-training-extract.py evaluates prompts (required companion; not optional)
• recursive-training-loader.py is the canonical retrieval path before later runs
• recursive-training-sync.py prints startup guidance without mutating the memory plane

Extractor wiring (first match wins):

1. --response-file / sibling <prompt>.response.json for agent-operated offline evaluation
2. RECURSIVE_TRAINING_EXTRACTOR_CMD with {prompt_file} / {repo_root} placeholders
3. otherwise exit 2 (unavailable) — GRPO/trigger must fail, not claim success

Detailed Phase 8 handoff and loader behavior lives in references/phase8-and-loading.md.

Commands

Full training:

python .recursive/scripts/recursive-training-grpo.py --repo-root .

Incremental training after a specific run:

python .recursive/scripts/recursive-training-grpo.py --repo-root . --incremental --run-id <run-id>

Post-Phase 8 trigger:

python .recursive/scripts/recursive-training-phase8-trigger.py --repo-root . --run-id <run-id>
python .recursive/scripts/recursive-training-phase8-trigger.py --repo-root . --run-id <run-id> --auto

Read-only startup guidance:

python .recursive/scripts/recursive-training-sync.py --repo-root .

Canonical memory loading before a new run:

python .recursive/scripts/recursive-training-loader.py \
  --repo-root . \
  --query "<task description>" \
  --files "<comma-separated paths>"

Optional MCP convenience layer:

python .recursive/scripts/recursive-training-mcp.py --repo-root .

Trigger patterns

Recognize these as training requests:

• train
• training
• extract memories
• learn from runs
• train from the latest run
• incremental training
• sync memories
• /recursive-training

Default behavior:

• fewer than 2 completed runs: explain why extraction is skipped
• no explicit scope: default to full training
• explicit run or "incremental": use incremental mode
• "sync" or "what should I read": use recursive-training-sync.py

Operator checklist

1. Confirm the repo already has recursive-mode scaffolding.
2. Confirm completed runs exist under /.recursive/run/.
3. Run the trigger or grpo script with the intended scope.
4. Verify updated items land under /.recursive/memory/domains/ and /.recursive/memory/training/.
5. Before the next run, read /.recursive/memory/MEMORY.md and call the loader with task context.
6. Treat loader output as advisory context; the canonical records stay in the memory plane.

Script surface

• .recursive/scripts/recursive-training-grpo.py
• .recursive/scripts/recursive-training-grpo.ps1
• .recursive/scripts/recursive-training-extract.py
• .recursive/scripts/recursive-training-extract.ps1
• .recursive/scripts/recursive-training-phase8-trigger.py
• .recursive/scripts/recursive-training-phase8-trigger.ps1
• .recursive/scripts/recursive-training-sync.py
• .recursive/scripts/recursive-training-sync.ps1
• .recursive/scripts/recursive-training-loader.py
• .recursive/scripts/recursive-training-loader.ps1
• .recursive/scripts/recursive-training-mcp.py
• .recursive/scripts/recursive-training-mcp.ps1

Detailed references

• references/memory-architecture.md — schema, evidence signals, grouping, extraction modes, and output contract
• references/phase8-and-loading.md — Phase 8 handoff, trigger behavior, loader timing, and integration patterns

Coverage Gate

• Canonical memory-store boundary documented
• Contrastive and winner-only extraction modes documented
• Subsystem-only grouping documented
• All-markdown run-folder input scope documented
• Phase 8 handoff and loader boundary documented
• Canonical command surface documented
• Reference docs linked for detailed extraction and loading behavior
• Script-only transport boundary preserved

Coverage: PASS

Approval Gate

• Skill defers to /.recursive/RECURSIVE.md for overall workflow rules
• Repository-local scope preserved
• No parameter-updating behavior introduced
• /.recursive/memory/ remains the only canonical store
• Phase 8 capture vs training extraction boundary is explicit
• Loader remains the canonical retrieval path
• Pointer files remain bootstrap-managed, not sync-authored mirrors

Approval: PASS