Wiki query

Wiki Query

Answer a question against the wiki — search the index, read relevant pages, synthesize an answer with citations, and file the result back into the wiki so the exploration compounds.

Read AGENTS.md first for the wiki's conventions.

Phase 1 — Understand the question

Clarify the user's question if needed. What form should the answer take?

Forms the agent can produce:

• Markdown page — a well-structured answer with citations (the default)
• Comparison table — side-by-side breakdown of competing claims or entities
• Timeline — chronological synthesis across sources
• Argument map — premises, evidence, counterarguments

Ask the user if the default (markdown page) is sufficient, or if they want a specific form. Don't ask for trivial questions where the default is obvious.

Completion criterion: the question is clear and the answer form is chosen.

Phase 2 — Search and read

1. Read wiki/index.md. Identify pages whose titles, summaries, or tags match the question's subject.
2. Follow the most promising links — read those pages.
3. Follow cross-references from those pages — the answer may span multiple entities and concepts.
4. If the wiki has a search tool configured (check AGENTS.md), use it as well; otherwise rely on the index and cross-reference traversal.
5. If the wiki has few or no pages covering the topic, say so explicitly: note what's missing and ask if the user wants to search the web for sources to ingest first.

Completion criterion: all wiki pages likely to bear on the question have been read.

Phase 3 — Synthesize the answer

Write the answer in the chosen form. Requirements:

• Citations: every factual claim links to the wiki page(s) that support it, using ([[Page Title]]) inline.
• Gaps: note where the wiki doesn't yet have an answer. Don't fabricate.
• Contradictions: if pages disagree, present both sides with citations to each. Don't pick a winner unless the user directs.
• Confidence: distinguish well-sourced claims (multiple sources, consistent) from weakly-sourced ones (single source, or tagged draft).

Completion criterion: the answer is complete, every claim is cited or flagged as unsourced, and contradictions are surfaced.

Phase 4 — Present and file

1. Present the answer to the user.
2. Ask: "File this answer as a wiki page?" Default to yes for substantive answers (>3 paragraphs, or any answer with cross-references to >2 wiki pages). Skip the question for trivial lookups.
3. If filing, create wiki/queries/<Answer Title>.md with:

---
title: "<Answer Title>"
type: query
tags: [relevant, tags]
created: YYYY-MM-DD
updated: YYYY-MM-DD
status: draft
---

# <Answer Title>

**Question**: <the original question>
**Date answered**: YYYY-MM-DD

<the answer>

4. Update wiki/index.md — add the query page under ## Queries.
5. Append to wiki/log.md:

   ## [YYYY-MM-DD] query | <question> — answer filed: [[Answer Title]]
   

Completion criterion: the answer has been presented. If substantive, the query page is created, the index is updated, and the log is appended.