Lists

lists

Works with the lists in lists/.

When to invoke

Any user message that carries the intent of working with a list:

• "add task X", "throw it on my to-do" → append to a tasks list.
• "in films-to-watch — Dune Part Two" → append to the films list.
• "mark Y as done" → check off an item.
• "show my books" → display a list.
• "add exercise X to my workout" → append to a workout list.

Do not confuse with memory: lists are trackable items (to do / watch / read), memory is facts about the user (opinions, habits, goals).

Algorithm

Step 1. Read the lists index

Read lists/index.md in full. It contains the description and trigger patterns of every list.

Step 2. Identify the target list

Behavior depends on how clear the intent is:

• User named the list explicitly ("add X to films", "put Y in tasks") → use it without re-asking.
• Unambiguous trigger match on exactly one list → use it and report it: "Added to tasks. Move it?" Undo must be cheap (one command).
• Multiple lists fit or no list fits confidently → ask: "Tasks or ideas?" Do not guess.

Step 3. Identify the operation

• add — append an item.
• check / uncheck — mark done / unmark.
• remove — drop the item entirely (it was added by mistake).
• show — display the list (or part of it).
• create — create a new list (see below).

Step 4. Apply the operation

add

1. Open the list file.
2. Find the bullet list. If there isn't one — create a # <name> heading and start a bullet list.
3. Append a line:

   - <item>
   

4. If the list has a specific format (inline metadata, described in lists/index.md) — follow it.

check / uncheck

1. Find the line by item text.
2. If multiple matches — ask which one.
3. check — remove the line (item done). uncheck — restore the line back into the list.

remove

Confirm the deletion with the user, then remove the line.

show

Read the file and show its contents (you can filter by status — open only / done only).

create — create a new list

Never create silently.

1. Ask the user for: filename, human-readable title, description (what this list is for), trigger patterns (which words/verbs should map to this list), format notes (any inline metadata on items).
2. Create lists/<name>.md with a frontmatter block, a # <title> heading, and an empty bullet list.
3. Add an entry in lists/index.md under ## Lists following the template in the index.

Commit + push after modifying operations

After any operation that changed file(s) in lists/ (add, check, uncheck, remove, create) — one atomic commit and push:

1. git add lists/
2. Conventional-commits-style message, with no item content or names:
   • add → chore(lists): add item to list
   • check/uncheck → chore(lists): update item status
   • remove → chore(lists): remove item from list
   • create → chore(lists): create new list
   • mixed → chore(lists): update list entries
3. git push

If nothing changed (operation was show) — do not commit.

Special rules

• Never create a list silently. If the user wants to add an item to a non-existent list — first confirm creating the list, then add the item.
• Do not invent triggers when creating a new list — ask the user.
• When removing an item — confirm (an extra click is cheaper than lost data).
• Lists are operational data, not memory. Do not record facts in memory just because they showed up in a list (unless the user asks explicitly).

Retro hook after the operation

After the operation — before closing the topic — check whether new facts about the user surfaced in the dialog (habits, patterns, preferences, events). If so — proactively propose memory-retro. Do not wait for the user to ask. Closing silently without this check is a bug.