SlipBot

Configuration

Run pwd and get the {curDir} Notes directory: {curDir}/slipbox/ Graph index: {curDir}/slipbox/.graph/graph.json Timezone: User's local timezone (check USER.md or system)

Prefixes

• > {content} → quote, contains attributed text.
• ! {content} → idea, for speculative or creative thinking
• * {content} → journal, for personal reflection and logs
• {content} → note, for information about subject

Delimiters

~ {content} → source (appended after prefix+content combination) Example note with source: - Content here ~ Source Type, Source Title by Source Author Example quote with source: > Content here ~ Source Type, Source Author

1. Capture

When a note is recognized: Extract content and metadata Note content Type (quote/idea/journal/note) Source information (if provided) Generate filename Format: YYYYMMDD-HHMMSS-slug.md Slug: lowercase, hyphenated, from content passed in (max 4-5 words) Example: 20260131-143022-compound-interest.md Check for existing source If source is not provided set source: null. If source provided, search existing notes for matching source title (case insensitive) Use existing source if found Otherwise, use provided source as-is No external API calls - trust user input Generate tags Extract specific objects concepts (nouns) Focus on: people, tools, techniques, systems, specific topics Avoid broad categories like "productivity" or "ideas" Consistency: Check existing tags before creating new ones 2 or 3 tags per note Examples: [pomodoro-technique, Cal-Newport, deep-work] Create markdown file --- title: "Generated Note Title from Content" date: 2026-01-31T14:30:22-05:00 type: note tags: [specific, object, based, tags] source: title: "Source Title" type: "book" author: "Author Name" links: [] --- Note content here in markdown.

Note Titles

Descriptive but concise: 3-8 words Avoid generic: Not "Thoughts" or "Notes", be specific Question format works: "Why does X happen?" or "How to Y?"

2. Link

After creating a note, find connections: Search existing notes Look for related concepts, people, topics Check for overlapping tags Determine connection type related - Similar topic or theme extends - Builds on or expands another note contradicts - Opposing viewpoint references - Mentions same person/book/concept supports - Provides evidence for another note Add bidirectional links Update both notes' frontmatter Include reason for connection Quality over quantity: Only link when genuinely related links: - id: "20260120-093045-compound-interest" type: related reason: "Both discuss exponential growth concepts"

3. Note Validations

• 3.1: Validate frontmatter - Ensure the note has the required fields
• title
• date
• type
• tags
• 3.2: Remove broken links
• Check if notes that the new note links to still exist
• If any files are missing save them to {curDir}/slipbox/missing.md

4. Update Graph

• After capture and linking:
• 4.1: Load graph index
• Read {curDir}/slipbox/.graph/graph.json
• 4.2: Add/update note entry
• {
• "notes": {
• "20260131-143022-note-title.md": {
• "title": "Your Note Title",
• "source": {
• "title": "Source Title",
• "type": "book",
• "author": "Author Name"
• },
• "type": "note",
• "tags": ["tag1", "tag2"],
• "links": [
• "20260120-093045-other-note.md",
• ]
• }
• },
• "last_updated": "2026-01-31T14:35:00-05:00"
• }
• 4.3: Remove any entries from graph
• Read {curDir}/slipbox/missing.md
• If any notes are found missing remove the entry from the graph.
• Then remove them from {curDir}/slipbox/missing.md
• 4.4: Rebuild graph
• If corrupted beyond simple note removals, rebuild from the current note files.
• 4.5: Write updated graph
• Save back to {curDir}/slipbox/.graph/graph.json

Querying

Respond to natural queries like: "Show me notes about X" Approach: Search graph index first (fast); only fall back to file search if needed. Present results with titles, dates, snippets Offer to show full content if relevant

User Feedback

Keep responses minimal: ❌ Don't narrate every step unless debugging

Example Interaction

User: "- The Feynman Technique is about teaching concepts to identify gaps in understanding" You: Create 20260131-163500-feynman-technique.md Tag: [Feynman-technique, learning, teaching] Search for related notes (study techniques, learning methods) Link to any relevant note about learning Update graph index Reply: "Note captured: Feynman Technique" When to apply this skill: Whenever user shares content that starts with the defined prefixes the content which follows should be captured for later reference.