Self-Reflect
Reflect on the current session to extract learnings and improvements.
Goals
| Goal | Method |
|---|
| Failure Analysis | Review tool errors and retries |
| Efficiency Review | Find redundant or wasteful steps |
| Pattern Extraction | Discover reusable workflows |
| Knowledge Gaps | Note missing skills or context |
What to Look For
Failures
- Tool calls that errored
- Multiple retries of same action
- User corrections or clarifications
- Misunderstood requirements
Inefficiencies
- Read file multiple times unnecessarily
- Overly large edits that could be smaller
- Commands that could be combined
- Backtracking on approach
Patterns
- Multi-step workflows worth automating
- Repeated prompt structures
- Common tool sequences
Categorize Findings
| Category | Action |
|---|
| Tool Misuse | Update AGENTS.md with pattern |
| Missing Skill | Create new skill |
| Repeated Steps | Create prompt template |
| Edge Case | Add to skill or guardrail |
Output Files
| File | Purpose |
|---|
agent/skills/<name>/ | Multi-step workflows |
agent/prompts/<name>.md | Reusable prompt templates |
AGENTS.md | Project-specific rules |
agent/APPEND_SYSTEM.md | Universal agent manifesto |
APPEND_SYSTEM.md Format
New sections use numbered Roman headings with Against or For stance (## N. Against X or ## N. For X). Prose paragraphs, no bullet lists, no bold markers, no indented context blocks. Declarative statements in first person. General principles, no project-specific tool names or examples. Read existing sections before adding new ones — match the style exactly.
Common Issues
Edit Failures
| Pattern | Learning |
|---|
| "Could not find" | Always read file before editing |
| Multiple edit retries | Use smaller, targeted edits |
| Wrong whitespace | Match exact indentation/quotes |
Bash Failures
| Pattern | Learning |
|---|
| grep exit 1 | Use `grep... \ | \ | true` |
| Command not found | Check available tools first |
| Permission denied | Note required permissions |
Workflow Issues
| Pattern | Learning |
|---|
| Asked same question | Clarify requirements upfront |
| Backtracked on design | Plan before implementing |
| Missed edge case | Add to skill checklist |
Reflection Output
## Session Summary
**Task:** [What was accomplished]
**Failures:**
- [Tool/approach that failed and why]
**Inefficiencies:**
- [Steps that could be optimized]
**Learnings:**
- [New patterns or knowledge gained]
**Improvements:**
- [ ] [Concrete change to make]
Related Skills
- self-improve: Analyze historical sessions for patterns
- skill-authoring: Write discovered skills
