git:20261003.0a30af6 to git:20261003.c3e7301

---

name: psyche-manual

last_changed_at: 2026-09-29T00:00:00Z

description: >

Compact router for Psyche's four durable domains (pad, lingtai, knowledge,

skills), the shared file→rebuild model, redacted settings, and the separate

related_files:

- src/lingtai/tools/psyche/CONTRACT.md

- src/lingtai/tools/psyche/ANATOMY.md

- src/lingtai/tools/psyche/settings.py

- src/lingtai/agent.py

- src/lingtai/intrinsic_skills/pad-manual/SKILL.md

- src/lingtai/intrinsic_skills/lingtai-manual/SKILL.md

- src/lingtai/tools/knowledge/manual/SKILL.md

- src/lingtai/tools/skills/manual/SKILL.md

- src/lingtai/tools/context/manual/SKILL.md

- src/lingtai/kernel/base_agent/lifecycle.py

- src/lingtai/kernel/base_agent/__init__.py

- src/lingtai/tools/avatar/manual/SKILL.md

- src/lingtai/intrinsic_skills/psyche-manual/reference/settings/SKILL.md

- tests/test_psyche_family.py

- tests/test_avatar_rules.py

maintenance: |

Keep this short router aligned with the psyche Contract/Anatomy, installed

detailed procedure in the focused references rather than expanding this entry.

---

# Psyche

Psyche is the read-only public root for **pad + lingtai + knowledge + skills**.

Routine schema-sufficient calls may go directly to their action. For unfamiliar

or consequential work, read the matching domain manual first; use this router

only if the domain is unclear. There is no required router-then-domain double read.

## Routing table

| Call (strict `input={}`) | Returns / owner |

|---|---|

| `psyche(action="pad", input={}, reasoning="load Pad guidance")` | Pad manual: `system/pad.md`, `system/pad_append.json` |

| `psyche(action="lingtai", input={}, reasoning="load identity guidance")` | LingTai manual: `system/lingtai.md` |

| `psyche(action="knowledge", input={}, reasoning="load knowledge guidance")` | Knowledge manual: `knowledge/<name>/KNOWLEDGE.md` |

| `psyche(action="skills", input={}, reasoning="load skills guidance")` | Skills manual: `.library/{intrinsic,custom}/` and configured paths |

| `psyche(action="covenant", input={}, reasoning="load the effective Covenant")` | current loaded Covenant body, not a tool manual; custom source/mirror preserved |

| `psyche(action="settings", input={}, reasoning="inspect Psyche settings")` | redacted settings SHOW |

| `psyche(action="manual", input={}, reasoning="load the routing table")` | this router |

editing, pinning, installing, migration, catalog rescan, or prompt reload. Keep

root `summarize=false` when exact guidance matters.

Read `covenant` on first orientation and before discussing duties, collaboration,

learning, or memory, not on every call. It returns the current effective body;

ambient edits do not change it until successful reconstruction. No installed

manual/default substitutes for a configured Covenant. Empty means none is loaded.

## One mutation model

Change durable content through `shell` on its owning path — a full rewrite, or

an exact replacement after verifying the old text exists exactly once — anchored

in the authorized working directory, and verify the result after writing. Then

leave it for the next natural molt or refresh to reconstruct; do not rebuild after

every edit. A filesystem mutation never hot-loads; there is no per-domain reload,

and Skills/Knowledge retain catalog ownership. Manual

`context(action="rebuild", input={})` is strongly discouraged (costly full replay

that can disturb prompt-prefix cache reuse); use one targeted call only when the

change must apply in this conversation and a molt is unsuitable. Platform

recipes live in `shell-manual`.

## Lifecycle and settings

`context` owns `molt`, `summarize`, and `rebuild`; `system` owns lifecycle

controls and mechanical names. LingTai owns self-authored character guidance.

`settings` is SHOW-only, fully redacted, and reports the last successful applied

snapshot. Read [the settings reference](reference/settings/SKILL.md) for grammar,

### Setting pad

[settings reference](reference/settings/SKILL.md#setting-pad)

### Setting pad file

[settings reference](reference/settings/SKILL.md#setting-pad-file)

### Setting base prompt

[settings reference](reference/settings/SKILL.md#setting-base-prompt)

### Setting base prompt file

[settings reference](reference/settings/SKILL.md#setting-base-prompt-file)

### Setting covenant

[settings reference](reference/settings/SKILL.md#setting-covenant)

### Setting covenant file

[settings reference](reference/settings/SKILL.md#setting-covenant-file)