ask · diff

v1.0.0 to git:20261003.a2d662f

25 added, 18 removed. Audit B to B.

---

name: ask

- description: "- Ask Anton's Second Brain in plain words — semantic search over the curated vault (e5 embeddings + reranker), not a full-corpus dump. Trigger on “/ask <question>“, “спроси мозг“, “что у меня по <теме>“, “что я думаю про X“, “найди в волте“, “вспомни что я писал о…“. Token-cheap: RAG retrieves the smallest relevant slice, the LLM only synthesizes the top hits. Wraps brain_ask.py."

- version: 1.0.0

+ description: >-

+ Ask the second brain in plain words: semantic search over the curated vault with embeddings

+ plus a reranker, returning the smallest relevant slice instead of a corpus dump. Token-cheap.

+ Triggers: "/ask <question>", "what do I have on <topic>", "what did I write about X".

+ license: MIT

---

# /ask — query the Second Brain

- > 🧒 **When reporting to Anton:** end with a child-simple "Простыми словами" recap.

+ > 🧒 **When reporting to a non-technical operator:** end with a child-simple "In plain words" recap in their language.

- Deterministic-first (Anton's token law): RAG retrieves the smallest relevant slice; synthesize ONLY that — never dump the corpus.

+ Deterministic-first (the operator's token law): RAG retrieves the smallest relevant slice; synthesize ONLY that — never dump the corpus.

**Wrong lane?** /ask = semantic MEANING over the curated vault. For exact WORDS inside chats → `/search`; an exact PERSON name → `/find`; a CHAT by name → `/chat` (all 0 tokens, deterministic). Use those when the question isn't conceptual.

- ## 🖥️ Визуальный поиск (живой сервер — Антон работает глазами)

- Для интерактивного поиска глазами: `python "$IMPORTS_ROOT/ask_server.py"` (или `start_ask.bat`) → открой `http://127.0.0.1:8770`. Грузит e5+reranker ОДИН раз, дальше каждый запрос ~3с. Поле поиска + чипы-фильтры (только моё / концепты / инсайты / лиды / люди / разговоры / заметки), карточки с rerank-скором, типом, датой и ⏳-флагом свежести. По умолчанию CPU (не дерётся с GPU-флотом, держит 0 VRAM); `--gpu` если GPU свободен. Это GUI для самого Антона; `--ask` ниже — для синтеза ответа мной в чате.

+ ## 🖥️ Visual search (a live server — the operator works visually)

+ For interactive eyes-on search: `python "$IMPORTS_ROOT/ask_server.py"` (or `start_ask.bat`) → open `http://127.0.0.1:8770`. It loads e5 + reranker ONCE, after which each query takes ~3s. A search box + filter chips (my writing only / concepts / insights / leads / people / conversations / notes), cards with the rerank score, type, date and a ⏳ staleness flag. CPU by default (does not fight the GPU fleet, holds 0 VRAM); `--gpu` when the GPU is free. This is the GUI for the operator; `--ask` below is for me synthesizing an answer in chat.

- ## Run (CLI — для синтеза ответа в чате)

+ ## Run (CLI — for synthesizing an answer in chat)

`python "$IMPORTS_ROOT/brain_ask.py" "<question>"`

- Для решения и карточки задачи запускай БЕЗ `--anton`. Этот флаг оставляет только заметки с пометкой `anton-original`. Карточка в `10-Tasks` часто записана агентом и имеет `origin: anton` без этой пометки: флаг её прячет, и наверх вылезают старые заметки. Если флаг всё же включён и он спрятал карточку, скрипт пишет об этом в stderr.

Scope with filters (cheaper + sharper):

- - `--anton` (only notes tagged anton-original; hides agent-written task cards) · `--concepts` (distilled "что я думаю о X") · `--insights`

+ - `--anton` (only the owner's own writing) · `--concepts` (distilled "what I think about X") · `--insights`

- `--person <name>` · `--conv` (conversations) · `--leads` (CRM)

Returns top-K chunks (chunked + tagged + edit-aware index); may flag `⚠ STALE` on volatile facts >90d.

- ## Шаг 0 для мессенджеров: спроси SQL, а не RAG

- RAG видит только то, что доехало в волт. У WhatsApp это ХВОСТ (потолок 800 на чат): полный

- корпус -- 148 978 сообщений -- лежит в `[путь владельца]`

- (таблица `messages` + FTS5 `messages_fts`, 0 токенов). Вопрос про переписку, договорённость,

- подрядчика, цену, дату из чата -> сперва SQL, потом RAG. Карта: [[_SQL-Map]] §WhatsApp.

- То же у Telegram (`tg_archive.db`) -- «не нашёл в заметках» не равно «не было».

## Answer

- - Synthesize the returned hits into a DIRECT answer; **cite the note titles** so Anton can open them.

+ - Synthesize the returned hits into a DIRECT answer; **cite the note titles** so the operator can open them.

- If a hit is `⚠ STALE`, say so and offer to re-verify (per the epistemic-decay layer).

- If retrieval is thin/irrelevant → say so, suggest a sharper query or a filter; do NOT pad with guesses.

- Keep it tight; end with 🧒 recap.

## Note

The index is kept fresh by the reindex routine. If results feel stale right after a big import, mention a reindex may be due (`brain_embed_update.py`) — but don't reindex unprompted.

+

+ ---

+ **Like this skill?** It is one of 100 in [second-brain-starter-kit](https://github.com/tonydzi/second-brain-starter-kit): the second brain we built for ourselves and run every day at Palo Alto AI Research Lab. Install the whole set with `npx skills add tonydzi/second-brain-starter-kit`. Everything is open source and free, so take what you need.

+ Flagships worth a look on their own: [secondop-panel](https://github.com/tonydzi/secondop-panel) (a second opinion from a panel of external models), [claude-memory-tidy](https://github.com/tonydzi/claude-memory-tidy) (stop your agent's memory from rotting), [telegram-mcp-kit](https://github.com/tonydzi/telegram-mcp-kit) (your own Telegram over MCP in about 15 minutes).

+ Author: **Anton Dziatkovskii**, Palo Alto AI Research Lab. Telegram [@tonydzi](https://t.me/tonydzi) - WhatsApp [+1 341 222 9178](https://wa.me/13412229178) - X [@Tony_Stef_](https://x.com/Tony_Stef_)

+ **Engineers: want to test-drive this setup?** Message me. I hand out free starter seeds to engineers who test and report back, and custom skill requests are welcome.