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skill · 158 lines · Apache-2.0 · productivity/skills/start/SKILL.md

The facts

Its description

Initialize the productivity system and open the dashboard. Use when setting up the plugin for the first time, bootstrapping working memory from your existing task list, or decoding the shorthand (nicknames, acronyms, project codenames) you use in your todos.

The description the agent reads to decide when to use it.

From its settingsline 3

When it starts

The agent picks this when someone is setting up the productivity plugin for the first time, or wants to bootstrap working memory and decode the nicknames, acronyms and codenames used in their existing task list. It is the first-run entry point that creates TASKS.md, CLAUDE.md, the memory directory and the dashboard, then opens the dashboard.

Things a person might say (the model's guesses)

  • “I just installed the productivity plugin — help me get it set up”
  • “Here's my todo list, can you learn the shorthand I use in it?”
  • “Set up my tasks and memory and open the dashboard”

A model's summary of when it is used.

A model's reading

Stops for a person

2 lines stop to ask a person

Lines that stop and wait for a person before going on. Found by matching words, so treat them as pointers.

Found by matching wordsline 51 line 103

What it leads to

Other skills this one hands off to, calls, requires or offers instead, as a model read them.

A model's reading

What leads to it

Other skills that hand off to this one, call it, require it or offer it instead, as a model read them.

A model's reading

Licence

Apache-2.0, from productivity/LICENSE

The terms its author shares it under, which let it be shown here.

From the repositorylicence text

The text

Open on GitHub

Most marks come from matching words in the file, so treat them as pointers.

1---
2name: start
3description: Initialize the productivity system and open the dashboard. Use when setting up the plugin for the first time, bootstrapping working memory from your existing task list, or decoding the shorthand (nicknames, acronyms, project codenames) you use in your todos.
4---
5
6# Start Command
7
8> If you see unfamiliar placeholders or need to check which tools are connected, see [CONNECTORS.md](../../CONNECTORS.md).
9
10Initialize the task and memory systems, then open the unified dashboard.

Start Command

If you see unfamiliar placeholders or need to check which tools are connected, see CONNECTORS.md.

Initialize the task and memory systems, then open the unified dashboard.

Raw lines 1 to 11
12## Instructions

Instructions

Raw lines 12 to 13
14### 1. Check What Exists
16Check the working directory for:
17- `TASKS.md` — task list
18- `CLAUDE.md` — working memory
19- `memory/` — deep memory directory
20- `dashboard.html` — the visual UI

1. Check What Exists

Check the working directory for:

  • TASKS.md — task list
  • CLAUDE.md — working memory
  • memory/ — deep memory directory
  • dashboard.html — the visual UI
Raw lines 14 to 21
Project instruction file CLAUDE.md :18
22### 2. Create What's Missing
24**If `TASKS.md` doesn't exist:** Create it with the standard template (see task-management skill). Place it in the current working directory.
26**If `dashboard.html` doesn't exist:** Copy it from `${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/skills/dashboard.html` to the current working directory.
28**If `CLAUDE.md` and `memory/` don't exist:** This is a fresh setup — after opening the dashboard, begin the memory bootstrap workflow (see below). Place these in the current working directory.

2. Create What's Missing

**If TASKS.md doesn't exist:** Create it with the standard template (see task-management skill). Place it in the current working directory.

**If dashboard.html doesn't exist:** Copy it from ${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/skills/dashboard.html to the current working directory.

**If CLAUDE.md and memory/ don't exist:** This is a fresh setup — after opening the dashboard, begin the memory bootstrap workflow (see below). Place these in the current working directory.

Raw lines 22 to 29
Names a skill task-management :24
Project instruction file CLAUDE.md :28
30### 3. Open the Dashboard
32Do NOT use `open` or `xdg-open` — in Cowork, the agent runs in a VM and shell open commands won't reach the user's browser. Instead, tell the user: "Dashboard is ready at `dashboard.html`. Open it from your file browser to get started."

3. Open the Dashboard

Do NOT use open or xdg-open — in Cowork, the agent runs in a VM and shell open commands won't reach the user's browser. Instead, tell the user: "Dashboard is ready at dashboard.html. Open it from your file browser to get started."

Raw lines 30 to 33
34### 4. Orient the User
36If everything was already initialized:
37```
38Dashboard open. Your tasks and memory are both loaded.
39- /productivity:update to sync tasks and check memory
40- /productivity:update --comprehensive for a deep scan of all activity
41```
43If memory hasn't been bootstrapped yet, continue to step 5.

4. Orient the User

If everything was already initialized:

Dashboard open. Your tasks and memory are both loaded.
- /productivity:update to sync tasks and check memory
- /productivity:update --comprehensive for a deep scan of all activity

If memory hasn't been bootstrapped yet, continue to step 5.

Raw lines 34 to 44
Names a skill update :39
45### 5. Bootstrap Memory (First Run Only)
47Only do this if `CLAUDE.md` and `memory/` don't exist yet.
49The best source of workplace language is the user's actual task list. Real tasks = real shorthand.
51**Ask the user:**
52```
53Where do you keep your todos or task list? This could be:
54- A local file (e.g., TASKS.md, todo.txt)
55- An app (e.g. Asana, Linear, Jira, Notion, Todoist)
56- A notes file
58I'll use your tasks to learn your workplace shorthand.
59```
61**Once you have access to the task list:**
63For each task item, analyze it for potential shorthand:
64- Names that might be nicknames
65- Acronyms or abbreviations
66- Project references or codenames
67- Internal terms or jargon
69**For each item, decode it interactively:**
71```
72Task: "Send PSR to Todd re: Phoenix blockers"
74I see some terms I want to make sure I understand:
761. **PSR** - What does this stand for?
772. **Todd** - Who is Todd? (full name, role)
783. **Phoenix** - Is this a project codename? What's it about?
79```
81Continue through each task, asking only about terms you haven't already decoded.

5. Bootstrap Memory (First Run Only)

Only do this if CLAUDE.md and memory/ don't exist yet.

The best source of workplace language is the user's actual task list. Real tasks = real shorthand.

Ask the user:

Where do you keep your todos or task list? This could be:
- A local file (e.g., TASKS.md, todo.txt)
- An app (e.g. Asana, Linear, Jira, Notion, Todoist)
- A notes file

I'll use your tasks to learn your workplace shorthand.

Once you have access to the task list:

For each task item, analyze it for potential shorthand:

  • Names that might be nicknames
  • Acronyms or abbreviations
  • Project references or codenames
  • Internal terms or jargon

For each item, decode it interactively:

Task: "Send PSR to Todd re: Phoenix blockers"

I see some terms I want to make sure I understand:

1. **PSR** - What does this stand for?
2. **Todd** - Who is Todd? (full name, role)
3. **Phoenix** - Is this a project codename? What's it about?

Continue through each task, asking only about terms you haven't already decoded.

Raw lines 45 to 82
Project instruction file CLAUDE.md :47
Involves a person Ask the user :51
83### 6. Optional Comprehensive Scan
85After task list decoding, offer:
86```
87Do you want me to do a comprehensive scan of your messages, emails, and documents?
88This takes longer but builds much richer context about the people, projects, and terms in your work.
90Or we can stick with what we have and add context later.
91```
93**If they choose comprehensive scan:**
95Gather data from available MCP sources:
96- **Chat:** Recent messages, channels, DMs
97- **Email:** Sent messages, recipients
98- **Documents:** Recent docs, collaborators
99- **Calendar:** Meetings, attendees
101Build a braindump of people, projects, and terms found. Present findings grouped by confidence:
102- **Ready to add** (high confidence) — offer to add directly
103- **Needs clarification** — ask the user
104- **Low frequency / unclear** — note for later

6. Optional Comprehensive Scan

After task list decoding, offer:

Do you want me to do a comprehensive scan of your messages, emails, and documents?
This takes longer but builds much richer context about the people, projects, and terms in your work.

Or we can stick with what we have and add context later.

If they choose comprehensive scan:

Gather data from available MCP sources:

  • Chat: Recent messages, channels, DMs
  • Email: Sent messages, recipients
  • Documents: Recent docs, collaborators
  • Calendar: Meetings, attendees

Build a braindump of people, projects, and terms found. Present findings grouped by confidence:

  • Ready to add (high confidence) — offer to add directly
  • Needs clarification — ask the user
  • Low frequency / unclear — note for later
Raw lines 83 to 105
Uses an outside tool MCP :95
Involves a person ask the user :103
106### 7. Write Memory Files
108From everything gathered, create:
110**CLAUDE.md** (working memory, ~50-80 lines):
111```markdown
112# Memory
114## Me
115[Name], [Role] on [Team].
117## People
118| Who | Role |
119|-----|------|
120| **[Nickname]** | [Full Name], [role] |
122## Terms
123| Term | Meaning |
124|------|---------|
125| [acronym] | [expansion] |
127## Projects
128| Name | What |
129|------|------|
130| **[Codename]** | [description] |
132## Preferences
133- [preferences discovered]
134```
136**memory/** directory:
137- `memory/glossary.md` — full decoder ring (acronyms, terms, nicknames, codenames)
138- `memory/people/{name}.md` — individual profiles
139- `memory/projects/{name}.md` — project details
140- `memory/context/company.md` — teams, tools, processes

7. Write Memory Files

From everything gathered, create:

CLAUDE.md (working memory, ~50-80 lines):

# Memory

## Me
[Name], [Role] on [Team].

## People
| Who | Role |
|-----|------|
| **[Nickname]** | [Full Name], [role] |

## Terms
| Term | Meaning |
|------|---------|
| [acronym] | [expansion] |

## Projects
| Name | What |
|------|------|
| **[Codename]** | [description] |

## Preferences
- [preferences discovered]

memory/ directory:

  • memory/glossary.md — full decoder ring (acronyms, terms, nicknames, codenames)
  • memory/people/{name}.md — individual profiles
  • memory/projects/{name}.md — project details
  • memory/context/company.md — teams, tools, processes
Raw lines 106 to 141
Project instruction file CLAUDE.md :110
142### 8. Report Results
144```
145Productivity system ready:
146- Tasks: TASKS.md (X items)
147- Memory: X people, X terms, X projects
148- Dashboard: open in browser
150Use /productivity:update to keep things current (add --comprehensive for a deep scan).
151```

8. Report Results

Productivity system ready:
- Tasks: TASKS.md (X items)
- Memory: X people, X terms, X projects
- Dashboard: open in browser

Use /productivity:update to keep things current (add --comprehensive for a deep scan).
Raw lines 142 to 152
153## Notes
155- If memory is already initialized, this just opens the dashboard
156- Nicknames are critical — always capture how people are actually referred to
157- If a source isn't available, skip it and note the gap
158- Memory grows organically through natural conversation after bootstrap

Notes

  • If memory is already initialized, this just opens the dashboard
  • Nicknames are critical — always capture how people are actually referred to
  • If a source isn't available, skip it and note the gap
  • Memory grows organically through natural conversation after bootstrap
Raw lines 153 to 158

From anthropics/knowledge-work-plugins at 2574e29, 2026-10-27. Skills read by DeepSeek V4.1 Flash on 2026-11-04. Summary and techniques by Claude Opus 5.5 on 2026-11-06.