zensical docs skill

docs/architecture.md

@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ This architecture keeps authored content human-friendly while preserving machine
 The architecture is designed to satisfy three long-term requirements:
 
 1. Methodology must be editable as markdown by humans.
-2. Agents must consume stable, discoverable resource contracts.
+2. Agents must consume stable, discoverable resource contracts, with a minimal read-only catalog tool fallback for constrained clients.
 3. Public documentation must be pre-built static output served from the application runtime without a separate docs service.
 
 ## System Model
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ The document resource returns canonical Markdown, while clients can perform any
 
 ### Catalog Module
 
-The catalog is the canonical discovery layer and publishes normalized records for all modules.
+The catalog is the canonical discovery layer and publishes normalized records for all modules. It may also expose a minimal set of read-only discovery tools that resolve back to the same canonical markdown content when a client chat surface does not expose MCP resource attachment.
 
 Typical catalog resources:
 
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ Markdown remains easy to review, while contracts remain stable for clients.
 
 ### Client Independence
 
-Clients can use Ask, Edit, or Agent modes without requiring server-owned prompt orchestration.
+Clients can use Ask, Edit, or Agent modes without requiring server-owned prompt orchestration. However, MCP affordances are still chat-surface-dependent: some clients or sessions expose resource attachment directly, while others make tool invocation the more reliable retrieval path.
 
 ## Authoring and Publishing Lifecycle
 
@@ -148,9 +148,13 @@ In-scope:
 Out-of-scope:
 
 1. Prompt-first orchestration as the primary interface
-2. Large tool inventories duplicating static guidance
+2. Large tool inventories duplicating static guidance across skill modules
 3. Separate dynamic docs service at runtime
 
+Allowed exception:
+
+1. A small catalog-level tool layer is acceptable when it improves client interoperability without creating a second source of truth for skill content.
+
 ## Example Content Inputs
 
 Existing markdown reference sets are valid examples of authored source material for this architecture:

docs/mcp_layout.md

@@ -108,6 +108,8 @@ Example mapping model:
 
 Catalog resources provide discovery metadata and stable identifiers.
 
+When clients cannot attach MCP resources directly, catalog-level tools may retrieve the same underlying skill documents indirectly. This does not create a second content source; it is only an alternate access path to the same markdown-backed contract.
+
 ## Why This Pattern
 
 ### Operational Simplicity

docs/new_skill.md

@@ -14,7 +14,9 @@ Use this checklist after generating a new skill under `docs/skills/<slug>/`.
    Create `src/personal_mcp/skills/<python_namespace>/` with `__init__.py`, `server.py`, and `metadata.yaml`.
 
 4. Expose the document resource in `server.py`.
-   Follow the existing pattern: create a `FastMCP` instance, register `resource://skills/<skill-id>/document`, and return `load_skill_document(skill_id=<skill-id>, skill_slug=<slug>)`.
+   Follow the existing pattern: create a `FastMCP` instance, register `resource://skills/<skill-id>/document`, and return the shared loader result.
+   For the default layout, load `docs/skills/<slug>/SKILL.md`.
+   For special cases, set `document_path` in `metadata.yaml` to a repo-relative Markdown file and load from metadata instead of hardcoding a path in the server.
 
 5. Register the catalog metadata.
    In `metadata.yaml`, add the skill `id`, `name`, `version`, `description`, `tags`, `capabilities`, and `depends_on`. The `capabilities` list should include `resource://skills/<skill-id>/document`.
@@ -23,7 +25,7 @@ Use this checklist after generating a new skill under `docs/skills/<slug>/`.
    Import the new server in `src/personal_mcp/mcp.py` and add an `mcp.mount(...)` call with the Python namespace.
 
 7. Let the loader and catalog do the rest.
-   The document loader reads canonical Markdown from `docs/skills/<slug>/SKILL.md`, and the catalog discovers metadata from `src/personal_mcp/skills/*/metadata.yaml` automatically.
+   The document loader reads canonical Markdown from `docs/skills/<slug>/SKILL.md` by default, or from `metadata.yaml`'s optional `document_path` override when present. The catalog discovers metadata from `src/personal_mcp/skills/*/metadata.yaml` automatically.
 
 8. Rebuild and smoke-test.
    Run `uv run zensical build` to publish the docs site, then run a quick Python check or start the app to confirm the new resource loads.
@@ -39,8 +41,9 @@ To keep behavior consistent across MCP clients and Copilot session types, follow
 ### Do
 
 1. Add or update `metadata.yaml` fields (`id`, `description`, `tags`, `capabilities`) so catalog discovery quality stays high.
-2. Use catalog resources as the primary discovery surface.
+2. Use `document_path` when a skill should expose a Markdown file outside `docs/skills/<slug>/SKILL.md`.
-3. Add thin, read-only catalog tools only when client behavior needs a fallback path.
+3. Use catalog resources as the primary discovery surface.
+4. Add thin, read-only catalog tools only when client behavior needs a fallback path.
 
 ### Don't
 
@@ -92,11 +95,14 @@ description: <One sentence describing what the skill provides.>
 tags:
   - <tag-one>
   - <tag-two>
+document_path: <optional repo-relative path to a markdown file>
 capabilities:
   - resource://skills/<skill-id>/document
 depends_on: []
 ```
 
+Omit `document_path` when the canonical document is `docs/skills/<slug>/SKILL.md`.
+
 ## Root Mount Template
 
 Add an import in `src/personal_mcp/mcp.py`:

docs/skills/zensical-docs/SKILL.md

@@ -33,6 +33,16 @@ Always start a new documentation project with `uv run zensical new`.
 - This command provides the baseline scaffolding you need for structure, configuration, and theme setup.
 - Do not hand-build a new project skeleton when this command is available.
 
+## Related Skill Discovery
+
+When the task is not just writing docs but creating or wiring a new MCP skill in this repository, use catalog discovery to load the bootstrap skill before drafting implementation steps.
+
+1. Search the catalog with terms such as `new skill`, `skill bootstrap`, or `scaffold skill`.
+2. Fetch the `new-skill` document through the catalog tool path.
+3. Use that skill for runtime package, metadata, and mount wiring, then return here for documentation architecture and Zensical-specific authoring guidance.
+
+This keeps implementation guidance and documentation guidance separated while still making both discoverable from one request.
+
 ## Inputs To Collect
 
 Collect these before writing. If missing, make explicit assumptions.

docs/usage.md

@@ -147,6 +147,50 @@ Weak metadata reduces Copilot match quality and increases wrong context injectio
 
 If you skip the catalog/index step, behavior is less predictable and may either miss relevant skills or pull too much context.
 
+## Copilot Instruction Pattern
+
+If you want Copilot to use `personal-mcp` skill content more reliably, the instruction file should describe three things clearly:
+
+1. when MCP-backed skill guidance is relevant
+2. which retrieval path Copilot should prefer first
+3. how much skill context it should load before answering
+
+That matters because instructions can strongly steer discovery behavior, but they do not force VS Code to auto-attach MCP resources. A good instruction tells Copilot to prefer the canonical MCP content path while remaining accurate about the fallback path.
+
+In this repository, the right policy is:
+
+1. start from catalog discovery
+2. prefer MCP resources when the current chat surface exposes resource attachment
+3. fall back to catalog tools when resource attachment is unavailable
+4. keep loaded skill context bounded
+
+Suggested instruction text:
+
+```md
+When a task may match a documented implementation pattern from `personal-mcp`:
+
+1. Start with catalog-first discovery.
+2. Prefer MCP resources when the chat surface exposes resource attachment.
+3. If MCP resource attachment is unavailable, use catalog tools instead.
+4. Load only the most relevant skill document, or at most 2 skill documents.
+5. Reconcile loaded skill guidance with the actual repository code before making changes.
+
+Preferred resource order:
+
+1. `resource://catalog/skills_index` or `resource://catalog/patterns`
+2. `resource://skills/<skill-id>/document`
+
+Preferred tool fallback order:
+
+1. `search_patterns`
+2. `get_pattern_by_id`
+3. `get_skill_document_by_id`
+
+If confidence is low after discovery, ask one clarifying question before loading more context.
+```
+
+This is intentionally guidance, not a guarantee. It gives Copilot a strong policy for when to use resources and when to fall back to discovery tools, while preserving the resource-first architecture.
+
 ## Failure Modes and Recovery
 
 Common failure modes:

src/personal_mcp/catalog/server.py

@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ from typing import Any
 import yaml
 from fastmcp import FastMCP
 
-from personal_mcp.skills.document_loader import load_skill_document
+from personal_mcp.skills.document_loader import load_skill_document_from_metadata
 
 catalog_server = FastMCP("catalog")
 
@@ -59,6 +59,10 @@ def _matches_query(pattern: dict[str, Any], query: str) -> bool:
     if not lowered:
         return True
 
+    query_terms = [term for term in lowered.replace("-", " ").split() if term]
+    if not query_terms:
+        return True
+
     haystack = " ".join(
         [
             str(pattern.get("id", "")),
@@ -68,7 +72,7 @@ def _matches_query(pattern: dict[str, Any], query: str) -> bool:
             " ".join(str(tag) for tag in pattern.get("tags", [])),
         ]
     ).lower()
-    return lowered in haystack
+    return all(term in haystack for term in query_terms)
 
 
 def _matches_tags(pattern: dict[str, Any], tags: list[str] | None) -> bool:
@@ -83,34 +87,6 @@ def _matches_tags(pattern: dict[str, Any], tags: list[str] | None) -> bool:
     return all(tag in pattern_tags for tag in requested)
 
 
-def _resolve_skill_slug(*, skill_id: str, namespace: str, metadata: dict[str, Any]) -> str:
-    candidates: list[str] = []
-    slug = metadata.get("slug")
-    if isinstance(slug, str) and slug.strip():
-        candidates.append(slug.strip())
-
-    candidates.extend(
-        [
-            skill_id,
-            namespace.replace("_", "-"),
-            namespace,
-        ]
-    )
-
-    seen: set[str] = set()
-    for candidate in candidates:
-        if candidate in seen:
-            continue
-        seen.add(candidate)
-        try:
-            load_skill_document(skill_id=skill_id, skill_slug=candidate)
-            return candidate
-        except FileNotFoundError:
-            continue
-
-    return skill_id
-
-
 @catalog_server.resource("resource://catalog/skills_index")
 def skills_index() -> dict[str, Any]:
     """Return a compact discovery index for all available pattern modules."""
@@ -184,14 +160,13 @@ def get_skill_document_by_id(skill_id: str) -> dict[str, Any]:
         if pattern_id != skill_id:
             continue
 
-        skill_slug = _resolve_skill_slug(
+        return {
+            "found": True,
+            "document": load_skill_document_from_metadata(
                 skill_id=skill_id,
                 namespace=namespace,
                 metadata=metadata,
-        )
+            ),
-        return {
-            "found": True,
-            "document": load_skill_document(skill_id=skill_id, skill_slug=skill_slug),
         }
 
     return {"found": False, "id": skill_id}

src/personal_mcp/mcp.py

@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ from personal_mcp.skills.pytest_scaffolding.server import pytest_scaffolding_ser
 from personal_mcp.skills.python_logging_dictconfig.server import (
     python_logging_dictconfig_server,
 )
+from personal_mcp.skills.zensical_docs.server import zensical_docs_server
 
 mcp = FastMCP("personal-mcp")
 
@@ -28,3 +29,4 @@ mcp.mount(nicegui_ui_customization_server, namespace="nicegui_ui_customization")
 mcp.mount(pytest_scaffolding_server, namespace="pytest_scaffolding")
 mcp.mount(python_logging_dictconfig_server, namespace="python_logging_dictconfig")
 mcp.mount(fastapi_uv_docker_server, namespace="fastapi_uv_docker")
+mcp.mount(zensical_docs_server, namespace="zensical_docs")

src/personal_mcp/skills/document_loader.py

@@ -1,10 +1,45 @@
 from pathlib import Path
+from typing import Any
 
 
 def _repo_root() -> Path:
     return Path(__file__).resolve().parents[3]
 
 
+def resolve_skill_document_path(
+    *, skill_id: str, namespace: str, metadata: dict[str, Any]
+) -> Path:
+    """Resolve the canonical Markdown document path for a skill."""
+    document_path = metadata.get("document_path")
+    if isinstance(document_path, str) and document_path.strip():
+        return _repo_root() / document_path.strip()
+
+    candidates: list[str] = []
+    slug = metadata.get("slug")
+    if isinstance(slug, str) and slug.strip():
+        candidates.append(slug.strip())
+
+    candidates.extend(
+        [
+            skill_id,
+            namespace.replace("_", "-"),
+            namespace,
+        ]
+    )
+
+    seen: set[str] = set()
+    for candidate in candidates:
+        if candidate in seen:
+            continue
+        seen.add(candidate)
+
+        candidate_path = _repo_root() / "docs" / "skills" / candidate / "SKILL.md"
+        if candidate_path.exists():
+            return candidate_path
+
+    return _repo_root() / "docs" / "skills" / skill_id / "SKILL.md"
+
+
 def load_markdown_document(*, skill_id: str, document_path: Path) -> dict[str, str]:
     """Load an arbitrary Markdown document and expose it as a skill resource."""
     if not document_path.exists():
@@ -25,3 +60,15 @@ def load_skill_document(*, skill_id: str, skill_slug: str) -> dict[str, str]:
     """Load the canonical skill markdown document for an MCP skill."""
     document_path = _repo_root() / "docs" / "skills" / skill_slug / "SKILL.md"
     return load_markdown_document(skill_id=skill_id, document_path=document_path)
+
+
+def load_skill_document_from_metadata(
+    *, skill_id: str, namespace: str, metadata: dict[str, Any]
+) -> dict[str, str]:
+    """Load a skill document using metadata overrides when present."""
+    document_path = resolve_skill_document_path(
+        skill_id=skill_id,
+        namespace=namespace,
+        metadata=metadata,
+    )
+    return load_markdown_document(skill_id=skill_id, document_path=document_path)

src/personal_mcp/skills/new_skill/metadata.yaml

@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ tags:
   - scaffolding
   - skills
   - mcp
+document_path: docs/new_skill.md
 capabilities:
   - resource://skills/new-skill/document
 depends_on: []

src/personal_mcp/skills/new_skill/server.py

@@ -1,17 +1,21 @@
 from pathlib import Path
 
+import yaml
+
 from fastmcp import FastMCP
 
-from personal_mcp.skills.document_loader import load_markdown_document
+from personal_mcp.skills.document_loader import load_skill_document_from_metadata
 
 new_skill_server = FastMCP("new-skill")
+_METADATA_PATH = Path(__file__).with_name("metadata.yaml")
+_METADATA = yaml.safe_load(_METADATA_PATH.read_text(encoding="utf-8")) or {}
 
 
 @new_skill_server.resource("resource://skills/new-skill/document")
 def skill_document() -> dict[str, str]:
     """Return the bootstrap guide used to scaffold new skills."""
-    document_path = Path(__file__).resolve().parents[4] / "docs" / "new_skill.md"
+    return load_skill_document_from_metadata(
-    return load_markdown_document(
         skill_id="new-skill",
-        document_path=document_path,
+        namespace="new_skill",
+        metadata=_METADATA,
     )

src/personal_mcp/skills/zensical_docs/__init__.py

@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+"""Zensical documentation authoring skill server."""

src/personal_mcp/skills/zensical_docs/metadata.yaml

@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+id: zensical-docs
+name: Zensical Documentation Authoring
+version: 1.0.0
+description: Plan, write, and improve high-quality documentation with Zensical.
+tags:
+  - zensical
+  - docs
+  - documentation
+  - information-architecture
+  - skills
+  - bootstrap
+  - discovery
+  - authoring
+capabilities:
+  - resource://skills/zensical-docs/document
+depends_on: []

src/personal_mcp/skills/zensical_docs/server.py

@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+from fastmcp import FastMCP
+
+from personal_mcp.skills.document_loader import load_skill_document
+
+zensical_docs_server = FastMCP("zensical-docs")
+
+
+@zensical_docs_server.resource("resource://skills/zensical-docs/document")
+def skill_document() -> dict[str, str]:
+    """Return the canonical Markdown document for this skill."""
+    return load_skill_document(
+        skill_id="zensical-docs",
+        skill_slug="zensical-docs",
+    )