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
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Tool calls that errored
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Multiple retries of same action
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User corrections or clarifications
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Misunderstood requirements
Inefficiencies
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Read file multiple times unnecessarily
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Overly large edits that could be smaller
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Commands that could be combined
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Backtracking on approach
Patterns
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Multi-step workflows worth automating
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Repeated prompt structures
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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
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self-improve: Analyze historical sessions for patterns
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skill-authoring: Write discovered skills