Scratchpad
Working memory for thinking out loud.
The simplest skill. Just a place to write.
[!TIP] The PLAY surface. Not everything needs structure. Sometimes just write.
What This Is
A file where you can:
- Think through problems
- Draft before committing
- Store intermediate results
- Keep notes that don't belong elsewhere
No structure required. Just write.
When to Use
- Exploring an idea before formalizing
- Working through a multi-step calculation
- Drafting text before placing it
- Temporary storage during complex tasks
Structure
scratchpad/
├── SCRATCHPAD.md # Main scratch area
└── archive/ # Old scratches (optional)
That's it. Minimal by design.
Philosophy
"The simplest tool is often the most useful."
Not everything needs structure. Sometimes you just need a place to write freely.
Contents
| File | Purpose |
|---|---|
| SKILL.md | Protocol documentation |
| scratch.md.tmpl | Scratchpad template |
The Intertwingularity
Scratchpad is the PLAY stage — think freely before structuring.
graph LR
SP[📝 scratchpad] -->|PLAY stage| PLL[🎮📚🚀 play-learn-lift]
SP -->|structures into| PL[🗂️ planning]
SP -->|structures into| RN[📓 research-notebook]
PLL -->|freeform in| SP
Dovetails With
Sister Skills
| Skill | Relationship |
|---|---|
| play-learn-lift/ | Scratchpad IS the PLAY surface |
| planning/ | When you need structure |
| research-notebook/ | For organized investigation |
| session-log/ | Scratchpad is NOT logged (ephemeral) |
Protocol Symbols
| Symbol | Link |
|---|---|
PLAY-LEARN-LIFT | PROTOCOLS.yml |
IMPROVISE | PROTOCOLS.yml — Write before structuring |
Navigation
| Direction | Destination |
|---|---|
| ⬆️ Up | skills/ |
| ⬆️⬆️ Root | Project Root |
| 🗂️ Sister | planning/ |
| 📓 Sister | research-notebook/ |