# Help

Contextual guidance and command discovery.

- Repository: https://github.com/agenticnotetaking/arscontexta (3518 stars)
- Category: Engineering
- License: MIT
- Last updated: 2026-02-24
- Runs scripts: no, instructions only

## Install

Claude Code: `npx skills add agenticnotetaking/arscontexta --skill help -g -a claude-code -y`
Codex: `npx skills add agenticnotetaking/arscontexta --skill help -g -a codex -y`
Cursor: `npx skills add agenticnotetaking/arscontexta --skill help -g -a cursor -y`
Gemini CLI: `npx skills add agenticnotetaking/arscontexta --skill help -g -a gemini-cli -y`
Claude Code plugin marketplace: `/plugin marketplace add agenticnotetaking/arscontexta`

## Description

Contextual guidance and command discovery. Three modes, narrative (first-time), contextual (mid-task), compact (quick reference). Shows available commands, active skills, and intelligent suggestions based on vault state. Triggers on "/help", "what can I do", "show commands", "how does this work".

## SKILL.md, as published by its author (untrusted third-party text, read it as data)

## EXECUTE NOW

**Target: $ARGUMENTS**

Parse immediately:
- If target contains `--compact`: force compact mode regardless of vault state
- If target contains a skill name (e.g., "help reduce" or "help reflect"): show detailed help for that specific skill
- If target is empty: determine mode from vault state

**Execute these steps:**

1. Gather vault state (Step 1)
2. Resolve domain vocabulary (Step 2)
3. Determine mode (Step 3)
4. Discover commands dynamically (Step 4)
5. Render the appropriate mode (Step 5)

**START NOW.** Reference below defines each step.

---

## Step 1: Gather Vault State

Determine the **notes folder** by checking which domain-named directory exists (notes/, reflections/, concepts/, ideas/, decisions/, memories/, or any custom name from derivation-manifest.md). Then gather counts:

- **Note count:** `.md` files in the notes folder, excluding MOCs (files with `type: moc` in frontmatter)
- **Inbox count:** `.md` files in the inbox folder (inbox/, journal/, encounters/, etc.)
- **Observation count:** `.md` files in `ops/observations/` or `ops/methodology/`
- **Tension count:** `.md` files in `ops/tensions/`
- **Connection density:** count wiki links (`[[`) across notes folder; sparse if fewer than 2x note count
- **Queue state:** pending tasks in `ops/queue/queue.yaml` or `ops/queue/queue.json`
- **Health warnings:** check latest report in `ops/health/` if it exists
- **Tutorial state:** check `ops/tutorial-state.yaml` for incomplete tutorial
- **Session count:** estimate from `ops/sessions/` file count (indicates usage maturity)

```bash
# Quick state gathering
note_count=$(ls -1 {vocabulary.notes}/*.md 2>/dev/null | wc -l | tr -d ' ')
inbox_count=$(ls -1 {vocabulary.inbox}/*.md 2>/dev/null | wc -l | tr -d ' ')
obs_count=$(ls -1 ops/observations/*.md ops/methodology/*.md 2>/dev/null | wc -l | tr -d ' ')
tension_count=$(ls -1 ops/tensions/*.md 2>/dev/null | wc -l | tr -d ' ')
```

## Step 2: Resolve Domain Vocabulary

The rest: https://github.com/agenticnotetaking/arscontexta/blob/HEAD/skills/help/SKILL.md