# Upgrade

Apply plugin knowledge base updates to an existing generated system.

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

## Install

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

## Description

Apply plugin knowledge base updates to an existing generated system. Consults the Ars Contexta research graph for methodology improvements, proposes skill upgrades with research justification. Never auto-implements. Triggers on "/upgrade", "upgrade skills", "check for improvements", "update methodology".

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

## Runtime Configuration (Step 0, before any processing)

Read these files to configure domain-specific behavior:

1. **`ops/derivation-manifest.md`**, vocabulary mapping, platform hints
   - Use `vocabulary.notes` for the notes folder name
   - Use `vocabulary.note` / `vocabulary.note_plural` for note type references
   - Use `vocabulary.reduce` for the extraction verb
   - Use `vocabulary.reflect` for the connection-finding verb
   - Use `vocabulary.reweave` for the backward-pass verb
   - Use `vocabulary.verify` for the verification verb
   - Use `vocabulary.rethink` for the meta-cognitive verb
   - Use `vocabulary.topic_map` for MOC references

2. **`ops/config.yaml`**, processing depth, domain context

3. **`ops/derivation.md`**, derivation state and engine version

If these files don't exist, use universal defaults.

## EXECUTE NOW

**Target: $ARGUMENTS**

Parse immediately:
- If target contains a specific skill name (e.g., "upgrade reduce"): check only that skill
- If target contains "--all": check all generated skills
- If target is empty: check all generated skills (same as --all)

**START NOW.** Reference below defines the upgrade process.

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## Why Consultation, Not Hashing

Skills do not upgrade through hash comparison against a generation manifest. Hash comparison answers a narrow question: "Has this file changed?" Meta-skill consultation answers the right question: "Is this skill's approach still the best approach given what we know?"

A skill could be unchanged but outdated because the knowledge base has grown. Or a skill could be heavily edited by the user but already incorporate the latest thinking through a different path. Reasoning about methodology is more valuable than diffing bytes.

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## Two Upgrade Paths

Generated skills and meta-skills follow fundamentally different upgrade mechanisms:

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