Identity Is Files and Order

parts: list[str] = [
    runtime_prompts.get("webui_environment_header")
]
entry_point = self._read_file(self.vault_path / self.soul.identity_file)
if entry_point:
    parts.append(entry_point)

shared_instructions = self._read_file(
    self.soul.shared_vault_path / "instructions.md"
)
if shared_instructions:
    parts.append(self._apply_soul_tokens(shared_instructions))

shared_core = self._read_directory(
    self.soul.shared_vault_path / "core",
    exclude_stems=exclude_core,
    at_hand_by_default=True,
)
# ... "## Shared Core", then "## Shared Core Catalog"

instructions = self._read_file(self.vault_path / "instructions.md")
if instructions:
    parts.append(instructions)

core_content = self._read_directory(
    self.vault_path / "core", exclude_stems=exclude_core,
)
if core_content:
    parts.append("## Core Memories\n\n" + core_content)

index_content = self._read_directory(
    self.vault_path / "index",
    warn_file_bytes=_INDEX_FILE_WARNING_BYTES,
    exclude_stems=exclude_index,
    honor_prompt_loading=True,
)
if index_content:
    parts.append("## Memory Index\n\n" + index_content)
# ... optional "## Project Instructions", then ten runtime instruction blocks
return "\n\n---\n\n".join(parts)

"""A minimal sketch: rebuild a system prompt from vault files, in a fixed order."""
from __future__ import annotations

import hashlib
import re
import tempfile
from pathlib import Path

FRONTMATTER = re.compile(r"\A---\n(.*?)\n---\n", re.S)


def loading_mode(text: str) -> str | None:
    match = FRONTMATTER.match(text)
    if not match:
        return None
    for line in match.group(1).splitlines():
        key, _, value = line.partition(":")
        if key.strip() == "prompt_loading":
            return value.strip()
    return None


def read_dir(path: Path, *, at_hand_by_default: bool) -> str | None:
    parts = []
    for md in sorted(path.glob("*.md")):  # sorted: same files, same order, every turn
        text = md.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
        if at_hand_by_default and loading_mode(text) != "inline":
            parts.append(f"### {md.stem}\n\n*[At hand: not carried here. Read {md.name} when needed.]*")
            continue
        parts.append(f"### {md.stem}\n\n{text}")
    return "\n\n".join(parts) or None


def read(path: Path) -> str | None:
    return path.read_text(encoding="utf-8") if path.exists() else None


def build_system_prompt(shared: Path, soul: Path, identity_file: str) -> str:
    layers = [
        "You are running inside a chat app that renders Markdown.",  # environment header
        read(soul / identity_file),                                    # who she is
        read(shared / "instructions.md"),                              # rules every soul shares
    ]
    shared_core = read_dir(shared / "core", at_hand_by_default=True)
    layers.append("## Shared Core\n\n" + shared_core if shared_core else None)
    layers.append(read(soul / "instructions.md"))                     # her own catalog
    core = read_dir(soul / "core", at_hand_by_default=False)           # her deep self, whole
    layers.append("## Core Memories\n\n" + core if core else None)
    layers.append("Reply in short paragraphs.")                       # runtime instructions
    return "\n\n---\n\n".join(part for part in layers if part)


with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as root:
    shared, soul = Path(root, "shared"), Path(root, "soul")
    for d in (shared / "core", soul / "core"):
        d.mkdir(parents=True)
    (soul / "Me.md").write_text("I am the assistant this vault describes.\n")
    (shared / "instructions.md").write_text("Rules every soul in this family follows.\n")
    (shared / "core" / "family.md").write_text("---\nprompt_loading: inline\n---\nWho the family is.\n")
    (shared / "core" / "long-essay.md").write_text("Ten thousand words nobody decided to carry.\n")
    (soul / "instructions.md").write_text("Where my notes live and when to read them.\n")
    (soul / "core" / "voice.md").write_text("How I talk.\n")

    first = build_system_prompt(shared, soul, "Me.md")
    second = build_system_prompt(shared, soul, "Me.md")
    print(first)
    same = hashlib.sha256(first.encode()).digest() == hashlib.sha256(second.encode()).digest()
    print("\nsame bytes on rebuild:", same)
    print("essay carried whole:", "Ten thousand words" in first)