Reify Init

Initialize a new Reify Studio with the imaginary/real dimension folder structure.

Process

1. Check Existing Structure

First, check if .imaginary/ or .reify/ already exist:

• If yes, ask: "A Reify structure already exists. Reinitialize? (This won't delete existing files)"

2. Create Folder Structure

Create the following directories:

.imaginary/
├── ideas/          # Conviction-spectrum captures
├── captures/       # Raw material (notes, clips, etc.)
├── references/     # Entity cards (people, works, concepts)
├── workflow/       # Actionable items (tasks, intel)
├── fragments/      # Legacy/uncategorized
└── links/          # Typed link files (optional, advanced)

.reify/
└── types.json      # Type system configuration

.vault/             # Read-only symlinks to external repos (optional)

3. Create types.json

If .reify/types.json doesn't exist, create it with the default schema:

{
  "$schema": "https://reify.studio/schemas/types.json",
  "version": "0.2.0",
  "description": "Type definitions for this Reify Studio",

  "categories": {
    "ideas": {
      "folder": "ideas",
      "description": "Conviction-spectrum captures - from questions to principles",
      "types": ["question", "thought", "observation", "principle", "example"]
    },
    "captures": {
      "folder": "captures",
      "description": "Raw material - low-friction dumps from various sources",
      "types": ["note", "web_clip", "voice_memo", "highlight", "screenshot", "bookmark", "chat", "message", "prompt_result"]
    },
    "references": {
      "folder": "references",
      "description": "Entity cards - people, works, concepts you reference",
      "types": ["person", "work", "concept", "term"]
    },
    "workflow": {
      "folder": "workflow",
      "description": "Actionable items - things to do or track",
      "types": ["task", "email", "intel"]
    }
  },

  "conviction_spectrum": {
    "description": "Types ordered by conviction level",
    "order": ["question", "thought", "observation", "principle"],
    "category": "ideas"
  },

  "types": {
    "question": {
      "extension": ".question.md",
      "category": "ideas",
      "conviction": 0.1,
      "description": "An explicit open loop - something you're trying to figure out",
      "when_to_use": "When capturing uncertainty, curiosity, or an unresolved problem"
    },
    "thought": {
      "extension": ".thought.md",
      "category": "ideas",
      "conviction": 0.3,
      "description": "A tiny 'I think...' claim - a belief not yet validated",
      "when_to_use": "When you have an idea or hunch but haven't tested it yet"
    },
    "observation": {
      "extension": ".observation.md",
      "category": "ideas",
      "conviction": 0.7,
      "description": "A field note or witnessed experience - something you actually saw happen",
      "when_to_use": "When you noticed something concrete, factual, witnessed firsthand"
    },
    "principle": {
      "extension": ".principle.md",
      "category": "ideas",
      "conviction": 0.9,
      "description": "A guiding rule or high-conviction belief - something you'd defend",
      "when_to_use": "When you've arrived at a core belief that should guide future decisions"
    },
    "example": {
      "extension": ".example.md",
      "category": "ideas",
      "conviction": null,
      "description": "A concrete illustration - evidence or demonstration of something",
      "when_to_use": "When providing a specific case that illustrates a pattern or problem"
    },
    "note": {
      "extension": ".note.md",
      "category": "captures",
      "conviction": null,
      "description": "Quick text capture - atomic, zettel-ish",
      "when_to_use": "For general captures that don't fit the conviction spectrum"
    },
    "task": {
      "extension": ".task.md",
      "category": "workflow",
      "conviction": null,
      "description": "An actionable item with status",
      "when_to_use": "When there's a specific action to take with clear completion criteria"
    },
    "person": {
      "extension": ".person.md",
      "category": "references",
      "conviction": null,
      "description": "Entity card for a person",
      "when_to_use": "When creating a reference for someone you interact with or cite"
    },
    "work": {
      "extension": ".work.md",
      "category": "references",
      "conviction": null,
      "description": "Canonical source object - book, paper, video, podcast",
      "when_to_use": "When referencing a creative work you want to cite or track"
    },
    "concept": {
      "extension": ".concept.md",
      "category": "references",
      "conviction": null,
      "description": "Definition + aliases + examples",
      "when_to_use": "When defining a term or idea that needs explanation"
    }
  },

  "link_types": {
    "starter_pack": [
      "contains", "part_of", "belongs_to",
      "relates_to", "supports", "contradicts",
      "derived_from", "inspired_by", "answers",
      "illustrates", "leads_to", "sequence_next"
    ]
  }
}

4. Create Loop Definition (Optional)

If this is a named studio (--name provided), create .imaginary/{name}.loop.md:

---
id: loop_{name}
type: loop
title: {Name} Studio
status: active
created: {ISO8601}
---

## Purpose

[What this studio is for]

## Scope

[What belongs here vs elsewhere]

## Links

- part_of: [[studio_reification-labs]]

5. Update .gitignore

Add if not present:

# Reify
.reify/cache/
.vault/

6. Confirm Initialization

Report:

Reify Studio initialized!

Created:
  .imaginary/
    ideas/
    captures/
    references/
    workflow/
    fragments/
  .reify/
    types.json

Next steps:
  /reify.capture <your first idea>
  /reify.task <your first task>

The Metaphor

Explain briefly:

• .imaginary/ = The imaginary dimension. Potential, waves, superposition. Your creative workspace.
• Visible folders = The real dimension. Actuality, particles, collapsed state. Shipped artifacts.
• Reification = The collapse from potential to actual. When an idea becomes a thing.