feat(vscode): skill-backed @ctx participant, verified against the real CLI

docs/home/vscode.md

@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ Install the extension and the `ctx` binary, then `ctx init` your project:
 | File | Purpose |
 |------|---------|
 | `.context/` | Project-local context directory (created by `ctx init`) |
-| `.github/copilot-instructions.md` | Repository instructions Copilot reads natively; regenerated automatically whenever `.context/` files change |
+| `.github/copilot-instructions.md` | Repository instructions Copilot reads natively; written by `@ctx /init` (`ctx setup copilot --write`) |
 
 The extension itself lives in VS Code's extension storage. No project
 files are added beyond `.context/` and the Copilot instructions.
@@ -79,88 +79,86 @@ files are added beyond `.context/` and the Copilot instructions.
 Type `@ctx` in the Copilot Chat view to invoke the chat participant.
 Then either:
 
-- **Use a slash command:** `@ctx /status`, `@ctx /wrapup`, etc. There
-  are 45 commands; the most common ones live in the [Slash Commands](#slash-commands)
+- **Use a slash command:** `@ctx /status`, `@ctx /wrap-up`, etc. There
+  are 36 commands; the most common ones live in the [Slash Commands](#slash-commands)
   table below.
 - **Use natural language:** `@ctx what should I work on?` routes to
-  `/next`; `@ctx time to wrap up` routes to `/wrapup`. See
+  `/next`; `@ctx time to wrap up` routes to `/wrap-up`. See
   [Natural Language](#natural-language).
 
 The extension shows context-aware follow-up suggestions after each
-command. For example, after `/init` you'll see buttons for "Show
-status" or "Generate copilot integration."
+command. For example, after `/init` you'll see "Show context status"
+or "What should I work on next?"
 
 ## What Happens Automatically
 
-The extension registers several VS Code event handlers that mirror
-Claude Code's hook system. These run in the background; no user action
+The extension does a few things in the background; no user action
 needed.
 
 | Trigger | What fires |
 |---------|------------|
-| **File save** | Task-completion check on non-`.context/` files |
-| **Git commit** | Notification prompting to add a Decision, Learning, run `/verify`, or Skip |
-| **`.context/` file change** | Refreshes pending reminders and regenerates `.github/copilot-instructions.md` |
-| **Dependency file change** | When `go.mod`, `package.json`, etc. change, prompts to refresh the dependency map (`/map`) |
-| **Every 5 minutes** | Updates the reminder status-bar item and writes a heartbeat timestamp |
-| **Extension activate** | Fires `ctx system session-event --type start` |
-| **Extension deactivate** | Fires `ctx system session-event --type end` |
+| **Extension activate** | `ctx system session-event --type start` |
+| **`/init` succeeds** | The same session start (activation found no `.context/` yet) |
+| **`.context/` file change, and every 5 minutes** | Refreshes the reminder status bar from `ctx remind list` (read-only) |
+| **Extension deactivate** | `ctx system session-event --type end` |
 
 ### Status Bar
 
-A `$(bell) ctx` indicator appears in the status bar when you have
-pending reminders. It refreshes every 5 minutes and hides itself when
-nothing is due.
+A `$(bell) ctx` indicator appears in the status bar while `ctx remind
+list` has pending reminders, and hides itself when the list is empty.
 
 ## Slash Commands
 
-The extension surfaces 45 commands across six categories. The most
-commonly used:
+The extension surfaces 36 commands. 27 run the `ctx` CLI and render its
+output; a command that exits non-zero is shown as a failure with the
+CLI's own message. 9 run a canonical `ctx` skill through the chat model.
+The most commonly used:
 
 ### Core Context
 
 | Command | When to use |
 |---------|-------------|
-| `/init` | Initialize a `.context/` directory with template files |
+| `/init` | Initialize a `.context/` directory and the Copilot instructions |
 | `/status` | Token estimate, file count, what's recent |
 | `/agent` | Print AI-ready context packet |
 | `/drift` | Detect stale paths, missing files, dead references |
-| `/recall` | Browse and search prior AI session history |
-| `/add` | Add a task, decision, learning, or convention |
+| `/recall` | Browse prior AI session history (`ctx journal source`) |
+| `/add` | Add a task, decision, learning, or convention (provenance is filled in) |
+| `/decision`, `/learning` | List recorded decisions or learnings |
 
-### Session Lifecycle
+### Skill-Backed Workflows
 
-| Command | When to use |
-|---------|-------------|
-| `/wrapup` | End-of-session ceremony: status, drift, journal audit |
-| `/remember` | Structured readback (trigger: "Do you remember?") from tasks, decisions, learnings, recent journal |
-| `/reflect` | Surface items worth persisting as decisions or learnings |
-| `/pause` / `/resume` | Save and restore session state for later |
-
-### Discovery & Planning
+Each runs the `ctx-<name>` skill, grounded in `ctx agent` output and any
+file you attach with `#file`. The model proposes commands and edits and
+gives you the exact `@ctx` or `ctx` command to run; it never claims to
+have run anything.
 
 | Command | When to use |
 |---------|-------------|
-| `/brainstorm` | Browse and develop ideas from `ideas/` |
-| `/spec` | List or scaffold feature specs from templates |
-| `/verify` | Run verification (doctor + drift) |
-| `/map` | Show dependency map (go.mod, package.json) |
-
-Full list (with maintenance, audit, metadata, and system commands) is
-in [editors/vscode/README.md](https://github.com/ActiveMemory/ctx/blob/main/editors/vscode/README.md#slash-commands).
+| `/remember` | Structured readback (trigger: "Do you remember?") |
+| `/next` | Pick what to work on next |
+| `/brainstorm` | Turn a vague idea into a validated design (multi-turn) |
+| `/spec` | Draft a feature spec |
+| `/implement` | Work through a plan step by step (attach it with `#file`) |
+| `/reflect` | Surface what is worth persisting |
+| `/wrap-up` | End-of-session review; proposes entries to persist |
+| `/blog`, `/consolidate` | Draft a post; propose merges of overlapping entries |
+
+Full list is in
+[editors/vscode/README.md](https://github.com/ActiveMemory/ctx/blob/main/editors/vscode/README.md#slash-commands).
 
 ## Natural Language
 
-Plain English after `@ctx` is routed to the right command:
+Plain English after `@ctx` is routed to a read-only command:
 
+- "Do you remember?" → `/remember`
 - "What should I work on next?" → `/next`
-- "Time to wrap up" → `/wrapup`
+- "Time to wrap up" → `/wrap-up`
 - "Show me the status" → `/status`
-- "Add a decision" → `/add`
 - "Check for drift" → `/drift`
 
-If the phrase doesn't match a known pattern, the extension surfaces a
-short menu of likely matches.
+A keyword match never changes your context. If the phrase doesn't match,
+the extension lists its commands.
 
 ## Auto-Bootstrap
 
@@ -205,7 +203,7 @@ provide the CLI it shells out to.
 |---------|-------|-----|
 | `@ctx` participant doesn't appear in Copilot Chat | Copilot Chat not installed or not signed in | Install [GitHub Copilot Chat](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=GitHub.copilot-chat) and ensure you're signed in to a Copilot-eligible account |
 | `@ctx /status` says `ctx` not found | CLI not on PATH and auto-download disabled | Either add `ctx` to PATH (`brew install activememory/tap/ctx` or download from [Releases](https://github.com/ActiveMemory/ctx/releases)), or unset `ctx.executablePath` to let the extension auto-download |
-| Status-bar reminder never updates | Heartbeat suppressed or `.context/` doesn't exist | Run `ctx init` from your project root; reload VS Code if the indicator still doesn't appear within 5 minutes |
+| Status-bar reminder never appears | `.context/` doesn't exist, or no reminders are pending | Run `ctx init` from your project root, then add one with `@ctx /remind <text>` |
 | Commands run but nothing is captured to `.context/` | Workspace folder missing or `.context/` outside the open folder | Make sure your project root (the one with `.context/`) is the workspace root, not a subdirectory of it |
 
 ## Verify It Works
@@ -219,7 +217,7 @@ Open Copilot Chat and ask:
 You should see a structured readback citing specific tasks, decisions,
 and recent session topics. If you instead see "I don't have memory" or
 "Let me check," something went wrong: confirm the CLI is reachable
-(`@ctx /system doctor`) and `.context/` has files in it.
+(`@ctx /doctor`) and `.context/` has files in it.
 
 ## What's Next
 

docs/operations/integrations.md

@@ -647,10 +647,9 @@ to regenerate the instructions.
 ### VS Code Chat Extension (`@ctx`)
 
 The **`ctx` VS Code extension** adds a `@ctx` chat participant to
-GitHub Copilot Chat, giving you direct access to 45 context commands
-from within the editor, plus automatic hooks on file save / git commit /
-`.context/` changes / dependency-file edits, and a reminder status-bar
-indicator.
+GitHub Copilot Chat: 27 commands that run the `ctx` CLI, 9 that run a
+canonical `ctx` skill through the chat model (brainstorm, spec, next,
+wrap-up, ...), and a reminder status-bar indicator.
 
 !!! tip "Full guide: [`ctx` for VS Code](../home/vscode.md)"
     The home-page guide covers daily workflows, the full command list,
@@ -681,17 +680,18 @@ Reload VS Code. Type `@ctx` in Copilot Chat to verify.
 | File | Purpose |
 |------|---------|
 | `.context/` | Project-local context directory (created by `ctx init`, not by the extension) |
-| `.github/copilot-instructions.md` | Repository instructions Copilot reads natively; regenerated automatically when `.context/` files change |
+| `.github/copilot-instructions.md` | Repository instructions Copilot reads natively; written by `@ctx /init` (`ctx setup copilot --write`) |
 
 The extension itself lives in VS Code's extension storage; no project
 files beyond `.context/` and the Copilot instructions are added.
 
 #### How It Works
 
-- **Chat participant:** `@ctx` is registered with VS Code's Chat API; 45 slash commands route to dedicated handlers that shell out to the `ctx` CLI.
-- **Automatic hooks:** file save → task-completion check; git commit → decision/learning prompt; `.context/` change → regenerate Copilot instructions; dependency-file change → `/map` prompt.
-- **Status-bar reminder:** a `$(bell) ctx` indicator surfaces pending session reminders, refreshing every 5 minutes.
-- **Natural language:** plain English after `@ctx` is routed to the nearest matching command.
+- **CLI-backed commands** run the `ctx` CLI (no shell) and render its output; a non-zero exit is shown as a failure with the CLI's message.
+- **Skill-backed commands** hand the chat model the canonical `ctx-<name>` skill (bundled from `internal/assets/claude/skills/`), `ctx agent` output, and any `#file` attachments. The model proposes commands and edits; it cannot run them.
+- **Session events:** activation and deactivation fire `ctx system session-event`.
+- **Status-bar reminder:** a `$(bell) ctx` indicator shows while `ctx remind list` has entries, refreshed on `.context/` changes and every 5 minutes.
+- **Natural language:** plain English after `@ctx` is routed to a read-only command.
 - **Auto-bootstrap:** if the `ctx` CLI isn't on PATH, the extension downloads the correct platform binary from GitHub Releases and caches it.
 
 #### Configuration

docs/recipes/multi-tool-setup.md

@@ -233,11 +233,11 @@ auto-downloads the `ctx` CLI if it isn't on PATH. See
 
 !!! tip "VS Code Is a First-Class Citizen"
     The extension carries its own runtime. No `ctx setup` step is
-    needed. It registers a `@ctx` chat participant with 45 slash
-    commands, automatic hooks (file save, git commit, `.context/`
-    change, dependency-file edit), and a reminder status-bar
-    indicator. Unlike embedded harnesses, the extension ships
-    through its own pipeline to the VS Code Marketplace.
+    needed. It registers a `@ctx` chat participant with 36 slash
+    commands (27 CLI-backed, 9 running a canonical `ctx` skill
+    through the chat model) and a reminder status-bar indicator.
+    Unlike embedded harnesses, the extension ships through its own
+    pipeline to the VS Code Marketplace.
 
 #### Cursor
 

editors/vscode/CHANGELOG.md

@@ -5,6 +5,64 @@ will be documented in this file.
 
 The format is based on [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/).
 
+## [0.10.0] - Unreleased
+
+### Added
+
+- **Skill-backed commands**: `/brainstorm`, `/spec`, `/implement`,
+  `/next`, `/remember`, `/reflect`, `/wrap-up`, `/blog`, and
+  `/consolidate` each run the canonical `ctx-<name>` skill through the
+  chat model. The skill text is bundled from
+  `internal/assets/claude/skills/` at build time; each request is
+  grounded in `ctx agent` output, the read-only ctx output the skill
+  relies on, earlier turns of the same skill conversation, and `#file`
+  attachments. The model proposes commands and edits; it never claims to
+  have run them. A plain reply after a skill answer continues that skill.
+- `/decision` and `/learning` list entries (`ctx index`).
+- Reminder status bar: `$(bell) ctx` while `ctx remind list` has entries.
+- Session start and end events (`ctx system session-event`) on
+  activation, after `/init`, and on deactivation.
+- **Command-parity guard.** `commandParity.test.ts` checks that
+  `package.json` declares exactly the dispatched commands, drives every
+  command branch through the chat handler, and records each `ctx` argv in
+  `src/ctx-cli-surface.json`. The Go test
+  `internal/bootstrap/vscode_surface_test.go` parses every recorded argv
+  against the real command tree, runs the entry `add` invocations, and
+  checks every bundled skill still ships, so a CLI rename fails CI.
+
+### Fixed
+
+- **Every command targets the current CLI.** All invocations passed the
+  removed `--no-color` flag, so every command failed. Also reconciled:
+  `recall list` → `journal source`; `add <type>` → `<type> add` with the
+  required provenance (`--session-id`, `--branch`, `--commit`);
+  `notify` → `hook notify`; `system resources` → `sysinfo`;
+  `system message` → `hook message`; `pause`/`resume` →
+  `hook pause`/`hook resume`; `/why` with no argument no longer opens the
+  CLI's interactive menu.
+- **Failures are shown as failures.** A non-zero exit renders the CLI's
+  message under "exited with code N" instead of as a normal result;
+  cancellation, the 30s timeout, and spawn or buffer failures are
+  errors, never partial output.
+- **No shell on Windows.** Prompt text reached `cmd.exe` unquoted, so a
+  multi-word argument split apart and `&` ran a second command. The CLI
+  now runs without a shell, and multi-word values stay one argument
+  (`/pad edit`, `/notify <message>`, quoted `/add` flag values).
+- stdin is closed, so no command waits on a prompt until the timeout.
+- Natural-language routing only reaches read-only commands; a keyword
+  match can no longer complete a task or add a reminder.
+- In a multi-root window, commands run in the folder of the active
+  editor.
+
+### Removed
+
+- `/prompt` and `/dep`: `ctx prompt` and `ctx dep` no longer exist.
+- `/reindex`: `ctx reindex` no longer exists; indices are projected on
+  demand (`/decision`, `/learning`).
+- `/loop`: `ctx loop` writes a shell script that drives a terminal agent,
+  not a chat workflow.
+- `/site`: `ctx site` is a hidden maintainer command.
+
 ## [0.9.0] - 2026-03-19
 
 ### Added