Context Pattern — Context

Pattern: Context
Component: context.md
Version: 1.2 | Updated: 2026-07-29

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Purpose

Define the minimum evidence package required before the Context pattern may start — and when to refuse to start.

Required before activation

• Explicit task and AC
• Ranked sources with trust labels
• Size budget and prune list
• Separation of system instructions vs retrieved data

Refuse to start when

• Task is unclear and pack is used to compensate
• Untrusted web/issue text requested in system role
• Secrets or credentials present in candidate sources

Trust and data class

• Label segments as trusted, internal, or untrusted for Context packs.
• Keep untrusted retrieval out of the Context system channel.
• Context MCP enablement follows data class in mcps.md.

Pack shape for Context

1. Trigger / AC (human-owned)
2. Ranked evidence inside the Context budget
3. Constraints and non-goals for this activation
4. Open questions (empty before irreversible Context steps)

Related

• Context pattern when packing is itself the hard problem
• Prompt variable bindings
• Skills activation triggers

Changelog

• 1.2 (2026-07-29): Context context gates (required/refuse) rewritten for this envelope.