# Daily research brief — playbook

**Audience:** operator or agent executing `target_repo: freedom-intelligence`  
**Template:** `briefs/_template.md`  
**Baseline memory:** `research/2026-07-24-baseline-field-survey.md`  
**Sources:** `docs/sources-allowlist.md`

---

## Purpose

Produce **one** curated brief per active day covering axes A–D when there is
signal. Briefs are **deltas** from the baseline survey and prior briefs — not
full resurveys.

---

## Idempotence

| Rule | Detail |
| ---- | ------ |
| One brief per date | Path `briefs/YYYY/MM/YYYY-MM-DD.md` |
| Calendar | Prefer **Europe/Berlin** date in front matter |
| Skip empty days | Either omit file or write `*No material delta.*` in Headline deltas |
| Automation due bit | Cleared only by State Hub event `fi_daily_brief` (below) |

---

## Manual procedure

1. **Orient**
   - Read last 1–2 briefs if any; skim baseline § executive snapshot if first week
   - `git pull` on freedom-intelligence

2. **Scan** (`docs/sources-allowlist.md`) — 30–60 minutes cap  
   - Capture only items that change capability, cost, access, or operability

3. **Draft**
   ```bash
   mkdir -p briefs/$(date +%Y/%m)
   cp briefs/_template.md briefs/$(date +%Y/%m)/$(date +%Y-%m-%d).md
   ```
   - Fill front matter (`status: final` when done)
   - Leave empty sections as `*(none)*`
   - Cite primary URLs

4. **Collection candidates**
   - Use inventory field names; set priority
   - If nominating: add or update `inventory/catalog/{id}.yaml` with
     `status: candidate` and `collection.brief_refs`

5. **Lab implications**
   - Link open workplans (`FI-WP-*`) only when action is real

6. **Commit** (operator policy) — brief + any catalog YAML

7. **Completion evidence** (required for activity-core rhythm)

   Post State Hub progress (HTTP or MCP), shape:

   ```yaml
   event_type: fi_daily_brief
   author: <agent-or-operator>
   summary: "FI daily brief YYYY-MM-DD"
   detail:
     repo: freedom-intelligence
     date: "YYYY-MM-DD"
     path: "briefs/YYYY/MM/YYYY-MM-DD.md"
     collection_candidates: 0
   ```

   Workstation API often `http://127.0.0.1:8000`; remote tunnel ports per
   Custodian docs. See `docs/state-hub-delivery.md`.

---

## Automation consumer (activity-core design)

**Organizer:** activity-core (when / what / where) — not workstation cron.  
**Executor:** rein-aharness on railiance01 (`fi-research-brief`).  
**Org playbook:** `activity-core/docs/recurring-automations-playbook.md`.

When activity-core emits `activity_task_spawn` with
`target_repo: freedom-intelligence` and labels including `research-brief`:

1. Railiance host timer (or manual) runs  
   `rein-aharness fi-research-brief --target-repo ~/freedom-intelligence`  
2. llm-connect drafts the brief; harness commits and posts **`fi_daily_brief`**  
3. Idempotency: one brief file per date; resolver clears `due` on completion event  

Do **not** install Claude Code / Codex on railiance01 for this rhythm.

| Piece | Location |
| ----- | -------- |
| Definition | `activity-definitions/fi-daily-research-brief.md` |
| Ops | `docs/recurrence-ops.md` |
| Executor install | `scripts/railiance-rhythm/install-on-railiance.sh` |
| Workplan | FI-WP-0002 (finished) |
| Resolver | `fi_brief_status` in activity-core |

### Ops: load this repo’s definitions

```bash
# Dev
export ACTIVITY_DEFINITION_DIRS=.../freedom-intelligence
make -C ~/activity-core sync-activity-definitions

# Production: ConfigMap actcore-external-activity-definitions
# then POST /admin/sync?definitions=true&schedules=true
```

---

## Quality bar

| Check | Pass |
| ----- | ---- |
| Signal | No filler paragraphs |
| Sources | At least one primary link per non-empty axis row |
| Honesty | Benchmarks marked directional; prices “verify before budget” |
| Collection | License noted for any candidate |
| Length | Prefer one screen to three; deep dives go under `research/` |

---

## First daily after baseline

The baseline survey (2026-07-24) already covers the field. The **first daily**
should only list changes **after** that document’s research window. If nothing
moved, a short no-delta brief still completes the rhythm and posts
`fi_daily_brief`.