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  3. Distill skill
juxt · 3K installs

Distill skill
Runs by itself, module needs a spec.

Existing code gets a spec.

Install the Distill skill and make it a habit: follow https://gethabit.dev/skills/juxt/distill.md

  1. 1Copy
  2. 2Paste into Claude Code, Codex or Cursor
  3. 3It runs by itself

3K installs518 starsMIT licenceSource on GitHub ↗

Distill

by juxt · 3K installs

The skill

The distill skill extracts an Allium specification from an existing codebase, filtering out implementation detail so the spec captures what the system does, for teams documenting or reverse engineering behaviour.

Only when you ask.

The habit

Existing code gets a spec.

↻ Runs by itselfmodule needs a spec

How the habit works.
You don't have to.

Three questionsWhen does it start? How does it check its work? What does it remember?

01

It starts by itself

module needs a spec. Runs in Claude Code routine.

  • ↻ module needs a spec
  • run on a chosen code path

02

It checks its work

allium check + you confirm. If a check fails, it tries again.

  • ✓allium check passes
  • ✓first line is the -- allium: N version marker
  • ✓scope comment lists includes and excludes
  • ✓no database column types, ORM syntax or API paths in the spec

03

It remembers

distilled spec questions. The next run reads it first: parked open questions and excluded code paths.

loops/allium-distill-loop/notes.md

One run, step by step.
Then it stops.

Stop ruleStops after one bounded codebase area per run and at most two check retries.

  1. 01

    Scope it

    Your agent asks which part of the codebase to cover and what to leave out.

  2. 02

    Map the territory

    It scans entry points, models, services and integrations and groups them into bounded contexts.

  3. 03

    Fan out

    One subagent per context extracts states, transitions, temporal triggers, boundaries and actors with file:line evidence.

  4. 04

    Assemble

    The agent merges the fragments, removes duplicates and picks one name per concept.

  5. 05

    Abstract

    It strips implementation details until the abstraction checklist is clean.

  6. 06

    Validate

    It runs allium check and allium analyse if available, then asks you whether the spec is right.

What it may do.
Nothing more.

Safe by defaultIt writes only in its own folder and asks you before anything goes out.

Is it for you?
Use it when it fits.

Quick checkRead both lists. If the left one sounds like you, the Distill skill helps.

Use it when

  • ✓ code exists but no spec
  • ✓ reverse engineering behaviour from implementation
  • ✓ documenting a service in Allium terms

Skip it when

  • – building a spec for a new system
  • – checking an existing spec against code

Questions

Distill skill, answered.

Does it read the whole codebase at once?

No. For larger code it spawns one subagent per bounded context and keeps only their fragments.

Can it run without a person?

Yes, as a subagent it records judgement calls as open questions instead of guessing.

How do I install the Distill skill?

Copy the prompt at the top into your agent. It installs the skill from juxt/allium and sets up the habit. Or run npx skills add juxt/allium --skill distill.

Is the Distill skill free?

Yes. It is published under MIT. Habit is free too.

Distill. Now as a habit.

Install the Distill skill and make it a habit: follow https://gethabit.dev/skills/juxt/distill.md

  • Free
  • No account
  • Undo in one line

All juxt skills →More docs skills →

Works in

  • Claude Code
  • Codex
  • Cursor
  • ChatGPT
  • Claude app

Made by juxt, published under MIT. Habit links to the original and never changes it. Is this your skill?

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