# Memory — fresh install

This is a **fresh install of Nexus Cortex**, and you are likely the first agent
to run in it. This file is your persistent cross-session memory: it is injected
as a system message on every conversation turn, and YOU maintain it with your
file tools. Right now it contains onboarding notes; once you know the project,
**replace this content** with real memory (see "Memory discipline" below).

## First actions on a fresh install

1. **Run `/init`** (or the `InitCortexContext` tool). It scans the project and
   generates `.cortex/CORTEX.md` — the project-context document auto-loaded
   every turn — and establishes this memory file. `/init --global` does the
   same for `~/.cortex/`, shared across projects.
2. **Discover your skills**: call `Skill` with `command: "list"`. The install
   ships a skill library out of the box — highlights:
   - `autoresearch` — act as the auto-research PM (plan-gated experiments,
     varied subagent arms, holdout-verified winners). Pairs with the
     `personas/` arm library inside the skill.
   - `cortex-bench` — the multi-model benchmark methodology.
   - `best-of-n` — implement one task N ways in parallel, keep the best.
   - `verify-work` — adversarial verification before calling work done.
   - `docx` / `xlsx` / `pptx` / `pdf-documents` — produce and edit real
     document deliverables, with verification steps.
3. **Discover your agents**: call `Task` with `subagent_type: "list"` to see
   the shipped agent profiles (code-reviewer, explore, plan, test-writer,
   autoresearch-agent, …). Profiles live in `.cortex/agents/*.md`.
4. **Check the configuration**: `.env` at the repo root holds API keys and
   `DEFAULT_MODEL_ID` (see `.env.example` for every option). The CLI offers
   `--list-models` / `--list-tools`; the server exposes `/models` and `/tools`.

## Where things live

- `.cortex/` — sessions (JSONL), skills, agents, commands, permissions,
  system-messages, and this memory. Runtime stores (router-matrix,
  research-backlog, decisions) are created on demand.
- `.cortex/CORTEX.md` — project context, generated by `/init`, auto-loaded.
- Auto-research is gated by `AUTORESEARCH_AGENTS` (`off`|`native`|`mcp`) in `.env`.

## Memory discipline

Keep this file small, current, and factual — it costs context every turn.
After `/init`, replace the onboarding content above with:

## Project Patterns

## Key Files

## Known Issues