docs: Clarify formula vs molecule semantics - formulas are NOT instructions

PROBLEM: Agents were reading formula files directly and manually creating beads
for each step, rather than using the cook→pour→molecule pipeline.

FIXES:
- polecat-CLAUDE.md: Changed "following the formula" to "work through your
  pinned molecule" and added explicit anti-pattern warning
- mol-polecat-work.formula.toml: Added note that formula defines template,
  use bd ready to find step beads
- docs/molecules.md: Added "Common Mistake" section with WRONG/RIGHT examples
- mol-*.formula.toml (5 files): Changed "execute this formula" to "work
  through molecules (poured from this formula)"

The key insight: Formulas are source templates (like source code). You never
read them directly. The cook → pour pipeline creates step beads for you.

🤖 Generated with [Claude Code](https://claude.com/claude-code)

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>
This commit is contained in:
max
2026-01-02 17:25:47 -08:00
committed by Steve Yegge
parent 0bcd8acecb
commit 37ae702427
8 changed files with 40 additions and 9 deletions

View File

@@ -26,6 +26,31 @@ Protomolecule (frozen template) ─── Solid
| **Wisp** | Ephemeral molecule for patrol cycles (never synced) |
| **Digest** | Squashed summary of completed molecule |
## Common Mistake: Reading Formulas Directly
**WRONG:**
```bash
# Reading a formula file and manually creating beads for each step
cat .beads/formulas/mol-polecat-work.formula.toml
bd create --title "Step 1: Load context" --type task
bd create --title "Step 2: Branch setup" --type task
# ... creating beads from formula prose
```
**RIGHT:**
```bash
# Cook the formula into a proto, pour into a molecule
bd cook mol-polecat-work
bd mol pour mol-polecat-work --var issue=gt-xyz
# Now work through the step beads that were created
bd ready # Find next step
bd close <step-id> # Complete it
```
**Key insight:** Formulas are source templates (like source code). You never read
them directly during work. The `cook``pour` pipeline creates step beads for you.
Your molecule already has steps - use `bd ready` to find them.
## Navigating Molecules
Molecules help you track where you are in multi-step workflows.