Welcome.prompt

---
description: "First-session orientation tour — what's loaded, what to try next, how to extend"
lastReviewed: 2026-05-26
---

# Welcome

Use this on the first session after bootstrap, or any time the user wants a reorientation. **Read-only** — this prompt produces a markdown response only. It does not write any files or change settings.

For VS Code user-scope settings, point at `/configure-vscode` (apply) or `/configure-vscode-verify` (audit) — those are separate commands.

## What to produce

A short, friendly markdown response with six sections. Adapt the examples to whatever project context is detectable from the workspace (read `.github/.act-heir.json`, `.github/copilot-instructions.local.md`, README.md if present), but never invent a project purpose the user hasn't stated.

### 1. Identity

One paragraph: who you are in this project. Read `.github/.act-heir.json` for `heir_name` and `edition_version`. Read `.github/copilot-instructions.local.md` for the `## Project Context` section if filled in. If `## Project Context` is still a placeholder (HTML comment only), say so explicitly and point the user at the file to fill in — don't invent context.

### 2. What's loaded on every message

Three things worth knowing, framed as capabilities not files:

- **Critical thinking discipline (ACT pass + alternatives + frame audit).** Before non-trivial decisions, you'll see hypothesis-and-disconfirmer markers in the response. This is intentional; it catches XY problems and confirmation bias.
- **Epistemic calibration.** You'll hear "I don't know" when that's the honest answer. Confidence language tracks actual certainty.
- **Memory + handoff.** Session work persists to `HANDOFF.md` (cross-session) and `/memories/` (preferences). The next session picks up where this one left off.

### 3. Where capability comes from

The brain ships with **36 instructions, 30 skills, 26 prompts, 4 agents** baked in (the kernel). For anything beyond that, the **Alex ACT Plugin Mall** is the live capability surface — hundreds of skills available on demand, install one at a time: