# Feature Flags (file presence vs config)

**Status:** Styleguide; codifies when to use file-presence flags ("delete to turn off") vs config flags (`[ai_settings.toml]` / `[manual_slop.toml]`).
**Date:** 2026-06-12
**Cross-refs:** `conductor/code_styleguides/knowledge_artifacts.md` §5; `conductor/code_styleguides/data_oriented_design.md`.

> **What this is.** Manual Slop has two patterns for "turning a feature on or off": (a) file presence (the file is the switch; `rm` to turn off); (b) config flag (the `[ai_settings.toml]` toggle or the GUI checkbox). They're both valid; each is right in different contexts. This styleguide codifies when to use which.

---

## 0. The two patterns (the one-glance table)

| Pattern | How it works | How to turn off | How to turn on |
|---|---|---|---|
| **File presence** | The feature checks for the file's existence; the file is the switch | `rm <file>` | Touch the file (or run the generator that creates it) |
| **Config flag** | The feature checks a setting in `[ai_settings.toml]` / `[manual_slop.toml]`; the GUI checkbox is the surface | Set `enabled = false` in the config; or uncheck the GUI box | Set `enabled = true`; or check the GUI box |
| **CLI flag** (a sub-pattern of config) | The CLI accepts a flag like `--no-cache`; the default behavior is "on" | Pass `--no-cache` on the CLI | Omit the flag (use the default) |
| **Feature flag in metadata** (a sub-pattern) | A `metadata.json` field for the feature's track declares `uses_rag: true` | Edit the metadata | Edit the metadata |

---

## 1. When to use file presence (the "delete to turn off" pattern)

**Use file presence when:**
- The feature generates a *side artifact* that the user might want to *turn off* by deleting the artifact
- The "off" state is *recoverable* — the artifact can be regenerated by running a command
- The user *expects* to be able to manage the feature via the filesystem (the user is on the command line; they know `rm`)
- The feature is *opt-in by default-off* (deleting the artifact means the feature is off; the absence of the file is the "off" state)

**Examples in Manual Slop:**

| Feature | The "on" state | The "off" state | The regeneration command |
|---|---|---|---|
| Knowledge digest injection | `~/.manual_slop/knowledge/digest.md` exists | File is deleted | `python -m src.knowledge_harvest --apply` |
| Per-file knowledge for file X | `~/.manual_slop/knowledge/files/{file_id}.md` exists | File is deleted | (the next harvest regenerates) |
| Saved conversations index | `~/.manual_slop/conversations/index-saved-conversations-*.json` exists | File is deleted | (n/a; user manually saves) |
| RAG index for project | `~/.manual_slop/.slop_cache/chroma_<provider>/` exists | Directory is deleted | `python -m src.rag_engine --rebuild-index` |
| Audit log | `~/.manual_slop/logs/sessions/<session>/comms.log` exists | File is deleted | (n/a; the log is auto-generated per turn) |

**The principle (per the data-oriented foundation):** *the data is the thing*. If the feature produces a file, the file is the switch. Deleting the file is the natural way to turn off the feature.

**The discovery surface:** the user can `ls ~/.manual_slop/knowledge/` and see `digest.md` (or not) and understand the state.

**The ux surface:** the GUI shows the file state and provides a `[Delete to turn off]` button that does the same `rm` underneath.

---

## 2. When to use config flags (the `[ai_settings.toml]` pattern)

**Use config flags when:**
- The feature is *always on* by default; the flag is a way to *opt out* in special circumstances
- The "off" state is *not recoverable* by a single command (it's a persistent preference)
- The user *expects* to manage the feature via the GUI (they're not on the command line)
- The feature's behavior is *complex* (multiple settings, not just on/off)
- The setting is *user-specific* (different users might have different preferences)

**Examples in Manual Slop:**

| Feature | The config | The default | The GUI surface |
|---|---|---|---|
| RAG enabled | `[ai_settings.toml] rag.enabled` | `false` (new projects) | `[X] Enable RAG` checkbox |
| RAG source | `[ai_settings.toml] rag.source` | `project` | `(project / global / none)` radio |
| RAG embedding provider | `[ai_settings.toml] rag.embedding_provider` | `gemini` | dropdown |
| RAG chunk size | `[ai_settings.toml] rag.chunk_size` | `1000` | integer input |
| Auto-aggregate | `[ai_settings.toml] aggregate.auto_aggregate` | `true` | `[X] Auto-aggregate files` |
| Force full | `[ai_settings.toml] aggregate.force_full` | `false` | `[ ] Force full content` |
| Cache TTL (Anthropic) | `[ai_settings.toml] cache.anthropic_ttl_seconds` | `300` (5 min) | integer input |
| Cache TTL (Gemini) | `[ai_settings.toml] cache.gemini_ttl_seconds` | `3600` (1 h) | integer input |
| Knowledge harvest enabled | `[ai_settings.toml] knowledge.harvest_enabled` | `true` | `[X] Enable knowledge harvest` |
| Project context file | `[manual_slop.toml] agent.context_files` | (none) | file picker |

**The principle (per the data-oriented foundation):** *configuration is data*. The GUI checkbox is a *projection* of the config file; the config file is the source of truth.

**The discovery surface:** the user can read `[ai_settings.toml]` and see the state. The TOML is human-readable.

**The ux surface:** the GUI has a settings panel that reads from the TOML, displays it, and writes back on change.

---

## 3. When to use a CLI flag (the sub-pattern)

**Use CLI flags when:**
- The feature is *invoked from the command line* (not from the GUI)
- The flag is a *one-shot* setting (the user doesn't want to edit a config file for a one-time run)
- The default is "on" and the flag is the "off" override

**Examples in Manual Slop:**

| CLI | Flag | Default | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| `python -m src.knowledge_harvest` | `--apply` | off (dry-run) | Mutate: harvest + reclaim |
| `python -m src.knowledge_harvest` | `--no-harvest` | off (harvest) | Reclaim only; skip LLM |
| `python -m src.knowledge_harvest` | `--max-harvest-bytes N` | unlimited | Cap the conversation bytes sent to the LLM |
| `python -m src.knowledge_harvest` | `--root PATH` | `~/.manual_slop` | Use a custom knowledge root |
| `pytest` | `--no-header` | off | Don't print the header |
| `pytest` | `-x` | off | Stop on first failure |

**The principle (per the data-oriented foundation):** *the CLI flag is data*. The user types a flag; the value is passed to the function; the function behaves accordingly.

---

## 4. When to use a feature flag in `metadata.json` (the track flag)

**Use metadata feature flags when:**
- A track's *implementation* depends on a feature (e.g., uses RAG); this is *static* metadata about the track
- The flag is *documented* in the track's `metadata.json` for reviewers
- The flag is *not* a runtime setting (it doesn't change behavior at runtime; it documents intent)

**Examples in Manual Slop:**

```json
// In conductor/tracks/<track_id>/metadata.json
{
  "uses_rag": true,
  "uses_mma": false,
  "tier": "tier-2",
  "uses_knowledge_harvest": true
}
```

**The principle:** the metadata documents the track's dependencies. A reviewer can read the metadata to understand "this track uses RAG; if you don't have RAG enabled, the track might not work."

---

## 5. The decision tree (the 1-question test)

When adding a new feature, ask this single question:

```
Q: Is the feature's "off" state recoverable by a single command?
   │
   ├── yes (e.g., regenerate the artifact) ──► File presence
   │
   └── no (the "off" is a persistent preference)
        │
        ├── Q: Is the feature invoked from the CLI?
        │   │
        │   ├── yes ──► CLI flag (sub-pattern of config)
        │   │
        │   └── no ──► Config flag + GUI checkbox
```

**The decision is the *kind* of flag, not the *implementation*.** The file presence vs config choice is about user expectations, not technical constraints.

---

## 6. The interaction between file presence and config (the layered)

**A feature can have both.** Example:

- The knowledge digest is gated by **file presence** (`digest.md` exists) for the *injection* of the `{knowledge}` block.
- The knowledge harvest is gated by **config** (`[ai_settings.knowledge] harvest_enabled = true`) for the *automatic regeneration* of the digest after a discussion ends.

**The two flags are layered:**
- File presence controls *whether the digest is injected* (a per-turn decision)
- Config flag controls *whether the digest is regenerated* (a per-discussion decision)

**The user can turn off the entire feature** by both `rm digest.md` AND setting `harvest_enabled = false`. The feature is fully off.

**The user can turn on a single layer** by:
- `touch digest.md` to turn on injection (but the file is empty; the next harvest populates it)
- Setting `harvest_enabled = true` to turn on auto-regeneration

**The GUI surface** (per layer) is separate:
- The `Knowledge` panel shows the digest file state and provides `[Delete to turn off]` and `[Regenerate]` buttons
- The `AI Settings > Knowledge` panel has the `harvest_enabled` checkbox

**The ux:** the user has *two* knobs (file presence for "what's injected now"; config for "what gets regenerated"). Each is explicit about what it controls.

---

## 7. The forbidden patterns (the "don't do this" list)

| Pattern | Why it's forbidden |
|---|---|
| File presence for a feature with no regeneration path | The user can't turn the feature back on without manual intervention |
| Config flag for a side artifact | The user can't `rm` the artifact to clean up disk |
| File presence *and* config flag for the *same* behavior | Confusing; the user doesn't know which to use |
| CLI flag that has no default ("off" by default) | The user has to remember the flag every time |
| GUI checkbox that doesn't write to the config file | The change is lost on restart |
| `metadata.json` flag that changes runtime behavior | The metadata is for documentation, not for behavior |
| Hidden file (in `~/.cache/` or `/tmp/`) as a flag | The user can't find it |
| Symlink-based flag | Platform-specific; debugging nightmare |
| Env var as the only flag | The user can't discover it via the GUI or the docs |

---

## 8. The cross-references

- `conductor/code_styleguides/knowledge_artifacts.md` §5 — the knowledge digest "delete to turn off" example
- `conductor/code_styleguides/data_oriented_design.md` §1.2 — "Design around a model of the world" (the anti-pattern)
- `conductor/code_styleguides/cache_friendly_context.md` — the cache TTL GUI surface (a config flag + GUI checkbox)
- `conductor/code_styleguides/rag_integration_discipline.md` — the RAG opt-in (a config flag + GUI checkbox)
- `src/paths.py` — the path resolution; the file-presence flags live under `~/.manual_slop/`
- `docs/Readme.md` (human-facing) — the high-level overview
- `./docs/AGENTS.md` (agent-facing) — the per-tier reading path
