---
type: types/instruction.md
name: publish-cycle
description: Close out a change to the wiki - rebuild the provenance index and catalog, append the audit entry, and publish.
---

# Close out a change

Run after any change to pages under `kb/`, in this order. The order matters: the catalog is
built from page frontmatter, and the audit entry should describe a tree that is already
consistent.

## Steps

1. **Rebuild the provenance index** - after any change to a source page or an inline citation:

   ```bash
   tools/wikitool sources rebuild-index
   ```

2. **Rebuild the catalog** - after any page was added, removed, renamed, or had its
   summary/date changed:

   ```bash
   tools/wikitool index rebuild
   ```

   This regenerates `kb/index.md` and every `kb/**/INDEX.md`. Never edit those by hand.

3. **Append the audit entry** - one per operation:

   ```bash
   tools/wikitool log append --op ingest|query|lint|create|update|delete|rename \
     --title "<what>" --body "<outcome>"
   ```

   This is the one non-idempotent step. If a previous run's outcome is uncertain, read the
   tail of `kb/log.md` before repeating it.

4. **Publish:**

   ```bash
   tools/wikitool publish --message "<op>: <description>"
   ```

## Decision points

- **Ten or more files changed?** `publish` exits 42. Show the user its output and stop; see
  [gates.md](gates.md).
- **Query or lint pass?** Neither auto-publishes. Run `publish` only if asked to.
- **Nothing under `kb/` changed?** Skip steps 1 and 2; a change to `tools/` or `instructions/`
  does not affect the catalog.

## Scope

This is the close-out for wiki *content*. Changes to skills also need
`tools/wikitool instructions sync` (see [bootstrap.md](bootstrap.md)), and changes to the CLI
or a contract need `tools/wikitool docs verify`.