# What Is GLOSSARY.md in Cangjie‑skill? Understanding the Central Terminology Dictionary

> Discover the crucial role of GLOSSARY.md in Cangjie-skill. This file acts as the central terminology dictionary, consolidating all terms and definitions for your reference.

- Repository: [kangarooking/cangjie-skill](https://github.com/kangarooking/cangjie-skill)
- Tags: internals
- Published: 2026-08-11

---

**[`GLOSSARY.md`](https://github.com/kangarooking/cangjie-skill/blob/main/GLOSSARY.md) is the global terminology dictionary for the cangjie‑skill repository, collecting all terms and definitions from across skill modules into a single, shared reference file generated during the Zettelkasten workflow stage.**

In the cangjie‑skill framework, terminology consistency and discoverability are critical for managing multiple skill modules. The [`GLOSSARY.md`](https://github.com/kangarooking/cangjie-skill/blob/main/GLOSSARY.md) file addresses this by serving as a **central lookup point** for every concept, term, and definition extracted from the source knowledge base. Unlike individual skill definitions that describe behavioral logic, this file focuses purely on **shared vocabulary**.

## What Does GLOSSARY.md Contain?

The **glossary extractor** generates [`GLOSSARY.md`](https://github.com/kangarooking/cangjie-skill/blob/main/GLOSSARY.md) by scanning source materials for candidate terms. According to [`methodology/02-stage1-parallel-extract.md`](https://github.com/kangarooking/cangjie-skill/blob/main/methodology/02-stage1-parallel-extract.md), the `glossary-extractor` operates as one of several parallel extractors that identify key concepts during the initial processing stage.

Each entry in [`GLOSSARY.md`](https://github.com/kangarooking/cangjie-skill/blob/main/GLOSSARY.md) includes:

- **Term name** — the concept or keyword
- **Concise definition** — explanation suitable for cross‑reference
- **Context links** — optional references to where the term appears

This structure ensures that when multiple skills reference the same concept, they use **identical definitions**, reducing ambiguity and maintenance overhead.

## Where GLOSSARY.md Lives in the Workflow

The file's location changes during the build pipeline. Per [`methodology/05-stage3-zettelkasten.md`](https://github.com/kangarooking/cangjie-skill/blob/main/methodology/05-stage3-zettelkasten.md), the workflow moves the temporary extraction output to its final position:

```bash

# After parallel extraction completes

mv candidates/glossary.md books/example/GLOSSARY.md

```

This placement at the **repository root** makes it accessible to all skill modules regardless of their folder depth.

Final delivery links the glossary from [`INDEX.md`](https://github.com/kangarooking/cangjie-skill/blob/main/INDEX.md). As documented in [`methodology/07-stage5-deliver.md`](https://github.com/kangarooking/cangjie-skill/blob/main/methodology/07-stage5-deliver.md), the generated index includes:

```markdown

# INDEX.md (auto-generated)

- [Skill Map](SKILL.md)
- [Global Glossary](GLOSSARY.md)

```

Readers can thus **navigate directly** to terminology definitions from the main entry point.

## How GLOSSARY.md Differs from Skill Definitions

| Aspect | [`GLOSSARY.md`](https://github.com/kangarooking/cangjie-skill/blob/main/GLOSSARY.md) | `*/SKILL.md` |
|--------|---------------|--------------|
| **Purpose** | **Global term dictionary** — defines what things mean | **Individual skill description** — defines what skills do |
| **Granularity** | One entry per term, shared across all modules | One file per self-contained skill module |
| **Location** | Root of output repository | Inside each skill's dedicated folder |
| **Generated by** | `glossary-extractor` (parallel extraction stage) | Framework, principle, case, and other specialized extractors |
| **Linked from** | [`INDEX.md`](https://github.com/kangarooking/cangjie-skill/blob/main/INDEX.md) as global reference | [`INDEX.md`](https://github.com/kangarooking/cangjie-skill/blob/main/INDEX.md) skill map and internal skill TOC |

A **skill definition** in [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/kangarooking/cangjie-skill/blob/main/SKILL.md) focuses on **behavioral logic**: trigger sentences, input/output formats, and execution flow. It may reference glossary terms but does not define them. For example:

```markdown
<!-- Inside books/example/skill/SKILL.md -->

### Example Skill: 解释文字

本技能接受用户的文字描述，并返回对应的 **概念解释**。  
使用的术语请参见全局词典：[`GLOSSARY.md`](../GLOSSARY.md) → *"概念解释"*。

```

This separation of concerns — **definitions in one place, behavior in another** — keeps the repository maintainable as it scales.

## Key Implementation Files

Understanding [`GLOSSARY.md`](https://github.com/kangarooking/cangjie-skill/blob/main/GLOSSARY.md) requires familiarity with these source files in kangarooking/cangjie-skill:

- [`extractors/glossary-extractor.md`](https://github.com/kangarooking/cangjie-skill/blob/main/extractors/glossary-extractor.md) — implements term identification and extraction logic
- [`methodology/02-stage1-parallel-extract.md`](https://github.com/kangarooking/cangjie-skill/blob/main/methodology/02-stage1-parallel-extract.md) — documents the parallel extraction stage where the glossary extractor runs
- [`methodology/05-stage3-zettelkasten.md`](https://github.com/kangarooking/cangjie-skill/blob/main/methodology/05-stage3-zettelkasten.md) — describes moving [`candidates/glossary.md`](https://github.com/kangarooking/cangjie-skill/blob/main/candidates/glossary.md) to the final location
- [`methodology/07-stage5-deliver.md`](https://github.com/kangarooking/cangjie-skill/blob/main/methodology/07-stage5-deliver.md) — specifies linking the glossary from [`INDEX.md`](https://github.com/kangarooking/cangjie-skill/blob/main/INDEX.md)
- [`GLOSSARY.md`](https://github.com/kangarooking/cangjie-skill/blob/main/GLOSSARY.md) — the generated output file itself
- [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/kangarooking/cangjie-skill/blob/main/SKILL.md) — template showing how skills reference glossary entries

## Summary

- **[`GLOSSARY.md`](https://github.com/kangarooking/cangjie-skill/blob/main/GLOSSARY.md)** is the **central terminology dictionary** for the entire cangjie‑skill repository, generated by the `glossary-extractor`
- **Location workflow**: extracted to [`candidates/glossary.md`](https://github.com/kangarooking/cangjie-skill/blob/main/candidates/glossary.md), then moved to repository root during Zettelkasten stage
- **Cross-linking**: [`INDEX.md`](https://github.com/kangarooking/cangjie-skill/blob/main/INDEX.md) provides global navigation to the glossary for reader discoverability
- **Separation of concerns**: glossary defines *what terms mean*; individual [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/kangarooking/cangjie-skill/blob/main/SKILL.md) files define *what skills do*
- **Consistency benefit**: shared vocabulary prevents drift when multiple skills reference identical concepts

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How is GLOSSARY.md generated in cangjie-skill?

The `glossary-extractor` processes source materials during the **parallel extraction stage** ([`methodology/02-stage1-parallel-extract.md`](https://github.com/kangarooking/cangjie-skill/blob/main/methodology/02-stage1-parallel-extract.md)), identifying candidate terms and writing them to [`candidates/glossary.md`](https://github.com/kangarooking/cangjie-skill/blob/main/candidates/glossary.md). The Zettelkasten stage then moves this file to the repository root as [`GLOSSARY.md`](https://github.com/kangarooking/cangjie-skill/blob/main/GLOSSARY.md).

### Can skills reference terms from GLOSSARY.md?

Yes. Individual [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/kangarooking/cangjie-skill/blob/main/SKILL.md) files use relative links like `[GLOSSARY.md](../GLOSSARY.md)` to point readers to term definitions. This keeps skill descriptions focused on behavior while maintaining terminological precision.

### What happens if the same term appears in multiple skills?

All instances point to the **single definition** in [`GLOSSARY.md`](https://github.com/kangarooking/cangjie-skill/blob/main/GLOSSARY.md). The extractor consolidates duplicate candidates, ensuring one authoritative entry per concept regardless of how many skills use it.

### Is GLOSSARY.md manually edited or fully automated?

The file is **generated automatically** by the glossary extractor, though the methodology allows for manual curation of [`candidates/glossary.md`](https://github.com/kangarooking/cangjie-skill/blob/main/candidates/glossary.md) before the move operation if refinement is needed.