Add claude-distill: first-principles memory, A/B tested (+6pts vs vanilla)

[tomacco]

What

claude-distill — a /distill slash command that teaches Claude Code principles, not just facts.

Why it belongs here

Every memory tool in this list stores observations: "user prefers X." claude-distill stores principles: "never retry permanent failures — applies to any pooled resource, any service." Then it pushes back when you're about to violate what it learned.

A/B tested against vanilla Claude (full results):

• User asks to retry HTTP 404s → vanilla complies silently. distill refuses and explains why.
• User follows outdated deploy procedure → vanilla helps execute the wrong plan. distill catches it in 355 characters.
• User queries another service's DB → vanilla writes the SQL. distill cites the architecture principle and gives alternatives.

Average improvement: +6.0 on a 12-point scale across 5 scenarios.

Technical details

• Zero dependencies. No MCP server, no database, no Node.js.
• Entire retrieval system: ~/.claude/rules/distill.md (18 lines). Uses Claude Code's native rules/ directory.
• Knowledge markers: [UPDATED], [CONTEXT], [NON-NEGOTIABLE], [PROVISIONAL]
• Sub-agent architecture: distillation runs in isolated context, never consumes your session.
• Interactive demo (try typing claude in the terminal)

Placement

Added to Tools & Utilities section after existing memory/context tools. One line, no disruption.

Diff

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