// Section 6 — Attention degradation · 2 MIN READ

[✓] VERIFIED MANUAL ENTRY — This concept has been rewritten from primary sources and is legally cleared for production.

Primary Source

The original, raw source of truth (e.g. active code files, terminal test logs, database rows) rather than summaries or descriptions of them.

A primary source is the raw, original evidence of a system's state or behavior. In AI development, this means the active code files, the actual compiler terminal printouts, or raw API response payloads — rather than documents or readmes describing them.

You load primary sources whenever you:

  • Have an agent view the source code of a function to see how it works.
  • Paste raw terminal stdout errors directly into the chat prompt.
  • Expose a database schema query output directly to the context.

Precision vs. Sizing Cost

When diagnosing bugs, primary sources are the only source of truth. A readme or design document describes what the code should do; the code itself is what the system actually does.

However, loading primary sources comes with a cost:

  • Token Overhead: Inlining full source code files or large logs consumes a huge amount of input tokens and eats into the attention budget.
  • The Trade-off: You trade space for precision. A summary (secondary source) is cheap but lossy; a primary source is expensive but complete, containing the fine details that turn out to matter.
Primary Source (Code / Logs) ────► 100% Accurate ────► High Sizing Cost (Tokens)
Secondary Source (Readme / Spec) ──► Lossy / Stale ───► Low Sizing Cost (Tokens)

Field Applications

When an agent behaves incorrectly (e.g., claiming a function has certain parameters that don't exist), it is usually because it is working from a stale readme (secondary source). The fix is to direct the agent's file viewer tool to read the actual source file (primary source).

# AVOID

Do not let agents write migrations or refactors based purely on descriptions, design specs, or diagrams. Always instruct them to read the code first.

  • Avoid: "Refactor the database queries based on this design doc."
  • Write: "Read the connection files in src/db/ and the query modules, then refactor them based on the design doc."

# USAGE

Developer A: "The model says our auth token expires in 1 hour, but users are getting kicked out after 15 minutes." Developer B: "It read that from the old design spec. Point the agent at the actual config.ts code — let it work from the primary source to see what timeout parameter is actually configured."

// SEE_ALSO

Secondary SourceA compiled, lossy description or summary of a primary source (e.g. readmes, design docs, compaction summaries) that trades detail for lower token costs.
FilesystemThe storage interface where an agent reads source documents, inspects files, and writes edits using file-operation tools.
ContextThe combined body of system instructions, conversation logs, files, and schemas injected into the model request to guide its behavior and provide facts.
Handoff ArtifactA persistent file written to the environment by an agent to record plans, status, and decisions, used to brief a fresh successor session.

// SOCRATIC_VALIDATION

Interactive Concept Quiz

QUESTION 1 OF 3SCORE: 0/3

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