> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://labs.prompthon.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Reference Note Guidelines

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Use this guide for curated reference notes under
`contributor-kit/reference-notes/`.

## What a reference note is

A curated reference note is not a lab article and not a source project.
It is a structured source roundup that helps future contributors understand a
topic quickly.

Good fits:

* source maps
* comparison roundups
* bounded reading lists
* topic briefings for future lab expansion

## Placement and naming

* Place notes in `contributor-kit/reference-notes/`
* Use topic-first filenames such as `deep-research-source-map.md`

Keep these notes clearly separate from imported materials in `references/`.

## Required shape

Start from [Reference Note Template](/contributor-kit/templates/reference-note-template).

Required sections:

* `Summary`
* `Why It Matters`
* `Scope Notes`
* `Source Map`
* `Synthesis`
* `Gaps And Follow-up`
* `Update Log`

## Working rules

* Curate and synthesize sources instead of copying them.
* Make the scope explicit so future contributors know what the note does not
  cover.
* Prefer short synthesis over long quotes.
* Keep the note useful for future drafting, not just as a bookmark dump.

## Completion standard

A reference note is ready for review when it:

* has a clear topic boundary
* includes a real source map
* adds synthesis rather than raw extraction
* stays outside the imported `references/` tree