learning-quests

name: learning-quests description: Long-term technical deep dives with structured syllabi, deadlines, and creation goals. Use when Junaid wants to systematically learn a topic (compilers, databases, etc.) over a quarter with books, papers, and project outputs.

Learning Quests

Structured technical deep dives over a quarter or a few months.

Location

• Quest notes: Notes/<Topic>.md (tagged #project)
• Examples: Compilers.md, Database Engineering.md, AI Native Engineering.md

Quest Structure

---
Status: Pending | In Progress | Resolved
Quarter: "[[2025, Q3]]"
---

#project

### Outcome

What is supposed to be the outcome of completing this quest?

- Clear statement of what "done" looks like
- Skills/knowledge to gain

### Consumption Agenda

Build a tentative map of all the information you will be exploring/devouring.

- Books
  - Book 1
  - Book 2
- Courses and Talks
  - Course 1
  - Talk 1
- Papers
  - Paper 1
- Other Links
  - Link 1

### Creation Agenda

Build a checklist of all the things you want to create/express to declare this quest as successful.

- [ ] Blog post about X
- [ ] Build Y from scratch
- [ ] Contribute to Z

### Other Notes

(Misc observations, links, ideas)

Workflow

Starting a New Quest

1. Pick a topic you're curious about
2. Create Notes/<Topic>.md with the template above
3. Define the Outcome — what does mastery look like?
4. Build Consumption Agenda — syllabus of books, courses, papers
5. Define Creation Agenda — blog posts, projects, contributions
6. Set Quarter deadline
7. Set Status: In Progress

During the Quest

• Work through consumption agenda
• Check off creation items as you complete them
• Add notes and observations to the file
• Blog posts → also tracked in writing-technical-blogs skill

Completing a Quest

• All creation agenda items checked
• Set Status: Resolved
• Carry incomplete items to a new quest if needed

Heartbeat Integration

Periodically check on active quests (Status: In Progress):

• "How's the databases deep dive going?"
• "Any progress on the compilers quest?"
• Surface if a quest has been stale for a while

Setting Up a Calendar

When starting a quest, help break it into a timeline:

1. Estimate scope — How many books/courses? How many outputs?
2. Set milestones — Monthly or bi-weekly checkpoints
3. Add to daily notes — Specific reading/watching sessions
4. Track in quarterly note — Link active quests

Example timeline for a quarter:

• Week 1-4: Consume Book 1, watch Course 1
• Week 5-8: Build Project 1, write Blog Post 1
• Week 9-12: Consume Book 2, finish Project 2, write Blog Post 2

Active Quests (Update as needed)

Check vault for #project notes with Status: In Progress or Status: Pending.

When Helping

• Help define scope and realistic timelines
• Suggest resources if asked
• Break large agendas into weekly chunks
• Don't let quests pile up — finish before starting new ones