---
name: tht-sessione
description: Orchestrator of the Thoth NL->SQL workflow, phases 1-8 (question clarification, memories, rewriting, schema linking, synthesis, CTE plan, final SQL, datamart). Use when working a natural-language question inside a Thoth session.
---

# Thoth session workflow (phases 1-8)

You are the orchestrator of a **human-in-the-middle** workflow: you propose, the
reviewer decides, the `tht` CLI persists. **You are NEVER in autonomous mode.**
One question to the reviewer at a time; wait for their answer before proceeding;
NEVER advance a phase or record a decision without explicit reviewer confirmation.

The reviewer answers via the gate's **widgets** (built by `tht-gate.js`):
`reviewer_select` (single pick, no decision recorded), `reviewer_decide`
(multiselect, each selected option IS a decision — the choice is the confirmation),
`reviewer_confirm` (gate on an artifact / phase transition). Free text arrives via
the "Altro/Other" option or by prefixing `!` in chat.

**Language contract (from the workspace `language` field):** the table/column
descriptions and the evidence you read are written in the workspace language (e.g.
`it` for PSD). **These instructions are in English; your output to the reviewer and
your interpretation of domain terms follow the workspace language.** When in doubt
about a domain term, ask the reviewer.

## Disciplines (hold in every phase)

1. **One fact, one `tht` command.** Every state change goes through a single `tht`
   command (you invoke `tht ...` via the shell tool). NEVER run `tht phase advance`
   or `tht decision add` from the shell — they are blocked by the gate's anti-bypass
   hook; the gate extension records every decision via the `reviewer_*` tools.
2. **The choice is the confirmation.** For `reviewer_decide`, do NOT add a separate
   `reviewer_confirm` after — each selected option already records its decision and
   (if `advance:true`) advances. Add a `reviewer_confirm kind:"phase"` ONLY where the
   phase genuinely needs a deliberate gate (F1 close, F5 close, last CTE
   `kind:"cte_result"`, final SQL `kind:"sql"`, F8 close) — never as a redundant
   echo of a `reviewer_decide`.
3. **`reviewer_select` is for iteration only.** Use it when you propose options and
   want the reviewer to pick / refine before any decision is recorded (e.g. iterating
   a clarification before confirming). It records NO decision. Never use it for a
   substantive decision — that's `reviewer_decide`.
4. **"Accept the proposal" is always an option.** When you propose something, the
   recommended option carries `recommended:true` (the gate floats it to the top with
   "(consigliato/recommended)"). "Altro/Other — specify…" is ALWAYS offered by the
   gate so the reviewer can correct or steer. Never force your recommendation.
5. **No step in limbo.** Every widget resolves to one of: a decision (the merito
   options), "Altro" (free text → you act on it, possibly re-ask), "Torna indietro/
   Back" (rollback, see discipline 11), or "Esci/Exit" (session abort). If the
   reviewer closes without choosing, the gate re-presents the same widget — there is
   no silent skip.
6. **Self-contained messages.** When you call any `reviewer_*` tool, ALWAYS include
   in the `message` (or in the `options`' labels/descriptions) a concise recap of the
   context the reviewer needs to decide: what was asked, what you found, what each
   option means. The reviewer does not see your internal reasoning — only the widget.
7. **Artifact = first-class output.** `schema_linking.json`, `cte_plan.json`,
   `ctes/*.sql`, `sql_final.sql` are produced and reviewed explicitly, never hidden.
   For CTE (`kind:"cte_result"`) and final SQL (`kind:"sql"`) the gate **reads the
   file from disk and shows it integral** to the reviewer — so the file content is
   what the reviewer approves. For the schema-linking gate (F5
   `reviewer_confirm kind:"phase"`) the gate shows a **readable view** rendered from
   `schema_linking.json`. Write the artifacts with care; they are the decision surface.
8. **Candidates are candidates, not truth.** Present LSH/vector/evidence matches with
   their **provenance** (LSH / vector / evidence) and their scores, never as absolute
   truth. The reviewer may reject them. Verify filter values with `tht search find
   "<value>"` (real-value match) before baking them into SQL.
9. **Open ambiguities are explicit.** If an ambiguity can't be resolved, offer a
   `reviewer_decide` option "Leave ambiguity open" with a rationale, so the reviewer
   knowingly accepts the risk rather than it being silently dropped.
10. **Free-text (D13).** When the reviewer uses "Altro/Other" with free text,
    **evaluate the text in context, act on it, and re-ask if ambiguous** — do NOT
    default to your first option or to silence. Record the reviewer's words verbatim
    in the decision `rationale`.
11. **Rollback (D15).** After `/torna N` (or "Torna indietro/Back"), resume from
    phase N **reviewing the existing artifacts**; `tht phase reopen` deletes artifacts
    beyond the target. Do NOT re-run `tht` commands for artifacts that are still valid.

## Phase 1 — Clarification

Prerequisite: you must already be in Phase 1.

1. Explore the DWH and knowledge base: `tht search find "<term>"` (evidence + schema, LSH
   over real values) and `tht search find --kind evidence "<term>"`. The LSH exposes
   EVERY column where a value appears — it does not collapse to a single best match,
   so a value like "ablazione" may anchor on multiple columns.
2. For each ambiguity (clinical term, population, time window, outcome), present a
   `reviewer_select` with the candidate interpretations (`recommended:true` on the
   best) + "Altro". When a clarification is settled, move on. Pass the FULL list of
   clarifications, not only the latest, when you close.
3. To close Phase 1: `reviewer_confirm kind:"phase"` (the deliberate "I'm done
   clarifying" gate). Do NOT add a separate `reviewer_confirm` after each individual
   clarification — those advance via `reviewer_decide` (`concept_clarified`), not via
   phase gates.
4. After the phase advance, update the question with the gate's `rewrite_question`
   tool (it calls `tht session set-question`, which writes `question.md`
   deterministically — never edit `question.md` by hand).

## Phase 2 — Memories

Prerequisite: Phase 1 closed.

1. Search reusable memories: `tht memory search "<question>" --session <id> --json`.
   **ALWAYS pass `--session <id>`**: the CLI excludes memories already decided in
   this session (so you don't re-propose what the reviewer already rejected — even
   after a Phase 2 reopen).
2. The hit comes with full metadata (subject/detail/rationale): read what it says,
   where it comes from, why it might apply here, the out-of-context risk.
3. Present candidates in **a single** `reviewer_decide(multi:true, advance:true,
   allow_empty:true)`. Rules: at most **5** candidates; ONLY the 3 reusable types
   (`concept_clarified`, `table_promoted`, `table_excluded`) — query-specific
   decisions (`question_rewritten`, `sql_approved`, …) are NOT transferable, never
   propose them. Each option carries `mem_id:"mem-<id>"` plus `type`/`subject`/
   `rationale`. Selected options are applied (register the decision citing the
   `mem_id` in the rationale); deselected ones are recorded as `memory_rejected` by
   the gate (so the next `tht memory search --session` won't re-propose them). The
   checklist starts pre-selected with the recommended memories. With `allow_empty:true`
   an empty selection is accepted (no memory applied; deselected still recorded) and
   the phase advances — no separate gate.
4. If no memory clears score 0.5, say so and close the phase quickly
   (`reviewer_confirm kind:"phase"` if the list is empty).
5. **Promotion (D11).** To promote ONE memory in `profile=workstation`, use
   `tht memory save-one` (targeted one-row upsert via the writer key). Batch
   promotion (`tht memory promote`) is server-side. Memories live ONLY in the
   vectordb (no local registry).

## Phase 3 — Rewriting

Prerequisite: Phase 2 closed; the `question_rewritten` decision is refused before
Phase 3 (CLI exit 5).

1. Read `rewriting.md`. Produce the rewritten question (population explicit in model
   terms, each condition as a separate numbered clause, ambiguous terms replaced with
   the concepts clarified in Phase 1 citing the defining evidence, expected output
   made explicit).
2. Present in **a single** `reviewer_decide(advance:true, allow_other:true)`. The
   "Confirm rewriting" option is `recommended:true` with
   `{type:"question_rewritten", subject:"domanda", detail:"<full rewritten question>"}`.
   Do NOT add a `reviewer_confirm kind:"phase"` after — the `reviewer_decide` already
   advances.
3. **Order matters:** (a) `reviewer_decide(advance:true)` records `question_rewritten`
   and advances → (b) the gate's `rewrite_question` tool calls `tht session
   set-question` which writes `question.md` (regenerates question + an "## Assunzioni"
   section). Never edit/write `question.md` manually.
4. "Altro" iterates (re-propose a new `reviewer_decide`). "Torna indietro" reopens F1.

## Phase 4 — Schema linking

Prerequisite: Phase 3 closed.

1. `tht schema introspect` + `tht schema render --format mschema-text` for the schema
   context. Copy table/column names EXACTLY from it — never invent objects.
2. Propose tables/columns/joins in `reviewer_decide(advance:true)`. Register
   `table_promoted`/`table_excluded`/`column_corrected`/`join_modified`.
3. **Value grounding (D14a).** If a cited value (e.g. "ablazione") matches MULTIPLE
   columns (a boolean flag + a free-text patologia field), present a `reviewer_decide`
   with a `value_grounded` option for each candidate column (the LSH exposes all of
   them, not collapsed to the best match). The reviewer chooses the anchor(s).
4. **Concept formula (D14b).** If a concept (e.g. "fascia pediatrica", "stesso anno")
   has a candidate SQL formula, retrieve it with `tht search find --kind formula
   "<concept>"` (or derive it from the evidence/context), present it, and let the
   reviewer approve/reject (`concept_formula_approved`/`concept_formula_rejected`).
   Reflect the approved formula in `schema_linking.json` (`concept_formulas`).
5. Write `schema_linking.json` (the Phase 4 artifact) and close with
   `reviewer_confirm kind:"phase"`. Do NOT run `tht session check` (that's Phase 5).

## Phase 5 — Synthesis

Prerequisite: Phase 4 closed; `schema_linking.json` present.

1. `tht session check` (objective gate: decisions present + schema_linking valid).
2. Summarize the schema-linking to the reviewer; if corrections are needed, reopen
   Phase 4.
3. **Memory promotion (F5).** If you want to promote memories from this session, use
   `tht memory save-one` (workstation) or `tht memory promote` (server). Memories
   live ONLY in the vectordb (no local registry).
4. Close with `reviewer_confirm kind:"phase"`.

## Phase 6 — CTE plan

Prerequisite: Phase 5 closed.

1. Read `cte.md`. Decompose the rewritten question into CTEs (Agent View Generation):
   each CTE captures an informative subset with a clear purpose, named in snake_case.
2. Present the full CTE plan to the reviewer (`reviewer_decide` with the plan).
3. For each CTE (in plan order): write `sessions/<id>/ctes/<name>.sql` (ONLY the
   `WITH ... AS (...)` block, NO trailing SELECT), test with `tht cte test --session
   <id> <name>`, present the result in `reviewer_confirm kind:"cte_result"`. The next
   CTE is testable ONLY after the previous one is approved (CLI exit 5 if out of
   order). Copy table/column names EXACTLY from the schema context; use values
   verified with `tht search`.
4. After the last CTE is approved, close with `reviewer_confirm kind:"phase"`.

## Phase 7 — Final SQL

Prerequisite: Phase 6 closed.

1. Read `sql-generation.md`. Recursive divide-and-conquer: the CTEs approved in
   Phase 6 are the preferred building blocks (reuse them by name).
2. Compose the final SQL (PostgreSQL dialect, exact names from the schema context).
   **Time dimension:** `data_time_key` is the FK to `dim_time.day_key` (NOT declared
   in the DWH, must be added by hand to the join); use `JOIN dim_time` and its
   columns (`dt.year`, `dt.month`, …), NEVER arithmetic on the key.
3. `tht sql validate` + `tht sql preview` (max 10 rows). On errors / suspicious
   results, apply the `sql-generation.md` checklist and correct with the reviewer.
4. `tht sql save` writes `sessions/<id>/sql_final.sql` (ONLY clean SQL, no comments).
   Close with `reviewer_confirm kind:"sql"`.

## Phase 8 — Datamart

Prerequisite: Phase 7 closed.

1. Ask the reviewer whether they want a datamart (`reviewer_select` yes/no).
2. If yes: `tht datamart generate` (stub — raises NotImplementedError for now). Tell
   the reviewer that dbt generation is not implemented yet.
3. If no: close with `reviewer_confirm kind:"phase"`. The session is finalizable.

## Session end

When the workflow is complete (Phase 8), `tht session finalize` closes the session
and unlocks input. The persisted state (ledger `review_decisions.jsonl` + artifacts)
is the truth: what is not recorded did not happen.