refactor: remove priority field — unused ballast

Also update session hook: fold "leave breadcrumbs" into "leave a wake"

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.6 <noreply@anthropic.com>

Author: cailmdaley

cmd/add.go

@@ -11,10 +11,9 @@ import (
 )
 
 var (
-	addBody     string
-	addStatus   string
-	addPriority int
-	addDeps     []string
+	addBody   string
+	addStatus string
+	addDeps   []string
 	addDue      string
 	addTags     []string
 	addOutcome  string
@@ -58,9 +57,6 @@ var addCmd = &cobra.Command{
 		if addStatus != "" {
 			f.Status = addStatus
 		}
-		if cmd.Flags().Changed("priority") {
-			f.Priority = addPriority
-		}
 		if len(addTags) > 0 {
 			for _, tag := range addTags {
 				f.AddTag(tag)
@@ -114,7 +110,6 @@ func init() {
 	rootCmd.AddCommand(addCmd)
 	addCmd.Flags().StringVarP(&addBody, "body", "b", "", "Body text")
 	addCmd.Flags().StringVarP(&addStatus, "status", "s", "", "Status (open, active, closed)")
-	addCmd.Flags().IntVarP(&addPriority, "priority", "p", 2, "Priority (0-4, lower=more urgent)")
 	addCmd.Flags().StringArrayVarP(&addDeps, "depends-on", "a", nil, "Dependency ID (repeatable)")
 	addCmd.Flags().StringVarP(&addDue, "due", "D", "", "Due date (YYYY-MM-DD)")
 	addCmd.Flags().StringArrayVarP(&addTags, "tag", "t", nil, "Tag (repeatable)")
@@ -128,7 +123,6 @@ func init() {
 	// Copy add command flags to root so "felt <title> -a dep" works
 	rootCmd.Flags().StringVarP(&addBody, "body", "b", "", "Body text")
 	rootCmd.Flags().StringVarP(&addStatus, "status", "s", "", "Status (open, active, closed)")
-	rootCmd.Flags().IntVarP(&addPriority, "priority", "p", 2, "Priority (0-4, lower=more urgent)")
 	rootCmd.Flags().StringArrayVarP(&addDeps, "depends-on", "a", nil, "Dependency ID (repeatable)")
 	rootCmd.Flags().StringVarP(&addDue, "due", "D", "", "Due date (YYYY-MM-DD)")
 	rootCmd.Flags().StringArrayVarP(&addTags, "tag", "t", nil, "Tag (repeatable)")

cmd/depth.go

@@ -113,7 +113,6 @@ func renderSummary(f *felt.Felt, g *felt.Graph) string {
 func renderFull(f *felt.Felt, g *felt.Graph) string {
 	var sb strings.Builder
 	writeHeader(&sb, f)
-	fmt.Fprintf(&sb, "Priority: %d\n", f.Priority)
 	writeDeps(&sb, f, g, true)
 	if f.Due != nil {
 		fmt.Fprintf(&sb, "Due:      %s\n", f.Due.Format("2006-01-02"))

cmd/edit.go

@@ -21,8 +21,7 @@ var (
 
 // Edit command flags
 var (
-	editPriority int
-	editTitle    string
+	editTitle  string
 	editStatus   string
 	editDue      string
 	editDeps     []string
@@ -39,7 +38,6 @@ var editCmd = &cobra.Command{
 	Long: `Modifies a felt's properties via flags, or opens in $EDITOR if no flags given.
 
 Examples:
-  felt edit abc123 --priority 1
   felt edit abc123 --title "New title" -s active
   felt edit abc123 --depends-on other-fiber-id
   felt edit abc123                  # opens in $EDITOR`,
@@ -57,8 +55,7 @@ Examples:
 		}
 
 		// Check if any modification flags were provided
-		hasFlags := cmd.Flags().Changed("priority") ||
-			cmd.Flags().Changed("title") ||
+		hasFlags := cmd.Flags().Changed("title") ||
 			cmd.Flags().Changed("status") ||
 			cmd.Flags().Changed("due") ||
 			cmd.Flags().Changed("depends-on") ||
@@ -82,9 +79,6 @@ Examples:
 		}
 
 		// Apply flag modifications
-		if cmd.Flags().Changed("priority") {
-			f.Priority = editPriority
-		}
 		if cmd.Flags().Changed("title") {
 			f.Title = editTitle
 		}
@@ -418,7 +412,6 @@ func init() {
 	rootCmd.AddCommand(findCmd)
 
 	// Edit command flags
-	editCmd.Flags().IntVarP(&editPriority, "priority", "p", 2, "Set priority (0-4, lower=more urgent)")
 	editCmd.Flags().StringVarP(&editTitle, "title", "t", "", "Set title")
 	editCmd.Flags().StringVarP(&editStatus, "status", "s", "", "Set status (open, active, closed)")
 	editCmd.Flags().StringVarP(&editBody, "body", "b", "", "Set body text")

cmd/hook.go

@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ func minimalOutput() string {
 - Track **work** that spans sessions, has dependencies, or emerges during work
 - Track **decisions** — what was decided, why, and how decisions depend on each other
 - Outcome (` + "`-o`" + `) is the documentation: capture the conclusion, the reasoning, what was learned
-- When in doubt, prefer felt—persistence you don't need is better than lost context
+- **Leave a wake** — file as you go; the DAG forms after your path
 `
 }
 
@@ -84,11 +84,8 @@ func formatSessionOutput(felts []*felt.Felt, g *felt.Graph) string {
 		}
 	}
 
-	// Sort active by priority, then creation time
+	// Sort active by creation time
 	sort.Slice(active, func(i, j int) bool {
-		if active[i].Priority != active[j].Priority {
-			return active[i].Priority < active[j].Priority
-		}
 		return active[i].CreatedAt.Before(active[j].CreatedAt)
 	})
 
@@ -153,8 +150,7 @@ func formatSessionOutput(felts []*felt.Felt, g *felt.Graph) string {
 	sb.WriteString("- Track **work** that spans sessions, has dependencies, or emerges during work\n")
 	sb.WriteString("- Track **decisions** — what was decided, why, and how decisions depend on each other\n")
 	sb.WriteString("- Outcome (`-o`) is the documentation: capture the conclusion, the reasoning, what was learned\n")
-	sb.WriteString("- **Leave breadcrumbs** — file fibers for decisions, questions, observations\n")
-	sb.WriteString("- When in doubt, prefer felt—persistence you don't need is better than lost context\n")
+	sb.WriteString("- **Leave a wake** — file as you go; the DAG forms after your path\n")
 
 	return sb.String()
 }

cmd/hook_test.go

@@ -42,23 +42,22 @@ func TestFormatSessionOutput(t *testing.T) {
 		ID:        "active-task-12345678",
 		Title:     "Active task",
 		Status:    felt.StatusActive,
-		Priority:  2,
+
 		CreatedAt: now,
 	}
 
 	readyFelt := &felt.Felt{
 		ID:        "ready-task-87654321",
 		Title:     "Ready task",
 		Status:    felt.StatusOpen,
-		Priority:  2,
+
 		CreatedAt: now,
 	}
 
 	closedFelt := &felt.Felt{
 		ID:         "closed-task-abcdef12",
 		Title:      "Closed task",
 		Status:     felt.StatusClosed,
-		Priority:   2,
 		CreatedAt:  now.Add(-2 * time.Hour),
 		ClosedAt:   &closedTime,
 		Outcome:    "Done with good results",
@@ -120,45 +119,6 @@ func TestFormatSessionOutput_Empty(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-func TestFormatSessionOutput_PrioritySorting(t *testing.T) {
-	now := time.Now()
-
-	// Create active fibers with different priorities
-	// Lower priority number = higher priority
-	lowPriorityActive := &felt.Felt{
-		ID:        "low-priority-12345678",
-		Title:     "Low priority active",
-		Status:    felt.StatusActive,
-		Priority:  3,
-		CreatedAt: now,
-	}
-
-	highPriorityActive := &felt.Felt{
-		ID:        "high-priority-87654321",
-		Title:     "High priority active",
-		Status:    felt.StatusActive,
-		Priority:  1,
-		CreatedAt: now.Add(time.Minute), // Created later but higher priority
-	}
-
-	felts := []*felt.Felt{lowPriorityActive, highPriorityActive}
-	g := felt.BuildGraph(felts)
-
-	output := formatSessionOutput(felts, g)
-
-	// High priority should appear before low priority
-	highIdx := strings.Index(output, "high-priority-87654321")
-	lowIdx := strings.Index(output, "low-priority-12345678")
-
-	if highIdx < 0 || lowIdx < 0 {
-		t.Error("both active fibers should appear in output")
-	}
-
-	if highIdx > lowIdx {
-		t.Error("high priority fiber should appear before low priority fiber")
-	}
-}
-
 func TestFormatSessionOutput_BlockedReady(t *testing.T) {
 	now := time.Now()
 
@@ -167,15 +127,15 @@ func TestFormatSessionOutput_BlockedReady(t *testing.T) {
 		ID:        "blocker-task-12345678",
 		Title:     "Blocker",
 		Status:    felt.StatusOpen,
-		Priority:  2,
+
 		CreatedAt: now,
 	}
 
 	blockedFelt := &felt.Felt{
 		ID:        "blocked-task-87654321",
 		Title:     "Blocked task",
 		Status:    felt.StatusOpen,
-		Priority:  2,
+
 		DependsOn: felt.Dependencies{{ID: "blocker-task-12345678"}},
 		CreatedAt: now.Add(time.Minute),
 	}
@@ -215,7 +175,6 @@ func TestFormatSessionOutput_UnblockedByClosedDep(t *testing.T) {
 		ID:         "closed-dep-12345678",
 		Title:      "Completed prereq",
 		Status:     felt.StatusClosed,
-		Priority:   2,
 		CreatedAt:  now.Add(-2 * time.Hour),
 		ClosedAt:   &closedTime,
 		ModifiedAt: closedTime,
@@ -226,7 +185,7 @@ func TestFormatSessionOutput_UnblockedByClosedDep(t *testing.T) {
 		ID:        "unblocked-task-87654321",
 		Title:     "Task unblocked by closed dep",
 		Status:    felt.StatusOpen,
-		Priority:  2,
+
 		DependsOn: felt.Dependencies{{ID: "closed-dep-12345678"}},
 		CreatedAt: now.Add(time.Minute),
 	}
@@ -261,7 +220,7 @@ func TestFormatSessionOutput_TagLabels(t *testing.T) {
 		ID:        "impl-auth-12345678",
 		Title:     "Implement auth",
 		Status:    felt.StatusActive,
-		Priority:  2,
+
 		CreatedAt: now,
 	}
 
@@ -270,7 +229,7 @@ func TestFormatSessionOutput_TagLabels(t *testing.T) {
 		Title:     "Design REST API",
 		Status:    felt.StatusOpen,
 		Tags:      []string{"decision"},
-		Priority:  2,
+
 		CreatedAt: now,
 	}
 
@@ -279,7 +238,7 @@ func TestFormatSessionOutput_TagLabels(t *testing.T) {
 		Title:     "Which library?",
 		Status:    felt.StatusOpen,
 		Tags:      []string{"question"},
-		Priority:  2,
+
 		CreatedAt: now,
 	}
 

cmd/ls.go

@@ -90,11 +90,8 @@ Use -s to filter: open, active, closed, or all.`,
 				filtered = filtered[:lsRecent]
 			}
 		} else {
-			// Default: sort by priority, then creation time
+			// Default: sort by creation time
 			sort.Slice(filtered, func(i, j int) bool {
-				if filtered[i].Priority != filtered[j].Priority {
-					return filtered[i].Priority < filtered[j].Priority
-				}
 				return filtered[i].CreatedAt.Before(filtered[j].CreatedAt)
 			})
 		}

internal/felt/felt.go

@@ -98,9 +98,8 @@ type Felt struct {
 	ID         string       `yaml:"-" json:"id"`
 	Title      string       `yaml:"title" json:"title"`
 	Status     string       `yaml:"status,omitempty" json:"status,omitempty"`
-	Tags       []string     `yaml:"tags,omitempty" json:"tags,omitempty"`
-	Priority   int          `yaml:"priority,omitempty" json:"priority,omitempty"`
-	DependsOn  Dependencies `yaml:"depends-on,omitempty" json:"depends_on,omitempty"`
+	Tags      []string     `yaml:"tags,omitempty" json:"tags,omitempty"`
+	DependsOn Dependencies `yaml:"depends-on,omitempty" json:"depends_on,omitempty"`
 	CreatedAt  time.Time    `yaml:"created-at" json:"created_at"`
 	ClosedAt   *time.Time   `yaml:"closed-at,omitempty" json:"closed_at,omitempty"`
 	Outcome    string       `yaml:"outcome,omitempty" json:"outcome,omitempty"`
@@ -131,7 +130,6 @@ func New(title string) (*Felt, error) {
 	return &Felt{
 		ID:        id,
 		Title:     title,
-		Priority:  2,
 		DependsOn: Dependencies{},
 		CreatedAt: time.Now(),
 	}, nil
@@ -267,9 +265,8 @@ type parseFrontmatter struct {
 	Title       string       `yaml:"title"`
 	Status      string       `yaml:"status,omitempty"`
 	Kind        string       `yaml:"kind,omitempty"`
-	Tags        []string     `yaml:"tags,omitempty"`
-	Priority    int          `yaml:"priority,omitempty"`
-	DependsOn   Dependencies `yaml:"depends-on,omitempty"`
+	Tags      []string     `yaml:"tags,omitempty"`
+	DependsOn Dependencies `yaml:"depends-on,omitempty"`
 	CreatedAt   time.Time    `yaml:"created-at"`
 	ClosedAt    *time.Time   `yaml:"closed-at,omitempty"`
 	CloseReason string       `yaml:"close-reason,omitempty"`
@@ -296,7 +293,6 @@ func Parse(id string, content []byte) (*Felt, error) {
 		Title:     pf.Title,
 		Status:    pf.Status,
 		Tags:      pf.Tags,
-		Priority:  pf.Priority,
 		DependsOn: pf.DependsOn,
 		CreatedAt: pf.CreatedAt,
 		ClosedAt:  pf.ClosedAt,
@@ -370,7 +366,6 @@ func (f *Felt) Marshal() ([]byte, error) {
 		Title     string       `yaml:"title"`
 		Status    string       `yaml:"status,omitempty"`
 		Tags      []string     `yaml:"tags,omitempty"`
-		Priority  int          `yaml:"priority,omitempty"`
 		DependsOn Dependencies `yaml:"depends-on,omitempty"`
 		CreatedAt time.Time    `yaml:"created-at"`
 		ClosedAt  *time.Time   `yaml:"closed-at,omitempty"`
@@ -380,7 +375,6 @@ func (f *Felt) Marshal() ([]byte, error) {
 		Title:     f.Title,
 		Status:    f.Status,
 		Tags:      f.Tags,
-		Priority:  f.Priority,
 		DependsOn: f.DependsOn,
 		CreatedAt: f.CreatedAt,
 		ClosedAt:  f.ClosedAt,

internal/felt/felt_test.go

@@ -18,9 +18,6 @@ func TestNew(t *testing.T) {
 	if f.Status != "" {
 		t.Errorf("Status = %q, want empty (no default status)", f.Status)
 	}
-	if f.Priority != 2 {
-		t.Errorf("Priority = %d, want 2", f.Priority)
-	}
 	if !strings.HasPrefix(f.ID, "test-task-") {
 		t.Errorf("ID = %q, want prefix %q", f.ID, "test-task-")
 	}
@@ -94,7 +91,6 @@ func TestParse(t *testing.T) {
 title: Test Task
 status: active
 kind: spec
-priority: 1
 depends-on:
   - dep-a-12345678
   - dep-b-87654321
@@ -124,9 +120,6 @@ Some comment here.
 	if !f.HasTag("spec") {
 		t.Errorf("HasTag(spec) = false, want true (kind migrates to tags)")
 	}
-	if f.Priority != 1 {
-		t.Errorf("Priority = %d, want 1", f.Priority)
-	}
 	if len(f.DependsOn) != 2 {
 		t.Errorf("DependsOn length = %d, want 2", len(f.DependsOn))
 	}
@@ -161,7 +154,6 @@ func TestMarshal(t *testing.T) {
 	f := &Felt{
 		ID:        "test-task-12345678",
 		Title:     "Test Task",
-		Priority:  2,
 		DependsOn: Dependencies{{ID: "dep-1-aaaaaaaa"}},
 		CreatedAt: now,
 		Body:      "Body text here.",
@@ -413,7 +405,6 @@ func TestMarshalTags(t *testing.T) {
 		Title:     "Test Tags",
 		Status:    StatusOpen,
 		Tags:      []string{"alpha", "beta"},
-		Priority:  2,
 		CreatedAt: time.Date(2026, 1, 1, 10, 0, 0, 0, time.UTC),
 	}
 
@@ -490,7 +481,6 @@ func TestMarshalMixedDependencies(t *testing.T) {
 			{ID: "bare-id-12345678"},
 			{ID: "labeled-id-87654321", Label: "needs data from"},
 		},
-		Priority:  2,
 		CreatedAt: time.Date(2026, 1, 1, 10, 0, 0, 0, time.UTC),
 	}
 

internal/felt/graph.go

@@ -106,11 +106,8 @@ func (g *Graph) Ready() []*Felt {
 		}
 	}
 
-	// Sort by priority, then creation time
+	// Sort by creation time
 	sort.Slice(ready, func(i, j int) bool {
-		if ready[i].Priority != ready[j].Priority {
-			return ready[i].Priority < ready[j].Priority
-		}
 		return ready[i].CreatedAt.Before(ready[j].CreatedAt)
 	})