generating-stem-flashcards

---
name: generating-stem-flashcards
description: "Generates atomic flashcards from technical/STEM source material. Supports three output modes: (1) interactive React artifacts with client-side KaTeX rendering, (2) Anki-ready TSV export with MathJax-compatible LaTeX, or (3) direct push to Anki via MCP Server (no export/import step). Use when users request flashcards, study cards, revision cards, Anki cards, quiz materials, or spaced repetition content from lecture notes, textbooks, or worksheets containing mathematical notation."
---

# STEM Flashcard Generation

## Output Mode Detection

Detect the output mode from the user's request:

**Artifact mode** (default): "flashcards", "interactive", "artifact", "study cards", "revision cards"
**Anki mode (TSV export)**: "anki", "anki deck", "for anki", "import into anki", "anki export", "export to anki"
**Anki mode (MCP direct)**: "send to anki", "push to anki", "add to anki directly", "anki mcp", "create in anki"

If ambiguous, ask the user. Default to artifact mode. If the user says "anki" without specifying, ask whether they want a TSV file or direct push via MCP.

## Dependencies

### Artifact mode
No CLI dependencies required. The React artifact handles KaTeX rendering client-side.

**Recommended complementary skills** from [anthropics/skills](https://github.com/anthropics/skills):
- `frontend-design` — Improved React artifact rendering and styling
- `pdf` — Better extraction from scanned/complex PDFs
- `docx` — Preserves formatting from Word documents

### Anki mode (TSV export)
No dependencies required (uses raw LaTeX with MathJax delimiters).

### Anki mode (MCP direct)
Requires:
- **Anki 25.x or later** running locally
- **Anki MCP Server addon** installed (code: `124672614`)
  Install: Tools → Add-ons → Get Add-ons → enter `124672614` → restart Anki
- Server auto-starts on `http://127.0.0.1:3141/` when Anki opens

No file export or manual import needed — cards are pushed directly into Anki.

---

## Shared Workflow (All Modes)

### Step 1: Extract Topics
Identify topic boundaries from section headings or conceptual groupings.

### Step 2: Generate Cards
For each topic, create cards across three layers:
- **L1 (Recall)**: Facts, definitions, formulas
- **L2 (Understanding)**: Why/how, connections, intuition
- **L3 (Boundaries)**: Limitations, edge cases, when things break

See `references/COGNITIVE_LAYERS.md` for layer definitions, card types, and answer constraints.

### Step 3: Validate Cards
Check each card against atomicity rules and refusal policy.

See `references/ATOMICITY.md` for atomicity definition, refusal policy, and quality checklist.

For LaTeX syntax lookup: `references/LATEX_SYNTAX.md`

---

## Mode-Specific Workflow

After completing Steps 1–3, branch based on the detected mode:

### → Artifact Mode

Read and follow `artifact/WORKFLOW.md`. Summary:

4. Write raw LaTeX strings (NOT compiled HTML)
5. Build artifact from `artifact/template.jsx`
6. Save to `/mnt/user-data/outputs/[name]_flashcards.jsx`
7. Present draft

### → Anki Mode (TSV Export)

Read and follow `anki/WORKFLOW.md`. Summary:

4. Wrap LaTeX in MathJax delimiters (see `anki/RENDERING.md`)
5. Build 5-column TSV with per-card tags
6. Save to `/mnt/user-data/outputs/[name]_anki.txt`
7. Present draft with import instructions from `anki/IMPORT_GUIDE.md`

### → Anki Mode (MCP — Direct Push)

Read and follow `anki/MCP_WORKFLOW.md`. Summary:

4. Wrap LaTeX in MathJax delimiters (see `anki/RENDERING.md`)
5. Ensure note type "3-Layer Card" and target deck exist (auto-created if missing)
6. Push cards directly to Anki via `add_note`
7. Report results — no import step needed

---

## Communication Style

Report progress in phases, not steps. Use compact formats:

```
Extracted 8 topics. Generating cards...

Draft: 45 cards (L1: 18, L2: 15, L3: 12). Review and let me know changes.
```

For iterations: "Updated card 12. ✓"

Omit rendering mechanics (KaTeX/MathJax) from user-facing messages.