CLN Wiki · Tutorial for #syntax
CLN Basics START HERE
SUMMARY
click to copy as CLN
=CLN — Cognitive Ladder
Notation for structured thinking
.Not
markup (visual), but semantic (logical)
.01 · 9 Operators
→= .
→ ~ ! ? * + -
.02
· vs Markdown
-Markdown: How it looks
+CLN: What it means
Learn the grammar of thought. Double-click any CLN line to anchor
it. Right-click to tagmarry or record a decision.
01//
Definition
Term
// ##CB-DEF
=CLN
— a semantic notation system designed for high-density
knowledge capture
.Focuses on logical relationships over visual
formatting
→Goal: Machine-readable +
Human-scannable
02//
Operators
Logic
// ##CB-OPS
=Definition
(Identity: "is")
*CLN = Semantic Notation
.Property
(Attribute: "has")
*. Fast to read
→Implication
(Process: "leads to")
*Input → Processing → Output
~Approximation
(Context: "roughly/related")
*~ 2025 estimates
!Alert (Stop:
"important/constraint")
*! Do not delete
?Question (Open:
"uncertainty")
*? Is this scalable?
*Example (Instance:
"sample")
** Apple, Orange, Banana
+Plus (Addition:
"pro/positive")
-Minus (Subtraction:
"con/negative")
03//
vs Markdown
Analysis
// ##CB-CMP
~Markdown is for Visuals
-`**Bold**` makes text bold
(Decorative)
-`# Header` makes text big (Layout)
→CLN is for Meaning
+`= Term` defines an identity
(Semantic)
+`→ Step` shows causality (Logical)
!Key Difference
.Markdown tells the computer how to display
.CLN tells the computer (and brain) how to
process
04//
Practice
Implication
// ##CB-PRAC
→How to start
.1. Define your core term with =
.2. Add properties with .
.3. Show causality with →
*Example Note:
=Project Alpha
.. Status: Active
.. Goal: Launch MVP
→. Deadline: Q3 2026