CLI and workspace hygiene · Lesson 2 of 12 · 6 min

Read the workspace layout

A workspace separates source artifacts, mutable scratch and generated reports. Make experiments in scratch so an investigation does not overwrite the baseline it is meant to compare.

Open the lab Course map

Mastery 0/3Run itExplain itApply it

learner@clairos:~ $

↑ history · Tab complete · Ctrl+C cancel · Esc, Tab to leaveExit 0

Your objectives

Hints are always available. Wrong turns never cost XP.

1
Read the case evidence
Read /opt/ai-lab/cases/aiops-cli-workspace-002.json. Separate the recorded facts from your assumptions.
Hint & worked example
A workspace separates source artifacts, mutable scratch and generated reports. Make experiments in scratch so an investigation does not overwrite the baseline it is meant to compare.
The complete case JSON is read successfully.
```
cat /opt/ai-lab/cases/aiops-cli-workspace-002.json
```
Common mistake to avoid: Edit the only baseline copy during an investigation.
2
Isolate the deciding signal
Select the scratch field from the case JSON. What does it establish—and what does it not establish?
Hint & worked example
Store new investigation notes in /home/learner/lab while preserving the source fixtures.
A successful JSON query isolates scratch.
```
jq .scratch /opt/ai-lab/cases/aiops-cli-workspace-002.json
```
Common mistake to avoid: Using a different case or an unrelated signal as the justification.
3
Record your operational decision
Choose the justified code: use-scratch, change-without-evidence, or ignore-the-signal. Save that one code followed by a newline in /home/learner/lab/aiops-cli-workspace-002-decision.txt.
Hint & worked example
Store new investigation notes in /home/learner/lab while preserving the source fixtures.
The decision artifact contains the correct code, not just a matching command in history.
```
printf '%s\n' 'use-scratch' > /home/learner/lab/aiops-cli-workspace-002-decision.txt
```
Common mistake to avoid: Edit the only baseline copy during an investigation.

Understand the pattern

A workspace separates source artifacts, mutable scratch and generated reports. Make experiments in scratch so an investigation does not overwrite the baseline it is meant to compare.

Interpret the evidence

Store new investigation notes in /home/learner/lab while preserving the source fixtures.

A tempting mistake

Edit the only baseline copy during an investigation.

All names, measurements, prices, versions, and thresholds in this exercise are fictional training data. The evidence supports this bounded scenario, not a claim about a live provider.

Worked example and expected result

$ cat /opt/ai-lab/cases/aiops-cli-workspace-002.json

{
  "fixture": "Fictional training data; not a live measurement.",
  "sources": "/opt/ai-lab",
  "scratch": "/home/learner/lab",
  "source_read_only": true
}

Exit status: 0. The command completed successfully in the training fixture.

$ jq .scratch /opt/ai-lab/cases/aiops-cli-workspace-002.json

"/home/learner/lab"

Exit status: 0. The command completed successfully in the training fixture.

$ printf '%s\n' 'use-scratch' > /home/learner/lab/aiops-cli-workspace-002-decision.txt

(no output; exit 0)

Exit status: 0. The command completed successfully in the training fixture.

Try a variation

Name the assumption that would have to change for “use-scratch” to stop being the justified action. Do not silently replace missing evidence with a guess.

Explain it

What does the evidence in “Read the workspace layout” justify?Make the change now and gather the missing evidence afterward.Store new investigation notes in /home/learner/lab while preserving the source fixtures.Edit the only baseline copy during an investigation.

Apply it elsewhere

A colleague concludes: “Edit the only baseline copy during an investigation.” What should you do?Reject that conclusion; return to the case evidence and its stated limits.Accept it because the training command completed.Treat this fixture as a live measurement.

Keep the momentum.

Complete the lab, then explain and apply the pattern.

Next: Inspect redacted environment data Try an incident drill

Anonymous lesson and mastery progress lasts for this session. Sign in to keep synced lesson XP between sessions; mastery stays device-local. No speed bonus, lost lives, or hint penalties.

Keep learning

Case methodology: evidence, limits, decision