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+# Extending acme-denote
+
+`acme-denote` is extended by building programs upon its 9P API.
+
+```
+denote/
+├── ctl          (write-only)  Control commands
+├── dir          (read-only)   Current denote directory path
+├── index        (read-only)   List of all notes (respects active filter)
+├── new          (write-only)  Create new notes
+└── n/
+    └── <identifier>/
+        ├── backlinks    (read-only)   Notes linking to this note
+        ├── ctl          (write-only)  Per-note control commands
+        ├── keywords     (read-write)  Comma-separated tags
+        ├── path         (read-write)  Filesystem path
+        └── title        (read-write)  Note title
+```
+
+Below is a minimal example of an extension that counts notes by a given tag.
+
+```rc
+#!/usr/local/plan9/bin/rc
+
+# Dcount - Count notes by tag
+if(~ $#* 0) {
+    echo 'usage: Dcount <tag>' >[1=2]
+    exit 1
+}
+
+tag=$1
+echo 'filter tag:'$tag | 9p write denote/ctl || {
+    echo 'failed to filter' >[1=2]
+    exit 1
+}
+
+count=`{9p read denote/index | wc -l}
+echo 'filter' | 9p write denote/ctl
+echo 'Notes with tag' $tag':' $count
+exit 0
+```
+
+**Note:** The example above is written with the Plan 9 `rc` shell syntax. An extension can be written in any language or shell syntax. The key requirement is the ability to perform 9P client operations (read, write, stat, ls, etc.)
+
+
+## Common Patterns
+
+Patterns exhibited by existing extensions illustrated below (also `rc` syntax).
+
+### Read-Only Query (e.g., Dbkp)
+
+```rc
+denotedir=`{9p read denote/dir}
+# Operate on $denotedir
+tar czf backup.tar.gz $denotedir
+```
+
+### Filter and Process (e.g., hypothetical Dqry)
+
+```rc
+echo 'filter tag:project' | 9p write denote/ctl
+results=`{9p read denote/index}
+echo 'filter' | 9p write denote/ctl  # Reset filter
+# Process $results
+```
+
+Filter syntax:
+- `tag:tagname` - Filter by tag
+- `title:pattern` - Filter by title (use quotes for spaces: `title:"my note"`)
+- `date:YYYYMMDD` - Filter by date
+- `!tag:tagname` - Exclude tag
+- Multiple filters space-separated: `tag:work !tag:draft`
+
+### Create and Open (e.g., Djournal)
+
+```rc
+# Create note
+identifier=`{echo '''journal entry'' journal' | 9p write denote/new}
+
+# Get the path
+notepath=`{9p read denote/n/$identifier/path}
+
+# Open in acme or plumb
+plumb $notepath
+```
+
+### Metadata Manipulation (e.g., Dmerge)
+
+```rc
+# Read source content
+sourcepath=`{9p read denote/n/$sourceid/path}
+content=`{cat $sourcepath}
+
+# Update destination
+destpath=`{9p read denote/n/$destid/path}
+echo $content >> $destpath
+
+# Delete source via ctl
+echo 'd' | 9p write denote/n/$sourceid/ctl
+```
+
+### Switching Directories (e.g., Dsilo)
+
+Write to `denote/ctl`:
+```rc
+echo 'cd /path/to/new/silo' | 9p write denote/ctl
+```
+
+### Finding Backlinks (e.g., Dmerge)
+
+```rc
+9p read denote/n/20251127T120000/backlinks
+```
+
+Returns notes that link to this identifier (same format as `index`).