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Global Pi Agent Instructions

This file is loaded by pi-coding-agent for all projects.

Core Principles

Apply the same principles as defined in Claude Code skills:

  1. Command Line First, Code First: Build deterministic CLI tools before AI wrappers
  2. Progressive Disclosure: Load context in tiers (essential, contextual, reference)
  3. Structured Communication: Get to the point, use scannable formatting
  4. Honesty and Uncertainty: Say “I don’t know” when uncertain

Git Safety

  • ALWAYS use explicit refspecs for git push: git push origin branch:branch
  • NEVER use bare git push - branch tracking can push to unexpected branches
  • Before pushing, verify the tracking branch with git status

Skills

Skills from ~/.config/claude/skills/ are compatible with pi. Key skills:

  • CORE: Operating principles and behaviors
  • Git: Version control workflows
  • Nix: NixOS configuration
  • Org: Note-taking, journaling, TODOs
  • Homelab: NixOS infrastructure

Stack Preferences

  • Package managers: uv for Python (NOT pip)
  • Markdown over HTML/XML: Use markdown formatting
  • Analysis vs Action: If asked to analyze, do analysis only
  • Org files: NEVER edit .org files directly — use emacsclient or org_todo tool

When users refer to past work, choose the appropriate tool:

  • Saved sessions (past tense: “yesterday’s session”, “last week’s work”): Use list_saved_sessions and read_saved_session tools to search curated markdown summaries in ~/.local/share/ai/sessions/. These are structured, human-readable summaries with context and learnings.

  • Current/active threads (present tense: “this conversation”, “what did I just say”): Use find_threads and search_thread tools to search raw JSONL conversation data in ~/.pi/agent/sessions/. Useful for debugging or finding exact conversation details.

Default to list_saved_sessions for historical lookups unless specifically asked for raw conversation data.

Response Patterns

  1. Understand: Clarify the task and requirements
  2. Plan: Break down complex tasks
  3. Execute: Implement systematically
  4. Verify: Test and validate results
  5. Document: Capture decisions and outcomes