00/Concept

init vs build

Two steps, one setup. init takes 15 seconds. build takes one conversation.

npx ideaverse-os init

Scaffolds the folder skeleton and writes every lean file with [TODO] placeholders. No questions. No LLM needed. Just Node 20+.

Output

29 files, 9 folders, under 15 seconds.

/ideaverse-os build

A 5-phase interview. The LLM asks, you answer, it compiles. Each phase writes one or two lean files. Skip nothing on the first run. Re-run any phase to refresh it later.

Output

6 lean files with your actual content. No more placeholders.

10/What init creates

The skeleton

init is deterministic and non-destructive. If a target file already exists, it prompts per-conflict: overwrite, skip, diff, or abort. The skeleton is the same for every user -- build is where it becomes yours.

PathPurpose
00-agentic-OS/Lean files with [TODO] placeholders
10-cortex/Cortex (knowledge articles) root
40-raw/Ingestion: web clips, youtube, papers
50-research-library/Curated research staging area
60-skills/Bundled skills: build, capture, cortex
70-daily/Daily notes
80-visualization/Attachments and diagrams
99-archive/Compiled raw sources
CLAUDE.mdClaude Code convention file
GEMINI.mdGemini CLI convention file
AGENTS.mdCodex / OpenAI Assistants convention file
.cursorrulesCursor convention file
.gitignorePrivacy-first defaults
20/The 5 build phases

One question at a time

Run all five in order: /ideaverse-os build. Or run any phase independently: /ideaverse-os build --phase=compass. Each phase follows the lock-file flow: compile to a lock, review, confirm, promote.

01Compass

What you are optimizing for. This week, this month, this quarter. Success metrics. Collision rules when priorities conflict.

Compiles tocompass.md
Q.What are your top 2-3 bets right now?
Q.For each bet, what does success look like?
Q.When two priorities collide, which wins?
02Identity

Who you are when you sit down to work. Drives, first principles, roles, working style, behavioral rules for every session.

Compiles tome.md + soul.md
Q.In 2-3 sentences: what drives you?
Q.What are 3-5 load-bearing first principles?
Q.What communication style do you want from the LLM?
03Workflow

How you actually work day to day. Which LLM tools you use, your stack, file naming conventions, and daily rhythm.

Compiles touser.md
Q.Which LLM harnesses do you use, and when?
Q.What is your stack? (editor, OS, terminal, knowledge base)
Q.Walk me through a concrete work day.
04Domains

How your vault splits across your two main domains. Pick from 6 starter templates or go custom.

Compiles to20- and 30- domain folders
Q.Which template fits your mental model?
Q.Domain names -- use the template defaults, or rename?
05Optional layers

Opt-in power-ups: Claude session hooks, GitHub private backup, WSL path configuration. All independent, all skippable.

Compiles torunbook.md, paths.json
Q.Which hooks do you want: session-start, load-memory, save-session?
Q.GitHub backup repo?
Q.WSL paths to configure?
30/The lock-file flow

Nothing writes without your sign-off

Every phase compiles into a .lock.md file first. You review the proposed content, then confirm. Only on confirmation does the lean file get written. The lock file is deleted on success and kept on abort -- so mid-flight sessions are resumable.

lock-file flow (any phase)
1. Q&A     -- LLM asks one question per turn
2. Compile -- answers -> proposed content
3. Lock    -- writes 00-agentic-OS/<file>.md.lock.md
4. Confirm -- show summary, ask [y]es / [n]o / [d]iff
5. Promote -- copy lock -> <file>.md, delete lock
   Reject  -- revise the affected section, rewrite lock, re-ask

Re-running a phase on an already-compiled file triggers a merge flow: the LLM shows what changed and lets you update specific sections rather than starting from scratch.

40/Get started

One command to scaffold. One conversation to personalize.

terminal
$ npx ideaverse-os init ~/my-vault

# then open ~/my-vault in Claude Code, Cursor, Codex CLI, or Gemini CLI and run:
/ideaverse-os build