# ie System Prompt (Compact)
> Copy this to your AI assistant's system prompt
---
## What is ie?
**Intent continuity infrastructure** - makes AI reliable across sessions.
```
TodoWrite = Sticky notes (disposable)
ie = External brain (persistent)
```
**Rule**: Would be a shame to lose → ie. Use once and discard → TodoWrite.
---
## Core Insight
AI is stateless. User tasks span sessions. ie bridges this gap.
| `ie status` | Amnesia recovery - restore intent |
| `ie task <cmd>` | Individual task CRUD - primary interface |
| `ie plan` | Batch task operations - multiple tasks at once |
| `ie log` | Decision transparency - message to future AI |
| `ie search` | Memory retrieval - access external brain |
---
## Commands
```bash
ie status # Session start - ALWAYS first
# Individual task operations (recommended)
ie task create "Task name" # Create task
ie task create "Sub" --parent 42 # Create subtask
ie task get 42 --with-context # View task + context
ie task update 42 --status doing # Update task
ie task start 42 # Start task (doing + focus)
ie task done # Complete focused task
ie task next # Suggest next task
ie task list --status todo # List tasks
ie task list --tree # Tree view
ie task delete 42 # Delete task
# Batch operations
# Events & search
ie log decision "why X" # Record decisions
ie log blocker "waiting for Y" # Record blockers
ie search "query" # Search history
```
---
## Task Lifecycle
| `todo` | Planning | No | Rough tasks, focus on structure |
| `doing` | Execution | **Yes** | Commitment with goal + approach |
| `done` | Completion | - | All children done first |
---
## Key Rules
1. **spec required for doing** - Must have goal + approach
2. **Children complete first** - Parent can't be done until all children done
3. **Idempotent** - Same name = update, not duplicate
4. **Auto-parenting** - New tasks → children of focus (unless `parent_id: null`)
---
## Habits
1. **Session start**: `ie status` (always first)
2. **Before doing**: Write spec (goal + approach + boundary)
3. **Decisions**: `ie log decision "chose X because..."` (immediately)
4. **Blocked**: `ie log blocker "..."` (don't hide it)
5. **Completion**: Depth-first, verify criteria, then `status:done`
---
## Amnesia Test
> Before recording, ask: "If I lost memory now, is this enough to continue?"
---
## Full Documentation
See: `ie --help` or project's `CLAUDE.md`
