aia 1.0.0 → 1.1.0

data/docs/index.md

@@ -23,80 +23,48 @@ Welcome to AIA, your powerful CLI tool for dynamic prompt management and AI inte
 
 ---
 
-!!! danger "Breaking Changes in v1.0.0 (from v0.11.2)"
+!!! tip "🚀 New: AI Assistant Scheduler (AIAS)"
 
-    **Version 1.0.0 is a major release with breaking changes. Read this section before upgrading.**
+    **Schedule and automate your AIA prompts!** AIAS is a new Ruby gem that lets you run AIA prompts on a cron-like schedule — perfect for recurring AI tasks, automated reports, and timed workflows.
 
-!!! failure "Prompt File Format (Critical)"
+    **[View AIAS on GitHub →](https://github.com/madbomber/aias)**
 
-    The prompt file format has changed completely. You **must** migrate your prompts.
-
-    - **File extension** — `.txt` is now `.md`
-    - **Parameters** — `[PLACEHOLDER]` is now `<%= placeholder %>`
-    - **Metadata** — Separate `.json` history files are now YAML front matter inside the `.md` file
-    - **Directive embedding** — `//config`, `//pipeline`, etc. are now YAML front matter keys
-
-    **Before (v0.11.2):**
-
-        # ~/.prompts/my_prompt.txt
-        //config temperature 0.7
-        //pipeline next_prompt, another_prompt
-        Tell me about [TOPIC] in [LANGUAGE]
-
-    **After (v1.0.0):**
-
-        ---
-        temperature: 0.7
-        pipeline: [next_prompt, another_prompt]
-        parameters:
-          topic: null
-          language: null
-        ---
-        Tell me about <%= topic %> in <%= language %>
-
-    **Run the migration tool:**
-
-        # Back up first (recommended)
-        cp -r ~/.prompts ~/.prompts.backup
-
-        # Migrate all prompts
-        migrate_prompts --verbose ~/.prompts
-
-        # Review flagged files (*.txt-review), then recover them
-        migrate_prompts --reprocess ~/.prompts
-
-    The `migrate_prompts` script is a standalone program in `bin/`. It handles placeholder conversion, directive migration, history file merging, and flags files with code fences for manual review. See [Migration Guide](guides/migrate-prompts.md) for details.
+---
 
-!!! warning "Removed and Deprecated CLI Options"
+!!! tip "🎭 Roles: Give Your Robot a Personality"
 
-    - **`--adapter` removed** — AIA now exclusively uses `ruby_llm`. Remove `--adapter` from any scripts or aliases.
-    - **`--regex` deprecated** — Parameter extraction uses ERB (`<%= param %>`) instead of regex. The flag prints a warning and has no effect.
-    - **`--terse` deprecated** — No longer supported. The flag prints a warning and has no effect.
-    - **`--metrics` renamed to `--tokens`** — Use `--tokens` to display token usage. `--cost` implies `--tokens`.
+    Roles are plain-text prompt files that define how your AI thinks, talks, and interacts with you. Drop one in `~/.prompts/roles/` and your robot instantly becomes someone new.
 
-!!! warning "Dependency: prompt_manager v0.5 to v1.0"
+    **For fun:**
+    ```bash
+    aia --chat --role pirate           # Arrr, matey!
+    aia --chat --role nyc_cabbie       # opinions about EVERYTHING
+    aia --chat --role stoned_hacker    # solves it anyway, dude
+    ```
 
-    The `prompt_manager` gem has been upgraded from `~> 0.5.8` to `~> 1.0`. This is the root cause of the prompt file format changes above. The new version uses ERB for parameter interpolation and YAML front matter for metadata. All prompt files must be in the new format.
+    **For serious work:**
+    ```bash
+    # Explains quantum physics to your 7-year-old
+    aia --chat --role first_grade_teacher
 
-!!! info "Environment Variables (from v0.10.0)"
+    # Three expert robots on the same design doc, simultaneously
+    aia --model gpt-4o=architect,claude=security,gemini=performance design.md
+    ```
 
-    If upgrading from v0.9.x, environment variable names changed in v0.10.0 to use double underscore (`__`) for nested config sections:
+    Assign a different role to each model and get multiple expert perspectives in one command. **[Full Roles Guide →](guides/models.md)**
 
-    | Old (v0.9.x) | New (v1.0.0) |
-    |---|---|
-    | `AIA_PROMPTS_DIR` | `AIA_PROMPTS__DIR` |
-    | `AIA_OUT_FILE` | `AIA_OUTPUT__FILE` |
-    | `AIA_VERBOSE` | `AIA_FLAGS__VERBOSE` |
-    | `AIA_DEBUG` | `AIA_FLAGS__DEBUG` |
-    | `AIA_CHAT` | `AIA_FLAGS__CHAT` |
-    | `AIA_TEMPERATURE` | `AIA_LLM__TEMPERATURE` |
-    | `AIA_MARKDOWN` | `AIA_OUTPUT__MARKDOWN` |
+!!! tip "🎓 Skills: Teach Your Robot Your Process"
 
-    `AIA_MODEL` is unchanged. See [Environment Variables](configuration.md#environment-variables) for the complete list.
+    Skills are structured instruction sets that tell your robot *exactly how* to approach a task — your workflow, your standards, every single time. Each skill is a directory with a `SKILL.md` file in `~/.prompts/skills/`.
 
-!!! info "Configuration Files (from v0.10.0)"
+    ```bash
+    aia -s code-quality my_prompt                      # one skill
+    aia -s code-quality,security-review my_prompt      # stack them
+    aia --chat --role senior_dev -s code-quality       # role + skill
+    /skill code-quality                                # add mid-chat
+    ```
 
-    If upgrading from v0.9.x, configuration files now use a nested YAML structure with sections (`llm:`, `prompts:`, `output:`, `flags:`, etc.) and follow the XDG Base Directory Specification (`~/.config/aia/aia.yml`). See [Configuration Guide](configuration.md) for details.
+    Combine roles and skills: a pirate who follows your code review process, a first-grade teacher who uses your step-by-step explanation method, or multiple robots each with their own role and skill set — all from the command line. **[Full Skills Guide →](directives-reference.md)**
 
 ---
 
@@ -105,9 +73,15 @@ Welcome to AIA, your powerful CLI tool for dynamic prompt management and AI inte
 ### 🚀 Dynamic Prompt Management
 - **Hierarchical Configuration**: Embedded directives > CLI args > environment variables > config files > defaults
 - **Prompt Sequences and Workflows**: Chain prompts together for complex AI workflows
-- **Role-based Prompts**: Use predefined roles to context your AI interactions
 - **Fuzzy Search**: Find prompts quickly with fuzzy matching (requires `fzf`)
 
+### 🎭 Roles & 🎓 Skills
+- **Robot Personalities**: Give any robot a voice — fun personas like a pirate or NYC cabbie, or professional ones like a senior architect or first-grade teacher
+- **Per-Model Roles**: Assign a different role to each model in a multi-model session — `--model gpt-4o=architect,claude=security`
+- **Reusable Skill Sets**: Encode your exact workflow once in a `SKILL.md` file; apply it to any prompt with `-s skill-name`
+- **Role + Skill Combos**: A robot can be *who you want* (role) and *know exactly what to do* (skill) simultaneously
+- **Mid-Chat Skills**: Add a skill to a running chat session with `/skill skill-name`
+
 ### 🔧 Powerful Integration
 - **Shell Integration**: Execute shell commands directly within prompts
 - **Ruby (ERB) Processing**: Use Ruby code in your prompts for dynamic content

data/docs/prompt_management.md

@@ -8,10 +8,15 @@ AIA provides sophisticated prompt management capabilities through the PM gem, en
 ```
 ~/.prompts/
 ├── README.md                    # Documentation for your prompt collection
-├── roles/                       # Role-based prompts for context setting
+├── roles/                       # Role definitions (LLM personality/persona)
 │   ├── assistant.md
 │   ├── code_expert.md
 │   └── teacher.md
+├── skills/                      # Skill definitions (task instructions)
+│   ├── code-review/
+│   │   └── SKILL.md             # YAML front matter + instruction body
+│   └── summarizer/
+│       └── SKILL.md
 ├── development/                 # Development-related prompts
 │   ├── code_review.md
 │   ├── debug_help.md
@@ -292,6 +297,88 @@ Current Task:
 Please provide guidance consistent with the project architecture and your role as <%= role %>.
 ```
 
+## Skills
+
+### Roles vs Skills
+
+These two concepts work together but serve distinct purposes:
+
+| Concept | Defines | Loaded from | Injected as |
+|---------|---------|-------------|-------------|
+| **Role** | LLM *personality* — who the model is | `~/.prompts/roles/<id>.md` | First, before skills and prompt |
+| **Skill** | Task *instructions* — how to approach the work | `~/.prompts/skills/<name>/SKILL.md` | After role, before user prompt |
+
+A **role** sets the persona: "You are a senior Ruby developer with deep expertise in performance optimization."
+
+A **skill** provides procedural guidance for that persona to follow when executing the user's request: "When reviewing code, always check for: N+1 queries, missing indexes, memory leaks, and security vulnerabilities. Present findings as a prioritized list."
+
+The assembled prompt order is:
+
+```
+1. Role content        ← WHO the LLM is (personality)
+2. Skill content(s)    ← HOW to approach the task (instructions)
+3. User prompt         ← WHAT to do (request)
+4. Context files       ← supporting material
+```
+
+### Skill File Format
+
+Each skill lives in its own subdirectory under `~/.prompts/skills/`. The subdirectory must contain a `SKILL.md` file with YAML front matter followed by the skill instruction body:
+
+```markdown
+---
+name: code-review
+description: Thorough code review focusing on correctness, security, and maintainability.
+user-invocable: true
+argument-hint: ["file or topic to review"]
+---
+
+When reviewing code, systematically check:
+
+1. **Correctness** — Does the logic match the stated intent? Are edge cases handled?
+2. **Security** — Are there injection risks, unsafe deserialization, or exposed secrets?
+3. **Performance** — Are there N+1 queries, unbounded loops, or unnecessary allocations?
+4. **Maintainability** — Is the code readable? Are names clear? Is complexity justified?
+
+Present findings as a prioritized list with file:line references where applicable.
+Always suggest a concrete fix, not just identification of the problem.
+```
+
+The YAML front matter is metadata only. Only the body (everything after the closing `---`) is injected into the prompt.
+
+### Using Skills
+
+```bash
+# Prepend a skill before the user prompt
+aia --skill code-review review_prompt my_code.rb
+
+# Combine role + skill for maximum context
+aia --role ruby_expert --skill code-review review_prompt my_code.rb
+
+# Multiple skills (applied in order)
+aia --skill code-review --skill security-audit review_prompt my_code.rb
+aia -s code-review,security-audit review_prompt my_code.rb
+
+# List available skills
+aia --list-skills
+
+# Use a skill from within a chat session
+/skill code-review
+```
+
+### Skills in Chat Mode
+
+In chat mode, use the `/skill` directive to inject a skill at any point in the conversation:
+
+```
+> /skill summarizer
+[Skill "summarizer" instructions are injected into the next message context]
+
+> Please summarize the discussion so far.
+```
+
+The `/skill` directive injects only the body content of `SKILL.md` — the YAML front matter is never sent to the LLM.
+
 ## Prompt Workflows and Pipelines
 
 ### Simple Workflows

data/lib/aia/chat_loop.rb

@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ require "pm"
 
 module AIA
   class ChatLoop
+    include AIA::SkillUtils
+
     def initialize(chat_processor, ui_presenter, directive_processor)
       @chat_processor     = chat_processor
       @ui_presenter       = ui_presenter
@@ -15,6 +17,8 @@ module AIA
     # Start the interactive chat session
     def start(skip_context_files: false)
       setup_session
+      process_role_context
+      process_skill_context
       process_initial_context(skip_context_files)
       handle_piped_input
       run_loop
@@ -39,6 +43,56 @@ module AIA
       Signal.trap("INT") { exit }
     end
 
+    def process_role_context
+      role = AIA.config.prompts.role
+      return if role.nil? || role.empty?
+
+      prompt_handler = AIA::PromptHandler.new
+      role_parsed = prompt_handler.fetch_role(role)
+      return if role_parsed.nil?
+
+      role_content = role_parsed.to_s
+      return if role_content.nil? || role_content.strip.empty?
+
+      return unless AIA.client.respond_to?(:chats)
+
+      system_msg = RubyLLM::Message.new(role: :system, content: role_content)
+
+      AIA.client.chats.each_value do |chat|
+        next if chat.messages.any? { |m| m.role == :system }
+        chat.add_message(system_msg)
+      end
+    end
+
+    def process_skill_context
+      skills = AIA.config.prompts.skills
+      return if skills.nil? || skills.empty?
+
+      skills_dir = AIA.config.skills.dir
+      bodies = Array(skills).filter_map do |skill_name|
+        skill_name = skill_name.to_s.strip
+        next if skill_name.empty?
+
+        skill_path = find_skill_dir(skill_name, skills_dir)
+        next unless skill_path
+
+        if File.file?(skill_path)
+          skill_body(File.read(skill_path))
+        else
+          md = File.join(skill_path, 'SKILL.md')
+          skill_body(File.read(md)) if File.exist?(md)
+        end
+      end
+
+      return if bodies.empty?
+
+      skill_content = bodies.join("\n\n")
+      response_data = @chat_processor.process_prompt(skill_content)
+      content = response_data.is_a?(Hash) ? response_data[:content] : response_data
+      @chat_processor.output_response(content)
+      @ui_presenter.display_separator
+    end
+
     def process_initial_context(skip_context_files)
       return if skip_context_files || !AIA.config.context_files || AIA.config.context_files.empty?
 

data/lib/aia/chat_processor_service.rb

@@ -98,7 +98,10 @@ module AIA
       first_model = models.first
       model_name = first_model.respond_to?(:name) ? first_model.name : first_model.to_s
 
-      unless model_name.downcase.include?(client_model.downcase)
+      # client_model is the full resolved ID (e.g. "claude-sonnet-4-20250514"),
+      # model_name is the configured alias (e.g. "claude-sonnet-4").
+      # The alias is always a prefix/substring of the resolved ID, so check that way.
+      unless client_model.downcase.include?(model_name.downcase)
         AIA.client = AIA.client.class.new
       end
     end

data/lib/aia/config/cli_parser.rb

@@ -6,7 +6,9 @@
 # for the Config class.
 
 require 'optparse'
+require 'yaml'
 require_relative 'model_spec'
+require_relative '../skill_utils'
 
 module AIA
   module CLIParser
@@ -166,6 +168,23 @@ module AIA
           warn "Warning: --regex is deprecated. PM v1.0.0 uses ERB parameters (<%= param %>)."
           options[:parameter_regex] = pattern
         end
+
+        opts.on("--skills-dir DIR", "Set directory containing skill subdirectories") do |dir|
+          options[:skills_dir] = dir
+        end
+
+        opts.on("--skills-prefix PREFIX", "Set subdirectory name for skill files (default: skills)") do |prefix|
+          options[:skills_prefix] = prefix
+        end
+
+        opts.on("-s", "--skill SKILL_IDS", "Prepend skill(s) to prompt (comma-separated IDs or paths)") do |ids|
+          options[:skills] ||= []
+          options[:skills] += ids.split(',').map(&:strip)
+        end
+
+        opts.on("--list-skills", "List available skills and exit") do
+          options[:list_skills] = true
+        end
       end
 
       def setup_ai_parameters(opts, options)
@@ -410,6 +429,13 @@ module AIA
       end
 
       def validate_role_exists(role_id)
+        if AIA::SkillUtils.path_based_id?(role_id)
+          expanded = File.expand_path(role_id)
+          expanded += '.md' if File.extname(expanded).empty?
+          raise ArgumentError, "Role file not found: #{expanded}" unless File.exist?(expanded)
+          return
+        end
+
         prompts_dir = ENV.fetch('AIA_PROMPTS__DIR', File.join(ENV['HOME'], '.prompts'))
         roles_prefix = ENV.fetch('AIA_PROMPTS__ROLES_PREFIX', 'roles')
 
@@ -442,19 +468,30 @@ module AIA
         roles_prefix = ENV.fetch('AIA_PROMPTS__ROLES_PREFIX', 'roles')
         roles_dir = File.join(prompts_dir, roles_prefix)
 
-        if Dir.exist?(roles_dir)
-          roles = list_available_role_names(prompts_dir, roles_prefix)
-
-          if roles.empty?
-            puts "No role files found in #{roles_dir}"
-            puts "Create .md files in this directory to define roles."
-          else
-            puts "Available roles in #{roles_dir}:"
-            roles.each { |role| puts "  - #{role}" }
-          end
-        else
+        unless Dir.exist?(roles_dir)
           puts "No roles directory found at #{roles_dir}"
           puts "Create this directory and add role files to use roles."
+          return
+        end
+
+        roles = list_available_role_names(prompts_dir, roles_prefix)
+
+        if roles.empty?
+          puts "No role files found in #{roles_dir}"
+          puts "Create .md files in this directory to define roles."
+          return
+        end
+
+        roles.each do |role_id|
+          role_file = File.join(roles_dir, "#{role_id}.md")
+          fm = AIA::SkillUtils.parse_front_matter(role_file)
+
+          puts "## #{role_id}"
+          puts
+          puts "| Key | Value |"
+          puts "|-----|-------|"
+          fm.each { |key, value| puts "| #{key} | #{value} |" }
+          puts
         end
       end
 
@@ -464,6 +501,7 @@ module AIA
 
         Dir.glob("**/*.md", base: roles_dir)
           .map { |f| f.chomp('.md') }
+          .reject { |f| f.split('/').any? { |part| part.start_with?('_') } }
           .sort
       end
 

data/lib/aia/config/defaults.yml

@@ -59,12 +59,26 @@ defaults:
   prompts:
     dir: ~/.prompts
     extname: .md
-    roles_prefix: roles
-    roles_dir: ~/.prompts/roles
+    #
     role: ~
+    roles_dir: ~/.prompts/roles
+    roles_prefix: roles
+    #
+    skills: []
+    skills_prefix: skills
+    #
+    tool: ~
+    tools_prefix: tools
+    #
     system_prompt: ~
     parameter_regex: ~
 
+  roles:
+    dir: ~/.prompts/roles
+
+  skills:
+    dir: ~/.prompts/skills
+
   # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
   # Output Configuration
   # Access: AIA.config.output.file, AIA.config.output.append, etc.
@@ -112,6 +126,7 @@ defaults:
   # Env: AIA_TOOLS__PATHS, AIA_TOOLS__ALLOWED, etc.
   # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
   tools:
+    dir: ~/.prompts/tools
     paths: []
     allowed: ~
     rejected: ~

data/lib/aia/config/validator.rb

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 require 'word_wrapper'
 require_relative '../adapter/gem_activator'
+require_relative '../skill_utils'
 
 # lib/aia/config/validator.rb
 #
@@ -31,6 +32,7 @@ module AIA
         handle_dump_config(config)
         handle_mcp_list(config)
         handle_list_tools(config)
+        handle_list_skills(config)
         handle_completion_script(config)
         validate_required_prompt_id(config)
         process_role_configuration(config)
@@ -128,14 +130,18 @@ module AIA
         return if role.nil? || role.empty?
 
         roles_prefix = config.prompts.roles_prefix
-        unless roles_prefix.nil? || roles_prefix.empty?
-          unless role.start_with?(roles_prefix)
-            config.prompts.role = "#{roles_prefix}/#{role}"
-            role = config.prompts.role
-          end
+
+        unless AIA::SkillUtils.path_based_id?(role) || roles_prefix.nil? || roles_prefix.empty? || role.start_with?(roles_prefix)
+          config.prompts.role = "#{roles_prefix}/#{role}"
+          role = config.prompts.role
         end
 
-        config.prompts.roles_dir ||= File.join(config.prompts.dir, roles_prefix)
+        config.prompts.roles_dir ||= File.join(config.prompts.dir, roles_prefix.to_s)
+
+        # In chat-only mode (no prompt_id), leave the role configured so ChatLoop
+        # can inject it as initial context. Promoting it to prompt_id would cause
+        # PM to receive the role path as a literal string rather than file content.
+        return if config.flags&.chat == true
 
         if config.prompt_id.nil? || config.prompt_id.empty?
           unless role.nil? || role.empty?
@@ -230,6 +236,40 @@ module AIA
         exit 0
       end
 
+      def handle_list_skills(config)
+        return unless config.list_skills
+
+        skills_dir = AIA.config.skills.dir
+
+        unless Dir.exist?(skills_dir)
+          $stderr.puts "No skills directory found at #{skills_dir}"
+          exit 0
+        end
+
+        skill_dirs = Dir.glob("*/SKILL.md", base: skills_dir).map { |f| File.dirname(f) }.sort
+
+        if skill_dirs.empty?
+          $stderr.puts "No skills found in #{skills_dir}"
+          exit 0
+        end
+
+        skill_dirs.each do |skill_name|
+          skill_md = File.join(skills_dir, skill_name, 'SKILL.md')
+          fm = AIA::SkillUtils.parse_front_matter(skill_md)
+
+          puts "## #{skill_name}"
+          puts
+          puts "| Key | Value |"
+          puts "|-----|-------|"
+          fm.each do |key, value|
+            puts "| #{key} | #{value} |"
+          end
+          puts
+        end
+
+        exit 0
+      end
+
       def list_tools_terminal(local_tools, mcp_tool_groups)
         width  = (ENV['COLUMNS'] || 80).to_i - 4
         indent = '    '
@@ -518,6 +558,7 @@ module AIA
         File.write(file, content)
         puts "Config successfully dumped to #{file}"
       end
+
     end
   end
 end

data/lib/aia/config.rb

@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ module AIA
     # ==========================================================================
 
     # Nested section attributes (defined as hashes, converted to ConfigSection)
-    attr_config :service, :llm, :prompts, :output, :audio, :image, :embedding,
+    attr_config :service, :llm, :prompts, :roles, :skills, :output, :audio, :image, :embedding,
                 :tools, :flags, :registry, :paths, :logger
 
     # Array/collection attributes
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ module AIA
 
     # Runtime attributes (not loaded from config files)
     attr_accessor :prompt_id, :stdin_content, :remaining_args, :dump_file,
-                  :completion, :mcp_list, :list_tools,
+                  :completion, :mcp_list, :list_tools, :list_skills,
                   :executable_prompt_content,
                   :tool_names, :loaded_tools,
                   :log_level_override, :log_file_override,
@@ -105,6 +105,8 @@ module AIA
       service: config_section_coercion(:service),
       llm: config_section_coercion(:llm),
       prompts: config_section_coercion(:prompts),
+      roles: config_section_coercion(:roles),
+      skills: config_section_coercion(:skills),
       output: config_section_coercion(:output),
       audio: config_section_coercion(:audio),
       image: config_section_coercion(:image),
@@ -169,6 +171,9 @@ module AIA
       prompts_dir: [:prompts, :dir],
       roles_prefix: [:prompts, :roles_prefix],
       role: [:prompts, :role],
+      skills_dir: [:skills, :dir],
+      skills_prefix: [:prompts, :skills_prefix],
+      skills: [:prompts, :skills],
       parameter_regex: [:prompts, :parameter_regex],
       system_prompt: [:prompts, :system_prompt],
       # output section
@@ -235,6 +240,8 @@ module AIA
         llm: llm.to_h,
         models: models.map(&:to_h),
         prompts: prompts.to_h,
+        roles: roles.to_h,
+        skills: skills.to_h,
         output: output.to_h,
         audio: audio.to_h,
         image: image.to_h,
@@ -296,7 +303,7 @@ module AIA
           send("#{key}=", Array(value)) if respond_to?("#{key}=")
         when :mcp_servers
           self.mcp_servers = Array(value)
-        when :service, :llm, :prompts, :output, :audio, :image, :embedding,
+        when :service, :llm, :prompts, :roles, :skills, :output, :audio, :image, :embedding,
              :tools, :flags, :registry, :paths, :logger
           section = send(key)
           if section.is_a?(MywayConfig::ConfigSection) && value.is_a?(Hash)
@@ -388,6 +395,18 @@ module AIA
       if output.history_file
         output.history_file = File.expand_path(output.history_file)
       end
+
+      if roles.dir
+        roles.dir = File.expand_path(roles.dir)
+      end
+
+      if skills.dir
+        skills.dir = File.expand_path(skills.dir)
+      end
+
+      if tools.dir
+        tools.dir = File.expand_path(tools.dir)
+      end
     end
 
     def ensure_arrays
@@ -401,6 +420,9 @@ module AIA
 
       # Ensure tools.paths is an array
       tools.paths = [] if tools.paths.nil?
+
+      # Ensure prompts.skills is an array
+      prompts.skills = [] if prompts.respond_to?(:skills) && prompts.skills.nil?
     end
 
     # Process MCP JSON files and merge servers into mcp_servers
@@ -441,6 +463,10 @@ module AIA
         registry.send("#{key}=", value) if registry.respond_to?("#{key}=")
       when :paths
         paths.send("#{key}=", value) if paths.respond_to?("#{key}=")
+      when :roles
+        roles.send("#{key}=", value) if roles.respond_to?("#{key}=")
+      when :skills
+        skills.send("#{key}=", value) if skills.respond_to?("#{key}=")
       end
     end
   end

data/lib/aia/directive.rb

@@ -84,5 +84,34 @@ module AIA
         ""
       end
     end
+
+    private
+
+    # Split args into positive and negative search terms.
+    # Tokens prefixed with -, ~, or ! are negative (exclusion) terms.
+    # All other tokens (bare or +-prefixed) are positive (inclusion) terms.
+    # All terms are downcased.
+    #
+    # @param args [Array<String>] raw argument tokens
+    # @return [Array<Array<String>>] [positive_terms, negative_terms]
+    def parse_search_terms(args)
+      positive = []
+      negative = []
+
+      Array(args).each do |arg|
+        arg.split.each do |token|
+          downcased = token.downcase
+          if downcased =~ /\A[-~!]/
+            negative << downcased[1..]
+          elsif downcased.start_with?('+')
+            positive << downcased[1..]
+          else
+            positive << downcased
+          end
+        end
+      end
+
+      [positive, negative]
+    end
   end
 end