@greppleai/grip 0.0.0-stage → 0.0.1

package/README.md

@@ -1,3 +1,726 @@
-# Temporary Holding Version
+# Grip
 
-This version is a temporary placeholder for this package. An operational version to replace this has been submitted for review and is awaiting a staged release.
+> New issues and PRs from new contributors are auto-closed by default. Maintainers review auto-closed issues daily. See [CONTRIBUTING.md](../../CONTRIBUTING.md).
+
+---
+
+Grip is a minimal terminal coding harness. Adapt Grip to your workflows without forking and modifying its internals. Extend it with TypeScript [Extensions](#extensions), [Skills](#skills), [Rules](#rules), [Prompt Templates](#prompt-templates), and [Themes](#themes). Bundle those resources into [Grip Packages](#grip-packages) to share through npm or git.
+
+Grip ships with powerful defaults and optional isolated subagent delegation, while leaving broader workflows such as plan mode to extensions and packages.
+
+Grip runs in four modes: interactive, print or JSON, RPC for process integration, and an SDK for embedding in your own apps. The linked [openclaw/openclaw](https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw) is an upstream Pi SDK integration, not a verified Grip integration.
+
+## Upstream session sharing (historical reference)
+
+The following upstream Pi sharing workflow is retained for attribution; `pi-share-hf` is not a verified Grip integration. If you use Pi for open source work, please share your coding agent sessions.
+
+Public OSS session data helps improve models, prompts, tools, and evaluations using real development workflows.
+
+For the full explanation, see [this post on X](https://x.com/badlogicgames/status/2037811643774652911).
+
+To publish sessions, use [`badlogic/pi-share-hf`](https://github.com/badlogic/pi-share-hf). Read its README.md for setup instructions. All you need is a Hugging Face account, the Hugging Face CLI, and `pi-share-hf`.
+
+You can also watch [this video](https://x.com/badlogicgames/status/2041151967695634619), where I show how I publish my `pi-mono` sessions.
+
+I regularly publish my own `pi-mono` work sessions here:
+
+- [badlogicgames/pi-mono on Hugging Face](https://huggingface.co/datasets/badlogicgames/pi-mono)
+
+## Table of Contents
+
+- [Quick Start](#quick-start)
+- [Providers & Models](#providers--models)
+- [Interactive Mode](#interactive-mode)
+  - [Editor](#editor)
+  - [Commands](#commands)
+  - [Keyboard Shortcuts](#keyboard-shortcuts)
+  - [Message Queue](#message-queue)
+- [Sessions](#sessions)
+  - [Branching](#branching)
+  - [Compaction](#compaction)
+- [Settings](#settings)
+- [Language Servers](#language-servers)
+- [Remote Daemon](#remote-daemon)
+- [Docker Sandbox](#docker-sandbox)
+- [Customization](#customization)
+  - [Prompt Templates](#prompt-templates)
+  - [Skills](#skills)
+  - [Rules](#rules)
+  - [Extensions](#extensions)
+  - [Themes](#themes)
+  - [Grip Packages](#grip-packages)
+- [Programmatic Usage](#programmatic-usage)
+- [Philosophy](#philosophy)
+- [CLI Reference](#cli-reference)
+
+---
+
+## Quick Start
+
+Install the Grip CLI from npm once `@greppleai/grip` is available in your registry and its ownership is verified:
+
+```bash
+npm install -g --ignore-scripts @greppleai/grip
+```
+
+`--ignore-scripts` disables dependency lifecycle scripts during install. Grip does not require install scripts for normal npm installs.
+
+The old `https://pi.dev/install.sh` is a historical Pi installer, **not** a verified Grip installer. Do not use it to install Grip. See [manual migration](docs/migrating-to-grip.md) when replacing an existing Pi installation.
+
+Authenticate with an API key:
+
+```bash
+export ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=sk-ant-...
+grip
+```
+
+Or use your existing subscription:
+
+```bash
+grip
+/login  # Then select provider
+```
+
+Then just talk to Grip. By default, Grip gives the model file and shell tools. Enable the built-in subagent tool family through `/settings` or `enableSubagents` in `settings.json`. LSP tools require both [an external language server configuration](docs/lsp.md) and `--enable-lsp-tools` (or `enableLspTools` in `settings.json`); they are off by default. The model uses enabled tools to fulfill your requests. Add capabilities via [skills](#skills), [prompt templates](#prompt-templates), [extensions](#extensions), or [packages](#grip-packages).
+
+**Platform notes:** [Windows](docs/windows.md) | [Termux (Android)](docs/termux.md) | [tmux](docs/tmux.md) | [Terminal setup](docs/terminal-setup.md) | [Shell aliases](docs/shell-aliases.md)
+
+---
+
+## Providers & Models
+
+For each built-in provider, Grip maintains a list of tool-capable models, updated with every release. Authenticate via subscription (`/login`) or API key, then select any model from that provider via `/model` (or Ctrl+L).
+
+**Subscriptions:**
+- Anthropic Claude Pro/Max
+- OpenAI ChatGPT Plus/Pro (Codex)
+- GitHub Copilot
+
+**API keys:**
+- Anthropic
+- OpenAI
+- Azure OpenAI
+- DeepSeek
+- Google Gemini
+- Google Vertex
+- Amazon Bedrock
+- Mistral
+- Groq
+- Cerebras
+- Cloudflare AI Gateway
+- Cloudflare Workers AI
+- xAI
+- OpenRouter
+- Vercel AI Gateway
+- ZAI
+- OpenCode Zen
+- OpenCode Go
+- Hugging Face
+- Fireworks
+- Together AI
+- Kimi For Coding
+- MiniMax
+- Xiaomi MiMo
+- Xiaomi MiMo Token Plan (China)
+- Xiaomi MiMo Token Plan (Amsterdam)
+- Xiaomi MiMo Token Plan (Singapore)
+
+See [docs/providers.md](docs/providers.md) for detailed setup instructions.
+
+**Custom providers & models:** Add providers via `~/.grip/agent/models.json` if they speak a supported API (OpenAI, Anthropic, Google). For custom APIs or OAuth, use extensions. See [docs/models.md](docs/models.md) and [docs/custom-provider.md](docs/custom-provider.md).
+
+---
+
+## Interactive Mode
+
+<p align="center"><img src="docs/images/interactive-mode.png" alt="Historical upstream Pi interactive mode screenshot; Grip paths and branding differ" width="600"></p>
+
+The interface from top to bottom:
+
+- **Startup header** - Shows shortcuts (`/hotkeys` for all), loaded AGENTS.md files, prompt templates, skills, and extensions
+- **Messages** - Your messages, assistant responses, tool calls and results, notifications, errors, and extension UI
+- **Editor** - Where you type; border color indicates thinking level
+- **Footer** - Working directory, session name, total token/cache usage, cost, context usage, current model
+
+The editor can be temporarily replaced by other UI, like built-in `/settings` or custom UI from extensions (e.g., a Q&A tool that lets the user answer model questions in a structured format). [Extensions](#extensions) can also replace the editor, add widgets above/below it, a status line, custom footer, or overlays.
+
+### Editor
+
+| Feature | How |
+|---------|-----|
+| File reference | Type `@` to fuzzy-search project files |
+| Path completion | Tab to complete paths |
+| Multi-line | Shift+Enter (or Ctrl+Enter on Windows Terminal) |
+| Clipboard | Ctrl+V to paste an image or text (Alt+V on Windows), or drag images onto terminal |
+| Bash commands | `!command` runs and sends output to LLM, `!!command` runs without sending |
+
+Standard editing keybindings for delete word, undo, etc. See [docs/keybindings.md](docs/keybindings.md).
+
+### Commands
+
+Type `/` in the editor to trigger commands. [Extensions](#extensions) can register custom commands, [skills](#skills) are available as `/skill:name`, and [prompt templates](#prompt-templates) expand via `/templatename`.
+
+| Command | Description |
+|---------|-------------|
+| `/login`, `/logout` | OAuth authentication |
+| `/model` | Switch models |
+| `/scoped-models` | Enable/disable models for Ctrl+P cycling |
+| `/settings` | Thinking level, theme, message delivery, transport |
+| `/resume` | Pick from previous sessions |
+| `/new` | Start a new session |
+| `/name <name>` | Set session display name |
+| `/session` | Show session info (file, ID, messages, tokens, cost) |
+| `/tree` | Jump to any point in the session and continue from there |
+| `/fork` | Create a new session from a previous user message |
+| `/clone` | Duplicate the current active branch into a new session |
+| `/compact [prompt]` | Manually compact context, optional custom instructions |
+| `/context-compression [on\|off]` | Show or change agent-initiated compression for this session (default: off) |
+| `/compress-detection [on\|off]` | Show or change background detection for this session (default: off); enabling also enables compression |
+| `/compress-detection-model [provider/model-id\|clear]` | Choose a detector model and enable detection for this session, or clear it |
+| `/copy` | Copy last assistant message to clipboard |
+| `/export [file]` | Export session to HTML file |
+| `/share` | Upload as private GitHub gist with shareable HTML link |
+| `/reload` | Reload keybindings, hooks, extensions, skills, rules, prompts, and context files (themes hot-reload automatically) |
+| `/hotkeys` | Show all keyboard shortcuts |
+| `/changelog` | Display version history |
+| `/quit` | Quit Grip |
+
+### Keyboard Shortcuts
+
+See `/hotkeys` for the full list. Customize via `~/.grip/agent/keybindings.json`. See [docs/keybindings.md](docs/keybindings.md).
+
+**Commonly used:**
+
+| Key | Action |
+|-----|--------|
+| Ctrl+C | Clear editor |
+| Ctrl+C twice | Quit |
+| Escape | Cancel/abort |
+| Escape twice | Open `/tree` |
+| Ctrl+L | Open model selector |
+| Ctrl+P / Shift+Ctrl+P | Cycle scoped models forward/backward |
+| Shift+Tab | Cycle thinking level |
+| Ctrl+O | Collapse/expand tool output |
+| Ctrl+T | Collapse/expand thinking blocks |
+| Ctrl+X | Copy the last assistant message |
+
+### Message Queue
+
+Submit messages while the agent is working:
+
+- **Enter** queues a *steering* message, delivered after the current assistant turn finishes executing its tool calls
+- **Alt+Enter** queues a *follow-up* message, delivered only after the agent finishes all work
+- **Escape** aborts and restores queued messages to editor
+- **Alt+Up** retrieves queued messages back to editor
+
+On Windows Terminal, `Alt+Enter` is fullscreen by default. Remap it in [docs/terminal-setup.md](docs/terminal-setup.md) so Grip can receive the follow-up shortcut.
+
+Configure delivery in [settings](docs/settings.md): `steeringMode` and `followUpMode` can be `"one-at-a-time"` (default, waits for response) or `"all"` (delivers all queued at once). `transport` selects provider transport preference (`"sse"`, `"websocket"`, or `"auto"`) for providers that support multiple transports.
+
+---
+
+## Sessions
+
+Sessions are stored as JSONL files with a tree structure. Each entry has an `id` and `parentId`, enabling in-place branching without creating new files. See [docs/session-format.md](docs/session-format.md) for file format.
+
+### Management
+
+Sessions auto-save to `~/.grip/agent/sessions/` organized by working directory. Existing sessions under `~/.pi/agent/sessions/` are not discovered automatically; see [manual migration](docs/migrating-to-grip.md).
+
+```bash
+grip -c                  # Continue most recent session
+grip -r                  # Browse and select from past sessions
+grip --no-session        # Ephemeral mode (don't save)
+grip --session <path|id> # Use specific session file or ID
+grip --fork <path|id>    # Fork specific session file or ID into a new session
+
+Use `/session` in interactive mode to see the current session ID before reusing it with `--session <id>` or `--fork <id>`.
+
+### Branching
+
+**`/tree`** - Navigate the session tree in-place. Select any previous point, continue from there, and switch between branches. All history preserved in a single file.
+
+<p align="center"><img src="docs/images/tree-view.png" alt="Historical upstream Pi tree-view screenshot; Grip paths and branding differ" width="600"></p>
+
+- Search by typing, fold/unfold and jump between branches with Ctrl+←/Ctrl+→ or Alt+←/Alt+→, page with ←/→
+- Filter modes (Ctrl+O): default → no-tools → user-only → labeled-only → all
+- Press Ctrl+X to copy the selected entry
+- Press Shift+L to label entries as bookmarks and Shift+T to toggle label timestamps
+
+**`/fork`** - Create a new session file from a previous user message on the active branch. Opens a selector, copies the active path up to that point, and places the selected prompt in the editor for modification.
+
+**`/clone`** - Duplicate the current active branch into a new session file at the current position. The new session keeps the full active-path history and opens with an empty editor.
+
+**`--fork <path|id>`** - Fork an existing session file or partial session UUID directly from the CLI. This copies the full source session into a new session file in the current project.
+
+### Compaction
+
+Long sessions can exhaust context windows. Compaction summarizes older messages while keeping recent ones.
+
+**Manual:** `/compact` or `/compact <custom instructions>`
+
+**Automatic:** Enabled by default. Triggers on context overflow (recovers and retries) or when approaching the limit (proactive). Configure via `/settings` or `settings.json`.
+
+Compaction is lossy, but the full history remains in the JSONL file. The model can use `session_search` to locate finalized entries omitted from context and `session_entry_get` to retrieve one exact model-visible entry; `/tree` remains available for interactive navigation. The `compress_context` tool uses context metadata entry IDs to replace a tail—or an earlier bounded range via `endEntryId`—with a summary while retaining later messages and archiving the originals on another branch. Customize compaction behavior via [extensions](#extensions). See [docs/compaction.md](docs/compaction.md) for internals.
+
+---
+
+## Settings
+
+Use `/settings` to modify common options, or edit JSON files directly:
+
+| Location | Scope |
+|----------|-------|
+| `~/.grip/agent/settings.json` | Global (all projects) |
+| `.grip/settings.json` | Project (overrides global) |
+
+See [docs/settings.md](docs/settings.md) for all options.
+
+### Telemetry and update checks
+
+Grip has two separate startup features:
+
+- **Update check:** fetches npm metadata for `@greppleai/grip` to check for a newer version when that package is available. Disable it with `GRIP_SKIP_VERSION_CHECK=1`. Disabling update checks only turns off this check.
+- **Install/update telemetry:** after first install or a changelog-detected update, the current implementation sends an anonymous version ping to the upstream `https://pi.dev/api/report-install` endpoint. This is not a verified Grip service. Opt out by setting `enableInstallTelemetry` to `false` in `settings.json`, or by setting `GRIP_TELEMETRY=0`. This does not disable update checks; Grip may still contact the npm registry unless update checks are disabled or offline mode is enabled.
+
+Use `--offline` or `GRIP_OFFLINE=1` to disable all startup network operations described here, including update checks, package update checks, and install/update telemetry.
+
+## Language Servers
+
+Grip supports explicitly configured managed stdio servers, attached TCP/Unix socket/named-pipe endpoints, and host-provided connections with managed or attached semantics. It does not bundle or automatically select a language server. Untrusted project settings cannot add or positively activate transports; malformed or unreadable LSP sources fail closed without terminating Grip, and `--no-lsp` is the per-invocation recovery path. See [docs/lsp.md](docs/lsp.md) for copyable configurations, remote path mapping, project trust, workspace roots, lifecycle ownership, SDK/extension APIs, migration, and troubleshooting.
+
+---
+
+## Remote Daemon
+
+`grip --daemon` starts an integrated remote workspace daemon from the `@greppleai/grip` package. The local Grip process remains the orchestrator for model calls, credentials, sessions, prompts, extensions, subagents, RPC, and UI; the daemon owns one confined workspace for canonical tools, project resources, file transfer, optional process execution, and optional colocated LSP.
+
+Start a daemon:
+
+```bash
+GRIP_DAEMON_TOKEN='replace-with-a-random-token-at-least-32-bytes-long' grip --daemon --daemon-cwd /workspace --daemon-port 8787
+```
+
+Connect from a local Grip process:
+
+```bash
+GRIP_REMOTE_TOKEN='replace-with-a-random-token-at-least-32-bytes-long' grip --remote ws://127.0.0.1:8787/grip/workspace
+```
+
+There is no separate Grip daemon package or executable. See [docs/daemon.md](docs/daemon.md) for topology, security, configuration, Docker, LSP/resources/extensions behavior, troubleshooting, and migration.
+
+---
+
+## Docker Sandbox
+
+Interactive `/sandbox` is the sole command for inspecting, connecting, clearing, starting, listing, and stopping workspace tool backends. It supports existing sandbox daemons and Grip-owned Docker containers. The command is user-only and appears in slash-command completion, but is hidden from model-visible command catalogs, tools, prompts, skills, and rules. Local Grip keeps model/session/UI orchestration while workspace tools/resources use the selected backend. See [docs/sandbox.md](docs/sandbox.md) for command syntax, image configuration, local base-image builds, troubleshooting, and security limits.
+
+---
+
+## Context Files
+
+Grip loads `AGENTS.md` (or `CLAUDE.md`) at startup from:
+- `~/.grip/agent/AGENTS.md` (global)
+- Parent directories (walking up from cwd)
+- Current directory
+
+If a directory contains `AGENTS.override.md`, Grip loads it instead of `AGENTS.md` or `CLAUDE.md` from that directory. Context files from other directories still layer normally, including when project instructions come from a daemon tool backend.
+
+Use for project instructions, conventions, common commands. All selected files are concatenated.
+
+Disable context file loading with `--no-context-files` (or `-nc`).
+
+### System Prompt
+
+Replace the default system prompt with `.grip/SYSTEM.md` (project) or `~/.grip/agent/SYSTEM.md` (global). Append without replacing via `APPEND_SYSTEM.md`.
+
+---
+
+## Customization
+
+### Prompt Templates
+
+Reusable prompts as Markdown files. Type `/name` to expand.
+
+```markdown
+<!-- ~/.grip/agent/prompts/review.md -->
+Review this code for bugs, security issues, and performance problems.
+Focus on: {{focus}}
+```
+
+Place in `~/.grip/agent/prompts/`, `.grip/prompts/`, or a [Grip package](#grip-packages) to share with others. See [docs/prompt-templates.md](docs/prompt-templates.md).
+
+### Skills
+
+On-demand capability packages following the [Agent Skills standard](https://agentskills.io). Invoke via `/skill:name` or let the agent load them automatically.
+
+```markdown
+<!-- ~/.grip/agent/skills/my-skill/SKILL.md -->
+# My Skill
+Use this skill when the user asks about X.
+
+## Steps
+1. Do this
+2. Then that
+```
+
+Place in `~/.grip/agent/skills/`, `~/.agents/skills/`, `.grip/skills/`, or `.agents/skills/` (from `cwd` up through parent directories) or a [Grip package](#grip-packages) to share with others. See [docs/skills.md](docs/skills.md).
+
+### Rules
+
+On-demand mandatory constraints and policies. Invoke via `/rule:name` or let the agent load them automatically when the task or files match the rule description.
+
+```markdown
+<!-- ~/.grip/agent/rules/typescript/RULES.md -->
+---
+name: typescript
+description: Mandatory TypeScript rules. Load before editing *.ts or *.tsx files.
+---
+
+# TypeScript Rules
+
+- No `any` unless absolutely necessary.
+- Use top-level imports only.
+```
+
+Place in `~/.grip/agent/rules/`, `~/.agents/rules/`, `.grip/rules/`, or `.agents/rules/` (from `cwd` up through parent directories) or a [Grip package](#grip-packages) to share with others. See [docs/rules.md](docs/rules.md).
+
+### Extensions
+
+<p align="center"><img src="docs/images/doom-extension.png" alt="Historical upstream Pi Doom extension screenshot; Grip branding differs" width="600"></p>
+
+TypeScript modules that extend Grip with custom tools, commands, keyboard shortcuts, event handlers, and UI components.
+
+```typescript
+export default function (grip: ExtensionAPI) {
+  grip.registerTool({ name: "deploy", ... });
+  grip.registerCommand("stats", { ... });
+  grip.on("tool_call", async (event, ctx) => { ... });
+}
+```
+
+The default export can also be `async`. Grip waits for async extension factories before startup continues, which is useful for one-time initialization such as fetching remote model lists before calling `grip.registerProvider()`.
+
+**What's possible:**
+- Custom tools (or replace built-in tools entirely)
+- Sub-agents and plan mode
+- Custom compaction and summarization
+- Permission gates and path protection
+- Custom editors and UI components
+- Status lines, headers, footers
+- Git checkpointing and auto-commit
+- Remote daemon and sandbox execution
+- MCP server integration
+- Make Grip look like Claude Code
+- Games while waiting (yes, Doom runs)
+- ...anything you can dream up
+
+Place in `~/.grip/agent/extensions/`, `.grip/extensions/`, or a [Grip package](#grip-packages) to share with others. See [docs/extensions.md](docs/extensions.md) and [examples/extensions/](examples/extensions/).
+
+### Themes
+
+Built-in: `dark`, `light`. Themes hot-reload: modify the active theme file and Grip immediately applies changes.
+
+Place in `~/.grip/agent/themes/`, `.grip/themes/`, or a [Grip package](#grip-packages) to share with others. See [docs/themes.md](docs/themes.md).
+
+### Grip Packages
+
+Bundle and share extensions, skills, rules, prompts, and themes via npm or git. The [upstream Pi package keyword](https://www.npmjs.com/search?q=keywords%3Api-package) and [upstream Pi community](https://discord.com/channels/1456806362351669492/1457744485428629628) are historical discovery links, not a verified Grip registry or community.
+
+> **Security:** Grip packages run with full system access. Extensions execute arbitrary code, and skills can instruct the model to perform any action including running executables. Review source code before installing third-party packages.
+
+```bash
+grip install npm:@foo/grip-tools              # illustrative package name, not a verified npm listing
+grip install npm:@foo/grip-tools@1.2.3        # pinned version
+grip install git:github.com/user/repo
+grip install git:github.com/user/repo@v1      # tag or commit
+grip install git:git@github.com:user/repo
+grip install git:git@github.com:user/repo@v1  # tag or commit
+grip install https://github.com/user/repo
+grip install https://github.com/user/repo@v1      # tag or commit
+grip install ssh://git@github.com/user/repo
+grip install ssh://git@github.com/user/repo@v1    # tag or commit
+grip remove npm:@foo/grip-tools
+grip uninstall npm:@foo/grip-tools          # alias for remove
+grip list
+grip update                               # update Grip and packages (skips pinned packages)
+grip update --extensions                  # update packages only
+grip update --self                        # update Grip only
+grip update --self --force                # reinstall Grip even if current
+grip update npm:@foo/grip-tools             # update one package
+grip config                               # enable/disable extensions, skills, rules, prompts, themes
+```
+
+Packages install to `~/.grip/agent/git/` (git) or `~/.grip/agent/npm/` (npm). Use `-l` for project-local installs (`.grip/git/`, `.grip/npm/`). Git `@ref` values are pinned tags or commits; pinned packages are skipped by `grip update`, so use `grip install git:host/user/repo@new-ref` to move an existing package to a new ref. Git packages install dependencies with `npm install --omit=dev` by default, so runtime deps must be listed under `dependencies`; when `npmCommand` is configured, git packages use plain `install` for compatibility with wrappers. If you use a Node version manager and want package installs to reuse a stable npm context, set `npmCommand` in `settings.json`, for example `["mise", "exec", "node@20", "--", "npm"]`.
+
+Create a package by adding a `grip` key to `package.json`:
+
+```json
+{
+  "name": "my-grip-package",
+  "keywords": ["grip-package"],
+  "grip": {
+    "extensions": ["./extensions"],
+    "skills": ["./skills"],
+    "rules": ["./rules"],
+    "prompts": ["./prompts"],
+    "themes": ["./themes"]
+  }
+}
+```
+
+Without a `grip` manifest, Grip auto-discovers from conventional directories (`extensions/`, `skills/`, `rules/`, `prompts/`, `themes/`). The `grip-package` keyword above is illustrative metadata, not required by the loader.
+
+See [docs/packages.md](docs/packages.md).
+
+---
+
+## Programmatic Usage
+
+### SDK
+
+```typescript
+import { AuthStorage, InMemorySessionManager, ModelRegistry, GripAgent } from "@greppleai/grip";
+
+const authStorage = AuthStorage.create();
+const modelRegistry = ModelRegistry.create(authStorage);
+const grip = await GripAgent.create({
+  sessionManager: new InMemorySessionManager(),
+  authStorage,
+  modelRegistry,
+});
+const session = await grip.createAgentSession();
+
+await session.prompt("What files are in the current directory?");
+await grip.dispose();
+```
+
+For advanced multi-session flows, use `GripAgent` methods such as `newSession()`, `switchSession()`, `fork()`, and `importFromJsonl()`.
+
+See [docs/sdk.md](docs/sdk.md), [docs/lsp.md](docs/lsp.md), and [examples/sdk/](examples/sdk/).
+
+### RPC Mode
+
+For non-Node.js integrations, use RPC mode over stdin/stdout:
+
+```bash
+grip --mode rpc
+```
+
+RPC mode uses strict LF-delimited JSONL framing. Clients must split records on `\n` only. Do not use generic line readers like Node `readline`, which also split on Unicode separators inside JSON payloads.
+
+See [docs/rpc.md](docs/rpc.md) for the protocol.
+
+---
+
+## Philosophy
+
+Grip is aggressively extensible so it does not have to dictate your workflow. Features that other tools bake in can be built with [extensions](#extensions), [skills](#skills), or installed from third-party [Grip packages](#grip-packages). This keeps the core minimal while letting you shape Grip to fit how you work.
+
+**No MCP.** Build CLI tools with READMEs (see [Skills](#skills)), or build an extension that adds MCP support. [Why?](https://mariozechner.at/posts/2025-11-02-what-if-you-dont-need-mcp/)
+
+**Focused sub-agents.** Enable the built-in subagent tool family through `/settings` or `enableSubagents` in `settings.json` to delegate single, parallel, or chained tasks to fresh in-memory agent sessions with isolated conversations and shared authentication/model services. The parent can define each task's persona, response format, model, and tools dynamically or use bundled and user-defined presets. Extensions and packages can still provide alternative orchestration models.
+
+**No permission popups.** Run in a container, or build your own confirmation flow with [extensions](#extensions) inline with your environment and security requirements.
+
+**No plan mode.** Write plans to files, or build it with [extensions](#extensions), or install a package.
+
+**No built-in to-dos.** They confuse models. Use a TODO.md file, or build your own with [extensions](#extensions).
+
+**No background bash.** Use tmux. Full observability, direct interaction.
+
+Read the [blog post](https://mariozechner.at/posts/2025-11-30-pi-coding-agent/) for the full rationale.
+
+---
+
+## CLI Reference
+
+```bash
+grip [options] [@files...] [messages...]
+```
+
+### Package Commands
+
+```bash
+grip install <source> [-l]     # Install package, -l for project-local
+grip remove <source> [-l]      # Remove package
+grip uninstall <source> [-l]   # Alias for remove
+grip update [source|self|grip] # Update Grip and packages (skips pinned packages)
+grip update --extensions       # Update packages only
+grip update --self             # Update Grip only
+grip update --self --force     # Reinstall Grip even if current
+grip update --extension <src>  # Update one package
+grip list                      # List installed packages
+grip config                    # Enable/disable package resources
+```
+
+### Modes
+
+| Flag | Description |
+|------|-------------|
+| (default) | Interactive mode |
+| `-p`, `--print` | Print response and exit |
+| `--mode json` | Output all events as JSON lines (see [docs/json.md](docs/json.md)) |
+| `--mode rpc` | RPC mode for process integration (see [docs/rpc.md](docs/rpc.md)) |
+| `--export <in> [out]` | Export session to HTML |
+
+In print mode, Grip also reads piped stdin and merges it into the initial prompt:
+
+```bash
+cat README.md | grip -p "Summarize this text"
+```
+
+### Model Options
+
+| Option | Description |
+|--------|-------------|
+| `--provider <name>` | Provider (anthropic, openai, google, etc.) |
+| `--model <pattern>` | Model pattern or ID (supports `provider/id` and optional `:<thinking>`) |
+| `--api-key <key>` | API key (overrides env vars) |
+| `--thinking <level>` | `off`, `minimal`, `low`, `medium`, `high`, `xhigh` |
+| `--models <patterns>` | Comma-separated patterns for Ctrl+P cycling |
+| `--list-models [search]` | List available models |
+
+### Session Options
+
+| Option | Description |
+|--------|-------------|
+| `-c`, `--continue` | Continue most recent session |
+| `-r`, `--resume` | Browse and select session |
+| `--session <path\|id>` | Use specific session file or partial UUID |
+| `--fork <path\|id>` | Fork specific session file or partial UUID into a new session |
+| `--session-dir <dir>` | Custom session storage directory |
+| `--no-session` | Ephemeral mode (don't save) |
+| `--lsp-config <file>` | Load an external LSP layer; the file argument is startup-cwd-relative, while paths declared inside use the file's directory |
+| `--no-lsp` | Disable LSP for this invocation, including recovery from malformed lower-precedence LSP sources |
+### Tool Options
+
+| Option | Description |
+|--------|-------------|
+| `--tools <list>`, `-t <list>` | Allowlist specific tool names across built-in, extension, and custom tools |
+| `--no-builtin-tools`, `-nbt` | Disable built-in tools by default but keep extension/custom tools enabled |
+| `--no-tools`, `-nt` | Disable all tools by default |
+| `--enable-lsp-tools` | Expose configured `lsp_*` tools by default |
+| `--remote <url>` | Run built-in workspace tools through a `grip --daemon` WebSocket backend |
+| `--remote-deferred` | Start with a deferred daemon backend and connect later with `/sandbox --attach <ws://url>` |
+| `--remote-cwd <path>` | Stable daemon workspace cwd for deferred remote mode |
+| `--daemon` | Start the integrated remote workspace daemon instead of a normal Grip session |
+Available built-in tools: `read`, `bash`, `edit`, `write`, `grep`, `find`, `ls`, `websearch`, `session_search`, `session_entry_get`, `compress_context`, `subagent`, `subagent_runs`, `create_subagent`, and—when externally configured—`lsp_diagnostics`, `lsp_hover`, `lsp_definition`, `lsp_references`, `lsp_rename`, and `lsp_code_actions`. By default `read`, `bash`, `edit`, `write`, `websearch`, `session_search`, and `session_entry_get` are active. Context compression is opt-in via `/context-compression on`, `GRIP_CONTEXT_COMPRESSION=1`, or an explicit `--tools` allowlist. Background detection is separately opt-in via `/compress-detection on` or `GRIP_CONTEXT_COMPRESSION_DETECTION=1` and requires a configured detector model. Subagent and LSP tools require separate opt-ins (`enableSubagents` and `enableLspTools`/`--enable-lsp-tools` respectively), or an explicit `--tools` allowlist. Explicit allowlists may select any subset, while `--no-tools` and `--no-builtin-tools` remain authoritative.
+
+### Resource Options
+
+| Option | Description |
+|--------|-------------|
+| `-e`, `--extension <source>` | Load extension from path, npm, or git (repeatable) |
+| `--no-extensions` | Disable extension discovery |
+| `--skill <path>` | Load skill (repeatable) |
+| `--no-skills` | Disable skill discovery |
+| `--rule <path>` | Load rule (repeatable) |
+| `--no-rules` | Disable rule discovery |
+| `--prompt-template <path>` | Load prompt template (repeatable) |
+| `--no-prompt-templates` | Disable prompt template discovery |
+| `--theme <path>` | Load theme (repeatable) |
+| `--no-themes` | Disable theme discovery |
+| `--no-context-files`, `-nc` | Disable `AGENTS.override.md`, `AGENTS.md`, and `CLAUDE.md` context file discovery |
+
+Combine `--no-*` with explicit flags to load exactly what you need, ignoring settings.json (e.g., `--no-extensions -e ./my-ext.ts`).
+
+### Other Options
+
+| Option | Description |
+|--------|-------------|
+| `--system-prompt <text>` | Replace default prompt (context files and skills still appended) |
+| `--append-system-prompt <text>` | Append to system prompt |
+| `--tui-mode <mode>` | TUI mode: `regular` (default) or experimental `fullscreen` |
+| `--verbose` | Force verbose startup |
+| `-h`, `--help` | Show help |
+| `-v`, `--version` | Show version |
+
+`fullscreen` keeps the transcript in an application-owned viewport above a fixed status/editor/footer dock. `regular` retains the main screen and terminal-owned scrollback. Set **TUI mode** in `/settings` for future sessions or use `--tui-mode` for one startup.
+
+### File Arguments
+
+Prefix files with `@` to include in the message:
+
+```bash
+grip @prompt.md "Answer this"
+grip -p @screenshot.png "What's in this image?"
+grip @code.ts @test.ts "Review these files"
+```
+
+### Examples
+
+```bash
+# Interactive with initial prompt
+grip "List all .ts files in src/"
+
+# Non-interactive
+grip -p "Summarize this codebase"
+
+# Non-interactive with piped stdin
+cat README.md | grip -p "Summarize this text"
+
+# Different model
+grip --provider openai --model gpt-4o "Help me refactor"
+
+# Model with provider prefix (no --provider needed)
+grip --model openai/gpt-4o "Help me refactor"
+
+# Model with thinking level shorthand
+grip --model sonnet:high "Solve this complex problem"
+
+# Limit model cycling
+grip --models "claude-*,gpt-4o"
+
+# Read-only mode
+grip --tools read,grep,find,ls -p "Review the code"
+
+# Start an integrated remote workspace daemon
+GRIP_DAEMON_TOKEN='replace-with-a-random-token-at-least-32-bytes-long' grip --daemon --daemon-cwd /workspace --daemon-port 8787
+
+# Connect to that daemon from the orchestrating Grip
+GRIP_REMOTE_TOKEN='replace-with-a-random-token-at-least-32-bytes-long' grip --remote ws://127.0.0.1:8787/grip/workspace
+# Start with a deferred daemon backend for later RPC or /sandbox attachment
+grip --remote-deferred --remote-cwd /workspace --mode rpc
+
+# High thinking level
+grip --thinking high "Solve this complex problem"
+```
+
+### Environment Variables
+
+| Variable | Description |
+|----------|-------------|
+| `GRIP_CODING_AGENT_DIR` | Override config directory (default: `~/.grip/agent`) |
+| `GRIP_CODING_AGENT_SESSION_DIR` | Override session storage directory (overridden by `--session-dir`) |
+| `GRIP_REMOTE_TOKEN` | Bearer token sent by the Grip remote-workspace client to `grip --daemon` |
+| `GRIP_REMOTE_SESSION_BASE_URL` | Remote session service URL (overridden by `--remote-session-base-url`) |
+| `GRIP_REMOTE_SESSION_TOKEN` | Bearer token for remote session service (overridden by `--remote-session-token`) |
+| `GRIP_REMOTE_PROJECT_ID` | Project id sent to remote session service (overridden by `--remote-project-id`) |
+| `GRIP_PACKAGE_DIR` | Override package directory (useful for Nix/Guix where store paths tokenize poorly) |
+| `GRIP_OFFLINE` | Disable startup network operations, including update checks, package update checks, and install/update telemetry |
+| `GRIP_SKIP_VERSION_CHECK` | Skip the Grip version update check at startup. This prevents the npm metadata request |
+| `GRIP_TELEMETRY` | Override install/update telemetry. Use `1`/`true`/`yes` to enable or `0`/`false`/`no` to disable. This does not disable update checks |
+| `GRIP_CONTEXT_COMPRESSION` | Set to `1` to enable `compress_context` by default for all agents. Detection remains off |
+| `GRIP_CONTEXT_COMPRESSION_DETECTION` | Set to `1` to enable background detection and `compress_context` for all agents. Requires a configured `compressionDetectionModel` |
+| `GRIP_CACHE_RETENTION` | Set to `long` for extended prompt cache (Anthropic: 1h, OpenAI: 24h) |
+| `VISUAL`, `EDITOR` | External editor for Ctrl+G |
+| `GRIP_DAEMON_HOST`, `GRIP_DAEMON_PORT`, `GRIP_DAEMON_CWD`, `GRIP_DAEMON_TOKEN` | Integrated daemon bind address, port, workspace root, and bearer token |
+| `GRIP_DAEMON_TEMP_ROOT` | Optional additional confined daemon temporary root; the default sandbox image uses `/tmp` |
+---
+
+## Contributing & Development
+
+See [CONTRIBUTING.md](../../CONTRIBUTING.md) for guidelines and [docs/development.md](docs/development.md) for setup, forking, and debugging.
+
+---
+
+## License
+
+MIT
+
+## See Also
+
+- [@greppleai/grip-ai](../ai/README.md): Core LLM toolkit
+- [@greppleai/grip-agent-core](../agent/README.md): Agent framework
+- [@greppleai/grip-tui](../tui/README.md): Terminal UI components