namba-intent

Don't run the agent yet. Compile the intent first.

namba-intent is a Project Intent Compiler for AI Agents.

namba-intent helps turn rough project intent into a reviewed, structured, locked intent before downstream work begins.

v0.6.4 is the current published namba-intent release. The primary command is namba-intent; the legacy ni command is a deprecated shim only.

Workflow

• Capture Intent: collect the rough goal, users, constraints, risks, and blockers.
• Clarify Context: turn vague or missing context into explicit planning questions.
• Draft Structure: write the intent into docs and a machine-readable contract.
• Review & Refine: use deterministic status proof and user review to improve the plan.
• Lock Intent: lock the accepted intent before downstream work begins.

Why namba-intent

AI agents move fast. namba-intent slows down only the part that should be slow: deciding what the project actually means before implementation starts.

• Capture missing users, acceptance criteria, risks, non-goals, and blockers.
• Check planning readiness with deterministic CLI rules.
• Lock the accepted plan and hash the trusted planning sources.
• Compile a short prompt for downstream actors without executing it.

Install

README shows two primary first-success paths for the current tree. Source, local build, release archive, pinned installs, dry-run, inspect-first, BINDIR, uninstall details, and the v0.5.1 public-release distinction live in Install namba-intent.

macOS

Install the latest namba-intent release with the curl installer:

curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Nam-Cheol/ni/main/install.sh | sh -s -- --update-path

Open a new shell after installation, then verify the command:

namba-intent --help
namba-intent version

Homebrew: Planned / v0.5 candidate.

Windows

The PowerShell installer is configured to install namba-intent.exe to %LOCALAPPDATA%\namba-intent\bin by default and update User PATH only. Windows real-host verification remains pending until a Windows transcript exists.

$Installer = Join-Path $env:TEMP "namba-intent-install.ps1"
irm https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Nam-Cheol/ni/main/install.ps1 -OutFile $Installer
powershell -NoProfile -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File $Installer

Open a new PowerShell session and verify:

namba-intent --help
namba-intent version

PowerShell alias cleanup for ni -> New-Item is legacy v0.5.x guidance and is not required for namba-intent.exe. Real-host Windows execution remains deferred until a Windows transcript exists.

First project in 5 minutes

mkdir my-project
cd my-project
namba-intent init .
namba-intent status --proof --next-questions
namba-intent end
namba-intent run --max-chars 4000

namba-intent init . opens a guided setup and creates .ni/contract.json, .ni/session.json, and docs/plan/**. Your first answers can be rough or incomplete; use status to find the missing pieces. namba-intent keeps .ni/ for compatibility.

namba-intent status --proof --next-questions is the CLI-authoritative readiness gate. A model or skill can help draft docs and answer next questions, but the CLI decides readiness.

namba-intent end locks the accepted plan and writes .ni/plan.lock.json only after the CLI gate reports READY and you agree with the plan.

namba-intent run --max-chars 4000 compiles a bounded downstream handoff prompt. It does not execute the prompt, run agents, run shell commands, or prove product readiness.

Model assistance is optional: ask an AI assistant to read docs/plan/**, .ni/contract.json, and .ni/session.json, then help refine the plan. Skills are UX; CLI is authority.

What namba-intent Does

Command	Role
namba-intent init .	Create a planning workspace and guided intent draft.
namba-intent status --proof --next-questions	Check readiness, blockers, and next planning questions.
namba-intent end	Lock the accepted plan through the CLI gate.
namba-intent run --max-chars 4000	Compile a bounded prompt from a valid lock.

What namba-intent Does Not Do

namba-intent is not a task runner, SPEC runner, multi-agent execution layer, queue, shell adapter, PR automation system, release automation system, or downstream execution runtime.

Status

• v0.5.1 publication: verified for the historical ni command.
• v0.6.4 release: published and verified for namba-intent on macOS darwin/arm64.
• Primary command in current tree: namba-intent.
• Deprecated transition shim: ni warns ni is deprecated; use namba-intent.
• Repository: Nam-Cheol/ni retained.
• Config directory: .ni/ retained.
• Homebrew: Planned / v0.5 candidate.
• Windows real-host execution: deferred until a Windows transcript exists.
• Model workspace packs: Experimental. Host-level/global install remains unverified unless documented.
• No-terminal method: Experimental / assisted.
• Skills are UX; CLI is authority.

Read next

Read	Why
Install namba-intent	Detailed install, release binary, curl installer, and uninstall paths.
Rename implementation	v0.6.0 command rename surfaces and claim boundaries.
Intent Lock Protocol	Readiness, locking, hash trust, and blocked handoff rules.
No-Terminal Planning	Assisted workflow boundaries; not deterministic validation.
Model Workspace Status	Experimental model workspace boundaries and verification state.

License: namba-intent is licensed under the MIT License.