PAI_DIR Theory

[Ne0nd0g]

One thing that I've always found confusing is the theory behind the PAI_DIR environment variable. When I say theory I mostly mean how it is designed to function. For example, should PAI_DIR be the directory that is the result of cloning the repository? Should it be ~/.claude? Can it be any arbitrary place that I want? Can the hooks in Claude Code's settings.json point to a directory outside of ~/.claude? Should I be creating a sym link to it in ~/.claude? What should PAI_DIR point to if I'm not using Claude Code?

When the install scripts asks "Where should PAI be installed?" how do I understand enough to make an informed decision on it? Looks like the latest install script installs at ~/.config/pai. Why here? What's the logic for choosing this directory? Is there a shift from using the ~/.claude directory?

Personal_AI_Infrastructure/Bundles/Kai/install.ts

Line 175 in ffa7dea

"~/.config/pai"

I think it would be valuable to add a section to the README.md that explains this so PAI users can be informed and better understand the system.

[Ne0nd0g]

Another related challenge in understanding is how should Claude Code be started when using PAI? Should I always start Claude Code from the PAI_DIR? Should I always start Claude Code in ~/.claude? Should I start Claude Code in the root of the project I'm about to work on? Does it even matter where I start Claude Code, can I start it from anywhere?

[keithce]

I think I can answer some of those questions, at least the simple ones, such as: you start Claude Code in whatever directory you want to be working in. So, usually you have a repository checked out for a project you're working on, and you start Claude Code or Claude in that particular directory. Then it picks up and automatically finds the rest of your Personal_AI_Infrastructure.
I can't speak for Daniel or the design of it, but my guess is that the paradigm of putting things in the ~/.config/pai directory follows the same paradigm as a whole lot of other tools that put specific folders within the ~/.config directory. And lastly, I believe the place where you clone the repository doesn't really matter as that will be updated and is more of a reference.

[selogreen]

Some better documentation for clarity on usage of the PAI system and PAI_DIR would be helpful. The overall UX is very ethereal. The high-level documentation for how you should approach it is great, technical setup is severely lackluster.

From what I have learned, starting Claude Code in PAI_DIR seemingly matters (or my setup is borked). For at least the KAI bundle: hooks, skills, and CORE won't load into CC's context if I don't run CC from the PAI_DIR.

[danielmiessler]

The core setup includes the startup hook calling the core context from the core skill. So that should not matter. When I run out of any system, I'm fully booted up with context because the core skill is loaded on startup.

[danielmiessler]

And this is just reinforcing because core is one of the skills, and Claude Code loads skills, metadata on startup anyway.

[danielmiessler]

Answer your question about the theory. The theory is simply because PAI_DIR could be codecs or it could be Gemini or it could be a custom agent infrastructure. So I don't want to call it Claude_DIR or.Claude or anything like that. Hence, PAI_DIR.

[Ne0nd0g]

That helps, but I feel like I still have unanswered questions. Implied or tribal knowledge is good, but explicit documentation is better. I don't have any questions on the naming of PAI_DIR, that part makes sense to me. I more have questions about the theory of operations around the PAI_DIR environment variable from install (where it should live), to the execution of PAI, updates, etc.

[badosanjos]

I arrived here yesterday and decided to move from Cursor to Claude Code yesterday because of this project. So I'm new to Claude Code and to the PAI. But it seems to me that this location of seetings is more a question if you want Claude to be standard when you work in other projects, or if you want the PAI Identity and Tools in all that Claude does.. Am I right ?

[Ne0nd0g]

I'm confused now after running install.ts from the Kai Bundle directory because it says that is going to install in ~/.claude

============================================================
  KAI BUNDLE SETUP
============================================================

This wizard will configure your AI assistant.

Installation directory: ~/.claude (standard Claude Code location)

[danielmiessler]

It should have made a backup first….see if there's a .claude-bak or something. Daniel

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On Tue, Dec 30, 2025 at 12:11 PM, Russel Van Tuyl < ***@***.*** > wrote: *Ne0nd0g* left a comment (danielmiessler/ Personal_AI_Infrastructure#265) ( #265 (comment) ) I'm confused now after running install.ts from the Kai Bundle directory because it says that is going to install in ~/.claude ============================================================ KAI BUNDLE SETUP ============================================================ This wizard will configure your AI assistant. Installation directory: ~/.claude (standard Claude Code location) — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub ( #265 (comment) ) , or unsubscribe ( https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AAAMLXTHWEHGR6DVHURIWL34ELL5ZAVCNFSM6AAAAACQKSLWBKVHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43OSLTON2WKQ3PNVWWK3TUHMZTOMBQGQYDMNJTGM ). You are receiving this because you commented. Message ID: <danielmiessler/Personal_AI_Infrastructure/issues/265/3700406533 @ github. com>

[Ne0nd0g]

It did make a backup. I'm just confused on why it installed there and not in ~/.config/pai? What if I'm not using Claude Code?

[danielmiessler]

It's supposed to auto-detect that, but it's a good point. We could clarify that.

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On Tue, Dec 30, 2025 at 12:14 PM, Russel Van Tuyl < ***@***.*** > wrote: *Ne0nd0g* left a comment (danielmiessler/ Personal_AI_Infrastructure#265) ( #265 (comment) ) It did make a backup. I'm just confused on why it installed there and not in ~/.config/pai ? What if I'm not using Claude Code? — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub ( #265 (comment) ) , or unsubscribe ( https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AAAMLXT75ZWWFQ3W7SORPCT4ELMMBAVCNFSM6AAAAACQKSLWBKVHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43OSLTON2WKQ3PNVWWK3TUHMZTOMBQGQZDOMRZGU ). You are receiving this because you commented. Message ID: <danielmiessler/Personal_AI_Infrastructure/issues/265/3700427295 @ github. com>

[jmatthewpryor]

I posted a similar question in the discussions forum - sorry about the duplication. The reason I think clarity here is important is because some people (like me) might already be heavy users of Claude or Claude Code for more 'normal' AI tasks like software development etc. Give the lack of clarity, I am nervous about unintended consequences to my current use of Claude Code by allowing PAI to replace/override by ~/.claude directly. E.g. I am a big user and fan of Jesse Vincent SuperPowers Claude Code plugin - what will be the impact on my work patterns and use of that once I install PAI?
I think some additional documentation will help people like me - I want to experiment with PAI - but not at the expense of losing current workflows that I have not replacement for (yet) - thanks

[danielmiessler]

As long as you have a back up, you're not gonna lose anything you can simply tell Claude or your new DA to go replicate those workflows by looking in that directory

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On Tue, Dec 30, 2025 at 12:19, J. Matthew Pryor < ***@***.*** > wrote: *jmatthewpryor* left a comment (danielmiessler/Personal_AI_Infrastructure#265) ( #265 (comment) ) I posted a similar question in the discussions forum - sorry about the duplication. The reason I think clarity here is important is because some people (like me) might already be heavy users of Claude or Claude Code for more 'normal' AI tasks like software development etc. Give the lack of clarity, I am nervous about unintended consequences to my current use of Claude Code by allowing PAI to replace/override by ~/.claude directly. E.g. I am a big user and fan of Jesse Vincent SuperPowers ( https://github.com/obra/superpowers ) Claude Code plugin - what will be the impact on my work patterns and use of that once I install PAI? I think some additional documentation will help people like me - I want to experiment with PAI - but not at the expense of losing current workflows that I have not replacement for (yet) - thanks — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub ( #265 (comment) ) , or unsubscribe ( https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AAAMLXQ5K5TMP4Z55UNHPYT4ELM37AVCNFSM6AAAAACQKSLWBKVHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43OSLTON2WKQ3PNVWWK3TUHMZTOMBQGQ2TGNZYGM ). You are receiving this because you commented. Message ID: <danielmiessler/Personal_AI_Infrastructure/issues/265/3700453783 @ github. com>

[danielmiessler]

Fixed! Added a comprehensive "Understanding PAI_DIR" section to the README that explains:

1. What PAI_DIR is - the single source of truth for your installation location
2. Repository vs Installation - clarifies that the cloned repo is separate from your actual installation
3. Default behavior - defaults to ~/.claude (Claude Code's standard location)
4. When to customize - guidance on when you might want a different location
5. How tools resolve PAI_DIR - the resolution order: PAI_DIR → PAI_HOME → ~/.claude

The new section uses a "cookbook vs kitchen" analogy to make the distinction clear.

See the README section "## 📂 Understanding PAI_DIR" for the full documentation.

Thanks for pushing for clarity on this - it's a fundamental concept that needed proper documentation!