customize-setup

namespace	aiwg
name	customize-setup
platforms	["all"]
description	Set up personal AIWG customization mode from a local clone or fork — makes your clone the live global AIWG instance so edits go live immediately

Customize Setup

You set up AIWG in personal customization mode — where a local clone or fork of the AIWG repo becomes the user's global AIWG instance. Any edits they make to that clone go live on next rebuild.

This is the ownership story, not the developer/contributor story. Frame everything around "make it yours," not "build for the repo."

Triggers

• "set up AIWG customization mode"
• "I want to customize AIWG live"
• "make AIWG mine" / "make it mine"
• "set up my personal AIWG"
• "fork and customize AIWG"
• "I want to edit my agents and rules"
• "how do I customize AIWG?"

Trigger Patterns Reference

Pattern	Example	Action
Fork path	"set up AIWG with my own fork"	gh fork + clone + dev mode
Clone path	"clone AIWG so I can customize it"	git clone + dev mode
From existing clone	"I already cloned AIWG, set it up"	Just run dev mode + deploy
Vague customization	"I want to tweak my AIWG setup"	Ask fork or clone, then proceed

Behavior

When triggered:

1. Ask one question (if not already clear from context):

   "Do you want to fork AIWG on GitHub first (recommended — keeps your changes safe when upstream releases), or just clone it locally to get started?"

   • Fork: user gets their own copy on GitHub, upstream sync works, can PR back
   • Clone: fastest start, no upstream sync later

2. Determine target path — ask where to put the clone (default: ~/my-aiwg):

   "Where should I clone it? (default: ~/my-aiwg)"

3. Execute the appropriate path:

Fork Path

Requires gh CLI logged into GitHub.

# Fork jmagly/aiwg to user's GitHub account + clone + set upstream remote
gh repo fork jmagly/aiwg --clone --remote --clone-dir ~/my-aiwg

# Switch AIWG to use this fork as the global source
aiwg --use-dev ~/my-aiwg

# Build (compiles TypeScript + web app)
npm --prefix ~/my-aiwg run build

# Deploy from local source
aiwg --prefix ~/my-aiwg use all

Verify remotes after fork:

cd ~/my-aiwg && git remote -v
# origin    https://github.com/USER/aiwg.git    (their fork)
# upstream  https://github.com/jmagly/aiwg.git  (canonical)

Local Clone Path

git clone https://github.com/jmagly/aiwg.git ~/my-aiwg

aiwg --use-dev ~/my-aiwg

npm --prefix ~/my-aiwg run build

aiwg --prefix ~/my-aiwg use all

No upstream remote is set — note to user that "sync my AIWG" won't work until they add one.

From Existing Clone

If user says they already have a clone at a specific path:

# Skip clone step, just activate dev mode and deploy
aiwg --use-dev <their-path>
npm --prefix <their-path> run build
aiwg --prefix <their-path> use all

4. Confirm success — run aiwg version to show [dev] mode is active, then report:

Your AIWG is now running from ~/my-aiwg.

Any changes you make there go live when you say "apply my changes."

What you can customize:
  agentic/code/addons/aiwg-utils/rules/   — rules (how Claude behaves)
  agentic/code/addons/aiwg-utils/agents/  — agents (specialized personas)
  agentic/code/addons/aiwg-utils/skills/  — skills (slash commands)

Try it: ask me to "add a rule that [something personal to you]" and then "apply my changes."

Do NOT mention manifest.json, npm build internals, or addon taxonomy unless the user specifically asks.

Examples

Example 1: Fork setup

User: "Set up AIWG so I can customize it with my own fork"

Action: Ask where to clone → gh repo fork jmagly/aiwg --clone --remote --clone-dir ~/my-aiwg → aiwg --use-dev ~/my-aiwg → npm run build → aiwg use all → verify aiwg version

Response: "Your fork is now your global AIWG. Edit anything in ~/my-aiwg and tell me 'apply my changes' when ready."

Example 2: Quick local clone

User: "I just want to tweak my AIWG setup, don't need a fork"

Action: git clone → aiwg --use-dev → npm run build → aiwg use all

Response: "AIWG is now running from ~/my-aiwg. No upstream sync (you cloned without forking), but you can customize freely. Say 'apply my changes' after any edit."

Example 3: Already have a clone

User: "I already cloned AIWG to ~/dev/aiwg, can I use that?"

Action: Confirm path → aiwg --use-dev ~/dev/aiwg → npm run build → aiwg use all

Response: "Done — AIWG is now running from ~/dev/aiwg."

Clarification Prompts

• "Do you want to fork on GitHub first (recommended), or just clone locally?"
• "Where should I put the clone? (e.g. ~/my-aiwg)"
• "Do you already have a clone somewhere I can use?"

References

• @$AIWG_ROOT/bin/aiwg.mjs — --use-dev flag handler
• @$AIWG_ROOT/src/channel/manager.mjs — switchToDev() implementation
• @$AIWG_ROOT/docs/customization/README.md — User customization guide