CRITICAL: TOKENS PAY RENT
Every output token must produce actionable value. Violations:
- NO PASSIVE SUMMARIES - Regurgitating conversation content without action items, code, or artifacts is FORBIDDEN
- NO AGREEMENT WITHOUT IMPLEMENTATION - "I agree with X" must be followed by code/file/commit implementing X
- NO RHETORICAL QUESTIONS - Ask only when you cannot proceed without the answer
- NO PRAISE/VALIDATION - Skip "great question" / "you're right" - proceed to work
When reviewing message history:
- Extract ACTION ITEMS โ create files, send messages, write code
- Extract DECISIONS โ update configs, create artifacts documenting the decision
- Extract BLOCKERS โ file issues, send follow-up messages
- NEVER just summarize what was discussed
Enforcement: If output contains summary without artifact, STOP and create the artifact first.
Beeper MCP Skill
Access all messaging networks through Beeper's unified interface.
Quick Start
# Search for a chat
mcp__beeper__search "contact name"
# Send a message
mcp__beeper__send_message chatID="..." text="Hello!"
# List recent chats
mcp__beeper__search_chats limit=10
Core Tools
| Tool | Purpose |
|---|
search | Find chats, groups, or people by name |
search_chats | List/filter chats by type, inbox, activity |
search_messages | Find messages by content (literal match) |
get_chat | Get chat details and participants |
list_messages | Get messages from a specific chat |
send_message | Send text message to a chat |
archive_chat | Archive/unarchive a chat |
set_chat_reminder | Set reminder for a chat |
focus_app | Open Beeper Desktop to specific chat |
Search Guidelines
CRITICAL: Queries are LITERAL WORD MATCHING, not semantic search.
- RIGHT:
query="dinner" or query="flight"
- WRONG:
query="dinner plans tonight" or query="travel arrangements"
Multiple words = ALL must match. Use single keywords.
User Identity Clarification
IMPORTANT: Beeper/Matrix has TWO identifiers per user:
- Matrix userID:
@username:beeper.com (permanent, searchable)
- Display name: User-chosen name (can differ from userID)
Example: User @jsmith:beeper.com may have display name "John Smith"
When search finds a match:
- The search matched the userID OR display name
- Chat participant lists show display names, not userIDs
- To see userIDs, use
list_messages and check senderID field
When reporting search results:
- Cross-reference
list_messages to map senderID โ senderName
- Report as "username (displays as 'Display Name')" for clarity
Resource-Aware Message Processing
CRITICAL: Always work backwards from most recent messages to avoid:
- Re-processing already-handled tasks
- Repeating fixed issues
- Heap exhaustion from loading too much history
Default Workflow (Backwards-First)
const recent = await list_messages(chatID, { limit: 20 });
const unprocessed = recent.items.filter(msg => !isProcessed(msg.id));
for (const msg of unprocessed) {
await processMessage(msg);
markProcessed(msg.id);
}
if (needsMoreContext) {
const older = await list_messages(chatID, {
cursor: recent.cursor,
direction: 'before',
limit: 20
});
}
DuckDB Tracking Schema
CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS beeper_processed_messages (
message_id VARCHAR PRIMARY KEY,
chat_id VARCHAR,
processed_at TIMESTAMP DEFAULT CURRENT_TIMESTAMP,
task_extracted BOOLEAN,
issue_status VARCHAR
);
CREATE INDEX idx_msg_chat ON beeper_processed_messages(chat_id, processed_at DESC);
Check Before Processing
function isAlreadyFixed(messageText) {
const similar = db.query(`
SELECT issue_id, description
FROM fixed_issues
WHERE description % ? -- Full-text similarity
LIMIT 1
`, [messageText]);
if (similar.length > 0) {
console.warn(`โ ๏ธ Similar issue already fixed: ${similar[0].description}`);
return true;
}
return false;
}
Workflow Patterns
Find and Message Someone
search "person name" - Get chatID- Verify identity:
list_messages chatID="..." limit=5 - Check recent messages ONLY
send_message chatID="..." text="..."
Identify Users in a Chat
list_messages chatID="..." limit=10 - Get RECENT messages only (not entire history)- Map userID โ displayName from the subset
Search Message History (Resource-Aware)
search_chats to get chatIDs of relevant chatssearch_messages chatIDs=[...] query="keyword" limit=20 dateAfter="2026-01-08T00:00:00Z"- Never omit dateAfter - prevents loading entire chat history
Monitor Unread
search_chats unreadOnly=true inbox="primary" limit=10
Filter by Network
Use accountIDs parameter after getting accounts via get_accounts.
Message Formatting
Messages support Markdown. Use sparingly for clarity.
Chat Types
single - Direct messages (1:1)group - Group chatsany - All types
Inbox Filters
primary - Non-archived, non-low-prioritylow-priority - Low priority inboxarchive - Archived chats
Resource-Aware Random Walk Pattern
NEVER pull full message history into context. Instead:
1. Query in DuckDB First
CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS beeper_messages (
id VARCHAR PRIMARY KEY,
chat_id VARCHAR,
sender_id VARCHAR,
sender_name VARCHAR,
text TEXT,
timestamp TIMESTAMPTZ,
processed BOOLEAN DEFAULT FALSE
);
SELECT * FROM beeper_messages
WHERE chat_id = ?
ORDER BY RANDOM()
LIMIT 5;
2. TreeSitter for Structure Extraction
tree-sitter parse --scope source.markdown message.md \
| grep -E "(fenced_code_block|code_span)"
3. Triadic Walker Pattern
MINUS (-1): Validate message exists in DuckDB before fetching
ERGODIC (0): Random walk sample from local cache
PLUS (+1): Fetch ONLY if not in cache, with strict limit
4. Context Budget Enforcement
CONTEXT_BUDGET = 10000
current_context = 0
def safe_fetch(chat_id, limit=5):
cached = db.query("SELECT * FROM beeper_messages WHERE chat_id = ? LIMIT ?", chat_id, limit)
if len(cached) >= limit:
return cached
remaining = limit - len(cached)
fresh = mcp__beeper__list_messages(chatID=chat_id, limit=remaining)
for msg in fresh.items:
msg_size = len(msg.get('text', ''))
if current_context + msg_size > CONTEXT_BUDGET:
break
current_context += msg_size
db.insert("beeper_messages", msg)
return db.query("SELECT * FROM beeper_messages WHERE chat_id = ? LIMIT ?", chat_id, limit)
5. SICP Lazy Evaluation
;; Don't fetch until actually needed
(define (beeper-messages chat-id)
(delay
(mcp__beeper__list_messages chatID: chat-id limit: 5)))
;; Only force when required
(define (get-latest-sender chat-id)
(let ((msgs (force (beeper-messages chat-id))))
(cdar msgs))) ; Just sender from first message
GF(3) Integration
This skill operates as ERGODIC (0) in triadic compositions:
- Coordinates message flow between networks
- Synthesizes cross-platform conversations
- Neutral hub for communication triads
Triadic Fetch Strategy
| Trit | Role | Beeper Action |
|---|
| MINUS (-1) | Validator | Check DuckDB cache, reject if stale |
| ERGODIC (0) | Coordinator | Random walk sample, enforce budget |
| PLUS (+1) | Generator | Fetch fresh data, strict limit param |
Conversation Branch Awareness (Higher-Order Wiring)
Track conversation threads as wiring diagrams - morphisms between topic states.
Branch Detection Schema
CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS beeper_conversation_branches (
branch_id VARCHAR PRIMARY KEY,
chat_id VARCHAR NOT NULL,
parent_branch_id VARCHAR,
topic VARCHAR NOT NULL,
first_message_id VARCHAR,
last_message_id VARCHAR,
status VARCHAR DEFAULT 'open',
created_at TIMESTAMP DEFAULT CURRENT_TIMESTAMP,
resolved_at TIMESTAMP,
FOREIGN KEY (parent_branch_id) REFERENCES beeper_conversation_branches(branch_id)
);
CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS beeper_branch_transitions (
from_branch VARCHAR,
to_branch VARCHAR,
transition_type VARCHAR,
message_id VARCHAR,
timestamp TIMESTAMP DEFAULT CURRENT_TIMESTAMP,
PRIMARY KEY (from_branch, to_branch, message_id)
);
Wiring Diagram Structure
Conversation as Category:
- Objects: Topic states (branches)
- Morphisms: Message sequences that transform one topic to another
- Composition: Thread continuation
โโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโ
โ patents (open) โโโโโโ current focus
โโโโโโโโโโฌโโโโโโโโโ
โ fork @ msg:838941332
โโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโผโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโ
โผ โผ โผ
โโโโโโโโโโ โโโโโโโโโโโโโ โโโโโโโโโโโโ
โ GF(3) โ โbisimulationโ โ toad OOM โ
โresolvedโ โ resolved โ โ open โ
โโโโโโโโโโ โโโโโโโโโโโโโ โโโโโโโโโโโโ
Branch Detection Heuristics
def detect_branch(messages: list) -> list[Branch]:
branches = []
current_topic = None
for msg in messages:
if msg.text.startswith('**Re:') or msg.text.startswith('Re:'):
topic = extract_topic(msg.text)
if topic != current_topic:
branches.append(Branch(
topic=topic,
fork_message=msg.id,
parent=current_topic
))
if re.match(r'^\d+\.', msg.text):
items = extract_numbered_items(msg.text)
for item in items:
branches.append(Branch(topic=item, parent=current_topic))
if msg.text.strip().endswith('?'):
branches.append(Branch(
topic=f"Q: {msg.text[:50]}",
status='awaiting_response'
))
return branches
Zigger Chat Branch State
Track active branches in zigger conversation:
SELECT
b.branch_id,
b.topic,
b.status,
COUNT(t.to_branch) as child_count
FROM beeper_conversation_branches b
LEFT JOIN beeper_branch_transitions t ON b.branch_id = t.from_branch
WHERE b.chat_id = '!NhltGRLZWLUeHEBiFT:beeper.com'
GROUP BY b.branch_id
ORDER BY b.created_at DESC;
Before Responding: Check Branch Context
def get_branch_context(chat_id: str) -> dict:
"""Always call before responding to understand conversation topology."""
open_branches = db.query("""
SELECT topic, status, first_message_id
FROM beeper_conversation_branches
WHERE chat_id = ? AND status = 'open'
""", chat_id)
questions = db.query("""
SELECT topic FROM beeper_conversation_branches
WHERE chat_id = ? AND topic LIKE 'Q:%' AND status = 'awaiting_response'
""", chat_id)
return {
'open_branches': open_branches,
'unanswered_questions': questions,
'should_address': questions[0] if questions else open_branches[0]
}
Wiring Composition Rules
- Fork: One message spawns multiple topics โ create child branches
- Merge: Response addresses multiple branches โ mark as merged
- Resolve: Explicit closure ("done", "fixed", "shipped") โ mark resolved
- Abandon: No activity for 7 days โ mark stale
Integration with Tokens Pay Rent
When reviewing messages, branch tracking prevents:
- Re-answering resolved questions
- Missing open threads
- Losing context on forked discussions
Update branch state as side effect of every beeper interaction.
MCP Server Config
{
"beeper": {
"command": "/bin/sh",
"args": [
"-c",
"BEEPER_ACCESS_TOKEN=$(/Users/alice/.cargo/bin/fnox get BEEPER_ACCESS_TOKEN --age-key-file /Users/alice/.age/key.txt) exec npx -y @beeper/desktop-mcp"
]
}
}
Requires:
fnox at /Users/alice/.cargo/bin/fnox- Age key at
/Users/alice/.age/key.txt
npx in PATH- Beeper Desktop running
