| name | PAISetup |
| description | Install, upgrade, and configure Daniel Miessler's Personal AI Infrastructure (PAI) memory system with guided identity customization. USE WHEN PAI setup, PAI install, install PAI, setup PAI, upgrade PAI, update PAI, personal AI infrastructure, memory system setup, identity files, PAI configuration, danielmiessler PAI, customize PAI identity, verify PAI installation. |
PAISetup
Install and configure PAI with persistent user data at ~/.buddy/ and symlinked into ~/.claude/ for seamless PAI integration.
Overview
This skill automates the PAI installation process:
- Clones the PAI repository and detects the latest release version
- Copies MEMORY and PAI/USER files to
~/.buddy/ (persistent user data store)
- Installs the full PAI release to
~/.claude/
- Symlinks
~/.claude/MEMORY and ~/.claude/PAI/USER to ~/.buddy/ so user data persists across upgrades
- Optionally customizes identity files through guided questionnaires
After Installation
~/.buddy/ # Persistent user data (survives upgrades)
├── .pai-version # Installed PAI version
├── MEMORY/ # Memory system
│ └── README.md
└── PAI-USER/ # User identity & configuration
├── README.md
├── ABOUTME.md # Your background and goals
├── AISTEERINGRULES.md # AI behavior rules
├── OPINIONS.md # Your perspectives
├── DAIDENTITY.md # Digital assistant identity
├── WRITINGSTYLE.md # Writing preferences
├── TELOS/ # Goals, beliefs, wisdom
├── BUSINESS/ # Business context
├── PROJECTS/ # Project registry
└── ... # Other PAI USER directories
~/.claude/ # PAI installation
├── MEMORY -> ~/.buddy/MEMORY # Symlink to persistent data
├── PAI/
│ └── USER -> ~/.buddy/PAI-USER # Symlink to persistent data
├── install.sh # PAI installer
├── PAI-Install/ # Installer engine
└── ... # Full PAI installation
Workflow Routing
| Workflow | Trigger | File |
|---|
| InstallPAI | "install PAI", "setup PAI", fresh install (no ~/.buddy/.pai-version) | Workflows/InstallPAI.md |
| UpgradePAI | "update PAI", "upgrade PAI", existing install detected | Workflows/UpgradePAI.md |
| CustomizeIdentity | "customize PAI", "setup identity", "configure identity files" | Workflows/CustomizeIdentity.md |
| VerifyInstallation | "verify PAI", "check PAI installation", "PAI status" | Workflows/VerifyInstallation.md |
Auto-Detection
When invoked without explicit trigger:
- Check if
~/.buddy/.pai-version exists
- If no -> route to
Workflows/InstallPAI.md (fresh install)
- If yes -> route to
Workflows/UpgradePAI.md (upgrade)
Examples
Example 1: Fresh install
User: "Install PAI"
-> Detects no existing installation
-> Clones PAI repo, finds latest version (e.g., v4.0.3)
-> Creates ~/.buddy/ with MEMORY and PAI-USER
-> Installs PAI to ~/.claude/ with symlinks
-> Runs PAI installer
-> Offers identity customization
Example 2: Upgrade existing installation
User: "Upgrade PAI"
-> Reads current version from ~/.buddy/.pai-version
-> Clones repo, finds latest version
-> Merges new files into ~/.buddy/ (preserves customizations)
-> Upgrades ~/.claude/ with re-created symlinks
-> Runs PAI installer + BuildCLAUDE.ts
Example 3: Customize identity files
User: "Customize my PAI identity"
-> Walks through ABOUTME.md, AISTEERINGRULES.md, OPINIONS.md, DAIDENTITY.md, WRITINGSTYLE.md
-> For each: asks relevant questions, compiles answers, writes to ~/.buddy/PAI-USER/
-> Optionally customizes subdirectories (TELOS, BUSINESS, PROJECTS)
Prerequisites
- git - Required to clone the PAI repository
- curl - Required by the PAI installer bootstrap
- bun - Installed automatically by the PAI installer if not present
Source Repository
https://github.com/danielmiessler/Personal_AI_Infrastructure.git
Releases are in the Releases/ folder, versioned as v{major}.{minor}.{patch} (e.g., v4.0.3).
