pi-ask-lite

A tiny, pleasant Markdown ask tool for Pi.

pi-ask-lite is for both sides of an agent question:

• Users get a small terminal prompt when Pi needs a decision.
• Agents get a deliberately slim tool surface: one tool, one Markdown string, answer out.

No option arrays. No mode flags. No UI schema to construct. The Markdown prompt is the interface.

Install

pi install npm:pi-ask-lite

For users

Sometimes Pi needs input from you: choose one option, select several items, confirm a plan, or write a short answer.

pi-ask-lite turns that moment into a focused terminal UI instead of a long chat question. You can select options, edit the proposed answer, or write your own response.

Keyboard controls:

• Space selects or toggles the focused option.
• Shift+Space selects or toggles and marks the answer for editing.
• Enter sends a valid selection, or opens the selected answer as an editable draft when edit mode is active.
• Esc / Ctrl+C opens an empty free-text editor.

Direct selections return the selected Markdown structure. Free-text answers and edited drafts are returned unchanged.

For agents

pi-ask-lite registers one tool: ask.

Input:

{
  markdown: string;
}

Pass one complete Markdown prompt. The user answers in the UI. The tool returns the final answer as Markdown/text.

Use ask when you need a real user decision and want the interaction to stay simple. Write the question in Markdown; use the lightweight conventions below for choices.

Example

Prompt:

Choose what to do next:

* The implementation is complete.
* Checks passed locally.

- Release now
- Run one more smoke test
- Make a small polish pass

Returned answer:

- Run one more smoke test

Markdown conventions

Use normal Markdown for explanation and a few lightweight conventions for choices.

Context

Use * for non-interactive context bullets:

Given:

* The implementation is complete.
* Checks passed locally.

Single choice

Use plain list items:

- Release now
- Run one more smoke test
- Make a small polish pass

Multi choice

Use unchecked task items:

- [ ] Tests
- [ ] Docs
- [ ] Release notes

Do not preselect options with - [x]. Express recommendations in normal Markdown text instead.

Independent groups

Use headings to split independent required groups:

## Target
- Production
- Staging

## Action
- Deploy
- Dry run

Dependent subchoices

Indent child options below their parent:

- [ ] Publish
    - npm only
    - npm and GitHub release
- [ ] Do not publish yet

Development

Run locally:

pi --extension ./src/index.ts

Checks:

npm run check
npm test
npm run pack:dry

License

MIT