---
schema_version: 1
captured_at:
  iso: 2026-05-10T02:41:13.391Z
  filename: 20260510T024113391Z
source: user_kickoff
---

# Arai

Rust CLI that enforces AI coding assistant instruction files (CLAUDE.md, .cursorrules, etc.) via Claude Code hooks. Single binary, local-first, ~32ms median match cost.

## Current state (2026-05-10)

Five-workstream brand & product direction brief landed and decomposed into 26 GitHub issues on `taniwhaai/arai`:

- **#60 brand identity & visual system** — gateway glyph mark, app icon, animated hero, wordmark; 6 children (#65–#70).
- **#61 folder restructure: `.kete` → `.taniwha/kete`** — code paths, first-run migration prompt, deprecation shim, docs sweep; 4 children (#71–#74). Suggested first workstream — small, mechanical, unblocks rules-file work.
- **#62 committable rules file (`arai.toml`)** — TOML/YAML spike, schema, `arai sync` generator, `arai migrate`, rule-pack reservation; 5 children (#75–#79). Biggest scope item.
- **#63 scope honesty** — README enforcement matrix, Claude-Code-led reframing, repo-layer roadmap; 3 children (#80–#82).
- **#64 UI retune** — palette, gateway-derived glyphs, copy tone audit; 3 children (#83–#85). Blocked by brand work.

## Open decisions

- Cultural review owner for brand work (#60 / #70)
- Backwards-compat window for `.kete` deprecation (#61 / #73)
- TOML vs YAML for canonical rules file (#62 / #75)
- Telemetry posture: opt-in vs opt-out (#63)

## Architecture (existing)

See `CLAUDE.md` at repo root. Key modules: `parser.rs` (7-layer rule extraction), `hooks.rs` (PreToolUse/PostToolUse), `guardrails.rs` (matching), `intent.rs` (severity classification), `audit.rs` (local JSONL log), `compliance.rs` (Pre/Post correlation).

## Why kupu

Bootstrapping kupu now to track decisions and events as we work through the 26 issues. GitHub issues remain the to-do tracker; kupu records the durable *why* (decisions + rationale) and the timeline (events).
