Start intake from the Dashboard

Intake turns an idea into a task spec by asking you questions one at a time. You can run it in the Dashboard or in your terminal with kusaw intake. Both end the same way: a spec you queue as a run, or discard.

This page covers the Dashboard. kusaw up must be running for the factory.

Start an intakeCopy Anchor Link

1. Open the factory's Runs page and choose Add task.
2. Open the Start intake tab.
3. Write the idea in Idea, pick the repos, and choose Start intake.

The intake page opens with Starting intake. The first question will appear here.

If Kusaw isn't running for the factory, the dialog says so after 10 seconds. Run kusaw up, then choose Try again, or use Open in terminal.

Some intakes can't run in the Dashboard: a custom step that needs a terminal stops the start with This intake can't run in the Dashboard. Run it in a terminal instead.

Answer the questionsCopy Anchor Link

Each question shows in the chat as Agent · Question n. Write your answer in the reply box and press Enter (Shift+Enter adds a new line). When the agent recommends an answer, Use suggested answer sends it.

The state chip in the header shows where the intake is:

• Your turn — the agent is waiting for your answer.
• Thinking — the agent is working on your answer.
• Writing the spec — Kusaw is running the intake's other steps; the next question or the spec appears when they finish.
• Interrupted — Kusaw stopped or the computer slept during an answer. Choose Send again.

The pane on the right shows Decisions so far while you answer, then the spec. Below 1024 pixels wide, use the Chat and Draft tabs.

Queue or discard the specCopy Anchor Link

When the spec is ready, the agent asks Here is the spec. Queue it to start a run?

• Queue it queues the task. The page shows the run and Open run.
• Discard ends the intake. Nothing is queued.
• Or say what to change and Send change asks for another version. After 3 changes, you can only queue, discard, or start a new intake.

If the spec isn't ready, there is no Queue it; discard it or say what to change.

Come back laterCopy Anchor Link

You can close the page. Open intakes are listed on the Runs page under Intakes in progress, with their state and age; choose Continue to return. An intake with no reply for 72 hours expires, and nothing is queued.

Cancel intake in the header ends an intake after you confirm. Nothing is queued.

Use the terminal insteadCopy Anchor Link

Open in terminal shows the kusaw intake command for the same idea and repos, with Copy command. The command starts a new intake in the terminal; it doesn't continue the chat in the Dashboard.

If it goes wrongCopy Anchor Link

• Kusaw isn't running for this factory, so the intake can't start. — run kusaw up, then Try again.
• Live updates are paused. — the page can't reach Kusaw and checks again every 2 seconds.
• The agent couldn't finish this intake. — start a new intake, or run the command in a terminal.

See also Write a good task and Read the Dashboard.