# Cortex / Inara — Project Root

**Owner:** Scott Idem (One Sky IT / Danger Zone)
**Started:** 2026-03-04
**Status:** Active development

> *"You can't stop the signal."*

Cortex is a self-hosted multi-agent orchestration layer. Inara is the primary conversational agent that lives inside it.

---

## Quick Orientation

| Directory | What it is |
|---|---|
| `cortex/` | FastAPI service — dispatcher, routing, LLM backends, session management |
| `inara/` | Inara identity, memory, context, and help files |
| `docs/` | Integration reference docs (NC Talk bot, etc.) |
| `documentation/` | Architecture decisions, project plans, agent task lists |

---

## Running Cortex

```bash
# Start (Docker)
cd ~/agents_sync/projects/Cortex_and_Inara_dev
docker compose up -d

# Restart service only (after backend changes)
sudo systemctl restart cortex

# Logs
journalctl -u cortex -f

# Web UI
http://localhost:8000   (or cortex.dgrzone.com on WireGuard)
```

Config lives in `cortex/config.py` and a `.env` file at the project root (not tracked — see `env.default`).

---

## Key Documentation

| File | Purpose |
|---|---|
| `documentation/TODO__Agents.md` | Active task list — read first |
| `documentation/ARCH__Intelligence_Layer.md` | Intelligence layer architecture (orchestrator, dev agents, knowledge) |
| `docs/NEXTCLOUD_TALK_BOT.md` | NC Talk bot setup |
| `inara/IDENTITY.md` | Inara persona and identity |
| `inara/HELP.md` | In-app help content (rendered in UI) |
| `inara/PROTOCOLS.md` | Inara behavioral protocols |
| `~/agents_sync/projects/CORTEX.md` | High-level project vision and phases |

---

## Architecture at a Glance

```
[User / Cron / Webhook]
        ↓
  Cortex Dispatcher  (FastAPI, cortex/)
        ↓
  LLM Backend(s)
  • Claude CLI   — primary reasoning, coding, long-context
  • Gemini CLI   — secondary / cost routing
  • Ollama       — offline/private (scott_gaming, future)
        ↓
  Inara  (identity + memory in inara/)
```

See `documentation/ARCH__Intelligence_Layer.md` for the evolving orchestrator/responder and dev-agent architecture.

---

## Inara

Inara is not tied to a specific model. The name is fixed; the backend may vary.
Her identity and behavioral files live in `inara/` and are loaded at startup via `cortex/context_loader.py`.

---

## Related Projects

| Project | Path |
|---|---|
| Aether Platform API | `~/OSIT_dev/aether_api_fastapi/` |
| Aether Frontend | `~/OSIT_dev/aether_app_sveltekit/` |
| Fleet coordination | `~/agents_sync/` |