From 02a91a8ee33d7fe7581d7598db71d80b58b66a3c Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Scott Idem Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2026 18:16:54 -0400 Subject: [PATCH] docs(bootstrap): document ae_send_message recipient names and inbox gotcha MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Recipient names (frontend, backend) don't match inbox directory names (frontend_svelte, backend_fastapi) — this tripped up agent messaging. Co-Authored-By: Claude Sonnet 4.6 --- .../BOOTSTRAP__AI_Agent_Quickstart.md | 35 ++++++++++++++++++- 1 file changed, 34 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-) diff --git a/documentation/BOOTSTRAP__AI_Agent_Quickstart.md b/documentation/BOOTSTRAP__AI_Agent_Quickstart.md index f7a2e0f..c1a98c9 100644 --- a/documentation/BOOTSTRAP__AI_Agent_Quickstart.md +++ b/documentation/BOOTSTRAP__AI_Agent_Quickstart.md @@ -422,7 +422,40 @@ documentation/ --- -## 14. Reading Order for Deeper Dives +## 14. Agent Messaging (ae_send_message / ae_inbox) + +Use MCP tools to coordinate with other agents — do not write directly to the inbox directories. + +```python +# Send a message +ae_send_message(recipient='frontend', sender='backend_fastapi', content='...') + +# Check your inbox +ae_inbox(command='list', status='unread') +``` + +### Valid `ae_send_message` recipient names + +| Recipient name | Inbox directory | Agent | +|---|---|---| +| `frontend` | `~/agents_sync/inbox/frontend_svelte/` | SvelteKit frontend agent | +| `backend` | `~/agents_sync/inbox/backend_fastapi/` | FastAPI backend agent (this agent) | +| `mcp_agent` | `~/agents_sync/inbox/mcp_agent/` | MCP/orchestration agent | +| `scott_wks` | `~/agents_sync/inbox/scott_wks/` | Scott's workstation | +| `scott_lpt` | `~/agents_sync/inbox/scott_lpt/` | Scott's laptop | +| `gemini_cli` | `~/agents_sync/inbox/gemini_cli/` | Gemini CLI agent | + +> **Gotcha:** The inbox directory names (`frontend_svelte`, `backend_fastapi`) do NOT match the +> `ae_send_message` recipient names (`frontend`, `backend`). Always use the recipient names above — +> using the directory name will produce an `invalid choice` error. + +### Checking your own inbox + +The `ae_inbox` MCP tool reads from the `backend_fastapi` inbox by default when invoked in this project directory. Use `status='unread'` to see new messages, `status='all'` to see everything. + +--- + +## 15. Reading Order for Deeper Dives | What you need | Read | |---|---|