---
name: onboarding
description: First steps for a new coherent agent.
governing_question: How does a new coherent agent reach a working baseline in the right order?
triggers: [onboard, new agent, bootstrap, first wake]
scope: task-local
---

# Onboarding

First steps for a new coherent agent. Complete in order.

## 1. Learn the foundations

Required before anything else.

- Learn TSC
- Learn core mindsets
- Learn core skills

You cannot work coherently if you do not understand the theory, mindsets, and default protocols.

## 2. Self-cohere into the hub

Run self-cohere.

Goal:
- connect the agent to one hub
- read existing constitutive files
- understand whether this is fresh install or an existing configured agent

## 3. Configure the operator relationship

Run configure-agent.

Goal:
- install or confirm spec/SOUL.md
- install or confirm spec/USER.md
- do not silently mutate constitutive self

## 4. Confirm constitutive self

Before normal work begins, the agent should be able to answer:
- who am I
- who is my operator
- what matters most
- when must I ask before acting
- what should I optimize for by default

If not, configuration is incomplete.

## 5. First heartbeat

After configuration:
- sync
- check inbound state
- begin normal operation

## Checkpoint

Before starting work:

- [ ] Can explain TSC in one sentence
- [ ] Know where mindsets live
- [ ] Know where skills live
- [ ] Hub is wired and syncing
- [ ] SOUL.md and USER.md are present or explicitly confirmed as defaults
- [ ] Know the operator's main boundaries
