Intent Compiler
Build structured intent specs through Socratic conversation in your terminal. Zero config. No signup. Just add the MCP server and start talking.
Works with Claude Code today. Cursor and Windsurf support coming soon.
How it works
Claude becomes your product thinking partner. It challenges vague ideas until the spec is clear enough to build.
1. Describe the problem
Paste a support ticket, describe a user complaint, or just say what's broken. Claude starts by challenging your framing.
2. Socratic conversation
Claude pushes back on vague language, asks one pointed question at a time, and proposes precise spec fields as clarity emerges.
3. Save & export
When the spec is ready, Claude writes intent.md to your project and optionally exports as .cursorrules or CLAUDE.md.
What you get
A structured spec that AI coding agents can actually execute. Not a vague description — a precise contract with objectives, testable outcomes, and edge cases.
- intent.md
The structured spec file. YAML frontmatter + markdown sections. Readable by humans, parseable by tools.
- .cursorrules
Agent-directive format. Cursor reads this automatically and sees the intent as its implementation context.
- CLAUDE.md
Appends a Pathmode section to your project's CLAUDE.md. Every Claude Code conversation sees the intent.
---
id: "intent_17291..."
version: 1
status: "draft"
---
# Fix Checkout Payment Timeout
## Objective
Reduce cart abandonment caused by payment step
timeouts exceeding 3 seconds, where users see
a spinner with no status feedback or recovery path.
## Outcomes
- [ ] Payment completes in under 3 seconds for
95th percentile of transactions
- [ ] Users see real-time status during processing
- [ ] Failed payments show actionable error with
retry button
## Edge Cases
- **Network timeout during payment**: Show retry
button, do not double-charge
- **Payment provider returns unknown status**:
Hold order, notify user within 30 secondsGet started in 30 seconds
Add the Pathmode MCP server to your Claude Code settings. No API key needed.
Add to your Claude Code settings
{
"mcpServers": {
"pathmode": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["@pathmode/mcp-server"]
}
}
}Start a conversation
> Help me write an intent spec for improving our search resultsClaude picks up the compile-intent prompt and becomes your Socratic product thinking partner.
Save and export
When the spec is ready, Claude automatically calls intent_save to write intent.md to your project root. Want agent-ready output? Ask for .cursorrules or CLAUDE.md export too.
From REPL to Runtime
The Intent Compiler gives you structured specs in your terminal. When you need dependency tracking, team collaboration, and governance — connect to the full platform.
Intent Compiler
Free, zero-config
- Socratic spec building in terminal
- Export to intent.md / .cursorrules / CLAUDE.md
- Works offline, no account needed
- Single-intent, single-developer
Pathmode Platform
For teams shipping with AI
- Everything in Compiler, plus:
- Intent dependency graphs & critical path
- Evidence board — link specs to user feedback
- Team collaboration & governance
- Auto-sync to Linear and Jira