npm CLI

The assimilai npm package tracks assimilated code in package.json under the "assimilai" key.

Install

npm install -g assimilai

Or as a dev dependency:

npm install --save-dev assimilai

Or run without installing:

npx assimilai --help

Commands

assimilai init

Record an assimilation. Scans files in the target directory and records each with its sha256 hash.

assimilai init <name> \
  --source <path-or-url> \
  --version <semver> \
  --target <local-dir>

Flag	Required	Description
<name>	yes	Entry name (e.g. agent-harness)
--source	yes	Path or URL to the reference package
--version	yes	Semver of the reference at copy time
--target	yes	Local directory where files were placed
--package-json	no	Path to package.json (default: package.json)

What it does:

1. Reads the existing package.json
2. Scans all files in --target (skipping hidden directories)
3. Computes sha256 for each file
4. Records everything as verbatim under assimilai.packages.<name>
5. Sets assimilated to today’s date

assimilai check

Verify integrity of assimilated files.

assimilai check [name]

Flag	Required	Description
[name]	no	Check a specific package (omit to check all)
--package-json	no	Path to package.json (default: package.json)

What it reports:

• OK — file hash matches the recorded sha256
• DRIFT — file was modified (hash mismatch)
• MISSING — file was deleted
• SKIP — file is adapted or dissolved (expected to differ)

Exit code 0 if all verbatim files match; non-zero if any drift or missing files are detected, or if a requested package name is not found.

package.json schema

{
  "assimilai": {
    "packages": {
      "harness-claude": {
        "source": "../packages/agent-harness",
        "version": "0.6.0",
        "target": "src/clients/claude",
        "assimilated": "2026-03-24",
        "files": {
          "daemon.js": { "status": "adapted" },
          "transport.js": {
            "status": "verbatim",
            "sha256": "e3b0c44..."
          },
          "config.js": {
            "status": "dissolved",
            "into": "src/clients/claude/settings.js"
          }
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

File status

After running init, all files start as verbatim. To mark a file as adapted or dissolved, edit package.json directly:

{
  "daemon.js": { "status": "adapted" },
  "config.js": {
    "status": "dissolved",
    "into": "src/settings.js"
  }
}

assimilai check will then skip these files.

Walkthrough

# 1. Copy reference files into your project
cp -r ../packages/agent-harness/ ./src/clients/claude/

# 2. Record the assimilation
assimilai init harness-claude \
  --source ../packages/agent-harness \
  --version 0.6.0 \
  --target ./src/clients/claude

# 3. Adapt files as needed
# Edit daemon.js, dissolve config.js into settings.js...

# 4. Update package.json to reflect changes
# Mark adapted/dissolved files manually

# 5. Check integrity of verbatim files
assimilai check harness-claude