Lazy user #53

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opened 2026-06-10 07:14:27 -07:00 by moble · 3 comments

moble commented

2026-06-10 07:14:27 -07:00

(Migrated from github.com)

First, let me say that I really appreciate this package, and have found great success with it, so thank you!

However, I'm still unclear as to how the magic works exactly, and what's necessary or available. Previously, I've just stumbled around until it started working, and never figured out why it started working. I'd like to be able to give Claude some memory so that it will be able to just use Kaimon whenever it needs to, without me remembering all the steps. So in the spirit of that laziness, I have some questions:

Can I have Claude start kaimon in the background, and let it just keep running forever, and then every chat will be able to use that one? If so, can I later connect the awesome TUI to that background task so I can see what's going on?

Do I literally need to open my own REPL to run Gate.serve? Can Claude do it for me somehow?

First, let me say that I really appreciate this package, and have found great success with it, so thank you! However, I'm still unclear as to how the magic works exactly, and what's necessary or available. Previously, I've just stumbled around until it started working, and never figured out why it started working. I'd like to be able to give Claude some memory so that it will be able to just use Kaimon whenever it needs to, without me remembering all the steps. So in the spirit of that laziness, I have some questions: Can I have Claude start `kaimon` in the background, and let it just keep running forever, and then every chat will be able to use that one? If so, can I later connect the awesome TUI to that background task so I can see what's going on? Do I literally need to open my own REPL to run `Gate.serve`? Can Claude do it for me somehow?

aji-fullstack commented

2026-06-11 05:20:10 -07:00

(Migrated from github.com)

Hey @moble!

Regarding your questions, you actually don't need to manually open a Julia REPL every time. Since Kaimon works as an MCP server, you can automate this via your Claude/Agent configuration file.

Automating Gate.serve(): Instead of spinning up a REPL manually, you can just configure your agent (like Claude Desktop or Claude Code configuration) to run Julia in the background automatically when the agent starts. The command usually looks something like this in the MCP config:
julia --project=@kaimon -e "using Kaimon; Gate.serve()"
This way, Claude handles starting and managing the Kaimon server for you.
Background Running & TUI Attach:
If you want it running forever in the background and want to attach the TUI later to see what's happening, a neat workaround right now is running Kaimon inside a tmux session. You can script it to start on boot, and whenever you want to check the logs/TUI, you just run tmux attach -t kaimon.

I think adding a small bash/powershell launcher script or updating the README with an "Automation & MCP Config" section would be a great addition to solve this UX friction! Let's see what @kahliburke thinks about this.

Hey @moble! Regarding your questions, you actually don't need to manually open a Julia REPL every time. Since Kaimon works as an MCP server, you can automate this via your Claude/Agent configuration file. 1. **Automating Gate.serve():** Instead of spinning up a REPL manually, you can just configure your agent (like Claude Desktop or Claude Code configuration) to run Julia in the background automatically when the agent starts. The command usually looks something like this in the MCP config: `julia --project=@kaimon -e "using Kaimon; Gate.serve()"` This way, Claude handles starting and managing the Kaimon server for you. 2. **Background Running & TUI Attach:** If you want it running forever in the background *and* want to attach the TUI later to see what's happening, a neat workaround right now is running Kaimon inside a `tmux` session. You can script it to start on boot, and whenever you want to check the logs/TUI, you just run `tmux attach -t kaimon`. I think adding a small bash/powershell launcher script or updating the README with an "Automation & MCP Config" section would be a great addition to solve this UX friction! Let's see what @kahliburke thinks about this.

👍 1

kahliburke commented

2026-06-14 05:57:07 -07:00

(Migrated from github.com)

It requires a one time set up to allow the start of the session for any project. If you navigate to the Config tab (#6) you'll see the pane for the allowed projects. Simply add one pointed at the root of the Julia project, if your agent needs a hint, it uses the start_session command to start one in the background. One downside is you can't see the REPL directly, but there is a way you can actually connect to that session through the sessions tab if you want. Sessions started by the MCP tool will ay they have been spawned by the agent, and if you press Return when they are selected you'll see the terminal which you can interact with.

Also, it's common to just allow Kaimon to set the small block in the startup.jl file so that any interactive session gets connected automatically, then one does not need to issue any startup commands like Gate.serve().

@moble The intended usage pattern is for you to start kaimon, somewhere in a terminal once and leave it running. Then the agents can interact with it. I think it works not as well to have the agent spawn the TUI as you can't interact with it. As for automatic opening of sessions, yes you can enable that functionality. <img width="685" height="364" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/b5b754ea-4e41-4908-a649-d539df5d0613" /> It requires a one time set up to allow the start of the session for any project. If you navigate to the `Config` tab (#6) you'll see the pane for the allowed projects. Simply add one pointed at the root of the Julia project, if your agent needs a hint, it uses the `start_session` command to start one in the background. One downside is you can't see the REPL directly, but there is a way you can actually connect to that session through the sessions tab if you want. Sessions started by the MCP tool will ay they have been spawned by the agent, and if you press `Return` when they are selected you'll see the terminal which you can interact with. <img width="788" height="604" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/0c5b00e4-37a9-42ee-82e0-c06d5a0902f4" /> <img width="424" height="381" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/59bc884d-2098-4456-b75c-7e2b24edaad1" /> Also, it's common to just allow Kaimon to set the small block in the `startup.jl` file so that any interactive session gets connected automatically, then one does not need to issue any startup commands like `Gate.serve()`.

kahliburke commented

2026-06-19 16:42:16 -07:00

(Migrated from github.com)

Closing as answered — to summarize the resolution for anyone who finds this:

Run Kaimon once, leave it running in a terminal; agents interact with that one instance. Having the agent spawn the TUI doesn't work well (you can't interact with it).
No manual Gate.serve() needed: let Kaimon add the small block to your startup.jl, so any interactive Julia session auto-connects.
Agent-started sessions: add your project root under the Config tab (#6) allow-list; the agent then uses start_session to spin one up in the background. You can attach to it from the Sessions tab (select it and press Return) to see/interact with the REPL.

(A README "Automation & MCP Config" section to capture this is a reasonable docs follow-up — tracked alongside the other docs requests, #39.)

Closing as answered — to summarize the resolution for anyone who finds this: - **Run Kaimon once, leave it running** in a terminal; agents interact with that one instance. Having the agent spawn the TUI doesn't work well (you can't interact with it). - **No manual `Gate.serve()` needed:** let Kaimon add the small block to your `startup.jl`, so any interactive Julia session auto-connects. - **Agent-started sessions:** add your project root under the Config tab (#6) allow-list; the agent then uses `start_session` to spin one up in the background. You can attach to it from the Sessions tab (select it and press `Return`) to see/interact with the REPL. (A README "Automation & MCP Config" section to capture this is a reasonable docs follow-up — tracked alongside the other docs requests, #39.)