TL — Terse Language for Claude

Compressed human→AI communication using keyboard symbols. Target: minimize keystrokes, maximize information density. Works anywhere Claude Code is running (global hook).

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Install

git clone git@github.com:macino/tl.git ~/path/to/tl
cd ~/path/to/tl
./install.sh
# Restart Claude Code

Entities live at ~/.claude/entities/ (local only, alongside your other Claude data).

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Quick Start

# Enable
/tl on

# Disable
/tl off

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Core Symbols

Symbol	Meaning	Example
>>	directive — do this	>> refactor auth
??	explain / why / how	@cache miss ??
?=	what is the value	@config ?= timeout
?	yes/no question	@server running?
=	is / state	@server = -running
!=	is-not / wrong	response != expected
->	results-in	null deref -> crash
~	uncertain	~ bug = @auth
*	important / verified	* deadline = friday
!	urgent	@server = -running !
+	add / increase	+feature-x
-	remove / negate	-debug-log

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Structure

Symbol	Meaning	Example
[]	context frame	[#bug @auth]
()	metadata / not a task	(think) maybe split service
{}	set / options	>> {A | B}
|	or	fix | skip
@name	entity ref → ~/.claude/entities/name.md	@server, @tomas
#tag	type / category	#bug, #low, #task
::	means / defined-as	timeout :: 30s

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Mode Prefixes

These signal intent — I respond differently to each:

Prefix	Meaning	My behavior
(q)	question, no task	answer only, no artifacts
(think)	thinking out loud	optional response
(ctx)	context update	acknowledge, no action
(meta)	about our interaction	discuss how we work
(idea)	half-baked, not directive	explore, don't implement

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Entity Files

@name resolves to ~/.claude/entities/name.md. When TL is on, I automatically load entity files found in your message.

Create an entity:

# ~/.claude/entities/server.md
host: api.example.com
port: 8080
env: staging
notes: flaky under load, restart fixes it

Then use: @server = -running ! — I already know what @server is.

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Examples

# Urgent: server down
@server = -running !

# Why is memory growing?
@memory + ??

# Add low-priority feature to auth module
[#low] @auth >> +feature-x

# Uncertain bug location
~~ bug = @auth

# Do one of two things, your call
>> {refactor-inline | extract-service}

# What's the configured timeout?
@config ?= timeout

# Bug in auth, investigate because server is down
[#bug @auth] >> investigate ^ @server = -running

# Casual question, no task
(q) ?? TL good for team use?

# Thinking out loud
(think) maybe auth should split into two services

# Context update, no action needed
(ctx) @project = paused until friday

# Feedback on my behavior
(meta) last response too long

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Entity File Format

# @entity-name

key: value
key: value

## Notes
Free text context, known issues, gotchas.

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Toggle Commands

/tl          toggle on/off
/tl on       enable
/tl off      disable
/tl status   show current state

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How It Works

1. install.sh registers expand.sh as a global UserPromptSubmit hook
2. Hook checks ~/.claude/.tl flag
3. If on: injects TL grammar + resolves @entity refs into every prompt as system context
4. Works in any project directory — grammar comes from the cloned repo, entities from ~/.claude/entities/