system-prompt

Choose Markdown system prompts for Pi and prepend, append, or replace the default prompt.

Packages

Package details

extension

Install system-prompt from npm and Pi will load the resources declared by the package manifest.

npm repohome report
$ pi install npm:system-prompt
Package
system-prompt
Version
0.1.3
Published
Nov 1, 2026
Downloads
648/mo · 648/wk
Author
thgilciffart
License
MIT
Types
extension
Size
29.6 KB
Dependencies
0 dependencies · 2 peers
Pi manifest JSON
{
  "extensions": [
    "./src/index.ts"
  ]
}

Security note

Pi packages can execute code and influence agent behavior. Review the source before installing third-party packages.

README

system-prompt

Use a Markdown file to prepend, append, or replace Pi's system prompt.

Install

Requires Pi 1.x and Node.js 22.19 or later.

pi install npm:system-prompt

Run /reload in an open Pi session.

Add and select a prompt

Create the prompt directory:

mkdir -p ~/.pi/agent/system-prompts

Save a file such as ~/.pi/agent/system-prompts/reviewer.md:

You review code changes. Look for bugs, regressions, and missing tests.
Explain each finding with a file path and a concrete failure case.

Run /system-prompt to choose a file, or select it by name:

/system-prompt use reviewer

The selection applies on your next message. Append is the default mode. The extension remembers your selection and rereads the file before each run. Files in subdirectories also appear as separate prompts.

Change the mode

/system-prompt mode prepend
/system-prompt mode append
/system-prompt mode replace

Replace discards the incoming system prompt, including Pi's built-in instructions and loaded context. Tool definitions and conversation history remain. See prompt behavior for extension ordering and error handling.

Inspect or toggle

Command Action
/system-prompt list List prompt files.
/system-prompt status Show the selection, mode, settings paths, and errors.
/system-prompt view Preview the selected prompt and mode immediately.
/system-prompt view reviewer Read a file without selecting it.
/system-prompt toggle Disable or enable the selected file without forgetting it.

The viewer requires terminal mode. Scroll with arrow keys or Page Up and Page Down. Press Esc or q to close.

For a process-only override, start Pi with:

pi --system-prompt-name reviewer --system-prompt-mode prepend

Startup flags also work in print and RPC modes. They do not save settings, but a later settings command saves the current state, including overrides.

See the command and settings reference or development guide.

MIT license.