Explanatory output style
Extension
Adds explanatory guidance before each agent run so implementation work includes short, code-specific learning notes.
What it does
This hook adds explanatory guidance before each agent run so implementation work includes short, code-specific learning notes.
It changes the run instructions rather than adding a new model capability.
When to reach for it
Invocation: Load the extension; its before-agent-start hook runs automatically.
- Implementation should teach codebase-specific reasoning
- Ask the agent to explain a few important choices around its edits.
- A coding session needs concise educational context
- Keep explanation near the work without turning it into a separate tutorial.
What it adds
- A reusable instruction layer for brief implementation insights.
- A duplicate-injection guard for repeated run setup.
How it fits
- Handoff: Handoff can carry the resulting code-specific reasoning into a fresh session.
Common questions
- What does it not guarantee?
- It changes instructions, not model capability; compliance varies and extra explanation increases prompt and response length.
It’s working if
- Coding responses include a short insight block before and after edits.
- Repeated setup does not append the same guidance twice.
Source and setup
Provenance
- Project
- Explanatory output style
- Origin
- Anthropic PBC
- Current maintainer
- Vedang Manerikar
- Relationship
- adopted
- Installed source
pi-extensions/explanatory-output-style.ts- Source path
- View source (
pi-extensions/explanatory-output-style.ts) - Compatibility
- Pi before_agent_start hook
- License
- Anthropic commercial terms
- License publication scope
- Independently written factual summary only; do not republish operational guidance.
- Reviewed revision
9a0af933d90ad9175eca0ff27db6624c5d6bb4fe- Catalog revision
e0c035a297462c519315abfa1af31a1ed3bd9eef
Setup notes
- Vedang’s Pi hook adapts Anthropic’s explanatory-output guidance; Anthropic retains rights to its source wording.
- The public explanation is independently written and does not reproduce Anthropic's operational guidance.
- The installed source is a local Pi extension using the before-agent-start hook.