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CloudAlt Documentation

AI Assistant Directory Safety Protocol

AI assistants (including GitHub Copilot) frequently lose track of their working directory when using terminal commands, leading to:

  • Commands executed in wrong directories
  • Build artifacts created in incorrect locations
  • Failed operations due to missing context
  • Potential data corruption or misplaced files

Mandatory Safety Protocol

Section titled “Mandatory Safety Protocol”

Every AI assistant session MUST follow this protocol for ALL terminal operations:

1. Always Verify Location First

Section titled “1. Always Verify Location First”
Terminal window
pwd && echo "=== CURRENT LOCATION VERIFIED ==="

2. State Intentions Explicitly

Section titled “2. State Intentions Explicitly”

Before any terminal command, explicitly state:

  • Need to be at: [target directory]
  • Current status: [what you know about current location]
  • Action: [what you’re about to do]

3. Use Absolute Paths for Navigation

Section titled “3. Use Absolute Paths for Navigation”
Terminal window
# BAD - relies on assumptions
cd packages/ui && yarn build


# GOOD - explicit absolute navigation
cd /Users/work-station/company/cloudalt-frontend/packages/ui && yarn build

4. Return to Workspace Root After Operations

Section titled “4. Return to Workspace Root After Operations”
Terminal window
cd /Users/work-station/company/cloudalt-frontend && pwd && echo "=== BACK AT WORKSPACE ROOT ==="

5. Combine Verification with Commands

Section titled “5. Combine Verification with Commands”
Terminal window
# Pattern: verify → navigate → confirm → execute
pwd && echo "=== VERIFYING LOCATION ===" && cd /path/to/target && pwd && echo "=== CONFIRMED LOCATION ===" && [command]

Example Safe Command Pattern

Section titled “Example Safe Command Pattern”
Terminal window
# Step 1: State intention
echo "Need to build UI package - navigating from workspace root"


# Step 2: Safe navigation with verification
pwd && echo "=== STARTING FROM ===" && cd /Users/work-station/company/cloudalt-frontend/packages/ui && pwd && echo "=== NOW IN UI PACKAGE ===" && yarn build


# Step 3: Return to root
cd /Users/work-station/company/cloudalt-frontend && pwd && echo "=== BACK AT WORKSPACE ROOT ==="

Critical Rules

Section titled “Critical Rules”
  1. NEVER assume where you are
  2. ALWAYS verify with pwd before operations
  3. ALWAYS use absolute paths for directory changes
  4. ALWAYS return to workspace root after subdirectory work
  5. ALWAYS state your intentions before terminal commands

Enforcement

Section titled “Enforcement”
  • Every new AI chat session MUST implement this protocol
  • No exceptions for “simple” or “quick” operations
  • Protocol must be followed even for read-only operations

This is a systematic workaround for a fundamental GitHub Copilot limitation that should be fixed at the platform level.