AIFP: AI Functional Procedural Programming

A language-agnostic programming paradigm designed for AI-generated and AI-maintained codebases

---

Table of Contents

• What is AIFP?
• Core Principles
• Architecture Overview
• Database Architecture
• How It Works
• Getting Started
• Directives System
• Project Lifecycle
• Example Workflow
• Documentation
• Development
• Design Philosophy
• Features
• Usage Examples
• Privacy Policy
• Support
• License

---

What is AIFP?

AIFP (AI Functional Procedural) is a programming paradigm that combines:

• Pure functional programming principles (referential transparency, immutability, composability)
• Procedural execution patterns (explicit sequencing, no hidden state)
• Database-driven project management (persistent state, instant context retrieval)
• Directive-based AI guidance (deterministic workflows, automated compliance)

Two Ways to Use AIFP

Use Case 1: Regular Software Development

• Build applications (web apps, libraries, CLI tools, etc.)
• AIFP enforces FP compliance and manages your project
• You write code, AI assists with FP standards and project tracking
• Example: Building a web server, calculator library, data processor

Use Case 2: Custom Directive Automation

• Define automation rules (home automation, cloud management, workflows)
• AIFP generates and manages the automation codebase for you
• You write directive definitions (YAML/JSON/TXT), AI generates the implementation
• The project's code IS the automation code generated from your directives
• Example: Smart home control system, AWS infrastructure manager, workflow automator

Key Principle: One AIFP instance per project directory. You would NOT mix a web app with home automation directives. Run separate instances for separate purposes.

Why AIFP?

Traditional programming paradigms were designed for humans. AIFP is optimized for AI-human collaboration:

Challenge	Traditional Approach	AIFP Solution
Context Loss	AI forgets between sessions	Database-driven persistent state
OOP Complexity	Classes, inheritance, polymorphism	Pure functions, explicit data structures
Infinite Development	Projects never "complete"	Finite completion paths with milestones
Code Reasoning	Parse source code repeatedly	Pre-indexed functions, dependencies, interactions
Inconsistent Standards	Style guides, linters, reviews	Immutable directives enforcing compliance

---

Core Principles

1. Functional-Procedural Hybrid

# ✅ AIFP-Compliant
def calculate_total(items: List[Item]) -> float:
    """Pure function: deterministic, no side effects"""
    return reduce(lambda acc, item: acc + item.price, items, 0.0)

# ❌ Not AIFP-Compliant
class Calculator:
    def __init__(self):
        self.total = 0  # Hidden state

    def add_item(self, item):
        self.total += item.price  # Mutation

2. Database-Indexed Logic

Every function, file, and dependency is tracked in SQLite. AI accesses this data through helper tools — not raw SQL:

AI calls: get_functions_by_file(project_root, file_id)
→ Returns: all functions in that file with name, purpose, line numbers, dependencies

No source code reparsing required. Instant context retrieval across sessions.

3. AI-Readable Code

• Flat structure: No deep inheritance hierarchies
• Explicit dependencies: All parameters passed explicitly
• Pure functions: Same inputs → same outputs
• Metadata annotations: Machine-readable function headers

4. Finite Completion Paths

Project: MatrixCalculator
├── Completion Path (3 stages)
│   ├── 1. Setup (completed)
│   ├── 2. Core Development (in progress)
│   │   ├── Milestone: Matrix Operations
│   │   │   ├── Task: Implement multiply
│   │   │   ├── Task: Implement transpose
│   │   │   └── Task: Add validation
│   │   └── Milestone: Vector Operations
│   └── 3. Finalization (pending)

5. Language-Agnostic

AIFP works with Python, JavaScript, TypeScript, Rust, Go, and more. FP directives adapt to language-specific syntax while maintaining universal standards.

---

Architecture Overview

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│            AI Assistant (Claude, GPT-4, etc.)        │
│  - Receives natural language commands                │
│  - Follows directives (FP baseline + project mgmt)   │
│  - Calls MCP tools to read/write databases           │
│  - Generates FP-compliant code                       │
└────────────────────┬────────────────────────────────┘
                     │ MCP Protocol (JSON-RPC over stdio)
┌────────────────────▼────────────────────────────────┐
│                 MCP Server                           │
│  - Exposes helper tools via JSON-RPC                  │
│  - Manages four-database connections                 │
│  - Provides CRUD helpers for all databases           │
│  - No business logic — AI makes all decisions        │
└───┬────────────────────┬─────────────────────────┬──┘
    │                    │                         │
┌───▼──────────────┐ ┌───▼────────────────┐ ┌─────▼─────────────────┐ ┌──────▼────────────────┐
│  aifp_core.db    │ │  project.db        │ │  user_preferences.db  │ │  user_directives.db   │
│  (Global,        │ │  (Per-Project,     │ │  (Per-Project,        │ │  (Per-Project,        │
│   Read-Only)     │ │   Mutable)         │ │   Mutable)            │ │   Optional)           │
│                  │ │                    │ │                       │ │                       │
│ - FP directives  │ │ - Project metadata │ │ - Directive prefs     │ │ - User directives     │
│ - Project mgmt   │ │ - Files & funcs    │ │ - User settings       │ │ - Execution stats     │
│ - User prefs     │ │ - Task hierarchy   │ │ - AI learning log     │ │ - Dependencies        │
│ - User systems   │ │ - Themes & flows   │ │ - Tracking features   │ │ - Generated code refs │
│ - Helper defs    │ │ - Completion path  │ │ (All opt-in)          │ │ - Source file tracking│
│ - Directive flow │ │ - Runtime notes    │ │                       │ │ (Logs in files)       │
└──────────────────┘ └────────────────────┘ └───────────────────────┘ └───────────────────────┘

---

Database Architecture

aifp_core.db (Global, Read-Only)

Location: Within MCP server installation directory (user-defined location, configured in AI client)

Purpose: Immutable knowledge base containing all AIFP standards, directives, and helper definitions.

Key Tables:

• directives: All FP, project, and user preference directives (workflows, keywords, thresholds)
• helper_functions: Database, file, Git, and FP utilities organized across multiple registry files
• directive_helpers: Many-to-many junction table mapping directives to their helper functions with execution metadata
• directives_interactions: Cross-directive relationships and dependencies
• categories: Directive groupings (purity, immutability, task management, etc.)
• tools: MCP tool definitions

Helper-Directive Relationship (New in v1.4):

• One directive can use many helpers, one helper can serve many directives
• Junction table stores: execution context, sequence order, parameter mappings
• Enables flexible helper reuse and clear execution flow
• Defined in directive_helpers junction table in aifp_core.db

Helper Classification:

• Tool: All helpers are exposed as MCP tools (AI calls directly via MCP)
• Sub-helper (is_sub_helper = TRUE): Internal utility called by other helpers only (not exposed to AI)

Helper Registry (Development Staging):

• Helper definitions maintained in docs/helpers/json/*.json during development
• Developers modify JSON files, then import to database when complete
• Each helper includes used_by_directives field for relationship mapping
• Database import script populates aifp_core.db from JSON files before release
• Production: Users query aifp_core.db (pre-populated), NOT JSON files
• JSON files are dev-only staging area, never shipped with package

Read-Only Philosophy: This database is version-controlled and immutable once deployed. AI reads from it but never modifies it.

project.db (Per-Project, Mutable)

Location: <project-root>/.aifp-project/project.db

Purpose: Persistent state for a single AIFP project. Tracks code structure, tasks, and runtime notes.

Key Tables:

• project: High-level metadata (name, purpose, goals, status, user_directives_status, last_known_git_hash)
• files, functions, interactions: Code structure tracking
• themes, flows: Organizational groupings
• completion_path, milestones, tasks, subtasks, sidequests: Hierarchical roadmap
• notes: Runtime logging with optional directive context (source, severity, directive_name)
• types: Algebraic data types (ADTs)
• infrastructure: Project setup (language, packages, testing)
• work_branches: Git collaboration metadata (user, purpose, merge strategy)
• merge_history: FP-powered merge conflict resolution audit trail

User Directives Integration: The project.user_directives_status field tracks whether user directives are initialized (NULL/in_progress/active/disabled), allowing aifp_run and aifp_status directives to include user directive context when active.

Enhanced Notes: The notes table now includes source (user/ai/directive), directive_name (optional context), and severity (info/warning/error) for better traceability.

user_preferences.db (Per-Project, Mutable)

Location: <project-root>/.aifp-project/user_preferences.db

Purpose: User-specific AI behavior customizations and opt-in tracking features.

Key Tables:

• directive_preferences: Per-directive behavior overrides (atomic key-value structure)
• user_settings: Project-wide AI behavior settings
• tracking_settings: Feature flags for opt-in tracking (all disabled by default)
• ai_interaction_log: User corrections and learning data (opt-in)
• fp_flow_tracking: FP compliance history (opt-in)
• issue_reports: Contextual bug reports (opt-in)

Cost Management Philosophy: All tracking features disabled by default to minimize API token usage. Project work should be cost-efficient; debugging and analytics are opt-in.

User Customization Example:

-- User says: "Always add docstrings"
INSERT INTO directive_preferences (directive_name, preference_key, preference_value)
VALUES ('project_file_write', 'always_add_docstrings', 'true');

-- Next file write automatically includes docstrings

user_directives.db (Per-Project, Optional)

Location: <project-root>/.aifp-project/user_directives.db

Purpose: Store user-defined domain-specific directives for automation (home automation, cloud infrastructure, etc.). When this database exists, the AIFP project IS dedicated to building and managing the automation code generated from these directives.

This database only exists in Use Case 2: Custom Directive Automation projects. In regular software development projects, this database is not created.

Key Tables:

• user_directives: Directive definitions (triggers, actions, status, validated configuration)
• directive_executions: Execution statistics (summary only, detailed logs in files)
• directive_dependencies: Required packages, APIs, environment variables
• directive_implementations: Links directives to generated code files
• helper_functions: AI-generated helper functions (project-specific implementation utilities)
• directive_helpers: Many-to-many junction table mapping user directives to their helpers
• source_files: Tracks user directive source files (YAML/JSON/TXT)
• logging_config: File-based logging configuration

Helper Functions (New in v1.0):

• AI generates project-specific helper functions for user directives
• Tracked with implementation status: not_implemented → generated → tested → approved
• Enforces FP compliance (pure functions) for all generated code
• Same many-to-many relationship pattern as aifp_core.db

File-Based Logging Philosophy: Database stores state and statistics only. Detailed execution logs (30-day retention) and error logs (90-day retention) are stored in rotating files at .aifp-project/logs/.

Directory Structure Comparison:

# Use Case 1: Regular Software Development
my-web-app/
├── src/                    # Your application code
├── tests/                  # Your tests
└── .aifp-project/          # AIFP tracks your application
    ├── project.db
    └── user_preferences.db

# Use Case 2: Custom Directive Automation
home-automation/
├── directives/             # ← User writes directive files here
│   ├── lights.yaml
│   └── security.yaml
├── src/                    # ← AIFP GENERATES this code
│   ├── lights_controller.py
│   └── security_monitor.py
├── tests/                  # ← AIFP GENERATES tests
└── .aifp-project/          # ← AI-managed only, user never touches
    ├── project.db          # Tracks generated src/ code
    ├── user_preferences.db
    ├── user_directives.db  # References ../directives/ files
    └── logs/               # 30/90-day execution logs

Example Workflow (Automation Project):

1. User creates directives/lights.yaml in their project
2. User tells AI: "Parse my directive file at directives/lights.yaml"
3. AI parses and validates through interactive Q&A
4. AI generates FP-compliant implementation code in src/
5. AI tracks generated code in project.db (files, functions, tasks)
6. Directives execute in real-time via background services
7. Execution logs to .aifp-project/logs/, statistics to database

Note: User directive files stay in the user's project. .aifp-project/ is AI-managed metadata.

---

How It Works

1. AIFP MCP Gateway Pattern

The aifp_run command serves as a gateway and reminder, not an executor. It tells the AI that AIFP directives should be applied.

Every aifp_run call returns:

{
  "success": true,
  "message": "AIFP MCP available",
  "guidance": {
    "directive_access": "Directive names cached from session bundle. Query specific directives by name when needed.",
    "when_to_use": "Use AIFP directives when coding or when project management action/reaction is needed.",
    "assumption": "Always assume AIFP applies unless user explicitly rejects it."
  }
}

The MCP server exposes CRUD helper functions for all database operations — tracking files, functions, tasks, project state, user preferences, and (for Use Case 2) automation directives. AI discovers available helpers from the database at runtime.

AI Decision Flow:

1. User prefixes request with aifp run (or AI assumes it)
2. AI calls aifp_run tool → receives guidance
3. AI evaluates: Is this coding or project management?
4. If yes: Check if directives are in memory
   • No directives? → Call get_all_directives()
   • Has directives? → Apply appropriate ones
5. If no: Respond without directives

2. Command Flow Example

User: "Help me build a calculator"

AI Processing:

1. Calls aifp_run(is_new_session=true) → receives session bundle (directive names, project status, settings, supportive context)
2. Checks project state from bundle: .aifp-project/ missing → project not initialized
3. Calls aifp_init helper (Phase 1: mechanical setup)
   • Programmatically creates .aifp-project/ directory, databases, blueprint template
4. Enters Phase 2 (intelligent population): detects language/tools, discusses project with user
5. Routes to project_discovery: collaborates with user on blueprint, themes, flows, completion path, milestones
6. Discovery complete → routes to aifp_status → project_progression → first task created
7. Work begins

3. Self-Assessment Framework

Before acting, AI performs self-assessment using questions provided with directives:

Core Questions:

1. Does this involve coding or project state changes?

   • Coding and project management are unified — writing code triggers file tracking, DB updates, and task progress automatically
   • FP baseline is always active as the mandatory coding style
   • Project directives handle the tracking side (file writes, DB updates, task management)

2. Do I have directives in memory?

   • No: Load from session bundle via aifp_run(is_new_session=true)
   • Yes: Proceed with cached directives

3. Which directives apply?

   • FP baseline: Mandatory coding style (pure functions, immutability, no OOP) — applied naturally, not as directive calls
   • FP directives: Reference documentation only — consulted when uncertain about complex scenarios
   • Project directives: File writes, DB updates, task management

4. Action-reaction needed?

   • Code write → project_file_write directive → DB update
   • File edit → DB sync
   • Discussion with decision → DB update

Example Flow (Coding Task):

User: "Write multiply_matrices function"
AI thinks:
  ✓ FP baseline applies (write pure, immutable, no OOP)
  ✓ Project tracking applies (project_file_write directive)
  ✓ I have directives in memory

AI executes:
  1. Write function following FP baseline naturally
  2. Apply project_file_write directive
  3. Update project.db (files, functions, interactions)

4. Directive Execution

Directives follow a trunk → branches → fallback pattern:

{
  "trunk": "analyze_function",
  "branches": [
    {"if": "pure_function", "then": "mark_compliant"},
    {"if": "mutation_detected", "then": "refactor_to_pure"},
    {"if": "low_confidence", "then": "prompt_user"},
    {"fallback": "prompt_user"}
  ]
}

---

Getting Started

Prerequisites

• Python 3.11+ (required for type hint syntax used throughout)

Installation

Method 1: pip install (Recommended)

pip install aifp

This installs the MCP server and makes the aifp command available. AIFP requires only one external dependency (watchdog for filesystem monitoring) — the JSON-RPC server itself is pure Python stdlib.

Method 2: Manual Install (GitHub Download)

1. Download the repository (zip download or git clone)
2. Locate the src/aifp/ folder — this is the complete MCP server package
3. Copy the aifp/ folder to wherever you keep MCP servers:

   # Example: copy to your MCP servers directory
   cp -r src/aifp/ ~/mcp-servers/aifp/
   

The only runtime dependency (watchdog) is installed automatically. The aifp/ folder contains everything else the server needs: helper functions, directives, database schemas, and the pre-populated aifp_core.db.

Add the System Prompt to Your AI Client

This step is required. The system prompt is what tells the AI to use AIFP tools proactively. Without it, the MCP server is just a collection of passive tools that never get called.

Print the system prompt to your terminal, then copy-paste it into your AI client:

python3 -m aifp --system-prompt

The system prompt is shipped with the package — no separate file or download needed. This works for all install methods (pip, venv, manual).

Where to paste it (depends on your AI client):

AI Client	Where to Add System Prompt
Claude Desktop	Settings → Custom Instructions
Claude Code	Add to CLAUDE.md in your project root
Other MCP clients	System prompt / custom instructions field

Configure Your AI Client

Register the AIFP MCP server in your AI client's configuration. The server uses stdio transport — it reads JSON-RPC messages from stdin and writes responses to stdout.

Claude Desktop

Edit claude_desktop_config.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "aifp": {
      "command": "python3",
      "args": ["-m", "aifp"],
      "env": {}
    }
  }
}

If you used Method 2 (manual install), add the parent directory of your aifp/ folder to PYTHONPATH so Python can find it:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "aifp": {
      "command": "python3",
      "args": ["-m", "aifp"],
      "env": {
        "PYTHONPATH": "/path/to/parent-of-aifp-folder"
      }
    }
  }
}

For example, if you copied aifp/ to ~/mcp-servers/aifp/, set PYTHONPATH to ~/mcp-servers.

If you installed into a virtual environment, use the full path to the venv's Python so Claude Desktop uses the correct interpreter:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "aifp": {
      "command": "/path/to/venv/bin/python3",
      "args": ["-m", "aifp"],
      "env": {}
    }
  }
}

Claude Code

Use claude mcp add to register the server. Run the command from within the project folder you want AIFP to manage.

Choose a scope first. AIFP enforces strict functional programming and actively rejects OOP codebases. If you work on other projects that use OOP or don't need AIFP, avoid --scope user — it enables the server in every project you open.

Scope	Effect	Best for
--scope project (Recommended)	Creates .mcp.json in the current directory. Shareable via git.	Teams and per-project control
--scope local	Stored in ~/.claude.json keyed to the current directory. Private.	Personal per-project use
--scope user	Available in every project you open.	Developers who use AIFP for all projects

pip install (system-wide):

claude mcp add --transport stdio --scope project aifp -- python3 -m aifp

pip install (virtual environment) — use the venv's Python path:

claude mcp add --transport stdio --scope project aifp -- /path/to/venv/bin/python3 -m aifp

A bare python3 resolves to the system Python, which won't have the package. Use the full path to the venv's interpreter so the MCP server subprocess finds the installed package.

Manual install or running from source — set PYTHONPATH to the parent of the aifp/ folder:

claude mcp add --transport stdio --scope project --env PYTHONPATH=/path/to/parent-of-aifp aifp -- python3 -m aifp

Quick reference:

Install Method	Claude Code Command
pip install aifp (system)	-- python3 -m aifp
pip install aifp (venv)	-- /path/to/venv/bin/python3 -m aifp
Manual folder / from source	--env PYTHONPATH=/parent/of/aifp -- python3 -m aifp

Note: All flags (--transport, --scope, --env) must come before the server name. The -- separates the name from the command. Verify the server is connected with /mcp inside Claude Code.

Claude Code: Pre-Approve All AIFP Tools (Optional)

Claude Code prompts you to approve each new MCP tool the first time it's called. With 207 tools, this means 207 approval prompts. To skip this, copy the pre-built permissions file into your project's .claude/ folder:

# Create the .claude/ folder in your project root if it doesn't exist
mkdir -p /path/to/your/project/.claude

# Copy the permissions file
cp documentation/settings.local.json /path/to/your/project/.claude/

This places a settings.local.json in your project's .claude/ folder that pre-allows every AIFP tool. Claude Code will read it automatically — no approval prompts needed.

Note: The file also includes enableAllProjectMcpServers and enabledMcpjsonServers settings so the AIFP server starts automatically if you have a .mcp.json in the project.

Other MCP Clients

The server uses stdio transport. Point your client at python3 -m aifp (or the full path to your venv's Python). For manual installs, ensure PYTHONPATH includes the parent directory of the aifp/ folder. No API keys or authentication required.

How It Works

The server communicates over stdio using the Model Context Protocol. It resolves aifp_core.db (the directive database) relative to its own installation — no environment variables needed.

Once connected, the AI calls aifp_run() on every interaction (guided by the system prompt). Project state is stored in .aifp-project/ in your working directory, created automatically when you initialize a project.

Project Initialization

Tell your AI assistant:

"Initialize AIFP for my project"

The AI calls aifp_init which creates an .aifp-project/ folder in your project root containing databases for project state tracking, user preferences, and a ProjectBlueprint document. You don't need to interact with these files — the MCP server manages them automatically.

---

Directives System

FP Baseline vs FP Directives

FP Baseline (Always Active):

• Core functional programming rules AI follows naturally when writing code
• Pure functions, immutability, no OOP, explicit error handling
• Non-negotiable - all code must be FP-compliant

FP Directives (Reference Documentation):

• Detailed guidance for complex scenarios and edge cases
• Consulted only when AI is uncertain about implementation
• Categories: Purity, Composition, Error Handling, OOP Elimination, Optimization
• Examples: fp_purity, fp_monadic_composition, fp_result_types, fp_wrapper_generation

Project Directives

Manage project lifecycle:

Level	Directives	Purpose
Level 0	aifp_run	Gateway orchestration (every interaction)
Level 1	aifp_status, aifp_init, project_task_decomposition	Status, initialization, high-level coordination
Level 2	project_file_write, project_update_db, project_task_update	Operational execution
Level 3	project_compliance_check, project_evolution	State management
Level 4	project_completion_check, project_archive	Validation & completion

User Preference Directives

Manage AI behavior customization and learning:

Directive	Purpose
user_preferences_sync	Loads preferences before directive execution
user_preferences_update	Maps user requests to directives, updates preferences
user_preferences_learn	Learns from user corrections (requires confirmation)
user_preferences_export	Exports preferences to JSON for backup/sharing
user_preferences_import	Imports preferences from JSON file
project_notes_log	Handles logging to project.db with directive context
tracking_toggle	Enables/disables tracking features with token cost warnings

User-Defined Directives

FOR USE CASE 2 ONLY: Automation projects where AIFP generates and manages the codebase:

Directive	Purpose
user_directive_parse	Parse YAML/JSON/TXT directive files and extract structured directives
user_directive_validate	Validate directives through interactive Q&A to resolve ambiguities
user_directive_implement	Generate FP-compliant implementation code in src/
user_directive_approve	User testing and approval workflow before activation
user_directive_activate	Deploy and activate directives for real-time execution
user_directive_monitor	Track execution statistics and handle errors
user_directive_update	Handle changes to directive source files (re-parse, re-validate)
user_directive_deactivate	Stop execution and clean up resources
user_directive_status	Comprehensive status reporting for all user directives

Use Cases (Automation Projects):

• Home Automation: "At 5pm turn off living room lights", "If stove on > 20 min, turn off"
• Cloud Infrastructure: "Scale EC2 when CPU > 80%", "Backup RDS nightly at 1am"
• Custom Workflows: "Every Monday generate report", "Process uploaded files automatically"

Key Architecture:

• User writes directive definitions (YAML/JSON/TXT)
• AIFP generates the entire automation codebase (src/, tests/, etc.)
• AIFP manages the generated code like any software project (tasks, files, functions)
• Directives execute via background services/schedulers
• Project.db tracks the generated code; user_directives.db tracks directive state

Key Features:

• Write directives in YAML, JSON, or plain text
• AI validates through interactive Q&A
• AI generates complete FP-compliant Python modules in src/
• AI creates tests for generated code
• Real-time execution via background services
• File-based logging (30-day execution logs, 90-day error logs)
• Dependency management with user confirmation

Example Directive Definition:

# directives/home_automation.yaml (user creates this in their project)
directives:
  - name: turn_off_lights_5pm
    trigger:
      type: time
      time: "17:00"
      timezone: America/New_York
    action:
      type: api_call
      api: homeassistant
      endpoint: /services/light/turn_off
      params:
        entity_id: group.living_room_lights

User tells AI: "Parse my directive file at directives/home_automation.yaml"

AI Generates (in src/lights_controller.py):

# Auto-generated from home_automation.yaml
from typing import Result
from homeassistant_client import HomeAssistant

def turn_off_living_room_lights(ha_client: HomeAssistant) -> Result[None, str]:
    """Turn off all lights in living room group."""
    # FP-compliant implementation
    ...

See the directive MD files in src/aifp/reference/directives/ for complete workflow documentation.

Git Integration

FP-powered Git collaboration for multi-user and multi-AI development:

Directive	Purpose
git_init	Initialize or integrate with Git repository for version control
git_detect_external_changes	Detect code modifications made outside AIFP sessions
git_create_branch	Create user/AI work branches (aifp-{user}-{number})
git_detect_conflicts	FP-powered conflict analysis before merging
git_merge_branch	Merge branches with AI-assisted conflict resolution
git_sync_state	Synchronize Git hash with project.db for external change detection

Key Features:

• Multi-user collaboration: Multiple developers and AI instances work simultaneously
• FP-powered conflict resolution: Uses purity levels, dependencies, and test results to auto-resolve conflicts
• Branch naming: aifp-alice-001, aifp-bob-002, aifp-ai-claude-001
• Auto-resolution: High-confidence conflicts (>0.8) resolved automatically using FP purity rules
• External change detection: Compares Git HEAD with stored hash to detect changes made outside AIFP
• Simplified schema: No separate git_state table - Git commands are fast enough (~1ms)

Why AIFP + Git is Superior to OOP + Git:

OOP Merge Problem	AIFP FP Solution
Class hierarchies conflict	✅ No classes → No hierarchy conflicts
Hidden state changes	✅ Pure functions → Explicit inputs/outputs
Side effects everywhere	✅ Side effects isolated → Easy to identify conflicts
Hard to test both versions	✅ Pure functions → Easy to test and compare

Example Conflict Resolution:

Alice and Bob both modify calculate_total():

Alice's version:
- Purity: ✅ Pure function
- Tests: 10/10 passing

Bob's version:
- Purity: ✅ Pure function
- Tests: 12/12 passing (includes edge cases)

AI Recommendation: Keep Bob's version (confidence: 85%)
Reason: More comprehensive tests, still pure

See the Git directive MD files in src/aifp/reference/directives/ for complete multi-user collaboration workflows.

---

Project Lifecycle

graph TD
    A[aifp_init] --> B[project_discovery]
    B --> C[project_progression]
    C --> D[project_file_write]
    D --> E[project_update_db]
    E --> F{All Items Done?}
    F -->|No| D
    F -->|Yes| G[project_task_complete]
    G --> H{All Tasks Done?}
    H -->|No| C
    H -->|Yes| I[project_milestone_complete]
    I --> J{All Milestones Done?}
    J -->|No| C
    J -->|Yes| K[project_completion_check]
    K --> L[project_archive]

---

Example Workflow

Create Project

User: "Help me build a matrix calculator"

AI → aifp_run(is_new_session=true)
    → Receives: session bundle (directive names, status, settings, supportive context)
    → Checks project state: .aifp-project/ missing → not initialized
    → Calls aifp_init helper (Phase 1: mechanical setup)
        → Creates .aifp-project/ directory
        → Creates project.db, user_preferences.db
        → Copies ProjectBlueprint template
    → Enters Phase 2 (intelligent population)
        → Detects language, build tool, source directory
        → Discusses with user: project name, purpose, goals
        → Updates infrastructure table and blueprint
    → Routes to project_discovery
        → Collaborates with user on themes, flows, completion path, milestones

AI: ✅ Project initialized: MatrixCalculator
    Next: Let's define the project shape — themes, completion path, and first milestones.

Write Function

User: "Write multiply_matrices function"

AI → aifp_run() (continuation — lightweight guidance)
    → Evaluates: coding task + project tracking needed
    → Has directives cached from session bundle
    → Writes FP-compliant function naturally (pure, immutable, no OOP)
    → Follows project_file_write directive workflow:
        → Reserves file and function IDs in project.db
        → Writes src/matrix.py with embedded IDs
        → Finalizes file and function entries
        → Updates project.db:
           • files table (new entry)
           • functions table (multiply_matrices)
           • interactions table (dependencies)

AI: ✅ Function written: multiply_matrices
    File: src/matrix.py:15
    DB Updated: ✓ files, functions, interactions
    Dependencies: validate_dimensions

Check Compliance

User: "Check project compliance"

AI → aifp_run() (continuation — lightweight guidance)
    → project_compliance_check directive (opt-in tracking feature)
    → Queries all functions from project.db
    → Reviews each function against FP baseline
    → Generates analytics report

AI: 📊 Compliance Report:
    Total functions: 12
    Compliant: 10
    Violations: 2
      - calculate_discount (uses global config)
      - process_order (hidden mutation)

Customize AI Behavior

User: "Always add docstrings to functions"

AI → aifp_run() (continuation — lightweight guidance)
    → user_preferences_update directive
        → Calls find_directive_by_intent helper
        → Searches directives by name/description/keywords
        → Finds match: project_file_write
        → Confirms with user: "Apply to file writing?"
        → Updates user_preferences.db

AI: ✅ Preference saved: project_file_write
    Key: always_add_docstrings
    Value: true

    Next file write will include docstrings automatically.

AI Learns from Corrections

User: "Actually, use guard clauses instead of nested if statements"

AI → user_preferences_learn directive (detects correction)
    → Logs interaction to ai_interaction_log
    → Infers preference: prefer_guard_clauses = true
    → Prompts user: "Should I remember this preference?"

User: "Yes"

AI: ✅ Preference learned: project_file_write
    Key: prefer_guard_clauses
    Value: true

    I'll use guard clauses in future functions.

---

Documentation

Directive Reference

All directive documentation is shipped with the package at src/aifp/reference/directives/ — 129 MD files covering every directive. Each file includes: purpose, when to apply, complete workflows (trunk → branches), compliant/non-compliant examples, edge cases, related directives, helper functions used, and database operations.

Database Schemas

Schema SQL files are in the package at src/aifp/database/schemas/:

• aifp_core.sql — Global read-only database (directives, helpers, flows)
• project.sql — Per-project mutable database (files, functions, tasks, milestones)
• user_preferences.sql — Per-project user customization database
• user_directives.sql — Per-project automation directives (Use Case 2 only)

---

Development

Dev Directory (dev/)

The dev/ directory contains the source of truth for directive and helper function definitions. These JSON files are the canonical definitions that get imported into aifp_core.db before release.

dev/
├── directives-json/              # Directive definitions (source of truth)
│   ├── directives-fp-core.json   # Core FP directives
│   ├── directives-fp-aux.json    # Auxiliary FP directives
│   ├── directives-project.json   # Project lifecycle directives
│   ├── directives-user-pref.json # User preference directives
│   ├── directives-user-system.json # User automation directives
│   ├── directives-git.json       # Git collaboration directives
│   ├── directive_flow_fp.json    # FP directive flow transitions
│   ├── directive_flow_project.json # Project directive flow transitions
│   └── directive_flow_user_preferences.json # User pref flow transitions
├── helpers-json/                 # Helper function definitions (source of truth)
│   ├── helpers-core.json         # Core/directive helpers
│   ├── helpers-orchestrators.json # Entry point and status helpers
│   ├── helpers-project-*.json    # Project management helpers (9 files)
│   ├── helpers-settings.json     # User preference helpers
│   ├── helpers-user-custom.json  # User directive helpers
│   ├── helpers-git.json          # Git operation helpers
│   └── helpers-index.json        # Shared/global helpers
├── sync-directives.py            # Imports JSON → aifp_core.db
└── logs/                         # Development logs

Dev workflow: Modify JSON files in dev/ → run sync-directives.py to rebuild aifp_core.db → test → release. End users only interact with the pre-populated aifp_core.db, never the JSON files directly.

Version Locations

All three must be kept in sync when bumping versions:

File	Variable	Purpose
pyproject.toml	version = "X.Y.Z"	Package version (PyPI, pip install)
src/aifp/__init__.py	__version__ = "X.Y.Z"	Runtime version (import aifp; aifp.__version__)
src/aifp/mcp_server/server.py	SERVER_VERSION = "X.Y.Z"	MCP initialize handshake response (serverInfo.version)

---

Design Philosophy

Immutable Rules, Evolving Projects

• aifp_core.db is the rulebook (read-only, global, version-controlled)
• project.db is the workspace (read-write, per-project, runtime state)
• user_preferences.db is the customization layer (read-write, per-project, AI behavior)
• Directives define the boundaries; AI operates freely within them

Database-Driven Context

Traditional AI assistants lack persistent memory. AIFP solves this:

-- AI remembers everything across sessions via helper tools
AI calls: get_project_status(project_root, "detailed")
→ Returns: project metadata, active milestone, current task, recent notes, tracked files and functions

-- No source code reparsing required. Instant context retrieval.

Finite by Design

Every AIFP project has a completion path:

Setup → Core Development → Testing → Documentation → Finalization

Once project_completion_check passes, the project is done. No endless feature creep.

---

Features

• Comprehensive MCP tools — Full CRUD for 4 SQLite databases, covering project management, FP directives, user preferences, and custom automation directives
• Pure functional enforcement — AI writes FP-compliant code by default (pure functions, immutability, no OOP)
• Database-driven persistent memory — Project state survives across sessions; no context loss
• Directive-based workflows — Deterministic trunk → branches → fallback execution patterns
• Finite completion paths — Projects have defined stages, milestones, and tasks; work converges toward completion
• Two use cases — Regular software development (Use Case 1) or custom directive automation (Use Case 2)
• User preference learning — AI adapts to coding style via per-directive key-value overrides
• Git integration — FP-powered branch management and conflict resolution
• Minimal dependencies — One runtime package (watchdog), custom JSON-RPC server uses stdlib only
• Cost-conscious design — All tracking/analytics features disabled by default

Token Overhead

AIFP's project management adds token overhead to each session. Database operations (tracking files, updating tasks, managing milestones) consume tokens beyond the code-writing itself. We work to minimize this — continuation calls are lightweight (~2k tokens), batch helpers reduce round-trips, and all optional tracking is off by default.

The payoff comes with project scale. Without AIFP, every new session requires the AI to re-scan directories, re-read source files, and rebuild context from scratch — costs that grow with codebase size. With AIFP, the database provides instant structured context: the AI knows exactly which files exist, what functions they contain, where work left off, and what comes next. For projects beyond a handful of files, the up-front tracking cost is recovered many times over through eliminated re-discovery work.

---

Usage Examples

Example 1: Project Initialization

User prompt: "Help me build a calculator"

Tool calls:

1. aifp_run(is_new_session=true)
   → Returns: session bundle (directive names, settings, project status, supportive context)
   → Status shows: .aifp-project/ missing — not initialized

2. aifp_init(project_root="/home/user/calculator")
   → Returns: { success: true, message: "Project initialized" }

What happens:

• AI detects no project exists and automatically calls aifp_init helper
• Creates .aifp-project/ directory with project.db, user_preferences.db, and ProjectBlueprint.md
• Registers project metadata (name, root path, infrastructure)
• Inserts default user settings and backup configuration
• AI enters Phase 2: discusses project shape with user (infrastructure, purpose, goals)
• Routes to project_discovery for collaborative planning (themes, flows, completion path, milestones)

Example 2: Writing FP-Compliant Code

User prompt: "Write a multiply_matrices function"

Tool calls:

1. aifp_run(is_new_session=false)
   → Returns: lightweight guidance

2. reserve_file(project_root="/home/user/calculator", name="matrix_operations", ...)
   → Returns: { success: true, data: { id: 42 } }

3. reserve_function(project_root="/home/user/calculator", name="multiply_matrices", file_id=42, ...)
   → Returns: { success: true, data: { id: 99 } }

   (AI writes FP-compliant code to src/matrix_operations_id_42.py)

4. finalize_file(project_root="/home/user/calculator", file_id=42, path="src/matrix_operations_id_42.py", ...)
   → Returns: { success: true }

5. finalize_function(project_root="/home/user/calculator", function_id=99, line_start=5, line_end=25, ...)
   → Returns: { success: true }

What happens:

• File and function are reserved in project.db before writing (IDs embedded in names)
• AI writes pure functional code following FP baseline (no OOP, no mutations, explicit parameters)
• File and function are finalized with line numbers and metadata
• Project database now tracks the code structure for instant retrieval in future sessions

Example 3: Resuming Work / Checking Status

User prompt: "Where are we?" or "Continue working"

Tool calls:

1. aifp_run(is_new_session=false)
   → Returns: guidance + common starting points

   (AI answers from cached context — no additional DB calls needed
    unless context is stale, in which case:)

2. aifp_status(project_root="/home/user/calculator", type="detailed")
   → Returns: project metadata, active milestone, current task, recent notes, warnings

What happens:

• AI presents current milestone, active task, and next steps
• If project_continue_on_start=true, AI automatically picks up the next task
• No source code reparsing needed — everything is indexed in project.db

---

Privacy Policy

AIFP runs entirely on your local machine. No data ever leaves your computer.

• No network requests: The MCP server makes zero network calls. All operations are local SQLite database reads/writes and filesystem operations.
• No telemetry: No usage analytics, crash reports, or diagnostic data is collected or transmitted.
• No third-party services: AIFP does not connect to any external APIs, cloud services, or remote servers.
• Local data only: All project data (databases, preferences, directives) is stored in your project's .aifp-project/ directory. You own and control all data.
• No Claude memory access: AIFP does not access or read Claude's conversation history, memory, or any other client-side data.

If you have questions about data handling, please open an issue on our GitHub repository.

---

Support

• Issues: GitHub Issues
• Repository: github.com/aryanduntley/AIFP

---

Contributing

AIFP is an open standard for AI-optimized programming. Contributions welcome:

1. New FP directives — Language-specific or advanced patterns
2. Helper functions — Database, file, Git, or FP utilities
3. Templates — ADT boilerplate, error handling patterns
4. Documentation — Examples, tutorials, case studies

---

License

MIT License - See LICENSE for details.

---

Summary

AIFP transforms AI from a "code generator" into a structured, customizable project collaborator.

It combines:

• Pure functional programming for deterministic, composable code
• Four-database architecture for immutable rules, runtime state, user customization, and optional automation
• Directive-based workflows for consistent, automated compliance
• User preference learning for AI that adapts to your coding style
• Finite completion paths for goal-oriented development
• Cost-conscious design with opt-in tracking features

The result: AI-maintained codebases that are predictable, traceable, customizable, and maintainable across sessions, teams, and even different AI assistants.

---

Built for the age of AI-native development.