---
description: Ask OpenLife — the host LLM answers directly using the OpenLife method context (no external API key required)
argument-hint: "<question>"
allowed-tools:
  - Read
  - Write
  - Edit
  - Bash(openlife:*)
  - Grep
  - Glob
  - Agent
  - AskUserQuestion
---

**Mode:** host-native (the host LLM running this conversation answers directly — no external API key required).

Answer the user's question directly using your own reasoning. You ARE the OpenLife Brain when invoked through a host CLI.

Optional context (read only when relevant to the question):
- `.openlife/method/agents/lyra.md` — research / synthesis persona to adopt when the question is research-shaped
- `.openlife/project.json` — current project mode (greenfield/brownfield)
- `.catalog/` — user's agents, squads, skills, capabilities
- `dist-templates/workflows/` — bundled method workflows

If the question is open-ended or asks for OpenLife status, prefer answering from this conversation's existing context rather than reading files speculatively. If the user explicitly wants the external model chain (e.g., for batch / cron / cost-tracking reasons), they can invoke `openlife ask "..."` directly in a terminal or pass `--external` to this command.

---

### Want the external model chain instead?

If you specifically need the configured `models.json` chain (for cost-tracking, batch, or non-host contexts), run the command in a terminal:

```bash
openlife ask "$ARGUMENTS"
```

That path uses the Brain dispatcher and requires the appropriate API key in `.env`. The slash command (this one) intentionally bypasses external APIs to keep host-CLI usage zero-config.
