# using-interns

Runtime policy for the local `interns` MCP server. Delegates predictable bulk I/O and summarization tasks to cheap intern LLMs (DeepSeek / Kimi / Ollama-hosted) so Claude saves Anthropic quota.

`using-interns` governs *usage* of an installed server. Initial setup (`pip install`, `.env` write, MCP registration) is owned by [`setup-interns`](../setup-interns/).

Full design: `.wiki/concepts/interns-design.md` (in this repo) — Layer 1 / 2 / 3 architecture, MVP catalog, always-ask paths, routing hints.

## When it triggers

- CLAUDE.md contains `delegate to interns when allowed` (added by `project-bootstrap` 1.6.0+).
- User says: "use interns", "delegate to an intern", "разреши интернов", "allow interns", "go ahead with interns".
- Claude is about to read 3+ files, or one file > 400 lines, just to build context.
- Claude is about to update `.wiki/log.md` or write a session summary from a long transcript.
- If `mcp__interns__*` tools are missing, this skill delegates to [`setup-interns`](../setup-interns/) before doing anything else.

## What it does

- **Picks the right intern** for the task from a routing table (`bulk_text_read` for reads, `transcript_distill` for summaries; future interns added in `.common/config/interns/config.yaml`).
- **Guards every call** with a per-session permission grant that mirrors `project-discipline` Rule 4 — ask-mode default, conversational grant / revoke, session-end reset.
- **Enforces always-ask paths** — `.env`, `**/secrets/**`, `**/*.key`, `**/*.pem`, `**/.ssh/**`, `**/.aws/credentials`, `**/.netrc` etc. — even when delegation is granted. Server-side enforcement plus a transitive rule: Claude can't bypass by reading the file with the local `Read` tool and forwarding the content.
- **Caps cost** — calls with estimated cost > $0.10 always go to ask-mode regardless of grant.
- **Tells Claude what NOT to delegate** — architecture, debugging, auth / payments, final commit messages, final user-facing answers.

## Permission grant cheat-sheet

| Phrase | Effect |
|---|---|
| (default) | Ask before every `mcp__interns__*` call. |
| "разреши интернов" / "allow interns" | Free delegation until session end (subject to always-ask paths + cost cap). |
| "отзови интернов" / "revoke interns" | Back to ask-mode. |
| (session ends) | Reset to ask-mode. The next session asks again. |

## Tool quick reference

| Tool | Required args | Optional | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| `mcp__interns__bulk_text_read` | `paths: list[str]`, `question: str` | `max_tokens: int` | Read N files, answer with file:line citations. |
| `mcp__interns__transcript_distill` | `paths: list[str]`, `question: str` | `max_tokens: int` | Distill transcript / log into structured action list. |

Pass **paths**, not file contents. The MCP server reads and applies the always-ask matcher server-side; forwarding content as a string arg bypasses the gate.

## When NOT to use

- Architecture / design decisions — Claude's job.
- Debugging — cheap models miss subtle bugs.
- Auth / payments / PII / production data — recommendation, not enforced, but obvious.
- Final commit messages, PR descriptions, user-facing answers — don't sub-delegate the deliverable.
- A single 50-line file you can read yourself for free.

Full policy and examples in [`SKILL.md`](SKILL.md).

## Install

From the repo root:

```bash
bash scripts/install.sh using-interns
```

Works on Windows under git-bash, Linux, macOS.

## See also

- [`setup-interns`](../setup-interns/) — companion, owns the server install + `mcpServers.interns` registration.
- [`project-discipline`](../project-discipline/) — Rule 4 (per-session push grant) is the prior art for the grant mechanism here.
- [`using-projects-meta`](../using-projects-meta/), [`using-context7`](../using-context7/) — sister `using-X` skills for other MCP servers (same shape).
- `.wiki/concepts/interns-design.md` — full architecture spec.