The missing layer

Code records the answer. whyline records the reasoning.

Coding agents are useful in different ways, but every switch usually resets the conversation. whyline gives the repository a small, durable memory: plain Markdown decisions, lightweight event history, and an explicit handoff the next agent can pick up.

Local and legible

The shared record is ordinary Markdown in the repository—not an opaque remote database or a vendor-specific memory store.

Reasons over transcripts

It captures the decision, rationale, and rejected path instead of asking the next agent to reread an entire chat log.

Subscriptions stay yours

whyline launches each vendor’s own CLI. It never reads credentials or adds separate per-token billing.

The handoff

Two agents. One continuous line of thought.

Agent one

Leaves a useful trail

Hooks observe the work; the agent records important decisions and rejected alternatives. A deliberate sync packages the current branch, commit, changes, and next action.

→

Agent two

Starts with the why

A brief surfaces the latest handoff and committed decisions. whyline explain can connect a line of code back to the reason that created it—even months later.

Small enough to stay invisible

Fast in the loop. Durable across sessions.

The implementation uses only the Python standard library at runtime. Operational state stays project-scoped; committed decisions travel with the Git history.

47 msmeasured median for brief

92 msmeasured median for sync

0production dependencies

2supported agent CLIs

Make the next handoff the easy one.

Python 3.11+ · initialise once per Git repository · supports Claude Code and Codex on macOS and Linux.

uv tool install whyline