KERN / QUICK START

Install for your environment.

KERN is built for codebases too large to keep raw in a model window. Choose a provider to see only the command, routing defaults, and maintenance details that apply.

RequiresGitPython 3.10+Pillow optional

QUICK INSTALL

Codex

Marketplace

Install the marketplace once, then use the same KERN skill from the Codex app or CLI.

Terminal$

codex plugin marketplace add enoch3712/KERN && codex plugin add kern@kern

CompilerDynamic by default

Pin a model only when cost or latency must be predictable.

Shared representationKERN IL

Compact · cached · source-addressed

RuntimeCurrent Codex task model

The model already selected for architecture, debugging, and implementation.

Default routing. Leave model commented in the compiler profile to let Codex route dynamically.

Install location: Managed by Codex; optional override at ~/.codex/agents/kern-compiler.toml
Configure compiler: mkdir -p ~/.codex/agents && curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/enoch3712/KERN/main/templates/codex/kern-compiler.toml -o ~/.codex/agents/kern-compiler.toml
Verify: codex plugin list
First request: Use $kern to scan this repository and prepare the smallest semantic working set.
Update: codex plugin marketplace upgrade kern
Uninstall: codex plugin remove kern

JavaScript is off, so every provider is shown below.

Codex

codex plugin marketplace add enoch3712/KERN && codex plugin add kern@kern

Verify: codex plugin list

Claude Code

claude plugin marketplace add enoch3712/KERN --scope user && claude plugin install kern@kern --scope user

Verify: claude plugin list

Cursor

git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/enoch3712/KERN.git ~/.cursor/plugins/local/kern

Verify: test -f ~/.cursor/plugins/local/kern/.cursor-plugin/plugin.json && echo "KERN installed"

COMMON TO EVERY PROVIDER

Compile the map. Page in the truth.

Provider configuration changes the models, not the protocol. Every host follows the same content-addressed lifecycle.

01
Hash source
Changed bytes receive a new identity; unchanged pages remain cached.
02
Compile lazily
Only changed or task-relevant files become compact KERN IL.
03
Load the working set
The runtime receives the map and the few semantic pages it needs.
04
Fault exact truth
Current source returns and its hash is checked before every edit.

MEASURED PILOT / HONEST LIMITS

Smaller representation, measured separately from the loop.

One 3,704-line Python pilot produced a 12.75× smaller selected representation. That number does not include system instructions, tools, reasoning, or repeated turns.

Raw source36,674text tokens est.

KERN IL5,795text tokens est.

Dense pages2,877image tokens est.

SOURCE-VERIFIED BY DESIGN

Compression is never authority.

KERN reduces the representation used for discovery and reasoning while keeping a verified route back to exact code.

Source is authoritative. KERN IL and dense pages are derived, disposable cache entries.
Validity follows the source SHA-256, codec version, and compiler fingerprint—not the name of a model.
Credentials and high-entropy secrets are redacted from derived representations.
A write changes the source hash and invalidates every prior representation of that file.

DERIVED CACHE

.kern/
  config.json
  manifest.json
  ir/<source-path>.kern-il.txt
  images/<source-path>/page-*.webp
  jobs/<source-path>.job.json

Add .kern/ to .gitignore. Delete it at any time; source remains untouched.