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Getting Started with IMOS

Welcome to IMOS! This guide will walk you through your first 10 minutes with your new memory assistant. By the end, you'll have a working knowledge base and understand how to use IMOS effectively.

Your First 10 Minutes

Step 1: Verify Installation (30 seconds)

imos --help

You should see the IMOS command menu. If not, check the installation guide.

Step 2: Add Your First Memory (1 minute)

Let's start with a simple memory:

imos add "Python is a versatile programming language great for data science"

You should see: IMOS: Added memory #1

Step 3: Import Some Files (2 minutes)

If you have existing notes, let's import them:

# Import a single file
imos addfile path/to/your/notes.txt

# Import an entire folder
imos import-folder ~/Documents/Notes

IMOS will process each file and show you the progress.

Step 4: List Your Memories (30 seconds)

See what's in your knowledge base:

imos list

You'll see a numbered list of all your memories with previews.

Step 5: Search Your Memories (1 minute)

Try asking IMOS a question:

imos ask "What do I know about Python?"

IMOS will find relevant memories and show you the sources.

Step 6: Start a Conversation (5 minutes)

Now for the fun part - chat with your memories:

imos chat

You'll see the IMOS logo and enter interactive mode. Try these example conversations:

imos> What programming languages do I know?
imos> Tell me about my project ideas
imos> What are my recent TODO items?
imos> exit

Step 7: Check for Actions (30 seconds)

IMOS automatically finds action items in your notes:

imos actions

If IMOS found any TODOs or action items, you'll see them listed.

Understanding IMOS Workflow

The Basic Cycle

  1. Import content (files, manual entries)
  2. Search or chat to find information
  3. Take action on insights discovered
  4. Add more content as you work

Key Concepts

Memories

Everything in IMOS is a "memory" - a piece of text with: - Content: The actual text - Source: Where it came from (file path or "manual") - Embedding: AI representation for smart search - Links: Connections to related memories

Unlike traditional search, IMOS understands meaning: - Search "programming" and find "coding", "development", "software" - Ask "project ideas" and find relevant concepts even without exact words

Memory Linking

IMOS automatically connects similar memories: - Related concepts get linked together - Chat mode shows both primary and linked sources - Helps discover connections you might miss

Common First Tasks

For Researchers

# Import your paper collection
imos import-folder ~/Research/Papers

# Find papers on a topic
imos ask "What papers do I have about machine learning?"

# Start exploring connections
imos chat
imos> How do my ML papers relate to my data science notes?

For Writers

# Import your writing folder
imos import-folder ~/Writing

# Find character notes
imos ask "Tell me about my main character"

# Explore themes
imos chat
imos> What themes appear across my stories?

For Students

# Import course materials
imos import-folder ~/School/CourseNotes

# Study for exams
imos ask "What did I learn about calculus?"

# Make connections
imos chat
imos> How does calculus relate to my physics notes?

For Entrepreneurs

# Import business notes
imos import-folder ~/Business

# Review ideas
imos ask "What business opportunities have I identified?"

# Strategic thinking
imos chat
imos> What trends do I see across my industry research?

Best Practices

Organizing Your Content

File Structure

Keep your files organized before importing:

~/Knowledge/
├── Projects/
├── Research/
├── Meeting-Notes/
├── Ideas/
└── Learning/

Naming Conventions

Use descriptive filenames: - 2024-11-09-client-meeting.txt instead of notes.txt - ml-research-summary.md instead of summary.md

Content Quality

  • Be descriptive: Write complete thoughts, not just keywords
  • Add context: Include dates, sources, and background
  • Use your own words: IMOS works better with your natural language

Effective Searching

Ask Good Questions

Instead of keywords, use natural language: - Good: "What did I learn about customer feedback?" - Better: "How can I improve my product based on user input?"

Use Chat Mode for Exploration

  • Start broad, then get specific
  • Ask follow-up questions
  • Let IMOS guide you to related content

Check Sources

Always review the source files IMOS references to get full context.

Building Your Knowledge Base

Start Small

  • Begin with 10-20 important files
  • Get comfortable with basic commands
  • Gradually import more content

Regular Maintenance

  • Add new content regularly
  • Use imos rebuild-links after bulk imports
  • Review and complete action items

Backup Your Data

Your memory.db file contains all your processed memories:

# Find your database
ls -la memory.db

# Back it up regularly
cp memory.db backup-$(date +%Y%m%d).db

Quick Reference

Task Command
Add manual memory imos add "your text here"
Import single file imos addfile path/to/file.txt
Import folder imos import-folder path/to/folder
Search memories imos ask "your question"
Start conversation imos chat
List all memories imos list
View action items imos actions
Mark action complete imos done 1
Show linked memories imos links 1
Rebuild connections imos rebuild-links

Common First Questions

Q: How much content should I import initially? A: Start with 10-50 files to get a feel for IMOS. Quality beats quantity.

Q: Can I edit memories after adding them? A: Currently, memories are read-only. Add new, updated content and IMOS will link related information.

Q: How accurate is the AI search? A: Very accurate for conceptual searches. IMOS excels at finding meaning, not just keywords.

Q: What happens to my data? A: Everything stays local except chat queries sent to Groq for AI responses.

Next Steps

Now that you're familiar with the basics:

  1. Command Reference - Learn advanced features
  2. Use Cases - See detailed workflows
  3. FAQ - Get answers to common questions

Getting Help

  • Quick Help: imos command --help
  • Community: Join our community
  • Issues: Report bugs on GitHub

Ready to unlock the full potential of your knowledge? Let's dive deeper into IMOS!