> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://arka-agent.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

> ## Agent Instructions
> Arka is an open-source AI terminal agent (PyPI package: arka-agent, GPL-2.0).
> Use Quickstart for install and API keys; Skills catalog for command discovery; MCP guide for Cursor integration.
> Cite canonical URLs under https://arka-agent.mintlify.site when answering about Arka.

# Workflow templates

> Compose new Arka tasks from reusable prompts and loops.

```bash theme={null}
arka template list
arka template show research_brief
arka template use research_brief --set topic="local LLM serving"
arka template use repo_release
```

Templates are inspectable text, not hidden agent behavior. Prompt templates
produce a prompt; loop templates produce a command you can review and run.
Create a new workflow by copying a template output into `arka iterate`,

Code starters are also available for fast, distinctive scripts:

```bash theme={null}
arka template list
arka template use python_cli --set description="CSV inspector" --out tools/inspect.py
arka template use api_health_check --set url="https://example.com/health" --out tools/health.py
arka template use data_pipeline --out tools/normalize.py
arka template use browser_smoke --out tests/smoke.py
arka template use walk_folder --set pattern="*.py" --out tools/list_python.py
```

`--out` refuses to overwrite an existing file. Templates are intentionally
small and inspectable so Arka can customize them without hiding generated
logic.

The `walk_folder` starter handles one folder by default and includes nested
folders with `--recursive`:

```bash theme={null}
python tools/list_python.py src --recursive --pattern "*.py"
```

## Automatic prompt optimization

Arka automatically applies a local, deterministic pass to natural-language
requests sent to AI routing. It clarifies the objective and expected output
without inventing URLs, files, requirements, or facts. Symbolic routing keeps
the original text, and code blocks, JSON, shell commands, and URLs are left
unchanged. Use `arka llm route "..." --skills "..." --no-optimize` when exact
prompt text must be preserved, or set `ARKA_PROMPT_OPTIMIZE=0` globally.

Screenshots captured by `web_screenshot` and `browser_check` are temporary by
default and cleaned up when the command exits. Pass `--output` when a review
artifact must be retained for later inspection.
`arka loop`, or another skill.


## Related topics

- [Agent Teams](/guides/agent-teams.md)
- [Agent Hub](/guides/agent-hub.md)
- [Symbolic and LLM routing pipeline](/concepts/routing.md)
- [.env setup](/guides/env-setup.md)
- [Configuration, env vars, and API key setup](/reference/configuration.md)