---
url: /sibyl/cli/brief.md
---
# brief

One-shot lean context brief for injecting into a subagent prompt. `brief` is a stripped-down sibling
of [`sibyl context`](./context.md): given a goal, it prints wake-layer markdown only, with no skill
ceremony, no related-graph expansion, and no JSON envelope. Pipe or paste the output straight into a
worker agent's prompt.

## Synopsis

```bash
sibyl brief <goal> [options]
```

## Arguments

| Argument | Required | Description           |
| -------- | -------- | --------------------- |
| `goal`   | Yes      | Subagent goal or task |

## Options

| Option      | Short | Default | Description                                    |
| ----------- | ----- | ------- | ---------------------------------------------- |
| `--intent`  | `-i`  | `build` | Agent intent (see [`context`](./context.md))   |
| `--project` | `-p`  | (auto)  | Project ID                                     |
| `--all`     | `-a`  | false   | Use all accessible projects                    |
| `--budget`  |       | 1500    | Token budget for the rendered brief (100-8000) |

## Examples

```bash
# Lean brief for a worker agent
sibyl brief "implement the password reset endpoint"

# Bias toward debugging context with a smaller budget
sibyl brief "auth token refresh fails intermittently" --intent debug --budget 800

# Inject straight into a subagent prompt
PACK=$(sibyl brief "wire up OAuth2")
```

## Notes

* `brief` always uses the `wake` layer with related-graph expansion off, so it is faster and leaner
  than `context`. Reach for `context` when you need a deeper pack, raw memories, a diary, or JSON.
* The project comes from `--project`, then the directory link, then the active context's default
  project (with a notice). With none of those the command stops and says how to scope it; `--all`
  reads every accessible project on purpose and labels the result.

## Related Commands

* [`sibyl context`](./context.md) - Full working context pack with more layers and options
* [`sibyl session`](./session.md) - Wake-up bundle for a new session