Tessl Integration Reference

Detailed instructions for Tessl tile integration during implementation.

Check Tessl Availability

Platform Detection:

• Unix/Linux/macOS: command -v tessl >/dev/null 2>&1
• Windows PowerShell: Get-Command tessl -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue

If Tessl NOT Available: Display once and continue:

ℹ️ Tessl not installed. Tile-based documentation unavailable.
   Install Tessl for enhanced library documentation: https://tessl.io

Then proceed without Tessl.

If Tessl Available: Integration is automatic and mandatory.

Load Tessl Context from research.md

If /iikit-03-plan was run with Tessl available, research.md contains a "Tessl Tiles" section with:

• List of installed tiles
• Available skills from skill tiles
• Technologies without tiles

Read this section to understand what tiles are available for implementation.

If research.md doesn't have a Tessl section (plan was run without Tessl), initialize tiles now:

mcp__tessl__status()

If no tiles installed, search and install for technologies in plan.md Technical Context:

mcp__tessl__search(query="<technology>")
mcp__tessl__install(packageName="<workspace/tile-name>")

Initialize Tile Usage Tracking

Create an internal tracking structure for the completion report:

TESSL_USAGE = {
    "documentation_queries": [],    # Track (library, topic, task_id)
    "skills_invoked": [],           # Track (skill_name, task_ids)
    "rules_applied": false          # Set true if .tessl/RULES.md exists
}

Check if rules are being applied:

test -f .tessl/RULES.md && echo "RULES_ACTIVE" || echo "NO_RULES"

Documentation Query Pattern

Before implementing ANY code that uses an installed tile's library:

1. Identify the library and feature needed for the current task
2. Query the tile:

   mcp__tessl__query_library_docs(query="<specific task context for library>")

3. Apply patterns from the response to implementation
4. Track the query in TESSL_USAGE

Example queries by task type:

• Creating a CLI command: mcp__tessl__query_library_docs(query="click command with options and arguments")
• Database connection: mcp__tessl__query_library_docs(query="sqlite3 connection context manager")
• Writing tests: mcp__tessl__query_library_docs(query="pytest fixtures for database testing")
• API endpoint: mcp__tessl__query_library_docs(query="fastapi route with request validation")

Query when:

• Starting a task that uses a library with an installed tile
• Implementing non-trivial library features
• Encountering library-related errors
• Unsure about current best practices

Do NOT query:

• For basic language constructs (loops, conditionals)
• For the same pattern already queried this session
• When task doesn't involve an installed tile's library

Skill Tile Usage During Implementation

Skill tiles provide specialized AI commands that can automate parts of implementation.

Before starting each task:

1. Check if any installed skill tile is relevant to the task
2. Skills are cataloged in research.md "Available Skills" section

Examples of skill tile usage:

• Database migration task -> invoke migration skill if installed
• API endpoint scaffolding -> invoke API scaffold skill if installed
• Test generation -> invoke test generation skill if installed

Pattern for invoking a skill tile:

Skill(skill="<skill-name>", args="<context from current task>")

After skill invocation:

• Integrate skill output into implementation
• Track invocation in TESSL_USAGE.skills_invoked
• Continue with manual implementation for any gaps

Handle Tessl Failures Gracefully

• MCP tool unavailable: Log warning, continue without tile queries
• Query returns no useful result: Proceed with best knowledge
• Tile not found: Note in report, implement without tile guidance
• Network issues: Log warning, continue implementation

Skip Tessl if: User passes --no-tessl flag.

Tessl Tile Usage Report

If Tessl was available and used during implementation, generate a usage report:

+---------------------------------------------+
|  TESSL TILE USAGE REPORT                    |
+---------------------------------------------+
|  Documentation queries:  X                  |
|    - <library>: <topics queried>            |
|                                             |
|  Skills invoked:         X                  |
|    - /<skill-name> (task IDs)               |
|                                             |
|  Rules applied:          [Yes/No]           |
|  Tiles used:             X of Y installed   |
+---------------------------------------------+