# Using Perisclaw

Canonical URL: https://docs.perisclaw.com/use-cases

Use Perisclaw the way you'd use a good assistant: ask a question, hand
something off, or think out loud. Just describe what you want. You don't need
to pick a feature first.

There are two places to begin: your self-chat for private work, or the
conversation that already contains the context.

## Start in your self-chat

Your **self-chat** (the WhatsApp chat with your own number) is Perisclaw's
home base. Use it for work that spans people, apps, or several days.

> **Try this in your self-chat:** What needs my attention today? Give me the three most important things and why.

Good first requests include:

* **Catch up:** *“What did Rahul say about the budget last week?”*
* **Delegate:** *“Draft a polite no to this invitation.”*
* **Plan:** *“What does my day look like?”* or *“Remind me to call the bank
  Friday.”*
* **Remember:** *“Remember that Maya prefers morning meetings.”*

**Info: You review messages before they leave**

  By default, when a self-chat request would send to someone else, Perisclaw
  shows you the draft first. Reply **send** or react 👍 or ✅ to
  approve it.

## Use /claw where the conversation is happening

In a direct message or group, start your request with `/claw`. Perisclaw uses
that conversation as context and replies there, so you do not need to forward
messages or explain the thread again.

> **Try this in another conversation:** /claw summarize the decisions in this chat and tell us what is still open.

Use `/claw` for a one-off answer, or ask it to keep handling something, like
coordinating a meeting time with the group. You can always see and change what
it has access to in [Permissions & access](/permissions-and-access).

**Info: A /claw request acts in that conversation**

  Because you invoked Perisclaw inside the destination chat, it carries out
  that request there instead of sending a draft back to self-chat first.

## Speak and react instead of typing

You can use familiar WhatsApp actions when a full typed request is inconvenient:

* **Send a voice note** in self-chat, or include `/claw` with a voice request in
  another chat. Perisclaw handles it like typed text. [Learn about voice](/voice).
* **React 📎 to any message** to save it to your personal wiki. Perisclaw sends
  a confirmation when it is stored. [Learn about the personal wiki](/personal-wiki).
* **React 👍 or ✅ to a draft** in self-chat to approve and send it.

## Know what happens after you ask

Some requests finish immediately; others create work you can return to:

* **An answer or action** finishes in the current conversation.
* **A task** holds something you want to track and eventually close.
* **A reminder** brings something back at a chosen time.
* **A Mission** takes on a goal that needs multiple steps, like chasing five
  invoices until they're paid.
* **An Automation** runs on a schedule or trigger, like a briefing every
  morning at 8.

Ask in normal language and Perisclaw picks the right one. You don't need to
remember any of this.

## Review ongoing work in the dashboard

WhatsApp is where you ask, clarify, and approve. Open the Perisclaw dashboard
when you want to scan or manage Tasks, Missions, your Schedule, Automations,
Wiki, Skills, or Permissions.

![Tasks dashboard in Swipe view with one open follow-up and Done and Snooze controls](/images/tasks-swipe-view.png)

_The Tasks screen gives you a visual place to clear, snooze, or hand work back to your assistant._

## Stop, ignore, or restart

These commands work even when the assistant is busy or stuck:

* **`/stop`** in self-chat halts the current turn and drops queued work. The
  assistant reacts 🛑 when the command registers.
* **`/ignore`** as a standalone word in any message tells Perisclaw not to act
  on that message or use it in later AI search and retrieval. It reacts 🙈 to
  confirm.
* **`/restart`** in self-chat restarts the assistant when it is unresponsive.
  It reacts ♻️ immediately and confirms when it is back.

Use `/stop` when you only want to halt current work. Reserve `/restart` for the
assistant itself being stuck.

## Choose what to hand off next

Pick the guide for what you want to do next.

### Keep work moving

See what you owe, hand off longer work, and make repeat work happen automatically.

> **Try asking:** What have I promised this week?

- [Commitments & tasks](/track-commitments-and-tasks)
- [Missions](/missions)
- [Automations](/automations)

### Find and remember what matters

Save useful context and recover messages, files, or decisions without remembering where they live.

> **Try asking:** Find the latest pricing deck and show me where it came from.

- [Personal wiki](/personal-wiki)
- [Search everything](/search-across-everything)
- [Mail & connected apps](/connecting-apps)

### Run your day from WhatsApp

Plan your time, bring things back later, and catch up without switching between apps.

> **Try asking:** What needs my attention tomorrow?

- [Calendar](/calendar)
- [Reminders & messages](/schedule-reminders-and-messages)
- [Organize WhatsApp](/organize-your-whatsapp)