What is PAG and how to use it

[Varietyz]

PAG — Pattern Abstract Grammar

PAG is a structured instruction language for AI collaboration. It uses uppercase keywords, phased document structure, validation gates, and embedded algorithmic patterns to produce instructions that the AI follows with less drift.

Why PAG exists

AI models are pattern matchers. Feed them structured text with clear keywords, they tend to follow it more consistently than prose instructions. PAG was designed from thousands of hours of Claude interactions, mapping where the AI works well, where it struggles, and how to constrain it.

Document structure

---
name: document-name
version: 1.0.0
type: AGENT | WORKFLOW | POLICY | TEMPLATE
---

THIS {TYPE} {VERB} {description}

%% META %%:
intent: "What this achieves"
priority: high

# PHASE 1: Phase Name

    DECLARE variable: type
    SET variable = value

    VALIDATION GATE:
        ✅ Condition verified

Templates

The repository includes 10 PAG templates at claude-code/pag/templates/:

• AGENT-CREATOR — Creates agents through investigate-compose-validate loop
• ALGORITHM-AGENT — Task classification to algorithm selection to execution
• CODE-TRACER — Forensic code analysis
• CONTEXT-VERIFIER — Skeptical verification with tool calibration
• ORCHESTRATION — N-agent sequential phases
• WORKFLOW — Meta-template that generates workflows

Discuss

Share your PAG documents, ask about syntax, discuss template usage.