{"model":["Default model · `<provider>/<name>` (e.g. ollama/qwen3.5:9b · anthropic/claude-sonnet-4-6 · mock/echo).","",""],"schema":["JSON Schema · the structured-output contract the model's reply must satisfy. The out-of-core hatch; the typed door is task-level `returns:` (both on one task is NIKA-TYPE-003).","JSON Schema · the contract the agent's FINAL message must satisfy. The out-of-core hatch; the typed door is task-level `returns:` (both on one task is NIKA-TYPE-003)."],"system":["System prompt · the standing instruction, sent ahead of `prompt:` and unchanged by it.","System prompt · the standing instruction, sent ahead of `prompt:` and unchanged by any turn of the loop."],"temperature":["Sampling temperature · 0 is the steadiest the provider offers, 2 the loosest. A number in 0-2, or a `${{ }}` reference.","Sampling temperature for every turn of the loop · 0 is the steadiest the provider offers, 2 the loosest. A number in 0-2, or a `${{ }}` reference."],"thinking":["Extended thinking · `{ enabled, budget_tokens }` — reasoning the model may spend before it answers (spec/02-verbs.md §infer)."],"vision":["Image inputs for the call · each entry `{ source: file | url, path | url }` · the images `prompt:` is allowed to refer to."]}

the language

infer

Think. Ask any model · local or cloud. One of the four verbs. A verb is a distinct native execution model, and every task speaks exactly one.

its laneany of 17 providers: local first, your keys, no lock-in

8block keysthe contract
1requiredprompt
2check gatestyped findings
6skeletonsspeak this verb

the shape

a complete workflow

Schema-valid whole: this exact text passes nika check (the on-page YAML gate re-validates it on every test run).

think.nika.yaml

1nika: v12workflow:3  id: think4model: ollama/llama3.2:3b5tasks:6  summarize:7    ◇infer:8      prompt: "Three risks in this release, ranked"

inside infer:

8 keys · 1 required

The block's vocabulary comes from the served contract itself (workflow.schema.json). Each key opens its register row.

max_tokens: integer | stringper-call output token cap
model: string
prompt*: stringthe model job, in words: interpolate ${{ }} references, never paste secrets
schema: objectJSON Schema · the structured-output contract the model's reply must satisfy. The out-of-core hatch; the typed door is task-level `returns:` (both on one task is NIKA-TYPE-003).
system: stringSystem prompt · the standing instruction, sent ahead of `prompt:` and unchanged by it.
temperature: number | stringSampling temperature · 0 is the steadiest the provider offers, 2 the loosest. A number in 0-2, or a `${{ }}` reference.
thinking: objectExtended thinking · `{ enabled, budget_tokens }` — reasoning the model may spend before it answers (spec/02-verbs.md §infer).
vision: arrayImage inputs for the call · each entry `{ source: file | url, path | url }` · the images `prompt:` is allowed to refer to.

cross-references

skeletons that speak it

the check gates

the providers

17 spec-named providers, local first; your keys ride env vars, never a config file.

where it lives

accepts

errors of this verb

NIKA-INFER

The verbs are locked forever: four, never five (fetch is a builtin, not a verb; ordering is the DAG's job, not a word's). The grammar lives in spec 02 · verbs; every other key is in the keyword register. Read the spec →