goose/documentation/docs/guides/recipes/session-recipes.md

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1	Shareable Recipes	Share a Goose session setup (including tools, goals, and instructions) as a reusable recipe that others can launch with a single click

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Sometimes you finish a task in Goose and realize, "Hey, this setup could be useful again." Maybe you have curated a great combination of tools, defined a clear goal, and want to preserve that flow. Or maybe you're trying to help someone else replicate what you just did without walking them through it step by step.

You can turn your current Goose session into a reusable recipe that includes the tools, goals, and setup you're using right now and package it into a new Agent that others (or future you) can launch with a single click.

Create Recipe

:::warning You cannot create a recipe from an existing recipe session, but you can view or [edit the recipe](#edit-recipe). :::

1. While in the session you want to save as a recipe, click the gear icon ⚙️ in the top right corner
2. Select Make recipe from this session
3. In the dialog that appears:
   • Provide a title for the recipe
   • Provide a description
   • A set of instructions will also be automatically generated. Review and edit as needed.
   • Provide an optional initial prompt to display in the chat box.
   • Some activities will be automatically generated. Add or remove as needed.
4. Copy the recipe URL and use it however you like (e.g., share it with teammates, drop it in documentation, or keep it for yourself)

:::warning You cannot create a recipe from an existing recipe session - the `/recipe` command will not work. :::

Create a Recipe File

Recipe files can be either JSON (.json) or YAML (.yaml) files. While in a session, run this command to generate a recipe.yaml file in your current directory:

/recipe

If you want to specify a different name, you can provide it as an argument:

/recipe my-custom-recipe.yaml

recipe file structure

# Required fields
version: 1.0.0
title: $title
description: $description
instructions: $instructions    # Define the model's behavior

# Optional fields
prompt: $prompt                # Initial message to start with
extensions:                    # Tools the recipe needs
- $extensions
activities:                    # Example prompts to display in the Desktop app
- $activities
settings:                      # Additional settings
  goose_provider: $provider    # Provider to use for this recipe
  goose_model: $model          # Specific model to use for this recipe
  temperature: $temperature    # Model temperature setting for this recipe (0.0 to 1.0)

Optional Parameters

You may add parameters to a recipe, which will require users to fill in data when running the recipe. Parameters can be added to any part of the recipe (instructions, prompt, activities, etc).

To use parameters:

1. Add template variables using {{ variable_name }} syntax in your recipe content
2. Define each parameter in the parameters section of your YAML file

Example recipe with parameters

version: 1.0.0
title: "{{ project_name }} Code Review" # Wrap the value in quotes if it starts with template syntax to avoid YAML parsing errors
description: Automated code review for {{ project_name }} with {{ language }} focus
instructions: |
   You are a code reviewer specialized in {{ language }} development.
   Apply the following standards:
   - Complexity threshold: {{ complexity_threshold }}
   - Required test coverage: {{ test_coverage }}%
   - Style guide: {{ style_guide }}
activities:
- "Review {{ language }} code for complexity"
- "Check test coverage against {{ test_coverage }}% requirement"
- "Verify {{ style_guide }} compliance"
settings:                     
  goose_provider: "anthropic"   
  goose_model: "claude-3-sonnet"          
  temperature: 0.7 
parameters:
- key: project_name
  input_type: string
  requirement: required # could be required, optional or user_prompt
  description: name of the project
- key: language
  input_type: string
  requirement: required
  description: language of the code
- key: complexity_threshold
  input_type: number
  requirement: optional
  default: 20 # default is required for optional parameters
  description: a threshold that defines the maximum allowed complexity
- key: test_coverage
  input_type: number
  requirement: optional
  default: 80
  description: the minimum test coverage threshold in percentage
- key: style_guide
  input_type: string
  description: style guide name
  requirement: user_prompt
  # If style_guide param value is not specified in the command, user will be prompted to provide a value, even in non-interactive mode

See the Recipe Reference Guide for more information about recipe fields.

Validate Recipe

Exit the session and run:

goose recipe validate recipe.yaml

Validation ensures that:

• All required fields are present
• Parameters are properly formatted
• Referenced extensions exist and are valid
• The YAML/JSON syntax is correct

Share Your Recipe

Now that your recipe is created, you can share it with CLI users by directly sending them the recipe file or converting it to a shareable deep link for Desktop users:

goose recipe deeplink recipe.yaml

Use the online [Recipe Generator](https://block.github.io/goose/recipe-generator) tool to create a recipe. First choose your preferred format:

- **URL Format**: Generates a shareable link that opens a session in the Goose Desktop app
- **YAML Format**: Generates YAML content that you can save to file and then run in the Goose CLI app

Then fill out the recipe form by providing:
  - A **title** for the recipe
  - A **description**
  - A set of **instructions** for the recipe.
  - An optional inital **prompt**:
    - In the Desktop app, the prompt displays in the chat box.
    - In the CLI app, the prompt provides the initial message to run. Note that a prompt is required to run the recipe in headless (non-interactive) mode.
  - A set of optional **activities** to display in the Desktop app.
  - YAML format only: Optional **author** contact information and **extensions** the recipe usess.

Edit Recipe

1. While in the session created from a recipe, click the gear icon ⚙️ in the top right corner
2. Select View recipe
3. In the dialog that appears, you can edit the:
   • Title
   • Description
   • Instructions
   • Initial prompt
   • Activities
4. Copy the new recipe URL. The original recipe and your current session are not affected by your edits.
5. Use and share the URL for your new recipe.

Once the recipe file is created, you can open it with your preferred text editor and modify the value of any field.

Use Recipe

There are two ways to use a recipe in Goose Desktop:

1. Direct Link

   • Click a recipe link shared with you
   • The recipe will automatically open in Goose Desktop

2. Manual URL Entry

   • Copy a recipe URL
   • Paste it into your browser's address bar
   • You will see a prompt to "Open Goose"
   • Goose Desktop will open with the recipe

:::note Privacy & Isolation

• Each person gets their own private session
• No data is shared between users
• Your session won't affect the original recipe creator's session :::

Configure Recipe Location

Recipes can be stored locally on your device or in a GitHub repository. Configure your recipe repository using either the goose configure command or config file.

:::tip Repository Structure

• Each recipe should be in its own directory
• Directory name matches the recipe name you use in commands
• Recipe file can be either recipe.yaml or recipe.json :::

   Run the configure command:
   ```sh
   goose configure
   ```

   You'll see the following prompts:

   ```sh
   ┌  goose-configure 
   │
   ◆  What would you like to configure?
   │  ○ Configure Providers 
   │  ○ Add Extension 
   │  ○ Toggle Extensions 
   │  ○ Remove Extension 
   // highlight-start
   │  ● Goose Settings (Set the Goose Mode, Tool Output, Tool Permissions, Experiment, Goose recipe github repo and more)
   // highlight-end
   │
   ◇  What would you like to configure?
   │  Goose Settings 
   │
   ◆  What setting would you like to configure?
   │  ○ Goose Mode 
   │  ○ Tool Permission 
   │  ○ Tool Output 
   │  ○ Toggle Experiment 
   // highlight-start
   │  ● Goose recipe github repo (Goose will pull recipes from this repo if not found locally.)
   // highlight-end
   └  
   ┌  goose-configure 
   │
   ◇  What would you like to configure?
   │  Goose Settings 
   │
   ◇  What setting would you like to configure?
   │  Goose recipe github repo 
   │
   ◆  Enter your Goose Recipe GitHub repo (owner/repo): eg: my_org/goose-recipes
   // highlight-start
   │  squareup/goose-recipes (default)
   // highlight-end
   └  
   ```

 </TabItem>

 <TabItem value="config" label="Using config file">

   Add to your config file:
   ```yaml title="~/.config/goose/config.yaml"
   GOOSE_RECIPE_GITHUB_REPO: "owner/repo"
   ```

 </TabItem>

Run a Recipe

   **Basic Usage** - Run once and exit (see [run options](/docs/guides/goose-cli-commands#run-options) and [recipe commands](/docs/guides/goose-cli-commands#recipe) for more):
   ```sh
   # Using recipe file in current directory
   goose run --recipe recipe.yaml

   # Using full path
   goose run --recipe ./recipes/my-recipe.yaml
   ```

   **Preview Recipe** - Use the [`explain`](/docs/guides/goose-cli-commands#run-options) command to view details before running:

   **Interactive Mode** - Start an interactive session:
   ```sh
   goose run --recipe recipe.yaml --interactive
   ```
   The interactive mode will prompt for required values:
   ```sh
   ◆ Enter value for required parameter 'language':
   │ Python
   │
   ◆ Enter value for required parameter 'style_guide':
   │ PEP8
   ```

   **With Parameters** - Supply parameter values when running recipes. See the [`run` command documentation](/docs/guides/goose-cli-commands#run-options) for detailed examples and options.

   Basic example:
   ```sh
   goose run --recipe recipe.yaml --params language=Python
   ```

 </TabItem>

 <TabItem value="github" label="GitHub Recipe">

   Once you've configured your GitHub repository, you can run recipes by name:

   **Basic Usage** - Run recipes from your configured repo using the recipe name that matches its directory (see [run options](/docs/guides/goose-cli-commands#run-options) and [recipe commands](/docs/guides/goose-cli-commands#recipe) for more):

   ```sh
   goose run --recipe recipe-name
   ```

   For example, if your repository structure is:
   ```
   my-repo/
   ├── code-review/
   │   └── recipe.yaml
   └── setup-project/
       └── recipe.yaml
   ```
   
   You would run the following command to run the code review recipe:
   ```sh
   goose run --recipe code-review
   ```

  **Preview Recipe** - Use the [`explain`](/docs/guides/goose-cli-commands#run-options) command to view details before running:

   **Interactive Mode** - With parameter prompts:
   ```sh
   goose run --recipe code-review --interactive
   ```
   The interactive mode will prompt for required values:
   ```sh
   ◆ Enter value for required parameter 'project_name':
   │ MyProject
   │
   ◆ Enter value for required parameter 'language':
   │ Python
   ```

   **With Parameters** - Supply parameter values when running recipes. See the [`run` command documentation](/docs/guides/goose-cli-commands#run-options) for detailed examples and options.

 </TabItem>

:::note Privacy & Isolation - Each person gets their own private session - No data is shared between users - Your session won't affect the original recipe creator's session :::

Schedule a Recipe

Automate Goose recipes by running them on a schedule.

Create a schedule - Create a scheduled cron job that runs the recipe on the specified cadence.

# Add a new scheduled recipe which runs every day at 9 AM
goose schedule add --id daily-report --cron "0 0 9 * * *" --recipe-source ./recipes/daily-report.yaml

The cron expression follows the format "seconds minutes hours day-of-month month day-of-week".

See the schedule command documentation for detailed examples and options.

Core Components

A recipe needs these core components:

• Instructions: Define the agent's behavior and capabilities

  • Acts as the agent's mission statement
  • Makes the agent ready for any relevant task
  • Required if no prompt is provided

• Prompt (Optional): Starts the conversation automatically

  • Without a prompt, the agent waits for user input
  • Useful for specific, immediate tasks
  • Required if no instructions are provided

• Activities: Example tasks that appear as clickable bubbles

  • Help users understand what the recipe can do
  • Make it easy to get started

What's Included

A recipe captures:

• AI instructions (goal/purpose)
• Suggested activities (examples for the user to click)
• Enabled extensions and their configurations
• Project folder or file context
• Initial setup (but not full conversation history)
• The model and provider to use when running the recipe (optional)

To protect your privacy and system integrity, Goose excludes:

• Global and local memory
• API keys and personal credentials
• System-level Goose settings

This means others may need to supply their own credentials or memory context if the recipe depends on those elements.

Learn More

Check out the Goose Recipes guide for more docs, tools, and resources to help you master Goose recipes.