AOL 1 - Disconnected
No project files. No memory. No rules. Every session starts from zero.
The short version
At AOL 1, the agent has zero context and zero intent. It has no knowledge of your project, your rules, or your decisions. You must explain the context every single time. The output is only as good as what you put in each prompt.
What this looks like
- General training data from the internet
- Whatever you type in the prompt
- Nothing else
- Knowledge of your project structure
- Your coding style or standards
- Any decisions you made in previous sessions
The cost
Every session, you spend time re-explaining context that the agent already "knew" last time. The output drifts - the agent makes different assumptions on different days because it has no stable reference point. You are the only source of project memory.
Tools at this layer
Any AI tool used in its default browser state with no project files attached puts you at AOL 1. The tool may be powerful - the layer is defined by what you have given it, not by the tool itself.
What it looks like in practice
Some tasks work perfectly at AOL 1. Others fall apart. The difference is whether the task requires project knowledge or not.
When AOL 1 is fine
AOL 1 is acceptable for quick, one-off tasks where context does not matter - writing a single email, explaining a concept, or answering a question. It is not acceptable for any ongoing project where consistency matters.
How to move to AOL 2
Create a CLAUDE.md file at the root of your project. This single file gives the agent a stable starting point. It does not need to be long - even a short description of what the project is and what the main rules are will make a measurable difference.