CLN Operator · Reference
.
Dot
Action · Step · Procedure
"What to do?"
Operator CLN v2.1 Plain-text · Universal
All operators =Equals .Dot !Bang ?Question →Arrow ~Tilde +Plus -Minus @At
01// . — Definition

Commands. Enumerates steps. Defines procedure.

Cognitive question answered: "What to do?"
One line = one semantic unit. The Dot operator tells the reader — before they read the content — that this line answers: What to do?
02// When to use it

Use . for any concrete step, task, instruction, or action. If a human or system needs to DO something, it gets a dot.

When NOT to use it:
Don't use . for observations, facts, or conclusions — those are = or →. . is an imperative.
03// Live Examples
Task list
.read architecture overview
.set up local env — ask buddy for .env values
.run test suite locally — confirm green before proceeding
.open first PR — pick a good-first-issue
Process steps
.check server logs — filter for 503 + upstream errors
.open monitoring dashboard — CPU · mem · req/s · error rate
.if deploy found — rollback immediately
Recipe / procedure
.preheat oven to 180°C
.mix dry ingredients first — sift flour to remove lumps
.fold wet into dry — do not overmix — 12 strokes max
04// Operator Pairs

Operators don't work in isolation — they form semantic pairs that together convey full cognitive structure:

=. follows = — definition sets context, dot gives the steps
→. is the action · → is the result of that action
!. describes what to do · ! flags what could block or break the step