git-ots/AGENTS.md
Otto 948e7d9d70 Rename hooks to standard git hook names
- Rename post-commit-ots → post-commit
- Rename pre-commit-ots → pre-commit
- Remove legacy post-commit and pre-commit symlinks
- Update install.sh and documentation
- Simplified: only 2 hook files with standard names

Hooks are now named exactly as git expects them, making
manual installation more intuitive.
2026-03-08 01:20:27 +01:00

2.3 KiB

AI Agent Instructions

Quick reference for AI agents installing OpenTimestamp hooks.

⚠️ Hard Requirement

ots CLI must be installed. No fallback available.

pipx install opentimestamps-client

The Node.js @opentimestamps/ots package is not a valid alternative - it only creates local proofs without calendar submission or Bitcoin attestation.

Installation

# 1. Verify/install prerequisites
if ! command -v ots &> /dev/null; then
    pipx install opentimestamps-client
fi

# 2. Install hooks
./hooks/install.sh .

# 3. Commit proofs
git add .ots/ .gitignore
git commit -m "Add OpenTimestamp proofs for commit history"

Manual Installation

cp hooks/post-commit .git/hooks/post-commit
cp hooks/pre-commit .git/hooks/pre-commit
chmod +x .git/hooks/post-commit .git/hooks/pre-commit

.gitignore:

.ots/.attestation-cache

Key Files

File Purpose Version?
hooks/post-commit Post-commit hook Yes
hooks/pre-commit Backfill hook Yes
hooks/install.sh Installer (checks ots) Yes
.ots/*.ots Individual proofs Yes
.ots/proof.ots Latest proof reference Yes
.ots/commit-chain.txt Commit chain Yes
.ots/.attestation-cache Local cache No

Verification

# Check attestation status
ots info .ots/<commit-hash>.ots | grep -c "PendingAttestation"
# 0 = attested, >0 = pending

# Verify proof
ots verify .ots/<commit-hash>.ots

# Upgrade pending proofs
ots upgrade .ots/<commit-hash>.ots

Important Notes

  • No Node.js fallback - ots CLI is mandatory
  • Attestation time: ~10 min (Bitcoin confirmation)
  • Cache validity: 1 hour, re-checks pending after 10 min
  • Commit overhead: ~10-15s after initial backfill
  • Proof size: ~500-900 bytes each
  • Safe to commit: Yes, .ots/ directory should be versioned

Why ots CLI is Required

Feature ots CLI Node.js Package
Calendar submission
Bitcoin attestation
Proof upgrade
Verification
Local proofs

The Node.js package only creates self-attested local proofs with no third-party verification. For tamper-evident timestamps anchored to Bitcoin, ots CLI is the only complete implementation.