Settings
Change a setting by voice, from the shell, per project or for one run, and know which one wins.
Every setting has a default, so you only change the ones you care about. The quickest way is to ask: “use Sonnet” or “set eot to 0.8”. Every value is checked for type, choice and range before it is used, wherever it comes from.
Change a setting
Pick the way that matches how long the change should last:
Ask in plain words. The brain runs claudio set for you:
Every setting is also a slash command, said as it reads: “slash model sonnet”, “slash barge in off”, “slash eot 0.8”. Either way the change is saved to config.json and kept for next time.
Which value wins
Each source overrides the ones before it:
- the defaults
- the global files,
config.jsonandsecrets.json .claudio.jsonin the current directory, or the nearest folder above it- environment variables
Setup, claudio set and changes by voice only ever write the global files. A project's or the environment's value is never saved as your default. When .claudio.json or a CLAUDIO_<KEY> sets the key you change, claudio set and the slash commands save nothing and say where it is set, since the change would do nothing there.
The catch: while a project file or an environment variable sets a value, a claudio set of the same setting is saved but has no effect in that run.
Common changes
Each group links to the page that explains it:
| To change | Run |
|---|---|
| The brain's speed and depth | claudio set model sonnet, claudio set effort medium |
| How it talks, see persona and style | claudio set style brief |
| The voice, see voices and mouths | claudio set voice aura-2-thalia-en |
| When your turn ends, see listening and turns | claudio set eot 0.8 |
| Who gets your tasks | claudio set orchestrator Core |
| Where your sessions live, see platforms | claudio set backend bb |
| Which session reports you hear | claudio set narrate all |
| Whether it resumes the last conversation | claudio set memory false |
model takes default, sonnet, opus or haiku, through your Claude Code login. effort takes low, medium or high. backend takes cmux, the default, whose panes are the sessions, or bb, whose threads are; the orchestrator is then a workspace title or a thread title. narrate takes handed-off (finishes of work it handed over in the last 30 minutes), all or none. The settings reference lists every setting with its default.
When a change takes effect
claudio watches config.json and reloads it about once a second. The line ⚙ <setting> → <value> confirms each change:
| Changed | Takes effect |
|---|---|
model, effort, style | the brain restarts; with memory on, it keeps the conversation |
voice, mouth, elevenlabs_voice | from the next reply |
ears, eot, eager_eot, eot_timeout_ms | the ears reconnect |
name | the ears reconnect and the brain restarts |
push_to_talk off | the mic opens at once |
push_to_talk on | the mic closes when your current turn ends |
orchestrator | the state line at once; the brain's own copy at its next restart |
barge_in, address_me, narrate, memory | at once |
code_colors | from the next code block |
layout | from your next turn |
backend | restart claudio |
Edits to .claudio.json, to secrets.json on its own, or to environment variables need a restart of claudio. Editing the persona restarts the brain by itself.
Value formats
claudio set, .claudio.json and environment variables all accept:
- Booleans:
true,false,yes,no,on,off,1or0, in any case - Whole numbers:
1500or1500.0, but not1500.5 - Numbers: any number inside the setting's range, such as
0.8 - Text: trimmed, and never empty, except
orchestrator - Choices: exactly as listed, in lower case
A bad value is skipped and the previous one kept. Troubleshooting lists each message.
Where settings are stored
All three files are in ~/.config/claudio, or in $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/claudio when XDG_CONFIG_HOME is set:
| File | Holds |
|---|---|
config.json | the settings |
secrets.json | the API keys, readable only by you (mode 600) |
PERSONA.md | your additions to the persona |
The brain may not read secrets.json, and the settings it is shown leave the keys out. Files and paths lists everything else claudio writes.