# What is Doku?

The persistent work layer that makes agent-assisted work governed, repeatable, and verifiable.



Doku turns one-off agent attempts into governed work that can be run again and checked later. Agents still do the execution. Doku owns the authority around that execution: what is being attempted, what inputs are trusted, what may be accessed, what proof is required, and when a human must decide.

<GovernancePath />

## The problem Doku solves [#the-problem-doku-solves]

A successful agent chat can produce a useful result, but it rarely leaves a reusable operating model. The instructions, inputs, permissions, decisions, and proof are scattered across the conversation.

Doku gives that work a durable shape:

* a **Playbook** defines a reusable, outcome-driven recipe;
* a **Playbook Run** is one governed execution of a published Playbook version;
* **Variables** declare information the run may need;
* **Capacities** declare external systems and actions the work may require;
* **Claims** state what must be true and what evidence proves it;
* **human approval** stays explicit where an agent should not decide alone.

## Doku and the agent [#doku-and-the-agent]

Doku is not the agent and it is not a chat interface. Your agent operates through Doku's MCP and CodeMode surfaces. Doku keeps the run state, permissions, connector custody, evidence, checkpoints, approvals, and audit history.

That separation is deliberate: the agent can reason and act, while Doku remains the source of runtime authority.

## The core loop [#the-core-loop]

1. A person chooses a Playbook and supplies the starting context.
2. Doku creates a Run Intent for an authorized agent.
3. The agent claims the work and follows the runnable task graph.
4. Doku records evidence against the Claims that define success.
5. Human-gated Claims pause for an accountable decision.
6. The Run completes only when its required Claims are satisfied.

## Where to go next [#where-to-go-next]

* [Understand the Playbook model](/docs/playbooks)
* [Author your first Playbook](/docs/playbooks/authoring)
* [Learn how agents execute Runs](/docs/agent-runtime)

> **Preview status:** This documentation surface is an early experiment. The terminology follows Doku's current domain model, but the information architecture and presentation will evolve.