Decision models
A decision model is optional. Mental works with no key. After you store a key, a model can suggest links, tags, and a ranking. It does not block a write. If the model is down, over budget, or unconfigured, the CLI result stays the one you would have had without it.
The command is mental option decide. mental option jev is the same command. There is no mental jev command. Jev is the TypeSafe product name, and the name of the older files (jev.mjs, jev-usage.json). New copy says decision model.
Agents must not set a key. MCP refuses option decide and option jev for that reason. Run the commands below in your own terminal.
Store a key
Keys live in ~/.mental/config.json (mode 0600). Mental does not read MENTAL_JEV_KEY, TYPESAFE_API_KEY, or MENTAL_JEV_URL. key - reads the key from stdin so it stays out of shell history.
mental option decide
printf '%s' "$KEY" | mental option decide key - --provider typesafe
mental option decide provider openai
mental option decide key clear --provider typesafekey <KEY> also works. Prefer stdin. When no key is set, mental retag and mental extract name Cloudflare as the free tier.
| Provider | Flag | Default model | Also set |
|---|---|---|---|
| TypeSafe Jev | typesafe |
jev-latest |
Key from typesafe.ai |
| OpenAI Decisions | openai |
gpt-6-luna |
Key from the OpenAI API keys page |
| Cloudflare Clef | cloudflare |
clef or clef-flash |
Key and account <ID> |
| Custom | custom |
Endpoint you set | url and a key |
mental option decide account <ACCOUNT> --provider cloudflare
mental option decide model clef-flash --provider cloudflare
mental option decide url https://example.test/v1 --provider custom
mental option decide fallback openai
mental option decide fallback off
mental option decide budget 20000
mental option decide budget offmental option decide prints status and today’s token use. It masks the key.
Request timeout defaults to 4 seconds. MENTAL_JEV_TIMEOUT_MS overrides it.
What changes when a key is set
| You run | What the model adds |
|---|---|
mental search with zero hits |
data.recovered from a broader read. --rank reorders hits and does not drop any. |
journal, decide, note, attention, park |
Advisory data.similar. The write still lands. |
mental show |
data.suggestedLinks |
mental brief |
Relevance order. --no-rank skips it. |
mental relink |
A dry run of links (supports, supersedes, contradicts, depends_on, or plain related). --apply appends high-confidence links under ## Related. |
mental retag |
A dry run of one topic tag for untagged files. --apply writes the tags: line only. |
mental extract <file|-> |
Proposed actions, decisions, and concerns. The raw text is not stored. --apply needs --tag. |
mental doctor |
Warn-only checks. --apply can write proposed tags and links (--limit, default 10). --offline skips the model. |
Personal-slice notes are not sent unless you opt in:
mental option decide personal off
mental option decide personal onpersonal on still redacts obvious credentials before the request.
Reminders and mute
With no key, heartbeat and a zero-hit search may attach data.jev at most once every 3 days per surface. That field is a reminder, not a judgment.
mental option decide offMENTAL_NO_HINTS=1 also stops the reminder. option decide off mutes the model even when a key is stored. option decide on turns it back on.
Spend for every provider shares one ledger: ${XDG_CACHE_HOME:-~/.cache}/mental/jev-usage.json.
Command row: CLI reference.