AOConnect Skill

A command-line interface for interacting with AO processes using the @permaweb/aoconnect library.

Phrase Mappings

User Request	Command
"use aoconnect to spawn"	spawn
"use aoconnect to message"	message
"use aoconnect to read result"	result
"use aoconnect to dryrun"	dryrun
"use aoconnect to monitor"	monitor
"use aoconnect to connect"	connect

Installation

Install the aoconnect skill and its dependency:

npx skills add https://github.com/permaweb/skills --skill aoconnect
npm install --save @permaweb/aoconnect

Or manually:

cd skills/aoconnect
npm install @permaweb/aoconnect

Prerequisites

• Node.js 18+
• @permaweb/aoconnect package installed
• Arweave wallet (JWK format) for signing messages

Available Functions

Spawn an AO Process

node skills/aoconnect/index.mjs spawn \
  --wallet ./wallet.json \
  --module <module-txid> \
  --scheduler <scheduler-address>

Options:

• --wallet <path> - Path to Arweave wallet JSON
• --module <txid> - The arweave TxID of the ao Module
• --scheduler <address> - The Arweave wallet address of a Scheduler Unit
• --data <string> - Optional data to include in spawn message

Example:

node skills/aoconnect/index.mjs spawn \
  --wallet ./wallet.json \
  --module "l3hbt-rIJ_dr9at-eQ3EVajHWMnxPNm9eBtXpzsFWZc" \
  --scheduler "_GQ33BkPtZrqxA84vM8Zk-N2aO0toNNu_C-l-rawrBA"

Output:

{
  "messageId": "l3hbt-rIJ_dr9at-eQ3EVajHWMnxPNm9eBtXpzsFWZc",
  "processId": "5SGJUlPwlenkyuG9-xWh0Rcf0azm8XEd5RBTiutgWAg",
  "height": 587540,
  "tags": [
    { "name": "App-Process", "value": "l3hbt..." },
    { "name": "App-Name", "value": "arweave-ao" }
  ]
}

Send a Message to an AO Process

node skills/aoconnect/index.mjs message \
  --wallet ./wallet.json \
  --process <process-id> \
  --data=<message-data> \
  --tags Name=Value,Another=Tag

Options:

• --wallet <path> - Path to Arweave wallet JSON (required)
• --process <id> - The ao Process ID (required)
• --data <string> - Message data (optional, random string if not provided)
• --tags <name=value,another=value> - Message tags (optional)

Example:

node skills/aoconnect/index.mjs message \
  --wallet ./wallet.json \
  --process "5SGJUlPwlenkyuG9-xWh0Rcf0azm8XEd5RBTiutgWAg" \
  --data="Hello from AO!" \
  --tags "Action=greet", "User=Rakis"

Output:

{
  "messageId": "l3hbt-rIJ_dr9at-eQ3EVajHWMnxPNm9eBtXpzsFWZc",
  "height": 587540,
  "tags": [
    { "name": "Action", "value": "greet" },
    { "name": "User", "value": "Rakis" },
    { "name": "Original-Message", "value": "l3hbt..." }
  ]
}

Read the Result of an AO Message Evaluation

node skills/aoconnect/index.mjs result \
  --message=<message-id> \
  --process=<process-id>

Options:

• --message=<id> - The ao message ID to evaluate (required)
• --process=<id> - The ao Process ID (required)

Example:

node skills/aoconnect/index.mjs result \
  --message="l3hbt-rIJ_dr9at-eQ3EVajHWMnxPNm9eBtXpzsFWZc" \
  --process="5SGJUlPwlenkyuG9-xWh0Rcf0azm8XEd5RBTiutgWAg"

Output:

{
  "messages": [
    {
      "messageId": "l3hbt-rIJ_dr9at-eQ3EVajHWMnxPNm9eBtXpzsFWZc",
      "tags": [
        { "name": "Action", "value": "greet" },
        { "name": "User", "value": "Rakis" }
      ],
      "data": "Hello from AO!"
    }
  ],
  "spawns": [],
  "output": {
    "messages": [
      {
        "from": "address",
        "to": "process-id",
        "target": "process-id",
        "tags": [
          { "name": "Response", "value": "Hello from AO!" }
        ],
        "data": "",
        "height": 587541
      }
    ],
    "size": 256
  },
  "error": null
}

Dry Run a Message (No Memory Commit)

node skills/aoconnect/index.mjs dryrun \
  --message=<message-id> \
  --process=<process-id>

Options:

• --message=<id> - The ao message ID to dry run (required)
• --process=<id> - The ao Process ID (required)

Example:

node skills/aoconnect/index.mjs dryrun \
  --message="l3hbt-rIJ_dr9at-eQ3EVajHWMnxPNm9eBtXpzsFWZc" \
  --process="5SGJUlPwlenkyuG9-xWh0Rcf0azm8XEd5RBTiutgWAg"

Output:

{
  "messages": [
    {
      "messageId": "l3hbt-rIJ_dr9at-eQ3EVajHWMnxPNm9eBtXpzsFWZc",
      "tags": [
        { "name": "Action", "value": "greet" }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "spawns": [],
  "output": {
    "messages": [
      {
        "from": "address",
        "to": "process-id",
        "target": "process-id",
        "tags": [
          { "name": "Response", "value": "Hello from AO!" }
        ],
        "height": 587541
      }
    ],
    "size": 256
  },
  "error": null
}

Note: Dry run evaluates the message but doesn't save it to memory. Perfect for testing without committing to the chain.

Monitor Messages

node skills/aoconnect/index.mjs monitor \
  --process <process-id> \
  --on-message "<callback>"

Options:

• --process <id> - The ao Process ID to monitor (required)
• --on-message "<function>" - JavaScript function to call for each new message (required)

Example:

node skills/aoconnect/index.mjs monitor \
  --process "5SGJUlPwlenkyuG9-xWh0Rcf0azm8XEd5RBTiutgWAg" \
  --on-message 'return { tags: msg.tags, data: msg.data }'

Note: In chat interface, use this pattern:

node skills/aoconnect/index.mjs monitor --process <id> --on-message "{console.log(msg.tags)}"

Connect to Custom Nodes

node skills/aoconnect/index.mjs connect --mu <url> --cu <url> --gateway <url>

Options:

• --mu <url> - Message Unit URL (optional)
• --cu <url> - Compute Unit URL (optional)
• --gateway <url> - Arweave gateway URL (optional)

Example:

node skills/aoconnect/index.mjs connect \
  --mu "https://mu.ao-testnet.xyz" \
  --cu "https://cu.ao-testnet.xyz" \
  --gateway "https://arweave.net"

Usage with AI Tools

Claude Code / OpenCode will automatically invoke the aoconnect skill when you:

use aoconnect to spawn <process>
use aoconnect to message <process> --data=<string>
use aoconnect to read result --message=<id>
use aoconnect to dryrun --message=<id>

The skill will prompt for wallet path if not configured.

Common Use Cases

Send a Transfer Message

node skills/aoconnect/index.mjs message \
  --wallet ./wallet.json \
  --process "ao-token-demo-AOe5Hdg4UQhOiE0ZYvRjB_8YDhROi3pA0YCEhPzb_KQ" \
  --data=<raw-balance-value> \
  --tags "Action=Transfer", "Recipient=<address>"

Dry Run Before Committing

Always dry run first to verify your message works:

node skills/aoconnect/index.mjs message \
  --wallet ./wallet.json \
  --process <process-id> \
  --data="test"

node skills/aoconnect/index.mjs dryrun \
  --message=<message-id> \
  --process=<process-id>

Monitor Active Process

node skills/aoconnect/index.mjs monitor \
  --process "<active-process-id>" \
  --on-message "{console.log('New message:', msg.tags)}"

Error Handling

Missing Wallet

Error: walletPath is required. Please provide a path to your Arweave wallet JSON file.

Solution: Provide a wallet path:

--wallet ./wallet.json

Invalid Process ID

Error: Failed to send message: Invalid process ID

Solution: Verify the process ID is correct and valid.

Authentication Failures

Error: Failed to send message: Unauthorized

Solution: Ensure your wallet has sufficient balance and proper permissions.

API Reference

messageAo(processId, options)

Send a message to an ao Process.

Parameters:

• processId (string): The ao Process ID
• options (Object): Message options
  • data (string): Message data
  • tags (Array): Message tags
  • walletPath (string): Path to wallet JSON

Returns: Promise - Message result

resultAo(options)

Read the result of an ao message evaluation.

Parameters:

• options (Object)
  • message (string): The message ID
  • process (string): The Process ID

Returns: Promise - Result object

dryrunAo(options)

Dry run a message without committing to memory.

Parameters:

• options (Object)
  • message (string): The message ID
  • process (string): The Process ID

Returns: Promise - Dry run result

spawnAo(options)

Spawn an ao Process.

Parameters:

• options (Object)
  • module (string): Module TxID
  • scheduler (string): Scheduler address
  • walletPath (string): Path to wallet JSON
  • tags (Array): Tags for spawn message

Returns: Promise - Spawn result

monitorAo(options)

Monitor messages from a Process.

Parameters:

• options (Object)
  • process (string): Process ID
  • onMessage (Function): Callback for new messages

Returns: string - Monitor ID

unmonitorAo(monitorId)

Stop monitoring messages.

Parameters:

• monitorId (string): Monitor ID

connectAo(config)

Connect to ao nodes with custom configuration.

Parameters:

• config (Object)
  • MU_URL (string): Message Unit URL
  • CU_URL (string): Compute Unit URL
  • GATEWAY_URL (string): Arweave gateway URL

Returns: Object - aoconnect functions

getConnection(config)

Get connected aoconnect functions.

Parameters:

• config (Object): Connection config

Returns: Object - aoconnect functions

Node.js vs Browser

This skill works in both Node.js and browser environments.

Node.js

import { messageAo, createDataItemSigner } from "./index.mjs";
import { readFileSync } from "node:fs";

const wallet = JSON.parse(readFileSync("./wallet.json", "utf-8"));
const result = await messageAo("process-id", {
  walletPath: "./wallet.json",
  data: "Hello AO!",
  tags: [{ name: "Action", value: "greet" }]
});

Browser

import { messageAo, createDataItemSigner } from "./index.mjs";

const result = await messageAo("process-id", {
  walletPath: "/path/to/wallet.json", // or loaded from localStorage
  data: "Hello AO!",
  tags: [{ name: "Action", value: "greet" }]
});

See Also

• AO Cookbook
• @permaweb/aoconnect Package
• AR.IO Documentation