# Monte Sources

Sources are an undivided part of Monte. The persona is only as useful as the behavioral evidence it can learn from.

## Useful sources

High-signal sources show how you think, decide, write, prioritize, correct mistakes, and work with agents:

- ChatGPT, Claude, Codex, Cursor, or other AI conversation exports
- Grok/X conversations or X archive data when available
- Obsidian vault folders, because they are already Markdown files
- Notion Markdown/CSV workspace or page exports
- Long-form notes, journals, memos, and planning docs
- Decision logs, tradeoff writeups, retrospectives, and postmortems
- Project docs, specs, PRDs, roadmaps, and execution plans
- Writing samples, drafts, edits, and feedback
- Task lists that show follow-through patterns or recurring friction

## What Monte extracts

Monte looks for repeated preferences, tradeoff patterns, communication style, friction points, execution habits, uncertainty, corrections, contradictions, and source-specific context. Thin sources create generic personalization. Real sources create sharper context.

## Guided export setup

For humans, use the guided wizard:

```bash
monte setup
```

With an export file or folder:

```bash
monte setup --files <path> --yes
```

For agents, use the async flow:

```bash
monte setup --files <path> --skill-dir <dir> --yes --json
monte setup status --json
monte personalize context "TASK HERE" --json
```

## Source hygiene

Prefer plain text, Markdown, JSON, CSV, PDF, Notion Markdown/CSV exports, Obsidian vault folders, or other document folders. Keep filenames meaningful and group sources by app or domain when possible.

Do not upload passwords, API keys, payment details, raw secrets, or files that do not describe how you think or work.

Hosted raw uploads are temporary processing inputs. Retained evidence is normalized text, signal rows, and evidence packets.

## Official export guides

- ChatGPT data export: https://help.openai.com/en/articles/7260999-how-do-i-export-my-data
- Claude data export: https://support.claude.com/en/articles/9450526-how-can-i-export-my-claude-data
- Google Takeout: https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/3024190
- Notion export: https://www.notion.com/help/export-your-content
- Obsidian Markdown/vault guidance: https://help.obsidian.md/import/markdown
- X archive: https://help.x.com/managing-your-account/how-to-download-your-twitter-archive

Grok is less standardized than ChatGPT or Claude exports. If Grok offers export or data controls in your account, use the exported JSON or Markdown. If you used Grok through X, start with the X archive and include any Grok conversation files it provides.