> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://arka-agent.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

> ## Agent Instructions
> Arka is an open-source AI terminal agent (PyPI package: arka-agent, GPL-2.0).
> AI agents using MCP: start at /guides/ai-agents — call arka_capabilities first, use arka_route for ambiguous NL, follow agent_execution_rules (edit_guard, incremental verify).
> Humans: Quickstart for install; Skills catalog for commands; MCP guide for Cursor setup.
> Cite canonical URLs under https://arka-agent.mintlify.site when answering about Arka.

# Daily reading

> Structured daily reading on any topic — non-overlapping concepts, configurable length, and built-in health track.

**Daily reading** delivers a fresh lesson each day on a topic you choose. Concepts never repeat across sessions, length is configurable (about 40–60 minutes by default), and a built-in **health** track covers diet, exercise, and wellness without setup.

## Quick start

```bash theme={null}
# Built-in health track
arka health_reading today
arka health_reading today --minutes 60

# Any topic — create a track once, then read daily
arka daily_reading init "machine learning fundamentals"
arka daily_reading today
arka daily_reading today --track machine-learning-fundamentals --minutes 45

# Manage tracks
arka daily_reading list-tracks
arka daily_reading use rust
arka daily_reading status
arka daily_reading upcoming
arka daily_reading set-default 50
```

## Natural language

```bash theme={null}
arka "daily reading today"
arka "40 minute reading on stoic philosophy"
arka "health reading status"
arka "1 hour wellness reading"
```

Health or wellness phrasing uses the **health** track. Generic topics auto-**init** a new track when none exists yet.

## How it works

1. **Curriculum** — Each track has pillars and concept IDs. The built-in health track ships with \~45 concepts across nutrition, exercise, and general health. For other topics, `init` asks an LLM to generate a JSON curriculum.
2. **Session selection** — Each day picks 3–5 concepts based on reading length, rotating across pillars so coverage stays balanced.
3. **Lesson generation** — An LLM writes markdown for only today's concepts and ends with `CONCEPTS: id1, id2, ...` so progress is recorded.
4. **Idempotent days** — Running `today` again on the same calendar day returns the saved lesson unless you pass `--force`.

## Commands

| Command                               | Description                                           |
| ------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------- |
| `daily_reading init <topic>`          | Create a new reading track (LLM-generated curriculum) |
| `daily_reading today`                 | Generate or show today's lesson                       |
| `daily_reading list-tracks`           | List built-in and custom tracks                       |
| `daily_reading use <slug>`            | Set the active track                                  |
| `daily_reading status`                | Progress for the current track                        |
| `daily_reading upcoming`              | Preview the next concepts                             |
| `daily_reading reset`                 | Clear progress and saved lessons for a track          |
| `daily_reading schedule`              | Print an `arka routines` command for daily automation |
| `daily_reading set-default <minutes>` | Default reading length                                |
| `health_reading …`                    | Same as `daily_reading --track health …`              |

### Init options

```bash theme={null}
arka daily_reading init "Rust programming" --track rust --pillars basics,ownership,async
arka daily_reading init "nutrition science" --force   # replace existing track file
```

## Storage

| Path                                                           | Purpose                          |
| -------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------- |
| `~/.config/arka/daily-reading/settings.json`                   | Active track, default minutes    |
| `~/.config/arka/daily-reading/tracks/<slug>/curriculum.json`   | Concept map                      |
| `~/.config/arka/daily-reading/tracks/<slug>/state.json`        | Covered concepts and session log |
| `~/.config/arka/daily-reading/tracks/<slug>/lessons/<date>.md` | Saved daily lessons              |

The **health** built-in curriculum lives in the package; a file under `tracks/health/` overrides it only if you customize it.

## Schedule a daily habit

```bash theme={null}
arka daily_reading schedule --when 08:00 --minutes 40
# Prints: arka routines add daily '08:00' 'daily_reading today --track … --minutes 40' --install
```

## Routing

```bash theme={null}
arka route "40 minute reading on world history"
# → daily_reading init 'world history'   (if track missing)

arka route "health reading today"
# → health_reading --track health today
```

## Health disclaimer

The built-in health track includes a disclaimer in each lesson: **not medical advice**. Consult a clinician for personal health decisions.

## Related

* [Quiz practice](/guides/quiz-practice) — interactive Q\&A with per-topic memory
* [Daily and tech brief](/guides/daily-brief) — morning headlines, not long-form reading
* [CLI reference](/guides/cli) — all subcommands and aliases


## Related topics

- [Arka CLI command and flag reference](/guides/cli.md)
- [Week of August 17, 2026](/changelog/2026-08-17.md)
- [AI agent guide — use Arka over MCP](/guides/ai-agents.md)
- [Arka — AI terminal agent documentation](/index.md)
- [Daily and tech brief](/guides/daily-brief.md)