Workspace files

Workspace layout

Cora keeps the working set small and file-driven. A typical workspace includes:

dashboard.json
cora.config.yaml
cora.cache.json
.env
CORA_AGENT_INSTRUCTIONS.md

What each file does

File	Purpose
dashboard.json	The rendered dashboard state. Agents can update individual widget values here.
cora.config.yaml	Source bindings, refresh behavior, and dashboard wiring.
cora.cache.json	Cached source data so refreshes stay local and predictable.
.env	Optional project credentials and runtime secrets.
CORA_AGENT_INSTRUCTIONS.md	The contract that tells an agent how to update the workspace safely.

Credential resolution

Cora resolves credentials in this order:

1. Shell environment variable
2. Project .env
3. Encrypted store at ~/.cora/store.enc

That ordering keeps the common cases simple while still allowing a secure fallback.

When to use this page

Use this page when you want to:

• understand where data lives
• decide which file a change belongs in
• explain the workspace contract to another contributor or agent

Related docs

• Quickstart
• Configuration format
• Connectors