Solve the AI overwrite problem before it solves you.
The Problem
Modern developers work with an expanding ecosystem of tools: code generators, AI assistants, scaffolding CLIs, and more. But these tools operate in isolation, with no shared understanding of code structure or intent.
This creates cascading problems:
- AI assistants have no memory between sessions
- Code generators don’t know where to safely insert new code
- Multiple tools can’t coordinate or share insights
- Developers lose work when tools misunderstand boundaries
The core issue? There’s no universal language for describing code structure that both humans and machines understand.
The Solution: PuzzlePins
PuzzlePins is an open specification created by Robokeys that establishes a universal language for code structure using comment-based tags. It enables tools to understand boundaries, preserve context, and build persistent knowledge.
PuzzlePins introduces three tag types:
🧩 Puzzle Tags: Structural metadata that all tools understand
- Define regions, boundaries, and edit rules
- Work with any tool: AI, code generators, linters, IDEs
- Create a shared “blueprint” of your codebase
📌 Pin Tags: Human-readable documentation
- Context, explanations, warnings, TODOs
- Can be written by humans OR AI for human consumption
- Preserve the “why” behind code decisions
🤖 Robot Tags: AI’s persistent memory and collaboration space
- Confidence levels, detected patterns, work-in-progress analysis
- Enable AI to build understanding across sessions
- Allow multiple AI agents to collaborate asynchronously
These tags are embedded using the host language’s comment syntax, making PuzzlePins language-agnostic.
How It Works
PuzzlePins defines several region types:
- [Puzzle] [ 🧩NonEditable: Fully managed by tools. Can be regenerated at any time.
- [Puzzle] [ 🧩Editable: Safe for modifications. Tools must preserve content.
- [Puzzle] [ 🧩EditableWithCaution: Mixed responsibility with warnings. Manual edits may be restricted. Some tools might suggest changes but not overwrite blindly.
Each region uses bracketed markers in comments:
// [🧩 Region: NonEditable: crud/basic]
// Standard CRUD - regenerated by tooling
...
// [/🧩 Region: NonEditable: crud/basic]
// [🧩 Region: Editable: business/logic]
// [📌 Note: Custom logic for enterprise clients]
// [🤖 complexity-high: Multiple business rules intersect here]
...
// [/🧩 Region: Editable: business/logic]The Game Changer: Multi-Agent Collaboration
PuzzlePins enables something unprecedented: AI agents that can work together over time.
java// [🤖 agent:security: sql-injection-safe: verified 2025-05-22]
// [🤖 agent:performance: possible-n+1-query: needs investigation]
// [🤖 agent:architect: pattern-mismatch: should follow repository pattern]
// [📌 TODO: Address performance concern before production]
Multiple specialized AI agents can now:
- Build on each other’s analysis
- Share discoveries and concerns
- Create a persistent knowledge base
- Collaborate asynchronously on your codebase
Cross-Language, Full-Stack
PuzzlePins works everywhere:
- Backend: Spring Boot, Node.js, Python frameworks
- Frontend: React, Vue, SvelteKit components
- DevOps: Docker, Kubernetes, Terraform configs
- Documentation: Markdown, configuration files
Benefits for Organizations
For Development Teams:
- AI that remembers context between sessions
- Clear structure prevents accidental overwrites
- Built-in documentation that travels with code
- Reduced “regeneration anxiety”
For Tool Builders:
- Universal structure all tools can understand
- Persistent storage for AI insights
- Clear boundaries for safe automation
- Foundation for next-gen development tools
For Enterprises:
- Governance for AI-assisted development
- Audit trails for tool-generated code
- Institutional knowledge preservation
- Multi-agent AI collaboration
Specification and Roadmap
The PuzzlePins v1.0 spec is available on GitHub. Current features:
- Complete tag syntax and semantics
- Region and boundary rules
- Multi-agent collaboration patterns
- Integration examples
Upcoming milestones:
- Reference implementations for major languages
- IDE plugins with visual tag support
- AI tool integrations
- Enterprise governance features
PuzzlePins at Robokeys
We’re already using PuzzlePins internally across our projects:
- Our code generation tools respect PuzzlePins boundaries
- AI assistants build persistent understanding of our codebases
- Multiple specialized agents collaborate on code analysis
- Developers work confidently knowing their code is protected
Try It Out
PuzzlePins is fully open and easy to adopt incrementally. Just tag a few sections in your next AI-assisted file and see the difference.
We believe PuzzlePins is a foundational layer for the future of collaborative software development. As AI tools become more powerful, the need to align them with human workflows becomes essential.
If you’re building developer tools, coding with AI, or designing frameworks that generate code: PuzzlePins gives you the control you’ve been missing.