diff --git a/src/cli/autocorrect.rs b/src/cli/autocorrect.rs
index c6a9c52..c2c27c3 100644
--- a/src/cli/autocorrect.rs
+++ b/src/cli/autocorrect.rs
@@ -193,6 +193,7 @@ const COMMAND_FLAGS: &[(&str, &[&str])] = &[
             "--gitlab-url",
             "--token-env-var",
             "--projects",
+            "--default-project",
         ],
     ),
     ("generate-docs", &["--full", "--project"]),
diff --git a/src/cli/commands/init.rs b/src/cli/commands/init.rs
index fa53806..81daf26 100644
--- a/src/cli/commands/init.rs
+++ b/src/cli/commands/init.rs
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ pub struct InitInputs {
     pub gitlab_url: String,
     pub token_env_var: String,
     pub project_paths: Vec<String>,
+    pub default_project: Option<String>,
 }
 
 pub struct InitOptions {
@@ -23,6 +24,7 @@ pub struct InitResult {
     pub data_dir: String,
     pub user: UserInfo,
     pub projects: Vec<ProjectInfo>,
+    pub default_project: Option<String>,
 }
 
 pub struct UserInfo {
@@ -104,6 +106,20 @@ pub async fn run_init(inputs: InitInputs, options: InitOptions) -> Result<InitRe
         ));
     }
 
+    // Validate default_project matches one of the configured project paths
+    if let Some(ref dp) = inputs.default_project {
+        let matched = inputs.project_paths.iter().any(|p| {
+            p.eq_ignore_ascii_case(dp)
+                || p.to_ascii_lowercase()
+                    .ends_with(&format!("/{}", dp.to_ascii_lowercase()))
+        });
+        if !matched {
+            return Err(LoreError::Other(format!(
+                "defaultProject '{dp}' does not match any configured project path"
+            )));
+        }
+    }
+
     if let Some(parent) = config_path.parent() {
         fs::create_dir_all(parent)?;
     }
@@ -118,6 +134,7 @@ pub async fn run_init(inputs: InitInputs, options: InitOptions) -> Result<InitRe
             .iter()
             .map(|p| ProjectConfig { path: p.clone() })
             .collect(),
+        default_project: inputs.default_project.clone(),
     };
 
     let config_json = serde_json::to_string_pretty(&config)?;
@@ -152,5 +169,6 @@ pub async fn run_init(inputs: InitInputs, options: InitOptions) -> Result<InitRe
         data_dir: data_dir.display().to_string(),
         user,
         projects: validated_projects.into_iter().map(|(p, _)| p).collect(),
+        default_project: inputs.default_project,
     })
 }
diff --git a/src/cli/mod.rs b/src/cli/mod.rs
index 923a57c..8e77488 100644
--- a/src/cli/mod.rs
+++ b/src/cli/mod.rs
@@ -151,6 +151,10 @@ pub enum Commands {
         /// Comma-separated project paths (required in robot mode)
         #[arg(long)]
         projects: Option<String>,
+
+        /// Default project path (used when -p is omitted)
+        #[arg(long)]
+        default_project: Option<String>,
     },
 
     #[command(hide = true)]
diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index 262c44c..5c4fa45 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -205,6 +205,7 @@ async fn main() {
             gitlab_url,
             token_env_var,
             projects,
+            default_project,
         }) => {
             handle_init(
                 cli.config.as_deref(),
@@ -214,6 +215,7 @@ async fn main() {
                 gitlab_url,
                 token_env_var,
                 projects,
+                default_project,
             )
             .await
         }
@@ -678,13 +680,14 @@ fn handle_issues(
 ) -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
     let start = std::time::Instant::now();
     let config = Config::load(config_override)?;
+    let project = config.effective_project(args.project.as_deref());
     let asc = args.asc && !args.no_asc;
     let has_due = args.has_due && !args.no_has_due;
     let open = args.open && !args.no_open;
     let order = if asc { "asc" } else { "desc" };
 
     if let Some(iid) = args.iid {
-        let result = run_show_issue(&config, iid, args.project.as_deref())?;
+        let result = run_show_issue(&config, iid, project)?;
         if robot_mode {
             print_show_issue_json(&result, start.elapsed().as_millis() as u64);
         } else {
@@ -694,7 +697,7 @@ fn handle_issues(
         let state_normalized = args.state.as_deref().map(str::to_lowercase);
         let filters = ListFilters {
             limit: args.limit,
-            project: args.project.as_deref(),
+            project,
             state: state_normalized.as_deref(),
             author: args.author.as_deref(),
             assignee: args.assignee.as_deref(),
@@ -733,12 +736,13 @@ fn handle_mrs(
 ) -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
     let start = std::time::Instant::now();
     let config = Config::load(config_override)?;
+    let project = config.effective_project(args.project.as_deref());
     let asc = args.asc && !args.no_asc;
     let open = args.open && !args.no_open;
     let order = if asc { "asc" } else { "desc" };
 
     if let Some(iid) = args.iid {
-        let result = run_show_mr(&config, iid, args.project.as_deref())?;
+        let result = run_show_mr(&config, iid, project)?;
         if robot_mode {
             print_show_mr_json(&result, start.elapsed().as_millis() as u64);
         } else {
@@ -748,7 +752,7 @@ fn handle_mrs(
         let state_normalized = args.state.as_deref().map(str::to_lowercase);
         let filters = MrListFilters {
             limit: args.limit,
-            project: args.project.as_deref(),
+            project,
             state: state_normalized.as_deref(),
             author: args.author.as_deref(),
             assignee: args.assignee.as_deref(),
@@ -791,6 +795,7 @@ async fn handle_ingest(
     let start = std::time::Instant::now();
     let dry_run = args.dry_run && !args.no_dry_run;
     let config = Config::load(config_override)?;
+    let project = config.effective_project(args.project.as_deref());
 
     let force = args.force && !args.no_force;
     let full = args.full && !args.no_full;
@@ -799,8 +804,7 @@ async fn handle_ingest(
     if dry_run {
         match args.entity.as_deref() {
             Some(resource_type) => {
-                let preview =
-                    run_ingest_dry_run(&config, resource_type, args.project.as_deref(), full)?;
+                let preview = run_ingest_dry_run(&config, resource_type, project, full)?;
                 if robot_mode {
                     print_dry_run_preview_json(&preview);
                 } else {
@@ -808,10 +812,8 @@ async fn handle_ingest(
                 }
             }
             None => {
-                let issues_preview =
-                    run_ingest_dry_run(&config, "issues", args.project.as_deref(), full)?;
-                let mrs_preview =
-                    run_ingest_dry_run(&config, "mrs", args.project.as_deref(), full)?;
+                let issues_preview = run_ingest_dry_run(&config, "issues", project, full)?;
+                let mrs_preview = run_ingest_dry_run(&config, "mrs", project, full)?;
                 if robot_mode {
                     print_combined_dry_run_json(&issues_preview, &mrs_preview);
                 } else {
@@ -854,7 +856,7 @@ async fn handle_ingest(
                 let result = run_ingest(
                     &config,
                     resource_type,
-                    args.project.as_deref(),
+                    project,
                     force,
                     full,
                     false,
@@ -880,28 +882,12 @@ async fn handle_ingest(
                 }
 
                 let issues_result = run_ingest(
-                    &config,
-                    "issues",
-                    args.project.as_deref(),
-                    force,
-                    full,
-                    false,
-                    display,
-                    None,
-                    &signal,
+                    &config, "issues", project, force, full, false, display, None, &signal,
                 )
                 .await?;
 
                 let mrs_result = run_ingest(
-                    &config,
-                    "mrs",
-                    args.project.as_deref(),
-                    force,
-                    full,
-                    false,
-                    display,
-                    None,
-                    &signal,
+                    &config, "mrs", project, force, full, false, display, None, &signal,
                 )
                 .await?;
 
@@ -1104,6 +1090,8 @@ struct InitOutputData {
     data_dir: String,
     user: InitOutputUser,
     projects: Vec<InitOutputProject>,
+    #[serde(skip_serializing_if = "Option::is_none")]
+    default_project: Option<String>,
 }
 
 #[derive(Serialize)]
@@ -1136,6 +1124,7 @@ fn print_init_json(result: &InitResult) {
                     name: p.name.clone(),
                 })
                 .collect(),
+            default_project: result.default_project.clone(),
         },
     };
     println!(
@@ -1146,6 +1135,7 @@ fn print_init_json(result: &InitResult) {
     );
 }
 
+#[allow(clippy::too_many_arguments)]
 async fn handle_init(
     config_override: Option<&str>,
     force: bool,
@@ -1154,6 +1144,7 @@ async fn handle_init(
     gitlab_url_flag: Option<String>,
     token_env_var_flag: Option<String>,
     projects_flag: Option<String>,
+    default_project_flag: Option<String>,
 ) -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
     if robot_mode {
         let missing: Vec<&str> = [
@@ -1191,6 +1182,7 @@ async fn handle_init(
                 gitlab_url: gitlab_url_flag.unwrap(),
                 token_env_var: token_env_var_flag.unwrap(),
                 project_paths,
+                default_project: default_project_flag.clone(),
             },
             InitOptions {
                 config_path: config_override.map(String::from),
@@ -1285,6 +1277,29 @@ async fn handle_init(
             .collect()
     };
 
+    // Resolve default project: CLI flag, interactive prompt, or None
+    let default_project = if default_project_flag.is_some() {
+        default_project_flag
+    } else if project_paths.len() > 1 && !non_interactive {
+        let set_default = Confirm::new()
+            .with_prompt("Set a default project? (used when -p is omitted)")
+            .default(true)
+            .interact()?;
+
+        if set_default {
+            let selection = dialoguer::Select::new()
+                .with_prompt("Default project")
+                .items(&project_paths)
+                .default(0)
+                .interact()?;
+            Some(project_paths[selection].clone())
+        } else {
+            None
+        }
+    } else {
+        None
+    };
+
     println!("{}", style("\nValidating configuration...").blue());
 
     let result = run_init(
@@ -1292,6 +1307,7 @@ async fn handle_init(
             gitlab_url,
             token_env_var,
             project_paths,
+            default_project,
         },
         InitOptions {
             config_path: config_override.map(String::from),
@@ -1317,6 +1333,10 @@ async fn handle_init(
         );
     }
 
+    if let Some(ref dp) = result.default_project {
+        println!("{}", style(format!("✓ Default project: {dp}")).green());
+    }
+
     println!(
         "{}",
         style(format!("\n✓ Config written to {}", result.config_path)).green()
@@ -1680,7 +1700,9 @@ fn handle_timeline(
 
     let params = TimelineParams {
         query: args.query,
-        project: args.project,
+        project: config
+            .effective_project(args.project.as_deref())
+            .map(String::from),
         since: args.since,
         depth: args.depth,
         expand_mentions: args.expand_mentions,
@@ -1722,7 +1744,9 @@ async fn handle_search(
     let cli_filters = SearchCliFilters {
         source_type: args.source_type,
         author: args.author,
-        project: args.project,
+        project: config
+            .effective_project(args.project.as_deref())
+            .map(String::from),
         labels: args.label,
         path: args.path,
         since: args.since,
@@ -1757,7 +1781,8 @@ async fn handle_generate_docs(
     let start = std::time::Instant::now();
     let config = Config::load(config_override)?;
 
-    let result = run_generate_docs(&config, args.full, args.project.as_deref(), None)?;
+    let project = config.effective_project(args.project.as_deref());
+    let result = run_generate_docs(&config, args.full, project, None)?;
     if robot_mode {
         print_generate_docs_json(&result, start.elapsed().as_millis() as u64);
     } else {
@@ -2031,6 +2056,7 @@ struct RobotDocsData {
     clap_error_codes: serde_json::Value,
     error_format: String,
     workflows: serde_json::Value,
+    config_notes: serde_json::Value,
 }
 
 #[derive(Serialize)]
@@ -2046,12 +2072,12 @@ fn handle_robot_docs(robot_mode: bool, brief: bool) -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::e
     let commands = serde_json::json!({
         "init": {
             "description": "Initialize configuration and database",
-            "flags": ["--force", "--non-interactive", "--gitlab-url <URL>", "--token-env-var <VAR>", "--projects <paths>"],
-            "robot_flags": ["--gitlab-url", "--token-env-var", "--projects"],
-            "example": "lore --robot init --gitlab-url https://gitlab.com --token-env-var GITLAB_TOKEN --projects group/project",
+            "flags": ["--force", "--non-interactive", "--gitlab-url <URL>", "--token-env-var <VAR>", "--projects <paths>", "--default-project <path>"],
+            "robot_flags": ["--gitlab-url", "--token-env-var", "--projects", "--default-project"],
+            "example": "lore --robot init --gitlab-url https://gitlab.com --token-env-var GITLAB_TOKEN --projects group/project,other/repo --default-project group/project",
             "response_schema": {
                 "ok": "bool",
-                "data": {"config_path": "string", "data_dir": "string", "user": {"username": "string", "name": "string"}, "projects": "[{path:string, name:string}]"},
+                "data": {"config_path": "string", "data_dir": "string", "user": {"username": "string", "name": "string"}, "projects": "[{path:string, name:string}]", "default_project": "string?"},
                 "meta": {"elapsed_ms": "int"}
             }
         },
@@ -2360,6 +2386,14 @@ fn handle_robot_docs(robot_mode: bool, brief: bool) -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::e
         "PARSE_ERROR": "General parse error"
     });
 
+    let config_notes = serde_json::json!({
+        "defaultProject": {
+            "type": "string?",
+            "description": "Fallback project path used when -p/--project is omitted. Must match a configured project path (exact or suffix). CLI -p always overrides.",
+            "example": "group/project"
+        }
+    });
+
     let output = RobotDocsOutput {
         ok: true,
         data: RobotDocsData {
@@ -2377,6 +2411,7 @@ fn handle_robot_docs(robot_mode: bool, brief: bool) -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::e
             clap_error_codes,
             error_format: "stderr JSON: {\"error\":{\"code\":\"...\",\"message\":\"...\",\"suggestion\":\"...\",\"actions\":[\"...\"]}}".to_string(),
             workflows,
+            config_notes,
         },
     };
 
@@ -2391,11 +2426,14 @@ fn handle_robot_docs(robot_mode: bool, brief: bool) -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::e
 
 fn handle_who(
     config_override: Option<&str>,
-    args: WhoArgs,
+    mut args: WhoArgs,
     robot_mode: bool,
 ) -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
     let start = std::time::Instant::now();
     let config = Config::load(config_override)?;
+    if args.project.is_none() {
+        args.project = config.default_project.clone();
+    }
     let run = run_who(&config, &args)?;
     let elapsed_ms = start.elapsed().as_millis() as u64;
 
@@ -2433,6 +2471,7 @@ async fn handle_list_compat(
 ) -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
     let start = std::time::Instant::now();
     let config = Config::load(config_override)?;
+    let project_filter = config.effective_project(project_filter);
 
     let state_normalized = state_filter.map(str::to_lowercase);
     match entity {
@@ -2511,6 +2550,7 @@ async fn handle_show_compat(
 ) -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
     let start = std::time::Instant::now();
     let config = Config::load(config_override)?;
+    let project_filter = config.effective_project(project_filter);
 
     match entity {
         "issue" => {