Files
openclaw/src/agents/system-prompt.ts
Tyler Yust b8f66c260d Agents: add nested subagent orchestration controls and reduce subagent token waste (#14447)
* Agents: add subagent orchestration controls

* Agents: add subagent orchestration controls (WIP uncommitted changes)

* feat(subagents): add depth-based spawn gating for sub-sub-agents

* feat(subagents): tool policy, registry, and announce chain for nested agents

* feat(subagents): system prompt, docs, changelog for nested sub-agents

* fix(subagents): prevent model fallback override, show model during active runs, and block context overflow fallback

Bug 1: When a session has an explicit model override (e.g., gpt/openai-codex),
the fallback candidate logic in resolveFallbackCandidates silently appended the
global primary model (opus) as a backstop. On reinjection/steer with a transient
error, the session could fall back to opus which has a smaller context window
and crash. Fix: when storedModelOverride is set, pass fallbacksOverride ?? []
instead of undefined, preventing the implicit primary backstop.

Bug 2: Active subagents showed 'model n/a' in /subagents list because
resolveModelDisplay only read entry.model/modelProvider (populated after run
completes). Fix: fall back to modelOverride/providerOverride fields which are
populated at spawn time via sessions.patch.

Bug 3: Context overflow errors (prompt too long, context_length_exceeded) could
theoretically escape runEmbeddedPiAgent and be treated as failover candidates
in runWithModelFallback, causing a switch to a model with a smaller context
window. Fix: in runWithModelFallback, detect context overflow errors via
isLikelyContextOverflowError and rethrow them immediately instead of trying the
next model candidate.

* fix(subagents): track spawn depth in session store and fix announce routing for nested agents

* Fix compaction status tracking and dedupe overflow compaction triggers

* fix(subagents): enforce depth block via session store and implement cascade kill

* fix: inject group chat context into system prompt

* fix(subagents): always write model to session store at spawn time

* Preserve spawnDepth when agent handler rewrites session entry

* fix(subagents): suppress announce on steer-restart

* fix(subagents): fallback spawned session model to runtime default

* fix(subagents): enforce spawn depth when caller key resolves by sessionId

* feat(subagents): implement active-first ordering for numeric targets and enhance task display

- Added a test to verify that subagents with numeric targets follow an active-first list ordering.
- Updated `resolveSubagentTarget` to sort subagent runs based on active status and recent activity.
- Enhanced task display in command responses to prevent truncation of long task descriptions.
- Introduced new utility functions for compacting task text and managing subagent run states.

* fix(subagents): show model for active runs via run record fallback

When the spawned model matches the agent's default model, the session
store's override fields are intentionally cleared (isDefault: true).
The model/modelProvider fields are only populated after the run
completes. This left active subagents showing 'model n/a'.

Fix: store the resolved model on SubagentRunRecord at registration
time, and use it as a fallback in both display paths (subagents tool
and /subagents command) when the session store entry has no model info.

Changes:
- SubagentRunRecord: add optional model field
- registerSubagentRun: accept and persist model param
- sessions-spawn-tool: pass resolvedModel to registerSubagentRun
- subagents-tool: pass run record model as fallback to resolveModelDisplay
- commands-subagents: pass run record model as fallback to resolveModelDisplay

* feat(chat): implement session key resolution and reset on sidebar navigation

- Added functions to resolve the main session key and reset chat state when switching sessions from the sidebar.
- Updated the `renderTab` function to handle session key changes when navigating to the chat tab.
- Introduced a test to verify that the session resets to "main" when opening chat from the sidebar navigation.

* fix: subagent timeout=0 passthrough and fallback prompt duplication

Bug 1: runTimeoutSeconds=0 now means 'no timeout' instead of applying 600s default
- sessions-spawn-tool: default to undefined (not 0) when neither timeout param
  is provided; use != null check so explicit 0 passes through to gateway
- agent.ts: accept 0 as valid timeout (resolveAgentTimeoutMs already handles
  0 → MAX_SAFE_TIMEOUT_MS)

Bug 2: model fallback no longer re-injects the original prompt as a duplicate
- agent.ts: track fallback attempt index; on retries use a short continuation
  message instead of the full original prompt since the session file already
  contains it from the first attempt
- Also skip re-sending images on fallback retries (already in session)

* feat(subagents): truncate long task descriptions in subagents command output

- Introduced a new utility function to format task previews, limiting their length to improve readability.
- Updated the command handler to use the new formatting function, ensuring task descriptions are truncated appropriately.
- Adjusted related tests to verify that long task descriptions are now truncated in the output.

* refactor(subagents): update subagent registry path resolution and improve command output formatting

- Replaced direct import of STATE_DIR with a utility function to resolve the state directory dynamically.
- Enhanced the formatting of command output for active and recent subagents, adding separators for better readability.
- Updated related tests to reflect changes in command output structure.

* fix(subagent): default sessions_spawn to no timeout when runTimeoutSeconds omitted

The previous fix (75a791106) correctly handled the case where
runTimeoutSeconds was explicitly set to 0 ("no timeout"). However,
when models omit the parameter entirely (which is common since the
schema marks it as optional), runTimeoutSeconds resolved to undefined.

undefined flowed through the chain as:
  sessions_spawn → timeout: undefined (since undefined != null is false)
  → gateway agent handler → agentCommand opts.timeout: undefined
  → resolveAgentTimeoutMs({ overrideSeconds: undefined })
  → DEFAULT_AGENT_TIMEOUT_SECONDS (600s = 10 minutes)

This caused subagents to be killed at exactly 10 minutes even though
the user's intent (via TOOLS.md) was for subagents to run without a
timeout.

Fix: default runTimeoutSeconds to 0 (no timeout) when neither
runTimeoutSeconds nor timeoutSeconds is provided by the caller.
Subagent spawns are long-running by design and should not inherit the
600s agent-command default timeout.

* fix(subagent): accept timeout=0 in agent-via-gateway path (second 600s default)

* fix: thread timeout override through getReplyFromConfig dispatch path

getReplyFromConfig called resolveAgentTimeoutMs({ cfg }) with no override,
always falling back to the config default (600s). Add timeoutOverrideSeconds
to GetReplyOptions and pass it through as overrideSeconds so callers of the
dispatch chain can specify a custom timeout (0 = no timeout).

This complements the existing timeout threading in agentCommand and the
cron isolated-agent runner, which already pass overrideSeconds correctly.

* feat(model-fallback): normalize OpenAI Codex model references and enhance fallback handling

- Added normalization for OpenAI Codex model references, specifically converting "gpt-5.3-codex" to "openai-codex" before execution.
- Updated the `resolveFallbackCandidates` function to utilize the new normalization logic.
- Enhanced tests to verify the correct behavior of model normalization and fallback mechanisms.
- Introduced a new test case to ensure that the normalization process works as expected for various input formats.

* feat(tests): add unit tests for steer failure behavior in openclaw-tools

- Introduced a new test file to validate the behavior of subagents when steer replacement dispatch fails.
- Implemented tests to ensure that the announce behavior is restored correctly and that the suppression reason is cleared as expected.
- Enhanced the subagent registry with a new function to clear steer restart suppression.
- Updated related components to support the new test scenarios.

* fix(subagents): replace stop command with kill in slash commands and documentation

- Updated the `/subagents` command to replace `stop` with `kill` for consistency in controlling sub-agent runs.
- Modified related documentation to reflect the change in command usage.
- Removed legacy timeoutSeconds references from the sessions-spawn-tool schema and tests to streamline timeout handling.
- Enhanced tests to ensure correct behavior of the updated commands and their interactions.

* feat(tests): add unit tests for readLatestAssistantReply function

- Introduced a new test file for the `readLatestAssistantReply` function to validate its behavior with various message scenarios.
- Implemented tests to ensure the function correctly retrieves the latest assistant message and handles cases where the latest message has no text.
- Mocked the gateway call to simulate different message histories for comprehensive testing.

* feat(tests): enhance subagent kill-all cascade tests and announce formatting

- Added a new test to verify that the `kill-all` command cascades through ended parents to active descendants in subagents.
- Updated the subagent announce formatting tests to reflect changes in message structure, including the replacement of "Findings:" with "Result:" and the addition of new expectations for message content.
- Improved the handling of long findings and stats in the announce formatting logic to ensure concise output.
- Refactored related functions to enhance clarity and maintainability in the subagent registry and tools.

* refactor(subagent): update announce formatting and remove unused constants

- Modified the subagent announce formatting to replace "Findings:" with "Result:" and adjusted related expectations in tests.
- Removed constants for maximum announce findings characters and summary words, simplifying the announcement logic.
- Updated the handling of findings to retain full content instead of truncating, ensuring more informative outputs.
- Cleaned up unused imports in the commands-subagents file to enhance code clarity.

* feat(tests): enhance billing error handling in user-facing text

- Added tests to ensure that normal text mentioning billing plans is not rewritten, preserving user context.
- Updated the `isBillingErrorMessage` and `sanitizeUserFacingText` functions to improve handling of billing-related messages.
- Introduced new test cases for various scenarios involving billing messages to ensure accurate processing and output.
- Enhanced the subagent announce flow to correctly manage active descendant runs, preventing premature announcements.

* feat(subagent): enhance workflow guidance and auto-announcement clarity

- Added a new guideline in the subagent system prompt to emphasize trust in push-based completion, discouraging busy polling for status updates.
- Updated documentation to clarify that sub-agents will automatically announce their results, improving user understanding of the workflow.
- Enhanced tests to verify the new guidance on avoiding polling loops and to ensure the accuracy of the updated prompts.

* fix(cron): avoid announcing interim subagent spawn acks

* chore: clean post-rebase imports

* fix(cron): fall back to child replies when parent stays interim

* fix(subagents): make active-run guidance advisory

* fix(subagents): update announce flow to handle active descendants and enhance test coverage

- Modified the announce flow to defer announcements when active descendant runs are present, ensuring accurate status reporting.
- Updated tests to verify the new behavior, including scenarios where no fallback requester is available and ensuring proper handling of finished subagents.
- Enhanced the announce formatting to include an `expectFinal` flag for better clarity in the announcement process.

* fix(subagents): enhance announce flow and formatting for user updates

- Updated the announce flow to provide clearer instructions for user updates based on active subagent runs and requester context.
- Refactored the announcement logic to improve clarity and ensure internal context remains private.
- Enhanced tests to verify the new message expectations and formatting, including updated prompts for user-facing updates.
- Introduced a new function to build reply instructions based on session context, improving the overall announcement process.

* fix: resolve prep blockers and changelog placement (#14447) (thanks @tyler6204)

* fix: restore cron delivery-plan import after rebase (#14447) (thanks @tyler6204)

* fix: resolve test failures from rebase conflicts (#14447) (thanks @tyler6204)

* fix: apply formatting after rebase (#14447) (thanks @tyler6204)
2026-02-14 22:03:45 -08:00

673 lines
28 KiB
TypeScript

import type { ReasoningLevel, ThinkLevel } from "../auto-reply/thinking.js";
import type { MemoryCitationsMode } from "../config/types.memory.js";
import type { ResolvedTimeFormat } from "./date-time.js";
import type { EmbeddedContextFile } from "./pi-embedded-helpers.js";
import { SILENT_REPLY_TOKEN } from "../auto-reply/tokens.js";
import { listDeliverableMessageChannels } from "../utils/message-channel.js";
/**
* Controls which hardcoded sections are included in the system prompt.
* - "full": All sections (default, for main agent)
* - "minimal": Reduced sections (Tooling, Workspace, Runtime) - used for subagents
* - "none": Just basic identity line, no sections
*/
export type PromptMode = "full" | "minimal" | "none";
function buildSkillsSection(params: {
skillsPrompt?: string;
isMinimal: boolean;
readToolName: string;
}) {
if (params.isMinimal) {
return [];
}
const trimmed = params.skillsPrompt?.trim();
if (!trimmed) {
return [];
}
return [
"## Skills (mandatory)",
"Before replying: scan <available_skills> <description> entries.",
`- If exactly one skill clearly applies: read its SKILL.md at <location> with \`${params.readToolName}\`, then follow it.`,
"- If multiple could apply: choose the most specific one, then read/follow it.",
"- If none clearly apply: do not read any SKILL.md.",
"Constraints: never read more than one skill up front; only read after selecting.",
trimmed,
"",
];
}
function buildMemorySection(params: {
isMinimal: boolean;
availableTools: Set<string>;
citationsMode?: MemoryCitationsMode;
}) {
if (params.isMinimal) {
return [];
}
if (!params.availableTools.has("memory_search") && !params.availableTools.has("memory_get")) {
return [];
}
const lines = [
"## Memory Recall",
"Before answering anything about prior work, decisions, dates, people, preferences, or todos: run memory_search on MEMORY.md + memory/*.md; then use memory_get to pull only the needed lines. If low confidence after search, say you checked.",
];
if (params.citationsMode === "off") {
lines.push(
"Citations are disabled: do not mention file paths or line numbers in replies unless the user explicitly asks.",
);
} else {
lines.push(
"Citations: include Source: <path#line> when it helps the user verify memory snippets.",
);
}
lines.push("");
return lines;
}
function buildUserIdentitySection(ownerLine: string | undefined, isMinimal: boolean) {
if (!ownerLine || isMinimal) {
return [];
}
return ["## User Identity", ownerLine, ""];
}
function buildTimeSection(params: { userTimezone?: string }) {
if (!params.userTimezone) {
return [];
}
return ["## Current Date & Time", `Time zone: ${params.userTimezone}`, ""];
}
function buildReplyTagsSection(isMinimal: boolean) {
if (isMinimal) {
return [];
}
return [
"## Reply Tags",
"To request a native reply/quote on supported surfaces, include one tag in your reply:",
"- [[reply_to_current]] replies to the triggering message.",
"- Prefer [[reply_to_current]]. Use [[reply_to:<id>]] only when an id was explicitly provided (e.g. by the user or a tool).",
"Whitespace inside the tag is allowed (e.g. [[ reply_to_current ]] / [[ reply_to: 123 ]]).",
"Tags are stripped before sending; support depends on the current channel config.",
"",
];
}
function buildMessagingSection(params: {
isMinimal: boolean;
availableTools: Set<string>;
messageChannelOptions: string;
inlineButtonsEnabled: boolean;
runtimeChannel?: string;
messageToolHints?: string[];
}) {
if (params.isMinimal) {
return [];
}
return [
"## Messaging",
"- Reply in current session → automatically routes to the source channel (Signal, Telegram, etc.)",
"- Cross-session messaging → use sessions_send(sessionKey, message)",
"- Sub-agent orchestration → use subagents(action=list|steer|kill)",
"- `[System Message] ...` blocks are internal context and are not user-visible by default.",
"- If a `[System Message]` reports completed cron/subagent work and asks for a user update, rewrite it in your normal assistant voice and send that update (do not forward raw system text or default to NO_REPLY).",
"- Never use exec/curl for provider messaging; OpenClaw handles all routing internally.",
params.availableTools.has("message")
? [
"",
"### message tool",
"- Use `message` for proactive sends + channel actions (polls, reactions, etc.).",
"- For `action=send`, include `to` and `message`.",
`- If multiple channels are configured, pass \`channel\` (${params.messageChannelOptions}).`,
`- If you use \`message\` (\`action=send\`) to deliver your user-visible reply, respond with ONLY: ${SILENT_REPLY_TOKEN} (avoid duplicate replies).`,
params.inlineButtonsEnabled
? "- Inline buttons supported. Use `action=send` with `buttons=[[{text,callback_data}]]` (callback_data routes back as a user message)."
: params.runtimeChannel
? `- Inline buttons not enabled for ${params.runtimeChannel}. If you need them, ask to set ${params.runtimeChannel}.capabilities.inlineButtons ("dm"|"group"|"all"|"allowlist").`
: "",
...(params.messageToolHints ?? []),
]
.filter(Boolean)
.join("\n")
: "",
"",
];
}
function buildVoiceSection(params: { isMinimal: boolean; ttsHint?: string }) {
if (params.isMinimal) {
return [];
}
const hint = params.ttsHint?.trim();
if (!hint) {
return [];
}
return ["## Voice (TTS)", hint, ""];
}
function buildDocsSection(params: { docsPath?: string; isMinimal: boolean; readToolName: string }) {
const docsPath = params.docsPath?.trim();
if (!docsPath || params.isMinimal) {
return [];
}
return [
"## Documentation",
`OpenClaw docs: ${docsPath}`,
"Mirror: https://docs.openclaw.ai",
"Source: https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw",
"Community: https://discord.com/invite/clawd",
"Find new skills: https://clawhub.com",
"For OpenClaw behavior, commands, config, or architecture: consult local docs first.",
"When diagnosing issues, run `openclaw status` yourself when possible; only ask the user if you lack access (e.g., sandboxed).",
"",
];
}
export function buildAgentSystemPrompt(params: {
workspaceDir: string;
defaultThinkLevel?: ThinkLevel;
reasoningLevel?: ReasoningLevel;
extraSystemPrompt?: string;
ownerNumbers?: string[];
reasoningTagHint?: boolean;
toolNames?: string[];
toolSummaries?: Record<string, string>;
modelAliasLines?: string[];
userTimezone?: string;
userTime?: string;
userTimeFormat?: ResolvedTimeFormat;
contextFiles?: EmbeddedContextFile[];
skillsPrompt?: string;
heartbeatPrompt?: string;
docsPath?: string;
workspaceNotes?: string[];
ttsHint?: string;
/** Controls which hardcoded sections to include. Defaults to "full". */
promptMode?: PromptMode;
runtimeInfo?: {
agentId?: string;
host?: string;
os?: string;
arch?: string;
node?: string;
model?: string;
defaultModel?: string;
shell?: string;
channel?: string;
capabilities?: string[];
repoRoot?: string;
};
messageToolHints?: string[];
sandboxInfo?: {
enabled: boolean;
workspaceDir?: string;
containerWorkspaceDir?: string;
workspaceAccess?: "none" | "ro" | "rw";
agentWorkspaceMount?: string;
browserBridgeUrl?: string;
browserNoVncUrl?: string;
hostBrowserAllowed?: boolean;
elevated?: {
allowed: boolean;
defaultLevel: "on" | "off" | "ask" | "full";
};
};
/** Reaction guidance for the agent (for Telegram minimal/extensive modes). */
reactionGuidance?: {
level: "minimal" | "extensive";
channel: string;
};
memoryCitationsMode?: MemoryCitationsMode;
}) {
const coreToolSummaries: Record<string, string> = {
read: "Read file contents",
write: "Create or overwrite files",
edit: "Make precise edits to files",
apply_patch: "Apply multi-file patches",
grep: "Search file contents for patterns",
find: "Find files by glob pattern",
ls: "List directory contents",
exec: "Run shell commands (pty available for TTY-required CLIs)",
process: "Manage background exec sessions",
web_search: "Search the web (Brave API)",
web_fetch: "Fetch and extract readable content from a URL",
// Channel docking: add login tools here when a channel needs interactive linking.
browser: "Control web browser",
canvas: "Present/eval/snapshot the Canvas",
nodes: "List/describe/notify/camera/screen on paired nodes",
cron: "Manage cron jobs and wake events (use for reminders; when scheduling a reminder, write the systemEvent text as something that will read like a reminder when it fires, and mention that it is a reminder depending on the time gap between setting and firing; include recent context in reminder text if appropriate)",
message: "Send messages and channel actions",
gateway: "Restart, apply config, or run updates on the running OpenClaw process",
agents_list: "List agent ids allowed for sessions_spawn",
sessions_list: "List other sessions (incl. sub-agents) with filters/last",
sessions_history: "Fetch history for another session/sub-agent",
sessions_send: "Send a message to another session/sub-agent",
sessions_spawn: "Spawn a sub-agent session",
subagents: "List, steer, or kill sub-agent runs for this requester session",
session_status:
"Show a /status-equivalent status card (usage + time + Reasoning/Verbose/Elevated); use for model-use questions (📊 session_status); optional per-session model override",
image: "Analyze an image with the configured image model",
};
const toolOrder = [
"read",
"write",
"edit",
"apply_patch",
"grep",
"find",
"ls",
"exec",
"process",
"web_search",
"web_fetch",
"browser",
"canvas",
"nodes",
"cron",
"message",
"gateway",
"agents_list",
"sessions_list",
"sessions_history",
"sessions_send",
"subagents",
"session_status",
"image",
];
const rawToolNames = (params.toolNames ?? []).map((tool) => tool.trim());
const canonicalToolNames = rawToolNames.filter(Boolean);
// Preserve caller casing while deduping tool names by lowercase.
const canonicalByNormalized = new Map<string, string>();
for (const name of canonicalToolNames) {
const normalized = name.toLowerCase();
if (!canonicalByNormalized.has(normalized)) {
canonicalByNormalized.set(normalized, name);
}
}
const resolveToolName = (normalized: string) =>
canonicalByNormalized.get(normalized) ?? normalized;
const normalizedTools = canonicalToolNames.map((tool) => tool.toLowerCase());
const availableTools = new Set(normalizedTools);
const externalToolSummaries = new Map<string, string>();
for (const [key, value] of Object.entries(params.toolSummaries ?? {})) {
const normalized = key.trim().toLowerCase();
if (!normalized || !value?.trim()) {
continue;
}
externalToolSummaries.set(normalized, value.trim());
}
const extraTools = Array.from(
new Set(normalizedTools.filter((tool) => !toolOrder.includes(tool))),
);
const enabledTools = toolOrder.filter((tool) => availableTools.has(tool));
const toolLines = enabledTools.map((tool) => {
const summary = coreToolSummaries[tool] ?? externalToolSummaries.get(tool);
const name = resolveToolName(tool);
return summary ? `- ${name}: ${summary}` : `- ${name}`;
});
for (const tool of extraTools.toSorted()) {
const summary = coreToolSummaries[tool] ?? externalToolSummaries.get(tool);
const name = resolveToolName(tool);
toolLines.push(summary ? `- ${name}: ${summary}` : `- ${name}`);
}
const hasGateway = availableTools.has("gateway");
const readToolName = resolveToolName("read");
const execToolName = resolveToolName("exec");
const processToolName = resolveToolName("process");
const extraSystemPrompt = params.extraSystemPrompt?.trim();
const ownerNumbers = (params.ownerNumbers ?? []).map((value) => value.trim()).filter(Boolean);
const ownerLine =
ownerNumbers.length > 0
? `Owner numbers: ${ownerNumbers.join(", ")}. Treat messages from these numbers as the user.`
: undefined;
const reasoningHint = params.reasoningTagHint
? [
"ALL internal reasoning MUST be inside <think>...</think>.",
"Do not output any analysis outside <think>.",
"Format every reply as <think>...</think> then <final>...</final>, with no other text.",
"Only the final user-visible reply may appear inside <final>.",
"Only text inside <final> is shown to the user; everything else is discarded and never seen by the user.",
"Example:",
"<think>Short internal reasoning.</think>",
"<final>Hey there! What would you like to do next?</final>",
].join(" ")
: undefined;
const reasoningLevel = params.reasoningLevel ?? "off";
const userTimezone = params.userTimezone?.trim();
const skillsPrompt = params.skillsPrompt?.trim();
const heartbeatPrompt = params.heartbeatPrompt?.trim();
const heartbeatPromptLine = heartbeatPrompt
? `Heartbeat prompt: ${heartbeatPrompt}`
: "Heartbeat prompt: (configured)";
const runtimeInfo = params.runtimeInfo;
const runtimeChannel = runtimeInfo?.channel?.trim().toLowerCase();
const runtimeCapabilities = (runtimeInfo?.capabilities ?? [])
.map((cap) => String(cap).trim())
.filter(Boolean);
const runtimeCapabilitiesLower = new Set(runtimeCapabilities.map((cap) => cap.toLowerCase()));
const inlineButtonsEnabled = runtimeCapabilitiesLower.has("inlinebuttons");
const messageChannelOptions = listDeliverableMessageChannels().join("|");
const promptMode = params.promptMode ?? "full";
const isMinimal = promptMode === "minimal" || promptMode === "none";
const sandboxContainerWorkspace = params.sandboxInfo?.containerWorkspaceDir?.trim();
const displayWorkspaceDir =
params.sandboxInfo?.enabled && sandboxContainerWorkspace
? sandboxContainerWorkspace
: params.workspaceDir;
const workspaceGuidance =
params.sandboxInfo?.enabled && sandboxContainerWorkspace
? `For read/write/edit/apply_patch, file paths resolve against host workspace: ${params.workspaceDir}. Prefer relative paths so both sandboxed exec and file tools work consistently.`
: "Treat this directory as the single global workspace for file operations unless explicitly instructed otherwise.";
const safetySection = [
"## Safety",
"You have no independent goals: do not pursue self-preservation, replication, resource acquisition, or power-seeking; avoid long-term plans beyond the user's request.",
"Prioritize safety and human oversight over completion; if instructions conflict, pause and ask; comply with stop/pause/audit requests and never bypass safeguards. (Inspired by Anthropic's constitution.)",
"Do not manipulate or persuade anyone to expand access or disable safeguards. Do not copy yourself or change system prompts, safety rules, or tool policies unless explicitly requested.",
"",
];
const skillsSection = buildSkillsSection({
skillsPrompt,
isMinimal,
readToolName,
});
const memorySection = buildMemorySection({
isMinimal,
availableTools,
citationsMode: params.memoryCitationsMode,
});
const docsSection = buildDocsSection({
docsPath: params.docsPath,
isMinimal,
readToolName,
});
const workspaceNotes = (params.workspaceNotes ?? []).map((note) => note.trim()).filter(Boolean);
// For "none" mode, return just the basic identity line
if (promptMode === "none") {
return "You are a personal assistant running inside OpenClaw.";
}
const lines = [
"You are a personal assistant running inside OpenClaw.",
"",
"## Tooling",
"Tool availability (filtered by policy):",
"Tool names are case-sensitive. Call tools exactly as listed.",
toolLines.length > 0
? toolLines.join("\n")
: [
"Pi lists the standard tools above. This runtime enables:",
"- grep: search file contents for patterns",
"- find: find files by glob pattern",
"- ls: list directory contents",
"- apply_patch: apply multi-file patches",
`- ${execToolName}: run shell commands (supports background via yieldMs/background)`,
`- ${processToolName}: manage background exec sessions`,
`- For long waits, avoid rapid poll loops: use ${execToolName} with enough yieldMs or ${processToolName}(action=poll, timeout=<ms>).`,
"- browser: control OpenClaw's dedicated browser",
"- canvas: present/eval/snapshot the Canvas",
"- nodes: list/describe/notify/camera/screen on paired nodes",
"- cron: manage cron jobs and wake events (use for reminders; when scheduling a reminder, write the systemEvent text as something that will read like a reminder when it fires, and mention that it is a reminder depending on the time gap between setting and firing; include recent context in reminder text if appropriate)",
"- sessions_list: list sessions",
"- sessions_history: fetch session history",
"- sessions_send: send to another session",
"- subagents: list/steer/kill sub-agent runs",
'- session_status: show usage/time/model state and answer "what model are we using?"',
].join("\n"),
"TOOLS.md does not control tool availability; it is user guidance for how to use external tools.",
"If a task is more complex or takes longer, spawn a sub-agent. Completion is push-based: it will auto-announce when done.",
"Do not poll `subagents list` / `sessions_list` in a loop; only check status on-demand (for intervention, debugging, or when explicitly asked).",
"",
"## Tool Call Style",
"Default: do not narrate routine, low-risk tool calls (just call the tool).",
"Narrate only when it helps: multi-step work, complex/challenging problems, sensitive actions (e.g., deletions), or when the user explicitly asks.",
"Keep narration brief and value-dense; avoid repeating obvious steps.",
"Use plain human language for narration unless in a technical context.",
"",
...safetySection,
"## OpenClaw CLI Quick Reference",
"OpenClaw is controlled via subcommands. Do not invent commands.",
"To manage the Gateway daemon service (start/stop/restart):",
"- openclaw gateway status",
"- openclaw gateway start",
"- openclaw gateway stop",
"- openclaw gateway restart",
"If unsure, ask the user to run `openclaw help` (or `openclaw gateway --help`) and paste the output.",
"",
...skillsSection,
...memorySection,
// Skip self-update for subagent/none modes
hasGateway && !isMinimal ? "## OpenClaw Self-Update" : "",
hasGateway && !isMinimal
? [
"Get Updates (self-update) is ONLY allowed when the user explicitly asks for it.",
"Do not run config.apply or update.run unless the user explicitly requests an update or config change; if it's not explicit, ask first.",
"Actions: config.get, config.schema, config.apply (validate + write full config, then restart), update.run (update deps or git, then restart).",
"After restart, OpenClaw pings the last active session automatically.",
].join("\n")
: "",
hasGateway && !isMinimal ? "" : "",
"",
// Skip model aliases for subagent/none modes
params.modelAliasLines && params.modelAliasLines.length > 0 && !isMinimal
? "## Model Aliases"
: "",
params.modelAliasLines && params.modelAliasLines.length > 0 && !isMinimal
? "Prefer aliases when specifying model overrides; full provider/model is also accepted."
: "",
params.modelAliasLines && params.modelAliasLines.length > 0 && !isMinimal
? params.modelAliasLines.join("\n")
: "",
params.modelAliasLines && params.modelAliasLines.length > 0 && !isMinimal ? "" : "",
userTimezone
? "If you need the current date, time, or day of week, run session_status (📊 session_status)."
: "",
"## Workspace",
`Your working directory is: ${displayWorkspaceDir}`,
workspaceGuidance,
...workspaceNotes,
"",
...docsSection,
params.sandboxInfo?.enabled ? "## Sandbox" : "",
params.sandboxInfo?.enabled
? [
"You are running in a sandboxed runtime (tools execute in Docker).",
"Some tools may be unavailable due to sandbox policy.",
"Sub-agents stay sandboxed (no elevated/host access). Need outside-sandbox read/write? Don't spawn; ask first.",
params.sandboxInfo.containerWorkspaceDir
? `Sandbox container workdir: ${params.sandboxInfo.containerWorkspaceDir}`
: "",
params.sandboxInfo.workspaceDir
? `Sandbox host workspace: ${params.sandboxInfo.workspaceDir}`
: "",
params.sandboxInfo.workspaceAccess
? `Agent workspace access: ${params.sandboxInfo.workspaceAccess}${
params.sandboxInfo.agentWorkspaceMount
? ` (mounted at ${params.sandboxInfo.agentWorkspaceMount})`
: ""
}`
: "",
params.sandboxInfo.browserBridgeUrl ? "Sandbox browser: enabled." : "",
params.sandboxInfo.browserNoVncUrl
? `Sandbox browser observer (noVNC): ${params.sandboxInfo.browserNoVncUrl}`
: "",
params.sandboxInfo.hostBrowserAllowed === true
? "Host browser control: allowed."
: params.sandboxInfo.hostBrowserAllowed === false
? "Host browser control: blocked."
: "",
params.sandboxInfo.elevated?.allowed
? "Elevated exec is available for this session."
: "",
params.sandboxInfo.elevated?.allowed
? "User can toggle with /elevated on|off|ask|full."
: "",
params.sandboxInfo.elevated?.allowed
? "You may also send /elevated on|off|ask|full when needed."
: "",
params.sandboxInfo.elevated?.allowed
? `Current elevated level: ${params.sandboxInfo.elevated.defaultLevel} (ask runs exec on host with approvals; full auto-approves).`
: "",
]
.filter(Boolean)
.join("\n")
: "",
params.sandboxInfo?.enabled ? "" : "",
...buildUserIdentitySection(ownerLine, isMinimal),
...buildTimeSection({
userTimezone,
}),
"## Workspace Files (injected)",
"These user-editable files are loaded by OpenClaw and included below in Project Context.",
"",
...buildReplyTagsSection(isMinimal),
...buildMessagingSection({
isMinimal,
availableTools,
messageChannelOptions,
inlineButtonsEnabled,
runtimeChannel,
messageToolHints: params.messageToolHints,
}),
...buildVoiceSection({ isMinimal, ttsHint: params.ttsHint }),
];
if (extraSystemPrompt) {
// Use "Subagent Context" header for minimal mode (subagents), otherwise "Group Chat Context"
const contextHeader =
promptMode === "minimal" ? "## Subagent Context" : "## Group Chat Context";
lines.push(contextHeader, extraSystemPrompt, "");
}
if (params.reactionGuidance) {
const { level, channel } = params.reactionGuidance;
const guidanceText =
level === "minimal"
? [
`Reactions are enabled for ${channel} in MINIMAL mode.`,
"React ONLY when truly relevant:",
"- Acknowledge important user requests or confirmations",
"- Express genuine sentiment (humor, appreciation) sparingly",
"- Avoid reacting to routine messages or your own replies",
"Guideline: at most 1 reaction per 5-10 exchanges.",
].join("\n")
: [
`Reactions are enabled for ${channel} in EXTENSIVE mode.`,
"Feel free to react liberally:",
"- Acknowledge messages with appropriate emojis",
"- Express sentiment and personality through reactions",
"- React to interesting content, humor, or notable events",
"- Use reactions to confirm understanding or agreement",
"Guideline: react whenever it feels natural.",
].join("\n");
lines.push("## Reactions", guidanceText, "");
}
if (reasoningHint) {
lines.push("## Reasoning Format", reasoningHint, "");
}
const contextFiles = params.contextFiles ?? [];
const validContextFiles = contextFiles.filter(
(file) => typeof file.path === "string" && file.path.trim().length > 0,
);
if (validContextFiles.length > 0) {
const hasSoulFile = validContextFiles.some((file) => {
const normalizedPath = file.path.trim().replace(/\\/g, "/");
const baseName = normalizedPath.split("/").pop() ?? normalizedPath;
return baseName.toLowerCase() === "soul.md";
});
lines.push("# Project Context", "", "The following project context files have been loaded:");
if (hasSoulFile) {
lines.push(
"If SOUL.md is present, embody its persona and tone. Avoid stiff, generic replies; follow its guidance unless higher-priority instructions override it.",
);
}
lines.push("");
for (const file of validContextFiles) {
lines.push(`## ${file.path}`, "", file.content, "");
}
}
// Skip silent replies for subagent/none modes
if (!isMinimal) {
lines.push(
"## Silent Replies",
`When you have nothing to say, respond with ONLY: ${SILENT_REPLY_TOKEN}`,
"",
"⚠️ Rules:",
"- It must be your ENTIRE message — nothing else",
`- Never append it to an actual response (never include "${SILENT_REPLY_TOKEN}" in real replies)`,
"- Never wrap it in markdown or code blocks",
"",
`❌ Wrong: "Here's help... ${SILENT_REPLY_TOKEN}"`,
`❌ Wrong: "${SILENT_REPLY_TOKEN}"`,
`✅ Right: ${SILENT_REPLY_TOKEN}`,
"",
);
}
// Skip heartbeats for subagent/none modes
if (!isMinimal) {
lines.push(
"## Heartbeats",
heartbeatPromptLine,
"If you receive a heartbeat poll (a user message matching the heartbeat prompt above), and there is nothing that needs attention, reply exactly:",
"HEARTBEAT_OK",
'OpenClaw treats a leading/trailing "HEARTBEAT_OK" as a heartbeat ack (and may discard it).',
'If something needs attention, do NOT include "HEARTBEAT_OK"; reply with the alert text instead.',
"",
);
}
lines.push(
"## Runtime",
buildRuntimeLine(runtimeInfo, runtimeChannel, runtimeCapabilities, params.defaultThinkLevel),
`Reasoning: ${reasoningLevel} (hidden unless on/stream). Toggle /reasoning; /status shows Reasoning when enabled.`,
);
return lines.filter(Boolean).join("\n");
}
export function buildRuntimeLine(
runtimeInfo?: {
agentId?: string;
host?: string;
os?: string;
arch?: string;
node?: string;
model?: string;
defaultModel?: string;
shell?: string;
repoRoot?: string;
},
runtimeChannel?: string,
runtimeCapabilities: string[] = [],
defaultThinkLevel?: ThinkLevel,
): string {
return `Runtime: ${[
runtimeInfo?.agentId ? `agent=${runtimeInfo.agentId}` : "",
runtimeInfo?.host ? `host=${runtimeInfo.host}` : "",
runtimeInfo?.repoRoot ? `repo=${runtimeInfo.repoRoot}` : "",
runtimeInfo?.os
? `os=${runtimeInfo.os}${runtimeInfo?.arch ? ` (${runtimeInfo.arch})` : ""}`
: runtimeInfo?.arch
? `arch=${runtimeInfo.arch}`
: "",
runtimeInfo?.node ? `node=${runtimeInfo.node}` : "",
runtimeInfo?.model ? `model=${runtimeInfo.model}` : "",
runtimeInfo?.defaultModel ? `default_model=${runtimeInfo.defaultModel}` : "",
runtimeInfo?.shell ? `shell=${runtimeInfo.shell}` : "",
runtimeChannel ? `channel=${runtimeChannel}` : "",
runtimeChannel
? `capabilities=${runtimeCapabilities.length > 0 ? runtimeCapabilities.join(",") : "none"}`
: "",
`thinking=${defaultThinkLevel ?? "off"}`,
]
.filter(Boolean)
.join(" | ")}`;
}