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agent_engine/tools/subagent/
start.rs

1//! SubagentStartTool — dispatch a reactive subagent and return a handle_id immediately.
2//!
3//! Unlike the one-shot `subagent` tool, this tool returns *before* the subagent
4//! finishes. The caller gets a `handle_id` they can poll via `subagent_status`,
5//! steer via `subagent_steer`, or block on via `subagent_collect`.
6
7use serde_json::{json, Value};
8use std::sync::atomic::Ordering;
9use std::sync::{Arc, RwLock};
10use tokio::sync::{mpsc, oneshot};
11
12use super::super::{resolve_agent_prompt, Tool, ToolContext, NEXT_SUBAGENT_ID};
13use crate::runtime::subagent::{SubagentHandle, SubagentResult, SubagentState, SubagentStatus};
14use crate::{AgentEvent, Result, RuntimeError};
15
16pub struct SubagentStartTool;
17
18#[async_trait::async_trait]
19impl Tool for SubagentStartTool {
20    fn origin(&self) -> crate::tools::ToolOrigin {
21        crate::tools::ToolOrigin::Builtin
22    }
23
24    fn name(&self) -> &str {
25        "subagent_start"
26    }
27
28    fn description(&self) -> &str {
29        "Dispatch a reactive subagent and return immediately with a handle_id. \
30         The subagent runs in the background and is REACTIVE: when it finishes, a \
31         completion event is pushed into your queue and you are woken with its \
32         status — do NOT sleep, busy-wait, or poll in a loop waiting for it. After \
33         dispatching, end your turn or keep doing other work; on the completion \
34         event call subagent_collect once with reconciled=true. subagent_status is \
35         for an occasional progress peek, and subagent_steer injects guidance \
36         mid-run. Use this for parallel execution or when you want to continue \
37         working while the subagent runs. For simple sequential delegation that \
38         must block, use subagent instead. Provide either an agent name (resolves \
39         from ~/.synaps-cli/agents/<name>.md) or a system_prompt string directly; \
40         give an inline subagent a short name so it is recognisable in the \
41         subagent panel."
42    }
43
44    fn parameters(&self) -> Value {
45        json!({
46            "type": "object",
47            "properties": {
48                "agent": {
49                    "type": "string",
50                    "description": "Agent name — resolves to ~/.synaps-cli/agents/<name>.md. Mutually exclusive with system_prompt."
51                },
52                "system_prompt": {
53                    "type": "string",
54                    "description": "Inline system prompt for the subagent. Use when you don't have a named agent file."
55                },
56                "name": {
57                    "type": "string",
58                    "description": "Short display name for an inline (system_prompt) subagent, e.g. \"gif-recorder\". Shown in the subagent panel and in status/collect output. Letters, digits, - and _ only, max 32. Ignored when agent is set; defaults to \"inline\"."
59                },
60                "task": {
61                    "type": "string",
62                    "description": "The task/prompt to send to the subagent."
63                },
64                "model": {
65                    "type": "string",
66                    "description": "Omit to inherit the session foreground qualified identity. Explicit values must be one of subagent_models' listed exact choices."
67                },
68                "role": {
69                    "type": "string",
70                    "enum": ["planner", "implementer", "tester", "reviewer", "researcher", "debugger"],
71                    "description": "Typed orchestration role."
72                },
73                "write_policy": {
74                    "oneOf": [
75                        {"type": "object", "properties": {"mode": {"const": "read_only"}}, "required": ["mode"]},
76                        {"type": "object", "properties": {"mode": {"const": "isolated_worktree"}}, "required": ["mode"]},
77                        {"type": "object", "properties": {"mode": {"const": "non_overlapping_paths"}, "scopes": {"type": "array", "items": {"type": "string"}}}, "required": ["mode", "scopes"]}
78                    ],
79                    "description": "Declared write isolation and path scopes."
80                },
81                "timeout": {
82                    "type": "integer",
83                    "description": "Wall-clock limit in seconds. Omit for the session default (config `subagent_timeout`); 0 = no limit. A timed-out worker keeps its full conversation: subagent_resume continues it where it stopped."
84                }
85            },
86            "required": ["task"]
87        })
88    }
89
90    async fn execute(&self, params: Value, ctx: ToolContext) -> Result<String> {
91        // ── Parse params ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────
92        let task = params["task"]
93            .as_str()
94            .ok_or_else(|| RuntimeError::Tool("Missing 'task' parameter".to_string()))?
95            .to_string();
96
97        // Treat blank / whitespace / control-char strings as absent.
98        // Some model providers serialize "unset" as "" rather than omitting the field,
99        // and we must not try to resolve "" (or " ", or "\u{0}") as an agent name —
100        // doing so produces a hard "Agent '' not found" error that the model then
101        // retries forever with sentinel values instead of falling back to system_prompt.
102        let is_blank = |s: &String| s.chars().all(|c| c.is_whitespace() || c.is_control());
103        let agent_name = params["agent"]
104            .as_str()
105            .map(|s| s.to_string())
106            .filter(|s| !is_blank(s));
107        let inline_prompt = params["system_prompt"]
108            .as_str()
109            .map(|s| s.to_string())
110            .filter(|s| !is_blank(s));
111        let requested_model = params["model"].as_str();
112        // Validate the registry before authorization, id allocation, or event emission;
113        // the same borrow is reused below when publishing the authorized handle.
114        let registry = ctx.capabilities.subagent_registry.as_ref().ok_or_else(|| {
115            RuntimeError::Tool("subagent_start requires a subagent_registry in ToolContext".into())
116        })?;
117        let system_prompt = match (&agent_name, &inline_prompt) {
118            (Some(name), _) => resolve_agent_prompt(name).map_err(RuntimeError::Tool)?,
119            (None, Some(p)) => p.clone(),
120            (None, None) => {
121                return Err(RuntimeError::Tool(
122                    "Must provide either 'agent' (name) or 'system_prompt' (inline). Got neither."
123                        .to_string(),
124                ));
125            }
126        };
127        let subagent_id = NEXT_SUBAGENT_ID.fetch_add(1, Ordering::Relaxed);
128        let handle_id = format!("sa_{}", subagent_id);
129        let orchestration = ctx
130            .capabilities
131            .orchestration
132            .as_ref()
133            .ok_or_else(|| RuntimeError::Tool("delegation policy unavailable".into()))?;
134        orchestration
135            .reserve_delegation(&handle_id, ctx.capabilities.delegation_parent.as_deref())
136            .map_err(|reason| RuntimeError::Tool(format!("delegation denied: {reason}")))?;
137        let decision = orchestration
138            .resolve_and_authorize(&handle_id, requested_model)
139            .map_err(|error| {
140                orchestration
141                    .release_delegation(&handle_id, ctx.capabilities.delegation_parent.as_deref());
142                RuntimeError::Tool(error.to_string())
143            })?;
144        let model = decision.model.as_str().to_owned();
145        let codex_parent_plan = ctx.capabilities.codex_parent_plan.clone();
146        let memory_backend = ctx.capabilities.memory_backend.clone();
147        let timeout_secs = params["timeout"]
148            .as_u64()
149            .unwrap_or(ctx.limits.subagent_timeout);
150
151        let label = super::subagent_label(agent_name.as_deref(), params["name"].as_str());
152        let task_preview: String = task.chars().take(80).collect();
153        let task_full = task.clone();
154
155        tracing::info!(
156            "subagent_start: dispatching '{}' (id={}) model={}",
157            label,
158            handle_id,
159            model
160        );
161
162        // ── Shared state ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────
163        let state = Arc::new(RwLock::new(SubagentState::new()));
164        state.write().unwrap().archive_meta = Some(crate::runtime::subagent::SubagentArchiveMeta {
165            agent_name: label.clone(),
166            model: model.clone(),
167            system_prompt: system_prompt.clone(),
168            timeout_secs,
169        });
170
171        state.write().unwrap().archive_dir = Some(super::archive::process_dir());
172        let initial_messages = vec![Arc::new(
173            serde_json::json!({"role": "user", "content": task.clone()}),
174        )];
175        state.write().unwrap().history = Some(initial_messages.clone());
176
177        // ── Channels ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
178        let (steer_tx, steer_rx) = mpsc::unbounded_channel::<String>();
179        let (shutdown_tx, shutdown_rx) = oneshot::channel::<()>();
180        let (result_tx, result_rx) = oneshot::channel::<SubagentResult>();
181
182        // ── Forward SubagentStart event to TUI ─────────────────────────────────
183        if let Some(ref tx) = ctx.channels.tx_events {
184            let _ = tx.send(crate::StreamEvent::Agent(AgentEvent::SubagentStart {
185                subagent_id,
186                agent_name: label.clone(),
187                task_preview: task_preview.clone(),
188            }));
189        }
190
191        // ── Clone state for the spawned thread ─────────────────────────────────
192        let state_t = Arc::clone(&state);
193        let task_full_a = task_full.clone();
194        let label_inner = label.clone();
195        let model_inner = model.clone();
196        let tx_events_inner = ctx.channels.tx_events.clone();
197        let start_time = std::time::Instant::now();
198        let parent_queue = ctx.capabilities.event_queue.clone();
199        let handle_id_inner = handle_id.clone();
200        let child_parent_id = handle_id.clone();
201
202        // ── Build and register handle BEFORE spawning ─────────────────────────
203        // This closes the publish-before-register race: finalize_subagent can
204        // push a completion event the instant the thread exits, but the registry
205        // must already contain the handle so the parent's collect succeeds.
206        let system_prompt_for_handle = system_prompt.clone();
207        let handle = SubagentHandle::new(
208            handle_id.clone(),
209            subagent_id,
210            label.clone(),
211            task_preview,
212            model.clone(),
213            system_prompt_for_handle,
214            timeout_secs,
215            Arc::clone(&state),
216            Some(steer_tx),
217            Some(shutdown_tx),
218            Some(result_rx),
219        )
220        .with_authorization(&decision);
221        {
222            let mut reg = registry.lock().unwrap();
223            reg.register_with_cancellation(handle, ctx.capabilities.launch_cancel.as_ref());
224        }
225
226        let orchestration = ctx.capabilities.orchestration.as_ref().unwrap();
227        let orchestration_for_worker = Arc::clone(orchestration);
228        let parent_for_worker = ctx.capabilities.delegation_parent.clone();
229        if let Err(error) = orchestration.mark_starting(&handle_id) {
230            orchestration.rollback(&handle_id);
231            orchestration
232                .release_delegation(&handle_id, ctx.capabilities.delegation_parent.as_deref());
233            return Err(RuntimeError::Tool(error));
234        }
235
236        // ── Spawn subagent thread (mirrors subagent.rs) ────────────────────────
237        let thread_handle = std::thread::spawn(move || {
238            // Pre-clone for finalizer — catch_unwind moves state_t and label_inner
239            let state_for_finalizer = Arc::clone(&state_t);
240            let label_for_finalizer = label_inner.clone();
241            let orchestration_for_runtime = Arc::clone(&orchestration_for_worker);
242
243            let mut pending_result = None;
244            let panic_result = std::panic::catch_unwind(std::panic::AssertUnwindSafe(|| {
245                let rt = match tokio::runtime::Builder::new_current_thread()
246                    .enable_all()
247                    .build()
248                {
249                    Ok(rt) => rt,
250                    Err(_) => {
251                        state_t.write().unwrap().status =
252                            SubagentStatus::Failed("runtime initialization failed".into());
253                        return;
254                    }
255                };
256
257                // Clones for the async block — the outer closure still needs the originals.
258                let state_a = Arc::clone(&state_t);
259                let label_a = label_inner.clone();
260                let model_a = model_inner.clone();
261                let tx_events_a = tx_events_inner.clone();
262                let task_for_timeout = task_full_a.clone();
263                let task_for_complete = task_full_a;
264
265                let outcome: std::result::Result<SubagentResult, String> =
266                    rt.block_on(async move {
267                        // Host-built worker (shared client/creds/token cache, cached
268                        // registry) or the legacy fresh runtime — see `spawn_runtime`.
269                        let mut runtime = match super::spawn_runtime().await {
270                            Ok(r) => r,
271                            Err(_) => return Err("subagent runtime initialization failed".into()),
272                        };
273
274                        // Apply subagent spawn policy: worker role, 5m cache TTL, worker
275                        // turn budget. Subagents are short-lived one-shots — paying the 1h
276                        // write premium (~2× input price) on them is unrecoverable waste
277                        // (~$0.23 per 10-spawn fan-out). (#110)
278                        super::apply_subagent_runtime_policy(
279                            &mut runtime,
280                            &crate::config::load_config(),
281                            memory_backend.as_ref(),
282                        );
283                        runtime.set_system_prompt(super::compose_system_prompt(
284                            system_prompt,
285                            runtime.memory_backend_is_axel(),
286                        ));
287                        runtime.set_model(model_a.clone());
288                        super::apply_codex_worker_reasoning(
289                            &mut runtime,
290                            codex_parent_plan.as_ref(),
291                        );
292                        runtime
293                            .install_worker_orchestration(Arc::clone(&orchestration_for_runtime));
294                        runtime.set_delegation_parent(Some(child_parent_id.clone()));
295
296                        let cancel = crate::CancellationToken::new();
297                        let cancel_inner = cancel.clone();
298                        tokio::spawn(async move {
299                            let _ = shutdown_rx.await;
300                            cancel_inner.cancel();
301                        });
302
303                        let cancel_on_timeout = cancel.clone();
304                        let stream = runtime.run_stream_with_messages(
305                                initial_messages,
306                                cancel,
307                                Some(steer_rx),
308                                None,
309                                false,
310                            ).await;
311
312                        super::drive::WorkerDrive {
313                            state: Arc::clone(&state_a),
314                            tx_events: tx_events_a.clone(),
315                            subagent_id,
316                            label: label_a.clone(),
317                            model: model_a.clone(),
318                            timeout_secs,
319                            cancel: cancel_on_timeout,
320                            task: task_for_timeout,
321                        }
322                        .run(stream)
323                        .await
324                    });
325
326                match outcome {
327                    Ok(sa_result) => {
328                        // Only overwrite Running → Completed (don't stomp TimedOut or a cancellation).
329                        {
330                            let mut s = state_t.write().unwrap();
331                            if matches!(s.status, SubagentStatus::Running) && !s.cancel_requested {
332                                s.status = SubagentStatus::Completed;
333                                s.conversation_state = vec![
334                                    serde_json::json!({"role": "user", "content": task_for_complete.clone()}),
335                                    serde_json::json!({"role": "assistant", "content": sa_result.text.clone()}),
336                                ];
337                            }
338                        }
339                        pending_result = Some(sa_result);
340                    }
341                    Err(e) => {
342                        state_t.write().unwrap().status = SubagentStatus::Failed(e);
343                    }
344                }
345            }));
346
347            if let Err(panic_info) = panic_result {
348                let msg = if let Some(s) = panic_info.downcast_ref::<&str>() {
349                    s.to_string()
350                } else if let Some(s) = panic_info.downcast_ref::<String>() {
351                    s.clone()
352                } else {
353                    "unknown panic".to_string()
354                };
355                tracing::error!("Subagent thread panicked: {}", msg);
356                state_t.write().unwrap_or_else(|p| p.into_inner()).status =
357                    SubagentStatus::Failed(format!("panic: {}", msg));
358            }
359
360            // ── Terminal finalizer — exactly once, outside catch_unwind ────────
361            // Covers all paths: Ok, Err, timeout, panic, early tokio-build failure.
362            super::finalize::finalize_subagent(
363                &state_for_finalizer,
364                parent_queue.as_ref(),
365                &handle_id_inner,
366                subagent_id,
367                &label_for_finalizer,
368                start_time,
369                None, // start.rs: not a resume
370            );
371            // All terminal publications follow the recovery/finalization barrier.
372            if let Some(ref tx) = tx_events_inner {
373                let s = state_for_finalizer
374                    .read()
375                    .unwrap_or_else(|p| p.into_inner());
376                let preview = match s.status.failure_reason() {
377                    Some(reason) => format!("ERROR: {reason}"),
378                    None => s.partial_text.chars().take(120).collect(),
379                };
380                let _ = tx.send(crate::StreamEvent::Agent(AgentEvent::SubagentDone {
381                    subagent_id,
382                    agent_name: label_for_finalizer.clone(),
383                    result_preview: preview,
384                    duration_secs: start_time.elapsed().as_secs_f64(),
385                }));
386            }
387            if let Some(result) = pending_result {
388                let _ = result_tx.send(result);
389            }
390            orchestration_for_worker
391                .release_delegation(&handle_id_inner, parent_for_worker.as_deref());
392        });
393
394        // ── Attach the already-persisted handle to the started thread ──────────
395        {
396            let mut reg = registry.lock().unwrap();
397            if let Some(h) = reg.get_mut(&handle_id) {
398                h.set_thread_handle(thread_handle);
399            }
400        }
401        if let Err(error) = ctx
402            .capabilities
403            .orchestration
404            .as_ref()
405            .unwrap()
406            .mark_running(&handle_id)
407        {
408            let thread = {
409                let mut reg = registry.lock().unwrap();
410                if let Some(handle) = reg.get_mut(&handle_id) {
411                    handle.cancel();
412                }
413                reg.remove(&handle_id)
414            };
415            if let Some(handle) = thread {
416                let _ = handle.collect().await;
417            }
418            orchestration.rollback(&handle_id);
419            orchestration
420                .release_delegation(&handle_id, ctx.capabilities.delegation_parent.as_deref());
421            return Err(RuntimeError::Tool(error));
422        }
423
424        Ok(json!({
425            "handle_id":  handle_id,
426            "agent_name": label,
427            "status":     "running"
428        })
429        .to_string())
430    }
431}
432
433#[cfg(test)]
434mod tests {
435    use super::*;
436    use crate::tools::test_helpers::create_tool_context;
437    use crate::tools::{SubagentRegistry, Tool};
438    use serde_json::json;
439    use std::sync::{Arc, Mutex};
440
441    // V4: registry=None must return Err immediately, before any thread is spawned.
442    #[tokio::test]
443    async fn test_subagent_start_no_registry_returns_err() {
444        let tool = SubagentStartTool;
445        let ctx = create_tool_context(); // subagent_registry is None by default
446
447        let params = json!({
448            "system_prompt": "You are a test subagent.",
449            "task": "Say ok",
450        });
451
452        let result = tool.execute(params, ctx).await;
453        assert!(
454            result.is_err(),
455            "missing registry must return Err before spawn"
456        );
457        let msg = format!("{:?}", result.unwrap_err());
458        assert!(
459            msg.contains("subagent_registry"),
460            "error must mention subagent_registry: {msg}"
461        );
462    }
463
464    #[tokio::test]
465    async fn test_subagent_start_blank_agent_uses_system_prompt() {
466        let tool = SubagentStartTool;
467        let mut ctx = create_tool_context();
468        ctx.capabilities.subagent_registry = Some(Arc::new(Mutex::new(SubagentRegistry::new())));
469
470        let params = json!({
471            "agent": "",
472            "system_prompt": "You are a concise test subagent. Reply with only: ok",
473            "task": "Say ok",
474            "model": "anthropic/claude-sonnet-4-6",
475            "timeout": 1
476        });
477
478        let result = tool.execute(params, ctx).await;
479        assert!(
480            result.is_ok(),
481            "blank agent should not be resolved as ~/.synaps-cli/agents/.md: {result:?}"
482        );
483        let body: serde_json::Value = serde_json::from_str(&result.unwrap()).unwrap();
484        assert_eq!(body["agent_name"], "inline");
485        assert!(body["handle_id"]
486            .as_str()
487            .unwrap_or_default()
488            .starts_with("sa_"));
489    }
490
491    #[tokio::test]
492    async fn test_subagent_start_inline_name_labels_the_handle() {
493        let tool = SubagentStartTool;
494        let mut ctx = create_tool_context();
495        let registry = Arc::new(Mutex::new(SubagentRegistry::new()));
496        ctx.capabilities.subagent_registry = Some(registry.clone());
497
498        let params = json!({
499            "system_prompt": "You are a concise test subagent. Reply with only: ok",
500            "name": "gif recorder",
501            "task": "Say ok",
502            "model": "anthropic/claude-sonnet-4-6",
503            "timeout": 1
504        });
505
506        let result = tool.execute(params, ctx).await.expect("dispatch");
507        let body: serde_json::Value = serde_json::from_str(&result).unwrap();
508        assert_eq!(body["agent_name"], "gif-recorder");
509        let handle_id = body["handle_id"].as_str().unwrap();
510        let reg = registry.lock().unwrap();
511        assert_eq!(
512            reg.get(handle_id).expect("registered").agent_name,
513            "gif-recorder"
514        );
515    }
516}