docs(roadmap): add #387 providers help json hangs

Merge pull request #2921 from ultraworkers/docs/roadmap-381-cache-help-json-hangs
docs(roadmap): add #381 — cache help json hangs
2026-05-13 17:36:44 +00:00 · 2026-04-30 06:00:46 +00:00 · 2026-04-30 12:09:06 +09:00 · 2026-04-30 03:06:16 +00:00 · 2026-04-30 11:38:50 +09:00 · 2026-04-30 02:35:19 +00:00
1 changed files with 43 additions and 0 deletions
--- a/ROADMAP.md
+++ b/ROADMAP.md
@@ -6258,3 +6258,46 @@ Original filing (2026-04-18): the session emitted `SessionStart hook (completed)
 248. **Non-interactive prompt mode can exceed caller timeouts with no in-band startup/API phase event or partial status artifact** — dogfooded 2026-04-29 from live tmux session `claw-code-issue-247-human-fresh-run` after the owner explicitly asked gaebal-gajae to make a fresh session and use `claw-code` directly. The actual `./rust/target/debug/claw` binary was launched via `clawhip tmux new` on current main. `claw doctor --output-format json` and `claw status --output-format json` both succeeded and reported auth/config/workspace ok, but minimal non-interactive prompt calls (`timeout 120 ./rust/target/debug/claw --output-format json --dangerously-skip-permissions "echo hello"` and `timeout 120 ./rust/target/debug/claw --output-format json prompt "Reply with just the word hello"`) both timed out from the outer harness after roughly 150s with only `Command exceeded timeout` visible. There was no machine-readable `api_request_started`, `waiting_for_first_token`, provider/model/base-url identity, retry count, or partial status file/event that would let clawhip distinguish slow provider, network stall, auth/OAuth drift, stream parser hang, or prompt-mode bug. **Required fix shape:** (a) emit structured non-interactive lifecycle events for `startup_ok`, `api_request_started`, `first_byte/first_token`, retry/backoff, and terminal `timeout_or_stall` states; (b) include provider/model/base URL source and auth source category without leaking secrets; (c) support a CLI/request timeout flag or env override that returns a typed JSON error before the outer orchestrator kills the process; (d) write/emit a final partial status artifact on timeout so lane monitors do not have to infer state from a dead process. **Why this matters:** non-interactive prompt mode is the automation path; if it can hang past the caller's timeout while doctor/status are green, claws lose the ability to tell whether startup, auth, transport, provider latency, or stream consumption failed. Source: live session `claw-code-issue-247-human-fresh-run` on 2026-04-29.

 249. **`/issue` advertises GitHub issue creation but never reaches a GitHub/OAuth/auth preflight or creation path, and the non-interactive error suggests unusable resume forms** — dogfooded 2026-04-29 on current main `8e22f757` while chasing the remaining Phase-0 GitHub OAuth blocker. The visible help advertises `/issue [context]` as “Draft or create a GitHub issue from the conversation,” but the actual implementation path only renders a local `Issue` report (`format_issue_report`) and does not invoke `gh`, GitHub API, OAuth, token discovery, browser auth, or even a dry-run/auth-preflight surface. Direct non-interactive use (`./rust/target/debug/claw '/issue dogfood test'`) returns `slash command /issue dogfood test is interactive-only` and suggests `claw --resume SESSION.jsonl /issue ...` / `claw --resume latest /issue ...` “when the command is marked [resume]”, while `/help` does not mark `/issue` as resume-safe and resume dispatch rejects interactive-only commands. That leaves operators with a GitHub-labeled command whose real behavior is neither issue creation nor a clear GitHub OAuth blocker. **Required fix shape:** (a) split the contract explicitly: either rename/copy to “draft issue text” or implement a real `create` path with GitHub auth preflight; (b) surface a machine-readable GitHub auth state (`gh_cli_authenticated`, `github_token_present`, `oauth_required`, `creation_unavailable`) before any issue-create attempt; (c) make the direct-mode error avoid suggesting resume forms for commands not marked resume-safe; (d) add regression coverage proving `/issue` help, direct-mode rejection, resume support flags, and creation/draft behavior agree. **Why this matters:** Phase-0 GitHub OAuth verification cannot complete if the only GitHub issue surface stops at local prose while still advertising creation. Claws need to know whether they are missing GitHub auth, using a draft-only helper, or hitting an unimplemented creation path. Source: gaebal-gajae dogfood cycle in `#clawcode-building-in-public` on 2026-04-29.
+322. **Config deprecation warnings are emitted to stderr even under `--output-format json`, making JSON output unparseable from combined stdout+stderr capture** — dogfooded 2026-04-29 by Jobdori on current main (`8e22f75`). Running `cargo run --bin claw -- doctor --output-format json 2>&1 | python3 -c "import sys,json; json.loads(sys.stdin.read())"` fails with `Expecting value: line 1 column 1 (char 0)` because a `warning: /path/settings.json: field "enabledPlugins" is deprecated. Use "plugins.enabled" instead` line is emitted to stderr before the JSON body begins. When a caller captures combined output (the common automation pattern: `2>&1`, subprocess `STDOUT | STDERR`, PTY capture, or tmux pane scrape) the warning prefix breaks JSON parse for every downstream consumer. Root cause: `rust/crates/runtime/src/config.rs` line ~300 calls `eprintln!("warning: {warning}")` unconditionally during `ClawSettings::load_merged()` regardless of active output format. **Required fix shape:** (a) thread the active `CliOutputFormat` through the config loading path and suppress or defer human-readable warning strings when `json` mode is active; (b) instead, collect deprecation diagnostics and inject them into the JSON output as a top-level `"warnings": [...]` array (same field already used by `doctor`); (c) ensure the JSON body is always the first bytes on stdout and all prose warnings stay on stderr or are suppressed in json mode; (d) add regression coverage proving `claw <any-cmd> --output-format json` stdout is valid JSON regardless of config deprecation state. **Why this matters:** `--output-format json` is the automation/claw contract; if config warnings can silently corrupt the JSON stream, every orchestration layer that captures combined output gets broken parse-on-warning with no stable fallback. Source: Jobdori live dogfood on mengmotaHost, claw-code main `8e22f75`, 2026-04-29.
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+323. **`status --output-format json` reports `session.session = "live-repl"` while simultaneously reporting `session_lifecycle.kind = "saved_only"` — contradictory session identity in a single status snapshot** — dogfooded 2026-04-29 by Jobdori on current main (`804d96b`). Running `claw status --output-format json` from an active REPL-style invocation produced `"session": "live-repl"` in the `workspace` block and `"session_lifecycle": {"kind": "saved_only", "pane_id": null, ...}` in the same object. Those two fields carry contradictory claims: `"live-repl"` asserts there is an active interactive session, while `"saved_only"` asserts there is no live tmux pane hosting the session — the session exists only as a saved artifact. A downstream claw reading this snapshot cannot tell which claim to trust: is this a running session whose pane is undetectable, or a saved-only session that the `session` field is misclassifying? Root cause: `"live-repl"` is a fallback sentinel emitted by `main.rs:6070` when `context.session_path` is `None`, while `session_lifecycle` is computed independently by `classify_session_lifecycle_for()` from tmux pane discovery; the two fields share no common source and can diverge. **Required fix shape:** (a) derive both `session.session` and `session_lifecycle.kind` from the same lifecycle classification result so they cannot diverge; (b) replace the `"live-repl"` free-form sentinel with a structured `session_kind` field (`live_repl`, `saved`, `resume`, etc.) that carries the same type vocabulary as `session_lifecycle.kind`; (c) when `session_lifecycle.kind = "saved_only"`, never emit `"session": "live-repl"` (or vice versa); (d) add a regression test proving `status --output-format json` never emits `session.kind = "live_repl"` and `session_lifecycle.kind = "saved_only"` simultaneously. **Why this matters:** `status --output-format json` is the machine-readable truth surface for session state; if two fields in the same snapshot contradict each other, every lane, monitor, and orchestrator has to pick a winner instead of reading a coherent state. Source: Jobdori live dogfood on mengmotaHost, claw-code `804d96b`, 2026-04-29.
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+324. **Stale local debug binaries can impersonate the current workspace because version/status/doctor do not compare embedded build provenance to repo HEAD** — dogfooded 2026-04-29 on current `origin/main` / workspace HEAD `e7074f47` after PR #2838. The working tree was at `e7074f47`, but running `./rust/target/debug/claw version --output-format json` reported embedded `git_sha` `1f901988`. `status` and `doctor` remained green and exposed no warning that the executable under test was stale relative to the workspace HEAD, nor any structured build-provenance freshness signal that downstream claws could use to decide whether the observed behavior came from the checked-out code or an older debug artifact. This is a repo-identity opacity gap: the JSON truth surfaces can look authoritative while actually describing a different binary lineage than the source tree being dogfooded. **Required fix shape:** (a) compare the embedded build `git_sha` / build date with the current workspace git HEAD and dirty state when the binary can discover a containing worktree; (b) expose redaction-safe structured fields in `version --output-format json`, `status --output-format json`, and `doctor --output-format json`, including `binary_provenance`, `workspace_head`, and `stale_binary` (with enough reason/detail to distinguish clean match, dirty workspace, unknown workspace, and definite stale SHA mismatch); (c) warn in human/text mode when executing a stale local debug binary such as `./rust/target/debug/claw` so dogfooders do not trust old behavior as current-main evidence; (d) avoid leaking secrets or absolute sensitive paths beyond the existing workspace-identification policy; (e) add regression/fixture coverage for matching HEAD, dirty workspace, no-worktree/unknown provenance, and stale embedded SHA cases. **Why this matters:** status/doctor/version are supposed to be the machine-readable basis for dogfood truth. If a stale binary can report a different `git_sha` than the checked-out repo without any freshness warning, claws can file or verify bugs against the wrong code and waste cycles chasing already-fixed or not-yet-built behavior. Source: gaebal-gajae dogfood follow-up from current main `e7074f47` after PR #2838; observed `./rust/target/debug/claw version --output-format json` reporting `git_sha` `1f901988` with no stale-binary-vs-workspace-HEAD warning.
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+325. **`help --output-format json` returns valid JSON but hides the actual help schema inside one prose `message` string** — dogfooded 2026-04-29 on current `origin/main` / workspace HEAD `d607ff36`. Running `./rust/target/debug/claw help --output-format json` produces parseable JSON, but the object only exposes top-level keys like `kind` and `message`; all command names, global flags, slash-command metadata, aliases, resume-safety, output-format support, auth/preflight notes, and descriptions are flattened into one human-oriented prose blob. That technically satisfies “valid JSON” while still forcing automation to scrape the same help text humans read, making `/issue`, `/help`, and resume-safety contracts opaque to claws. **Required fix shape:** (a) keep `message` as the compact human-rendered help summary, but add a documented structured schema with `schema` / `schema_version` fields; (b) expose first-class arrays/objects such as `commands[]`, `options[]`, and `slash_commands[]` with stable fields including `name`, `aliases`, `description`, `args`, `output_formats_supported`, `resume_safe`, `interactive_only`, and `creates_external_side_effects`; (c) include auth and creation preflight metadata where relevant, especially for GitHub/issue flows (`auth_preflight`, `creation_unavailable`, `gh_cli_authenticated`, `github_token_present`, or equivalent non-secret state); (d) make `/issue`, `/help`, aliases, and resume-dispatch safety machine-readable from the JSON payload instead of recoverable only by parsing prose markers; (e) add regression coverage proving `help --output-format json` is valid JSON and that `/issue`, `/help`, resume-safe vs interactive-only slash commands, aliases, descriptions, supported output formats, and side-effect/auth-preflight fields are present and internally consistent. **Why this matters:** help JSON is the discoverability surface automation uses before invoking commands. If it is just prose wrapped in JSON, claws cannot safely decide whether a command can run non-interactively, resume from a saved session, create external GitHub side effects, or requires auth/preflight without brittle text scraping. Source: gaebal-gajae dogfood follow-up from current main `d607ff36`; observed `./rust/target/debug/claw help --output-format json` returning valid JSON with only `{kind,message}` at the top level while the actionable command schema remained buried in `message`.
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+326. **`status --output-format json` underreports active workspace pane inventory when one tmux session has multiple panes/processes in the same project** — dogfooded 2026-04-29 on current `origin/main` / workspace HEAD `b90875fa` while responding to the claw-code dogfood nudge. The active OMX session `claw-code-issue-326-dogfood-pinpoint` was running in `/mnt/offloading/Workspace/claw-code` with two panes: `%9384` (`cmd=node`, active pane) and `%9385` (`cmd=node`, inactive sidecar pane). `tmux list-panes -a -F '#{session_name}:#{window_index}.#{pane_index} #{pane_id} pid=#{pane_pid} cmd=#{pane_current_command} cwd=#{pane_current_path} active=#{pane_active}'` showed both panes in the same session/workspace, but `./rust/target/debug/claw status --output-format json` collapsed the workspace lifecycle to a single object: `session_lifecycle.kind = "running_process"`, `pane_id = "%9384"`, `pane_command = "node"`, with no `panes[]`, process count, sidecar/secondary-pane inventory, or ambiguity marker. A downstream claw reading only status JSON would believe there is exactly one live process for that workspace even though the control plane has multiple panes in the same task session. **Required fix shape:** (a) expose a structured active-session inventory in `status --output-format json`, including `panes[]` or `processes[]` with pane id, command, cwd, active flag, and session/window identity for all matching workspace panes; (b) keep the compact `session_lifecycle` summary, but add an explicit `pane_count` / `has_sidecar_panes` / `inventory_truncated` signal so summaries cannot masquerade as complete truth; (c) define how to classify primary vs sidecar/inactive panes without losing them, and make the chosen primary pane provenance visible; (d) add regression coverage for a tmux session with two panes in one workspace proving status JSON reports both panes or marks the inventory as partial. **Why this matters:** status JSON is the machine-readable lane truth surface. If it reports only the primary pane while hiding secondary panes, clawhip and other claws can miss sidecar workers, blocked helpers, stale subprocesses, or duplicated control-plane processes and make bad restart/cleanup/routing decisions from an undercounted session snapshot. Source: gaebal-gajae dogfood session `claw-code-issue-326-dogfood-pinpoint`; observed `claw status --output-format json` returning only `%9384` while `tmux list-panes` showed `%9384` and `%9385` in the same claw-code workspace.
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+327. **`claw mcp help` omits `.claw.json` from its documented config sources even though `claw mcp` still loads MCP servers from `.claw.json`** — dogfooded 2026-04-29 on current `origin/main` / workspace HEAD `981aff7c` after rebuilding the actual debug binary with `cargo run --manifest-path rust/Cargo.toml --bin claw -- version --output-format json` so `./rust/target/debug/claw version --output-format json` reported embedded `git_sha` `981aff7c` matching the workspace. Running `./rust/target/debug/claw mcp --help` printed `Sources          .claw/settings.json, .claw/settings.local.json`, and `./rust/target/debug/claw mcp help --output-format json` returned `"sources": [".claw/settings.json", ".claw/settings.local.json"]`. In the same rebuilt binary, a temp workspace containing only a project `.claw.json` with `{"mcpServers":{"demo":{"command":"/bin/echo","args":["hi"]}}}` made `./rust/target/debug/claw mcp --output-format json` report `configured_servers: 1` and `servers[0].name: "demo"`. The MCP lifecycle surface therefore tells users and claws that `.claw.json` is not a source while actively accepting it as one. This is distinct from #322's JSON warning corruption, #323/#326's status lifecycle contradictions, #324's stale-binary provenance gap, and #325's top-level help schema flattening: the pinpoint is a concrete MCP subcommand source-of-truth mismatch in both text and JSON help. **Required fix shape:** (a) derive the `mcp help` source list from the same `ConfigLoader::discover`/settings-source registry that `mcp list` actually uses instead of hard-coding a partial list; (b) include all supported MCP config sources in stable order, including legacy/project `.claw.json`, user `~/.claw/settings.json`, project `.claw/settings.json`, and local `.claw/settings.local.json` as applicable; (c) add source metadata to `mcp --output-format json` entries so each server can be attributed to the file/layer that provided it; (d) add a regression proving a server loaded from `.claw.json` is accompanied by help/JSON source metadata that names `.claw.json`, and that help stays in sync when config source discovery changes. **Why this matters:** MCP setup is already a high-friction lifecycle path; if the command that diagnoses MCP servers omits a still-supported source, operators can move or delete the wrong config file, and automation cannot tell whether `.claw.json` support is intentional compatibility or accidental legacy behavior. Source: gaebal-gajae dogfood in `/home/bellman/Workspace/claw-code` on 2026-04-29 using the rebuilt actual `./rust/target/debug/claw`; temp-workspace proof showed `.claw.json` loads one MCP server while `mcp help` documents only `.claw/settings*.json` sources.
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+328. **`claw agents help` omits the `.codex/agents` roots that `claw agents` actually loads from, so native-agent discovery provenance is misleading** — dogfooded 2026-04-29 on current `origin/main` / workspace HEAD `ee85fed6` after rebuilding the actual debug binary with `cargo run --manifest-path rust/Cargo.toml --bin claw -- version --output-format json`; `./rust/target/debug/claw version --output-format json` then reported embedded `git_sha` `ee85fed6`, matching the workspace. Running `./rust/target/debug/claw agents help --output-format json` returned `usage.sources = [".claw/agents", "~/.claw/agents", "$CLAW_CONFIG_HOME/agents"]`, with no `.codex/agents` or `~/.codex/agents` entry. In the same environment, `./rust/target/debug/claw agents --output-format json` listed native agents such as `analyst` with source `{id: "user_claw", label: "User home roots"}` even though `/home/bellman/.claw/agents` does not exist and `/home/bellman/.codex/agents/analyst.toml` does exist. The agents lifecycle surface therefore documents one set of roots while loading from another, and the loaded-agent provenance collapses the real Codex root behind a generic `user_claw` label. This is distinct from #327's MCP source-list mismatch: the affected subsystem is native-agent discovery, where claws choose delegation/staffing lanes from `claw agents` and need to know which root supplied each agent. **Required fix shape:** (a) derive `agents help` source roots from the same registry/search path used by the agent loader instead of a hard-coded `.claw`-only list; (b) include all supported native-agent roots in stable order, including project/user `.codex/agents` roots alongside `.claw/agents` and `$CLAW_CONFIG_HOME/agents`; (c) make each `agents --output-format json` entry expose non-secret source provenance precise enough to distinguish `user_codex`, `project_codex`, `user_claw`, and `project_claw` (without leaking unnecessary absolute paths); (d) add a regression proving an agent loaded from `~/.codex/agents` is accompanied by help-source metadata naming that root and per-agent provenance that does not mislabel it as generic `user_claw`. **Why this matters:** agent selection is a control-plane decision. If help says only `.claw/agents` are searched while the runtime actually consumes `.codex/agents`, claws and operators can edit the wrong directory, misdiagnose missing/stale agents, or trust the wrong ownership boundary for delegated work. Source: gaebal-gajae dogfood in `/home/bellman/Workspace/claw-code` on 2026-04-29 using rebuilt `./rust/target/debug/claw`; proof commands showed `agents help` omitting `.codex/agents` while `agents` loaded `analyst` from the existing `/home/bellman/.codex/agents/analyst.toml` with no `/home/bellman/.claw/agents` directory present.
+329. **Resume-safe slash `/agents --output-format json` downgrades structured agent inventory into prose even though top-level `claw agents --output-format json` returns machine-readable entries** — dogfooded 2026-04-29 on current `origin/main` / workspace HEAD `0f7578c0` after rebuilding the actual debug binary with `cargo run --manifest-path rust/Cargo.toml --bin claw -- version --output-format json`; `./rust/target/debug/claw version --output-format json` reported embedded `git_sha` `0f7578c0`, matching the workspace. Running `./rust/target/debug/claw --resume latest /agents --output-format json` returned only `{"kind":"agents","text":"Agents\n  20 active agents..."}`: the agent names, source ids, models, reasoning effort, active/shadowed state, and working-directory context are all flattened into one human prose string. In the same rebuilt binary and same workspace, `./rust/target/debug/claw agents --output-format json` returned a structured object with top-level `agents[]`, `count`, `summary`, `working_directory`, and per-agent fields such as `name`, `description`, `model`, `reasoning_effort`, `active`, `shadowed_by`, and `source`. The resume-safe slash surface therefore looks JSON-shaped while throwing away exactly the structured inventory that automation needs, and it diverges from the already-existing top-level command schema. This is distinct from #325's broad help JSON opacity and #328's source-root mismatch: the pinpoint is the `/agents` slash command losing structured inventory in resume mode even though the non-slash agents command already has it. **Required fix shape:** (a) make resume-safe `/agents --output-format json` reuse the same serializer/schema as `claw agents --output-format json` instead of wrapping rendered text; (b) preserve per-agent source/provenance fields, model/reasoning metadata, active/shadowed state, count/summary, and working-directory context; (c) keep `text` or `message` as an optional human summary only, not the sole payload; (d) add regression coverage proving top-level `claw agents --output-format json` and resume-safe `/agents --output-format json` expose equivalent structured agent inventory for the same workspace. **Why this matters:** `/agents` is the in-session delegation/staffing truth surface. Claws operating through `--resume latest` need to choose agents without scraping prose; losing structure at the slash boundary makes automated staffing brittle and contradicts the top-level command contract. Source: gaebal-gajae dogfood in `/home/bellman/Workspace/claw-code` on 2026-04-29 using rebuilt `./rust/target/debug/claw`; proof commands showed slash `/agents` JSON had only `kind,text` while top-level `agents` JSON had `agents[]` and provenance metadata.
+337. **`status` / `/session list --output-format json` session lifecycle reports `workspace_dirty: true` and `abandoned: true` but omits dirty-file detail and abandonment cause, making automated GC unable to distinguish live work from crash leftovers** — restored from PR #2852 / Jobdori dogfood on current main (`0f7578c`). The evidence bundle listed 10 sessions and every listed session had `workspace_dirty: true` plus `abandoned: true`; each lifecycle object exposed `abandoned: true`, `kind: "saved_only"`, `pane_id: null`, and `workspace_dirty: true`, but did not include `dirty_file_count`, `dirty_file_paths` / summary, or `abandoned_reason`. That leaves cleanup policy with only a boolean dirty/abandoned pair: it cannot tell whether a saved-only session contains intentional uncommitted user work, a harmless stale pane artifact, or crash leftovers that are safe to collect. **Required fix shape:** (a) add `dirty_file_count: u32` to session lifecycle/status payloads whenever dirty state is evaluated; (b) add an `abandoned_reason` enum such as `pane_closed`, `process_killed`, `session_replaced`, `workspace_missing`, or `unknown` instead of a bare boolean-only abandonment signal; (c) optionally add summarized `dirty_file_paths` / `dirty_file_summary` with truncation metadata so automation can present useful evidence without leaking excessive path detail; (d) add regression coverage proving dirty abandoned saved-only sessions include file count, abandonment reason, and stable behavior when path summaries are omitted or truncated. **Why this matters:** session GC must not delete live user work, but it also cannot leave every crash leftover forever. A lifecycle object that says only `workspace_dirty: true` and `abandoned: true` forces cleanup tooling to guess instead of applying a safe policy from structured evidence. Source: PR #2852 / Jobdori dogfood; all 10 listed sessions shared the same dirty+abandoned shape, and the sample lifecycle object had `abandoned: true`, `kind: "saved_only"`, `pane_id: null`, `workspace_dirty: true`, with no dirty-file count, path summary, or abandonment reason.
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+338. **Top-level `help --output-format json` and resume-safe `/help --output-format json` use different payload fields for the same help surface (`message` vs `text`)** — dogfooded 2026-04-29 on current `origin/main` / workspace HEAD `24ccb59b` after rebuilding the actual debug binary with `cargo run --manifest-path rust/Cargo.toml --bin claw -- version --output-format json`; `./rust/target/debug/claw version --output-format json` reported embedded `git_sha` `24ccb59b`, matching the workspace. Running `./rust/target/debug/claw help --output-format json` returned a valid JSON object with keys `kind,message`, while `./rust/target/debug/claw --resume latest /help --output-format json` returned the same conceptual help surface with keys `kind,text`. Both are prose-only help payloads, but automation now has to special-case whether help was reached through the top-level command dispatcher or the resume-safe slash dispatcher before it can even locate the rendered help body. This is distinct from #325's broader structured-schema absence: the pinpoint here is a concrete JSON field-name contract drift between two help entrypoints that should be equivalent or explicitly versioned. **Required fix shape:** (a) define one canonical help JSON body field such as `message` or `text` and use it consistently across top-level `help`, slash `/help`, and resume-safe `/help`; (b) if backward compatibility requires both fields temporarily, emit both with identical contents plus a `schema_version` and deprecation metadata; (c) add regression coverage proving `claw help --output-format json` and `claw --resume latest /help --output-format json` expose the same top-level field contract and `kind=help`; (d) document whether slash-command JSON is intended to share schemas with top-level command JSON or carry its own explicit schema namespace. **Why this matters:** help JSON is the bootstrap discoverability surface for claws. If the same help concept moves its body between `message` and `text` depending on invocation path, every orchestrator needs brittle per-entrypoint parsers before it can inspect commands, flags, or resume safety. Source: gaebal-gajae dogfood in `/home/bellman/Workspace/claw-code` on 2026-04-29 using rebuilt `./rust/target/debug/claw`; proof commands showed top-level help JSON keys `kind,message` and resume-safe slash help JSON keys `kind,text` on the same rebuilt binary.
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+339. **`/session delete` is not resume-safe while `/session list` is, making session GC impossible from `--resume` mode automation** — dogfooded 2026-04-30 by Jobdori on `24ccb59`. Running `claw --output-format json --resume latest /session list` succeeds and returns the full session list (10 sessions, all `workspace_dirty: true, abandoned: true`). Running `claw --output-format json --resume latest /session delete <id>` returns `{"command":"...","error":"unsupported resumed slash command","type":"error"}` — again using `"type"` not `"kind"` (#336 vocab violation). An automation lane that discovers abandoned sessions via `--resume` cannot delete any of them via the same path; it must spawn an interactive REPL session just to issue delete, breaking the machine-readable JSON surface contract. **Required fix shape:** (a) mark `/session delete` as resume-safe; (b) return `{"kind":"session_deleted","session_id":"<id>","path":"<deleted_path>"}` on success; (c) require `--force` only for dirty/active sessions; (d) add regression coverage. Source: Jobdori live dogfood, mengmotaHost, `24ccb59`, 2026-04-30.
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+340. **Resume-safe `/session help --output-format json` writes its primary JSON error envelope to stderr and uses `type` instead of the session JSON `kind` vocabulary** — dogfooded 2026-04-29 on current `origin/main` / rebuilt `./rust/target/debug/claw` with embedded `git_sha` `dc47482e`. Running `./rust/target/debug/claw --resume latest /session help --output-format json` wrote no stdout bytes, but wrote a JSON error object to stderr: `{"command":"/session help","error":"Unknown /session action ...","type":"error"}`. Meanwhile `/session list --output-format json` wrote valid stdout JSON with `kind=session_list`. The JSON output contract is therefore split across stderr for an error/help-ish action and switches vocabulary from `kind` to `type`; automation that reads stdout sees empty/non-JSON output and cannot handle errors consistently with successful session JSON responses. **Required fix shape:** (a) all `--output-format json` command responses, including resumed slash errors, should emit the primary JSON envelope on stdout; (b) use `kind:"error"` or a documented error schema consistently instead of an ad hoc `type` field; (c) reserve stderr prose for text mode or optional non-primary diagnostics, not the machine-readable envelope; (d) add a regression for `/session help` or an unsupported `/session` action under `--resume` proving stdout contains the structured JSON error envelope and stderr does not carry the only parseable payload. **Why this matters:** claws need one stdout JSON contract for both success and failure. If a help-ish session error is silently moved to stderr and shaped differently from `session_list`, orchestration lanes cannot distinguish an unsupported action from transport corruption or an empty response without bespoke stderr parsing. Source: gaebal-gajae dogfood follow-up for the 15:30 nudge on rebuilt `./rust/target/debug/claw` `dc47482e`.
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+341. **Resume-safe `/tasks --output-format json` emits an unsupported-command JSON error only on stderr and mixes `kind` with `type` classification vocabularies** — dogfooded 2026-04-29 for the 16:00 nudge on current `origin/main` / rebuilt `./rust/target/debug/claw` with embedded `git_sha` `58569131`. Running `./rust/target/debug/claw --resume latest /tasks --output-format json` wrote no stdout bytes, but wrote a JSON error object to stderr: `{"command":"/tasks","error":"/tasks is not yet implemented in this build","kind":"unsupported_command","type":"error"}`. The unsupported command envelope therefore has two separate top-level classification vocabularies (`kind=unsupported_command` and `type=error`) and places the only parseable payload on stderr, while successful JSON commands use stdout and a `kind`-only classification. This is distinct from #340 because it is not session help; it shows implemented-but-unsupported command stubs can emit a dual-vocabulary error envelope. **Required fix shape:** (a) in `--output-format json` mode, emit the primary JSON envelope on stdout for unsupported resumed slash commands such as `/tasks`; (b) document and use one error discriminator, preferably `kind:"error"` plus `code:"unsupported_command"`, or `kind:"unsupported_command"` plus `status:"error"`, but not `type`; (c) reserve stderr for non-primary diagnostics or text-mode prose, never as the sole JSON payload; (d) add regression coverage for `/tasks` under `--resume` with JSON output proving stdout contains the structured error envelope, stderr is not the only parseable stream, and the envelope uses the documented single-vocabulary discriminator. **Why this matters:** claws need the same stdout JSON contract for implemented successes and implemented-but-unsupported stubs. If `/tasks` errors can silently move to stderr and advertise both `kind` and `type`, automation must special-case command stubs instead of applying one JSON error parser. Source: gaebal-gajae dogfood follow-up for the 16:00 nudge on rebuilt `./rust/target/debug/claw` `58569131`.
+342. **Resume-safe `/commands --output-format json` is rejected as an unknown slash command even though the error points users at `/help` for slash-command discovery, leaving no structured command-index alias** — dogfooded 2026-04-29 for the 16:30 nudge on current `origin/main` / rebuilt `./rust/target/debug/claw` with embedded `git_sha` `f65b2b4f`. Running `./rust/target/debug/claw --resume latest /commands --output-format json` wrote no stdout bytes and emitted only stderr JSON: `{"command":"/commands","error":"Unknown slash command: /commands\n  Help             /help lists available slash commands","type":"error"}`. In the same rebuilt binary, `./rust/target/debug/claw --resume latest /help --output-format json` succeeded on stdout but exposed only prose keys `kind,text`. The discoverability path therefore has two gaps at once: the intuitive `/commands` index/alias is unavailable, and the fallback suggestion is buried inside an error string rather than surfaced as structured `suggested_command` / `discovery_command` metadata. This is distinct from #340 and #341: the pinpoint is not merely stderr-only JSON error placement, but the absence of a machine-readable slash-command discovery alias/index and typed correction guidance when users or claws try the natural `/commands` form. **Required fix shape:** (a) either implement `/commands` as a resume-safe alias for slash-command discovery or return a typed `unknown_command` JSON envelope with `suggested_command:"/help"` and `discovery_command:"/help"` fields; (b) make the primary JSON error envelope follow the stdout JSON contract and single-discriminator schema from #340/#341; (c) expose structured slash-command inventory from the discovery surface rather than requiring callers to scrape `text`; (d) add regression coverage proving `/commands --output-format json` either returns the structured command inventory or returns a structured correction that automation can follow without parsing prose. **Why this matters:** claws need a predictable way to discover valid slash commands before invoking them. If the natural command-index spelling fails with stderr-only JSON and a human-formatted hint, orchestration has to guess, parse prose, and special-case command discovery before it can even learn the supported command surface. Source: gaebal-gajae dogfood follow-up for the 16:30 nudge on rebuilt `./rust/target/debug/claw` `f65b2b4f`.
+343. **Resume-safe `/models --output-format json` suggests `/model` as a correction even though `/model` is itself unsupported in the same resume-safe JSON path** — dogfooded 2026-04-29 for the 17:00 nudge on current `origin/main` / rebuilt `./rust/target/debug/claw` with embedded `git_sha` `a1bfcd41`. Running `./rust/target/debug/claw --resume latest /models --output-format json` wrote no stdout bytes and emitted stderr JSON: `{"command":"/models","error":"Unknown slash command: /models\n  Did you mean     /model, /tokens\n  Help             /help lists available slash commands","type":"error"}`. Immediately following the suggested correction with `./rust/target/debug/claw --resume latest /model --output-format json` also wrote no stdout bytes and returned `{"command":"/model","error":"unsupported resumed slash command","type":"error"}`. The correction path therefore points automation from an unknown plural form to a command that cannot run in the same resume-safe noninteractive mode, while `/tokens --output-format json` succeeds and exposes only token counters. This is distinct from #342's missing `/commands` discovery alias: the pinpoint here is dead-end suggestion quality and resume-safety awareness in `Did you mean` guidance. **Required fix shape:** (a) make unknown-command suggestions context-aware so resume-mode JSON only suggests commands that are actually resume-safe for the current invocation, or labels non-resume-safe suggestions with `resume_safe:false`; (b) expose suggestions as structured `suggestions[]` objects with `command`, `resume_safe`, `reason`, and optional `replacement_for` fields instead of burying them in the `error` string; (c) if `/model` remains interactive-only, suggest a machine-readable status/config/model inspection command that works under `--resume`, or return a typed `interactive_only` blocker; (d) add regression coverage proving `/models --output-format json` does not recommend an unusable `/model` command without structured resume-safety metadata. **Why this matters:** claws follow correction hints automatically. A suggestion that leads straight into another unsupported resumed slash command turns error recovery into a loop and makes command discovery less trustworthy than no suggestion at all. Source: gaebal-gajae dogfood follow-up for the 17:00 nudge on rebuilt `./rust/target/debug/claw` `a1bfcd41`.
+344. **Resume-safe `/config help --output-format json` is treated as an unsupported config section instead of a structured config-section discovery surface** — dogfooded 2026-04-29 for the 18:30 nudge on current `origin/main` / rebuilt `./rust/target/debug/claw` with embedded `git_sha` `a510f734`. Running `./rust/target/debug/claw --resume latest /config help --output-format json` wrote no stdout bytes and emitted stderr JSON: `{"command":"/config help","error":"Unsupported /config section 'help'. Use env, hooks, model, or plugins.\n  Usage            /config [env|hooks|model|plugins]\n\n/config\n  Summary          Inspect Claude config files or merged sections\n  Usage            /config [env|hooks|model|plugins]\n  Category         Config\n  Resume           Supported with --resume SESSION.jsonl","type":"error"}`. The same shape appears for natural discovery forms such as `/config list` and `/config show`, while bare `/config --output-format json` succeeds and returns config-file data. The config surface is therefore resume-supported, but its section discovery/help path is only available as a human-formatted error string on stderr, with no structured `sections[]`, no `help` alias, and no typed `unsupported_section` metadata. This is distinct from #342's missing slash-command index and #343's dead-end suggestion: the pinpoint is a command-specific subcommand/section discovery contract for an otherwise working resume-safe command. **Required fix shape:** (a) make `/config help` or `/config sections` resume-safe and return stdout JSON containing supported sections such as `env`, `hooks`, `model`, and `plugins`; (b) for unsupported config sections, emit a typed JSON envelope with `kind:"error"` or equivalent plus `code:"unsupported_config_section"`, `section`, and structured `supported_sections[]`; (c) keep human usage text optional, not the only machine-readable recovery path; (d) add regression coverage proving `/config help --output-format json` or its canonical replacement exposes structured section metadata and that `/config list`/`show` errors include structured supported-section guidance. **Why this matters:** config inspection is a control-plane surface. Claws should not have to intentionally trigger an error and scrape prose to learn which config sections can be inspected under `--resume`; section discovery needs the same machine-readable contract as the config payload itself. Source: gaebal-gajae dogfood follow-up for the 18:30 nudge on rebuilt `./rust/target/debug/claw` `a510f734`.
+345. **Resume-safe `/config env|hooks|model|plugins --output-format json` accepts different section names but returns the same generic config-file summary for every section** — dogfooded 2026-04-29 for the 19:00 nudge on current `origin/main` / rebuilt `./rust/target/debug/claw` with embedded `git_sha` `a510f734`. Running `./rust/target/debug/claw --resume latest /config env --output-format json`, `/config hooks`, `/config model`, and `/config plugins` all wrote stdout JSON successfully and no stderr, but each response had the same top-level shape and values: `kind:"config"`, `cwd`, `files[]`, `loaded_files:1`, and `merged_keys:1`. None of the outputs included the requested `section`, section-specific keys, hook/model/plugin/env data, `section_missing`, `section_empty`, or truncation metadata; the `env`, `hooks`, `model`, and `plugins` arguments appear to be accepted while producing an indistinguishable generic config summary. This is distinct from #344's missing config-section discovery/help path: the pinpoint here is that the advertised section-specific entrypoints do not produce section-specific machine-readable payloads once invoked. **Required fix shape:** (a) include a `section` field in `/config <section> --output-format json` responses; (b) return section-specific structured payloads for `env`, `hooks`, `model`, and `plugins`, with explicit empty/missing states when applicable; (c) preserve the config-file provenance summary separately from the requested section content so callers can tell what was inspected; (d) add regression coverage proving the four supported sections produce distinguishable JSON contracts and do not silently collapse to the bare `/config` summary. **Why this matters:** config inspection is used to diagnose model, hook, plugin, and env lifecycle issues. If every supported section returns the same generic file list, claws cannot tell whether a section is empty, unsupported, redacted, or simply ignored, and config troubleshooting remains prose/error archaeology instead of structured state inspection. Source: gaebal-gajae dogfood follow-up for the 19:00 nudge on rebuilt `./rust/target/debug/claw` `a510f734`.
+346. **Top-level `agents show <name> --output-format json` accepts a natural agent-detail request but falls back to generic help JSON instead of returning the selected agent or a typed unsupported-detail error** — dogfooded 2026-04-29 for the 20:00 nudge on current `origin/main` / rebuilt `./rust/target/debug/claw` with embedded `git_sha` `c6c01bea`. Running `./rust/target/debug/claw agents list --output-format json` returned a valid stdout JSON inventory with `kind:"agents"`, `action:"list"`, and an `agents[]` entry named `analyst`. Immediately running `./rust/target/debug/claw agents show analyst --output-format json` returned success on stdout but did not return the `analyst` detail object; instead it returned generic help-shaped JSON: `{"action":"help","kind":"agents","unexpected":"show analyst","usage":{"direct_cli":"claw agents [list|help]","slash_command":"/agents [list|help]",...}}`. Both stderr streams were empty. The command therefore accepts a natural detail-inspection spelling, recognizes it only as `unexpected`, and hides the absence of an agent-detail surface behind a successful help fallback rather than a typed `unsupported_agents_action` / `agent_detail_unavailable` error. This is distinct from #328 and #329: those cover source/provenance mismatch and slash `/agents` inventory flattening, while this pinpoint is the missing top-level agent detail/inspection contract after inventory discovery succeeds. **Required fix shape:** (a) either implement `agents show <name> --output-format json` returning the selected agent's structured fields and provenance, or return a non-success typed JSON error with `code:"unsupported_agents_action"`, `requested_action:"show"`, and `supported_actions:["list","help"]`; (b) include `agent_name` and whether the name exists in the current inventory when rejecting detail inspection; (c) avoid `action:"help"` success envelopes for unsupported subcommands because they make failed detail inspection look like intentional help output; (d) add regression coverage proving `agents show analyst --output-format json` does not silently collapse to generic help when `analyst` exists in `agents list`. **Why this matters:** claws discover agents first, then need to inspect a chosen agent before delegation. If the natural detail command returns successful generic help instead of a selected-agent payload or typed unsupported-action error, automation cannot distinguish typo, unsupported detail view, missing agent, or successful help request without comparing unrelated inventory output. Source: gaebal-gajae dogfood follow-up for the 20:00 nudge on rebuilt `./rust/target/debug/claw` `c6c01bea`; earlier false hang hypotheses for `mcp help` and `agents list` were closed after bounded repros succeeded.
+347. **Top-level `mcp show <missing-server> --output-format json` reports a missing server as `status:"ok"` instead of a typed not-found/error status** — dogfooded 2026-04-29 for the 20:30 nudge on current `origin/main` / rebuilt `./rust/target/debug/claw` with embedded `git_sha` `ee41b266`. After rebuilding and verifying the binary provenance, running `./rust/target/debug/claw mcp show does-not-exist --output-format json` returned stdout JSON with `{"action":"show","config_load_error":null,"found":false,"kind":"mcp","message":"server `does-not-exist` is not configured","server_name":"does-not-exist","status":"ok"}` and no stderr. `found:false` is useful, but pairing it with `status:"ok"` makes the command-level outcome ambiguous: a missing requested server is not an OK inspection result for automation that needs to distinguish successful detail retrieval from a not-found lookup. This is distinct from #327's MCP source-list mismatch and the invalid #2874/#2879/#2880 hang/nondeterminism hypotheses that were closed after bounded repros. **Required fix shape:** (a) return a typed not-found status such as `status:"not_found"` or `kind:"error"` plus `code:"mcp_server_not_found"` while preserving `server_name` and optional `available_servers[]`; (b) document whether `found:false` objects are considered success or error and keep that convention consistent across text and JSON modes; (c) ensure process exit semantics match the JSON status contract or expose a separate `exit_ok`/`lookup_status` field; (d) add regression coverage proving missing-server lookup is distinguishable from successful server detail retrieval without parsing the human `message`. **Why this matters:** MCP inspection is a control-plane diagnostic. If a missing server returns `status:"ok"`, claws can silently treat a failed lookup as healthy MCP state unless they special-case `found:false`, which defeats the purpose of a clear machine-readable status field. Source: gaebal-gajae dogfood follow-up for the 20:30 nudge on rebuilt `./rust/target/debug/claw` `ee41b266`.
+348. **Top-level `plugins list --output-format json` returns plugin inventory only as a prose `message` string instead of structured `plugins[]` entries** — dogfooded 2026-04-29 for the 21:00 nudge on current `origin/main` / rebuilt `./rust/target/debug/claw` with embedded `git_sha` `cca6f682`. Running `./rust/target/debug/claw plugins list --output-format json` repeatedly returned valid stdout JSON with `{"action":"list","kind":"plugin","message":"Plugins\n  example-bundled      v0.1.0      disabled\n  sample-hooks         v0.1.0      disabled","reload_runtime":false,"target":null}` and no stderr. The actual plugin names, versions, and enabled/disabled states are present only inside the human-formatted `message` table; there is no `plugins[]` array, no per-plugin `name`, `version`, `enabled`, `source`, `load_error`, or lifecycle/action metadata. This is distinct from #325's broad help JSON opacity and the config/MCP/agent items: the affected surface is plugin lifecycle inventory, where automation needs a structured list before enabling, disabling, updating, or uninstalling plugins. **Required fix shape:** (a) add `plugins[]` with stable per-plugin fields such as `name`, `version`, `enabled`, `source`, `configured`, `load_status`, and optional `error`; (b) keep `message` only as a human summary, not the sole inventory payload; (c) expose counts and truncation metadata if the list can be large; (d) add regression coverage proving `plugins list --output-format json` can be parsed without scraping the prose message and that disabled/enabled state survives as booleans/enums. **Why this matters:** plugin lifecycle management is a control-plane path. If the JSON inventory is just a text table, claws must scrape spacing-sensitive prose before deciding whether a plugin is installed, disabled, broken, or safe to mutate. Source: gaebal-gajae dogfood follow-up for the 21:00 nudge on rebuilt `./rust/target/debug/claw` `cca6f682`.
+349. **Top-level `plugins show <name> --output-format json` returns success-shaped JSON for an unsupported plugin action instead of a typed unsupported-action error** — dogfooded 2026-04-29 for the 21:30 nudge on current `origin/main` / rebuilt `./rust/target/debug/claw` with embedded `git_sha` `a2a38df9`. After rebuilding and verifying the binary provenance, repeated bounded runs of `./rust/target/debug/claw plugins show does-not-exist --output-format json` returned stdout JSON with `{"action":"show","kind":"plugin","message":"Unknown /plugins action 'show'. Use list, install, enable, disable, uninstall, or update.","reload_runtime":false,"target":"does-not-exist"}` and no stderr. The command therefore reports the requested unsupported action as the top-level `action:"show"` and exits successfully while hiding the failure class inside a human `message`; it does not provide `status:"unsupported_action"`, `code:"plugin_action_unsupported"`, or structured `supported_actions[]`. This is distinct from #348's prose-only plugin inventory schema: #348 covers `plugins list` payload shape, while this pinpoint covers unsupported plugin action classification and recovery metadata. **Required fix shape:** (a) return a typed stdout JSON error or explicit non-ok status for unsupported plugin actions, with `requested_action`, `supported_actions`, and `target` fields; (b) do not label the primary `action` as the unsupported requested verb unless a separate `status`/`code` makes the failure unambiguous; (c) keep the human message optional and avoid making it the only way to detect the unsupported action; (d) add regression coverage proving `plugins show foo --output-format json` is machine-classifiable as unsupported without scraping prose. **Why this matters:** plugin lifecycle automation follows action/status fields. If an unsupported mutation/inspection verb returns success-shaped JSON and only says "Unknown" in prose, claws can treat a failed preflight as a valid plugin show result and continue toward unsafe lifecycle actions. Source: gaebal-gajae dogfood follow-up for the 21:30 nudge on rebuilt `./rust/target/debug/claw` `a2a38df9`; invalid hang PR #2885 was closed after repeated bounded repros returned stdout JSON.
+350. **Top-level `plugins enable <missing-plugin> --output-format json` hangs with zero stdout/stderr instead of returning a typed plugin-not-found or unsupported-target response** — dogfooded 2026-04-29 for the 22:00 nudge on current `origin/main` / rebuilt `./rust/target/debug/claw` with embedded `git_sha` `ee44ff98`. After rebuilding and verifying the binary provenance, repeated bounded runs of `timeout 8 ./rust/target/debug/claw plugins enable does-not-exist --output-format json` exited `124` with `stdout=0` and `stderr=0`; a third sample was still stuck until killed. In the same rebuilt binary, `plugins list --output-format json` returned promptly with the known plugin inventory payload, proving the plugin top-level surface is reachable and narrowing the hang to missing-plugin lifecycle mutation. This is distinct from #348's prose-only list inventory and #349's unsupported `plugins show` success-shaped JSON: #350 covers a supported lifecycle verb (`enable`) against an absent target, where the CLI should be able to fail fast before any plugin runtime work. **Required fix shape:** (a) validate the target plugin against the discovered/configured inventory before invoking enable-side effects; (b) return bounded stdout JSON such as `kind:"plugin"`, `action:"enable"`, `status:"not_found"` or `kind:"error"`, `code:"plugin_not_found"`, `plugin`, and optional `available_plugins[]`; (c) add internal timeout/diagnostic metadata for plugin lifecycle operations so registry or hook stalls do not produce silent zero-byte hangs; (d) add regression coverage proving `plugins enable does-not-exist --output-format json` returns a typed JSON outcome within a deterministic budget and does not mutate plugin state. **Why this matters:** enable/disable/update/uninstall are destructive control-plane actions. A missing or stale plugin name must fail safely and machine-readably; otherwise claws cannot preflight plugin lifecycle operations, distinguish typo from loader deadlock, or recover without killing a hung process. Source: gaebal-gajae dogfood follow-up for the 22:00 nudge on rebuilt `./rust/target/debug/claw` `ee44ff98`.
+351. **Top-level `plugins disable <missing-plugin> --output-format json` sends the JSON error envelope to stderr only, leaving stdout empty** — dogfooded 2026-04-29 for the 22:30 nudge on current `origin/main` / rebuilt `./rust/target/debug/claw` with embedded `git_sha` `0f9e8915`. After rebuilding and verifying the binary provenance, repeated bounded runs of `timeout 8 ./rust/target/debug/claw plugins disable does-not-exist --output-format json` exited `1` with `stdout=0` and `stderr=113`; stderr contained JSON (`{"error":"plugin `does-not-exist` is not installed or discoverable","hint":null,"kind":"unknown","type":"error"}`), but stdout was empty. In the same rebuilt binary, `plugins list --output-format json` returned stdout JSON promptly with the known plugin inventory payload, proving the plugin command surface is reachable. This is distinct from #350's missing-target `plugins enable` zero-byte timeout: the disable path fails fast, but its JSON-mode error envelope is routed to stderr and uses generic `kind:"unknown"`/`type:"error"` instead of a plugin-specific stdout outcome. **Required fix shape:** (a) define and consistently document whether JSON mode emits machine-readable envelopes on stdout, stderr, or both for nonzero exits; (b) return a plugin-specific typed error with `kind:"plugin"` or `domain:"plugin"`, `action:"disable"`, `status:"not_found"` or `code:"plugin_not_found"`, `plugin`, and optional `available_plugins[]`; (c) keep stdout/stderr placement consistent across plugin lifecycle verbs so callers do not need per-action stream heuristics; (d) add regression coverage proving `plugins disable does-not-exist --output-format json` produces a typed plugin-not-found JSON contract on the documented stream. **Why this matters:** disable is a recovery/control-plane operation. A stale plugin name should be a structured, domain-specific not-found result on a predictable stream; otherwise claws that read stdout JSON for normal responses and stderr for human diagnostics must special-case this lifecycle failure. Source: gaebal-gajae dogfood follow-up for the 22:30 nudge on rebuilt `./rust/target/debug/claw` `0f9e8915`; invalid hang PR #2891 was closed after repeated bounded repros returned exit 1 with JSON on stderr.
+352. **Top-level `plugins update <missing-plugin> --output-format json` sends a generic JSON error envelope to stderr only, leaving stdout empty** — dogfooded 2026-04-29 for the 23:00 nudge on current `origin/main` / rebuilt `./rust/target/debug/claw` with embedded `git_sha` `5eb1d7d8`. After rebuilding and verifying the binary provenance, repeated bounded runs of `timeout 8 ./rust/target/debug/claw plugins update does-not-exist --output-format json` exited `1` with `stdout=0` and `stderr=97`; stderr contained JSON (`{"error":"plugin `does-not-exist` is not installed","hint":null,"kind":"unknown","type":"error"}`), but stdout was empty. In the same rebuilt binary, `plugins list --output-format json` returned stdout JSON promptly with the known plugin inventory payload. This is distinct from #350's missing-target `plugins enable` zero-byte timeout and parallel to #351's `plugins disable` stderr-only JSON envelope: update fails fast, but the JSON-mode error lives on stderr only and uses generic `kind:"unknown"`/`type:"error"` instead of a plugin-specific not-found contract. **Required fix shape:** (a) define and consistently document stdout/stderr placement for JSON-mode lifecycle errors; (b) return a plugin-specific typed error with `kind:"plugin"` or `domain:"plugin"`, `action:"update"`, `status:"not_found"` or `code:"plugin_not_found"`, `plugin`, and optional `available_plugins[]`; (c) share missing-target error-envelope behavior across disable/update/uninstall and reconcile it with enable's timeout path; (d) add regression coverage proving `plugins update does-not-exist --output-format json` produces a typed plugin-not-found JSON contract on the documented stream. **Why this matters:** update is a maintenance/control-plane operation often run in automation. A stale plugin name should produce a predictable, domain-specific not-found result, not require callers to special-case stderr-only generic error envelopes after explicitly requesting JSON. Source: gaebal-gajae dogfood follow-up for the 23:00 nudge on rebuilt `./rust/target/debug/claw` `5eb1d7d8`; invalid hang PR #2894 was closed after repeated bounded repros returned exit 1 with JSON on stderr.
+353. **Top-level `plugins uninstall <missing-plugin> --output-format json` sends a generic JSON error envelope to stderr only, leaving stdout empty** — dogfooded 2026-04-29 for the 23:30 nudge on current `origin/main` / rebuilt `./rust/target/debug/claw` with embedded `git_sha` `6f92e54d`. After rebuilding and verifying the binary provenance, repeated bounded runs of `timeout 8 ./rust/target/debug/claw plugins uninstall does-not-exist --output-format json` exited `1` with `stdout=0` and `stderr=97`; stderr contained JSON (`{"error":"plugin `does-not-exist` is not installed","hint":null,"kind":"unknown","type":"error"}`), but stdout was empty. In the same rebuilt binary, `plugins list --output-format json` returned stdout JSON promptly with the known plugin inventory payload. This is distinct from #350's missing-target `plugins enable` zero-byte timeout and parallel to #351/#352 for disable/update: uninstall fails fast, but the JSON-mode error lives on stderr only and uses generic `kind:"unknown"`/`type:"error"` instead of a plugin-specific not-found contract. **Required fix shape:** (a) define and consistently document stdout/stderr placement for JSON-mode lifecycle errors; (b) return a plugin-specific typed error with `kind:"plugin"` or `domain:"plugin"`, `action:"uninstall"`, `status:"not_found"` or `code:"plugin_not_found"`, `plugin`, and optional `available_plugins[]`; (c) share missing-target error-envelope behavior across disable/update/uninstall and reconcile it with enable's timeout path; (d) add regression coverage proving `plugins uninstall does-not-exist --output-format json` produces a typed plugin-not-found JSON contract on the documented stream. **Why this matters:** uninstall is the most destructive plugin lifecycle action. A stale plugin name should produce a predictable, domain-specific not-found result before cleanup hooks or loader work, not require callers to special-case stderr-only generic error envelopes after explicitly requesting JSON. Source: gaebal-gajae dogfood follow-up for the 23:30 nudge on rebuilt `./rust/target/debug/claw` `6f92e54d`; invalid hang PR #2897 was closed after repeated bounded repros returned exit 1 with JSON on stderr.
+354. **Top-level `memory list` and `memory help` with `--output-format json` hang with zero stdout/stderr instead of returning bounded memory inventory/help or a typed unavailable response** — dogfooded 2026-04-30 for the 00:00 nudge on current `origin/main` / rebuilt `./rust/target/debug/claw` with embedded `git_sha` `19947545`. After rebuilding and verifying the binary provenance, bounded runs of `timeout 8 ./rust/target/debug/claw memory list --output-format json` produced `stdout=0` and `stderr=0`; the first sample exited `124` and the second sample was still stuck until killed. A follow-up sanity check of `timeout 8 ./rust/target/debug/claw memory help --output-format json` also exited `124` with `stdout=0` and `stderr=0`, so the issue is broader than list inventory: even the memory help path can hang silently in JSON mode. This is distinct from prior plugin lifecycle stream/status items: the affected surface is memory command introspection, where claws need safe local help/inventory before reading or mutating memory. **Required fix shape:** (a) make `memory help` and `memory list --output-format json` return bounded local JSON without requiring external/authenticated backing store availability; (b) return stdout JSON with `kind:"memory"`, `action:"help"|"list"`, `status`, usage or `entries[]`, source/provenance, counts, and truncation metadata; (c) if credentials/config/backing store are missing or slow, return a typed JSON unavailable/config/timeout error instead of hanging; (d) add regression coverage proving both `memory help --output-format json` and `memory list --output-format json` return machine-readable outcomes within a deterministic budget. **Why this matters:** memory is a core clawability surface. If even help/list can hang silently with no bytes, agents cannot tell whether memory is empty, unavailable, remote-auth blocked, or deadlocked, and any higher-level recall/debug flow stalls at the first introspection step. Source: gaebal-gajae dogfood follow-up for the 00:00 nudge on rebuilt `./rust/target/debug/claw` `19947545`.
+355. **Top-level `session list` and `session help` with `--output-format json` hang with zero stdout/stderr instead of returning bounded session inventory/help or a typed unavailable response** — dogfooded 2026-04-30 for the 00:30 nudge on current `origin/main` / rebuilt `./rust/target/debug/claw` with embedded `git_sha` `8e24f304`. After rebuilding and verifying the binary provenance, repeated bounded runs of `timeout 8 ./rust/target/debug/claw session list --output-format json` exited `124` with `stdout=0` and `stderr=0`. A follow-up bounded `session help --output-format json` probe also produced no stdout/stderr before it had to be killed, so the issue is broader than inventory: even the session help path can silently hang in JSON mode. This is distinct from #354's memory help/list hang: the affected surface is session command introspection, where claws need a safe local way to enumerate resumable sessions or at least read usage before deciding whether to resume, inspect, or clean them up. **Required fix shape:** (a) make `session help` and `session list --output-format json` return bounded local JSON without waiting indefinitely on remote API/auth/session-store availability; (b) return stdout JSON with `kind:"session"`, `action:"help"|"list"`, `status`, usage or `sessions[]`, source/provenance, counts, and truncation metadata, or typed `status:"unavailable"`/`code` when backing state cannot be reached; (c) add explicit timeout diagnostics if a remote/authenticated session source is consulted; (d) add regression coverage proving both `session help --output-format json` and `session list --output-format json` return machine-readable outcomes within a deterministic budget. **Why this matters:** session inventory/help is a core recovery/control-plane path. If even help/list can hang silently with no bytes, claws cannot distinguish no sessions, missing credentials, remote API stall, corrupted local store, or dispatch deadlock, and resume/cleanup automation blocks before it can choose a safe next action. Source: gaebal-gajae dogfood follow-up for the 00:30 nudge on rebuilt `./rust/target/debug/claw` `8e24f304`.
+356. **Top-level `status --help --output-format json` exits successfully but emits plain text help instead of JSON** — dogfooded 2026-04-30 for the 01:00 nudge on current `origin/main` / rebuilt `./rust/target/debug/claw` with embedded `git_sha` `74338dc6`. After rebuilding and verifying the binary provenance, repeated bounded runs of `./rust/target/debug/claw status --help --output-format json` exited `0` with `stdout=326` and `stderr=0`, but stdout was plain text (`Status`, `Usage`, `Purpose`, `Output`, `Formats`, `Related`) rather than a JSON object. In the same rebuilt binary, `version --output-format json` returned proper stdout JSON with version/build metadata, proving the JSON output path itself is reachable. This is distinct from #354/#355 memory/session JSON help/list hangs: the status help path returns promptly, but ignores the requested JSON format. **Required fix shape:** (a) make `status --help --output-format json` emit valid stdout JSON with `kind:"help"` or `kind:"status"`, `action:"help"`, usage, options, examples, supported output formats, and related slash/direct commands; (b) preserve text help for default/text mode only; (c) add a `format:"json"` or equivalent field so callers can assert the contract without parsing prose; (d) add regression coverage proving status help with JSON format parses as JSON and does not silently fall back to plain text. **Why this matters:** help is the discovery surface automation uses before invoking status. If `--output-format json` is accepted but help remains plain text, claws must scrape formatting-sensitive prose or special-case help output, defeating the point of machine-readable CLI contracts. Source: gaebal-gajae dogfood follow-up for the 01:00 nudge on rebuilt `./rust/target/debug/claw` `74338dc6`; invalid hang PR #2907 was closed after repeated bounded repros returned promptly.
+357. **Top-level `doctor --help --output-format json` exits successfully but emits plain text help instead of JSON** — dogfooded 2026-04-30 for the 01:30 nudge on current `origin/main` / rebuilt `./rust/target/debug/claw` with embedded `git_sha` `52a909ce`. After rebuilding and verifying the binary provenance, repeated bounded runs of `./rust/target/debug/claw doctor --help --output-format json` exited `0` with `stdout=343` and `stderr=0`, but stdout was plain text (`Doctor`, `Usage`, `Purpose`, `Output`, `Formats`, `Related`) rather than a JSON object. In the same rebuilt binary, `status --help --output-format json` also returned promptly as plain text (#356), confirming a broader help-format fallback class while keeping this pinpoint on the doctor surface. This is distinct from #354/#355 memory/session JSON help/list hangs: doctor help returns promptly, but ignores the requested JSON format. **Required fix shape:** (a) make `doctor --help --output-format json` emit valid stdout JSON with `kind:"help"` or `kind:"doctor"`, `action:"help"`, usage, checks, options, examples, supported output formats, and related slash/direct commands; (b) preserve text help for default/text mode only; (c) add a `format:"json"` or equivalent field so callers can assert the contract without parsing prose; (d) add regression coverage proving doctor help with JSON format parses as JSON and does not silently fall back to plain text. **Why this matters:** doctor is the diagnostic entrypoint users reach for when things are broken. If JSON help falls back to prose, claws cannot discover diagnostic semantics or present structured recovery instructions without scraping formatting-sensitive text. Source: gaebal-gajae dogfood follow-up for the 01:30 nudge on rebuilt `./rust/target/debug/claw` `52a909ce`; invalid hang PR #2911 was closed after repeated bounded repros returned promptly.
+358. **Top-level `cost --help --output-format json` hangs with zero stdout/stderr instead of returning bounded command help JSON** — dogfooded 2026-04-30 for the 02:00 nudge on current `origin/main` / rebuilt `./rust/target/debug/claw` with embedded `git_sha` `d95b230c`. After rebuilding and verifying the binary provenance, repeated bounded runs of `timeout 8 ./rust/target/debug/claw cost --help --output-format json` exited `124` with `stdout=0` and `stderr=0`. In the same rebuilt binary, `version --output-format json` returned promptly with version/build metadata, proving the binary itself and the JSON output path are reachable; the hang is specific to the cost help path, though other help surfaces have separate known JSON contract issues (#356/#357). **Required fix shape:** (a) make `cost --help --output-format json` return static/bounded stdout JSON with `kind:"help"` or `kind:"cost"`, `action:"help"`, usage, options, examples, supported output formats, and related slash/direct commands; (b) ensure help rendering does not initialize slow cost/session/accounting providers; (c) if any dynamic provider is accidentally consulted, return a typed JSON timeout/unavailable error instead of hanging; (d) add regression coverage proving cost help in JSON mode returns within a deterministic budget. **Why this matters:** cost/tokens surfaces are commonly consumed by automation for budgeting. If even cost help can hang silently, claws cannot discover cost command semantics or present safe budget diagnostics before running potentially slow accounting paths. Source: gaebal-gajae dogfood follow-up for the 02:00 nudge on rebuilt `./rust/target/debug/claw` `d95b230c`.
+380. **Top-level `tokens --help --output-format json` hangs with zero stdout/stderr instead of returning bounded command help JSON** — dogfooded 2026-04-30 for the 02:30 nudge on current `origin/main` / rebuilt `./rust/target/debug/claw` with embedded `git_sha` `d95b230c`. After verifying #358 covered `cost --help`, a fresh adjacent probe on the token-budget surface showed the same silent failure class: repeated bounded runs of `timeout 8 ./rust/target/debug/claw tokens --help --output-format json` exited `124` with `stdout=0` and `stderr=0`. In the same rebuilt binary, `version --output-format json` returned promptly with version/build metadata, proving the binary itself and JSON output path are reachable. This is distinct from #358's cost help hang: the affected surface is the sibling `tokens` command help, which agents use before estimating prompt/session token budgets. **Required fix shape:** (a) make `tokens --help --output-format json` return static/bounded stdout JSON with `kind:"help"` or `kind:"tokens"`, `action:"help"`, usage, options, examples, supported output formats, and related slash/direct commands; (b) ensure help rendering does not initialize slow token accounting, session, or provider state; (c) if any dynamic provider is consulted, return a typed JSON timeout/unavailable error instead of hanging; (d) add regression coverage proving tokens help in JSON mode returns within a deterministic budget. **Why this matters:** token budgeting is a preflight clawability surface. If help hangs silently, automation cannot safely discover how to inspect or constrain token usage before running expensive prompts, and budget-aware wrappers stall at the discovery step. Source: gaebal-gajae dogfood follow-up for the 02:30 nudge on rebuilt `./rust/target/debug/claw` `d95b230c`.
+381. **Top-level `cache --help --output-format json` hangs with zero stdout/stderr instead of returning bounded command help JSON** — dogfooded 2026-04-30 for the 03:00 nudge on current `origin/main` / rebuilt `./rust/target/debug/claw` with embedded `git_sha` `d95b230c`. After #358 and #380 landed for the cost/tokens preflight help hangs, a fresh adjacent probe on the cache-control surface showed the same silent failure class: repeated bounded runs of `timeout --kill-after=1s 8s ./rust/target/debug/claw cache --help --output-format json` exited `124` with `stdout=0` and `stderr=0`. In the same rebuilt binary, `version --output-format json` returned promptly with version/build metadata, proving the binary itself and JSON output path are reachable. This is distinct from the separate `/cache` slash-command envelope mismatch class: the affected surface here is top-level `cache` command help, where agents need bounded local discovery before deciding whether to inspect, clear, or summarize cache state. **Required fix shape:** (a) make `cache --help --output-format json` return static/bounded stdout JSON with `kind:"help"` or `kind:"cache"`, `action:"help"`, usage, options, examples, supported output formats, and related slash/direct commands; (b) ensure help rendering does not initialize slow cache/session/provider state; (c) if any dynamic provider is consulted, return a typed JSON timeout/unavailable error instead of hanging; (d) add regression coverage proving cache help in JSON mode returns within a deterministic budget. **Why this matters:** cache inspection and cleanup are recovery/control-plane operations. If cache help hangs silently, claws cannot safely discover cache semantics before attempting cleanup, and automation stalls before it can choose a non-destructive cache action. Source: gaebal-gajae dogfood follow-up for the 03:00 nudge on rebuilt `./rust/target/debug/claw` `d95b230c`.
+387. **Top-level `providers --help --output-format json` hangs with zero stdout/stderr instead of returning bounded provider-discovery help JSON** — dogfooded 2026-04-30 for the 06:00 nudge on current `origin/main` / local workspace while the checked-out `./rust/target/debug/claw` binary still reported embedded `git_sha` `d95b230c`. A fresh probe on the provider/model-routing discoverability surface showed a silent failure class: `timeout --kill-after=1s 8s ./rust/target/debug/claw providers --help --output-format json` exited `124` with `stdout=0` and `stderr=0`; attempting to parse stdout as JSON failed because there were no bytes. In the same workspace, `version --output-format json` returned promptly with version/build metadata, proving the binary itself and JSON output path are reachable. This is distinct from `model --help` hanging (#382), permissions help hanging (#383), plaintext-help fallbacks (#384/#385/#386), and the earlier `/providers` slash-command envelope mismatch: the affected surface is top-level provider discovery help, where claws need bounded local semantics before inspecting credentials, aliases, fallback order, and provider-routing state. **Required fix shape:** (a) make `providers --help --output-format json` return static/bounded stdout JSON with `kind:"help"` or `kind:"providers"`, `action:"help"`, usage, options, provider fields, credential-source/redaction notes, examples, supported output formats, and related slash/direct commands; (b) ensure help rendering does not initialize slow provider/auth/model registry state; (c) if dynamic provider discovery is consulted, return a typed JSON timeout/unavailable error instead of hanging silently; (d) add regression coverage proving providers help in JSON mode returns within a deterministic budget. **Why this matters:** provider routing is a high-impact automation decision. If providers help hangs silently, claws cannot safely discover how to inspect model/provider availability or credential state before choosing a backend, and recovery loops stall before they can distinguish auth drift from command-discovery failure. Source: gaebal-gajae dogfood follow-up for the 06:00 nudge on rebuilt/local `./rust/target/debug/claw` `d95b230c`.