@arhen/pi-core-subagent 1.3.17 → 1.3.19

package/README.md

@@ -259,6 +259,8 @@ Background (default) + intercom — the run returns a runId immediately; you sta
 | `send_agent_message` | message to a sibling subagent's mailbox (`to` = its task id, or `"leader"`) |
 | `poll_agent_messages` | drain this subagent's mailbox |
 
+> **Intercom anti-deadlock:** children are told to never block indefinitely on intercom replies — `ask_parent` keeps the stall watchdog fed while awaiting a parent reply (background runs), and sibling polls are capped (~5 tries) with a proceed-with-best-judgment fallback. Gated siblings (later waves) may not be running yet — waiting on them is the top stall cause, so children are instructed not to.
+
 ## Commands
 
 - `/subagents` — list runs; `/subagents peek` (or `ctrl+shift+a`) — browsable pane

package/package.json

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
 	"name": "@arhen/pi-core-subagent",
-	"version": "1.3.17",
+	"version": "1.3.19",
 	"type": "module",
 	"description": "pi extension: fast in-process subagents with a dependency-graph scheduler (needs edges gate tasks and carry upstream output into dependent prompts), plus background runs, intercom and agent-to-agent mailbox. Leader defines agents inline.",
 	"license": "MIT",

package/src/format.ts

@@ -90,7 +90,10 @@ export function themedTaskLine(task: TaskSnapshot, theme: Theme, activity = ""):
 	if (TERMINAL.includes(task.status)) {
 		return theme.fg("dim", `${statusIcon(task.status)} ${task.agent} · ${tail}`);
 	}
-	return `${statusIcon(task.status)} ${task.agent} · ${gate}${activity}${colorNums(tail, theme)}`;
+	// Talking (mailbox/intercom tool in flight): pulse the name accent↔dim; normal otherwise.
+	pulsePhase += 1;
+	const name = isTalking(task) ? theme.fg(pulsePhase % 2 === 0 ? "accent" : "dim", `${task.agent}⇄`) : task.agent;
+	return `${statusIcon(task.status)} ${name} · ${gate}${activity}${colorNums(tail, theme)}`;
 }
 /**
  * Human-readable activity line: "Read src/index.ts", "Grep wrapSingleLine".
@@ -127,6 +130,14 @@ export function activitySnippet(text: string): string {
 	const flat = text.replace(/\s+/g, " ").trim();
 	return flat.length > 90 ? `${flat.slice(0, 90)}…` : flat;
 }
+
+/** Mailbox/intercom tools — while one is the task's last activity, the agent is "talking". */
+export const TALK_TOOLS = ["poll_agent_messages", "send_agent_message", "ask_parent", "notify_parent"];
+export function isTalking(task: TaskSnapshot): boolean {
+	const a = task.lastActivity?.toLowerCase() ?? "";
+	return TALK_TOOLS.some((t) => a.startsWith(t));
+}
+let pulsePhase = 0; // flips per render; talking agents alternate between the two name styles
 /** Static compact lines (tool-result stream, subagent_status, /subagents). */
 export function compactLines(run: RunSnapshot): string[] {
 	const lines: string[] = [];

package/src/manager.ts

@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import {
 	activitySnippet,
 	describeCall,
 	getFirstText,
+	isTalking,
 	makeNotice,
 	makeTaskNotice,
 	SubagentsWidget,
@@ -288,6 +289,10 @@ export class SubagentManager {
 		this.runControllers.clear();
 		this.mailboxes = createMailbox();
 		this.widgetTui = null; // force re-registration on the next session
+		if (this.pulseTimer) {
+			clearTimeout(this.pulseTimer);
+			this.pulseTimer = null;
+		}
 		for (const t of this.widgetTimers.values()) clearTimeout(t);
 		this.widgetTimers.clear();
 		this.widgetRuns = [];
@@ -406,9 +411,23 @@ export class SubagentManager {
 					this.ensureWidget(ctx);
 					this.widgetTui?.requestRender();
 				}
+				this.maybePulse(ctx);
 			}, WIDGET_THROTTLE_MS),
 		);
 	}
+
+	/** While any live task's last activity is a talk tool, keep re-rendering so its name pulses. */
+	private pulseTimer: ReturnType<typeof setTimeout> | null = null;
+	private maybePulse(ctx?: ExtensionContext): void {
+		if (this.pulseTimer || !this.widgetTui) return;
+		const talking = this.widgetRuns.some((r) => r.tasks.some(isTalking));
+		if (!talking) return; // last tick stops the loop: talking→normal resumes instantly
+		this.pulseTimer = setTimeout(() => {
+			this.pulseTimer = null;
+			this.widgetTui?.requestRender();
+			this.maybePulse(ctx);
+		}, 700);
+	}
 	private flushWidget(run: RunSnapshot | undefined, ctx?: ExtensionContext, onUpdate?: (partial: any) => void): void {
 		if (run) {
 			const t = this.widgetTimers.get(run.id);
@@ -422,6 +441,7 @@ export class SubagentManager {
 			this.ensureWidget(ctx);
 			this.widgetTui?.requestRender();
 		}
+		this.maybePulse(ctx);
 		// Transcript gets one status line only — the live per-task view is the widget's job.
 		onUpdate?.({
 			content: [
@@ -673,7 +693,7 @@ export class SubagentManager {
 		const key = `${run.id}:${task.id}`;
 		try {
 			const subagentInstruction = run.allowIntercom
-				? `You are running as a subagent. Your bash tool already executes in the project working directory — never prefix commands with \`cd\`. Do not call subagent/delegation tools unless the parent explicitly asks. Return a concise final answer. You MAY use ask_parent only when truly blocked on information only the parent has; notify_parent for one-way updates; send_agent_message/poll_agent_messages to coordinate with siblings. Your mailbox address and siblings: ${task.roster ?? "(none)"}. Use the exact task ids (e.g. task_2) as send_agent_message targets.`
+				? `You are running as a subagent. Your bash tool already executes in the project working directory — never prefix commands with \`cd\`. Do not call subagent/delegation tools unless the parent explicitly asks. Return a concise final answer. You MAY use ask_parent only when truly blocked on information only the parent has; notify_parent for one-way updates; send_agent_message/poll_agent_messages to coordinate with siblings. Your mailbox address and siblings: ${task.roster ?? "(none)"}. Use the exact task ids (e.g. task_2) as send_agent_message targets. Siblings run independently and may start late or finish early — never block indefinitely on their replies: poll at most 5 times, then proceed with your best judgment. A gated sibling (marked ↳ waits in the graph) may not be running yet; do not wait for it. Stalled waits get the whole run killed.`
 				: `You are running as a subagent. Your bash tool already executes in the project working directory — never prefix commands with \`cd\`. Do not call subagent/delegation tools unless the parent explicitly asks. Return a concise final answer for the parent agent.`;
 
 			const loader = new DefaultResourceLoader({