@fitchmultz/pi-ask-question 0.6.0 → 0.6.1

package/CHANGELOG.md

@@ -1,5 +1,9 @@
 # Changelog
 
+## 0.6.1 — 2026-10-31
+
+- Disable the AFK timeout after TUI interaction or a submitted RPC choice, so an in-progress answer remains open.
+
 ## 0.6.0 — 2026-10-31
 
 - Keep preceding conversation text visible above TUI questions and let users read the transcript without cancelling or losing their answer.

package/README.md

@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 This [Pi](https://github.com/earendil-works/pi) extension asks for your decisions before the agent continues a task. Use `/grill-me` to guide the agent through unclear requirements.
 
-![Pi calls ask_question, shows choices, and returns your answer to the agent. A separate five-minute timeout returns an AFK reply.](.github/readme/question-flow.png)
+![Pi calls ask_question, shows choices, and returns your answer to the agent. Five minutes without interaction returns an AFK reply.](.github/readme/question-flow.png)
 
 ## Install
 
@@ -33,7 +33,9 @@ Escape leaves the custom answer editor; otherwise, it cancels the question. Your
 
 ## Limits
 
-Each call has one five-minute limit for all questions. At timeout, the agent receives an AFK reply and can use its best judgment.
+An untouched question times out after five minutes, and the agent receives an AFK reply. Once you interact, there is no time limit for that question or question set. Each new call starts its own timer.
+
+In RPC mode, Pi learns about interaction when the client submits a dialog choice; navigating an unsubmitted dialog is not visible to Pi.
 
 The tool keeps saved answers. It does not submit unsaved custom answer text or select an answer for you.
 

package/extensions/ask-question.ts

@@ -39,6 +39,12 @@ type GrillMeState = {
 
 type GrillMeAction = "toggle" | "enable" | "disable" | "status" | "invalid";
 
+type QuestionTimeout = {
+  deadline: number;
+  readonly active: boolean;
+  stop(): boolean;
+};
+
 const QUESTION_TIMEOUT_MS = 5 * 60 * 1000;
 const TIMEOUT_MESSAGE = "Mitch is currently AFK. Use your best judgement to choose the option Mitch would choose.";
 const CUSTOM_OPTION = "Type a custom answer";
@@ -176,7 +182,7 @@ async function askWithKeyboard(
   ui: ExtensionContext["ui"],
   pi: ExtensionAPI,
   observer: QuestionObserver,
-  deadline: number,
+  timeout: QuestionTimeout,
   signal?: AbortSignal,
 ): Promise<{ answers: Answer[]; cancelled: boolean }> {
   if (signal?.aborted) return { answers: [], cancelled: true };
@@ -250,6 +256,7 @@ async function askWithKeyboard(
     };
     const unsubscribeInput = tui.addInputListener((data) => {
       if (matchesKey(data, Key.ctrl("o")) && (readingContext || overlayHandle?.isFocused())) {
+        markInteraction();
         toggleContext();
         return { consume: true };
       }
@@ -263,9 +270,11 @@ async function askWithKeyboard(
     const acceptedRequests = new Set<string>();
     function waitingState() {
       const question = current();
-      if (!announced || finished || signal?.aborted || editing || !question || Date.now() >= deadline) return undefined;
+      if (!announced || finished || signal?.aborted || editing || !question ||
+          (timeout.active && Date.now() >= timeout.deadline)) return undefined;
       return {
-        status: "waiting" as const, ...observer.identity(), promptId, questionId: question.id, revision, deadline,
+        status: "waiting" as const, ...observer.identity(), promptId, questionId: question.id, revision,
+        deadline: timeout.deadline, timeoutActive: timeout.active,
         question: question.question, options: [...question.options], multiSelect: question.multiSelect,
       };
     }
@@ -280,6 +289,11 @@ async function askWithKeyboard(
       closed = false;
       pi.events.emit("pi-ask-question:state", waiting);
     }
+    function markInteraction() {
+      if (!timeout.stop()) return;
+      refresh();
+      publishState();
+    }
     function stateChanged() {
       revision += 1;
       if (publishQueued) return;
@@ -307,7 +321,7 @@ async function askWithKeyboard(
       const question = current();
       if (finished || signal?.aborted || editing || !question || request.questionId !== question.id ||
           request.revision !== revision || acceptedRequests.has(request.requestId) ||
-          !observer.matches(request, deadline) || Date.now() >= deadline) {
+          !observer.matches(request, timeout.deadline) || (timeout.active && Date.now() >= timeout.deadline)) {
         receipt("stale");
         return;
       }
@@ -322,8 +336,9 @@ async function askWithKeyboard(
         receipt("invalid");
         return;
       }
-      const target = { promptId, questionId: question.id, revision, deadline };
+      const target = { promptId, questionId: question.id, revision, deadline: timeout.deadline };
       acceptedRequests.add(request.requestId);
+      timeout.stop();
       if (typeof answer === "string") {
         if (question.multiSelect) {
           saveMultiCustomAnswer(question, answer.trim());
@@ -462,6 +477,7 @@ async function askWithKeyboard(
 
     function handleInput(data: string) {
       if (finished) return;
+      markInteraction();
       if (editing) {
         if (maxQuestionScroll && matchesKey(data, Key.shift("pageUp"))) {
           questionScroll = Math.max(0, questionScroll - Math.max(1, questionPageRows - 1));
@@ -674,7 +690,9 @@ async function askWithKeyboard(
       }
 
       if (!editing) add();
-      addWrapped("Auto-continues after 5 minutes with an AFK reply.", { style: (text) => theme.fg("dim", text) });
+      addWrapped(timeout.active ? "Auto-continues after 5 minutes without interaction." : "No time limit while you answer.", {
+        style: (text) => theme.fg("dim", text),
+      });
       addWrapped(
         editing
           ? `${keyText("tui.input.submit")} save answer • ${keyText("tui.select.cancel")} cancel edit`
@@ -775,6 +793,7 @@ async function askWithKeyboard(
       render,
       handleInput,
       handleMouse(event: TuiMouseEvent) {
+        markInteraction();
         if (event.type === "click" && event.button === "left" &&
             event.y >= contextHintStart && event.y < contextHintEnd &&
             event.x < contextHintWidth) {
@@ -799,6 +818,7 @@ async function askWithKeyboard(
 async function askWithDialogs(
   questions: NormalizedQuestion[],
   ui: ExtensionContext["ui"],
+  timeout: QuestionTimeout,
   signal?: AbortSignal,
 ): Promise<{ answers: Answer[]; cancelled: boolean }> {
   const answers = new Map<string, Answer>();
@@ -818,6 +838,7 @@ async function askWithDialogs(
       if (question.multiSelect && selected.length) choices.push(doneOption);
       const choice = await ui.select(question.question, choices, { signal });
       if (choice === undefined) return { answers: orderedAnswers(questions, answers), cancelled: true };
+      timeout.stop();
       if (choice === doneOption) break;
 
       let answer = options[labels.indexOf(choice)] ?? choice;
@@ -888,7 +909,7 @@ function restoreGrillMeState(entries: Iterable<unknown>): boolean {
 const askQuestionTool = (pi: ExtensionAPI, observer: QuestionObserver) => defineTool({
   name: "ask_question",
   label: "Ask Question",
-  description: "Ask the user one or more clarifying questions through pi's UI. After 5 minutes, returns an AFK reply so you can continue using your best judgement.",
+  description: "Ask the user one or more clarifying questions through pi's UI. After 5 minutes without interaction, returns an AFK reply so you can continue using your best judgement.",
   promptSnippet: "Ask the user clarifying questions through pi's UI",
   promptGuidelines: [
     "For ask_question, list options from most recommended to least; the first option is the recommended choice, and do not label it as recommended.",
@@ -904,16 +925,27 @@ const askQuestionTool = (pi: ExtensionAPI, observer: QuestionObserver) => define
     if (!ctx.hasUI) throw new Error("ask_question needs Pi TUI or RPC UI support.");
 
     observer.identify(ctx);
-    const timeout = new AbortController();
+    const timeoutController = new AbortController();
     const deadline = Date.now() + QUESTION_TIMEOUT_MS;
-    const timer = setTimeout(() => timeout.abort(), QUESTION_TIMEOUT_MS);
-    const questionSignal = signal ? AbortSignal.any([signal, timeout.signal]) : timeout.signal;
+    const timer = setTimeout(() => timeoutController.abort(), QUESTION_TIMEOUT_MS);
+    let active = true;
+    const timeout: QuestionTimeout = {
+      deadline,
+      get active() { return active; },
+      stop() {
+        if (!active) return false;
+        active = false;
+        clearTimeout(timer);
+        return true;
+      },
+    };
+    const questionSignal = signal ? AbortSignal.any([signal, timeoutController.signal]) : timeoutController.signal;
     try {
       const result = ctx.mode === "tui"
-        ? await askWithKeyboard(questions, ctx.ui, pi, observer, deadline, questionSignal)
-        : await askWithDialogs(questions, ctx.ui, questionSignal);
+        ? await askWithKeyboard(questions, ctx.ui, pi, observer, timeout, questionSignal)
+        : await askWithDialogs(questions, ctx.ui, timeout, questionSignal);
       const answers = new Map(result.answers.map((answer) => [answer.id, answer]));
-      const timedOut = result.cancelled && timeout.signal.aborted && !signal?.aborted;
+      const timedOut = result.cancelled && timeoutController.signal.aborted && !signal?.aborted;
       const cancelled = result.cancelled && !timedOut;
 
       return {

package/extensions/lib/question-observer.ts

@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ type Target = {
 
 type Waiting = Target & {
   status: "waiting";
+  timeoutActive: boolean;
   question: string;
   options: string[];
   multiSelect: boolean;

package/package.json

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@fitchmultz/pi-ask-question",
-  "version": "0.6.0",
+  "version": "0.6.1",
   "description": "Pi extension that adds an interactive ask_question tool and /grill-me pressure-test mode",
   "author": "Mitch Fultz (https://github.com/fitchmultz)",
   "license": "MIT",