@hansjm10/volt-coding-agent 0.0.0-bootstrap.0 → 0.1.0

package/docs/sdk.md

@@ -0,0 +1,1267 @@
+> volt can help you use the SDK. Ask it to build an integration for your use case.
+
+# SDK
+
+The SDK provides programmatic access to volt's agent capabilities. Use it to embed volt in other applications, build custom interfaces, or integrate with automated workflows.
+
+**Example use cases:**
+- Build a custom UI (web, desktop, mobile)
+- Integrate agent capabilities into existing applications
+- Create automated pipelines with agent reasoning
+- Build custom tools that spawn sub-agents
+- Test agent behavior programmatically
+
+See [examples/sdk/](../examples/sdk/) for working examples from minimal to full control.
+
+## Quick Start
+
+```typescript
+import { AuthStorage, createAgentSession, ModelRegistry, SessionManager } from "@hansjm10/volt-coding-agent";
+
+// Set up credential storage and model registry
+const authStorage = AuthStorage.create();
+const modelRegistry = ModelRegistry.create(authStorage);
+
+const { session } = await createAgentSession({
+  sessionManager: SessionManager.inMemory(),
+  authStorage,
+  modelRegistry,
+});
+
+session.subscribe((event) => {
+  if (event.type === "message_update" && event.assistantMessageEvent.type === "text_delta") {
+    process.stdout.write(event.assistantMessageEvent.delta);
+  }
+});
+
+await session.prompt("What files are in the current directory?");
+```
+
+## Installation
+
+```bash
+npm install @hansjm10/volt-coding-agent@beta
+```
+
+The SDK is included in the main package. No separate installation needed.
+
+## Core Concepts
+
+### createAgentSession()
+
+The main factory function for a single `AgentSession`.
+
+`createAgentSession()` uses a `ResourceLoader` to supply extensions, skills, prompt templates, themes, and context files. If you do not provide one, it uses `DefaultResourceLoader` with standard discovery.
+
+```typescript
+import { createAgentSession, SessionManager } from "@hansjm10/volt-coding-agent";
+
+// Minimal: defaults with DefaultResourceLoader
+const { session } = await createAgentSession();
+
+// Custom: override specific options
+const { session } = await createAgentSession({
+  model: myModel,
+  tools: ["read", "bash"],
+  sessionManager: SessionManager.inMemory(),
+});
+```
+
+### AgentSession
+
+The session manages agent lifecycle, message history, model state, compaction, and event streaming.
+
+```typescript
+interface AgentSession {
+  // Send a prompt and wait for completion
+  prompt(text: string, options?: PromptOptions): Promise<void>;
+
+  // Queue messages during streaming
+  steer(text: string): Promise<void>;
+  followUp(text: string): Promise<void>;
+
+  // Subscribe to events (returns unsubscribe function)
+  subscribe(listener: (event: AgentSessionEvent) => void): () => void;
+
+  // Session info
+  sessionFile: string | undefined;
+  sessionId: string;
+
+  // Model control
+  setModel(model: Model): Promise<void>;
+  setThinkingLevel(level: ThinkingLevel): void;
+  cycleModel(): Promise<ModelCycleResult | undefined>;
+  cycleThinkingLevel(): ThinkingLevel | undefined;
+
+  // State access
+  agent: Agent;
+  model: Model | undefined;
+  thinkingLevel: ThinkingLevel;
+  messages: AgentMessage[];
+  isStreaming: boolean; // provider run or session continuation
+  isBusy: boolean;      // also includes prompt preflight and standalone session operations
+
+  // In-place tree navigation within the current session file
+  navigateTree(targetId: string, options?: { summarize?: boolean; customInstructions?: string; replaceInstructions?: boolean; label?: string }): Promise<{ editorText?: string; cancelled: boolean }>;
+
+  // Compaction
+  compact(customInstructions?: string): Promise<CompactionResult>;
+  abortCompaction(): void;
+
+  // Abort current operation
+  abort(): Promise<void>;
+
+  // Cleanup
+  dispose(): void;
+}
+```
+
+Session replacement APIs such as new-session, resume, fork, and import live on `AgentSessionRuntime`, not on `AgentSession`.
+
+### createAgentSessionRuntime() and AgentSessionRuntime
+
+Use the runtime API when you need to replace the active session and rebuild cwd-bound runtime state.
+This is the same layer used by the built-in interactive, print, and RPC modes.
+
+`createAgentSessionRuntime()` takes a runtime factory plus the initial cwd/session target. The factory closes over process-global fixed inputs, recreates cwd-bound services for the effective cwd, resolves session options against those services, and returns a full runtime result.
+
+```typescript
+import {
+  type CreateAgentSessionRuntimeFactory,
+  createAgentSessionFromServices,
+  createAgentSessionRuntime,
+  createAgentSessionServices,
+  getAgentDir,
+  SessionManager,
+} from "@hansjm10/volt-coding-agent";
+
+const createRuntime: CreateAgentSessionRuntimeFactory = async ({ cwd, sessionManager, sessionStartEvent }) => {
+  const services = await createAgentSessionServices({ cwd });
+  return {
+    ...(await createAgentSessionFromServices({
+      services,
+      sessionManager,
+      sessionStartEvent,
+    })),
+    services,
+    diagnostics: services.diagnostics,
+  };
+};
+
+const runtime = await createAgentSessionRuntime(createRuntime, {
+  cwd: process.cwd(),
+  agentDir: getAgentDir(),
+  sessionManager: SessionManager.create(process.cwd()),
+});
+```
+
+`AgentSessionRuntime` owns replacement of the active runtime across:
+
+- `newSession()`
+- `switchSession()`
+- `fork()`
+- clone flows via `fork(entryId, { position: "at" })`
+- `importFromJsonl()`
+
+Important behavior:
+
+- `runtime.session` changes after those operations
+- event subscriptions are attached to a specific `AgentSession`, so re-subscribe after replacement
+- if you use extensions, call `runtime.session.bindExtensions(...)` again for the new session
+- creation returns diagnostics on `runtime.diagnostics`
+- if runtime creation or replacement fails, the method throws and the caller decides how to handle it
+
+```typescript
+let session = runtime.session;
+let unsubscribe = session.subscribe(() => {});
+
+await runtime.newSession();
+
+unsubscribe();
+session = runtime.session;
+unsubscribe = session.subscribe(() => {});
+```
+
+### SubagentManager
+
+`SubagentManager` starts isolated child runtimes through the same runtime factory used by `AgentSessionRuntime`. Named starts use definitions from `ResourceLoader.getSubagents()`; project definitions are present only when project trust is active.
+
+```typescript
+import {
+  type CreateAgentSessionRuntimeFactory,
+  createAgentSession,
+  createAgentSessionFromServices,
+  createAgentSessionServices,
+  getAgentDir,
+  SubagentManager,
+} from "@hansjm10/volt-coding-agent";
+
+const cwd = process.cwd();
+const agentDir = getAgentDir();
+
+const parentServices = await createAgentSessionServices({ cwd, agentDir });
+const childAllowedTools = ["read", "grep", "find", "ls"];
+
+const createRuntime: CreateAgentSessionRuntimeFactory = async ({ cwd, agentDir, sessionManager, sessionStartEvent }) => {
+  const services = await createAgentSessionServices({ cwd, agentDir });
+  return {
+    ...(await createAgentSessionFromServices({
+      services,
+      sessionManager,
+      sessionStartEvent,
+      tools: childAllowedTools,
+    })),
+    services,
+    diagnostics: services.diagnostics,
+  };
+};
+
+const subagents = new SubagentManager({
+  createRuntime,
+  cwd,
+  agentDir,
+  resourceLoader: parentServices.resourceLoader,
+  allowedTools: childAllowedTools,
+});
+
+const handle = await subagents.startByName("scout");
+try {
+  const done = handle.waitForEnd();
+  await handle.prompt("Find the auth entry points");
+  const result = await done;
+  const transcript = await handle.getTranscript();
+  console.log(result.sessionId, transcript.items.at(-1));
+} finally {
+  await handle.dispose();
+}
+```
+
+`waitForEnd()` resolves after the child session settles, including automatic retries, overflow compaction, and queued continuations. Its result contains the latest low-level `agent_end` event.
+
+To expose the built-in `subagent` tool in an SDK-created parent session, pass the manager as `subagentToolManager`. It is active by default when no explicit tool allowlist is provided:
+
+```typescript
+const { session } = await createAgentSession({
+  subagentToolManager: subagents,
+});
+```
+
+If you pass `tools`, the allowlist remains strict and must include `subagent` when delegation should stay available:
+
+```typescript
+const { session } = await createAgentSession({
+  tools: ["subagent", "read", "grep", "find", "ls"],
+  subagentToolManager: subagents,
+});
+```
+
+The built-in tool supports single `{ agent: string, task: string }`, parallel `{ tasks: Array<{ agent: string, task: string }> }`, and chain `{ chain: Array<{ agent: string, task: string }> }` calls. Parallel mode is capped at 8 tasks with max concurrency 4, keeps result ordering stable, and returns mixed-status details for partial failures. Chain mode runs sequentially, replaces `{previous}` with the prior successful step output, returns the final successful step output on full success, and stops at the first failed step. Recursive delegation is fail-closed unless `allowedSubagents` is explicit, and every descendant shares the root scope's hard depth, start, concurrency, turn, token, cost, deadline, and cancellation limits. Model-visible output is capped at 50 KB per task/step and 100 KB in aggregate for parallel mode; tool details also store the final tree-budget snapshot.
+
+### Prompting and Message Queueing
+
+`PromptOptions` controls prompt expansion, queueing behavior while streaming, and prompt preflight notifications:
+
+```typescript
+interface PromptOptions {
+  expandPromptTemplates?: boolean;
+  images?: ImageContent[];
+  streamingBehavior?: "steer" | "followUp";
+  source?: InputSource;
+  preflightResult?: (success: boolean) => void;
+}
+```
+
+`preflightResult` is called once per `prompt()` invocation:
+
+- `true` when the prompt was accepted, queued, or handled immediately
+- `false` when prompt preflight rejected before acceptance
+
+It fires before `prompt()` resolves. `prompt()` still resolves only after the full accepted run finishes, including retries. Failures after acceptance are reported through the normal event and message stream, not through `preflightResult(false)`.
+
+The `prompt()` method handles prompt templates, extension commands, and message sending:
+
+```typescript
+// Basic prompt (when not streaming)
+await session.prompt("What files are here?");
+
+// With images
+await session.prompt("What's in this image?", {
+  images: [{ type: "image", source: { type: "base64", mediaType: "image/png", data: "..." } }]
+});
+
+// During streaming: must specify how to queue the message
+await session.prompt("Stop and do this instead", { streamingBehavior: "steer" });
+await session.prompt("After you're done, also check X", { streamingBehavior: "followUp" });
+```
+
+**Behavior:**
+- **Extension commands** (e.g., `/mycommand`): Execute immediately, even during streaming. They manage their own LLM interaction via `volt.sendMessage()`.
+- **File-based prompt templates** (from `.md` files): Expanded to their content before sending or queueing.
+- **During streaming without `streamingBehavior`**: Throws an error. Use `steer()` or `followUp()` directly, or specify the option.
+- **`preflightResult(true)`**: Means the prompt was accepted, queued, or handled immediately.
+- **`preflightResult(false)`**: Means preflight rejected before acceptance.
+
+For explicit queueing during streaming:
+
+```typescript
+// Queue a steering message for delivery after the current assistant turn finishes its tool calls
+await session.steer("New instruction");
+
+// Wait for agent to finish (delivered only when agent stops)
+await session.followUp("After you're done, also do this");
+```
+
+Both `steer()` and `followUp()` expand file-based prompt templates but error on extension commands (extension commands cannot be queued).
+
+### Agent and AgentState
+
+The `Agent` class (from `@hansjm10/volt-agent-core`) handles the core LLM interaction. Access it via `session.agent`.
+
+```typescript
+// Access current state
+const state = session.agent.state;
+
+// state.messages: AgentMessage[] - conversation history
+// state.model: Model - current model
+// state.thinkingLevel: ThinkingLevel - current thinking level
+// state.systemPrompt: string - system prompt
+// state.tools: AgentTool[] - available tools
+// state.streamingMessage?: AgentMessage - current partial assistant message
+// state.errorMessage?: string - latest assistant error
+
+// Replace messages (useful for branching or restoration)
+session.agent.state.messages = messages; // copies the top-level array
+
+// Replace tools
+session.agent.state.tools = tools; // copies the top-level array
+
+// Wait for the full session prompt transaction to settle
+await session.waitForIdle();
+```
+
+Prefer `session.waitForIdle()` when coordinating application work. It includes prompt preflight, retries, compaction, and queued continuations. `session.agent.waitForIdle()` only observes the core agent loop and can resolve while session-level prompt work is still pending.
+
+### Events
+
+Subscribe to events to receive streaming output and lifecycle notifications.
+
+```typescript
+session.subscribe((event) => {
+  switch (event.type) {
+    // Streaming text from assistant
+    case "message_update":
+      if (event.assistantMessageEvent.type === "text_delta") {
+        process.stdout.write(event.assistantMessageEvent.delta);
+      }
+      if (event.assistantMessageEvent.type === "thinking_delta") {
+        // Thinking output (if thinking enabled)
+      }
+      break;
+    
+    // Tool execution
+    case "tool_execution_start":
+      console.log(`Tool: ${event.toolName}`);
+      break;
+    case "tool_execution_update":
+      // Streaming tool output
+      break;
+    case "tool_execution_end":
+      console.log(`Result: ${event.isError ? "error" : "success"}`);
+      break;
+    
+    // Message lifecycle
+    case "message_start":
+      // New message starting
+      break;
+    case "message_end":
+      // Message complete
+      break;
+    
+    // Agent lifecycle
+    case "agent_start":
+      // Agent started processing prompt
+      break;
+    case "agent_end":
+      // Agent run finished (event.messages contains new messages).
+      // A retry or compaction/queued continuation may still follow.
+      break;
+    case "agent_settled":
+      // Prompt fully settled: no further retries or continuations.
+      break;
+    
+    // Turn lifecycle (one LLM response + tool calls)
+    case "turn_start":
+      break;
+    case "turn_end":
+      // event.message: assistant response
+      // event.toolResults: tool results from this turn
+      break;
+    
+    // Session events (queue, compaction, retry)
+    case "queue_update":
+      console.log(event.steering, event.followUp);
+      break;
+    case "compaction_start":
+    case "compaction_end":
+    case "auto_retry_start":
+    case "auto_retry_end":
+      break;
+  }
+});
+```
+
+## Options Reference
+
+### Directories
+
+```typescript
+const { session } = await createAgentSession({
+  // Working directory for DefaultResourceLoader discovery
+  cwd: process.cwd(), // default
+  
+  // Global config directory
+  agentDir: "~/.volt/agent", // default (expands ~)
+});
+```
+
+`cwd` is used by `DefaultResourceLoader` for:
+- Project extensions (`.volt/extensions/`)
+- Project skills:
+  - `.volt/skills/`
+  - `.agents/skills/` in `cwd` and ancestor directories (up to git repo root, or filesystem root when not in a repo)
+- Project prompts (`.volt/prompts/`)
+- Context files (`AGENTS.md` walking up from cwd)
+- Session directory naming
+
+`agentDir` is used by `DefaultResourceLoader` for:
+- Global extensions (`extensions/`)
+- Global skills:
+  - `skills/` under `agentDir` (for example `~/.volt/agent/skills/`)
+  - `~/.agents/skills/`
+- Global prompts (`prompts/`)
+- Global context file (`AGENTS.md`)
+- Settings (`settings.json`)
+- Custom models (`models.json`)
+- Credentials (`auth.json`)
+- Sessions (`sessions/`)
+
+When you pass a custom `ResourceLoader`, `cwd` and `agentDir` no longer control resource discovery. They still influence session naming and tool path resolution.
+
+### Model
+
+```typescript
+import { getModel } from "@hansjm10/volt-ai";
+import { AuthStorage, ModelRegistry } from "@hansjm10/volt-coding-agent";
+
+const authStorage = AuthStorage.create();
+const modelRegistry = ModelRegistry.create(authStorage);
+
+// Find specific built-in model (doesn't check if API key exists)
+const opus = getModel("anthropic", "claude-opus-4-5");
+if (!opus) throw new Error("Model not found");
+
+// Find any model by provider/id, including custom models from models.json
+// (doesn't check if API key exists)
+const customModel = modelRegistry.find("my-provider", "my-model");
+
+// Get only models that have valid API keys configured
+const available = await modelRegistry.getAvailable();
+
+const { session } = await createAgentSession({
+  model: opus,
+  thinkingLevel: "medium", // off, minimal, low, medium, high, xhigh, max
+  
+  // Models for cycling (Ctrl+P in interactive mode)
+  scopedModels: [
+    { model: opus, thinkingLevel: "high" },
+    { model: haiku, thinkingLevel: "off" },
+  ],
+  
+  authStorage,
+  modelRegistry,
+});
+```
+
+If no model is provided:
+1. Tries to restore from session (if continuing)
+2. Uses default from settings
+3. Falls back to first available model
+
+> See [examples/sdk/02-custom-model.ts](../examples/sdk/02-custom-model.ts)
+
+### API Keys and OAuth
+
+API key resolution priority (handled by AuthStorage):
+1. Runtime overrides (via `setRuntimeApiKey`, not persisted)
+2. Stored credentials in `auth.json` (API keys or OAuth tokens)
+3. Environment variables (`ANTHROPIC_API_KEY`, `OPENAI_API_KEY`, etc.)
+4. Fallback resolver (for custom provider keys from `models.json`)
+
+```typescript
+import { AuthStorage, ModelRegistry } from "@hansjm10/volt-coding-agent";
+
+// Default: uses ~/.volt/agent/auth.json and ~/.volt/agent/models.json
+const authStorage = AuthStorage.create();
+const modelRegistry = ModelRegistry.create(authStorage);
+
+const { session } = await createAgentSession({
+  sessionManager: SessionManager.inMemory(),
+  authStorage,
+  modelRegistry,
+});
+
+// Runtime API key override (not persisted to disk)
+authStorage.setRuntimeApiKey("anthropic", "sk-my-temp-key");
+
+// Custom auth storage location
+const customAuth = AuthStorage.create("/my/app/auth.json");
+const customRegistry = ModelRegistry.create(customAuth, "/my/app/models.json");
+
+const { session } = await createAgentSession({
+  sessionManager: SessionManager.inMemory(),
+  authStorage: customAuth,
+  modelRegistry: customRegistry,
+});
+
+// No custom models.json (built-in models only)
+const simpleRegistry = ModelRegistry.inMemory(authStorage);
+```
+
+> See [examples/sdk/09-api-keys-and-oauth.ts](../examples/sdk/09-api-keys-and-oauth.ts)
+
+### System Prompt
+
+Use a `ResourceLoader` to override the system prompt:
+
+```typescript
+import { createAgentSession, DefaultResourceLoader } from "@hansjm10/volt-coding-agent";
+
+const loader = new DefaultResourceLoader({
+  systemPromptOverride: () => "You are a helpful assistant.",
+});
+await loader.reload();
+
+const { session } = await createAgentSession({ resourceLoader: loader });
+```
+
+> See [examples/sdk/03-custom-prompt.ts](../examples/sdk/03-custom-prompt.ts)
+
+### Tools
+
+Specify which built-in tools to enable:
+
+- Built-in tool names: `read`, `bash`, `edit`, `write`, `grep`, `find`, `ls`, `subagent`
+- Default built-ins: `read`, `bash`, `edit`, `write`, and `subagent` when `subagentToolManager` is supplied
+- `noTools: "all"` disables all tools
+- `noTools: "builtin"` disables default built-ins, including `subagent`, while keeping extension and custom tools enabled
+- `excludeTools` disables specific built-in, extension, or custom tool names after any `tools` allowlist is applied
+
+The `edit` tool returns `details.diff` for Volt's TUI display and `details.patch` as a standard unified patch for SDK consumers.
+
+```typescript
+import { createAgentSession } from "@hansjm10/volt-coding-agent";
+
+// Read-only mode
+const { session } = await createAgentSession({
+  tools: ["read", "grep", "find", "ls"],
+});
+
+// Pick specific tools
+const { session } = await createAgentSession({
+  tools: ["read", "bash", "grep"],
+});
+
+// Disable one tool while keeping the rest available
+const { session } = await createAgentSession({
+  excludeTools: ["ask_question"],
+});
+```
+
+#### Tools with Custom cwd
+
+When you pass a custom `cwd`, `createAgentSession()` builds selected built-in tools for that cwd.
+
+```typescript
+import { createAgentSession, SessionManager } from "@hansjm10/volt-coding-agent";
+
+const cwd = "/path/to/project";
+
+// Use default tools for custom cwd
+const { session } = await createAgentSession({
+  cwd,
+  sessionManager: SessionManager.inMemory(cwd),
+});
+
+// Or pick specific tools for custom cwd
+const { session } = await createAgentSession({
+  cwd,
+  tools: ["read", "bash", "grep"],
+  sessionManager: SessionManager.inMemory(cwd),
+});
+```
+
+> See [examples/sdk/05-tools.ts](../examples/sdk/05-tools.ts)
+
+### Custom Tools
+
+```typescript
+import { Type } from "typebox";
+import { createAgentSession, defineTool } from "@hansjm10/volt-coding-agent";
+
+// Inline custom tool
+const myTool = defineTool({
+  name: "my_tool",
+  label: "My Tool",
+  description: "Does something useful",
+  parameters: Type.Object({
+    input: Type.String({ description: "Input value" }),
+  }),
+  execute: async (_toolCallId, params) => ({
+    content: [{ type: "text", text: `Result: ${params.input}` }],
+    details: {},
+  }),
+});
+
+// Pass custom tools directly
+const { session } = await createAgentSession({
+  customTools: [myTool],
+});
+```
+
+Use `defineTool()` for standalone definitions and arrays like `customTools: [myTool]`. Inline `volt.registerTool({ ... })` already infers parameter types correctly.
+
+Custom tools passed via `customTools` are combined with extension-registered tools. Extensions loaded by the ResourceLoader can also register tools via `volt.registerTool()`.
+
+If you pass `tools`, include each custom or extension tool name you want enabled, for example `tools: ["read", "bash", "my_tool"]`.
+
+> See [examples/sdk/05-tools.ts](../examples/sdk/05-tools.ts)
+
+### Extensions
+
+Extensions are loaded by the `ResourceLoader`. `DefaultResourceLoader` discovers extensions from `~/.volt/agent/extensions/`, `.volt/extensions/`, and settings.json extension sources.
+
+```typescript
+import { createAgentSession, DefaultResourceLoader } from "@hansjm10/volt-coding-agent";
+
+const loader = new DefaultResourceLoader({
+  additionalExtensionPaths: ["/path/to/my-extension.ts"],
+  extensionFactories: [
+    (volt) => {
+      volt.on("agent_start", () => {
+        console.log("[Inline Extension] Agent starting");
+      });
+    },
+  ],
+});
+await loader.reload();
+
+const { session } = await createAgentSession({ resourceLoader: loader });
+```
+
+Extensions can register tools, subscribe to events, add commands, and more. See [extensions.md](extensions.md) for the full API.
+
+**Event Bus:** Extensions can communicate via `volt.events`. Pass a shared `eventBus` to `DefaultResourceLoader` if you need to emit or listen from outside:
+
+```typescript
+import { createEventBus, DefaultResourceLoader } from "@hansjm10/volt-coding-agent";
+
+const eventBus = createEventBus();
+const loader = new DefaultResourceLoader({
+  eventBus,
+});
+await loader.reload();
+
+eventBus.on("my-extension:status", (data) => console.log(data));
+```
+
+> See [examples/sdk/06-extensions.ts](../examples/sdk/06-extensions.ts) and [docs/extensions.md](extensions.md)
+
+### Skills
+
+```typescript
+import {
+  createAgentSession,
+  DefaultResourceLoader,
+  type Skill,
+} from "@hansjm10/volt-coding-agent";
+
+const customSkill: Skill = {
+  name: "my-skill",
+  description: "Custom instructions",
+  filePath: "/path/to/SKILL.md",
+  baseDir: "/path/to",
+  source: "custom",
+};
+
+const loader = new DefaultResourceLoader({
+  skillsOverride: (current) => ({
+    skills: [...current.skills, customSkill],
+    diagnostics: current.diagnostics,
+  }),
+});
+await loader.reload();
+
+const { session } = await createAgentSession({ resourceLoader: loader });
+```
+
+> See [examples/sdk/04-skills.ts](../examples/sdk/04-skills.ts)
+
+### Context Files
+
+```typescript
+import { createAgentSession, DefaultResourceLoader } from "@hansjm10/volt-coding-agent";
+
+const loader = new DefaultResourceLoader({
+  agentsFilesOverride: (current) => ({
+    agentsFiles: [
+      ...current.agentsFiles,
+      { path: "/virtual/AGENTS.md", content: "# Guidelines\n\n- Be concise" },
+    ],
+  }),
+});
+await loader.reload();
+
+const { session } = await createAgentSession({ resourceLoader: loader });
+```
+
+> See [examples/sdk/07-context-files.ts](../examples/sdk/07-context-files.ts)
+
+### Slash Commands
+
+```typescript
+import {
+  createAgentSession,
+  DefaultResourceLoader,
+  type PromptTemplate,
+} from "@hansjm10/volt-coding-agent";
+
+const customCommand: PromptTemplate = {
+  name: "deploy",
+  description: "Deploy the application",
+  source: "(custom)",
+  content: "# Deploy\n\n1. Build\n2. Test\n3. Deploy",
+};
+
+const loader = new DefaultResourceLoader({
+  promptsOverride: (current) => ({
+    prompts: [...current.prompts, customCommand],
+    diagnostics: current.diagnostics,
+  }),
+});
+await loader.reload();
+
+const { session } = await createAgentSession({ resourceLoader: loader });
+```
+
+> See [examples/sdk/08-prompt-templates.ts](../examples/sdk/08-prompt-templates.ts)
+
+### Session Management
+
+Sessions use a tree structure with `id`/`parentId` linking, enabling in-place branching.
+
+```typescript
+import {
+  type CreateAgentSessionRuntimeFactory,
+  createAgentSession,
+  createAgentSessionFromServices,
+  createAgentSessionRuntime,
+  createAgentSessionServices,
+  getAgentDir,
+  SessionManager,
+} from "@hansjm10/volt-coding-agent";
+
+// In-memory (no persistence)
+const { session } = await createAgentSession({
+  sessionManager: SessionManager.inMemory(),
+});
+
+// New persistent session
+const { session: persisted } = await createAgentSession({
+  sessionManager: SessionManager.create(process.cwd()),
+});
+
+// Continue most recent
+const { session: continued, modelFallbackMessage } = await createAgentSession({
+  sessionManager: SessionManager.continueRecent(process.cwd()),
+});
+if (modelFallbackMessage) {
+  console.log("Note:", modelFallbackMessage);
+}
+
+// Open specific file
+const { session: opened } = await createAgentSession({
+  sessionManager: SessionManager.open("/path/to/session.jsonl"),
+});
+
+// List sessions
+const currentProjectSessions = await SessionManager.list(process.cwd());
+const allSessions = await SessionManager.listAll(process.cwd());
+
+// Session replacement API for /clear, /resume, /fork, /clone, and import flows.
+const createRuntime: CreateAgentSessionRuntimeFactory = async ({ cwd, sessionManager, sessionStartEvent }) => {
+  const services = await createAgentSessionServices({ cwd });
+  return {
+    ...(await createAgentSessionFromServices({
+      services,
+      sessionManager,
+      sessionStartEvent,
+    })),
+    services,
+    diagnostics: services.diagnostics,
+  };
+};
+
+const runtime = await createAgentSessionRuntime(createRuntime, {
+  cwd: process.cwd(),
+  agentDir: getAgentDir(),
+  sessionManager: SessionManager.create(process.cwd()),
+});
+
+// Replace the active session with a fresh one
+await runtime.newSession();
+
+// Replace the active session with another saved session
+await runtime.switchSession("/path/to/session.jsonl");
+
+// Replace the active session with a fork from a specific user entry
+await runtime.fork("entry-id");
+
+// Clone the active path through a specific entry
+await runtime.fork("entry-id", { position: "at" });
+```
+
+**SessionManager tree API:**
+
+```typescript
+const sm = SessionManager.open("/path/to/session.jsonl");
+
+// Session listing
+const currentProjectSessions = await SessionManager.list(process.cwd());
+const allSessions = await SessionManager.listAll(process.cwd());
+
+// Tree traversal
+const entries = sm.getEntries();        // All entries (excludes header)
+const tree = sm.getTree();              // Full tree structure
+const path = sm.getPath();              // Path from root to current leaf
+const leaf = sm.getLeafEntry();         // Current leaf entry
+const entry = sm.getEntry(id);          // Get entry by ID
+const children = sm.getChildren(id);    // Direct children of entry
+
+// Labels
+const label = sm.getLabel(id);          // Get label for entry
+sm.appendLabelChange(id, "checkpoint"); // Set label
+
+// Branching
+sm.branch(entryId);                     // Move leaf to earlier entry
+sm.branchWithSummary(id, "Summary...");  // Branch with context summary
+sm.createBranchedSession(leafId);       // Extract path to new file
+```
+
+> See [examples/sdk/11-sessions.ts](../examples/sdk/11-sessions.ts) and [Session Format](session-format.md)
+
+### Settings Management
+
+```typescript
+import { createAgentSession, SettingsManager, SessionManager } from "@hansjm10/volt-coding-agent";
+
+// Default: loads from files (global + project merged)
+const { session } = await createAgentSession({
+  settingsManager: SettingsManager.create(),
+});
+
+// With overrides
+const settingsManager = SettingsManager.create();
+settingsManager.applyOverrides({
+  compaction: { enabled: false },
+  retry: { enabled: true, maxRetries: 5 },
+});
+const { session } = await createAgentSession({ settingsManager });
+
+// In-memory (no file I/O, for testing)
+const { session } = await createAgentSession({
+  settingsManager: SettingsManager.inMemory({ compaction: { enabled: false } }),
+  sessionManager: SessionManager.inMemory(),
+});
+
+// Custom directories
+const { session } = await createAgentSession({
+  settingsManager: SettingsManager.create("/custom/cwd", "/custom/agent"),
+});
+```
+
+**Static factories:**
+- `SettingsManager.create(cwd?, agentDir?)` - Load from files
+- `SettingsManager.inMemory(settings?)` - No file I/O
+
+**Project-specific settings:**
+
+Settings load from two locations and merge:
+1. Global: `~/.volt/agent/settings.json`
+2. Project: `<cwd>/.volt/settings.json`
+
+Project overrides global. Nested objects merge keys. Setters modify global settings by default.
+
+**Persistence and error handling semantics:**
+
+- Settings getters/setters are synchronous for in-memory state.
+- Setters enqueue persistence writes asynchronously.
+- Call `await settingsManager.flush()` when you need a durability boundary (for example, before process exit or before asserting file contents in tests).
+- `SettingsManager` does not print settings I/O errors. Use `settingsManager.drainErrors()` and report them in your app layer.
+
+> See [examples/sdk/10-settings.ts](../examples/sdk/10-settings.ts)
+
+## ResourceLoader
+
+Use `DefaultResourceLoader` to discover extensions, skills, prompts, themes, and context files.
+
+```typescript
+import {
+  DefaultResourceLoader,
+  getAgentDir,
+} from "@hansjm10/volt-coding-agent";
+
+const loader = new DefaultResourceLoader({
+  cwd,
+  agentDir: getAgentDir(),
+});
+await loader.reload();
+
+const extensions = loader.getExtensions();
+const skills = loader.getSkills();
+const prompts = loader.getPrompts();
+const themes = loader.getThemes();
+const subagents = loader.getSubagents();
+const contextFiles = loader.getAgentsFiles().agentsFiles;
+```
+
+## Return Value
+
+`createAgentSession()` returns:
+
+```typescript
+interface CreateAgentSessionResult {
+  // The session
+  session: AgentSession;
+  
+  // Extensions result (for runner setup)
+  extensionsResult: LoadExtensionsResult;
+  
+  // Warning if session model couldn't be restored
+  modelFallbackMessage?: string;
+}
+
+interface LoadExtensionsResult {
+  extensions: Extension[];
+  errors: Array<{ path: string; error: string }>;
+  runtime: ExtensionRuntime;
+}
+```
+
+## Complete Example
+
+```typescript
+import { getModel } from "@hansjm10/volt-ai";
+import { Type } from "typebox";
+import {
+  AuthStorage,
+  createAgentSession,
+  DefaultResourceLoader,
+  defineTool,
+  ModelRegistry,
+  SessionManager,
+  SettingsManager,
+} from "@hansjm10/volt-coding-agent";
+
+// Set up auth storage (custom location)
+const authStorage = AuthStorage.create("/custom/agent/auth.json");
+
+// Runtime API key override (not persisted)
+if (process.env.MY_KEY) {
+  authStorage.setRuntimeApiKey("anthropic", process.env.MY_KEY);
+}
+
+// Model registry (no custom models.json)
+const modelRegistry = ModelRegistry.create(authStorage);
+
+// Inline tool
+const statusTool = defineTool({
+  name: "status",
+  label: "Status",
+  description: "Get system status",
+  parameters: Type.Object({}),
+  execute: async () => ({
+    content: [{ type: "text", text: `Uptime: ${process.uptime()}s` }],
+    details: {},
+  }),
+});
+
+const model = getModel("anthropic", "claude-opus-4-5");
+if (!model) throw new Error("Model not found");
+
+// In-memory settings with overrides
+const settingsManager = SettingsManager.inMemory({
+  compaction: { enabled: false },
+  retry: { enabled: true, maxRetries: 2 },
+});
+
+const loader = new DefaultResourceLoader({
+  cwd: process.cwd(),
+  agentDir: "/custom/agent",
+  settingsManager,
+  systemPromptOverride: () => "You are a minimal assistant. Be concise.",
+});
+await loader.reload();
+
+const { session } = await createAgentSession({
+  cwd: process.cwd(),
+  agentDir: "/custom/agent",
+
+  model,
+  thinkingLevel: "off",
+  authStorage,
+  modelRegistry,
+
+  tools: ["read", "bash", "status"],
+  customTools: [statusTool],
+  resourceLoader: loader,
+
+  sessionManager: SessionManager.inMemory(),
+  settingsManager,
+});
+
+session.subscribe((event) => {
+  if (event.type === "message_update" && event.assistantMessageEvent.type === "text_delta") {
+    process.stdout.write(event.assistantMessageEvent.delta);
+  }
+});
+
+await session.prompt("Get status and list files.");
+```
+
+## Run Modes
+
+The SDK exports run mode utilities for building custom interfaces on top of `createAgentSession()`:
+
+### InteractiveMode
+
+Full TUI interactive mode with editor, chat history, and all built-in commands:
+
+```typescript
+import {
+  type CreateAgentSessionRuntimeFactory,
+  createAgentSessionFromServices,
+  createAgentSessionRuntime,
+  createAgentSessionServices,
+  getAgentDir,
+  InteractiveMode,
+  SessionManager,
+} from "@hansjm10/volt-coding-agent";
+
+const createRuntime: CreateAgentSessionRuntimeFactory = async ({ cwd, sessionManager, sessionStartEvent }) => {
+  const services = await createAgentSessionServices({ cwd });
+  return {
+    ...(await createAgentSessionFromServices({ services, sessionManager, sessionStartEvent })),
+    services,
+    diagnostics: services.diagnostics,
+  };
+};
+const runtime = await createAgentSessionRuntime(createRuntime, {
+  cwd: process.cwd(),
+  agentDir: getAgentDir(),
+  sessionManager: SessionManager.create(process.cwd()),
+});
+
+const mode = new InteractiveMode(runtime, {
+  migratedProviders: [],
+  modelFallbackMessage: undefined,
+  initialMessage: "Hello",
+  initialImages: [],
+  initialMessages: [],
+});
+
+await mode.run();
+```
+
+### runPrintMode
+
+Single-shot mode: send prompts, output result, exit:
+
+```typescript
+import {
+  type CreateAgentSessionRuntimeFactory,
+  createAgentSessionFromServices,
+  createAgentSessionRuntime,
+  createAgentSessionServices,
+  getAgentDir,
+  runPrintMode,
+  SessionManager,
+} from "@hansjm10/volt-coding-agent";
+
+const createRuntime: CreateAgentSessionRuntimeFactory = async ({ cwd, sessionManager, sessionStartEvent }) => {
+  const services = await createAgentSessionServices({ cwd });
+  return {
+    ...(await createAgentSessionFromServices({ services, sessionManager, sessionStartEvent })),
+    services,
+    diagnostics: services.diagnostics,
+  };
+};
+const runtime = await createAgentSessionRuntime(createRuntime, {
+  cwd: process.cwd(),
+  agentDir: getAgentDir(),
+  sessionManager: SessionManager.create(process.cwd()),
+});
+
+await runPrintMode(runtime, {
+  mode: "text",
+  initialMessage: "Hello",
+  initialImages: [],
+  messages: ["Follow up"],
+});
+```
+
+### runRpcMode
+
+JSON-RPC mode for subprocess or custom transport integration:
+
+```typescript
+import {
+  type CreateAgentSessionRuntimeFactory,
+  createAgentSessionFromServices,
+  createAgentSessionRuntime,
+  createAgentSessionServices,
+  getAgentDir,
+  runRpcMode,
+  SessionManager,
+} from "@hansjm10/volt-coding-agent";
+
+const createRuntime: CreateAgentSessionRuntimeFactory = async ({ cwd, sessionManager, sessionStartEvent }) => {
+  const services = await createAgentSessionServices({ cwd });
+  return {
+    ...(await createAgentSessionFromServices({ services, sessionManager, sessionStartEvent })),
+    services,
+    diagnostics: services.diagnostics,
+  };
+};
+const runtime = await createAgentSessionRuntime(createRuntime, {
+  cwd: process.cwd(),
+  agentDir: getAgentDir(),
+  sessionManager: SessionManager.create(process.cwd()),
+});
+
+await runRpcMode(runtime);
+```
+
+For same-process RPC clients, use the in-memory transport adapter:
+
+```typescript
+import {
+  createInProcessRpcClient,
+  type CreateAgentSessionRuntimeFactory,
+  createAgentSessionFromServices,
+  createAgentSessionRuntime,
+  createAgentSessionServices,
+  getAgentDir,
+  SessionManager,
+} from "@hansjm10/volt-coding-agent";
+
+const createRuntime: CreateAgentSessionRuntimeFactory = async ({ cwd, sessionManager, sessionStartEvent }) => {
+  const services = await createAgentSessionServices({ cwd });
+  return {
+    ...(await createAgentSessionFromServices({ services, sessionManager, sessionStartEvent })),
+    services,
+    diagnostics: services.diagnostics,
+  };
+};
+const runtime = await createAgentSessionRuntime(createRuntime, {
+  cwd: process.cwd(),
+  agentDir: getAgentDir(),
+  sessionManager: SessionManager.create(process.cwd()),
+});
+
+const client = await createInProcessRpcClient(runtime);
+const state = await client.getState();
+await client.stop(); // also disposes the runtime through RPC mode shutdown
+```
+
+For custom transports, pass any `RpcTransport` to `RpcTransportClient`. This is the client-side adapter used by non-stdio transports such as Iroh streams.
+
+See [RPC documentation](rpc.md) for the JSON protocol.
+
+## RPC Mode Alternative
+
+For subprocess-based integration without building with the SDK, use the CLI directly:
+
+```bash
+volt --mode rpc --no-session
+```
+
+See [RPC documentation](rpc.md) for the JSON protocol.
+
+The SDK is preferred when:
+- You want type safety
+- You're in the same Node.js process
+- You need direct access to agent state
+- You want to customize tools/extensions programmatically
+
+RPC mode is preferred when:
+- You're integrating from another language
+- You want process isolation
+- You're building a language-agnostic client
+
+## Exports
+
+The main entry point exports:
+
+```typescript
+// Factory
+createAgentSession
+createAgentSessionRuntime
+AgentSessionRuntime
+SubagentManager
+
+// RPC clients and transports
+RpcClient
+RpcTransportClient
+InProcessRpcClient
+createInProcessRpcClient
+createLoopbackRpcTransportPair
+
+// Auth and Models
+AuthStorage
+ModelRegistry
+
+// Resource loading
+DefaultResourceLoader
+type ResourceLoader
+createEventBus
+
+// Helpers
+defineTool
+getAgentDir
+getPackageDir
+getReadmePath
+getDocsPath
+getExamplesPath
+
+// Session management
+SessionManager
+SettingsManager
+
+// Tool factories
+createCodingTools
+createReadOnlyTools
+createReadTool, createBashTool, createEditTool, createWriteTool
+createGrepTool, createFindTool, createLsTool, createSubagentTool
+
+// Types
+type CreateAgentSessionOptions
+type CreateAgentSessionResult
+type ExtensionFactory
+type ExtensionAPI
+type ToolDefinition
+type Skill
+type PromptTemplate
+type Tool
+```
+
+For extension types, see [extensions.md](extensions.md) for the full API.