aether-colony 1.1.5 → 1.1.8

package/.aether/aether-utils.sh

@@ -1078,7 +1078,14 @@ case "$cmd" in
 HELP_EOF
     ;;
   version)
-    json_ok '"1.0.0"'
+    # Read version from package.json if available, fallback to embedded
+    _pkg_json="$SCRIPT_DIR/../package.json"
+    if [[ -f "$_pkg_json" ]] && command -v jq >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+      _ver=$(jq -r '.version // "unknown"' "$_pkg_json" 2>/dev/null)
+      json_ok "\"$_ver\""
+    else
+      json_ok '"1.1.5"'
+    fi
     ;;
   validate-state)
     # Schema migration helper: auto-upgrades pre-3.0 state files to v3.0
@@ -3428,6 +3435,22 @@ NODESCRIPT
 
     [[ -z "$ant_name" || -z "$caste" || -z "$ant_status" ]] && json_err "$E_VALIDATION_FAILED" "Usage: swarm-display-update <ant_name> <caste> <ant_status> <task> [parent] [tools_json] [tokens] [chamber] [progress]"
 
+    # Tolerate malformed argument ordering from LLM-generated commands.
+    # Common failure mode: tools_json omitted, so tokens/chamber/progress shift left.
+    tools_type=$(echo "$tools_json" | jq -r 'type' 2>/dev/null || echo "invalid")
+    if [[ "$tools_type" != "object" ]]; then
+      if [[ "$tools_json" =~ ^[0-9]+$ ]] && [[ ! "$tokens" =~ ^[0-9]+$ ]] && [[ "$chamber" =~ ^[0-9]+$ ]]; then
+        progress="$chamber"
+        chamber="$tokens"
+        tokens="$tools_json"
+      fi
+      tools_json="{}"
+    fi
+
+    # Ensure numeric fields are always valid for --argjson.
+    [[ "$tokens" =~ ^-?[0-9]+$ ]] || tokens=0
+    [[ "$progress" =~ ^-?[0-9]+$ ]] || progress=0
+
     display_file="$DATA_DIR/swarm-display.json"
 
     # Initialize if doesn't exist
@@ -3489,7 +3512,7 @@ NODESCRIPT
       # Update chamber activity counts
       # Decrement old chamber if changed
       (if $old_chamber != "" and $old_chamber != $new_chamber and has("chambers") and (.chambers | has($old_chamber)) then
-        .chambers[$old_chamber].activity = [(.chambers[$old_chamber].activity // 1) - 1, 0] | max
+        .chambers[$old_chamber].activity = ([(.chambers[$old_chamber].activity // 1) - 1, 0] | max)
       else
         .
       end) |
@@ -6339,7 +6362,7 @@ $updated_meta
   normalize-args)
     # Normalize arguments from Claude Code ($ARGUMENTS) or OpenCode ($@)
     # Usage: bash .aether/aether-utils.sh normalize-args [args...]
-    # Or: eval "$(bash .aether/aether-utils.sh normalize-args)"
+    # Returns: a plain normalized argument string (safe for direct string parsing)
     #
     # Claude Code passes args in $ARGUMENTS variable
     # OpenCode passes args in $@ (positional parameters)
@@ -6352,21 +6375,17 @@ $updated_meta
       normalized="$ARGUMENTS"
     # Fall back to OpenCode style ($@ positional params)
     elif [ $# -gt 0 ]; then
-      # Preserve arguments with spaces by quoting
-      for arg in "$@"; do
-        if [[ "$arg" == *" "* ]] || [[ "$arg" == *"\t"* ]] || [[ "$arg" == *"\n"* ]]; then
-          # Quote arguments containing whitespace
-          normalized="$normalized \"$arg\""
-        else
-          normalized="$normalized $arg"
-        fi
-      done
-      # Trim leading space
-      normalized="${normalized# }"
+      # Join positional args into one parseable string without adding synthetic quotes
+      normalized="$*"
+    fi
+
+    # Collapse line breaks and repeated whitespace to avoid shell parse edge cases
+    if [[ -n "$normalized" ]]; then
+      normalized="$(printf '%s' "$normalized" | tr '\r\n' '  ' | sed 's/[[:space:]][[:space:]]*/ /g; s/^ //; s/ $//')"
     fi
 
     # Output normalized arguments
-    echo "$normalized"
+    printf '%s\n' "$normalized"
     exit 0
     ;;
 
@@ -6616,9 +6635,9 @@ $updated_meta
     json_ok "{\"command\":\"$command_name\",\"cleared\":\"${cleared// /}\",\"errors\":\"${errors// /}\",\"dry_run\":$([[ "$dry_run" == "--dry-run" ]] && echo "true" || echo "false")}"
     ;;
 
-  pheromone-export)
-    # Export pheromones to eternal XML format
-    # Usage: pheromone-export [input_json] [output_xml]
+  pheromone-export-eternal)
+    # Export pheromones to eternal XML format (distinct from xml-utils.sh pheromone-export function)
+    # Usage: pheromone-export-eternal [input_json] [output_xml]
     #   input_json: Path to pheromones.json (default: .aether/data/pheromones.json)
     #   output_xml: Path to output XML (default: ~/.aether/eternal/pheromones.xml)
 
@@ -6719,9 +6738,9 @@ $updated_meta
 
     # Generate ID and timestamps
     pw_epoch=$(date +%s)
-    pw_epoch_ms="${pw_epoch}000"
+    pw_rand=$(( RANDOM % 10000 ))
     pw_type_lower=$(echo "$pw_type" | tr '[:upper:]' '[:lower:]')
-    pw_id="sig_${pw_type_lower}_${pw_epoch_ms}"
+    pw_id="sig_${pw_type_lower}_${pw_epoch}_${pw_rand}"
     pw_created=$(date -u +"%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%SZ")
 
     # Compute expires_at from TTL
@@ -7811,28 +7830,43 @@ $updated_meta
       printf '%s\n' '{"version":"1.0.0","entries":[]}' > "$mw_midden_file"
     fi
 
-    # Create the new entry
-    mw_new_entry=$(printf '{
-      "id": "%s",
-      "timestamp": "%s",
-      "category": "%s",
-      "source": "%s",
-      "message": "%s",
-      "reviewed": false
-    }' "$mw_entry_id" "$mw_timestamp" "$mw_category" "$mw_source" "$mw_message")
-
-    # Append to midden.json using jq
-    mw_updated_midden=$(jq --argjson entry "$mw_new_entry" '
-      .entries += [$entry] |
-      .entry_count = (.entries | length)
-    ' "$mw_midden_file" 2>/dev/null)
-
-    if [[ -n "$mw_updated_midden" ]]; then
-      printf '%s\n' "$mw_updated_midden" > "$mw_midden_file"
-      json_ok "{\"success\":true,\"entry_id\":\"$mw_entry_id\",\"category\":\"$mw_category\",\"midden_total\":$(jq '.entries | length' "$mw_midden_file" 2>/dev/null || echo 0)}"
+    # Create the new entry using jq for safe JSON construction
+    mw_new_entry=$(jq -n \
+      --arg id "$mw_entry_id" \
+      --arg ts "$mw_timestamp" \
+      --arg cat "$mw_category" \
+      --arg src "$mw_source" \
+      --arg msg "$mw_message" \
+      '{id: $id, timestamp: $ts, category: $cat, source: $src, message: $msg, reviewed: false}')
+
+    # Append to midden.json using jq with locking
+    if acquire_lock "$mw_midden_file" 2>/dev/null; then
+      mw_updated_midden=$(jq --argjson entry "$mw_new_entry" '
+        .entries += [$entry] |
+        .entry_count = (.entries | length)
+      ' "$mw_midden_file" 2>/dev/null)
+
+      if [[ -n "$mw_updated_midden" ]]; then
+        printf '%s\n' "$mw_updated_midden" > "$mw_midden_file.tmp" && mv "$mw_midden_file.tmp" "$mw_midden_file"
+        release_lock 2>/dev/null || true
+        json_ok "{\"success\":true,\"entry_id\":\"$mw_entry_id\",\"category\":\"$mw_category\",\"midden_total\":$(jq '.entries | length' "$mw_midden_file" 2>/dev/null || echo 0)}"
+      else
+        release_lock 2>/dev/null || true
+        json_ok "{\"success\":true,\"warning\":\"jq_processing_failed\",\"entry_id\":null}"
+      fi
     else
-      # jq failed, but we still return success (graceful degradation)
-      json_ok "{\"success\":true,\"warning\":\"jq_processing_failed\",\"entry_id\":null}"
+      # Lock failed — graceful degradation, try without lock
+      mw_updated_midden=$(jq --argjson entry "$mw_new_entry" '
+        .entries += [$entry] |
+        .entry_count = (.entries | length)
+      ' "$mw_midden_file" 2>/dev/null)
+
+      if [[ -n "$mw_updated_midden" ]]; then
+        printf '%s\n' "$mw_updated_midden" > "$mw_midden_file.tmp" && mv "$mw_midden_file.tmp" "$mw_midden_file"
+        json_ok "{\"success\":true,\"entry_id\":\"$mw_entry_id\",\"category\":\"$mw_category\",\"warning\":\"lock_unavailable\"}"
+      else
+        json_ok "{\"success\":true,\"warning\":\"jq_processing_failed\",\"entry_id\":null}"
+      fi
     fi
     ;;
 
@@ -8543,7 +8577,7 @@ $updated_meta
     session_file="$DATA_DIR/session.json"
     baseline=$(git rev-parse HEAD 2>/dev/null || echo "")
 
-    cat > "$session_file" << EOF
+    cat > "$session_file.tmp" << EOF
 {
   "session_id": "$session_id",
   "started_at": "$(date -u +"%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%SZ")",
@@ -8560,15 +8594,16 @@ $updated_meta
   "summary": "Session initialized"
 }
 EOF
+    mv "$session_file.tmp" "$session_file"
     json_ok "{\"session_id\":\"$session_id\",\"goal\":\"$goal\",\"file\":\"$session_file\"}"
     ;;
 
   session-update)
     # Update session with latest activity
     # Usage: session-update <command> [suggested_next] [summary]
-    cmd_run="${2:-}"
-    suggested="${3:-}"
-    summary="${4:-}"
+    cmd_run="${1:-}"
+    suggested="${2:-}"
+    summary="${3:-}"
 
     session_file="$DATA_DIR/session.json"
 
@@ -8619,7 +8654,7 @@ EOF
        .current_phase = $phase |
        .current_milestone = $milestone |
        .active_todos = $todos |
-       .baseline_commit = $baseline' > "$session_file"
+       .baseline_commit = $baseline' > "$session_file.tmp" && mv "$session_file.tmp" "$session_file"
 
     json_ok "{\"updated\":true,\"command\":\"$cmd_run\"}"
     ;;
@@ -8640,7 +8675,9 @@ EOF
     last_cmd_ts=$(echo "$session_data" | jq -r '.last_command_at // .started_at // empty')
     if [[ -n "$last_cmd_ts" ]]; then
       last_epoch=0 now_epoch=0
-      last_epoch=$(date -j -f "%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%SZ" "$last_cmd_ts" +%s 2>/dev/null || echo 0)
+      last_epoch=$(date -j -f "%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%SZ" "$last_cmd_ts" +%s 2>/dev/null \
+        || date -d "$last_cmd_ts" +%s 2>/dev/null \
+        || echo 0)
       now_epoch=$(date +%s)
       age_hours=$(( (now_epoch - last_epoch) / 3600 ))
       [[ $age_hours -gt 24 ]] && is_stale=true || is_stale=false
@@ -8668,7 +8705,10 @@ EOF
       exit 0
     fi
 
-    last_epoch=$(date -j -f "%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%SZ" "$last_cmd_ts" +%s 2>/dev/null || echo 0)
+    # macOS uses -j -f, Linux uses -d
+    last_epoch=$(date -j -f "%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%SZ" "$last_cmd_ts" +%s 2>/dev/null \
+      || date -d "$last_cmd_ts" +%s 2>/dev/null \
+      || echo 0)
     now_epoch=$(date +%s)
     age_hours=$(( (now_epoch - last_epoch) / 3600 ))
 
@@ -8679,8 +8719,8 @@ EOF
     fi
     ;;
 
-  session-clear)
-    # Mark session as cleared (preserves file but marks context_cleared)
+  session-clear-context)
+    # Mark session context as cleared (preserves file but marks context_cleared)
     preserve="${2:-false}"
     session_file="$DATA_DIR/session.json"
 
@@ -8799,18 +8839,77 @@ EOF
   # ============================================
 
   force-unlock)
-    # Emergency lock cleanup — removes all lock files
-    # Usage: force-unlock [--yes]
+    # Emergency lock cleanup — remove all locks or stale-only locks
+    # Usage: force-unlock [--yes] [--stale-only]
     # Without --yes, lists locks and asks for confirmation in interactive mode
     lock_dir="${AETHER_ROOT:-.}/.aether/locks"
     auto_yes=false
-    [[ "${1:-}" == "--yes" ]] && auto_yes=true
+    stale_only=false
+
+    while [[ $# -gt 0 ]]; do
+      case "$1" in
+        --yes) auto_yes=true ;;
+        --stale-only) stale_only=true ;;
+      esac
+      shift
+    done
 
     if [[ ! -d "$lock_dir" ]]; then
       json_ok '{"removed":0,"message":"No locks directory found"}'
       exit 0
     fi
 
+    if [[ "$stale_only" == "true" ]]; then
+      lock_timeout="${LOCK_TIMEOUT:-300}"
+      scanned=0
+      removed=0
+      skipped_live=0
+
+      is_lock_stale_for_cleanup() {
+        local _lock_file="$1"
+        local _pid_file="${_lock_file}.pid"
+        local _pid
+        _pid=$(cat "$_pid_file" 2>/dev/null || echo "")
+        if [[ -z "$_pid" ]]; then
+          _pid=$(cat "$_lock_file" 2>/dev/null || echo "")
+        fi
+        _pid=$(echo "$_pid" | tr -d '[:space:]')
+        [[ "$_pid" =~ ^[0-9]+$ ]] || _pid=""
+
+        if [[ -n "$_pid" ]]; then
+          kill -0 "$_pid" 2>/dev/null && return 1
+          return 0
+        fi
+
+        local _mtime=0
+        if stat -f %m "$_lock_file" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+          _mtime=$(stat -f %m "$_lock_file" 2>/dev/null || echo 0)
+        else
+          _mtime=$(stat -c %Y "$_lock_file" 2>/dev/null || echo 0)
+        fi
+        local _age=$(( $(date +%s) - _mtime ))
+        [[ "$_age" -gt "$lock_timeout" ]]
+      }
+
+      for lock_file in "$lock_dir"/*.lock; do
+        [[ -e "$lock_file" ]] || continue
+        scanned=$((scanned + 1))
+        if is_lock_stale_for_cleanup "$lock_file"; then
+          rm -f "$lock_file" "${lock_file}.pid" 2>/dev/null || true
+          removed=$((removed + 1))
+        else
+          skipped_live=$((skipped_live + 1))
+        fi
+      done
+
+      if [[ "$removed" -eq 0 && "$scanned" -eq 0 ]]; then
+        json_ok '{"removed":0,"scanned":0,"skipped_live":0,"message":"No lock files found","mode":"stale-only"}'
+      else
+        json_ok "{\"removed\":$removed,\"scanned\":$scanned,\"skipped_live\":$skipped_live,\"message\":\"Stale locks cleared\",\"mode\":\"stale-only\"}"
+      fi
+      exit 0
+    fi
+
     lock_files=$(find "$lock_dir" -name "*.lock" -o -name "*.lock.pid" 2>/dev/null)
 
     if [[ -z "$lock_files" ]]; then

package/.aether/docs/command-playbooks/build-complete.md

@@ -251,11 +251,6 @@ Note: This runs regardless of build success/failure. Failed builds may have reco
 
 **This step runs ONLY after synthesis is complete. All values come from actual worker results.**
 
-**Update swarm display state (always) and render (in-conversation):**
-Run using the Bash tool with description "Recording build completion...": `bash .aether/aether-utils.sh swarm-display-update "Queen" "prime" "completed" "Phase {id} complete" "Colony" '{"read":10,"grep":5,"edit":5,"bash":2}' 100 "fungus_garden" 100`
-
-If `visual_mode` is true, also run using the Bash tool with description "Rendering final swarm display...": `bash .aether/aether-utils.sh swarm-display-text "$build_id"`
-
 **Display BUILD SUMMARY (always shown, replaces compact/verbose split):**
 
 Calculate `total_tools` by summing `tool_count` from all worker return JSONs (builders + watcher + chaos).

package/.aether/docs/command-playbooks/build-context.md

@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ log a warning and continue to Step 5.
 
    Generate archaeologist name and dispatch:
    Run using the Bash tool with description "Naming archaeologist...": `bash .aether/aether-utils.sh generate-ant-name "archaeologist"` (store as `{archaeologist_name}`)
-   Run using the Bash tool with description "Dispatching archaeologist...": `bash .aether/aether-utils.sh spawn-log "Queen" "scout" "{archaeologist_name}" "Pre-build archaeology scan" && bash .aether/aether-utils.sh swarm-display-update "{archaeologist_name}" "scout" "excavating" "Pre-build archaeology scan" "Queen" '{"read":0,"grep":0,"edit":0,"bash":0}' 0 "fungus_garden" 15`
+   Run using the Bash tool with description "Dispatching archaeologist...": `bash .aether/aether-utils.sh spawn-log "Queen" "scout" "{archaeologist_name}" "Pre-build archaeology scan"`
 
    Display:
    ```
@@ -135,6 +135,8 @@ log a warning and continue to Step 5.
        Scanning history of files to be modified...
    ```
 
+   > **Platform note**: In Claude Code, use `Task tool with subagent_type`. In OpenCode, use the equivalent agent spawning mechanism for your platform (e.g., invoke the agent definition from `.opencode/agents/`).
+
    Spawn a Scout (using Task tool with `subagent_type="aether-archaeologist"`, include `description: "🏺 Archaeologist {archaeologist_name}: Pre-build history scan"`) with this prompt:
    # FALLBACK: If "Agent type not found", use general-purpose and inject role: "You are an Archaeologist Ant - git historian that excavates why code exists."
 
@@ -164,8 +166,8 @@ log a warning and continue to Step 5.
 
    **Wait for results** (blocking — use TaskOutput with `block: true`).
 
-   Log completion and update swarm display:
-   Run using the Bash tool with description "Recording archaeologist findings...": `bash .aether/aether-utils.sh spawn-complete "{archaeologist_name}" "completed" "Pre-build archaeology scan" && bash .aether/aether-utils.sh swarm-display-update "{archaeologist_name}" "scout" "completed" "Pre-build archaeology scan" "Queen" '{"read":8,"grep":5,"edit":0,"bash":2}' 100 "fungus_garden" 100`
+   Log completion:
+   Run using the Bash tool with description "Recording archaeologist findings...": `bash .aether/aether-utils.sh spawn-complete "{archaeologist_name}" "completed" "Pre-build archaeology scan"`
 
 3. **Store and display findings:**
 

package/.aether/docs/command-playbooks/build-full.md

@@ -74,12 +74,6 @@ Do not touch during build:
 - Other agents' config files (only modify files assigned to the current build task)
 </read_only>
 
-### Step 0: Version Check (Non-blocking)
-
-Run using the Bash tool with description "Checking colony version...": `bash .aether/aether-utils.sh version-check-cached 2>/dev/null || true`
-
-If the command succeeds and the JSON result contains a non-empty string, display it as a one-line notice. Proceed regardless of outcome.
-
 ### Step 0.6: Verify LiteLLM Proxy
 
 Check that the LiteLLM proxy is running for model routing:
@@ -381,7 +375,7 @@ log a warning and continue to Step 5.
 
    Generate archaeologist name and dispatch:
    Run using the Bash tool with description "Naming archaeologist...": `bash .aether/aether-utils.sh generate-ant-name "archaeologist"` (store as `{archaeologist_name}`)
-   Run using the Bash tool with description "Dispatching archaeologist...": `bash .aether/aether-utils.sh spawn-log "Queen" "scout" "{archaeologist_name}" "Pre-build archaeology scan" && bash .aether/aether-utils.sh swarm-display-update "{archaeologist_name}" "scout" "excavating" "Pre-build archaeology scan" "Queen" '{"read":0,"grep":0,"edit":0,"bash":0}' 0 "fungus_garden" 15`
+   Run using the Bash tool with description "Dispatching archaeologist...": `bash .aether/aether-utils.sh spawn-log "Queen" "scout" "{archaeologist_name}" "Pre-build archaeology scan"`
 
    Display:
    ```
@@ -419,7 +413,7 @@ log a warning and continue to Step 5.
    **Wait for results** (blocking — use TaskOutput with `block: true`).
 
    Log completion and update swarm display:
-   Run using the Bash tool with description "Recording archaeologist findings...": `bash .aether/aether-utils.sh spawn-complete "{archaeologist_name}" "completed" "Pre-build archaeology scan" && bash .aether/aether-utils.sh swarm-display-update "{archaeologist_name}" "scout" "completed" "Pre-build archaeology scan" "Queen" '{"read":8,"grep":5,"edit":0,"bash":2}' 100 "fungus_garden" 100`
+   Run using the Bash tool with description "Recording archaeologist findings...": `bash .aether/aether-utils.sh spawn-complete "{archaeologist_name}" "completed" "Pre-build archaeology scan"`
 
 3. **Store and display findings:**
 
@@ -441,20 +435,10 @@ log a warning and continue to Step 5.
 
 **YOU (the Queen) will spawn workers directly. Do NOT delegate to a single Prime Worker.**
 
-**Initialize visual swarm tracking:**
-Run using the Bash tool with description "Initializing build display...":
+**Log phase start:**
+Run using the Bash tool with description "Logging phase start...":
 ```bash
-# Generate unique build ID
-build_id="build-$(date +%s)"
-
-# Initialize swarm display for this build
-bash .aether/aether-utils.sh swarm-display-init "$build_id"
-
-# Log phase start
 bash .aether/aether-utils.sh activity-log "EXECUTING" "Queen" "Phase {id}: {name} - Queen dispatching workers"
-
-# Display animated header
-bash .aether/aether-utils.sh swarm-display-update "Queen" "prime" "excavating" "Phase {id}: {name}" "Colony" '{"read":0,"grep":0,"edit":0,"bash":0}' 10 "fungus_garden" 0
 ```
 
 **Show real-time display header:**
@@ -598,7 +582,7 @@ If `is_integration_phase` is `"true"`:
 
 1. **Generate Ambassador name and dispatch:**
    Run using the Bash tool with description "Naming ambassador...": `bash .aether/aether-utils.sh generate-ant-name "ambassador"` (store as `{ambassador_name}`)
-   Run using the Bash tool with description "Dispatching ambassador...": `bash .aether/aether-utils.sh spawn-log "Queen" "ambassador" "{ambassador_name}" "External integration design" && bash .aether/aether-utils.sh swarm-display-update "{ambassador_name}" "ambassador" "negotiating" "External integration design" "Queen" '{"read":0,"grep":0,"edit":0,"bash":0}' 0 "fungus_garden" 30`
+   Run using the Bash tool with description "Dispatching ambassador...": `bash .aether/aether-utils.sh spawn-log "Queen" "ambassador" "{ambassador_name}" "External integration design"`
 
    Display:
    ```
@@ -676,7 +660,7 @@ If `is_integration_phase` is `"true"`:
    Extract from response: `integration_plan`, `env_vars_required`, `error_scenarios_covered`, `blockers`
 
    Log completion and update swarm display:
-   Run using the Bash tool with description "Recording ambassador completion...": `bash .aether/aether-utils.sh spawn-complete "{ambassador_name}" "completed" "Integration design complete" && bash .aether/aether-utils.sh swarm-display-update "{ambassador_name}" "ambassador" "completed" "Integration design complete" "Queen" '{"read":5,"grep":3,"edit":0,"bash":2}' 100 "fungus_garden" 100`
+   Run using the Bash tool with description "Recording ambassador completion...": `bash .aether/aether-utils.sh spawn-complete "{ambassador_name}" "completed" "Integration design complete"`
 
    **Display Ambassador completion line:**
    ```
@@ -726,7 +710,7 @@ For each Wave 1 task, use Task tool with `subagent_type="aether-builder"`, inclu
 - If `grave_context` is non-empty, display a visible line before spawning that worker:
   `⚰️ Graveyard caution for {ant_name}: {file_1} ({level_1}), {file_2} ({level_2})`
 
-**PER WORKER:** Run using the Bash tool with description "Preparing worker {name}...": `bash .aether/aether-utils.sh spawn-log "Queen" "builder" "{ant_name}" "{task_description}" && bash .aether/aether-utils.sh swarm-display-update "{ant_name}" "builder" "excavating" "{task_description}" "Queen" '{"read":0,"grep":0,"edit":0,"bash":0}' 0 "fungus_garden" 10 && bash .aether/aether-utils.sh context-update worker-spawn "{ant_name}" "builder" "{task_description}"`
+**PER WORKER:** Run using the Bash tool with description "Preparing worker {name}...": `bash .aether/aether-utils.sh spawn-log "Queen" "builder" "{ant_name}" "{task_description}" && bash .aether/aether-utils.sh context-update worker-spawn "{ant_name}" "builder" "{task_description}"`
 
 **Builder Worker Prompt (CLEAN OUTPUT):**
 ```
@@ -759,7 +743,6 @@ If integration_plan is provided above, you MUST:
 
 **IMPORTANT:** When using the Bash tool for activity calls, always include a description parameter:
 - activity-log calls → "Logging {action}..."
-- swarm-display-update calls → "Updating build display..."
 - pheromone-read calls → "Checking colony signals..."
 - spawn-can-spawn calls → "Checking spawn budget..."
 - generate-ant-name calls → "Naming sub-worker..."
@@ -854,7 +837,7 @@ bash .aether/aether-utils.sh memory-capture \
   "worker:builder" 2>/dev/null || true
 ```
 
-**PER WORKER:** Run using the Bash tool with description "Recording {name} completion...": `bash .aether/aether-utils.sh spawn-complete "{ant_name}" "completed" "{summary}" && bash .aether/aether-utils.sh swarm-display-update "{ant_name}" "builder" "completed" "{task_description}" "Queen" '{"read":5,"grep":3,"edit":2,"bash":1}' 100 "fungus_garden" 100 && bash .aether/aether-utils.sh context-update worker-complete "{ant_name}" "completed"`
+**PER WORKER:** Run using the Bash tool with description "Recording {name} completion...": `bash .aether/aether-utils.sh spawn-complete "{ant_name}" "completed" "{summary}" && bash .aether/aether-utils.sh context-update worker-complete "{ant_name}" "completed"`
 
 **Check for total wave failure:**
 
@@ -915,10 +898,7 @@ If at least one worker succeeded, continue normally to the next wave.
 
 **Parse each worker's validated JSON output to collect:** status, files_created, files_modified, blockers
 
-**Visual Mode: Render live display (tmux only):**
-If `visual_mode` is true AND the build is running inside a tmux session (`$TMUX` environment variable is set), run using the Bash tool with description "Rendering build progress...": `bash .aether/aether-utils.sh swarm-display-text "$build_id"`
-
-If `$TMUX` is not set, skip this call entirely — do not attempt it. Chat users see the structured completion lines above instead.
+Chat users see the structured completion lines above.
 
 ### Step 5.3: Spawn Wave 2+ Workers (Sequential Waves)
 
@@ -942,7 +922,7 @@ Repeat Step 5.1-5.2 for each subsequent wave, waiting for previous wave to compl
 
 Spawn the Watcher using Task tool with `subagent_type="aether-watcher"`, include `description: "👁️ Watcher {Watcher-Name}: Independent verification"` (DO NOT use run_in_background - task blocks until complete):
 
-Run using the Bash tool with description "Dispatching watcher...": `bash .aether/aether-utils.sh spawn-log "Queen" "watcher" "{watcher_name}" "Independent verification" && bash .aether/aether-utils.sh swarm-display-update "{watcher_name}" "watcher" "observing" "Verification in progress" "Queen" '{"read":0,"grep":0,"edit":0,"bash":0}' 0 "nursery" 50`
+Run using the Bash tool with description "Dispatching watcher...": `bash .aether/aether-utils.sh spawn-log "Queen" "watcher" "{watcher_name}" "Independent verification"`
 
 **Watcher Worker Prompt (CLEAN OUTPUT):**
 ```
@@ -958,7 +938,6 @@ Files to verify:
 
 **IMPORTANT:** When using the Bash tool for activity calls, always include a description parameter:
 - activity-log calls → "Logging {action}..."
-- swarm-display-update calls → "Updating build display..."
 - pheromone-read calls → "Checking colony signals..."
 - spawn-log calls → "Dispatching sub-worker..."
 
@@ -1003,9 +982,6 @@ For failed verification:
 
 **Store results for synthesis in Step 5.7**
 
-**Update swarm display when Watcher completes:**
-Run using the Bash tool with description "Recording watcher completion...": `bash .aether/aether-utils.sh swarm-display-update "{watcher_name}" "watcher" "completed" "Verification complete" "Queen" '{"read":3,"grep":2,"edit":0,"bash":1}' 100 "nursery" 100`
-
 ### Step 5.5.1: Measurer Performance Agent (Conditional)
 
 **Conditional step — only runs for performance-sensitive phases.**
@@ -1042,7 +1018,7 @@ Run using the Bash tool with description "Recording watcher completion...": `bas
 3. **Generate Measurer name and dispatch:**
 
    Run using the Bash tool with description "Naming measurer...": `bash .aether/aether-utils.sh generate-ant-name "measurer"` (store as `{measurer_name}`)
-   Run using the Bash tool with description "Dispatching measurer...": `bash .aether/aether-utils.sh spawn-log "Queen" "measurer" "{measurer_name}" "Performance baseline measurement" && bash .aether/aether-utils.sh swarm-display-update "{measurer_name}" "measurer" "benchmarking" "Performance baseline measurement" "Queen" '{"read":0,"grep":0,"edit":0,"bash":0}' 0 "fungus_garden" 20`
+   Run using the Bash tool with description "Dispatching measurer...": `bash .aether/aether-utils.sh spawn-log "Queen" "measurer" "{measurer_name}" "Performance baseline measurement"`
 
    Display:
    ```
@@ -1118,7 +1094,7 @@ Run using the Bash tool with description "Recording watcher completion...": `bas
    Extract from response: `baselines_established`, `bottlenecks_identified`, `recommendations`, `tool_count`
 
    Log completion and update swarm display:
-   Run using the Bash tool with description "Recording measurer completion...": `bash .aether/aether-utils.sh spawn-complete "{measurer_name}" "completed" "Baselines established, bottlenecks identified" && bash .aether/aether-utils.sh swarm-display-update "{measurer_name}" "measurer" "completed" "Performance measurement complete" "Queen" '{"read":5,"grep":3,"edit":0,"bash":0}' 100 "fungus_garden" 100`
+   Run using the Bash tool with description "Recording measurer completion...": `bash .aether/aether-utils.sh spawn-complete "{measurer_name}" "completed" "Baselines established, bottlenecks identified"`
 
    **Display Measurer completion line:**
    ```
@@ -1165,7 +1141,7 @@ Generate a chaos ant name and dispatch:
 Run using the Bash tool with description "Naming chaos ant...": `bash .aether/aether-utils.sh generate-ant-name "chaos"` (store as `{chaos_name}`)
 Run using the Bash tool with description "Loading existing flags...": `bash .aether/aether-utils.sh flag-list --phase {phase_number}`
 Parse the result and extract unresolved flag titles into a list: `{existing_flag_titles}` (comma-separated titles from `.result.flags[].title`). If no flags exist, set `{existing_flag_titles}` to "None".
-Run using the Bash tool with description "Dispatching chaos ant...": `bash .aether/aether-utils.sh spawn-log "Queen" "chaos" "{chaos_name}" "Resilience testing of Phase {id} work" && bash .aether/aether-utils.sh swarm-display-update "{chaos_name}" "chaos" "probing" "Resilience testing" "Queen" '{"read":0,"grep":0,"edit":0,"bash":0}' 0 "refuse_pile" 75`
+Run using the Bash tool with description "Dispatching chaos ant...": `bash .aether/aether-utils.sh spawn-log "Queen" "chaos" "{chaos_name}" "Resilience testing of Phase {id} work"`
 
 **Announce the resilience testing wave:**
 ```
@@ -1188,7 +1164,6 @@ Skip these known issues: {existing_flag_titles}
 
 **IMPORTANT:** When using the Bash tool for activity calls, always include a description parameter:
 - activity-log calls → "Logging {action}..."
-- swarm-display-update calls → "Updating build display..."
 - pheromone-read calls → "Checking colony signals..."
 
 Use colony-flavored language, 4-8 words, trailing ellipsis.
@@ -1251,7 +1226,7 @@ bash .aether/aether-utils.sh memory-capture \
 ```
 
 Log chaos ant completion and update swarm display:
-Run using the Bash tool with description "Recording chaos completion...": `bash .aether/aether-utils.sh spawn-complete "{chaos_name}" "completed" "{summary}" && bash .aether/aether-utils.sh swarm-display-update "{chaos_name}" "chaos" "completed" "Resilience testing done" "Queen" '{"read":2,"grep":1,"edit":0,"bash":0}' 100 "refuse_pile" 100`
+Run using the Bash tool with description "Recording chaos completion...": `bash .aether/aether-utils.sh spawn-complete "{chaos_name}" "completed" "{summary}"`
 
 ### Step 5.8: Create Flags for Verification Failures
 
@@ -1543,11 +1518,6 @@ Note: This runs regardless of build success/failure. Failed builds may have reco
 
 **This step runs ONLY after synthesis is complete. All values come from actual worker results.**
 
-**Update swarm display state (always) and render (tmux only):**
-Run using the Bash tool with description "Recording build completion...": `bash .aether/aether-utils.sh swarm-display-update "Queen" "prime" "completed" "Phase {id} complete" "Colony" '{"read":10,"grep":5,"edit":5,"bash":2}' 100 "fungus_garden" 100`
-
-If `$TMUX` is set, also run using the Bash tool with description "Rendering final swarm display...": `bash .aether/aether-utils.sh swarm-display-text "$build_id"`
-
 **Display BUILD SUMMARY (always shown, replaces compact/verbose split):**
 
 Calculate `total_tools` by summing `tool_count` from all worker return JSONs (builders + watcher + chaos).

package/.aether/docs/command-playbooks/build-prep.md

@@ -74,12 +74,6 @@ Do not touch during build:
 - Other agents' config files (only modify files assigned to the current build task)
 </read_only>
 
-### Step 0: Version Check (Non-blocking)
-
-Run using the Bash tool with description "Checking colony version...": `bash .aether/aether-utils.sh version-check-cached 2>/dev/null || true`
-
-If the command succeeds and the JSON result contains a non-empty string, display it as a one-line notice. Proceed regardless of outcome.
-
 ### Step 0.6: Verify LiteLLM Proxy
 
 Check that the LiteLLM proxy is running for model routing: