ei-tui 0.4.2 → 0.5.0

package/src/integrations/claude-code/importer.ts

@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import type { StateManager } from "../../core/state-manager.js";
-import type { Ei_Interface, Topic, Message, ContextStatus, PersonaEntity } from "../../core/types.js";
+import type { Ei_Interface, Topic, Message, ContextStatus, PersonaEntity, PersonaTrait } from "../../core/types.js";
+import { DEFAULT_SEED_TRAITS } from "../../core/constants/seed-traits.js";
 import type { IClaudeCodeReader, ClaudeCodeSession, ClaudeCodeMessage } from "./types.js";
 import {
   CLAUDE_CODE_PERSONA_NAME,
@@ -48,6 +49,7 @@ function convertToEiMessage(msg: ClaudeCodeMessage): Message {
     timestamp: msg.timestamp,
     read: true,
     context_status: "default" as ContextStatus,
+    external: true,
   };
 }
 
@@ -73,6 +75,14 @@ function ensureClaudeCodePersona(
   if (existing) return existing;
 
   const now = new Date().toISOString();
+  const seedTraits: PersonaTrait[] = DEFAULT_SEED_TRAITS.map((t) => ({
+    id: crypto.randomUUID(),
+    name: t.name,
+    description: t.description,
+    sentiment: t.sentiment,
+    strength: t.strength,
+    last_updated: now,
+  }));
   const persona: PersonaEntity = {
     id: crypto.randomUUID(),
     display_name: CLAUDE_CODE_PERSONA_NAME,
@@ -83,7 +93,7 @@ function ensureClaudeCodePersona(
       "Claude Code is an agentic coding assistant that helps with coding tasks, debugging, architecture decisions, and more.",
     group_primary: CLAUDE_CODE_GROUP,
     groups_visible: [CLAUDE_CODE_GROUP],
-    traits: [],
+    traits: seedTraits,
     topics: [],
     is_paused: false,
     is_archived: false,
@@ -266,17 +276,19 @@ export async function importClaudeCodeSessions(
 
   if (signal?.aborted) return result;
 
-  // ─── Step 4: Ensure persona, archive, clear, write messages ──────────
+  // ─── Step 4: Ensure persona, archive if new, clear external messages ──────────
+  const personaExistedBefore = stateManager.persona_getByName(CLAUDE_CODE_PERSONA_NAME) !== null;
   const persona = ensureClaudeCodePersona(stateManager, eiInterface);
-  result.personaCreated = !stateManager.persona_getByName(CLAUDE_CODE_PERSONA_NAME);
+  result.personaCreated = !personaExistedBefore;
 
-  if (!persona.is_archived) {
+  if (!personaExistedBefore) {
     stateManager.persona_archive(persona.id);
-  }
-
-  const existingMsgs = stateManager.messages_get(persona.id);
-  if (existingMsgs.length > 0) {
-    stateManager.messages_remove(persona.id, existingMsgs.map((m) => m.id));
+  } else {
+    const existingMsgs = stateManager.messages_get(persona.id);
+    const externalIds = existingMsgs.filter((m) => m.external === true).map((m) => m.id);
+    if (externalIds.length > 0) {
+      stateManager.messages_remove(persona.id, externalIds);
+    }
   }
 
   const cutoffIso = processedSessions[targetSession.id] ?? null;
@@ -316,6 +328,7 @@ export async function importClaudeCodeSessions(
     queueAllScans(context, stateManager, {
       extraction_model: ccSettings?.extraction_model,
       extraction_token_limit: ccSettings?.extraction_token_limit,
+      external_filter: "only",
     });
     result.extractionScansQueued += 4;
   }

package/src/integrations/cursor/importer.ts

@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import type { StateManager } from "../../core/state-manager.js";
-import type { Ei_Interface, Topic, Message, ContextStatus, PersonaEntity } from "../../core/types.js";
+import type { Ei_Interface, Topic, Message, ContextStatus, PersonaEntity, PersonaTrait } from "../../core/types.js";
+import { DEFAULT_SEED_TRAITS } from "../../core/constants/seed-traits.js";
 import type { ICursorReader, CursorSession, CursorMessage } from "./types.js";
 import {
   CURSOR_PERSONA_NAME,
@@ -40,6 +41,7 @@ function convertToEiMessage(msg: CursorMessage): Message {
     timestamp: msg.timestamp,
     read: true,
     context_status: "default" as ContextStatus,
+    external: true,
   };
 }
 
@@ -61,6 +63,14 @@ function ensureCursorPersona(
   if (existing) return existing;
 
   const now = new Date().toISOString();
+  const seedTraits: PersonaTrait[] = DEFAULT_SEED_TRAITS.map((t) => ({
+    id: crypto.randomUUID(),
+    name: t.name,
+    description: t.description,
+    sentiment: t.sentiment,
+    strength: t.strength,
+    last_updated: now,
+  }));
   const persona: PersonaEntity = {
     id: crypto.randomUUID(),
     display_name: CURSOR_PERSONA_NAME,
@@ -71,7 +81,7 @@ function ensureCursorPersona(
       "Cursor is an AI-powered IDE that helps with coding tasks, debugging, architecture decisions, and more.",
     group_primary: CURSOR_GROUP,
     groups_visible: [CURSOR_GROUP],
-    traits: [],
+    traits: seedTraits,
     topics: [],
     is_paused: false,
     is_archived: false,
@@ -223,16 +233,18 @@ export async function importCursorSessions(
 
   if (signal?.aborted) return result;
 
+  const personaExistedBefore = stateManager.persona_getByName(CURSOR_PERSONA_NAME) !== null;
   const persona = ensureCursorPersona(stateManager, eiInterface);
-  result.personaCreated = !stateManager.persona_getByName(CURSOR_PERSONA_NAME);
+  result.personaCreated = !personaExistedBefore;
 
-  if (!persona.is_archived) {
+  if (!personaExistedBefore) {
     stateManager.persona_archive(persona.id);
-  }
-
-  const existingMsgs = stateManager.messages_get(persona.id);
-  if (existingMsgs.length > 0) {
-    stateManager.messages_remove(persona.id, existingMsgs.map((m) => m.id));
+  } else {
+    const existingMsgs = stateManager.messages_get(persona.id);
+    const externalIds = existingMsgs.filter((m) => m.external === true).map((m) => m.id);
+    if (externalIds.length > 0) {
+      stateManager.messages_remove(persona.id, externalIds);
+    }
   }
 
   const cutoffIso = processedSessions[targetSession.id] ?? null;
@@ -267,7 +279,7 @@ export async function importCursorSessions(
       messages_analyze: toAnalyze,
     };
 
-    queueAllScans(context, stateManager, {});
+    queueAllScans(context, stateManager, { external_filter: "only" });
     result.extractionScansQueued += 4;
   }
 

package/src/integrations/opencode/importer.ts

@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import type { Ei_Interface, Message, ContextStatus } from "../../core/types.js";
 import type { IOpenCodeReader, OpenCodeSession, OpenCodeMessage } from "./types.js";
 import { UTILITY_AGENTS, AGENT_TO_AGENT_PREFIXES } from "./types.js";
 import { createOpenCodeReader } from "./reader-factory.js";
-import { ensureAgentPersona } from "../../core/personas/opencode-agent.js";
+import { ensureAgentPersona, resolveCanonicalAgent } from "../../core/personas/opencode-agent.js";
 import {
   queueAllScans,
   type ExtractionContext,
@@ -50,10 +50,10 @@ function convertToEiMessage(ocMsg: OpenCodeMessage): Message {
     timestamp: ocMsg.timestamp,
     read: true,
     context_status: "default" as ContextStatus,
+    external: true,
   };
 }
 
-/** Convert OC message to Ei Message with all extraction flags pre-set. */
 function convertToPreMarkedEiMessage(ocMsg: OpenCodeMessage): Message {
   return {
     ...convertToEiMessage(ocMsg),
@@ -171,9 +171,10 @@ export async function importOpenCodeSessions(
   // ─── Step 4: Resolve agents → personas, group by persona ID ────────
   // Resolve aliases up front so 'sisyphus' and 'Sisyphus (Ultraworker)'
   // land in the same bucket instead of clobbering each other.
-  const byPersonaId = new Map<string, { persona: NonNullable<ReturnType<typeof stateManager.persona_getByName>>; msgs: OpenCodeMessage[] }>();
+  const byPersonaId = new Map<string, { persona: NonNullable<ReturnType<typeof stateManager.persona_getByName>>; msgs: OpenCodeMessage[]; isNew: boolean; agentName: string }>();
   for (const msg of relevant) {
     let persona = stateManager.persona_getByName(msg.agent);
+    let isNew = false;
     if (!persona) {
       persona = await ensureAgentPersona(msg.agent, {
         stateManager,
@@ -181,28 +182,43 @@ export async function importOpenCodeSessions(
         reader,
       });
       result.personasCreated.push(msg.agent);
+      isNew = true;
     }
     const bucket = byPersonaId.get(persona.id);
     if (bucket) {
       bucket.msgs.push(msg);
     } else {
-      byPersonaId.set(persona.id, { persona, msgs: [msg] });
+      byPersonaId.set(persona.id, { persona, msgs: [msg], isNew, agentName: msg.agent });
     }
   }
 
   const cutoffIso = processedSessions[targetSession.id] ?? null;
   const cutoffMs = cutoffIso ? new Date(cutoffIso).getTime() : null;
 
-  for (const [, { persona, msgs: agentMsgs }] of byPersonaId) {
-    // Archive persona (message store only, not a conversational persona)
-    if (!persona.is_archived) {
+  for (const [, { persona, msgs: agentMsgs, isNew, agentName }] of byPersonaId) {
+    if (isNew) {
+      // Brand-new persona: archive it (coding-session store, not a live chat persona)
       stateManager.persona_archive(persona.id);
-    }
-
-    // Clear existing messages — this persona holds exactly one session at a time
-    const existingMsgs = stateManager.messages_get(persona.id);
-    if (existingMsgs.length > 0) {
-      stateManager.messages_remove(persona.id, existingMsgs.map(m => m.id));
+    } else if (persona.is_archived) {
+      // Existing archived persona: refresh identity fields, then remove only external messages
+      const agentInfo = await reader.getAgentInfo(persona.display_name);
+      const { aliases } = resolveCanonicalAgent(agentName);
+      stateManager.persona_update(persona.id, {
+        short_description: agentInfo?.description ?? persona.short_description,
+        aliases,
+      });
+      const existingMsgs = stateManager.messages_get(persona.id);
+      const externalIds = existingMsgs.filter(m => m.external === true).map(m => m.id);
+      if (externalIds.length > 0) {
+        stateManager.messages_remove(persona.id, externalIds);
+      }
+    } else {
+      // Existing live (non-archived) persona: only remove external messages, leave chat history intact
+      const existingMsgs = stateManager.messages_get(persona.id);
+      const externalIds = existingMsgs.filter(m => m.external === true).map(m => m.id);
+      if (externalIds.length > 0) {
+        stateManager.messages_remove(persona.id, externalIds);
+      }
     }
 
     // Write messages — pre-mark old ones, leave new ones unmarked for extraction
@@ -241,6 +257,7 @@ export async function importOpenCodeSessions(
         queueAllScans(context, stateManager, {
           extraction_model: openCodeSettings?.extraction_model,
           extraction_token_limit: openCodeSettings?.extraction_token_limit,
+          external_filter: "only",
         });
         result.extractionScansQueued += 4;
       }

package/src/prompts/ceremony/dedup.ts

@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ You have access to a tool called \`read_memory\` (6 calls max — see HARD RULES
   ]
 }
 
-Return raw JSON. No markdown fencing, no commentary, no explanation. Just the JSON object.
+Call \`submit_dedup_decisions\` with your decisions. If the tool is unavailable, return raw JSON — no markdown fencing, no commentary, just the object.
 
 Record format for "${typeLabel}" (based on type):
 
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ ${buildRecordFormatExamples(data.itemType)}
     similarity_range: data.similarityRange,
   }, null, 2);
 
-  const schemaReminder = `**Return JSON:**
+  const schemaReminder = `**Call \`submit_dedup_decisions\` with your decisions.** If the tool is unavailable, return JSON:
 \n\`\`\`json
 {
   "update": [

package/src/prompts/generation/from-person.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,85 @@
+import type { PersonaFromPersonPromptData, PromptOutput } from "./types.js";
+
+const JSON_SCHEMA = `\`\`\`json
+{
+  "short_description": "10-15 word summary of who this person is",
+  "long_description": "2-3 sentences describing personality, approach, and what makes them distinctive",
+  "traits": [
+    { "name": "...", "description": "...", "sentiment": 0.7, "strength": 0.8 }
+  ],
+  "topics": [
+    { "name": "...", "perspective": "...", "approach": "...", "personal_stake": "...", "sentiment": 0.6, "exposure_current": 0.5, "exposure_desired": 0.7 }
+  ]
+}
+\`\`\``;
+
+const JSON_SCHEMA_ABBREVIATED = `Return JSON:
+\`\`\`json
+{
+  "short_description": "10-15 word summary",
+  "long_description": "2-3 sentence description",
+  "traits": [ { "name": "...", "description": "...", "sentiment": 0.0, "strength": 0.5 } ],
+  "topics": [ { "name": "...", "perspective": "...", "approach": "...", "personal_stake": "...", "sentiment": 0.5, "exposure_current": 0.5, "exposure_desired": 0.6 } ]
+}
+\`\`\``;
+
+export function buildPersonaFromPersonPrompt(data: PersonaFromPersonPromptData): PromptOutput {
+  if (!data.name) {
+    throw new Error("buildPersonaFromPersonPrompt: name is required");
+  }
+  if (!data.description) {
+    throw new Error("buildPersonaFromPersonPrompt: description is required");
+  }
+
+  const isUpdate = !!(data.existing_trait_names?.length || data.existing_topic_names?.length);
+
+  const systemLines: string[] = [];
+  systemLines.push("You are building a persona definition from a real person's description.");
+
+  if (isUpdate) {
+    systemLines.push(
+      "This persona already exists — generate traits and topics that EXPAND its personality with new dimensions."
+    );
+  }
+
+  systemLines.push(
+    "Generate content that authentically reflects the person described. Do not use generic filler.",
+    "",
+    "Generate exactly 3 traits and exactly 3 topics.",
+    "",
+    JSON_SCHEMA
+  );
+
+  const system = systemLines.join("\n");
+
+  const userLines: string[] = [];
+  userLines.push(`Person: ${data.name}`);
+
+  if (data.relationship) {
+    userLines.push(`Relationship: ${data.relationship}`);
+  }
+
+  userLines.push("", "Description:", data.description);
+
+  if (data.existing_trait_names && data.existing_trait_names.length > 0) {
+    userLines.push(
+      "",
+      "These traits already exist on this persona — do NOT repeat them. Generate 3 NEW traits that reveal different dimensions:",
+      ...data.existing_trait_names.map((n) => `- ${n}`)
+    );
+  }
+
+  if (data.existing_topic_names && data.existing_topic_names.length > 0) {
+    userLines.push(
+      "",
+      "These topics already exist — do NOT repeat them. Generate 3 NEW topics that expand different areas:",
+      ...data.existing_topic_names.map((n) => `- ${n}`)
+    );
+  }
+
+  userLines.push("", JSON_SCHEMA_ABBREVIATED);
+
+  const user = userLines.join("\n");
+
+  return { system, user };
+}

package/src/prompts/generation/index.ts

@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 export { buildPersonaGenerationPrompt } from "./persona.js";
 export { buildPersonaDescriptionsPrompt } from "./descriptions.js";
+export { buildPersonaFromPersonPrompt } from "./from-person.js";
 export {
   DEFAULT_SEED_TRAITS,
   SEED_TRAIT_GENUINE,
@@ -9,6 +10,7 @@ export {
 export type {
   PersonaGenerationPromptData,
   PersonaGenerationResult,
+  PersonaFromPersonPromptData,
   PersonaDescriptionsPromptData,
   PersonaDescriptionsResult,
   PromptOutput,

package/src/prompts/generation/persona.ts

@@ -1,6 +1,12 @@
 import type { PersonaGenerationPromptData, PromptOutput } from "./types.js";
 import { DEFAULT_SEED_TRAITS } from "./seeds.js";
 
+/**
+ * @deprecated Use `processor.generatePersonaPreview()` instead.
+ * This queue-based generation flow is being replaced by a synchronous one-shot
+ * preview path that lets users review the result before persisting.
+ * Will be removed once `generatePersonaPreview` is wired up end-to-end.
+ */
 export function buildPersonaGenerationPrompt(data: PersonaGenerationPromptData): PromptOutput {
   if (!data.name) {
     throw new Error("buildPersonaGenerationPrompt: name is required");
@@ -9,10 +15,10 @@ export function buildPersonaGenerationPrompt(data: PersonaGenerationPromptData):
   const hasLongDescription = !!data.long_description?.trim();
   const hasShortDescription = !!data.short_description?.trim();
   
-  const userProvidedTraits = data.existing_traits?.filter(t => t.name?.trim()) ?? [];
+  const userProvidedTraits = data.filtered_traits;
   const allTraits = [...DEFAULT_SEED_TRAITS, ...userProvidedTraits];
   const existingTraitCount = allTraits.length;
-  const existingTopicCount = data.existing_topics?.filter(t => t.name?.trim())?.length ?? 0;
+  const existingTopicCount = data.filtered_topics.length;
 
   const needsShortDescription = !hasShortDescription;
   const needsMoreTraits = existingTraitCount < 3;
@@ -136,14 +142,12 @@ ${schemaFragment}`;
 
   if (existingTopicCount > 0) {
     userPrompt += `## User's Topics (PRESERVE EXACTLY, add more if fewer than 3)\n`;
-    for (const topic of data.existing_topics ?? []) {
-      if (topic.name?.trim()) {
-        userPrompt += `- ${topic.name}\n`;
-        if (topic.perspective) userPrompt += `  perspective: ${topic.perspective}\n`;
-        if (topic.approach) userPrompt += `  approach: ${topic.approach}\n`;
-        if (topic.personal_stake) userPrompt += `  personal_stake: ${topic.personal_stake}\n`;
-        if (topic.sentiment !== undefined) userPrompt += `  sentiment: ${topic.sentiment}\n`;
-      }
+    for (const topic of data.filtered_topics) {
+      userPrompt += `- ${topic.name}\n`;
+      if (topic.perspective) userPrompt += `  perspective: ${topic.perspective}\n`;
+      if (topic.approach) userPrompt += `  approach: ${topic.approach}\n`;
+      if (topic.personal_stake) userPrompt += `  personal_stake: ${topic.personal_stake}\n`;
+      if (topic.sentiment !== undefined) userPrompt += `  sentiment: ${topic.sentiment}\n`;
     }
     userPrompt += `\n`;
   }

package/src/prompts/generation/seeds.ts

@@ -1,31 +1,6 @@
-// Seed traits for new personas. Users can set strength=0.0 to disable or delete entirely.
-
-export interface SeedTrait {
-  name: string;
-  description: string;
-  sentiment: number;
-  strength: number;
-}
-
-export const SEED_TRAIT_GENUINE: SeedTrait = {
-  name: "Genuine Responses",
-  description: "Respond authentically rather than with empty validation. Disagree when appropriate. Skip phrases like 'Great question!' or 'Absolutely!' - just respond to the substance.",
-  sentiment: 0.5,
-  strength: 0.7,
-};
-
-export const SEED_TRAIT_NATURAL_SPEECH: SeedTrait = {
-  name: "Natural Speech",
-  description: `Write in natural conversational flow. Avoid AI-typical patterns like:
-- Choppy dramatic fragments ('Bold move. Risky play.')
-- Rhetorical 'That X? Y.' structures
-- 'That's not just... That's ...'
-- formulaic paragraph openers`,
-  sentiment: 0.5,
-  strength: 0.7,
-};
-
-export const DEFAULT_SEED_TRAITS: SeedTrait[] = [
+export type { SeedTrait } from "../../core/constants/seed-traits.js";
+export {
   SEED_TRAIT_GENUINE,
   SEED_TRAIT_NATURAL_SPEECH,
-];
+  DEFAULT_SEED_TRAITS,
+} from "../../core/constants/seed-traits.js";

package/src/prompts/generation/types.ts

@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@ export interface PersonaGenerationPromptData {
   short_description?: string;
   existing_traits?: Array<{ name?: string; description?: string; sentiment?: number; strength?: number }>;
   existing_topics?: Array<{ name?: string; perspective?: string; approach?: string; personal_stake?: string; sentiment?: number; exposure_current?: number; exposure_desired?: number }>;
+  filtered_traits: Array<{ name?: string; description?: string; sentiment?: number; strength?: number }>;
+  filtered_topics: Array<{ name?: string; perspective?: string; approach?: string; personal_stake?: string; sentiment?: number; exposure_current?: number; exposure_desired?: number }>;
 }
 
 export interface PersonaGenerationResult {
@@ -31,6 +33,17 @@ export interface PersonaGenerationResult {
     exposure_desired: number;
     sentiment: number;
   }>;
+  previous_long_description?: string;
+  previous_short_description?: string;
+  aliases?: string[];
+}
+
+export interface PersonaFromPersonPromptData {
+  name: string;
+  description: string;
+  relationship?: string;
+  existing_trait_names?: string[];
+  existing_topic_names?: string[];
 }
 
 export interface PersonaDescriptionsPromptData {

package/src/prompts/heartbeat/check.ts

@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ ${formatPeopleWithGaps(data.human.people)}`;
 
   const outputFragment = `## Response Format
 
-Return JSON in this exact format:
+Call the \`submit_heartbeat_check\` tool with your decision. If the tool is unavailable, return JSON:
 
 \`\`\`json
 {

package/src/prompts/heartbeat/ei.ts

@@ -40,8 +40,8 @@ function countTrailingPersonaMessages(history: Message[]): number {
   return count;
 }
 
-function getLastPersonaMessage(history: Message[]): Message | undefined {
-  return history.filter(m => m.role === "system").slice(-1)[0];
+function getLastPersonaMessage(systemMessages: Message[]): Message | undefined {
+  return systemMessages.slice(-1)[0];
 }
 
 export function buildEiHeartbeatPrompt(data: EiHeartbeatPromptData): PromptOutput {
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ ${itemsSection}
 
 ## Response Format
 
-Pick ONE item (or none):
+Call the \`submit_ei_heartbeat\` tool with your decision. Pick ONE item (or none). If the tool is unavailable, return JSON:
 
 \`\`\`json
 {
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ Or if nothing warrants reaching out:
 ${formatMessagesAsPlaceholders(data.recent_history, "Ei")}`;
 
   const consecutiveMessages = countTrailingPersonaMessages(data.recent_history);
-  const lastEiMsg = getLastPersonaMessage(data.recent_history);
+  const lastEiMsg = getLastPersonaMessage(data.system_messages);
 
   let unansweredWarning = "";
   if (lastEiMsg && consecutiveMessages >= 1) {

package/src/prompts/heartbeat/types.ts

@@ -87,6 +87,7 @@ export type EiHeartbeatItem =
 export interface EiHeartbeatPromptData {
   items: EiHeartbeatItem[];
   recent_history: Message[];
+  system_messages: Message[];  // Pre-filtered system messages from recent_history
 }
 
 /**

package/src/prompts/index.ts

@@ -16,10 +16,12 @@ export type {
 export {
   buildPersonaGenerationPrompt,
   buildPersonaDescriptionsPrompt,
+  buildPersonaFromPersonPrompt,
 } from "./generation/index.js";
 export type {
   PersonaGenerationPromptData,
   PersonaGenerationResult,
+  PersonaFromPersonPromptData,
   PersonaDescriptionsPromptData,
   PersonaDescriptionsResult,
 } from "./generation/types.js";
@@ -81,3 +83,16 @@ export type {
   DescriptionCheckPromptData,
   DescriptionCheckResult,
 } from "./ceremony/types.js";
+
+export {
+  buildRoomResponsePrompt,
+  buildRoomJudgePrompt,
+} from "./room/index.js";
+export type {
+  RoomResponsePromptData,
+  RoomJudgePromptData,
+  RoomJudgeResult,
+  RoomParticipantIdentity,
+  RoomHistoryMessage,
+  RoomJudgeCandidate,
+} from "./room/types.js";

package/src/prompts/message-utils.ts

@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ export function getMessageDisplayText(message: Message): string | null {
   if (message.action_response) parts.push(`_${message.action_response}_`);
   if (message.verbal_response) parts.push(message.verbal_response);
   if (message.silence_reason) {
-    const name = 'Persona'; // Caller doesn't pass persona name; frontends can override
+    const name = message.speaker_name ?? 'Persona';
     parts.push(`[${name} chose not to respond because: ${message.silence_reason}]`);
   }
   if (parts.length === 0) return null;
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ export function buildChatMessageContent(message: Message): string {
 }
 
 export function formatMessageAsPlaceholder(message: Message, personaName: string): string {
-  const role = message.role === "human" ? "human" : personaName;
+  const role = message.role === "human" ? "human" : (message.speaker_name ?? personaName);
   return `[mid:${message.id}:${role}]`;
 }
 

package/src/prompts/persona/topics-match.ts

@@ -24,11 +24,12 @@ You are checking if a topic candidate already exists in ${personaName}'s topic l
 
 # Matching Rules
 
-1. **Exact match**: Same topic name → return its ID
-2. **Similar match**: Clearly the same topic with different wording → return its ID
+1. **Exact match**: Same topic name → action "match", return its ID
+2. **Similar match**: Clearly the same topic with different wording → action "match", return its ID
    - "Steam Deck" and "Steam Deck Modding" → MATCH (same core topic)
    - "Cooking" and "Italian Cooking" → consider MATCH if the specific is part of the general
-3. **No match**: Genuinely different topic → return null
+3. **No match**: Genuinely different topic → action "create"
+4. **Skip**: Trivial, off-topic, or too vague to be a meaningful persona topic → action "skip"
 
 # Existing Topics
 
@@ -38,10 +39,9 @@ ${formatExistingTopics(data.existing_topics)}
 
 # Response Format
 
-Return ONLY the ID of the matching topic, or null if no match exists.
-
 \`\`\`json
 {
+  "action": "match" | "create" | "skip",
   "matched_id": "uuid-of-matching-topic" | null,
   "reason": "brief explanation"
 }
@@ -55,11 +55,12 @@ Name: ${data.candidate.name}
 Message Count: ${data.candidate.message_count}
 Sentiment Signal: ${data.candidate.sentiment_signal}
 
-Find the best match in ${personaName}'s existing topics, or return null if this is genuinely new.
+Find the best match in ${personaName}'s existing topics, or decide if this should be created or skipped.
 
 **Return JSON:**
 \`\`\`json
 {
+  "action": "match" | "create" | "skip",
   "matched_id": "..." | null,
   "reason": "..."
 }

package/src/prompts/persona/topics-update.ts

@@ -80,15 +80,12 @@ Example: "As a hobbit who left home, the Shire is both memory and motivation."
 ## sentiment
 How ${personaName} feels about this topic. Scale: -1.0 (hate) to 1.0 (love).
 
-## exposure_current
-How recently/frequently this topic has been discussed. Scale: 0.0 to 1.0.
-
-**For existing topics**: ONLY INCREASE this value based on conversation activity.
-- Active discussion → increase by 0.2-0.3
-- Brief mention → increase by 0.1
-- Maximum: 1.0
-
-**For new topics**: Start at 0.3-0.5 depending on discussion depth.
+## exposure_impact
+How much this topic was discussed in the recent messages. Choose one:
+- "high" — Major topic, multiple substantive exchanges
+- "medium" — Meaningful mention, discussed with some depth
+- "low" — Brief or passing mention
+- "none" — Barely mentioned, tangential at best
 
 ## exposure_desired
 How much ${personaName} wants to discuss this topic. Scale: 0.0 to 1.0.
@@ -112,7 +109,7 @@ How much ${personaName} wants to discuss this topic. Scale: 0.0 to 1.0.
   "approach": "",
   "personal_stake": "",
   "sentiment": 0.5,
-  "exposure_current": 0.5,
+  "exposure_impact": "medium",
   "exposure_desired": 0.5
 }
 \`\`\``;
@@ -148,7 +145,7 @@ ${isNewTopic ? 'Create' : 'Update'} the PersonaTopic based on how ${personaName}
   "approach": "...",
   "personal_stake": "...",
   "sentiment": 0.5,
-  "exposure_current": 0.5,
+  "exposure_impact": "medium",
   "exposure_desired": 0.5
 }
 \`\`\``;