pi-pier 0.4.1 → 0.4.3

package/README.md

@@ -43,8 +43,7 @@ The installer also verifies node / pi / herdr versions.
 | Tool | Purpose |
 |---|---|
 | `todo_write` | Full-replacement todo list. Session JSONL is the single source of truth; correct rollback on branch switches. Projected live onto the pane title (`▶i ○p ■b ✓c (N/M) · current task`). `/todos` command to view/edit/unblock |
-| `subagent` | Delegate self-contained subtasks to an isolated pi session in its own herdr pane. Actions: `spawn` (default; foreground / parallel / background), `list`, `send`, `interrupt`, `resume`, `output` (incremental preview of a running subagent's pane output), `role` (switch that worker's role profile mid-session — pi records the toolset change as a transcript delta, so it applies on the worker's next request and survives resume). Every spawned task gets a stable slug: outputs print `slug@paneId`, and `agentId` accepts the slug, the pane id, or the combined form |
-| `report_progress` | Worker panes only: send the delegating master a short checkpoint update without ending the task. Arrives in the master's context as a display-less custom message (no turn, no chat flood), rendered as a `⤴ progress` card |
+| `subagent` | Delegate self-contained subtasks to an isolated pi session in its own herdr pane. Actions: `spawn` (default; foreground / parallel / background), `list`, `send`, `interrupt`, `resume`, `output` (incremental preview of a running subagent's pane output), `role` (switch that worker's role profile mid-session — pi records the toolset change as a transcript delta, so it applies on the worker's next request and survives resume), `help` (the full manual — placement, isolate, roles, ledger — kept out of the per-request description). Every spawned task gets a stable slug: outputs print `slug@paneId`, and `agentId` accepts the slug, the pane id, or the combined form |
 | `terminal` | Persistent interactive shells in dedicated herdr panes. Actions: `open`, `send`, `read`, `signal`, `close`, `list` |
 
 ### Commands

package/package.json

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "pi-pier",
-  "version": "0.4.1",
+  "version": "0.4.3",
   "description": "pier: pi extension that fuses pi agent sessions with the herdr pane/tab orchestrator — todo_write loop closure + interactive subagents in isolated panes",
   "license": "MIT",
   "type": "module",

package/schemas/efficiency-config.schema.json

@@ -8,23 +8,29 @@
     "onlineContextCompact": {
       "type": "object",
       "properties": {
-        "enabled": { "type": "boolean", "default": false, "description": "是否启用待办驱动的在线上下文压缩" },
-        "logEnabled": { "type": "boolean", "default": false, "description": "是否记录在线压缩的决策与节省量日志" },
+        "enabled": { "type": "boolean", "default": false, "description": "Enable todo-driven online context compaction" },
+        "logEnabled": { "type": "boolean", "default": false, "description": "Log online compaction decisions and savings" },
         "cacheWriteReadRatio": {
           "oneOf": [
             { "type": "number", "minimum": 0 },
             { "type": "string", "enum": ["auto"] }
           ],
           "default": "auto",
-          "description": "KV 缓存写入与读取成本比。auto 表示从 ctx.model.cost 自动推导"
+          "description": "KV cache write-to-read cost ratio. auto derives it from ctx.model.cost"
         },
         "firstCompactionRequestScale": { "type": "number", "default": 2.0, "minimum": 1.0 },
         "subsequentCompactionMargin": { "type": "number", "default": 1.5, "minimum": 1.0 },
+        "summaryThinkingLevel": {
+          "type": "string",
+          "enum": ["inherit", "off", "minimal", "low", "medium", "high", "xhigh", "max"],
+          "default": "low",
+          "description": "Thinking level cap for compaction summary requests (only lowers, never raises; the session level is restored afterwards). inherit keeps the session level"
+        },
         "keepRecentTokens": {
           "type": "integer",
           "default": 20000,
           "minimum": 1000,
-          "description": "原生压缩保留区大小（同时用于 archiveTokens 估算与 nativeCompactionFeasible 预检）。缺省自动继承 pi 的 compaction.keepRecentTokens 设置（默认 20000）。"
+          "description": "Native compaction keep-recent window size (also used for archiveTokens estimation and the nativeCompactionFeasible precheck). Defaults to inheriting pi's compaction.keepRecentTokens setting (20000 when unset)."
         }
       },
       "additionalProperties": false
@@ -32,8 +38,8 @@
     "observationPack": {
       "type": "object",
       "properties": {
-        "enabled": { "type": "boolean", "default": false, "description": "是否启用大工具输出冷热分级打包" },
-        "logEnabled": { "type": "boolean", "default": false, "description": "是否记录观察结果打包与召回日志" },
+        "enabled": { "type": "boolean", "default": false, "description": "Enable hot/cold-tiered packing of large tool outputs" },
+        "logEnabled": { "type": "boolean", "default": false, "description": "Log observation packing and recall" },
         "thresholdBytes": { "type": "integer", "default": 10240, "minimum": 1024 },
         "fullSends": { "type": "integer", "default": 2, "minimum": 1 },
         "recallChunkBytes": { "type": "integer", "default": 16384, "minimum": 1024 },
@@ -44,31 +50,31 @@
     "evidencePreservingReducer": {
       "type": "object",
       "properties": {
-        "enabled": { "type": "boolean", "default": false, "description": "是否启用长测试日志保真提炼" },
-        "logEnabled": { "type": "boolean", "default": false, "description": "是否记录提炼比对、耗时与回退日志" },
+        "enabled": { "type": "boolean", "default": false, "description": "Enable fidelity-preserving refinement of long test logs" },
+        "logEnabled": { "type": "boolean", "default": false, "description": "Log refinement comparisons, durations and fallbacks" },
         "model": {
           "type": "string",
-          "description": "专用的轻量 Reducer 模型 (provider/model)。缺省使用当前模型并在日志中提示经济性"
+          "description": "Dedicated lightweight Reducer model (provider/model). Defaults to the current model and logs an economy hint"
         },
         "minBytes": { "type": "integer", "default": 4096, "minimum": 512 },
         "maxChars": { "type": "integer", "default": 600000 },
         "maxOutputTokens": { "type": "integer", "default": 2048 },
-        "timeoutMs": { "type": "integer", "default": 5000, "description": "同步拦截超时上限，默认 5 秒避免阻塞" },
-        "localOnly": { "type": "boolean", "default": false, "description": "仅本地归档长日志并跳过模型提炼" }
+        "timeoutMs": { "type": "integer", "default": 5000, "description": "Upper bound for the synchronous interception timeout; defaults to 5s to avoid blocking" },
+        "localOnly": { "type": "boolean", "default": false, "description": "Archive long logs locally only and skip model refinement" }
       },
       "additionalProperties": false
     },
     "jev": {
       "type": "object",
-      "description": "jev 决策层（RFC docs/rfc-jev-integration.md）：可选的 System One 分类调用，逐点 fail-open",
+      "description": "jev decision layer (RFC docs/rfc-jev-integration.md): optional System One classification calls, fail-open at each point",
       "properties": {
-        "enabled": { "type": "boolean", "default": false, "description": "是否启用 jev 决策层（还需配置 apiKey 才会真正发起调用）" },
-        "logEnabled": { "type": "boolean", "default": false, "description": "是否写 efficiency-logs/jev.jsonl（不记录请求/响应 body）" },
-        "baseUrl": { "type": "string", "description": "API 根地址覆盖（中转/网关）；缺省 https://api.typesafe.ai" },
-        "model": { "type": "string", "default": "jev-1.13.0", "description": "钉住的版本化模型 id；别名会静默漂移导致校准阈值失真" },
-        "timeoutMs": { "type": "integer", "default": 2000, "minimum": 500, "description": "单次调用总预算（AbortController 硬杀，SDK 无总预算模式）" },
-        "minConfidence": { "type": "number", "default": 0.6, "minimum": 0, "maximum": 1, "description": "Choice/Score 答案被采纳的最低置信度，低于则按未回答处理" },
-        "apiKey": { "type": "string", "description": "API key。解析优先级：PIER_JEV_API_KEY 环境变量 > 此处 > TYPESAFE_API_KEY 环境变量" }
+        "enabled": { "type": "boolean", "default": false, "description": "Enable the jev decision layer (calls are only made once apiKey is configured)" },
+        "logEnabled": { "type": "boolean", "default": false, "description": "Write efficiency-logs/jev.jsonl (no request/response bodies)" },
+        "baseUrl": { "type": "string", "description": "API base URL override (proxy/gateway); defaults to https://api.typesafe.ai" },
+        "model": { "type": "string", "default": "jev-1.13.0", "description": "Pinned versioned model id; aliases drift silently and skew calibration thresholds" },
+        "timeoutMs": { "type": "integer", "default": 2000, "minimum": 500, "description": "Total budget per call (hard kill via AbortController; the SDK has no total-budget mode)" },
+        "minConfidence": { "type": "number", "default": 0.6, "minimum": 0, "maximum": 1, "description": "Minimum confidence for accepting a Choice/Score answer; below it the answer is treated as unanswered" },
+        "apiKey": { "type": "string", "description": "API key. Resolution order: PIER_JEV_API_KEY env var > this field > TYPESAFE_API_KEY env var" }
       },
       "additionalProperties": false
     }

package/schemas/role-manifest.schema.json

@@ -1,19 +1,19 @@
 {
   "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
   "$id": "https://herdr-pi.local/schemas/role-manifest.schema.json",
-  "title": "herdr-pi role manifest（D76 v2）",
-  "description": "档2 role 档案契约：version（P2 语义版本）+ roleType（P3 planner/executor/hybrid）+ 三态 rules（P1 allow/ask/deny）。运行时校验为 src/role-manifest.ts 手写零依赖实现，本文件是合同文档。",
+  "title": "herdr-pi role manifest (D76 v2)",
+  "description": "Tier-2 role manifest contract: version (P2 semantic version) + roleType (P3 planner/executor/hybrid) + tri-state rules (P1 allow/ask/deny). Runtime validation is the hand-written zero-dependency implementation in src/role-manifest.ts; this file is the contract document.",
   "type": "object",
   "properties": {
-    "role": { "type": "string", "pattern": "^[a-z0-9-]+$", "description": "角色名，须与文件名一致" },
-    "version": { "type": "string", "pattern": "^\\d+\\.\\d+\\.\\d+$", "description": "语义版本 x.y.z" },
-    "model": { "type": "string", "pattern": "^[A-Za-z0-9._-]+/[A-Za-z0-9._-]+$", "description": "按角色路由模型 provider/model（WS-D10；可省略 = 进程默认）" },
+    "role": { "type": "string", "pattern": "^[a-z0-9-]+$", "description": "Role name; must match the file name" },
+    "version": { "type": "string", "pattern": "^\\d+\\.\\d+\\.\\d+$", "description": "Semantic version x.y.z" },
+    "model": { "type": "string", "pattern": "^[A-Za-z0-9._-]+/[A-Za-z0-9._-]+$", "description": "Per-role model routing, provider/model (WS-D10; optional = process default)" },
     "guidelines": {
       "type": "array",
       "minItems": 1,
       "maxItems": 20,
       "items": { "type": "string", "minLength": 1 },
-      "description": "P0 per-role 行为约束（RFC §4.6）：工具集表达不了的“怎么用”约束，每轮作为 pier-role prompt section 注入；空数组请省略"
+      "description": "P0 per-role behavior constraints (RFC §4.6): constraints on \"how to use\" tools that the tool set cannot express, injected each turn as the pier-role prompt section; omit instead of passing an empty array"
     },
     "manifest": {
       "type": "object",
@@ -23,17 +23,17 @@
           "minItems": 1,
           "items": { "type": "string", "pattern": "^[a-z0-9_-]+$" },
           "uniqueItems": true,
-          "description": "基线工具；必含 todo_write 与 ask_user_question（协调工具，运行时校验强制）"
+          "description": "Baseline tools; must include todo_write and ask_user_question (coordination tools, enforced by runtime validation)"
         },
         "rules": {
           "type": "object",
           "propertyNames": { "pattern": "^[a-z0-9_*-]+$" },
           "additionalProperties": { "enum": ["allow", "ask", "deny"] },
-          "description": "三态权限；* 为通配符默认；可省略 = {\"*\":\"allow\"}"
+          "description": "Tri-state permissions; * is the wildcard default; optional = {\"*\":\"allow\"}"
         },
         "unknownTools": {
           "enum": ["allow", "deny"],
-          "description": "D82 未知工具姿态（缺省 deny）：allow = 用户安装的扩展默认可见可用（master/worker）；deny = 清单外一律不可见。与 rules 的 * 通配分属两轴（可见性 vs 强制力）"
+          "description": "D82 unknown-tool stance (default deny): allow = user-installed extensions are visible and usable by default (master/worker); deny = anything outside the list is invisible. Orthogonal to the rules * wildcard (visibility vs enforcement)"
         }
       },
       "required": ["tools"],

package/src/ask-dialog.ts

@@ -25,6 +25,8 @@ export interface DialogConfig {
   recommended?: number;
   /** true = toggle list (space toggles, enter confirms the set); false = pick-one (enter/space takes the cursor row). */
   multi: boolean;
+  /** Multi mode only: toggles to restore when the dialog reopens (an empty Other answer does not lose them). */
+  initialSelected?: readonly boolean[];
 }
 
 export interface DialogState {
@@ -38,7 +40,8 @@ type DialogKey = 'up' | 'down' | 'toggle' | 'confirm' | 'cancel' | 'all' | 'igno
 
 export type DialogOutcome =
   | { kind: 'selected'; labels: string[] }
-  | { kind: 'other' }
+  /** `labels` are the toggled rows at the moment Other was taken, so a custom answer keeps them. */
+  | { kind: 'other'; labels: string[] }
   | { kind: 'cancel' };
 
 export interface DialogStep {
@@ -94,7 +97,7 @@ export function stepDialog(state: DialogState, key: DialogKey, config: DialogCon
     }
     case 'toggle':
     case 'confirm': {
-      if (isOtherRow(state, config)) return { state, outcome: { kind: 'other' } };
+      if (isOtherRow(state, config)) return { state, outcome: { kind: 'other', labels: selectedLabels(state, config) } };
       if (!config.multi) {
         // Pick-one: enter and space both take the cursor row.
         return { state, outcome: { kind: 'selected', labels: [config.options[state.cursor]!.label] } };
@@ -234,7 +237,11 @@ export function dialogFooter(
 }
 
 export function createDialogComponent(opts: DialogUiOptions): DialogComponent {
+  const initial = opts.config.initialSelected;
   let state = createDialogState(opts.config);
+  if (initial && initial.length === opts.config.options.length) {
+    state = { ...state, selected: opts.config.options.map((_, i) => initial[i] === true) };
+  }
   let finished = false;
   const onAbort = (): void => finish({ kind: 'cancel' });
   function finish(outcome: DialogOutcome): void {

package/src/ask-user.ts

@@ -37,49 +37,38 @@ const RESERVED_LOWER: Record<string, true> = {
 };
 
 const OptionSchema = Type.Object({
-  label: Type.String({ description: 'Short display label (1-5 words)' }),
-  description: Type.Optional(Type.String({ description: 'Tradeoff / meaning of this choice' })),
+  label: Type.String({ description: 'Short label (1-5 words)' }),
+  description: Type.Optional(Type.String({ description: 'Tradeoff of this choice' })),
 });
 
 export const ASK_PARAMETERS = Type.Object({
-  question: Type.Optional(Type.String({ description: 'The question to ask the human. Required unless questions is set.' })),
-  options: Type.Optional(Type.Array(OptionSchema, {
-    description: '2-5 authored choices. Do NOT include Other; the UI appends it.',
-  })),
-  multi: Type.Optional(Type.Boolean({ description: 'Allow multiple selections (default false). In the TUI this opens an interactive toggle list (space toggles, enter confirms, esc declines).' })),
-  allowOther: Type.Optional(Type.Boolean({ description: 'Set false to offer the authored choices only, with no free-text row (default true).' })),
-  recommended: Type.Optional(Type.Number({ description: '0-based index of the recommended option; UI adds (Recommended)' })),
+  question: Type.Optional(Type.String({ description: 'Flat form: the question. Required unless questions is set.' })),
+  options: Type.Optional(Type.Array(OptionSchema, { description: 'Flat form: 2-5 choices' })),
+  multi: Type.Optional(Type.Boolean({ description: 'Allow several selections (default false)' })),
+  allowOther: Type.Optional(Type.Boolean({ description: 'false = authored choices only, no free-text row (default true)' })),
+  recommended: Type.Optional(Type.Number({ description: '0-based default option; the UI adds "(Recommended)", never write it in the label' })),
   questions: Type.Optional(Type.Array(
     Type.Object({
       id: Type.Optional(Type.String({ description: 'Stable id for mapping answers' })),
-      question: Type.String({ description: 'Question text' }),
-      options: Type.Array(OptionSchema, {
-        description: '2-5 authored choices. Do NOT include Other; the UI appends it unless allowOther is false.',
-      }),
-      multi: Type.Optional(Type.Boolean({ description: 'Allow multiple selections (default false). In the TUI this opens an interactive toggle list (space toggles, enter confirms).' })),
-      allowOther: Type.Optional(Type.Boolean({ description: 'Set false to offer the authored choices only, with no free-text row (default true).' })),
-      recommended: Type.Optional(Type.Number({ description: '0-based recommended option index' })),
+      question: Type.String(),
+      options: Type.Array(OptionSchema, { description: '2-5 choices' }),
+      multi: Type.Optional(Type.Boolean()),
+      allowOther: Type.Optional(Type.Boolean()),
+      recommended: Type.Optional(Type.Number()),
     }),
-    { description: '1-4 related questions in one call. Wins over top-level question/options when set.' },
+    { description: 'Batched form: 1-4 questions; wins over top-level question/options' },
   )),
 });
 
 export const ASK_TOOL_DESCRIPTION = [
-  'Ask the human a question and wait for their answer.',
-  'Use this when you genuinely need a human decision (approval, direction, trade-off) — not for information you can find yourself.',
-  'While waiting, the pane shows as blocked in herdr (the human sees it and can step in).',
-  'Prefer 2-5 options with short labels; put tradeoffs in description.',
-  'Do NOT include an "Other" option — the UI appends "Other (type your own)" automatically.',
-  'Use recommended (0-based) to mark the default; "(Recommended)" is added automatically — do NOT write it in the label.',
-  'Use multi: true when several options can apply — the TUI opens an interactive toggle list (space toggles a row, a toggles all, enter confirms, esc declines) instead of making the human type numbers.',
-  'Set allowOther: false when the authored choices are exhaustive and a free-text answer would be misleading.',
+  'Ask the human and wait for the answer — only for a real decision (approval, direction, trade-off), not for information you can find yourself. While waiting, the pane shows as blocked in herdr.',
+  'Two shapes. Flat form (no questions key; do not close with ]): {"question":"Store?","options":[{"label":"Redis","description":"In-memory"},{"label":"Postgres"}]}. Batched form: {"questions":[{"question":"Store?","options":[{"label":"Redis"},{"label":"Postgres"}]},{"question":"Region?","options":[{"label":"EU"},{"label":"US"}],"multi":true}]}.',
 ].join(' ');
 
 export const ASK_PROMPT_GUIDELINES = [
-  'Default to action. Ask only when options have materially different tradeoffs the user must decide.',
-  'Do NOT include "Other" in options; the UI appends it unless allowOther is false. Group related questions in questions (max 4) rather than calling this tool repeatedly.',
-  'For multi questions the human toggles rows in a list and confirms with enter — never instruct them to type indices.',
-  'Short option labels; explanatory tradeoffs in description.',
+  'Default to action. Ask only when options have materially different tradeoffs the user must decide; group related questions in one call (max 4).',
+  'Do NOT include "Other" in options: the UI appends it unless allowOther is false. Set allowOther: false when the choices are exhaustive.',
+  'Use multi: true when several options can apply; the human toggles rows and confirms — never ask them to type indices.',
 ];
 
 export type AskOption = { label: string; description?: string };
@@ -114,6 +103,8 @@ export type AskDetails = {
 export type AskToolResult = {
   content: Array<{ type: 'text'; text: string }>;
   details: AskDetails;
+  /** Set on failures so pi/UI do not count a rejected ask as a successful tool call. */
+  isError?: boolean;
 };
 
 export type AskUi = {
@@ -144,6 +135,7 @@ function errorResult(text: string, code: string): AskToolResult {
   return {
     content: [{ type: 'text', text }],
     details: { answers: [], cancelled: true, error: code },
+    isError: true,
   };
 }
 
@@ -233,6 +225,42 @@ function parseQuestion(raw: unknown): { ok: true; question: AskQuestion } | { ok
   };
 }
 
+type AskParams = Type.Static<typeof ASK_PARAMETERS>;
+
+/** Repair the argument spellings models have sent historically, before pi validates them: `options` or
+ *  `questions` as a JSON string instead of an array. Only strings that parse to arrays are replaced, so
+ *  anything genuinely malformed still reaches prepareAsk and gets its normal error text. */
+export function prepareAskArguments(args: unknown): AskParams {
+  const rec = asRecord(args);
+  if (!rec) return {};
+  const parseArray = (value: unknown): unknown[] | undefined => {
+    if (typeof value !== 'string') return undefined;
+    try {
+      const parsed: unknown = JSON.parse(value);
+      return Array.isArray(parsed) ? parsed : undefined;
+    } catch {
+      return undefined;
+    }
+  };
+  let changed = false;
+  const next: Record<string, unknown> = { ...rec };
+  const options = parseArray(rec.options);
+  if (options) {
+    next.options = options;
+    changed = true;
+  }
+  const questions = parseArray(rec.questions);
+  if (questions) {
+    next.questions = questions.map((item) => {
+      const question = asRecord(item);
+      const questionOptions = question ? parseArray(question.options) : undefined;
+      return question && questionOptions ? { ...question, options: questionOptions } : item;
+    });
+    changed = true;
+  }
+  return (changed ? next : rec) as AskParams;
+}
+
 export function prepareAsk(params: unknown): PrepareAskResult {
   const rec = asRecord(params);
   if (!rec) return fail('Error: `question` must be a non-empty string', 'empty_question');
@@ -312,15 +340,33 @@ function withId(question: AskQuestion, answer: AskAnswer): AskAnswer {
   return question.id ? { ...answer, id: question.id } : answer;
 }
 
-/** Free-text answer behind the Other row; shared by the dialog and the typed-prompt fallback. */
-async function askOtherText(ui: AskUi, question: AskQuestion, signal?: AbortSignal): Promise<AskAnswer | undefined> {
+/** Free-text answer behind the Other row; shared by the dialog and the typed-prompt fallback. `labels`
+ *  are the rows toggled when the dialog opened Other — a multi-select custom answer keeps them.
+ *  Returns 'empty' for a blank answer so the caller can go back to the choices. */
+async function askOtherText(
+  ui: AskUi,
+  question: AskQuestion,
+  labels: readonly string[],
+  signal?: AbortSignal,
+): Promise<AskAnswer | 'empty' | undefined> {
   const typed = await ui.input(`${question.question}\n\n${CUSTOM_ANSWER_TITLE}`, '', signal ? { signal } : undefined);
-  if (typed == null || !typed.trim()) return undefined;
+  if (typed == null) return undefined;
+  const customInput = typed.trim();
+  if (!customInput) return 'empty';
+  if (question.multi && labels.length > 0) {
+    return withId(question, {
+      question: question.question,
+      kind: 'multi',
+      answer: null,
+      selected: [...labels],
+      customInput,
+    });
+  }
   return withId(question, {
     question: question.question,
     kind: 'custom',
     answer: OTHER_ANSWER,
-    customInput: typed.trim(),
+    customInput,
   });
 }
 
@@ -376,53 +422,71 @@ function parseTypedPicks(
 }
 
 /** Ask one question, both modes: the pier dialog, then the host's select dialog (single only), then
- *  the typed prompt. `ui.custom` is absent (or resolves undefined) in RPC mode, hence every rung. */
+ *  the typed prompt. `ui.custom` is absent (or resolves undefined) in RPC mode, hence every rung.
+ *  A blank Other answer goes back to the choices instead of declining the question. */
 async function askQuestion(ui: AskUi, question: AskQuestion, signal?: AbortSignal): Promise<AskAnswer | undefined> {
   const { multi } = question;
-  if (typeof ui.custom === 'function') {
-    const toggleToolsExpanded = ui.getToolsExpanded && ui.setToolsExpanded
-      ? (): void => ui.setToolsExpanded!(!ui.getToolsExpanded!())
-      : undefined;
-    const outcome = await runSelectDialog(
-      ui.custom,
-      question.question,
-      {
-        options: question.options,
-        allowOther: question.allowOther,
-        multi,
-        ...(question.recommended !== undefined ? { recommended: question.recommended } : {}),
-      },
-      { ...(signal ? { signal } : {}), ...(toggleToolsExpanded ? { toggleToolsExpanded } : {}) },
-    );
-    if (outcome?.kind === 'cancel') return undefined;
-    if (outcome?.kind === 'other') return askOtherText(ui, question, signal);
-    if (outcome?.kind === 'selected') {
-      return withId(
-        question,
-        multi
-          ? { question: question.question, kind: 'multi', answer: null, selected: outcome.labels }
-          : { question: question.question, kind: 'option', answer: outcome.labels[0]! },
+  const toggleToolsExpanded = ui.getToolsExpanded && ui.setToolsExpanded
+    ? (): void => ui.setToolsExpanded!(!ui.getToolsExpanded!())
+    : undefined;
+  let custom = typeof ui.custom === 'function' ? ui.custom : undefined;
+  let toggled: string[] = [];
+  for (;;) {
+    const dialog = custom;
+    if (dialog) {
+      const outcome = await runSelectDialog(
+        dialog,
+        question.question,
+        {
+          options: question.options,
+          allowOther: question.allowOther,
+          multi,
+          ...(question.recommended !== undefined ? { recommended: question.recommended } : {}),
+          ...(toggled.length > 0 ? { initialSelected: question.options.map((option) => toggled.includes(option.label)) } : {}),
+        },
+        { ...(signal ? { signal } : {}), ...(toggleToolsExpanded ? { toggleToolsExpanded } : {}) },
       );
+      if (outcome?.kind === 'cancel') return undefined;
+      if (outcome?.kind === 'other') {
+        const answer = await askOtherText(ui, question, outcome.labels, signal);
+        if (answer !== 'empty') return answer;
+        toggled = outcome.labels;
+        continue;
+      }
+      if (outcome?.kind === 'selected') {
+        return withId(
+          question,
+          multi
+            ? { question: question.question, kind: 'multi', answer: null, selected: outcome.labels }
+            : { question: question.question, kind: 'option', answer: outcome.labels[0]! },
+        );
+      }
+      // The host cannot render custom components (RPC mode): fall through to the typed prompt.
+      custom = undefined;
     }
+    const lines = optionLines(question);
+    const opts = signal ? { signal } : undefined;
+    // A multi question has no single-pick host dialog; its typed prompt is always the fallback.
+    const select = multi ? undefined : ui.select;
+    const hint = multi
+      ? (question.allowOther ? MULTI_INSTRUCTIONS : MULTI_NO_OTHER_INSTRUCTIONS)
+      : NUMBERED_HINT;
+    const raw = select
+      ? await select(question.question, lines, opts)
+      : await ui.input(`${question.question}\n\n${lines.join('\n')}\n\n${hint}`, multi ? '1,3' : '1', opts);
+    if (raw == null) return undefined;
+    const picks = parseTypedPicks(question, lines, raw, select === undefined);
+    if (picks === 'other') {
+      const answer = await askOtherText(ui, question, [], signal);
+      if (answer !== 'empty') return answer;
+      continue;
+    }
+    return picks?.[0];
   }
-  const lines = optionLines(question);
-  const opts = signal ? { signal } : undefined;
-  // A multi question has no single-pick host dialog; its typed prompt is always the fallback.
-  const select = multi ? undefined : ui.select;
-  const hint = multi
-    ? (question.allowOther ? MULTI_INSTRUCTIONS : MULTI_NO_OTHER_INSTRUCTIONS)
-    : NUMBERED_HINT;
-  const raw = select
-    ? await select(question.question, lines, opts)
-    : await ui.input(`${question.question}\n\n${lines.join('\n')}\n\n${hint}`, multi ? '1,3' : '1', opts);
-  if (raw == null) return undefined;
-  const picks = parseTypedPicks(question, lines, raw, select === undefined);
-  if (picks === 'other') return askOtherText(ui, question, signal);
-  return picks?.[0];
 }
 
 export function formatAskContent(details: AskDetails): string {
-  if (details.cancelled || details.answers.length === 0) return DECLINE_TEXT;
+  if (details.answers.length === 0) return DECLINE_TEXT;
   const entries = details.answers.map((answer) => {
     if (answer.kind === 'custom' && answer.answer === OTHER_ANSWER) {
       const notes = answer.customInput ? ` user notes: ${answer.customInput}` : '';
@@ -430,11 +494,15 @@ export function formatAskContent(details: AskDetails): string {
     }
     if (answer.kind === 'multi') {
       const labels = answer.selected?.length ? answer.selected.join(', ') : '(none)';
-      return `"${answer.question}"="${labels}"`;
+      const notes = answer.customInput ? ` user notes: ${answer.customInput}` : '';
+      return `"${answer.question}"="${labels}"${notes}`;
     }
     return `"${answer.question}"="${answer.answer ?? ''}"`;
   });
-  return `User has answered your questions: ${entries.join(', ')}. You can now continue with the user's answers in mind.`;
+  const answered = `User has answered your questions: ${entries.join(', ')}.`;
+  return details.cancelled
+    ? `${answered} The user declined the remaining questions — continue with these answers and your best judgment.`
+    : `${answered} You can now continue with the user's answers in mind.`;
 }
 
 export async function runAsk(spec: AskSpec, ui: AskUi, signal?: AbortSignal): Promise<AskToolResult> {