zames_pro 2.60.0 → 2.61.0

package/CHANGELOG.md

@@ -7,6 +7,35 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 
 ## [Unreleased]
 
+## [2.61.0]
+
+### Added
+
+- `/backlog <text>` — record an improvement idea in `BACKLOG.md` without
+  implementing it. Deterministic: a fresh `N<n>` id under the matching
+  `P0..P3` section; an optional leading `P0..P3` picks the section, the first
+  line is the title, the rest the body. `/backlog collapse` prunes the
+  archived blocks.
+- BACKLOG.md maintenance (`src/backlog.ts`, pure/tested): `/improve` now
+  auto-prunes a finished item's archived `<details>` copy after a successful
+  run (the `### X. [x] ... done` summary line is kept), and a startup warning
+  fires when BACKLOG.md exceeds 500 lines / 60 KB. The collapser tolerates an
+  UNCLOSED `<details>` (a real file had one).
+- Dev-mode self-improvement note: in `--dev` the system prompt tells the model
+  it may append ONE short BACKLOG.md bullet when it spots an improvement
+  outside the current task (off in a normal run).
+
+### Changed
+
+- Self-development commands (`/improve`, `/backlog`, `/self-review`,
+  `/self-fix`, `/self-done`, `/self-list`, `/self-diff`, `/self-apply`) are now
+  DEV-ONLY: they are hidden from `/help` and the «/» hints, and rejected by the
+  main loop, unless the operator runs in dev mode (`--dev` or
+  `config.hotReload`). A regular package install no longer advertises them, and
+  a hand-typed `/improve` can no longer edit an unrelated project's
+  BACKLOG.md. The list is `DEV_ONLY_COMMANDS` / `isDevOnlyCommand()` in
+  `src/commands.ts` (pure, tested).
+
 ## [2.60.0]
 
 ### Added
@@ -220,7 +249,8 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 - Session banner warns when no saved DeepSeek session exists.
 - `--no-color` flag (explicit `NO_COLOR`).
 
-[Unreleased]: https://github.com/Viqto0r/zames_pro/compare/v2.60.0...HEAD
+[Unreleased]: https://github.com/Viqto0r/zames_pro/compare/v2.61.0...HEAD
+[2.61.0]: https://github.com/Viqto0r/zames_pro/compare/v2.60.0...v2.61.0
 [2.60.0]: https://github.com/Viqto0r/zames_pro/compare/v2.59.0...v2.60.0
 [2.59.0]: https://github.com/Viqto0r/zames_pro/compare/v2.58.0...v2.59.0
 [2.58.0]: https://github.com/Viqto0r/zames_pro/compare/v2.57.1...v2.58.0

package/README.md

@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@
 [![tests](https://github.com/Viqto0r/zames_pro/actions/workflows/test.yml/badge.svg)](https://github.com/Viqto0r/zames_pro/actions/workflows/test.yml)
 [![License: MIT](https://img.shields.io/badge/License-MIT-yellow.svg)](LICENSE)
 [![Node.js](https://img.shields.io/badge/node-%3E%3D20-brightgreen.svg)](package.json)
-[![PRs welcome](https://img.shields.io/badge/PRs-welcome-brightgreen.svg)](CONTRIBUTING.md)
 
 ![zames logo](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Viqto0r/zames_pro/master/logo.jpg)
 
@@ -29,8 +28,6 @@ directory, reads and edits files, runs commands, and commits to git.
   custom commands from the repo and `~/.zames`, the same idea as Codex / Claude
   Code.
 - **MCP support** — plug in external tool servers (e.g. `@playwright/mcp`).
-- **Self-review** — `/self-review` snapshots `src/` so the agent can review and
-  fix itself in a sandbox (`/self-fix`, `/self-apply`).
 - **Scheduling** — `/loop`, `/cron` and `/jobs` repeat tasks on a timer.
 - **Bilingual UI** — Russian / English (`/config lang`).
 
@@ -47,7 +44,7 @@ directory, reads and edits files, runs commands, and commits to git.
 
 ## Requirements
 
-- Node.js >= 20 (CI and development use Node 24; see `.nvmrc`)
+- Node.js >= 20
 - A DeepSeek account. On first launch zames asks for your DeepSeek
   login/password in the terminal (and stores them in `~/.zames/config.json`
   after a successful sign-in, so a later logout is handled automatically
@@ -89,7 +86,6 @@ Credentials and toggles can also be edited from `/config`
 
 - npm: <https://www.npmjs.com/package/zames_pro>
 - Changelog: [`CHANGELOG.md`](CHANGELOG.md)
-- Contributing: [`CONTRIBUTING.md`](CONTRIBUTING.md)
 - Security policy: [`SECURITY.md`](SECURITY.md)
 
 ## Installation
@@ -247,10 +243,6 @@ Codex CLI:
   instead of the whole list.
 - /review [focus] [--staged] — ask the agent to review uncommitted changes
   and report findings (no code changes).
-- /improve [id] — self-improvement loop: take the next open item from
-  `BACKLOG.md` (or a specific id, e.g. `/improve B3`), implement it, run the
-  typecheck/lint/tests, mark it done and add a CHANGELOG entry. Nothing is
-  committed — the changes stay in the working tree for review.
 - /plan [on|off] — plan (read-only) mode. While it is on, the mutating tools
   (Write/Edit/MultiEdit/ApplyPatch/Bash, GitAdd/GitCommit/GitPush) are removed
   from the tool set, so the agent can investigate without touching the tree.
@@ -384,7 +376,7 @@ Changes are written to the project `.zamesrc.json` and applied right away
 (help, messages, spinner) and the language the agent answers you in. The
 locale lives in `ui.locale` in the config file.
 
-Agent data is stored in `~/.zames`: browser profile, logs, undo history, self-review snapshots.
+Agent data is stored in `~/.zames`: browser profile, logs, undo history, sessions.
 
 ## FAQ
 

package/dist/agent-loop.js

@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ import { translate } from './i18n.js';
 import { substituteAttachmentMarkers } from './commands.js';
 import { normText } from './browser.js';
 import { loadHooks, runPreToolUse, runPostToolUse, } from './hooks.js';
-export async function runAgentLoop({ browser, tools, task, workdir, maxIterations = 0, freshChat = false, sendSystemPrompt = false, transcript = null, attachments = [], onThinking = () => { }, onSendPause = () => { }, onSendState = () => { }, onNotice = () => { }, onAssistantThought = () => { }, onToolCall = () => { }, onToolResult = () => { }, onAssistantMessage = () => { }, onChatReady = () => { }, onWarning = () => { }, debugLog = false, locale = 'ru', askDeadlineMs = 240_000, maxAfterToolRetries = 6, onAutoCompact = null, autoCompactPct = 95, contextLimit = 1_000_000, getTokenUsage = null, hooks = undefined, }) {
+export async function runAgentLoop({ browser, tools, task, workdir, maxIterations = 0, freshChat = false, sendSystemPrompt = false, transcript = null, attachments = [], onThinking = () => { }, onSendPause = () => { }, onSendState = () => { }, onNotice = () => { }, onAssistantThought = () => { }, onToolCall = () => { }, onToolResult = () => { }, onAssistantMessage = () => { }, onChatReady = () => { }, onWarning = () => { }, debugLog = false, locale = 'ru', askDeadlineMs = 240_000, maxAfterToolRetries = 6, onAutoCompact = null, autoCompactPct = 95, contextLimit = 1_000_000, getTokenUsage = null, hooks = undefined, selfImprovement = false, }) {
     // Resolve the hook config ONCE per task: a read per tool call would be
     // wasteful, and a mid-task edit of hooks.json is not something to chase.
     // `undefined` means "read .zames/hooks.json"; an explicit null disables
@@ -102,6 +102,7 @@ export async function runAgentLoop({ browser, tools, task, workdir, maxIteration
             gitContext: gitText,
             locale,
             context,
+            selfImprovement,
         });
         transcript?.log('system_prompt', {
             length: systemPrompt.length,

package/dist/backlog.js

@@ -0,0 +1,166 @@
+import { parseBacklogItems } from './commands.js';
+// BACKLOG.md maintenance — the pure half of /backlog and the automatic pruning
+// that runs after /improve. BACKLOG.md is the agent's own improvement-notes
+// file (gitignored); it is READ by /improve, so keeping it small matters —
+// every finished item used to keep a full copy of its original text inside a
+// <details> block, and the file grew without bound.
+//
+// Everything here is pure and unit-tested; index.ts only reads/writes the file.
+const NL = String.fromCharCode(10);
+// Agent-appended items use this id prefix. A distinct letter keeps them apart
+// from the hand-numbered A/B/C/D/E entries, so it is obvious which notes the
+// agent added on its own.
+const NEW_ITEM_PREFIX = 'N';
+// Past these thresholds BACKLOG.md costs more tokens (on /improve) than it is
+// worth, so the operator is nudged to collapse it.
+export const BACKLOG_WARN_LINES = 500;
+export const BACKLOG_WARN_CHARS = 60_000;
+function squashBlankLines(lines) {
+    const out = [];
+    let blanks = 0;
+    for (const line of lines) {
+        if (line.trim() === '') {
+            blanks++;
+            if (blanks > 2)
+                continue;
+        }
+        else {
+            blanks = 0;
+        }
+        out.push(line);
+    }
+    return out;
+}
+// A real, kept heading: a `## P<n>` section or a `### X<n>.` item heading that
+// is NOT the archived copy (archived copies carry `~~` right after the id).
+function isRealBoundary(line) {
+    const t = line.trim();
+    if (/^##\s/.test(t))
+        return true;
+    return /^###\s+[A-Z]\d+[.]/.test(t) && !/^###\s+[A-Z]\d+[.]\s+~~/.test(t);
+}
+function isDetailsOpen(line) {
+    return line.trim().startsWith('<details');
+}
+function isArchivedHeading(line) {
+    return /^###\s+[A-Z]\d+[.]\s+~~/.test(line.trim());
+}
+/**
+ * Remove archived copies of finished items. A finished item keeps its
+ * `### X. [x] ... done` summary line; the `### X. ~~original~~` copy and its
+ * body (normally wrapped in a <details> block) are dropped.
+ *
+ * Deliberately tolerant of an UNCLOSED <details>: a real backlog item was
+ * written as `### A1. [x] ...` then `<details>...` with no `</details>`, so the
+ * whole file became one nested block. Keying the end of a block on the next
+ * REAL heading (a `### X.` without `~~`, or a `## ` section) — not only on
+ * `</details>` — keeps the summary lines and the open items even then. Pure and
+ * unit-tested; a heading that looks like an item INSIDE an archive is skipped
+ * because it carries `~~`.
+ */
+export function collapseBacklog(text) {
+    const src = String(text ?? '');
+    const lines = src.split(NL);
+    const out = [];
+    let collapsed = 0;
+    let i = 0;
+    while (i < lines.length) {
+        if (isDetailsOpen(lines[i]) || isArchivedHeading(lines[i])) {
+            // Skip to the end of the archive: the first `</details>` OR the first
+            // real heading, whichever comes first (see the note above).
+            let j = i + 1;
+            while (j < lines.length) {
+                const t = lines[j].trim();
+                if (t.startsWith('</details>')) {
+                    j++;
+                    break;
+                }
+                if (isRealBoundary(t))
+                    break;
+                j++;
+            }
+            collapsed++;
+            i = j;
+            continue;
+        }
+        out.push(lines[i]);
+        i++;
+    }
+    const next = squashBlankLines(out).join(NL);
+    return { text: next, changed: next !== src, collapsed };
+}
+export function backlogStats(text) {
+    const src = String(text ?? '');
+    const items = parseBacklogItems(src);
+    let archived = 0;
+    for (const line of src.split(NL)) {
+        if (line.trim().startsWith('<details'))
+            archived++;
+    }
+    return {
+        lines: src.split(NL).length,
+        chars: src.length,
+        open: items.filter((i) => i.status === 'open').length,
+        done: items.filter((i) => i.status === 'done').length,
+        archived,
+    };
+}
+/** True when the file is big enough to deserve a collapse nudge. */
+export function backlogNeedsPruning(stats) {
+    return stats.lines > BACKLOG_WARN_LINES || stats.chars > BACKLOG_WARN_CHARS;
+}
+/** The next free N<n> id not yet used in the file. */
+export function nextBacklogId(text) {
+    let max = 0;
+    const re = /^###[ ]+([A-Z])([0-9]+)[.]/gm;
+    let m;
+    while ((m = re.exec(String(text ?? '')))) {
+        if (m[1] === NEW_ITEM_PREFIX)
+            max = Math.max(max, Number(m[2]));
+    }
+    return NEW_ITEM_PREFIX + (max + 1);
+}
+/**
+ * Insert a new OPEN item under the matching `## P<n>` section (or append a new
+ * section at the end). Returns the new file text and the generated id. Pure;
+ * the caller writes the file.
+ */
+export function appendBacklogItem(text, item) {
+    const src = String(text ?? '');
+    const title = String(item.title ?? '')
+        .trim()
+        .replace(/ {2,}/g, ' ');
+    const prio = /^P[0-3]$/i.test(String(item.priority ?? '').trim())
+        ? String(item.priority).trim().toUpperCase()
+        : 'P2';
+    const note = String(item.note ?? '').trim();
+    const id = nextBacklogId(src);
+    const entry = ['### ' + id + '. ' + title, ''];
+    if (note) {
+        for (const l of note.split(NL))
+            entry.push(l);
+        entry.push('');
+    }
+    const lines = src.split(NL);
+    const headerRe = new RegExp('^##[ ]+' + prio + '(?![0-9])');
+    let at = -1;
+    for (let i = 0; i < lines.length; i++) {
+        if (headerRe.test(lines[i])) {
+            // Insert right after the header and any blank lines that follow it, so
+            // the newest note sits at the top of its priority block.
+            let j = i + 1;
+            while (j < lines.length && lines[j].trim() === '')
+                j++;
+            at = j;
+            break;
+        }
+    }
+    if (at === -1) {
+        while (lines.length && lines[lines.length - 1].trim() === '')
+            lines.pop();
+        const out = lines.concat(['', '## ' + prio, '', ...entry]).join(NL);
+        return { text: out, id };
+    }
+    const out = lines.slice(0, at).concat(entry, lines.slice(at)).join(NL);
+    return { text: out, id };
+}

package/dist/commands.js

@@ -781,6 +781,28 @@ export function buildImprovePrompt(item) {
         '(files changed, tests run, whether BACKLOG/CHANGELOG were updated).');
 }
 // ---------- /review ----------
+// Commands that only make sense while developing zames itself. A regular user
+// who installed the package must not see them in /help or the «/» hints, and
+// the main loop rejects them unless dev mode is on (--dev / config.hotReload).
+// Kept here (pure) so the list has ONE source of truth and is unit-tested.
+export const DEV_ONLY_COMMANDS = [
+    '/improve',
+    '/backlog',
+    '/self-review',
+    '/self-fix',
+    '/self-done',
+    '/self-list',
+    '/self-diff',
+    '/self-apply',
+];
+/** True when the typed line invokes a dev-only command. */
+export function isDevOnlyCommand(text) {
+    const name = String(text ?? '')
+        .trim()
+        .split(/\s+/)[0]
+        .toLowerCase();
+    return DEV_ONLY_COMMANDS.find((c) => c === name) || null;
+}
 export function buildReviewPrompt(focus, hasStaged = false) {
     const scope = hasStaged ? 'staged' : 'uncommitted';
     const f = String(focus ?? '').trim();

package/dist/compact.js

@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ export const COMPACT_FALLBACK_LIMIT = 40;
  * The caller owns the browser and the throttle; this function only sends.
  */
 export async function performCompact(opts) {
-    const { browser, workdir, locale, task, transcript = null, ui = null, buildSystemPrompt, tools, answerTimeoutMs, fallbackLimit = COMPACT_FALLBACK_LIMIT, skipUiLock = false, quiet = false, } = opts;
+    const { browser, workdir, locale, task, transcript = null, ui = null, buildSystemPrompt, tools, answerTimeoutMs, fallbackLimit = COMPACT_FALLBACK_LIMIT, skipUiLock = false, quiet = false, selfImprovement = false, } = opts;
     const t = translate(locale);
     const log = (msg) => {
         if (!quiet)
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ export async function performCompact(opts) {
         });
         // 2) New chat + system prompt + the summary as the first message.
         await browser.newChat();
-        await browser.ask(buildSystemPrompt({ workdir, tools, locale }), {
+        await browser.ask(buildSystemPrompt({ workdir, tools, locale, selfImprovement }), {
             timeout: 60_000,
             agent: false,
         });

package/dist/i18n.js

@@ -259,6 +259,34 @@ export const CATALOG = {
         ru: 'Улучшение {id}: {title}',
         en: 'Improving {id}: {title}',
     },
+    'improve.collapsed': {
+        ru: 'BACKLOG свёрнут: удалено архивных блоков — {n}.',
+        en: 'BACKLOG collapsed: {n} archived block(s) removed.',
+    },
+    'help.cmd.backlog': {
+        ru: '/backlog <текст> записать идею в BACKLOG.md',
+        en: '/backlog <text> record an idea in BACKLOG.md',
+    },
+    'backlog.usage': {
+        ru: 'Использование: /backlog <текст идеи>',
+        en: 'Usage: /backlog <idea text>',
+    },
+    'backlog.none': {
+        ru: 'BACKLOG.md не найден в рабочей директории.',
+        en: 'BACKLOG.md was not found in the working directory.',
+    },
+    'backlog.adding': {
+        ru: 'Записываю в BACKLOG: {v}',
+        en: 'Recording in BACKLOG: {v}',
+    },
+    'backlog.warn': {
+        ru: 'BACKLOG.md разросся ({lines} строк, {chars} символов). Сверни сделанное: /backlog collapse',
+        en: 'BACKLOG.md has grown large ({lines} lines, {chars} chars). Collapse it: /backlog collapse',
+    },
+    'backlog.empty': {
+        ru: 'Свёртывать нечего: архивных блоков нет.',
+        en: 'Nothing to collapse: there are no archived blocks.',
+    },
     'help.cmd.compact': {
         ru: '/compact сжать историю и открыть новый чат с резюме',
         en: '/compact compact the history and open a new chat with the summary',
@@ -680,6 +708,10 @@ export const CATALOG = {
         ru: 'Неизвестная команда: {v}. Набери /help.',
         en: 'Unknown command: {v}. Type /help.',
     },
+    'msg.dev_only': {
+        ru: 'Команда {v} доступна только в dev-режиме (--dev или hotReload).',
+        en: 'The {v} command is only available in dev mode (--dev or hotReload).',
+    },
     'msg.bye': { ru: 'Выход.', en: 'Bye.' },
     'shell.empty': {
         ru: 'После ! нужна команда, например !git status.',

package/dist/index.js

@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ import { translate, normalizeLocale, localeDisplayName, isLocale, } from './i18n
 import { Transcript } from './transcript.js';
 import { UndoStore } from './undo.js';
 import { selfReview, selfDiff, selfApply, selfList } from './self-review.js';
-import { formatDiff, formatDiffStat, formatContextSources, diffGitArgs, parseTranscript, summarizeTranscript, renderCost, formatExport, defaultExportPath, renderDoctor, resolveExtraDir, buildReviewPrompt, parseBacklogItems, nextBacklogItem, buildImprovePrompt, formatDuration, formatRelativeTime, trimRestoredMessages, RESTORED_HISTORY_LIMIT, mergeMessages, hasQueuedJob, isSlashCommand, parseQueueCommand, parseLiveToggle, parseGoalCommand, isLiveConfigCommand, withGoal, formatQueueList, ctrlCEscalation, } from './commands.js';
+import { formatDiff, formatDiffStat, formatContextSources, diffGitArgs, parseTranscript, summarizeTranscript, renderCost, formatExport, defaultExportPath, renderDoctor, resolveExtraDir, buildReviewPrompt, isDevOnlyCommand, parseBacklogItems, nextBacklogItem, buildImprovePrompt, formatDuration, formatRelativeTime, trimRestoredMessages, RESTORED_HISTORY_LIMIT, mergeMessages, hasQueuedJob, isSlashCommand, parseQueueCommand, parseLiveToggle, parseGoalCommand, isLiveConfigCommand, withGoal, formatQueueList, ctrlCEscalation, } from './commands.js';
 import { performCompact } from './compact.js';
 import { Scheduler, parseInterval, formatInterval, formatJobLine, parseCron, } from './scheduler.js';
 import { renderMarkdown, setAnswerWidth } from './markdown.js';
@@ -192,6 +192,7 @@ const RELOADABLE = [
     'spinner',
     'config',
     'fsutil',
+    'backlog',
 ];
 const mod = {
     createTools,
@@ -204,6 +205,10 @@ const mod = {
     closeWeb,
     createSpinner,
     createMcpPool: null,
+    collapseBacklog: null,
+    appendBacklogItem: null,
+    backlogStats: null,
+    backlogNeedsPruning: null,
 };
 async function reloadModules() {
     const stamp = Date.now();
@@ -242,6 +247,14 @@ async function reloadModules() {
         mod.createSpinner = pick('spinner', 'createSpinner');
     if (pick('mcp', 'createMcpPool'))
         mod.createMcpPool = pick('mcp', 'createMcpPool');
+    if (pick('backlog', 'collapseBacklog'))
+        mod.collapseBacklog = pick('backlog', 'collapseBacklog');
+    if (pick('backlog', 'appendBacklogItem'))
+        mod.appendBacklogItem = pick('backlog', 'appendBacklogItem');
+    if (pick('backlog', 'backlogStats'))
+        mod.backlogStats = pick('backlog', 'backlogStats');
+    if (pick('backlog', 'backlogNeedsPruning'))
+        mod.backlogNeedsPruning = pick('backlog', 'backlogNeedsPruning');
     return { count: loaded.size, errors };
 }
 // Initial load so that mod.buildSystemPrompt and the rest are populated.
@@ -297,6 +310,42 @@ function warnIfBrowserChanged() {
 }
 // ---------- helpers ----------
 function printHelp() {
+    // Self-development commands (backlog / self-review) are shown ONLY in dev
+    // mode. A regular package install must not advertise them to the user — and
+    // the main loop rejects them too (see the guard at the dispatch).
+    const devHelp = devMode
+        ? '  ' +
+            t('help.cmd.improve') +
+            '\n  ' +
+            t('help.cmd.backlog') +
+            '\n  ' +
+            t('help.cmd.debug_dom') +
+            '\n  ' +
+            t('help.cmd.help') +
+            '\n  ' +
+            t('help.cmd.exit') +
+            '\n\n' +
+            theme.bold(t('help.self_review')) +
+            '\n  ' +
+            t('help.self.review') +
+            '\n  ' +
+            t('help.self.fix') +
+            '\n  ' +
+            t('help.self.done') +
+            '\n  ' +
+            t('help.self.list') +
+            '\n  ' +
+            t('help.self.diff') +
+            '\n  ' +
+            t('help.self.apply') +
+            '\n\n'
+        : '  ' +
+            t('help.cmd.debug_dom') +
+            '\n  ' +
+            t('help.cmd.help') +
+            '\n  ' +
+            t('help.cmd.exit') +
+            '\n';
     console.log(`
 ${theme.bold('zames')} — ${t('app.tagline')}
 
@@ -388,19 +437,7 @@ ${theme.bold(t('help.sec.files'))}
   ${t('help.cmd.doctor')}
   ${t('help.cmd.add_dir')}
   ${t('help.cmd.review')}
-  ${t('help.cmd.improve')}
-  ${t('help.cmd.debug_dom')}
-  ${t('help.cmd.help')}
-  ${t('help.cmd.exit')}
-
-${theme.bold(t('help.self_review'))}
-  ${t('help.self.review')}
-  ${t('help.self.fix')}
-  ${t('help.self.done')}
-  ${t('help.self.list')}
-  ${t('help.self.diff')}
-  ${t('help.self.apply')}
-${dynamicCommands.length ? '\n' + theme.bold(t('help.skills')) + '\n' + dynamicCommands.map((d) => '  ' + d.name.padEnd(24) + ' ' + d.description).join('\n') : ''}
+${devHelp}${dynamicCommands.length ? '\n' + theme.bold(t('help.skills')) + '\n' + dynamicCommands.map((d) => '  ' + d.name.padEnd(24) + ' ' + d.description).join('\n') : ''}
 
 ${theme.bold(t('help.files'))}
   ${t('help.files.logs')}        ${config.transcript.dir}
@@ -421,6 +458,12 @@ function dirLabel(p) {
 // List of slash commands for completion when you type «/» (Tab — complete).
 // The description is localized by the help.cmd.* key at display time — see
 // buildSlashCommands().
+//
+// Dev-only commands (backlog-driven self-improvement, self-review snapshots)
+// are filtered out of the hints and rejected by the main loop unless the
+// operator is in dev mode — a regular package install must never advertise
+// them, and a muscle-memory `/improve` must not edit the user's BACKLOG.md.
+// The list itself lives in commands.ts (`isDevOnlyCommand`), one source.
 const SLASH_COMMANDS = [
     { name: '/help', key: 'help.cmd.help' },
     { name: '/new', key: 'help.cmd.new' },
@@ -450,6 +493,7 @@ const SLASH_COMMANDS = [
     { name: '/add-dir', key: 'help.cmd.add_dir' },
     { name: '/review', key: 'help.cmd.review' },
     { name: '/improve', key: 'help.cmd.improve' },
+    { name: '/backlog', key: 'help.cmd.backlog' },
     { name: '/goal', key: 'help.cmd.goal' },
     { name: '/loop', key: 'help.cmd.loop' },
     { name: '/cron', key: 'help.cmd.cron' },
@@ -548,8 +592,10 @@ async function expandSlashTarget(workdir, name, rest) {
     return null;
 }
 // Slash-command descriptions in the current language (for LineEditor hints).
+// Dev-only commands are filtered out unless the operator is in dev mode, so a
+// regular install never advertises (or accepts) them.
 function buildSlashCommands() {
-    const base = SLASH_COMMANDS.map((c) => ({
+    const base = SLASH_COMMANDS.filter((c) => devMode || !isDevOnlyCommand(c.name)).map((c) => ({
         name: c.name,
         description: t(c.key),
     }));
@@ -1056,7 +1102,7 @@ async function printRestoredHistory(browser, ui, chatId = null) {
 }
 // ---------- task runner ----------
 async function runTask(browser, tools, taskText, workdir, opts, attachments = []) {
-    const { transcript, freshChat, sendSystemPrompt, queue = [], ui: editor, onChatReady, onAutoCompact = null, autoCompactPct = 95, contextLimit = 1_000_000, getTokenUsage = null, goal = null, todosQuery = null, } = opts;
+    const { transcript, freshChat, sendSystemPrompt, queue = [], ui: editor, onChatReady, onAutoCompact = null, autoCompactPct = 95, contextLimit = 1_000_000, getTokenUsage = null, goal = null, todosQuery = null, selfImprovement = false, } = opts;
     // In TTY mode the UI is a LineEditor: it owns the input (queue, Esc,
     // Ctrl+C) and draws the status ABOVE the permanent input line. In non-TTY
     // mode (pipes) — a regular spinner + watchInput.
@@ -1166,6 +1212,7 @@ async function runTask(browser, tools, taskText, workdir, opts, attachments = []
                 autoCompactPct,
                 contextLimit,
                 getTokenUsage,
+                selfImprovement,
             });
             // The loop may end WITHOUT a model answer: an exhausted iteration
             // limit or an ask() watchdog (the model stopped responding). In that
@@ -1402,6 +1449,7 @@ async function main() {
             transcript,
             freshChat,
             sendSystemPrompt,
+            selfImprovement: devMode,
             onChatReady: (chatId) => {
                 if (chatId)
                     saveLastChat(chatId, currentWorkdir);
@@ -1423,6 +1471,21 @@ async function main() {
     if (!authMarkerExists()) {
         console.log(theme.warn(t('msg.first_login_hint')));
     }
+    // Nudge when BACKLOG.md has grown large: /improve reads the whole file, so a
+    // bloated backlog costs tokens on every self-improvement run. Best-effort.
+    if (devMode) {
+        try {
+            const bl = await fs.readFile(path.join(currentWorkdir, 'BACKLOG.md'), 'utf-8');
+            const st = mod.backlogStats(bl);
+            if (mod.backlogNeedsPruning(st)) {
+                console.log(theme.warn(t('backlog.warn', {
+                    lines: String(st.lines),
+                    chars: String(st.chars),
+                })));
+            }
+        }
+        catch { }
+    }
     let freshChatNext = true;
     let sendSystemPromptNext = true;
     // Resuming an existing chat already has the system-prompt at its start, so
@@ -2226,6 +2289,16 @@ async function main() {
         const lower = trimmed.toLowerCase();
         if (['/exit', '/quit', 'exit', 'quit'].includes(lower))
             break;
+        // Dev-only commands (backlog / self-review) must not run outside dev mode.
+        // Hiding them from /help is not enough: a user could type the command by
+        // hand, and it would rewrite their project's BACKLOG.md or snapshot src/.
+        if (!devMode) {
+            const devCmd = isDevOnlyCommand(lower);
+            if (devCmd) {
+                console.error(theme.warn(t('msg.dev_only', { v: devCmd })));
+                continue;
+            }
+        }
         // `!command` — run a shell command directly, without asking the model
         // (like Claude Code's bash mode). The same sandbox guard as the Bash tool
         // applies, so a direct command cannot leave the project either.
@@ -3328,6 +3401,7 @@ async function main() {
                 tools: mod.createTools(currentWorkdir, { undo, todos: todoStore }),
                 answerTimeoutMs: config.browser.answerTimeoutMs,
                 fallbackLimit: COMPACT_FALLBACK_LIMIT,
+                selfImprovement: devMode,
             });
             if (res.ok) {
                 currentChatId = res.chatId;
@@ -3382,12 +3456,80 @@ async function main() {
                         }
                     },
                     getTokenUsage: () => browser.getLastTokenUsage(),
+                    selfImprovement: devMode,
                 });
             }
             finally {
                 if (editor)
                     editor.busy = false;
             }
+            // Auto-prune: a finished item keeps its summary line but loses the
+            // archived <details> copy of its original text, so BACKLOG.md does not
+            // grow on every /improve. Best-effort — a read/write failure must not
+            // break the command.
+            try {
+                const raw = await fs.readFile(path.join(currentWorkdir, 'BACKLOG.md'), 'utf-8');
+                const col = mod.collapseBacklog(raw);
+                if (col.changed) {
+                    await fs.writeFile(path.join(currentWorkdir, 'BACKLOG.md'), col.text, 'utf-8');
+                    console.log(theme.dim(t('improve.collapsed', { n: String(col.collapsed) })));
+                }
+            }
+            catch { }
+            continue;
+        }
+        if (lower === '/backlog' || lower.startsWith('/backlog ')) {
+            // Record an improvement idea without implementing it. `/backlog
+            // collapse` prunes the archived blocks instead. The LLM only PLACES
+            // the item; the pure helpers in src/backlog.ts own the format.
+            const note = trimmed.slice('/backlog'.length).trim();
+            const backlogFile = path.join(currentWorkdir, 'BACKLOG.md');
+            let backlogText;
+            try {
+                backlogText = await fs.readFile(backlogFile, 'utf-8');
+            }
+            catch {
+                console.error(theme.warn(t('backlog.none')));
+                continue;
+            }
+            if (!note) {
+                console.log(theme.dim(t('backlog.usage')));
+                continue;
+            }
+            if (note === 'collapse') {
+                const col = mod.collapseBacklog(backlogText);
+                if (!col.changed) {
+                    console.log(theme.dim(t('backlog.empty')));
+                }
+                else {
+                    await fs.writeFile(backlogFile, col.text, 'utf-8');
+                    console.log(theme.system(t('improve.collapsed', { n: String(col.collapsed) })));
+                }
+                continue;
+            }
+            // Deterministic append: no model round-trip is needed to record a
+            // one-line note, and a pure helper cannot invent a different id than
+            // the one the operator is shown. An optional leading `P0..P3` sets the
+            // priority; the first line is the title, the rest becomes the body.
+            let priority = 'P2';
+            let body = note;
+            for (const p of ['P0', 'P1', 'P2', 'P3']) {
+                if (note.toUpperCase().startsWith(p + ' ')) {
+                    priority = p;
+                    body = note.slice(p.length + 1);
+                    break;
+                }
+            }
+            const bodyLines = body.split(String.fromCharCode(10));
+            const title = bodyLines[0];
+            const rest = bodyLines.slice(1).join(String.fromCharCode(10)).trim();
+            const res = mod.appendBacklogItem(backlogText, {
+                title,
+                priority,
+                note: rest || undefined,
+            });
+            await fs.writeFile(backlogFile, res.text, 'utf-8');
+            console.log(theme.system(t('backlog.adding', { v: res.id })));
             continue;
         }
         if (lower === '/review' || lower.startsWith('/review ')) {
@@ -3578,6 +3720,7 @@ async function main() {
                             answerTimeoutMs: config.browser.answerTimeoutMs,
                             quiet: true,
                             skipUiLock: true,
+                            selfImprovement: devMode,
                         });
                         if (res.ok) {
                             currentChatId = res.chatId;
@@ -3591,6 +3734,7 @@ async function main() {
                 getTokenUsage: () => browser.getLastTokenUsage(),
                 goal: sessionGoal,
                 todosQuery: () => todosSummary(),
+                selfImprovement: devMode,
             }, inputAttachments);
         }
         finally {

package/dist/system-prompt.js

@@ -1,4 +1,25 @@
 import { translate } from './i18n.js';
+// The dev-mode BACKLOG instruction. English (agent-facing) like the rest of the
+// prompt. Deliberately narrow: one short note at most, and only when the idea
+// is OUTSIDE the current task — otherwise the model documents trivia instead
+// of doing the work, and BACKLOG.md grows on every run.
+const BACKLOG_SECTION = `## Self-improvement notes (dev mode)
+
+You are running in the operator's dev mode, so this project is zames itself
+and you may improve it. While working, if you notice a concrete improvement
+that is OUTSIDE the current task — a bug in another module, a cleanup, a
+missing test — append ONE short bullet to BACKLOG.md (Write/Edit) instead of
+silently forgetting it, then continue the task.
+
+Rules for that note:
+- at most one or two per task; do NOT let it distract from the task;
+- do NOT duplicate an item already in BACKLOG.md (read it first if unsure);
+- keep it to a single line: what, why it matters, and a one-line fix sketch;
+- put it under the matching priority section (P0 bug/data loss, P1 noticeable
+  pain, P2 quality, P3 nice-to-have);
+- this is the ONE exception to "do not touch unrelated files". If nothing
+  worth noting, add nothing.
+`;
 /** Render the AGENTS.md / MEMORY / skills / commands blocks of the prompt. */
 export function renderContextSection(context) {
     if (!context)
@@ -62,7 +83,7 @@ export function renderContextSection(context) {
     }
     return out;
 }
-export function buildSystemPrompt({ workdir, tools, gitContext = null, locale = 'ru', attachments = [], context = null, }) {
+export function buildSystemPrompt({ workdir, tools, gitContext = null, locale = 'ru', attachments = [], context = null, selfImprovement = false, }) {
     const t = translate(locale);
     const toolDescriptions = tools
         .map((t2) => `### ${t2.name}\n${t2.description}\nParameters: ${JSON.stringify(t2.parameters)}`)
@@ -75,6 +96,7 @@ export function buildSystemPrompt({ workdir, tools, gitContext = null, locale =
             `Each [image#N] / [file#N] marker corresponds to a file the user pasted into the terminal; the file was uploaded to the chat and also saved under <project>/tmp. Look at the images in the chat; for files, read the copy in tmp if you need the contents.\n`
         : '';
     const contextSection = renderContextSection(context);
+    const selfSection = selfImprovement ? '\n' + BACKLOG_SECTION + '\n' : '';
     return `You are a coding agent running in a terminal. You help the user with software engineering tasks by reading files, writing code, running commands, and iterating until the task is done.
 
 You work in the directory: ${workdir}
@@ -127,7 +149,7 @@ task is done (or when you must ask the operator), not between tool calls.
 You have access to the following tools:
 
 ${toolDescriptions}
-${gitSection}${attachSection}${contextSection}
+${gitSection}${attachSection}${contextSection}${selfSection}
 ## Choosing the right tool
 
 Prefer the most specific tool; a wrong choice wastes a turn:

package/package.json

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "zames_pro",
-  "version": "2.60.0",
+  "version": "2.61.0",
   "description": "Terminal coding agent that drives chat.deepseek.com through Playwright: reads and edits files, runs commands, commits to git.",
   "type": "module",
   "bin": {