refactor: centralize message target resolution

Co-authored-by: Thinh Dinh <tobalsan@users.noreply.github.com>

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 - **BREAKING:** Channel auth now prefers config over env for Discord/Telegram/Matrix (env is fallback only). (#1040) — thanks @thewilloftheshadow.
 - **BREAKING:** `clawdbot message` and message tool now require `target` (dropping `to`/`channelId` for destinations). (#1034) — thanks @tobalsan.
 - **BREAKING:** Drop legacy `chatType: "room"` support; use `chatType: "channel"`.
+- **BREAKING:** remove legacy provider-specific target resolution fallbacks; target resolution is centralized with plugin hints + directory lookups.
 
 ### Changes
 - Tools: improve `web_fetch` extraction using Readability (with fallback).

extensions/matrix/src/channel.ts

@@ -164,6 +164,13 @@ export const matrixPlugin: ChannelPlugin<ResolvedMatrixAccount> = {
   },
   messaging: {
     normalizeTarget: normalizeMatrixMessagingTarget,
+    looksLikeTargetId: (raw) => {
+      const trimmed = raw.trim();
+      if (!trimmed) return false;
+      if (/^(matrix:)?[!#@]/i.test(trimmed)) return true;
+      return trimmed.includes(":");
+    },
+    targetHint: "<room|alias|user>",
   },
   directory: {
     self: async () => null,

extensions/matrix/src/outbound.ts

@@ -1,22 +1,11 @@
 import { chunkMarkdownText } from "../../../src/auto-reply/chunk.js";
 import type { ChannelOutboundAdapter } from "../../../src/channels/plugins/types.js";
 import { sendMessageMatrix, sendPollMatrix } from "./matrix/send.js";
-import { missingTargetError } from "../../../src/infra/outbound/target-errors.js";
 
 export const matrixOutbound: ChannelOutboundAdapter = {
   deliveryMode: "direct",
   chunker: chunkMarkdownText,
   textChunkLimit: 4000,
-  resolveTarget: ({ to }) => {
-    const trimmed = to?.trim();
-    if (!trimmed) {
-      return {
-        ok: false,
-        error: missingTargetError("Matrix", "<room|alias|user>"),
-      };
-    }
-    return { ok: true, to: trimmed };
-  },
   sendText: async ({ to, text, deps, replyToId, threadId }) => {
     const send = deps?.sendMatrix ?? sendMessageMatrix;
     const resolvedThreadId =

extensions/msteams/src/channel.ts

@@ -133,6 +133,13 @@ export const msteamsPlugin: ChannelPlugin<ResolvedMSTeamsAccount> = {
   },
   messaging: {
     normalizeTarget: normalizeMSTeamsMessagingTarget,
+    looksLikeTargetId: (raw) => {
+      const trimmed = raw.trim();
+      if (!trimmed) return false;
+      if (/^(conversation:|user:)/i.test(trimmed)) return true;
+      return trimmed.includes("@thread");
+    },
+    targetHint: "<conversationId|user:ID|conversation:ID>",
   },
   directory: {
     self: async () => null,

extensions/msteams/src/outbound.ts

@@ -3,23 +3,12 @@ import type { ChannelOutboundAdapter } from "../../../src/channels/plugins/types
 
 import { createMSTeamsPollStoreFs } from "./polls.js";
 import { sendMessageMSTeams, sendPollMSTeams } from "./send.js";
-import { missingTargetError } from "../../../src/infra/outbound/target-errors.js";
 
 export const msteamsOutbound: ChannelOutboundAdapter = {
   deliveryMode: "direct",
   chunker: chunkMarkdownText,
   textChunkLimit: 4000,
   pollMaxOptions: 12,
-  resolveTarget: ({ to }) => {
-    const trimmed = to?.trim();
-    if (!trimmed) {
-      return {
-        ok: false,
-        error: missingTargetError("MS Teams", "<conversationId|user:ID|conversation:ID>"),
-      };
-    }
-    return { ok: true, to: trimmed };
-  },
   sendText: async ({ cfg, to, text, deps }) => {
     const send = deps?.sendMSTeams ?? ((to, text) => sendMessageMSTeams({ cfg, to, text }));
     const result = await send(to, text);

extensions/zalo/src/channel.ts

@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@ import {
 import { collectZaloStatusIssues } from "./status-issues.js";
 import type { CoreConfig } from "./types.js";
 import { DEFAULT_ACCOUNT_ID, normalizeAccountId } from "./shared/account-ids.js";
-import { missingTargetError } from "../../../src/infra/outbound/target-errors.js";
 
 const meta = {
   id: "zalo",
@@ -151,6 +150,12 @@ export const zaloPlugin: ChannelPlugin<ResolvedZaloAccount> = {
   actions: zaloMessageActions,
   messaging: {
     normalizeTarget: normalizeZaloMessagingTarget,
+    looksLikeTargetId: (raw) => {
+      const trimmed = raw.trim();
+      if (!trimmed) return false;
+      return /^\d{3,}$/.test(trimmed);
+    },
+    targetHint: "<chatId>",
   },
   directory: {
     self: async () => null,
@@ -280,16 +285,6 @@ export const zaloPlugin: ChannelPlugin<ResolvedZaloAccount> = {
       return chunks;
     },
     textChunkLimit: 2000,
-    resolveTarget: ({ to }) => {
-      const trimmed = to?.trim();
-      if (!trimmed) {
-        return {
-          ok: false,
-          error: missingTargetError("Zalo", "<chatId>"),
-        };
-      }
-      return { ok: true, to: trimmed };
-    },
     sendText: async ({ to, text, accountId, cfg }) => {
       const result = await sendMessageZalo(to, text, {
         accountId: accountId ?? undefined,

extensions/zalouser/src/channel.ts

@@ -16,7 +16,6 @@ import {
 import { zalouserOnboardingAdapter } from "./onboarding.js";
 import { sendMessageZalouser } from "./send.js";
 import { checkZcaInstalled, parseJsonOutput, runZca, runZcaInteractive } from "./zca.js";
-import { missingTargetError } from "../../../src/infra/outbound/target-errors.js";
 import {
   DEFAULT_ACCOUNT_ID,
   type CoreConfig,
@@ -219,6 +218,12 @@ export const zalouserPlugin: ChannelPlugin<ResolvedZalouserAccount> = {
       if (!trimmed) return undefined;
       return trimmed.replace(/^(zalouser|zlu):/i, "");
     },
+    looksLikeTargetId: (raw) => {
+      const trimmed = raw.trim();
+      if (!trimmed) return false;
+      return /^\d{3,}$/.test(trimmed);
+    },
+    targetHint: "<threadId>",
   },
   directory: {
     self: async ({ cfg, accountId, runtime }) => {
@@ -374,16 +379,6 @@ export const zalouserPlugin: ChannelPlugin<ResolvedZalouserAccount> = {
       return chunks;
     },
     textChunkLimit: 2000,
-    resolveTarget: ({ to }) => {
-      const trimmed = to?.trim();
-      if (!trimmed) {
-        return {
-          ok: false,
-          error: missingTargetError("Zalouser", "<threadId>"),
-        };
-      }
-      return { ok: true, to: trimmed };
-    },
     sendText: async ({ to, text, accountId, cfg }) => {
       const account = resolveZalouserAccountSync({ cfg: cfg as CoreConfig, accountId });
       const result = await sendMessageZalouser(to, text, { profile: account.profile });

src/channels/plugins/discord.ts

@@ -27,7 +27,10 @@ import {
 } from "./config-helpers.js";
 import { resolveDiscordGroupRequireMention } from "./group-mentions.js";
 import { formatPairingApproveHint } from "./helpers.js";
-import { normalizeDiscordMessagingTarget } from "./normalize-target.js";
+import {
+  looksLikeDiscordTargetId,
+  normalizeDiscordMessagingTarget,
+} from "./normalize-target.js";
 import { discordOnboardingAdapter } from "./onboarding/discord.js";
 import { PAIRING_APPROVED_MESSAGE } from "./pairing-message.js";
 import {
@@ -36,7 +39,6 @@ import {
 } from "./setup-helpers.js";
 import { collectDiscordStatusIssues } from "./status-issues/discord.js";
 import type { ChannelPlugin } from "./types.js";
-import { missingTargetError } from "../../infra/outbound/target-errors.js";
 
 const meta = getChatChannelMeta("discord");
 
@@ -178,6 +180,8 @@ export const discordPlugin: ChannelPlugin<ResolvedDiscordAccount> = {
   },
   messaging: {
     normalizeTarget: normalizeDiscordMessagingTarget,
+    looksLikeTargetId: looksLikeDiscordTargetId,
+    targetHint: "<channelId|user:ID|channel:ID>",
   },
   directory: {
     self: async () => null,
@@ -345,16 +349,6 @@ export const discordPlugin: ChannelPlugin<ResolvedDiscordAccount> = {
     chunker: null,
     textChunkLimit: 2000,
     pollMaxOptions: 10,
-    resolveTarget: ({ to }) => {
-      const trimmed = to?.trim();
-      if (!trimmed) {
-        return {
-          ok: false,
-          error: missingTargetError("Discord", "<channelId|user:ID|channel:ID>"),
-        };
-      }
-      return { ok: true, to: trimmed };
-    },
     sendText: async ({ to, text, accountId, deps, replyToId }) => {
       const send = deps?.sendDiscord ?? sendMessageDiscord;
       const result = await send(to, text, {

src/channels/plugins/imessage.ts

@@ -25,7 +25,6 @@ import {
   migrateBaseNameToDefaultAccount,
 } from "./setup-helpers.js";
 import type { ChannelPlugin } from "./types.js";
-import { missingTargetError } from "../../infra/outbound/target-errors.js";
 
 const meta = getChatChannelMeta("imessage");
 
@@ -107,6 +106,16 @@ export const imessagePlugin: ChannelPlugin<ResolvedIMessageAccount> = {
   groups: {
     resolveRequireMention: resolveIMessageGroupRequireMention,
   },
+  messaging: {
+    looksLikeTargetId: (raw) => {
+      const trimmed = raw.trim();
+      if (!trimmed) return false;
+      if (/^(imessage:|chat_id:)/i.test(trimmed)) return true;
+      if (trimmed.includes("@")) return true;
+      return /^\+?\d{3,}$/.test(trimmed);
+    },
+    targetHint: "<handle|chat_id:ID>",
+  },
   setup: {
     resolveAccountId: ({ accountId }) => normalizeAccountId(accountId),
     applyAccountName: ({ cfg, accountId, name }) =>
@@ -173,16 +182,6 @@ export const imessagePlugin: ChannelPlugin<ResolvedIMessageAccount> = {
     deliveryMode: "direct",
     chunker: chunkText,
     textChunkLimit: 4000,
-    resolveTarget: ({ to }) => {
-      const trimmed = to?.trim();
-      if (!trimmed) {
-        return {
-          ok: false,
-          error: missingTargetError("iMessage", "<handle|chat_id:ID>"),
-        };
-      }
-      return { ok: true, to: trimmed };
-    },
     sendText: async ({ cfg, to, text, accountId, deps }) => {
       const send = deps?.sendIMessage ?? sendMessageIMessage;
       const maxBytes = resolveChannelMediaMaxBytes({

src/channels/plugins/normalize-target.ts

@@ -32,6 +32,16 @@ export function normalizeSlackMessagingTarget(raw: string): string | undefined {
   return `channel:${trimmed}`.toLowerCase();
 }
 
+export function looksLikeSlackTargetId(raw: string): boolean {
+  const trimmed = raw.trim();
+  if (!trimmed) return false;
+  if (/^<@([A-Z0-9]+)>$/i.test(trimmed)) return true;
+  if (/^(user|channel|group):/i.test(trimmed)) return true;
+  if (/^slack:/i.test(trimmed)) return true;
+  if (/^[@#]/.test(trimmed)) return true;
+  return /^[CUWGD][A-Z0-9]{8,}$/i.test(trimmed);
+}
+
 export function normalizeDiscordMessagingTarget(raw: string): string | undefined {
   const trimmed = raw.trim();
   if (!trimmed) return undefined;
@@ -60,6 +70,15 @@ export function normalizeDiscordMessagingTarget(raw: string): string | undefined
   return `channel:${trimmed}`.toLowerCase();
 }
 
+export function looksLikeDiscordTargetId(raw: string): boolean {
+  const trimmed = raw.trim();
+  if (!trimmed) return false;
+  if (/^<@!?\d+>$/.test(trimmed)) return true;
+  if (/^(user|channel|group|discord):/i.test(trimmed)) return true;
+  if (/^\d{6,}$/.test(trimmed)) return true;
+  return false;
+}
+
 export function normalizeTelegramMessagingTarget(raw: string): string | undefined {
   const trimmed = raw.trim();
   if (!trimmed) return undefined;
@@ -80,6 +99,14 @@ export function normalizeTelegramMessagingTarget(raw: string): string | undefine
   return `telegram:${normalized}`.toLowerCase();
 }
 
+export function looksLikeTelegramTargetId(raw: string): boolean {
+  const trimmed = raw.trim();
+  if (!trimmed) return false;
+  if (/^(telegram|tg|group):/i.test(trimmed)) return true;
+  if (trimmed.startsWith("@")) return true;
+  return /^-?\d{6,}$/.test(trimmed);
+}
+
 export function normalizeSignalMessagingTarget(raw: string): string | undefined {
   const trimmed = raw.trim();
   if (!trimmed) return undefined;
@@ -104,8 +131,23 @@ export function normalizeSignalMessagingTarget(raw: string): string | undefined
   return normalized.toLowerCase();
 }
 
+export function looksLikeSignalTargetId(raw: string): boolean {
+  const trimmed = raw.trim();
+  if (!trimmed) return false;
+  if (/^(signal:)?(group:|username:|u:)/i.test(trimmed)) return true;
+  return /^\+?\d{3,}$/.test(trimmed);
+}
+
 export function normalizeWhatsAppMessagingTarget(raw: string): string | undefined {
   const trimmed = raw.trim();
   if (!trimmed) return undefined;
   return normalizeWhatsAppTarget(trimmed) ?? undefined;
 }
+
+export function looksLikeWhatsAppTargetId(raw: string): boolean {
+  const trimmed = raw.trim();
+  if (!trimmed) return false;
+  if (/^whatsapp:/i.test(trimmed)) return true;
+  if (trimmed.includes("@")) return true;
+  return /^\+?\d{3,}$/.test(trimmed);
+}

src/channels/plugins/outbound/discord.ts

@@ -1,22 +1,11 @@
 import { sendMessageDiscord, sendPollDiscord } from "../../../discord/send.js";
 import type { ChannelOutboundAdapter } from "../types.js";
-import { missingTargetError } from "../../../infra/outbound/target-errors.js";
 
 export const discordOutbound: ChannelOutboundAdapter = {
   deliveryMode: "direct",
   chunker: null,
   textChunkLimit: 2000,
   pollMaxOptions: 10,
-  resolveTarget: ({ to }) => {
-    const trimmed = to?.trim();
-    if (!trimmed) {
-      return {
-        ok: false,
-        error: missingTargetError("Discord", "<channelId|user:ID|channel:ID>"),
-      };
-    }
-    return { ok: true, to: trimmed };
-  },
   sendText: async ({ to, text, accountId, deps, replyToId }) => {
     const send = deps?.sendDiscord ?? sendMessageDiscord;
     const result = await send(to, text, {

src/channels/plugins/outbound/imessage.ts

@@ -2,22 +2,11 @@ import { chunkText } from "../../../auto-reply/chunk.js";
 import { sendMessageIMessage } from "../../../imessage/send.js";
 import { resolveChannelMediaMaxBytes } from "../media-limits.js";
 import type { ChannelOutboundAdapter } from "../types.js";
-import { missingTargetError } from "../../../infra/outbound/target-errors.js";
 
 export const imessageOutbound: ChannelOutboundAdapter = {
   deliveryMode: "direct",
   chunker: chunkText,
   textChunkLimit: 4000,
-  resolveTarget: ({ to }) => {
-    const trimmed = to?.trim();
-    if (!trimmed) {
-      return {
-        ok: false,
-        error: missingTargetError("iMessage", "<handle|chat_id:ID>"),
-      };
-    }
-    return { ok: true, to: trimmed };
-  },
   sendText: async ({ cfg, to, text, accountId, deps }) => {
     const send = deps?.sendIMessage ?? sendMessageIMessage;
     const maxBytes = resolveChannelMediaMaxBytes({

src/channels/plugins/outbound/signal.ts

@@ -2,22 +2,11 @@ import { chunkText } from "../../../auto-reply/chunk.js";
 import { sendMessageSignal } from "../../../signal/send.js";
 import { resolveChannelMediaMaxBytes } from "../media-limits.js";
 import type { ChannelOutboundAdapter } from "../types.js";
-import { missingTargetError } from "../../../infra/outbound/target-errors.js";
 
 export const signalOutbound: ChannelOutboundAdapter = {
   deliveryMode: "direct",
   chunker: chunkText,
   textChunkLimit: 4000,
-  resolveTarget: ({ to }) => {
-    const trimmed = to?.trim();
-    if (!trimmed) {
-      return {
-        ok: false,
-        error: missingTargetError("Signal", "<E.164|group:ID|signal:group:ID|signal:+E.164>"),
-      };
-    }
-    return { ok: true, to: trimmed };
-  },
   sendText: async ({ cfg, to, text, accountId, deps }) => {
     const send = deps?.sendSignal ?? sendMessageSignal;
     const maxBytes = resolveChannelMediaMaxBytes({

src/channels/plugins/outbound/slack.ts

@@ -1,21 +1,10 @@
 import { sendMessageSlack } from "../../../slack/send.js";
 import type { ChannelOutboundAdapter } from "../types.js";
-import { missingTargetError } from "../../../infra/outbound/target-errors.js";
 
 export const slackOutbound: ChannelOutboundAdapter = {
   deliveryMode: "direct",
   chunker: null,
   textChunkLimit: 4000,
-  resolveTarget: ({ to }) => {
-    const trimmed = to?.trim();
-    if (!trimmed) {
-      return {
-        ok: false,
-        error: missingTargetError("Slack", "<channelId|user:ID|channel:ID>"),
-      };
-    }
-    return { ok: true, to: trimmed };
-  },
   sendText: async ({ to, text, accountId, deps, replyToId }) => {
     const send = deps?.sendSlack ?? sendMessageSlack;
     const result = await send(to, text, {

src/channels/plugins/outbound/telegram.ts

@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 import { markdownToTelegramHtmlChunks } from "../../../telegram/format.js";
 import { sendMessageTelegram } from "../../../telegram/send.js";
 import type { ChannelOutboundAdapter } from "../types.js";
-import { missingTargetError } from "../../../infra/outbound/target-errors.js";
 
 function parseReplyToMessageId(replyToId?: string | null) {
   if (!replyToId) return undefined;
@@ -23,16 +22,6 @@ export const telegramOutbound: ChannelOutboundAdapter = {
   deliveryMode: "direct",
   chunker: markdownToTelegramHtmlChunks,
   textChunkLimit: 4000,
-  resolveTarget: ({ to }) => {
-    const trimmed = to?.trim();
-    if (!trimmed) {
-      return {
-        ok: false,
-        error: missingTargetError("Telegram", "<chatId>"),
-      };
-    }
-    return { ok: true, to: trimmed };
-  },
   sendText: async ({ to, text, accountId, deps, replyToId, threadId }) => {
     const send = deps?.sendTelegram ?? sendMessageTelegram;
     const replyToMessageId = parseReplyToMessageId(replyToId);

src/channels/plugins/signal.ts

@@ -18,7 +18,10 @@ import {
 } from "./config-helpers.js";
 import { formatPairingApproveHint } from "./helpers.js";
 import { resolveChannelMediaMaxBytes } from "./media-limits.js";
-import { normalizeSignalMessagingTarget } from "./normalize-target.js";
+import {
+  looksLikeSignalTargetId,
+  normalizeSignalMessagingTarget,
+} from "./normalize-target.js";
 import { signalOnboardingAdapter } from "./onboarding/signal.js";
 import { PAIRING_APPROVED_MESSAGE } from "./pairing-message.js";
 import {
@@ -26,7 +29,6 @@ import {
   migrateBaseNameToDefaultAccount,
 } from "./setup-helpers.js";
 import type { ChannelPlugin } from "./types.js";
-import { missingTargetError } from "../../infra/outbound/target-errors.js";
 
 const meta = getChatChannelMeta("signal");
 
@@ -116,6 +118,8 @@ export const signalPlugin: ChannelPlugin<ResolvedSignalAccount> = {
   },
   messaging: {
     normalizeTarget: normalizeSignalMessagingTarget,
+    looksLikeTargetId: looksLikeSignalTargetId,
+    targetHint: "<E.164|group:ID|signal:group:ID|signal:+E.164>",
   },
   setup: {
     resolveAccountId: ({ accountId }) => normalizeAccountId(accountId),
@@ -197,16 +201,6 @@ export const signalPlugin: ChannelPlugin<ResolvedSignalAccount> = {
     deliveryMode: "direct",
     chunker: chunkText,
     textChunkLimit: 4000,
-    resolveTarget: ({ to }) => {
-      const trimmed = to?.trim();
-      if (!trimmed) {
-        return {
-          ok: false,
-          error: missingTargetError("Signal", "<E.164|group:ID|signal:group:ID|signal:+E.164>"),
-        };
-      }
-      return { ok: true, to: trimmed };
-    },
     sendText: async ({ cfg, to, text, accountId, deps }) => {
       const send = deps?.sendSignal ?? sendMessageSignal;
       const maxBytes = resolveChannelMediaMaxBytes({

src/channels/plugins/slack.ts

@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ import {
 } from "./config-helpers.js";
 import { resolveSlackGroupRequireMention } from "./group-mentions.js";
 import { formatPairingApproveHint } from "./helpers.js";
-import { normalizeSlackMessagingTarget } from "./normalize-target.js";
+import { looksLikeSlackTargetId, normalizeSlackMessagingTarget } from "./normalize-target.js";
 import { slackOnboardingAdapter } from "./onboarding/slack.js";
 import { PAIRING_APPROVED_MESSAGE } from "./pairing-message.js";
 import {
@@ -29,7 +29,6 @@ import {
   migrateBaseNameToDefaultAccount,
 } from "./setup-helpers.js";
 import type { ChannelMessageActionName, ChannelPlugin } from "./types.js";
-import { missingTargetError } from "../../infra/outbound/target-errors.js";
 
 const meta = getChatChannelMeta("slack");
 
@@ -205,6 +204,8 @@ export const slackPlugin: ChannelPlugin<ResolvedSlackAccount> = {
   },
   messaging: {
     normalizeTarget: normalizeSlackMessagingTarget,
+    looksLikeTargetId: looksLikeSlackTargetId,
+    targetHint: "<channelId|user:ID|channel:ID>",
   },
   directory: {
     self: async () => null,
@@ -526,16 +527,6 @@ export const slackPlugin: ChannelPlugin<ResolvedSlackAccount> = {
     deliveryMode: "direct",
     chunker: null,
     textChunkLimit: 4000,
-    resolveTarget: ({ to }) => {
-      const trimmed = to?.trim();
-      if (!trimmed) {
-        return {
-          ok: false,
-          error: missingTargetError("Slack", "<channelId|user:ID|channel:ID>"),
-        };
-      }
-      return { ok: true, to: trimmed };
-    },
     sendText: async ({ to, text, accountId, deps, replyToId, cfg }) => {
       const send = deps?.sendSlack ?? sendMessageSlack;
       const account = resolveSlackAccount({ cfg, accountId });

src/channels/plugins/telegram.ts

@@ -26,7 +26,10 @@ import {
 } from "./config-helpers.js";
 import { resolveTelegramGroupRequireMention } from "./group-mentions.js";
 import { formatPairingApproveHint } from "./helpers.js";
-import { normalizeTelegramMessagingTarget } from "./normalize-target.js";
+import {
+  looksLikeTelegramTargetId,
+  normalizeTelegramMessagingTarget,
+} from "./normalize-target.js";
 import { telegramOnboardingAdapter } from "./onboarding/telegram.js";
 import { PAIRING_APPROVED_MESSAGE } from "./pairing-message.js";
 import {
@@ -35,7 +38,6 @@ import {
 } from "./setup-helpers.js";
 import { collectTelegramStatusIssues } from "./status-issues/telegram.js";
 import type { ChannelPlugin } from "./types.js";
-import { missingTargetError } from "../../infra/outbound/target-errors.js";
 
 const meta = getChatChannelMeta("telegram");
 
@@ -158,6 +160,8 @@ export const telegramPlugin: ChannelPlugin<ResolvedTelegramAccount> = {
   },
   messaging: {
     normalizeTarget: normalizeTelegramMessagingTarget,
+    looksLikeTargetId: looksLikeTelegramTargetId,
+    targetHint: "<chatId>",
   },
   directory: {
     self: async () => null,
@@ -281,16 +285,6 @@ export const telegramPlugin: ChannelPlugin<ResolvedTelegramAccount> = {
     deliveryMode: "direct",
     chunker: chunkMarkdownText,
     textChunkLimit: 4000,
-    resolveTarget: ({ to }) => {
-      const trimmed = to?.trim();
-      if (!trimmed) {
-        return {
-          ok: false,
-          error: missingTargetError("Telegram", "<chatId>"),
-        };
-      }
-      return { ok: true, to: trimmed };
-    },
     sendText: async ({ to, text, accountId, deps, replyToId, threadId }) => {
       const send = deps?.sendTelegram ?? sendMessageTelegram;
       const replyToMessageId = parseReplyToMessageId(replyToId);

src/channels/plugins/types.core.ts

@@ -215,6 +215,13 @@ export type ChannelThreadingToolContext = {
 
 export type ChannelMessagingAdapter = {
   normalizeTarget?: (raw: string) => string | undefined;
+  looksLikeTargetId?: (raw: string, normalized?: string) => boolean;
+  formatTargetDisplay?: (params: {
+    target: string;
+    display?: string;
+    kind?: ChannelDirectoryEntryKind;
+  }) => string;
+  targetHint?: string;
 };
 
 export type ChannelDirectoryEntryKind = "user" | "group" | "channel";

src/channels/plugins/whatsapp.ts

@@ -26,7 +26,10 @@ import { buildChannelConfigSchema } from "./config-schema.js";
 import { createWhatsAppLoginTool } from "./agent-tools/whatsapp-login.js";
 import { resolveWhatsAppGroupRequireMention } from "./group-mentions.js";
 import { formatPairingApproveHint } from "./helpers.js";
-import { normalizeWhatsAppMessagingTarget } from "./normalize-target.js";
+import {
+  looksLikeWhatsAppTargetId,
+  normalizeWhatsAppMessagingTarget,
+} from "./normalize-target.js";
 import { whatsappOnboardingAdapter } from "./onboarding/whatsapp.js";
 import {
   applyAccountNameToChannelSection,
@@ -219,6 +222,8 @@ export const whatsappPlugin: ChannelPlugin<ResolvedWhatsAppAccount> = {
   },
   messaging: {
     normalizeTarget: normalizeWhatsAppMessagingTarget,
+    looksLikeTargetId: looksLikeWhatsAppTargetId,
+    targetHint: "<E.164|group JID>",
   },
   directory: {
     self: async ({ cfg, accountId }) => {

src/commands/message-format.ts

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import { getChannelPlugin } from "../channels/plugins/index.js";
 import type { ChannelId, ChannelMessageActionName } from "../channels/plugins/types.js";
 import type { OutboundDeliveryResult } from "../infra/outbound/deliver.js";
 import { formatGatewaySummary, formatOutboundDeliverySummary } from "../infra/outbound/format.js";
+import { formatTargetDisplay } from "../infra/outbound/target-resolver.js";
 import type { MessageActionRunResult } from "../infra/outbound/message-action-runner.js";
 import { renderTable } from "../terminal/table.js";
 import { isRich, theme } from "../terminal/theme.js";
@@ -242,7 +243,10 @@ export function formatMessageCliText(result: MessageActionRunResult): string[] {
     const results = result.payload.results ?? [];
     const rows = results.map((entry) => ({
       Channel: resolveChannelLabel(entry.channel),
-      Target: shortenText(entry.to, 36),
+      Target: shortenText(
+        formatTargetDisplay({ channel: entry.channel, target: entry.to }),
+        36,
+      ),
       Status: entry.ok ? "ok" : "error",
       Error: entry.ok ? "" : shortenText(entry.error ?? "unknown error", 48),
     }));

src/commands/message.test.ts

@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ describe("messageCommand", () => {
     const deps = makeDeps();
     await messageCommand(
       {
-        target: "123",
+        target: "123456",
         message: "hi",
       },
       deps,

src/infra/outbound/outbound-policy.ts

@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ import type {
 } from "../../channels/plugins/types.js";
 import type { ClawdbotConfig } from "../../config/config.js";
 import { getChannelMessageAdapter } from "./channel-adapters.js";
-import { lookupDirectoryDisplay } from "./target-resolver.js";
+import { formatTargetDisplay, lookupDirectoryDisplay } from "./target-resolver.js";
 
 export type CrossContextDecoration = {
   prefix: string;
@@ -125,7 +125,12 @@ export async function buildCrossContextDecoration(params: {
       targetId: params.toolContext.currentChannelId,
       accountId: params.accountId ?? undefined,
     })) ?? params.toolContext.currentChannelId;
-  const originLabel = currentName.startsWith("#") ? currentName : `#${currentName}`;
+  const originLabel = formatTargetDisplay({
+    channel: params.channel,
+    target: params.toolContext.currentChannelId,
+    display: currentName,
+    kind: "group",
+  });
   const prefixTemplate = markerConfig?.prefix ?? "[from {channel}] ";
   const suffixTemplate = markerConfig?.suffix ?? "";
   const prefix = prefixTemplate.replaceAll("{channel}", originLabel);

src/infra/outbound/target-resolver.ts

@@ -62,6 +62,52 @@ function stripTargetPrefixes(value: string): string {
     .trim();
 }
 
+export function formatTargetDisplay(params: {
+  channel: ChannelId;
+  target: string;
+  display?: string;
+  kind?: ChannelDirectoryEntryKind;
+}): string {
+  const plugin = getChannelPlugin(params.channel);
+  if (plugin?.messaging?.formatTargetDisplay) {
+    return plugin.messaging.formatTargetDisplay({
+      target: params.target,
+      display: params.display,
+      kind: params.kind,
+    });
+  }
+
+  const trimmedTarget = params.target.trim();
+  const lowered = trimmedTarget.toLowerCase();
+  const display = params.display?.trim();
+  const kind =
+    params.kind ??
+    (lowered.startsWith("user:")
+      ? "user"
+      : lowered.startsWith("channel:") || lowered.startsWith("group:")
+        ? "group"
+        : undefined);
+
+  if (display) {
+    if (display.startsWith("#") || display.startsWith("@")) return display;
+    if (kind === "user") return `@${display}`;
+    if (kind === "group" || kind === "channel") return `#${display}`;
+    return display;
+  }
+
+  if (!trimmedTarget) return trimmedTarget;
+  if (trimmedTarget.startsWith("#") || trimmedTarget.startsWith("@")) return trimmedTarget;
+
+  const withoutPrefix = trimmedTarget.replace(/^telegram:/i, "");
+  if (/^(channel|group):/i.test(withoutPrefix)) {
+    return `#${withoutPrefix.replace(/^(channel|group):/i, "")}`;
+  }
+  if (/^user:/i.test(withoutPrefix)) {
+    return `@${withoutPrefix.replace(/^user:/i, "")}`;
+  }
+  return withoutPrefix;
+}
+
 function preserveTargetCase(channel: ChannelId, raw: string, normalized: string): string {
   if (channel !== "slack") return normalized;
   const trimmed = raw.trim();
@@ -114,35 +160,22 @@ function resolveMatch(params: {
   return { kind: "ambiguous" as const, entries: matches };
 }
 
-function looksLikeId(channel: ChannelId, normalized: string): boolean {
+function looksLikeTargetId(params: {
-  if (!normalized) return false;
+  channel: ChannelId;
-  const raw = normalized.trim();
+  raw: string;
-  switch (channel) {
+  normalized: string;
-    case "discord": {
+}): boolean {
-      const candidate = stripTargetPrefixes(raw);
+  const raw = params.raw.trim();
-      return /^\d{6,}$/.test(candidate);
+  if (!raw) return false;
-    }
+  const plugin = getChannelPlugin(params.channel);
-    case "slack": {
+  const lookup = plugin?.messaging?.looksLikeTargetId;
-      const candidate = stripTargetPrefixes(raw);
+  if (lookup) return lookup(raw, params.normalized);
-      return /^[A-Z0-9]{8,}$/i.test(candidate);
+  if (/^(channel|group|user):/i.test(raw)) return true;
-    }
+  if (/^[@#]/.test(raw)) return true;
-    case "msteams": {
+  if (/^\+?\d{6,}$/.test(raw)) return true;
-      return /^conversation:/i.test(raw) || /^user:/i.test(raw) || raw.includes("@thread");
+  if (raw.includes("@thread")) return true;
-    }
+  if (/^(conversation|user):/i.test(raw)) return true;
-    case "telegram": {
+  return false;
-      return /^telegram:/i.test(raw) || raw.startsWith("@");
-    }
-    case "whatsapp": {
-      const candidate = stripTargetPrefixes(raw);
-      return (
-        /@/i.test(candidate) ||
-        /^\+?\d{3,}$/.test(candidate) ||
-        candidate.toLowerCase().endsWith("@g.us")
-      );
-    }
-    default:
-      return Boolean(raw);
-  }
 }
 
 async function listDirectoryEntries(params: {
@@ -245,7 +278,7 @@ export async function resolveMessagingTarget(params: {
   }
   const kind = detectTargetKind(raw, params.preferredKind);
   const normalized = normalizeTargetForProvider(params.channel, raw) ?? raw;
-  if (looksLikeId(params.channel, normalized)) {
+  if (looksLikeTargetId({ channel: params.channel, raw, normalized })) {
     const directTarget = preserveTargetCase(params.channel, raw, normalized);
     return {
       ok: true,

src/infra/outbound/targets.ts

@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import {
   isDeliverableMessageChannel,
   normalizeMessageChannel,
 } from "../../utils/message-channel.js";
+import { missingTargetError } from "./target-errors.js";
 
 export type OutboundChannel = DeliverableMessageChannel | "none";
 
@@ -145,9 +146,10 @@ export function resolveOutboundTarget(params: {
   if (trimmed) {
     return { ok: true, to: trimmed };
   }
+  const hint = plugin.messaging?.targetHint;
   return {
     ok: false,
-    error: new Error(`Delivering to ${plugin.meta.label} requires a destination`),
+    error: missingTargetError(plugin.meta.label ?? params.channel, hint),
   };
 }