feat: enrich system prompt docs guidance

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -10,15 +10,19 @@ Docs: https://docs.clawd.bot
 - Swabble: use the tagged Commander Swift package release.
 - CLI: add `clawdbot acp client` interactive ACP harness for debugging.
 - Plugins: route command detection/text chunking helpers through the plugin runtime and drop runtime exports from the SDK.
-- Memory: add native Gemini embeddings provider for memory search. (#1151) — thanks @gumadeiras.
+- Memory: add native Gemini embeddings provider for memory search. (#1151)
-- Media: auto-enable audio understanding when provider keys are configured (OpenAI/Groq/Deepgram).
+- Agents: add local docs path resolution and include docs/mirror/source/community pointers in the system prompt.
-- Docs: add API usage + costs overview. https://docs.clawd.bot/reference/api-usage-costs
 
 ### Fixes
 - Auth profiles: keep auto-pinned preference while allowing rotation on failover; user pins stay locked. (#1138) — thanks @cheeeee.
 - macOS: avoid touching launchd in Remote over SSH so quitting the app no longer disables the remote gateway. (#1105)
-- Memory: index atomically so failed reindex preserves the previous memory database. (#1151) — thanks @gumadeiras.
+- Memory: index atomically so failed reindex preserves the previous memory database. (#1151)
-- Memory: avoid sqlite-vec unique constraint failures when reindexing duplicate chunk ids. (#1151) — thanks @gumadeiras.
+- Memory: avoid sqlite-vec unique constraint failures when reindexing duplicate chunk ids. (#1151)
+
+## 2026.1.18-5
+
+### Changes
+- Dependencies: update core + plugin deps (grammy, vitest, openai, Microsoft agents hosting, etc.).
 
 ## 2026.1.18-3
 

docs/concepts/system-prompt.md

@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ The prompt is intentionally compact and uses fixed sections:
 - **Skills** (when available): tells the model how to load skill instructions on demand.
 - **Clawdbot Self-Update**: how to run `config.apply` and `update.run`.
 - **Workspace**: working directory (`agents.defaults.workspace`).
+- **Documentation**: local path to Clawdbot docs (repo or npm package) and when to read them.
 - **Workspace Files (injected)**: indicates bootstrap files are included below.
 - **Sandbox** (when enabled): indicates sandboxed runtime, sandbox paths, and whether elevated exec is available.
 - **Current Date & Time**: user-local time, timezone, and time format.
@@ -98,3 +99,12 @@ Skills section is omitted.
 ```
 
 This keeps the base prompt small while still enabling targeted skill usage.
+
+## Documentation
+
+When available, the system prompt includes a **Documentation** section that points to the
+local Clawdbot docs directory (either `docs/` in the repo workspace or the bundled npm
+package docs) and also notes the public mirror, source repo, community Discord, and
+ClawdHub (https://clawdhub.com) for skills discovery. The prompt instructs the model to consult local docs first
+for Clawdbot behavior, commands, configuration, or architecture, and to run
+`clawdbot status` itself when possible (asking the user only when it lacks access).

src/agents/cli-runner.ts

@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import { shouldLogVerbose } from "../globals.js";
 import { createSubsystemLogger } from "../logging.js";
 import { runCommandWithTimeout } from "../process/exec.js";
 import { resolveUserPath } from "../utils.js";
+import { resolveClawdbotDocsPath } from "./docs-path.js";
 import { resolveSessionAgentIds } from "./agent-scope.js";
 import { makeBootstrapWarn, resolveBootstrapContextForRun } from "./bootstrap-files.js";
 import { resolveCliBackendConfig } from "./cli-backends.js";
@@ -83,6 +84,12 @@ export async function runCliAgent(params: {
     sessionAgentId === defaultAgentId
       ? resolveHeartbeatPrompt(params.config?.agents?.defaults?.heartbeat?.prompt)
       : undefined;
+  const docsPath = await resolveClawdbotDocsPath({
+    workspaceDir,
+    argv1: process.argv[1],
+    cwd: process.cwd(),
+    moduleUrl: import.meta.url,
+  });
   const systemPrompt = buildSystemPrompt({
     workspaceDir,
     config: params.config,
@@ -90,6 +97,7 @@ export async function runCliAgent(params: {
     extraSystemPrompt,
     ownerNumbers: params.ownerNumbers,
     heartbeatPrompt,
+    docsPath,
     tools: [],
     contextFiles,
     modelDisplay,

src/agents/cli-runner/helpers.ts

@@ -168,6 +168,7 @@ export function buildSystemPrompt(params: {
   extraSystemPrompt?: string;
   ownerNumbers?: string[];
   heartbeatPrompt?: string;
+  docsPath?: string;
   tools: AgentTool[];
   contextFiles?: EmbeddedContextFile[];
   modelDisplay: string;
@@ -182,6 +183,7 @@ export function buildSystemPrompt(params: {
     ownerNumbers: params.ownerNumbers,
     reasoningTagHint: false,
     heartbeatPrompt: params.heartbeatPrompt,
+    docsPath: params.docsPath,
     runtimeInfo: {
       host: "clawdbot",
       os: `${os.type()} ${os.release()}`,

src/agents/docs-path.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+import fs from "node:fs";
+import path from "node:path";
+
+import { resolveClawdbotPackageRoot } from "../infra/clawdbot-root.js";
+
+export async function resolveClawdbotDocsPath(params: {
+  workspaceDir?: string;
+  argv1?: string;
+  cwd?: string;
+  moduleUrl?: string;
+}): Promise<string | null> {
+  const workspaceDir = params.workspaceDir?.trim();
+  if (workspaceDir) {
+    const workspaceDocs = path.join(workspaceDir, "docs");
+    if (fs.existsSync(workspaceDocs)) return workspaceDocs;
+  }
+
+  const packageRoot = await resolveClawdbotPackageRoot({
+    cwd: params.cwd,
+    argv1: params.argv1,
+    moduleUrl: params.moduleUrl,
+  });
+  if (!packageRoot) return null;
+
+  const packageDocs = path.join(packageRoot, "docs");
+  return fs.existsSync(packageDocs) ? packageDocs : null;
+}

src/agents/pi-embedded-runner/compact.ts

@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ import { resolveUserPath } from "../../utils.js";
 import { resolveClawdbotAgentDir } from "../agent-paths.js";
 import { resolveSessionAgentIds } from "../agent-scope.js";
 import { makeBootstrapWarn, resolveBootstrapContextForRun } from "../bootstrap-files.js";
+import { resolveClawdbotDocsPath } from "../docs-path.js";
 import type { ExecElevatedDefaults } from "../bash-tools.js";
 import { DEFAULT_MODEL, DEFAULT_PROVIDER } from "../defaults.js";
 import { getApiKeyForModel, resolveModelAuthMode } from "../model-auth.js";
@@ -250,6 +251,12 @@ export async function compactEmbeddedPiSession(params: {
         });
         const isDefaultAgent = sessionAgentId === defaultAgentId;
         const promptMode = isSubagentSessionKey(params.sessionKey) ? "minimal" : "full";
+        const docsPath = await resolveClawdbotDocsPath({
+          workspaceDir: effectiveWorkspace,
+          argv1: process.argv[1],
+          cwd: process.cwd(),
+          moduleUrl: import.meta.url,
+        });
         const appendPrompt = buildEmbeddedSystemPrompt({
           workspaceDir: effectiveWorkspace,
           defaultThinkLevel: params.thinkLevel,
@@ -261,6 +268,7 @@ export async function compactEmbeddedPiSession(params: {
             ? resolveHeartbeatPrompt(params.config?.agents?.defaults?.heartbeat?.prompt)
             : undefined,
           skillsPrompt,
+          docsPath,
           promptMode,
           runtimeInfo,
           sandboxInfo,

src/agents/pi-embedded-runner/run/attempt.ts

@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ import { resolveUserPath } from "../../../utils.js";
 import { resolveClawdbotAgentDir } from "../../agent-paths.js";
 import { resolveSessionAgentIds } from "../../agent-scope.js";
 import { makeBootstrapWarn, resolveBootstrapContextForRun } from "../../bootstrap-files.js";
+import { resolveClawdbotDocsPath } from "../../docs-path.js";
 import { resolveModelAuthMode } from "../../model-auth.js";
 import {
   isCloudCodeAssistFormatError,
@@ -216,6 +217,12 @@ export async function runEmbeddedAttempt(
     });
     const isDefaultAgent = sessionAgentId === defaultAgentId;
     const promptMode = isSubagentSessionKey(params.sessionKey) ? "minimal" : "full";
+    const docsPath = await resolveClawdbotDocsPath({
+      workspaceDir: effectiveWorkspace,
+      argv1: process.argv[1],
+      cwd: process.cwd(),
+      moduleUrl: import.meta.url,
+    });
 
     const appendPrompt = buildEmbeddedSystemPrompt({
       workspaceDir: effectiveWorkspace,
@@ -228,6 +235,7 @@ export async function runEmbeddedAttempt(
         ? resolveHeartbeatPrompt(params.config?.agents?.defaults?.heartbeat?.prompt)
         : undefined,
       skillsPrompt,
+      docsPath,
       reactionGuidance,
       promptMode,
       runtimeInfo,

src/agents/pi-embedded-runner/system-prompt.ts

@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ export function buildEmbeddedSystemPrompt(params: {
   reasoningTagHint: boolean;
   heartbeatPrompt?: string;
   skillsPrompt?: string;
+  docsPath?: string;
   reactionGuidance?: {
     level: "minimal" | "extensive";
     channel: string;
@@ -48,6 +49,7 @@ export function buildEmbeddedSystemPrompt(params: {
     reasoningTagHint: params.reasoningTagHint,
     heartbeatPrompt: params.heartbeatPrompt,
     skillsPrompt: params.skillsPrompt,
+    docsPath: params.docsPath,
     reactionGuidance: params.reactionGuidance,
     promptMode: params.promptMode,
     runtimeInfo: params.runtimeInfo,

src/agents/system-prompt.test.ts

@@ -32,12 +32,14 @@ describe("buildAgentSystemPrompt", () => {
         "<available_skills>\n  <skill>\n    <name>demo</name>\n  </skill>\n</available_skills>",
       heartbeatPrompt: "ping",
       toolNames: ["message", "memory_search"],
+      docsPath: "/tmp/clawd/docs",
       extraSystemPrompt: "Subagent details",
     });
 
     expect(prompt).not.toContain("## User Identity");
     expect(prompt).not.toContain("## Skills");
     expect(prompt).not.toContain("## Memory Recall");
+    expect(prompt).not.toContain("## Documentation");
     expect(prompt).not.toContain("## Reply Tags");
     expect(prompt).not.toContain("## Messaging");
     expect(prompt).not.toContain("## Silent Replies");
@@ -86,6 +88,7 @@ describe("buildAgentSystemPrompt", () => {
       toolNames: ["Read", "Exec", "process"],
       skillsPrompt:
         "<available_skills>\n  <skill>\n    <name>demo</name>\n  </skill>\n</available_skills>",
+      docsPath: "/tmp/clawd/docs",
     });
 
     expect(prompt).toContain("- Read: Read file contents");
@@ -93,6 +96,21 @@ describe("buildAgentSystemPrompt", () => {
     expect(prompt).toContain(
       "Use `Read` to load the SKILL.md at the location listed for that skill.",
     );
+    expect(prompt).toContain("Clawdbot docs: /tmp/clawd/docs");
+    expect(prompt).toContain("read the docs first using `Read`");
+  });
+
+  it("includes docs guidance when docsPath is provided", () => {
+    const prompt = buildAgentSystemPrompt({
+      workspaceDir: "/tmp/clawd",
+      docsPath: "/tmp/clawd/docs",
+    });
+
+    expect(prompt).toContain("## Documentation");
+    expect(prompt).toContain("Clawdbot docs: /tmp/clawd/docs");
+    expect(prompt).toContain(
+      "When a user asks about Clawdbot behavior, commands, config, or architecture",
+    );
   });
 
   it("includes user time when provided (12-hour)", () => {

src/agents/system-prompt.ts

@@ -109,6 +109,26 @@ function buildMessagingSection(params: {
   ];
 }
 
+function buildDocsSection(params: {
+  docsPath?: string;
+  isMinimal: boolean;
+  readToolName: string;
+}) {
+  const docsPath = params.docsPath?.trim();
+  if (!docsPath || params.isMinimal) return [];
+  return [
+    "## Documentation",
+    `Clawdbot docs: ${docsPath}`,
+    "Mirror: https://docs.clawd.bot",
+    "Source: https://github.com/clawdbot/clawdbot",
+    "Community: https://discord.com/invite/clawd",
+    "Find new skills: https://clawdhub.com",
+    "For Clawdbot behavior, commands, config, or architecture: consult local docs first.",
+    "When diagnosing issues, run `clawdbot status` yourself when possible; only ask the user if you lack access (e.g., sandboxed).",
+    "",
+  ];
+}
+
 export function buildAgentSystemPrompt(params: {
   workspaceDir: string;
   defaultThinkLevel?: ThinkLevel;
@@ -125,6 +145,7 @@ export function buildAgentSystemPrompt(params: {
   contextFiles?: EmbeddedContextFile[];
   skillsPrompt?: string;
   heartbeatPrompt?: string;
+  docsPath?: string;
   /** Controls which hardcoded sections to include. Defaults to "full". */
   promptMode?: PromptMode;
   runtimeInfo?: {
@@ -295,6 +316,11 @@ export function buildAgentSystemPrompt(params: {
     readToolName,
   });
   const memorySection = buildMemorySection({ isMinimal, availableTools });
+  const docsSection = buildDocsSection({
+    docsPath: params.docsPath,
+    isMinimal,
+    readToolName,
+  });
 
   // For "none" mode, return just the basic identity line
   if (promptMode === "none") {
@@ -371,6 +397,7 @@ export function buildAgentSystemPrompt(params: {
     `Your working directory is: ${params.workspaceDir}`,
     "Treat this directory as the single global workspace for file operations unless explicitly instructed otherwise.",
     "",
+    ...docsSection,
     params.sandboxInfo?.enabled ? "## Sandbox" : "",
     params.sandboxInfo?.enabled
       ? [