83 lines
3.2 KiB
Markdown
83 lines
3.2 KiB
Markdown
---
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summary: "Background exec execution and process management"
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read_when:
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- Adding or modifying background exec behavior
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- Debugging long-running exec tasks
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---
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# Background Exec + Process Tool
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Moltbot runs shell commands through the `exec` tool and keeps long‑running tasks in memory. The `process` tool manages those background sessions.
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## exec tool
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Key parameters:
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- `command` (required)
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- `yieldMs` (default 10000): auto‑background after this delay
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- `background` (bool): background immediately
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- `timeout` (seconds, default 1800): kill the process after this timeout
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- `elevated` (bool): run on host if elevated mode is enabled/allowed
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- Need a real TTY? Set `pty: true`.
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- `workdir`, `env`
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Behavior:
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- Foreground runs return output directly.
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- When backgrounded (explicit or timeout), the tool returns `status: "running"` + `sessionId` and a short tail.
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- Output is kept in memory until the session is polled or cleared.
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- If the `process` tool is disallowed, `exec` runs synchronously and ignores `yieldMs`/`background`.
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## Child process bridging
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When spawning long-running child processes outside the exec/process tools (for example, CLI respawns or gateway helpers), attach the child-process bridge helper so termination signals are forwarded and listeners are detached on exit/error. This avoids orphaned processes on systemd and keeps shutdown behavior consistent across platforms.
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Environment overrides:
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- `PI_BASH_YIELD_MS`: default yield (ms)
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- `PI_BASH_MAX_OUTPUT_CHARS`: in‑memory output cap (chars)
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- `CLAWDBOT_BASH_PENDING_MAX_OUTPUT_CHARS`: pending stdout/stderr cap per stream (chars)
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- `PI_BASH_JOB_TTL_MS`: TTL for finished sessions (ms, bounded to 1m–3h)
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Config (preferred):
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- `tools.exec.backgroundMs` (default 10000)
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- `tools.exec.timeoutSec` (default 1800)
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- `tools.exec.cleanupMs` (default 1800000)
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- `tools.exec.notifyOnExit` (default true): enqueue a system event + request heartbeat when a backgrounded exec exits.
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## process tool
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Actions:
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- `list`: running + finished sessions
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- `poll`: drain new output for a session (also reports exit status)
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- `log`: read the aggregated output (supports `offset` + `limit`)
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- `write`: send stdin (`data`, optional `eof`)
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- `kill`: terminate a background session
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- `clear`: remove a finished session from memory
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- `remove`: kill if running, otherwise clear if finished
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Notes:
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- Only backgrounded sessions are listed/persisted in memory.
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- Sessions are lost on process restart (no disk persistence).
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- Session logs are only saved to chat history if you run `process poll/log` and the tool result is recorded.
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- `process` is scoped per agent; it only sees sessions started by that agent.
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- `process list` includes a derived `name` (command verb + target) for quick scans.
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- `process log` uses line-based `offset`/`limit` (omit `offset` to grab the last N lines).
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## Examples
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Run a long task and poll later:
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```json
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{"tool": "exec", "command": "sleep 5 && echo done", "yieldMs": 1000}
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```
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```json
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{"tool": "process", "action": "poll", "sessionId": "<id>"}
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```
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Start immediately in background:
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```json
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{"tool": "exec", "command": "npm run build", "background": true}
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```
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Send stdin:
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```json
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{"tool": "process", "action": "write", "sessionId": "<id>", "data": "y\n"}
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```
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