4cb8fa059a
## Problem
The `"prompt"` subcommand arm enforced `if prompt.trim().is_empty()`
and returned a specific error. The fallthrough `other` arm in the same
match block — which routes any unrecognized first positional arg to
`CliAction::Prompt` — had no such guard. Result:
$ claw ""
error: missing Anthropic credentials; export ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN ...
$ claw " "
error: missing Anthropic credentials; ...
$ claw "" ""
error: missing Anthropic credentials; ...
$ claw --output-format json ""
{"error":"missing Anthropic credentials; ...","type":"error"}
An empty prompt should never reach the credentials check. Worse: with
valid credentials, the literal empty string gets sent to Claude as a
user prompt, either burning tokens for nothing or triggering a model-
side refusal. Same prompt-misdelivery family as #145.
## Root cause
In `parse_subcommand()`, the final `other =>` arm in the top-level
match only guards against typos (#108 guard via `looks_like_subcommand_typo`)
and then unconditionally builds `CliAction::Prompt { prompt: rest.join(" ") }`.
An empty/whitespace-only join passes through.
## Changes
### rust/crates/rusty-claude-cli/src/main.rs
Added the same `if joined.trim().is_empty()` guard already used in the
`"prompt"` arm to the fallthrough path. Error message distinguishes it
from the `prompt` subcommand path:
empty prompt: provide a subcommand (run `claw --help`) or a
non-empty prompt string
Runs AFTER the typo guard (so `claw sttaus` still suggests `status`)
and BEFORE CliAction::Prompt construction (so no network call ever
happens for empty inputs).
### Regression tests
Added 4 assertions in the existing parse_args test:
- parse_args([""]) → Err("empty prompt: ...")
- parse_args([" "]) → Err("empty prompt: ...")
- parse_args(["", ""]) → Err("empty prompt: ...")
- parse_args(["sttaus"]) → Err("unknown subcommand: ...") [verifies #108 typo guard still takes precedence]
### ROADMAP.md
Added Pinpoint #147 documenting the gap, verification, root cause,
fix shape, and acceptance. Joins the prompt-misdelivery cluster
alongside #145.
## Live verification
$ claw ""
error: empty prompt: provide a subcommand (run `claw --help`) or a non-empty prompt string
$ claw " "
error: empty prompt: provide a subcommand (run `claw --help`) or a non-empty prompt string
$ claw --output-format json ""
{"error":"empty prompt: provide a subcommand ...","type":"error"}
$ claw prompt "" # unchanged: subcommand-specific error preserved
error: prompt subcommand requires a prompt string
$ claw hello # unchanged: typo guard still fires
error: unknown subcommand: hello.
Did you mean help
$ claw "real prompt here" # unchanged: real prompts still reach API
error: api returned 401 Unauthorized (with dummy key, as expected)
All empty/whitespace-only paths exit 1. No network call. No misleading
credentials error.
## Tests
- rusty-claude-cli bin: 177 tests pass (4 new assertions)
- Full workspace green except pre-existing resume_latest flake (unrelated)
Closes ROADMAP #147.
Claw Code
ultraworkers/claw-code · Usage · Rust workspace · Parity · Roadmap · UltraWorkers Discord
Claw Code is the public Rust implementation of the claw CLI agent harness.
The canonical implementation lives in rust/, and the current source of truth for this repository is ultraworkers/claw-code.
Important
Start with
USAGE.mdfor build, auth, CLI, session, and parity-harness workflows. Makeclaw doctoryour first health check after building, userust/README.mdfor crate-level details, readPARITY.mdfor the current Rust-port checkpoint, and seedocs/container.mdfor the container-first workflow.ACP / Zed status:
claw-codedoes not ship an ACP/Zed daemon entrypoint yet. Runclaw acp(orclaw --acp) for the current status instead of guessing from source layout;claw acp serveis currently a discoverability alias only, and real ACP support remains tracked separately inROADMAP.md.
Current repository shape
rust/— canonical Rust workspace and theclawCLI binaryUSAGE.md— task-oriented usage guide for the current product surfacePARITY.md— Rust-port parity status and migration notesROADMAP.md— active roadmap and cleanup backlogPHILOSOPHY.md— project intent and system-design framingsrc/+tests/— companion Python/reference workspace and audit helpers; not the primary runtime surface
Quick start
Note
[!WARNING]
cargo install claw-codeinstalls the wrong thing. Theclaw-codecrate on crates.io is a deprecated stub that placesclaw-code-deprecated.exe— notclaw. Running it only prints"claw-code has been renamed to agent-code". Do not usecargo install claw-code. Either build from source (this repo) or install the upstream binary:cargo install agent-code # upstream binary — installs 'agent.exe' (Windows) / 'agent' (Unix), NOT 'agent-code'This repo (
ultraworkers/claw-code) is build-from-source only — follow the steps below.
# 1. Clone and build
git clone https://github.com/ultraworkers/claw-code
cd claw-code/rust
cargo build --workspace
# 2. Set your API key (Anthropic API key — not a Claude subscription)
export ANTHROPIC_API_KEY="sk-ant-..."
# 3. Verify everything is wired correctly
./target/debug/claw doctor
# 4. Run a prompt
./target/debug/claw prompt "say hello"
Note
Windows (PowerShell): the binary is
claw.exe, notclaw. Use.\target\debug\claw.exeor runcargo run -- prompt "say hello"to skip the path lookup.
Windows setup
PowerShell is a supported Windows path. Use whichever shell works for you. The common onboarding issues on Windows are:
- Install Rust first — download from https://rustup.rs/ and run the installer. Close and reopen your terminal when it finishes.
- Verify Rust is on PATH:
If this fails, reopen your terminal or run the PATH setup from the Rust installer output, then retry.cargo --version - Clone and build (works in PowerShell, Git Bash, or WSL):
git clone https://github.com/ultraworkers/claw-code cd claw-code/rust cargo build --workspace - Run (PowerShell — note
.exeand backslash):$env:ANTHROPIC_API_KEY = "sk-ant-..." .\target\debug\claw.exe prompt "say hello"
Git Bash / WSL are optional alternatives, not requirements. If you prefer bash-style paths (/c/Users/you/... instead of C:\Users\you\...), Git Bash (ships with Git for Windows) works well. In Git Bash, the MINGW64 prompt is expected and normal — not a broken install.
Note
Auth: claw requires an API key (
ANTHROPIC_API_KEY,OPENAI_API_KEY, etc.) — Claude subscription login is not a supported auth path.
Run the workspace test suite:
cd rust
cargo test --workspace
Documentation map
USAGE.md— quick commands, auth, sessions, config, parity harnessrust/README.md— crate map, CLI surface, features, workspace layoutPARITY.md— parity status for the Rust portrust/MOCK_PARITY_HARNESS.md— deterministic mock-service harness detailsROADMAP.md— active roadmap and open cleanup workPHILOSOPHY.md— why the project exists and how it is operated
Ecosystem
Claw Code is built in the open alongside the broader UltraWorkers toolchain:
Ownership / affiliation disclaimer
- This repository does not claim ownership of the original Claude Code source material.
- This repository is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or maintained by Anthropic.