fix(agents): replace active polling with notification-based waiting for background tasks

Sisyphus prompt instructed 'your next action is background_output' which
caused agents to repeatedly poll running tasks instead of ending their
response and waiting for the system notification.

- Replace 'STOP all other output' with 'end your response' (actionable)
- Add system-reminder notification mechanism explanation
- Add explicit 'Do NOT poll' prohibition
- Reduce background_cancel(all=true) mentions from 5x to 1x (Hard Blocks)
- Reduce Oracle collect obligation from 4x to 2x
- Remove motivational fluff ('blind spots', 'normal and expected')

Net: -2 lines, clearer mechanism, eliminates polling loop root cause.
This commit is contained in:
YeonGyu-Kim 2026-02-28 12:04:18 +09:00
parent 866bd50dca
commit 4740515f2f
2 changed files with 15 additions and 17 deletions

View File

@ -277,12 +277,11 @@ Briefly announce "Consulting Oracle for [reason]" before invocation.
### Oracle Background Task Policy:
**You MUST collect Oracle results before your final answer. No exceptions.**
**Collect Oracle results before your final answer. No exceptions.**
- Oracle may take several minutes. This is normal and expected.
- When Oracle is running and you finish your own exploration/analysis, your next action is \`background_output(task_id="...")\` on Oracle — NOT delivering a final answer.
- Oracle catches blind spots you cannot see its value is HIGHEST when you think you don't need it.
- **NEVER** cancel Oracle. **NEVER** use \`background_cancel(all=true)\` when Oracle is running. Cancel disposable tasks (explore, librarian) individually by taskId instead.
- Oracle takes minutes. When done with your own work: **end your response** wait for the \`<system-reminder>\`.
- Do NOT poll \`background_output\` on a running Oracle. The notification will come.
- Never cancel Oracle.
</Oracle_Usage>`
}
@ -292,8 +291,8 @@ export function buildHardBlocksSection(): string {
"- Commit without explicit request — **Never**",
"- Speculate about unread code — **Never**",
"- Leave code in broken state after failures — **Never**",
"- `background_cancel(all=true)` when Oracle is running — **Never.** Cancel tasks individually by taskId.",
"- Delivering final answer before collecting Oracle result — **Never.** Always `background_output` Oracle first.",
"- `background_cancel(all=true)` — **Never.** Always cancel individually by taskId.",
"- Delivering final answer before collecting Oracle result — **Never.**",
]
return `## Hard Blocks (NEVER violate)
@ -308,8 +307,8 @@ export function buildAntiPatternsSection(): string {
"- **Testing**: Deleting failing tests to \"pass\"",
"- **Search**: Firing agents for single-line typos or obvious syntax errors",
"- **Debugging**: Shotgun debugging, random changes",
"- **Background Tasks**: `background_cancel(all=true)` — always cancel individually by taskId",
"- **Oracle**: Skipping Oracle results when Oracle was launched — ALWAYS collect via `background_output`",
"- **Background Tasks**: Polling `background_output` on running tasks — end response and wait for notification",
"- **Oracle**: Delivering answer without collecting Oracle results",
]
return `## Anti-Patterns (BLOCKING violations)

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@ -329,7 +329,7 @@ task(subagent_type="explore", run_in_background=true, load_skills=[], descriptio
// Reference Grep (external)
task(subagent_type="librarian", run_in_background=true, load_skills=[], description="Find JWT security docs", prompt="I'm implementing JWT auth and need current security best practices to choose token storage (httpOnly cookies vs localStorage) and set expiration policy. Find: OWASP auth guidelines, recommended token lifetimes, refresh token rotation strategies, common JWT vulnerabilities. Skip 'what is JWT' tutorials — production security guidance only.")
task(subagent_type="librarian", run_in_background=true, load_skills=[], description="Find Express auth patterns", prompt="I'm building Express auth middleware and need production-quality patterns to structure my middleware chain. Find how established Express apps (1000+ stars) handle: middleware ordering, token refresh, role-based access control, auth error propagation. Skip basic tutorials — I need battle-tested patterns with proper error handling.")
// Continue working immediately. Collect with background_output when needed.
// Continue working immediately. System notifies on completion — collect with background_output then.
// WRONG: Sequential or blocking
result = task(..., run_in_background=false) // Never wait synchronously for explore/librarian
@ -337,10 +337,10 @@ result = task(..., run_in_background=false) // Never wait synchronously for exp
### Background Result Collection:
1. Launch parallel agents \u2192 receive task_ids
2. Continue immediate work (explore, librarian results)
3. When results needed: \`background_output(task_id="...")\`
4. **If Oracle is running**: STOP all other output. Follow Oracle Completion Protocol in <Oracle_Usage>.
5. Cleanup: Cancel disposable tasks (explore, librarian) individually via \`background_cancel(taskId="...")\`. Never use \`background_cancel(all=true)\`.
2. Continue immediate work
3. System sends \`<system-reminder>\` on each task completion — then call \`background_output(task_id="...")\`
4. Need results not yet ready? **End your response.** The notification will trigger your next turn.
5. Cleanup: Cancel disposable tasks individually via \`background_cancel(taskId="...")\`
### Search Stop Conditions
@ -477,9 +477,8 @@ If verification fails:
3. Report: "Done. Note: found N pre-existing lint errors unrelated to my changes."
### Before Delivering Final Answer:
- **If Oracle is running**: STOP. Follow Oracle Completion Protocol in <Oracle_Usage>. Do NOT deliver any answer.
- Cancel disposable background tasks (explore, librarian) individually via \`background_cancel(taskId="...")\`.
- **Never use \`background_cancel(all=true)\`.**
- If Oracle is running: **end your response** and wait for the completion notification first.
- Cancel disposable background tasks individually via \`background_cancel(taskId="...")\`.
</Behavior_Instructions>
${oracleSection}