feat: support auto continuation in subagents and prevent them from calling todo__pause

src/config/agent.rs

@@ -648,6 +648,11 @@ impl Agent {
             enabled_tools: None,
         }
     }
+
+    #[cfg(test)]
+    pub fn functions_mut(&mut self) -> &mut Functions {
+        &mut self.functions
+    }
 }
 
 impl RoleLike for Agent {

src/config/macros.rs

@@ -74,6 +74,7 @@ pub async fn macro_execute(
     macro_ctx.current_depth = ctx.current_depth;
     macro_ctx.auto_continue_count = ctx.auto_continue_count;
     macro_ctx.todo_list = ctx.todo_list.clone();
+    macro_ctx.auto_continue_paused = ctx.auto_continue_paused.clone();
     macro_ctx.tool_scope.tool_tracker = ctx.tool_scope.tool_tracker.clone();
     macro_ctx.discontinuous_last_message();
 

src/config/prompts.rs

@@ -63,11 +63,14 @@ pub(in crate::config) const DEFAULT_TODO_INSTRUCTIONS: &str = indoc! {"
         - `todo__done`: Mark a task done by id. Call this immediately after completing each step.
         - `todo__list`: Show the current todo list.
         - `todo__clear`: Clear the entire todo list and reset the goal. Use when the user cancels or changes direction.
+        - `todo__pause`: Pause auto-continue and yield the turn to the user, keeping incomplete todos intact. Use when you are blocked on user input or a user-side action. Auto-continue resumes on the user's next message.
 
     RULES:
         - Always create a todo list before starting work.
         - Mark each task done as soon as you finish it; do not batch.
         - If the user cancels the current task or changes direction, call `todo__clear` immediately.
+        - If you need user input (or the user must do something on their end) before you can continue, call `todo__pause` with the reason, ask the user, and end your turn. NEVER mark unfinished todos done just to stop the auto-continue prompts.
+        - `todo__pause` is for top-level sessions only. Subagents are driven to completion autonomously and cannot pause. If you are a subagent and need input, use a `user__*` tool (it escalates to the root agent mid-turn and blocks until answered, so you keep working without ending your turn).
         - If you stop with incomplete tasks, the system will automatically prompt you to continue."
 };
 

src/config/request_context.rs

@@ -336,6 +336,7 @@ pub struct RequestContext {
     pub todo_list: TodoList,
     pub skill_registry: SkillRegistry,
     pub last_continuation_response: Option<String>,
+    pub auto_continue_paused: Option<String>,
     pub pending_prefill: Option<String>,
 
     pub session_abort: Option<AbortSignal>,
@@ -376,6 +377,7 @@ impl RequestContext {
             todo_list: TodoList::default(),
             skill_registry: SkillRegistry::default(),
             last_continuation_response: None,
+            auto_continue_paused: None,
             pending_prefill: None,
             session_abort: None,
             render_mode: RenderMode::default(),
@@ -441,6 +443,7 @@ impl RequestContext {
             todo_list: TodoList::default(),
             skill_registry: SkillRegistry::default(),
             last_continuation_response: None,
+            auto_continue_paused: None,
             pending_prefill: None,
             session_abort: None,
             render_mode: RenderMode::default(),
@@ -495,6 +498,7 @@ impl RequestContext {
             todo_list: self.todo_list.clone(),
             skill_registry: self.skill_registry.clone(),
             last_continuation_response: None,
+            auto_continue_paused: self.auto_continue_paused.clone(),
             pending_prefill: None,
             session_abort: self.session_abort.clone(),
             render_mode: self.render_mode,
@@ -545,6 +549,7 @@ impl RequestContext {
             todo_list: TodoList::default(),
             skill_registry: SkillRegistry::default(),
             last_continuation_response: None,
+            auto_continue_paused: None,
             pending_prefill: None,
             session_abort: None,
             render_mode: parent.render_mode,
@@ -582,6 +587,7 @@ impl RequestContext {
 
     pub fn init_todo_list(&mut self, goal: &str) {
         self.todo_list = TodoList::new(goal);
+        self.auto_continue_paused = None;
     }
 
     pub fn add_todo(&mut self, task: &str) -> usize {
@@ -595,12 +601,21 @@ impl RequestContext {
     pub fn clear_todo_list(&mut self) {
         self.todo_list.clear();
         self.auto_continue_count = 0;
+        self.auto_continue_paused = None;
     }
 
     pub fn increment_auto_continue_count(&mut self) {
         self.auto_continue_count += 1;
     }
 
+    pub fn pause_auto_continue(&mut self, reason: &str) {
+        self.auto_continue_paused = Some(reason.to_string());
+    }
+
+    pub fn resume_auto_continue(&mut self) {
+        self.auto_continue_paused = None;
+    }
+
     pub fn reset_continuation_count(&mut self) {
         self.auto_continue_count = 0;
         self.last_continuation_response = None;
@@ -4676,6 +4691,7 @@ impl RequestContext {
         self.current_depth = 0;
         self.auto_continue_count = 0;
         self.todo_list = TodoList::default();
+        self.auto_continue_paused = None;
 
         if let Some(session_name) = session_name.as_deref() {
             self.use_session(app, Some(session_name), abort_signal)
@@ -4719,6 +4735,7 @@ impl RequestContext {
             self.auto_continue_count = 0;
             self.pending_tasks_guardrail_count = 0;
             self.todo_list = TodoList::default();
+            self.auto_continue_paused = None;
             self.rag.take();
             // Cleared alongside `rag` so the pair never disagrees: an agent RAG is
             // cached under `RagKey::Agent(<agent name>)`, and leaving that key behind