docs(agents): escalation_timeout default is 0 (wait indefinitely); nonzero opts into a bounded wait

Dark-Alex-17 committed 2026-09-14 04:52:03 -06:00
1 parent 855aa6da24
commit 7edfae8569
1 file changed
+6 -5
+6 -5
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ max_agent_depth: 3 # Max nesting depth (prevents runaway)
inject_spawn_instructions: true # Inject spawning instructions into system prompt inject_spawn_instructions: true # Inject spawning instructions into system prompt
summarization_model: null # Model for summarizing sub-agent output (e.g. 'openai:gpt-4o-mini') summarization_model: null # Model for summarizing sub-agent output (e.g. 'openai:gpt-4o-mini')
summarization_threshold: 4000 # Char count above which sub-agent output is summarized summarization_threshold: 4000 # Char count above which sub-agent output is summarized
escalation_timeout: 300 # Seconds sub-agents wait for escalated user input (default: 5 min) escalation_timeout: 0 # 0 = wait indefinitely for escalated user input (default); N = give up after N seconds
``` ```
As mentioned previously: Agents utilize function calling to extend a model's capabilities. However, agents operate in As mentioned previously: Agents utilize function calling to extend a model's capabilities. However, agents operate in
@@ -572,7 +572,7 @@ see the [domain-reviewer](https://github.com/Dark-Alex-17/coyote/blob/main/asset
| `inject_spawn_instructions` | boolean | `true` | Inject the default spawning instructions into the agent's system prompt | | `inject_spawn_instructions` | boolean | `true` | Inject the default spawning instructions into the agent's system prompt |
| `summarization_model` | string | current model | Model to use for summarizing long sub-agent output (e.g. `openai:gpt-4o-mini`) | | `summarization_model` | string | current model | Model to use for summarizing long sub-agent output (e.g. `openai:gpt-4o-mini`) |
| `summarization_threshold` | integer | `4000` | Character count above which sub-agent output is summarized before returning | | `summarization_threshold` | integer | `4000` | Character count above which sub-agent output is summarized before returning |
| `escalation_timeout` | integer | `300` | Seconds a sub-agent waits for an escalated user interaction response | | `escalation_timeout` | integer | `0` | Seconds a sub-agent waits for an escalated user interaction response; `0` = wait indefinitely (default) |
**Example configuration:** **Example configuration:**
```yaml ```yaml
@@ -838,9 +838,10 @@ the request is **automatically escalated** to the root agent:
`agent__reply_escalation` to unblock the child `agent__reply_escalation` to unblock the child
4. The child receives the reply and continues 4. The child receives the reply and continues
The escalation timeout is configurable via `escalation_timeout` in the agent's `config.yaml` (default: 300 The escalation wait is configurable via `escalation_timeout` in the agent's `config.yaml` (default: `0` =
seconds / 5 minutes). If the timeout expires, the child receives a fallback message asking it to use its wait indefinitely, so autonomous runs never lose an approval while the user is away). When a nonzero
best judgment. timeout is configured and expires, the child receives a fallback message asking it to use its best
judgment.
| Tool | Description | | Tool | Description |
|---------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------| |---------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|