chore: ignore zero-skills local build artifact

A locally built test binary under this name was accidentally committed
(and has been scrubbed from the branch history); ignore the name so it
cannot recur.

.gitignore

@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ report.[0-9]_.[0-9]_.[0-9]_.[0-9]_.json
 
 /zero
 /zero.exe
+/zero-skills
 /snake-game.html
 
 # Superpowers skill artifacts (brainstorm mockups, specs, plans) — local only

internal/agent/async_diagnostics.go

@@ -1,185 +0,0 @@
-package agent
-
-import (
-	"context"
-	"path/filepath"
-	"sort"
-	"strings"
-	"sync"
-	"time"
-)
-
-// Post-edit LSP diagnostics used to run synchronously inside edit_file /
-// write_file: every edit blocked its tool result on a fresh-publish wait with
-// a quiet-period debounce (≥300ms floor that reset on each publish, 10s cap) —
-// the largest recurring latency tax in an edit-heavy session. Collection is
-// now asynchronous: a file is enqueued the moment a mutating tool finishes, a
-// single worker checks it while the rest of the tool batch (and any
-// self-correct verification) runs, and the loop drains completed results just
-// before building the NEXT provider request, appending errors as a user-role
-// nudge. The model always issues another request after an edit turn — it has
-// to read its tool results — so it still sees introduced errors at the same
-// decision point as before, without any tool call stalling on the language
-// server.
-//
-// A file re-edited before its check runs is checked once in its final state
-// (the checker re-reads the file); a file re-edited after its check completed
-// is re-enqueued and the newer result wins. When the worker is still busy at
-// drain time, the drain gives up after a short wait and the results are
-// delivered on the following turn instead — they stay accurate because any
-// further edit re-enqueues the file.
-
-// asyncDiagnosticsDrainTimeout bounds how long a turn waits on the in-flight
-// check before deferring delivery to the next turn. Most checks finish well
-// under it (debounce floor + analysis); a cold language server on a large
-// repo does not get to stall the loop the way the old inline 10s cap could.
-// A var so tests can shorten the wait.
-var asyncDiagnosticsDrainTimeout = 3 * time.Second
-
-// asyncDiagnosticsFinalDrainTimeout is the wait used when the run is about to
-// FINALIZE (natural completion or the max-turns summary): there is no later
-// turn to defer to, so the gate waits out the old inline-era budget rather
-// than silently dropping an error the last edit introduced. A var so tests
-// can shorten the wait.
-var asyncDiagnosticsFinalDrainTimeout = 10 * time.Second
-
-// asyncDiagnosticsNudge prefixes the drained diagnostics blocks; phrased like
-// the old inline block so the model reacts the same way.
-const asyncDiagnosticsNudge = "Diagnostics after your recent edits (fix any errors you introduced):\n"
-
-type asyncDiagnostics struct {
-	check         func(context.Context, string) string
-	workspaceRoot string
-
-	mu      sync.Mutex
-	queue   []string
-	queued  map[string]bool
-	results map[string]string
-	// working is non-nil while the worker goroutine runs and is closed when it
-	// exits, so drain can wait for quiescence without polling.
-	working chan struct{}
-}
-
-// newAsyncDiagnostics returns nil when check is nil, and every method on a nil
-// receiver is a no-op — callers wire it unconditionally.
-func newAsyncDiagnostics(check func(context.Context, string) string, workspaceRoot string) *asyncDiagnostics {
-	if check == nil {
-		return nil
-	}
-	return &asyncDiagnostics{
-		check:         check,
-		workspaceRoot: workspaceRoot,
-		queued:        map[string]bool{},
-		results:       map[string]string{},
-	}
-}
-
-// enqueue schedules changed files for a background check. Paths are
-// workspace-relative from Result.ChangedFiles (absolute when under a granted
-// extra write root), mirroring SelfCorrector's resolution.
-func (diagnostics *asyncDiagnostics) enqueue(ctx context.Context, files []string) {
-	if diagnostics == nil || len(files) == 0 {
-		return
-	}
-	diagnostics.mu.Lock()
-	defer diagnostics.mu.Unlock()
-	for _, file := range files {
-		path := diagnostics.absPath(file)
-		if diagnostics.queued[path] {
-			continue
-		}
-		diagnostics.queued[path] = true
-		// A completed result for this file describes a pre-edit state now.
-		delete(diagnostics.results, path)
-		diagnostics.queue = append(diagnostics.queue, path)
-	}
-	if diagnostics.working == nil && len(diagnostics.queue) > 0 {
-		done := make(chan struct{})
-		diagnostics.working = done
-		go diagnostics.work(ctx, done)
-	}
-}
-
-func (diagnostics *asyncDiagnostics) work(ctx context.Context, done chan struct{}) {
-	defer close(done)
-	for {
-		diagnostics.mu.Lock()
-		if len(diagnostics.queue) == 0 || ctx.Err() != nil {
-			diagnostics.working = nil
-			diagnostics.mu.Unlock()
-			return
-		}
-		path := diagnostics.queue[0]
-		diagnostics.queue = diagnostics.queue[1:]
-		// Un-mark before checking so an edit that lands DURING the check
-		// re-enqueues the file and it is checked again in its final state.
-		delete(diagnostics.queued, path)
-		diagnostics.mu.Unlock()
-
-		block := diagnostics.check(ctx, path)
-
-		diagnostics.mu.Lock()
-		if block != "" {
-			diagnostics.results[path] = block
-		} else {
-			delete(diagnostics.results, path)
-		}
-		diagnostics.mu.Unlock()
-	}
-}
-
-// drain waits briefly for the worker to go quiet, then formats and consumes
-// all completed error blocks as one nudge. Returns "" when there is nothing
-// to report or the worker is still busy (results then surface next turn).
-func (diagnostics *asyncDiagnostics) drain(ctx context.Context) string {
-	return diagnostics.drainWithin(ctx, asyncDiagnosticsDrainTimeout)
-}
-
-// drainFinal is drain with the finalization budget: called before the run's
-// last model request, where an undelivered result would otherwise be lost.
-func (diagnostics *asyncDiagnostics) drainFinal(ctx context.Context) string {
-	return diagnostics.drainWithin(ctx, asyncDiagnosticsFinalDrainTimeout)
-}
-
-func (diagnostics *asyncDiagnostics) drainWithin(ctx context.Context, timeout time.Duration) string {
-	if diagnostics == nil {
-		return ""
-	}
-	diagnostics.mu.Lock()
-	busy := diagnostics.working
-	diagnostics.mu.Unlock()
-	if busy != nil {
-		timer := time.NewTimer(timeout)
-		defer timer.Stop()
-		select {
-		case <-busy:
-		case <-timer.C:
-			return ""
-		case <-ctx.Done():
-			return ""
-		}
-	}
-	diagnostics.mu.Lock()
-	defer diagnostics.mu.Unlock()
-	if len(diagnostics.results) == 0 {
-		return ""
-	}
-	paths := make([]string, 0, len(diagnostics.results))
-	for path := range diagnostics.results {
-		paths = append(paths, path)
-	}
-	sort.Strings(paths)
-	blocks := make([]string, 0, len(paths))
-	for _, path := range paths {
-		blocks = append(blocks, diagnostics.results[path])
-	}
-	diagnostics.results = map[string]string{}
-	return asyncDiagnosticsNudge + strings.Join(blocks, "\n")
-}
-
-func (diagnostics *asyncDiagnostics) absPath(path string) string {
-	if filepath.IsAbs(path) {
-		return path
-	}
-	return filepath.Join(diagnostics.workspaceRoot, path)
-}

internal/agent/async_diagnostics_test.go

@@ -1,338 +0,0 @@
-package agent
-
-import (
-	"context"
-	"path/filepath"
-	"strings"
-	"sync"
-	"testing"
-	"time"
-
-	"github.com/Gitlawb/zero/internal/tools"
-	"github.com/Gitlawb/zero/internal/zeroruntime"
-)
-
-func TestAsyncDiagnosticsNilCollectorNoOps(t *testing.T) {
-	var diagnostics *asyncDiagnostics
-	if diagnostics != newAsyncDiagnostics(nil, "/ws") {
-		t.Fatal("nil check must yield a nil collector")
-	}
-	diagnostics.enqueue(context.Background(), []string{"a.go"})
-	if nudge := diagnostics.drain(context.Background()); nudge != "" {
-		t.Fatalf("nil collector drain = %q, want empty", nudge)
-	}
-}
-
-func TestAsyncDiagnosticsCollectsAndDrainsOnce(t *testing.T) {
-	// A real absolute root: a literal "/ws" is not filepath.IsAbs on Windows
-	// (no drive letter), which is exactly what the assertions below check.
-	root := t.TempDir()
-	var mu sync.Mutex
-	var checked []string
-	check := func(_ context.Context, absPath string) string {
-		mu.Lock()
-		checked = append(checked, absPath)
-		mu.Unlock()
-		if filepath.Base(absPath) == "clean.go" {
-			return ""
-		}
-		return "ERR " + filepath.Base(absPath)
-	}
-	diagnostics := newAsyncDiagnostics(check, root)
-	diagnostics.enqueue(context.Background(), []string{"broken.go", "clean.go"})
-
-	nudge := diagnostics.drain(context.Background())
-	if !strings.HasPrefix(nudge, asyncDiagnosticsNudge) {
-		t.Fatalf("nudge missing prefix: %q", nudge)
-	}
-	if !strings.Contains(nudge, "ERR broken.go") || strings.Contains(nudge, "clean.go") {
-		t.Fatalf("nudge = %q, want broken.go errors only", nudge)
-	}
-	mu.Lock()
-	for _, path := range checked {
-		if !filepath.IsAbs(path) || !strings.HasPrefix(path, root+string(filepath.Separator)) {
-			t.Fatalf("check received %q, want path under workspace root %q", path, root)
-		}
-	}
-	mu.Unlock()
-	if second := diagnostics.drain(context.Background()); second != "" {
-		t.Fatalf("second drain = %q, want empty (results are consumed)", second)
-	}
-}
-
-// A check still running at drain time defers delivery to the next drain
-// instead of blocking the turn.
-func TestAsyncDiagnosticsSlowCheckDefersToNextDrain(t *testing.T) {
-	previous := asyncDiagnosticsDrainTimeout
-	asyncDiagnosticsDrainTimeout = 20 * time.Millisecond
-	defer func() { asyncDiagnosticsDrainTimeout = previous }()
-
-	release := make(chan struct{})
-	check := func(_ context.Context, absPath string) string {
-		<-release
-		return "ERR " + filepath.Base(absPath)
-	}
-	diagnostics := newAsyncDiagnostics(check, "/ws")
-	diagnostics.enqueue(context.Background(), []string{"slow.go"})
-
-	start := time.Now()
-	if nudge := diagnostics.drain(context.Background()); nudge != "" {
-		t.Fatalf("drain during in-flight check = %q, want empty", nudge)
-	}
-	if elapsed := time.Since(start); elapsed > time.Second {
-		t.Fatalf("drain blocked %v, want bounded by the (shortened) timeout", elapsed)
-	}
-
-	close(release)
-	deadline := time.Now().Add(2 * time.Second)
-	for {
-		if nudge := diagnostics.drain(context.Background()); nudge != "" {
-			if !strings.Contains(nudge, "ERR slow.go") {
-				t.Fatalf("deferred nudge = %q", nudge)
-			}
-			return
-		}
-		if time.Now().After(deadline) {
-			t.Fatal("deferred diagnostics never delivered")
-		}
-		time.Sleep(5 * time.Millisecond)
-	}
-}
-
-// Re-enqueueing a file after its check completed replaces the stale result.
-func TestAsyncDiagnosticsReEditReplacesResult(t *testing.T) {
-	var mu sync.Mutex
-	response := "ERR old"
-	check := func(context.Context, string) string {
-		mu.Lock()
-		defer mu.Unlock()
-		return response
-	}
-	diagnostics := newAsyncDiagnostics(check, "/ws")
-
-	diagnostics.enqueue(context.Background(), []string{"a.go"})
-	waitForIdle(t, diagnostics)
-	mu.Lock()
-	response = "ERR new"
-	mu.Unlock()
-	diagnostics.enqueue(context.Background(), []string{"a.go"})
-
-	nudge := diagnostics.drain(context.Background())
-	if !strings.Contains(nudge, "ERR new") || strings.Contains(nudge, "ERR old") {
-		t.Fatalf("nudge = %q, want only the re-check result", nudge)
-	}
-}
-
-func waitForIdle(t *testing.T, diagnostics *asyncDiagnostics) {
-	t.Helper()
-	deadline := time.Now().Add(2 * time.Second)
-	for {
-		diagnostics.mu.Lock()
-		busy := diagnostics.working
-		diagnostics.mu.Unlock()
-		if busy == nil {
-			return
-		}
-		if time.Now().After(deadline) {
-			t.Fatal("worker never went idle")
-		}
-		time.Sleep(2 * time.Millisecond)
-	}
-}
-
-// changedFilesTool is a fake mutating tool reporting a changed file without
-// touching the filesystem.
-type changedFilesTool struct{}
-
-func (changedFilesTool) Name() string        { return "fake_edit" }
-func (changedFilesTool) Description() string { return "test mutating tool" }
-func (changedFilesTool) Parameters() tools.Schema {
-	return tools.Schema{Type: "object", Properties: map[string]tools.PropertySchema{}}
-}
-func (changedFilesTool) Safety() tools.Safety {
-	return tools.Safety{SideEffect: tools.SideEffectWrite, Permission: tools.PermissionAllow, Reason: "test"}
-}
-func (changedFilesTool) Run(context.Context, map[string]any) tools.Result {
-	return tools.Result{Status: tools.StatusOK, Output: "edited", ChangedFiles: []string{"main.go"}}
-}
-
-// End-to-end through Run: an edit turn does NOT carry diagnostics in the tool
-// result (the old inline path), but the next request contains the background
-// diagnostics nudge, before the model finalizes.
-func TestRunDeliversAsyncDiagnosticsNudgeNextTurn(t *testing.T) {
-	registry := tools.NewRegistry()
-	registry.Register(changedFilesTool{})
-	provider := &mockProvider{
-		turns: [][]zeroruntime.StreamEvent{
-			{
-				{Type: zeroruntime.StreamEventToolCallStart, ToolCallID: "call-1", ToolName: "fake_edit"},
-				{Type: zeroruntime.StreamEventToolCallDelta, ToolCallID: "call-1", ArgumentsFragment: `{}`},
-				{Type: zeroruntime.StreamEventToolCallEnd, ToolCallID: "call-1"},
-				{Type: zeroruntime.StreamEventDone},
-			},
-			{
-				{Type: zeroruntime.StreamEventText, Content: "done"},
-				{Type: zeroruntime.StreamEventDone},
-			},
-		},
-	}
-	root := t.TempDir()
-	var checkedPath string
-	var mu sync.Mutex
-
-	result, err := Run(context.Background(), "fix main.go", provider, Options{
-		Registry: registry,
-		Cwd:      root,
-		FileDiagnostics: func(_ context.Context, absPath string) string {
-			mu.Lock()
-			checkedPath = absPath
-			mu.Unlock()
-			return "main.go:1:1 error: boom"
-		},
-	})
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-	if result.FinalAnswer != "done" {
-		t.Fatalf("final answer = %q", result.FinalAnswer)
-	}
-	if len(provider.requests) != 2 {
-		t.Fatalf("expected 2 provider turns, got %d", len(provider.requests))
-	}
-
-	// The tool result itself must NOT block on / embed diagnostics.
-	for _, message := range provider.requests[1].Messages {
-		if message.Role == zeroruntime.MessageRoleTool && strings.Contains(message.Content, "boom") {
-			t.Fatalf("diagnostics leaked into the tool result: %q", message.Content)
-		}
-	}
-	// The nudge must be present in the second request as a user message.
-	found := false
-	for _, message := range provider.requests[1].Messages {
-		if message.Role == zeroruntime.MessageRoleUser && strings.HasPrefix(message.Content, asyncDiagnosticsNudge) {
-			if !strings.Contains(message.Content, "boom") {
-				t.Fatalf("nudge missing diagnostics: %q", message.Content)
-			}
-			found = true
-		}
-	}
-	if !found {
-		t.Fatal("no async diagnostics nudge in the follow-up request")
-	}
-	mu.Lock()
-	defer mu.Unlock()
-	if want := filepath.Join(root, "main.go"); checkedPath != want {
-		t.Fatalf("checked path = %q, want %q", checkedPath, want)
-	}
-}
-
-// When the run hits the maxTurns ceiling right after an edit turn, the
-// final-answer request must still carry the diagnostics nudge — otherwise an
-// error introduced by the last edit would go unreported in the summary.
-func TestRunDrainsAsyncDiagnosticsBeforeMaxTurnsFinalAnswer(t *testing.T) {
-	registry := tools.NewRegistry()
-	registry.Register(changedFilesTool{})
-	provider := &mockProvider{
-		turns: [][]zeroruntime.StreamEvent{
-			{
-				{Type: zeroruntime.StreamEventToolCallStart, ToolCallID: "call-1", ToolName: "fake_edit"},
-				{Type: zeroruntime.StreamEventToolCallDelta, ToolCallID: "call-1", ArgumentsFragment: `{}`},
-				{Type: zeroruntime.StreamEventToolCallEnd, ToolCallID: "call-1"},
-				{Type: zeroruntime.StreamEventDone},
-			},
-			{
-				{Type: zeroruntime.StreamEventText, Content: "summary"},
-				{Type: zeroruntime.StreamEventDone},
-			},
-		},
-	}
-
-	result, err := Run(context.Background(), "fix main.go", provider, Options{
-		Registry: registry,
-		Cwd:      t.TempDir(),
-		MaxTurns: 1,
-		FileDiagnostics: func(context.Context, string) string {
-			return "main.go:1:1 error: boom"
-		},
-	})
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-	if result.FinalAnswer != "summary" {
-		t.Fatalf("final answer = %q", result.FinalAnswer)
-	}
-	if len(provider.requests) != 2 {
-		t.Fatalf("expected the max-turns final-answer request, got %d requests", len(provider.requests))
-	}
-	found := false
-	for _, message := range provider.requests[1].Messages {
-		if message.Role == zeroruntime.MessageRoleUser && strings.HasPrefix(message.Content, asyncDiagnosticsNudge) {
-			found = true
-		}
-	}
-	if !found {
-		t.Fatal("max-turns final-answer request missing the diagnostics nudge")
-	}
-}
-
-// When the model finalizes while a slow check is still in flight (the
-// per-turn drain missed it), the finalization gate must wait it out and give
-// the model one more turn with the nudge instead of dropping the errors.
-func TestRunFinalizationGateDeliversLateDiagnostics(t *testing.T) {
-	previous := asyncDiagnosticsDrainTimeout
-	asyncDiagnosticsDrainTimeout = time.Millisecond
-	defer func() { asyncDiagnosticsDrainTimeout = previous }()
-
-	registry := tools.NewRegistry()
-	registry.Register(changedFilesTool{})
-	provider := &mockProvider{
-		turns: [][]zeroruntime.StreamEvent{
-			{
-				{Type: zeroruntime.StreamEventToolCallStart, ToolCallID: "call-1", ToolName: "fake_edit"},
-				{Type: zeroruntime.StreamEventToolCallDelta, ToolCallID: "call-1", ArgumentsFragment: `{}`},
-				{Type: zeroruntime.StreamEventToolCallEnd, ToolCallID: "call-1"},
-				{Type: zeroruntime.StreamEventDone},
-			},
-			{
-				{Type: zeroruntime.StreamEventText, Content: "done"},
-				{Type: zeroruntime.StreamEventDone},
-			},
-			{
-				{Type: zeroruntime.StreamEventText, Content: "done after fix"},
-				{Type: zeroruntime.StreamEventDone},
-			},
-		},
-	}
-
-	result, err := Run(context.Background(), "fix main.go", provider, Options{
-		Registry: registry,
-		Cwd:      t.TempDir(),
-		FileDiagnostics: func(context.Context, string) string {
-			// Slower than the (shortened) per-turn drain, well under the
-			// finalization budget.
-			time.Sleep(100 * time.Millisecond)
-			return "main.go:1:1 error: boom"
-		},
-	})
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-	if result.FinalAnswer != "done after fix" {
-		t.Fatalf("final answer = %q, want the post-nudge answer", result.FinalAnswer)
-	}
-	if len(provider.requests) != 3 {
-		t.Fatalf("expected a third request carrying the late nudge, got %d requests", len(provider.requests))
-	}
-	found := false
-	for _, message := range provider.requests[2].Messages {
-		if message.Role == zeroruntime.MessageRoleUser && strings.HasPrefix(message.Content, asyncDiagnosticsNudge) {
-			if !strings.Contains(message.Content, "boom") {
-				t.Fatalf("nudge missing diagnostics: %q", message.Content)
-			}
-			found = true
-		}
-	}
-	if !found {
-		t.Fatal("finalization gate did not deliver the late diagnostics nudge")
-	}
-}

internal/agent/loop.go

@@ -137,12 +137,6 @@ func Run(ctx context.Context, prompt string, provider Provider, options Options)
 	guards := newGuardState()
 	compactor := newCompactionState(options)
 
-	// Background post-edit diagnostics: files changed by mutating tools are
-	// checked off the tool-call critical path and any errors are appended as a
-	// nudge before the NEXT request (see async_diagnostics.go). nil when no
-	// FileDiagnostics callback is wired; every method no-ops on nil.
-	postEditDiagnostics := newAsyncDiagnostics(options.FileDiagnostics, options.Cwd)
-
 	// loaded tracks deferred-eligible tools the model has pulled via tool_search
 	// during THIS run. It is consulted by partitionTools each turn to expose a
 	// loaded tool's full schema; it lives only for the run (v1 within-run scope).
@@ -165,17 +159,6 @@ func Run(ctx context.Context, prompt string, provider Provider, options Options)
 	for turn := 0; turn < maxTurns; turn++ {
 		result.Turns = turn + 1
 
-		// Deliver background post-edit diagnostics from the previous turn's edits
-		// BEFORE compaction so the nudge is part of the request being budgeted.
-		// A brief wait at most (asyncDiagnosticsDrainTimeout); an unfinished check
-		// simply delivers on a later turn.
-		if nudge := postEditDiagnostics.drain(ctx); nudge != "" {
-			messages = append(messages, zeroruntime.Message{
-				Role:    zeroruntime.MessageRoleUser,
-				Content: nudge,
-			})
-		}
-
 		// Build the per-turn tool list first so proactive compaction can include
 		// the tool-definition tokens (they ride on every request) in its estimate.
 		// partitionTools depends only on registry/permissions/options/loaded, not on
@@ -491,19 +474,6 @@ func Run(ctx context.Context, prompt string, provider Provider, options Options)
 					continue
 				}
 			}
-			// Finalization diagnostics gate: edits from this run may still have
-			// checks in flight — the per-turn drain waits only briefly and defers
-			// to "a later turn", but a final answer means there is no later turn.
-			// Wait out the full inline-era budget once; an introduced error gives
-			// the model one more turn to see (and fix) it instead of being lost.
-			// Free for runs that never edited: an idle collector returns "".
-			if nudge := postEditDiagnostics.drainFinal(ctx); nudge != "" {
-				messages = append(messages, zeroruntime.Message{
-					Role:    zeroruntime.MessageRoleUser,
-					Content: nudge,
-				})
-				continue
-			}
 			result.FinalAnswer = collected.Text
 			result.Messages = copyMessages(messages)
 			return result, nil
@@ -620,14 +590,11 @@ func Run(ctx context.Context, prompt string, provider Provider, options Options)
 				failureHint = toolFailureHint(call.Name, toolSchemaJSON(registry, call.Name), toolResult.Output)
 			}
 
-			// Collect the files this successful mutating tool changed. Self-correct
-			// verification runs once over the union after the batch; background
-			// diagnostics start NOW so the language server analyzes while the rest
-			// of the batch executes. A read-only tool (no ChangedFiles) never
-			// contributes.
-			if toolResult.Status == tools.StatusOK && len(toolResult.ChangedFiles) > 0 {
+			// Post-edit self-correction: collect the files this successful mutating
+			// tool changed; verification runs once over the union after the batch.
+			// A read-only tool (no ChangedFiles) never contributes.
+			if options.SelfCorrect != nil && toolResult.Status == tools.StatusOK && len(toolResult.ChangedFiles) > 0 {
 				changedFilesThisBatch = append(changedFilesThisBatch, toolResult.ChangedFiles...)
-				postEditDiagnostics.enqueue(ctx, toolResult.ChangedFiles)
 			}
 		}
 
@@ -710,17 +677,6 @@ func Run(ctx context.Context, prompt string, provider Provider, options Options)
 	// mid-run, not a natural completion (a finished run returns via the no-tool-call
 	// success path before this). Under the headless completion gate that is INCOMPLETE,
 	// not success, so a run that loops to the turn limit isn't reported as done.
-	//
-	// The final-answer call is one more model request, so diagnostics from the
-	// LAST turn's edits get a drain too — with the finalization budget, since
-	// there is no later turn to defer to — otherwise an error introduced by
-	// the final edit would go unreported in the summary.
-	if nudge := postEditDiagnostics.drainFinal(ctx); nudge != "" {
-		messages = append(messages, zeroruntime.Message{
-			Role:    zeroruntime.MessageRoleUser,
-			Content: nudge,
-		})
-	}
 	if answer, finalMessages, finishReason := finalAnswerAfterMaxTurns(ctx, provider, messages, options); strings.TrimSpace(answer) != "" {
 		result.FinalAnswer = answer
 		result.FinishReason = finishReason
@@ -1144,12 +1100,8 @@ func executeToolCall(ctx context.Context, registry *tools.Registry, call ToolCal
 		// Per-session file version tracker so write_file/edit_file refuse to clobber
 		// a file that changed on disk outside Zero since it was last read.
 		FileTracker: options.FileTracker,
-		// Post-edit diagnostics are NOT forwarded to the tools: they used to run
-		// synchronously inside edit_file/write_file and block every mutating tool
-		// call on the language server (≥300ms debounce floor, 10s cap). The loop
-		// now checks changed files in the background and nudges the model before
-		// its next request instead (see async_diagnostics.go). The tools' inline
-		// mechanism (tools.RunOptions.Diagnostics) stays for direct API callers.
+		// Inline post-edit diagnostics for mutating tools (nil = disabled).
+		Diagnostics: options.FileDiagnostics,
 		// Forward the run's operator tool filters so a filter-aware tool
 		// (tool_search) never discloses or loads an operator-hidden deferred tool.
 		EnabledTools:  options.EnabledTools,

internal/agent/skills_context_test.go

@@ -7,14 +7,18 @@ import (
 )
 
 func TestSkillsContextCapsLongList(t *testing.T) {
-	skills := make([]SkillInfo, 0, 40)
-	for i := 0; i < 40; i++ {
+	// 60 skills with realistic trigger-rich descriptions (~180 chars each, under
+	// the 200-rune truncation) total well past the 4096-byte list budget, so the
+	// overflow summary must kick in while the block stays bounded.
+	longDesc := strings.Repeat("use when the request touches deployments, release notes, or verification; ", 2) + "number "
+	skills := make([]SkillInfo, 0, 60)
+	for i := 0; i < 60; i++ {
 		n := strconv.Itoa(i)
-		skills = append(skills, SkillInfo{Name: "skill-" + n, Description: "does something useful, number " + n})
+		skills = append(skills, SkillInfo{Name: "skill-" + n, Description: longDesc + n})
 	}
 	got := skillsContext(Options{Skills: skills})
-	if len(got) > 1200 {
-		t.Fatalf("skills block should stay bounded, got %d bytes:\n%s", len(got), got)
+	if len(got) > skillsContextListBudget+1000 {
+		t.Fatalf("skills block should stay bounded near the %d-byte budget, got %d bytes:\n%s", skillsContextListBudget, len(got), got)
 	}
 	if !strings.Contains(got, "more (call skill") {
 		t.Fatalf("expected an overflow summary line, got:\n%s", got)
@@ -25,6 +29,27 @@ func TestSkillsContextCapsLongList(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+// A realistic mid-size skill set (20 skills, trigger-rich descriptions) must be
+// listed in FULL — no overflow summary. This pins the fix for the old 640-byte
+// budget, under which skills past ~#6 were invisible to the model and therefore
+// never triggered.
+func TestSkillsContextListsRealisticSetInFull(t *testing.T) {
+	desc := "Use when the user asks about deployments, release notes, or pre-merge verification runs."
+	skills := make([]SkillInfo, 0, 20)
+	for i := 0; i < 20; i++ {
+		skills = append(skills, SkillInfo{Name: "skill-" + strconv.Itoa(i), Description: desc})
+	}
+	got := skillsContext(Options{Skills: skills})
+	if strings.Contains(got, "more (call skill") {
+		t.Fatalf("20 described skills must all be listed without overflow, got:\n%s", got)
+	}
+	for i := 0; i < 20; i++ {
+		if !strings.Contains(got, "- skill-"+strconv.Itoa(i)+":") {
+			t.Fatalf("skill-%d missing from the list:\n%s", i, got)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 func TestSkillsContext(t *testing.T) {
 	if got := skillsContext(Options{}); got != "" {
 		t.Fatalf("no skills should yield an empty section, got %q", got)

internal/agent/system_prompt.go

@@ -191,10 +191,19 @@ func specialistDelegationContext(options Options) string {
 // when no skills are installed, so a skill-less run reproduces the previous prompt
 // byte-for-byte.
 // skillsContextListBudget bounds the bytes spent listing individual skills so a
-// workspace with dozens of them can't bloat every turn's prompt. Skills past the
-// budget are summarized as a count rather than dropped — the model can still load
-// any of them by name (an unknown name returns the full list from the skill tool).
-const skillsContextListBudget = 640
+// workspace with an extreme number of them can't bloat every turn's prompt.
+// Skills past the budget are summarized as a count rather than dropped — the
+// model can still load any of them by name (an unknown name returns the full
+// list from the skill tool).
+//
+// The budget is deliberately generous — roughly 18 skills with maximally long
+// (200-rune, ASCII) descriptions, or 40+ with typical terser ones; non-ASCII
+// descriptions consume it faster since the budget counts bytes. This list is
+// the model's ONLY discovery surface, so a skill squeezed out of it effectively
+// never triggers. The previous 640-byte cap silently broke invocation for
+// anyone with more than ~6 skills — the model cannot match a request against a
+// skill it cannot see.
+const skillsContextListBudget = 4096
 
 func skillsContext(options Options) string {
 	if len(options.Skills) == 0 {
@@ -202,7 +211,7 @@ func skillsContext(options Options) string {
 	}
 	var b strings.Builder
 	b.WriteString("<available_skills>\n")
-	b.WriteString("Reusable, on-demand instruction sets you can load with the skill tool. When a request matches one, call skill with its exact name to pull in its guidance before acting — do not guess names or skip a relevant skill.\n")
+	b.WriteString("Reusable, on-demand instruction sets you can load with the skill tool. Before acting on a request, scan this list; when the request matches a skill's name or description, call skill with its exact name FIRST and follow the loaded guidance — do not guess names, do not skip a matching skill, and do not substitute your own approach for its instructions.\n")
 	listed, spent, omitted := 0, 0, 0
 	for _, info := range options.Skills {
 		name := strings.TrimSpace(info.Name)
@@ -232,9 +241,11 @@ func skillsContext(options Options) string {
 }
 
 // truncateForSkillLine keeps a skill's one-line description short so a single
-// verbose description can't dominate the skills-list budget.
+// verbose description can't dominate the skills-list budget. The cap is roomy on
+// purpose: the description carries the skill's trigger conditions ("use when…"),
+// and truncating those is what stops the model from ever invoking the skill.
 func truncateForSkillLine(desc string) string {
-	const maxDescRunes = 100
+	const maxDescRunes = 200
 	runes := []rune(desc)
 	if len(runes) <= maxDescRunes {
 		return desc

internal/agent/types.go

@@ -285,13 +285,11 @@ type Options struct {
 	// ceiling and the autonomy gate. nil disables it entirely (the loop is
 	// byte-identical to before). One instance per run — it holds attempt state.
 	SelfCorrect *SelfCorrector
-	// FileDiagnostics, when set, checks files changed by mutating tools for
-	// error-severity language diagnostics IN THE BACKGROUND and appends any
-	// errors as a nudge before the model's next request — the model still sees
-	// an error it introduced at its next decision point, but no tool call ever
-	// blocks on the language server (the old inline path stalled every edit on
-	// a ≥300ms debounce, 10s cap). Build one with NewFileDiagnostics. nil
-	// disables post-edit diagnostics.
+	// FileDiagnostics, when set, is passed to mutating tools so edit_file /
+	// write_file append error-severity language diagnostics for the file they
+	// just wrote directly to their tool output — the model sees an error it
+	// introduced in the same turn instead of a later verification pass. Build
+	// one with NewFileDiagnostics. nil disables inline diagnostics.
 	FileDiagnostics func(ctx context.Context, absPath string) string
 
 	// RequireCompletionSignal gates run completion for HEADLESS exec. Without it,

internal/cli/app.go

@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import (
 	"os/exec"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"strings"
+	"sync"
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/Gitlawb/zero/internal/agent"
@@ -782,6 +783,14 @@ func runInteractiveTUIWithSetup(stderr io.Writer, deps appDeps, permissionMode a
 			Specialists:    specialistRuntime.specialists,
 			Skills:         pluginActivation.skillInfos(deps.skillsDir()),
 		},
+		// LoadSkills backs /skills and direct /<skill-name> invocation in the TUI.
+		// It resolves against the same merged set (default dir + plugin skill
+		// roots) as the skill tool and the system-prompt list, re-read per use so
+		// newly installed skills work without a restart.
+		LoadSkills: cachedSkillsLoader(func() []skills.Skill {
+			merged, _ := plugins.MergedSkillsLoaded(deps.skillsDir(), pluginActivation.skillRoots)
+			return merged
+		}),
 		PermissionMode: permissionMode,
 		Notify:         resolved.Notify,
 		KeyBindings:    resolved.KeyBindings,
@@ -1277,3 +1286,26 @@ Flags:
 `)
 	return err
 }
+
+// cachedSkillsLoader memoizes a skills loader for a short interval. The TUI
+// calls the loader from autocomplete on every "/x" keystroke; without a cache
+// each keystroke would re-read every SKILL.md body. Two seconds is fresh enough
+// that a newly installed skill still shows up "immediately" while typing.
+func cachedSkillsLoader(load func() []skills.Skill) func() []skills.Skill {
+	var (
+		mu     sync.Mutex
+		at     time.Time
+		cached []skills.Skill
+	)
+	const ttl = 2 * time.Second
+	return func() []skills.Skill {
+		mu.Lock()
+		defer mu.Unlock()
+		if cached != nil && time.Since(at) < ttl {
+			return cached
+		}
+		cached = load()
+		at = time.Now()
+		return cached
+	}
+}

internal/cli/exec.go

@@ -711,10 +711,9 @@ func runExec(args []string, stdout io.Writer, stderr io.Writer, deps appDeps) in
 // sessions); it is a no-op when self-correct is off.
 func newExecSelfCorrector(enabled bool, workspaceRoot string, autonomy string) (*agent.SelfCorrector, func(context.Context, string) string, func()) {
 	// The manager is created regardless of --self-correct: it also backs the
-	// always-on background post-edit diagnostics (agent.NewFileDiagnostics,
-	// collected off the tool-call path by the loop), and it stays lazy — no
-	// language server is spawned unless an edited file's language actually has
-	// one installed on PATH.
+	// always-on inline post-edit diagnostics (agent.NewFileDiagnostics), and it
+	// stays lazy — no language server is spawned unless an edited file's
+	// language actually has one installed on PATH.
 	manager := lsp.NewManager(workspaceRoot)
 	cleanup := func() {
 		ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 5*time.Second)

internal/tools/bash.go

@@ -126,8 +126,8 @@ func (tool bashTool) run(ctx context.Context, args map[string]any, engine *zeroS
 	// can't grow Zero's memory before truncation: only the head+tail each stream
 	// will ever surface to the model are retained, the middle is discarded as it
 	// streams, and the true size is counted for the truncation marker.
-	stdout := newBoundedBuffer(bashCaptureBudgetBytes, bashCaptureBudgetBytes)
-	stderr := newBoundedBuffer(bashCaptureBudgetBytes, bashCaptureBudgetBytes)
+	stdout := newBoundedBuffer(bashOutputBudgetBytes, bashOutputBudgetBytes)
+	stderr := newBoundedBuffer(bashOutputBudgetBytes, bashOutputBudgetBytes)
 	command.Stdout = stdout
 	command.Stderr = stderr
 
@@ -370,21 +370,12 @@ func formatBashOutput(stdout string, stderr string, exitCode int) string {
 	return strings.Join(parts, "\n")
 }
 
-// bashOutputBudgetBytes caps each of stdout/stderr shown to the model (32 KiB
-// ≈ 8k tokens per stream). bash is the one tool that can emit unbounded output
-// (`cat large.log`, `find /`, verbose test runs); a chatty build log at the old
-// 96 KiB budget injected ~24k tokens per call and was then re-billed on every
-// following turn. Head+tail truncation keeps both the start and the end of an
-// oversized stream, since build/test failures usually surface at the tail, and
-// the full captured text is spilled to disk so nothing is lost — the model
-// greps/reads the spill instead of re-running the command.
-const bashOutputBudgetBytes = 32 * 1024
-
-// bashCaptureBudgetBytes bounds the head and tail retained IN MEMORY per
-// stream during capture. Deliberately larger than the emit budget: the extra
-// retained bytes never reach the transcript, but they make the spill file —
-// the model's recovery path — cover 6× more of the output.
-const bashCaptureBudgetBytes = 96 * 1024
+// bashOutputBudgetBytes caps each of stdout/stderr shown to the model. bash is the
+// one tool that can emit unbounded output (`cat large.log`, `find /`, verbose test
+// runs); every other read/search tool already budgets its output. Head+tail
+// truncation keeps both the start and the end of an oversized stream, since
+// build/test failures usually surface at the tail.
+const bashOutputBudgetBytes = 96 * 1024
 
 // budgetBashOutput truncates stdout and stderr to bashOutputBudgetBytes each,
 // keeping the head and tail of anything larger, and records raw/emitted byte
@@ -404,19 +395,6 @@ func budgetBashCapture(out string, outTotal int, errStr string, errTotal int, me
 	outText, outRaw, outTrunc := truncateHeadTailWithTotal(out, outTotal, bashOutputBudgetBytes)
 	errText, errRaw, errTrunc := truncateHeadTailWithTotal(errStr, errTotal, bashOutputBudgetBytes)
 	truncated := outTrunc || errTrunc
-	if truncated {
-		if spillPath := spillBashStreams(out, outTotal, errStr, errTotal); spillPath != "" {
-			hint := "\n[zero] captured output saved to " + spillPath + " (grep or read_file it instead of re-running)"
-			if errTrunc {
-				errText += hint
-			} else {
-				outText += hint
-			}
-			if meta != nil {
-				meta["spill_path"] = spillPath
-			}
-		}
-	}
 	if meta != nil {
 		emitted := len(outText) + len(errText)
 		meta["raw_bytes"] = strconv.Itoa(outRaw + errRaw)
@@ -429,43 +407,6 @@ func budgetBashCapture(out string, outTotal int, errStr string, errTotal int, me
 	return outText, errText, truncated
 }
 
-// spillBashStreams writes the retained (capture-bounded) stdout and stderr to
-// the spill directory as one sectioned file and returns its path, or "" when
-// spilling fails. The spill holds up to bashCaptureBudgetBytes of head and
-// tail per stream — everything zero kept in memory, which is more than the
-// emit budget shows the model but not necessarily the whole output. When the
-// capture itself dropped the middle of a stream (total exceeds the retained
-// bytes), a gap marker is inserted at the head/tail junction so the spilled
-// log never reads as contiguous when it is not.
-func spillBashStreams(stdout string, stdoutTotal int, stderr string, stderrTotal int) string {
-	stdout = sectionWithCaptureGap(stdout, stdoutTotal)
-	stderr = sectionWithCaptureGap(stderr, stderrTotal)
-	var combined strings.Builder
-	combined.Grow(len(stdout) + len(stderr) + 64)
-	combined.WriteString("### stdout\n")
-	combined.WriteString(stdout)
-	if !strings.HasSuffix(stdout, "\n") {
-		combined.WriteString("\n")
-	}
-	combined.WriteString("### stderr\n")
-	combined.WriteString(stderr)
-	return spillTruncatedOutput("bash", combined.String())
-}
-
-// sectionWithCaptureGap marks the point where boundedBuffer dropped the middle
-// of a stream. When total exceeds the retained bytes, the retained text is the
-// frozen head (bashCaptureBudgetBytes, always full once overflow happened)
-// followed immediately by the rolling tail — the junction sits at the head cap,
-// snapped back to a rune boundary.
-func sectionWithCaptureGap(text string, total int) string {
-	if total <= len(text) || len(text) <= bashCaptureBudgetBytes {
-		return text
-	}
-	head := utf8Prefix(text, bashCaptureBudgetBytes)
-	marker := fmt.Sprintf("\n[zero] capture gap: %d bytes omitted from the middle of this stream\n", total-len(text))
-	return head + marker + text[len(head):]
-}
-
 // boundedBuffer is an io.Writer that retains at most headCap bytes from the start
 // and tailCap bytes from the end of a stream while counting the total written, so
 // a command emitting unbounded output (`cat huge.log`, `yes`) cannot grow Zero's

internal/tools/bash_budget_test.go

@@ -2,23 +2,11 @@ package tools
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
-	"os"
 	"strconv"
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
 )
 
-// setTestTempDir points every platform's temp-dir lookup at a per-test
-// directory so spill files never land in the real temp dir: os.TempDir reads
-// TMPDIR on Unix but TMP/TEMP on Windows.
-func setTestTempDir(t *testing.T) {
-	t.Helper()
-	dir := t.TempDir()
-	t.Setenv("TMPDIR", dir)
-	t.Setenv("TMP", dir)
-	t.Setenv("TEMP", dir)
-}
-
 // Small output passes through untouched and records raw==emitted, no truncated flag.
 func TestBudgetBashOutputSmallPassesThrough(t *testing.T) {
 	meta := map[string]string{}
@@ -38,10 +26,8 @@ func TestBudgetBashOutputSmallPassesThrough(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 // Oversized stdout is truncated head+tail: both the first and last lines survive,
-// the middle is dropped behind a marker, meta is flagged, and the captured text
-// is spilled to a re-readable file.
+// the middle is dropped behind a marker, and meta is flagged.
 func TestBudgetBashOutputTruncatesHeadAndTail(t *testing.T) {
-	setTestTempDir(t)
 	head := "FIRST_LINE_MARKER\n"
 	tail := "\nLAST_LINE_MARKER"
 	big := head + strings.Repeat("x", bashOutputBudgetBytes) + tail
@@ -61,23 +47,9 @@ func TestBudgetBashOutputTruncatesHeadAndTail(t *testing.T) {
 	if !strings.Contains(out, "output truncated") {
 		t.Fatalf("expected a truncation marker, got:\n%s", out[:200])
 	}
-	// The spill hint (path length varies) is the only allowed overage past the budget.
-	if len(out) > bashOutputBudgetBytes+512 {
+	if len(out) > bashOutputBudgetBytes {
 		t.Fatalf("emitted %d bytes exceeds budget %d", len(out), bashOutputBudgetBytes)
 	}
-	if !strings.Contains(out, "captured output saved to ") {
-		t.Fatalf("truncated bash output must carry a spill hint:\n%s", out[len(out)-300:])
-	}
-	if meta["spill_path"] == "" {
-		t.Fatal("spill path missing from meta")
-	}
-	content, err := os.ReadFile(meta["spill_path"])
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("spill file unreadable: %v", err)
-	}
-	if !strings.Contains(string(content), "### stdout") || !strings.Contains(string(content), strings.Repeat("x", 1024)) {
-		t.Fatalf("spill must hold the sectioned captured streams (got %d bytes)", len(content))
-	}
 	if meta["truncated"] != "true" {
 		t.Fatalf("expected truncated=true, got %v", meta)
 	}
@@ -128,12 +100,10 @@ func TestBoundedBufferKeepsHeadAndTailBounded(t *testing.T) {
 // budgetBashCapture reports the TRUE total (not the retained size) in the marker
 // and raw_bytes, even though only a bounded head+tail was ever held in memory.
 func TestBudgetBashCaptureReportsTrueTotal(t *testing.T) {
-	setTestTempDir(t)
-	// Retained head+tail as boundedBuffer would hand over after overflow: the
-	// frozen head is full at bashCaptureBudgetBytes, then the rolling tail; the
-	// real command produced far more than was kept.
-	retained := "HEAD_START" + strings.Repeat("y", bashCaptureBudgetBytes) + "TAIL_END"
-	total := 10 * bashCaptureBudgetBytes
+	// Retained head+tail as boundedBuffer would hand over; the real command produced
+	// far more than was kept.
+	retained := "HEAD_START" + strings.Repeat("y", bashOutputBudgetBytes) + "TAIL_END"
+	total := 10 * bashOutputBudgetBytes
 
 	meta := map[string]string{}
 	out, _, truncated := budgetBashCapture(retained, total, "", 0, meta)
@@ -144,8 +114,7 @@ func TestBudgetBashCaptureReportsTrueTotal(t *testing.T) {
 	if !strings.Contains(out, "HEAD_START") || !strings.Contains(out, "TAIL_END") {
 		t.Fatalf("head/tail lost after budgeting:\n%s", out[:min(120, len(out))])
 	}
-	// Spill hint is the only allowed overage past the budget.
-	if len(out) > bashOutputBudgetBytes+512 {
+	if len(out) > bashOutputBudgetBytes {
 		t.Fatalf("emitted %d bytes exceeds budget %d", len(out), bashOutputBudgetBytes)
 	}
 	if meta["raw_bytes"] != strconv.Itoa(total) {
@@ -155,29 +124,4 @@ func TestBudgetBashCaptureReportsTrueTotal(t *testing.T) {
 	if !strings.Contains(out, strconv.Itoa(total-bashOutputBudgetBytes)) {
 		t.Fatalf("marker should cite the true omitted byte count:\n%s", out[:min(200, len(out))])
 	}
-
-	// The spill must be recorded, sectioned, and carry a capture-gap marker at
-	// the head/tail junction — the capture dropped the middle, so the spilled
-	// log must never read as contiguous.
-	if meta["spill_path"] == "" {
-		t.Fatal("spill path missing from meta")
-	}
-	content, err := os.ReadFile(meta["spill_path"])
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("spill file unreadable: %v", err)
-	}
-	if !strings.Contains(string(content), "### stdout") {
-		t.Fatal("spill must be sectioned by stream")
-	}
-	gapMarker := fmt.Sprintf("capture gap: %d bytes omitted", total-len(retained))
-	gapIndex := strings.Index(string(content), gapMarker)
-	if gapIndex < 0 {
-		t.Fatalf("spill missing capture-gap marker %q", gapMarker)
-	}
-	// The junction sits right after the frozen head (plus the section header),
-	// not appended at the end of the stream.
-	headerOffset := len("### stdout\n")
-	if gapIndex < headerOffset+bashCaptureBudgetBytes-64 || gapIndex > headerOffset+bashCaptureBudgetBytes+64 {
-		t.Fatalf("capture-gap marker at offset %d, want ~%d (the head cap)", gapIndex, headerOffset+bashCaptureBudgetBytes)
-	}
 }

internal/tools/output_ceiling.go

@@ -1,81 +0,0 @@
-package tools
-
-import (
-	"os"
-	"strconv"
-	"strings"
-)
-
-// Universal output ceiling. Every tool result leaving the registry boundary is
-// capped at a single token-denominated budget unless the tool manages its own
-// deliberate budget (selfBudgeting below). This is the safety net for tools
-// with no cap of their own — web_fetch bodies, skill files, MCP server tools,
-// browser snapshots, anything added later — so no single call can flood the
-// context window with output that is then re-billed on every following turn.
-// Truncation keeps head+tail and spills the full text to disk (re-readable via
-// grep/read_file), so nothing is lost, only deferred.
-
-// defaultOutputCeilingTokens is the per-call ceiling in estimated tokens
-// (bytes/4). 16k tokens = 64 KiB — deliberately equal to the search-tool
-// budget: generous enough for a large fetched document, small enough that one
-// call cannot eat a third of a small context window.
-const defaultOutputCeilingTokens = 16_000
-
-// outputCeilingEnv overrides the ceiling (in tokens). Zero or negative
-// disables the ceiling entirely; unset or unparsable keeps the default.
-const outputCeilingEnv = "ZERO_TOOL_OUTPUT_CEILING_TOKENS"
-
-// selfBudgeting marks a tool that enforces its own deliberate output budget —
-// possibly model-raisable (exec_command) — which the registry ceiling must not
-// second-guess. The method is unexported on purpose: only tools in this
-// package can opt out, so an MCP-served tool can never exempt itself.
-type selfBudgeting interface{ managesOutputBudget() }
-
-// The exemption list, kept in one place. Each of these applies its own budget
-// before returning: bash (bashOutputBudgetBytes per stream + spill),
-// exec_command (model-raisable token budget + spill), read tools (128 KiB),
-// search tools (64 KiB).
-func (bashTool) managesOutputBudget()             {}
-func (execCommandTool) managesOutputBudget()      {}
-func (readFileTool) managesOutputBudget()         {}
-func (readMinifiedFileTool) managesOutputBudget() {}
-func (grepTool) managesOutputBudget()             {}
-func (globTool) managesOutputBudget()             {}
-func (listDirectoryTool) managesOutputBudget()    {}
-
-func resolveOutputCeilingTokens() int {
-	raw := strings.TrimSpace(os.Getenv(outputCeilingEnv))
-	if raw == "" {
-		return defaultOutputCeilingTokens
-	}
-	parsed, err := strconv.Atoi(raw)
-	if err != nil {
-		return defaultOutputCeilingTokens
-	}
-	return parsed
-}
-
-// enforceOutputCeiling truncates an over-ceiling result to head+tail within
-// the token budget, spilling the full (already redaction-scrubbed) output to
-// disk with a recovery hint. Runs after scrubResultSecrets so the transcript
-// and the spill file agree on what was hidden.
-func enforceOutputCeiling(toolName string, result Result) Result {
-	ceiling := resolveOutputCeilingTokens()
-	if ceiling <= 0 {
-		return result
-	}
-	if len(result.Output) <= ceiling*4 {
-		return result
-	}
-	rawBytes := len(result.Output)
-	truncated, _ := truncateExecOutputSpill(result.Output, ceiling, toolName)
-	result.Output = truncated
-	result.Truncated = true
-	if result.Meta == nil {
-		result.Meta = map[string]string{}
-	}
-	result.Meta["raw_bytes"] = strconv.Itoa(rawBytes)
-	result.Meta["emitted_bytes"] = strconv.Itoa(len(result.Output))
-	result.Meta["estimated_tokens"] = strconv.Itoa(estimatedTokensFromBytes(len(result.Output)))
-	return result
-}

internal/tools/output_ceiling_test.go

@@ -1,140 +0,0 @@
-package tools
-
-import (
-	"context"
-	"os"
-	"strconv"
-	"strings"
-	"testing"
-)
-
-// ceilingFakeTool is a minimal tool with no output budget of its own — the
-// stand-in for an MCP-served tool or any future builtin that forgets to cap
-// its output.
-type ceilingFakeTool struct {
-	baseTool
-	output string
-}
-
-func (tool ceilingFakeTool) Run(context.Context, map[string]any) Result {
-	return okResult(tool.output)
-}
-
-// ceilingExemptTool is the same fake but marked self-budgeting.
-type ceilingExemptTool struct{ ceilingFakeTool }
-
-func (ceilingExemptTool) managesOutputBudget() {}
-
-func newCeilingFakeTool(name, output string) ceilingFakeTool {
-	return ceilingFakeTool{
-		baseTool: baseTool{name: name, safety: readOnlySafety("test tool")},
-		output:   output,
-	}
-}
-
-// An unbudgeted tool's oversized output is capped at the universal ceiling,
-// head and tail survive, and the full output is spilled to a re-readable file.
-func TestOutputCeilingCapsUnbudgetedTool(t *testing.T) {
-	setTestTempDir(t)
-	big := "HEAD_MARK\n" + strings.Repeat("z", defaultOutputCeilingTokens*4*3) + "\nTAIL_MARK"
-
-	registry := NewRegistry()
-	registry.Register(newCeilingFakeTool("fake_big", big))
-	result := registry.Run(context.Background(), "fake_big", map[string]any{})
-
-	if !result.Truncated {
-		t.Fatal("over-ceiling output must report truncated=true")
-	}
-	maxBytes := defaultOutputCeilingTokens * 4
-	if len(result.Output) > maxBytes+512 {
-		t.Fatalf("emitted %d bytes, ceiling is %d", len(result.Output), maxBytes)
-	}
-	if !strings.Contains(result.Output, "HEAD_MARK") || !strings.Contains(result.Output, "TAIL_MARK") {
-		t.Fatal("head/tail lost at the ceiling")
-	}
-	if result.Meta["raw_bytes"] != strconv.Itoa(len(big)) {
-		t.Fatalf("raw_bytes = %s, want %d", result.Meta["raw_bytes"], len(big))
-	}
-	if !strings.Contains(result.Output, "full output saved to ") {
-		t.Fatalf("ceiling truncation must include a spill hint: %q", result.Output[:200])
-	}
-	start := strings.Index(result.Output, "full output saved to ") + len("full output saved to ")
-	end := strings.Index(result.Output[start:], " (grep")
-	content, err := os.ReadFile(result.Output[start : start+end])
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("spill file unreadable: %v", err)
-	}
-	if string(content) != big {
-		t.Fatalf("spill must hold the full output: got %d bytes, want %d", len(content), len(big))
-	}
-}
-
-// A self-budgeting tool's output passes the boundary untouched even when it
-// exceeds the universal ceiling — its own (possibly model-raised) budget wins.
-func TestOutputCeilingSkipsSelfBudgetingTool(t *testing.T) {
-	big := strings.Repeat("z", defaultOutputCeilingTokens*4*2)
-	registry := NewRegistry()
-	registry.Register(ceilingExemptTool{newCeilingFakeTool("fake_exempt", big)})
-
-	result := registry.Run(context.Background(), "fake_exempt", map[string]any{})
-	if result.Truncated || result.Output != big {
-		t.Fatalf("self-budgeting tool must bypass the ceiling (truncated=%v, %d bytes)", result.Truncated, len(result.Output))
-	}
-}
-
-// Under-ceiling output is untouched and gains no budget metadata.
-func TestOutputCeilingSmallOutputUntouched(t *testing.T) {
-	registry := NewRegistry()
-	registry.Register(newCeilingFakeTool("fake_small", "hello"))
-
-	result := registry.Run(context.Background(), "fake_small", map[string]any{})
-	if result.Truncated || result.Output != "hello" {
-		t.Fatalf("small output altered: %+v", result)
-	}
-	if _, ok := result.Meta["raw_bytes"]; ok {
-		t.Fatal("small output must not gain budget metadata")
-	}
-}
-
-// ZERO_TOOL_OUTPUT_CEILING_TOKENS tightens, loosens, or disables the ceiling.
-func TestOutputCeilingEnvOverride(t *testing.T) {
-	setTestTempDir(t)
-	big := strings.Repeat("z", 100*1024)
-
-	t.Setenv(outputCeilingEnv, "1000")
-	registry := NewRegistry()
-	registry.Register(newCeilingFakeTool("fake_env", big))
-	result := registry.Run(context.Background(), "fake_env", map[string]any{})
-	if !result.Truncated || len(result.Output) > 1000*4+512 {
-		t.Fatalf("ceiling override ignored: truncated=%v, %d bytes", result.Truncated, len(result.Output))
-	}
-
-	t.Setenv(outputCeilingEnv, "0")
-	result = registry.Run(context.Background(), "fake_env", map[string]any{})
-	if result.Truncated || len(result.Output) != len(big) {
-		t.Fatalf("ceiling=0 must disable the net: truncated=%v, %d bytes", result.Truncated, len(result.Output))
-	}
-}
-
-// The exemption list matches the tools that really do budget themselves, and
-// the unbudgeted ones (web_fetch, skill, browser) stay under the net.
-func TestSelfBudgetingExemptionList(t *testing.T) {
-	dir := t.TempDir()
-	exempt := []Tool{
-		NewBashTool(dir),
-		NewExecCommandTool(dir, newExecSessionManager()),
-		NewReadFileTool(dir),
-		NewReadMinifiedFileTool(dir),
-		NewGrepTool(dir),
-		NewGlobTool(dir),
-		NewListDirectoryTool(dir),
-	}
-	for _, tool := range exempt {
-		if _, ok := tool.(selfBudgeting); !ok {
-			t.Errorf("%s must be exempt from the output ceiling", tool.Name())
-		}
-	}
-	if _, ok := NewWebFetchTool().(selfBudgeting); ok {
-		t.Error("web_fetch must NOT be exempt — the ceiling is its only budget")
-	}
-}

internal/tools/registry.go

@@ -123,24 +123,13 @@ func (registry *Registry) Run(ctx context.Context, name string, args map[string]
 func (registry *Registry) RunWithOptions(ctx context.Context, name string, args map[string]any, options RunOptions) (result Result) {
 	// Every return path passes through scrubResultSecrets exactly once, so denial,
 	// permission, and unknown-tool error messages (which can echo secret-bearing
-	// args/paths) are redacted at the boundary just like tool output. The output
-	// ceiling runs after the scrub so the transcript and the spill file agree on
-	// what was hidden.
-	ceilingExempt := false
-	defer func() {
-		result = scrubResultSecrets(result)
-		if !ceilingExempt {
-			result = enforceOutputCeiling(name, result)
-		}
-	}()
+	// args/paths) are redacted at the boundary just like tool output.
+	defer func() { result = scrubResultSecrets(result) }()
 
 	tool, ok := registry.Get(name)
 	if !ok {
 		return errorResult(`Error: Unknown tool "` + name + `".`)
 	}
-	if _, ok := tool.(selfBudgeting); ok {
-		ceilingExempt = true
-	}
 	if rejecter, ok := tool.(PrePermissionRejecter); ok {
 		if res, rejected := rejecter.RejectBeforePermission(args); rejected {
 			return res

internal/tools/spill.go

@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@ import (
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/Gitlawb/zero/internal/redaction"
-	"github.com/Gitlawb/zero/internal/secrets"
 )
 
 // Spill-to-disk for truncated tool output. When a command produces more than
@@ -91,10 +90,8 @@ func spillDir() (string, error) {
 // spillTruncatedOutput writes the full pre-truncation output to the spill
 // directory and returns the file path, or "" when spilling fails. Output is
 // scrubbed with the same configured-key redaction the registry applies at the
-// tool boundary PLUS the pattern-based secret scanner (AWS keys, tokens, PEM
-// blocks, JWTs) that bash applies to its model-visible output — a spill runs
-// before that formatter, so without the scan here a spilled file would hold
-// pattern-matched credentials in cleartext that the transcript hides.
+// tool boundary, so a spilled file never holds a secret the transcript would
+// have hidden.
 func spillTruncatedOutput(toolName, output string) string {
 	dir, err := spillDir()
 	if err != nil {
@@ -113,7 +110,6 @@ func spillTruncatedOutput(toolName, output string) string {
 	}
 	defer file.Close()
 	scrubbed := redaction.RedactString(output, redaction.Options{})
-	scrubbed, _ = secrets.Redact(scrubbed)
 	if _, err := file.WriteString(scrubbed); err != nil {
 		_ = os.Remove(file.Name())
 		return ""

internal/tools/spill_test.go

@@ -63,33 +63,6 @@ func TestSweepSpillDirRemovesOnlyOldFiles(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-// A spill happens BEFORE bash's model-facing formatter runs its pattern-based
-// secret scan, so the spill itself must scrub pattern-matched credentials —
-// otherwise the file would hold in cleartext exactly what the transcript hides.
-func TestSpillTruncatedOutputScrubsPatternSecrets(t *testing.T) {
-	setTestTempDir(t)
-	githubToken := "ghp_" + strings.Repeat("a", 36)
-	body := "before\nAKIAIOSFODNN7EXAMPLE\n" + githubToken + "\nafter"
-
-	path := spillTruncatedOutput("bash", body)
-	if path == "" {
-		t.Fatal("spill must return a file path")
-	}
-	content, err := os.ReadFile(path)
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-	if strings.Contains(string(content), "AKIAIOSFODNN7EXAMPLE") {
-		t.Fatal("AWS access key reached the spill file in cleartext")
-	}
-	if strings.Contains(string(content), githubToken) {
-		t.Fatal("GitHub token reached the spill file in cleartext")
-	}
-	if !strings.Contains(string(content), "before") || !strings.Contains(string(content), "after") {
-		t.Fatalf("non-secret content must survive the scrub: %q", content)
-	}
-}
-
 func TestSpillTruncatedOutputWritesFile(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Setenv("TMPDIR", t.TempDir())
 	path := spillTruncatedOutput("exec_command", "some output body")

internal/tui/autocomplete.go

@@ -188,7 +188,54 @@ func (m model) matchCommandSuggestions(token string) []commandSuggestion {
 	out := matchCommandSuggestionsWithFilter(token, func(command commandDefinition) bool {
 		return command.kind != commandSandboxSetup || m.sandboxSetupCommand != nil
 	})
-	return append(out, m.matchUserCommandSuggestions(token)...)
+	out = append(out, m.matchUserCommandSuggestions(token)...)
+	out = append(out, m.matchSkillSuggestions(token)...)
+	// Each source caps itself, but the merged list must honor the shared cap too
+	// (three sources could otherwise stack up to ~3x the palette bound).
+	if len(out) > maxCommandSuggestions {
+		out = out[:maxCommandSuggestions]
+	}
+	return out
+}
+
+// matchSkillSuggestions returns installed skills whose slash name has the typed
+// prefix, so skills are discoverable and invocable from the palette like user
+// commands. Precedence (builtin > user command > skill) is enforced here by
+// skipping any skill whose name is claimed by a builtin (or alias) or a user
+// command — unlike the builtin/user pair, a shadowed skill row would be dead at
+// dispatch time, so it must not be advertised at all.
+func (m model) matchSkillSuggestions(token string) []commandSuggestion {
+	prefix := strings.ToLower(strings.TrimSpace(strings.TrimPrefix(token, "/")))
+	if prefix == "" || m.loadSkills == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	taken := m.takenSlashNames()
+	var out []commandSuggestion
+	// Read through the loader (not the startup snapshot in agentOptions) so the
+	// palette matches what dispatch will actually resolve — a skill installed or
+	// removed mid-session appears/disappears without a restart.
+	for _, skill := range m.installedSkills() {
+		name := skillSlashName(skill.Name)
+		if name == "" || taken[name] || !strings.HasPrefix(name, prefix) {
+			continue
+		}
+		// Two skills whose names collide after lowercasing (e.g. "Deploy" and
+		// "deploy") map to one slash name; only the first — the one dispatch will
+		// run — may be advertised, or the row's description and the executed
+		// instructions silently diverge.
+		taken[name] = true
+		desc := strings.TrimSpace(skill.Description)
+		if desc == "" {
+			desc = "Skill: /" + name
+		} else {
+			desc += " (skill)"
+		}
+		out = append(out, commandSuggestion{Name: "/" + name, Desc: desc})
+		if len(out) >= maxCommandSuggestions {
+			break
+		}
+	}
+	return out
 }
 
 // matchUserCommandSuggestions returns file-sourced /commands whose name has the

internal/tui/command_views.go

@@ -698,3 +698,19 @@ func (m model) debugText() string {
 		}},
 	})
 }
+
+// skillsText is the /skills fallback when NO skills are installed — an install
+// hint. With skills present /skills opens the searchable skill picker instead
+// (see newSkillPicker), matching how /model works.
+func (m model) skillsText() string {
+	return renderCommandOutput(commandOutput{
+		Title:  "Skills",
+		Status: commandStatusInfo,
+		Sections: []commandSection{{
+			Lines: []string{"No skills installed."},
+		}},
+		Hints: []string{
+			"install one: create <skills-dir>/<name>/SKILL.md (see `zero skills`)",
+		},
+	})
+}

internal/tui/commands.go

@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ const (
 	commandCopy
 	commandExport
 	commandNew
+	commandSkills
 	commandUnknown
 )
 
@@ -131,6 +132,13 @@ var commandDefinitions = []commandDefinition{
 		description: "List registered tools.",
 		kind:        commandTools,
 	},
+	{
+		name:        "/skills",
+		usage:       "/skills",
+		group:       commandGroupTools,
+		description: "List installed skills; run one directly with /<skill-name> [args].",
+		kind:        commandSkills,
+	},
 	{
 		name:        "/context",
 		usage:       "/context",

internal/tui/model.go

@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/Gitlawb/zero/internal/providers/providerio"
 	"github.com/Gitlawb/zero/internal/sandbox"
 	"github.com/Gitlawb/zero/internal/sessions"
+	"github.com/Gitlawb/zero/internal/skills"
 	"github.com/Gitlawb/zero/internal/streamjson"
 	"github.com/Gitlawb/zero/internal/tools"
 	"github.com/Gitlawb/zero/internal/usage"
@@ -62,6 +63,7 @@ type model struct {
 	ctx                         context.Context
 	cwd                         string
 	userCommands                []usercommands.Command // file-sourced /commands (.zero/commands)
+	loadSkills                  func() []skills.Skill  // lazy installed-skills loader for /skills + /<skill-name>
 	userConfigPath              string
 	doctorUserConfigPath        string
 	projectConfigPath           string
@@ -735,6 +737,7 @@ func newModel(ctx context.Context, options Options) model {
 		cwd:                         cwd,
 		swarmDoneAt:                 map[string]time.Time{},
 		userCommands:                loadedUserCommands,
+		loadSkills:                  options.LoadSkills,
 		composerCursorVisible:       true,
 		userConfigPath:              options.UserConfigPath,
 		doctorUserConfigPath:        doctorUserConfigPath,
@@ -3730,6 +3733,11 @@ func (m model) choosePicker() (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 		if text != "" {
 			m.transcript = reduceTranscript(m.transcript, transcriptAction{kind: actionAppendSystem, text: text})
 		}
+	case pickerSkill:
+		// Fill the composer with "/name " so the user adds their request before
+		// submitting (a bare second Enter runs it without one); names the slash
+		// path cannot reach run immediately instead.
+		m, cmd = m.chooseSkillFromPicker(item)
 	case pickerTheme:
 		// The hovered palette is already live from the preview; handleThemeCommand
 		// records the choice (m.themeMode) and re-applies it, and reports the switch.
@@ -3845,6 +3853,15 @@ func (m model) handleSubmit() (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 	case commandTools:
 		m.transcript = reduceTranscript(m.transcript, transcriptAction{kind: actionAppendSystem, text: m.toolsText()})
 		return m, nil
+	case commandSkills:
+		// With skills installed, /skills opens a searchable picker (like /model);
+		// the text card remains only as the no-skills install hint.
+		if picker := m.newSkillPicker(); picker != nil {
+			m.picker = picker
+			return m, nil
+		}
+		m.transcript = reduceTranscript(m.transcript, transcriptAction{kind: actionAppendSystem, text: m.skillsText()})
+		return m, nil
 	case commandMCP:
 		if strings.TrimSpace(command.text) == "" {
 			return m.openMCPManager(), nil
@@ -4040,6 +4057,11 @@ func (m model) handleSubmit() (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 		if next, cmd, handled := m.handleUserCommand(command.text); handled {
 			return next, cmd
 		}
+		// Then an installed skill: "/<skill-name> [args]" runs the skill directly
+		// (deterministic invocation, vs waiting for the model to pull it in).
+		if next, cmd, handled := m.handleSkillCommand(command.text); handled {
+			return next, cmd
+		}
 		m.transcript = reduceTranscript(m.transcript, transcriptAction{
 			kind: actionAppendError,
 			text: "unknown command: " + command.text,
@@ -4446,9 +4468,9 @@ func (m model) runAgentWithOptions(runID int, runCtx context.Context, prompt str
 				IncludeLSP:   true,
 				Autonomy:     selfCorrectAutonomyForMode(options.PermissionMode),
 			})
-			// Background post-edit diagnostics: the loop checks files changed by
-			// edit_file/write_file off the tool-call path and nudges the model with
-			// any errors before its next request. Shares the run's lazy manager.
+			// Inline post-edit diagnostics: edit_file/write_file append error
+			// diagnostics for the file they just wrote to their own output, so the
+			// model sees a break in the same turn. Shares the run's lazy manager.
 			options.FileDiagnostics = agent.NewFileDiagnostics(lspManager, options.Cwd)
 		}
 

internal/tui/options.go

@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/Gitlawb/zero/internal/providermodeldiscovery"
 	"github.com/Gitlawb/zero/internal/sandbox"
 	"github.com/Gitlawb/zero/internal/sessions"
+	"github.com/Gitlawb/zero/internal/skills"
 	"github.com/Gitlawb/zero/internal/tools"
 	"github.com/Gitlawb/zero/internal/usage"
 	"github.com/Gitlawb/zero/internal/zeroruntime"
@@ -48,7 +49,13 @@ type Options struct {
 	SessionCompactor            SessionCompactor
 	PrService                   *PrService
 
-	AgentOptions    agent.Options
+	AgentOptions agent.Options
+	// LoadSkills returns the installed skills (default skills dir merged with any
+	// plugin skill roots), bodies included, for /skills and direct /<skill-name>
+	// invocation. Called lazily per use so newly installed skills are picked up
+	// without a restart. Nil means the session has no skills wiring (skills stay
+	// model-pulled via the skill tool only).
+	LoadSkills      func() []skills.Skill
 	PermissionMode  agent.PermissionMode
 	ReasoningEffort modelregistry.ReasoningEffort
 	ResponseStyle   string

internal/tui/picker.go

@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ const (
 	pickerEffort
 	pickerSession
 	pickerTheme
+	pickerSkill
 )
 
 // pickerItem is one selectable row: Label is shown, Value is passed to the
@@ -225,6 +226,35 @@ func (m model) newModelPicker() *commandPicker {
 	return &commandPicker{kind: pickerModel, title: "Choose a model", items: items, allItems: append([]pickerItem{}, items...), selected: 0}
 }
 
+// newSkillPicker lists the installed skills for browse-and-run: type to filter,
+// arrow keys to select, Enter runs the chosen skill immediately. Selection is by
+// the skill's EXACT name (item.Value), so even skills the slash path cannot
+// reach — names shadowed by a builtin or user command, or names that don't fit
+// a slash token — are runnable here: picking from the Skills picker is
+// unambiguous. Returns nil when no skills are installed (the caller falls back
+// to the install-hint card).
+func (m model) newSkillPicker() *commandPicker {
+	installed := m.installedSkills()
+	items := make([]pickerItem, 0, len(installed))
+	for _, skill := range installed {
+		name := strings.TrimSpace(skill.Name)
+		if name == "" {
+			continue
+		}
+		label := name
+		if slash := skillSlashName(name); slash != "" {
+			// Show the slash form where one exists — it doubles as documentation
+			// of the direct "/name [args]" invocation.
+			label = "/" + slash
+		}
+		items = append(items, pickerItem{Label: label, Value: name, Meta: strings.TrimSpace(skill.Description)})
+	}
+	if len(items) == 0 {
+		return nil
+	}
+	return &commandPicker{kind: pickerSkill, title: "pick a skill · ⏎ fills /name — add your request", items: items, allItems: append([]pickerItem{}, items...), selected: 0}
+}
+
 // modelPickerProviders returns the providers to list in /model: all saved
 // providers, falling back to the active profile when none were threaded in.
 func (m model) modelPickerProviders() []config.ProviderProfile {

internal/tui/skill_commands.go

@@ -0,0 +1,205 @@
+package tui
+
+import (
+	"strings"
+
+	tea "charm.land/bubbletea/v2"
+
+	"github.com/Gitlawb/zero/internal/skills"
+)
+
+// Skill slash invocation: "/<skill-name> [args]" runs an installed skill
+// directly, mirroring user commands (.zero/commands). Skills were previously
+// model-pulled only (the skill tool), which made invocation a matter of model
+// discretion; typing the skill's name makes it deterministic. Precedence is
+// builtin > user command > skill: parseCommand resolves builtins first, and the
+// commandUnknown fallback tries user commands before skills.
+
+// handleSkillCommand resolves a "/name args" that wasn't a builtin or a user
+// command against the installed skills. On a match it launches a normal agent
+// turn whose prompt inlines the skill body (its instructions) followed by the
+// typed args, returning handled=true. handled=false means no skill matched, so
+// the caller falls through to "unknown command".
+func (m model) handleSkillCommand(raw string) (model, tea.Cmd, bool) {
+	name, args := splitUserCommand(raw)
+	if name == "" {
+		return m, nil, false
+	}
+	skill, ok := m.lookupSkillCommand(name)
+	if !ok {
+		return m, nil, false
+	}
+	body := strings.TrimSpace(skill.Content)
+	if body == "" {
+		// The name matched a real skill, so falling through to "unknown command"
+		// would mislead; surface the actual problem instead.
+		m.transcript = reduceTranscript(m.transcript, transcriptAction{
+			kind: actionAppendError,
+			text: "skill /" + name + " has an empty SKILL.md body (" + skill.Path + ")",
+		})
+		return m, nil, true
+	}
+	return m.launchOrDeferExpandedPrompt(raw, skillInvocationPrompt(body, args))
+}
+
+// bareSkillInvocationNote is appended when a skill is invoked with no request.
+// The body alone is instructions with no target ("review the PR" — which PR?),
+// and without this note the model improvises one instead of asking. The wording
+// is conditional so self-contained skills (no target needed) still just run.
+const bareSkillInvocationNote = "The user invoked this skill directly without providing a request. " +
+	"If these instructions need a target or details that are not already clear from the conversation " +
+	"(which pull request, file, branch, topic, …), ask for them first — do not guess or pick one yourself. " +
+	"If the instructions are self-contained, proceed."
+
+// skillInvocationPrompt builds the agent prompt for a skill invocation: the
+// skill body (its instructions), then either the user's request or — for a bare
+// invocation — the ask-first note above. Mirrors usercommands.Expand's
+// no-placeholder behavior for the args case.
+func skillInvocationPrompt(body, args string) string {
+	if args != "" {
+		return body + "\n\n" + args
+	}
+	return body + "\n\n" + bareSkillInvocationNote
+}
+
+// launchOrDeferExpandedPrompt applies the same run-state guards the plain
+// commandPrompt path has to an expanded (user command / skill) prompt: while
+// exiting nothing may start, a prompt submitted mid-run is queued for the next
+// turn, and compaction-in-flight warns instead of racing the compactor. The
+// EXPANDED prompt is what gets queued — the queue flush path resubmits text as
+// a literal prompt, so queuing the raw "/name args" would send it to the model
+// as prose instead of re-dispatching it. raw is the typed invocation; on the
+// compaction warning it is restored into the composer for an easy re-submit
+// (the commandUnknown dispatch cleared the composer before we got here, unlike
+// the plain-prompt path whose guard fires before the clear). Empty raw (the
+// picker path has no typed form) restores nothing.
+func (m model) launchOrDeferExpandedPrompt(raw, prompt string) (model, tea.Cmd, bool) {
+	if m.exiting {
+		return m, nil, true
+	}
+	if m.pending {
+		return m.queueMessage(prompt), nil, true
+	}
+	if m.compactInFlight {
+		if strings.TrimSpace(raw) != "" {
+			m.input.SetValue(raw)
+			m.input.CursorEnd()
+		}
+		m.transcript = reduceTranscript(m.transcript, transcriptAction{
+			kind: actionAppendSystem,
+			text: "Compact\nstatus: warning\nCompaction is running. Re-run the command when it finishes.",
+		})
+		return m, nil, true
+	}
+	next, teaCmd := m.launchPrompt(prompt)
+	return next, teaCmd, true
+}
+
+// takenSlashNames returns every slash token already claimed by a builtin
+// command (or alias) or a user command — the names a typed "/x" would dispatch
+// to before ever reaching a skill.
+func (m model) takenSlashNames() map[string]bool {
+	taken := map[string]bool{}
+	for _, command := range commandDefinitions {
+		taken[strings.TrimPrefix(command.name, "/")] = true
+		for _, alias := range command.aliases {
+			taken[strings.TrimPrefix(alias, "/")] = true
+		}
+	}
+	for _, cmd := range m.userCommands {
+		taken[cmd.Name] = true
+	}
+	return taken
+}
+
+// chooseSkillFromPicker handles Enter on a skill-picker row. Most skills want a
+// request ("review WHICH pr?"), so selection fills the composer with
+// "/name " — cursor at the end — for the user to complete and submit (Enter
+// again runs it bare). Skills whose names cannot be typed as a slash command
+// (non-slash shapes, or names shadowed by a builtin or user command) fall back
+// to running immediately: the picker is the only path that reaches them, and an
+// unfillable composer would be a dead end.
+func (m model) chooseSkillFromPicker(item pickerItem) (model, tea.Cmd) {
+	slash := skillSlashName(item.Value)
+	if slash == "" || m.takenSlashNames()[slash] {
+		return m.invokeSkillByName(item.Value)
+	}
+	m.input.SetValue("/" + slash + " ")
+	m.input.CursorEnd()
+	return m, nil
+}
+
+// invokeSkillByName runs the installed skill with the given EXACT raw name (the
+// skill-picker path). The same run-state guards as slash invocation apply; the
+// picker offers no args affordance, so the prompt is the skill body alone.
+func (m model) invokeSkillByName(name string) (model, tea.Cmd) {
+	for _, skill := range m.installedSkills() {
+		if strings.TrimSpace(skill.Name) != name {
+			continue
+		}
+		body := strings.TrimSpace(skill.Content)
+		if body == "" {
+			m.transcript = reduceTranscript(m.transcript, transcriptAction{
+				kind: actionAppendError,
+				text: "skill " + name + " has an empty SKILL.md body (" + skill.Path + ")",
+			})
+			return m, nil
+		}
+		next, teaCmd, _ := m.launchOrDeferExpandedPrompt("", skillInvocationPrompt(body, ""))
+		return next, teaCmd
+	}
+	// The picker row came from a slightly older load (TTL cache) and the skill
+	// has since been removed.
+	m.transcript = reduceTranscript(m.transcript, transcriptAction{
+		kind: actionAppendError,
+		text: "skill " + name + " is no longer installed",
+	})
+	return m, nil
+}
+
+// lookupSkillCommand returns the installed skill whose slash name matches the
+// given (lowercased) name. Linear scan over a fresh load — skills are re-read
+// per invocation so a skill installed mid-session is invocable without a
+// restart, and the body is never held on the model.
+func (m model) lookupSkillCommand(name string) (skills.Skill, bool) {
+	name = strings.ToLower(strings.TrimSpace(name))
+	if name == "" {
+		return skills.Skill{}, false
+	}
+	for _, skill := range m.installedSkills() {
+		if skillSlashName(skill.Name) == name {
+			return skill, true
+		}
+	}
+	return skills.Skill{}, false
+}
+
+// installedSkills returns the session's installed skills (default dir merged
+// with plugin skill roots) via the injected loader, or nil when the session has
+// no skills wiring (e.g. bare test models).
+func (m model) installedSkills() []skills.Skill {
+	if m.loadSkills == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	return m.loadSkills()
+}
+
+// skillSlashName maps a skill's frontmatter name to its slash-command form:
+// lowercased, and only if it fits the slash-token shape (letters, digits,
+// dot/underscore/hyphen — a superset of user-command names, since skill names
+// are free-form frontmatter). Returns "" for names that cannot be typed as a
+// /command (e.g. containing spaces); those skills remain loadable by the model
+// via the skill tool and are still listed by /skills.
+func skillSlashName(name string) string {
+	name = strings.ToLower(strings.TrimSpace(name))
+	if name == "" {
+		return ""
+	}
+	for _, r := range name {
+		valid := (r >= 'a' && r <= 'z') || (r >= '0' && r <= '9') || r == '-' || r == '_' || r == '.'
+		if !valid {
+			return ""
+		}
+	}
+	return name
+}

internal/tui/skill_commands_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,412 @@
+package tui
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+
+	tea "charm.land/bubbletea/v2"
+
+	"github.com/Gitlawb/zero/internal/agent"
+	"github.com/Gitlawb/zero/internal/skills"
+)
+
+// newSkillTestModel builds a model with an injected skills loader (and the
+// matching palette metadata), no filesystem involved.
+func newSkillTestModel(t *testing.T, installed ...skills.Skill) model {
+	t.Helper()
+	infos := make([]agent.SkillInfo, 0, len(installed))
+	for _, s := range installed {
+		infos = append(infos, agent.SkillInfo{Name: s.Name, Description: s.Description})
+	}
+	return newModel(context.Background(), Options{
+		Cwd:          t.TempDir(),
+		LoadSkills:   func() []skills.Skill { return installed },
+		AgentOptions: agent.Options{Skills: infos},
+	})
+}
+
+func submitInput(t *testing.T, m model, input string) model {
+	t.Helper()
+	m.input.SetValue(input)
+	updated, _ := m.Update(testKey(tea.KeyEnter))
+	return updated.(model)
+}
+
+func TestSkillCommandInvokesAndSubmits(t *testing.T) {
+	m := newSkillTestModel(t, skills.Skill{
+		Name:        "deploy-checks",
+		Description: "Run the pre-deploy verification suite.",
+		Content:     "Run every verification step and summarize failures.",
+		Path:        "/skills/deploy-checks/SKILL.md",
+	})
+
+	next := submitInput(t, m, "/deploy-checks ship v2 to production")
+
+	if transcriptContains(next.transcript, "unknown command") {
+		t.Fatalf("an installed skill must not be 'unknown', got %#v", next.transcript)
+	}
+	if !transcriptContains(next.transcript, "Run every verification step and summarize failures.") {
+		t.Fatalf("skill body should be inlined into the prompt, got %#v", next.transcript)
+	}
+	if !transcriptContains(next.transcript, "ship v2 to production") {
+		t.Fatalf("typed args should follow the skill body, got %#v", next.transcript)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSkillCommandWithoutArgs(t *testing.T) {
+	m := newSkillTestModel(t, skills.Skill{Name: "reviewer", Content: "Review the diff for correctness."})
+
+	next := submitInput(t, m, "/reviewer")
+
+	if !transcriptContains(next.transcript, "Review the diff for correctness.") {
+		t.Fatalf("bare skill invocation should submit the body, got %#v", next.transcript)
+	}
+	// A bare invocation carries the ask-first note: instructions with no target
+	// must make the model ask ("which PR?") instead of improvising one.
+	if !transcriptContains(next.transcript, "ask for them first") {
+		t.Fatalf("bare invocation should carry the clarify-first note, got %#v", next.transcript)
+	}
+}
+
+// An invocation WITH a request must not carry the ask-first note — the user
+// already said what to apply the skill to.
+func TestSkillCommandWithArgsHasNoClarifyNote(t *testing.T) {
+	m := newSkillTestModel(t, skills.Skill{Name: "reviewer", Content: "Review the diff."})
+
+	next := submitInput(t, m, "/reviewer PR 484 reconnect changes")
+
+	if transcriptContains(next.transcript, "ask for them first") {
+		t.Fatalf("args invocation must not carry the clarify note, got %#v", next.transcript)
+	}
+}
+
+// A skill's frontmatter name is free-form; invocation matches its lowercased
+// slash form.
+func TestSkillCommandNameIsCaseInsensitive(t *testing.T) {
+	m := newSkillTestModel(t, skills.Skill{Name: "Deploy-Checks", Content: "Check things."})
+
+	next := submitInput(t, m, "/deploy-checks")
+
+	if !transcriptContains(next.transcript, "Check things.") {
+		t.Fatalf("uppercase frontmatter name should be invocable lowercased, got %#v", next.transcript)
+	}
+}
+
+// Precedence: a user command (.zero/commands) shadows a same-named skill.
+func TestUserCommandShadowsSkill(t *testing.T) {
+	root := t.TempDir()
+	writeUserCommand(t, root, "greet.md", "Say hello from the user command.")
+	m := newModel(context.Background(), Options{
+		Cwd:        root,
+		LoadSkills: func() []skills.Skill { return []skills.Skill{{Name: "greet", Content: "Skill body must not run."}} },
+	})
+
+	next := submitInput(t, m, "/greet")
+
+	if !transcriptContains(next.transcript, "Say hello from the user command.") {
+		t.Fatalf("user command should win the name collision, got %#v", next.transcript)
+	}
+	if transcriptContains(next.transcript, "Skill body must not run.") {
+		t.Fatalf("shadowed skill must not run, got %#v", next.transcript)
+	}
+}
+
+// An empty skill body is a real, named match — surface the problem instead of
+// falling through to a misleading "unknown command".
+func TestSkillCommandEmptyBody(t *testing.T) {
+	m := newSkillTestModel(t, skills.Skill{Name: "hollow", Path: "/skills/hollow/SKILL.md"})
+
+	next := submitInput(t, m, "/hollow")
+
+	if transcriptContains(next.transcript, "unknown command") {
+		t.Fatalf("an empty skill must not be 'unknown', got %#v", next.transcript)
+	}
+	if !transcriptContains(next.transcript, "empty SKILL.md body") {
+		t.Fatalf("empty-body error should be surfaced, got %#v", next.transcript)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestUnknownSlashStillUnknownWithSkillsInstalled(t *testing.T) {
+	m := newSkillTestModel(t, skills.Skill{Name: "reviewer", Content: "Review."})
+
+	next := submitInput(t, m, "/definitelynotaskill")
+
+	if !transcriptContains(next.transcript, "unknown command") {
+		t.Fatalf("non-matching name should still be unknown, got %#v", next.transcript)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSkillSlashName(t *testing.T) {
+	cases := map[string]string{
+		"deploy-checks":  "deploy-checks",
+		"Deploy-Checks":  "deploy-checks",
+		"  pdf_tools  ":  "pdf_tools",
+		"v2.migrate":     "v2.migrate",
+		"has space":      "",
+		"emoji✨":         "",
+		"":               "",
+		"slash/inside":   "",
+		"tab\tseparated": "",
+	}
+	for in, want := range cases {
+		if got := skillSlashName(in); got != want {
+			t.Errorf("skillSlashName(%q) = %q, want %q", in, got, want)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSkillAppearsInAutocomplete(t *testing.T) {
+	m := newSkillTestModel(t, skills.Skill{Name: "deploy-checks", Description: "Run the pre-deploy suite.", Content: "x"})
+
+	got := m.matchCommandSuggestions("/dep")
+	found := false
+	for _, s := range got {
+		if s.Name == "/deploy-checks" {
+			found = true
+			if s.Desc != "Run the pre-deploy suite. (skill)" {
+				t.Fatalf("skill suggestion should be labeled, got %q", s.Desc)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	if !found {
+		t.Fatalf("skill /deploy-checks should appear for '/dep', got %#v", got)
+	}
+}
+
+// A skill shadowed by a builtin (or its alias) or a user command would be dead
+// at dispatch time, so the palette must not advertise it.
+func TestShadowedSkillNotSuggested(t *testing.T) {
+	root := t.TempDir()
+	writeUserCommand(t, root, "deploy.md", "User deploy.")
+	installed := []skills.Skill{
+		{Name: "help", Content: "x"},     // builtin collision
+		{Name: "sessions", Content: "x"}, // builtin ALIAS collision (/resume alias)
+		{Name: "deploy", Content: "x"},   // user-command collision
+	}
+	infos := make([]agent.SkillInfo, 0, len(installed))
+	for _, s := range installed {
+		infos = append(infos, agent.SkillInfo{Name: s.Name})
+	}
+	m := newModel(context.Background(), Options{
+		Cwd:          root,
+		LoadSkills:   func() []skills.Skill { return installed },
+		AgentOptions: agent.Options{Skills: infos},
+	})
+
+	// Assert on the advertised NAME with a skill-marked Desc, not on the exact
+	// fallback Desc format — the invariant is that no skill row carries a
+	// builtin/user-command name, regardless of description wording.
+	for _, token := range []string{"/hel", "/ses", "/dep"} {
+		for _, s := range m.matchSkillSuggestions(token) {
+			if s.Name == "/help" || s.Name == "/sessions" || s.Name == "/deploy" {
+				t.Fatalf("shadowed skill advertised for %q: %#v", token, s)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// Invalid slash shapes (spaces etc.) and a bare "/" must not surface skills.
+func TestSkillSuggestionEdgeCases(t *testing.T) {
+	m := newSkillTestModel(t, skills.Skill{Name: "has space", Description: "not invocable", Content: "x"})
+
+	if got := m.matchSkillSuggestions("/has"); len(got) != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("invalid slash-shape skill must not be suggested, got %#v", got)
+	}
+	if got := m.matchSkillSuggestions("/"); got != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("bare '/' should not list skills, got %#v", got)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSkillsCommandResolves(t *testing.T) {
+	command, ok := resolveCommand("/skills")
+	if !ok || command.kind != commandSkills {
+		t.Fatalf("resolveCommand(/skills) = %#v, %v", command, ok)
+	}
+}
+
+// With skills installed, /skills opens a searchable picker (like /model).
+func TestSkillsCommandOpensPicker(t *testing.T) {
+	m := newSkillTestModel(t,
+		skills.Skill{Name: "deploy-checks", Description: "Run the pre-deploy suite.", Content: "x"},
+		skills.Skill{Name: "has space", Description: "tool-only skill", Content: "x"},
+	)
+
+	next := submitInput(t, m, "/skills")
+
+	if next.picker == nil || next.picker.kind != pickerSkill {
+		t.Fatalf("/skills should open the skill picker, got %#v", next.picker)
+	}
+	labels := map[string]string{}
+	for _, item := range next.picker.items {
+		labels[item.Label] = item.Value
+	}
+	if labels["/deploy-checks"] != "deploy-checks" {
+		t.Fatalf("slash-invocable skill should show its slash form, got %#v", labels)
+	}
+	// A non-slash-shaped name is still selectable (bare label, exact-name value).
+	if labels["has space"] != "has space" {
+		t.Fatalf("non-slash skill should be listed bare but selectable, got %#v", labels)
+	}
+}
+
+// Enter on a picker row fills the composer with "/name " so the user can add
+// their request (which PR? which file?) before submitting — it must NOT fire
+// the skill with no request attached.
+func TestSkillPickerEnterFillsComposer(t *testing.T) {
+	m := newSkillTestModel(t, skills.Skill{Name: "reviewer", Content: "Review the diff for correctness."})
+
+	next := submitInput(t, m, "/skills")
+	if next.picker == nil {
+		t.Fatal("picker should be open")
+	}
+	updated, _ := next.Update(testKey(tea.KeyEnter))
+	after := updated.(model)
+
+	if after.picker != nil {
+		t.Fatal("picker should close on Enter")
+	}
+	if got := after.input.Value(); got != "/reviewer " {
+		t.Fatalf("composer should be filled with the invocation, got %q", got)
+	}
+	if transcriptContains(after.transcript, "Review the diff for correctness.") {
+		t.Fatalf("skill must not run before the user submits, got %#v", after.transcript)
+	}
+
+	// A second Enter submits the (bare) invocation and runs the skill.
+	final, _ := after.Update(testKey(tea.KeyEnter))
+	done := final.(model)
+	if !transcriptContains(done.transcript, "Review the diff for correctness.") {
+		t.Fatalf("submitting the filled composer should run the skill, got %#v", done.transcript)
+	}
+}
+
+// Picker selection is by exact name, so a skill shadowed by a builtin (dead on
+// the slash path) is still runnable from the picker.
+func TestSkillPickerRunsBuiltinShadowedSkill(t *testing.T) {
+	m := newSkillTestModel(t, skills.Skill{Name: "help", Description: "shadowed", Content: "Shadowed skill body."})
+
+	next := submitInput(t, m, "/skills")
+	if next.picker == nil {
+		t.Fatal("picker should be open")
+	}
+	updated, _ := next.Update(testKey(tea.KeyEnter))
+	after := updated.(model)
+
+	if !transcriptContains(after.transcript, "Shadowed skill body.") {
+		t.Fatalf("picker must run the shadowed skill directly, got %#v", after.transcript)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSkillsCommandEmptyState(t *testing.T) {
+	m := newModel(context.Background(), Options{Cwd: t.TempDir()})
+
+	next := submitInput(t, m, "/skills")
+
+	if !transcriptContains(next.transcript, "No skills installed.") {
+		t.Fatalf("empty state should say no skills, got %#v", next.transcript)
+	}
+}
+
+// Run-state guards: an expanded skill prompt must not race an active run — it
+// queues (as the EXPANDED prompt, since the queue flush submits literal text).
+func TestSkillInvocationQueuedWhileRunPending(t *testing.T) {
+	m := newSkillTestModel(t, skills.Skill{Name: "reviewer", Content: "Review the diff."})
+	m.pending = true
+
+	next, _, handled := m.handleSkillCommand("/reviewer focus on tests")
+	if !handled {
+		t.Fatal("skill must be handled even while a run is pending")
+	}
+	if next.queuedMessage == "" || !strings.Contains(next.queuedMessage, "Review the diff.") {
+		t.Fatalf("expanded prompt should be queued, got %q", next.queuedMessage)
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(next.queuedMessage, "focus on tests") {
+		t.Fatalf("queued prompt should carry the args, got %q", next.queuedMessage)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSkillInvocationDroppedWhileExiting(t *testing.T) {
+	m := newSkillTestModel(t, skills.Skill{Name: "reviewer", Content: "Review."})
+	m.exiting = true
+
+	next, cmd, handled := m.handleSkillCommand("/reviewer")
+	if !handled || cmd != nil || next.queuedMessage != "" {
+		t.Fatalf("exiting must swallow the invocation: handled=%v cmd=%v queued=%q", handled, cmd, next.queuedMessage)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSkillInvocationWarnsDuringCompaction(t *testing.T) {
+	m := newSkillTestModel(t, skills.Skill{Name: "reviewer", Content: "Review."})
+	m.compactInFlight = true
+
+	next, _, handled := m.handleSkillCommand("/reviewer")
+	if !handled {
+		t.Fatal("skill must be handled during compaction")
+	}
+	if !transcriptContains(next.transcript, "Compaction is running") {
+		t.Fatalf("compaction warning expected, got %#v", next.transcript)
+	}
+	// The typed invocation is restored for an easy re-submit (the dispatch path
+	// cleared the composer before the guard could fire).
+	if got := next.input.Value(); got != "/reviewer" {
+		t.Fatalf("typed invocation should be restored into the composer, got %q", got)
+	}
+}
+
+// The same guard now protects user commands (previously they could start a
+// second concurrent run).
+func TestUserCommandQueuedWhileRunPending(t *testing.T) {
+	root := t.TempDir()
+	writeUserCommand(t, root, "greet.md", "Say hello to $1.")
+	m := newModel(context.Background(), Options{Cwd: root})
+	m.pending = true
+
+	next, _, handled := m.handleUserCommand("/greet world")
+	if !handled {
+		t.Fatal("user command must be handled while pending")
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(next.queuedMessage, "Say hello to world.") {
+		t.Fatalf("expanded user-command prompt should be queued, got %q", next.queuedMessage)
+	}
+}
+
+// Two skills whose names collide after lowercasing map to one slash name; only
+// the one dispatch will run may be advertised.
+func TestCaseCollidingSkillsAdvertisedOnce(t *testing.T) {
+	m := newSkillTestModel(t,
+		skills.Skill{Name: "Deploy", Description: "wins", Content: "a"},
+		skills.Skill{Name: "deploy", Description: "loses", Content: "b"},
+	)
+
+	rows := 0
+	for _, s := range m.matchSkillSuggestions("/dep") {
+		if s.Name == "/deploy" {
+			rows++
+			if !strings.Contains(s.Desc, "wins") {
+				t.Fatalf("advertised row must describe the skill dispatch runs, got %q", s.Desc)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	if rows != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("case-colliding skills must yield exactly one /deploy row, got %d", rows)
+	}
+}
+
+// The palette reads through the loader, so a skill installed mid-session (the
+// loader's next result) appears without a restart.
+func TestSkillPaletteReadsThroughLoader(t *testing.T) {
+	installed := []skills.Skill{}
+	m := newModel(context.Background(), Options{
+		Cwd:        t.TempDir(),
+		LoadSkills: func() []skills.Skill { return installed },
+	})
+	if got := m.matchSkillSuggestions("/lat"); len(got) != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("no skills installed yet, got %#v", got)
+	}
+	installed = append(installed, skills.Skill{Name: "late-arrival", Description: "installed mid-session", Content: "x"})
+	got := m.matchSkillSuggestions("/lat")
+	if len(got) != 1 || got[0].Name != "/late-arrival" {
+		t.Fatalf("mid-session skill should appear via the loader, got %#v", got)
+	}
+}

internal/tui/user_commands.go

@@ -30,8 +30,9 @@ func (m model) handleUserCommand(raw string) (model, tea.Cmd, bool) {
 	if strings.TrimSpace(prompt) == "" {
 		return m, nil, false
 	}
-	next, teaCmd := m.launchPrompt(prompt)
-	return next, teaCmd, true
+	// Same run-state guards as a plain prompt: a user command invoked mid-run is
+	// queued (as its expanded prompt), not raced into a second concurrent turn.
+	return m.launchOrDeferExpandedPrompt(raw, prompt)
 }
 
 // lookupUserCommand returns the loaded user command with the given (lowercased)