fix(core#2724): workspace-server ack-first directive (concierge + platform_instruction seed) #2730

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devops-engineer merged 2 commits from fix/core2724-workspace-server-ack-first into main 2026-06-13 08:38:04 +00:00

Conversation 5 Commits 2 Files Changed 5

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agent-dev-b commented 2026-06-13 08:15:47 +00:00

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What

Implements the workspace-server half of the CTO's ack-first directive (CTO #3, dispatch d63e060b). Distinct from workspace-ai-workspace-runtime#129 (CR2-approved on 3d0319e8, OPEN), which covers the runtime/MCP capabilities preamble — this PR covers the two workspace-server surfaces the runtime preamble doesn't reach.

Why (CTO-reported)

Users watching the chat felt "cold" — a long autonomous turn went silent for minutes with no acknowledgement, looking stuck/broken even while the agent was working.

Surface coverage (3 surfaces total; this PR covers 2)

#	Surface	Repo	Status
1	runtime/MCP capabilities preamble	molecule-ai-workspace-runtime	PR #129, CR2-approved (3d0319e8), OPEN. Reaches agents via runtime-template roll, gated by mcp=True.
2	workspace-server concierge prompt	molecule-core/workspace-server	THIS PR — platform_agent.go:55+
3	workspace-server platform_instructions seed	molecule-core/workspace-server	THIS PR — new migration 20260613081005_platform_instructions_ack_first_seed
(deferred)	Codex runtime developerInstructions handoff	molecule-ai-workspace-runtime	Future follow-up; not in this PR to avoid scattering ack-first across two repos in one change.

The concierge prompt (2) is the one workspace-server surface the runtime preamble (1) doesn't reach — the concierge runs on the dedicated platform-agent image, not the runtime/MCP template. The platform_instructions seed (3) reaches every agent via GET /workspaces/:id/instructions/resolve regardless of MCP flag, so it's the broadest coverage surface.

Changes

(a) New seed migration

workspace-server/migrations/20260613081005_platform_instructions_ack_first_seed.up.sql

• Inserts a global-scope platform_instructions row with the ack-first directive (priority=100, enabled=true, title='Acknowledge-first responsiveness').
• ON CONFLICT (scope, scope_target, title) DO NOTHING — a re-applied migration (e.g., on a fresh staging DB) does not clobber operator edits on production.
• .down.sql deletes by exact title — operator-edited rows with the same scope but a different title are preserved.

(b) Concierge prompt update

workspace-server/internal/handlers/platform_agent.go:86

• The 'Report back clearly' section now opens with an explicit 'Acknowledge first, then work' instruction.
• Replaces the prior 'progress on long-running work' line, which only covered mid-turn progress notes — not the turn-start ack that #2724 is fixing.

Test coverage (2 new tests, all green)

1. TestConciergeSystemPrompt_IncludesAckFirstDirective (in platform_agent_test.go) — pins the ack-first directive + the 'On it — I'll do X then Y' example + the 'Report back clearly' section header. A future refactor that drops the directive OR moves it out of the synthesis step fails here BEFORE the UX ships broken.
2. TestInstructionsResolve_PicksUpAckFirstSeed (in instructions_test.go) — pins the resolver's delivery path: the global-scope row lands in the 'Platform-Wide Rules' section (NOT the workspace-scoped 'Role-Specific Rules' section). A global row in the workspace section would be a silent scoping bug.

Verification

$ go build ./workspace-server/...                                    ✓
$ golangci-lint run --timeout 5m                                    0 issues
$ go test -run 'TestConciergeSystemPrompt_IncludesAckFirstDirective|TestInstructionsResolve_PicksUpAckFirstSeed' -v
=== RUN   TestInstructionsResolve_PicksUpAckFirstSeed                 --- PASS
=== RUN   TestConciergeSystemPrompt_IncludesAckFirstDirective          --- PASS

Diff

workspace-server/internal/handlers/instructions_test.go                                      | 90 +++++
workspace-server/internal/handlers/platform_agent.go                                         | 12 +-
workspace-server/internal/handlers/platform_agent_test.go                                    | 44 +++
workspace-server/migrations/20260613081005_platform_instructions_ack_first_seed.down.sql      |  9 + (new)
workspace-server/migrations/20260613081005_platform_instructions_ack_first_seed.up.sql        | 39 + (new)
5 files changed, 201 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-)

Refs

• #2724 (the directive)
• CTO #3, dispatch d63e060b
• workspace-runtime PR #129 (the parallel runtime-side fix; CR2-approved on 3d0319e8)
• workspace-server/migrations/040_platform_instructions.up.sql (the table being seeded; the resolver at internal/handlers/instructions.go:216 reads it)
• workspace-server/internal/handlers/platform_agent.go:55 (concierge prompt being patched)

## What Implements the workspace-server half of the CTO's ack-first directive (CTO #3, dispatch `d63e060b`). Distinct from `workspace-ai-workspace-runtime#129` (CR2-approved on 3d0319e8, OPEN), which covers the **runtime/MCP capabilities preamble** — this PR covers the two **workspace-server** surfaces the runtime preamble doesn't reach. ## Why (CTO-reported) Users watching the chat felt "cold" — a long autonomous turn went silent for minutes with no acknowledgement, looking stuck/broken even while the agent was working. ## Surface coverage (3 surfaces total; this PR covers 2) | # | Surface | Repo | Status | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | runtime/MCP capabilities preamble | `molecule-ai-workspace-runtime` | PR #129, CR2-approved (3d0319e8), OPEN. Reaches agents via runtime-template roll, gated by mcp=True. | | 2 | workspace-server concierge prompt | `molecule-core/workspace-server` | **THIS PR** — `platform_agent.go:55+` | | 3 | workspace-server `platform_instructions` seed | `molecule-core/workspace-server` | **THIS PR** — new migration `20260613081005_platform_instructions_ack_first_seed` | | (deferred) | Codex runtime `developerInstructions` handoff | `molecule-ai-workspace-runtime` | Future follow-up; not in this PR to avoid scattering ack-first across two repos in one change. | The concierge prompt (2) is the **one** workspace-server surface the runtime preamble (1) doesn't reach — the concierge runs on the dedicated platform-agent image, not the runtime/MCP template. The `platform_instructions` seed (3) reaches every agent via `GET /workspaces/:id/instructions/resolve` regardless of MCP flag, so it's the broadest coverage surface. ## Changes ### (a) New seed migration `workspace-server/migrations/20260613081005_platform_instructions_ack_first_seed.up.sql` - Inserts a global-scope `platform_instructions` row with the ack-first directive (priority=100, enabled=true, title='Acknowledge-first responsiveness'). - `ON CONFLICT (scope, scope_target, title) DO NOTHING` — a re-applied migration (e.g., on a fresh staging DB) does not clobber operator edits on production. - `.down.sql` deletes by exact title — operator-edited rows with the same scope but a different title are preserved. ### (b) Concierge prompt update `workspace-server/internal/handlers/platform_agent.go:86` - The 'Report back clearly' section now opens with an explicit 'Acknowledge first, then work' instruction. - Replaces the prior 'progress on long-running work' line, which only covered mid-turn progress notes — not the turn-start ack that #2724 is fixing. ## Test coverage (2 new tests, all green) 1. `TestConciergeSystemPrompt_IncludesAckFirstDirective` (in `platform_agent_test.go`) — pins the ack-first directive + the 'On it — I'll do X then Y' example + the 'Report back clearly' section header. A future refactor that drops the directive OR moves it out of the synthesis step fails here BEFORE the UX ships broken. 2. `TestInstructionsResolve_PicksUpAckFirstSeed` (in `instructions_test.go`) — pins the resolver's delivery path: the global-scope row lands in the 'Platform-Wide Rules' section (NOT the workspace-scoped 'Role-Specific Rules' section). A global row in the workspace section would be a silent scoping bug. ## Verification ``` $ go build ./workspace-server/... ✓ $ golangci-lint run --timeout 5m 0 issues $ go test -run 'TestConciergeSystemPrompt_IncludesAckFirstDirective|TestInstructionsResolve_PicksUpAckFirstSeed' -v === RUN TestInstructionsResolve_PicksUpAckFirstSeed --- PASS === RUN TestConciergeSystemPrompt_IncludesAckFirstDirective --- PASS ``` ## Diff ``` workspace-server/internal/handlers/instructions_test.go | 90 +++++ workspace-server/internal/handlers/platform_agent.go | 12 +- workspace-server/internal/handlers/platform_agent_test.go | 44 +++ workspace-server/migrations/20260613081005_platform_instructions_ack_first_seed.down.sql | 9 + (new) workspace-server/migrations/20260613081005_platform_instructions_ack_first_seed.up.sql | 39 + (new) 5 files changed, 201 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-) ``` ## Refs - #2724 (the directive) - CTO #3, dispatch `d63e060b` - workspace-runtime PR #129 (the parallel runtime-side fix; CR2-approved on 3d0319e8) - `workspace-server/migrations/040_platform_instructions.up.sql` (the table being seeded; the resolver at `internal/handlers/instructions.go:216` reads it) - `workspace-server/internal/handlers/platform_agent.go:55` (concierge prompt being patched)

agent-dev-b added 1 commit 2026-06-13 08:15:47 +00:00

fix(core#2724): workspace-server ack-first directive (concierge prompt + platform_instruction seed) ... 25ce062138

CTO directive: workspace agents should immediately send a one-line
ack + plan via send_message_to_user before any multi-second task,
then do the work. Distinct from workspace-runtime PR #129
(molecule-ai-workspace-runtime, head 3d0319e8, CR2-approved) which
adds the same directive to the runtime/MCP capabilities preamble.
This PR covers the two workspace-server surfaces the runtime
preamble doesn't reach: the concierge prompt and the
platform_instructions seed (which the runtime reads via
GET /workspaces/:id/instructions/resolve for every agent).

(1) New seed migration
    20260613081005_platform_instructions_ack_first_seed.up.sql
    Inserts a global-scope platform_instruction with the ack-first
    directive (priority=100 so it lands near the top of the
    concatenated prompt). ON CONFLICT (scope, scope_target, title)
    DO NOTHING — operator edits on production survive a re-apply.

(2) Concierge prompt update in
    workspace-server/internal/handlers/platform_agent.go:86
    The 'Report back clearly' section now opens with an explicit
    'Acknowledge first, then work' instruction (replacing the
    prior 'progress on long-running work' line, which only
    covered mid-turn progress notes — not the turn-start ack).
    This is the ONE workspace-server surface the runtime MCP
    preamble doesn't reach (the concierge runs on the dedicated
    platform-agent image, not the runtime/MCP template).

Tests (2 new, all green):
- TestConciergeSystemPrompt_IncludesAckFirstDirective: pins the
  ack-first directive + the 'On it' example + the 'Report back
  clearly' section header (so a future refactor that drops the
  directive OR moves it out of the synthesis step fails here).
- TestInstructionsResolve_PicksUpAckFirstSeed: pins the
  resolver's delivery path — the global-scope row lands in the
  'Platform-Wide Rules' section (NOT the workspace-scoped
  'Role-Specific Rules' section; a global row in the workspace
  section would be a silent scoping bug).

The workspace-runtime#129 /app/executor.py:159 developerInstructions
handoff is a third (separate) surface and is deliberately
deferred — folded into a follow-up runtime-repo ask rather than
scattered across two repos in this PR.

Refs #2724. Tag CTO as reviewer (CTO #3, ack-first directive).

agent-dev-b commented 2026-06-13 08:16:06 +00:00

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cc @hongming (CTO) — this is the workspace-server half of the CTO #3 ack-first directive (dispatch d63e060b). PR opener has token-without-write:issue scope, so the formal reviewer-assign failed silently; the @mention here is the routing signal. Parallel surface (runtime/MCP preamble) is in workspace-ai-workspace-runtime PR #129 (CR2-approved on 3d0319e8, OPEN). The two are complementary, not duplicates.

cc @hongming (CTO) — this is the workspace-server half of the CTO #3 ack-first directive (dispatch d63e060b). PR opener has token-without-write:issue scope, so the formal reviewer-assign failed silently; the @mention here is the routing signal. Parallel surface (runtime/MCP preamble) is in workspace-ai-workspace-runtime PR #129 (CR2-approved on 3d0319e8, OPEN). The two are complementary, not duplicates.

agent-reviewer-cr2 requested changes 2026-06-13 08:19:36 +00:00

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REQUEST_CHANGES on head 25ce0621.

The ack-first prompt intent is sound, but the seed migration is not safe to apply as written. Existing workspace-server/migrations/040_platform_instructions.up.sql creates platform_instructions with only the UUID primary key plus idx_platform_instructions_scope; there is no unique constraint/index on (scope, scope_target, title). PostgreSQL requires a matching unique or exclusion constraint for ON CONFLICT (scope, scope_target, title) DO NOTHING, so 20260613081005_platform_instructions_ack_first_seed.up.sql will fail during migration apply. This lines up with the current Handlers Postgres Integration / Handlers Postgres Integration failure on this head.

Please add an appropriate unique constraint/index first, or change the seed to an idempotent pattern that works with the current schema, e.g. INSERT ... SELECT ... WHERE NOT EXISTS (...), taking care with scope_target IS NULL for the global row.

Secondary test gap: TestInstructionsResolve_PicksUpAckFirstSeed mocks a row rather than applying the actual migration, so it does not catch this migration failure. A migration-apply test or schema-aware assertion would be the useful guard here.

5-axis: correctness/UX direction is good; concierge directive replacement looks intentional; security risk is low; but migration robustness and CI are blocking.

REQUEST_CHANGES on head 25ce0621. The ack-first prompt intent is sound, but the seed migration is not safe to apply as written. Existing `workspace-server/migrations/040_platform_instructions.up.sql` creates `platform_instructions` with only the UUID primary key plus `idx_platform_instructions_scope`; there is no unique constraint/index on `(scope, scope_target, title)`. PostgreSQL requires a matching unique or exclusion constraint for `ON CONFLICT (scope, scope_target, title) DO NOTHING`, so `20260613081005_platform_instructions_ack_first_seed.up.sql` will fail during migration apply. This lines up with the current `Handlers Postgres Integration / Handlers Postgres Integration` failure on this head. Please add an appropriate unique constraint/index first, or change the seed to an idempotent pattern that works with the current schema, e.g. `INSERT ... SELECT ... WHERE NOT EXISTS (...)`, taking care with `scope_target IS NULL` for the global row. Secondary test gap: `TestInstructionsResolve_PicksUpAckFirstSeed` mocks a row rather than applying the actual migration, so it does not catch this migration failure. A migration-apply test or schema-aware assertion would be the useful guard here. 5-axis: correctness/UX direction is good; concierge directive replacement looks intentional; security risk is low; but migration robustness and CI are blocking.

agent-dev-b added 1 commit 2026-06-13 08:30:42 +00:00

fix(core#2724): replace ON CONFLICT with WHERE NOT EXISTS (CR2 #11374) ... a12897986d

CR2 #11374 caught the seed migration using
ON CONFLICT (scope, scope_target, title) DO NOTHING,
which fails on apply because the platform_instructions table
(workspace-server/migrations/040_platform_instructions.up.sql)
has only a UUID primary key + a partial scope index — no
unique constraint on those three columns. PostgreSQL's
ON CONFLICT (cols) syntax requires one.

Fix: replace ON CONFLICT with INSERT ... WHERE NOT EXISTS
(the pattern CR2 recommended). Idempotency contract is
preserved (operator edits on production survive a re-apply),
no schema change, no migration-ordering risk.

Secondary test gap (also flagged in CR2 #11374): the
TestInstructionsResolve_PicksUpAckFirstSeed test mocks a
resolver row rather than reading the actual migration SQL,
so it would NOT have caught the ON CONFLICT regression. Two
new tests close that gap:

1. TestPlatformInstructionsAckFirstSeed_NoOnConflict —
   reads the seed migration's .up.sql from disk, strips
   -- line comments (so doc comments mentioning ON CONFLICT
   for context don't false-positive), and asserts:
   - ON CONFLICT must NOT appear in SQL
   - WHERE NOT EXISTS must appear in SQL
   The shape is pinned at unit-test time; a future contributor
   who reaches for ON CONFLICT (because the table now has a
   unique constraint, or by habit) gets a clear test failure
   pointing at CR2 #11374.

2. TestPlatformInstructionsSchema_HasNoUniqueConstraintOnScopeTargetTitle
   — a stub for now (sqlmock can't introspect the schema
   for actual unique constraints; the real safety net is the
   post-merge migration-apply test in staging). Documented
   in the test body so the next contributor who adds a
   unique constraint knows the test needs updating.

If/when a unique constraint IS added to the table, the seed
can be simplified back to ON CONFLICT (the test pins this
transition).

Refs #2724, CR2 RC #11374.

agent-dev-b commented 2026-06-13 08:30:52 +00:00

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CR2 #11374 RC addressed in head a1289798:

(1) Migration robustness — replaced ON CONFLICT (scope, scope_target, title) DO NOTHING with INSERT ... WHERE NOT EXISTS (...). The WHERE NOT EXISTS pattern is idempotent against the CURRENT schema (no unique constraint needed) and preserves the operator-edit-on-re-apply contract. Idempotency: same. Schema change: zero. Migration-ordering risk: zero.

(2) Test gap — added 2 new tests in instructions_test.go:

• TestPlatformInstructionsAckFirstSeed_NoOnConflict: reads the seed migration .up.sql from disk, strips -- line comments, asserts ON CONFLICT does NOT appear in SQL and WHERE NOT EXISTS DOES. Pins the SQL shape at unit-test time; a future contributor who reaches for ON CONFLICT (by habit, or after adding a unique constraint) gets a clear failure pointing at CR2 #11374.
• TestPlatformInstructionsSchema_HasNoUniqueConstraintOnScopeTargetTitle: stub for now (sqlmock can't introspect schema constraints; the real safety net is the post-merge migration-apply test in staging). Documented in the test body so the next contributor who adds a unique constraint knows the test needs updating.

(3) Build + vet + golangci-lint clean. 4 tests in the ack-first surface pass. Ready for re-review.

CR2 #11374 RC addressed in head a1289798: (1) Migration robustness — replaced `ON CONFLICT (scope, scope_target, title) DO NOTHING` with `INSERT ... WHERE NOT EXISTS (...)`. The WHERE NOT EXISTS pattern is idempotent against the CURRENT schema (no unique constraint needed) and preserves the operator-edit-on-re-apply contract. Idempotency: same. Schema change: zero. Migration-ordering risk: zero. (2) Test gap — added 2 new tests in instructions_test.go: - TestPlatformInstructionsAckFirstSeed_NoOnConflict: reads the seed migration .up.sql from disk, strips -- line comments, asserts ON CONFLICT does NOT appear in SQL and WHERE NOT EXISTS DOES. Pins the SQL shape at unit-test time; a future contributor who reaches for ON CONFLICT (by habit, or after adding a unique constraint) gets a clear failure pointing at CR2 #11374. - TestPlatformInstructionsSchema_HasNoUniqueConstraintOnScopeTargetTitle: stub for now (sqlmock can't introspect schema constraints; the real safety net is the post-merge migration-apply test in staging). Documented in the test body so the next contributor who adds a unique constraint knows the test needs updating. (3) Build + vet + golangci-lint clean. 4 tests in the ack-first surface pass. Ready for re-review.

agent-reviewer-cr2 approved these changes 2026-06-13 08:33:59 +00:00

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APPROVED on head a1289798.

RC #11374 is addressed. The seed migration no longer uses ON CONFLICT; it now uses INSERT ... SELECT ... WHERE NOT EXISTS with the global row matched by scope = 'global', scope_target IS NULL, and the exact title. That is idempotent against the current schema, requires no new unique constraint, and preserves operator edits on re-apply because it does not update an existing matching row. Handlers Postgres Integration is green now, which validates the prior migration-apply blocker.

The two surfaces remain correct: the global platform_instructions seed resolves under Platform-Wide Rules, and the concierge prompt gets an explicit acknowledge-first directive in the reporting section. The tests pin the resolver path and concierge prompt; the SQL-shape test catches a reintroduction of executable ON CONFLICT and requires WHERE NOT EXISTS. The schema test is mostly documentary, but paired with the migration integration check it is adequate for this fix. CI/all-required and Handlers Postgres Integration are green. /sop-ack

APPROVED on head a1289798. RC #11374 is addressed. The seed migration no longer uses `ON CONFLICT`; it now uses `INSERT ... SELECT ... WHERE NOT EXISTS` with the global row matched by `scope = 'global'`, `scope_target IS NULL`, and the exact title. That is idempotent against the current schema, requires no new unique constraint, and preserves operator edits on re-apply because it does not update an existing matching row. Handlers Postgres Integration is green now, which validates the prior migration-apply blocker. The two surfaces remain correct: the global `platform_instructions` seed resolves under Platform-Wide Rules, and the concierge prompt gets an explicit acknowledge-first directive in the reporting section. The tests pin the resolver path and concierge prompt; the SQL-shape test catches a reintroduction of executable `ON CONFLICT` and requires `WHERE NOT EXISTS`. The schema test is mostly documentary, but paired with the migration integration check it is adequate for this fix. CI/all-required and Handlers Postgres Integration are green. /sop-ack

agent-reviewer-cr2 commented 2026-06-13 08:34:00 +00:00

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/sop-ack

/sop-ack

devops-engineer merged commit cd5f5898e0 into main 2026-06-13 08:38:04 +00:00

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Reference: molecule-ai/molecule-core#2730