fix: improve matrix direct room resolution (#1436) (thanks @sibbl)

Adds support for separate replyToMode settings for DMs vs channels:

- Add channels.slack.dm.replyToMode for DM-specific threading
- Keep channels.slack.replyToMode as default for channels
- Add resolveSlackReplyToMode helper to centralize logic
- Pass chatType through threading resolution chain

Usage:
```json5
{
  channels: {
    slack: {
      replyToMode: "off",     // channels
      dm: {
        replyToMode: "all"    // DMs always thread
      }
    }
  }
}
```

When dm.replyToMode is set, DMs use that mode; channels use the
top-level replyToMode. Backward compatible when not configured.

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -9,11 +9,12 @@ Docs: https://docs.clawd.bot
 - Lobster: allow workflow file args via `argsJson` in the plugin tool. https://docs.clawd.bot/tools/lobster
 - Agents: add identity avatar config support and Control UI avatar rendering. (#1329, #1424) Thanks @dlauer.
 - Memory: prevent CLI hangs by deferring vector probes, adding sqlite-vec/embedding timeouts, and showing sync progress early.
-- BlueBubbles: add `asVoice` support for MP3/CAF voice memos in sendAttachment. (#1477) Thanks @Nicell.
+- BlueBubbles: add `asVoice` support for MP3/CAF voice memos in sendAttachment. (#1477, #1482) Thanks @Nicell.
 - Docs: add troubleshooting entry for gateway.mode blocking gateway start. https://docs.clawd.bot/gateway/troubleshooting
 - Docs: add /model allowlist troubleshooting note. (#1405)
 - Docs: add per-message Gmail search example for gog. (#1220) Thanks @mbelinky.
 - UI: show per-session assistant identity in the Control UI. (#1420) Thanks @robbyczgw-cla.
+- Onboarding: add hatch choice (TUI/Web/Later), token explainer, background dashboard seed on macOS, and showcase link.
 - Onboarding: remove the run setup-token auth option (paste setup-token or reuse CLI creds instead).
 - Signal: add typing indicators and DM read receipts via signal-cli.
 - MSTeams: add file uploads, adaptive cards, and attachment handling improvements. (#1410) Thanks @Evizero.
@@ -32,12 +33,15 @@ Docs: https://docs.clawd.bot
 - Agents: make OpenAI sessions image-sanitize-only; gate tool-id/repair sanitization by provider.
 - Doctor: honor CLAWDBOT_GATEWAY_TOKEN for auth checks and security audit token reuse. (#1448) Thanks @azade-c.
 - Agents: make tool summaries more readable and only show optional params when set.
+- Agents: honor SOUL.md guidance even when the file is nested or path-qualified. (#1434) Thanks @neooriginal.
+- Matrix (plugin): persist m.direct for resolved DMs and harden room fallback. (#1436) Thanks @sibbl.
 - CLI: prefer `~` for home paths in output.
 - Mattermost (plugin): enforce pairing/allowlist gating, keep @username targets, and clarify plugin-only docs. (#1428) Thanks @damoahdominic.
 - Agents: centralize transcript sanitization in the runner; keep <final> tags and error turns intact.
 - Auth: skip auth profiles in cooldown during initial selection and rotation. (#1316) Thanks @odrobnik.
 - Agents/TUI: honor user-pinned auth profiles during cooldown and preserve search picker ranking. (#1432) Thanks @tobiasbischoff.
 - Docs: fix gog auth services example to include docs scope. (#1454) Thanks @zerone0x.
+- Slack: read thread replies for message reads when threadId is provided (replies-only). (#1450) Thanks @rodrigouroz.
 - macOS: prefer linked channels in gateway summary to avoid false “not linked” status.
 - Providers: improve GitHub Copilot integration (enterprise support, base URL, and auth flow alignment).
 

docs/channels/slack.md

@@ -304,7 +304,8 @@ Slack uses Socket Mode only (no HTTP webhook server). Provide both tokens:
       "policy": "pairing",
       "allowFrom": ["U123", "U456", "*"],
       "groupEnabled": false,
-      "groupChannels": ["G123"]
+      "groupChannels": ["G123"],
+      "replyToMode": "all"
     },
     "channels": {
       "C123": { "allow": true, "requireMention": true },
@@ -361,6 +362,24 @@ By default, Clawdbot replies in the main channel. Use `channels.slack.replyToMod
 
 The mode applies to both auto-replies and agent tool calls (`slack sendMessage`).
 
+### DM-specific threading
+You can configure different threading behavior for DMs vs channels by setting `channels.slack.dm.replyToMode`:
+
+```json5
+{
+  channels: {
+    slack: {
+      replyToMode: "off",        // default for channels
+      dm: {
+        replyToMode: "all"       // DMs always thread
+      }
+    }
+  }
+}
+```
+
+When `dm.replyToMode` is set, DMs use that mode; channels use the top-level `replyToMode`. If `dm.replyToMode` is not set, both DMs and channels use the top-level setting.
+
 ### Manual threading tags
 For fine-grained control, use these tags in agent responses:
 - `[[reply_to_current]]` — reply to the triggering message (start/continue thread).

extensions/matrix/src/matrix/client/config.ts

@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ export async function resolveMatrixAuth(params?: {
     saveMatrixCredentials,
     credentialsMatchConfig,
     touchMatrixCredentials,
-  } = await import("./credentials.js");
+  } = await import("../credentials.js");
 
   const cached = loadMatrixCredentials(env);
   const cachedCredentials =

extensions/matrix/src/matrix/send/targets.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,102 @@
+import { beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
+
+import type { MatrixClient } from "matrix-bot-sdk";
+import { EventType } from "./types.js";
+
+let resolveMatrixRoomId: typeof import("./targets.js").resolveMatrixRoomId;
+let normalizeThreadId: typeof import("./targets.js").normalizeThreadId;
+
+beforeEach(async () => {
+  vi.resetModules();
+  ({ resolveMatrixRoomId, normalizeThreadId } = await import("./targets.js"));
+});
+
+describe("resolveMatrixRoomId", () => {
+  it("uses m.direct when available", async () => {
+    const userId = "@user:example.org";
+    const client = {
+      getAccountData: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({
+        [userId]: ["!room:example.org"],
+      }),
+      getJoinedRooms: vi.fn(),
+      getJoinedRoomMembers: vi.fn(),
+      setAccountData: vi.fn(),
+    } as unknown as MatrixClient;
+
+    const roomId = await resolveMatrixRoomId(client, userId);
+
+    expect(roomId).toBe("!room:example.org");
+    expect(client.getJoinedRooms).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(client.setAccountData).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  it("falls back to joined rooms and persists m.direct", async () => {
+    const userId = "@fallback:example.org";
+    const roomId = "!room:example.org";
+    const setAccountData = vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(undefined);
+    const client = {
+      getAccountData: vi.fn().mockRejectedValue(new Error("nope")),
+      getJoinedRooms: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue([roomId]),
+      getJoinedRoomMembers: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue([
+        "@bot:example.org",
+        userId,
+      ]),
+      setAccountData,
+    } as unknown as MatrixClient;
+
+    const resolved = await resolveMatrixRoomId(client, userId);
+
+    expect(resolved).toBe(roomId);
+    expect(setAccountData).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      EventType.Direct,
+      expect.objectContaining({ [userId]: [roomId] }),
+    );
+  });
+
+  it("continues when a room member lookup fails", async () => {
+    const userId = "@continue:example.org";
+    const roomId = "!good:example.org";
+    const setAccountData = vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(undefined);
+    const getJoinedRoomMembers = vi
+      .fn()
+      .mockRejectedValueOnce(new Error("boom"))
+      .mockResolvedValueOnce(["@bot:example.org", userId]);
+    const client = {
+      getAccountData: vi.fn().mockRejectedValue(new Error("nope")),
+      getJoinedRooms: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(["!bad:example.org", roomId]),
+      getJoinedRoomMembers,
+      setAccountData,
+    } as unknown as MatrixClient;
+
+    const resolved = await resolveMatrixRoomId(client, userId);
+
+    expect(resolved).toBe(roomId);
+    expect(setAccountData).toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  it("allows larger rooms when no 1:1 match exists", async () => {
+    const userId = "@group:example.org";
+    const roomId = "!group:example.org";
+    const client = {
+      getAccountData: vi.fn().mockRejectedValue(new Error("nope")),
+      getJoinedRooms: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue([roomId]),
+      getJoinedRoomMembers: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue([
+        "@bot:example.org",
+        userId,
+        "@extra:example.org",
+      ]),
+      setAccountData: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(undefined),
+    } as unknown as MatrixClient;
+
+    const resolved = await resolveMatrixRoomId(client, userId);
+
+    expect(resolved).toBe(roomId);
+  });
+});
+
+describe("normalizeThreadId", () => {
+  it("returns null for empty thread ids", () => {
+    expect(normalizeThreadId("   ")).toBeNull();
+    expect(normalizeThreadId("$thread")).toBe("$thread");
+  });
+});

extensions/matrix/src/matrix/send/targets.ts

@@ -16,22 +16,100 @@ export function normalizeThreadId(raw?: string | number | null): string | null {
   return trimmed ? trimmed : null;
 }
 
-async function resolveDirectRoomId(client: MatrixClient, userId: string): Promise<string> {
+const directRoomCache = new Map<string, string>();
+
+async function persistDirectRoom(
+  client: MatrixClient,
+  userId: string,
+  roomId: string,
+): Promise<void> {
+  let directContent: MatrixDirectAccountData | null = null;
+  try {
+    directContent = (await client.getAccountData(
+      EventType.Direct,
+    )) as MatrixDirectAccountData | null;
+  } catch {
+    // Ignore fetch errors and fall back to an empty map.
+  }
+  const existing =
+    directContent && !Array.isArray(directContent) ? directContent : {};
+  const current = Array.isArray(existing[userId]) ? existing[userId] : [];
+  if (current[0] === roomId) return;
+  const next = [roomId, ...current.filter((id) => id !== roomId)];
+  try {
+    await client.setAccountData(EventType.Direct, {
+      ...existing,
+      [userId]: next,
+    });
+  } catch {
+    // Ignore persistence errors.
+  }
+}
+
+async function resolveDirectRoomId(
+  client: MatrixClient,
+  userId: string,
+): Promise<string> {
   const trimmed = userId.trim();
   if (!trimmed.startsWith("@")) {
-    throw new Error(`Matrix user IDs must be fully qualified (got "${trimmed}")`);
+    throw new Error(
+      `Matrix user IDs must be fully qualified (got "${trimmed}")`,
+    );
   }
-  // matrix-bot-sdk: use getAccountData to retrieve m.direct
+
+  const cached = directRoomCache.get(trimmed);
+  if (cached) return cached;
+
+  // 1) Fast path: use account data (m.direct) for *this* logged-in user (the bot).
   try {
-    const directContent = await client.getAccountData(EventType.Direct) as MatrixDirectAccountData | null;
-    const list = Array.isArray(directContent?.[trimmed]) ? directContent[trimmed] : [];
-    if (list.length > 0) return list[0];
+    const directContent = (await client.getAccountData(
+      EventType.Direct,
+    )) as MatrixDirectAccountData | null;
+    const list = Array.isArray(directContent?.[trimmed])
+      ? directContent[trimmed]
+      : [];
+    if (list.length > 0) {
+      directRoomCache.set(trimmed, list[0]);
+      return list[0];
+    }
   } catch {
-    // Ignore errors, try fetching from server
+    // Ignore and fall back.
   }
-  throw new Error(
-    `No m.direct room found for ${trimmed}. Open a DM first so Matrix can set m.direct.`,
-  );
+
+  // 2) Fallback: look for an existing joined room that looks like a 1:1 with the user.
+  // Many clients only maintain m.direct for *their own* account data, so relying on it is brittle.
+  let fallbackRoom: string | null = null;
+  try {
+    const rooms = await client.getJoinedRooms();
+    for (const roomId of rooms) {
+      let members: string[];
+      try {
+        members = await client.getJoinedRoomMembers(roomId);
+      } catch {
+        continue;
+      }
+      if (!members.includes(trimmed)) continue;
+      // Prefer classic 1:1 rooms, but allow larger rooms if requested.
+      if (members.length === 2) {
+        directRoomCache.set(trimmed, roomId);
+        await persistDirectRoom(client, trimmed, roomId);
+        return roomId;
+      }
+      if (!fallbackRoom) {
+        fallbackRoom = roomId;
+      }
+    }
+  } catch {
+    // Ignore and fall back.
+  }
+
+  if (fallbackRoom) {
+    directRoomCache.set(trimmed, fallbackRoom);
+    await persistDirectRoom(client, trimmed, fallbackRoom);
+    return fallbackRoom;
+  }
+
+  throw new Error(`No direct room found for ${trimmed} (m.direct missing)`);
 }
 
 export async function resolveMatrixRoomId(

extensions/slack/src/channel.ts

@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ import {
   readStringParam,
   resolveDefaultSlackAccountId,
   resolveSlackAccount,
+  resolveSlackReplyToMode,
   resolveSlackGroupRequireMention,
   buildSlackThreadingToolContext,
   setAccountEnabledInConfigSection,
@@ -162,8 +163,8 @@ export const slackPlugin: ChannelPlugin<ResolvedSlackAccount> = {
     resolveRequireMention: resolveSlackGroupRequireMention,
   },
   threading: {
-    resolveReplyToMode: ({ cfg, accountId }) =>
-      resolveSlackAccount({ cfg, accountId }).replyToMode ?? "off",
+    resolveReplyToMode: ({ cfg, accountId, chatType }) =>
+      resolveSlackReplyToMode(resolveSlackAccount({ cfg, accountId }), chatType),
     allowTagsWhenOff: true,
     buildToolContext: (params) => buildSlackThreadingToolContext(params),
   },

scripts/e2e/onboard-docker.sh

@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ TRASH
     local needle="$1"
     local timeout_s="${2:-45}"
     local needle_compact
-    needle_compact="$(printf "%s" "$needle" | sed -E "s/[[:space:]]+//g")"
+    needle_compact="$(printf "%s" "$needle" | tr -cd "[:alnum:]")"
     local start_s
     start_s="$(date +%s)"
     while true; do
@@ -61,17 +61,12 @@ TRASH
           let text = \"\";
           try { text = fs.readFileSync(file, \"utf8\"); } catch { process.exit(1); }
           if (text.length > 20000) text = text.slice(-20000);
-          const sanitize = (value) => value.replace(/[\\x00-\\x1f\\x7f]/g, \"\");
-          const haystack = sanitize(text);
-          const safeNeedle = sanitize(needle);
-          const needsEscape = new Set([\"\\\\\", \"^\", \"$\", \".\", \"*\", \"+\", \"?\", \"(\", \")\", \"[\", \"]\", \"{\", \"}\", \"|\"]);
-          let escaped = \"\";
-          for (const ch of safeNeedle) {
-            escaped += needsEscape.has(ch) ? \"\\\\\" + ch : ch;
-          }
-          const pattern = escaped.split(\"\").join(\".*\");
-          const re = new RegExp(pattern, \"i\");
-          process.exit(re.test(haystack) ? 0 : 1);
+          const stripAnsi = (value) => value.replace(/\\x1b\\[[0-9;]*[A-Za-z]/g, \"\");
+          const compact = (value) => stripAnsi(value).toLowerCase().replace(/[^a-z0-9]+/g, \"\");
+          const haystack = compact(text);
+          const compactNeedle = compact(needle);
+          if (!compactNeedle) process.exit(1);
+          process.exit(haystack.includes(compactNeedle) ? 0 : 1);
         "; then
           return 0
         fi
@@ -260,9 +255,11 @@ TRASH
 
   send_skills_flow() {
     # Select skills section and skip optional installs.
-    send $'"'"'\r'"'"' 1.2
+    wait_for_log "Where will the Gateway run?" 60 || true
+    send $'"'"'\r'"'"' 0.6
     # Configure skills now? -> No
-    send $'"'"'n\r'"'"' 1.5
+    wait_for_log "Configure skills now?" 60 || true
+    send $'"'"'n\r'"'"' 0.8
     send "" 1.0
   }
 

scripts/run-node.mjs

@@ -115,7 +115,11 @@ if (!shouldBuild()) {
   runNode();
 } else {
   logRunner("Building TypeScript (dist is stale).");
-  const build = spawn("pnpm", ["exec", compiler, ...projectArgs], {
+  const pnpmArgs = ["exec", compiler, ...projectArgs];
+  const buildCmd = process.platform === "win32" ? "cmd.exe" : "pnpm";
+  const buildArgs =
+    process.platform === "win32" ? ["/d", "/s", "/c", "pnpm", ...pnpmArgs] : pnpmArgs;
+  const build = spawn(buildCmd, buildArgs, {
     cwd,
     env,
     stdio: "inherit",

src/agents/system-prompt.test.ts

@@ -237,6 +237,20 @@ describe("buildAgentSystemPrompt", () => {
     expect(prompt).toContain("Bravo");
   });
 
+  it("adds SOUL guidance when a soul file is present", () => {
+    const prompt = buildAgentSystemPrompt({
+      workspaceDir: "/tmp/clawd",
+      contextFiles: [
+        { path: "./SOUL.md", content: "Persona" },
+        { path: "dir\\SOUL.md", content: "Persona Windows" },
+      ],
+    });
+
+    expect(prompt).toContain(
+      "If SOUL.md is present, embody its persona and tone. Avoid stiff, generic replies; follow its guidance unless higher-priority instructions override it.",
+    );
+  });
+
   it("summarizes the message tool when available", () => {
     const prompt = buildAgentSystemPrompt({
       workspaceDir: "/tmp/clawd",

src/agents/system-prompt.ts

@@ -517,12 +517,18 @@ export function buildAgentSystemPrompt(params: {
 
   const contextFiles = params.contextFiles ?? [];
   if (contextFiles.length > 0) {
-    lines.push(
-      "# Project Context",
-      "",
-      "The following project context files have been loaded:",
-      "",
-    );
+    const hasSoulFile = contextFiles.some((file) => {
+      const normalizedPath = file.path.trim().replace(/\\/g, "/");
+      const baseName = normalizedPath.split("/").pop() ?? normalizedPath;
+      return baseName.toLowerCase() === "soul.md";
+    });
+    lines.push("# Project Context", "", "The following project context files have been loaded:");
+    if (hasSoulFile) {
+      lines.push(
+        "If SOUL.md is present, embody its persona and tone. Avoid stiff, generic replies; follow its guidance unless higher-priority instructions override it.",
+      );
+    }
+    lines.push("");
     for (const file of contextFiles) {
       lines.push(`## ${file.path}`, "", file.content, "");
     }

src/agents/tools/slack-actions.test.ts

@@ -357,6 +357,20 @@ describe("handleSlackAction", () => {
     expect(payload.messages[0].timestampUtc).toBe(new Date(expectedMs).toISOString());
   });
 
+  it("passes threadId through to readSlackMessages", async () => {
+    const cfg = { channels: { slack: { botToken: "tok" } } } as ClawdbotConfig;
+    readSlackMessages.mockClear();
+    readSlackMessages.mockResolvedValueOnce({ messages: [], hasMore: false });
+
+    await handleSlackAction(
+      { action: "readMessages", channelId: "C1", threadId: "12345.6789" },
+      cfg,
+    );
+
+    const [, opts] = readSlackMessages.mock.calls[0] ?? [];
+    expect(opts?.threadId).toBe("12345.6789");
+  });
+
   it("adds normalized timestamps to pin payloads", async () => {
     const cfg = { channels: { slack: { botToken: "tok" } } } as ClawdbotConfig;
     listSlackPins.mockResolvedValueOnce([

src/agents/tools/slack-actions.ts

@@ -214,11 +214,13 @@ export async function handleSlackAction(
           typeof limitRaw === "number" && Number.isFinite(limitRaw) ? limitRaw : undefined;
         const before = readStringParam(params, "before");
         const after = readStringParam(params, "after");
+        const threadId = readStringParam(params, "threadId");
         const result = await readSlackMessages(channelId, {
           ...readOpts,
           limit,
           before: before ?? undefined,
           after: after ?? undefined,
+          threadId: threadId ?? undefined,
         });
         const messages = result.messages.map((message) =>
           withNormalizedTimestamp(

src/auto-reply/reply/agent-runner.ts

@@ -136,6 +136,7 @@ export async function runReplyAgent(params: {
     followupRun.run.config,
     replyToChannel,
     sessionCtx.AccountId,
+    sessionCtx.ChatType,
   );
   const applyReplyToMode = createReplyToModeFilterForChannel(replyToMode, replyToChannel);
   const cfg = followupRun.run.config;

src/auto-reply/reply/followup-runner.ts

@@ -204,6 +204,7 @@ export function createFollowupRunner(params: {
         queued.run.config,
         replyToChannel,
         queued.originatingAccountId,
+        queued.originatingChatType,
       );
 
       const replyTaggedPayloads: ReplyPayload[] = applyReplyThreading({

src/auto-reply/reply/get-reply-run.ts

@@ -358,6 +358,7 @@ export async function runPreparedReply(
     originatingTo: ctx.OriginatingTo,
     originatingAccountId: ctx.AccountId,
     originatingThreadId: ctx.MessageThreadId,
+    originatingChatType: ctx.ChatType,
     run: {
       agentId,
       agentDir,

src/auto-reply/reply/queue/types.ts

@@ -39,6 +39,8 @@ export type FollowupRun = {
   originatingAccountId?: string;
   /** Thread id for reply routing (Telegram topic id or Matrix thread event id). */
   originatingThreadId?: string | number;
+  /** Chat type for context-aware threading (e.g., DM vs channel). */
+  originatingChatType?: string;
   run: {
     agentId: string;
     agentDir: string;

src/auto-reply/reply/reply-threading.test.ts

@@ -31,6 +31,33 @@ describe("resolveReplyToMode", () => {
     expect(resolveReplyToMode(cfg, "discord")).toBe("first");
     expect(resolveReplyToMode(cfg, "slack")).toBe("all");
   });
+
+  it("uses dm-specific replyToMode for Slack DMs when configured", () => {
+    const cfg = {
+      channels: {
+        slack: {
+          replyToMode: "off",
+          dm: { replyToMode: "all" },
+        },
+      },
+    } as ClawdbotConfig;
+    expect(resolveReplyToMode(cfg, "slack", null, "direct")).toBe("all");
+    expect(resolveReplyToMode(cfg, "slack", null, "channel")).toBe("off");
+    expect(resolveReplyToMode(cfg, "slack", null, undefined)).toBe("off");
+  });
+
+  it("falls back to top-level replyToMode when dm.replyToMode is not configured", () => {
+    const cfg = {
+      channels: {
+        slack: {
+          replyToMode: "first",
+          dm: { enabled: true },
+        },
+      },
+    } as ClawdbotConfig;
+    expect(resolveReplyToMode(cfg, "slack", null, "direct")).toBe("first");
+    expect(resolveReplyToMode(cfg, "slack", null, "channel")).toBe("first");
+  });
 });
 
 describe("createReplyToModeFilter", () => {

src/auto-reply/reply/reply-threading.ts

@@ -9,12 +9,14 @@ export function resolveReplyToMode(
   cfg: ClawdbotConfig,
   channel?: OriginatingChannelType,
   accountId?: string | null,
+  chatType?: string | null,
 ): ReplyToMode {
   const provider = normalizeChannelId(channel);
   if (!provider) return "all";
   const resolved = getChannelDock(provider)?.threading?.resolveReplyToMode?.({
     cfg,
     accountId,
+    chatType,
   });
   return resolved ?? "all";
 }

src/channels/dock.ts

@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ import type { ClawdbotConfig } from "../config/config.js";
 import { resolveDiscordAccount } from "../discord/accounts.js";
 import { resolveIMessageAccount } from "../imessage/accounts.js";
 import { resolveSignalAccount } from "../signal/accounts.js";
-import { resolveSlackAccount } from "../slack/accounts.js";
+import { resolveSlackAccount, resolveSlackReplyToMode } from "../slack/accounts.js";
 import { buildSlackThreadingToolContext } from "../slack/threading-tool-context.js";
 import { resolveTelegramAccount } from "../telegram/accounts.js";
 import { normalizeE164 } from "../utils.js";
@@ -224,8 +224,8 @@ const DOCKS: Record<ChatChannelId, ChannelDock> = {
       resolveRequireMention: resolveSlackGroupRequireMention,
     },
     threading: {
-      resolveReplyToMode: ({ cfg, accountId }) =>
-        resolveSlackAccount({ cfg, accountId }).replyToMode ?? "off",
+      resolveReplyToMode: ({ cfg, accountId, chatType }) =>
+        resolveSlackReplyToMode(resolveSlackAccount({ cfg, accountId }), chatType),
       allowTagsWhenOff: true,
       buildToolContext: (params) => buildSlackThreadingToolContext(params),
     },

src/channels/plugins/slack.actions.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+import { describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
+
+import type { ClawdbotConfig } from "../../config/config.js";
+import { createSlackActions } from "./slack.actions.js";
+
+const handleSlackAction = vi.fn(async () => ({ details: { ok: true } }));
+
+vi.mock("../../agents/tools/slack-actions.js", () => ({
+  handleSlackAction: (...args: unknown[]) => handleSlackAction(...args),
+}));
+
+describe("slack actions adapter", () => {
+  it("forwards threadId for read", async () => {
+    const cfg = { channels: { slack: { botToken: "tok" } } } as ClawdbotConfig;
+    const actions = createSlackActions("slack");
+
+    await actions.handleAction?.({
+      channel: "slack",
+      action: "read",
+      cfg,
+      params: {
+        channelId: "C1",
+        threadId: "171234.567",
+      },
+    });
+
+    const [params] = handleSlackAction.mock.calls[0] ?? [];
+    expect(params).toMatchObject({
+      action: "readMessages",
+      channelId: "C1",
+      threadId: "171234.567",
+    });
+  });
+});

src/channels/plugins/slack.actions.ts

@@ -133,6 +133,7 @@ export function createSlackActions(providerId: string): ChannelMessageActionAdap
             limit,
             before: readStringParam(params, "before"),
             after: readStringParam(params, "after"),
+            threadId: readStringParam(params, "threadId"),
             accountId: accountId ?? undefined,
           },
           cfg,

src/channels/plugins/types.core.ts

@@ -198,6 +198,7 @@ export type ChannelThreadingAdapter = {
   resolveReplyToMode?: (params: {
     cfg: ClawdbotConfig;
     accountId?: string | null;
+    chatType?: string | null;
   }) => "off" | "first" | "all";
   allowTagsWhenOff?: boolean;
   buildToolContext?: (params: {

src/cli/argv.ts

@@ -94,9 +94,13 @@ export function buildParseArgv(params: {
       : baseArgv[0]?.endsWith("clawdbot")
         ? baseArgv.slice(1)
         : baseArgv;
-  const executable = normalizedArgv[0]?.split(/[/\\]/).pop() ?? "";
+  const executable = (normalizedArgv[0]?.split(/[/\\]/).pop() ?? "").toLowerCase();
   const looksLikeNode =
-    normalizedArgv.length >= 2 && (executable === "node" || executable === "bun");
+    normalizedArgv.length >= 2 &&
+    (executable === "node" ||
+      executable === "node.exe" ||
+      executable === "bun" ||
+      executable === "bun.exe");
   if (looksLikeNode) return normalizedArgv;
   return ["node", programName || "clawdbot", ...normalizedArgv];
 }

src/commands/onboard-helpers.ts

@@ -217,6 +217,19 @@ export async function openUrl(url: string): Promise<boolean> {
   }
 }
 
+export async function openUrlInBackground(url: string): Promise<boolean> {
+  if (process.platform !== "darwin") return false;
+  const resolved = await resolveBrowserOpenCommand();
+  if (!resolved.argv || resolved.command !== "open") return false;
+  const command = ["open", "-g", url];
+  try {
+    await runCommandWithTimeout(command, { timeoutMs: 5_000 });
+    return true;
+  } catch {
+    return false;
+  }
+}
+
 export async function ensureWorkspaceAndSessions(
   workspaceDir: string,
   runtime: RuntimeEnv,

src/config/types.slack.ts

@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@ export type SlackDmConfig = {
   groupEnabled?: boolean;
   /** Optional allowlist for group DM channels (ids or slugs). */
   groupChannels?: Array<string | number>;
+  /** Control reply threading for DMs (off|first|all). Overrides top-level replyToMode for DMs. */
+  replyToMode?: ReplyToMode;
 };
 
 export type SlackChannelConfig = {

src/gateway/openai-http.e2e.test.ts

@@ -49,469 +49,372 @@ function parseSseDataLines(text: string): string[] {
 }
 
 describe("OpenAI-compatible HTTP API (e2e)", () => {
-  it("is disabled by default (requires config)", { timeout: 120_000 }, async () => {
-    const port = await getFreePort();
-    const server = await startServerWithDefaultConfig(port);
-    try {
-      const res = await postChatCompletions(port, {
-        model: "clawdbot",
-        messages: [{ role: "user", content: "hi" }],
+  it("rejects when disabled (default + config)", { timeout: 120_000 }, async () => {
+    {
+      const port = await getFreePort();
+      const server = await startServerWithDefaultConfig(port);
+      try {
+        const res = await postChatCompletions(port, {
+          model: "clawdbot",
+          messages: [{ role: "user", content: "hi" }],
+        });
+        expect(res.status).toBe(404);
+      } finally {
+        await server.close({ reason: "test done" });
+      }
+    }
+
+    {
+      const port = await getFreePort();
+      const server = await startServer(port, {
+        openAiChatCompletionsEnabled: false,
       });
-      expect(res.status).toBe(404);
-    } finally {
-      await server.close({ reason: "test done" });
+      try {
+        const res = await postChatCompletions(port, {
+          model: "clawdbot",
+          messages: [{ role: "user", content: "hi" }],
+        });
+        expect(res.status).toBe(404);
+      } finally {
+        await server.close({ reason: "test done" });
+      }
     }
   });
 
-  it("can be disabled via config (404)", async () => {
-    const port = await getFreePort();
-    const server = await startServer(port, {
-      openAiChatCompletionsEnabled: false,
-    });
-    try {
-      const res = await postChatCompletions(port, {
-        model: "clawdbot",
-        messages: [{ role: "user", content: "hi" }],
-      });
-      expect(res.status).toBe(404);
-    } finally {
-      await server.close({ reason: "test done" });
-    }
-  });
-
-  it("rejects non-POST", async () => {
+  it("handles request validation and routing", async () => {
     const port = await getFreePort();
     const server = await startServer(port);
+    const mockAgentOnce = (payloads: Array<{ text: string }>) => {
+      agentCommand.mockReset();
+      agentCommand.mockResolvedValueOnce({ payloads } as never);
+    };
+
     try {
-      const res = await fetch(`http://127.0.0.1:${port}/v1/chat/completions`, {
-        method: "GET",
-        headers: { authorization: "Bearer secret" },
-      });
-      expect(res.status).toBe(405);
-    } finally {
-      await server.close({ reason: "test done" });
-    }
-  });
+      {
+        const res = await fetch(`http://127.0.0.1:${port}/v1/chat/completions`, {
+          method: "GET",
+          headers: { authorization: "Bearer secret" },
+        });
+        expect(res.status).toBe(405);
+        await res.text();
+      }
 
-  it("rejects missing auth", async () => {
-    const port = await getFreePort();
-    const server = await startServer(port);
-    try {
-      const res = await fetch(`http://127.0.0.1:${port}/v1/chat/completions`, {
-        method: "POST",
-        headers: { "content-type": "application/json" },
-        body: JSON.stringify({ messages: [{ role: "user", content: "hi" }] }),
-      });
-      expect(res.status).toBe(401);
-    } finally {
-      await server.close({ reason: "test done" });
-    }
-  });
+      {
+        const res = await fetch(`http://127.0.0.1:${port}/v1/chat/completions`, {
+          method: "POST",
+          headers: { "content-type": "application/json" },
+          body: JSON.stringify({ messages: [{ role: "user", content: "hi" }] }),
+        });
+        expect(res.status).toBe(401);
+        await res.text();
+      }
 
-  it("routes to a specific agent via header", async () => {
-    agentCommand.mockResolvedValueOnce({
-      payloads: [{ text: "hello" }],
-    } as never);
+      {
+        mockAgentOnce([{ text: "hello" }]);
+        const res = await postChatCompletions(
+          port,
+          { model: "clawdbot", messages: [{ role: "user", content: "hi" }] },
+          { "x-clawdbot-agent-id": "beta" },
+        );
+        expect(res.status).toBe(200);
 
-    const port = await getFreePort();
-    const server = await startServer(port);
-    try {
-      const res = await postChatCompletions(
-        port,
-        { model: "clawdbot", messages: [{ role: "user", content: "hi" }] },
-        { "x-clawdbot-agent-id": "beta" },
-      );
-      expect(res.status).toBe(200);
+        expect(agentCommand).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+        const [opts] = agentCommand.mock.calls[0] ?? [];
+        expect((opts as { sessionKey?: string } | undefined)?.sessionKey ?? "").toMatch(
+          /^agent:beta:/,
+        );
+        await res.text();
+      }
 
-      expect(agentCommand).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
-      const [opts] = agentCommand.mock.calls[0] ?? [];
-      expect((opts as { sessionKey?: string } | undefined)?.sessionKey ?? "").toMatch(
-        /^agent:beta:/,
-      );
-    } finally {
-      await server.close({ reason: "test done" });
-    }
-  });
-
-  it("routes to a specific agent via model (no custom headers)", async () => {
-    agentCommand.mockResolvedValueOnce({
-      payloads: [{ text: "hello" }],
-    } as never);
-
-    const port = await getFreePort();
-    const server = await startServer(port);
-    try {
-      const res = await postChatCompletions(port, {
-        model: "clawdbot:beta",
-        messages: [{ role: "user", content: "hi" }],
-      });
-      expect(res.status).toBe(200);
-
-      expect(agentCommand).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
-      const [opts] = agentCommand.mock.calls[0] ?? [];
-      expect((opts as { sessionKey?: string } | undefined)?.sessionKey ?? "").toMatch(
-        /^agent:beta:/,
-      );
-    } finally {
-      await server.close({ reason: "test done" });
-    }
-  });
-
-  it("prefers explicit header agent over model agent", async () => {
-    agentCommand.mockResolvedValueOnce({
-      payloads: [{ text: "hello" }],
-    } as never);
-
-    const port = await getFreePort();
-    const server = await startServer(port);
-    try {
-      const res = await postChatCompletions(
-        port,
-        {
+      {
+        mockAgentOnce([{ text: "hello" }]);
+        const res = await postChatCompletions(port, {
           model: "clawdbot:beta",
           messages: [{ role: "user", content: "hi" }],
-        },
-        { "x-clawdbot-agent-id": "alpha" },
-      );
-      expect(res.status).toBe(200);
+        });
+        expect(res.status).toBe(200);
 
-      expect(agentCommand).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
-      const [opts] = agentCommand.mock.calls[0] ?? [];
-      expect((opts as { sessionKey?: string } | undefined)?.sessionKey ?? "").toMatch(
-        /^agent:alpha:/,
-      );
-    } finally {
-      await server.close({ reason: "test done" });
-    }
-  });
+        expect(agentCommand).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+        const [opts] = agentCommand.mock.calls[0] ?? [];
+        expect((opts as { sessionKey?: string } | undefined)?.sessionKey ?? "").toMatch(
+          /^agent:beta:/,
+        );
+        await res.text();
+      }
 
-  it("honors x-clawdbot-session-key override", async () => {
-    agentCommand.mockResolvedValueOnce({
-      payloads: [{ text: "hello" }],
-    } as never);
-
-    const port = await getFreePort();
-    const server = await startServer(port);
-    try {
-      const res = await postChatCompletions(
-        port,
-        { model: "clawdbot", messages: [{ role: "user", content: "hi" }] },
-        {
-          "x-clawdbot-agent-id": "beta",
-          "x-clawdbot-session-key": "agent:beta:openai:custom",
-        },
-      );
-      expect(res.status).toBe(200);
-
-      const [opts] = agentCommand.mock.calls[0] ?? [];
-      expect((opts as { sessionKey?: string } | undefined)?.sessionKey).toBe(
-        "agent:beta:openai:custom",
-      );
-    } finally {
-      await server.close({ reason: "test done" });
-    }
-  });
-
-  it("uses OpenAI user for a stable session key", async () => {
-    agentCommand.mockResolvedValueOnce({
-      payloads: [{ text: "hello" }],
-    } as never);
-
-    const port = await getFreePort();
-    const server = await startServer(port);
-    try {
-      const res = await postChatCompletions(port, {
-        user: "alice",
-        model: "clawdbot",
-        messages: [{ role: "user", content: "hi" }],
-      });
-      expect(res.status).toBe(200);
-
-      const [opts] = agentCommand.mock.calls[0] ?? [];
-      expect((opts as { sessionKey?: string } | undefined)?.sessionKey ?? "").toContain(
-        "openai-user:alice",
-      );
-    } finally {
-      await server.close({ reason: "test done" });
-    }
-  });
-
-  it("extracts user message text from array content", async () => {
-    agentCommand.mockResolvedValueOnce({
-      payloads: [{ text: "hello" }],
-    } as never);
-
-    const port = await getFreePort();
-    const server = await startServer(port);
-    try {
-      const res = await postChatCompletions(port, {
-        model: "clawdbot",
-        messages: [
+      {
+        mockAgentOnce([{ text: "hello" }]);
+        const res = await postChatCompletions(
+          port,
           {
-            role: "user",
-            content: [
-              { type: "text", text: "hello" },
-              { type: "input_text", text: "world" },
-            ],
+            model: "clawdbot:beta",
+            messages: [{ role: "user", content: "hi" }],
           },
-        ],
-      });
-      expect(res.status).toBe(200);
+          { "x-clawdbot-agent-id": "alpha" },
+        );
+        expect(res.status).toBe(200);
 
-      const [opts] = agentCommand.mock.calls[0] ?? [];
-      expect((opts as { message?: string } | undefined)?.message).toBe("hello\nworld");
+        expect(agentCommand).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+        const [opts] = agentCommand.mock.calls[0] ?? [];
+        expect((opts as { sessionKey?: string } | undefined)?.sessionKey ?? "").toMatch(
+          /^agent:alpha:/,
+        );
+        await res.text();
+      }
+
+      {
+        mockAgentOnce([{ text: "hello" }]);
+        const res = await postChatCompletions(
+          port,
+          { model: "clawdbot", messages: [{ role: "user", content: "hi" }] },
+          {
+            "x-clawdbot-agent-id": "beta",
+            "x-clawdbot-session-key": "agent:beta:openai:custom",
+          },
+        );
+        expect(res.status).toBe(200);
+
+        const [opts] = agentCommand.mock.calls[0] ?? [];
+        expect((opts as { sessionKey?: string } | undefined)?.sessionKey).toBe(
+          "agent:beta:openai:custom",
+        );
+        await res.text();
+      }
+
+      {
+        mockAgentOnce([{ text: "hello" }]);
+        const res = await postChatCompletions(port, {
+          user: "alice",
+          model: "clawdbot",
+          messages: [{ role: "user", content: "hi" }],
+        });
+        expect(res.status).toBe(200);
+
+        const [opts] = agentCommand.mock.calls[0] ?? [];
+        expect((opts as { sessionKey?: string } | undefined)?.sessionKey ?? "").toContain(
+          "openai-user:alice",
+        );
+        await res.text();
+      }
+
+      {
+        mockAgentOnce([{ text: "hello" }]);
+        const res = await postChatCompletions(port, {
+          model: "clawdbot",
+          messages: [
+            {
+              role: "user",
+              content: [
+                { type: "text", text: "hello" },
+                { type: "input_text", text: "world" },
+              ],
+            },
+          ],
+        });
+        expect(res.status).toBe(200);
+
+        const [opts] = agentCommand.mock.calls[0] ?? [];
+        expect((opts as { message?: string } | undefined)?.message).toBe("hello\nworld");
+        await res.text();
+      }
+
+      {
+        mockAgentOnce([{ text: "I am Claude" }]);
+        const res = await postChatCompletions(port, {
+          model: "clawdbot",
+          messages: [
+            { role: "system", content: "You are a helpful assistant." },
+            { role: "user", content: "Hello, who are you?" },
+            { role: "assistant", content: "I am Claude." },
+            { role: "user", content: "What did I just ask you?" },
+          ],
+        });
+        expect(res.status).toBe(200);
+
+        const [opts] = agentCommand.mock.calls[0] ?? [];
+        const message = (opts as { message?: string } | undefined)?.message ?? "";
+        expect(message).toContain(HISTORY_CONTEXT_MARKER);
+        expect(message).toContain("User: Hello, who are you?");
+        expect(message).toContain("Assistant: I am Claude.");
+        expect(message).toContain(CURRENT_MESSAGE_MARKER);
+        expect(message).toContain("User: What did I just ask you?");
+        await res.text();
+      }
+
+      {
+        mockAgentOnce([{ text: "hello" }]);
+        const res = await postChatCompletions(port, {
+          model: "clawdbot",
+          messages: [
+            { role: "system", content: "You are a helpful assistant." },
+            { role: "user", content: "Hello" },
+          ],
+        });
+        expect(res.status).toBe(200);
+
+        const [opts] = agentCommand.mock.calls[0] ?? [];
+        const message = (opts as { message?: string } | undefined)?.message ?? "";
+        expect(message).not.toContain(HISTORY_CONTEXT_MARKER);
+        expect(message).not.toContain(CURRENT_MESSAGE_MARKER);
+        expect(message).toBe("Hello");
+        await res.text();
+      }
+
+      {
+        mockAgentOnce([{ text: "hello" }]);
+        const res = await postChatCompletions(port, {
+          model: "clawdbot",
+          messages: [
+            { role: "developer", content: "You are a helpful assistant." },
+            { role: "user", content: "Hello" },
+          ],
+        });
+        expect(res.status).toBe(200);
+
+        const [opts] = agentCommand.mock.calls[0] ?? [];
+        const extraSystemPrompt =
+          (opts as { extraSystemPrompt?: string } | undefined)?.extraSystemPrompt ?? "";
+        expect(extraSystemPrompt).toBe("You are a helpful assistant.");
+        await res.text();
+      }
+
+      {
+        mockAgentOnce([{ text: "ok" }]);
+        const res = await postChatCompletions(port, {
+          model: "clawdbot",
+          messages: [
+            { role: "system", content: "You are a helpful assistant." },
+            { role: "user", content: "What's the weather?" },
+            { role: "assistant", content: "Checking the weather." },
+            { role: "tool", content: "Sunny, 70F." },
+          ],
+        });
+        expect(res.status).toBe(200);
+
+        const [opts] = agentCommand.mock.calls[0] ?? [];
+        const message = (opts as { message?: string } | undefined)?.message ?? "";
+        expect(message).toContain(HISTORY_CONTEXT_MARKER);
+        expect(message).toContain("User: What's the weather?");
+        expect(message).toContain("Assistant: Checking the weather.");
+        expect(message).toContain(CURRENT_MESSAGE_MARKER);
+        expect(message).toContain("Tool: Sunny, 70F.");
+        await res.text();
+      }
+
+      {
+        mockAgentOnce([{ text: "hello" }]);
+        const res = await postChatCompletions(port, {
+          stream: false,
+          model: "clawdbot",
+          messages: [{ role: "user", content: "hi" }],
+        });
+        expect(res.status).toBe(200);
+        const json = (await res.json()) as Record<string, unknown>;
+        expect(json.object).toBe("chat.completion");
+        expect(Array.isArray(json.choices)).toBe(true);
+        const choice0 = (json.choices as Array<Record<string, unknown>>)[0] ?? {};
+        const msg = (choice0.message as Record<string, unknown> | undefined) ?? {};
+        expect(msg.role).toBe("assistant");
+        expect(msg.content).toBe("hello");
+      }
+
+      {
+        const res = await postChatCompletions(port, {
+          model: "clawdbot",
+          messages: [{ role: "system", content: "yo" }],
+        });
+        expect(res.status).toBe(400);
+        const missingUserJson = (await res.json()) as Record<string, unknown>;
+        expect((missingUserJson.error as Record<string, unknown> | undefined)?.type).toBe(
+          "invalid_request_error",
+        );
+      }
     } finally {
       await server.close({ reason: "test done" });
     }
   });
 
-  it("includes conversation history when multiple messages are provided", async () => {
-    agentCommand.mockResolvedValueOnce({
-      payloads: [{ text: "I am Claude" }],
-    } as never);
-
+  it("streams SSE chunks when stream=true", async () => {
     const port = await getFreePort();
     const server = await startServer(port);
     try {
-      const res = await postChatCompletions(port, {
-        model: "clawdbot",
-        messages: [
-          { role: "system", content: "You are a helpful assistant." },
-          { role: "user", content: "Hello, who are you?" },
-          { role: "assistant", content: "I am Claude." },
-          { role: "user", content: "What did I just ask you?" },
-        ],
-      });
-      expect(res.status).toBe(200);
+      {
+        agentCommand.mockReset();
+        agentCommand.mockImplementationOnce(async (opts: unknown) => {
+          const runId = (opts as { runId?: string } | undefined)?.runId ?? "";
+          emitAgentEvent({ runId, stream: "assistant", data: { delta: "he" } });
+          emitAgentEvent({ runId, stream: "assistant", data: { delta: "llo" } });
+          return { payloads: [{ text: "hello" }] } as never;
+        });
 
-      const [opts] = agentCommand.mock.calls[0] ?? [];
-      const message = (opts as { message?: string } | undefined)?.message ?? "";
-      expect(message).toContain(HISTORY_CONTEXT_MARKER);
-      expect(message).toContain("User: Hello, who are you?");
-      expect(message).toContain("Assistant: I am Claude.");
-      expect(message).toContain(CURRENT_MESSAGE_MARKER);
-      expect(message).toContain("User: What did I just ask you?");
-    } finally {
-      await server.close({ reason: "test done" });
-    }
-  });
+        const res = await postChatCompletions(port, {
+          stream: true,
+          model: "clawdbot",
+          messages: [{ role: "user", content: "hi" }],
+        });
+        expect(res.status).toBe(200);
+        expect(res.headers.get("content-type") ?? "").toContain("text/event-stream");
 
-  it("does not include history markers for single message", async () => {
-    agentCommand.mockResolvedValueOnce({
-      payloads: [{ text: "hello" }],
-    } as never);
+        const text = await res.text();
+        const data = parseSseDataLines(text);
+        expect(data[data.length - 1]).toBe("[DONE]");
 
-    const port = await getFreePort();
-    const server = await startServer(port);
-    try {
-      const res = await postChatCompletions(port, {
-        model: "clawdbot",
-        messages: [
-          { role: "system", content: "You are a helpful assistant." },
-          { role: "user", content: "Hello" },
-        ],
-      });
-      expect(res.status).toBe(200);
+        const jsonChunks = data
+          .filter((d) => d !== "[DONE]")
+          .map((d) => JSON.parse(d) as Record<string, unknown>);
+        expect(jsonChunks.some((c) => c.object === "chat.completion.chunk")).toBe(true);
+        const allContent = jsonChunks
+          .flatMap((c) => (c.choices as Array<Record<string, unknown>> | undefined) ?? [])
+          .map((choice) => (choice.delta as Record<string, unknown> | undefined)?.content)
+          .filter((v): v is string => typeof v === "string")
+          .join("");
+        expect(allContent).toBe("hello");
+      }
 
-      const [opts] = agentCommand.mock.calls[0] ?? [];
-      const message = (opts as { message?: string } | undefined)?.message ?? "";
-      expect(message).not.toContain(HISTORY_CONTEXT_MARKER);
-      expect(message).not.toContain(CURRENT_MESSAGE_MARKER);
-      expect(message).toBe("Hello");
-    } finally {
-      await server.close({ reason: "test done" });
-    }
-  });
+      {
+        agentCommand.mockReset();
+        agentCommand.mockImplementationOnce(async (opts: unknown) => {
+          const runId = (opts as { runId?: string } | undefined)?.runId ?? "";
+          emitAgentEvent({ runId, stream: "assistant", data: { delta: "hi" } });
+          emitAgentEvent({ runId, stream: "assistant", data: { delta: "hi" } });
+          return { payloads: [{ text: "hihi" }] } as never;
+        });
 
-  it("treats developer role same as system role", async () => {
-    agentCommand.mockResolvedValueOnce({
-      payloads: [{ text: "hello" }],
-    } as never);
+        const repeatedRes = await postChatCompletions(port, {
+          stream: true,
+          model: "clawdbot",
+          messages: [{ role: "user", content: "hi" }],
+        });
+        expect(repeatedRes.status).toBe(200);
+        const repeatedText = await repeatedRes.text();
+        const repeatedData = parseSseDataLines(repeatedText);
+        const repeatedChunks = repeatedData
+          .filter((d) => d !== "[DONE]")
+          .map((d) => JSON.parse(d) as Record<string, unknown>);
+        const repeatedContent = repeatedChunks
+          .flatMap((c) => (c.choices as Array<Record<string, unknown>> | undefined) ?? [])
+          .map((choice) => (choice.delta as Record<string, unknown> | undefined)?.content)
+          .filter((v): v is string => typeof v === "string")
+          .join("");
+        expect(repeatedContent).toBe("hihi");
+      }
 
-    const port = await getFreePort();
-    const server = await startServer(port);
-    try {
-      const res = await postChatCompletions(port, {
-        model: "clawdbot",
-        messages: [
-          { role: "developer", content: "You are a helpful assistant." },
-          { role: "user", content: "Hello" },
-        ],
-      });
-      expect(res.status).toBe(200);
+      {
+        agentCommand.mockReset();
+        agentCommand.mockResolvedValueOnce({
+          payloads: [{ text: "hello" }],
+        } as never);
 
-      const [opts] = agentCommand.mock.calls[0] ?? [];
-      const extraSystemPrompt =
-        (opts as { extraSystemPrompt?: string } | undefined)?.extraSystemPrompt ?? "";
-      expect(extraSystemPrompt).toBe("You are a helpful assistant.");
-    } finally {
-      await server.close({ reason: "test done" });
-    }
-  });
-
-  it("includes tool output when it is the latest message", async () => {
-    agentCommand.mockResolvedValueOnce({
-      payloads: [{ text: "ok" }],
-    } as never);
-
-    const port = await getFreePort();
-    const server = await startServer(port);
-    try {
-      const res = await postChatCompletions(port, {
-        model: "clawdbot",
-        messages: [
-          { role: "system", content: "You are a helpful assistant." },
-          { role: "user", content: "What's the weather?" },
-          { role: "assistant", content: "Checking the weather." },
-          { role: "tool", content: "Sunny, 70F." },
-        ],
-      });
-      expect(res.status).toBe(200);
-
-      const [opts] = agentCommand.mock.calls[0] ?? [];
-      const message = (opts as { message?: string } | undefined)?.message ?? "";
-      expect(message).toContain(HISTORY_CONTEXT_MARKER);
-      expect(message).toContain("User: What's the weather?");
-      expect(message).toContain("Assistant: Checking the weather.");
-      expect(message).toContain(CURRENT_MESSAGE_MARKER);
-      expect(message).toContain("Tool: Sunny, 70F.");
-    } finally {
-      await server.close({ reason: "test done" });
-    }
-  });
-
-  it("returns a non-streaming OpenAI chat.completion response", async () => {
-    agentCommand.mockResolvedValueOnce({
-      payloads: [{ text: "hello" }],
-    } as never);
-
-    const port = await getFreePort();
-    const server = await startServer(port);
-    try {
-      const res = await postChatCompletions(port, {
-        stream: false,
-        model: "clawdbot",
-        messages: [{ role: "user", content: "hi" }],
-      });
-      expect(res.status).toBe(200);
-      const json = (await res.json()) as Record<string, unknown>;
-      expect(json.object).toBe("chat.completion");
-      expect(Array.isArray(json.choices)).toBe(true);
-      const choice0 = (json.choices as Array<Record<string, unknown>>)[0] ?? {};
-      const msg = (choice0.message as Record<string, unknown> | undefined) ?? {};
-      expect(msg.role).toBe("assistant");
-      expect(msg.content).toBe("hello");
-    } finally {
-      await server.close({ reason: "test done" });
-    }
-  });
-
-  it("requires a user message", async () => {
-    const port = await getFreePort();
-    const server = await startServer(port);
-    try {
-      const res = await postChatCompletions(port, {
-        model: "clawdbot",
-        messages: [{ role: "system", content: "yo" }],
-      });
-      expect(res.status).toBe(400);
-      const json = (await res.json()) as Record<string, unknown>;
-      expect((json.error as Record<string, unknown> | undefined)?.type).toBe(
-        "invalid_request_error",
-      );
-    } finally {
-      await server.close({ reason: "test done" });
-    }
-  });
-
-  it("streams SSE chunks when stream=true (delta events)", async () => {
-    agentCommand.mockImplementationOnce(async (opts: unknown) => {
-      const runId = (opts as { runId?: string } | undefined)?.runId ?? "";
-      emitAgentEvent({ runId, stream: "assistant", data: { delta: "he" } });
-      emitAgentEvent({ runId, stream: "assistant", data: { delta: "llo" } });
-      return { payloads: [{ text: "hello" }] } as never;
-    });
-
-    const port = await getFreePort();
-    const server = await startServer(port);
-    try {
-      const res = await postChatCompletions(port, {
-        stream: true,
-        model: "clawdbot",
-        messages: [{ role: "user", content: "hi" }],
-      });
-      expect(res.status).toBe(200);
-      expect(res.headers.get("content-type") ?? "").toContain("text/event-stream");
-
-      const text = await res.text();
-      const data = parseSseDataLines(text);
-      expect(data[data.length - 1]).toBe("[DONE]");
-
-      const jsonChunks = data
-        .filter((d) => d !== "[DONE]")
-        .map((d) => JSON.parse(d) as Record<string, unknown>);
-      expect(jsonChunks.some((c) => c.object === "chat.completion.chunk")).toBe(true);
-      const allContent = jsonChunks
-        .flatMap((c) => (c.choices as Array<Record<string, unknown>> | undefined) ?? [])
-        .map((choice) => (choice.delta as Record<string, unknown> | undefined)?.content)
-        .filter((v): v is string => typeof v === "string")
-        .join("");
-      expect(allContent).toBe("hello");
-    } finally {
-      await server.close({ reason: "test done" });
-    }
-  });
-
-  it("preserves repeated identical deltas when streaming SSE", async () => {
-    agentCommand.mockImplementationOnce(async (opts: unknown) => {
-      const runId = (opts as { runId?: string } | undefined)?.runId ?? "";
-      emitAgentEvent({ runId, stream: "assistant", data: { delta: "hi" } });
-      emitAgentEvent({ runId, stream: "assistant", data: { delta: "hi" } });
-      return { payloads: [{ text: "hihi" }] } as never;
-    });
-
-    const port = await getFreePort();
-    const server = await startServer(port);
-    try {
-      const res = await postChatCompletions(port, {
-        stream: true,
-        model: "clawdbot",
-        messages: [{ role: "user", content: "hi" }],
-      });
-      expect(res.status).toBe(200);
-      const text = await res.text();
-      const data = parseSseDataLines(text);
-      const jsonChunks = data
-        .filter((d) => d !== "[DONE]")
-        .map((d) => JSON.parse(d) as Record<string, unknown>);
-      const allContent = jsonChunks
-        .flatMap((c) => (c.choices as Array<Record<string, unknown>> | undefined) ?? [])
-        .map((choice) => (choice.delta as Record<string, unknown> | undefined)?.content)
-        .filter((v): v is string => typeof v === "string")
-        .join("");
-      expect(allContent).toBe("hihi");
-    } finally {
-      await server.close({ reason: "test done" });
-    }
-  });
-
-  it("streams SSE chunks when stream=true (fallback when no deltas)", async () => {
-    agentCommand.mockResolvedValueOnce({
-      payloads: [{ text: "hello" }],
-    } as never);
-
-    const port = await getFreePort();
-    const server = await startServer(port);
-    try {
-      const res = await postChatCompletions(port, {
-        stream: true,
-        model: "clawdbot",
-        messages: [{ role: "user", content: "hi" }],
-      });
-      expect(res.status).toBe(200);
-      const text = await res.text();
-      expect(text).toContain("[DONE]");
-      expect(text).toContain("hello");
+        const fallbackRes = await postChatCompletions(port, {
+          stream: true,
+          model: "clawdbot",
+          messages: [{ role: "user", content: "hi" }],
+        });
+        expect(fallbackRes.status).toBe(200);
+        const fallbackText = await fallbackRes.text();
+        expect(fallbackText).toContain("[DONE]");
+        expect(fallbackText).toContain("hello");
+      }
     } finally {
       await server.close({ reason: "test done" });
     }

src/gateway/server.config-apply.test.ts

@@ -1,95 +1,106 @@
 import fs from "node:fs/promises";
 import os from "node:os";
 import path from "node:path";
-import { afterEach, describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
+import { afterAll, beforeAll, describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
+import { WebSocket } from "ws";
 
 import {
   connectOk,
+  getFreePort,
   installGatewayTestHooks,
   onceMessage,
-  startServerWithClient,
+  startGatewayServer,
 } from "./test-helpers.js";
 
-installGatewayTestHooks();
+installGatewayTestHooks({ scope: "suite" });
 
-const servers: Array<Awaited<ReturnType<typeof startServerWithClient>>> = [];
+let server: Awaited<ReturnType<typeof startGatewayServer>>;
+let port = 0;
+let previousToken: string | undefined;
 
-afterEach(async () => {
-  for (const { server, ws } of servers) {
-    try {
-      ws.close();
-      await server.close();
-    } catch {
-      /* ignore */
-    }
-  }
-  servers.length = 0;
-  await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 50));
+beforeAll(async () => {
+  previousToken = process.env.CLAWDBOT_GATEWAY_TOKEN;
+  delete process.env.CLAWDBOT_GATEWAY_TOKEN;
+  port = await getFreePort();
+  server = await startGatewayServer(port);
 });
 
+afterAll(async () => {
+  await server.close();
+  if (previousToken === undefined) delete process.env.CLAWDBOT_GATEWAY_TOKEN;
+  else process.env.CLAWDBOT_GATEWAY_TOKEN = previousToken;
+});
+
+const openClient = async () => {
+  const ws = new WebSocket(`ws://127.0.0.1:${port}`);
+  await new Promise<void>((resolve) => ws.once("open", resolve));
+  await connectOk(ws);
+  return ws;
+};
+
 describe("gateway config.apply", () => {
   it("writes config, stores sentinel, and schedules restart", async () => {
-    const result = await startServerWithClient();
-    servers.push(result);
-    const { ws } = result;
-    await connectOk(ws);
-
-    const id = "req-1";
-    ws.send(
-      JSON.stringify({
-        type: "req",
-        id,
-        method: "config.apply",
-        params: {
-          raw: '{ "agents": { "list": [{ "id": "main", "workspace": "~/clawd" }] } }',
-          sessionKey: "agent:main:whatsapp:dm:+15555550123",
-          restartDelayMs: 0,
-        },
-      }),
-    );
-    const res = await onceMessage<{ ok: boolean; payload?: unknown }>(
-      ws,
-      (o) => o.type === "res" && o.id === id,
-    );
-    expect(res.ok).toBe(true);
-
-    // Verify sentinel file was created (restart was scheduled)
-    const sentinelPath = path.join(os.homedir(), ".clawdbot", "restart-sentinel.json");
-
-    // Wait for file to be written
-    await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 100));
-
+    const ws = await openClient();
     try {
-      const raw = await fs.readFile(sentinelPath, "utf-8");
-      const parsed = JSON.parse(raw) as { payload?: { kind?: string } };
-      expect(parsed.payload?.kind).toBe("config-apply");
-    } catch {
-      // File may not exist if signal delivery is mocked, verify response was ok instead
+      const id = "req-1";
+      ws.send(
+        JSON.stringify({
+          type: "req",
+          id,
+          method: "config.apply",
+          params: {
+            raw: '{ "agents": { "list": [{ "id": "main", "workspace": "~/clawd" }] } }',
+            sessionKey: "agent:main:whatsapp:dm:+15555550123",
+            restartDelayMs: 0,
+          },
+        }),
+      );
+      const res = await onceMessage<{ ok: boolean; payload?: unknown }>(
+        ws,
+        (o) => o.type === "res" && o.id === id,
+      );
       expect(res.ok).toBe(true);
+
+      // Verify sentinel file was created (restart was scheduled)
+      const sentinelPath = path.join(os.homedir(), ".clawdbot", "restart-sentinel.json");
+
+      // Wait for file to be written
+      await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 100));
+
+      try {
+        const raw = await fs.readFile(sentinelPath, "utf-8");
+        const parsed = JSON.parse(raw) as { payload?: { kind?: string } };
+        expect(parsed.payload?.kind).toBe("config-apply");
+      } catch {
+        // File may not exist if signal delivery is mocked, verify response was ok instead
+        expect(res.ok).toBe(true);
+      }
+    } finally {
+      ws.close();
     }
   });
 
   it("rejects invalid raw config", async () => {
-    const result = await startServerWithClient();
-    servers.push(result);
-    const { ws } = result;
-    await connectOk(ws);
-
-    const id = "req-2";
-    ws.send(
-      JSON.stringify({
-        type: "req",
-        id,
-        method: "config.apply",
-        params: {
-          raw: "{",
-        },
-      }),
-    );
-    const res = await onceMessage<{ ok: boolean; error?: unknown }>(
-      ws,
-      (o) => o.type === "res" && o.id === id,
-    );
-    expect(res.ok).toBe(false);
+    const ws = await openClient();
+    try {
+      const id = "req-2";
+      ws.send(
+        JSON.stringify({
+          type: "req",
+          id,
+          method: "config.apply",
+          params: {
+            raw: "{",
+          },
+        }),
+      );
+      const res = await onceMessage<{ ok: boolean; error?: unknown }>(
+        ws,
+        (o) => o.type === "res" && o.id === id,
+      );
+      expect(res.ok).toBe(false);
+    } finally {
+      ws.close();
+    }
   });
 });

src/gateway/server.cron.test.ts

@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ import {
   waitForSystemEvent,
 } from "./test-helpers.js";
 
-installGatewayTestHooks();
+installGatewayTestHooks({ scope: "suite" });
 
 async function yieldToEventLoop() {
   // Avoid relying on timers (fake timers can leak between tests).

src/gateway/server.health.test.ts

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import { randomUUID } from "node:crypto";
 import os from "node:os";
 import path from "node:path";
-import { describe, expect, test } from "vitest";
+import { afterAll, beforeAll, describe, expect, test } from "vitest";
 import { WebSocket } from "ws";
 import { emitAgentEvent } from "../infra/agent-events.js";
 import {
@@ -21,12 +21,35 @@ import {
 } from "./test-helpers.js";
 import { buildDeviceAuthPayload } from "./device-auth.js";
 
-installGatewayTestHooks();
+installGatewayTestHooks({ scope: "suite" });
+
+let server: Awaited<ReturnType<typeof startGatewayServer>>;
+let port = 0;
+let previousToken: string | undefined;
+
+beforeAll(async () => {
+  previousToken = process.env.CLAWDBOT_GATEWAY_TOKEN;
+  delete process.env.CLAWDBOT_GATEWAY_TOKEN;
+  port = await getFreePort();
+  server = await startGatewayServer(port);
+});
+
+afterAll(async () => {
+  await server.close();
+  if (previousToken === undefined) delete process.env.CLAWDBOT_GATEWAY_TOKEN;
+  else process.env.CLAWDBOT_GATEWAY_TOKEN = previousToken;
+});
+
+const openClient = async (opts?: Parameters<typeof connectOk>[1]) => {
+  const ws = new WebSocket(`ws://127.0.0.1:${port}`);
+  await new Promise<void>((resolve) => ws.once("open", resolve));
+  await connectOk(ws, opts);
+  return ws;
+};
 
 describe("gateway server health/presence", () => {
   test("connect + health + presence + status succeed", { timeout: 60_000 }, async () => {
-    const { server, ws } = await startServerWithClient();
-    await connectOk(ws);
+    const ws = await openClient();
 
     const healthP = onceMessage(ws, (o) => o.type === "res" && o.id === "health1");
     const statusP = onceMessage(ws, (o) => o.type === "res" && o.id === "status1");
@@ -51,7 +74,6 @@ describe("gateway server health/presence", () => {
     expect(Array.isArray(presence.payload)).toBe(true);
 
     ws.close();
-    await server.close();
   });
 
   test("broadcasts heartbeat events and serves last-heartbeat", async () => {
@@ -76,8 +98,7 @@ describe("gateway server health/presence", () => {
       payload?: unknown;
     };
 
-    const { server, ws } = await startServerWithClient();
-    await connectOk(ws);
+    const ws = await openClient();
 
     const waitHeartbeat = onceMessage<EventFrame>(
       ws,
@@ -117,12 +138,10 @@ describe("gateway server health/presence", () => {
     expect((toggle.payload as { enabled?: boolean } | undefined)?.enabled).toBe(false);
 
     ws.close();
-    await server.close();
   });
 
   test("presence events carry seq + stateVersion", { timeout: 8000 }, async () => {
-    const { server, ws } = await startServerWithClient();
-    await connectOk(ws);
+    const ws = await openClient();
 
     const presenceEventP = onceMessage(ws, (o) => o.type === "event" && o.event === "presence");
     ws.send(
@@ -140,12 +159,10 @@ describe("gateway server health/presence", () => {
     expect(Array.isArray(evt.payload?.presence)).toBe(true);
 
     ws.close();
-    await server.close();
   });
 
   test("agent events stream with seq", { timeout: 8000 }, async () => {
-    const { server, ws } = await startServerWithClient();
-    await connectOk(ws);
+    const ws = await openClient();
 
     const runId = randomUUID();
     const evtPromise = onceMessage(
@@ -163,7 +180,6 @@ describe("gateway server health/presence", () => {
     expect(evt.payload.data.msg).toBe("hi");
 
     ws.close();
-    await server.close();
   });
 
   test("shutdown event is broadcast on close", { timeout: 8000 }, async () => {
@@ -177,16 +193,7 @@ describe("gateway server health/presence", () => {
   });
 
   test("presence broadcast reaches multiple clients", { timeout: 8000 }, async () => {
-    const port = await getFreePort();
-    const server = await startGatewayServer(port);
-    const mkClient = async () => {
-      const c = new WebSocket(`ws://127.0.0.1:${port}`);
-      await new Promise<void>((resolve) => c.once("open", resolve));
-      await connectOk(c);
-      return c;
-    };
-
-    const clients = await Promise.all([mkClient(), mkClient(), mkClient()]);
+    const clients = await Promise.all([openClient(), openClient(), openClient()]);
     const waits = clients.map((c) =>
       onceMessage(c, (o) => o.type === "event" && o.event === "presence"),
     );
@@ -204,7 +211,6 @@ describe("gateway server health/presence", () => {
       expect(typeof evt.seq).toBe("number");
     }
     for (const c of clients) c.close();
-    await server.close();
   });
 
   test("presence includes client fingerprint", async () => {
@@ -222,8 +228,7 @@ describe("gateway server health/presence", () => {
       signedAtMs,
       token: null,
     });
-    const { server, ws } = await startServerWithClient();
-    await connectOk(ws, {
+    const ws = await openClient({
       role,
       scopes,
       client: {
@@ -264,13 +269,11 @@ describe("gateway server health/presence", () => {
     expect(clientEntry?.modelIdentifier).toBe("iPad16,6");
 
     ws.close();
-    await server.close();
   });
 
   test("cli connections are not tracked as instances", async () => {
-    const { server, ws } = await startServerWithClient();
     const cliId = `cli-${randomUUID()}`;
-    await connectOk(ws, {
+    const ws = await openClient({
       client: {
         id: GATEWAY_CLIENT_NAMES.CLI,
         version: "dev",
@@ -294,6 +297,5 @@ describe("gateway server health/presence", () => {
     expect(entries.some((e) => e.instanceId === cliId)).toBe(false);
 
     ws.close();
-    await server.close();
   });
 });

src/gateway/server.ios-client-id.test.ts

@@ -1,9 +1,21 @@
-import { test } from "vitest";
+import { afterAll, beforeAll, test } from "vitest";
 import WebSocket from "ws";
 
 import { PROTOCOL_VERSION } from "./protocol/index.js";
 import { getFreePort, onceMessage, startGatewayServer } from "./test-helpers.server.js";
 
+let server: Awaited<ReturnType<typeof startGatewayServer>>;
+let port = 0;
+
+beforeAll(async () => {
+  port = await getFreePort();
+  server = await startGatewayServer(port);
+});
+
+afterAll(async () => {
+  await server.close();
+});
+
 function connectReq(
   ws: WebSocket,
   params: { clientId: string; platform: string; token?: string; password?: string },
@@ -43,8 +55,6 @@ function connectReq(
 }
 
 test("accepts clawdbot-ios as a valid gateway client id", async () => {
-  const port = await getFreePort();
-  const server = await startGatewayServer(port);
   const ws = new WebSocket(`ws://127.0.0.1:${port}`);
   await new Promise<void>((resolve) => ws.once("open", resolve));
 
@@ -61,12 +71,9 @@ test("accepts clawdbot-ios as a valid gateway client id", async () => {
   }
 
   ws.close();
-  await server.close();
 });
 
 test("accepts clawdbot-android as a valid gateway client id", async () => {
-  const port = await getFreePort();
-  const server = await startGatewayServer(port);
   const ws = new WebSocket(`ws://127.0.0.1:${port}`);
   await new Promise<void>((resolve) => ws.once("open", resolve));
 
@@ -83,5 +90,4 @@ test("accepts clawdbot-android as a valid gateway client id", async () => {
   }
 
   ws.close();
-  await server.close();
 });

src/gateway/server.sessions.gateway-server-sessions-a.test.ts

@@ -1,14 +1,16 @@
 import fs from "node:fs/promises";
 import os from "node:os";
 import path from "node:path";
-import { beforeEach, describe, expect, test, vi } from "vitest";
+import { afterAll, beforeAll, beforeEach, describe, expect, test, vi } from "vitest";
+import { WebSocket } from "ws";
 import {
   connectOk,
   embeddedRunMock,
+  getFreePort,
   installGatewayTestHooks,
   piSdkMock,
   rpcReq,
-  startServerWithClient,
+  startGatewayServer,
   testState,
   writeSessionStore,
 } from "./test-helpers.js";
@@ -39,7 +41,31 @@ vi.mock("../auto-reply/reply/abort.js", async () => {
   };
 });
 
-installGatewayTestHooks();
+installGatewayTestHooks({ scope: "suite" });
+
+let server: Awaited<ReturnType<typeof startGatewayServer>>;
+let port = 0;
+let previousToken: string | undefined;
+
+beforeAll(async () => {
+  previousToken = process.env.CLAWDBOT_GATEWAY_TOKEN;
+  delete process.env.CLAWDBOT_GATEWAY_TOKEN;
+  port = await getFreePort();
+  server = await startGatewayServer(port);
+});
+
+afterAll(async () => {
+  await server.close();
+  if (previousToken === undefined) delete process.env.CLAWDBOT_GATEWAY_TOKEN;
+  else process.env.CLAWDBOT_GATEWAY_TOKEN = previousToken;
+});
+
+const openClient = async (opts?: Parameters<typeof connectOk>[1]) => {
+  const ws = new WebSocket(`ws://127.0.0.1:${port}`);
+  await new Promise<void>((resolve) => ws.once("open", resolve));
+  const hello = await connectOk(ws, opts);
+  return { ws, hello };
+};
 
 describe("gateway server sessions", () => {
   beforeEach(() => {
@@ -98,8 +124,7 @@ describe("gateway server sessions", () => {
       },
     });
 
-    const { server, ws } = await startServerWithClient();
-    const hello = await connectOk(ws);
+    const { ws, hello } = await openClient();
     expect((hello as unknown as { features?: { methods?: string[] } }).features?.methods).toEqual(
       expect.arrayContaining([
         "sessions.list",
@@ -336,7 +361,6 @@ describe("gateway server sessions", () => {
     );
 
     ws.close();
-    await server.close();
   });
 
   test("sessions.preview returns transcript previews", async () => {
@@ -365,8 +389,7 @@ describe("gateway server sessions", () => {
       },
     });
 
-    const { server, ws } = await startServerWithClient();
-    await connectOk(ws);
+    const { ws } = await openClient();
     const preview = await rpcReq<{
       previews: Array<{
         key: string;
@@ -383,7 +406,6 @@ describe("gateway server sessions", () => {
     expect(entry?.items[1]?.text).toContain("call weather");
 
     ws.close();
-    await server.close();
   });
 
   test("sessions.delete rejects main and aborts active runs", async () => {
@@ -415,8 +437,7 @@ describe("gateway server sessions", () => {
     embeddedRunMock.activeIds.add("sess-active");
     embeddedRunMock.waitResults.set("sess-active", true);
 
-    const { server, ws } = await startServerWithClient();
-    await connectOk(ws);
+    const { ws } = await openClient();
 
     const mainDelete = await rpcReq(ws, "sessions.delete", { key: "main" });
     expect(mainDelete.ok).toBe(false);
@@ -439,6 +460,5 @@ describe("gateway server sessions", () => {
     expect(embeddedRunMock.waitCalls).toEqual(["sess-active"]);
 
     ws.close();
-    await server.close();
   });
 });

src/gateway/test-helpers.server.ts

@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import { type AddressInfo, createServer } from "node:net";
 import os from "node:os";
 import path from "node:path";
 
-import { afterEach, beforeEach, expect, vi } from "vitest";
+import { afterAll, afterEach, beforeAll, beforeEach, expect, vi } from "vitest";
 import { WebSocket } from "ws";
 
 import { resolveMainSessionKeyFromConfig, type SessionEntry } from "../config/sessions.js";
@@ -75,67 +75,79 @@ export async function writeSessionStore(params: {
   await fs.writeFile(storePath, JSON.stringify(store, null, 2), "utf-8");
 }
 
-export function installGatewayTestHooks() {
-  beforeEach(async () => {
-    // Some tests intentionally use fake timers; ensure they don't leak into gateway suites.
-    vi.useRealTimers();
-    setLoggerOverride({ level: "silent", consoleLevel: "silent" });
-    previousHome = process.env.HOME;
-    previousUserProfile = process.env.USERPROFILE;
-    previousStateDir = process.env.CLAWDBOT_STATE_DIR;
-    previousConfigPath = process.env.CLAWDBOT_CONFIG_PATH;
-    previousSkipBrowserControl = process.env.CLAWDBOT_SKIP_BROWSER_CONTROL_SERVER;
-    previousSkipGmailWatcher = process.env.CLAWDBOT_SKIP_GMAIL_WATCHER;
-    previousSkipCanvasHost = process.env.CLAWDBOT_SKIP_CANVAS_HOST;
-    tempHome = await fs.mkdtemp(path.join(os.tmpdir(), "clawdbot-gateway-home-"));
-    process.env.HOME = tempHome;
-    process.env.USERPROFILE = tempHome;
-    process.env.CLAWDBOT_STATE_DIR = path.join(tempHome, ".clawdbot");
-    delete process.env.CLAWDBOT_CONFIG_PATH;
-    process.env.CLAWDBOT_SKIP_BROWSER_CONTROL_SERVER = "1";
-    process.env.CLAWDBOT_SKIP_GMAIL_WATCHER = "1";
-    process.env.CLAWDBOT_SKIP_CANVAS_HOST = "1";
-    tempConfigRoot = path.join(tempHome, ".clawdbot-test");
-    setTestConfigRoot(tempConfigRoot);
-    sessionStoreSaveDelayMs.value = 0;
-    testTailnetIPv4.value = undefined;
-    testState.gatewayBind = undefined;
-    testState.gatewayAuth = undefined;
-    testState.gatewayControlUi = undefined;
-    testState.hooksConfig = undefined;
-    testState.canvasHostPort = undefined;
-    testState.legacyIssues = [];
-    testState.legacyParsed = {};
-    testState.migrationConfig = null;
-    testState.migrationChanges = [];
-    testState.cronEnabled = false;
-    testState.cronStorePath = undefined;
-    testState.sessionConfig = undefined;
-    testState.sessionStorePath = undefined;
-    testState.agentConfig = undefined;
-    testState.agentsConfig = undefined;
-    testState.bindingsConfig = undefined;
-    testState.channelsConfig = undefined;
-    testState.allowFrom = undefined;
-    testIsNixMode.value = false;
-    cronIsolatedRun.mockClear();
-    agentCommand.mockClear();
-    embeddedRunMock.activeIds.clear();
-    embeddedRunMock.abortCalls = [];
-    embeddedRunMock.waitCalls = [];
-    embeddedRunMock.waitResults.clear();
-    drainSystemEvents(resolveMainSessionKeyFromConfig());
-    resetAgentRunContextForTest();
-    const mod = await serverModulePromise;
-    mod.__resetModelCatalogCacheForTest();
-    piSdkMock.enabled = false;
-    piSdkMock.discoverCalls = 0;
-    piSdkMock.models = [];
-  }, 60_000);
+async function setupGatewayTestHome() {
+  previousHome = process.env.HOME;
+  previousUserProfile = process.env.USERPROFILE;
+  previousStateDir = process.env.CLAWDBOT_STATE_DIR;
+  previousConfigPath = process.env.CLAWDBOT_CONFIG_PATH;
+  previousSkipBrowserControl = process.env.CLAWDBOT_SKIP_BROWSER_CONTROL_SERVER;
+  previousSkipGmailWatcher = process.env.CLAWDBOT_SKIP_GMAIL_WATCHER;
+  previousSkipCanvasHost = process.env.CLAWDBOT_SKIP_CANVAS_HOST;
+  tempHome = await fs.mkdtemp(path.join(os.tmpdir(), "clawdbot-gateway-home-"));
+  process.env.HOME = tempHome;
+  process.env.USERPROFILE = tempHome;
+  process.env.CLAWDBOT_STATE_DIR = path.join(tempHome, ".clawdbot");
+  delete process.env.CLAWDBOT_CONFIG_PATH;
+}
 
-  afterEach(async () => {
-    vi.useRealTimers();
-    resetLogger();
+function applyGatewaySkipEnv() {
+  process.env.CLAWDBOT_SKIP_BROWSER_CONTROL_SERVER = "1";
+  process.env.CLAWDBOT_SKIP_GMAIL_WATCHER = "1";
+  process.env.CLAWDBOT_SKIP_CANVAS_HOST = "1";
+}
+
+async function resetGatewayTestState(options: { uniqueConfigRoot: boolean }) {
+  // Some tests intentionally use fake timers; ensure they don't leak into gateway suites.
+  vi.useRealTimers();
+  setLoggerOverride({ level: "silent", consoleLevel: "silent" });
+  if (!tempHome) {
+    throw new Error("resetGatewayTestState called before temp home was initialized");
+  }
+  applyGatewaySkipEnv();
+  tempConfigRoot = options.uniqueConfigRoot
+    ? await fs.mkdtemp(path.join(tempHome, "clawdbot-test-"))
+    : path.join(tempHome, ".clawdbot-test");
+  setTestConfigRoot(tempConfigRoot);
+  sessionStoreSaveDelayMs.value = 0;
+  testTailnetIPv4.value = undefined;
+  testState.gatewayBind = undefined;
+  testState.gatewayAuth = undefined;
+  testState.gatewayControlUi = undefined;
+  testState.hooksConfig = undefined;
+  testState.canvasHostPort = undefined;
+  testState.legacyIssues = [];
+  testState.legacyParsed = {};
+  testState.migrationConfig = null;
+  testState.migrationChanges = [];
+  testState.cronEnabled = false;
+  testState.cronStorePath = undefined;
+  testState.sessionConfig = undefined;
+  testState.sessionStorePath = undefined;
+  testState.agentConfig = undefined;
+  testState.agentsConfig = undefined;
+  testState.bindingsConfig = undefined;
+  testState.channelsConfig = undefined;
+  testState.allowFrom = undefined;
+  testIsNixMode.value = false;
+  cronIsolatedRun.mockClear();
+  agentCommand.mockClear();
+  embeddedRunMock.activeIds.clear();
+  embeddedRunMock.abortCalls = [];
+  embeddedRunMock.waitCalls = [];
+  embeddedRunMock.waitResults.clear();
+  drainSystemEvents(resolveMainSessionKeyFromConfig());
+  resetAgentRunContextForTest();
+  const mod = await serverModulePromise;
+  mod.__resetModelCatalogCacheForTest();
+  piSdkMock.enabled = false;
+  piSdkMock.discoverCalls = 0;
+  piSdkMock.models = [];
+}
+
+async function cleanupGatewayTestHome(options: { restoreEnv: boolean }) {
+  vi.useRealTimers();
+  resetLogger();
+  if (options.restoreEnv) {
     if (previousHome === undefined) delete process.env.HOME;
     else process.env.HOME = previousHome;
     if (previousUserProfile === undefined) delete process.env.USERPROFILE;
@@ -151,16 +163,45 @@ export function installGatewayTestHooks() {
     else process.env.CLAWDBOT_SKIP_GMAIL_WATCHER = previousSkipGmailWatcher;
     if (previousSkipCanvasHost === undefined) delete process.env.CLAWDBOT_SKIP_CANVAS_HOST;
     else process.env.CLAWDBOT_SKIP_CANVAS_HOST = previousSkipCanvasHost;
-    if (tempHome) {
-      await fs.rm(tempHome, {
-        recursive: true,
-        force: true,
-        maxRetries: 20,
-        retryDelay: 25,
-      });
-      tempHome = undefined;
-    }
-    tempConfigRoot = undefined;
+  }
+  if (options.restoreEnv && tempHome) {
+    await fs.rm(tempHome, {
+      recursive: true,
+      force: true,
+      maxRetries: 20,
+      retryDelay: 25,
+    });
+    tempHome = undefined;
+  }
+  tempConfigRoot = undefined;
+}
+
+export function installGatewayTestHooks(options?: { scope?: "test" | "suite" }) {
+  const scope = options?.scope ?? "test";
+  if (scope === "suite") {
+    beforeAll(async () => {
+      await setupGatewayTestHome();
+      await resetGatewayTestState({ uniqueConfigRoot: true });
+    });
+    beforeEach(async () => {
+      await resetGatewayTestState({ uniqueConfigRoot: true });
+    }, 60_000);
+    afterEach(async () => {
+      await cleanupGatewayTestHome({ restoreEnv: false });
+    });
+    afterAll(async () => {
+      await cleanupGatewayTestHome({ restoreEnv: true });
+    });
+    return;
+  }
+
+  beforeEach(async () => {
+    await setupGatewayTestHome();
+    await resetGatewayTestState({ uniqueConfigRoot: false });
+  }, 60_000);
+
+  afterEach(async () => {
+    await cleanupGatewayTestHome({ restoreEnv: true });
   });
 }
 

src/plugin-sdk/index.ts

@@ -230,6 +230,7 @@ export {
   listSlackAccountIds,
   resolveDefaultSlackAccountId,
   resolveSlackAccount,
+  resolveSlackReplyToMode,
   type ResolvedSlackAccount,
 } from "../slack/accounts.js";
 export { slackOnboardingAdapter } from "../channels/plugins/onboarding/slack.js";

src/slack/accounts.ts

@@ -107,3 +107,13 @@ export function listEnabledSlackAccounts(cfg: ClawdbotConfig): ResolvedSlackAcco
     .map((accountId) => resolveSlackAccount({ cfg, accountId }))
     .filter((account) => account.enabled);
 }
+
+export function resolveSlackReplyToMode(
+  account: ResolvedSlackAccount,
+  chatType?: string | null,
+): "off" | "first" | "all" {
+  if (chatType === "direct" && account.dm?.replyToMode !== undefined) {
+    return account.dm.replyToMode;
+  }
+  return account.replyToMode ?? "off";
+}

src/slack/actions.read.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,68 @@
+import { describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
+
+import type { WebClient } from "@slack/web-api";
+
+import { readSlackMessages } from "./actions.js";
+
+function createClient() {
+  return {
+    conversations: {
+      replies: vi.fn(async () => ({ messages: [], has_more: false })),
+      history: vi.fn(async () => ({ messages: [], has_more: false })),
+    },
+  } as unknown as WebClient & {
+    conversations: {
+      replies: ReturnType<typeof vi.fn>;
+      history: ReturnType<typeof vi.fn>;
+    };
+  };
+}
+
+describe("readSlackMessages", () => {
+  it("uses conversations.replies and drops the parent message", async () => {
+    const client = createClient();
+    client.conversations.replies.mockResolvedValueOnce({
+      messages: [{ ts: "171234.567" }, { ts: "171234.890" }, { ts: "171235.000" }],
+      has_more: true,
+    });
+
+    const result = await readSlackMessages("C1", {
+      client,
+      threadId: "171234.567",
+      token: "xoxb-test",
+    });
+
+    expect(client.conversations.replies).toHaveBeenCalledWith({
+      channel: "C1",
+      ts: "171234.567",
+      limit: undefined,
+      latest: undefined,
+      oldest: undefined,
+    });
+    expect(client.conversations.history).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(result.messages.map((message) => message.ts)).toEqual(["171234.890", "171235.000"]);
+  });
+
+  it("uses conversations.history when threadId is missing", async () => {
+    const client = createClient();
+    client.conversations.history.mockResolvedValueOnce({
+      messages: [{ ts: "1" }],
+      has_more: false,
+    });
+
+    const result = await readSlackMessages("C1", {
+      client,
+      limit: 20,
+      token: "xoxb-test",
+    });
+
+    expect(client.conversations.history).toHaveBeenCalledWith({
+      channel: "C1",
+      limit: 20,
+      latest: undefined,
+      oldest: undefined,
+    });
+    expect(client.conversations.replies).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(result.messages.map((message) => message.ts)).toEqual(["1"]);
+  });
+});

src/slack/actions.ts

@@ -186,9 +186,29 @@ export async function readSlackMessages(
     limit?: number;
     before?: string;
     after?: string;
+    threadId?: string;
   } = {},
 ): Promise<{ messages: SlackMessageSummary[]; hasMore: boolean }> {
   const client = await getClient(opts);
+
+  // Use conversations.replies for thread messages, conversations.history for channel messages.
+  if (opts.threadId) {
+    const result = await client.conversations.replies({
+      channel: channelId,
+      ts: opts.threadId,
+      limit: opts.limit,
+      latest: opts.before,
+      oldest: opts.after,
+    });
+    return {
+      // conversations.replies includes the parent message; drop it for replies-only reads.
+      messages: (result.messages ?? []).filter(
+        (message) => (message as SlackMessageSummary)?.ts !== opts.threadId,
+      ) as SlackMessageSummary[],
+      hasMore: Boolean(result.has_more),
+    };
+  }
+
   const result = await client.conversations.history({
     channel: channelId,
     limit: opts.limit,

src/slack/monitor/media.ts

@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@ export type SlackThreadStarter = {
   text: string;
   userId?: string;
   ts?: string;
+  files?: SlackFile[];
 };
 
 const THREAD_STARTER_CACHE = new Map<string, SlackThreadStarter>();
@@ -71,7 +72,7 @@ export async function resolveSlackThreadStarter(params: {
       ts: params.threadTs,
       limit: 1,
       inclusive: true,
-    })) as { messages?: Array<{ text?: string; user?: string; ts?: string }> };
+    })) as { messages?: Array<{ text?: string; user?: string; ts?: string; files?: SlackFile[] }> };
     const message = response?.messages?.[0];
     const text = (message?.text ?? "").trim();
     if (!message || !text) return null;
@@ -79,6 +80,7 @@ export async function resolveSlackThreadStarter(params: {
       text,
       userId: message.user,
       ts: message.ts,
+      files: message.files,
     };
     THREAD_STARTER_CACHE.set(cacheKey, starter);
     return starter;

src/slack/monitor/message-handler/prepare.ts

@@ -434,6 +434,7 @@ export async function prepareSlackMessage(params: {
 
   let threadStarterBody: string | undefined;
   let threadLabel: string | undefined;
+  let threadStarterMedia: Awaited<ReturnType<typeof resolveSlackMedia>> = null;
   if (isThreadReply && threadTs) {
     const starter = await resolveSlackThreadStarter({
       channelId: message.channel,
@@ -453,11 +454,27 @@ export async function prepareSlackMessage(params: {
       });
       const snippet = starter.text.replace(/\s+/g, " ").slice(0, 80);
       threadLabel = `Slack thread ${roomLabel}${snippet ? `: ${snippet}` : ""}`;
+      // If current message has no files but thread starter does, fetch starter's files
+      if (!media && starter.files && starter.files.length > 0) {
+        threadStarterMedia = await resolveSlackMedia({
+          files: starter.files,
+          token: ctx.botToken,
+          maxBytes: ctx.mediaMaxBytes,
+        });
+        if (threadStarterMedia) {
+          logVerbose(
+            `slack: hydrated thread starter file ${threadStarterMedia.placeholder} from root message`,
+          );
+        }
+      }
     } else {
       threadLabel = `Slack thread ${roomLabel}`;
     }
   }
 
+  // Use thread starter media if current message has none
+  const effectiveMedia = media ?? threadStarterMedia;
+
   const ctxPayload = finalizeInboundContext({
     Body: combinedBody,
     RawBody: rawBody,
@@ -483,9 +500,9 @@ export async function prepareSlackMessage(params: {
     ThreadLabel: threadLabel,
     Timestamp: message.ts ? Math.round(Number(message.ts) * 1000) : undefined,
     WasMentioned: isRoomish ? effectiveWasMentioned : undefined,
-    MediaPath: media?.path,
-    MediaType: media?.contentType,
-    MediaUrl: media?.path,
+    MediaPath: effectiveMedia?.path,
+    MediaType: effectiveMedia?.contentType,
+    MediaUrl: effectiveMedia?.path,
     CommandAuthorized: commandAuthorized,
     OriginatingChannel: "slack" as const,
     OriginatingTo: slackTo,

src/slack/threading-tool-context.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,96 @@
+import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
+
+import type { ClawdbotConfig } from "../config/config.js";
+import { buildSlackThreadingToolContext } from "./threading-tool-context.js";
+
+const emptyCfg = {} as ClawdbotConfig;
+
+describe("buildSlackThreadingToolContext", () => {
+  it("uses top-level replyToMode by default", () => {
+    const cfg = {
+      channels: {
+        slack: { replyToMode: "first" },
+      },
+    } as ClawdbotConfig;
+    const result = buildSlackThreadingToolContext({
+      cfg,
+      accountId: null,
+      context: { ChatType: "channel" },
+    });
+    expect(result.replyToMode).toBe("first");
+  });
+
+  it("uses dm.replyToMode for direct messages when configured", () => {
+    const cfg = {
+      channels: {
+        slack: {
+          replyToMode: "off",
+          dm: { replyToMode: "all" },
+        },
+      },
+    } as ClawdbotConfig;
+    const result = buildSlackThreadingToolContext({
+      cfg,
+      accountId: null,
+      context: { ChatType: "direct" },
+    });
+    expect(result.replyToMode).toBe("all");
+  });
+
+  it("uses top-level replyToMode for channels even when dm.replyToMode is set", () => {
+    const cfg = {
+      channels: {
+        slack: {
+          replyToMode: "off",
+          dm: { replyToMode: "all" },
+        },
+      },
+    } as ClawdbotConfig;
+    const result = buildSlackThreadingToolContext({
+      cfg,
+      accountId: null,
+      context: { ChatType: "channel" },
+    });
+    expect(result.replyToMode).toBe("off");
+  });
+
+  it("falls back to top-level when dm.replyToMode is not set", () => {
+    const cfg = {
+      channels: {
+        slack: {
+          replyToMode: "first",
+          dm: { enabled: true },
+        },
+      },
+    } as ClawdbotConfig;
+    const result = buildSlackThreadingToolContext({
+      cfg,
+      accountId: null,
+      context: { ChatType: "direct" },
+    });
+    expect(result.replyToMode).toBe("first");
+  });
+
+  it("uses all mode when ThreadLabel is present", () => {
+    const cfg = {
+      channels: {
+        slack: { replyToMode: "off" },
+      },
+    } as ClawdbotConfig;
+    const result = buildSlackThreadingToolContext({
+      cfg,
+      accountId: null,
+      context: { ChatType: "channel", ThreadLabel: "some-thread" },
+    });
+    expect(result.replyToMode).toBe("all");
+  });
+
+  it("defaults to off when no replyToMode is configured", () => {
+    const result = buildSlackThreadingToolContext({
+      cfg: emptyCfg,
+      accountId: null,
+      context: { ChatType: "direct" },
+    });
+    expect(result.replyToMode).toBe("off");
+  });
+});

src/slack/threading-tool-context.ts

@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import type {
   ChannelThreadingToolContext,
 } from "../channels/plugins/types.js";
 import type { ClawdbotConfig } from "../config/config.js";
-import { resolveSlackAccount } from "./accounts.js";
+import { resolveSlackAccount, resolveSlackReplyToMode } from "./accounts.js";
 
 export function buildSlackThreadingToolContext(params: {
   cfg: ClawdbotConfig;
@@ -11,11 +11,11 @@ export function buildSlackThreadingToolContext(params: {
   context: ChannelThreadingContext;
   hasRepliedRef?: { value: boolean };
 }): ChannelThreadingToolContext {
-  const configuredReplyToMode =
-    resolveSlackAccount({
-      cfg: params.cfg,
-      accountId: params.accountId,
-    }).replyToMode ?? "off";
+  const account = resolveSlackAccount({
+    cfg: params.cfg,
+    accountId: params.accountId,
+  });
+  const configuredReplyToMode = resolveSlackReplyToMode(account, params.context.ChatType);
   const effectiveReplyToMode = params.context.ThreadLabel ? "all" : configuredReplyToMode;
   const threadId = params.context.MessageThreadId ?? params.context.ReplyToId;
   return {

src/wizard/onboarding.finalize.ts

@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import {
   detectBrowserOpenSupport,
   formatControlUiSshHint,
   openUrl,
+  openUrlInBackground,
   probeGatewayReachable,
   waitForGatewayReachable,
   resolveControlUiLinks,
@@ -282,6 +283,11 @@ export async function finalizeOnboardingWizard(options: FinalizeOnboardingOption
     "Control UI",
   );
 
+  let controlUiOpened = false;
+  let controlUiOpenHint: string | undefined;
+  let seededInBackground = false;
+  let hatchChoice: "tui" | "web" | "later" | null = null;
+
   if (!opts.skipUi && gatewayProbe.ok) {
     if (hasBootstrap) {
       await prompter.note(
@@ -293,11 +299,27 @@ export async function finalizeOnboardingWizard(options: FinalizeOnboardingOption
         ].join("\n"),
         "Start TUI (best option!)",
       );
-      const wantsTui = await prompter.confirm({
-        message: "Do you want to hatch your bot now?",
-        initialValue: true,
-      });
-      if (wantsTui) {
+      await prompter.note(
+        [
+          "Gateway token: shared auth for the Gateway + Control UI.",
+          "Stored in: ~/.clawdbot/clawdbot.json (gateway.auth.token) or CLAWDBOT_GATEWAY_TOKEN.",
+          "Web UI stores a copy in this browser's localStorage (clawdbot.control.settings.v1).",
+          `Get the tokenized link anytime: ${formatCliCommand("clawdbot dashboard --no-open")}`,
+        ].join("\n"),
+        "Token",
+      );
+
+      hatchChoice = (await prompter.select({
+        message: "How do you want to hatch your bot?",
+        options: [
+          { value: "tui", label: "Hatch in TUI (recommended)" },
+          { value: "web", label: "Open the Web UI" },
+          { value: "later", label: "Do this later" },
+        ],
+        initialValue: "tui",
+      })) as "tui" | "web" | "later";
+
+      if (hatchChoice === "tui") {
         await runTui({
           url: links.wsUrl,
           token: settings.authMode === "token" ? settings.gatewayToken : undefined,
@@ -306,6 +328,52 @@ export async function finalizeOnboardingWizard(options: FinalizeOnboardingOption
           deliver: false,
           message: "Wake up, my friend!",
         });
+        if (settings.authMode === "token" && settings.gatewayToken) {
+          seededInBackground = await openUrlInBackground(authedUrl);
+        }
+        if (seededInBackground) {
+          await prompter.note(
+            `Web UI seeded in the background. Open later with: ${formatCliCommand(
+              "clawdbot dashboard --no-open",
+            )}`,
+            "Web UI",
+          );
+        }
+      } else if (hatchChoice === "web") {
+        const browserSupport = await detectBrowserOpenSupport();
+        if (browserSupport.ok) {
+          controlUiOpened = await openUrl(authedUrl);
+          if (!controlUiOpened) {
+            controlUiOpenHint = formatControlUiSshHint({
+              port: settings.port,
+              basePath: controlUiBasePath,
+              token: settings.gatewayToken,
+            });
+          }
+        } else {
+          controlUiOpenHint = formatControlUiSshHint({
+            port: settings.port,
+            basePath: controlUiBasePath,
+            token: settings.gatewayToken,
+          });
+        }
+        await prompter.note(
+          [
+            `Dashboard link (with token): ${authedUrl}`,
+            controlUiOpened
+              ? "Opened in your browser. Keep that tab to control Clawdbot."
+              : "Copy/paste this URL in a browser on this machine to control Clawdbot.",
+            controlUiOpenHint,
+          ]
+            .filter(Boolean)
+            .join("\n"),
+          "Dashboard ready",
+        );
+      } else {
+        await prompter.note(
+          `When you're ready: ${formatCliCommand("clawdbot dashboard --no-open")}`,
+          "Later",
+        );
       }
     } else {
       const browserSupport = await detectBrowserOpenSupport();
@@ -342,9 +410,10 @@ export async function finalizeOnboardingWizard(options: FinalizeOnboardingOption
   );
 
   const shouldOpenControlUi =
-    !opts.skipUi && settings.authMode === "token" && Boolean(settings.gatewayToken);
-  let controlUiOpened = false;
-  let controlUiOpenHint: string | undefined;
+    !opts.skipUi &&
+    settings.authMode === "token" &&
+    Boolean(settings.gatewayToken) &&
+    hatchChoice === null;
   if (shouldOpenControlUi) {
     const browserSupport = await detectBrowserOpenSupport();
     if (browserSupport.ok) {
@@ -406,9 +475,16 @@ export async function finalizeOnboardingWizard(options: FinalizeOnboardingOption
     "Web search (optional)",
   );
 
+  await prompter.note(
+    'What now: https://clawd.bot/showcase ("What People Are Building").',
+    "What now",
+  );
+
   await prompter.outro(
     controlUiOpened
       ? "Onboarding complete. Dashboard opened with your token; keep that tab to control Clawdbot."
-      : "Onboarding complete. Use the tokenized dashboard link above to control Clawdbot.",
+      : seededInBackground
+        ? "Onboarding complete. Web UI seeded in the background; open it anytime with the tokenized link above."
+        : "Onboarding complete. Use the tokenized dashboard link above to control Clawdbot.",
   );
 }

src/wizard/onboarding.test.ts

@@ -177,19 +177,19 @@ describe("runOnboardingWizard", () => {
     const workspaceDir = await fs.mkdtemp(path.join(os.tmpdir(), "clawdbot-onboard-"));
     await fs.writeFile(path.join(workspaceDir, DEFAULT_BOOTSTRAP_FILENAME), "{}");
 
-    const confirm: WizardPrompter["confirm"] = vi.fn(async (opts) => {
-      if (opts.message === "Do you want to hatch your bot now?") return true;
-      return opts.initialValue ?? false;
+    const select: WizardPrompter["select"] = vi.fn(async (opts) => {
+      if (opts.message === "How do you want to hatch your bot?") return "tui";
+      return "quickstart";
     });
 
     const prompter: WizardPrompter = {
       intro: vi.fn(async () => {}),
       outro: vi.fn(async () => {}),
       note: vi.fn(async () => {}),
-      select: vi.fn(async () => "quickstart"),
+      select,
       multiselect: vi.fn(async () => []),
       text: vi.fn(async () => ""),
-      confirm,
+      confirm: vi.fn(async () => false),
       progress: vi.fn(() => ({ update: vi.fn(), stop: vi.fn() })),
     };
 
@@ -267,8 +267,7 @@ describe("runOnboardingWizard", () => {
 
       const calls = (note as unknown as { mock: { calls: unknown[][] } }).mock.calls;
       expect(calls.length).toBeGreaterThan(0);
-      const lastCall = calls[calls.length - 1];
-      expect(lastCall?.[1]).toBe("Web search (optional)");
+      expect(calls.some((call) => call?.[1] === "Web search (optional)")).toBe(true);
     } finally {
       if (prevBraveKey === undefined) {
         delete process.env.BRAVE_API_KEY;