prompt

name: prompt description: Prompt engineering conventions for x-cmd — reuse via template variables, structure rules, safety enforcement patterns.

Core principle: reuse, don't duplicate

Prompts in x-cmd are assembled from reusable fragments, not written as monoliths. A prompt template contains <PLACEHOLDER> variables that are resolved at runtime by the shell module.

Example from claw:

first_contact.md          # standalone — loaded into <FIRST_CONTACT_PROMPT>
msg_telegram.md           # assembles: <FIRST_CONTACT_PROMPT> + <CHECK_PROMPT> + <MSG>
msg_feishu.md             # same fragments, different platform adapter
heartbeat.md              # different workflow, shares <CHECK_PROMPT>

Why: one fix propagates everywhere. Platform adapters (Telegram, Feishu, WeChat) share behavioral rules but differ in send commands and formatting limits.

See reusing.md for detailed reuse patterns.

Structure rules

Each prompt file is a complete, self-contained instruction set for one scenario
Use <UPPER_CASE> placeholders for variables — never inline real data
Placeholders are resolved by the calling module, not the prompt itself
Fragment = function (logic and flow), data is appended at runtime (like setting arguments)

Safety enforcement pattern

Safety and behavioral rules MUST be explicit and forceful:

=== UNBREAKABLE RULES ===
>> RULE 1: Your stdout is INVISIBLE. Every reply MUST use send command. <<
>> RULE 2: Reply FIRST, think SECOND. For non-trivial tasks, send ack immediately. <<
>> RULE 3: Complex/long tasks → use `x agent run`. DO NOT block user. <<

Use MUST, NEVER, DO NOT. See skill0-writer for the security language rule.

Format guide pattern

When prompts target multiple platforms with different formatting capabilities:

FORMAT GUIDE:
- WeChat / Enterprise WeChat: Limited formatting. Plain text, lists, emoji. No tables.
- Telegram: Full markdown including tables. Max 4096 chars.
- Feishu: Full markdown. Card messages need JSON.

Real examples

Prompt fragments currently live in each module's lib/data/prompt/ (e.g., claw/lib/data/prompt/). They will migrate to skill0/lib/skill0/<subskill>/ — same structure, canonical location.

Current examples in claw/lib/data/prompt/:

first_contact.md — new workspace greeting, reusable fragment
heartbeat.md — background agent, reads workspace state
msg_<platform>.md — per-platform message handlers, share common fragments