feat: add kickstart prompt and auto-compact context options

Kickstart Prompt:
- Remove Idle Timeout setting from respawn UI (uses 10s default)
- Add Kickstart Prompt field sent when /init doesn't trigger work
- New states: monitoring_init, sending_kickstart, waiting_kickstart
- Monitors 3s after /init to detect if Claude started working

Auto-Compact Context:
- Add auto-compact at 110k tokens (sends /compact with optional prompt)
- Preserves summarized context unlike /clear which wipes everything
- Optional focus prompt to guide what compact should preserve
- Blocks auto-clear while compacting to prevent conflicts

Also updates auto-clear default threshold from 100k to 140k tokens.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>

CLAUDE.md

@@ -73,9 +73,9 @@ src/
 
 ### Key Components
 
-- **Session** (`src/session.ts`): Wraps Claude CLI as PTY subprocess. Two modes: `runPrompt(prompt)` for one-shot, `startInteractive()` for persistent terminal. Emits events: `output`, `terminal`, `message`, `completion`, `exit`, `idle`, `working`, `autoClear`, `clearTerminal`.
+- **Session** (`src/session.ts`): Wraps Claude CLI as PTY subprocess. Two modes: `runPrompt(prompt)` for one-shot, `startInteractive()` for persistent terminal. Emits events: `output`, `terminal`, `message`, `completion`, `exit`, `idle`, `working`, `autoClear`, `autoCompact`, `clearTerminal`.
 
-- **RespawnController** (`src/respawn-controller.ts`): State machine that keeps sessions productive. Detects idle → sends update prompt → optionally `/clear` → optionally `/init` → repeats. State flow: `WATCHING → SENDING_UPDATE → WAITING_UPDATE → SENDING_CLEAR → WAITING_CLEAR → SENDING_INIT → WAITING_INIT → WATCHING`
+- **RespawnController** (`src/respawn-controller.ts`): State machine that keeps sessions productive. Detects idle → sends update prompt → optionally `/clear` → optionally `/init` → optionally kickstart prompt → repeats. State flow: `WATCHING → SENDING_UPDATE → WAITING_UPDATE → SENDING_CLEAR → WAITING_CLEAR → SENDING_INIT → WAITING_INIT → MONITORING_INIT → (optional) SENDING_KICKSTART → WAITING_KICKSTART → WATCHING`
 
 - **ScreenManager** (`src/screen-manager.ts`): Wraps sessions in GNU screen for persistence across server restarts. On startup, reconciles with `screen -ls` to restore sessions and discovers unknown "ghost" screens. Uses 4-strategy kill process to prevent orphaned claude processes.
 
@@ -140,6 +140,15 @@ pty.spawn('claude', ['--dangerously-skip-permissions'], { ... })
 - **One-shot mode**: Uses `--output-format stream-json` for detailed token usage from JSON
 - **Interactive mode**: Parses tokens from Claude's status line (e.g., "123.4k tokens"), estimates 60/40 input/output split
 
+### Auto-Compact & Auto-Clear
+
+Sessions support automatic context management when token thresholds are reached:
+
+- **Auto-Compact** (default: 110k tokens): Sends `/compact` command with optional prompt to summarize context
+- **Auto-Clear** (default: 140k tokens): Sends `/clear` to reset context entirely
+
+Both wait for Claude to be idle before executing. Auto-compact runs first if both are enabled. Configured via `session.setAutoCompact(enabled, threshold?, prompt?)` and `session.setAutoClear(enabled, threshold?)`.
+
 ### Terminal Display Fix (Tab Switch & New Session)
 
 When switching tabs or creating new sessions, terminal may be rendered at wrong size. Fix sequence:
@@ -154,7 +163,7 @@ Uses `pendingCtrlL` Set to track sessions needing the fix. Waits for `session:id
 
 All events broadcast to `/api/events` with format: `{ type: string, sessionId?: string, data: any }`.
 
-Event prefixes: `session:`, `task:`, `respawn:`, `scheduled:`, `case:`, `init`. Key events: `session:idle`, `session:working`, `session:terminal`, `session:clearTerminal`, `session:completion`.
+Event prefixes: `session:`, `task:`, `respawn:`, `scheduled:`, `case:`, `screen:`, `init`. Key events: `session:idle`, `session:working`, `session:terminal`, `session:clearTerminal`, `session:completion`, `session:autoClear`, `session:autoCompact`.
 
 ### Frontend (app.js)
 

src/respawn-controller.ts

@@ -17,17 +17,20 @@ const READY_INDICATOR = '↵ send';
  * Respawn sequence states
  *
  * The controller cycles through these states:
- * WATCHING → SENDING_UPDATE → WAITING_UPDATE → SENDING_CLEAR → WAITING_CLEAR → SENDING_INIT → WAITING_INIT → WATCHING
+ * WATCHING → SENDING_UPDATE → WAITING_UPDATE → SENDING_CLEAR → WAITING_CLEAR → SENDING_INIT → WAITING_INIT → MONITORING_INIT → (maybe SENDING_KICKSTART → WAITING_KICKSTART) → WATCHING
  */
 export type RespawnState =
-  | 'watching'        // Watching for idle, ready to start respawn sequence
-  | 'sending_update'  // About to send the update docs prompt
-  | 'waiting_update'  // Waiting for update to complete
-  | 'sending_clear'   // About to send /clear
-  | 'waiting_clear'   // Waiting for clear to complete
-  | 'sending_init'    // About to send /init
-  | 'waiting_init'    // Waiting for init to complete
-  | 'stopped';        // Controller stopped
+  | 'watching'           // Watching for idle, ready to start respawn sequence
+  | 'sending_update'     // About to send the update docs prompt
+  | 'waiting_update'     // Waiting for update to complete
+  | 'sending_clear'      // About to send /clear
+  | 'waiting_clear'      // Waiting for clear to complete
+  | 'sending_init'       // About to send /init
+  | 'waiting_init'       // Waiting for init to complete
+  | 'monitoring_init'    // Monitoring if /init triggered work
+  | 'sending_kickstart'  // About to send kickstart prompt
+  | 'waiting_kickstart'  // Waiting for kickstart to complete
+  | 'stopped';           // Controller stopped
 
 export interface RespawnConfig {
   /** How long to wait after seeing prompt before considering truly idle (ms) */
@@ -42,6 +45,8 @@ export interface RespawnConfig {
   sendClear: boolean;
   /** Whether to send /init after /clear */
   sendInit: boolean;
+  /** Optional prompt to send if /init doesn't trigger work */
+  kickstartPrompt?: string;
 }
 
 export interface RespawnEvents {
@@ -210,6 +215,13 @@ export class RespawnController extends EventEmitter {
       this.promptDetected = false;
       this.lastActivityTime = Date.now();
       this.clearIdleTimer();
+
+      // If we're monitoring init and work started, go to watching (no kickstart needed)
+      if (this._state === 'monitoring_init') {
+        this.log('/init triggered work, skipping kickstart');
+        this.emit('stepCompleted', 'init');
+        this.completeCycle();
+      }
       return;
     }
 
@@ -235,6 +247,12 @@ export class RespawnController extends EventEmitter {
         case 'waiting_init':
           this.checkInitComplete();
           break;
+        case 'monitoring_init':
+          this.checkMonitoringInitIdle();
+          break;
+        case 'waiting_kickstart':
+          this.checkKickstartComplete();
+          break;
       }
       return;
     }
@@ -287,7 +305,61 @@ export class RespawnController extends EventEmitter {
   private checkInitComplete(): void {
     this.clearIdleTimer();
     this.log('/init completed (ready indicator)');
+
+    // If kickstart prompt is configured, monitor to see if /init triggered work
+    if (this.config.kickstartPrompt) {
+      this.startMonitoringInit();
+    } else {
+      this.emit('stepCompleted', 'init');
+      this.completeCycle();
+    }
+  }
+
+  private startMonitoringInit(): void {
+    this.setState('monitoring_init');
+    this.terminalBuffer = '';
+    this.workingDetected = false;
+    this.log('Monitoring if /init triggered work...');
+
+    // Give Claude a moment to start working before checking for idle
+    this.stepTimer = setTimeout(() => {
+      // If still in monitoring state and no work detected, consider it idle
+      if (this._state === 'monitoring_init' && !this.workingDetected) {
+        this.checkMonitoringInitIdle();
+      }
+    }, 3000); // 3 second grace period for /init to trigger work
+  }
+
+  private checkMonitoringInitIdle(): void {
+    this.clearIdleTimer();
+    if (this.stepTimer) {
+      clearTimeout(this.stepTimer);
+      this.stepTimer = null;
+    }
+    this.log('/init did not trigger work, sending kickstart prompt');
     this.emit('stepCompleted', 'init');
+    this.sendKickstart();
+  }
+
+  private sendKickstart(): void {
+    this.setState('sending_kickstart');
+    this.terminalBuffer = '';
+
+    this.stepTimer = setTimeout(() => {
+      const prompt = this.config.kickstartPrompt!;
+      this.log(`Sending kickstart prompt: "${prompt}"`);
+      this.session.write(prompt + '\n');
+      this.emit('stepSent', 'kickstart', prompt);
+      this.setState('waiting_kickstart');
+      this.promptDetected = false;
+      this.workingDetected = false;
+    }, this.config.interStepDelayMs);
+  }
+
+  private checkKickstartComplete(): void {
+    this.clearIdleTimer();
+    this.log('Kickstart completed (ready indicator)');
+    this.emit('stepCompleted', 'kickstart');
     this.completeCycle();
   }
 

src/session.ts

@@ -62,6 +62,8 @@ export interface SessionEvents {
   taskFailed: (task: BackgroundTask, error: string) => void;
   // Auto-clear event
   autoClear: (data: { tokens: number; threshold: number }) => void;
+  // Auto-compact event
+  autoCompact: (data: { tokens: number; threshold: number; prompt?: string }) => void;
 }
 
 export type SessionMode = 'claude' | 'shell';
@@ -97,10 +99,16 @@ export class Session extends EventEmitter {
   // Token tracking for auto-clear
   private _totalInputTokens: number = 0;
   private _totalOutputTokens: number = 0;
-  private _autoClearThreshold: number = 100000; // Default 100k tokens
+  private _autoClearThreshold: number = 140000; // Default 140k tokens
   private _autoClearEnabled: boolean = false;
   private _isClearing: boolean = false; // Prevent recursive clearing
 
+  // Auto-compact settings
+  private _autoCompactThreshold: number = 110000; // Default 110k tokens (lower than clear)
+  private _autoCompactEnabled: boolean = false;
+  private _autoCompactPrompt: string = ''; // Optional prompt for compact
+  private _isCompacting: boolean = false; // Prevent recursive compacting
+
   // Screen session support
   private _screenManager: ScreenManager | null = null;
   private _screenSession: ScreenSession | null = null;
@@ -235,6 +243,28 @@ export class Session extends EventEmitter {
     }
   }
 
+  get autoCompactThreshold(): number {
+    return this._autoCompactThreshold;
+  }
+
+  get autoCompactEnabled(): boolean {
+    return this._autoCompactEnabled;
+  }
+
+  get autoCompactPrompt(): string {
+    return this._autoCompactPrompt;
+  }
+
+  setAutoCompact(enabled: boolean, threshold?: number, prompt?: string): void {
+    this._autoCompactEnabled = enabled;
+    if (threshold !== undefined) {
+      this._autoCompactThreshold = threshold;
+    }
+    if (prompt !== undefined) {
+      this._autoCompactPrompt = prompt;
+    }
+  }
+
   isIdle(): boolean {
     return this._status === 'idle';
   }
@@ -694,7 +724,8 @@ export class Session extends EventEmitter {
               this._totalInputTokens += msg.message.usage.input_tokens || 0;
               this._totalOutputTokens += msg.message.usage.output_tokens || 0;
 
-              // Check if we should auto-clear
+              // Check if we should auto-compact or auto-clear
+              this.checkAutoCompact();
               this.checkAutoClear();
             }
           }
@@ -748,15 +779,54 @@ export class Session extends EventEmitter {
         this._totalInputTokens += Math.round(delta * 0.6);
         this._totalOutputTokens += Math.round(delta * 0.4);
 
-        // Check if we should auto-clear
+        // Check if we should auto-compact or auto-clear
+        this.checkAutoCompact();
         this.checkAutoClear();
       }
     }
   }
 
+  // Check if we should auto-compact based on token threshold
+  private checkAutoCompact(): void {
+    if (!this._autoCompactEnabled || this._isCompacting || this._isClearing) return;
+
+    const totalTokens = this._totalInputTokens + this._totalOutputTokens;
+    if (totalTokens >= this._autoCompactThreshold) {
+      this._isCompacting = true;
+      console.log(`[Session] Auto-compact triggered: ${totalTokens} tokens >= ${this._autoCompactThreshold} threshold`);
+
+      // Wait for Claude to be idle before compacting
+      const checkAndCompact = () => {
+        if (!this._isWorking) {
+          // Send /compact command with optional prompt
+          const compactCmd = this._autoCompactPrompt
+            ? `/compact ${this._autoCompactPrompt}\n`
+            : '/compact\n';
+          this.write(compactCmd);
+          this.emit('autoCompact', {
+            tokens: totalTokens,
+            threshold: this._autoCompactThreshold,
+            prompt: this._autoCompactPrompt || undefined
+          });
+
+          // Wait a moment then re-enable (longer than clear since compact takes time)
+          setTimeout(() => {
+            this._isCompacting = false;
+          }, 10000);
+        } else {
+          // Check again in 2 seconds
+          setTimeout(checkAndCompact, 2000);
+        }
+      };
+
+      // Start checking after a short delay
+      setTimeout(checkAndCompact, 1000);
+    }
+  }
+
   // Check if we should auto-clear based on token threshold
   private checkAutoClear(): void {
-    if (!this._autoClearEnabled || this._isClearing) return;
+    if (!this._autoClearEnabled || this._isClearing || this._isCompacting) return;
 
     const totalTokens = this._totalInputTokens + this._totalOutputTokens;
     if (totalTokens >= this._autoClearThreshold) {

src/types.ts

@@ -74,6 +74,8 @@ export interface RespawnConfig {
   sendClear: boolean;
   /** Whether to send /init after /clear */
   sendInit: boolean;
+  /** Optional prompt to send if /init doesn't trigger work */
+  kickstartPrompt?: string;
 }
 
 export interface AppConfig {

src/web/public/app.js

@@ -1264,22 +1264,32 @@ class ClaudemanApp {
   // Get respawn config from modal inputs
   getModalRespawnConfig() {
     const updatePrompt = document.getElementById('modalRespawnPrompt').value;
-    const idleTimeout = parseInt(document.getElementById('modalRespawnIdleTimeout').value) || 5;
     const sendClear = document.getElementById('modalRespawnSendClear').checked;
     const sendInit = document.getElementById('modalRespawnSendInit').checked;
+    const kickstartPrompt = document.getElementById('modalRespawnKickstart').value.trim() || undefined;
     const durationStr = document.getElementById('modalRespawnDuration').value;
     const durationMinutes = durationStr ? parseInt(durationStr) : null;
+
+    // Auto-compact settings
+    const autoCompactEnabled = document.getElementById('modalAutoCompactEnabled').checked;
+    const autoCompactThreshold = parseInt(document.getElementById('modalAutoCompactThreshold').value) || 110000;
+    const autoCompactPrompt = document.getElementById('modalAutoCompactPrompt').value.trim() || undefined;
+
+    // Auto-clear settings
     const autoClearEnabled = document.getElementById('modalAutoClearEnabled').checked;
-    const autoClearThreshold = parseInt(document.getElementById('modalAutoClearThreshold').value) || 100000;
+    const autoClearThreshold = parseInt(document.getElementById('modalAutoClearThreshold').value) || 140000;
 
     return {
       respawnConfig: {
         updatePrompt,
-        idleTimeoutMs: idleTimeout * 1000,
         sendClear,
         sendInit,
+        kickstartPrompt,
       },
       durationMinutes,
+      autoCompactEnabled,
+      autoCompactThreshold,
+      autoCompactPrompt,
       autoClearEnabled,
       autoClearThreshold
     };
@@ -1291,7 +1301,15 @@ class ClaudemanApp {
       return;
     }
 
-    const { respawnConfig, durationMinutes, autoClearEnabled, autoClearThreshold } = this.getModalRespawnConfig();
+    const {
+      respawnConfig,
+      durationMinutes,
+      autoCompactEnabled,
+      autoCompactThreshold,
+      autoCompactPrompt,
+      autoClearEnabled,
+      autoClearThreshold
+    } = this.getModalRespawnConfig();
 
     try {
       // Enable respawn on the session
@@ -1303,6 +1321,15 @@ class ClaudemanApp {
       const data = await res.json();
       if (data.error) throw new Error(data.error);
 
+      // Set auto-compact if enabled
+      if (autoCompactEnabled) {
+        await fetch(`/api/sessions/${this.editingSessionId}/auto-compact`, {
+          method: 'POST',
+          headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
+          body: JSON.stringify({ enabled: true, threshold: autoCompactThreshold, prompt: autoCompactPrompt })
+        });
+      }
+
       // Set auto-clear if enabled
       if (autoClearEnabled) {
         await fetch(`/api/sessions/${this.editingSessionId}/auto-clear`, {

src/web/public/index.html

@@ -204,14 +204,6 @@
               <input type="text" id="modalRespawnPrompt" value="update all the docs and CLAUDE.md" placeholder="Prompt to send when idle">
             </div>
 
-            <div class="form-row">
-              <label>Idle Timeout</label>
-              <div class="input-suffix">
-                <input type="number" id="modalRespawnIdleTimeout" value="5" min="1" max="60">
-                <span>sec</span>
-              </div>
-            </div>
-
             <div class="form-row">
               <label>Run Duration</label>
               <div class="input-suffix">
@@ -235,6 +227,28 @@
               </div>
             </div>
 
+            <div class="form-row">
+              <label>Kickstart Prompt</label>
+              <input type="text" id="modalRespawnKickstart" value="" placeholder="Optional: prompt if /init doesn't trigger work">
+              <span class="form-hint">Sent only when /init completes but Claude stays idle</span>
+            </div>
+
+            <div class="form-row">
+              <label>Auto-Compact Context</label>
+              <div class="auto-clear-row">
+                <label class="checkbox-inline">
+                  <input type="checkbox" id="modalAutoCompactEnabled">
+                  <span>Enable at</span>
+                </label>
+                <div class="input-suffix input-suffix-sm">
+                  <input type="number" id="modalAutoCompactThreshold" value="110000" min="10000" max="500000" step="10000">
+                  <span>tokens</span>
+                </div>
+              </div>
+              <input type="text" id="modalAutoCompactPrompt" value="" placeholder="Optional: focus prompt for compact" class="mt-sm">
+              <span class="form-hint">Summarizes context while preserving key information</span>
+            </div>
+
             <div class="form-row">
               <label>Auto-Clear Context</label>
               <div class="auto-clear-row">
@@ -243,10 +257,11 @@
                   <span>Enable at</span>
                 </label>
                 <div class="input-suffix input-suffix-sm">
-                  <input type="number" id="modalAutoClearThreshold" value="100000" min="10000" max="500000" step="10000">
+                  <input type="number" id="modalAutoClearThreshold" value="140000" min="10000" max="500000" step="10000">
                   <span>tokens</span>
                 </div>
               </div>
+              <span class="form-hint">Completely resets context (use higher threshold than compact)</span>
             </div>
 
             <div class="respawn-actions">

src/web/public/styles.css

@@ -21,6 +21,9 @@
 
 * { box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0; padding: 0; }
 
+/* Utility classes */
+.mt-sm { margin-top: 0.5rem; }
+
 body {
   font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', sans-serif;
   background: var(--bg-dark);

src/web/server.ts

@@ -515,6 +515,29 @@ export class WebServer extends EventEmitter {
       };
     });
 
+    // Set auto-compact on a session
+    this.app.post('/api/sessions/:id/auto-compact', async (req) => {
+      const { id } = req.params as { id: string };
+      const body = req.body as { enabled: boolean; threshold?: number; prompt?: string };
+      const session = this.sessions.get(id);
+
+      if (!session) {
+        return { error: 'Session not found' };
+      }
+
+      session.setAutoCompact(body.enabled, body.threshold, body.prompt);
+      this.broadcast('session:updated', session.toDetailedState());
+
+      return {
+        success: true,
+        autoCompact: {
+          enabled: session.autoCompactEnabled,
+          threshold: session.autoCompactThreshold,
+          prompt: session.autoCompactPrompt,
+        },
+      };
+    });
+
     // Quick run (create session, run prompt, return result, then cleanup)
     this.app.post('/api/run', async (req) => {
       // Prevent unbounded session creation
@@ -912,6 +935,11 @@ export class WebServer extends EventEmitter {
       this.broadcast('session:autoClear', { sessionId: session.id, ...data });
       this.broadcast('session:updated', session.toDetailedState());
     });
+
+    session.on('autoCompact', (data: { tokens: number; threshold: number; prompt?: string }) => {
+      this.broadcast('session:autoCompact', { sessionId: session.id, ...data });
+      this.broadcast('session:updated', session.toDetailedState());
+    });
   }
 
   private setupRespawnListeners(sessionId: string, controller: RespawnController): void {