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feat(cron): per-job workdir for project-aware cron runs - #15110

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Apr 24, 2026
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feat(cron): per-job workdir for project-aware cron runs#15110
teknium1 merged 1 commit into
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Cron jobs can now specify a per-job working directory. When set, the job runs as if launched from that directory — AGENTS.md / CLAUDE.md / .cursorrules from that directory are injected into the system prompt, and the terminal / file / code-exec tools use it as their cwd (via TERMINAL_CWD). When unset, old behaviour is preserved.

Requested by @bluthcy on X.

Changes

  • cron/jobs.py: create_job / update_job accept workdir, validated to be an absolute existing directory at create/update time.
  • cron/scheduler.py run_job: if job.workdir is set, point TERMINAL_CWD at it and flip skip_context_files=False before building the agent. Restored in finally on every exit path.
  • cron/scheduler.py tick: workdir jobs run sequentially (outside the thread pool) because TERMINAL_CWD is process-global. Workdir-less jobs still run in the parallel pool unchanged.
  • tools/cronjob_tools.py + hermes_cli/cron.py + hermes_cli/main.py: expose workdir via the cronjob tool and hermes cron create/edit --workdir .... Empty string on edit clears the field.
  • Docs: website/docs/user-guide/features/cron.md — new section with examples and the serialization note.

Usage

# CLI
hermes cron create --workdir /home/me/projects/acme \
  --schedule 'every 1d at 09:00' \
  --prompt 'Audit open PRs, summarize CI, post to #eng'

# From chat — via the cronjob tool
cronjob(action='create', schedule='every 1d at 09:00',
        workdir='/home/me/projects/acme',
        prompt='...')

Validation

  • tests/cron/test_cron_workdir.py (21 tests): normalize, create, update, JSON round-trip via cronjob tool, tick partition (workdir jobs run on the main thread, not the pool), run_job env toggle + restore in finally.
  • Targeted sweep (cron + cronjob tool + cli cron + config-cwd-bridge + worktree): 314/314 passed.
  • Live smoke: hermes cron create --workdir \$(pwd) works; relative path rejected with a clear error; cron list shows Workdir:; cron edit --workdir '' clears.

Design notes

  • Workdir is process-global via TERMINAL_CWD — that's why tick partitions workdir jobs off the parallel pool. Alternative was plumbing a cwd param through AIAgent + 8 tool files (~150 LOC vs 60); rejected as out of scope for the feature's actual usage pattern (users have 1-3 workdir jobs, not 20).
  • Default workdir=None is unchanged: no AGENTS.md injection, no env mutation, same parallel tick behaviour. Zero impact on existing users.

Cron jobs can now specify a per-job working directory. When set, the job
runs as if launched from that directory: AGENTS.md / CLAUDE.md /
.cursorrules from that dir are injected into the system prompt, and the
terminal / file / code-exec tools use it as their cwd (via TERMINAL_CWD).
When unset, old behaviour is preserved (no project context files, tools
use the scheduler's cwd).

Requested by @bluthcy.

## Mechanism

- cron/jobs.py: create_job / update_job accept 'workdir'; validated to
  be an absolute existing directory at create/update time.
- cron/scheduler.py run_job: if job.workdir is set, point TERMINAL_CWD
  at it and flip skip_context_files to False before building the agent.
  Restored in finally on every exit path.
- cron/scheduler.py tick: workdir jobs run sequentially (outside the
  thread pool) because TERMINAL_CWD is process-global. Workdir-less jobs
  still run in the parallel pool unchanged.
- tools/cronjob_tools.py + hermes_cli/cron.py + hermes_cli/main.py:
  expose 'workdir' via the cronjob tool and 'hermes cron create/edit
  --workdir ...'. Empty string on edit clears the field.

## Validation

- tests/cron/test_cron_workdir.py (21 tests): normalize, create, update,
  JSON round-trip via cronjob tool, tick partition (workdir jobs run on
  the main thread, not the pool), run_job env toggle + restore in finally.
- Full targeted suite (tests/cron/, test_cronjob_tools.py, test_cron.py,
  test_config_cwd_bridge.py, test_worktree.py): 314/314 passed.
- Live smoke: hermes cron create --workdir $(pwd) works; relative path
  rejected; list shows 'Workdir:'; edit --workdir '' clears.
@teknium1
teknium1 merged commit 852c7f3 into main Apr 24, 2026
10 of 12 checks passed
@teknium1
teknium1 deleted the hermes/hermes-d1333333 branch April 24, 2026 12:07
@alt-glitch alt-glitch added type/feature New feature or request P3 Low — cosmetic, nice to have comp/cron Cron scheduler and job management comp/cli CLI entry point, hermes_cli/, setup wizard labels Apr 24, 2026
nekorytaylor666 pushed a commit to nekorytaylor666/hermes-agent that referenced this pull request Apr 24, 2026
…#15110)

Cron jobs can now specify a per-job working directory. When set, the job
runs as if launched from that directory: AGENTS.md / CLAUDE.md /
.cursorrules from that dir are injected into the system prompt, and the
terminal / file / code-exec tools use it as their cwd (via TERMINAL_CWD).
When unset, old behaviour is preserved (no project context files, tools
use the scheduler's cwd).

Requested by @bluthcy.

## Mechanism

- cron/jobs.py: create_job / update_job accept 'workdir'; validated to
  be an absolute existing directory at create/update time.
- cron/scheduler.py run_job: if job.workdir is set, point TERMINAL_CWD
  at it and flip skip_context_files to False before building the agent.
  Restored in finally on every exit path.
- cron/scheduler.py tick: workdir jobs run sequentially (outside the
  thread pool) because TERMINAL_CWD is process-global. Workdir-less jobs
  still run in the parallel pool unchanged.
- tools/cronjob_tools.py + hermes_cli/cron.py + hermes_cli/main.py:
  expose 'workdir' via the cronjob tool and 'hermes cron create/edit
  --workdir ...'. Empty string on edit clears the field.

## Validation

- tests/cron/test_cron_workdir.py (21 tests): normalize, create, update,
  JSON round-trip via cronjob tool, tick partition (workdir jobs run on
  the main thread, not the pool), run_job env toggle + restore in finally.
- Full targeted suite (tests/cron/, test_cronjob_tools.py, test_cron.py,
  test_config_cwd_bridge.py, test_worktree.py): 314/314 passed.
- Live smoke: hermes cron create --workdir $(pwd) works; relative path
  rejected; list shows 'Workdir:'; edit --workdir '' clears.
justrhoto pushed a commit to justrhoto/hermes-agent that referenced this pull request Apr 24, 2026
…#15110)

Cron jobs can now specify a per-job working directory. When set, the job
runs as if launched from that directory: AGENTS.md / CLAUDE.md /
.cursorrules from that dir are injected into the system prompt, and the
terminal / file / code-exec tools use it as their cwd (via TERMINAL_CWD).
When unset, old behaviour is preserved (no project context files, tools
use the scheduler's cwd).

Requested by @bluthcy.

## Mechanism

- cron/jobs.py: create_job / update_job accept 'workdir'; validated to
  be an absolute existing directory at create/update time.
- cron/scheduler.py run_job: if job.workdir is set, point TERMINAL_CWD
  at it and flip skip_context_files to False before building the agent.
  Restored in finally on every exit path.
- cron/scheduler.py tick: workdir jobs run sequentially (outside the
  thread pool) because TERMINAL_CWD is process-global. Workdir-less jobs
  still run in the parallel pool unchanged.
- tools/cronjob_tools.py + hermes_cli/cron.py + hermes_cli/main.py:
  expose 'workdir' via the cronjob tool and 'hermes cron create/edit
  --workdir ...'. Empty string on edit clears the field.

## Validation

- tests/cron/test_cron_workdir.py (21 tests): normalize, create, update,
  JSON round-trip via cronjob tool, tick partition (workdir jobs run on
  the main thread, not the pool), run_job env toggle + restore in finally.
- Full targeted suite (tests/cron/, test_cronjob_tools.py, test_cron.py,
  test_config_cwd_bridge.py, test_worktree.py): 314/314 passed.
- Live smoke: hermes cron create --workdir $(pwd) works; relative path
  rejected; list shows 'Workdir:'; edit --workdir '' clears.
aj-nt pushed a commit to aj-nt/hermes-agent that referenced this pull request May 1, 2026
…#15110)

Cron jobs can now specify a per-job working directory. When set, the job
runs as if launched from that directory: AGENTS.md / CLAUDE.md /
.cursorrules from that dir are injected into the system prompt, and the
terminal / file / code-exec tools use it as their cwd (via TERMINAL_CWD).
When unset, old behaviour is preserved (no project context files, tools
use the scheduler's cwd).

Requested by @bluthcy.

## Mechanism

- cron/jobs.py: create_job / update_job accept 'workdir'; validated to
  be an absolute existing directory at create/update time.
- cron/scheduler.py run_job: if job.workdir is set, point TERMINAL_CWD
  at it and flip skip_context_files to False before building the agent.
  Restored in finally on every exit path.
- cron/scheduler.py tick: workdir jobs run sequentially (outside the
  thread pool) because TERMINAL_CWD is process-global. Workdir-less jobs
  still run in the parallel pool unchanged.
- tools/cronjob_tools.py + hermes_cli/cron.py + hermes_cli/main.py:
  expose 'workdir' via the cronjob tool and 'hermes cron create/edit
  --workdir ...'. Empty string on edit clears the field.

## Validation

- tests/cron/test_cron_workdir.py (21 tests): normalize, create, update,
  JSON round-trip via cronjob tool, tick partition (workdir jobs run on
  the main thread, not the pool), run_job env toggle + restore in finally.
- Full targeted suite (tests/cron/, test_cronjob_tools.py, test_cron.py,
  test_config_cwd_bridge.py, test_worktree.py): 314/314 passed.
- Live smoke: hermes cron create --workdir $(pwd) works; relative path
  rejected; list shows 'Workdir:'; edit --workdir '' clears.
donald131 pushed a commit to donald131/hermes-agent that referenced this pull request May 2, 2026
…#15110)

Cron jobs can now specify a per-job working directory. When set, the job
runs as if launched from that directory: AGENTS.md / CLAUDE.md /
.cursorrules from that dir are injected into the system prompt, and the
terminal / file / code-exec tools use it as their cwd (via TERMINAL_CWD).
When unset, old behaviour is preserved (no project context files, tools
use the scheduler's cwd).

Requested by @bluthcy.

## Mechanism

- cron/jobs.py: create_job / update_job accept 'workdir'; validated to
  be an absolute existing directory at create/update time.
- cron/scheduler.py run_job: if job.workdir is set, point TERMINAL_CWD
  at it and flip skip_context_files to False before building the agent.
  Restored in finally on every exit path.
- cron/scheduler.py tick: workdir jobs run sequentially (outside the
  thread pool) because TERMINAL_CWD is process-global. Workdir-less jobs
  still run in the parallel pool unchanged.
- tools/cronjob_tools.py + hermes_cli/cron.py + hermes_cli/main.py:
  expose 'workdir' via the cronjob tool and 'hermes cron create/edit
  --workdir ...'. Empty string on edit clears the field.

## Validation

- tests/cron/test_cron_workdir.py (21 tests): normalize, create, update,
  JSON round-trip via cronjob tool, tick partition (workdir jobs run on
  the main thread, not the pool), run_job env toggle + restore in finally.
- Full targeted suite (tests/cron/, test_cronjob_tools.py, test_cron.py,
  test_config_cwd_bridge.py, test_worktree.py): 314/314 passed.
- Live smoke: hermes cron create --workdir $(pwd) works; relative path
  rejected; list shows 'Workdir:'; edit --workdir '' clears.
02356abc pushed a commit to 02356abc/hermes-agent that referenced this pull request May 14, 2026
…#15110)

Cron jobs can now specify a per-job working directory. When set, the job
runs as if launched from that directory: AGENTS.md / CLAUDE.md /
.cursorrules from that dir are injected into the system prompt, and the
terminal / file / code-exec tools use it as their cwd (via TERMINAL_CWD).
When unset, old behaviour is preserved (no project context files, tools
use the scheduler's cwd).

Requested by @bluthcy.

## Mechanism

- cron/jobs.py: create_job / update_job accept 'workdir'; validated to
  be an absolute existing directory at create/update time.
- cron/scheduler.py run_job: if job.workdir is set, point TERMINAL_CWD
  at it and flip skip_context_files to False before building the agent.
  Restored in finally on every exit path.
- cron/scheduler.py tick: workdir jobs run sequentially (outside the
  thread pool) because TERMINAL_CWD is process-global. Workdir-less jobs
  still run in the parallel pool unchanged.
- tools/cronjob_tools.py + hermes_cli/cron.py + hermes_cli/main.py:
  expose 'workdir' via the cronjob tool and 'hermes cron create/edit
  --workdir ...'. Empty string on edit clears the field.

## Validation

- tests/cron/test_cron_workdir.py (21 tests): normalize, create, update,
  JSON round-trip via cronjob tool, tick partition (workdir jobs run on
  the main thread, not the pool), run_job env toggle + restore in finally.
- Full targeted suite (tests/cron/, test_cronjob_tools.py, test_cron.py,
  test_config_cwd_bridge.py, test_worktree.py): 314/314 passed.
- Live smoke: hermes cron create --workdir $(pwd) works; relative path
  rejected; list shows 'Workdir:'; edit --workdir '' clears.
gweeteve pushed a commit to gweeteve/hermes-agent that referenced this pull request Jun 2, 2026
…#15110)

Cron jobs can now specify a per-job working directory. When set, the job
runs as if launched from that directory: AGENTS.md / CLAUDE.md /
.cursorrules from that dir are injected into the system prompt, and the
terminal / file / code-exec tools use it as their cwd (via TERMINAL_CWD).
When unset, old behaviour is preserved (no project context files, tools
use the scheduler's cwd).

Requested by @bluthcy.

## Mechanism

- cron/jobs.py: create_job / update_job accept 'workdir'; validated to
  be an absolute existing directory at create/update time.
- cron/scheduler.py run_job: if job.workdir is set, point TERMINAL_CWD
  at it and flip skip_context_files to False before building the agent.
  Restored in finally on every exit path.
- cron/scheduler.py tick: workdir jobs run sequentially (outside the
  thread pool) because TERMINAL_CWD is process-global. Workdir-less jobs
  still run in the parallel pool unchanged.
- tools/cronjob_tools.py + hermes_cli/cron.py + hermes_cli/main.py:
  expose 'workdir' via the cronjob tool and 'hermes cron create/edit
  --workdir ...'. Empty string on edit clears the field.

## Validation

- tests/cron/test_cron_workdir.py (21 tests): normalize, create, update,
  JSON round-trip via cronjob tool, tick partition (workdir jobs run on
  the main thread, not the pool), run_job env toggle + restore in finally.
- Full targeted suite (tests/cron/, test_cronjob_tools.py, test_cron.py,
  test_config_cwd_bridge.py, test_worktree.py): 314/314 passed.
- Live smoke: hermes cron create --workdir $(pwd) works; relative path
  rejected; list shows 'Workdir:'; edit --workdir '' clears.
waefrebeorn pushed a commit to waefrebeorn/slermes that referenced this pull request Jul 2, 2026
…#15110)

Cron jobs can now specify a per-job working directory. When set, the job
runs as if launched from that directory: AGENTS.md / CLAUDE.md /
.cursorrules from that dir are injected into the system prompt, and the
terminal / file / code-exec tools use it as their cwd (via TERMINAL_CWD).
When unset, old behaviour is preserved (no project context files, tools
use the scheduler's cwd).

Requested by @bluthcy.

## Mechanism

- cron/jobs.py: create_job / update_job accept 'workdir'; validated to
  be an absolute existing directory at create/update time.
- cron/scheduler.py run_job: if job.workdir is set, point TERMINAL_CWD
  at it and flip skip_context_files to False before building the agent.
  Restored in finally on every exit path.
- cron/scheduler.py tick: workdir jobs run sequentially (outside the
  thread pool) because TERMINAL_CWD is process-global. Workdir-less jobs
  still run in the parallel pool unchanged.
- tools/cronjob_tools.py + hermes_cli/cron.py + hermes_cli/main.py:
  expose 'workdir' via the cronjob tool and 'hermes cron create/edit
  --workdir ...'. Empty string on edit clears the field.

## Validation

- tests/cron/test_cron_workdir.py (21 tests): normalize, create, update,
  JSON round-trip via cronjob tool, tick partition (workdir jobs run on
  the main thread, not the pool), run_job env toggle + restore in finally.
- Full targeted suite (tests/cron/, test_cronjob_tools.py, test_cron.py,
  test_config_cwd_bridge.py, test_worktree.py): 314/314 passed.
- Live smoke: hermes cron create --workdir $(pwd) works; relative path
  rejected; list shows 'Workdir:'; edit --workdir '' clears.
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comp/cli CLI entry point, hermes_cli/, setup wizard comp/cron Cron scheduler and job management P3 Low — cosmetic, nice to have type/feature New feature or request

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