Align Dynamic Task Interface with Recipe Interface by tlongwell-block · Pull Request #4311 · block/goose

tlongwell-block · 2025-08-24T18:29:14Z

Summary

This PR unifies the dynamic task and subrecipe systems by treating dynamic tasks as inline recipes, enabling agents to leverage the full power of the recipe infrastructure without requiring recipe files.

Key Changes

1. Unified Task Format

Dynamic tasks now accept all recipe fields (instructions, prompt, extensions, settings, retry, response schema, etc.), providing agents with ad-hoc access to recipe capabilities previously only available through recipe files.

2. Extension Control

Agents can now precisely control subagent extensions:

Omit field: Use all current extensions (backward compatible)
Empty array []: No extensions (sandboxed execution)
Array with names: Only specified extensions

This addresses a critical bug where subagents always loaded all enabled extensions regardless of task specification.

3. Output Control

Added return_last_only flag allowing agents to receive only the final message from subagents instead of the full conversation, reducing token usage and improving efficiency when intermediate steps aren't needed.

Benefits

Performance

Reduced token consumption in calling agent with selective output
Lower overhead by loading only required extensions
Efficient subagent execution with precise resource control

Safety

Sandboxed execution with no extensions when needed
Explicit extension control prevents unintended capabilities
Security validation inherited from recipe infrastructure

Power

Full recipe features available without file creation
Model/provider settings per task

Implementation Details

The implementation leverages existing recipe validation and building infrastructure, requiring minimal new code (~300 lines). Dynamic tasks are converted to inline recipes internally, maintaining backward compatibility while providing forward-looking capabilities.

Technical Approach

Extended TaskConfig to include extensions field
Modified SubAgent::new() to respect specified extensions
Enhanced dynamic task tool to accept all recipe fields
Reused existing recipe validation and security checks

Testing

Exhaustive tests covering all new functionality
Backward compatibility verified
Extension control edge cases tested
Output control functionality validated

Breaking Changes

None. All existing dynamic task usage continues to work unchanged.

Migration Path

Existing code requires no changes. New features are opt-in through additional fields in the dynamic task parameters.

DOsinga

Sorry, didn't really get through this or really to the meat of the thing, looks promising so far, questions so far mostly about whether we are having premature backwards compatibility stuff

crates/goose/src/prompts/system.md

crates/goose/src/agents/subagent_execution_tool/tasks.rs

crates/goose/src/agents/recipe_tools/dynamic_task_tools.rs

tlongwell-block · 2025-08-28T17:45:22Z

Sorry, didn't really get through this or really to the meat of the thing, looks promising so far, questions so far mostly about whether we are having premature backwards compatibility stuff

I've now removed all the backwards compatibility branches around text instructions

crates/goose/src/agents/recipe_tools/dynamic_task_tools.rs

yingjiehe-xyz · 2025-08-29T16:04:51Z

overall it looks good, would like to see how others feel

michaelneale · 2025-09-03T03:15:27Z

@tlongwell-block I'm not seeing this make use of subagents at all - is that expected? DOesn't seem to break anything but I dont' really follow this change, seems fine otherwise, but not sure what expectation is (is there another change to get it to plan better to make use of subagents more efficiently?)

but have been using it today, and seems A-ok, FWIW

crates/goose/src/prompts/system.md

michaelneale · 2025-09-03T03:20:50Z

almost there - but I think the system prompt has to be adjusted for sub-agents to be more effective.

michaelneale · 2025-09-03T22:10:50Z

crates/goose/src/prompts/system.md

 - [ ] Implement feature X
  - [ ] Update API
  - [ ] Write tests
+  - [ ] Run tests (subagent in parallel)


michaelneale

have tried this out, benches well apparently, and addresses a bunch of things I wanted to fix with a subagent hardening PR, a good improvement.

michaelneale · 2025-09-03T22:44:35Z

also for subagents to be useful at all - need this so it doesn't flood the session.

* main: Align Dynamic Task Interface with Recipe Interface (#4311) docs: copilot auth and mcp-ui links (#4497) docs: July and August 2025 Community All-Stars Update (#4501) remove clicking outside to close recipe warning (#4502) lower min width to 450 for small screens Convert recipe create and import forms to use tanstack form and zod schema validation (#4499) Repo CI: use a writable location for Goose home directory (#4500) feat: Add functionality to delete session in history list view (#4480) fix: recipe deeplink "+" characters and folder change (#4471) Add session to agents (#4216) fix: need to send errors to appropriate stream (#4491) Add Docker support for Goose in CI/CD pipelines (#4434) Add visual indicator while recipe loads (#4447) Disable chat input while extensions load (#4417) chore(release): release version 1.7.0 (#4391) fix double filtering (#4409) Rewrite the developer mcp using the rmcp sdk (#4297) docs: sessions reorg and conversation features (#4462)

* 'main' of github.com:block/goose: Align Dynamic Task Interface with Recipe Interface (#4311) docs: copilot auth and mcp-ui links (#4497) docs: July and August 2025 Community All-Stars Update (#4501) remove clicking outside to close recipe warning (#4502) lower min width to 450 for small screens Convert recipe create and import forms to use tanstack form and zod schema validation (#4499) Repo CI: use a writable location for Goose home directory (#4500) feat: Add functionality to delete session in history list view (#4480) fix: recipe deeplink "+" characters and folder change (#4471) Add session to agents (#4216) fix: need to send errors to appropriate stream (#4491) Add Docker support for Goose in CI/CD pipelines (#4434) Add visual indicator while recipe loads (#4447) Disable chat input while extensions load (#4417) chore(release): release version 1.7.0 (#4391)

Signed-off-by: Matt Donovan <mattddonovan@protonmail.com>

r0x0d · 2025-09-29T14:40:08Z

crates/goose/src/agents/recipe_tools/dynamic_task_tools.rs

+                        "anyOf": [
+                            {"required": ["instructions"]},
+                            {"required": ["prompt"]}
+                        ]


Looks like this addition broke the integration with providers using llama.cpp: #4815

I'm not 100% familiar with the codebase yet, but I'm trying to propose a fix in the upcoming days. I have tracked it down to this line of code.

I'm testing this with ramalama + llama3.2 (with llama.cpp).

cc: @iandouglas

@r0x0d is that lamma.cpp with rust or out of process? (have a branch playing with former as it is easier to ensure it works, but less powerful).

So, I'm suing ramalama for that, and playing out with goose from main brranch (latest commit).

I've seen that with ollama it works fine, the problem seems to be with llama.cpp

Signed-off-by: HikaruEgashira <hikaru-egashira@c-fo.com>

tlongwell-block added 7 commits August 24, 2025 10:17

Initial work

6ff2e25

support extension shortnames

0ba89c5

allow specifying return mode

bff6e61

move tests

3b96edd

execution_mode, comment clean up

e7bf39c

remove superfluous task tracker

7d80a5f

fmt

e2f665c

tlongwell-block requested a review from DOsinga August 24, 2025 18:47

tlongwell-block added 5 commits August 24, 2025 19:55

system prompt addition

928e841

system prompt tuning

3f1d1a7

prompt work

0c86db9

tests

42e510f

use screen when developing

94cd52d

DOsinga reviewed Aug 26, 2025

View reviewed changes

tlongwell-block added 5 commits August 27, 2025 09:58

modify system prompt

7974d46

prompt work

9ee4850

initial work per review

fb710de

test placement

01e8824

remove TextInstruction

69ed59a

tlongwell-block mentioned this pull request Aug 28, 2025

Unify Agent Execution: per‑session agents, unified tasks/recipes/scheduler #4387

Closed

tlongwell-block marked this pull request as ready for review August 28, 2025 17:27

revert per review

bbcf18d

tlongwell-block requested review from lifeizhou-ap and wendytang August 29, 2025 13:53

yingjiehe-xyz approved these changes Aug 29, 2025

View reviewed changes

crates/goose/src/agents/recipe_tools/dynamic_task_tools.rs Outdated Show resolved Hide resolved

tlongwell-block added 3 commits August 29, 2025 12:51

Clean up recipe building per review

499b152

subagent summarization instruction

2ec2809

prompt

5f13cb5

tlongwell-block added 4 commits September 2, 2025 11:04

DEFAULT_SUBAGENT_MAX_TURNS=10

25ab02d

changes per review

4c8328b

better handling for extension selection via shortname

2fda8f5

fix test

dc5d393

michaelneale mentioned this pull request Sep 2, 2025

Remove To-Do tool instructions from system prompt #4454

Closed

lifeizhou-ap approved these changes Sep 3, 2025

View reviewed changes

michaelneale reviewed Sep 3, 2025

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crates/goose/src/prompts/system.md Outdated Show resolved Hide resolved

tlongwell-block added 4 commits September 3, 2025 08:00

firmer subagent system prompt

ca52472

refine prompt

208a194

refine subagent and task management prompt

1fef55a

simplify prompt after benchmarking

9ae48df

michaelneale reviewed Sep 3, 2025

View reviewed changes

raise max turns to allow for complex subagent tasks

556bdfc

michaelneale approved these changes Sep 3, 2025

View reviewed changes

michaelneale added p1 Priority 1 - High (supports roadmap) performance Performance related ready labels Sep 3, 2025

tlongwell-block merged commit 3897345 into main Sep 3, 2025
10 checks passed

tlongwell-block deleted the goose_enhance_dynamic_task_interface branch September 3, 2025 23:04

dianed-square pushed a commit that referenced this pull request Sep 4, 2025

Align Dynamic Task Interface with Recipe Interface (#4311)

22ed553

This was referenced Sep 9, 2025

chore(release): release version 1.8.0 #4572

Closed

release/1.8.0 #4577

Merged

thebristolsound pushed a commit to thebristolsound/goose that referenced this pull request Sep 11, 2025

Align Dynamic Task Interface with Recipe Interface (block#4311)

0928e71

Signed-off-by: Matt Donovan <mattddonovan@protonmail.com>

r0x0d reviewed Sep 29, 2025

View reviewed changes

HikaruEgashira pushed a commit to HikaruEgashira/goose that referenced this pull request Oct 3, 2025

Align Dynamic Task Interface with Recipe Interface (block#4311)

d5c3ce1

Signed-off-by: HikaruEgashira <hikaru-egashira@c-fo.com>

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tlongwell-block commented Aug 24, 2025 • edited Loading Uh oh! There was an error while loading. Please reload this page.

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Summary

Key Changes

1. Unified Task Format

2. Extension Control

3. Output Control

Benefits

Performance

Safety

Power

Implementation Details

Technical Approach

Testing

Breaking Changes

Migration Path

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tlongwell-block commented Aug 24, 2025 •

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