Disallow subagents with no extensions #5825

jamadeo · 2025-11-20T16:48:56Z

If we present no tools to the model except a "execute subagent task" tool, the model will try to use that tool to do everything.

fixes #5812

Copilot

Pull Request Overview

This PR refactors subagent enablement logic to prevent models from being given only subagent execution tools when no extensions are enabled. Previously, the logic was scattered across multiple files and primarily based on model name checks. The refactored approach centralizes the decision in a new Agent::subagents_enabled() method that considers three factors: autonomous mode, model compatibility (excluding gemini), and the presence of extensions.

Key changes:

Centralized subagent enablement logic into Agent::subagents_enabled() method
Removed should_enabled_subagents() function and model-name-based filtering
Modified SystemPromptBuilder to accept subagent enablement as a parameter rather than deriving it from model name

Reviewed Changes

Copilot reviewed 4 out of 4 changed files in this pull request and generated 1 comment.

File	Description
`crates/goose/src/agents/agent.rs`	Added `subagents_enabled()` method with extension-based logic; updated `list_tools()` to conditionally include subagent tools; removed model_name parameter from prompt builder calls
`crates/goose/src/agents/reply_parts.rs`	Removed model-name-based tool filtering; passed `subagents_enabled()` result to prompt builder
`crates/goose/src/agents/recipe_tools/dynamic_task_tools.rs`	Removed `should_enabled_subagents()` function and unused imports
`crates/goose/src/agents/prompt_manager.rs`	Refactored `SystemPromptBuilder` to accept `subagents_enabled` parameter directly instead of deriving from model name; updated all test cases accordingly

Copilot · 2025-11-20T16:52:54Z

crates/goose/src/agents/agent.rs

+            .provider()
+            .await
+            .map(|provider| provider.get_active_model_name().starts_with("gemini"))
+            .unwrap_or(true)


If provider() returns an error, .unwrap_or(true) will disable subagents. This seems overly defensive - if we can't determine the model, we should probably allow subagents rather than assume it's gemini. Consider using .unwrap_or(false) instead.

Suggested change

.unwrap_or(true)

.unwrap_or(false)

DOsinga · 2025-11-20T17:48:11Z

crates/goose/src/agents/agent.rs

    }

+    pub async fn subagents_enabled(&self) -> bool {
+        let config = crate::config::Config::global();


now that this is in the agent context (yeah!) we should be able to add the session_type to this too and not enable subagents if the session type is subagent. that way instead of failing the creation of a subagent when a subagent is trying to create one, it will not even know about it

…ubagents-with-no-extensions

alexhancock

This looks good and would be good to get in

…ubagents-with-no-extensions

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* 'main' of github.com:block/goose: (22 commits) Disallow subagents with no extensions (#5825) chore(deps): bump js-yaml in /documentation (#6093) feat: external goosed server (#5978) fix: Make datetime info message more explicit to prevent LLM confusion about current year (#6101) refactor: unify subagent and subrecipe tools into single tool (#5893) goose repo is too big for the issue solver workflow worker (#6099) fix: use system not developer role in db (#6098) Add /goose issue solver github workflow (#6068) OpenAI responses streaming (#5837) Canonical models for Providers (#5694) feat: add Inception provider for Mercury models (#6029) fix old sessions with tool results not loading (#6094) Fix community page mobile responsiveness and horizontal overflow (#6082) Tool reply meta (#6074) chore: avoid accidentally using native tls again (#6086) Update vars to be capitalised to be in line with other variables in config file (#6085) docs: restructure recipe reference (#5972) docs: configure custom providers (#6044) docs: Community All-Stars Spotlight November 2025, CodeTV Hackathon edition (#6070) fix: include file attachments in queued messages (#5961) ... # Conflicts: # crates/goose-server/src/routes/agent.rs # crates/goose/src/agents/extension_manager.rs # ui/desktop/src/api/sdk.gen.ts

…erer * origin/main: (26 commits) Don't persist ephemeral extensions when resuming sessions (#5974) chore(deps): bump mdast-util-to-hast from 13.2.0 to 13.2.1 in /ui/desktop (#5939) chore(deps): bump node-forge from 1.3.1 to 1.3.2 in /documentation (#5898) Add Scorecard supply-chain security workflow (#5810) Don't show subagent tool when we're a subagent (#6125) Fix keyboard shortcut conflict for Focus Goose Window (#5809) feat(goose-cli): add feature to disable update (#5886) workflow: enable docs-update-recipe-ref (#6132) fix: filter tools in Ollama streaming when chat mode is enabled (#6118) feat(mcp): platform extension for "code mode" MCP tool calling (#6030) workflow: auto-update recipe-reference on release (#5988) Document recipe slash commands feature (#6075) docs: add GitHub Copilot device flow authentication details (#6123) Disallow subagents with no extensions (#5825) chore(deps): bump js-yaml in /documentation (#6093) feat: external goosed server (#5978) fix: Make datetime info message more explicit to prevent LLM confusion about current year (#6101) refactor: unify subagent and subrecipe tools into single tool (#5893) goose repo is too big for the issue solver workflow worker (#6099) fix: use system not developer role in db (#6098) ...

…sions * 'main' of github.com:block/goose: (22 commits) Disallow subagents with no extensions (#5825) chore(deps): bump js-yaml in /documentation (#6093) feat: external goosed server (#5978) fix: Make datetime info message more explicit to prevent LLM confusion about current year (#6101) refactor: unify subagent and subrecipe tools into single tool (#5893) goose repo is too big for the issue solver workflow worker (#6099) fix: use system not developer role in db (#6098) Add /goose issue solver github workflow (#6068) OpenAI responses streaming (#5837) Canonical models for Providers (#5694) feat: add Inception provider for Mercury models (#6029) fix old sessions with tool results not loading (#6094) Fix community page mobile responsiveness and horizontal overflow (#6082) Tool reply meta (#6074) chore: avoid accidentally using native tls again (#6086) Update vars to be capitalised to be in line with other variables in config file (#6085) docs: restructure recipe reference (#5972) docs: configure custom providers (#6044) docs: Community All-Stars Spotlight November 2025, CodeTV Hackathon edition (#6070) fix: include file attachments in queued messages (#5961) ... # Conflicts: # crates/goose-server/src/routes/agent.rs # crates/goose/src/agents/extension_manager.rs # ui/desktop/src/api/sdk.gen.ts

Disallow subagents with no extensions

592b25e

Copilot AI review requested due to automatic review settings November 20, 2025 16:48

Copilot started reviewing on behalf of jamadeo November 20, 2025 16:49 View session

Copilot finished reviewing on behalf of jamadeo November 20, 2025 16:52

Copilot AI reviewed Nov 20, 2025

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jamadeo requested a review from DOsinga November 20, 2025 16:53

jamadeo mentioned this pull request Nov 20, 2025

Claude sonnet 4 is very eager to create sub-agents, and goose does not handle it well #5812

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DOsinga approved these changes Nov 20, 2025

View reviewed changes

Merge remote-tracking branch 'origin/main' into jackamadeo/disallow-s…

9e9e618

…ubagents-with-no-extensions

alexhancock approved these changes Dec 12, 2025

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jamadeo added 2 commits December 15, 2025 11:19

Merge remote-tracking branch 'origin/main' into jackamadeo/disallow-s…

c9594bc

…ubagents-with-no-extensions

Unused

462b57f

Copilot AI review requested due to automatic review settings December 15, 2025 16:31

Copilot started reviewing on behalf of jamadeo December 15, 2025 16:35 View session

Copilot AI reviewed Dec 15, 2025

View reviewed changes

Smaller system prompt is too small?

69ddea6

jamadeo merged commit 9fdb035 into main Dec 15, 2025
18 checks passed

jamadeo deleted the jackamadeo/disallow-subagents-with-no-extensions branch December 15, 2025 17:45

jamadeo mentioned this pull request Dec 15, 2025

Don't show subagent tool when we're a subagent #6125

Merged

github-actions bot mentioned this pull request Dec 16, 2025

chore(release): release version 1.17.0 (minor) #6131

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fbalicchia pushed a commit to fbalicchia/goose that referenced this pull request Dec 16, 2025

Disallow subagents with no extensions (block#5825)

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jamadeo commented Nov 20, 2025 •

edited

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Pull Request Overview

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jamadeo commented Nov 20, 2025 •

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