v1.9.7: ask_user_input elicitation tool

Trigger /<name>, dropdown lists all skills filtered by name prefix,
arg passthrough sends the rest as the user message. Synthetic
skill_use tool_use renders identically to model-invoked skills.

AGENTS.md

@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@
 ## Code Reviewer
 ---
 temperature: 0.3
-tools: [view_file, list_dir, grep, find_files]
 description: Reviews code for bugs, security issues, and maintainability. Read-only.
 ---
 You review code. Find real problems, not style nits.
@@ -33,7 +32,6 @@ If nothing critical or major, say so in one line. Do not pad.
 ## Debugger
 ---
 temperature: 0.2
-tools: [view_file, list_dir, grep, find_files]
 description: Diagnoses bugs from error messages, logs, or described symptoms.
 ---
 You diagnose bugs. Form a hypothesis, prove it with evidence from the code.
@@ -62,7 +60,6 @@ Output:
 ## Refactorer
 ---
 temperature: 0.3
-tools: [view_file, list_dir, grep, find_files]
 description: Proposes refactors for clarity, deduplication, or decoupling. Read-only — outputs plans, not edits.
 ---
 You propose refactors. You do not apply them. The user applies via OpenCode or Claude Code.
@@ -95,7 +92,6 @@ Output:
 ## Architect
 ---
 temperature: 0.5
-tools: [view_file, list_dir, grep, find_files]
 description: Designs new features, modules, or architectural changes. Outputs a build plan.
 ---
 You design. You produce build plans, not code.
@@ -128,7 +124,6 @@ Output:
 ## Security Auditor
 ---
 temperature: 0.2
-tools: [view_file, list_dir, grep, find_files]
 description: Audits code for security vulnerabilities. Read-only.
 ---
 You audit for security issues. Concrete findings only, no generic warnings.
@@ -165,7 +160,6 @@ If the code is clean, say so. Do not invent findings.
 ## Prompt Builder
 ---
 temperature: 0.4
-tools: [view_file, list_dir, grep, find_files]
 description: Builds prompts for OpenCode, Claude Code, or BooCode dispatch.
 ---
 You write prompts that another coding agent will execute. Your output is the prompt, not the work.

apps/server/src/index.ts

@@ -15,8 +15,10 @@ import { registerSidebarRoutes } from './routes/sidebar.js';
 import { registerWebSocket } from './routes/ws.js';
 import { registerModelRoutes } from './routes/models.js';
 import { registerAgentRoutes } from './routes/agents.js';
+import { registerSkillsRoutes } from './routes/skills.js';
 import { createInferenceRunner } from './services/inference.js';
 import { createBroker } from './services/broker.js';
+import { listSkills } from './services/skills.js';
 
 async function main() {
   const config = loadConfig();
@@ -62,6 +64,15 @@ async function main() {
   registerSidebarRoutes(app, sql);
   registerChatRoutes(app, sql, broker);
 
+  // Batch 9.6: warm the skills cache at boot and surface the count. Empty or
+  // missing /data/skills is non-fatal — the skill tools just return empty.
+  try {
+    const skills = await listSkills();
+    app.log.info(`skills loaded: ${skills.length}`);
+  } catch (err) {
+    app.log.warn({ err }, 'skills boot walk failed');
+  }
+
   const inference = createInferenceRunner(
     {
       sql,
@@ -112,6 +123,36 @@ async function main() {
         chat_id: chatId,
       });
     },
+    publishSessionFrame: (sessionId, frame) => {
+      broker.publish(sessionId, frame);
+    },
+  });
+  registerSkillsRoutes(app, sql, {
+    enqueueInference: (sessionId, chatId, assistantId, user) => {
+      inference.enqueue(sessionId, chatId, assistantId, user);
+    },
+    publishUserMessage: (sessionId, chatId, userMessageId, content) => {
+      broker.publish(sessionId, {
+        type: 'message_started',
+        message_id: userMessageId,
+        chat_id: chatId,
+        role: 'user',
+      });
+      broker.publish(sessionId, {
+        type: 'delta',
+        message_id: userMessageId,
+        chat_id: chatId,
+        content,
+      });
+      broker.publish(sessionId, {
+        type: 'message_complete',
+        message_id: userMessageId,
+        chat_id: chatId,
+      });
+    },
+    publishSessionFrame: (sessionId, frame) => {
+      broker.publish(sessionId, frame);
+    },
   });
   registerWebSocket(app, sql, broker);
 

apps/server/src/routes/messages.ts

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import type { FastifyInstance } from 'fastify';
 import { z } from 'zod';
 import type { Sql } from '../db.js';
-import type { Chat, Message, Session } from '../types/api.js';
+import type { Chat, Message, Session, ToolCall } from '../types/api.js';
 
 const SendBody = z.object({
   content: z.string().min(1).max(64_000),
@@ -14,6 +14,39 @@ const ContinueBody = z.object({
   sentinel_message_id: z.string().uuid(),
 });
 
+// Batch 9.7: ask_user_input answer submission. Defensive shape — the question
+// content is echoed back for traceability but the server does NOT trust it
+// (the source of truth is the assistant message's tool_calls.args.questions).
+const AnswerUserInputBody = z.object({
+  tool_call_id: z.string().min(1),
+  answers: z
+    .array(
+      z.object({
+        question: z.string(),
+        selected_options: z.array(z.string()),
+        free_text: z.string().nullable(),
+      }),
+    )
+    .min(1)
+    .max(3),
+});
+
+// Same shape the model declared via the tool's zod input. Re-derived here so
+// the route can validate args without depending on services/tools.ts (which
+// would pull in fs/path_guard for nothing).
+const AskUserInputArgs = z.object({
+  questions: z
+    .array(
+      z.object({
+        question: z.string(),
+        type: z.enum(['single_select', 'multi_select']),
+        options: z.array(z.string()).min(1),
+      }),
+    )
+    .min(1)
+    .max(3),
+});
+
 interface MessageHandlers {
   enqueueInference: (sessionId: string, chatId: string, assistantMessageId: string, user: string) => void;
   enqueueCompact: (sessionId: string, chatId: string, compactMessageId: string, user: string) => void;
@@ -24,6 +57,13 @@ interface MessageHandlers {
     content: string
   ) => void;
   publishMessagesDeleted: (sessionId: string, chatId: string, messageIds: string[]) => void;
+  // Batch 9.7: lets the answer endpoint emit the tool_result frame that the
+  // pause path intentionally skipped. Matches SkillInvokeHandlers in
+  // routes/skills.ts so index.ts can pass the same broker.publish adapter.
+  publishSessionFrame: (
+    sessionId: string,
+    frame: Record<string, unknown> & { type: string }
+  ) => void;
   cancelInference: (sessionId: string, chatId: string) => Promise<boolean>;
   hasActiveInference: (chatId: string) => boolean;
 }
@@ -389,4 +429,169 @@ export function registerMessageRoutes(
       return result;
     }
   );
+
+  // Batch 9.7: resume an ask_user_input pause. Validates the body matches the
+  // question shape the model declared, UPDATEs the pending tool row's
+  // tool_results to the AnswerSet, publishes the deferred tool_result frame,
+  // and enqueues the next assistant turn. Error codes per spec:
+  //   400 invalid_body / mismatched_answer_shape
+  //   404 chat_not_found / unknown_tool_call_id
+  //   409 tool_call_already_answered
+  app.post<{ Params: { id: string } }>(
+    '/api/chats/:id/answer_user_input',
+    async (req, reply) => {
+      const parsed = AnswerUserInputBody.safeParse(req.body);
+      if (!parsed.success) {
+        reply.code(400);
+        return { error: 'invalid_body', details: parsed.error.flatten() };
+      }
+      const { tool_call_id, answers } = parsed.data;
+
+      const chatRows = await sql<Chat[]>`
+        SELECT id, session_id FROM chats WHERE id = ${req.params.id} AND status = 'open'
+      `;
+      if (chatRows.length === 0) {
+        reply.code(404);
+        return { error: 'chat_not_found' };
+      }
+      const chat = chatRows[0]!;
+      const sessionId = chat.session_id;
+
+      // Find the assistant message that emitted this tool_call. Scoped by
+      // chat_id + role to avoid cross-chat lookups; ordered by created_at DESC
+      // because the most recent issuance wins when an LLM reuses call IDs
+      // across turns (the older, already-answered one is a different row with
+      // populated tool_results downstream).
+      const callerRows = await sql<{ id: string; tool_calls: ToolCall[] | null }[]>`
+        SELECT id, tool_calls FROM messages
+        WHERE chat_id = ${chat.id}
+          AND role = 'assistant'
+          AND tool_calls IS NOT NULL
+        ORDER BY created_at DESC
+      `;
+      let foundCall: ToolCall | null = null;
+      for (const row of callerRows) {
+        const match = row.tool_calls?.find((tc) => tc.id === tool_call_id);
+        if (match) {
+          foundCall = match;
+          break;
+        }
+      }
+      if (!foundCall) {
+        reply.code(404);
+        return { error: 'unknown_tool_call_id' };
+      }
+      if (foundCall.name !== 'ask_user_input') {
+        reply.code(400);
+        return { error: 'tool_call_not_ask_user_input' };
+      }
+
+      // Validate the args themselves — the LLM could have emitted bad JSON.
+      const argsParsed = AskUserInputArgs.safeParse(foundCall.args);
+      if (!argsParsed.success) {
+        reply.code(400);
+        return { error: 'mismatched_answer_shape', detail: 'tool_call args invalid' };
+      }
+      const questions = argsParsed.data.questions;
+      if (answers.length !== questions.length) {
+        reply.code(400);
+        return {
+          error: 'mismatched_answer_shape',
+          detail: `expected ${questions.length} answer(s), got ${answers.length}`,
+        };
+      }
+      for (let i = 0; i < questions.length; i++) {
+        const q = questions[i]!;
+        const a = answers[i]!;
+        for (const sel of a.selected_options) {
+          if (!q.options.includes(sel)) {
+            reply.code(400);
+            return {
+              error: 'mismatched_answer_shape',
+              detail: `answer ${i + 1} contains option not in question: ${sel}`,
+            };
+          }
+        }
+        if (q.type === 'single_select' && a.selected_options.length > 1) {
+          reply.code(400);
+          return {
+            error: 'mismatched_answer_shape',
+            detail: `answer ${i + 1} has multiple selections on single_select`,
+          };
+        }
+        const hasOpt = a.selected_options.length > 0;
+        const hasText = a.free_text !== null && a.free_text.trim().length > 0;
+        if (!hasOpt && !hasText) {
+          reply.code(400);
+          return { error: 'mismatched_answer_shape', detail: `answer ${i + 1} is empty` };
+        }
+      }
+
+      // Find the pending tool row. ORDER BY created_at DESC + LIMIT 1 picks
+      // the most recent row with this tool_call_id; the already-answered
+      // check below guards against UPDATE-ing a stale answer.
+      const toolRows = await sql<{
+        id: string;
+        tool_results: { tool_call_id: string; output: unknown } | null;
+      }[]>`
+        SELECT id, tool_results FROM messages
+        WHERE chat_id = ${chat.id}
+          AND role = 'tool'
+          AND tool_results->>'tool_call_id' = ${tool_call_id}
+        ORDER BY created_at DESC
+        LIMIT 1
+      `;
+      const toolRow = toolRows[0];
+      if (!toolRow) {
+        reply.code(404);
+        return { error: 'unknown_tool_call_id', detail: 'tool message not found' };
+      }
+      if (toolRow.tool_results && toolRow.tool_results.output !== null) {
+        reply.code(409);
+        return { error: 'tool_call_already_answered' };
+      }
+
+      const answerSet = { answers };
+      const newToolResults = {
+        tool_call_id,
+        output: answerSet,
+        truncated: false,
+      };
+
+      const result = await sql.begin(async (tx) => {
+        await tx`
+          UPDATE messages
+          SET tool_results = ${tx.json(newToolResults as never)}
+          WHERE id = ${toolRow.id}
+        `;
+        const [assistantMsg] = await tx<{ id: string }[]>`
+          INSERT INTO messages (session_id, chat_id, role, content, status, created_at)
+          VALUES (${sessionId}, ${chat.id}, 'assistant', '', 'streaming', clock_timestamp())
+          RETURNING id
+        `;
+        await tx`UPDATE sessions SET updated_at = clock_timestamp() WHERE id = ${sessionId}`;
+        await tx`UPDATE chats SET updated_at = clock_timestamp() WHERE id = ${chat.id}`;
+        return {
+          tool_message_id: toolRow.id,
+          assistant_message_id: assistantMsg!.id,
+        };
+      });
+
+      // Publish the deferred tool_result frame. useSessionStream's reducer
+      // updates the matching tool_run.result so AskUserInputCard flips into
+      // its read-only "answered" mode without a refetch.
+      handlers.publishSessionFrame(sessionId, {
+        type: 'tool_result',
+        tool_message_id: result.tool_message_id,
+        tool_call_id,
+        chat_id: chat.id,
+        output: answerSet,
+        truncated: false,
+      });
+      handlers.enqueueInference(sessionId, chat.id, result.assistant_message_id, 'default');
+
+      reply.code(202);
+      return result;
+    },
+  );
 }

apps/server/src/routes/skills.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,156 @@
+import { randomUUID } from 'node:crypto';
+import type { FastifyInstance } from 'fastify';
+import { z } from 'zod';
+import type { Sql } from '../db.js';
+import type { Chat } from '../types/api.js';
+import { getSkillBody, listSkills } from '../services/skills.js';
+
+// Batch 9.6 slash-invoke handlers. Mirrors the MessageHandlers shape in
+// routes/messages.ts so index.ts can pass thin adapters around broker +
+// inference runner without skills.ts importing them directly.
+export interface SkillInvokeHandlers {
+  enqueueInference: (
+    sessionId: string,
+    chatId: string,
+    assistantMessageId: string,
+    user: string,
+  ) => void;
+  publishUserMessage: (
+    sessionId: string,
+    chatId: string,
+    userMessageId: string,
+    content: string,
+  ) => void;
+  publishSessionFrame: (
+    sessionId: string,
+    frame: Record<string, unknown> & { type: string },
+  ) => void;
+}
+
+const SkillInvokeBody = z.object({
+  skill_name: z.string().min(1),
+  // Optional — server fills in a default if absent or whitespace-only so the
+  // model always has something to act on (matches the spec's "Apply this
+  // skill." filler).
+  user_message: z.string().max(64_000).nullable().optional(),
+});
+
+const DEFAULT_USER_MESSAGE = 'Apply this skill.';
+
+export function registerSkillsRoutes(
+  app: FastifyInstance,
+  sql: Sql,
+  handlers: SkillInvokeHandlers,
+): void {
+  // Debug/admin surface — the model interacts with skills via the three
+  // skill_* tools, not through this endpoint.
+  app.get('/api/skills', async () => {
+    return { skills: await listSkills() };
+  });
+
+  // POST /api/chats/:id/skill_invoke — slash-command entry point. Loads the
+  // skill body server-side (clients never get to forge file content),
+  // persists 4 messages in one transaction (synthetic assistant tool_use,
+  // synthetic tool result, real user message, streaming assistant), and
+  // enqueues inference against the updated history.
+  app.post<{ Params: { id: string } }>(
+    '/api/chats/:id/skill_invoke',
+    async (req, reply) => {
+      const parsed = SkillInvokeBody.safeParse(req.body);
+      if (!parsed.success) {
+        reply.code(400);
+        return { error: 'invalid body', details: parsed.error.flatten() };
+      }
+      const { skill_name } = parsed.data;
+      const userText = parsed.data.user_message?.trim() ? parsed.data.user_message : DEFAULT_USER_MESSAGE;
+
+      const chatRows = await sql<Chat[]>`
+        SELECT id, session_id FROM chats WHERE id = ${req.params.id} AND status = 'open'
+      `;
+      if (chatRows.length === 0) {
+        reply.code(404);
+        return { error: 'chat not found' };
+      }
+      const chat = chatRows[0]!;
+      const sessionId = chat.session_id;
+
+      const body = await getSkillBody(skill_name);
+      if (body === null) {
+        reply.code(404);
+        return { error: 'unknown_skill', message: `unknown skill: ${skill_name}` };
+      }
+
+      const toolCallId = randomUUID();
+      const toolCalls = [{ id: toolCallId, name: 'skill_use', args: { name: skill_name } }];
+      const toolResults = { tool_call_id: toolCallId, output: body, truncated: false };
+
+      const result = await sql.begin(async (tx) => {
+        const [synthAssistant] = await tx<{ id: string }[]>`
+          INSERT INTO messages (session_id, chat_id, role, content, tool_calls, status, created_at)
+          VALUES (${sessionId}, ${chat.id}, 'assistant', '', ${sql.json(toolCalls as never)}, 'complete', clock_timestamp())
+          RETURNING id
+        `;
+        const [toolMsg] = await tx<{ id: string }[]>`
+          INSERT INTO messages (session_id, chat_id, role, content, tool_results, status, created_at)
+          VALUES (${sessionId}, ${chat.id}, 'tool', '', ${sql.json(toolResults as never)}, 'complete', clock_timestamp())
+          RETURNING id
+        `;
+        const [userMsg] = await tx<{ id: string }[]>`
+          INSERT INTO messages (session_id, chat_id, role, content, status, created_at)
+          VALUES (${sessionId}, ${chat.id}, 'user', ${userText}, 'complete', clock_timestamp())
+          RETURNING id
+        `;
+        const [assistantMsg] = await tx<{ id: string }[]>`
+          INSERT INTO messages (session_id, chat_id, role, content, status, created_at)
+          VALUES (${sessionId}, ${chat.id}, 'assistant', '', 'streaming', clock_timestamp())
+          RETURNING id
+        `;
+        await tx`UPDATE sessions SET updated_at = clock_timestamp() WHERE id = ${sessionId}`;
+        await tx`UPDATE chats SET updated_at = clock_timestamp() WHERE id = ${chat.id}`;
+        return {
+          synth_assistant_id: synthAssistant!.id,
+          tool_message_id: toolMsg!.id,
+          user_message_id: userMsg!.id,
+          assistant_message_id: assistantMsg!.id,
+        };
+      });
+
+      // Synthetic frames so useSessionStream's reducer reflects the new
+      // history without a refetch. Frame shapes match the streaming-inference
+      // protocol (see services/inference.ts InferenceFrame).
+      handlers.publishSessionFrame(sessionId, {
+        type: 'message_started',
+        message_id: result.synth_assistant_id,
+        chat_id: chat.id,
+        role: 'assistant',
+      });
+      handlers.publishSessionFrame(sessionId, {
+        type: 'tool_call',
+        message_id: result.synth_assistant_id,
+        chat_id: chat.id,
+        tool_call: toolCalls[0]!,
+      });
+      handlers.publishSessionFrame(sessionId, {
+        type: 'message_complete',
+        message_id: result.synth_assistant_id,
+        chat_id: chat.id,
+      });
+      // The tool_result frame's reducer branch creates the tool-role message
+      // in-place when it doesn't already exist — no separate message_started
+      // is needed for the tool side.
+      handlers.publishSessionFrame(sessionId, {
+        type: 'tool_result',
+        tool_message_id: result.tool_message_id,
+        tool_call_id: toolCallId,
+        chat_id: chat.id,
+        output: body,
+        truncated: false,
+      });
+      handlers.publishUserMessage(sessionId, chat.id, result.user_message_id, userText);
+      handlers.enqueueInference(sessionId, chat.id, result.assistant_message_id, 'default');
+
+      reply.code(202);
+      return result;
+    },
+  );
+}

apps/server/src/services/agents.ts

@@ -11,7 +11,17 @@ const GLOBAL_AGENTS_PATH = '/data/AGENTS.md';
 const CACHE_TTL_MS = 60_000;
 
 // Tools whitelist universe matches services/tools.ts ALL_TOOLS. Keep in sync.
-const ALL_TOOL_NAMES = ['view_file', 'list_dir', 'grep', 'find_files', 'git_status'] as const;
+// Batch 9.6: skill_find / skill_use / skill_resource added. Agents without an
+// explicit `tools:` field inherit the full default set (which now includes
+// the skill tools); agents with an explicit `tools:` array must list any
+// skill tool they want to use — strict opt-in.
+// Batch 9.7: ask_user_input added — same opt-in semantics. Agents with an
+// explicit tools list that omits it cannot trigger the interactive picker.
+const ALL_TOOL_NAMES = [
+  'view_file', 'list_dir', 'grep', 'find_files', 'git_status',
+  'skill_find', 'skill_use', 'skill_resource',
+  'ask_user_input',
+] as const;
 const DEFAULT_TOOLS: string[] = [...ALL_TOOL_NAMES];
 const DEFAULT_TEMPERATURE = 0.7;
 

apps/server/src/services/inference.ts

@@ -665,6 +665,12 @@ async function executeToolPhase(
     model: session.model,
   });
 
+  // Batch 9.7: ask_user_input pauses the loop. The tool row is still inserted
+  // (the answer endpoint needs a target row to UPDATE), but tool_results is
+  // pre-stamped with output=null as a "pending" sentinel and no tool_result
+  // frame goes out — the card renders from the tool_call frame alone. Mixed
+  // batches still execute the other tools normally.
+  let pausingForUserInput = false;
   await Promise.all(
     toolCalls.map(async (tc) => {
       const [toolRow] = await ctx.sql<{ id: string }[]>`
@@ -673,6 +679,16 @@ async function executeToolPhase(
         RETURNING id
       `;
       const toolMessageId = toolRow!.id;
+      if (tc.name === 'ask_user_input') {
+        pausingForUserInput = true;
+        const sentinel = { tool_call_id: tc.id, output: null, truncated: false };
+        await ctx.sql`
+          UPDATE messages
+          SET tool_results = ${ctx.sql.json(sentinel as never)}
+          WHERE id = ${toolMessageId}
+        `;
+        return;
+      }
       const tres = await executeToolCall(projectRoot, tc);
       const stored = {
         tool_call_id: tc.id,
@@ -697,6 +713,23 @@ async function executeToolPhase(
     })
   );
 
+  if (pausingForUserInput) {
+    // Drop the dot back to idle — the card is the actionable surface now.
+    // The next inference turn fires from POST /api/chats/:id/answer_user_input
+    // once the user submits their answers.
+    ctx.publishUser({
+      type: 'chat_status',
+      chat_id: chatId,
+      status: 'idle',
+      at: new Date().toISOString(),
+    });
+    ctx.log.info(
+      { sessionId, chatId, assistantMessageId },
+      'inference paused awaiting user input',
+    );
+    return;
+  }
+
   const [nextAssistant] = await ctx.sql<{ id: string }[]>`
     INSERT INTO messages (session_id, chat_id, role, content, status, created_at)
     VALUES (${sessionId}, ${chatId}, 'assistant', '', 'streaming', clock_timestamp())

apps/server/src/services/skills.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,321 @@
+import { promises as fs } from 'node:fs';
+import { join, isAbsolute, basename } from 'node:path';
+import { pathGuard, PathScopeError } from './path_guard.js';
+
+// Batch 9.6: read-only skill library. Folders under /data/skills/<group>/<skill>/
+// contain a SKILL.md with YAML frontmatter (name + description) and a markdown
+// body. Three tools expose the library: skill_find (search), skill_use (load
+// body), skill_resource (read a support file inside the folder).
+//
+// Layout is intentionally uniform — scan /data/skills/*/*/SKILL.md at fixed
+// depth 3. Group folders (depth 1) hold LICENSE + ATTRIBUTION.md + skill
+// subfolders and are NOT themselves skills. Support files inside skill
+// folders are reachable via skill_resource, never auto-parsed.
+//
+// Cache model mirrors agents.ts: walk on first access, TTL re-walk to pick up
+// new skills, per-entry mtime check on body access so a hot-edited SKILL.md
+// is re-read without a restart. No watcher.
+
+const SKILLS_ROOT = '/data/skills';
+const MAX_RESOURCE_BYTES = 5 * 1024 * 1024;
+const LIST_CACHE_TTL_MS = 60_000;
+
+export interface Skill {
+  name: string;
+  description: string;
+  path: string;
+  mtime: number;
+}
+
+interface CachedSkill extends Skill {
+  body: string;
+}
+
+const cache = new Map<string, CachedSkill>();
+let lastWalkedAt = 0;
+
+// ---- Frontmatter parser ----------------------------------------------------
+// Minimal `---\n...\n---` extractor. Only `name` and `description` keys are
+// honored; other frontmatter keys are silently ignored for forward-compat
+// with the anthropics/skills upstream spec.
+
+interface Frontmatter {
+  name?: string;
+  description?: string;
+}
+
+function stripQuotes(s: string): string {
+  if (s.length >= 2 && (s[0] === '"' || s[0] === "'") && s[0] === s[s.length - 1]) {
+    return s.slice(1, -1);
+  }
+  return s;
+}
+
+function parseFrontmatter(yaml: string): Frontmatter {
+  const fm: Frontmatter = {};
+  for (const raw of yaml.split('\n')) {
+    const line = raw.trim();
+    if (line.length === 0) continue;
+    const colon = line.indexOf(':');
+    if (colon < 0) continue;
+    const key = line.slice(0, colon).trim();
+    const val = stripQuotes(line.slice(colon + 1).trim());
+    if (key === 'name') fm.name = val;
+    else if (key === 'description') fm.description = val;
+  }
+  return fm;
+}
+
+interface ParsedSkillFile {
+  name: string;
+  description: string;
+  body: string;
+}
+
+function parseSkillFile(content: string): ParsedSkillFile {
+  const lines = content.split('\n');
+  let openIdx = -1;
+  for (let i = 0; i < lines.length; i++) {
+    const t = lines[i]!.trim();
+    if (t === '') continue;
+    if (t === '---') openIdx = i;
+    break;
+  }
+  if (openIdx < 0) throw new Error('missing opening --- fence');
+  let closeIdx = -1;
+  for (let i = openIdx + 1; i < lines.length; i++) {
+    if (lines[i]!.trim() === '---') { closeIdx = i; break; }
+  }
+  if (closeIdx < 0) throw new Error('missing closing --- fence');
+
+  const yamlText = lines.slice(openIdx + 1, closeIdx).join('\n');
+  const body = lines.slice(closeIdx + 1).join('\n');
+
+  const fm = parseFrontmatter(yamlText);
+  if (!fm.name) throw new Error('frontmatter missing name');
+  if (!fm.description) throw new Error('frontmatter missing description');
+  return { name: fm.name, description: fm.description, body };
+}
+
+// ---- Tree walk -------------------------------------------------------------
+
+// Fixed depth-3 scan: /data/skills/<group>/<skill>/SKILL.md. Two layers of
+// readdir, no recursion. Group folders without SKILL.md are skipped silently;
+// LICENSE / ATTRIBUTION.md / other non-SKILL.md files are ignored entirely.
+// Returns all parseable skills as-found — dedup + collision logging happens
+// in ensureCache where the sort order is established.
+async function walkSkills(root: string): Promise<CachedSkill[]> {
+  const found: CachedSkill[] = [];
+  let groups;
+  try {
+    groups = await fs.readdir(root, { withFileTypes: true });
+  } catch {
+    return found;
+  }
+  for (const group of groups) {
+    if (!group.isDirectory() || group.name.startsWith('.')) continue;
+    const groupPath = join(root, group.name);
+    let entries;
+    try {
+      entries = await fs.readdir(groupPath, { withFileTypes: true });
+    } catch {
+      continue;
+    }
+    for (const entry of entries) {
+      if (!entry.isDirectory() || entry.name.startsWith('.')) continue;
+      const skillFolder = join(groupPath, entry.name);
+      const skillFile = join(skillFolder, 'SKILL.md');
+      let stat;
+      try {
+        stat = await fs.stat(skillFile);
+      } catch {
+        continue; // folder without SKILL.md — silent skip
+      }
+      if (!stat.isFile()) continue;
+      try {
+        const content = await fs.readFile(skillFile, 'utf8');
+        const parsed = parseSkillFile(content);
+        found.push({
+          name: parsed.name,
+          description: parsed.description,
+          path: skillFolder,
+          mtime: stat.mtimeMs,
+          body: parsed.body,
+        });
+      } catch (err) {
+        const reason = err instanceof Error ? err.message : String(err);
+        console.warn(`skills: failed to parse ${skillFile} — ${reason}`);
+      }
+    }
+  }
+  return found;
+}
+
+// ---- Cache ----------------------------------------------------------------
+
+async function ensureCache(): Promise<void> {
+  const now = Date.now();
+  if (cache.size > 0 && now - lastWalkedAt < LIST_CACHE_TTL_MS) return;
+  let stat;
+  try {
+    stat = await fs.stat(SKILLS_ROOT);
+  } catch {
+    cache.clear();
+    lastWalkedAt = now;
+    return;
+  }
+  if (!stat.isDirectory()) {
+    cache.clear();
+    lastWalkedAt = now;
+    return;
+  }
+  const found = await walkSkills(SKILLS_ROOT);
+  // Sort by name asc, then path asc — gives alphabetically-first-wins on
+  // collision and stable, deterministic ordering for /api/skills + skill_find.
+  found.sort((a, b) => {
+    const n = a.name.localeCompare(b.name);
+    return n !== 0 ? n : a.path.localeCompare(b.path);
+  });
+  cache.clear();
+  const winnerPath = new Map<string, string>();
+  for (const skill of found) {
+    const prev = winnerPath.get(skill.name);
+    if (prev) {
+      console.warn(
+        `skills: name collision "${skill.name}" — kept ${prev}, skipped ${skill.path}`,
+      );
+      continue;
+    }
+    winnerPath.set(skill.name, skill.path);
+    cache.set(skill.name, skill);
+  }
+  lastWalkedAt = now;
+}
+
+// ---- Public API -----------------------------------------------------------
+
+export async function listSkills(): Promise<Skill[]> {
+  await ensureCache();
+  return Array.from(cache.values()).map((s) => ({
+    name: s.name,
+    description: s.description,
+    path: s.path,
+    mtime: s.mtime,
+  }));
+}
+
+export interface SkillSummary {
+  name: string;
+  description: string;
+}
+
+export async function findSkills(query: string): Promise<SkillSummary[]> {
+  await ensureCache();
+  const all = Array.from(cache.values());
+  const q = (query ?? '').trim().toLowerCase();
+  if (q === '' || q === '*') {
+    return all.map((s) => ({ name: s.name, description: s.description }));
+  }
+  // name match weighted 2x description match. No fancy ranking — substring
+  // scoring is enough for ≤20 skills.
+  const scored = all
+    .map((s) => {
+      let score = 0;
+      if (s.name.toLowerCase().includes(q)) score += 2;
+      if (s.description.toLowerCase().includes(q)) score += 1;
+      return { s, score };
+    })
+    .filter((x) => x.score > 0)
+    .sort((a, b) => b.score - a.score)
+    .slice(0, 5);
+  return scored.map(({ s }) => ({ name: s.name, description: s.description }));
+}
+
+// Returns the SKILL.md body with frontmatter stripped, or null if the skill
+// is unknown. Single-entry mtime refresh: a hot edit shows up on next call.
+export async function getSkillBody(name: string): Promise<string | null> {
+  await ensureCache();
+  const cached = cache.get(name);
+  if (!cached) return null;
+
+  let stat;
+  try {
+    stat = await fs.stat(join(cached.path, 'SKILL.md'));
+  } catch {
+    cache.delete(name);
+    return null;
+  }
+  if (stat.mtimeMs === cached.mtime) return cached.body;
+  try {
+    const raw = await fs.readFile(join(cached.path, 'SKILL.md'), 'utf8');
+    const parsed = parseSkillFile(raw);
+    if (parsed.name !== name) {
+      // Skill renamed itself; drop the stale entry. Next listSkills() walks.
+      cache.delete(name);
+      return null;
+    }
+    cached.body = parsed.body;
+    cached.description = parsed.description;
+    cached.mtime = stat.mtimeMs;
+    return cached.body;
+  } catch (err) {
+    const reason = err instanceof Error ? err.message : String(err);
+    console.warn(`skills: re-parse failed for ${name} — ${reason}`);
+    cache.delete(name);
+    return null;
+  }
+}
+
+export type SkillResourceErrorCode = 'unknown_skill' | 'unknown_resource' | 'path_escape';
+
+export type SkillResourceResult =
+  | { ok: true; content: string }
+  | { ok: false; code: SkillResourceErrorCode; message: string };
+
+export async function getSkillResource(
+  name: string,
+  relativePath: string,
+): Promise<SkillResourceResult> {
+  await ensureCache();
+  const cached = cache.get(name);
+  if (!cached) {
+    return { ok: false, code: 'unknown_skill', message: `unknown skill: ${name}` };
+  }
+  if (typeof relativePath !== 'string' || relativePath.trim() === '') {
+    return { ok: false, code: 'unknown_resource', message: 'path is required' };
+  }
+  // Syntactic pre-check — catches the common "../../etc/passwd" attempt
+  // before realpath dereferences any symlinks.
+  if (isAbsolute(relativePath) || relativePath.split(/[\\/]/).some((seg) => seg === '..')) {
+    return { ok: false, code: 'path_escape', message: `path escapes skill folder: ${relativePath}` };
+  }
+  // SKILL.md is the manifest — skill_use is the right tool to read it.
+  if (basename(relativePath) === 'SKILL.md') {
+    return { ok: false, code: 'unknown_resource', message: 'use skill_use to read SKILL.md' };
+  }
+  let real: string;
+  try {
+    real = await pathGuard(cached.path, relativePath);
+  } catch (err) {
+    if (err instanceof PathScopeError) {
+      const code: SkillResourceErrorCode = err.message.includes('escapes')
+        ? 'path_escape'
+        : 'unknown_resource';
+      return { ok: false, code, message: err.message };
+    }
+    throw err;
+  }
+  const stat = await fs.stat(real);
+  if (!stat.isFile()) {
+    return { ok: false, code: 'unknown_resource', message: 'not a file' };
+  }
+  if (stat.size > MAX_RESOURCE_BYTES) {
+    return {
+      ok: false,
+      code: 'unknown_resource',
+      message: `file too large (${stat.size} bytes, max ${MAX_RESOURCE_BYTES})`,
+    };
+  }
+  const content = await fs.readFile(real, 'utf8');
+  return { ok: true, content };
+}

apps/server/src/services/tools.ts

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import { z } from 'zod';
 import { pathGuard, PathScopeError } from './path_guard.js';
 import { grep as fileOpsGrep, findFiles as fileOpsFindFiles } from './file_ops.js';
 import { getGitMeta } from './git_meta.js';
+import { findSkills, getSkillBody, getSkillResource } from './skills.js';
 
 const MAX_FILE_BYTES = 5 * 1024 * 1024;
 const DEFAULT_VIEW_LINES = 200;
@@ -300,12 +301,195 @@ export const gitStatus: ToolDef<GitStatusInputT> = {
   },
 };
 
+// Batch 9.6: skill_find, skill_use, skill_resource. Lazy-loaded markdown
+// playbooks at /data/skills/. Three tools rather than one to keep each call
+// cheap — the model lists, then loads, then optionally pulls support files.
+
+const SkillFindInput = z.object({
+  query: z.string().optional(),
+});
+type SkillFindInputT = z.infer<typeof SkillFindInput>;
+
+export const skillFind: ToolDef<SkillFindInputT> = {
+  name: 'skill_find',
+  description:
+    'Find skills (markdown playbooks under /data/skills) by name or description. Returns up to 5 matches. Empty query or "*" returns all available skills. Call this first to discover what skills are available.',
+  inputSchema: SkillFindInput,
+  jsonSchema: {
+    type: 'function',
+    function: {
+      name: 'skill_find',
+      description:
+        'Find skills by name or description. Returns up to 5 matches. Empty or "*" returns all.',
+      parameters: {
+        type: 'object',
+        properties: {
+          query: { type: 'string', description: 'substring matched against skill name and description' },
+        },
+        additionalProperties: false,
+      },
+    },
+  },
+  async execute(input) {
+    return await findSkills(input.query ?? '');
+  },
+};
+
+const SkillUseInput = z.object({
+  name: z.string().min(1),
+});
+type SkillUseInputT = z.infer<typeof SkillUseInput>;
+
+export const skillUse: ToolDef<SkillUseInputT> = {
+  name: 'skill_use',
+  description:
+    "Load the full body of a skill's SKILL.md by name. Returns the markdown playbook to follow. Discover names via skill_find. Errors: unknown_skill.",
+  inputSchema: SkillUseInput,
+  jsonSchema: {
+    type: 'function',
+    function: {
+      name: 'skill_use',
+      description: "Load the full body of a skill's SKILL.md by name.",
+      parameters: {
+        type: 'object',
+        properties: {
+          name: { type: 'string', description: 'skill name from skill_find' },
+        },
+        required: ['name'],
+        additionalProperties: false,
+      },
+    },
+  },
+  async execute(input) {
+    const body = await getSkillBody(input.name);
+    if (body === null) {
+      return { error: 'unknown_skill', message: `unknown skill: ${input.name}` };
+    }
+    return { body };
+  },
+};
+
+const SkillResourceInput = z.object({
+  name: z.string().min(1),
+  path: z.string().min(1),
+});
+type SkillResourceInputT = z.infer<typeof SkillResourceInput>;
+
+export const skillResource: ToolDef<SkillResourceInputT> = {
+  name: 'skill_resource',
+  description:
+    "Read a support file inside a skill's folder (e.g. references/root-cause-tracing.md). Path is relative to the skill folder. Use skill_use to read SKILL.md itself. Errors: unknown_skill, unknown_resource, path_escape.",
+  inputSchema: SkillResourceInput,
+  jsonSchema: {
+    type: 'function',
+    function: {
+      name: 'skill_resource',
+      description: "Read a support file inside a skill's folder. Path is relative to the skill folder.",
+      parameters: {
+        type: 'object',
+        properties: {
+          name: { type: 'string', description: 'skill name' },
+          path: { type: 'string', description: 'relative path under the skill folder' },
+        },
+        required: ['name', 'path'],
+        additionalProperties: false,
+      },
+    },
+  },
+  async execute(input) {
+    const result = await getSkillResource(input.name, input.path);
+    if (!result.ok) {
+      return { error: result.code, message: result.message };
+    }
+    return { content: result.content };
+  },
+};
+
+// Batch 9.7: ask_user_input. Interactive elicitation. The model emits a tool
+// call with 1-3 structured questions; the inference loop PAUSES (does not
+// execute the tool server-side, does not recurse) and waits for the frontend
+// to POST /api/chats/:id/answer_user_input with the user's selections. See
+// routes/messages.ts for the resume path and services/inference.ts for the
+// pause branch in executeToolPhase.
+const AskUserInputInput = z.object({
+  questions: z
+    .array(
+      z.object({
+        question: z.string().min(1).max(200),
+        type: z.enum(['single_select', 'multi_select']),
+        options: z.array(z.string().min(1).max(80)).min(2).max(6),
+      }),
+    )
+    .min(1)
+    .max(3),
+});
+type AskUserInputInputT = z.infer<typeof AskUserInputInput>;
+
+export const askUserInput: ToolDef<AskUserInputInputT> = {
+  name: 'ask_user_input',
+  description:
+    "Ask the user 1-3 structured questions through an inline picker UI. Use when you genuinely need a choice the user must make (e.g. scope, options, preferences) before continuing. Each question has 2-6 options and accepts free-text answers in addition. The tool call pauses the conversation until the user submits — the next assistant turn sees their answers as the tool result. Do not use for trivial yes/no clarifications you could infer; prefer it over multi-paragraph speculation about what the user might want.",
+  inputSchema: AskUserInputInput,
+  jsonSchema: {
+    type: 'function',
+    function: {
+      name: 'ask_user_input',
+      description:
+        'Ask the user 1-3 structured questions through an inline picker. Pauses the conversation until the user answers; the next turn sees their selections.',
+      parameters: {
+        type: 'object',
+        properties: {
+          questions: {
+            type: 'array',
+            minItems: 1,
+            maxItems: 3,
+            items: {
+              type: 'object',
+              properties: {
+                question: { type: 'string', description: '<=200 chars, shown to the user' },
+                type: {
+                  type: 'string',
+                  enum: ['single_select', 'multi_select'],
+                  description: 'single_select = at most one option; multi_select = any subset',
+                },
+                options: {
+                  type: 'array',
+                  minItems: 2,
+                  maxItems: 6,
+                  items: { type: 'string' },
+                  description: '2-6 strings, each <=80 chars; free-text input is always available alongside',
+                },
+              },
+              required: ['question', 'type', 'options'],
+              additionalProperties: false,
+            },
+          },
+        },
+        required: ['questions'],
+        additionalProperties: false,
+      },
+    },
+  },
+  // Server-side no-op. The "execution" of ask_user_input is the user's
+  // response, captured client-side and posted to /api/chats/:id/answer_user_input.
+  // The inference loop detects this tool by name and pauses before reaching
+  // executeToolCall — this fallback only runs if something bypasses that
+  // branch, in which case the pending sentinel matches the pause-path shape.
+  async execute(input) {
+    return { _pending: true, questions: input.questions };
+  },
+};
+
 export const ALL_TOOLS: ReadonlyArray<ToolDef<unknown>> = [
   viewFile as ToolDef<unknown>,
   listDir as ToolDef<unknown>,
   grep as ToolDef<unknown>,
   findFiles as ToolDef<unknown>,
   gitStatus as ToolDef<unknown>,
+  skillFind as ToolDef<unknown>,
+  skillUse as ToolDef<unknown>,
+  skillResource as ToolDef<unknown>,
+  askUserInput as ToolDef<unknown>,
 ];
 
 // v1.8.2: forward-compatible read-only whitelist. An agent whose `tools` is
@@ -313,12 +497,19 @@ export const ALL_TOOLS: ReadonlyArray<ToolDef<unknown>> = [
 // anything outside means the agent can mutate state and gets a tighter
 // default (10). Every tool in v1.8.2 happens to be read-only, so the
 // non-RO branch only takes effect once BooCoder lands write tools.
+// Batch 9.6: skill_* added; all still read-only.
+// Batch 9.7: ask_user_input added — it pauses execution but doesn't mutate
+// project state, so it belongs in the read-only set for budget purposes.
 export const READ_ONLY_TOOL_NAMES = [
   'view_file',
   'list_dir',
   'grep',
   'find_files',
   'git_status',
+  'skill_find',
+  'skill_use',
+  'skill_resource',
+  'ask_user_input',
 ] as const;
 
 export const TOOLS_BY_NAME: Record<string, ToolDef<unknown>> = Object.fromEntries(

apps/web/src/api/client.ts

@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@ import type {
   ViewFileResult,
   AgentsResponse,
   GitMeta,
+  Skill,
+  AskUserAnswer,
 } from './types';
 
 export class ApiError extends Error {
@@ -187,6 +189,31 @@ export const api = {
         method: 'POST',
         body: JSON.stringify({ message_id: body.messageId, name: body.name }),
       }),
+    // Batch 9.6: slash-command invocation. Server loads the skill body
+    // authoritatively (client doesn't get to forge file contents), persists
+    // a synthetic skill_use tool_use + tool_result + user message + streaming
+    // assistant, and enqueues inference. Returns all 4 new message IDs.
+    skillInvoke: (chatId: string, skillName: string, userMessage: string | null) =>
+      request<{
+        synth_assistant_id: string;
+        tool_message_id: string;
+        user_message_id: string;
+        assistant_message_id: string;
+      }>(`/api/chats/${chatId}/skill_invoke`, {
+        method: 'POST',
+        body: JSON.stringify({ skill_name: skillName, user_message: userMessage }),
+      }),
+    // Batch 9.7: submit answers for a paused ask_user_input call. Server
+    // validates against the question shape, UPDATEs the pending tool row,
+    // publishes the deferred tool_result frame, and enqueues the next turn.
+    answerUserInput: (chatId: string, toolCallId: string, answers: AskUserAnswer[]) =>
+      request<{ tool_message_id: string; assistant_message_id: string }>(
+        `/api/chats/${chatId}/answer_user_input`,
+        {
+          method: 'POST',
+          body: JSON.stringify({ tool_call_id: toolCallId, answers }),
+        },
+      ),
   },
 
   messages: {
@@ -218,6 +245,10 @@ export const api = {
       request<AgentsResponse>(`/api/projects/${projectId}/agents`),
   },
 
+  skills: {
+    list: () => request<{ skills: Skill[] }>('/api/skills'),
+  },
+
   settings: {
     get: () => request<Record<string, unknown>>('/api/settings'),
     patch: (body: Record<string, unknown>) =>

apps/web/src/api/types.ts

@@ -231,6 +231,37 @@ export interface GitMeta {
   behind: number;
 }
 
+// Batch 9.6: skill catalog row. Returned by GET /api/skills and consumed by
+// the slash-command dropdown. `path` and `mtime` are exposed for debug surface
+// (/api/skills) but the dropdown only renders name + description.
+export interface Skill {
+  name: string;
+  description: string;
+  path: string;
+  mtime: number;
+}
+
+// Batch 9.7: ask_user_input shapes. The tool_call.args is { questions: AskUserQuestion[] }
+// (1-3 entries); the eventual tool_result.output is { answers: AskUserAnswer[] } in the
+// same order. AskUserInputCard renders questions and POSTs answers.
+export type AskUserQuestionType = 'single_select' | 'multi_select';
+
+export interface AskUserQuestion {
+  question: string;
+  type: AskUserQuestionType;
+  options: string[];
+}
+
+export interface AskUserAnswer {
+  question: string;
+  selected_options: string[];
+  free_text: string | null;
+}
+
+export interface AskUserAnswerSet {
+  answers: AskUserAnswer[];
+}
+
 // v1.9: 'settings' is an ephemeral pane kind — never persisted, always
 // singleton per workspace. The pane hook filters it out before writing to
 // localStorage and dedupes on insertion via toggleSettingsPane().

apps/web/src/components/AskUserInputCard.tsx

@@ -0,0 +1,324 @@
+import { useMemo, useState } from 'react';
+import { Check } from 'lucide-react';
+import { toast } from 'sonner';
+import { api } from '@/api/client';
+import { RadioGroup, RadioGroupItem } from '@/components/ui/radio-group';
+import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button';
+import type {
+  AskUserAnswer,
+  AskUserAnswerSet,
+  AskUserQuestion,
+  ToolCall,
+  ToolResult,
+} from '@/api/types';
+
+// Batch 9.7. Inline interactive picker. Renders inside MessageList in place of
+// the standard ToolCallLine when the assistant emits an ask_user_input tool
+// call. While the tool result is null (server pre-stamps a sentinel with
+// output=null), shows the form; once the WS tool_result frame arrives with a
+// real AnswerSet, flips to read-only review mode.
+
+interface Props {
+  toolCall: ToolCall;
+  toolResult: ToolResult | null;
+  chatId: string;
+}
+
+function parseQuestions(raw: unknown): AskUserQuestion[] {
+  if (!raw || typeof raw !== 'object' || !('questions' in raw)) return [];
+  const arr = (raw as { questions: unknown }).questions;
+  if (!Array.isArray(arr)) return [];
+  const out: AskUserQuestion[] = [];
+  for (const item of arr) {
+    if (!item || typeof item !== 'object') continue;
+    const q = item as { question?: unknown; type?: unknown; options?: unknown };
+    if (typeof q.question !== 'string') continue;
+    if (q.type !== 'single_select' && q.type !== 'multi_select') continue;
+    if (!Array.isArray(q.options)) continue;
+    const opts = q.options.filter((o): o is string => typeof o === 'string');
+    if (opts.length < 2) continue;
+    out.push({ question: q.question, type: q.type, options: opts });
+  }
+  return out;
+}
+
+function parseAnswerSet(raw: unknown): AskUserAnswerSet | null {
+  if (!raw || typeof raw !== 'object' || !('answers' in raw)) return null;
+  const arr = (raw as { answers: unknown }).answers;
+  if (!Array.isArray(arr)) return null;
+  const answers: AskUserAnswer[] = [];
+  for (const item of arr) {
+    if (!item || typeof item !== 'object') continue;
+    const a = item as { question?: unknown; selected_options?: unknown; free_text?: unknown };
+    if (typeof a.question !== 'string') continue;
+    if (!Array.isArray(a.selected_options)) continue;
+    if (a.free_text !== null && typeof a.free_text !== 'string') continue;
+    const sel = a.selected_options.filter((s): s is string => typeof s === 'string');
+    answers.push({
+      question: a.question,
+      selected_options: sel,
+      free_text: (a.free_text as string | null) ?? null,
+    });
+  }
+  return { answers };
+}
+
+export function AskUserInputCard({ toolCall, toolResult, chatId }: Props) {
+  const questions = useMemo(() => parseQuestions(toolCall.args), [toolCall.args]);
+
+  if (questions.length === 0) {
+    return (
+      <div className="rounded border border-destructive/40 bg-destructive/10 text-xs px-3 py-2 text-destructive">
+        ask_user_input: malformed tool args
+      </div>
+    );
+  }
+
+  // Tool result with a non-null output means the answer is already submitted.
+  // The pending sentinel uses output=null, so this branch only triggers after
+  // the real WS tool_result frame lands.
+  const answered = toolResult && toolResult.output !== null;
+  if (answered) {
+    const answerSet = parseAnswerSet(toolResult!.output);
+    return <AnsweredView questions={questions} answers={answerSet} />;
+  }
+
+  return (
+    <PendingView questions={questions} toolCallId={toolCall.id} chatId={chatId} />
+  );
+}
+
+function PendingView({
+  questions,
+  toolCallId,
+  chatId,
+}: {
+  questions: AskUserQuestion[];
+  toolCallId: string;
+  chatId: string;
+}) {
+  // Per-question selections + free text. Selections are option arrays so the
+  // multi_select case is uniform; single_select just constrains to length 1.
+  const [selections, setSelections] = useState<string[][]>(() => questions.map(() => []));
+  const [freeTexts, setFreeTexts] = useState<string[]>(() => questions.map(() => ''));
+  const [submitting, setSubmitting] = useState(false);
+
+  const singleQuestion = questions.length === 1;
+  const anyFreeText = freeTexts.some((t) => t.trim().length > 0);
+
+  // Submit button shows when:
+  //   - more than one question (always batched), OR
+  //   - one question and the user has typed free text (committing it needs an
+  //     explicit Submit so an accidental Tab/click doesn't lose it).
+  // For one question with no free text, clicking an option submits inline.
+  const showSubmitButton = !singleQuestion || anyFreeText;
+
+  // Every question must have at least one of (option, free text).
+  const allComplete = questions.every((_, i) => {
+    return selections[i]!.length > 0 || freeTexts[i]!.trim().length > 0;
+  });
+
+  function buildAnswers(): AskUserAnswer[] {
+    return questions.map((q, i) => {
+      const freeText = freeTexts[i]!.trim();
+      return {
+        question: q.question,
+        selected_options: selections[i]!,
+        free_text: freeText.length > 0 ? freeText : null,
+      };
+    });
+  }
+
+  async function submit(answers: AskUserAnswer[]) {
+    if (submitting) return;
+    setSubmitting(true);
+    try {
+      await api.chats.answerUserInput(chatId, toolCallId, answers);
+      // Card stays mounted; the incoming WS tool_result frame will flip it
+      // into AnsweredView via the parent prop change.
+    } catch (err) {
+      toast.error(err instanceof Error ? err.message : 'submit failed');
+      setSubmitting(false);
+    }
+  }
+
+  function pickSingle(qIdx: number, option: string) {
+    setSelections((prev) => prev.map((arr, i) => (i === qIdx ? [option] : arr)));
+    // Immediate submit for the single-question single-select shortcut. Only
+    // fires when no free text exists anywhere — once the user typed, the
+    // Submit button takes over so the typed text isn't silently dropped.
+    if (singleQuestion && !anyFreeText) {
+      const answers: AskUserAnswer[] = [
+        {
+          question: questions[0]!.question,
+          selected_options: [option],
+          free_text: null,
+        },
+      ];
+      void submit(answers);
+    }
+  }
+
+  function toggleMulti(qIdx: number, option: string) {
+    setSelections((prev) =>
+      prev.map((arr, i) => {
+        if (i !== qIdx) return arr;
+        return arr.includes(option) ? arr.filter((o) => o !== option) : [...arr, option];
+      }),
+    );
+  }
+
+  function setFreeText(qIdx: number, value: string) {
+    setFreeTexts((prev) => prev.map((t, i) => (i === qIdx ? value : t)));
+  }
+
+  return (
+    <div className="rounded-lg border bg-muted/20 text-sm">
+      <div className="px-4 py-3 space-y-4">
+        {questions.map((q, i) => (
+          <div key={i} className="space-y-2">
+            {questions.length > 1 && (
+              <div className="text-[10px] uppercase tracking-wide text-muted-foreground/70">
+                Question {i + 1}
+              </div>
+            )}
+            <div className="font-medium leading-snug">{q.question}</div>
+            {q.type === 'single_select' ? (
+              <RadioGroup
+                value={selections[i]![0] ?? ''}
+                onValueChange={(v) => pickSingle(i, v)}
+                disabled={submitting}
+                className="gap-1.5"
+              >
+                {q.options.map((opt, j) => {
+                  const id = `q${i}-opt${j}`;
+                  return (
+                    <label
+                      key={j}
+                      htmlFor={id}
+                      className="flex items-start gap-2 text-sm leading-snug cursor-pointer rounded px-1 py-0.5 hover:bg-muted/40"
+                    >
+                      <RadioGroupItem id={id} value={opt} className="mt-0.5" />
+                      <span>{opt}</span>
+                    </label>
+                  );
+                })}
+              </RadioGroup>
+            ) : (
+              <div className="grid gap-1.5">
+                {q.options.map((opt, j) => {
+                  const id = `q${i}-opt${j}`;
+                  const checked = selections[i]!.includes(opt);
+                  return (
+                    <label
+                      key={j}
+                      htmlFor={id}
+                      className="flex items-start gap-2 text-sm leading-snug cursor-pointer rounded px-1 py-0.5 hover:bg-muted/40"
+                    >
+                      <input
+                        id={id}
+                        type="checkbox"
+                        checked={checked}
+                        disabled={submitting}
+                        onChange={() => toggleMulti(i, opt)}
+                        className="mt-1 size-3.5 rounded border-input accent-primary"
+                      />
+                      <span>{opt}</span>
+                    </label>
+                  );
+                })}
+              </div>
+            )}
+            <div className="pt-1 space-y-1">
+              <div className="text-[10px] uppercase tracking-wide text-muted-foreground/70">
+                Or type a custom answer
+              </div>
+              <input
+                type="text"
+                value={freeTexts[i]}
+                disabled={submitting}
+                placeholder="Free text…"
+                onChange={(e) => setFreeText(i, e.target.value)}
+                className="w-full rounded border border-input bg-background px-2 py-1 text-sm outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-ring/40 disabled:opacity-60"
+              />
+            </div>
+          </div>
+        ))}
+      </div>
+      {showSubmitButton && (
+        <div className="flex justify-end gap-2 border-t px-4 py-2">
+          <Button
+            type="button"
+            size="sm"
+            disabled={!allComplete || submitting}
+            onClick={() => void submit(buildAnswers())}
+          >
+            {submitting ? 'Submitting…' : 'Submit'}
+          </Button>
+        </div>
+      )}
+    </div>
+  );
+}
+
+function AnsweredView({
+  questions,
+  answers,
+}: {
+  questions: AskUserQuestion[];
+  answers: AskUserAnswerSet | null;
+}) {
+  if (!answers) {
+    return (
+      <div className="rounded-lg border bg-muted/20 text-xs px-4 py-3 text-muted-foreground">
+        ask_user_input: answers unavailable
+      </div>
+    );
+  }
+
+  return (
+    <div className="rounded-lg border bg-muted/10 text-sm">
+      <div className="px-4 py-3 space-y-3">
+        {questions.map((q, i) => {
+          const a = answers.answers[i];
+          if (!a) return null;
+          return (
+            <div key={i} className="space-y-1.5">
+              {questions.length > 1 && (
+                <div className="text-[10px] uppercase tracking-wide text-muted-foreground/70">
+                  Question {i + 1}
+                </div>
+              )}
+              <div className="font-medium leading-snug">{q.question}</div>
+              <div className="space-y-0.5">
+                {q.options.map((opt, j) => {
+                  const selected = a.selected_options.includes(opt);
+                  return (
+                    <div
+                      key={j}
+                      className={
+                        selected
+                          ? 'flex items-start gap-2 text-sm leading-snug text-foreground'
+                          : 'flex items-start gap-2 text-sm leading-snug text-muted-foreground/60 line-through'
+                      }
+                    >
+                      <span className="mt-0.5 size-3.5 shrink-0 inline-flex items-center justify-center">
+                        {selected && <Check className="size-3 text-primary" />}
+                      </span>
+                      <span>{opt}</span>
+                    </div>
+                  );
+                })}
+              </div>
+              {a.free_text && (
+                <div className="rounded bg-background border px-2 py-1 text-xs font-mono whitespace-pre-wrap">
+                  {a.free_text}
+                </div>
+              )}
+            </div>
+          );
+        })}
+      </div>
+    </div>
+  );
+}

apps/web/src/components/ChatInput.tsx

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { useCallback, useEffect, useRef, useState, type DragEvent, type KeyboardEvent } from 'react';
+import { useCallback, useEffect, useMemo, useRef, useState, type DragEvent, type KeyboardEvent } from 'react';
 import { Check, Plus, Send } from 'lucide-react';
 import { toast } from 'sonner';
 import { Textarea } from '@/components/ui/textarea';
@@ -22,8 +22,10 @@ import { AttachmentPreviewModal } from '@/components/AttachmentPreviewModal';
 import { FileMentionPopover } from '@/components/FileMentionPopover';
 import { DropOverlay } from '@/components/DropOverlay';
 import { AgentPicker } from '@/components/AgentPicker';
+import { SkillSlashCommand } from '@/components/SkillSlashCommand';
 import { api } from '@/api/client';
 import { sessionEvents } from '@/hooks/sessionEvents';
+import { useSkills } from '@/hooks/useSkills';
 import { useViewport } from '@/hooks/useViewport';
 
 const MAX_ATTACHMENTS = 10;
@@ -44,9 +46,14 @@ interface Props {
   webSearchEnabled?: boolean | null;
   onSend: (content: string) => void | Promise<void>;
   onForceSend?: (content: string) => void | Promise<void>;
+  // Batch 9.6: slash-command dispatch. When the input parses to a known skill,
+  // ChatInput calls this with the skill name + the post-name args (possibly
+  // empty). Callers wire this to api.chats.skillInvoke. Omitting the prop
+  // disables slash-command dispatch (input is sent as literal text).
+  onSlashCommand?: (skillName: string, userMessage: string) => void | Promise<void>;
 }
 
-export function ChatInput({ disabled, projectId, agentId, onAgentChange, sessionId, webSearchEnabled, onSend, onForceSend }: Props) {
+export function ChatInput({ disabled, projectId, agentId, onAgentChange, sessionId, webSearchEnabled, onSend, onForceSend, onSlashCommand }: Props) {
   const { isMobile } = useViewport();
   const [value, setValue] = useState('');
   const [busy, setBusy] = useState(false);
@@ -61,6 +68,19 @@ export function ChatInput({ disabled, projectId, agentId, onAgentChange, session
     atIdx: number;
     anchorRect: { top: number; left: number };
   } | null>(null);
+  // Batch 9.6: slash-command dropdown. Opens when `/` is the first char of
+  // the input and stays open while the input is `/<word>` with no whitespace.
+  // Disabled entirely when the caller doesn't pass onSlashCommand.
+  const [slashState, setSlashState] = useState<{
+    query: string;
+    anchorRect: { top: number; left: number };
+  } | null>(null);
+  const { skills } = useSkills();
+  const skillsLookup = useMemo(() => {
+    const m = new Map<string, true>();
+    for (const s of skills) m.set(s.name, true);
+    return m;
+  }, [skills]);
   const [fileIndex, setFileIndex] = useState<string[] | null>(null);
   const textareaRef = useRef<HTMLTextAreaElement | null>(null);
 
@@ -95,6 +115,31 @@ export function ChatInput({ disabled, projectId, agentId, onAgentChange, session
     const text = value.trim();
     if (!text && attachments.length === 0) return;
     if (disabled || busy) return;
+
+    // Batch 9.6: slash-command dispatch. Only when no attachments and the
+    // input parses to a known skill. Falls through to onSend for unknown
+    // slash names (literal text) or when slash dispatch isn't wired.
+    if (onSlashCommand && attachments.length === 0 && text.startsWith('/')) {
+      const match = text.match(/^\/(\S+)\s*([\s\S]*)$/);
+      if (match && skillsLookup.has(match[1]!)) {
+        const skillName = match[1]!;
+        const args = (match[2] ?? '').trim();
+        setBusy(true);
+        try {
+          await onSlashCommand(skillName, args);
+          setValue('');
+          setAttachments([]);
+          setSlashState(null);
+        } catch (err) {
+          toast.error(err instanceof Error ? err.message : 'skill invocation failed');
+        } finally {
+          setBusy(false);
+        }
+        return;
+      }
+      // Unknown skill name — fall through and send as literal text.
+    }
+
     setBusy(true);
     try {
       const body = flattenToMessage(attachments, text);
@@ -108,6 +153,19 @@ export function ChatInput({ disabled, projectId, agentId, onAgentChange, session
     }
   }
 
+  function handleSlashSelect(skillName: string) {
+    const next = `/${skillName} `;
+    setValue(next);
+    setSlashState(null);
+    requestAnimationFrame(() => {
+      const ta = textareaRef.current;
+      if (ta) {
+        ta.selectionStart = ta.selectionEnd = next.length;
+        ta.focus();
+      }
+    });
+  }
+
   function getCaretCoords(textarea: HTMLTextAreaElement): { top: number; left: number } {
     const mirror = document.createElement('div');
     const style = window.getComputedStyle(textarea);
@@ -158,6 +216,23 @@ export function ChatInput({ disabled, projectId, agentId, onAgentChange, session
     const ta = e.target;
     const pos = ta.selectionStart;
 
+    // Batch 9.6: slash-command trigger. Active while the input is a single
+    // slash-prefixed token with no whitespace (i.e. user is still typing the
+    // skill name). Hand off to args mode the moment a space appears or the
+    // slash leaves position 0.
+    if (onSlashCommand && /^\/[^\s]*$/.test(newValue)) {
+      const query = newValue.slice(1);
+      if (!slashState) {
+        const rect = ta.getBoundingClientRect();
+        setSlashState({ query, anchorRect: { top: rect.top, left: rect.left } });
+      } else if (slashState.query !== query) {
+        setSlashState({ ...slashState, query });
+      }
+      if (mentionState?.open) setMentionState(null);
+      return;
+    }
+    if (slashState) setSlashState(null);
+
     // Check for @ trigger
     if (pos > 0 && newValue[pos - 1] === '@') {
       const charBefore = pos >= 2 ? newValue[pos - 2] : null;
@@ -374,6 +449,9 @@ export function ChatInput({ disabled, projectId, agentId, onAgentChange, session
 
   function onKeyDown(e: KeyboardEvent<HTMLTextAreaElement>) {
     if (mentionState?.open) return;
+    // SkillSlashCommand owns Arrow/Enter/Tab/Esc via a document listener; let
+    // it consume them so the textarea doesn't also submit on Enter.
+    if (slashState) return;
     // IME safety: never act on Enter while an IME composition is in flight
     // (CJK input methods commit composition via Enter). Without this, the
     // first Enter of a Japanese/Chinese/Korean composition would submit
@@ -524,6 +602,15 @@ export function ChatInput({ disabled, projectId, agentId, onAgentChange, session
           onClose={closeMention}
         />
       )}
+      {slashState && (
+        <SkillSlashCommand
+          query={slashState.query}
+          skills={skills}
+          anchorRect={slashState.anchorRect}
+          onSelect={handleSlashSelect}
+          onClose={() => setSlashState(null)}
+        />
+      )}
     </div>
   );
 }

apps/web/src/components/MessageList.tsx

@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import type { Chat, Message } from '@/api/types';
 import { MessageBubble } from './MessageBubble';
 import { ToolCallGroup } from './ToolCallGroup';
 import { ToolCallLine, type ToolRun } from './ToolCallLine';
+import { AskUserInputCard } from './AskUserInputCard';
 
 interface Props {
   messages: Message[];
@@ -12,9 +13,11 @@ interface Props {
 // v1.8.2: pre-render units. The single linear `messages` array gets walked
 // into a render-time list where each tool_call is a first-class item and
 // tool_result messages are folded onto their matching tool_run by id.
+// Batch 9.7: tool_run carries chat_id so AskUserInputCard can post the
+// answer without threading the chat id through MessageList's parent.
 type RenderItem =
   | { kind: 'message'; message: Message; capHitInfo?: { position: number; isLatest: boolean } }
-  | { kind: 'tool_run'; run: ToolRun; key: string }
+  | { kind: 'tool_run'; run: ToolRun; key: string; chatId: string }
   | { kind: 'tool_group'; runs: ToolRun[]; key: string };
 
 const GROUP_THRESHOLD = 3;
@@ -50,7 +53,7 @@ function flatten(messages: Message[]): RenderItem[] {
       for (const tc of m.tool_calls!) {
         const run: ToolRun = { call: tc, result: null };
         runsByCallId.set(tc.id, run);
-        items.push({ kind: 'tool_run', run, key: tc.id });
+        items.push({ kind: 'tool_run', run, key: tc.id, chatId: m.chat_id });
       }
       continue;
     }
@@ -63,6 +66,9 @@ function flatten(messages: Message[]): RenderItem[] {
 // Second pass: collapse runs of >=GROUP_THRESHOLD consecutive tool_run items
 // of the same tool name into a single tool_group. Any other render item
 // (text bubble, sentinel, user message) breaks the chain.
+// Batch 9.7: ask_user_input never groups — each pause has its own card so
+// grouping would render them as collapsed ToolCallLines which can't surface
+// the interactive form.
 function group(items: RenderItem[]): RenderItem[] {
   const out: RenderItem[] = [];
   let i = 0;
@@ -74,6 +80,11 @@ function group(items: RenderItem[]): RenderItem[] {
       continue;
     }
     const name = item.run.call.name;
+    if (name === 'ask_user_input') {
+      out.push(item);
+      i += 1;
+      continue;
+    }
     let j = i + 1;
     while (
       j < items.length &&
@@ -82,7 +93,12 @@ function group(items: RenderItem[]): RenderItem[] {
     ) {
       j += 1;
     }
-    const run = items.slice(i, j) as Array<{ kind: 'tool_run'; run: ToolRun; key: string }>;
+    const run = items.slice(i, j) as Array<{
+      kind: 'tool_run';
+      run: ToolRun;
+      key: string;
+      chatId: string;
+    }>;
     if (run.length >= GROUP_THRESHOLD) {
       out.push({
         kind: 'tool_group',
@@ -150,6 +166,16 @@ export function MessageList({ messages, sessionChats }: Props) {
             );
           }
           if (item.kind === 'tool_run') {
+            if (item.run.call.name === 'ask_user_input') {
+              return (
+                <AskUserInputCard
+                  key={item.key}
+                  toolCall={item.run.call}
+                  toolResult={item.run.result}
+                  chatId={item.chatId}
+                />
+              );
+            }
             return <ToolCallLine key={item.key} run={item.run} />;
           }
           return <ToolCallGroup key={item.key} runs={item.runs} />;

apps/web/src/components/SkillSlashCommand.tsx

@@ -0,0 +1,137 @@
+import { useEffect, useMemo, useRef, useState } from 'react';
+import { cn } from '@/lib/utils';
+import type { Skill } from '@/api/types';
+
+interface Props {
+  query: string;
+  skills: Skill[];
+  anchorRect: { top: number; left: number };
+  onSelect: (skillName: string) => void;
+  onClose: () => void;
+}
+
+// Batch 9.6: slash-command dropdown. Models FileMentionPopover's pattern —
+// fixed-positioned popover, keyboard nav, click-outside-to-close. shadcn
+// `Command` (cmdk) isn't installed in this project; per the addendum we use
+// a plain div + Tailwind instead of pulling a new primitive autonomously.
+
+// Case-insensitive prefix match on `name` only. Description is display-only
+// in v1 (substring search across description is deferred to a polish batch).
+function filterByPrefix(skills: Skill[], query: string): Skill[] {
+  const q = query.toLowerCase();
+  const filtered = q
+    ? skills.filter((s) => s.name.toLowerCase().startsWith(q))
+    : skills;
+  // Stable alphabetical ordering matches the server's cache order (skills.ts
+  // sorts on name asc) but we re-sort here so a stale client cache doesn't
+  // surprise the user.
+  return [...filtered].sort((a, b) => a.name.localeCompare(b.name));
+}
+
+export function SkillSlashCommand({ query, skills, anchorRect, onSelect, onClose }: Props) {
+  const [highlightIndex, setHighlightIndex] = useState(0);
+  const popoverRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null);
+  const filtered = useMemo(() => filterByPrefix(skills, query), [skills, query]);
+
+  useEffect(() => { setHighlightIndex(0); }, [query]);
+
+  // Arrow / Enter / Tab / Escape. Bound on document so keystrokes from the
+  // textarea reach the popover even though focus stays in the textarea.
+  useEffect(() => {
+    function handleKeyDown(e: KeyboardEvent) {
+      if (e.key === 'ArrowDown') {
+        e.preventDefault();
+        setHighlightIndex((prev) => (prev < filtered.length - 1 ? prev + 1 : 0));
+      } else if (e.key === 'ArrowUp') {
+        e.preventDefault();
+        setHighlightIndex((prev) => (prev > 0 ? prev - 1 : filtered.length - 1));
+      } else if (e.key === 'Enter' || e.key === 'Tab') {
+        if (filtered.length === 0) return;
+        e.preventDefault();
+        const target = filtered[highlightIndex] ?? filtered[0];
+        if (target) onSelect(target.name);
+      } else if (e.key === 'Escape') {
+        e.preventDefault();
+        onClose();
+      }
+    }
+    document.addEventListener('keydown', handleKeyDown);
+    return () => document.removeEventListener('keydown', handleKeyDown);
+  }, [filtered, highlightIndex, onSelect, onClose]);
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    function handleMouseDown(e: MouseEvent) {
+      if (popoverRef.current && !popoverRef.current.contains(e.target as Node)) {
+        onClose();
+      }
+    }
+    document.addEventListener('mousedown', handleMouseDown);
+    return () => document.removeEventListener('mousedown', handleMouseDown);
+  }, [onClose]);
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    const el = popoverRef.current?.querySelector('[data-highlighted="true"]');
+    if (el) el.scrollIntoView({ block: 'nearest' });
+  }, [highlightIndex]);
+
+  // Anchor sits above the input — translate(-100%) on Y so the dropdown
+  // expands upward from the anchor point rather than over the textarea.
+  const style = {
+    top: anchorRect.top,
+    left: anchorRect.left,
+    transform: 'translateY(-100%)',
+  } as const;
+
+  if (filtered.length === 0) {
+    return (
+      <div
+        ref={popoverRef}
+        className="fixed z-50 bg-popover border border-border rounded-md shadow min-w-[320px] p-2"
+        style={style}
+      >
+        <div className="text-xs text-muted-foreground px-2 py-1">
+          {query ? `No skill starts with "/${query}"` : 'No skills available'}
+        </div>
+      </div>
+    );
+  }
+
+  return (
+    <div
+      ref={popoverRef}
+      className="fixed z-50 bg-popover border border-border rounded-md shadow min-w-[320px] max-w-[420px] max-h-[320px] overflow-y-auto"
+      style={style}
+    >
+      {filtered.map((skill, i) => (
+        <button
+          key={skill.name}
+          type="button"
+          data-highlighted={i === highlightIndex}
+          className={cn(
+            'w-full text-left px-2.5 py-2 cursor-pointer block',
+            i === highlightIndex && 'bg-muted',
+          )}
+          onMouseEnter={() => setHighlightIndex(i)}
+          onMouseDown={(e) => {
+            // mousedown not click — click runs after blur/focus shuffles which
+            // can race with the textarea's onBlur close path.
+            e.preventDefault();
+            onSelect(skill.name);
+          }}
+        >
+          <div className="font-mono text-xs font-bold text-foreground">/{skill.name}</div>
+          <div
+            className="text-xs text-muted-foreground overflow-hidden"
+            style={{
+              display: '-webkit-box',
+              WebkitLineClamp: 2,
+              WebkitBoxOrient: 'vertical',
+            }}
+          >
+            {skill.description}
+          </div>
+        </button>
+      ))}
+    </div>
+  );
+}

apps/web/src/components/panes/ChatPane.tsx

@@ -96,6 +96,18 @@ export function ChatPane({ sessionId, chatId, projectId, agentId, onAgentChange,
     }
   }, [chatId]);
 
+  // Batch 9.6: slash-command dispatch. Sent regardless of streaming state —
+  // matches the existing /compact precedent (which also fires immediately).
+  // Empty args go to the server as null; the server fills in a default user
+  // message ("Apply this skill.") so the model has something to act on.
+  const handleSlashCommand = useCallback(async (skillName: string, userMessage: string) => {
+    try {
+      await api.chats.skillInvoke(chatId, skillName, userMessage.length > 0 ? userMessage : null);
+    } catch (err) {
+      toast.error(err instanceof Error ? err.message : `/${skillName} failed`);
+    }
+  }, [chatId]);
+
   function removeQueued(idx: number) {
     setQueue((prev) => prev.filter((_, i) => i !== idx));
   }
@@ -183,6 +195,7 @@ export function ChatPane({ sessionId, chatId, projectId, agentId, onAgentChange,
           webSearchEnabled={webSearchEnabled}
           onSend={handleSend}
           onForceSend={streaming ? handleForceSend : undefined}
+          onSlashCommand={handleSlashCommand}
         />
       </div>
     </div>

apps/web/src/hooks/useSkills.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+import { useEffect, useState } from 'react';
+import { api } from '@/api/client';
+import type { Skill } from '@/api/types';
+
+// Batch 9.6: shared in-memory cache for the slash-command dropdown. One fetch
+// per process; subsequent mounts of useSkills() return the cached list and
+// don't re-hit /api/skills. Matches the useSidebar / useChatStatus module-
+// singleton pattern so the dropdown stays cheap even with many ChatInputs
+// mounted at once.
+
+let cachedSkills: Skill[] | null = null;
+let inflight: Promise<Skill[]> | null = null;
+const subscribers = new Set<(s: Skill[]) => void>();
+
+async function loadSkills(): Promise<Skill[]> {
+  if (inflight) return inflight;
+  inflight = api.skills
+    .list()
+    .then((r) => {
+      cachedSkills = r.skills;
+      for (const sub of subscribers) {
+        try { sub(cachedSkills); } catch { /* swallow */ }
+      }
+      return cachedSkills;
+    })
+    .finally(() => { inflight = null; });
+  return inflight;
+}
+
+export function useSkills(): { skills: Skill[]; loaded: boolean } {
+  const [skills, setSkills] = useState<Skill[]>(cachedSkills ?? []);
+  const [loaded, setLoaded] = useState<boolean>(cachedSkills !== null);
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    subscribers.add(setSkills);
+    if (cachedSkills === null) {
+      void loadSkills().then(() => setLoaded(true)).catch(() => setLoaded(true));
+    }
+    return () => { subscribers.delete(setSkills); };
+  }, []);
+
+  return { skills, loaded };
+}

docker-compose.yml

@@ -9,15 +9,11 @@ services:
     environment:
       DATABASE_URL: postgres://boocode:${POSTGRES_PASSWORD}@boocode_db:5432/boocode
     volumes:
-      # Read-only mount for legacy/existing project add-existing flow.
-      - /opt:/opt:ro
-      # Writable mount only for the create-new-project bootstrap target.
-      # Host must `mkdir -p /opt/projects` before container start.
+      - /opt:/opt
       - /opt/projects:/opt/projects:rw
       - ./secrets/boocode_gitea:/root/.ssh/id_ed25519:ro
-      # v1.8.1: global agents file. Host seeds it once before deploy:
-      # cp /opt/boocode/AGENTS.md /opt/boocode/data/AGENTS.md
-      - ./data:/data:ro
+      - ./data:/data
+      - /opt/skills:/data/skills
     depends_on:
       - boocode_db
     networks: