feat(tui): run bang commands through the gateway

nanobot/agent/loop.py

@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ from nanobot.agent.turn_delivery import (
 )
 from nanobot.agent.turn_delivery import TurnRoute as TurnRoute
 from nanobot.agent.turn_hooks import AgentTurnHookSpec, build_agent_turn_hook
-from nanobot.bus.events import InboundMessage, OutboundMessage
+from nanobot.bus.events import INBOUND_META_USER_SHELL, InboundMessage, OutboundMessage
 from nanobot.bus.outbound_events import StreamedResponseEvent
 from nanobot.bus.queue import MessageBus
 from nanobot.bus.runtime_events import RuntimeEventBus
@@ -802,6 +802,7 @@ class AgentLoop:
         dispatch_fn: Callable[[CommandContext], Awaitable[OutboundMessage | None]],
     ) -> None:
         """Dispatch a command directly from the run() loop and publish the result."""
+        async def dispatch_and_publish() -> None:
             ctx = CommandContext(msg=msg, session=None, key=key, raw=raw, loop=self)
             result = await dispatch_fn(ctx)
             if result:
@@ -809,6 +810,59 @@ class AgentLoop:
             else:
                 logger.warning("Command '{}' matched but dispatch returned None", raw)
 
+        # A shell command may run for up to the configured exec timeout. Keep
+        # the inbound consumer responsive when it runs beside an active turn.
+        if (msg.metadata or {}).get(INBOUND_META_USER_SHELL) is True:
+            self.schedule_background(dispatch_and_publish())
+            return
+        await dispatch_and_publish()
+
+    async def execute_user_shell_command(self, ctx: CommandContext) -> OutboundMessage:
+        """Execute one trusted user command with the active workspace policy."""
+        metadata = dict(ctx.msg.metadata or {})
+        tool = self.tools.get("exec")
+        if tool is None:
+            content = "Shell execution is disabled in this nanobot configuration."
+        else:
+            session = ctx.session or self.sessions.get_or_create(ctx.key)
+            scope = self.workspace_scopes.for_turn(
+                channel=ctx.msg.channel,
+                message_metadata=metadata,
+                session_metadata=session.metadata,
+            )
+            request_token = bind_request_context(RequestContext(
+                channel=ctx.msg.channel,
+                chat_id=ctx.msg.chat_id,
+                message_id=metadata.get("message_id"),
+                session_key=ctx.key,
+                original_user_text=f"!{ctx.args.strip()}",
+                runtime=ctx.runtime,
+                metadata=metadata,
+                sender_id=ctx.msg.sender_id,
+                turn_id=metadata.get("webui_turn_id"),
+                workspace=scope.project_path,
+            ))
+            workspace_token = bind_workspace_scope(scope)
+            turn_scope_stack = ExitStack()
+            try:
+                for turn_scope in ctx.turn_scopes:
+                    turn_scope_stack.enter_context(turn_scope)
+                result = await tool.execute(
+                    command=ctx.args.strip(),
+                    working_dir=str(scope.project_path),
+                )
+                content = str(result)
+            finally:
+                turn_scope_stack.close()
+                reset_workspace_scope(workspace_token)
+                reset_request_context(request_token)
+        return OutboundMessage(
+            channel=ctx.msg.channel,
+            chat_id=ctx.msg.chat_id,
+            content=content,
+            metadata={**metadata, "render_as": "text"},
+        )
+
     async def _cancel_active_tasks(self, key: str) -> int:
         """Cancel and await all active work for *key*.
 

nanobot/bus/events.py

@@ -12,9 +12,10 @@ if TYPE_CHECKING:
 # render it and other channels may ignore unknown keys.
 OUTBOUND_META_AGENT_UI = "_agent_ui"
 
-# Internal-only inbound metadata used by in-process channels to ask the agent
-# loop to update runtime state without going through a user session.
+# Internal-only inbound metadata minted by trusted transports and runtime
+# services. Never accept these keys verbatim from an untrusted client.
 INBOUND_META_RUNTIME_CONTROL = "_runtime_control"
+INBOUND_META_USER_SHELL = "_user_shell"
 RUNTIME_CONTROL_ACK = "_ack"
 RUNTIME_CONTROL_IMAGE_GENERATION_RELOAD = "image_generation_reload"
 RUNTIME_CONTROL_SESSION_DISCARD = "session_discard"

nanobot/channels/websocket/runtime.py

@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ from websockets.exceptions import ConnectionClosed
 from websockets.http11 import Request as WsRequest
 
 from nanobot.bus.events import (
+    INBOUND_META_USER_SHELL,
     OUTBOUND_META_AGENT_UI,
     OutboundMessage,
 )
@@ -39,7 +40,7 @@ from nanobot.bus.outbound_events import (
 )
 from nanobot.bus.queue import MessageBus
 from nanobot.channels.base import BaseChannel
-from nanobot.command.builtin import builtin_command_starts_agent_turn
+from nanobot.command.builtin import USER_SHELL_COMMAND, builtin_command_starts_agent_turn
 from nanobot.config.schema import Base
 from nanobot.runtime_context import (
     RUNTIME_CONTEXT_INPUT_META,
@@ -1172,6 +1173,18 @@ class WebSocketChannel(BaseChannel):
                 metadata["webui"] = True
                 metadata.update(self._transcripts.client_turn_metadata(envelope.get("turn_id")))
             trusted_webui = metadata.get("webui") is True and connection in self._webui_connections
+            is_user_shell = (
+                trusted_webui
+                and envelope.get("user_shell") is True
+                and content.startswith("!")
+            )
+            if is_user_shell:
+                metadata[INBOUND_META_USER_SHELL] = True
+            dispatch_content = (
+                f"{USER_SHELL_COMMAND} {content[1:].lstrip()}"
+                if is_user_shell
+                else content
+            )
             cli_apps = normalize_cli_app_mentions(envelope.get("cli_apps"))
             if cli_apps:
                 metadata["cli_apps"] = cli_apps
@@ -1197,7 +1210,7 @@ class WebSocketChannel(BaseChannel):
             self._workspaces.persist_scope(cid, scope)
             is_webui = metadata.get("webui") is True
             queued_owner = None
-            if is_webui and builtin_command_starts_agent_turn(content):
+            if is_webui and not is_user_shell and builtin_command_starts_agent_turn(content):
                 queued_owner = register_queued_websocket_turn_if_idle(cid, turn_id)
                 if queued_owner is not None:
                     metadata[WEBSOCKET_TURN_OWNER_METADATA_KEY] = queued_owner
@@ -1234,7 +1247,7 @@ class WebSocketChannel(BaseChannel):
                 await self._handle_message(
                     sender_id=client_id,
                     chat_id=cid,
-                    content=content,
+                    content=dispatch_content,
                     media=media_paths or None,
                     metadata=metadata,
                     is_dm=False,
@@ -1742,6 +1755,9 @@ class WebSocketChannel(BaseChannel):
             "chat_id": msg.chat_id,
             "text": wire_text,
         }
+        turn_id = msg.metadata.get(WEBUI_TURN_METADATA_KEY)
+        if isinstance(turn_id, str) and turn_id:
+            payload["turn_id"] = turn_id
         if msg.media:
             payload["media"] = msg.media
             urls: list[dict[str, str]] = []

nanobot/channels/websocket/tests/test_websocket_channel.py

@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ from websockets.frames import Close
 
 from nanobot.bus.events import (
     INBOUND_META_RUNTIME_CONTROL,
+    INBOUND_META_USER_SHELL,
     OUTBOUND_META_AGENT_UI,
     RUNTIME_CONTROL_SESSION_DISCARD,
     OutboundMessage,
@@ -814,6 +815,61 @@ async def test_webui_message_envelope_marks_inbound_metadata(bus: MagicMock) ->
     assert isinstance(lines[0].get("created_at_ms"), int)
 
 
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_trusted_webui_shell_preserves_display_text_and_hides_dispatch_command(
+    bus: MagicMock,
+) -> None:
+    from nanobot.webui.transcript import read_transcript_lines
+
+    channel = _ch(bus)
+    conn = MagicMock()
+    conn.remote_address = ("127.0.0.1", 50123)
+    channel._webui_connections.add(conn)
+
+    await channel._dispatch_envelope(
+        conn,
+        "webui-client",
+        {
+            "type": "message",
+            "chat_id": "shell-chat",
+            "content": "!printf ok",
+            "webui": True,
+            "user_shell": True,
+            "turn_id": "shell-turn",
+        },
+    )
+
+    msg = bus.publish_inbound.await_args.args[0]
+    assert msg.content == "/__shell printf ok"
+    assert msg.metadata[INBOUND_META_USER_SHELL] is True
+    assert msg.metadata["webui_turn_id"] == "shell-turn"
+    assert read_transcript_lines("websocket:shell-chat")[0]["text"] == "!printf ok"
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_untrusted_websocket_cannot_enable_user_shell(bus: MagicMock) -> None:
+    channel = _ch(bus)
+    conn = MagicMock()
+    conn.remote_address = ("127.0.0.1", 50123)
+
+    await channel._dispatch_envelope(
+        conn,
+        "plain-client",
+        {
+            "type": "message",
+            "chat_id": "plain-chat",
+            "content": "!printf nope",
+            "webui": True,
+            "user_shell": True,
+            "turn_id": "plain-turn",
+        },
+    )
+
+    msg = bus.publish_inbound.await_args.args[0]
+    assert msg.content == "!printf nope"
+    assert INBOUND_META_USER_SHELL not in msg.metadata
+
+
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_webui_message_envelope_persists_user_transcript_for_refresh(
     bus: MagicMock,

nanobot/command/builtin.py

@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ from dataclasses import dataclass
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any, Literal, cast
 
 from nanobot import __version__
-from nanobot.bus.events import OutboundMessage
+from nanobot.bus.events import INBOUND_META_USER_SHELL, OutboundMessage
 from nanobot.command.router import CommandContext, CommandRouter, normalize_command_text
 from nanobot.utils.helpers import build_status_content
 from nanobot.utils.restart import set_restart_notice_to_env
@@ -37,6 +37,8 @@ CommandLifecycle = Literal[
     "agent_turn_with_args",
 ]
 
+USER_SHELL_COMMAND = "/__shell"
+
 
 @dataclass(frozen=True)
 class BuiltinCommandSpec:
@@ -999,6 +1001,30 @@ async def cmd_help(ctx: CommandContext) -> OutboundMessage:
     )
 
 
+async def cmd_user_shell(ctx: CommandContext) -> OutboundMessage:
+    """Run a trusted local ``!command`` through nanobot's exec policy."""
+    metadata = dict(ctx.msg.metadata or {})
+    if (
+        ctx.msg.channel != "websocket"
+        or metadata.get("webui") is not True
+        or metadata.get(INBOUND_META_USER_SHELL) is not True
+    ):
+        return OutboundMessage(
+            channel=ctx.msg.channel,
+            chat_id=ctx.msg.chat_id,
+            content="Shell commands are only available from a trusted local client.",
+            metadata={**metadata, "render_as": "text"},
+        )
+    if not ctx.args.strip():
+        return OutboundMessage(
+            channel=ctx.msg.channel,
+            chat_id=ctx.msg.chat_id,
+            content="Type a command after `!`, for example `!pwd`.",
+            metadata={**metadata, "render_as": "text"},
+        )
+    return await ctx.loop.execute_user_shell_command(ctx)
+
+
 def build_help_text() -> str:
     """Build canonical help text shared across channels."""
     lines = ["🐈 nanobot commands:"]
@@ -1038,3 +1064,5 @@ def register_builtin_commands(router: CommandRouter) -> None:
     router.exact("/help", cmd_help)
     router.exact("/pairing", cmd_pairing)
     router.prefix("/pairing ", cmd_pairing)
+    router.exact(USER_SHELL_COMMAND, cmd_user_shell)
+    router.prefix(f"{USER_SHELL_COMMAND} ", cmd_user_shell)

tests/command/test_router_dispatchable.py

@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ class TestIsDispatchableCommand:
         assert router.is_dispatchable_command("/goal migrate the database")
         assert router.is_dispatchable_command("/pairing list")
         assert router.is_dispatchable_command("/pairing approve CODE")
+        assert router.is_dispatchable_command("/__shell pwd")
 
     def test_priority_commands_not_matched(self, router: CommandRouter) -> None:
         # Priority commands are NOT in the dispatchable tiers — they are
@@ -59,6 +60,7 @@ class TestIsDispatchableCommand:
     def test_regular_text_not_matched(self, router: CommandRouter) -> None:
         assert not router.is_dispatchable_command("hello")
         assert not router.is_dispatchable_command("what is 2+2?")
+        assert not router.is_dispatchable_command("!important is still ordinary text")
         assert not router.is_dispatchable_command("")
 
     def test_case_insensitive(self, router: CommandRouter) -> None:
@@ -86,6 +88,7 @@ class TestIsDispatchableCommand:
         ("/goal", False),
         ("/goal migrate the database", True),
         ("regular prompt", True),
+        ("!pwd", True),
     ],
 )
 def test_builtin_command_agent_turn_lifecycle(content: str, expected: bool) -> None:

tests/command/test_user_shell_command.py

@@ -0,0 +1,75 @@
+from pathlib import Path
+from types import SimpleNamespace
+from unittest.mock import AsyncMock, MagicMock
+
+import pytest
+
+from nanobot.agent.loop import AgentLoop
+from nanobot.bus.events import INBOUND_META_USER_SHELL, InboundMessage, OutboundMessage
+from nanobot.command.builtin import cmd_user_shell
+from nanobot.command.router import CommandContext
+
+
+def _context(loop: MagicMock, *, trusted: bool, command: str = "pwd") -> CommandContext:
+    metadata = {
+        "webui": True,
+        **({INBOUND_META_USER_SHELL: True} if trusted else {}),
+    }
+    msg = InboundMessage(
+        channel="websocket",
+        sender_id="local-user",
+        chat_id="chat",
+        content=f"!{command}",
+        metadata=metadata,
+    )
+    return CommandContext(
+        msg=msg,
+        session=None,
+        key=msg.session_key,
+        raw=msg.content,
+        args=command,
+        loop=loop,
+    )
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_user_shell_rejects_untrusted_transport_metadata() -> None:
+    loop = MagicMock()
+    loop.execute_user_shell_command = AsyncMock()
+
+    response = await cmd_user_shell(_context(loop, trusted=False))
+
+    assert "trusted local client" in response.content
+    loop.execute_user_shell_command.assert_not_awaited()
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_user_shell_uses_exec_tool_with_workspace_scope(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+    tool = MagicMock()
+    tool.execute = AsyncMock(return_value=f"{tmp_path}\n\nExit code: 0")
+    session = SimpleNamespace(metadata={})
+    scope = SimpleNamespace(project_path=tmp_path)
+    loop = MagicMock()
+    loop.tools.get.return_value = tool
+    loop.sessions.get_or_create.return_value = session
+    loop.workspace_scopes.for_turn.return_value = scope
+    ctx = _context(loop, trusted=True)
+
+    response = await AgentLoop.execute_user_shell_command(loop, ctx)
+
+    tool.execute.assert_awaited_once_with(command="pwd", working_dir=str(tmp_path))
+    assert response.content.endswith("Exit code: 0")
+    assert response.metadata["render_as"] == "text"
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_user_shell_delegates_trusted_request_to_agent_loop() -> None:
+    loop = MagicMock()
+    expected = OutboundMessage(channel="websocket", chat_id="chat", content="ok")
+    loop.execute_user_shell_command = AsyncMock(return_value=expected)
+    ctx = _context(loop, trusted=True, command="printf ok")
+
+    response = await cmd_user_shell(ctx)
+
+    assert response is expected
+    loop.execute_user_shell_command.assert_awaited_once_with(ctx)

tests/webui/test_gateway_webui_smoke.py

@@ -176,6 +176,19 @@ async def test_gateway_webui_bootstrap_message_and_thread_hydration(tmp_path: Pa
             assert "Current model: `custom/smoke-model`" in answer["text"]
             await _recv_until(ws, "turn_end")
 
+            await ws.send(json.dumps({
+                "type": "message",
+                "chat_id": chat_id,
+                "content": "!printf shell-ok",
+                "webui": True,
+                "user_shell": True,
+                "turn_id": "shell-turn",
+            }))
+            shell = await _recv_until(ws, "message")
+            assert "shell-ok" in shell["text"]
+            assert shell["turn_id"] == "shell-turn"
+            await _recv_until(ws, "turn_end")
+
         api_token = _wait_for_bootstrap(base_url, process, log_path)["api_token"]
         sessions = _get_json(f"{base_url}/api/sessions", token=api_token)
         key = f"websocket:{chat_id}"
@@ -189,5 +202,7 @@ async def test_gateway_webui_bootstrap_message_and_thread_hydration(tmp_path: Pa
         contents = [str(message.get("content") or "") for message in thread["messages"]]
         assert "/model" in contents
         assert any("Current model: `custom/smoke-model`" in text for text in contents)
+        assert "!printf shell-ok" in contents
+        assert any("shell-ok" in text for text in contents)
     finally:
         _stop_gateway(process)

tui/src/app.test.ts

@@ -454,6 +454,35 @@ describe("NanobotTui layout", () => {
     expect(sent).toEqual([])
   })
 
+  test("runs bang commands through the gateway without steering the agent", async () => {
+    setup = await createRenderer({ width: 80, height: 24, screenMode: "alternate-screen" })
+    const sent: string[] = []
+    const sentOptions: MessageOptions[] = []
+    const app = NanobotTui.mount(
+      setup.renderer,
+      options,
+      client(sent, [], [], sentOptions),
+      new MockTreeSitterClient({ autoResolveTimeout: 0 }),
+    )
+    app.accept({ event: "attached", chat_id: "chat" })
+    const ui = app as unknown as { ready: boolean; composer: TextareaRenderable; activeTurn: boolean }
+    await waitUntil(() => ui.ready)
+
+    app.accept({ event: "goal_status", chat_id: "chat", status: "running" })
+    ui.composer.setText("!pwd")
+    ui.composer.submit()
+
+    await waitUntil(() => sent.length === 1)
+    expect(sent).toEqual(["!pwd"])
+    expect(sentOptions).toEqual([{ userShell: true }])
+    expect(ui.activeTurn).toBe(true)
+
+    app.accept({ event: "message", chat_id: "chat", text: "/tmp/project", turn_id: "turn" })
+    await setup.flush()
+    expect(setup.captureCharFrame()).toContain("/tmp/project")
+    expect(ui.activeTurn).toBe(true)
+  })
+
   test("switches and creates gateway chats without replacing core slash commands", async () => {
     setup = await createRenderer({ width: 80, height: 24, screenMode: "alternate-screen" })
     const original = globalThis.fetch

tui/src/app.ts

@@ -752,6 +752,10 @@ export class NanobotTui {
       if (lifecycle) this.sendGatewayCommand(visibleContent, lifecycle)
       return
     }
+    if (visibleContent.startsWith("!")) {
+      this.sendGatewayCommand(visibleContent, "side_channel", false, { userShell: true })
+      return
+    }
     if (!this.ready) {
       this.status.content = "Preparing chat…"
       return
@@ -1812,6 +1816,7 @@ export class NanobotTui {
     content: string,
     lifecycle: ResolvedSlashCommandLifecycle,
     silent = false,
+    options: MessageOptions = {},
   ): void {
     if (!this.ready) {
       this.status.content = "Preparing chat…"
@@ -1823,7 +1828,7 @@ export class NanobotTui {
     }
     let turnId: string
     try {
-      turnId = this.client.send(content)
+      turnId = this.client.send(content, options)
     } catch (error) {
       this.status.content = error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error)
       return

tui/src/protocol.test.ts

@@ -96,6 +96,7 @@ describe("gateway protocol", () => {
       client.send("hello", {
         cliApps: [{ name: "github" }],
         sessionMentions: [{ name: "plan", session_key: "websocket:plan" }],
+        userShell: true,
       })
       client.attach("other-chat")
       client.newChat()
@@ -110,6 +111,7 @@ describe("gateway protocol", () => {
       expect(outbound[1]?.type).toBe("message")
       expect(outbound[1]?.chat_id).toBe("terminal")
       expect(outbound[1]?.content).toBe("hello")
+      expect(outbound[1]?.user_shell).toBe(true)
       expect(outbound[1]?.cli_apps).toEqual([{ name: "github" }])
       expect(outbound[1]?.session_mentions).toEqual([
         { name: "plan", session_key: "websocket:plan" },

tui/src/protocol.ts

@@ -214,6 +214,7 @@ export interface MessageOptions {
   cliApps?: Array<{ name: string }>
   mcpPresets?: Array<{ name: string }>
   sessionMentions?: SessionMention[]
+  userShell?: boolean
 }
 
 export interface SlashCommand {
@@ -799,6 +800,7 @@ export class NanobotClient {
       content,
       turn_id: turnId,
       webui: true,
+      ...(options.userShell ? { user_shell: true } : {}),
       ...(options.cliApps?.length ? { cli_apps: options.cliApps } : {}),
       ...(options.mcpPresets?.length ? { mcp_presets: options.mcpPresets } : {}),
       ...(options.sessionMentions?.length