fix(agent): route direct subagent results in-turn

nanobot/agent/loop.py

@@ -1852,13 +1852,17 @@ class AgentLoop:
         )
         # Share the dispatch lock so direct calls serialize with bus turns.
         lock = self._session_locks.setdefault(session_key, asyncio.Lock())
+        pending: asyncio.Queue[InboundMessage] = asyncio.Queue(maxsize=20)
         try:
             async with lock:
+                self._pending_queues[session_key] = pending
+                self.subagents.set_direct_result_queue(session_key, pending)
                 kwargs: dict[str, Any] = {
                     "session_key": session_key,
                     "on_progress": on_progress,
                     "on_stream": on_stream,
                     "on_stream_end": on_stream_end,
+                    "pending_queue": pending,
                     "ephemeral": ephemeral,
                 }
                 if _run_extra_hooks_for_ephemeral:
@@ -1872,5 +1876,13 @@ class AgentLoop:
                     **kwargs,
                 )
         finally:
+            self.subagents.clear_direct_result_queue(session_key, pending)
+            if self._pending_queues.get(session_key) is pending:
+                self._pending_queues.pop(session_key, None)
+            while True:
+                try:
+                    await self.bus.publish_inbound(pending.get_nowait())
+                except asyncio.QueueEmpty:
+                    break
             await self._runtime_events().run_status_changed(msg, session_key, "idle")
             self._runtime_events().clear_turn(session_key)

nanobot/agent/subagent.py

@@ -118,6 +118,22 @@ class SubagentManager:
         self._running_tasks: dict[str, asyncio.Task[None]] = {}
         self._task_statuses: dict[str, SubagentStatus] = {}
         self._session_tasks: dict[str, set[str]] = {}  # session_key -> {task_id, ...}
+        self._direct_result_queues: dict[str, asyncio.Queue[InboundMessage]] = {}
+
+    def set_direct_result_queue(
+        self,
+        session_key: str,
+        queue: asyncio.Queue[InboundMessage],
+    ) -> None:
+        self._direct_result_queues[session_key] = queue
+
+    def clear_direct_result_queue(
+        self,
+        session_key: str,
+        queue: asyncio.Queue[InboundMessage],
+    ) -> None:
+        if self._direct_result_queues.get(session_key) is queue:
+            self._direct_result_queues.pop(session_key, None)
 
     def _subagent_tools_config(self) -> ToolsConfig:
         """Build a ToolsConfig scoped for subagent use."""
@@ -335,6 +351,10 @@ class SubagentManager:
             metadata=metadata,
         )
 
+        if queue := self._direct_result_queues.get(override):
+            await queue.put(msg)
+            logger.debug("Subagent [{}] queued result directly for {}", task_id, override)
+            return
         await self.bus.publish_inbound(msg)
         logger.debug("Subagent [{}] announced result to {}:{}", task_id, origin['channel'], origin['chat_id'])
 

nanobot/agent/tools/long_task.py

@@ -97,7 +97,8 @@ class _GoalToolsMixin(ContextAware):
             "Sustained objective for this chat thread. First read the built-in **long-goal** skill, "
             "especially its Start fast section, then call this promptly once the user's intent is clear. "
             "The goal must still be idempotent, self-contained, bounded, and explicit about done-ness; "
-            "do not delay this tool call to over-plan, research, or decide execution details.",
+            "do not delay this tool call to over-plan, research, or decide execution details. "
+            "Do not use this for a single current-turn answer, including one that uses spawn subagents.",
             max_length=12_000,
         ),
         ui_summary=StringSchema(
@@ -139,6 +140,8 @@ class LongTaskTool(Tool, _GoalToolsMixin):
     def description(self) -> str:
         return (
             "Mark this thread as a sustained long-running task. "
+            "Use only when the user wants work to persist across future turns or background check-ins; "
+            "do not use for a single current-turn answer, including one that uses spawn subagents. "
             "First read the built-in **long-goal** skill, especially its Start fast section; then call this "
             "as soon as the user's intent is clear. Write a good idempotent goal, but do not delay the tool "
             "call with long planning, research, or execution-detail thinking. "

nanobot/agent/tools/spawn.py

@@ -63,6 +63,9 @@ class SpawnTool(Tool, ContextAware):
         return (
             "Spawn a subagent to handle a task in the background. "
             "Use this for complex or time-consuming tasks that can run independently. "
+            "For MapReduce-style work, spawn only independent map slices with clear "
+            "boundaries; keep reduction, conflict resolution, and final user-facing "
+            "synthesis in the main agent. "
             "The subagent will complete the task and report back when done. "
             "For deliverables or existing projects, inspect the workspace first "
             "and use a dedicated subdirectory when helpful."

nanobot/templates/agent/subagent_announce.md

@@ -5,4 +5,7 @@ Task: {{ task }}
 Result:
 {{ result }}
 
-Summarize this naturally for the user. Keep it brief (1-2 sentences). Do not mention technical details like "subagent" or task IDs.
+Use this result as evidence for the current turn. For MapReduce-style work,
+preserve any Summary / Evidence / Open issues structure when reducing multiple
+results. Mention gaps or failures if they affect the answer; avoid exposing
+internal task IDs unless they are needed for clarity.

nanobot/templates/agent/subagent_system.md

@@ -4,6 +4,15 @@
 
 You are a subagent spawned by the main agent to complete a specific task.
 Stay focused on the assigned task. Your final response will be reported back to the main agent.
+If this task is one slice of a larger MapReduce-style effort, treat yourself as
+the map step: do only the assigned slice, avoid cross-slice coordination, and
+leave reduction or final synthesis to the main agent.
+
+For MapReduce-style slices, end with a compact, mergeable result:
+
+- Summary: what you found or changed
+- Evidence: relevant files, commands, URLs, or observations
+- Open issues: blockers, failures, or "none"
 
 {% include 'agent/_snippets/untrusted_content.md' %}
 

tests/agent/tools/test_subagent_tools.py

@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ from unittest.mock import AsyncMock, MagicMock, patch
 
 import pytest
 
+from nanobot.bus.events import OutboundMessage
 from nanobot.config.schema import AgentDefaults
 
 _MAX_TOOL_RESULT_CHARS = AgentDefaults().max_tool_result_chars
@@ -482,3 +483,49 @@ async def test_drain_pending_timeout(tmp_path):
         await hang_task
     except asyncio.CancelledError:
         pass
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_process_direct_routes_subagent_results_to_pending_queue(tmp_path):
+    """Single-message CLI mode should consume subagent announcements mid-turn."""
+    from nanobot.agent.loop import AgentLoop
+    from nanobot.bus.events import InboundMessage
+    from nanobot.bus.queue import MessageBus
+
+    loop = AgentLoop(
+        bus=MessageBus(),
+        provider=MagicMock(),
+        workspace=tmp_path,
+        model="test-model",
+    )
+    loop._connect_mcp = AsyncMock()  # type: ignore[method-assign]
+
+    async def fake_process_message(msg, **kwargs):
+        pending_queue = kwargs["pending_queue"]
+        await loop.bus.publish_inbound(InboundMessage(
+            channel="other",
+            sender_id="u",
+            chat_id="room",
+            content="unrelated",
+        ))
+        await loop.subagents._announce_result(
+            "sub-1",
+            "label",
+            "task",
+            "subagent result",
+            {"channel": "cli", "chat_id": "direct", "session_key": "cli:direct"},
+            "ok",
+        )
+        routed = await asyncio.wait_for(pending_queue.get(), timeout=1)
+        assert "subagent result" in routed.content
+        assert routed.metadata["subagent_task_id"] == "sub-1"
+        return OutboundMessage(channel="cli", chat_id="direct", content="done")
+
+    loop._process_message = fake_process_message  # type: ignore[method-assign]
+
+    response = await loop.process_direct("start", session_key="cli:direct")
+
+    assert response is not None
+    assert response.content == "done"
+    unrelated = await asyncio.wait_for(loop.bus.consume_inbound(), timeout=1)
+    assert unrelated.content == "unrelated"