feat(tools): add dedicated todo tool for agent task tracking (#196)

- Add new todo tool with create, list, update, mark_done, mark_pending, delete actions
- Each subagent has isolated todo storage keyed by agent_id
- Support bulk todo creation via JSON array or bullet list
- Add TUI renderers for all todo actions with status markers
- Update notes tool to remove priority and todo-related functionality
- Add task tracking guidance to StrixAgent system prompt
- Fix instruction file error handling in CLI

strix/interface/main.py

@@ -315,7 +315,9 @@ Examples:
     args = parser.parse_args()
 
     if args.instruction and args.instruction_file:
-        parser.error("Cannot specify both --instruction and --instruction-file. Use one or the other.")
+        parser.error(
+            "Cannot specify both --instruction and --instruction-file. Use one or the other."
+        )
 
     if args.instruction_file:
         instruction_path = Path(args.instruction_file)
@@ -324,7 +326,7 @@ Examples:
                 args.instruction = f.read().strip()
                 if not args.instruction:
                     parser.error(f"Instruction file '{instruction_path}' is empty")
-        except Exception as e:
+        except Exception as e:  # noqa: BLE001
             parser.error(f"Failed to read instruction file '{instruction_path}': {e}")
 
     args.targets_info = []

strix/interface/tool_components/__init__.py

@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ from . import (
     scan_info_renderer,
     terminal_renderer,
     thinking_renderer,
+    todo_renderer,
     user_message_renderer,
     web_search_renderer,
 )
@@ -34,6 +35,7 @@ __all__ = [
     "scan_info_renderer",
     "terminal_renderer",
     "thinking_renderer",
+    "todo_renderer",
     "user_message_renderer",
     "web_search_renderer",
 ]

strix/interface/tool_components/notes_renderer.py

@@ -6,6 +6,12 @@ from .base_renderer import BaseToolRenderer
 from .registry import register_tool_renderer
 
 
+def _truncate(text: str, length: int = 800) -> str:
+    if len(text) <= length:
+        return text
+    return text[: length - 3] + "..."
+
+
 @register_tool_renderer
 class CreateNoteRenderer(BaseToolRenderer):
     tool_name: ClassVar[str] = "create_note"
@@ -17,23 +23,24 @@ class CreateNoteRenderer(BaseToolRenderer):
 
         title = args.get("title", "")
         content = args.get("content", "")
+        category = args.get("category", "general")
 
-        header = "📝 [bold #fbbf24]Note[/]"
+        header = f"📝 [bold #fbbf24]Note[/] [dim]({category})[/]"
 
+        lines = [header]
         if title:
-            title_display = title[:100] + "..." if len(title) > 100 else title
-            note_parts = [f"{header}\n  [bold]{cls.escape_markup(title_display)}[/]"]
+            title_display = _truncate(title.strip(), 300)
+            lines.append(f"  {cls.escape_markup(title_display)}")
 
-            if content:
-                content_display = content[:200] + "..." if len(content) > 200 else content
-                note_parts.append(f"  [dim]{cls.escape_markup(content_display)}[/]")
+        if content:
+            content_display = _truncate(content.strip(), 800)
+            lines.append(f"  [dim]{cls.escape_markup(content_display)}[/]")
 
-            content_text = "\n".join(note_parts)
-        else:
-            content_text = f"{header}\n  [dim]Creating note...[/]"
+        if len(lines) == 1:
+            lines.append("  [dim]Capturing...[/]")
 
         css_classes = cls.get_css_classes("completed")
-        return Static(content_text, classes=css_classes)
+        return Static("\n".join(lines), classes=css_classes)
 
 
 @register_tool_renderer
@@ -43,8 +50,8 @@ class DeleteNoteRenderer(BaseToolRenderer):
 
     @classmethod
     def render(cls, tool_data: dict[str, Any]) -> Static:  # noqa: ARG003
-        header = "🗑️ [bold #fbbf24]Delete Note[/]"
-        content_text = f"{header}\n  [dim]Deleting...[/]"
+        header = "📝 [bold #94a3b8]Note Removed[/]"
+        content_text = header
 
         css_classes = cls.get_css_classes("completed")
         return Static(content_text, classes=css_classes)
@@ -59,28 +66,24 @@ class UpdateNoteRenderer(BaseToolRenderer):
     def render(cls, tool_data: dict[str, Any]) -> Static:
         args = tool_data.get("args", {})
 
-        title = args.get("title", "")
-        content = args.get("content", "")
+        title = args.get("title")
+        content = args.get("content")
 
-        header = "✏️ [bold #fbbf24]Update Note[/]"
+        header = "📝 [bold #fbbf24]Note Updated[/]"
+        lines = [header]
 
-        if title or content:
-            note_parts = [header]
+        if title:
+            lines.append(f"  {cls.escape_markup(_truncate(title, 300))}")
 
-            if title:
-                title_display = title[:100] + "..." if len(title) > 100 else title
-                note_parts.append(f"  [bold]{cls.escape_markup(title_display)}[/]")
+        if content:
+            content_display = _truncate(content.strip(), 800)
+            lines.append(f"  [dim]{cls.escape_markup(content_display)}[/]")
 
-            if content:
-                content_display = content[:200] + "..." if len(content) > 200 else content
-                note_parts.append(f"  [dim]{cls.escape_markup(content_display)}[/]")
-
-            content_text = "\n".join(note_parts)
-        else:
-            content_text = f"{header}\n  [dim]Updating...[/]"
+        if len(lines) == 1:
+            lines.append("  [dim]Updating...[/]")
 
         css_classes = cls.get_css_classes("completed")
-        return Static(content_text, classes=css_classes)
+        return Static("\n".join(lines), classes=css_classes)
 
 
 @register_tool_renderer
@@ -92,17 +95,34 @@ class ListNotesRenderer(BaseToolRenderer):
     def render(cls, tool_data: dict[str, Any]) -> Static:
         result = tool_data.get("result")
 
-        header = "📋 [bold #fbbf24]Listing notes[/]"
+        header = "📝 [bold #fbbf24]Notes[/]"
 
-        if result and isinstance(result, dict) and "notes" in result:
-            notes = result["notes"]
-            if isinstance(notes, list):
-                count = len(notes)
-                content_text = f"{header}\n  [dim]{count} notes found[/]"
+        if result and isinstance(result, dict) and result.get("success"):
+            count = result.get("total_count", 0)
+            notes = result.get("notes", []) or []
+            lines = [header]
+
+            if count == 0:
+                lines.append("  [dim]No notes[/]")
             else:
-                content_text = f"{header}\n  [dim]No notes found[/]"
+                for note in notes[:5]:
+                    title = note.get("title", "").strip() or "(untitled)"
+                    category = note.get("category", "general")
+                    content = note.get("content", "").strip()
+
+                    lines.append(
+                        f"  - {cls.escape_markup(_truncate(title, 300))} [dim]({category})[/]"
+                    )
+                    if content:
+                        content_preview = _truncate(content, 400)
+                        lines.append(f"    [dim]{cls.escape_markup(content_preview)}[/]")
+
+                remaining = max(count - 5, 0)
+                if remaining:
+                    lines.append(f"  [dim]... +{remaining} more[/]")
+            content_text = "\n".join(lines)
         else:
-            content_text = f"{header}\n  [dim]Listing notes...[/]"
+            content_text = f"{header}\n  [dim]Loading...[/]"
 
         css_classes = cls.get_css_classes("completed")
         return Static(content_text, classes=css_classes)

strix/interface/tool_components/todo_renderer.py

@@ -0,0 +1,204 @@
+from typing import Any, ClassVar
+
+from textual.widgets import Static
+
+from .base_renderer import BaseToolRenderer
+from .registry import register_tool_renderer
+
+
+STATUS_MARKERS = {
+    "pending": "[ ]",
+    "in_progress": "[~]",
+    "done": "[•]",
+}
+
+
+def _truncate(text: str, length: int = 80) -> str:
+    if len(text) <= length:
+        return text
+    return text[: length - 3] + "..."
+
+
+def _format_todo_lines(
+    cls: type[BaseToolRenderer], result: dict[str, Any], limit: int = 10
+) -> list[str]:
+    todos = result.get("todos")
+    if not isinstance(todos, list) or not todos:
+        return ["  [dim]No todos[/]"]
+
+    lines: list[str] = []
+    total = len(todos)
+
+    for index, todo in enumerate(todos):
+        if index >= limit:
+            remaining = total - limit
+            if remaining > 0:
+                lines.append(f"  [dim]... +{remaining} more[/]")
+            break
+
+        status = todo.get("status", "pending")
+        marker = STATUS_MARKERS.get(status, STATUS_MARKERS["pending"])
+
+        title = todo.get("title", "").strip() or "(untitled)"
+        title = cls.escape_markup(_truncate(title, 90))
+
+        if status == "done":
+            title_markup = f"[dim strike]{title}[/]"
+        elif status == "in_progress":
+            title_markup = f"[italic]{title}[/]"
+        else:
+            title_markup = title
+
+        lines.append(f"  {marker} {title_markup}")
+
+    return lines
+
+
+@register_tool_renderer
+class CreateTodoRenderer(BaseToolRenderer):
+    tool_name: ClassVar[str] = "create_todo"
+    css_classes: ClassVar[list[str]] = ["tool-call", "todo-tool"]
+
+    @classmethod
+    def render(cls, tool_data: dict[str, Any]) -> Static:
+        result = tool_data.get("result")
+        header = "📋 [bold #a78bfa]Todo[/]"
+
+        if result and isinstance(result, dict):
+            if result.get("success"):
+                lines = [header]
+                lines.extend(_format_todo_lines(cls, result, limit=10))
+                content_text = "\n".join(lines)
+            else:
+                error = result.get("error", "Failed to create todo")
+                content_text = f"{header}\n  [#ef4444]{cls.escape_markup(error)}[/]"
+        else:
+            content_text = f"{header}\n  [dim]Creating...[/]"
+
+        css_classes = cls.get_css_classes("completed")
+        return Static(content_text, classes=css_classes)
+
+
+@register_tool_renderer
+class ListTodosRenderer(BaseToolRenderer):
+    tool_name: ClassVar[str] = "list_todos"
+    css_classes: ClassVar[list[str]] = ["tool-call", "todo-tool"]
+
+    @classmethod
+    def render(cls, tool_data: dict[str, Any]) -> Static:
+        result = tool_data.get("result")
+        header = "📋 [bold #a78bfa]Todos[/]"
+
+        if result and isinstance(result, dict):
+            if result.get("success"):
+                lines = [header]
+                lines.extend(_format_todo_lines(cls, result, limit=10))
+                content_text = "\n".join(lines)
+            else:
+                error = result.get("error", "Unable to list todos")
+                content_text = f"{header}\n  [#ef4444]{cls.escape_markup(error)}[/]"
+        else:
+            content_text = f"{header}\n  [dim]Loading...[/]"
+
+        css_classes = cls.get_css_classes("completed")
+        return Static(content_text, classes=css_classes)
+
+
+@register_tool_renderer
+class UpdateTodoRenderer(BaseToolRenderer):
+    tool_name: ClassVar[str] = "update_todo"
+    css_classes: ClassVar[list[str]] = ["tool-call", "todo-tool"]
+
+    @classmethod
+    def render(cls, tool_data: dict[str, Any]) -> Static:
+        result = tool_data.get("result")
+        header = "📋 [bold #a78bfa]Todo Updated[/]"
+
+        if result and isinstance(result, dict):
+            if result.get("success"):
+                lines = [header]
+                lines.extend(_format_todo_lines(cls, result, limit=10))
+                content_text = "\n".join(lines)
+            else:
+                error = result.get("error", "Failed to update todo")
+                content_text = f"{header}\n  [#ef4444]{cls.escape_markup(error)}[/]"
+        else:
+            content_text = f"{header}\n  [dim]Updating...[/]"
+
+        css_classes = cls.get_css_classes("completed")
+        return Static(content_text, classes=css_classes)
+
+
+@register_tool_renderer
+class MarkTodoDoneRenderer(BaseToolRenderer):
+    tool_name: ClassVar[str] = "mark_todo_done"
+    css_classes: ClassVar[list[str]] = ["tool-call", "todo-tool"]
+
+    @classmethod
+    def render(cls, tool_data: dict[str, Any]) -> Static:
+        result = tool_data.get("result")
+        header = "📋 [bold #a78bfa]Todo Completed[/]"
+
+        if result and isinstance(result, dict):
+            if result.get("success"):
+                lines = [header]
+                lines.extend(_format_todo_lines(cls, result, limit=10))
+                content_text = "\n".join(lines)
+            else:
+                error = result.get("error", "Failed to mark todo done")
+                content_text = f"{header}\n  [#ef4444]{cls.escape_markup(error)}[/]"
+        else:
+            content_text = f"{header}\n  [dim]Marking done...[/]"
+
+        css_classes = cls.get_css_classes("completed")
+        return Static(content_text, classes=css_classes)
+
+
+@register_tool_renderer
+class MarkTodoPendingRenderer(BaseToolRenderer):
+    tool_name: ClassVar[str] = "mark_todo_pending"
+    css_classes: ClassVar[list[str]] = ["tool-call", "todo-tool"]
+
+    @classmethod
+    def render(cls, tool_data: dict[str, Any]) -> Static:
+        result = tool_data.get("result")
+        header = "📋 [bold #f59e0b]Todo Reopened[/]"
+
+        if result and isinstance(result, dict):
+            if result.get("success"):
+                lines = [header]
+                lines.extend(_format_todo_lines(cls, result, limit=10))
+                content_text = "\n".join(lines)
+            else:
+                error = result.get("error", "Failed to reopen todo")
+                content_text = f"{header}\n  [#ef4444]{cls.escape_markup(error)}[/]"
+        else:
+            content_text = f"{header}\n  [dim]Reopening...[/]"
+
+        css_classes = cls.get_css_classes("completed")
+        return Static(content_text, classes=css_classes)
+
+
+@register_tool_renderer
+class DeleteTodoRenderer(BaseToolRenderer):
+    tool_name: ClassVar[str] = "delete_todo"
+    css_classes: ClassVar[list[str]] = ["tool-call", "todo-tool"]
+
+    @classmethod
+    def render(cls, tool_data: dict[str, Any]) -> Static:
+        result = tool_data.get("result")
+        header = "📋 [bold #94a3b8]Todo Removed[/]"
+
+        if result and isinstance(result, dict):
+            if result.get("success"):
+                lines = [header]
+                lines.extend(_format_todo_lines(cls, result, limit=10))
+                content_text = "\n".join(lines)
+            else:
+                error = result.get("error", "Failed to remove todo")
+                content_text = f"{header}\n  [#ef4444]{cls.escape_markup(error)}[/]"
+        else:
+            content_text = f"{header}\n  [dim]Removing...[/]"
+
+        css_classes = cls.get_css_classes("completed")
+        return Static(content_text, classes=css_classes)