hermes-agent/agent/prompt_builder.py

"""System prompt assembly -- identity, platform hints, skills index, context files.

All functions are stateless. AIAgent._build_system_prompt() calls these to
assemble pieces, then combines them with memory and ephemeral prompts.
"""

import json
import logging
import os
import re
import threading
from collections import OrderedDict
from pathlib import Path

from hermes_constants import get_hermes_home
from typing import Optional

from agent.skill_utils import (
    extract_skill_conditions,
    extract_skill_description,
    get_all_skills_dirs,
    get_disabled_skill_names,
    iter_skill_index_files,
    parse_frontmatter,
    skill_matches_platform,
)
from utils import atomic_json_write

logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)

# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
# Context file scanning — detect prompt injection in AGENTS.md, .cursorrules,
# SOUL.md before they get injected into the system prompt.
# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

_CONTEXT_THREAT_PATTERNS = [
    (r'ignore\s+(previous|all|above|prior)\s+instructions', "prompt_injection"),
    (r'do\s+not\s+tell\s+the\s+user', "deception_hide"),
    (r'system\s+prompt\s+override', "sys_prompt_override"),
    (r'disregard\s+(your|all|any)\s+(instructions|rules|guidelines)', "disregard_rules"),
    (r'act\s+as\s+(if|though)\s+you\s+(have\s+no|don\'t\s+have)\s+(restrictions|limits|rules)', "bypass_restrictions"),
    (r'<!--[^>]*(?:ignore|override|system|secret|hidden)[^>]*-->', "html_comment_injection"),
    (r'<\s*div\s+style\s*=\s*["\'].*display\s*:\s*none', "hidden_div"),
    (r'translate\s+.*\s+into\s+.*\s+and\s+(execute|run|eval)', "translate_execute"),
    (r'curl\s+[^\n]*\$\{?\w*(KEY|TOKEN|SECRET|PASSWORD|CREDENTIAL|API)', "exfil_curl"),
    (r'cat\s+[^\n]*(\.env|credentials|\.netrc|\.pgpass)', "read_secrets"),
]

_CONTEXT_INVISIBLE_CHARS = {
    '\u200b', '\u200c', '\u200d', '\u2060', '\ufeff',
    '\u202a', '\u202b', '\u202c', '\u202d', '\u202e',
}


def _scan_context_content(content: str, filename: str) -> str:
    """Scan context file content for injection. Returns sanitized content."""
    findings = []

    # Check invisible unicode
    for char in _CONTEXT_INVISIBLE_CHARS:
        if char in content:
            findings.append(f"invisible unicode U+{ord(char):04X}")

    # Check threat patterns
    for pattern, pid in _CONTEXT_THREAT_PATTERNS:
        if re.search(pattern, content, re.IGNORECASE):
            findings.append(pid)

    if findings:
        logger.warning("Context file %s blocked: %s", filename, ", ".join(findings))
        return f"[BLOCKED: {filename} contained potential prompt injection ({', '.join(findings)}). Content not loaded.]"

    return content


def _find_git_root(start: Path) -> Optional[Path]:
    """Walk *start* and its parents looking for a ``.git`` directory.

    Returns the directory containing ``.git``, or ``None`` if we hit the
    filesystem root without finding one.
    """
    current = start.resolve()
    for parent in [current, *current.parents]:
        if (parent / ".git").exists():
            return parent
    return None


_HERMES_MD_NAMES = (".hermes.md", "HERMES.md")


def _find_hermes_md(cwd: Path) -> Optional[Path]:
    """Discover the nearest ``.hermes.md`` or ``HERMES.md``.

    Search order: *cwd* first, then each parent directory up to (and
    including) the git repository root.  Returns the first match, or
    ``None`` if nothing is found.
    """
    stop_at = _find_git_root(cwd)
    current = cwd.resolve()

    for directory in [current, *current.parents]:
        for name in _HERMES_MD_NAMES:
            candidate = directory / name
            if candidate.is_file():
                return candidate
        # Stop walking at the git root (or filesystem root).
        if stop_at and directory == stop_at:
            break
    return None


def _strip_yaml_frontmatter(content: str) -> str:
    """Remove optional YAML frontmatter (``---`` delimited) from *content*.

    The frontmatter may contain structured config (model overrides, tool
    settings) that will be handled separately in a future PR.  For now we
    strip it so only the human-readable markdown body is injected into the
    system prompt.
    """
    if content.startswith("---"):
        end = content.find("\n---", 3)
        if end != -1:
            # Skip past the closing --- and any trailing newline
            body = content[end + 4:].lstrip("\n")
            return body if body else content
    return content


# =========================================================================
# Constants
# =========================================================================

DEFAULT_AGENT_IDENTITY = (
    "You are Hermes Agent, an intelligent AI assistant created by Nous Research. "
    "You are helpful, knowledgeable, and direct. You assist users with a wide "
    "range of tasks including answering questions, writing and editing code, "
    "analyzing information, creative work, and executing actions via your tools. "
    "You communicate clearly, admit uncertainty when appropriate, and prioritize "
    "being genuinely useful over being verbose unless otherwise directed below. "
    "Be targeted and efficient in your exploration and investigations."
)

MEMORY_GUIDANCE = (
    "You have persistent memory across sessions. Save durable facts using the memory "
    "tool: user preferences, environment details, tool quirks, and stable conventions. "
    "Memory is injected into every turn, so keep it compact and focused on facts that "
    "will still matter later.\n"
    "Prioritize what reduces future user steering — the most valuable memory is one "
    "that prevents the user from having to correct or remind you again. "
    "User preferences and recurring corrections matter more than procedural task details.\n"
    "Do NOT save task progress, session outcomes, completed-work logs, or temporary TODO "
    "state to memory; use session_search to recall those from past transcripts. "
    "If you've discovered a new way to do something, solved a problem that could be "
    "necessary later, save it as a skill with the skill tool."
)

SESSION_SEARCH_GUIDANCE = (
    "When the user references something from a past conversation or you suspect "
    "relevant cross-session context exists, use session_search to recall it before "
    "asking them to repeat themselves."
)

SKILLS_GUIDANCE = (
    "After completing a complex task (5+ tool calls), fixing a tricky error, "
    "or discovering a non-trivial workflow, save the approach as a "
    "skill with skill_manage so you can reuse it next time.\n"
    "When using a skill and finding it outdated, incomplete, or wrong, "
    "patch it immediately with skill_manage(action='patch') — don't wait to be asked. "
    "Skills that aren't maintained become liabilities."
)

TOOL_USE_ENFORCEMENT_GUIDANCE = (
    "# Tool-use enforcement\n"
    "You MUST use your tools to take action — do not describe what you would do "
    "or plan to do without actually doing it. When you say you will perform an "
    "action (e.g. 'I will run the tests', 'Let me check the file', 'I will create "
    "the project'), you MUST immediately make the corresponding tool call in the same "
    "response. Never end your turn with a promise of future action — execute it now.\n"
    "Keep working until the task is actually complete. Do not stop with a summary of "
    "what you plan to do next time. If you have tools available that can accomplish "
    "the task, use them instead of telling the user what you would do.\n"
    "Every response should either (a) contain tool calls that make progress, or "
    "(b) deliver a final result to the user. Responses that only describe intentions "
    "without acting are not acceptable."
)

# Model name substrings that trigger tool-use enforcement guidance.
# Add new patterns here when a model family needs explicit steering.
TOOL_USE_ENFORCEMENT_MODELS = ("gpt", "codex")

PLATFORM_HINTS = {
    "whatsapp": (
        "You are on a text messaging communication platform, WhatsApp. "
        "Please do not use markdown as it does not render. "
        "You can send media files natively: to deliver a file to the user, "
        "include MEDIA:/absolute/path/to/file in your response. The file "
        "will be sent as a native WhatsApp attachment — images (.jpg, .png, "
        ".webp) appear as photos, videos (.mp4, .mov) play inline, and other "
        "files arrive as downloadable documents. You can also include image "
        "URLs in markdown format ![alt](url) and they will be sent as photos."
    ),
    "telegram": (
        "You are on a text messaging communication platform, Telegram. "
        "Please do not use markdown as it does not render. "
        "You can send media files natively: to deliver a file to the user, "
        "include MEDIA:/absolute/path/to/file in your response. Images "
        "(.png, .jpg, .webp) appear as photos, audio (.ogg) sends as voice "
        "bubbles, and videos (.mp4) play inline. You can also include image "
        "URLs in markdown format ![alt](url) and they will be sent as native photos."
    ),
    "discord": (
        "You are in a Discord server or group chat communicating with your user. "
        "You can send media files natively: include MEDIA:/absolute/path/to/file "
        "in your response. Images (.png, .jpg, .webp) are sent as photo "
        "attachments, audio as file attachments. You can also include image URLs "
        "in markdown format ![alt](url) and they will be sent as attachments."
    ),
    "slack": (
        "You are in a Slack workspace communicating with your user. "
        "You can send media files natively: include MEDIA:/absolute/path/to/file "
        "in your response. Images (.png, .jpg, .webp) are uploaded as photo "
        "attachments, audio as file attachments. You can also include image URLs "
        "in markdown format ![alt](url) and they will be uploaded as attachments."
    ),
    "signal": (
        "You are on a text messaging communication platform, Signal. "
        "Please do not use markdown as it does not render. "
        "You can send media files natively: to deliver a file to the user, "
        "include MEDIA:/absolute/path/to/file in your response. Images "
        "(.png, .jpg, .webp) appear as photos, audio as attachments, and other "
        "files arrive as downloadable documents. You can also include image "
        "URLs in markdown format ![alt](url) and they will be sent as photos."
    ),
    "email": (
        "You are communicating via email. Write clear, well-structured responses "
        "suitable for email. Use plain text formatting (no markdown). "
        "Keep responses concise but complete. You can send file attachments — "
        "include MEDIA:/absolute/path/to/file in your response. The subject line "
        "is preserved for threading. Do not include greetings or sign-offs unless "
        "contextually appropriate."
    ),
    "cron": (
        "You are running as a scheduled cron job. There is no user present — you "
        "cannot ask questions, request clarification, or wait for follow-up. Execute "
        "the task fully and autonomously, making reasonable decisions where needed. "
        "Your final response is automatically delivered to the job's configured "
        "destination — put the primary content directly in your response."
    ),
    "cli": (
        "You are a CLI AI Agent. Try not to use markdown but simple text "
        "renderable inside a terminal."
    ),
    "sms": (
        "You are communicating via SMS. Keep responses concise and use plain text "
        "only — no markdown, no formatting. SMS messages are limited to ~1600 "
        "characters, so be brief and direct."
    ),
}

CONTEXT_FILE_MAX_CHARS = 20_000
CONTEXT_TRUNCATE_HEAD_RATIO = 0.7
CONTEXT_TRUNCATE_TAIL_RATIO = 0.2


# =========================================================================
# Skills prompt cache
# =========================================================================

_SKILLS_PROMPT_CACHE_MAX = 8
_SKILLS_PROMPT_CACHE: OrderedDict[tuple, str] = OrderedDict()
_SKILLS_PROMPT_CACHE_LOCK = threading.Lock()
_SKILLS_SNAPSHOT_VERSION = 1


def _skills_prompt_snapshot_path() -> Path:
    return get_hermes_home() / ".skills_prompt_snapshot.json"


def clear_skills_system_prompt_cache(*, clear_snapshot: bool = False) -> None:
    """Drop the in-process skills prompt cache (and optionally the disk snapshot)."""
    with _SKILLS_PROMPT_CACHE_LOCK:
        _SKILLS_PROMPT_CACHE.clear()
    if clear_snapshot:
        try:
            _skills_prompt_snapshot_path().unlink(missing_ok=True)
        except OSError as e:
            logger.debug("Could not remove skills prompt snapshot: %s", e)


def _build_skills_manifest(skills_dir: Path) -> dict[str, list[int]]:
    """Build an mtime/size manifest of all SKILL.md and DESCRIPTION.md files."""
    manifest: dict[str, list[int]] = {}
    for filename in ("SKILL.md", "DESCRIPTION.md"):
        for path in iter_skill_index_files(skills_dir, filename):
            try:
                st = path.stat()
            except OSError:
                continue
            manifest[str(path.relative_to(skills_dir))] = [st.st_mtime_ns, st.st_size]
    return manifest


def _load_skills_snapshot(skills_dir: Path) -> Optional[dict]:
    """Load the disk snapshot if it exists and its manifest still matches."""
    snapshot_path = _skills_prompt_snapshot_path()
    if not snapshot_path.exists():
        return None
    try:
        snapshot = json.loads(snapshot_path.read_text(encoding="utf-8"))
    except Exception:
        return None
    if not isinstance(snapshot, dict):
        return None
    if snapshot.get("version") != _SKILLS_SNAPSHOT_VERSION:
        return None
    if snapshot.get("manifest") != _build_skills_manifest(skills_dir):
        return None
    return snapshot


def _write_skills_snapshot(
    skills_dir: Path,
    manifest: dict[str, list[int]],
    skill_entries: list[dict],
    category_descriptions: dict[str, str],
) -> None:
    """Persist skill metadata to disk for fast cold-start reuse."""
    payload = {
        "version": _SKILLS_SNAPSHOT_VERSION,
        "manifest": manifest,
        "skills": skill_entries,
        "category_descriptions": category_descriptions,
    }
    try:
        atomic_json_write(_skills_prompt_snapshot_path(), payload)
    except Exception as e:
        logger.debug("Could not write skills prompt snapshot: %s", e)


def _build_snapshot_entry(
    skill_file: Path,
    skills_dir: Path,
    frontmatter: dict,
    description: str,
) -> dict:
    """Build a serialisable metadata dict for one skill."""
    rel_path = skill_file.relative_to(skills_dir)
    parts = rel_path.parts
    if len(parts) >= 2:
        skill_name = parts[-2]
        category = "/".join(parts[:-2]) if len(parts) > 2 else parts[0]
    else:
        category = "general"
        skill_name = skill_file.parent.name

    platforms = frontmatter.get("platforms") or []
    if isinstance(platforms, str):
        platforms = [platforms]

    return {
        "skill_name": skill_name,
        "category": category,
        "frontmatter_name": str(frontmatter.get("name", skill_name)),
        "description": description,
        "platforms": [str(p).strip() for p in platforms if str(p).strip()],
        "conditions": extract_skill_conditions(frontmatter),
    }


# =========================================================================
# Skills index
# =========================================================================

def _parse_skill_file(skill_file: Path) -> tuple[bool, dict, str]:
    """Read a SKILL.md once and return platform compatibility, frontmatter, and description.

    Returns (is_compatible, frontmatter, description). On any error, returns
    (True, {}, "") to err on the side of showing the skill.
    """
    try:
        raw = skill_file.read_text(encoding="utf-8")[:2000]
        frontmatter, _ = parse_frontmatter(raw)

        if not skill_matches_platform(frontmatter):
            return False, frontmatter, ""

        return True, frontmatter, extract_skill_description(frontmatter)
    except Exception as e:
        logger.debug("Failed to parse skill file %s: %s", skill_file, e)
        return True, {}, ""


def _read_skill_conditions(skill_file: Path) -> dict:
    """Extract conditional activation fields from SKILL.md frontmatter."""
    try:
        raw = skill_file.read_text(encoding="utf-8")[:2000]
        frontmatter, _ = parse_frontmatter(raw)
        return extract_skill_conditions(frontmatter)
    except Exception as e:
        logger.debug("Failed to read skill conditions from %s: %s", skill_file, e)
        return {}


def _skill_should_show(
    conditions: dict,
    available_tools: "set[str] | None",
    available_toolsets: "set[str] | None",
) -> bool:
    """Return False if the skill's conditional activation rules exclude it."""
    if available_tools is None and available_toolsets is None:
        return True  # No filtering info — show everything (backward compat)

    at = available_tools or set()
    ats = available_toolsets or set()

    # fallback_for: hide when the primary tool/toolset IS available
    for ts in conditions.get("fallback_for_toolsets", []):
        if ts in ats:
            return False
    for t in conditions.get("fallback_for_tools", []):
        if t in at:
            return False

    # requires: hide when a required tool/toolset is NOT available
    for ts in conditions.get("requires_toolsets", []):
        if ts not in ats:
            return False
    for t in conditions.get("requires_tools", []):
        if t not in at:
            return False

    return True


def build_skills_system_prompt(
    available_tools: "set[str] | None" = None,
    available_toolsets: "set[str] | None" = None,
) -> str:
    """Build a compact skill index for the system prompt.

    Two-layer cache:
      1. In-process LRU dict keyed by (skills_dir, tools, toolsets)
      2. Disk snapshot (``.skills_prompt_snapshot.json``) validated by
         mtime/size manifest — survives process restarts

    Falls back to a full filesystem scan when both layers miss.

    External skill directories (``skills.external_dirs`` in config.yaml) are
    scanned alongside the local ``~/.hermes/skills/`` directory.  External dirs
    are read-only — they appear in the index but new skills are always created
    in the local dir.  Local skills take precedence when names collide.
    """
    hermes_home = get_hermes_home()
    skills_dir = hermes_home / "skills"
    external_dirs = get_all_skills_dirs()[1:]  # skip local (index 0)

    if not skills_dir.exists() and not external_dirs:
        return ""

    # ── Layer 1: in-process LRU cache ─────────────────────────────────
    cache_key = (
        str(skills_dir.resolve()),
        tuple(str(d) for d in external_dirs),
        tuple(sorted(str(t) for t in (available_tools or set()))),
        tuple(sorted(str(ts) for ts in (available_toolsets or set()))),
    )
    with _SKILLS_PROMPT_CACHE_LOCK:
        cached = _SKILLS_PROMPT_CACHE.get(cache_key)
        if cached is not None:
            _SKILLS_PROMPT_CACHE.move_to_end(cache_key)
            return cached

    disabled = get_disabled_skill_names()

    # ── Layer 2: disk snapshot ────────────────────────────────────────
    snapshot = _load_skills_snapshot(skills_dir)

    skills_by_category: dict[str, list[tuple[str, str]]] = {}
    category_descriptions: dict[str, str] = {}

    if snapshot is not None:
        # Fast path: use pre-parsed metadata from disk
        for entry in snapshot.get("skills", []):
            if not isinstance(entry, dict):
                continue
            skill_name = entry.get("skill_name") or ""
            category = entry.get("category") or "general"
            frontmatter_name = entry.get("frontmatter_name") or skill_name
            platforms = entry.get("platforms") or []
            if not skill_matches_platform({"platforms": platforms}):
                continue
            if frontmatter_name in disabled or skill_name in disabled:
                continue
            if not _skill_should_show(
                entry.get("conditions") or {},
                available_tools,
                available_toolsets,
            ):
                continue
            skills_by_category.setdefault(category, []).append(
                (skill_name, entry.get("description", ""))
            )
        category_descriptions = {
            str(k): str(v)
            for k, v in (snapshot.get("category_descriptions") or {}).items()
        }
    else:
        # Cold path: full filesystem scan + write snapshot for next time
        skill_entries: list[dict] = []
        for skill_file in iter_skill_index_files(skills_dir, "SKILL.md"):
            is_compatible, frontmatter, desc = _parse_skill_file(skill_file)
            entry = _build_snapshot_entry(skill_file, skills_dir, frontmatter, desc)
            skill_entries.append(entry)
            if not is_compatible:
                continue
            skill_name = entry["skill_name"]
            if entry["frontmatter_name"] in disabled or skill_name in disabled:
                continue
            if not _skill_should_show(
                extract_skill_conditions(frontmatter),
                available_tools,
                available_toolsets,
            ):
                continue
            skills_by_category.setdefault(entry["category"], []).append(
                (skill_name, entry["description"])
            )

        # Read category-level DESCRIPTION.md files
        for desc_file in iter_skill_index_files(skills_dir, "DESCRIPTION.md"):
            try:
                content = desc_file.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
                fm, _ = parse_frontmatter(content)
                cat_desc = fm.get("description")
                if not cat_desc:
                    continue
                rel = desc_file.relative_to(skills_dir)
                cat = "/".join(rel.parts[:-1]) if len(rel.parts) > 1 else "general"
                category_descriptions[cat] = str(cat_desc).strip().strip("'\"")
            except Exception as e:
                logger.debug("Could not read skill description %s: %s", desc_file, e)

        _write_skills_snapshot(
            skills_dir,
            _build_skills_manifest(skills_dir),
            skill_entries,
            category_descriptions,
        )

    # ── External skill directories ─────────────────────────────────────
    # Scan external dirs directly (no snapshot caching — they're read-only
    # and typically small).  Local skills already in skills_by_category take
    # precedence: we track seen names and skip duplicates from external dirs.
    seen_skill_names: set[str] = set()
    for cat_skills in skills_by_category.values():
        for name, _desc in cat_skills:
            seen_skill_names.add(name)

    for ext_dir in external_dirs:
        if not ext_dir.exists():
            continue
        for skill_file in iter_skill_index_files(ext_dir, "SKILL.md"):
            try:
                is_compatible, frontmatter, desc = _parse_skill_file(skill_file)
                if not is_compatible:
                    continue
                entry = _build_snapshot_entry(skill_file, ext_dir, frontmatter, desc)
                skill_name = entry["skill_name"]
                if skill_name in seen_skill_names:
                    continue
                if entry["frontmatter_name"] in disabled or skill_name in disabled:
                    continue
                if not _skill_should_show(
                    extract_skill_conditions(frontmatter),
                    available_tools,
                    available_toolsets,
                ):
                    continue
                seen_skill_names.add(skill_name)
                skills_by_category.setdefault(entry["category"], []).append(
                    (skill_name, entry["description"])
                )
            except Exception as e:
                logger.debug("Error reading external skill %s: %s", skill_file, e)

        # External category descriptions
        for desc_file in iter_skill_index_files(ext_dir, "DESCRIPTION.md"):
            try:
                content = desc_file.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
                fm, _ = parse_frontmatter(content)
                cat_desc = fm.get("description")
                if not cat_desc:
                    continue
                rel = desc_file.relative_to(ext_dir)
                cat = "/".join(rel.parts[:-1]) if len(rel.parts) > 1 else "general"
                category_descriptions.setdefault(cat, str(cat_desc).strip().strip("'\""))
            except Exception as e:
                logger.debug("Could not read external skill description %s: %s", desc_file, e)

    if not skills_by_category:
        result = ""
    else:
        index_lines = []
        for category in sorted(skills_by_category.keys()):
            cat_desc = category_descriptions.get(category, "")
            if cat_desc:
                index_lines.append(f"  {category}: {cat_desc}")
            else:
                index_lines.append(f"  {category}:")
            # Deduplicate and sort skills within each category
            seen = set()
            for name, desc in sorted(skills_by_category[category], key=lambda x: x[0]):
                if name in seen:
                    continue
                seen.add(name)
                if desc:
                    index_lines.append(f"    - {name}: {desc}")
                else:
                    index_lines.append(f"    - {name}")

        result = (
            "## Skills (mandatory)\n"
            "Before replying, scan the skills below. If one clearly matches your task, "
            "load it with skill_view(name) and follow its instructions. "
            "If a skill has issues, fix it with skill_manage(action='patch').\n"
            "After difficult/iterative tasks, offer to save as a skill. "
            "If a skill you loaded was missing steps, had wrong commands, or needed "
            "pitfalls you discovered, update it before finishing.\n"
            "\n"
            "<available_skills>\n"
            + "\n".join(index_lines) + "\n"
            "</available_skills>\n"
            "\n"
            "If none match, proceed normally without loading a skill."
        )

    # ── Store in LRU cache ────────────────────────────────────────────
    with _SKILLS_PROMPT_CACHE_LOCK:
        _SKILLS_PROMPT_CACHE[cache_key] = result
        _SKILLS_PROMPT_CACHE.move_to_end(cache_key)
        while len(_SKILLS_PROMPT_CACHE) > _SKILLS_PROMPT_CACHE_MAX:
            _SKILLS_PROMPT_CACHE.popitem(last=False)

    return result


# =========================================================================
# Context files (SOUL.md, AGENTS.md, .cursorrules)
# =========================================================================

def _truncate_content(content: str, filename: str, max_chars: int = CONTEXT_FILE_MAX_CHARS) -> str:
    """Head/tail truncation with a marker in the middle."""
    if len(content) <= max_chars:
        return content
    head_chars = int(max_chars * CONTEXT_TRUNCATE_HEAD_RATIO)
    tail_chars = int(max_chars * CONTEXT_TRUNCATE_TAIL_RATIO)
    head = content[:head_chars]
    tail = content[-tail_chars:]
    marker = f"\n\n[...truncated {filename}: kept {head_chars}+{tail_chars} of {len(content)} chars. Use file tools to read the full file.]\n\n"
    return head + marker + tail


def load_soul_md() -> Optional[str]:
    """Load SOUL.md from HERMES_HOME and return its content, or None.

    Used as the agent identity (slot #1 in the system prompt).  When this
    returns content, ``build_context_files_prompt`` should be called with
    ``skip_soul=True`` so SOUL.md isn't injected twice.
    """
    try:
        from hermes_cli.config import ensure_hermes_home
        ensure_hermes_home()
    except Exception as e:
        logger.debug("Could not ensure HERMES_HOME before loading SOUL.md: %s", e)

    soul_path = get_hermes_home() / "SOUL.md"
    if not soul_path.exists():
        return None
    try:
        content = soul_path.read_text(encoding="utf-8").strip()
        if not content:
            return None
        content = _scan_context_content(content, "SOUL.md")
        content = _truncate_content(content, "SOUL.md")
        return content
    except Exception as e:
        logger.debug("Could not read SOUL.md from %s: %s", soul_path, e)
        return None


def _load_hermes_md(cwd_path: Path) -> str:
    """.hermes.md / HERMES.md — walk to git root."""
    hermes_md_path = _find_hermes_md(cwd_path)
    if not hermes_md_path:
        return ""
    try:
        content = hermes_md_path.read_text(encoding="utf-8").strip()
        if not content:
            return ""
        content = _strip_yaml_frontmatter(content)
        rel = hermes_md_path.name
        try:
            rel = str(hermes_md_path.relative_to(cwd_path))
        except ValueError:
            pass
        content = _scan_context_content(content, rel)
        result = f"## {rel}\n\n{content}"
        return _truncate_content(result, ".hermes.md")
    except Exception as e:
        logger.debug("Could not read %s: %s", hermes_md_path, e)
        return ""


def _load_agents_md(cwd_path: Path) -> str:
    """AGENTS.md — top-level only (no recursive walk)."""
    for name in ["AGENTS.md", "agents.md"]:
        candidate = cwd_path / name
        if candidate.exists():
            try:
                content = candidate.read_text(encoding="utf-8").strip()
                if content:
                    content = _scan_context_content(content, name)
                    result = f"## {name}\n\n{content}"
                    return _truncate_content(result, "AGENTS.md")
            except Exception as e:
                logger.debug("Could not read %s: %s", candidate, e)
    return ""


def _load_claude_md(cwd_path: Path) -> str:
    """CLAUDE.md / claude.md — cwd only."""
    for name in ["CLAUDE.md", "claude.md"]:
        candidate = cwd_path / name
        if candidate.exists():
            try:
                content = candidate.read_text(encoding="utf-8").strip()
                if content:
                    content = _scan_context_content(content, name)
                    result = f"## {name}\n\n{content}"
                    return _truncate_content(result, "CLAUDE.md")
            except Exception as e:
                logger.debug("Could not read %s: %s", candidate, e)
    return ""


def _load_cursorrules(cwd_path: Path) -> str:
    """.cursorrules + .cursor/rules/*.mdc — cwd only."""
    cursorrules_content = ""
    cursorrules_file = cwd_path / ".cursorrules"
    if cursorrules_file.exists():
        try:
            content = cursorrules_file.read_text(encoding="utf-8").strip()
            if content:
                content = _scan_context_content(content, ".cursorrules")
                cursorrules_content += f"## .cursorrules\n\n{content}\n\n"
        except Exception as e:
            logger.debug("Could not read .cursorrules: %s", e)

    cursor_rules_dir = cwd_path / ".cursor" / "rules"
    if cursor_rules_dir.exists() and cursor_rules_dir.is_dir():
        mdc_files = sorted(cursor_rules_dir.glob("*.mdc"))
        for mdc_file in mdc_files:
            try:
                content = mdc_file.read_text(encoding="utf-8").strip()
                if content:
                    content = _scan_context_content(content, f".cursor/rules/{mdc_file.name}")
                    cursorrules_content += f"## .cursor/rules/{mdc_file.name}\n\n{content}\n\n"
            except Exception as e:
                logger.debug("Could not read %s: %s", mdc_file, e)

    if not cursorrules_content:
        return ""
    return _truncate_content(cursorrules_content, ".cursorrules")


def build_context_files_prompt(cwd: Optional[str] = None, skip_soul: bool = False) -> str:
    """Discover and load context files for the system prompt.

    Priority (first found wins — only ONE project context type is loaded):
      1. .hermes.md / HERMES.md  (walk to git root)
      2. AGENTS.md / agents.md   (cwd only)
      3. CLAUDE.md / claude.md   (cwd only)
      4. .cursorrules / .cursor/rules/*.mdc  (cwd only)

    SOUL.md from HERMES_HOME is independent and always included when present.
    Each context source is capped at 20,000 chars.

    When *skip_soul* is True, SOUL.md is not included here (it was already
    loaded via ``load_soul_md()`` for the identity slot).
    """
    if cwd is None:
        cwd = os.getcwd()

    cwd_path = Path(cwd).resolve()
    sections = []

    # Priority-based project context: first match wins
    project_context = (
        _load_hermes_md(cwd_path)
        or _load_agents_md(cwd_path)
        or _load_claude_md(cwd_path)
        or _load_cursorrules(cwd_path)
    )
    if project_context:
        sections.append(project_context)

    # SOUL.md from HERMES_HOME only — skip when already loaded as identity
    if not skip_soul:
        soul_content = load_soul_md()
        if soul_content:
            sections.append(soul_content)

    if not sections:
        return ""
    return "# Project Context\n\nThe following project context files have been loaded and should be followed:\n\n" + "\n".join(sections)