Allow extensions to modify system prompt in before_agent_start

- Add systemPrompt to BeforeAgentStartEvent so extensions can see current prompt
- Change systemPromptAppend to systemPrompt in BeforeAgentStartEventResult for full replacement
- Extensions can now chain modifications (each sees the result of previous)
- Update ssh.ts to replace local cwd with remote cwd in system prompt
- Update pirate.ts, claude-rules.ts, preset.ts to use new API

fixes #575

packages/coding-agent/CHANGELOG.md

@@ -2,6 +2,10 @@
 
 ## [Unreleased]
 
+### Breaking Changes
+
+- `before_agent_start` event now receives `systemPrompt` in the event object and returns `systemPrompt` (full replacement) instead of `systemPromptAppend`. Extensions that were appending must now use `event.systemPrompt + extra` pattern. ([#575](https://github.com/badlogic/pi-mono/issues/575))
+
 ### Added
 
 - `--no-tools` flag to disable all built-in tools, allowing extension-only tool setups ([#557](https://github.com/badlogic/pi-mono/pull/557) by [@cv](https://github.com/cv))

packages/coding-agent/docs/extensions.md

@@ -255,7 +255,7 @@ pi starts
       ▼
 user sends prompt ─────────────────────────────────────────┐
   │                                                        │
-  ├─► before_agent_start (can inject message, append to system prompt)
+  ├─► before_agent_start (can inject message, modify system prompt)
   ├─► agent_start                                          │
   │                                                        │
   │   ┌─── turn (repeats while LLM calls tools) ───┐       │
@@ -414,12 +414,13 @@ pi.on("session_shutdown", async (_event, ctx) => {
 
 #### before_agent_start
 
-Fired after user submits prompt, before agent loop. Can inject a message and/or append to the system prompt.
+Fired after user submits prompt, before agent loop. Can inject a message and/or modify the system prompt.
 
 ```typescript
 pi.on("before_agent_start", async (event, ctx) => {
   // event.prompt - user's prompt text
   // event.images - attached images (if any)
+  // event.systemPrompt - current system prompt
 
   return {
     // Inject a persistent message (stored in session, sent to LLM)
@@ -428,13 +429,13 @@ pi.on("before_agent_start", async (event, ctx) => {
       content: "Additional context for the LLM",
       display: true,
     },
-    // Append to system prompt for this turn only
+    // Replace the system prompt for this turn (chained across extensions)
-    systemPromptAppend: "Extra instructions for this turn...",
+    systemPrompt: event.systemPrompt + "\n\nExtra instructions for this turn...",
   };
 });
 ```
 
-**Examples:** [claude-rules.ts](../examples/extensions/claude-rules.ts), [pirate.ts](../examples/extensions/pirate.ts), [plan-mode.ts](../examples/extensions/plan-mode.ts), [preset.ts](../examples/extensions/preset.ts)
+**Examples:** [claude-rules.ts](../examples/extensions/claude-rules.ts), [pirate.ts](../examples/extensions/pirate.ts), [plan-mode.ts](../examples/extensions/plan-mode.ts), [preset.ts](../examples/extensions/preset.ts), [ssh.ts](../examples/extensions/ssh.ts)
 
 #### agent_start / agent_end
 

packages/coding-agent/examples/extensions/claude-rules.ts

@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ export default function claudeRulesExtension(pi: ExtensionAPI) {
 	});
 
 	// Append available rules to system prompt
-	pi.on("before_agent_start", async () => {
+	pi.on("before_agent_start", async (event) => {
 		if (ruleFiles.length === 0) {
 			return;
 		}
@@ -69,7 +69,10 @@ export default function claudeRulesExtension(pi: ExtensionAPI) {
 		const rulesList = ruleFiles.map((f) => `- .claude/rules/${f}`).join("\n");
 
 		return {
-			systemPromptAppend: `
+			systemPrompt:
+				event.systemPrompt +
+				`
+
 ## Project Rules
 
 The following project rules are available in .claude/rules/:

packages/coding-agent/examples/extensions/pirate.ts

@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 /**
  * Pirate Extension
  *
- * Demonstrates using systemPromptAppend in before_agent_start to dynamically
+ * Demonstrates modifying the system prompt in before_agent_start to dynamically
- * modify the system prompt based on extension state.
+ * change agent behavior based on extension state.
  *
  * Usage:
  * 1. Copy this file to ~/.pi/agent/extensions/ or your project's .pi/extensions/
@@ -25,10 +25,13 @@ export default function pirateExtension(pi: ExtensionAPI) {
 	});
 
 	// Append to system prompt when pirate mode is enabled
-	pi.on("before_agent_start", async () => {
+	pi.on("before_agent_start", async (event) => {
 		if (pirateMode) {
 			return {
-				systemPromptAppend: `
+				systemPrompt:
+					event.systemPrompt +
+					`
+
 IMPORTANT: You are now in PIRATE MODE. You must:
 - Speak like a stereotypical pirate in all responses
 - Use phrases like "Arrr!", "Ahoy!", "Shiver me timbers!", "Avast!", "Ye scurvy dog!"

packages/coding-agent/examples/extensions/preset.ts

@@ -345,10 +345,10 @@ export default function presetExtension(pi: ExtensionAPI) {
 	});
 
 	// Inject preset instructions into system prompt
-	pi.on("before_agent_start", async () => {
+	pi.on("before_agent_start", async (event) => {
 		if (activePreset?.instructions) {
 			return {
-				systemPromptAppend: activePreset.instructions,
+				systemPrompt: `${event.systemPrompt}\n\n${activePreset.instructions}`,
 			};
 		}
 	});

packages/coding-agent/examples/extensions/ssh.ts

@@ -191,4 +191,16 @@ export default function (pi: ExtensionAPI) {
 			ctx.ui.notify(`SSH mode: ${ssh.remote}:${ssh.remoteCwd}`, "info");
 		}
 	});
+
+	// Replace local cwd with remote cwd in system prompt
+	pi.on("before_agent_start", async (event) => {
+		const ssh = getSsh();
+		if (ssh) {
+			const modified = event.systemPrompt.replace(
+				`Current working directory: ${localCwd}`,
+				`Current working directory: ${ssh.remoteCwd} (via SSH: ${ssh.remote})`,
+			);
+			return { systemPrompt: modified };
+		}
+	});
 }

packages/coding-agent/src/core/agent-session.ts

@@ -613,7 +613,11 @@ export class AgentSession {
 
 		// Emit before_agent_start extension event
 		if (this._extensionRunner) {
-			const result = await this._extensionRunner.emitBeforeAgentStart(expandedText, options?.images);
+			const result = await this._extensionRunner.emitBeforeAgentStart(
+				expandedText,
+				options?.images,
+				this._baseSystemPrompt,
+			);
 			// Add all custom messages from extensions
 			if (result?.messages) {
 				for (const msg of result.messages) {
@@ -627,11 +631,11 @@ export class AgentSession {
 					});
 				}
 			}
-			// Apply extension systemPromptAppend on top of base prompt
+			// Apply extension-modified system prompt, or reset to base
-			if (result?.systemPromptAppend) {
+			if (result?.systemPrompt) {
-				this.agent.setSystemPrompt(`${this._baseSystemPrompt}\n\n${result.systemPromptAppend}`);
+				this.agent.setSystemPrompt(result.systemPrompt);
 			} else {
-				// Ensure we're using the base prompt (in case previous turn had appends)
+				// Ensure we're using the base prompt (in case previous turn had modifications)
 				this.agent.setSystemPrompt(this._baseSystemPrompt);
 			}
 		}

packages/coding-agent/src/core/extensions/runner.ts

@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ import type {
 /** Combined result from all before_agent_start handlers */
 interface BeforeAgentStartCombinedResult {
 	messages?: NonNullable<BeforeAgentStartEventResult["message"]>[];
-	systemPromptAppend?: string;
+	systemPrompt?: string;
 }
 
 export type ExtensionErrorListener = (error: ExtensionError) => void;
@@ -433,11 +433,13 @@ export class ExtensionRunner {
 
 	async emitBeforeAgentStart(
 		prompt: string,
-		images?: ImageContent[],
+		images: ImageContent[] | undefined,
+		systemPrompt: string,
 	): Promise<BeforeAgentStartCombinedResult | undefined> {
 		const ctx = this.createContext();
 		const messages: NonNullable<BeforeAgentStartEventResult["message"]>[] = [];
-		const systemPromptAppends: string[] = [];
+		let currentSystemPrompt = systemPrompt;
+		let systemPromptModified = false;
 
 		for (const ext of this.extensions) {
 			const handlers = ext.handlers.get("before_agent_start");
@@ -445,7 +447,12 @@ export class ExtensionRunner {
 
 			for (const handler of handlers) {
 				try {
-					const event: BeforeAgentStartEvent = { type: "before_agent_start", prompt, images };
+					const event: BeforeAgentStartEvent = {
+						type: "before_agent_start",
+						prompt,
+						images,
+						systemPrompt: currentSystemPrompt,
+					};
 					const handlerResult = await handler(event, ctx);
 
 					if (handlerResult) {
@@ -453,8 +460,9 @@ export class ExtensionRunner {
 						if (result.message) {
 							messages.push(result.message);
 						}
-						if (result.systemPromptAppend) {
+						if (result.systemPrompt !== undefined) {
-							systemPromptAppends.push(result.systemPromptAppend);
+							currentSystemPrompt = result.systemPrompt;
+							systemPromptModified = true;
 						}
 					}
 				} catch (err) {
@@ -470,10 +478,10 @@ export class ExtensionRunner {
 			}
 		}
 
-		if (messages.length > 0 || systemPromptAppends.length > 0) {
+		if (messages.length > 0 || systemPromptModified) {
 			return {
 				messages: messages.length > 0 ? messages : undefined,
-				systemPromptAppend: systemPromptAppends.length > 0 ? systemPromptAppends.join("\n\n") : undefined,
+				systemPrompt: systemPromptModified ? currentSystemPrompt : undefined,
 			};
 		}
 

packages/coding-agent/src/core/extensions/types.ts

@@ -349,6 +349,7 @@ export interface BeforeAgentStartEvent {
 	type: "before_agent_start";
 	prompt: string;
 	images?: ImageContent[];
+	systemPrompt: string;
 }
 
 /** Fired when an agent loop starts */
@@ -504,7 +505,8 @@ export interface ToolResultEventResult {
 
 export interface BeforeAgentStartEventResult {
 	message?: Pick<CustomMessage, "customType" | "content" | "display" | "details">;
-	systemPromptAppend?: string;
+	/** Replace the system prompt for this turn. If multiple extensions return this, they are chained. */
+	systemPrompt?: string;
 }
 
 export interface SessionBeforeSwitchResult {

packages/coding-agent/src/index.ts

@@ -264,6 +264,7 @@ export {
 	getMarkdownTheme,
 	getSelectListTheme,
 	getSettingsListTheme,
+	initTheme,
 	Theme,
 	type ThemeColor,
 } from "./modes/interactive/theme/theme.js";