Remove hook execution timeouts

- Remove timeout logic from HookRunner
- Remove hookTimeout from Settings interface
- Remove getHookTimeout/setHookTimeout methods
- Update CHANGELOG.md and hooks.md

Timeouts were inconsistently applied and caused issues with
legitimate slow operations (LLM calls, user prompts). Users can
use Ctrl+C to abort hung hooks.

packages/coding-agent/CHANGELOG.md

@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@
   - Renderers return inner content; the TUI wraps it in a styled Box
   - New types: `HookMessage<T>`, `RegisteredCommand`, `HookContext`
   - Handler types renamed: `SendHandler` → `SendMessageHandler`, new `AppendEntryHandler`
+  - Removed `hookTimeout` setting - hooks no longer have execution timeouts (use Ctrl+C to abort hung hooks)
 - **SessionManager**:
   - `getSessionFile()` now returns `string | undefined` (undefined for in-memory sessions)
 - **Themes**: Custom themes must add `selectedBg`, `customMessageBg`, `customMessageText`, `customMessageLabel` color tokens (50 total)

packages/coding-agent/docs/hooks.md

@@ -51,13 +51,10 @@ Additional paths via `settings.json`:
 
 ```json
 {
-  "hooks": ["/path/to/hook.ts"],
-  "hookTimeout": 30000
+  "hooks": ["/path/to/hook.ts"]
 }
 ```
 
-The `hookTimeout` (default 30s) applies to most events. `tool_call` has no timeout since it may prompt the user.
-
 ## Available Imports
 
 | Package | Purpose |
@@ -329,7 +326,7 @@ pi.on("context", async (event, ctx) => {
 
 #### tool_call
 
-Fired before tool executes. **Can block.** No timeout.
+Fired before tool executes. **Can block.**
 
 ```typescript
 pi.on("tool_call", async (event, ctx) => {
@@ -654,8 +651,8 @@ In print mode, `select()` returns `undefined`, `confirm()` returns `false`, `inp
 
 - Hook errors are logged, agent continues
 - `tool_call` errors block the tool (fail-safe)
-- Timeout errors (default 30s) are logged but don't block
 - Errors display in UI with hook path and message
+- If a hook hangs, use Ctrl+C to abort
 
 ## Debugging
 

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

@@ -25,11 +25,6 @@ import type {
 	ToolResultEventResult,
 } from "./types.js";
 
-/**
- * Default timeout for hook execution (30 seconds).
- */
-const DEFAULT_TIMEOUT = 30000;
-
 /**
  * Listener for hook errors.
  */
@@ -38,20 +33,6 @@ export type HookErrorListener = (error: HookError) => void;
 // Re-export execCommand for backward compatibility
 export { execCommand } from "../exec.js";
 
-/**
- * Create a promise that rejects after a timeout.
- */
-function createTimeout(ms: number): { promise: Promise<never>; clear: () => void } {
-	let timeoutId: NodeJS.Timeout;
-	const promise = new Promise<never>((_, reject) => {
-		timeoutId = setTimeout(() => reject(new Error(`Hook timed out after ${ms}ms`)), ms);
-	});
-	return {
-		promise,
-		clear: () => clearTimeout(timeoutId),
-	};
-}
-
 /** No-op UI context used when no UI is available */
 const noOpUIContext: HookUIContext = {
 	select: async () => undefined,
@@ -71,24 +52,16 @@ export class HookRunner {
 	private cwd: string;
 	private sessionManager: SessionManager;
 	private modelRegistry: ModelRegistry;
-	private timeout: number;
 	private errorListeners: Set<HookErrorListener> = new Set();
 	private getModel: () => Model<any> | undefined = () => undefined;
 
-	constructor(
-		hooks: LoadedHook[],
-		cwd: string,
-		sessionManager: SessionManager,
-		modelRegistry: ModelRegistry,
-		timeout: number = DEFAULT_TIMEOUT,
-	) {
+	constructor(hooks: LoadedHook[], cwd: string, sessionManager: SessionManager, modelRegistry: ModelRegistry) {
 		this.hooks = hooks;
 		this.uiContext = noOpUIContext;
 		this.hasUI = false;
 		this.cwd = cwd;
 		this.sessionManager = sessionManager;
 		this.modelRegistry = modelRegistry;
-		this.timeout = timeout;
 	}
 
 	/**
@@ -262,16 +235,7 @@ export class HookRunner {
 
 			for (const handler of handlers) {
 				try {
-					// No timeout for session_before_compact events (like tool_call, they may take a while)
-					let handlerResult: unknown;
-
-					if (event.type === "session_before_compact") {
-						handlerResult = await handler(event, ctx);
-					} else {
-						const timeout = createTimeout(this.timeout);
-						handlerResult = await Promise.race([handler(event, ctx), timeout.promise]);
-						timeout.clear();
-					}
+					const handlerResult = await handler(event, ctx);
 
 					// For session before_* events, capture the result (for cancellation)
 					if (this.isSessionBeforeEvent(event.type) && handlerResult) {
@@ -348,9 +312,7 @@ export class HookRunner {
 			for (const handler of handlers) {
 				try {
 					const event: ContextEvent = { type: "context", messages: currentMessages };
-					const timeout = createTimeout(this.timeout);
-					const handlerResult = await Promise.race([handler(event, ctx), timeout.promise]);
-					timeout.clear();
+					const handlerResult = await handler(event, ctx);
 
 					if (handlerResult && (handlerResult as ContextEventResult).messages) {
 						currentMessages = (handlerResult as ContextEventResult).messages!;
@@ -387,9 +349,7 @@ export class HookRunner {
 			for (const handler of handlers) {
 				try {
 					const event: BeforeAgentStartEvent = { type: "before_agent_start", prompt, images };
-					const timeout = createTimeout(this.timeout);
-					const handlerResult = await Promise.race([handler(event, ctx), timeout.promise]);
-					timeout.clear();
+					const handlerResult = await handler(event, ctx);
 
 					// Take the first message returned
 					if (handlerResult && (handlerResult as BeforeAgentStartEventResult).message && !result) {

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

@@ -313,7 +313,6 @@ export function loadSettings(cwd?: string, agentDir?: string): Settings {
 		shellPath: manager.getShellPath(),
 		collapseChangelog: manager.getCollapseChangelog(),
 		hooks: manager.getHookPaths(),
-		hookTimeout: manager.getHookTimeout(),
 		customTools: manager.getCustomToolPaths(),
 		skills: manager.getSkillsSettings(),
 		terminal: { showImages: manager.getShowImages() },
@@ -536,7 +535,7 @@ export async function createAgentSession(options: CreateAgentSessionOptions = {}
 	if (options.hooks !== undefined) {
 		if (options.hooks.length > 0) {
 			const loadedHooks = createLoadedHooksFromDefinitions(options.hooks);
-			hookRunner = new HookRunner(loadedHooks, cwd, sessionManager, modelRegistry, settingsManager.getHookTimeout());
+			hookRunner = new HookRunner(loadedHooks, cwd, sessionManager, modelRegistry);
 		}
 	} else {
 		// Discover hooks, merging with additional paths
@@ -547,7 +546,7 @@ export async function createAgentSession(options: CreateAgentSessionOptions = {}
 			console.error(`Failed to load hook "${path}": ${error}`);
 		}
 		if (hooks.length > 0) {
-			hookRunner = new HookRunner(hooks, cwd, sessionManager, modelRegistry, settingsManager.getHookTimeout());
+			hookRunner = new HookRunner(hooks, cwd, sessionManager, modelRegistry);
 		}
 	}
 

packages/coding-agent/src/core/settings-manager.ts

@@ -48,7 +48,6 @@ export interface Settings {
 	shellPath?: string; // Custom shell path (e.g., for Cygwin users on Windows)
 	collapseChangelog?: boolean; // Show condensed changelog after update (use /changelog for full)
 	hooks?: string[]; // Array of hook file paths
-	hookTimeout?: number; // Timeout for hook execution in ms (default: 30000)
 	customTools?: string[]; // Array of custom tool file paths
 	skills?: SkillsSettings;
 	terminal?: TerminalSettings;
@@ -322,15 +321,6 @@ export class SettingsManager {
 		this.save();
 	}
 
-	getHookTimeout(): number {
-		return this.settings.hookTimeout ?? 30000;
-	}
-
-	setHookTimeout(timeout: number): void {
-		this.globalSettings.hookTimeout = timeout;
-		this.save();
-	}
-
 	getCustomToolPaths(): string[] {
 		return [...(this.settings.customTools ?? [])];
 	}