switch to '=== type' single-line headers for multi-doc output (more robust than ambiguous --- frontmatter)

src/main.rs

@@ -548,9 +548,26 @@ async fn process_loop(state: Arc<Mutex<DaemonState>>, client: Client) {
 
         let new_last_event_id = history.last().map(|(eid, _, _, _, _)| eid.clone());
 
-        match invoke_claude(&room_id, &room_name, &chat_msgs, seen_idx, &model).await {
+        let docs = match invoke_claude(&room_id, &room_name, &chat_msgs, seen_idx, &model).await {
-            Ok(Some(response)) => {
+            Ok(d) => d,
-                let target_room = match &response.target {
+            Err(e) => {
+                tracing::error!(room = %room_id, "claude invocation failed: {e}");
+                continue;
+            }
+        };
+
+        let mut sent_any = false;
+        for doc in docs {
+            match doc {
+                ClaudeDoc::Skip => {
+                    tracing::debug!(room = %room_id, "claude doc: skip");
+                }
+                ClaudeDoc::Thought(body) => {
+                    tracing::info!(room = %room_id, thought = %body.chars().take(120).collect::<String>(), "claude doc: thought");
+                    tracing::trace!("full thought: {body}");
+                }
+                ClaudeDoc::Message { target, body } => {
+                    let target_room = match &target {
                         ResponseTarget::Room(rid) => client.get_room(rid),
                         ResponseTarget::Dm(user) => match find_or_create_dm(&client, user).await {
                             Ok(r) => Some(r),
@@ -560,26 +577,22 @@ async fn process_loop(state: Arc<Mutex<DaemonState>>, client: Client) {
                             }
                         },
                     };
-                let target_label = match &response.target {
+                    let target_label = match &target {
                         ResponseTarget::Room(rid) => rid.to_string(),
                         ResponseTarget::Dm(user) => format!("dm:{user}"),
                     };
                     if let Some(target_room) = target_room {
-                    let content = RoomMessageEventContent::text_plain(&response.body);
+                        let content = RoomMessageEventContent::text_plain(&body);
                         match target_room.send(content).await {
                             Ok(_) => {
                                 let mut state = state.lock().await;
                                 state.rate_budget = state.rate_budget.saturating_sub(1);
-                            if let Some(eid) = new_last_event_id.clone() {
-                                state.last_shown.insert(room_id.clone(), eid);
-                            }
                                 tracing::info!(
                                     target = %target_label,
                                     "sent response ({} budget remaining)",
                                     state.rate_budget
                                 );
-                            drop(state);
+                                sent_any = true;
-                            send_read_receipt(&room, new_last_event_id.clone()).await;
                             }
                             Err(e) => tracing::error!("failed to send: {e}"),
                         }
@@ -587,20 +600,20 @@ async fn process_loop(state: Arc<Mutex<DaemonState>>, client: Client) {
                         tracing::warn!(target = %target_label, "target not available");
                     }
                 }
-            Ok(None) => {
+            }
-                tracing::debug!(room = %room_id, "claude chose to skip");
+        }
+
+        // Update last_shown and send read receipt regardless of whether we
+        // sent a message - the agent saw the messages either way.
         {
             let mut state = state.lock().await;
             if let Some(eid) = new_last_event_id.clone() {
                 state.last_shown.insert(room_id.clone(), eid);
             }
         }
-                send_read_receipt(&room, new_last_event_id.clone()).await;
+        send_read_receipt(&room, new_last_event_id).await;
-            }
+
-            Err(e) => {
+        let _ = sent_any;
-                tracing::error!(room = %room_id, "claude invocation failed: {e}");
-            }
-        }
     }
 }
 
@@ -720,9 +733,18 @@ enum ResponseTarget {
     Dm(OwnedUserId),
 }
 
-struct ClaudeResponse {
+/// One document within Claude's multi-doc output. Each doc has its own
+/// frontmatter; the daemon routes based on which fields are present.
+enum ClaudeDoc {
+    /// A chat message to send.
+    Message {
         target: ResponseTarget,
         body: String,
+    },
+    /// Agent's internal monologue. Not sent to chat. Logged to tracing.
+    Thought(String),
+    /// Explicit "do nothing for this slot". Useful as a placeholder.
+    Skip,
 }
 
 async fn invoke_claude(
@@ -731,7 +753,7 @@ async fn invoke_claude(
     history: &[ChatMessage],
     seen_idx: usize,
     model: &str,
-) -> anyhow::Result<Option<ClaudeResponse>> {
+) -> anyhow::Result<Vec<ClaudeDoc>> {
     let identity_dir = paths::identity_dir();
     let identity_str = identity_dir.to_string_lossy();
 
@@ -826,58 +848,129 @@ async fn invoke_claude(
     Ok(parse_response(&raw, source_room))
 }
 
-fn parse_response(raw: &str, default_room: &OwnedRoomId) -> Option<ClaudeResponse> {
+/// Parse Claude's stdout into a list of documents.
+///
+/// Format: each doc starts with a line `=== <type> [arg]`. Body is everything
+/// until the next `===` line or EOF. Types:
+///   - `=== thought` → ClaudeDoc::Thought (logged, not sent)
+///   - `=== room [<room_id>]` → ClaudeDoc::Message to that room (or source room if no arg)
+///   - `=== dm <user_id>` → ClaudeDoc::Message as DM
+///   - `=== skip` → ClaudeDoc::Skip (no-op)
+///
+/// Anything before the first `===` line is treated as a preamble thought.
+/// Bare text with no `===` is treated as a single message to default_room.
+fn parse_response(raw: &str, default_room: &OwnedRoomId) -> Vec<ClaudeDoc> {
     let trimmed = raw.trim();
-
+    if trimmed.is_empty() {
-    if trimmed.starts_with("---") {
+        return Vec::new();
-        let parts: Vec<&str> = trimmed.splitn(3, "---").collect();
-        if parts.len() >= 3 {
-            let frontmatter = parts[1].trim();
-            let body = parts[2].trim();
-
-            if frontmatter.contains("skip: true") || frontmatter.contains("skip:true") {
-                return None;
     }
 
-            // dm: takes precedence over room: if both set
+    // Walk lines, splitting on lines that start with "=== "
-            let dm = frontmatter
+    let mut docs = Vec::new();
-                .lines()
+    let mut current_header: Option<String> = None;
-                .find(|l| l.starts_with("dm:"))
+    let mut current_body = String::new();
-                .and_then(|l| l.strip_prefix("dm:"))
+    let mut preamble = String::new();
-                .and_then(|r| r.trim().parse::<OwnedUserId>().ok());
 
-            let target = if let Some(user) = dm {
+    for line in trimmed.lines() {
-                ResponseTarget::Dm(user)
+        if let Some(header) = line.strip_prefix("===") {
+            // Flush previous doc
+            if let Some(h) = current_header.take() {
+                if let Some(doc) = build_doc(&h, current_body.trim(), default_room) {
+                    docs.push(doc);
+                }
+                current_body.clear();
             } else {
-                let room = frontmatter
+                // We were collecting preamble
-                    .lines()
+                let p = preamble.trim();
-                    .find(|l| l.starts_with("room:"))
+                if !p.is_empty() {
-                    .and_then(|l| l.strip_prefix("room:"))
+                    docs.push(ClaudeDoc::Thought(p.to_owned()));
-                    .and_then(|r| r.trim().parse().ok())
+                }
-                    .unwrap_or_else(|| default_room.clone());
+                preamble.clear();
-                ResponseTarget::Room(room)
+            }
-            };
+            current_header = Some(header.trim().to_owned());
-
+        } else if current_header.is_some() {
-            if body.is_empty() {
+            current_body.push_str(line);
-                return None;
+            current_body.push('\n');
+        } else {
+            preamble.push_str(line);
+            preamble.push('\n');
+        }
     }
 
-            return Some(ClaudeResponse {
+    // Flush the last doc or preamble
-                target,
+    if let Some(h) = current_header {
-                body: body.to_owned(),
+        if let Some(doc) = build_doc(&h, current_body.trim(), default_room) {
+            docs.push(doc);
+        }
+    } else {
+        // No `===` headers at all - treat whole output as a single message
+        let p = preamble.trim();
+        if !p.is_empty() {
+            docs.push(ClaudeDoc::Message {
+                target: ResponseTarget::Room(default_room.clone()),
+                body: p.to_owned(),
             });
         }
     }
 
-    if trimmed.is_empty() {
+    docs
-        return None;
 }
 
-    Some(ClaudeResponse {
+fn build_doc(header: &str, body: &str, default_room: &OwnedRoomId) -> Option<ClaudeDoc> {
-        target: ResponseTarget::Room(default_room.clone()),
+    let mut parts = header.splitn(2, char::is_whitespace);
-        body: trimmed.to_owned(),
+    let kind = parts.next().unwrap_or("").trim();
+    let arg = parts.next().unwrap_or("").trim();
+
+    match kind {
+        "skip" => Some(ClaudeDoc::Skip),
+        "thought" => {
+            if body.is_empty() {
+                None
+            } else {
+                Some(ClaudeDoc::Thought(body.to_owned()))
+            }
+        }
+        "room" => {
+            if body.is_empty() {
+                return None;
+            }
+            let target = if arg.is_empty() {
+                ResponseTarget::Room(default_room.clone())
+            } else {
+                match arg.parse::<OwnedRoomId>() {
+                    Ok(rid) => ResponseTarget::Room(rid),
+                    Err(_) => return None,
+                }
+            };
+            Some(ClaudeDoc::Message {
+                target,
+                body: body.to_owned(),
             })
         }
+        "dm" => {
+            if body.is_empty() {
+                return None;
+            }
+            match arg.parse::<OwnedUserId>() {
+                Ok(uid) => Some(ClaudeDoc::Message {
+                    target: ResponseTarget::Dm(uid),
+                    body: body.to_owned(),
+                }),
+                Err(_) => None,
+            }
+        }
+        _ => {
+            // Unknown header - treat body as a thought so it doesn't leak to chat
+            if body.is_empty() {
+                None
+            } else {
+                Some(ClaudeDoc::Thought(format!(
+                    "[unknown header '{header}'] {body}"
+                )))
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
 
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
@@ -887,66 +980,133 @@ mod tests {
         "!test:example.com".parse().unwrap()
     }
 
-    fn assert_room(resp: &ClaudeResponse, expected: &str) {
+    fn first_message(docs: &[ClaudeDoc]) -> (&ResponseTarget, &str) {
-        match &resp.target {
+        for d in docs {
+            if let ClaudeDoc::Message { target, body } = d {
+                return (target, body.as_str());
+            }
+        }
+        panic!("no message doc found");
+    }
+
+    fn assert_room(target: &ResponseTarget, expected: &str) {
+        match target {
             ResponseTarget::Room(r) => assert_eq!(r.as_str(), expected),
             ResponseTarget::Dm(_) => panic!("expected room target, got dm"),
         }
     }
 
     #[test]
-    fn parse_frontmatter_response() {
+    fn parse_room_with_arg() {
-        let raw = "---\nroom: !other:server\n---\nhello world";
+        let raw = "=== room !other:server\nhello world";
-        let resp = parse_response(raw, &test_room()).unwrap();
+        let docs = parse_response(raw, &test_room());
-        assert_room(&resp, "!other:server");
+        let (target, body) = first_message(&docs);
-        assert_eq!(resp.body, "hello world");
+        assert_room(target, "!other:server");
+        assert_eq!(body, "hello world");
     }
 
     #[test]
-    fn parse_skip_response() {
+    fn parse_room_no_arg_uses_default() {
-        let raw = "---\nskip: true\n---\n";
+        let raw = "=== room\nhi";
-        assert!(parse_response(raw, &test_room()).is_none());
+        let docs = parse_response(raw, &test_room());
+        let (target, _) = first_message(&docs);
+        assert_room(target, "!test:example.com");
     }
 
     #[test]
-    fn parse_plain_response() {
+    fn parse_skip() {
+        let raw = "=== skip";
+        let docs = parse_response(raw, &test_room());
+        assert_eq!(docs.len(), 1);
+        assert!(matches!(docs[0], ClaudeDoc::Skip));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn parse_plain_text_no_header() {
         let raw = "just a message";
-        let resp = parse_response(raw, &test_room()).unwrap();
+        let docs = parse_response(raw, &test_room());
-        assert_room(&resp, "!test:example.com");
+        let (target, body) = first_message(&docs);
-        assert_eq!(resp.body, "just a message");
+        assert_room(target, "!test:example.com");
+        assert_eq!(body, "just a message");
     }
 
     #[test]
-    fn parse_empty_response() {
+    fn parse_empty() {
-        assert!(parse_response("", &test_room()).is_none());
+        assert!(parse_response("", &test_room()).is_empty());
-        assert!(parse_response("   \n  ", &test_room()).is_none());
+        assert!(parse_response("   \n  ", &test_room()).is_empty());
     }
 
     #[test]
-    fn parse_default_room() {
+    fn parse_dm() {
-        let raw = "---\n---\nhello";
+        let raw = "=== dm @alice:example.com\nhi alice";
-        let resp = parse_response(raw, &test_room()).unwrap();
+        let docs = parse_response(raw, &test_room());
-        assert_room(&resp, "!test:example.com");
+        let (target, body) = first_message(&docs);
-    }
+        match target {
-
-    #[test]
-    fn parse_dm_response() {
-        let raw = "---\ndm: @alice:example.com\n---\nhi alice";
-        let resp = parse_response(raw, &test_room()).unwrap();
-        match &resp.target {
             ResponseTarget::Dm(u) => assert_eq!(u.as_str(), "@alice:example.com"),
             ResponseTarget::Room(_) => panic!("expected dm target"),
         }
-        assert_eq!(resp.body, "hi alice");
+        assert_eq!(body, "hi alice");
     }
 
     #[test]
-    fn parse_dm_takes_precedence_over_room() {
+    fn parse_thought() {
-        let raw = "---\nroom: !other:server\ndm: @bob:example.com\n---\nhello";
+        let raw = "=== thought\nthinking about whether to reply...";
-        let resp = parse_response(raw, &test_room()).unwrap();
+        let docs = parse_response(raw, &test_room());
-        match &resp.target {
+        assert_eq!(docs.len(), 1);
-            ResponseTarget::Dm(u) => assert_eq!(u.as_str(), "@bob:example.com"),
+        match &docs[0] {
-            ResponseTarget::Room(_) => panic!("expected dm target"),
+            ClaudeDoc::Thought(s) => assert_eq!(s, "thinking about whether to reply..."),
+            _ => panic!("expected thought"),
         }
     }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn parse_multi_doc() {
+        let raw = "\
+=== thought
+let me check notes
+
+=== room !x:y
+hi
+
+=== dm @u:s
+private
+
+=== skip
+";
+        let docs = parse_response(raw, &test_room());
+        assert_eq!(docs.len(), 4);
+        assert!(matches!(docs[0], ClaudeDoc::Thought(_)));
+        assert!(matches!(
+            docs[1],
+            ClaudeDoc::Message {
+                target: ResponseTarget::Room(_),
+                ..
+            }
+        ));
+        assert!(matches!(
+            docs[2],
+            ClaudeDoc::Message {
+                target: ResponseTarget::Dm(_),
+                ..
+            }
+        ));
+        assert!(matches!(docs[3], ClaudeDoc::Skip));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn parse_preamble_becomes_thought() {
+        let raw = "preamble line\n=== room !x:y\nhello";
+        let docs = parse_response(raw, &test_room());
+        assert_eq!(docs.len(), 2);
+        assert!(matches!(docs[0], ClaudeDoc::Thought(_)));
+        assert!(matches!(docs[1], ClaudeDoc::Message { .. }));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn parse_unknown_header_becomes_thought() {
+        let raw = "=== mystery foo\nbody";
+        let docs = parse_response(raw, &test_room());
+        assert_eq!(docs.len(), 1);
+        assert!(matches!(docs[0], ClaudeDoc::Thought(_)));
+    }
 }