From 985350dd858eef3d855b45327f187367355a0ffd Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Brooklyn Nicholson <brooklyn.bb.nicholson@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 25 Jun 2026 19:57:58 -0500
Subject: [PATCH] feat(cli): note background delegate_task dispatch in
 _on_tool_complete
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A top-level delegate_task dispatches in the background and re-enters as a
fresh turn when done. Print a one-line dispatch-time note — no spinner,
nothing to poll — so the idle prompt doesn't read as "nothing happened."
---
 cli.py                                        | 15 ++++
 .../test_cli_delegate_background_notice.py    | 69 +++++++++++++++++++
 2 files changed, 84 insertions(+)
 create mode 100644 tests/cli/test_cli_delegate_background_notice.py

diff --git a/cli.py b/cli.py
index 7442bfe5ca2..1a92ae93778 100644
--- a/cli.py
+++ b/cli.py
@@ -10499,6 +10499,21 @@ class HermesCLI(CLIAgentSetupMixin, CLICommandsMixin):
 
     def _on_tool_complete(self, tool_call_id: str, function_name: str, function_args: dict, function_result: str):
         """Render file edits with inline diff after write-capable tools complete."""
+        # A top-level delegate_task dispatches in the background and re-enters as
+        # a fresh turn when done. Say so once — no spinner, nothing to poll — so
+        # the idle prompt doesn't read as "nothing happened" (⛓ tracks the work).
+        if function_name == "delegate_task":
+            try:
+                parsed = json.loads(function_result) if isinstance(function_result, str) else (function_result or {})
+            except Exception:
+                parsed = {}
+            if isinstance(parsed, dict) and parsed.get("status") == "dispatched" and parsed.get("mode") == "background":
+                n = parsed.get("count") or 1
+                noun, tail = ("task", "it finishes") if n == 1 else (f"{n} tasks", "they finish")
+                try:
+                    _cprint(f"\033[2m\u21a9 Background {noun} running — I'll resume when {tail}. Keep chatting.\033[0m")
+                except Exception:
+                    pass
         snapshot = self._pending_edit_snapshots.pop(tool_call_id, None)
         try:
             from agent.display import render_edit_diff_with_delta
diff --git a/tests/cli/test_cli_delegate_background_notice.py b/tests/cli/test_cli_delegate_background_notice.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..23f293c1957
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/cli/test_cli_delegate_background_notice.py
@@ -0,0 +1,69 @@
+"""The CLI spells out auto-resume when a delegate_task goes to the background.
+
+A top-level ``delegate_task`` returns a handle immediately and runs the subagent
+in the background; the result re-enters the conversation as a fresh turn when it
+finishes. ``_on_tool_complete`` prints a one-line, no-spinner reassurance at
+dispatch so the idle prompt doesn't read as "nothing happened".
+"""
+
+import json
+
+import cli
+from cli import HermesCLI
+
+
+def _make_cli():
+    cli_obj = HermesCLI.__new__(HermesCLI)
+    cli_obj._pending_edit_snapshots = {}
+    return cli_obj
+
+
+def _capture(monkeypatch):
+    printed: list[str] = []
+    monkeypatch.setattr(cli, "_cprint", lambda text: printed.append(text))
+    return printed
+
+
+def test_background_dispatch_prints_resume_notice(monkeypatch):
+    cli_obj = _make_cli()
+    printed = _capture(monkeypatch)
+
+    result = json.dumps({"status": "dispatched", "mode": "background", "count": 1})
+    cli_obj._on_tool_complete("tc1", "delegate_task", {"goal": "x"}, result)
+
+    joined = "\n".join(printed)
+    assert "resume" in joined.lower()
+    assert "it finishes" in joined
+
+
+def test_background_batch_dispatch_pluralizes(monkeypatch):
+    cli_obj = _make_cli()
+    printed = _capture(monkeypatch)
+
+    result = json.dumps({"status": "dispatched", "mode": "background", "count": 3})
+    cli_obj._on_tool_complete("tc2", "delegate_task", {"tasks": []}, result)
+
+    joined = "\n".join(printed)
+    assert "3 tasks" in joined
+    assert "they finish" in joined
+
+
+def test_synchronous_delegate_result_prints_no_notice(monkeypatch):
+    """A non-background result (e.g. the stateless sync fallback) must not claim
+    a background dispatch."""
+    cli_obj = _make_cli()
+    printed = _capture(monkeypatch)
+
+    result = json.dumps({"results": [{"status": "completed", "summary": "done"}]})
+    cli_obj._on_tool_complete("tc3", "delegate_task", {"goal": "x"}, result)
+
+    assert not any("resume" in p.lower() for p in printed)
+
+
+def test_non_delegate_tool_prints_no_notice(monkeypatch):
+    cli_obj = _make_cli()
+    printed = _capture(monkeypatch)
+
+    cli_obj._on_tool_complete("tc4", "read_file", {"path": "a"}, '{"ok": true}')
+
+    assert not any("resume" in p.lower() for p in printed)