Hermes' computer_use wrapper dropped cua-driver's structured action verdicts,
exposed no delivery_mode, and injected background-only guidance — so the agent
reported unverified no-ops as success and concluded cua-driver 'cannot drive'
Electron/Chromium surfaces (observed live on tldraw offline). Fixes#67052.
Phase A — preserve the result contract:
- ActionResult carries verified/effect/escalation/path/degraded/code/delivery_mode
- CuaDriverBackend._action() reads structuredContent (was data-only); a helper
normalizes it, additive and None-safe on old drivers
- _text_response surfaces the fields additively (ok stays transport-only)
Phase B — bounded, model-reachable foreground:
- delivery_mode (background|foreground) + bring_to_front on the schema, dispatcher,
ABC, and all input methods
- foreground is capability-gated (input.delivery_mode); old drivers get a
structured foreground_unsupported refusal, never a silent background downgrade
- no automatic/hidden foreground retry — the model selects it from the signal
Phase C — guidance + isolation:
- system prompt (prompt_builder) and bundled skills/computer-use/SKILL.md go from
background-ONLY to background-FIRST, teaching the AX→PX→foreground ladder driven
by returned effect/escalation, not predicted from the app being Electron
- foreground approval scoped by (action, delivery_mode): a background approval
never silently authorizes foreground
- approval state keyed per session_id so concurrent gateway runs don't leak unlocks
Tests: tests/tools/test_computer_use_delivery_ladder.py (15) cover confirmed/
unverifiable/suspected_noop/degraded/old-driver verdicts, delivery_mode gating +
foreground_unsupported, and session-scoped foreground approval. Existing 265
computer_use tests still green.
Live E2E (real cua-driver 0.8.3 + tldraw offline on Linux/X11): a background click
returned effect='unverifiable'/path='ax' (no fabricated success), and a foreground
request returned code='foreground_unsupported' — correct on a driver that predates
the input.delivery_mode capability.
* fix(computer-use): target Linux app windows reliably
Resolve app filters through the canonical cua-driver MCP app metadata and join running app PIDs back to windows. Preserve an exact selected window across capture_after, support direct capture by pid/window_id, and send the active window ID for coordinate pointer actions on Linux.
Co-authored-by: annguyenNous <annguyenNous@users.noreply.github.com>
Co-authored-by: grimmjoww578 <willies578@gmail.com>
Co-authored-by: ai-ag2026 <261867348+ai-ag2026@users.noreply.github.com>
* fix(computer-use): address review on PR #63725
Address three review comments from @f-trycua:
1. type_text, press_key, and hotkey now carry _active_window_id and
fail closed when it is missing. Previously they sent only the PID,
so CUA Driver fell back to the first window for that PID — input
could reach the wrong window in multi-window apps.
2. Coordinate scroll x/y are now capability-gated behind
input.scroll.coordinates. CUA Driver 0.7.1 Linux schema rejects
x/y on scroll; omitting them when the driver doesn't advertise
support avoids the schema rejection while still routing via
window_id.
3. Windows are sorted by z_index descending (higher = front, per CUA
Driver semantics) instead of ascending. Null z_index (Wayland) is
coerced to 0 in _ingest_windows so it doesn't crash the sort and
sorts to the back instead of being selected as the capture target.
---------
Co-authored-by: LeonSGP43 <cine.dreamer.one@gmail.com>
Co-authored-by: annguyenNous <annguyenNous@users.noreply.github.com>
Co-authored-by: grimmjoww578 <willies578@gmail.com>
Co-authored-by: ai-ag2026 <261867348+ai-ag2026@users.noreply.github.com>
capture(app='screen'|'desktop') now resolves to the OS shell/desktop
window (Windows Progman/WorkerW desktop or Shell_TrayWnd taskbar, macOS
Finder/Dock) so 'show me my screen' and 'click the taskbar' work.
Previously capture() only matched application windows, and the schema
advertised 'or the whole screen' without any code path delivering it.
cua-driver is window-oriented (no virtual-desktop or per-monitor MCP
tool), so a single image still cannot span multiple monitors — the
schema now states this and the no-desktop-window path returns a clear
message instead of silently grabbing the frontmost app.
Make the computer_use toolset platform-agnostic by driving cua-driver on
macOS, Windows, and Linux. Consumes the 8 cua-driver decoupling surfaces
(capability discovery, structuredContent AX tree, opaque element_token,
click button enum, explicit mimeType, machine-readable manifest,
structured list_windows, structured health_report), each degrading
gracefully on older drivers.
Adds `hermes computer-use doctor` (drives cua-driver health_report with a
per-OS check matrix and an exit 0/1/2 ok/degraded/blocked contract), full
typed wrappers for the previously-uncovered cua-driver tools plus a generic
call_tool escape hatch, per-session agent-cursor lifecycle, platform-aware
system-prompt guidance (host-deterministic, cache-safe), and honors
HERMES_CUA_DRIVER_CMD end-to-end.
Replaces the macOS-only skills/apple/macos-computer-use skill with a
cross-platform skills/computer-use skill, and refreshes the EN + zh-Hans
docs.
Supersedes #44221 (Windows-enablement salvage of #30660).
Co-authored-by: Teknium <127238744+teknium1@users.noreply.github.com>
Four findings from Copilot's review on PR #22891, all in the AX
elements-array cap added by 22fa1ed:
1. The truncation note ("response truncated to N of M elements") was
appended unconditionally — including in the som/vision multimodal
path, whose response carries a screenshot rather than an `elements`
array. The note described a payload field that wasn't present.
Moved the note into the AX-text branch where the array actually
appears.
2. `_format_elements(cap.elements)` ran on the full untrimmed list with
its own `max_lines=40` cap, so a caller passing `max_elements=10`
would see summary lines referencing `#11..#40` even though the JSON
`elements` array only held #1..#10. Format on `visible_elements`
instead so the summary indices always exist in the response.
3. `_coerce_max_elements` enforced a lower bound but no upper bound,
so `max_elements=10_000_000` silently disabled the safeguard and
reintroduced the original context-blow-up. Added a hard cap
(`_MAX_ALLOWED_MAX_ELEMENTS = 1000`) that clamps oversized values.
4. The schema string said "Default 100" but the property carried no
`default` field, and claimed `max_elements` had no effect on som/
vision while the image-missing fallback path can still return an
elements array. Added `"default": 100`, `"maximum": 1000`, and
clarified the fallback-path wording.
Each finding gets a regression test:
- test_capture_ax_clamps_oversized_max_elements_to_hard_cap
- test_capture_ax_summary_indices_match_returned_elements
- test_capture_multimodal_summary_omits_truncation_note
- test_schema_max_elements_documents_default_and_upper_bound
Verified with `pytest tests/tools/test_computer_use.py` (53 passed,
including the 5 new cases). Confirmed each new test fails on the
pre-fix code path before applying the production change.
Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.7 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>
`computer_use(action='capture', mode='ax')` returned the full AX element
list verbatim in the JSON response. Dense Electron / Obsidian / JetBrains
UIs publish 500+ AX nodes (one reproduction in #22865 returned 597
elements against Obsidian), so a single capture could consume enough
context to trigger compression failures or render the session unusable.
The human-readable `_format_elements` summary is already capped at 40
lines, so the truncation gap was invisible to anyone reading the summary
output.
Add a `max_elements` argument to the tool schema, default 100, that
trims the AX `elements` array. When the cap fires, the response surfaces
`total_elements` and `truncated_elements` and appends a "raise
max_elements or pass app= to narrow" hint to the summary so the model
knows the JSON view is partial and can re-issue with a tighter scope.
Validation is centralized in `_coerce_max_elements`: missing /
non-integer / sub-1 inputs fall back to the default cap, so the
protection can never be silently disabled by a malformed tool-call
argument. The cap only affects AX-mode JSON; `mode='som'` and
`mode='vision'` keep returning a screenshot + image-aware summary
unchanged.
Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.7 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>
Extends the cua-driver computer-use backend to drive backgrounded macOS
windows without stealing keyboard or mouse focus from the foreground app.
All changes target the cua-driver MCP backend and the shared dispatcher.
## cua_backend.py
**Window-aware capture**: capture() now calls list_windows + get_window_state
instead of the removed capture tool. Prefers structuredContent.windows
(MCP 2024-11-05+ cua-driver) for zero-parse window enumeration; falls back
to regex-parsed text for older builds. Stores the selected (pid, window_id)
as sticky context so subsequent action calls do not need a redundant round-trip.
**Action routing**: click/scroll/type_text/key all carry the sticky pid
(and window_id for element-indexed clicks). type_text routes through
type_text_chars (individual key events) rather than AX attribute write --
WebKit AXTextFields reject attribute writes from backgrounded processes.
**Key parsing**: _parse_key_combo splits cmd+s-style strings into
(key, [modifiers]) and routes to hotkey (modifier present) or
press_key (bare key) -- cua-driver actual tool names.
**set_value method**: new set_value(value, element) calls the cua-driver
set_value MCP tool. For AXPopUpButton / HTML select in a backgrounded Safari,
AXPress opens the native macOS popup which closes immediately when the app is
non-frontmost; set_value AX-presses the matching child option directly
(no menu required, no focus steal).
**focus_app**: reimplemented as a pure window-selector (enumerates
list_windows, sets sticky pid/window_id) without ever raising the window
or stealing focus.
**list_apps**: fixed tool name from listApps to list_apps; handles plain-text
response via regex when structured data is absent.
**Structured-content extraction**: _extract_tool_result now surfaces
structuredContent from MCP results, enabling the list_windows window array
without text parsing.
**Helpers**: _parse_windows_from_text, _parse_elements_from_tree,
_split_tree_text, _parse_key_combo extracted as module-level functions.
## schema.py
Added set_value to the action enum with a description explaining when to
prefer it over click (select/popup elements, sliders, no focus steal).
Added value field for set_value payloads.
## tool.py
Routed set_value action through _dispatch to backend.set_value.
Added set_value to _DESTRUCTIVE_ACTIONS (approval-gated).
Fixed MIME-type detection in _capture_response: cua-driver may return
JPEG; detect from base64 magic bytes (/9j/ -> image/jpeg, else image/png)
rather than hardcoding image/png.
## agent/display.py + run_agent.py
Guard _detect_tool_failure and result-preview logic against non-string
function_result values: multimodal tool results (dicts with _multimodal=True)
are not string-sliceable; treat them as successes and fall back to str()
for length/preview.
Background macOS desktop control via cua-driver MCP — does NOT steal the
user's cursor or keyboard focus, works with any tool-capable model.
Replaces the Anthropic-native `computer_20251124` approach from the
abandoned #4562 with a generic OpenAI function-calling schema plus SOM
(set-of-mark) captures so Claude, GPT, Gemini, and open models can all
drive the desktop via numbered element indices.
- `tools/computer_use/` package — swappable ComputerUseBackend ABC +
CuaDriverBackend (stdio MCP client to trycua/cua's cua-driver binary).
- Universal `computer_use` tool with one schema for all providers.
Actions: capture (som/vision/ax), click, double_click, right_click,
middle_click, drag, scroll, type, key, wait, list_apps, focus_app.
- Multimodal tool-result envelope (`_multimodal=True`, OpenAI-style
`content: [text, image_url]` parts) that flows through
handle_function_call into the tool message. Anthropic adapter converts
into native `tool_result` image blocks; OpenAI-compatible providers
get the parts list directly.
- Image eviction in convert_messages_to_anthropic: only the 3 most
recent screenshots carry real image data; older ones become text
placeholders to cap per-turn token cost.
- Context compressor image pruning: old multimodal tool results have
their image parts stripped instead of being skipped.
- Image-aware token estimation: each image counts as a flat 1500 tokens
instead of its base64 char length (~1MB would have registered as
~250K tokens before).
- COMPUTER_USE_GUIDANCE system-prompt block — injected when the toolset
is active.
- Session DB persistence strips base64 from multimodal tool messages.
- Trajectory saver normalises multimodal messages to text-only.
- `hermes tools` post-setup installs cua-driver via the upstream script
and prints permission-grant instructions.
- CLI approval callback wired so destructive computer_use actions go
through the same prompt_toolkit approval dialog as terminal commands.
- Hard safety guards at the tool level: blocked type patterns
(curl|bash, sudo rm -rf, fork bomb), blocked key combos (empty trash,
force delete, lock screen, log out).
- Skill `apple/macos-computer-use/SKILL.md` — universal (model-agnostic)
workflow guide.
- Docs: `user-guide/features/computer-use.md` plus reference catalog
entries.
44 new tests in tests/tools/test_computer_use.py covering schema
shape (universal, not Anthropic-native), dispatch routing, safety
guards, multimodal envelope, Anthropic adapter conversion, screenshot
eviction, context compressor pruning, image-aware token estimation,
run_agent helpers, and universality guarantees.
469/469 pass across tests/tools/test_computer_use.py + the affected
agent/ test suites.
- `model_tools.py` provider-gating: the tool is available to every
provider. Providers without multi-part tool message support will see
text-only tool results (graceful degradation via `text_summary`).
- Anthropic server-side `clear_tool_uses_20250919` — deferred;
client-side eviction + compressor pruning cover the same cost ceiling
without a beta header.
- macOS only. cua-driver uses private SkyLight SPIs
(SLEventPostToPid, SLPSPostEventRecordTo,
_AXObserverAddNotificationAndCheckRemote) that can break on any macOS
update. Pin with HERMES_CUA_DRIVER_VERSION.
- Requires Accessibility + Screen Recording permissions — the post-setup
prints the Settings path.
Supersedes PR #4562 (pyautogui/Quartz foreground backend, Anthropic-
native schema). Credit @0xbyt4 for the original #3816 groundwork whose
context/eviction/token design is preserved here in generic form.
Extends the cua-driver computer-use backend to drive backgrounded macOS
windows without stealing keyboard or mouse focus from the foreground app.
All changes target the cua-driver MCP backend and the shared dispatcher.
## cua_backend.py
**Window-aware capture**: capture() now calls list_windows + get_window_state
instead of the removed capture tool. Prefers structuredContent.windows
(MCP 2024-11-05+ cua-driver) for zero-parse window enumeration; falls back
to regex-parsed text for older builds. Stores the selected (pid, window_id)
as sticky context so subsequent action calls do not need a redundant round-trip.
**Action routing**: click/scroll/type_text/key all carry the sticky pid
(and window_id for element-indexed clicks). type_text routes through
type_text_chars (individual key events) rather than AX attribute write --
WebKit AXTextFields reject attribute writes from backgrounded processes.
**Key parsing**: _parse_key_combo splits cmd+s-style strings into
(key, [modifiers]) and routes to hotkey (modifier present) or
press_key (bare key) -- cua-driver actual tool names.
**set_value method**: new set_value(value, element) calls the cua-driver
set_value MCP tool. For AXPopUpButton / HTML select in a backgrounded Safari,
AXPress opens the native macOS popup which closes immediately when the app is
non-frontmost; set_value AX-presses the matching child option directly
(no menu required, no focus steal).
**focus_app**: reimplemented as a pure window-selector (enumerates
list_windows, sets sticky pid/window_id) without ever raising the window
or stealing focus.
**list_apps**: fixed tool name from listApps to list_apps; handles plain-text
response via regex when structured data is absent.
**Structured-content extraction**: _extract_tool_result now surfaces
structuredContent from MCP results, enabling the list_windows window array
without text parsing.
**Helpers**: _parse_windows_from_text, _parse_elements_from_tree,
_split_tree_text, _parse_key_combo extracted as module-level functions.
## schema.py
Added set_value to the action enum with a description explaining when to
prefer it over click (select/popup elements, sliders, no focus steal).
Added value field for set_value payloads.
## tool.py
Routed set_value action through _dispatch to backend.set_value.
Added set_value to _DESTRUCTIVE_ACTIONS (approval-gated).
Fixed MIME-type detection in _capture_response: cua-driver may return
JPEG; detect from base64 magic bytes (/9j/ -> image/jpeg, else image/png)
rather than hardcoding image/png.
## agent/display.py + run_agent.py
Guard _detect_tool_failure and result-preview logic against non-string
function_result values: multimodal tool results (dicts with _multimodal=True)
are not string-sliceable; treat them as successes and fall back to str()
for length/preview.
Background macOS desktop control via cua-driver MCP — does NOT steal the
user's cursor or keyboard focus, works with any tool-capable model.
Replaces the Anthropic-native `computer_20251124` approach from the
abandoned #4562 with a generic OpenAI function-calling schema plus SOM
(set-of-mark) captures so Claude, GPT, Gemini, and open models can all
drive the desktop via numbered element indices.
- `tools/computer_use/` package — swappable ComputerUseBackend ABC +
CuaDriverBackend (stdio MCP client to trycua/cua's cua-driver binary).
- Universal `computer_use` tool with one schema for all providers.
Actions: capture (som/vision/ax), click, double_click, right_click,
middle_click, drag, scroll, type, key, wait, list_apps, focus_app.
- Multimodal tool-result envelope (`_multimodal=True`, OpenAI-style
`content: [text, image_url]` parts) that flows through
handle_function_call into the tool message. Anthropic adapter converts
into native `tool_result` image blocks; OpenAI-compatible providers
get the parts list directly.
- Image eviction in convert_messages_to_anthropic: only the 3 most
recent screenshots carry real image data; older ones become text
placeholders to cap per-turn token cost.
- Context compressor image pruning: old multimodal tool results have
their image parts stripped instead of being skipped.
- Image-aware token estimation: each image counts as a flat 1500 tokens
instead of its base64 char length (~1MB would have registered as
~250K tokens before).
- COMPUTER_USE_GUIDANCE system-prompt block — injected when the toolset
is active.
- Session DB persistence strips base64 from multimodal tool messages.
- Trajectory saver normalises multimodal messages to text-only.
- `hermes tools` post-setup installs cua-driver via the upstream script
and prints permission-grant instructions.
- CLI approval callback wired so destructive computer_use actions go
through the same prompt_toolkit approval dialog as terminal commands.
- Hard safety guards at the tool level: blocked type patterns
(curl|bash, sudo rm -rf, fork bomb), blocked key combos (empty trash,
force delete, lock screen, log out).
- Skill `apple/macos-computer-use/SKILL.md` — universal (model-agnostic)
workflow guide.
- Docs: `user-guide/features/computer-use.md` plus reference catalog
entries.
44 new tests in tests/tools/test_computer_use.py covering schema
shape (universal, not Anthropic-native), dispatch routing, safety
guards, multimodal envelope, Anthropic adapter conversion, screenshot
eviction, context compressor pruning, image-aware token estimation,
run_agent helpers, and universality guarantees.
469/469 pass across tests/tools/test_computer_use.py + the affected
agent/ test suites.
- `model_tools.py` provider-gating: the tool is available to every
provider. Providers without multi-part tool message support will see
text-only tool results (graceful degradation via `text_summary`).
- Anthropic server-side `clear_tool_uses_20250919` — deferred;
client-side eviction + compressor pruning cover the same cost ceiling
without a beta header.
- macOS only. cua-driver uses private SkyLight SPIs
(SLEventPostToPid, SLPSPostEventRecordTo,
_AXObserverAddNotificationAndCheckRemote) that can break on any macOS
update. Pin with HERMES_CUA_DRIVER_VERSION.
- Requires Accessibility + Screen Recording permissions — the post-setup
prints the Settings path.
Supersedes PR #4562 (pyautogui/Quartz foreground backend, Anthropic-
native schema). Credit @0xbyt4 for the original #3816 groundwork whose
context/eviction/token design is preserved here in generic form.
