name: self-prompt description: Force agent responses to scheduled/automated messages. Use when cron jobs, monitoring scripts, or automated systems send messages that agents ignore. Solves the problem where agents treat system-sent messages as "background info" instead of tasks requiring response. Key pattern: use openclaw agent instead of openclaw message send to trigger actual agent turns.

Self-Prompt: Forcing Agent Responses

The Problem

When automated scripts (cron, monitoring) send messages via openclaw message send:

• Messages appear in chat as "system messages"
• Agents may treat them as background info, not tasks
• Agents respond to user messages but ignore automated ones
• Accountability checks, alerts, and tasks go unanswered

The Solution

Use openclaw agent instead of openclaw message send for messages requiring agent response:

# OLD (agent may ignore):
openclaw message send --target -GROUP_ID --message "TASK: Do something"

# NEW (agent MUST respond):
RESPONSE=$(openclaw agent \
    --agent AGENT_ID \
    --session-id "agent:AGENT_ID:telegram:group:GROUP_ID" \
    --channel telegram \
    --message "TASK: Do something" \
    --timeout 180)

# Send response to chat:
openclaw message send --target -GROUP_ID --message "$RESPONSE"

Why This Works

• openclaw message send → Creates chat message → Agent sees as "notification"
• openclaw agent → Triggers actual agent turn → Agent MUST process and respond

Quick Start

For Bash Scripts

Use scripts/send_agent_task.sh:

# Simple usage:
~/.openclaw/skills/self-prompt/scripts/send_agent_task.sh \
    "AGENT_ID" \
    "GROUP_ID" \
    "Your task message here"

For Python Scripts

Use scripts/send_agent_task.py:

from send_agent_task import send_and_deliver

success, response = send_and_deliver(
    agent_id="stock-trading",
    group_id="-5283045656", 
    message="TASK: Analyze current positions",
    timeout=180
)

Pattern: Data + Task Separation

For monitoring scripts, separate data delivery from task requests:

# 1. Send DATA immediately (informational)
openclaw message send --target "$GROUP_ID" --message "📊 Position Data:
$POSITIONS"

# 2. Send TASK via agent (forces response)
RESPONSE=$(openclaw agent \
    --agent "$AGENT_ID" \
    --session-id "agent:$AGENT_ID:telegram:group:$GROUP_ID" \
    --message "Analyze the data above and report findings" \
    --timeout 180)

# 3. Deliver response
openclaw message send --target "$GROUP_ID" --message "📊 Analysis:
$RESPONSE"

Common Use Cases

Accountability Checks

# Force agent to respond to accountability check
send_agent_task.sh "my-agent" "-123456789" \
    "ACCOUNTABILITY CHECK: Did you complete the required tasks? Respond with status."