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Efficiently bring upstream NanoClaw updates into a customized install, with preview, selective cherry-pick, and low token usage.
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LanguageTypeScript
LicenseMIT
📦 Ships with nanoclaw
</> SKILL.md
update-nanoclaw.SKILL.md
---name: update-nanoclaw
description: Efficiently bring upstream NanoClaw updates into a customized install, with preview, selective cherry-pick, and low token usage.
---# About
Your NanoClaw fork drifts from upstream as you customize it. This skill pulls upstream changes into your install without losing your modifications.
Run `/update-nanoclaw` in Claude Code.
## How it works
**Preflight**: checks for clean working tree (`git status --porcelain`). If `upstream` remote is missing, asks you for the URL (defaults to `https://github.com/nanocoai/nanoclaw.git`) and adds it. Detects the upstream branch name (`main` or `master`).
**Backup**: creates a timestamped backup branch and tag (`backup/pre-update-<hash>-<timestamp>`, `pre-update-<hash>-<timestamp>`) before touching anything. Safe to run multiple times.
**Preview**: runs `git log` and `git diff` against the merge base to show upstream changes since your last sync. Groups changed files into categories:
- **Skills** (`.claude/skills/`): unlikely to conflict unless you edited an upstream skill
- **Host source** (`src/`): may conflict if you modified the same files
- **Container** (`container/`): triggers container rebuild
- **Build/config** (`package.json`, `pnpm-lock.yaml`, `tsconfig*.json`): lockfile changes trigger dep install
**Update paths** (you pick one):
- `merge` (default): `git merge upstream/<branch>`. Resolves all conflicts in one pass.
- `cherry-pick`: `git cherry-pick <hashes>`. Pull in only the commits you want.
- `rebase`: `git rebase upstream/<branch>`. Linear history, but conflicts resolve per-commit.
- `abort`: just view the changelog, change nothing.
**Conflict preview**: before merging, runs a dry-run (`git merge --no-commit --no-ff`) to show which files would conflict. You can still abort at this point.
**Conflict resolution**: opens only conflicted files, resolves the conflict markers, keeps your local customizations intact.
**Validation**: runs `pnpm run build` and `pnpm test`. If container files changed, also runs the container typecheck and `./container/build.sh`.
**Breaking changes check**: after validation, reads CHANGELOG.md for any `[BREAKING]` entries introduced by the update. If found, shows each breaking change and offers to run the recommended skill to migrate.
## Rollback
The backup tag is printed at the end of each run:
```
git reset --hard pre-update-<hash>-<timestamp>
```
Backup branch `backup/pre-update-<hash>-<timestamp>` also exists.
## Token usage
Only opens files with actual conflicts. Uses `git log`, `git diff`, and `git status` for everything else. Does not scan or refactor unrelated code.
---
# Goal
Help a user with a customized NanoClaw install safely incorporate upstream changes without a fresh reinstall and without blowing tokens.
# Operating principles
- Never proceed with a dirty working tree.
- Always create a rollback point (backup branch + tag) before touching anything.
- Prefer git-native operations (fetch, merge, cherry-pick). Do not manually rewrite files except conflict markers.
- Default to MERGE (one-pass conflict resolution). Offer REBASE as an explicit option.
- Keep token usage low: rely on `git status`, `git log`, `git diff`, and open only conflicted files.
# Step 0a: Refresh this skill first
The update process itself evolves, so run its newest version before doing anything else:
- Ensure the `upstream` remote exists (default `https://github.com/nanocoai/nanoclaw.git`) and fetch: `git fetch upstream --prune`. Detect the upstream branch (`main` or `master`).
- Refresh this skill from upstream: `git checkout upstream/<branch> -- .claude/skills/update-nanoclaw/`
- Re-read `.claude/skills/update-nanoclaw/SKILL.md`. If it changed, **follow the updated version from the top** instead of this one.
This is the only working-tree change expected before the preflight check; the full update commits it along with everything else.
# Step 0: Preflight (stop early if unsafe)
Run:
- `git status --porcelain`
If output is non-empty:
- Tell the user to commit or stash first, then stop.
- Exception: changes limited to `.claude/skills/update-nanoclaw/` are the Step 0a self-refresh — ignore those and proceed.
Confirm remotes:
- `git remote -v`
If `upstream` is missing:
- Ask the user for the upstream repo URL (default: `https://github.com/nanocoai/nanoclaw.git`).
- Store this as UPSTREAM_BRANCH for all subsequent commands. Every command below that references `upstream/main` should use `upstream/$UPSTREAM_BRANCH` instead.
Fetch:
- `git fetch upstream --prune`
# Step 1: Create a safety net
Capture current state:
- `HASH=$(git rev-parse --short HEAD)`
- `TIMESTAMP=$(date +%Y%m%d-%H%M%S)`
Create backup branch and tag (using timestamp to avoid collisions on retry):
- `git branch backup/pre-update-$HASH-$TIMESTAMP`
- `git tag pre-update-$HASH-$TIMESTAMP`
Save the tag name for later reference in the summary and rollback instructions.
# Step 2: Preview what upstream changed (no edits yet)
Compute common base:
- `BASE=$(git merge-base HEAD upstream/$UPSTREAM_BRANCH)`
- **Build/config** (`package.json`, `pnpm-lock.yaml`, `tsconfig*.json`): lockfile changes trigger dep install
- **Version pins** (`versions.json`): a changed `onecli-gateway` / `onecli-cli` value requires upgrading the OneCLI gateway/CLI to match — see Step 5.5
- **Other**: docs, tests, setup scripts, misc
**Large drift check:** If the upstream commit count and age suggest the user has a lot of catching up to do, mention that `/migrate-nanoclaw` might be a better fit — it extracts customizations and reapplies them on clean upstream instead of merging. Offer it as an option but don't push.
Present these buckets to the user and ask them to choose one path using AskUserQuestion:
- A) **Full update**: merge all upstream changes
- B) **Selective update**: cherry-pick specific upstream commits
- C) **Abort**: they only wanted the preview
- D) **Rebase mode**: advanced, linear history (warn: resolves conflicts per-commit)
- If this fails because bun types are missing (`Cannot find type definition file for 'bun'`), skip with a note — type errors will surface at container runtime instead
**Container image rebuild** (only if any `container/` files are in CHANGED_FILES):
- `./container/build.sh`
If build fails:
- Show the error.
- Only fix issues clearly caused by the merge (missing imports, type mismatches from merged code).
- Do not refactor unrelated code.
- If unclear, ask the user before making changes.
# Step 5.5: OneCLI upgrade (if pins moved)
The OneCLI gateway and CLI are external components pinned in `versions.json`; when a pin moves, the running version must be upgraded to match or the new code may fail against it.
If `git diff <backup-tag-from-step-1>..HEAD -- versions.json` shows the `onecli-gateway` or `onecli-cli` value changed, follow `docs/onecli-upgrades.md` before the service restart (Step 8). Otherwise skip.
# Step 6: Breaking changes check
After validation succeeds, check if the update introduced any breaking changes.
Determine which CHANGELOG entries are new by diffing against the backup tag:
installed skill code stays as-is and may be behind upstream."
Keep it to these two options — the per-skill selection lives inside
`/update-skills`, not here.
- On "Continue": invoke `/update-skills` using the Skill tool. (If the re-apply
touches container code, `/update-skills` rebuilds the agent image itself — see
its Step 4 — so nothing container-related is owed back here.)
- On "Skip": note that `/update-skills` can be run anytime, then proceed.
## Known behavior changes when channel adapters update
Channel adapters now declare per-channel wiring defaults (engage mode, threading,
sender policy). Updating trunk alone changes nothing for existing rows, but once
`/update-skills` pulls current adapter copies, two deliberate behavior changes
land. If the user's install has Slack, Discord, or WhatsApp, tell them:
1. **Slack/Discord DM replies move top-level.** Both adapters now declare
`threads: false` for DMs, so DM replies stop chasing per-message sub-threads
and land in the main DM view, matching the DM session (which was already
flat). Group/channel threading is unchanged. To keep the old in-thread DM
behavior for a specific wiring, override it per wiring:
`ncl wirings update <wiring-id> --threads true`.
2. **Shared-identity channels stop raising stranger approval cards.** On
channels where the linked account is the operator's personal identity, the
mechanics differ by channel: WhatsApp personal-number mode suppresses the
mention signal entirely (no auto-created messaging groups, no cards);
iMessage and WeChat still emit DM mention signals — stranger DMs still
auto-create `messaging_groups` rows — but their declared `strict` policy
makes those rows drop unknown senders silently instead of raising
channel-registration cards to the admin.
**WhatsApp installs on a shared/personal number should re-run `/add-whatsapp`**
after the skill update: it now asks the dedicated-vs-personal question
explicitly (writing `ASSISTANT_HAS_OWN_NUMBER` to `.env`), audits for legacy
mis-wired group rows from spam-era approval cards, and shows how to clear
stale pending approvals.
Proceed to Step 7.9.
# Step 7.9: Stamp the upgrade marker (required)
After validation has **succeeded**, record that this install reached the new version through the supported path. Without this, the startup tripwire stops the host on its next start.
- `pnpm exec tsx scripts/upgrade-state.ts set "" update-nanoclaw`
- The empty version argument stamps the current `package.json` version.
If validation did NOT succeed, do not stamp — leave the tripwire to catch the broken state.
- Breaking changes applied (list skills run, if any)
- Unresolved breaking migrations (list skipped, failed, or incomplete skills)
- Remaining local diff vs upstream: `git diff --name-only upstream/$UPSTREAM_BRANCH..HEAD`
If unresolved migrations remain, explain plainly that the code update succeeded
but affected features may ignore old state until those migrations run. Use
AskUserQuestion before showing restart commands:
- **Run unresolved migrations (Recommended):** invoke each unresolved skill,
removing it from the list only after successful completion.
- **Restart anyway:** continue only with explicit confirmation and repeat the
unresolved skill names in the final warning.
If a retried migration remains unresolved, ask again. Do not show restart
commands until the unresolved list is empty or the user explicitly chooses
Restart anyway.
Tell the user:
- To rollback: `git reset --hard <backup-tag-from-step-1>`
- Backup branch also exists: `backup/pre-update-<HASH>-<TIMESTAMP>`
- Restart the service to apply changes. The unit/label names are per-install — derive them with `setup/lib/install-slug.sh`. Run from your NanoClaw project root:
- **Linux**: `source setup/lib/install-slug.sh && systemctl --user restart $(systemd_unit)` (or, if you want to confirm the unit name first: `systemctl --user list-units --type=service | grep "$(. setup/lib/install-slug.sh && systemd_unit)"`)
- **Manual** (no service found): restart `pnpm run dev`
## Diagnostics
1. Use the Read tool to read `.claude/skills/update-nanoclaw/diagnostics.md`.
2. Follow every step in that file before finishing.
