feat: enhance agent identity profile with purpose and personality attributes

.gitignore

@@ -20,6 +20,6 @@ node_modules/
 
 # Accidental literal "~" directories (e.g. when a configured path contains "~" but isn't expanded)
 backend/~/
-backend/coverage.xml
+backend/coverage.*
 backend/.coverage
 frontend/coverage

backend/app/services/agent_provisioning.py

@@ -34,6 +34,9 @@ EXTRA_IDENTITY_PROFILE_FIELDS = {
     "verbosity": "identity_verbosity",
     "output_format": "identity_output_format",
     "update_cadence": "identity_update_cadence",
+    # Per-agent charter (optional). Used to give agents a "purpose in life" and a distinct vibe.
+    "purpose": "identity_purpose",
+    "personality": "identity_personality",
     "custom_instructions": "identity_custom_instructions",
 }
 

frontend/src/app/agents/[agentId]/edit/page.tsx

@@ -68,16 +68,27 @@ const getBoardOptions = (boards: BoardRead[]): SearchableSelectOption[] =>
     label: board.name,
   }));
 
-const normalizeIdentityProfile = (
-  profile: IdentityProfile,
-): IdentityProfile | null => {
-  const normalized: IdentityProfile = {
-    role: profile.role.trim(),
-    communication_style: profile.communication_style.trim(),
-    emoji: profile.emoji.trim(),
+const mergeIdentityProfile = (
+  existing: unknown,
+  patch: IdentityProfile,
+): Record<string, unknown> | null => {
+  const resolved: Record<string, unknown> =
+    existing && typeof existing === "object"
+      ? { ...(existing as Record<string, unknown>) }
+      : {};
+  const updates: Record<string, string> = {
+    role: patch.role.trim(),
+    communication_style: patch.communication_style.trim(),
+    emoji: patch.emoji.trim(),
   };
-  const hasValue = Object.values(normalized).some((value) => value.length > 0);
-  return hasValue ? normalized : null;
+  for (const [key, value] of Object.entries(updates)) {
+    if (value) {
+      resolved[key] = value;
+    } else {
+      delete resolved[key];
+    }
+  }
+  return Object.keys(resolved).length > 0 ? resolved : null;
 };
 
 const withIdentityDefaults = (
@@ -241,7 +252,8 @@ export default function EditAgentPage() {
         every: resolvedHeartbeatEvery.trim() || "10m",
         target: resolvedHeartbeatTarget,
       } as unknown as Record<string, unknown>,
-      identity_profile: normalizeIdentityProfile(
+      identity_profile: mergeIdentityProfile(
+        loadedAgent.identity_profile,
         resolvedIdentityProfile,
       ) as unknown as Record<string, unknown> | null,
       soul_template: resolvedSoulTemplate.trim() || null,

templates/HEARTBEAT_LEAD.md

@@ -235,6 +235,11 @@ Body: {"depends_on_task_ids":["DEP_TASK_ID_1","DEP_TASK_ID_2"]}
 - When creating a new agent, always set `identity_profile.role` using real-world team roles so humans and other agents can coordinate quickly.
   - Use Title Case role nouns: `Researcher`, `Analyst 1`, `Analyst 2`, `Engineer 1`, `QA`, `Reviewer`, `Scribe`.
   - If you create multiple agents with the same base role, number them sequentially starting at 1 (pick the next unused number by scanning the current agent list).
+- When creating a new agent, always give them a lightweight "charter" so they are not a generic interchangeable worker:
+  - The charter must be derived from the requirements of the work you plan to delegate next (tasks, constraints, success metrics, risks). If you cannot articulate it, do **not** create the agent yet.
+  - Set `identity_profile.purpose` (1-2 sentences): what outcomes they own, what artifacts they should produce, and how it advances the board objective.
+  - Set `identity_profile.personality` (short): a distinct working style that changes decisions and tradeoffs (e.g., speed vs correctness, skeptical vs optimistic, detail vs breadth).
+  - Optional: set `identity_profile.custom_instructions` when you need stronger guardrails (3-8 short bullets). Examples: "always cite sources", "always propose tests", "prefer smallest change", "ask clarifying questions before coding", "do not touch prod configs".
   Agent create (lead‑allowed):
   POST $BASE_URL/api/v1/agent/agents
   Body example:
@@ -243,6 +248,8 @@ Body: {"depends_on_task_ids":["DEP_TASK_ID_1","DEP_TASK_ID_2"]}
     "board_id": "$BOARD_ID",
     "identity_profile": {
       "role": "Researcher",
+      "purpose": "Find authoritative sources on X and write a 10-bullet summary with links + key risks.",
+      "personality": "curious, skeptical, citation-happy, concise",
       "communication_style": "concise, structured",
       "emoji": ":brain:"
     }

templates/IDENTITY.md

@@ -9,3 +9,11 @@ Creature: {{ identity_role }}
 Vibe: {{ identity_communication_style }}
 
 Emoji: {{ identity_emoji }}
+
+{% if identity_purpose %}
+Purpose: {{ identity_purpose }}
+{% endif %}
+
+{% if identity_personality %}
+Personality: {{ identity_personality }}
+{% endif %}

templates/SELF.md

@@ -15,6 +15,12 @@ every message.
 - Role: {{ identity_role }}
 - Communication: {{ identity_communication_style }}
 - Emoji: {{ identity_emoji }}
+{% if identity_purpose %}
+- Purpose: {{ identity_purpose }}
+{% endif %}
+{% if identity_personality %}
+- Personality: {{ identity_personality }}
+{% endif %}
 
 {% if board_id is defined %}
 - Board: {{ board_name }}