move plugin/skill instructions into dev msg and reorder (#14609)

Move the general `Apps`, `Skills` and `Plugins` instructions blocks out
of `user_instructions` and into the developer message, with new `Apps ->
Skills -> Plugins` order for better clarity.

Also wrap those sections in stable XML-style instruction tags (like
other sections) and update prompt-layout tests/snapshots. This makes the
tests less brittle in snapshot output (we can parse the sections), and
it consolidates the capability instructions in one place.

#### Tests
Updated snapshots, added tests.

`<AGENTS_MD>` disappearing in snapshots is expected: before this change,
the wrapped user-instructions message was kept alive by `Skills`
content. Now that `Skills` and `Plugins` are in the developer message,
that wrapper only appears when there is real
project-doc/user-instructions content.

---------

Co-authored-by: Charley Cunningham <ccunningham@openai.com>
This commit is contained in:
sayan-oai
2026-03-13 20:51:01 -07:00
committed by GitHub
Unverified
parent 7f571396c8
commit d272f45058
44 changed files with 344 additions and 362 deletions
+6 -1
View File
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
use crate::plugins::PluginCapabilitySummary;
use codex_protocol::protocol::PLUGINS_INSTRUCTIONS_CLOSE_TAG;
use codex_protocol::protocol::PLUGINS_INSTRUCTIONS_OPEN_TAG;
pub(crate) fn render_plugins_section(plugins: &[PluginCapabilitySummary]) -> Option<String> {
if plugins.is_empty() {
@@ -31,7 +33,10 @@ pub(crate) fn render_plugins_section(plugins: &[PluginCapabilitySummary]) -> Opt
.to_string(),
);
Some(lines.join("\n"))
let body = lines.join("\n");
Some(format!(
"{PLUGINS_INSTRUCTIONS_OPEN_TAG}\n{body}\n{PLUGINS_INSTRUCTIONS_CLOSE_TAG}"
))
}
pub(crate) fn render_explicit_plugin_instructions(
+1 -1
View File
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ fn render_plugins_section_includes_descriptions_and_skill_naming_guidance() {
}])
.expect("plugin section should render");
let expected = "## Plugins\nA plugin is a local bundle of skills, MCP servers, and apps. Below is the list of plugins that are enabled and available in this session.\n### Available plugins\n- `sample`: inspect sample data\n### How to use plugins\n- Discovery: The list above is the plugins available in this session.\n- Skill naming: If a plugin contributes skills, those skill entries are prefixed with `plugin_name:` in the Skills list.\n- Trigger rules: If the user explicitly names a plugin, prefer capabilities associated with that plugin for that turn.\n- Relationship to capabilities: Plugins are not invoked directly. Use their underlying skills, MCP tools, and app tools to help solve the task.\n- Preference: When a relevant plugin is available, prefer using capabilities associated with that plugin over standalone capabilities that provide similar functionality.\n- Missing/blocked: If the user requests a plugin that is not listed above, or the plugin does not have relevant callable capabilities for the task, say so briefly and continue with the best fallback.";
let expected = "<plugins_instructions>\n## Plugins\nA plugin is a local bundle of skills, MCP servers, and apps. Below is the list of plugins that are enabled and available in this session.\n### Available plugins\n- `sample`: inspect sample data\n### How to use plugins\n- Discovery: The list above is the plugins available in this session.\n- Skill naming: If a plugin contributes skills, those skill entries are prefixed with `plugin_name:` in the Skills list.\n- Trigger rules: If the user explicitly names a plugin, prefer capabilities associated with that plugin for that turn.\n- Relationship to capabilities: Plugins are not invoked directly. Use their underlying skills, MCP tools, and app tools to help solve the task.\n- Preference: When a relevant plugin is available, prefer using capabilities associated with that plugin over standalone capabilities that provide similar functionality.\n- Missing/blocked: If the user requests a plugin that is not listed above, or the plugin does not have relevant callable capabilities for the task, say so briefly and continue with the best fallback.\n</plugins_instructions>";
assert_eq!(rendered, expected);
}