fix: parse tagged local-model tool calls

.env.example

@@ -21,6 +21,16 @@ BRIEF_VERBOSITY=standard
 SECURITY_ONBOARDING_ENABLED=true
 SECURITY_PROFILE_ENCRYPTION_KEY=
 
+# DAVE dynamic presence (opt-in)
+DAVE_PRESENCE_ENABLED=false
+DAVE_PRESENCE_MAX_MESSAGES_PER_DAY=4
+DAVE_PRESENCE_MIN_GAP_MINUTES=75
+DAVE_PRESENCE_MIN_INTERVAL_MINUTES=45
+DAVE_PRESENCE_MAX_INTERVAL_MINUTES=180
+DAVE_PRESENCE_IDLE_AFTER_MINUTES=60
+DAVE_PRESENCE_CHECK_INTERVAL_MINUTES=5
+DAVE_PRESENCE_TIMEZONE=Europe/Berlin
+
 # LLM layer
 # Providers: litellm | openrouter | openai-compatible | lmstudio | ollama | openai | anthropic | gemini | mistral | minimax | grok | codex
 LLM_PROVIDER=openrouter

README.md

@@ -141,6 +141,14 @@ BRIEF_VERBOSITY=standard
 SECURITY_ONBOARDING_ENABLED=true
 # Generate once with: openssl rand -base64 48
 SECURITY_PROFILE_ENCRYPTION_KEY=replace-with-a-unique-random-secret
+DAVE_PRESENCE_ENABLED=false
+DAVE_PRESENCE_MAX_MESSAGES_PER_DAY=4
+DAVE_PRESENCE_MIN_GAP_MINUTES=75
+DAVE_PRESENCE_MIN_INTERVAL_MINUTES=45
+DAVE_PRESENCE_MAX_INTERVAL_MINUTES=180
+DAVE_PRESENCE_IDLE_AFTER_MINUTES=60
+DAVE_PRESENCE_CHECK_INTERVAL_MINUTES=5
+DAVE_PRESENCE_TIMEZONE=Europe/Berlin
 
 LLM_PROVIDER=openrouter
 LLM_BASE_URL=https://openrouter.ai/api/v1
@@ -412,6 +420,12 @@ The Security Manager uses the profile to rank proximity, severity, time horizon,
 
 The Security Manager's conversational identity is **DAVE**, a synthetic security-management construct. DAVE adapts language, formality, directness, answer length, formatting, and technical depth to the operator's current message and bounded chat history. Explicit style requests take priority. The adaptation does not copy spelling mistakes, hostility, panic, or unsupported certainty, and urgent safety instructions remain concise and unambiguous. DAVE does not claim human emotions, consciousness, a body, or access beyond the terminal's allowlisted tools.
 
+#### Dynamic DAVE Presence
+
+`DAVE_PRESENCE_ENABLED=true` lets DAVE initiate Telegram conversations without fixed daily times. Evaluations occur at randomized intervals and can be pulled forward by material sweep changes. DAVE considers current data freshness, source integrity, recent changes, evidence, the encrypted Security Manager profile, time since your last interaction, and whether another message would add value. It may send a relevant warning, situation update, evidence-grounded all-clear, practical suggestion, or one natural context question. It stays silent when a message would only add noise.
+
+Dynamic presence respects profile quiet hours, a daily message cap, a minimum gap between messages, and an idle period after your own chat activity. Evaluation timing and counters persist in `runs/dave-presence-state.json`, preventing restart spam. Scheduled presence cannot execute mutating tools or bypass confirmation. This feature is opt-in because it consumes LLM requests and sends unsolicited Telegram messages.
+
 ### Discord Bot (Two-Way)
 
 Intelligence Terminal also supports Discord as a full-featured bot with slash commands and rich embed alerts. It mirrors the Telegram bot's capabilities with Discord-native formatting.
@@ -693,6 +707,14 @@ All settings are in `.env` with sensible defaults:
 | `BRIEF_VERBOSITY` | `standard` | Briefing detail level |
 | `SECURITY_ONBOARDING_ENABLED` | `true` | Start language-first Security Manager onboarding when no profile exists |
 | `SECURITY_PROFILE_ENCRYPTION_KEY` | disabled | Unique secret of at least 32 characters used to encrypt the local profile |
+| `DAVE_PRESENCE_ENABLED` | `false` | Enable dynamic, unsolicited DAVE Telegram presence |
+| `DAVE_PRESENCE_MAX_MESSAGES_PER_DAY` | `4` | Hard daily cap for dynamic presence messages |
+| `DAVE_PRESENCE_MIN_GAP_MINUTES` | `75` | Minimum gap between DAVE-initiated messages |
+| `DAVE_PRESENCE_MIN_INTERVAL_MINUTES` | `45` | Lower bound for randomized evaluation intervals |
+| `DAVE_PRESENCE_MAX_INTERVAL_MINUTES` | `180` | Upper bound for randomized evaluation intervals |
+| `DAVE_PRESENCE_IDLE_AFTER_MINUTES` | `60` | Delay unsolicited evaluation after operator activity |
+| `DAVE_PRESENCE_CHECK_INTERVAL_MINUTES` | `5` | Lightweight timer resolution for due evaluations |
+| `DAVE_PRESENCE_TIMEZONE` | `Europe/Berlin` | Fallback timezone when the profile has none |
 | `LLM_PROVIDER` | disabled | `litellm`, `openrouter`, `openai-compatible`, `lmstudio`, `ollama`, `anthropic`, `openai`, `gemini`, `codex`, `minimax`, `mistral`, or `grok` |
 | `LLM_BASE_URL` | provider default | API base URL; required for LiteLLM and custom endpoints |
 | `LLM_API_KEY` | — | Provider or proxy API key; required for LiteLLM |

crucix.config.mjs

@@ -36,6 +36,17 @@ export default {
     profileEncryptionKey: process.env.SECURITY_PROFILE_ENCRYPTION_KEY || null,
   },
 
+  davePresence: {
+    enabled: boolEnv('DAVE_PRESENCE_ENABLED', false),
+    maxPerDay: intEnv('DAVE_PRESENCE_MAX_MESSAGES_PER_DAY', 4),
+    minGapMinutes: intEnv('DAVE_PRESENCE_MIN_GAP_MINUTES', 75),
+    minIntervalMinutes: intEnv('DAVE_PRESENCE_MIN_INTERVAL_MINUTES', 45),
+    maxIntervalMinutes: intEnv('DAVE_PRESENCE_MAX_INTERVAL_MINUTES', 180),
+    idleAfterMinutes: intEnv('DAVE_PRESENCE_IDLE_AFTER_MINUTES', 60),
+    checkIntervalMinutes: intEnv('DAVE_PRESENCE_CHECK_INTERVAL_MINUTES', 5),
+    timezone: process.env.DAVE_PRESENCE_TIMEZONE || 'Europe/Berlin',
+  },
+
   llm: {
     provider: process.env.LLM_PROVIDER || null, // litellm | openrouter | openai-compatible | lmstudio | ollama | other supported providers
     apiKey: process.env.LLM_API_KEY || null,

docs/agent-handoff.md

@@ -2,6 +2,21 @@
 
 Last updated: 2026-07-05
 
+## Dynamic DAVE Presence
+
+- Gitea issue #70 was closed by merged PR #71. Production merge commit: `ca68541adf9931e311f1a79a09cb87b3cae85928`.
+- Implementation commit: `08b6016 feat: add dynamic autonomous DAVE presence`; handoff commit: `f2d8e89`.
+- The implementation deliberately uses no fixed daily schedule. It evaluates at randomized intervals, is pulled forward by material/critical sweep deltas, delays itself after operator chat activity, and lengthens quiet periods.
+- Hard controls: profile quiet hours, daily cap, minimum message gap, bounded evaluation interval, persisted state in `runs/dave-presence-state.json`, and agent-core rejection of mutating tools outside operator-initiated chat.
+- Presence can produce a grounded warning, update, all-clear, practical suggestion, or one useful question; it stays silent when another message would add noise. It never claims consciousness or continuous observation.
+- New env keys start with `DAVE_PRESENCE_`; the repository default remains opt-in.
+- Local lightweight verification passed: Node syntax checks, `package.json` parse, Compose config, and `git diff --check`. Heavy tests/build were not run locally per kit policy.
+- PR runs 915-916 and production runs 917-919 passed, including unit tests, Compose validation, Docker build/publish, release dry-run, and template compliance.
+- Dockge was updated from the Gitea Registry and explicitly configured with `DAVE_PRESENCE_ENABLED=true`, max 4 messages/day, 75-minute minimum gap, randomized 45-180 minute evaluation bounds, 60-minute post-interaction idle delay, and a 5-minute timer resolution.
+- Live `/api/health` reported `davePresence.enabled=true`, `running=true`, `dynamic=true`, `sentToday=0`, a variable `nextEvaluationAt`, the existing encrypted profile preserved, and no sweep error. The container reported `running/healthy`.
+- Live verification then exposed issue #73: an invalid optional profile timezone caused `lastReason=invalid_timezone`. PR #74 fixed runtime resolution to fall back to `DAVE_PRESENCE_TIMEZONE` without logging or modifying encrypted profile data. Merge commit: `f0a8162202bfe0a0a8ed2a00dc4f0f7092677eea`.
+- PR runs 925-926 and production runs 927-929 passed. After redeployment and the startup timer, live health reported `lastReason=not_due` instead of `invalid_timezone`, with dynamic presence running, the profile preserved, the container healthy, and no sweep error.
+
 ## Latest Completed Work
 
 - Canonical repository: `https://git.wilkensxl.de/Code-Inc/intelligence-terminal`
@@ -33,6 +48,9 @@ Last updated: 2026-07-05
 - Issue #64 fixed a local-model protocol leak where an exhausted tool loop could expose a raw `tool_call` JSON object as the Telegram answer. PR #65 merged as `e47c23e685d833d5f7433dc27b0834854c8c6152`.
 - Exhausted loops now switch to a separate tool-free finalization prompt, allow one bounded repair attempt, and fail closed with a localized user-facing message if the model still requests tools. Internal protocol JSON is never returned as the answer.
 - PR runs 895-896 and production runs 897-899 passed. The registry `latest` image was deployed to Dockge; live health reported `running/healthy`, 14 tools enabled, no sweep error, and the encrypted Security Manager profile preserved (`profileExists=true`).
+- Issue #67 / PR #68 added DAVE as the consistent synthetic Security Manager identity across the tool agent, tool-free finalizer, provider-only chat, and first-start language prompt. Production merge: `c07a65231ffc6b4d2f0c823b91aaf2eb13900e05`.
+- DAVE adapts language, formality, directness, verbosity, sentence length, formatting, and technical depth from the newest message plus bounded chat history. It does not imitate errors, hostility, panic, discriminatory language, or unsupported certainty, and it never claims human consciousness, emotions, a body, or access beyond allowlisted tools.
+- PR runs 905-906 and production runs 907-909 passed. The new registry image was deployed to Dockge; live health remained `running/healthy`, the 14-tool agent was enabled, no sweep error was present, and the encrypted profile persisted.
 
 ## Repository State
 
@@ -473,6 +491,8 @@ d13652a merge: controlled Telegram terminal agent (PR #60)
 0c7ddc5 feat: add privacy-aware security manager onboarding
 b42b393 fix: prevent agent tool protocol leakage
 e47c23e merge: prevent Telegram agent protocol leakage (PR #65)
+994c806 feat: add DAVE adaptive synthetic persona
+c07a652 merge: add DAVE adaptive synthetic persona (PR #68)
 ```
 
 The large implementation commit `85f97bb` and the dashboard/action fix `53470cc` are contained in both:

lib/agent/dave-presence.mjs

@@ -0,0 +1,244 @@
+import { existsSync, mkdirSync, readFileSync, renameSync, writeFileSync } from 'node:fs';
+import { dirname } from 'node:path';
+import { isWithinQuietHours } from '../security/security-alert-policy.mjs';
+
+export class DavePresence {
+  constructor({ agent, alerter, profileStore, getContext, getRuntime, statePath, config = {}, random = Math.random } = {}) {
+    this.agent = agent;
+    this.alerter = alerter;
+    this.profileStore = profileStore;
+    this.getContext = getContext || (() => '');
+    this.getRuntime = getRuntime || (() => ({}));
+    this.statePath = statePath;
+    this.random = random;
+    this.enabled = Boolean(config.enabled);
+    this.maxPerDay = boundedInt(config.maxPerDay, 1, 8, 4);
+    this.minGapMs = boundedInt(config.minGapMinutes, 15, 720, 75) * 60 * 1000;
+    this.minIntervalMs = boundedInt(config.minIntervalMinutes, 15, 360, 45) * 60 * 1000;
+    this.maxIntervalMs = boundedInt(config.maxIntervalMinutes, 30, 720, 180) * 60 * 1000;
+    if (this.maxIntervalMs < this.minIntervalMs) this.maxIntervalMs = this.minIntervalMs;
+    this.idleAfterMs = boundedInt(config.idleAfterMinutes, 15, 720, 60) * 60 * 1000;
+    this.checkIntervalMs = boundedInt(config.checkIntervalMinutes, 1, 60, 5) * 60 * 1000;
+    this.fallbackTimezone = String(config.timezone || 'Europe/Berlin');
+    this.state = loadState(statePath);
+    this.inFlight = false;
+    this.timer = null;
+    this.startupTimer = null;
+    this.lastReason = this.enabled ? 'waiting' : 'disabled';
+  }
+
+  start(now = new Date()) {
+    if (!this.enabled || this.timer) return false;
+    if (!this.state.nextEvaluationAt) this._schedule(now, randomBetween(this.minIntervalMs, this.maxIntervalMs, this.random));
+    const run = () => this.tick().catch(error => {
+      this.lastReason = `failed: ${String(error.message || error).slice(0, 160)}`;
+      console.error('[DAVE Presence] Evaluation failed:', error.message);
+    });
+    this.startupTimer = setTimeout(run, 30_000);
+    this.startupTimer.unref?.();
+    this.timer = setInterval(run, this.checkIntervalMs);
+    this.timer.unref?.();
+    return true;
+  }
+
+  stop() {
+    if (this.startupTimer) clearTimeout(this.startupTimer);
+    if (this.timer) clearInterval(this.timer);
+    this.startupTimer = null;
+    this.timer = null;
+  }
+
+  noteUserInteraction(now = new Date()) {
+    this.state.lastUserInteractionAt = now.toISOString();
+    const earliest = now.getTime() + this.idleAfterMs;
+    if (!this.state.nextEvaluationAt || new Date(this.state.nextEvaluationAt).getTime() < earliest) {
+      this.state.nextEvaluationAt = new Date(earliest).toISOString();
+    }
+    this._save();
+  }
+
+  nudge(delta, now = new Date()) {
+    if (!this.enabled) return false;
+    const critical = Number(delta?.summary?.criticalChanges || 0);
+    const total = Number(delta?.summary?.totalChanges || 0);
+    if (critical <= 0 && total < 3) return false;
+    const delay = critical > 0 ? 5 * 60 * 1000 : 20 * 60 * 1000;
+    const candidate = now.getTime() + delay;
+    if (!this.state.nextEvaluationAt || candidate < new Date(this.state.nextEvaluationAt).getTime()) {
+      this.state.nextEvaluationAt = new Date(candidate).toISOString();
+      this._save();
+    }
+    return true;
+  }
+
+  async tick(now = new Date()) {
+    if (!this.enabled) return this._result(false, 'disabled');
+    if (this.inFlight) return this._result(false, 'in_flight');
+    if (!this.agent?.isConfigured || !this.alerter?.isConfigured) return this._result(false, 'unavailable');
+    const profile = this.profileStore?.getAgentProfile();
+    if (!profile) return this._result(false, 'profile_missing');
+
+    let timezone = profile.timezone || this.fallbackTimezone;
+    let clock = localClock(now, timezone);
+    if (!clock && timezone !== this.fallbackTimezone) {
+      timezone = this.fallbackTimezone;
+      clock = localClock(now, timezone);
+    }
+    if (!clock) return this._result(false, 'invalid_timezone');
+    this._rollDay(clock.day);
+    if (this.state.sentCount >= this.maxPerDay) return this._result(false, 'daily_limit');
+
+    const dueAt = new Date(this.state.nextEvaluationAt || 0).getTime();
+    if (Number.isFinite(dueAt) && dueAt > now.getTime()) return this._result(false, 'not_due');
+    if (isWithinQuietHours(profile.quietHours, timezone, now)) {
+      this._schedule(now, Math.min(this.maxIntervalMs, 30 * 60 * 1000));
+      return this._result(false, 'quiet_hours');
+    }
+    if (this.state.lastSentAt && now.getTime() - new Date(this.state.lastSentAt).getTime() < this.minGapMs) {
+      this._scheduleAt(new Date(this.state.lastSentAt).getTime() + this.minGapMs);
+      return this._result(false, 'minimum_gap');
+    }
+    if (this.state.lastUserInteractionAt && now.getTime() - new Date(this.state.lastUserInteractionAt).getTime() < this.idleAfterMs) {
+      this._scheduleAt(new Date(this.state.lastUserInteractionAt).getTime() + this.idleAfterMs);
+      return this._result(false, 'operator_active');
+    }
+
+    this.inFlight = true;
+    this.state.lastEvaluationAt = now.toISOString();
+    this._save();
+    try {
+      const runtime = this.getRuntime();
+      const prompt = `Decide whether DAVE should initiate a natural, useful conversation with the operator now. This is a dynamic presence evaluation, not a fixed scheduled briefing. Inspect the security profile and current terminal intelligence using only read-only tools. Consider freshness, source integrity, recent sweep changes, evidence, scenarios, personal relevance, time since interaction, and whether there is something genuinely useful to say. You may provide a concise relevant warning, situational update, evidence-grounded all-clear, practical suggestion, or one natural question that improves protection or context. Set notify=false when speaking would add noise. Never call mutating tools. Never imply consciousness, feelings, continuous observation, or activity outside this evaluation. Local time: ${clock.time}; timezone: ${timezone}; sent today: ${this.state.sentCount}/${this.maxPerDay}; last operator interaction: ${this.state.lastUserInteractionAt || 'unknown'}; last DAVE message: ${this.state.lastSentAt || 'none'}.`;
+      const result = await this.agent.run(prompt, {
+        chatId: 'dave-presence',
+        context: String(await this.getContext()).slice(0, 12000),
+        runtime,
+        mode: 'presence',
+      });
+      if (result.pendingAction || !result.notify) {
+        this._scheduleDynamic(now, runtime?.delta, false);
+        return this._result(false, result.pendingAction ? 'mutation_rejected' : 'agent_declined');
+      }
+
+      const evidence = result.evidence?.length
+        ? `\n\nEvidence:\n${result.evidence.slice(0, 4).map(item => `- ${item}`).join('\n')}`
+        : '';
+      const sent = await this.alerter.sendMessage(`[DAVE // ACTIVE]\n${result.answer}${evidence}`, { parseMode: null });
+      if (!sent?.ok && sent !== true) {
+        this._schedule(now, this.minIntervalMs);
+        return this._result(false, 'send_failed');
+      }
+      this.state.sentCount++;
+      this.state.lastSentAt = now.toISOString();
+      this._scheduleDynamic(now, runtime?.delta, true);
+      return this._result(true, 'sent');
+    } finally {
+      this.inFlight = false;
+    }
+  }
+
+  status() {
+    return {
+      enabled: this.enabled,
+      running: Boolean(this.timer),
+      dynamic: true,
+      maxPerDay: this.maxPerDay,
+      sentToday: this.state.sentCount || 0,
+      lastSentAt: this.state.lastSentAt || null,
+      lastEvaluationAt: this.state.lastEvaluationAt || null,
+      nextEvaluationAt: this.state.nextEvaluationAt || null,
+      lastUserInteractionAt: this.state.lastUserInteractionAt || null,
+      lastReason: this.lastReason,
+    };
+  }
+
+  _rollDay(day) {
+    if (this.state.day === day) return;
+    this.state = { ...this.state, day, sentCount: 0 };
+    this._save();
+  }
+
+  _scheduleDynamic(now, delta, sent) {
+    const critical = Number(delta?.summary?.criticalChanges || 0);
+    const total = Number(delta?.summary?.totalChanges || 0);
+    let min = this.minIntervalMs;
+    let max = this.maxIntervalMs;
+    if (critical > 0) max = Math.min(max, min * 1.5);
+    else if (total >= 3) max = Math.min(max, min * 2);
+    else if (!sent) min = Math.min(max, min * 1.5);
+    this._schedule(now, randomBetween(min, max, this.random));
+  }
+
+  _schedule(now, delayMs) {
+    this._scheduleAt(now.getTime() + Math.max(60_000, delayMs));
+  }
+
+  _scheduleAt(timestamp) {
+    this.state.nextEvaluationAt = new Date(timestamp).toISOString();
+    this._save();
+  }
+
+  _save() {
+    if (!this.statePath) return;
+    mkdirSync(dirname(this.statePath), { recursive: true });
+    const temporaryPath = `${this.statePath}.tmp`;
+    writeFileSync(temporaryPath, JSON.stringify(this.state), 'utf8');
+    renameSync(temporaryPath, this.statePath);
+  }
+
+  _result(sent, reason) {
+    this.lastReason = reason;
+    return { sent, reason };
+  }
+}
+
+export function localClock(date, timezone) {
+  try {
+    const parts = new Intl.DateTimeFormat('en-CA', {
+      timeZone: timezone,
+      year: 'numeric', month: '2-digit', day: '2-digit',
+      hour: '2-digit', minute: '2-digit', hourCycle: 'h23',
+    }).formatToParts(date);
+    const value = type => parts.find(part => part.type === type)?.value;
+    const hour = Number(value('hour'));
+    const minute = Number(value('minute'));
+    return {
+      day: `${value('year')}-${value('month')}-${value('day')}`,
+      time: `${String(hour).padStart(2, '0')}:${String(minute).padStart(2, '0')}`,
+    };
+  } catch {
+    return null;
+  }
+}
+
+function loadState(path) {
+  const empty = { day: null, sentCount: 0, lastSentAt: null, lastEvaluationAt: null, nextEvaluationAt: null, lastUserInteractionAt: null };
+  if (!path || !existsSync(path)) return empty;
+  try {
+    const value = JSON.parse(readFileSync(path, 'utf8'));
+    return {
+      day: typeof value.day === 'string' ? value.day : null,
+      sentCount: boundedInt(value.sentCount, 0, 8, 0),
+      lastSentAt: validIso(value.lastSentAt),
+      lastEvaluationAt: validIso(value.lastEvaluationAt),
+      nextEvaluationAt: validIso(value.nextEvaluationAt),
+      lastUserInteractionAt: validIso(value.lastUserInteractionAt),
+    };
+  } catch {
+    return empty;
+  }
+}
+
+function randomBetween(min, max, random) {
+  return Math.round(min + Math.max(0, Math.min(1, Number(random()) || 0)) * (max - min));
+}
+
+function validIso(value) {
+  const date = new Date(value);
+  return value && Number.isFinite(date.getTime()) ? date.toISOString() : null;
+}
+
+function boundedInt(value, min, max, fallback) {
+  const parsed = Number.parseInt(value, 10);
+  return Number.isFinite(parsed) ? Math.max(min, Math.min(max, parsed)) : fallback;
+}

lib/agent/terminal-agent.mjs

@@ -91,6 +91,10 @@ export class TerminalAgent {
       const decision = parseDecision(response?.text);
       if (!decision) {
         const answer = String(response?.text || '').trim() || 'The agent returned no usable response.';
+        if (looksLikeProtocolPayload(answer)) {
+          working += '\n\nPROTOCOL ERROR: The previous tool syntax was malformed. Return the documented JSON tool_call or final object only.';
+          continue;
+        }
         this.lastTraceByChat.set(key, trace);
         return { answer, trace };
       }
@@ -110,6 +114,11 @@ export class TerminalAgent {
         working += `\n\nTOOL ERROR: ${decision.tool} is not allowlisted.`;
         continue;
       }
+      if (tool.mutating && mode !== 'chat') {
+        trace.push({ tool: tool.name, status: 'rejected', durationMs: 0, rationale: short(decision.rationale) });
+        working += `\n\nTOOL ERROR: ${tool.name} is unavailable outside an operator-initiated chat. Continue with read-only evidence or return final JSON.`;
+        continue;
+      }
       if (tool.mutating) {
         const pendingAction = this._createPending(key, tool, decision.arguments || {}, decision.rationale);
         trace.push({ tool: tool.name, status: 'confirmation_required', durationMs: 0, rationale: short(decision.rationale) });
@@ -216,7 +225,8 @@ export class TerminalAgent {
   }
 
   _systemPrompt(mode) {
-    const proactive = mode === 'proactive';
+    const proactive = mode === 'proactive' || mode === 'presence';
+    const presence = mode === 'presence';
     return `You are the operator's controlled Intelligence Terminal Security Manager. Your job is to identify material personal security risks, verify evidence, explain relevance, and propose practical protective actions. Select only allowlisted tools and use the minimum steps needed.
 
 ${DAVE_PERSONA_PROMPT}
@@ -243,11 +253,15 @@ ${JSON.stringify(this.registry.describe())}
 PROTOCOL: Output exactly one JSON object, without markdown.
 Tool call: {"type":"tool_call","tool":"tool_name","arguments":{},"rationale":"short operational reason"}
 Final: {"type":"final","answer":"concise answer in the user's language","confidence":"low|medium|high","evidence":["URL or event id"],"notify":${proactive ? 'true' : 'false'},"priority":"routine|priority|flash"}
-${proactive ? 'In proactive mode, never call mutating tools. Set notify=true only for material, actionable, cross-checked changes. Otherwise notify=false and briefly explain why.' : 'In chat mode, notify must be false.'}`;
+${presence
+  ? 'In scheduled presence mode, never call mutating tools. Set notify=true for an evidence-grounded briefing, meaningful change, useful all-clear, or one practical check-in question. Set notify=false when available data is too stale or unreliable.'
+  : proactive
+    ? 'In proactive mode, never call mutating tools. Set notify=true only for material, actionable, cross-checked changes. Otherwise notify=false and briefly explain why.'
+    : 'In chat mode, notify must be false.'}`;
   }
 
   _finalPrompt(mode) {
-    const proactive = mode === 'proactive';
+    const proactive = mode === 'proactive' || mode === 'presence';
     return `You are the operator's Intelligence Terminal Security Manager. Tool use is finished and unavailable in this phase.
 
 ${DAVE_PERSONA_PROMPT}
@@ -262,6 +276,8 @@ Output exactly one JSON object without markdown:
 
 function parseDecision(text) {
   let value = String(text || '').trim().replace(/^```(?:json)?\s*/i, '').replace(/\s*```$/, '');
+  const tagged = parseTaggedToolCall(value);
+  if (tagged) return tagged;
   const match = value.match(/\{[\s\S]*\}/);
   if (match) value = match[0];
   try {
@@ -272,9 +288,53 @@ function parseDecision(text) {
   }
 }
 
+function parseTaggedToolCall(text) {
+  const callMatch = String(text || '').match(/<\|?tool_call\|?>\s*call:([a-z0-9_]+)\s*(\{[\s\S]*?\})\s*<(?:\/tool_call|tool_call\|)>/i);
+  if (callMatch) {
+    const argumentsValue = parseTaggedArguments(callMatch[2]);
+    if (argumentsValue) {
+      return {
+        type: 'tool_call',
+        tool: callMatch[1],
+        arguments: argumentsValue,
+        rationale: 'Model requested an allowlisted tool through tagged protocol.',
+      };
+    }
+  }
+
+  const jsonMatch = String(text || '').match(/<\|?tool_call\|?>\s*(\{[\s\S]*\})\s*<(?:\/tool_call|tool_call\|)>/i);
+  if (!jsonMatch) return null;
+  try {
+    const value = JSON.parse(jsonMatch[1]);
+    const tool = value.name || value.tool;
+    const args = value.arguments || value.parameters || {};
+    if (!/^[a-z0-9_]+$/i.test(String(tool || '')) || !args || Array.isArray(args) || typeof args !== 'object') return null;
+    return { type: 'tool_call', tool: String(tool), arguments: args, rationale: 'Model requested an allowlisted tool through tagged protocol.' };
+  } catch {
+    return null;
+  }
+}
+
+function parseTaggedArguments(value) {
+  const input = String(value || '').trim().slice(0, 4000);
+  try {
+    const parsed = JSON.parse(input);
+    return parsed && !Array.isArray(parsed) && typeof parsed === 'object' ? parsed : null;
+  } catch {
+    try {
+      const normalized = input.replace(/([{,]\s*)([a-z_][a-z0-9_]*)\s*:/gi, '$1"$2":');
+      const parsed = JSON.parse(normalized);
+      return parsed && !Array.isArray(parsed) && typeof parsed === 'object' ? parsed : null;
+    } catch {
+      return null;
+    }
+  }
+}
+
 function looksLikeProtocolPayload(text) {
   return /"?type"?\s*:\s*"?(?:tool_call|final)\b/i.test(text)
-    || /"?tool"?\s*:\s*"?[a-z0-9_]+/i.test(text);
+    || /"?tool"?\s*:\s*"?[a-z0-9_]+/i.test(text)
+    || /<\|?tool_call\|?>|<tool_call\|>|call:[a-z0-9_]+\s*\{/i.test(text);
 }
 
 function finalizationFailureMessage(input) {

lib/alerts/telegram.mjs

@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ export class TelegramAlerter {
     this._commandHandlers = {};  // Registered command callbacks
     this._messageHandler = null; // Conversational free-text callback
     this._callbackHandler = null;
+    this._activityHandler = null;
     this._pollingInterval = null;
     this._pollInProgress = false;
     this._botUsername = null;
@@ -331,6 +332,10 @@ export class TelegramAlerter {
     this._callbackHandler = handler;
   }
 
+  onActivity(handler) {
+    this._activityHandler = handler;
+  }
+
   async sendChatAction(chatId, action = 'typing') {
     if (!this.isConfigured) return false;
     try {
@@ -456,6 +461,7 @@ export class TelegramAlerter {
   }
 
   async _handleMessage(msg) {
+    try { this._activityHandler?.(msg); } catch {}
     const text = msg.text.trim();
     const parts = text.split(/\s+/);
     const rawCommand = parts[0].toLowerCase();
@@ -573,6 +579,7 @@ export class TelegramAlerter {
   }
 
   async _handleCallbackQuery(query) {
+    try { this._activityHandler?.(query.message); } catch {}
     if (!this._callbackHandler || !query?.data) return;
     const chatId = query.message?.chat?.id;
     const stopTyping = this._startTyping(chatId);

package.json

@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
     "brief:save": "node apis/save-briefing.mjs",
     "diag": "node diag.mjs",
     "test": "npm run test:unit",
-    "test:unit": "node --test test/llm-openrouter.test.mjs test/llm-ollama.test.mjs test/llm-openai-compatible.test.mjs test/llm-litellm.test.mjs test/llm-ideas.test.mjs test/telegram-chat.test.mjs test/terminal-agent.test.mjs test/security-profile.test.mjs test/security-onboarding.test.mjs test/security-alert-policy.test.mjs test/intelligence-store.test.mjs test/fetch-utils.test.mjs test/reddit-source.test.mjs test/acled-source.test.mjs test/mojibake-text.test.mjs test/adsb.test.mjs test/dashboard-geotagging.test.mjs",
+    "test:unit": "node --test test/llm-openrouter.test.mjs test/llm-ollama.test.mjs test/llm-openai-compatible.test.mjs test/llm-litellm.test.mjs test/llm-ideas.test.mjs test/telegram-chat.test.mjs test/terminal-agent.test.mjs test/dave-presence.test.mjs test/security-profile.test.mjs test/security-onboarding.test.mjs test/security-alert-policy.test.mjs test/intelligence-store.test.mjs test/fetch-utils.test.mjs test/reddit-source.test.mjs test/acled-source.test.mjs test/mojibake-text.test.mjs test/adsb.test.mjs test/dashboard-geotagging.test.mjs",
     "compose:config": "docker compose config",
     "clean": "node scripts/clean.mjs",
     "fresh-start": "npm run clean && npm start"

server.mjs

@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ import { generateLLMIdeas } from './lib/llm/ideas.mjs';
 import { TelegramChatAssistant, buildTelegramChatContext } from './lib/llm/telegram-chat.mjs';
 import { TerminalAgent } from './lib/agent/terminal-agent.mjs';
 import { createTerminalToolRegistry } from './lib/agent/terminal-tools.mjs';
+import { DavePresence } from './lib/agent/dave-presence.mjs';
 import { SecurityProfileStore } from './lib/security/security-profile-store.mjs';
 import { SecurityOnboarding } from './lib/security/security-onboarding.mjs';
 import { evaluateSecurityAlertPolicy } from './lib/security/security-alert-policy.mjs';
@@ -97,11 +98,21 @@ const telegramChatAssistant = new TelegramChatAssistant({
   maxTokens: config.telegram.aiMaxTokens,
   timeoutMs: config.telegram.aiTimeoutMs,
 });
+const davePresence = new DavePresence({
+  agent: terminalAgent,
+  alerter: telegramAlerter,
+  profileStore: securityProfileStore,
+  getContext: () => buildTelegramChatContext(currentData, buildHealth()),
+  getRuntime: () => ({ data: currentData, delta: memory.getLastDelta() }),
+  statePath: join(RUNS_DIR, 'dave-presence-state.json'),
+  config: config.davePresence,
+});
 
 if (llmProvider) console.log(`[Crucix] LLM enabled: ${llmProvider.name} (${llmProvider.model})`);
 else if (config.llm.provider) console.warn(`[Crucix] LLM provider "${config.llm.provider}" is not configured; LLM features disabled`);
 if (telegramAlerter.isConfigured) {
   console.log('[Crucix] Telegram alerts enabled');
+  telegramAlerter.onActivity(() => davePresence.noteUserInteraction());
 
   // ─── Two-Way Bot Commands ───────────────────────────────────────────────
 
@@ -299,6 +310,7 @@ if (telegramAlerter.isConfigured) {
       console.error('[Security Manager] Initial onboarding failed:', error.message);
     });
   }
+  if (davePresence.start()) console.log('[DAVE Presence] Dynamic presence enabled');
 }
 
 // === Discord Bot ===
@@ -704,6 +716,7 @@ function buildHealth() {
       maxSteps: config.telegram.agentMaxSteps,
       proactive: Boolean(config.telegram.agentEnabled && config.telegram.agentProactiveEnabled),
     },
+    davePresence: davePresence.status(),
     discordEnabled: !!(config.discord?.botToken || config.discord?.webhookUrl),
     terminalActionsEnabled: config.terminalActionsEnabled,
     terminalActionsTokenRequired: !!config.sweepToken,
@@ -881,6 +894,7 @@ async function runSweepCycle() {
     memory.pruneAlertedSignals();
 
     currentData = synthesized;
+    davePresence.nudge(delta);
     lastSuccessfulSweepTime = lastSweepTime;
     intelligenceStore.recordRun(currentData, delta);
 

test/dave-presence.test.mjs

@@ -0,0 +1,99 @@
+import test from 'node:test';
+import assert from 'node:assert/strict';
+import { mkdtempSync } from 'node:fs';
+import { tmpdir } from 'node:os';
+import { join } from 'node:path';
+import { DavePresence, localClock } from '../lib/agent/dave-presence.mjs';
+
+function setup({ result, profile = {}, random = () => 0 } = {}) {
+  const messages = [];
+  const calls = [];
+  const statePath = join(mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), 'dave-presence-')), 'state.json');
+  const presence = new DavePresence({
+    agent: {
+      isConfigured: true,
+      async run(prompt, options) {
+        calls.push({ prompt, options });
+        return result || { answer: 'Die Lage ist ruhig und die Daten sind aktuell.', notify: true, priority: 'routine', evidence: ['evt-1'], trace: [] };
+      },
+    },
+    alerter: {
+      isConfigured: true,
+      async sendMessage(text) { messages.push(text); return { ok: true }; },
+    },
+    profileStore: {
+      getAgentProfile() {
+        return { language: 'de', timezone: 'UTC', quietHours: null, alertPreference: 'all', ...profile };
+      },
+    },
+    getContext: () => '{"status":"healthy"}',
+    getRuntime: () => ({ delta: { summary: { totalChanges: 0, criticalChanges: 0 } } }),
+    statePath,
+    random,
+    config: {
+      enabled: true,
+      maxPerDay: 4,
+      minGapMinutes: 15,
+      minIntervalMinutes: 15,
+      maxIntervalMinutes: 30,
+      idleAfterMinutes: 15,
+      checkIntervalMinutes: 5,
+      timezone: 'UTC',
+    },
+  });
+  return { presence, messages, calls, statePath };
+}
+
+test('dynamic presence sends a grounded message and persists a variable next evaluation', async () => {
+  const { presence, messages, calls } = setup({ random: () => 0.5 });
+  const now = new Date('2026-07-06T12:00:00Z');
+  const outcome = await presence.tick(now);
+  assert.deepEqual(outcome, { sent: true, reason: 'sent' });
+  assert.match(messages[0], /^\[DAVE \/\/ ACTIVE\]/);
+  assert.match(calls[0].prompt, /dynamic presence evaluation, not a fixed scheduled briefing/i);
+  assert.equal(calls[0].options.mode, 'presence');
+  assert.equal(presence.status().sentToday, 1);
+  assert.equal(presence.status().nextEvaluationAt, '2026-07-06T12:22:30.000Z');
+  assert.equal((await presence.tick(new Date('2026-07-06T12:05:00Z'))).reason, 'not_due');
+});
+
+test('material sweep changes dynamically pull the next evaluation forward', () => {
+  const { presence } = setup();
+  const now = new Date('2026-07-06T12:00:00Z');
+  presence.noteUserInteraction(now);
+  assert.equal(presence.status().nextEvaluationAt, '2026-07-06T12:15:00.000Z');
+  assert.equal(presence.nudge({ summary: { criticalChanges: 1, totalChanges: 1 } }, now), true);
+  assert.equal(presence.status().nextEvaluationAt, '2026-07-06T12:05:00.000Z');
+});
+
+test('recent operator activity delays unsolicited conversation', async () => {
+  const { presence, messages } = setup();
+  const now = new Date('2026-07-06T12:00:00Z');
+  presence.noteUserInteraction(now);
+  const outcome = await presence.tick(new Date('2026-07-06T12:01:00Z'));
+  assert.equal(outcome.reason, 'not_due');
+  assert.equal(messages.length, 0);
+});
+
+test('quiet hours and mutating proposals are suppressed', async () => {
+  const quiet = setup({ profile: { quietHours: '00:00-00:00' } });
+  assert.equal((await quiet.presence.tick(new Date('2026-07-06T12:00:00Z'))).reason, 'quiet_hours');
+  assert.equal(quiet.messages.length, 0);
+
+  const mutation = setup({ result: { answer: 'Confirmation required.', notify: true, pendingAction: { tool: 'trigger_sweep' } } });
+  assert.equal((await mutation.presence.tick(new Date('2026-07-06T12:00:00Z'))).reason, 'mutation_rejected');
+  assert.equal(mutation.messages.length, 0);
+});
+
+test('local clock uses the profile timezone', () => {
+  assert.deepEqual(localClock(new Date('2026-07-06T12:30:00Z'), 'Europe/Berlin'), { day: '2026-07-06', time: '14:30' });
+  assert.equal(localClock(new Date(), 'Invalid/Timezone'), null);
+});
+
+test('invalid profile timezone falls back to configured operational timezone', async () => {
+  const { presence, messages, calls } = setup({ profile: { timezone: 'not-a-timezone' } });
+  const outcome = await presence.tick(new Date('2026-07-06T12:00:00Z'));
+  assert.equal(outcome.reason, 'sent');
+  assert.equal(messages.length, 1);
+  assert.match(calls[0].prompt, /timezone: UTC/);
+});

test/terminal-agent.test.mjs

@@ -130,3 +130,63 @@ test('repeated tool calls during finalization fail closed without leaking protoc
   assert.doesNotMatch(result.answer, /tool_call|get_evidence|rationale/i);
   assert.equal(result.notify, false);
 });
+
+test('scheduled presence cannot create pending mutating actions', async () => {
+  let executions = 0;
+  const agent = new TerminalAgent({
+    provider: providerWith([
+      { type: 'tool_call', tool: 'trigger_sweep', arguments: {}, rationale: 'Refresh data' },
+      { type: 'final', answer: 'No autonomous action was taken.', confidence: 'high', evidence: [], notify: false, priority: 'routine' },
+    ]),
+    registry: new TerminalToolRegistry([{
+      name: 'trigger_sweep',
+      mutating: true,
+      handler: async () => { executions++; },
+    }]),
+  });
+
+  const result = await agent.run('Evaluate presence', { mode: 'presence' });
+  assert.equal(result.pendingAction, undefined);
+  assert.equal(result.trace[0].status, 'rejected');
+  assert.equal(executions, 0);
+});
+
+test('ChatML-style tagged tool calls are executed without leaking protocol text', async () => {
+  const calls = [];
+  let responseIndex = 0;
+  const responses = [
+    '<|tool_call>call:get_evidence{query:"Russia planned attack military escalation",limit:5}<tool_call|>',
+    JSON.stringify({ type: 'final', answer: 'The retrieved evidence does not confirm a specific planned attack.', confidence: 'medium', evidence: ['evt-russia'], notify: false, priority: 'routine' }),
+  ];
+  const agent = new TerminalAgent({
+    provider: {
+      isConfigured: true,
+      async complete() { return { text: responses[responseIndex++] }; },
+    },
+    registry: new TerminalToolRegistry([{
+      name: 'get_evidence',
+      handler: async args => { calls.push(args); return [{ id: 'evt-russia' }]; },
+    }]),
+  });
+
+  const result = await agent.run('Wie sieht es mit dem angeblich geplanten Angriff von Russland aus?');
+  assert.deepEqual(calls, [{ query: 'Russia planned attack military escalation', limit: 5 }]);
+  assert.equal(result.trace[0].tool, 'get_evidence');
+  assert.doesNotMatch(result.answer, /tool_call|call:get_evidence/i);
+});
+
+test('malformed tagged protocol is repaired instead of returned to the user', async () => {
+  let responseIndex = 0;
+  const responses = [
+    '<|tool_call>call:get_evidence{broken arguments}<tool_call|>',
+    JSON.stringify({ type: 'final', answer: 'I could not run the malformed tool request.', confidence: 'low', evidence: [], notify: false, priority: 'routine' }),
+  ];
+  const agent = new TerminalAgent({
+    provider: { isConfigured: true, async complete() { return { text: responses[responseIndex++] }; } },
+    registry: new TerminalToolRegistry([]),
+  });
+
+  const result = await agent.run('Check the claim');
+  assert.equal(result.answer, 'I could not run the malformed tool request.');
+  assert.doesNotMatch(result.answer, /tool_call|call:get_evidence/i);
+});