fix: substitute YYYY-MM-DD at session startup and post-compaction (#32363) (#32381)

Merged via squash.

Prepared head SHA: aee998a2c1
Co-authored-by: chengzhichao-xydt <264300353+chengzhichao-xydt@users.noreply.github.com>
Co-authored-by: jalehman <550978+jalehman@users.noreply.github.com>
Reviewed-by: @jalehman

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ Docs: https://docs.openclaw.ai
 - Telegram/multi-account default routing clarity: warn only for ambiguous (2+) account setups without an explicit default, add `openclaw doctor` warnings for missing/invalid multi-account defaults across channels, and document explicit-default guidance for channel routing and Telegram config. (#32544) thanks @Sid-Qin.
 - Telegram/plugin outbound hook parity: run `message_sending` + `message_sent` in Telegram reply delivery, include reply-path hook metadata (`mediaUrls`, `threadId`), and report `message_sent.success=false` when hooks blank text and no outbound message is delivered. (#32649) Thanks @KimGLee.
 - Agents/Skills runtime loading: propagate run config into embedded attempt and compaction skill-entry loading so explicitly enabled bundled companion skills are discovered consistently when skill snapshots do not already provide resolved entries. Thanks @gumadeiras.
+- Agents/Session startup date grounding: substitute `YYYY-MM-DD` placeholders in startup/post-compaction AGENTS context and append runtime current-time lines for `/new` and `/reset` prompts so daily-memory references resolve correctly. (#32381) Thanks @chengzhichao-xydt.
 - Agents/Compaction continuity: expand staged-summary merge instructions to preserve active task status, batch progress, latest user request, and follow-up commitments so compaction handoffs retain in-flight work context. (#8903) thanks @joetomasone.
 - Gateway/status self version reporting: make Gateway self version in `openclaw status` prefer runtime `VERSION` (while preserving explicit `OPENCLAW_VERSION` override), preventing stale post-upgrade app version output. (#32655) thanks @liuxiaopai-ai.
 - Memory/QMD index isolation: set `QMD_CONFIG_DIR` alongside `XDG_CONFIG_HOME` so QMD config state stays per-agent despite upstream XDG handling bugs, preventing cross-agent collection indexing and excess disk/CPU usage. (#27028) thanks @HenryLoenwind.

src/auto-reply/reply/agent-runner.ts

@@ -666,7 +666,7 @@ export async function runReplyAgent(params: {
       // Inject post-compaction workspace context for the next agent turn
       if (sessionKey) {
         const workspaceDir = process.cwd();
-        readPostCompactionContext(workspaceDir)
+        readPostCompactionContext(workspaceDir, cfg)
           .then((contextContent) => {
             if (contextContent) {
               enqueueSystemEvent(contextContent, { sessionKey });

src/auto-reply/reply/get-reply-run.ts

@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ import type { createModelSelectionState } from "./model-selection.js";
 import { resolveOriginMessageProvider } from "./origin-routing.js";
 import { resolveQueueSettings } from "./queue.js";
 import { routeReply } from "./route-reply.js";
-import { BARE_SESSION_RESET_PROMPT } from "./session-reset-prompt.js";
+import { buildBareSessionResetPrompt } from "./session-reset-prompt.js";
 import { buildQueuedSystemPrompt, ensureSkillSnapshot } from "./session-updates.js";
 import { resolveTypingMode } from "./typing-mode.js";
 import { resolveRunTypingPolicy } from "./typing-policy.js";
@@ -290,7 +290,7 @@ export async function runPreparedReply(
   const isBareSessionReset =
     isNewSession &&
     ((baseBodyTrimmedRaw.length === 0 && rawBodyTrimmed.length > 0) || isBareNewOrReset);
-  const baseBodyFinal = isBareSessionReset ? BARE_SESSION_RESET_PROMPT : baseBody;
+  const baseBodyFinal = isBareSessionReset ? buildBareSessionResetPrompt(cfg) : baseBody;
   const inboundUserContext = buildInboundUserContextPrefix(
     isNewSession
       ? {

src/auto-reply/reply/post-compaction-context.test.ts

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import fs from "node:fs";
 import path from "node:path";
 import { describe, it, expect, beforeEach, afterEach } from "vitest";
+import type { OpenClawConfig } from "../../config/config.js";
 import { readPostCompactionContext } from "./post-compaction-context.js";
 
 describe("readPostCompactionContext", () => {
@@ -190,4 +191,39 @@ Never do Y.
       expect(result).toBeNull();
     },
   );
+
+  it("substitutes YYYY-MM-DD with the actual date in extracted sections", async () => {
+    const content = `## Session Startup
+
+Read memory/YYYY-MM-DD.md and memory/yesterday.md.
+
+## Red Lines
+
+Never modify memory/YYYY-MM-DD.md destructively.
+`;
+    fs.writeFileSync(path.join(tmpDir, "AGENTS.md"), content);
+    const cfg = {
+      agents: { defaults: { userTimezone: "America/New_York" } },
+    } as OpenClawConfig;
+    // 2026-03-03 14:00 UTC = 2026-03-03 09:00 EST
+    const nowMs = Date.UTC(2026, 2, 3, 14, 0, 0);
+    const result = await readPostCompactionContext(tmpDir, cfg, nowMs);
+    expect(result).not.toBeNull();
+    expect(result).toContain("memory/2026-03-03.md");
+    expect(result).not.toContain("memory/YYYY-MM-DD.md");
+    expect(result).toContain("Current time:");
+    expect(result).toContain("America/New_York");
+  });
+
+  it("appends current time line even when no YYYY-MM-DD placeholder is present", async () => {
+    const content = `## Session Startup
+
+Read WORKFLOW.md on startup.
+`;
+    fs.writeFileSync(path.join(tmpDir, "AGENTS.md"), content);
+    const nowMs = Date.UTC(2026, 2, 3, 14, 0, 0);
+    const result = await readPostCompactionContext(tmpDir, undefined, nowMs);
+    expect(result).not.toBeNull();
+    expect(result).toContain("Current time:");
+  });
 });

src/auto-reply/reply/post-compaction-context.ts

@@ -1,14 +1,39 @@
 import fs from "node:fs";
 import path from "node:path";
+import { resolveCronStyleNow } from "../../agents/current-time.js";
+import { resolveUserTimezone } from "../../agents/date-time.js";
+import type { OpenClawConfig } from "../../config/config.js";
 import { openBoundaryFile } from "../../infra/boundary-file-read.js";
 
 const MAX_CONTEXT_CHARS = 3000;
 
+function formatDateStamp(nowMs: number, timezone: string): string {
+  const parts = new Intl.DateTimeFormat("en-US", {
+    timeZone: timezone,
+    year: "numeric",
+    month: "2-digit",
+    day: "2-digit",
+  }).formatToParts(new Date(nowMs));
+  const year = parts.find((p) => p.type === "year")?.value;
+  const month = parts.find((p) => p.type === "month")?.value;
+  const day = parts.find((p) => p.type === "day")?.value;
+  if (year && month && day) {
+    return `${year}-${month}-${day}`;
+  }
+  return new Date(nowMs).toISOString().slice(0, 10);
+}
+
 /**
  * Read critical sections from workspace AGENTS.md for post-compaction injection.
  * Returns formatted system event text, or null if no AGENTS.md or no relevant sections.
+ * Substitutes YYYY-MM-DD placeholders with the real date so agents read the correct
+ * daily memory files instead of guessing based on training cutoff.
  */
-export async function readPostCompactionContext(workspaceDir: string): Promise<string | null> {
+export async function readPostCompactionContext(
+  workspaceDir: string,
+  cfg?: OpenClawConfig,
+  nowMs?: number,
+): Promise<string | null> {
   const agentsPath = path.join(workspaceDir, "AGENTS.md");
 
   try {
@@ -36,7 +61,14 @@ export async function readPostCompactionContext(workspaceDir: string): Promise<s
       return null;
     }
 
-    const combined = sections.join("\n\n");
+    const resolvedNowMs = nowMs ?? Date.now();
+    const timezone = resolveUserTimezone(cfg?.agents?.defaults?.userTimezone);
+    const dateStamp = formatDateStamp(resolvedNowMs, timezone);
+    // Always append the real runtime timestamp — AGENTS.md content may itself contain
+    // "Current time:" as user-authored text, so we must not gate on that substring.
+    const { timeLine } = resolveCronStyleNow(cfg ?? {}, resolvedNowMs);
+
+    const combined = sections.join("\n\n").replaceAll("YYYY-MM-DD", dateStamp);
     const safeContent =
       combined.length > MAX_CONTEXT_CHARS
         ? combined.slice(0, MAX_CONTEXT_CHARS) + "\n...[truncated]..."
@@ -46,8 +78,7 @@ export async function readPostCompactionContext(workspaceDir: string): Promise<s
       "[Post-compaction context refresh]\n\n" +
       "Session was just compacted. The conversation summary above is a hint, NOT a substitute for your startup sequence. " +
       "Execute your Session Startup sequence now — read the required files before responding to the user.\n\n" +
-      "Critical rules from AGENTS.md:\n\n" +
-      safeContent
+      `Critical rules from AGENTS.md:\n\n${safeContent}\n\n${timeLine}`
     );
   } catch {
     return null;

src/auto-reply/reply/session-reset-prompt.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+import { describe, it, expect } from "vitest";
+import type { OpenClawConfig } from "../../config/config.js";
+import { buildBareSessionResetPrompt } from "./session-reset-prompt.js";
+
+describe("buildBareSessionResetPrompt", () => {
+  it("includes the core session startup instruction", () => {
+    const prompt = buildBareSessionResetPrompt();
+    expect(prompt).toContain("Execute your Session Startup sequence now");
+    expect(prompt).toContain("read the required files before responding to the user");
+  });
+
+  it("appends current time line so agents know the date", () => {
+    const cfg = {
+      agents: { defaults: { userTimezone: "America/New_York" } },
+    } as OpenClawConfig;
+    // 2026-03-03 14:00 UTC = 2026-03-03 09:00 EST
+    const nowMs = Date.UTC(2026, 2, 3, 14, 0, 0);
+    const prompt = buildBareSessionResetPrompt(cfg, nowMs);
+    expect(prompt).toContain("Current time:");
+    expect(prompt).toContain("America/New_York");
+  });
+
+  it("does not append a duplicate current time line", () => {
+    const nowMs = Date.UTC(2026, 2, 3, 14, 0, 0);
+    const prompt = buildBareSessionResetPrompt(undefined, nowMs);
+    expect((prompt.match(/Current time:/g) ?? []).length).toBe(1);
+  });
+
+  it("falls back to UTC when no timezone configured", () => {
+    const nowMs = Date.UTC(2026, 2, 3, 14, 0, 0);
+    const prompt = buildBareSessionResetPrompt(undefined, nowMs);
+    expect(prompt).toContain("Current time:");
+  });
+});

src/auto-reply/reply/session-reset-prompt.ts

@@ -1,2 +1,21 @@
-export const BARE_SESSION_RESET_PROMPT =
+import { appendCronStyleCurrentTimeLine } from "../../agents/current-time.js";
+import type { OpenClawConfig } from "../../config/config.js";
+
+const BARE_SESSION_RESET_PROMPT_BASE =
   "A new session was started via /new or /reset. Execute your Session Startup sequence now - read the required files before responding to the user. Then greet the user in your configured persona, if one is provided. Be yourself - use your defined voice, mannerisms, and mood. Keep it to 1-3 sentences and ask what they want to do. If the runtime model differs from default_model in the system prompt, mention the default model. Do not mention internal steps, files, tools, or reasoning.";
+
+/**
+ * Build the bare session reset prompt, appending the current date/time so agents
+ * know which daily memory files to read during their Session Startup sequence.
+ * Without this, agents on /new or /reset guess the date from their training cutoff.
+ */
+export function buildBareSessionResetPrompt(cfg?: OpenClawConfig, nowMs?: number): string {
+  return appendCronStyleCurrentTimeLine(
+    BARE_SESSION_RESET_PROMPT_BASE,
+    cfg ?? {},
+    nowMs ?? Date.now(),
+  );
+}
+
+/** @deprecated Use buildBareSessionResetPrompt(cfg) instead */
+export const BARE_SESSION_RESET_PROMPT = BARE_SESSION_RESET_PROMPT_BASE;

src/gateway/server-methods/agent.test.ts

@@ -525,8 +525,13 @@ describe("gateway agent handler", () => {
       { reqId: "4" },
     );
 
-    const call = await expectResetCall(BARE_SESSION_RESET_PROMPT);
+    await vi.waitFor(() => expect(mocks.agentCommand).toHaveBeenCalled());
+    expect(mocks.sessionsResetHandler).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+    const call = readLastAgentCommandCall();
+    // Message is now dynamically built with current date — check key substrings
     expect(call?.message).toContain("Execute your Session Startup sequence now");
+    expect(call?.message).toContain("Current time:");
+    expect(call?.message).not.toBe(BARE_SESSION_RESET_PROMPT);
     expect(call?.sessionId).toBe("reset-session-id");
   });
 

src/gateway/server-methods/agent.ts

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import { randomUUID } from "node:crypto";
 import { listAgentIds } from "../../agents/agent-scope.js";
 import type { AgentInternalEvent } from "../../agents/internal-events.js";
-import { BARE_SESSION_RESET_PROMPT } from "../../auto-reply/reply/session-reset-prompt.js";
+import { buildBareSessionResetPrompt } from "../../auto-reply/reply/session-reset-prompt.js";
 import { agentCommandFromIngress } from "../../commands/agent.js";
 import { loadConfig } from "../../config/config.js";
 import {
@@ -351,7 +351,9 @@ export const agentHandlers: GatewayRequestHandlers = {
       } else {
         // Keep bare /new and /reset behavior aligned with chat.send:
         // reset first, then run a fresh-session greeting prompt in-place.
-        message = BARE_SESSION_RESET_PROMPT;
+        // Date is embedded in the prompt so agents read the correct daily
+        // memory files; skip further timestamp injection to avoid duplication.
+        message = buildBareSessionResetPrompt(cfg);
         skipTimestampInjection = true;
       }
     }

src/gateway/server.agent.gateway-server-agent-b.test.ts

@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ import path from "node:path";
 import { afterAll, afterEach, beforeAll, beforeEach, describe, expect, test, vi } from "vitest";
 import { WebSocket } from "ws";
 import { whatsappPlugin } from "../../extensions/whatsapp/src/channel.js";
-import { BARE_SESSION_RESET_PROMPT } from "../auto-reply/reply/session-reset-prompt.js";
 import type { ChannelPlugin } from "../channels/plugins/types.js";
 import { emitAgentEvent, registerAgentRunContext } from "../infra/agent-events.js";
 import { setRegistry } from "./server.agent.gateway-server-agent.mocks.js";
@@ -287,9 +286,9 @@ describe("gateway server agent", () => {
 
     await vi.waitFor(() => expect(calls.length).toBeGreaterThan(callsBefore));
     const call = (calls.at(-1)?.[0] ?? {}) as Record<string, unknown>;
-    expect(call.message).toBe(BARE_SESSION_RESET_PROMPT);
     expect(call.message).toBeTypeOf("string");
     expect(call.message).toContain("Execute your Session Startup sequence now");
+    expect(call.message).toContain("Current time:");
     expect(typeof call.sessionId).toBe("string");
     expect(call.sessionId).not.toBe("sess-main-before-reset");
   });