Explain: Genuine People Personalities

explain/amp_agent.py

@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ async def ask(self, question: str, port: int, tools: list[str]) -> str:
             assert amp_start_thread.stdout and amp_start_thread.stderr
 
             stdout_bytes, stderr_bytes = await amp_start_thread.communicate()
-            assert not stderr_bytes
+            assert not stderr_bytes, stderr_bytes
 
             self._thread_id = stdout_bytes.decode("utf-8").rstrip()
 

explain/assets.py

@@ -21,3 +21,6 @@
 
 CODEX_PROMPT = (_EXTENSION_PATH / "codex_prompt.md").read_text(encoding="UTF-8")
 """Codex-specific prompt to encourage thorough investigation."""
+
+STYLE_DEFINITIONS = (_EXTENSION_PATH / "styles.json").read_text(encoding="UTF-8")
+"""Definitions of explain output styles."""

explain/explain.py

@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@
 from src.udbpy.gdb_extensions import command, command_args, gdbio, gdbutils, udb_base, udb_last
 
 # Agent modules are imported to trigger registration.
+from . import styles
 from .agents import AgentRegistry, BaseAgent
 from .amp_agent import AmpAgent  # pylint: disable=unused-import
 from .assets import MCP_INSTRUCTIONS, SYSTEM_PROMPT, THINKING_MSGS
@@ -585,9 +586,6 @@ async def explain_query(agent: BaseAgent, gateway: UdbMcpGateway, why: str) -> s
         server = uvicorn.Server(config)
         mcp_task = asyncio.create_task(server.serve(sockets=[sock]))
 
-        console_whizz(f" * {random.choice(THINKING_MSGS)}...")
-        print_agent(agent.display_name, agent.agent_bin)
-
         explanation = await agent.ask(why, port, tools=gateway.tools)
 
     finally:
@@ -611,6 +609,11 @@ async def explain_query(agent: BaseAgent, gateway: UdbMcpGateway, why: str) -> s
             short="a",
             value=command_args.Choice(AgentRegistry.available_agents(), optional=True),
         ),
+        command_args.Option(
+            long="style",
+            short="s",
+            value=command_args.Choice(styles.names(), optional=True),
+        ),
         allow_remainders=True,
     ),
 )
@@ -637,6 +640,12 @@ def explain(udb: udb_base.Udb, args: Any) -> None:
                 why += ui.get_user_input(prompt="> ") + "\n"
         print()
 
+    explain_style_description = ""
+    if args.style:
+        explain_style = styles.get(args.style)
+        why += f"\nExplain in the style of {explain_style.prompt}"
+        explain_style_description = explain_style.description
+
     gateway = UdbMcpGateway(udb)
 
     global event_loop
@@ -650,6 +659,9 @@ def explain(udb: udb_base.Udb, args: Any) -> None:
         gdbutils.breakpoints_suspended(),
         unittest.mock.patch.object(udb, "_volatile_mode_explained", True),
     ):
+        console_whizz(f" * {random.choice(THINKING_MSGS)}...")
+        print_agent(agent.display_name, agent.agent_bin, explain_style_description)
+
         explanation = event_loop.run_until_complete(explain_query(agent, gateway, why))
 
         print_explanation(explanation)

explain/output_utils.py

@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ def console_whizz(msg: str, end: str = "\n") -> None:
     print(end=end)
 
 
-def print_agent(display_name: str, agent_bin: Path) -> None:
+def print_agent(display_name: str, agent_bin: Path, style: str | None) -> None:
     """
     Print agent details at startup.
     """
@@ -134,6 +134,8 @@ def print_agent(display_name: str, agent_bin: Path) -> None:
     table.add_column("Value")
     table.add_row("AI Agent:", display_name)
     table.add_row("Agent Path:", str(agent_bin))
+    if style:
+        table.add_row("Style:", style)
     console.print(ExplainPanel(table))
 
 

explain/styles.json

@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+{
+    "human": {
+	"description": "Definitely a human.",
+	"prompt": "an alien or robot that is posing as a human and wants me to understand that they are definitely human."
+    },
+    "vizier": {
+	"description": "Your loyal Grand Vizier.",
+	"prompt": "a traitorous Grand Vizier who is secretly plotting to replace me."
+    },
+    "pirate": {
+	"description": "Arrrrrr the C!",
+	"prompt": "a jolly pirate"
+    },
+    "detective": {
+	"description": "Private Detective",
+	"prompt": "a hard drinking, no-nonsense private detective from 1930s LA"
+    }
+}

explain/styles.py

@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+"""
+Genuine People Personalities for the "explain" command.
+"""
+
+import pydantic
+
+from . import assets
+
+
+class Style(pydantic.BaseModel):
+    description: str
+    prompt: str
+
+
+class _StyleDatabase(pydantic.RootModel[dict[str, Style]]):
+    ...
+
+
+STYLES = _StyleDatabase.model_validate_json(assets.STYLE_DEFINITIONS)
+
+
+def names() -> list[str]:
+    return list(STYLES.root.keys())
+
+
+def get(name: str) -> Style | None:
+    return STYLES.root.get(name)