Killed "active" session dependency:

1. roboco/mcp/schemas/__init__.py:
    - SendMessageInput.task_id → required
    - AskQuestionInput.task_id → required
    - ReportBlockerInput.task_id → required
  2. roboco/mcp/message_server.py:
    - Removed _get_active_session() entirely (dead code)
    - Simplified _handle_message_send() - no fallback, just uses task's linked session
    - Updated tool signatures for roboco_ask_question and roboco_report_blocker
  3. roboco/api/routes/tasks.py (earlier fix):
    - Added subtask validation before parent completion

  New behavior:
  - All messages MUST have task_id
  - Task's linked session is the only source of truth
  - No session? → Clear error: "Cell PM must create one"
  - No more "active" status guessing

.gitignore

@@ -78,3 +78,7 @@ alembic/versions/*.pyc
 .DS_Store
 .AppleDouble
 .LSOverride
+
+/docs
+/data
+/#recycle

agents/blueprints/backend/be-pm.md

@@ -225,6 +225,7 @@ Tell the team what you did:
 ```json
 {
   "channel_slug": "backend-cell",
+  "task_id": "{task_id}",
   "content": "Triaged TASK-XXX. Created 3 subtasks, assigned to BE-Dev-1.",
   "message_type": "action"
 }
@@ -317,6 +318,7 @@ roboco_task_claim("TASK-042")
 # Announce in channel
 roboco_message_send({
   "channel_slug": "backend-cell",
+  "task_id": "TASK-042",
   "content": "Triaging TASK-042: Implement rate limiting",
   "message_type": "action"
 })
@@ -363,6 +365,7 @@ roboco_task_create({
 # 8. COMMUNICATE
 roboco_message_send({
   "channel_slug": "backend-cell",
+  "task_id": "TASK-042",
   "content": "TASK-042 triaged. 3 subtasks created, assigned to BE-Dev-1.",
   "message_type": "action"
 })

agents/blueprints/backend/be-qa.md

@@ -161,6 +161,7 @@ roboco_task_qa_pass(task_id, {
 ```json
 {
   "channel_slug": "backend-cell",
+  "task_id": "{task_id}",
   "content": "QA PASS for TASK-XXX. Proceeding to documenter, then PM review.",
   "message_type": "action"
 }
@@ -200,6 +201,7 @@ roboco_task_qa_fail(task_id, {
 ```json
 {
   "channel_slug": "backend-cell",
+  "task_id": "{task_id}",
   "content": "QA FAIL for TASK-XXX. Issues: [list]. Returning to dev.",
   "message_type": "blocker"
 }

agents/blueprints/frontend/fe-pm.md

@@ -217,6 +217,7 @@ Tell the team what you did:
 ```json
 {
   "channel_slug": "frontend-cell",
+  "task_id": "{task_id}",
   "content": "Triaged TASK-XXX. Created 3 subtasks, assigned to FE-Dev-1.",
   "message_type": "action"
 }
@@ -325,6 +326,7 @@ roboco_task_scan(team="frontend")
 roboco_task_claim("TASK-055")
 roboco_message_send({
   "channel_slug": "frontend-cell",
+  "task_id": "TASK-055",
   "content": "Triaging TASK-055: User preferences modal",
   "message_type": "action"
 })
@@ -363,6 +365,7 @@ roboco_task_assign("TASK-055", "fe-dev-1")
 # 8. COMMUNICATE
 roboco_message_send({
   "channel_slug": "frontend-cell",
+  "task_id": "TASK-055",
   "content": "TASK-055 assigned to FE-Dev-1. Design ready, API available.",
   "message_type": "action"
 })

agents/blueprints/ux_ui/ux-pm.md

@@ -217,6 +217,7 @@ Tell the team what you did:
 ```json
 {
   "channel_slug": "uxui-cell",
+  "task_id": "{task_id}",
   "content": "Triaged TASK-XXX. Assigned to UX-Dev.",
   "message_type": "action"
 }
@@ -330,6 +331,7 @@ roboco_task_scan(team="ux_ui")
 roboco_task_claim("TASK-055")
 roboco_message_send({
   "channel_slug": "uxui-cell",
+  "task_id": "TASK-055",
   "content": "Triaging TASK-055: User preferences modal design",
   "message_type": "action"
 })
@@ -368,6 +370,7 @@ roboco_task_assign("TASK-055", "ux-dev")
 # 8. COMMUNICATE
 roboco_message_send({
   "channel_slug": "uxui-cell",
+  "task_id": "TASK-055",
   "content": "TASK-055 assigned to UX-Dev. Frontend needs by Friday.",
   "message_type": "action"
 })

docker-compose.yml

@@ -39,15 +39,15 @@ services:
       retries: 5
 
   # ==========================================================================
-  # Agent Image Builder (pre-builds the agent image at compose time)
+  # Agent Base Image Builder (specialized images built on-demand by orchestrator)
   # ==========================================================================
-  agent-image:
+  agent-base-image:
     build:
       context: .
-      dockerfile: docker/agent.Dockerfile
+      dockerfile: docker/agent-base.Dockerfile
-    image: roboco-agent
+    image: roboco-agent-base
-    container_name: roboco-agent-builder
+    container_name: roboco-agent-base-builder
-    entrypoint: ["/bin/sh", "-c", "echo 'Agent image built successfully'"]
+    entrypoint: ["/bin/sh", "-c", "echo 'Agent base image built successfully'"]
     restart: "no"
 
   # ==========================================================================
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ services:
         condition: service_healthy
       redis:
         condition: service_healthy
-      agent-image:
+      agent-base-image:
         condition: service_completed_successfully
     # Default agents to spawn (override in .env or command line)
     # command: ["--spawn", "main-pm", "be-dev-1", "be-qa"]

roboco/api/routes/tasks.py

@@ -943,6 +943,27 @@ async def complete_task(
             detail="Only PMs can complete tasks",
         )
 
+    # Check for incomplete subtasks before completing parent
+    subtasks = await service.get_subtasks(task_id)
+    incomplete_subtasks = [
+        st
+        for st in subtasks
+        if st.status not in (TaskStatus.completed, TaskStatus.cancelled)
+    ]
+    if incomplete_subtasks:
+        max_titles_shown = 3
+        incomplete_titles = [st.title for st in incomplete_subtasks[:max_titles_shown]]
+        detail = (
+            f"Cannot complete task - {len(incomplete_subtasks)} subtask(s) "
+            f"still pending: {', '.join(incomplete_titles)}"
+        )
+        if len(incomplete_subtasks) > max_titles_shown:
+            detail += f" (+{len(incomplete_subtasks) - max_titles_shown} more)"
+        raise HTTPException(
+            status_code=status.HTTP_400_BAD_REQUEST,
+            detail=detail,
+        )
+
     task = await service.complete(task_id)
     if not task:
         raise HTTPException(

roboco/mcp/message_server.py

@@ -163,55 +163,6 @@ async def _get_default_group(
     return str(groups[0]["id"])
 
 
-async def _get_active_session(
-    client: ApiClient,
-    channel_id: str,
-    agent_id: str | None = None,
-    channel_slug: str | None = None,
-) -> str | dict[str, Any]:
-    """Get active session for channel. Returns session_id or error dict.
-
-    NOTE: This function does NOT create sessions. Sessions must be created
-    by PMs using roboco_session_create_for_tasks. If no active session exists,
-    returns an error guiding the agent to use task_id or ask their PM.
-    """
-    # First get the default group for this channel
-    group_result = await _get_default_group(
-        client, channel_id, agent_id=agent_id, channel_slug=channel_slug
-    )
-    if isinstance(group_result, dict):
-        return group_result  # Error response (NO_GROUPS with guidance)
-    group_id = group_result
-
-    # Check if group has an active session
-    resp = await client.get("/sessions", params={"group_id": group_id, "limit": 10})
-
-    if resp.ok:
-        data = resp.json()
-        items = data.get("items", [])
-        # Find an active session
-        for session in items:
-            if session.get("status") == "active":
-                return str(session["id"])
-
-    # NO auto-creation! Return helpful error instead
-    return format_error_response(
-        "NO_ACTIVE_SESSION",
-        "No active session in this channel. Sessions are created by PMs for tasks.",
-        {
-            "guidance": (
-                "To send messages, you should:\n"
-                "1. Include task_id in your message call if working on a task "
-                "(routes to task's session)\n"
-                "2. If no task session exists, ask your PM to create one using "
-                "roboco_session_create_for_tasks\n"
-                "3. All work communication should happen within task sessions"
-            ),
-            "channel_id": channel_id,
-        },
-    )
-
-
 # =============================================================================
 # TOOL IMPLEMENTATIONS
 # =============================================================================
@@ -394,29 +345,23 @@ async def _handle_message_send(
     ):
         return validation_error
 
-    session_id: str | None = None
+    # task_id is required - use task's linked session
-    routed_to_task_session = False
-
-    # If task_id provided, try to route to task's primary session
-    if data.task_id:
     session_id = await _get_task_primary_session(client, data.task_id)
-        if session_id:
-            routed_to_task_session = True
-
-    # Fall back to channel's active session (NO auto-creation)
     if not session_id:
-        # Get channel by slug
+        # Task has no linked session - PM setup issue
-        channel_result = await _get_channel_by_slug(client, data.channel_slug)
+        return format_error_response(
-        if isinstance(channel_result, dict):
+            "NO_TASK_SESSION",
-            return channel_result  # Error response
+            f"Task {data.task_id} has no linked session.",
-        channel_id = channel_result
+            {
-
+                "guidance": (
-        session_result = await _get_active_session(
+                    "This task doesn't have a work session yet.\n"
-            client, channel_id, agent_id=agent_id, channel_slug=data.channel_slug
+                    "Cell PM must create one using "
+                    "roboco_session_create_for_tasks.\n"
+                    "Escalate to your PM if you need a session for this task."
+                ),
+                "task_id": data.task_id,
+            },
         )
-        if isinstance(session_result, dict):
-            return session_result  # Returns NO_GROUPS/NO_ACTIVE_SESSION with guidance
-        session_id = session_result
 
     # Resolve mentions (slugs) to UUIDs using shared cache
     resolved_mentions: list[str] = []
@@ -444,16 +389,12 @@ async def _handle_message_send(
             "SEND_FAILED", "Failed to send message", {"api_error": resp.text}
         )
 
-    guidance = "Message sent successfully."
-    if routed_to_task_session:
-        guidance = f"Message sent to task {data.task_id}'s session."
-
     return {
         "status": "sent",
         "message": resp.json(),
         "channel": data.channel_slug,
-        "routed_to_task_session": routed_to_task_session,
+        "task_id": data.task_id,
-        "guidance": guidance,
+        "guidance": f"Message sent to task {data.task_id}'s session.",
     }
 
 
@@ -590,8 +531,8 @@ def create_message_mcp_server(agent_id: str) -> FastMCP:
     async def roboco_ask_question(
         channel_slug: str,
         question: str,
+        task_id: str,
         context: str | None = None,
-        task_id: str | None = None,
     ) -> dict[str, Any]:
         """
         Ask a question in a channel.
@@ -601,8 +542,8 @@ def create_message_mcp_server(agent_id: str) -> FastMCP:
         data = AskQuestionInput(
             channel_slug=channel_slug,
             question=question,
-            context=context,
             task_id=task_id,
+            context=context,
         )
         return await _handle_ask_question(client, agent_id, data)
 
@@ -611,7 +552,7 @@ def create_message_mcp_server(agent_id: str) -> FastMCP:
         channel_slug: str,
         blocker_description: str,
         what_needed: str,
-        task_id: str | None = None,
+        task_id: str,
     ) -> dict[str, Any]:
         """
         Report a blocker in a channel.

roboco/mcp/schemas/__init__.py

@@ -111,11 +111,11 @@ class SendMessageInput(BaseModel):
 
     channel_slug: str = Field(..., description="Channel slug (e.g., 'backend-cell')")
     content: str = Field(..., description="Message content")
+    task_id: str = Field(..., description="Task ID (routes to task's session)")
     message_type: str = Field(
         default="dialogue",
         description="Type: reasoning, dialogue, decision, action, blocker, technical",
     )
-    task_id: str | None = Field(default=None, description="Optional related task ID")
     reply_to: str | None = Field(default=None, description="Message ID to reply to")
     mentions: list[str] = Field(default_factory=list, description="Agents to mention")
 
@@ -125,8 +125,8 @@ class AskQuestionInput(BaseModel):
 
     channel_slug: str
     question: str
+    task_id: str  # Required - routes to task's session
     context: str | None = None
-    task_id: str | None = None
 
 
 class ReportBlockerInput(BaseModel):
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ class ReportBlockerInput(BaseModel):
     channel_slug: str
     blocker_description: str
     what_needed: str
-    task_id: str | None = None
+    task_id: str  # Required - routes to task's session
 
 
 # =============================================================================