Custom Tool descriptions

Add ability to Override tools descriptions system prompt. Example usage add your description in .roo/tools/read_file.md it will override default tool description it supports args param replacement

Author: aganonki

.changeset/swift-webs-peel.md

@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+"roo-cline": minor
+---
+
+Add ability to Override tools descriptions system prompt. Example usage add your description in .roo/tools/read_file.md it will override default tool description it supports args param replacement with ${args.cwd}

src/core/prompts/__tests__/tool-overrides.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,209 @@
+import { getToolDescriptionsForMode } from "../tools/index"
+import { defaultModeSlug } from "../../../shared/modes"
+import * as fs from "fs/promises"
+import { toPosix } from "./utils"
+
+// Mock the fs/promises module
+jest.mock("fs/promises", () => ({
+	readFile: jest.fn(),
+	mkdir: jest.fn().mockResolvedValue(undefined),
+	access: jest.fn().mockResolvedValue(undefined),
+}))
+
+// Get the mocked fs module
+const mockedFs = fs as jest.Mocked<typeof fs>
+
+describe("Tool Override System", () => {
+	beforeEach(() => {
+		// Reset mocks before each test
+		jest.clearAllMocks()
+
+		// Default behavior: file doesn't exist
+		mockedFs.readFile.mockRejectedValue({ code: "ENOENT" })
+	})
+
+	it("should return default read_file tool description when no override file exists", async () => {
+		const toolDescriptions = await getToolDescriptionsForMode(
+			defaultModeSlug,
+			"test/workspace",
+			false, // supportsComputerUse
+			undefined, // codeIndexManager
+			undefined, // diffStrategy
+			undefined, // browserViewportSize
+			undefined, // mcpHub
+			undefined, // customModes
+			undefined, // experiments
+		)
+
+		// Should contain the default read_file description
+		expect(toolDescriptions).toContain("## read_file")
+		expect(toolDescriptions).toContain("Request to read the contents of one or more files")
+		expect(toolDescriptions).toContain("relative to the current workspace directory test/workspace")
+		expect(toolDescriptions).toContain("<read_file>")
+		expect(toolDescriptions).toContain("Examples:")
+	})
+
+	it("should use custom read_file tool description when override file exists", async () => {
+		// Mock the readFile to return content from an override file
+		const customReadFileDescription = `## read_file
+Description: Custom read file description for testing
+Parameters:
+- path: (required) Custom path description for \${args.cwd}
+- start_line: (optional) Custom start line description
+- end_line: (optional) Custom end line description
+Usage:
+<read_file>
+<path>Custom file path</path>
+</read_file>
+Custom example:
+<read_file>
+<path>custom-example.txt</path>
+</read_file>`
+
+		mockedFs.readFile.mockImplementation((filePath, options) => {
+			if (toPosix(filePath).includes(".roo/tools/read_file.md") && options === "utf-8") {
+				return Promise.resolve(customReadFileDescription)
+			}
+			return Promise.reject({ code: "ENOENT" })
+		})
+
+		const toolDescriptions = await getToolDescriptionsForMode(
+			defaultModeSlug,
+			"test/workspace",
+			false, // supportsComputerUse
+			undefined, // codeIndexManager
+			undefined, // diffStrategy
+			undefined, // browserViewportSize
+			undefined, // mcpHub
+			undefined, // customModes
+			undefined, // experiments
+		)
+
+		// Should contain the custom read_file description
+		expect(toolDescriptions).toContain("Custom read file description for testing")
+		expect(toolDescriptions).toContain("Custom path description for test/workspace")
+		expect(toolDescriptions).toContain("Custom example:")
+		expect(toolDescriptions).toContain("custom-example.txt")
+
+		// Should not contain the default description text
+		expect(toolDescriptions).not.toContain("Request to read the contents of one or more files")
+		expect(toolDescriptions).not.toContain("3. Reading lines 500-1000 of a CSV file:")
+	})
+
+	it("should interpolate args properties in override content", async () => {
+		// Mock the readFile to return content with args interpolation
+		const customReadFileDescription = `## read_file
+Description: Custom read file description with interpolated args
+Parameters:
+- path: (required) File path relative to workspace \${args.cwd}
+- workspace: Current workspace is \${args.cwd}
+Usage:
+<read_file>
+<path>File relative to \${args.cwd}</path>
+</read_file>`
+
+		mockedFs.readFile.mockImplementation((filePath, options) => {
+			if (toPosix(filePath).includes(".roo/tools/read_file.md") && options === "utf-8") {
+				return Promise.resolve(customReadFileDescription)
+			}
+			return Promise.reject({ code: "ENOENT" })
+		})
+
+		const toolDescriptions = await getToolDescriptionsForMode(
+			defaultModeSlug,
+			"test/workspace",
+			false, // supportsComputerUse
+			undefined, // codeIndexManager
+			undefined, // diffStrategy
+			undefined, // browserViewportSize
+			undefined, // mcpHub
+			undefined, // customModes
+			undefined, // experiments
+		)
+
+		// Should contain interpolated values
+		expect(toolDescriptions).toContain("File path relative to workspace test/workspace")
+		expect(toolDescriptions).toContain("Current workspace is test/workspace")
+		expect(toolDescriptions).toContain("File relative to test/workspace")
+
+		// Should not contain the placeholder text
+		expect(toolDescriptions).not.toContain("\${args.cwd}")
+	})
+
+	it("should return multiple tool descriptions including read_file", async () => {
+		const toolDescriptions = await getToolDescriptionsForMode(
+			defaultModeSlug,
+			"test/workspace",
+			false, // supportsComputerUse
+			undefined, // codeIndexManager
+			undefined, // diffStrategy
+			undefined, // browserViewportSize
+			undefined, // mcpHub
+			undefined, // customModes
+			undefined, // experiments
+		)
+
+		// Should contain multiple tools from the default mode
+		expect(toolDescriptions).toContain("# Tools")
+		expect(toolDescriptions).toContain("## read_file")
+		expect(toolDescriptions).toContain("## write_to_file")
+		expect(toolDescriptions).toContain("## list_files")
+		expect(toolDescriptions).toContain("## search_files")
+
+		// Tools should be separated by double newlines
+		const toolSections = toolDescriptions.split("\n\n")
+		expect(toolSections.length).toBeGreaterThan(1)
+	})
+
+	it("should handle empty override file gracefully", async () => {
+		// Mock the readFile to return empty content
+		mockedFs.readFile.mockImplementation((filePath, options) => {
+			if (toPosix(filePath).includes(".roo/tools/read_file.md") && options === "utf-8") {
+				return Promise.resolve("")
+			}
+			return Promise.reject({ code: "ENOENT" })
+		})
+
+		const toolDescriptions = await getToolDescriptionsForMode(
+			defaultModeSlug,
+			"test/workspace",
+			false, // supportsComputerUse
+			undefined, // codeIndexManager
+			undefined, // diffStrategy
+			undefined, // browserViewportSize
+			undefined, // mcpHub
+			undefined, // customModes
+			undefined, // experiments
+		)
+
+		// Should fall back to default description when override file is empty
+		expect(toolDescriptions).toContain("## read_file")
+		expect(toolDescriptions).toContain("Request to read the contents of one or more files")
+	})
+
+	it("should handle whitespace-only override file gracefully", async () => {
+		// Mock the readFile to return whitespace-only content
+		mockedFs.readFile.mockImplementation((filePath, options) => {
+			if (toPosix(filePath).includes(".roo/tools/read_file.md") && options === "utf-8") {
+				return Promise.resolve("   \n  \t  \n   ")
+			}
+			return Promise.reject({ code: "ENOENT" })
+		})
+
+		const toolDescriptions = await getToolDescriptionsForMode(
+			defaultModeSlug,
+			"test/workspace",
+			false, // supportsComputerUse
+			undefined, // codeIndexManager
+			undefined, // diffStrategy
+			undefined, // browserViewportSize
+			undefined, // mcpHub
+			undefined, // customModes
+			undefined, // experiments
+		)
+
+		// Should fall back to default description when override file contains only whitespace
+		expect(toolDescriptions).toContain("## read_file")
+		expect(toolDescriptions).toContain("Request to read the contents of one or more files")
+	})
+})

src/core/prompts/system.ts

@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ ${markdownFormattingSection()}
 
 ${getSharedToolUseSection()}
 
-${getToolDescriptionsForMode(
+${await getToolDescriptionsForMode(
 	mode,
 	cwd,
 	supportsComputerUse,

src/core/prompts/tools/index.ts

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import type { ToolName, ModeConfig } from "@roo-code/types"
 
-import { TOOL_GROUPS, ALWAYS_AVAILABLE_TOOLS, DiffStrategy } from "../../../shared/tools"
+import { TOOL_GROUPS, ALWAYS_AVAILABLE_TOOLS, DiffStrategy, readToolOverrideWithArgs } from "../../../shared/tools"
 import { McpHub } from "../../../services/mcp/McpHub"
 import { Mode, getModeConfig, isToolAllowedForMode, getGroupName } from "../../../shared/modes"
 
@@ -25,29 +25,91 @@ import { getCodebaseSearchDescription } from "./codebase-search"
 import { CodeIndexManager } from "../../../services/code-index/manager"
 
 // Map of tool names to their description functions
-const toolDescriptionMap: Record<string, (args: ToolArgs) => string | undefined> = {
-	execute_command: (args) => getExecuteCommandDescription(args),
-	read_file: (args) => getReadFileDescription(args),
-	fetch_instructions: () => getFetchInstructionsDescription(),
-	write_to_file: (args) => getWriteToFileDescription(args),
-	search_files: (args) => getSearchFilesDescription(args),
-	list_files: (args) => getListFilesDescription(args),
-	list_code_definition_names: (args) => getListCodeDefinitionNamesDescription(args),
-	browser_action: (args) => getBrowserActionDescription(args),
-	ask_followup_question: () => getAskFollowupQuestionDescription(),
-	attempt_completion: () => getAttemptCompletionDescription(),
-	use_mcp_tool: (args) => getUseMcpToolDescription(args),
-	access_mcp_resource: (args) => getAccessMcpResourceDescription(args),
-	codebase_search: () => getCodebaseSearchDescription(),
-	switch_mode: () => getSwitchModeDescription(),
-	new_task: (args) => getNewTaskDescription(args),
-	insert_content: (args) => getInsertContentDescription(args),
-	search_and_replace: (args) => getSearchAndReplaceDescription(args),
-	apply_diff: (args) =>
-		args.diffStrategy ? args.diffStrategy.getToolDescription({ cwd: args.cwd, toolOptions: args.toolOptions }) : "",
+const toolDescriptionMap: Record<string, (args: ToolArgs) => Promise<string | undefined>> = {
+	execute_command: async (args) => {
+		const overrideContent = await readToolOverrideWithArgs(args.cwd, "execute_command", args)
+		return overrideContent || getExecuteCommandDescription(args)
+	},
+	read_file: async (args) => {
+		const overrideContent = await readToolOverrideWithArgs(args.cwd, "read_file", args)
+		return overrideContent || getReadFileDescription(args)
+	},
+	fetch_instructions: async (args) => {
+		const overrideContent = await readToolOverrideWithArgs(args.cwd, "fetch_instructions", args)
+		return overrideContent || getFetchInstructionsDescription()
+	},
+	write_to_file: async (args) => {
+		const overrideContent = await readToolOverrideWithArgs(args.cwd, "write_to_file", args)
+		return overrideContent || getWriteToFileDescription(args)
+	},
+	search_files: async (args) => {
+		const overrideContent = await readToolOverrideWithArgs(args.cwd, "search_files", args)
+		return overrideContent || getSearchFilesDescription(args)
+	},
+	list_files: async (args) => {
+		const overrideContent = await readToolOverrideWithArgs(args.cwd, "list_files", args)
+		return overrideContent || getListFilesDescription(args)
+	},
+	list_code_definition_names: async (args) => {
+		const overrideContent = await readToolOverrideWithArgs(args.cwd, "list_code_definition_names", args)
+		return overrideContent || getListCodeDefinitionNamesDescription(args)
+	},
+	browser_action: async (args) => {
+		const overrideContent = await readToolOverrideWithArgs(args.cwd, "browser_action", args)
+		return overrideContent || getBrowserActionDescription(args)
+	},
+	ask_followup_question: async (args) => {
+		const overrideContent = await readToolOverrideWithArgs(args.cwd, "ask_followup_question", args)
+		return overrideContent || getAskFollowupQuestionDescription()
+	},
+	attempt_completion: async (args) => {
+		const overrideContent = await readToolOverrideWithArgs(args.cwd, "attempt_completion", args)
+		return overrideContent || getAttemptCompletionDescription()
+	},
+	use_mcp_tool: async (args) => {
+		const overrideContent = await readToolOverrideWithArgs(args.cwd, "use_mcp_tool", args)
+		return overrideContent || getUseMcpToolDescription(args)
+	},
+	access_mcp_resource: async (args) => {
+		const overrideContent = await readToolOverrideWithArgs(args.cwd, "access_mcp_resource", args)
+		return overrideContent || getAccessMcpResourceDescription(args)
+	},
+	codebase_search: async (args) => {
+		const overrideContent = await readToolOverrideWithArgs(args.cwd, "codebase_search", args)
+		return overrideContent || getCodebaseSearchDescription()
+	},
+	switch_mode: async (args) => {
+		const overrideContent = await readToolOverrideWithArgs(args.cwd, "switch_mode", args)
+		return overrideContent || getSwitchModeDescription()
+	},
+	new_task: async (args) => {
+		const overrideContent = await readToolOverrideWithArgs(args.cwd, "new_task", args)
+		return overrideContent || getNewTaskDescription(args)
+	},
+	insert_content: async (args) => {
+		const overrideContent = await readToolOverrideWithArgs(args.cwd, "insert_content", args)
+		return overrideContent || getInsertContentDescription(args)
+	},
+	search_and_replace: async (args) => {
+		const overrideContent = await readToolOverrideWithArgs(args.cwd, "search_and_replace", args)
+		return overrideContent || getSearchAndReplaceDescription(args)
+	},
+	apply_diff: async (args) => {
+		const overrideContent = await readToolOverrideWithArgs(
+			args.cwd,
+			`apply_diff${args.diffStrategy?.getName()}`,
+			args,
+		)
+		return (
+			overrideContent ||
+			(args.diffStrategy
+				? args.diffStrategy.getToolDescription({ cwd: args.cwd, toolOptions: args.toolOptions })
+				: "")
+		)
+	},
 }
 
-export function getToolDescriptionsForMode(
+export async function getToolDescriptionsForMode(
 	mode: Mode,
 	cwd: string,
 	supportsComputerUse: boolean,
@@ -59,7 +121,7 @@ export function getToolDescriptionsForMode(
 	experiments?: Record<string, boolean>,
 	partialReadsEnabled?: boolean,
 	settings?: Record<string, any>,
-): string {
+): Promise<string> {
 	const config = getModeConfig(mode, customModes)
 	const args: ToolArgs = {
 		cwd,
@@ -107,18 +169,19 @@ export function getToolDescriptionsForMode(
 	}
 
 	// Map tool descriptions for allowed tools
-	const descriptions = Array.from(tools).map((toolName) => {
+	const descriptionPromises = Array.from(tools).map(async (toolName) => {
 		const descriptionFn = toolDescriptionMap[toolName]
 		if (!descriptionFn) {
 			return undefined
 		}
 
-		return descriptionFn({
+		return await descriptionFn({
 			...args,
 			toolOptions: undefined, // No tool options in group-based approach
 		})
 	})
 
+	const descriptions = await Promise.all(descriptionPromises)
 	return `# Tools\n\n${descriptions.filter(Boolean).join("\n\n")}`
 }