feat: headless_prompt method on AgentProvider + --prompt arg

`cli.py start` was interactive-only: TUI selectors (agent / bottle /
name+color) plus a y/N preflight, then a blocking PTY attached to the
controlling terminal. That shape can't be driven by an orchestrator
(Paseo), CI, or webhook dispatch, and made spinning up a known
agent+bottle more friction than necessary.

Add a `--headless` path on `start`:
  - agent / bottles / label / color come from flags + manifest defaults;
    no TUI selectors, no y/N (auto-confirmed via a new `assume_yes` param
    threaded into the shared `_launch_bottle` core).
  - `--bottle` (repeatable) defaults to the agent's own `bottle:` when
    omitted; `--label` defaults to the agent name and auto-uniquifies on
    slug collision (orchestrators fire-and-forget many bottles);
    `--color` defaults to none.
  - the agent still execs on inherited stdio/PTY, so whatever allocates
    the PTY drives the live session — only the launch chrome went
    non-interactive.
  - `--headless --dry-run` previews the resolved plan without launching.

Prerequisite for orchestrator integration, webhook dispatch, and remote
spin-up. New unit coverage in tests/unit/test_cli_start_headless.py
(11 tests); start/cli/launch sweep green.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.8 <noreply@anthropic.com>
Claude-Session: https://claude.ai/code/session_01NkwFXLFff9PYPy4wgVBJp9

bot_bottle/agent_provider.py

@@ -209,6 +209,15 @@ class AgentProvider(ABC):
         the supervise sidecar is reachable. No-op when
         `plan.supervise_plan is None`."""
 
+    @abstractmethod
+    def headless_prompt(self, prompt: str) -> list[str]:
+        """Return the agent CLI args that deliver `prompt` as the
+        initial task in a non-interactive (headless) session.
+
+        Called only when ``--prompt`` is passed to
+        ``./cli.py start --headless``; the returned args are appended
+        after the provider's ``bypass_args`` and ``startup_args``."""
+
     def provision_ca(self, bottle: "Bottle", plan: "BottlePlan") -> None:
         """Install the egress MITM CA into the agent's trust store.
 

bot_bottle/cli/start.py

@@ -2,6 +2,11 @@
 interactive claude-code session. The container is torn down when the
 session ends.
 
+`--headless` selects a non-interactive launch (agent/bottles/label from
+flags, no TUI selectors, no y/N prompt) for orchestrators (e.g. Paseo),
+CI, and webhook dispatch. The agent still execs on the inherited
+stdio/PTY, so an orchestrator that allocates the PTY drives the session.
+
 The launch core is shared with `cli.py resume <identity>` through
 the private orchestrator `_launch_bottle`.
 """
@@ -16,7 +21,7 @@ import tempfile
 from pathlib import Path
 from typing import Callable
 
-from ..agent_provider import runtime_for
+from ..agent_provider import get_provider, runtime_for
 from ..backend import (
     Bottle,
     BottleSpec,
@@ -31,7 +36,7 @@ from ..bottle_state import (
     is_preserved,
     mark_preserved,
 )
-from ..log import info
+from ..log import info, die
 from ..manifest import Manifest, ManifestIndex
 from ._common import PROG, USER_CWD, read_tty_line
 from . import tui
@@ -50,6 +55,39 @@ def cmd_start(argv: list[str]) -> int:
             "or host auto-selection). Overrides the env var when set."
         ),
     )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--headless",
+        action="store_true",
+        help=(
+            "non-interactive launch: take agent/bottles/label from flags, "
+            "skip all prompts. For orchestrators (e.g. Paseo), CI, and webhooks."
+        ),
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--bottle",
+        action="append",
+        default=None,
+        metavar="NAME",
+        help=(
+            "bottle to compose, repeatable (order = merge order). In "
+            "--headless, defaults to the agent's own bottle when omitted."
+        ),
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--label",
+        default=None,
+        help="bottle label / terminal title (--headless default: agent name)",
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--color",
+        default=None,
+        help="bottle color, one of the 16 ANSI color names (--headless default: none)",
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--prompt",
+        default=None,
+        help="initial task prompt delivered to the agent (required with --headless)",
+    )
     parser.add_argument(
         "name",
         nargs="?",
@@ -61,6 +99,12 @@ def cmd_start(argv: list[str]) -> int:
     dry_run = args.dry_run or os.environ.get("BOT_BOTTLE_DRY_RUN") == "1"
 
     manifest = ManifestIndex.resolve(USER_CWD)
+    backend_name: str | None = args.backend
+
+    if args.headless:
+        return _start_headless(
+            manifest, args, dry_run=dry_run, backend_name=backend_name
+        )
 
     agent_name: str | None = args.name
     if agent_name is None:
@@ -71,8 +115,6 @@ def cmd_start(argv: list[str]) -> int:
         if agent_name is None:
             return 0
 
-    backend_name: str | None = args.backend
-
     # Bottle multiselect: always show after agent selection so operators
     # can compose bottles at launch time without editing agent manifests.
     available_bottles = manifest.all_bottle_names
@@ -109,6 +151,83 @@ def cmd_start(argv: list[str]) -> int:
     )
 
 
+# --- Headless launch -----------------------------------------------------
+
+
+def _start_headless(
+    manifest: ManifestIndex,
+    args: argparse.Namespace,
+    *,
+    dry_run: bool,
+    backend_name: str | None,
+) -> int:
+    """Non-interactive launch path for orchestrators / CI / webhooks.
+
+    Resolves agent, bottles, label, and color from flags + manifest
+    defaults instead of the TUI selectors, and auto-confirms the
+    preflight. Otherwise runs the same launch core as the interactive
+    path, so the agent still execs on the inherited stdio/PTY — an
+    orchestrator like Paseo allocates that PTY and relays it to its
+    desktop/mobile clients."""
+    agent_name = args.name
+    if not agent_name:
+        die("--headless requires an agent name: ./cli.py start <agent> --headless")
+    manifest.require_agent(agent_name)  # raises ManifestError if unknown
+
+    prompt = args.prompt
+    if not prompt:
+        die(
+            "--headless requires --prompt: "
+            "./cli.py start <agent> --headless --prompt 'Do the thing'"
+        )
+
+    if args.bottle:
+        bottle_names: tuple[str, ...] = tuple(args.bottle)
+    else:
+        default_bottle = _peek_agent_bottle(manifest, agent_name)
+        if not default_bottle:
+            die(
+                f"--headless: agent '{agent_name}' has no default bottle; "
+                f"pass one or more --bottle NAME"
+            )
+        bottle_names = (default_bottle,)
+
+    label = _uniquify_label_headless(args.label or agent_name)
+
+    spec = BottleSpec(
+        manifest=manifest,
+        agent_name=agent_name,
+        copy_cwd=args.cwd,
+        user_cwd=USER_CWD,
+        label=label,
+        color=args.color or "",
+        bottle_names=bottle_names,
+    )
+    return _launch_bottle(
+        spec,
+        dry_run=dry_run,
+        backend_name=backend_name,
+        assume_yes=True,
+        headless_prompt_text=prompt,
+    )
+
+
+def _uniquify_label_headless(label: str) -> str:
+    """Non-interactive analog of `_resolve_unique_label`: if the label's
+    slug collides with a running bottle, append -2, -3, … until free,
+    logging the chosen label. Orchestrators fire-and-forget many bottles,
+    so silently picking a free name beats erroring on every collision."""
+    active_slugs = {a.slug for a in enumerate_active_agents()}
+    if docker_mod.slugify(label) not in active_slugs:
+        return label
+    n = 2
+    while docker_mod.slugify(f"{label}-{n}") in active_slugs:
+        n += 1
+    chosen = f"{label}-{n}"
+    info(f"label '{label}' already in use; using '{chosen}'")
+    return chosen
+
+
 # --- Launch helpers ------------------------------------------------------
 
 
@@ -376,10 +495,19 @@ def _launch_bottle(
     *,
     dry_run: bool,
     backend_name: str | None = None,
+    assume_yes: bool = False,
+    headless_prompt_text: str = "",
 ) -> int:
     """Shared launch core for `start` and `resume`. Builds the plan,
     prints / dry-runs / prompts as appropriate, brings the bottle up,
-    attaches claude, and prints the resume hint on session end."""
+    attaches claude, and prints the resume hint on session end.
+
+    `assume_yes` skips the interactive y/N confirmation (headless /
+    orchestrator launches), where there is no human at the prompt.
+
+    `headless_prompt_text` is passed to the provider's `headless_prompt`
+    method and the resulting args are appended to startup_args so the
+    agent receives the initial task without interactive input."""
     stage_dir = Path(tempfile.mkdtemp(prefix="bot-bottle-stage."))
     identity = ""
     try:
@@ -387,7 +515,7 @@ def _launch_bottle(
             spec,
             stage_dir=stage_dir,
             render_preflight=_text_render_preflight(),
-            prompt_yes=_text_prompt_yes,
+            prompt_yes=(lambda: True) if assume_yes else _text_prompt_yes,
             dry_run=dry_run,
             backend_name=backend_name,
         )
@@ -397,10 +525,17 @@ def _launch_bottle(
         backend = get_bottle_backend(backend_name)
         with backend.launch(plan) as bottle:
             agent_provider_template = getattr(plan, "agent_provider_template", "claude")
+            extra_args: tuple[str, ...] = ()
+            if headless_prompt_text:
+                extra_args = tuple(
+                    get_provider(agent_provider_template).headless_prompt(
+                        headless_prompt_text
+                    )
+                )
             exit_code = attach_agent(
                 bottle,
                 agent_provider_template=agent_provider_template,
-                startup_args=plan.agent_provision.startup_args,
+                startup_args=plan.agent_provision.startup_args + extra_args,
             )
             info(
                 f"session ended (exit {exit_code}); "

bot_bottle/contrib/claude/agent_provider.py

@@ -217,7 +217,7 @@ class ClaudeAgentProvider(AgentProvider):
         if not agent.skills:
             return
         skills_dir = _skills_dir(plan.guest_home)
-        bottle.exec(f"mkdir -p {skills_dir}", user="root")
+        bottle.exec(f"mkdir -p {shlex.quote(skills_dir)}", user="root")
         for name in agent.skills:
             src = host_skill_dir(name)
             if not os.path.isdir(src):
@@ -227,9 +227,13 @@ class ClaudeAgentProvider(AgentProvider):
                 )
             dst = f"{skills_dir}/{name}"
             info(f"copying skill {name} into {bottle.name}:{dst}")
-            bottle.exec(f"rm -rf {dst} && mkdir -p {dst}", user="root")
+            # Defense in depth: skill names are validated kebab-case at
+            # manifest load, but quote the path so a future unvalidated
+            # field can't inject shell metacharacters here either.
+            dst_q = shlex.quote(dst)
+            bottle.exec(f"rm -rf {dst_q} && mkdir -p {dst_q}", user="root")
             bottle.cp_in(f"{src}/.", f"{dst}/")
-            bottle.exec(f"chown -R node:node {dst}", user="root")
+            bottle.exec(f"chown -R node:node {dst_q}", user="root")
 
     def provision_prompt(self, plan: "BottlePlan", bottle: "Bottle") -> str | None:
         """Copy the prompt file into the guest, fix ownership/mode.
@@ -309,6 +313,9 @@ class ClaudeAgentProvider(AgentProvider):
                 f"claude mcp add --scope user --transport http supervise {supervise_url}"
             )
 
+    def headless_prompt(self, prompt: str) -> list[str]:
+        return ["-p", prompt]
+
 
 def _exec(bottle: "Bottle", script: str, error: str) -> None:
     result = bottle.exec(script, user="root")

bot_bottle/contrib/codex/agent_provider.py

@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ class CodexAgentProvider(AgentProvider):
         if not agent.skills:
             return
         skills_dir = _skills_dir(plan.guest_home)
-        bottle.exec(f"mkdir -p {skills_dir}", user="root")
+        bottle.exec(f"mkdir -p {shlex.quote(skills_dir)}", user="root")
         for name in agent.skills:
             src = host_skill_dir(name)
             if not os.path.isdir(src):
@@ -193,9 +193,13 @@ class CodexAgentProvider(AgentProvider):
                 )
             dst = f"{skills_dir}/{name}"
             info(f"copying skill {name} into {bottle.name}:{dst}")
-            bottle.exec(f"rm -rf {dst} && mkdir -p {dst}", user="root")
+            # Defense in depth: skill names are validated kebab-case at
+            # manifest load, but quote the path so a future unvalidated
+            # field can't inject shell metacharacters here either.
+            dst_q = shlex.quote(dst)
+            bottle.exec(f"rm -rf {dst_q} && mkdir -p {dst_q}", user="root")
             bottle.cp_in(f"{src}/.", f"{dst}/")
-            bottle.exec(f"chown -R node:node {dst}", user="root")
+            bottle.exec(f"chown -R node:node {dst_q}", user="root")
 
     def provision_prompt(self, plan: "BottlePlan", bottle: "Bottle") -> str | None:
         """Copy the prompt file into the guest, fix ownership/mode.
@@ -275,6 +279,9 @@ class CodexAgentProvider(AgentProvider):
                 f"codex mcp add supervise --url {shlex.quote(supervise_url)}"
             )
 
+    def headless_prompt(self, prompt: str) -> list[str]:
+        return [prompt]
+
 
 def _exec(bottle: "Bottle", script: str, error: str) -> None:
     result = bottle.exec(script, user="root")

bot_bottle/contrib/pi/agent_provider.py

@@ -238,7 +238,7 @@ class PiAgentProvider(AgentProvider):
         if not agent.skills:
             return
         skills_dir = _skills_dir(plan.guest_home)
-        bottle.exec(f"mkdir -p {skills_dir}", user="root")
+        bottle.exec(f"mkdir -p {shlex.quote(skills_dir)}", user="root")
         for name in agent.skills:
             src = host_skill_dir(name)
             if not os.path.isdir(src):
@@ -248,9 +248,13 @@ class PiAgentProvider(AgentProvider):
                 )
             dst = f"{skills_dir}/{name}"
             info(f"copying skill {name} into {bottle.name}:{dst}")
-            bottle.exec(f"rm -rf {dst} && mkdir -p {dst}", user="root")
+            # Defense in depth: skill names are validated kebab-case at
+            # manifest load, but quote the path so a future unvalidated
+            # field can't inject shell metacharacters here either.
+            dst_q = shlex.quote(dst)
+            bottle.exec(f"rm -rf {dst_q} && mkdir -p {dst_q}", user="root")
             bottle.cp_in(f"{src}/.", f"{dst}/")
-            bottle.exec(f"chown -R node:node {dst}", user="root")
+            bottle.exec(f"chown -R node:node {dst_q}", user="root")
 
     def provision_prompt(self, plan: "BottlePlan", bottle: "Bottle") -> str | None:
         prompt_path = _prompt_path(plan.guest_home)
@@ -311,6 +315,9 @@ class PiAgentProvider(AgentProvider):
     ) -> None:
         del plan, bottle, supervise_url
 
+    def headless_prompt(self, prompt: str) -> list[str]:
+        return ["-p", prompt]
+
 
 def _exec(bottle: "Bottle", script: str, error: str) -> None:
     result = bottle.exec(script, user="root")

bot_bottle/manifest.py

@@ -62,15 +62,25 @@ from dataclasses import dataclass, field, replace
 from pathlib import Path
 from typing import Mapping
 
+from .log import warn
 from .manifest_util import ManifestError, as_json_object
 from .manifest_agent import ManifestAgent, ManifestAgentProvider
+from .manifest_bottle import ManifestBottle
 from .manifest_egress import (
     EGRESS_AUTH_SCHEMES,
     ManifestEgressConfig,
     ManifestEgressRoute,
 )
-from .manifest_git import ManifestGitEntry, ManifestGitUser, ManifestKeyConfig, parse_git_gate_config
-from .manifest_schema import BOTTLE_KEYS
+from .manifest_extends import merge_bottles_runtime, resolve_bottles
+from .manifest_git import ManifestGitEntry, ManifestGitUser, ManifestKeyConfig
+from .manifest_loader import (
+    check_stale_json,
+    load_bottle_chain_from_dir,
+    scan_agent_names,
+    scan_bottle_names,
+)
+from .manifest_schema import validate_agent_frontmatter_keys
+from .yaml_subset import YamlSubsetError, parse_frontmatter
 
 # Re-export everything that callers currently import from this module.
 __all__ = [
@@ -89,10 +99,6 @@ __all__ = [
 ]
 
 
-def _empty_str_dict() -> dict[str, str]:
-    return {}
-
-
 def _section_dict(value: object, label: str) -> dict[str, object]:
     """Like as_json_object but treats absent/null as an empty section."""
     if value is None:
@@ -100,107 +106,6 @@ def _section_dict(value: object, label: str) -> dict[str, object]:
     return as_json_object(value, label)
 
 
-@dataclass(frozen=True)
-class ManifestBottle:
-    env: Mapping[str, str] = field(default_factory=_empty_str_dict)
-    agent_provider: ManifestAgentProvider = field(default_factory=ManifestAgentProvider)
-    git: tuple[ManifestGitEntry, ...] = ()
-    # Per-bottle git identity (issue #86). Empty default — bottles
-    # that don't set `git-gate.user:` in the manifest skip the
-    # `git config --global` step entirely. A bottle can declare a user
-    # identity without any git-gate.repos upstreams, and vice versa.
-    git_user: ManifestGitUser = field(default_factory=ManifestGitUser)
-    egress: ManifestEgressConfig = field(default_factory=ManifestEgressConfig)
-    # Per-bottle stuck-recovery sidecar (PRD 0013). When true (the
-    # default, issue #249), the launch step brings up a supervise
-    # sidecar that exposes egress MCP tools to the agent. Set
-    # `supervise: false` to skip the sidecar.
-    supervise: bool = True
-
-    @classmethod
-    def from_dict(cls, name: str, raw: object) -> "ManifestBottle":
-        d = as_json_object(raw, f"bottle '{name}'")
-
-        if "runtime" in d:
-            raise ManifestError(
-                f"bottle '{name}' has a 'runtime' field, which is no longer "
-                f"supported. gVisor (runsc) is now auto-detected by the "
-                f"backend; remove the 'runtime' field from the bottle "
-                f"definition."
-            )
-
-        if "ssh" in d:
-            raise ManifestError(
-                f"bottle '{name}' has an 'ssh' field, which has been removed "
-                f"(PRD 0009). Declare upstreams under 'git-gate.repos' with "
-                f"url + identity + host_key; the git-gate sidecar (PRD 0008) "
-                f"holds the credential and gitleaks-scans pushes."
-            )
-
-        if "git" in d:
-            raise ManifestError(
-                f"bottle '{name}' uses 'git' which has been replaced by "
-                f"'git-gate' (PRD 0047). Move git.user → git-gate.user "
-                f"and git.remotes → git-gate.repos (fields: url, identity, host_key)."
-            )
-
-        if "git_user" in d:
-            raise ManifestError(
-                f"bottle '{name}' has a 'git_user' field, which has been "
-                f"removed. Move it under 'git-gate.user'."
-            )
-
-        unknown = set(d.keys()) - BOTTLE_KEYS
-        if unknown:
-            allowed = ", ".join(sorted(BOTTLE_KEYS))
-            raise ManifestError(
-                f"bottle '{name}' has unknown key(s) {sorted(unknown)}; "
-                f"allowed keys are {allowed}."
-            )
-
-        env: dict[str, str] = {}
-        env_raw = d.get("env")
-        if env_raw is not None:
-            env_dict = as_json_object(env_raw, f"bottle '{name}' env")
-            for var, value in env_dict.items():
-                if not isinstance(value, str):
-                    raise ManifestError(
-                        f"env entry {var} in bottle '{name}' must be a JSON string "
-                        f"(was {type(value).__name__}). Use \"?<message>\" for prompt-at-runtime."
-                    )
-                env[var] = value
-
-        git: tuple[ManifestGitEntry, ...] = ()
-        git_user = ManifestGitUser()
-        git_raw = d.get("git-gate")
-        if git_raw is not None:
-            git, git_user = parse_git_gate_config(name, git_raw)
-
-        agent_provider = (
-            ManifestAgentProvider.from_dict(name, d["agent_provider"])
-            if "agent_provider" in d
-            else ManifestAgentProvider()
-        )
-
-        egress = (
-            ManifestEgressConfig.from_dict(name, d["egress"])
-            if "egress" in d
-            else ManifestEgressConfig()
-        )
-
-        supervise_raw = d.get("supervise", True)
-        if not isinstance(supervise_raw, bool):
-            raise ManifestError(
-                f"bottle '{name}' supervise must be a boolean "
-                f"(was {type(supervise_raw).__name__})"
-            )
-
-        return cls(
-            env=env, agent_provider=agent_provider, git=git,
-            git_user=git_user, egress=egress, supervise=supervise_raw,
-        )
-
-
 def _merge_git_user(
     agent_user: ManifestGitUser, base_user: ManifestGitUser
 ) -> ManifestGitUser:
@@ -237,8 +142,6 @@ def _resolve_effective_bottle_eager(
 
     When bottle_names is non-empty they are merged in order. When empty, falls
     back to agent.bottle. Raises ManifestError when neither is set."""
-    from .manifest_extends import merge_bottles_runtime
-
     if bottle_names:
         resolved: list[ManifestBottle] = []
         for bn in bottle_names:
@@ -270,9 +173,6 @@ def _resolve_effective_bottle_lazy(
     When bottle_names is non-empty they are resolved from disk and merged in
     order. When empty, falls back to agent_bottle. Raises ManifestError when
     neither is set."""
-    from .manifest_extends import merge_bottles_runtime
-    from .manifest_loader import load_bottle_chain_from_dir
-
     if bottle_names:
         resolved = [load_bottle_chain_from_dir(bn, bottles_dir) for bn in bottle_names]
         return merge_bottles_runtime(resolved)
@@ -358,8 +258,6 @@ class ManifestIndex:
         home_md = home_dir / ".bot-bottle"
         cwd_md = cwd_dir / ".bot-bottle"
 
-        from .manifest_loader import check_stale_json
-
         check_stale_json(home_dir, home_md, "$HOME")
         if cwd_dir.resolve() != home_dir.resolve():
             check_stale_json(cwd_dir, cwd_md, "$CWD")
@@ -399,7 +297,6 @@ class ManifestIndex:
                 files = sorted(stale_bottles.glob("*.md"))
                 if files:
                     names = ", ".join(p.name for p in files)
-                    from .log import warn
                     warn(
                         f"ignoring bottle file(s) under "
                         f"{stale_bottles}: {names}. Bottles can only "
@@ -421,7 +318,6 @@ class ManifestIndex:
         raw_bottles: dict[str, dict[str, object]] = {}
         for n, b in raw_bottles_obj.items():
             raw_bottles[n] = as_json_object(b, f"bottle '{n}'")
-        from .manifest_extends import resolve_bottles
 
         bottles = resolve_bottles(raw_bottles)
 
@@ -439,7 +335,6 @@ class ManifestIndex:
         filenames without reading their content. In eager mode (from
         from_json_obj) it returns the pre-parsed bottles' names."""
         if self.home_md is not None:
-            from .manifest_loader import scan_bottle_names
             return scan_bottle_names(self.home_md / "bottles")
         return sorted(self.bottles.keys())
 
@@ -451,7 +346,6 @@ class ManifestIndex:
         filenames without reading their content. In eager mode (from
         from_json_obj) it returns the pre-parsed agents' names."""
         if self.home_md is not None:
-            from .manifest_loader import scan_agent_names
             home_names = set(scan_agent_names(self.home_md / "agents").keys())
             cwd_names: set[str] = set()
             if self.cwd_md is not None:
@@ -509,10 +403,6 @@ class ManifestIndex:
         """Lazy path (resolve/from_md_dirs): read and parse the agent file and
         its bottle chain from disk for the first time here."""
         assert self.home_md is not None  # guaranteed by load_for_agent dispatch
-        from .manifest_loader import scan_agent_names
-        from .manifest_schema import validate_agent_frontmatter_keys
-        from .yaml_subset import YamlSubsetError, parse_frontmatter
-
         # Locate the agent file; cwd wins over home on name collision.
         home_agents = scan_agent_names(self.home_md / "agents")
         cwd_agents: dict[str, Path] = {}

bot_bottle/manifest_agent.py

@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ from typing import cast
 from .agent_provider import PROVIDER_TEMPLATES
 from .manifest_util import ManifestError, as_json_object
 from .manifest_git import ManifestGitUser
-from .manifest_schema import AGENT_MODEL_KEYS
+from .manifest_schema import AGENT_MODEL_KEYS, is_valid_entity_name
 
 
 @dataclass(frozen=True)
@@ -161,6 +161,16 @@ class ManifestAgent:
                         f"agent '{name}' skills[{i}] must be a string "
                         f"(was {type(skill).__name__})"
                     )
+                # Skill names become host/guest path segments and are
+                # interpolated into provisioning shell commands, so they
+                # must fit the same kebab-case convention as bottle/agent
+                # filenames — rejecting anything that could break out of a
+                # path segment or inject shell metacharacters.
+                if not is_valid_entity_name(skill):
+                    raise ManifestError(
+                        f"agent '{name}' skills[{i}] {skill!r} is not a valid "
+                        f"skill name; must match [a-z][a-z0-9-]*"
+                    )
                 collected.append(skill)
             skills = tuple(collected)
 

bot_bottle/manifest_bottle.py

@@ -0,0 +1,129 @@
+"""The `ManifestBottle` value type.
+
+Split out of `manifest.py` so the `extends:`/loader resolvers can import it
+without a circular dependency: `manifest.py` imports those resolvers, while
+they only need this value type. Everything here depends on leaf modules
+(`manifest_util`, `manifest_agent`, `manifest_egress`, `manifest_git`,
+`manifest_schema`), so this module sits at the bottom of the manifest layer.
+
+`manifest.py` re-exports `ManifestBottle`, so existing
+`from .manifest import ManifestBottle` callers are unaffected.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from dataclasses import dataclass, field
+from typing import Mapping
+
+from .manifest_util import ManifestError, as_json_object
+from .manifest_agent import ManifestAgentProvider
+from .manifest_egress import ManifestEgressConfig
+from .manifest_git import ManifestGitEntry, ManifestGitUser, parse_git_gate_config
+from .manifest_schema import BOTTLE_KEYS
+
+__all__ = ["ManifestBottle"]
+
+
+def _empty_str_dict() -> dict[str, str]:
+    return {}
+
+
+@dataclass(frozen=True)
+class ManifestBottle:
+    env: Mapping[str, str] = field(default_factory=_empty_str_dict)
+    agent_provider: ManifestAgentProvider = field(default_factory=ManifestAgentProvider)
+    git: tuple[ManifestGitEntry, ...] = ()
+    # Per-bottle git identity (issue #86). Empty default — bottles
+    # that don't set `git-gate.user:` in the manifest skip the
+    # `git config --global` step entirely. A bottle can declare a user
+    # identity without any git-gate.repos upstreams, and vice versa.
+    git_user: ManifestGitUser = field(default_factory=ManifestGitUser)
+    egress: ManifestEgressConfig = field(default_factory=ManifestEgressConfig)
+    # Per-bottle stuck-recovery sidecar (PRD 0013). When true (the
+    # default, issue #249), the launch step brings up a supervise
+    # sidecar that exposes egress MCP tools to the agent. Set
+    # `supervise: false` to skip the sidecar.
+    supervise: bool = True
+
+    @classmethod
+    def from_dict(cls, name: str, raw: object) -> "ManifestBottle":
+        d = as_json_object(raw, f"bottle '{name}'")
+
+        if "runtime" in d:
+            raise ManifestError(
+                f"bottle '{name}' has a 'runtime' field, which is no longer "
+                f"supported. gVisor (runsc) is now auto-detected by the "
+                f"backend; remove the 'runtime' field from the bottle "
+                f"definition."
+            )
+
+        if "ssh" in d:
+            raise ManifestError(
+                f"bottle '{name}' has an 'ssh' field, which has been removed "
+                f"(PRD 0009). Declare upstreams under 'git-gate.repos' with "
+                f"url + identity + host_key; the git-gate sidecar (PRD 0008) "
+                f"holds the credential and gitleaks-scans pushes."
+            )
+
+        if "git" in d:
+            raise ManifestError(
+                f"bottle '{name}' uses 'git' which has been replaced by "
+                f"'git-gate' (PRD 0047). Move git.user → git-gate.user "
+                f"and git.remotes → git-gate.repos (fields: url, identity, host_key)."
+            )
+
+        if "git_user" in d:
+            raise ManifestError(
+                f"bottle '{name}' has a 'git_user' field, which has been "
+                f"removed. Move it under 'git-gate.user'."
+            )
+
+        unknown = set(d.keys()) - BOTTLE_KEYS
+        if unknown:
+            allowed = ", ".join(sorted(BOTTLE_KEYS))
+            raise ManifestError(
+                f"bottle '{name}' has unknown key(s) {sorted(unknown)}; "
+                f"allowed keys are {allowed}."
+            )
+
+        env: dict[str, str] = {}
+        env_raw = d.get("env")
+        if env_raw is not None:
+            env_dict = as_json_object(env_raw, f"bottle '{name}' env")
+            for var, value in env_dict.items():
+                if not isinstance(value, str):
+                    raise ManifestError(
+                        f"env entry {var} in bottle '{name}' must be a JSON string "
+                        f"(was {type(value).__name__}). Use \"?<message>\" for prompt-at-runtime."
+                    )
+                env[var] = value
+
+        git: tuple[ManifestGitEntry, ...] = ()
+        git_user = ManifestGitUser()
+        git_raw = d.get("git-gate")
+        if git_raw is not None:
+            git, git_user = parse_git_gate_config(name, git_raw)
+
+        agent_provider = (
+            ManifestAgentProvider.from_dict(name, d["agent_provider"])
+            if "agent_provider" in d
+            else ManifestAgentProvider()
+        )
+
+        egress = (
+            ManifestEgressConfig.from_dict(name, d["egress"])
+            if "egress" in d
+            else ManifestEgressConfig()
+        )
+
+        supervise_raw = d.get("supervise", True)
+        if not isinstance(supervise_raw, bool):
+            raise ManifestError(
+                f"bottle '{name}' supervise must be a boolean "
+                f"(was {type(supervise_raw).__name__})"
+            )
+
+        return cls(
+            env=env, agent_provider=agent_provider, git=git,
+            git_user=git_user, egress=egress, supervise=supervise_raw,
+        )

bot_bottle/manifest_extends.py

@@ -2,11 +2,10 @@
 
 from __future__ import annotations
 
-from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
-
-if TYPE_CHECKING:
-    from .manifest import ManifestBottle
-    from .manifest_egress import ManifestEgressConfig
+from .manifest_bottle import ManifestBottle
+from .manifest_egress import ManifestEgressConfig, validate_egress_routes
+from .manifest_git import ManifestGitUser, parse_git_gate_config
+from .manifest_util import ManifestError, as_json_object
 
 
 def merge_bottles_runtime(bottles: "list[ManifestBottle]") -> "ManifestBottle":
@@ -27,9 +26,6 @@ def merge_bottles_runtime(bottles: "list[ManifestBottle]") -> "ManifestBottle":
 
 
 def _merge_two_bottles_runtime(base: "ManifestBottle", override: "ManifestBottle") -> "ManifestBottle":
-    from .manifest import ManifestBottle, ManifestGitUser
-    from .manifest_egress import ManifestEgressConfig
-
     merged_env = {**base.env, **override.env}
 
     merged_git_user = ManifestGitUser(
@@ -81,8 +77,6 @@ def _resolve_one_bottle(
     repos_cache: dict[str, dict[str, object]],
     seen: tuple[str, ...],
 ) -> ManifestBottle:
-    from .manifest import ManifestBottle, ManifestError
-
     if name in cache:
         return cache[name]
     if name in seen:
@@ -174,11 +168,6 @@ def _fold_two_bottles(
     later_repos_raw: dict[str, object],
 ) -> tuple[ManifestBottle, dict[str, object]]:
     """Combine two resolved parent bottles; later wins over earlier."""
-    from .manifest import ManifestBottle, ManifestGitUser
-    from .manifest_egress import ManifestEgressConfig
-    from .manifest_git import parse_git_gate_config
-    from .manifest_util import as_json_object
-
     merged_env = {**earlier.env, **later.env}
 
     merged_git_user = ManifestGitUser(
@@ -227,10 +216,6 @@ def _merge_bottles(
     name: str,
 ) -> ManifestBottle:
     """Apply PRD 0025 merge rules."""
-    from .manifest import ManifestBottle, ManifestGitUser
-    from .manifest_egress import validate_egress_routes
-    from .manifest_util import as_json_object
-
     # git-gate.repos: when the child declares repos, inject the already
     # name-merged repo set (computed by _resolve_repos_raw) so the child
     # parses with the full inherited+overridden list (issue #237).
@@ -303,8 +288,6 @@ def _resolve_repos_raw(
     inherits the parent's set verbatim; an explicit empty dict clears it.
     Otherwise parent and child unite by name, with same-name entries
     field-merged (parent fields are defaults, child fields win)."""
-    from .manifest_util import as_json_object
-
     if not _child_declares_git_gate_repos(child_raw):
         return parent_repos
     child_repos = _declared_repos_raw(child_raw)
@@ -324,8 +307,6 @@ def _resolve_repos_raw(
 def _declared_repos_raw(child_raw: dict[str, object]) -> dict[str, object]:
     """Return the child's explicitly declared git-gate.repos as raw dicts,
     or an empty dict when none are declared."""
-    from .manifest_util import as_json_object
-
     if not _child_declares_git_gate_repos(child_raw):
         return {}
     git_raw = as_json_object(child_raw.get("git-gate", {}), "child git-gate")
@@ -333,8 +314,6 @@ def _declared_repos_raw(child_raw: dict[str, object]) -> dict[str, object]:
 
 
 def _child_declares_git_gate_repos(child_raw: dict[str, object]) -> bool:
-    from .manifest_util import as_json_object
-
     git_raw = child_raw.get("git-gate")
     if git_raw is None:
         return False
@@ -347,9 +326,6 @@ def _merge_egress(
     child: ManifestEgressConfig,
     child_raw: dict[str, object],
 ) -> ManifestEgressConfig:
-    from .manifest_egress import ManifestEgressConfig
-    from .manifest_util import as_json_object
-
     child_egress_raw = as_json_object(child_raw.get("egress"), "child egress")
     routes = parent.routes + child.routes
     log = child.Log if "log" in child_egress_raw else parent.Log

bot_bottle/manifest_loader.py

@@ -3,9 +3,10 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 from pathlib import Path
-from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
 
 from .log import warn
+from .manifest_bottle import ManifestBottle
+from .manifest_extends import resolve_bottles
 from .manifest_schema import (
     entity_name_from_path,
     validate_bottle_frontmatter_keys,
@@ -13,9 +14,6 @@ from .manifest_schema import (
 from .manifest_util import ManifestError
 from .yaml_subset import YamlSubsetError, parse_frontmatter
 
-if TYPE_CHECKING:
-    from .manifest import ManifestBottle
-
 
 def check_stale_json(dir_path: Path, md_dir: Path, label: str) -> None:
     """Die if `<dir_path>/bot-bottle.json` exists but `md_dir` does
@@ -78,8 +76,6 @@ def load_bottle_chain_from_dir(
 
     Only the files in the extends chain are read — unrelated bottle files
     are never touched. Raises ManifestError on parse or validation failure."""
-    from .manifest_extends import resolve_bottles
-
     raws: dict[str, dict[str, object]] = {}
     to_load = [bottle_name]
     while to_load:

bot_bottle/manifest_schema.py

@@ -33,13 +33,20 @@ AGENT_KEYS = (
 AGENT_MODEL_KEYS = AGENT_KEYS | frozenset({"prompt"})
 
 
+def is_valid_entity_name(name: str) -> bool:
+    """True if `name` fits the kebab-case `[a-z][a-z0-9-]*` convention
+    shared by bottle/agent filenames and skill names. Names that satisfy
+    this are also safe to interpolate into a host/guest path segment."""
+    return bool(_FILENAME_RX.match(name))
+
+
 def entity_name_from_path(path: Path) -> str | None:
     """Return the entity name implied by the filename, or None if the
     filename does not fit the [a-z][a-z0-9-]* convention."""
     if path.suffix != ".md":
         return None
     stem = path.stem
-    if not _FILENAME_RX.match(stem):
+    if not is_valid_entity_name(stem):
         return None
     return stem
 

tests/unit/test_cli_start_headless.py

@@ -0,0 +1,188 @@
+"""Unit: `cli.py start --headless` non-interactive launch path.
+
+Headless is the keystone for orchestrators (Paseo), CI, and webhook
+dispatch: agent/bottles/label come from flags + manifest defaults, no
+TUI selectors fire, and the preflight y/N is auto-confirmed
+(`assume_yes=True`). All actual launch work is stubbed so no container
+is created.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import os
+import unittest
+from unittest.mock import MagicMock, patch
+
+import bot_bottle.cli.start as start_mod
+import bot_bottle.cli.tui as tui_mod
+from bot_bottle.backend import ActiveAgent
+from bot_bottle.log import Die
+from bot_bottle.manifest import ManifestError
+
+
+def _make_manifest(
+    agent_names: list[str],
+    bottle_names: list[str] | None = None,
+    agent_bottle: str = "",
+):
+    manifest = MagicMock()
+    manifest.agents = {name: MagicMock(bottle=agent_bottle) for name in agent_names}
+    manifest.all_agent_names = sorted(agent_names)
+    manifest.all_bottle_names = sorted(bottle_names or [])
+    manifest.home_md = None  # eager mode so _peek_agent_bottle uses agents dict
+    manifest.require_agent = MagicMock(return_value=None)
+    return manifest
+
+
+def _active_agent(slug: str) -> ActiveAgent:
+    return ActiveAgent(
+        backend_name="docker",
+        slug=slug,
+        agent_name="demo",
+        started_at="2026-01-01T00:00:00+00:00",
+        services=(),
+    )
+
+
+class TestCmdStartHeadless(unittest.TestCase):
+    """Drive `cmd_start --headless` with launch + TUI stubbed out."""
+
+    def setUp(self):
+        self._manifest = _make_manifest(
+            ["researcher", "implementer"], ["claude", "dev"], agent_bottle="claude"
+        )
+        patch(
+            "bot_bottle.cli.start.ManifestIndex.resolve",
+            return_value=self._manifest,
+        ).start()
+        self._launch_mock = patch(
+            "bot_bottle.cli.start._launch_bottle", return_value=0
+        ).start()
+        # No bottles running by default → no label collision.
+        patch(
+            "bot_bottle.cli.start.enumerate_active_agents", return_value=[]
+        ).start()
+        # If any TUI picker fires in headless mode, that's a bug.
+        self._agent_picker = patch.object(tui_mod, "filter_select").start()
+        self._bottle_picker = patch.object(tui_mod, "filter_multiselect").start()
+        self._modal = patch.object(tui_mod, "name_color_modal").start()
+        patch.dict(os.environ, {}, clear=False).start()
+        os.environ.pop("BOT_BOTTLE_BACKEND", None)
+        self.addCleanup(patch.stopall)
+
+    def _spec(self):
+        self._launch_mock.assert_called_once()
+        return self._launch_mock.call_args[0][0]
+
+    # -- no TUI in headless --------------------------------------------
+
+    def test_headless_fires_no_pickers(self):
+        rc = start_mod.cmd_start(
+            ["--headless", "researcher", "--bottle", "claude", "--prompt", "Do it"]
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(0, rc)
+        self._agent_picker.assert_not_called()
+        self._bottle_picker.assert_not_called()
+        self._modal.assert_not_called()
+
+    def test_headless_assume_yes_forwarded(self):
+        start_mod.cmd_start(
+            ["--headless", "researcher", "--bottle", "claude", "--prompt", "Do it"]
+        )
+        self.assertTrue(self._launch_mock.call_args[1]["assume_yes"])
+
+    # -- prompt --------------------------------------------------------
+
+    def test_headless_without_prompt_dies(self):
+        with self.assertRaises(Die):
+            start_mod.cmd_start(["--headless", "researcher", "--bottle", "claude"])
+        self._launch_mock.assert_not_called()
+
+    def test_headless_prompt_forwarded_to_launch(self):
+        start_mod.cmd_start(
+            ["--headless", "researcher", "--bottle", "claude",
+             "--prompt", "Implement issue #42"]
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(
+            "Implement issue #42",
+            self._launch_mock.call_args[1]["headless_prompt_text"],
+        )
+
+    # -- bottle resolution ---------------------------------------------
+
+    def test_explicit_bottles_forwarded_in_order(self):
+        start_mod.cmd_start(
+            ["--headless", "researcher", "--bottle", "dev", "--bottle", "claude",
+             "--prompt", "Do it"]
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(("dev", "claude"), self._spec().bottle_names)
+
+    def test_omitted_bottle_falls_back_to_agent_default(self):
+        start_mod.cmd_start(["--headless", "implementer", "--prompt", "Do it"])
+        self.assertEqual(("claude",), self._spec().bottle_names)
+
+    def test_no_bottle_and_no_default_dies(self):
+        manifest = _make_manifest(["researcher"], ["claude"], agent_bottle="")
+        with patch(
+            "bot_bottle.cli.start.ManifestIndex.resolve", return_value=manifest
+        ):
+            with self.assertRaises(Die):
+                start_mod.cmd_start(
+                    ["--headless", "researcher", "--prompt", "Do it"]
+                )
+        self._launch_mock.assert_not_called()
+
+    # -- agent resolution ----------------------------------------------
+
+    def test_missing_agent_name_dies(self):
+        with self.assertRaises(Die):
+            start_mod.cmd_start(["--headless"])
+        self._launch_mock.assert_not_called()
+
+    def test_unknown_agent_raises_manifest_error(self):
+        self._manifest.require_agent.side_effect = ManifestError("agent 'x' not defined")
+        with self.assertRaises(ManifestError):
+            start_mod.cmd_start(
+                ["--headless", "x", "--bottle", "claude", "--prompt", "Do it"]
+            )
+        self._launch_mock.assert_not_called()
+
+    # -- label / color -------------------------------------------------
+
+    def test_label_defaults_to_agent_name(self):
+        start_mod.cmd_start(
+            ["--headless", "researcher", "--bottle", "claude", "--prompt", "Do it"]
+        )
+        self.assertEqual("researcher", self._spec().label)
+
+    def test_explicit_label_and_color_forwarded(self):
+        start_mod.cmd_start(
+            ["--headless", "researcher", "--bottle", "claude",
+             "--label", "nightly", "--color", "green", "--prompt", "Do it"]
+        )
+        spec = self._spec()
+        self.assertEqual("nightly", spec.label)
+        self.assertEqual("green", spec.color)
+
+    def test_label_collision_uniquifies(self):
+        with patch(
+            "bot_bottle.cli.start.enumerate_active_agents",
+            return_value=[_active_agent("researcher")],
+        ):
+            start_mod.cmd_start(
+                ["--headless", "researcher", "--bottle", "claude", "--prompt", "Do it"]
+            )
+        self.assertEqual("researcher-2", self._spec().label)
+
+    # -- backend wiring ------------------------------------------------
+
+    def test_backend_flag_forwarded(self):
+        start_mod.cmd_start(
+            ["--headless", "--backend=docker", "researcher", "--bottle", "claude",
+             "--prompt", "Do it"]
+        )
+        self.assertEqual("docker", self._launch_mock.call_args[1]["backend_name"])
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    unittest.main()

tests/unit/test_contrib_claude_provider.py

@@ -343,5 +343,14 @@ class TestClaudeSuperviseMcp(unittest.TestCase):
         )
 
 
+class TestClaudeHeadlessPrompt(unittest.TestCase):
+    def test_returns_p_flag_and_prompt(self):
+        self.assertEqual(["-p", "Do the task"], ClaudeAgentProvider().headless_prompt("Do the task"))
+
+    def test_preserves_prompt_text_verbatim(self):
+        text = "Fix issue #42: the widget breaks on empty input"
+        self.assertEqual(["-p", text], ClaudeAgentProvider().headless_prompt(text))
+
+
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     unittest.main()

tests/unit/test_contrib_codex_provider.py

@@ -314,5 +314,14 @@ class TestCodexSuperviseMcp(unittest.TestCase):
         )
 
 
+class TestCodexHeadlessPrompt(unittest.TestCase):
+    def test_returns_prompt_as_positional_arg(self):
+        self.assertEqual(["Do the task"], CodexAgentProvider().headless_prompt("Do the task"))
+
+    def test_preserves_prompt_text_verbatim(self):
+        text = "Fix issue #42: the widget breaks on empty input"
+        self.assertEqual([text], CodexAgentProvider().headless_prompt(text))
+
+
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     unittest.main()

tests/unit/test_contrib_pi_provider.py

@@ -223,5 +223,14 @@ class TestPiDockerfile(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertIn("chmod 1777 /tmp /var/tmp", dockerfile)
 
 
+class TestPiHeadlessPrompt(unittest.TestCase):
+    def test_returns_p_flag_and_prompt(self):
+        self.assertEqual(["-p", "Do the task"], PiAgentProvider().headless_prompt("Do the task"))
+
+    def test_preserves_prompt_text_verbatim(self):
+        text = "Fix issue #42: the widget breaks on empty input"
+        self.assertEqual(["-p", text], PiAgentProvider().headless_prompt(text))
+
+
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     unittest.main()

tests/unit/test_manifest_validation.py

@@ -165,6 +165,22 @@ class TestAgentValidation(unittest.TestCase):
         with self.assertRaises(ManifestError):
             ManifestAgent.from_dict("a", {"skills": [5]}, set())
 
+    def test_skill_name_rejects_shell_metacharacters(self) -> None:
+        # Skill names become host/guest path segments interpolated into
+        # provisioning shell commands; anything outside kebab-case is
+        # rejected at load so it can never reach a `bottle.exec` string.
+        for bad in ("foo; rm -rf /", "../escape", "foo bar", "Foo", "-leading"):
+            with self.assertRaises(ManifestError):
+                ManifestAgent.from_dict("a", {"skills": [bad]}, set())
+
+    def test_skill_name_accepts_kebab_case(self) -> None:
+        agent = ManifestAgent.from_dict(
+            "a", {"skills": ["init-entry", "quality-eval", "skill0"]}, set()
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(
+            agent.skills, ("init-entry", "quality-eval", "skill0")
+        )
+
     def test_prompt_not_string(self) -> None:
         with self.assertRaises(ManifestError):
             ManifestAgent.from_dict("a", {"prompt": 5}, set())