Subagent Timeout Config

subagent-timeout-config

• Author: Evan Song · github.com/Songhonglei
• Repository: https://github.com/Songhonglei/better-agent-skills
• License: MIT

One-click timeout configurator for OpenClaw subagents. Set the three related timeout fields atomically with built-in constraint validation, automatic backup, and optional gateway restart.

⚠️ OpenClaw-only by default — reads/writes ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json. Use --config <path> to target a different runtime's JSON config file.

Why this skill exists

OpenClaw timeouts are split across three nested fields that must be tuned together:

Hidden trap: ttlMinutes * 60 must be ≥ runTimeoutSeconds, otherwise sessions die before subagents finish. Default OpenClaw values (30s / 30min / 30min) are too tight for many real-world tasks (codex/claude-code planning, large refactors, complex analysis).

This skill picks the right combination in one command, validates the constraint, backs up the original config, and restarts the gateway.

Preset Profiles

Aliases: impatient / fast → quick, slow → patient.

Usage

Preview before applying (recommended first time)

python3 <skill-install-path>/scripts/set_timeout.py --profile normal --dry-run

Apply a profile (with auto-restart)

python3 <skill-install-path>/scripts/set_timeout.py --profile patient

Apply without restarting Gateway

python3 <skill-install-path>/scripts/set_timeout.py --profile normal --no-restart
# Then later, when you're ready:
openclaw gateway restart

Custom values

# Format: timeoutSeconds,runTimeoutSeconds,ttlMinutes
python3 <skill-install-path>/scripts/set_timeout.py --custom 240,9000,150

Check current configuration

python3 <skill-install-path>/scripts/set_timeout.py --status

List all profiles

python3 <skill-install-path>/scripts/set_timeout.py --list

Target a non-default config path

python3 <skill-install-path>/scripts/set_timeout.py \
  --profile normal --config /path/to/your/openclaw.json
# Or via env:
OPENCLAW_CONFIG=/path/to/openclaw.json python3 <...>/set_timeout.py --profile normal

Workflow (when the agent invokes this skill)

1. Ask the user which profile suits their task (or accept --custom).
2. Show --dry-run diff first when the user is unsure.
3. Apply with default settings (auto-backup + auto-restart).
4. Confirm new settings via --status.
5. If validation fails (e.g. TTL too small), explain the constraint and offer a corrected value.

Safety Features

• Auto-backup: Before every write, the original config is copied to <config>.bak.<YYYYMMDD-HHMMSS>. Restore by cp if needed.
• Atomic write: New config is written to a .tmp file then renamed, so a crash mid-write never leaves a corrupt JSON.
• Constraint validation: Refuses to apply invalid combos (e.g. ttlMinutes too small for runTimeoutSeconds). Validation runs before any file modification — --dry-run and real applies both validate.
• Restart opt-out: --no-restart lets you defer the Gateway restart (useful when you have a long-running task you don't want to interrupt).

CLI Reference

Exit codes: 0 = success, 1 = error (bad args, IO, validation failure).

Dependencies

• Python 3.8+ (standard library only — no pip dependencies)
• openclaw CLI on PATH (only needed for the auto-restart step; use --no-restart if you don't have it)

What This Skill Is NOT

• Not a generic timeout tool — it only knows about OpenClaw's three specific fields. For other agent runtimes' config formats, use --config to point at a custom JSON path but be aware the schema is OpenClaw-specific.
• Not a persistent daemon — it's a one-shot CLI invocation.
• Not a profile editor — to add a new preset, edit PROFILES in scripts/set_timeout.py.

Key Files