exec-truncate

Domain-aware output truncation for the OpenClaw exec tool.

Installs as an OpenClaw plugin. Intercepts exec / bash output, detects the command domain from output patterns, and compresses verbose output — git diffs, logs, grep results, directory listings, and build logs — down to their informative core.

# before
+import { defineConfig } from 'vite'                 # 2,847 lines of diff
+import { defineConfig } from 'vite'
...
+export default defineConfig({                       # +2,840 more lines
# after
+import { defineConfig } from 'vite'
  ... [2845 lines truncated by exec-truncate] ...
+export default defineConfig({

Token savings: 20–40% on typical git/build/grep output.

Supported Domains

Installation

openclaw plugins install exec-truncate
openclaw gateway restart

Or add to your openclaw.json:

{
  "plugins": {
    "entries": [
      { "module": "exec-truncate" }
    ]
  }
}

Uninstallation

Via OpenClaw CLI (recommended)

openclaw plugins uninstall exec-truncate
openclaw gateway restart

Via Uninstall Script

If the CLI is not available, use the bundled uninstall script:

cd /path/to/openclaw-exec-truncate
./uninstall.sh

Options:

• --force: Skip confirmation prompt
• Environment variable OPENCLAW_CONFIG_PATH: Override config location (default: ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json)

The uninstall script will:

• Find your OpenClaw config automatically
• Back up the config before modification
• Remove the exec-truncate entry from plugins.entries
• Verify removal succeeded
• Show backup location for recovery

Configuration

Defaults work out of the box. Override per domain in openclaw.json:

{
  "plugins": {
    "entries": [
      { "module": "exec-truncate" }
    ]
  },
  "skills": {
    "entries": {
      "exec-truncate": {
        "config": {
          "enabled": true,
          "gitDiff": { "headLines": 80, "tailLines": 20 },
          "gitLog": { "maxLines": 50 },
          "grep": { "maxMatches": 50 },
          "ls": { "maxEntries": 100 },
          "build": { "headLines": 10, "tailLines": 30 }
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

Behavior

• Small outputs pass through unchanged. Outputs under 200 characters are not truncated.
• Detection is output-based, not command-based. The plugin reads the output content and identifies the domain from patterns — no command metadata required.
• The MARKER — ... [N lines truncated by exec-truncate] ... — appears whenever lines are omitted, so you always know truncation happened.
• All domains can be disabled individually via domain.enabled: false.

Testing

npm install
npm test        # 25 tests — truncation functions + hook integration

Architecture

tool_result_persist (synchronous hook)
  └── message.content
        ├── string → used directly
        └── array  → text parts joined, filtered to type:"text"
              ├── < 200 chars → returned unchanged
              ├── domain detected? → apply domain truncation
              └── no domain → returned unchanged

Changelog

• 1.0.0 — Initial release. 5 domains: gitDiff, gitLog, grep, ls, build.

Built with OpenClaw Plugin SDK.