feat: project-level prompts for metadata generation (#836)

* feat(server): project-level prompts for metadata generation

Add `metadataGeneration` config to `paseo.json` so projects can customize the
four LLM-generated metadata strings — agent title, worktree branch name, commit
message, and pull request title+body. Each entry takes an `instructions` string
that gets injected as a `<user-instructions>` block between the default rules
and the load-bearing JSON format contract, with wrapper text saying user
instructions override defaults. Missing/empty/invalid config keeps every prompt
byte-identical to today.

* refactor(server): centralize project metadata prompt building

Three near-identical readers and four gate-then-wrap blocks collapsed
into one buildMetadataPrompt helper. wrapWithUserInstructions tightened
to require a non-empty string; its misleading empty fallback is gone.

* feat(app): edit metadata generation prompts in project settings

Adds four textareas (agent title, branch name, commit message, pull
request) under project settings, modeled on the existing setup/teardown
pattern. Round-trips through paseo.json preserving unknown sibling
fields at both the metadataGeneration and entry level.

packages/app/src/screens/project-settings-screen.tsx

@@ -31,7 +31,9 @@ import { confirmDialog } from "@/utils/confirm-dialog";
 import {
   applyDraftToConfig,
   configToDraft,
+  METADATA_PROMPT_KEYS,
   type LifecycleOriginalKind,
+  type MetadataPromptKey,
   type ProjectConfigDraft,
   type ProjectScriptDraft,
 } from "@/utils/project-config-form";
@@ -42,6 +44,40 @@ const SCRIPT_SERVICE_TYPE = "service";
 
 const ICON_SIZE = 14;
 
+interface MetadataPromptField {
+  title: string;
+  placeholder: string;
+  sectionTestID: string;
+  inputTestID: string;
+}
+
+const METADATA_PROMPT_FIELDS: Record<MetadataPromptKey, MetadataPromptField> = {
+  agentTitle: {
+    title: "Agent title prompt",
+    placeholder: "Keep titles short and action-oriented.",
+    sectionTestID: "metadata-prompt-agent-title-section",
+    inputTestID: "metadata-prompt-agent-title-input",
+  },
+  branchName: {
+    title: "Branch name prompt",
+    placeholder: "Prefix branches with feat/ or fix/.",
+    sectionTestID: "metadata-prompt-branch-name-section",
+    inputTestID: "metadata-prompt-branch-name-input",
+  },
+  commitMessage: {
+    title: "Commit message prompt",
+    placeholder: "Use Conventional Commits.",
+    sectionTestID: "metadata-prompt-commit-message-section",
+    inputTestID: "metadata-prompt-commit-message-input",
+  },
+  pullRequest: {
+    title: "Pull request prompt",
+    placeholder: "Include risk notes and a test plan.",
+    sectionTestID: "metadata-prompt-pull-request-section",
+    inputTestID: "metadata-prompt-pull-request-input",
+  },
+};
+
 const NO_TARGET_MESSAGE = "We don't have an editable copy of this project on any connected host.";
 
 const HOST_SWITCHER_LABEL = "Switch host";
@@ -432,6 +468,15 @@ function ProjectConfigForm({
     [updateDraft],
   );
 
+  const handleMetadataPromptChange = useCallback(
+    (key: MetadataPromptKey, text: string) =>
+      updateDraft((d) => ({
+        ...d,
+        metadataPrompts: { ...d.metadataPrompts, [key]: text },
+      })),
+    [updateDraft],
+  );
+
   const handleRemoveScript = useCallback(
     async (script: ProjectScriptDraft) => {
       const ok = await confirmDialog({
@@ -585,6 +630,15 @@ function ProjectConfigForm({
         </View>
       </SettingsSection>
 
+      {METADATA_PROMPT_KEYS.map((key) => (
+        <MetadataPromptSection
+          key={key}
+          promptKey={key}
+          value={draft.metadataPrompts[key]}
+          onChange={handleMetadataPromptChange}
+        />
+      ))}
+
       {isStale ? (
         <View style={styles.calloutWrap}>
           <Alert
@@ -767,6 +821,36 @@ function HostPickerItem({ host, isSelected, onSelectHost }: HostPickerItemProps)
   );
 }
 
+interface MetadataPromptSectionProps {
+  promptKey: MetadataPromptKey;
+  value: string;
+  onChange: (key: MetadataPromptKey, text: string) => void;
+}
+
+function MetadataPromptSection({ promptKey, value, onChange }: MetadataPromptSectionProps) {
+  const meta = METADATA_PROMPT_FIELDS[promptKey];
+  const handleChange = useCallback(
+    (text: string) => onChange(promptKey, text),
+    [onChange, promptKey],
+  );
+  return (
+    <SettingsSection title={meta.title} testID={meta.sectionTestID}>
+      <View style={settingsStyles.card}>
+        <TextInput
+          testID={meta.inputTestID}
+          accessibilityLabel={meta.title}
+          multiline
+          value={value}
+          onChangeText={handleChange}
+          placeholder={meta.placeholder}
+          placeholderTextColor={styles.placeholderColor.color}
+          style={styles.lifecycleInput}
+        />
+      </View>
+    </SettingsSection>
+  );
+}
+
 interface ScriptRowProps {
   script: ProjectScriptDraft;
   isFirst: boolean;

packages/app/src/utils/project-config-form.test.ts

@@ -10,6 +10,13 @@ function emptyDraft(): ProjectConfigDraft {
     teardownText: "",
     teardownOriginalKind: "missing",
     scripts: [],
+    metadataPrompts: {
+      agentTitle: "",
+      branchName: "",
+      commitMessage: "",
+      pullRequest: "",
+    },
+    metadataGenerationBase: undefined,
   };
 }
 
@@ -210,6 +217,100 @@ describe("applyDraftToConfig", () => {
     expect(tunnel.port).toBe("auto");
   });
 
+  it("reads metadata prompt instructions for all four keys", () => {
+    const draft = configToDraft({
+      metadataGeneration: {
+        agentTitle: { instructions: "Use mb/." },
+        branchName: { instructions: "feat/<slug>" },
+        commitMessage: { instructions: "Conventional commits." },
+        pullRequest: { instructions: "Include risk notes." },
+      },
+    });
+    expect(draft.metadataPrompts).toEqual({
+      agentTitle: "Use mb/.",
+      branchName: "feat/<slug>",
+      commitMessage: "Conventional commits.",
+      pullRequest: "Include risk notes.",
+    });
+  });
+
+  it("defaults metadata prompts to empty strings when not present", () => {
+    const draft = configToDraft({
+      metadataGeneration: { agentTitle: { instructions: "Use mb/." } },
+    });
+    expect(draft.metadataPrompts).toEqual({
+      agentTitle: "Use mb/.",
+      branchName: "",
+      commitMessage: "",
+      pullRequest: "",
+    });
+  });
+
+  it("writes only metadata prompt entries with non-empty text", () => {
+    const base: PaseoConfigRaw = {};
+    const draft = configToDraft(base);
+    draft.metadataPrompts.agentTitle = "Use mb/.";
+    draft.metadataPrompts.commitMessage = "Conventional commits.";
+    const next = applyDraftToConfig({ draft, base });
+    expect(next.metadataGeneration).toEqual({
+      agentTitle: { instructions: "Use mb/." },
+      commitMessage: { instructions: "Conventional commits." },
+    });
+  });
+
+  it("drops the metadataGeneration field when all prompts are empty", () => {
+    const base = PaseoConfigRawSchema.parse({
+      metadataGeneration: {
+        agentTitle: { instructions: "Use mb/." },
+      },
+    });
+    const draft = configToDraft(base);
+    draft.metadataPrompts.agentTitle = "";
+    const next = applyDraftToConfig({ draft, base });
+    expect(next.metadataGeneration).toBeUndefined();
+  });
+
+  it("preserves unknown sibling fields inside metadataGeneration on round-trip", () => {
+    const base = PaseoConfigRawSchema.parse({
+      metadataGeneration: {
+        agentTitle: { instructions: "Use mb/." },
+        futureField: 42,
+      },
+    });
+    const draft = configToDraft(base);
+    draft.metadataPrompts.agentTitle = "Use prefix mb/ on titles.";
+    const next = applyDraftToConfig({ draft, base });
+    const metadata = next.metadataGeneration as Record<string, unknown>;
+    expect(metadata.agentTitle).toEqual({ instructions: "Use prefix mb/ on titles." });
+    expect(metadata.futureField).toBe(42);
+  });
+
+  it("preserves unknown fields inside a metadata prompt entry on round-trip", () => {
+    const base = PaseoConfigRawSchema.parse({
+      metadataGeneration: {
+        agentTitle: { instructions: "Use mb/.", model: "haiku" },
+      },
+    });
+    const draft = configToDraft(base);
+    draft.metadataPrompts.agentTitle = "Updated.";
+    const next = applyDraftToConfig({ draft, base });
+    const metadata = next.metadataGeneration as Record<string, unknown>;
+    expect(metadata.agentTitle).toEqual({ instructions: "Updated.", model: "haiku" });
+  });
+
+  it("clears instructions but preserves unknown sibling fields when text becomes empty", () => {
+    const base = PaseoConfigRawSchema.parse({
+      metadataGeneration: {
+        agentTitle: { instructions: "Use mb/.", model: "haiku" },
+      },
+    });
+    const draft = configToDraft(base);
+    draft.metadataPrompts.agentTitle = "";
+    const next = applyDraftToConfig({ draft, base });
+    const metadata = next.metadataGeneration as Record<string, unknown>;
+    expect(metadata.agentTitle).toEqual({ model: "haiku" });
+  });
+
   it("drops scripts with an empty name and removes scripts no longer present in the draft", () => {
     const base = PaseoConfigRawSchema.parse({
       scripts: {

packages/app/src/utils/project-config-form.ts

@@ -1,7 +1,20 @@
-import type { PaseoConfigRaw, PaseoScriptEntryRaw } from "@server/shared/messages";
+import type {
+  PaseoConfigRaw,
+  PaseoMetadataGeneration,
+  PaseoMetadataGenerationEntry,
+  PaseoScriptEntryRaw,
+} from "@server/shared/messages";
 
 export type LifecycleOriginalKind = "string" | "array" | "missing";
 
+export const METADATA_PROMPT_KEYS = [
+  "agentTitle",
+  "branchName",
+  "commitMessage",
+  "pullRequest",
+] as const;
+export type MetadataPromptKey = (typeof METADATA_PROMPT_KEYS)[number];
+
 export interface ProjectScriptDraft {
   id: string;
   name: string;
@@ -18,6 +31,8 @@ export interface ProjectConfigDraft {
   teardownText: string;
   teardownOriginalKind: LifecycleOriginalKind;
   scripts: ProjectScriptDraft[];
+  metadataPrompts: Record<MetadataPromptKey, string>;
+  metadataGenerationBase: PaseoMetadataGeneration | undefined;
 }
 
 interface LifecycleProjection {
@@ -88,6 +103,15 @@ function nextScriptDraftId(): string {
   return `script-draft-${scriptDraftIdCounter}`;
 }
 
+function emptyMetadataPrompts(): Record<MetadataPromptKey, string> {
+  return {
+    agentTitle: "",
+    branchName: "",
+    commitMessage: "",
+    pullRequest: "",
+  };
+}
+
 export function configToDraft(config: PaseoConfigRaw | null | undefined): ProjectConfigDraft {
   const worktree = config?.worktree ?? {};
   const setup = projectLifecycle(worktree.setup);
@@ -108,12 +132,23 @@ export function configToDraft(config: PaseoConfigRaw | null | undefined): Projec
     });
   }
 
+  const metadataGeneration = config?.metadataGeneration;
+  const metadataPrompts = emptyMetadataPrompts();
+  for (const key of METADATA_PROMPT_KEYS) {
+    const instructions = metadataGeneration?.[key]?.instructions;
+    if (typeof instructions === "string") {
+      metadataPrompts[key] = instructions;
+    }
+  }
+
   return {
     setupText: setup.text,
     setupOriginalKind: setup.kind,
     teardownText: teardown.text,
     teardownOriginalKind: teardown.kind,
     scripts,
+    metadataPrompts,
+    metadataGenerationBase: metadataGeneration,
   };
 }
 
@@ -172,6 +207,31 @@ export function applyDraftToConfig(input: ApplyDraftInput): PaseoConfigRaw {
     nextScripts[trimmedName] = nextEntry as PaseoScriptEntryRaw;
   }
 
+  const nextMetadataGeneration: Record<string, unknown> = {
+    ...input.draft.metadataGenerationBase,
+  };
+  for (const key of METADATA_PROMPT_KEYS) {
+    const text = input.draft.metadataPrompts[key];
+    const baseEntry = input.draft.metadataGenerationBase?.[key] as
+      | PaseoMetadataGenerationEntry
+      | undefined;
+    if (text.trim().length === 0) {
+      if (baseEntry) {
+        const nextEntry: Record<string, unknown> = { ...baseEntry };
+        delete nextEntry.instructions;
+        if (Object.keys(nextEntry).length === 0) {
+          delete nextMetadataGeneration[key];
+        } else {
+          nextMetadataGeneration[key] = nextEntry;
+        }
+      } else {
+        delete nextMetadataGeneration[key];
+      }
+    } else {
+      nextMetadataGeneration[key] = { ...baseEntry, instructions: text };
+    }
+  }
+
   const result: Record<string, unknown> = { ...baseConfig };
   if (Object.keys(nextWorktree).length === 0) {
     delete result.worktree;
@@ -183,5 +243,10 @@ export function applyDraftToConfig(input: ApplyDraftInput): PaseoConfigRaw {
   } else {
     result.scripts = nextScripts;
   }
+  if (Object.keys(nextMetadataGeneration).length === 0) {
+    delete result.metadataGeneration;
+  } else {
+    result.metadataGeneration = nextMetadataGeneration;
+  }
   return result as PaseoConfigRaw;
 }

packages/server/src/server/agent/agent-metadata-generator.ts

@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@ import {
   generateStructuredAgentResponseWithFallback,
 } from "./agent-response-loop.js";
 import { MAX_AUTO_AGENT_TITLE_CHARS } from "./agent-title-limits.js";
+import { buildMetadataPrompt } from "../../utils/build-metadata-prompt.js";
+import type { WorkspaceGitService } from "../workspace-git-service.js";
 
 export interface AgentMetadataGeneratorDeps {
   generateStructuredAgentResponseWithFallback?: typeof generateStructuredAgentResponseWithFallback;
@@ -18,6 +20,7 @@ export interface AgentMetadataGenerationOptions {
   agentManager: AgentManager;
   agentId: string;
   cwd: string;
+  workspaceGitService?: Pick<WorkspaceGitService, "resolveRepoRoot">;
   initialPrompt?: string | null;
   explicitTitle?: string | null;
   paseoHome?: string;
@@ -75,16 +78,26 @@ function buildMetadataSchema(
   return z.object(shape);
 }
 
-function buildPrompt(needs: AgentMetadataNeeds): string {
+async function buildPrompt(
-  const instructions: string[] = ["Generate metadata for a coding agent based on the user prompt."];
+  needs: AgentMetadataNeeds,
-
+  options: {
+    cwd: string;
+    workspaceGitService?: Pick<WorkspaceGitService, "resolveRepoRoot">;
+  },
+): Promise<string> {
+  const beforeLines: string[] = ["Generate metadata for a coding agent based on the user prompt."];
   if (needs.needsTitle) {
-    instructions.push(`Title: short descriptive label (<= ${MAX_AUTO_AGENT_TITLE_CHARS} chars).`);
+    beforeLines.push(`Title: short descriptive label (<= ${MAX_AUTO_AGENT_TITLE_CHARS} chars).`);
   }
-  instructions.push("Return JSON only with a single field 'title'.");
 
-  instructions.push("", "User prompt:", needs.prompt ?? "");
+  return buildMetadataPrompt({
-  return instructions.join("\n");
+    cwd: options.cwd,
+    workspaceGitService: options.workspaceGitService,
+    configKey: "agentTitle",
+    before: beforeLines.join("\n"),
+    after: "Return JSON only with a single field 'title'.",
+    trailing: `User prompt:\n${needs.prompt ?? ""}`,
+  });
 }
 
 export async function generateAndApplyAgentMetadata(
@@ -110,7 +123,10 @@ export async function generateAndApplyAgentMetadata(
     result = await generator({
       manager: options.agentManager,
       cwd: options.cwd,
-      prompt: buildPrompt(needs),
+      prompt: await buildPrompt(needs, {
+        cwd: options.cwd,
+        workspaceGitService: options.workspaceGitService,
+      }),
       schema,
       schemaName: "AgentMetadata",
       maxRetries: 2,

packages/server/src/server/agent/agent-metadata-generator.unit.test.ts

@@ -1,6 +1,10 @@
-import { describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
+import { mkdtempSync, rmSync, writeFileSync } from "node:fs";
+import { tmpdir } from "node:os";
+import path from "node:path";
+import { afterEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
 
 import { createTestLogger } from "../../test-utils/test-logger.js";
+import { createNoopWorkspaceGitService } from "../test-utils/workspace-git-service-stub.js";
 import { MAX_AUTO_AGENT_TITLE_CHARS } from "./agent-title-limits.js";
 import {
   generateAndApplyAgentMetadata,
@@ -9,6 +13,19 @@ import {
 import type { AgentManager } from "./agent-manager.js";
 
 const logger = createTestLogger();
+const cleanupPaths: string[] = [];
+const PRE_CHANGE_TITLE_PROMPT = `Generate metadata for a coding agent based on the user prompt.
+Title: short descriptive label (<= ${MAX_AUTO_AGENT_TITLE_CHARS} chars).
+Return JSON only with a single field 'title'.
+
+User prompt:
+Implement this feature`;
+
+afterEach(() => {
+  for (const target of cleanupPaths.splice(0)) {
+    rmSync(target, { recursive: true, force: true });
+  }
+});
 
 function createDeps(
   generateStructuredAgentResponseWithFallback: NonNullable<
@@ -93,4 +110,86 @@ describe("agent metadata generator auto-title", () => {
     );
     expect(setTitle).toHaveBeenCalledWith("agent-suppressed-branch", "Generated title");
   });
+
+  it.each([
+    ["paseo.json missing", undefined],
+    ["paseo.json exists but invalid JSON", "{ nope"],
+    ["paseo.json valid but missing metadataGeneration", {}],
+    [
+      "metadataGeneration exists but missing agentTitle",
+      { metadataGeneration: { branchName: { instructions: "Use mb/." } } },
+    ],
+    ["agentTitle exists but instructions is undefined", { metadataGeneration: { agentTitle: {} } }],
+    [
+      "agentTitle exists but instructions is empty",
+      { metadataGeneration: { agentTitle: { instructions: "" } } },
+    ],
+    [
+      "agentTitle exists but instructions is whitespace-only",
+      { metadataGeneration: { agentTitle: { instructions: "   \n\t " } } },
+    ],
+  ])("keeps the pre-change prompt byte-identical when %s", async (_name, config) => {
+    const { prompt } = await generateTitlePromptWithConfig(config);
+
+    expect(prompt).toBe(PRE_CHANGE_TITLE_PROMPT);
+  });
+
+  it("injects project instructions between the default rules and JSON contract", async () => {
+    const { prompt } = await generateTitlePromptWithConfig({
+      metadataGeneration: {
+        agentTitle: {
+          instructions: "Use the prefix mb/.",
+        },
+      },
+    });
+
+    const defaultRuleIndex = prompt.indexOf("Title: short descriptive label");
+    const noticeIndex = prompt.indexOf("override the guidelines above");
+    const openTagIndex = prompt.indexOf("<user-instructions>");
+    const userInstructionIndex = prompt.indexOf("Use the prefix mb/.");
+    const closeTagIndex = prompt.indexOf("</user-instructions>");
+    const jsonContractIndex = prompt.indexOf("Return JSON only");
+    const payloadIndex = prompt.indexOf("User prompt:");
+
+    expect(defaultRuleIndex).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(0);
+    expect(defaultRuleIndex).toBeLessThan(openTagIndex);
+    expect(openTagIndex).toBeLessThan(noticeIndex);
+    expect(noticeIndex).toBeLessThan(userInstructionIndex);
+    expect(userInstructionIndex).toBeLessThan(closeTagIndex);
+    expect(closeTagIndex).toBeLessThan(jsonContractIndex);
+    expect(jsonContractIndex).toBeLessThan(payloadIndex);
+  });
 });
+
+async function generateTitlePromptWithConfig(config: unknown): Promise<{ prompt: string }> {
+  const repoRoot = mkdtempSync(path.join(tmpdir(), "paseo-title-config-"));
+  cleanupPaths.push(repoRoot);
+  if (typeof config === "string") {
+    writeFileSync(path.join(repoRoot, "paseo.json"), config);
+  } else if (config !== undefined) {
+    writeFileSync(path.join(repoRoot, "paseo.json"), `${JSON.stringify(config)}\n`);
+  }
+
+  const setTitle = vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(undefined);
+  const manager = { setTitle } as unknown as AgentManager;
+  const generateStructured = vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({ title: "Generated title" }) as NonNullable<
+    AgentMetadataGeneratorDeps["generateStructuredAgentResponseWithFallback"]
+  >;
+
+  await generateAndApplyAgentMetadata({
+    agentManager: manager,
+    agentId: "agent-config",
+    cwd: path.join(repoRoot, "nested"),
+    workspaceGitService: createNoopWorkspaceGitService({
+      resolveRepoRoot: async () => repoRoot,
+    }),
+    initialPrompt: "Implement this feature",
+    explicitTitle: null,
+    logger,
+    deps: createDeps(generateStructured),
+  });
+
+  return {
+    prompt: String(generateStructured.mock.calls[0]?.[0].prompt),
+  };
+}

packages/server/src/server/agent/mcp-server.ts

@@ -79,7 +79,10 @@ export interface AgentMcpServerOptions {
   scheduleService?: ScheduleService | null;
   providerRegistry?: Record<AgentProvider, ProviderDefinition> | null;
   github?: GitHubService;
-  workspaceGitService?: Pick<WorkspaceGitService, "getSnapshot" | "listWorktrees">;
+  workspaceGitService?: Pick<
+    WorkspaceGitService,
+    "getSnapshot" | "listWorktrees" | "resolveRepoRoot"
+  >;
   archiveWorkspaceRecord?: ArchivePaseoWorktreeDependencies["archiveWorkspaceRecord"];
   emitWorkspaceUpdatesForWorkspaceIds?: ArchivePaseoWorktreeDependencies["emitWorkspaceUpdatesForWorkspaceIds"];
   markWorkspaceArchiving?: ArchivePaseoWorktreeDependencies["markWorkspaceArchiving"];
@@ -847,6 +850,7 @@ export async function createAgentMcpServer(options: AgentMcpServerOptions): Prom
         agentManager,
         agentId: snapshot.id,
         cwd: snapshot.cwd,
+        workspaceGitService: options.workspaceGitService,
         initialPrompt: trimmedPrompt,
         explicitTitle: snapshot.config.title,
         paseoHome: options.paseoHome,

packages/server/src/server/session.test.ts

@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import { CheckoutPrStatusSchema } from "../shared/messages.js";
 import type { WorkspaceDescriptorPayload } from "../shared/messages.js";
 import { decodeFileTransferFrame, FileTransferOpcode } from "../shared/binary-frames/index.js";
 import { normalizeCheckoutPrStatusPayload, Session } from "./session.js";
+import { StructuredAgentFallbackError } from "./agent/agent-response-loop.js";
 import type {
   AgentClient,
   AgentMode,
@@ -269,6 +270,7 @@ interface SessionForTestOptions {
     validateBranchRef?: ReturnType<typeof vi.fn>;
     hasLocalBranch?: ReturnType<typeof vi.fn>;
     resolveRepoRemoteUrl?: ReturnType<typeof vi.fn>;
+    resolveRepoRoot?: ReturnType<typeof vi.fn>;
     getWorkspaceGitMetadata?: ReturnType<typeof vi.fn>;
   };
   workspaceRegistry?: { get: ReturnType<typeof vi.fn> };
@@ -305,6 +307,7 @@ function createSessionForTest(options: SessionForTestOptions = {}): Session {
     validateBranchRef: vi.fn(),
     hasLocalBranch: vi.fn(),
     resolveRepoRemoteUrl: vi.fn(),
+    resolveRepoRoot: vi.fn(),
     getWorkspaceGitMetadata: vi.fn(),
   };
   const messages = options.messages ?? [];
@@ -1638,6 +1641,78 @@ describe("session checkout merge handling", () => {
 });
 
 describe("session checkout commit handling", () => {
+  const tempDirs: string[] = [];
+  const PRE_CHANGE_COMMIT_PROMPT = `Write a concise git commit message for the changes below.
+Return JSON only with a single field 'message'.
+
+Files changed:
+M\tfile.txt\t(+1 -0)
+
+diff --git a/file.txt b/file.txt
++hello
+`;
+
+  afterEach(() => {
+    for (const dir of tempDirs.splice(0)) {
+      rmSync(dir, { recursive: true, force: true });
+    }
+  });
+
+  function makeRoot(): string {
+    const root = realpathSync(mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), "commit-metadata-session-test-")));
+    tempDirs.push(root);
+    return root;
+  }
+
+  function writeConfig(repoRoot: string, config: unknown): void {
+    writeFileSync(join(repoRoot, "paseo.json"), `${JSON.stringify(config)}\n`);
+  }
+
+  async function generateCommitPromptWithConfig(config: unknown): Promise<string> {
+    const repoRoot = makeRoot();
+    if (typeof config === "string") {
+      writeFileSync(join(repoRoot, "paseo.json"), config);
+    } else if (config !== undefined) {
+      writeConfig(repoRoot, config);
+    }
+
+    const workspaceGitService = {
+      getCheckoutDiff: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({
+        diff: "diff --git a/file.txt b/file.txt\n+hello\n",
+        structured: [
+          {
+            path: "file.txt",
+            additions: 1,
+            deletions: 0,
+            isNew: false,
+            isDeleted: false,
+            hunks: [],
+            status: "ok",
+          },
+        ],
+      }),
+      getSnapshot: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({}),
+      resolveRepoRoot: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(repoRoot),
+    };
+    agentResponseMocks.generateStructuredAgentResponseWithFallback.mockResolvedValue({
+      message: "Update file",
+    });
+    checkoutGitMocks.commitChanges.mockResolvedValue(undefined);
+    const session = createSessionForTest({ workspaceGitService });
+
+    await asSessionInternals(session).handleCheckoutCommitRequest({
+      type: "checkout_commit_request",
+      cwd: join(repoRoot, "nested"),
+      message: "",
+      addAll: true,
+      requestId: "request-generated-commit",
+    });
+
+    return String(
+      agentResponseMocks.generateStructuredAgentResponseWithFallback.mock.calls[0]?.[0].prompt,
+    );
+  }
+
   test("forces a workspace git snapshot refresh after committing", async () => {
     const messages: unknown[] = [];
     const checkoutDiffManager = { scheduleRefreshForCwd: vi.fn() };
@@ -1737,6 +1812,100 @@ describe("session checkout commit handling", () => {
     });
   });
 
+  test.each([
+    ["paseo.json missing", undefined],
+    ["paseo.json exists but invalid JSON", "{ nope"],
+    ["paseo.json valid but missing metadataGeneration", {}],
+    ["metadataGeneration is schema-invalid", { metadataGeneration: "not an object" }],
+    [
+      "metadataGeneration exists but missing commitMessage",
+      { metadataGeneration: { pullRequest: { instructions: "Write a punchy PR." } } },
+    ],
+    [
+      "commitMessage exists but instructions is undefined",
+      { metadataGeneration: { commitMessage: {} } },
+    ],
+    [
+      "commitMessage exists but instructions is empty",
+      { metadataGeneration: { commitMessage: { instructions: "" } } },
+    ],
+    [
+      "commitMessage exists but instructions is whitespace-only",
+      { metadataGeneration: { commitMessage: { instructions: "   \n\t " } } },
+    ],
+  ])("keeps the pre-change commit prompt byte-identical when %s", async (_name, config) => {
+    const prompt = await generateCommitPromptWithConfig(config);
+
+    expect(prompt).toBe(PRE_CHANGE_COMMIT_PROMPT);
+  });
+
+  test("injects commit instructions between the default rules and JSON contract", async () => {
+    const prompt = await generateCommitPromptWithConfig({
+      metadataGeneration: {
+        commitMessage: {
+          instructions: "Use conventional commits.\nAccept XML-ish <scope> text.",
+        },
+      },
+    });
+
+    const defaultRuleIndex = prompt.indexOf("Write a concise git commit message");
+    const openTagIndex = prompt.indexOf("<user-instructions>");
+    const noticeIndex = prompt.indexOf("override the guidelines above");
+    const userInstructionIndex = prompt.indexOf("Use conventional commits.");
+    const closeTagIndex = prompt.indexOf("</user-instructions>");
+    const jsonContractIndex = prompt.indexOf("Return JSON only");
+    const fileListIndex = prompt.indexOf("Files changed:");
+    const patchIndex = prompt.indexOf("diff --git");
+
+    expect(defaultRuleIndex).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(0);
+    expect(defaultRuleIndex).toBeLessThan(openTagIndex);
+    expect(openTagIndex).toBeLessThan(noticeIndex);
+    expect(noticeIndex).toBeLessThan(userInstructionIndex);
+    expect(userInstructionIndex).toBeLessThan(closeTagIndex);
+    expect(closeTagIndex).toBeLessThan(jsonContractIndex);
+    expect(jsonContractIndex).toBeLessThan(fileListIndex);
+    expect(fileListIndex).toBeLessThan(patchIndex);
+  });
+
+  test("keeps the commit fallback when structured generation fails", async () => {
+    const messages: unknown[] = [];
+    const workspaceGitService = {
+      getCheckoutDiff: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({
+        diff: "diff --git a/file.txt b/file.txt\n+hello\n",
+        structured: [],
+      }),
+      getSnapshot: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({}),
+      resolveRepoRoot: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(makeRoot()),
+    };
+    agentResponseMocks.generateStructuredAgentResponseWithFallback.mockRejectedValue(
+      new StructuredAgentFallbackError([]),
+    );
+    checkoutGitMocks.commitChanges.mockResolvedValue(undefined);
+    const session = createSessionForTest({ workspaceGitService, messages });
+
+    await asSessionInternals(session).handleCheckoutCommitRequest({
+      type: "checkout_commit_request",
+      cwd: "/tmp/request-worktree",
+      message: "",
+      addAll: true,
+      requestId: "request-generated-commit-fallback",
+    });
+
+    expect(checkoutGitMocks.commitChanges).toHaveBeenCalledWith("/tmp/request-worktree", {
+      message: "Update files",
+      addAll: true,
+    });
+    expect(messages).toContainEqual({
+      type: "checkout_commit_response",
+      payload: {
+        cwd: "/tmp/request-worktree",
+        success: true,
+        error: null,
+        requestId: "request-generated-commit-fallback",
+      },
+    });
+  });
+
   test("does not force a workspace git snapshot refresh when commit fails", async () => {
     const messages: unknown[] = [];
     const workspaceGitService = { getSnapshot: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({}) };
@@ -1768,6 +1937,85 @@ describe("session checkout commit handling", () => {
 });
 
 describe("session checkout pull request creation", () => {
+  const tempDirs: string[] = [];
+  const PRE_CHANGE_PULL_REQUEST_PROMPT = `Write a pull request title and body for the changes below.
+Return JSON only with fields 'title' and 'body'.
+
+Files changed:
+M\tfile.txt\t(+1 -0)
+
+diff --git a/file.txt b/file.txt
++hello
+`;
+
+  afterEach(() => {
+    for (const dir of tempDirs.splice(0)) {
+      rmSync(dir, { recursive: true, force: true });
+    }
+  });
+
+  function makeRoot(): string {
+    const root = realpathSync(mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), "pr-metadata-session-test-")));
+    tempDirs.push(root);
+    return root;
+  }
+
+  function writeConfig(repoRoot: string, config: unknown): void {
+    writeFileSync(join(repoRoot, "paseo.json"), `${JSON.stringify(config)}\n`);
+  }
+
+  async function generatePullRequestCallWithConfig(config: unknown): Promise<unknown> {
+    const repoRoot = makeRoot();
+    if (typeof config === "string") {
+      writeFileSync(join(repoRoot, "paseo.json"), config);
+    } else if (config !== undefined) {
+      writeConfig(repoRoot, config);
+    }
+
+    const workspaceGitService = {
+      getCheckoutDiff: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({
+        diff: "diff --git a/file.txt b/file.txt\n+hello\n",
+        structured: [
+          {
+            path: "file.txt",
+            additions: 1,
+            deletions: 0,
+            isNew: false,
+            isDeleted: false,
+            hunks: [],
+            status: "ok",
+          },
+        ],
+      }),
+      resolveRepoRoot: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(repoRoot),
+    };
+    agentResponseMocks.generateStructuredAgentResponseWithFallback.mockResolvedValue({
+      title: "Update file",
+      body: "Updates file.",
+    });
+    checkoutGitMocks.createPullRequest.mockResolvedValue({
+      url: "https://github.com/getpaseo/paseo/pull/1",
+      number: 1,
+    });
+    const session = createSessionForTest({ workspaceGitService });
+
+    await asSessionInternals(session).handleCheckoutPrCreateRequest({
+      type: "checkout_pr_create_request",
+      cwd: join(repoRoot, "nested"),
+      baseRef: "main",
+      title: "",
+      body: "",
+      requestId: "request-generated-pr",
+    });
+
+    return agentResponseMocks.generateStructuredAgentResponseWithFallback.mock.calls[0]?.[0];
+  }
+
+  async function generatePullRequestPromptWithConfig(config: unknown): Promise<string> {
+    const call = await generatePullRequestCallWithConfig(config);
+    return String((call as { prompt?: unknown } | undefined)?.prompt);
+  }
+
   test("generates PR text from checkout diffs read through the workspace git service", async () => {
     const messages: unknown[] = [];
     const workspaceGitService = {
@@ -1841,6 +2089,133 @@ describe("session checkout pull request creation", () => {
     });
   });
 
+  test.each([
+    ["paseo.json missing", undefined],
+    ["paseo.json exists but invalid JSON", "{ nope"],
+    ["paseo.json valid but missing metadataGeneration", {}],
+    ["metadataGeneration is schema-invalid", { metadataGeneration: "not an object" }],
+    [
+      "metadataGeneration exists but missing pullRequest",
+      { metadataGeneration: { commitMessage: { instructions: "Use conventional commits." } } },
+    ],
+    [
+      "pullRequest exists but instructions is undefined",
+      { metadataGeneration: { pullRequest: {} } },
+    ],
+    [
+      "pullRequest exists but instructions is empty",
+      { metadataGeneration: { pullRequest: { instructions: "" } } },
+    ],
+    [
+      "pullRequest exists but instructions is whitespace-only",
+      { metadataGeneration: { pullRequest: { instructions: "   \n\t " } } },
+    ],
+  ])("keeps the pre-change PR prompt byte-identical when %s", async (_name, config) => {
+    const prompt = await generatePullRequestPromptWithConfig(config);
+
+    expect(prompt).toBe(PRE_CHANGE_PULL_REQUEST_PROMPT);
+  });
+
+  test("injects PR instructions between the default rules and JSON contract", async () => {
+    const prompt = await generatePullRequestPromptWithConfig({
+      metadataGeneration: {
+        pullRequest: {
+          instructions: "Use a terse title.\nKeep literal <ticket> text.",
+        },
+      },
+    });
+
+    const defaultRuleIndex = prompt.indexOf("Write a pull request title and body");
+    const openTagIndex = prompt.indexOf("<user-instructions>");
+    const noticeIndex = prompt.indexOf("override the guidelines above");
+    const userInstructionIndex = prompt.indexOf("Use a terse title.");
+    const closeTagIndex = prompt.indexOf("</user-instructions>");
+    const jsonContractIndex = prompt.indexOf("Return JSON only");
+    const fileListIndex = prompt.indexOf("Files changed:");
+    const patchIndex = prompt.indexOf("diff --git");
+
+    expect(defaultRuleIndex).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(0);
+    expect(defaultRuleIndex).toBeLessThan(openTagIndex);
+    expect(openTagIndex).toBeLessThan(noticeIndex);
+    expect(noticeIndex).toBeLessThan(userInstructionIndex);
+    expect(userInstructionIndex).toBeLessThan(closeTagIndex);
+    expect(closeTagIndex).toBeLessThan(jsonContractIndex);
+    expect(jsonContractIndex).toBeLessThan(fileListIndex);
+    expect(fileListIndex).toBeLessThan(patchIndex);
+  });
+
+  test("keeps PR generation as one structured call with title and body schema", async () => {
+    const call = await generatePullRequestCallWithConfig({
+      metadataGeneration: {
+        pullRequest: {
+          instructions: "Use release-note style.",
+        },
+      },
+    });
+    const schema = (call as { schema?: { safeParse?: (value: unknown) => { success: boolean } } })
+      .schema;
+
+    expect(agentResponseMocks.generateStructuredAgentResponseWithFallback).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+    expect(call).toMatchObject({
+      schemaName: "PullRequest",
+      persistSession: false,
+      agentConfigOverrides: {
+        title: "PR generator",
+        internal: true,
+      },
+    });
+    expect(schema?.safeParse?.({ title: "Update file", body: "Updates file." }).success).toBe(true);
+    expect(schema?.safeParse?.({ title: "Update file" }).success).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  test("keeps the PR fallback when structured generation fails", async () => {
+    const messages: unknown[] = [];
+    const workspaceGitService = {
+      getCheckoutDiff: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({
+        diff: "diff --git a/file.txt b/file.txt\n+hello\n",
+        structured: [],
+      }),
+      resolveRepoRoot: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(makeRoot()),
+    };
+    agentResponseMocks.generateStructuredAgentResponseWithFallback.mockRejectedValue(
+      new StructuredAgentFallbackError([]),
+    );
+    checkoutGitMocks.createPullRequest.mockResolvedValue({
+      url: "https://github.com/getpaseo/paseo/pull/9",
+      number: 9,
+    });
+    const session = createSessionForTest({ workspaceGitService, messages });
+
+    await asSessionInternals(session).handleCheckoutPrCreateRequest({
+      type: "checkout_pr_create_request",
+      cwd: "/tmp/request-worktree",
+      baseRef: "main",
+      title: "",
+      body: "",
+      requestId: "request-generated-pr-fallback",
+    });
+
+    expect(checkoutGitMocks.createPullRequest).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      "/tmp/request-worktree",
+      {
+        title: "Update changes",
+        body: "Automated PR generated by Paseo.",
+        base: "main",
+      },
+      expect.anything(),
+    );
+    expect(messages).toContainEqual({
+      type: "checkout_pr_create_response",
+      payload: {
+        cwd: "/tmp/request-worktree",
+        url: "https://github.com/getpaseo/paseo/pull/9",
+        number: 9,
+        error: null,
+        requestId: "request-generated-pr-fallback",
+      },
+    });
+  });
+
   test("forces workspace git and GitHub refresh after creating a pull request", async () => {
     const messages: unknown[] = [];
     const github = { invalidate: vi.fn() };

packages/server/src/server/session.ts

@@ -173,6 +173,7 @@ import {
   writePaseoConfigForEdit,
   type ProjectConfigRpcError,
 } from "../utils/paseo-config-file.js";
+import { buildMetadataPrompt } from "../utils/build-metadata-prompt.js";
 import { archivePersistedWorkspaceRecord } from "./workspace-archive-service.js";
 import { WorkspaceReconciliationService } from "./workspace-reconciliation-service.js";
 import type { ScriptRouteStore } from "./script-proxy.js";
@@ -3110,6 +3111,7 @@ export class Session {
       agentManager: this.agentManager,
       agentId: snapshot.id,
       cwd: snapshot.cwd,
+      workspaceGitService: this.workspaceGitService,
       initialPrompt: trimmedPrompt,
       explicitTitle: params.explicitTitle,
       paseoHome: this.paseoHome,
@@ -3284,6 +3286,7 @@ export class Session {
       agentManager: this.agentManager,
       agentId: snapshot.id,
       cwd: snapshot.cwd,
+      workspaceGitService: this.workspaceGitService,
       initialPrompt,
       explicitTitle,
       paseoHome: this.paseoHome,
@@ -3445,6 +3448,7 @@ export class Session {
         return generateBranchNameFromFirstAgentContext({
           agentManager: this.agentManager,
           cwd,
+          workspaceGitService: this.workspaceGitService,
           firstAgentContext,
           logger: this.sessionLogger,
         });
@@ -3906,14 +3910,19 @@ export class Session {
       diff.diff.length > maxPatchChars
         ? `${diff.diff.slice(0, maxPatchChars)}\n\n... (diff truncated to ${maxPatchChars} chars)\n`
         : diff.diff;
-    const prompt = [
+    const prompt = await buildMetadataPrompt({
-      "Write a concise git commit message for the changes below.",
+      cwd,
-      "Return JSON only with a single field 'message'.",
+      workspaceGitService: this.workspaceGitService,
-      "",
+      configKey: "commitMessage",
-      fileList,
+      before: "Write a concise git commit message for the changes below.",
-      "",
+      after: [
-      patch.length > 0 ? patch : "(No diff available)",
+        "Return JSON only with a single field 'message'.",
-    ].join("\n");
+        "",
+        fileList,
+        "",
+        patch.length > 0 ? patch : "(No diff available)",
+      ].join("\n"),
+    });
     try {
       const result = await generateStructuredAgentResponseWithFallback({
         manager: this.agentManager,
@@ -3973,14 +3982,19 @@ export class Session {
       diff.diff.length > maxPatchChars
         ? `${diff.diff.slice(0, maxPatchChars)}\n\n... (diff truncated to ${maxPatchChars} chars)\n`
         : diff.diff;
-    const prompt = [
+    const prompt = await buildMetadataPrompt({
-      "Write a pull request title and body for the changes below.",
+      cwd,
-      "Return JSON only with fields 'title' and 'body'.",
+      workspaceGitService: this.workspaceGitService,
-      "",
+      configKey: "pullRequest",
-      fileList,
+      before: "Write a pull request title and body for the changes below.",
-      "",
+      after: [
-      patch.length > 0 ? patch : "(No diff available)",
+        "Return JSON only with fields 'title' and 'body'.",
-    ].join("\n");
+        "",
+        fileList,
+        "",
+        patch.length > 0 ? patch : "(No diff available)",
+      ].join("\n"),
+    });
     try {
       return await generateStructuredAgentResponseWithFallback({
         manager: this.agentManager,

packages/server/src/server/worktree-branch-name-generator.test.ts

@@ -1,7 +1,34 @@
-import { describe, expect, test, vi } from "vitest";
+import { mkdirSync, mkdtempSync, rmSync, writeFileSync } from "node:fs";
+import { tmpdir } from "node:os";
+import path from "node:path";
+import { afterEach, describe, expect, test, vi } from "vitest";
 
 import type { AgentManager } from "./agent/agent-manager.js";
+import {
+  attemptFirstAgentBranchAutoName,
+  type AttemptFirstAgentBranchAutoNameResult,
+} from "./paseo-worktree-service.js";
+import { createNoopWorkspaceGitService } from "./test-utils/workspace-git-service-stub.js";
 import { generateBranchNameFromFirstAgentContext } from "./worktree-branch-name-generator.js";
+import {
+  writePaseoWorktreeFirstAgentBranchAutoNameMetadata,
+  writePaseoWorktreeMetadata,
+} from "../utils/worktree-metadata.js";
+
+const cleanupPaths: string[] = [];
+const PRE_CHANGE_BRANCH_PROMPT = `Generate a git branch name for a coding agent based on the user prompt and attachments.
+Branch: concise lowercase slug using letters, numbers, hyphens, and slashes only.
+No spaces, no uppercase, no leading or trailing hyphen, no consecutive hyphens.
+Return JSON only with a single field 'branch'.
+
+User context:
+Fix the login flow`;
+
+afterEach(() => {
+  for (const target of cleanupPaths.splice(0)) {
+    rmSync(target, { recursive: true, force: true });
+  }
+});
 
 function createLogger() {
   return {
@@ -60,4 +87,129 @@ describe("generateBranchNameFromFirstAgentContext", () => {
     expect(branch).toBe("review-flaky-checkout");
     expect(generateStructured.mock.calls[0]?.[0].prompt).toContain("Review flaky checkout");
   });
+
+  test.each([
+    ["paseo.json missing", undefined],
+    ["paseo.json exists but invalid JSON", "{ nope"],
+    ["paseo.json valid but missing metadataGeneration", {}],
+    [
+      "metadataGeneration exists but missing branchName",
+      { metadataGeneration: { agentTitle: { instructions: "Use mb/." } } },
+    ],
+    ["branchName exists but instructions is undefined", { metadataGeneration: { branchName: {} } }],
+    [
+      "branchName exists but instructions is empty",
+      { metadataGeneration: { branchName: { instructions: "" } } },
+    ],
+    [
+      "branchName exists but instructions is whitespace-only",
+      { metadataGeneration: { branchName: { instructions: "   \n\t " } } },
+    ],
+  ])("keeps the pre-change prompt byte-identical when %s", async (_name, config) => {
+    const { prompt } = await generateBranchPromptWithConfig(config);
+
+    expect(prompt).toBe(PRE_CHANGE_BRANCH_PROMPT);
+  });
+
+  test("injects project instructions between the default rules and JSON contract", async () => {
+    const { prompt } = await generateBranchPromptWithConfig({
+      metadataGeneration: {
+        branchName: {
+          instructions: "Use the prefix mb/.",
+        },
+      },
+    });
+
+    const defaultRuleIndex = prompt.indexOf("No spaces, no uppercase");
+    const noticeIndex = prompt.indexOf("override the guidelines above");
+    const openTagIndex = prompt.indexOf("<user-instructions>");
+    const userInstructionIndex = prompt.indexOf("Use the prefix mb/.");
+    const closeTagIndex = prompt.indexOf("</user-instructions>");
+    const jsonContractIndex = prompt.indexOf("Return JSON only");
+    const payloadIndex = prompt.indexOf("User context:");
+
+    expect(defaultRuleIndex).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(0);
+    expect(defaultRuleIndex).toBeLessThan(openTagIndex);
+    expect(openTagIndex).toBeLessThan(noticeIndex);
+    expect(noticeIndex).toBeLessThan(userInstructionIndex);
+    expect(userInstructionIndex).toBeLessThan(closeTagIndex);
+    expect(closeTagIndex).toBeLessThan(jsonContractIndex);
+    expect(jsonContractIndex).toBeLessThan(payloadIndex);
+  });
+
+  test("keeps the branch slug validator fallback when instructions are present", async () => {
+    const repoRoot = createTempDir("paseo-branch-config-");
+    const worktreeRoot = createTempDir("paseo-branch-worktree-");
+    mkdirSync(path.join(worktreeRoot, ".git"));
+    writePaseoWorktreeMetadata(worktreeRoot, { baseRefName: "main" });
+    writePaseoWorktreeFirstAgentBranchAutoNameMetadata(worktreeRoot, {
+      placeholderBranchName: "dazzling-yak",
+    });
+    writeConfig(repoRoot, {
+      metadataGeneration: {
+        branchName: {
+          instructions: "Use the prefix mb/.",
+        },
+      },
+    });
+    const generateStructured = vi.fn(async () => ({ branch: "Invalid Branch Name" }));
+    const renameCurrentBranch = vi.fn(async () => ({ currentBranch: "Invalid Branch Name" }));
+
+    const result: AttemptFirstAgentBranchAutoNameResult = await attemptFirstAgentBranchAutoName({
+      cwd: worktreeRoot,
+      firstAgentContext: { prompt: "Fix the login flow" },
+      generateBranchNameFromContext: ({ cwd, firstAgentContext }) =>
+        generateBranchNameFromFirstAgentContext({
+          agentManager: {} as AgentManager,
+          cwd,
+          workspaceGitService: createNoopWorkspaceGitService({
+            resolveRepoRoot: async () => repoRoot,
+          }),
+          firstAgentContext,
+          logger: createLogger(),
+          deps: { generateStructuredAgentResponseWithFallback: generateStructured },
+        }),
+      getCurrentBranch: async () => "dazzling-yak",
+      renameCurrentBranch,
+    });
+
+    expect(result).toEqual({ attempted: true, renamed: false, branchName: null });
+    expect(renameCurrentBranch).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
 });
+
+async function generateBranchPromptWithConfig(config: unknown): Promise<{ prompt: string }> {
+  const repoRoot = createTempDir("paseo-branch-config-");
+  if (typeof config === "string") {
+    writeFileSync(path.join(repoRoot, "paseo.json"), config);
+  } else if (config !== undefined) {
+    writeConfig(repoRoot, config);
+  }
+
+  const generateStructured = vi.fn(async () => ({ branch: "fix-login-flow" }));
+
+  await generateBranchNameFromFirstAgentContext({
+    agentManager: {} as AgentManager,
+    cwd: path.join(repoRoot, "nested"),
+    workspaceGitService: createNoopWorkspaceGitService({
+      resolveRepoRoot: async () => repoRoot,
+    }),
+    firstAgentContext: { prompt: "Fix the login flow" },
+    logger: createLogger(),
+    deps: { generateStructuredAgentResponseWithFallback: generateStructured },
+  });
+
+  return {
+    prompt: String(generateStructured.mock.calls[0]?.[0].prompt),
+  };
+}
+
+function createTempDir(prefix: string): string {
+  const tempDir = mkdtempSync(path.join(tmpdir(), prefix));
+  cleanupPaths.push(tempDir);
+  return tempDir;
+}
+
+function writeConfig(repoRoot: string, config: unknown): void {
+  writeFileSync(path.join(repoRoot, "paseo.json"), `${JSON.stringify(config)}\n`);
+}

packages/server/src/server/worktree-branch-name-generator.ts

@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@ import {
   generateStructuredAgentResponseWithFallback,
 } from "./agent/agent-response-loop.js";
 import { buildAgentBranchNameSeed } from "./agent/prompt-attachments.js";
+import { buildMetadataPrompt } from "../utils/build-metadata-prompt.js";
+import type { WorkspaceGitService } from "./workspace-git-service.js";
 
 interface BranchNameGeneratorLogger {
   warn: (obj: object, msg?: string) => void;
@@ -17,6 +19,7 @@ interface BranchNameGeneratorLogger {
 export interface GenerateBranchNameFromFirstAgentContextOptions {
   agentManager: AgentManager;
   cwd: string;
+  workspaceGitService?: Pick<WorkspaceGitService, "resolveRepoRoot">;
   firstAgentContext: FirstAgentContext | undefined;
   logger: BranchNameGeneratorLogger;
   deps?: {
@@ -28,16 +31,25 @@ const BranchNameSchema = z.object({
   branch: z.string().min(1).max(100),
 });
 
-function buildPrompt(seed: string): string {
+async function buildPrompt(
-  return [
+  seed: string,
-    "Generate a git branch name for a coding agent based on the user prompt and attachments.",
+  options: {
-    "Branch: concise lowercase slug using letters, numbers, hyphens, and slashes only.",
+    cwd: string;
-    "No spaces, no uppercase, no leading or trailing hyphen, no consecutive hyphens.",
+    workspaceGitService?: Pick<WorkspaceGitService, "resolveRepoRoot">;
-    "Return JSON only with a single field 'branch'.",
+  },
-    "",
+): Promise<string> {
-    "User context:",
+  return buildMetadataPrompt({
-    seed,
+    cwd: options.cwd,
-  ].join("\n");
+    workspaceGitService: options.workspaceGitService,
+    configKey: "branchName",
+    before: [
+      "Generate a git branch name for a coding agent based on the user prompt and attachments.",
+      "Branch: concise lowercase slug using letters, numbers, hyphens, and slashes only.",
+      "No spaces, no uppercase, no leading or trailing hyphen, no consecutive hyphens.",
+    ].join("\n"),
+    after: "Return JSON only with a single field 'branch'.",
+    trailing: `User context:\n${seed}`,
+  });
 }
 
 export async function generateBranchNameFromFirstAgentContext(
@@ -56,7 +68,10 @@ export async function generateBranchNameFromFirstAgentContext(
     const result = await generator({
       manager: options.agentManager,
       cwd: options.cwd,
-      prompt: buildPrompt(seed),
+      prompt: await buildPrompt(seed, {
+        cwd: options.cwd,
+        workspaceGitService: options.workspaceGitService,
+      }),
       schema: BranchNameSchema,
       schemaName: "BranchName",
       maxRetries: 2,

packages/server/src/shared/messages.ts

@@ -55,22 +55,30 @@ import {
 import {
   PaseoConfigRawSchema,
   PaseoLifecycleCommandRawSchema,
+  PaseoMetadataGenerationEntrySchema,
+  PaseoMetadataGenerationSchema,
   PaseoScriptEntryRawSchema,
   PaseoWorktreeConfigRawSchema,
   PaseoConfigRevisionSchema,
   ProjectConfigRpcErrorSchema,
   type PaseoConfigRaw,
   type PaseoConfigRevision,
+  type PaseoMetadataGeneration,
+  type PaseoMetadataGenerationEntry,
   type PaseoScriptEntryRaw,
   type ProjectConfigRpcError,
 } from "../utils/paseo-config-schema.js";
 export {
   PaseoConfigRawSchema,
   PaseoLifecycleCommandRawSchema,
+  PaseoMetadataGenerationEntrySchema,
+  PaseoMetadataGenerationSchema,
   PaseoScriptEntryRawSchema,
   PaseoWorktreeConfigRawSchema,
   type PaseoConfigRaw,
   type PaseoConfigRevision,
+  type PaseoMetadataGeneration,
+  type PaseoMetadataGenerationEntry,
   type PaseoScriptEntryRaw,
   type ProjectConfigRpcError,
 };

packages/server/src/utils/build-metadata-prompt.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+import { readPaseoConfigJson } from "./paseo-config-file.js";
+import { PaseoConfigSchema } from "./paseo-config-schema.js";
+import { wrapWithUserInstructions } from "./wrap-user-instructions.js";
+
+export type MetadataConfigKey = "agentTitle" | "branchName" | "commitMessage" | "pullRequest";
+
+export interface RepoRootResolver {
+  resolveRepoRoot: (cwd: string) => Promise<string>;
+}
+
+export interface BuildMetadataPromptOptions {
+  cwd: string;
+  configKey: MetadataConfigKey;
+  before: string;
+  after: string;
+  trailing?: string;
+  workspaceGitService?: RepoRootResolver;
+}
+
+export async function buildMetadataPrompt(options: BuildMetadataPromptOptions): Promise<string> {
+  const instructions = await readProjectMetadataInstructions(options);
+  const head = isNonEmptyString(instructions)
+    ? wrapWithUserInstructions(options.before, instructions, options.after)
+    : `${options.before}\n${options.after}`;
+  return options.trailing ? `${head}\n\n${options.trailing}` : head;
+}
+
+async function readProjectMetadataInstructions(
+  options: Pick<BuildMetadataPromptOptions, "cwd" | "configKey" | "workspaceGitService">,
+): Promise<string | undefined> {
+  if (!options.workspaceGitService) {
+    return undefined;
+  }
+  try {
+    const repoRoot = await options.workspaceGitService.resolveRepoRoot(options.cwd);
+    const json = readPaseoConfigJson(repoRoot);
+    const config = PaseoConfigSchema.parse(json);
+    return config.metadataGeneration?.[options.configKey]?.instructions;
+  } catch {
+    return undefined;
+  }
+}
+
+function isNonEmptyString(value: unknown): value is string {
+  return typeof value === "string" && value.trim() !== "";
+}

packages/server/src/utils/paseo-config-schema.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,154 @@
+import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
+import { PaseoConfigRawSchema, PaseoConfigSchema } from "./paseo-config-schema.js";
+
+describe("paseo config schema", () => {
+  it("parses an empty config without metadata generation", () => {
+    const parsed = PaseoConfigSchema.parse({});
+
+    expect(parsed).toEqual({});
+    expect(parsed.metadataGeneration).toBeUndefined();
+  });
+
+  it("parses old-style worktree and scripts config unchanged", () => {
+    const config = {
+      worktree: {
+        setup: "npm install",
+        teardown: ["npm run clean"],
+      },
+      scripts: {
+        dev: {
+          type: "service",
+          command: "npm run dev",
+          port: 5173,
+        },
+      },
+    };
+
+    expect(PaseoConfigSchema.parse(config)).toEqual({
+      worktree: {
+        setup: ["npm install"],
+        teardown: ["npm run clean"],
+      },
+      scripts: config.scripts,
+    });
+  });
+
+  it("parses all metadata generation instruction entries", () => {
+    expect(
+      PaseoConfigSchema.parse({
+        metadataGeneration: {
+          agentTitle: { instructions: "Use concise titles." },
+          branchName: { instructions: "Prefix branches with feat/." },
+          commitMessage: { instructions: "Use imperative mood." },
+          pullRequest: { instructions: "Include risk notes." },
+        },
+      }),
+    ).toEqual({
+      metadataGeneration: {
+        agentTitle: { instructions: "Use concise titles." },
+        branchName: { instructions: "Prefix branches with feat/." },
+        commitMessage: { instructions: "Use imperative mood." },
+        pullRequest: { instructions: "Include risk notes." },
+      },
+    });
+  });
+
+  it("parses partial metadata generation instructions with missing entries undefined", () => {
+    const parsed = PaseoConfigSchema.parse({
+      metadataGeneration: {
+        agentTitle: { instructions: "Keep it short." },
+      },
+    });
+
+    expect(parsed.metadataGeneration).toEqual({
+      agentTitle: { instructions: "Keep it short." },
+    });
+    expect(parsed.metadataGeneration?.branchName).toBeUndefined();
+    expect(parsed.metadataGeneration?.commitMessage).toBeUndefined();
+    expect(parsed.metadataGeneration?.pullRequest).toBeUndefined();
+  });
+
+  it("passes through unknown metadata generation fields", () => {
+    expect(
+      PaseoConfigSchema.parse({
+        metadataGeneration: {
+          agentTitle: { instructions: "Use concise titles." },
+          futureField: 42,
+        },
+      }),
+    ).toEqual({
+      metadataGeneration: {
+        agentTitle: { instructions: "Use concise titles." },
+        futureField: 42,
+      },
+    });
+  });
+
+  it("passes through unknown metadata generator entry fields", () => {
+    expect(
+      PaseoConfigSchema.parse({
+        metadataGeneration: {
+          agentTitle: {
+            instructions: "Use concise titles.",
+            model: "haiku",
+          },
+        },
+      }),
+    ).toEqual({
+      metadataGeneration: {
+        agentTitle: {
+          instructions: "Use concise titles.",
+          model: "haiku",
+        },
+      },
+    });
+  });
+
+  it("falls back to an empty metadata generator entry when instructions has an invalid type", () => {
+    expect(
+      PaseoConfigSchema.parse({
+        metadataGeneration: {
+          agentTitle: { instructions: 42 },
+        },
+      }),
+    ).toEqual({
+      metadataGeneration: {
+        agentTitle: {},
+      },
+    });
+  });
+
+  it("raw schema preserves old-style config while accepting metadata generation", () => {
+    const config = {
+      worktree: {
+        setup: "npm install",
+        teardown: ["npm run clean"],
+      },
+      scripts: {
+        dev: {
+          type: "service",
+          command: "npm run dev",
+        },
+      },
+      metadataGeneration: {
+        agentTitle: { instructions: "Use concise titles." },
+      },
+    };
+
+    expect(PaseoConfigRawSchema.parse(config)).toEqual(config);
+  });
+
+  it("raw schema falls back to an empty metadata generator entry when instructions has an invalid type", () => {
+    expect(
+      PaseoConfigRawSchema.parse({
+        metadataGeneration: {
+          agentTitle: { instructions: 42 },
+        },
+      }),
+    ).toEqual({
+      metadataGeneration: {
+        agentTitle: {},
+      },
+    });
+  });
+});

packages/server/src/utils/paseo-config-schema.ts

@@ -30,10 +30,28 @@ export const PaseoWorktreeConfigRawSchema = z
   })
   .passthrough();
 
+export const PaseoMetadataGenerationEntrySchema = z
+  .object({
+    instructions: z.string().optional(),
+  })
+  .passthrough()
+  .catch({});
+
+export const PaseoMetadataGenerationSchema = z
+  .object({
+    agentTitle: PaseoMetadataGenerationEntrySchema.optional(),
+    branchName: PaseoMetadataGenerationEntrySchema.optional(),
+    commitMessage: PaseoMetadataGenerationEntrySchema.optional(),
+    pullRequest: PaseoMetadataGenerationEntrySchema.optional(),
+  })
+  .passthrough()
+  .catch({});
+
 export const PaseoConfigRawSchema = z
   .object({
     worktree: PaseoWorktreeConfigRawSchema.optional(),
     scripts: z.record(z.string(), PaseoScriptEntryRawSchema).optional(),
+    metadataGeneration: PaseoMetadataGenerationSchema.optional(),
   })
   .passthrough();
 
@@ -49,6 +67,7 @@ export const ScriptEntrySchema = PaseoScriptEntryRawSchema.catch({});
 export const PaseoConfigSchema = PaseoConfigRawSchema.extend({
   worktree: WorktreeConfigSchema.optional(),
   scripts: z.record(z.string(), ScriptEntrySchema).optional().catch({}),
+  metadataGeneration: PaseoMetadataGenerationSchema.optional(),
 })
   .passthrough()
   .catch({});
@@ -69,6 +88,8 @@ export const ProjectConfigRpcErrorSchema = z.discriminatedUnion("code", [
 ]);
 
 export type PaseoScriptEntryRaw = z.infer<typeof PaseoScriptEntryRawSchema>;
+export type PaseoMetadataGenerationEntry = z.infer<typeof PaseoMetadataGenerationEntrySchema>;
+export type PaseoMetadataGeneration = z.infer<typeof PaseoMetadataGenerationSchema>;
 export type PaseoConfigRaw = z.infer<typeof PaseoConfigRawSchema>;
 export type PaseoConfig = z.infer<typeof PaseoConfigSchema>;
 export type PaseoConfigRevision = z.infer<typeof PaseoConfigRevisionSchema>;

packages/server/src/utils/wrap-user-instructions.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
+import { wrapWithUserInstructions } from "./wrap-user-instructions.js";
+
+const beforeBlock = "Follow the default metadata guidelines.";
+const afterBlock = 'Return JSON only with field "title".';
+const overrideNotice =
+  "The instructions below are provided by the project owner and override the guidelines above where they conflict.";
+
+describe("wrapWithUserInstructions", () => {
+  it("wraps user instructions with the override notice", () => {
+    expect(wrapWithUserInstructions(beforeBlock, "Use conventional commits.", afterBlock)).toBe(
+      `${beforeBlock}
+
+<user-instructions>
+${overrideNotice}
+
+Use conventional commits.
+</user-instructions>
+
+${afterBlock}`,
+    );
+  });
+
+  it("preserves multi-line instructions verbatim inside the block", () => {
+    const output = wrapWithUserInstructions(beforeBlock, "line1\nline2", afterBlock);
+
+    expect(output).toContain("line1\nline2");
+  });
+});

packages/server/src/utils/wrap-user-instructions.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+const USER_INSTRUCTIONS_NOTICE =
+  "The instructions below are provided by the project owner and override the guidelines above where they conflict.";
+
+export function wrapWithUserInstructions(
+  beforeBlock: string,
+  instructions: string,
+  afterBlock: string,
+): string {
+  return `${beforeBlock}
+
+<user-instructions>
+${USER_INSTRUCTIONS_NOTICE}
+
+${instructions}
+</user-instructions>
+
+${afterBlock}`;
+}