Refactor/extract instructions file

.dockerignore

@@ -8,5 +8,6 @@ __pycache__
 firecrawl_selfhost_servers_config.json
 jira_servers_config.json
 servers_config.json
+instructions.md
 .envrc
 .pre-commit-config.yaml

.gitignore

@@ -10,5 +10,6 @@ wheels/
 .venv
 .envrc
 servers_config.json
+instructions.md
 access.json
 .access.pending.json

README.md

@@ -43,6 +43,17 @@ export OPENAI_API_KEY=""
 export OPENAI_MODEL="gpt-5.4"
 ```
 
+## Agent Instructions
+
+The bot loads its system prompt from `instructions.md` in the project root.
+If the file is missing, the bot fails fast at startup.
+
+You can copy `instructions.md.example` as a starting point:
+
+```bash
+cp instructions.md.example instructions.md
+```
+
 If you are using Azure OpenAI (v1 API), set these instead:
 
 ```
@@ -57,7 +68,6 @@ Create a `servers_config.json` file to add your MCP servers. If this file is not
 
 ```json
 {
-  "instructions": "Your custom system prompt here.",
   "mcpServers": {
     "my-server": {
       "command": "uvx",
@@ -67,13 +77,13 @@ Create a `servers_config.json` file to add your MCP servers. If this file is not
 }
 ```
 
-For HTTP-based MCP servers (Streamable HTTP), use `httpUrl`:
+For HTTP-based MCP servers (Streamable HTTP), use `url`:
 
 ```json
 {
   "mcpServers": {
     "my-server": {
-      "httpUrl": "https://mcp.example.com/mcp",
+      "url": "https://mcp.example.com/mcp",
       "headers": {
         "Accept": "application/json, text/event-stream"
       }
@@ -86,7 +96,6 @@ For local MCP servers, use `uv --directory`:
 
 ```json
 {
-  "instructions": "Your custom system prompt here.",
   "mcpServers": {
     "my-server": {
       "command": "uv",
@@ -184,7 +193,22 @@ docker run -d \
   -e TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN="" \
   -e OPENAI_API_KEY="" \
   -e OPENAI_MODEL="gpt-5.4" \
+  -v /path/to/instructions.md:/app/instructions.md \
   -v /path/to/servers_config.json:/app/servers_config.json \
   -v /path/to/access.json:/app/access.json \
   agentic-telegram-bot
 ```
+
+If you do not use MCP servers, you still need to mount `instructions.md`:
+
+```bash
+docker run -d \
+  --name telegent \
+  -e BOT_USERNAME="@your_bot_username" \
+  -e TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN="" \
+  -e OPENAI_API_KEY="" \
+  -e OPENAI_MODEL="gpt-5.4" \
+  -v /path/to/instructions.md:/app/instructions.md \
+  -v /path/to/access.json:/app/access.json \
+  agentic-telegram-bot
+```

bot/agents.py

@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 import asyncio
 import logging
 import os
+from pathlib import Path
 from typing import Any
 
 from agents import Agent
@@ -15,19 +16,29 @@
 from agents.tracing import set_tracing_disabled
 from openai import AsyncOpenAI
 
-DEFAULT_INSTRUCTIONS = (
-    "You are a helpful assistant in a Telegram chat. "
-    "When referencing articles, websites, or resources, always include "
-    "the URL as a markdown hyperlink, e.g. [title](https://example.com). "
-    "Keep responses concise and well-structured for mobile reading."
-)
+INSTRUCTIONS_FILE = Path("instructions.md")
 
 MAX_TURNS = 10
 MCP_SESSION_TIMEOUT_SECONDS = 30.0
 
 set_tracing_disabled(True)
 
 
+def _load_instructions() -> str:
+    """Load agent instructions from ``instructions.md`` in the working directory.
+
+    Fails fast with a clear error if the file is missing, so misconfiguration
+    is caught immediately at startup.
+    """
+    try:
+        return INSTRUCTIONS_FILE.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
+    except FileNotFoundError as e:
+        raise FileNotFoundError(
+            f"Instructions file not found: {INSTRUCTIONS_FILE.resolve()}. "
+            "Create or mount instructions.md with the agent system prompt."
+        ) from e
+
+
 def _get_model() -> OpenAIResponsesModel | OpenAIChatCompletionsModel:
     """Create an OpenAI model from environment variables.
 
@@ -53,8 +64,8 @@ class OpenAIAgent:
     def __init__(
         self,
         name: str,
+        instructions: str,
         mcp_servers: list | None = None,
-        instructions: str = DEFAULT_INSTRUCTIONS,
     ) -> None:
         self.agent = Agent(
             name=name,
@@ -116,8 +127,8 @@ def from_dict(cls, name: str, config: dict[str, Any]) -> OpenAIAgent:
                         },
                     )
                 )
-        instructions = config.get("instructions", DEFAULT_INSTRUCTIONS)
-        return cls(name, mcp_servers, instructions=instructions)
+        instructions = _load_instructions()
+        return cls(name, instructions=instructions, mcp_servers=mcp_servers)
 
     async def connect(self) -> None:
         for mcp_server in self.agent.mcp_servers:

instructions.md.example

@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+You are a helpful assistant in a Telegram chat. When referencing articles, websites, or resources, always include the URL as a markdown hyperlink, e.g. [title](https://example.com). Keep responses concise and well-structured for mobile reading.

servers_config.example.json

@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 {
-  "instructions": "You are a helpful financial assistant. Help users look up stock data, news, and market information. Always include ticker symbols. Respond in the user's language. Keep responses concise for mobile reading. Do not offer follow-up suggestions or numbered options after answering.",
   "mcpServers": {
     "yfmcp": {
       "command": "uvx",

tests/test_agents.py

@@ -11,12 +11,17 @@
 from agents.models.openai_chatcompletions import OpenAIChatCompletionsModel
 from agents.models.openai_responses import OpenAIResponsesModel
 
-from bot.agents import DEFAULT_INSTRUCTIONS
 from bot.agents import MAX_TURNS
 from bot.agents import OpenAIAgent
 from bot.agents import _get_model
 
 
+@pytest.fixture
+def _stub_instructions(monkeypatch):
+    """Stub out instructions.md loading for from_dict tests."""
+    monkeypatch.setattr("bot.agents._load_instructions", lambda: "stub instructions")
+
+
 @pytest.fixture(autouse=True)
 def _mock_model(monkeypatch):
     """Prevent tests from constructing a real OpenAI client."""
@@ -49,7 +54,7 @@ def test_returns_chat_completions_model_when_api_type_is_chat_completions(self,
 class TestPerChatConversations:
     def test_separate_chats_have_independent_history(self):
         """Different chat_ids should maintain separate message histories."""
-        agent = OpenAIAgent(name="test")
+        agent = OpenAIAgent(name="test", instructions="test-prompt")
         agent.append_user_message(chat_id=100, message="hello from chat 100")
         agent.append_user_message(chat_id=200, message="hello from chat 200")
 
@@ -62,7 +67,7 @@ def test_separate_chats_have_independent_history(self):
         assert msgs_200[0]["content"] == "hello from chat 200"
 
     def test_same_chat_accumulates_messages(self):
-        agent = OpenAIAgent(name="test")
+        agent = OpenAIAgent(name="test", instructions="test-prompt")
         agent.append_user_message(chat_id=100, message="first")
         agent.append_user_message(chat_id=100, message="second")
 
@@ -72,18 +77,18 @@ def test_same_chat_accumulates_messages(self):
         assert msgs[1]["content"] == "second"
 
     def test_unknown_chat_returns_empty(self):
-        agent = OpenAIAgent(name="test")
+        agent = OpenAIAgent(name="test", instructions="test-prompt")
         assert agent.get_messages(chat_id=999) == []
 
     def test_set_messages_replaces_history(self):
-        agent = OpenAIAgent(name="test")
+        agent = OpenAIAgent(name="test", instructions="test-prompt")
         agent.append_user_message(chat_id=100, message="old")
         new_msgs = [{"role": "user", "content": "replaced"}]
         agent.set_messages(chat_id=100, messages=new_msgs)
         assert agent.get_messages(chat_id=100) == new_msgs
 
     def test_set_messages_does_not_affect_other_chats(self):
-        agent = OpenAIAgent(name="test")
+        agent = OpenAIAgent(name="test", instructions="test-prompt")
         agent.append_user_message(chat_id=100, message="chat 100")
         agent.append_user_message(chat_id=200, message="chat 200")
         agent.set_messages(chat_id=100, messages=[])
@@ -92,30 +97,23 @@ def test_set_messages_does_not_affect_other_chats(self):
 
 
 class TestInstructions:
-    def test_default_instructions_when_none_provided(self):
-        agent = OpenAIAgent(name="test")
-        assert agent.agent.instructions == DEFAULT_INSTRUCTIONS
-
     def test_custom_instructions(self):
         agent = OpenAIAgent(name="test", instructions="Be a HN bot.")
         assert agent.agent.instructions == "Be a HN bot."
 
-    def test_from_dict_reads_instructions(self):
-        config = {
-            "instructions": "Custom prompt here.",
-            "mcpServers": {},
-        }
-        agent = OpenAIAgent.from_dict("test", config)
-        assert agent.agent.instructions == "Custom prompt here."
+    def test_from_dict_loads_instructions_from_file(self, tmp_path, monkeypatch):
+        monkeypatch.chdir(tmp_path)
+        (tmp_path / "instructions.md").write_text("From file prompt.", encoding="utf-8")
+        agent = OpenAIAgent.from_dict("test", {"mcpServers": {}})
+        assert agent.agent.instructions == "From file prompt."
 
-    def test_from_dict_uses_default_without_instructions(self):
-        config = {
-            "mcpServers": {},
-        }
-        agent = OpenAIAgent.from_dict("test", config)
-        assert agent.agent.instructions == DEFAULT_INSTRUCTIONS
+    def test_from_dict_fails_fast_when_instructions_file_missing(self, tmp_path, monkeypatch):
+        monkeypatch.chdir(tmp_path)
+        with pytest.raises(FileNotFoundError, match="Instructions file not found"):
+            OpenAIAgent.from_dict("test", {"mcpServers": {}})
 
 
+@pytest.mark.usefixtures("_stub_instructions")
 class TestFromDictMcpServers:
     def test_url_creates_streamable_http_server(self):
         config = {
@@ -172,7 +170,7 @@ def test_default_max_turns(self):
         assert MAX_TURNS == 10
 
     def test_truncate_keeps_recent_turns(self):
-        agent = OpenAIAgent(name="test")
+        agent = OpenAIAgent(name="test", instructions="test-prompt")
         # Simulate 30 turns: each turn is a user msg + assistant msg
         for i in range(30):
             agent.set_messages(
@@ -196,7 +194,7 @@ def test_truncate_keeps_recent_turns(self):
         assert user_msgs[-1]["content"] == "user-29"
 
     def test_truncate_preserves_tool_messages_within_turn(self):
-        agent = OpenAIAgent(name="test")
+        agent = OpenAIAgent(name="test", instructions="test-prompt")
         # Build history with tool calls in a turn
         history = []
         for i in range(MAX_TURNS + 2):
@@ -218,7 +216,7 @@ def test_truncate_preserves_tool_messages_within_turn(self):
         assert len(tool_msgs) == 1
 
     def test_no_truncation_when_under_limit(self):
-        agent = OpenAIAgent(name="test")
+        agent = OpenAIAgent(name="test", instructions="test-prompt")
         for i in range(3):
             agent.set_messages(
                 chat_id=100,