builder: require durable workspace execution

agent.py

@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ class BuilderConfig(BaseModel):
 
 
 _URL_RE = re.compile(r"https?://[a-zA-Z0-9._-]+\.[a-zA-Z]{2,}[\w/?#%&=.-]*")
+DEEPAGENTS_RECURSION_LIMIT = 500
 
 
 class AgentBuilder(A2AAgent[BuilderConfig, NoAuth]):
@@ -130,11 +131,11 @@ class AgentBuilder(A2AAgent[BuilderConfig, NoAuth]):
             async for event in graph.astream_events(
                 {"messages": [{"role": "user", "content": user_msg}]},
                 version="v2",
-                # Default langgraph cap is 25 steps; one deepagents
-                # build (list → write*3 → test → deploy) easily uses
-                # 12-18, and any retry pushes it past the limit. Give
-                # the loop headroom without letting it run away.
-                config={"recursion_limit": 80},
+                # Agent builds can legitimately run many tool/subagent turns:
+                # scaffold, write skills/files, test, fix, retest, deploy, and
+                # verify the live card. Keep this aligned with generated child
+                # agents so complex DeepAgents workflows have the same budget.
+                config={"recursion_limit": DEEPAGENTS_RECURSION_LIMIT},
             ):
                 kind = event.get("event")
                 tname = event.get("name") or ""

agent_builder/builder.py

@@ -93,13 +93,18 @@ runtime:
     max_runtime_seconds: 900
 ```
 
-For render/media agents, subprocesses must be bounded with timeouts and broad
+For render/media/data agents, commands that create user-visible files MUST run
+through ``await ctx.workspace_shell(...)`` or ``await ctx.workspace_python(...)``
+and write under ``/workspace/outputs/...``. Do not use in-process
+``asyncio.create_subprocess_exec`` for durable outputs; the agent container is
+not workspace-mounted, so files created in ``/tmp`` or the image filesystem can
+vanish after the request. Commands must still be bounded with timeouts and broad
 exception handling, and failures must return structured JSON instead of
 crashing the worker. Use ``render: bool = False`` by default and expose every
 public skill argument with concrete type hints so the live ``input_schema``
 contains the full call surface. If a render command returns nonzero after
-emitting a usable file, persist or wrap that artifact and include the command
-failure as a warning instead of dropping the result.
+emitting a usable file, preserve the file under ``/workspace/outputs/...`` and
+include the command failure as a warning instead of dropping the result.
 
 For Manim presentation agents specifically, generate a stable PDF fallback
 that does not require Manim rendering. If HTML/video rendering is requested,
@@ -107,6 +112,12 @@ generate ``class GeneratedDeck(Slide)`` and call
 ``manim-slides render --CE -ql <source.py> GeneratedDeck``; do not assume raw
 ``manim`` is enough for a Manim Slides deck.
 
+Generated agents that invoke an inner DeepAgents graph MUST pass
+``config={"recursion_limit": 500}`` to ``graph.ainvoke(...)`` or
+``graph.astream_events(...)``. This matches agent-builder's own runtime budget
+and prevents complex skill/subagent workflows from failing at the default
+LangGraph recursion cap.
+
 And a ``requirements.txt`` listing any extra deps beyond a2a-pack
 itself (pandas, httpx, etc. — the base image ships a2a-pack already
 when you deploy through the control plane).
@@ -177,6 +188,9 @@ Discipline:
     Do not replace LLM reasoning with fake deterministic tools that return
     canned answers. Tools should do exact work; skills and subagents should
     carry reusable workflow knowledge and judgement-heavy behavior.
+  - When invoking the generated DeepAgents graph, use
+    ``config={"recursion_limit": 500}`` so child agents have the same graph
+    budget as agent-builder.
   - If generated agent.py calls ``ctx.workspace_backend()``, declare
     ``workspace_access = WorkspaceAccess.dynamic(...)`` on the A2A agent class
     so local/dev/platform invocations actually receive a workspace grant.

agent_builder/skills/a2apack-agent-authoring/SKILL.md

@@ -101,7 +101,8 @@ class ResearchAgent(A2AAgent[ResearchConfig, NoAuth]):
                         ),
                     }
                 ]
-            }
+            },
+            config={"recursion_limit": 500},
         )
         report_text = _last_message_text(state)
         ref = await ctx.write_artifact(
@@ -127,6 +128,17 @@ If a skill calls `ctx.workspace_backend()` or `ctx.workspace`, declare
 `workspace_access`. If it writes user-visible files, also emit artifacts with
 `ctx.write_artifact` and `ctx.emit_artifact`.
 
+If a skill runs code, renderers, converters, or data tools that create
+downloadable files, run them through `await ctx.workspace_shell(...)` or
+`await ctx.workspace_python(...)` and make the command write under
+`/workspace/outputs/...`. In-process subprocesses write inside the agent pod,
+not the caller's mounted workspace.
+
+When invoking an inner DeepAgents graph, pass
+`config={"recursion_limit": 500}` to `graph.ainvoke(...)` or
+`graph.astream_events(...)`. Complex skill/subagent workflows can exceed
+LangGraph defaults during normal operation.
+
 If an agent needs system binaries, mirror the need in `a2a.yaml`:
 
 ```yaml

agent_builder/skills/agent-quality-review/SKILL.md

@@ -37,6 +37,9 @@ Check these items:
 - Custom subagents that need project skills include their own `skills` field.
 - Deterministic tools do exact work; no fake canned-response tools.
 - File-producing skills call `ctx.write_artifact` and `ctx.emit_artifact`.
+- Commands that create downloadable outputs run through `ctx.workspace_shell`
+  or `ctx.workspace_python` and write under `/workspace/outputs/...`. Plain
+  subprocesses in the agent container are not durable workspace writes.
 - External calls, secrets, workspace access, pricing, and resources are
   declared on the class.
 

agent_builder/skills/deepagent-agent-design/SKILL.md

@@ -79,6 +79,15 @@ return create_deep_agent(
 )
 ```
 
+Invoke the graph with the same recursion budget agent-builder uses:
+
+```python
+state = await graph.ainvoke(
+    {"messages": [{"role": "user", "content": prompt}]},
+    config={"recursion_limit": 500},
+)
+```
+
 Because this uses `/outputs/...`, the write fits the normal A2A workspace
 grant. If the agent uses `ctx.workspace_backend()`, also declare
 `workspace_access = WorkspaceAccess.dynamic(...)` on the A2A agent class.

agent_builder/skills/deepagents-implementation-patterns/SKILL.md

@@ -127,3 +127,18 @@ for generated agents that read or write files.
 
 Use `skills=skill_sources or None`, not an empty list, so agents without a
 `skills/` directory still build cleanly.
+
+## Invocation Budget
+
+Generated agents should use the same recursion budget as agent-builder:
+
+```python
+state = await graph.ainvoke(
+    {"messages": [{"role": "user", "content": prompt}]},
+    config={"recursion_limit": 500},
+)
+```
+
+For streaming/event loops, pass the same config to `graph.astream_events(...)`.
+This prevents normal multi-step skill/subagent workflows from failing at the
+default LangGraph recursion cap.

agent_builder/skills/workspace-artifact-safety/SKILL.md

@@ -55,33 +55,33 @@ ref = await ctx.write_artifact("frames.zip", zip_bytes, "application/zip")
 await ctx.emit_artifact(ref)
 ```
 
-## Bounded Subprocesses
+## Workspace-Mounted Execution
 
-Media, rendering, archive, and data conversion agents must not run unbounded
-commands. Use explicit timeouts and return structured errors:
+Media, rendering, archive, and data conversion agents must run commands through
+the workspace-mounted sandbox helpers when those commands create files:
 
 ```python
-import asyncio
-
-
-async def run_checked(cmd: list[str], timeout_s: int = 120) -> dict[str, str | int]:
-    try:
-        proc = await asyncio.create_subprocess_exec(
-            *cmd,
-            stdout=asyncio.subprocess.PIPE,
-            stderr=asyncio.subprocess.PIPE,
+async def run_checked(script: str, timeout_s: int = 120) -> dict[str, str | int]:
+    result = await ctx.workspace_shell(
+        script,
+        image="python:3.11-slim",
+        timeout_seconds=timeout_s,
+        memory_mib=1024,
+        cpus=1,
     )
-        stdout, stderr = await asyncio.wait_for(proc.communicate(), timeout=timeout_s)
-    except asyncio.TimeoutError:
-        return {"ok": 0, "error": "command timed out", "timeout_s": timeout_s}
     return {
-        "ok": 1 if proc.returncode == 0 else 0,
-        "returncode": proc.returncode,
-        "stdout": stdout.decode("utf-8", errors="replace")[-4000:],
-        "stderr": stderr.decode("utf-8", errors="replace")[-4000:],
+        "ok": 1 if result.ok else 0,
+        "returncode": result.exit_code,
+        "stdout": result.stdout[-4000:],
+        "stderr": result.stderr[-4000:],
     }
 ```
 
+Commands should write user-visible files under `/workspace/outputs/...`; that
+path is backed by the caller's workspace bucket. Do not use
+`asyncio.create_subprocess_exec(...)` for durable outputs. Plain subprocesses
+run inside the agent container, which is not mounted to the caller workspace.
+
 If a nonzero command still produced a usable output, preserve the output and
 include the command failure as a warning instead of discarding the file.
 

agent_builder/tools.py

@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import tarfile
 import time
 from dataclasses import dataclass
 from importlib import resources
+from pathlib import Path
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any
 
 import boto3
@@ -927,6 +928,16 @@ def _render_a2a_init_template(
 
 
 def _render_sdk_template(template: str, /, **vars: str) -> str:
+    local_templates = (
+        Path(__file__).resolve().parents[2]
+        / "a2a"
+        / "a2a_pack"
+        / "cli"
+        / "templates"
+    )
+    if local_templates.exists():
+        text = local_templates.joinpath(template).read_text(encoding="utf-8")
+    else:
         text = (
             resources.files("a2a_pack.cli.templates")
             .joinpath(template)

requirements.txt

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-a2a-pack>=0.1.4
+a2a-pack>=0.1.8
 httpx>=0.27
 boto3>=1.34
 deepagents>=0.5.0

tests/test_builder_prompt.py

@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
+from pathlib import Path
 import unittest
 
 from agent_builder.builder import (
@@ -12,6 +13,15 @@ from deepagents.backends import StateBackend
 
 
 class BuilderPromptTests(unittest.TestCase):
+    def test_outer_agent_uses_500_recursion_limit(self) -> None:
+        agent_source = Path(__file__).resolve().parents[1].joinpath("agent.py").read_text()
+
+        self.assertIn("DEEPAGENTS_RECURSION_LIMIT = 500", agent_source)
+        self.assertIn(
+            "config={\"recursion_limit\": DEEPAGENTS_RECURSION_LIMIT}",
+            agent_source,
+        )
+
     def test_prompt_requires_resource_mirror_for_heavy_agents(self) -> None:
         self.assertIn("declare resources in BOTH places", SYSTEM_PROMPT)
         self.assertIn("resources = Resources", SYSTEM_PROMPT)
@@ -23,6 +33,13 @@ class BuilderPromptTests(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertIn("class GeneratedDeck(Slide)", SYSTEM_PROMPT)
         self.assertIn("manim-slides render --CE -ql", SYSTEM_PROMPT)
         self.assertIn("render: bool = False", SYSTEM_PROMPT)
+        self.assertIn('config={"recursion_limit": 500}', SYSTEM_PROMPT)
+
+    def test_prompt_requires_workspace_mounted_execution_for_outputs(self) -> None:
+        self.assertIn("ctx.workspace_shell", SYSTEM_PROMPT)
+        self.assertIn("ctx.workspace_python", SYSTEM_PROMPT)
+        self.assertIn("/workspace/outputs/...", SYSTEM_PROMPT)
+        self.assertIn("not workspace-mounted", SYSTEM_PROMPT)
 
     def test_prompt_and_backend_load_packaged_builder_skills(self) -> None:
         expected = {
@@ -44,9 +61,14 @@ class BuilderPromptTests(unittest.TestCase):
         )
         self.assertIn("skills=[RUNTIME_SKILLS_ROOT]", files["deepagent-agent-design/SKILL.md"])
         self.assertIn("from a2a_pack import", files["a2apack-agent-authoring/SKILL.md"])
+        self.assertIn("ctx.workspace_shell", files["a2apack-agent-authoring/SKILL.md"])
         self.assertIn("create_deep_agent", files["deepagents-implementation-patterns/SKILL.md"])
+        self.assertIn('config={"recursion_limit": 500}', files["deepagents-implementation-patterns/SKILL.md"])
         self.assertIn("ctx.write_artifact", files["workspace-artifact-safety/SKILL.md"])
+        self.assertIn("ctx.workspace_shell", files["workspace-artifact-safety/SKILL.md"])
+        self.assertIn("/workspace/outputs/...", files["workspace-artifact-safety/SKILL.md"])
         self.assertIn("live_skills[].input_schema", files["agent-quality-review/SKILL.md"])
+        self.assertIn("ctx.workspace_python", files["agent-quality-review/SKILL.md"])
 
         backend = _with_builder_skills(StateBackend())
         listing = backend.ls(BUILDER_SKILL_SOURCE)

tests/test_template_init.py

@@ -30,6 +30,11 @@ class TemplateInitTests(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertIn("LLMProvisioning.CALLER_PROVIDED", files["agent.py"])
         self.assertIn("WorkspaceAccess.dynamic", files["agent.py"])
         self.assertIn("RUNTIME_SKILLS_ROOT", files["agent.py"])
+        self.assertIn("DEEPAGENTS_RECURSION_LIMIT = 500", files["agent.py"])
+        self.assertIn(
+            'config={"recursion_limit": DEEPAGENTS_RECURSION_LIMIT}',
+            files["agent.py"],
+        )
         self.assertIn("skills=skill_sources or None", files["agent.py"])
         self.assertIn("ctx.llm", files["agent.py"])
         self.assertIn("ctx.workspace_backend()", files["agent.py"])