refactor: unify user content tags to <user_message>

Replace all user content wrapper tags (<task>, <feedback>, <answer>, <user_message>)
with a single unified <user_message> tag and strip all accompanying explanatory blurbs.

Changes:
- processUserContentMentions.ts: Simplified shouldProcessMentions() to only detect <user_message>
- responses.ts: Updated toolDeniedWithFeedback(), toolApprovedWithFeedback(), tooManyMistakes()
  - Removed explanatory blurbs from XML output
  - Removed 'message' field from native protocol JSON
- Task.ts: Changed initial task and continuation wrappers to use <user_message>
- AttemptCompletionTool.ts: Removed blurb, changed <feedback> to <user_message>
- AskFollowupQuestionTool.ts: Changed <answer> to <user_message>
- Updated all related test files

Breaking changes:
- Old task history with <task>, <feedback>, or <answer> tags will no longer have mentions re-parsed
- Models no longer receive explicit blurbs explaining the nature of user input

src/core/mentions/__tests__/processUserContentMentions.spec.ts

@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ describe("processUserContentMentions", () => {
 			const userContent = [
 				{
 					type: "text" as const,
-					text: "<task>Read file with limit</task>",
+					text: "<user_message>Read file with limit</user_message>",
 				},
 			]
 
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ describe("processUserContentMentions", () => {
 			})
 
 			expect(parseMentions).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
-				"<task>Read file with limit</task>",
+				"<user_message>Read file with limit</user_message>",
 				"/test",
 				mockUrlContentFetcher,
 				mockFileContextTracker,
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ describe("processUserContentMentions", () => {
 			const userContent = [
 				{
 					type: "text" as const,
-					text: "<task>Read file without limit</task>",
+					text: "<user_message>Read file without limit</user_message>",
 				},
 			]
 
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ describe("processUserContentMentions", () => {
 			})
 
 			expect(parseMentions).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
-				"<task>Read file without limit</task>",
+				"<user_message>Read file without limit</user_message>",
 				"/test",
 				mockUrlContentFetcher,
 				mockFileContextTracker,
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ describe("processUserContentMentions", () => {
 			const userContent = [
 				{
 					type: "text" as const,
-					text: "<task>Read unlimited lines</task>",
+					text: "<user_message>Read unlimited lines</user_message>",
 				},
 			]
 
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ describe("processUserContentMentions", () => {
 			})
 
 			expect(parseMentions).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
-				"<task>Read unlimited lines</task>",
+				"<user_message>Read unlimited lines</user_message>",
 				"/test",
 				mockUrlContentFetcher,
 				mockFileContextTracker,
@@ -118,11 +118,11 @@ describe("processUserContentMentions", () => {
 	})
 
 	describe("content processing", () => {
-		it("should process text blocks with <task> tags", async () => {
+		it("should process text blocks with <user_message> tags", async () => {
 			const userContent = [
 				{
 					type: "text" as const,
-					text: "<task>Do something</task>",
+					text: "<user_message>Do something</user_message>",
 				},
 			]
 
@@ -136,33 +136,11 @@ describe("processUserContentMentions", () => {
 			expect(parseMentions).toHaveBeenCalled()
 			expect(result[0]).toEqual({
 				type: "text",
-				text: "parsed: <task>Do something</task>",
+				text: "parsed: <user_message>Do something</user_message>",
 			})
 		})
 
-		it("should process text blocks with <feedback> tags", async () => {
-			const userContent = [
-				{
-					type: "text" as const,
-					text: "<feedback>Fix this issue</feedback>",
-				},
-			]
-
-			const result = await processUserContentMentions({
-				userContent,
-				cwd: "/test",
-				urlContentFetcher: mockUrlContentFetcher,
-				fileContextTracker: mockFileContextTracker,
-			})
-
-			expect(parseMentions).toHaveBeenCalled()
-			expect(result[0]).toEqual({
-				type: "text",
-				text: "parsed: <feedback>Fix this issue</feedback>",
-			})
-		})
-
-		it("should not process text blocks without task or feedback tags", async () => {
+		it("should not process text blocks without user_message tags", async () => {
 			const userContent = [
 				{
 					type: "text" as const,
@@ -186,7 +164,7 @@ describe("processUserContentMentions", () => {
 				{
 					type: "tool_result" as const,
 					tool_use_id: "123",
-					content: "<feedback>Tool feedback</feedback>",
+					content: "<user_message>Tool feedback</user_message>",
 				},
 			]
 
@@ -201,7 +179,7 @@ describe("processUserContentMentions", () => {
 			expect(result[0]).toEqual({
 				type: "tool_result",
 				tool_use_id: "123",
-				content: "parsed: <feedback>Tool feedback</feedback>",
+				content: "parsed: <user_message>Tool feedback</user_message>",
 			})
 		})
 
@@ -213,7 +191,7 @@ describe("processUserContentMentions", () => {
 					content: [
 						{
 							type: "text" as const,
-							text: "<task>Array task</task>",
+							text: "<user_message>Array task</user_message>",
 						},
 						{
 							type: "text" as const,
@@ -237,7 +215,7 @@ describe("processUserContentMentions", () => {
 				content: [
 					{
 						type: "text",
-						text: "parsed: <task>Array task</task>",
+						text: "parsed: <user_message>Array task</user_message>",
 					},
 					{
 						type: "text",
@@ -251,7 +229,7 @@ describe("processUserContentMentions", () => {
 			const userContent = [
 				{
 					type: "text" as const,
-					text: "<task>First task</task>",
+					text: "<user_message>First task</user_message>",
 				},
 				{
 					type: "image" as const,
@@ -264,7 +242,7 @@ describe("processUserContentMentions", () => {
 				{
 					type: "tool_result" as const,
 					tool_use_id: "456",
-					content: "<feedback>Feedback</feedback>",
+					content: "<user_message>Feedback</user_message>",
 				},
 			]
 
@@ -280,13 +258,13 @@ describe("processUserContentMentions", () => {
 			expect(result).toHaveLength(3)
 			expect(result[0]).toEqual({
 				type: "text",
-				text: "parsed: <task>First task</task>",
+				text: "parsed: <user_message>First task</user_message>",
 			})
 			expect(result[1]).toEqual(userContent[1]) // Image block unchanged
 			expect(result[2]).toEqual({
 				type: "tool_result",
 				tool_use_id: "456",
-				content: "parsed: <feedback>Feedback</feedback>",
+				content: "parsed: <user_message>Feedback</user_message>",
 			})
 		})
 	})
@@ -296,7 +274,7 @@ describe("processUserContentMentions", () => {
 			const userContent = [
 				{
 					type: "text" as const,
-					text: "<task>Test default</task>",
+					text: "<user_message>Test default</user_message>",
 				},
 			]
 
@@ -308,7 +286,7 @@ describe("processUserContentMentions", () => {
 			})
 
 			expect(parseMentions).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
-				"<task>Test default</task>",
+				"<user_message>Test default</user_message>",
 				"/test",
 				mockUrlContentFetcher,
 				mockFileContextTracker,
@@ -324,7 +302,7 @@ describe("processUserContentMentions", () => {
 			const userContent = [
 				{
 					type: "text" as const,
-					text: "<task>Test explicit false</task>",
+					text: "<user_message>Test explicit false</user_message>",
 				},
 			]
 
@@ -337,7 +315,7 @@ describe("processUserContentMentions", () => {
 			})
 
 			expect(parseMentions).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
-				"<task>Test explicit false</task>",
+				"<user_message>Test explicit false</user_message>",
 				"/test",
 				mockUrlContentFetcher,
 				mockFileContextTracker,

src/core/mentions/processUserContentMentions.ts

@@ -39,11 +39,7 @@ export async function processUserContentMentions({
 	// should parse mentions).
 	return Promise.all(
 		userContent.map(async (block) => {
-			const shouldProcessMentions = (text: string) =>
-				text.includes("<task>") ||
-				text.includes("<feedback>") ||
-				text.includes("<answer>") ||
-				text.includes("<user_message>")
+			const shouldProcessMentions = (text: string) => text.includes("<user_message>")
 
 			if (block.type === "text") {
 				if (shouldProcessMentions(block.text)) {

src/core/prompts/responses.ts

@@ -20,22 +20,20 @@ export const formatResponse = {
 		if (isNativeProtocol(protocol ?? TOOL_PROTOCOL.XML)) {
 			return JSON.stringify({
 				status: "denied",
-				message: "The user denied this operation and provided the following feedback",
 				feedback: feedback,
 			})
 		}
-		return `The user denied this operation and provided the following feedback:\n<feedback>\n${feedback}\n</feedback>`
+		return `<user_message>\n${feedback}\n</user_message>`
 	},
 
 	toolApprovedWithFeedback: (feedback?: string, protocol?: ToolProtocol) => {
 		if (isNativeProtocol(protocol ?? TOOL_PROTOCOL.XML)) {
 			return JSON.stringify({
 				status: "approved",
-				message: "The user approved this operation and provided the following context",
 				feedback: feedback,
 			})
 		}
-		return `The user approved this operation and provided the following context:\n<feedback>\n${feedback}\n</feedback>`
+		return `<user_message>\n${feedback}\n</user_message>`
 	},
 
 	toolError: (error?: string, protocol?: ToolProtocol) => {
@@ -81,11 +79,10 @@ Otherwise, if you have not completed the task and do not need additional informa
 		if (isNativeProtocol(protocol ?? TOOL_PROTOCOL.XML)) {
 			return JSON.stringify({
 				status: "guidance",
-				message: "You seem to be having trouble proceeding",
 				feedback: feedback,
 			})
 		}
-		return `You seem to be having trouble proceeding. The user has provided the following feedback to help guide you:\n<feedback>\n${feedback}\n</feedback>`
+		return `<user_message>\n${feedback}\n</user_message>`
 	},
 
 	missingToolParameterError: (paramName: string, protocol?: ToolProtocol) => {

src/core/task/Task.ts

@@ -1546,7 +1546,7 @@ export class Task extends EventEmitter<TaskEvents> implements TaskLike {
 		await this.initiateTaskLoop([
 			{
 				type: "text",
-				text: `<task>\n${task}\n</task>`,
+				text: `<user_message>\n${task}\n</user_message>`,
 			},
 			...imageBlocks,
 		]).catch((error) => {
@@ -1801,7 +1801,7 @@ export class Task extends EventEmitter<TaskEvents> implements TaskLike {
 		if (responseText) {
 			newUserContent.push({
 				type: "text",
-				text: `\n\nNew instructions for task continuation:\n<user_message>\n${responseText}\n</user_message>`,
+				text: `<user_message>\n${responseText}\n</user_message>`,
 			})
 		}
 

src/core/task/__tests__/Task.spec.ts

@@ -881,7 +881,7 @@ describe("Cline", () => {
 			})
 
 			describe("processUserContentMentions", () => {
-				it("should process mentions in task and feedback tags", async () => {
+				it("should process mentions in user_message tags", async () => {
 					const [cline, task] = Task.create({
 						provider: mockProvider,
 						apiConfiguration: mockApiConfig,
@@ -895,7 +895,7 @@ describe("Cline", () => {
 						} as const,
 						{
 							type: "text",
-							text: "<task>Text with 'some/path' (see below for file content) in task tags</task>",
+							text: "<user_message>Text with 'some/path' (see below for file content) in user_message tags</user_message>",
 						} as const,
 						{
 							type: "tool_result",
@@ -903,7 +903,7 @@ describe("Cline", () => {
 							content: [
 								{
 									type: "text",
-									text: "<feedback>Check 'some/path' (see below for file content)</feedback>",
+									text: "<user_message>Check 'some/path' (see below for file content)</user_message>",
 								},
 							],
 						} as Anthropic.ToolResultBlockParam,
@@ -931,18 +931,18 @@ describe("Cline", () => {
 						"Regular text with 'some/path' (see below for file content)",
 					)
 
-					// Text within task tags should be processed
+					// Text within user_message tags should be processed
 					expect((processedContent[1] as Anthropic.TextBlockParam).text).toContain("processed:")
 					expect((processedContent[1] as Anthropic.TextBlockParam).text).toContain(
-						"<task>Text with 'some/path' (see below for file content) in task tags</task>",
+						"<user_message>Text with 'some/path' (see below for file content) in user_message tags</user_message>",
 					)
 
-					// Feedback tag content should be processed
+					// user_message tag content should be processed
 					const toolResult1 = processedContent[2] as Anthropic.ToolResultBlockParam
 					const content1 = Array.isArray(toolResult1.content) ? toolResult1.content[0] : toolResult1.content
 					expect((content1 as Anthropic.TextBlockParam).text).toContain("processed:")
 					expect((content1 as Anthropic.TextBlockParam).text).toContain(
-						"<feedback>Check 'some/path' (see below for file content)</feedback>",
+						"<user_message>Check 'some/path' (see below for file content)</user_message>",
 					)
 
 					// Regular tool result should not be processed

src/core/task/__tests__/task-tool-history.spec.ts

@@ -292,7 +292,7 @@ describe("Task Tool History Handling", () => {
 					},
 					{
 						type: "text" as const,
-						text: "Another message with <task> tags",
+						text: "Another message with <user_message> tags",
 					},
 					{
 						type: "tool_result" as const,

src/core/tools/AskFollowupQuestionTool.ts

@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ export class AskFollowupQuestionTool extends BaseTool<"ask_followup_question"> {
 			task.consecutiveMistakeCount = 0
 			const { text, images } = await task.ask("followup", JSON.stringify(follow_up_json), false)
 			await task.say("user_feedback", text ?? "", images)
-			pushToolResult(formatResponse.toolResult(`<answer>\n${text}\n</answer>`, images))
+			pushToolResult(formatResponse.toolResult(`<user_message>\n${text}\n</user_message>`, images))
 		} catch (error) {
 			await handleError("asking question", error as Error)
 		}

src/core/tools/AttemptCompletionTool.ts

@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ export class AttemptCompletionTool extends BaseTool<"attempt_completion"> {
 			// User provided feedback - push tool result to continue the conversation
 			await task.say("user_feedback", text ?? "", images)
 
-			const feedbackText = `The user has provided feedback on the results. Consider their input to continue the task, and then attempt completion again.\n<feedback>\n${text}\n</feedback>`
+			const feedbackText = `<user_message>\n${text}\n</user_message>`
 			pushToolResult(formatResponse.toolResult(feedbackText, images))
 		} catch (error) {
 			await handleError("inspecting site", error as Error)