Function buildSideQuestionMessages

src/node/services/sideQuestionService.ts:102–143

(
  question: string,
  transcript: string
)

 * conversation-grounded" contract.
 */
export function buildSideQuestionMessages(
  question: string,
  transcript: string
): { system: string; messages: ModelMessage[] } {
  const trimmedQuestion = question.trim();
  const renderedTranscript = transcript.trim().length > 0 ? transcript : "(empty transcript)";

  const system = [
    "You are answering a quick side question about an ongoing AI coding chat.",
    "This is a forked, single-turn branch. Your answer will be appended to the",
    "chat as a clearly-marked side answer so the user can re-read it later,",
    "but no follow-up turn is possible on this branch.",
    "",
    "Rules:",
    "- Answer directly from the conversation context provided below.",
    "- No tools are available on this turn. Do not pretend to call tools,",
    "  do not emit tool-call JSON, and do not promise future actions.",
    "- If the conversation does not contain enough information to answer,",
    "  say so plainly instead of guessing or fabricating details.",
    "- Keep the answer concise and use markdown when it improves clarity.",
  ].join("\n");

  const userPrompt = [
    "Current conversation (oldest first, newest last):",
    "<conversation>",
    renderedTranscript,
    "</conversation>",
    "",
    "<system-reminder>",
    "The user just asked a side question (/btw). Answer directly using the",
    "conversation above. No tools are available. This is a one-shot response;",
    "no follow-up turn will reach you.",
    "</system-reminder>",
    "",
    `Side question: ${trimmedQuestion}`,
  ].join("\n");

  return {
    system,
    messages: [{ role: "user", content: userPrompt }],
  };
}

/**
 * Run a /btw side question. Persists the user question, streams the answer,