[
    {
        "role": "user",
        "content": "I%20use%20openclaw%20and%20when%20I%20talk%20to%20it%20in%20the%20tui%2C%20I%27d%20like%20to%20remove%20or%20strip%20out%20all%20the%20unicode%2C%20emoji%2C%20graphics%20symbols.%20I%20believe%20there%20is%20a%20--no-color%20option%20for%20the%20cli.%20is%20there%20a%20similar%20--no-emoji%3F%20Or%20could%20I%20put%20an%20formatting%20instructions%20in%20a%20boot%20file%20of%20some%20kind%3F%20Or%20even%20modify%20the%20print%20routine%20for%20openclaw%20tui%20to%20remove%20them%3F"
    },
    {
        "role": "assistant",
        "content": "Here\u2019s a deep dive into whether OpenClaw supports a **\u201c--no-emoji\u201d**-style flag, what work-arounds exist, and what you'd need to modify to strip out all Unicode/emojis/graphic symbols in the TUI (Terminal User Interface) mode.\n\n---\n\n## \ud83d\udd0d What OpenClaw currently offers\n\nFrom the official docs:\n\n- There is `--no-color` to disable ANSI color styling. ([docs.openclaw.ai](https://docs.openclaw.ai/cli?utm_source=openai))  \n- There\u2019s also `--json`, and in some places `--plain`, which emit non-styled (minimal decoration) output. ([docs.openclaw.ai](https://docs.openclaw.ai/cli?utm_source=openai))  \n- However, there is **no documented flag** like `--no-emoji` or `--no-unicode` for stripping out emojis or graphic symbols. A review of the CLI reference + TUI options doesn\u2019t show such a feature. ([docs.openclaw.ai](https://docs.openclaw.ai/cli?utm_source=openai))\n\nSo: **no built-in `--no-emoji` option** at this time.\n\n---\n\n## \ud83d\udd27 Possible work-arounds & options\n\nSince there\u2019s no out-of-the-box support, here are alternatives you can explore:\n\n### 1. **Use output modes with minimal decoration**\n\n- Using `--json` or `--plain` may reduce symbols (like bullets, special formatting), but probably won't remove all emojis/unicode characters embedded in content. ([docs.openclaw.ai](https://docs.openclaw.ai/cli?utm_source=openai))  \n- Turning off colors (`--no-color`) just removes color styling; emojis or symbols in text likely remain. ([docs.openclaw.ai](https://docs.openclaw.ai/cli?utm_source=openai))\n\n### 2. **Filter output externally**\n\nYou can pipe the output through a filter to remove non-ASCII or unwanted Unicode/emojis. Tools like `sed`, `perl`, `grep`, or custom scripts:\n\n- Example (bash):  \n  ```bash\n  openclaw tui \u2026 | sed 's/[[:^ascii:]]//g'\n  ```\n- Or use Perl/Python with Unicode categories, e.g., matching \u201cEmoji\u201d or symbol classes.\n\nThis will strip **every** non\u2010ASCII character, which may remove useful characters as well.\n\n### 3. **Modify the TUI\u2019s print routines / source code**\n\nIf you are comfortable with code:\n\n- OpenClaw is open source, so you can locate where it formats messages in TUI mode (a \u201cprint\u201d, \u201crender\u201d, or \u201cformatter\u201d function) and inject a cleanup step before output.\n- You could use a library / regex to remove / replace emojis / symbols. Probably the code is in JavaScript/TypeScript (Node.js), since ANSI coloring is managed there. Find routines in `src/terminal/\u2026`, `src/tui/\u2026` (speculative).  \n\n### 4. **Boot/Config file based formatting instruction**\n\n- As of current docs, there is no config setting in `openclaw.json` for \u201cno emojis\u201d or stripping Unicode. The formatting settings likely cover color, styling, plain vs JSON, etc. ([openclaw.cc](https://openclaw.cc/en/cli/?utm_source=openai))  \n- But you might use `agents.defaults.cliBackends` or similar to wrap tools with `--json` or other \u201cplain\u201d output. However, that\u2019s for CLI backends, and likely doesn't affect the interactive TUI content. ([howtouseopenclaw.com](https://www.howtouseopenclaw.com/en/gateway/cli-backends?utm_source=openai))\n\n---\n\n## \u2705 What I\u2019d recommend you do\n\nHere\u2019s a suggested plan of action:\n\n1. **Check version** \u2014 see if newer releases have added a `--no-emoji` or \u201cno-unicode-symbols\u201d flag. (As of recent stable docs, it\u2019s not there.)\n\n2. **Use minimal/plain output modes** (`--plain` / `--json`) where possible, to limit decorations.\n\n3. **Filter output** in the shell if you interact via terminal:  \n   - Strip non-ASCII or use Unicode categories to keep only those characters you want.  \n   - E.g. `perl -CSD -pe 's/\\p{So}//g; s/\\p{Emoji_Presentation}//g'`\n\n4. **Patch source** if you run your own build: find where the TUI calls `print` or `render` and wrap the string through a cleaning function (e.g. remove emoji / symbols) before display.\n\n---\n\nIf you want, I can help you narrow down where in the codebase to insert that patch (e.g. find the file and show an example regex). Do you want me to pull that together for you?"
    },
    {
        "role": "user",
        "content": "ok%2C%20tried%20sed%20option%2C%20got%20sed%3A%20-e%20expression%20%231%2C%20char%2017%3A%20Invalid%20character%20class%20name"
    },
    {
        "role": "assistant",
        "content": "That \u201cInvalid character class name\u201d error usually means your `sed` doesn\u2019t support `[[:ascii:]]` or that syntax, or that escape sequences like `\\x..` aren\u2019t recognized under certain locales. Here are ways to correctly remove non-ASCII (including emoji/unicode) characters using tools that *do* support it, plus suggestions for `sed`-friendly alternatives.\n\n---\n\n## \u2705 Preferred Alternatives\n\n### A. Use `LC_ALL=C` + `sed`\n\nIn the POSIX / C locale (`LC_ALL=C`), character classes like `[:print:]`, `[:cntrl:]` refer strictly to ASCII ranges. You can then strip non\u2010ASCII by matching complements of printable + control characters.\n\n```bash\nLC_ALL=C sed 's/[^[:print:][:cntrl:]]//g' input.txt > clean.txt\n```\n\n- `[:print:]` = ASCII printable characters (32-126).  \n- `[:cntrl:]` = ASCII control characters (0-31 and 127).  \nThis keeps ASCII printable + control, removes everything else. ([unix.stackexchange.com](https://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/631390/how-to-specify-any-symbol-in-sed?utm_source=openai))\n\n---\n\n### B. Use `sed 's/[^\\x00-\\x7F]//g'`\n\nThis removes any byte \u2265 `0x80`. However, some versions of `sed` (depending on OS / locale) reject `\\x..` in a character class or ranges that include byte values \u2265 `0x80`. If you get \u201cInvalid character class name\u201d it might be the case. ([community.unix.com](https://community.unix.com/t/sed-non-ascii-value-remove/377120?utm_source=openai))\n\n---\n\n### C. Use `tr`\n\nIf you just want ASCII, `tr` is simple and works:\n\n```bash\nLC_ALL=C tr -d '\\200-\\377' < input.txt > clean.txt\n```\n\n- Deletes every byte from octal 200 (decimal 128) through 377 (decimal 255).  \n- In UTF-8, all multibyte characters (such as emojis) encode bytes \u2265 `0x80`, so this will strip them. ([unix.stackexchange.com](https://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/631390/how-to-specify-any-symbol-in-sed?utm_source=openai))\n\n---\n\n### D. Use `iconv`\n\nAnother solid option: convert to ASCII, ignoring characters that can't be translated.\n\n```bash\niconv -c -t ascii input.txt > clean.txt\n```\n\n- `-c` drops invalid sequences (those not representable in ASCII).  \n- Preserves everything that *is* ASCII. ([unix.stackexchange.com](https://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/631390/how-to-specify-any-symbol-in-sed?utm_source=openai))\n\n---\n\n## \u26a0\ufe0f Why your `sed` command failed\n\nThe error you saw (\u201cInvalid character class name\u201d) came from using a class or escape sequence your `sed` doesn\u2019t support. Discussion in places like StackOverflow notes:\n\n- `[:ascii:]` is **not** a POSIX standard class for `sed`, so many `sed` implementations reject it. ([community.unix.com](https://community.unix.com/t/sed-non-ascii-value-remove/377120?utm_source=openai))  \n- Ranges like `[^\\x00-\\x7F]` might fail depending on `sed` version or locale. Some `sed`es don\u2019t understand `\\x..` inside `[...]`, or only understand it in certain modes. ([community.unix.com](https://community.unix.com/t/sed-non-ascii-value-remove/377120?utm_source=openai))\n\n---\n\n## \ud83d\udd27 What to try in *your* setup\n\nTo get a working command, try the following (copy/paste):\n\n1. Using `LC_ALL=C` and printable/control classes:\n\n   ```bash\n   LC_ALL=C sed 's/[^[:print:][:cntrl:]]//g' input.txt\n   ```\n\n2. If `\\x00-\\x7F` is supported in your `sed`:\n\n   ```bash\n   LC_ALL=C sed 's/[^\\x00-\\x7F]//g' input.txt\n   ```\n\n3. If those fail, fall back to `tr`:\n\n   ```bash\n   LC_ALL=C tr -d '\\200-\\377' < input.txt\n   ```\n\n4. Or `iconv`:\n\n   ```bash\n   iconv -c -t ascii input.txt\n   ```\n\n---\n\nIf you tell me what OS and `sed` version you\u2019re using (e.g. `sed --version` output), I can help craft the exact `sed` command that works for your case. Do you want me to tailor it for your environment?"
    },
    {
        "role": "user",
        "content": "well%2C%20darn%2C%20the%20option%20openclaw%20tui%20--plain%20didn%27t%20accept%20that%20option.%20And%20the%20sed%20trick%20didn%27t%20work%20because%20openclaw%20tui%20expects%20a%20terminal.%20So%20it%20would%20seem%20my%20two%20choices%20are%20to%20store%20instructions%20in%20a%20file%20that%20openclaw%20reads%20as%20part%20of%20its%20boot%20process%20or%20memory%20to%20exclude%20non-ascii%20characters.%20Or%20the%20other%20option%20to%20change%20the%20openclaw%20print%20routine%20for%20tui.%20thoughts%20and%20recommendations%3F"
    },
    {
        "role": "assistant",
        "content": "Here are thoughts and recommendations for your options\u2014storing instructions in files vs altering OpenClaw\u2019s printing routine\u2014plus guidance on feasibility, effort, and safety.\n\n---\n\n## \ud83d\uddc2 Option 1: Bootstrap / Workspace Files\n\nOpenClaw has a concept of **workspace bootstrap files** (e.g. `AGENTS.md`, `SOUL.md`, `USER.md`, `IDENTITY.md`, etc.), loaded at session startup. ([open-claw.bot](https://open-claw.bot/docs/concepts/agent-workspace/?utm_source=openai))\n\n### What you can do:\n\n- Put special instructions in your bootstrap files (especially `AGENTS.md` or `SOUL.md`) telling the agent **not to use emojis or non-ASCII symbols**. For example:  \n  > \u201cAll responses must use only ASCII characters in the 32\u2013127 range; no emojis, no extended punctuation or symbols beyond basic printable set.\u201d\n\n- This becomes part of the system prompt \u2014 the agent is likely to obey formatting instructions because it treats these files as essential guidelines. ([open-claw.bot](https://open-claw.bot/docs/concepts/agent-workspace/?utm_source=openai))\n\n### Pros:\n\n- Zero code changes.\n- Flexible\u2014editing text is easier to maintain.\n- Rules travel with configs and sessions.\n\n### Cons:\n\n- It's only as reliable as how well the model understands and obeys instructions. Models may still insert emojis/Unicode accidentally.\n- Some responses may come from tool output or templates that don\u2019t follow the prompt strictly; this is not enforceable at terminal printing level.\n\n---\n\n## \ud83d\udd27 Option 2: Modify the TUI Print Routine in the Source\n\nIf you have access to the source (e.g., you installed OpenClaw from source or via npm or similar), you can patch the part of the codebase that handles output for the Terminal UI. This is more robust.\n\n### What you'd need to do:\n\n1. **Identify the print/render function** used for TUI. Likely something like `renderTui`, `printToTerminal`, or perhaps in a module named `tui` or `terminal`. You\u2019ll need to search for where the TUI sends prompts through `process.stdout.write`, or uses ANSI rendering libraries, etc.\n\n2. **Add a filter** to sanitize strings *before* they get printed. For example, a function that strips all characters outside the ASCII printable range:\n\n```js\nfunction stripNonAscii(s) {\n  return s.replace(/[^\\x20-\\x7E]/g, \"\");\n}\n```\n\nInsert that into the pipeline: whatever message is going to TUI should pass through this.\n\n3. **Ensure it happens for all outputs**: not only the local agent-generated text but also any responses returning via tools, templates, or error messages.\n\n4. **Rebuild/restart** the OpenClaw Gateway so your patched version takes effect.\n\n### Pros:\n\n- Much stronger guarantee: no rogue emojis, graphic symbols at terminal output level.\n- Works even if the model or other components try introducing non-ASCII.\n\n### Cons:\n\n- Requires development skill and understanding of the OpenClaw source.\n- You\u2019ll need to maintain the patch across updates. If the print routines change in new versions, your patch may break or conflict.\n\n---\n\n## \ud83d\udd04 Which option makes sense for you?\n\nHere\u2019s a decision matrix:\n\n| Your Priorities          | Best Fit             |\n|--------------------------|----------------------|\n| Maximum reliability      | Modify TUI print code |\n| Minimal maintenance      | Use bootstrap files   |\n| Fast setup, low risk     | Bootstrap instructions|\n| Deep customization / already developing code | Patch source |\n\nIf you want, I can try to locate exactly *which file(s)* in the current OpenClaw source define TUI printing (so you\u2019d know where to patch). Would that be useful?"
    },
    {
        "role": "user",
        "content": "I%20like%20the%20idea%20of%20putting%20it%20in%20SOUL.md.%20I%20see%20some%20other%20lines%20in%20there%20starting%20with%20_%20character.%20what%20does%20this%20mean%3F"
    },
    {
        "role": "assistant",
        "content": "I looked through the official OpenClaw docs and community sources, and I couldn\u2019t find anything that describes special meaning for lines in **SOUL.md** that start with an underscore (`_`). Nothing about a syntax or parser rule defines `_ ` as a token or directive.\n\n---\n\nHere\u2019s what *is* appropriate and what the underscore might mean in context:\n\n---\n\n## \u2705 What the docs *do* say\n\n- **SOUL.md is plain Markdown**: It\u2019s treated as part of the system prompt and injected before every message. Content is read as raw Markdown\u2014headings, lists, prose. ([docs.nvidia.com](https://docs.nvidia.com/nemoclaw/0.0.9/workspace/workspace-files.html?utm_source=openai))  \n- There\u2019s no documented reason for `_ ` prefixes: No official OpenClaw template or usage guide mentions using an underscore at the start of a line to trigger special behavior (like comments, disabled rules, special markers, etc.). ([docs.nvidia.com](https://docs.nvidia.com/nemoclaw/0.0.9/workspace/workspace-files.html?utm_source=openai))\n\n---\n\n## \ud83d\udca1 What lines beginning with underscore *might* signify (informally)\n\nSince it\u2019s not in the official spec, such lines are likely one of:\n\n- **User conventions**: Someone might be using `_ Some text\u2026` to visually group or mark statements\u2014like provisional or commented-out rules.\n- **Disabled instructions**: Underscore could indicate something to revisit later, or \u2018off by default\u2019\u2014but this is just a visual strategy, not enforced.\n- **Formatting quirk**: Perhaps they were copied from some other setting where underscores function differently (e.g. as italic markers in Markdown), and the leading space prevents italicization, so they look like `_ words`.\n\n---\n\n## \u26a0\ufe0f Why relying on `_ ` as a feature is risky\n\n- Because it\u2019s not officially supported, behavior is *not* guaranteed. The agent won\u2019t automatically ignore such lines or treat them as comments\u2014you may see unintended output or that the agent obeys something you thought \u201ccommented out.\u201d\n- If future versions add special parsing, using underscore for your own convention could conflict later.\n- Ambiguity between what\u2019s a real rule vs what\u2019s \u201cdisabled but there\u201d is easy to introduce.\n\n---\n\n## \ud83d\udd27 My Recommendation\n\nTo avoid ambiguity and ensure your formatting rules (like \u201cno emojis\u201d, \u201conly ASCII\u201d) are always applied, here\u2019s what I suggest:\n\n1. **Stick to explicit instructions** in SOUL.md\u2014write them as normal bullets or headers, unambiguously. For example:\n\n   ```\n   ## Style/Formatting Rules\n   - Use only ASCII characters in responses; do not include emojis or non-ASCII symbols.\n   - No graphic or decorative Unicode beyond basic punctuation (period, comma, question mark, exclamation point).\n   ```\n\n2. **If you want something \u201coff but visible,\u201d use clear markers**, like commenting with standard words:\n\n   ```\n   ## Optional / Revisitable Rules\n   (Currently inactive) Do not send troubleshooting logs unless asked.\n   ```\n\n   Or prefix with \u201cOPTIONAL:\u201d rather than relying on underscore.\n\n3. **Test explicitly**\u2014after editing SOUL.md, try commands like:\n\n   > \u201cWrite me a sentence containing only ASCII characters.\u201d\n\n   And see if emojis or unicode sneak in. If they do, refine the instruction.\n\n4. **Version your SOUL.md** so changes are visible over time. If something involving underscore was treated as important before, you can capture its history. Using Git helps.\n\n---\n\nIf you like, I can try finding real examples from SOUL.md files where people have used underscore prefixes\u2014and see how the agent responded\u2014to give you insight about how \u201cactive\u201d that convention actually is in practice. Want me to pull those examples?"
    },
    {
        "role": "user",
        "content": "perhaps%20it%20means%20something%20in%20markdown%3F"
    },
    {
        "role": "assistant",
        "content": "Great question! Yes \u2014 in Markdown, a leading underscore (or underscores used elsewhere) *does* have special meaning. Here\u2019s a breakdown of how Markdown treats underscores, what they do, and what they *don\u2019t* do (especially when placed at the beginning of a line, as in your SOUL.md file).\n\n---\n\n## \ud83d\udcdd What Markdown does with underscores\n\n- A single underscore (`_`) around text is commonly used to produce *italicized* text.  \n  Example: `_italic_` renders as *italic*. ([aidanaden.com](https://aidanaden.com/writing/04-markdown-syntax/?utm_source=openai))\n\n- Two underscores (`__`) around text produce **bold** text.  \n  Example: `__bold__` renders as **bold**. ([help.helplook.com](https://help.helplook.com/docs/Markdown-common-basic-syntax?utm_source=openai))\n\n- Three underscores (or combined with asterisks) can do **bold + italics** (depending on flavor). ([aidanaden.com](https://aidanaden.com/writing/04-markdown-syntax/?utm_source=openai))\n\n- Markdown also allows horizontal rules using three or more hyphens (`---`), asterisks (`***`), or underscores (`___`) on a line by themselves.  \n  Example: `___` becomes a horizontal rule. ([help.fellowshipone.com](https://help.fellowshipone.com/infellowship/Content/InFellowship/Groups/Leader%20Guide/Markdown%20Formatting.htm?utm_source=openai))\n\n---\n\n## \ud83e\udd14 What leading underscores DO / DON\u2019T do\n\nIf you see a line in Markdown (such as in SOUL.md) starting with `_ `:\n\n1. **DO NOT treat it as a comment or disablement flag by default** \u2014 Markdown doesn\u2019t recognize lines starting with `_ ` as comments or \u201cinactive\u201d lines. There\u2019s no standard Markdown syntax for comments in plain MD files. It\u2019s just text unless you use HTML comments (`<!-- ... -->`) or a custom parser feature.\n\n2. The underscore might trigger *emphasis formatting* **if it pairs with another underscore later**, especially if the Markdown engine ignores the leading space. But in practice, a line starting with `_ ` (underscore + space) won\u2019t automatically be italic; Markdown syntax for italic requires the underscores to wrap text *without a space* before or after, or at least be part of a word boundary. Many implementations require underscores to be adjacent to the word to do emphasis. ([catalog.olemiss.edu](https://catalog.olemiss.edu/help/markdown/full-syntax.pdf?utm_source=openai))\n\n3. If a line starts with `_ ` and then text, Markdown may treat it as plain paragraph text (just with an underscore character as the first character). Unless your implementation has special behavior, it won\u2019t render specially beyond maybe italicizing if it sees a matching underscore to close.\n\n---\n\n## \ud83d\udd0d Possible meanings *in SOUL.md*\n\nSince there is no standard Markdown rule for lines beginning with `_ ` to function as comments or disabled instructions, here are some alternate hypotheses:\n\n- **A formatting convention** by the author: maybe they used `_` to mark optional lines or labels visually. E.g., `_ This rule is under consideration` to mark it differently in the file.\n\n- **An attempt at emphasis**: maybe they intended to italicize that line but started it with underscore mistakenly, or to italicize a word but accidentally placed `_` at the front.\n\n- **Mistake or artifact**: possibly imported from another system where `_` had significance, or leftover from editing.\n\n---\n\n## \u2705 What you should do in your SOUL.md\n\nSince you want your styling/instruction rules to be as explicit and unambiguous as possible:\n\n- **Avoid relying on prefixed underscores** to denote \u201cdisabled\u201d or \u201ccomment\u201d\u2014unless you inspect the actual parsing/behavior of OpenClaw and confirm it treats those specially.\n\n- Use Markdown features you *know* have meaning (bullets `-` or `*`, headings `##`, inline text) for actual instructions.\n\n- For invisibly deactivated or pending items, use standard text like `(Optional:) \u2026` or HTML comments if the parser supports them:  \n  ```md\n  <!-- Optional: This rule might be removed later -->\n  ```\n\n- If you *do* want to see how these `_ `-prefixed lines behave in your setup, you can run a test: add one such line in SOUL.md, prompt the agent a few times, and see whether it obeys or whether the line acts like a directive.\n\n---\n\nIf you like, I could check the OpenClaw parser code (if available) to see **if** there is any special logic for lines starting with `_` in SOUL.md (or similar bootstrap files). Do you want me to attempt that?"
    }
]