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RightNow

Agent Mode

Agent mode keeps RightNow running as a server for clients that use the Agent Client Protocol (ACP). Use it to connect an editor or application through JSON-RPC.

1. Start the stdio transport

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rightnow agent stdio

The stdio transport reads JSON-RPC from standard input and writes it to standard output. The client exchanges protocol messages rather than terminal prompts.

2. Set agent options

Put agent options after agent and before the transport name; put server options such as --bind after serve.

OptionWhat it does
-m, --model <MODEL>Select a configured model-entry ID.
--reasoning-effort, --effort <EFFORT>Set reasoning effort for a reasoning model.
--reauthAccepted by the parser, but currently has no effect.
--agent-profile <PATH>Load an agent profile file.
--leader / --no-leaderUse the warm agent service, or force a new local agent.

A requested sandbox profile other than off prevents leader mode so tools remain in the confined process.

Automatic tool approval

Always-approve automatically approves offered tool executions; deny rules and hooks still apply.

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rightnow agent --always-approve stdio

WebSocket server alternative

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rightnow agent serve --bind 127.0.0.1:2419

The default bind address is 127.0.0.1:2419.

Set --secret or RIGHTNOW_AGENT_SECRET to use your own token; otherwise the agent generates one.

Startup writes the address, secret, and WebSocket URL to standard error.

Clients connect to the /ws endpoint and provide the token in an Authorization: Bearer header or the server-key query parameter. Invalid or missing authentication is rejected.

3. Exchange protocol messages

  1. Send initialize with the client capabilities.
  2. Send session/new with the working directory.
  3. Send session/prompt with the user message.
  4. Read session/update notifications and handle permission requests when the selected mode requires them.

Updates identify response text, reasoning, tool calls, tool results, and plans through their sessionUpdate field.

Recovery and related guides

For startup or terminal problems, begin with diagnostics and the troubleshooting guide.

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rightnow doctor

Related guides: Troubleshooting, Providers, Permissions and Safety, and Headless Mode.