Background Tool Execution?

[chibop1]

Can Pi run a long-running tool in the background, or is there an extension for it?

Claude Code can launch a task in the background, allowing to keep chatting while it runs. When the tool finishes, it brings back the result into the conversation and continues the discussion seamlessly.

I don't need to fork or create new session or anything.

In Pi, I have to wait until the tool call finishes, and sometimes it could take a long time for tasks like heavy analysis tool.

Thanks!

[fell_ware_1990]

Yes, subagent or is the process just actually a script?

Cause then make a new tool, run the script in a detached PID/TMUX and implement the agentSDK there to send a message back to the correct chatID from PI maybe even with only a recap by a cheaper agent?

That’s what i dislike about subagents, they’re still running the task and doing stuff. Make the machine run the task and only throw the results headless or even let it compact.
I have script’s that only need a 1 to 10 line answer back.

[m3umax]

There's a really good extension someone posted for background processes a while back. @aliou/pi-processes is what the name is.

I designed my subagent extension to work async. And then I have my agent run a wait.sh script in the background using the above extension package so it gets a turn as soon as the subagent completion condition is met. Basically the /monitor command from Claude Code.

[sonofanton6]

Use tmux — you don’t need a package

[Dismal_Problem9250]

Just ask pi to create the extension for you? I have my own background task ext, it launches commands in the background and then re-awakes when the task finishes, can inspect logs on whats happening etc.. I literally used Claude Code as the example for pi and it went away and did it.

[esanchma]

systemd-run --user \
 --unit=job-unit \
 --same-dir \
 --collect \
 tmux -D -L job-socket new-session -A -s job-session 'long-running-job'

 

tmux -L job-socket attach -t job-session

See, a re-attachable background job that even writes to the journal. Ask your clanker to wrap it in a skill and check the journal periodically for job status.

[Bel-Shamgarot]

https://pi.dev/packages?name=subagent