heartbeat

1# heartbeat
2 
3Use the `sno heartbeat` command installed by `sno setup`. This skill supplies
4instructions, not a program copy. If the command names a missing prerequisite, install
5that tool and retry. On macOS install Homebrew `coreutils` (GNU `timeout`, `tail` and `mv`) and
6put its `libexec/gnubin` directory on PATH; newer versions of the command also find the
7`g`-prefixed names without it, and then the reader command they print says `gtail`. Install `bash`
8and `flock` when required. Windows requires WSL.
9 
10[The bundled command contract](references/heartbeat-contract.json) pins the public syntax
11checked by this skill's offline self-test. Use `sno heartbeat --help` for the installed program.
12 
13Before arming, verify that this harness provides both background execution and a
14persistent reader that delivers new output into the agent's conversation. If either is
15unsupported or unverified, skip this skill and name the missing capability. The examples
16below require those tools and use Claude Code's `Bash` and `Monitor` tool names; other harnesses use
17their own equivalents. A background process or a log file alone is insufficient.
18 
19**Hermes and OpenClaw have no persistent log reader; they deliver a finished background command
20instead, and that is enough.** Run one tick per background command and re-arm after each notice:
21`sleep <seconds>; sno heartbeat --label <name> --max-ticks 1 [--log <LOG>] -- <hook>` (the command ticks
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