Summary

WORKFLOW_AUTO.md is hardcoded in DEFAULT_REQUIRED_READS (src/auto-reply/reply/post-compaction-audit.ts) but is never auto-generated, not documented, and has no config override. Every compaction triggers a warning for a file that does not exist.

Steps to reproduce

1. Fresh install or any existing workspace without WORKFLOW_AUTO.md
2. Use the agent until context compaction triggers
3. Agent receives system message:

⚠️ Post-Compaction Audit: The following required startup files were not read after context reset:

• WORKFLOW_AUTO.md
• memory/\d{4}-\d{2}-\d{2}.md

Please read them now using the Read tool before continuing. This ensures your operating protocols are restored after memory compaction.

Expected behavior

Either the file should be auto-generated during setup/bootstrap with a sensible default, or DEFAULT_REQUIRED_READS should be configurable so users can remove it.

Actual behavior

The audit fires on every compaction referencing a file that:

1. Is never created by openclaw setup, openclaw onboard, or any bootstrap process
2. Is not documented in docs/concepts/agent-workspace.md or anywhere else
3. Has no config override — hardcoded with comment // extensible to config later (never implemented)
4. Has no template or guidance on what it should contain

The agent either gets a read error or wastes a tool call on a missing file.

OpenClaw version

2026.2.17

Operating system

Linux (Xubuntu 24.04)

Install method

npm global

Logs, screenshots, and evidence

Source: src/auto-reply/reply/post-compaction-audit.ts
const DEFAULT_REQUIRED_READS: Array<string | RegExp> = [
  "WORKFLOW_AUTO.md",
  /memory\/\d{4}-\d{2}-\d{2}\.md/,
];

Impact and severity

Affected: All agents on all workspaces
Severity: Low (cosmetic, wastes tool calls)
Frequency: 100% on every compaction
Consequence: Noisy warnings, wasted tool calls, potential prompt injection vector (the warning instructs the agent to read files)

Additional information

Supersedes #20443 (closed, filed without bug template).

Suggested fix:

• A) Add WORKFLOW_AUTO.md to the bootstrap file set with a sensible default template
• B) Make DEFAULT_REQUIRED_READS configurable
• C) At minimum, document it in agent-workspace.md