feat(runner): preserve editable question defaults through explicit response

Carry bounded text-only initialText through ACP normalization, Rust durable validation, shared contracts and the question UI. Saved edits and explicit clears survive reload. Preserve canonical submitted text while retaining legacy custom-answer normalization and existing validation.

Co-Authored-By: Paperclip <noreply@paperclip.ing>

packages/adapter-utils/src/types.ts

@@ -611,6 +611,8 @@ export interface PaperclipQuestion {
   helpText?: string;
   required: boolean;
   answerMode: "single_select" | "multi_select" | "text";
+  /** Editable starting text, never an implicit or submitted answer. Text mode only. */
+  initialText?: string;
   options?: PaperclipQuestionOption[];
   customAnswer?: { enabled: true; label?: string; placeholder?: string };
   textValidation?: {

packages/paperclip-runner/docs/protocol-compatibility.md

@@ -107,6 +107,18 @@ Codex answer objects, OpenCode answer arrays, and ACP typed content exist only
 inside their adapters; `origin` may retain the provider method and adapter name
 for diagnostics but never provider response data.
 
+Text-mode questions may include `initialText` (at most 100,000 UTF-16 code units,
+within the existing 196 KiB question-set bound). It supplies an editable starting
+draft, including empty text and whitespace. ACP plain-string `default` values map
+without trimming; numeric defaults become editable numeric text. Select questions
+do not accept this field. The UI preserves saved drafts and existing responses
+ahead of provider defaults. Initial text never submits or resolves a request:
+the operator must explicitly submit, and all existing response validation still
+applies. Canonical text answers retain submitted whitespace and literal escape
+sequences; legacy and select custom answers retain their existing normalization.
+Required blank answers remain invalid. Redaction, company scope and durable
+replay rules remain in force.
+
 Question and option order is significant, while answers are keyed by stable
 question IDs and selections reference stable option IDs. The canonical modes
 are `text`, `single_select`, and `multi_select`. Text validation is repeated at

packages/paperclip-runner/protocol/manifest.json

@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@
     {
       "path": "schemas/question-set.schema.json",
       "id": "https://paperclip.dev/schemas/prp/v1/question-set.schema.json",
-      "sha256": "6aeb2b880a60356cb48acfe26605acd9412a1df65f5308397d3ec521db5ea70f"
+      "sha256": "85f698e13343319f140e1afa5af16f41abfcba7baae182baffaf45215a31e7a4"
     },
     {
       "path": "schemas/request.schema.json",

packages/paperclip-runner/protocol/schemas/question-set.schema.json

@@ -60,6 +60,7 @@
         "helpText": { "type": "string", "maxLength": 4000 },
         "required": { "type": "boolean" },
         "answerMode": { "enum": ["single_select", "multi_select", "text"] },
+        "initialText": { "type": "string", "maxLength": 100000 },
         "options": {
           "type": "array",
           "maxItems": 128,
@@ -80,6 +81,7 @@
           "if": { "properties": { "answerMode": { "enum": ["single_select", "multi_select"] } }, "required": ["answerMode"] },
           "then": {
             "required": ["options"],
+            "not": { "required": ["initialText"] },
             "properties": { "options": { "type": "array", "minItems": 1 } }
           }
         }

packages/paperclip-runner/runner/crates/runner-core/src/acpx_event_payload.rs

@@ -380,7 +380,7 @@ fn sanitize_question_set(mut value: Value) -> Result<Value, LocalRunnerError> {
             };
             // IDs, answer modes, and validation patterns are protocol values:
             // changing them would break response correlation or semantics.
-            redact_object_text(question, &["header", "prompt", "helpText"]);
+            redact_object_text(question, &["header", "prompt", "helpText", "initialText"]);
             if let Some(options) = question.get_mut("options").and_then(Value::as_array_mut) {
                 for option in options {
                     if let Some(option) = option.as_object_mut() {
@@ -617,6 +617,15 @@ pub(crate) fn validate_question_set(value: &Value) -> Result<(), LocalRunnerErro
                 "ACPX input question ids must be unique",
             ));
         }
+        if question
+            .get("initialText")
+            .and_then(Value::as_str)
+            .is_some_and(|text| text.encode_utf16().count() > 100_000)
+        {
+            return Err(LocalRunnerError::invalid(
+                "ACPX initial text exceeds its UTF-16 bound",
+            ));
+        }
         let mut option_ids = BTreeSet::new();
         for option in question
             .get("options")

packages/paperclip-runner/runner/crates/runner-core/src/durable/state.rs

@@ -3145,6 +3145,30 @@ mod tests {
         );
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn durable_question_initial_text_survives_serialized_reload_without_resolution() {
+        let mut config = config(PathBuf::from("unused"));
+        config.max_outbox_bytes = 512 * 1024;
+        config.max_frame_bytes = 256 * 1024;
+        let mut state = DurableState::new(&config);
+        let text = "  Editable draft 漢字\n".repeat(1_000);
+        state.enqueue_event(&config, "runtime_request.created", EventPriority::P0, json!({
+            "request": {"schema":"paperclip.runtime_request.v2", "requestKind":"runtime", "requestId":"edit-1",
+                "type":"input", "status":"pending", "input":{"schema":"paperclip.question_set.v1", "questions":[{
+                    "id":"draft", "prompt":"Edit", "answerMode":"text", "required":true, "initialText":text
+                }]}}
+        })).unwrap();
+        let reloaded: DurableState =
+            serde_json::from_slice(&serde_json::to_vec(&state).unwrap()).unwrap();
+        let request = reloaded.outbox[0]
+            .envelope
+            .pointer("/payload/payload/request")
+            .unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(request["input"]["questions"][0]["initialText"], json!(text));
+        assert_eq!(request["status"], "pending");
+        assert!(request.get("response").is_none());
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn durable_question_sets_preserve_safe_identity_and_redact_display_text() {
         let config = config(PathBuf::from("unused"));

packages/paperclip-runner/runner/crates/runner-core/src/question_response.rs

@@ -272,6 +272,15 @@ fn validate_text_constraints(
 }
 
 fn validate_persisted_question(question: &Value) -> Result<(), LocalRunnerError> {
+    if question
+        .get("initialText")
+        .and_then(Value::as_str)
+        .is_some_and(|text| javascript_string_length(text) > MAX_QUESTION_ANSWER_CODE_UNITS)
+    {
+        return Err(LocalRunnerError::invalid(
+            "persisted initial text exceeds its UTF-16 bound",
+        ));
+    }
     let question_id = question
         .get("id")
         .and_then(Value::as_str)

packages/paperclip-runner/runner/crates/runner-core/tests/acpx_event_payload.rs

@@ -406,3 +406,64 @@ fn rejects_payloads_before_decoding_when_scope_or_size_is_invalid() {
     let error = decode_acpx_event(&scope, &oversized).unwrap_err();
     assert!(error.to_string().contains("256 KiB"));
 }
+
+#[test]
+fn input_initial_text_survives_wire_admission_with_existing_redaction() {
+    let scope = active_scope();
+    let input = |initial: Value, mode: &str| {
+        json!({"requestId":"request-1","questionSet":{
+            "schema":"paperclip.question_set.v1","questions":[{"id":"draft","prompt":"Edit", "required":true,
+            "answerMode":mode,"initialText":initial}]
+        }})
+    };
+    let text = "  Draft 漢字\n".repeat(1_000);
+    let decoded = decode_acpx_event(
+        &scope,
+        &event(
+            GeneratedAcpxSidecarEventType::RuntimeInputRequested,
+            input(json!(text), "text"),
+        ),
+    )
+    .unwrap();
+    match decoded {
+        AcpxEventPayload::InputRequested { question_set, .. } => {
+            assert_eq!(question_set["questions"][0]["initialText"], json!(text))
+        }
+        _ => panic!("input request expected"),
+    }
+    let decoded = decode_acpx_event(
+        &scope,
+        &event(
+            GeneratedAcpxSidecarEventType::RuntimeInputRequested,
+            input(json!("token=private-prefill"), "text"),
+        ),
+    )
+    .unwrap();
+    match decoded {
+        AcpxEventPayload::InputRequested { question_set, .. } => {
+            assert_eq!(
+                question_set["questions"][0]["initialText"],
+                "token=[REDACTED]"
+            );
+            assert!(question_set["description"]
+                .as_str()
+                .unwrap()
+                .contains("redacted"));
+        }
+        _ => panic!("input request expected"),
+    }
+    for invalid in [
+        input(json!(1), "text"),
+        input(json!("a".repeat(100_001)), "text"),
+        input(json!("default"), "single_select"),
+    ] {
+        assert!(decode_acpx_event(
+            &scope,
+            &event(
+                GeneratedAcpxSidecarEventType::RuntimeInputRequested,
+                invalid
+            )
+        )
+        .is_err());
+    }
+}

packages/paperclip-runner/runner/crates/runner-core/tests/question_response.rs

@@ -318,3 +318,18 @@ fn rejects_malformed_or_oversized_response_envelopes() {
     code_unit_bounded["answers"]["notes"] = json!({"text":"😀".repeat(50_001)});
     assert!(validate_question_response(&unconstrained_set, &code_unit_bounded).is_err());
 }
+
+#[test]
+fn initial_text_is_never_an_implicit_answer_or_validation_bypass() {
+    let mut questions = question_set();
+    questions["questions"][2]["initialText"] = json!("YES");
+    validate_question_response(&questions, &valid_response()).unwrap();
+    let mut absent = valid_response();
+    absent["answers"].as_object_mut().unwrap().remove("notes");
+    assert!(validate_question_response(&questions, &absent).is_err());
+    let mut invalid = valid_response();
+    invalid["answers"]["notes"] = json!({"text":"bad"});
+    assert!(validate_question_response(&questions, &invalid).is_err());
+    questions["questions"][2]["initialText"] = json!("😀".repeat(50_001));
+    assert!(validate_question_response(&questions, &valid_response()).is_err());
+}

packages/paperclip-runner/src/contracts/question-set.test.ts

@@ -51,6 +51,20 @@ describe("Paperclip question-set contract", () => {
     });
   });
 
+  it("preserves bounded initial text only as presentation, including empty text", () => {
+    for (const initialText of ["", "  Draft\n漢字\n", "a".repeat(100_000)]) {
+      const input = { schema: PAPERCLIP_QUESTION_SET_SCHEMA, questions: [{ id: "draft", prompt: "Edit", required: true, answerMode: "text", initialText }] };
+      expect(parsePaperclipQuestionSet(input)).toEqual(input);
+      expect(() => parsePaperclipQuestionResponse(input, { schema: PAPERCLIP_QUESTION_RESPONSE_SCHEMA, answers: {} })).toThrow(/required/);
+    }
+    for (const initialText of [null, 1, "a".repeat(100_001), "😀".repeat(50_001)]) {
+      expect(() => parsePaperclipQuestionSet({ ...questionSet, questions: [{ ...questionSet.questions[1], initialText }] })).toThrow(/initialText/);
+    }
+    expect(() => parsePaperclipQuestionSet({ ...questionSet, questions: [{ ...questionSet.questions[0], initialText: "staging" }] })).toThrow(/only text/);
+    const input = { ...questionSet, questions: [{ ...questionSet.questions[1], initialText: "21" }] };
+    expect(() => parsePaperclipQuestionResponse(input, { schema: PAPERCLIP_QUESTION_RESPONSE_SCHEMA, answers: { replicas: { text: "21" } } })).toThrow(/at most 20/);
+  });
+
   it("rejects missing, unknown, and provider-shaped answers", () => {
     expect(() => parsePaperclipQuestionResponse(questionSet, {
       schema: PAPERCLIP_QUESTION_RESPONSE_SCHEMA,

packages/paperclip-runner/src/contracts/question-set.ts

@@ -33,6 +33,8 @@ export interface PaperclipQuestion {
   helpText?: string;
   required: boolean;
   answerMode: PaperclipQuestionAnswerMode;
+  /** Editable starting text, never an implicit or submitted answer. Text mode only. */
+  initialText?: string;
   options?: PaperclipQuestionOption[];
   customAnswer?: PaperclipQuestionCustomAnswer;
   textValidation?: PaperclipQuestionTextValidation;
@@ -182,6 +184,10 @@ export function parsePaperclipQuestionSet(value: unknown): PaperclipQuestionSet
     if (answerMode === "text" && options !== undefined && options.length > 0) {
       throw new PaperclipQuestionValidationError(`${path}/options`, "text questions cannot define options");
     }
+    const initialText = optionalText(question.initialText, `${path}/initialText`, 100_000);
+    if (initialText !== undefined && answerMode !== "text") {
+      throw new PaperclipQuestionValidationError(`${path}/initialText`, "only text questions can define initial text");
+    }
     const custom = record(question.customAnswer);
     const customAnswer = custom === null
       ? undefined
@@ -252,6 +258,7 @@ export function parsePaperclipQuestionSet(value: unknown): PaperclipQuestionSet
         : {}),
       required: question.required,
       answerMode,
+      ...(initialText !== undefined ? { initialText } : {}),
       ...(options !== undefined ? { options } : {}),
       ...(customAnswer !== undefined ? { customAnswer } : {}),
       ...(textValidation !== undefined ? { textValidation } : {}),

packages/paperclip-runner/src/drivers/acpx/acp-question-adapter.test.ts

@@ -201,3 +201,24 @@ describe("ACP form question adapter", () => {
     expect(JSON.stringify(response.content)).toBe('{"__proto__":"safe"}');
   });
 });
+
+
+describe("ACP initial text", () => {
+  it.each(["", "  Draft\n漢字\n"])("keeps exact string defaults through canonical parsing and explicit submission", initialText => {
+    const form = normalizeAcpFormElicitation({ mode: "form", requestedSchema: { type: "object", properties: { answer: { type: "string", default: initialText } }, required: ["answer"] } })!;
+    const question = form.questionSet.questions[0]!;
+    expect(question.initialText).toBe(initialText);
+    expect(() => form.accept({ schema: "paperclip.question_response.v1", answers: {} })).toThrow(/required/);
+    const edited = `${initialText}Edited`;
+    expect(form.accept({ schema: "paperclip.question_response.v1", answers: { [question.id]: { text: edited } } })).toEqual({ action: "accept", content: { answer: edited } });
+  });
+  it("bounds defaults, rejects wrong types, and keeps response constraints authoritative", () => {
+    const request = (property: unknown) => ({ mode: "form", requestedSchema: { type: "object", properties: { answer: property }, required: ["answer"] } });
+    expect(() => normalizeAcpFormElicitation(request({ type: "string", default: "x".repeat(100_001) }))).toThrow(/initialText/);
+    expect(() => normalizeAcpFormElicitation(request({ type: "string", default: 3 }))).toThrow(/incompatible/);
+    const number = normalizeAcpFormElicitation(request({ type: "integer", default: 0, minimum: 1 }))!;
+    expect(number.questionSet.questions[0]!.initialText).toBe("0");
+    expect(() => number.accept({ schema: "paperclip.question_response.v1", answers: { [number.questionSet.questions[0]!.id]: { text: "0" } } })).toThrow(/at least 1/);
+    expect(normalizeAcpFormElicitation(request({ type: "string", enum: ["a", "b"], default: "a" }))!.questionSet.questions[0]).not.toHaveProperty("initialText");
+  });
+});

packages/paperclip-runner/src/drivers/acpx/acp-question-adapter.ts

@@ -148,6 +148,7 @@ function normalizeField(
       question: {
         ...base,
         answerMode: "text",
+        ...(property.default !== undefined ? { initialText: initialText(property.default, type) } : {}),
         textValidation: {
           inputType: "text",
           ...(minLength !== undefined ? { minLength } : {}),
@@ -168,6 +169,7 @@ function normalizeField(
       question: {
         ...base,
         answerMode: "text",
+        ...(property.default !== undefined ? { initialText: initialText(property.default, type) } : {}),
         textValidation: {
           inputType: type,
           ...(minimum !== undefined ? { minimum } : {}),
@@ -376,3 +378,10 @@ function finiteNonNegativeInteger(value: unknown): number | undefined {
     ? Number(value)
     : undefined;
 }
+
+/** Defaults are editable presentation, not acceptance or native response content. */
+function initialText(value: unknown, type: string): string {
+  if (type === "string" && typeof value === "string") return value;
+  if ((type === "number" || type === "integer") && typeof value === "number" && Number.isFinite(value)) return String(value);
+  throw new Error(`ACP ${type} text field default has an incompatible type`);
+}

packages/paperclip-runner/src/protocol/generated/schema-bundle.ts

@@ -2843,6 +2843,10 @@ export const questionSetSchema = {
             "text"
           ]
         },
+        "initialText": {
+          "type": "string",
+          "maxLength": 100000
+        },
         "options": {
           "type": "array",
           "maxItems": 128,
@@ -2901,6 +2905,11 @@ export const questionSetSchema = {
             "required": [
               "options"
             ],
+            "not": {
+              "required": [
+                "initialText"
+              ]
+            },
             "properties": {
               "options": {
                 "type": "array",

packages/paperclip-runner/src/protocol/generated/standalone-validators.ts

@@ -4,4 +4,4 @@
 import equalModule from "ajv/dist/runtime/equal.js";
 import ucs2LengthModule from "ajv/dist/runtime/ucs2length.js";
 
-"use strict";export const fixtureValidator: unknown = validate20;const schema31 = {"$schema":"https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema","$id":"https://paperclip.dev/schemas/prp/v1/fixture.schema.json","title":"PRP scripted replay fixture","type":"object","required":["schema","fixtureVersion","protocolVersion","name","description","identity","capabilities","commands","events","result"],"properties":{"schema":{"const":"paperclip.prp.fixture.v1"},"fixtureVersion":{"const":1},"protocolVersion":{"enum":[1,2]},"name":{"type":"string","minLength":1,"maxLength":120},"description":{"type":"string","minLength":1,"maxLength":1000},"identity":{"$ref":"https://paperclip.dev/schemas/prp/v1/identity.schema.json"},"capabilities":{"oneOf":[{"$ref":"https://paperclip.dev/schemas/prp/v1/capabilities.schema.json"},{"$ref":"https://paperclip.dev/schemas/prp/v2/capabilities.schema.json"}]},"commands":{"type":"array","items":{"oneOf":[{"$ref":"https://paperclip.dev/schemas/prp/v1/command.schema.json"},{"$ref":"https://paperclip.dev/schemas/prp/v2/command.schema.json"}]}},"events":{"type":"array","minItems":1,"items":{"oneOf":[{"$ref":"https://paperclip.dev/schemas/prp/v1/event.schema.json"},{"$ref":"https://paperclip.dev/schemas/prp/v2/event.schema.json"}]}},"requests":{"type":"array","items":{"$ref":"https://paperclip.dev/schemas/prp/v1/request.schema.json"}},"result":{"$ref":"https://paperclip.dev/schemas/prp/v1/result.schema.json"}},"additionalProperties":true};const schema41 = {"$schema":"https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema","$id":"https://paperclip.dev/schemas/prp/v1/capabilities.schema.json","title":"PRP negotiated capabilities","type":"object","required":["schema","sessionReusePolicy","driver","steer","interrupt","resume","runtimeRequests","structuredResult","typedEvents"],"properties":{"schema":{"const":"paperclip.prp.capabilities.v1"},"sessionReusePolicy":{"enum":["new_per_run","reuse_per_issue","reuse_per_workspace"]},"driver":{"type":"object","required":["kind","version"],"properties":{"kind":{"type":"string","minLength":1,"maxLength":80},"version":{"type":"string","minLength":1,"maxLength":80}},"additionalProperties":true},"steer":{"type":"boolean"},"interrupt":{"type":"boolean"},"resume":{"type":"boolean"},"runtimeRequests":{"type":"boolean"},"structuredResult":{"type":"boolean"},"typedEvents":{"type":"boolean"},"typedEventFamilies":{"type":"array","maxItems":64,"items":{"type":"object","required":["family","version","availability","detailLevel"],"properties":{"family":{"type":"string","minLength":1,"maxLength":160,"pattern":"^[a-z][a-z0-9_.-]*$"},"version":{"const":1},"availability":{"enum":["available","unsupported","policy_disabled"]},"detailLevel":{"enum":["summary","structured"]}},"additionalProperties":false}},"semanticTools":{"type":"object","required":["schema","schemaVersion","operations"],"properties":{"schema":{"const":"paperclip.prp.semantic_tools.v1"},"schemaVersion":{"const":1},"operations":{"type":"array","items":{"type":"object","required":["operationId","version","availability","redactionDisposition"],"properties":{"operationId":{"type":"string","minLength":1,"maxLength":160,"pattern":"^[A-Za-z0-9][A-Za-z0-9._:-]*$"},"version":{"const":1},"availability":{"enum":["available","denied","unsupported"]},"redactionDisposition":{"const":"digest_only"},"requiredClaims":{"type":"array","items":{"type":"string","minLength":1,"maxLength":160},"uniqueItems":true},"reasonCode":{"type":"string","minLength":1,"maxLength":160,"pattern":"^[a-z][a-z0-9_.:-]*$"}},"additionalProperties":true}}},"additionalProperties":true},"unsupported":{"type":"array","items":{"type":"string","minLength":1},"uniqueItems":true}},"additionalProperties":true};const schema45 = {"$schema":"https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema","$id":"https://paperclip.dev/schemas/prp/v1/command.schema.json","title":"PRP runner command","type":"object","required":["schema","commandId","controllerSeq","type","issuedAt","payload"],"properties":{"schema":{"const":"paperclip.prp.command.v1"},"commandId":{"type":"string","minLength":1,"maxLength":160},"controllerSeq":{"type":"integer","minimum":1},"type":{"enum":["run.prepare","run.attach","session.open","turn.start","turn.steer","turn.interrupt","turn.stop","request.resolve","interaction.receipt","semantic_tool.result","session.snapshot","session.close","session.budget.increase","session.destroy","run.cancel","runner.drain","runner.suspend","runner.shutdown"]},"issuedAt":{"type":"string","format":"date-time"},"deadlineAt":{"type":"string","format":"date-time"},"precondition":{"type":"object","properties":{"runnerState":{"type":"array","items":{"type":"string"}},"runState":{"type":"array","items":{"type":"string"}},"sessionState":{"type":"array","items":{"type":"string"}},"activeTurnId":{"type":["string","null"]}},"additionalProperties":true},"payload":{"type":"object","additionalProperties":true}},"additionalProperties":true};const schema46 = {"$schema":"https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-1
Line truncated
+"use strict";export const fixtureValidator: unknown = validate20;const schema31 = {"$schema":"https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema","$id":"https://paperclip.dev/schemas/prp/v1/fixture.schema.json","title":"PRP scripted replay fixture","type":"object","required":["schema","fixtureVersion","protocolVersion","name","description","identity","capabilities","commands","events","result"],"properties":{"schema":{"const":"paperclip.prp.fixture.v1"},"fixtureVersion":{"const":1},"protocolVersion":{"enum":[1,2]},"name":{"type":"string","minLength":1,"maxLength":120},"description":{"type":"string","minLength":1,"maxLength":1000},"identity":{"$ref":"https://paperclip.dev/schemas/prp/v1/identity.schema.json"},"capabilities":{"oneOf":[{"$ref":"https://paperclip.dev/schemas/prp/v1/capabilities.schema.json"},{"$ref":"https://paperclip.dev/schemas/prp/v2/capabilities.schema.json"}]},"commands":{"type":"array","items":{"oneOf":[{"$ref":"https://paperclip.dev/schemas/prp/v1/command.schema.json"},{"$ref":"https://paperclip.dev/schemas/prp/v2/command.schema.json"}]}},"events":{"type":"array","minItems":1,"items":{"oneOf":[{"$ref":"https://paperclip.dev/schemas/prp/v1/event.schema.json"},{"$ref":"https://paperclip.dev/schemas/prp/v2/event.schema.json"}]}},"requests":{"type":"array","items":{"$ref":"https://paperclip.dev/schemas/prp/v1/request.schema.json"}},"result":{"$ref":"https://paperclip.dev/schemas/prp/v1/result.schema.json"}},"additionalProperties":true};const schema41 = {"$schema":"https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema","$id":"https://paperclip.dev/schemas/prp/v1/capabilities.schema.json","title":"PRP negotiated capabilities","type":"object","required":["schema","sessionReusePolicy","driver","steer","interrupt","resume","runtimeRequests","structuredResult","typedEvents"],"properties":{"schema":{"const":"paperclip.prp.capabilities.v1"},"sessionReusePolicy":{"enum":["new_per_run","reuse_per_issue","reuse_per_workspace"]},"driver":{"type":"object","required":["kind","version"],"properties":{"kind":{"type":"string","minLength":1,"maxLength":80},"version":{"type":"string","minLength":1,"maxLength":80}},"additionalProperties":true},"steer":{"type":"boolean"},"interrupt":{"type":"boolean"},"resume":{"type":"boolean"},"runtimeRequests":{"type":"boolean"},"structuredResult":{"type":"boolean"},"typedEvents":{"type":"boolean"},"typedEventFamilies":{"type":"array","maxItems":64,"items":{"type":"object","required":["family","version","availability","detailLevel"],"properties":{"family":{"type":"string","minLength":1,"maxLength":160,"pattern":"^[a-z][a-z0-9_.-]*$"},"version":{"const":1},"availability":{"enum":["available","unsupported","policy_disabled"]},"detailLevel":{"enum":["summary","structured"]}},"additionalProperties":false}},"semanticTools":{"type":"object","required":["schema","schemaVersion","operations"],"properties":{"schema":{"const":"paperclip.prp.semantic_tools.v1"},"schemaVersion":{"const":1},"operations":{"type":"array","items":{"type":"object","required":["operationId","version","availability","redactionDisposition"],"properties":{"operationId":{"type":"string","minLength":1,"maxLength":160,"pattern":"^[A-Za-z0-9][A-Za-z0-9._:-]*$"},"version":{"const":1},"availability":{"enum":["available","denied","unsupported"]},"redactionDisposition":{"const":"digest_only"},"requiredClaims":{"type":"array","items":{"type":"string","minLength":1,"maxLength":160},"uniqueItems":true},"reasonCode":{"type":"string","minLength":1,"maxLength":160,"pattern":"^[a-z][a-z0-9_.:-]*$"}},"additionalProperties":true}}},"additionalProperties":true},"unsupported":{"type":"array","items":{"type":"string","minLength":1},"uniqueItems":true}},"additionalProperties":true};const schema45 = {"$schema":"https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema","$id":"https://paperclip.dev/schemas/prp/v1/command.schema.json","title":"PRP runner command","type":"object","required":["schema","commandId","controllerSeq","type","issuedAt","payload"],"properties":{"schema":{"const":"paperclip.prp.command.v1"},"commandId":{"type":"string","minLength":1,"maxLength":160},"controllerSeq":{"type":"integer","minimum":1},"type":{"enum":["run.prepare","run.attach","session.open","turn.start","turn.steer","turn.interrupt","turn.stop","request.resolve","interaction.receipt","semantic_tool.result","session.snapshot","session.close","session.budget.increase","session.destroy","run.cancel","runner.drain","runner.suspend","runner.shutdown"]},"issuedAt":{"type":"string","format":"date-time"},"deadlineAt":{"type":"string","format":"date-time"},"precondition":{"type":"object","properties":{"runnerState":{"type":"array","items":{"type":"string"}},"runState":{"type":"array","items":{"type":"string"}},"sessionState":{"type":"array","items":{"type":"string"}},"activeTurnId":{"type":["string","null"]}},"additionalProperties":true},"payload":{"type":"object","additionalProperties":true}},"additionalProperties":true};const schema46 = {"$schema":"https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-1
Line truncated

packages/shared/src/types/issue.ts

@@ -1192,6 +1192,8 @@ export interface PaperclipQuestionSetQuestion {
   helpText?: string;
   required: boolean;
   answerMode: "single_select" | "multi_select" | "text";
+  /** Editable starting text, never an implicit or submitted answer. Text mode only. */
+  initialText?: string;
   options?: PaperclipQuestionSetOption[];
   customAnswer?: {
     enabled: true;

packages/shared/src/validators/issue.test.ts

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
 import { MAX_ISSUE_REQUEST_DEPTH } from "../index.js";
 import {
   addIssueCommentSchema,
+  paperclipQuestionSetPayloadSchema,
   issueCommentMetadataSchema,
   createIssueSchema,
   issueBlockedInboxAttentionSchema,
@@ -632,3 +633,20 @@ describe("issue validators", () => {
     expect(parsed.success).toBe(false);
   });
 });
+
+
+describe("persisted canonical question initial text", () => {
+  const question = { id: "draft", prompt: "Edit", required: true, answerMode: "text" };
+  const input = (patch: Record<string, unknown>) => ({ schema: "paperclip.question_set.v1", questions: [{ ...question, ...patch }] });
+  it("retains exact editable content through the server payload validator", () => {
+    for (const initialText of ["", "  Draft\n漢字\n", "x".repeat(100_000)]) {
+      expect(paperclipQuestionSetPayloadSchema.parse(input({ initialText }))).toEqual(input({ initialText }));
+    }
+  });
+  it("rejects non-text modes and unbounded or nonstring defaults", () => {
+    for (const initialText of [null, 1, "x".repeat(100_001), "😀".repeat(50_001)]) {
+      expect(paperclipQuestionSetPayloadSchema.safeParse(input({ initialText })).success).toBe(false);
+    }
+    expect(paperclipQuestionSetPayloadSchema.safeParse(input({ answerMode: "single_select", options: [{ id: "a", label: "A" }], initialText: "a" })).success).toBe(false);
+  });
+});

packages/shared/src/validators/issue.ts

@@ -1251,6 +1251,7 @@ const paperclipQuestionSchema = z
     helpText: z.string().max(4000).optional(),
     required: z.boolean(),
     answerMode: z.enum(["single_select", "multi_select", "text"]),
+    initialText: z.string().max(100000).optional(),
     options: z.array(paperclipQuestionOptionSchema).max(128).optional(),
     customAnswer: z
       .object({
@@ -1271,6 +1272,9 @@ const paperclipQuestionSchema = z
       .optional(),
   })
   .superRefine((value, ctx) => {
+    if (value.initialText !== undefined && value.answerMode !== "text") {
+      ctx.addIssue({ code: z.ZodIssueCode.custom, message: "only text questions can define initial text", path: ["initialText"] });
+    }
     if (
       value.answerMode === "text" &&
       value.options &&
@@ -1419,8 +1423,9 @@ export const askUserQuestionsPayloadSchema = z
 export const askUserQuestionsAnswerSchema = z.object({
   questionId: z.string().trim().min(1).max(160),
   optionIds: z.array(z.string().trim().min(1).max(160)).max(129),
-  otherText: multilineTextSchema
-    .pipe(z.string().trim().max(100000))
+  // The persisted question determines whether this is exact editor text or a
+  // legacy custom answer; normalize only after that trusted context is known.
+  otherText: z.string().max(100000)
     .nullable()
     .optional(),
 });

server/src/services/issue-thread-interactions.ts

@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import { normalizeEscapedLineBreaks } from "@paperclipai/shared/validators/text";
 import {
   currentContinuationOrigins,
   deliveredContinuationCommentIds,
@@ -1668,6 +1669,7 @@ function resolveRequestItemVerdictSubmissions(args: {
 
 function normalizeQuestionAnswers(args: {
   questions: AskUserQuestionsInteraction["payload"]["questions"];
+  textQuestionIds?: ReadonlySet<string>;
   answers: RespondIssueThreadInteraction["answers"];
 }) {
   const questionById = new Map(
@@ -1702,7 +1704,11 @@ function normalizeQuestionAnswers(args: {
       );
     }
 
-    const otherText = answer.otherText?.trim() ?? "";
+    // Canonical text fields may contain code or intentional whitespace. The
+    // legacy custom-answer path keeps its historical newline/trim behavior.
+    const otherText = args.textQuestionIds?.has(answer.questionId)
+      ? answer.otherText ?? ""
+      : normalizeEscapedLineBreaks(answer.otherText ?? "").trim();
     answerByQuestionId.set(answer.questionId, {
       questionId: answer.questionId,
       optionIds: uniqueOptionIds,
@@ -1714,7 +1720,7 @@ function normalizeQuestionAnswers(args: {
     const answer = answerByQuestionId.get(question.id);
     if (
       question.required &&
-      (!answer || (answer.optionIds.length === 0 && !answer.otherText))
+      (!answer || (answer.optionIds.length === 0 && !answer.otherText?.trim()))
     ) {
       throw unprocessable(`Question ${question.id} requires an answer`);
     }
@@ -4845,6 +4851,9 @@ export function issueThreadInteractionService(
       ) as AskUserQuestionsInteraction;
       const normalizedAnswers = normalizeQuestionAnswers({
         questions: interaction.payload.questions,
+        textQuestionIds: new Set((interaction.payload.questionSet?.questions ?? [])
+          .filter((question) => question.answerMode === "text")
+          .map((question) => question.id)),
         answers: input.answers,
       });
 

server/src/services/native-runtime/native-question-bridge.test.ts

@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import {
   nativeRunFinalizations,
 } from "@paperclipai/db";
 import type { PrpEvent } from "@paperclipai/paperclip-runner";
+import { respondIssueThreadInteractionSchema } from "@paperclipai/shared";
 
 import {
   getEmbeddedPostgresTestSupport,
@@ -403,6 +404,54 @@ describeEmbeddedPostgres("native question bridge", () => {
     release();
   });
 
+  it.each(["legacy", "canonical_select"])("keeps %s custom-answer normalization and rejects blank public answers", async (mode) => {
+    await seed();
+    const event = runtimeRequestEvent();
+    const input = (event.payload.request as { input: { questions: Record<string, unknown>[] } }).input;
+    input.questions[0]!.customAnswer = { enabled: true };
+    const interaction = await projectNativeRuntimeRequest({ db, binding: binding(), event });
+    if (mode === "legacy") {
+      const payload = { ...interaction!.payload } as Record<string, unknown>;
+      delete payload.questionSet;
+      await db.update(issueThreadInteractions).set({ payload }).where(eq(issueThreadInteractions.id, interaction!.id));
+    }
+    const service = issueThreadInteractionService(db);
+    await expect(service.answerQuestions({ id: issueId, companyId, status: "in_progress" }, interaction!.id,
+      respondIssueThreadInteractionSchema.parse({ answers: [{ questionId: "color", optionIds: [], otherText: " \n " }] }), { userId: "operator-1" },
+    )).rejects.toThrow(/requires an answer/);
+    const answered = await service.answerQuestions({ id: issueId, companyId, status: "in_progress" }, interaction!.id,
+      respondIssueThreadInteractionSchema.parse({ answers: [{ questionId: "color", optionIds: [], otherText: "  Extra\\nline  " }] }), { userId: "operator-1" },
+    );
+    expect(answered.result).toMatchObject({ answers: [{ questionId: "color", otherText: "Extra\nline" }] });
+  });
+
+  it("persists initial text without resolving and delivers only an explicit edited answer", async () => {
+    await seed();
+    const initialText = "  Editable draft\n漢字\n";
+    const event = runtimeRequestEvent();
+    const request = event.payload.request as Record<string, unknown>;
+    request.input = { schema: "paperclip.question_set.v1", questions: [{ id: "draft", prompt: "Edit", required: true, answerMode: "text", initialText }] };
+    const interaction = await projectNativeRuntimeRequest({ db, binding: binding(), event });
+    expect(interaction).toMatchObject({ status: "pending", payload: { questionSet: { questions: [{ initialText }] } } });
+    const [stored] = await db.select().from(issueThreadInteractions).where(eq(issueThreadInteractions.id, interaction!.id));
+    expect(stored).toMatchObject({ status: "pending", result: null, payload: { questionSet: { questions: [{ initialText }] } } });
+    const queueCommand = vi.fn(() => ({ commandId: "edited", controllerSeq: 1 }));
+    const release = registerNativeQuestionCommandTarget({ binding: { companyId, issueId, runId, agentId }, queueCommand });
+    try {
+      await flushNativeQuestionResponses(db, runId);
+      expect(queueCommand).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+      const edited = "\n  Operator 漢字 edited\n\nLiteral \\n stays literal.  \n";
+      await issueThreadInteractionService(db).answerQuestions(
+        { id: issueId, companyId, status: "in_progress" }, interaction!.id,
+        respondIssueThreadInteractionSchema.parse({ answers: [{ questionId: "draft", optionIds: [], otherText: edited }] }), { userId: "operator-1" },
+      );
+      await flushNativeQuestionResponses(db, runId);
+      expect(queueCommand).toHaveBeenCalledExactlyOnceWith("request.resolve", {
+        requestId: "request-1", response: { schema: "paperclip.question_response.v1", answers: { draft: { text: edited } } },
+      }, `question_${interaction!.id}`);
+    } finally { release(); }
+  });
+
   it("binds projection to the persisted native run and ignores legacy delivery", async () => {
     await seed();
     const mismatched = runtimeRequestEvent();

ui/src/components/task-chat/QuestionForm.test.tsx

@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+// @vitest-environment jsdom
+import { act } from "react";
+import { createRoot, type Root } from "react-dom/client";
+import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
+import type { PaperclipQuestionResponse, PaperclipQuestionSet } from "@paperclipai/adapter-utils";
+import { QuestionForm } from "./QuestionForm";
+
+vi.mock("./TaskChatRichInput", () => ({
+  TaskChatRichInput: ({ value, onChange }: { value: string; onChange(value: string): void }) =>
+    <textarea aria-label="Answer" value={value} onChange={event => onChange(event.target.value)} />,
+}));
+vi.mock("@/components/MarkdownBody", () => ({ MarkdownBody: ({ children }: { children: string }) => <div>{children}</div> }));
+
+const questionSet: PaperclipQuestionSet = { schema: "paperclip.question_set.v1", questions: [
+  { id: "draft", prompt: "Edit the draft", required: true, answerMode: "text", initialText: "  Draft\n漢字\n" },
+] };
+
+describe("QuestionForm initial text", () => {
+  let container: HTMLDivElement;
+  let root: Root;
+  const submit = vi.fn();
+  beforeEach(() => { localStorage.clear(); submit.mockReset(); container = document.createElement("div"); document.body.append(container); root = createRoot(container); });
+  afterEach(async () => { await act(async () => root.unmount()); container.remove(); localStorage.clear(); });
+  const input = () => container.querySelector("textarea")!;
+  async function render(set = questionSet, initialResponse?: PaperclipQuestionResponse) {
+    await act(async () => root.render(<QuestionForm id="edit" questionSet={set} initialResponse={initialResponse} draftKey="question-initial-text" onSubmit={submit} />));
+  }
+  async function edit(text: string) {
+    await act(async () => {
+      Object.getOwnPropertyDescriptor(HTMLTextAreaElement.prototype, "value")!.set!.call(input(), text);
+      input().dispatchEvent(new Event("input", { bubbles: true }));
+    });
+  }
+  async function remount(set = questionSet) { await act(async () => root.unmount()); root = createRoot(container); await render(set); }
+  it("shows exact editable text without sending until the operator submits", async () => {
+    await render();
+    expect(input().value).toBe("  Draft\n漢字\n");
+    expect(submit).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    await act(async () => Array.from(container.querySelectorAll("button")).find(button => button.textContent === "Submit answers")!.click());
+    expect(submit).toHaveBeenCalledExactlyOnceWith({ schema: "paperclip.question_response.v1", answers: { draft: { text: "  Draft\n漢字\n" } } });
+  });
+  it("preserves edits through a refreshed request and reload instead of reapplying a default", async () => {
+    await render(); await edit("Operator edit\n");
+    const refreshed = { ...questionSet, questions: [{ ...questionSet.questions[0]!, initialText: "New provider default" }] };
+    await render(refreshed); expect(input().value).toBe("Operator edit\n");
+    await remount(refreshed); expect(input().value).toBe("Operator edit\n");
+    expect(submit).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+  it("retains an explicitly cleared draft and required validation across reload", async () => {
+    await render(); await edit(""); await remount();
+    expect(input().value).toBe("");
+    expect(Array.from(container.querySelectorAll("button")).find(button => button.textContent === "Submit answers")!.disabled).toBe(true);
+    expect(submit).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+  it("prefers an existing response and keeps text constraints on defaults", async () => {
+    await render(questionSet, { schema: "paperclip.question_response.v1", answers: { draft: { text: "Existing answer" } } });
+    expect(input().value).toBe("Existing answer");
+    await act(async () => root.unmount()); localStorage.clear(); root = createRoot(container);
+    await render({ ...questionSet, questions: [{ ...questionSet.questions[0]!, initialText: "bad", textValidation: { minLength: 5 } }] });
+    expect(input().value).toBe("bad");
+    expect(Array.from(container.querySelectorAll("button")).find(button => button.textContent === "Submit answers")!.disabled).toBe(true);
+    expect(submit).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+});

ui/src/components/task-chat/QuestionForm.tsx

@@ -243,6 +243,14 @@ export function QuestionForm({
   onCancel,
 }: QuestionFormProps) {
   const takeoverActions = useTaskChatComposerTakeoverActions();
+  // A provider default is an editable draft only. An existing response or
+  // saved draft, including an explicitly cleared value, always wins. State
+  // initialization runs once so request refreshes cannot replace user edits.
+  const startingAnswers = initialResponse?.answers ?? Object.fromEntries(
+    questionSet.questions
+      .filter((question) => question.answerMode === "text" && question.initialText !== undefined)
+      .map((question) => [question.id, { text: question.initialText! }]),
+  );
   const initialDraft = draftKey
     ? loadStructuredDraft<{
         page: number;
@@ -250,7 +258,7 @@ export function QuestionForm({
         customActive: Record<string, boolean>;
       }>(draftKey, {
         page: 0,
-        answers: structuredClone(initialResponse?.answers ?? {}),
+        answers: structuredClone(startingAnswers),
         customActive: Object.fromEntries(
           Object.entries(initialResponse?.answers ?? {})
             .filter(([, answer]) => Boolean(answer.customText))
@@ -261,7 +269,7 @@ export function QuestionForm({
   const [page, setPage] = useState(initialDraft?.page ?? 0);
   const [answers, setAnswers] = useState<Record<string, Answer>>(
     () =>
-      initialDraft?.answers ?? structuredClone(initialResponse?.answers ?? {}),
+      initialDraft?.answers ?? structuredClone(startingAnswers),
   );
   const [customActive, setCustomActive] = useState<Record<string, boolean>>(
     () =>

ui/storybook/stories/composer-question-flow.stories.tsx

@@ -120,3 +120,18 @@ export const AnswersSubmitted: Story = {
     await expect(canvas.getByText("Sign in, Search", { exact: true })).toBeVisible();
   },
 };
+
+
+function EditableDraftQuestion() {
+  const [response, setResponse] = useState<PaperclipQuestionResponse | null>(null);
+  const questionSet: PaperclipQuestionSet = { schema: "paperclip.question_set.v1", questions: [{
+    id: "draft", prompt: "Edit the release note", required: true, answerMode: "text",
+    initialText: "Draft release note\n\nDescribe what changed and how it was verified.",
+  }] };
+  return response
+    ? <QuestionResponseSummary questionSet={questionSet} response={response} />
+    : <QuestionForm id="editable-draft" draftKey="storybook:editable-initial-text" questionSet={questionSet} onSubmit={setResponse} />;
+}
+
+/** Provider-supplied starting text stays editable and needs explicit submission. */
+export const EditableInitialText: Story = { render: () => <EditableDraftQuestion /> };