PaperClipAI/skills/paperclip/references/api-reference.md

Paperclip API Reference

Detailed reference for the Paperclip control plane API. For the core heartbeat procedure and critical rules, see the main SKILL.md.

---

Response Schemas

Agent Record (GET /api/agents/me or GET /api/agents/:agentId)

{
  "id": "agent-42",
  "name": "BackendEngineer",
  "role": "engineer",
  "title": "Senior Backend Engineer",
  "companyId": "company-1",
  "reportsTo": "mgr-1",
  "capabilities": "Node.js, PostgreSQL, API design",
  "status": "running",
  "budgetMonthlyCents": 5000,
  "spentMonthlyCents": 1200,
  "chainOfCommand": [
    {
      "id": "mgr-1",
      "name": "EngineeringLead",
      "role": "manager",
      "title": "VP Engineering"
    },
    {
      "id": "ceo-1",
      "name": "CEO",
      "role": "ceo",
      "title": "Chief Executive Officer"
    }
  ]
}

Use chainOfCommand to know who to escalate to. Use budgetMonthlyCents and spentMonthlyCents to check remaining budget.

Company Portability

CEO-safe package routes are company-scoped:

• POST /api/companies/:companyId/imports/preview
• POST /api/companies/:companyId/imports/apply
• POST /api/companies/:companyId/exports/preview
• POST /api/companies/:companyId/exports

Rules:

• Allowed callers: board users and the CEO agent of that same company
• Safe import routes reject collisionStrategy: "replace"
• Existing-company safe imports only create new entities or skip collisions
• new_company safe imports are allowed and copy active user memberships from the source company
• Export preview defaults to issues: false; add task selectors explicitly when needed
• Use selectedFiles on export to narrow the final package after previewing the inventory

Example safe import preview:

POST /api/companies/company-1/imports/preview
{
  "source": { "type": "github", "url": "https://github.com/acme/agent-company" },
  "include": { "company": true, "agents": true, "projects": true, "issues": true },
  "target": { "mode": "existing_company", "companyId": "company-1" },
  "collisionStrategy": "rename"
}

Example new-company safe import:

POST /api/companies/company-1/imports/apply
{
  "source": { "type": "github", "url": "https://github.com/acme/agent-company" },
  "include": { "company": true, "agents": true, "projects": true, "issues": false },
  "target": { "mode": "new_company", "newCompanyName": "Imported Acme" },
  "collisionStrategy": "rename"
}

Example export preview without tasks:

POST /api/companies/company-1/exports/preview
{
  "include": { "company": true, "agents": true, "projects": true }
}

Example narrowed export with explicit tasks:

POST /api/companies/company-1/exports
{
  "include": { "company": true, "agents": true, "projects": true, "issues": true },
  "selectedFiles": [
    "COMPANY.md",
    "agents/ceo/AGENTS.md",
    "skills/paperclip/SKILL.md",
    "tasks/pap-42/TASK.md"
  ]
}

Issue with Ancestors (GET /api/issues/:issueId)

Includes the issue's project and goal (with descriptions), plus each ancestor's resolved project and goal. This gives agents full context about where the task sits in the project/goal hierarchy.

The response also includes blockedBy and blocks arrays showing first-class dependency relationships:

{
  "id": "issue-99",
  "title": "Implement login API",
  "parentId": "issue-50",
  "projectId": "proj-1",
  "goalId": null,
  "blockedBy": [
    { "id": "issue-80", "identifier": "PAP-80", "title": "Design auth schema", "status": "in_progress", "priority": "high", "assigneeAgentId": "agent-55", "assigneeUserId": null }
  ],
  "blocks": [],
  "project": {
    "id": "proj-1",
    "name": "Auth System",
    "description": "End-to-end authentication and authorization",
    "status": "active",
    "goalId": "goal-1",
    "primaryWorkspace": {
      "id": "ws-1",
      "name": "auth-repo",
      "cwd": "/Users/me/work/auth",
      "repoUrl": "https://github.com/acme/auth",
      "repoRef": "main",
      "isPrimary": true
    },
    "workspaces": [
      {
        "id": "ws-1",
        "name": "auth-repo",
        "cwd": "/Users/me/work/auth",
        "repoUrl": "https://github.com/acme/auth",
        "repoRef": "main",
        "isPrimary": true
      }
    ]
  },
  "goal": null,
  "ancestors": [
    {
      "id": "issue-50",
      "title": "Build auth system",
      "status": "in_progress",
      "priority": "high",
      "assigneeAgentId": "mgr-1",
      "projectId": "proj-1",
      "goalId": "goal-1",
      "description": "...",
      "project": {
        "id": "proj-1",
        "name": "Auth System",
        "description": "End-to-end authentication and authorization",
        "status": "active",
        "goalId": "goal-1"
      },
      "goal": {
        "id": "goal-1",
        "title": "Launch MVP",
        "description": "Ship minimum viable product by Q1",
        "level": "company",
        "status": "active"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "issue-10",
      "title": "Launch MVP",
      "status": "in_progress",
      "priority": "critical",
      "assigneeAgentId": "ceo-1",
      "projectId": "proj-1",
      "goalId": "goal-1",
      "description": "...",
      "project": { "..." : "..." },
      "goal": { "..." : "..." }
    }
  ]
}

Blocker wake semantics are strict: issue_blockers_resolved only fires when every blocker reaches done. A blocker moved to cancelled still requires manual re-triage or relation cleanup.

Execution Policy Fields On An Issue

When an issue has review or approval gates, GET /api/issues/:issueId can also include executionPolicy and executionState:

{
  "status": "in_review",
  "executionPolicy": {
    "mode": "normal",
    "commentRequired": true,
    "stages": [
      {
        "id": "stage-review",
        "type": "review",
        "approvalsNeeded": 1,
        "participants": [
          { "id": "participant-qa", "type": "agent", "agentId": "qa-agent-id" }
        ]
      },
      {
        "id": "stage-approval",
        "type": "approval",
        "approvalsNeeded": 1,
        "participants": [
          { "id": "participant-cto", "type": "user", "userId": "cto-user-id" }
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "executionState": {
    "status": "pending",
    "currentStageId": "stage-review",
    "currentStageIndex": 0,
    "currentStageType": "review",
    "currentParticipant": { "type": "agent", "agentId": "qa-agent-id" },
    "returnAssignee": { "type": "agent", "agentId": "coder-agent-id" },
    "completedStageIds": [],
    "lastDecisionId": null,
    "lastDecisionOutcome": null
  }
}

Interpretation:

• currentStageType tells you whether the active gate is review or approval
• currentParticipant is the only actor allowed to advance the stage
• returnAssignee is who gets the task back when changes are requested
• lastDecisionOutcome shows the latest gate decision

There is no separate execution-decision endpoint. Review and approval decisions are submitted through PATCH /api/issues/:issueId, and Paperclip records the decision row automatically.

Cross-Agent Review Gates

Use native execution stages for cross-agent code or deliverable review gates. The gate belongs on the source issue's executionPolicy.stages[], with the reviewer or approver listed in participants[] and the stage type set to review or approval.

Minimal agent-review gate:

PATCH /api/issues/:issueId
{
  "executionPolicy": {
    "stages": [
      {
        "type": "review",
        "participants": [
          { "type": "agent", "agentId": "<reviewer-agent-id>" }
        ]
      }
    ]
  }
}

When the executor finishes work, move the source issue to in_review. Paperclip advances the issue to the active stage participant through executionState.currentParticipant, and that participant decides through the normal issue update route:

• approve/sign off with PATCH /api/issues/:issueId using { "status": "done", "comment": "Approved: ..." }
• request changes with PATCH /api/issues/:issueId using { "status": "in_progress", "comment": "Changes requested: ..." }

Agent heartbeat implementations should follow the Paperclip skill's Execution-policy review/approval wakes procedure when they are assigned as the active gate participant.

Do not model cross-agent review gates as bridge child issues, freeform comments, ad-hoc request_confirmation cards, responder fields, mention grants, or broadened comment/interaction authorization. Those workarounds either split the audit trail away from the source issue or loosen authorization around who may decide. The native execution-stage path keeps the gate, reviewer authority, return assignee, decision row, wake behavior, and audit history on the issue that is actually being reviewed.

---

Worked Example: IC Heartbeat

A concrete example of what a single heartbeat looks like for an individual contributor.

# 1. Identity (skip if already in context)
GET /api/agents/me
-> { id: "agent-42", companyId: "company-1", ... }

# 2. Check inbox
GET /api/companies/company-1/issues?assigneeAgentId=agent-42&status=todo,in_progress,in_review,blocked
-> [
    { id: "issue-101", title: "Fix rate limiter bug", status: "in_progress", priority: "high" },
    { id: "issue-99", title: "Implement login API", status: "todo", priority: "medium" }
  ]

# 3. Already have issue-101 in_progress (highest priority). Continue it.
GET /api/issues/issue-101
-> { ..., ancestors: [...] }

GET /api/issues/issue-101/comments
-> [ { body: "Rate limiter is dropping valid requests under load.", authorAgentId: "mgr-1" } ]

# 4. Do the actual work (write code, run tests)

# 5. Work is done. Update status and comment in one call.
PATCH /api/issues/issue-101
{ "status": "done", "comment": "Fixed sliding window calc. Was using wall-clock instead of monotonic time." }

# 6. Still have time. Checkout the next task.
POST /api/issues/issue-99/checkout
{ "agentId": "agent-42", "expectedStatuses": ["todo", "backlog", "blocked", "in_review"] }

GET /api/issues/issue-99
-> { ..., ancestors: [{ title: "Build auth system", ... }] }

# 7. Made partial progress, not done yet. Comment and exit.
PATCH /api/issues/issue-99
{ "comment": "JWT signing done. Still need token refresh logic. Will continue next heartbeat." }

Worked Example: Report A Board User's Mine Inbox

When a board user asks "what's in my inbox?", an agent can derive that user's id from the triggering issue or comment metadata and fetch the same Mine-tab issue set the UI uses.

# Board user created the requesting issue.
GET /api/issues/issue-200
-> { id: "issue-200", createdByUserId: "user-7", ... }

# Fetch the board user's Mine inbox issues.
GET /api/agents/me/inbox/mine?userId=user-7
-> [
    {
      id: "issue-310",
      identifier: "PAP-310",
      title: "Review CEO strategy revision",
      status: "in_review",
      myLastTouchAt: "2026-03-26T18:00:00.000Z",
      lastExternalCommentAt: "2026-03-26T19:10:00.000Z",
      isUnreadForMe: true
    }
  ]

# Summarize it back to the board in a comment or document.
PATCH /api/issues/issue-200
{ "comment": "Your Mine inbox has 1 unread issue: [PAP-310](/PAP/issues/PAP-310)." }

Worked Example: Reviewer / Approver Heartbeat

When you wake up on an issue in in_review, inspect executionState first:

GET /api/issues/issue-77
-> {
     id: "issue-77",
     status: "in_review",
     assigneeAgentId: "qa-agent-id",
     executionState: {
       status: "pending",
       currentStageType: "review",
       currentParticipant: { type: "agent", agentId: "qa-agent-id" },
       returnAssignee: { type: "agent", agentId: "coder-agent-id" }
     }
   }

If currentParticipant is you, approve the current stage by patching the issue to done with a required comment:

PATCH /api/issues/issue-77
{ "status": "done", "comment": "QA signoff complete. Verified the regression and test coverage." }

Paperclip writes the execution decision automatically. If another stage remains, the issue stays in in_review and is reassigned to the next participant. If this was the final stage, the issue reaches actual done.

To request changes, use a non-done status with a required comment. Prefer in_progress:

PATCH /api/issues/issue-77
{ "status": "in_progress", "comment": "Changes requested: add a regression test for the empty-state path." }

Paperclip converts that into a changes_requested decision, reassigns the issue to returnAssignee, and routes it back to the same stage when the executor resubmits.

---

Worked Example: Manager Heartbeat

# 1. Identity (skip if already in context)
GET /api/agents/me
-> { id: "mgr-1", role: "manager", companyId: "company-1", ... }

# 2. Check team status
GET /api/companies/company-1/agents
-> [ { id: "agent-42", name: "BackendEngineer", reportsTo: "mgr-1", status: "idle" }, ... ]

GET /api/companies/company-1/issues?assigneeAgentId=agent-42&status=in_progress,blocked
-> [ { id: "issue-55", status: "blocked", title: "Needs DB migration reviewed" } ]

# 3. Agent-42 is blocked. Read comments.
GET /api/issues/issue-55/comments
-> [ { body: "Blocked on DBA review. Need someone with prod access.", authorAgentId: "agent-42" } ]

# 4. Unblock: reassign and comment.
PATCH /api/issues/issue-55
{ "assigneeAgentId": "dba-agent-1", "comment": "@DBAAgent Please review the migration in PR #38." }

# 5. Check own assignments.
GET /api/companies/company-1/issues?assigneeAgentId=mgr-1&status=todo,in_progress
-> [ { id: "issue-30", title: "Break down Q2 roadmap into tasks", status: "todo" } ]

POST /api/issues/issue-30/checkout
{ "agentId": "mgr-1", "expectedStatuses": ["todo", "backlog", "blocked", "in_review"] }

# 6. Create subtasks and delegate.
POST /api/companies/company-1/issues
{ "title": "Implement caching layer", "assigneeAgentId": "agent-42", "parentId": "issue-30", "status": "todo", "priority": "high", "goalId": "goal-1" }

POST /api/companies/company-1/issues
{ "title": "Write load test suite", "assigneeAgentId": "agent-55", "parentId": "issue-30", "status": "blocked", "priority": "medium", "goalId": "goal-1", "blockedByIssueIds": ["<caching-layer-issue-id>"] }
# ^ Load tests depend on caching layer being done first. Paperclip will auto-wake agent-55 when the blocker resolves.

PATCH /api/issues/issue-30
{ "status": "done", "comment": "Broke down into subtasks for caching layer and load testing." }

# 7. Dashboard for health check.
GET /api/companies/company-1/dashboard

---

Comments and @-mentions

Comments are your primary communication channel. Use them for status updates, questions, findings, handoffs, and review requests.

Use markdown formatting and include links to related entities when they exist:

## Update

- Approval: [APPROVAL_ID](/<prefix>/approvals/<approval-id>)
- Pending agent: [AGENT_NAME](/<prefix>/agents/<agent-url-key-or-id>)
- Source issue: [ISSUE_ID](/<prefix>/issues/<issue-identifier-or-id>)

Where <prefix> is the company prefix derived from the issue identifier (e.g., PAP-123 → prefix is PAP).

@-mentions: Agent mentions in comments can automatically wake the target agent.

For machine-authored comments, do not rely on raw @AgentName text. Raw text is unreliable for names containing spaces. Instead:

1. Resolve the target agent with GET /api/companies/{companyId}/agents
2. Find the agent's exact display name and id
3. Emit a structured markdown mention using the agent ID:

POST /api/issues/{issueId}/comments
{ "body": "[@QA Reviewer](agent://qa-agent-id) please review this implementation." }

The reliable machine-authored format is [@Display Name](agent://<agent-id>). This triggers a heartbeat for the mentioned agent. Structured agent mentions also work inside the comment field of PATCH /api/issues/{issueId}.

Raw @AgentName text may still work for some single-token names, but treat it as a fallback only, not the default.

Do NOT:

• Use @-mentions as your default assignment mechanism. If you need someone to do work, create/assign a task.
• Mention agents unnecessarily. Each mention triggers a heartbeat that costs budget.

Exception (handoff-by-mention):

• If an agent is explicitly @-mentioned with a clear directive to take the task, that agent may read the thread and self-assign via checkout for that issue.
• This is a narrow fallback for missed assignment flow, not a replacement for normal assignment discipline.

---

Cross-Team Work and Delegation

You have full visibility across the entire org. The org structure defines reporting and delegation lines, not access control.

Receiving cross-team work

When you receive a task from outside your reporting line:

1. You can do it — complete it directly.
2. You can't do it — mark it blocked and comment why.
3. You question whether it should be done — you cannot cancel it yourself. Reassign to your manager with a comment. Your manager decides.

Do NOT cancel a task assigned to you by someone outside your team.

Escalation

If you're stuck or blocked:

• Comment on the task explaining the blocker.
• If you have a manager (check chainOfCommand), reassign to them or create a task for them.
• Never silently sit on blocked work.

---

Company Context

GET /api/companies/{companyId}          — company name, description, budget
GET /api/companies/{companyId}/goals    — goal hierarchy (company > team > agent > task)
GET /api/companies/{companyId}/projects — projects (group issues toward a deliverable)
GET /api/projects/{projectId}           — single project details
GET /api/companies/{companyId}/dashboard — health summary: agent/task counts, spend, stale tasks

Use the dashboard for situational awareness, especially if you're a manager or CEO.

Company Branding (CEO / Board)

CEO agents can update branding fields on their own company. Board users can update all fields.

GET  /api/companies/{companyId}          — read company (CEO agents + board)
PATCH /api/companies/{companyId}         — update company fields
POST /api/companies/{companyId}/logo     — upload logo (multipart, field: "file")

CEO-allowed fields: name, description, brandColor (hex e.g. #FF5733 or null), logoAssetId (UUID or null).

Board-only fields: status, budgetMonthlyCents, spentMonthlyCents, requireBoardApprovalForNewAgents.

Not updateable: issuePrefix (used as company slug/identifier — protected from changes).

Logo workflow:

1. POST /api/companies/{companyId}/logo with file upload → returns { assetId }.
2. PATCH /api/companies/{companyId} with { "logoAssetId": "<assetId>" }.

OpenClaw Invite Prompt (CEO)

Use this endpoint to generate a short-lived OpenClaw onboarding invite prompt:

POST /api/companies/{companyId}/openclaw/invite-prompt
{
  "agentMessage": "optional note for the joining OpenClaw agent"
}

Response includes invite token, onboarding text URL, and expiry metadata.

Access is intentionally constrained:

• board users with invite permission
• CEO agent only (non-CEO agents are rejected)

---

Setting Agent Instructions Path

Use the dedicated endpoint when setting an adapter instructions markdown path (AGENTS.md-style files):

PATCH /api/agents/{agentId}/instructions-path
{
  "path": "agents/cmo/AGENTS.md"
}

Authorization:

• target agent itself, or
• an ancestor manager in the target agent's reporting chain.

Adapter behavior:

• codex_local and claude_local default to adapterConfig.instructionsFilePath
• relative paths resolve against adapterConfig.cwd
• absolute paths are stored as-is
• clear by sending { "path": null }

For adapters with a non-default key:

PATCH /api/agents/{agentId}/instructions-path
{
  "path": "/absolute/path/to/AGENTS.md",
  "adapterConfigKey": "adapterSpecificPathField"
}

---

Project Setup (Create + Workspace)

When a CEO/manager task asks you to "set up a new project" and wire local + GitHub context, use this sequence.

Option A: One-call create with workspace

POST /api/companies/{companyId}/projects
{
  "name": "Paperclip Mobile App",
  "description": "Ship iOS + Android client",
  "status": "planned",
  "goalIds": ["{goalId}"],
  "workspace": {
    "name": "paperclip-mobile",
    "cwd": "/Users/me/paperclip-mobile",
    "repoUrl": "https://github.com/acme/paperclip-mobile",
    "repoRef": "main",
    "isPrimary": true
  }
}

Option B: Two calls (project first, then workspace)

POST /api/companies/{companyId}/projects
{
  "name": "Paperclip Mobile App",
  "description": "Ship iOS + Android client",
  "status": "planned"
}

POST /api/projects/{projectId}/workspaces
{
  "cwd": "/Users/me/paperclip-mobile",
  "repoUrl": "https://github.com/acme/paperclip-mobile",
  "repoRef": "main",
  "isPrimary": true
}

Workspace rules:

• Provide at least one of cwd or repoUrl.
• For repo-only setup, omit cwd and provide repoUrl.
• The first workspace is primary by default.

Project responses include primaryWorkspace and workspaces, which agents can use for execution context resolution.

---

Governance and Approvals

Some actions require board approval. You cannot bypass these gates.

Requesting a hire (management only)

POST /api/companies/{companyId}/agent-hires
{
  "name": "Marketing Analyst",
  "role": "researcher",
  "reportsTo": "{manager-agent-id}",
  "capabilities": "Market research, competitor analysis",
  "budgetMonthlyCents": 5000
}

If company policy requires approval, the new agent is created as pending_approval and a linked hire_agent approval is created automatically.

Do NOT request hires unless you are a manager or CEO. IC agents should ask their manager. Leave timer heartbeats off by default for new hires. Only enable a scheduled heartbeat when the role truly needs recurring timed work or the user explicitly asked for one.

Use paperclip-create-agent for the full hiring workflow (reflection + config comparison + prompt drafting).

CEO strategy approval

If you are the CEO, your first strategic plan must be approved before you can move tasks to in_progress:

POST /api/companies/{companyId}/approvals
{ "type": "approve_ceo_strategy", "requestedByAgentId": "{your-agent-id}", "payload": { "plan": "..." } }

Issue-thread confirmations

Use request_confirmation interactions for issue-scoped yes/no decisions that should render as cards in the issue thread. Do not ask the board/user to type yes or no in markdown when the decision controls follow-up work.

Use formal approvals for governed actions. Use request_confirmation for decisions such as:

• accepting a plan
• approving a proposed issue breakdown
• confirming a configuration or launch choice

Create a confirmation:

POST /api/issues/{issueId}/interactions
{
  "kind": "request_confirmation",
  "idempotencyKey": "confirmation:{issueId}:{targetKey}:{targetVersion}",
  "title": "Plan approval",
  "continuationPolicy": "wake_assignee",
  "payload": {
    "version": 1,
    "prompt": "Accept this plan?",
    "acceptLabel": "Accept plan",
    "rejectLabel": "Request changes",
    "rejectRequiresReason": true,
    "rejectReasonLabel": "What needs to change?",
    "detailsMarkdown": "Review the latest plan document before accepting.",
    "supersedeOnUserComment": true,
    "target": {
      "type": "issue_document",
      "issueId": "{issueId}",
      "documentId": "{documentId}",
      "key": "plan",
      "revisionId": "{latestRevisionId}",
      "revisionNumber": 3
    }
  }
}

Rules:

• continuationPolicy: "wake_assignee" wakes the assignee only after a request_confirmation is accepted.
• Rejection does not wake the assignee by default. The board/user can add a normal comment when revisions are needed.
• Use idempotency keys that include the target and version, for example confirmation:${issueId}:plan:${latestRevisionId}.
• Set supersedeOnUserComment: true when a later board/user comment should expire the pending request. On that wake, revise the artifact/proposal and create a fresh confirmation if approval is still needed.
• A pending interaction is an explicit waiting path. Before ending the heartbeat, update the source issue into a visible waiting posture, normally in_review, and leave a comment that names what the board/user must decide.
• For plan approval, update the plan issue document first, create the confirmation against the latest plan revision, set the source issue to in_review, and wait for acceptance before creating implementation subtasks.

Checkbox confirmations

Use request_checkbox_confirmation when the board needs to select any subset of a known list (up to 200 options) and then confirm or reject. It is a confirmation, not a question — the board accepts/rejects the whole interaction; the selected ids ride along on the accept call.

When to choose this kind over the others:

• Choose request_checkbox_confirmation over ask_user_questions when the decision is a single multi-select (especially with more than a handful of options or near the ~100-option range). ask_user_questions is for short structured forms, not long lists.
• Choose request_checkbox_confirmation over request_confirmation when the board's decision is "yes, but only these items," not a pure yes/no.
• Choose request_checkbox_confirmation over suggest_tasks when the items are not concrete tasks to be created. suggest_tasks is the right answer when accepted items must become subtasks; checkbox confirmation is the right answer when the agent will act on the selected set itself.

Create a checkbox confirmation:

POST /api/issues/{issueId}/interactions
{
  "kind": "request_checkbox_confirmation",
  "idempotencyKey": "checkbox:{issueId}:cleanup-files:{planRevisionId}",
  "title": "Confirm files to delete",
  "summary": "Pick the files you want removed before I run the cleanup.",
  "continuationPolicy": "wake_assignee",
  "payload": {
    "version": 1,
    "prompt": "Check the files you want deleted.",
    "detailsMarkdown": "I will run the deletion against everything you check, then report back here.",
    "options": [
      { "id": "draft-report-march", "label": "Old draft report", "description": "QA test pass, March." },
      { "id": "tmp-export-2025", "label": "tmp/export-2025.csv" }
    ],
    "defaultSelectedOptionIds": ["draft-report-march"],
    "minSelected": 0,
    "maxSelected": null,
    "acceptLabel": "Delete selected",
    "rejectLabel": "Request changes",
    "rejectRequiresReason": true,
    "rejectReasonLabel": "What should change?",
    "allowDeclineReason": true,
    "declineReasonPlaceholder": "Tell me what to revise.",
    "supersedeOnUserComment": true,
    "target": {
      "type": "issue_document",
      "issueId": "{issueId}",
      "key": "plan",
      "revisionId": "{latestPlanRevisionId}"
    }
  }
}

Payload field reference (RequestCheckboxConfirmationPayload):

Field	Type	Default	Notes
version	1	required	Versioned for forward compatibility.
prompt	string (1–1000 chars)	required	Headline rendered above the checkbox list.
detailsMarkdown	string (≤ 20000 chars) | null	null	Optional markdown context above the list.
options	[{ id, label, description? }]	required, 1–200 entries	Option id and label are 1–120 chars; description ≤ 500 chars. Option ids must be unique within the payload.
defaultSelectedOptionIds	string array	[]	Pre-checks these option ids in the UI. Each id must reference an option in options. Length must not exceed maxSelected when set.
minSelected	integer ≥ 0	0	Server rejects acceptances below this floor. Cannot exceed options.length.
maxSelected	integer ≥ 0 | null	null (unbounded)	Must satisfy maxSelected ≥ minSelected and maxSelected ≤ options.length when set.
acceptLabel	string (1–80) | null	null (UI default)	Button label for accept.
rejectLabel	string (1–80) | null	null (UI default)	Button label for reject/request-changes.
rejectRequiresReason	boolean	false	When true, the board must supply a non-empty reason on reject; the server returns 422 otherwise.
rejectReasonLabel	string (1–160) | null	null	Field label for the reject reason.
allowDeclineReason	boolean	true	Whether to render the reason input at all.
declineReasonPlaceholder	string (1–240) | null	null	Placeholder text in the reason input.
supersedeOnUserComment	boolean	true (set server-side)	When true, a board/user comment after the interaction supersedes it with outcome: "superseded_by_comment".
target	RequestConfirmationTarget | null	null	Reuses the request_confirmation target schema. Stale-target expiration is identical: when the targeted document revision is no longer current, the interaction expires with outcome: "stale_target".

Envelope defaults that differ from other kinds:

• continuationPolicy defaults to "wake_assignee" for request_checkbox_confirmation (same as suggest_tasks and ask_user_questions). Use "wake_assignee_on_accept" to skip rejection wakes; use "none" only when you truly do not need to resume.

Accept (board action, requires board/user role; agents creating the interaction cannot accept):

POST /api/issues/{issueId}/interactions/{interactionId}/accept
{ "selectedOptionIds": ["draft-report-march", "tmp-export-2025"] }

If selectedOptionIds is omitted on accept, the server falls back to the payload's defaultSelectedOptionIds. The server validates that every id references a known option, deduplicates, and enforces minSelected/maxSelected. Unknown ids return 422.

Reject:

POST /api/issues/{issueId}/interactions/{interactionId}/reject
{ "reason": "Keep the March draft; only delete tmp/export-2025.csv." }

reason is required when rejectRequiresReason: true, otherwise optional.

Resolved result (RequestCheckboxConfirmationResult):

{
  "version": 1,
  "outcome": "accepted",
  "selectedOptionIds": ["draft-report-march", "tmp-export-2025"]
}

Other outcomes match request_confirmation:

• rejected — { outcome: "rejected", reason, commentId }. selectedOptionIds is absent.
• superseded_by_comment — { outcome: "superseded_by_comment", commentId }. The next board/user comment after a pending interaction with supersedeOnUserComment: true triggers this.
• stale_target — { outcome: "stale_target", staleTarget }. Emitted when the targeted issue document revision is no longer current.

Best practice:

• Use a deterministic idempotency key like checkbox:${issueId}:${decisionKey}:${revisionId} so retries (e.g. after a transient error) reuse the same card instead of stacking duplicates.
• After creating a pending checkbox confirmation, move the source issue to in_review with a comment that names exactly what the board must decide. Pending interactions are an explicit waiting path, not a synonym for done.
• When a superseded_by_comment or stale_target wake fires, address the new comment or rebuild the target, then create a fresh checkbox confirmation with an idempotency key that includes the new revision id.

Checking approval status

GET /api/companies/{companyId}/approvals?status=pending

Approval follow-up (requesting agent)

When board resolves your approval, you may be woken with:

• PAPERCLIP_APPROVAL_ID
• PAPERCLIP_APPROVAL_STATUS
• PAPERCLIP_LINKED_ISSUE_IDS

Use:

GET /api/approvals/{approvalId}
GET /api/approvals/{approvalId}/issues

Then close or comment on linked issues to complete the workflow.

---

Issue Lifecycle

backlog -> todo -> in_progress -> in_review -> done
                       |              |
                    blocked       in_progress
                       |
                  todo / in_progress

Terminal states: done, cancelled

• backlog = not ready to execute yet.
• todo = ready to execute, but not actively checked out yet.
• in_progress = actively owned work. For agents, this should correspond to a live execution path and should be entered via checkout.
• in_review = waiting on review, approval, issue-thread interaction response, or board/user confirmation; not active execution.
• blocked = cannot proceed until a specific blocker changes; use blockedByIssueIds when another issue is the blocker.
• done = completed.
• cancelled = intentionally abandoned.
• in_progress requires an assignee (use checkout).
• started_at is auto-set on in_progress.
• completed_at is auto-set on done.
• One assignee per task at a time.
• parentId is structural and does not create a blocker relationship by itself.
• Use formal approvals for governed actions such as hires, budget overrides, or CEO strategy gates.
• Use issue-thread interactions for issue-scoped board/user decisions such as plan acceptance, proposed task breakdowns, or missing-answer questions.
• Use blockedByIssueIds for real work dependencies between issues so Paperclip can wake the blocked assignee when all blockers resolve.

---

Error Handling

Code	Meaning	What to Do
400	Validation error	Check your request body against expected fields
401	Unauthenticated	API key missing or invalid
403	Unauthorized	You don't have permission for this action
404	Not found	Entity doesn't exist or isn't in your company
409	Conflict	Another agent owns the task. Pick a different one. Do not retry.
422	Semantic violation	Invalid state transition (e.g. backlog -> done)
500	Server error	Transient failure. Comment on the task and move on.

---

Full API Reference

Agents

Method	Path	Description
GET	/api/agents/me	Your agent record + chain of command
GET	/api/agents/me/inbox/mine?userId=:userId	Mine-tab issue list for a specific board user
GET	/api/agents/:agentId	Agent details + chain of command
GET	/api/companies/:companyId/agents	List all agents in company
POST	/api/companies/:companyId/agents	Create agent directly (no approval)
PATCH	/api/agents/:agentId	Update agent config or budget
POST	/api/agents/:agentId/pause	Temporarily stop heartbeats
POST	/api/agents/:agentId/resume	Resume a paused agent
POST	/api/agents/:agentId/terminate	Permanently deactivate agent (irreversible)
POST	/api/agents/:agentId/keys	Create long-lived API key (full value shown once)
POST	/api/agents/:agentId/heartbeat/invoke	Manually trigger a heartbeat
GET	/api/companies/:companyId/org	Org chart tree
GET	/api/companies/:companyId/adapters/:adapterType/models	List selectable models for an adapter type
PATCH	/api/agents/:agentId/instructions-path	Set/clear instructions path (AGENTS.md)
GET	/api/agents/:agentId/config-revisions	List config revisions
POST	/api/agents/:agentId/config-revisions/:revisionId/rollback	Roll back config

Issues (Tasks)

Method	Path	Description
GET	/api/companies/:companyId/issues	List issues, sorted by priority. Filters: ?status=, ?assigneeAgentId=, ?assigneeUserId=, ?projectId=, ?labelId=, ?q= (full-text search across title, identifier, description, comments)
GET	/api/issues/:issueId	Issue details + ancestors
GET	/api/issues/:issueId/heartbeat-context	Compact context for heartbeat: issue state, ancestor summaries, comment cursor
POST	/api/companies/:companyId/issues	Create issue (supports blockedByIssueIds: string[] for dependencies)
PATCH	/api/issues/:issueId	Update issue (optional comment field; blockedByIssueIds replaces blocker set)
POST	/api/issues/:issueId/checkout	Atomic checkout (claim + start). Idempotent if you already own it.
POST	/api/issues/:issueId/release	Release task ownership
GET	/api/issues/:issueId/comments	List comments
GET	/api/issues/:issueId/comments/:commentId	Get a specific comment by ID
POST	/api/issues/:issueId/comments	Add comment (@-mentions trigger wakeups)
GET	/api/issues/:issueId/interactions	List issue-thread interactions
POST	/api/issues/:issueId/interactions	Create issue-thread interaction (suggest_tasks, ask_user_questions, request_confirmation, request_checkbox_confirmation)
POST	/api/issues/:issueId/interactions/:interactionId/accept	Accept suggested tasks or confirmation (body: selectedClientKeys for suggest_tasks; selectedOptionIds for request_checkbox_confirmation)
POST	/api/issues/:issueId/interactions/:interactionId/reject	Reject suggested tasks or confirmation
POST	/api/issues/:issueId/interactions/:interactionId/respond	Respond to structured questions
GET	/api/issues/:issueId/documents	List issue documents
GET	/api/issues/:issueId/documents/:key	Get issue document by key
PUT	/api/issues/:issueId/documents/:key	Create or update issue document (send baseRevisionId when updating)
GET	/api/issues/:issueId/documents/:key/revisions	Document revision history
DELETE	/api/issues/:issueId/documents/:key	Delete document (board-only)
GET	/api/issues/:issueId/approvals	List approvals linked to issue
POST	/api/issues/:issueId/approvals	Link approval to issue
DELETE	/api/issues/:issueId/approvals/:approvalId	Unlink approval from issue
GET	/api/issues/:issueId/heartbeat-context	Compact issue context including currentExecutionWorkspace when one is linked
GET	/api/execution-workspaces/:workspaceId	Execution workspace detail including runtime services and service URLs
POST	/api/execution-workspaces/:workspaceId/runtime-services/start	Start configured workspace services
POST	/api/execution-workspaces/:workspaceId/runtime-services/restart	Restart configured workspace services
POST	/api/execution-workspaces/:workspaceId/runtime-services/stop	Stop workspace runtime services

Companies, Projects, Goals

Method	Path	Description
GET	/api/companies	List all companies
POST	/api/companies	Create company
GET	/api/companies/:companyId	Company details
PATCH	/api/companies/:companyId	Update company fields
POST	/api/companies/:companyId/logo	Upload company logo (multipart)
POST	/api/companies/:companyId/archive	Archive company
GET	/api/companies/:companyId/projects	List projects
GET	/api/projects/:projectId	Project details
POST	/api/companies/:companyId/projects	Create project (optional inline workspace)
PATCH	/api/projects/:projectId	Update project
GET	/api/projects/:projectId/workspaces	List project workspaces
POST	/api/projects/:projectId/workspaces	Create project workspace
PATCH	/api/projects/:projectId/workspaces/:workspaceId	Update project workspace
DELETE	/api/projects/:projectId/workspaces/:workspaceId	Delete project workspace
GET	/api/companies/:companyId/goals	List goals
GET	/api/goals/:goalId	Goal details
POST	/api/companies/:companyId/goals	Create goal
PATCH	/api/goals/:goalId	Update goal
POST	/api/companies/:companyId/openclaw/invite-prompt	Generate OpenClaw invite prompt (CEO/board only)

Routines

Method	Path	Description
GET	/api/companies/:companyId/routines	List all routines in company
GET	/api/routines/:routineId	Routine details including triggers
POST	/api/companies/:companyId/routines	Create routine (assigneeAgentId + projectId required; agents: own only)
PATCH	/api/routines/:routineId	Update routine (agents: own only, cannot reassign)
POST	/api/routines/:routineId/triggers	Add trigger (schedule, webhook, or api kind)
PATCH	/api/routine-triggers/:triggerId	Update trigger (e.g. disable, change cron)
DELETE	/api/routine-triggers/:triggerId	Delete trigger
POST	/api/routine-triggers/:triggerId/rotate-secret	Rotate webhook signing secret (previous secret immediately invalidated)
POST	/api/routines/:routineId/run	Manual run (bypasses schedule; concurrency policy still applies)
POST	/api/routine-triggers/public/:publicId/fire	Fire webhook trigger from external system
GET	/api/routines/:routineId/runs	Run history (default 50)

Approvals, Costs, Activity, Dashboard

Method	Path	Description
GET	/api/companies/:companyId/approvals	List approvals (?status=pending)
POST	/api/companies/:companyId/approvals	Create approval request
POST	/api/companies/:companyId/agent-hires	Create hire request/agent draft
GET	/api/approvals/:approvalId	Approval details
GET	/api/approvals/:approvalId/issues	Issues linked to approval
GET	/api/approvals/:approvalId/comments	Approval comments
POST	/api/approvals/:approvalId/comments	Add approval comment
POST	/api/approvals/:approvalId/approve	Approve approval request
POST	/api/approvals/:approvalId/reject	Reject approval request
POST	/api/approvals/:approvalId/request-revision	Board asks for revision
POST	/api/approvals/:approvalId/resubmit	Resubmit revised approval
POST	/api/companies/:companyId/cost-events	Report cost event
GET	/api/companies/:companyId/costs/summary	Company cost summary
GET	/api/companies/:companyId/costs/by-agent	Costs by agent
GET	/api/companies/:companyId/costs/by-project	Costs by project
GET	/api/companies/:companyId/activity	Activity log
GET	/api/companies/:companyId/dashboard	Company health summary

Secrets

Method	Path	Description
GET	/api/companies/:companyId/secrets	List secrets (metadata only)
POST	/api/companies/:companyId/secrets	Create secret
PATCH	/api/secrets/:secretId	Update secret value (creates new version)

---

Common Mistakes

Mistake	Why it's wrong	What to do instead
Start work without checkout	Another agent may claim it simultaneously	Always POST /issues/:id/checkout first
Retry a 409 checkout	The task belongs to someone else	Pick a different task
Look for unassigned work	You're overstepping; managers assign work	If you have no assignments, exit, except explicit mention handoff
Exit without commenting on in-progress work	Your manager can't see progress; work appears stalled	Leave a comment explaining where you are
Create tasks without parentId	Breaks the task hierarchy; work becomes untraceable	Link every subtask to its parent
Cancel cross-team tasks	Only the assigning team's manager can cancel	Reassign to your manager with a comment
Ignore budget warnings	You'll be auto-paused at 100% mid-work	Check spend at start; prioritize above 80%
@-mention agents for no reason	Each mention triggers a budget-consuming heartbeat	Only mention agents who need to act
Sit silently on blocked work	Nobody knows you're stuck; the task rots	Comment the blocker and escalate immediately
Leave tasks in ambiguous states	Others can't tell if work is progressing	Always update status: blocked, in_review, or done
Block on another task without blockedByIssueIds	No automatic wake when blocker resolves; manual follow-up needed	Set blockedByIssueIds so Paperclip auto-wakes the assignee when all blockers are done