add(coding-agent): add defineTool helper closes #2746

packages/coding-agent/CHANGELOG.md

@@ -73,6 +73,8 @@ After runtime replacement, use `runtimeHost.session` as the new live session and
 
 - Added public SDK runtime-host exports `createAgentSessionRuntime()` and `AgentSessionRuntimeHost` for apps that need runtime-backed session replacement and mode-style session switching
 
+- Added `defineTool()` so standalone and array-based custom tool definitions keep inferred parameter types without manual casts ([#2746](https://github.com/badlogic/pi-mono/issues/2746))
+
 - Added label timestamps to the session tree with a `Shift+T` toggle in `/tree`, smart date formatting, and timestamp preservation through branching ([#2691](https://github.com/badlogic/pi-mono/pull/2691) by [@w-winter](https://github.com/w-winter))
 
 ### Fixed

packages/coding-agent/docs/sdk.md

@@ -493,21 +493,21 @@ const { session } = await createAgentSession({
 
 ```typescript
 import { Type } from "@sinclair/typebox";
-import { createAgentSession, type ToolDefinition } from "@mariozechner/pi-coding-agent";
+import { createAgentSession, defineTool } from "@mariozechner/pi-coding-agent";
 
 // Inline custom tool
-const myTool: ToolDefinition = {
+const myTool = defineTool({
   name: "my_tool",
   label: "My Tool",
   description: "Does something useful",
   parameters: Type.Object({
     input: Type.String({ description: "Input value" }),
   }),
-  execute: async (toolCallId, params, onUpdate, ctx, signal) => ({
+  execute: async (_toolCallId, params) => ({
     content: [{ type: "text", text: `Result: ${params.input}` }],
     details: {},
   }),
-};
+});
 
 // Pass custom tools directly
 const { session } = await createAgentSession({
@@ -515,6 +515,8 @@ const { session } = await createAgentSession({
 });
 ```
 
+Use `defineTool()` for standalone definitions and arrays like `customTools: [myTool]`. Inline `pi.registerTool({ ... })` already infers parameter types correctly.
+
 Custom tools passed via `customTools` are combined with extension-registered tools. Extensions loaded by the ResourceLoader can also register tools via `pi.registerTool()`.
 
 > See [examples/sdk/05-tools.ts](../examples/sdk/05-tools.ts)
@@ -828,14 +830,14 @@ import { getModel } from "@mariozechner/pi-ai";
 import { Type } from "@sinclair/typebox";
 import {
   AuthStorage,
+  bashTool,
   createAgentSession,
   DefaultResourceLoader,
+  defineTool,
   ModelRegistry,
+  readTool,
   SessionManager,
   SettingsManager,
-  readTool,
-  bashTool,
-  type ToolDefinition,
 } from "@mariozechner/pi-coding-agent";
 
 // Set up auth storage (custom location)
@@ -850,7 +852,7 @@ if (process.env.MY_KEY) {
 const modelRegistry = ModelRegistry.create(authStorage);
 
 // Inline tool
-const statusTool: ToolDefinition = {
+const statusTool = defineTool({
   name: "status",
   label: "Status",
   description: "Get system status",
@@ -859,7 +861,7 @@ const statusTool: ToolDefinition = {
     content: [{ type: "text", text: `Uptime: ${process.uptime()}s` }],
     details: {},
   }),
-};
+});
 
 const model = getModel("anthropic", "claude-opus-4-5");
 if (!model) throw new Error("Model not found");
@@ -1030,6 +1032,7 @@ type ResourceLoader
 createEventBus
 
 // Helpers
+defineTool
 
 // Session management
 SessionManager

packages/coding-agent/examples/extensions/hello.ts

@@ -3,23 +3,24 @@
  */
 
 import { Type } from "@mariozechner/pi-ai";
-import type { ExtensionAPI } from "@mariozechner/pi-coding-agent";
+import { defineTool, type ExtensionAPI } from "@mariozechner/pi-coding-agent";
+
+const helloTool = defineTool({
+	name: "hello",
+	label: "Hello",
+	description: "A simple greeting tool",
+	parameters: Type.Object({
+		name: Type.String({ description: "Name to greet" }),
+	}),
+
+	async execute(_toolCallId, params, _signal, _onUpdate, _ctx) {
+		return {
+			content: [{ type: "text", text: `Hello, ${params.name}!` }],
+			details: { greeted: params.name },
+		};
+	},
+});
 
 export default function (pi: ExtensionAPI) {
-	pi.registerTool({
+	pi.registerTool(helloTool);
-		name: "hello",
-		label: "Hello",
-		description: "A simple greeting tool",
-		parameters: Type.Object({
-			name: Type.String({ description: "Name to greet" }),
-		}),
-
-		async execute(_toolCallId, params, _signal, _onUpdate, _ctx) {
-			const { name } = params as { name: string };
-			return {
-				content: [{ type: "text", text: `Hello, ${name}!` }],
-				details: { greeted: name },
-			};
-		},
-	});
 }

packages/coding-agent/src/core/extensions/index.ts

@@ -154,6 +154,7 @@ export type {
 } from "./types.js";
 // Type guards
 export {
+	defineTool,
 	isBashToolResult,
 	isEditToolResult,
 	isFindToolResult,

packages/coding-agent/src/core/extensions/types.ts

@@ -404,6 +404,21 @@ export interface ToolDefinition<TParams extends TSchema = TSchema, TDetails = un
 	) => Component;
 }
 
+type AnyToolDefinition = ToolDefinition<any, any, any>;
+
+/**
+ * Preserve parameter inference for standalone tool definitions.
+ *
+ * Use this when assigning a tool to a variable or passing it through arrays such
+ * as `customTools`, where contextual typing would otherwise widen params to
+ * `unknown`.
+ */
+export function defineTool<TParams extends TSchema, TDetails = unknown, TState = any>(
+	tool: ToolDefinition<TParams, TDetails, TState>,
+): ToolDefinition<TParams, TDetails, TState> & AnyToolDefinition {
+	return tool;
+}
+
 // ============================================================================
 // Resource Events
 // ============================================================================

packages/coding-agent/src/core/index.ts

@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ export {
 	type AgentToolUpdateCallback,
 	type BeforeAgentStartEvent,
 	type ContextEvent,
+	defineTool,
 	discoverAndLoadExtensions,
 	type ExecOptions,
 	type ExecResult,

packages/coding-agent/src/index.ts

@@ -125,6 +125,7 @@ export type {
 } from "./core/extensions/index.js";
 export {
 	createExtensionRuntime,
+	defineTool,
 	discoverAndLoadExtensions,
 	ExtensionRunner,
 	isBashToolResult,