feat(channel): make message timeout configurable via channels_config.message_timeout_secs

Add configurable timeout for processing channel messages (LLM + tools).
Default: 300s (optimized for on-device LLMs like Ollama).
Can be overridden in config.toml:

[channels_config]
message_timeout_secs = 600

docs/config-reference.md

@@ -50,6 +50,10 @@ Notes:
 
 Top-level channel options are configured under `channels_config`.
 
+| Key | Default | Purpose |
+|---|---|---|
+| `message_timeout_secs` | `300` | Timeout in seconds for processing a single channel message (LLM + tools) |
+
 Examples:
 
 - `[channels_config.telegram]`
@@ -57,6 +61,12 @@ Examples:
 - `[channels_config.whatsapp]`
 - `[channels_config.email]`
 
+Notes:
+
+- Default `300s` is optimized for on-device LLMs (Ollama) which are slower than cloud APIs.
+- If using cloud APIs (OpenAI, Anthropic, etc.), you can reduce this to `60` or lower.
+- When a timeout occurs, users receive: `⚠️ Request timed out while waiting for the model. Please try again.`
+
 See detailed channel matrix and allowlist behavior in [channels-reference.md](channels-reference.md).
 
 ## Security-Relevant Defaults

src/channels/mod.rs

@@ -60,8 +60,8 @@ const BOOTSTRAP_MAX_CHARS: usize = 20_000;
 
 const DEFAULT_CHANNEL_INITIAL_BACKOFF_SECS: u64 = 2;
 const DEFAULT_CHANNEL_MAX_BACKOFF_SECS: u64 = 60;
-/// Timeout for processing a single channel message (LLM + tools).
+/// Default timeout for processing a single channel message (LLM + tools).
-/// 300s for on-device LLMs (Ollama) which are slower than cloud APIs.
+/// Used as fallback when not configured in channels_config.message_timeout_secs.
 const CHANNEL_MESSAGE_TIMEOUT_SECS: u64 = 300;
 const CHANNEL_PARALLELISM_PER_CHANNEL: usize = 4;
 const CHANNEL_MIN_IN_FLIGHT_MESSAGES: usize = 8;
@@ -120,6 +120,7 @@ struct ChannelRuntimeContext {
     reliability: Arc<crate::config::ReliabilityConfig>,
     provider_runtime_options: providers::ProviderRuntimeOptions,
     workspace_dir: Arc<PathBuf>,
+    message_timeout_secs: u64,
 }
 
 fn conversation_memory_key(msg: &traits::ChannelMessage) -> String {
@@ -696,7 +697,7 @@ async fn process_channel_message(ctx: Arc<ChannelRuntimeContext>, msg: traits::C
     };
 
     let llm_result = tokio::time::timeout(
-        Duration::from_secs(CHANNEL_MESSAGE_TIMEOUT_SECS),
+        Duration::from_secs(ctx.message_timeout_secs),
         run_tool_call_loop(
             active_provider.as_ref(),
             &mut history,
@@ -787,10 +788,7 @@ async fn process_channel_message(ctx: Arc<ChannelRuntimeContext>, msg: traits::C
             }
         }
         Err(_) => {
-            let timeout_msg = format!(
+            let timeout_msg = format!("LLM response timed out after {}s", ctx.message_timeout_secs);
-                "LLM response timed out after {}s",
-                CHANNEL_MESSAGE_TIMEOUT_SECS
-            );
             eprintln!(
                 "  ❌ {} (elapsed: {}ms)",
                 timeout_msg,
@@ -1835,6 +1833,7 @@ pub async fn start_channels(config: Config) -> Result<()> {
         reliability: Arc::new(config.reliability.clone()),
         provider_runtime_options,
         workspace_dir: Arc::new(config.workspace_dir.clone()),
+        message_timeout_secs: config.channels_config.message_timeout_secs,
     });
 
     run_message_dispatch_loop(rx, runtime_ctx, max_in_flight_messages).await;
@@ -2225,6 +2224,7 @@ mod tests {
             reliability: Arc::new(crate::config::ReliabilityConfig::default()),
             provider_runtime_options: providers::ProviderRuntimeOptions::default(),
             workspace_dir: Arc::new(std::env::temp_dir()),
+            message_timeout_secs: CHANNEL_MESSAGE_TIMEOUT_SECS,
         });
 
         process_channel_message(
@@ -2277,6 +2277,7 @@ mod tests {
             reliability: Arc::new(crate::config::ReliabilityConfig::default()),
             provider_runtime_options: providers::ProviderRuntimeOptions::default(),
             workspace_dir: Arc::new(std::env::temp_dir()),
+            message_timeout_secs: CHANNEL_MESSAGE_TIMEOUT_SECS,
         });
 
         process_channel_message(
@@ -2338,6 +2339,7 @@ mod tests {
             reliability: Arc::new(crate::config::ReliabilityConfig::default()),
             provider_runtime_options: providers::ProviderRuntimeOptions::default(),
             workspace_dir: Arc::new(std::env::temp_dir()),
+            message_timeout_secs: CHANNEL_MESSAGE_TIMEOUT_SECS,
         });
 
         process_channel_message(
@@ -2420,6 +2422,7 @@ mod tests {
             reliability: Arc::new(crate::config::ReliabilityConfig::default()),
             provider_runtime_options: providers::ProviderRuntimeOptions::default(),
             workspace_dir: Arc::new(std::env::temp_dir()),
+            message_timeout_secs: CHANNEL_MESSAGE_TIMEOUT_SECS,
         });
 
         process_channel_message(
@@ -2478,6 +2481,7 @@ mod tests {
             reliability: Arc::new(crate::config::ReliabilityConfig::default()),
             provider_runtime_options: providers::ProviderRuntimeOptions::default(),
             workspace_dir: Arc::new(std::env::temp_dir()),
+            message_timeout_secs: CHANNEL_MESSAGE_TIMEOUT_SECS,
         });
 
         process_channel_message(
@@ -2531,6 +2535,7 @@ mod tests {
             reliability: Arc::new(crate::config::ReliabilityConfig::default()),
             provider_runtime_options: providers::ProviderRuntimeOptions::default(),
             workspace_dir: Arc::new(std::env::temp_dir()),
+            message_timeout_secs: CHANNEL_MESSAGE_TIMEOUT_SECS,
         });
 
         process_channel_message(
@@ -2635,6 +2640,7 @@ mod tests {
             reliability: Arc::new(crate::config::ReliabilityConfig::default()),
             provider_runtime_options: providers::ProviderRuntimeOptions::default(),
             workspace_dir: Arc::new(std::env::temp_dir()),
+            message_timeout_secs: CHANNEL_MESSAGE_TIMEOUT_SECS,
         });
 
         let (tx, rx) = tokio::sync::mpsc::channel::<traits::ChannelMessage>(4);
@@ -2705,6 +2711,7 @@ mod tests {
             reliability: Arc::new(crate::config::ReliabilityConfig::default()),
             provider_runtime_options: providers::ProviderRuntimeOptions::default(),
             workspace_dir: Arc::new(std::env::temp_dir()),
+            message_timeout_secs: CHANNEL_MESSAGE_TIMEOUT_SECS,
         });
 
         process_channel_message(
@@ -3095,6 +3102,7 @@ mod tests {
             reliability: Arc::new(crate::config::ReliabilityConfig::default()),
             provider_runtime_options: providers::ProviderRuntimeOptions::default(),
             workspace_dir: Arc::new(std::env::temp_dir()),
+            message_timeout_secs: CHANNEL_MESSAGE_TIMEOUT_SECS,
         });
 
         process_channel_message(

src/config/schema.rs

@@ -1979,6 +1979,14 @@ pub struct ChannelsConfig {
     pub lark: Option<LarkConfig>,
     pub dingtalk: Option<DingTalkConfig>,
     pub qq: Option<QQConfig>,
+    /// Timeout in seconds for processing a single channel message (LLM + tools).
+    /// Default: 300s for on-device LLMs (Ollama) which are slower than cloud APIs.
+    #[serde(default = "default_channel_message_timeout_secs")]
+    pub message_timeout_secs: u64,
+}
+
+fn default_channel_message_timeout_secs() -> u64 {
+    300
 }
 
 impl Default for ChannelsConfig {
@@ -1999,6 +2007,7 @@ impl Default for ChannelsConfig {
             lark: None,
             dingtalk: None,
             qq: None,
+            message_timeout_secs: default_channel_message_timeout_secs(),
         }
     }
 }
@@ -3242,6 +3251,7 @@ default_temperature = 0.7
                 lark: None,
                 dingtalk: None,
                 qq: None,
+                message_timeout_secs: 300,
             },
             memory: MemoryConfig::default(),
             storage: StorageConfig::default(),
@@ -3746,6 +3756,7 @@ allowed_users = ["@ops:matrix.org"]
             lark: None,
             dingtalk: None,
             qq: None,
+            message_timeout_secs: 300,
         };
         let toml_str = toml::to_string_pretty(&c).unwrap();
         let parsed: ChannelsConfig = toml::from_str(&toml_str).unwrap();
@@ -3909,6 +3920,7 @@ channel_id = "C123"
             lark: None,
             dingtalk: None,
             qq: None,
+            message_timeout_secs: 300,
         };
         let toml_str = toml::to_string_pretty(&c).unwrap();
         let parsed: ChannelsConfig = toml::from_str(&toml_str).unwrap();

src/onboard/wizard.rs

@@ -2452,23 +2452,7 @@ fn setup_channels() -> Result<ChannelsConfig> {
     print_bullet("CLI is always available. Connect more channels now.");
     println!();
 
-    let mut config = ChannelsConfig {
+    let mut config = ChannelsConfig::default();
-        cli: true,
-        telegram: None,
-        discord: None,
-        slack: None,
-        mattermost: None,
-        webhook: None,
-        imessage: None,
-        matrix: None,
-        signal: None,
-        whatsapp: None,
-        email: None,
-        irc: None,
-        lark: None,
-        dingtalk: None,
-        qq: None,
-    };
 
     loop {
         let options = vec![