fix(python): harden zeroclaw-tools CLI and integration ergonomics

README.md

@@ -447,7 +447,7 @@ print(result["messages"][-1].content)
 - **Consistent tool calling** across all providers (even those with poor native support)
 - **Automatic tool loop** — keeps calling tools until the task is complete
 - **Easy extensibility** — add custom tools with `@tool` decorator
-- **Discord/Telegram bots** included
+- **Discord bot integration** included (Telegram planned)
 
 See [`python/README.md`](python/README.md) for full documentation.
 

python/README.md

@@ -60,6 +60,9 @@ export API_BASE="https://api.z.ai/api/coding/paas/v4"
 
 # Run the CLI
 zeroclaw-tools "List files in the current directory"
+
+# Interactive mode (no message required)
+zeroclaw-tools -i
 ```
 
 ### Discord Bot

python/pyproject.toml

@@ -64,3 +64,4 @@ target-version = "py310"
 
 [tool.pytest.ini_options]
 asyncio_mode = "auto"
+asyncio_default_fixture_loop_scope = "function"

python/tests/test_tools.py

@@ -27,6 +27,18 @@ def test_import_tool_decorator():
     assert hasattr(test_func, "invoke")
 
 
+def test_tool_decorator_custom_metadata():
+    """Test that custom tool metadata is preserved."""
+    from zeroclaw_tools import tool
+
+    @tool(name="echo_tool", description="Echo input back")
+    def echo(value: str) -> str:
+        return value
+
+    assert echo.name == "echo_tool"
+    assert "Echo input back" in echo.description
+
+
 def test_agent_creation():
     """Test that agent can be created with default tools."""
     from zeroclaw_tools import create_agent, shell, file_read, file_write
@@ -39,6 +51,35 @@ def test_agent_creation():
     assert agent.model == "test-model"
 
 
+def test_cli_allows_interactive_without_message():
+    """Interactive mode should not require positional message."""
+    from zeroclaw_tools.__main__ import parse_args
+
+    args = parse_args(["-i"])
+
+    assert args.interactive is True
+    assert args.message == []
+
+
+def test_cli_requires_message_when_not_interactive():
+    """Non-interactive mode requires at least one message token."""
+    from zeroclaw_tools.__main__ import parse_args
+
+    with pytest.raises(SystemExit):
+        parse_args([])
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_invoke_in_event_loop_raises():
+    """invoke() should fail fast when called from an active event loop."""
+    from zeroclaw_tools import create_agent, shell
+
+    agent = create_agent(tools=[shell], model="test-model", api_key="test-key")
+
+    with pytest.raises(RuntimeError, match="ainvoke"):
+        agent.invoke({"messages": []})
+
+
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_shell_tool():
     """Test shell tool execution."""

python/zeroclaw_tools/__main__.py

@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import argparse
 import asyncio
 import os
 import sys
+from typing import Optional
 
 from langchain_core.messages import HumanMessage
 
@@ -25,7 +26,7 @@ DEFAULT_SYSTEM_PROMPT = """You are ZeroClaw, an AI assistant with full system ac
 Be concise and helpful. Execute tools directly without excessive explanation."""
 
 
-async def chat(message: str, api_key: str, base_url: str, model: str) -> str:
+async def chat(message: str, api_key: str, base_url: Optional[str], model: str) -> str:
     """Run a single chat message through the agent."""
     agent = create_agent(
         tools=[shell, file_read, file_write, web_search, http_request, memory_store, memory_recall],
@@ -39,21 +40,40 @@ async def chat(message: str, api_key: str, base_url: str, model: str) -> str:
     return result["messages"][-1].content or "Done."
 
 
-def main():
+def _build_parser() -> argparse.ArgumentParser:
-    """CLI main entry point."""
+    """Build CLI argument parser."""
     parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(
         description="ZeroClaw Tools - LangGraph-based tool calling for LLMs"
     )
-    parser.add_argument("message", nargs="+", help="Message to send to the agent")
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "message",
+        nargs="*",
+        help="Message to send to the agent (optional in interactive mode)",
+    )
     parser.add_argument("--model", "-m", default="glm-5", help="Model to use")
     parser.add_argument("--api-key", "-k", default=None, help="API key")
     parser.add_argument("--base-url", "-u", default=None, help="API base URL")
     parser.add_argument("--interactive", "-i", action="store_true", help="Interactive mode")
+    return parser
 
-    args = parser.parse_args()
+
+def parse_args(argv: list[str] | None = None) -> argparse.Namespace:
+    """Parse CLI arguments and enforce mode-specific requirements."""
+    parser = _build_parser()
+    args = parser.parse_args(argv)
+
+    if not args.interactive and not args.message:
+        parser.error("message is required unless --interactive is set")
+
+    return args
+
+
+def main(argv: list[str] | None = None):
+    """CLI main entry point."""
+    args = parse_args(argv)
 
     api_key = args.api_key or os.environ.get("API_KEY") or os.environ.get("GLM_API_KEY")
-    base_url = args.base_url or os.environ.get("API_BASE", "https://api.z.ai/api/coding/paas/v4")
+    base_url = args.base_url or os.environ.get("API_BASE")
 
     if not api_key:
         print("Error: API key required. Set API_KEY env var or use --api-key", file=sys.stderr)

python/zeroclaw_tools/agent.py

@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ LangGraph-based agent factory for consistent tool calling.
 """
 
 import os
-from typing import Any, Callable, Optional
+from typing import Any, Optional
 
 from langchain_core.messages import HumanMessage, SystemMessage
 from langchain_core.tools import BaseTool
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ from langgraph.prebuilt import ToolNode
 
 SYSTEM_PROMPT = """You are ZeroClaw, an AI assistant with tool access. Use tools to accomplish tasks.
 Be concise and helpful. Execute tools directly when needed without excessive explanation."""
+GLM_DEFAULT_BASE_URL = "https://api.z.ai/api/coding/paas/v4"
 
 
 class ZeroclawAgent:
@@ -40,7 +41,10 @@ class ZeroclawAgent:
         self.system_prompt = system_prompt or SYSTEM_PROMPT
 
         api_key = api_key or os.environ.get("API_KEY") or os.environ.get("GLM_API_KEY")
-        base_url = base_url or os.environ.get("API_BASE", "https://api.z.ai/api/coding/paas/v4")
+        base_url = base_url or os.environ.get("API_BASE")
+
+        if base_url is None and model.lower().startswith(("glm", "zhipu")):
+            base_url = GLM_DEFAULT_BASE_URL
 
         if not api_key:
             raise ValueError(
@@ -105,8 +109,16 @@ class ZeroclawAgent:
         """
         import asyncio
 
+        try:
+            asyncio.get_running_loop()
+        except RuntimeError:
             return asyncio.run(self.ainvoke(input, config))
 
+        raise RuntimeError(
+            "ZeroclawAgent.invoke() cannot be called inside an active event loop. "
+            "Use 'await ZeroclawAgent.ainvoke(...)' instead."
+        )
+
 
 def create_agent(
     tools: Optional[list[BaseTool]] = None,

python/zeroclaw_tools/integrations/__init__.py

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 """
-Integrations for various platforms (Discord, Telegram, etc.)
+Integrations for supported external platforms.
 """
 
 from .discord_bot import DiscordBot

python/zeroclaw_tools/integrations/discord_bot.py

@@ -2,20 +2,18 @@
 Discord bot integration for ZeroClaw.
 """
 
-import asyncio
 import os
 from typing import Optional, Set
 
 try:
     import discord
-    from discord.ext import commands
 
     DISCORD_AVAILABLE = True
 except ImportError:
     DISCORD_AVAILABLE = False
     discord = None
 
-from langchain_core.messages import HumanMessage, SystemMessage
+from langchain_core.messages import HumanMessage
 
 from ..agent import create_agent
 from ..tools import shell, file_read, file_write, web_search
@@ -65,6 +63,18 @@ class DiscordBot:
         self.model = model
         self.prefix = prefix
 
+        if not self.api_key:
+            raise ValueError(
+                "API key required. Set API_KEY environment variable or pass api_key parameter."
+            )
+
+        self.agent = create_agent(
+            tools=[shell, file_read, file_write, web_search],
+            model=self.model,
+            api_key=self.api_key,
+            base_url=self.base_url,
+        )
+
         self._histories: dict[str, list] = {}
         self._max_history = 20
 
@@ -117,13 +127,6 @@ class DiscordBot:
 
     async def _process_message(self, content: str, user_id: str) -> str:
         """Process a message and return the response."""
-        agent = create_agent(
-            tools=[shell, file_read, file_write, web_search],
-            model=self.model,
-            api_key=self.api_key,
-            base_url=self.base_url,
-        )
-
         messages = []
 
         if user_id in self._histories:
@@ -132,7 +135,7 @@ class DiscordBot:
 
         messages.append(HumanMessage(content=content))
 
-        result = await agent.ainvoke({"messages": messages})
+        result = await self.agent.ainvoke({"messages": messages})
 
         if user_id not in self._histories:
             self._histories[user_id] = []

python/zeroclaw_tools/tools/base.py

@@ -38,9 +38,13 @@ def tool(
         ```
     """
     if func is not None:
-        return langchain_tool(func)
+        if name is not None:
+            return langchain_tool(name, func, description=description)
+        return langchain_tool(func, description=description)
 
     def decorator(f: Callable) -> Any:
-        return langchain_tool(f, name=name)
+        if name is not None:
+            return langchain_tool(name, f, description=description)
+        return langchain_tool(f, description=description)
 
     return decorator

python/zeroclaw_tools/tools/memory.py

@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ Memory storage tools for persisting data between conversations.
 """
 
 import json
-import os
 from pathlib import Path
 
 from langchain_core.tools import tool
@@ -20,7 +19,7 @@ def _load_memory() -> dict:
     if not path.exists():
         return {}
     try:
-        with open(path, "r") as f:
+        with open(path, "r", encoding="utf-8") as f:
             return json.load(f)
     except Exception:
         return {}
@@ -30,7 +29,7 @@ def _save_memory(data: dict) -> None:
     """Save memory to disk."""
     path = _get_memory_path()
     path.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
-    with open(path, "w") as f:
+    with open(path, "w", encoding="utf-8") as f:
         json.dump(data, f, indent=2)