Add todo list tool enable checkbox to provider advanced settings

packages/types/src/provider-settings.ts

@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@ export const DEFAULT_CONSECUTIVE_MISTAKE_LIMIT = 3
 const baseProviderSettingsSchema = z.object({
 	includeMaxTokens: z.boolean().optional(),
 	diffEnabled: z.boolean().optional(),
+	todoListEnabled: z.boolean().optional(),
 	fuzzyMatchThreshold: z.number().optional(),
 	modelTemperature: z.number().nullish(),
 	rateLimitSeconds: z.number().optional(),

src/core/config/ProviderSettingsManager.ts

@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ export const providerProfilesSchema = z.object({
 			diffSettingsMigrated: z.boolean().optional(),
 			openAiHeadersMigrated: z.boolean().optional(),
 			consecutiveMistakeLimitMigrated: z.boolean().optional(),
+			todoListEnabledMigrated: z.boolean().optional(),
 		})
 		.optional(),
 })
@@ -51,6 +52,7 @@ export class ProviderSettingsManager {
 			diffSettingsMigrated: true, // Mark as migrated on fresh installs
 			openAiHeadersMigrated: true, // Mark as migrated on fresh installs
 			consecutiveMistakeLimitMigrated: true, // Mark as migrated on fresh installs
+			todoListEnabledMigrated: true, // Mark as migrated on fresh installs
 		},
 	}
 
@@ -117,6 +119,7 @@ export class ProviderSettingsManager {
 						diffSettingsMigrated: false,
 						openAiHeadersMigrated: false,
 						consecutiveMistakeLimitMigrated: false,
+						todoListEnabledMigrated: false,
 					} // Initialize with default values
 					isDirty = true
 				}
@@ -145,6 +148,12 @@ export class ProviderSettingsManager {
 					isDirty = true
 				}
 
+				if (!providerProfiles.migrations.todoListEnabledMigrated) {
+					await this.migrateTodoListEnabled(providerProfiles)
+					providerProfiles.migrations.todoListEnabledMigrated = true
+					isDirty = true
+				}
+
 				if (isDirty) {
 					await this.store(providerProfiles)
 				}
@@ -250,6 +259,18 @@ export class ProviderSettingsManager {
 		}
 	}
 
+	private async migrateTodoListEnabled(providerProfiles: ProviderProfiles) {
+		try {
+			for (const [_name, apiConfig] of Object.entries(providerProfiles.apiConfigs)) {
+				if (apiConfig.todoListEnabled === undefined) {
+					apiConfig.todoListEnabled = true
+				}
+			}
+		} catch (error) {
+			console.error(`[MigrateTodoListEnabled] Failed to migrate todo list enabled setting:`, error)
+		}
+	}
+
 	/**
 	 * List all available configs with metadata.
 	 */

src/core/config/__tests__/ProviderSettingsManager.spec.ts

@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@ describe("ProviderSettingsManager", () => {
 						diffSettingsMigrated: true,
 						openAiHeadersMigrated: true,
 						consecutiveMistakeLimitMigrated: true,
+						todoListEnabledMigrated: true,
 					},
 				}),
 			)
@@ -186,6 +187,48 @@ describe("ProviderSettingsManager", () => {
 			expect(storedConfig.migrations.consecutiveMistakeLimitMigrated).toEqual(true)
 		})
 
+		it("should call migrateTodoListEnabled if it has not done so already", async () => {
+			mockSecrets.get.mockResolvedValue(
+				JSON.stringify({
+					currentApiConfigName: "default",
+					apiConfigs: {
+						default: {
+							config: {},
+							id: "default",
+							todoListEnabled: undefined,
+						},
+						test: {
+							apiProvider: "anthropic",
+							todoListEnabled: undefined,
+						},
+						existing: {
+							apiProvider: "anthropic",
+							// this should not really be possible, unless someone has loaded a hand edited config,
+							// but we don't overwrite so we'll check that
+							todoListEnabled: false,
+						},
+					},
+					migrations: {
+						rateLimitSecondsMigrated: true,
+						diffSettingsMigrated: true,
+						openAiHeadersMigrated: true,
+						consecutiveMistakeLimitMigrated: true,
+						todoListEnabledMigrated: false,
+					},
+				}),
+			)
+
+			await providerSettingsManager.initialize()
+
+			// Get the last call to store, which should contain the migrated config
+			const calls = mockSecrets.store.mock.calls
+			const storedConfig = JSON.parse(calls[calls.length - 1][1])
+			expect(storedConfig.apiConfigs.default.todoListEnabled).toEqual(true)
+			expect(storedConfig.apiConfigs.test.todoListEnabled).toEqual(true)
+			expect(storedConfig.apiConfigs.existing.todoListEnabled).toEqual(false)
+			expect(storedConfig.migrations.todoListEnabledMigrated).toEqual(true)
+		})
+
 		it("should throw error if secrets storage fails", async () => {
 			mockSecrets.get.mockRejectedValue(new Error("Storage failed"))
 

src/core/prompts/__tests__/system-prompt.spec.ts

@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ __setMockImplementation(
 		globalCustomInstructions: string,
 		cwd: string,
 		mode: string,
-		options?: { language?: string },
+		options?: { language?: string; rooIgnoreInstructions?: string; settings?: Record<string, any> },
 	) => {
 		const sections = []
 
@@ -575,6 +575,94 @@ describe("SYSTEM_PROMPT", () => {
 		expect(prompt.indexOf(modes[0].roleDefinition)).toBeLessThan(prompt.indexOf("TOOL USE"))
 	})
 
+	it("should exclude update_todo_list tool when todoListEnabled is false", async () => {
+		const settings = {
+			todoListEnabled: false,
+		}
+
+		const prompt = await SYSTEM_PROMPT(
+			mockContext,
+			"/test/path",
+			false, // supportsComputerUse
+			undefined, // mcpHub
+			undefined, // diffStrategy
+			undefined, // browserViewportSize
+			defaultModeSlug, // mode
+			undefined, // customModePrompts
+			undefined, // customModes
+			undefined, // globalCustomInstructions
+			undefined, // diffEnabled
+			experiments,
+			true, // enableMcpServerCreation
+			undefined, // language
+			undefined, // rooIgnoreInstructions
+			undefined, // partialReadsEnabled
+			settings, // settings
+		)
+
+		// Should not contain the tool description
+		expect(prompt).not.toContain("## update_todo_list")
+		// Mode instructions will still reference the tool with a fallback to markdown
+	})
+
+	it("should include update_todo_list tool when todoListEnabled is true", async () => {
+		const settings = {
+			todoListEnabled: true,
+		}
+
+		const prompt = await SYSTEM_PROMPT(
+			mockContext,
+			"/test/path",
+			false, // supportsComputerUse
+			undefined, // mcpHub
+			undefined, // diffStrategy
+			undefined, // browserViewportSize
+			defaultModeSlug, // mode
+			undefined, // customModePrompts
+			undefined, // customModes
+			undefined, // globalCustomInstructions
+			undefined, // diffEnabled
+			experiments,
+			true, // enableMcpServerCreation
+			undefined, // language
+			undefined, // rooIgnoreInstructions
+			undefined, // partialReadsEnabled
+			settings, // settings
+		)
+
+		expect(prompt).toContain("update_todo_list")
+		expect(prompt).toContain("## update_todo_list")
+	})
+
+	it("should include update_todo_list tool when todoListEnabled is undefined", async () => {
+		const settings = {
+			// todoListEnabled not set
+		}
+
+		const prompt = await SYSTEM_PROMPT(
+			mockContext,
+			"/test/path",
+			false, // supportsComputerUse
+			undefined, // mcpHub
+			undefined, // diffStrategy
+			undefined, // browserViewportSize
+			defaultModeSlug, // mode
+			undefined, // customModePrompts
+			undefined, // customModes
+			undefined, // globalCustomInstructions
+			undefined, // diffEnabled
+			experiments,
+			true, // enableMcpServerCreation
+			undefined, // language
+			undefined, // rooIgnoreInstructions
+			undefined, // partialReadsEnabled
+			settings, // settings
+		)
+
+		expect(prompt).toContain("update_todo_list")
+		expect(prompt).toContain("## update_todo_list")
+	})
+
 	afterAll(() => {
 		vi.restoreAllMocks()
 	})

src/core/prompts/sections/custom-instructions.ts

@@ -219,7 +219,7 @@ export async function addCustomInstructions(
 	globalCustomInstructions: string,
 	cwd: string,
 	mode: string,
-	options: { language?: string; rooIgnoreInstructions?: string } = {},
+	options: { language?: string; rooIgnoreInstructions?: string; settings?: Record<string, any> } = {},
 ): Promise<string> {
 	const sections = []
 

src/core/prompts/system.ts

@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ ${getSystemInfoSection(cwd)}
 
 ${getObjectiveSection(codeIndexManager, experiments)}
 
-${await addCustomInstructions(baseInstructions, globalCustomInstructions || "", cwd, mode, { language: language ?? formatLanguage(vscode.env.language), rooIgnoreInstructions })}`
+${await addCustomInstructions(baseInstructions, globalCustomInstructions || "", cwd, mode, { language: language ?? formatLanguage(vscode.env.language), rooIgnoreInstructions, settings })}`
 
 	return basePrompt
 }
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ export const SYSTEM_PROMPT = async (
 			globalCustomInstructions || "",
 			cwd,
 			mode,
-			{ language: language ?? formatLanguage(vscode.env.language), rooIgnoreInstructions },
+			{ language: language ?? formatLanguage(vscode.env.language), rooIgnoreInstructions, settings },
 		)
 
 		// For file-based prompts, don't include the tool sections

src/core/prompts/tools/index.ts

@@ -109,6 +109,11 @@ export function getToolDescriptionsForMode(
 		tools.delete("codebase_search")
 	}
 
+	// Conditionally exclude update_todo_list if disabled in settings
+	if (settings?.todoListEnabled === false) {
+		tools.delete("update_todo_list")
+	}
+
 	// Map tool descriptions for allowed tools
 	const descriptions = Array.from(tools).map((toolName) => {
 		const descriptionFn = toolDescriptionMap[toolName]

src/shared/modes.ts

@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ export const modes: readonly ModeConfig[] = [
 		description: "Plan and design before implementation",
 		groups: ["read", ["edit", { fileRegex: "\\.md$", description: "Markdown files only" }], "browser", "mcp"],
 		customInstructions:
-			"1. Do some information gathering (using provided tools) to get more context about the task.\n\n2. You should also ask the user clarifying questions to get a better understanding of the task.\n\n3. Once you've gained more context about the user's request, break down the task into clear, actionable steps and create a todo list using the `update_todo_list` tool. Each todo item should be:\n   - Specific and actionable\n   - Listed in logical execution order\n   - Focused on a single, well-defined outcome\n   - Clear enough that another mode could execute it independently\n\n4. As you gather more information or discover new requirements, update the todo list to reflect the current understanding of what needs to be accomplished.\n\n5. Ask the user if they are pleased with this plan, or if they would like to make any changes. Think of this as a brainstorming session where you can discuss the task and refine the todo list.\n\n6. Include Mermaid diagrams if they help clarify complex workflows or system architecture. Please avoid using double quotes (\"\") and parentheses () inside square brackets ([]) in Mermaid diagrams, as this can cause parsing errors.\n\n7. Use the switch_mode tool to request that the user switch to another mode to implement the solution.\n\n**IMPORTANT: Focus on creating clear, actionable todo lists rather than lengthy markdown documents. Use the todo list as your primary planning tool to track and organize the work that needs to be done.**",
+			"1. Do some information gathering (using provided tools) to get more context about the task.\n\n2. You should also ask the user clarifying questions to get a better understanding of the task.\n\n3. Once you've gained more context about the user's request, break down the task into clear, actionable steps and create a todo list using the `update_todo_list` tool. Each todo item should be:\n   - Specific and actionable\n   - Listed in logical execution order\n   - Focused on a single, well-defined outcome\n   - Clear enough that another mode could execute it independently\n\n   **Note:** If the `update_todo_list` tool is not available, write the plan to a markdown file (e.g., `plan.md` or `todo.md`) instead.\n\n4. As you gather more information or discover new requirements, update the todo list to reflect the current understanding of what needs to be accomplished.\n\n5. Ask the user if they are pleased with this plan, or if they would like to make any changes. Think of this as a brainstorming session where you can discuss the task and refine the todo list.\n\n6. Include Mermaid diagrams if they help clarify complex workflows or system architecture. Please avoid using double quotes (\"\") and parentheses () inside square brackets ([]) in Mermaid diagrams, as this can cause parsing errors.\n\n7. Use the switch_mode tool to request that the user switch to another mode to implement the solution.\n\n**IMPORTANT: Focus on creating clear, actionable todo lists rather than lengthy markdown documents. Use the todo list as your primary planning tool to track and organize the work that needs to be done.**",
 	},
 	{
 		slug: "code",