---
summary: "QA stack overview: qa-lab, qa-channel, repo-backed scenarios, live transport lanes, transport adapters, and reporting."
read_when:
  - Understanding how the QA stack fits together
  - Extending qa-lab, qa-channel, or a transport adapter
  - Adding repo-backed QA scenarios
  - Building higher-realism QA automation around the Gateway dashboard
title: "QA overview"
---

The private QA stack is meant to exercise OpenClaw in a more realistic,
channel-shaped way than a single unit test can.

Current pieces:

- `extensions/qa-channel`: synthetic message channel with DM, channel, thread,
  reaction, edit, and delete surfaces.
- `extensions/qa-lab`: debugger UI and QA bus for observing the transcript,
  injecting inbound messages, and exporting a Markdown report.
- `extensions/qa-matrix`, future runner plugins: live-transport adapters that
  drive a real channel inside a child QA gateway.
- `qa/`: repo-backed seed assets for the kickoff task and baseline QA
  scenarios.
- [Mantis](/concepts/mantis): before and after live verification for bugs that
  need real transports, browser screenshots, VM state, and PR evidence.

## Command surface

Every QA flow runs under `pnpm openclaw qa <subcommand>`. Many have `pnpm qa:*`
script aliases; both forms are supported.

| Command                                             | Purpose                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
| --------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `qa run`                                            | Bundled QA self-check without `--qa-profile`; taxonomy-backed maturity profile runner with `--qa-profile smoke-ci`, `--qa-profile release`, or `--qa-profile all`.                                                                                                      |
| `qa suite`                                          | Run repo-backed scenarios against the QA gateway lane. Aliases: `pnpm openclaw qa suite --runner multipass` for a disposable Linux VM.                                                                                                                                  |
| `qa coverage`                                       | Print the YAML scenario-coverage inventory (`--json` for machine output).                                                                                                                                                                                               |
| `qa parity-report`                                  | Compare two `qa-suite-summary.json` files and write the agentic parity report, or use `--runtime-axis --token-efficiency` to write Codex-vs-OpenClaw runtime parity and token-efficiency reports from one runtime-pair summary.                                         |
| `qa character-eval`                                 | Run the character QA scenario across multiple live models with a judged report. See [Reporting](#reporting).                                                                                                                                                            |
| `qa manual`                                         | Run a one-off prompt against the selected provider/model lane.                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
| `qa ui`                                             | Start the QA debugger UI and local QA bus (alias: `pnpm qa:lab:ui`).                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| `qa docker-build-image`                             | Build the prebaked QA Docker image.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
| `qa docker-scaffold`                                | Write a docker-compose scaffold for the QA dashboard + gateway lane.                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| `qa up`                                             | Build the QA site, start the Docker-backed stack, print the URL (alias: `pnpm qa:lab:up`; `:fast` variant adds `--use-prebuilt-image --bind-ui-dist --skip-ui-build`).                                                                                                  |
| `qa aimock`                                         | Start only the AIMock provider server.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| `qa mock-openai`                                    | Start only the scenario-aware `mock-openai` provider server.                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
| `qa credentials doctor` / `add` / `list` / `remove` | Manage the shared Convex credential pool.                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
| `qa matrix`                                         | Live transport lane against a disposable Tuwunel homeserver. See [Matrix QA](/concepts/qa-matrix).                                                                                                                                                                      |
| `qa telegram`                                       | Live transport lane against a real private Telegram group.                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
| `qa discord`                                        | Live transport lane against a real private Discord guild channel.                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| `qa slack`                                          | Live transport lane against a real private Slack channel.                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
| `qa whatsapp`                                       | Live transport lane against real WhatsApp Web accounts.                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
| `qa mantis`                                         | Before and after verification runner for live transport bugs, with Discord status-reactions evidence, Crabbox desktop/browser smoke, and Slack-in-VNC smoke. See [Mantis](/concepts/mantis) and [Mantis Slack Desktop Runbook](/concepts/mantis-slack-desktop-runbook). |

Profile-backed `qa run` reads membership from `taxonomy.yaml`, then dispatches
the resolved scenarios through `qa suite`. `--surface` and
`--category` filter the selected profile instead of defining separate lanes.
The resulting `qa-evidence.json` includes a profile scorecard summary with
selected-category counts and missing coverage IDs; the individual evidence
entries remain the source of truth for the tests, coverage roles, and results.
Taxonomy feature coverage IDs are exact proof targets, not aliases. Primary
scenario coverage fulfills matching IDs; secondary coverage stays advisory.
Coverage IDs use dotted `namespace.behavior` form with lowercase
alphanumeric/dash segments; profile, surface, and category IDs may still use
the existing dashed or dotted taxonomy IDs.
Slim evidence omits per-entry `execution` and sets `evidenceMode: "slim"`;
`smoke-ci` defaults to slim, and `--evidence-mode full` restores full entries:

```bash
pnpm openclaw qa run \
  --qa-profile smoke-ci \
  --category channel-framework.conversation-routing-and-delivery \
  --provider-mode mock-openai \
  --output-dir .artifacts/qa-e2e/smoke-ci-profile-dispatch
```

Use `smoke-ci` for deterministic profile proof with mock model providers and
Crabline fake provider servers. Use `release` for Stable/LTS proof against live
channels. Use `all` only for explicit full-taxonomy evidence runs; it selects
every active maturity category and can be dispatched through the `QA Profile
Evidence` workflow with `qa_profile=all`. When a command also needs an OpenClaw
root profile, put the root profile before the QA command:

```bash
pnpm openclaw --profile work qa run --qa-profile smoke-ci
```

## Operator flow

The current QA operator flow is a two-pane QA site:

- Left: Gateway dashboard (Control UI) with the agent.
- Right: QA Lab, showing the Slack-ish transcript and scenario plan.

Run it with:

```bash
pnpm qa:lab:up
```

That builds the QA site, starts the Docker-backed gateway lane, and exposes the
QA Lab page where an operator or automation loop can give the agent a QA
mission, observe real channel behavior, and record what worked, failed, or
stayed blocked.

For faster QA Lab UI iteration without rebuilding the Docker image each time,
start the stack with a bind-mounted QA Lab bundle:

```bash
pnpm openclaw qa docker-build-image
pnpm qa:lab:build
pnpm qa:lab:up:fast
pnpm qa:lab:watch
```

`qa:lab:up:fast` keeps the Docker services on a prebuilt image and bind-mounts
`extensions/qa-lab/web/dist` into the `qa-lab` container. `qa:lab:watch`
rebuilds that bundle on change, and the browser auto-reloads when the QA Lab
asset hash changes.

For a local OpenTelemetry signal smoke, run:

```bash
pnpm qa:otel:smoke
```

That script starts a local OTLP/HTTP receiver, runs the `otel-trace-smoke` QA
scenario with the `diagnostics-otel` plugin enabled, then asserts traces,
metrics, and logs are exported. It decodes the exported protobuf trace spans
and checks the release-critical shape:
`openclaw.run`, `openclaw.harness.run`, a latest GenAI semantic-convention
model-call span, `openclaw.context.assembled`, and `openclaw.message.delivery`
must be present. The smoke forces
`OTEL_SEMCONV_STABILITY_OPT_IN=gen_ai_latest_experimental`, so the model-call
span must use the `{gen_ai.operation.name} {gen_ai.request.model}` name;
model calls must not export `StreamAbandoned` on successful turns; raw diagnostic IDs and
`openclaw.content.*` attributes must stay out of the trace. The raw OTLP
payloads must not contain the prompt sentinel, response sentinel, or QA session
key. It writes `otel-smoke-summary.json` next to the QA suite artifacts.

For a collector-backed OpenTelemetry smoke, run:

```bash
pnpm qa:otel:collector-smoke
```

That lane puts a real OpenTelemetry Collector Docker container in front of the
same local receiver. Use it when changing endpoint wiring, collector
compatibility, or OTLP export behavior that the in-process receiver could mask.

For the protected Prometheus scrape smoke, run:

```bash
pnpm qa:prometheus:smoke
```

That alias runs the `docker-prometheus-smoke` QA scenario with
`diagnostics-prometheus` enabled, verifies unauthenticated scrapes are rejected,
then checks the authenticated scrape includes release-critical metric families
without prompt content, response content, raw diagnostic identifiers, auth
tokens, or local paths.

To run both observability smokes back to back, use:

```bash
pnpm qa:observability:smoke
```

For the collector-backed OpenTelemetry lane plus the protected Prometheus scrape
smoke, use:

```bash
pnpm qa:observability:collector-smoke
```

Observability QA stays source-checkout only. The npm tarball intentionally omits
QA Lab, so package Docker release lanes do not run `qa` commands. Use
`pnpm qa:otel:smoke`, `pnpm qa:prometheus:smoke`, or
`pnpm qa:observability:smoke` from a built source checkout when changing
diagnostics instrumentation.

For a transport-real Matrix smoke lane that does not require model-provider
credentials, run the fast profile with the deterministic mock OpenAI provider:

```bash
OPENCLAW_QA_MATRIX_NO_REPLY_WINDOW_MS=3000 \
  pnpm openclaw qa matrix --provider-mode mock-openai --profile fast --fail-fast
```

For the live-frontier provider lane, supply OpenAI-compatible credentials
explicitly:

```bash
OPENCLAW_LIVE_OPENAI_KEY="${OPENAI_API_KEY}" \
OPENCLAW_QA_MATRIX_NO_REPLY_WINDOW_MS=3000 \
  pnpm openclaw qa matrix --provider-mode live-frontier --profile fast --fail-fast
```

The full CLI reference, profile/scenario catalog, env vars, and artifact layout for this lane live in [Matrix QA](/concepts/qa-matrix). At a glance: it provisions a disposable Tuwunel homeserver in Docker, registers temporary driver/SUT/observer users, runs the real Matrix plugin inside a child QA gateway scoped to that transport (no `qa-channel`), then writes a Markdown report, JSON summary, observed-events artifact, and combined output log under `.artifacts/qa-e2e/matrix-<timestamp>/`.

The scenarios cover transport behavior that unit tests cannot prove end to end: mention gating, allow-bot policies, allowlists, top-level and threaded replies, DM routing, reaction handling, inbound edit suppression, restart replay dedupe, homeserver interruption recovery, approval metadata delivery, media handling, and Matrix E2EE bootstrap/recovery/verification flows. The E2EE CLI profile also drives `openclaw matrix encryption setup` and verification commands through the same disposable homeserver before checking gateway replies.

Discord also has Mantis-only opt-in scenarios for bug reproduction. Use
`--scenario discord-status-reactions-tool-only` for the explicit status reaction
timeline, or `--scenario discord-thread-reply-filepath-attachment` to create a
real Discord thread and verify that `message.thread-reply` preserves a
`filePath` attachment. These scenarios stay out of the default live Discord lane
because they are before/after repro probes rather than broad smoke coverage.
The thread-attachment Mantis workflow can also add a logged-in Discord Web
witness video when `MANTIS_DISCORD_VIEWER_CHROME_PROFILE_DIR` or
`MANTIS_DISCORD_VIEWER_CHROME_PROFILE_TGZ_B64` is configured in the QA
environment. That viewer profile is only for visual capture; the pass/fail
decision still comes from the Discord REST oracle.

CI uses the same command surface in `.github/workflows/qa-live-transports-convex.yml`.
Scheduled and default manual runs execute the fast Matrix profile with
QA-provided live-frontier credentials, `--fast`, and
`OPENCLAW_QA_MATRIX_NO_REPLY_WINDOW_MS=3000`. Manual `matrix_profile=all` fans
out into the five profile shards.

For transport-real Telegram, Discord, Slack, and WhatsApp smoke lanes:

```bash
pnpm openclaw qa telegram
pnpm openclaw qa discord
pnpm openclaw qa slack
pnpm openclaw qa whatsapp
```

They target a pre-existing real channel with two bots or accounts (driver + SUT). Required env vars, scenario lists, output artifacts, and the Convex credential pool are documented in [Telegram, Discord, Slack, and WhatsApp QA reference](#telegram-discord-slack-and-whatsapp-qa-reference) below.

For a full Slack desktop VM run with VNC rescue, run:

```bash
pnpm openclaw qa mantis slack-desktop-smoke \
  --gateway-setup \
  --scenario slack-canary \
  --keep-lease
```

That command leases a Crabbox desktop/browser machine, runs the Slack live lane
inside the VM, opens Slack Web in the VNC browser, captures the desktop, and
copies `slack-qa/`, `slack-desktop-smoke.png`, and `slack-desktop-smoke.mp4`
when video capture is available back to the Mantis artifact directory. Crabbox
desktop/browser leases provide the capture tools and browser/native-build helper
packages up front, so the scenario should only install fallbacks on older
leases. Mantis reports total and per-phase timings in
`mantis-slack-desktop-smoke-report.md` so slow runs show whether time went into
lease warmup, credential acquisition, remote setup, or artifact copy. Reuse
`--lease-id <cbx_...>` after logging in to Slack Web manually through VNC;
reused leases also keep Crabbox's pnpm store cache warm. The default
`--hydrate-mode source` verifies from a source checkout and runs install/build
inside the VM. Use `--hydrate-mode prehydrated` only when the reused remote
workspace already has `node_modules` and a built `dist/`; that mode skips the
expensive install/build step and fails closed when the workspace is not ready.
With `--gateway-setup`, Mantis leaves a persistent OpenClaw Slack gateway
running inside the VM on port `38973`; without it, the command runs the normal
bot-to-bot Slack QA lane and exits after artifact capture.

To prove native Slack approval UI with desktop evidence, run the Mantis approval
checkpoint mode:

```bash
pnpm openclaw qa mantis slack-desktop-smoke \
  --approval-checkpoints \
  --credential-source convex \
  --credential-role maintainer
```

This mode is mutually exclusive with `--gateway-setup`. It runs the Slack
approval scenarios, rejects non-approval scenario ids, waits at each pending and
resolved approval state, renders the observed Slack API message into
`approval-checkpoints/<scenario>-pending.png` and
`approval-checkpoints/<scenario>-resolved.png`, then fails if any checkpoint,
message evidence, acknowledgement, or rendered screenshot is missing or empty.
Cold CI leases may still show Slack sign-in in `slack-desktop-smoke.png`; the
approval checkpoint images are the visual proof for this lane.

The operator checklist, GitHub workflow dispatch command, evidence-comment
contract, hydrate-mode decision table, timing interpretation, and failure
handling steps live in [Mantis Slack Desktop Runbook](/concepts/mantis-slack-desktop-runbook).

For an agent/CV style desktop task, run:

```bash
pnpm openclaw qa mantis visual-task \
  --browser-url https://example.net \
  --expect-text "Example Domain" \
  --vision-model openai/gpt-5.5
```

`visual-task` leases or reuses a Crabbox desktop/browser machine, starts
`crabbox record --while`, drives the visible browser through a nested
`visual-driver`, captures `visual-task.png`, runs `openclaw infer image describe`
against the screenshot when `--vision-mode image-describe` is selected, and
writes `visual-task.mp4`, `mantis-visual-task-summary.json`,
`mantis-visual-task-driver-result.json`, and `mantis-visual-task-report.md`.
When `--expect-text` is set, the vision prompt asks for a structured JSON
verdict and only passes when the model reports positive visible evidence; a
negative response that merely quotes the target text fails the assertion.
Use `--vision-mode metadata` for a no-model smoke that proves the desktop,
browser, screenshot, and video plumbing without calling an image-understanding
provider. Recording is a required artifact for `visual-task`; if Crabbox records
no non-empty `visual-task.mp4`, the task fails even when the visual driver
passed. On failure, Mantis keeps the lease for VNC unless the task had already
passed and `--keep-lease` was not set.

Before using pooled live credentials, run:

```bash
pnpm openclaw qa credentials doctor
```

The doctor checks Convex broker env, validates endpoint settings, and verifies admin/list reachability when the maintainer secret is present. It reports only set/missing status for secrets.

## Live transport coverage

Live transport lanes share one contract instead of each inventing their own scenario list shape. `qa-channel` is the broad synthetic product-behavior suite and is not part of the live transport coverage matrix.

Live transport runners should import the shared scenario ids, baseline
coverage helpers, and scenario-selection helper from
`openclaw/plugin-sdk/qa-live-transport-scenarios`.

| Lane     | Canary | Mention gating | Bot-to-bot | Allowlist block | Top-level reply | Quote reply | Restart resume | Thread follow-up | Thread isolation | Reaction observation | Help command | Native command registration |
| -------- | ------ | -------------- | ---------- | --------------- | --------------- | ----------- | -------------- | ---------------- | ---------------- | -------------------- | ------------ | --------------------------- |
| Matrix   | x      | x              | x          | x               | x               |             | x              | x                | x                | x                    |              |                             |
| Telegram | x      | x              | x          |                 |                 |             |                |                  |                  |                      | x            |                             |
| Discord  | x      | x              | x          |                 |                 |             |                |                  |                  |                      |              | x                           |
| Slack    | x      | x              | x          | x               | x               |             | x              | x                | x                |                      |              |                             |
| WhatsApp | x      | x              |            | x               | x               | x           | x              |                  |                  | x                    | x            |                             |

This keeps `qa-channel` as the broad product-behavior suite while Matrix,
Telegram, and other live transports share one explicit transport-contract checklist.

For a disposable Linux VM lane without bringing Docker into the QA path, run:

```bash
pnpm openclaw qa suite --runner multipass --scenario channel-chat-baseline
```

This boots a fresh Multipass guest, installs dependencies, builds OpenClaw
inside the guest, runs `qa suite`, then copies the normal QA report and
summary back into `.artifacts/qa-e2e/...` on the host.
It reuses the same scenario-selection behavior as `qa suite` on the host.
Host and Multipass suite runs execute multiple selected scenarios in parallel
with isolated gateway workers by default. `qa-channel` defaults to concurrency
4, capped by the selected scenario count. Use `--concurrency <count>` to tune
the worker count, or `--concurrency 1` for serial execution.
Use `--pack personal-agent` to run the personal assistant benchmark pack. The
pack selector is additive with repeated `--scenario` flags: explicit scenarios
run first, then pack scenarios run in pack order with duplicates removed.
Use `--pack observability` when a custom QA runner already supplies the
OpenTelemetry collector setup and wants the OpenTelemetry and Prometheus
diagnostics smoke scenarios selected together.
The command exits non-zero when any scenario fails. Use `--allow-failures` when
you want artifacts without a failing exit code.
Live runs forward the supported QA auth inputs that are practical for the
guest: env-based provider keys, the QA live provider config path, and
`CODEX_HOME` when present. Keep `--output-dir` under the repo root so the guest
can write back through the mounted workspace.

## Telegram, Discord, Slack, and WhatsApp QA reference

Matrix has a [dedicated page](/concepts/qa-matrix) because of its scenario count and Docker-backed homeserver provisioning. Telegram, Discord, Slack, and WhatsApp run against pre-existing real transports, so their reference lives here.

### Shared CLI flags

These lanes register through `extensions/qa-lab/src/live-transports/shared/live-transport-cli.ts` and accept the same flags:

| Flag                                  | Default                                            | Description                                                                                                                                     |
| ------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `--scenario <id>`                     | -                                                  | Run only this scenario. Repeatable.                                                                                                             |
| `--output-dir <path>`                 | `<repo>/.artifacts/qa-e2e/<transport>-<timestamp>` | Where reports, summaries, evidence, transport-specific artifacts, and the output log are written. Relative paths resolve against `--repo-root`. |
| `--repo-root <path>`                  | `process.cwd()`                                    | Repository root when invoking from a neutral cwd.                                                                                               |
| `--sut-account <id>`                  | `sut`                                              | Temporary account id inside the QA gateway config.                                                                                              |
| `--provider-mode <mode>`              | `live-frontier`                                    | `mock-openai` or `live-frontier` (legacy `live-openai` still works).                                                                            |
| `--model <ref>` / `--alt-model <ref>` | provider default                                   | Primary/alternate model refs.                                                                                                                   |
| `--fast`                              | off                                                | Provider fast mode where supported.                                                                                                             |
| `--credential-source <env\|convex>`   | `env`                                              | See [Convex credential pool](#convex-credential-pool).                                                                                          |
| `--credential-role <maintainer\|ci>`  | `ci` in CI, `maintainer` otherwise                 | Role used when `--credential-source convex`.                                                                                                    |

Each lane exits non-zero on any failed scenario. `--allow-failures` writes artifacts without setting a failing exit code.

### Telegram QA

```bash
pnpm openclaw qa telegram
```

Targets one real private Telegram group with two distinct bots (driver + SUT). The SUT bot must have a Telegram username; bot-to-bot observation works best when both bots have **Bot-to-Bot Communication Mode** enabled in `@BotFather`.

Required env when `--credential-source env`:

- `OPENCLAW_QA_TELEGRAM_GROUP_ID` - numeric chat id (string).
- `OPENCLAW_QA_TELEGRAM_DRIVER_BOT_TOKEN`
- `OPENCLAW_QA_TELEGRAM_SUT_BOT_TOKEN`

Scenarios (`extensions/qa-lab/src/live-transports/telegram/telegram-live.runtime.ts`):

- `telegram-canary`
- `telegram-mention-gating`
- `telegram-mentioned-message-reply`
- `telegram-help-command`
- `telegram-commands-command`
- `telegram-tools-compact-command`
- `telegram-whoami-command`
- `telegram-status-command`
- `telegram-repeated-command-authorization`
- `telegram-other-bot-command-gating`
- `telegram-context-command`
- `telegram-current-session-status-tool`
- `telegram-reply-chain-exact-marker`
- `telegram-stream-final-single-message`
- `telegram-long-final-reuses-preview`
- `telegram-long-final-three-chunks`

The implicit default set always covers canary, mention gating, native command replies, command addressing, and bot-to-bot group replies. `mock-openai` defaults also include deterministic reply-chain and final-message streaming checks. `telegram-current-session-status-tool` remains opt-in because it is only stable when threaded directly after canary, not after arbitrary native command replies. Use `pnpm openclaw qa telegram --list-scenarios --provider-mode mock-openai` to print the current default/optional split with regression refs.

Output artifacts:

- `telegram-qa-report.md`
- `qa-evidence.json` - evidence entries for the live transport checks, including profile, coverage, provider, channel, artifacts, result, and RTT fields.

Package Telegram runs use the same Telegram credential contract. Repeated RTT
measurement is part of the normal package Telegram live lane; the RTT
distribution is folded into `qa-evidence.json` under `result.timing` for the
selected RTT check.

```bash
OPENCLAW_QA_CREDENTIAL_SOURCE=convex \
pnpm test:docker:npm-telegram-live
```

When `OPENCLAW_QA_CREDENTIAL_SOURCE=convex` is set, the package live wrapper
leases a `kind: "telegram"` credential, exports the leased group/driver/SUT bot
env into the installed-package run, heartbeats the lease, and releases it on
shutdown. The package wrapper defaults to 20 RTT checks of
`telegram-mentioned-message-reply`, a 30s RTT timeout, and Convex role
`maintainer` outside CI when Convex is selected. Override
`OPENCLAW_NPM_TELEGRAM_RTT_SAMPLES`, `OPENCLAW_NPM_TELEGRAM_RTT_TIMEOUT_MS`,
or `OPENCLAW_NPM_TELEGRAM_RTT_MAX_FAILURES` to tune RTT measurement without
creating a separate RTT command or Telegram-specific summary format.

### Discord QA

```bash
pnpm openclaw qa discord
```

Targets one real private Discord guild channel with two bots: a driver bot controlled by the harness and a SUT bot started by the child OpenClaw gateway through the bundled Discord plugin. Verifies channel mention handling, that the SUT bot has registered the native `/help` command with Discord, and opt-in Mantis evidence scenarios.

Required env when `--credential-source env`:

- `OPENCLAW_QA_DISCORD_GUILD_ID`
- `OPENCLAW_QA_DISCORD_CHANNEL_ID`
- `OPENCLAW_QA_DISCORD_DRIVER_BOT_TOKEN`
- `OPENCLAW_QA_DISCORD_SUT_BOT_TOKEN`
- `OPENCLAW_QA_DISCORD_SUT_APPLICATION_ID` - must match the SUT bot user id returned by Discord (the lane fails fast otherwise).

Optional:

- `OPENCLAW_QA_DISCORD_CAPTURE_CONTENT=1` keeps message bodies in observed-message artifacts.
- `OPENCLAW_QA_DISCORD_VOICE_CHANNEL_ID` selects the voice/stage channel for `discord-voice-autojoin`; without it, the scenario picks the first visible voice/stage channel for the SUT bot.

Scenarios (`extensions/qa-lab/src/live-transports/discord/discord-live.runtime.ts:36`):

- `discord-canary`
- `discord-mention-gating`
- `discord-native-help-command-registration`
- `discord-voice-autojoin` - opt-in voice scenario. Runs by itself, enables `channels.discord.voice.autoJoin`, and verifies the SUT bot's current Discord voice state is the target voice/stage channel. Convex Discord credentials may include optional `voiceChannelId`; otherwise the runner discovers the first visible voice/stage channel in the guild.
- `discord-status-reactions-tool-only` - opt-in Mantis scenario. Runs by itself because it switches the SUT to always-on, tool-only guild replies with `messages.statusReactions.enabled=true`, then captures a REST reaction timeline plus HTML/PNG visual artifacts. Mantis before/after reports also preserve scenario-provided MP4 artifacts as `baseline.mp4` and `candidate.mp4`.

Run the Discord voice auto-join scenario explicitly:

```bash
pnpm openclaw qa discord \
  --scenario discord-voice-autojoin \
  --provider-mode mock-openai
```

Run the Mantis status-reaction scenario explicitly:

```bash
pnpm openclaw qa discord \
  --scenario discord-status-reactions-tool-only \
  --provider-mode live-frontier \
  --model openai/gpt-5.5 \
  --alt-model openai/gpt-5.5 \
  --fast
```

Output artifacts:

- `discord-qa-report.md`
- `qa-evidence.json` - evidence entries for the live transport checks.
- `discord-qa-observed-messages.json` - bodies redacted unless `OPENCLAW_QA_DISCORD_CAPTURE_CONTENT=1`.
- `discord-qa-reaction-timelines.json` and `discord-status-reactions-tool-only-timeline.png` when the status-reaction scenario runs.

### Slack QA

```bash
pnpm openclaw qa slack
```

Targets one real private Slack channel with two distinct bots: a driver bot controlled by the harness and a SUT bot started by the child OpenClaw gateway through the bundled Slack plugin.

Required env when `--credential-source env`:

- `OPENCLAW_QA_SLACK_CHANNEL_ID`
- `OPENCLAW_QA_SLACK_DRIVER_BOT_TOKEN`
- `OPENCLAW_QA_SLACK_SUT_BOT_TOKEN`
- `OPENCLAW_QA_SLACK_SUT_APP_TOKEN`

Optional:

- `OPENCLAW_QA_SLACK_CAPTURE_CONTENT=1` keeps message bodies in observed-message artifacts.
- `OPENCLAW_QA_SLACK_APPROVAL_CHECKPOINT_DIR` enables visual approval
  checkpoints for Mantis. The runner writes `<scenario>.pending.json` and
  `<scenario>.resolved.json`, then waits for matching `.ack.json` files.
- `OPENCLAW_QA_SLACK_APPROVAL_CHECKPOINT_TIMEOUT_MS` overrides the checkpoint
  acknowledgement timeout. The default is `120000`.

Scenarios (`extensions/qa-lab/src/live-transports/slack/slack-live.runtime.ts`):

- `slack-canary`
- `slack-mention-gating`
- `slack-allowlist-block`
- `slack-top-level-reply-shape`
- `slack-restart-resume`
- `slack-thread-follow-up`
- `slack-thread-isolation`
- `slack-approval-exec-native` - opt-in native Slack exec approval scenario.
  Requests an exec approval through the gateway, verifies the Slack message has
  native approval buttons, resolves it, and verifies the resolved Slack update.
- `slack-approval-plugin-native` - opt-in native Slack plugin approval scenario.
  Enables exec and plugin approval forwarding together so plugin events are not
  suppressed by exec approval routing, then verifies the same pending/resolved
  native Slack UI path.

Output artifacts:

- `slack-qa-report.md`
- `qa-evidence.json` - evidence entries for the live transport checks.
- `slack-qa-observed-messages.json` - bodies redacted unless `OPENCLAW_QA_SLACK_CAPTURE_CONTENT=1`.
- `approval-checkpoints/` - only when Mantis sets
  `OPENCLAW_QA_SLACK_APPROVAL_CHECKPOINT_DIR`; contains checkpoint JSON,
  acknowledgement JSON, and pending/resolved screenshots.

#### Setting up the Slack workspace

The lane needs two distinct Slack apps in one workspace, plus a channel both bots are members of:

- `channelId` - the `Cxxxxxxxxxx` id of a channel both bots have been invited to. Use a dedicated channel; the lane posts on every run.
- `driverBotToken` - bot token (`xoxb-...`) of the **Driver** app.
- `sutBotToken` - bot token (`xoxb-...`) of the **SUT** app, which must be a separate Slack app from the driver so its bot user id is distinct.
- `sutAppToken` - app-level token (`xapp-...`) of the SUT app with `connections:write`, used by Socket Mode so the SUT app can receive events.

Prefer a Slack workspace dedicated to QA over reusing a production workspace.

The SUT manifest below intentionally narrows the bundled Slack plugin's production install (`extensions/slack/src/setup-shared.ts:10`) to the permissions and events covered by the live Slack QA suite. For the production-channel setup as users see it, see [Slack channel quick setup](/channels/slack#quick-setup); the QA Driver/SUT pair is intentionally separate because the lane needs two distinct bot user ids in one workspace.

**1. Create the Driver app**

Go to [api.slack.com/apps](https://api.slack.com/apps) → _Create New App_ → _From a manifest_ → pick the QA workspace, paste the following manifest, then _Install to Workspace_:

```json
{
  "display_information": {
    "name": "OpenClaw QA Driver",
    "description": "Test driver bot for OpenClaw QA Slack live lane"
  },
  "features": {
    "bot_user": {
      "display_name": "OpenClaw QA Driver",
      "always_online": true
    }
  },
  "oauth_config": {
    "scopes": {
      "bot": ["chat:write", "channels:history", "groups:history", "users:read"]
    }
  },
  "settings": {
    "socket_mode_enabled": false
  }
}
```

Copy the _Bot User OAuth Token_ (`xoxb-...`) - that becomes `driverBotToken`. The driver only needs to post messages and identify itself; no events, no Socket Mode.

**2. Create the SUT app**

Repeat _Create New App → From a manifest_ in the same workspace. This QA app intentionally uses a narrower version of the bundled Slack plugin's production manifest (`extensions/slack/src/setup-shared.ts:10`): reaction scopes and events are omitted because the live Slack QA suite does not cover reaction handling yet.

```json
{
  "display_information": {
    "name": "OpenClaw QA SUT",
    "description": "OpenClaw QA SUT connector for OpenClaw"
  },
  "features": {
    "bot_user": {
      "display_name": "OpenClaw QA SUT",
      "always_online": true
    },
    "app_home": {
      "home_tab_enabled": true,
      "messages_tab_enabled": true,
      "messages_tab_read_only_enabled": false
    }
  },
  "oauth_config": {
    "scopes": {
      "bot": [
        "app_mentions:read",
        "assistant:write",
        "channels:history",
        "channels:read",
        "chat:write",
        "commands",
        "emoji:read",
        "files:read",
        "files:write",
        "groups:history",
        "groups:read",
        "im:history",
        "im:read",
        "im:write",
        "mpim:history",
        "mpim:read",
        "mpim:write",
        "pins:read",
        "pins:write",
        "usergroups:read",
        "users:read"
      ]
    }
  },
  "settings": {
    "socket_mode_enabled": true,
    "event_subscriptions": {
      "bot_events": [
        "app_home_opened",
        "app_mention",
        "channel_rename",
        "member_joined_channel",
        "member_left_channel",
        "message.channels",
        "message.groups",
        "message.im",
        "message.mpim",
        "pin_added",
        "pin_removed"
      ]
    }
  }
}
```

After Slack creates the app, do two things on its settings page:

- _Install to Workspace_ → copy the _Bot User OAuth Token_ → that becomes `sutBotToken`.
- _Basic Information → App-Level Tokens → Generate Token and Scopes_ → add scope `connections:write` → save → copy the `xapp-...` value → that becomes `sutAppToken`.

Verify the two bots have distinct user ids by calling `auth.test` on each token. The runtime distinguishes driver and SUT by user id; reusing one app for both will fail mention-gating immediately.

**3. Create the channel**

In the QA workspace, create a channel (e.g. `#openclaw-qa`) and invite both bots from inside the channel:

```
/invite @OpenClaw QA Driver
/invite @OpenClaw QA SUT
```

Copy the `Cxxxxxxxxxx` id from _channel info → About → Channel ID_ - that becomes `channelId`. A public channel works; if you use a private channel both apps already have `groups:history` so the harness's history reads will still succeed.

**4. Register the credentials**

Two options. Use env vars for single-machine debugging (set the four `OPENCLAW_QA_SLACK_*` variables and pass `--credential-source env`), or seed the shared Convex pool so CI and other maintainers can lease them.

For the Convex pool, write the four fields to a JSON file:

```json
{
  "channelId": "Cxxxxxxxxxx",
  "driverBotToken": "xoxb-...",
  "sutBotToken": "xoxb-...",
  "sutAppToken": "xapp-..."
}
```

With `OPENCLAW_QA_CONVEX_SITE_URL` and `OPENCLAW_QA_CONVEX_SECRET_MAINTAINER` exported in your shell, register and verify:

```bash
pnpm openclaw qa credentials add \
  --kind slack \
  --payload-file slack-creds.json \
  --note "QA Slack pool seed"

pnpm openclaw qa credentials list --kind slack --status all --json
```

Expect `count: 1`, `status: "active"`, no `lease` field.

**5. Verify end to end**

Run the lane locally to confirm both bots can talk to each other through the broker:

```bash
pnpm openclaw qa slack \
  --credential-source convex \
  --credential-role maintainer \
  --output-dir .artifacts/qa-e2e/slack-local
```

A green run completes in well under 30 seconds and `slack-qa-report.md` shows both `slack-canary` and `slack-mention-gating` at status `pass`. If the lane hangs for ~90 seconds and exits with `Convex credential pool exhausted for kind "slack"`, either the pool is empty or every row is leased - `qa credentials list --kind slack --status all --json` will tell you which.

### WhatsApp QA

```bash
pnpm openclaw qa whatsapp
```

Targets two dedicated WhatsApp Web accounts: a driver account controlled by
the harness and a SUT account started by the child OpenClaw gateway through the
bundled WhatsApp plugin.

Required env when `--credential-source env`:

- `OPENCLAW_QA_WHATSAPP_DRIVER_PHONE_E164`
- `OPENCLAW_QA_WHATSAPP_SUT_PHONE_E164`
- `OPENCLAW_QA_WHATSAPP_DRIVER_AUTH_ARCHIVE_BASE64`
- `OPENCLAW_QA_WHATSAPP_SUT_AUTH_ARCHIVE_BASE64`

Optional:

- `OPENCLAW_QA_WHATSAPP_GROUP_JID` enables group scenarios such as
  `whatsapp-mention-gating` and `whatsapp-group-allowlist-block`.
- `OPENCLAW_QA_WHATSAPP_CAPTURE_CONTENT=1` keeps message bodies in
  observed-message artifacts.

Scenario catalog (`extensions/qa-lab/src/live-transports/whatsapp/whatsapp-live.runtime.ts`):

- Baseline and group gating: `whatsapp-canary`, `whatsapp-pairing-block`,
  `whatsapp-mention-gating`, `whatsapp-top-level-reply-shape`,
  `whatsapp-restart-resume`, `whatsapp-group-allowlist-block`.
- Native commands: `whatsapp-help-command`, `whatsapp-status-command`,
  `whatsapp-commands-command`, `whatsapp-tools-compact-command`,
  `whatsapp-whoami-command`, `whatsapp-context-command`,
  `whatsapp-native-new-command`.
- Reply and final-output behavior: `whatsapp-tool-only-usage-footer`,
  `whatsapp-reply-to-message`, `whatsapp-group-reply-to-message`,
  `whatsapp-reply-context-isolation`, `whatsapp-reply-delivery-shape`,
  `whatsapp-stream-final-message-accounting`.
- Inbound media and structured messages: `whatsapp-inbound-image-caption`,
  `whatsapp-audio-preflight`, `whatsapp-inbound-structured-messages`,
  `whatsapp-group-audio-gating`. These send real WhatsApp image, audio,
  document, location, contact, and sticker events through the driver.
- Outbound Gateway and message action coverage:
  `whatsapp-outbound-media-matrix`,
  `whatsapp-outbound-document-preserves-filename`, `whatsapp-outbound-poll`,
  `whatsapp-message-actions`.
- Access-control coverage: `whatsapp-access-control-dm-open`,
  `whatsapp-access-control-dm-disabled`, `whatsapp-access-control-group-open`,
  `whatsapp-access-control-group-disabled`, `whatsapp-group-allowlist-block`.
- Native approvals: `whatsapp-approval-exec-deny-native`,
  `whatsapp-approval-exec-native`, `whatsapp-approval-exec-reaction-native`,
  `whatsapp-approval-plugin-native`.
- Status reactions: `whatsapp-status-reactions`.

The catalog currently contains 36 scenarios. The `live-frontier` default lane is
kept small at 10 scenarios for fast smoke coverage. The `mock-openai` default
lane runs 31 deterministic scenarios through the real WhatsApp transport while
mocking only model output. Approval scenarios and a few heavier/blocking checks
remain explicit by scenario id.

The WhatsApp QA driver observes structured live events (`text`, `media`,
`location`, `reaction`, and `poll`) and can actively send media, polls,
contacts, locations, and stickers. QA Lab imports that driver through the
`@openclaw/whatsapp/api.js` package surface instead of reaching into private
WhatsApp runtime files. Message content is redacted by default. Outbound
poll and upload-file coverage run through deterministic gateway `poll` and
`message.action` calls instead of model-prompt-only tool invocation.

Output artifacts:

- `whatsapp-qa-report.md`
- `qa-evidence.json` - evidence entries for the live transport checks.
- `whatsapp-qa-observed-messages.json` - bodies redacted unless `OPENCLAW_QA_WHATSAPP_CAPTURE_CONTENT=1`.

### Convex credential pool

Telegram, Discord, Slack, and WhatsApp lanes can lease credentials from a shared Convex pool instead of reading the env vars above. Pass `--credential-source convex` (or set `OPENCLAW_QA_CREDENTIAL_SOURCE=convex`); QA Lab acquires an exclusive lease, heartbeats it for the duration of the run, and releases it on shutdown. Pool kinds are `"telegram"`, `"discord"`, `"slack"`, and `"whatsapp"`.

Payload shapes the broker validates on `admin/add`:

- Telegram (`kind: "telegram"`): `{ groupId: string, driverToken: string, sutToken: string }` - `groupId` must be a numeric chat-id string.
- Telegram real user (`kind: "telegram-user"`): `{ groupId: string, sutToken: string, testerUserId: string, testerUsername: string, telegramApiId: string, telegramApiHash: string, tdlibDatabaseEncryptionKey: string, tdlibArchiveBase64: string, tdlibArchiveSha256: string, desktopTdataArchiveBase64: string, desktopTdataArchiveSha256: string }` - Mantis Telegram Desktop proof only. Generic QA Lab lanes must not acquire this kind.
- Discord (`kind: "discord"`): `{ guildId: string, channelId: string, driverBotToken: string, sutBotToken: string, sutApplicationId: string }`.
- WhatsApp (`kind: "whatsapp"`): `{ driverPhoneE164: string, sutPhoneE164: string, driverAuthArchiveBase64: string, sutAuthArchiveBase64: string, groupJid?: string }` - phone numbers must be distinct E.164 strings.

The Mantis Telegram Desktop proof workflow holds one exclusive Convex
`telegram-user` lease for both the TDLib CLI driver and Telegram Desktop
witness, then releases it after publishing proof.

When a PR needs a deterministic visual diff, Mantis can use the same mock model
reply on `main` and on the PR head while the Telegram formatter or delivery
layer changes. Capture defaults are tuned for PR comments: standard Crabbox
class, 24fps desktop recording, 24fps motion GIF, and 1920px preview width.
Before/after comments should publish a clean bundle that contains only the
intended GIFs.

Slack lanes can also use the pool. Slack payload shape checks currently live in the Slack QA runner rather than the broker; use `{ channelId: string, driverBotToken: string, sutBotToken: string, sutAppToken: string }`, with a Slack channel id like `Cxxxxxxxxxx`. See [Setting up the Slack workspace](#setting-up-the-slack-workspace) for app and scope provisioning.

Operational env vars and the Convex broker endpoint contract live in [Testing → Shared Telegram credentials via Convex](/help/testing#shared-telegram-credentials-via-convex-v1) (the section name predates the multi-channel pool; the lease semantics are shared across kinds).

## Repo-backed seeds

Seed assets live in `qa/`:

- `qa/scenarios/index.yaml`
- `qa/scenarios/<theme>/*.yaml`

These are intentionally in git so the QA plan is visible to both humans and the
agent.

`qa-lab` should stay a generic YAML scenario runner. Each scenario YAML file is
the source of truth for one test run and should define:

- top-level `title`
- `scenario` metadata
- optional category, capability, lane, and risk metadata in `scenario`
- docs and code refs in `scenario`
- optional plugin requirements in `scenario`
- optional gateway config patch in `scenario`
- executable top-level `flow` for flow scenarios, or `scenario.execution.kind` /
  `scenario.execution.path` for Vitest and Playwright scenarios

The reusable runtime surface that backs `flow` is allowed to stay generic
and cross-cutting. For example, YAML scenarios can combine transport-side
helpers with browser-side helpers that drive the embedded Control UI through the
Gateway `browser.request` seam without adding a special-case runner.

Scenario files should be grouped by product capability rather than source tree
folder. Keep scenario IDs stable when files move; use `docsRefs` and `codeRefs`
for implementation traceability.

The baseline list should stay broad enough to cover:

- DM and channel chat
- thread behavior
- message action lifecycle
- cron callbacks
- memory recall
- model switching
- subagent handoff
- repo-reading and docs-reading
- one small build task such as Lobster Invaders

## Provider mock lanes

`qa suite` has two local provider mock lanes:

- `mock-openai` is the scenario-aware OpenClaw mock. It remains the default
  deterministic mock lane for repo-backed QA and parity gates.
- `aimock` starts an AIMock-backed provider server for experimental protocol,
  fixture, record/replay, and chaos coverage. It is additive and does not
  replace the `mock-openai` scenario dispatcher.

Provider-lane implementation lives under `extensions/qa-lab/src/providers/`.
Each provider owns its defaults, local server startup, gateway model config,
auth-profile staging needs, and live/mock capability flags. Shared suite and
gateway code should route through the provider registry instead of branching on
provider names.

## Transport adapters

`qa-lab` owns a generic transport seam for YAML QA scenarios. `qa-channel` is
the synthetic default. `crabline` starts local provider-shaped servers and runs
OpenClaw's normal channel plugins against them. `live` is reserved for real
provider credentials and external channels.

At the architecture level, the split is:

- `qa-lab` owns generic scenario execution, worker concurrency, artifact writing, and reporting.
- The transport adapter owns gateway config, readiness, inbound and outbound observation, transport actions, and normalized transport state.
- YAML scenario files under `qa/scenarios/` define the test run; `qa-lab` provides the reusable runtime surface that executes them.

### Adding a channel

Adding a channel to the YAML QA system requires the channel implementation plus
a scenario pack that exercises the channel contract. For smoke CI coverage, add
the matching Crabline fake provider server and expose it through the `crabline`
driver.

Do not add a new top-level QA command root when the shared `qa-lab` host can own the flow.

`qa-lab` owns the shared host mechanics:

- the `openclaw qa` command root
- suite startup and teardown
- worker concurrency
- artifact writing
- report generation
- scenario execution
- compatibility aliases for older `qa-channel` scenarios

Runner plugins own the transport contract:

- how `openclaw qa <runner>` is mounted beneath the shared `qa` root
- how the gateway is configured for that transport
- how readiness is checked
- how inbound events are injected
- how outbound messages are observed
- how transcripts and normalized transport state are exposed
- how transport-backed actions are executed
- how transport-specific reset or cleanup is handled

The minimum adoption bar for a new channel:

1. Keep `qa-lab` as the owner of the shared `qa` root.
2. Implement the transport runner on the shared `qa-lab` host seam.
3. Keep transport-specific mechanics inside the runner plugin or channel harness.
4. Mount the runner as `openclaw qa <runner>` instead of registering a competing root command. Runner plugins should declare `qaRunners` in `openclaw.plugin.json` and export a matching `qaRunnerCliRegistrations` array from `runtime-api.ts`. Keep `runtime-api.ts` light; lazy CLI and runner execution should stay behind separate entrypoints.
5. Author or adapt YAML scenarios under the themed `qa/scenarios/` directories.
6. Use the generic scenario helpers for new scenarios.
7. Keep existing compatibility aliases working unless the repo is doing an intentional migration.

The decision rule is strict:

- If behavior can be expressed once in `qa-lab`, put it in `qa-lab`.
- If behavior depends on one channel transport, keep it in that runner plugin or plugin harness.
- If a scenario needs a new capability that more than one channel can use, add a generic helper instead of a channel-specific branch in `suite.ts`.
- If a behavior is only meaningful for one transport, keep the scenario transport-specific and make that explicit in the scenario contract.

### Scenario helper names

Preferred generic helpers for new scenarios:

- `waitForTransportReady`
- `waitForChannelReady`
- `injectInboundMessage`
- `injectOutboundMessage`
- `waitForTransportOutboundMessage`
- `waitForChannelOutboundMessage`
- `waitForNoTransportOutbound`
- `getTransportSnapshot`
- `readTransportMessage`
- `readTransportTranscript`
- `formatTransportTranscript`
- `resetTransport`

Compatibility aliases remain available for existing scenarios - `waitForQaChannelReady`, `waitForOutboundMessage`, `waitForNoOutbound`, `formatConversationTranscript`, `resetBus` - but new scenario authoring should use the generic names. The aliases exist to avoid a flag-day migration, not as the model going forward.

## Reporting

`qa-lab` exports a Markdown protocol report from the observed bus timeline.
The report should answer:

- What worked
- What failed
- What stayed blocked
- What follow-up scenarios are worth adding

For the inventory of available scenarios - useful when sizing follow-up work or wiring a new transport - run `pnpm openclaw qa coverage` (add `--json` for machine-readable output).
When choosing focused proof for a touched behavior or file path, run `pnpm openclaw qa coverage --match <query>`.
The match report searches scenario metadata, docs refs, code refs, coverage IDs, plugins, and provider requirements, then prints matching `qa suite --scenario ...` targets.
Every `qa suite` run writes top-level `qa-evidence.json`,
`qa-suite-summary.json`, and `qa-suite-report.md` artifacts for the selected
scenario set. Scenarios that declare `execution.kind: vitest` or
`execution.kind: playwright` run the matching test path and also write
per-scenario logs. Scenarios that declare `execution.kind: script` run the
evidence producer at `execution.path` through `node --import tsx` (with
`${outputDir}` and `${scenarioId}` expanded in `execution.args`); the producer
writes its own `qa-evidence.json`, whose entries are imported into the suite
output and whose artifact paths are resolved relative to that producer
`qa-evidence.json`. When `qa suite` is reached through
`qa run --qa-profile`, the same `qa-evidence.json` also includes the profile
scorecard summary for the selected taxonomy categories.
Treat it as a discovery aid, not a gate replacement; the selected scenario still needs the right provider mode, live transport, Multipass, Testbox, or release lane for the behavior under test.
For scorecard context, see [Maturity scorecard](/maturity/scorecard).

For character and style checks, run the same scenario across multiple live model
refs and write a judged Markdown report:

```bash
pnpm openclaw qa character-eval \
  --model openai/gpt-5.5,thinking=medium,fast \
  --model openai/gpt-5.2,thinking=xhigh \
  --model openai/gpt-5,thinking=xhigh \
  --model anthropic/claude-opus-4-8,thinking=high \
  --model anthropic/claude-sonnet-4-6,thinking=high \
  --model zai/glm-5.1,thinking=high \
  --model moonshot/kimi-k2.5,thinking=high \
  --model google/gemini-3.1-pro-preview,thinking=high \
  --judge-model openai/gpt-5.5,thinking=xhigh,fast \
  --judge-model anthropic/claude-opus-4-8,thinking=high \
  --blind-judge-models \
  --concurrency 16 \
  --judge-concurrency 16
```

The command runs local QA gateway child processes, not Docker. Character eval
scenarios should set the persona through `SOUL.md`, then run ordinary user turns
such as chat, workspace help, and small file tasks. The candidate model should
not be told that it is being evaluated. The command preserves each full
transcript, records basic run stats, then asks the judge models in fast mode with
`xhigh` reasoning where supported to rank the runs by naturalness, vibe, and humor.
Use `--blind-judge-models` when comparing providers: the judge prompt still gets
every transcript and run status, but candidate refs are replaced with neutral
labels such as `candidate-01`; the report maps rankings back to real refs after
parsing.
Candidate runs default to `high` thinking, with `medium` for GPT-5.5 and `xhigh`
for older OpenAI eval refs that support it. Override a specific candidate inline with
`--model provider/model,thinking=<level>`. `--thinking <level>` still sets a
global fallback, and the older `--model-thinking <provider/model=level>` form is
kept for compatibility.
OpenAI candidate refs default to fast mode so priority processing is used where
the provider supports it. Add `,fast`, `,no-fast`, or `,fast=false` inline when a
single candidate or judge needs an override. Pass `--fast` only when you want to
force fast mode on for every candidate model. Candidate and judge durations are
recorded in the report for benchmark analysis, but judge prompts explicitly say
not to rank by speed.
Candidate and judge model runs both default to concurrency 16. Lower
`--concurrency` or `--judge-concurrency` when provider limits or local gateway
pressure make a run too noisy.
When no candidate `--model` is passed, the character eval defaults to
`openai/gpt-5.5`, `openai/gpt-5.2`, `openai/gpt-5`, `anthropic/claude-opus-4-8`,
`anthropic/claude-sonnet-4-6`, `zai/glm-5.1`,
`moonshot/kimi-k2.5`, and
`google/gemini-3.1-pro-preview` when no `--model` is passed.
When no `--judge-model` is passed, the judges default to
`openai/gpt-5.5,thinking=xhigh,fast` and
`anthropic/claude-opus-4-8,thinking=high`.

## Related docs

- [Matrix QA](/concepts/qa-matrix)
- [Maturity scorecard](/maturity/scorecard)
- [Personal agent benchmark pack](/concepts/personal-agent-benchmark-pack)
- [QA Channel](/channels/qa-channel)
- [Testing](/help/testing)
- [Dashboard](/web/dashboard)
