Enable WriteTodos tool by default (#12500)

docs/get-started/configuration.md

@@ -467,7 +467,7 @@ their corresponding top-level category object in your `settings.json` file.
 
 - **`useWriteTodos`** (boolean):
   - **Description:** Enable the write_todos_list tool.
-  - **Default:** `false`
+  - **Default:** `true`
 
 #### `security`
 

docs/tools/todos.md

@@ -6,7 +6,8 @@ This document describes the `write_todos` tool for the Gemini CLI.
 
 The `write_todos` tool allows the Gemini agent to create and manage a list of
 subtasks for complex user requests. This provides you, the user, with greater
-visibility into the agent's plan and its current progress.
+visibility into the agent's plan and its current progress. It also helps with
+alignment where the agent is less likely to lose track of its current goal.
 
 ### Arguments
 
@@ -49,8 +50,8 @@ write_todos({
 
 ## Important notes
 
-- **Enabling:** This tool is disabled by default. To use it, you must enable it
-  in your `settings.json` file by setting `"useWriteTodos": true`.
+- **Enabling:** This tool is enabled by default. You can disable it in your
+  `settings.json` file by setting `"useWriteTodos": false`.
 
 - **Intended Use:** This tool is primarily used by the agent for complex,
   multi-turn tasks. It is generally not used for simple, single-turn questions.

packages/cli/src/config/settingsSchema.ts

@@ -1047,7 +1047,7 @@ const SETTINGS_SCHEMA = {
     label: 'Use Write Todos',
     category: 'Advanced',
     requiresRestart: false,
-    default: false,
+    default: true,
     description: 'Enable the write_todos_list tool.',
     showInDialog: false,
   },

packages/core/src/config/config.ts

@@ -532,7 +532,7 @@ export class Config {
       params.truncateToolOutputLines ?? DEFAULT_TRUNCATE_TOOL_OUTPUT_LINES;
     this.enableToolOutputTruncation = params.enableToolOutputTruncation ?? true;
     this.useSmartEdit = params.useSmartEdit ?? true;
-    this.useWriteTodos = params.useWriteTodos ?? false;
+    this.useWriteTodos = params.useWriteTodos ?? true;
     this.initialUseModelRouter = params.useModelRouter ?? false;
     this.useModelRouter = this.initialUseModelRouter;
     this.disableModelRouterForAuth = params.disableModelRouterForAuth ?? [];

schemas/settings.schema.json

@@ -675,8 +675,8 @@
     "useWriteTodos": {
       "title": "Use Write Todos",
       "description": "Enable the write_todos_list tool.",
-      "markdownDescription": "Enable the write_todos_list tool.\n\n- Category: `Advanced`\n- Requires restart: `no`\n- Default: `false`",
-      "default": false,
+      "markdownDescription": "Enable the write_todos_list tool.\n\n- Category: `Advanced`\n- Requires restart: `no`\n- Default: `true`",
+      "default": true,
       "type": "boolean"
     },
     "security": {