feat(core): add --forever flag and schedule_work tool for autonomous agent mode

- Add schedule_work tool: agent declares pause duration, system auto-resumes
- Add --forever CLI flag with SisyphusModeSettings config
- Forever mode disables MemoryTool, EnterPlanModeTool, interactive shell
- useGeminiStream detects schedule_work calls and runs countdown timer
- Auto-submits resume prompt when timer reaches zero

packages/cli/src/config/config.ts

@@ -93,6 +93,7 @@ export interface CliArgs {
   rawOutput: boolean | undefined;
   acceptRawOutputRisk: boolean | undefined;
   isCommand: boolean | undefined;
+  forever: boolean | undefined;
 }
 
 export async function parseArguments(
@@ -289,6 +290,12 @@ export async function parseArguments(
         .option('accept-raw-output-risk', {
           type: 'boolean',
           description: 'Suppress the security warning when using --raw-output.',
+        })
+        .option('forever', {
+          type: 'boolean',
+          description:
+            'Run as a long-running autonomous agent with auto-resume and schedule_work support.',
+          default: false,
         }),
     )
     // Register MCP subcommands
@@ -827,6 +834,14 @@ export async function loadCliConfig(
       };
     },
     enableConseca: settings.security?.enableConseca,
+    isForeverMode: !!argv.forever,
+    sisyphusMode: argv.forever
+      ? {
+          enabled: true,
+          idleTimeout: settings.hooksConfig?.idleTimeout,
+          prompt: 'continue workflow',
+        }
+      : undefined,
   });
 }
 

packages/cli/src/gemini.test.tsx

@@ -498,6 +498,7 @@ describe('gemini.tsx main function kitty protocol', () => {
       rawOutput: undefined,
       acceptRawOutputRisk: undefined,
       isCommand: undefined,
+      forever: undefined,
     });
 
     await act(async () => {

packages/cli/src/ui/hooks/useGeminiStream.ts

@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ import {
   buildUserSteeringHintPrompt,
   GeminiCliOperation,
   getPlanModeExitMessage,
+  SCHEDULE_WORK_TOOL_NAME,
 } from '@google/gemini-cli-core';
 import type {
   Config,
@@ -229,6 +230,16 @@ export const useGeminiStream = (
   const [_isFirstToolInGroup, isFirstToolInGroupRef, setIsFirstToolInGroup] =
     useStateAndRef<boolean>(true);
   const processedMemoryToolsRef = useRef<Set<string>>(new Set());
+
+  // Sisyphus Mode: schedule_work auto-resume timer
+  const sisyphusTargetTimestampRef = useRef<number | null>(null);
+  const [sisyphusSecondsRemaining, setSisyphusSecondsRemaining] = useState<
+    number | null
+  >(null);
+  const submitQueryRef = useRef<(query: PartListUnion) => Promise<void>>(() =>
+    Promise.resolve(),
+  );
+
   const { startNewPrompt, getPromptCount } = useSessionStats();
   const storage = config.storage;
   const logger = useLogger(storage);
@@ -1248,6 +1259,15 @@ export const useGeminiStream = (
             );
             break;
           case ServerGeminiEventType.ToolCallRequest:
+            if (event.value.name === SCHEDULE_WORK_TOOL_NAME) {
+              const args = event.value.args;
+              const inMinutes = Number(args?.['inMinutes'] ?? 0);
+              if (inMinutes > 0) {
+                const delayMs = inMinutes * 60 * 1000;
+                sisyphusTargetTimestampRef.current = Date.now() + delayMs;
+                setSisyphusSecondsRemaining(Math.ceil(delayMs / 1000));
+              }
+            }
             toolCallRequests.push(event.value);
             break;
           case ServerGeminiEventType.UserCancelled:
@@ -1893,7 +1913,7 @@ export const useGeminiStream = (
 
     // Compute effective timeout: use configured value, or default if
     // Idle hooks are registered (e.g. by an extension).
-    let idleTimeoutSeconds = configuredIdleTimeout;
+    let idleTimeoutSeconds: number = configuredIdleTimeout;
     if (idleTimeoutSeconds <= 0) {
       const hookSystem = config.getHookSystem();
       const hasIdleHooks = hookSystem
@@ -1932,6 +1952,46 @@ export const useGeminiStream = (
     };
   }, [streamingState, configuredIdleTimeout, config, submitQuery]);
 
+  // Keep submitQueryRef in sync for Sisyphus timer
+  useEffect(() => {
+    submitQueryRef.current = submitQuery;
+  }, [submitQuery]);
+
+  // Sisyphus: auto-resume when countdown reaches zero
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (
+      streamingState === StreamingState.Idle &&
+      sisyphusSecondsRemaining !== null &&
+      sisyphusSecondsRemaining <= 0
+    ) {
+      sisyphusTargetTimestampRef.current = null;
+      setSisyphusSecondsRemaining(null);
+      void submitQueryRef.current(
+        'System: The scheduled break has ended. Please resume your work.',
+      );
+    }
+  }, [streamingState, sisyphusSecondsRemaining]);
+
+  // Sisyphus: countdown timer interval
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (
+      sisyphusTargetTimestampRef.current === null ||
+      streamingState !== StreamingState.Idle
+    ) {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    const timer = setInterval(() => {
+      if (sisyphusTargetTimestampRef.current !== null) {
+        const remainingMs = sisyphusTargetTimestampRef.current - Date.now();
+        const remainingSecs = Math.max(0, Math.ceil(remainingMs / 1000));
+        setSisyphusSecondsRemaining(remainingSecs);
+      }
+    }, 1000);
+
+    return () => clearInterval(timer);
+  }, [streamingState]);
+
   const lastOutputTime = Math.max(
     lastToolOutputTime,
     lastShellOutputTime,
@@ -1957,5 +2017,6 @@ export const useGeminiStream = (
     backgroundShells,
     dismissBackgroundShell,
     retryStatus,
+    sisyphusSecondsRemaining,
   };
 };

packages/core/src/config/config.ts

@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ import { WebFetchTool } from '../tools/web-fetch.js';
 import { MemoryTool, setGeminiMdFilename } from '../tools/memoryTool.js';
 import { WebSearchTool } from '../tools/web-search.js';
 import { AskUserTool } from '../tools/ask-user.js';
+import { ScheduleWorkTool } from '../tools/schedule-work.js';
 import { ExitPlanModeTool } from '../tools/exit-plan-mode.js';
 import { EnterPlanModeTool } from '../tools/enter-plan-mode.js';
 import { GeminiClient } from '../core/client.js';
@@ -242,6 +243,13 @@ export interface AgentSettings {
   browser?: BrowserAgentCustomConfig;
 }
 
+export interface SisyphusModeSettings {
+  enabled: boolean;
+  idleTimeout?: number;
+  prompt?: string;
+  a2aPort?: number;
+}
+
 export interface CustomTheme {
   type: 'custom';
   name: string;
@@ -589,6 +597,8 @@ export interface ConfigParameters {
   mcpEnabled?: boolean;
   extensionsEnabled?: boolean;
   agents?: AgentSettings;
+  sisyphusMode?: SisyphusModeSettings;
+  isForeverMode?: boolean;
   onReload?: () => Promise<{
     disabledSkills?: string[];
     adminSkillsEnabled?: boolean;
@@ -788,6 +798,8 @@ export class Config implements McpContext, AgentLoopContext {
 
   private readonly enableAgents: boolean;
   private agents: AgentSettings;
+  private readonly isForeverMode: boolean;
+  private readonly sisyphusMode: SisyphusModeSettings;
   private readonly enableEventDrivenScheduler: boolean;
   private readonly skillsSupport: boolean;
   private disabledSkills: string[];
@@ -885,6 +897,13 @@ export class Config implements McpContext, AgentLoopContext {
     this._activeModel = params.model;
     this.enableAgents = params.enableAgents ?? false;
     this.agents = params.agents ?? {};
+    this.isForeverMode = params.isForeverMode ?? false;
+    this.sisyphusMode = {
+      enabled: params.sisyphusMode?.enabled ?? false,
+      idleTimeout: params.sisyphusMode?.idleTimeout,
+      prompt: params.sisyphusMode?.prompt,
+      a2aPort: params.sisyphusMode?.a2aPort,
+    };
     this.disableLLMCorrection = params.disableLLMCorrection ?? true;
     this.planEnabled = params.plan ?? true;
     this.trackerEnabled = params.tracker ?? false;
@@ -2473,6 +2492,14 @@ export class Config implements McpContext, AgentLoopContext {
     return remoteThreshold;
   }
 
+  getIsForeverMode(): boolean {
+    return this.isForeverMode;
+  }
+
+  getSisyphusMode(): SisyphusModeSettings {
+    return this.sisyphusMode;
+  }
+
   async getUserCaching(): Promise<boolean | undefined> {
     await this.ensureExperimentsLoaded();
 
@@ -2558,6 +2585,7 @@ export class Config implements McpContext, AgentLoopContext {
   }
 
   isInteractiveShellEnabled(): boolean {
+    if (this.isForeverMode) return false;
     return (
       this.interactive &&
       this.ptyInfo !== 'child_process' &&
@@ -2859,15 +2887,22 @@ export class Config implements McpContext, AgentLoopContext {
     maybeRegister(ShellTool, () =>
       registry.registerTool(new ShellTool(this, this._messageBus)),
     );
-    maybeRegister(MemoryTool, () =>
-      registry.registerTool(new MemoryTool(this._messageBus)),
-    );
+    if (!this.isForeverMode) {
+      maybeRegister(MemoryTool, () =>
+        registry.registerTool(new MemoryTool(this._messageBus)),
+      );
+    }
     maybeRegister(WebSearchTool, () =>
       registry.registerTool(new WebSearchTool(this, this._messageBus)),
     );
     maybeRegister(AskUserTool, () =>
       registry.registerTool(new AskUserTool(this._messageBus)),
     );
+    if (this.isForeverMode) {
+      maybeRegister(ScheduleWorkTool, () =>
+        registry.registerTool(new ScheduleWorkTool(this._messageBus)),
+      );
+    }
     if (this.getUseWriteTodos()) {
       maybeRegister(WriteTodosTool, () =>
         registry.registerTool(new WriteTodosTool(this._messageBus)),
@@ -2877,9 +2912,11 @@ export class Config implements McpContext, AgentLoopContext {
       maybeRegister(ExitPlanModeTool, () =>
         registry.registerTool(new ExitPlanModeTool(this, this._messageBus)),
       );
-      maybeRegister(EnterPlanModeTool, () =>
-        registry.registerTool(new EnterPlanModeTool(this, this._messageBus)),
-      );
+      if (!this.isForeverMode) {
+        maybeRegister(EnterPlanModeTool, () =>
+          registry.registerTool(new EnterPlanModeTool(this, this._messageBus)),
+        );
+      }
     }
 
     if (this.isTrackerEnabled()) {

packages/core/src/tools/schedule-work.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,82 @@
+/**
+ * @license
+ * Copyright 2026 Google LLC
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+ */
+
+import {
+  BaseDeclarativeTool,
+  BaseToolInvocation,
+  type ToolResult,
+  Kind,
+} from './tools.js';
+import type { MessageBus } from '../confirmation-bus/message-bus.js';
+import { SCHEDULE_WORK_TOOL_NAME } from './tool-names.js';
+
+export interface ScheduleWorkParams {
+  inMinutes: number;
+}
+
+export class ScheduleWorkTool extends BaseDeclarativeTool<
+  ScheduleWorkParams,
+  ToolResult
+> {
+  constructor(messageBus: MessageBus) {
+    super(
+      SCHEDULE_WORK_TOOL_NAME,
+      'Schedule Work',
+      'Schedule work to resume automatically after a break. Use this to wait for long-running processes or to pause your execution. The system will automatically wake you up.',
+      Kind.Communicate,
+      {
+        type: 'object',
+        required: ['inMinutes'],
+        properties: {
+          inMinutes: {
+            type: 'number',
+            description: 'Minutes to wait before automatically resuming work.',
+          },
+        },
+      },
+      messageBus,
+    );
+  }
+
+  protected override validateToolParamValues(
+    params: ScheduleWorkParams,
+  ): string | null {
+    if (params.inMinutes <= 0) {
+      return 'inMinutes must be greater than 0.';
+    }
+    return null;
+  }
+
+  protected createInvocation(
+    params: ScheduleWorkParams,
+    messageBus: MessageBus,
+    toolName: string,
+    toolDisplayName: string,
+  ): ScheduleWorkInvocation {
+    return new ScheduleWorkInvocation(
+      params,
+      messageBus,
+      toolName,
+      toolDisplayName,
+    );
+  }
+}
+
+export class ScheduleWorkInvocation extends BaseToolInvocation<
+  ScheduleWorkParams,
+  ToolResult
+> {
+  getDescription(): string {
+    return `Scheduling work to resume in ${this.params.inMinutes} minutes.`;
+  }
+
+  async execute(_signal: AbortSignal): Promise<ToolResult> {
+    return {
+      llmContent: `Work scheduled. The system will wake you up in ${this.params.inMinutes} minutes. DO NOT make any further tool calls. Instead, provide a brief text summary of the work completed so far to end your turn.`,
+      returnDisplay: `Scheduled work to resume in ${this.params.inMinutes} minutes.`,
+    };
+  }
+}

packages/core/src/tools/tool-names.ts

@@ -151,6 +151,7 @@ export {
 };
 
 export const LS_TOOL_NAME_LEGACY = 'list_directory'; // Just to be safe if anything used the old exported name directly
+export const SCHEDULE_WORK_TOOL_NAME = 'schedule_work';
 
 export const EDIT_TOOL_NAMES = new Set([EDIT_TOOL_NAME, WRITE_FILE_TOOL_NAME]);
 
@@ -228,6 +229,7 @@ export const ALL_BUILTIN_TOOL_NAMES = [
   GET_INTERNAL_DOCS_TOOL_NAME,
   ENTER_PLAN_MODE_TOOL_NAME,
   EXIT_PLAN_MODE_TOOL_NAME,
+  SCHEDULE_WORK_TOOL_NAME,
 ] as const;
 
 /**