Toolmaxing — Lobstermax

Selection rubric

web_fetch vs browser

Default to web_fetch when you only need readable content.

Use web_fetch when:
- You only need the text of a page
- You don’t need login/session state
- You don’t need to click UI elements

Use browser when:
- You must interact with UI (forms, buttons)
- The content is behind scripts/login
- You need screenshots or to confirm visual layout

exec vs browser automation

Prefer exec for deterministic local tasks.

Use exec when:
- Running tests/builds locally
- Editing files via scripts
- Inspecting logs, git status, etc.

Use browser automation when:
- The action exists only in a web UI
- You need to submit forms or click flows

Rule: don’t automate a web UI if a CLI/API exists.

Concurrency

When to spawn a sub-agent

Use isolation for long or parallel tasks.

Spawn a sub-agent when:
- Research or refactors will take more than a couple minutes
- You want parallel investigation (logs + docs + code)
- You need a clean context without polluting the main thread

Otherwise: keep it in one thread and finish the loop.

Operational patterns

Tool-call checklist (before you automate)

Makes automation boring (good).

Before using tools:
- Identify the minimum tool that can succeed (web_fetch < browser < exec).
- Pin the working directory and file paths.
- If the action is destructive, ask for confirmation.
- Prefer deterministic outputs (JSON, diffs, exact commands).
- After changes: run a verification command.

Cron vs heartbeat (reminders and periodic work)

Avoid over-scheduling. Use the right mechanism.

Use cron when:
- Exact timing matters ("9:00 AM sharp")
- It’s a one-shot reminder ("in 20 minutes")
- The task should run without main-session context

Use heartbeat when:
- You want to batch checks (inbox + calendar + notifications)
- Timing can drift (every ~30 min)
- You want to reduce API calls

Messaging safety (OpenClaw)

External actions should be intentional.

Before sending a message (message tool):
- Show the exact message text.
- Confirm the destination (channel/user).
- After sending, return NO_REPLY to avoid duplicate replies.