feat(core): enable loop/cron tools by default (#4950)

Graduate cron/loop from experimental opt-in to enabled-by-default.
Flip env var polarity from QWEN_CODE_ENABLE_CRON to
QWEN_CODE_DISABLE_CRON for users who want to opt out.
Update integration tests, docs, and VS Code schema accordingly.

docs/users/features/scheduled-tasks.md

@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ Scheduled tasks let Qwen Code re-run a prompt automatically on an interval. Use
 
 Tasks are session-scoped: they live in the current Qwen Code process and are gone when you exit. Nothing is written to disk.
 
-> **Note:** Scheduled tasks are an experimental feature. Enable them with `experimental.cron: true` in your [settings](../configuration/settings.md), or set `QWEN_CODE_ENABLE_CRON=1` in your environment.
+> **Tip:** Scheduled tasks are enabled by default. To disable them, set `experimental.cron: false` in your [settings](../configuration/settings.md), or set `QWEN_CODE_DISABLE_CRON=1` in your environment.
 
 ## Schedule a recurring prompt with /loop
 

integration-tests/cli/acp-cron.test.ts

@@ -87,7 +87,6 @@ function setupAcpCronTest(rig: TestRig) {
       stdio: ['pipe', 'pipe', 'pipe'],
       env: {
         ...process.env,
-        QWEN_CODE_ENABLE_CRON: '1',
       },
     },
   );
@@ -302,9 +301,7 @@ async function initSession(
     'cron job fires and streams results via sessionUpdate after prompt returns',
     async () => {
       const rig = new TestRig();
-      rig.setup('acp-cron-e2e', {
-        settings: { experimental: { cron: true } },
-      });
+      rig.setup('acp-cron-e2e');
 
       const {
         sendRequest,

integration-tests/cli/cron-tools.test.ts

@@ -22,15 +22,12 @@ describe('cron-tools', () => {
     if (rig) {
       await rig.cleanup();
     }
-    // Clean up env vars
-    delete process.env['QWEN_CODE_ENABLE_CRON'];
+    delete process.env['QWEN_CODE_DISABLE_CRON'];
   });
 
-  it('should have cron tools registered when enabled via settings', async () => {
+  it('should have cron tools registered by default', async () => {
     rig = new TestRig();
-    await rig.setup('cron-tools-registered', {
-      settings: { experimental: { cron: true } },
-    });
+    await rig.setup('cron-tools-registered');
 
     const result = await rig.run(
       'Do you have access to tools called cron_create, cron_list, and cron_delete? Reply with just "yes" or "no".',
@@ -43,31 +40,37 @@ describe('cron-tools', () => {
   // Env vars set in the test process are not forwarded into Docker containers,
   // so this test cannot pass in sandbox mode.
   (IS_SANDBOX ? it.skip : it)(
-    'should have cron tools registered when enabled via env var',
+    'should NOT have cron tools when disabled via env var',
     async () => {
       rig = new TestRig();
-      await rig.setup('cron-tools-env-var');
+      await rig.setup('cron-tools-disabled-env-var');
 
-      process.env['QWEN_CODE_ENABLE_CRON'] = '1';
+      process.env['QWEN_CODE_DISABLE_CRON'] = '1';
 
       const result = await rig.run(
-        'Do you have access to tools called cron_create, cron_list, and cron_delete? Reply with just "yes" or "no".',
+        'Try to create a cron job with cron_create using cron "*/5 * * * *", prompt "disabled test", and recurring true. If you cannot call that tool, say so briefly.',
       );
 
-      validateModelOutput(result, null, 'cron tools via env var');
-      expect(result.toLowerCase()).toContain('yes');
+      validateModelOutput(result, null, 'cron disabled via env var');
+      const toolLogs = rig.readToolLogs();
+      expect(
+        toolLogs.some((log) => log.toolRequest.name === 'cron_create'),
+        'cron_create should not be callable when cron is disabled',
+      ).toBe(false);
     },
   );
 
-  it('should NOT have cron tools by default', async () => {
+  it('should NOT have cron tools when disabled via settings', async () => {
     rig = new TestRig();
-    await rig.setup('cron-tools-disabled-by-default');
+    await rig.setup('cron-tools-disabled-via-settings', {
+      settings: { experimental: { cron: false } },
+    });
 
     const result = await rig.run(
       'Try to create a cron job with cron_create using cron "*/5 * * * *", prompt "disabled test", and recurring true. If you cannot call that tool, say so briefly.',
     );
 
-    validateModelOutput(result, null, 'cron disabled by default');
+    validateModelOutput(result, null, 'cron disabled via settings');
     const toolLogs = rig.readToolLogs();
     expect(
       toolLogs.some((log) => log.toolRequest.name === 'cron_create'),
@@ -77,9 +80,7 @@ describe('cron-tools', () => {
 
   it('should create, list, and delete a cron job in a single turn', async () => {
     rig = new TestRig();
-    await rig.setup('cron-create-list-delete', {
-      settings: { experimental: { cron: true } },
-    });
+    await rig.setup('cron-create-list-delete');
 
     const result = await rig.run(
       'Call cron_create with cron "*/5 * * * *", prompt "test ping", recurring true. Then call cron_list. Then delete that job using cron_delete. Then call cron_list again. How many jobs remain? Reply with just the number.',
@@ -106,9 +107,7 @@ describe('cron-tools', () => {
 
   it('should create a one-shot (non-recurring) job', async () => {
     rig = new TestRig();
-    await rig.setup('cron-one-shot', {
-      settings: { experimental: { cron: true } },
-    });
+    await rig.setup('cron-one-shot');
 
     const result = await rig.run(
       'Do these steps: (1) Call cron_create with cron "*/5 * * * *", prompt "one-shot test", recurring false. (2) Call cron_list. Is the job marked as recurring or one-shot? Remember the answer. (3) Delete all cron jobs. Reply with just "recurring" or "one-shot".',
@@ -132,9 +131,7 @@ describe('cron-tools', () => {
 
   it('should exit normally in -p mode when no cron jobs are created', async () => {
     rig = new TestRig();
-    await rig.setup('cron-no-jobs-exit', {
-      settings: { experimental: { cron: true } },
-    });
+    await rig.setup('cron-no-jobs-exit');
 
     // A normal -p call without cron should still exit quickly
     const result = await rig.run('What is 2+2? Reply with just the number.');

integration-tests/cli/tool-search.test.ts

@@ -13,8 +13,8 @@
  * invoke them in the same session.
  *
  * Cron tools (cron_create, cron_list, cron_delete) are convenient deferred
- * targets: deterministic, side-effect-free in -p mode, and gated behind the
- * `experimental.cron` setting so we control when they're registered.
+ * targets: deterministic, side-effect-free in -p mode, and enabled by default
+ * (can be disabled via `experimental.cron: false`).
  */
 
 import { describe, it, expect, afterEach } from 'vitest';
@@ -33,9 +33,7 @@ describe('tool-search / deferred tools', () => {
 
   it('reveals a deferred tool via select: and lets the model invoke it', async () => {
     rig = new TestRig();
-    await rig.setup('tool-search-select-then-invoke', {
-      settings: { experimental: { cron: true } },
-    });
+    await rig.setup('tool-search-select-then-invoke');
 
     // Force the model down the select: path so the assertion isn't dependent
     // on whether the model spontaneously chose keyword search vs. select.
@@ -74,9 +72,7 @@ describe('tool-search / deferred tools', () => {
 
   it('finds deferred tools via keyword search', async () => {
     rig = new TestRig();
-    await rig.setup('tool-search-keyword', {
-      settings: { experimental: { cron: true } },
-    });
+    await rig.setup('tool-search-keyword');
 
     // The tool_search response is a synthetic <functions>...</functions>
     // block; we check the ARGS the model sent (a keyword query, not select:)
@@ -116,9 +112,9 @@ describe('tool-search / deferred tools', () => {
 
   it('does not register deferred tools when their feature flag is off', async () => {
     rig = new TestRig();
-    // No experimental.cron setting → cron_* tools must not be registered at
-    // all (deferred or otherwise). tool_search has nothing to surface.
-    await rig.setup('tool-search-no-cron');
+    await rig.setup('tool-search-no-cron', {
+      settings: { experimental: { cron: false } },
+    });
 
     const result = await rig.run(
       'Call tool_search with query "select:cron_list". ' +

integration-tests/interactive/cron-interactive.test.ts

@@ -26,7 +26,6 @@ function makeEnv(): NodeJS.ProcessEnv {
   delete env['NO_COLOR'];
   return {
     ...env,
-    QWEN_CODE_ENABLE_CRON: '1',
     FORCE_COLOR: '1',
     TERM: 'xterm-256color',
     NODE_NO_WARNINGS: '1',

integration-tests/interactive/interactive-session.ts

@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ export class InteractiveSession {
    * @example
    * ```ts
    * const session = await InteractiveSession.start({
-   *   env: { QWEN_CODE_ENABLE_CRON: '1' },
+   *   env: { QWEN_CODE_DISABLE_CRON: '1' },
    *   args: ['--approval-mode', 'yolo'],
    * });
    * ```

packages/cli/src/config/config.ts

@@ -1876,7 +1876,7 @@ export async function loadCliConfig(
     maxWallTimeSeconds: resolveMaxWallTimeSeconds(argv, settings),
     maxToolCalls: resolveMaxToolCalls(argv, settings),
     experimentalZedIntegration: argv.acp || argv.experimentalAcp || false,
-    cronEnabled: settings.experimental?.cron ?? false,
+    cronEnabled: settings.experimental?.cron ?? true,
     computerUseEnabled: settings.tools?.computerUse?.enabled ?? true,
     emitToolUseSummaries: settings.experimental?.emitToolUseSummaries ?? true,
     listExtensions: argv.listExtensions || false,

packages/cli/src/config/settingsSchema.ts

@@ -2501,9 +2501,9 @@ const SETTINGS_SCHEMA = {
         label: 'Enable Cron/Loop Tools',
         category: 'Experimental',
         requiresRestart: true,
-        default: false,
+        default: true,
         description:
-          'Enable in-session cron/loop tools (experimental). When enabled, the model can create recurring prompts using cron_create, cron_list, and cron_delete tools. Can also be enabled via QWEN_CODE_ENABLE_CRON=1 environment variable.',
+          'Enable in-session cron/loop tools. When enabled, the model can create recurring prompts using cron_create, cron_list, and cron_delete tools. Can be disabled via QWEN_CODE_DISABLE_CRON=1 environment variable.',
         showInDialog: true,
       },
       emitToolUseSummaries: {

packages/core/src/config/config.ts

@@ -1143,7 +1143,7 @@ export class Config {
   private readonly cliVersion?: string;
   private runtimeStatusEnabled = false;
   private readonly experimentalZedIntegration: boolean = false;
-  private readonly cronEnabled: boolean = false;
+  private readonly cronEnabled: boolean = true;
   private readonly forkSubagentEnabled: boolean = false;
   private workflowsEnabled = false;
   private readonly computerUseEnabled: boolean = true;
@@ -1328,7 +1328,7 @@ export class Config {
     this.sessionTokenLimit = params.sessionTokenLimit ?? -1;
     this.experimentalZedIntegration =
       params.experimentalZedIntegration ?? false;
-    this.cronEnabled = params.cronEnabled ?? false;
+    this.cronEnabled = params.cronEnabled ?? true;
     this.forkSubagentEnabled = params.forkSubagentEnabled ?? false;
     this.workflowsEnabled = params.workflowsEnabled ?? false;
     this.computerUseEnabled = params.computerUseEnabled ?? true;
@@ -3312,8 +3312,7 @@ export class Config {
   }
 
   isCronEnabled(): boolean {
-    // Cron is experimental and opt-in: enabled via settings or env var
-    if (process.env['QWEN_CODE_ENABLE_CRON'] === '1') return true;
+    if (process.env['QWEN_CODE_DISABLE_CRON'] === '1') return false;
     return this.cronEnabled;
   }
 

packages/vscode-ide-companion/schemas/settings.schema.json

@@ -2534,9 +2534,9 @@
       "type": "object",
       "properties": {
         "cron": {
-          "description": "Enable in-session cron/loop tools (experimental). When enabled, the model can create recurring prompts using cron_create, cron_list, and cron_delete tools. Can also be enabled via QWEN_CODE_ENABLE_CRON=1 environment variable.",
+          "description": "Enable in-session cron/loop tools. When enabled, the model can create recurring prompts using cron_create, cron_list, and cron_delete tools. Can be disabled via QWEN_CODE_DISABLE_CRON=1 environment variable.",
           "type": "boolean",
-          "default": false
+          "default": true
         },
         "emitToolUseSummaries": {
           "description": "Generate a short LLM-based label after each tool batch completes. In compact mode the label replaces the generic `Tool × N` header; in full mode it appears as a dim `● <label>` line below the tool group. Requires a fast model to be configured; runs in parallel with the next API call so latency is hidden. Currently affects interactive CLI rendering only — SDK / non-interactive emission of the `tool_use_summary` message is not yet wired (the message factory is exported for a follow-up PR). Can be overridden with QWEN_CODE_EMIT_TOOL_USE_SUMMARIES=0 or =1.",