openclaw-master-skills/skills/afterself/HEARTBEAT.md

Afterself Heartbeat Check

Run the state check and act accordingly.

Step 1: Load state

node {baseDir}/scripts/state.js status

Read the switchState field from the response.

Step 2: Route by state

If disabled or completed

• Nothing to do. HEARTBEAT_OK

If triggered

• Executor should be running. Check executorProgress for stuck actions. If currentAction hasn't changed in multiple heartbeats, log a warning. HEARTBEAT_OK

If armed

• Run: node {baseDir}/scripts/state.js is-overdue
• If overdue: false → HEARTBEAT_OK
• If overdue: true → Send a check-in ping to the owner on all configured channels. Then run: node {baseDir}/scripts/state.js record-ping

If warning

• Run: node {baseDir}/scripts/state.js is-warning-expired
• If expired: false → Send another reminder to the owner. HEARTBEAT_OK
• If expired: true → Begin escalation:
  1. Run node {baseDir}/scripts/state.js begin-escalation
  2. Load contacts from node {baseDir}/scripts/state.js config get heartbeat.escalationContacts
  3. Send each contact the escalation message from {baseDir}/references/escalation-protocol.md
  4. Log: node {baseDir}/scripts/state.js audit escalation "contacts_notified"

If escalating

• Run: node {baseDir}/scripts/state.js escalation-status
• Check the decision field:
  • "stand_down" → Run node {baseDir}/scripts/state.js stand-down. Notify owner their contacts confirmed they're okay.
  • "trigger" → Run node {baseDir}/scripts/state.js trigger. Begin executor (see SKILL.md Executor section).
  • "waiting" → Check if escalation timeout has expired. If timeout exceeded with no responses → run node {baseDir}/scripts/state.js trigger. Otherwise → HEARTBEAT_OK, wait for responses.

Step 3: Ghost check

If ghost mode is active (ghostState: "active" or "fading"):

• Run: node {baseDir}/scripts/state.js ghost-decay-check
• If shouldRespond: false and probability: 0 → Ghost has fully faded. Update: node {baseDir}/scripts/state.js update ghostState "retired". Log: node {baseDir}/scripts/state.js audit ghost "retired"

Step 4: Mortality pool check

If mortalityPool.enabled is true and state is armed:

• Run: node {baseDir}/scripts/mortality.js check-balance
• If balance changed since last check, the state is updated automatically by the script
• (Nudging the user to buy tokens happens on owner check-in, not during heartbeat)