openclaw - 💡(How to fix) Fix [Bug] claude-cli provider declares isStreaming: false — webchat responses disappear after render [3 comments, 2 participants]

Problem

The claude-cli backend provider declares isStreaming: () => false in the bundled runtime (execute.runtime-qivcEpPA.js, line 653), even though it internally parses streaming JSONL events from the Claude CLI subprocess. This mismatch causes the webchat Control UI to mishandle response lifecycle:

1. The CLI subprocess streams JSONL events, which are correctly parsed and accumulated into a complete response
2. When the subprocess exits, the response renders briefly in the webchat UI
3. The UI performs post-completion cleanup assuming no streaming occurred (because isStreaming returned false)
4. The rendered response disappears from the chat window
5. Sending a follow-up message re-renders the previous response from session history

The response content is preserved in the session — it's purely a UI rendering issue caused by the streaming flag mismatch.

Steps to Reproduce

1. Configure OpenClaw with claude-cli as the provider (using Claude Code CLI backend)
2. Open webchat Control UI
3. Send any message
4. Observe: the assistant response appears briefly, then vanishes
5. Send another message — the previous response reappears from history

Root Cause

In dist/execute.runtime-qivcEpPA.js (line 653), the claude-cli executor returns:

isStreaming: () => false

The CLI runner actually streams JSONL internally via the subprocess stdout, but this flag tells the UI layer that no streaming is happening. The UI's post-render cleanup path for non-streaming responses clears the visible content.

Fix

Change line 653 from:

isStreaming: () => false

to:

isStreaming: () => true

This aligns the streaming flag with the actual behavior of the JSONL parser. We tested this fix locally and it resolves the issue completely — responses render progressively and persist correctly after completion.

Related Issues

• #14212 — Webchat streaming flicker (different root cause: general rendering race)
• #33641 — blockStreamingDefault conflict (different root cause: dual rendering systems)
• #6121 — Webchat streaming flicker + reconnect (older, different root cause)

This is a distinct bug specific to the claude-cli provider's streaming flag declaration.

Environment

• OpenClaw 2026.4.21 (f788c88)
• Provider: claude-cli (Claude Code CLI backend)
• Channel: webchat Control UI
• File: dist/execute.runtime-qivcEpPA.js:653