✨ Gemini Scribe 4.8 - Scheduled & Background Tasks, Ollama, Activity Modal

[allenhutchison]

Highlights

• ⏰ Scheduled tasks — run agent tasks on a cron, time-of-day, or day-of-week schedule with full management UI
• 🌙 Missed-run catch-up — tasks that should have run while Obsidian was closed surface on startup for review
• 🛰️ Background tasks — deep research and image generation now run in the background with output consolidated under [state-folder]/Background-Tasks/
• 📊 Unified activity modal — Background Tasks and RAG status share a single tabbed view
• 🦙 Ollama provider — point the plugin at a local Ollama server for offline, local-model chat
• 🛑 Runaway-loop abort — repeated tool-loop detections within a turn now abort the turn with a clear notice instead of churning
• 🧪 Eval harness — new harness for agent-loop changes with multi-hop retrieval, loop-trap tasks, pass^k reliability, and per-run model overrides
• 📱 Mobile fixes — agent view layout on iOS and CatchUpModal now opens directly on mobile
• 🛠️ Headless agent loop — AgentLoop extracted from the agent view so scheduled and background runners share the same execution engine

Details

This release introduces scheduled tasks: define agent tasks with cron, time-of-day, or day-of-week schedules and manage them with a dedicated UI. If Obsidian was closed when a run was due, a catch-up modal surfaces missed runs on startup. Long-running operations like deep research and image generation now run as background tasks, with all their output consolidated under [state-folder]/Background-Tasks/, and a unified activity modal gives you a single place to monitor background work alongside RAG indexing status. Ollama joins as a provider option for fully local chat. The runaway-loop detector now escalates to a per-turn abort with a user-visible notice. Under the hood, AgentLoop has been extracted so scheduled and background runners share the same engine as the UI, and a new eval harness with multi-hop, loop-trap, and pass^k reliability checks helps verify agent-loop changes. Includes mobile fixes for iOS layout and the catch-up modal, plus a migration of the test runner from ts-jest to Vitest.

What's Changed

• Fix WikiLink rendering by unescaping backticks and backslashes by @allenhutchison in Fix WikiLink rendering by unescaping backticks and backslashes #575
• Auto-scope semantic search to project root when available by @allenhutchison in Auto-scope semantic search to project root when available #579
• Add skill picker modal with slash command activation by @allenhutchison in Add skill picker modal with slash command activation #577
• Add project filtering to session list modal by @allenhutchison in Add project filtering to session list modal #578
• Add four new bundled skills: deep-research, image-generation, vault-semantic-search, recall-sessions by @allenhutchison in Add four new bundled skills: deep-research, image-generation, vault-semantic-search, recall-sessions #580
• Add retry logic with API-provided delays and quota exhaustion detection by @allenhutchison in Add retry logic with API-provided delays and quota exhaustion detection #581
• Add file-based logging alongside console output (feat: Add file-based logging alongside console output #465) by @allenhutchison in Add file-based logging alongside console output (#465) #584
• perf: Add lightweight session metadata query to avoid full hydration (perf: Add lightweight session metadata query to avoid full hydration #505) by @allenhutchison in perf: Add lightweight session metadata query to avoid full hydration (#505) #583
• Refactor: Extract tool display and follow-up from agent-view-tools.ts (refactor: Extract tool display and follow-up from agent-view-tools.ts (1,016 lines) #512) by @allenhutchison in Refactor: Extract tool display and follow-up from agent-view-tools.ts (#512) #582
• Refactor RAG indexing service with composition pattern by @allenhutchison in Refactor RAG indexing service with composition pattern #590
• Refactor AgentView: Extract send and attachments logic into modules by @allenhutchison in Refactor AgentView: Extract send and attachments logic into modules #591
• Refactor: Split vault tools into modular files by @allenhutchison in Refactor: Split vault tools into modular files #592
• Refactor settings UI into modular components by @allenhutchison in Refactor settings UI into modular components #593
• feat: Add curated models.json and GitHub Action for model updates by @allenhutchison in feat: Add curated models.json and GitHub Action for model updates #595
• Always save RAG store name setting, add feedback for cleared value by @allenhutchison in Always save RAG store name setting, add feedback for cleared value #602
• fix: Image model replaced by text model during discovery by @allenhutchison in fix: Image model replaced by text model during discovery #594
• fix: Format and validate auto-generated model update PRs by @allenhutchison in fix: Format and validate auto-generated model update PRs #608
• Replace InstanceType with type imports for ObsidianGemini by @allenhutchison in Replace InstanceType with type imports for ObsidianGemini #606
• Fix race condition in temperature/topP slider validation (issue Fix debounce race condition in temperature/top-p slider validation (settings-api.ts) #601) by @allenhutchison in Fix race condition in temperature/topP slider validation (issue #601) #605
• Add error handling for dynamic modal imports in settings by @allenhutchison in Add error handling for dynamic modal imports in settings #603
• Debounce settings saves to prevent excessive plugin lifecycle runs by @allenhutchison in Debounce settings saves to prevent excessive plugin lifecycle runs #604
• refactor: Replace model discovery with curated JSON model list by @allenhutchison in refactor: Replace model discovery with curated JSON model list #596
• chore: Update available Gemini models by @github-actions[bot] in chore: Update available Gemini models #609
• docs: Add FAQ entries for provider and model support questions by @allenhutchison in docs: Add FAQ entries for provider and model support questions #610
• fix: Type-check test files in CI and fix hidden type errors by @allenhutchison in fix: Type-check test files in CI and fix hidden type errors #612
• docs: Link bundled skills blog post from agent-skills guide by @allenhutchison in docs: Link bundled skills blog post from agent-skills guide #617
• chore(deps): bump peter-evans/create-pull-request from 7 to 8 by @dependabot[bot] in chore(deps): bump peter-evans/create-pull-request from 7 to 8 #615
• chore(deps-dev): bump the dev-dependencies group with 3 updates by @dependabot[bot] in chore(deps-dev): bump the dev-dependencies group with 3 updates #616
• docs: Explain language handling and localization in FAQ by @allenhutchison in docs: Explain language handling and localization in FAQ #614
• fix: Stabilize system prompt for Gemini implicit caching by @allenhutchison in fix: Stabilize system prompt for Gemini implicit caching #624
• feat: Surface Gemini cached-token metrics in UI and debug logs by @allenhutchison in feat: Surface Gemini cached-token metrics in UI and debug logs #625
• feat: Implement dynamic selection prompts and UI refinements by @allenhutchison in feat: Implement dynamic selection prompts and UI refinements #628
• fix: correct Agent Mode documentation link path by @JayadityaGit in fix: correct Agent Mode documentation link path #639
• fix: update documentation URLs to Vite site by @allenhutchison in fix: update documentation URLs to Vite site #640
• Feat/background task infrastructure by @saheersk in Feat/background task infrastructure #637
• chore: Upgrade GitHub Actions to Node.js 24.x by @JayadityaGit in chore: Upgrade GitHub Actions to Node.js 24.x #644
• chore(deps): bump hono from 4.12.12 to 4.12.14 by @dependabot[bot] in chore(deps): bump hono from 4.12.12 to 4.12.14 #642
• chore: Update available Gemini models by @github-actions[bot] in chore: Update available Gemini models #626
• fix: point ModelListProvider remote URL at master branch by @allenhutchison in fix: point ModelListProvider remote URL at master branch #646
• chore(deps): bump protobufjs from 7.5.4 to 7.5.5 by @dependabot[bot] in chore(deps): bump protobufjs from 7.5.4 to 7.5.5 #647
• fix: Clear shelf when creating or loading agent session (New session carries over some notes on shelf #648) by @allenhutchison in fix: Clear shelf when creating or loading agent session (#648) #649
• chore(deps-dev): bump the dev-dependencies group with 4 updates by @dependabot[bot] in chore(deps-dev): bump the dev-dependencies group with 4 updates #654
• chore(deps): bump actions/upload-pages-artifact from 4 to 5 by @dependabot[bot] in chore(deps): bump actions/upload-pages-artifact from 4 to 5 #653
• fix: preserve editor selection for get_workspace_state (fix: get_workspace_state loses text selection when agent input is focused #542) by @allenhutchison in fix: preserve editor selection for get_workspace_state (#542) #655
• Feat/background tool mode by @saheersk in Feat/background tool mode #651
• refactor: extract AgentLoop from AgentViewTools for headless reuse by @allenhutchison in refactor: extract AgentLoop from AgentViewTools for headless reuse #665
• fix: pre-resolve generate_image background output_path by @allenhutchison in fix: pre-resolve generate_image background output_path #666
• fix: normalize list_files path to handle trailing slashes by @allenhutchison in fix: normalize list_files path to handle trailing slashes #669
• fix: mobile agent view layout on iOS (Bug on Obsidian mobile #668) by @allenhutchison in fix: mobile agent view layout on iOS (#668) #671
• refactor: require confirmationProvider on ToolExecutionEngine by @allenhutchison in refactor: require confirmationProvider on ToolExecutionEngine #672
• test: regression test for recall_sessions matching deleted-file refs by @allenhutchison in test: regression test for recall_sessions matching deleted-file refs #673
• feat: abort runaway tool loops via per-turn detector escalation by @allenhutchison in feat: abort runaway tool loops via per-turn detector escalation #675
• feat: scheduled task engine — manager, markdown storage, headless ru… by @saheersk in feat: scheduled task engine — manager, markdown storage, headless ru… #650
• fix: add confirmationProvider to ScheduledTaskRunner by @allenhutchison in fix: add confirmationProvider to ScheduledTaskRunner #682
• feat: Add eval harness for agent-loop changes by @allenhutchison in feat: Add eval harness for agent-loop changes #676
• chore(deps-dev): bump postcss from 8.5.6 to 8.5.10 by @dependabot[bot] in chore(deps-dev): bump postcss from 8.5.6 to 8.5.10 #683
• fix(evals): switch session correctly and bypass tool confirmations by @allenhutchison in fix(evals): switch session correctly and bypass tool confirmations #684
• fix(evals): strip log-line noise from obsidian eval stdout by @allenhutchison in fix(evals): strip log-line noise from obsidian eval stdout #686
• feat(evals): pass^k reliability — repeat each task N times by @allenhutchison in feat(evals): pass^k reliability — repeat each task N times #691
• feat(evals): --model= flag to override chatModelName for a run by @allenhutchison in feat(evals): --model= flag to override chatModelName for a run #692
• feat(evals): multi-hop retrieval and loop-trap tasks by @allenhutchison in feat(evals): multi-hop retrieval and loop-trap tasks #693
• feat: unified activity modal with Background Tasks + RAG tabs (Unified Gemini activity modal: tabs for Background Tasks + RAG status #656) by @saheersk in feat: unified activity modal with Background Tasks + RAG tabs (#656) #674
• ix: prevent ScheduledTaskManager double-init on plugin reload (ScheduledTaskManager: initialize() + start() fires twice on plugin reload #678) by @saheersk in ix: prevent ScheduledTaskManager double-init on plugin reload (#678) #695
• fix: await task drain before ScheduledTaskManager re-init (LifecycleService: document cancel-without-await invariant in scheduled-task drain #680) by @saheersk in fix: await task drain before ScheduledTaskManager re-init (#680) #697
• feat(help-skill): expose debug.log for agent self-diagnosis by @allenhutchison in feat(help-skill): expose debug.log for agent self-diagnosis #698
• fix: deduplicate task file parse when vault.create and metadataCache.… by @saheersk in fix: deduplicate task file parse when vault.create and metadataCache.… #696
• Migrate test runner from ts-jest to Vitest by @allenhutchison in Migrate test runner from ts-jest to Vitest #699
• test: migrate scheduled-task-manager tests from jest to vitest by @allenhutchison in test: migrate scheduled-task-manager tests from jest to vitest #702
• feat: add Ollama provider for local-model support by @allenhutchison in feat: add Ollama provider for local-model support #694
• feat: missed-run catch-up on startup (Unified Gemini activity modal: tabs for Background Tasks + RAG status #656) by @saheersk in feat: missed-run catch-up on startup (#656) #700
• feat: scheduler management UI — create, edit, delete, toggle tasks (… by @saheersk in feat: scheduler management UI — create, edit, delete, toggle tasks (… #701
• docs: audit-docs sweep — fix drift across user-facing docs by @allenhutchison in docs: audit-docs sweep — fix drift across user-facing docs #721
• feat(skills): daily-update orchestrator + per-day housekeeping skills by @allenhutchison in feat(skills): daily-update orchestrator + per-day housekeeping skills #720
• chore(daily): 2026-04-26 daily update by @allenhutchison in chore(daily): 2026-04-26 daily update #722
• chore(daily): 2026-04-27 daily update by @allenhutchison in chore(daily): 2026-04-27 daily update #726
• chore(daily): 2026-04-29 daily update by @allenhutchison in chore(daily): 2026-04-29 daily update #729
• chore(daily): 2026-04-30 daily update by @allenhutchison in chore(daily): 2026-04-30 daily update #732
• chore(daily): 2026-05-01 daily update by @allenhutchison in chore(daily): 2026-05-01 daily update #733
• chore(daily): 2026-05-02 daily update by @allenhutchison in chore(daily): 2026-05-02 daily update #734
• fix: open CatchUpModal directly on mobile when catch-up is pending by @saheersk in fix: open CatchUpModal directly on mobile when catch-up is pending #723
• chore: clean up lifecycle-service nits from PR fix: open CatchUpModal directly on mobile when catch-up is pending #723 review by @allenhutchison in chore: clean up lifecycle-service nits from PR #723 review #735
• chore(deps-dev): bump the dev-dependencies group with 2 updates by @dependabot[bot] in chore(deps-dev): bump the dev-dependencies group with 2 updates #736
• feat: consolidate background outputs into [state-folder]/Background-T… by @saheersk in feat: consolidate background outputs into [state-folder]/Background-T… #724
• chore: follow-up cleanups from PR feat: consolidate background outputs into [state-folder]/Background-T… #724 review by @allenhutchison in chore: follow-up cleanups from PR #724 review #737
• fix(scheduled-tasks): include skills in default tool allowlist by @allenhutchison in fix(scheduled-tasks): include skills in default tool allowlist #738
• feat(image-gen): route command-palette Generate Image through background tasks by @allenhutchison in feat(image-gen): route command-palette Generate Image through background tasks #739
• chore(daily): 2026-05-03 daily update by @allenhutchison in chore(daily): 2026-05-03 daily update #740
• feat(scheduled-tasks): add time-of-day and day-of-week schedule formats by @allenhutchison in feat(scheduled-tasks): add time-of-day and day-of-week schedule formats #741
• feat(skills): add plugin-test skill and refresh obsidian-cli skill by @allenhutchison in feat(skills): add plugin-test skill and refresh obsidian-cli skill #742
• fix: settings render race + ai-writing doc-label drift by @allenhutchison in fix: settings render race + ai-writing doc-label drift #743
• chore(deps): bump @allenhutchison/gemini-utils to 0.6.0 by @allenhutchison in chore(deps): bump @allenhutchison/gemini-utils to 0.6.0 #744
• chore(daily): 2026-05-04 daily update by @allenhutchison in chore(daily): 2026-05-04 daily update #746
• fix: post-test housekeeping (orphan state, BG tab default, doc nit) by @allenhutchison in fix: post-test housekeeping (orphan state, BG tab default, doc nit) #751

New Contributors

• @github-actions[bot] made their first contribution in chore: Update available Gemini models #609
• @JayadityaGit made their first contribution in fix: correct Agent Mode documentation link path #639
• @saheersk made their first contribution in Feat/background task infrastructure #637

Full Changelog: 4.7.0...4.8.0