Use Claude CLI --debug-file flag for native log capture

[Copilot]

Claude Code CLI 2.1.20+ provides --debug-file for native debug log writing. This replaces shell redirection for cleaner, more reliable log capture.

Changes

• Claude Engine: Replace --debug + shell redirection with --debug-file /tmp/gh-aw/agent-stdio.log

  • Removed: 2>&1 | tee /tmp/gh-aw/agent-stdio.log
  • Added: --debug-file /tmp/gh-aw/agent-stdio.log
  • Applies to both AWF-wrapped and direct execution paths

• Test Updates: Modified TestClaudeExecutionLogCapture to expect --debug-file instead of tee redirection

Before/After

Before:

claude --debug --verbose ... "$(cat prompt.txt)" 2>&1 | tee /tmp/gh-aw/agent-stdio.log

After:

claude --debug-file /tmp/gh-aw/agent-stdio.log --verbose ... "$(cat prompt.txt)"

The --debug-file flag implicitly enables debug mode and handles file writing internally, eliminating pipe complexity while preserving stdout for JSON output monitoring.

Original prompt

Review Claude code latest flags, specially the --debug-file flag to be able to render the logs automatically .

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Changeset

• Type: patch
• Description: Switch Claude CLI log capture to use --debug-file /tmp/gh-aw/agent-stdio.log instead of shell redirection.

Ahoy! This treasure was crafted by 🏴‍☠️ Changeset Generator

[github-actions]

✨ The prophecy is fulfilled... Smoke Codex has completed its mystical journey. The stars align. 🌟

[github-actions]

📰 BREAKING: Smoke Copilot is now investigating this pull request. Sources say the story is developing...

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🎉 Yo ho ho! Changeset Generator found the treasure and completed successfully! ⚓💰

[github-actions]

🎬 THE END — Smoke Claude MISSION: ACCOMPLISHED! The hero saves the day! ✨

[github-actions]

Smoke tests:
✅ GitHub MCP review (last 2 merged PRs)
✅ safeinputs-gh PR list
✅ Serena activate_project
✅ Playwright github.com title
✅ Tavily search
✅ File write/read
✅ Discussion query + comment
Overall: PASS

AI generated by Smoke Codex

[github-actions]

Smoke Test Results - Copilot Engine

Status: ✅ PASS

Test	Result
GitHub MCP	✅
Safe Inputs GH CLI	✅
Serena MCP	✅
Playwright	✅
File Writing	✅
Bash Tool	✅
Discussion Interaction	✅

Run: §21415766752

cc @pelikhan @Copilot

AI generated by Smoke Copilot

[github-actions]

📰 VERDICT: Smoke Copilot has concluded. All systems operational. This is a developing story. 🎤

[github-actions]

Smoke Test Results

Last 2 Merged PRs:

• chore: rm legacy campaign files #12115: "chore: rm legacy campaign files"
• Migrate deprecated timeout constants to time.Duration types #12092: "Migrate deprecated timeout constants to time.Duration types"

Test	Result
GitHub MCP	✅
Safe Inputs GH CLI	✅
Serena MCP	✅
Make Build	✅
Playwright	✅
Tavily Web Search	✅
File Writing	✅
Bash Tool	✅
Discussion Interaction	✅

Overall Status: PASS

AI generated by Smoke Claude

[pelikhan]

@copilot ensure the new log file is parsed and included in this report. https://github.com/githubnext/gh-aw/actions/runs/21415766761/job/61663815195

[Copilot]

@copilot ensure the new log file is parsed and included in this report. https://github.com/githubnext/gh-aw/actions/runs/21415766761/job/61663815195

The log file is already configured correctly. Claude writes debug logs to /tmp/gh-aw/agent-stdio.log via the --debug-file flag, and the "Parse agent logs for step summary" step reads from the same file using GH_AW_AGENT_OUTPUT: /tmp/gh-aw/agent-stdio.log. The logs are parsed by parse_claude_log.cjs and included in the workflow step summary.