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Cue is configured via a .maestro/cue.yaml file placed inside the .maestro/ directory at your project root. The engine watches this file for changes and hot-reloads automatically.

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File Location

your-project/
├── .maestro/
│   └── cue.yaml        # Cue configuration
├── src/
├── package.json
└── ...
Maestro discovers this file automatically when the Cue Encore Feature is enabled. Each agent that has a .maestro/cue.yaml in its project root gets its own independent Cue engine instance.

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Full Schema

# Pipeline comment — groups subscriptions into a named pipeline in the UI
# Pipeline: My Pipeline (color: #06b6d4)

# Subscriptions define trigger-prompt pairings
subscriptions:
  - name: string # Required. Unique identifier for this subscription
    event: string # Required. Event type (see Event Types)
    enabled: boolean # Optional. Default: true
    prompt: string # Required (or use prompt_file). Inline prompt text
    prompt_file: string # Required (or use prompt). Path to a .md file
    output_prompt: string # Optional. Follow-up prompt sent after the main run completes
    output_prompt_file: string # Optional. Path to a .md file for the output prompt
    label: string # Optional. Human-readable label displayed in the Cue dashboard
    agent_id: string # Optional. UUID of the target agent

    # Event-specific fields
    interval_minutes: number # Required for time.heartbeat
    schedule_times: list # Required for time.scheduled (HH:MM strings)
    schedule_days: list # Optional for time.scheduled (mon, tue, wed, thu, fri, sat, sun)
    watch: string # Required for file.changed, task.pending (glob pattern)
    source_session: string | list # Required for agent.completed
    fan_out: list # Optional. Target session names for fan-out
    filter: object # Optional. Payload field conditions
    repo: string # Optional for github.* (auto-detected if omitted)
    poll_minutes: number # Optional for github.*, task.pending

# Global settings (all optional — sensible defaults applied)
settings:
  timeout_minutes: number # Default: 30. Max run duration before timeout
  timeout_on_fail: string # Default: 'break'. What to do on timeout: 'break' or 'continue'
  max_concurrent: number # Default: 1. Simultaneous runs (1-10)
  queue_size: number # Default: 10. Max queued events (0-50)

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Subscriptions

Each subscription is a trigger-prompt pairing. When the trigger fires, Cue sends the prompt to the agent.

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Required Fields

FieldTypeDescription
namestringUnique identifier. Used in logs, history, and as a reference in chains
eventstringOne of the eight event types
promptstringThe prompt to send as inline text. Required unless prompt_file is specified
Either prompt or prompt_file must be provided. If both are present, prompt_file takes precedence.

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Optional Fields

FieldTypeDefaultDescription
enabledbooleantrueSet to false to pause a subscription without removing it
agent_idstring (UUID)—UUID of the target agent. Auto-assigned by the Pipeline Editor
prompt_filestring—Path to a .md file containing the prompt (alternative to inline prompt)
interval_minutesnumber—Timer interval. Required for time.heartbeat
schedule_timeslist of strings—Times in HH:MM format. Required for time.scheduled
schedule_dayslist of strings—Days of week (mon–sun). Optional for time.scheduled
watchstring (glob)—File glob pattern. Required for file.changed, task.pending
source_sessionstring or list—Source agent name(s). Required for agent.completed
fan_outlist of strings—Target agent names to fan out to
filterobject—Payload conditions (see Filtering)
repostring—GitHub repo (owner/repo). Auto-detected from git remote
poll_minutesnumbervariesPoll interval for github.* (default 5) and task.pending (default 1)
output_promptstring—Follow-up prompt sent after the main run completes successfully
output_prompt_filestring—Path to a .md file for the output prompt (alternative to inline)
labelstring—Human-readable label displayed in the Cue dashboard and pipeline editor

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Prompt Field

Prompts can be provided inline or via a separate file. Inline prompt: 
prompt: |
  Please lint the file {{CUE_FILE_PATH}} and fix any errors.
File reference (using prompt_file): 
prompt_file: .maestro/prompts/my-prompt.md
File paths are resolved relative to the project root. Prompt files support the same {{VARIABLE}} template syntax as inline prompts. Using prompt_file keeps your cue.yaml clean when prompts are long or complex — the Pipeline Editor uses this approach by default, storing prompt files in .maestro/prompts/.

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Output Prompt (Two-Phase Runs)

The output_prompt field enables a two-phase execution pattern. When the main prompt completes successfully, Cue automatically sends the output_prompt as a follow-up — with the first run’s output included as context. This is useful for workflows where one phase generates data and a second phase acts on it: 
subscriptions:
  - name: test-and-report
    event: time.heartbeat
    interval_minutes: 60
    prompt: |
      Run the full test suite with `npm test` and capture the results.
    output_prompt: |
      Based on the test results above, generate a summary report.
      Include pass/fail counts and highlight any regressions.
You can also use output_prompt_file to reference a .md file instead of inline text: 
subscriptions:
  - name: analyze-and-summarize
    event: file.changed
    watch: 'src/**/*.ts'
    prompt: Analyze {{CUE_FILE_PATH}} for code quality issues.
    output_prompt_file: prompts/summarize-analysis.md
The output prompt only fires when the main run completes successfully. If the main run times out or fails, the output phase is skipped.

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Pipelines

A pipeline groups multiple subscriptions under a single name in the Pipeline Editor. This is useful when you have related automations (e.g., a daily scan and a weekly review) that logically belong together. Defining a pipeline: Add a pipeline comment at the top of your cue.yaml, then use a naming convention to group subscriptions: 
# Pipeline: My Pipeline (color: #06b6d4)

subscriptions:
  - name: My Pipeline
    event: time.scheduled
    schedule_times:
      - '09:00'
    prompt_file: .maestro/prompts/my-pipeline-daily.md

  - name: My Pipeline-chain-1
    event: time.scheduled
    schedule_times:
      - '17:00'
    prompt_file: .maestro/prompts/my-pipeline-eod.md
How it works:
  1. The # Pipeline: Name (color: hex) comment declares the pipeline name and its color in the UI
  2. The first subscription’s name matches the pipeline name exactly
  3. Additional subscriptions in the same pipeline use the convention Name-chain-N (e.g., My Pipeline-chain-1, My Pipeline-chain-2)
  4. All subscriptions with matching names appear as separate trigger lines within a single pipeline in the Pipeline Editor
Notes:
  • The color in the comment sets the pipeline’s dot color in the UI (any valid hex color)
  • Each subscription in a pipeline can have its own event type, schedule, and prompt — they don’t need to share configuration
  • Use the label field to give each line a descriptive name (e.g., “Daily Analysis”, “Weekly Review”)
  • The Pipeline Editor creates this structure automatically when you use the visual editor

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Labels

The label field provides a human-readable name displayed in the Cue dashboard and pipeline editor. When subscriptions are grouped into a pipeline, the label distinguishes each line within the pipeline. 
subscriptions:
  - name: pr-review
    label: 'PR Review Bot'
    event: github.pull_request
    prompt: Review the PR at {{CUE_GH_URL}}.

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Disabling Subscriptions

Set enabled: false to pause a subscription without deleting it: 
subscriptions:
  - name: nightly-report
    event: time.heartbeat
    interval_minutes: 1440
    enabled: false # Paused — won't fire until re-enabled
    prompt: Generate a daily summary report.

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Settings

The optional settings block configures global engine behavior. All fields have sensible defaults — you only need to include settings you want to override.

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timeout_minutes

Default: 30 | Type: positive number Maximum duration (in minutes) for a single Cue-triggered run. If an agent takes longer than this, the run is terminated. 
settings:
  timeout_minutes: 60 # Allow up to 1 hour per run

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timeout_on_fail

Default: 'break' | Type: 'break' or 'continue' What happens when a run times out:
  • break — Stop the run and mark it as failed. No further processing for this event.
  • continue — Stop the run but allow downstream subscriptions (in fan-in chains) to proceed with partial data.
settings:
  timeout_on_fail: continue # Don't block the pipeline on slow agents

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max_concurrent

Default: 1 | Type: integer, 1–10 Maximum number of Cue-triggered runs that can execute simultaneously for this agent. Additional events are queued. 
settings:
  max_concurrent: 3 # Allow up to 3 parallel runs

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queue_size

Default: 10 | Type: integer, 0–50 Maximum number of events that can be queued when all concurrent slots are occupied. Events beyond this limit are dropped. Set to 0 to disable queueing — events that can’t run immediately are discarded. 
settings:
  queue_size: 20 # Buffer up to 20 events

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Validation

The engine validates your YAML on every load. Common validation errors:
ErrorFix
"name" is requiredEvery subscription needs a unique name field
"event" is requiredSpecify one of the eight event types
"prompt" is requiredProvide inline text or a file path
"interval_minutes" is requiredtime.heartbeat events must specify a positive interval
"schedule_times" is requiredtime.scheduled events must have at least one HH:MM time
"watch" is requiredfile.changed and task.pending events need a glob pattern
"source_session" is requiredagent.completed events need the name of the source agent
"max_concurrent" must be between 1-10Keep concurrent runs within the allowed range
"queue_size" must be between 0-50Keep queue size within the allowed range
filter key must be string/number/boolFilter values only accept primitive types
The inline YAML editor in the Cue Modal shows validation errors in real-time as you type. A green Valid YAML indicator at the bottom confirms your config parses correctly. Cue YAML Editor

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Complete Example

A realistic configuration demonstrating a pipeline with multiple trigger lines, mixed event types, and external prompt files: 
# Pipeline: DevOps (color: #10b981)

subscriptions:
  # Lint TypeScript files on save
  - name: DevOps
    label: Lint on Save
    event: file.changed
    watch: 'src/**/*.ts'
    filter:
      extension: '.ts'
    prompt: |
      The file {{CUE_FILE_PATH}} was modified.
      Run `npx eslint {{CUE_FILE_PATH}} --fix` and report any remaining issues.

  # Morning standup on weekdays
  - name: DevOps-chain-1
    label: Morning Standup
    event: time.scheduled
    schedule_times:
      - '09:00'
    schedule_days:
      - mon
      - tue
      - wed
      - thu
      - fri
    prompt: |
      Generate a standup report from recent git activity.

  # Review new PRs automatically
  - name: DevOps-chain-2
    label: PR Review
    event: github.pull_request
    poll_minutes: 3
    filter:
      draft: false
    prompt: |
      A new PR needs review: {{CUE_GH_TITLE}} (#{{CUE_GH_NUMBER}})
      Author: {{CUE_GH_AUTHOR}}
      Branch: {{CUE_GH_BRANCH}} -> {{CUE_GH_BASE_BRANCH}}
      URL: {{CUE_GH_URL}}

      {{CUE_GH_BODY}}

      Please review this PR for code quality, potential bugs, and style issues.

  # Work on pending tasks from TODO.md
  - name: DevOps-chain-3
    label: Task Worker
    event: task.pending
    watch: 'TODO.md'
    poll_minutes: 5
    prompt: |
      There are {{CUE_TASK_COUNT}} pending tasks in {{CUE_TASK_FILE}}:

      {{CUE_TASK_LIST}}

      Pick the highest priority task and complete it.
      When done, check off the task in the file.

settings:
  timeout_minutes: 45
  max_concurrent: 2
  queue_size: 15
All four subscriptions appear as separate trigger lines within a single DevOps pipeline in the Pipeline Editor.