From 0afaf94ee9c7df646924cf8e6b9c771fbad5840e Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: CREDO23 <bakerathierry@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2026 21:41:27 +0200
Subject: [PATCH] references: pointer renderer

---
 .../runtime/references/reference_pointers.py  | 58 +++++++++++++++++++
 1 file changed, 58 insertions(+)
 create mode 100644 surfsense_backend/app/agents/chat/runtime/references/reference_pointers.py

diff --git a/surfsense_backend/app/agents/chat/runtime/references/reference_pointers.py b/surfsense_backend/app/agents/chat/runtime/references/reference_pointers.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..ce7966275
--- /dev/null
+++ b/surfsense_backend/app/agents/chat/runtime/references/reference_pointers.py
@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+"""Render resolved references into a ``<referenced_this_turn>`` pointer block.
+
+Pointers, not content: each line names what the user referenced and how to
+reach it (a path, a connector handle, a title) so the model knows what to
+retrieve from. Actual content is pulled later via tools, never injected here.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from .models import ReferenceKind, ResolvedReference
+
+_HEADER = (
+    "The user pointed at these with @ this turn. They are scope, not content "
+    "— when the question is about them, retrieve from them before answering."
+)
+
+
+def render_reference_pointers(references: list[ResolvedReference]) -> str | None:
+    """Render references as one read-only pointer block.
+
+    Returns ``None`` when there is nothing to render so callers can skip the
+    block entirely.
+    """
+    if not references:
+        return None
+
+    lines = [_render_pointer(reference) for reference in references]
+    return (
+        "<referenced_this_turn>\n"
+        f"{_HEADER}\n"
+        + "\n".join(lines)
+        + "\n</referenced_this_turn>"
+    )
+
+
+def _render_pointer(reference: ResolvedReference) -> str:
+    """One ``- {kind} {id} — {handle}`` line, shaped per kind."""
+    head = f"- {reference.kind.value} {reference.entity_id} — "
+    return head + _handle(reference)
+
+
+def _handle(reference: ResolvedReference) -> str:
+    """The human-reachable handle: connector provider, a path, or a title."""
+    label = _clean(reference.label)
+    if reference.kind is ReferenceKind.CONNECTOR:
+        provider = _clean(reference.provider) if reference.provider else ""
+        return f"{provider} ({label})" if provider else label
+    if reference.path:
+        return f'"{label}" ({reference.path})'
+    return f'"{label}"'
+
+
+def _clean(text: str) -> str:
+    """Collapse whitespace so a title can't break the one-line pointer."""
+    return " ".join(text.split())
+
+
+__all__ = ["render_reference_pointers"]