## What Was Broken (ROADMAP #130e, filed cycle #53)
Three subcommands leaked `missing_credentials` errors when called
with `--help`:
$ claw help --help
[error-kind: missing_credentials]
error: missing Anthropic credentials...
$ claw submit --help
[error-kind: missing_credentials]
error: missing Anthropic credentials...
$ claw resume --help
[error-kind: missing_credentials]
error: missing Anthropic credentials...
This is the same dispatch-order bug class as #251 (session verbs).
The parser fell through to the credential check before help-flag
resolution ran. Critical discoverability gap: users couldn't learn
what these commands do without valid credentials.
## Root Cause (Traced)
`parse_local_help_action()` (main.rs:1260) is called early in
`parse_args()` (main.rs:1002), BEFORE credential check. But the
match statement inside only recognized:
status, sandbox, doctor, acp, init, state, export, version,
system-prompt, dump-manifests, bootstrap-plan, diff, config.
`help`, `submit`, `resume` were NOT in the list, so the function
returned `None`, and parsing continued to credential check which
then failed.
## What This Fix Does
Same pattern as #130c (diff) and #130d (config):
1. **LocalHelpTopic enum extended** with Meta, Submit, Resume variants
2. **parse_local_help_action() extended** to map the three new cases
3. **Help topic renderers added** with accurate usage info
Three-line change to parse_local_help_action:
"help" => LocalHelpTopic::Meta,
"submit" => LocalHelpTopic::Submit,
"resume" => LocalHelpTopic::Resume,
Dispatch order (parse_args):
1. --resume parsing
2. parse_local_help_action() ← NOW catches help/submit/resume --help
3. parse_single_word_command_alias()
4. parse_subcommand() ← Credential check happens here
## Dogfood Verification
Before fix (all three):
$ claw help --help
[error-kind: missing_credentials]
error: missing Anthropic credentials...
After fix:
$ claw help --help
Help
Usage claw help [--output-format <format>]
Purpose show the full CLI help text (all subcommands, flags, environment)
...
$ claw submit --help
Submit
Usage claw submit [--session <id|latest>] <prompt-text>
Purpose send a prompt to an existing managed session
Requires valid Anthropic credentials (when actually submitting)
...
$ claw resume --help
Resume
Usage claw resume [<session-id|latest>]
Purpose restart an interactive REPL attached to a managed session
...
## Non-Regression Verification
- `claw help` (no --help) → still shows full CLI help ✅
- `claw submit "text"` (with prompt) → still requires credentials ✅
- `claw resume` (bare) → still emits slash command guidance ✅
- All 180 binary tests pass ✅
- All 466 library tests pass ✅
## Regression Tests Added (6 assertions)
- `help --help` → routes to HelpTopic(Meta)
- `submit --help` → routes to HelpTopic(Submit)
- `resume --help` → routes to HelpTopic(Resume)
- Short forms: `help -h`, `submit -h`, `resume -h` all work
## Pattern Note
This is Category A of #130e (dispatch-order bugs). Same class as #251.
Category B (surface-parity: plugins, prompt) will be handled in a
follow-up commit/branch.
## Help-Parity Sweep Status
After cycle #52 (#130c diff, #130d config), help sweep revealed:
| Command | Before | After This Commit |
|---|---|---|
| help --help | missing_credentials | ✅ Meta help |
| submit --help | missing_credentials | ✅ Submit help |
| resume --help | missing_credentials | ✅ Resume help |
| plugins --help | "Unknown action" | ⏳ #130e-B (next) |
| prompt --help | wrong help | ⏳ #130e-B (next) |
## Related
- Closes #130e Category A (dispatch-order help fixes)
- Same bug class as #251 (session verbs)
- Stacks on #130d (config help) on same worktree branch
- #130e Category B (plugins, prompt) queued for follow-up
0ca034472b