## What Was Broken (ROADMAP #130d, filed cycle #52)
`claw config --help` was silently ignored — the command executed and
displayed the config dump instead of showing help:
$ claw config --help
Config
Working directory /private/tmp/dogfood-probe-47
Loaded files 0
Merged keys 0
(displays full config, not help)
Expected: help for the config command. Actual: silent acceptance of
`--help`, runs config display anyway.
This is the opposite outlier from #130c (which rejected help with an
error). Together they form the help-parity anomaly:
- #130c `diff --help` → error (rejects help)
- #130d `config --help` → silent ignore (runs command, ignores help)
- Others (status, mcp, export) → proper help
- Expected behavior: all commands should show help on `--help`
## Root Cause (Traced)
At main.rs:1050, the `"config"` parser arm parsed arguments positionally:
"config" => {
let tail = &rest[1..];
let section = tail.first().cloned();
// ... ignores unrecognized args like --help silently
Ok(CliAction::Config { section, ... })
}
Unlike the `diff` arm (#130c), `config` had no explicit check for
extra args. It positionally parsed the first arg as an optional
`section` and silently accepted/ignored any trailing arg, including
`--help`.
## What This Fix Does
Same pattern as #130c (help-surface parity):
1. **LocalHelpTopic enum extended** with new `Config` variant
2. **parse_local_help_action() extended** to map `"config"` → `LocalHelpTopic::Config`
3. **config arm guard added**: check for help flag before parsing section
4. **Help topic renderer added**: human-readable help text for config
Fix locus at main.rs:1050:
"config" => {
// #130d: accept --help / -h and route to help topic
if rest.len() >= 2 && is_help_flag(&rest[1]) {
return Ok(CliAction::HelpTopic(LocalHelpTopic::Config));
}
let tail = &rest[1..];
// ... existing parsing continues
}
## Dogfood Verification
Before fix:
$ claw config --help
Config
Working directory ...
Loaded files 0
(no help, runs config)
After fix:
$ claw config --help
Config
Usage claw config [--cwd <path>] [--output-format <format>]
Purpose merge and display the resolved configuration
Options --cwd overrides the workspace directory
Output loaded files and merged key-value pairs
Formats text (default), json
Related claw status · claw doctor · claw init
Short form `claw config -h` also works.
## Non-Regression Verification
- `claw config` (no args) → still displays config dump ✅
- `claw config permissions` (section arg) → still works ✅
- All 180 binary tests pass ✅
- All 466 library tests pass ✅
## Regression Tests Added (4 assertions)
- `config --help` → routes to `HelpTopic(LocalHelpTopic::Config)`
- `config -h` (short form) → routes to help topic
- bare `config` (no args) → still routes to `Config` action
- `config permissions` (with section) → still works correctly
## Pattern Note
#130c and #130d form a pair: two outlier failure modes in help
handling for local introspection commands:
- #130c `diff` rejected help (loud error) → fixed with guard + routing
- #130d `config` silently ignored help (silent accept) → fixed with same pattern
Both are now consistent with the rest of the CLI (status, mcp, export, etc.).
## Related
- Closes #130d (config help discoverability gap)
- Completes help-parity family (#130c, #130d)
- Stacks on #130c (diff help fix) on same worktree branch
- Part of help-consistency thread (#141 audit)
c1652d3317