Scope: Bug directly in the Openclaw Code Mode implementation introduced by #80600 (the per-agent schema path was missed when codeMode was added at the top-level ToolsSchema). Surfaced while testing #80600 on 2026.5.16-beta.4.

Problem

docs/reference/code-mode.md (line 67) says:

Add tools.codeMode.enabled: true to the agent or runtime config

But the per-agent tools zod schema (AgentToolsSchema) is .strict() and doesn't include codeMode. Only the top-level ToolsSchema accepts it. Per-agent enablement isn't possible — the gateway rejects the config.

Change and value

Either add codeMode: CodeModeSchema.optional() to AgentToolsSchema, or correct the doc to say "runtime/top-level only".

Per-agent enablement is the more useful option — it allows testing code mode on a single agent without forcing fleet-wide behavior change during evaluation or gradual rollout.

Who's affected

Anyone reading the documented agent-level config and trying to apply it. Affects evaluation/testing workflows where mixing code-mode and non-code-mode agents in the same fleet is desirable.

Reproduction

Tested on Openclaw 2026.5.16-beta.4.

1. Add to openclaw.json:

   {
     "agents": {
       "list": [
         {
           "id": "test-agent",
           "tools": { "codeMode": { "enabled": true } }
         }
       ]
     }
   }

2. openclaw gateway restart

Expected

Gateway starts; code mode enabled for test-agent only.

Actual

Gateway rejects config validation:

agents.list.0.tools: Unrecognized key: "codeMode"
Run "openclaw doctor --fix" to repair, then retry.

Schema evidence

In dist/zod-schema.agent-runtime-CMJF3lIB.js:

• Line 471: const AgentToolsSchema = z.object({ ...CommonToolPolicyFields, elevated, exec, fs, loopDetection, message, sandbox }).strict() — no codeMode
• Line 662: const ToolsSchema = z.object({ ...CommonToolPolicyFields, ..., codeMode: CodeModeSchema, ... }) — codeMode present at top-level only

Suggested fix

Add codeMode: CodeModeSchema.optional() to AgentToolsSchema so the documented agent-level enablement works. If a per-agent override isn't intended, instead remove "agent or" from the docs.

Local workaround

Set tools.codeMode.enabled: true at the root of openclaw.json. This enables code mode for every agent in the fleet.