improvement(search): name Slack authors, read only when needed, and list by date without a bound

apps/sim/lib/api/contracts/knowledge/search.test.ts

@@ -50,4 +50,15 @@ describe('workspaceKnowledgeSearchBodySchema', () => {
     )
     expect(workspaceKnowledgeSearchBodySchema.safeParse(body).success).toBe(false)
   })
+  it('accepts a newest- or oldest-first listing without terms, as the Assistant contract does', () => {
+    const body = { workspaceId: 'workspace-1', query: '' }
+    for (const sortBy of ['newest', 'oldest'] as const)
+      expect(
+        workspaceKnowledgeSearchBodySchema.safeParse({ ...body, filters: { sortBy } }).success
+      ).toBe(true)
+    expect(
+      workspaceKnowledgeSearchBodySchema.safeParse({ ...body, filters: { sortBy: 'relevance' } })
+        .success
+    ).toBe(false)
+  })
 })

apps/sim/lib/api/contracts/knowledge/search.ts

@@ -195,19 +195,21 @@ export const workspaceKnowledgeSearchBodySchema = resourceOwnerSchema
     nativeQueries: nativeSearchQueriesSchema.optional(),
   })
   .superRefine((body, ctx) => {
-    const { modifiedAfter, modifiedBefore, startDate, endDate } = body.filters ?? {}
+    const { modifiedAfter, modifiedBefore, startDate, endDate, sortBy } = body.filters ?? {}
     if (
       !body.query &&
       !body.nativeQueries?.some((query) => query.query) &&
       !startDate &&
       !endDate &&
       !modifiedAfter &&
-      !modifiedBefore
+      !modifiedBefore &&
+      sortBy !== 'newest' &&
+      sortBy !== 'oldest'
     )
       ctx.addIssue({
         code: 'custom',
         path: ['query'],
-        message: 'A search query, native query, or date bound is required',
+        message: 'A search query, native query, date bound, or newest or oldest sort is required',
       })
     if (startDate && endDate && Date.parse(endDate) <= Date.parse(startDate))
       ctx.addIssue({

apps/sim/lib/api/contracts/mothership-assistant-tools.ts

@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ export const workspaceSearchFiltersSchema = z.object({
     .enum(['relevance', 'newest', 'oldest'])
     .optional()
     .describe(
-      'Live search ordering by relevance or the provider date used by startDate/endDate. Date sorting covers retrieved results; inspect partial coverage before claiming latest or earliest overall.'
+      'Live search ordering by relevance or the provider date used by startDate/endDate. Date sorting covers retrieved results; inspect partial coverage before claiming latest or earliest overall. Without search terms or dates, newest or oldest lists items up to now.'
     ),
   source: z
     .string()
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ export const searchWorkspaceInputSchema = workspaceSearchFiltersSchema
       .max(2000)
       .default('')
       .describe(
-        'Search terms, without dates already supplied as filters. May be empty for a live date-bounded listing.'
+        'Search terms, without dates already supplied as filters. May be empty for a live listing with a date bound or sortBy newest or oldest.'
       ),
     topK: z
       .number()
@@ -182,18 +182,19 @@ export const searchWorkspaceInputSchema = workspaceSearchFiltersSchema
       ),
   })
   .superRefine((input, context) => {
-    if (
-      !input.query &&
-      !input.nativeQueries?.some((query) => query.query) &&
-      !input.startDate &&
-      !input.endDate &&
-      !input.modifiedAfter &&
-      !input.modifiedBefore
+    const bounded = Boolean(
+      input.startDate ||
+        input.endDate ||
+        input.modifiedAfter ||
+        input.modifiedBefore ||
+        input.sortBy === 'newest' ||
+        input.sortBy === 'oldest'
     )
+    if (!input.query && !input.nativeQueries?.some((query) => query.query) && !bounded)
       context.addIssue({
         code: 'custom',
         path: ['query'],
-        message: 'Supply search terms, a native query, or a date bound.',
+        message: 'Supply search terms, a native query, a date bound, or sortBy newest or oldest.',
       })
     if (
       input.startDate &&
@@ -205,17 +206,11 @@ export const searchWorkspaceInputSchema = workspaceSearchFiltersSchema
         path: ['endDate'],
         message: 'endDate must be after startDate.',
       })
-    if (
-      input.nativeQueries?.some((query) => !query.query) &&
-      !input.startDate &&
-      !input.endDate &&
-      !input.modifiedAfter &&
-      !input.modifiedBefore
-    )
+    if (input.nativeQueries?.some((query) => !query.query) && !bounded)
       context.addIssue({
         code: 'custom',
         path: ['nativeQueries'],
-        message: 'Empty native queries require a date bound.',
+        message: 'Empty native queries require a date bound or sortBy newest or oldest.',
       })
   })
 

apps/sim/lib/mothership/generated/sim-assistant-tools.generated.ts

@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ export const workspaceSearchFiltersSchema = z.object({
     .enum(['relevance', 'newest', 'oldest'])
     .optional()
     .describe(
-      'Live search ordering by relevance or the provider date used by startDate/endDate. Date sorting covers retrieved results; inspect partial coverage before claiming latest or earliest overall.'
+      'Live search ordering by relevance or the provider date used by startDate/endDate. Date sorting covers retrieved results; inspect partial coverage before claiming latest or earliest overall. Without search terms or dates, newest or oldest lists items up to now.'
     ),
   source: z
     .string()
@@ -181,7 +181,7 @@ export const searchWorkspaceInputSchema = workspaceSearchFiltersSchema
       .max(2000)
       .default('')
       .describe(
-        'Search terms, without dates already supplied as filters. May be empty for a live date-bounded listing.'
+        'Search terms, without dates already supplied as filters. May be empty for a live listing with a date bound or sortBy newest or oldest.'
       ),
     topK: z
       .number()
@@ -194,18 +194,19 @@ export const searchWorkspaceInputSchema = workspaceSearchFiltersSchema
       ),
   })
   .superRefine((input, context) => {
-    if (
-      !input.query &&
-      !input.nativeQueries?.some((query) => query.query) &&
-      !input.startDate &&
-      !input.endDate &&
-      !input.modifiedAfter &&
-      !input.modifiedBefore
+    const bounded = Boolean(
+      input.startDate ||
+        input.endDate ||
+        input.modifiedAfter ||
+        input.modifiedBefore ||
+        input.sortBy === 'newest' ||
+        input.sortBy === 'oldest'
     )
+    if (!input.query && !input.nativeQueries?.some((query) => query.query) && !bounded)
       context.addIssue({
         code: 'custom',
         path: ['query'],
-        message: 'Supply search terms, a native query, or a date bound.',
+        message: 'Supply search terms, a native query, a date bound, or sortBy newest or oldest.',
       })
     if (
       input.startDate &&
@@ -217,17 +218,11 @@ export const searchWorkspaceInputSchema = workspaceSearchFiltersSchema
         path: ['endDate'],
         message: 'endDate must be after startDate.',
       })
-    if (
-      input.nativeQueries?.some((query) => !query.query) &&
-      !input.startDate &&
-      !input.endDate &&
-      !input.modifiedAfter &&
-      !input.modifiedBefore
-    )
+    if (input.nativeQueries?.some((query) => !query.query) && !bounded)
       context.addIssue({
         code: 'custom',
         path: ['nativeQueries'],
-        message: 'Empty native queries require a date bound.',
+        message: 'Empty native queries require a date bound or sortBy newest or oldest.',
       })
   })
 

apps/sim/lib/mothership/generated/tool-catalog-v1.ts

@@ -6021,7 +6021,7 @@ export const SearchWorkspace: ToolCatalogEntry = {
       },
       sortBy: {
         description:
-          'Live search ordering by relevance or the provider date used by startDate/endDate. Date sorting covers retrieved results; inspect partial coverage before claiming latest or earliest overall.',
+          'Live search ordering by relevance or the provider date used by startDate/endDate. Date sorting covers retrieved results; inspect partial coverage before claiming latest or earliest overall. Without search terms or dates, newest or oldest lists items up to now.',
         type: 'string',
         enum: ['relevance', 'newest', 'oldest'],
       },
@@ -6095,7 +6095,7 @@ export const SearchWorkspace: ToolCatalogEntry = {
       query: {
         default: '',
         description:
-          'Search terms, without dates already supplied as filters. May be empty for a live date-bounded listing.',
+          'Search terms, without dates already supplied as filters. May be empty for a live listing with a date bound or sortBy newest or oldest.',
         type: 'string',
         maxLength: 2000,
       },

apps/sim/lib/mothership/generated/tool-schemas-v1.ts

@@ -5948,7 +5948,7 @@ export const TOOL_RUNTIME_SCHEMAS: Record<string, ToolRuntimeSchemaEntry> = {
         },
         sortBy: {
           description:
-            'Live search ordering by relevance or the provider date used by startDate/endDate. Date sorting covers retrieved results; inspect partial coverage before claiming latest or earliest overall.',
+            'Live search ordering by relevance or the provider date used by startDate/endDate. Date sorting covers retrieved results; inspect partial coverage before claiming latest or earliest overall. Without search terms or dates, newest or oldest lists items up to now.',
           type: 'string',
           enum: ['relevance', 'newest', 'oldest'],
         },
@@ -6052,7 +6052,7 @@ export const TOOL_RUNTIME_SCHEMAS: Record<string, ToolRuntimeSchemaEntry> = {
         query: {
           default: '',
           description:
-            'Search terms, without dates already supplied as filters. May be empty for a live date-bounded listing.',
+            'Search terms, without dates already supplied as filters. May be empty for a live listing with a date bound or sortBy newest or oldest.',
           type: 'string',
           maxLength: 2000,
         },

apps/sim/lib/mothership/tools/server/knowledge/workspace-search.ts

@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ export const searchWorkspaceServerTool: BaseServerTool = {
                   })
             return {
               success: true,
-              message: `Found ${data.results.length} live results. Read documentIds for more content. ${CITATION_INSTRUCTION}`,
+              message: `Found ${data.results.length} live results. Read a documentId when its passage does not answer the question or more context is needed. ${CITATION_INSTRUCTION}`,
               data: {
                 ...data,
                 results: data.results.map((item) => ({

apps/sim/lib/sim-search/live/application.test.ts

@@ -255,6 +255,36 @@ describe('authorized live retrieval', () => {
     })
     expect(result.retrieval.status).toBe('partial')
   })
+  it('lists newest first up to now when no terms or dates are given, and only then', async () => {
+    vi.useFakeTimers({ now: new Date('2026-09-25T02:00:00Z'), toFake: ['Date'] })
+    try {
+      await searchLiveKnowledge.execute({
+        principal,
+        input: { ...input, query: '', filters: { sortBy: 'newest' } },
+      })
+      expect(mocks.search).toHaveBeenLastCalledWith(
+        'google_drive',
+        expect.anything(),
+        expect.objectContaining({
+          filters: { sortBy: 'newest', endDate: '2026-09-25T02:00:00.000Z' },
+        })
+      )
+      await searchLiveKnowledge.execute({
+        principal,
+        input: { ...input, filters: { sortBy: 'newest' } },
+      })
+      expect(mocks.search).toHaveBeenLastCalledWith(
+        'google_drive',
+        expect.anything(),
+        expect.objectContaining({ filters: { sortBy: 'newest' } })
+      )
+      await expect(
+        searchLiveKnowledge.execute({ principal, input: { ...input, query: '' } })
+      ).rejects.toThrow('Invalid live search query')
+    } finally {
+      vi.useRealTimers()
+    }
+  })
   it('reports candidates that could not be verified and keeps the verified ones', async () => {
     mocks.search.mockResolvedValue({
       documents: [document, { ...document, id: 'other', url: 'https://docs.google.com/other' }],

apps/sim/lib/sim-search/live/application.ts

@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ import {
   matchesSourceDates,
   sourceDate,
   sourceDateType,
+  withImpliedListingBound,
 } from '@/lib/sim-search/live/dates'
 import { NativeSearchError } from '@/lib/sim-search/live/http'
 import { joinMessages } from '@/lib/sim-search/live/pages'
@@ -293,6 +294,11 @@ export const searchLiveKnowledge = defineAuthorizedKnowledgeUseCase({
     const queries = input.nativeQueries
       ? nativeSearchQueriesSchema.parse(input.nativeQueries)
       : undefined
+    if (
+      (!input.query.trim() && !queries?.some((query) => query.query)) ||
+      queries?.some((query) => !query.query)
+    )
+      input = { ...input, filters: withImpliedListingBound(input.filters, new Date()) }
     if (
       (!input.query.trim() &&
         !hasDateBounds(input.filters) &&

apps/sim/lib/sim-search/live/dates.test.ts

@@ -4,7 +4,12 @@ import { searchWorkspaceInputSchema } from '@/lib/api/contracts/mothership-assis
 import { intersectWorkspaceSearchFilters } from '@/lib/knowledge/search/filters'
 import { searchAtlassian } from '@/lib/sim-search/live/atlassian'
 import { searchCoda } from '@/lib/sim-search/live/coda'
-import { matchesSourceDates, sourceDate, sourceDateType } from '@/lib/sim-search/live/dates'
+import {
+  matchesSourceDates,
+  sourceDate,
+  sourceDateType,
+  withImpliedListingBound,
+} from '@/lib/sim-search/live/dates'
 import { searchGitHub } from '@/lib/sim-search/live/github'
 import { searchGitLab } from '@/lib/sim-search/live/gitlab'
 import { searchCalendar, searchDrive, searchGmail } from '@/lib/sim-search/live/google'
@@ -29,6 +34,28 @@ const doc: NativeDocument = {
 }
 
 describe('generic live search dates', () => {
+  it('lists newest or oldest first up to now when no terms or dates are given', () => {
+    const now = new Date('2026-09-25T02:00:00Z')
+    for (const sortBy of ['newest', 'oldest'] as const) {
+      expect(searchWorkspaceInputSchema.safeParse({ sortBy }).success).toBe(true)
+      expect(
+        searchWorkspaceInputSchema.safeParse({
+          sortBy,
+          nativeQueries: [{ provider: 'slack', query: '', modifiers: 'in:<#D1>' }],
+        }).success
+      ).toBe(true)
+      expect(withImpliedListingBound({ sortBy }, now)).toEqual({
+        sortBy,
+        endDate: '2026-09-25T02:00:00.000Z',
+      })
+    }
+    expect(searchWorkspaceInputSchema.safeParse({ sortBy: 'relevance' }).success).toBe(false)
+    expect(withImpliedListingBound({ sortBy: 'relevance' }, now)).toEqual({ sortBy: 'relevance' })
+    expect(withImpliedListingBound(undefined, now)).toBeUndefined()
+    expect(
+      withImpliedListingBound({ sortBy: 'newest', startDate: filters.startDate }, now)
+    ).toEqual({ sortBy: 'newest', startDate: filters.startDate })
+  })
   it('accepts a date-only request and rejects invalid or unbounded listings', () => {
     expect(searchWorkspaceInputSchema.parse(filters)).toMatchObject({
       ...filters,
@@ -38,7 +65,7 @@ describe('generic live search dates', () => {
     for (const value of [
       {},
       { query: '' },
-      { sortBy: 'oldest' },
+      { sortBy: 'relevance' },
       { startDate: 'today' },
       { ...filters, endDate: filters.startDate },
       { ...filters, endDate: '2026-09-21T00:00:00Z' },

apps/sim/lib/sim-search/live/dates.ts

@@ -30,6 +30,19 @@ export function dateSortDirection(filters?: WorkspaceSearchFilters): 'asc' | 'de
   return filters.sortBy === 'oldest' ? 'asc' : 'desc'
 }
 
+/**
+ * A newest- or oldest-first listing without terms or dates lists items up to now, the default
+ * Slack's conversations.history applies to an omitted `latest`. Providers need a bound to list
+ * without search terms, so the implied one is made explicit and checked like any other.
+ */
+export function withImpliedListingBound(
+  filters: WorkspaceSearchFilters | undefined,
+  now: Date
+): WorkspaceSearchFilters | undefined {
+  if (!dateSortDirection(filters) || hasDateBounds(filters)) return filters
+  return { ...filters, endDate: now.toISOString() }
+}
+
 /** Native bounds may be widened for provider precision; returned metadata is checked exactly. */
 export function nativeDateBounds(input: NativeSearchInput): { start?: string; end?: string } {
   const filters = input.filters

apps/sim/lib/sim-search/live/providers.test.ts

@@ -567,14 +567,16 @@ describe('native search endpoints', () => {
         has_more: true,
       })
       .mockResolvedValueOnce({ ok: true, permalink: 'https://team.slack.com/archives/C1/p123456' })
+      .mockResolvedValueOnce({ ok: true, user: { profile: { display_name: 'Sid' } } })
     const result = await readSlack(api, '123.456', 'C1')
     expect(api.json.mock.calls[0]).toEqual([
       '/api/conversations.replies',
       { query: { channel: 'C1', ts: '123.456', limit: '100' } },
     ])
-    expect(result.content).toContain('Reply evidence')
+    expect(api.json.mock.calls[2]).toEqual(['/api/users.info', { query: { user: 'U1' } }])
+    expect(result.content).toContain('Sid: Reply evidence')
     expect(result.content).toContain('Thread continues')
-    expect(api.json).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2)
+    expect(api.json).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(3)
   })
   it('applies Slack modifiers and date bounds without requiring term clauses', async () => {
     const api = client()