# Latest Features in Apache Maka: Runtime Revamp, Typed APIs, and CLI Tools

> Explore the latest Apache Maka features including a runtime revamp, typed APIs for `request()`, and new CLI tools. Upgrade your experience today.

- Repository: [The Apache Software Foundation/maka](https://github.com/apache/maka)
- Tags: getting-started
- Published: 2026-09-13

---

**Apache Maka (Incubating) versions 0.2.0 and 0.1.11 introduce a typed `request()` API, consolidated RuntimeKernel, SessionTodo work items, active tool-result pruning, and a new `/transcript` TUI command with full CLI packaging.**

Apache Maka is an incubating Apache project building a universal runtime for AI agents. The recent 0.2.0 (Unreleased) and 0.1.11 (2026-08-18) releases bring fundamental architectural changes to how agents execute tools, manage context, and expose interfaces to users. These **latest features in Apache Maka** streamline the execution layer while adding practical utilities for both developers and end users.

## Core Runtime Revamp

The 0.2.0 release restructures the execution layer around a single **RuntimeKernel**, consolidating the previous `RuntimeRunner`, `Flow`, and `Invocation` abstractions into one authoritative module.

### Typed `request()` API

The runtime now exposes a single, type-safe entry point in [`packages/runtime-host/src/request.ts`](https://github.com/apache/maka/blob/main/packages/runtime-host/src/request.ts). All legacy forwarding aliases were removed, leaving one public method that supports subscriptions, capabilities, listeners, and lifecycle hooks.

```typescript
import { request } from '@maka/runtime-host';

const response = await request({
  model: 'qwen3.8-max',
  prompt: 'Summarize the Apache Maka architecture in 3 sentences.',
  maxTokens: 500,
});

console.log(response.output);

```

### RuntimeKernel Architecture

Located in [`packages/runtime/src/runtimeKernel.ts`](https://github.com/apache/maka/blob/main/packages/runtime/src/runtimeKernel.ts), the **RuntimeKernel** now owns backend dispatch, terminal coalescing, stop/drain handling, and durable continuation admission. This replaces the fragmented execution shell of earlier versions, ensuring consistency across all agent turns.

### SessionTodo and Unified Context

**SessionTodo** ([`packages/runtime/src/sessionTodo.ts`](https://github.com/apache/maka/blob/main/packages/runtime/src/sessionTodo.ts)) replaces the deprecated Task Ledger, becoming the single authority for in-session work items. The schema no longer contains the `workflow_task_ledger_events` table. Coupled with **unified context management** in [`packages/runtime/src/context.ts`](https://github.com/apache/maka/blob/main/packages/runtime/src/context.ts), the Runtime now owns all compaction, pruning, and token-usage accounting. Environment variables like `MAKA_CONTEXT_*` were removed, handing full control to the kernel.

### Active Tool-Result Pruning

Enabled by default in [`packages/runtime/src/toolResultPruning.ts`](https://github.com/apache/maka/blob/main/packages/runtime/src/toolResultPruning.ts), this feature automatically archives tool results exceeding a configurable token threshold, replacing them with lightweight placeholders to prevent runaway context growth. Control the behavior via environment variable:

```bash

# Enable pruning (default)

export MAKA_CONTEXT_ACTIVE_TOOL_RESULT_PRUNE=on

# Disable pruning for debugging large outputs

export MAKA_CONTEXT_ACTIVE_TOOL_RESULT_PRUNE=off

```

### Manual Model Registration

The connection catalog in [`packages/mcp/src/connectionCatalog.ts`](https://github.com/apache/maka/blob/main/packages/mcp/src/connectionCatalog.ts) now supports per-connection model overrides, capacity fields, and atomic saving. This allows fine-grained control over model parameters without modifying global catalogs, feeding directly into the Model Adapter used by the Runtime Kernel.

## User-Facing Enhancements

Version 0.1.11 focuses on accessibility, security isolation, and deployment options across desktop and command-line interfaces.

### `/transcript` TUI Command

Long sessions no longer require terminal scrollback. The new command in [`apps/desktop/src/tui/commands/transcript.ts`](https://github.com/apache/maka/blob/main/apps/desktop/src/tui/commands/transcript.ts) provides a dedicated pager interface supporting line, page, and first/last navigation. Inside the TUI, type:

```

/transcript

```

Navigation shortcuts:
- `j` / `k` — Scroll line up/down
- `Ctrl-f` / `Ctrl-b` — Page forward/backward
- `g` / `G` — Jump to first/last line

### Work Board Storage Foundations

New UI components in `apps/desktop/src/workboard/` provide interfaces for creating, managing, and persisting work items scoped to a specific host, laying the groundwork for persistent task management.

### Windows AppContainer Sandbox

Security isolation improved with brokered sandbox support for Windows in `native/windows-sandbox/`. This provides stronger boundaries for tool execution, isolating agent processes from the host system.

### Qwen 3.8 Support

Built-in support for the Qwen 3.8 model with an 8,000-token plan is available in [`packages/mcp/src/models/qwen38.ts`](https://github.com/apache/maka/blob/main/packages/mcp/src/models/qwen38.ts), accessible immediately through the model registry.

### Packaged CLI

The new `@maka/cli` package (documented in [`packages/cli/README.md`](https://github.com/apache/maka/blob/main/packages/cli/README.md)) distributes the `maka` command via npm, supporting `maka run`, `maka eval`, and `maka cli:dev` without requiring a full source build.

```bash
npm i -g @maka/cli
maka run "Summarize the latest features in Apache Maka"

```

## Architecture Integration

The redesigned architecture centers on a **single Runtime Host per state root**. All front-ends—Desktop, TUI, CLI, bots, and Eval—dispatch work through the **typed `request()` API** to this host.

The **RuntimeKernel** manages:
- **SessionManager** — Session-level identity and lifecycle
- **AgentRun** — Per-turn execution, tool runtime, and event logging
- **Tool Runtime** — Validation, permission checks, watchdog handling, and artifact recording
- **Runtime Event Log** — Append-only source of truth for every model message and tool call

**SessionTodo** feeds the Agent Graph with versioned work items, while **active tool-result pruning** keeps the Runtime Event Log lean, preserving full history in the durable off-load store ([`packages/runtime/src/readImage.ts`](https://github.com/apache/maka/blob/main/packages/runtime/src/readImage.ts)).

## Code Examples

### Configuring the Typed Request API

```typescript
import { request } from '@maka/runtime-host';

// Query with the new unified interface
const result = await request({
  model: 'qwen3.8-max',
  prompt: 'Explain the RuntimeKernel consolidation',
  capabilities: ['file-system', 'network']
});

```

### Creating SessionTodo Work Items

```typescript
import { createTodo } from '@maka/runtime';

await createTodo({
  title: 'Investigate token-usage anchors',
  description: 'Verify that token_usage now records model+connection.',
  dueDate: new Date(Date.now() + 24 * 60 * 60 * 1000)
});

```

### Navigating Transcripts

Use the TUI command and keyboard shortcuts to browse session history without scrollback buffers, reading directly from the Runtime Event Log via the new `Read` API.

## Summary

- **RuntimeKernel** consolidates execution logic previously split across `RuntimeRunner`, `Flow`, and `Invocation` into a single module in [`packages/runtime/src/runtimeKernel.ts`](https://github.com/apache/maka/blob/main/packages/runtime/src/runtimeKernel.ts)
- **Typed `request()` API** provides the sole public entry point to the Runtime Host, removing legacy forwarding aliases and standardizing the interface in [`packages/runtime-host/src/request.ts`](https://github.com/apache/maka/blob/main/packages/runtime-host/src/request.ts)
- **SessionTodo** replaces the Task Ledger with a cleaner schema and single authority for in-session work items, eliminating the `workflow_task_ledger_events` table
- **Active tool-result pruning** (default-on) archives large outputs to control token usage, configurable via `MAKA_CONTEXT_ACTIVE_TOOL_RESULT_PRUNE`
- **`/transcript` TUI command** enables scroll-free navigation of long sessions using line and page shortcuts in [`apps/desktop/src/tui/commands/transcript.ts`](https://github.com/apache/maka/blob/main/apps/desktop/src/tui/commands/transcript.ts)
- **Windows AppContainer sandbox** adds brokered isolation for tool execution on Windows in `native/windows-sandbox/`
- **`@maka/cli` package** distributes the runtime via npm with `maka run`, `eval`, and `cli:dev` commands

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the RuntimeKernel in Apache Maka?

The **RuntimeKernel** is a consolidated execution engine introduced in version 0.2.0 that replaces the previous `RuntimeRunner`, `Flow`, and `Invocation` abstractions. Implemented in [`packages/runtime/src/runtimeKernel.ts`](https://github.com/apache/maka/blob/main/packages/runtime/src/runtimeKernel.ts), it owns backend dispatch, terminal coalescing, stop/drain handling, and durable continuation admission, providing a single authority for all runtime operations according to the Apache Maka source code.

### How do I disable active tool-result pruning?

Set the environment variable `MAKA_CONTEXT_ACTIVE_TOOL_RESULT_PRUNE` to `off` before starting the runtime. This prevents automatic archival of large tool outputs, keeping full results in memory for debugging. The default value is `on`, which archives results exceeding the token threshold to a durable off-load store managed by the Runtime.

### What replaced the Task Ledger in recent Apache Maka versions?

**SessionTodo** replaces the deprecated Task Ledger as of version 0.2.0. Located in [`packages/runtime/src/sessionTodo.ts`](https://github.com/apache/maka/blob/main/packages/runtime/src/sessionTodo.ts), it serves as the single authority for in-session work items, and the underlying schema no longer contains the `workflow_task_ledger_events` table previously used for task tracking.

### How does the new `/transcript` command improve session navigation?

The `/transcript` command, available in the TUI via [`apps/desktop/src/tui/commands/transcript.ts`](https://github.com/apache/maka/blob/main/apps/desktop/src/tui/commands/transcript.ts), eliminates the need for terminal scrollback by providing a dedicated pager interface. Users navigate using `j`/`k` for line movement, `Ctrl-f`/`Ctrl-b` for paging, and `g`/`G` to jump to the start or end of the session log.