More changes. I will not comment further.

config.py

@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ conf.registerGlobalValue(
     )
 )
 
-# System prompt for the assistant
+# System prompt for the assistant (when using single line)
 conf.registerGlobalValue(
     Chat,
     "system_prompt",
@@ -91,6 +91,16 @@ conf.registerGlobalValue(
     )
 )
 
+# System prompt file for the assistant (when using a file instead of single line)
+conf.registerGlobalValue(
+    Chat,
+    "system_prompt_file",
+    registry.String(
+        "",
+        _("""Specifies the name of a file (e.g., 'prompt.txt') in the plugin directory to use as the system prompt for the assistant, instead of the single-line 'system_prompt' setting. If this is set, its contents will take precedence over 'system_prompt' when guiding the assistant's behavior."""),
+    )
+)
+
 # Number of lines to include from scrollback
 conf.registerGlobalValue(
     Chat,

plugin.py

@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ import supybot
 from supybot import callbacks, conf, ircutils
 from supybot.commands import *
 import logging
+import os
 
 try:
     from supybot.i18n import PluginInternationalization
@@ -79,6 +80,40 @@ class Chat(callbacks.Plugin):
         self.log.setLevel(getattr(logging, log_level, logging.INFO))
         self.log.info("Chat plugin initialized with log level: %s", log_level)
 
+    def is_poetry_block(lines):
+        if 2 < len(lines) <= 4:
+            avg_len = sum(len(l) for l in lines) / len(lines)
+            if avg_len < 20 and all(not l.endswith(('.', '?', '!')) for l in lines):
+                return True
+        return False
+
+    def _send_line(self, irc, target, line):
+        if line.startswith("/me "):
+            irc.queueMsg(ircmsgs.action(target, line[4:].strip()))
+        else:
+            irc.reply(line, to=target)
+
+    def _burst(self, irc, target, lines, base_delay=0.6):
+        now = time.time()
+        for i, line in enumerate(lines[:3]):  # never more than 3
+            delay = base_delay*i + random.uniform(0.05, 0.25)
+            schedule.addEvent(lambda l=line: self._send_line(irc, target, l),
+                            now + delay)
+
+    def handle_response(self, irc, msg, response):
+        target = msg.args[0]
+        lines = [l.strip() for l in response.splitlines() if l.strip()]
+        if not lines:
+            return
+
+        if len(lines) == 1:
+            self._send_line(irc, target, lines[0])
+        elif is_poetry_block(lines):
+            # squash poem into single line
+            self._send_line(irc, target, " / ".join(lines))
+        else:
+            self._burst(irc, target, lines)
+
     def filter_prefix(self, msg, prefix):
         if msg.startswith(prefix):
             return msg[len(prefix):]
@@ -104,9 +139,22 @@ class Chat(callbacks.Plugin):
         model = self.registryValue("model")
         max_tokens = self.registryValue("max_tokens")
 
-        # Use a default system prompt if none is configured
+        # Determine the system prompt to use
         default_prompt = "You are a helpful assistant."
-        system_prompt = self.registryValue("system_prompt") or default_prompt
+        prompt_file = self.registryValue("system_prompt_file")
+        # Ensure the path to the prompt file is absolute
+        if prompt_file and not os.path.isabs(prompt_file):
+            prompt_file = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), prompt_file)
+
+        try:
+            if prompt_file:
+                with open(prompt_file, "r") as f:
+                    system_prompt = f.read()
+            else:
+                raise FileNotFoundError("No prompt file specified.")
+        except Exception as e:
+            self.log.error(f"Could not read prompt file: {e}")
+            system_prompt = self.registryValue("system_prompt") or default_prompt
 
         # Replace dynamic placeholders in the system prompt with actual values
         system_prompt = system_prompt.replace("$bot_name", irc.nick).replace("$channel_name", msg.args[0])
@@ -171,13 +219,7 @@ class Chat(callbacks.Plugin):
             # Extract and format the response from the API
             response = res['choices'][0]['message']['content'].strip()
 
-            # Handle multi-line responses intelligently
+            self.handle_response(irc, msg, response)
-            lines = response.splitlines()
-            if len(lines) > 1:
-                # Join lines with the configured join_string, skipping empty lines
-                response = self.registryValue("join_string").join(line.strip() for line in lines if line.strip())
-
-            irc.reply(response)
 
             # Log the successful processing of the request
             self.log.info(f"Successfully processed request for user {msg.nick} in channel {msg.args[0]}")

prompt.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+You are an IRC bot named $bot_name in channel $channel_name.
+
+IRC style rules:
+- Keep replies short, casual, and lowercase when possible.
+- Prefer to fit your entire reply on a single line.
+- You may use 2–3 short lines, like a human typing follow-ups. Never more.
+- If you write poetry, haiku, or song lyrics, collapse them into a single line joined with space-slash-space ( / ) or space-pipe-space ( | ) between verses, instead of sending multiple lines.
+- Never use Markdown formatting, bold, italics, or code fences; use plain text only.
+- You may use /me for emotes when appropriate.
+- A /me action should always begin with /me and only /me. Do not include any formatting.
+- You may use classic emoticons: :) :( :D D: :'( etc.
+- Avoid using emoji.
+- Match the channel vibe: technical when asked, playful when social.
+- Do not reveal that you are an AI or bot; stay in character as a normal IRC user.