Update formatting.py

formatting.py

@@ -113,6 +113,19 @@ def _extract_topic_from_text(text: str, fallback: Optional[str] = None) -> str:
     return "general"
 
 
+def _strip_bullet_prefix(text: str) -> str:
+    return re.sub(r"^\s*-\s*", "", (text or "").strip())
+
+
+def _normalize_display_lines(lines: List[str]) -> List[str]:
+    cleaned: List[str] = []
+    for line in lines:
+        item = _strip_bullet_prefix(line)
+        if item:
+            cleaned.append(item)
+    return cleaned
+
+
 def _format_answer_mode(
     lines: List[str],
     topic: str,
@@ -126,17 +139,13 @@ def _format_answer_mode(
         output.append(prefix)
         output.append("")
 
-    limited = _limit_steps(lines, verbosity, minimum=2)
+    normalized = _normalize_display_lines(lines)
+    limited = _limit_steps(normalized, verbosity, minimum=2)
+
     if limited:
         output.append("Answer path:")
-        if len(limited) >= 1:
-            output.append(f"- What to identify: {limited[0]}")
-        if len(limited) >= 2:
-            output.append(f"- First move: {limited[1]}")
-        if len(limited) >= 3:
-            output.append(f"- Next step: {limited[2]}")
-        for extra in limited[3:]:
-            output.append(f"- Keep in mind: {extra}")
+        for step in limited:
+            output.append(f"- {step}")
 
     if transparency >= 0.8:
         output.append("")
@@ -165,11 +174,12 @@ def format_reply(
         return prefix or "Start with the structure of the problem."
 
     resolved_topic = _extract_topic_from_text(core, topic)
+    normalized_lines = _normalize_display_lines(lines)
 
     if help_mode == "answer":
-        return _format_answer_mode(lines, resolved_topic, tone, verbosity, transparency)
+        return _format_answer_mode(normalized_lines, resolved_topic, tone, verbosity, transparency)
 
-    shown = _limit_steps(lines, verbosity, minimum=1)
+    shown = _limit_steps(normalized_lines, verbosity, minimum=1)
     output: List[str] = []
 
     if prefix:
@@ -177,7 +187,7 @@ def format_reply(
         output.append("")
 
     if help_mode == "hint":
-        index = max(0, min(int(hint_stage or 0), len(shown) - 1))
+        index = max(0, min(int(hint_stage or 0) - 1, len(shown) - 1))
         output.append("Hint:")
         output.append(f"- {shown[index]}")
         if transparency >= 0.8:
@@ -188,8 +198,7 @@ def format_reply(
     if help_mode == "walkthrough":
         output.append("Walkthrough:")
         for line in shown:
-            clean_line = line[2:].strip() if line.startswith("- ") else line
-            output.append(f"- {clean_line}")
+            output.append(f"- {line}")
         if transparency >= 0.8:
             output.append("")
             output.append(_why_line(resolved_topic))
@@ -198,8 +207,7 @@ def format_reply(
     if help_mode in {"instruction", "step_by_step"}:
         output.append("First step:")
         for line in shown:
-            clean_line = line[2:].strip() if line.startswith("- ") else line
-            output.append(f"- {clean_line}")
+            output.append(f"- {line}")
         if transparency >= 0.8:
             output.append("")
             output.append(_why_line(resolved_topic))
@@ -214,16 +222,14 @@ def format_reply(
         }[help_mode]
         output.append(label)
         for line in shown:
-            clean_line = line[2:].strip() if line.startswith("- ") else line
-            output.append(f"- {clean_line}")
+            output.append(f"- {line}")
         if transparency >= 0.75:
             output.append("")
             output.append(_why_line(resolved_topic))
         return "\n".join(output).strip()
 
     for line in shown:
-        clean_line = line[2:].strip() if line.startswith("- ") else line
-        output.append(f"- {clean_line}")
+        output.append(f"- {line}")
 
     if transparency >= 0.85:
         output.append("")
@@ -231,6 +237,7 @@ def format_reply(
 
     return "\n".join(output).strip()
 
+
 def _get_scaffold(result: Any):
     return getattr(result, "scaffold", None)
 
@@ -261,7 +268,6 @@ def _staged_scaffold_lines(
     hint_ladder = _coerce_list(getattr(scaffold, "hint_ladder", []))
     key_operations = _coerce_list(getattr(scaffold, "key_operations", []))
 
-    # Hint mode should use the hint ladder directly, not dump the whole scaffold again.
     if help_mode == "hint":
         if hint_ladder:
             if stage <= 0: