diff --git a/scripts/templates/heartbeat/HEARTBEAT.md b/scripts/templates/heartbeat/HEARTBEAT.md
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+# Heartbeat: {{AGENT_NAME}}
+
+Read this file on each heartbeat. Follow it strictly. Do not infer or
+repeat old tasks from prior chats. If nothing needs attention, reply
+HEARTBEAT_OK.
+
+## Tasks
+
+tasks:
+  - name: {{TASK_1_NAME}}
+    interval: {{TASK_1_INTERVAL}}
+    prompt: "{{TASK_1_PROMPT}}"
+  - name: {{TASK_2_NAME}}
+    interval: {{TASK_2_INTERVAL}}
+    prompt: "{{TASK_2_PROMPT}}"
+
+## Context
+
+{{CONTEXT_NOTES}}
+
+## Rules
+
+- Only perform tasks listed above
+- Respect the interval — do not run a task before its next due time
+- If a task fails, log the error and continue to the next task
+- Respond with HEARTBEAT_OK if no tasks are due
diff --git a/scripts/templates/heartbeat/README.md b/scripts/templates/heartbeat/README.md
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+# Heartbeat Scheduling
+
+Combines OpenClaw's HEARTBEAT.md task format with Paperclip's interval-based
+heartbeat model. Designed for Claude Code agents running on a schedule.
+
+## How it works
+
+1. A scheduler (cron/launchd/systemd) runs `heartbeat-runner.sh` at a fixed
+   interval (e.g., every 30 minutes)
+2. The runner reads `HEARTBEAT.md` for task definitions
+3. **Emptiness detection**: if the file has no real tasks, skip the API call
+   entirely (saves cost — from OpenClaw)
+4. For each task: check if it's due based on its interval and last-run time
+5. Run due tasks via `claude -p` with the task's prompt
+6. Suppress short acknowledgment responses (<300 chars containing HEARTBEAT_OK)
+7. Update `.heartbeat-state.json` with last-run timestamps
+
+## Two execution types (from OpenClaw)
+
+### systemEvent
+Injects a text event into an existing session. Lightweight, no new session.
+Use for: notifications, status checks, simple updates.
+Template: `scripts/templates/cron/system-event.sh`
+
+### agentTurn
+Fires a full agent turn with its own session. Full context, full tool access.
+Use for: background autonomous work, complex tasks, multi-step operations.
+Template: `scripts/templates/cron/agent-turn.sh`
+
+## Startup catchup (OpenClaw pattern)
+
+When the runner starts after downtime (e.g., machine was off):
+- Run `heartbeat-runner.sh --catchup`
+- Processes up to 5 missed tasks
+- 5-second stagger between tasks (prevents thundering herd)
+
+## Cost optimization
+
+- **Emptiness detection**: No API call if HEARTBEAT.md has no real content
+- **ackMaxChars suppression**: Responses under 300 chars with HEARTBEAT_OK
+  are logged but not displayed (saves downstream processing)
+- **Interval-based**: Only run tasks when actually due, not every heartbeat
+
+## Example cron entries
+
+```bash
+# Run heartbeat every 30 minutes
+*/30 * * * * /path/to/heartbeat-runner.sh >> /tmp/heartbeat.log 2>&1
+
+# Run heartbeat every hour with catchup on restart
+@reboot /path/to/heartbeat-runner.sh --catchup >> /tmp/heartbeat.log 2>&1
+0 * * * * /path/to/heartbeat-runner.sh >> /tmp/heartbeat.log 2>&1
+```
+
+## State file format
+
+`.heartbeat-state.json`:
+```json
+{
+  "email-check": { "last_run": 1712847600 },
+  "report-generation": { "last_run": 1712844000 }
+}
+```
diff --git a/scripts/templates/heartbeat/heartbeat-runner.sh b/scripts/templates/heartbeat/heartbeat-runner.sh
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+++ b/scripts/templates/heartbeat/heartbeat-runner.sh
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+#!/bin/bash
+# Heartbeat runner for Claude Code agents.
+# Reads HEARTBEAT.md, checks which tasks are due, invokes claude -p for each.
+#
+# Bash 3.2 compatible: no associative arrays, no mapfile, no |&
+# Uses python3 for all JSON/YAML/date operations.
+#
+# Usage: ./heartbeat-runner.sh [--catchup]
+#   --catchup: run missed tasks on first invocation (max 5, 5s stagger)
+#
+# Placeholders:
+#   {{AGENT_NAME}}     - name of the agent
+#   {{WORKING_DIR}}    - absolute path to project directory
+#   {{MAX_TURNS}}      - max turns per heartbeat (default: 10)
+#   {{ACK_MAX_CHARS}}  - suppress responses shorter than this (default: 300)
+
+AGENT_NAME="{{AGENT_NAME}}"
+WORKING_DIR="{{WORKING_DIR}}"
+MAX_TURNS="${MAX_TURNS:-10}"
+ACK_MAX_CHARS="${ACK_MAX_CHARS:-300}"
+HEARTBEAT_FILE="$WORKING_DIR/HEARTBEAT.md"
+STATE_FILE="$WORKING_DIR/.heartbeat-state.json"
+LOG_DIR="$WORKING_DIR/logs"
+CATCHUP_MODE=false
+
+if [ "$1" = "--catchup" ]; then
+  CATCHUP_MODE=true
+fi
+
+# Ensure directories exist
+mkdir -p "$LOG_DIR"
+
+# --- Emptiness detection (OpenClaw pattern) ---
+# Skip API calls if heartbeat file has only headers/empty items
+HEARTBEAT_FILE_ACTUAL="$HEARTBEAT_FILE"
+EMPTY_CHECK=$(HEARTBEAT_FILE="$HEARTBEAT_FILE_ACTUAL" python3 -c "
+import sys, re, os
+hf = os.environ.get('HEARTBEAT_FILE', '')
+try:
+    content = open(hf).read()
+except:
+    print('true'); sys.exit(0)
+stripped = re.sub(r'^#+.*$', '', content, flags=re.MULTILINE)
+stripped = re.sub(r'^\s*$', '', stripped, flags=re.MULTILINE).strip()
+print('true' if len(stripped) < 20 else 'false')
+" 2>/dev/null)
+
+if [ "$EMPTY_CHECK" = "true" ]; then
+  echo "$(date -u +%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%SZ) | heartbeat | SKIP (empty heartbeat file)" >> "$LOG_DIR/heartbeat.log"
+  exit 0
+fi
+
+# --- Parse tasks and check due times ---
+DUE_TASKS=$(python3 << PYEOF
+import json, re, os, time
+
+heartbeat_file = "$HEARTBEAT_FILE_ACTUAL"
+state_file = "$STATE_FILE"
+catchup = "$CATCHUP_MODE" == "true"
+
+# Parse tasks from HEARTBEAT.md
+try:
+    content = open(heartbeat_file).read()
+except FileNotFoundError:
+    print("[]")
+    exit(0)
+
+# Simple YAML-like task parsing
+tasks = []
+current_task = {}
+for line in content.split('\n'):
+    line = line.strip()
+    m_name = re.match(r'-\s*name:\s*(.+)', line)
+    m_interval = re.match(r'interval:\s*(.+)', line)
+    m_prompt = re.match(r'prompt:\s*"(.+)"', line)
+    if m_name:
+        if current_task.get('name'):
+            tasks.append(current_task)
+        current_task = {'name': m_name.group(1).strip()}
+    elif m_interval and current_task:
+        current_task['interval'] = m_interval.group(1).strip()
+    elif m_prompt and current_task:
+        current_task['prompt'] = m_prompt.group(1).strip()
+if current_task.get('name'):
+    tasks.append(current_task)
+
+# Load state
+try:
+    state = json.load(open(state_file))
+except:
+    state = {}
+
+# Parse interval to seconds
+def parse_interval(s):
+    s = s.strip()
+    m = re.match(r'(\d+)\s*(m|min|h|hr|d)', s)
+    if not m:
+        return 3600  # default 1 hour
+    val, unit = int(m.group(1)), m.group(2)
+    if unit in ('m', 'min'):
+        return val * 60
+    elif unit in ('h', 'hr'):
+        return val * 3600
+    elif unit == 'd':
+        return val * 86400
+    return 3600
+
+# Check which tasks are due
+now = time.time()
+due = []
+for task in tasks:
+    name = task.get('name', '')
+    interval_sec = parse_interval(task.get('interval', '1h'))
+    last_run = state.get(name, {}).get('last_run', 0)
+    if now - last_run >= interval_sec:
+        due.append(task)
+    elif catchup and last_run == 0:
+        due.append(task)
+
+# Limit catchup to 5 tasks
+if catchup:
+    due = due[:5]
+
+print(json.dumps(due))
+PYEOF
+)
+
+# --- Run due tasks ---
+TASK_COUNT=$(echo "$DUE_TASKS" | python3 -c "import sys,json; print(len(json.load(sys.stdin)))" 2>/dev/null)
+
+if [ "$TASK_COUNT" = "0" ]; then
+  echo "$(date -u +%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%SZ) | heartbeat | HEARTBEAT_OK (no tasks due)" >> "$LOG_DIR/heartbeat.log"
+  exit 0
+fi
+
+echo "$DUE_TASKS" | python3 -c "
+import sys, json, subprocess, time, os
+
+tasks = json.load(sys.stdin)
+state_file = '$STATE_FILE'
+log_dir = '$LOG_DIR'
+working_dir = '$WORKING_DIR'
+max_turns = '$MAX_TURNS'
+ack_max = int('$ACK_MAX_CHARS')
+catchup = '$CATCHUP_MODE' == 'true'
+
+# Load state
+try:
+    state = json.load(open(state_file))
+except:
+    state = {}
+
+for i, task in enumerate(tasks):
+    name = task.get('name', 'unknown')
+    prompt = task.get('prompt', '')
+
+    if not prompt:
+        continue
+
+    # Stagger catchup tasks
+    if catchup and i > 0:
+        time.sleep(5)
+
+    ts = time.strftime('%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%SZ', time.gmtime())
+    print('{} | heartbeat | RUNNING: {}'.format(ts, name))
+
+    try:
+        result = subprocess.run(
+            ['claude', '-p', prompt, '--output-format', 'text', '--max-turns', str(max_turns)],
+            capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=600,
+            cwd=working_dir
+        )
+        output = result.stdout.strip()
+
+        # Suppress short ack responses (OpenClaw ackMaxChars pattern)
+        if len(output) <= ack_max and 'HEARTBEAT_OK' in output:
+            log_line = '{} | heartbeat | {} | HEARTBEAT_OK (suppressed)'.format(ts, name)
+        else:
+            log_line = '{} | heartbeat | {} | completed ({} chars)'.format(ts, name, len(output))
+            # Save full output
+            log_path = os.path.join(log_dir, 'heartbeat-{}-{}.log'.format(name, time.strftime('%Y-%m-%d')))
+            with open(log_path, 'a') as f:
+                f.write('--- {} ---\n{}\n\n'.format(ts, output))
+
+    except subprocess.TimeoutExpired:
+        log_line = '{} | heartbeat | {} | TIMEOUT'.format(ts, name)
+    except Exception as e:
+        log_line = '{} | heartbeat | {} | ERROR: {}'.format(ts, name, str(e))
+
+    with open(os.path.join(log_dir, 'heartbeat.log'), 'a') as f:
+        f.write(log_line + '\n')
+
+    # Update state
+    state[name] = {'last_run': time.time()}
+
+# Save state
+with open(state_file, 'w') as f:
+    json.dump(state, f, indent=2)
+"
+
+echo "Heartbeat complete: $TASK_COUNT tasks processed"