cueapi · mikemolinet · May 2, 2026
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -2,6 +2,20 @@
 
 All notable changes to cueapi-sdk will be documented here.
 
+## [0.2.0] - 2026-05-01
+
+### Added
+- `client.cues.fire(cue_id, payload_override=None, merge_strategy=None)` for ad-hoc one-shot triggers and for using cues as a messaging channel between agents. Wraps `POST /v1/cues/{id}/fire`.
+- `client.executions.list_claimable(task=None, agent=None)` for unclaimed worker-transport executions ready for processing. Filters server-side via task / agent query params; required for single-purpose workers.
+- `client.executions.claim(execution_id, worker_id=...)` for atomic claim of a specific execution. Returns 409 if already claimed.
+- `client.executions.claim_next(worker_id=..., task=None)` for the next available execution. Without task the server picks the oldest pending; with task the SDK fans out internally (list_claimable filtered, pick oldest, claim by ID) since the server's claim endpoint does not accept a task filter today.
+
+### Changed
+- `__version__` in `cueapi/__init__.py` had drifted to 0.1.2 while `pyproject.toml` was at 0.1.3. Both now aligned at 0.2.0.
+
+### Pending follow-up
+- `client.executions.heartbeat(execution_id)` currently sends an empty body and does NOT include `worker_id` via the `X-Worker-Id` request header that the server reads from. Worker-id is what the server uses to enforce ownership on the heartbeat (returns 403 on mismatch); without it the race-protection check is silently bypassed. A signature change to add `worker_id` is held pending technical review of the deprecation cadence.
+
 ## [0.1.0] - 2025-03-28
 
 ### Added

diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 <!-- Pipeline validation: 2026-04-04 -->
-> **For AI agents:** This is the official Python SDK for CueAPI. Run `pip install cueapi-sdk`. Your API key is in `CUEAPI_API_KEY`. Create a client: `client = CueAPI(os.environ["CUEAPI_API_KEY"])`. Schedule a task: `client.cues.create(name="task-name", cron="0 9 * * *", callback="https://your-handler.com", payload={})`. For agents without a public URL: set `transport="worker"` and run `pip install cueapi-worker`, then define a handler with `@worker.handler("task-name")` returning `{"success": true}` or `{"success": false, "error": "reason"}`. List executions: `client.executions.list()`. Get one: `client.executions.get("exec_id")`. Do not retry on `AuthenticationError` or `CueLimitExceededError`. Wait `e.retry_after` seconds on `RateLimitError`.
+> **For AI agents:** This is the official Python SDK for CueAPI. Run `pip install cueapi-sdk`. Your API key is in `CUEAPI_API_KEY`. Create a client: `client = CueAPI(os.environ["CUEAPI_API_KEY"])`. Schedule a task: `client.cues.create(name="task-name", cron="0 9 * * *", callback="https://your-handler.com", payload={})`. For agents without a public URL: set `transport="worker"` and run `pip install cueapi-worker`, then define a handler with `@worker.handler("task-name")` returning `{"success": true}` or `{"success": false, "error": "reason"}`. Fire an existing cue immediately: `client.cues.fire("cue_id", payload_override={"task": "x"})`. List unclaimed worker executions: `client.executions.list_claimable(task="task-name")`. Claim one: `client.executions.claim("exec_id", worker_id="my-worker")`. List executions: `client.executions.list()`. Get one: `client.executions.get("exec_id")`. Do not retry on `AuthenticationError` or `CueLimitExceededError`. Wait `e.retry_after` seconds on `RateLimitError`.
 
 # cueapi-sdk
 

diff --git a/cueapi/__init__.py b/cueapi/__init__.py
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 from cueapi.resources.executions import ExecutionsResource
 from cueapi.webhook import verify_webhook
 
-__version__ = "0.1.2"
+__version__ = "0.2.0"
 
 __all__ = [
     "CueAPI",

diff --git a/cueapi/resources/cues.py b/cueapi/resources/cues.py
@@ -218,3 +218,36 @@ def resume(self, cue_id: str) -> Cue:
             The updated Cue object.
         """
         return self.update(cue_id, status="active")
+
+    def fire(
+        self,
+        cue_id: str,
+        *,
+        payload_override: Optional[Dict[str, Any]] = None,
+        merge_strategy: Optional[str] = None,
+    ) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+        """Fire an existing cue immediately, optionally overriding its payload.
+
+        For ad-hoc one-shot triggers and for using cues as a messaging channel
+        between agents (carry message/instruction/task/reply_cue_id in
+        payload_override).
+
+        Args:
+            cue_id: The cue ID to fire.
+            payload_override: Override the cue's default payload for this fire
+                only. Persisted on the resulting execution row, never on the
+                cue itself.
+            merge_strategy: How payload_override combines with the cue's stored
+                payload. "merge" (server default) shallow-merges with override
+                wins on key collisions. "replace" uses override as the final
+                payload, ignoring cue.payload.
+
+        Returns:
+            The execution dict (id, scheduled_for, status, etc.).
+        """
+        body: Dict[str, Any] = {}
+        if payload_override is not None:
+            body["payload_override"] = payload_override
+        if merge_strategy is not None:
+            body["merge_strategy"] = merge_strategy
+        return self._client._post(f"/v1/cues/{cue_id}/fire", json=body)
diff --git a/cueapi/resources/executions.py b/cueapi/resources/executions.py
@@ -124,6 +124,96 @@ def get(self, execution_id: str) -> dict:
         """Get a single execution."""
         return self._client._get(f"/v1/executions/{execution_id}")
 
+    def list_claimable(
+        self,
+        *,
+        task: Optional[str] = None,
+        agent: Optional[str] = None,
+    ) -> dict:
+        """List unclaimed worker-transport executions ready for processing.
+
+        Filters server-side via task / agent query params (NOT client-side).
+        Required for single-purpose workers; without a filter, sibling tasks
+        ahead in the LIMIT 50 window starve your handler.
+
+        Returns:
+            Dict with "executions" list, each item carrying execution_id,
+            cue_id, cue_name, task, scheduled_for, payload, attempt.
+        """
+        params: Dict[str, Any] = {}
+        if task is not None:
+            params["task"] = task
+        if agent is not None:
+            params["agent"] = agent
+        return self._client._get("/v1/executions/claimable", params=params)
+
+    def claim(self, execution_id: str, *, worker_id: str) -> dict:
+        """Atomically claim a specific worker-transport execution.
+
+        Conditional UPDATE WHERE status IN ('pending', 'retry_ready'); returns
+        409 if already claimed or not eligible. Response includes lease_seconds
+        (default 900s = 15 min); send heartbeat well before that to extend.
+
+        Args:
+            execution_id: Execution UUID.
+            worker_id: Stable identifier for this worker. Caller-defined, not
+                session/process-scoped. Same value must be used across
+                claim, heartbeat, and outcome calls so the server can enforce
+                ownership.
+
+        Returns:
+            Dict with claimed (bool), execution_id, lease_seconds.
+        """
+        return self._client._post(
+            f"/v1/executions/{execution_id}/claim",
+            json={"worker_id": worker_id},
+        )
+
+    def claim_next(
+        self,
+        *,
+        worker_id: str,
+        task: Optional[str] = None,
+    ) -> dict:
+        """Claim the next available worker-transport execution.
+
+        Without task, the server picks the oldest pending across any of your
+        worker cues. With task, this method internally fans out (list_claimable
+        filtered, pick oldest, claim by ID) since the server's claim endpoint
+        does not accept a task filter today. Tiny race window between list and
+        claim is bounded by the atomic claim returning 409, in which case the
+        caller retries.
+
+        Args:
+            worker_id: Stable caller-defined identifier (see claim()).
+            task: Optional task filter.
+
+        Returns:
+            Dict with claimed (bool), execution_id, lease_seconds. When
+            task is set and no executions are claimable for that task,
+            returns {"claimed": False, "reason": "no_executions_for_task",
+            "task": <task>}.
+        """
+        if task is not None:
+            listing = self._client._get(
+                "/v1/executions/claimable", params={"task": task}
+            )
+            execs = listing.get("executions") or []
+            if not execs:
+                return {
+                    "claimed": False,
+                    "reason": "no_executions_for_task",
+                    "task": task,
+                }
+            next_id = execs[0].get("execution_id")
+            return self._client._post(
+                f"/v1/executions/{next_id}/claim",
+                json={"worker_id": worker_id},
+            )
+        return self._client._post(
+            "/v1/executions/claim", json={"worker_id": worker_id}
+        )
+
     def heartbeat(self, execution_id: str) -> dict:
         """Send heartbeat to extend claim lease."""
         return self._client._post(f"/v1/executions/{execution_id}/heartbeat", json={})

diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ build-backend = "hatchling.build"
 
 [project]
 name = "cueapi-sdk"
-version = "0.1.3"
+version = "0.2.0"
 description = "Official Python SDK for CueAPI — open-source execution accountability primitive for AI agents. Schedule agent work, require evidence-backed outcomes, and gate execution with write-once verification."
 readme = "README.md"
 license = { text = "Apache-2.0" }

diff --git a/tests/test_cues_resource.py b/tests/test_cues_resource.py
@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+"""Unit tests for CuesResource methods that don't fit the staging-integration pattern."""
+
+from unittest.mock import MagicMock
+
+from cueapi.resources.cues import CuesResource
+
+
+class TestFire:
+    def test_fire_no_payload_override(self):
+        mock_client = MagicMock()
+        mock_client._post.return_value = {"id": "exec_test", "status": "queued"}
+        resource = CuesResource(mock_client)
+
+        result = resource.fire("cue_abc123")
+
+        mock_client._post.assert_called_once_with("/v1/cues/cue_abc123/fire", json={})
+        assert result["id"] == "exec_test"
+
+    def test_fire_with_payload_override_only(self):
+        mock_client = MagicMock()
+        mock_client._post.return_value = {"id": "exec_test"}
+        resource = CuesResource(mock_client)
+
+        payload = {"task": "downstream", "scope": "single-row"}
+        resource.fire("cue_abc123", payload_override=payload)
+
+        mock_client._post.assert_called_once_with(
+            "/v1/cues/cue_abc123/fire",
+            json={"payload_override": payload},
+        )
+
+    def test_fire_with_payload_override_and_merge_strategy(self):
+        mock_client = MagicMock()
+        mock_client._post.return_value = {"id": "exec_test"}
+        resource = CuesResource(mock_client)
+
+        payload = {"run_id": "ad-hoc-001"}
+        resource.fire("cue_abc123", payload_override=payload, merge_strategy="replace")
+
+        mock_client._post.assert_called_once_with(
+            "/v1/cues/cue_abc123/fire",
+            json={"payload_override": payload, "merge_strategy": "replace"},
+        )
+
+    def test_fire_omits_merge_strategy_when_not_passed(self):
+        # When the caller omits merge_strategy, the wrapper must NOT send a
+        # client-side default. The server's Pydantic default of "merge"
+        # applies. This pins the contract so a future refactor can't silently
+        # start sending a strategy that overrides the server's choice.
+        mock_client = MagicMock()
+        mock_client._post.return_value = {"id": "exec_test"}
+        resource = CuesResource(mock_client)
+
+        resource.fire("cue_abc123", payload_override={"k": "v"})
+
+        sent_body = mock_client._post.call_args.kwargs["json"]
+        assert "merge_strategy" not in sent_body
diff --git a/tests/test_executions_resource.py b/tests/test_executions_resource.py
@@ -164,3 +164,143 @@ def test_mark_verified(self):
         mock_client._post.assert_called_once_with(
             "/v1/executions/exec_123/verify", json={},
         )
+
+
+class TestListClaimable:
+    # Filtering MUST be server-side via query params, not client-side after
+    # fetch. Client-side filter hits the LIMIT 50 starvation bug fixed in the
+    # 2026-04-25 prod incident (see cueapi-core app/routers/executions.py
+    # docstring at line 122-131).
+
+    def test_list_claimable_no_filters_sends_no_params(self):
+        mock_client = MagicMock()
+        mock_client._get.return_value = {"executions": []}
+        resource = ExecutionsResource(mock_client)
+
+        resource.list_claimable()
+
+        mock_client._get.assert_called_once_with(
+            "/v1/executions/claimable", params={},
+        )
+
+    def test_list_claimable_passes_task_as_query_param(self):
+        mock_client = MagicMock()
+        mock_client._get.return_value = {"executions": []}
+        resource = ExecutionsResource(mock_client)
+
+        resource.list_claimable(task="cowork-workspace")
+
+        mock_client._get.assert_called_once_with(
+            "/v1/executions/claimable",
+            params={"task": "cowork-workspace"},
+        )
+
+    def test_list_claimable_passes_agent_as_query_param(self):
+        mock_client = MagicMock()
+        mock_client._get.return_value = {"executions": []}
+        resource = ExecutionsResource(mock_client)
+
+        resource.list_claimable(agent="writer-bot")
+
+        mock_client._get.assert_called_once_with(
+            "/v1/executions/claimable",
+            params={"agent": "writer-bot"},
+        )
+
+    def test_list_claimable_passes_both_task_and_agent(self):
+        mock_client = MagicMock()
+        mock_client._get.return_value = {"executions": []}
+        resource = ExecutionsResource(mock_client)
+
+        resource.list_claimable(task="t", agent="a")
+
+        mock_client._get.assert_called_once_with(
+            "/v1/executions/claimable",
+            params={"task": "t", "agent": "a"},
+        )
+
+
+class TestClaim:
+    def test_claim_posts_to_specific_execution_with_worker_id_in_body(self):
+        mock_client = MagicMock()
+        mock_client._post.return_value = {
+            "claimed": True,
+            "execution_id": "exec_abc123",
+            "lease_seconds": 900,
+        }
+        resource = ExecutionsResource(mock_client)
+
+        result = resource.claim("exec_abc123", worker_id="cowork-workspace")
+
+        mock_client._post.assert_called_once_with(
+            "/v1/executions/exec_abc123/claim",
+            json={"worker_id": "cowork-workspace"},
+        )
+        assert result["claimed"] is True
+
+
+class TestClaimNext:
+    # Two branches: with task and without. Without task is a single POST.
+    # With task is a fan-out (list_claimable filtered, pick first, claim by ID)
+    # because the server's POST /v1/executions/claim does not accept a task
+    # filter today.
+
+    def test_claim_next_without_task_sends_single_post(self):
+        mock_client = MagicMock()
+        mock_client._post.return_value = {
+            "claimed": True,
+            "execution_id": "exec_test",
+            "lease_seconds": 900,
+        }
+        resource = ExecutionsResource(mock_client)
+
+        resource.claim_next(worker_id="cowork-workspace")
+
+        mock_client._post.assert_called_once_with(
+            "/v1/executions/claim",
+            json={"worker_id": "cowork-workspace"},
+        )
+
+    def test_claim_next_with_task_fans_out_to_list_then_claim(self):
+        mock_client = MagicMock()
+        mock_client._get.return_value = {
+            "executions": [
+                {"execution_id": "exec_first"},
+                {"execution_id": "exec_second"},
+            ],
+        }
+        mock_client._post.return_value = {
+            "claimed": True,
+            "execution_id": "exec_first",
+            "lease_seconds": 900,
+        }
+        resource = ExecutionsResource(mock_client)
+
+        result = resource.claim_next(
+            worker_id="cowork-workspace", task="cowork-workspace"
+        )
+
+        mock_client._get.assert_called_once_with(
+            "/v1/executions/claimable", params={"task": "cowork-workspace"},
+        )
+        mock_client._post.assert_called_once_with(
+            "/v1/executions/exec_first/claim",
+            json={"worker_id": "cowork-workspace"},
+        )
+        assert result["claimed"] is True
+
+    def test_claim_next_with_task_and_empty_list_returns_no_claim(self):
+        mock_client = MagicMock()
+        mock_client._get.return_value = {"executions": []}
+        resource = ExecutionsResource(mock_client)
+
+        result = resource.claim_next(
+            worker_id="cowork-workspace", task="no-such-task"
+        )
+
+        mock_client._post.assert_not_called()
+        assert result == {
+            "claimed": False,
+            "reason": "no_executions_for_task",
+            "task": "no-such-task",
+        }