refactor(core): remove unnecessary | null, unify timestamp naming

- SenseReflexConfig.on: string[] | null → string[] (empty = no conditions)
- NerveConfig.workflows: Record | null → Record (empty = no workflows)
- Signal.ts → Signal.timestamp
- SenseInfo.lastSignalTs → SenseInfo.lastSignalTimestamp
- All consumers across daemon/cli/store updated
- parseNerveConfig: on defaults to [], workflows defaults to {}

Fixes #108

packages/cli/src/__tests__/sense-list.test.ts

@@ -29,10 +29,22 @@ const SAMPLE_SENSES: SenseInfo[] = [
     group: "system",
     throttle: 5000,
     timeout: 3000,
-    lastSignalTs: 1_700_000_000_000,
+    lastSignalTimestamp: 1_700_000_000_000,
+  },
+  {
+    name: "disk-usage",
+    group: "system",
+    throttle: 30000,
+    timeout: null,
+    lastSignalTimestamp: null,
+  },
+  {
+    name: "active-tasks",
+    group: "tasks",
+    throttle: 10000,
+    timeout: 30000,
+    lastSignalTimestamp: null,
   },
-  { name: "disk-usage", group: "system", throttle: 30000, timeout: null, lastSignalTs: null },
-  { name: "active-tasks", group: "tasks", throttle: 10000, timeout: 30000, lastSignalTs: null },
 ];
 
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -100,14 +112,14 @@ describe("formatSenseList", () => {
     expect(output).toContain("—");
   });
 
-  it("shows '(never)' when lastSignalTs is null", () => {
+  it("shows '(never)' when lastSignalTimestamp is null", () => {
     const output = formatSenseList(SAMPLE_SENSES);
     expect(output).toContain("(never)");
   });
 
-  it("shows ISO timestamp when lastSignalTs is set", () => {
+  it("shows ISO timestamp when lastSignalTimestamp is set", () => {
     const output = formatSenseList(SAMPLE_SENSES);
-    // cpu-usage has lastSignalTs = 1_700_000_000_000
+    // cpu-usage has lastSignalTimestamp = 1_700_000_000_000
     expect(output).toContain(new Date(1_700_000_000_000).toISOString());
   });
 });
@@ -157,11 +169,19 @@ reflexes: []
     );
     const result = sensesFromConfig(path);
     expect(result).toHaveLength(2);
-    expect(result[0]).toMatchObject({ name: "cpu-usage", group: "system", lastSignalTs: null });
-    expect(result[1]).toMatchObject({ name: "disk-usage", group: "system", lastSignalTs: null });
+    expect(result[0]).toMatchObject({
+      name: "cpu-usage",
+      group: "system",
+      lastSignalTimestamp: null,
+    });
+    expect(result[1]).toMatchObject({
+      name: "disk-usage",
+      group: "system",
+      lastSignalTimestamp: null,
+    });
   });
 
-  it("always sets lastSignalTs to null (static fallback)", () => {
+  it("always sets lastSignalTimestamp to null (static fallback)", () => {
     const path = join(tmpDir, "nerve.yaml");
     writeFileSync(
       path,
@@ -173,7 +193,7 @@ reflexes: []
 `.trim(),
     );
     const result = sensesFromConfig(path);
-    expect(result[0].lastSignalTs).toBeNull();
+    expect(result[0].lastSignalTimestamp).toBeNull();
   });
 
   it("populates throttle and timeout from config", () => {
@@ -238,7 +258,13 @@ describe("listSensesViaDaemon", () => {
 
   it("resolves with populated senses array", async () => {
     const senses: SenseInfo[] = [
-      { name: "cpu-usage", group: "system", throttle: 5000, timeout: 3000, lastSignalTs: 12345 },
+      {
+        name: "cpu-usage",
+        group: "system",
+        throttle: 5000,
+        timeout: 3000,
+        lastSignalTimestamp: 12345,
+      },
     ];
     const server = createServer((s) => {
       s.on("data", () => {

packages/cli/src/commands/init.ts

@@ -21,6 +21,31 @@ reflexes:
     interval: 10s
 `;
 
+const BIOME_JSON = `{
+  "$schema": "https://biomejs.dev/schemas/1.9.0/schema.json",
+  "formatter": {
+    "indentStyle": "space",
+    "indentWidth": 2,
+    "lineWidth": 100
+  },
+  "javascript": {
+    "formatter": {
+      "quoteStyle": "double",
+      "semicolons": "always"
+    }
+  },
+  "linter": {
+    "enabled": true,
+    "rules": {
+      "recommended": true,
+      "suspicious": {
+        "noConsole": "error"
+      }
+    }
+  }
+}
+`;
+
 const PACKAGE_JSON = `{
   "name": "my-nerve-workspace",
   "version": "0.0.1",
@@ -32,6 +57,7 @@ const PACKAGE_JSON = `{
     "drizzle-orm": "latest"
   },
   "devDependencies": {
+    "@biomejs/biome": "latest",
     "drizzle-kit": "latest"
   },
   "pnpm": {
@@ -320,6 +346,7 @@ async function runInitWorkspace(force: boolean): Promise<void> {
 
   writeFile(join(nerveRoot, "nerve.yaml"), NERVE_YAML);
   writeFile(join(nerveRoot, "package.json"), PACKAGE_JSON);
+  writeFile(join(nerveRoot, "biome.json"), BIOME_JSON);
   writeFile(join(nerveRoot, ".gitignore"), GITIGNORE);
   writeFile(join(nerveRoot, "senses", "cpu-usage", "schema.ts"), CPU_SCHEMA_TS);
   writeFile(join(nerveRoot, "senses", "cpu-usage", "index.js"), CPU_INDEX_JS);

packages/cli/src/commands/sense.ts

@@ -43,7 +43,8 @@ export function formatSenseList(senses: SenseInfo[]): string {
     lines.push(`    group:    ${s.group}\n`);
     lines.push(`    throttle: ${formatDuration(s.throttle)}\n`);
     lines.push(`    timeout:  ${formatDuration(s.timeout)}\n`);
-    const lastSignal = s.lastSignalTs !== null ? new Date(s.lastSignalTs).toISOString() : "(never)";
+    const lastSignal =
+      s.lastSignalTimestamp !== null ? new Date(s.lastSignalTimestamp).toISOString() : "(never)";
     lines.push(`    last signal: ${lastSignal}\n`);
   }
   return lines.join("");
@@ -64,7 +65,7 @@ export function sensesFromConfig(configPath: string): SenseInfo[] {
     group: cfg.group,
     throttle: cfg.throttle,
     timeout: cfg.timeout,
-    lastSignalTs: null,
+    lastSignalTimestamp: null,
   }));
 }
 

packages/cli/src/commands/validate.ts

@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ export const validateCommand = defineCommand({
     const config = result.value;
     const senseCount = Object.keys(config.senses).length;
     const reflexCount = config.reflexes.length;
-    const workflowCount = config.workflows ? Object.keys(config.workflows).length : 0;
+    const workflowCount = Object.keys(config.workflows).length;
 
     process.stdout.write(
       `✅ nerve.yaml is valid — ${senseCount} sense(s), ${reflexCount} reflex(es), ${workflowCount} workflow(s)\n`,

packages/cli/src/commands/workflow.ts

@@ -515,7 +515,7 @@ const workflowTriggerCommand = defineCommand({
     payload: {
       type: "string",
       description:
-        'JSON with optional "prompt" (string) and "maxRounds" (number) for the workflow run (default: {})',
+        'JSON with optional "prompt" (string), "maxRounds" (number), and "dryRun" (boolean) for the workflow run (default: {})',
       default: "{}",
     },
   },
@@ -530,10 +530,12 @@ const workflowTriggerCommand = defineCommand({
 
     let prompt = "";
     let maxRounds = DEFAULT_ENGINE_MAX_ROUNDS;
+    let dryRun = false;
     if (isPlainRecord(triggerPayload)) {
       const p = triggerPayload;
       if (typeof p.prompt === "string") prompt = p.prompt;
       if (typeof p.maxRounds === "number") maxRounds = p.maxRounds;
+      if (typeof p.dryRun === "boolean") dryRun = p.dryRun;
     }
 
     if (!isRunning()) {
@@ -544,7 +546,7 @@ const workflowTriggerCommand = defineCommand({
     const socketPath = getSocketPath();
     let response: DaemonIpcTriggerResponse;
     try {
-      response = await triggerWorkflowViaDaemon(socketPath, args.name, prompt, maxRounds);
+      response = await triggerWorkflowViaDaemon(socketPath, args.name, prompt, maxRounds, dryRun);
     } catch (e) {
       const msg = e instanceof Error ? e.message : String(e);
       process.stderr.write(`❌ Failed to contact daemon: ${msg}\n`);

packages/cli/src/daemon-client.ts

@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ function isSenseInfo(value: unknown): value is SenseInfo {
     typeof value.group === "string" &&
     (value.throttle === null || typeof value.throttle === "number") &&
     (value.timeout === null || typeof value.timeout === "number") &&
-    (value.lastSignalTs === null || typeof value.lastSignalTs === "number")
+    (value.lastSignalTimestamp === null || typeof value.lastSignalTimestamp === "number")
   );
 }
 
@@ -135,12 +135,14 @@ export function triggerWorkflowViaDaemon(
   workflow: string,
   prompt: string,
   maxRounds: number,
+  dryRun = false,
 ): Promise<DaemonIpcTriggerResponse> {
   const message: DaemonIpcRequest = {
     type: "trigger-workflow",
     workflow,
     prompt,
     maxRounds,
+    dryRun,
   };
   return sendAndReceive(socketPath, message, parseDaemonResponse);
 }

packages/core/src/__tests__/config.test.ts

@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ describe("parseNerveConfig", () => {
         kind: "sense",
         sense: "cpu",
         interval: 30_000,
-        on: null,
+        on: [],
       });
       expect(result.value.reflexes[1]).toEqual({
         kind: "sense",
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ describe("parseNerveConfig", () => {
         interval: null,
         on: ["high_usage"],
       });
-      expect(result.value.workflows?.alert).toEqual({
+      expect(result.value.workflows.alert).toEqual({
         concurrency: 2,
         overflow: "queue",
         maxQueue: 10,
@@ -85,11 +85,12 @@ senses:
     group: system
 reflexes:
   - sense: cpu
+    interval: 1s
 `;
       const result = parseNerveConfig(yaml);
       expect(result.ok).toBe(true);
       if (!result.ok) return;
-      expect(result.value.workflows).toBeNull();
+      expect(result.value.workflows).toEqual({});
     });
 
     it("sense config has null for omitted throttle/timeout/gracePeriod", () => {
@@ -142,11 +143,11 @@ workflows:
       const result = parseNerveConfig(yaml);
       expect(result.ok).toBe(true);
       if (!result.ok) return;
-      expect(result.value.workflows?.alert).toEqual({
+      expect(result.value.workflows.alert).toEqual({
         concurrency: 1,
         overflow: "drop",
       });
-      expect("maxQueue" in (result.value.workflows?.alert ?? {})).toBe(false);
+      expect("maxQueue" in result.value.workflows.alert).toBe(false);
     });
 
     it("overflow: queue defaults maxQueue to 100", () => {
@@ -163,7 +164,7 @@ workflows:
       const result = parseNerveConfig(yaml);
       expect(result.ok).toBe(true);
       if (!result.ok) return;
-      expect(result.value.workflows?.alert).toEqual({
+      expect(result.value.workflows.alert).toEqual({
         concurrency: 1,
         overflow: "queue",
         maxQueue: 100,

packages/core/src/__tests__/daemon-ipc-protocol.test.ts

@@ -18,6 +18,27 @@ describe("parseDaemonIpcRequest", () => {
       workflow: "wf",
       prompt: "go",
       maxRounds: 3,
+      dryRun: false,
+    });
+  });
+
+  it("parses trigger-workflow with dryRun true", () => {
+    expect(
+      parseDaemonIpcRequest(
+        JSON.stringify({
+          type: "trigger-workflow",
+          workflow: "wf",
+          prompt: "go",
+          maxRounds: 3,
+          dryRun: true,
+        }),
+      ),
+    ).toEqual({
+      type: "trigger-workflow",
+      workflow: "wf",
+      prompt: "go",
+      maxRounds: 3,
+      dryRun: true,
     });
   });
 

packages/core/src/config.ts

@@ -76,8 +76,8 @@ function validateSenseConfig(name: string, raw: unknown): Result<SenseConfig> {
   });
 }
 
-function parseOnField(index: number, obj: Record<string, unknown>): Result<string[] | null> {
-  if (obj.on === undefined || obj.on === null) return ok(null);
+function parseOnField(index: number, obj: Record<string, unknown>): Result<string[]> {
+  if (obj.on === undefined || obj.on === null) return ok([]);
   if (!Array.isArray(obj.on) || !obj.on.every((item): item is string => typeof item === "string")) {
     return err(new Error(`reflexes[${index}].on: must be an array of strings`));
   }
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ function parseSenseReflex(
   index: number,
   obj: Record<string, unknown>,
   senseNames: Set<string>,
-  on: string[] | null,
+  on: string[],
 ): Result<ReflexConfig> {
   if (typeof obj.sense !== "string") {
     return err(new Error(`reflexes[${index}].sense: must be a string`));
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ function parseSenseReflex(
   const intervalResult = parseDurationField(obj.interval, `reflexes[${index}].interval`);
   if (!intervalResult.ok) return intervalResult;
 
-  if (intervalResult.value === null && on !== null && on.length === 0) {
+  if (intervalResult.value === null && on.length === 0) {
     return err(
       new Error(`reflexes[${index}]: sense reflex must have at least one of "interval" or "on"`),
     );
@@ -245,10 +245,8 @@ function parseReflexes(
   return ok(reflexes);
 }
 
-function parseWorkflows(
-  obj: Record<string, unknown>,
-): Result<Record<string, WorkflowConfig> | null> {
-  if (obj.workflows === undefined || obj.workflows === null) return ok(null);
+function parseWorkflows(obj: Record<string, unknown>): Result<Record<string, WorkflowConfig>> {
+  if (obj.workflows === undefined || obj.workflows === null) return ok({});
 
   if (!isPlainRecord(obj.workflows)) {
     return err(new Error("workflows: must be an object if provided"));

packages/core/src/daemon-ipc-protocol.ts

@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ export type DaemonIpcTriggerWorkflowRequest = {
   workflow: string;
   prompt: string;
   maxRounds: number;
+  dryRun: boolean;
 };
 
 /** Client → daemon: run a sense compute on demand. */
@@ -51,6 +52,22 @@ export type DaemonIpcResponse =
   | DaemonIpcErrorResponse
   | { ok: true; senses: SenseInfo[] };
 
+function parseTriggerWorkflowFields(
+  req: Record<string, unknown>,
+): DaemonIpcTriggerWorkflowRequest | null {
+  if (typeof req.workflow !== "string" || req.workflow.length === 0) return null;
+  if (typeof req.prompt !== "string") return null;
+  if (typeof req.maxRounds !== "number") return null;
+  const dryRun = typeof req.dryRun === "boolean" ? req.dryRun : false;
+  return {
+    type: "trigger-workflow",
+    workflow: req.workflow,
+    prompt: req.prompt,
+    maxRounds: req.maxRounds,
+    dryRun,
+  };
+}
+
 /**
  * Parse a single line of JSON into a {@link DaemonIpcRequest}, or null if invalid.
  * Kept in core with the request types so CLI and daemon stay aligned at compile time.
@@ -61,15 +78,7 @@ export function parseDaemonIpcRequest(line: string): DaemonIpcRequest | null {
     if (!isPlainRecord(obj)) return null;
     const req = obj;
     if (req.type === "trigger-workflow") {
-      if (typeof req.workflow !== "string" || req.workflow.length === 0) return null;
-      if (typeof req.prompt !== "string") return null;
-      if (typeof req.maxRounds !== "number") return null;
-      return {
-        type: "trigger-workflow",
-        workflow: req.workflow,
-        prompt: req.prompt,
-        maxRounds: req.maxRounds,
-      };
+      return parseTriggerWorkflowFields(req);
     }
     if (req.type === "trigger-sense") {
       if (typeof req.sense !== "string" || req.sense.length === 0) return null;

packages/core/src/index.ts

@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ export type {
   RoleMeta,
   StartSignal,
   RoleSignal,
+  ModeratorContext,
   Moderator,
   WorkflowDefinition,
   SenseResult,

packages/core/src/types.ts

@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ export type Signal = {
   id: number;
   senseId: string;
   payload: unknown;
-  ts: number;
+  timestamp: number;
 };
 
 export type SenseConfig = {
@@ -18,14 +18,14 @@ export type SenseInfo = {
   group: string;
   throttle: number | null;
   timeout: number | null;
-  lastSignalTs: number | null;
+  lastSignalTimestamp: number | null;
 };
 
 export type SenseReflexConfig = {
   kind: "sense";
   sense: string;
   interval: number | null;
-  on: string[] | null;
+  on: string[];
 };
 
 /** Reflexes only schedule Senses; workflow launches come from Sense return values. */
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ export type NerveConfig = {
   maxRounds: number;
   senses: Record<string, SenseConfig>;
   reflexes: ReflexConfig[];
-  workflows: Record<string, WorkflowConfig> | null;
+  workflows: Record<string, WorkflowConfig>;
 };
 
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -76,20 +76,24 @@ export type WorkflowMessage = {
 export type RoleResult<Meta> = { content: string; meta: Meta };
 
 /**
- * A Role is a pure async function: receives the full message chain,
- * returns typed content + meta. Implementation can be an agent, LLM call,
+ * A Role is a pure async function: receives the engine start frame plus prior
+ * role messages only (the start frame is not included in `messages`).
+ * Returns typed content + meta. Implementation can be an agent, LLM call,
  * script, HTTP request, etc.
  */
-export type Role<Meta> = (messages: WorkflowMessage[]) => Promise<RoleResult<Meta>>;
+export type Role<Meta> = (
+  start: StartSignal,
+  messages: WorkflowMessage[],
+) => Promise<RoleResult<Meta>>;
 
 /** Maps role names to their meta types — the single generic that drives all inference. */
 export type RoleMeta = Record<string, Record<string, unknown>>;
 
-/** First message in the thread chain (`messages[0]`) — passed to the moderator on start. */
+/** Engine start frame: prompt, max rounds cap, dry-run flag, and timestamps for the thread. */
 export type StartSignal = {
   role: START;
   content: string;
-  meta: { maxRounds: number };
+  meta: { maxRounds: number; dryRun: boolean };
   timestamp: number;
 };
 
@@ -99,11 +103,19 @@ export type RoleSignal<M extends RoleMeta> = {
 }[keyof M & string];
 
 /**
- * The moderator — a pure routing function. Receives the last signal,
+ * Moderator input: either the initial start frame or a role signal after a step.
+ * Lets implementations branch on `context.kind` with full typing for each arm.
+ */
+export type ModeratorContext<M extends RoleMeta> =
+  | { kind: "start"; start: StartSignal }
+  | { kind: "step"; signal: RoleSignal<M> };
+
+/**
+ * The moderator — a pure routing function. Receives start vs step context,
  * current round, and maxRounds. Returns the next role name or END.
  */
 export type Moderator<M extends RoleMeta> = (
-  signal: StartSignal | RoleSignal<M>,
+  context: ModeratorContext<M>,
   round: number,
   maxRounds: number,
 ) => (keyof M & string) | END;

packages/daemon/src/__tests__/crash-recovery.test.ts

@@ -127,8 +127,8 @@ describe("WorkflowManager — crash recovery (Phase 3)", () => {
       });
       const mgr = createWorkflowManager("/nerve-root", config, logStore);
 
-      mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test 1", maxRounds: 10 });
-      mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test 2", maxRounds: 10 });
+      mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test 1", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
+      mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test 2", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
       expect(mgr.activeCount("my-wf")).toBe(2);
 
       // Simulate unexpected exit (not shutdown)
@@ -154,8 +154,8 @@ describe("WorkflowManager — crash recovery (Phase 3)", () => {
       });
       const mgr = createWorkflowManager("/nerve-root", config, logStore);
 
-      mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10 });
-      mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10 });
+      mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
+      mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
       expect(mgr.activeCount("my-wf")).toBe(2);
 
       const child = mockChildren[0];
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ describe("WorkflowManager — crash recovery (Phase 3)", () => {
       });
       const mgr = createWorkflowManager("/nerve-root", config, logStore);
 
-      mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10 });
+      mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
       expect(mockChildren).toHaveLength(1);
 
       const child = mockChildren[0];
@@ -212,7 +212,7 @@ describe("WorkflowManager — crash recovery (Phase 3)", () => {
       });
       const mgr = createWorkflowManager("/nerve-root", config, logStore);
 
-      mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10 });
+      mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
       const firstChild = mockChildren[0];
       firstChild.exitCode = 1;
       firstChild.connected = false;
@@ -256,7 +256,7 @@ describe("WorkflowManager — crash recovery (Phase 3)", () => {
       const mgr = createWorkflowManager("/nerve-root", config, logStore);
 
       // Start one thread to fill the concurrency slot (so queued run stays queued on respawn)
-      mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10 });
+      mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
       const firstChild = mockChildren[0];
       firstChild.exitCode = 1;
       firstChild.connected = false;
@@ -281,7 +281,7 @@ describe("WorkflowManager — crash recovery (Phase 3)", () => {
       });
       const mgr = createWorkflowManager("/nerve-root", config, logStore);
 
-      mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10 });
+      mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
 
       const child = mockChildren[0];
       const startCall = (child.send as ReturnType<typeof vi.fn>).mock.calls[0];
@@ -317,7 +317,7 @@ describe("WorkflowManager — crash recovery (Phase 3)", () => {
       });
       const mgr = createWorkflowManager("/nerve-root", config, logStore);
 
-      const launch = { prompt: "build-docker for myrepo", maxRounds: 10 };
+      const launch = { prompt: "build-docker for myrepo", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false };
       mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", launch);
 
       const startedCall = logStore.upsertWorkflowRun.mock.calls.find(
@@ -327,7 +327,11 @@ describe("WorkflowManager — crash recovery (Phase 3)", () => {
       const logEntry = startedCall?.[0] as { payload: string | null };
       expect(logEntry.payload).not.toBeNull();
       const parsed = JSON.parse(logEntry.payload as string) as Record<string, unknown>;
-      expect(parsed).toMatchObject({ prompt: "build-docker for myrepo", maxRounds: 10 });
+      expect(parsed).toMatchObject({
+        prompt: "build-docker for myrepo",
+        maxRounds: 10,
+        dryRun: false,
+      });
 
       const stopPromise = mgr.stop();
       await vi.runAllTimersAsync();
@@ -349,7 +353,7 @@ describe("WorkflowManager — crash recovery (Phase 3)", () => {
       const mgr = createWorkflowManager("/nerve-root", config, logStore);
 
       // Start one thread to fill the concurrency slot
-      mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10 });
+      mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
       const firstChild = mockChildren[0];
 
       // Crash once → respawn → crash again → second respawn
@@ -385,7 +389,7 @@ describe("WorkflowManager — crash recovery (Phase 3)", () => {
       });
       const mgr = createWorkflowManager("/nerve-root", config, logStore);
 
-      mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10 });
+      mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
       const firstChild = mockChildren[0];
       firstChild.exitCode = 1;
       firstChild.connected = false;
@@ -415,7 +419,7 @@ describe("WorkflowManager — crash recovery (Phase 3)", () => {
       });
       const mgr = createWorkflowManager("/nerve-root", config, logStore);
 
-      mgr.startWorkflow("crash-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10 });
+      mgr.startWorkflow("crash-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
 
       // Crash the worker 6 times in rapid succession (within CRASH_WINDOW_MS = 60s)
       for (let i = 0; i < 6; i++) {

packages/daemon/src/__tests__/daemon-ipc.test.ts

@@ -154,6 +154,7 @@ describe("daemon-ipc — trigger-sense", () => {
       workflow: "my-workflow",
       prompt: "test prompt",
       maxRounds: 10,
+      dryRun: false,
     });
 
     expect(resp).toEqual({ ok: true });
@@ -161,6 +162,7 @@ describe("daemon-ipc — trigger-sense", () => {
     expect(wfManager.startWorkflow).toHaveBeenCalledWith("my-workflow", {
       prompt: "test prompt",
       maxRounds: 10,
+      dryRun: false,
     });
   });
 
@@ -198,8 +200,20 @@ describe("daemon-ipc — list-senses", () => {
 
   it("responds ok:true with senses populated from listSenses", async () => {
     const sensesData = [
-      { name: "cpu-usage", group: "system", throttle: 5000, timeout: 3000, lastSignalTs: 1000 },
-      { name: "disk-usage", group: "system", throttle: 30000, timeout: null, lastSignalTs: null },
+      {
+        name: "cpu-usage",
+        group: "system",
+        throttle: 5000,
+        timeout: 3000,
+        lastSignalTimestamp: 1000,
+      },
+      {
+        name: "disk-usage",
+        group: "system",
+        throttle: 30000,
+        timeout: null,
+        lastSignalTimestamp: null,
+      },
     ];
     const listSenses = vi.fn(() => sensesData);
     server = createDaemonIpcServer(sockPath, makeMockWorkflowManager() as never, {

packages/daemon/src/__tests__/hot-reload.test.ts

@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ describe("WorkflowManager — drainAndRespawn (Phase 3 hot reload)", () => {
     const config = makeWfConfig({ "my-wf": { concurrency: 1, overflow: "drop" } });
     const mgr = createWorkflowManager("/nerve-root", config, logStore);
 
-    mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10 });
+    mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
     expect(mockChildren).toHaveLength(1);
 
     // Remove workflow from config before drain completes
@@ -121,8 +121,8 @@ describe("WorkflowManager — drainAndRespawn (Phase 3 hot reload)", () => {
     const config = makeWfConfig({ "my-wf": { concurrency: 2, overflow: "drop" } });
     const mgr = createWorkflowManager("/nerve-root", config, logStore);
 
-    mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10 });
-    mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10 });
+    mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
+    mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
     expect(mgr.activeCount("my-wf")).toBe(2);
 
     const drainPromise = mgr.drainAndRespawn("my-wf", 5000);
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ describe("WorkflowManager — drainAndRespawn (Phase 3 hot reload)", () => {
     const config = makeWfConfig({ "my-wf": { concurrency: 1, overflow: "drop" } });
     const mgr = createWorkflowManager("/nerve-root", config, logStore);
 
-    mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10 });
+    mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
     expect(mockChildren).toHaveLength(1);
 
     const drainPromise = mgr.drainAndRespawn("my-wf", 5000);
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ describe("WorkflowManager — drainAndRespawn (Phase 3 hot reload)", () => {
     const config = makeWfConfig({ "my-wf": { concurrency: 1, overflow: "drop" } });
     const mgr = createWorkflowManager("/nerve-root", config, logStore);
 
-    mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10 });
+    mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
     expect(mockChildren).toHaveLength(1);
 
     const drainPromise = mgr.drainAndRespawn("my-wf", 5000);
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@ describe("WorkflowManager — drainAndRespawn (Phase 3 hot reload)", () => {
     const config = makeWfConfig({ "my-wf": { concurrency: 1, overflow: "drop" } });
     const mgr = createWorkflowManager("/nerve-root", config, logStore);
 
-    mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10 });
+    mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
 
     const drainPromise = mgr.drainAndRespawn("my-wf", 5000);
     await vi.runAllTimersAsync();
@@ -211,14 +211,14 @@ describe("WorkflowManager — drainAndRespawn (Phase 3 hot reload)", () => {
     const config = makeWfConfig({ "my-wf": { concurrency: 1, overflow: "drop" } });
     const mgr = createWorkflowManager("/nerve-root", config, logStore);
 
-    mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "first", maxRounds: 10 });
+    mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "first", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
 
     const drainPromise = mgr.drainAndRespawn("my-wf", 5000);
     await vi.runAllTimersAsync();
     await drainPromise;
 
     // Start a new thread on the fresh worker
-    mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "second", maxRounds: 10 });
+    mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "second", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
 
     const newChild = mockChildren[1];
     const startCalls = (newChild.send as ReturnType<typeof vi.fn>).mock.calls.filter(
@@ -250,7 +250,7 @@ describe("Kernel — workflow hot reload via file-watcher (Phase 3)", () => {
     const logStore = makeLogStore();
     const config: NerveConfig = {
       senses: {},
-      reflexes: [{ kind: "workflow", workflow: "my-wf", on: null } as any],
+      reflexes: [],
       workflows: { "my-wf": { concurrency: 1, overflow: "drop" } },
       maxRounds: 10,
     };
@@ -261,7 +261,7 @@ describe("Kernel — workflow hot reload via file-watcher (Phase 3)", () => {
     });
 
     // Trigger a workflow thread so a worker is spawned
-    kernel.workflowManager.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10 });
+    kernel.workflowManager.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
 
     // Manually call drainAndRespawn (simulating what kernel does on workflow file change)
     const drainPromise = kernel.workflowManager.drainAndRespawn("my-wf", 1000);
@@ -285,7 +285,7 @@ describe("Kernel — workflow hot reload via file-watcher (Phase 3)", () => {
     const logStore = makeLogStore();
     const initialConfig: NerveConfig = {
       senses: {},
-      reflexes: [{ kind: "workflow", workflow: "old-wf", on: null } as any],
+      reflexes: [],
       workflows: { "old-wf": { concurrency: 1, overflow: "drop" } },
       maxRounds: 10,
     };
@@ -296,14 +296,18 @@ describe("Kernel — workflow hot reload via file-watcher (Phase 3)", () => {
     });
 
     // Spawn a worker for old-wf
-    kernel.workflowManager.startWorkflow("old-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10 });
+    kernel.workflowManager.startWorkflow("old-wf", {
+      prompt: "test",
+      maxRounds: 10,
+      dryRun: false,
+    });
     expect(mockChildren).toHaveLength(1);
 
     // Reload config without old-wf
     const newConfig: NerveConfig = {
       senses: {},
       reflexes: [],
-      workflows: null,
+      workflows: {},
       maxRounds: 10,
     };
     kernel.reloadConfig(newConfig);
@@ -324,7 +328,7 @@ describe("Kernel — workflow hot reload via file-watcher (Phase 3)", () => {
     const logStore = makeLogStore();
     const initialConfig: NerveConfig = {
       senses: {},
-      reflexes: [{ kind: "workflow", workflow: "my-wf", on: null } as any],
+      reflexes: [],
       workflows: { "my-wf": { concurrency: 1, overflow: "drop" } },
       maxRounds: 10,
     };
@@ -334,13 +338,13 @@ describe("Kernel — workflow hot reload via file-watcher (Phase 3)", () => {
       logStore,
     });
 
-    kernel.workflowManager.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10 });
+    kernel.workflowManager.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
     const workersBefore = mockChildren.length;
 
     // Reload with updated concurrency — should NOT spawn a new workflow worker
     const newConfig: NerveConfig = {
       senses: {},
-      reflexes: [{ kind: "workflow", workflow: "my-wf", on: null } as any],
+      reflexes: [],
       workflows: { "my-wf": { concurrency: 5, overflow: "queue", maxQueue: 50 } },
       maxRounds: 10,
     };
@@ -354,8 +358,8 @@ describe("Kernel — workflow hot reload via file-watcher (Phase 3)", () => {
     expect(kernel.workflowManager.activeCount("my-wf")).toBe(1);
 
     // Can now start up to 5 concurrent threads (previously only 1)
-    kernel.workflowManager.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10 });
-    kernel.workflowManager.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10 });
+    kernel.workflowManager.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
+    kernel.workflowManager.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
     expect(kernel.workflowManager.activeCount("my-wf")).toBe(3);
 
     const stopPromise = kernel.stop();

packages/daemon/src/__tests__/kernel-integration.test.ts

@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ function makeConfig(overrides: Partial<NerveConfig> = {}): NerveConfig {
       "cpu-usage": { group: "system", throttle: null, timeout: null, gracePeriod: null },
     },
     reflexes: [],
-    workflows: null,
+    workflows: {},
     maxRounds: 10,
     ...overrides,
   };

packages/daemon/src/__tests__/kernel-phase6.test.ts

@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ function makeConfig(overrides: Partial<NerveConfig> = {}): NerveConfig {
       "cpu-usage": { group: "system", throttle: null, timeout: null, gracePeriod: null },
     },
     reflexes: [],
-    workflows: null,
+    workflows: {},
     maxRounds: 10,
     ...overrides,
   };
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ describe("kernel — reloadConfig", () => {
         "net-rx": { group: "network", throttle: null, timeout: null, gracePeriod: null },
       },
       reflexes: [],
-      workflows: null,
+      workflows: {},
       maxRounds: 10,
     });
 
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ describe("kernel — reloadConfig", () => {
         "net-rx": { group: "network", throttle: null, timeout: null, gracePeriod: null },
       },
       reflexes: [],
-      workflows: null,
+      workflows: {},
       maxRounds: 10,
     };
     const kernel = createKernel(config, "/tmp/nerve-test");
@@ -212,7 +212,7 @@ describe("kernel — reloadConfig", () => {
         "cpu-usage": { group: "system", throttle: null, timeout: null, gracePeriod: null },
       },
       reflexes: [],
-      workflows: null,
+      workflows: {},
       maxRounds: 10,
     });
 
@@ -235,7 +235,7 @@ describe("kernel — reloadConfig", () => {
         "disk-usage": { group: "system", throttle: null, timeout: null, gracePeriod: null },
       },
       reflexes: [],
-      workflows: null,
+      workflows: {},
       maxRounds: 10,
     });
 

packages/daemon/src/__tests__/kernel-trigger-sense.test.ts

@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ function makeConfig(overrides: Partial<NerveConfig> = {}): NerveConfig {
       "cpu-usage": { group: "system", throttle: null, timeout: null, gracePeriod: null },
     },
     reflexes: [],
-    workflows: null,
+    workflows: {},
     maxRounds: 10,
     ...overrides,
   };

packages/daemon/src/__tests__/kernel-workflow-integration.test.ts

@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ function makeConfig(overrides: Partial<NerveConfig> = {}): NerveConfig {
       "cpu-usage": { group: "system", throttle: null, timeout: null, gracePeriod: null },
     },
     reflexes: [],
-    workflows: null,
+    workflows: {},
     maxRounds: 10,
     ...overrides,
   };
@@ -202,6 +202,7 @@ describe("kernel + workflowManager integration", () => {
         workflow: "alert-workflow",
         prompt: "handle critical alert",
         maxRounds: 5,
+        dryRun: false,
       });
 
       const stopPromise = kernel.stop();
@@ -297,7 +298,7 @@ describe("kernel + workflowManager integration", () => {
           "cpu-usage": { group: "system", throttle: null, timeout: null, gracePeriod: null },
         },
         reflexes: [],
-        workflows: null,
+        workflows: {},
         maxRounds: 10,
       });
 
@@ -365,7 +366,7 @@ describe("kernel + workflowManager integration", () => {
           "cpu-usage": { group: "system", throttle: null, timeout: null, gracePeriod: null },
         },
         reflexes: [],
-        workflows: null,
+        workflows: {},
         maxRounds: 10,
       };
       kernel.reloadConfig(newConfig);

packages/daemon/src/__tests__/kernel.test.ts

@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ function makeConfig(overrides: Partial<NerveConfig> = {}): NerveConfig {
       "cpu-usage": { group: "system", throttle: null, timeout: null, gracePeriod: null },
     },
     reflexes: [],
-    workflows: null,
+    workflows: {},
     maxRounds: 10,
     ...overrides,
   };
@@ -200,7 +200,7 @@ describe("kernel — groupForSense mapping", () => {
         "net-usage": { group: "network", throttle: null, timeout: null, gracePeriod: null },
       },
       reflexes: [],
-      workflows: null,
+      workflows: {},
       maxRounds: 10,
     };
     const kernel = createKernel(config, "/tmp/nerve-test");
@@ -215,7 +215,7 @@ describe("kernel — groupForSense mapping", () => {
       senses: {
         "cpu-usage": { group: "system", throttle: null, timeout: null, gracePeriod: null },
       },
-      reflexes: [{ kind: "sense", sense: "cpu-usage", interval: 500, on: null }],
+      reflexes: [{ kind: "sense", sense: "cpu-usage", interval: 500, on: [] }],
     });
     createKernel(config, "/tmp/nerve-test");
 

packages/daemon/src/__tests__/log-store-integration.test.ts

@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ describe("LogStore + ReflexScheduler integration", () => {
         "cpu-usage": { group: "system", throttle: null, timeout: null, gracePeriod: null },
       },
       reflexes: [{ kind: "sense", sense: "cpu-usage", interval: null, on: ["cpu-usage"] }],
-      workflows: null,
+      workflows: {},
       maxRounds: 10,
     };
     const bus = createSignalBus();
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ describe("LogStore + ReflexScheduler integration", () => {
       logStore,
     });
 
-    const signal: Signal = { id: 1, senseId: "cpu-usage", payload: 42, ts: Date.now() };
+    const signal: Signal = { id: 1, senseId: "cpu-usage", payload: 42, timestamp: Date.now() };
     bus.emit(signal);
 
     const logs = logStore.query({ source: "reflex", type: "run_start" });
@@ -56,8 +56,8 @@ describe("LogStore + ReflexScheduler integration", () => {
       senses: {
         "cpu-usage": { group: "system", throttle: null, timeout: null, gracePeriod: null },
       },
-      reflexes: [{ kind: "sense", sense: "cpu-usage", interval: 1000, on: null }],
-      workflows: null,
+      reflexes: [{ kind: "sense", sense: "cpu-usage", interval: 1000, on: [] }],
+      workflows: {},
       maxRounds: 10,
     };
     const bus = createSignalBus();
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ describe("LogStore + ReflexScheduler integration", () => {
         "cpu-usage": { group: "system", throttle: null, timeout: null, gracePeriod: null },
       },
       reflexes: [{ kind: "sense", sense: "cpu-usage", interval: null, on: ["cpu-usage"] }],
-      workflows: null,
+      workflows: {},
       maxRounds: 10,
     };
     const bus = createSignalBus();

packages/daemon/src/__tests__/phase6-integration.test.ts

@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ function makeConfig(overrides: Partial<NerveConfig> = {}): NerveConfig {
       "cpu-usage": { group: "system", throttle: null, timeout: null, gracePeriod: null },
     },
     reflexes: [],
-    workflows: null,
+    workflows: {},
     maxRounds: 10,
     ...overrides,
   };
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ describe("phase6 — reloadConfig", () => {
         "net-rx": { group: "network", throttle: null, timeout: null, gracePeriod: null },
       },
       reflexes: [],
-      workflows: null,
+      workflows: {},
       maxRounds: 10,
     };
 
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ describe("phase6 — reloadConfig", () => {
         "net-rx": { group: "network", throttle: null, timeout: null, gracePeriod: null },
       },
       reflexes: [],
-      workflows: null,
+      workflows: {},
       maxRounds: 10,
     };
     kernel = createKernel(config, "/tmp/nerve-phase6-test", {
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ describe("phase6 — reloadConfig", () => {
         "cpu-usage": { group: "system", throttle: null, timeout: null, gracePeriod: null },
       },
       reflexes: [],
-      workflows: null,
+      workflows: {},
       maxRounds: 10,
     };
 
@@ -202,7 +202,7 @@ describe("phase6 — error isolation", () => {
         "bad-sense": { group: "mixed", throttle: null, timeout: null, gracePeriod: null },
       },
       reflexes: [],
-      workflows: null,
+      workflows: {},
       maxRounds: 10,
     };
 
@@ -306,7 +306,7 @@ describe("phase6 — getHealth", () => {
         "net-rx": { group: "network", throttle: null, timeout: null, gracePeriod: null },
       },
       reflexes: [],
-      workflows: null,
+      workflows: {},
       maxRounds: 10,
     };
     kernel.reloadConfig(newConfig);

packages/daemon/src/__tests__/reflex-scheduler-throttle-pending.test.ts

@@ -10,14 +10,14 @@ function makeConfig(overrides: Partial<NerveConfig> = {}): NerveConfig {
       "cpu-usage": { group: "system", throttle: null, timeout: null, gracePeriod: null },
     },
     reflexes: [],
-    workflows: null,
+    workflows: {},
     maxRounds: 10,
     ...overrides,
   };
 }
 
 function makeSignal(senseId: string, payload: unknown = 1): Signal {
-  return { id: 1, senseId, payload, ts: Date.now() };
+  return { id: 1, senseId, payload, timestamp: Date.now() };
 }
 
 describe("ReflexScheduler — throttle + pending deferred trigger", () => {

packages/daemon/src/__tests__/reflex-scheduler.test.ts

@@ -16,14 +16,14 @@ function makeConfig(overrides: Partial<NerveConfig> = {}): NerveConfig {
       "system-health": { group: "derived", throttle: null, timeout: null, gracePeriod: null },
     },
     reflexes: [],
-    workflows: null,
+    workflows: {},
     maxRounds: 10,
     ...overrides,
   };
 }
 
 function makeSignal(senseId: string, payload: unknown = 1): Signal {
-  return { id: 1, senseId, payload, ts: Date.now() };
+  return { id: 1, senseId, payload, timestamp: Date.now() };
 }
 
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ describe("ReflexScheduler — interval reflex", () => {
   it("fires triggerFn on schedule", () => {
     const triggered: string[] = [];
     const config = makeConfig({
-      reflexes: [{ kind: "sense", sense: "cpu-usage", interval: 1000, on: null }],
+      reflexes: [{ kind: "sense", sense: "cpu-usage", interval: 1000, on: [] }],
     });
     const bus = createSignalBus();
     // Use a ref so the triggerFn can call back into the scheduler
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ describe("ReflexScheduler — interval reflex", () => {
   it("stops firing after stop() is called", () => {
     const triggered: string[] = [];
     const config = makeConfig({
-      reflexes: [{ kind: "sense", sense: "cpu-usage", interval: 500, on: null }],
+      reflexes: [{ kind: "sense", sense: "cpu-usage", interval: 500, on: [] }],
     });
     const bus = createSignalBus();
     const ref: { scheduler: ReturnType<typeof createReflexScheduler> | null } = {
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ describe("ReflexScheduler — interval reflex", () => {
   it("starts from current time — does not compensate for past intervals", () => {
     const triggered: string[] = [];
     const config = makeConfig({
-      reflexes: [{ kind: "sense", sense: "cpu-usage", interval: 1000, on: null }],
+      reflexes: [{ kind: "sense", sense: "cpu-usage", interval: 1000, on: [] }],
     });
     const bus = createSignalBus();
     const scheduler = createReflexScheduler(config, bus, (name) => triggered.push(name));

packages/daemon/src/__tests__/signal-bus.test.ts

@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import type { Signal } from "@uncaged/nerve-core";
 import { createSignalBus } from "../signal-bus.js";
 
 function makeSignal(senseId: string, payload: unknown = 1): Signal {
-  return { id: 1, senseId, payload, ts: Date.now() };
+  return { id: 1, senseId, payload, timestamp: Date.now() };
 }
 
 describe("createSignalBus", () => {

packages/daemon/src/__tests__/workflow-manager.test.ts

@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ describe("WorkflowManager", () => {
       });
       const mgr = createWorkflowManager("/nerve-root", config, logStore);
 
-      mgr.startWorkflow("my-workflow", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10 });
+      mgr.startWorkflow("my-workflow", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
 
       expect(mockChildren).toHaveLength(1);
       expect(mockChildren[0].send).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
@@ -131,8 +131,8 @@ describe("WorkflowManager", () => {
       });
       const mgr = createWorkflowManager("/nerve-root", config, logStore);
 
-      mgr.startWorkflow("my-workflow", { prompt: "test 1", maxRounds: 10 });
-      mgr.startWorkflow("my-workflow", { prompt: "test 2", maxRounds: 10 });
+      mgr.startWorkflow("my-workflow", { prompt: "test 1", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
+      mgr.startWorkflow("my-workflow", { prompt: "test 2", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
 
       // Only one forked child — worker is reused
       expect(mockChildren).toHaveLength(1);
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ describe("WorkflowManager", () => {
       });
       const mgr = createWorkflowManager("/nerve-root", config, logStore);
 
-      mgr.startWorkflow("my-workflow", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10 });
+      mgr.startWorkflow("my-workflow", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
 
       expect(logStore.upsertWorkflowRun).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
         expect.objectContaining({ source: "workflow", type: "started" }),
@@ -164,9 +164,9 @@ describe("WorkflowManager", () => {
       });
       const mgr = createWorkflowManager("/nerve-root", config, logStore);
 
-      mgr.startWorkflow("drop-wf", { prompt: "first", maxRounds: 10 });
+      mgr.startWorkflow("drop-wf", { prompt: "first", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
       // now at limit — second call should be dropped
-      mgr.startWorkflow("drop-wf", { prompt: "second", maxRounds: 10 });
+      mgr.startWorkflow("drop-wf", { prompt: "second", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
 
       expect(mgr.activeCount("drop-wf")).toBe(1);
       expect(mgr.queueLength("drop-wf")).toBe(0);
@@ -181,8 +181,8 @@ describe("WorkflowManager", () => {
       });
       const mgr = createWorkflowManager("/nerve-root", config, logStore);
 
-      mgr.startWorkflow("drop-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10 });
-      mgr.startWorkflow("drop-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10 });
+      mgr.startWorkflow("drop-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
+      mgr.startWorkflow("drop-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
 
       const droppedCall = logStore.upsertWorkflowRun.mock.calls.find(
         ([entry]) => entry.type === "dropped",
@@ -199,8 +199,8 @@ describe("WorkflowManager", () => {
       });
       const mgr = createWorkflowManager("/nerve-root", config, logStore);
 
-      mgr.startWorkflow("queue-wf", { prompt: "first", maxRounds: 10 });
-      mgr.startWorkflow("queue-wf", { prompt: "second", maxRounds: 10 });
+      mgr.startWorkflow("queue-wf", { prompt: "first", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
+      mgr.startWorkflow("queue-wf", { prompt: "second", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
 
       expect(mgr.activeCount("queue-wf")).toBe(1);
       expect(mgr.queueLength("queue-wf")).toBe(1);
@@ -213,8 +213,8 @@ describe("WorkflowManager", () => {
       });
       const mgr = createWorkflowManager("/nerve-root", config, logStore);
 
-      mgr.startWorkflow("queue-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10 });
-      mgr.startWorkflow("queue-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10 });
+      mgr.startWorkflow("queue-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
+      mgr.startWorkflow("queue-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
 
       const queuedCall = logStore.upsertWorkflowRun.mock.calls.find(
         ([entry]) => entry.type === "queued",
@@ -233,12 +233,12 @@ describe("WorkflowManager", () => {
       const mgr = createWorkflowManager("/nerve-root", config, logStore);
 
       // Fill the concurrency slot
-      mgr.startWorkflow("queue-wf", { prompt: "test 0", maxRounds: 10 });
+      mgr.startWorkflow("queue-wf", { prompt: "test 0", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
       // Fill the queue to maxQueue
-      mgr.startWorkflow("queue-wf", { prompt: "test 1", maxRounds: 10 });
-      mgr.startWorkflow("queue-wf", { prompt: "test 2", maxRounds: 10 });
+      mgr.startWorkflow("queue-wf", { prompt: "test 1", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
+      mgr.startWorkflow("queue-wf", { prompt: "test 2", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
       // This one should push out the oldest
-      mgr.startWorkflow("queue-wf", { prompt: "test 3", maxRounds: 10 });
+      mgr.startWorkflow("queue-wf", { prompt: "test 3", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
 
       // Queue should still be at maxQueue (2)
       expect(mgr.queueLength("queue-wf")).toBe(2);
@@ -259,8 +259,8 @@ describe("WorkflowManager", () => {
       });
       const mgr = createWorkflowManager("/nerve-root", config, logStore);
 
-      mgr.startWorkflow("queue-wf", { prompt: "first", maxRounds: 10 });
-      mgr.startWorkflow("queue-wf", { prompt: "second", maxRounds: 10 });
+      mgr.startWorkflow("queue-wf", { prompt: "first", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
+      mgr.startWorkflow("queue-wf", { prompt: "second", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
 
       expect(mgr.activeCount("queue-wf")).toBe(1);
       expect(mgr.queueLength("queue-wf")).toBe(1);
@@ -294,8 +294,8 @@ describe("WorkflowManager", () => {
       });
       const mgr = createWorkflowManager("/nerve-root", config, logStore);
 
-      mgr.startWorkflow("queue-wf", { prompt: "first", maxRounds: 10 });
-      mgr.startWorkflow("queue-wf", { prompt: "second", maxRounds: 10 });
+      mgr.startWorkflow("queue-wf", { prompt: "first", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
+      mgr.startWorkflow("queue-wf", { prompt: "second", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
 
       const child = mockChildren[0];
       const firstRunId = (child.send as ReturnType<typeof vi.fn>).mock.calls[0][0].runId as string;
@@ -321,8 +321,8 @@ describe("WorkflowManager", () => {
       });
       const mgr = createWorkflowManager("/nerve-root", config, logStore);
 
-      mgr.startWorkflow("wf-a", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10 });
-      mgr.startWorkflow("wf-b", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10 });
+      mgr.startWorkflow("wf-a", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
+      mgr.startWorkflow("wf-b", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
 
       // Two distinct workers should have been forked
       expect(mockChildren).toHaveLength(2);
@@ -348,7 +348,7 @@ describe("WorkflowManager", () => {
       await vi.runAllTimersAsync();
       await stopPromise;
 
-      mgr.startWorkflow("wf-a", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10 });
+      mgr.startWorkflow("wf-a", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
 
       // No worker should have been spawned
       expect(mockChildren).toHaveLength(0);
@@ -361,7 +361,7 @@ describe("WorkflowManager", () => {
       const config = makeConfig({});
       const mgr = createWorkflowManager("/nerve-root", config, logStore);
 
-      mgr.startWorkflow("no-such-workflow", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10 });
+      mgr.startWorkflow("no-such-workflow", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
 
       expect(mockChildren).toHaveLength(0);
       expect(logStore.upsertWorkflowRun).not.toHaveBeenCalled();

packages/daemon/src/daemon-ipc.ts

@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@ export function createDaemonIpcServer(
         workflowManager.startWorkflow(req.workflow, {
           prompt: req.prompt,
           maxRounds: req.maxRounds,
+          dryRun: req.dryRun,
         });
         const resp: DaemonIpcResponse = { ok: true };
         socket.write(`${JSON.stringify(resp)}\n`);

packages/daemon/src/ipc.ts

@@ -34,6 +34,8 @@ export type StartThreadMessage = {
   prompt: string;
   /** Safety-valve: max moderator rounds for this thread (engine launch parameter). */
   maxRounds: number;
+  /** When true, roles may skip side effects (thread-level hint on the start frame). */
+  dryRun: boolean;
 };
 
 /** Parent → Workflow Worker: resume an existing thread after crash recovery */
@@ -44,6 +46,8 @@ export type ResumeThreadMessage = {
   messages: Array<{ role: string; content: string; meta: unknown; timestamp: number }>;
   /** Safety-valve: max moderator rounds for this thread. */
   maxRounds: number;
+  /** Thread-level dry-run hint (aligns with persisted `__start__` meta when replaying). */
+  dryRun: boolean;
 };
 
 /** Union of all messages the parent sends to a worker */
@@ -135,6 +139,7 @@ function validateStartThreadMsg(obj: Record<string, unknown>): string | null {
   if (typeof obj.workflow !== "string") return "'start-thread' message missing string 'workflow'";
   if (typeof obj.prompt !== "string") return "'start-thread' message missing string 'prompt'";
   if (typeof obj.maxRounds !== "number") return "'start-thread' message missing number 'maxRounds'";
+  if (typeof obj.dryRun !== "boolean") return "'start-thread' message missing boolean 'dryRun'";
   return null;
 }
 
@@ -143,6 +148,7 @@ function validateResumeThreadMsg(obj: Record<string, unknown>): string | null {
   if (!Array.isArray(obj.messages)) return "'resume-thread' message missing 'messages' array";
   if (typeof obj.maxRounds !== "number")
     return "'resume-thread' message missing number 'maxRounds'";
+  if (typeof obj.dryRun !== "boolean") return "'resume-thread' message missing boolean 'dryRun'";
   return null;
 }
 
@@ -180,6 +186,7 @@ export function parseParentMessage(raw: unknown): Result<ParentToWorkerMessage>
       workflow: obj.workflow,
       prompt: obj.prompt,
       maxRounds: obj.maxRounds,
+      dryRun: obj.dryRun,
     } as StartThreadMessage);
   }
   if (obj.type === "resume-thread") {
@@ -191,6 +198,7 @@ export function parseParentMessage(raw: unknown): Result<ParentToWorkerMessage>
       runId: obj.runId,
       messages: obj.messages as ResumeThreadMessage["messages"],
       maxRounds: obj.maxRounds,
+      dryRun: obj.dryRun,
     } as ResumeThreadMessage);
   }
   return err(new Error(`Unhandled IPC message type: "${obj.type}"`));

packages/daemon/src/kernel.ts

@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ export function createKernel(
       const route = routeSenseComputeOutput(msg.payload);
       if (route.kind === "launch") {
         const { workflowName, maxRounds, prompt } = route.launch;
-        workflowManager.startWorkflow(workflowName, { prompt, maxRounds });
+        workflowManager.startWorkflow(workflowName, { prompt, maxRounds, dryRun: false });
         logStore.append({
           source: "sense",
           type: "workflow-launch",
@@ -161,14 +161,14 @@ export function createKernel(
           id: nextSignalId(),
           senseId: msg.sense,
           payload: route.payload,
-          ts: Date.now(),
+          timestamp: Date.now(),
         };
         logStore.append({
           source: "sense",
           type: "signal",
           refId: msg.sense,
           payload: JSON.stringify(route.payload),
-          ts: signal.ts,
+          ts: signal.timestamp,
         });
         bus.emit(signal);
       }
@@ -239,7 +239,7 @@ export function createKernel(
   function reloadConfig(newConfig: NerveConfig): void {
     const oldGroups = collectSenseGroups(config);
     const oldConfig = config;
-    const oldWorkflows = config.workflows ?? {};
+    const oldWorkflows = config.workflows;
     config = newConfig;
     scheduler.stop();
     scheduler = createReflexScheduler(config, bus, triggerFn, {
@@ -247,7 +247,7 @@ export function createKernel(
     });
     workflowManager.updateConfig(newConfig);
 
-    const newWorkflows = newConfig.workflows ?? {};
+    const newWorkflows = newConfig.workflows;
 
     for (const workflowName of Object.keys(oldWorkflows)) {
       if (!(workflowName in newWorkflows)) {
@@ -327,7 +327,7 @@ export function createKernel(
             group: senseConfig.group,
             throttle: senseConfig.throttle,
             timeout: senseConfig.timeout,
-            lastSignalTs: lastEntry !== null ? lastEntry.ts : null,
+            lastSignalTimestamp: lastEntry !== null ? lastEntry.ts : null,
           };
         });
       },

packages/daemon/src/reflex-scheduler.ts

@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ export function createReflexScheduler(
       intervals.push(id);
     }
 
-    if (senseReflex.on !== null && senseReflex.on.length > 0) {
+    if (senseReflex.on.length > 0) {
       const watchedSenses = new Set(senseReflex.on);
       const unsub = bus.subscribe((signal) => {
         if (watchedSenses.has(signal.senseId)) {

packages/daemon/src/workflow-manager.ts

@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ import {
 export type WorkflowLaunchParams = {
   prompt: string;
   maxRounds: number;
+  dryRun: boolean;
 };
 
 export type WorkflowManager = {
@@ -58,6 +59,7 @@ type PendingThread = {
   runId: string;
   prompt: string;
   maxRounds: number;
+  dryRun: boolean;
 };
 
 type WorkflowState = {
@@ -90,20 +92,22 @@ const DEFAULT_MAX_QUEUE = 100;
 function readLaunchFromTriggerPayload(
   raw: unknown,
   engineDefaultMaxRounds: number,
-): { prompt: string; maxRounds: number } {
+): { prompt: string; maxRounds: number; dryRun: boolean } {
   if (isPlainRecord(raw)) {
     const o = raw;
     if (typeof o.prompt === "string" && typeof o.maxRounds === "number") {
-      return { prompt: o.prompt, maxRounds: o.maxRounds };
+      const dryRun = typeof o.dryRun === "boolean" ? o.dryRun : false;
+      return { prompt: o.prompt, maxRounds: o.maxRounds, dryRun };
     }
   }
-  return { prompt: "", maxRounds: engineDefaultMaxRounds };
+  return { prompt: "", maxRounds: engineDefaultMaxRounds, dryRun: false };
 }
 
 function ensureThreadMessagesWithStart(
   messages: Array<{ role: string; content: string; meta: unknown; timestamp: number }>,
   fallbackPrompt: string,
   fallbackMaxRounds: number,
+  fallbackDryRun: boolean,
 ): WorkflowMessage[] {
   const mapped: WorkflowMessage[] = messages.map((m) => ({
     role: m.role,
@@ -117,7 +121,7 @@ function ensureThreadMessagesWithStart(
   const start: WorkflowMessage = {
     role: START,
     content: fallbackPrompt,
-    meta: { maxRounds: fallbackMaxRounds },
+    meta: { maxRounds: fallbackMaxRounds, dryRun: fallbackDryRun },
     timestamp: Date.now(),
   };
   return [start, ...mapped];
@@ -213,7 +217,7 @@ export function createWorkflowManager(
   }
 
   function workflowConfig(workflowName: string): WorkflowConfig | null {
-    return config.workflows?.[workflowName] ?? null;
+    return config.workflows[workflowName] ?? null;
   }
 
   function toWorkflowRunStatus(eventType: string): WorkflowRunStatus | null {
@@ -260,6 +264,7 @@ export function createWorkflowManager(
     runId: string,
     prompt: string,
     maxRounds: number,
+    dryRun: boolean,
   ): void {
     const state = getOrCreateState(workflowName);
     state.active.add(runId);
@@ -271,9 +276,10 @@ export function createWorkflowManager(
       workflow: workflowName,
       prompt,
       maxRounds,
+      dryRun,
     };
     sendStartThread(worker.process, msg);
-    logWorkflowEvent(workflowName, runId, "started", { prompt, maxRounds });
+    logWorkflowEvent(workflowName, runId, "started", { prompt, maxRounds, dryRun });
   }
 
   function dequeueNext(workflowName: string): void {
@@ -286,7 +292,7 @@ export function createWorkflowManager(
     if (state.active.size < concurrency) {
       const next = state.queue.shift();
       if (next !== undefined) {
-        dispatchThread(workflowName, next.runId, next.prompt, next.maxRounds);
+        dispatchThread(workflowName, next.runId, next.prompt, next.maxRounds, next.dryRun);
       }
     }
   }
@@ -311,7 +317,12 @@ export function createWorkflowManager(
       logStore.getTriggerPayload(runId),
       config.maxRounds,
     );
-    state.queue.push({ runId, prompt: launch.prompt, maxRounds: launch.maxRounds });
+    state.queue.push({
+      runId,
+      prompt: launch.prompt,
+      maxRounds: launch.maxRounds,
+      dryRun: launch.dryRun,
+    });
     process.stderr.write(
       `[workflow-manager] crash-recovery: re-queued thread "${runId}" for "${workflowName}"\n`,
     );
@@ -329,13 +340,19 @@ export function createWorkflowManager(
       logStore.getTriggerPayload(runId),
       config.maxRounds,
     );
-    const messages = ensureThreadMessagesWithStart(rawMessages, launch.prompt, launch.maxRounds);
+    const messages = ensureThreadMessagesWithStart(
+      rawMessages,
+      launch.prompt,
+      launch.maxRounds,
+      launch.dryRun,
+    );
     state.active.add(runId);
     const msg: ResumeThreadMessage = {
       type: "resume-thread",
       runId,
       messages,
       maxRounds: launch.maxRounds,
+      dryRun: launch.dryRun,
     };
     sendResumeThread(worker.process, msg);
     process.stderr.write(
@@ -531,10 +548,10 @@ export function createWorkflowManager(
 
     const state = getOrCreateState(workflowName);
     const runId = crypto.randomUUID();
-    const { prompt, maxRounds } = launch;
+    const { prompt, maxRounds, dryRun } = launch;
 
     if (state.active.size < wfConfig.concurrency) {
-      dispatchThread(workflowName, runId, prompt, maxRounds);
+      dispatchThread(workflowName, runId, prompt, maxRounds, dryRun);
       return;
     }
 
@@ -559,7 +576,7 @@ export function createWorkflowManager(
       }
     }
 
-    state.queue.push({ runId, prompt, maxRounds });
+    state.queue.push({ runId, prompt, maxRounds, dryRun });
     logWorkflowEvent(workflowName, runId, "queued");
     process.stderr.write(
       `[workflow-manager] queued thread for "${workflowName}" runId "${runId}" (queue length: ${state.queue.length})\n`,

packages/daemon/src/workflow-worker.ts

@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ import { existsSync } from "node:fs";
 import { join, resolve } from "node:path";
 
 import type {
-  Moderator,
+  ModeratorContext,
   RoleMeta,
   StartSignal,
   WorkflowDefinition,
@@ -29,8 +29,6 @@ import type {
 import { parseParentMessage } from "./ipc.js";
 import { ignoreSessionBroadcastSignals } from "./worker-fork-support.js";
 
-type ModeratorInput = Parameters<Moderator<RoleMeta>>[0];
-
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // IPC helpers
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -87,42 +85,95 @@ function validateRoleResult(
   return true;
 }
 
-function buildInitialLastSignal(lastMsg: WorkflowMessage): ModeratorInput {
-  if (lastMsg.role === START) {
-    return {
-      role: START,
-      content: lastMsg.content,
-      meta: lastMsg.meta as StartSignal["meta"],
-      timestamp: lastMsg.timestamp,
-    };
-  }
-  return { role: lastMsg.role, meta: lastMsg.meta as Record<string, unknown> };
+function isStartMeta(meta: unknown): meta is StartSignal["meta"] {
+  return (
+    isPlainRecord(meta) && typeof meta.maxRounds === "number" && typeof meta.dryRun === "boolean"
+  );
 }
 
-function initChain(
+function normalizeStartMeta(meta: unknown, maxRoundsFallback: number): StartSignal["meta"] {
+  if (!isPlainRecord(meta)) {
+    return { maxRounds: maxRoundsFallback, dryRun: false };
+  }
+  const maxRounds = typeof meta.maxRounds === "number" ? meta.maxRounds : maxRoundsFallback;
+  const dryRun = typeof meta.dryRun === "boolean" ? meta.dryRun : false;
+  return { maxRounds, dryRun };
+}
+
+function startSignalFromWorkflowMessage(
+  msg: WorkflowMessage,
+  maxRoundsFallback: number,
+): StartSignal {
+  if (msg.role !== START) {
+    return {
+      role: START,
+      content: "",
+      meta: { maxRounds: maxRoundsFallback, dryRun: false },
+      timestamp: Date.now(),
+    };
+  }
+  const meta = isStartMeta(msg.meta) ? msg.meta : normalizeStartMeta(msg.meta, maxRoundsFallback);
+  return {
+    role: START,
+    content: msg.content,
+    meta,
+    timestamp: msg.timestamp,
+  };
+}
+
+type ThreadMessagesState = {
+  start: StartSignal;
+  /** Role outputs only; never includes the `__start__` frame. */
+  messages: WorkflowMessage[];
+};
+
+function initThreadMessages(
   runId: string,
   resumeMessages: WorkflowMessage[],
   freshPrompt: string | null,
   maxRounds: number,
-): WorkflowMessage[] {
+  dryRun: boolean,
+): ThreadMessagesState {
   if (resumeMessages.length > 0) {
-    return [...resumeMessages];
+    const [first, ...rest] = resumeMessages;
+    if (first.role === START) {
+      return {
+        start: startSignalFromWorkflowMessage(first, maxRounds),
+        messages: [...rest],
+      };
+    }
+    const prompt = freshPrompt ?? "";
+    return {
+      start: {
+        role: START,
+        content: prompt,
+        meta: { maxRounds, dryRun },
+        timestamp: Date.now(),
+      },
+      messages: [...resumeMessages],
+    };
   }
   const prompt = freshPrompt ?? "";
-  const startMsg: WorkflowMessage = {
+  const start: StartSignal = {
     role: START,
     content: prompt,
-    meta: { maxRounds },
+    meta: { maxRounds, dryRun },
     timestamp: Date.now(),
   };
-  sendWorkflowMessage(runId, startMsg);
-  return [startMsg];
+  sendWorkflowMessage(runId, {
+    role: start.role,
+    content: start.content,
+    meta: start.meta,
+    timestamp: start.timestamp,
+  });
+  return { start, messages: [] };
 }
 
 async function executeRole(
   def: WorkflowDefinition<RoleMeta>,
   nextRole: string,
-  chain: WorkflowMessage[],
+  start: StartSignal,
+  messages: WorkflowMessage[],
   runId: string,
 ): Promise<{ content: string; meta: Record<string, unknown> } | null> {
   const role = def.roles[nextRole];
@@ -133,7 +184,7 @@ async function executeRole(
 
   let result: { content: string; meta: Record<string, unknown> };
   try {
-    result = await role(chain);
+    result = await role(start, messages);
   } catch (e: unknown) {
     const errMsg = e instanceof Error ? e.message : String(e);
     sendThreadEvent(runId, "failed", { error: errMsg });
@@ -150,17 +201,18 @@ async function runThread(
   maxRounds: number,
   resumeMessages: WorkflowMessage[] = [],
   freshPrompt: string | null = null,
+  dryRun = false,
 ): Promise<void> {
-  const chain = initChain(runId, resumeMessages, freshPrompt, maxRounds);
+  const { start, messages: roleMessages } = initThreadMessages(
+    runId,
+    resumeMessages,
+    freshPrompt,
+    maxRounds,
+    dryRun,
+  );
 
-  let roleRound = chain.filter((m) => m.role !== START).length;
-  const lastMsg = chain[chain.length - 1];
-  if (lastMsg === undefined) {
-    sendWorkflowError(runId, "empty workflow message chain");
-    return;
-  }
-
-  let nextRole = def.moderator(buildInitialLastSignal(lastMsg), roleRound, maxRounds);
+  let roleRound = roleMessages.length;
+  let nextRole = def.moderator({ kind: "start", start }, roleRound, maxRounds);
 
   if (nextRole === END) {
     sendThreadEvent(runId, "completed", null);
@@ -168,7 +220,7 @@ async function runThread(
   }
 
   while (roleRound < maxRounds) {
-    const result = await executeRole(def, nextRole, chain, runId);
+    const result = await executeRole(def, nextRole, start, roleMessages, runId);
     if (result === null) return;
 
     const message: WorkflowMessage = {
@@ -177,13 +229,16 @@ async function runThread(
       meta: result.meta,
       timestamp: Date.now(),
     };
-    chain.push(message);
+    roleMessages.push(message);
     sendWorkflowMessage(runId, message);
 
     roleRound += 1;
 
-    const signal: ModeratorInput = { role: nextRole, meta: result.meta };
-    nextRole = def.moderator(signal, roleRound, maxRounds);
+    const stepContext: ModeratorContext<RoleMeta> = {
+      kind: "step",
+      signal: { role: nextRole, meta: result.meta },
+    };
+    nextRole = def.moderator(stepContext, roleRound, maxRounds);
 
     if (nextRole === END) {
       sendThreadEvent(runId, "completed", null);
@@ -267,11 +322,11 @@ function handleMessage(
 
   if (msg.type === "start-thread") {
     if (shuttingDown.value) return;
-    const { runId, prompt, maxRounds } = msg;
+    const { runId, prompt, maxRounds, dryRun } = msg;
 
     const previous = inFlight.get(runId) ?? Promise.resolve();
     const next = previous
-      .then(() => runThread(def, runId, maxRounds, [], prompt))
+      .then(() => runThread(def, runId, maxRounds, [], prompt, dryRun))
       .catch((e: unknown) => {
         const errMsg = e instanceof Error ? e.message : String(e);
         sendWorkflowError(runId, errMsg);
@@ -286,11 +341,11 @@ function handleMessage(
 
   if (msg.type === "resume-thread") {
     if (shuttingDown.value) return;
-    const { runId, messages, maxRounds } = msg;
+    const { runId, messages, maxRounds, dryRun } = msg;
 
     const previous = inFlight.get(runId) ?? Promise.resolve();
     const next = previous
-      .then(() => runThread(def, runId, maxRounds, messages, null))
+      .then(() => runThread(def, runId, maxRounds, messages, null, dryRun))
       .catch((e: unknown) => {
         const errMsg = e instanceof Error ? e.message : String(e);
         sendWorkflowError(runId, errMsg);

packages/store/src/log-store.ts

@@ -242,6 +242,41 @@ function runInTransaction<T>(db: DatabaseSync, fn: () => T): T {
   }
 }
 
+function launchShapeFromRecord(rec: Record<string, unknown>): {
+  prompt: string;
+  maxRounds: number;
+  dryRun: boolean;
+} | null {
+  if (typeof rec.prompt !== "string" || typeof rec.maxRounds !== "number") return null;
+  return {
+    prompt: rec.prompt,
+    maxRounds: rec.maxRounds,
+    dryRun: typeof rec.dryRun === "boolean" ? rec.dryRun : false,
+  };
+}
+
+/** Parse JSON from a workflow `started` log row into a trigger / launch payload for crash recovery. */
+function triggerPayloadFromStartedLogJson(payload: string): unknown | null {
+  let parsed: unknown;
+  try {
+    parsed = JSON.parse(payload);
+  } catch {
+    return null;
+  }
+  if (!isPlainRecord(parsed)) return null;
+
+  const direct = launchShapeFromRecord(parsed);
+  if (direct !== null) return direct;
+
+  const inner = parsed.triggerPayload;
+  if (inner !== null && isPlainRecord(inner)) {
+    const fromInner = launchShapeFromRecord(inner);
+    if (fromInner !== null) return fromInner;
+    return inner;
+  }
+  return null;
+}
+
 function runOptionalVacuum(sqlite: DatabaseSync, vacuum?: boolean): boolean {
   if (vacuum !== true) return false;
   sqlite.exec("VACUUM");
@@ -513,15 +548,7 @@ export function createLogStore(dbPath: string): LogStore {
   function getTriggerPayload(runId: string): unknown {
     const row = getTriggerPayloadStmt.get(runId) as { payload: string | null } | undefined;
     if (row === undefined || row.payload === null) return null;
-    try {
-      const parsed: unknown = JSON.parse(row.payload);
-      if (isPlainRecord(parsed)) {
-        return parsed.triggerPayload ?? null;
-      }
-    } catch {
-      // malformed
-    }
-    return null;
+    return triggerPayloadFromStartedLogJson(row.payload);
   }
 
   function getThreadEvents(runId: string): Array<{ type: string; [key: string]: unknown }> {

packages/workflow-utils/src/__tests__/llm-extract.test.ts

@@ -107,4 +107,24 @@ describe("llmExtract", () => {
     }
     expect(result.error.kind).toBe("schema_validation_failed");
   });
+
+  it("dryRun skips fetch and returns an empty stub value", async () => {
+    const fetchMock = vi.fn();
+    vi.stubGlobal("fetch", fetchMock);
+
+    const schema = z.object({ n: z.number() });
+    const result = await llmExtract({
+      text: "ignored",
+      schema,
+      provider: { baseUrl: "https://example.com", apiKey: "k", model: "m" },
+      dryRun: true,
+    });
+
+    expect(fetchMock).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(result.ok).toBe(true);
+    if (!result.ok) {
+      return;
+    }
+    expect(result.value).toEqual({});
+  });
 });

packages/workflow-utils/src/__tests__/spawn-safe.test.ts

@@ -36,4 +36,24 @@ describe("spawnSafe", () => {
     }
     expect(result.error.exitCode).toBe(7);
   });
+
+  it("dryRun skips spawn and returns a zero-exit stub", async () => {
+    const result = await spawnSafe(process.execPath, ["-e", "process.exit(1)"], {
+      cwd: null,
+      env: null,
+      timeoutMs: 10_000,
+      dryRun: true,
+    });
+
+    expect(result.ok).toBe(true);
+    if (!result.ok) {
+      return;
+    }
+    expect(result.value).toEqual({
+      stdout: "[dryRun] skipped",
+      stderr: "",
+      exitCode: 0,
+      signal: null,
+    });
+  });
 });

packages/workflow-utils/src/cursor-agent.ts

@@ -10,14 +10,26 @@ export type CursorAgentOptions = {
   cwd: string;
   env: SpawnEnv | null;
   timeoutMs: number | null;
+  dryRun: boolean;
 };
 
+type CursorAgentOptionsInput = CursorAgentOptions | Omit<CursorAgentOptions, "dryRun">;
+
+function resolveCursorAgentDryRun(options: CursorAgentOptionsInput): boolean {
+  return "dryRun" in options ? options.dryRun : false;
+}
+
 /**
  * Invokes `cursor-agent` with the prompt passed as a single argv slot (`shell: false`).
  */
 export async function cursorAgent(
-  options: CursorAgentOptions,
+  options: CursorAgentOptionsInput,
 ): Promise<Result<string, SpawnError>> {
+  const dryRun = resolveCursorAgentDryRun(options);
+  if (dryRun) {
+    return ok("[dryRun] skipped");
+  }
+
   const args: string[] = [
     "-p",
     options.prompt,
@@ -38,6 +50,7 @@ export async function cursorAgent(
     cwd: options.cwd,
     env: options.env,
     timeoutMs: options.timeoutMs,
+    dryRun: false,
   });
 
   if (!run.ok) {

packages/workflow-utils/src/index.ts

@@ -19,3 +19,4 @@ export {
   type SpawnResult,
   type SpawnSafeOptions,
 } from "./spawn-safe.js";
+export { isDryRun } from "./start-signal.js";

packages/workflow-utils/src/llm-extract.ts

@@ -11,8 +11,15 @@ export type LlmExtractOptions<T> = {
   text: string;
   schema: z.ZodType<T>;
   provider: LlmProvider;
+  dryRun: boolean;
 };
 
+type LlmExtractOptionsInput<T> = LlmExtractOptions<T> | Omit<LlmExtractOptions<T>, "dryRun">;
+
+function resolveLlmExtractDryRun<T>(options: LlmExtractOptionsInput<T>): boolean {
+  return "dryRun" in options ? options.dryRun : false;
+}
+
 export type LlmError =
   | { kind: "http_error"; status: number; body: string }
   | { kind: "invalid_response_json"; message: string }
@@ -90,7 +97,14 @@ function readToolArgumentsJson(parsed: unknown, previewSource: string): Result<s
  * Calls an OpenAI-compatible chat completions API with `tool_choice` forced to a single function
  * derived from a Zod v4 schema (`toJSONSchema`). Uses `fetch()` only (no shell).
  */
-export async function llmExtract<T>(options: LlmExtractOptions<T>): Promise<Result<T, LlmError>> {
+export async function llmExtract<T>(
+  options: LlmExtractOptionsInput<T>,
+): Promise<Result<T, LlmError>> {
+  const dryRun = resolveLlmExtractDryRun(options);
+  if (dryRun) {
+    return ok({} as T);
+  }
+
   const rawJsonSchema = toJSONSchema(options.schema) as Record<string, unknown>;
   const parameters = stripJsonSchemaMeta(rawJsonSchema);
   const toolName = readToolName(parameters);

packages/workflow-utils/src/spawn-safe.ts

@@ -30,8 +30,11 @@ export type SpawnSafeOptions = {
   /** When null, merges {@link nerveCommandEnv} over `process.env`. When set, merges over that default. */
   env: SpawnEnv | null;
   timeoutMs: number | null;
+  dryRun: boolean;
 };
 
+type SpawnSafeOptionsInput = SpawnSafeOptions | Omit<SpawnSafeOptions, "dryRun">;
+
 const DEFAULT_TIMEOUT_MS = 300_000;
 
 /**
@@ -63,6 +66,10 @@ function resolveTimeout(timeoutMs: number | null): number {
   return timeoutMs;
 }
 
+function resolveDryRun(options: SpawnSafeOptionsInput): boolean {
+  return "dryRun" in options ? options.dryRun : false;
+}
+
 /**
  * Spawn a process with `shell: false` (argv only), default {@link nerveCommandEnv}, and optional timeout.
  * Returns `ok` only when the process exits with code 0.
@@ -70,8 +77,20 @@ function resolveTimeout(timeoutMs: number | null): number {
 export function spawnSafe(
   command: string,
   args: ReadonlyArray<string>,
-  options: SpawnSafeOptions,
+  options: SpawnSafeOptionsInput,
 ): Promise<Result<SpawnResult, SpawnError>> {
+  const dryRun = resolveDryRun(options);
+  if (dryRun) {
+    return Promise.resolve(
+      ok({
+        stdout: "[dryRun] skipped",
+        stderr: "",
+        exitCode: 0,
+        signal: null,
+      }),
+    );
+  }
+
   return new Promise((resolve) => {
     const cwd = options.cwd === null ? process.cwd() : options.cwd;
     const env = mergeEnv(options.env);

packages/workflow-utils/src/start-signal.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+import type { StartSignal } from "@uncaged/nerve-core";
+
+/** Returns the thread-level dry-run flag from the workflow start frame. */
+export function isDryRun(start: StartSignal): boolean {
+  return start.meta.dryRun;
+}