fix(daemon): harden state persistence, ReadonlyArray triggers

1. writeState: atomic write via temp file + rename
2. readState: distinguish missing file vs corrupt JSON (warn on error)
3. executeCompute: write disk before updating memory state
4. SenseInfo.triggers: ReadonlyArray<string>
5. CLAUDE.md: added Sense State Persistence docs
6. .knowledge/: updated architecture, sense, worker-isolation,
   storage-layer, cli, coding-conventions for stateful sense

Fixes #313

.cursor/rules/global.mdc

@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ alwaysApply: true
 ## Core Concepts
 
 ```
-External World → Sense → Signal → Reflex → Workflow → Log
+External World → Sense(state) → { newState, workflow? } → Workflow → Log
                   ↑                                     ↑
               "what to observe"                  "what to do"
 ```
@@ -20,19 +20,17 @@ External World → Sense → Signal → Reflex → Workflow → Log
 
 | Concept | What it is |
 |---------|-----------|
-| **Sense** | A `compute()` function that samples or derives data. Returns `T \| null` — non-null emits a Signal, null is silent. Each Sense has its own SQLite database. |
-| **Signal** | A notification emitted when a Sense returns non-null. Pure fact, no intent. Distributed via an in-memory Signal Bus. Not persisted. |
-| **Reflex** | A declarative trigger (YAML) connecting Senses to actions. Trigger types: `interval` (periodic), `on` (react to Signals). Action types: trigger a Sense, or start a Workflow. |
+| **Sense** | A stateful `compute(state)` function. Returns new state and an optional workflow trigger. State persisted as JSON. Scheduling (`interval`, `on`) is configured per sense in nerve.yaml. |
 | **Workflow** | A stateful multi-step execution. Contains **Roles** (actors with side effects) and a **Moderator** (pure router). Each instance is a **Thread** with a unique `runId`. |
-| **Log** | Immutable audit trail. Records executions, state transitions, errors. **Cannot trigger Reflexes** — prevents feedback loops. |
-| **Engine** | The kernel orchestrating everything. Holds Signal Bus, Reflex Scheduler, Process Manager, Workflow Manager. Never loads user code directly — all user code runs in isolated Workers. |
+| **Log** | Immutable audit trail. Records executions, state transitions, errors. **Cannot trigger senses or workflows** — prevents feedback loops. |
+| **Engine** | The kernel orchestrating everything. Holds Process Manager, Workflow Manager, Sense Scheduler. Never loads user code directly — all user code runs in isolated Workers. |
 | **Daemon** | The `nerve-daemon` package — engine runtime. Runs as a background process. |
 
 ### Architecture Rules
 
-- **Three orthogonal extension points**: Sense (what to compute), Reflex (when to compute), Workflow (what to do)
+- **Two orthogonal extension points**: Sense (what to observe + when), Workflow (what to do)
 - **Process isolation**: One worker per Sense group (long-lived), one per Workflow type (on-demand). Workers never talk to each other.
-- **Causality is one-directional**: External world → Sense → Signal → Reflex → Action + Log. Logs are the end of the chain.
+- **Causality is one-directional**: External world → Sense(state) → Workflow (when triggered) + Log. Logs are the end of the chain.
 
 
 
@@ -44,18 +42,18 @@ Use `function` + `type`, not `class` + `interface`.
 
 ```typescript
 // ✅ Good
-type Signal = {
-  senseId: string;
-  value: unknown;
+type WorkflowLaunch = {
+  senseName: string;
+  workflowName: string;
   ts: number;
 };
 
-function createSignal(senseId: string, value: unknown): Signal {
-  return { senseId, value, ts: Date.now() };
+function recordWorkflowLaunch(senseName: string, workflowName: string): WorkflowLaunch {
+  return { senseName, workflowName, ts: Date.now() };
 }
 
 // ❌ Bad — no class, no interface
-class Signal implements ISignal { ... }
+class WorkflowLaunch implements IWorkflowLaunch { ... }
 ```
 
 ### Rules
@@ -100,9 +98,9 @@ For mutually exclusive fields, use discriminated unions:
 
 ```typescript
 // ✅ Good
-type ReflexConfig =
-  | { kind: "sense"; sense: string; interval: string | null; on: string[] | null }
-  | { kind: "workflow"; workflow: string; on: string[] | null };
+type WorkflowConfig =
+  | { concurrency: number; overflow: "drop" }
+  | { concurrency: number; overflow: "queue"; maxQueue: number };
 ```
 
 ## Modules & Exports
@@ -123,9 +121,9 @@ export default function startEngine() { ... }
 
 | Type | Style | Example |
 |------|-------|---------|
-| Files | kebab-case | `signal-bus.ts` |
-| Types | PascalCase | `SignalBus` |
-| Functions/variables | camelCase | `createSignalBus` |
+| Files | kebab-case | `sense-scheduler.ts` |
+| Types | PascalCase | `SenseScheduler` |
+| Functions/variables | camelCase | `createSenseScheduler` |
 | Constants | UPPER_SNAKE | `MAX_RETRY_COUNT` |
 | Generics | Single letter or descriptive | `T`, `TValue` |
 

.github/copilot-instructions.md

@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 ## Core Concepts
 
 ```
-External World → Sense → Signal → Reflex → Workflow → Log
+External World → Sense(state) → { newState, workflow? } → Workflow → Log
                   ↑                                     ↑
               "what to observe"                  "what to do"
 ```
@@ -14,19 +14,17 @@ External World → Sense → Signal → Reflex → Workflow → Log
 
 | Concept | What it is |
 |---------|-----------|
-| **Sense** | A `compute()` function that samples or derives data. Returns `T \| null` — non-null emits a Signal, null is silent. Each Sense has its own SQLite database. |
-| **Signal** | A notification emitted when a Sense returns non-null. Pure fact, no intent. Distributed via an in-memory Signal Bus. Not persisted. |
-| **Reflex** | A declarative trigger (YAML) connecting Senses to actions. Trigger types: `interval` (periodic), `on` (react to Signals). Action types: trigger a Sense, or start a Workflow. |
+| **Sense** | A stateful `compute(state)` function. Returns new state and an optional workflow trigger. State persisted as JSON. Scheduling (`interval`, `on`) is configured per sense in nerve.yaml. |
 | **Workflow** | A stateful multi-step execution. Contains **Roles** (actors with side effects) and a **Moderator** (pure router). Each instance is a **Thread** with a unique `runId`. |
-| **Log** | Immutable audit trail. Records executions, state transitions, errors. **Cannot trigger Reflexes** — prevents feedback loops. |
-| **Engine** | The kernel orchestrating everything. Holds Signal Bus, Reflex Scheduler, Process Manager, Workflow Manager. Never loads user code directly — all user code runs in isolated Workers. |
+| **Log** | Immutable audit trail. Records executions, state transitions, errors. **Cannot trigger senses or workflows** — prevents feedback loops. |
+| **Engine** | The kernel orchestrating everything. Holds Process Manager, Workflow Manager, Sense Scheduler. Never loads user code directly — all user code runs in isolated Workers. |
 | **Daemon** | The `nerve-daemon` package — engine runtime. Runs as a background process. |
 
 ### Architecture Rules
 
-- **Three orthogonal extension points**: Sense (what to compute), Reflex (when to compute), Workflow (what to do)
+- **Two orthogonal extension points**: Sense (what to observe + when), Workflow (what to do)
 - **Process isolation**: One worker per Sense group (long-lived), one per Workflow type (on-demand). Workers never talk to each other.
-- **Causality is one-directional**: External world → Sense → Signal → Reflex → Action + Log. Logs are the end of the chain.
+- **Causality is one-directional**: External world → Sense(state) → Workflow (when triggered) + Log. Logs are the end of the chain.
 
 
 
@@ -38,18 +36,18 @@ Use `function` + `type`, not `class` + `interface`.
 
 ```typescript
 // ✅ Good
-type Signal = {
-  senseId: string;
-  value: unknown;
+type WorkflowLaunch = {
+  senseName: string;
+  workflowName: string;
   ts: number;
 };
 
-function createSignal(senseId: string, value: unknown): Signal {
-  return { senseId, value, ts: Date.now() };
+function recordWorkflowLaunch(senseName: string, workflowName: string): WorkflowLaunch {
+  return { senseName, workflowName, ts: Date.now() };
 }
 
 // ❌ Bad — no class, no interface
-class Signal implements ISignal { ... }
+class WorkflowLaunch implements IWorkflowLaunch { ... }
 ```
 
 ### Rules
@@ -94,9 +92,9 @@ For mutually exclusive fields, use discriminated unions:
 
 ```typescript
 // ✅ Good
-type ReflexConfig =
-  | { kind: "sense"; sense: string; interval: string | null; on: string[] | null }
-  | { kind: "workflow"; workflow: string; on: string[] | null };
+type WorkflowConfig =
+  | { concurrency: number; overflow: "drop" }
+  | { concurrency: number; overflow: "queue"; maxQueue: number };
 ```
 
 ## Modules & Exports
@@ -108,9 +106,9 @@ type ReflexConfig =
 
 | Type | Style | Example |
 |------|-------|---------|
-| Files | kebab-case | `signal-bus.ts` |
-| Types | PascalCase | `SignalBus` |
-| Functions/variables | camelCase | `createSignalBus` |
+| Files | kebab-case | `sense-scheduler.ts` |
+| Types | PascalCase | `SenseScheduler` |
+| Functions/variables | camelCase | `createSenseScheduler` |
 | Constants | UPPER_SNAKE | `MAX_RETRY_COUNT` |
 | Generics | Single letter or descriptive | `T`, `TValue` |
 

.gitignore

@@ -3,3 +3,4 @@ dist
 .turbo
 *.tsbuildinfo
 *.tgz
+knowledge.db

.knowledge/adapter.md

@@ -28,8 +28,29 @@ For long-running or incremental agent outputs:
 |---------|---------|------|
 | `@uncaged/nerve-adapter-cursor` | `cursorAdapter` / `createCursorAdapter()` | cursor-agent CLI |
 | `@uncaged/nerve-adapter-hermes` | `hermesAdapter` / `createHermesAdapter()` | hermes chat CLI |
+| `@uncaged/nerve-workflow-utils` | `createLlmAdapter(provider)` | OpenAI-compatible HTTP chat (single-turn) |
 
-Each exports a **default instance** (sensible defaults) and a **factory** for custom config.
+The Cursor and Hermes adapter packages each export a **default instance** (sensible defaults) and a **factory** for custom config. `createLlmAdapter` is a factory on `@uncaged/nerve-workflow-utils` only.
+
+## createLlmAdapter
+
+`createLlmAdapter` builds an `AgentFn` from an `LlmProvider` (`baseUrl`, `apiKey`, `model`). One chat completion per role step: **system** = the string passed by `createRole` (your prompt); **user** = `ctx.start.content` (the thread’s start frame). On failure it throws with a formatted LLM error.
+
+```ts
+import { createLlmAdapter, createRole } from "@uncaged/nerve-workflow-utils";
+import { z } from "zod";
+
+const metaSchema = z.object({ ok: z.boolean() });
+
+const planner = createRole(
+  createLlmAdapter({ baseUrl: "https://api.example.com/v1", apiKey: "…", model: "gpt-4o-mini" }),
+  "You are a planner…",
+  metaSchema,
+  extractConfig,
+);
+```
+
+Use this when you want a role backed by an HTTP LLM instead of a subprocess CLI adapter.
 
 ## Usage in Workflows
 

.knowledge/architecture.md

@@ -5,27 +5,19 @@ Observation engine for autonomous agents — sense the world, react to changes,
 ## Core Pipeline
 
 ```
-External World → Sense → Signal → Workflow → Log
-                           ↑
-                     compute() returns
-                     { signal, workflow }
+External World → Sense(state) → { newState, workflow? } → Workflow → Log
 ```
 
-Causality is **one-directional**. Logs are the end of the chain — they cannot trigger further Senses (prevents feedback loops).
+Causality is **one-directional**. Logs are the end of the chain — they cannot trigger Senses (prevents feedback loops).
 
 ## Two Extension Points
 
 | Extension | Question | Nature |
 |-----------|----------|--------|
-| **Sense** | What to observe & when to react | `compute()` pure function + YAML config (interval / on) |
+| **Sense** | What to observe & when to react | `compute(state)` stateful function + YAML config (interval / on) |
 | **Workflow** | What to do | Roles + Moderator |
 
-Senses own both the "what" (compute logic) and the "when" (config-driven scheduling). A Sense can trigger a Workflow directly by returning `{ signal, workflow: { name, prompt } }`.
-
-## Two Event Types
-
-- **Signal** — from Sense compute (non-null return). Pure fact, no intent. Drives the front half (perception).
-- **Command Event** — inside Workflow Threads. Has causal chain, must be responded to. Drives the back half (action).
+Senses own both the "what" (compute logic) and the "when" (config-driven scheduling). A Sense can trigger a Workflow by returning `{ state, workflow: { name, prompt, maxRounds, dryRun } }`.
 
 ## Process Isolation
 
@@ -33,14 +25,11 @@ Senses own both the "what" (compute logic) and the "when" (config-driven schedul
 - One worker per Workflow type (on-demand)
 - Workers never talk to each other
 - All user code runs in isolated Workers; kernel never loads user code directly
+- **`WorkerRuntime`** (`packages/daemon/src/worker-runtime.ts`) centralizes fork lifecycle for both sense groups (`worker-pool.ts`) and workflow types (`workflow-manager.ts`); see `.knowledge/worker-isolation.md`
 
 ## Storage Systems
 
 - **Log Store** — SQLite with WAL mode for audit trails and workflow state
-- **Sense Databases** — Isolated SQLite per sense group for private data
+- **Sense State** — JSON files per sense (`data/senses/<name>.json`), atomically written
 - **Knowledge Store** — Vector search index for project context
 - **Blob Store** — Content-addressable storage for large artifacts
-
-## Signal Flow
-
-Sense compute outputs are routed through signal routing logic that determines whether to emit a signal or trigger a workflow—never both simultaneously.

.knowledge/cli.md

@@ -18,21 +18,18 @@ nerve daemon                  # restart daemon (stop + start)
 
 ### Init Behavior
 
-**Default `nerve init`**: Creates workspace at `~/.uncaged-nerve/`. If this directory already exists and is non-empty, **exits with error** requiring `--force` flag. No merge/overwrite logic — prevents accidental workspace destruction.
+**Default `nerve init`**: Creates workspace at `~/.uncaged-nerve/`. If this directory already exists and is non-empty, **exits with error** requiring `--force` flag.
 
-**Force mode `nerve init --force`**: Reinitializes workspace even if `~/.uncaged-nerve/` exists. **Preserves `data/` directory** (containing sense SQLite databases and logs) but overwrites all config files (`nerve.yaml`, `package.json`, etc.) and example senses.
+**Force mode `nerve init --force`**: Reinitializes workspace even if `~/.uncaged-nerve/` exists. **Preserves `data/` directory** (containing sense state files and logs) but overwrites all config files.
 
-**Git clone `nerve init --from <url>`**: Clones existing repository to `~/.uncaged-nerve/`. Requires empty target directory — fails if workspace already exists and is non-empty.
+**Git clone `nerve init --from <url>`**: Clones existing repository to `~/.uncaged-nerve/`. Requires empty target directory.
 
 ## Sense Management
 
 ```bash
-nerve create sense <name>     # scaffold a new sense (compute.ts + schema.ts)
+nerve create sense <name>     # scaffold a new sense (compute + initialState)
 nerve sense list              # list configured senses
 nerve sense trigger <name>    # manually trigger a sense compute
-nerve sense schema <name>     # show sense Drizzle schema
-nerve sense query <name>      # inspect sense SQLite database
-nerve sense query <name> --sql "SELECT * FROM samples LIMIT 5"
 ```
 
 ## Workflow Management
@@ -77,12 +74,13 @@ my-agent/
   knowledge.yaml              # knowledge index config (optional)
   senses/
     cpu-usage/
-      compute.ts              # sense implementation
-      schema.ts               # Drizzle schema
-      migrations/             # auto-generated
+      src/index.ts            # compute(state) + initialState export
   workflows/
     cleanup/
       src/index.ts            # workflow definition
+  data/
+    senses/                   # sense state JSON files (auto-generated)
+    logs.db                   # log store (auto-generated)
   knowledge.db                # generated by nerve knowledge sync
   .knowledge/                 # curated knowledge cards
 ```

.knowledge/coding-conventions.md

@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ No compiler enforcement - relies on manual discipline and TypeScript's flow cont
 **Primary exports** use descriptive, unambiguous names:
 - Functions: `createXxx()`, `parseXxx()`, `xxxAgent()` (e.g., `createCursorAdapter`, `cursorAgent`)
 - Types: Domain-specific prefixes (e.g., `CursorAgentOptions`, `SenseComputeFn`, `ThreadContext`)
-- Constants: `UPPER_SNAKE_CASE` with context (e.g., `DEFAULT_SENSE_SIGNAL_RETENTION`, `CURSOR_ADAPTER_DEFAULT_MS`)
+- Constants: `UPPER_SNAKE_CASE` with context (e.g., `DEFAULT_ENGINE_MAX_ROUNDS`, `CURSOR_ADAPTER_DEFAULT_MS`)
 
 **Avoiding ambiguity**:
 - Package-scoped naming: `@uncaged/nerve-adapter-cursor` exports `cursorAgent`, `createCursorAdapter`

.knowledge/monorepo.md

@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ nerve/
   packages/
     core/              # @uncaged/nerve-core — shared types, config parser, Result, spawn-safe
     cli/               # @uncaged/nerve-cli — CLI (init, validate, dev, daemon, knowledge)
-    daemon/            # @uncaged/nerve-daemon — kernel, workers, signal bus, scheduler
+    daemon/            # @uncaged/nerve-daemon — kernel, workers, sense scheduler, workflow manager
     store/             # @uncaged/nerve-store — append-only log, SQLite, CAS blob store
     workflow-utils/    # @uncaged/nerve-workflow-utils — role factories, extract, LLM helpers
     adapter-cursor/    # @uncaged/nerve-adapter-cursor — cursor-agent CLI adapter

.knowledge/sense.md

@@ -1,33 +1,41 @@
 # Sense
 
-A `compute()` function that samples or derives external data. The only first-class citizen in nerve.
+A stateful `compute(state)` function that samples or derives external data. Returns new state and an optional workflow trigger.
 
 ## Contract
 
 Each sense module (`src/index.ts`) must export:
 
 ```ts
-export { snapshots as table } from "./schema.ts";  // drizzle table for runtime to insert into
+type MyState = { lastRun: number | null };
 
-export async function compute(): Promise<ComputeResult<T>> { ... }  // pure, no args
+export const initialState: MyState = { lastRun: null };
+
+export async function compute(state: MyState): Promise<{
+  state: MyState;
+  workflow: WorkflowTrigger | null;
+}> {
+  // ... observe external world, derive new state
+  return { state: { lastRun: Date.now() }, workflow: null };
+}
 ```
 
-**Function Signature & Input Schema:**
-- `compute()` is **parameterless** — no direct inputs, environment variables available
-- No database access within compute — runtime provides isolated execution context 
-- Must be pure function (no side effects, no external API calls)
+**Function Signature:**
+- `compute(state: S)` — receives previous state (or `initialState` on first run)
+- Returns `{ state: S; workflow: WorkflowTrigger | null }`
+- `workflow: null` → no workflow triggered
+- `workflow: { name, maxRounds, prompt, dryRun }` → triggers a workflow
 
-**Return Value Contract:**
-- `ComputeResult<T>` = `null | { signal: T; workflow: WorkflowTrigger | null }`
-  - `null` → silent, no storage, no signal  
-  - `{ signal: data, workflow: null }` → persist + emit signal
-  - `{ signal, workflow: WorkflowTrigger }` → persist + emit signal + trigger workflow
-  - Any other value → treated as `{ signal: value, workflow: null }`
+**State Persistence:**
+- State stored as JSON at `data/senses/<name>.json`
+- Read on worker startup; if missing or corrupt, `initialState` is used
+- Written atomically (temp file + rename) after each successful compute
+- Memory state updated only after disk write succeeds
 
-**Error Handling & Serialization:**
-- Exceptions caught by worker, logged as errors (no signal emitted)
-- Signal payload must be JSON-serializable (passed via IPC)
-- Invalid workflow triggers silently dropped (signal still emitted)
+**Error Handling:**
+- Exceptions caught by worker, logged as errors (state unchanged)
+- State payload must be JSON-serializable
+- Invalid workflow triggers rejected by daemon (workflow not started, compute still succeeds)
 
 **Timeout & Scheduling Semantics:**
 - Timeout priority: explicit config → AbortSignal → DEFAULT_TIMEOUT_MS (30s)
@@ -46,16 +54,14 @@ senses:
     timeout: 30s         # max compute duration
     grace_period: 5s     # wait before first compute
     interval: 30s        # periodic trigger (optional)
-    on: [disk-pressure]  # trigger on signals from other senses (optional)
+    on: [disk-pressure]  # trigger when another sense completes (optional)
 ```
 
 ## Manual Trigger Context
 
-**`nerve sense trigger <name>`** sends IPC message to running daemon. The compute context is initialized as follows:
+**`nerve sense trigger <name>`** sends IPC message to running daemon. The compute runs in the sense's worker process with:
 
-- **SQLite Database**: Opened in **read-write mode** at `data/senses/<name>.db`
-- **Migrations**: All `*.sql` files in `senses/<name>/migrations/` applied in lexicographic order
-- **Environment**: Inherits daemon process environment (no special secrets injection)
-- **Arguments**: No runtime arguments or mock inputs supported — `compute()` is always pure function with no parameters
+- **State**: Read from `data/senses/<name>.json` (or `initialState` if missing)
+- **Environment**: Inherits daemon process environment
 - **Isolation**: Runs in forked child process (worker) with full filesystem access within user permissions
-- **Persistence**: Runtime automatically calls `db.insert(table).values(result.signal)` if compute returns non-null signal
+- **Persistence**: State written to JSON file after successful compute

.knowledge/signal-routing.md

@@ -1,91 +1,31 @@
-# Signal Routing
+# Sense compute → workflow (RFC #308)
 
-Signal routing is the core mechanism that determines how Sense outputs flow through the Nerve system.
+Stateful senses no longer emit signals or pass outputs through `routeSenseComputeOutput`. The worker runs `compute(state)` and returns `{ state, workflow }`.
 
-## Routing Logic
-
-When a Sense `compute()` function returns non-null, the output goes through `routeSenseComputeOutput()` in `packages/core/src/sense-workflow-directive.ts`:
+## Flow
 
 ```
-Sense compute() → non-null → routeSenseComputeOutput() → { signal, workflow }
-                           ↓
-          kernel.ts → signal ALWAYS emitted + optional workflow start
+Sense worker: compute(state) → { state, workflow }
+                    ↓
+          persist state JSON (data/senses/<name>.json)
+                    ↓
+          IPC compute-result → kernel
+                    ↓
+     workflow !== null → parseWorkflowTrigger (validation) → workflowManager.startWorkflow
+     scheduler.onSenseCompleted(senseName) → dependents with `on: [senseName]`
 ```
 
-## Two Output Formats
+## Workflow trigger shape
 
-### 1. Explicit Format
-```typescript
-{
-  signal: any,           // emitted as signal
-  workflow: {           // optional workflow trigger
-    name: string,
-    maxRounds: number,
-    prompt: string,
-    dryRun: boolean
-  } | null
-}
-```
+When `workflow` is non-null it must be a plain object validated by `parseWorkflowTrigger()` in `packages/core/src/sense.ts`:
 
-### 2. Shorthand Format
-Any other value is treated as:
-```typescript
-{ signal: payload, workflow: null }
-```
+- `name`: non-empty string  
+- `maxRounds`: integer ≥ 1  
+- `prompt`: string  
+- `dryRun`: boolean  
 
-## Workflow Directive Parsing
+Invalid triggers are rejected by the daemon when handling the worker message (workflow is not started).
 
-## Concrete Routing Predicates
+## Scheduling
 
-The routing decision is implemented in `routeSenseComputeOutput()` using these exact matching criteria:
-
-### 1. Explicit Format Detection
-```typescript
-if (isPlainRecord(payload) && Object.hasOwn(payload, "signal"))
-```
-- Payload must be a plain object
-- Must have `signal` property (any value)
-- Workflow extracted from `workflow` property or defaults to null
-
-### 2. Workflow Validation
-When workflow is non-null, it's validated via `parseWorkflowTrigger()`:
-- `name`: non-empty string (trimmed)  
-- `maxRounds`: positive integer >= 1
-- `prompt`: string
-- `dryRun`: boolean
-
-**Critical behavior**: Invalid workflows are silently dropped (become null) but signal emission continues. This prevents malformed workflow config from blocking signals.
-
-### 3. Fallback to Shorthand
-Any value that doesn't match explicit format becomes:
-```typescript
-{ signal: payload, workflow: null }
-```
-
-## Processing Flow
-
-```typescript
-// In kernel.ts handleSenseWorkerSignal()
-const { signal: signalPayload, workflow } = routeResult.value;
-
-// Signal is ALWAYS emitted when compute returns non-null
-bus.emit({ id, senseId, payload: signalPayload, timestamp });
-
-// Workflow is started ONLY if workflow is non-null
-if (workflow !== null) {
-  workflowManager.startWorkflow(workflow.name, { ... });
-}
-```
-
-## Legacy String Format (Deprecated)
-
-The old `"name|maxRounds|prompt"` string format is converted to the structured format internally but should not be used in new code.
-
-## Key Behaviors
-
-1. **Signal priority**: Every non-null compute result emits a signal, regardless of workflow
-2. **Additive behavior**: Valid workflow triggers are executed in addition to signal emission
-3. **Failure tolerance**: Invalid workflow directives are silently ignored, signal still emits
-4. **Structure-based routing**: No complex predicates - simply checks object structure and property existence
-
-This routing mechanism ensures clean separation between perception (signals) and action (workflows) while maintaining backward compatibility.
+Other senses list this sense under `on` in `nerve.yaml` to be scheduled when this sense completes a successful compute (see sense scheduler reverse-index in the daemon).

.knowledge/storage-layer.md

@@ -18,13 +18,13 @@ Append-only audit trail implemented in SQLite with WAL mode.
 - Configurable log archival to JSONL files
 - Full-text search across log entries
 
-### 2. Sense Databases
-Each sense group gets its own SQLite database for private state.
+### 2. Sense State Files
+Each sense persists its state as a JSON file.
 
 **Characteristics:**
-- Isolated per sense group (e.g., `system-senses.db`)
-- Managed by individual sense compute functions
-- Drizzle ORM integration for schema management
+- One JSON file per sense at `data/senses/<name>.json`
+- Atomically written (temp file + rename) after each successful compute
+- Read on worker startup; `initialState` used if missing or corrupt
 - No cross-sense data sharing
 
 ### 3. Knowledge Store (`knowledge.db`)
@@ -74,11 +74,10 @@ function runInTransaction<T>(db: DatabaseSync, fn: () => T): T {
 - `upsertWorkflowRun()` — atomically writes log entry + workflow state
 - `archiveLogs()` — transactional export + delete + watermark update
 
-#### Sense Database Isolation
-- Each sense group has its own SQLite file (e.g., `system-senses.db`)
-- No cross-sense transactions or coordination required
-- Independent schema migrations per sense
-- Private `_signals` table for signal history retention
+#### Sense State Isolation
+- Each sense has its own JSON state file
+- No cross-sense coordination required
+- State files are independent and self-contained
 
 ### Process-Level Isolation
 
@@ -107,14 +106,14 @@ workflows:
 **No Cross-Database Consistency**:
 - No distributed transactions across multiple SQLite files
 - Log Store and Sense Databases can temporarily diverge during failures
-- Signal emission and workflow triggering are separate, non-atomic operations
+- State persistence and workflow triggering are separate, non-atomic operations
 
 **Failure Recovery Mechanisms**:
-- **Sense worker crash**: State rebuilt from sense SQLite database on respawn
+- **Sense worker crash**: State rebuilt from JSON state file on respawn (or `initialState` if corrupt)
 - **Workflow worker crash**: Thread state recovered from log store message history
 - **Kernel crash**: All workers respawned, state recovered from persistent stores
 - **Log Store corruption**: WAL recovery on database open
-- **Sense DB corruption**: Migrations re-run, `_signals` table rebuilt if needed
+- **Sense state corruption**: Falls back to `initialState` with stderr warning
 
 **Rollback Scenarios**:
 - **Log write failure**: Transaction rolled back, no state changes persisted

.knowledge/worker-isolation.md

@@ -12,13 +12,19 @@ Kernel (Main Process)
 └── Workflow Worker (review) ── review workflow instances
 ```
 
+### WorkerRuntime (RFC-006)
+
+Forked worker processes are managed by **`WorkerRuntime`** (`worker-runtime.ts`): one Node child per logical key, cold start, optional respawn after crash, drain/evict, and coordinated shutdown over IPC. **`worker-pool.ts`** (sense groups) and **`workflow-manager.ts`** (workflow types) both configure and delegate to `createWorkerRuntime` instead of owning ad-hoc fork logic.
+
+Worker **entrypoints** (`sense-worker.ts`, `workflow-worker.ts`) import lightweight helpers only — e.g. `worker-signals.ts` for session broadcast signal handling — so they do not pull in the parent-side runtime module.
+
 ## Isolation Boundaries
 
 ### 1. Sense Workers
 - **One worker per sense group** (configured in `nerve.yaml`)
 - Groups share a child process but have isolated execution contexts
 - Crash in one sense doesn't affect other groups
-- Each group has its own SQLite database
+- Each group has its own JSON state files
 
 ### 2. Workflow Workers  
 - **One worker per workflow type** (spawned on-demand)
@@ -53,7 +59,7 @@ workflow trigger → check existing worker → reuse or spawn
 ### Kernel ↔ Sense Worker
 - IPC via child process stdio
 - JSON-formatted messages
-- Worker reports signals back to kernel
+- Worker reports compute results back to kernel
 - Bidirectional: kernel can request immediate computes
 
 ### Kernel ↔ Workflow Worker  
@@ -111,10 +117,10 @@ workflows:
 ### Process Management
 
 #### Signal Handling
-Workers ignore session broadcast signals (SIGINT/SIGTERM):
+Workers ignore session broadcast signals (SIGINT/SIGTERM) via `ignoreSessionBroadcastSignals()` in `worker-signals.ts`:
 ```typescript
 // Workers ignore terminal signals; kernel coordinates shutdown
-process.on("SIGINT", () => {}); 
+process.on("SIGINT", () => {});
 process.on("SIGTERM", () => {});
 ```
 
@@ -122,7 +128,7 @@ process.on("SIGTERM", () => {});
 **Sense Workers**:
 - IPC `shutdown` message → `process.exit(0)` (immediate)
 - No graceful termination period for senses
-- State rebuilt from SQLite on respawn (no handoff needed)
+- State rebuilt from JSON state files on respawn (no handoff needed)
 
 **Workflow Workers**:
 - IPC `shutdown` → wait for in-flight threads to complete
@@ -132,14 +138,14 @@ process.on("SIGTERM", () => {});
 
 **State Handoff Mechanism**:
 - No explicit state transfer between old/new workers
-- Sense workers: SQLite database contains full state
+- Sense workers: JSON state files contain full state
 - Workflow workers: Log store contains thread message history
 - Kernel coordinates recovery via `recoverThreadsForWorker()`
 
 ## Failure Handling
 
 ### Worker Crashes
-- **Sense workers**: Automatic respawn after 1s delay, state rebuilt from DB
+- **Sense workers**: Automatic respawn after 1s delay, state rebuilt from JSON
 - **Workflow workers**: Crash recovery from log store thread messages  
 - **Kernel protection**: Main process continues, marks affected runs as crashed
 - **Crash limits**: Max 5 crashes per workflow in 60s window (prevents infinite respawn)

.knowledge/workflow.md

@@ -2,6 +2,20 @@
 
 Stateful multi-step execution driven by Roles and a Moderator.
 
+## Workspace Layout (authoring)
+
+User Nerve workspaces use a **flat** build: one root `package.json`, one root bundle script (typically `scripts/build.mjs` wired from `scripts.build`), and **no** per-workflow `package.json` or `tsconfig.json`.
+
+| Location | Purpose |
+|----------|---------|
+| `workflows/<name>/index.ts` | Default export: `WorkflowDefinition` (moderator + role map). |
+| `workflows/<name>/roles/<role>.ts` | One module per role — schemas, prompts, `createRole` factories, or hand-written async role functions. |
+| `dist/workflows/<name>/index.js` | Emit of the root build; this is what the daemon loads. |
+
+**Naming:** Workflow ids should be **verb-first** kebab-case phrases (e.g. `deploy-staging`, `scan-dependencies`), not opaque nouns alone.
+
+Senses follow the same flat pattern: `senses/<name>/src/*.ts`, `migrations/`, root build → `dist/senses/<name>/index.js`. See `.knowledge/sense.md`.
+
 ## Core Concepts
 
 - **Workflow** — definition with concurrency strategy

CLAUDE.md

@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 ## Core Concepts
 
 ```
-External World → Sense → Signal → Workflow → Log
+External World → Sense(state) → { newState, workflow? } → Workflow → Log
                   ↑                                     ↑
               "what to observe"                  "what to do"
 ```
@@ -14,21 +14,33 @@ External World → Sense → Signal → Workflow → Log
 
 | Concept | What it is |
 |---------|-----------|
-| **Sense** | A `compute()` function that samples or derives data. Returns `ComputeResult<T>` — non-null emits a Signal (and optionally triggers a Workflow), null is silent. Each Sense has its own SQLite database. Scheduling (interval, on) is configured in nerve.yaml. |
-| **Signal** | A notification emitted when a Sense returns non-null. Pure fact, no intent. Distributed via an in-memory Signal Bus. Not persisted. |
+| **Sense** | A stateful `compute(state)` function. Returns new state and an optional workflow trigger. State persisted as JSON. Scheduling configured in nerve.yaml. |
 | **Workflow** | A stateful multi-step execution. Contains **Roles** (actors with side effects) and a **Moderator** (pure router). Each instance is a **Thread** with a unique `runId`. |
 | **Log** | Immutable audit trail. Records executions, state transitions, errors. Cannot trigger Senses — prevents feedback loops. |
-| **Engine** | The kernel orchestrating everything. Holds Signal Bus, Process Manager, Workflow Manager. Never loads user code directly — all user code runs in isolated Workers. |
+| **Engine** | The kernel orchestrating everything. Holds Process Manager, Workflow Manager, Sense Scheduler. Never loads user code directly — all user code runs in isolated Workers. |
 | **Daemon** | The `nerve-daemon` package — engine runtime. Runs as a background process. |
 
 ### Architecture Rules
 
 - **Two extension points**: Sense (what to observe + when), Workflow (what to do)
 - **Process isolation**: One worker per Sense group (long-lived), one per Workflow type (on-demand). Workers never talk to each other.
-- **Causality is one-directional**: External world → Sense → Signal → Workflow + Log. Logs are the end of the chain.
+- **Causality is one-directional**: External world → Sense(state) → Workflow (when triggered) + Log. Logs are the end of the chain.
 
 
 
+### Sense State Persistence
+
+Each sense's state is persisted as a JSON file at `data/senses/<name>.json` (relative to the nerve root, typically `~/.uncaged-nerve/`).
+
+| Event | Behavior |
+|-------|----------|
+| **Worker start** | Read `state.json`; if missing or corrupt, use `initialState` from the sense module |
+| **Compute success** | Write new state atomically (write-temp + rename), then update in-memory state |
+| **Compute failure** | State unchanged (both disk and memory) |
+| **Daemon restart** | State restored from last successful write |
+
+State files are written atomically (temp file + rename) to prevent corruption on crash.
+
 ## Language & Paradigm
 
 ### Functional-first
@@ -37,18 +49,18 @@ Use `function` + `type`, not `class` + `interface`.
 
 ```typescript
 // ✅ Good
-type Signal = {
-  senseId: string;
-  value: unknown;
+type WorkflowLaunch = {
+  senseName: string;
+  workflowName: string;
   ts: number;
 };
 
-function createSignal(senseId: string, value: unknown): Signal {
-  return { senseId, value, ts: Date.now() };
+function recordWorkflowLaunch(senseName: string, workflowName: string): WorkflowLaunch {
+  return { senseName, workflowName, ts: Date.now() };
 }
 
 // ❌ Bad — no class, no interface
-class Signal implements ISignal { ... }
+class WorkflowLaunch implements IWorkflowLaunch { ... }
 ```
 
 ### Rules
@@ -92,12 +104,20 @@ type SenseConfig = {
 For mutually exclusive fields, use discriminated unions:
 
 ```typescript
-// ✅ Good
-type ComputeResult<T> =
-  | null
-  | { signal: T; workflow: WorkflowTrigger | null };
+// ✅ Good — sense modules return explicit next state + optional workflow trigger
+type SenseComputeReturn<S> = {
+  state: S;
+  workflow: WorkflowTrigger | null;
+};
 ```
 
+### Workflow Naming
+
+Workflow identifiers — `WorkflowDefinition.name`, the directory under `workflows/`, and keys under `workflows:` in `nerve.yaml` — must use **verb-first** kebab-case phrases so the name reads as an action.
+
+- ✅ `solve-issue`, `extract-knowledge`, `develop-sense`
+- ❌ `knowledge-extraction`, `issue-solver`
+
 ### Workflow authoring (user modules)
 
 Roles and moderators take **ThreadContext** (`threadId`, `start`, `steps`) — not separate `StartStep` / message arrays.
@@ -132,9 +152,9 @@ const workflow: WorkflowDefinition<Record<"planner", MyMeta>> = {
 
 | Type | Style | Example |
 |------|-------|---------|
-| Files | kebab-case | `signal-bus.ts` |
-| Types | PascalCase | `SignalBus` |
-| Functions/variables | camelCase | `createSignalBus` |
+| Files | kebab-case | `sense-scheduler.ts` |
+| Types | PascalCase | `SenseScheduler` |
+| Functions/variables | camelCase | `createSenseScheduler` |
 | Constants | UPPER_SNAKE | `MAX_RETRY_COUNT` |
 | Generics | Single letter or descriptive | `T`, `TValue` |
 

README.md

@@ -2,35 +2,34 @@
 
 **Observation engine for autonomous agents** — sense the world, react to changes, run workflows.
 
-Nerve is a lightweight daemon that continuously observes external state through **Senses**, reacts via declarative **Reflexes**, and orchestrates multi-step **Workflows**. Built for the [Uncaged](https://github.com/uncaged) agent framework.
+Nerve is a lightweight daemon that continuously observes external state through **Senses** (stateful `compute(state)` + JSON persistence), schedules them via **`interval` / `on`** in `nerve.yaml`, and orchestrates multi-step **Workflows**. Built for the [Uncaged](https://github.com/uncaged) agent framework.
 
 ## Core Concepts
 
 ```
-External World → Sense ─┬→ Signal → Reflex → Sense (scheduled compute)
-                        │
-                        └→ Workflow (Sense return with workflow directive) → Log
+External World → Sense(state) → { newState, workflow? } → Workflow → Log
+                  ↑
+          scheduling: interval / on (per sense in nerve.yaml)
 ```
 
 | Concept | Metaphor | Role |
 |---------|----------|------|
-| **Sense** | 👁️ Perception | A `compute()` function that samples or derives data. Each sense has its own SQLite database. |
-| **Reflex** | ⚡ Reaction | Declarative rules that **only schedule Sense computes** (interval and/or `on` signal names). Reflex YAML cannot reference workflows. |
-| **Signal** | 📡 Notification | Emitted when a sense returns a non-null value that is routed as a normal signal (see Sense → Workflow below). Other reflexes can listen via `on`. |
-| **Workflow** | 🔧 Action | Stateful multi-step execution with Roles and a Moderator. Started from a Sense return value or from CLI/daemon IPC—not from reflex YAML. |
-| **Log** | 📝 Record | Immutable audit trail. Queryable by senses, but **cannot** trigger reflexes (prevents feedback loops). |
+| **Sense** | 👁️ Perception | Stateful `compute(state)` returning `{ state, workflow }`. State lives in `data/senses/<name>.json`. |
+| **Schedule** | ⏱️ When | Each sense entry sets optional `interval` (periodic) and `on: [other senses]` (run after those senses complete a compute). |
+| **Workflow** | 🔧 Action | Stateful multi-step execution with Roles and a Moderator. Started when `workflow` is non-null in the compute result, or via CLI/daemon IPC. |
+| **Log** | 📝 Record | Immutable audit trail. **Cannot** schedule senses or workflows (prevents feedback loops). |
 
-**Sense → Workflow:** if `compute()` returns a plain object with a string field `workflow` in the form `name|maxRounds|prompt` (only the first two `|` delimit name and rounds; the rest is the prompt), the engine starts that workflow and **does not** emit a Signal for that return. `workflow: null` or `""` means “emit a signal” and strip the key from the payload. Invalid `workflow` strings are treated like a normal signal (directive stripped). See `@uncaged/nerve-core` `routeSenseComputeOutput` / `parseSenseWorkflowDirective`.
+**Sense → Workflow:** when `workflow` is a structured object `{ name, maxRounds, prompt, dryRun }`, the kernel validates it (`@uncaged/nerve-core` `parseWorkflowTrigger`) and starts that workflow. Use `workflow: null` when no run should start.
 
-Three extension points for **what / when / multi-step action** — reflexes never replace Sense-driven workflow launches.
+Two extension points for **what to observe (+ when)** vs **multi-step action** — scheduling is declarative config on each sense, not a separate YAML section.
 
 ## Packages
 
 | Package | Description |
 |---------|-------------|
-| [`@uncaged/nerve-core`](./packages/core) | Shared types, config parser, Sense→workflow routing, daemon IPC protocol |
+| [`@uncaged/nerve-core`](./packages/core) | Shared types, config parser, workflow trigger validation, daemon IPC protocol |
 | [`@uncaged/nerve-store`](./packages/store) | Append-only log SQLite, JSONL archive, CAS blob store, workflow run rows |
-| [`@uncaged/nerve-daemon`](./packages/daemon) | Kernel, workers, signal bus, sense scheduler, workflow manager, file watcher, IPC |
+| [`@uncaged/nerve-daemon`](./packages/daemon) | Kernel, sense workers, sense scheduler, workflow manager, file watcher, IPC |
 | [`@uncaged/nerve-cli`](./packages/cli) | CLI (`nerve`) — init, validate, daemon, dev, logs, sense, store, workflow |
 
 ## Quick Start
@@ -43,24 +42,28 @@ pnpm add -g @uncaged/nerve-cli
 mkdir my-agent && cd my-agent
 nerve init
 
-# Write a sense
-cat > senses/cpu-usage/compute.ts << 'EOF'
-export async function compute() {
-  const [load] = (await import("node:os")).loadavg();
-  return load > 2.0 ? { load } : null;  // signal only when load is high
+# Write a sense (see `nerve init` for the full template)
+mkdir -p senses/cpu-usage/src
+cat > senses/cpu-usage/src/index.ts << 'EOF'
+import { loadavg } from "node:os";
+
+type CpuState = { lastLoad: number };
+
+export const initialState: CpuState = { lastLoad: 0 };
+
+export async function compute(state: CpuState) {
+  const [oneMin] = loadavg();
+  const lastLoad = typeof oneMin === "number" && !Number.isNaN(oneMin) ? oneMin : 0;
+  return { state: { lastLoad }, workflow: null };
 }
 EOF
 
-# Configure reflexes in nerve.yaml
+# Configure scheduling on each sense in nerve.yaml
 cat > nerve.yaml << 'EOF'
 senses:
   cpu-usage:
     group: system
     throttle: 10s
-
-reflexes:
-  - kind: sense
-    sense: cpu-usage
     interval: 30s
 EOF
 
@@ -73,7 +76,7 @@ nerve logs         # view logs
 
 ## Configuration
 
-`nerve.yaml` declares senses, reflexes (sense-only), optional workflows (concurrency), and optional engine `max_rounds`:
+`nerve.yaml` declares senses (each with optional `interval` / `on`), optional workflows (concurrency), and optional engine `max_rounds`. Top-level `reflexes` is **not** supported — use `interval` and `on` on each sense.
 
 ```yaml
 max_rounds: 100              # default moderator cap (e.g. CLI workflow trigger)
@@ -84,12 +87,15 @@ senses:
     throttle: 10s          # min interval between computes
     timeout: 30s           # max compute duration
     grace_period: 5s       # wait before first compute after startup
-
-reflexes:
-  - kind: sense
-    sense: cpu-usage
     interval: 30s          # periodic trigger
-    on: [disk-pressure]    # also trigger on signals from other senses
+
+  derived-example:
+    group: system
+    throttle: null
+    timeout: 30s
+    grace_period: null
+    on:
+      - cpu-usage          # run after cpu-usage completes a compute
 
 workflows:
   cleanup:
@@ -101,17 +107,24 @@ workflows:
     max_queue: 20
 ```
 
-YAML must **not** include `workflow:` under `reflexes` — the parser rejects it. Declare workflows under `workflows:` and start them from Sense `compute()` or `nerve workflow trigger`.
+Declare workflows under `workflows:` and start them from Sense `compute()` (non-null `workflow`) or `nerve workflow trigger`.
 
-**Example — Sense starts a workflow** (`senses/disk-pressure/compute.ts`):
+**Example — Sense starts a workflow** (`senses/disk-pressure/src/index.ts`):
 
 ```typescript
-export async function compute() {
+export const initialState = { checked: false };
+
+export async function compute(state: typeof initialState) {
   const full = await diskNearlyFull();
-  if (!full) return null;
+  if (!full) return { state: { ...state, checked: true }, workflow: null };
   return {
-    path: "/data",
-    workflow: "cleanup|10|Disk partition nearly full", // name|maxRounds|prompt
+    state: { ...state, checked: true },
+    workflow: {
+      name: "cleanup",
+      maxRounds: 10,
+      prompt: "Disk partition nearly full",
+      dryRun: false,
+    },
   };
 }
 ```
@@ -138,12 +151,9 @@ export async function compute() {
 │         │                 └──────────────┼──────────────┘            │
 │         │                                ▼                            │
 │         │                        ┌──────────────┐                     │
-│         │                        │  Signal Bus  │                     │
+│         │                        │Sense Scheduler                     │
+│         │                        │(interval + on)                     │
 │         │                        └──────┬───────┘                     │
-│         │                               ▼                             │
-│         │                     ┌──────────────────┐                      │
-│         │                     │ Reflex Scheduler│                      │
-│         │                     └────────┬─────────┘                     │
 │         │                              ▼                              │
 │         │                    ┌───────────────────┐                    │
 │         └───────────────────►│ Workflow Manager  │──→ @uncaged/nerve-store │
@@ -152,8 +162,7 @@ export async function compute() {
 ```
 
 - **Worker pool** — one child process per sense group; isolation between groups.
-- **Signal Bus** — in-memory pub/sub for signal distribution.
-- **Reflex Scheduler** — interval timers + signal subscriptions, with throttle/coalesce.
+- **Sense scheduler** — interval timers + `on` reverse-index (upstream sense → dependents), with throttle/coalesce.
 - **Workflow Manager** — concurrency (drop/queue), per-workflow workers, crash recovery.
 - **File watcher** — hot reload for config, sense modules, and workflow modules.
 - **Daemon IPC** — Unix domain socket; used by the CLI when the daemon is running.
@@ -161,8 +170,8 @@ export async function compute() {
 
 ## Tech Stack
 
-- **Zero native addons** — uses Node.js built-in `node:sqlite` (DatabaseSync)
-- **Drizzle ORM** v1.0 for sense databases
+- **Zero native addons** — uses Node.js built-in `node:sqlite` (DatabaseSync) for logs / workflow persistence via `@uncaged/nerve-store`
+- **Sense state as JSON** — files under `data/senses/` written by sense workers
 - **rslib** (rspack) for building
 - **Biome** for formatting/linting
 - **Vitest** for testing
@@ -180,7 +189,7 @@ pnpm -r test     # run all tests
 
 ## Design Documents
 
-- [RFC-001: Observation Engine](./docs/rfc-001-observation-engine.md) — Sense, Signal, Reflex model
+- [RFC-001: Observation Engine](./docs/rfc-001-observation-engine.md) — historical sense / scheduling model (superseded in places by stateful senses — see `CLAUDE.md`)
 - [RFC-002: Workflow Engine](./docs/rfc-002-workflow-engine.md) — Stateful workflow execution
 - [Coding Conventions](./docs/coding-conventions.md)
 

docs/coding-conventions.md

@@ -8,25 +8,29 @@
 
 ```typescript
 // ✅ Good
-type Signal = {
-  senseId: string
-  value: unknown
+type WorkflowLaunch = {
+  senseName: string
+  workflowName: string
   ts: number
 }
 
-function createSignal(senseId: string, value: unknown): Signal {
-  return { senseId, value, ts: Date.now() }
+function recordWorkflowLaunch(senseName: string, workflowName: string): WorkflowLaunch {
+  return { senseName, workflowName, ts: Date.now() }
 }
 
 // ❌ Bad
-interface ISignal {
-  senseId: string
-  value: unknown
+interface IWorkflowLaunch {
+  senseName: string
+  workflowName: string
   ts: number
 }
 
-class Signal implements ISignal {
-  constructor(public senseId: string, public value: unknown, public ts: number) {}
+class WorkflowLaunch implements IWorkflowLaunch {
+  constructor(
+    public senseName: string,
+    public workflowName: string,
+    public ts: number,
+  ) {}
 }
 ```
 
@@ -65,17 +69,16 @@ type SenseConfig = {
 当多个字段互斥时，用 discriminated union 代替一堆 optional：
 
 ```typescript
-// ✅ Good — 编译器保证 sense 和 workflow 不会同时出现
-type ReflexConfig =
-  | { kind: "sense"; sense: string; interval: string | null; on: string[] | null }
-  | { kind: "workflow"; workflow: string; on: string[] | null }
+// ✅ Good — 编译器保证两种 overflow 形态互斥且字段完整
+type WorkflowConfig =
+  | { concurrency: number; overflow: "drop" }
+  | { concurrency: number; overflow: "queue"; maxQueue: number }
 
-// ❌ Bad — sense 和 workflow 都 optional，运行时才知道到底填了哪个
-type ReflexConfig = {
-  sense?: string;
-  workflow?: string;
-  interval?: string;
-  on?: string[];
+// ❌ Bad — 字段一堆 optional，运行时才知道到底填了哪种并发策略
+type WorkflowConfig = {
+  concurrency?: number;
+  overflow?: string;
+  maxQueue?: number;
 }
 ```
 
@@ -103,9 +106,9 @@ export default function startEngine() { ... }
 
 | 类型 | 风格 | 示例 |
 |------|------|------|
-| 文件 | kebab-case | `signal-bus.ts` |
-| 类型 | PascalCase | `SignalBus` |
-| 函数/变量 | camelCase | `createSignalBus` |
+| 文件 | kebab-case | `sense-scheduler.ts` |
+| 类型 | PascalCase | `SenseScheduler` |
+| 函数/变量 | camelCase | `createSenseScheduler` |
 | 常量 | UPPER_SNAKE | `MAX_RETRY_COUNT` |
 | 泛型参数 | 单字母或描述性 | `T`, `TValue` |
 

docs/dead-code-analysis.md

@@ -0,0 +1,146 @@
+# Nerve 单仓死代码分析报告
+
+**分析日期**: 2026-04-30  
+**范围**: `packages/core`, `daemon`, `store`, `cli`, `khala`, `workflow-utils`, `workflow-meta`, `adapter-cursor`, `adapter-hermes` 的 TypeScript 源码与 `package.json` 依赖。  
+**方法**: 全仓 `ripgrep` 交叉验证 `import` / `export` 路径；未运行 Knip/TS 死代码专项工具。  
+**说明**: 未包含 `role-reviewer` / `role-committer` / `skills` 等包（你列出的范围外），但 `workflow-meta` 对其中部分有依赖，相关结论已注明。
+
+---
+
+## 方法限制（读前必读）
+
+| 限制 | 影响 |
+|------|------|
+| **动态 `import(url)`** | `cli` 的 `loadDaemonModule` 在运行时加载 `@uncaged/nerve-daemon`，静态分析无法把 `createKernel` 等映射到具体导出。 |
+| **已发布包的公共 API** | 大量导出仅被仓外消费者使用；本报告中的「仓内未引用」≠「应删除」。 |
+| **构建入口** | Rslib 多入口（如 `sense-worker`、`workflow-worker`、`daemon-bootstrap`）视为存活入口，不作为孤儿文件。 |
+| **内部未导出函数** | 未做逐函数调用图；「死函数」仅列出高置信个例。 |
+
+---
+
+## 1. 未使用导出（仓内无 `import`）
+
+以下符号在 **monorepo 内** 没有任何文件从 `@uncaged/nerve-core` / `@uncaged/nerve-workflow-utils` / `@uncaged/nerve-daemon` 等包根导出处引用（测试与定义自身除外）。
+
+### 1.1 `@uncaged/nerve-core`
+
+| 路径 | 未使用项 | 置信度 | 建议 |
+|------|----------|--------|------|
+| `packages/core/src/index.ts` → `agent.js` | `KNOWN_AGENT_ADAPTER_IDS` | **高** | **调查**：若 CLI/校验应约束 adapter id，可接入；否则可从公共 API 移除或保留作文档性常量并注明。 |
+| `packages/core/src/index.ts` → `sense.js` | `labelSenseTrigger`（`senseTriggerLabels` 在 `cli`/`daemon` 有使用） | **高（相对仓内）** | **保留或收敛导出**：仅 `senseTriggerLabels` 对外即可；`labelSenseTrigger` 可作为内部函数若不需要单独暴露。 |
+| `packages/core/src/index.ts` → `util.js` | `parseDurationStringToMs`（仅 `config.ts` 内部使用） | **高** | **调查**：无需在 `index` 再导出则改为非导出或移除 re-export，减少 API 面。 |
+| `packages/core/src/index.ts` → `sense.js` | 类型 `SenseModule` | **中** | **保留**：用户文档/外部 Sense 模块常用；仓内未按名引用属正常。 |
+| `packages/core/src/index.ts` → `config.js` | 单独导出的类型 `NerveApiConfig`（仅 `config.ts` 与 `index` 出现） | **低** | **保留**：通常随 `NerveConfig` 一并使用；单独 export 多为 TS 公共类型便利。 |
+
+### 1.2 `@uncaged/nerve-workflow-utils`
+
+下列项在 **`packages/*/src/**/*.ts` 中无人从包入口导入**（`workflow-meta`、`role-committer` 等主要只用 `createRole`、`decorateRole`、`onFail`、`withDryRun`、`LlmExtractorConfig`）。
+
+| 路径 | 未使用项 | 置信度 | 建议 |
+|------|----------|--------|------|
+| `packages/workflow-utils/src/index.ts` | `createLlmAdapter` | **高** | **保留（对外 API）** 或标注文档；仓内无调用。 |
+| 同上 | `llmExtract`、`llmExtractWithRetry` | **高** | **保留**：高级用法 / 文档示例；内部与测试使用。 |
+| 同上 | `mergeExtractConfig`、`ExtractConfigLayer` | **高** | **调查**：若 RFC 分层配置仍在推进则保留；否则评估移除导出。 |
+| 同上 | `assertZodMetaSchemas`、`createLlmExtractFn`、`extractMetaOrThrow`、`zodMeta`、`ZodMetaSchema` | **高** | **保留（对外 API）**；当前仅 `workflow-utils` 测试与内部 `create-role` 链路使用 `extractMetaOrThrow`。 |
+| 同上 | `readNerveYaml`、`nerveAgentContext` 及相关类型 | **高** | **调查**：若已无 YAML 上下文注入场景可删导出；否则保留给 Agent 工具链。 |
+| 同上 | `spawnSafe`、`nerveCommandEnv` 及 `Spawn*` 类型（从 core 再导出） | **高** | **删除再导出或改为文档链接**：仓内均直接从 `@uncaged/nerve-core` 引用 spawn。 |
+| 同上 | `isDryRun` | **高** | **删除或实现**：见 §3「死函数」。 |
+| 同上 | `LlmMessage`、`MetaExtractConfig`、`LlmChatError`、`LlmError`、`LlmProvider` 等类型再导出 | **中** | **保留**：供外部精细类型标注；仓内未单独 import。 |
+
+### 1.3 `@uncaged/nerve-daemon`
+
+| 路径 | 未使用项 | 置信度 | 建议 |
+|------|----------|--------|------|
+| `packages/daemon/src/index.ts` → `agent-adapters/echo.js` | `createEchoAgent` | **高** | **调查**：无任何测试或运行时引用；若设计保留 `type: "echo"` 适配器，应在 workflow/agent 装载路径接线或删除导出与文件。 |
+| `packages/daemon/src/index.ts`（及其它导出） | 多数 IPC / runtime 符号 | **低** | **保留**：动态加载与外部集成无法静态判定；仅 `createEchoAgent` 可确定为当前静态图下的死角。 |
+
+### 1.4 `@uncaged/nerve-adapter-cursor` / `@uncaged/nerve-adapter-hermes`
+
+| 路径 | 未使用项 | 置信度 | 建议 |
+|------|----------|--------|------|
+| `packages/adapter-cursor/src/index.ts` | `cursorAdapter`、`createCursorAdapter`（以及 `cursorAgent` 仅被 `workflow-utils/src/role-cursor.ts` 使用） | **中** | **保留**：默认实例与工厂供下游与工作流仓使用；仓内业务包未直接 import `cursorAdapter` 属预期。 |
+| `packages/adapter-hermes/src/index.ts` | `hermesAdapter`、`createHermesAdapter`（`hermesAgent` 经 `workflow-utils` 间接使用） | **中** | 同上。 |
+
+### 1.5 `@uncaged/nerve-cli`
+
+| 路径 | 未使用项 | 置信度 | 建议 |
+|------|----------|--------|------|
+| `packages/cli/src/index.ts` | `getNerveRoot`、`loadDaemonModule` 等程序化导出 | **高（仓内）** | **保留**：无任何 workspace 包引用 `@uncaged/nerve-cli`；面向 CLI 二次开发者。 |
+
+---
+
+## 2. 孤儿文件（非入口、未被其它源码引用）
+
+在当前 Rslib / `cli` 入口定义下，**未发现**「零 import、且非 entry / 非测试」的 `.ts` 业务文件：
+
+- `workflow-utils` 下的 `role-cursor.ts`、`role-hermes.ts`、`role-llm.ts`、`role-react.ts` 虽**未出现在包 `index.ts`**，但被 `packages/workflow-utils/src/__tests__/role-factories.test.ts` 直接引用，**不是孤儿文件**。
+- `daemon` 的 `sense-worker.ts`、`workflow-worker.ts` 等为 **显式构建入口**。
+
+**置信度**: 对全表扫描为 **中**（未跑依赖图工具；动态路径可能掩盖极少数脚本引用）。
+
+---
+
+## 3. 死函数（内部未导出且未被调用）
+
+| 路径 | 说明 | 置信度 | 建议 |
+|------|------|--------|------|
+| `packages/workflow-utils/src/role-types.ts` | `isDryRun(_start: StartStep)`：导出在 `index.ts`，但全仓无调用（函数体恒返回 `false` 且标注 deprecated） | **高** | **删除**或改为内部常量；若需向后兼容则保留并文档标注「保留占位」。 |
+
+其它内部函数未系统逐文件枚举。
+
+---
+
+## 4. 未使用的 npm 依赖（package.json）
+
+在声明范围内通过源码 `import` 抽查：**未发现明显「完全未使用」的生产依赖**。
+
+| 包 | 依赖 | 结论 |
+|----|------|------|
+| `cli` | `citty`、`yaml`、`picomatch` | 均有对应源码引用。 |
+| `khala` | `hono`、`jsonata`、`ulidx`、`@uncaged/nerve-core` | 均有引用。 |
+| `core` / `daemon` | `yaml`、`drizzle-orm` | 均有引用。 |
+| `workflow-utils` / `workflow-meta` | `zod`、workspace 包 | 均有引用。 |
+
+**置信度**: **中**（未对 peer、可选路径、CLI `bin` 专用依赖做自动化扫描）。
+
+---
+
+## 5. 陈旧测试夹具 / 未引用辅助文件
+
+未发现独立的「fixture 目录」明显失联；`cli` 下 `e2e-harness`、`__tests__` 内 helper 均有对应测试引用。
+
+**置信度**: **低**（未枚举每个 `__tests__` 资源文件）。
+
+---
+
+## 6. 重构遗留 / 文档漂移
+
+| 项目 | 位置 | 说明 | 置信度 | 建议 |
+|------|------|------|--------|------|
+| ~~已更名 API 仍出现在 README~~ | `packages/core/README.md` | （已修正）文档与 stateful sense、`parseWorkflowTrigger` 对齐；`routeSenseComputeOutput` 已移除 | — | 关闭 |
+| Hermes 选项合并注释 | `packages/workflow-utils/src/shared/hermes-agent.ts` | 注释称 absorbed from `hermes-options.ts`，该文件已不存在 | **中** | **清理注释**，避免误导。 |
+| `KNOWN_AGENT_ADAPTER_IDS` 含 `codex` | `packages/core/src/agent.ts` | 仓内无 `codex` 适配器包；与常量未被引用叠加 | **中** | **对齐产品**：实现适配器或从列表移除。 |
+
+未发现用户提到的 `worker-fork-support` 等字符串副本（全仓无匹配）。
+
+---
+
+## 7. 汇总建议优先级
+
+1. **高优先级调查**: `createEchoAgent` 与 `KNOWN_AGENT_ADAPTER_IDS` — 要么接入运行时，要么删减以免维护假象。  
+2. **API 面收敛**: `parseDurationStringToMs`、`labelSenseTrigger` 若无意对外，可从 `core` 公共导出移除。  
+3. **`workflow-utils`**: 评估 `isDryRun` 删除；`spawnSafe` 等从 `workflow-utils` 再导出是否仍有必要。  
+4. ~~**文档**: 修正 `packages/core/README.md` 中 Sense→Workflow 路由 API 名称。~~（已完成）  
+
+---
+
+## 8. 重新验证命令示例
+
+后续可在本地采用工具增强置信度（非本次执行）：
+
+```bash
+pnpm add -D -w knip
+pnpm exec knip
+```
+
+或在各包对 `@uncaged/nerve-*` 的导出做面向消费者的契约测试，避免误删对外 API。

examples/cpu-usage/index.ts

@@ -1,22 +1,17 @@
 import { loadavg } from "node:os";
 
-import type { DrizzleDB, PeerMap } from "@uncaged/nerve-daemon";
+type CpuState = {
+  samples: Array<{ ts: number; value: number }>;
+};
 
-import { samples } from "./schema.js";
+export const initialState: CpuState = { samples: [] };
 
-/**
- * Read the 1-minute CPU load average, persist it, and emit a Signal.
- *
- * Returns `null` only if `loadavg` is unavailable (non-POSIX platforms).
- * On every successful read a row is inserted and a Signal is emitted with the load value.
- */
-export async function compute(db: DrizzleDB, _peers: PeerMap) {
+export async function compute(state: CpuState): Promise<{
+  state: CpuState;
+  workflow: null;
+}> {
   const [oneMin] = loadavg();
-
-  if (typeof oneMin !== "number" || Number.isNaN(oneMin)) {
-    return null;
-  }
-
-  await db.insert(samples).values({ ts: Date.now(), value: oneMin });
-  return { signal: oneMin, workflow: null };
+  const value = typeof oneMin === "number" && !Number.isNaN(oneMin) ? oneMin : 0;
+  const newSamples = [...state.samples.slice(-99), { ts: Date.now(), value }];
+  return { state: { samples: newSamples }, workflow: null };
 }

examples/cpu-usage/migrations/0001_init.sql

@@ -1,7 +0,0 @@
--- Migration: 0001_init
--- Creates the samples table for the cpu-usage sense.
-
-CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS samples (
-  ts    INTEGER PRIMARY KEY,
-  value REAL    NOT NULL
-);

examples/cpu-usage/schema.ts

@@ -1,11 +0,0 @@
-import { integer, real, sqliteTable } from "drizzle-orm/sqlite-core";
-
-/**
- * Each row records one CPU load sample.
- * `ts` is the Unix timestamp in milliseconds (primary key, append-only).
- * `value` is the 1-minute load average from os.loadavg()[0].
- */
-export const samples = sqliteTable("samples", {
-  ts: integer("ts").primaryKey(),
-  value: real("value").notNull(),
-});

examples/nerve.yaml

@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
-# Example nerve.yaml demonstrating Signal Bus & Reflex Scheduler (Phase 3)
+# Example nerve.yaml demonstrating per-sense scheduling (interval + on)
 #
 # Layout:
 #   - cpu-usage: periodic every 10s, throttled to 5s minimum between computes
 #   - disk-usage: periodic every 30s
-#   - system-health: derived sense, triggered whenever cpu-usage OR disk-usage emits
+#   - system-health: derived sense, scheduled when cpu-usage OR disk-usage completes a compute
 
 senses:
   cpu-usage:

examples/senses/nerve-health.ts

@@ -2,8 +2,7 @@
  * nerve-health — built-in sense that reports daemon health via IPC.
  *
  * When running inside a sense worker, this compute function sends a
- * "health-request" to the parent kernel process and returns the
- * health-response payload as its signal.
+ * "health-request" to the parent kernel process and merges the response into state.
  *
  * Usage in nerve.yaml:
  *   senses:
@@ -22,9 +21,23 @@ export type NerveHealth = {
   workerUptime: number;
 };
 
-export async function compute() {
+type HealthState = {
+  lastCheck: number | null;
+  lastHealth: NerveHealth | null;
+};
+
+export const initialState: HealthState = { lastCheck: null, lastHealth: null };
+
+export async function compute(_state: HealthState): Promise<{
+  state: HealthState;
+  workflow: null;
+}> {
+  void _state;
   const health = await requestHealthFromKernel();
-  return { signal: health, workflow: null };
+  return {
+    state: { lastCheck: Date.now(), lastHealth: health },
+    workflow: null,
+  };
 }
 
 function requestHealthFromKernel(): Promise<NerveHealth> {

package.json

@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
   "scripts": {
     "prepare": "husky",
     "build": "pnpm -r run build",
+    "test": "pnpm -r test",
     "check": "biome check .",
     "format": "biome format --write .",
     "link:dev": "bash scripts/link-dev.sh"

packages/cli/README.md

@@ -51,10 +51,10 @@ Structured rows in `data/logs.db` are surfaced via **`nerve workflow inspect`**
 ```bash
 nerve sense list            # List senses (live fields from daemon IPC when running)
 nerve sense trigger <name>  # IPC trigger-sense — queue a compute for that sense
-nerve sense query <name>    # Read-only SQL on data/senses/<name>.db (optional SQL args)
-nerve sense schema <name>   # Print CREATE TABLE statements for that sense DB
 ```
 
+Sense state is persisted as JSON under `data/senses/<name>.json` by the sense worker after each successful compute.
+
 ### Store maintenance
 
 ```bash

packages/cli/package.json

@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
   },
   "main": "dist/index.js",
   "types": "dist/index.d.ts",
-  "files": ["dist"],
+  "files": ["dist", "skills"],
   "publishConfig": {
     "access": "public"
   },

packages/cli/skills/cursor/.cursorrules

@@ -0,0 +1,587 @@
+<!-- nerve-cli-version: __NERVE_CLI_VERSION__ -->
+
+## Cursor Agent 使用提示
+
+在 Cursor 中与 Agent 对话时，可以用以下方式指代代码与配置：
+
+- **`@Files` / `@file`**：引用单个文件，例如 `@nerve.yaml`、`@senses/cpu-usage/src/index.ts`，减少幻觉并让修改对准正确路径。
+- **`@Folder` / `@Codebase`**：需要跨目录理解工作区结构时使用；改动前仍应优先打开相关 sense/workflow 源文件确认。
+- **`@Terminal`**：把 CLI 输出纳入上下文，便于对照 `nerve daemon logs`、`nerve sense query` 等结果。
+- **`@Docs`**：若项目或依赖有文档索引，可用来对齐 API 与约定。
+- 工作区根目录下的 **`nerve.yaml`**、`senses/`、`workflows/` 是 nerve 的核心入口；讨论调度与配置时优先 `@` 这些路径。
+- 本规则由 `nerve agent inject cursor` 安装；更新 CLI 后在同一目录再次执行可覆盖为新版。
+
+---
+
+# Nerve — AI Agent 观测引擎
+
+Nerve 是一个轻量级观测引擎守护进程。它持续观测外部状态，通过声明式规则响应变化，编排多步骤工作流。
+
+## 核心架构
+
+```
+External World → Sense → Signal → Workflow → Log
+```
+
+| 概念 | 说明 |
+|------|------|
+| **Sense** | 观测函数，`compute()` 采样或推导数据。返回非 null 则发出 Signal，可选触发 Workflow。每个 Sense 有独立 SQLite 数据库。 |
+| **Signal** | Sense 返回非 null 时发出的通知。纯事实，无意图。通过内存 Signal Bus 分发，不持久化。 |
+| **Workflow** | 有状态的多步骤执行。包含 Role（有副作用的执行者）和 Moderator（纯路由器）。每个实例是一个 Thread，有唯一 runId。 |
+| **Log** | 不可变审计日志。记录执行、状态转换、错误。不能触发 Sense（防止反馈循环）。 |
+| **Engine** | 内核，持有 Signal Bus、Process Manager、Workflow Manager。不直接加载用户代码。 |
+| **Daemon** | 引擎运行时，作为后台进程运行。 |
+
+**关键规则：**
+- 因果链单向：External → Sense → Signal → Workflow + Log
+- 进程隔离：每个 Sense group 一个 worker（长期），每个 Workflow 类型一个 worker（按需）
+- 两个扩展点：Sense（观测什么 + 何时）、Workflow（做什么）
+
+## 工作区结构
+
+由 `nerve init` 生成的工作区根目录（默认 `~/.uncaged-nerve/`）包含 **`AGENT.md`**。实现 sense/workflow 前先阅读该文件：它与本文 skill 对齐，约定目录布局、`createRole` 用法以及**始终在仓库根目录**执行的构建命令。
+
+```
+~/.uncaged-nerve/
+├── AGENT.md               # 人类 / Agent 可读的工作区约定（init 生成）
+├── nerve.yaml             # 核心配置
+├── package.json           # 单一根包（sense/workflow 下不再有独立 package）
+├── scripts/build.mjs      # 根目录 esbuild；通过 npm/pnpm 的 build 脚本调用
+├── senses/
+│   └── <name>/
+│       ├── src/index.ts   # exports compute() + table
+│       ├── src/schema.ts  # Drizzle 表定义
+│       └── migrations/    # SQL 迁移
+├── workflows/
+│   └── <name>/
+│       ├── index.ts       # default export：WorkflowDefinition
+│       ├── moderator.ts   # 可选：抽出 moderator，由 index 导入
+│       ├── build.ts       # 可选：共享常量 / 纯函数（避免 index 臃肿；非 esbuild 入口）
+│       └── roles/
+│           └── <role>.ts  # 每角色单文件（推荐平铺，而非 roles/<role>/index.ts）
+└── data/                  # 运行时数据（SQLite、blobs）
+```
+
+### 命名约定
+
+- **Workflow**：动词开头的 kebab-case（例如 `review-pull-request`、`deploy-staging`）。避免单独名词式命名（如 `notifications`）。
+- **Sense**：描述性名词 kebab-case（例如 `cpu-usage`）。
+
+---
+
+## CLI 完整参考
+
+全局选项：`--host <host:port>`（连接远程 daemon）、`--api-token <secret>`（Bearer 认证）
+
+### 初始化与脚手架
+
+```bash
+nerve init                          # 初始化工作区
+nerve init --from <git-url>         # 从 git 仓库克隆工作区
+nerve init workspace                # 只初始化工作区结构
+
+nerve create sense <name>           # 创建 sense 脚手架
+nerve create sense <name> --force   # 覆盖已有
+nerve create workflow <name>        # 创建 workflow 脚手架
+nerve create workflow <name> --force
+
+nerve validate                      # 验证 nerve.yaml 配置
+```
+
+### Daemon 管理
+
+```bash
+nerve daemon start                  # 启动后台 daemon
+nerve daemon start --port 3000      # 指定 HTTP API 端口
+nerve daemon stop                   # 停止 daemon
+nerve daemon restart                # 重启
+nerve daemon status                 # 查看状态
+nerve daemon logs                   # 查看日志
+nerve daemon logs --follow          # 实时日志
+nerve daemon logs --n 50            # 最近 50 行
+
+nerve dev                           # 前台开发模式（不 fork daemon）
+nerve dev --port 3000               # 指定端口
+```
+
+### Sense 操作
+
+```bash
+nerve sense list                    # 列出所有注册的 sense
+nerve sense trigger <name>          # 手动触发 sense 计算
+nerve sense schema <name>           # 查看 sense 数据库表结构
+nerve sense schema <name> --json    # JSON 格式
+nerve sense query <name> <sql>      # 对 sense 数据库执行只读 SQL
+nerve sense query <name> "SELECT * FROM samples ORDER BY ts DESC LIMIT 10" --json
+```
+
+### Workflow 操作
+
+```bash
+nerve workflow list                 # 列出 nerve.yaml 中定义的 workflow
+nerve workflow status               # 查看运行中的 workflow 状态
+nerve workflow trigger <name>       # 触发 workflow
+nerve workflow trigger <name> --prompt "检查生产环境"
+nerve workflow trigger <name> --maxRounds 50
+nerve workflow trigger <name> --dryRun   # 干跑模式
+```
+
+### Thread（Workflow 执行记录）
+
+```bash
+nerve thread list                   # 列出最近的 workflow 执行
+nerve thread list --all             # 包含已完成/失败的
+nerve thread list --workflow <name> # 按 workflow 过滤
+nerve thread list --limit 50        # 最多 50 条
+
+nerve thread show <runId>           # 查看 role 对话轮次
+nerve thread show <runId> --budget 16000  # 增大输出预算（默认 8000 字符）
+
+nerve thread inspect <runId>        # 查看详情和事件
+
+nerve thread kill <runId>           # 终止运行中/排队中的 thread
+```
+
+### Store（日志归档）
+
+```bash
+nerve store archive                 # 导出旧日志到 JSONL 归档
+nerve store archive --vacuum        # 归档后 VACUUM 数据库
+```
+
+### Knowledge（知识库）
+
+```bash
+nerve knowledge sync                # 从 knowledge.yaml 重建索引
+nerve knowledge query "搜索内容"     # 搜索知识库
+nerve knowledge query "内容" --limit 5
+nerve knowledge query "内容" -g     # 搜索所有注册仓库
+```
+
+### Remote（远程 daemon）
+
+```bash
+nerve remote add <name> <host:port> --token <secret>
+nerve remote list
+nerve remote show <name>
+nerve remote set-url <name> <host>
+nerve remote set-token <name> <token>
+nerve remote remove <name>
+nerve remote default <name>         # 设为默认远程
+```
+
+### Agent（向 Hermes 注入本 skill）
+
+```bash
+nerve agent status                  # CLI 版本与各 Hermes 注入目录中的 skill 版本
+nerve agent inject hermes           # 安装到 ~/.hermes/skills/nerve
+nerve agent inject hermes --profile <name>   # 写入 ~/.hermes/profiles/<name>/skills/nerve
+nerve agent update                  # 将所有已注入目录更新到当前 CLI 对应版本
+nerve agent remove hermes           # 移除默认 profile 的注入
+nerve agent remove hermes --profile <name>
+
+nerve agent inject cursor              # 在 cwd 生成 .cursorrules
+nerve agent inject cursor --path /foo  # 在指定目录生成
+nerve agent remove cursor [--path /foo]
+```
+
+---
+
+## nerve.yaml 配置参考
+
+```yaml
+# 引擎全局配置
+max_rounds: 100              # moderator 最大轮次（默认 100）
+
+# Sense 配置
+senses:
+  cpu-usage:
+    group: system            # 必填，同 group 的 sense 共享 worker
+    interval: 10s            # 轮询间隔（duration: 5s, 10m, 1h）
+    throttle: 5s             # 最小计算间隔
+    timeout: 10s             # compute 超时
+    grace_period: null       # 优雅关闭等待
+    retention: 10000         # _signals 表最大行数（默认 10000）
+
+  system-health:
+    group: derived
+    on: [cpu-usage, disk-usage]  # 响应式：被列出的 sense 发出 signal 时触发
+    throttle: null
+    timeout: null
+
+# Workflow 配置
+workflows:
+  my-workflow:
+    concurrency: 1           # 必填，并发数
+    overflow: drop           # 必填，超并发时处理：drop | queue
+    max_queue: 100           # overflow=queue 时的队列上限（默认 100）
+
+# HTTP API
+api:
+  port: 3000                 # null = 不启用 HTTP
+  host: "127.0.0.1"         # 监听地址
+  token: null                # 非 loopback 时必填
+
+# LLM Extract（可选）
+extract:
+  provider: anthropic
+  model: claude-sonnet-4-20250514
+```
+
+---
+
+## Sense 开发指南
+
+### compute 函数签名
+
+Sense 的 `compute` **无参数**。它不接收数据库句柄：daemon 在 worker 内调用 `SenseComputeFn`，由运行时负责把非 null 结果的 `signal` 写入该 sense 的 Drizzle 表并记入 `_signals`。超时由运行时控制（对应 `nerve.yaml` 里的 `timeout`），无需在业务代码里读取 `AbortSignal`。
+
+```typescript
+import type { ComputeResult, SenseComputeFn } from "@uncaged/nerve-core";
+
+export const compute: SenseComputeFn<MySignalShape> = async () => {
+  // ...
+};
+// 或等价地：
+export async function compute(): Promise<ComputeResult<MySignalShape>> {
+  // ...
+}
+```
+
+（运行时定义见 `@uncaged/nerve-core` 的 `SenseComputeFn` / `SenseModule`，daemon 侧在 `sense-runtime.ts` 的 `executeCompute` 中插入 `result.signal`。）
+
+### 返回值
+
+```typescript
+// 返回 null = 静默，不发 signal
+// 返回非 null = 发出 signal（并写入业务表），可选触发 workflow
+type ComputeResult<T> =
+  | null
+  | { signal: T; workflow: WorkflowTrigger | null };
+
+type WorkflowTrigger = {
+  name: string;          // workflow 名称（对应 nerve.yaml 中的 key）
+  maxRounds: number;     // moderator 最大轮次
+  prompt: string;        // 初始 prompt
+  dryRun: boolean;       // 干跑模式
+};
+```
+
+若返回值是普通对象且不含 `signal` 字段，内核会按 shorthand 视为 `{ signal: payload, workflow: null }`（见 core 的 `routeSenseComputeOutput`）。
+
+### Sense 模块导出
+
+```typescript
+// senses/<name>/src/index.ts
+import type { ComputeResult } from "@uncaged/nerve-core";
+import { table } from "./schema.js";
+
+type Row = { ts: number; value: number };
+
+export async function compute(): Promise<ComputeResult<Row>> {
+  const row: Row = { ts: Date.now(), value: Math.random() }; // 替换为真实观测逻辑
+  return { signal: row, workflow: null };
+}
+
+export { table };
+```
+
+### Schema 定义
+
+```typescript
+// senses/<name>/src/schema.ts
+import { sqliteTable, integer, real } from "drizzle-orm/sqlite-core";
+
+export const table = sqliteTable("samples", {
+  ts: integer("ts").notNull(),
+  value: real("value").notNull(),
+});
+```
+
+### 调度方式
+
+1. **interval 轮询**：`interval: 10s` — 每 10 秒执行一次
+2. **响应式触发**：`on: [cpu-usage]` — 当 cpu-usage 发出 signal 时触发
+3. 两者可以组合
+
+### 调试
+
+```bash
+nerve dev                           # 前台运行，看实时输出
+nerve sense trigger <name>          # 手动触发一次
+nerve sense query <name> "SELECT * FROM samples ORDER BY ts DESC LIMIT 5"
+```
+
+### 完整示例：CPU 监控
+
+```typescript
+// senses/cpu-usage/src/schema.ts
+import { sqliteTable, integer, real } from "drizzle-orm/sqlite-core";
+
+export const table = sqliteTable("samples", {
+  ts: integer("ts").notNull(),
+  value: real("value").notNull(),
+});
+
+// senses/cpu-usage/src/index.ts
+import os from "node:os";
+import type { ComputeResult } from "@uncaged/nerve-core";
+import { table } from "./schema.js";
+
+type Row = { ts: number; value: number };
+
+export async function compute(): Promise<ComputeResult<Row>> {
+  const oneMin = os.loadavg()[0];
+  return { signal: { ts: Date.now(), value: oneMin }, workflow: null };
+}
+
+export { table };
+```
+
+nerve.yaml:
+```yaml
+senses:
+  cpu-usage:
+    group: system
+    interval: 10s
+    throttle: 5s
+    timeout: 10s
+    retention: 10000
+```
+
+---
+
+## Workflow 开发指南
+
+### 核心类型
+
+```typescript
+import type {
+  WorkflowDefinition,
+  RoleResult,
+  ThreadContext,
+  RoleMeta,
+  Moderator,
+} from "@uncaged/nerve-core";
+import { END } from "@uncaged/nerve-core";
+
+// Role<Meta> — (ctx: ThreadContext) => Promise<RoleResult<Meta>>
+// RoleResult<Meta> — { content: string; meta: Meta }
+// ThreadContext<M extends RoleMeta> — threadId, start（__start__ 帧）, steps（各 role 轮次）
+// Moderator<M> — (ctx) => 下一个 role 名 | END
+// WorkflowDefinition<M extends RoleMeta> — name, roles, moderator
+```
+
+### createRole 四元组（接入 LLM 时推荐）
+
+工作区根目录需安装 **`@uncaged/nerve-workflow-utils`**（及所选 agent 适配器包）。默认 `nerve init` 的 `package.json` 不含该依赖时，在 `~/.uncaged-nerve` 下执行 `pnpm add @uncaged/nerve-workflow-utils`（或 npm 等价命令）。
+
+使用 **`createRole`**，按固定顺序传入四件事：
+
+1. **adapter** — `AgentFn`，`(ctx, systemPrompt) => Promise<string>`（原始模型输出文本）。
+2. **prompt** — `string`，或 `async (ctx: ThreadContext) => string`。
+3. **meta** — `z.ZodType<M>`，供 moderator 路由的结构化 meta。
+4. **extract** — `{ provider: LlmProvider; dryRun: boolean | null }`，声明从回复中抽取 meta 时用的 LLM（OpenAI 兼容）及是否 dry-run。
+
+```typescript
+import { createLlmAdapter, createRole } from "@uncaged/nerve-workflow-utils";
+import type { ThreadContext } from "@uncaged/nerve-core";
+import { z } from "zod";
+
+const provider = {
+  baseUrl: "https://api.example.com/v1",
+  apiKey: process.env.EXAMPLE_API_KEY!,
+  model: "gpt-4o-mini",
+};
+
+const planMeta = z.object({ next: z.enum(["execute", "stop"]) });
+
+export const planner = createRole(
+  createLlmAdapter(provider),
+  async (ctx: ThreadContext) => `规划任务：${ctx.start.content}`,
+  planMeta,
+  { provider, dryRun: null },
+);
+```
+
+`createLlmAdapter` 仅位于 **`@uncaged/nerve-workflow-utils`**：用 `LlmProvider` 生成 `AgentFn`，单轮对话里 **system** 来自 `createRole` 解析后的 prompt 字符串，**user** 为线程起点 `ctx.start.content`。
+
+### 基本 Workflow 示例（平铺 `roles/<role>.ts`）
+
+```typescript
+// workflows/example/roles/main.ts
+import type { RoleResult, ThreadContext } from "@uncaged/nerve-core";
+
+export async function main(ctx: ThreadContext): Promise<RoleResult<{ round: number }>> {
+  const prompt = ctx.start.content;
+  return {
+    content: `处理完成: ${prompt}`,
+    meta: { round: ctx.steps.length },
+  };
+}
+```
+
+```typescript
+// workflows/example/index.ts
+import type { ThreadContext, WorkflowDefinition } from "@uncaged/nerve-core";
+import { END } from "@uncaged/nerve-core";
+
+import { main } from "./roles/main.js";
+
+type Meta = Record<"main", { round: number }>;
+
+const workflow: WorkflowDefinition<Meta> = {
+  name: "example",
+  roles: { main },
+  moderator(ctx: ThreadContext<Meta>) {
+    return ctx.steps.length === 0 ? "main" : END;
+  },
+};
+
+export default workflow;
+```
+
+可选：将 `moderator` 挪到 `moderator.ts` 再 `import { route } from "./moderator.js"`，保持 `index.ts` 只负责组装 `WorkflowDefinition`。
+
+### 多 Role Workflow 示例
+
+```typescript
+// workflows/plan-execute-review/roles/planner.ts
+import type { RoleResult, ThreadContext } from "@uncaged/nerve-core";
+
+export async function planner(ctx: ThreadContext): Promise<RoleResult<{ status: string }>> {
+  void ctx;
+  return { content: "计划: ...", meta: { status: "planned" } };
+}
+```
+
+```typescript
+// workflows/plan-execute-review/roles/executor.ts
+import type { RoleResult, ThreadContext } from "@uncaged/nerve-core";
+
+export async function executor(ctx: ThreadContext): Promise<RoleResult<{ status: string }>> {
+  void ctx;
+  return { content: "执行: ...", meta: { status: "executed" } };
+}
+```
+
+```typescript
+// workflows/plan-execute-review/roles/reviewer.ts
+import type { RoleResult, ThreadContext } from "@uncaged/nerve-core";
+
+export async function reviewer(ctx: ThreadContext): Promise<RoleResult<{ status: string }>> {
+  void ctx;
+  return { content: "审核通过", meta: { status: "approved" } };
+}
+```
+
+```typescript
+// workflows/plan-execute-review/index.ts
+import type { WorkflowDefinition, ThreadContext } from "@uncaged/nerve-core";
+import { END } from "@uncaged/nerve-core";
+
+import { executor } from "./roles/executor.js";
+import { planner } from "./roles/planner.js";
+import { reviewer } from "./roles/reviewer.js";
+
+type Roles = Record<"planner" | "executor" | "reviewer", { status: string }>;
+
+const workflow: WorkflowDefinition<Roles> = {
+  name: "plan-execute-review",
+  roles: { planner, executor, reviewer },
+  moderator(ctx: ThreadContext<Roles>) {
+    if (ctx.steps.length === 0) return "planner";
+    const last = ctx.steps[ctx.steps.length - 1];
+    if (last.role === "planner") return "executor";
+    if (last.role === "executor") return "reviewer";
+    return END;
+  },
+};
+
+export default workflow;
+```
+
+### Agent 适配器
+
+Workflow role 可以集成 AI agent。已知适配器 **ID**：`echo`、`cursor`、`hermes`、`codex`。
+
+```typescript
+type AgentFn = (ctx: ThreadContext, systemPrompt: string) => Promise<string>;
+```
+
+没有现成 agent 包时，用 **`createLlmAdapter`（`@uncaged/nerve-workflow-utils`）** 从 OpenAI 兼容的 `LlmProvider` 构造 `AgentFn`，再交给 **`createRole`** 的四元组。
+
+### Workflow 运行状态
+
+`queued` → `started` → `completed` | `failed` | `crashed` | `killed` | `interrupted` | `dropped`
+
+---
+
+## 日常操作 Pattern
+
+### 查看系统整体状态
+
+```bash
+nerve daemon status                 # daemon 是否在运行
+nerve sense list                    # 所有 sense 及其调度配置
+nerve workflow status               # 运行中的 workflow
+nerve thread list                   # 最近的 workflow 执行记录
+```
+
+### 检查某个 sense 的历史数据
+
+```bash
+nerve sense query cpu-usage "SELECT * FROM samples ORDER BY ts DESC LIMIT 10" --json
+nerve sense schema cpu-usage        # 查看表结构
+```
+
+### 手动触发 workflow
+
+```bash
+nerve workflow trigger my-workflow --prompt "手动检查"
+nerve thread list --workflow my-workflow  # 查看执行状态
+nerve thread show <runId>           # 查看对话详情
+```
+
+### 排查 sense 报错
+
+```bash
+nerve daemon logs --follow          # 查看实时日志
+nerve sense trigger <name>          # 手动触发看报错
+nerve dev                           # 前台模式，更详细的输出
+```
+
+### 开发新 sense
+
+```bash
+nerve create sense my-sensor        # 脚手架
+# 编辑 senses/my-sensor/src/index.ts 和 schema.ts
+nerve validate                      # 验证配置
+nerve dev                           # 前台测试
+nerve sense trigger my-sensor       # 单次触发验证
+nerve sense query my-sensor "SELECT * FROM ..."  # 检查数据
+```
+
+### 开发新 workflow
+
+```bash
+nerve create workflow my-flow       # 脚手架（当前 CLI 可能仍生成 roles/<name>/ 子目录）
+# 推荐对齐 AGENT.md：workflows/my-flow/index.ts + roles/<role>.ts（平铺），moderator 可拆到 moderator.ts
+nerve validate                      # 验证配置
+cd ~/.uncaged-nerve && npm run build   # 工作区根目录构建（等价：pnpm run build）；勿在单个 workflow 子目录单独跑 build
+nerve workflow trigger my-flow --prompt "测试" --dryRun  # 干跑
+nerve thread show <runId>           # 查看执行轨迹
+```
+
+---
+
+## Pitfalls
+
+- **Sense 返回值**：返回 `null` 表示静默（不发 signal）；返回 `{ signal, workflow }` 才发 signal。不要返回 undefined。
+- **Sense 持久化**：daemon 在 `compute()` 返回非 null 时自动执行 `db.insert(table).values(signal)` 并写入 `_signals`；业务代码不要自行 insert。
+- **no optional properties**：nerve 代码规范禁止 `?:`，用 `T | null` 代替。
+- **函数式风格**：用 `function` + `type`，不用 `class` + `interface`。
+- **workflow 用 default export**：工作区里通常只有 `workflows/<name>/index.ts` 使用 default export（daemon 加载约定）。
+- **_signals 表**：每个 sense 自动有 `_signals` 表记录 signal 历史，受 `retention` 配置限制。
+- **concurrency + overflow**：workflow 必须配置并发策略，否则验证失败。
+- **moderator 是同步函数**：不要加 async，moderator 是纯路由逻辑，不能有副作用。

packages/cli/skills/hermes/SKILL.md

@@ -0,0 +1,580 @@
+---
+name: nerve
+version: 0.5.0
+description: >
+  Nerve — AI agent 观测引擎。掌握 nerve 的核心概念、CLI 操作、sense/workflow 开发。
+  加载此 skill 后你可以：查看系统状态、监控 sense、触发 workflow、开发新 sense 和 workflow。
+metadata:
+  hermes:
+    tags: [nerve, sense, workflow, monitoring, agent-kernel]
+    homepage: https://git.shazhou.work/uncaged/nerve
+---
+
+# Nerve — AI Agent 观测引擎
+
+Nerve 是一个轻量级观测引擎守护进程。它持续观测外部状态，通过声明式规则响应变化，编排多步骤工作流。
+
+## 核心架构
+
+```
+External World → Sense → Signal → Workflow → Log
+```
+
+| 概念 | 说明 |
+|------|------|
+| **Sense** | 观测函数，`compute()` 采样或推导数据。返回非 null 则发出 Signal，可选触发 Workflow。每个 Sense 有独立 SQLite 数据库。 |
+| **Signal** | Sense 返回非 null 时发出的通知。纯事实，无意图。通过内存 Signal Bus 分发，不持久化。 |
+| **Workflow** | 有状态的多步骤执行。包含 Role（有副作用的执行者）和 Moderator（纯路由器）。每个实例是一个 Thread，有唯一 runId。 |
+| **Log** | 不可变审计日志。记录执行、状态转换、错误。不能触发 Sense（防止反馈循环）。 |
+| **Engine** | 内核，持有 Signal Bus、Process Manager、Workflow Manager。不直接加载用户代码。 |
+| **Daemon** | 引擎运行时，作为后台进程运行。 |
+
+**关键规则：**
+- 因果链单向：External → Sense → Signal → Workflow + Log
+- 进程隔离：每个 Sense group 一个 worker（长期），每个 Workflow 类型一个 worker（按需）
+- 两个扩展点：Sense（观测什么 + 何时）、Workflow（做什么）
+
+## 工作区结构
+
+由 `nerve init` 生成的工作区根目录（默认 `~/.uncaged-nerve/`）包含 **`AGENT.md`**。实现 sense/workflow 前先阅读该文件：它与本文 skill 对齐，约定目录布局、`createRole` 用法以及**始终在仓库根目录**执行的构建命令。
+
+```
+~/.uncaged-nerve/
+├── AGENT.md               # 人类 / Agent 可读的工作区约定（init 生成）
+├── nerve.yaml             # 核心配置
+├── package.json           # 单一根包（sense/workflow 下不再有独立 package）
+├── scripts/build.mjs      # 根目录 esbuild；通过 npm/pnpm 的 build 脚本调用
+├── senses/
+│   └── <name>/
+│       ├── src/index.ts   # exports compute() + table
+│       ├── src/schema.ts  # Drizzle 表定义
+│       └── migrations/    # SQL 迁移
+├── workflows/
+│   └── <name>/
+│       ├── index.ts       # default export：WorkflowDefinition
+│       ├── moderator.ts   # 可选：抽出 moderator，由 index 导入
+│       ├── build.ts       # 可选：共享常量 / 纯函数（避免 index 臃肿；非 esbuild 入口）
+│       └── roles/
+│           └── <role>.ts  # 每角色单文件（推荐平铺，而非 roles/<role>/index.ts）
+└── data/                  # 运行时数据（SQLite、blobs）
+```
+
+### 命名约定
+
+- **Workflow**：动词开头的 kebab-case（例如 `review-pull-request`、`deploy-staging`）。避免单独名词式命名（如 `notifications`）。
+- **Sense**：描述性名词 kebab-case（例如 `cpu-usage`）。
+
+---
+
+## CLI 完整参考
+
+全局选项：`--host <host:port>`（连接远程 daemon）、`--api-token <secret>`（Bearer 认证）
+
+### 初始化与脚手架
+
+```bash
+nerve init                          # 初始化工作区
+nerve init --from <git-url>         # 从 git 仓库克隆工作区
+nerve init workspace                # 只初始化工作区结构
+
+nerve create sense <name>           # 创建 sense 脚手架
+nerve create sense <name> --force   # 覆盖已有
+nerve create workflow <name>        # 创建 workflow 脚手架
+nerve create workflow <name> --force
+
+nerve validate                      # 验证 nerve.yaml 配置
+```
+
+### Daemon 管理
+
+```bash
+nerve daemon start                  # 启动后台 daemon
+nerve daemon start --port 3000      # 指定 HTTP API 端口
+nerve daemon stop                   # 停止 daemon
+nerve daemon restart                # 重启
+nerve daemon status                 # 查看状态
+nerve daemon logs                   # 查看日志
+nerve daemon logs --follow          # 实时日志
+nerve daemon logs --n 50            # 最近 50 行
+
+nerve dev                           # 前台开发模式（不 fork daemon）
+nerve dev --port 3000               # 指定端口
+```
+
+### Sense 操作
+
+```bash
+nerve sense list                    # 列出所有注册的 sense
+nerve sense trigger <name>          # 手动触发 sense 计算
+nerve sense schema <name>           # 查看 sense 数据库表结构
+nerve sense schema <name> --json    # JSON 格式
+nerve sense query <name> <sql>      # 对 sense 数据库执行只读 SQL
+nerve sense query <name> "SELECT * FROM samples ORDER BY ts DESC LIMIT 10" --json
+```
+
+### Workflow 操作
+
+```bash
+nerve workflow list                 # 列出 nerve.yaml 中定义的 workflow
+nerve workflow status               # 查看运行中的 workflow 状态
+nerve workflow trigger <name>       # 触发 workflow
+nerve workflow trigger <name> --prompt "检查生产环境"
+nerve workflow trigger <name> --maxRounds 50
+nerve workflow trigger <name> --dryRun   # 干跑模式
+```
+
+### Thread（Workflow 执行记录）
+
+```bash
+nerve thread list                   # 列出最近的 workflow 执行
+nerve thread list --all             # 包含已完成/失败的
+nerve thread list --workflow <name> # 按 workflow 过滤
+nerve thread list --limit 50        # 最多 50 条
+
+nerve thread show <runId>           # 查看 role 对话轮次
+nerve thread show <runId> --budget 16000  # 增大输出预算（默认 8000 字符）
+
+nerve thread inspect <runId>        # 查看详情和事件
+
+nerve thread kill <runId>           # 终止运行中/排队中的 thread
+```
+
+### Store（日志归档）
+
+```bash
+nerve store archive                 # 导出旧日志到 JSONL 归档
+nerve store archive --vacuum        # 归档后 VACUUM 数据库
+```
+
+### Knowledge（知识库）
+
+```bash
+nerve knowledge sync                # 从 knowledge.yaml 重建索引
+nerve knowledge query "搜索内容"     # 搜索知识库
+nerve knowledge query "内容" --limit 5
+nerve knowledge query "内容" -g     # 搜索所有注册仓库
+```
+
+### Remote（远程 daemon）
+
+```bash
+nerve remote add <name> <host:port> --token <secret>
+nerve remote list
+nerve remote show <name>
+nerve remote set-url <name> <host>
+nerve remote set-token <name> <token>
+nerve remote remove <name>
+nerve remote default <name>         # 设为默认远程
+```
+
+### Agent（向 Hermes 注入本 skill）
+
+```bash
+nerve agent status                  # CLI 版本与各 Hermes 注入目录中的 skill 版本
+nerve agent inject hermes           # 安装到 ~/.hermes/skills/nerve
+nerve agent inject hermes --profile <name>   # 写入 ~/.hermes/profiles/<name>/skills/nerve
+nerve agent update                  # 将所有已注入目录更新到当前 CLI 对应版本
+nerve agent remove hermes           # 移除默认 profile 的注入
+nerve agent remove hermes --profile <name>
+```
+
+---
+
+## nerve.yaml 配置参考
+
+```yaml
+# 引擎全局配置
+max_rounds: 100              # moderator 最大轮次（默认 100）
+
+# Sense 配置
+senses:
+  cpu-usage:
+    group: system            # 必填，同 group 的 sense 共享 worker
+    interval: 10s            # 轮询间隔（duration: 5s, 10m, 1h）
+    throttle: 5s             # 最小计算间隔
+    timeout: 10s             # compute 超时
+    grace_period: null       # 优雅关闭等待
+    retention: 10000         # _signals 表最大行数（默认 10000）
+
+  system-health:
+    group: derived
+    on: [cpu-usage, disk-usage]  # 响应式：被列出的 sense 发出 signal 时触发
+    throttle: null
+    timeout: null
+
+# Workflow 配置
+workflows:
+  my-workflow:
+    concurrency: 1           # 必填，并发数
+    overflow: drop           # 必填，超并发时处理：drop | queue
+    max_queue: 100           # overflow=queue 时的队列上限（默认 100）
+
+# HTTP API
+api:
+  port: 3000                 # null = 不启用 HTTP
+  host: "127.0.0.1"         # 监听地址
+  token: null                # 非 loopback 时必填
+
+# LLM Extract（可选）
+extract:
+  provider: anthropic
+  model: claude-sonnet-4-20250514
+```
+
+---
+
+## Sense 开发指南
+
+### compute 函数签名
+
+Sense 的 `compute` **无参数**。它不接收数据库句柄：daemon 在 worker 内调用 `SenseComputeFn`，由运行时负责把非 null 结果的 `signal` 写入该 sense 的 Drizzle 表并记入 `_signals`。超时由运行时控制（对应 `nerve.yaml` 里的 `timeout`），无需在业务代码里读取 `AbortSignal`。
+
+```typescript
+import type { ComputeResult, SenseComputeFn } from "@uncaged/nerve-core";
+
+export const compute: SenseComputeFn<MySignalShape> = async () => {
+  // ...
+};
+// 或等价地：
+export async function compute(): Promise<ComputeResult<MySignalShape>> {
+  // ...
+}
+```
+
+（运行时定义见 `@uncaged/nerve-core` 的 `SenseComputeFn` / `SenseModule`，daemon 侧在 `sense-runtime.ts` 的 `executeCompute` 中插入 `result.signal`。）
+
+### 返回值
+
+```typescript
+// 返回 null = 静默，不发 signal
+// 返回非 null = 发出 signal（并写入业务表），可选触发 workflow
+type ComputeResult<T> =
+  | null
+  | { signal: T; workflow: WorkflowTrigger | null };
+
+type WorkflowTrigger = {
+  name: string;          // workflow 名称（对应 nerve.yaml 中的 key）
+  maxRounds: number;     // moderator 最大轮次
+  prompt: string;        // 初始 prompt
+  dryRun: boolean;       // 干跑模式
+};
+```
+
+若返回值是普通对象且不含 `signal` 字段，内核会按 shorthand 视为 `{ signal: payload, workflow: null }`（见 core 的 `routeSenseComputeOutput`）。
+
+### Sense 模块导出
+
+```typescript
+// senses/<name>/src/index.ts
+import type { ComputeResult } from "@uncaged/nerve-core";
+import { table } from "./schema.js";
+
+type Row = { ts: number; value: number };
+
+export async function compute(): Promise<ComputeResult<Row>> {
+  const row: Row = { ts: Date.now(), value: Math.random() }; // 替换为真实观测逻辑
+  return { signal: row, workflow: null };
+}
+
+export { table };
+```
+
+### Schema 定义
+
+```typescript
+// senses/<name>/src/schema.ts
+import { sqliteTable, integer, real } from "drizzle-orm/sqlite-core";
+
+export const table = sqliteTable("samples", {
+  ts: integer("ts").notNull(),
+  value: real("value").notNull(),
+});
+```
+
+### 调度方式
+
+1. **interval 轮询**：`interval: 10s` — 每 10 秒执行一次
+2. **响应式触发**：`on: [cpu-usage]` — 当 cpu-usage 发出 signal 时触发
+3. 两者可以组合
+
+### 调试
+
+```bash
+nerve dev                           # 前台运行，看实时输出
+nerve sense trigger <name>          # 手动触发一次
+nerve sense query <name> "SELECT * FROM samples ORDER BY ts DESC LIMIT 5"
+```
+
+### 完整示例：CPU 监控
+
+```typescript
+// senses/cpu-usage/src/schema.ts
+import { sqliteTable, integer, real } from "drizzle-orm/sqlite-core";
+
+export const table = sqliteTable("samples", {
+  ts: integer("ts").notNull(),
+  value: real("value").notNull(),
+});
+
+// senses/cpu-usage/src/index.ts
+import os from "node:os";
+import type { ComputeResult } from "@uncaged/nerve-core";
+import { table } from "./schema.js";
+
+type Row = { ts: number; value: number };
+
+export async function compute(): Promise<ComputeResult<Row>> {
+  const oneMin = os.loadavg()[0];
+  return { signal: { ts: Date.now(), value: oneMin }, workflow: null };
+}
+
+export { table };
+```
+
+nerve.yaml:
+```yaml
+senses:
+  cpu-usage:
+    group: system
+    interval: 10s
+    throttle: 5s
+    timeout: 10s
+    retention: 10000
+```
+
+---
+
+## Workflow 开发指南
+
+### 核心类型
+
+```typescript
+import type {
+  WorkflowDefinition,
+  RoleResult,
+  ThreadContext,
+  RoleMeta,
+  Moderator,
+} from "@uncaged/nerve-core";
+import { END } from "@uncaged/nerve-core";
+
+// Role<Meta> — (ctx: ThreadContext) => Promise<RoleResult<Meta>>
+// RoleResult<Meta> — { content: string; meta: Meta }
+// ThreadContext<M extends RoleMeta> — threadId, start（__start__ 帧）, steps（各 role 轮次）
+// Moderator<M> — (ctx) => 下一个 role 名 | END
+// WorkflowDefinition<M extends RoleMeta> — name, roles, moderator
+```
+
+### createRole 四元组（接入 LLM 时推荐）
+
+工作区根目录需安装 **`@uncaged/nerve-workflow-utils`**（及所选 agent 适配器包）。默认 `nerve init` 的 `package.json` 不含该依赖时，在 `~/.uncaged-nerve` 下执行 `pnpm add @uncaged/nerve-workflow-utils`（或 npm 等价命令）。
+
+使用 **`createRole`**，按固定顺序传入四件事：
+
+1. **adapter** — `AgentFn`，`(ctx, systemPrompt) => Promise<string>`（原始模型输出文本）。
+2. **prompt** — `string`，或 `async (ctx: ThreadContext) => string`。
+3. **meta** — `z.ZodType<M>`，供 moderator 路由的结构化 meta。
+4. **extract** — `{ provider: LlmProvider; dryRun: boolean | null }`，声明从回复中抽取 meta 时用的 LLM（OpenAI 兼容）及是否 dry-run。
+
+```typescript
+import { createLlmAdapter, createRole } from "@uncaged/nerve-workflow-utils";
+import type { ThreadContext } from "@uncaged/nerve-core";
+import { z } from "zod";
+
+const provider = {
+  baseUrl: "https://api.example.com/v1",
+  apiKey: process.env.EXAMPLE_API_KEY!,
+  model: "gpt-4o-mini",
+};
+
+const planMeta = z.object({ next: z.enum(["execute", "stop"]) });
+
+export const planner = createRole(
+  createLlmAdapter(provider),
+  async (ctx: ThreadContext) => `规划任务：${ctx.start.content}`,
+  planMeta,
+  { provider, dryRun: null },
+);
+```
+
+`createLlmAdapter` 仅位于 **`@uncaged/nerve-workflow-utils`**：用 `LlmProvider` 生成 `AgentFn`，单轮对话里 **system** 来自 `createRole` 解析后的 prompt 字符串，**user** 为线程起点 `ctx.start.content`。
+
+### 基本 Workflow 示例（平铺 `roles/<role>.ts`）
+
+```typescript
+// workflows/example/roles/main.ts
+import type { RoleResult, ThreadContext } from "@uncaged/nerve-core";
+
+export async function main(ctx: ThreadContext): Promise<RoleResult<{ round: number }>> {
+  const prompt = ctx.start.content;
+  return {
+    content: `处理完成: ${prompt}`,
+    meta: { round: ctx.steps.length },
+  };
+}
+```
+
+```typescript
+// workflows/example/index.ts
+import type { ThreadContext, WorkflowDefinition } from "@uncaged/nerve-core";
+import { END } from "@uncaged/nerve-core";
+
+import { main } from "./roles/main.js";
+
+type Meta = Record<"main", { round: number }>;
+
+const workflow: WorkflowDefinition<Meta> = {
+  name: "example",
+  roles: { main },
+  moderator(ctx: ThreadContext<Meta>) {
+    return ctx.steps.length === 0 ? "main" : END;
+  },
+};
+
+export default workflow;
+```
+
+可选：将 `moderator` 挪到 `moderator.ts` 再 `import { route } from "./moderator.js"`，保持 `index.ts` 只负责组装 `WorkflowDefinition`。
+
+### 多 Role Workflow 示例
+
+```typescript
+// workflows/plan-execute-review/roles/planner.ts
+import type { RoleResult, ThreadContext } from "@uncaged/nerve-core";
+
+export async function planner(ctx: ThreadContext): Promise<RoleResult<{ status: string }>> {
+  void ctx;
+  return { content: "计划: ...", meta: { status: "planned" } };
+}
+```
+
+```typescript
+// workflows/plan-execute-review/roles/executor.ts
+import type { RoleResult, ThreadContext } from "@uncaged/nerve-core";
+
+export async function executor(ctx: ThreadContext): Promise<RoleResult<{ status: string }>> {
+  void ctx;
+  return { content: "执行: ...", meta: { status: "executed" } };
+}
+```
+
+```typescript
+// workflows/plan-execute-review/roles/reviewer.ts
+import type { RoleResult, ThreadContext } from "@uncaged/nerve-core";
+
+export async function reviewer(ctx: ThreadContext): Promise<RoleResult<{ status: string }>> {
+  void ctx;
+  return { content: "审核通过", meta: { status: "approved" } };
+}
+```
+
+```typescript
+// workflows/plan-execute-review/index.ts
+import type { WorkflowDefinition, ThreadContext } from "@uncaged/nerve-core";
+import { END } from "@uncaged/nerve-core";
+
+import { executor } from "./roles/executor.js";
+import { planner } from "./roles/planner.js";
+import { reviewer } from "./roles/reviewer.js";
+
+type Roles = Record<"planner" | "executor" | "reviewer", { status: string }>;
+
+const workflow: WorkflowDefinition<Roles> = {
+  name: "plan-execute-review",
+  roles: { planner, executor, reviewer },
+  moderator(ctx: ThreadContext<Roles>) {
+    if (ctx.steps.length === 0) return "planner";
+    const last = ctx.steps[ctx.steps.length - 1];
+    if (last.role === "planner") return "executor";
+    if (last.role === "executor") return "reviewer";
+    return END;
+  },
+};
+
+export default workflow;
+```
+
+### Agent 适配器
+
+Workflow role 可以集成 AI agent。已知适配器 **ID**：`echo`、`cursor`、`hermes`、`codex`。
+
+```typescript
+type AgentFn = (ctx: ThreadContext, systemPrompt: string) => Promise<string>;
+```
+
+没有现成 agent 包时，用 **`createLlmAdapter`（`@uncaged/nerve-workflow-utils`）** 从 OpenAI 兼容的 `LlmProvider` 构造 `AgentFn`，再交给 **`createRole`** 的四元组。
+
+### Workflow 运行状态
+
+`queued` → `started` → `completed` | `failed` | `crashed` | `killed` | `interrupted` | `dropped`
+
+---
+
+## 日常操作 Pattern
+
+### 查看系统整体状态
+
+```bash
+nerve daemon status                 # daemon 是否在运行
+nerve sense list                    # 所有 sense 及其调度配置
+nerve workflow status               # 运行中的 workflow
+nerve thread list                   # 最近的 workflow 执行记录
+```
+
+### 检查某个 sense 的历史数据
+
+```bash
+nerve sense query cpu-usage "SELECT * FROM samples ORDER BY ts DESC LIMIT 10" --json
+nerve sense schema cpu-usage        # 查看表结构
+```
+
+### 手动触发 workflow
+
+```bash
+nerve workflow trigger my-workflow --prompt "手动检查"
+nerve thread list --workflow my-workflow  # 查看执行状态
+nerve thread show <runId>           # 查看对话详情
+```
+
+### 排查 sense 报错
+
+```bash
+nerve daemon logs --follow          # 查看实时日志
+nerve sense trigger <name>          # 手动触发看报错
+nerve dev                           # 前台模式，更详细的输出
+```
+
+### 开发新 sense
+
+```bash
+nerve create sense my-sensor        # 脚手架
+# 编辑 senses/my-sensor/src/index.ts 和 schema.ts
+nerve validate                      # 验证配置
+nerve dev                           # 前台测试
+nerve sense trigger my-sensor       # 单次触发验证
+nerve sense query my-sensor "SELECT * FROM ..."  # 检查数据
+```
+
+### 开发新 workflow
+
+```bash
+nerve create workflow my-flow       # 脚手架（当前 CLI 可能仍生成 roles/<name>/ 子目录）
+# 推荐对齐 AGENT.md：workflows/my-flow/index.ts + roles/<role>.ts（平铺），moderator 可拆到 moderator.ts
+nerve validate                      # 验证配置
+cd ~/.uncaged-nerve && npm run build   # 工作区根目录构建（等价：pnpm run build）；勿在单个 workflow 子目录单独跑 build
+nerve workflow trigger my-flow --prompt "测试" --dryRun  # 干跑
+nerve thread show <runId>           # 查看执行轨迹
+```
+
+---
+
+## Pitfalls
+
+- **Sense 返回值**：返回 `null` 表示静默（不发 signal）；返回 `{ signal, workflow }` 才发 signal。不要返回 undefined。
+- **Sense 持久化**：daemon 在 `compute()` 返回非 null 时自动执行 `db.insert(table).values(signal)` 并写入 `_signals`；业务代码不要自行 insert。
+- **no optional properties**：nerve 代码规范禁止 `?:`，用 `T | null` 代替。
+- **函数式风格**：用 `function` + `type`，不用 `class` + `interface`。
+- **workflow 用 default export**：工作区里通常只有 `workflows/<name>/index.ts` 使用 default export（daemon 加载约定）。
+- **_signals 表**：每个 sense 自动有 `_signals` 表记录 signal 历史，受 `retention` 配置限制。
+- **concurrency + overflow**：workflow 必须配置并发策略，否则验证失败。
+- **moderator 是同步函数**：不要加 async，moderator 是纯路由逻辑，不能有副作用。

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

@@ -4,12 +4,7 @@
 
 import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
 
-import {
-  buildSenseIndexTs,
-  buildSenseMigrationSql,
-  buildSenseSchemaTs,
-  validateResourceName,
-} from "../commands/create.js";
+import { buildSenseIndexTs, validateResourceName } from "../commands/create.js";
 
 describe("validateSenseName", () => {
   it("accepts valid ids", () => {
@@ -25,39 +20,13 @@ describe("validateSenseName", () => {
   });
 });
 
-describe("buildSenseSchemaTs", () => {
-  it("maps kebab-case id to snake table and camel export", () => {
-    const src = buildSenseSchemaTs("my-sense");
-    expect(src).toContain('sqliteTable("my_sense"');
-    expect(src).toContain("export const mySense = ");
-  });
-
-  it("handles single-segment id", () => {
-    const src = buildSenseSchemaTs("metrics");
-    expect(src).toContain('sqliteTable("metrics"');
-    expect(src).toContain("export const metrics = ");
-  });
-});
-
-describe("buildSenseMigrationSql", () => {
-  it("uses snake_case table name", () => {
-    expect(buildSenseMigrationSql("disk-io")).toContain("CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS disk_io");
-  });
-});
-
 describe("buildSenseIndexTs", () => {
-  it("embeds sense id in stub with TypeScript types", () => {
+  it("generates a stateful sense stub with TypeScript types", () => {
     const ts = buildSenseIndexTs("my-sense");
-    expect(ts).toContain("my-sense");
-    expect(ts).toContain("export { mySense as table }");
+    expect(ts).toContain("type SenseState");
+    expect(ts).toContain("export const initialState");
     expect(ts).toContain("export async function compute");
-    expect(ts).toContain("LibSQLDatabase");
-    expect(ts).toContain("Promise<SenseResult>");
-    expect(ts).toContain('from "./schema.js"');
-  });
-
-  it("imports the correct schema export", () => {
-    const ts = buildSenseIndexTs("cpu-usage");
-    expect(ts).toContain("cpuUsage");
+    expect(ts).toContain("workflow: null");
+    expect(ts).toContain("lastRun");
   });
 });

packages/cli/src/__tests__/e2e-create.test.ts

@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ describe("e2e create", () => {
   );
 
   it(
-    "create sense scaffolds src/, migration, and root build emits dist/senses/<name>/index.js",
+    "create sense scaffolds src/ and root build emits dist/senses/<name>/index.js",
     { timeout: 120_000 },
     async () => {
       fakeHome = mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), "nerve-create-e2e-"));
@@ -162,8 +162,6 @@ describe("e2e create", () => {
       const base = join(nerveRoot, "senses", "e2e-sense");
       expect(existsSync(join(base, "package.json"))).toBe(false);
       expect(existsSync(join(base, "src", "index.ts"))).toBe(true);
-      expect(existsSync(join(base, "src", "schema.ts"))).toBe(true);
-      expect(existsSync(join(base, "migrations", "0001_init.sql"))).toBe(true);
       expect(existsSync(join(nerveRoot, "dist", "senses", "e2e-sense", "index.js"))).toBe(true);
     },
   );

packages/cli/src/__tests__/e2e-harness.ts

@@ -2,14 +2,7 @@
  * Shared E2E harness: temp HOME layout (`.uncaged-nerve`), real kernel + sense worker,
  * IPC socket for CLI, and `runCommand` helpers with captured stdio.
  *
- * ## Signal persistence (CLI `nerve sense list`)
- *
- * The kernel appends a `source: "sense", type: "signal"` row to `data/logs.db` when a
- * worker emits a signal (see `packages/daemon/src/kernel.ts`). The daemon also
- * auto-persists each signal into a `_signals` table in the per-sense SQLite DB
- * (see `runtime.persistSignal` in `packages/daemon/src/sense-runtime.ts`).
- * `listSenses()` reads `lastSignalTimestamp` from the kernel's in-memory state,
- * while `sense query` reads from the `_signals` table (or a user-defined preview table).
+ * Stateful senses persist JSON under `data/senses/<name>.json` (see sense-worker).
  *
  * ## Timeout guard (vitest)
  *
@@ -37,15 +30,7 @@
  * ```
  */
 
-import {
-  existsSync,
-  mkdirSync,
-  mkdtempSync,
-  readFileSync,
-  rmSync,
-  symlinkSync,
-  writeFileSync,
-} from "node:fs";
+import { existsSync, mkdirSync, mkdtempSync, rmSync, symlinkSync, writeFileSync } from "node:fs";
 import { createRequire } from "node:module";
 import { tmpdir } from "node:os";
 import { dirname, join } from "node:path";
@@ -69,27 +54,6 @@ const nerveDaemonRoot = dirname(require.resolve("@uncaged/nerve-daemon/package.j
 const senseWorkerScript = join(nerveDaemonRoot, "dist", "sense-worker.js");
 const workflowWorkerScript = join(nerveDaemonRoot, "dist", "workflow-worker.js");
 
-function resolveDrizzleOrmPackageRoot(): string {
-  const requireFromDaemon = createRequire(join(nerveDaemonRoot, "package.json"));
-  const entry = requireFromDaemon.resolve("drizzle-orm");
-  let dir = dirname(entry);
-  for (let i = 0; i < 12; i += 1) {
-    const pkgPath = join(dir, "package.json");
-    if (existsSync(pkgPath)) {
-      try {
-        const name = (JSON.parse(readFileSync(pkgPath, "utf8")) as { name: string }).name;
-        if (name === "drizzle-orm") return dir;
-      } catch {
-        // keep walking
-      }
-    }
-    const parent = dirname(dir);
-    if (parent === dir) break;
-    dir = parent;
-  }
-  throw new Error("Could not resolve drizzle-orm package root for e2e harness");
-}
-
 const nerveYamlTemplate = `senses:
   counter:
     group: e2e
@@ -150,52 +114,24 @@ api:
   host: 127.0.0.1
 `;
 
-/** Schema for sense signal rows persisted via \`db.insert(table)\` (see sense-runtime). */
-const counterMigration = `CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS counter_signals (
-  id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY AUTOINCREMENT,
-  count INTEGER,
-  launched INTEGER,
-  idle INTEGER
-);
-`;
+/** Minimal counter sense — each compute increments \`count\` in persisted state. */
+const counterIndexJs = `export const initialState = { count: 0 };
 
-/**
- * Minimal counter sense — each compute returns an incrementing count.
- * Does NOT touch the DB directly in compute(); the daemon inserts into \`table\`
- * and persistSignal handles \`_signals\`.
- */
-const counterIndexJs = `import { integer, sqliteTable } from "drizzle-orm/sqlite-core";
-
-export const table = sqliteTable("counter_signals", {
-  id: integer("id").primaryKey({ autoIncrement: true }),
-  count: integer("count"),
-  launched: integer("launched"),
-  idle: integer("idle"),
-});
-
-let _count = 0;
-export async function compute(_db, _peers, _options) {
-  _count += 1;
-  return { signal: { count: _count }, workflow: null };
+export async function compute(state) {
+  return {
+    state: { count: state.count + 1 },
+    workflow: null,
+  };
 }
 `;
 
-/** First trigger launches local noop workflow; later triggers emit a plain signal. */
-const counterIndexJsWithNoopWorkflow = `import { integer, sqliteTable } from "drizzle-orm/sqlite-core";
+/** First trigger launches local noop workflow; later triggers only advance idleTicks. */
+const counterIndexJsWithNoopWorkflow = `export const initialState = { launched: false, idleTicks: 0 };
 
-export const table = sqliteTable("counter_signals", {
-  id: integer("id").primaryKey({ autoIncrement: true }),
-  count: integer("count"),
-  launched: integer("launched"),
-  idle: integer("idle"),
-});
-
-let _launched = false;
-export async function compute(_db, _peers, _options) {
-  if (!_launched) {
-    _launched = true;
+export async function compute(state) {
+  if (!state.launched) {
     return {
-      signal: { launched: 1 },
+      state: { launched: true, idleTicks: state.idleTicks },
       workflow: {
         name: "noop",
         maxRounds: 3,
@@ -204,7 +140,10 @@ export async function compute(_db, _peers, _options) {
       },
     };
   }
-  return { signal: { idle: 1 }, workflow: null };
+  return {
+    state: { launched: state.launched, idleTicks: state.idleTicks + 1 },
+    workflow: null,
+  };
 }
 `;
 
@@ -241,7 +180,6 @@ function defaultTestConfig(withNoopWorkflow: boolean): NerveConfig {
         throttle: null,
         timeout: null,
         gracePeriod: null,
-        retention: 10_000,
         interval: null,
         on: [],
       },
@@ -259,7 +197,6 @@ function defaultTestConfig(withNoopWorkflow: boolean): NerveConfig {
 function writeWorkspaceLayout(nerveRoot: string, withNoopWorkflow: boolean): void {
   mkdirSync(join(nerveRoot, "data", "senses"), { recursive: true });
   mkdirSync(join(nerveRoot, "data", "blobs"), { recursive: true });
-  mkdirSync(join(nerveRoot, "senses", "counter", "migrations"), { recursive: true });
   mkdirSync(join(nerveRoot, "dist", "senses", "counter"), { recursive: true });
   mkdirSync(join(nerveRoot, "dist", "workflows", "echo"), { recursive: true });
   writeFileSync(
@@ -267,11 +204,6 @@ function writeWorkspaceLayout(nerveRoot: string, withNoopWorkflow: boolean): voi
     withNoopWorkflow ? nerveYamlWithNoopWorkflow : nerveYamlTemplate,
     "utf8",
   );
-  writeFileSync(
-    join(nerveRoot, "senses", "counter", "migrations", "001.sql"),
-    counterMigration,
-    "utf8",
-  );
   writeFileSync(
     join(nerveRoot, "dist", "senses", "counter", "index.js"),
     withNoopWorkflow ? counterIndexJsWithNoopWorkflow : counterIndexJs,
@@ -325,10 +257,6 @@ export function linkWorkspaceDaemonIntoNerveRoot(nerveRoot: string): void {
   mkdirSync(linkDir, { recursive: true });
   const linkPath = join(linkDir, "nerve-daemon");
   if (!existsSync(linkPath)) symlinkSync(daemonPkgRoot, linkPath);
-
-  const drizzlePkgRoot = resolveDrizzleOrmPackageRoot();
-  const drizzleLink = join(nm, "drizzle-orm");
-  if (!existsSync(drizzleLink)) symlinkSync(drizzlePkgRoot, drizzleLink);
 }
 
 /**

packages/cli/src/__tests__/e2e-sense-query.test.ts

@@ -1,121 +0,0 @@
-/**
- * E2E: `nerve sense query` against a real daemon + persisted `_signals` (issue #156).
- */
-
-import { existsSync } from "node:fs";
-import { join } from "node:path";
-import { DatabaseSync } from "node:sqlite";
-
-import { afterEach, describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
-
-import {
-  type TestDaemonHandle,
-  pollUntil,
-  runCli,
-  startTestDaemon,
-  stopTestDaemon,
-} from "./e2e-harness.js";
-
-describe("e2e sense query", () => {
-  let daemon: TestDaemonHandle | null = null;
-
-  afterEach(async () => {
-    const h = daemon;
-    daemon = null;
-    if (h === null) return;
-    await Promise.race([
-      stopTestDaemon(h),
-      new Promise<never>((_, reject) =>
-        setTimeout(() => reject(new Error("stopTestDaemon timed out after 10s")), 10_000),
-      ),
-    ]);
-  });
-
-  async function waitForSignalsPersisted(handle: TestDaemonHandle): Promise<void> {
-    const dbPath = join(handle.nerveRoot, "data", "senses", "counter.db");
-    await pollUntil(() => {
-      if (!existsSync(dbPath)) return false;
-      try {
-        const db = new DatabaseSync(dbPath, { readOnly: true });
-        const row = db.prepare("SELECT COUNT(*) as cnt FROM _signals").get() as
-          | { cnt: number }
-          | undefined;
-        db.close();
-        return row !== undefined && row.cnt > 0;
-      } catch {
-        return false;
-      }
-    }, 10_000);
-  }
-
-  /** Start daemon, trigger counter, wait until `_signals` has a row. */
-  async function startDaemonWithPersistedSignal(): Promise<TestDaemonHandle> {
-    const handle = await startTestDaemon();
-    const triggerResult = await runCli(handle, ["sense", "trigger", "counter"]);
-    expect(triggerResult.exitCode).toBe(0);
-    expect(triggerResult.stdout).toContain("Triggered");
-    await waitForSignalsPersisted(handle);
-    return handle;
-  }
-
-  it(
-    "after trigger, persisted _signals and sense query counter returns at least one row",
-    { timeout: 30_000 },
-    async () => {
-      daemon = await startDaemonWithPersistedSignal();
-
-      const queryResult = await runCli(daemon, ["sense", "query", "counter"]);
-      expect(queryResult.exitCode).toBe(0);
-      expect(queryResult.stdout).not.toContain("(0 rows)");
-    },
-  );
-
-  it(
-    "default sense query output lists payload column and counter count in payload",
-    { timeout: 30_000 },
-    async () => {
-      daemon = await startDaemonWithPersistedSignal();
-
-      const queryResult = await runCli(daemon, ["sense", "query", "counter"]);
-      expect(queryResult.exitCode).toBe(0);
-      expect(queryResult.stdout).toContain("payload");
-      expect(queryResult.stdout).toMatch(/count/);
-    },
-  );
-
-  it(
-    "nerve sense query counter --json prints a JSON array with payload on each row",
-    { timeout: 30_000 },
-    async () => {
-      daemon = await startDaemonWithPersistedSignal();
-
-      const jsonResult = await runCli(daemon, ["sense", "query", "counter", "--json"]);
-      expect(jsonResult.exitCode).toBe(0);
-      const rows = JSON.parse(jsonResult.stdout.trim()) as unknown;
-      expect(Array.isArray(rows)).toBe(true);
-      expect(rows.length).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(1);
-      for (const row of rows as Record<string, unknown>[]) {
-        expect(Object.keys(row)).toContain("payload");
-      }
-    },
-  );
-
-  it(
-    "nerve sense query counter --sql runs custom read-only SQL and prints total column",
-    { timeout: 30_000 },
-    async () => {
-      daemon = await startDaemonWithPersistedSignal();
-
-      const sqlResult = await runCli(daemon, [
-        "sense",
-        "query",
-        "counter",
-        "--sql",
-        "SELECT count(*) as total FROM _signals",
-      ]);
-      expect(sqlResult.exitCode).toBe(0);
-      expect(sqlResult.stdout).toContain("total");
-      expect(sqlResult.stdout).not.toContain("(0 rows)");
-    },
-  );
-});

packages/cli/src/__tests__/e2e-smoke.test.ts

@@ -1,8 +1,11 @@
 /**
  * Smoke test: start a real daemon with a counter sense, trigger it,
- * then verify CLI commands can list and query the persisted signal.
+ * then verify CLI lists the sense and state file is written.
  */
 
+import { readFileSync } from "node:fs";
+import { join } from "node:path";
+
 import { afterEach, describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
 
 import {
@@ -28,46 +31,27 @@ describe("e2e smoke", () => {
     ]);
   });
 
-  it("sense list + sense query after trigger", { timeout: 30_000 }, async () => {
+  it("sense list after trigger and persisted counter state", { timeout: 30_000 }, async () => {
     daemon = await startTestDaemon();
 
-    // Trigger counter sense via IPC
     const triggerResult = await runCli(daemon, ["sense", "trigger", "counter"]);
     expect(triggerResult.exitCode).toBe(0);
     expect(triggerResult.stdout).toContain("Triggered");
 
-    // Wait for signal to be persisted (_signals table in the sense DB)
-    const { existsSync } = await import("node:fs");
-    const { join } = await import("node:path");
-    const { DatabaseSync } = await import("node:sqlite");
-
-    const dbPath = join(daemon.nerveRoot, "data", "senses", "counter.db");
+    const statePath = join(daemon.nerveRoot, "data", "senses", "counter.json");
     await pollUntil(() => {
-      if (!existsSync(dbPath)) return false;
       try {
-        const db = new DatabaseSync(dbPath, { readOnly: true });
-        const row = db.prepare("SELECT COUNT(*) as cnt FROM _signals").get() as
-          | { cnt: number }
-          | undefined;
-        db.close();
-        return row !== undefined && row.cnt > 0;
+        const raw = readFileSync(statePath, "utf8");
+        const parsed = JSON.parse(raw) as { count?: number };
+        return typeof parsed.count === "number" && parsed.count >= 1;
       } catch {
         return false;
       }
     }, 10_000);
 
-    // nerve sense list — should show counter with a last signal timestamp
     const listResult = await runCli(daemon, ["sense", "list"]);
     expect(listResult.exitCode).toBe(0);
     expect(listResult.stdout).toContain("counter");
-    expect(listResult.stdout).toContain("last signal:");
-    // Should NOT say "(never)" since we triggered and persisted
-    expect(listResult.stdout).not.toContain("(never)");
-
-    // nerve sense query counter — should return rows from _signals
-    const queryResult = await runCli(daemon, ["sense", "query", "counter"]);
-    expect(queryResult.exitCode).toBe(0);
-    // Should have actual data rows (not "(0 rows)")
-    expect(queryResult.stdout).not.toContain("(0 rows)");
+    expect(listResult.stdout).not.toContain("last signal");
   });
 });

packages/cli/src/__tests__/e2e-validate-init.test.ts

@@ -205,11 +205,11 @@ describe("e2e init", () => {
     expect(existsSync(join(nerveRoot, "scripts", "build.mjs"))).toBe(true);
     expect(existsSync(join(nerveRoot, "biome.json"))).toBe(true);
     expect(existsSync(join(nerveRoot, ".gitignore"))).toBe(true);
+    expect(existsSync(join(nerveRoot, "AGENT.md"))).toBe(true);
+    const agentMd = readFileSync(join(nerveRoot, "AGENT.md"), "utf8");
+    expect(agentMd).toContain("verb-first");
+    expect(agentMd).toContain("createRole");
     expect(existsSync(join(nerveRoot, "senses", "cpu-usage", "src", "index.ts"))).toBe(true);
-    expect(existsSync(join(nerveRoot, "senses", "cpu-usage", "src", "schema.ts"))).toBe(true);
-    expect(existsSync(join(nerveRoot, "senses", "cpu-usage", "migrations", "0001_init.sql"))).toBe(
-      true,
-    );
     expect(existsSync(join(nerveRoot, ".cursor", "rules", "nerve-skills.mdc"))).toBe(true);
 
     const pkgJson = readFileSync(join(nerveRoot, "package.json"), "utf8");

packages/cli/src/__tests__/e2e/sense.md

@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 ## sense list
 
-- ✅ prints sense list with name, group, throttle, triggers, and last signal time
+- ✅ prints sense list with name, group, throttle, triggers
 - 🔲 empty state — no senses registered, prints empty message
 - 🔲 `--json` — outputs valid JSON array
 
@@ -11,19 +11,3 @@
 - ✅ trigger known sense exits 0, stdout contains "Triggered"
 - ✅ trigger non-existent sense writes error to stderr and exits 1
 - ✅ sends correct IPC message `{ type: trigger-sense, sense: <name> }` to daemon
-
-## sense query
-
-- ✅ after trigger, persisted `_signals` table has at least one row
-- ✅ default output lists payload column and counter count
-- ✅ `--json` prints valid JSON array with payload on each row
-- ✅ `--sql` runs custom read-only SQL and prints result
-- 🔲 query non-existent sense — error message
-- 🔲 `--limit` / `--offset` pagination
-
-## sense schema
-
-- ✅ prints CREATE TABLE statements for the sense database
-- ✅ includes `_signals` table in output
-- ✅ `--json` prints valid JSON array of SQL strings
-- 🔲 schema for non-existent sense — error message

packages/cli/src/__tests__/e2e/smoke.md

@@ -2,5 +2,5 @@
 
 Full round-trip integration tests that exercise multiple subcommands together.
 
-- ✅ sense list + sense query after trigger — registers sense, triggers, verifies persisted signal and query output
+- ✅ sense list after trigger — daemon lists configured senses; trigger queues a compute (state persisted under `data/senses/` by the worker)
 - 🔲 init → dev → trigger workflow → thread inspect round-trip

packages/cli/src/__tests__/knowledge-query.test.ts

@@ -72,8 +72,8 @@ describe("queryKnowledgeRepo (word overlap fallback)", () => {
           path: "a.md",
           slug: "a.md#0",
           chunkIndex: 0,
-          text: "the signal bus emits notifications",
-          contentHash: contentHash("the signal bus emits notifications"),
+          text: "the sense scheduler triggers computes",
+          contentHash: contentHash("the sense scheduler triggers computes"),
           embedding: fakeEmbeddingBytes("a"),
         },
         {
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ describe("queryKnowledgeRepo (word overlap fallback)", () => {
       db.close();
     }
 
-    const ranked = await queryKnowledgeRepo(root, dbPath, "signal bus", 10);
+    const ranked = await queryKnowledgeRepo(root, dbPath, "sense scheduler", 10);
     expect(ranked.length).toBe(2);
     expect(ranked[0]?.path).toBe("a.md");
     expect(ranked[1]?.path).toBe("b.md");

packages/cli/src/__tests__/sense-list-e2e.test.ts

@@ -27,15 +27,12 @@ describe("nerve sense list CLI (runCommand + temp HOME + mock IPC socket)", () =
   let stdoutSpy: ReturnType<typeof vi.spyOn<typeof process.stdout, "write">> | null;
   let listSensesRequests: unknown[];
 
-  const LAST_SIGNAL_TS = 1_714_521_600_000; // fixed wall time for stable ISO in assertions
-
   const daemonSenseRow: SenseInfo = {
     name: "cpu-usage",
     group: "system",
     throttle: 5000,
     timeout: 3000,
     triggers: ["every 5s"],
-    lastSignalTimestamp: LAST_SIGNAL_TS,
   };
 
   function nerveYamlFixture(): string {
@@ -119,9 +116,7 @@ senses:
     rmSync(sockDir, { recursive: true, force: true });
   });
 
-  it("prints sense list from daemon path with name, group, throttle, trigger schedule, and last signal time", async () => {
-    // With a real daemon, we would wait for a compute cycle; the mock server
-    // returns SenseInfo as if one already produced lastSignalTimestamp.
+  it("prints sense list from daemon path with name, group, throttle, and trigger schedule", async () => {
     await runCommand(senseCommand, { rawArgs: ["list"] });
 
     expect(listSensesRequests).toHaveLength(1);
@@ -133,7 +128,6 @@ senses:
     expect(out).toContain("throttle: 5s");
     expect(out).toContain("timeout:  3s");
     expect(out).toContain("trigger schedule: every 5s");
-    expect(out).not.toContain("(never)");
-    expect(out).toContain(new Date(LAST_SIGNAL_TS).toISOString());
+    expect(out).not.toContain("last signal");
   });
 });

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

@@ -30,7 +30,6 @@ const SAMPLE_SENSES: SenseInfo[] = [
     throttle: 5000,
     timeout: 3000,
     triggers: ["every 30s", "on: cpu-threshold"],
-    lastSignalTimestamp: 1_700_000_000_000,
   },
   {
     name: "disk-usage",
@@ -38,7 +37,6 @@ const SAMPLE_SENSES: SenseInfo[] = [
     throttle: 30000,
     timeout: null,
     triggers: [],
-    lastSignalTimestamp: null,
   },
   {
     name: "active-tasks",
@@ -46,7 +44,6 @@ const SAMPLE_SENSES: SenseInfo[] = [
     throttle: 10000,
     timeout: 30000,
     triggers: ["every 1m"],
-    lastSignalTimestamp: null,
   },
 ];
 
@@ -122,15 +119,9 @@ describe("formatSenseList", () => {
     expect(output).toContain("(none)");
   });
 
-  it("shows '(never)' when lastSignalTimestamp is null", () => {
+  it("does not include last signal line", () => {
     const output = formatSenseList(SAMPLE_SENSES);
-    expect(output).toContain("(never)");
-  });
-
-  it("shows ISO timestamp when lastSignalTimestamp is set", () => {
-    const output = formatSenseList(SAMPLE_SENSES);
-    // cpu-usage has lastSignalTimestamp = 1_700_000_000_000
-    expect(output).toContain(new Date(1_700_000_000_000).toISOString());
+    expect(output).not.toContain("last signal");
   });
 });
 
@@ -181,29 +172,13 @@ senses:
     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 lastSignalTimestamp to null (static fallback)", () => {
-    const path = join(tmpDir, "nerve.yaml");
-    writeFileSync(
-      path,
-      `
-senses:
-  my-sense:
-    group: default
-`.trim(),
-    );
-    const result = sensesFromConfig(path);
-    expect(result[0].lastSignalTimestamp).toBeNull();
-  });
-
   it("populates throttle and timeout from config", () => {
     const path = join(tmpDir, "nerve.yaml");
     writeFileSync(
@@ -292,7 +267,6 @@ describe("listSensesViaDaemon", () => {
         throttle: 5000,
         timeout: 3000,
         triggers: [],
-        lastSignalTimestamp: 12345,
       },
     ];
     const server = createServer((s) => {

packages/cli/src/__tests__/sense-schema-e2e.test.ts

@@ -1,97 +0,0 @@
-/**
- * E2E-style tests for `nerve sense schema` with a temp HOME and a real sense SQLite file.
- * `getNerveRoot()` uses `os.homedir()`, which respects `process.env.HOME` on POSIX.
- */
-
-import { mkdirSync, mkdtempSync, rmSync } from "node:fs";
-import { tmpdir } from "node:os";
-import { join } from "node:path";
-import { DatabaseSync } from "node:sqlite";
-
-import { runCommand } from "citty";
-import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
-
-import { senseCommand } from "../commands/sense.js";
-
-const SENSE_NAME = "e2e-schema-sense";
-
-function createFakeSenseDb(nerveRoot: string): void {
-  const sensesDir = join(nerveRoot, "data", "senses");
-  mkdirSync(sensesDir, { recursive: true });
-  const dbPath = join(sensesDir, `${SENSE_NAME}.db`);
-  const db = new DatabaseSync(dbPath);
-  db.exec(
-    "CREATE TABLE _signals(id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY, sense TEXT, timestamp INTEGER, payload TEXT)",
-  );
-  db.exec("CREATE TABLE _migrations (name TEXT PRIMARY KEY)");
-  db.close();
-}
-
-describe("nerve sense schema CLI (runCommand + temp HOME)", () => {
-  let prevHome: string | undefined;
-  let fakeHome: string;
-  let stdoutSpy: ReturnType<typeof vi.spyOn> | null;
-  let capturedStdout: string;
-
-  beforeEach(() => {
-    capturedStdout = "";
-    stdoutSpy = vi
-      .spyOn(process.stdout, "write")
-      .mockImplementation(
-        (chunk: string | Uint8Array, enc?: BufferEncoding, cb?: (err?: Error | null) => void) => {
-          if (typeof chunk === "string") {
-            capturedStdout += chunk;
-          } else {
-            capturedStdout += Buffer.from(chunk).toString(typeof enc === "string" ? enc : "utf8");
-          }
-          if (typeof cb === "function") {
-            cb();
-          }
-          return true;
-        },
-      );
-
-    prevHome = process.env.HOME;
-    fakeHome = mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), "nerve-sense-schema-e2e-"));
-    process.env.HOME = fakeHome;
-
-    const nerveRoot = join(fakeHome, ".uncaged-nerve");
-    createFakeSenseDb(nerveRoot);
-  });
-
-  afterEach(() => {
-    stdoutSpy?.mockRestore();
-    stdoutSpy = null;
-    if (prevHome === undefined) {
-      // biome-ignore lint/performance/noDelete: semantically correct for env cleanup
-      delete process.env.HOME;
-    } else {
-      process.env.HOME = prevHome;
-    }
-    rmSync(fakeHome, { recursive: true, force: true });
-  });
-
-  it("prints CREATE TABLE statements for the sense database", async () => {
-    await runCommand(senseCommand, { rawArgs: ["schema", SENSE_NAME] });
-    expect(capturedStdout).toMatch(/CREATE TABLE/i);
-  });
-
-  it("includes the _signals table in output", async () => {
-    await runCommand(senseCommand, { rawArgs: ["schema", SENSE_NAME] });
-    expect(capturedStdout).toContain("_signals");
-  });
-
-  it("with --json prints a valid JSON array of SQL strings", async () => {
-    await runCommand(senseCommand, { rawArgs: ["schema", SENSE_NAME, "--json"] });
-    const parsed: unknown = JSON.parse(capturedStdout.trim());
-    expect(Array.isArray(parsed)).toBe(true);
-    const arr = parsed as unknown[];
-    expect(arr.length).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(1);
-    for (const item of arr) {
-      expect(typeof item).toBe("string");
-      expect(item).toMatch(/CREATE TABLE/i);
-    }
-    const joined = arr.join("\n");
-    expect(joined).toContain("_signals");
-  });
-});

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

@@ -1,181 +0,0 @@
-/**
- * Tests for sense SQLite helpers used by `nerve sense schema` / `nerve sense query`.
- */
-
-import { mkdirSync, rmSync } from "node:fs";
-import { tmpdir } from "node:os";
-import { join } from "node:path";
-import { DatabaseSync } from "node:sqlite";
-
-import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
-
-import {
-  assertSenseDbExists,
-  collectColumnKeys,
-  defaultPreviewSql,
-  formatRowsAsAlignedTable,
-  listTableSqlStatements,
-  parseSenseQueryArgs,
-  pickDefaultPreviewTable,
-  senseDbPath,
-} from "../sense-sqlite.js";
-
-let tmpDir: string;
-
-beforeEach(() => {
-  tmpDir = join(
-    tmpdir(),
-    `nerve-sense-sqlite-${Date.now()}-${Math.random().toString(16).slice(2)}`,
-  );
-  mkdirSync(join(tmpDir, "data", "senses"), { recursive: true });
-});
-
-afterEach(() => {
-  rmSync(tmpDir, { recursive: true, force: true });
-});
-
-describe("senseDbPath", () => {
-  it("points at data/senses/<name>.db under the given root", () => {
-    expect(senseDbPath("/root", "cpu-usage")).toBe(join("/root", "data", "senses", "cpu-usage.db"));
-  });
-});
-
-describe("assertSenseDbExists", () => {
-  it("throws when the file is missing", () => {
-    expect(() => assertSenseDbExists(tmpDir, "nope")).toThrow(/No database at/);
-  });
-
-  it("returns the path when the file exists", () => {
-    const p = join(tmpDir, "data", "senses", "x.db");
-    new DatabaseSync(p).close();
-    expect(assertSenseDbExists(tmpDir, "x")).toBe(p);
-  });
-});
-
-describe("listTableSqlStatements", () => {
-  it("returns CREATE statements ordered by tbl_name", () => {
-    const p = join(tmpDir, "data", "senses", "t.db");
-    const db = new DatabaseSync(p);
-    db.exec("CREATE TABLE zebra (id INTEGER)");
-    db.exec("CREATE TABLE alpha (id INTEGER)");
-    const stmts = listTableSqlStatements(db);
-    db.close();
-    expect(stmts).toHaveLength(2);
-    expect(stmts[0]).toMatch(/^CREATE TABLE alpha/i);
-    expect(stmts[1]).toMatch(/^CREATE TABLE zebra/i);
-  });
-});
-
-describe("pickDefaultPreviewTable", () => {
-  it("prefers non-_migrations tables when both exist", () => {
-    const p = join(tmpDir, "data", "senses", "t.db");
-    const db = new DatabaseSync(p);
-    db.exec("CREATE TABLE _migrations (name TEXT PRIMARY KEY)");
-    db.exec("CREATE TABLE readings (id INTEGER)");
-    expect(pickDefaultPreviewTable(db)).toBe("readings");
-    db.close();
-  });
-
-  it("uses _migrations when it is the only table", () => {
-    const p = join(tmpDir, "data", "senses", "t.db");
-    const db = new DatabaseSync(p);
-    db.exec("CREATE TABLE _migrations (name TEXT PRIMARY KEY)");
-    expect(pickDefaultPreviewTable(db)).toBe("_migrations");
-    db.close();
-  });
-});
-
-describe("defaultPreviewSql", () => {
-  it("quotes identifiers for SQL safety", () => {
-    expect(defaultPreviewSql(`weird"name`)).toContain(`weird""name`);
-  });
-});
-
-describe("parseSenseQueryArgs", () => {
-  it("parses sense name only", () => {
-    expect(parseSenseQueryArgs(["cpu"])).toEqual({ name: "cpu", sql: undefined });
-  });
-
-  it("strips --json", () => {
-    expect(parseSenseQueryArgs(["cpu", "--json"])).toEqual({ name: "cpu", sql: undefined });
-    expect(parseSenseQueryArgs(["--json", "cpu"])).toEqual({ name: "cpu", sql: undefined });
-  });
-
-  it("joins remaining tokens into SQL", () => {
-    expect(parseSenseQueryArgs(["cpu", "SELECT", "1"])).toEqual({ name: "cpu", sql: "SELECT 1" });
-  });
-
-  it("uses --sql value instead of positional SQL", () => {
-    expect(parseSenseQueryArgs(["cpu", "--sql", "SELECT 2"])).toEqual({
-      name: "cpu",
-      sql: "SELECT 2",
-    });
-    expect(parseSenseQueryArgs(["cpu", "--sql=SELECT 3"])).toEqual({
-      name: "cpu",
-      sql: "SELECT 3",
-    });
-  });
-
-  it("prefers --sql over trailing positional SQL", () => {
-    expect(parseSenseQueryArgs(["cpu", "--sql", "SELECT a", "SELECT b"])).toEqual({
-      name: "cpu",
-      sql: "SELECT a",
-    });
-  });
-
-  it("throws when --sql has no value", () => {
-    expect(() => parseSenseQueryArgs(["cpu", "--sql"])).toThrow(/Missing value for --sql/);
-  });
-
-  it("throws when name is missing", () => {
-    expect(() => parseSenseQueryArgs(["--json"])).toThrow(/Missing sense name/);
-  });
-});
-
-describe("formatRowsAsAlignedTable", () => {
-  it("shows empty marker for no rows", () => {
-    expect(formatRowsAsAlignedTable([])).toContain("(0 rows)");
-  });
-
-  it("aligns columns from row data", () => {
-    const out = formatRowsAsAlignedTable([
-      { a: 1, b: "x" },
-      { a: 22, b: "yy" },
-    ]);
-    expect(out).toContain("a");
-    expect(out).toContain("b");
-    expect(out).toContain("22");
-  });
-});
-
-describe("collectColumnKeys", () => {
-  it("preserves key order from first row then appends new keys", () => {
-    expect(
-      collectColumnKeys([
-        { z: 1, a: 2 },
-        { a: 3, b: 4 },
-      ]),
-    ).toEqual(["z", "a", "b"]);
-  });
-});
-
-describe("readonly query integration", () => {
-  it("runs default preview SQL on a real db", () => {
-    const p = join(tmpDir, "data", "senses", "demo.db");
-    const rw = new DatabaseSync(p);
-    rw.exec("CREATE TABLE items (id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY, v TEXT)");
-    rw.exec("INSERT INTO items (v) VALUES ('a'), ('b')");
-    rw.close();
-
-    const db = new DatabaseSync(p, { readOnly: true });
-    const table = pickDefaultPreviewTable(db);
-    expect(table).toBe("items");
-    if (table === null) {
-      throw new Error("expected items table");
-    }
-    const sql = defaultPreviewSql(table);
-    const rows = db.prepare(sql).all() as Record<string, unknown>[];
-    db.close();
-    expect(rows.length).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(1);
-  });
-});

packages/cli/src/cli.ts

@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import "@uncaged/nerve-daemon/experimental-warning-suppression.js";
 import { defineCommand, runMain } from "citty";
 
 import { consumeGlobalDaemonCliFlags } from "./cli-global.js";
+import { agentCommand } from "./commands/agent.js";
 import { createCommand } from "./commands/create.js";
 import { daemonCommand } from "./commands/daemon.js";
 import { devCommand } from "./commands/dev.js";
@@ -42,6 +43,7 @@ const main = defineCommand({
       "Nerve — an AI agent kernel. Global options: --host <host:port> (remote HTTP), --api-token <secret> (Bearer auth).",
   },
   subCommands: {
+    agent: agentCommand,
     init: initCommand,
     create: createCommand,
     daemon: daemonCommand,

packages/cli/src/commands/agent.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,378 @@
+import {
+  cpSync,
+  existsSync,
+  mkdirSync,
+  readFileSync,
+  readdirSync,
+  rmSync,
+  statSync,
+  writeFileSync,
+} from "node:fs";
+import { homedir } from "node:os";
+import { dirname, join, resolve as resolvePath } from "node:path";
+import { fileURLToPath } from "node:url";
+
+import { defineCommand } from "citty";
+
+function getPackageRootDir(): string {
+  const thisFile = fileURLToPath(import.meta.url);
+  let dir = dirname(thisFile);
+  for (let i = 0; i < 5; i++) {
+    if (existsSync(join(dir, "package.json"))) return dir;
+    dir = dirname(dir);
+  }
+  throw new Error("Cannot locate package root. Is the CLI package intact?");
+}
+
+function getCliVersion(): string {
+  const pkgPath = join(getPackageRootDir(), "package.json");
+  const pkg = JSON.parse(readFileSync(pkgPath, "utf8")) as { version: string };
+  return pkg.version;
+}
+
+let _cachedVersion: string | null = null;
+function cliVersion(): string {
+  if (_cachedVersion === null) _cachedVersion = getCliVersion();
+  return _cachedVersion;
+}
+
+function getSkillSourceDir(): string {
+  const root = getPackageRootDir();
+  const skillsDir = join(root, "skills");
+  if (!existsSync(skillsDir)) {
+    throw new Error("Cannot locate skills directory. Is the CLI package intact?");
+  }
+  return skillsDir;
+}
+
+function getHermesSkillDir(profile: string | null): string {
+  const hermesHome = join(homedir(), ".hermes");
+  if (profile !== null) {
+    return join(hermesHome, "profiles", profile, "skills", "nerve");
+  }
+  return join(hermesHome, "skills", "nerve");
+}
+
+function readVersionFile(skillDir: string): string | null {
+  const versionPath = join(skillDir, ".nerve-version");
+  if (!existsSync(versionPath)) return null;
+  return readFileSync(versionPath, "utf8").trim();
+}
+
+function writeVersionFile(skillDir: string, version: string): void {
+  writeFileSync(join(skillDir, ".nerve-version"), `${version}\n`, "utf8");
+}
+
+const CURSOR_VERSION_MARKER_RE = /<!--\s*nerve-cli-version:\s*([^>]+?)\s*-->/;
+
+function resolveCursorProjectDir(pathArg: string | null): string {
+  const raw = pathArg !== null && pathArg !== "" ? pathArg : process.cwd();
+  return resolvePath(raw);
+}
+
+function assertDirectory(projectDir: string, label: string): void {
+  if (!existsSync(projectDir)) {
+    process.stderr.write(`❌ ${label} does not exist: ${projectDir}\n`);
+    process.exit(1);
+  }
+  if (!statSync(projectDir).isDirectory()) {
+    process.stderr.write(`❌ ${label} is not a directory: ${projectDir}\n`);
+    process.exit(1);
+  }
+}
+
+function readCursorInjectVersion(projectDir: string): string | null {
+  const versionPath = join(projectDir, ".nerve-version");
+  if (existsSync(versionPath)) {
+    return readFileSync(versionPath, "utf8").trim();
+  }
+  const rulesPath = join(projectDir, ".cursorrules");
+  if (!existsSync(rulesPath)) return null;
+  const content = readFileSync(rulesPath, "utf8");
+  const match = content.match(CURSOR_VERSION_MARKER_RE);
+  return match !== null ? match[1].trim() : null;
+}
+
+function injectCursor(projectDir: string): void {
+  assertDirectory(projectDir, "Project directory");
+  const rulesPath = join(projectDir, ".cursorrules");
+  const existingVer = readCursorInjectVersion(projectDir);
+  if (existingVer === cliVersion() && existsSync(rulesPath)) {
+    process.stdout.write(
+      `✅ Cursor .cursorrules is already up to date (v${cliVersion()}) at ${projectDir}\n`,
+    );
+    return;
+  }
+
+  const templatePath = join(getSkillSourceDir(), "cursor", ".cursorrules");
+  if (!existsSync(templatePath)) {
+    throw new Error("Cannot locate cursor/.cursorrules template. Is the CLI package intact?");
+  }
+  let body = readFileSync(templatePath, "utf8");
+  body = body.replaceAll("__NERVE_CLI_VERSION__", cliVersion());
+  writeFileSync(rulesPath, body, "utf8");
+  writeVersionFile(projectDir, cliVersion());
+
+  const action = existingVer !== null ? "Updated" : "Installed";
+  process.stdout.write(`✅ ${action} Cursor .cursorrules v${cliVersion()} at ${projectDir}\n`);
+}
+
+function removeCursor(projectDir: string): void {
+  assertDirectory(projectDir, "Project directory");
+  const rulesPath = join(projectDir, ".cursorrules");
+  const versionPath = join(projectDir, ".nerve-version");
+  if (!existsSync(rulesPath)) {
+    process.stdout.write(`ℹ️ Cursor .cursorrules is not present at ${projectDir}\n`);
+    return;
+  }
+  rmSync(rulesPath, { force: true });
+  if (existsSync(versionPath)) {
+    rmSync(versionPath, { force: true });
+  }
+  process.stdout.write(`✅ Removed Cursor .cursorrules from ${projectDir}\n`);
+}
+
+function injectHermes(profile: string | null): void {
+  const sourceDir = join(getSkillSourceDir(), "hermes");
+  const targetDir = getHermesSkillDir(profile);
+  const existing = readVersionFile(targetDir);
+
+  if (existing === cliVersion()) {
+    const loc = profile !== null ? ` (profile: ${profile})` : "";
+    process.stdout.write(`✅ Hermes nerve skill is already up to date (v${cliVersion()})${loc}\n`);
+    return;
+  }
+
+  mkdirSync(targetDir, { recursive: true });
+  cpSync(sourceDir, targetDir, { recursive: true });
+  writeVersionFile(targetDir, cliVersion());
+
+  const action = existing !== null ? "Updated" : "Installed";
+  const loc = profile !== null ? ` (profile: ${profile})` : "";
+  process.stdout.write(`✅ ${action} Hermes nerve skill v${cliVersion()}${loc}\n`);
+  process.stdout.write(`   → ${targetDir}/SKILL.md\n`);
+}
+
+function removeHermes(profile: string | null): void {
+  const targetDir = getHermesSkillDir(profile);
+  if (!existsSync(targetDir)) {
+    process.stdout.write("ℹ️ Hermes nerve skill is not installed.\n");
+    return;
+  }
+  rmSync(targetDir, { recursive: true, force: true });
+  const loc = profile !== null ? ` (profile: ${profile})` : "";
+  process.stdout.write(`✅ Removed Hermes nerve skill${loc}\n`);
+}
+
+function printCursorStatusLine(projectDir: string): void {
+  const rulesPath = join(projectDir, ".cursorrules");
+  const label = `Cursor (${projectDir})`;
+  if (!existsSync(rulesPath)) {
+    process.stdout.write(`  ${label}: ❌ not installed\n`);
+    return;
+  }
+  const ver = readCursorInjectVersion(projectDir);
+  if (ver === null) {
+    process.stdout.write(
+      `  ${label}: ⚠️ installed (unknown version; run \`nerve agent inject cursor\`)\n`,
+    );
+    return;
+  }
+  if (ver === cliVersion()) {
+    process.stdout.write(`  ${label}: ✅ v${ver}\n`);
+  } else {
+    process.stdout.write(
+      `  ${label}: ⚠️ v${ver} → v${cliVersion()} available (run \`nerve agent inject cursor\`)\n`,
+    );
+  }
+}
+
+function printStatus(): void {
+  process.stdout.write(`nerve agent skills (CLI v${cliVersion()})\n\n`);
+
+  printCursorStatusLine(process.cwd());
+  process.stdout.write("\n");
+
+  // Default profile
+  const defaultDir = getHermesSkillDir(null);
+  const defaultVer = readVersionFile(defaultDir);
+  printAgentLine("Hermes (default)", defaultVer);
+
+  // Named profiles
+  const profilesDir = join(homedir(), ".hermes", "profiles");
+  if (existsSync(profilesDir)) {
+    const profiles = readdirSync(profilesDir, { withFileTypes: true })
+      .filter((d) => d.isDirectory())
+      .map((d) => d.name);
+
+    for (const profile of profiles) {
+      const dir = getHermesSkillDir(profile);
+      const ver = readVersionFile(dir);
+      if (ver !== null) {
+        printAgentLine(`Hermes (${profile})`, ver);
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  process.stdout.write("\n");
+}
+
+function printAgentLine(label: string, version: string | null): void {
+  if (version === null) {
+    process.stdout.write(`  ${label}: ❌ not installed\n`);
+  } else if (version === cliVersion()) {
+    process.stdout.write(`  ${label}: ✅ v${version}\n`);
+  } else {
+    process.stdout.write(
+      `  ${label}: ⚠️ v${version} → v${cliVersion()} available (run \`nerve agent update\`)\n`,
+    );
+  }
+}
+
+const injectCommand = defineCommand({
+  meta: {
+    name: "inject",
+    description: "Inject nerve skill into an AI agent",
+  },
+  args: {
+    target: {
+      type: "positional",
+      description: "Agent target: hermes | cursor",
+    },
+    profile: {
+      type: "string",
+      description: "Hermes profile name (default: main profile)",
+    },
+    path: {
+      type: "string",
+      description: "Project directory for Cursor rules (default: cwd); only used with cursor",
+    },
+  },
+  run({ args }) {
+    const target = args.target;
+    if (target === "hermes") {
+      if (args.path != null && args.path !== "") {
+        process.stderr.write("❌ --path applies only to the cursor target\n");
+        process.exit(1);
+      }
+      injectHermes(args.profile ?? null);
+      return;
+    }
+    if (target === "cursor") {
+      if (args.profile != null && args.profile !== "") {
+        process.stderr.write("❌ --profile applies only to the hermes target\n");
+        process.exit(1);
+      }
+      const pathArg = args.path != null && args.path !== "" ? args.path : null;
+      injectCursor(resolveCursorProjectDir(pathArg));
+      return;
+    }
+    process.stderr.write(`❌ Unknown agent target: ${target}\n`);
+    process.stderr.write("   Supported targets: hermes, cursor\n");
+    process.exit(1);
+  },
+});
+
+const updateCommand = defineCommand({
+  meta: {
+    name: "update",
+    description: "Update all injected nerve skills to current CLI version",
+  },
+  run() {
+    let updated = 0;
+
+    // Default profile
+    const defaultDir = getHermesSkillDir(null);
+    if (existsSync(defaultDir)) {
+      injectHermes(null);
+      updated++;
+    }
+
+    // Named profiles
+    const profilesDir = join(homedir(), ".hermes", "profiles");
+    if (existsSync(profilesDir)) {
+      const profiles = readdirSync(profilesDir, { withFileTypes: true })
+        .filter((d) => d.isDirectory())
+        .map((d) => d.name);
+
+      for (const profile of profiles) {
+        const dir = getHermesSkillDir(profile);
+        if (existsSync(dir)) {
+          injectHermes(profile);
+          updated++;
+        }
+      }
+    }
+
+    if (updated === 0) {
+      process.stdout.write("ℹ️ No injected skills found. Run `nerve agent inject hermes` first.\n");
+    }
+  },
+});
+
+const removeCommand = defineCommand({
+  meta: {
+    name: "remove",
+    description: "Remove injected nerve skill from an AI agent",
+  },
+  args: {
+    target: {
+      type: "positional",
+      description: "Agent target: hermes | cursor",
+    },
+    profile: {
+      type: "string",
+      description: "Hermes profile name (default: main profile)",
+    },
+    path: {
+      type: "string",
+      description: "Project directory for Cursor rules (default: cwd); only used with cursor",
+    },
+  },
+  run({ args }) {
+    const target = args.target;
+    if (target === "hermes") {
+      if (args.path != null && args.path !== "") {
+        process.stderr.write("❌ --path applies only to the cursor target\n");
+        process.exit(1);
+      }
+      removeHermes(args.profile ?? null);
+      return;
+    }
+    if (target === "cursor") {
+      if (args.profile != null && args.profile !== "") {
+        process.stderr.write("❌ --profile applies only to the hermes target\n");
+        process.exit(1);
+      }
+      const pathArg = args.path != null && args.path !== "" ? args.path : null;
+      removeCursor(resolveCursorProjectDir(pathArg));
+      return;
+    }
+    process.stderr.write(`❌ Unknown agent target: ${target}\n`);
+    process.stderr.write("   Supported targets: hermes, cursor\n");
+    process.exit(1);
+  },
+});
+
+const statusCommand = defineCommand({
+  meta: {
+    name: "status",
+    description: "Show injection status of nerve skills across agents",
+  },
+  run() {
+    printStatus();
+  },
+});
+
+export const agentCommand = defineCommand({
+  meta: {
+    name: "agent",
+    description: "Manage nerve skill injection for AI agents",
+  },
+  subCommands: {
+    inject: injectCommand,
+    update: updateCommand,
+    remove: removeCommand,
+    status: statusCommand,
+  },
+});

packages/cli/src/commands/create.ts

@@ -85,76 +85,26 @@ and optionally load this file at runtime if you keep prompts outside code.
 `;
 }
 
-function senseIdToSqlTableName(id: string): string {
-  return id.replaceAll("-", "_");
-}
+export function buildSenseIndexTs(_senseId: string): string {
+  return `type SenseState = {
+  lastRun: number | null;
+};
 
-function senseIdToSchemaExportName(id: string): string {
-  const parts = id.split("-");
-  return parts
-    .map((part, index) =>
-      index === 0 ? part : part.length === 0 ? "" : part.charAt(0).toUpperCase() + part.slice(1),
-    )
-    .join("");
-}
+export const initialState: SenseState = { lastRun: null };
 
-export function buildSenseSchemaTs(senseId: string): string {
-  const table = senseIdToSqlTableName(senseId);
-  const exportName = senseIdToSchemaExportName(senseId);
-  return `import { integer, sqliteTable, text } from "drizzle-orm/sqlite-core";
-
-export const ${exportName} = sqliteTable("${table}", {
-  id: integer("id").primaryKey({ autoIncrement: true }),
-  ts: integer("ts").notNull(),
-  label: text("label").notNull(),
-});
-`;
-}
-
-export function buildSenseIndexTs(senseId: string): string {
-  const exportName = senseIdToSchemaExportName(senseId);
-  return `import type { LibSQLDatabase } from "drizzle-orm/libsql";
-
-import { ${exportName} } from "./schema.js";
-
-export { ${exportName} as table } from "./schema.js";
-
-type SenseResult = {
-  signal: { label: string; ts: number };
+export async function compute(state: SenseState): Promise<{
+  state: SenseState;
   workflow: null;
-} | null;
-
-/**
- * ${senseId} — replace this stub with your sampling logic.
- * Returns non-null to emit a signal, null to stay silent.
- */
-export async function compute(
-  db: LibSQLDatabase,
-  _peers: Record<string, LibSQLDatabase>,
-  _options: { signal: AbortSignal },
-): Promise<SenseResult> {
-  void ${exportName};
+}> {
+  // TODO: implement sense logic
   return {
-    signal: {
-      label: "${senseId}",
-      ts: Date.now(),
-    },
+    state: { lastRun: Date.now() },
     workflow: null,
   };
 }
 `;
 }
 
-export function buildSenseMigrationSql(senseId: string): string {
-  const table = senseIdToSqlTableName(senseId);
-  return `CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS ${table} (
-  id    INTEGER PRIMARY KEY AUTOINCREMENT,
-  ts    INTEGER NOT NULL,
-  label TEXT    NOT NULL
-);
-`;
-}
-
 function writeFile(filePath: string, content: string): void {
   mkdirSync(dirname(filePath), { recursive: true });
   writeFileSync(filePath, content, "utf8");
@@ -278,15 +228,10 @@ const createSenseCommand = defineCommand({
     }
 
     mkdirSync(join(senseDir, "src"), { recursive: true });
-    mkdirSync(join(senseDir, "migrations"), { recursive: true });
     writeFile(join(senseDir, "src", "index.ts"), buildSenseIndexTs(args.name));
-    writeFile(join(senseDir, "src", "schema.ts"), buildSenseSchemaTs(args.name));
-    writeFile(join(senseDir, "migrations", "0001_init.sql"), buildSenseMigrationSql(args.name));
 
     process.stdout.write("✅ Sense scaffolded:\n");
     process.stdout.write(`   ${join(senseDir, "src", "index.ts")}\n`);
-    process.stdout.write(`   ${join(senseDir, "src", "schema.ts")}\n`);
-    process.stdout.write(`   ${join(senseDir, "migrations", "0001_init.sql")}\n`);
 
     process.stdout.write("\nBuilding workspace (senses + workflows)…\n");
     try {

packages/cli/src/commands/init.ts

@@ -54,13 +54,11 @@ const PACKAGE_JSON = `${JSON.stringify(
     dependencies: {
       "@uncaged/nerve-core": "latest",
       "@uncaged/nerve-daemon": "latest",
-      "drizzle-orm": "latest",
       zod: "^4.3.6",
     },
     devDependencies: {
       "@biomejs/biome": "latest",
       "@types/node": "^22.0.0",
-      "drizzle-kit": "latest",
       esbuild: "^0.27.0",
       typescript: "^5.7.0",
     },
@@ -127,6 +125,69 @@ node_modules/
 knowledge.db
 `;
 
+/** Generated at workspace root so agents can \`cat AGENT.md\` instead of npm skill paths. */
+const AGENT_MD = `# Nerve workspace — agent guide
+
+This file is created by \`nerve init\`. Read it before implementing senses or workflows.
+
+## Directory layout
+
+| Path | Purpose |
+|------|---------|
+| \`nerve.yaml\` | Senses, workflows, intervals, groups |
+| \`package.json\` | Single root package — no per-sense/per-workflow packages |
+| \`scripts/build.mjs\` | Root esbuild step; output under \`dist/\` |
+| \`senses/<name>/src/index.ts\` | Sense \`compute()\` + \`initialState\` |
+| \`data/senses/<name>.json\` | Persisted sense state (written by the daemon) |
+| \`workflows/<name>/index.ts\` | Default export: \`WorkflowDefinition\` |
+| \`workflows/<name>/roles/<role>.ts\` | One TypeScript file per role |
+| \`dist/senses/<name>/index.js\` | Bundled sense (after build) |
+| \`dist/workflows/<name>/index.js\` | Bundled workflow (after build) |
+
+There is **no** \`package.json\` or \`tsconfig.json\` inside individual senses or workflows.
+
+## Naming
+
+- **Workflows:** verb-first kebab-case (e.g. \`review-pull-request\`, \`deploy-staging\`). Avoid bare nouns like \`notifications\`.
+- **Senses:** kebab-case descriptive nouns (e.g. \`cpu-usage\`).
+
+## Workflow roles — four-tuple pattern
+
+Wire each role with \`createRole\` from \`@uncaged/nerve-workflow-utils\`:
+
+1. **Adapter** — \`AgentFn\` (LLM call)
+2. **Prompt builder** — \`async (ctx: ThreadContext) => string\`
+3. **Meta schema** — Zod object (routing / structured output from the model)
+4. **Extractor config** — how JSON meta is parsed from replies
+
+Keep meta small (often one boolean per role). The **moderator** in \`WorkflowDefinition\` routes between role names.
+
+## Build commands
+
+Always run from the **workspace root**:
+
+\`\`\`bash
+pnpm run build
+# or: npm run build
+\`\`\`
+
+Fix errors until this succeeds. New workflows must appear under \`workflows/<name>/\` and be registered in \`nerve.yaml\`; new senses under \`senses/<name>/\` with matching \`nerve.yaml\` entries.
+
+## Coding style (Nerve conventions)
+
+- Use \`type\`, not \`interface\`; prefer \`function\` over classes (except errors / library requirements).
+- **Named exports only** — no \`export default\` (exception: \`workflows/<name>/index.ts\` uses default export for the daemon loader).
+- Nullable fields: \`T | null\`, not TypeScript optional \`?:\`.
+- No dynamic \`import()\` in workspace code (bundling and tooling assume static imports).
+- Use \`async\`/\`await\`; use a \`Result\` type for expected failures instead of control-flow try/catch.
+
+## Extra references (optional)
+
+- \`CONVENTIONS.md\` — project-specific overrides at repo root.
+- \`.knowledge/*.md\` — deeper docs when working inside the Nerve monorepo.
+- \`.cursor/skills/\` — Cursor Agent Skills (\`SKILL.md\` per skill).
+`;
+
 const NERVE_SKILLS_MDC = `---
 description: >-
   Where Agent Skills live in this Nerve workspace and how to use them with Cursor
@@ -153,58 +214,25 @@ There is no separate npm package for skills in the default workspace. To align w
 
 const execFileAsync = promisify(execFile);
 
-const CPU_SCHEMA_TS = `import { integer, real, sqliteTable, text } from "drizzle-orm/sqlite-core";
+const CPU_INDEX_TS = `import { loadavg } from "node:os";
 
-export const cpuUsage = sqliteTable("cpu_usage", {
-  id: integer("id").primaryKey({ autoIncrement: true }),
-  ts: integer("ts").notNull(),
-  model: text("model").notNull(),
-  loadPercent: real("load_percent").notNull(),
-});
-`;
-
-const CPU_INDEX_TS = `import { cpus } from "node:os";
-
-export { cpuUsage as table } from "./schema.js";
-
-type SenseResult = {
-  signal: { model: string; loadPercent: number; ts: number };
-  workflow: null;
+type CpuState = {
+  samples: Array<{ ts: number; value: number }>;
 };
 
-export async function compute(): Promise<SenseResult> {
-  const cpuList = cpus();
+export const initialState: CpuState = { samples: [] };
 
-  let totalIdle = 0;
-  let totalTick = 0;
-  for (const cpu of cpuList) {
-    for (const [, time] of Object.entries(cpu.times)) {
-      totalTick += time;
-    }
-    totalIdle += cpu.times.idle;
-  }
-
-  const loadPercent = totalTick === 0 ? 0 : ((totalTick - totalIdle) / totalTick) * 100;
-
-  return {
-    signal: {
-      model: cpuList[0]?.model ?? "unknown",
-      loadPercent: Math.round(loadPercent * 100) / 100,
-      ts: Date.now(),
-    },
-    workflow: null,
-  };
+export async function compute(state: CpuState): Promise<{
+  state: CpuState;
+  workflow: null;
+}> {
+  const [oneMin] = loadavg();
+  const value = typeof oneMin === "number" && !Number.isNaN(oneMin) ? oneMin : 0;
+  const newSamples = [...state.samples.slice(-99), { ts: Date.now(), value }];
+  return { state: { samples: newSamples }, workflow: null };
 }
 `;
 
-const CPU_MIGRATION_SQL = `CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS cpu_usage (
-  id          INTEGER PRIMARY KEY AUTOINCREMENT,
-  ts          INTEGER NOT NULL,
-  model       TEXT    NOT NULL,
-  load_percent REAL   NOT NULL
-);
-`;
-
 function writeFile(filePath: string, content: string): void {
   mkdirSync(dirname(filePath), { recursive: true });
   writeFileSync(filePath, content, "utf8");
@@ -355,19 +383,14 @@ async function runInitWorkspace(force: boolean, skipInstall = false): Promise<vo
   mkdirSync(join(nerveRoot, "data"), { recursive: true });
   mkdirSync(join(nerveRoot, "data", "senses"), { recursive: true });
   mkdirSync(join(nerveRoot, "senses", "cpu-usage", "src"), { recursive: true });
-  mkdirSync(join(nerveRoot, "senses", "cpu-usage", "migrations"), { recursive: true });
 
   writeFile(join(nerveRoot, "nerve.yaml"), NERVE_YAML);
   writeFile(join(nerveRoot, "package.json"), PACKAGE_JSON);
   writeFile(join(nerveRoot, "scripts", "build.mjs"), BUILD_MJS);
   writeFile(join(nerveRoot, "biome.json"), BIOME_JSON);
   writeFile(join(nerveRoot, ".gitignore"), GITIGNORE);
+  writeFile(join(nerveRoot, "AGENT.md"), AGENT_MD);
   writeFile(join(nerveRoot, "senses", "cpu-usage", "src", "index.ts"), CPU_INDEX_TS);
-  writeFile(join(nerveRoot, "senses", "cpu-usage", "src", "schema.ts"), CPU_SCHEMA_TS);
-  writeFile(
-    join(nerveRoot, "senses", "cpu-usage", "migrations", "0001_init.sql"),
-    CPU_MIGRATION_SQL,
-  );
   writeFile(join(nerveRoot, ".cursor", "rules", "nerve-skills.mdc"), NERVE_SKILLS_MDC);
 
   if (!skipInstall) {

packages/cli/src/commands/sense.ts

@@ -1,25 +1,11 @@
 import { readFileSync } from "node:fs";
 import { join } from "node:path";
-import type { DatabaseSync } from "node:sqlite";
 
-import {
-  type SenseInfo,
-  isPlainRecord,
-  parseNerveConfig,
-  senseTriggerLabels,
-} from "@uncaged/nerve-core";
+import { type SenseInfo, parseNerveConfig, senseTriggerLabels } from "@uncaged/nerve-core";
 import { defineCommand } from "citty";
 
 import { isRemoteDaemonCli } from "../cli-global.js";
 import { resolveDaemonTransport } from "../daemon-client.js";
-import {
-  defaultPreviewSql,
-  formatRowsAsAlignedTable,
-  listTableSqlStatements,
-  openSenseDb,
-  parseSenseQueryArgs,
-  pickDefaultPreviewTable,
-} from "../sense-sqlite.js";
 import { getNerveRoot, isRunning } from "../workspace.js";
 
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -52,9 +38,6 @@ export function formatSenseList(senses: SenseInfo[]): string {
     lines.push(
       `    trigger schedule: ${s.triggers.length > 0 ? s.triggers.join("; ") : "(none)"}\n`,
     );
-    const lastSignal =
-      s.lastSignalTimestamp !== null ? new Date(s.lastSignalTimestamp).toISOString() : "(never)";
-    lines.push(`    last signal: ${lastSignal}\n`);
   }
   return lines.join("");
 }
@@ -76,7 +59,6 @@ export function sensesFromConfig(configPath: string): SenseInfo[] {
     throttle: cfg.throttle,
     timeout: cfg.timeout,
     triggers: senseTriggerLabels(name, senses),
-    lastSignalTimestamp: null,
   }));
 }
 
@@ -92,7 +74,7 @@ const senseListCommand = defineCommand({
   async run() {
     if (!isRemoteDaemonCli() && !isRunning()) {
       process.stderr.write(
-        "⚠️  Daemon is not running — showing static config only (no last signal time).\n\n",
+        "⚠️  Daemon is not running — showing static config from nerve.yaml only.\n\n",
       );
       const configPath = join(getNerveRoot(), "nerve.yaml");
       const senses = sensesFromConfig(configPath);
@@ -154,116 +136,6 @@ const senseTriggerCommand = defineCommand({
   },
 });
 
-// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// nerve sense schema <name>
-// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-const senseSchemaCommand = defineCommand({
-  meta: {
-    name: "schema",
-    description: "Print CREATE TABLE statements from a sense SQLite database",
-  },
-  args: {
-    name: {
-      type: "positional",
-      description: "Sense name (data/senses/<name>.db under the nerve workspace)",
-    },
-    json: {
-      type: "boolean",
-      description: "Print JSON array of CREATE TABLE SQL strings",
-      default: false,
-    },
-  },
-  async run({ args }) {
-    const nerveRoot = getNerveRoot();
-    let db: DatabaseSync | undefined;
-    try {
-      db = openSenseDb(nerveRoot, args.name);
-      const statements = listTableSqlStatements(db);
-      if (args.json) {
-        process.stdout.write(`${JSON.stringify(statements, null, 2)}\n`);
-      } else if (statements.length === 0) {
-        process.stdout.write("(no tables)\n");
-      } else {
-        for (const sql of statements) {
-          process.stdout.write(`${sql};\n\n`);
-        }
-      }
-    } catch (e) {
-      const msg = e instanceof Error ? e.message : String(e);
-      process.stderr.write(`❌ ${msg}\n`);
-      process.exit(1);
-    } finally {
-      db?.close();
-    }
-  },
-});
-
-// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// nerve sense query <name> [sql...]
-// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-const senseQueryCommand = defineCommand({
-  meta: {
-    name: "query",
-    description:
-      'Run a read-only SQL query against a sense database (default: last 10 rows of the first data table). Pass optional SQL after the sense name, or use --sql "…".',
-  },
-  args: {
-    name: {
-      type: "positional",
-      description: "Sense name (data/senses/<name>.db under the nerve workspace)",
-    },
-    json: {
-      type: "boolean",
-      description: "Print result rows as JSON",
-      default: false,
-    },
-  },
-  async run({ args, rawArgs }) {
-    const nerveRoot = getNerveRoot();
-    let db: DatabaseSync | undefined;
-    try {
-      let parsed: { name: string; sql: string | undefined };
-      try {
-        parsed = parseSenseQueryArgs(rawArgs);
-      } catch (e) {
-        const msg = e instanceof Error ? e.message : String(e);
-        process.stderr.write(`❌ ${msg}\n`);
-        process.exit(1);
-      }
-
-      db = openSenseDb(nerveRoot, args.name);
-
-      let sql = parsed.sql?.trim();
-      if (!sql) {
-        const table = pickDefaultPreviewTable(db);
-        if (table === null) {
-          process.stderr.write("❌ No tables found in database.\n");
-          process.exit(1);
-        } else {
-          sql = defaultPreviewSql(table);
-        }
-      }
-
-      const rawRows: unknown[] = db.prepare(sql).all();
-      const rows: Record<string, unknown>[] = rawRows.filter(isPlainRecord);
-
-      if (args.json) {
-        process.stdout.write(`${JSON.stringify(rows, null, 2)}\n`);
-      } else {
-        process.stdout.write(formatRowsAsAlignedTable(rows));
-      }
-    } catch (e) {
-      const msg = e instanceof Error ? e.message : String(e);
-      process.stderr.write(`❌ ${msg}\n`);
-      process.exit(1);
-    } finally {
-      db?.close();
-    }
-  },
-});
-
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // nerve sense (parent command)
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -276,7 +148,5 @@ export const senseCommand = defineCommand({
   subCommands: {
     list: senseListCommand,
     trigger: senseTriggerCommand,
-    schema: senseSchemaCommand,
-    query: senseQueryCommand,
   },
 });

packages/cli/src/commands/status.ts

@@ -97,6 +97,5 @@ export const statusCommand = defineCommand({
     process.stdout.write(
       `   workers: ${workerGroups.length > 0 ? workerGroups.join(", ") : "(none)"}\n`,
     );
-    process.stdout.write("   signals: (pending SignalBus persistence)\n");
   },
 });

packages/cli/src/commands/workflow.ts

@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import { stringify } from "yaml";
 import type { LogStore, ThreadRoundRow, WorkflowRun } from "@uncaged/nerve-store";
 import { isRemoteDaemonCli } from "../cli-global.js";
 import { resolveDaemonTransport } from "../daemon-client.js";
-import { formatRowsAsAlignedTable } from "../sense-sqlite.js";
+import { formatRowsAsAlignedTable } from "../table-format.js";
 import { loadDaemonModule } from "../workspace-daemon.js";
 import { getNerveRoot, isRunning } from "../workspace.js";
 

packages/cli/src/sense-sqlite.ts

@@ -1,170 +0,0 @@
-import { existsSync } from "node:fs";
-import { join } from "node:path";
-import { DatabaseSync } from "node:sqlite";
-
-/** SQLite path for a sense under the nerve workspace root. */
-export function senseDbPath(nerveRoot: string, senseName: string): string {
-  return join(nerveRoot, "data", "senses", `${senseName}.db`);
-}
-
-export function assertSenseDbExists(nerveRoot: string, senseName: string): string {
-  const path = senseDbPath(nerveRoot, senseName);
-  if (!existsSync(path)) {
-    throw new Error(`No database at ${path}`);
-  }
-  return path;
-}
-
-/** Open a sense SQLite database in readonly mode using node:sqlite. */
-export function openSenseDb(nerveRoot: string, senseName: string): DatabaseSync {
-  const path = assertSenseDbExists(nerveRoot, senseName);
-  return new DatabaseSync(path, { readOnly: true });
-}
-
-/** `SELECT sql FROM sqlite_master WHERE type='table'` (non-null sql only). */
-export function listTableSqlStatements(db: DatabaseSync): string[] {
-  const rows = db
-    .prepare(
-      `SELECT sql FROM sqlite_master WHERE type = 'table' AND sql IS NOT NULL ORDER BY tbl_name`,
-    )
-    .all() as { sql: string }[];
-  return rows.map((r) => r.sql);
-}
-
-/**
- * Table used for `nerve sense query <name>` with no SQL.
- * Prefers real data tables over `_migrations`, then lexicographic by name.
- */
-export function pickDefaultPreviewTable(db: DatabaseSync): string | null {
-  const row = db
-    .prepare(
-      `SELECT name FROM sqlite_master
-       WHERE type = 'table' AND sql IS NOT NULL
-         AND name NOT LIKE 'sqlite\\_%' ESCAPE '\\'
-       ORDER BY
-         CASE WHEN name = '_signals' THEN 0
-              WHEN name = '_migrations' THEN 2
-              ELSE 1 END,
-         name
-       LIMIT 1`,
-    )
-    .get() as { name: string } | undefined;
-  return row?.name ?? null;
-}
-
-export function defaultPreviewSql(table: string): string {
-  return `SELECT * FROM "${table.replace(/"/g, '""')}" ORDER BY rowid DESC LIMIT 10`;
-}
-
-function endIndexAfterGenericDashArg(rawArgs: string[], i: number): number {
-  const a = rawArgs[i];
-  const eq = a.indexOf("=");
-  if (eq === -1 && i + 1 < rawArgs.length && !rawArgs[i + 1].startsWith("-")) {
-    return i + 1;
-  }
-  return i;
-}
-
-type SenseQueryArgStep = {
-  nextIndex: number;
-  flagSql: string | undefined;
-  positionalToken: string | null;
-};
-
-function nextSenseQueryArgStep(rawArgs: string[], i: number): SenseQueryArgStep {
-  const a = rawArgs[i];
-  if (a === "--json" || a === "--no-json") {
-    return { nextIndex: i, flagSql: undefined, positionalToken: null };
-  }
-  if (a.startsWith("--sql=")) {
-    return { nextIndex: i, flagSql: a.slice("--sql=".length), positionalToken: null };
-  }
-  if (a === "--sql") {
-    if (i + 1 >= rawArgs.length || rawArgs[i + 1].startsWith("-")) {
-      throw new Error("Missing value for --sql");
-    }
-    return { nextIndex: i + 1, flagSql: rawArgs[i + 1], positionalToken: null };
-  }
-  if (a.startsWith("-")) {
-    return {
-      nextIndex: endIndexAfterGenericDashArg(rawArgs, i),
-      flagSql: undefined,
-      positionalToken: null,
-    };
-  }
-  return { nextIndex: i, flagSql: undefined, positionalToken: a };
-}
-
-/** Parse sense name and optional SQL from subcommand raw argv (flags stripped). */
-export function parseSenseQueryArgs(rawArgs: string[]): { name: string; sql: string | undefined } {
-  let flagSql: string | undefined;
-  const pos: string[] = [];
-  let i = 0;
-  while (i < rawArgs.length) {
-    const step = nextSenseQueryArgStep(rawArgs, i);
-    if (step.flagSql !== undefined) {
-      flagSql = step.flagSql;
-    }
-    if (step.positionalToken !== null) {
-      pos.push(step.positionalToken);
-    }
-    i = step.nextIndex + 1;
-  }
-  if (pos.length < 1) {
-    throw new Error("Missing sense name");
-  }
-  const name = pos[0];
-  const positionalSql = pos.length > 1 ? pos.slice(1).join(" ") : undefined;
-  const trimmedFlag = flagSql?.trim();
-  const sql = trimmedFlag !== undefined && trimmedFlag.length > 0 ? trimmedFlag : positionalSql;
-  return { name, sql };
-}
-
-function stringifyCell(value: unknown): string {
-  if (value === null || value === undefined) return "";
-  if (typeof value === "bigint") return value.toString();
-  if (typeof value === "number" || typeof value === "boolean") return String(value);
-  if (typeof value === "string") return value;
-  if (Buffer.isBuffer(value)) return value.toString("hex");
-  try {
-    return JSON.stringify(value);
-  } catch {
-    return String(value);
-  }
-}
-
-/** Collect column keys in stable order (first row keys, then any extras). */
-export function collectColumnKeys(rows: Record<string, unknown>[]): string[] {
-  const keys: string[] = [];
-  const seen = new Set<string>();
-  for (const row of rows) {
-    for (const k of Object.keys(row)) {
-      if (!seen.has(k)) {
-        seen.add(k);
-        keys.push(k);
-      }
-    }
-  }
-  return keys;
-}
-
-const MAX_CELL = 64;
-
-function truncate(s: string): string {
-  if (s.length <= MAX_CELL) return s;
-  return `${s.slice(0, MAX_CELL - 1)}…`;
-}
-
-/** Plain aligned table for terminal output. */
-export function formatRowsAsAlignedTable(rows: Record<string, unknown>[]): string {
-  if (rows.length === 0) {
-    return "(0 rows)\n";
-  }
-  const cols = collectColumnKeys(rows);
-  const cells = rows.map((row) => cols.map((c) => truncate(stringifyCell(row[c]))));
-  const widths = cols.map((c, j) => Math.max(c.length, ...cells.map((r) => r[j].length)));
-  const sep = widths.map((w) => "-".repeat(w)).join("-+-");
-  const header = cols.map((c, j) => c.padEnd(widths[j])).join(" | ");
-  const body = cells.map((r) => r.map((cell, j) => cell.padEnd(widths[j])).join(" | ")).join("\n");
-  return `${header}\n${sep}\n${body}\n`;
-}

packages/cli/src/table-format.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+function stringifyCell(value: unknown): string {
+  if (value === null || value === undefined) return "";
+  if (typeof value === "bigint") return value.toString();
+  if (typeof value === "number" || typeof value === "boolean") return String(value);
+  if (typeof value === "string") return value;
+  if (Buffer.isBuffer(value)) return value.toString("hex");
+  try {
+    return JSON.stringify(value);
+  } catch {
+    return String(value);
+  }
+}
+
+/** Collect column keys in stable order (first row keys, then any extras). */
+export function collectColumnKeys(rows: Record<string, unknown>[]): string[] {
+  const keys: string[] = [];
+  const seen = new Set<string>();
+  for (const row of rows) {
+    for (const k of Object.keys(row)) {
+      if (!seen.has(k)) {
+        seen.add(k);
+        keys.push(k);
+      }
+    }
+  }
+  return keys;
+}
+
+const MAX_CELL = 64;
+
+function truncate(s: string): string {
+  if (s.length <= MAX_CELL) return s;
+  return `${s.slice(0, MAX_CELL - 1)}…`;
+}
+
+/** Plain aligned table for terminal output. */
+export function formatRowsAsAlignedTable(rows: Record<string, unknown>[]): string {
+  if (rows.length === 0) {
+    return "(0 rows)\n";
+  }
+  const cols = collectColumnKeys(rows);
+  const cells = rows.map((row) => cols.map((c) => truncate(stringifyCell(row[c]))));
+  const widths = cols.map((c, j) => Math.max(c.length, ...cells.map((r) => r[j].length)));
+  const sep = widths.map((w) => "-".repeat(w)).join("-+-");
+  const header = cols.map((c, j) => c.padEnd(widths[j])).join(" | ");
+  const body = cells.map((r) => r.map((cell, j) => cell.padEnd(widths[j])).join(" | ")).join("\n");
+  return `${header}\n${sep}\n${body}\n`;
+}

packages/core/README.md

@@ -4,18 +4,18 @@ Shared types and configuration parser for the [nerve](../../README.md) observati
 
 ## What's Inside
 
-- **Type definitions** — `Signal`, `SenseConfig`, `SenseInfo`, `SenseReflexConfig`, `ReflexConfig` (sense-only), `WorkflowConfig`, `NerveConfig`, and related types
-- **Config parser** — `parseNerveConfig(yaml)` validates and parses `nerve.yaml` into `NerveConfig` (rejects reflex entries that declare a `workflow` key; reflexes only schedule senses)
-- **Sense → workflow routing** — `parseSenseWorkflowDirective`, `routeSenseComputeOutput`, and types `ParsedSenseWorkflowDirective`, `SenseComputeRoute`
+- **Type definitions** — `SenseConfig`, `SenseInfo`, `SenseComputeFn`, `SenseModule`, `WorkflowConfig`, `NerveConfig`, `WorkflowTrigger`, and related types
+- **Config parser** — `parseNerveConfig(yaml)` validates and parses `nerve.yaml` into `NerveConfig` (top-level `reflexes` is rejected; use `interval` / `on` on each sense)
+- **Workflow triggers** — `parseWorkflowTrigger` validates structured workflow launch objects from Sense compute results or IPC
 - **Daemon IPC protocol** — request/response types (`DaemonIpcRequest`, `DaemonIpcResponse`, …) and `parseDaemonIpcRequest` for newline-delimited JSON on the CLI ↔ daemon socket
-- **Workflow automaton types** — `START` / `END` sentinel constants, `WorkflowMessage`, `StartStep`, `RoleStep`, `ModeratorContext` (`start` + `steps`; empty `steps` on first moderator call), `Moderator` (single `context` argument), `WorkflowDefinition`, `Role`, `SenseResult`, plus `DEFAULT_ENGINE_MAX_ROUNDS`
+- **Workflow automaton types** — `START` / `END` sentinel constants, `WorkflowMessage`, `StartStep`, `RoleStep`, `ModeratorContext` (`start` + `steps`; empty `steps` on first moderator call), `Moderator` (single `context` argument), `WorkflowDefinition`, `Role`, `RoleResult`, plus `DEFAULT_ENGINE_MAX_ROUNDS`
 - **Result type** — `Result<T>` with `ok()` / `err()` helpers for explicit error handling (no thrown exceptions for parse paths)
 
 ## Usage
 
 ```typescript
 import { parseNerveConfig, ok, err } from "@uncaged/nerve-core";
-import type { NerveConfig, Signal, Result } from "@uncaged/nerve-core";
+import type { NerveConfig, Result } from "@uncaged/nerve-core";
 
 const result: Result<NerveConfig> = parseNerveConfig(yamlString);
 if (result.ok) {
@@ -23,29 +23,24 @@ if (result.ok) {
 }
 ```
 
-### Sense return → signal vs workflow
+### Workflow trigger validation
 
 ```typescript
-import { parseSenseWorkflowDirective, routeSenseComputeOutput } from "@uncaged/nerve-core";
+import { parseWorkflowTrigger } from "@uncaged/nerve-core";
 
-const directive = parseSenseWorkflowDirective("my-workflow|8|Hello from sense");
-if (directive.ok) {
-  console.log(directive.value.workflowName, directive.value.maxRounds, directive.value.prompt);
-}
-
-const route = routeSenseComputeOutput({
-  metric: 42,
-  workflow: "my-workflow|8|Run now",
+const directive = parseWorkflowTrigger({
+  name: "my-workflow",
+  maxRounds: 8,
+  prompt: "Hello from sense",
+  dryRun: false,
 });
-if (route.kind === "launch") {
-  // engine starts workflow; no Signal to the bus for this return
-  console.log(route.launch);
-} else {
-  // normal signal with payload
-  console.log(route.payload);
+if (directive.ok) {
+  console.log(directive.value.name, directive.value.maxRounds, directive.value.prompt);
 }
 ```
 
+Sense modules return `{ state, workflow }` from `compute(state)`; when `workflow` is non-null it must satisfy the shape validated by `parseWorkflowTrigger` (the daemon validates before starting a run).
+
 ## Duration Format
 
 Config fields like `throttle`, `timeout`, and `interval` accept human-readable durations:

packages/core/package.json

@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@
     "test": "vitest run"
   },
   "dependencies": {
-    "drizzle-orm": "1.0.0-beta.23-c10d10c",
     "yaml": "^2.8.3"
   },
   "devDependencies": {

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

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
 
-import { parseNerveConfig } from "../parse-nerve-config.js";
+import { parseNerveConfig } from "../config.js";
 
 const VALID_CONFIG = `
 senses:
@@ -34,7 +34,6 @@ describe("parseNerveConfig", () => {
         throttle: 5000,
         timeout: null,
         gracePeriod: null,
-        retention: 10_000,
         interval: 30_000,
         on: [],
       });
@@ -43,7 +42,6 @@ describe("parseNerveConfig", () => {
         throttle: null,
         timeout: 10_000,
         gracePeriod: 3000,
-        retention: 10_000,
         interval: null,
         on: ["high_usage"],
       });
@@ -83,25 +81,11 @@ senses:
         throttle: null,
         timeout: null,
         gracePeriod: null,
-        retention: 10_000,
         interval: null,
         on: [],
       });
     });
 
-    it("parses optional retention as a positive integer", () => {
-      const yaml = `
-senses:
-  cpu:
-    group: system
-    retention: 5000
-`;
-      const result = parseNerveConfig(yaml);
-      expect(result.ok).toBe(true);
-      if (!result.ok) return;
-      expect(result.value.senses.cpu.retention).toBe(5000);
-    });
-
     it("accepts all valid duration suffixes (s, m, h)", () => {
       const yaml = `
 senses:
@@ -343,45 +327,6 @@ api:
       expect(result.error.message).toMatch(/senses/);
     });
 
-    it("returns error when retention is zero", () => {
-      const yaml = `
-senses:
-  cpu:
-    group: system
-    retention: 0
-`;
-      const result = parseNerveConfig(yaml);
-      expect(result.ok).toBe(false);
-      if (result.ok) return;
-      expect(result.error.message).toMatch(/retention.*positive integer/);
-    });
-
-    it("returns error when retention is not an integer", () => {
-      const yaml = `
-senses:
-  cpu:
-    group: system
-    retention: 1.5
-`;
-      const result = parseNerveConfig(yaml);
-      expect(result.ok).toBe(false);
-      if (result.ok) return;
-      expect(result.error.message).toMatch(/retention.*positive integer/);
-    });
-
-    it("returns error when retention is not a number", () => {
-      const yaml = `
-senses:
-  cpu:
-    group: system
-    retention: "5000"
-`;
-      const result = parseNerveConfig(yaml);
-      expect(result.ok).toBe(false);
-      if (result.ok) return;
-      expect(result.error.message).toMatch(/retention.*positive integer/);
-    });
-
     it("returns error for invalid throttle format", () => {
       const yaml = `
 senses:

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

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
 
-import { parseDaemonIpcRequest } from "../daemon-ipc-protocol.js";
+import { parseDaemonIpcRequest } from "../daemon.js";
 
 describe("parseDaemonIpcRequest", () => {
   it("parses trigger-workflow", () => {

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

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
 
-import { parseKnowledgeYaml } from "../knowledge-config.js";
+import { parseKnowledgeYaml } from "../config.js";
 
 describe("parseKnowledgeYaml", () => {
   it("parses include and exclude glob lists", () => {

packages/core/src/__tests__/sense-workflow-directive.test.ts

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
 
-import { parseWorkflowTrigger, routeSenseComputeOutput } from "../sense-workflow-directive.js";
+import { parseWorkflowTrigger } from "../sense.js";
 
 describe("parseWorkflowTrigger", () => {
   it("accepts a valid trigger object", () => {
@@ -57,60 +57,3 @@ describe("parseWorkflowTrigger", () => {
     expect(r.ok).toBe(false);
   });
 });
-
-describe("routeSenseComputeOutput", () => {
-  it("wraps non-record values as signal-only", () => {
-    const r = routeSenseComputeOutput(99);
-    expect(r.ok).toBe(true);
-    if (!r.ok) return;
-    expect(r.value).toEqual({ signal: 99, workflow: null });
-  });
-
-  it("wraps plain objects without signal key as signal-only", () => {
-    const r = routeSenseComputeOutput({ count: 2 });
-    expect(r.ok).toBe(true);
-    if (!r.ok) return;
-    expect(r.value).toEqual({ signal: { count: 2 }, workflow: null });
-  });
-
-  it("parses explicit signal with null workflow", () => {
-    const r = routeSenseComputeOutput({ signal: { a: 1 }, workflow: null });
-    expect(r.ok).toBe(true);
-    if (!r.ok) return;
-    expect(r.value).toEqual({ signal: { a: 1 }, workflow: null });
-  });
-
-  it("parses explicit signal with workflow trigger", () => {
-    const r = routeSenseComputeOutput({
-      signal: { x: true },
-      workflow: { name: "wf", maxRounds: 2, prompt: "p", dryRun: false },
-    });
-    expect(r.ok).toBe(true);
-    if (!r.ok) return;
-    expect(r.value.signal).toEqual({ x: true });
-    expect(r.value.workflow).toEqual({
-      name: "wf",
-      maxRounds: 2,
-      prompt: "p",
-      dryRun: false,
-    });
-  });
-
-  it("defaults missing workflow key to null", () => {
-    const r = routeSenseComputeOutput({ signal: 7 });
-    expect(r.ok).toBe(true);
-    if (!r.ok) return;
-    expect(r.value).toEqual({ signal: 7, workflow: null });
-  });
-
-  it("degrades to signal-only when workflow object is invalid", () => {
-    const r = routeSenseComputeOutput({
-      signal: { v: 1 },
-      workflow: { name: "w", maxRounds: 0, prompt: "", dryRun: false },
-    });
-    expect(r.ok).toBe(true);
-    if (!r.ok) return;
-    expect(r.value.signal).toEqual({ v: 1 });
-    expect(r.value.workflow).toBeNull();
-  });
-});

packages/core/src/__tests__/spawn-safe.test.ts

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
 
-import { spawnSafe } from "../spawn-safe.js";
+import { spawnSafe } from "../util.js";
 
 describe("spawnSafe", () => {
   it("passes argv literally without shell interpretation (injection-safe)", async () => {

packages/core/src/agent-adapter-ids.ts

@@ -1,5 +0,0 @@
-/**
- * Agent adapter ids referenced by tooling / docs (RFC-003).
- * Workflows import adapter packages directly; echo may be used in tests via a small factory.
- */
-export const KNOWN_AGENT_ADAPTER_IDS = ["echo", "cursor", "hermes", "codex"] as const;

packages/core/src/config.ts

@@ -1,16 +1,16 @@
-/** Default max rows kept in each sense's `_signals` SQLite table (see `retention` on `SenseConfig`). */
-export const DEFAULT_SENSE_SIGNAL_RETENTION = 10_000;
+import { parse } from "yaml";
+
+import { type Result, err, isPlainRecord, ok, parseDurationStringToMs } from "./util.js";
+import { DEFAULT_ENGINE_MAX_ROUNDS } from "./workflow.js";
 
 export type SenseConfig = {
   group: string;
   throttle: number | null;
   timeout: number | null;
   gracePeriod: number | null;
-  /** Max rows to retain in `_signals`; older rows are pruned periodically after inserts. */
-  retention: number;
   /** Polling interval (ms). When set, the sense is triggered periodically. */
   interval: number | null;
-  /** Other sense names whose signals trigger this sense. */
+  /** Other sense names whose successful computes schedule this sense (kernel reverse-index). */
   on: string[];
 };
 
@@ -60,12 +60,6 @@ export type WorkflowTrigger = {
   dryRun: boolean;
 };
 
-/**
- * Sense `compute()` return: silence, or a signal payload with an optional workflow to start.
- * `workflow: null` means signal only; signal is always emitted first when non-null.
- */
-export type ComputeResult<T> = null | { signal: T; workflow: WorkflowTrigger | null };
-
 export type NerveConfig = {
   /** Engine-wide default max moderator rounds (e.g. CLI workflow trigger when omitted). */
   maxRounds: number;
@@ -75,3 +69,381 @@ export type NerveConfig = {
   /** Global extract defaults; `null` when the section is omitted. */
   extract: ExtractConfig | null;
 };
+
+export type KnowledgeConfig = {
+  include: ReadonlyArray<string>;
+  exclude: ReadonlyArray<string>;
+};
+
+function isValidGroupName(value: string): boolean {
+  return /^[a-zA-Z0-9_-]+$/.test(value);
+}
+
+function parseDurationField(field: unknown, label: string): Result<number | null> {
+  if (field === undefined || field === null) return ok(null);
+  if (typeof field !== "string") {
+    return err(
+      new Error(`${label}: invalid duration "${field}" (expected e.g. "5s", "10m", "1h")`),
+    );
+  }
+  const msResult = parseDurationStringToMs(field);
+  if (!msResult.ok) {
+    return err(new Error(`${label}: ${msResult.error.message}`));
+  }
+  return ok(msResult.value);
+}
+
+function validateSenseConfig(name: string, raw: unknown): Result<SenseConfig> {
+  if (!isPlainRecord(raw)) {
+    return err(new Error(`senses.${name}: must be an object`));
+  }
+
+  const obj = raw;
+
+  if (typeof obj.group !== "string" || obj.group.trim() === "") {
+    return err(new Error(`senses.${name}.group: required string`));
+  }
+
+  if (!isValidGroupName(obj.group)) {
+    return err(
+      new Error(
+        `senses.${name}.group: invalid name "${obj.group}" (only alphanumeric, underscore, hyphen allowed)`,
+      ),
+    );
+  }
+
+  const throttleResult = parseDurationField(obj.throttle, `senses.${name}.throttle`);
+  if (!throttleResult.ok) return throttleResult;
+
+  const timeoutResult = parseDurationField(obj.timeout, `senses.${name}.timeout`);
+  if (!timeoutResult.ok) return timeoutResult;
+
+  const graceResult = parseDurationField(obj.grace_period, `senses.${name}.grace_period`);
+  if (!graceResult.ok) return graceResult;
+
+  const intervalResult = parseDurationField(obj.interval, `senses.${name}.interval`);
+  if (!intervalResult.ok) return intervalResult;
+
+  let on: string[] = [];
+  if (obj.on !== undefined && obj.on !== null) {
+    if (
+      !Array.isArray(obj.on) ||
+      !obj.on.every((item: unknown): item is string => typeof item === "string")
+    ) {
+      return err(new Error(`senses.${name}.on: must be an array of strings`));
+    }
+    on = obj.on;
+  }
+
+  return ok({
+    group: obj.group,
+    throttle: throttleResult.value,
+    timeout: timeoutResult.value,
+    gracePeriod: graceResult.value,
+    interval: intervalResult.value,
+    on,
+  });
+}
+
+function parseEngineMaxRounds(obj: Record<string, unknown>): Result<number> {
+  if (obj.max_rounds === undefined || obj.max_rounds === null) {
+    return ok(DEFAULT_ENGINE_MAX_ROUNDS);
+  }
+  if (
+    typeof obj.max_rounds !== "number" ||
+    !Number.isInteger(obj.max_rounds) ||
+    obj.max_rounds < 1
+  ) {
+    return err(new Error("max_rounds: must be a positive integer"));
+  }
+  return ok(obj.max_rounds);
+}
+
+function validateWorkflowConfig(name: string, raw: unknown): Result<WorkflowConfig> {
+  if (!isPlainRecord(raw)) {
+    return err(new Error(`workflows.${name}: must be an object`));
+  }
+
+  const obj = raw;
+
+  if (
+    typeof obj.concurrency !== "number" ||
+    !Number.isInteger(obj.concurrency) ||
+    obj.concurrency < 1
+  ) {
+    return err(new Error(`workflows.${name}.concurrency: must be a positive integer`));
+  }
+
+  if (obj.overflow !== "drop" && obj.overflow !== "queue") {
+    return err(new Error(`workflows.${name}.overflow: must be "drop" or "queue"`));
+  }
+
+  if (obj.overflow === "drop") {
+    if (obj.max_queue !== undefined && obj.max_queue !== null) {
+      return err(new Error(`workflows.${name}: max_queue is not allowed with overflow "drop"`));
+    }
+    return ok({
+      concurrency: obj.concurrency,
+      overflow: "drop" as const,
+    });
+  }
+
+  // overflow: "queue"
+  let maxQueue = 100; // default
+  if (obj.max_queue !== undefined && obj.max_queue !== null) {
+    if (
+      typeof obj.max_queue !== "number" ||
+      !Number.isInteger(obj.max_queue) ||
+      obj.max_queue < 1
+    ) {
+      return err(new Error(`workflows.${name}.max_queue: must be a positive integer`));
+    }
+    maxQueue = obj.max_queue;
+  }
+
+  return ok({
+    concurrency: obj.concurrency,
+    overflow: "queue" as const,
+    maxQueue,
+  });
+}
+
+function parseSenses(
+  obj: Record<string, unknown>,
+): Result<{ senses: Record<string, SenseConfig> }> {
+  if (!isPlainRecord(obj.senses)) {
+    return err(new Error("senses: required object"));
+  }
+
+  const sensesRaw = obj.senses;
+  const senses: Record<string, SenseConfig> = {};
+
+  for (const [name, senseRaw] of Object.entries(sensesRaw)) {
+    const result = validateSenseConfig(name, senseRaw);
+    if (!result.ok) return result;
+    senses[name] = result.value;
+  }
+
+  return ok({ senses });
+}
+
+const DEFAULT_API_BIND_HOST = "127.0.0.1";
+
+/** Hosts that may bind the HTTP API without `api.token` (loopback-only). */
+function isLoopbackOnlyApiHost(host: string): boolean {
+  const h = host.trim();
+  return h === "127.0.0.1" || h.toLowerCase() === "localhost";
+}
+
+function parseApiTokenField(api: Record<string, unknown>): Result<string | null> {
+  if (api.token === undefined || api.token === null) {
+    return ok(null);
+  }
+  if (typeof api.token !== "string") {
+    return err(new Error("api.token: must be a string when provided"));
+  }
+  if (api.token.length === 0) {
+    return err(new Error("api.token: must not be empty when provided"));
+  }
+  return ok(api.token);
+}
+
+function parseApiHostField(api: Record<string, unknown>): Result<string> {
+  if (api.host === undefined || api.host === null) {
+    return ok(DEFAULT_API_BIND_HOST);
+  }
+  if (typeof api.host !== "string") {
+    return err(new Error("api.host: must be a string when provided"));
+  }
+  if (api.host.length === 0) {
+    return err(new Error("api.host: must not be empty when provided"));
+  }
+  return ok(api.host);
+}
+
+function parseApiConfig(obj: Record<string, unknown>): Result<NerveApiConfig> {
+  if (obj.api === undefined || obj.api === null) {
+    return ok({ port: null, token: null, host: DEFAULT_API_BIND_HOST });
+  }
+  if (!isPlainRecord(obj.api)) {
+    return err(new Error("api: must be an object if provided"));
+  }
+  const api = obj.api;
+  if (api.port === undefined || api.port === null) {
+    return ok({ port: null, token: null, host: DEFAULT_API_BIND_HOST });
+  }
+  if (
+    typeof api.port !== "number" ||
+    !Number.isInteger(api.port) ||
+    api.port < 1 ||
+    api.port > 65_535
+  ) {
+    return err(new Error("api.port: must be an integer between 1 and 65535 if provided"));
+  }
+
+  const tokenResult = parseApiTokenField(api);
+  if (!tokenResult.ok) return tokenResult;
+  const hostResult = parseApiHostField(api);
+  if (!hostResult.ok) return hostResult;
+
+  if (!isLoopbackOnlyApiHost(hostResult.value) && tokenResult.value === null) {
+    return err(
+      new Error("api.host binds to non-loopback address, api.token is required for security"),
+    );
+  }
+
+  return ok({ port: api.port, token: tokenResult.value, host: hostResult.value });
+}
+
+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"));
+  }
+
+  const workflowsRaw = obj.workflows;
+  const workflows: Record<string, WorkflowConfig> = {};
+
+  for (const [name, wfRaw] of Object.entries(workflowsRaw)) {
+    const result = validateWorkflowConfig(name, wfRaw);
+    if (!result.ok) return result;
+    workflows[name] = result.value;
+  }
+
+  return ok(workflows);
+}
+
+function parseExtract(obj: Record<string, unknown>): Result<ExtractConfig | null> {
+  if (obj.extract === undefined || obj.extract === null) {
+    return ok(null);
+  }
+
+  if (!isPlainRecord(obj.extract)) {
+    return err(new Error("extract: must be an object if provided"));
+  }
+
+  const ext = obj.extract;
+
+  if (typeof ext.provider !== "string" || ext.provider.trim() === "") {
+    return err(new Error("extract.provider: required non-empty string"));
+  }
+
+  if (typeof ext.model !== "string" || ext.model.trim() === "") {
+    return err(new Error("extract.model: required non-empty string"));
+  }
+
+  return ok({ provider: ext.provider, model: ext.model });
+}
+
+export function parseNerveConfig(raw: string): Result<NerveConfig> {
+  let parsed: unknown;
+
+  try {
+    parsed = parse(raw);
+  } catch (e) {
+    const message = e instanceof Error ? e.message : String(e);
+    return err(new Error(`YAML parse error: ${message}`));
+  }
+
+  if (!isPlainRecord(parsed)) {
+    return err(new Error("Config must be a YAML object"));
+  }
+
+  const obj = parsed;
+
+  const sensesResult = parseSenses(obj);
+  if (!sensesResult.ok) return sensesResult;
+  const { senses } = sensesResult.value;
+
+  // Legacy top-level `reflexes` is rejected; each sense carries `interval` / `on` for the sense scheduler.
+  if (Object.hasOwn(obj, "reflexes")) {
+    return err(
+      new Error(
+        "reflexes: top-level key is no longer supported; set `interval` and `on` on each sense under `senses.<name>`",
+      ),
+    );
+  }
+
+  const workflowsResult = parseWorkflows(obj);
+  if (!workflowsResult.ok) return workflowsResult;
+
+  const maxRoundsResult = parseEngineMaxRounds(obj);
+  if (!maxRoundsResult.ok) return maxRoundsResult;
+
+  const apiResult = parseApiConfig(obj);
+  if (!apiResult.ok) return apiResult;
+
+  if (Object.hasOwn(obj, "agents")) {
+    return err(
+      new Error(
+        "agents: key is no longer supported — declare adapters on workflow roles (RFC-003)",
+      ),
+    );
+  }
+
+  const extractResult = parseExtract(obj);
+  if (!extractResult.ok) return extractResult;
+
+  return ok({
+    maxRounds: maxRoundsResult.value,
+    senses,
+    workflows: workflowsResult.value,
+    api: apiResult.value,
+    extract: extractResult.value,
+  });
+}
+
+function parseStringList(field: unknown, label: string): Result<ReadonlyArray<string>> {
+  if (field === undefined || field === null) {
+    return ok([]);
+  }
+  if (!Array.isArray(field)) {
+    return err(new Error(`${label}: must be an array of strings`));
+  }
+  const out: string[] = [];
+  for (let i = 0; i < field.length; i++) {
+    const item = field[i];
+    if (typeof item !== "string" || item.length === 0) {
+      return err(new Error(`${label}[${String(i)}]: must be a non-empty string`));
+    }
+    out.push(item);
+  }
+  return ok(out);
+}
+
+/**
+ * Parse `knowledge.yaml` at the repo root (RFC-003 Knowledge Layer).
+ * `include` / `exclude` entries are glob patterns resolved against the repo root.
+ */
+export function parseKnowledgeYaml(raw: string): Result<KnowledgeConfig> {
+  let parsed: unknown;
+  try {
+    parsed = parse(raw);
+  } catch (e) {
+    const message = e instanceof Error ? e.message : String(e);
+    return err(new Error(`YAML parse error: ${message}`));
+  }
+
+  if (parsed === undefined || parsed === null) {
+    return ok({ include: [], exclude: [] });
+  }
+
+  if (!isPlainRecord(parsed)) {
+    return err(new Error("knowledge.yaml: root must be a mapping"));
+  }
+
+  const includeResult = parseStringList(parsed.include, "include");
+  if (!includeResult.ok) {
+    return includeResult;
+  }
+  const excludeResult = parseStringList(parsed.exclude, "exclude");
+  if (!excludeResult.ok) {
+    return excludeResult;
+  }
+
+  return ok({
+    include: includeResult.value,
+    exclude: excludeResult.value,
+  });
+}

packages/core/src/daemon-payload-guards.ts

@@ -1,33 +0,0 @@
-import type { WorkflowStatus } from "./daemon-ipc-protocol.js";
-import { isPlainRecord } from "./is-plain-record.js";
-import type { SenseInfo } from "./sense.js";
-
-/** Type guard for JSON {@link SenseInfo} payloads from daemon HTTP/IPC. */
-export function isSenseInfo(value: unknown): value is SenseInfo {
-  if (!isPlainRecord(value)) return false;
-  return (
-    typeof value.name === "string" &&
-    typeof value.group === "string" &&
-    (value.throttle === null || typeof value.throttle === "number") &&
-    (value.timeout === null || typeof value.timeout === "number") &&
-    Array.isArray(value.triggers) &&
-    value.triggers.every((t: unknown) => typeof t === "string") &&
-    (value.lastSignalTimestamp === null || typeof value.lastSignalTimestamp === "number")
-  );
-}
-
-/** Type guard for JSON {@link WorkflowStatus} payloads from daemon HTTP/IPC. */
-export function isWorkflowStatus(value: unknown): value is WorkflowStatus {
-  if (!isPlainRecord(value)) return false;
-  const cfg = value.config;
-  if (!isPlainRecord(cfg)) return false;
-  return (
-    typeof value.name === "string" &&
-    typeof value.activeThreads === "number" &&
-    Array.isArray(value.activeRunIds) &&
-    value.activeRunIds.every((id: unknown) => typeof id === "string") &&
-    typeof value.queuedThreads === "number" &&
-    typeof cfg.concurrency === "number" &&
-    typeof cfg.overflow === "string"
-  );
-}

packages/core/src/daemon-transport.ts

@@ -1,28 +0,0 @@
-import type { HealthInfo, WorkflowStatus } from "./daemon-ipc-protocol.js";
-import type { SenseInfo } from "./sense.js";
-
-export type DaemonTransportTriggerResult = { ok: true } | { ok: false; error: string };
-
-export type DaemonTransportWorkflowLaunch = {
-  prompt: string;
-  maxRounds: number;
-  dryRun: boolean;
-};
-
-/**
- * Abstraction over daemon control plane (Unix socket IPC today, HTTP in Phase 2).
- * Implementations live in CLI / tools; the daemon kernel uses shared handler logic.
- */
-export type DaemonTransport = {
-  health(): Promise<HealthInfo>;
-  listSenses(): Promise<SenseInfo[]>;
-  listWorkflows(): Promise<WorkflowStatus[]>;
-  triggerSense(name: string): Promise<DaemonTransportTriggerResult>;
-  /** When `launch` is null, implementations use engine defaults (empty prompt, default max rounds, dryRun false). */
-  triggerWorkflow(
-    name: string,
-    launch: DaemonTransportWorkflowLaunch | null,
-  ): Promise<DaemonTransportTriggerResult>;
-  /** Kill a running or queued workflow thread by `runId` (same field as IPC `kill-workflow`). */
-  killWorkflow(runId: string): Promise<DaemonTransportTriggerResult>;
-};

packages/core/src/daemon.ts

@@ -4,8 +4,8 @@
  * one response object per line from the daemon.
  */
 
-import { isPlainRecord } from "./is-plain-record.js";
 import type { SenseInfo } from "./sense.js";
+import { isPlainRecord } from "./util.js";
 
 /** Runtime status of a registered workflow (for listing / observability). */
 export type WorkflowStatus = {
@@ -100,6 +100,32 @@ export type DaemonIpcResponse =
   | DaemonIpcListWorkflowsResponse
   | DaemonIpcHealthResponse;
 
+export type DaemonTransportTriggerResult = { ok: true } | { ok: false; error: string };
+
+export type DaemonTransportWorkflowLaunch = {
+  prompt: string;
+  maxRounds: number;
+  dryRun: boolean;
+};
+
+/**
+ * Abstraction over daemon control plane (Unix socket IPC today, HTTP in Phase 2).
+ * Implementations live in CLI / tools; the daemon kernel uses shared handler logic.
+ */
+export type DaemonTransport = {
+  health(): Promise<HealthInfo>;
+  listSenses(): Promise<SenseInfo[]>;
+  listWorkflows(): Promise<WorkflowStatus[]>;
+  triggerSense(name: string): Promise<DaemonTransportTriggerResult>;
+  /** When `launch` is null, implementations use engine defaults (empty prompt, default max rounds, dryRun false). */
+  triggerWorkflow(
+    name: string,
+    launch: DaemonTransportWorkflowLaunch | null,
+  ): Promise<DaemonTransportTriggerResult>;
+  /** Kill a running or queued workflow thread by `runId` (same field as IPC `kill-workflow`). */
+  killWorkflow(runId: string): Promise<DaemonTransportTriggerResult>;
+};
+
 function parseTriggerWorkflowFields(
   req: Record<string, unknown>,
 ): DaemonIpcTriggerWorkflowRequest | null {
@@ -150,3 +176,32 @@ export function parseDaemonIpcRequest(line: string): DaemonIpcRequest | null {
     return null;
   }
 }
+
+/** Type guard for JSON {@link SenseInfo} payloads from daemon HTTP/IPC. */
+export function isSenseInfo(value: unknown): value is SenseInfo {
+  if (!isPlainRecord(value)) return false;
+  return (
+    typeof value.name === "string" &&
+    typeof value.group === "string" &&
+    (value.throttle === null || typeof value.throttle === "number") &&
+    (value.timeout === null || typeof value.timeout === "number") &&
+    Array.isArray(value.triggers) &&
+    value.triggers.every((t: unknown) => typeof t === "string")
+  );
+}
+
+/** Type guard for JSON {@link WorkflowStatus} payloads from daemon HTTP/IPC. */
+export function isWorkflowStatus(value: unknown): value is WorkflowStatus {
+  if (!isPlainRecord(value)) return false;
+  const cfg = value.config;
+  if (!isPlainRecord(cfg)) return false;
+  return (
+    typeof value.name === "string" &&
+    typeof value.activeThreads === "number" &&
+    Array.isArray(value.activeRunIds) &&
+    value.activeRunIds.every((id: unknown) => typeof id === "string") &&
+    typeof value.queuedThreads === "number" &&
+    typeof cfg.concurrency === "number" &&
+    typeof cfg.overflow === "string"
+  );
+}

packages/core/src/duration.ts

@@ -1,22 +0,0 @@
-import type { Result } from "./result.js";
-import { err, ok } from "./result.js";
-
-const DURATION_RE = /^(\d+)([smh])$/;
-
-const DURATION_MULTIPLIERS: Record<string, number> = {
-  s: 1_000,
-  m: 60_000,
-  h: 3_600_000,
-};
-
-/**
- * Parse a duration string such as `5s`, `10m`, `1h` to milliseconds.
- * Used by `parseNerveConfig` sense/workflow duration fields.
- */
-export function parseDurationStringToMs(value: string): Result<number> {
-  const match = DURATION_RE.exec(value);
-  if (!match) {
-    return err(new Error(`invalid duration "${value}" (expected e.g. "5s", "10m", "1h")`));
-  }
-  return ok(Number(match[1]) * DURATION_MULTIPLIERS[match[2]]);
-}

packages/core/src/index.ts

@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-export { DEFAULT_SENSE_SIGNAL_RETENTION } from "./config.js";
 export type {
   SenseConfig,
   DropOverflowConfig,
@@ -9,11 +8,10 @@ export type {
   ExtractConfig,
   NerveConfig,
   WorkflowTrigger,
-  ComputeResult,
 } from "./config.js";
-export type { Signal, SenseInfo } from "./sense.js";
-export type { SenseComputeFn, SenseModule } from "./sense-contract.js";
-export { labelSenseTrigger, senseTriggerLabels } from "./sense-trigger-labels.js";
+export type { SenseInfo } from "./sense.js";
+export type { SenseComputeFn, SenseModule } from "./sense.js";
+export { senseTriggerLabels } from "./sense.js";
 export type {
   WorkflowMessage,
   RoleResult,
@@ -29,11 +27,10 @@ export type {
   WorkflowDefinition,
 } from "./workflow.js";
 export { START, END, DEFAULT_ENGINE_MAX_ROUNDS } from "./workflow.js";
-export { parseDurationStringToMs } from "./duration.js";
-export type { Schema, ExtractFn } from "./extract-layer.js";
-export { ExtractError } from "./extract-layer.js";
-export type { Result } from "./result.js";
-export { ok, err } from "./result.js";
+export type { Schema, ExtractFn } from "./agent.js";
+export { ExtractError } from "./agent.js";
+export type { Result } from "./util.js";
+export { ok, err } from "./util.js";
 export {
   nerveCommandEnv,
   spawnSafe,
@@ -41,17 +38,15 @@ export {
   type SpawnError,
   type SpawnResult,
   type SpawnSafeOptions,
-} from "./spawn-safe.js";
-export { parseNerveConfig } from "./parse-nerve-config.js";
-export type { KnowledgeConfig } from "./knowledge-config.js";
-export { parseKnowledgeYaml } from "./knowledge-config.js";
-export { isPlainRecord } from "./is-plain-record.js";
-export { KNOWN_AGENT_ADAPTER_IDS } from "./agent-adapter-ids.js";
+} from "./util.js";
+export { parseNerveConfig } from "./config.js";
+export type { KnowledgeConfig } from "./config.js";
+export { parseKnowledgeYaml } from "./config.js";
+export { isPlainRecord } from "./util.js";
 
-export type { RoutedSenseOutput } from "./sense-workflow-directive.js";
-export { parseWorkflowTrigger, routeSenseComputeOutput } from "./sense-workflow-directive.js";
+export { parseWorkflowTrigger } from "./sense.js";
 
-export { isSenseInfo, isWorkflowStatus } from "./daemon-payload-guards.js";
+export { isSenseInfo, isWorkflowStatus } from "./daemon.js";
 export type {
   WorkflowStatus,
   HealthInfo,
@@ -69,10 +64,10 @@ export type {
   DaemonIpcListWorkflowsResponse,
   DaemonIpcHealthResponse,
   DaemonIpcResponse,
-} from "./daemon-ipc-protocol.js";
-export { parseDaemonIpcRequest } from "./daemon-ipc-protocol.js";
+} from "./daemon.js";
+export { parseDaemonIpcRequest } from "./daemon.js";
 export type {
   DaemonTransport,
   DaemonTransportTriggerResult,
   DaemonTransportWorkflowLaunch,
-} from "./daemon-transport.js";
+} from "./daemon.js";

packages/core/src/is-plain-record.ts

@@ -1,7 +0,0 @@
-/**
- * Narrows `unknown` to a plain JSON-style object (not null, not array).
- * Use after `JSON.parse` / YAML / IPC when validating structure field-by-field.
- */
-export function isPlainRecord(value: unknown): value is Record<string, unknown> {
-  return typeof value === "object" && value !== null && !Array.isArray(value);
-}

packages/core/src/knowledge-config.ts

@@ -1,64 +0,0 @@
-import { parse } from "yaml";
-
-import { isPlainRecord } from "./is-plain-record.js";
-import type { Result } from "./result.js";
-import { err, ok } from "./result.js";
-
-export type KnowledgeConfig = {
-  include: ReadonlyArray<string>;
-  exclude: ReadonlyArray<string>;
-};
-
-function parseStringList(field: unknown, label: string): Result<ReadonlyArray<string>> {
-  if (field === undefined || field === null) {
-    return ok([]);
-  }
-  if (!Array.isArray(field)) {
-    return err(new Error(`${label}: must be an array of strings`));
-  }
-  const out: string[] = [];
-  for (let i = 0; i < field.length; i++) {
-    const item = field[i];
-    if (typeof item !== "string" || item.length === 0) {
-      return err(new Error(`${label}[${String(i)}]: must be a non-empty string`));
-    }
-    out.push(item);
-  }
-  return ok(out);
-}
-
-/**
- * Parse `knowledge.yaml` at the repo root (RFC-003 Knowledge Layer).
- * `include` / `exclude` entries are glob patterns resolved against the repo root.
- */
-export function parseKnowledgeYaml(raw: string): Result<KnowledgeConfig> {
-  let parsed: unknown;
-  try {
-    parsed = parse(raw);
-  } catch (e) {
-    const message = e instanceof Error ? e.message : String(e);
-    return err(new Error(`YAML parse error: ${message}`));
-  }
-
-  if (parsed === undefined || parsed === null) {
-    return ok({ include: [], exclude: [] });
-  }
-
-  if (!isPlainRecord(parsed)) {
-    return err(new Error("knowledge.yaml: root must be a mapping"));
-  }
-
-  const includeResult = parseStringList(parsed.include, "include");
-  if (!includeResult.ok) {
-    return includeResult;
-  }
-  const excludeResult = parseStringList(parsed.exclude, "exclude");
-  if (!excludeResult.ok) {
-    return excludeResult;
-  }
-
-  return ok({
-    include: includeResult.value,
-    exclude: excludeResult.value,
-  });
-}

packages/core/src/parse-nerve-config.ts

@@ -1,348 +0,0 @@
-import { parse } from "yaml";
-
-import {
-  DEFAULT_SENSE_SIGNAL_RETENTION,
-  type ExtractConfig,
-  type NerveApiConfig,
-  type NerveConfig,
-  type SenseConfig,
-  type WorkflowConfig,
-} from "./config.js";
-import { parseDurationStringToMs } from "./duration.js";
-import { isPlainRecord } from "./is-plain-record.js";
-import type { Result } from "./result.js";
-import { err, ok } from "./result.js";
-import { DEFAULT_ENGINE_MAX_ROUNDS } from "./workflow.js";
-
-function isValidGroupName(value: string): boolean {
-  return /^[a-zA-Z0-9_-]+$/.test(value);
-}
-
-function parseRetentionField(name: string, field: unknown): Result<number> {
-  if (field === undefined || field === null) {
-    return ok(DEFAULT_SENSE_SIGNAL_RETENTION);
-  }
-  if (typeof field !== "number" || !Number.isInteger(field) || field < 1) {
-    return err(new Error(`senses.${name}.retention: must be a positive integer`));
-  }
-  return ok(field);
-}
-
-function parseDurationField(field: unknown, label: string): Result<number | null> {
-  if (field === undefined || field === null) return ok(null);
-  if (typeof field !== "string") {
-    return err(
-      new Error(`${label}: invalid duration "${field}" (expected e.g. "5s", "10m", "1h")`),
-    );
-  }
-  const msResult = parseDurationStringToMs(field);
-  if (!msResult.ok) {
-    return err(new Error(`${label}: ${msResult.error.message}`));
-  }
-  return ok(msResult.value);
-}
-
-function validateSenseConfig(name: string, raw: unknown): Result<SenseConfig> {
-  if (!isPlainRecord(raw)) {
-    return err(new Error(`senses.${name}: must be an object`));
-  }
-
-  const obj = raw;
-
-  if (typeof obj.group !== "string" || obj.group.trim() === "") {
-    return err(new Error(`senses.${name}.group: required string`));
-  }
-
-  if (!isValidGroupName(obj.group)) {
-    return err(
-      new Error(
-        `senses.${name}.group: invalid name "${obj.group}" (only alphanumeric, underscore, hyphen allowed)`,
-      ),
-    );
-  }
-
-  const throttleResult = parseDurationField(obj.throttle, `senses.${name}.throttle`);
-  if (!throttleResult.ok) return throttleResult;
-
-  const timeoutResult = parseDurationField(obj.timeout, `senses.${name}.timeout`);
-  if (!timeoutResult.ok) return timeoutResult;
-
-  const graceResult = parseDurationField(obj.grace_period, `senses.${name}.grace_period`);
-  if (!graceResult.ok) return graceResult;
-
-  const retentionResult = parseRetentionField(name, obj.retention);
-  if (!retentionResult.ok) return retentionResult;
-
-  const intervalResult = parseDurationField(obj.interval, `senses.${name}.interval`);
-  if (!intervalResult.ok) return intervalResult;
-
-  let on: string[] = [];
-  if (obj.on !== undefined && obj.on !== null) {
-    if (
-      !Array.isArray(obj.on) ||
-      !obj.on.every((item: unknown): item is string => typeof item === "string")
-    ) {
-      return err(new Error(`senses.${name}.on: must be an array of strings`));
-    }
-    on = obj.on;
-  }
-
-  return ok({
-    group: obj.group,
-    throttle: throttleResult.value,
-    timeout: timeoutResult.value,
-    gracePeriod: graceResult.value,
-    retention: retentionResult.value,
-    interval: intervalResult.value,
-    on,
-  });
-}
-
-function parseEngineMaxRounds(obj: Record<string, unknown>): Result<number> {
-  if (obj.max_rounds === undefined || obj.max_rounds === null) {
-    return ok(DEFAULT_ENGINE_MAX_ROUNDS);
-  }
-  if (
-    typeof obj.max_rounds !== "number" ||
-    !Number.isInteger(obj.max_rounds) ||
-    obj.max_rounds < 1
-  ) {
-    return err(new Error("max_rounds: must be a positive integer"));
-  }
-  return ok(obj.max_rounds);
-}
-
-function validateWorkflowConfig(name: string, raw: unknown): Result<WorkflowConfig> {
-  if (!isPlainRecord(raw)) {
-    return err(new Error(`workflows.${name}: must be an object`));
-  }
-
-  const obj = raw;
-
-  if (
-    typeof obj.concurrency !== "number" ||
-    !Number.isInteger(obj.concurrency) ||
-    obj.concurrency < 1
-  ) {
-    return err(new Error(`workflows.${name}.concurrency: must be a positive integer`));
-  }
-
-  if (obj.overflow !== "drop" && obj.overflow !== "queue") {
-    return err(new Error(`workflows.${name}.overflow: must be "drop" or "queue"`));
-  }
-
-  if (obj.overflow === "drop") {
-    if (obj.max_queue !== undefined && obj.max_queue !== null) {
-      return err(new Error(`workflows.${name}: max_queue is not allowed with overflow "drop"`));
-    }
-    return ok({
-      concurrency: obj.concurrency,
-      overflow: "drop" as const,
-    });
-  }
-
-  // overflow: "queue"
-  let maxQueue = 100; // default
-  if (obj.max_queue !== undefined && obj.max_queue !== null) {
-    if (
-      typeof obj.max_queue !== "number" ||
-      !Number.isInteger(obj.max_queue) ||
-      obj.max_queue < 1
-    ) {
-      return err(new Error(`workflows.${name}.max_queue: must be a positive integer`));
-    }
-    maxQueue = obj.max_queue;
-  }
-
-  return ok({
-    concurrency: obj.concurrency,
-    overflow: "queue" as const,
-    maxQueue,
-  });
-}
-
-function parseSenses(
-  obj: Record<string, unknown>,
-): Result<{ senses: Record<string, SenseConfig> }> {
-  if (!isPlainRecord(obj.senses)) {
-    return err(new Error("senses: required object"));
-  }
-
-  const sensesRaw = obj.senses;
-  const senses: Record<string, SenseConfig> = {};
-
-  for (const [name, senseRaw] of Object.entries(sensesRaw)) {
-    const result = validateSenseConfig(name, senseRaw);
-    if (!result.ok) return result;
-    senses[name] = result.value;
-  }
-
-  return ok({ senses });
-}
-
-const DEFAULT_API_BIND_HOST = "127.0.0.1";
-
-/** Hosts that may bind the HTTP API without `api.token` (loopback-only). */
-function isLoopbackOnlyApiHost(host: string): boolean {
-  const h = host.trim();
-  return h === "127.0.0.1" || h.toLowerCase() === "localhost";
-}
-
-function parseApiTokenField(api: Record<string, unknown>): Result<string | null> {
-  if (api.token === undefined || api.token === null) {
-    return ok(null);
-  }
-  if (typeof api.token !== "string") {
-    return err(new Error("api.token: must be a string when provided"));
-  }
-  if (api.token.length === 0) {
-    return err(new Error("api.token: must not be empty when provided"));
-  }
-  return ok(api.token);
-}
-
-function parseApiHostField(api: Record<string, unknown>): Result<string> {
-  if (api.host === undefined || api.host === null) {
-    return ok(DEFAULT_API_BIND_HOST);
-  }
-  if (typeof api.host !== "string") {
-    return err(new Error("api.host: must be a string when provided"));
-  }
-  if (api.host.length === 0) {
-    return err(new Error("api.host: must not be empty when provided"));
-  }
-  return ok(api.host);
-}
-
-function parseApiConfig(obj: Record<string, unknown>): Result<NerveApiConfig> {
-  if (obj.api === undefined || obj.api === null) {
-    return ok({ port: null, token: null, host: DEFAULT_API_BIND_HOST });
-  }
-  if (!isPlainRecord(obj.api)) {
-    return err(new Error("api: must be an object if provided"));
-  }
-  const api = obj.api;
-  if (api.port === undefined || api.port === null) {
-    return ok({ port: null, token: null, host: DEFAULT_API_BIND_HOST });
-  }
-  if (
-    typeof api.port !== "number" ||
-    !Number.isInteger(api.port) ||
-    api.port < 1 ||
-    api.port > 65_535
-  ) {
-    return err(new Error("api.port: must be an integer between 1 and 65535 if provided"));
-  }
-
-  const tokenResult = parseApiTokenField(api);
-  if (!tokenResult.ok) return tokenResult;
-  const hostResult = parseApiHostField(api);
-  if (!hostResult.ok) return hostResult;
-
-  if (!isLoopbackOnlyApiHost(hostResult.value) && tokenResult.value === null) {
-    return err(
-      new Error("api.host binds to non-loopback address, api.token is required for security"),
-    );
-  }
-
-  return ok({ port: api.port, token: tokenResult.value, host: hostResult.value });
-}
-
-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"));
-  }
-
-  const workflowsRaw = obj.workflows;
-  const workflows: Record<string, WorkflowConfig> = {};
-
-  for (const [name, wfRaw] of Object.entries(workflowsRaw)) {
-    const result = validateWorkflowConfig(name, wfRaw);
-    if (!result.ok) return result;
-    workflows[name] = result.value;
-  }
-
-  return ok(workflows);
-}
-
-function parseExtract(obj: Record<string, unknown>): Result<ExtractConfig | null> {
-  if (obj.extract === undefined || obj.extract === null) {
-    return ok(null);
-  }
-
-  if (!isPlainRecord(obj.extract)) {
-    return err(new Error("extract: must be an object if provided"));
-  }
-
-  const ext = obj.extract;
-
-  if (typeof ext.provider !== "string" || ext.provider.trim() === "") {
-    return err(new Error("extract.provider: required non-empty string"));
-  }
-
-  if (typeof ext.model !== "string" || ext.model.trim() === "") {
-    return err(new Error("extract.model: required non-empty string"));
-  }
-
-  return ok({ provider: ext.provider, model: ext.model });
-}
-
-export function parseNerveConfig(raw: string): Result<NerveConfig> {
-  let parsed: unknown;
-
-  try {
-    parsed = parse(raw);
-  } catch (e) {
-    const message = e instanceof Error ? e.message : String(e);
-    return err(new Error(`YAML parse error: ${message}`));
-  }
-
-  if (!isPlainRecord(parsed)) {
-    return err(new Error("Config must be a YAML object"));
-  }
-
-  const obj = parsed;
-
-  const sensesResult = parseSenses(obj);
-  if (!sensesResult.ok) return sensesResult;
-  const { senses } = sensesResult.value;
-
-  // Legacy top-level `reflexes` is rejected; each sense carries `interval` / `on` for the sense scheduler.
-  if (Object.hasOwn(obj, "reflexes")) {
-    return err(
-      new Error(
-        "reflexes: top-level key is no longer supported; set `interval` and `on` on each sense under `senses.<name>`",
-      ),
-    );
-  }
-
-  const workflowsResult = parseWorkflows(obj);
-  if (!workflowsResult.ok) return workflowsResult;
-
-  const maxRoundsResult = parseEngineMaxRounds(obj);
-  if (!maxRoundsResult.ok) return maxRoundsResult;
-
-  const apiResult = parseApiConfig(obj);
-  if (!apiResult.ok) return apiResult;
-
-  if (Object.hasOwn(obj, "agents")) {
-    return err(
-      new Error(
-        "agents: key is no longer supported — declare adapters on workflow roles (RFC-003)",
-      ),
-    );
-  }
-
-  const extractResult = parseExtract(obj);
-  if (!extractResult.ok) return extractResult;
-
-  return ok({
-    maxRounds: maxRoundsResult.value,
-    senses,
-    workflows: workflowsResult.value,
-    api: apiResult.value,
-    extract: extractResult.value,
-  });
-}

packages/core/src/result.ts

@@ -1,9 +0,0 @@
-export type Result<T, E = Error> = { ok: true; value: T } | { ok: false; error: E };
-
-export function ok<T>(value: T): Result<T, never> {
-  return { ok: true, value };
-}
-
-export function err<E = Error>(error: E): Result<never, E> {
-  return { ok: false, error };
-}

packages/core/src/sense-contract.ts

@@ -1,22 +0,0 @@
-import type { SQLiteTable } from "drizzle-orm/sqlite-core";
-import type { ComputeResult } from "./config.js";
-
-/**
- * The function signature every sense `src/index.ts` must export as a named
- * `compute` export.
- *
- * Pure: no DB, no peers.
- * Return `null` to stay silent, or `{ signal, workflow }` to emit a Signal
- * (and optionally trigger a Workflow).
- * The runtime handles persistence via `db.insert(table).values(result.signal)`.
- */
-export type SenseComputeFn<T = unknown> = () => Promise<ComputeResult<T>>;
-
-/**
- * The full shape a sense module (`src/index.ts`) must export.
- * `compute` provides the data; `table` tells the runtime where to persist it.
- */
-export type SenseModule<T = unknown> = {
-  compute: SenseComputeFn<T>;
-  table: SQLiteTable;
-};

packages/core/src/sense-trigger-labels.ts

@@ -1,40 +0,0 @@
-import type { SenseConfig } from "./config.js";
-
-function formatIntervalMs(ms: number): string {
-  const totalSeconds = Math.floor(ms / 1000);
-  if (totalSeconds < 60) return `${totalSeconds}s`;
-  const minutes = Math.floor(totalSeconds / 60);
-  if (minutes < 60) return `${minutes}m`;
-  const hours = Math.floor(minutes / 60);
-  const remainingMinutes = minutes % 60;
-  return `${hours}h ${remainingMinutes}m`;
-}
-
-/** Human-readable label for a sense schedule (`interval` and/or `on`). */
-export function labelSenseTrigger(slice: Pick<SenseConfig, "interval" | "on">): string {
-  const parts: string[] = [];
-  if (slice.interval !== null) {
-    parts.push(`every ${formatIntervalMs(slice.interval)}`);
-  }
-  if (slice.on.length > 0) {
-    parts.push(`on: ${slice.on.join(", ")}`);
-  }
-  if (parts.length === 0) {
-    return "trigger (no interval or on)";
-  }
-  return parts.join(" · ");
-}
-
-/**
- * Human-readable trigger labels for a sense from its `SenseConfig.interval` / `.on`.
- * Returns an empty array when the sense is missing or has no schedule.
- */
-export function senseTriggerLabels(
-  senseName: string,
-  senses: Record<string, SenseConfig>,
-): string[] {
-  const sc = senses[senseName];
-  if (sc === undefined) return [];
-  if (sc.interval === null && sc.on.length === 0) return [];
-  return [labelSenseTrigger({ interval: sc.interval, on: sc.on })];
-}

packages/core/src/sense-workflow-directive.ts

@@ -1,56 +0,0 @@
-import type { WorkflowTrigger } from "./config.js";
-import { isPlainRecord } from "./is-plain-record.js";
-import type { Result } from "./result.js";
-import { err, ok } from "./result.js";
-
-/** Normalized non-null compute output for the kernel (unknown signal payload). */
-export type RoutedSenseOutput = {
-  signal: unknown;
-  workflow: WorkflowTrigger | null;
-};
-
-/**
- * Validates a structured workflow trigger object from Sense compute or IPC.
- */
-export function parseWorkflowTrigger(value: unknown): Result<WorkflowTrigger> {
-  if (!isPlainRecord(value)) {
-    return err(new Error("workflow trigger must be a plain object"));
-  }
-  const nameRaw = value.name;
-  if (typeof nameRaw !== "string" || nameRaw.trim().length === 0) {
-    return err(new Error('workflow trigger: "name" must be a non-empty string'));
-  }
-  const maxRounds = value.maxRounds;
-  if (typeof maxRounds !== "number" || !Number.isInteger(maxRounds) || maxRounds < 1) {
-    return err(new Error('workflow trigger: "maxRounds" must be an integer >= 1'));
-  }
-  const prompt = value.prompt;
-  if (typeof prompt !== "string") {
-    return err(new Error('workflow trigger: "prompt" must be a string'));
-  }
-  const dryRun = value.dryRun;
-  if (typeof dryRun !== "boolean") {
-    return err(new Error('workflow trigger: "dryRun" must be a boolean'));
-  }
-  return ok({ name: nameRaw.trim(), maxRounds, prompt, dryRun });
-}
-
-/**
- * Interprets a Sense compute non-null return value for the engine.
- * - Explicit `{ signal, workflow }` (workflow may be null): validates `workflow` when non-null.
- * - Any other value: treated as `{ signal: payload, workflow: null }` (shorthand).
- */
-export function routeSenseComputeOutput(payload: unknown): Result<RoutedSenseOutput> {
-  if (isPlainRecord(payload) && Object.hasOwn(payload, "signal")) {
-    const wfRaw = Object.hasOwn(payload, "workflow") ? payload.workflow : null;
-    if (wfRaw === null) {
-      return ok({ signal: payload.signal, workflow: null });
-    }
-    const parsed = parseWorkflowTrigger(wfRaw);
-    if (!parsed.ok) {
-      return ok({ signal: payload.signal, workflow: null });
-    }
-    return ok({ signal: payload.signal, workflow: parsed.value });
-  }
-  return ok({ signal: payload, workflow: null });
-}

packages/core/src/sense.ts

@@ -1,9 +1,5 @@
-export type Signal = {
-  id: number;
-  senseId: string;
-  payload: unknown;
-  timestamp: number;
-};
+import type { SenseConfig, WorkflowTrigger } from "./config.js";
+import { type Result, err, isPlainRecord, ok } from "./util.js";
 
 /** Runtime metadata for a sense (e.g. daemon list-senses IPC). */
 export type SenseInfo = {
@@ -12,6 +8,89 @@ export type SenseInfo = {
   throttle: number | null;
   timeout: number | null;
   /** Declarative schedule (`interval` / `on`) for this sense (derived from nerve.yaml). */
-  triggers: string[];
-  lastSignalTimestamp: number | null;
+  triggers: ReadonlyArray<string>;
 };
+
+/**
+ * The function signature every sense `src/index.ts` must export as a named
+ * `compute` export.
+ *
+ * Pure: no DB, no peers.
+ * Returns the next sense state and an optional workflow to start (`workflow: null` means no workflow).
+ */
+export type SenseComputeFn<S = unknown> = (
+  state: S,
+) => Promise<{ state: S; workflow: WorkflowTrigger | null }>;
+
+/**
+ * The full shape a sense module (`src/index.ts`) must export.
+ */
+export type SenseModule<S = unknown> = {
+  compute: SenseComputeFn<S>;
+  initialState: S;
+};
+
+function formatIntervalMs(ms: number): string {
+  const totalSeconds = Math.floor(ms / 1000);
+  if (totalSeconds < 60) return `${totalSeconds}s`;
+  const minutes = Math.floor(totalSeconds / 60);
+  if (minutes < 60) return `${minutes}m`;
+  const hours = Math.floor(minutes / 60);
+  const remainingMinutes = minutes % 60;
+  return `${hours}h ${remainingMinutes}m`;
+}
+
+/** Human-readable label for a sense schedule (`interval` and/or `on`). */
+export function labelSenseTrigger(slice: Pick<SenseConfig, "interval" | "on">): string {
+  const parts: string[] = [];
+  if (slice.interval !== null) {
+    parts.push(`every ${formatIntervalMs(slice.interval)}`);
+  }
+  if (slice.on.length > 0) {
+    parts.push(`on: ${slice.on.join(", ")}`);
+  }
+  if (parts.length === 0) {
+    return "trigger (no interval or on)";
+  }
+  return parts.join(" · ");
+}
+
+/**
+ * Human-readable trigger labels for a sense from its `SenseConfig.interval` / `.on`.
+ * Returns an empty array when the sense is missing or has no schedule.
+ */
+export function senseTriggerLabels(
+  senseName: string,
+  senses: Record<string, SenseConfig>,
+): string[] {
+  const sc = senses[senseName];
+  if (sc === undefined) return [];
+  if (sc.interval === null && sc.on.length === 0) return [];
+  return [labelSenseTrigger({ interval: sc.interval, on: sc.on })];
+}
+
+/**
+ * Validates a structured workflow trigger object from Sense compute or IPC.
+ */
+export function parseWorkflowTrigger(value: unknown): Result<WorkflowTrigger> {
+  if (!isPlainRecord(value)) {
+    return err(new Error("workflow trigger must be a plain object"));
+  }
+  const nameRaw = value.name;
+  if (typeof nameRaw !== "string" || nameRaw.trim().length === 0) {
+    return err(new Error('workflow trigger: "name" must be a non-empty string'));
+  }
+  const maxRounds = value.maxRounds;
+  if (typeof maxRounds !== "number" || !Number.isInteger(maxRounds) || maxRounds < 1) {
+    return err(new Error('workflow trigger: "maxRounds" must be an integer >= 1'));
+  }
+  const prompt = value.prompt;
+  if (typeof prompt !== "string") {
+    return err(new Error('workflow trigger: "prompt" must be a string'));
+  }
+  const dryRun = value.dryRun;
+  if (typeof dryRun !== "boolean") {
+    return err(new Error('workflow trigger: "dryRun" must be a boolean'));
+  }
+  return ok({ name: nameRaw.trim(), maxRounds, prompt, dryRun });
+}

packages/core/src/util.ts

@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 import { spawn } from "node:child_process";
 import { homedir } from "node:os";
 import { join } from "node:path";
-import { type Result, err, ok } from "./result.js";
+
+export type Result<T, E = Error> = { ok: true; value: T } | { ok: false; error: E };
 
 /** Compatible with `process.env` for `child_process.spawn`. */
 export type SpawnEnv = Record<string, string | undefined>;
@@ -40,6 +41,42 @@ type SpawnSafeOptionsInput = SpawnSafeOptions | Omit<SpawnSafeOptions, "dryRun">
 
 const DEFAULT_TIMEOUT_MS = 300_000;
 
+export function ok<T>(value: T): Result<T, never> {
+  return { ok: true, value };
+}
+
+export function err<E = Error>(error: E): Result<never, E> {
+  return { ok: false, error };
+}
+
+/**
+ * Narrows `unknown` to a plain JSON-style object (not null, not array).
+ * Use after `JSON.parse` / YAML / IPC when validating structure field-by-field.
+ */
+export function isPlainRecord(value: unknown): value is Record<string, unknown> {
+  return typeof value === "object" && value !== null && !Array.isArray(value);
+}
+
+const DURATION_RE = /^(\d+)([smh])$/;
+
+const DURATION_MULTIPLIERS: Record<string, number> = {
+  s: 1_000,
+  m: 60_000,
+  h: 3_600_000,
+};
+
+/**
+ * Parse a duration string such as `5s`, `10m`, `1h` to milliseconds.
+ * Used by `parseNerveConfig` sense/workflow duration fields.
+ */
+export function parseDurationStringToMs(value: string): Result<number> {
+  const match = DURATION_RE.exec(value);
+  if (!match) {
+    return err(new Error(`invalid duration "${value}" (expected e.g. "5s", "10m", "1h")`));
+  }
+  return ok(Number(match[1]) * DURATION_MULTIPLIERS[match[2]]);
+}
+
 /**
  * PATH and PNPM_HOME for running `pnpm` and `nerve` from workflow roles.
  * Uses the pnpm store home only (no npm user bin); binaries must resolve via PATH.

packages/daemon/README.md

@@ -1,23 +1,22 @@
 # @uncaged/nerve-daemon
 
-The observation engine runtime for [nerve](../../README.md) — runs senses, routes signals, runs the sense scheduler, and manages workflows.
+The observation engine runtime for [nerve](../../README.md) — runs senses, persists JSON state, runs the sense scheduler, and manages workflows.
 
 ## Architecture
 
 | Module | Source (indicative) | Responsibility |
 |--------|---------------------|----------------|
-| **Kernel** | `kernel.ts` | Orchestrator — worker pool, signal bus, sense scheduler, workflow manager, optional file watcher and daemon IPC, config reload hooks |
+| **Kernel** | `kernel.ts` | Orchestrator — worker pool, sense scheduler, workflow manager, optional file watcher and daemon IPC, config reload hooks |
 | **Worker pool** | `worker-pool.ts` | Fork and supervise one child process per sense group; restart/shutdown; crash cleanup hooks for scheduler state |
 | **Kernel sense groups** | `kernel-sense-groups.ts` | Derive sense groups from config; list senses per group for scheduling |
-| **Sense runtime** | sense worker + Drizzle | Per-sense SQLite (`node:sqlite`), migrations, peer DB reads |
-| **Sense worker** | `sense-worker.ts` (fork target) | Child process entry — runs `compute()` per sense in a group |
-| **Signal bus** | `signal-bus.ts` | In-memory pub/sub for sense signals |
-| **Sense scheduler** | `sense-scheduler.ts` | Interval + `on` subscriptions, throttle/coalesce |
+| **Sense runtime** | `sense-runtime.ts` + sense worker | Loads user modules (`compute`, `initialState`), reads/writes `data/senses/<name>.json` |
+| **Sense worker** | `sense-worker.ts` (fork target) | Child process entry — runs `compute(state)` per sense in a group |
+| **Sense scheduler** | `sense-scheduler.ts` | Interval + `on` subscriptions (reverse-index by upstream sense), throttle/coalesce |
 | **Workflow manager** | `workflow-manager.ts` | One worker per workflow name, concurrency (drop/queue), queue caps |
 | **Workflow worker** | `workflow-worker.ts` | Child process — runs RFC-002 threads (`start-thread`, `resume-thread` IPC) |
 | **IPC (parent ↔ workers)** | `ipc.ts` | Typed messages for sense and workflow workers (includes `resume-thread` for recovery) |
 | **Log / workflow persistence** | via `@uncaged/nerve-store` | Structured logs, `workflow_runs`, thread messages (used for recovery) |
-| **Blob store** | `@uncaged/nerve-store` | CAS under `data/blobs/` — sense workers construct `createBlobStore(join(nerveRoot, "data", "blobs"))` for artifact writes |
+| **Blob store** | `@uncaged/nerve-store` | CAS under `data/blobs/` — workflows use blob storage for artifacts as configured |
 | **File watcher** | `file-watcher.ts` | Watches workspace paths for config / sense / workflow file changes |
 | **Kernel file watch** | `kernel-file-watch.ts` | Maps watcher events to `reloadConfig`, sense group restart, workflow `drainAndRespawn` |
 | **Daemon IPC** | `daemon-ipc.ts` | Unix socket server — parses `@uncaged/nerve-core` `DaemonIpcRequest`, dispatches trigger-workflow / trigger-sense / list-senses |
@@ -35,9 +34,9 @@ Hot reload (`drainAndRespawn`) uses a controlled drain: in-flight runs may be ma
 ## Key Design Decisions
 
 - **One worker process per sense group** — isolation between groups, shared compute within a group
-- **`node:sqlite` (DatabaseSync)** — zero native addons, WAL mode, built into Node.js ≥ 22.5
+- **Sense state as JSON** — `data/senses/<name>.json`, updated after each successful compute in the worker
 - **Throttle + coalesce** — if compute is in-flight, at most one pending trigger is queued (no unbounded accumulation)
-- **Log ≠ Signal** — logs are queryable data assets but cannot trigger the sense scheduler or workflows (prevents feedback loops)
+- **Log ≠ Sense trigger** — logs are queryable data assets but cannot schedule sense computes or workflows (prevents feedback loops)
 
 ## Usage
 
@@ -85,7 +84,7 @@ await kernel.stop();
 pnpm add @uncaged/nerve-daemon
 ```
 
-Requires Node.js ≥ 22.5 (for `node:sqlite`).
+Requires Node.js ≥ 22.5 (for `node:sqlite` in the log store and related persistence).
 
 ## License
 

packages/daemon/package.json

@@ -28,7 +28,6 @@
   "dependencies": {
     "@uncaged/nerve-core": "workspace:*",
     "@uncaged/nerve-store": "workspace:*",
-    "drizzle-orm": "1.0.0-beta.23-c10d10c",
     "yaml": "^2.8.3"
   },
   "devDependencies": {

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

@@ -28,6 +28,11 @@ function makeMockChild(pid = 1): MockChild {
   child.connected = true;
   child.exitCode = null;
   child.pid = pid;
+  setImmediate(() => {
+    if (child.connected) {
+      child.emit("message", { type: "ready" });
+    }
+  });
   child.send = vi.fn((msg: unknown) => {
     if (
       msg !== null &&
@@ -132,6 +137,7 @@ describe("WorkflowManager — crash recovery (Phase 3)", () => {
 
       mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test 1", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
       mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test 2", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
+      await vi.runAllTimersAsync();
       expect(mgr.activeCount("my-wf")).toBe(2);
 
       // Simulate unexpected exit (not shutdown)
@@ -159,6 +165,7 @@ describe("WorkflowManager — crash recovery (Phase 3)", () => {
 
       mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
       mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
+      await vi.runAllTimersAsync();
       expect(mgr.activeCount("my-wf")).toBe(2);
 
       const child = mockChildren[0];
@@ -183,6 +190,7 @@ describe("WorkflowManager — crash recovery (Phase 3)", () => {
       const mgr = createWorkflowManager("/nerve-root", config, logStore);
 
       mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
+      await vi.runAllTimersAsync();
       expect(mockChildren).toHaveLength(1);
 
       const child = mockChildren[0];
@@ -216,6 +224,7 @@ describe("WorkflowManager — crash recovery (Phase 3)", () => {
       const mgr = createWorkflowManager("/nerve-root", config, logStore);
 
       mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
+      await vi.runAllTimersAsync();
       const firstChild = mockChildren[0];
       firstChild.exitCode = 1;
       firstChild.connected = false;
@@ -260,6 +269,7 @@ describe("WorkflowManager — crash recovery (Phase 3)", () => {
 
       // Start one thread to fill the concurrency slot (so queued run stays queued on respawn)
       mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
+      await vi.runAllTimersAsync();
       const firstChild = mockChildren[0];
       firstChild.exitCode = 1;
       firstChild.connected = false;
@@ -285,6 +295,7 @@ describe("WorkflowManager — crash recovery (Phase 3)", () => {
       const mgr = createWorkflowManager("/nerve-root", config, logStore);
 
       mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
+      await vi.runAllTimersAsync();
 
       const child = mockChildren[0];
       const startCall = (child.send as ReturnType<typeof vi.fn>).mock.calls[0];
@@ -322,6 +333,7 @@ describe("WorkflowManager — crash recovery (Phase 3)", () => {
 
       const launch = { prompt: "build-docker for myrepo", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false };
       mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", launch);
+      await vi.runAllTimersAsync();
 
       const startedCall = logStore.upsertWorkflowRun.mock.calls.find(
         (args: any[]) => (args[0] as { type: string }).type === "started",
@@ -357,6 +369,7 @@ describe("WorkflowManager — crash recovery (Phase 3)", () => {
 
       // Start one thread to fill the concurrency slot
       mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
+      await vi.runAllTimersAsync();
       const firstChild = mockChildren[0];
 
       // Crash once → respawn → crash again → second respawn
@@ -398,6 +411,7 @@ describe("WorkflowManager — crash recovery (Phase 3)", () => {
       const mgr = createWorkflowManager("/nerve-root", config, logStore);
 
       mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
+      await vi.runAllTimersAsync();
       const firstChild = mockChildren[0];
       firstChild.exitCode = 1;
       firstChild.connected = false;
@@ -428,6 +442,7 @@ describe("WorkflowManager — crash recovery (Phase 3)", () => {
       const mgr = createWorkflowManager("/nerve-root", config, logStore);
 
       mgr.startWorkflow("crash-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
+      await vi.runAllTimersAsync();
 
       // 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

@@ -241,7 +241,6 @@ describe("daemon-ipc — list-senses", () => {
         throttle: 5000,
         timeout: 3000,
         triggers: ["every 30s"],
-        lastSignalTimestamp: 1000,
       },
       {
         name: "disk-usage",
@@ -249,7 +248,6 @@ describe("daemon-ipc — list-senses", () => {
         throttle: 30000,
         timeout: null,
         triggers: [],
-        lastSignalTimestamp: null,
       },
     ];
     const listSenses = vi.fn(() => sensesData);

packages/daemon/src/__tests__/file-watcher.test.ts

@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ describe("createFileWatcher", () => {
     await new Promise((r) => setTimeout(r, 100));
     writeFileSync(
       join(root, "senses", "cpu-usage", "index.js"),
-      "export async function compute() { return { signal: 42, workflow: null }; }",
+      "export const initialState = {}; export async function compute(state) { return { state, workflow: null }; }",
     );
 
     await waitFor(() => changes.length > 0, 3000);

packages/daemon/src/__tests__/fixtures/crash-once-worker.mjs

@@ -31,6 +31,11 @@ process.on("message", (msg) => {
       writeFileSync(markerFile, "crashed", "utf8");
       process.exit(1);
     }
-    process.send({ type: "signal", sense: msg.sense, payload: 42 });
+    process.send({
+      type: "compute-result",
+      sense: msg.sense,
+      state: 42,
+      workflow: null,
+    });
   }
 });

packages/daemon/src/__tests__/fixtures/crash-worker.js

@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+// Ready then crashes on a timer; still echoes IPC so parent tests can send after respawn
+process.on("message", (msg) => {
+  if (msg && msg.type === "shutdown") {
+    process.exit(0);
+  }
+  process.send({ type: "echo", payload: msg });
+});
+process.send({ type: "ready" });
+setTimeout(() => process.exit(1), 50);

packages/daemon/src/__tests__/fixtures/echo-worker.js

@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+// Simple test worker: sends ready, echoes messages, handles shutdown
+process.on("message", (msg) => {
+  if (msg && msg.type === "shutdown") {
+    process.exit(0);
+  }
+  // Echo back with 'echo' type
+  process.send({ type: "echo", payload: msg });
+});
+process.send({ type: "ready" });

packages/daemon/src/__tests__/fixtures/mock-worker.mjs

@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
  *
  * Behaviour:
  *   - Sends { type: "ready" } on startup
- *   - On { type: "compute", sense } → sends back { type: "signal", sense, payload: 42 }
+ *   - On { type: "compute", sense } → sends back compute-result with state + workflow:null
  *   - On { type: "shutdown" } → exits cleanly with code 0
  */
 
@@ -23,6 +23,11 @@ process.on("message", (msg) => {
   }
 
   if (msg.type === "compute" && typeof msg.sense === "string") {
-    process.send({ type: "signal", sense: msg.sense, payload: 42 });
+    process.send({
+      type: "compute-result",
+      sense: msg.sense,
+      state: 42,
+      workflow: null,
+    });
   }
 });

packages/daemon/src/__tests__/fixtures/slow-worker.mjs

@@ -18,7 +18,12 @@ process.on("message", (msg) => {
   if (msg.type === "compute" && typeof msg.sense === "string") {
     // Intentionally slow — will be killed by grace period
     setTimeout(() => {
-      process.send({ type: "signal", sense: msg.sense, payload: "late" });
+      process.send({
+        type: "compute-result",
+        sense: msg.sense,
+        state: "late",
+        workflow: null,
+      });
     }, 10_000);
   }
 });

packages/daemon/src/__tests__/fixtures/stderr-worker.js

@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+// Like echo-worker but writes stderr for tail diagnostics
+console.error("stderr-marker");
+process.on("message", (msg) => {
+  if (msg && msg.type === "shutdown") {
+    process.exit(0);
+  }
+  process.send({ type: "echo", payload: msg });
+});
+process.send({ type: "ready" });

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

@@ -33,6 +33,11 @@ function makeMockChild(pid = 1): MockChild {
   child.connected = true;
   child.exitCode = null;
   child.pid = pid;
+  setImmediate(() => {
+    if (child.connected) {
+      child.emit("message", { type: "ready" });
+    }
+  });
   child.send = vi.fn((msg: unknown) => {
     if (
       msg !== null &&
@@ -114,6 +119,7 @@ describe("WorkflowManager — drainAndRespawn (Phase 3 hot reload)", () => {
     const mgr = createWorkflowManager("/nerve-root", config, logStore);
 
     mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
+    await vi.runAllTimersAsync();
     expect(mockChildren).toHaveLength(1);
 
     // Remove workflow from config before drain completes
@@ -134,6 +140,7 @@ describe("WorkflowManager — drainAndRespawn (Phase 3 hot reload)", () => {
 
     mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
     mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
+    await vi.runAllTimersAsync();
     expect(mgr.activeCount("my-wf")).toBe(2);
 
     const drainPromise = mgr.drainAndRespawn("my-wf", 5000);
@@ -165,6 +172,7 @@ describe("WorkflowManager — drainAndRespawn (Phase 3 hot reload)", () => {
     const mgr = createWorkflowManager("/nerve-root", config, logStore);
 
     mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
+    await vi.runAllTimersAsync();
     expect(mockChildren).toHaveLength(1);
 
     const drainPromise = mgr.drainAndRespawn("my-wf", 5000);
@@ -181,6 +189,7 @@ describe("WorkflowManager — drainAndRespawn (Phase 3 hot reload)", () => {
     const mgr = createWorkflowManager("/nerve-root", config, logStore);
 
     mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
+    await vi.runAllTimersAsync();
     expect(mockChildren).toHaveLength(1);
 
     const drainPromise = mgr.drainAndRespawn("my-wf", 5000);
@@ -198,6 +207,7 @@ describe("WorkflowManager — drainAndRespawn (Phase 3 hot reload)", () => {
     const mgr = createWorkflowManager("/nerve-root", config, logStore);
 
     mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
+    await vi.runAllTimersAsync();
 
     const drainPromise = mgr.drainAndRespawn("my-wf", 5000);
     await vi.runAllTimersAsync();
@@ -223,6 +233,7 @@ describe("WorkflowManager — drainAndRespawn (Phase 3 hot reload)", () => {
     const mgr = createWorkflowManager("/nerve-root", config, logStore);
 
     mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "first", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
+    await vi.runAllTimersAsync();
 
     const drainPromise = mgr.drainAndRespawn("my-wf", 5000);
     await vi.runAllTimersAsync();
@@ -230,6 +241,7 @@ describe("WorkflowManager — drainAndRespawn (Phase 3 hot reload)", () => {
 
     // Start a new thread on the fresh worker
     mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "second", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
+    await vi.runAllTimersAsync();
 
     const newChild = mockChildren[1];
     const startCalls = (newChild.send as ReturnType<typeof vi.fn>).mock.calls.filter(
@@ -257,12 +269,13 @@ describe("WorkflowManager — drainWhenIdle (hot reload without interrupting in-
     vi.clearAllMocks();
   });
 
-  it("does not send shutdown while a thread is still active", () => {
+  it("does not send shutdown while a thread is still active", async () => {
     const logStore = makeLogStore();
     const config = makeWfConfig({ "my-wf": { concurrency: 1, overflow: "drop" } });
     const mgr = createWorkflowManager("/nerve-root", config, logStore);
 
     mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
+    await vi.runAllTimersAsync();
     const child = mockChildren[0];
 
     mgr.drainWhenIdle("my-wf");
@@ -282,6 +295,7 @@ describe("WorkflowManager — drainWhenIdle (hot reload without interrupting in-
     const mgr = createWorkflowManager("/nerve-root", config, logStore);
 
     mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
+    await vi.runAllTimersAsync();
     const child = mockChildren[0];
     const runId = (child.send as ReturnType<typeof vi.fn>).mock.calls[0][0] as { runId: string };
 
@@ -311,6 +325,7 @@ describe("WorkflowManager — drainWhenIdle (hot reload without interrupting in-
 
     mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "a", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
     mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "b", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
+    await vi.runAllTimersAsync();
     const child = mockChildren[0];
     const sendMock = child.send as ReturnType<typeof vi.fn>;
     const runIdA = (sendMock.mock.calls[0][0] as { runId: string }).runId;
@@ -355,6 +370,7 @@ describe("WorkflowManager — drainWhenIdle (hot reload without interrupting in-
     const mgr = createWorkflowManager("/nerve-root", config, logStore);
 
     mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
+    await vi.runAllTimersAsync();
     const child = mockChildren[0];
     const runId = (child.send as ReturnType<typeof vi.fn>).mock.calls[0][0] as { runId: string };
 
@@ -388,6 +404,7 @@ describe("WorkflowManager — drainWhenIdle (hot reload without interrupting in-
     const mgr = createWorkflowManager("/nerve-root", config, logStore);
 
     mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
+    await vi.runAllTimersAsync();
     const child = mockChildren[0];
     const runId = (child.send as ReturnType<typeof vi.fn>).mock.calls[0][0] as { runId: string };
 
@@ -414,6 +431,7 @@ describe("WorkflowManager — drainWhenIdle (hot reload without interrupting in-
     const mgr = createWorkflowManager("/nerve-root", config, logStore);
 
     mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "once", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
+    await vi.runAllTimersAsync();
     const firstChild = mockChildren[0];
     const runId = (firstChild.send as ReturnType<typeof vi.fn>).mock.calls[0][0] as {
       runId: string;
@@ -471,6 +489,7 @@ 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, dryRun: false });
+    await vi.runAllTimersAsync();
 
     // Manually call drainAndRespawn (simulating what kernel does on workflow file change)
     const drainPromise = kernel.workflowManager.drainAndRespawn("my-wf", 1000);
@@ -511,6 +530,7 @@ describe("Kernel — workflow hot reload via file-watcher (Phase 3)", () => {
       maxRounds: 10,
       dryRun: false,
     });
+    await vi.runAllTimersAsync();
     expect(mockChildren).toHaveLength(1);
 
     // Reload config without old-wf
@@ -551,6 +571,7 @@ describe("Kernel — workflow hot reload via file-watcher (Phase 3)", () => {
     });
 
     kernel.workflowManager.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
+    await vi.runAllTimersAsync();
     const workersBefore = mockChildren.length;
 
     // Reload with updated concurrency — should NOT spawn a new workflow worker
@@ -573,6 +594,7 @@ describe("Kernel — workflow hot reload via file-watcher (Phase 3)", () => {
     // Can now start up to 5 concurrent threads (previously only 1)
     kernel.workflowManager.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
     kernel.workflowManager.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
+    await vi.runAllTimersAsync();
     expect(kernel.workflowManager.activeCount("my-wf")).toBe(3);
 
     const stopPromise = kernel.stop();

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

@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@ import { tmpdir } from "node:os";
 import { dirname, join } from "node:path";
 import { fileURLToPath } from "node:url";
 
-import type { Signal } from "@uncaged/nerve-core";
 import type { NerveConfig } from "@uncaged/nerve-core";
 import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
 
@@ -30,7 +29,6 @@ function makeConfig(overrides: Partial<NerveConfig> = {}): NerveConfig {
         throttle: null,
         timeout: null,
         gracePeriod: null,
-        retention: 10_000,
         interval: null,
         on: [],
       },
@@ -82,7 +80,6 @@ describe("kernel integration — real child processes", () => {
           throttle: null,
           timeout: null,
           gracePeriod: null,
-          retention: 10_000,
           interval: null,
           on: [],
         },
@@ -91,7 +88,6 @@ describe("kernel integration — real child processes", () => {
           throttle: null,
           timeout: null,
           gracePeriod: null,
-          retention: 10_000,
           interval: null,
           on: [],
         },
@@ -100,7 +96,6 @@ describe("kernel integration — real child processes", () => {
           throttle: null,
           timeout: null,
           gracePeriod: null,
-          retention: 10_000,
           interval: null,
           on: [],
         },
@@ -116,31 +111,32 @@ describe("kernel integration — real child processes", () => {
     expect(kernel.senseCount).toBe(3);
   });
 
-  it("workers start and respond to compute messages with signals", async () => {
+  it("workers start and respond to compute messages with compute-result", async () => {
     const config = makeConfig();
     kernel = createKernel(config, nerveRoot, {
       workerScript: MOCK_WORKER,
     });
 
-    // Wait for all workers to be ready (event-based, not fixed delay)
     await kernel.ready;
 
-    // Subscribe to the bus before triggering compute
-    const received: Signal[] = [];
-    const unsub = kernel.bus.subscribe((signal) => {
-      received.push(signal);
-    });
-
-    // Trigger a compute for "cpu-usage" through the kernel's triggerCompute
     kernel.triggerCompute("cpu-usage");
 
-    // Poll until a signal arrives on the bus (event-driven, no fixed delay)
-    await pollUntil(() => received.length > 0, 10_000);
+    await pollUntil(
+      () =>
+        kernel!.logStore.query({
+          source: "sense",
+          type: "compute-complete",
+          refId: "cpu-usage",
+        }).length > 0,
+      10_000,
+    );
 
-    expect(received).toHaveLength(1);
-    expect(received[0]).toMatchObject({ senseId: "cpu-usage", payload: 42 });
-
-    unsub();
+    const rows = kernel.logStore.query({
+      source: "sense",
+      type: "compute-complete",
+      refId: "cpu-usage",
+    });
+    expect(rows).toHaveLength(1);
   }, 15_000);
 
   it("graceful shutdown: stop() resolves after all workers exit", async () => {
@@ -151,7 +147,6 @@ describe("kernel integration — real child processes", () => {
           throttle: null,
           timeout: null,
           gracePeriod: null,
-          retention: 10_000,
           interval: null,
           on: [],
         },
@@ -160,7 +155,6 @@ describe("kernel integration — real child processes", () => {
           throttle: null,
           timeout: null,
           gracePeriod: null,
-          retention: 10_000,
           interval: null,
           on: [],
         },
@@ -180,31 +174,32 @@ describe("kernel integration — real child processes", () => {
     await expect(stopPromise).resolves.toBeUndefined();
   }, 10_000);
 
-  it("compute round-trip: worker receives compute and sends signal back through bus", async () => {
+  it("compute round-trip: worker receives compute and kernel logs compute-complete", async () => {
     const config = makeConfig();
     kernel = createKernel(config, nerveRoot, {
       workerScript: MOCK_WORKER,
     });
 
-    // Wait for all workers to be ready (event-based, not fixed delay)
     await kernel.ready;
 
-    const received: Signal[] = [];
-    const unsub = kernel.bus.subscribe((signal) => {
-      received.push(signal);
-    });
-
-    // Trigger compute via the kernel — the kernel sends IPC to the worker,
-    // the mock worker responds with a signal message, and the kernel routes it to the bus.
     kernel.triggerCompute("cpu-usage");
 
-    // Poll for the signal on the bus (no fixed delay)
-    await pollUntil(() => received.length > 0, 10_000);
+    await pollUntil(
+      () =>
+        kernel!.logStore.query({
+          source: "sense",
+          type: "compute-complete",
+          refId: "cpu-usage",
+        }).length > 0,
+      10_000,
+    );
 
-    expect(received).toHaveLength(1);
-    expect(received[0]).toMatchObject({ senseId: "cpu-usage", payload: 42 });
-
-    unsub();
+    const rows = kernel.logStore.query({
+      source: "sense",
+      type: "compute-complete",
+      refId: "cpu-usage",
+    });
+    expect(rows).toHaveLength(1);
   }, 15_000);
 
   it("crash recovery: kernel respawns worker after unexpected exit and new worker is functional", async () => {
@@ -234,23 +229,24 @@ describe("kernel integration — real child processes", () => {
     expect(newPid).not.toBeNull();
     expect(newPid).not.toBe(originalPid);
 
-    // Wait a bit for the new worker to send its "ready" message and be fully up.
-    // Poll until the new worker responds to a compute message on the bus.
-    const postRespawnSignals: Signal[] = [];
-    const unsub = kernel.bus.subscribe((signal) => {
-      postRespawnSignals.push(signal);
-    });
-
-    // Trigger compute through the kernel to the new worker
     kernel.triggerCompute("cpu-usage");
 
-    // Poll for the signal — verifies the new worker is fully functional
-    await pollUntil(() => postRespawnSignals.length > 0, 15_000);
+    await pollUntil(
+      () =>
+        kernel!.logStore.query({
+          source: "sense",
+          type: "compute-complete",
+          refId: "cpu-usage",
+        }).length > 0,
+      15_000,
+    );
 
-    expect(postRespawnSignals).toHaveLength(1);
-    expect(postRespawnSignals[0]).toMatchObject({ senseId: "cpu-usage", payload: 42 });
-
-    unsub();
+    const rows = kernel.logStore.query({
+      source: "sense",
+      type: "compute-complete",
+      refId: "cpu-usage",
+    });
+    expect(rows.length).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(1);
 
     // Kernel should still stop gracefully after respawn
     await kernel.stop();

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

@@ -70,6 +70,14 @@ const { createKernel } = await import("../kernel.js");
 // Helpers
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
+/** Sense worker `fork` runs on the next microtask per scheduled `start`. */
+async function flushSenseWorkerForkMicrotasks(kernel: { groups: Set<string> }): Promise<void> {
+  const n = kernel.groups.size;
+  for (let i = 0; i < n; i++) {
+    await Promise.resolve();
+  }
+}
+
 function makeConfig(overrides: Partial<NerveConfig> = {}): NerveConfig {
   return {
     senses: {
@@ -78,7 +86,6 @@ function makeConfig(overrides: Partial<NerveConfig> = {}): NerveConfig {
         throttle: null,
         timeout: null,
         gracePeriod: null,
-        retention: 10_000,
         interval: null,
         on: [],
       },
@@ -117,7 +124,6 @@ describe("kernel — getHealth", () => {
           throttle: null,
           timeout: null,
           gracePeriod: null,
-          retention: 10_000,
           interval: null,
           on: [],
         },
@@ -126,7 +132,6 @@ describe("kernel — getHealth", () => {
           throttle: null,
           timeout: null,
           gracePeriod: null,
-          retention: 10_000,
           interval: null,
           on: [],
         },
@@ -135,13 +140,14 @@ describe("kernel — getHealth", () => {
           throttle: null,
           timeout: null,
           gracePeriod: null,
-          retention: 10_000,
           interval: null,
           on: [],
         },
       },
     });
     const kernel = createKernel(config, nerveRoot);
+    await flushSenseWorkerForkMicrotasks(kernel);
+    await vi.runAllTimersAsync();
 
     const health = kernel.getHealth();
     expect(health.activeSenses).toBe(3);
@@ -171,6 +177,8 @@ describe("kernel — restartGroup", () => {
   it("sends shutdown to old worker and spawns new one", async () => {
     const config = makeConfig();
     const kernel = createKernel(config, nerveRoot);
+    await flushSenseWorkerForkMicrotasks(kernel);
+    await vi.runAllTimersAsync();
 
     expect(mockChildren.length).toBe(1);
     const oldChild = mockChildren[0];
@@ -178,6 +186,7 @@ describe("kernel — restartGroup", () => {
     const restartPromise = kernel.restartGroup("system");
     // The shutdown message triggers exit in the mock
     await restartPromise;
+    await vi.runAllTimersAsync();
 
     // A new child should have been spawned
     expect(mockChildren.length).toBe(2);
@@ -191,6 +200,8 @@ describe("kernel — restartGroup", () => {
   it("restartGroup on unknown group does nothing", async () => {
     const config = makeConfig();
     const kernel = createKernel(config, nerveRoot);
+    await flushSenseWorkerForkMicrotasks(kernel);
+    await vi.runAllTimersAsync();
 
     expect(mockChildren.length).toBe(1);
     await kernel.restartGroup("nonexistent");
@@ -218,6 +229,8 @@ describe("kernel — reloadConfig", () => {
   it("adds new group worker when new sense group appears", async () => {
     const config = makeConfig();
     const kernel = createKernel(config, nerveRoot);
+    await flushSenseWorkerForkMicrotasks(kernel);
+    await vi.runAllTimersAsync();
 
     expect(mockChildren.length).toBe(1); // only system group
     expect(kernel.groups.has("network")).toBe(false);
@@ -229,7 +242,6 @@ describe("kernel — reloadConfig", () => {
           throttle: null,
           timeout: null,
           gracePeriod: null,
-          retention: 10_000,
           interval: null,
           on: [],
         },
@@ -238,7 +250,6 @@ describe("kernel — reloadConfig", () => {
           throttle: null,
           timeout: null,
           gracePeriod: null,
-          retention: 10_000,
           interval: null,
           on: [],
         },
@@ -249,6 +260,9 @@ describe("kernel — reloadConfig", () => {
       api: { port: null, token: null, host: "127.0.0.1" },
     });
 
+    await Promise.resolve();
+    await vi.runAllTimersAsync();
+
     expect(kernel.groups.has("network")).toBe(true);
     expect(mockChildren.length).toBe(2); // system + network
 
@@ -263,7 +277,6 @@ describe("kernel — reloadConfig", () => {
           throttle: null,
           timeout: null,
           gracePeriod: null,
-          retention: 10_000,
           interval: null,
           on: [],
         },
@@ -272,7 +285,6 @@ describe("kernel — reloadConfig", () => {
           throttle: null,
           timeout: null,
           gracePeriod: null,
-          retention: 10_000,
           interval: null,
           on: [],
         },
@@ -283,6 +295,8 @@ describe("kernel — reloadConfig", () => {
       api: { port: null, token: null, host: "127.0.0.1" },
     };
     const kernel = createKernel(config, nerveRoot);
+    await flushSenseWorkerForkMicrotasks(kernel);
+    await vi.runAllTimersAsync();
 
     expect(mockChildren.length).toBe(2);
     expect(kernel.groups.has("network")).toBe(true);
@@ -296,7 +310,6 @@ describe("kernel — reloadConfig", () => {
           throttle: null,
           timeout: null,
           gracePeriod: null,
-          retention: 10_000,
           interval: null,
           on: [],
         },
@@ -308,6 +321,7 @@ describe("kernel — reloadConfig", () => {
     });
 
     expect(kernel.groups.has("network")).toBe(false);
+    await vi.runAllTimersAsync();
     // Network child should have received shutdown
     expect(networkChild.send).toHaveBeenCalledWith(expect.objectContaining({ type: "shutdown" }));
 
@@ -317,6 +331,8 @@ describe("kernel — reloadConfig", () => {
   it("health reflects updated sense count after reloadConfig", async () => {
     const config = makeConfig();
     const kernel = createKernel(config, nerveRoot);
+    await flushSenseWorkerForkMicrotasks(kernel);
+    await vi.runAllTimersAsync();
 
     expect(kernel.getHealth().activeSenses).toBe(1);
 
@@ -327,7 +343,6 @@ describe("kernel — reloadConfig", () => {
           throttle: null,
           timeout: null,
           gracePeriod: null,
-          retention: 10_000,
           interval: null,
           on: [],
         },
@@ -336,7 +351,6 @@ describe("kernel — reloadConfig", () => {
           throttle: null,
           timeout: null,
           gracePeriod: null,
-          retention: 10_000,
           interval: null,
           on: [],
         },

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

@@ -29,6 +29,9 @@ type MockChild = EventEmitter & {
 function makeMockChild(pid = 1): MockChild {
   const child = new EventEmitter() as MockChild;
   child.connected = true;
+  setImmediate(() => {
+    child.emit("message", { type: "ready" });
+  });
   child.send = vi.fn((msg: unknown) => {
     if (
       msg !== null &&
@@ -98,7 +101,6 @@ function makeConfig(overrides: Partial<NerveConfig> = {}): NerveConfig {
         throttle: null,
         timeout: null,
         gracePeriod: null,
-        retention: 10_000,
         interval: null,
         on: [],
       },
@@ -136,6 +138,7 @@ describe("kernel.triggerSense()", () => {
       logStore: makeMockLogStore() as never,
     });
 
+    await vi.runAllTimersAsync();
     expect(() => kernel.triggerSense("no-such-sense")).toThrow(/Unknown sense/);
 
     await kernel.stop();
@@ -149,7 +152,6 @@ describe("kernel.triggerSense()", () => {
           throttle: null,
           timeout: null,
           gracePeriod: null,
-          retention: 10_000,
           interval: null,
           on: [],
         },
@@ -158,7 +160,6 @@ describe("kernel.triggerSense()", () => {
           throttle: null,
           timeout: null,
           gracePeriod: null,
-          retention: 10_000,
           interval: null,
           on: [],
         },
@@ -169,6 +170,7 @@ describe("kernel.triggerSense()", () => {
       logStore: makeMockLogStore() as never,
     });
 
+    await vi.runAllTimersAsync();
     // Two groups → two workers
     expect(mockChildren.length).toBe(2);
 
@@ -194,7 +196,6 @@ describe("kernel.triggerSense()", () => {
           throttle: null,
           timeout: null,
           gracePeriod: null,
-          retention: 10_000,
           interval: null,
           on: [],
         },
@@ -203,7 +204,6 @@ describe("kernel.triggerSense()", () => {
           throttle: null,
           timeout: null,
           gracePeriod: null,
-          retention: 10_000,
           interval: null,
           on: [],
         },
@@ -214,6 +214,7 @@ describe("kernel.triggerSense()", () => {
       logStore: makeMockLogStore() as never,
     });
 
+    await vi.runAllTimersAsync();
     // Both senses share the "system" group → one worker only
     expect(mockChildren.length).toBe(1);
     const worker = mockChildren[0];
@@ -237,6 +238,7 @@ describe("kernel.triggerSense()", () => {
       logStore: makeMockLogStore() as never,
     });
 
+    await new Promise<void>((resolve) => setImmediate(resolve));
     const worker = mockChildren[0];
     worker.connected = false;
 

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

@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 /**
  * Integration tests for Kernel + WorkflowManager integration.
  *
- * Verifies that sense signals trigger workflow runs when Sense compute routes
- * to workflows; that workflow events are logged; that reloadConfig handles workflow changes;
+ * Verifies that sense compute-result IPC triggers workflow runs when `workflow`
+ * is non-null; that workflow events are logged; that reloadConfig handles workflow changes;
  * and that graceful shutdown stops workflow workers.
  *
  * Uses mocked child_process.fork to avoid real subprocesses.
@@ -53,7 +53,12 @@ function makeMockChild(pid = 1): MockChild {
     // Sense IPC: reply to compute so scheduler completes (onComputeComplete).
     if (m.type === "compute" && typeof m.sense === "string") {
       setImmediate(() => {
-        child.emit("message", { type: "signal", sense: m.sense, payload: 42 });
+        child.emit("message", {
+          type: "compute-result",
+          sense: m.sense,
+          state: 42,
+          workflow: null,
+        });
       });
     }
   });
@@ -102,6 +107,13 @@ function makeLogStore() {
   };
 }
 
+async function flushSenseWorkerForkMicrotasks(kernel: { groups: Set<string> }): Promise<void> {
+  const n = kernel.groups.size;
+  for (let i = 0; i < n; i++) {
+    await Promise.resolve();
+  }
+}
+
 function makeConfig(overrides: Partial<NerveConfig> = {}): NerveConfig {
   return {
     senses: {
@@ -110,7 +122,6 @@ function makeConfig(overrides: Partial<NerveConfig> = {}): NerveConfig {
         throttle: null,
         timeout: null,
         gracePeriod: null,
-        retention: 10_000,
         interval: null,
         on: [],
       },
@@ -152,7 +163,6 @@ describe("kernel + workflowManager integration", () => {
             throttle: null,
             timeout: null,
             gracePeriod: null,
-            retention: 10_000,
             interval: null,
             on: [],
           },
@@ -164,27 +174,26 @@ describe("kernel + workflowManager integration", () => {
         workerScript: "fake-worker.js",
         logStore,
       });
+      await flushSenseWorkerForkMicrotasks(kernel);
+      await vi.runAllTimersAsync();
 
-      // Simulate a sense worker sending a signal with workflow launch payload
-      // The kernel's handleWorkerMessage processes "signal" type messages
-      // and uses routeSenseComputeOutput to detect workflow launches
       const workerPool = mockChildren[0];
       if (workerPool) {
         workerPool.emit("message", {
-          type: "signal",
+          type: "compute-result",
           sense: "cpu-usage",
-          payload: {
-            signal: { reason: "test" },
-            workflow: {
-              name: "my-workflow",
-              maxRounds: 10,
-              prompt: "run this workflow",
-              dryRun: false,
-            },
+          state: { reason: "test" },
+          workflow: {
+            name: "my-workflow",
+            maxRounds: 10,
+            prompt: "run this workflow",
+            dryRun: false,
           },
         });
       }
 
+      await vi.runAllTimersAsync();
+
       // A workflow worker should be spawned and a start-thread message sent
       const workflowWorker = mockChildren.find((c) =>
         (c.send as ReturnType<typeof vi.fn>).mock.calls.some(
@@ -210,7 +219,6 @@ describe("kernel + workflowManager integration", () => {
             throttle: null,
             timeout: null,
             gracePeriod: null,
-            retention: 10_000,
             interval: null,
             on: [],
           },
@@ -222,25 +230,26 @@ describe("kernel + workflowManager integration", () => {
         workerScript: "fake-worker.js",
         logStore,
       });
+      await flushSenseWorkerForkMicrotasks(kernel);
+      await vi.runAllTimersAsync();
 
-      // Simulate sense worker returning a signal plus workflow launch
       const workerPool = mockChildren[0];
       if (workerPool) {
         workerPool.emit("message", {
-          type: "signal",
+          type: "compute-result",
           sense: "cpu-usage",
-          payload: {
-            signal: { level: "critical" },
-            workflow: {
-              name: "alert-workflow",
-              maxRounds: 5,
-              prompt: "handle critical alert",
-              dryRun: false,
-            },
+          state: { level: "critical" },
+          workflow: {
+            name: "alert-workflow",
+            maxRounds: 5,
+            prompt: "handle critical alert",
+            dryRun: false,
           },
         });
       }
 
+      await vi.runAllTimersAsync();
+
       // Find the start-thread call and verify triggerPayload
       const startThreadCall = mockChildren
         .flatMap((c) => (c.send as ReturnType<typeof vi.fn>).mock.calls as [unknown][])
@@ -265,7 +274,7 @@ describe("kernel + workflowManager integration", () => {
       await stopPromise;
     });
 
-    it("logs sense signal before workflow-launch when both are present", async () => {
+    it("logs compute-complete before workflow-launch when workflow is present", async () => {
       const logStore = makeLogStore();
       const config = makeConfig({
         workflows: { "order-wf": { concurrency: 1, overflow: "drop" } },
@@ -275,39 +284,41 @@ describe("kernel + workflowManager integration", () => {
         workerScript: "fake-worker.js",
         logStore,
       });
+      await flushSenseWorkerForkMicrotasks(kernel);
+      await vi.runAllTimersAsync();
 
       const workerPool = mockChildren[0];
       if (workerPool) {
         workerPool.emit("message", {
-          type: "signal",
+          type: "compute-result",
           sense: "cpu-usage",
-          payload: {
-            signal: { seq: 1 },
-            workflow: {
-              name: "order-wf",
-              maxRounds: 2,
-              prompt: "p",
-              dryRun: true,
-            },
+          state: { seq: 1 },
+          workflow: {
+            name: "order-wf",
+            maxRounds: 2,
+            prompt: "p",
+            dryRun: true,
           },
         });
       }
 
+      await vi.runAllTimersAsync();
+
       const senseEntries = logStore.append.mock.calls
         .map((c) => c[0] as { source: string; type: string; refId: string | null })
         .filter((e) => e.source === "sense" && e.refId === "cpu-usage");
       const typeOrder = senseEntries.map((e) => e.type);
-      const sigAt = typeOrder.indexOf("signal");
+      const completeAt = typeOrder.indexOf("compute-complete");
       const launchAt = typeOrder.indexOf("workflow-launch");
-      expect(sigAt).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(0);
-      expect(launchAt).toBeGreaterThan(sigAt);
+      expect(completeAt).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(0);
+      expect(launchAt).toBeGreaterThan(completeAt);
 
       const stopPromise = kernel.stop();
       await vi.runAllTimersAsync();
       await stopPromise;
     });
 
-    it("does not trigger workflow when signal senseId is not in 'on' list", async () => {
+    it("does not trigger workflow when compute-result has workflow null", async () => {
       const logStore = makeLogStore();
       const config = makeConfig({
         senses: {
@@ -316,7 +327,6 @@ describe("kernel + workflowManager integration", () => {
             throttle: null,
             timeout: null,
             gracePeriod: null,
-            retention: 10_000,
             interval: null,
             on: [],
           },
@@ -325,7 +335,6 @@ describe("kernel + workflowManager integration", () => {
             throttle: null,
             timeout: null,
             gracePeriod: null,
-            retention: 10_000,
             interval: null,
             on: [],
           },
@@ -337,14 +346,16 @@ describe("kernel + workflowManager integration", () => {
         workerScript: "fake-worker.js",
         logStore,
       });
+      await flushSenseWorkerForkMicrotasks(kernel);
+      await vi.runAllTimersAsync();
 
-      // Emit a regular signal (shorthand payload) — should NOT trigger any workflow
       const workerPool = mockChildren[0];
       if (workerPool) {
         workerPool.emit("message", {
-          type: "signal",
+          type: "compute-result",
           sense: "cpu-usage",
-          payload: 50,
+          state: 50,
+          workflow: null,
         });
       }
 
@@ -375,7 +386,6 @@ describe("kernel + workflowManager integration", () => {
             throttle: null,
             timeout: null,
             gracePeriod: null,
-            retention: 10_000,
             interval: null,
             on: [],
           },
@@ -387,25 +397,26 @@ describe("kernel + workflowManager integration", () => {
         workerScript: "fake-worker.js",
         logStore,
       });
+      await flushSenseWorkerForkMicrotasks(kernel);
+      await vi.runAllTimersAsync();
 
-      // Simulate sense compute returning a signal plus workflow launch
       const workerPool = mockChildren[0];
       if (workerPool) {
         workerPool.emit("message", {
-          type: "signal",
+          type: "compute-result",
           sense: "cpu-usage",
-          payload: {
-            signal: { note: "log" },
-            workflow: {
-              name: "log-test-workflow",
-              maxRounds: 10,
-              prompt: "test prompt",
-              dryRun: false,
-            },
+          state: { note: "log" },
+          workflow: {
+            name: "log-test-workflow",
+            maxRounds: 10,
+            prompt: "test prompt",
+            dryRun: false,
           },
         });
       }
 
+      await vi.runAllTimersAsync();
+
       expect(logStore.upsertWorkflowRun).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
         expect.objectContaining({ source: "workflow", type: "started" }),
         expect.objectContaining({ workflow: "log-test-workflow", status: "started" }),
@@ -427,7 +438,6 @@ describe("kernel + workflowManager integration", () => {
             throttle: null,
             timeout: null,
             gracePeriod: null,
-            retention: 10_000,
             interval: null,
             on: [],
           },
@@ -440,6 +450,8 @@ describe("kernel + workflowManager integration", () => {
         workerScript: "fake-worker.js",
         logStore,
       });
+      await flushSenseWorkerForkMicrotasks(kernel);
+      await vi.runAllTimersAsync();
 
       // Reload with a workflow added
       const newConfig: NerveConfig = {
@@ -449,7 +461,6 @@ describe("kernel + workflowManager integration", () => {
             throttle: null,
             timeout: null,
             gracePeriod: null,
-            retention: 10_000,
             interval: null,
             on: [],
           },
@@ -461,24 +472,23 @@ describe("kernel + workflowManager integration", () => {
       };
       kernel.reloadConfig(newConfig);
 
-      // Simulate sense compute returning a signal plus workflow for the new workflow
       const workerPool = mockChildren[0];
       if (workerPool) {
         workerPool.emit("message", {
-          type: "signal",
+          type: "compute-result",
           sense: "cpu-usage",
-          payload: {
-            signal: { phase: "reload" },
-            workflow: {
-              name: "new-workflow",
-              maxRounds: 10,
-              prompt: "reload test",
-              dryRun: false,
-            },
+          state: { phase: "reload" },
+          workflow: {
+            name: "new-workflow",
+            maxRounds: 10,
+            prompt: "reload test",
+            dryRun: false,
           },
         });
       }
 
+      await vi.runAllTimersAsync();
+
       const startThreadCall = mockChildren
         .flatMap((c) => (c.send as ReturnType<typeof vi.fn>).mock.calls as [unknown][])
         .find(
@@ -505,7 +515,6 @@ describe("kernel + workflowManager integration", () => {
             throttle: null,
             timeout: null,
             gracePeriod: null,
-            retention: 10_000,
             interval: null,
             on: [],
           },
@@ -517,6 +526,8 @@ describe("kernel + workflowManager integration", () => {
         workerScript: "fake-worker.js",
         logStore,
       });
+      await flushSenseWorkerForkMicrotasks(kernel);
+      await vi.runAllTimersAsync();
 
       // Reload with the workflow removed
       const newConfig: NerveConfig = {
@@ -526,7 +537,6 @@ describe("kernel + workflowManager integration", () => {
             throttle: null,
             timeout: null,
             gracePeriod: null,
-            retention: 10_000,
             interval: null,
             on: [],
           },
@@ -543,24 +553,23 @@ describe("kernel + workflowManager integration", () => {
         (c.send as ReturnType<typeof vi.fn>).mockClear();
       }
 
-      // Simulate sense compute trying to launch the removed workflow — it should not start
       const workerPool = mockChildren[0];
       if (workerPool) {
         workerPool.emit("message", {
-          type: "signal",
+          type: "compute-result",
           sense: "cpu-usage",
-          payload: {
-            signal: { stale: true },
-            workflow: {
-              name: "old-workflow",
-              maxRounds: 10,
-              prompt: "should not work",
-              dryRun: false,
-            },
+          state: { stale: true },
+          workflow: {
+            name: "old-workflow",
+            maxRounds: 10,
+            prompt: "should not work",
+            dryRun: false,
           },
         });
       }
 
+      await vi.runAllTimersAsync();
+
       const startThreadCall = mockChildren
         .flatMap((c) => (c.send as ReturnType<typeof vi.fn>).mock.calls as [unknown][])
         .find(
@@ -588,7 +597,6 @@ describe("kernel + workflowManager integration", () => {
             throttle: null,
             timeout: null,
             gracePeriod: null,
-            retention: 10_000,
             interval: null,
             on: [],
           },
@@ -600,25 +608,26 @@ describe("kernel + workflowManager integration", () => {
         workerScript: "fake-worker.js",
         logStore,
       });
+      await flushSenseWorkerForkMicrotasks(kernel);
+      await vi.runAllTimersAsync();
 
-      // Trigger a workflow via sense compute return value
       const workerPool = mockChildren[0];
       if (workerPool) {
         workerPool.emit("message", {
-          type: "signal",
+          type: "compute-result",
           sense: "cpu-usage",
-          payload: {
-            signal: { shutdownCase: true },
-            workflow: {
-              name: "shutdown-test",
-              maxRounds: 10,
-              prompt: "test",
-              dryRun: false,
-            },
+          state: { shutdownCase: true },
+          workflow: {
+            name: "shutdown-test",
+            maxRounds: 10,
+            prompt: "test",
+            dryRun: false,
           },
         });
       }
 
+      await vi.runAllTimersAsync();
+
       const stopPromise = kernel.stop();
       await vi.runAllTimersAsync();
       await expect(stopPromise).resolves.toBeUndefined();
@@ -652,7 +661,6 @@ describe("kernel + workflowManager integration", () => {
             throttle: null,
             timeout: null,
             gracePeriod: null,
-            retention: 10_000,
             interval: null,
             on: [],
           },
@@ -664,6 +672,8 @@ describe("kernel + workflowManager integration", () => {
         workerScript: "fake-worker.js",
         logStore,
       });
+      await flushSenseWorkerForkMicrotasks(kernel);
+      await vi.runAllTimersAsync();
 
       const health = kernel.getHealth();
       expect(health).toHaveProperty("activeWorkflows");

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

@@ -16,10 +16,12 @@ type MockChild = EventEmitter & {
   send: ReturnType<typeof vi.fn>;
   kill: ReturnType<typeof vi.fn>;
   pid: number;
+  connected: boolean;
 };
 
 function makeMockChild(pid = 1): MockChild {
   const child = new EventEmitter() as MockChild;
+  child.connected = true;
   setImmediate(() => {
     child.emit("message", { type: "ready" });
   });
@@ -27,16 +29,25 @@ function makeMockChild(pid = 1): MockChild {
     if (msg === null || typeof msg !== "object") return;
     const m = msg as Record<string, unknown>;
     if (m.type === "shutdown") {
-      setImmediate(() => child.emit("exit", 0, null));
+      setImmediate(() => {
+        child.connected = false;
+        child.emit("exit", 0, null);
+      });
       return;
     }
     if (m.type === "compute" && typeof m.sense === "string") {
       setImmediate(() => {
-        child.emit("message", { type: "signal", sense: m.sense, payload: 42 });
+        child.emit("message", {
+          type: "compute-result",
+          sense: m.sense,
+          state: 42,
+          workflow: null,
+        });
       });
     }
   });
   child.kill = vi.fn((_signal?: string) => {
+    child.connected = false;
     child.emit("exit", null, _signal ?? "SIGKILL");
   });
   child.pid = pid;
@@ -59,6 +70,14 @@ const { createLogStore } = await import("@uncaged/nerve-store");
 // Helpers
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
+/** `WorkerRuntime.start` schedules `fork` on the next microtask — flush one tick per initial group. */
+async function flushSenseWorkerForkMicrotasks(kernel: { groups: Set<string> }): Promise<void> {
+  const n = kernel.groups.size;
+  for (let i = 0; i < n; i++) {
+    await Promise.resolve();
+  }
+}
+
 function makeConfig(overrides: Partial<NerveConfig> = {}): NerveConfig {
   return {
     senses: {
@@ -67,7 +86,6 @@ function makeConfig(overrides: Partial<NerveConfig> = {}): NerveConfig {
         throttle: null,
         timeout: null,
         gracePeriod: null,
-        retention: 10_000,
         interval: null,
         on: [],
       },
@@ -98,7 +116,7 @@ describe("kernel — message routing", () => {
     rmSync(nerveRoot, { recursive: true, force: true });
   });
 
-  it("routes signal message to bus without throwing", async () => {
+  it("routes compute-result message without throwing", async () => {
     const config = makeConfig({
       senses: {
         "cpu-usage": {
@@ -106,7 +124,6 @@ describe("kernel — message routing", () => {
           throttle: null,
           timeout: null,
           gracePeriod: null,
-          retention: 10_000,
           interval: null,
           on: [],
         },
@@ -119,14 +136,19 @@ describe("kernel — message routing", () => {
     const child = mockChildren[0];
 
     expect(() => {
-      child.emit("message", { type: "signal", sense: "cpu-usage", payload: 42 });
+      child.emit("message", {
+        type: "compute-result",
+        sense: "cpu-usage",
+        state: 42,
+        workflow: null,
+      });
     }).not.toThrow();
 
     await kernel.stop();
     await vi.runAllTimersAsync();
   });
 
-  it("persists emitted signals as sense/signal log entries", async () => {
+  it("persists compute-complete log entries for sense IPC", async () => {
     const tmpDir = mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), "nerve-kernel-sig-"));
     const logStore = createLogStore(join(tmpDir, "logs.db"));
     try {
@@ -137,7 +159,6 @@ describe("kernel — message routing", () => {
             throttle: null,
             timeout: null,
             gracePeriod: null,
-            retention: 10_000,
             interval: null,
             on: [],
           },
@@ -146,10 +167,19 @@ describe("kernel — message routing", () => {
       const kernel = createKernel(config, tmpDir, { logStore });
       await vi.runAllTimersAsync();
       const child = mockChildren[0];
-      child.emit("message", { type: "signal", sense: "cpu-usage", payload: 123 });
-      const rows = logStore.query({ source: "sense", type: "signal", refId: "cpu-usage" });
+      child.emit("message", {
+        type: "compute-result",
+        sense: "cpu-usage",
+        state: 123,
+        workflow: null,
+      });
+      const rows = logStore.query({
+        source: "sense",
+        type: "compute-complete",
+        refId: "cpu-usage",
+      });
       expect(rows).toHaveLength(1);
-      expect(rows[0].payload).toBe(JSON.stringify(123));
+      expect(rows[0].payload).toBeNull();
       await kernel.stop();
       await vi.runAllTimersAsync();
     } finally {
@@ -166,13 +196,13 @@ describe("kernel — message routing", () => {
           throttle: null,
           timeout: null,
           gracePeriod: null,
-          retention: 10_000,
           interval: null,
           on: [],
         },
       },
     });
     const kernel = createKernel(config, nerveRoot);
+    await flushSenseWorkerForkMicrotasks(kernel);
 
     const child = mockChildren[0];
     child.emit("message", { type: "error", sense: "cpu-usage", error: "compute failed" });
@@ -194,13 +224,13 @@ describe("kernel — message routing", () => {
           throttle: null,
           timeout: null,
           gracePeriod: null,
-          retention: 10_000,
           interval: null,
           on: [],
         },
       },
     });
     const kernel = createKernel(config, nerveRoot);
+    await flushSenseWorkerForkMicrotasks(kernel);
 
     const child = mockChildren[0];
     const callsBefore = stderrSpy.mock.calls.length;
@@ -221,13 +251,13 @@ describe("kernel — message routing", () => {
           throttle: null,
           timeout: null,
           gracePeriod: null,
-          retention: 10_000,
           interval: null,
           on: [],
         },
       },
     });
     const kernel = createKernel(config, nerveRoot);
+    await flushSenseWorkerForkMicrotasks(kernel);
 
     const child = mockChildren[0];
     expect(() => child.emit("message", { type: "unknown-type" })).not.toThrow();
@@ -261,7 +291,6 @@ describe("kernel — groupForSense mapping", () => {
           throttle: null,
           timeout: null,
           gracePeriod: null,
-          retention: 10_000,
           interval: null,
           on: [],
         },
@@ -270,7 +299,6 @@ describe("kernel — groupForSense mapping", () => {
           throttle: null,
           timeout: null,
           gracePeriod: null,
-          retention: 10_000,
           interval: null,
           on: [],
         },
@@ -279,7 +307,6 @@ describe("kernel — groupForSense mapping", () => {
           throttle: null,
           timeout: null,
           gracePeriod: null,
-          retention: 10_000,
           interval: null,
           on: [],
         },
@@ -290,6 +317,7 @@ describe("kernel — groupForSense mapping", () => {
       api: { port: null, token: null, host: "127.0.0.1" },
     };
     const kernel = createKernel(config, nerveRoot);
+    await flushSenseWorkerForkMicrotasks(kernel);
 
     // system and network = 2 unique groups
     expect(mockChildren.length).toBe(2);
@@ -304,15 +332,16 @@ describe("kernel — groupForSense mapping", () => {
           throttle: null,
           timeout: null,
           gracePeriod: null,
-          retention: 10_000,
           interval: 500,
           on: [],
         },
       },
     });
     const kernel = createKernel(config, nerveRoot);
-
+    await flushSenseWorkerForkMicrotasks(kernel);
     const child = mockChildren[0];
+    child.emit("message", { type: "ready" });
+
     vi.advanceTimersByTime(500);
 
     expect(child.send).toHaveBeenCalledWith(

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

@@ -3,11 +3,10 @@ import { tmpdir } from "node:os";
 import { join } from "node:path";
 import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
 
-import type { NerveConfig, Signal } from "@uncaged/nerve-core";
+import type { NerveConfig } from "@uncaged/nerve-core";
 import { createLogStore } from "@uncaged/nerve-store";
 import type { LogStore } from "@uncaged/nerve-store";
 import { createSenseScheduler } from "../sense-scheduler.js";
-import { createSignalBus } from "../signal-bus.js";
 
 describe("LogStore + SenseScheduler integration", () => {
   let tmpDir: string;
@@ -31,7 +30,6 @@ describe("LogStore + SenseScheduler integration", () => {
           throttle: null,
           timeout: null,
           gracePeriod: null,
-          retention: 10_000,
           interval: null,
           on: ["cpu-usage"],
         },
@@ -41,14 +39,12 @@ describe("LogStore + SenseScheduler integration", () => {
       extract: null,
       api: { port: null, token: null, host: "127.0.0.1" },
     };
-    const bus = createSignalBus();
     const triggered: string[] = [];
-    const scheduler = createSenseScheduler(config, bus, (name) => triggered.push(name), {
+    const scheduler = createSenseScheduler(config, (name) => triggered.push(name), {
       logStore,
     });
 
-    const signal: Signal = { id: 1, senseId: "cpu-usage", payload: 42, timestamp: Date.now() };
-    bus.emit(signal);
+    scheduler.onSenseCompleted("cpu-usage");
 
     const logs = logStore.query({ source: "sense_scheduler", type: "run_start" });
     expect(logs).toHaveLength(1);
@@ -68,7 +64,6 @@ describe("LogStore + SenseScheduler integration", () => {
           throttle: null,
           timeout: null,
           gracePeriod: null,
-          retention: 10_000,
           interval: 1000,
           on: [],
         },
@@ -78,11 +73,9 @@ describe("LogStore + SenseScheduler integration", () => {
       extract: null,
       api: { port: null, token: null, host: "127.0.0.1" },
     };
-    const bus = createSignalBus();
     const ref: { scheduler: ReturnType<typeof createSenseScheduler> | null } = { scheduler: null };
     const scheduler = createSenseScheduler(
       config,
-      bus,
       (name) => {
         ref.scheduler?.onComputeComplete(name);
       },
@@ -108,7 +101,6 @@ describe("LogStore + SenseScheduler integration", () => {
           throttle: null,
           timeout: null,
           gracePeriod: null,
-          retention: 10_000,
           interval: null,
           on: ["cpu-usage"],
         },
@@ -118,11 +110,9 @@ describe("LogStore + SenseScheduler integration", () => {
       extract: null,
       api: { port: null, token: null, host: "127.0.0.1" },
     };
-    const bus = createSignalBus();
     const triggered: string[] = [];
     const scheduler = createSenseScheduler(
       config,
-      bus,
       (name) => {
         triggered.push(name);
         scheduler.onComputeComplete(name);
@@ -138,8 +128,6 @@ describe("LogStore + SenseScheduler integration", () => {
       timestamp: Date.now(),
     });
 
-    // Writing to the log store should NOT trigger any sense compute.
-    // Only bus.emit(signal) triggers scheduled senses.
     expect(triggered).toHaveLength(0);
 
     scheduler.stop();

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

@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@ import { tmpdir } from "node:os";
 import { dirname, join } from "node:path";
 import { fileURLToPath } from "node:url";
 
-import type { Signal } from "@uncaged/nerve-core";
 import type { NerveConfig } from "@uncaged/nerve-core";
 import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
 
@@ -27,7 +26,6 @@ function makeConfig(overrides: Partial<NerveConfig> = {}): NerveConfig {
         throttle: null,
         timeout: null,
         gracePeriod: null,
-        retention: 10_000,
         interval: null,
         on: [],
       },
@@ -97,13 +95,16 @@ describe("phase6 — restartGroup", () => {
     expect(newPid).not.toBeNull();
     expect(newPid).not.toBe(oldPid);
 
-    // Verify new worker is functional
-    const received: Signal[] = [];
-    const unsub = kernel.bus.subscribe((s) => received.push(s));
     kernel.triggerCompute("cpu-usage");
-    await pollUntil(() => received.length > 0, 10_000);
-    expect(received[0]).toMatchObject({ senseId: "cpu-usage", payload: 42 });
-    unsub();
+    await pollUntil(
+      () =>
+        kernel!.logStore.query({
+          source: "sense",
+          type: "compute-complete",
+          refId: "cpu-usage",
+        }).length > 0,
+      10_000,
+    );
   }, 35_000);
 
   it("restartGroup on nonexistent group does nothing", async () => {
@@ -154,7 +155,6 @@ describe("phase6 — reloadConfig", () => {
           throttle: null,
           timeout: null,
           gracePeriod: null,
-          retention: 10_000,
           interval: null,
           on: [],
         },
@@ -163,7 +163,6 @@ describe("phase6 — reloadConfig", () => {
           throttle: null,
           timeout: null,
           gracePeriod: null,
-          retention: 10_000,
           interval: null,
           on: [],
         },
@@ -191,7 +190,6 @@ describe("phase6 — reloadConfig", () => {
           throttle: null,
           timeout: null,
           gracePeriod: null,
-          retention: 10_000,
           interval: null,
           on: [],
         },
@@ -200,7 +198,6 @@ describe("phase6 — reloadConfig", () => {
           throttle: null,
           timeout: null,
           gracePeriod: null,
-          retention: 10_000,
           interval: null,
           on: [],
         },
@@ -224,7 +221,6 @@ describe("phase6 — reloadConfig", () => {
           throttle: null,
           timeout: null,
           gracePeriod: null,
-          retention: 10_000,
           interval: null,
           on: [],
         },
@@ -269,7 +265,6 @@ describe("phase6 — error isolation", () => {
           throttle: null,
           timeout: null,
           gracePeriod: null,
-          retention: 10_000,
           interval: null,
           on: [],
         },
@@ -278,7 +273,6 @@ describe("phase6 — error isolation", () => {
           throttle: null,
           timeout: null,
           gracePeriod: null,
-          retention: 10_000,
           interval: null,
           on: [],
         },
@@ -294,19 +288,27 @@ describe("phase6 — error isolation", () => {
     });
     await kernel.ready;
 
-    // Both senses go through the same worker (mock-worker responds to all compute with signal)
-    const received: Signal[] = [];
-    const unsub = kernel.bus.subscribe((s) => received.push(s));
-
     kernel.triggerCompute("good-sense");
-    await pollUntil(() => received.length > 0, 10_000);
-    expect(received[0]).toMatchObject({ senseId: "good-sense" });
+    await pollUntil(
+      () =>
+        kernel!.logStore.query({
+          source: "sense",
+          type: "compute-complete",
+          refId: "good-sense",
+        }).length > 0,
+      10_000,
+    );
 
     kernel.triggerCompute("bad-sense");
-    await pollUntil(() => received.length > 1, 10_000);
-    expect(received[1]).toMatchObject({ senseId: "bad-sense" });
-
-    unsub();
+    await pollUntil(
+      () =>
+        kernel!.logStore.query({
+          source: "sense",
+          type: "compute-complete",
+          refId: "bad-sense",
+        }).length > 0,
+      10_000,
+    );
   }, 10_000);
 
   it("error worker sends error messages, kernel still running", async () => {
@@ -366,7 +368,6 @@ describe("phase6 — getHealth", () => {
           throttle: null,
           timeout: null,
           gracePeriod: null,
-          retention: 10_000,
           interval: null,
           on: [],
         },
@@ -375,7 +376,6 @@ describe("phase6 — getHealth", () => {
           throttle: null,
           timeout: null,
           gracePeriod: null,
-          retention: 10_000,
           interval: null,
           on: [],
         },
@@ -384,7 +384,6 @@ describe("phase6 — getHealth", () => {
           throttle: null,
           timeout: null,
           gracePeriod: null,
-          retention: 10_000,
           interval: null,
           on: [],
         },
@@ -420,7 +419,6 @@ describe("phase6 — getHealth", () => {
           throttle: null,
           timeout: null,
           gracePeriod: null,
-          retention: 10_000,
           interval: null,
           on: [],
         },
@@ -429,7 +427,6 @@ describe("phase6 — getHealth", () => {
           throttle: null,
           timeout: null,
           gracePeriod: null,
-          retention: 10_000,
           interval: null,
           on: [],
         },
@@ -489,13 +486,16 @@ describe("phase6 — auto-respawn on worker crash", () => {
     expect(newPid).not.toBeNull();
     expect(newPid).not.toBe(originalPid);
 
-    // Verify new worker responds
-    const received: Signal[] = [];
-    const unsub = kernel.bus.subscribe((s) => received.push(s));
     kernel.triggerCompute("cpu-usage");
-    await pollUntil(() => received.length > 0, 10_000);
-    expect(received[0]).toMatchObject({ senseId: "cpu-usage", payload: 42 });
-    unsub();
+    await pollUntil(
+      () =>
+        kernel!.logStore.query({
+          source: "sense",
+          type: "compute-complete",
+          refId: "cpu-usage",
+        }).length > 0,
+      10_000,
+    );
 
     await kernel.stop();
     kernel = null;

packages/daemon/src/__tests__/sense-runtime.test.ts

@@ -1,281 +1,118 @@
-import { mkdirSync, mkdtempSync, writeFileSync } from "node:fs";
+import { mkdtempSync, readFileSync, rmSync, writeFileSync } from "node:fs";
 import { tmpdir } from "node:os";
 import { join } from "node:path";
 
-import { DatabaseSync } from "node:sqlite";
-import { drizzle } from "drizzle-orm/node-sqlite";
-import { integer, real, sqliteTable } from "drizzle-orm/sqlite-core";
+import type { SenseComputeFn } from "@uncaged/nerve-core";
 import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
 
 import { parseParentMessage } from "../ipc.js";
-import { executeCompute, openSenseDb, runMigrations } from "../sense-runtime.js";
-import type { DrizzleDB, SenseRuntime } from "../sense-runtime.js";
+import { executeCompute, readState, writeState } from "../sense-runtime.js";
+import type { SenseRuntime } from "../sense-runtime.js";
 
-// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// Helpers
-// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-const INIT_SQL = `
-CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS samples (
-  ts    INTEGER PRIMARY KEY,
-  value REAL NOT NULL
-);
-`;
-
-function makeTempMigrationsDir(sql: string): string {
-  const dir = mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), "nerve-test-"));
-  writeFileSync(join(dir, "0001_init.sql"), sql);
-  return dir;
+function makeTempStatePath(): string {
+  const dir = mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), "nerve-state-"));
+  return join(dir, "sense.json");
 }
 
-function makeTempMigrationsDirEmpty(): string {
-  return mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), "nerve-test-empty-"));
-}
-
-function makeTempDbPath(): string {
-  const dir = mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), "nerve-db-"));
-  return join(dir, "test.db");
-}
-
-const samples = sqliteTable("samples", {
-  ts: integer("ts").primaryKey(),
-  value: real("value").notNull(),
-});
-
-// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// runMigrations
-// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-describe("runMigrations", () => {
-  it("creates table via SQL migration file", () => {
-    const sqlite = new DatabaseSync(":memory:");
-    const migrationsDir = makeTempMigrationsDir(INIT_SQL);
-    const result = runMigrations(sqlite, migrationsDir);
-
-    expect(result.ok).toBe(true);
-
-    const row = sqlite
-      .prepare("SELECT name FROM sqlite_master WHERE type='table' AND name='samples'")
-      .get();
-    expect(row).toBeDefined();
-
-    sqlite.close();
+describe("readState / writeState", () => {
+  it("writeState creates parent dirs and persists JSON", () => {
+    const base = mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), "nerve-write-"));
+    const path = join(base, "nested", "a.json");
+    writeState(path, { n: 1 });
+    const raw = readFileSync(path, "utf8");
+    expect(JSON.parse(raw)).toEqual({ n: 1 });
+    rmSync(base, { recursive: true, force: true });
   });
 
-  it("runs multiple migrations in lexicographic order", () => {
-    const sqlite = new DatabaseSync(":memory:");
-    const dir = mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), "nerve-multi-"));
-
-    writeFileSync(join(dir, "0001_init.sql"), INIT_SQL);
-    writeFileSync(join(dir, "0002_add_col.sql"), "ALTER TABLE samples ADD COLUMN label TEXT;");
-
-    const result = runMigrations(sqlite, dir);
-    expect(result.ok).toBe(true);
-
-    const info = sqlite.prepare("PRAGMA table_info(samples)").all() as Array<{ name: string }>;
-    const cols = info.map((r) => r.name);
-    expect(cols).toContain("label");
-
-    sqlite.close();
+  it("readState returns initialState when file is missing", () => {
+    const path = join(mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), "nerve-missing-")), "none.json");
+    expect(readState(path, { x: 0 })).toEqual({ x: 0 });
   });
 
-  it("returns ok when migrations directory is empty", () => {
-    const sqlite = new DatabaseSync(":memory:");
-    const dir = makeTempMigrationsDirEmpty();
-    const result = runMigrations(sqlite, dir);
-    expect(result.ok).toBe(true);
-    sqlite.close();
+  it("readState returns parsed JSON when file exists", () => {
+    const dir = mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), "nerve-read-"));
+    const path = join(dir, "s.json");
+    writeFileSync(path, JSON.stringify({ count: 3 }), "utf8");
+    expect(readState(path, { count: 0 })).toEqual({ count: 3 });
+    rmSync(dir, { recursive: true, force: true });
   });
 
-  it("returns err when migrations directory does not exist", () => {
-    const sqlite = new DatabaseSync(":memory:");
-    const result = runMigrations(sqlite, "/nonexistent/path/migrations");
-    expect(result.ok).toBe(false);
-    sqlite.close();
-  });
-
-  it("returns err when a migration SQL is invalid", () => {
-    const sqlite = new DatabaseSync(":memory:");
-    const dir = mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), "nerve-bad-sql-"));
-    writeFileSync(join(dir, "0001_bad.sql"), "NOT VALID SQL !!!;");
-    const result = runMigrations(sqlite, dir);
-    expect(result.ok).toBe(false);
-    sqlite.close();
+  it("readState returns initialState on invalid JSON", () => {
+    const dir = mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), "nerve-badjson-"));
+    const path = join(dir, "bad.json");
+    writeFileSync(path, "not json {{{", "utf8");
+    expect(readState(path, { fallback: true })).toEqual({ fallback: true });
+    rmSync(dir, { recursive: true, force: true });
   });
 });
 
-// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// openSenseDb
-// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-describe("openSenseDb", () => {
-  it("creates the db file and runs migrations", () => {
-    const dbPath = makeTempDbPath();
-    const migrationsDir = makeTempMigrationsDir(INIT_SQL);
-
-    const result = openSenseDb(dbPath, migrationsDir);
-    expect(result.ok).toBe(true);
-
-    if (!result.ok) return;
-    const { sqlite } = result.value;
-    const row = sqlite
-      .prepare("SELECT name FROM sqlite_master WHERE type='table' AND name='samples'")
-      .get();
-    expect(row).toBeDefined();
-    sqlite.close();
-  });
-
-  it("returns err when migrations dir is missing", () => {
-    const dbPath = makeTempDbPath();
-    const result = openSenseDb(dbPath, "/nonexistent/migrations");
-    expect(result.ok).toBe(false);
-  });
-
-  it("prunes _signals to retention after every 100 inserts", () => {
-    const dbPath = makeTempDbPath();
-    const migrationsDir = makeTempMigrationsDir(INIT_SQL);
-    const result = openSenseDb(dbPath, migrationsDir, 5);
-    expect(result.ok).toBe(true);
-    if (!result.ok) return;
-
-    const { sqlite, persistSignal } = result.value;
-    for (let i = 0; i < 100; i++) {
-      persistSignal({ n: i });
-    }
-
-    const count = sqlite.prepare("SELECT COUNT(*) AS c FROM _signals").get() as { c: number };
-    expect(count.c).toBe(5);
-
-    sqlite.close();
-  });
-});
-
-// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// executeCompute
-// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
 describe("executeCompute", () => {
   function makeRuntime(
-    computeFn: SenseRuntime["compute"],
-    sqlite?: DatabaseSync,
-  ): { runtime: SenseRuntime; sqlite: DatabaseSync } {
-    const db_sqlite = sqlite ?? new DatabaseSync(":memory:");
-    if (!sqlite) db_sqlite.exec(INIT_SQL);
-    const db = drizzle({ client: db_sqlite }) as DrizzleDB;
+    compute: SenseComputeFn<{ n: number }>,
+    state: { n: number },
+    statePath?: string,
+  ): SenseRuntime {
     return {
-      runtime: {
-        name: "test-sense",
-        db,
-        compute: computeFn,
-        table: samples,
-        persistSignal: () => {},
-      },
-      sqlite: db_sqlite,
+      name: "test-sense",
+      compute: compute as SenseComputeFn,
+      state,
+      statePath: statePath ?? makeTempStatePath(),
     };
   }
 
-  it("returns non-null and inserts into table when compute returns data", async () => {
-    const { runtime, sqlite } = makeRuntime(async () => ({
-      signal: { ts: 1000, value: 0.5 },
-      workflow: null,
-    }));
+  it("passes state into compute and persists returned state", async () => {
+    const path = makeTempStatePath();
+    const runtime = makeRuntime(
+      async (s) => ({ state: { n: s.n + 1 }, workflow: null }),
+      { n: 0 },
+      path,
+    );
 
     const result = await executeCompute(runtime);
     expect(result.ok).toBe(true);
     if (!result.ok) return;
-    expect(result.value).toEqual({ signal: { ts: 1000, value: 0.5 }, workflow: null });
-
-    const rows = sqlite.prepare("SELECT * FROM samples").all();
-    expect(rows).toHaveLength(1);
-    sqlite.close();
-  });
-
-  it("returns null and does not insert when compute returns null", async () => {
-    const { runtime, sqlite } = makeRuntime(async () => null);
-
-    const result = await executeCompute(runtime);
-    expect(result.ok).toBe(true);
-    if (!result.ok) return;
-    expect(result.value).toBeNull();
-
-    const rows = sqlite.prepare("SELECT * FROM samples").all();
-    expect(rows).toHaveLength(0);
-    sqlite.close();
+    expect(result.value).toEqual({ state: { n: 1 }, workflow: null });
+    expect(runtime.state).toEqual({ n: 1 });
+    expect(JSON.parse(readFileSync(path, "utf8"))).toEqual({ n: 1 });
   });
 
   it("returns err when compute throws", async () => {
-    const { runtime, sqlite } = makeRuntime(async () => {
-      throw new Error("something went wrong");
-    });
+    const runtime = makeRuntime(
+      async () => {
+        throw new Error("boom");
+      },
+      { n: 0 },
+    );
 
     const result = await executeCompute(runtime);
     expect(result.ok).toBe(false);
     if (result.ok) return;
-    expect(result.error.message).toContain("something went wrong");
-    sqlite.close();
-  });
-
-  it("inserts correctly into the sense db from openSenseDb", async () => {
-    const dbPath = makeTempDbPath();
-    const migrationsDir = makeTempMigrationsDir(INIT_SQL);
-    const dbResult = openSenseDb(dbPath, migrationsDir);
-    expect(dbResult.ok).toBe(true);
-    if (!dbResult.ok) return;
-
-    mkdirSync(join(dbPath, "..", "migrations"), { recursive: true });
-
-    const { sqlite: dbSqlite, db } = dbResult.value;
-    const runtime: SenseRuntime = {
-      name: "cpu-usage",
-      db,
-      compute: async () => ({ signal: { ts: 1000, value: 1.23 }, workflow: null }),
-      table: samples,
-      persistSignal: () => {},
-    };
-
-    const result = await executeCompute(runtime);
-    expect(result.ok).toBe(true);
-
-    const rows = dbSqlite.prepare("SELECT * FROM samples").all() as Array<{
-      ts: number;
-      value: number;
-    }>;
-    expect(rows).toHaveLength(1);
-    expect(rows[0].ts).toBe(1000);
-    expect(rows[0].value).toBe(1.23);
-    dbSqlite.close();
+    expect(result.error.message).toContain("boom");
   });
 
   it("returns err when compute exceeds timeoutMs", async () => {
-    const { runtime, sqlite } = makeRuntime(
-      () => new Promise<null>((resolve) => setTimeout(() => resolve(null), 5_000)),
+    const runtime = makeRuntime(
+      async (s) =>
+        new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(() => resolve({ state: s, workflow: null }), 5_000)),
+      { n: 0 },
     );
 
     const result = await executeCompute(runtime, 50);
     expect(result.ok).toBe(false);
     if (result.ok) return;
     expect(result.error.message).toMatch(/timed out/i);
-    sqlite.close();
   });
 
   it("completes within timeout when compute is fast", async () => {
-    const { runtime, sqlite } = makeRuntime(async () => ({
-      signal: { ts: 1, value: 42 },
-      workflow: null,
-    }));
+    const runtime = makeRuntime(async (s) => ({ state: { n: s.n }, workflow: null }), { n: 42 });
     const result = await executeCompute(runtime, 5_000);
     expect(result.ok).toBe(true);
     if (!result.ok) return;
-    expect(result.value).toEqual({ signal: { ts: 1, value: 42 }, workflow: null });
-    sqlite.close();
+    expect(result.value.state).toEqual({ n: 42 });
   });
 });
 
-// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// parseParentMessage (IPC validation)
-// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-describe("parseParentMessage", () => {
+describe("parseParentMessage (IPC validation)", () => {
   it("accepts a valid compute message", () => {
     const result = parseParentMessage({ type: "compute", sense: "cpu" });
     expect(result.ok).toBe(true);
@@ -310,47 +147,3 @@ describe("parseParentMessage", () => {
     expect(result.error.message).toMatch(/unknown/i);
   });
 });
-
-// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// runMigrations – journal (idempotency)
-// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-describe("runMigrations journal", () => {
-  it("does not re-run an already-applied migration", () => {
-    const sqlite = new DatabaseSync(":memory:");
-    const dir = mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), "nerve-journal-"));
-    writeFileSync(join(dir, "0001_init.sql"), INIT_SQL);
-
-    const first = runMigrations(sqlite, dir);
-    expect(first.ok).toBe(true);
-
-    sqlite.exec("INSERT INTO samples (ts, value) VALUES (1, 1.0)");
-
-    const nonIdempotentSql = "CREATE TABLE samples2 (id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY)";
-    writeFileSync(join(dir, "0002_samples2.sql"), nonIdempotentSql);
-
-    const second = runMigrations(sqlite, dir);
-    expect(second.ok).toBe(true);
-
-    const third = runMigrations(sqlite, dir);
-    expect(third.ok).toBe(true);
-
-    sqlite.close();
-  });
-
-  it("tracks migrations in _migrations table", () => {
-    const sqlite = new DatabaseSync(":memory:");
-    const dir = mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), "nerve-journal2-"));
-    writeFileSync(join(dir, "0001_init.sql"), INIT_SQL);
-
-    runMigrations(sqlite, dir);
-
-    const rows = sqlite.prepare("SELECT name FROM _migrations ORDER BY name").all() as Array<{
-      name: string;
-    }>;
-    expect(rows).toHaveLength(1);
-    expect(rows[0].name).toBe("0001_init.sql");
-
-    sqlite.close();
-  });
-});

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

@@ -1,8 +1,7 @@
 import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
 
-import type { NerveConfig, Signal } from "@uncaged/nerve-core";
+import type { NerveConfig } from "@uncaged/nerve-core";
 import { createSenseScheduler } from "../sense-scheduler.js";
-import { createSignalBus } from "../signal-bus.js";
 
 function makeConfig(overrides: Partial<NerveConfig> = {}): NerveConfig {
   return {
@@ -12,7 +11,6 @@ function makeConfig(overrides: Partial<NerveConfig> = {}): NerveConfig {
         throttle: null,
         timeout: null,
         gracePeriod: null,
-        retention: 10_000,
         interval: null,
         on: [],
       },
@@ -25,10 +23,6 @@ function makeConfig(overrides: Partial<NerveConfig> = {}): NerveConfig {
   };
 }
 
-function makeSignal(senseId: string, payload: unknown = 1): Signal {
-  return { id: 1, senseId, payload, timestamp: Date.now() };
-}
-
 describe("SenseScheduler — throttle + pending deferred trigger", () => {
   beforeEach(() => {
     vi.useFakeTimers();
@@ -47,27 +41,21 @@ describe("SenseScheduler — throttle + pending deferred trigger", () => {
           throttle: 2000,
           timeout: null,
           gracePeriod: null,
-          retention: 10_000,
           interval: null,
           on: ["cpu-usage"],
         },
       },
     });
-    const bus = createSignalBus();
-    const scheduler = createSenseScheduler(config, bus, (name) => triggered.push(name));
+    const scheduler = createSenseScheduler(config, (name) => triggered.push(name));
 
-    // First trigger fires immediately (outside throttle window)
-    bus.emit(makeSignal("cpu-usage"));
+    scheduler.onSenseCompleted("cpu-usage");
     scheduler.onComputeComplete("cpu-usage");
     expect(triggered.length).toBe(1);
 
-    // Second trigger arrives 500ms later — still within throttle window (2000ms)
     vi.advanceTimersByTime(500);
-    bus.emit(makeSignal("cpu-usage"));
-    // Should not fire yet (throttled)
+    scheduler.onSenseCompleted("cpu-usage");
     expect(triggered.length).toBe(1);
 
-    // Advance past the throttle window end; deferred trigger should now fire
     vi.advanceTimersByTime(1600);
     expect(triggered.length).toBe(2);
 
@@ -83,30 +71,25 @@ describe("SenseScheduler — throttle + pending deferred trigger", () => {
           throttle: 2000,
           timeout: null,
           gracePeriod: null,
-          retention: 10_000,
           interval: null,
           on: ["cpu-usage"],
         },
       },
     });
-    const bus = createSignalBus();
-    const scheduler = createSenseScheduler(config, bus, (name) => triggered.push(name));
+    const scheduler = createSenseScheduler(config, (name) => triggered.push(name));
 
-    // First trigger fires
-    bus.emit(makeSignal("cpu-usage"));
+    scheduler.onSenseCompleted("cpu-usage");
     scheduler.onComputeComplete("cpu-usage");
     expect(triggered.length).toBe(1);
 
-    // Multiple triggers within throttle window — should not stack
     vi.advanceTimersByTime(300);
-    bus.emit(makeSignal("cpu-usage"));
+    scheduler.onSenseCompleted("cpu-usage");
     vi.advanceTimersByTime(300);
-    bus.emit(makeSignal("cpu-usage"));
+    scheduler.onSenseCompleted("cpu-usage");
     vi.advanceTimersByTime(300);
-    bus.emit(makeSignal("cpu-usage"));
+    scheduler.onSenseCompleted("cpu-usage");
     expect(triggered.length).toBe(1);
 
-    // Advance past window — exactly one deferred trigger fires
     vi.advanceTimersByTime(1200);
     scheduler.onComputeComplete("cpu-usage");
     expect(triggered.length).toBe(2);
@@ -123,28 +106,23 @@ describe("SenseScheduler — throttle + pending deferred trigger", () => {
           throttle: 2000,
           timeout: null,
           gracePeriod: null,
-          retention: 10_000,
           interval: null,
           on: ["cpu-usage"],
         },
       },
     });
-    const bus = createSignalBus();
-    const scheduler = createSenseScheduler(config, bus, (name) => triggered.push(name));
+    const scheduler = createSenseScheduler(config, (name) => triggered.push(name));
 
-    bus.emit(makeSignal("cpu-usage"));
+    scheduler.onSenseCompleted("cpu-usage");
     scheduler.onComputeComplete("cpu-usage");
     expect(triggered.length).toBe(1);
 
-    // Trigger during throttle window — schedules deferred
     vi.advanceTimersByTime(500);
-    bus.emit(makeSignal("cpu-usage"));
+    scheduler.onSenseCompleted("cpu-usage");
     expect(triggered.length).toBe(1);
 
-    // Stop before window ends
     scheduler.stop();
 
-    // Advance past window — deferred timer should have been cleared
     vi.advanceTimersByTime(2000);
     expect(triggered.length).toBe(1);
   });

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

@@ -1,12 +1,7 @@
 import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
 
-import type { NerveConfig, Signal } from "@uncaged/nerve-core";
+import type { NerveConfig } from "@uncaged/nerve-core";
 import { createSenseScheduler } from "../sense-scheduler.js";
-import { createSignalBus } from "../signal-bus.js";
-
-// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// Helpers
-// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 function makeConfig(overrides: Partial<NerveConfig> = {}): NerveConfig {
   return {
@@ -16,7 +11,6 @@ function makeConfig(overrides: Partial<NerveConfig> = {}): NerveConfig {
         throttle: null,
         timeout: null,
         gracePeriod: null,
-        retention: 10_000,
         interval: null,
         on: [],
       },
@@ -25,7 +19,6 @@ function makeConfig(overrides: Partial<NerveConfig> = {}): NerveConfig {
         throttle: null,
         timeout: null,
         gracePeriod: null,
-        retention: 10_000,
         interval: null,
         on: [],
       },
@@ -34,7 +27,6 @@ function makeConfig(overrides: Partial<NerveConfig> = {}): NerveConfig {
         throttle: null,
         timeout: null,
         gracePeriod: null,
-        retention: 10_000,
         interval: null,
         on: [],
       },
@@ -47,14 +39,6 @@ function makeConfig(overrides: Partial<NerveConfig> = {}): NerveConfig {
   };
 }
 
-function makeSignal(senseId: string, payload: unknown = 1): Signal {
-  return { id: 1, senseId, payload, timestamp: Date.now() };
-}
-
-// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// Tests
-// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
 describe("SenseScheduler — interval schedule", () => {
   beforeEach(() => {
     vi.useFakeTimers();
@@ -72,14 +56,11 @@ describe("SenseScheduler — interval schedule", () => {
         "cpu-usage": { ...base.senses["cpu-usage"], interval: 1000, on: [] },
       },
     });
-    const bus = createSignalBus();
-    // Use a ref so the triggerFn can call back into the scheduler
     const ref: { scheduler: ReturnType<typeof createSenseScheduler> | null } = {
       scheduler: null,
     };
-    const scheduler = createSenseScheduler(config, bus, (name) => {
+    const scheduler = createSenseScheduler(config, (name) => {
       triggered.push(name);
-      // Immediately complete compute so the scheduler is not blocked by in-flight state
       ref.scheduler?.onComputeComplete(name);
     });
     ref.scheduler = scheduler;
@@ -101,11 +82,10 @@ describe("SenseScheduler — interval schedule", () => {
         "cpu-usage": { ...base.senses["cpu-usage"], interval: 500, on: [] },
       },
     });
-    const bus = createSignalBus();
     const ref: { scheduler: ReturnType<typeof createSenseScheduler> | null } = {
       scheduler: null,
     };
-    const scheduler = createSenseScheduler(config, bus, (name) => {
+    const scheduler = createSenseScheduler(config, (name) => {
       triggered.push(name);
       ref.scheduler?.onComputeComplete(name);
     });
@@ -128,10 +108,8 @@ describe("SenseScheduler — interval schedule", () => {
         "cpu-usage": { ...base.senses["cpu-usage"], interval: 1000, on: [] },
       },
     });
-    const bus = createSignalBus();
-    const scheduler = createSenseScheduler(config, bus, (name) => triggered.push(name));
+    const scheduler = createSenseScheduler(config, (name) => triggered.push(name));
 
-    // Only advance 500ms — should be 0 triggers (not catching up)
     vi.advanceTimersByTime(500);
     expect(triggered.length).toBe(0);
 
@@ -140,7 +118,7 @@ describe("SenseScheduler — interval schedule", () => {
 });
 
 describe("SenseScheduler — event (on) schedule", () => {
-  it("triggers target sense when watched sense emits a signal", () => {
+  it("triggers target sense when watched sense completes", () => {
     const triggered: string[] = [];
     const base = makeConfig();
     const config = makeConfig({
@@ -153,12 +131,11 @@ describe("SenseScheduler — event (on) schedule", () => {
         },
       },
     });
-    const bus = createSignalBus();
-    const scheduler = createSenseScheduler(config, bus, (name) => triggered.push(name));
+    const scheduler = createSenseScheduler(config, (name) => triggered.push(name));
 
-    bus.emit(makeSignal("cpu-usage"));
+    scheduler.onSenseCompleted("cpu-usage");
     scheduler.onComputeComplete("system-health");
-    bus.emit(makeSignal("disk-usage"));
+    scheduler.onSenseCompleted("disk-usage");
     scheduler.onComputeComplete("system-health");
 
     expect(triggered.length).toBe(2);
@@ -167,7 +144,7 @@ describe("SenseScheduler — event (on) schedule", () => {
     scheduler.stop();
   });
 
-  it("does not trigger for signals from non-watched senses", () => {
+  it("does not trigger for completions of non-watched senses", () => {
     const triggered: string[] = [];
     const base = makeConfig();
     const config = makeConfig({
@@ -176,10 +153,9 @@ describe("SenseScheduler — event (on) schedule", () => {
         "system-health": { ...base.senses["system-health"], interval: null, on: ["cpu-usage"] },
       },
     });
-    const bus = createSignalBus();
-    const scheduler = createSenseScheduler(config, bus, (name) => triggered.push(name));
+    const scheduler = createSenseScheduler(config, (name) => triggered.push(name));
 
-    bus.emit(makeSignal("disk-usage"));
+    scheduler.onSenseCompleted("disk-usage");
 
     expect(triggered.length).toBe(0);
 
@@ -195,11 +171,10 @@ describe("SenseScheduler — event (on) schedule", () => {
         "system-health": { ...base.senses["system-health"], interval: null, on: ["cpu-usage"] },
       },
     });
-    const bus = createSignalBus();
-    const scheduler = createSenseScheduler(config, bus, (name) => triggered.push(name));
+    const scheduler = createSenseScheduler(config, (name) => triggered.push(name));
 
     scheduler.stop();
-    bus.emit(makeSignal("cpu-usage"));
+    scheduler.onSenseCompleted("cpu-usage");
 
     expect(triggered.length).toBe(0);
   });
@@ -222,20 +197,17 @@ describe("SenseScheduler — throttle", () => {
           throttle: 2000,
           timeout: null,
           gracePeriod: null,
-          retention: 10_000,
           interval: null,
           on: ["cpu-usage"],
         },
       },
     });
-    const bus = createSignalBus();
-    const scheduler = createSenseScheduler(config, bus, (name) => triggered.push(name));
+    const scheduler = createSenseScheduler(config, (name) => triggered.push(name));
 
-    bus.emit(makeSignal("cpu-usage"));
+    scheduler.onSenseCompleted("cpu-usage");
     scheduler.onComputeComplete("cpu-usage");
 
-    // Immediately trigger again — within throttle window
-    bus.emit(makeSignal("cpu-usage"));
+    scheduler.onSenseCompleted("cpu-usage");
 
     expect(triggered.length).toBe(1);
 
@@ -251,20 +223,18 @@ describe("SenseScheduler — throttle", () => {
           throttle: 1000,
           timeout: null,
           gracePeriod: null,
-          retention: 10_000,
           interval: null,
           on: ["cpu-usage"],
         },
       },
     });
-    const bus = createSignalBus();
-    const scheduler = createSenseScheduler(config, bus, (name) => triggered.push(name));
+    const scheduler = createSenseScheduler(config, (name) => triggered.push(name));
 
-    bus.emit(makeSignal("cpu-usage"));
+    scheduler.onSenseCompleted("cpu-usage");
     scheduler.onComputeComplete("cpu-usage");
 
     vi.advanceTimersByTime(1500);
-    bus.emit(makeSignal("cpu-usage"));
+    scheduler.onSenseCompleted("cpu-usage");
     scheduler.onComputeComplete("cpu-usage");
 
     expect(triggered.length).toBe(2);
@@ -283,24 +253,19 @@ describe("SenseScheduler — merge/coalesce", () => {
         "system-health": { ...base.senses["system-health"], interval: null, on: ["cpu-usage"] },
       },
     });
-    const bus = createSignalBus();
-    const scheduler = createSenseScheduler(config, bus, (name) => triggered.push(name));
+    const scheduler = createSenseScheduler(config, (name) => triggered.push(name));
 
-    // First trigger starts compute
-    bus.emit(makeSignal("cpu-usage"));
+    scheduler.onSenseCompleted("cpu-usage");
     expect(triggered.length).toBe(1);
 
-    // Three more arrive while first is in-flight — all should coalesce to one pending
-    bus.emit(makeSignal("cpu-usage"));
-    bus.emit(makeSignal("cpu-usage"));
-    bus.emit(makeSignal("cpu-usage"));
+    scheduler.onSenseCompleted("cpu-usage");
+    scheduler.onSenseCompleted("cpu-usage");
+    scheduler.onSenseCompleted("cpu-usage");
     expect(triggered.length).toBe(1);
 
-    // Complete first compute → pending drains as exactly one more run
     scheduler.onComputeComplete("system-health");
     expect(triggered.length).toBe(2);
 
-    // Complete second compute → no more pending
     scheduler.onComputeComplete("system-health");
     expect(triggered.length).toBe(2);
 
@@ -316,13 +281,11 @@ describe("SenseScheduler — merge/coalesce", () => {
         "system-health": { ...base.senses["system-health"], interval: null, on: ["cpu-usage"] },
       },
     });
-    const bus = createSignalBus();
-    const scheduler = createSenseScheduler(config, bus, (name) => triggered.push(name));
+    const scheduler = createSenseScheduler(config, (name) => triggered.push(name));
 
-    bus.emit(makeSignal("cpu-usage"));
+    scheduler.onSenseCompleted("cpu-usage");
     expect(triggered.length).toBe(1);
 
-    // Complete with no pending
     scheduler.onComputeComplete("system-health");
     expect(triggered.length).toBe(1);
 
@@ -351,14 +314,11 @@ describe("SenseScheduler — interval + on combined", () => {
         },
       },
     });
-    const bus = createSignalBus();
-    const scheduler = createSenseScheduler(config, bus, (name) => triggered.push(name));
+    const scheduler = createSenseScheduler(config, (name) => triggered.push(name));
 
-    // Event trigger
-    bus.emit(makeSignal("cpu-usage"));
+    scheduler.onSenseCompleted("cpu-usage");
     scheduler.onComputeComplete("system-health");
 
-    // Interval trigger
     vi.advanceTimersByTime(1000);
     scheduler.onComputeComplete("system-health");
 

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

@@ -1,99 +0,0 @@
-import { describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
-
-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, timestamp: Date.now() };
-}
-
-describe("createSignalBus", () => {
-  it("delivers emitted signal to a subscriber", () => {
-    const bus = createSignalBus();
-    const received: Signal[] = [];
-    bus.subscribe((s) => received.push(s));
-
-    const sig = makeSignal("cpu-usage", 42);
-    bus.emit(sig);
-
-    expect(received).toHaveLength(1);
-    expect(received[0]).toBe(sig);
-  });
-
-  it("delivers to multiple subscribers", () => {
-    const bus = createSignalBus();
-    const a: Signal[] = [];
-    const b: Signal[] = [];
-    bus.subscribe((s) => a.push(s));
-    bus.subscribe((s) => b.push(s));
-
-    bus.emit(makeSignal("cpu-usage"));
-
-    expect(a).toHaveLength(1);
-    expect(b).toHaveLength(1);
-  });
-
-  it("unsubscribe stops delivery", () => {
-    const bus = createSignalBus();
-    const received: Signal[] = [];
-    const unsub = bus.subscribe((s) => received.push(s));
-
-    bus.emit(makeSignal("cpu-usage"));
-    unsub();
-    bus.emit(makeSignal("cpu-usage"));
-
-    expect(received).toHaveLength(1);
-  });
-
-  it("remaining subscribers still receive after one unsubscribes", () => {
-    const bus = createSignalBus();
-    const a: Signal[] = [];
-    const b: Signal[] = [];
-    const unsubA = bus.subscribe((s) => a.push(s));
-    bus.subscribe((s) => b.push(s));
-
-    unsubA();
-    bus.emit(makeSignal("cpu-usage"));
-
-    expect(a).toHaveLength(0);
-    expect(b).toHaveLength(1);
-  });
-
-  it("emit with no subscribers does nothing", () => {
-    const bus = createSignalBus();
-    expect(() => bus.emit(makeSignal("cpu-usage"))).not.toThrow();
-  });
-
-  it("dispatch is synchronous", () => {
-    const bus = createSignalBus();
-    const order: string[] = [];
-    bus.subscribe(() => order.push("handler"));
-    order.push("before");
-    bus.emit(makeSignal("cpu-usage"));
-    order.push("after");
-    expect(order).toEqual(["before", "handler", "after"]);
-  });
-
-  it("handler exceptions don't prevent other handlers from running", () => {
-    const bus = createSignalBus();
-    const received: Signal[] = [];
-    bus.subscribe(() => {
-      throw new Error("boom");
-    });
-    bus.subscribe((s) => received.push(s));
-
-    expect(() => bus.emit(makeSignal("cpu-usage"))).toThrow("boom");
-    expect(received).toHaveLength(1);
-  });
-
-  it("same handler can be subscribed once and fires once per emit", () => {
-    const bus = createSignalBus();
-    const handler = vi.fn();
-    bus.subscribe(handler);
-
-    bus.emit(makeSignal("cpu-usage"));
-    bus.emit(makeSignal("cpu-usage"));
-
-    expect(handler).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2);
-  });
-});

packages/daemon/src/__tests__/worker-pool.test.ts

@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ async function startWorkerWithReady(
   group: string,
 ): Promise<void> {
   const pr = pool.startWorker(group);
+  await Promise.resolve();
   const child = mockChildren[mockChildren.length - 1];
   child.emit("message", { type: "ready" });
   await pr;
@@ -79,8 +80,18 @@ describe("createSenseWorkerPool", () => {
     await startWorkerWithReady(pool, "g1");
     expect(mockChildren).toHaveLength(1);
     const child = mockChildren[0];
-    child.emit("message", { type: "signal", sense: "s", payload: 1 });
-    expect(onWorkerMessage).toHaveBeenCalledWith({ type: "signal", sense: "s", payload: 1 });
+    child.emit("message", {
+      type: "compute-result",
+      sense: "s",
+      state: 1,
+      workflow: null,
+    });
+    expect(onWorkerMessage).toHaveBeenCalledWith({
+      type: "compute-result",
+      sense: "s",
+      state: 1,
+      workflow: null,
+    });
   });
 
   it("sendCompute delivers to the worker for that group", async () => {
@@ -137,6 +148,7 @@ describe("createSenseWorkerPool", () => {
     expect(pool.activeGroupCount()).toBe(1);
     pool.evictGroup("x");
     expect(pool.hasWorkerForGroup("x")).toBe(false);
+    await Promise.resolve();
     expect(mockChildren[0].send).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
       expect.objectContaining({ type: "shutdown" }),
     );
@@ -159,6 +171,7 @@ describe("createSenseWorkerPool", () => {
 
     const p = pool.restartGroup("g");
     expect(onBeforeGroupRestart).toHaveBeenCalledWith("g");
+    await Promise.resolve();
     expect(mockChildren[0].send).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
       expect.objectContaining({ type: "shutdown" }),
     );
@@ -171,7 +184,7 @@ describe("createSenseWorkerPool", () => {
   });
 
   it("onWorkerCrashed runs and schedules respawn after non-zero exit", async () => {
-    vi.useFakeTimers({ shouldAdvanceTime: true });
+    vi.useFakeTimers();
     const onWorkerCrashed = vi.fn();
     const pool = createSenseWorkerPool({
       nerveRoot: "/tmp/n",

packages/daemon/src/__tests__/worker-runtime.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,181 @@
+import { dirname, join } from "node:path";
+import { fileURLToPath } from "node:url";
+import { afterEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
+import { createWorkerRuntime } from "../worker-runtime.js";
+
+const fixturesDir = join(dirname(fileURLToPath(import.meta.url)), "fixtures");
+const echoWorkerPath = join(fixturesDir, "echo-worker.js");
+const crashWorkerPath = join(fixturesDir, "crash-worker.js");
+const stderrWorkerPath = join(fixturesDir, "stderr-worker.js");
+
+function baseConfig(script: string) {
+  return {
+    script,
+    argsForKey: () => [],
+    forwardStderr: true,
+    onMessage: vi.fn(),
+    onReady: vi.fn(),
+    onExit: vi.fn(),
+    onCrashLimitReached: null,
+    respawn: {
+      enabled: true,
+      maxCrashes: 6,
+      windowMs: 60_000,
+      delayMs: 80,
+      allowRespawn: null,
+    },
+    shutdownTimeoutMs: 5000,
+  };
+}
+
+describe("createWorkerRuntime", () => {
+  const runtimes: Array<{ shutdown: () => Promise<void> }> = [];
+
+  afterEach(async () => {
+    await Promise.all(runtimes.splice(0).map((r) => r.shutdown()));
+  });
+
+  function track<R extends { shutdown: () => Promise<void> }>(r: R): R {
+    runtimes.push(r);
+    return r;
+  }
+
+  it("start + send message + receive echo", async () => {
+    const incoming: unknown[] = [];
+    const rt = track(
+      createWorkerRuntime({
+        ...baseConfig(echoWorkerPath),
+        onMessage: (_key, msg) => {
+          incoming.push(msg);
+        },
+      }),
+    );
+
+    await rt.start("a");
+    expect(rt.has("a")).toBe(true);
+    await rt.send("a", { type: "ping", n: 1 });
+
+    await vi.waitFor(() => {
+      expect(incoming.some((m) => isEchoOf(m, { type: "ping", n: 1 }))).toBe(true);
+    });
+    await rt.shutdown();
+  });
+
+  it("cold start on send (no explicit start)", async () => {
+    const incoming: unknown[] = [];
+    const rt = track(
+      createWorkerRuntime({
+        ...baseConfig(echoWorkerPath),
+        onMessage: (_key, msg) => {
+          incoming.push(msg);
+        },
+      }),
+    );
+
+    expect(rt.has("x")).toBe(false);
+    await rt.send("x", { type: "hi" });
+    await vi.waitFor(() => {
+      expect(rt.has("x")).toBe(true);
+      expect(incoming.some((m) => isEchoOf(m, { type: "hi" }))).toBe(true);
+    });
+    await rt.shutdown();
+  });
+
+  it("evict stops worker; has() is false", async () => {
+    const rt = track(createWorkerRuntime(baseConfig(echoWorkerPath)));
+    await rt.start("k");
+    expect(rt.has("k")).toBe(true);
+    await rt.evict("k", null);
+    expect(rt.has("k")).toBe(false);
+    await rt.shutdown();
+  });
+
+  it("drain stops and respawns (new pid)", async () => {
+    const rt = track(createWorkerRuntime(baseConfig(echoWorkerPath)));
+    await rt.start("k");
+    const before = rt.pid("k");
+    expect(before).not.toBeNull();
+    await rt.drain("k", null);
+    const after = rt.pid("k");
+    expect(after).not.toBeNull();
+    expect(after).not.toBe(before);
+    await rt.shutdown();
+  });
+
+  it("crash triggers auto-respawn", async () => {
+    const incoming: unknown[] = [];
+    const onExit = vi.fn();
+    const rt = track(
+      createWorkerRuntime({
+        ...baseConfig(crashWorkerPath),
+        onExit,
+        onMessage: (_key, msg) => {
+          incoming.push(msg);
+        },
+      }),
+    );
+
+    await rt.start("c");
+
+    await vi.waitFor(() => expect(onExit.mock.calls.length).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(1), {
+      timeout: 3000,
+    });
+    await vi.waitFor(() => expect(rt.has("c")).toBe(true), { timeout: 3000 });
+
+    await rt.send("c", { type: "after-crash" });
+    await vi.waitFor(() => {
+      expect(incoming.some((m) => isEchoOf(m, { type: "after-crash" }))).toBe(true);
+    });
+    await rt.shutdown();
+  });
+
+  it("crash limit reached → no more automatic respawns", async () => {
+    const rt = track(
+      createWorkerRuntime({
+        ...baseConfig(crashWorkerPath),
+        respawn: {
+          enabled: true,
+          maxCrashes: 2,
+          windowMs: 60_000,
+          delayMs: 50,
+          allowRespawn: null,
+        },
+      }),
+    );
+
+    await rt.start("z");
+
+    await vi.waitFor(() => expect(rt.has("z")).toBe(false), { timeout: 8000 });
+
+    await rt.shutdown();
+  });
+
+  it("shutdown stops all workers", async () => {
+    const rt = track(createWorkerRuntime(baseConfig(echoWorkerPath)));
+    await rt.start("a");
+    await rt.start("b");
+    expect(rt.keys().sort()).toEqual(["a", "b"].sort());
+    await rt.shutdown();
+    expect(rt.keys()).toEqual([]);
+    expect(rt.has("a")).toBe(false);
+    expect(rt.has("b")).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it("stderrTail captures stderr output", async () => {
+    const rt = track(createWorkerRuntime(baseConfig(stderrWorkerPath)));
+    await rt.start("s");
+    await vi.waitFor(() => {
+      expect(rt.stderrTail("s")).toContain("stderr-marker");
+    });
+    await rt.shutdown();
+  });
+});
+
+function isEchoOf(msg: unknown, payload: unknown): boolean {
+  return (
+    typeof msg === "object" &&
+    msg !== null &&
+    (msg as Record<string, unknown>).type === "echo" &&
+    JSON.stringify((msg as Record<string, unknown>).payload) === JSON.stringify(payload)
+  );
+}

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

@@ -26,6 +26,11 @@ function makeMockChild(pid = 1): MockChild {
   child.connected = true;
   child.exitCode = null;
   child.pid = pid;
+  setImmediate(() => {
+    if (child.connected) {
+      child.emit("message", { type: "ready" });
+    }
+  });
   child.send = vi.fn((msg: unknown) => {
     if (
       msg !== null &&
@@ -110,7 +115,7 @@ describe("WorkflowManager", () => {
   });
 
   describe("startWorkflow under concurrency limit dispatches thread", () => {
-    it("forks a worker and sends start-thread when active < concurrency", () => {
+    it("forks a worker and sends start-thread when active < concurrency", async () => {
       const logStore = makeLogStore();
       const config = makeConfig({
         "my-workflow": { concurrency: 2, overflow: "drop" },
@@ -118,6 +123,7 @@ describe("WorkflowManager", () => {
       const mgr = createWorkflowManager("/nerve-root", config, logStore);
 
       mgr.startWorkflow("my-workflow", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
+      await vi.runAllTimersAsync();
 
       expect(mockChildren).toHaveLength(1);
       expect(mockChildren[0].send).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
@@ -126,7 +132,7 @@ describe("WorkflowManager", () => {
       expect(mgr.activeCount("my-workflow")).toBe(1);
     });
 
-    it("reuses the same worker for a second thread under the limit", () => {
+    it("reuses the same worker for a second thread under the limit", async () => {
       const logStore = makeLogStore();
       const config = makeConfig({
         "my-workflow": { concurrency: 3, overflow: "drop" },
@@ -135,6 +141,7 @@ describe("WorkflowManager", () => {
 
       mgr.startWorkflow("my-workflow", { prompt: "test 1", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
       mgr.startWorkflow("my-workflow", { prompt: "test 2", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
+      await vi.runAllTimersAsync();
 
       // Only one forked child — worker is reused
       expect(mockChildren).toHaveLength(1);
@@ -142,7 +149,7 @@ describe("WorkflowManager", () => {
       expect(mgr.activeCount("my-workflow")).toBe(2);
     });
 
-    it("logs a 'started' event for each dispatched thread", () => {
+    it("logs a 'started' event for each dispatched thread", async () => {
       const logStore = makeLogStore();
       const config = makeConfig({
         "my-workflow": { concurrency: 2, overflow: "drop" },
@@ -150,6 +157,7 @@ describe("WorkflowManager", () => {
       const mgr = createWorkflowManager("/nerve-root", config, logStore);
 
       mgr.startWorkflow("my-workflow", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
+      await vi.runAllTimersAsync();
 
       expect(logStore.upsertWorkflowRun).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
         expect.objectContaining({ source: "workflow", type: "started" }),
@@ -159,7 +167,7 @@ describe("WorkflowManager", () => {
   });
 
   describe("startWorkflow at limit with drop overflow drops the request", () => {
-    it("does NOT send start-thread when at concurrency limit with overflow=drop", () => {
+    it("does NOT send start-thread when at concurrency limit with overflow=drop", async () => {
       const logStore = makeLogStore();
       const config = makeConfig({
         "drop-wf": { concurrency: 1, overflow: "drop" },
@@ -169,6 +177,7 @@ describe("WorkflowManager", () => {
       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, dryRun: false });
+      await vi.runAllTimersAsync();
 
       expect(mgr.activeCount("drop-wf")).toBe(1);
       expect(mgr.queueLength("drop-wf")).toBe(0);
@@ -254,7 +263,7 @@ describe("WorkflowManager", () => {
   });
 
   describe("completing a thread dequeues the next one", () => {
-    it("dispatches the next queued thread when the active thread sends completed", () => {
+    it("dispatches the next queued thread when the active thread sends completed", async () => {
       const logStore = makeLogStore();
       const config = makeConfig({
         "queue-wf": { concurrency: 1, overflow: "queue", maxQueue: 5 },
@@ -263,6 +272,7 @@ describe("WorkflowManager", () => {
 
       mgr.startWorkflow("queue-wf", { prompt: "first", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
       mgr.startWorkflow("queue-wf", { prompt: "second", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
+      await vi.runAllTimersAsync();
 
       expect(mgr.activeCount("queue-wf")).toBe(1);
       expect(mgr.queueLength("queue-wf")).toBe(1);
@@ -289,7 +299,7 @@ describe("WorkflowManager", () => {
       );
     });
 
-    it("dispatches next queued thread when active thread sends failed", () => {
+    it("dispatches next queued thread when active thread sends failed", async () => {
       const logStore = makeLogStore();
       const config = makeConfig({
         "queue-wf": { concurrency: 1, overflow: "queue", maxQueue: 5 },
@@ -298,6 +308,7 @@ describe("WorkflowManager", () => {
 
       mgr.startWorkflow("queue-wf", { prompt: "first", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
       mgr.startWorkflow("queue-wf", { prompt: "second", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
+      await vi.runAllTimersAsync();
 
       const child = mockChildren[0];
       const firstRunId = (child.send as ReturnType<typeof vi.fn>).mock.calls[0][0].runId as string;
@@ -325,6 +336,7 @@ describe("WorkflowManager", () => {
 
       mgr.startWorkflow("wf-a", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
       mgr.startWorkflow("wf-b", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
+      await vi.runAllTimersAsync();
 
       // Two distinct workers should have been forked
       expect(mockChildren).toHaveLength(2);

packages/daemon/src/agent-adapters/echo.ts

@@ -1,9 +0,0 @@
-import type { AgentConfig, AgentFn, ThreadContext } from "@uncaged/nerve-core";
-
-/**
- * Echo adapter (`type: "echo"`) — returns the assembled prompt unchanged.
- * Used for tests and dry-run wiring before real adapters exist.
- */
-export function createEchoAgent(_config: AgentConfig): AgentFn {
-  return async (_ctx: ThreadContext, prompt: string) => prompt;
-}