feat(workflow-utils): add dryRunDefaults option to llmExtract

Lets workflow authors provide semantically meaningful mock data for dryRun mode. Falls back to schemaDefaults() when not provided.

Fixes #130

小橘 🍊（NEKO Team）

Made-with: Cursor

README.md

@@ -7,28 +7,31 @@ Nerve is a lightweight daemon that continuously observes external state through
 ## Core Concepts
 
 ```
-External World → Sense → Signal → Reflex → Workflow → Log
-                  ↑                                     ↑
-              "what to observe"                  "what to do"
+External World → Sense ─┬→ Signal → Reflex → Sense (scheduled compute)
+                        │
+                        └→ Workflow (Sense return with workflow directive) → Log
 ```
 
 | Concept | Metaphor | Role |
 |---------|----------|------|
 | **Sense** | 👁️ Perception | A `compute()` function that samples or derives data. Each sense has its own SQLite database. |
-| **Reflex** | ⚡ Reaction | Declarative trigger — interval-based, event-driven, or both. Connects senses to actions. |
-| **Signal** | 📡 Notification | Emitted when a sense returns non-null. Other reflexes can listen for signals. |
-| **Workflow** | 🔧 Action | Stateful multi-step execution with Roles (actors) and a Moderator (coordinator). |
+| **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). |
 
-Three extension points, fully orthogonal — a Sense doesn't know when it runs, a Reflex doesn't know what it computes, a Workflow doesn't know why it was triggered.
+**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`.
+
+Three extension points for **what / when / multi-step action** — reflexes never replace Sense-driven workflow launches.
 
 ## Packages
 
 | Package | Description |
 |---------|-------------|
-| [`@uncaged/nerve-core`](./packages/core) | Shared types and config parser |
-| [`@uncaged/nerve-daemon`](./packages/daemon) | The observation engine — kernel, sense runtime, reflex scheduler, workflow manager |
-| [`@uncaged/nerve-cli`](./packages/cli) | CLI tool (`nerve`) — init, start, stop, logs, query |
+| [`@uncaged/nerve-core`](./packages/core) | Shared types, config parser, Sense→workflow routing, 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, reflex scheduler, workflow manager, file watcher, IPC |
+| [`@uncaged/nerve-cli`](./packages/cli) | CLI (`nerve`) — init, validate, daemon, dev, logs, sense, store, workflow |
 
 ## Quick Start
 
@@ -70,15 +73,17 @@ nerve logs         # view logs
 
 ## Configuration
 
-`nerve.yaml` declares senses, reflexes, and workflows:
+`nerve.yaml` declares senses, reflexes (sense-only), optional workflows (concurrency), and optional engine `max_rounds`:
 
 ```yaml
+max_rounds: 100              # default moderator cap (e.g. CLI workflow trigger)
+
 senses:
   cpu-usage:
     group: system          # senses in the same group share a worker process
     throttle: 10s          # min interval between computes
     timeout: 30s           # max compute duration
-    gracePeriod: 5s        # wait before first compute after startup
+    grace_period: 5s       # wait before first compute after startup
 
 reflexes:
   - kind: sense
@@ -86,10 +91,6 @@ reflexes:
     interval: 30s          # periodic trigger
     on: [disk-pressure]    # also trigger on signals from other senses
 
-  - kind: workflow
-    workflow: cleanup
-    on: [disk-pressure]    # start a workflow when signal fires
-
 workflows:
   cleanup:
     concurrency: 1
@@ -97,43 +98,66 @@ workflows:
   code-review:
     concurrency: 3
     overflow: queue
-    maxQueue: 20
+    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`.
+
+**Example — Sense starts a workflow** (`senses/disk-pressure/compute.ts`):
+
+```typescript
+export async function compute() {
+  const full = await diskNearlyFull();
+  if (!full) return null;
+  return {
+    path: "/data",
+    workflow: "cleanup|10|Disk partition nearly full", // name|maxRounds|prompt
+  };
+}
 ```
 
 ## Architecture
 
 ```
-┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
-│  Kernel                                                 │
-│                                                         │
-│  ┌──────────┐   ┌──────────┐   ┌──────────┐           │
-│  │ Worker   │   │ Worker   │   │ Worker   │  (1 per   │
-│  │ (group A)│   │ (group B)│   │ (group C)│   group)  │
-│  │ sense-1  │   │ sense-3  │   │ sense-5  │           │
-│  │ sense-2  │   │ sense-4  │   │          │           │
-│  └────┬─────┘   └────┬─────┘   └────┬─────┘           │
-│       │              │              │                   │
-│       └──────────────┼──────────────┘                   │
-│                      ▼                                  │
-│              ┌──────────────┐                           │
-│              │  Signal Bus  │                           │
-│              └──────┬───────┘                           │
-│                     ▼                                   │
-│           ┌──────────────────┐                          │
-│           │ Reflex Scheduler │                          │
-│           └────────┬─────────┘                          │
-│                    ▼                                    │
-│          ┌───────────────────┐                          │
-│          │ Workflow Manager  │──→ Log Store (SQLite)    │
-│          └───────────────────┘                          │
-└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
+┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
+│  Kernel                                                                 │
+│                                                                         │
+│  ┌──────────────┐   watches nerve.yaml / senses / workflows            │
+│  │ File Watcher ├──────────────────────────────────────────┐           │
+│  └──────────────┘                                          │           │
+│  ┌──────────────┐   CLI ↔ newline JSON (trigger-workflow, │           │
+│  │ Daemon IPC   │   trigger-sense, list-senses)            │           │
+│  └──────┬───────┘                                          ▼           │
+│         │            ┌──────────┐   ┌──────────┐   ┌──────────┐        │
+│         │            │ Worker   │   │ Worker   │   │ Worker   │ (1 per│
+│         │            │ (group A)│   │ (group B)│   │ (group C)│ group) │
+│         │            │ sense-1  │   │ sense-3  │   │ sense-5  │        │
+│         │            │ sense-2  │   │ sense-4  │   │          │        │
+│         │            └────┬─────┘   └────┬─────┘   └────┬─────┘        │
+│         │                 │              │              │            │
+│         │                 └──────────────┼──────────────┘            │
+│         │                                ▼                            │
+│         │                        ┌──────────────┐                     │
+│         │                        │  Signal Bus  │                     │
+│         │                        └──────┬───────┘                     │
+│         │                               ▼                             │
+│         │                     ┌──────────────────┐                      │
+│         │                     │ Reflex Scheduler│                      │
+│         │                     └────────┬─────────┘                     │
+│         │                              ▼                              │
+│         │                    ┌───────────────────┐                    │
+│         └───────────────────►│ Workflow Manager  │──→ @uncaged/nerve-store │
+│                              └───────────────────┘    (logs.db, …)   │
+└────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
 ```
 
-- **Worker processes** — one per sense group, forked by the kernel. Isolated compute execution.
+- **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.
-- **Workflow Manager** — concurrency control (drop/queue), thread lifecycle tracking.
-- **Log Store** — WAL-mode SQLite via `node:sqlite`, with archival and retention policies.
+- **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.
+- **Log / blob storage** — implemented in `@uncaged/nerve-store` (WAL SQLite, JSONL archive, CAS blobs).
 
 ## Tech Stack
 

packages/cli/README.md

@@ -21,41 +21,59 @@ nerve init                  # Initialize a nerve workspace (installs deps, scaff
 nerve validate              # Validate nerve.yaml configuration
 ```
 
-### Daemon Management
+### Daemon management
 
 ```bash
 nerve daemon start          # Start the daemon (background)
 nerve daemon stop           # Stop the daemon
-nerve daemon status         # Check daemon health
-nerve daemon restart        # Restart the daemon
-nerve daemon logs           # Tail daemon logs
+nerve daemon status         # Show pid, uptime, sense names from nerve.yaml (process must exist)
+nerve daemon restart        # Stop then start
+nerve daemon logs           # Tail daemon process logs (file under workspace logs/)
 ```
 
 ### Development
 
 ```bash
-nerve dev                   # Run in foreground mode (no daemon, Ctrl+C to stop)
+nerve dev                   # Foreground kernel with file watcher + IPC (Ctrl+C stops)
 ```
 
-### Querying
+### Querying & status
 
 ```bash
-nerve logs                  # View structured logs
-nerve sense query <name>    # Query a sense's SQLite database
-nerve sense schema <name>   # Show a sense's database schema
-nerve status                # Daemon health summary
+nerve logs                  # Tail or page the daemon text log file (path in footer; default ~/.uncaged-nerve/logs/nerve.log)
+nerve status                # Short daemon health summary (aliases daemon status)
+```
+
+Structured rows in `data/logs.db` are surfaced via **`nerve workflow inspect`** / **`nerve workflow list`** (and `LogStore` in code), not via `nerve logs`.
+
+### Sense
+
+```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
+```
+
+### Store maintenance
+
+```bash
+nerve store archive         # Move old log rows to JSONL under data/archive/logs/… (optional --vacuum)
 ```
 
 ### Workflows
 
 ```bash
-nerve workflow list         # List workflow runs
-nerve workflow show <runId> # Show workflow run details
+nerve workflow list         # Queued/started runs (add --all for terminal states; --workflow, --limit, --offset)
+nerve workflow inspect <runId>   # Run metadata + paginated workflow log lines
+nerve workflow thread <runId>    # Role rounds from persisted messages (--before, --budget)
+nerve workflow trigger <name>    # IPC trigger-workflow (daemon must be running)
+                                   # Optional JSON: --payload '{"prompt":"…","maxRounds":50}'
 ```
 
-### Top-level Aliases
+`nerve workflow trigger` sends a `trigger-workflow` line on the daemon Unix socket (same protocol as `@uncaged/nerve-core` / `parseDaemonIpcRequest`). It does not read `nerve.yaml` workflow definitions beyond what the running daemon already loaded.
 
-For convenience, these aliases are available:
+### Top-level aliases
 
 ```bash
 nerve start    → nerve daemon start

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

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

packages/cli/src/__tests__/workflow.test.ts

@@ -41,11 +41,11 @@ function upsertRun(
   runId: string,
   workflow: string,
   status: WorkflowRun["status"],
-  ts: number,
+  timestampMs: number,
 ): void {
   store.upsertWorkflowRun(
-    { source: "workflow", type: status, refId: runId, payload: null, ts },
-    { runId, workflow, status, ts },
+    { source: "workflow", type: status, refId: runId, payload: null, timestamp: timestampMs },
+    { runId, workflow, status, timestamp: timestampMs, exitCode: null },
   );
 }
 
@@ -65,8 +65,8 @@ afterEach(() => {
 
 describe("formatTs", () => {
   it("returns ISO 8601 string", () => {
-    const ts = new Date("2026-01-01T00:00:00.000Z").getTime();
-    expect(formatTs(ts)).toBe("2026-01-01T00:00:00.000Z");
+    const timestampMs = new Date("2026-01-01T00:00:00.000Z").getTime();
+    expect(formatTs(timestampMs)).toBe("2026-01-01T00:00:00.000Z");
   });
 });
 
@@ -83,6 +83,7 @@ describe("statusIcon", () => {
     ["crashed", "💥"],
     ["dropped", "🗑"],
     ["interrupted", "⚠️"],
+    ["killed", "🛑"],
   ] as const)("maps status=%s to icon=%s", (status, icon) => {
     expect(statusIcon(status)).toBe(icon);
   });
@@ -127,14 +128,14 @@ describe("getAllWorkflowRuns", () => {
     }
   });
 
-  it("sorts by ts descending (newest first)", () => {
+  it("sorts by timestamp descending (newest first)", () => {
     upsertRun("r1", "cleanup", "completed", 1000);
     upsertRun("r2", "cleanup", "started", 3000);
     upsertRun("r3", "cleanup", "failed", 2000);
 
     const runs = getAllWorkflowRuns(store, null);
-    expect(runs[0].ts).toBeGreaterThan(runs[1].ts);
-    expect(runs[1].ts).toBeGreaterThan(runs[2].ts);
+    expect(runs[0].timestamp).toBeGreaterThan(runs[1].timestamp);
+    expect(runs[1].timestamp).toBeGreaterThan(runs[2].timestamp);
   });
 });
 
@@ -147,9 +148,9 @@ describe("buildListOutput", () => {
     runId: string,
     workflow: string,
     status: WorkflowRun["status"],
-    ts: number,
+    timestampMs: number,
   ): WorkflowRun {
-    return { runId, workflow, status, ts };
+    return { runId, workflow, status, timestamp: timestampMs };
   }
 
   it("returns empty message when no runs and --all=false", () => {
@@ -235,7 +236,7 @@ describe("buildInspectOutput", () => {
     runId: "run-xyz",
     workflow: "cleanup",
     status: "completed",
-    ts: 1_700_000_000_000,
+    timestamp: 1_700_000_000_000,
   };
 
   it("shows header with run details", () => {
@@ -251,8 +252,8 @@ describe("buildInspectOutput", () => {
     expect(eventLines.join("")).toContain("no events recorded");
   });
 
-  it("shows event lines with type and ts", () => {
-    const logs = [{ ts: 1_700_000_001_000, type: "started", payload: null }];
+  it("shows event lines with type and timestamp", () => {
+    const logs = [{ timestamp: 1_700_000_001_000, type: "started", payload: null }];
     const { eventLines } = buildInspectOutput(baseRun, logs, 0, 20);
     const text = eventLines.join("");
     expect(text).toContain("type=started");
@@ -260,7 +261,7 @@ describe("buildInspectOutput", () => {
 
   it("truncates long payloads to 200 chars with ellipsis", () => {
     const longPayload = "x".repeat(250);
-    const logs = [{ ts: 1000, type: "step_complete", payload: longPayload }];
+    const logs = [{ timestamp: 1000, type: "step_complete", payload: longPayload }];
     const { eventLines } = buildInspectOutput(baseRun, logs, 0, 20);
     const text = eventLines.join("");
     expect(text).toContain("…");
@@ -268,14 +269,14 @@ describe("buildInspectOutput", () => {
   });
 
   it("shows short payloads in full", () => {
-    const logs = [{ ts: 1000, type: "step_complete", payload: '{"count":5}' }];
+    const logs = [{ timestamp: 1000, type: "step_complete", payload: '{"count":5}' }];
     const { eventLines } = buildInspectOutput(baseRun, logs, 0, 20);
     expect(eventLines.join("")).toContain('{"count":5}');
   });
 
   it("paginates events with a hint", () => {
     const logs = Array.from({ length: 5 }, (_, i) => ({
-      ts: 1000 + i,
+      timestamp: 1000 + i,
       type: "step_complete",
       payload: null,
     }));
@@ -287,7 +288,7 @@ describe("buildInspectOutput", () => {
   });
 
   it("no pagination hint when all events fit on one page", () => {
-    const logs = [{ ts: 1000, type: "started", payload: null }];
+    const logs = [{ timestamp: 1000, type: "started", payload: null }];
     const { paginationHint } = buildInspectOutput(baseRun, logs, 0, 20);
     expect(paginationHint).toBeNull();
   });
@@ -358,7 +359,7 @@ describe("formatThreadRoundBlock", () => {
   const row: ThreadRoundRow = {
     round: 2,
     logId: 99,
-    ts: new Date("2026-01-02T03:04:05.006Z").getTime(),
+    timestamp: new Date("2026-01-02T03:04:05.006Z").getTime(),
     message: { role: "bot", content: "hi", meta: { score: 0.5 }, timestamp: 1735783445006 },
   };
 
@@ -376,7 +377,7 @@ describe("buildThreadCommandOutput", () => {
     return {
       round: n,
       logId: 10 + n,
-      ts: 1000 + n,
+      timestamp: 1000 + n,
       message: { role: "r", content, meta: { extra: n }, timestamp: 1000 + n },
     };
   }
@@ -462,15 +463,15 @@ describe("getAllWorkflowRuns — uses store.getAllWorkflowRuns SQL path", () =>
     expect(runs).toHaveLength(7);
   });
 
-  it("returns runs sorted by ts descending (newest first)", () => {
+  it("returns runs sorted by timestamp descending (newest first)", () => {
     upsertRun("r1", "deploy", "completed", 1000);
     upsertRun("r2", "deploy", "completed", 3000);
     upsertRun("r3", "deploy", "completed", 2000);
 
     const runs = getAllWorkflowRuns(store, null);
-    expect(runs[0].ts).toBe(3000);
-    expect(runs[1].ts).toBe(2000);
-    expect(runs[2].ts).toBe(1000);
+    expect(runs[0].timestamp).toBe(3000);
+    expect(runs[1].timestamp).toBe(2000);
+    expect(runs[2].timestamp).toBe(1000);
   });
 
   it("filters by workflow name", () => {

packages/cli/src/commands/init.ts

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

packages/cli/src/commands/sense.ts

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

packages/cli/src/commands/validate.ts

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

packages/cli/src/commands/workflow.ts

@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ import { defineCommand } from "citty";
 import { stringify } from "yaml";
 
 import type { LogStore, ThreadRoundRow, WorkflowRun } from "@uncaged/nerve-store";
-import { triggerWorkflowViaDaemon } from "../daemon-client.js";
+import { killWorkflowViaDaemon, triggerWorkflowViaDaemon } from "../daemon-client.js";
 import { loadDaemonModule } from "../workspace-daemon.js";
 import { getNerveRoot, getSocketPath, isRunning } from "../workspace.js";
 
@@ -28,8 +28,8 @@ export function getDbPath(): string {
   return join(getNerveRoot(), "data", "logs.db");
 }
 
-export function formatTs(ts: number): string {
-  return new Date(ts).toISOString();
+export function formatTs(timestampMs: number): string {
+  return new Date(timestampMs).toISOString();
 }
 
 async function openStore(): Promise<LogStore> {
@@ -59,6 +59,8 @@ export function statusIcon(status: WorkflowRun["status"]): string {
       return "🗑";
     case "interrupted":
       return "⚠️";
+    case "killed":
+      return "🛑";
     default: {
       const _exhaustive: never = status;
       return `?(${_exhaustive})`;
@@ -67,7 +69,7 @@ export function statusIcon(status: WorkflowRun["status"]): string {
 }
 
 /**
- * Retrieve all workflow runs from the store, sorted by ts descending (newest first).
+ * Retrieve all workflow runs from the store, sorted by timestamp descending (newest first).
  * Delegates to the store's efficient SQL query on the workflow_runs table.
  */
 export function getAllWorkflowRuns(store: LogStore, filterWorkflow: string | null): WorkflowRun[] {
@@ -79,7 +81,8 @@ export function getAllWorkflowRuns(store: LogStore, filterWorkflow: string | nul
  */
 export function formatRunLine(run: WorkflowRun): string {
   const icon = statusIcon(run.status);
-  return `  ${icon} ${run.runId}  workflow=${run.workflow}  status=${run.status}  ts=${formatTs(run.ts)}\n`;
+  const exitCodeStr = run.exitCode !== null ? `  exit_code=${run.exitCode}` : "";
+  return `  ${icon} ${run.runId}  workflow=${run.workflow}  status=${run.status}${exitCodeStr}  timestamp=${formatTs(run.timestamp)}\n`;
 }
 
 /**
@@ -139,7 +142,7 @@ export type InspectOutput = {
 
 export function buildInspectOutput(
   run: WorkflowRun,
-  allLogs: Array<{ ts: number; type: string; payload: string | null }>,
+  allLogs: Array<{ timestamp: number; type: string; payload: string | null }>,
   offset: number,
   limit: number,
 ): InspectOutput {
@@ -152,7 +155,7 @@ export function buildInspectOutput(
     `🔍 Workflow run: ${run.runId}\n`,
     `   workflow: ${run.workflow}\n`,
     `   status:   ${run.status}\n`,
-    `   ts:       ${formatTs(run.ts)}\n`,
+    `   timestamp: ${formatTs(run.timestamp)}\n`,
     `\n📜 Thread events (${shown} of ${total}):\n`,
   ];
 
@@ -167,7 +170,7 @@ export function buildInspectOutput(
           : entry.payload.length <= 200
             ? ` payload=${entry.payload}`
             : ` payload=${entry.payload.slice(0, 200)}…`;
-      eventLines.push(`  [${formatTs(entry.ts)}] type=${entry.type}${payloadStr}\n`);
+      eventLines.push(`  [${formatTs(entry.timestamp)}] type=${entry.type}${payloadStr}\n`);
     }
   }
 
@@ -219,7 +222,7 @@ export function formatThreadRoundBlock(row: ThreadRoundRow): string {
   const { roleStr, contentBody, meta } = partitionWorkflowMessage(row.message);
   const yamlBlock =
     Object.keys(meta).length === 0 ? "{}\n" : `${stringify(meta, { lineWidth: 100 })}\n`;
-  return `[#${row.round} ${roleStr}] ${formatTs(row.ts)}\n---\n${yamlBlock}---\n${contentBody}\n\n`;
+  return `[#${row.round} ${roleStr}] ${formatTs(row.timestamp)}\n---\n${yamlBlock}---\n${contentBody}\n\n`;
 }
 
 export type ThreadCommandOutput = {
@@ -237,7 +240,7 @@ function buildTruncatedSingleRound(
   const { roleStr, contentBody, meta } = partitionWorkflowMessage(row.message);
   const yamlBlock =
     Object.keys(meta).length === 0 ? "{}\n" : `${stringify(meta, { lineWidth: 100 })}\n`;
-  const header = `[#${row.round} ${roleStr}] ${formatTs(row.ts)}\n---\n${yamlBlock}---\n`;
+  const header = `[#${row.round} ${roleStr}] ${formatTs(row.timestamp)}\n---\n${yamlBlock}---\n`;
   const maxBody = Math.max(0, remaining - header.length - "[truncated]\n".length);
   const truncated =
     maxBody > 0 && contentBody.length > maxBody
@@ -515,7 +518,7 @@ const workflowTriggerCommand = defineCommand({
     payload: {
       type: "string",
       description:
-        'JSON with optional "prompt" (string) and "maxRounds" (number) for the workflow run (default: {})',
+        'JSON with optional "prompt" (string), "maxRounds" (number), and "dryRun" (boolean) for the workflow run (default: {})',
       default: "{}",
     },
   },
@@ -530,10 +533,12 @@ const workflowTriggerCommand = defineCommand({
 
     let prompt = "";
     let maxRounds = DEFAULT_ENGINE_MAX_ROUNDS;
+    let dryRun = false;
     if (isPlainRecord(triggerPayload)) {
       const p = triggerPayload;
       if (typeof p.prompt === "string") prompt = p.prompt;
       if (typeof p.maxRounds === "number") maxRounds = p.maxRounds;
+      if (typeof p.dryRun === "boolean") dryRun = p.dryRun;
     }
 
     if (!isRunning()) {
@@ -544,7 +549,7 @@ const workflowTriggerCommand = defineCommand({
     const socketPath = getSocketPath();
     let response: DaemonIpcTriggerResponse;
     try {
-      response = await triggerWorkflowViaDaemon(socketPath, args.name, prompt, maxRounds);
+      response = await triggerWorkflowViaDaemon(socketPath, args.name, prompt, maxRounds, dryRun);
     } catch (e) {
       const msg = e instanceof Error ? e.message : String(e);
       process.stderr.write(`❌ Failed to contact daemon: ${msg}\n`);
@@ -561,6 +566,46 @@ const workflowTriggerCommand = defineCommand({
   },
 });
 
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// nerve workflow kill <runId>
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+const workflowKillCommand = defineCommand({
+  meta: {
+    name: "kill",
+    description: "Kill a running or queued workflow thread by runId",
+  },
+  args: {
+    runId: {
+      type: "positional",
+      description: "The run ID to kill",
+    },
+  },
+  async run({ args }) {
+    if (!isRunning()) {
+      process.stderr.write("❌ Nerve daemon is not running. Start it with `nerve start`.\n");
+      process.exit(1);
+    }
+
+    const socketPath = getSocketPath();
+    let response: DaemonIpcTriggerResponse;
+    try {
+      response = await killWorkflowViaDaemon(socketPath, args.runId);
+    } catch (e) {
+      const msg = e instanceof Error ? e.message : String(e);
+      process.stderr.write(`❌ Failed to contact daemon: ${msg}\n`);
+      process.exit(1);
+    }
+
+    if (!response.ok) {
+      process.stderr.write(`❌ Kill failed: ${response.error}\n`);
+      process.exit(1);
+    }
+
+    process.stdout.write(`✅ Kill signal sent for run "${args.runId}".\n`);
+  },
+});
+
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // nerve workflow (parent command)
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -575,5 +620,6 @@ export const workflowCommand = defineCommand({
     inspect: workflowInspectCommand,
     thread: workflowThreadCommand,
     trigger: workflowTriggerCommand,
+    kill: workflowKillCommand,
   },
 });

packages/cli/src/daemon-client.ts

@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ function isSenseInfo(value: unknown): value is SenseInfo {
     typeof value.group === "string" &&
     (value.throttle === null || typeof value.throttle === "number") &&
     (value.timeout === null || typeof value.timeout === "number") &&
-    (value.lastSignalTs === null || typeof value.lastSignalTs === "number")
+    (value.lastSignalTimestamp === null || typeof value.lastSignalTimestamp === "number")
   );
 }
 
@@ -135,12 +135,14 @@ export function triggerWorkflowViaDaemon(
   workflow: string,
   prompt: string,
   maxRounds: number,
+  dryRun = false,
 ): Promise<DaemonIpcTriggerResponse> {
   const message: DaemonIpcRequest = {
     type: "trigger-workflow",
     workflow,
     prompt,
     maxRounds,
+    dryRun,
   };
   return sendAndReceive(socketPath, message, parseDaemonResponse);
 }
@@ -165,3 +167,15 @@ export function listSensesViaDaemon(socketPath: string): Promise<DaemonIpcListSe
   const message: DaemonIpcRequest = { type: "list-senses" };
   return sendAndReceive(socketPath, message, parseListSensesResponse);
 }
+
+/**
+ * Send a kill-workflow message to the running daemon via its Unix socket.
+ * Resolves with the daemon's response or rejects on connection/timeout errors.
+ */
+export function killWorkflowViaDaemon(
+  socketPath: string,
+  runId: string,
+): Promise<DaemonIpcTriggerResponse> {
+  const message: DaemonIpcRequest = { type: "kill-workflow", runId };
+  return sendAndReceive(socketPath, message, parseDaemonResponse);
+}

packages/core/README.md

@@ -4,9 +4,12 @@ Shared types and configuration parser for the [nerve](../../README.md) observati
 
 ## What's Inside
 
-- **Type definitions** — `Signal`, `SenseConfig`, `ReflexConfig`, `WorkflowConfig`, `NerveConfig`, and all related types
-- **Config parser** — `parseNerveConfig(yaml)` validates and parses `nerve.yaml` into a typed `NerveConfig`
-- **Result type** — `Result<T>` with `ok()` / `err()` helpers for explicit error handling (no thrown exceptions)
+- **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`
+- **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`
+- **Result type** — `Result<T>` with `ok()` / `err()` helpers for explicit error handling (no thrown exceptions for parse paths)
 
 ## Usage
 
@@ -20,6 +23,29 @@ if (result.ok) {
 }
 ```
 
+### Sense return → signal vs workflow
+
+```typescript
+import { parseSenseWorkflowDirective, routeSenseComputeOutput } 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",
+});
+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);
+}
+```
+
 ## Duration Format
 
 Config fields like `throttle`, `timeout`, and `interval` accept human-readable durations:

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

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
 
-import { parseNerveConfig } from "../config.js";
+import { parseNerveConfig } from "../parse-nerve-config.js";
 
 const VALID_CONFIG = `
 senses:
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ describe("parseNerveConfig", () => {
         kind: "sense",
         sense: "cpu",
         interval: 30_000,
-        on: null,
+        on: [],
       });
       expect(result.value.reflexes[1]).toEqual({
         kind: "sense",
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ describe("parseNerveConfig", () => {
         interval: null,
         on: ["high_usage"],
       });
-      expect(result.value.workflows?.alert).toEqual({
+      expect(result.value.workflows.alert).toEqual({
         concurrency: 2,
         overflow: "queue",
         maxQueue: 10,
@@ -85,11 +85,12 @@ senses:
     group: system
 reflexes:
   - sense: cpu
+    interval: 1s
 `;
       const result = parseNerveConfig(yaml);
       expect(result.ok).toBe(true);
       if (!result.ok) return;
-      expect(result.value.workflows).toBeNull();
+      expect(result.value.workflows).toEqual({});
     });
 
     it("sense config has null for omitted throttle/timeout/gracePeriod", () => {
@@ -142,11 +143,11 @@ workflows:
       const result = parseNerveConfig(yaml);
       expect(result.ok).toBe(true);
       if (!result.ok) return;
-      expect(result.value.workflows?.alert).toEqual({
+      expect(result.value.workflows.alert).toEqual({
         concurrency: 1,
         overflow: "drop",
       });
-      expect("maxQueue" in (result.value.workflows?.alert ?? {})).toBe(false);
+      expect("maxQueue" in result.value.workflows.alert).toBe(false);
     });
 
     it("overflow: queue defaults maxQueue to 100", () => {
@@ -163,7 +164,7 @@ workflows:
       const result = parseNerveConfig(yaml);
       expect(result.ok).toBe(true);
       if (!result.ok) return;
-      expect(result.value.workflows?.alert).toEqual({
+      expect(result.value.workflows.alert).toEqual({
         concurrency: 1,
         overflow: "queue",
         maxQueue: 100,

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

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

packages/core/src/config.ts

@@ -1,304 +1,37 @@
-import { parse } from "yaml";
-
-import { isPlainRecord } from "./is-plain-record.js";
-import type { Result } from "./result.js";
-import { err, ok } from "./result.js";
-import type { NerveConfig, ReflexConfig, SenseConfig, WorkflowConfig } from "./types.js";
-import { DEFAULT_ENGINE_MAX_ROUNDS } from "./types.js";
-
-const DURATION_RE = /^(\d+)([smh])$/;
-
-const DURATION_MULTIPLIERS: Record<string, number> = {
-  s: 1_000,
-  m: 60_000,
-  h: 3_600_000,
+export type SenseConfig = {
+  group: string;
+  throttle: number | null;
+  timeout: number | null;
+  gracePeriod: number | null;
 };
 
-function parseDurationToMs(value: string): number | null {
-  const match = DURATION_RE.exec(value);
-  if (!match) return null;
-  return Number(match[1]) * DURATION_MULTIPLIERS[match[2]];
-}
+export type SenseReflexConfig = {
+  kind: "sense";
+  sense: string;
+  interval: number | null;
+  on: string[];
+};
 
-function isValidGroupName(value: string): boolean {
-  return /^[a-zA-Z0-9_-]+$/.test(value);
-}
+/** Reflexes only schedule Senses; workflow launches come from Sense return values. */
+export type ReflexConfig = SenseReflexConfig;
 
-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 ms = parseDurationToMs(field);
-  if (ms === null) {
-    return err(
-      new Error(`${label}: invalid duration "${field}" (expected e.g. "5s", "10m", "1h")`),
-    );
-  }
-  return ok(ms);
-}
+export type DropOverflowConfig = {
+  concurrency: number;
+  overflow: "drop";
+};
 
-function validateSenseConfig(name: string, raw: unknown): Result<SenseConfig> {
-  if (!isPlainRecord(raw)) {
-    return err(new Error(`senses.${name}: must be an object`));
-  }
+export type QueueOverflowConfig = {
+  concurrency: number;
+  overflow: "queue";
+  maxQueue: number;
+};
 
-  const obj = raw;
+export type WorkflowConfig = DropOverflowConfig | QueueOverflowConfig;
 
-  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;
-
-  return ok({
-    group: obj.group,
-    throttle: throttleResult.value,
-    timeout: timeoutResult.value,
-    gracePeriod: graceResult.value,
-  });
-}
-
-function parseOnField(index: number, obj: Record<string, unknown>): Result<string[] | null> {
-  if (obj.on === undefined || obj.on === null) return ok(null);
-  if (!Array.isArray(obj.on) || !obj.on.every((item): item is string => typeof item === "string")) {
-    return err(new Error(`reflexes[${index}].on: must be an array of strings`));
-  }
-  return ok(obj.on);
-}
-
-function parseSenseReflex(
-  index: number,
-  obj: Record<string, unknown>,
-  senseNames: Set<string>,
-  on: string[] | null,
-): Result<ReflexConfig> {
-  if (typeof obj.sense !== "string") {
-    return err(new Error(`reflexes[${index}].sense: must be a string`));
-  }
-  if (!senseNames.has(obj.sense)) {
-    return err(new Error(`reflexes[${index}].sense: "${obj.sense}" not found in senses`));
-  }
-
-  const intervalResult = parseDurationField(obj.interval, `reflexes[${index}].interval`);
-  if (!intervalResult.ok) return intervalResult;
-
-  if (intervalResult.value === null && on !== null && on.length === 0) {
-    return err(
-      new Error(`reflexes[${index}]: sense reflex must have at least one of "interval" or "on"`),
-    );
-  }
-
-  return ok({
-    kind: "sense" as const,
-    sense: obj.sense,
-    interval: intervalResult.value,
-    on,
-  });
-}
-
-function validateReflexConfig(
-  index: number,
-  raw: unknown,
-  senseNames: Set<string>,
-): Result<ReflexConfig> {
-  if (!isPlainRecord(raw)) {
-    return err(new Error(`reflexes[${index}]: must be an object`));
-  }
-
-  const obj = raw;
-  const hasSense = obj.sense !== undefined;
-  const hasWorkflowKey = Object.hasOwn(obj, "workflow");
-
-  if (hasWorkflowKey) {
-    return err(
-      new Error(
-        `reflexes[${index}]: YAML "workflow" entries are not supported — start workflows from a Sense compute return value using a "workflow" string field (format: name|maxRounds|prompt)`,
-      ),
-    );
-  }
-  if (!hasSense) {
-    return err(new Error(`reflexes[${index}]: must include "sense"`));
-  }
-
-  const onResult = parseOnField(index, obj);
-  if (!onResult.ok) return onResult;
-
-  return parseSenseReflex(index, obj, senseNames, onResult.value);
-}
-
-function parseEngineMaxRounds(obj: Record<string, unknown>): Result<number> {
-  if (obj.max_rounds === undefined || obj.max_rounds === null) {
-    return ok(DEFAULT_ENGINE_MAX_ROUNDS);
-  }
-  if (
-    typeof obj.max_rounds !== "number" ||
-    !Number.isInteger(obj.max_rounds) ||
-    obj.max_rounds < 1
-  ) {
-    return err(new Error("max_rounds: must be a positive integer"));
-  }
-  return ok(obj.max_rounds);
-}
-
-function validateWorkflowConfig(name: string, raw: unknown): Result<WorkflowConfig> {
-  if (!isPlainRecord(raw)) {
-    return err(new Error(`workflows.${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>; senseNames: Set<string> }> {
-  if (!isPlainRecord(obj.senses)) {
-    return err(new Error("senses: required object"));
-  }
-
-  const sensesRaw = obj.senses;
-  const senses: Record<string, SenseConfig> = {};
-  const senseNames = new Set(Object.keys(sensesRaw));
-
-  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, senseNames });
-}
-
-function parseReflexes(
-  obj: Record<string, unknown>,
-  senseNames: Set<string>,
-): Result<ReflexConfig[]> {
-  if (!Array.isArray(obj.reflexes)) {
-    return err(new Error("reflexes: required array"));
-  }
-
-  const reflexes: ReflexConfig[] = [];
-  for (let i = 0; i < obj.reflexes.length; i++) {
-    const result = validateReflexConfig(i, obj.reflexes[i], senseNames);
-    if (!result.ok) return result;
-    reflexes.push(result.value);
-  }
-
-  return ok(reflexes);
-}
-
-function parseWorkflows(
-  obj: Record<string, unknown>,
-): Result<Record<string, WorkflowConfig> | null> {
-  if (obj.workflows === undefined || obj.workflows === null) return ok(null);
-
-  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);
-}
-
-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, senseNames } = sensesResult.value;
-
-  const reflexesResult = parseReflexes(obj, senseNames);
-  if (!reflexesResult.ok) return reflexesResult;
-
-  const workflowsResult = parseWorkflows(obj);
-  if (!workflowsResult.ok) return workflowsResult;
-
-  const maxRoundsResult = parseEngineMaxRounds(obj);
-  if (!maxRoundsResult.ok) return maxRoundsResult;
-
-  return ok({
-    maxRounds: maxRoundsResult.value,
-    senses,
-    reflexes: reflexesResult.value,
-    workflows: workflowsResult.value,
-  });
-}
+export type NerveConfig = {
+  /** Engine-wide default max moderator rounds (e.g. CLI workflow trigger when omitted). */
+  maxRounds: number;
+  senses: Record<string, SenseConfig>;
+  reflexes: ReflexConfig[];
+  workflows: Record<string, WorkflowConfig>;
+};

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

@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
  */
 
 import { isPlainRecord } from "./is-plain-record.js";
-import type { SenseInfo } from "./types.js";
+import type { SenseInfo } from "./sense.js";
 
 /** Client → daemon: start a workflow run. */
 export type DaemonIpcTriggerWorkflowRequest = {
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ export type DaemonIpcTriggerWorkflowRequest = {
   workflow: string;
   prompt: string;
   maxRounds: number;
+  dryRun: boolean;
 };
 
 /** Client → daemon: run a sense compute on demand. */
@@ -26,11 +27,18 @@ export type DaemonIpcListSensesRequest = {
   type: "list-senses";
 };
 
+/** Client → daemon: kill a running or queued workflow thread by runId. */
+export type DaemonIpcKillWorkflowRequest = {
+  type: "kill-workflow";
+  runId: string;
+};
+
 /** Union of all JSON requests the daemon IPC server accepts. */
 export type DaemonIpcRequest =
   | DaemonIpcTriggerWorkflowRequest
   | DaemonIpcTriggerSenseRequest
-  | DaemonIpcListSensesRequest;
+  | DaemonIpcListSensesRequest
+  | DaemonIpcKillWorkflowRequest;
 
 /** Successful trigger / trigger-sense reply (no body). */
 export type DaemonIpcTriggerOkResponse = { ok: true };
@@ -51,6 +59,22 @@ export type DaemonIpcResponse =
   | DaemonIpcErrorResponse
   | { ok: true; senses: SenseInfo[] };
 
+function parseTriggerWorkflowFields(
+  req: Record<string, unknown>,
+): DaemonIpcTriggerWorkflowRequest | null {
+  if (typeof req.workflow !== "string" || req.workflow.length === 0) return null;
+  if (typeof req.prompt !== "string") return null;
+  if (typeof req.maxRounds !== "number") return null;
+  const dryRun = typeof req.dryRun === "boolean" ? req.dryRun : false;
+  return {
+    type: "trigger-workflow",
+    workflow: req.workflow,
+    prompt: req.prompt,
+    maxRounds: req.maxRounds,
+    dryRun,
+  };
+}
+
 /**
  * Parse a single line of JSON into a {@link DaemonIpcRequest}, or null if invalid.
  * Kept in core with the request types so CLI and daemon stay aligned at compile time.
@@ -61,15 +85,7 @@ export function parseDaemonIpcRequest(line: string): DaemonIpcRequest | null {
     if (!isPlainRecord(obj)) return null;
     const req = obj;
     if (req.type === "trigger-workflow") {
-      if (typeof req.workflow !== "string" || req.workflow.length === 0) return null;
-      if (typeof req.prompt !== "string") return null;
-      if (typeof req.maxRounds !== "number") return null;
-      return {
-        type: "trigger-workflow",
-        workflow: req.workflow,
-        prompt: req.prompt,
-        maxRounds: req.maxRounds,
-      };
+      return parseTriggerWorkflowFields(req);
     }
     if (req.type === "trigger-sense") {
       if (typeof req.sense !== "string" || req.sense.length === 0) return null;
@@ -78,6 +94,10 @@ export function parseDaemonIpcRequest(line: string): DaemonIpcRequest | null {
     if (req.type === "list-senses") {
       return { type: "list-senses" };
     }
+    if (req.type === "kill-workflow") {
+      if (typeof req.runId !== "string" || req.runId.length === 0) return null;
+      return { type: "kill-workflow", runId: req.runId };
+    }
     return null;
   } catch {
     return null;

packages/core/src/index.ts

@@ -1,27 +1,28 @@
 export type {
-  Signal,
   SenseConfig,
-  SenseInfo,
   SenseReflexConfig,
   ReflexConfig,
   DropOverflowConfig,
   QueueOverflowConfig,
   WorkflowConfig,
   NerveConfig,
+} from "./config.js";
+export type { Signal, SenseInfo, SenseResult } from "./sense.js";
+export type {
   WorkflowMessage,
   RoleResult,
   Role,
   RoleMeta,
-  StartSignal,
-  RoleSignal,
+  StartStep,
+  RoleStep,
+  ModeratorContext,
   Moderator,
   WorkflowDefinition,
-  SenseResult,
-} from "./types.js";
-export { START, END, DEFAULT_ENGINE_MAX_ROUNDS } from "./types.js";
+} from "./workflow.js";
+export { START, END, DEFAULT_ENGINE_MAX_ROUNDS } from "./workflow.js";
 export type { Result } from "./result.js";
 export { ok, err } from "./result.js";
-export { parseNerveConfig } from "./config.js";
+export { parseNerveConfig } from "./parse-nerve-config.js";
 export { isPlainRecord } from "./is-plain-record.js";
 
 export type {
@@ -37,6 +38,7 @@ export type {
   DaemonIpcTriggerWorkflowRequest,
   DaemonIpcTriggerSenseRequest,
   DaemonIpcListSensesRequest,
+  DaemonIpcKillWorkflowRequest,
   DaemonIpcRequest,
   DaemonIpcTriggerOkResponse,
   DaemonIpcErrorResponse,

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

@@ -0,0 +1,302 @@
+import { parse } from "yaml";
+
+import type { NerveConfig, ReflexConfig, SenseConfig, WorkflowConfig } from "./config.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";
+
+const DURATION_RE = /^(\d+)([smh])$/;
+
+const DURATION_MULTIPLIERS: Record<string, number> = {
+  s: 1_000,
+  m: 60_000,
+  h: 3_600_000,
+};
+
+function parseDurationToMs(value: string): number | null {
+  const match = DURATION_RE.exec(value);
+  if (!match) return null;
+  return Number(match[1]) * DURATION_MULTIPLIERS[match[2]];
+}
+
+function isValidGroupName(value: string): boolean {
+  return /^[a-zA-Z0-9_-]+$/.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 ms = parseDurationToMs(field);
+  if (ms === null) {
+    return err(
+      new Error(`${label}: invalid duration "${field}" (expected e.g. "5s", "10m", "1h")`),
+    );
+  }
+  return ok(ms);
+}
+
+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.${name}.grace_period`);
+  if (!graceResult.ok) return graceResult;
+
+  return ok({
+    group: obj.group,
+    throttle: throttleResult.value,
+    timeout: timeoutResult.value,
+    gracePeriod: graceResult.value,
+  });
+}
+
+function parseOnField(index: number, obj: Record<string, unknown>): Result<string[]> {
+  if (obj.on === undefined || obj.on === null) return ok([]);
+  if (!Array.isArray(obj.on) || !obj.on.every((item): item is string => typeof item === "string")) {
+    return err(new Error(`reflexes[${index}].on: must be an array of strings`));
+  }
+  return ok(obj.on);
+}
+
+function parseSenseReflex(
+  index: number,
+  obj: Record<string, unknown>,
+  senseNames: Set<string>,
+  on: string[],
+): Result<ReflexConfig> {
+  if (typeof obj.sense !== "string") {
+    return err(new Error(`reflexes[${index}].sense: must be a string`));
+  }
+  if (!senseNames.has(obj.sense)) {
+    return err(new Error(`reflexes[${index}].sense: "${obj.sense}" not found in senses`));
+  }
+
+  const intervalResult = parseDurationField(obj.interval, `reflexes[${index}].interval`);
+  if (!intervalResult.ok) return intervalResult;
+
+  if (intervalResult.value === null && on.length === 0) {
+    return err(
+      new Error(`reflexes[${index}]: sense reflex must have at least one of "interval" or "on"`),
+    );
+  }
+
+  return ok({
+    kind: "sense" as const,
+    sense: obj.sense,
+    interval: intervalResult.value,
+    on,
+  });
+}
+
+function validateReflexConfig(
+  index: number,
+  raw: unknown,
+  senseNames: Set<string>,
+): Result<ReflexConfig> {
+  if (!isPlainRecord(raw)) {
+    return err(new Error(`reflexes[${index}]: must be an object`));
+  }
+
+  const obj = raw;
+  const hasSense = obj.sense !== undefined;
+  const hasWorkflowKey = Object.hasOwn(obj, "workflow");
+
+  if (hasWorkflowKey) {
+    return err(
+      new Error(
+        `reflexes[${index}]: YAML "workflow" entries are not supported — start workflows from a Sense compute return value using a "workflow" string field (format: name|maxRounds|prompt)`,
+      ),
+    );
+  }
+  if (!hasSense) {
+    return err(new Error(`reflexes[${index}]: must include "sense"`));
+  }
+
+  const onResult = parseOnField(index, obj);
+  if (!onResult.ok) return onResult;
+
+  return parseSenseReflex(index, obj, senseNames, onResult.value);
+}
+
+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>; senseNames: Set<string> }> {
+  if (!isPlainRecord(obj.senses)) {
+    return err(new Error("senses: required object"));
+  }
+
+  const sensesRaw = obj.senses;
+  const senses: Record<string, SenseConfig> = {};
+  const senseNames = new Set(Object.keys(sensesRaw));
+
+  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, senseNames });
+}
+
+function parseReflexes(
+  obj: Record<string, unknown>,
+  senseNames: Set<string>,
+): Result<ReflexConfig[]> {
+  if (!Array.isArray(obj.reflexes)) {
+    return err(new Error("reflexes: required array"));
+  }
+
+  const reflexes: ReflexConfig[] = [];
+  for (let i = 0; i < obj.reflexes.length; i++) {
+    const result = validateReflexConfig(i, obj.reflexes[i], senseNames);
+    if (!result.ok) return result;
+    reflexes.push(result.value);
+  }
+
+  return ok(reflexes);
+}
+
+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);
+}
+
+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, senseNames } = sensesResult.value;
+
+  const reflexesResult = parseReflexes(obj, senseNames);
+  if (!reflexesResult.ok) return reflexesResult;
+
+  const workflowsResult = parseWorkflows(obj);
+  if (!workflowsResult.ok) return workflowsResult;
+
+  const maxRoundsResult = parseEngineMaxRounds(obj);
+  if (!maxRoundsResult.ok) return maxRoundsResult;
+
+  return ok({
+    maxRounds: maxRoundsResult.value,
+    senses,
+    reflexes: reflexesResult.value,
+    workflows: workflowsResult.value,
+  });
+}

packages/core/src/sense.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+export type Signal = {
+  id: number;
+  senseId: string;
+  payload: unknown;
+  timestamp: number;
+};
+
+/** Runtime metadata for a sense (e.g. daemon list-senses IPC). */
+export type SenseInfo = {
+  name: string;
+  group: string;
+  throttle: number | null;
+  timeout: number | null;
+  lastSignalTimestamp: number | null;
+};
+
+/** The result of a Sense compute — payload plus optional workflow directive. */
+export type SenseResult<T = unknown> = {
+  payload: T;
+  workflow: string | null;
+};

packages/core/src/types.ts

@@ -1,122 +0,0 @@
-export type Signal = {
-  id: number;
-  senseId: string;
-  payload: unknown;
-  ts: number;
-};
-
-export type SenseConfig = {
-  group: string;
-  throttle: number | null;
-  timeout: number | null;
-  gracePeriod: number | null;
-};
-
-/** Runtime metadata for a sense (e.g. daemon list-senses IPC). */
-export type SenseInfo = {
-  name: string;
-  group: string;
-  throttle: number | null;
-  timeout: number | null;
-  lastSignalTs: number | null;
-};
-
-export type SenseReflexConfig = {
-  kind: "sense";
-  sense: string;
-  interval: number | null;
-  on: string[] | null;
-};
-
-/** Reflexes only schedule Senses; workflow launches come from Sense return values. */
-export type ReflexConfig = SenseReflexConfig;
-
-export type DropOverflowConfig = {
-  concurrency: number;
-  overflow: "drop";
-};
-
-export type QueueOverflowConfig = {
-  concurrency: number;
-  overflow: "queue";
-  maxQueue: number;
-};
-
-export type WorkflowConfig = DropOverflowConfig | QueueOverflowConfig;
-
-export type NerveConfig = {
-  /** Engine-wide default max moderator rounds (e.g. CLI workflow trigger when omitted). */
-  maxRounds: number;
-  senses: Record<string, SenseConfig>;
-  reflexes: ReflexConfig[];
-  workflows: Record<string, WorkflowConfig> | null;
-};
-
-// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// Workflow Automaton types (issue #80)
-// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-export const START = "__start__" as const;
-export const END = "__end__" as const;
-export type START = typeof START;
-export type END = typeof END;
-
-/** Engine-wide fallback for max moderator rounds when not specified in config. */
-export const DEFAULT_ENGINE_MAX_ROUNDS = 100;
-
-/** A single message in the workflow conversation chain (runtime, type-erased). */
-export type WorkflowMessage = {
-  role: string;
-  content: string;
-  meta: unknown;
-  timestamp: number;
-};
-
-/** The typed output of a Role execution. */
-export type RoleResult<Meta> = { content: string; meta: Meta };
-
-/**
- * A Role is a pure async function: receives the full message chain,
- * returns typed content + meta. Implementation can be an agent, LLM call,
- * script, HTTP request, etc.
- */
-export type Role<Meta> = (messages: WorkflowMessage[]) => Promise<RoleResult<Meta>>;
-
-/** Maps role names to their meta types — the single generic that drives all inference. */
-export type RoleMeta = Record<string, Record<string, unknown>>;
-
-/** First message in the thread chain (`messages[0]`) — passed to the moderator on start. */
-export type StartSignal = {
-  role: START;
-  content: string;
-  meta: { maxRounds: number };
-  timestamp: number;
-};
-
-/** A discriminated union of signals from each role, derived from the meta map. */
-export type RoleSignal<M extends RoleMeta> = {
-  [K in keyof M & string]: { role: K; meta: M[K] };
-}[keyof M & string];
-
-/**
- * The moderator — a pure routing function. Receives the last signal,
- * current round, and maxRounds. Returns the next role name or END.
- */
-export type Moderator<M extends RoleMeta> = (
-  signal: StartSignal | RoleSignal<M>,
-  round: number,
-  maxRounds: number,
-) => (keyof M & string) | END;
-
-/** The complete definition of a workflow, as authored by users. */
-export type WorkflowDefinition<M extends RoleMeta> = {
-  name: string;
-  roles: { [K in keyof M & string]: Role<M[K]> };
-  moderator: Moderator<M>;
-};
-
-/** The result of a Sense compute — payload plus optional workflow directive. */
-export type SenseResult = {
-  payload: unknown;
-  workflow: string | null;
-};

packages/core/src/workflow.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,75 @@
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Workflow Automaton types (issue #80)
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+export const START = "__start__" as const;
+export const END = "__end__" as const;
+export type START = typeof START;
+export type END = typeof END;
+
+/** Engine-wide fallback for max moderator rounds when not specified in config. */
+export const DEFAULT_ENGINE_MAX_ROUNDS = 100;
+
+/** A single message in the workflow conversation chain (runtime, type-erased). */
+export type WorkflowMessage = {
+  role: string;
+  content: string;
+  meta: unknown;
+  timestamp: number;
+};
+
+/** The typed output of a Role execution. */
+export type RoleResult<Meta> = { content: string; meta: Meta };
+
+/**
+ * A Role is a pure async function: receives the engine start frame plus prior
+ * role messages only (the start frame is not included in `messages`).
+ * Returns typed content + meta. Implementation can be an agent, LLM call,
+ * script, HTTP request, etc.
+ */
+export type Role<Meta> = (
+  start: StartStep,
+  messages: WorkflowMessage[],
+) => Promise<RoleResult<Meta>>;
+
+/** Maps role names to their meta types — the single generic that drives all inference. */
+export type RoleMeta = Record<string, Record<string, unknown>>;
+
+/** Engine start frame: prompt, max rounds cap, dry-run flag, and timestamps for the thread. */
+export type StartStep = {
+  role: START;
+  content: string;
+  meta: { maxRounds: number; dryRun: boolean };
+  timestamp: number;
+};
+
+/** A discriminated union of role steps after each execution, aligned with `StartStep` shape. */
+export type RoleStep<M extends RoleMeta> = {
+  [K in keyof M & string]: { role: K; meta: M[K]; content: string; timestamp: number };
+}[keyof M & string];
+
+/**
+ * Moderator input: the complete workflow history.
+ * Contains the start frame and all role steps so far.
+ * On initial call, `steps` is empty — moderator can check `steps.length === 0`.
+ * Round count is `steps.length`; maxRounds is in `start.meta.maxRounds`.
+ */
+export type ModeratorContext<M extends RoleMeta> = {
+  start: StartStep;
+  steps: RoleStep<M>[];
+};
+
+/**
+ * The moderator — a pure routing function. Receives the full workflow context
+ * (start frame + all prior steps). Returns the next role name or END.
+ */
+export type Moderator<M extends RoleMeta> = (
+  context: ModeratorContext<M>,
+) => (keyof M & string) | END;
+
+/** The complete definition of a workflow, as authored by users. */
+export type WorkflowDefinition<M extends RoleMeta> = {
+  name: string;
+  roles: { [K in keyof M & string]: Role<M[K]> };
+  moderator: Moderator<M>;
+};

packages/daemon/README.md

@@ -4,18 +4,33 @@ The observation engine runtime for [nerve](../../README.md) — runs senses, rou
 
 ## Architecture
 
-| Module | Responsibility |
-|--------|---------------|
-| **Kernel** | Top-level orchestrator — spawns workers, wires up signal bus, scheduler, and workflow manager. Supports hot reload and graceful shutdown. |
-| **Sense Runtime** | Per-sense SQLite database (via `node:sqlite` + Drizzle ORM), migration runner, peer DB read access. |
-| **Sense Worker** | Forked child process — one per sense group. Runs compute functions in isolation. |
-| **Signal Bus** | In-memory pub/sub. Sense computes emit signals; reflexes and workflows subscribe. |
-| **Reflex Scheduler** | Drives compute triggers — interval timers, signal-based events, throttle/coalesce logic. |
-| **Workflow Manager** | Concurrency control (drop/queue), thread lifecycle, worker process management (RFC-002). |
-| **Log Store** | Structured log storage in WAL-mode SQLite. Supports retention policies, archival to JSONL, and workflow run tracking. |
-| **Blob Store** | Binary artifact storage for workflow outputs. |
-| **File Watcher** | Watches `nerve.yaml` and sense files for hot reload. |
-| **Daemon IPC** | Unix socket server for CLI ↔ daemon communication. |
+| Module | Source (indicative) | Responsibility |
+|--------|---------------------|----------------|
+| **Kernel** | `kernel.ts` | Orchestrator — worker pool, signal bus, reflex 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 |
+| **Reflex scheduler** | `reflex-scheduler.ts` | Interval + `on` subscriptions, 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 |
+| **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 |
+
+## Crash recovery (workflow workers)
+
+If a workflow worker exits unexpectedly while threads are active:
+
+- In-flight runs are marked **`crashed`** in the log store; the manager respawns a fresh worker.
+- Runs still in **`started`** state can be **`resume-thread`**’d: the manager rebuilds the message chain from persisted workflow log rows and sends `resume-thread` to the new worker.
+- **Crash-loop backoff:** repeated crashes for the same workflow name are counted in a sliding window (`60s`); after **`5`** crashes in that window, the manager **stops respawning** that worker and logs the condition (avoids tight crash loops).
+
+Hot reload (`drainAndRespawn`) uses a controlled drain: in-flight runs may be marked **`interrupted`** when the old worker is torn down after a timeout — that path is distinct from unexpected crash recovery.
 
 ## Key Design Decisions
 
@@ -26,24 +41,44 @@ The observation engine runtime for [nerve](../../README.md) — runs senses, rou
 
 ## Usage
 
-The daemon is typically started via the CLI (`nerve daemon start`), but can be used programmatically:
+The daemon is typically started via the CLI (`nerve daemon start` / `nerve dev`), but you can embed the kernel:
 
 ```typescript
+import { readFileSync } from "node:fs";
+import { join } from "node:path";
+
+import { parseNerveConfig } from "@uncaged/nerve-core";
 import { createKernel } from "@uncaged/nerve-daemon";
 
-const kernel = await createKernel(nerveRoot);
+const nerveRoot = "/path/to/workspace";
+const yamlPath = join(nerveRoot, "nerve.yaml");
+const parsed = parseNerveConfig(readFileSync(yamlPath, "utf8"));
+if (!parsed.ok) {
+  throw parsed.error;
+}
+
+const kernel = createKernel(parsed.value, nerveRoot, {
+  enableFileWatcher: true,
+  ipcSocketPath: join(nerveRoot, "nerve.sock"),
+});
+
 await kernel.ready;
 
-// Trigger a sense manually
 kernel.triggerSense("cpu-usage");
-
-// Check health
 const health = kernel.getHealth();
 
-// Graceful shutdown
 await kernel.stop();
 ```
 
+`createKernel(config, nerveRoot, options?)` — `config` is a parsed `NerveConfig`; `nerveRoot` is the workspace root (contains `nerve.yaml`, `data/`, etc.). Optional `KernelOptions`:
+
+| Field | Meaning |
+|-------|---------|
+| `workerScript` | Override path to the sense worker entry script (defaults to the package’s resolved worker) |
+| `enableFileWatcher` | Watch config / senses / workflows for hot reload |
+| `logStore` | Inject a `LogStore` instance (defaults to `createLogStore(join(nerveRoot, "data", "logs.db"))`) |
+| `ipcSocketPath` | When non-null, listen for daemon IPC on this Unix socket path |
+
 ## Install
 
 ```bash

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

@@ -73,9 +73,10 @@ function makeLogStore(
     runId: string;
     workflow: string;
     status: "queued" | "started";
-    ts: number;
+    timestamp: number;
   }> = [],
 ) {
+  const runsWithExitCode = activeRuns.map((r) => ({ ...r, exitCode: null }));
   const store = {
     append: vi.fn(),
     query: vi.fn(() => []),
@@ -86,9 +87,9 @@ function makeLogStore(
     getWorkflowRun: vi.fn(() => null),
     getActiveWorkflowRuns: vi.fn((_workflowName?: string) => {
       if (_workflowName !== undefined) {
-        return activeRuns.filter((r) => r.workflow === _workflowName);
+        return runsWithExitCode.filter((r) => r.workflow === _workflowName);
       }
-      return activeRuns;
+      return runsWithExitCode;
     }),
     getTriggerPayload: vi.fn((): unknown => ({ value: 42 })),
     getThreadEvents: vi.fn(
@@ -127,8 +128,8 @@ describe("WorkflowManager — crash recovery (Phase 3)", () => {
       });
       const mgr = createWorkflowManager("/nerve-root", config, logStore);
 
-      mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test 1", maxRounds: 10 });
-      mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test 2", maxRounds: 10 });
+      mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test 1", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
+      mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test 2", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
       expect(mgr.activeCount("my-wf")).toBe(2);
 
       // Simulate unexpected exit (not shutdown)
@@ -154,8 +155,8 @@ describe("WorkflowManager — crash recovery (Phase 3)", () => {
       });
       const mgr = createWorkflowManager("/nerve-root", config, logStore);
 
-      mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10 });
-      mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10 });
+      mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
+      mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
       expect(mgr.activeCount("my-wf")).toBe(2);
 
       const child = mockChildren[0];
@@ -179,7 +180,7 @@ describe("WorkflowManager — crash recovery (Phase 3)", () => {
       });
       const mgr = createWorkflowManager("/nerve-root", config, logStore);
 
-      mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10 });
+      mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
       expect(mockChildren).toHaveLength(1);
 
       const child = mockChildren[0];
@@ -199,7 +200,7 @@ describe("WorkflowManager — crash recovery (Phase 3)", () => {
 
     it("sends resume-thread for 'started' runs from DB after respawn", async () => {
       const activeRuns = [
-        { runId: "run-started-1", workflow: "my-wf", status: "started" as const, ts: 1000 },
+        { runId: "run-started-1", workflow: "my-wf", status: "started" as const, timestamp: 1000 },
       ];
       const logStore = makeLogStore(activeRuns);
       logStore.getThreadMessages.mockReturnValue([
@@ -212,7 +213,7 @@ describe("WorkflowManager — crash recovery (Phase 3)", () => {
       });
       const mgr = createWorkflowManager("/nerve-root", config, logStore);
 
-      mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10 });
+      mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
       const firstChild = mockChildren[0];
       firstChild.exitCode = 1;
       firstChild.connected = false;
@@ -245,7 +246,7 @@ describe("WorkflowManager — crash recovery (Phase 3)", () => {
 
     it("re-queues 'queued' runs from DB after respawn", async () => {
       const activeRuns = [
-        { runId: "run-queued-1", workflow: "my-wf", status: "queued" as const, ts: 900 },
+        { runId: "run-queued-1", workflow: "my-wf", status: "queued" as const, timestamp: 900 },
       ];
       const logStore = makeLogStore(activeRuns);
       logStore.getTriggerPayload.mockReturnValue({ queued: "payload" });
@@ -256,7 +257,7 @@ describe("WorkflowManager — crash recovery (Phase 3)", () => {
       const mgr = createWorkflowManager("/nerve-root", config, logStore);
 
       // Start one thread to fill the concurrency slot (so queued run stays queued on respawn)
-      mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10 });
+      mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
       const firstChild = mockChildren[0];
       firstChild.exitCode = 1;
       firstChild.connected = false;
@@ -281,7 +282,7 @@ describe("WorkflowManager — crash recovery (Phase 3)", () => {
       });
       const mgr = createWorkflowManager("/nerve-root", config, logStore);
 
-      mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10 });
+      mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
 
       const child = mockChildren[0];
       const startCall = (child.send as ReturnType<typeof vi.fn>).mock.calls[0];
@@ -317,7 +318,7 @@ describe("WorkflowManager — crash recovery (Phase 3)", () => {
       });
       const mgr = createWorkflowManager("/nerve-root", config, logStore);
 
-      const launch = { prompt: "build-docker for myrepo", maxRounds: 10 };
+      const launch = { prompt: "build-docker for myrepo", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false };
       mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", launch);
 
       const startedCall = logStore.upsertWorkflowRun.mock.calls.find(
@@ -327,7 +328,11 @@ describe("WorkflowManager — crash recovery (Phase 3)", () => {
       const logEntry = startedCall?.[0] as { payload: string | null };
       expect(logEntry.payload).not.toBeNull();
       const parsed = JSON.parse(logEntry.payload as string) as Record<string, unknown>;
-      expect(parsed).toMatchObject({ prompt: "build-docker for myrepo", maxRounds: 10 });
+      expect(parsed).toMatchObject({
+        prompt: "build-docker for myrepo",
+        maxRounds: 10,
+        dryRun: false,
+      });
 
       const stopPromise = mgr.stop();
       await vi.runAllTimersAsync();
@@ -338,7 +343,7 @@ describe("WorkflowManager — crash recovery (Phase 3)", () => {
   describe("runId deduplication in crash recovery", () => {
     it("does not push duplicate runIds into the queue during crash recovery", async () => {
       const activeRuns = [
-        { runId: "run-queued-dup", workflow: "my-wf", status: "queued" as const, ts: 900 },
+        { runId: "run-queued-dup", workflow: "my-wf", status: "queued" as const, timestamp: 900 },
       ];
       const logStore = makeLogStore(activeRuns);
       logStore.getTriggerPayload.mockReturnValue({ q: 1 });
@@ -349,7 +354,7 @@ describe("WorkflowManager — crash recovery (Phase 3)", () => {
       const mgr = createWorkflowManager("/nerve-root", config, logStore);
 
       // Start one thread to fill the concurrency slot
-      mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10 });
+      mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
       const firstChild = mockChildren[0];
 
       // Crash once → respawn → crash again → second respawn
@@ -374,7 +379,12 @@ describe("WorkflowManager — crash recovery (Phase 3)", () => {
 
     it("does not add duplicate active runIds during crash recovery", async () => {
       const activeRuns = [
-        { runId: "run-started-dup", workflow: "my-wf", status: "started" as const, ts: 1000 },
+        {
+          runId: "run-started-dup",
+          workflow: "my-wf",
+          status: "started" as const,
+          timestamp: 1000,
+        },
       ];
       const logStore = makeLogStore(activeRuns);
       logStore.getThreadMessages.mockReturnValue([]);
@@ -385,7 +395,7 @@ describe("WorkflowManager — crash recovery (Phase 3)", () => {
       });
       const mgr = createWorkflowManager("/nerve-root", config, logStore);
 
-      mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10 });
+      mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
       const firstChild = mockChildren[0];
       firstChild.exitCode = 1;
       firstChild.connected = false;
@@ -415,7 +425,7 @@ describe("WorkflowManager — crash recovery (Phase 3)", () => {
       });
       const mgr = createWorkflowManager("/nerve-root", config, logStore);
 
-      mgr.startWorkflow("crash-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10 });
+      mgr.startWorkflow("crash-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
 
       // Crash the worker 6 times in rapid succession (within CRASH_WINDOW_MS = 60s)
       for (let i = 0; i < 6; i++) {

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

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

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

@@ -10,6 +10,9 @@
  */
 
 import { EventEmitter } from "node:events";
+import { mkdtempSync, rmSync } from "node:fs";
+import { tmpdir } from "node:os";
+import { join } from "node:path";
 
 import type { NerveConfig, WorkflowConfig } from "@uncaged/nerve-core";
 import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
@@ -102,7 +105,7 @@ describe("WorkflowManager — drainAndRespawn (Phase 3 hot reload)", () => {
     const config = makeWfConfig({ "my-wf": { concurrency: 1, overflow: "drop" } });
     const mgr = createWorkflowManager("/nerve-root", config, logStore);
 
-    mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10 });
+    mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
     expect(mockChildren).toHaveLength(1);
 
     // Remove workflow from config before drain completes
@@ -121,8 +124,8 @@ describe("WorkflowManager — drainAndRespawn (Phase 3 hot reload)", () => {
     const config = makeWfConfig({ "my-wf": { concurrency: 2, overflow: "drop" } });
     const mgr = createWorkflowManager("/nerve-root", config, logStore);
 
-    mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10 });
-    mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10 });
+    mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
+    mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
     expect(mgr.activeCount("my-wf")).toBe(2);
 
     const drainPromise = mgr.drainAndRespawn("my-wf", 5000);
@@ -153,7 +156,7 @@ describe("WorkflowManager — drainAndRespawn (Phase 3 hot reload)", () => {
     const config = makeWfConfig({ "my-wf": { concurrency: 1, overflow: "drop" } });
     const mgr = createWorkflowManager("/nerve-root", config, logStore);
 
-    mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10 });
+    mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
     expect(mockChildren).toHaveLength(1);
 
     const drainPromise = mgr.drainAndRespawn("my-wf", 5000);
@@ -169,7 +172,7 @@ describe("WorkflowManager — drainAndRespawn (Phase 3 hot reload)", () => {
     const config = makeWfConfig({ "my-wf": { concurrency: 1, overflow: "drop" } });
     const mgr = createWorkflowManager("/nerve-root", config, logStore);
 
-    mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10 });
+    mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
     expect(mockChildren).toHaveLength(1);
 
     const drainPromise = mgr.drainAndRespawn("my-wf", 5000);
@@ -186,7 +189,7 @@ describe("WorkflowManager — drainAndRespawn (Phase 3 hot reload)", () => {
     const config = makeWfConfig({ "my-wf": { concurrency: 1, overflow: "drop" } });
     const mgr = createWorkflowManager("/nerve-root", config, logStore);
 
-    mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10 });
+    mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
 
     const drainPromise = mgr.drainAndRespawn("my-wf", 5000);
     await vi.runAllTimersAsync();
@@ -211,14 +214,14 @@ describe("WorkflowManager — drainAndRespawn (Phase 3 hot reload)", () => {
     const config = makeWfConfig({ "my-wf": { concurrency: 1, overflow: "drop" } });
     const mgr = createWorkflowManager("/nerve-root", config, logStore);
 
-    mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "first", maxRounds: 10 });
+    mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "first", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
 
     const drainPromise = mgr.drainAndRespawn("my-wf", 5000);
     await vi.runAllTimersAsync();
     await drainPromise;
 
     // Start a new thread on the fresh worker
-    mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "second", maxRounds: 10 });
+    mgr.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "second", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
 
     const newChild = mockChildren[1];
     const startCalls = (newChild.send as ReturnType<typeof vi.fn>).mock.calls.filter(
@@ -236,32 +239,36 @@ describe("WorkflowManager — drainAndRespawn (Phase 3 hot reload)", () => {
 });
 
 describe("Kernel — workflow hot reload via file-watcher (Phase 3)", () => {
+  let nerveRoot: string;
+
   beforeEach(() => {
     mockChildren.length = 0;
     vi.useFakeTimers({ shouldAdvanceTime: true });
+    nerveRoot = mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), "nerve-hot-reload-"));
   });
 
   afterEach(async () => {
     vi.useRealTimers();
     vi.clearAllMocks();
+    rmSync(nerveRoot, { recursive: true, force: true });
   });
 
   it("handleWorkflowFileChange logs workflow_reload system event", async () => {
     const logStore = makeLogStore();
     const config: NerveConfig = {
       senses: {},
-      reflexes: [{ kind: "workflow", workflow: "my-wf", on: null } as any],
+      reflexes: [],
       workflows: { "my-wf": { concurrency: 1, overflow: "drop" } },
       maxRounds: 10,
     };
 
-    const kernel = createKernel(config, "/tmp/nerve-hot-reload-test", {
+    const kernel = createKernel(config, nerveRoot, {
       workerScript: "fake-worker.js",
       logStore,
     });
 
     // Trigger a workflow thread so a worker is spawned
-    kernel.workflowManager.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10 });
+    kernel.workflowManager.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
 
     // Manually call drainAndRespawn (simulating what kernel does on workflow file change)
     const drainPromise = kernel.workflowManager.drainAndRespawn("my-wf", 1000);
@@ -285,25 +292,29 @@ describe("Kernel — workflow hot reload via file-watcher (Phase 3)", () => {
     const logStore = makeLogStore();
     const initialConfig: NerveConfig = {
       senses: {},
-      reflexes: [{ kind: "workflow", workflow: "old-wf", on: null } as any],
+      reflexes: [],
       workflows: { "old-wf": { concurrency: 1, overflow: "drop" } },
       maxRounds: 10,
     };
 
-    const kernel = createKernel(initialConfig, "/tmp/nerve-hot-reload-test", {
+    const kernel = createKernel(initialConfig, nerveRoot, {
       workerScript: "fake-worker.js",
       logStore,
     });
 
     // Spawn a worker for old-wf
-    kernel.workflowManager.startWorkflow("old-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10 });
+    kernel.workflowManager.startWorkflow("old-wf", {
+      prompt: "test",
+      maxRounds: 10,
+      dryRun: false,
+    });
     expect(mockChildren).toHaveLength(1);
 
     // Reload config without old-wf
     const newConfig: NerveConfig = {
       senses: {},
       reflexes: [],
-      workflows: null,
+      workflows: {},
       maxRounds: 10,
     };
     kernel.reloadConfig(newConfig);
@@ -324,23 +335,23 @@ describe("Kernel — workflow hot reload via file-watcher (Phase 3)", () => {
     const logStore = makeLogStore();
     const initialConfig: NerveConfig = {
       senses: {},
-      reflexes: [{ kind: "workflow", workflow: "my-wf", on: null } as any],
+      reflexes: [],
       workflows: { "my-wf": { concurrency: 1, overflow: "drop" } },
       maxRounds: 10,
     };
 
-    const kernel = createKernel(initialConfig, "/tmp/nerve-hot-reload-test", {
+    const kernel = createKernel(initialConfig, nerveRoot, {
       workerScript: "fake-worker.js",
       logStore,
     });
 
-    kernel.workflowManager.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10 });
+    kernel.workflowManager.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
     const workersBefore = mockChildren.length;
 
     // Reload with updated concurrency — should NOT spawn a new workflow worker
     const newConfig: NerveConfig = {
       senses: {},
-      reflexes: [{ kind: "workflow", workflow: "my-wf", on: null } as any],
+      reflexes: [],
       workflows: { "my-wf": { concurrency: 5, overflow: "queue", maxQueue: 50 } },
       maxRounds: 10,
     };
@@ -354,8 +365,8 @@ describe("Kernel — workflow hot reload via file-watcher (Phase 3)", () => {
     expect(kernel.workflowManager.activeCount("my-wf")).toBe(1);
 
     // Can now start up to 5 concurrent threads (previously only 1)
-    kernel.workflowManager.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10 });
-    kernel.workflowManager.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10 });
+    kernel.workflowManager.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
+    kernel.workflowManager.startWorkflow("my-wf", { prompt: "test", maxRounds: 10, dryRun: false });
     expect(kernel.workflowManager.activeCount("my-wf")).toBe(3);
 
     const stopPromise = kernel.stop();

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

@@ -6,12 +6,14 @@
  * artifacts are required.
  */
 
+import { mkdtempSync, rmSync } from "node:fs";
+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, describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
+import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
 
 import { createKernel } from "../kernel.js";
 import type { Kernel } from "../kernel.js";
@@ -26,7 +28,7 @@ function makeConfig(overrides: Partial<NerveConfig> = {}): NerveConfig {
       "cpu-usage": { group: "system", throttle: null, timeout: null, gracePeriod: null },
     },
     reflexes: [],
-    workflows: null,
+    workflows: {},
     maxRounds: 10,
     ...overrides,
   };
@@ -55,12 +57,18 @@ async function pollUntil(
 
 describe("kernel integration — real child processes", () => {
   let kernel: Kernel | null = null;
+  let nerveRoot: string;
+
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    nerveRoot = mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), "nerve-integration-"));
+  });
 
   afterEach(async () => {
     if (kernel !== null) {
       await kernel.stop();
       kernel = null;
     }
+    rmSync(nerveRoot, { recursive: true, force: true });
   });
 
   it("returns correct groups and senseCount", () => {
@@ -71,7 +79,7 @@ describe("kernel integration — real child processes", () => {
         "net-rx": { group: "network", throttle: null, timeout: null, gracePeriod: null },
       },
     });
-    kernel = createKernel(config, "/tmp/nerve-integration-test", {
+    kernel = createKernel(config, nerveRoot, {
       workerScript: MOCK_WORKER,
     });
 
@@ -83,7 +91,7 @@ describe("kernel integration — real child processes", () => {
 
   it("workers start and respond to compute messages with signals", async () => {
     const config = makeConfig();
-    kernel = createKernel(config, "/tmp/nerve-integration-test", {
+    kernel = createKernel(config, nerveRoot, {
       workerScript: MOCK_WORKER,
     });
 
@@ -115,7 +123,7 @@ describe("kernel integration — real child processes", () => {
         "net-rx": { group: "network", throttle: null, timeout: null, gracePeriod: null },
       },
     });
-    kernel = createKernel(config, "/tmp/nerve-integration-test", {
+    kernel = createKernel(config, nerveRoot, {
       workerScript: MOCK_WORKER,
     });
 
@@ -131,7 +139,7 @@ describe("kernel integration — real child processes", () => {
 
   it("compute round-trip: worker receives compute and sends signal back through bus", async () => {
     const config = makeConfig();
-    kernel = createKernel(config, "/tmp/nerve-integration-test", {
+    kernel = createKernel(config, nerveRoot, {
       workerScript: MOCK_WORKER,
     });
 
@@ -158,7 +166,7 @@ describe("kernel integration — real child processes", () => {
 
   it("crash recovery: kernel respawns worker after unexpected exit and new worker is functional", async () => {
     const config = makeConfig();
-    kernel = createKernel(config, "/tmp/nerve-integration-test", {
+    kernel = createKernel(config, nerveRoot, {
       workerScript: MOCK_WORKER,
     });
 

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

@@ -4,6 +4,9 @@
  */
 
 import { EventEmitter } from "node:events";
+import { mkdtempSync, rmSync } from "node:fs";
+import { tmpdir } from "node:os";
+import { join } from "node:path";
 
 import type { NerveConfig } from "@uncaged/nerve-core";
 import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
@@ -73,7 +76,7 @@ function makeConfig(overrides: Partial<NerveConfig> = {}): NerveConfig {
       "cpu-usage": { group: "system", throttle: null, timeout: null, gracePeriod: null },
     },
     reflexes: [],
-    workflows: null,
+    workflows: {},
     maxRounds: 10,
     ...overrides,
   };
@@ -84,13 +87,17 @@ function makeConfig(overrides: Partial<NerveConfig> = {}): NerveConfig {
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 describe("kernel — getHealth", () => {
+  let nerveRoot: string;
+
   beforeEach(() => {
     mockChildren.length = 0;
     vi.useFakeTimers({ shouldAdvanceTime: true });
+    nerveRoot = mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), "nerve-kernel-p6-health-"));
   });
 
   afterEach(() => {
     vi.useRealTimers();
+    rmSync(nerveRoot, { recursive: true, force: true });
   });
 
   it("returns correct health shape", async () => {
@@ -101,7 +108,7 @@ describe("kernel — getHealth", () => {
         "net-rx": { group: "network", throttle: null, timeout: null, gracePeriod: null },
       },
     });
-    const kernel = createKernel(config, "/tmp/nerve-test");
+    const kernel = createKernel(config, nerveRoot);
 
     const health = kernel.getHealth();
     expect(health.activeSenses).toBe(3);
@@ -115,18 +122,22 @@ describe("kernel — getHealth", () => {
 });
 
 describe("kernel — restartGroup", () => {
+  let nerveRoot: string;
+
   beforeEach(() => {
     mockChildren.length = 0;
     vi.useFakeTimers({ shouldAdvanceTime: true });
+    nerveRoot = mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), "nerve-kernel-p6-restart-"));
   });
 
   afterEach(() => {
     vi.useRealTimers();
+    rmSync(nerveRoot, { recursive: true, force: true });
   });
 
   it("sends shutdown to old worker and spawns new one", async () => {
     const config = makeConfig();
-    const kernel = createKernel(config, "/tmp/nerve-test");
+    const kernel = createKernel(config, nerveRoot);
 
     expect(mockChildren.length).toBe(1);
     const oldChild = mockChildren[0];
@@ -146,7 +157,7 @@ describe("kernel — restartGroup", () => {
 
   it("restartGroup on unknown group does nothing", async () => {
     const config = makeConfig();
-    const kernel = createKernel(config, "/tmp/nerve-test");
+    const kernel = createKernel(config, nerveRoot);
 
     expect(mockChildren.length).toBe(1);
     await kernel.restartGroup("nonexistent");
@@ -158,18 +169,22 @@ describe("kernel — restartGroup", () => {
 });
 
 describe("kernel — reloadConfig", () => {
+  let nerveRoot: string;
+
   beforeEach(() => {
     mockChildren.length = 0;
     vi.useFakeTimers({ shouldAdvanceTime: true });
+    nerveRoot = mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), "nerve-kernel-p6-reload-"));
   });
 
   afterEach(() => {
     vi.useRealTimers();
+    rmSync(nerveRoot, { recursive: true, force: true });
   });
 
   it("adds new group worker when new sense group appears", async () => {
     const config = makeConfig();
-    const kernel = createKernel(config, "/tmp/nerve-test");
+    const kernel = createKernel(config, nerveRoot);
 
     expect(mockChildren.length).toBe(1); // only system group
     expect(kernel.groups.has("network")).toBe(false);
@@ -180,7 +195,7 @@ describe("kernel — reloadConfig", () => {
         "net-rx": { group: "network", throttle: null, timeout: null, gracePeriod: null },
       },
       reflexes: [],
-      workflows: null,
+      workflows: {},
       maxRounds: 10,
     });
 
@@ -197,10 +212,10 @@ describe("kernel — reloadConfig", () => {
         "net-rx": { group: "network", throttle: null, timeout: null, gracePeriod: null },
       },
       reflexes: [],
-      workflows: null,
+      workflows: {},
       maxRounds: 10,
     };
-    const kernel = createKernel(config, "/tmp/nerve-test");
+    const kernel = createKernel(config, nerveRoot);
 
     expect(mockChildren.length).toBe(2);
     expect(kernel.groups.has("network")).toBe(true);
@@ -212,7 +227,7 @@ describe("kernel — reloadConfig", () => {
         "cpu-usage": { group: "system", throttle: null, timeout: null, gracePeriod: null },
       },
       reflexes: [],
-      workflows: null,
+      workflows: {},
       maxRounds: 10,
     });
 
@@ -225,7 +240,7 @@ describe("kernel — reloadConfig", () => {
 
   it("health reflects updated sense count after reloadConfig", async () => {
     const config = makeConfig();
-    const kernel = createKernel(config, "/tmp/nerve-test");
+    const kernel = createKernel(config, nerveRoot);
 
     expect(kernel.getHealth().activeSenses).toBe(1);
 
@@ -235,7 +250,7 @@ describe("kernel — reloadConfig", () => {
         "disk-usage": { group: "system", throttle: null, timeout: null, gracePeriod: null },
       },
       reflexes: [],
-      workflows: null,
+      workflows: {},
       maxRounds: 10,
     });
 

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

@@ -6,6 +6,9 @@
  */
 
 import { EventEmitter } from "node:events";
+import { mkdtempSync, rmSync } from "node:fs";
+import { tmpdir } from "node:os";
+import { join } from "node:path";
 
 import type { NerveConfig } from "@uncaged/nerve-core";
 import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
@@ -92,7 +95,7 @@ function makeConfig(overrides: Partial<NerveConfig> = {}): NerveConfig {
       "cpu-usage": { group: "system", throttle: null, timeout: null, gracePeriod: null },
     },
     reflexes: [],
-    workflows: null,
+    workflows: {},
     maxRounds: 10,
     ...overrides,
   };
@@ -103,18 +106,22 @@ function makeConfig(overrides: Partial<NerveConfig> = {}): NerveConfig {
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 describe("kernel.triggerSense()", () => {
+  let nerveRoot: string;
+
   beforeEach(() => {
     mockChildren.length = 0;
     vi.useFakeTimers({ shouldAdvanceTime: true });
+    nerveRoot = mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), "nerve-trigger-sense-"));
   });
 
   afterEach(() => {
     vi.useRealTimers();
+    rmSync(nerveRoot, { recursive: true, force: true });
   });
 
   it("throws for an unknown sense name", async () => {
     const config = makeConfig();
-    const kernel = createKernel(config, "/tmp/nerve-test", {
+    const kernel = createKernel(config, nerveRoot, {
       workerScript: null,
       logStore: makeMockLogStore() as never,
     });
@@ -132,7 +139,7 @@ describe("kernel.triggerSense()", () => {
       },
       reflexes: [],
     });
-    const kernel = createKernel(config, "/tmp/nerve-test", {
+    const kernel = createKernel(config, nerveRoot, {
       workerScript: null,
       logStore: makeMockLogStore() as never,
     });
@@ -162,7 +169,7 @@ describe("kernel.triggerSense()", () => {
       },
       reflexes: [],
     });
-    const kernel = createKernel(config, "/tmp/nerve-test", {
+    const kernel = createKernel(config, nerveRoot, {
       workerScript: null,
       logStore: makeMockLogStore() as never,
     });
@@ -185,7 +192,7 @@ describe("kernel.triggerSense()", () => {
     vi.useRealTimers();
 
     const config = makeConfig();
-    const kernel = createKernel(config, "/tmp/nerve-test", {
+    const kernel = createKernel(config, nerveRoot, {
       workerScript: null,
       logStore: makeMockLogStore() as never,
     });

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

@@ -9,6 +9,9 @@
  */
 
 import { EventEmitter } from "node:events";
+import { mkdtempSync, rmSync } from "node:fs";
+import { tmpdir } from "node:os";
+import { join } from "node:path";
 
 import type { NerveConfig } from "@uncaged/nerve-core";
 import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
@@ -95,7 +98,7 @@ function makeConfig(overrides: Partial<NerveConfig> = {}): NerveConfig {
       "cpu-usage": { group: "system", throttle: null, timeout: null, gracePeriod: null },
     },
     reflexes: [],
-    workflows: null,
+    workflows: {},
     maxRounds: 10,
     ...overrides,
   };
@@ -106,14 +109,18 @@ function makeConfig(overrides: Partial<NerveConfig> = {}): NerveConfig {
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 describe("kernel + workflowManager integration", () => {
+  let nerveRoot: string;
+
   beforeEach(() => {
     mockChildren.length = 0;
     vi.useFakeTimers({ shouldAdvanceTime: true });
+    nerveRoot = mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), "nerve-kernel-wf-"));
   });
 
   afterEach(async () => {
     vi.useRealTimers();
     vi.clearAllMocks();
+    rmSync(nerveRoot, { recursive: true, force: true });
   });
 
   describe("sense compute triggers workflow via return value", () => {
@@ -127,7 +134,7 @@ describe("kernel + workflowManager integration", () => {
         workflows: { "my-workflow": { concurrency: 2, overflow: "drop" } },
       });
 
-      const kernel = createKernel(config, "/tmp/nerve-test", {
+      const kernel = createKernel(config, nerveRoot, {
         workerScript: "fake-worker.js",
         logStore,
       });
@@ -171,7 +178,7 @@ describe("kernel + workflowManager integration", () => {
         workflows: { "alert-workflow": { concurrency: 1, overflow: "drop" } },
       });
 
-      const kernel = createKernel(config, "/tmp/nerve-test", {
+      const kernel = createKernel(config, nerveRoot, {
         workerScript: "fake-worker.js",
         logStore,
       });
@@ -202,6 +209,7 @@ describe("kernel + workflowManager integration", () => {
         workflow: "alert-workflow",
         prompt: "handle critical alert",
         maxRounds: 5,
+        dryRun: false,
       });
 
       const stopPromise = kernel.stop();
@@ -220,7 +228,7 @@ describe("kernel + workflowManager integration", () => {
         workflows: { "my-workflow": { concurrency: 1, overflow: "drop" } },
       });
 
-      const kernel = createKernel(config, "/tmp/nerve-test", {
+      const kernel = createKernel(config, nerveRoot, {
         workerScript: "fake-worker.js",
         logStore,
       });
@@ -263,7 +271,7 @@ describe("kernel + workflowManager integration", () => {
         workflows: { "log-test-workflow": { concurrency: 2, overflow: "drop" } },
       });
 
-      const kernel = createKernel(config, "/tmp/nerve-test", {
+      const kernel = createKernel(config, nerveRoot, {
         workerScript: "fake-worker.js",
         logStore,
       });
@@ -297,11 +305,11 @@ describe("kernel + workflowManager integration", () => {
           "cpu-usage": { group: "system", throttle: null, timeout: null, gracePeriod: null },
         },
         reflexes: [],
-        workflows: null,
+        workflows: {},
         maxRounds: 10,
       });
 
-      const kernel = createKernel(initialConfig, "/tmp/nerve-test", {
+      const kernel = createKernel(initialConfig, nerveRoot, {
         workerScript: "fake-worker.js",
         logStore,
       });
@@ -354,7 +362,7 @@ describe("kernel + workflowManager integration", () => {
         workflows: { "old-workflow": { concurrency: 1, overflow: "drop" } },
       });
 
-      const kernel = createKernel(initialConfig, "/tmp/nerve-test", {
+      const kernel = createKernel(initialConfig, nerveRoot, {
         workerScript: "fake-worker.js",
         logStore,
       });
@@ -365,7 +373,7 @@ describe("kernel + workflowManager integration", () => {
           "cpu-usage": { group: "system", throttle: null, timeout: null, gracePeriod: null },
         },
         reflexes: [],
-        workflows: null,
+        workflows: {},
         maxRounds: 10,
       };
       kernel.reloadConfig(newConfig);
@@ -413,7 +421,7 @@ describe("kernel + workflowManager integration", () => {
         workflows: { "shutdown-test": { concurrency: 1, overflow: "drop" } },
       });
 
-      const kernel = createKernel(config, "/tmp/nerve-test", {
+      const kernel = createKernel(config, nerveRoot, {
         workerScript: "fake-worker.js",
         logStore,
       });
@@ -439,7 +447,7 @@ describe("kernel + workflowManager integration", () => {
         workflows: { "my-wf": { concurrency: 1, overflow: "drop" } },
       });
 
-      const kernel = createKernel(config, "/tmp/nerve-test", {
+      const kernel = createKernel(config, nerveRoot, {
         workerScript: "fake-worker.js",
         logStore,
       });
@@ -462,7 +470,7 @@ describe("kernel + workflowManager integration", () => {
         workflows: { "health-wf": { concurrency: 2, overflow: "drop" } },
       });
 
-      const kernel = createKernel(config, "/tmp/nerve-test", {
+      const kernel = createKernel(config, nerveRoot, {
         workerScript: "fake-worker.js",
         logStore,
       });

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

@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ function makeConfig(overrides: Partial<NerveConfig> = {}): NerveConfig {
       "cpu-usage": { group: "system", throttle: null, timeout: null, gracePeriod: null },
     },
     reflexes: [],
-    workflows: null,
+    workflows: {},
     maxRounds: 10,
     ...overrides,
   };
@@ -70,13 +70,17 @@ function makeConfig(overrides: Partial<NerveConfig> = {}): NerveConfig {
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 describe("kernel — message routing", () => {
+  let nerveRoot: string;
+
   beforeEach(() => {
     mockChildren.length = 0;
     vi.useFakeTimers({ shouldAdvanceTime: true });
+    nerveRoot = mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), "nerve-kernel-msg-"));
   });
 
   afterEach(() => {
     vi.useRealTimers();
+    rmSync(nerveRoot, { recursive: true, force: true });
   });
 
   it("routes signal message to bus without throwing", async () => {
@@ -86,7 +90,7 @@ describe("kernel — message routing", () => {
       },
       reflexes: [],
     });
-    const kernel = createKernel(config, "/tmp/nerve-test");
+    const kernel = createKernel(config, nerveRoot);
 
     expect(mockChildren.length).toBe(1);
     const child = mockChildren[0];
@@ -129,7 +133,7 @@ describe("kernel — message routing", () => {
       },
       reflexes: [],
     });
-    const kernel = createKernel(config, "/tmp/nerve-test");
+    const kernel = createKernel(config, nerveRoot);
 
     const child = mockChildren[0];
     child.emit("message", { type: "error", sense: "cpu-usage", error: "compute failed" });
@@ -150,7 +154,7 @@ describe("kernel — message routing", () => {
       },
       reflexes: [],
     });
-    const kernel = createKernel(config, "/tmp/nerve-test");
+    const kernel = createKernel(config, nerveRoot);
 
     const child = mockChildren[0];
     const callsBefore = stderrSpy.mock.calls.length;
@@ -170,7 +174,7 @@ describe("kernel — message routing", () => {
       },
       reflexes: [],
     });
-    const kernel = createKernel(config, "/tmp/nerve-test");
+    const kernel = createKernel(config, nerveRoot);
 
     const child = mockChildren[0];
     expect(() => child.emit("message", { type: "unknown-type" })).not.toThrow();
@@ -183,13 +187,17 @@ describe("kernel — message routing", () => {
 });
 
 describe("kernel — groupForSense mapping", () => {
+  let nerveRoot: string;
+
   beforeEach(() => {
     mockChildren.length = 0;
     vi.useFakeTimers({ shouldAdvanceTime: true });
+    nerveRoot = mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), "nerve-kernel-groups-"));
   });
 
   afterEach(() => {
     vi.useRealTimers();
+    rmSync(nerveRoot, { recursive: true, force: true });
   });
 
   it("spawns one worker per unique group", async () => {
@@ -200,10 +208,10 @@ describe("kernel — groupForSense mapping", () => {
         "net-usage": { group: "network", throttle: null, timeout: null, gracePeriod: null },
       },
       reflexes: [],
-      workflows: null,
+      workflows: {},
       maxRounds: 10,
     };
-    const kernel = createKernel(config, "/tmp/nerve-test");
+    const kernel = createKernel(config, nerveRoot);
 
     // system and network = 2 unique groups
     expect(mockChildren.length).toBe(2);
@@ -215,9 +223,9 @@ describe("kernel — groupForSense mapping", () => {
       senses: {
         "cpu-usage": { group: "system", throttle: null, timeout: null, gracePeriod: null },
       },
-      reflexes: [{ kind: "sense", sense: "cpu-usage", interval: 500, on: null }],
+      reflexes: [{ kind: "sense", sense: "cpu-usage", interval: 500, on: [] }],
     });
-    createKernel(config, "/tmp/nerve-test");
+    const kernel = createKernel(config, nerveRoot);
 
     const child = mockChildren[0];
     vi.advanceTimersByTime(500);
@@ -225,5 +233,7 @@ describe("kernel — groupForSense mapping", () => {
     expect(child.send).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
       expect.objectContaining({ type: "compute", sense: "cpu-usage" }),
     );
+
+    await kernel.stop();
   });
 });

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

@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ describe("LogStore + ReflexScheduler integration", () => {
         "cpu-usage": { group: "system", throttle: null, timeout: null, gracePeriod: null },
       },
       reflexes: [{ kind: "sense", sense: "cpu-usage", interval: null, on: ["cpu-usage"] }],
-      workflows: null,
+      workflows: {},
       maxRounds: 10,
     };
     const bus = createSignalBus();
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ describe("LogStore + ReflexScheduler integration", () => {
       logStore,
     });
 
-    const signal: Signal = { id: 1, senseId: "cpu-usage", payload: 42, ts: Date.now() };
+    const signal: Signal = { id: 1, senseId: "cpu-usage", payload: 42, timestamp: Date.now() };
     bus.emit(signal);
 
     const logs = logStore.query({ source: "reflex", type: "run_start" });
@@ -56,8 +56,8 @@ describe("LogStore + ReflexScheduler integration", () => {
       senses: {
         "cpu-usage": { group: "system", throttle: null, timeout: null, gracePeriod: null },
       },
-      reflexes: [{ kind: "sense", sense: "cpu-usage", interval: 1000, on: null }],
-      workflows: null,
+      reflexes: [{ kind: "sense", sense: "cpu-usage", interval: 1000, on: [] }],
+      workflows: {},
       maxRounds: 10,
     };
     const bus = createSignalBus();
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ describe("LogStore + ReflexScheduler integration", () => {
         "cpu-usage": { group: "system", throttle: null, timeout: null, gracePeriod: null },
       },
       reflexes: [{ kind: "sense", sense: "cpu-usage", interval: null, on: ["cpu-usage"] }],
-      workflows: null,
+      workflows: {},
       maxRounds: 10,
     };
     const bus = createSignalBus();
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ describe("LogStore + ReflexScheduler integration", () => {
       type: "run_complete",
       refId: "cpu-usage",
       payload: '{"v":99}',
-      ts: Date.now(),
+      timestamp: Date.now(),
     });
 
     // Writing to the log store should NOT trigger any reflex.

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

@@ -2,12 +2,14 @@
  * Phase 6 integration tests — hot reload, error isolation, grace period, health.
  */
 
+import { mkdtempSync, rmSync } from "node:fs";
+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, describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
+import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
 
 import { createKernel } from "../kernel.js";
 import type { Kernel } from "../kernel.js";
@@ -23,7 +25,7 @@ function makeConfig(overrides: Partial<NerveConfig> = {}): NerveConfig {
       "cpu-usage": { group: "system", throttle: null, timeout: null, gracePeriod: null },
     },
     reflexes: [],
-    workflows: null,
+    workflows: {},
     maxRounds: 10,
     ...overrides,
   };
@@ -55,17 +57,23 @@ async function pollUntil(
 
 describe("phase6 — restartGroup", () => {
   let kernel: Kernel | null = null;
+  let nerveRoot: string;
+
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    nerveRoot = mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), "nerve-phase6-restart-"));
+  });
 
   afterEach(async () => {
     if (kernel !== null) {
       await kernel.stop();
       kernel = null;
     }
+    rmSync(nerveRoot, { recursive: true, force: true });
   });
 
   it("restartGroup stops old worker and spawns a new one", async () => {
     const config = makeConfig();
-    kernel = createKernel(config, "/tmp/nerve-phase6-test", {
+    kernel = createKernel(config, nerveRoot, {
       workerScript: MOCK_WORKER,
     });
 
@@ -97,7 +105,7 @@ describe("phase6 — restartGroup", () => {
 
   it("restartGroup on nonexistent group does nothing", async () => {
     const config = makeConfig();
-    kernel = createKernel(config, "/tmp/nerve-phase6-test", {
+    kernel = createKernel(config, nerveRoot, {
       workerScript: MOCK_WORKER,
     });
     await kernel.ready;
@@ -113,17 +121,23 @@ describe("phase6 — restartGroup", () => {
 
 describe("phase6 — reloadConfig", () => {
   let kernel: Kernel | null = null;
+  let nerveRoot: string;
+
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    nerveRoot = mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), "nerve-phase6-reload-"));
+  });
 
   afterEach(async () => {
     if (kernel !== null) {
       await kernel.stop();
       kernel = null;
     }
+    rmSync(nerveRoot, { recursive: true, force: true });
   });
 
   it("adds new group when new sense group is introduced", async () => {
     const config = makeConfig();
-    kernel = createKernel(config, "/tmp/nerve-phase6-test", {
+    kernel = createKernel(config, nerveRoot, {
       workerScript: MOCK_WORKER,
     });
     await kernel.ready;
@@ -136,7 +150,7 @@ describe("phase6 — reloadConfig", () => {
         "net-rx": { group: "network", throttle: null, timeout: null, gracePeriod: null },
       },
       reflexes: [],
-      workflows: null,
+      workflows: {},
       maxRounds: 10,
     };
 
@@ -156,10 +170,10 @@ describe("phase6 — reloadConfig", () => {
         "net-rx": { group: "network", throttle: null, timeout: null, gracePeriod: null },
       },
       reflexes: [],
-      workflows: null,
+      workflows: {},
       maxRounds: 10,
     };
-    kernel = createKernel(config, "/tmp/nerve-phase6-test", {
+    kernel = createKernel(config, nerveRoot, {
       workerScript: MOCK_WORKER,
     });
     await kernel.ready;
@@ -171,7 +185,7 @@ describe("phase6 — reloadConfig", () => {
         "cpu-usage": { group: "system", throttle: null, timeout: null, gracePeriod: null },
       },
       reflexes: [],
-      workflows: null,
+      workflows: {},
       maxRounds: 10,
     };
 
@@ -187,12 +201,18 @@ describe("phase6 — reloadConfig", () => {
 
 describe("phase6 — error isolation", () => {
   let kernel: Kernel | null = null;
+  let nerveRoot: string;
+
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    nerveRoot = mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), "nerve-phase6-err-"));
+  });
 
   afterEach(async () => {
     if (kernel !== null) {
       await kernel.stop();
       kernel = null;
     }
+    rmSync(nerveRoot, { recursive: true, force: true });
   });
 
   it("error from one sense does not crash the worker — other senses still work", async () => {
@@ -202,11 +222,11 @@ describe("phase6 — error isolation", () => {
         "bad-sense": { group: "mixed", throttle: null, timeout: null, gracePeriod: null },
       },
       reflexes: [],
-      workflows: null,
+      workflows: {},
       maxRounds: 10,
     };
 
-    kernel = createKernel(config, "/tmp/nerve-phase6-test", {
+    kernel = createKernel(config, nerveRoot, {
       workerScript: MOCK_WORKER,
     });
     await kernel.ready;
@@ -238,7 +258,7 @@ describe("phase6 — error isolation", () => {
     process.stderr.write = stderrSpy as typeof process.stderr.write;
 
     const config = makeConfig();
-    kernel = createKernel(config, "/tmp/nerve-phase6-test", {
+    kernel = createKernel(config, nerveRoot, {
       workerScript: ERROR_WORKER,
     });
     await kernel.ready;
@@ -261,12 +281,18 @@ describe("phase6 — error isolation", () => {
 
 describe("phase6 — getHealth", () => {
   let kernel: Kernel | null = null;
+  let nerveRoot: string;
+
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    nerveRoot = mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), "nerve-phase6-health-"));
+  });
 
   afterEach(async () => {
     if (kernel !== null) {
       await kernel.stop();
       kernel = null;
     }
+    rmSync(nerveRoot, { recursive: true, force: true });
   });
 
   it("returns health snapshot with correct shape", async () => {
@@ -277,7 +303,7 @@ describe("phase6 — getHealth", () => {
         "net-rx": { group: "network", throttle: null, timeout: null, gracePeriod: null },
       },
     });
-    kernel = createKernel(config, "/tmp/nerve-phase6-test", {
+    kernel = createKernel(config, nerveRoot, {
       workerScript: MOCK_WORKER,
     });
     await kernel.ready;
@@ -293,7 +319,7 @@ describe("phase6 — getHealth", () => {
 
   it("health reflects config changes after reloadConfig", async () => {
     const config = makeConfig();
-    kernel = createKernel(config, "/tmp/nerve-phase6-test", {
+    kernel = createKernel(config, nerveRoot, {
       workerScript: MOCK_WORKER,
     });
     await kernel.ready;
@@ -306,7 +332,7 @@ describe("phase6 — getHealth", () => {
         "net-rx": { group: "network", throttle: null, timeout: null, gracePeriod: null },
       },
       reflexes: [],
-      workflows: null,
+      workflows: {},
       maxRounds: 10,
     };
     kernel.reloadConfig(newConfig);
@@ -322,17 +348,23 @@ describe("phase6 — getHealth", () => {
 
 describe("phase6 — auto-respawn on worker crash", () => {
   let kernel: Kernel | null = null;
+  let nerveRoot: string;
+
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    nerveRoot = mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), "nerve-phase6-crash-"));
+  });
 
   afterEach(async () => {
     if (kernel !== null) {
       await kernel.stop();
       kernel = null;
     }
+    rmSync(nerveRoot, { recursive: true, force: true });
   });
 
   it("kernel auto-respawns worker and new worker is functional", async () => {
     const config = makeConfig();
-    kernel = createKernel(config, "/tmp/nerve-phase6-test", {
+    kernel = createKernel(config, nerveRoot, {
       workerScript: MOCK_WORKER,
     });
     await kernel.ready;

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

packages/daemon/src/daemon-ipc.ts

@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@ export function createDaemonIpcServer(
         workflowManager.startWorkflow(req.workflow, {
           prompt: req.prompt,
           maxRounds: req.maxRounds,
+          dryRun: req.dryRun,
         });
         const resp: DaemonIpcResponse = { ok: true };
         socket.write(`${JSON.stringify(resp)}\n`);
@@ -66,6 +67,12 @@ export function createDaemonIpcServer(
         const senses = opts.listSenses();
         const resp: DaemonIpcResponse = { ok: true, senses };
         socket.write(`${JSON.stringify(resp)}\n`);
+      } else if (req.type === "kill-workflow") {
+        const found = workflowManager.killThread(req.runId);
+        const resp: DaemonIpcResponse = found
+          ? { ok: true }
+          : { ok: false, error: `Run not found or already finished: ${req.runId}` };
+        socket.write(`${JSON.stringify(resp)}\n`);
       } else {
         const _exhaustive: never = req;
         void _exhaustive;

packages/daemon/src/ipc.ts

@@ -34,6 +34,8 @@ export type StartThreadMessage = {
   prompt: string;
   /** Safety-valve: max moderator rounds for this thread (engine launch parameter). */
   maxRounds: number;
+  /** When true, roles may skip side effects (thread-level hint on the start frame). */
+  dryRun: boolean;
 };
 
 /** Parent → Workflow Worker: resume an existing thread after crash recovery */
@@ -44,6 +46,14 @@ export type ResumeThreadMessage = {
   messages: Array<{ role: string; content: string; meta: unknown; timestamp: number }>;
   /** Safety-valve: max moderator rounds for this thread. */
   maxRounds: number;
+  /** Thread-level dry-run hint (aligns with persisted `__start__` meta when replaying). */
+  dryRun: boolean;
+};
+
+/** Parent → Workflow Worker: kill a specific running thread */
+export type KillThreadMessage = {
+  type: "kill-thread";
+  runId: string;
 };
 
 /** Union of all messages the parent sends to a worker */
@@ -52,7 +62,8 @@ export type ParentToWorkerMessage =
   | ShutdownMessage
   | HealthRequestMessage
   | StartThreadMessage
-  | ResumeThreadMessage;
+  | ResumeThreadMessage
+  | KillThreadMessage;
 
 /** Worker → Parent: compute produced a signal */
 export type SignalMessage = {
@@ -85,7 +96,13 @@ export type HealthResponseMessage = {
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 /** Valid lifecycle event types for a workflow thread. */
-export type ThreadEventType = "queued" | "started" | "step_complete" | "completed" | "failed";
+export type ThreadEventType =
+  | "queued"
+  | "started"
+  | "step_complete"
+  | "completed"
+  | "failed"
+  | "killed";
 
 /**
  * Workflow Worker → Parent: a thread lifecycle event.
@@ -102,6 +119,8 @@ export type WorkflowErrorMessage = {
   type: "workflow-error";
   runId: string;
   error: string;
+  /** Exit code conveying the failure reason (1=role error, 2=maxRounds exhausted). */
+  exitCode: number;
 };
 
 /** Workflow Worker → Parent: a WorkflowMessage produced by a role (for crash recovery). */
@@ -128,6 +147,7 @@ const PARENT_MSG_TYPES = new Set([
   "health-request",
   "start-thread",
   "resume-thread",
+  "kill-thread",
 ]);
 
 function validateStartThreadMsg(obj: Record<string, unknown>): string | null {
@@ -135,6 +155,7 @@ function validateStartThreadMsg(obj: Record<string, unknown>): string | null {
   if (typeof obj.workflow !== "string") return "'start-thread' message missing string 'workflow'";
   if (typeof obj.prompt !== "string") return "'start-thread' message missing string 'prompt'";
   if (typeof obj.maxRounds !== "number") return "'start-thread' message missing number 'maxRounds'";
+  if (typeof obj.dryRun !== "boolean") return "'start-thread' message missing boolean 'dryRun'";
   return null;
 }
 
@@ -143,6 +164,7 @@ function validateResumeThreadMsg(obj: Record<string, unknown>): string | null {
   if (!Array.isArray(obj.messages)) return "'resume-thread' message missing 'messages' array";
   if (typeof obj.maxRounds !== "number")
     return "'resume-thread' message missing number 'maxRounds'";
+  if (typeof obj.dryRun !== "boolean") return "'resume-thread' message missing boolean 'dryRun'";
   return null;
 }
 
@@ -180,6 +202,7 @@ export function parseParentMessage(raw: unknown): Result<ParentToWorkerMessage>
       workflow: obj.workflow,
       prompt: obj.prompt,
       maxRounds: obj.maxRounds,
+      dryRun: obj.dryRun,
     } as StartThreadMessage);
   }
   if (obj.type === "resume-thread") {
@@ -191,8 +214,15 @@ export function parseParentMessage(raw: unknown): Result<ParentToWorkerMessage>
       runId: obj.runId,
       messages: obj.messages as ResumeThreadMessage["messages"],
       maxRounds: obj.maxRounds,
+      dryRun: obj.dryRun,
     } as ResumeThreadMessage);
   }
+  if (obj.type === "kill-thread") {
+    if (typeof obj.runId !== "string") {
+      return err(new Error("'kill-thread' message missing string 'runId'"));
+    }
+    return ok({ type: "kill-thread", runId: obj.runId } as KillThreadMessage);
+  }
   return err(new Error(`Unhandled IPC message type: "${obj.type}"`));
 }
 
@@ -246,6 +276,7 @@ function isThreadEventType(value: string): value is ThreadEventType {
     case "step_complete":
     case "completed":
     case "failed":
+    case "killed":
       return true;
     default:
       return false;
@@ -279,10 +310,12 @@ function parseWorkflowErrorMsg(obj: Record<string, unknown>): Result<WorkerToPar
   if (typeof obj.error !== "string") {
     return err(new Error("Worker 'workflow-error' message missing string 'error' field"));
   }
+  const exitCode = typeof obj.exitCode === "number" ? obj.exitCode : 1;
   return ok({
     type: "workflow-error",
     runId: obj.runId,
     error: obj.error,
+    exitCode,
   });
 }
 

packages/daemon/src/kernel-file-watch.ts

@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ export function createKernelFileWatchHandlers(deps: KernelFileWatchDeps): Kernel
       type: "sense_reload",
       refId: senseName,
       payload: null,
-      ts: Date.now(),
+      timestamp: Date.now(),
     });
     deps.restartGroup(sc.group).catch((e) => {
       const msg = e instanceof Error ? e.message : String(e);
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ export function createKernelFileWatchHandlers(deps: KernelFileWatchDeps): Kernel
       type: "workflow_reload",
       refId: workflowName,
       payload: null,
-      ts: Date.now(),
+      timestamp: Date.now(),
     });
     deps.workflowManager.drainAndRespawn(workflowName).catch((e) => {
       const msg = e instanceof Error ? e.message : String(e);
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ export function createKernelFileWatchHandlers(deps: KernelFileWatchDeps): Kernel
       type: "config_reload",
       refId: null,
       payload: null,
-      ts: Date.now(),
+      timestamp: Date.now(),
     });
     try {
       const raw = readFileSync(join(deps.nerveRoot, "nerve.yaml"), "utf8");

packages/daemon/src/kernel.ts

@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ export function createKernel(
     type: "start",
     refId: null,
     payload: null,
-    ts: startTime,
+    timestamp: startTime,
   });
 
   let config = initialConfig;
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ export function createKernel(
         type: "error",
         refId: msg.sense,
         payload: JSON.stringify({ error: msg.error }),
-        ts: Date.now(),
+        timestamp: Date.now(),
       });
       scheduler.onComputeComplete(msg.sense);
       return;
@@ -148,27 +148,27 @@ export function createKernel(
       const route = routeSenseComputeOutput(msg.payload);
       if (route.kind === "launch") {
         const { workflowName, maxRounds, prompt } = route.launch;
-        workflowManager.startWorkflow(workflowName, { prompt, maxRounds });
+        workflowManager.startWorkflow(workflowName, { prompt, maxRounds, dryRun: false });
         logStore.append({
           source: "sense",
           type: "workflow-launch",
           refId: msg.sense,
           payload: JSON.stringify(route.launch),
-          ts: Date.now(),
+          timestamp: Date.now(),
         });
       } else {
         const signal: Signal = {
           id: nextSignalId(),
           senseId: msg.sense,
           payload: route.payload,
-          ts: Date.now(),
+          timestamp: Date.now(),
         };
         logStore.append({
           source: "sense",
           type: "signal",
           refId: msg.sense,
           payload: JSON.stringify(route.payload),
-          ts: signal.ts,
+          timestamp: signal.timestamp,
         });
         bus.emit(signal);
       }
@@ -239,7 +239,7 @@ export function createKernel(
   function reloadConfig(newConfig: NerveConfig): void {
     const oldGroups = collectSenseGroups(config);
     const oldConfig = config;
-    const oldWorkflows = config.workflows ?? {};
+    const oldWorkflows = config.workflows;
     config = newConfig;
     scheduler.stop();
     scheduler = createReflexScheduler(config, bus, triggerFn, {
@@ -247,7 +247,7 @@ export function createKernel(
     });
     workflowManager.updateConfig(newConfig);
 
-    const newWorkflows = newConfig.workflows ?? {};
+    const newWorkflows = newConfig.workflows;
 
     for (const workflowName of Object.keys(oldWorkflows)) {
       if (!(workflowName in newWorkflows)) {
@@ -327,7 +327,7 @@ export function createKernel(
             group: senseConfig.group,
             throttle: senseConfig.throttle,
             timeout: senseConfig.timeout,
-            lastSignalTs: lastEntry !== null ? lastEntry.ts : null,
+            lastSignalTimestamp: lastEntry !== null ? lastEntry.timestamp : null,
           };
         });
       },
@@ -352,7 +352,7 @@ export function createKernel(
       type: "stop",
       refId: null,
       payload: null,
-      ts: Date.now(),
+      timestamp: Date.now(),
     });
     logStore.close();
   }

packages/daemon/src/reflex-scheduler.ts

@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ export function createReflexScheduler(
       type: "run_start",
       refId: senseName,
       payload: null,
-      ts: Date.now(),
+      timestamp: Date.now(),
     });
     triggerFn(senseName);
   }
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ export function createReflexScheduler(
       intervals.push(id);
     }
 
-    if (senseReflex.on !== null && senseReflex.on.length > 0) {
+    if (senseReflex.on.length > 0) {
       const watchedSenses = new Set(senseReflex.on);
       const unsub = bus.subscribe((signal) => {
         if (watchedSenses.has(signal.senseId)) {

packages/daemon/src/workflow-manager.ts

@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ import { START, isPlainRecord } from "@uncaged/nerve-core";
 
 import type { LogStore, WorkflowRunStatus } from "@uncaged/nerve-store";
 import type {
+  KillThreadMessage,
   ResumeThreadMessage,
   ShutdownMessage,
   StartThreadMessage,
@@ -31,11 +32,17 @@ import {
 export type WorkflowLaunchParams = {
   prompt: string;
   maxRounds: number;
+  dryRun: boolean;
 };
 
 export type WorkflowManager = {
   /** Trigger a new workflow thread (Sense-driven launch or CLI / IPC). */
   startWorkflow: (workflowName: string, launch: WorkflowLaunchParams) => void;
+  /**
+   * Kill a running or queued workflow thread by runId.
+   * Returns true if the thread was found, false if not found.
+   */
+  killThread: (runId: string) => boolean;
   /** Number of currently active (running) threads for a workflow. */
   activeCount: (workflowName: string) => number;
   /** Number of pending queued threads waiting to run for a workflow. */
@@ -58,6 +65,7 @@ type PendingThread = {
   runId: string;
   prompt: string;
   maxRounds: number;
+  dryRun: boolean;
 };
 
 type WorkflowState = {
@@ -90,20 +98,22 @@ const DEFAULT_MAX_QUEUE = 100;
 function readLaunchFromTriggerPayload(
   raw: unknown,
   engineDefaultMaxRounds: number,
-): { prompt: string; maxRounds: number } {
+): { prompt: string; maxRounds: number; dryRun: boolean } {
   if (isPlainRecord(raw)) {
     const o = raw;
     if (typeof o.prompt === "string" && typeof o.maxRounds === "number") {
-      return { prompt: o.prompt, maxRounds: o.maxRounds };
+      const dryRun = typeof o.dryRun === "boolean" ? o.dryRun : false;
+      return { prompt: o.prompt, maxRounds: o.maxRounds, dryRun };
     }
   }
-  return { prompt: "", maxRounds: engineDefaultMaxRounds };
+  return { prompt: "", maxRounds: engineDefaultMaxRounds, dryRun: false };
 }
 
 function ensureThreadMessagesWithStart(
   messages: Array<{ role: string; content: string; meta: unknown; timestamp: number }>,
   fallbackPrompt: string,
   fallbackMaxRounds: number,
+  fallbackDryRun: boolean,
 ): WorkflowMessage[] {
   const mapped: WorkflowMessage[] = messages.map((m) => ({
     role: m.role,
@@ -117,7 +127,7 @@ function ensureThreadMessagesWithStart(
   const start: WorkflowMessage = {
     role: START,
     content: fallbackPrompt,
-    meta: { maxRounds: fallbackMaxRounds },
+    meta: { maxRounds: fallbackMaxRounds, dryRun: fallbackDryRun },
     timestamp: Date.now(),
   };
   return [start, ...mapped];
@@ -177,6 +187,16 @@ function sendResumeThread(worker: ChildProcess, msg: ResumeThreadMessage): void
   }
 }
 
+function sendKillThread(worker: ChildProcess, runId: string): void {
+  if (worker.connected === false) return;
+  const msg: KillThreadMessage = { type: "kill-thread", runId };
+  try {
+    worker.send(msg);
+  } catch {
+    // IPC channel closed between connected check and send
+  }
+}
+
 function waitForExit(child: ChildProcess, timeoutMs: number): Promise<void> {
   return new Promise((resolve) => {
     const timer = setTimeout(() => {
@@ -213,7 +233,7 @@ export function createWorkflowManager(
   }
 
   function workflowConfig(workflowName: string): WorkflowConfig | null {
-    return config.workflows?.[workflowName] ?? null;
+    return config.workflows[workflowName] ?? null;
   }
 
   function toWorkflowRunStatus(eventType: string): WorkflowRunStatus | null {
@@ -225,24 +245,39 @@ export function createWorkflowManager(
       crashed: "crashed",
       dropped: "dropped",
       interrupted: "interrupted",
+      killed: "killed",
     };
     return map[eventType] ?? null;
   }
 
+  function extractExitCode(payload: unknown): number | null {
+    if (isPlainRecord(payload) && typeof payload.exitCode === "number") {
+      return payload.exitCode;
+    }
+    return null;
+  }
+
   function logWorkflowEvent(
     workflowName: string,
     runId: string,
     eventType: string,
     payload?: unknown,
+    exitCode: number | null = null,
   ): void {
-    const ts = Date.now();
+    const timestamp = Date.now();
     const serialised = payload !== undefined ? JSON.stringify(payload) : null;
     const status = toWorkflowRunStatus(eventType);
 
     if (status !== null) {
       logStore.upsertWorkflowRun(
-        { source: "workflow", type: eventType, refId: runId, payload: serialised, ts },
-        { runId, workflow: workflowName, status, ts },
+        {
+          source: "workflow",
+          type: eventType,
+          refId: runId,
+          payload: serialised,
+          timestamp,
+        },
+        { runId, workflow: workflowName, status, timestamp, exitCode },
       );
     } else {
       logStore.append({
@@ -250,7 +285,7 @@ export function createWorkflowManager(
         type: eventType,
         refId: runId,
         payload: serialised,
-        ts,
+        timestamp,
       });
     }
   }
@@ -260,6 +295,7 @@ export function createWorkflowManager(
     runId: string,
     prompt: string,
     maxRounds: number,
+    dryRun: boolean,
   ): void {
     const state = getOrCreateState(workflowName);
     state.active.add(runId);
@@ -271,9 +307,10 @@ export function createWorkflowManager(
       workflow: workflowName,
       prompt,
       maxRounds,
+      dryRun,
     };
     sendStartThread(worker.process, msg);
-    logWorkflowEvent(workflowName, runId, "started", { prompt, maxRounds });
+    logWorkflowEvent(workflowName, runId, "started", { prompt, maxRounds, dryRun });
   }
 
   function dequeueNext(workflowName: string): void {
@@ -286,7 +323,7 @@ export function createWorkflowManager(
     if (state.active.size < concurrency) {
       const next = state.queue.shift();
       if (next !== undefined) {
-        dispatchThread(workflowName, next.runId, next.prompt, next.maxRounds);
+        dispatchThread(workflowName, next.runId, next.prompt, next.maxRounds, next.dryRun);
       }
     }
   }
@@ -295,13 +332,11 @@ export function createWorkflowManager(
     const state = states.get(workflowName);
     if (state === undefined) return;
 
-    if (msg.eventType === "completed" || msg.eventType === "failed") {
+    if (msg.eventType === "completed" || msg.eventType === "failed" || msg.eventType === "killed") {
       state.active.delete(msg.runId);
       dequeueNext(workflowName);
-    }
-
-    if (msg.eventType === "completed" || msg.eventType === "failed") {
-      logWorkflowEvent(workflowName, msg.runId, msg.eventType, msg.payload);
+      const exitCode = extractExitCode(msg.payload);
+      logWorkflowEvent(workflowName, msg.runId, msg.eventType, msg.payload, exitCode);
     }
   }
 
@@ -311,7 +346,12 @@ export function createWorkflowManager(
       logStore.getTriggerPayload(runId),
       config.maxRounds,
     );
-    state.queue.push({ runId, prompt: launch.prompt, maxRounds: launch.maxRounds });
+    state.queue.push({
+      runId,
+      prompt: launch.prompt,
+      maxRounds: launch.maxRounds,
+      dryRun: launch.dryRun,
+    });
     process.stderr.write(
       `[workflow-manager] crash-recovery: re-queued thread "${runId}" for "${workflowName}"\n`,
     );
@@ -329,13 +369,19 @@ export function createWorkflowManager(
       logStore.getTriggerPayload(runId),
       config.maxRounds,
     );
-    const messages = ensureThreadMessagesWithStart(rawMessages, launch.prompt, launch.maxRounds);
+    const messages = ensureThreadMessagesWithStart(
+      rawMessages,
+      launch.prompt,
+      launch.maxRounds,
+      launch.dryRun,
+    );
     state.active.add(runId);
     const msg: ResumeThreadMessage = {
       type: "resume-thread",
       runId,
       messages,
       maxRounds: launch.maxRounds,
+      dryRun: launch.dryRun,
     };
     sendResumeThread(worker.process, msg);
     process.stderr.write(
@@ -376,7 +422,7 @@ export function createWorkflowManager(
         `[workflow-manager] worker for "${workflowName}" crashed with ${crashedCount} active thread(s)\n`,
       );
       for (const runId of state.active) {
-        logWorkflowEvent(workflowName, runId, "crashed");
+        logWorkflowEvent(workflowName, runId, "crashed", undefined, 255);
       }
     }
 
@@ -423,7 +469,7 @@ export function createWorkflowManager(
         type: "thread_workflow_message",
         refId: msg.runId,
         payload: JSON.stringify(msg.message),
-        ts: Date.now(),
+        timestamp: Date.now(),
       });
       return;
     }
@@ -437,7 +483,7 @@ export function createWorkflowManager(
         state.active.delete(msg.runId);
         dequeueNext(workflowName);
       }
-      logWorkflowEvent(workflowName, msg.runId, "failed", { error: msg.error });
+      logWorkflowEvent(workflowName, msg.runId, "failed", { error: msg.error }, msg.exitCode);
       return;
     }
 
@@ -518,6 +564,26 @@ export function createWorkflowManager(
     return entry;
   }
 
+  function killThread(runId: string): boolean {
+    for (const [workflowName, state] of states) {
+      const queueIdx = state.queue.findIndex((q) => q.runId === runId);
+      if (queueIdx !== -1) {
+        state.queue.splice(queueIdx, 1);
+        logWorkflowEvent(workflowName, runId, "killed", { exitCode: 137 }, 137);
+        return true;
+      }
+
+      if (state.active.has(runId)) {
+        const workerEntry = workers.get(workflowName);
+        if (workerEntry !== undefined) {
+          sendKillThread(workerEntry.process, runId);
+        }
+        return true;
+      }
+    }
+    return false;
+  }
+
   function startWorkflow(workflowName: string, launch: WorkflowLaunchParams): void {
     if (stopped) return;
 
@@ -531,10 +597,10 @@ export function createWorkflowManager(
 
     const state = getOrCreateState(workflowName);
     const runId = crypto.randomUUID();
-    const { prompt, maxRounds } = launch;
+    const { prompt, maxRounds, dryRun } = launch;
 
     if (state.active.size < wfConfig.concurrency) {
-      dispatchThread(workflowName, runId, prompt, maxRounds);
+      dispatchThread(workflowName, runId, prompt, maxRounds, dryRun);
       return;
     }
 
@@ -559,7 +625,7 @@ export function createWorkflowManager(
       }
     }
 
-    state.queue.push({ runId, prompt, maxRounds });
+    state.queue.push({ runId, prompt, maxRounds, dryRun });
     logWorkflowEvent(workflowName, runId, "queued");
     process.stderr.write(
       `[workflow-manager] queued thread for "${workflowName}" runId "${runId}" (queue length: ${state.queue.length})\n`,
@@ -629,6 +695,7 @@ export function createWorkflowManager(
 
   return {
     startWorkflow,
+    killThread,
     activeCount,
     queueLength,
     totalActiveCount,

packages/daemon/src/workflow-worker.ts

@@ -12,13 +12,7 @@
 import { existsSync } from "node:fs";
 import { join, resolve } from "node:path";
 
-import type {
-  Moderator,
-  RoleMeta,
-  StartSignal,
-  WorkflowDefinition,
-  WorkflowMessage,
-} from "@uncaged/nerve-core";
+import type { RoleMeta, StartStep, WorkflowDefinition, WorkflowMessage } from "@uncaged/nerve-core";
 import { END, START, isPlainRecord } from "@uncaged/nerve-core";
 
 import type {
@@ -29,8 +23,6 @@ import type {
 import { parseParentMessage } from "./ipc.js";
 import { ignoreSessionBroadcastSignals } from "./worker-fork-support.js";
 
-type ModeratorInput = Parameters<Moderator<RoleMeta>>[0];
-
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // IPC helpers
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -49,8 +41,8 @@ function sendThreadEvent(runId: string, eventType: ThreadEventType, payload: unk
   send({ type: "thread-event", runId, eventType, payload });
 }
 
-function sendWorkflowError(runId: string, error: string): void {
-  send({ type: "workflow-error", runId, error });
+function sendWorkflowError(runId: string, error: string, exitCode = 1): void {
+  send({ type: "workflow-error", runId, error, exitCode });
 }
 
 function sendWorkflowMessage(runId: string, message: WorkflowMessage): void {
@@ -87,42 +79,92 @@ function validateRoleResult(
   return true;
 }
 
-function buildInitialLastSignal(lastMsg: WorkflowMessage): ModeratorInput {
-  if (lastMsg.role === START) {
-    return {
-      role: START,
-      content: lastMsg.content,
-      meta: lastMsg.meta as StartSignal["meta"],
-      timestamp: lastMsg.timestamp,
-    };
-  }
-  return { role: lastMsg.role, meta: lastMsg.meta as Record<string, unknown> };
+function isStartMeta(meta: unknown): meta is StartStep["meta"] {
+  return (
+    isPlainRecord(meta) && typeof meta.maxRounds === "number" && typeof meta.dryRun === "boolean"
+  );
 }
 
-function initChain(
+function normalizeStartMeta(meta: unknown, maxRoundsFallback: number): StartStep["meta"] {
+  if (!isPlainRecord(meta)) {
+    return { maxRounds: maxRoundsFallback, dryRun: false };
+  }
+  const maxRounds = typeof meta.maxRounds === "number" ? meta.maxRounds : maxRoundsFallback;
+  const dryRun = typeof meta.dryRun === "boolean" ? meta.dryRun : false;
+  return { maxRounds, dryRun };
+}
+
+function startStepFromWorkflowMessage(msg: WorkflowMessage, maxRoundsFallback: number): StartStep {
+  if (msg.role !== START) {
+    return {
+      role: START,
+      content: "",
+      meta: { maxRounds: maxRoundsFallback, dryRun: false },
+      timestamp: Date.now(),
+    };
+  }
+  const meta = isStartMeta(msg.meta) ? msg.meta : normalizeStartMeta(msg.meta, maxRoundsFallback);
+  return {
+    role: START,
+    content: msg.content,
+    meta,
+    timestamp: msg.timestamp,
+  };
+}
+
+type ThreadMessagesState = {
+  start: StartStep;
+  /** Role outputs only; never includes the `__start__` frame. */
+  messages: WorkflowMessage[];
+};
+
+function initThreadMessages(
   runId: string,
   resumeMessages: WorkflowMessage[],
   freshPrompt: string | null,
   maxRounds: number,
-): WorkflowMessage[] {
+  dryRun: boolean,
+): ThreadMessagesState {
   if (resumeMessages.length > 0) {
-    return [...resumeMessages];
+    const [first, ...rest] = resumeMessages;
+    if (first.role === START) {
+      return {
+        start: startStepFromWorkflowMessage(first, maxRounds),
+        messages: [...rest],
+      };
+    }
+    const prompt = freshPrompt ?? "";
+    return {
+      start: {
+        role: START,
+        content: prompt,
+        meta: { maxRounds, dryRun },
+        timestamp: Date.now(),
+      },
+      messages: [...resumeMessages],
+    };
   }
   const prompt = freshPrompt ?? "";
-  const startMsg: WorkflowMessage = {
+  const start: StartStep = {
     role: START,
     content: prompt,
-    meta: { maxRounds },
+    meta: { maxRounds, dryRun },
     timestamp: Date.now(),
   };
-  sendWorkflowMessage(runId, startMsg);
-  return [startMsg];
+  sendWorkflowMessage(runId, {
+    role: start.role,
+    content: start.content,
+    meta: start.meta,
+    timestamp: start.timestamp,
+  });
+  return { start, messages: [] };
 }
 
 async function executeRole(
   def: WorkflowDefinition<RoleMeta>,
   nextRole: string,
-  chain: WorkflowMessage[],
+  start: StartStep,
+  messages: WorkflowMessage[],
   runId: string,
 ): Promise<{ content: string; meta: Record<string, unknown> } | null> {
   const role = def.roles[nextRole];
@@ -133,10 +175,10 @@ async function executeRole(
 
   let result: { content: string; meta: Record<string, unknown> };
   try {
-    result = await role(chain);
+    result = await role(start, messages);
   } catch (e: unknown) {
     const errMsg = e instanceof Error ? e.message : String(e);
-    sendThreadEvent(runId, "failed", { error: errMsg });
+    sendThreadEvent(runId, "failed", { error: errMsg, exitCode: 1 });
     return null;
   }
 
@@ -144,31 +186,62 @@ async function executeRole(
   return result;
 }
 
+type KillFlag = { value: boolean };
+
 async function runThread(
   def: WorkflowDefinition<RoleMeta>,
   runId: string,
   maxRounds: number,
+  killFlag: KillFlag,
   resumeMessages: WorkflowMessage[] = [],
   freshPrompt: string | null = null,
+  dryRun = false,
 ): Promise<void> {
-  const chain = initChain(runId, resumeMessages, freshPrompt, maxRounds);
+  const { start, messages: roleMessages } = initThreadMessages(
+    runId,
+    resumeMessages,
+    freshPrompt,
+    maxRounds,
+    dryRun,
+  );
 
-  let roleRound = chain.filter((m) => m.role !== START).length;
-  const lastMsg = chain[chain.length - 1];
-  if (lastMsg === undefined) {
-    sendWorkflowError(runId, "empty workflow message chain");
+  const steps: Array<{
+    role: string;
+    meta: Record<string, unknown>;
+    content: string;
+    timestamp: number;
+  }> = [];
+
+  // Rebuild steps from any resumed messages
+  for (const msg of roleMessages) {
+    steps.push({
+      role: msg.role,
+      meta: msg.meta as Record<string, unknown>,
+      content: msg.content,
+      timestamp: msg.timestamp,
+    });
+  }
+
+  if (killFlag.value) {
+    sendThreadEvent(runId, "killed", { exitCode: 137 });
     return;
   }
 
-  let nextRole = def.moderator(buildInitialLastSignal(lastMsg), roleRound, maxRounds);
+  let nextRole = def.moderator({ start, steps });
 
   if (nextRole === END) {
-    sendThreadEvent(runId, "completed", null);
+    sendThreadEvent(runId, "completed", { exitCode: 0 });
     return;
   }
 
-  while (roleRound < maxRounds) {
-    const result = await executeRole(def, nextRole, chain, runId);
+  while (steps.length < maxRounds) {
+    const result = await executeRole(def, nextRole, start, roleMessages, runId);
+
+    if (killFlag.value) {
+      sendThreadEvent(runId, "killed", { exitCode: 137 });
+      return;
+    }
+
     if (result === null) return;
 
     const message: WorkflowMessage = {
@@ -177,21 +250,25 @@ async function runThread(
       meta: result.meta,
       timestamp: Date.now(),
     };
-    chain.push(message);
+    roleMessages.push(message);
     sendWorkflowMessage(runId, message);
 
-    roleRound += 1;
+    steps.push({
+      role: nextRole,
+      meta: result.meta,
+      content: result.content,
+      timestamp: message.timestamp,
+    });
 
-    const signal: ModeratorInput = { role: nextRole, meta: result.meta };
-    nextRole = def.moderator(signal, roleRound, maxRounds);
+    nextRole = def.moderator({ start, steps });
 
     if (nextRole === END) {
-      sendThreadEvent(runId, "completed", null);
+      sendThreadEvent(runId, "completed", { exitCode: 0 });
       return;
     }
   }
 
-  sendWorkflowError(runId, `Thread exceeded maximum rounds (${maxRounds})`);
+  sendWorkflowError(runId, `Thread exceeded maximum rounds (${maxRounds})`, 2);
 }
 
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -246,6 +323,7 @@ function handleMessage(
   raw: unknown,
   def: WorkflowDefinition<RoleMeta>,
   inFlight: Map<string, Promise<void>>,
+  killFlags: Map<string, KillFlag>,
   shuttingDown: { value: boolean },
 ): void {
   const parseResult = parseParentMessage(raw);
@@ -267,17 +345,21 @@ function handleMessage(
 
   if (msg.type === "start-thread") {
     if (shuttingDown.value) return;
-    const { runId, prompt, maxRounds } = msg;
+    const { runId, prompt, maxRounds, dryRun } = msg;
+
+    const killFlag: KillFlag = { value: false };
+    killFlags.set(runId, killFlag);
 
     const previous = inFlight.get(runId) ?? Promise.resolve();
     const next = previous
-      .then(() => runThread(def, runId, maxRounds, [], prompt))
+      .then(() => runThread(def, runId, maxRounds, killFlag, [], prompt, dryRun))
       .catch((e: unknown) => {
         const errMsg = e instanceof Error ? e.message : String(e);
         sendWorkflowError(runId, errMsg);
       })
       .finally(() => {
         inFlight.delete(runId);
+        killFlags.delete(runId);
       });
 
     inFlight.set(runId, next);
@@ -286,22 +368,34 @@ function handleMessage(
 
   if (msg.type === "resume-thread") {
     if (shuttingDown.value) return;
-    const { runId, messages, maxRounds } = msg;
+    const { runId, messages, maxRounds, dryRun } = msg;
+
+    const killFlag: KillFlag = { value: false };
+    killFlags.set(runId, killFlag);
 
     const previous = inFlight.get(runId) ?? Promise.resolve();
     const next = previous
-      .then(() => runThread(def, runId, maxRounds, messages, null))
+      .then(() => runThread(def, runId, maxRounds, killFlag, messages, null, dryRun))
       .catch((e: unknown) => {
         const errMsg = e instanceof Error ? e.message : String(e);
         sendWorkflowError(runId, errMsg);
       })
       .finally(() => {
         inFlight.delete(runId);
+        killFlags.delete(runId);
       });
 
     inFlight.set(runId, next);
     return;
   }
+
+  if (msg.type === "kill-thread") {
+    const flag = killFlags.get(msg.runId);
+    if (flag !== undefined) {
+      flag.value = true;
+    }
+    return;
+  }
 }
 
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -319,12 +413,13 @@ async function bootstrap(nerveRoot: string, workflowName: string): Promise<void>
   }
 
   const inFlight = new Map<string, Promise<void>>();
+  const killFlags = new Map<string, KillFlag>();
   const shuttingDown = { value: false };
 
   sendReady();
 
   process.on("message", (raw: unknown) => {
-    handleMessage(raw, def, inFlight, shuttingDown);
+    handleMessage(raw, def, inFlight, killFlags, shuttingDown);
   });
 }
 

packages/store/README.md

@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+# @uncaged/nerve-store
+
+Persistent storage for the [nerve](../../README.md) daemon — append-only structured logs, optional JSONL cold archive, and content-addressable blobs.
+
+## LogStore (`createLogStore`, `log-store.ts`)
+
+- **Append-only log table** — rows with `source`, `type`, `refId`, `payload`, `ts` (string payloads for ad hoc fields)
+- **SQLite WAL** — `DatabaseSync` from `node:sqlite`
+- **Workflow run tracking** — materialized `workflow_runs` table plus helpers to list active runs, upsert status transitions, and read **thread messages** / **role rounds** for CLI and crash recovery
+- **Meta key-value** — small `meta` table (e.g. archive watermarks)
+
+Public exports include `LogStore`, `LogEntry`, `LogQuery`, `WorkflowRun`, `WorkflowRunStatus`, `ThreadRoundRow`, `GetThreadRoundsParams`, and archive-related types re-exported from `log-archive`.
+
+## WorkflowRunStatus
+
+Runs progress through a small state machine. Typical paths:
+
+1. **`queued`** → **`started`** when a worker picks up the thread
+2. **`started`** → **`completed`** | **`failed`** | **`crashed`** | **`interrupted`** | **`dropped`**
+
+Semantics in the daemon/store layer:
+
+- **`completed` / `failed`** — normal terminal outcomes from the workflow worker
+- **`crashed`** — worker exited unexpectedly; manager may respawn and **`resume-thread`** eligible **`started`** runs
+- **`interrupted`** — e.g. hot-reload drain killed an in-flight thread after timeout
+- **`dropped`** — concurrency **`overflow: drop`** rejected a new run, or **`overflow: queue`** evicted an queued item when the queue was full
+
+## LogArchive (`log-archive.ts`)
+
+- **`archiveLogs`** / helpers — export eligible UTC days of old rows to **`data/archive/logs/YYYY-MM-DD.jsonl`**, delete archived rows from SQLite, optional **`VACUUM`**
+- Used by **`nerve store archive`** in `@uncaged/nerve-cli`
+
+## BlobStore (`createBlobStore`, `blob-store.ts`)
+
+- **Content-addressable storage** — `write` returns lowercase **sha256** hex; files live under **`data/blobs/<2-hex>/<62-hex>`**
+- **`read` / `exists`** — path must match digest on disk (tamper detection)
+
+## Install
+
+```bash
+pnpm add @uncaged/nerve-store
+```
+
+Requires Node.js ≥ 22.5 (same as the rest of the stack).
+
+## License
+
+MIT

packages/store/src/__tests__/log-store-archive.test.ts

@@ -30,8 +30,8 @@ describe("LogStore — cold archive (RFC-001 §5.4)", () => {
 
   it("exports one UTC day to JSONL, deletes rows, advances archived_up_to", () => {
     const ts = Date.UTC(2026, 1, 1, 10, 0, 0);
-    store.append({ source: "system", type: "x", refId: null, payload: '{"a":1}', ts });
-    store.append({ source: "reflex", type: "y", refId: "z", payload: null, ts: ts + 1 });
+    store.append({ source: "system", type: "x", refId: null, payload: '{"a":1}', timestamp: ts });
+    store.append({ source: "reflex", type: "y", refId: "z", payload: null, timestamp: ts + 1 });
 
     const now = nowForLastArchivableFeb1();
     const result = store.archiveLogs({ now, retentionMs: 30 * DAY_MS });
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ describe("LogStore — cold archive (RFC-001 §5.4)", () => {
   it("does nothing when all logs are inside the hot window", () => {
     const now = Date.UTC(2026, 3, 23, 12, 0, 0);
     const ts = now - 5 * DAY_MS;
-    store.append({ source: "system", type: "warm", refId: null, payload: null, ts });
+    store.append({ source: "system", type: "warm", refId: null, payload: null, timestamp: ts });
     const r = store.archiveLogs({ now, retentionMs: 30 * DAY_MS });
     expect(r.days).toHaveLength(0);
     expect(store.query()).toHaveLength(1);
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ describe("LogStore — cold archive (RFC-001 §5.4)", () => {
 
   it("second archive with same clock is a no-op (watermark already caught up)", () => {
     const ts = Date.UTC(2026, 1, 1, 10, 0, 0);
-    store.append({ source: "system", type: "x", refId: null, payload: null, ts });
+    store.append({ source: "system", type: "x", refId: null, payload: null, timestamp: ts });
     const now = nowForLastArchivableFeb1();
     store.archiveLogs({ now, retentionMs: 30 * DAY_MS });
     const path = join(tmpDir, "data", "archive", "logs", "2026-02-01.jsonl");
@@ -82,11 +82,11 @@ describe("LogStore — cold archive (RFC-001 §5.4)", () => {
 
   it("overwrites JSONL when the same UTC day is archived again after watermark rewind", () => {
     const ts = Date.UTC(2026, 1, 1, 10, 0, 0);
-    store.append({ source: "a", type: "1", refId: null, payload: null, ts });
+    store.append({ source: "a", type: "1", refId: null, payload: null, timestamp: ts });
     const now = nowForLastArchivableFeb1();
     store.archiveLogs({ now, retentionMs: 30 * DAY_MS });
     store.setMeta(LOG_ARCHIVE_META_KEY, "2026-01-31");
-    store.append({ source: "b", type: "2", refId: null, payload: null, ts: ts + 100 });
+    store.append({ source: "b", type: "2", refId: null, payload: null, timestamp: ts + 100 });
     store.archiveLogs({ now, retentionMs: 30 * DAY_MS });
 
     const path = join(tmpDir, "data", "archive", "logs", "2026-02-01.jsonl");
@@ -98,8 +98,8 @@ describe("LogStore — cold archive (RFC-001 §5.4)", () => {
   it("respects maxDays across invocations", () => {
     const t1 = Date.UTC(2026, 1, 1, 10, 0, 0);
     const t2 = Date.UTC(2026, 1, 2, 10, 0, 0);
-    store.append({ source: "system", type: "a", refId: null, payload: null, ts: t1 });
-    store.append({ source: "system", type: "b", refId: null, payload: null, ts: t2 });
+    store.append({ source: "system", type: "a", refId: null, payload: null, timestamp: t1 });
+    store.append({ source: "system", type: "b", refId: null, payload: null, timestamp: t2 });
 
     const now = Date.UTC(2027, 0, 1, 12, 0, 0);
     const r1 = store.archiveLogs({ now, retentionMs: 30 * DAY_MS, maxDays: 1 });
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ describe("LogStore — cold archive (RFC-001 §5.4)", () => {
   it("starts from earliest log day when it is before watermark+1", () => {
     store.setMeta(LOG_ARCHIVE_META_KEY, "2026-01-10");
     const ts = Date.UTC(2026, 1, 1, 10, 0, 0);
-    store.append({ source: "x", type: "p", refId: null, payload: null, ts });
+    store.append({ source: "x", type: "p", refId: null, payload: null, timestamp: ts });
     const result = store.archiveLogs({ now: nowForLastArchivableFeb1(), retentionMs: 30 * DAY_MS });
     expect(result.days.map((d) => d.day)).toContain("2026-02-01");
   });
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ describe("LogStore — cold archive (RFC-001 §5.4)", () => {
 
   it("runs VACUUM when vacuum: true", () => {
     const ts = Date.UTC(2026, 1, 1, 10, 0, 0);
-    store.append({ source: "system", type: "x", refId: null, payload: null, ts });
+    store.append({ source: "system", type: "x", refId: null, payload: null, timestamp: ts });
     const r = store.archiveLogs({
       now: nowForLastArchivableFeb1(),
       retentionMs: 30 * DAY_MS,

packages/store/src/__tests__/log-store-crash-recovery.test.ts

@@ -39,9 +39,9 @@ describe("LogStore — crash recovery helpers (Phase 3)", () => {
           type: "started",
           refId: "run-1",
           payload: JSON.stringify({ triggerPayload: payload }),
-          ts: 1000,
+          timestamp: 1000,
         },
-        { runId: "run-1", workflow: "my-wf", status: "started", ts: 1000 },
+        { runId: "run-1", workflow: "my-wf", status: "started", timestamp: 1000, exitCode: null },
       );
 
       const result = store.getTriggerPayload("run-1");
@@ -55,9 +55,9 @@ describe("LogStore — crash recovery helpers (Phase 3)", () => {
           type: "started",
           refId: "run-2",
           payload: null,
-          ts: 1000,
+          timestamp: 1000,
         },
-        { runId: "run-2", workflow: "my-wf", status: "started", ts: 1000 },
+        { runId: "run-2", workflow: "my-wf", status: "started", timestamp: 1000, exitCode: null },
       );
 
       expect(store.getTriggerPayload("run-2")).toBeNull();
@@ -72,14 +72,14 @@ describe("LogStore — crash recovery helpers (Phase 3)", () => {
         type: "started",
         refId: "run-3",
         payload: JSON.stringify({ triggerPayload: payloadA }),
-        ts: 100,
+        timestamp: 100,
       });
       store.append({
         source: "workflow",
         type: "started",
         refId: "run-3",
         payload: JSON.stringify({ triggerPayload: payloadB }),
-        ts: 200,
+        timestamp: 200,
       });
 
       const result = store.getTriggerPayload("run-3");
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ describe("LogStore — crash recovery helpers (Phase 3)", () => {
           type: "thread_command_event",
           refId: "run-4",
           payload: JSON.stringify(event),
-          ts: Date.now(),
+          timestamp: Date.now(),
         });
       }
 
@@ -123,14 +123,14 @@ describe("LogStore — crash recovery helpers (Phase 3)", () => {
         type: "thread_command_event",
         refId: "run-5",
         payload: null,
-        ts: 1000,
+        timestamp: 1000,
       });
       store.append({
         source: "workflow",
         type: "thread_command_event",
         refId: "run-5",
         payload: JSON.stringify({ type: "valid_event" }),
-        ts: 1001,
+        timestamp: 1001,
       });
 
       const result = store.getThreadEvents("run-5");
@@ -146,23 +146,23 @@ describe("LogStore — crash recovery helpers (Phase 3)", () => {
           type: "started",
           refId: "run-6",
           payload: JSON.stringify({ triggerPayload: {} }),
-          ts: 1000,
+          timestamp: 1000,
         },
-        { runId: "run-6", workflow: "my-wf", status: "started", ts: 1000 },
+        { runId: "run-6", workflow: "my-wf", status: "started", timestamp: 1000, exitCode: null },
       );
       store.append({
         source: "workflow",
         type: "thread_command_event",
         refId: "run-6",
         payload: JSON.stringify({ type: "step_one" }),
-        ts: 1001,
+        timestamp: 1001,
       });
       store.append({
         source: "workflow",
         type: "step_complete",
         refId: "run-6",
         payload: JSON.stringify({ message: "done step" }),
-        ts: 1002,
+        timestamp: 1002,
       });
 
       const result = store.getThreadEvents("run-6");
@@ -176,14 +176,14 @@ describe("LogStore — crash recovery helpers (Phase 3)", () => {
         type: "thread_command_event",
         refId: "run-7",
         payload: JSON.stringify({ type: "event_for_7" }),
-        ts: 1000,
+        timestamp: 1000,
       });
       store.append({
         source: "workflow",
         type: "thread_command_event",
         refId: "run-8",
         payload: JSON.stringify({ type: "event_for_8" }),
-        ts: 1001,
+        timestamp: 1001,
       });
 
       const result7 = store.getThreadEvents("run-7");
@@ -203,7 +203,7 @@ describe("LogStore — crash recovery helpers (Phase 3)", () => {
         type: "thread_command_event",
         refId: "run-tr",
         payload: JSON.stringify({ type: "thread_start", triggerPayload: { x: 1 } }),
-        ts: 100,
+        timestamp: 100,
       });
       store.append({
         source: "workflow",
@@ -215,14 +215,14 @@ describe("LogStore — crash recovery helpers (Phase 3)", () => {
           content: "hello",
           meta: 1,
         }),
-        ts: 101,
+        timestamp: 101,
       });
       store.append({
         source: "workflow",
         type: "thread_command_event",
         refId: "run-tr",
         payload: JSON.stringify({ type: "step_b", role: "beta", content: "world" }),
-        ts: 102,
+        timestamp: 102,
       });
 
       expect(store.getThreadRoundCount("run-tr")).toBe(2);
@@ -241,7 +241,7 @@ describe("LogStore — crash recovery helpers (Phase 3)", () => {
           type: "thread_command_event",
           refId: "run-b4",
           payload: JSON.stringify({ type: `ev_${i}`, role: "r", content: String(i) }),
-          ts: 200 + i,
+          timestamp: 200 + i,
         });
       }
 

packages/store/src/__tests__/log-store-workflow.test.ts

@@ -30,11 +30,12 @@ describe("LogStore — workflow_runs", () => {
         runId: "run-1",
         workflow: "cleanup",
         status: "started",
-        ts: 1000,
+        timestamp: 1000,
+        exitCode: null,
       };
 
       const entry = store.upsertWorkflowRun(
-        { source: "workflow", type: "started", refId: "run-1", payload: null, ts: 1000 },
+        { source: "workflow", type: "started", refId: "run-1", payload: null, timestamp: 1000 },
         run,
       );
 
@@ -47,23 +48,29 @@ describe("LogStore — workflow_runs", () => {
       expect(stored?.runId).toBe("run-1");
       expect(stored?.workflow).toBe("cleanup");
       expect(stored?.status).toBe("started");
-      expect(stored?.ts).toBe(1000);
+      expect(stored?.timestamp).toBe(1000);
     });
 
     it("updates existing workflow_runs row on upsert (status transition)", () => {
       store.upsertWorkflowRun(
-        { source: "workflow", type: "started", refId: "run-2", payload: null, ts: 1000 },
-        { runId: "run-2", workflow: "cleanup", status: "started", ts: 1000 },
+        { source: "workflow", type: "started", refId: "run-2", payload: null, timestamp: 1000 },
+        { runId: "run-2", workflow: "cleanup", status: "started", timestamp: 1000, exitCode: null },
       );
 
       store.upsertWorkflowRun(
-        { source: "workflow", type: "completed", refId: "run-2", payload: null, ts: 2000 },
-        { runId: "run-2", workflow: "cleanup", status: "completed", ts: 2000 },
+        { source: "workflow", type: "completed", refId: "run-2", payload: null, timestamp: 2000 },
+        {
+          runId: "run-2",
+          workflow: "cleanup",
+          status: "completed",
+          timestamp: 2000,
+          exitCode: null,
+        },
       );
 
       const stored = store.getWorkflowRun("run-2");
       expect(stored?.status).toBe("completed");
-      expect(stored?.ts).toBe(2000);
+      expect(stored?.timestamp).toBe(2000);
 
       // Both log entries should be present (event sourcing)
       const logs = store.query({ refId: "run-2" });
@@ -71,15 +78,15 @@ describe("LogStore — workflow_runs", () => {
     });
 
     it("the log entries act as source of truth for event history", () => {
-      for (const [type, status, ts] of [
+      for (const [type, status, timestamp] of [
         ["queued", "queued", 1000],
         ["started", "started", 1001],
         ["step_complete", "started", 1002],
         ["completed", "completed", 1005],
       ] as const) {
         store.upsertWorkflowRun(
-          { source: "workflow", type, refId: "run-3", payload: null, ts },
-          { runId: "run-3", workflow: "cleanup", status, ts },
+          { source: "workflow", type, refId: "run-3", payload: null, timestamp },
+          { runId: "run-3", workflow: "cleanup", status, timestamp, exitCode: null },
         );
       }
 
@@ -97,37 +104,49 @@ describe("LogStore — workflow_runs", () => {
 
     it("returns the latest state after multiple upserts", () => {
       store.upsertWorkflowRun(
-        { source: "workflow", type: "queued", refId: "run-4", payload: null, ts: 100 },
-        { runId: "run-4", workflow: "code-review", status: "queued", ts: 100 },
+        { source: "workflow", type: "queued", refId: "run-4", payload: null, timestamp: 100 },
+        {
+          runId: "run-4",
+          workflow: "code-review",
+          status: "queued",
+          timestamp: 100,
+          exitCode: null,
+        },
       );
       store.upsertWorkflowRun(
-        { source: "workflow", type: "started", refId: "run-4", payload: null, ts: 200 },
-        { runId: "run-4", workflow: "code-review", status: "started", ts: 200 },
+        { source: "workflow", type: "started", refId: "run-4", payload: null, timestamp: 200 },
+        {
+          runId: "run-4",
+          workflow: "code-review",
+          status: "started",
+          timestamp: 200,
+          exitCode: null,
+        },
       );
 
       const run = store.getWorkflowRun("run-4");
       expect(run?.status).toBe("started");
-      expect(run?.ts).toBe(200);
+      expect(run?.timestamp).toBe(200);
     });
   });
 
   describe("getActiveWorkflowRuns", () => {
     beforeEach(() => {
       store.upsertWorkflowRun(
-        { source: "workflow", type: "queued", refId: "r1", payload: null, ts: 100 },
-        { runId: "r1", workflow: "cleanup", status: "queued", ts: 100 },
+        { source: "workflow", type: "queued", refId: "r1", payload: null, timestamp: 100 },
+        { runId: "r1", workflow: "cleanup", status: "queued", timestamp: 100, exitCode: null },
       );
       store.upsertWorkflowRun(
-        { source: "workflow", type: "started", refId: "r2", payload: null, ts: 200 },
-        { runId: "r2", workflow: "cleanup", status: "started", ts: 200 },
+        { source: "workflow", type: "started", refId: "r2", payload: null, timestamp: 200 },
+        { runId: "r2", workflow: "cleanup", status: "started", timestamp: 200, exitCode: null },
       );
       store.upsertWorkflowRun(
-        { source: "workflow", type: "completed", refId: "r3", payload: null, ts: 300 },
-        { runId: "r3", workflow: "cleanup", status: "completed", ts: 300 },
+        { source: "workflow", type: "completed", refId: "r3", payload: null, timestamp: 300 },
+        { runId: "r3", workflow: "cleanup", status: "completed", timestamp: 300, exitCode: null },
       );
       store.upsertWorkflowRun(
-        { source: "workflow", type: "failed", refId: "r4", payload: null, ts: 400 },
-        { runId: "r4", workflow: "deploy", status: "queued", ts: 400 },
+        { source: "workflow", type: "failed", refId: "r4", payload: null, timestamp: 400 },
+        { runId: "r4", workflow: "deploy", status: "queued", timestamp: 400, exitCode: null },
       );
     });
 
@@ -164,20 +183,20 @@ describe("LogStore — workflow_runs", () => {
       expect(store.getActiveWorkflowRuns("nonexistent")).toHaveLength(0);
     });
 
-    it("returns runs ordered by ts ascending", () => {
+    it("returns runs ordered by timestamp ascending", () => {
       const active = store.getActiveWorkflowRuns();
-      expect(active[0].ts).toBeLessThan(active[1].ts);
+      expect(active[0].timestamp).toBeLessThan(active[1].timestamp);
     });
   });
 
   describe("all statuses are storable", () => {
-    it.each(["queued", "started", "completed", "failed", "crashed", "dropped"] as const)(
+    it.each(["queued", "started", "completed", "failed", "crashed", "dropped", "killed"] as const)(
       "stores status=%s",
       (status) => {
         const runId = `run-${status}`;
         store.upsertWorkflowRun(
-          { source: "workflow", type: status, refId: runId, payload: null, ts: 1 },
-          { runId, workflow: "test", status, ts: 1 },
+          { source: "workflow", type: status, refId: runId, payload: null, timestamp: 1 },
+          { runId, workflow: "test", status, timestamp: 1, exitCode: null },
         );
         expect(store.getWorkflowRun(runId)?.status).toBe(status);
       },

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

@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ describe("LogStore", () => {
         type: "start",
         refId: null,
         payload: null,
-        ts: 1000,
+        timestamp: 1000,
       });
 
       expect(entry.id).toBe(1);
@@ -41,28 +41,40 @@ describe("LogStore", () => {
         type: "start",
         refId: null,
         payload: null,
-        ts: 1000,
+        timestamp: 1000,
       });
       const e2 = store.append({
         source: "system",
         type: "stop",
         refId: null,
         payload: null,
-        ts: 2000,
+        timestamp: 2000,
       });
 
       expect(e2.id).toBe((e1.id ?? 0) + 1);
     });
 
     it("returns all entries when queried with no filter", () => {
-      store.append({ source: "system", type: "start", refId: null, payload: null, ts: 1000 });
-      store.append({ source: "reflex", type: "run_start", refId: "cpu", payload: null, ts: 2000 });
+      store.append({
+        source: "system",
+        type: "start",
+        refId: null,
+        payload: null,
+        timestamp: 1000,
+      });
+      store.append({
+        source: "reflex",
+        type: "run_start",
+        refId: "cpu",
+        payload: null,
+        timestamp: 2000,
+      });
       store.append({
         source: "reflex",
         type: "run_complete",
         refId: "cpu",
         payload: '{"v":42}',
-        ts: 3000,
+        timestamp: 3000,
       });
 
       const all = store.query();
@@ -72,23 +84,35 @@ describe("LogStore", () => {
 
   describe("query filters", () => {
     beforeEach(() => {
-      store.append({ source: "system", type: "start", refId: null, payload: null, ts: 1000 });
-      store.append({ source: "reflex", type: "run_start", refId: "cpu", payload: null, ts: 2000 });
+      store.append({
+        source: "system",
+        type: "start",
+        refId: null,
+        payload: null,
+        timestamp: 1000,
+      });
+      store.append({
+        source: "reflex",
+        type: "run_start",
+        refId: "cpu",
+        payload: null,
+        timestamp: 2000,
+      });
       store.append({
         source: "reflex",
         type: "run_complete",
         refId: "cpu",
         payload: '{"v":42}',
-        ts: 3000,
+        timestamp: 3000,
       });
       store.append({
         source: "system",
         type: "error",
         refId: "disk",
         payload: '{"error":"fail"}',
-        ts: 4000,
+        timestamp: 4000,
       });
-      store.append({ source: "system", type: "stop", refId: null, payload: null, ts: 5000 });
+      store.append({ source: "system", type: "stop", refId: null, payload: null, timestamp: 5000 });
     });
 
     it("filters by source", () => {
@@ -111,7 +135,7 @@ describe("LogStore", () => {
     it("filters by since (inclusive)", () => {
       const results = store.query({ since: 3000 });
       expect(results).toHaveLength(3);
-      expect(results[0].ts).toBe(3000);
+      expect(results[0].timestamp).toBe(3000);
     });
 
     it("filters by until (inclusive)", () => {
@@ -146,12 +170,24 @@ describe("LogStore", () => {
 
   describe("query ordering", () => {
     it("returns entries in insertion order (ascending id)", () => {
-      store.append({ source: "system", type: "start", refId: null, payload: null, ts: 5000 });
-      store.append({ source: "reflex", type: "run_start", refId: "a", payload: null, ts: 1000 });
+      store.append({
+        source: "system",
+        type: "start",
+        refId: null,
+        payload: null,
+        timestamp: 5000,
+      });
+      store.append({
+        source: "reflex",
+        type: "run_start",
+        refId: "a",
+        payload: null,
+        timestamp: 1000,
+      });
 
       const all = store.query();
-      expect(all[0].ts).toBe(5000);
-      expect(all[1].ts).toBe(1000);
+      expect(all[0].timestamp).toBe(5000);
+      expect(all[1].timestamp).toBe(1000);
     });
   });
 
@@ -182,7 +218,7 @@ describe("LogStore", () => {
   describe("append-only semantics", () => {
     it("ids are always increasing", () => {
       const entries = Array.from({ length: 10 }, (_, i) =>
-        store.append({ source: "system", type: "test", refId: null, payload: null, ts: i }),
+        store.append({ source: "system", type: "test", refId: null, payload: null, timestamp: i }),
       );
 
       for (let i = 1; i < entries.length; i++) {
@@ -194,7 +230,13 @@ describe("LogStore", () => {
   describe("payload JSON round-trip", () => {
     it("preserves JSON payload", () => {
       const payload = JSON.stringify({ cpu: 95, host: "node-1" });
-      store.append({ source: "reflex", type: "run_complete", refId: "cpu", payload, ts: 1000 });
+      store.append({
+        source: "reflex",
+        type: "run_complete",
+        refId: "cpu",
+        payload,
+        timestamp: 1000,
+      });
 
       const results = store.query({ refId: "cpu" });
       expect(results).toHaveLength(1);
@@ -206,7 +248,13 @@ describe("LogStore", () => {
     it("creates nested directory structure for db path", () => {
       const deepPath = join(tmpDir, "a", "b", "c", "test.db");
       const deepStore = createLogStore(deepPath);
-      deepStore.append({ source: "system", type: "start", refId: null, payload: null, ts: 1000 });
+      deepStore.append({
+        source: "system",
+        type: "start",
+        refId: null,
+        payload: null,
+        timestamp: 1000,
+      });
       expect(deepStore.query()).toHaveLength(1);
       deepStore.close();
     });

packages/store/src/log-store.ts

@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ export type LogEntry = {
   type: string;
   refId: string | null;
   payload: string | null;
-  ts: number;
+  timestamp: number;
 };
 
 export type LogQuery = {
@@ -58,7 +58,8 @@ export type WorkflowRunStatus =
   | "failed"
   | "crashed"
   | "dropped"
-  | "interrupted";
+  | "interrupted"
+  | "killed";
 
 const VALID_WORKFLOW_STATUSES = new Set<string>([
   "queued",
@@ -68,6 +69,7 @@ const VALID_WORKFLOW_STATUSES = new Set<string>([
   "crashed",
   "dropped",
   "interrupted",
+  "killed",
 ]);
 
 function isWorkflowRunStatus(value: string): value is WorkflowRunStatus {
@@ -86,14 +88,15 @@ export type WorkflowRun = {
   runId: string;
   workflow: string;
   status: WorkflowRunStatus;
-  ts: number;
+  timestamp: number;
+  exitCode: number | null;
 };
 
 /** One role-produced workflow-message row with 1-based round index (ROW_NUMBER over role messages only). */
 export type ThreadRoundRow = {
   round: number;
   logId: number;
-  ts: number;
+  timestamp: number;
   message: { role: string; content: string; meta: unknown; timestamp: number };
 };
 
@@ -131,7 +134,7 @@ export type LogStore = {
    */
   getActiveWorkflowRuns: (workflowName?: string) => WorkflowRun[];
   /**
-   * Get all workflow runs regardless of status, sorted by ts descending.
+   * Get all workflow runs regardless of status, sorted by timestamp descending.
    * Optionally filter by workflow name.
    */
   getAllWorkflowRuns: (workflowName: string | null) => WorkflowRun[];
@@ -174,16 +177,16 @@ export type LogStore = {
 
 const SCHEMA_SQL = `
 CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS logs (
-  id      INTEGER PRIMARY KEY AUTOINCREMENT,
-  source  TEXT NOT NULL,
-  type    TEXT NOT NULL,
-  ref_id  TEXT,
-  payload TEXT,
-  ts      INTEGER NOT NULL
+  id         INTEGER PRIMARY KEY AUTOINCREMENT,
+  source     TEXT NOT NULL,
+  type       TEXT NOT NULL,
+  ref_id     TEXT,
+  payload    TEXT,
+  timestamp  INTEGER NOT NULL
 );
 
 CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_logs_source_type ON logs(source, type);
-CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_logs_ts ON logs(ts);
+CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_logs_timestamp ON logs(timestamp);
 CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_logs_ref_id ON logs(ref_id);
 
 CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS meta (
@@ -192,10 +195,11 @@ CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS meta (
 );
 
 CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS workflow_runs (
-  run_id   TEXT PRIMARY KEY,
-  workflow TEXT NOT NULL,
-  status   TEXT NOT NULL,
-  ts       INTEGER NOT NULL
+  run_id    TEXT PRIMARY KEY,
+  workflow  TEXT NOT NULL,
+  status    TEXT NOT NULL,
+  timestamp INTEGER NOT NULL,
+  exit_code INTEGER
 );
 
 CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_workflow_runs_status ON workflow_runs(status);
@@ -208,7 +212,7 @@ type SqlLogRow = {
   type: string;
   ref_id: string | null;
   payload: string | null;
-  ts: number;
+  timestamp: number;
 };
 
 function buildJsonlBody(rows: SqlLogRow[]): string {
@@ -220,7 +224,7 @@ function buildJsonlBody(rows: SqlLogRow[]): string {
       type: r.type,
       refId: r.ref_id,
       payload: r.payload,
-      ts: r.ts,
+      timestamp: r.timestamp,
     }),
   );
   return `${lines.join("\n")}\n`;
@@ -242,6 +246,41 @@ function runInTransaction<T>(db: DatabaseSync, fn: () => T): T {
   }
 }
 
+function launchShapeFromRecord(rec: Record<string, unknown>): {
+  prompt: string;
+  maxRounds: number;
+  dryRun: boolean;
+} | null {
+  if (typeof rec.prompt !== "string" || typeof rec.maxRounds !== "number") return null;
+  return {
+    prompt: rec.prompt,
+    maxRounds: rec.maxRounds,
+    dryRun: typeof rec.dryRun === "boolean" ? rec.dryRun : false,
+  };
+}
+
+/** Parse JSON from a workflow `started` log row into a trigger / launch payload for crash recovery. */
+function triggerPayloadFromStartedLogJson(payload: string): unknown | null {
+  let parsed: unknown;
+  try {
+    parsed = JSON.parse(payload);
+  } catch {
+    return null;
+  }
+  if (!isPlainRecord(parsed)) return null;
+
+  const direct = launchShapeFromRecord(parsed);
+  if (direct !== null) return direct;
+
+  const inner = parsed.triggerPayload;
+  if (inner !== null && isPlainRecord(inner)) {
+    const fromInner = launchShapeFromRecord(inner);
+    if (fromInner !== null) return fromInner;
+    return inner;
+  }
+  return null;
+}
+
 function runOptionalVacuum(sqlite: DatabaseSync, vacuum?: boolean): boolean {
   if (vacuum !== true) return false;
   sqlite.exec("VACUUM");
@@ -297,8 +336,15 @@ export function createLogStore(dbPath: string): LogStore {
   sqlite.exec("PRAGMA journal_mode=WAL");
   sqlite.exec(SCHEMA_SQL);
 
+  // Migration: add exit_code column for existing databases
+  try {
+    sqlite.exec("ALTER TABLE workflow_runs ADD COLUMN exit_code INTEGER");
+  } catch {
+    // Column already exists — safe to ignore
+  }
+
   const insertStmt = sqlite.prepare(
-    "INSERT INTO logs (source, type, ref_id, payload, ts) VALUES (@source, @type, @refId, @payload, @ts)",
+    "INSERT INTO logs (source, type, ref_id, payload, timestamp) VALUES (@source, @type, @refId, @payload, @timestamp)",
   );
 
   const getMetaStmt = sqlite.prepare("SELECT value FROM meta WHERE key = ?");
@@ -307,11 +353,11 @@ export function createLogStore(dbPath: string): LogStore {
   );
 
   const upsertWorkflowRunStmt = sqlite.prepare(
-    "INSERT OR REPLACE INTO workflow_runs (run_id, workflow, status, ts) VALUES (@runId, @workflow, @status, @ts)",
+    "INSERT OR REPLACE INTO workflow_runs (run_id, workflow, status, timestamp, exit_code) VALUES (@runId, @workflow, @status, @timestamp, @exitCode)",
   );
 
   const getWorkflowRunStmt = sqlite.prepare(
-    "SELECT run_id, workflow, status, ts FROM workflow_runs WHERE run_id = ?",
+    "SELECT run_id, workflow, status, timestamp, exit_code FROM workflow_runs WHERE run_id = ?",
   );
 
   const getTriggerPayloadStmt = sqlite.prepare(
@@ -336,7 +382,7 @@ export function createLogStore(dbPath: string): LogStore {
 
   const getThreadRoundsStmt = sqlite.prepare(
     `WITH numbered AS (
-       SELECT id, ts, payload,
+       SELECT id, timestamp, payload,
          ROW_NUMBER() OVER (ORDER BY id ASC) AS rn
        FROM logs
        WHERE source = 'workflow' AND type IN ('thread_command_event', 'thread_workflow_message') AND ref_id = @runId
@@ -344,34 +390,34 @@ export function createLogStore(dbPath: string): LogStore {
          AND COALESCE(json_extract(payload, '$.type'), '') != 'thread_start'
          AND COALESCE(json_extract(payload, '$.role'), '') != '__start__'
      )
-     SELECT id, ts, payload, rn FROM numbered
+     SELECT id, timestamp, payload, rn FROM numbered
      WHERE (@before = 0 OR rn < @before)
      ORDER BY rn DESC
      LIMIT @lim`,
   );
 
   const getActiveWorkflowRunsStmt = sqlite.prepare(
-    "SELECT run_id, workflow, status, ts FROM workflow_runs WHERE status IN ('queued', 'started') ORDER BY ts ASC",
+    "SELECT run_id, workflow, status, timestamp, exit_code FROM workflow_runs WHERE status IN ('queued', 'started') ORDER BY timestamp ASC",
   );
 
   const getActiveWorkflowRunsByNameStmt = sqlite.prepare(
-    "SELECT run_id, workflow, status, ts FROM workflow_runs WHERE status IN ('queued', 'started') AND workflow = ? ORDER BY ts ASC",
+    "SELECT run_id, workflow, status, timestamp, exit_code FROM workflow_runs WHERE status IN ('queued', 'started') AND workflow = ? ORDER BY timestamp ASC",
   );
 
   const getAllWorkflowRunsStmt = sqlite.prepare(
-    "SELECT run_id, workflow, status, ts FROM workflow_runs ORDER BY ts DESC",
+    "SELECT run_id, workflow, status, timestamp, exit_code FROM workflow_runs ORDER BY timestamp DESC",
   );
 
   const getAllWorkflowRunsByNameStmt = sqlite.prepare(
-    "SELECT run_id, workflow, status, ts FROM workflow_runs WHERE workflow = ? ORDER BY ts DESC",
+    "SELECT run_id, workflow, status, timestamp, exit_code FROM workflow_runs WHERE workflow = ? ORDER BY timestamp DESC",
   );
 
-  const minLogTsStmt = sqlite.prepare("SELECT MIN(ts) AS m FROM logs");
+  const minLogTsStmt = sqlite.prepare("SELECT MIN(timestamp) AS m FROM logs");
   const selectLogsForDayStmt = sqlite.prepare(
-    "SELECT id, source, type, ref_id, payload, ts FROM logs WHERE ts >= @start AND ts < @endExclusive ORDER BY id ASC",
+    "SELECT id, source, type, ref_id, payload, timestamp FROM logs WHERE timestamp >= @start AND timestamp < @endExclusive ORDER BY id ASC",
   );
   const deleteLogsForDayStmt = sqlite.prepare(
-    "DELETE FROM logs WHERE ts >= @start AND ts < @endExclusive",
+    "DELETE FROM logs WHERE timestamp >= @start AND timestamp < @endExclusive",
   );
 
   function upsertWorkflowRunTx(entry: Omit<LogEntry, "id">, run: WorkflowRun): LogEntry {
@@ -381,13 +427,14 @@ export function createLogStore(dbPath: string): LogStore {
         type: entry.type,
         refId: entry.refId,
         payload: entry.payload,
-        ts: entry.ts,
+        timestamp: entry.timestamp,
       });
       upsertWorkflowRunStmt.run({
         runId: run.runId,
         workflow: run.workflow,
         status: run.status,
-        ts: run.ts,
+        timestamp: run.timestamp,
+        exitCode: run.exitCode,
       });
       return { ...entry, id: Number(info.lastInsertRowid) };
     });
@@ -399,7 +446,7 @@ export function createLogStore(dbPath: string): LogStore {
       type: entry.type,
       refId: entry.refId,
       payload: entry.payload,
-      ts: entry.ts,
+      timestamp: entry.timestamp,
     });
     return { ...entry, id: Number(info.lastInsertRowid) };
   }
@@ -421,17 +468,17 @@ export function createLogStore(dbPath: string): LogStore {
       params.refId = filter.refId;
     }
     if (filter.since !== undefined) {
-      conditions.push("ts >= @since");
+      conditions.push("timestamp >= @since");
       params.since = filter.since;
     }
     if (filter.until !== undefined) {
-      conditions.push("ts <= @until");
+      conditions.push("timestamp <= @until");
       params.until = filter.until;
     }
 
     const where = conditions.length > 0 ? `WHERE ${conditions.join(" AND ")}` : "";
     const limit = filter.limit !== undefined ? `LIMIT ${filter.limit}` : "";
-    const sql = `SELECT id, source, type, ref_id, payload, ts FROM logs ${where} ORDER BY id ASC ${limit}`;
+    const sql = `SELECT id, source, type, ref_id, payload, timestamp FROM logs ${where} ORDER BY id ASC ${limit}`;
 
     const rows = sqlite.prepare(sql).all(params) as Array<{
       id: number;
@@ -439,7 +486,7 @@ export function createLogStore(dbPath: string): LogStore {
       type: string;
       ref_id: string | null;
       payload: string | null;
-      ts: number;
+      timestamp: number;
     }>;
 
     return rows.map((r) => ({
@@ -448,7 +495,7 @@ export function createLogStore(dbPath: string): LogStore {
       type: r.type,
       refId: r.ref_id,
       payload: r.payload,
-      ts: r.ts,
+      timestamp: r.timestamp,
     }));
   }
 
@@ -469,31 +516,37 @@ export function createLogStore(dbPath: string): LogStore {
     return upsertWorkflowRunTx(entry, run);
   }
 
-  function getWorkflowRun(runId: string): WorkflowRun | null {
-    const row = getWorkflowRunStmt.get(runId) as
-      | { run_id: string; workflow: string; status: string; ts: number }
-      | undefined;
-    if (row === undefined) return null;
+  type SqlWorkflowRunRow = {
+    run_id: string;
+    workflow: string;
+    status: string;
+    timestamp: number;
+    exit_code: number | null;
+  };
+
+  function mapWorkflowRunRow(r: SqlWorkflowRunRow): WorkflowRun {
     return {
-      runId: row.run_id,
-      workflow: row.workflow,
-      status: validateWorkflowRunStatus(row.status),
-      ts: row.ts,
+      runId: r.run_id,
+      workflow: r.workflow,
+      status: validateWorkflowRunStatus(r.status),
+      timestamp: r.timestamp,
+      exitCode: r.exit_code ?? null,
     };
   }
 
+  function getWorkflowRun(runId: string): WorkflowRun | null {
+    const row = getWorkflowRunStmt.get(runId) as SqlWorkflowRunRow | undefined;
+    if (row === undefined) return null;
+    return mapWorkflowRunRow(row);
+  }
+
   function getActiveWorkflowRuns(workflowName?: string): WorkflowRun[] {
     const rows = (
       workflowName !== undefined
         ? getActiveWorkflowRunsByNameStmt.all(workflowName)
         : getActiveWorkflowRunsStmt.all()
-    ) as Array<{ run_id: string; workflow: string; status: string; ts: number }>;
-    return rows.map((r) => ({
-      runId: r.run_id,
-      workflow: r.workflow,
-      status: validateWorkflowRunStatus(r.status),
-      ts: r.ts,
-    }));
+    ) as SqlWorkflowRunRow[];
+    return rows.map(mapWorkflowRunRow);
   }
 
   function getAllWorkflowRuns(workflowName: string | null): WorkflowRun[] {
@@ -501,27 +554,14 @@ export function createLogStore(dbPath: string): LogStore {
       workflowName !== null
         ? getAllWorkflowRunsByNameStmt.all(workflowName)
         : getAllWorkflowRunsStmt.all()
-    ) as Array<{ run_id: string; workflow: string; status: string; ts: number }>;
-    return rows.map((r) => ({
-      runId: r.run_id,
-      workflow: r.workflow,
-      status: validateWorkflowRunStatus(r.status),
-      ts: r.ts,
-    }));
+    ) as SqlWorkflowRunRow[];
+    return rows.map(mapWorkflowRunRow);
   }
 
   function getTriggerPayload(runId: string): unknown {
     const row = getTriggerPayloadStmt.get(runId) as { payload: string | null } | undefined;
     if (row === undefined || row.payload === null) return null;
-    try {
-      const parsed: unknown = JSON.parse(row.payload);
-      if (isPlainRecord(parsed)) {
-        return parsed.triggerPayload ?? null;
-      }
-    } catch {
-      // malformed
-    }
-    return null;
+    return triggerPayloadFromStartedLogJson(row.payload);
   }
 
   function getThreadEvents(runId: string): Array<{ type: string; [key: string]: unknown }> {
@@ -623,14 +663,14 @@ export function createLogStore(dbPath: string): LogStore {
       runId,
       before: params.before,
       lim: params.limit,
-    }) as Array<{ id: number; ts: number; payload: string | null; rn: number }>;
+    }) as Array<{ id: number; timestamp: number; payload: string | null; rn: number }>;
 
     const out: ThreadRoundRow[] = [];
     for (const row of rows) {
       if (row.payload === null) continue;
-      const message = parseRoundPayload(row.payload, row.ts);
+      const message = parseRoundPayload(row.payload, row.timestamp);
       if (message !== null) {
-        out.push({ round: row.rn, logId: row.id, ts: row.ts, message });
+        out.push({ round: row.rn, logId: row.id, timestamp: row.timestamp, message });
       }
     }
     return out;

packages/workflow-utils/package.json

@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+{
+  "name": "@uncaged/nerve-workflow-utils",
+  "version": "0.4.0",
+  "type": "module",
+  "main": "dist/index.js",
+  "types": "dist/index.d.ts",
+  "files": ["dist"],
+  "publishConfig": {
+    "access": "public"
+  },
+  "scripts": {
+    "prepublishOnly": "bash ../../scripts/prepublish-check.sh",
+    "build": "rslib build",
+    "test": "vitest run"
+  },
+  "dependencies": {
+    "@uncaged/nerve-core": "workspace:*",
+    "zod": "^4.3.6"
+  },
+  "devDependencies": {
+    "@rslib/core": "^0.21.3",
+    "@types/node": "^22.0.0",
+    "vitest": "^4.1.5"
+  }
+}

packages/workflow-utils/rslib.config.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+import { defineConfig } from "@rslib/core";
+
+export default defineConfig({
+  lib: [
+    {
+      format: "esm",
+      dts: true,
+    },
+  ],
+  source: {
+    entry: {
+      index: "src/index.ts",
+    },
+  },
+  output: {
+    target: "node",
+    cleanDistPath: true,
+  },
+});

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

@@ -0,0 +1,151 @@
+import { afterEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
+import { z } from "zod";
+
+import { llmExtract } from "../llm-extract.js";
+
+describe("llmExtract", () => {
+  afterEach(() => {
+    vi.unstubAllGlobals();
+    vi.restoreAllMocks();
+  });
+
+  it("parses tool call arguments and validates with the zod schema", async () => {
+    const schema = z
+      .object({
+        name: z.string(),
+        description: z.string(),
+      })
+      .describe("Extract sense metadata from plan");
+
+    const fetchMock = vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({
+      ok: true,
+      status: 200,
+      text: async () =>
+        JSON.stringify({
+          choices: [
+            {
+              message: {
+                tool_calls: [
+                  {
+                    function: {
+                      name: "extract",
+                      arguments: JSON.stringify({ name: "cpu-usage", description: "CPU load" }),
+                    },
+                  },
+                ],
+              },
+            },
+          ],
+        }),
+    });
+
+    vi.stubGlobal("fetch", fetchMock);
+
+    const result = await llmExtract({
+      text: "some plan",
+      schema,
+      provider: {
+        baseUrl: "https://example.com/v1",
+        apiKey: "k",
+        model: "m",
+      },
+    });
+
+    expect(result.ok).toBe(true);
+    if (!result.ok) {
+      return;
+    }
+    expect(result.value).toEqual({ name: "cpu-usage", description: "CPU load" });
+
+    expect(fetchMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+    const [, init] = fetchMock.mock.calls[0] as [string, RequestInit];
+    expect(init.method).toBe("POST");
+    expect(init.headers).toMatchObject({
+      Authorization: "Bearer k",
+      "Content-Type": "application/json",
+    });
+    const body = JSON.parse(init.body as string) as {
+      model: string;
+      tool_choice: { function: { name: string } };
+    };
+    expect(body.model).toBe("m");
+    expect(body.tool_choice.function.name).toBeDefined();
+  });
+
+  it("returns schema_validation_failed when arguments do not match the schema", async () => {
+    const schema = z.object({ n: z.number() });
+
+    vi.stubGlobal(
+      "fetch",
+      vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({
+        ok: true,
+        status: 200,
+        text: async () =>
+          JSON.stringify({
+            choices: [
+              {
+                message: {
+                  tool_calls: [
+                    { function: { name: "extract", arguments: JSON.stringify({ n: "oops" }) } },
+                  ],
+                },
+              },
+            ],
+          }),
+      }),
+    );
+
+    const result = await llmExtract({
+      text: "x",
+      schema,
+      provider: { baseUrl: "https://example.com", apiKey: "k", model: "m" },
+    });
+
+    expect(result.ok).toBe(false);
+    if (result.ok) {
+      return;
+    }
+    expect(result.error.kind).toBe("schema_validation_failed");
+  });
+
+  it("dryRun skips fetch and returns schema-shaped stub values", async () => {
+    const fetchMock = vi.fn();
+    vi.stubGlobal("fetch", fetchMock);
+
+    const schema = z.object({ n: z.number() });
+    const result = await llmExtract({
+      text: "ignored",
+      schema,
+      provider: { baseUrl: "https://example.com", apiKey: "k", model: "m" },
+      dryRun: true,
+    });
+
+    expect(fetchMock).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(result.ok).toBe(true);
+    if (!result.ok) {
+      return;
+    }
+    expect(result.value).toEqual({ n: 0 });
+  });
+
+  it("dryRun applies dryRunDefaults over schema stub values", async () => {
+    const fetchMock = vi.fn();
+    vi.stubGlobal("fetch", fetchMock);
+
+    const schema = z.object({ n: z.number() });
+    const result = await llmExtract({
+      text: "ignored",
+      schema,
+      provider: { baseUrl: "https://example.com", apiKey: "k", model: "m" },
+      dryRun: true,
+      dryRunDefaults: { n: 42 },
+    });
+
+    expect(fetchMock).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(result.ok).toBe(true);
+    if (!result.ok) {
+      return;
+    }
+    expect(result.value).toEqual({ n: 42 });
+  });
+});

packages/workflow-utils/src/__tests__/schema-defaults.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
+import { z } from "zod";
+
+import { schemaDefaults } from "../schema-defaults.js";
+
+describe("schemaDefaults", () => {
+  it("fills nested objects with primitive placeholders", () => {
+    const schema = z.object({
+      meta: z.object({
+        id: z.string(),
+        count: z.number(),
+        flag: z.boolean(),
+      }),
+    });
+    expect(schemaDefaults(schema)).toEqual({
+      meta: { id: "", count: 0, flag: false },
+    });
+  });
+
+  it("uses empty arrays for array fields", () => {
+    const schema = z.object({
+      roles: z.array(z.object({ name: z.string(), level: z.number() })),
+    });
+    const out = schemaDefaults(schema) as { roles: { name: string; level: number }[] };
+    expect(out.roles).toEqual([]);
+    expect(out.roles.map((r) => r.name)).toEqual([]);
+  });
+
+  it("uses the first enum value", () => {
+    const schema = z.object({
+      status: z.enum(["pending", "done", "failed"]),
+      code: z.nativeEnum({ A: 1, B: 2 }),
+    });
+    expect(schemaDefaults(schema)).toEqual({
+      status: "pending",
+      code: 1,
+    });
+  });
+
+  it("sets optional fields to undefined and omits exactOptional keys", () => {
+    const schema = z.object({
+      req: z.string(),
+      maybe: z.string().optional(),
+      exact: z.string().exactOptional(),
+    });
+    expect(schemaDefaults(schema)).toEqual({
+      req: "",
+      maybe: undefined,
+    });
+    expect(Object.keys(schemaDefaults(schema) as object).includes("exact")).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it("respects .default()", () => {
+    const schema = z.object({
+      n: z.number().default(42),
+    });
+    expect(schemaDefaults(schema)).toEqual({ n: 42 });
+  });
+});

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

@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
+
+import { spawnSafe } from "../spawn-safe.js";
+
+describe("spawnSafe", () => {
+  it("passes argv literally without shell interpretation (injection-safe)", async () => {
+    const injection = "$(echo BAD)";
+    const result = await spawnSafe(
+      process.execPath,
+      ["-e", "process.stdout.write(process.argv[1] ?? '')", injection],
+      { cwd: null, env: null, timeoutMs: 10_000 },
+    );
+
+    expect(result.ok).toBe(true);
+    if (!result.ok) {
+      return;
+    }
+    expect(result.value.stdout).toBe(injection);
+    expect(result.value.exitCode).toBe(0);
+  });
+
+  it("returns err on non-zero exit", async () => {
+    const result = await spawnSafe(process.execPath, ["-e", "process.exit(7)"], {
+      cwd: null,
+      env: null,
+      timeoutMs: 10_000,
+    });
+
+    expect(result.ok).toBe(false);
+    if (result.ok) {
+      return;
+    }
+    expect(result.error.kind).toBe("non_zero_exit");
+    if (result.error.kind !== "non_zero_exit") {
+      return;
+    }
+    expect(result.error.exitCode).toBe(7);
+  });
+
+  it("dryRun skips spawn and returns a zero-exit stub", async () => {
+    const result = await spawnSafe(process.execPath, ["-e", "process.exit(1)"], {
+      cwd: null,
+      env: null,
+      timeoutMs: 10_000,
+      dryRun: true,
+    });
+
+    expect(result.ok).toBe(true);
+    if (!result.ok) {
+      return;
+    }
+    expect(result.value).toEqual({
+      stdout: "[dryRun] skipped",
+      stderr: "",
+      exitCode: 0,
+      signal: null,
+    });
+  });
+});

packages/workflow-utils/src/context.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+import { readFileSync } from "node:fs";
+import { resolve } from "node:path";
+import { type Result, err, ok } from "@uncaged/nerve-core";
+
+export type ReadNerveYamlOptions = {
+  nerveRoot: string;
+};
+
+export type NerveYamlError = {
+  code: "PATH_TRAVERSAL" | "READ_FAILED";
+  message: string;
+};
+
+/**
+ * Reads `nerve.yaml` from a Nerve data directory (typically `~/.uncaged-nerve`).
+ * Returns Result to avoid throwing on expected failures (missing file, bad perms).
+ * Validates that the resolved path stays within nerveRoot to prevent path traversal.
+ */
+export function readNerveYaml(options: ReadNerveYamlOptions): Result<string, NerveYamlError> {
+  const root = resolve(options.nerveRoot);
+  const target = resolve(root, "nerve.yaml");
+
+  if (!target.startsWith(root)) {
+    return err({
+      code: "PATH_TRAVERSAL",
+      message: `Resolved path "${target}" escapes nerveRoot "${root}"`,
+    });
+  }
+
+  try {
+    return ok(readFileSync(target, "utf-8"));
+  } catch (e) {
+    return err({
+      code: "READ_FAILED",
+      message: e instanceof Error ? e.message : String(e),
+    });
+  }
+}
+
+/**
+ * Shared context for workflow agents: how Nerve fits together and common CLI verbs.
+ */
+export const nerveAgentContext = `
+Nerve observes the world through **Senses** (each has its own SQLite DB and a \`compute()\` function).
+**Reflexes** (YAML) schedule sense runs or start **Workflows** on intervals or signals.
+The \`nerve\` CLI manages config, triggers, and queries; keep paths and commands aligned with the host nerve.yaml and senses directory.
+`.trim();

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

@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+import { type Result, ok } from "@uncaged/nerve-core";
+
+import { type SpawnEnv, type SpawnError, spawnSafe } from "./spawn-safe.js";
+
+export type CursorAgentMode = "plan" | "ask" | "default";
+
+export type CursorAgentOptions = {
+  prompt: string;
+  mode: CursorAgentMode;
+  cwd: string;
+  env: SpawnEnv | null;
+  timeoutMs: number | null;
+  dryRun: boolean;
+};
+
+type CursorAgentOptionsInput = CursorAgentOptions | Omit<CursorAgentOptions, "dryRun">;
+
+function resolveCursorAgentDryRun(options: CursorAgentOptionsInput): boolean {
+  return "dryRun" in options ? options.dryRun : false;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Invokes `cursor-agent` with the prompt passed as a single argv slot (`shell: false`).
+ */
+export async function cursorAgent(
+  options: CursorAgentOptionsInput,
+): Promise<Result<string, SpawnError>> {
+  const dryRun = resolveCursorAgentDryRun(options);
+  if (dryRun) {
+    return ok("[dryRun] skipped");
+  }
+
+  const args: string[] = [
+    "-p",
+    options.prompt,
+    "--model",
+    "auto",
+    "--output-format",
+    "text",
+    "--trust",
+    "--force",
+  ];
+  if (options.mode === "plan") {
+    args.push("--mode=plan");
+  } else if (options.mode === "ask") {
+    args.push("--mode=ask");
+  }
+
+  const run = await spawnSafe("cursor-agent", args, {
+    cwd: options.cwd,
+    env: options.env,
+    timeoutMs: options.timeoutMs,
+    dryRun: false,
+  });
+
+  if (!run.ok) {
+    return run;
+  }
+
+  return ok(run.value.stdout);
+}

packages/workflow-utils/src/index.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+export { cursorAgent, type CursorAgentMode, type CursorAgentOptions } from "./cursor-agent.js";
+export {
+  nerveAgentContext,
+  readNerveYaml,
+  type NerveYamlError,
+  type ReadNerveYamlOptions,
+} from "./context.js";
+export {
+  llmExtract,
+  type LlmError,
+  type LlmExtractOptions,
+  type LlmProvider,
+} from "./llm-extract.js";
+export { schemaDefaults } from "./schema-defaults.js";
+export {
+  nerveCommandEnv,
+  spawnSafe,
+  type SpawnEnv,
+  type SpawnError,
+  type SpawnResult,
+  type SpawnSafeOptions,
+} from "./spawn-safe.js";
+export { isDryRun } from "./start-step.js";

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

@@ -0,0 +1,195 @@
+import { type Result, err, ok } from "@uncaged/nerve-core";
+import { toJSONSchema, type z } from "zod";
+
+import { schemaDefaults } from "./schema-defaults.js";
+
+export type LlmProvider = {
+  baseUrl: string;
+  apiKey: string;
+  model: string;
+};
+
+export type LlmExtractOptions<T> = {
+  text: string;
+  schema: z.ZodType<T>;
+  provider: LlmProvider;
+  dryRun: boolean;
+  dryRunDefaults?: Partial<T>;
+};
+
+type LlmExtractOptionsInput<T> = LlmExtractOptions<T> | Omit<LlmExtractOptions<T>, "dryRun">;
+
+function resolveLlmExtractDryRun<T>(options: LlmExtractOptionsInput<T>): boolean {
+  return "dryRun" in options ? options.dryRun : false;
+}
+
+function buildLlmExtractDryRunValue<T>(options: LlmExtractOptionsInput<T>): T {
+  return { ...schemaDefaults(options.schema), ...(options.dryRunDefaults ?? {}) } as T;
+}
+
+export type LlmError =
+  | { kind: "http_error"; status: number; body: string }
+  | { kind: "invalid_response_json"; message: string }
+  | { kind: "no_tool_call"; preview: string }
+  | { kind: "tool_arguments_invalid_json"; message: string }
+  | { kind: "schema_validation_failed"; message: string }
+  | { kind: "network_error"; message: string };
+
+function chatCompletionsUrl(baseUrl: string): string {
+  const trimmed = baseUrl.replace(/\/+$/, "");
+  return `${trimmed}/chat/completions`;
+}
+
+function isRecord(value: unknown): value is Record<string, unknown> {
+  return typeof value === "object" && value !== null && !Array.isArray(value);
+}
+
+function stripJsonSchemaMeta(json: Record<string, unknown>): Record<string, unknown> {
+  const { $schema: _drop, ...rest } = json;
+  return rest;
+}
+
+function readToolName(parametersSchema: Record<string, unknown>): string {
+  const title = parametersSchema.title;
+  if (typeof title === "string" && title.trim().length > 0) {
+    return title.trim();
+  }
+  return "extract";
+}
+
+function readToolArgumentsJson(parsed: unknown, previewSource: string): Result<string, LlmError> {
+  if (!isRecord(parsed)) {
+    return err({ kind: "invalid_response_json", message: "Top-level JSON is not an object" });
+  }
+
+  const choices = parsed.choices;
+  if (!Array.isArray(choices) || choices.length === 0) {
+    return err({ kind: "no_tool_call", preview: previewSource.slice(0, 500) });
+  }
+
+  const first = choices[0];
+  if (!isRecord(first)) {
+    return err({ kind: "no_tool_call", preview: previewSource.slice(0, 500) });
+  }
+
+  const messageObj = first.message;
+  if (!isRecord(messageObj)) {
+    return err({ kind: "no_tool_call", preview: previewSource.slice(0, 500) });
+  }
+
+  const toolCalls = messageObj.tool_calls;
+  if (!Array.isArray(toolCalls) || toolCalls.length === 0) {
+    return err({ kind: "no_tool_call", preview: previewSource.slice(0, 500) });
+  }
+
+  const call0 = toolCalls[0];
+  if (!isRecord(call0)) {
+    return err({ kind: "no_tool_call", preview: previewSource.slice(0, 500) });
+  }
+
+  const fn = call0.function;
+  if (!isRecord(fn)) {
+    return err({ kind: "no_tool_call", preview: previewSource.slice(0, 500) });
+  }
+
+  const argsRaw = fn.arguments;
+  if (typeof argsRaw !== "string") {
+    return err({ kind: "no_tool_call", preview: previewSource.slice(0, 500) });
+  }
+
+  return ok(argsRaw);
+}
+
+/**
+ * Calls an OpenAI-compatible chat completions API with `tool_choice` forced to a single function
+ * derived from a Zod v4 schema (`toJSONSchema`). Uses `fetch()` only (no shell).
+ */
+export async function llmExtract<T>(
+  options: LlmExtractOptionsInput<T>,
+): Promise<Result<T, LlmError>> {
+  const dryRun = resolveLlmExtractDryRun(options);
+  if (dryRun) {
+    return ok(buildLlmExtractDryRunValue(options));
+  }
+
+  const rawJsonSchema = toJSONSchema(options.schema) as Record<string, unknown>;
+  const parameters = stripJsonSchemaMeta(rawJsonSchema);
+  const toolName = readToolName(parameters);
+  const toolDescription =
+    typeof options.schema.description === "string" && options.schema.description.trim().length > 0
+      ? options.schema.description.trim()
+      : "Extract structured data from the input text.";
+
+  const body = {
+    model: options.provider.model,
+    messages: [
+      {
+        role: "system" as const,
+        content: "Extract the requested information from the provided text. Be precise.",
+      },
+      { role: "user" as const, content: options.text },
+    ],
+    tools: [
+      {
+        type: "function" as const,
+        function: {
+          name: toolName,
+          description: toolDescription,
+          parameters,
+        },
+      },
+    ],
+    tool_choice: { type: "function" as const, function: { name: toolName } },
+  };
+
+  let response: Response;
+  try {
+    response = await fetch(chatCompletionsUrl(options.provider.baseUrl), {
+      method: "POST",
+      headers: {
+        Authorization: `Bearer ${options.provider.apiKey}`,
+        "Content-Type": "application/json",
+      },
+      body: JSON.stringify(body),
+    });
+  } catch (cause) {
+    const message = cause instanceof Error ? cause.message : String(cause);
+    return err({ kind: "network_error", message });
+  }
+
+  const responseText = await response.text();
+  if (!response.ok) {
+    return err({ kind: "http_error", status: response.status, body: responseText.slice(0, 4000) });
+  }
+
+  let parsed: unknown;
+  try {
+    parsed = JSON.parse(responseText) as unknown;
+  } catch (cause) {
+    const message = cause instanceof Error ? cause.message : String(cause);
+    return err({ kind: "invalid_response_json", message });
+  }
+
+  const argsJson = readToolArgumentsJson(parsed, responseText);
+  if (!argsJson.ok) {
+    return argsJson;
+  }
+
+  let argsParsed: unknown;
+  try {
+    argsParsed = JSON.parse(argsJson.value) as unknown;
+  } catch (cause) {
+    const message = cause instanceof Error ? cause.message : String(cause);
+    return err({ kind: "tool_arguments_invalid_json", message });
+  }
+
+  const validated = options.schema.safeParse(argsParsed);
+  if (!validated.success) {
+    return err({
+      kind: "schema_validation_failed",
+      message: validated.error.message,
+    });
+  }
+
+  return ok(validated.data);
+}

packages/workflow-utils/src/schema-defaults.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,190 @@
+import type { z } from "zod";
+
+type ZodTypeAny = z.ZodType;
+
+type Def = Record<string, unknown> & { type: string };
+type TypeHandler = (schema: ZodTypeAny, def: Def) => unknown;
+
+function isPlainObject(value: unknown): value is Record<string, unknown> {
+  return typeof value === "object" && value !== null && !Array.isArray(value);
+}
+
+function isZodExactOptional(s: ZodTypeAny): boolean {
+  return s.constructor.name === "ZodExactOptional";
+}
+
+function resolveDefaultValue(defaultValue: unknown | (() => unknown)): unknown {
+  if (typeof defaultValue === "function") {
+    return (defaultValue as () => unknown)();
+  }
+  return defaultValue;
+}
+
+function mergeIntersection(left: unknown, right: unknown): unknown {
+  if (isPlainObject(left) && isPlainObject(right)) {
+    return { ...left, ...right };
+  }
+  return right;
+}
+
+function defaultsForObject(_schema: ZodTypeAny, def: Def): unknown {
+  const shape = def.shape as Record<string, ZodTypeAny> | undefined;
+  if (shape === undefined) {
+    return {};
+  }
+  const out: Record<string, unknown> = {};
+  for (const key of Object.keys(shape)) {
+    const child = shape[key];
+    const cdef = child.def as { type: string };
+    if (cdef.type === "optional") {
+      if (isZodExactOptional(child)) {
+        continue;
+      }
+      out[key] = undefined;
+    } else {
+      out[key] = schemaDefaultsInner(child);
+    }
+  }
+  return out;
+}
+
+function firstUnionOption(_schema: ZodTypeAny, def: Def): unknown {
+  const options = def.options as readonly ZodTypeAny[] | undefined;
+  if (options === undefined || options.length === 0) {
+    return null;
+  }
+  return schemaDefaultsInner(options[0]);
+}
+
+function defaultsFromNullable(_schema: ZodTypeAny, _def: Def): unknown {
+  return null;
+}
+
+function defaultsFromInner(_schema: ZodTypeAny, def: Def): unknown {
+  const inner = def.innerType as ZodTypeAny | undefined;
+  if (inner === undefined) {
+    return null;
+  }
+  return schemaDefaultsInner(inner);
+}
+
+function defaultsForPipe(_schema: ZodTypeAny, def: Def): unknown {
+  const out = def.out as ZodTypeAny | undefined;
+  if (out === undefined) {
+    return null;
+  }
+  return schemaDefaultsInner(out);
+}
+
+function defaultsForIntersection(_schema: ZodTypeAny, def: Def): unknown {
+  const left = def.left as ZodTypeAny | undefined;
+  const right = def.right as ZodTypeAny | undefined;
+  if (left === undefined || right === undefined) {
+    return null;
+  }
+  return mergeIntersection(schemaDefaultsInner(left), schemaDefaultsInner(right));
+}
+
+function defaultsForTuple(_schema: ZodTypeAny, def: Def): unknown {
+  const items = def.items as readonly ZodTypeAny[] | undefined;
+  if (items === undefined) {
+    return [];
+  }
+  return items.map((item) => schemaDefaultsInner(item));
+}
+
+function defaultsForLazy(schema: ZodTypeAny, def: Def): unknown {
+  const inner =
+    (schema as { _zod?: { innerType?: ZodTypeAny } })._zod?.innerType ??
+    (def.getter as (() => ZodTypeAny) | undefined)?.();
+  if (inner === undefined) {
+    return null;
+  }
+  return schemaDefaultsInner(inner);
+}
+
+function defaultsForPromise(_schema: ZodTypeAny, def: Def): unknown {
+  const inner = def.innerType as ZodTypeAny | undefined;
+  if (inner === undefined) {
+    return Promise.resolve(null);
+  }
+  return Promise.resolve(schemaDefaultsInner(inner));
+}
+
+function firstEnumValue(_schema: ZodTypeAny, def: Def): unknown {
+  const entries = def.entries as Record<string, string | number> | undefined;
+  if (entries === undefined) {
+    return null;
+  }
+  const values = Object.values(entries);
+  return values[0] ?? null;
+}
+
+function firstLiteralValue(_schema: ZodTypeAny, def: Def): unknown {
+  const values = def.values as unknown[] | undefined;
+  if (values === undefined || values.length === 0) {
+    return null;
+  }
+  return values[0];
+}
+
+const TYPE_HANDLERS: Record<string, TypeHandler> = {
+  string: () => "",
+  number: () => 0,
+  boolean: () => false,
+  bigint: () => 0n,
+  date: () => new Date(0),
+  symbol: () => Symbol(),
+  undefined: () => undefined,
+  null: () => null,
+  void: () => undefined,
+  any: () => null,
+  unknown: () => null,
+  never: () => undefined,
+  nan: () => Number.NaN,
+  array: () => [],
+  object: defaultsForObject,
+  record: () => ({}),
+  map: () => new Map(),
+  set: () => new Set(),
+  enum: firstEnumValue,
+  literal: firstLiteralValue,
+  optional: () => undefined,
+  nullable: defaultsFromNullable,
+  default: (_s, def) => resolveDefaultValue(def.defaultValue as unknown | (() => unknown)),
+  prefault: (_s, def) => resolveDefaultValue(def.defaultValue as unknown | (() => unknown)),
+  nonoptional: defaultsFromInner,
+  catch: defaultsFromInner,
+  success: () => false,
+  readonly: defaultsFromInner,
+  union: firstUnionOption,
+  xor: firstUnionOption,
+  intersection: defaultsForIntersection,
+  pipe: defaultsForPipe,
+  transform: () => null,
+  tuple: defaultsForTuple,
+  lazy: defaultsForLazy,
+  promise: defaultsForPromise,
+  file: () => new File([], ""),
+  function: () => null,
+  custom: () => null,
+  template_literal: () => "",
+};
+
+/**
+ * Produces a structurally valid placeholder that mirrors primitive/array/object
+ * shape for a Zod schema. Used for `llmExtract` dry runs so downstream code
+ * (e.g. `.roles.map`) does not throw on `undefined` fields.
+ */
+export function schemaDefaults(schema: z.ZodType): unknown {
+  return schemaDefaultsInner(schema as ZodTypeAny);
+}
+
+function schemaDefaultsInner(schema: ZodTypeAny): unknown {
+  const def = schema.def as Def;
+  const run = TYPE_HANDLERS[def.type];
+  if (run === undefined) {
+    return null;
+  }
+  return run(schema, def);
+}

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

@@ -0,0 +1,159 @@
+import { spawn } from "node:child_process";
+import { homedir } from "node:os";
+import { join } from "node:path";
+import { type Result, err, ok } from "@uncaged/nerve-core";
+
+/** Compatible with `process.env` for `child_process.spawn`. */
+export type SpawnEnv = Record<string, string | undefined>;
+
+export type SpawnResult = {
+  stdout: string;
+  stderr: string;
+  exitCode: number;
+  /** OS signal name (e.g. `"SIGTERM"`) when terminated by signal; otherwise `null`. */
+  signal: string | null;
+};
+
+export type SpawnError =
+  | {
+      kind: "non_zero_exit";
+      stdout: string;
+      stderr: string;
+      exitCode: number;
+      signal: string | null;
+    }
+  | { kind: "timeout"; stdout: string; stderr: string }
+  | { kind: "spawn_failed"; message: string };
+
+export type SpawnSafeOptions = {
+  cwd: string | null;
+  /** When null, merges {@link nerveCommandEnv} over `process.env`. When set, merges over that default. */
+  env: SpawnEnv | null;
+  timeoutMs: number | null;
+  dryRun: boolean;
+};
+
+type SpawnSafeOptionsInput = SpawnSafeOptions | Omit<SpawnSafeOptions, "dryRun">;
+
+const DEFAULT_TIMEOUT_MS = 300_000;
+
+/**
+ * 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.
+ */
+export function nerveCommandEnv(): SpawnEnv {
+  const home = homedir();
+  const pnpmHome = join(home, ".local/share/pnpm");
+  return {
+    ...process.env,
+    PNPM_HOME: pnpmHome,
+    PATH: `${pnpmHome}:${process.env.PATH ?? ""}`,
+  };
+}
+
+function mergeEnv(user: SpawnEnv | null): SpawnEnv {
+  const base = nerveCommandEnv();
+  if (user === null) {
+    return base;
+  }
+  return { ...base, ...user };
+}
+
+function resolveTimeout(timeoutMs: number | null): number {
+  if (timeoutMs === null) {
+    return DEFAULT_TIMEOUT_MS;
+  }
+  return timeoutMs;
+}
+
+function resolveDryRun(options: SpawnSafeOptionsInput): boolean {
+  return "dryRun" in options ? options.dryRun : false;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Spawn a process with `shell: false` (argv only), default {@link nerveCommandEnv}, and optional timeout.
+ * Returns `ok` only when the process exits with code 0.
+ */
+export function spawnSafe(
+  command: string,
+  args: ReadonlyArray<string>,
+  options: SpawnSafeOptionsInput,
+): Promise<Result<SpawnResult, SpawnError>> {
+  const dryRun = resolveDryRun(options);
+  if (dryRun) {
+    return Promise.resolve(
+      ok({
+        stdout: "[dryRun] skipped",
+        stderr: "",
+        exitCode: 0,
+        signal: null,
+      }),
+    );
+  }
+
+  return new Promise((resolve) => {
+    const cwd = options.cwd === null ? process.cwd() : options.cwd;
+    const env = mergeEnv(options.env);
+    const timeoutMs = resolveTimeout(options.timeoutMs);
+
+    const child = spawn(command, args, {
+      cwd,
+      env,
+      shell: false,
+      stdio: ["ignore", "pipe", "pipe"],
+    });
+
+    let stdout = "";
+    let stderr = "";
+    let settled = false;
+
+    const finish = (outcome: Result<SpawnResult, SpawnError>) => {
+      if (settled) {
+        return;
+      }
+      settled = true;
+      clearTimeout(timer);
+      resolve(outcome);
+    };
+
+    const timer = setTimeout(() => {
+      child.kill("SIGTERM");
+      finish(err({ kind: "timeout", stdout, stderr }));
+    }, timeoutMs);
+
+    child.stdout?.on("data", (chunk: Buffer | string) => {
+      stdout += typeof chunk === "string" ? chunk : chunk.toString("utf-8");
+    });
+    child.stderr?.on("data", (chunk: Buffer | string) => {
+      stderr += typeof chunk === "string" ? chunk : chunk.toString("utf-8");
+    });
+
+    child.on("error", (cause: Error) => {
+      finish(err({ kind: "spawn_failed", message: cause.message }));
+    });
+
+    child.on("close", (code, signal) => {
+      const exitCode = code ?? 1;
+      const sig = signal === undefined || signal === null ? null : String(signal);
+      const result: SpawnResult = {
+        stdout: stdout.trimEnd(),
+        stderr: stderr.trimEnd(),
+        exitCode,
+        signal: sig,
+      };
+      if (exitCode !== 0) {
+        finish(
+          err({
+            kind: "non_zero_exit",
+            stdout: result.stdout,
+            stderr: result.stderr,
+            exitCode,
+            signal: sig,
+          }),
+        );
+        return;
+      }
+      finish(ok(result));
+    });
+  });
+}

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

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

packages/workflow-utils/tsconfig.json

@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+{
+  "extends": "../../tsconfig.json",
+  "compilerOptions": {
+    "outDir": "dist",
+    "rootDir": "src",
+    "composite": false
+  },
+  "include": ["src"]
+}

pnpm-lock.yaml

@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ importers:
         version: link:../store
       drizzle-orm:
         specifier: 1.0.0-beta.23-c10d10c
-        version: 1.0.0-beta.23-c10d10c(@types/better-sqlite3@7.6.13)(@types/mssql@9.1.11(@azure/core-client@1.10.1))(better-sqlite3@11.10.0)(mssql@11.0.1(@azure/core-client@1.10.1))(sql.js@1.14.1)
+        version: 1.0.0-beta.23-c10d10c(@types/better-sqlite3@7.6.13)(@types/mssql@9.1.11(@azure/core-client@1.10.1))(better-sqlite3@11.10.0)(mssql@11.0.1(@azure/core-client@1.10.1))(sql.js@1.14.1)(zod@4.3.6)
       yaml:
         specifier: ^2.8.3
         version: 2.8.3
@@ -100,6 +100,25 @@ importers:
         specifier: ^4.1.5
         version: 4.1.5(@types/node@22.19.17)(vite@8.0.9(@types/node@22.19.17)(esbuild@0.27.7)(yaml@2.8.3))
 
+  packages/workflow-utils:
+    dependencies:
+      '@uncaged/nerve-core':
+        specifier: workspace:*
+        version: link:../core
+      zod:
+        specifier: ^4.3.6
+        version: 4.3.6
+    devDependencies:
+      '@rslib/core':
+        specifier: ^0.21.3
+        version: 0.21.3(typescript@5.9.3)
+      '@types/node':
+        specifier: ^22.0.0
+        version: 22.19.17
+      vitest:
+        specifier: ^4.1.5
+        version: 4.1.5(@types/node@22.19.17)(vite@8.0.9(@types/node@22.19.17)(esbuild@0.27.7)(yaml@2.8.3))
+
 packages:
 
   '@ast-grep/napi-darwin-arm64@0.37.0':
@@ -1472,6 +1491,9 @@ packages:
     engines: {node: '>= 14.6'}
     hasBin: true
 
+  zod@4.3.6:
+    resolution: {integrity: sha512-rftlrkhHZOcjDwkGlnUtZZkvaPHCsDATp4pGpuOOMDaTdDDXF91wuVDJoWoPsKX/3YPQ5fHuF3STjcYyKr+Qhg==}
+
 snapshots:
 
   '@ast-grep/napi-darwin-arm64@0.37.0':
@@ -2169,13 +2191,14 @@ snapshots:
 
   detect-libc@2.1.2: {}
 
-  drizzle-orm@1.0.0-beta.23-c10d10c(@types/better-sqlite3@7.6.13)(@types/mssql@9.1.11(@azure/core-client@1.10.1))(better-sqlite3@11.10.0)(mssql@11.0.1(@azure/core-client@1.10.1))(sql.js@1.14.1):
+  drizzle-orm@1.0.0-beta.23-c10d10c(@types/better-sqlite3@7.6.13)(@types/mssql@9.1.11(@azure/core-client@1.10.1))(better-sqlite3@11.10.0)(mssql@11.0.1(@azure/core-client@1.10.1))(sql.js@1.14.1)(zod@4.3.6):
     optionalDependencies:
       '@types/better-sqlite3': 7.6.13
       '@types/mssql': 9.1.11(@azure/core-client@1.10.1)
       better-sqlite3: 11.10.0
       mssql: 11.0.1(@azure/core-client@1.10.1)
       sql.js: 1.14.1
+      zod: 4.3.6
 
   ecdsa-sig-formatter@1.0.11:
     dependencies:
@@ -2772,3 +2795,5 @@ snapshots:
     optional: true
 
   yaml@2.8.3: {}
+
+  zod@4.3.6: {}