diff --git a/changelog.d/gst-1597-runaway-warm-wait.md b/changelog.d/gst-1597-runaway-warm-wait.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..4e12dd0f3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog.d/gst-1597-runaway-warm-wait.md
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+- **`/runaway-stopper` no longer flags lanes that follow the warm-wait rule.** `gstack-runaway scan` counted each 240-second warm-wait check-in as an empty wake, so a compliant lane waiting on CI could cross the 25% empty-wake warning. A turn whose only call re-issues the wait on the same operation, or a 240-second timer on that operation or none, within 30 minutes of the wait that started the run is now left out of the rate, including when `/runaway-stopper` fetches the thread itself. A re-wait past 30 minutes, a wait on other operations, or a turn that also reads status still counts, and a status read does not restart the 30 minutes. (GST-1597)
diff --git a/docs/captain.md b/docs/captain.md
index 2c60a8aab..4bf03e654 100644
--- a/docs/captain.md
+++ b/docs/captain.md
@@ -152,10 +152,13 @@ cheap:
operation with `duration_seconds: 240`, and on a timer wake that brings nothing new it
re-issues the same wait silently, with no message. Once a warm wait has run about 30
minutes, or past the end the lane expected, the lane stops re-issuing the timer and
- sleeps on the operation or pull request watch alone. A wait expected to run longer sleeps
- on its operations alone. For short lane waits this overrides "waits go on operations,
- never on polling wakes" ([unattended.md](unattended.md#report-length)). The controller
- never warm-waits, and a lane still sleeps while /ship runs
+ sleeps on the operation or pull request watch alone. `gstack-runaway scan` leaves these
+ check-ins out of its empty-wake rate: a turn whose only call re-waits on the same
+ operation, or a 240-second timer on it or on nothing, within 30 minutes of the first wait.
+ A status read in between counts and does not restart the 30 minutes. A wait expected to run
+ longer sleeps on its operations alone. For short lane waits this overrides "waits go on
+ operations, never on polling wakes" ([unattended.md](unattended.md#report-length)). The
+ controller never warm-waits, and a lane still sleeps while /ship runs
([the lane's /ship sequence](#the-lanes-ship-sequence-before-ready)).
- **Batched reads.** Independent reads (files, greps, pull request and thread state) go in
one parallel program, not one call each. Each call returns 4k characters or less; long
diff --git a/docs/skills.md b/docs/skills.md
index e46831b02..11698b319 100644
--- a/docs/skills.md
+++ b/docs/skills.md
@@ -1020,7 +1020,7 @@ sets the defaults that keep it from coming back.
- **Detect.** One program fetches each crew thread (`tools.thread.get`, with its transcript) to files, then
`gstack-runaway scan --dir
` prints a `RUNAWAY:` line per thread and a `FLAG:` line per limit crossed:
own tokens past 500M or active past 3 days (rotate), a subagent past 100M (stop), empty wakes past 25% of the
- last 40 turns, and review rounds past 2 per PR. Captains are reported, never rotated.
+ last 40 turns (warm-wait check-ins are left out), and review rounds past 2 per PR. Captains are reported, never rotated.
- **Stop.** A live subagent past 100M is stopped with its reason. A thread is rotated at a clean point through
a handoff file and a successor brief (`runaway-stopper/templates/`), then archived by its own Captain. A thread
mid-/ship or mid-merge gets `DEFER:` and nothing happens until that work finishes.
diff --git a/lib/runaway.ts b/lib/runaway.ts
index 116397009..52e3c9530 100644
--- a/lib/runaway.ts
+++ b/lib/runaway.ts
@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@ export const LIMITS = {
emptyRate: 0.25,
emptyWindow: 40,
emptyMinTurns: 20,
+ warmWaitS: 240,
+ warmWindowS: 30 * 60,
maxRounds: 2,
} as const;
@@ -51,18 +53,43 @@ function reportState(item: Item): string | undefined {
return raw?.match(/\\?"state\\?"\s*:\s*\\?"(final|needs_you|working)/)?.[1];
}
+/** A wait call's operations and timer, from its recorded input; null when the input is unreadable. */
+function waitArgs(item: Item): { ops: string; seconds: number | null } | null {
+ const raw = typeof item.input === 'string' ? item.input : item.input?.text;
+ try {
+ const v = JSON.parse(raw ?? '') as { operation_ids?: unknown; duration_seconds?: unknown };
+ return { ops: Array.isArray(v.operation_ids) ? [...v.operation_ids].map(String).sort().join(',') : '', seconds: typeof v.duration_seconds === 'number' ? v.duration_seconds : null };
+ } catch { return null; }
+}
+
/**
* Turns from transcript items: an inbound message starts one; end_turn, wait or a final/needs_you report
- * ends one. A turn is empty when it made no call beyond status reads, waits and "working" reports.
+ * ends one. A turn is empty when it made no call beyond status reads, waits and "working" reports. A warm-wait
+ * check-in (docs/captain.md, Warm waits; GST-1597) is not a turn: one whose only call re-issues a wait on the
+ * operations the previous turn waited on, or a 240-second timer naming those operations or none, within 30 minutes
+ * of the wait that started the run. Any turn that closes on such a wait keeps the run's start, so a status read
+ * between check-ins counts but never restarts the 30 minutes.
*/
export function emptyWakes(items: readonly Item[]): { turns: number; empty: number } {
const sorted = items.filter(i => i.createdAt && i.source !== 'assistant').sort((a, b) => a.createdAt!.localeCompare(b.createdAt!));
const turns: boolean[] = [];
let acted = false, open = false;
- const close = () => { if (open) turns.push(!acted); acted = false; open = false; };
+ let calls: Item[] = [];
+ let last: { ops: string; since: number } | null = null;
+ const close = () => {
+ if (!open) return;
+ const closing = calls.at(-1);
+ const args = closing?.tool === 'wait' ? waitArgs(closing) : null;
+ const at = Date.parse(closing?.createdAt ?? '');
+ const same = !!args && !!last && (args.ops ? args.ops === last.ops : args.seconds === LIMITS.warmWaitS);
+ if (!(same && calls.length === 1 && at - last!.since <= LIMITS.warmWindowS * 1000)) turns.push(!acted);
+ last = args ? (same ? last : { ops: args.ops, since: at }) : null;
+ acted = false; open = false; calls = [];
+ };
for (const i of sorted) {
if (i.source !== 'tool') { close(); continue; }
open = true;
+ calls.push(i);
const state = i.tool === 'message_agent' || i.tool === 'message_user' ? reportState(i) : undefined;
if (i.tool !== 'end_turn' && state !== 'working' && !isKeepalive(i)) acted = true;
if (i.tool === 'end_turn' || i.tool === 'wait' || state === 'final' || state === 'needs_you') close();
@@ -184,7 +211,7 @@ const USAGE = [
'Lines: RUNAWAY (one per thread, largest own tokens first), FLAG ROTATE|STOP|LOOK|WARN|REPORT, DEFER, SWEEP (--dir).',
'Review rounds count only subagent titles that name the PR (#N); the rest show as unattributed.',
'Limits (R70): own > 500M or active > 3d rotate (warn 400M); subagent > 100M stop (LOOK when it already ended);',
- 'empty wakes > 25% of the last 40 turns (20+); review rounds > 2 per PR; Captains REPORT, never rotate.',
+ 'empty wakes > 25% of the last 40 turns (20+; warm-wait check-ins left out); review rounds > 2 per PR; Captains REPORT, never rotate.',
'A thread file that is not valid JSON or lacks cost.tokens or created_at prints RUNAWAY_INPUT and is skipped.',
'Exit 0 after a clean scan, 1 when any input was unreadable, 2 on a usage error.',
];
diff --git a/runaway-stopper/SKILL.md b/runaway-stopper/SKILL.md
index fe137aedd..3ce6adbce 100644
--- a/runaway-stopper/SKILL.md
+++ b/runaway-stopper/SKILL.md
@@ -172,7 +172,8 @@ const fetch = async code => {
const { transcript, recent, ...rest } = await tools.thread.get({ thread_id: code, transcript: { limit: 100, tools: true, before } });
doc ??= rest;
events.push(...transcript.items.map(i => ({ source: i.source, tool: i.tool, createdAt: i.createdAt,
- calls: i.calls?.map(c => ({ tool: c.tool })), state: String(i.input?.text ?? "").match(/"state\\?"\s*:\s*\\?"(\w+)/)?.[1] })));
+ calls: i.calls?.map(c => ({ tool: c.tool })), state: String(i.input?.text ?? "").match(/"state\\?"\s*:\s*\\?"(\w+)/)?.[1],
+ ...(i.tool === "wait" ? { input: i.input } : {}) })));
if (!(before = transcript.beforeCursor)) break;
}
await tools.capy.write({ path: `${dir}/${doc.code}.thread.json`, content: JSON.stringify({ ...doc, events }) });
@@ -189,7 +190,7 @@ it lists the whole tree, where thread.get lists 200 rows at most (`own` is then
Limits (org rule R70): own tokens (total minus subagents) past 500M, or active (working, waiting, or a turn in the
last 24 hours) past 3 days: rotate, warn at 400M. A subagent past 100M: stop and look. Empty wakes past 25% of the
-last 40 turns. Review rounds past 2 per PR. Act on each line:
+last 40 turns (warm-wait check-ins left out). Review rounds past 2 per PR. Act on each line:
| Line | Do |
|---|---|
diff --git a/runaway-stopper/SKILL.md.tmpl b/runaway-stopper/SKILL.md.tmpl
index 64ade4525..40f40d7b7 100644
--- a/runaway-stopper/SKILL.md.tmpl
+++ b/runaway-stopper/SKILL.md.tmpl
@@ -48,7 +48,8 @@ const fetch = async code => {
const { transcript, recent, ...rest } = await tools.thread.get({ thread_id: code, transcript: { limit: 100, tools: true, before } });
doc ??= rest;
events.push(...transcript.items.map(i => ({ source: i.source, tool: i.tool, createdAt: i.createdAt,
- calls: i.calls?.map(c => ({ tool: c.tool })), state: String(i.input?.text ?? "").match(/"state\\?"\s*:\s*\\?"(\w+)/)?.[1] })));
+ calls: i.calls?.map(c => ({ tool: c.tool })), state: String(i.input?.text ?? "").match(/"state\\?"\s*:\s*\\?"(\w+)/)?.[1],
+ ...(i.tool === "wait" ? { input: i.input } : {}) })));
if (!(before = transcript.beforeCursor)) break;
}
await tools.capy.write({ path: `${dir}/${doc.code}.thread.json`, content: JSON.stringify({ ...doc, events }) });
@@ -65,7 +66,7 @@ it lists the whole tree, where thread.get lists 200 rows at most (`own` is then
Limits (org rule R70): own tokens (total minus subagents) past 500M, or active (working, waiting, or a turn in the
last 24 hours) past 3 days: rotate, warn at 400M. A subagent past 100M: stop and look. Empty wakes past 25% of the
-last 40 turns. Review rounds past 2 per PR. Act on each line:
+last 40 turns (warm-wait check-ins left out). Review rounds past 2 per PR. Act on each line:
| Line | Do |
|---|---|
diff --git a/test/runaway.test.ts b/test/runaway.test.ts
index fa774dc78..f637c920e 100644
--- a/test/runaway.test.ts
+++ b/test/runaway.test.ts
@@ -112,6 +112,57 @@ describe('gstack-runaway scan', () => {
expect(r.out).toContain('FLAG: WARN empty_wake 65% of 31 turns > 25%');
});
+ const at = (s: number) => new Date(Date.parse('2026-11-06T12:00:00Z') + s * 1000).toISOString();
+ const wait = (s: number, input: Record) => ({ source: 'tool', tool: 'wait', input: { text: JSON.stringify({ description: 'w', ...input }) }, createdAt: at(s) });
+ const work = (s: number) => ({ source: 'tool', tool: 'execute', calls: [{ tool: 'bash' }, { tool: 'edit' }], createdAt: at(s) });
+ const scan = (items: unknown[], name: string) => {
+ const doc = { code: 'GSTA-999', status: 'idle', created_at: '2026-11-06T02:00:00Z', cost: { tokens: 1e6 }, tasks: [] };
+ return run('scan', '--thread', write(name + '.json', doc), '--events', write(name + '.events.json', { items, cursor: null }), '--now', NOW).out;
+ };
+
+ // Value: protects=warm-wait check-ins (docs/captain.md Warm waits, #4060) are not empty wakes: a turn whose only call re-issues the
+ // wait on the same operation, or a 240 s timer, inside 30 minutes of the wait that began the run is left out; a re-wait past 30
+ // minutes, a different wait, or a turn that also reads status still counts; fails_when=/runaway-stopper flags a lane that follows the
+ // rule (GST-1597); seam=emptyWakes; no_claim=whether the lane should have warm-waited at all
+ test('warm-wait check-ins inside 30 minutes are not empty wakes; past the window they count again', () => {
+ const lane: unknown[] = [];
+ for (let k = 0; k < 20; k++) { lane.push(work(k * 2000)); lane.push(wait(k * 2000 + 1, { operation_ids: ['op' + k], duration_seconds: 240 })); for (let c = 1; c <= 7; c++) lane.push(wait(k * 2000 + 1 + c * 240, c % 2 ? { duration_seconds: 240 } : { operation_ids: ['op' + k] })); }
+ expect(scan(lane, 'warm')).toContain('empty_wake=0%/20');
+ const late: unknown[] = [];
+ for (let k = 0; k < 20; k++) { late.push(work(k * 4000)); late.push(wait(k * 4000 + 1, { operation_ids: ['op' + k] })); late.push(wait(k * 4000 + 1 + 1900, { operation_ids: ['op' + k] })); }
+ expect(scan(late, 'late')).toContain('empty_wake=50%/40');
+ const other: unknown[] = [];
+ for (let k = 0; k < 20; k++) { other.push(work(k * 2000)); other.push(wait(k * 2000 + 1, { operation_ids: ['op' + k] })); other.push(wait(k * 2000 + 241, { operation_ids: ['other' + k], duration_seconds: 600 })); }
+ expect(scan(other, 'other')).toContain('empty_wake=50%/40');
+ const reads: unknown[] = [];
+ for (let k = 0; k < 20; k++) { reads.push(work(k * 2000)); reads.push(wait(k * 2000 + 1, { operation_ids: ['op' + k] })); reads.push({ source: 'tool', tool: 'execute', calls: [{ tool: 'subagent_list' }], createdAt: at(k * 2000 + 241) }); reads.push(wait(k * 2000 + 242, { operation_ids: ['op' + k] })); }
+ expect(scan(reads, 'reads')).toContain('empty_wake=50%/40');
+ const chain: unknown[] = [work(0), wait(1, { operation_ids: ['op'], duration_seconds: 240 })];
+ for (let c = 1; c <= 60; c++) chain.push(wait(1 + c * 240, { operation_ids: ['op'], duration_seconds: 240 }));
+ expect(scan(chain, 'chain')).toContain('FLAG: WARN empty_wake 100% of 40 turns > 25%');
+ });
+
+ // Value: protects=a 240 s timer chains only on the run's operations or none, and a counted turn that re-waits on the run's operation
+ // keeps the run's start, so polling one operation for hours with a status read every 28 minutes still counts; fails_when=a timer
+ // naming other operations is left out, or a status-read turn restarts the 30-minute window (GST-1597 /ship findings 2 and 3);
+ // seam=emptyWakes; no_claim=how often a lane should read status
+ test('a 240 s timer on other operations counts; a status-read turn does not restart the warm window', () => {
+ const timer = (ops: (k: number) => Record) => {
+ const items: unknown[] = [];
+ for (let k = 0; k < 20; k++) { items.push(work(k * 2000)); items.push(wait(k * 2000 + 1, { operation_ids: ['op' + k] })); items.push(wait(k * 2000 + 241, { ...ops(k), duration_seconds: 240 })); }
+ return items;
+ };
+ expect(scan(timer(k => ({ operation_ids: ['other' + k] })), 'timer-other')).toContain('empty_wake=50%/40');
+ expect(scan(timer(k => ({ operation_ids: ['op' + k] })), 'timer-same')).toContain('empty_wake=0%/20');
+ expect(scan(timer(() => ({})), 'timer-none')).toContain('empty_wake=0%/20');
+ const polled: unknown[] = [work(0), wait(1, { operation_ids: ['op'], duration_seconds: 240 })];
+ for (let c = 1; c <= 60; c++) {
+ if (c % 7 === 0) polled.push({ source: 'tool', tool: 'execute', calls: [{ tool: 'subagent_list' }], createdAt: at(c * 240) });
+ polled.push(wait(1 + c * 240, { operation_ids: ['op'], duration_seconds: 240 }));
+ }
+ expect(scan(polled, 'polled')).toContain('FLAG: WARN empty_wake 100% of 40 turns > 25%');
+ });
+
test('a subagent.list file replaces thread.get tasks: own sums top-level paths only, truncation makes it an upper bound', () => {
const doc = { code: 'GSTA-266', status: 'working', created_at: '2026-11-03T20:00:00Z', cost: { tokens: 700e6 }, tasks: [] };
const subs = { total: 3, tasks: [
@@ -235,6 +286,30 @@ describe('/runaway-stopper skill', () => {
expect(skill).toContain('rm -rf');
expect(skill).toContain('calls: i.calls?.map(c => ({ tool: c.tool }))');
});
+ // Value: protects=the skill's fetch program keeps each wait's input, so the warm-wait exclusion runs through /runaway-stopper and not
+ // only on hand-built files; fails_when=the projection drops input and every warm check-in counts as an empty wake (GST-1597 /ship
+ // finding 1); seam=the template's projection run over items shaped like a tools.thread.get page (tools: true, read 2026-11-06),
+ // then gstack-runaway scan on the file it writes
+ test('the fetch program keeps wait input, so warm check-ins on a thread.get page are left out through the skill', () => {
+ const src = skill.match(/transcript\.items\.map\((i => \(\{[\s\S]*?\}\))\)\);/)?.[1];
+ expect(src).toBeDefined();
+ const project = new Function('return ' + src)() as (i: unknown) => unknown;
+ const at = (s: number) => new Date(Date.parse('2026-11-06T12:00:00Z') + s * 1000).toISOString();
+ const text = (v: unknown) => ({ text: JSON.stringify(v), chars: JSON.stringify(v).length });
+ const waitItem = (s: number, input: Record) => ({ id: 'toolu_w' + s, source: 'tool', tool: 'wait', text: 'Waiting for CI', createdAt: at(s),
+ input: text({ description: 'Waiting for CI', ...input }), result: { text: 'Waiting on 1 operation, resuming when any completes.', chars: 52, is_error: false } });
+ const page: unknown[] = [];
+ for (let k = 0; k < 20; k++) {
+ page.push({ id: 'toolu_x' + k, source: 'tool', tool: 'execute', text: 'Fix and push', createdAt: at(k * 2000),
+ calls: [{ tool: 'bash', durationMs: 700, input: text({ command: 'git push' }) }, { tool: 'edit', durationMs: 20, input: text({ path: 'a.ts' }) }], input: text({ code: '...' }) });
+ page.push(waitItem(k * 2000 + 1, { operation_ids: ['op' + k], duration_seconds: 240 }));
+ for (let c = 1; c <= 7; c++) page.push(waitItem(k * 2000 + 1 + c * 240, { operation_ids: ['op' + k], duration_seconds: 240 }));
+ }
+ const doc = { code: 'GSTA-998', status: 'idle', created_at: '2026-11-06T02:00:00Z', cost: { tokens: 1e6 }, tasks: [], events: page.map(project) };
+ const out = run('scan', '--thread', write('skill-warm.thread.json', doc), '--now', NOW).out;
+ expect(out).toContain('empty_wake=0%/20');
+ expect(out).not.toContain('FLAG: WARN empty_wake');
+ });
test('rotation stops or lists live subagents, the successor subscribes to open PRs, and archiving waits for it', () => {
expect(skill).toContain('stop your working and waiting subagents, or list each with its run');
expect(skill).toContain('subscribes to each open PR in the handoff');