fix: address PR #587 REQUEST_CHANGES for MCP namespace health (#543)

- Distinguish client_namespace vs offline_spawn probe sources; only IDE
  client probes prove namespace health and feed mutation gates.
- Record assessments in session; gate gitea_submit_pr_review and
  gitea_merge_pr when client-namespace health is unhealthy/non-proven.
- Mark test_mcp_conn.py offline-only; align recovery docs to client
  reconnect (no PID-kill/config-touch as canonical recovery).
- Rebase onto current master so #590 ledger isolation keeps
  TestMergePR.test_unknown_profile_blocks green.

docs/mcp-namespace-eof-recovery.md

@@ -21,7 +21,8 @@ not a missing or broken tool:
 
 - The tool can be present and registered in the Python `FastMCP` tool manager.
 - Direct Python inspection of the server confirms the tool exists.
-- Running the server manually and sending JSON-RPC over stdio works fine.
+- Running the server manually and sending JSON-RPC over stdio works fine
+  (offline spawn) — that path does **not** prove the IDE namespace is healthy.
 
 The client manager entered a closed state after the backing subprocess for that
 namespace terminated (or was killed) behind its back. Once closed, the client
@@ -36,9 +37,9 @@ detected by the `ps`-based `_check_mcp_runtimes_diagnostics` in
 `gitea_mcp_server.py`. The EOF case is a dead/closed transport, not a stale one,
 so the `ps` check alone will not surface it.
 
-## Recovery path
+## Recovery path (canonical — client reconnect only)
 
-Do the steps in order. Stop as soon as a live namespace call succeeds.
+Do the steps in order. Stop as soon as a live **client-namespace** call succeeds.
 
 1. **Confirm the blast radius.** Call a cheap read tool on the failing namespace
    (`gitea_whoami` or `gitea_list_profiles`). Then call the same tool on a
@@ -53,22 +54,28 @@ Do the steps in order. Stop as soon as a live namespace call succeeds.
    closed-client state that a bare `kill`/respawn from a terminal does **not**.
 
 3. **Do not "fix" it by importing the server or poking the process.** Reaching
-   for `python -c 'import gitea_mcp_server ...'`, raw JSON-RPC from a shell, or
-   killing PIDs to force a respawn does not restore the *client's* view of the
-   namespace and violates the daemon-import guard (#558,
-   `docs/mcp-daemon-import-guard.md`). The only sanctioned repair is a client
-   reconnect / relaunch.
+   for `python -c 'import gitea_mcp_server ...'`, raw JSON-RPC from a shell,
+   killing PIDs to force a respawn, or touching MCP config mtimes does **not**
+   restore the *client's* view of the namespace and violates the daemon-import
+   guard (#558, `docs/mcp-daemon-import-guard.md`). The only sanctioned repair
+   is a **client reconnect / relaunch**.
 
 4. **Verify through the same path the workflow will use.** After reconnect, call
    the specific tool the blocked workflow needs — not just any tool — through
    the target namespace. For a merge that means calling the merger-authorized
    adoption/merge tool through `gitea-merger`. A green `gitea_whoami` on one
    namespace does **not** prove another namespace or another tool is callable.
+   Record success with:
+
+   ```text
+   gitea_assess_mcp_namespace_health(..., probe_source="client_namespace")
+   ```
 
 5. **If reconnect does not clear it,** relaunch the client entirely, then repeat
    step 4. If EOF persists after a full relaunch, the backing subprocess is
    failing to start — inspect its stderr / launch config (command path, venv,
-   `*_MCP_CONFIG`, `*_MCP_PROFILE` env) rather than retrying the call.
+   `*_MCP_CONFIG`, `*_MCP_PROFILE` env) rather than retrying the call. Still
+   do not use PID kill or config-touch as the primary recovery.
 
 ## Diagnostics to capture when reporting EOF
 
@@ -77,33 +84,35 @@ Include all of these so the failure is actionable and reproducible:
 - **Namespace name** that returned EOF (`gitea-author` / `gitea-reviewer` /
   `gitea-merger` / `gitea-tools`).
 - **Tool** that was called and the **exact** error string.
-- **PID** of the backing process (if any) and whether it was still alive.
+- **PID** of the backing process (if any) and whether it was still alive
+  (informational only — not a recovery action).
 - **Profile / env** for that namespace (execution profile, `*_MCP_PROFILE`,
   worktree binding such as `GITEA_AUTHOR_WORKTREE`).
 - **Config path** the client launched the server from.
 - Result of the **cross-server control** call (did `context7` succeed?).
 
-## Reproducing the registered-vs-callable gap
+## Offline spawn probe (non-authoritative)
 
-`test_mcp_conn.py` performs a full JSON-RPC handshake
-(`initialize` → `initialized` → `tools/list`) plus a direct tool call against a
-namespace, which is what distinguishes "registered in FastMCP" from "callable
-through the client." Use it to confirm a namespace is genuinely reachable after
-a reconnect. It probes a namespace end-to-end; a namespace that returns EOF at
-the client fails this handshake, while `ps`-only checks still report the process
-as present.
+`test_mcp_conn.py` performs a full JSON-RPC handshake against a **fresh
+subprocess** (`initialize` → `initialized` → `tools/list` → `tools/call`) and
+classifies with `probe_source=offline_spawn`. That is useful for offline
+launch/registration debugging. It is **not** proof the IDE-managed namespace is
+healthy. See `docs/mcp-namespace-health.md`.
 
 ## Do-not list during EOF recovery
 
 - Do **not** retry a blocked merge/adoption until the required tool is confirmed
-  callable through the merger-authorized namespace (see #543 canonical handoff).
+  callable through the merger-authorized **client** namespace (see #543).
 - Do **not** clean, reset, or rebind a **foreign** worktree to work around the
   error.
 - Do **not** bypass the namespace with direct imports, raw API/curl, or
   in-memory state restoration.
+- Do **not** kill MCP PIDs or touch config mtimes as a substitute for client
+  reconnect.
 
 ## Related
 
 - #531 / #544 — stale-runtime detection (`ps`-based); sibling failure mode.
 - #558 / `docs/mcp-daemon-import-guard.md` — why shell imports are not a repair.
 - `docs/mcp-client-registration.md` — per-server registration contract.
+- `docs/mcp-namespace-health.md` — probe sources and mutation enforcement.

docs/mcp-namespace-health.md

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# MCP namespace EOF recovery
+# MCP namespace health diagnostics (#543)
 
 Gitea MCP tools can be registered in the Python FastMCP server while the IDE's
 live MCP namespace is still unusable. The failure usually appears as
@@ -6,19 +6,54 @@ live MCP namespace is still unusable. The failure usually appears as
 a tool such as `gitea_whoami`.
 
 Do not treat static tool registration as proof that review or merge workflows
-can proceed. A reviewer or merger flow must have live namespace evidence that
-the required tool is callable through the configured namespace.
+can proceed. A reviewer or merger flow must have **client-namespace** evidence
+that the required tool is callable through the configured IDE MCP namespace.
 
-## Required namespace probes
+## Probe sources (do not confuse them)
 
-Run the health check after changing MCP config, switching branches that affect
-server code, or seeing EOF from any Gitea namespace:
+| Source | How obtained | Proves IDE namespace? |
+| --- | --- | --- |
+| `client_namespace` | Tool call through the IDE-managed MCP client | **Yes** |
+| `offline_spawn` | `test_mcp_conn.py` subprocess JSON-RPC handshake | **No** (offline only) |
+
+`gitea_assess_mcp_namespace_health` accepts `probe_source` and only sets
+`ide_namespace_proven=true` for `client_namespace` success. Offline spawn
+success never clears review/merge mutation gates.
+
+## Client-namespace health check (canonical)
+
+1. Through the IDE client, call a cheap tool on the target namespace
+   (`gitea_whoami` or `gitea_list_profiles`).
+2. Feed the live result into:
+
+```text
+gitea_assess_mcp_namespace_health(
+    namespace="gitea-merger",          # or reviewer / author / tools
+    registered_tools=[...],            # optional static list
+    probe_result={"success": true, "result": {...}},
+    probe_source="client_namespace",
+)
+```
+
+3. A healthy client-namespace assessment is recorded in the MCP session and
+   consulted by **live** `gitea_submit_pr_review` / `gitea_merge_pr` gates.
+4. If the probe fails with EOF, recover via **client reconnect only** — see
+   `docs/mcp-namespace-eof-recovery.md`. Do **not** kill PIDs or touch MCP
+   config mtimes as a recovery procedure.
+
+## Offline spawn probe (non-authoritative)
 
 ```bash
 python3 test_mcp_conn.py --config ~/.gemini/config/mcp_config.json
 ```
 
-By default the script checks these namespaces and required tools:
+This script spawns a **separate** server process from config, performs
+JSON-RPC `initialize` → `tools/list` → `tools/call`, and classifies the
+result with `probe_source=offline_spawn`. Use it for offline debugging of
+launch command / registration. It does **not** prove the IDE-managed
+namespace is healthy.
+
+By default the script checks:
 
 | Namespace | Required tool |
 | --- | --- |
@@ -27,50 +62,27 @@ By default the script checks these namespaces and required tools:
 | `gitea-merger` | `gitea_whoami` |
 | `gitea-tools` | `gitea_list_profiles` |
 
-Use `--namespace gitea-reviewer` to test only one namespace. A passing probe
-requires:
+## Recovery (canonical)
 
-1. The namespace exists in the MCP config.
-2. JSON-RPC initialize succeeds.
-3. `tools/list` returns the required tool.
-4. `tools/call` successfully invokes the required tool.
+When a namespace returns EOF, follow
+`docs/mcp-namespace-eof-recovery.md` in order:
 
-## Recovery steps
+1. Confirm blast radius (Gitea namespace vs all MCP servers).
+2. **Reconnect the namespace through the client** (IDE reconnect / relaunch).
+3. Do not repair via shell imports, raw JSON-RPC, PID kills, or config mtime
+   touches — those do not restore the client's closed transport.
+4. Re-verify the **specific** required tool through the target namespace.
+5. Resume review/merge only after a successful `client_namespace` assessment.
 
-When a namespace returns EOF:
+## Enforcement
 
-1. Note the reported namespace, required tool, PID, profile, environment
-   summary, and config path.
-2. Stop any stale MCP server process for that PID.
-3. Reload or touch the MCP config so the IDE reconnects the namespace.
-4. Verify the namespace command, args, profile env, and checkout path point at
-   the current repository.
-5. Re-run `python3 test_mcp_conn.py --namespace <name>`.
-6. Resume review or merge work only after the required tool call passes.
+1. **State machine (read-only):** feed `blocks_merge_workflow` from a
+   `client_namespace` assessment into
+   `gitea_assess_review_merge_state_machine(live_namespace_broken=...)`.
+2. **Live mutations:** `gitea_submit_pr_review` and `gitea_merge_pr` call
+   `_live_namespace_health_gate` and fail closed when the session has a
+   recorded unhealthy or non-client probe for the required namespace
+   (`gitea-reviewer` for review, `gitea-merger` for merge).
 
-The read-only `gitea_assess_mcp_namespace_health` tool can classify probe
-evidence supplied by a client. It intentionally distinguishes
-`required_tool_registered=true` from `required_tool_callable=false`; the latter
-must block reviewer and merger workflows until the live namespace is repaired.
-
-## Enforcement in the review/merge state machine
-
-The block is not advisory. Feed the `blocks_merge_workflow` verdict from
-`gitea_assess_mcp_namespace_health` into
-`gitea_assess_review_merge_state_machine` as `live_namespace_broken`:
-
-```text
-health  = gitea_assess_mcp_namespace_health(namespace="gitea-merger", ...)
-state   = gitea_assess_review_merge_state_machine(
-              state_completion=...,
-              pre_merge_gates=...,
-              live_namespace_broken=health["blocks_merge_workflow"],
-          )
-# state["merge"]["allowed"] is False whenever the live namespace is broken,
-# even when every review state and pre-merge gate is otherwise satisfied.
-```
-
-When `live_namespace_broken=True`, `assess_workflow_blockers`,
-`can_approve`, `can_merge`, and `workflow_status` all fail closed. This is the
-guard that stops a merge from proceeding on a false-ready namespace, as in the
-PR #418 halt that motivated this work (#543).
+When blocked, repair the IDE namespace and re-record a healthy
+`client_namespace` assessment before retrying the mutation.

gitea_mcp_server.py

@@ -2825,6 +2825,35 @@ _TERMINAL_REVIEW_ACTIONS = frozenset({"approve", "request_changes"})
 # remote + profile identity with TTL.
 _REVIEW_DECISION_LOCK: dict | None = None
 
+# Session-scoped live MCP namespace health assessments (#543).
+# Keyed by namespace name. Only client_namespace entries authorize mutations.
+_LIVE_NAMESPACE_HEALTH: dict[str, dict] = {}
+
+
+def _record_live_namespace_health(assessment: dict | None) -> None:
+    """Store a namespace health assessment for mutation gates."""
+    if not isinstance(assessment, dict):
+        return
+    ns = str(assessment.get("namespace") or "").strip()
+    if not ns:
+        return
+    _LIVE_NAMESPACE_HEALTH[ns] = {
+        "namespace": ns,
+        "healthy": bool(assessment.get("healthy")),
+        "ide_namespace_proven": bool(assessment.get("ide_namespace_proven")),
+        "probe_source": assessment.get("probe_source"),
+        "blocks_merge_workflow": bool(assessment.get("blocks_merge_workflow")),
+        "error_type": assessment.get("error_type"),
+        "required_tool": assessment.get("required_tool"),
+    }
+
+
+def _live_namespace_health_gate(task: str) -> list[str]:
+    """Fail closed on recorded broken/non-client IDE namespace health (#543)."""
+    return mcp_namespace_health.mutation_gate_from_session(
+        task, _LIVE_NAMESPACE_HEALTH
+    )
+
 
 def _decision_lock_binding(lock: dict | None = None) -> dict:
     """Resolve key fields for durable decision-lock storage."""
@@ -3515,6 +3544,11 @@ def _evaluate_pr_review_submission(
         reasons.extend(workflow_blockers)
         reasons.extend(review_workflow_load.recovery_handoff_without_replay())
         return result
+    if live:
+        ns_gate = _live_namespace_health_gate("review_pr")
+        if ns_gate:
+            reasons.extend(ns_gate)
+            return result
 
     if action not in _REVIEW_ACTIONS:
         reasons.append(
@@ -4616,6 +4650,12 @@ def gitea_merge_pr(
         reasons.extend(review_workflow_load.recovery_handoff_without_replay())
         return result
 
+    # Gate 0b — recorded live MCP namespace health must not be broken (#543).
+    ns_gate = _live_namespace_health_gate("merge_pr")
+    if ns_gate:
+        reasons.extend(ns_gate)
+        return result
+
     # Gate 1 — valid merge method (no API call on a bad method).
     if do not in _MERGE_METHODS:
         reasons.append(
@@ -9203,16 +9243,22 @@ def gitea_assess_mcp_namespace_health(
     config_path: str | None = None,
     profile: str | None = None,
     configured: bool = True,
+    probe_source: str | None = None,
 ) -> dict:
-    """Read-only: classify live MCP namespace health for required Gitea tools.
+    """Classify MCP namespace health for required Gitea tools (#543).
 
     Static FastMCP registration is not enough to prove a namespace works: IDE
     clients can keep a registered tool list while live calls fail with
-    ``client is closing: EOF``. This diagnostic accepts static registration
-    evidence plus live invocation evidence and returns fail-closed guidance for
-    reviewer/merger workflows.
+    ``client is closing: EOF``. Pass live IDE invocation evidence with
+    ``probe_source='client_namespace'``. Offline subprocess probes
+    (``test_mcp_conn.py``) must use ``probe_source='offline_spawn'`` and never
+    count as IDE proof.
+
+    Assessments are recorded in the session so live
+    ``gitea_submit_pr_review`` / ``gitea_merge_pr`` can fail closed when a
+    client-namespace probe reported unhealthy.
     """
-    return mcp_namespace_health.classify_namespace_probe(
+    result = mcp_namespace_health.classify_namespace_probe(
         namespace,
         required_tool=required_tool,
         registered_tools=registered_tools,
@@ -9221,7 +9267,10 @@ def gitea_assess_mcp_namespace_health(
         config_path=config_path,
         profile=profile,
         configured=configured,
+        probe_source=probe_source,
     )
+    _record_live_namespace_health(result)
+    return result
 
 
 @mcp.tool()

mcp_namespace_health.py

@@ -3,6 +3,15 @@
 The IDE/client namespace can fail with EOF even when this Python process still
 registers the Gitea tools with FastMCP.  These helpers keep that distinction
 explicit so reviewer/merger flows can fail closed on the live path.
+
+Probe sources
+-------------
+* ``client_namespace`` — evidence from the IDE-managed MCP client path (the
+  only source that can prove the workflow namespace is healthy).
+* ``offline_spawn`` — a separate ``subprocess.Popen`` JSON-RPC handshake
+  (e.g. ``test_mcp_conn.py``). Useful offline, but **never** proves the
+  IDE-managed namespace is callable.
+* ``unknown`` — legacy/unspecified; treated as not IDE-proven.
 """
 
 from __future__ import annotations
@@ -19,6 +28,20 @@ REQUIRED_NAMESPACE_TOOLS = {
 
 DEFAULT_NAMESPACES = tuple(REQUIRED_NAMESPACE_TOOLS)
 
+# Namespaces that must be healthy for a given mutation task.
+TASK_REQUIRED_NAMESPACES = {
+    "review_pr": "gitea-reviewer",
+    "submit_review": "gitea-reviewer",
+    "merge_pr": "gitea-merger",
+}
+
+PROBE_SOURCE_CLIENT = "client_namespace"
+PROBE_SOURCE_OFFLINE = "offline_spawn"
+PROBE_SOURCE_UNKNOWN = "unknown"
+VALID_PROBE_SOURCES = frozenset(
+    {PROBE_SOURCE_CLIENT, PROBE_SOURCE_OFFLINE, PROBE_SOURCE_UNKNOWN}
+)
+
 EOF_PATTERNS = (
     "client is closing: eof",
     "transport closed",
@@ -50,6 +73,13 @@ def _contains_eof(text: str | None) -> bool:
     return any(pattern in lowered for pattern in EOF_PATTERNS)
 
 
+def _normalize_probe_source(probe_source: str | None) -> str:
+    raw = (probe_source or PROBE_SOURCE_UNKNOWN).strip().lower()
+    if raw in VALID_PROBE_SOURCES:
+        return raw
+    return PROBE_SOURCE_UNKNOWN
+
+
 def _safe_env_summary(process: dict[str, Any] | None) -> dict[str, str]:
     if not process:
         return {}
@@ -73,15 +103,17 @@ def classify_namespace_probe(
     config_path: str | None = None,
     profile: str | None = None,
     configured: bool = True,
+    probe_source: str | None = None,
 ) -> dict[str, Any]:
     """Classify whether a required tool is callable through a live namespace.
 
     ``registered_tools`` is static/server-side evidence. ``probe_result`` is
-    live client evidence from a real namespace invocation. The assessment is
-    healthy only when the required tool is registered and callable.
+    live invocation evidence. Only ``probe_source=client_namespace`` proves the
+    IDE-managed path; ``offline_spawn`` is an offline subprocess check only.
     """
     ns = (namespace or "").strip()
     tool = required_tool or REQUIRED_NAMESPACE_TOOLS.get(ns) or "gitea_whoami"
+    source = _normalize_probe_source(probe_source)
     registered_list = _as_list(registered_tools)
     registered = None if registered_list is None else tool in registered_list
 
@@ -113,7 +145,9 @@ def classify_namespace_probe(
         error_type = "namespace_call_failed"
 
     callable_live = bool(configured and probe_result and probe_success)
+    # Probe-path health (spawn or client). IDE-proven only for client path.
     healthy = bool(configured and registered is not False and callable_live)
+    ide_namespace_proven = bool(healthy and source == PROBE_SOURCE_CLIENT)
     process_pid = process.get("pid") if isinstance(process, dict) else None
     profile_name = profile or (
         process.get("profile") if isinstance(process, dict) else None
@@ -143,24 +177,53 @@ def classify_namespace_probe(
         reasons.append(
             f"Live MCP namespace '{ns}' failed while invoking '{tool}'."
         )
+    if source == PROBE_SOURCE_OFFLINE:
+        reasons.append(
+            "Probe source is offline_spawn (subprocess JSON-RPC); this does "
+            "not prove the IDE-managed MCP namespace is healthy."
+        )
+    elif source == PROBE_SOURCE_UNKNOWN and probe_result:
+        reasons.append(
+            "Probe source unspecified; treat as not IDE-namespace proof unless "
+            "re-supplied with probe_source='client_namespace'."
+        )
 
     remediation = []
-    if not healthy:
+    if not healthy or not ide_namespace_proven:
         remediation.append(
-            "Restart or reconnect the IDE MCP client namespace, then retry "
-            f"'{tool}' through namespace '{ns}'."
+            "Reconnect the IDE MCP client namespace (client reconnect / "
+            f"relaunch), then invoke '{tool}' through namespace '{ns}' and "
+            "record the result with probe_source='client_namespace'."
         )
         remediation.append(
-            "Reload the MCP config and verify the configured command, args, "
-            "profile environment, and working tree point at the current checkout."
+            "Do not treat offline subprocess probes (test_mcp_conn.py) or "
+            "shell kill/PID respawn as proof the IDE namespace is repaired."
         )
-        if process_pid:
+        if process_pid and source != PROBE_SOURCE_OFFLINE:
             remediation.append(
-                f"If PID {process_pid} belongs to a stale MCP process, stop it "
-                "before reconnecting the namespace."
+                f"Diagnostics may include PID {process_pid}; process details "
+                "are informational only — recovery is client-layer reconnect."
             )
     else:
-        remediation.append(f"Namespace '{ns}' can invoke '{tool}'.")
+        remediation.append(
+            f"IDE-managed namespace '{ns}' can invoke '{tool}' "
+            f"(probe_source={source})."
+        )
+
+    # Client-namespace broken health blocks review/merge. Offline probes never
+    # authorize mutations and only block when they report unhealthy (still
+    # fail-closed for known bad spawn evidence).
+    blocks = False
+    if source == PROBE_SOURCE_CLIENT:
+        blocks = namespace_health_blocks_task("merge_pr", healthy)
+    elif source == PROBE_SOURCE_OFFLINE:
+        # Offline never proves IDE health; never unblock. Unhealthy offline
+        # still surfaces as a soft diagnostic, not a mutation-ledger block.
+        blocks = False
+    else:
+        # Unknown source: only block when evidence is unhealthy (fail closed
+        # on bad data without treating success as IDE proof).
+        blocks = namespace_health_blocks_task("merge_pr", healthy)
 
     return {
         "success": healthy,
@@ -171,6 +234,8 @@ def classify_namespace_probe(
         "registered_tools_checked": registered_list is not None,
         "required_tool_registered": registered,
         "required_tool_callable": callable_live,
+        "probe_source": source,
+        "ide_namespace_proven": ide_namespace_proven,
         "error_type": None if healthy else error_type,
         "error_message": error_message or None,
         "reasons": reasons,
@@ -182,10 +247,9 @@ def classify_namespace_probe(
             "profile": profile_name,
             "env": env_summary,
             "config_path": config_path,
+            "probe_source": source,
         },
-        "blocks_merge_workflow": namespace_health_blocks_task(
-            "merge_pr", healthy
-        ),
+        "blocks_merge_workflow": blocks,
     }
 
 
@@ -194,3 +258,49 @@ def namespace_health_blocks_task(task: str, healthy: bool) -> bool:
     if healthy:
         return False
     return (task or "").strip() in {"merge_pr", "review_pr", "submit_review"}
+
+
+def required_namespace_for_task(task: str) -> str | None:
+    """Map a mutation task to the MCP namespace that must be healthy."""
+    return TASK_REQUIRED_NAMESPACES.get((task or "").strip())
+
+
+def mutation_gate_from_session(
+    task: str,
+    session_health: dict[str, dict[str, Any]] | None,
+) -> list[str]:
+    """Fail-closed gate using recorded client-namespace health assessments.
+
+    * Missing session entry → no gate (caller has not assessed yet).
+    * Client-namespace unhealthy / not IDE-proven → block mutation.
+    * Offline-only session entries never authorize mutations.
+    """
+    ns = required_namespace_for_task(task)
+    if not ns:
+        return []
+    store = session_health or {}
+    entry = store.get(ns)
+    if not entry:
+        return []
+    source = _normalize_probe_source(entry.get("probe_source"))
+    if source != PROBE_SOURCE_CLIENT:
+        return [
+            f"recorded namespace health for '{ns}' is probe_source={source}, "
+            "not client_namespace; re-probe through the IDE-managed path "
+            f"before {(task or 'mutation')}"
+        ]
+    if entry.get("ide_namespace_proven") and entry.get("healthy"):
+        return []
+    if entry.get("blocks_merge_workflow") or not entry.get("healthy"):
+        detail = entry.get("error_type") or "unhealthy"
+        return [
+            f"live MCP namespace '{ns}' is recorded {detail} "
+            f"(probe_source={source}); repair the IDE namespace before "
+            f"{(task or 'mutation')} (fail closed, #543)"
+        ]
+    if not entry.get("ide_namespace_proven"):
+        return [
+            f"live MCP namespace '{ns}' is not IDE-proven; supply a "
+            "client_namespace probe before mutation (fail closed, #543)"
+        ]
+    return []

test_mcp_conn.py

@@ -1,10 +1,15 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python3
-"""Live health-check script to verify Gitea MCP namespace connections.
+"""Offline-only MCP namespace spawn probe (NOT IDE-namespace proof).
 
-Spawns MCP server processes from the IDE config, performs the JSON-RPC
-handshake, verifies the required tool is registered, and invokes that tool.
-The final invocation is what catches client/namespace EOF failures that a
-static FastMCP registration check cannot see.
+Spawns a *separate* MCP server process from config via subprocess.Popen,
+performs the JSON-RPC handshake, verifies the required tool is registered,
+and invokes that tool. Results are classified with
+``probe_source=offline_spawn``.
+
+This path is useful for offline launch/registration debugging. It does
+**not** prove the IDE-managed MCP client namespace is healthy (#543). For
+workflow gates, pass live IDE call evidence with
+``probe_source=client_namespace`` to ``gitea_assess_mcp_namespace_health``.
 """
 
 import argparse
@@ -59,6 +64,7 @@ def run_connection_test(name, config, *, required_tool=None, config_path=None):
             probe_result={"success": False, "error": str(exc)},
             process={"profile": env.get("GITEA_MCP_PROFILE"), "env": env},
             config_path=config_path,
+                probe_source="offline_spawn",
         )
         print(f"  diagnostics: {json.dumps(assessment['diagnostics'], sort_keys=True)}")
         return False
@@ -92,6 +98,7 @@ def run_connection_test(name, config, *, required_tool=None, config_path=None):
                     "env": env,
                 },
                 config_path=config_path,
+                probe_source="offline_spawn",
             )
             print(f"  remediation: {' '.join(assessment['remediation'])}")
             proc.terminate()
@@ -128,6 +135,7 @@ def run_connection_test(name, config, *, required_tool=None, config_path=None):
                     "env": env,
                 },
                 config_path=config_path,
+                probe_source="offline_spawn",
             )
             print(f"  remediation: {' '.join(assessment['remediation'])}")
             proc.terminate()
@@ -153,6 +161,7 @@ def run_connection_test(name, config, *, required_tool=None, config_path=None):
                     "env": env,
                 },
                 config_path=config_path,
+                probe_source="offline_spawn",
             )
             print(f"  [FAIL] Required tool '{tool_name}' is not registered.")
             print(f"  remediation: {' '.join(assessment['remediation'])}")
@@ -180,6 +189,7 @@ def run_connection_test(name, config, *, required_tool=None, config_path=None):
                     "env": env,
                 },
                 config_path=config_path,
+                probe_source="offline_spawn",
             )
             print(f"  [FAIL] Received EOF on {tool_name} invocation.")
             print(f"  diagnostics: {json.dumps(assessment['diagnostics'], sort_keys=True)}")
@@ -198,6 +208,7 @@ def run_connection_test(name, config, *, required_tool=None, config_path=None):
                     "env": env,
                 },
                 config_path=config_path,
+                probe_source="offline_spawn",
             )
             print(f"  [FAIL] {tool_name} invocation returned error: {call_res['error']}")
             print(f"  remediation: {' '.join(assessment['remediation'])}")
@@ -215,6 +226,7 @@ def run_connection_test(name, config, *, required_tool=None, config_path=None):
                 "env": env,
             },
             config_path=config_path,
+                probe_source="offline_spawn",
         )
         print(f"  [OK] Successfully invoked required tool '{tool_name}'.")
         print(f"  diagnostics: {json.dumps(assessment['diagnostics'], sort_keys=True)}")
@@ -263,6 +275,7 @@ def main():
                 servers[name],
                 required_tool=REQUIRED_NAMESPACE_TOOLS.get(name),
                 config_path=config_path,
+                probe_source="offline_spawn",
             ):
                 failed = True
         else:

tests/conftest.py

@@ -66,6 +66,7 @@ def _reset_mutation_authority(monkeypatch):
     monkeypatch.setattr(mcp_server, "_MUTATION_AUTHORITY", None)
     monkeypatch.setattr(mcp_server, "_IDENTITY_CACHE", {})
     monkeypatch.setattr(mcp_server, "_REVIEW_DECISION_LOCK", None)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(mcp_server, "_LIVE_NAMESPACE_HEALTH", {})
     monkeypatch.setattr(mcp_server, "_preflight_whoami_called", False)
     monkeypatch.setattr(mcp_server, "_preflight_capability_called", False)
     monkeypatch.setattr(mcp_server, "_preflight_resolved_role", None)

tests/test_mcp_namespace_health.py

@@ -6,6 +6,9 @@ import review_merge_state_machine as rmsm
 
 
 class TestMcpNamespaceHealth(unittest.TestCase):
+    def setUp(self):
+        gitea_mcp_server._LIVE_NAMESPACE_HEALTH.clear()
+
     def test_registered_tool_but_live_eof_blocks_merge(self):
         result = mcp_namespace_health.classify_namespace_probe(
             "gitea-reviewer",
@@ -24,6 +27,7 @@ class TestMcpNamespaceHealth(unittest.TestCase):
                 },
             },
             config_path="/Users/jasonwalker/.gemini/config/mcp_config.json",
+            probe_source="client_namespace",
         )
 
         self.assertFalse(result["healthy"])
@@ -31,6 +35,8 @@ class TestMcpNamespaceHealth(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertTrue(result["required_tool_registered"])
         self.assertFalse(result["required_tool_callable"])
         self.assertTrue(result["blocks_merge_workflow"])
+        self.assertFalse(result["ide_namespace_proven"])
+        self.assertEqual(result["probe_source"], "client_namespace")
         self.assertEqual(result["diagnostics"]["process_pid"], 4321)
         self.assertEqual(result["diagnostics"]["profile"], "prgs-reviewer")
         self.assertEqual(
@@ -41,26 +47,44 @@ class TestMcpNamespaceHealth(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertIn("gitea-reviewer", result["reasons"][0])
         self.assertIn("gitea_whoami", result["reasons"][0])
 
-    def test_successful_live_invocation_is_healthy(self):
+    def test_successful_client_namespace_invocation_is_ide_proven(self):
         result = mcp_namespace_health.classify_namespace_probe(
             "gitea-author",
             registered_tools=["gitea_whoami"],
             probe_result={"success": True, "result": {"authenticated": True}},
             process={"pid": 1234, "profile": "prgs-author"},
             config_path="/tmp/mcp_config.json",
+            probe_source="client_namespace",
         )
 
         self.assertTrue(result["healthy"])
         self.assertTrue(result["required_tool_registered"])
         self.assertTrue(result["required_tool_callable"])
+        self.assertTrue(result["ide_namespace_proven"])
         self.assertFalse(result["blocks_merge_workflow"])
         self.assertIsNone(result["error_type"])
 
+    def test_offline_spawn_success_is_not_ide_proof(self):
+        result = mcp_namespace_health.classify_namespace_probe(
+            "gitea-merger",
+            registered_tools=["gitea_whoami"],
+            probe_result={"success": True, "result": {}},
+            process={"pid": 99, "profile": "prgs-merger"},
+            probe_source="offline_spawn",
+        )
+        self.assertTrue(result["healthy"])
+        self.assertFalse(result["ide_namespace_proven"])
+        self.assertFalse(result["blocks_merge_workflow"])
+        self.assertTrue(
+            any("offline_spawn" in r for r in result["reasons"])
+        )
+
     def test_registered_missing_required_tool_fails_before_probe_success(self):
         result = mcp_namespace_health.classify_namespace_probe(
             "gitea-tools",
             registered_tools=["gitea_whoami"],
             probe_result={"success": True, "result": {}},
+            probe_source="client_namespace",
         )
 
         self.assertFalse(result["healthy"])
@@ -68,23 +92,31 @@ class TestMcpNamespaceHealth(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertFalse(result["required_tool_registered"])
         self.assertEqual(result["error_type"], "tool_missing")
 
-    def test_server_tool_exposes_same_assessment(self):
+    def test_server_tool_exposes_same_assessment_and_records_session(self):
         result = gitea_mcp_server.gitea_assess_mcp_namespace_health(
             "gitea-merger",
             registered_tools=["gitea_whoami"],
             probe_result={"success": False, "error": "transport closed"},
             process={"pid": 9876, "profile": "prgs-merger"},
+            probe_source="client_namespace",
         )
 
         self.assertFalse(result["success"])
         self.assertEqual(result["error_type"], "namespace_eof")
         self.assertEqual(result["namespace"], "gitea-merger")
         self.assertEqual(result["diagnostics"]["process_pid"], 9876)
+        self.assertIn("gitea-merger", gitea_mcp_server._LIVE_NAMESPACE_HEALTH)
+        gate = gitea_mcp_server._live_namespace_health_gate("merge_pr")
+        self.assertTrue(gate)
+        self.assertTrue(any("gitea-merger" in r for r in gate))
 
 
 class TestLiveNamespaceBlocksMerge(unittest.TestCase):
     """AC5: a broken live namespace must hard-block the review/merge state machine."""
 
+    def setUp(self):
+        gitea_mcp_server._LIVE_NAMESPACE_HEALTH.clear()
+
     def _merge_ready_completion(self):
         # Completion through PRE_MERGE_RECHECK is the state where a clean merge
         # is otherwise allowed (see test_merge_allowed_with_pre_merge_gates).
@@ -141,6 +173,7 @@ class TestLiveNamespaceBlocksMerge(unittest.TestCase):
             registered_tools=["gitea_whoami", "gitea_adopt_merger_pr_lease"],
             probe_result={"success": False, "error": "client is closing: EOF"},
             process={"pid": 555, "profile": "prgs-merger"},
+            probe_source="client_namespace",
         )
         self.assertTrue(verdict["blocks_merge_workflow"])
         blocked = rmsm.can_merge(
@@ -150,6 +183,26 @@ class TestLiveNamespaceBlocksMerge(unittest.TestCase):
         )
         self.assertFalse(blocked["allowed"])
 
+    def test_offline_spawn_does_not_authorize_mutation_gate(self):
+        gitea_mcp_server.gitea_assess_mcp_namespace_health(
+            "gitea-merger",
+            registered_tools=["gitea_whoami"],
+            probe_result={"success": True, "result": {}},
+            probe_source="offline_spawn",
+        )
+        gate = gitea_mcp_server._live_namespace_health_gate("merge_pr")
+        self.assertTrue(gate)
+        self.assertTrue(any("offline_spawn" in r or "client_namespace" in r for r in gate))
+
+    def test_client_namespace_healthy_clears_mutation_gate(self):
+        gitea_mcp_server.gitea_assess_mcp_namespace_health(
+            "gitea-merger",
+            registered_tools=["gitea_whoami"],
+            probe_result={"success": True, "result": {}},
+            probe_source="client_namespace",
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(gitea_mcp_server._live_namespace_health_gate("merge_pr"), [])
+
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     unittest.main()