docs: remediate stable control runtime ADR review findings (#615)

Address review 443 on PR #616: mandatory operator-guide/runbook cross-links,
LLM vs operator restart/relaunch split, and sanctioned post-merge parity
staleness response (stop, report, operator reload, re-verify). Add docs tests
enforcing F1–F3.

Refs: #615

controller_closure_baseline_proof.py

@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+"""Controller-closure baseline-proof gate (#529, criterion 6).
+
+A controller (or any session) may close a tracking issue with a closure
+report that summarizes validation. When that report calls a non-zero
+test-suite exit an "expected pre-existing failure" (or baseline / known
+failure) it must carry pre-merge proof; otherwise the closure buries an
+unproven regression as an accepted baseline and weakens controller
+confidence in the durable state.
+
+This module fails closed on exactly that case by reusing the pre-merge
+baseline proof verifier (#533). A closure report is allowed when it is
+empty (no validation claim), a clean pass, or a baseline failure proven on
+the PR pre-merge base commit (or a documented known-failure record that
+predates the PR).
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from typing import Any
+
+from premerge_baseline_proof import CLEAN_PASS, assess_premerge_baseline_proof
+
+
+def assess_controller_closure_baseline_proof(
+    closure_report: str | None,
+) -> dict[str, Any]:
+    """Assess whether an issue-closure report may proceed.
+
+    Returns a dict with ``block``, ``proven``, ``label``, ``reasons``,
+    ``skipped`` and ``safe_next_action``. Only blocks when the closure
+    report claims a non-zero validation exit is an expected
+    pre-existing/baseline failure without valid pre-merge proof.
+    """
+    text = (closure_report or "").strip()
+    if not text:
+        return {
+            "block": False,
+            "proven": True,
+            "label": CLEAN_PASS,
+            "reasons": [],
+            "skipped": True,
+            "safe_next_action": "",
+        }
+
+    result = assess_premerge_baseline_proof(text)
+    block = bool(result.get("block"))
+    return {
+        "block": block,
+        "proven": not block,
+        "label": result.get("label"),
+        "reasons": list(result.get("reasons") or []),
+        "skipped": bool(result.get("skipped", False)),
+        "safe_next_action": (
+            result.get("safe_next_action")
+            or (
+                "provide pre-merge baseline proof (base commit, tested commit, "
+                "command, exit status, failure signature) before closing on an "
+                "expected pre-existing failure"
+            )
+        )
+        if block
+        else "",
+    }

docs/architecture/mcp-stable-control-runtime-policy-adr.md

@@ -0,0 +1,198 @@
+# ADR: Stable control runtime vs dev runtime (Gitea MCP)
+
+- **Status:** Accepted (policy effective immediately for LLM sessions; tooling may lag)
+- **Date:** 2026-07-09
+- **Tracking issue:** [#615](https://gitea.prgs.cc/Scaled-Tech-Consulting/Gitea-Tools/issues/615)
+- **Related:**
+  - [#543](https://gitea.prgs.cc/Scaled-Tech-Consulting/Gitea-Tools/issues/543) / `docs/mcp-namespace-health.md` — client-namespace health
+  - `docs/mcp-namespace-eof-recovery.md` — reconnect-only EOF recovery (no PID kill)
+  - [#558](https://gitea.prgs.cc/Scaled-Tech-Consulting/Gitea-Tools/issues/558) / `docs/mcp-daemon-import-guard.md` — sanctioned daemon
+  - [#557](https://gitea.prgs.cc/Scaled-Tech-Consulting/Gitea-Tools/issues/557) / `docs/bootstrap-review-path.md` — controller bootstrap for self-hosted fixes
+  - Allocator / control-plane ADR: `docs/architecture/mcp-allocator-control-plane-observability-adr.md` (#613 / PR #614)
+
+## 1. Context
+
+The Gitea MCP server is the **control plane** for real issue/PR mutations (create, comment, lock, review, merge, etc.). When author/reviewer/merger/reconciler sessions kill or restart that process, relaunch it from a feature worktree, or edit the checkout that process loads, operators observe:
+
+- Mid-session identity/preflight resets
+- Stale-runtime vs master parity failures
+- IDE transport EOF / “tool not found” while code on disk has changed
+- Accidental production mutations from experimental code
+
+This ADR separates **stable control runtime** from **dev/test runtime** and defines promotion proof.
+
+## 2. Decision
+
+### 2.1 Stable control runtime
+
+The Gitea MCP server used for **real workflow mutations** is the **stable control runtime**.
+
+Characteristics:
+
+- Loads a known, promoted revision of Gitea-Tools (or the packaged release layout operators designate)
+- Registered in the IDE/client as the production namespaces (`gitea-tools`, `gitea-reviewer`, `gitea-merger`, `gitea-reconciler`, etc.)
+- Holds production profile credentials via sanctioned keychain/env paths only
+
+### 2.2 Dev / test runtime
+
+MCP **server code** development and testing:
+
+- Happens in isolated **`branches/`** worktrees (or other non-stable checkouts)
+- May use a **separate** dev/test MCP runtime/process when process-level testing is required
+- **Must not** be used for real Gitea mutations on production issues/PRs
+
+### 2.3 Forbidden actions (normal sessions)
+
+Normal **author, reviewer, merger, and reconciler** LLM sessions **must not**:
+
+| Forbidden | Why |
+|-----------|-----|
+| Kill the running MCP server process | Drops all concurrent sessions; loses preflight state |
+| Restart / relaunch the MCP server process | Same as kill; causes stale/identity churn mid-workflow |
+| Relaunch MCP from a development worktree | Runs unpromoted code against production mutations |
+| Edit files in the stable runtime checkout | Hot-mutates control plane under concurrent users |
+| Use experimental/dev MCP for real Gitea mutations | Bypasses promotion proof and audit expectations |
+| Bypass or self-reset a stale master-parity gate | The gate is fail-closed; only an operator reload restores parity |
+
+**LLM-allowed vs operator-owned (authoritative split):**
+
+| Actor | May do | Must not do |
+|-------|--------|-------------|
+| **LLM session** | Call tools on the already-running stable namespaces; **client reconnect** after transport EOF (no process kill); pass `worktree_path` / role worktree args; report blockers and stop mutations when unhealthy/stale | Kill, restart, or relaunch any MCP process; bump config mtimes to force reload; edit the stable checkout; switch to a dev MCP for production mutations |
+| **Operator / release-manager** | Supervised restart/reload of the **stable** control runtime; dual-namespace client configuration; §2.4 promotions; incident recovery | — |
+
+EOF / transport recovery for LLM sessions: **client reconnect only** (see `docs/mcp-namespace-eof-recovery.md`). Do not “fix” health by killing PIDs or bumping MCP config mtimes as a normal session procedure.
+
+This ADR **supersedes** any older runbook wording that told the LLM to relaunch or restart the client/MCP as a self-service step. Where `docs/llm-workflow-runbooks.md` (or wiki runbooks) discuss dual-namespace setup or workspace rebind, **process restart/relaunch is operator-owned**; the LLM stops, reports, and waits.
+
+### 2.4 Promotion (operator / release-manager only)
+
+Promotion of a new revision into the stable control runtime is an **explicit operator/release-manager action**, not an LLM self-service step.
+
+A promotion **must record** (issue comment, release note, or promotion ledger):
+
+| Field | Description |
+|-------|-------------|
+| **previous runtime SHA** | Commit previously loaded by stable runtime |
+| **promoted runtime SHA** | Commit after promotion |
+| **source branch/PR** | Where the change was reviewed |
+| **restart/reload method** | How the process was cycled (e.g. supervised restart, client reload) |
+| **health check proof** | Client-namespace probe success (`gitea_whoami` / namespace health) |
+| **identity/profile proof** | Expected profile(s) and username(s) after reload |
+| **workspace/root proof** | Stable checkout path / root matches intended layout |
+| **mutation capability proof** | Required permissions for the target role present; forbidden ops still forbidden |
+| **rollback instructions** | How to restore previous SHA and re-verify health |
+
+Suggested durable marker:
+
+```text
+## MCP STABLE RUNTIME PROMOTION (#615)
+
+Status: COMPLETED | ROLLED_BACK | ABORTED
+Previous-SHA: <full sha>
+Promoted-SHA: <full sha>
+Source-PR: <number>
+Source-Branch: <name>
+Reload-Method: <text>
+Health-Proof: client_namespace whoami OK / assess_mcp_namespace_health OK
+Identity-Proof: profile=<name> user=<name>
+Workspace-Proof: root=<path>
+Mutation-Proof: allowed_ops include <…>; forbidden include <…>
+Rollback: checkout <previous sha>; reload method <…>; re-run health/identity proofs
+Operator: <username>
+Timestamp: <ISO-8601>
+```
+
+### 2.5 Unhealthy stable runtime → stop work
+
+If the stable MCP runtime is **unhealthy**, including any of:
+
+- client-namespace probes fail
+- wrong identity / wrong profile
+- wrong workspace root
+- missing mutation capability for the intended role
+- persistent EOF after **client reconnect**
+- **master parity is stale** (`startup_head` behind on-disk `master` / `restart_required` from the parity gate)
+
+then:
+
+1. **Normal PR / review / merge / issue-mutation work must stop immediately.**
+2. The session **reports** the unhealthy/stale state (tool error, CTH, or operator handoff) with startup vs current head when known.
+3. Do **not** improvise: no LLM process kill/restart, no dev-worktree MCP for production mutations, no env escape hatches, no manual gate bypass.
+4. Resume only after:
+   - an **operator** restores the runtime (see §2.6 for routine post-merge parity reload), **or**
+   - a **controlled** promotion/rollback completes with the §2.4 promotion record, **or**
+   - a controller invokes the narrow **bootstrap review path** (#557) when the defect is self-hosted and documented,
+   - **and** the session re-verifies health (and master parity when applicable) before the next mutation.
+
+### 2.6 Routine post-merge master-parity staleness (operator reload, not promotion)
+
+**Symptom:** After merges land on `master`, a long-lived stable MCP process still runs the pre-merge `startup_head`. The master-parity gate marks the server **stale** / `restart_required` and **blocks mutations**.
+
+**Sanctioned response (authoritative):**
+
+| Step | Actor | Action |
+|------|-------|--------|
+| 1 | LLM session | Mutations stop immediately when the gate reports stale. |
+| 2 | LLM session | Report the stale state (startup head, current master head, that operator reload is required). Do not retry mutations. |
+| 3 | **Operator** | Reload/restart the **stable** control MCP so it loads current `master` (supervised client/daemon reload). |
+| 4 | LLM session | Resume only after startup/current-head parity is verified (e.g. `gitea_get_runtime_context` / parity assessment shows in parity). |
+
+**Not a §2.4 promotion:** Catching the already-designated stable control checkout up to a newly advanced `master` is a **routine operator reload** of the stable runtime. It does **not** require the nine-field promotion ledger. Use §2.4 only when **changing which unpromoted/dev revision** becomes the stable control runtime (new source branch/PR into the stable designation).
+
+**Code note:** `master_parity_gate.py` may still say “restart the server” in machine-facing reason strings. That string names the **operator recovery action**, not an LLM self-service instruction. This ADR and the runbooks define the actor split.
+
+## 3. Relationship to other controls
+
+| Doc / mechanism | Interaction |
+|-----------------|-------------|
+| Namespace health (#543) | Proves IDE client can call tools; does not authorize restart |
+| EOF recovery | Reconnect only; no process kill |
+| Daemon import guard (#558) | Mutations require sanctioned daemon; not a bare shell import |
+| Bootstrap path (#557) | Only controller-authorized exception when live runtime cannot review its own fix |
+| Allocator / control-plane ADR | Coordination DB is separate; still depends on a healthy MCP surface for Gitea writes |
+
+## 4. Consequences
+
+### Positive
+
+- Predictable control plane for concurrent LLMs
+- Clear operator-only promotion gate with rollback
+- Aligns session behavior with health/EOF docs already landed
+
+### Costs
+
+- LLM sessions must wait when runtime is sick (no DIY restart)
+- Operators must maintain promotion discipline and dual-runtime config if they use a dev MCP
+
+### Non-goals
+
+- Does not ban operator-supervised restarts during incidents
+- Does not replace CI or code review for MCP changes
+- Does not authorize editing stable checkout “because tests need a quick fix”
+
+## 5. Implementation follow-ups (optional tooling)
+
+These may land in later issues; the **policy binds sessions now**:
+
+1. Session preflight that refuses mutations if workspace root equals a `branches/` feature worktree configured as “dev only.”
+2. Explicit `runtime_kind=stable|dev` in MCP config and `gitea_whoami` profile metadata.
+3. Promotion checklist script that emits the durable promotion marker fields.
+
+**Not optional (issue #615 acceptance criterion 2):** operator guide and runbooks **must** cross-link this ADR (see §6). Cross-links are documentation acceptance, not deferred tooling.
+
+## 6. Acceptance for this ADR
+
+1. Document merged under `docs/architecture/mcp-stable-control-runtime-policy-adr.md`.
+2. **Operator guide / runbooks cross-link this ADR** (`docs/wiki/Operator-Guide.md`, `docs/wiki/Runbooks.md`, `docs/llm-workflow-runbooks.md`).
+3. Issue #615 references this path.
+4. LLM/operator runbooks treat kill/restart/relaunch-from-worktree as **LLM violations**; process restart is **operator-owned**.
+5. Unhealthy runtime (including **stale master parity**) stops normal mutation work until operator restore/reload, promotion/rollback, or #557 bootstrap — then re-verify parity before mutating.
+6. Routine post-merge parity reload is documented as operator reload (§2.6), not an LLM self-restart and not a full §2.4 promotion.
+
+## 7. Document history
+
+| Date | Change |
+|------|--------|
+| 2026-07-09 | Initial ADR: stable vs dev runtime, forbidden session actions, promotion proof fields, stop-work rule |
+| 2026-07-16 | Review 443 remediation (#615 / PR #616): mandatory cross-links; LLM vs operator restart split; routine post-merge parity staleness (§2.6); stale parity in §2.5 unhealthy triggers |

docs/llm-workflow-runbooks.md

@@ -195,7 +195,7 @@ To avoid the bottleneck of relaunching/restarting the MCP server to switch betwe
   `gitea_reconcile_already_landed_pr` after ancestry proof — not for normal
   review or author workflows.
 
-* **Fallback:** If the dual-profile MCP launcher pattern is not supported or configured in the client, the LLM must relaunch or restart the client/MCP with the correct profile environment variable before claiming or working on any tasks.
+* **Fallback (operator-owned):** If the dual-profile MCP launcher pattern is not supported or configured in the client, **do not** have the LLM relaunch or restart the client/MCP. The LLM **stops** role-switching work, reports that the correct static namespace is missing, and waits for an **operator** to configure dual namespaces or reload the client with the correct `GITEA_MCP_PROFILE` for that role. Process restart/relaunch is operator-owned under the [stable control runtime ADR](architecture/mcp-stable-control-runtime-policy-adr.md) (#615).
 
 ## Setup runbook — interactive menu
 
@@ -1049,6 +1049,72 @@ Special states:
 Final reports must not claim a comment was posted when
 `canonical_comment_validation.allowed` is false (#496 AC14).
 
+## Stale #332 review-decision lock cleanup (#594)
+
+#332 hard-stops a reviewer session after a terminal live review mutation
+(`approve` / `request_changes`). After #559 those locks are **durable** under
+`~/.cache/gitea-tools/session-state/review_decision_lock-<profile>.json`, so they
+can outlive the PR they protected.
+
+### When cleanup is **allowed**
+
+Use `gitea_cleanup_stale_review_decision_lock` from a **reviewer** profile when:
+
+1. A durable review-decision lock has a terminal live mutation, **and**
+2. Live Gitea state shows that terminal PR is already **merged** or **closed**
+   (so no same-PR merge sequence remains), **and**
+3. The active profile identity matches the lock, **and**
+4. Authenticated identity can be verified.
+
+Workflow:
+
+```text
+# 1) Assess only (default)
+gitea_cleanup_stale_review_decision_lock(apply=false, remote=prgs, ...)
+
+# 2) Apply after is_moot=true and cleanup_allowed=true
+gitea_cleanup_stale_review_decision_lock(
+  apply=true,
+  expected_terminal_pr=<merged-or-closed-pr>,
+  remote=prgs,
+  ...
+)
+```
+
+Successful apply:
+
+* clears in-memory + durable decision lock for that profile
+* returns a structured `audit` payload
+* posts an audit comment on the mooted PR when `gitea.pr.comment` is allowed
+  (`post_audit_comment=true` default)
+
+Same-profile auto-expire: if `gitea_merge_pr` succeeds on a PR that this same
+profile just approved, the decision lock is cleared after merge. Cross-profile
+locks (reviewer vs merger) still require the cleanup tool.
+
+### When cleanup is **forbidden**
+
+Do **not** clear when:
+
+* the last terminal PR is still **open** (active #332 hard-stop — continue merge
+  for that approve, or stop after request_changes)
+* live PR state cannot be fetched (fail closed)
+* profile identity does not match the lock
+* identity cannot be verified
+* `expected_terminal_pr` does not match the last terminal PR
+
+**Never** use manual deletion of session-state files as the normal workflow.
+**Never** use cleanup to skip review of an open PR or to bypass eligibility /
+mark-ready / submit gates on active work.
+
+### Related tools
+
+| Tool | Purpose |
+|------|---------|
+| `gitea_cleanup_stale_review_decision_lock` | Moot decision-lock cleanup (#594) |
+| `gitea_authorize_review_correction` | Operator-approved correction after a **mistaken** live review on still-active work (#211) |
+| `gitea_cleanup_post_merge_moot_lease` | Moot **lease** cleanup after merge (#515) — different object |
+
 ## Fail-closed behavior
 
 Before any mutating action the workflow verifies identity, active profile,
@@ -1134,10 +1200,13 @@ When a mutation blocks on workspace binding:
 
 1. Read the error — it names the **resolved workspace path**, **role
    namespace**, and **binding source** (tool arg, env var, or process root).
-2. Reconnect or relaunch the correct namespace MCP server from the intended
+2. **LLM-allowed:** pass `worktree_path` on reviewer/merger mutation tools when
-   workspace (or set the role-specific env var before launch).
+   the active `branches/` worktree differs from the MCP process root; **client
-3. Pass `worktree_path` on reviewer/merger mutation tools when the active
+   reconnect** after transport EOF only (no process kill).
-   branches/ worktree differs from the MCP process root.
+3. **Operator-owned:** if the wrong namespace process was launched, or a role-
+   specific `GITEA_*_WORKTREE` must be set at process start, an **operator**
+   reloads/relaunches the correct static namespace MCP. LLM sessions must not
+   kill or restart MCP processes (see [stable control runtime ADR](architecture/mcp-stable-control-runtime-policy-adr.md)).
 4. **Do not** clean, reset, or discard foreign role worktrees to unblock your
    own namespace — that destroys another agent's WIP.
 
@@ -1147,9 +1216,10 @@ When posting a Canonical Thread Handoff after a binding blocker:
 
 - State which namespace was active (author / reviewer / merger / reconciler).
 - Quote the resolved workspace path and binding source from the error.
-- Name the safe reconnect action (relaunch MCP from `branches/...`, set
+- Name the safe next action: pass `worktree_path` if that unblocks the tool, or
-  `GITEA_*_WORKTREE`, or pass `worktree_path`).
+  request an **operator** reload of the correct namespace MCP / env binding.
-- Explicitly note that foreign worktrees must not be cleaned to unblock.
+- Explicitly note that foreign worktrees must not be cleaned to unblock, and
+  that the LLM must not self-restart the MCP process.
 
 ## Safety notes
 
@@ -1160,6 +1230,7 @@ When posting a Canonical Thread Handoff after a binding blocker:
 
 ## Related documents
 
+- [`architecture/mcp-stable-control-runtime-policy-adr.md`](architecture/mcp-stable-control-runtime-policy-adr.md) — stable control runtime vs dev runtime; LLM must not kill/restart MCP; operator-owned reload and promotions; routine post-merge parity staleness (#615).
 - [`reviewer-handoff-consistency.md`](reviewer-handoff-consistency.md) — reject contradictory reviewer handoffs (#501).
 - [`issue-acceptance-gate.md`](issue-acceptance-gate.md) — controller issue-acceptance audit after PR merge (#500).
 - [`../skills/llm-project-workflow/SKILL.md`](../skills/llm-project-workflow/SKILL.md) — portable cross-project LLM workflow skill.

docs/mcp-namespace-eof-recovery.md

@@ -0,0 +1,118 @@
+# Recovering from `client is closing: EOF` on a Gitea MCP namespace (#543)
+
+## Symptom
+
+A tool call through a Gitea MCP namespace — `gitea-author`, `gitea-reviewer`,
+`gitea-merger`, or the shared `gitea-tools` namespace — fails immediately with:
+
+```
+client is closing: EOF
+```
+
+Every subsequent call to that same namespace returns the same error, including
+cheap read tools such as `gitea_whoami` and `gitea_list_profiles`. Other MCP
+servers registered with the same client (for example `context7`) keep working,
+so this is **not** a global MCP-client outage.
+
+## Why this is not a code defect
+
+This failure is a **transport-level** condition in the IDE / MCP client manager,
+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
+  (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
+does **not** re-spawn the child on the next tool call — it just replays
+`client is closing: EOF`. The OS process may even still be alive if a parent
+language-server process is holding the stdio pipes open.
+
+This is the canonical "registered in FastMCP ≠ callable through the namespace"
+false-ready state. It is distinct from the **stale-runtime** family in #531 /
+#544, where the process is reachable but running behind `master`; that case is
+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 (canonical — client reconnect only)
+
+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
+   different MCP server (e.g. `context7`).
+   - Only the Gitea namespace fails → single-namespace transport close. Continue.
+   - Every server fails → restart the whole MCP client, not just one namespace.
+
+2. **Reconnect the namespace through the client, not the shell.** Use the IDE /
+   client MCP-reconnect action for that server entry (in Claude Code:
+   `/mcp` → reconnect the affected `gitea-*` server). Reconnecting forces the
+   client to spawn a fresh subprocess and re-open the pipe. This clears the
+   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,
+   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. Still
+   do not use PID kill or config-touch as the primary recovery.
+
+## Diagnostics to capture when reporting EOF
+
+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
+  (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?).
+
+## Offline spawn probe (non-authoritative)
+
+`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 **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

@@ -0,0 +1,88 @@
+# 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
+`client is closing: EOF`, `transport closed`, or an empty response when calling
+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 **client-namespace** evidence
+that the required tool is callable through the configured IDE MCP namespace.
+
+## Probe sources (do not confuse them)
+
+| 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
+```
+
+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 |
+| --- | --- |
+| `gitea-author` | `gitea_whoami` |
+| `gitea-reviewer` | `gitea_whoami` |
+| `gitea-merger` | `gitea_whoami` |
+| `gitea-tools` | `gitea_list_profiles` |
+
+## Recovery (canonical)
+
+When a namespace returns EOF, follow
+`docs/mcp-namespace-eof-recovery.md` in order:
+
+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.
+
+## Enforcement
+
+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).
+
+When blocked, repair the IDE namespace and re-record a healthy
+`client_namespace` assessment before retrying the mutation.

docs/wiki/Operator-Guide.md

@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ Handbook for LLM operators and human developers using the Gitea-Tools MCP server
 4. **No self-review / no self-merge** — The authenticated Gitea user must not approve or merge a PR they authored.
 5. **Follow the gates** — Prompts express intent; MCP tools enforce safety. Never bypass gates via prompt instructions.
 6. **Global LLM Worktree Rule** — Main checkout stays on `master`/`main`/`dev`; all mutations happen under `branches/`. Prove project root, `cwd`, branch, stable main-checkout branch, and session worktree path before editing. No exceptions.
+7. **Stable control runtime** — Real Gitea mutations use only the **stable** MCP control runtime. LLM sessions must not kill, restart, or relaunch MCP processes, edit the stable checkout, or use a dev MCP for production mutations. See the policy ADR: [mcp-stable-control-runtime-policy-adr.md](../architecture/mcp-stable-control-runtime-policy-adr.md) (#615).
 
 ## Supported Gitea instances
 
@@ -29,4 +30,5 @@ Always pass `remote` explicitly on tool calls. The server default is `dadeschool
 1. `gitea_whoami` — confirm authenticated user and profile.
 2. `gitea_get_runtime_context` — allowed/forbidden operations for this session.
 3. `gitea_resolve_task_capability` — prove the session may perform the planned task.
-4. For reviewer work: dry-run validation (`gitea_dry_run_pr_review`) before live review mutations.
+4. For reviewer work: dry-run validation (`gitea_dry_run_pr_review`) before live review mutations.
+5. Confirm master parity / runtime health when tools report stale or unhealthy control runtime — stop mutations and request an **operator** reload of the stable MCP (see [stable control runtime ADR](../architecture/mcp-stable-control-runtime-policy-adr.md)).

docs/wiki/Runbooks.md

@@ -12,6 +12,17 @@
 4. `gitea_mark_final_review_decision` → approve via `gitea_review_pr`.
 5. `gitea_merge_pr` with pinned head SHA and `confirmation="MERGE PR <n>"`.
 
+## Stable MCP control runtime (#615)
+
+Policy ADR: [mcp-stable-control-runtime-policy-adr.md](../architecture/mcp-stable-control-runtime-policy-adr.md).
+
+| Situation | Who acts | What to do |
+|-----------|----------|------------|
+| Transport EOF / missing tools | LLM | **Client reconnect only** — do not kill PIDs |
+| Wrong profile / dual-namespace missing | Operator | Configure or reload the correct static namespace(s) |
+| Master parity stale after merge | LLM stops + reports; **operator** reloads stable MCP | Resume only after parity re-verified |
+| Promote unpromoted MCP code to stable | Operator / release-manager only | Full §2.4 promotion record |
+
 ## Gitea Wiki sync
 
 The Gitea Wiki mirrors `docs/wiki/` (source of truth). After merging wiki changes:

docs/wiki/Safety-and-Gates.md

@@ -15,5 +15,7 @@
 5. **Explicit merge confirmation** — `gitea_merge_pr` requires `confirmation="MERGE PR <n>"`.
 6. **No self-review / self-merge** — Authenticated user must differ from PR author for approve/merge.
 7. **Review decision lock** — Live review mutations require validation-phase dry-run and `gitea_mark_final_review_decision`.
-8. **Redaction** — Tokens, passwords, and keychain material never appear in tool output.
+8. **Terminal review hard-stop (#332)** — After a terminal live review mutation, only same-PR merge after `approve` may continue. Durable locks (#559) must not be deleted by hand.
-9. **Wiki publication (#224)** — `docs/wiki/` and the sync helper are prerequisites only. Closing a wiki issue requires live Gitea Wiki proof on the repo Wiki tab. See [Runbooks](Runbooks.md#wiki-publication-readiness-gate-224).
+9. **Stale decision-lock cleanup (#594)** — `gitea_cleanup_stale_review_decision_lock` may clear a durable #332 lock **only** when the last terminal mutation's PR is live-state **merged or closed**, identity/profile gates pass, and apply uses a reviewer-capable profile. Open/ambiguous locks stay fail-closed. Successful cleanup records a durable audit trail.
+10. **Redaction** — Tokens, passwords, and keychain material never appear in tool output.
+11. **Wiki publication (#224)** — `docs/wiki/` and the sync helper are prerequisites only. Closing a wiki issue requires live Gitea Wiki proof on the repo Wiki tab. See [Runbooks](Runbooks.md#wiki-publication-readiness-gate-224).

final_report_validator.py

@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ FINAL_REPORT_TASK_KINDS = frozenset({
     "issue_filing",
     "issue_selection",
     "inventory",
+    "controller_close",
 })
 
 _TASK_KIND_ALIASES = {
@@ -51,6 +52,9 @@ _TASK_KIND_ALIASES = {
     "reconcile_already_landed": "reconcile_already_landed",
     "work-issue": "work_issue",
     "create_issue": "issue_filing",
+    "close_issue": "controller_close",
+    "close-issue": "controller_close",
+    "controller-close": "controller_close",
 }
 
 _HANDOFF_ROLE_BY_TASK = {
@@ -62,6 +66,7 @@ _HANDOFF_ROLE_BY_TASK = {
     "issue_filing": "issue_filing",
     "issue_selection": None,
     "inventory": "inventory",
+    "controller_close": None,
 }
 
 _LEGACY_WORKSPACE_MUTATIONS_RE = re.compile(
@@ -850,6 +855,27 @@ def _rule_reviewer_premerge_baseline_proof(report_text: str) -> list[dict[str, s
     )
 
 
+def _rule_reviewer_post_merge_validation(report_text: str) -> list[dict[str, str]]:
+    """Block active approval on an already-merged/closed PR, and post-merge moot
+    validation claimed without merged-state + merge-commit proof (#529)."""
+    from post_merge_validation import assess_post_merge_validation
+
+    result = assess_post_merge_validation(report_text)
+    if not result.get("block"):
+        return []
+    return _findings_from_reasons(
+        "reviewer.post_merge_validation",
+        result.get("reasons") or [],
+        field="Validation status",
+        severity="block",
+        safe_next_action=result.get("safe_next_action")
+        or (
+            "record post-merge moot validation instead of an active approval; "
+            "cite PR state merged/closed and the merge commit SHA"
+        ),
+    )
+
+
 def _rule_reviewer_validation_status_vocabulary(
     report_text: str,
     *,
@@ -1514,6 +1540,7 @@ _RULES_BY_TASK: dict[str, list[Callable[..., list[dict[str, str]]]]] = {
         _rule_reviewer_linked_issue,
         _rule_reviewer_baseline_on_failure,
         _rule_reviewer_premerge_baseline_proof,
+        _rule_reviewer_post_merge_validation,
         _rule_reviewer_validation_status_vocabulary,
         _rule_reviewer_main_checkout_baseline,
         _rule_reviewer_main_checkout_path,
@@ -1606,6 +1633,13 @@ _RULES_BY_TASK: dict[str, list[Callable[..., list[dict[str, str]]]]] = {
         *_SHARED_CANONICAL_COMMENT_RULES,
         *_SHARED_ISSUE_LOCK_RULES,
     ],
+    # Controller issue closure (#529): a closure report must not bury an
+    # unproven non-zero suite exit as an "expected pre-existing failure".
+    # Kept intentionally narrow so a closure pre-check does not demand the
+    # full reviewer/author handoff schema.
+    "controller_close": [
+        _rule_reviewer_premerge_baseline_proof,
+    ],
 }
 
 

issue_content_gate.py

@@ -0,0 +1,180 @@
+"""Pre-create issue content gate (#582).
+
+Blocks issue creation when the title/body is a *vague reference* to
+out-of-band content the LLM cannot prove it has ("the drafted issue",
+"the prepared issue", "the issue we discussed", "the previous draft")
+with no durable source pointer.
+
+The rule from #582: an LLM must not fabricate an issue from stale chat
+memory. When the requested issue content is a vague reference and no
+durable source pointer (existing issue/PR/comment, checked-in file, URL,
+or scratchpad path) is present, the gate fails closed and the caller must
+return BLOCKED + DIAGNOSE naming the exact vague/missing fields.
+
+This gate intentionally does NOT require a non-empty body: title-only
+issue creation remains allowed for callers that explicitly want it. It
+only blocks content that is a placeholder reference to something the
+current context does not contain.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import re
+import unicodedata
+
+# Vague reference phrases that point at out-of-band draft content. Stored
+# normalized (lowercase, punctuation-stripped, whitespace-collapsed) so they
+# can be matched against normalized field text.
+VAGUE_REFERENCE_PHRASES: tuple[str, ...] = (
+    "the drafted issue",
+    "drafted issue",
+    "the prepared issue",
+    "prepared issue",
+    "the issue we discussed",
+    "the issue we talked about",
+    "the one we discussed",
+    "the previous draft",
+    "previous draft",
+    "the draft above",
+    "the issue above",
+    "as discussed",
+    "as we discussed",
+    "as previously discussed",
+    "per our discussion",
+    "per our conversation",
+    "per our chat",
+    "see above",
+    "same as before",
+    "the issue from earlier",
+    "the issue i drafted",
+    "the issue you drafted",
+)
+
+# A field that only restates a vague phrase (optionally with a leading verb
+# such as "create"/"add"/"open"/"file") is still a vague reference.
+_LEADING_VERBS = ("create", "add", "open", "file", "make", "please", "the")
+
+# Durable source pointers: if any of these appears, the content points at a
+# retrievable source of truth and is NOT treated as a fabricated reference.
+_DURABLE_SOURCE_REGEXES: tuple[re.Pattern[str], ...] = (
+    re.compile(r"#\d+"),                                   # #402
+    re.compile(r"\b(?:issue|pull|pr)\s+#?\d+", re.I),      # issue 402 / PR #17
+    re.compile(r"\bcomment\s+#?\d+", re.I),                # comment 8155
+    re.compile(r"https?://\S+", re.I),                     # URL
+    re.compile(                                            # checked-in file
+        r"[\w./-]+\.(?:py|md|json|txt|sh|ya?ml|toml|cfg|ini|rst)\b", re.I
+    ),
+    re.compile(r"\bscratchpad\b", re.I),                   # scratchpad path
+    re.compile(r"(?:^|\s)/[\w./-]+"),                      # absolute path
+)
+
+
+def normalize_text(text: str) -> str:
+    """Lowercase, punctuation-stripped, whitespace-collapsed text."""
+    norm = unicodedata.normalize("NFKC", (text or "").strip().lower())
+    norm = re.sub(r"[^\w\s]", " ", norm)
+    norm = re.sub(r"\s+", " ", norm).strip()
+    return norm
+
+
+def has_durable_source_pointer(text: str) -> bool:
+    """True when the raw text references a durable, retrievable source."""
+    raw = text or ""
+    return any(rx.search(raw) for rx in _DURABLE_SOURCE_REGEXES)
+
+
+def find_vague_reference(text: str) -> str | None:
+    """Return the vague phrase a field is dominated by, else ``None``.
+
+    A field is a vague reference only when it contains a known vague phrase,
+    carries no durable source pointer, and the phrase dominates the field
+    (the field is essentially just the phrase). Long, specific bodies that
+    merely contain "as discussed" in passing are not blocked.
+    """
+    if has_durable_source_pointer(text):
+        return None
+    norm = normalize_text(text)
+    if not norm:
+        return None
+    stripped = norm
+    for verb in _LEADING_VERBS:
+        if stripped.startswith(verb + " "):
+            stripped = stripped[len(verb) + 1:]
+    for phrase in VAGUE_REFERENCE_PHRASES:
+        if phrase in norm and len(stripped) <= len(phrase) + 12:
+            return phrase
+    return None
+
+
+def assess_issue_content(
+    title: str,
+    body: str = "",
+    *,
+    allow_incomplete: bool = False,
+) -> dict:
+    """Evaluate whether proposed issue content is durable enough to create.
+
+    Returns a dict with ``complete`` (bool), ``missing_fields``,
+    ``vague_fields``, ``reasons``, ``diagnose`` (joined reasons), and
+    ``has_durable_source_pointer``. ``allow_incomplete`` is an explicit
+    operator override that forces ``complete`` True.
+    """
+    t = (title or "").strip()
+    b = (body or "").strip()
+    missing_fields: list[str] = []
+    vague_fields: list[str] = []
+    reasons: list[str] = []
+
+    if not t:
+        missing_fields.append("title")
+        reasons.append("issue title is required")
+    else:
+        phrase = find_vague_reference(t)
+        if phrase:
+            vague_fields.append("title")
+            reasons.append(
+                f"title is a vague reference ('{phrase}') with no durable "
+                "content or source pointer"
+            )
+
+    if b:
+        phrase = find_vague_reference(b)
+        if phrase:
+            vague_fields.append("body")
+            reasons.append(
+                f"body is a vague reference ('{phrase}') with no durable "
+                "content or source pointer"
+            )
+
+    complete = allow_incomplete or (not missing_fields and not vague_fields)
+    return {
+        "complete": complete,
+        "missing_fields": missing_fields,
+        "vague_fields": vague_fields,
+        "reasons": reasons,
+        "diagnose": "; ".join(reasons),
+        "has_durable_source_pointer": has_durable_source_pointer(b)
+        or has_durable_source_pointer(t),
+        "override_applied": bool(
+            allow_incomplete and (missing_fields or vague_fields)
+        ),
+    }
+
+
+def pre_create_issue_content_gate(
+    title: str,
+    body: str = "",
+    *,
+    allow_incomplete: bool = False,
+) -> dict:
+    """Content gate wrapper mirroring the duplicate gate shape.
+
+    ``performed`` is True when the content is durable enough to create (or an
+    explicit override was supplied). When False, the caller must return
+    BLOCKED + DIAGNOSE and must not create the issue.
+    """
+    assessment = assess_issue_content(
+        title, body, allow_incomplete=allow_incomplete
+    )
+    assessment["performed"] = assessment["complete"]
+    return assessment

issue_workflow_labels.py

@@ -42,12 +42,38 @@ STATUS_LABEL_SPECS: tuple[LabelSpec, ...] = (
     LabelSpec("status:wontfix", "000000", "Issue will not be fixed"),
 )
 
+# Durable validation-outcome labels (#529): the four canonical distinctions a
+# reviewer report can carry. These are orthogonal to the single active status:*
+# label, so they use their own prefix and are not subject to the one-status
+# invariant.
+VALIDATION_LABEL_SPECS: tuple[LabelSpec, ...] = (
+    LabelSpec("validation:clean-pass", "0e8a16", "Validation was a clean pass"),
+    LabelSpec(
+        "validation:baseline-accepted",
+        "fbca04",
+        "Validation passed with a baseline-proven unrelated failure",
+    ),
+    LabelSpec(
+        "validation:blocked",
+        "b60205",
+        "Validation blocked by an unresolved failure",
+    ),
+    LabelSpec(
+        "validation:post-merge-moot",
+        "5319e7",
+        "Validation is post-merge moot (PR already merged/closed before review)",
+    ),
+)
+
 CANONICAL_LABEL_SPECS: tuple[LabelSpec, ...] = (
-    TYPE_LABEL_SPECS + STATUS_LABEL_SPECS
+    TYPE_LABEL_SPECS + STATUS_LABEL_SPECS + VALIDATION_LABEL_SPECS
 )
 
 TYPE_LABELS: frozenset[str] = frozenset(spec.name for spec in TYPE_LABEL_SPECS)
 STATUS_LABELS: frozenset[str] = frozenset(spec.name for spec in STATUS_LABEL_SPECS)
+VALIDATION_LABELS: frozenset[str] = frozenset(
+    spec.name for spec in VALIDATION_LABEL_SPECS
+)
 CANONICAL_LABELS: frozenset[str] = frozenset(
     spec.name for spec in CANONICAL_LABEL_SPECS
 )

mcp_namespace_health.py

@@ -0,0 +1,306 @@
+"""Assess live MCP namespace health without trusting static registration.
+
+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
+
+from typing import Any
+
+
+REQUIRED_NAMESPACE_TOOLS = {
+    "gitea-author": "gitea_whoami",
+    "gitea-reviewer": "gitea_whoami",
+    "gitea-merger": "gitea_whoami",
+    "gitea-tools": "gitea_list_profiles",
+}
+
+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",
+    "connection closed",
+    "broken pipe",
+    "end of file",
+    "eof",
+)
+
+SAFE_ENV_KEYS = (
+    "GITEA_MCP_PROFILE",
+    "GITEA_PROFILE_NAME",
+    "GITEA_SERVICE",
+    "GITEA_EXECUTION_ROLE",
+    "GITEA_MCP_CONFIG",
+)
+
+
+def _as_list(value: Any) -> list[str] | None:
+    if value is None:
+        return None
+    if isinstance(value, (list, tuple, set)):
+        return [str(v) for v in value]
+    return [str(value)]
+
+
+def _contains_eof(text: str | None) -> bool:
+    lowered = (text or "").lower()
+    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 {}
+    env = process.get("env") or process.get("environment") or {}
+    if not isinstance(env, dict):
+        return {}
+    return {
+        key: str(env[key])
+        for key in SAFE_ENV_KEYS
+        if key in env and env[key] not in (None, "")
+    }
+
+
+def classify_namespace_probe(
+    namespace: str,
+    *,
+    required_tool: str | None = None,
+    registered_tools: list[str] | tuple[str, ...] | set[str] | None = None,
+    probe_result: dict[str, Any] | None = None,
+    process: dict[str, Any] | None = None,
+    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 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
+
+    probe = probe_result or {}
+    probe_success = bool(probe.get("success"))
+    error_message = str(
+        probe.get("error")
+        or probe.get("message")
+        or probe.get("stderr")
+        or probe.get("exception")
+        or ""
+    )
+    error_type = str(probe.get("error_type") or "").strip()
+    if not error_type and error_message:
+        if _contains_eof(error_message):
+            error_type = "namespace_eof"
+        elif "timeout" in error_message.lower():
+            error_type = "namespace_timeout"
+        else:
+            error_type = "namespace_call_failed"
+
+    if not configured:
+        error_type = "namespace_not_configured"
+    elif registered is False:
+        error_type = "tool_missing"
+    elif not probe_result:
+        error_type = "live_probe_missing"
+    elif not probe_success and not error_type:
+        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
+    )
+    env_summary = _safe_env_summary(process)
+
+    reasons: list[str] = []
+    if not configured:
+        reasons.append(f"MCP namespace '{ns}' is not configured.")
+    if registered is False:
+        reasons.append(
+            f"Required tool '{tool}' is not registered in namespace '{ns}'."
+        )
+    if error_type == "live_probe_missing":
+        reasons.append(
+            f"No live client invocation proof was supplied for '{ns}.{tool}'."
+        )
+    elif error_type == "namespace_eof":
+        reasons.append(
+            f"Live MCP namespace '{ns}' returned EOF while invoking '{tool}'."
+        )
+    elif error_type == "namespace_timeout":
+        reasons.append(
+            f"Live MCP namespace '{ns}' timed out while invoking '{tool}'."
+        )
+    elif error_type == "namespace_call_failed":
+        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 or not ide_namespace_proven:
+        remediation.append(
+            "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(
+            "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 and source != PROBE_SOURCE_OFFLINE:
+            remediation.append(
+                f"Diagnostics may include PID {process_pid}; process details "
+                "are informational only — recovery is client-layer reconnect."
+            )
+    else:
+        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,
+        "healthy": healthy,
+        "namespace": ns,
+        "required_tool": tool,
+        "configured": configured,
+        "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,
+        "remediation": remediation,
+        "diagnostics": {
+            "namespace": ns,
+            "required_tool": tool,
+            "process_pid": process_pid,
+            "profile": profile_name,
+            "env": env_summary,
+            "config_path": config_path,
+            "probe_source": source,
+        },
+        "blocks_merge_workflow": blocks,
+    }
+
+
+def namespace_health_blocks_task(task: str, healthy: bool) -> bool:
+    """Return whether a broken namespace must block a workflow task."""
+    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 []

mcp_session_state.py

@@ -30,6 +30,9 @@ DEFAULT_TTL_HOURS = 4.0
 
 KIND_WORKFLOW_LOAD = "review_workflow_load"
 KIND_DECISION_LOCK = "review_decision_lock"
+KIND_REVIEW_DRAFT = "review_draft"
+
+
 
 _SAFE_SEGMENT_RE = re.compile(r"[^A-Za-z0-9._+-]+")
 SESSION_PROFILE_LOCK_ENV = "GITEA_SESSION_PROFILE_LOCK"

post_merge_validation.py

@@ -0,0 +1,222 @@
+"""Canonical post-merge (moot) validation outcome and wording gate (#529).
+
+When a PR is already merged or closed *before* a reviewer submits their
+verdict, an ordinary "approve" is misleading: the review never gated the
+merge, so a normal active approval overstates controller confidence. The
+sanctioned outcome for that case is a **post-merge moot validation** — the
+reviewer records what validation found, but classifies it as moot rather than
+an active approval.
+
+This module defines the four canonical validation distinctions #529 requires
+and enforces the post-merge case:
+
+- ``CLEAN_PASS_OUTCOME`` — clean validation pass on an open, reviewable PR.
+- ``BASELINE_ACCEPTED_OUTCOME`` — validation pass with a baseline-proven
+  unrelated failure (proof handled by :mod:`premerge_baseline_proof`).
+- ``BLOCKED_OUTCOME`` — validation blocked by an unresolved failure.
+- ``POST_MERGE_MOOT_OUTCOME`` — the PR was already merged/closed before review
+  submission; validation is recorded as post-merge moot, not an active
+  approval.
+
+The gate blocks two mistakes:
+
+1. Claiming an *active approval* on a PR that was already merged/closed before
+   review submission (must be recorded as post-merge moot validation instead).
+2. Claiming post-merge moot validation without proof the PR is actually
+   merged/closed (a merged-state field plus a merge commit SHA).
+
+Each outcome maps to a durable ``validation:*`` process-state label so PRs and
+issues carry the distinction (#529 acceptance criterion).
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import re
+from typing import Any
+
+CLEAN_PASS_OUTCOME = "clean validation pass"
+BASELINE_ACCEPTED_OUTCOME = "validation pass with baseline-proven unrelated failure"
+BLOCKED_OUTCOME = "validation blocked by unresolved failure"
+POST_MERGE_MOOT_OUTCOME = "post-merge moot validation"
+
+# Canonical validation status label a reviewer writes in the report body for the
+# post-merge case; kept in sync with validation_status_vocabulary.
+POST_MERGE_MOOT_STATUS = "post-merge moot validation"
+
+# Durable process-state labels (registered in issue_workflow_labels).
+LABEL_CLEAN_PASS = "validation:clean-pass"
+LABEL_BASELINE_ACCEPTED = "validation:baseline-accepted"
+LABEL_BLOCKED = "validation:blocked"
+LABEL_POST_MERGE_MOOT = "validation:post-merge-moot"
+
+_OUTCOME_TO_LABEL: dict[str, str] = {
+    CLEAN_PASS_OUTCOME: LABEL_CLEAN_PASS,
+    BASELINE_ACCEPTED_OUTCOME: LABEL_BASELINE_ACCEPTED,
+    BLOCKED_OUTCOME: LABEL_BLOCKED,
+    POST_MERGE_MOOT_OUTCOME: LABEL_POST_MERGE_MOOT,
+}
+
+# The PR was already merged/closed before the review was submitted.
+_MERGED_BEFORE_REVIEW_RE = re.compile(
+    r"(?:already[- ]merged"
+    r"|merged\s+before\s+review"
+    r"|closed\s+before\s+review"
+    r"|pr\s+(?:is|was)\s+(?:already\s+)?(?:merged|closed)"
+    r"|pr\s+state\s*[:=]\s*(?:merged|closed)"
+    r"|merged\s*/\s*closed)",
+    re.IGNORECASE,
+)
+# An active approval verdict is being claimed.
+_ACTIVE_APPROVAL_RE = re.compile(
+    r"(?:review\s+decision\s*[:=]\s*approve"
+    r"|submitted\s+['\"]?approve['\"]?"
+    r"|active\s+approval"
+    r"|approving\s+the\s+pr"
+    r"|posting\s+an?\s+approval)",
+    re.IGNORECASE,
+)
+# The sanctioned post-merge moot validation wording.
+_POST_MERGE_MOOT_RE = re.compile(
+    r"post[- ]merge\s+(?:moot\s+)?validation"
+    r"|post[- ]merge\s+moot"
+    r"|moot\s+validation",
+    re.IGNORECASE,
+)
+# Proof the PR is genuinely merged/closed.
+_MERGED_STATE_PROOF_RE = re.compile(
+    r"(?:pr\s+state\s*[:=]\s*(?:merged|closed)"
+    r"|merged_at\s*[:=]\s*\S"
+    r"|closed_at\s*[:=]\s*\S"
+    r"|state\s*[:=]\s*(?:merged|closed))",
+    re.IGNORECASE,
+)
+_MERGE_COMMIT_SHA_RE = re.compile(
+    r"merge\s+commit(?:\s+sha)?\s*[:=]\s*[0-9a-f]{7,40}",
+    re.IGNORECASE,
+)
+
+
+POST_MERGE_VALIDATION_TEMPLATE = (
+    "Validation status: post-merge moot validation\n"
+    "PR state: merged\n"
+    "Merge commit sha: <40-hex merge commit>\n"
+    "Validation finding: <what the validation run showed, for the record>\n"
+    "Note: PR merged/closed before review submission; recorded as post-merge "
+    "moot validation, not an active approval."
+)
+
+
+def process_state_label(outcome: str) -> str | None:
+    """Return the durable ``validation:*`` label for a canonical outcome."""
+    return _OUTCOME_TO_LABEL.get(outcome)
+
+
+def assess_post_merge_validation(
+    report_text: str,
+    *,
+    pr_merged_or_closed: bool | None = None,
+) -> dict[str, Any]:
+    """Assess post-merge moot validation wording and proof (#529).
+
+    Args:
+        report_text: The reviewer final report text.
+        pr_merged_or_closed: Optional structured signal that the PR is already
+            merged/closed. When ``True`` it forces the merged-before-review
+            path even if the report text omits the phrasing; proof fields are
+            still required in the report body for durability.
+
+    Returns a dict with ``proven``, ``block``, ``outcome``,
+    ``process_state_label``, ``reasons``, ``skipped`` and ``safe_next_action``.
+    Only blocks when the report either claims an active approval on a
+    merged/closed PR, or claims post-merge moot validation without proof.
+    """
+    text = report_text or ""
+
+    merged_signal = bool(_MERGED_BEFORE_REVIEW_RE.search(text)) or bool(
+        pr_merged_or_closed
+    )
+    active_approval = bool(_ACTIVE_APPROVAL_RE.search(text))
+    moot_wording = bool(_POST_MERGE_MOOT_RE.search(text))
+
+    # Nothing about merged-state or moot validation — not applicable here.
+    if not merged_signal and not moot_wording:
+        return {
+            "proven": True,
+            "block": False,
+            "outcome": None,
+            "process_state_label": None,
+            "reasons": [],
+            "skipped": True,
+            "safe_next_action": "",
+        }
+
+    # An active approval on a PR already merged/closed before review, without
+    # the sanctioned moot wording, overstates confidence.
+    if merged_signal and active_approval and not moot_wording:
+        return {
+            "proven": False,
+            "block": True,
+            "outcome": POST_MERGE_MOOT_OUTCOME,
+            "process_state_label": LABEL_POST_MERGE_MOOT,
+            "reasons": [
+                "PR was already merged/closed before review submission; an "
+                "active approval overstates confidence — record 'post-merge "
+                "moot validation' instead of a normal approval"
+            ],
+            "skipped": False,
+            "safe_next_action": (
+                "classify the outcome as post-merge moot validation (not an "
+                "active approval); cite PR state merged/closed and the merge "
+                "commit SHA. Template:\n" + POST_MERGE_VALIDATION_TEMPLATE
+            ),
+        }
+
+    # Post-merge moot validation claimed — require merged-state + commit proof.
+    if moot_wording:
+        reasons: list[str] = []
+        if not _MERGED_STATE_PROOF_RE.search(text):
+            reasons.append(
+                "post-merge moot validation claimed without merged/closed state "
+                "proof (state: merged/closed, or merged_at/closed_at)"
+            )
+        if not _MERGE_COMMIT_SHA_RE.search(text):
+            reasons.append(
+                "post-merge moot validation claimed without a merge commit SHA"
+            )
+        if reasons:
+            return {
+                "proven": False,
+                "block": True,
+                "outcome": POST_MERGE_MOOT_OUTCOME,
+                "process_state_label": LABEL_POST_MERGE_MOOT,
+                "reasons": reasons,
+                "skipped": False,
+                "safe_next_action": (
+                    "prove the PR is merged/closed: cite PR state and the merge "
+                    "commit SHA. Template:\n" + POST_MERGE_VALIDATION_TEMPLATE
+                ),
+            }
+        return {
+            "proven": True,
+            "block": False,
+            "outcome": POST_MERGE_MOOT_OUTCOME,
+            "process_state_label": LABEL_POST_MERGE_MOOT,
+            "reasons": [],
+            "skipped": False,
+            "safe_next_action": "",
+        }
+
+    # Merged signal present but no approval claim and no moot wording yet —
+    # guide toward the moot outcome without blocking.
+    return {
+        "proven": True,
+        "block": False,
+        "outcome": POST_MERGE_MOOT_OUTCOME,
+        "process_state_label": LABEL_POST_MERGE_MOOT,
+        "reasons": [],
+        "skipped": False,
+        "safe_next_action": (
+            "PR appears merged/closed; if submitting a verdict, record "
+            "post-merge moot validation rather than an active approval"
+        ),
+    }

review_merge_state_machine.py

@@ -93,8 +93,16 @@ def assess_workflow_blockers(
     capability_blocked: bool = False,
     mcp_reconnect_failed: bool = False,
     stale_capability_state: bool = False,
+    live_namespace_broken: bool = False,
 ) -> dict[str, Any]:
-    """Return hard blockers that forbid all PR queue work (#290 AC3)."""
+    """Return hard blockers that forbid all PR queue work (#290 AC3).
+
+    ``live_namespace_broken`` fails the merge/review path closed when the live
+    MCP namespace call path is unusable (e.g. ``client is closing: EOF``) even
+    though the tool is registered in FastMCP (#543 AC5). Feed it the
+    ``blocks_merge_workflow`` verdict from
+    ``mcp_namespace_health.classify_namespace_probe``.
+    """
     reasons: list[str] = []
     if infra_stop:
         reasons.append("infra_stop is active; PR selection/review/merge is forbidden")
@@ -104,6 +112,12 @@ def assess_workflow_blockers(
         reasons.append("MCP reconnect failed; stale session state cannot be reused")
     if stale_capability_state:
         reasons.append("stale MCP capability state detected after reconnect failure")
+    if live_namespace_broken:
+        reasons.append(
+            "live MCP namespace call path is broken (registered in FastMCP but "
+            "not callable through the namespace); repair the namespace before "
+            "review/merge"
+        )
     return {
         "block": bool(reasons),
         "reasons": reasons,
@@ -118,16 +132,19 @@ def assess_state_advancement(
     state_completion: dict[str, bool] | None,
     *,
     target_state: str,
-    infra_stop: bool = False,
+    **blocker_kwargs,
-    capability_blocked: bool = False,
 ) -> dict[str, Any]:
-    """Fail closed when *target_state* is requested before upstream gates pass."""
+    """Fail closed when *target_state* is requested before upstream gates pass.
+
+    Forwards every blocker flag (``infra_stop``, ``capability_blocked``,
+    ``mcp_reconnect_failed``, ``stale_capability_state``,
+    ``live_namespace_broken``) to :func:`assess_workflow_blockers` so
+    ``can_approve``/``can_merge`` honor the full blocker set, not just
+    infra_stop/capability_blocked (#543 AC5).
+    """
     completion = dict(state_completion or {})
     target = _clean(target_state).upper()
-    blockers = assess_workflow_blockers(
+    blockers = assess_workflow_blockers(**blocker_kwargs)
-        infra_stop=infra_stop,
-        capability_blocked=capability_blocked,
-    )
     reasons = list(blockers["reasons"])
 
     try:

reviewer_pr_lease.py

@@ -522,4 +522,241 @@ def assess_lease_inventory(
         "active_review_leases": active,
         "stale_review_leases": stale,
         "reclaimable_review_leases": reclaimable,
-    }
+    }
+
+# Canonical next-action vocabulary for reviewer lease handoff (#599).
+NEXT_ACTION_ACQUIRE = "acquire"
+NEXT_ACTION_WAIT = "wait"
+NEXT_ACTION_RESUME_EXACT_OWNER_SESSION = "resume_exact_owner_session"
+NEXT_ACTION_RELEASE_EXPIRED_LEASE = "release_expired_lease"
+NEXT_ACTION_OPERATOR_AUTHORIZED_CLEANUP = "operator_authorized_cleanup"
+NEXT_ACTION_REPAIR_WORKTREE_BINDING = "repair_worktree_binding"
+
+_HANDOFF_CLASSIFICATIONS = frozenset({
+    "no_lease",
+    "own_active",
+    "own_expired",
+    "foreign_active",
+    "foreign_reclaimable",
+    "foreign_expired",
+    "instructed_lease_missing_with_replacement",
+    "worktree_binding_mismatch",
+})
+
+
+def _norm_path(value: str | None) -> str:
+    text = (value or "").strip()
+    if not text:
+        return ""
+    return os.path.normpath(text.rstrip("/"))
+
+
+def diagnose_reviewer_pr_lease_handoff(
+    comments: list[dict],
+    *,
+    pr_number: int,
+    current_session_id: str | None,
+    current_reviewer_identity: str | None,
+    proposed_worktree: str | None = None,
+    env_bound_worktree: str | None = None,
+    instructed_session_id: str | None = None,
+    instructed_comment_id: int | None = None,
+    now: datetime | None = None,
+) -> dict[str, Any]:
+    """Classify open-PR reviewer lease handoff and emit a canonical next action (#599).
+
+    Read-only diagnosis. Never steals, releases, or adopts a foreign lease.
+    Fail-closed acquisition rules for active foreign leases remain intact.
+
+    Returns a structured diagnosis with:
+    - classification
+    - next_action (one of wait / resume_exact_owner_session /
+      release_expired_lease / operator_authorized_cleanup /
+      repair_worktree_binding / acquire)
+    - active_lease identity fields when present
+    - worktree_binding match result
+    - instructed-lease mismatch flags
+    """
+    now = now or datetime.now(timezone.utc)
+    session_id = (current_session_id or "").strip()
+    identity = (current_reviewer_identity or "").strip()
+    instructed_sid = (instructed_session_id or "").strip()
+    reasons: list[str] = []
+
+    active = find_active_reviewer_lease(comments, pr_number=pr_number, now=now)
+    session_lease = get_session_lease()
+
+    # Worktree binding: env-bound vs proposed vs active lease worktree.
+    env_wt = _norm_path(env_bound_worktree)
+    prop_wt = _norm_path(proposed_worktree)
+    lease_wt = _norm_path((active or {}).get("worktree") if active else None)
+    binding_mismatch = False
+    binding_details: dict[str, Any] = {
+        "env_bound_worktree": env_bound_worktree or None,
+        "proposed_worktree": proposed_worktree or None,
+        "lease_worktree": (active or {}).get("worktree") if active else None,
+        "match": True,
+    }
+    paths = [p for p in (env_wt, prop_wt, lease_wt) if p]
+    if len(paths) >= 2 and len(set(paths)) > 1:
+        binding_mismatch = True
+        binding_details["match"] = False
+        reasons.append(
+            "worktree binding mismatch: env/proposed/lease worktree paths disagree"
+        )
+
+    # Instructed lease gone while a different lease is active (PR #592-style).
+    instructed_missing_with_replacement = False
+    if instructed_sid or instructed_comment_id is not None:
+        if not active:
+            reasons.append(
+                "instructed lease is gone and no active replacement lease remains"
+            )
+        else:
+            owner = (active.get("session_id") or "").strip()
+            cid = active.get("comment_id")
+            sid_mismatch = bool(instructed_sid and owner and owner != instructed_sid)
+            cid_mismatch = (
+                instructed_comment_id is not None
+                and cid is not None
+                and int(cid) != int(instructed_comment_id)
+            )
+            if sid_mismatch or cid_mismatch:
+                instructed_missing_with_replacement = True
+                reasons.append(
+                    "instructed lease is gone; a different active lease replaced it "
+                    f"(active session_id={owner}, comment_id={cid})"
+                )
+
+    # Classification + next_action.
+    classification = "no_lease"
+    next_action = NEXT_ACTION_ACQUIRE
+
+    if active:
+        owner = (active.get("session_id") or "").strip()
+        freshness = active.get("freshness") or classify_lease_freshness(
+            active, now=now
+        )
+        owner_identity = (active.get("reviewer_identity") or "").strip()
+        is_own = bool(session_id and owner and owner == session_id)
+        # Same identity alone is NOT ownership for resume; session_id must match.
+        same_identity = bool(
+            identity and owner_identity and identity == owner_identity
+        )
+
+        if is_own and freshness in {"active", "stale_warning"}:
+            classification = "own_active"
+            next_action = NEXT_ACTION_RESUME_EXACT_OWNER_SESSION
+        elif is_own and freshness in {"reclaimable", "expired"}:
+            classification = "own_expired"
+            next_action = NEXT_ACTION_RELEASE_EXPIRED_LEASE
+            reasons.append(
+                f"own lease freshness is '{freshness}'; release via "
+                "gitea_release_reviewer_pr_lease then re-acquire"
+            )
+        elif not is_own and freshness in {"active", "stale_warning"}:
+            classification = "foreign_active"
+            next_action = NEXT_ACTION_WAIT
+            reasons.append(
+                f"foreign active reviewer lease (session_id={owner}, "
+                f"phase={active.get('phase')}, freshness={freshness}); "
+                "do not submit; do not steal"
+            )
+            if same_identity:
+                reasons.append(
+                    "lease identity matches current reviewer but session_id differs; "
+                    "resume only from the exact owner session_id or wait"
+                )
+        elif not is_own and freshness == "reclaimable":
+            classification = "foreign_reclaimable"
+            next_action = NEXT_ACTION_RELEASE_EXPIRED_LEASE
+            reasons.append(
+                f"foreign reclaimable lease (session_id={owner}); clear only via "
+                "sanctioned gitea_release_reviewer_pr_lease when reclaimable"
+            )
+        elif not is_own and freshness == "expired":
+            classification = "foreign_expired"
+            next_action = NEXT_ACTION_RELEASE_EXPIRED_LEASE
+            reasons.append(
+                f"foreign expired lease (session_id={owner}); use sanctioned release"
+            )
+        else:
+            classification = "foreign_active"
+            next_action = NEXT_ACTION_WAIT
+            reasons.append(
+                f"unclassified active lease state (session_id={owner}, "
+                f"freshness={freshness}); wait fail-closed"
+            )
+
+        if instructed_missing_with_replacement and classification.startswith(
+            "foreign"
+        ):
+            classification = "instructed_lease_missing_with_replacement"
+            # Foreign active still means wait; reclaimable still release.
+            if next_action == NEXT_ACTION_WAIT:
+                reasons.append(
+                    "replacement foreign lease is active — wait; "
+                    "operator_authorized_cleanup only with explicit operator authority"
+                )
+    else:
+        classification = "no_lease"
+        next_action = NEXT_ACTION_ACQUIRE
+        reasons.append("no active reviewer lease; acquire via gitea_acquire_reviewer_pr_lease")
+
+    # Binding mismatch is a first-class blocker before submit, but does not
+    # erase foreign-lease wait/release guidance. Override next_action only when
+    # the session would otherwise be free to acquire or resume (submit path).
+    if binding_mismatch:
+        if next_action in {
+            NEXT_ACTION_ACQUIRE,
+            NEXT_ACTION_RESUME_EXACT_OWNER_SESSION,
+        }:
+            classification = "worktree_binding_mismatch"
+            next_action = NEXT_ACTION_REPAIR_WORKTREE_BINDING
+        else:
+            reasons.append(
+                "also repair worktree binding before submit "
+                f"(next_action remains {next_action})"
+            )
+
+    lease_summary = None
+    if active:
+        lease_summary = {
+            "comment_id": active.get("comment_id"),
+            "session_id": active.get("session_id"),
+            "phase": active.get("phase"),
+            "candidate_head": active.get("candidate_head"),
+            "expires_at": active.get("expires_at"),
+            "last_activity": active.get("last_activity"),
+            "freshness": active.get("freshness")
+            or classify_lease_freshness(active, now=now),
+            "reviewer_identity": active.get("reviewer_identity"),
+            "profile": active.get("profile"),
+            "worktree": active.get("worktree"),
+            "blocker": active.get("blocker"),
+        }
+
+    return {
+        "pr_number": pr_number,
+        "classification": classification,
+        "next_action": next_action,
+        "active_lease": lease_summary,
+        "session_lease": session_lease,
+        "worktree_binding": binding_details,
+        "instructed_session_id": instructed_session_id,
+        "instructed_comment_id": instructed_comment_id,
+        "instructed_lease_missing_with_replacement": instructed_missing_with_replacement,
+        "mutation_allowed": (
+            next_action == NEXT_ACTION_RESUME_EXACT_OWNER_SESSION
+            and not binding_mismatch
+            and bool(session_lease)
+        ),
+        "reasons": reasons,
+        "forbidden": [
+            "manual lock deletion",
+            "raw API bypass",
+            "mtime manipulation",
+            "direct _SESSION_LEASE seeding",
+            "silent foreign lease steal",
+        ],
+    }

role_session_router.py

@@ -55,7 +55,6 @@ def skip_python_scan_walk_root(project_root: str, walk_root: str) -> bool:
 
 REVIEWER_TASKS = frozenset({
     "review_pr",
-    "merge_pr",
     "blind_pr_queue_review",
     "pr_queue_cleanup",
     "pr-queue-cleanup",
@@ -63,6 +62,10 @@ REVIEWER_TASKS = frozenset({
     "approve_pr",
 })
 
+MERGER_TASKS = frozenset({
+    "merge_pr",
+})
+
 AUTHOR_TASKS = frozenset({
     "create_issue",
     "comment_issue",
@@ -98,7 +101,7 @@ TASK_REQUIRED_ROLE = {
     "address_pr_change_requests": "author",
     "delete_branch": "author",
     "review_pr": "reviewer",
-    "merge_pr": "reviewer",
+    "merge_pr": "merger",
     "blind_pr_queue_review": "reviewer",
     "pr_queue_cleanup": "reviewer",
     "pr-queue-cleanup": "reviewer",
@@ -128,6 +131,10 @@ WRONG_ROLE_RECONCILER_MSG = (
     "MCP namespace/profile with exact close capability."
 )
 
+WRONG_ROLE_MERGER_MSG = (
+    "Wrong role/session for merger task. Launch merger MCP namespace."
+)
+
 _session_last_route: dict | None = None
 
 
@@ -243,6 +250,25 @@ def route_task_session(
         _record_route(result)
         return result
 
+    if required_role == "merger":
+        result = {
+            "task_type": task_type,
+            "required_role": required_role,
+            "active_role": active_role_kind,
+            "active_profile": active_profile,
+            "route_result": ROUTE_WRONG_ROLE,
+            "downstream_allowed": False,
+            "reasons": [
+                WRONG_ROLE_MERGER_MSG,
+                "Merger tasks cannot run in author or reviewer sessions.",
+            ],
+            "message": WRONG_ROLE_MERGER_MSG,
+            "runtime_switching_supported": runtime_switching_supported,
+            "profile_switch_blocked": not runtime_switching_supported,
+        }
+        _record_route(result)
+        return result
+
     if required_role == "author":
         route = ROUTE_TO_AUTHOR
         message = (

skills/llm-project-workflow/workflows/create-issue.md

@@ -344,6 +344,41 @@ If edits are needed, make the smallest correction necessary and report the corre
 
 Do not silently change requested meaning.
 
+## 14a. Enforced content preflight (#582)
+
+`gitea_create_issue` runs a **content preflight gate** before duplicate
+search or creation. It fails closed (returns `BLOCKED + DIAGNOSE`, no issue
+created) when the title/body is a *vague reference* to out-of-band draft
+content the session cannot prove it holds, and no durable source pointer is
+present.
+
+An LLM must never fabricate issue content from stale chat memory. If asked to
+create "the drafted issue" / "the prepared issue" / "the issue we discussed"
+/ "the previous draft" without the full content in the current context or a
+durable source pointer, stop and return `BLOCKED + DIAGNOSE` naming the exact
+vague/missing fields.
+
+A **durable source pointer** is one of: an existing issue/PR reference
+(`#582`), a comment id (`comment 8155`), a checked-in file path
+(`task_capability_map.py`), a URL, or a scratchpad path. When a pointer is
+present, retrieve the real content from it before creating.
+
+The gate does **not** require a non-empty body; explicit title-only creation
+stays allowed. It only blocks placeholder references. An operator may bypass
+it with `allow_incomplete_content=True` (report the override).
+
+**Invalid prompts (must block):**
+
+* "Create the drafted issue."
+* "File the prepared issue we discussed."
+* "Open the previous draft."
+
+**Valid prompts (proceed):**
+
+* Full title + body + acceptance criteria supplied inline.
+* "Create the issue drafted in `#582`." (durable pointer → fetch and use it)
+* "Create the issue from `scratchpad/issue-draft.md`." (durable file pointer)
+
 ## 15. Labels, assignees, and metadata
 
 Apply labels, assignees, milestones, or project fields only if:

skills/llm-project-workflow/workflows/review-merge-pr.md

@@ -826,6 +826,75 @@ The final report must identify:
 * whether same-PR merge continuation was allowed
 * whether the run stopped as required
 
+## 26A-1. Stale durable review-decision lock cleanup (#594)
+
+After #559, the review-decision lock is durable under
+`~/.cache/gitea-tools/session-state/` (for example
+`review_decision_lock-prgs-reviewer.json`). That durability can outlive the work
+it protects: a terminal `approve` / `request_changes` on a PR that is already
+**merged or closed** still hard-stops later unrelated reviews under #332.
+
+**Do not** delete session-state files by hand. Use the canonical MCP path.
+
+### When cleanup is allowed
+
+Use `gitea_cleanup_stale_review_decision_lock` when:
+
+1. `gitea_mark_final_review_decision` / live review is blocked by
+   `terminal review mutation already consumed ... (#332)`.
+2. Live Gitea state for the **last terminal mutation's PR** is **merged** or
+   **closed** (no same-PR merge sequence remains).
+3. Active profile identity matches the durable lock (reviewer profile with
+   `gitea.pr.review` for `apply=true`).
+4. Optional pin: pass `expected_terminal_pr` to the prior terminal PR number
+   (for example `586` when resuming after a merged #586 lock).
+
+Recommended sequence:
+
+```text
+gitea_whoami
+gitea_resolve_task_capability(task="cleanup_stale_review_decision_lock")
+gitea_cleanup_stale_review_decision_lock(apply=false, remote=..., org=..., repo=...)
+# inspect is_moot / cleanup_allowed / last_terminal_pr
+gitea_cleanup_stale_review_decision_lock(
+    apply=true,
+    expected_terminal_pr=<last_terminal_pr>,
+    remote=..., org=..., repo=...,
+)
+gitea_resolve_task_capability(task="review_pr")
+gitea_load_review_workflow()
+# continue formal mark + submit for the *new* PR
+```
+
+Successful `apply=true` clears memory + durable store and returns an audit
+record (and posts a durable PR comment on the terminal PR when
+`post_audit_comment` is true and comment permission allows).
+
+Same-profile auto-expire: after `gitea_merge_pr` succeeds for the PR that this
+profile just approved, the decision lock for that profile is cleared
+automatically. Cross-profile locks (for example reviewer approve, merger merge)
+still require `gitea_cleanup_stale_review_decision_lock`.
+
+### When cleanup is forbidden
+
+Refuse / fail-closed — keep #332 hard-stop — when:
+
+* the last terminal PR is still **open** (active review or merge sequence may
+  still apply)
+* live PR state cannot be fetched (ambiguous)
+* no lock or no terminal live mutation exists
+* profile identity does not match the lock
+* apply requested without authenticated identity or `gitea.pr.review`
+* `expected_terminal_pr` does not match the last terminal PR
+
+Do **not** use cleanup to:
+
+* bypass #332 on an open PR
+* replace `gitea_authorize_review_correction` for a mistaken review on a still
+  active PR (#211)
+* auto-approve or auto-merge any PR
+* justify `rm` of session-state files
+
 ## 26B. Per-PR reviewer lease (#407)
 
 Parallel reviewer sessions are allowed only when each session holds a distinct,
@@ -1043,6 +1112,8 @@ Blocked handoffs must say to rerun the full workflow after the blocker clears.
 
 If the blocker is a terminal review mutation already consumed in the current run, the handoff must say that the next run must start from the beginning and must not reuse stale ready/approved state.
 
+If the referenced terminal PR is already **merged or closed** on live Gitea, the durable #332 decision lock is **moot**. Do **not** delete session-state files by hand. Use `gitea_cleanup_stale_review_decision_lock` (assess with `apply=false`, then `apply=true` with `expected_terminal_pr` set) from the reviewer profile after identity/profile checks (#594). Cleanup is **forbidden** while that PR is still open.
+
 ## 30. Final report must be precise
 
 Include:

stale_review_decision_lock.py

@@ -0,0 +1,252 @@
+"""Stale / moot #332 review-decision lock detection and cleanup policy (#594).
+
+#332 correctly hard-stops a reviewer session after a terminal live review
+mutation. After #559 those locks are durable on disk, so they can outlive the
+work they protect: when the referenced PR is already merged or closed, no
+same-PR merge sequence remains, yet the durable ledger still blocks unrelated
+new terminal reviews.
+
+This module is pure policy (no Gitea I/O). The MCP tool
+``gitea_cleanup_stale_review_decision_lock`` fetches live PR state, calls these
+helpers, and only then clears durable state when cleanup is allowed.
+
+Manual deletion of ``~/.cache/gitea-tools/session-state/*`` is never the
+canonical path.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from datetime import datetime, timezone
+from typing import Any
+
+# Keep in sync with gitea_mcp_server._TERMINAL_REVIEW_ACTIONS.
+TERMINAL_REVIEW_ACTIONS = frozenset({"approve", "request_changes"})
+
+
+def last_terminal_mutation(lock: dict | None) -> dict | None:
+    """Return the last terminal live mutation on *lock*, or None."""
+    if not lock:
+        return None
+    terminals = [
+        m
+        for m in (lock.get("live_mutations") or [])
+        if isinstance(m, dict) and m.get("action") in TERMINAL_REVIEW_ACTIONS
+    ]
+    return terminals[-1] if terminals else None
+
+
+def classify_pr_live_state(pr_live: dict | None) -> dict[str, Any]:
+    """Normalize a Gitea PR payload into merge/closed flags."""
+    pr = pr_live or {}
+    merged = bool(pr.get("merged") or pr.get("merged_at"))
+    state = (pr.get("state") or "").strip().lower() or None
+    closed = state == "closed"
+    return {
+        "pr_state": state,
+        "pr_merged": merged,
+        "pr_merged_or_closed": merged or closed,
+        "merge_commit_sha": pr.get("merge_commit_sha")
+        or pr.get("merged_commit_sha"),
+    }
+
+
+def lock_summary(lock: dict | None) -> dict[str, Any] | None:
+    """LLM-safe summary of a decision lock (no secrets)."""
+    if lock is None:
+        return None
+    last = last_terminal_mutation(lock)
+    mutations = list(lock.get("live_mutations") or [])
+    return {
+        "task": lock.get("task"),
+        "remote": lock.get("remote"),
+        "org": lock.get("org") or lock.get("ready_org"),
+        "repo": lock.get("repo") or lock.get("ready_repo"),
+        "profile_identity": lock.get("profile_identity")
+        or lock.get("session_profile_lock")
+        or lock.get("session_profile"),
+        "session_profile": lock.get("session_profile"),
+        "ready_pr_number": lock.get("ready_pr_number"),
+        "ready_action": lock.get("ready_action"),
+        "live_mutations_count": len(mutations),
+        "last_terminal": (
+            {
+                "pr_number": last.get("pr_number"),
+                "action": last.get("action"),
+                "review_id": last.get("review_id"),
+            }
+            if last
+            else None
+        ),
+        "correction_authorized": bool(lock.get("correction_authorized")),
+        "updated_at": lock.get("updated_at") or lock.get("recorded_at"),
+    }
+
+
+def assess_stale_review_decision_lock(
+    lock: dict | None,
+    *,
+    pr_live: dict | None = None,
+    pr_lookup_error: str | None = None,
+    active_profile_identity: str | None = None,
+) -> dict[str, Any]:
+    """Assess whether a durable review-decision lock is stale/moot (#594).
+
+    *pr_live* must be the live Gitea payload for the **last terminal
+    mutation's PR**. When no lock / no terminal mutation exists, cleanup is
+    not applicable. When the PR is still open (or lookup fails), cleanup is
+    forbidden and #332 hard-stop remains in force.
+    """
+    summary = lock_summary(lock)
+    result: dict[str, Any] = {
+        "has_lock": lock is not None,
+        "lock_summary": summary,
+        "last_terminal_pr": None,
+        "last_terminal_action": None,
+        "is_moot": False,
+        "cleanup_allowed": False,
+        "profile_match": True,
+        "pr_state": None,
+        "pr_merged": False,
+        "pr_merged_or_closed": False,
+        "merge_commit_sha": None,
+        "reasons": [],
+        "recovery_tool": "gitea_cleanup_stale_review_decision_lock",
+    }
+
+    if lock is None:
+        result["reasons"].append("no review decision lock present")
+        return result
+
+    # Profile identity gate (caller may re-check with env; pure assess still
+    # reports mismatch when active identity is supplied).
+    stored = (
+        (lock.get("profile_identity") or lock.get("session_profile_lock") or "")
+        .strip()
+    )
+    active = (active_profile_identity or "").strip()
+    if active and stored and active != stored:
+        result["profile_match"] = False
+        result["reasons"].append(
+            "review decision lock profile identity does not match active "
+            f"profile '{active}' (fail closed, #594)"
+        )
+        return result
+
+    last = last_terminal_mutation(lock)
+    if last is None:
+        result["reasons"].append(
+            "review decision lock has no terminal live mutations; nothing to clear"
+        )
+        return result
+
+    pr_number = last.get("pr_number")
+    action = last.get("action")
+    result["last_terminal_pr"] = pr_number
+    result["last_terminal_action"] = action
+
+    if pr_number is None:
+        result["reasons"].append(
+            "last terminal mutation missing pr_number; refuse cleanup (fail closed)"
+        )
+        return result
+
+    if pr_lookup_error:
+        result["reasons"].append(
+            f"could not load live state for PR #{pr_number}: {pr_lookup_error} "
+            "(fail closed, #594)"
+        )
+        return result
+
+    if pr_live is None:
+        result["reasons"].append(
+            f"live PR state required for terminal PR #{pr_number} before cleanup "
+            "(fail closed, #594)"
+        )
+        return result
+
+    live = classify_pr_live_state(pr_live)
+    result.update(
+        {
+            "pr_state": live["pr_state"],
+            "pr_merged": live["pr_merged"],
+            "pr_merged_or_closed": live["pr_merged_or_closed"],
+            "merge_commit_sha": live["merge_commit_sha"],
+        }
+    )
+
+    if not live["pr_merged_or_closed"]:
+        result["reasons"].append(
+            f"terminal review mutation on open PR #{pr_number} is still active "
+            f"({action}); #332 hard-stop remains — cleanup forbidden (#594)"
+        )
+        return result
+
+    # Merged or closed: lock is moot. Same-PR merge continuation is impossible.
+    result["is_moot"] = True
+    result["cleanup_allowed"] = True
+    result["reasons"].append(
+        f"terminal mutation ({action} on PR #{pr_number}) is moot: PR is "
+        f"{'merged' if live['pr_merged'] else 'closed'}; canonical cleanup allowed (#594)"
+    )
+    return result
+
+
+def build_cleanup_audit_record(
+    *,
+    assessment: dict[str, Any],
+    actor_username: str | None,
+    profile_name: str | None,
+    applied: bool,
+) -> dict[str, Any]:
+    """Structured durable audit payload for a cleanup attempt."""
+    last = (assessment.get("lock_summary") or {}).get("last_terminal") or {}
+    return {
+        "event": "stale_review_decision_lock_cleanup",
+        "issue_ref": "#594",
+        "applied": bool(applied),
+        "timestamp": datetime.now(timezone.utc).isoformat(),
+        "actor_username": actor_username,
+        "profile_name": profile_name,
+        "last_terminal_pr": assessment.get("last_terminal_pr") or last.get("pr_number"),
+        "last_terminal_action": assessment.get("last_terminal_action")
+        or last.get("action"),
+        "pr_state": assessment.get("pr_state"),
+        "pr_merged": assessment.get("pr_merged"),
+        "pr_merged_or_closed": assessment.get("pr_merged_or_closed"),
+        "merge_commit_sha": assessment.get("merge_commit_sha"),
+        "prior_live_mutations_count": (
+            (assessment.get("lock_summary") or {}).get("live_mutations_count")
+        ),
+        "prior_profile_identity": (
+            (assessment.get("lock_summary") or {}).get("profile_identity")
+        ),
+        "cleanup_allowed": assessment.get("cleanup_allowed"),
+        "is_moot": assessment.get("is_moot"),
+        "reasons": list(assessment.get("reasons") or []),
+    }
+
+
+def format_cleanup_audit_comment(audit: dict[str, Any]) -> str:
+    """Markdown body for a durable Gitea audit comment after cleanup."""
+    status = "APPLIED" if audit.get("applied") else "ASSESSED (not applied)"
+    lines = [
+        "## Stale #332 review-decision lock cleanup (#594)",
+        "",
+        f"Status: **{status}**",
+        "",
+        f"- actor: `{audit.get('actor_username')}`",
+        f"- profile: `{audit.get('profile_name')}`",
+        f"- timestamp: `{audit.get('timestamp')}`",
+        f"- last terminal: `{audit.get('last_terminal_action')}` on "
+        f"PR #{audit.get('last_terminal_pr')}",
+        f"- PR state: `{audit.get('pr_state')}` "
+        f"(merged={audit.get('pr_merged')})",
+        f"- merge_commit_sha: `{audit.get('merge_commit_sha')}`",
+        f"- prior live_mutations_count: "
+        f"`{audit.get('prior_live_mutations_count')}`",
+        f"- prior profile_identity: `{audit.get('prior_profile_identity')}`",
+        "",
+        "Manual deletion of session-state files is **not** the workflow.",
+        "This path only clears a lock when the referenced PR is merged/closed.",
+    ]
+    return "\n".join(lines)

task_capability_map.py

@@ -96,6 +96,17 @@ TASK_CAPABILITY_MAP: dict[str, dict[str, str]] = {
         "permission": "gitea.pr.approve",
         "role": "reviewer",
     },
+    # #594: clear durable #332 decision lock only when last terminal PR is
+    # already merged/closed (moot). Apply path requires reviewer review
+    # permission; assessment itself uses gitea.read inside the tool.
+    "cleanup_stale_review_decision_lock": {
+        "permission": "gitea.pr.review",
+        "role": "reviewer",
+    },
+    "gitea_cleanup_stale_review_decision_lock": {
+        "permission": "gitea.pr.review",
+        "role": "reviewer",
+    },
     "delete_branch": {
         "permission": "gitea.branch.delete",
         "role": "author",

test_mcp_conn.py

@@ -1,20 +1,45 @@
 #!/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 the MCP server processes as defined in the IDE's global config,
+Spawns a *separate* MCP server process from config via subprocess.Popen,
-performs the JSON-RPC handshake, and queries the tools list to verify
+performs the JSON-RPC handshake, verifies the required tool is registered,
-that the connection is fully operational and doesn't return EOF.
+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
 import json
 import os
 import subprocess
 import sys
 
-def run_connection_test(name, config):
+from mcp_namespace_health import REQUIRED_NAMESPACE_TOOLS, classify_namespace_probe
+
+
+def _read_json_line(proc):
+    line = proc.stdout.readline()
+    if not line:
+        stderr_content = proc.stderr.read()
+        return None, stderr_content
+    return json.loads(line), None
+
+
+def _write_message(proc, payload):
+    proc.stdin.write(json.dumps(payload) + "\n")
+    proc.stdin.flush()
+
+
+def run_connection_test(name, config, *, required_tool=None, config_path=None):
     print(f"Testing MCP connection for '{name}'...")
     command = config.get("command")
     args = config.get("args", [])
     env = config.get("env", {})
+    tool_name = required_tool or REQUIRED_NAMESPACE_TOOLS.get(name) or "gitea_whoami"
     
     # Merge current environment
     run_env = os.environ.copy()
@@ -31,8 +56,17 @@ def run_connection_test(name, config):
             bufsize=1,
             env=run_env
         )
-    except Exception as e:
+    except Exception as exc:
-        print(f"  [FAIL] Failed to spawn process: {e}")
+        print(f"  [FAIL] Failed to spawn process: {exc}")
+        assessment = classify_namespace_probe(
+            name,
+            required_tool=tool_name,
+            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
 
     # Send initialize request
@@ -48,26 +82,36 @@ def run_connection_test(name, config):
     }
     
     try:
-        proc.stdin.write(json.dumps(init_req) + "\n")
+        _write_message(proc, init_req)
-        proc.stdin.flush()
         
         # Read response
-        line = proc.stdout.readline()
+        res, stderr_content = _read_json_line(proc)
-        if not line:
+        if res is None:
-            stderr_content = proc.stderr.read()
             print(f"  [FAIL] Received EOF from process. Stderr:\n{stderr_content}")
+            assessment = classify_namespace_probe(
+                name,
+                required_tool=tool_name,
+                probe_result={"success": False, "error": stderr_content or "EOF"},
+                process={
+                    "pid": proc.pid,
+                    "profile": env.get("GITEA_MCP_PROFILE"),
+                    "env": env,
+                },
+                config_path=config_path,
+                probe_source="offline_spawn",
+            )
+            print(f"  remediation: {' '.join(assessment['remediation'])}")
             proc.terminate()
             return False
             
-        print(f"  [OK] Received initialize response: {line.strip()[:150]}...")
+        print(f"  [OK] Received initialize response: {str(res)[:150]}...")
         
         # Send initialized notification
         init_notif = {
             "jsonrpc": "2.0",
             "method": "notifications/initialized"
         }
-        proc.stdin.write(json.dumps(init_notif) + "\n")
+        _write_message(proc, init_notif)
-        proc.stdin.flush()
         
         # Send tools/list request
         list_req = {
@@ -76,16 +120,27 @@ def run_connection_test(name, config):
             "params": {},
             "id": 2
         }
-        proc.stdin.write(json.dumps(list_req) + "\n")
+        _write_message(proc, list_req)
-        proc.stdin.flush()
         
-        line = proc.stdout.readline()
+        res, stderr_content = _read_json_line(proc)
-        if not line:
+        if res is None:
             print("  [FAIL] Received EOF on tools/list request.")
+            assessment = classify_namespace_probe(
+                name,
+                required_tool=tool_name,
+                probe_result={"success": False, "error": stderr_content or "EOF"},
+                process={
+                    "pid": proc.pid,
+                    "profile": env.get("GITEA_MCP_PROFILE"),
+                    "env": env,
+                },
+                config_path=config_path,
+                probe_source="offline_spawn",
+            )
+            print(f"  remediation: {' '.join(assessment['remediation'])}")
             proc.terminate()
             return False
             
-        res = json.loads(line)
         if "error" in res:
             print(f"  [FAIL] Server returned error: {res['error']}")
             proc.terminate()
@@ -94,16 +149,115 @@ def run_connection_test(name, config):
         tools = res.get("result", {}).get("tools", [])
         tool_names = [t.get("name") for t in tools]
         print(f"  [OK] Successfully retrieved {len(tool_names)} tools: {tool_names[:5]}...")
+        if tool_name not in tool_names:
+            assessment = classify_namespace_probe(
+                name,
+                required_tool=tool_name,
+                registered_tools=tool_names,
+                probe_result={"success": False, "error": "required tool missing"},
+                process={
+                    "pid": proc.pid,
+                    "profile": env.get("GITEA_MCP_PROFILE"),
+                    "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'])}")
+            proc.terminate()
+            return False
+
+        call_req = {
+            "jsonrpc": "2.0",
+            "method": "tools/call",
+            "params": {"name": tool_name, "arguments": {}},
+            "id": 3,
+        }
+        _write_message(proc, call_req)
+
+        call_res, stderr_content = _read_json_line(proc)
+        if call_res is None:
+            assessment = classify_namespace_probe(
+                name,
+                required_tool=tool_name,
+                registered_tools=tool_names,
+                probe_result={"success": False, "error": stderr_content or "EOF"},
+                process={
+                    "pid": proc.pid,
+                    "profile": env.get("GITEA_MCP_PROFILE"),
+                    "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)}")
+            print(f"  remediation: {' '.join(assessment['remediation'])}")
+            proc.terminate()
+            return False
+        if "error" in call_res:
+            assessment = classify_namespace_probe(
+                name,
+                required_tool=tool_name,
+                registered_tools=tool_names,
+                probe_result={"success": False, "error": call_res["error"]},
+                process={
+                    "pid": proc.pid,
+                    "profile": env.get("GITEA_MCP_PROFILE"),
+                    "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'])}")
+            proc.terminate()
+            return False
+
+        assessment = classify_namespace_probe(
+            name,
+            required_tool=tool_name,
+            registered_tools=tool_names,
+            probe_result={"success": True, "result": call_res.get("result")},
+            process={
+                "pid": proc.pid,
+                "profile": env.get("GITEA_MCP_PROFILE"),
+                "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)}")
         
         proc.terminate()
         return True
-    except Exception as e:
+    except Exception as exc:
-        print(f"  [FAIL] Error during handshake: {e}")
+        print(f"  [FAIL] Error during handshake: {exc}")
         proc.terminate()
         return False
 
+
 def main():
-    config_path = "/Users/jasonwalker/.gemini/config/mcp_config.json"
+    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser()
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--config",
+        default=os.environ.get(
+            "MCP_CONFIG_PATH",
+            os.path.expanduser("~/.gemini/config/mcp_config.json"),
+        ),
+        help="Path to MCP config JSON.",
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--namespace",
+        action="append",
+        dest="namespaces",
+        help="Namespace to test. May be repeated.",
+    )
+    args = parser.parse_args()
+
+    config_path = args.config
     try:
         with open(config_path) as f:
             mcp_config = json.load(f)
@@ -112,10 +266,17 @@ def main():
         sys.exit(1)
         
     servers = mcp_config.get("mcpServers", {})
+    namespaces = args.namespaces or list(REQUIRED_NAMESPACE_TOOLS)
     failed = False
-    for name in ["gitea-author", "gitea-reviewer"]:
+    for name in namespaces:
         if name in servers:
-            if not run_connection_test(name, servers[name]):
+            if not run_connection_test(
+                name,
+                servers[name],
+                required_tool=REQUIRED_NAMESPACE_TOOLS.get(name),
+                config_path=config_path,
+                probe_source="offline_spawn",
+            ):
                 failed = True
         else:
             print(f"Server '{name}' not found in mcp_config.json")

tests/conftest.py

@@ -18,13 +18,13 @@ def _reset_mutation_authority(monkeypatch):
     no-op: individual tests that need a specific authority state set it up
     explicitly.
 
-    Session-state isolation (#559 / #590): many tests use
+    Session-state isolation (#559 / #590 / #594): many tests use
     ``patch.dict(os.environ, ..., clear=True)``, which drops
     ``GITEA_MCP_SESSION_STATE_DIR``. Relying only on the env var therefore
     re-exposes the operator host cache
     (``~/.cache/gitea-tools/session-state``) and its review-mutation ledger.
     Pin ``default_state_dir`` / ``DEFAULT_STATE_DIR`` to a per-test temp dir
-    so durable load/save never touches host state, even after env clears.
+    so durable load/save never touches host state even after env clears.
     """
     monkeypatch.delenv("GITEA_SESSION_PROFILE_LOCK", raising=False)
     # Isolate durable session-state files so tests never share host cache (#559).
@@ -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)
@@ -74,6 +75,14 @@ def _reset_mutation_authority(monkeypatch):
     monkeypatch.setattr(mcp_server, "_preflight_capability_baseline_porcelain", None)
     monkeypatch.setattr(mcp_server, "_preflight_resolved_task", None)
     monkeypatch.setattr(mcp_server, "_preflight_reviewer_violation_files", [])
+    # Unit tests must not depend on live host MCP process health. Tests that
+    # use patch.dict(..., clear=True) drop PYTEST_CURRENT_TEST, which would
+    # otherwise re-enable the stale-runtime probe against operator daemons.
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        mcp_server,
+        "_check_mcp_runtimes_diagnostics",
+        lambda *args, **kwargs: [],
+    )
     try:
         import review_workflow_load
         review_workflow_load._REVIEW_WORKFLOW_LOAD = None

tests/test_controller_closure_baseline_proof.py

@@ -0,0 +1,113 @@
+"""Controller-closure baseline-proof gate tests (#529, criterion 6)."""
+
+import unittest
+
+from controller_closure_baseline_proof import (
+    assess_controller_closure_baseline_proof,
+)
+from premerge_baseline_proof import (
+    CLEAN_PASS,
+    PREMERGE_BASELINE_PROVEN_FAILURE,
+    UNRESOLVED_REGRESSION_RISK,
+)
+from final_report_validator import assess_final_report_validator
+
+# Complete pre-merge proof fields for a baseline claim (see #533).
+_PROOF_FIELDS = (
+    "Pre-merge base commit: 1a2b3c4d5e6f7a8b9c0d1e2f3a4b5c6d7e8f9a0b\n"
+    "Tested commit: 1a2b3c4d5e6f7a8b9c0d1e2f3a4b5c6d7e8f9a0b\n"
+    "Command: venv/bin/python -m pytest tests/test_foo.py -q\n"
+    "Exit status: 1\n"
+    "Failure signature: AssertionError: None is not true\n"
+)
+
+
+class TestControllerClosureBaselineProof(unittest.TestCase):
+    def test_empty_report_skipped_and_allowed(self):
+        result = assess_controller_closure_baseline_proof("")
+        self.assertFalse(result["block"])
+        self.assertTrue(result["skipped"])
+        self.assertEqual(result["label"], CLEAN_PASS)
+
+    def test_none_report_allowed(self):
+        result = assess_controller_closure_baseline_proof(None)
+        self.assertFalse(result["block"])
+        self.assertTrue(result["skipped"])
+
+    def test_clean_pass_closure_allowed(self):
+        result = assess_controller_closure_baseline_proof(
+            "Closing #529. Validation: full suite passed, exit status 0. Clean pass."
+        )
+        self.assertFalse(result["block"])
+        self.assertEqual(result["label"], CLEAN_PASS)
+
+    def test_expected_preexisting_failure_without_proof_blocked(self):
+        report = (
+            "Closing #529. Full suite: 1 failed. This is an expected "
+            "pre-existing failure, safe to close."
+        )
+        result = assess_controller_closure_baseline_proof(report)
+        self.assertTrue(result["block"])
+        self.assertFalse(result["proven"])
+        self.assertEqual(result["label"], UNRESOLVED_REGRESSION_RISK)
+        self.assertTrue(result["reasons"])
+        self.assertTrue(result["safe_next_action"])
+
+    def test_current_master_reproduction_only_blocked(self):
+        report = (
+            "Closing #529. Full suite: 1 failed. Pre-existing baseline failure — "
+            "reproduced on current master after merge.\n"
+            "Command: venv/bin/python -m pytest tests/test_foo.py -q\n"
+            "Exit status: 1\n"
+            "Failure signature: AssertionError: None is not true\n"
+        )
+        result = assess_controller_closure_baseline_proof(report)
+        self.assertTrue(result["block"])
+
+    def test_proven_baseline_closure_allowed(self):
+        report = (
+            "Closing #529. Full suite: 1 failed, an expected pre-existing "
+            "baseline failure proven on the PR pre-merge base commit.\n"
+            + _PROOF_FIELDS
+        )
+        result = assess_controller_closure_baseline_proof(report)
+        self.assertFalse(result["block"])
+        self.assertEqual(result["label"], PREMERGE_BASELINE_PROVEN_FAILURE)
+
+
+class TestControllerCloseTaskKind(unittest.TestCase):
+    """The composable validator must cover the controller_close task kind."""
+
+    def test_controller_close_blocks_unproven_baseline(self):
+        report = (
+            "Full suite: 1 failed. Expected pre-existing failure, closing the "
+            "tracking issue."
+        )
+        result = assess_final_report_validator(report, "controller_close")
+        self.assertTrue(result["blocked"])
+        self.assertTrue(
+            any(
+                "premerge_baseline_proof" in f["rule_id"]
+                for f in result["findings"]
+            )
+        )
+
+    def test_controller_close_alias_close_issue(self):
+        report = (
+            "Full suite: 1 failed. Expected pre-existing failure, closing the "
+            "tracking issue."
+        )
+        result = assess_final_report_validator(report, "close_issue")
+        self.assertTrue(result["blocked"])
+
+    def test_controller_close_allows_proven_baseline(self):
+        report = (
+            "Full suite: 1 failed, expected pre-existing baseline failure proven "
+            "on the PR pre-merge base commit.\n" + _PROOF_FIELDS
+        )
+        result = assess_final_report_validator(report, "controller_close")
+        self.assertFalse(result["blocked"])
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    unittest.main()

tests/test_issue_content_gate.py

@@ -0,0 +1,195 @@
+"""Tests for the pre-create issue content gate (Issue #582)."""
+import sys
+import unittest
+from unittest.mock import patch
+
+sys.path.insert(0, str(__import__("pathlib").Path(__file__).resolve().parent.parent))
+
+from issue_content_gate import (  # noqa: E402
+    assess_issue_content,
+    find_vague_reference,
+    has_durable_source_pointer,
+    normalize_text,
+    pre_create_issue_content_gate,
+)
+from mcp_server import gitea_create_issue  # noqa: E402
+
+FAKE_AUTH = "Basic dGVzdDp0ZXN0"
+ISSUE_WRITE_ENV = {
+    "GITEA_ALLOWED_OPERATIONS": "gitea.issue.create",
+}
+
+
+class TestNormalizeAndPointers(unittest.TestCase):
+
+    def test_normalize_strips_punctuation_and_case(self):
+        self.assertEqual(normalize_text("  The Drafted-Issue!  "), "the drafted issue")
+
+    def test_issue_ref_is_durable_pointer(self):
+        self.assertTrue(has_durable_source_pointer("See #402 for the spec"))
+
+    def test_file_path_is_durable_pointer(self):
+        self.assertTrue(has_durable_source_pointer("Draft in task_capability_map.py"))
+
+    def test_scratchpad_is_durable_pointer(self):
+        self.assertTrue(has_durable_source_pointer("Full text in scratchpad/draft.md"))
+
+    def test_url_is_durable_pointer(self):
+        self.assertTrue(
+            has_durable_source_pointer("https://gitea.prgs.cc/issues/1 has it")
+        )
+
+    def test_plain_text_has_no_durable_pointer(self):
+        self.assertFalse(has_durable_source_pointer("just some words here"))
+
+
+class TestFindVagueReference(unittest.TestCase):
+
+    def test_bare_vague_phrases_are_flagged(self):
+        for text in (
+            "the drafted issue",
+            "The prepared issue",
+            "the issue we discussed",
+            "the previous draft",
+            "Create the drafted issue",
+            "please file the prepared issue",
+        ):
+            with self.subTest(text=text):
+                self.assertIsNotNone(find_vague_reference(text))
+
+    def test_durable_pointer_defeats_vague_reference(self):
+        # Same vague phrase but with a durable pointer -> not vague.
+        self.assertIsNone(find_vague_reference("the drafted issue in #402"))
+        self.assertIsNone(
+            find_vague_reference("the prepared issue: see scratchpad/draft.md")
+        )
+
+    def test_long_specific_body_with_incidental_phrase_is_not_vague(self):
+        body = (
+            "As discussed, the create_issue tool must reject vague references. "
+            "Add a preflight check that lists the exact missing fields and "
+            "returns BLOCKED + DIAGNOSE with concrete acceptance criteria."
+        )
+        self.assertIsNone(find_vague_reference(body))
+
+    def test_concrete_short_body_is_not_vague(self):
+        self.assertIsNone(find_vague_reference("Fix null deref in auth handler"))
+
+    def test_empty_is_not_vague(self):
+        self.assertIsNone(find_vague_reference(""))
+
+
+class TestAssessIssueContent(unittest.TestCase):
+
+    def test_missing_title_is_incomplete(self):
+        result = assess_issue_content("", "some body")
+        self.assertFalse(result["complete"])
+        self.assertIn("title", result["missing_fields"])
+
+    def test_vague_body_is_incomplete_and_diagnosed(self):
+        result = assess_issue_content("Add the thing", "the drafted issue")
+        self.assertFalse(result["complete"])
+        self.assertIn("body", result["vague_fields"])
+        self.assertIn("vague reference", result["diagnose"])
+
+    def test_vague_title_is_incomplete(self):
+        result = assess_issue_content("the prepared issue", "")
+        self.assertFalse(result["complete"])
+        self.assertIn("title", result["vague_fields"])
+
+    def test_complete_content_passes(self):
+        result = assess_issue_content(
+            "Block vague issue creation",
+            "Add a preflight gate that rejects placeholder references.",
+        )
+        self.assertTrue(result["complete"])
+        self.assertEqual(result["missing_fields"], [])
+        self.assertEqual(result["vague_fields"], [])
+
+    def test_title_only_is_allowed(self):
+        # Empty body must NOT block: title-only creation stays allowed.
+        result = assess_issue_content("A concrete specific title", "")
+        self.assertTrue(result["complete"])
+
+    def test_durable_pointer_body_passes(self):
+        result = assess_issue_content(
+            "Implement the drafted change",
+            "the drafted issue is fully specified in #582",
+        )
+        self.assertTrue(result["complete"])
+
+    def test_allow_incomplete_override(self):
+        result = assess_issue_content(
+            "the drafted issue", "the drafted issue", allow_incomplete=True
+        )
+        self.assertTrue(result["complete"])
+        self.assertTrue(result["override_applied"])
+
+    def test_gate_wrapper_sets_performed(self):
+        blocked = pre_create_issue_content_gate("Add x", "the drafted issue")
+        self.assertFalse(blocked["performed"])
+        ok = pre_create_issue_content_gate("Add x", "concrete actionable body")
+        self.assertTrue(ok["performed"])
+
+
+class TestCreateIssueContentMCPGate(unittest.TestCase):
+
+    @patch("mcp_server.role_session_router.check_author_mutation_after_reviewer_stop")
+    @patch("mcp_server.api_request")
+    @patch("mcp_server.api_get_all")
+    @patch("mcp_server.get_auth_header", return_value=FAKE_AUTH)
+    def test_blocks_vague_reference_without_creating(
+        self, _auth, mock_get_all, mock_api, mock_role_check
+    ):
+        mock_role_check.return_value = (True, [])
+        with patch.dict(__import__("os").environ, ISSUE_WRITE_ENV, clear=True):
+            result = gitea_create_issue(
+                title="Create the drafted issue",
+                body="the drafted issue",
+                remote="prgs",
+            )
+        self.assertFalse(result["performed"])
+        self.assertIn("content_gate", result)
+        self.assertIn("body", result["content_gate"]["vague_fields"])
+        self.assertTrue(any("BLOCKED + DIAGNOSE" in r for r in result["reasons"]))
+        mock_api.assert_not_called()
+        mock_get_all.assert_not_called()
+
+    @patch("mcp_server.role_session_router.check_author_mutation_after_reviewer_stop")
+    @patch("mcp_server.api_request")
+    @patch("mcp_server.api_get_all", return_value=[])
+    @patch("mcp_server.get_auth_header", return_value=FAKE_AUTH)
+    def test_creates_when_content_is_concrete(
+        self, _auth, _get_all, mock_api, mock_role_check
+    ):
+        mock_role_check.return_value = (True, [])
+        mock_api.return_value = {"number": 7, "html_url": "https://x/issues/7"}
+        with patch.dict(__import__("os").environ, ISSUE_WRITE_ENV, clear=True):
+            result = gitea_create_issue(
+                title="Block vague issue creation",
+                body="Add a preflight gate rejecting placeholder references.",
+                remote="prgs",
+            )
+        self.assertEqual(result["number"], 7)
+
+    @patch("mcp_server.role_session_router.check_author_mutation_after_reviewer_stop")
+    @patch("mcp_server.api_request")
+    @patch("mcp_server.api_get_all", return_value=[])
+    @patch("mcp_server.get_auth_header", return_value=FAKE_AUTH)
+    def test_override_creates_despite_vague_content(
+        self, _auth, _get_all, mock_api, mock_role_check
+    ):
+        mock_role_check.return_value = (True, [])
+        mock_api.return_value = {"number": 8, "html_url": "https://x/issues/8"}
+        with patch.dict(__import__("os").environ, ISSUE_WRITE_ENV, clear=True):
+            result = gitea_create_issue(
+                title="the drafted issue",
+                body="the drafted issue",
+                remote="prgs",
+                allow_incomplete_content=True,
+            )
+        self.assertEqual(result["number"], 8)
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    unittest.main()

tests/test_mcp_namespace_health.py

@@ -0,0 +1,208 @@
+import unittest
+
+import gitea_mcp_server
+import mcp_namespace_health
+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",
+            required_tool="gitea_whoami",
+            registered_tools=["gitea_whoami", "gitea_list_profiles"],
+            probe_result={
+                "success": False,
+                "error": "client is closing: EOF",
+            },
+            process={
+                "pid": 4321,
+                "profile": "prgs-reviewer",
+                "env": {
+                    "GITEA_MCP_PROFILE": "prgs-reviewer",
+                    "GITEA_TOKEN": "must-not-leak",
+                },
+            },
+            config_path="/Users/jasonwalker/.gemini/config/mcp_config.json",
+            probe_source="client_namespace",
+        )
+
+        self.assertFalse(result["healthy"])
+        self.assertEqual(result["error_type"], "namespace_eof")
+        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(
+            result["diagnostics"]["env"]["GITEA_MCP_PROFILE"],
+            "prgs-reviewer",
+        )
+        self.assertNotIn("GITEA_TOKEN", result["diagnostics"]["env"])
+        self.assertIn("gitea-reviewer", result["reasons"][0])
+        self.assertIn("gitea_whoami", result["reasons"][0])
+
+    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"])
+        self.assertEqual(result["required_tool"], "gitea_list_profiles")
+        self.assertFalse(result["required_tool_registered"])
+        self.assertEqual(result["error_type"], "tool_missing")
+
+    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).
+        idx = rmsm.REVIEW_MERGE_STATES.index("PRE_MERGE_RECHECK")
+        return {state: True for state in rmsm.REVIEW_MERGE_STATES[: idx + 1]}
+
+    def _all_gates(self):
+        return {gate: True for gate in rmsm._PRE_MERGE_REQUIRED_GATES}
+
+    def test_assess_workflow_blockers_flags_live_namespace_broken(self):
+        clean = rmsm.assess_workflow_blockers()
+        self.assertFalse(clean["block"])
+
+        broken = rmsm.assess_workflow_blockers(live_namespace_broken=True)
+        self.assertTrue(broken["block"])
+        self.assertTrue(any("namespace" in r.lower() for r in broken["reasons"]))
+
+    def test_can_merge_blocks_even_when_all_gates_pass(self):
+        # Without the namespace blocker a fully-complete workflow can merge...
+        allowed = rmsm.can_merge(
+            self._merge_ready_completion(), pre_merge_gates=self._all_gates()
+        )
+        self.assertTrue(allowed["allowed"])
+
+        # ...but a broken live namespace overrides every satisfied gate.
+        blocked = rmsm.can_merge(
+            self._merge_ready_completion(),
+            pre_merge_gates=self._all_gates(),
+            live_namespace_broken=True,
+        )
+        self.assertTrue(blocked["block"])
+        self.assertFalse(blocked["allowed"])
+
+    def test_workflow_status_forwards_namespace_blocker(self):
+        status = rmsm.workflow_status(
+            self._merge_ready_completion(), live_namespace_broken=True
+        )
+        self.assertFalse(status["merge_allowed"])
+        self.assertFalse(status["approve_allowed"])
+
+    def test_server_tool_blocks_merge_on_live_namespace_broken(self):
+        result = gitea_mcp_server.gitea_assess_review_merge_state_machine(
+            state_completion=self._merge_ready_completion(),
+            pre_merge_gates=self._all_gates(),
+            live_namespace_broken=True,
+        )
+        self.assertTrue(result["blockers"]["block"])
+        self.assertFalse(result["merge"]["allowed"])
+
+    def test_classify_verdict_bridges_into_merge_block(self):
+        # The classify verdict is the intended feed for live_namespace_broken.
+        verdict = mcp_namespace_health.classify_namespace_probe(
+            "gitea-merger",
+            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(
+            self._merge_ready_completion(),
+            pre_merge_gates=self._all_gates(),
+            live_namespace_broken=verdict["blocks_merge_workflow"],
+        )
+        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()

tests/test_mcp_server.py

@@ -774,8 +774,8 @@ class TestMergePR(unittest.TestCase):
     def setUp(self):
         import reviewer_pr_lease
 
-        # Start each merge test with a clean review-mutation ledger (#590).
+        # Clean ledger each merge test so residual/host durable #332 state
-        # Host durable state can otherwise leak in when tests clear os.environ.
+        # cannot short-circuit eligibility gates (#590 / #594).
         mcp_server._save_review_decision_lock(None)
         mcp_server.gitea_load_review_workflow()
         self._lease_patch = _install_owned_reviewer_lease(8)
@@ -2733,6 +2733,56 @@ class TestTrackerHygieneCleanup(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertTrue(res["success"])
         self.assertEqual(res["cleanup_status"].get(1), "not present")
 
+    def test_close_issue_blocks_unproven_expected_preexisting_failure(self):
+        # #529: a closure report calling a non-zero suite exit an "expected
+        # pre-existing failure" without pre-merge proof must fail closed and
+        # never PATCH the issue state.
+        patched = []
+
+        def api_side_effect(method, url, auth, payload=None):
+            if method == "PATCH":
+                patched.append(url)
+            return {}
+        self.mock_api.side_effect = api_side_effect
+
+        res = gitea_close_issue(
+            issue_number=1,
+            closure_report=(
+                "Full suite: 1 failed. Expected pre-existing failure, safe to close."
+            ),
+        )
+        self.assertFalse(res["success"])
+        self.assertTrue(res.get("blocked"))
+        self.assertTrue(res.get("reasons"))
+        self.assertFalse(
+            patched, "must not PATCH issue state when the closure gate blocks"
+        )
+
+    def test_close_issue_allows_proven_baseline_closure(self):
+        def api_side_effect(method, url, auth, payload=None):
+            if method == "PATCH" and "issues/1" in url:
+                return {"state": "closed"}
+            if method == "GET" and "labels" in url and "issues" not in url:
+                return [{"name": "bug", "id": 2}]
+            if method == "GET" and "issues/1" in url:
+                return {"labels": [{"name": "bug"}]}
+            return {}
+        self.mock_api.side_effect = api_side_effect
+
+        res = gitea_close_issue(
+            issue_number=1,
+            closure_report=(
+                "Full suite: 1 failed, expected pre-existing baseline failure "
+                "proven on the PR pre-merge base commit.\n"
+                "Pre-merge base commit: 1a2b3c4d5e6f7a8b9c0d1e2f3a4b5c6d7e8f9a0b\n"
+                "Tested commit: 1a2b3c4d5e6f7a8b9c0d1e2f3a4b5c6d7e8f9a0b\n"
+                "Command: venv/bin/python -m pytest -q\n"
+                "Exit status: 1\n"
+                "Failure signature: AssertionError: None is not true\n"
+            ),
+        )
+        self.assertTrue(res["success"])
+
     def test_merge_pr_with_closes_removes_label(self):
         import reviewer_pr_lease
 

tests/test_mcp_stale_runtime.py

@@ -67,5 +67,66 @@ class TestMcpStaleRuntime(unittest.TestCase):
         # But does NOT contain missing author profile error
         self.assertFalse(any("None of the matching profiles for task" in r for r in reasons_author))
 
+    @patch("subprocess.run")
+    @patch("os.path.getmtime")
+    @patch("os.path.exists")
+    @patch("os.getpid")
+    @patch.dict("os.environ", {"GITEA_FORCE_MCP_RUNTIME_CHECK": "1"})
+    def test_git_head_change_triggers_staleness(self, mock_getpid, mock_exists, mock_getmtime, mock_run):
+        # Set boot SHA to FAKE1 and current to FAKE2
+        gitea_mcp_server._process_boot_head_sha = "FAKE1"
+        mock_getpid.return_value = 12345
+        mock_exists.return_value = True
+
+        # Code time is in the past (fresh process chronologically)
+        code_time = datetime(2026, 7, 8, 11, 0, 0)
+        mock_getmtime.return_value = code_time.timestamp()
+
+        ps_output = (
+            "  PID LSTART COMMAND\n"
+            "12345 Wed Jul  8 12:00:00 2026 /path/to/python mcp_server.py\n"
+        )
+
+        mock_run_ps = MagicMock()
+        mock_run_ps.stdout = ps_output
+
+        mock_run_env = MagicMock()
+        mock_run_env.stdout = "GITEA_MCP_PROFILE=prgs-author"
+
+        mock_run_git = MagicMock()
+        mock_run_git.stdout = "FAKE2" # different SHA
+
+        def side_effect(args, **kwargs):
+            if args[0] == "ps" and "eww" in args:
+                return mock_run_env
+            elif args[0] == "ps":
+                return mock_run_ps
+            elif args[0] == "git" and "rev-parse" in args:
+                return mock_run_git
+            raise ValueError(f"Unexpected: {args}")
+
+        mock_run.side_effect = side_effect
+
+        # Stale even though process started AFTER code mtime, because git HEAD changed
+        reasons = gitea_mcp_server._check_mcp_runtimes_diagnostics("create_issue", ["prgs-author"])
+        self.assertTrue(any("stale-runtime: The active Gitea MCP server process is stale" in r for r in reasons))
+
+    @patch("threading.Thread")
+    @patch("os.utime")
+    @patch("os.path.exists")
+    @patch.dict("os.environ", {"MCP_CONFIG_PATH": "/tmp/mcp_config.json"})
+    def test_auto_restart_trigger_touches_and_spawns(self, mock_exists, mock_utime, mock_thread):
+        mock_exists.return_value = True
+        gitea_mcp_server._restart_triggered = False
+
+        # Ensure we are not skipped in test mode for testing purposes
+        with patch("gitea_mcp_server._preflight_in_test_mode", return_value=False):
+            gitea_mcp_server._trigger_mcp_auto_restart()
+
+        mock_utime.assert_called_once_with("/tmp/mcp_config.json", None)
+        mock_thread.assert_called_once()
+        self.assertTrue(gitea_mcp_server._restart_triggered)
+
+
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     unittest.main()

tests/test_post_merge_validation.py

@@ -0,0 +1,119 @@
+"""Post-merge moot validation wording + label tests (#529, criteria 1/4/5)."""
+
+import unittest
+
+from post_merge_validation import (
+    BASELINE_ACCEPTED_OUTCOME,
+    BLOCKED_OUTCOME,
+    CLEAN_PASS_OUTCOME,
+    LABEL_BASELINE_ACCEPTED,
+    LABEL_BLOCKED,
+    LABEL_CLEAN_PASS,
+    LABEL_POST_MERGE_MOOT,
+    POST_MERGE_MOOT_OUTCOME,
+    assess_post_merge_validation,
+    process_state_label,
+)
+from final_report_validator import assess_final_report_validator
+from issue_workflow_labels import CANONICAL_LABELS, VALIDATION_LABELS
+
+_MOOT_PROOF = (
+    "Validation status: post-merge moot validation\n"
+    "PR state: merged\n"
+    "Merge commit sha: 1a2b3c4d5e6f7a8b9c0d1e2f3a4b5c6d7e8f9a0b\n"
+    "Validation finding: full suite passed, for the record.\n"
+)
+
+
+class TestPostMergeValidation(unittest.TestCase):
+    def test_not_applicable_when_no_merged_or_moot_signal(self):
+        result = assess_post_merge_validation(
+            "Review decision: approve. Validation: full suite passed."
+        )
+        self.assertFalse(result["block"])
+        self.assertTrue(result["skipped"])
+
+    def test_active_approval_on_merged_pr_blocked(self):
+        report = (
+            "PR is already merged. Review decision: approve. "
+            "Validation: full suite passed."
+        )
+        result = assess_post_merge_validation(report)
+        self.assertTrue(result["block"])
+        self.assertEqual(result["outcome"], POST_MERGE_MOOT_OUTCOME)
+        self.assertEqual(result["process_state_label"], LABEL_POST_MERGE_MOOT)
+
+    def test_active_approval_on_merged_pr_via_structured_signal_blocked(self):
+        report = "Review decision: approve. Validation: full suite passed."
+        result = assess_post_merge_validation(report, pr_merged_or_closed=True)
+        self.assertTrue(result["block"])
+
+    def test_moot_wording_without_proof_blocked(self):
+        report = "Recording post-merge moot validation for this PR."
+        result = assess_post_merge_validation(report)
+        self.assertTrue(result["block"])
+        self.assertTrue(result["reasons"])
+
+    def test_moot_wording_with_full_proof_allowed(self):
+        result = assess_post_merge_validation(_MOOT_PROOF)
+        self.assertFalse(result["block"])
+        self.assertEqual(result["outcome"], POST_MERGE_MOOT_OUTCOME)
+
+    def test_merged_signal_only_guides_without_blocking(self):
+        result = assess_post_merge_validation(
+            "PR was already merged before review; recording findings."
+        )
+        self.assertFalse(result["block"])
+        self.assertTrue(result["safe_next_action"])
+
+    def test_process_state_label_mapping(self):
+        self.assertEqual(process_state_label(CLEAN_PASS_OUTCOME), LABEL_CLEAN_PASS)
+        self.assertEqual(
+            process_state_label(BASELINE_ACCEPTED_OUTCOME), LABEL_BASELINE_ACCEPTED
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(process_state_label(BLOCKED_OUTCOME), LABEL_BLOCKED)
+        self.assertEqual(
+            process_state_label(POST_MERGE_MOOT_OUTCOME), LABEL_POST_MERGE_MOOT
+        )
+        self.assertIsNone(process_state_label("nonsense"))
+
+
+class TestValidationLabelsRegistered(unittest.TestCase):
+    def test_validation_labels_are_canonical(self):
+        for label in (
+            LABEL_CLEAN_PASS,
+            LABEL_BASELINE_ACCEPTED,
+            LABEL_BLOCKED,
+            LABEL_POST_MERGE_MOOT,
+        ):
+            self.assertIn(label, VALIDATION_LABELS)
+            self.assertIn(label, CANONICAL_LABELS)
+
+
+class TestPostMergeValidationWiredIntoReview(unittest.TestCase):
+    def test_review_pr_blocks_active_approval_on_merged_pr(self):
+        report = (
+            "PR is already merged. Review decision: approve. "
+            "Validation: full suite passed."
+        )
+        result = assess_final_report_validator(report, "review_pr")
+        self.assertTrue(result["blocked"])
+        self.assertTrue(
+            any(
+                f["rule_id"] == "reviewer.post_merge_validation"
+                for f in result["findings"]
+            )
+        )
+
+    def test_review_pr_allows_proven_post_merge_moot(self):
+        result = assess_final_report_validator(_MOOT_PROOF, "review_pr")
+        self.assertFalse(
+            any(
+                f["rule_id"] == "reviewer.post_merge_validation"
+                for f in result["findings"]
+            )
+        )
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    unittest.main()

tests/test_resolve_task_capability.py

@@ -287,6 +287,49 @@ class TestResolveTaskCapability(unittest.TestCase):
             self.assertEqual(res["required_operation_permission"], "gitea.pr.merge")
             self.assertEqual(res["required_role_kind"], "merger")
 
+    @patch("mcp_server.api_request", return_value={"login": "reviewer-user"})
+    @patch("mcp_server.get_auth_header", return_value="token reviewer-pass")
+    def test_reviewer_role_with_merge_permission_still_cannot_merge(self, _auth, _api):
+        # #539: exact permission alone is insufficient. The active profile
+        # role must also be merger for merge_pr.
+        config = json.loads(json.dumps(CONFIG_RESOLVER))
+        config["profiles"]["reviewer-with-merge"] = {
+            "enabled": True,
+            "context": "ctx",
+            "role": "reviewer",
+            "username": "reviewer-user",
+            "auth": {"type": "env", "name": "GITEA_TOKEN_REVIEWER"},
+            "allowed_operations": [
+                "gitea.read", "gitea.pr.review", "gitea.pr.approve",
+                "gitea.pr.merge",
+            ],
+            "forbidden_operations": ["gitea.pr.create", "gitea.branch.push"],
+            "execution_profile": "reviewer-with-merge",
+        }
+        self._write_config(config)
+        with patch.dict(os.environ, self._env("reviewer-with-merge")):
+            res = mcp_server.gitea_resolve_task_capability(
+                task="merge_pr", remote="prgs"
+            )
+        self.assertEqual(res["required_role_kind"], "merger")
+        self.assertEqual(res["active_role_kind"], "reviewer")
+        self.assertTrue(res["active_profile_permission_allowed"])
+        self.assertFalse(res["allowed_in_current_session"])
+        self.assertTrue(res["stop_required"])
+        self.assertIn("cannot perform merger task", " ".join(res["task_role_guidance"]))
+
+    @patch("mcp_server.api_request", return_value={"login": "merger-user"})
+    @patch("mcp_server.get_auth_header", return_value="token merger-pass")
+    def test_merger_profile_can_resolve_merge_task(self, _auth, _api):
+        with patch.dict(os.environ, self._env("merger-profile")):
+            res = mcp_server.gitea_resolve_task_capability(
+                task="merge_pr", remote="prgs"
+            )
+        self.assertEqual(res["required_role_kind"], "merger")
+        self.assertEqual(res["active_role_kind"], "merger")
+        self.assertTrue(res["allowed_in_current_session"])
+        self.assertFalse(res["stop_required"])
+
     @patch("mcp_server.api_request")
     def test_self_review_blocked_structured(self, mock_api):
         # Test that self-approve (self-review gate) is blocked and returns structured reasons

tests/test_review_drafts.py

@@ -0,0 +1,287 @@
+"""Tests for preserving and resuming prepared Gitea review drafts (#609)."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import os
+import sys
+import tempfile
+import unittest
+from pathlib import Path
+from unittest.mock import patch, MagicMock
+
+sys_path_root = str(Path(__file__).resolve().parent.parent)
+if sys_path_root not in sys.path:
+    sys.path.insert(0, sys_path_root)
+
+import mcp_session_state
+import gitea_mcp_server
+import reviewer_pr_lease
+
+
+class TestReviewDrafts(unittest.TestCase):
+    def setUp(self):
+        self._tmpdir = tempfile.TemporaryDirectory()
+        self.state_dir = self._tmpdir.name
+        self._env = patch.dict(
+            os.environ,
+            {
+                mcp_session_state.STATE_DIR_ENV: self.state_dir,
+                mcp_session_state.SESSION_PROFILE_LOCK_ENV: "prgs-reviewer",
+                "GITEA_MCP_PROFILE": "prgs-reviewer",
+                "GITEA_PROFILE_NAME": "prgs-reviewer",
+                "PYTEST_CURRENT_TEST": "1",  # skip runtime stale checks
+            },
+            clear=False,
+        )
+        self._env.start()
+        
+        # Mock workspace binding to pass in test context
+        self._nwb_patch = patch(
+            "gitea_mcp_server.nwb.assess_namespace_mutation_workspace",
+            return_value={"block": False, "mutation_workspace": "/tmp/test-worktree"},
+        )
+        self._nwb_patch.start()
+
+        # Mock authentication headers
+        self._auth_patch = patch(
+            "gitea_mcp_server.get_auth_header",
+            return_value="Bearer mock-token",
+        )
+        self._auth_patch.start()
+
+        self._username_patch = patch(
+            "gitea_mcp_server._authenticated_username",
+            return_value="sysadmin",
+        )
+        self._username_patch.start()
+        
+        # Clear/Mock local session lease in-memory state
+        reviewer_pr_lease.clear_session_lease()
+
+    def tearDown(self):
+        self._username_patch.stop()
+        self._auth_patch.stop()
+        self._nwb_patch.stop()
+        self._env.stop()
+        self._tmpdir.cleanup()
+        reviewer_pr_lease.clear_session_lease()
+
+    @patch("gitea_mcp_server.api_request")
+    def test_save_draft_success(self, mock_api):
+        print("GITEA_MCP_SERVER FILE:", gitea_mcp_server.__file__)
+        print("DIR OF GITEA_MCP_SERVER:", dir(gitea_mcp_server))
+        mock_api.return_value = {
+            "head": {"sha": "headsha1234567890"},
+            "base": {"ref": "master", "sha": "basesha0987654321"},
+        }
+        res = gitea_mcp_server.gitea_save_review_draft(
+            pr_number=587,
+            action="approve",
+            body="Good changes",
+            expected_head_sha="headsha1234567890",
+            validation_commands="pytest tests/",
+            validation_results="all pass",
+            blocker_reason="stale daemon",
+            remote="prgs",
+            org="Scaled-Tech-Consulting",
+            repo="Gitea-Tools",
+            worktree_path="/tmp/test-worktree",
+        )
+        self.assertTrue(res.get("success"))
+        self.assertEqual(res.get("head_sha"), "headsha1234567890")
+        
+        # Load draft and verify fields
+        draft = mcp_session_state.load_state(
+            kind=mcp_session_state.KIND_REVIEW_DRAFT,
+            remote="prgs",
+            org="Scaled-Tech-Consulting",
+            repo="Gitea-Tools",
+            profile_identity="prgs-reviewer",
+        )
+        self.assertIsNotNone(draft)
+        self.assertEqual(draft.get("pr_number"), 587)
+        self.assertEqual(draft.get("action"), "approve")
+        self.assertEqual(draft.get("body"), "Good changes")
+        self.assertEqual(draft.get("validation_commands"), "pytest tests/")
+        self.assertEqual(draft.get("validation_results"), "all pass")
+        self.assertEqual(draft.get("blocker_reason"), "stale daemon")
+        self.assertEqual(os.path.realpath(draft.get("worktree_path")), os.path.realpath("/tmp/test-worktree"))
+
+    @patch("gitea_mcp_server.api_request")
+    @patch("gitea_mcp_server._fetch_pr_comments")
+    @patch("gitea_mcp_server.gitea_submit_pr_review")
+    def test_resume_draft_and_submit_success(self, mock_submit, mock_comments, mock_api):
+        # 1. Save draft
+        mock_api.return_value = {
+            "state": "open",
+            "head": {"sha": "headsha1234567890"},
+            "base": {"ref": "master", "sha": "basesha0987654321"},
+        }
+        
+        gitea_mcp_server.gitea_save_review_draft(
+            pr_number=587,
+            action="approve",
+            body="Good changes",
+            expected_head_sha="headsha1234567890",
+            remote="prgs",
+            org="Scaled-Tech-Consulting",
+            repo="Gitea-Tools",
+            worktree_path="/tmp/test-worktree",
+        )
+        
+        # Seed local session lease
+        reviewer_pr_lease.record_session_lease({
+            "pr_number": 587,
+            "session_id": "session-1234",
+        })
+        
+        # Mock Gitea comments to return active reviewer lease owned by us
+        mock_comments.return_value = [
+            {
+                "id": 1,
+                "user": {"username": "sysadmin"},
+                "body": (
+                    "<!-- mcp-review-lease:v1 -->\n"
+                    "repo: Scaled-Tech-Consulting/Gitea-Tools\n"
+                    "pr: #587\n"
+                    "reviewer_identity: sysadmin\n"
+                    "profile: prgs-reviewer\n"
+                    "session_id: session-1234\n"
+                    "phase: claimed\n"
+                ),
+            }
+        ]
+        
+        mock_submit.return_value = {"performed": True, "success": True}
+        
+        # 2. Resume draft
+        res = gitea_mcp_server.gitea_resume_review_draft(
+            pr_number=587,
+            submit=True,
+            remote="prgs",
+            org="Scaled-Tech-Consulting",
+            repo="Gitea-Tools",
+            worktree_path="/tmp/test-worktree",
+        )
+        
+        self.assertTrue(res.get("success"))
+        self.assertTrue(res.get("marked_ready"))
+        self.assertTrue(res.get("submitted"))
+        mock_submit.assert_called_once()
+        
+        # Verify draft was deleted after successful submit
+        draft = mcp_session_state.load_state(
+            kind=mcp_session_state.KIND_REVIEW_DRAFT,
+            remote="prgs",
+            org="Scaled-Tech-Consulting",
+            repo="Gitea-Tools",
+            profile_identity="prgs-reviewer",
+        )
+        self.assertIsNone(draft)
+
+    @patch("gitea_mcp_server.api_request")
+    @patch("gitea_mcp_server._fetch_pr_comments")
+    def test_resume_draft_fails_checks(self, mock_comments, mock_api):
+        # Save a draft
+        mock_api.return_value = {
+            "state": "open",
+            "head": {"sha": "headsha1234567890"},
+            "base": {"ref": "master", "sha": "basesha0987654321"},
+        }
+        gitea_mcp_server.gitea_save_review_draft(
+            pr_number=587,
+            action="approve",
+            body="Good changes",
+            expected_head_sha="headsha1234567890",
+            remote="prgs",
+            org="Scaled-Tech-Consulting",
+            repo="Gitea-Tools",
+            worktree_path="/tmp/test-worktree",
+        )
+        
+        # Seed local session lease
+        reviewer_pr_lease.record_session_lease({
+            "pr_number": 587,
+            "session_id": "session-1234",
+        })
+        
+        # Mock Gitea comments to return active reviewer lease owned by us
+        mock_comments.return_value = [
+            {
+                "id": 1,
+                "user": {"username": "sysadmin"},
+                "body": (
+                    "<!-- mcp-review-lease:v1 -->\n"
+                    "repo: Scaled-Tech-Consulting/Gitea-Tools\n"
+                    "pr: #587\n"
+                    "reviewer_identity: sysadmin\n"
+                    "profile: prgs-reviewer\n"
+                    "session_id: session-1234\n"
+                    "phase: claimed\n"
+                ),
+            }
+        ]
+        
+        # Case A: PR closed
+        mock_api.return_value = {
+            "state": "closed",
+            "head": {"sha": "headsha1234567890"},
+            "base": {"ref": "master", "sha": "basesha0987654321"},
+        }
+        res = gitea_mcp_server.gitea_resume_review_draft(
+            pr_number=587,
+            remote="prgs",
+            org="Scaled-Tech-Consulting",
+            repo="Gitea-Tools",
+            worktree_path="/tmp/test-worktree",
+        )
+        self.assertFalse(res.get("success"))
+        self.assertIn("PR #587 is not open", res.get("reasons")[0])
+        
+        # Case B: Head changed
+        mock_api.return_value = {
+            "state": "open",
+            "head": {"sha": "headsha_NEW"},
+            "base": {"ref": "master", "sha": "basesha0987654321"},
+        }
+        res = gitea_mcp_server.gitea_resume_review_draft(
+            pr_number=587,
+            remote="prgs",
+            org="Scaled-Tech-Consulting",
+            repo="Gitea-Tools",
+            worktree_path="/tmp/test-worktree",
+        )
+        self.assertFalse(res.get("success"))
+        self.assertIn("PR head SHA changed", res.get("reasons")[0])
+        
+        # Case C: Target branch changed
+        mock_api.return_value = {
+            "state": "open",
+            "head": {"sha": "headsha1234567890"},
+            "base": {"ref": "master", "sha": "basesha_NEW"},
+        }
+        res = gitea_mcp_server.gitea_resume_review_draft(
+            pr_number=587,
+            remote="prgs",
+            org="Scaled-Tech-Consulting",
+            repo="Gitea-Tools",
+            worktree_path="/tmp/test-worktree",
+        )
+        self.assertFalse(res.get("success"))
+        self.assertIn("target branch SHA changed", res.get("reasons")[0])
+        
+        # Case D: Worktree mismatch
+        mock_api.return_value = {
+            "state": "open",
+            "head": {"sha": "headsha1234567890"},
+            "base": {"ref": "master", "sha": "basesha0987654321"},
+        }
+        res = gitea_mcp_server.gitea_resume_review_draft(
+            pr_number=587,
+            remote="prgs",
+            org="Scaled-Tech-Consulting",
+            repo="Gitea-Tools",
+            worktree_path="/tmp/different-worktree",
+        )
+        self.assertFalse(res.get("success"))
+        self.assertIn("worktree binding mismatch", res.get("reasons")[0])

tests/test_reviewer_pr_lease.py

@@ -237,5 +237,113 @@ class TestReviewerLeaseMcpGate(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertTrue(any("lease" in r.lower() for r in reasons))
 
 
+
+class TestReviewerLeaseHandoffDiagnose(unittest.TestCase):
+    """#599: canonical next-action diagnosis for open-PR lease handoff."""
+
+    def setUp(self):
+        leases.clear_session_lease()
+
+    def test_no_lease_next_action_acquire(self):
+        result = leases.diagnose_reviewer_pr_lease_handoff(
+            [],
+            pr_number=592,
+            current_session_id="me-1",
+            current_reviewer_identity="sysadmin",
+            proposed_worktree="branches/review-pr-592",
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(result["classification"], "no_lease")
+        self.assertEqual(result["next_action"], leases.NEXT_ACTION_ACQUIRE)
+        self.assertIsNone(result["active_lease"])
+
+    def test_foreign_active_wait_pr592_style(self):
+        # Instructed lease gone; newer foreign claim is active.
+        old = _lease_comment(592, "23139-da018dab43ba", phase="released")
+        old["id"] = 8640
+        active = _lease_comment(592, "51515-2bfb70f0685f", phase="claimed")
+        active["id"] = 8647
+        result = leases.diagnose_reviewer_pr_lease_handoff(
+            [old, active],
+            pr_number=592,
+            current_session_id="fresh-session",
+            current_reviewer_identity="sysadmin",
+            proposed_worktree="branches/review-pr-592-issue-590",
+            instructed_session_id="23139-da018dab43ba",
+            instructed_comment_id=8640,
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(
+            result["classification"],
+            "instructed_lease_missing_with_replacement",
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(result["next_action"], leases.NEXT_ACTION_WAIT)
+        self.assertTrue(result["instructed_lease_missing_with_replacement"])
+        self.assertEqual(result["active_lease"]["session_id"], "51515-2bfb70f0685f")
+        self.assertEqual(result["active_lease"]["comment_id"], 8647)
+        self.assertFalse(result["mutation_allowed"])
+
+    def test_foreign_reclaimable_release_expired(self):
+        reclaim = _lease_comment(
+            592, "foreign-old", phase="claimed", minutes_ago=65
+        )
+        reclaim["id"] = 99
+        result = leases.diagnose_reviewer_pr_lease_handoff(
+            [reclaim],
+            pr_number=592,
+            current_session_id="me-1",
+            current_reviewer_identity="sysadmin",
+            proposed_worktree="branches/review-pr-592",
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(result["classification"], "foreign_reclaimable")
+        self.assertEqual(
+            result["next_action"], leases.NEXT_ACTION_RELEASE_EXPIRED_LEASE
+        )
+
+    def test_own_active_resume(self):
+        head = "a" * 40
+        claim = _lease_comment(592, "me-1", phase="claimed", candidate_head=head)
+        claim["id"] = 10
+        leases.record_session_lease({
+            "pr_number": 592,
+            "session_id": "me-1",
+            "candidate_head": head,
+            "comment_id": 10,
+        }, lease_provenance=mla.build_lease_provenance(
+            source=mla.SOURCE_ACQUIRE,
+            comment_id=10,
+        ))
+        result = leases.diagnose_reviewer_pr_lease_handoff(
+            [claim],
+            pr_number=592,
+            current_session_id="me-1",
+            current_reviewer_identity="rev1",
+            proposed_worktree="branches/review-pr382",
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(result["classification"], "own_active")
+        self.assertEqual(
+            result["next_action"], leases.NEXT_ACTION_RESUME_EXACT_OWNER_SESSION
+        )
+        self.assertTrue(result["mutation_allowed"])
+
+    def test_worktree_binding_mismatch(self):
+        claim = _lease_comment(592, "me-1", phase="claimed")
+        claim["id"] = 11
+        # _lease_comment uses branches/review-pr382
+        result = leases.diagnose_reviewer_pr_lease_handoff(
+            [claim],
+            pr_number=592,
+            current_session_id="me-1",
+            current_reviewer_identity="rev1",
+            proposed_worktree="branches/review-pr-592-issue-590",
+            env_bound_worktree="branches/review-pr-538",
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(result["classification"], "worktree_binding_mismatch")
+        self.assertEqual(
+            result["next_action"], leases.NEXT_ACTION_REPAIR_WORKTREE_BINDING
+        )
+        self.assertFalse(result["worktree_binding"]["match"])
+        self.assertFalse(result["mutation_allowed"])
+
+
+
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     unittest.main()

tests/test_role_session_router.py

@@ -52,6 +52,20 @@ CONFIG = {
             ],
             "execution_profile": "prgs-reviewer",
         },
+        "prgs-merger": {
+            "enabled": True,
+            "context": "ctx",
+            "role": "merger",
+            "username": "sysadmin",
+            "auth": {"type": "env", "name": "GITEA_TOKEN_MERGER"},
+            "allowed_operations": [
+                "gitea.read", "gitea.pr.merge", "gitea.issue.comment",
+            ],
+            "forbidden_operations": [
+                "gitea.pr.create", "gitea.branch.push", "gitea.pr.approve",
+            ],
+            "execution_profile": "prgs-merger",
+        },
         "prgs-reconciler": {
             "enabled": True,
             "context": "ctx",
@@ -104,6 +118,7 @@ class TestRoleSessionRouter(unittest.TestCase):
             "GITEA_MCP_PROFILE": profile,
             "GITEA_TOKEN_AUTHOR": "author-pass",
             "GITEA_TOKEN_REVIEWER": "reviewer-pass",
+            "GITEA_TOKEN_MERGER": "merger-pass",
             "GITEA_TOKEN_RECONCILER": "reconciler-pass",
         }
 
@@ -227,6 +242,31 @@ class TestRoleSessionRouter(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(route["route_result"], role_session_router.ROUTE_ALLOWED)
         self.assertTrue(route["downstream_allowed"])
 
+    @patch("mcp_server.api_request", return_value={"login": "sysadmin"})
+    @patch("mcp_server.get_auth_header", return_value="token reviewer-pass")
+    def test_merge_task_under_reviewer_profile_wrong_role_stop(self, _auth, _api):
+        # #539: a reviewer session must not pass the pre-task merge route
+        # even if its config accidentally includes gitea.pr.merge.
+        with patch.dict(os.environ, self._env("prgs-reviewer")):
+            route = mcp_server.gitea_route_task_session(
+                task_type="merge_pr", remote="prgs"
+            )
+        self.assertEqual(route["required_role"], "merger")
+        self.assertEqual(route["route_result"], role_session_router.ROUTE_WRONG_ROLE)
+        self.assertFalse(route["downstream_allowed"])
+        self.assertIn("merger", route["message"].lower())
+
+    @patch("mcp_server.api_request", return_value={"login": "sysadmin"})
+    @patch("mcp_server.get_auth_header", return_value="token merger-pass")
+    def test_merge_task_under_merger_profile_allowed(self, _auth, _api):
+        with patch.dict(os.environ, self._env("prgs-merger")):
+            route = mcp_server.gitea_route_task_session(
+                task_type="merge_pr", remote="prgs"
+            )
+        self.assertEqual(route["required_role"], "merger")
+        self.assertEqual(route["route_result"], role_session_router.ROUTE_ALLOWED)
+        self.assertTrue(route["downstream_allowed"])
+
     @patch("mcp_server.api_request", return_value={"login": "sysadmin"})
     @patch("mcp_server.get_auth_header", return_value="token reviewer-pass")
     def test_author_task_under_reviewer_profile_routes_to_author(self, _auth, _api):
@@ -334,4 +374,4 @@ class TestCheckMidMerge(unittest.TestCase):
 
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
-    unittest.main()
+    unittest.main()

tests/test_stable_control_runtime_policy_docs.py

@@ -0,0 +1,139 @@
+"""Documentation acceptance for the stable control runtime ADR (#615 / PR #616).
+
+Enforces review 443 remediation:
+
+* F1 — operator guide / runbooks cross-link the ADR (issue #615 AC2).
+* F2 — LLM sessions are not instructed to kill/restart/relaunch MCP; process
+  restart is operator-owned; ADR is the authoritative split.
+* F3 — routine post-merge master-parity staleness has a sanctioned response
+  (stop → report → operator reload → re-verify parity) and is not a full
+  promotion ledger requirement.
+"""
+from pathlib import Path
+
+REPO_ROOT = Path(__file__).resolve().parent.parent
+ADR = (
+    REPO_ROOT
+    / "docs"
+    / "architecture"
+    / "mcp-stable-control-runtime-policy-adr.md"
+)
+ADR_REL = "architecture/mcp-stable-control-runtime-policy-adr.md"
+ADR_BASENAME = "mcp-stable-control-runtime-policy-adr.md"
+
+CROSS_LINK_DOCS = (
+    REPO_ROOT / "docs" / "wiki" / "Operator-Guide.md",
+    REPO_ROOT / "docs" / "wiki" / "Runbooks.md",
+    REPO_ROOT / "docs" / "llm-workflow-runbooks.md",
+)
+
+
+def _read(path: Path) -> str:
+    assert path.is_file(), f"missing {path.relative_to(REPO_ROOT)}"
+    return path.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
+
+
+def test_adr_exists_with_policy_core():
+    text = _read(ADR)
+    assert text.lstrip().startswith("#"), "ADR lacks a title"
+    assert "#615" in text
+    assert "stable control runtime" in text.lower()
+    assert "2.3" in text and "2.4" in text and "2.5" in text and "2.6" in text
+
+
+def test_f1_operator_docs_cross_link_adr():
+    for path in CROSS_LINK_DOCS:
+        text = _read(path)
+        assert ADR_BASENAME in text, (
+            f"{path.relative_to(REPO_ROOT)} must cross-link {ADR_BASENAME} "
+            f"(issue #615 acceptance criterion 2)"
+        )
+
+
+def test_f1_adr_lists_cross_links_as_acceptance_not_optional_tooling():
+    text = _read(ADR)
+    # Acceptance section must require guide/runbook cross-links.
+    assert "Operator guide / runbooks cross-link" in text or (
+        "operator guide" in text.lower() and "cross-link" in text.lower()
+        and "Acceptance" in text
+    )
+    # Cross-link must not remain only as optional tooling item #4.
+    optional = text.split("## 5. Implementation follow-ups", 1)[-1].split(
+        "## 6. Acceptance", 1
+    )[0]
+    assert "Operator Guide wiki cross-link to this ADR" not in optional, (
+        "ADR §5 must not list operator-guide cross-link as optional tooling"
+    )
+    assert "Not optional" in text or "must** cross-link" in text.lower() or (
+        "must cross-link" in text.lower()
+    )
+
+
+def test_f2_runbook_fallback_is_operator_owned_not_llm_restart():
+    runbooks = _read(REPO_ROOT / "docs" / "llm-workflow-runbooks.md")
+    # Forbidden historical self-service instruction.
+    forbidden = (
+        "the LLM must relaunch or restart the client/MCP with the correct "
+        "profile environment variable before claiming or working on any tasks"
+    )
+    assert forbidden not in runbooks, (
+        "llm-workflow-runbooks must not instruct the LLM to relaunch/restart MCP"
+    )
+    assert "operator-owned" in runbooks.lower() or "Operator-owned" in runbooks
+    assert ADR_BASENAME in runbooks
+
+
+def test_f2_workspace_rebind_does_not_require_llm_process_relaunch():
+    runbooks = _read(REPO_ROOT / "docs" / "llm-workflow-runbooks.md")
+    section = runbooks.split("### Safe reconnect / rebind procedure", 1)[-1]
+    section = section.split("## Safety notes", 1)[0]
+    # Must not tell the LLM alone to relaunch the MCP process as step 2.
+    assert "Reconnect or relaunch the correct namespace MCP server from the intended" not in section
+    assert "Operator-owned" in section or "operator" in section.lower()
+    assert "worktree_path" in section
+    collapsed = " ".join(section.lower().split())
+    assert "client reconnect" in collapsed
+
+
+def test_f2_adr_forbids_llm_restart_and_supersedes_self_service_relaunch():
+    text = _read(ADR)
+    lower = text.lower()
+    assert "must not" in lower and "restart" in lower
+    assert "operator" in lower and "reload" in lower
+    assert "supersedes" in lower
+    assert "llm" in lower
+
+
+def test_f3_adr_defines_post_merge_parity_staleness_response():
+    text = _read(ADR)
+    lower = text.lower()
+    assert "2.6" in text
+    assert "post-merge" in lower or "post merge" in lower
+    assert "parity" in lower and "stale" in lower
+    # Sanctioned steps: stop, report, operator reload, re-verify.
+    assert "stop" in lower
+    assert "report" in lower
+    assert "operator" in lower
+    assert "parity is verified" in lower or "re-verif" in lower or (
+        "startup/current-head" in lower
+    )
+    # Not a full promotion ledger for routine reload.
+    assert "not a §2.4 promotion" in lower or "not a section 2.4 promotion" in lower or (
+        "not a §2.4" in text or "Not a §2.4 promotion" in text
+    )
+    # Stale parity listed among unhealthy triggers.
+    assert "master parity is stale" in lower or "stale master parity" in lower
+
+
+def test_f3_adr_forbids_llm_bypass_of_parity_gate():
+    text = _read(ADR)
+    lower = text.lower()
+    assert "bypass" in lower or "self-reset" in lower or "self-service" in lower
+    assert "parity" in lower
+
+
+def test_cross_links_do_not_embed_secrets_or_raw_hosts_in_wiki_snippets():
+    for path in CROSS_LINK_DOCS:
+        text = _read(path)
+        for marker in ("ghp_", "BEGIN PRIVATE KEY", "Authorization: Bearer"):
+            assert marker not in text, f"{path} contains {marker!r}"

tests/test_stale_review_decision_lock_cleanup.py

@@ -0,0 +1,378 @@
+"""Stale #332 review-decision lock cleanup (#594).
+
+Proves:
+  a. active terminal locks still block unrelated terminal reviews
+  b. merged/closed PR locks can be cleared canonically
+  c. cleanup cannot bypass review gates on open PRs
+  d. after moot cleanup, mark_ready for a different PR can proceed
+     (PR #592-style after PR #586-style stale approve)
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import os
+import unittest
+from unittest.mock import patch
+
+import mcp_server
+import stale_review_decision_lock as srdl
+from mcp_server import (
+    gitea_cleanup_stale_review_decision_lock,
+    gitea_mark_final_review_decision,
+)
+
+HEAD = "a" * 40
+FAKE_AUTH = "Basic dGVzdDp0ZXN0"
+
+REVIEWER_ENV = {
+    "GITEA_PROFILE_NAME": "prgs-reviewer",
+    "GITEA_ALLOWED_OPERATIONS": (
+        "gitea.read,gitea.pr.review,gitea.pr.approve,"
+        "gitea.pr.request_changes,gitea.pr.comment"
+    ),
+    "GITEA_SESSION_PROFILE_LOCK": "prgs-reviewer",
+}
+
+REVIEWER_PROFILE = {
+    "profile_name": "prgs-reviewer",
+    "allowed_operations": [
+        "gitea.read",
+        "gitea.pr.review",
+        "gitea.pr.approve",
+        "gitea.pr.request_changes",
+        "gitea.pr.comment",
+    ],
+    "forbidden_operations": [
+        "gitea.pr.merge",
+        "gitea.pr.create",
+        "gitea.branch.push",
+    ],
+}
+
+
+def _reviewer_profile_patch():
+    return patch.object(mcp_server, "get_profile", return_value=REVIEWER_PROFILE)
+
+
+def _lock(mutations=None, correction=False):
+    return {
+        "task": "review_pr",
+        "remote": "prgs",
+        "org": "Scaled-Tech-Consulting",
+        "repo": "Gitea-Tools",
+        "session_pid": os.getpid(),
+        "session_profile": "prgs-reviewer",
+        "session_profile_lock": "prgs-reviewer",
+        "profile_identity": "prgs-reviewer",
+        "final_review_decision_ready": False,
+        "ready_pr_number": None,
+        "ready_action": None,
+        "ready_expected_head_sha": None,
+        "ready_remote": None,
+        "ready_org": None,
+        "ready_repo": None,
+        "live_mutations": list(mutations or []),
+        "correction_authorized": correction,
+        "correction_reason": None,
+    }
+
+
+APPROVED_586 = {
+    "pr_number": 586,
+    "action": "approve",
+    "review_id": 395,
+    "review_state": "approve",
+}
+APPROVED_OPEN = {
+    "pr_number": 700,
+    "action": "approve",
+    "review_id": 1,
+    "review_state": "approve",
+}
+RC_OPEN = {
+    "pr_number": 701,
+    "action": "request_changes",
+    "review_id": 2,
+    "review_state": "request_changes",
+}
+
+
+def _seed(mutations=None, correction=False):
+    import review_workflow_load
+
+    review_workflow_load.record_review_workflow_load(mcp_server.PROJECT_ROOT)
+    mcp_server._save_review_decision_lock(_lock(mutations, correction))
+    mcp_server.gitea_load_review_workflow()
+
+
+def _merged_pr(pr_number=586, sha="6913ac9" + "0" * 33):
+    return {
+        "number": pr_number,
+        "state": "closed",
+        "merged": True,
+        "merged_at": "2026-07-09T18:20:03Z",
+        "merge_commit_sha": sha,
+    }
+
+
+def _open_pr(pr_number=700):
+    return {
+        "number": pr_number,
+        "state": "open",
+        "merged": False,
+        "merged_at": None,
+        "merge_commit_sha": None,
+    }
+
+
+# --------------------------------------------------------------------------- #
+# Pure assessment
+# --------------------------------------------------------------------------- #
+class TestAssessStaleLock(unittest.TestCase):
+    def test_no_lock(self):
+        a = srdl.assess_stale_review_decision_lock(None)
+        self.assertFalse(a["cleanup_allowed"])
+        self.assertFalse(a["is_moot"])
+
+    def test_no_terminal_mutations(self):
+        a = srdl.assess_stale_review_decision_lock(_lock([]))
+        self.assertFalse(a["cleanup_allowed"])
+
+    def test_open_pr_not_cleanable(self):
+        a = srdl.assess_stale_review_decision_lock(
+            _lock([APPROVED_OPEN]), pr_live=_open_pr(700)
+        )
+        self.assertFalse(a["is_moot"])
+        self.assertFalse(a["cleanup_allowed"])
+        self.assertTrue(any("open PR" in r for r in a["reasons"]))
+
+    def test_merged_pr_is_moot_and_cleanable(self):
+        a = srdl.assess_stale_review_decision_lock(
+            _lock([APPROVED_586]), pr_live=_merged_pr(586)
+        )
+        self.assertTrue(a["is_moot"])
+        self.assertTrue(a["cleanup_allowed"])
+        self.assertEqual(a["last_terminal_pr"], 586)
+
+    def test_closed_unmerged_is_moot(self):
+        a = srdl.assess_stale_review_decision_lock(
+            _lock([RC_OPEN]),
+            pr_live={"number": 701, "state": "closed", "merged": False},
+        )
+        self.assertTrue(a["is_moot"])
+        self.assertTrue(a["cleanup_allowed"])
+
+    def test_profile_mismatch_blocks(self):
+        a = srdl.assess_stale_review_decision_lock(
+            _lock([APPROVED_586]),
+            pr_live=_merged_pr(586),
+            active_profile_identity="other-profile",
+        )
+        self.assertFalse(a["cleanup_allowed"])
+        self.assertFalse(a["profile_match"])
+
+    def test_lookup_error_fail_closed(self):
+        a = srdl.assess_stale_review_decision_lock(
+            _lock([APPROVED_586]),
+            pr_lookup_error="timeout",
+        )
+        self.assertFalse(a["cleanup_allowed"])
+        self.assertTrue(any("timeout" in r for r in a["reasons"]))
+
+
+# --------------------------------------------------------------------------- #
+# Hard-stop still blocks active locks
+# --------------------------------------------------------------------------- #
+class TestActiveHardStopPreserved(unittest.TestCase):
+    def tearDown(self):
+        mcp_server._save_review_decision_lock(None)
+        mcp_server.review_workflow_load.clear_review_workflow_load()
+
+    def test_open_approve_still_blocks_other_pr_mark_ready(self):
+        _seed([APPROVED_OPEN])
+        reasons = mcp_server.terminal_review_hard_stop_reasons(592, "mark_ready")
+        self.assertTrue(reasons)
+        self.assertIn("#332", reasons[0])
+        self.assertIn("gitea_cleanup_stale_review_decision_lock", reasons[0])
+
+    def test_request_changes_still_blocks_everything(self):
+        _seed([RC_OPEN])
+        for op in ("merge", "mark_ready", "review"):
+            self.assertTrue(
+                mcp_server.terminal_review_hard_stop_reasons(592, op),
+                msg=op,
+            )
+
+
+# --------------------------------------------------------------------------- #
+# MCP cleanup tool
+# --------------------------------------------------------------------------- #
+class TestCleanupTool(unittest.TestCase):
+    def setUp(self):
+        self._env = patch.dict(os.environ, REVIEWER_ENV, clear=False)
+        self._env.start()
+
+    def tearDown(self):
+        self._env.stop()
+        mcp_server._save_review_decision_lock(None)
+        mcp_server.review_workflow_load.clear_review_workflow_load()
+
+    def test_read_only_reports_moot_without_clearing(self):
+        _seed([APPROVED_586])
+        with patch.object(mcp_server, "api_request", return_value=_merged_pr()), \
+                patch.object(mcp_server, "_auth", return_value=FAKE_AUTH), \
+                patch.object(
+                    mcp_server, "_authenticated_username", return_value="sysadmin"
+                ), \
+                _reviewer_profile_patch(), \
+                patch.object(mcp_server, "_profile_operation_gate", return_value=[]):
+            r = gitea_cleanup_stale_review_decision_lock(
+                apply=False, remote="prgs",
+                org="Scaled-Tech-Consulting", repo="Gitea-Tools",
+            )
+        self.assertTrue(r["success"])
+        self.assertTrue(r["is_moot"])
+        self.assertTrue(r["cleanup_allowed"])
+        self.assertFalse(r["cleanup_performed"])
+        self.assertIsNotNone(mcp_server._load_review_decision_lock())
+
+    def test_apply_clears_moot_lock(self):
+        _seed([APPROVED_586])
+        posts = []
+
+        def _api(method, url, auth, payload=None):
+            if method == "GET" and "/pulls/586" in url:
+                return _merged_pr()
+            if method == "POST" and "/comments" in url:
+                posts.append(payload)
+                return {"id": 9999}
+            return {}
+
+        with patch.object(mcp_server, "api_request", side_effect=_api), \
+                patch.object(mcp_server, "_auth", return_value=FAKE_AUTH), \
+                patch.object(
+                    mcp_server, "_authenticated_username", return_value="sysadmin"
+                ), \
+                _reviewer_profile_patch(), \
+                patch.object(mcp_server, "_profile_operation_gate", return_value=[]), \
+                patch.object(
+                    mcp_server, "_audited",
+                    side_effect=lambda *a, **k: __import__(
+                        "contextlib"
+                    ).nullcontext(),
+                ):
+            r = gitea_cleanup_stale_review_decision_lock(
+                apply=True,
+                expected_terminal_pr=586,
+                remote="prgs",
+                org="Scaled-Tech-Consulting",
+                repo="Gitea-Tools",
+            )
+        self.assertTrue(r["cleanup_performed"], r)
+        self.assertTrue(r["audit"]["applied"])
+        self.assertIsNone(mcp_server._load_review_decision_lock())
+        self.assertEqual(r.get("audit_comment_id"), 9999)
+        self.assertTrue(posts)
+
+    def test_apply_refuses_open_pr(self):
+        _seed([APPROVED_OPEN])
+        with patch.object(mcp_server, "api_request", return_value=_open_pr(700)), \
+                patch.object(mcp_server, "_auth", return_value=FAKE_AUTH), \
+                patch.object(
+                    mcp_server, "_authenticated_username", return_value="sysadmin"
+                ), \
+                _reviewer_profile_patch(), \
+                patch.object(mcp_server, "_profile_operation_gate", return_value=[]):
+            r = gitea_cleanup_stale_review_decision_lock(
+                apply=True, remote="prgs",
+                org="Scaled-Tech-Consulting", repo="Gitea-Tools",
+            )
+        self.assertFalse(r["cleanup_performed"])
+        self.assertFalse(r["cleanup_allowed"])
+        self.assertIsNotNone(mcp_server._load_review_decision_lock())
+
+    def test_expected_terminal_pr_pin(self):
+        _seed([APPROVED_586])
+        with patch.object(mcp_server, "api_request", return_value=_merged_pr()), \
+                patch.object(mcp_server, "_auth", return_value=FAKE_AUTH), \
+                patch.object(
+                    mcp_server, "_authenticated_username", return_value="sysadmin"
+                ), \
+                _reviewer_profile_patch(), \
+                patch.object(mcp_server, "_profile_operation_gate", return_value=[]):
+            r = gitea_cleanup_stale_review_decision_lock(
+                apply=True,
+                expected_terminal_pr=999,
+                remote="prgs",
+                org="Scaled-Tech-Consulting",
+                repo="Gitea-Tools",
+            )
+        self.assertFalse(r["cleanup_performed"])
+        self.assertTrue(any("expected_terminal_pr" in x for x in r["reasons"]))
+
+    def test_after_moot_cleanup_other_pr_mark_ready_unblocked(self):
+        """PR #592-style: after clearing merged #586 lock, new mark_ready works."""
+        _seed([APPROVED_586])
+        with patch.object(mcp_server, "api_request", return_value=_merged_pr()), \
+                patch.object(mcp_server, "_auth", return_value=FAKE_AUTH), \
+                patch.object(
+                    mcp_server, "_authenticated_username", return_value="sysadmin"
+                ), \
+                _reviewer_profile_patch(), \
+                patch.object(mcp_server, "_profile_operation_gate", return_value=[]), \
+                patch.object(
+                    mcp_server, "_audited",
+                    side_effect=lambda *a, **k: __import__(
+                        "contextlib"
+                    ).nullcontext(),
+                ):
+            cleaned = gitea_cleanup_stale_review_decision_lock(
+                apply=True,
+                expected_terminal_pr=586,
+                remote="prgs",
+                org="Scaled-Tech-Consulting",
+                repo="Gitea-Tools",
+                post_audit_comment=False,
+            )
+        self.assertTrue(cleaned["cleanup_performed"], cleaned)
+
+        # Hard-stop gone; re-init clean lock like a fresh review_pr resolve.
+        mcp_server.init_review_decision_lock(remote="prgs", task="review_pr")
+        mcp_server.gitea_load_review_workflow()
+        self.assertEqual(
+            mcp_server.terminal_review_hard_stop_reasons(592, "mark_ready"),
+            [],
+        )
+
+        no_lease = {"block": False, "reasons": [], "mutation_allowed": True}
+        with patch.object(mcp_server, "_list_pr_lease_comments", return_value=[]), \
+                patch.object(
+                    mcp_server, "_pr_work_lease_reviewer_block", return_value=no_lease
+                ), \
+                patch.object(
+                    mcp_server,
+                    "gitea_check_pr_eligibility",
+                    return_value={
+                        "eligible": True,
+                        "reasons": [],
+                        "authenticated_user": "sysadmin",
+                        "pr_author": "jcwalker3",
+                        "self_author": False,
+                    },
+                ), \
+                patch.object(
+                    mcp_server, "_authenticated_username", return_value="sysadmin"
+                ):
+            marked = gitea_mark_final_review_decision(
+                pr_number=592,
+                action="approve",
+                expected_head_sha=HEAD,
+                remote="prgs",
+                org="Scaled-Tech-Consulting",
+                repo="Gitea-Tools",
+            )
+        self.assertTrue(marked.get("marked_ready"), marked)
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    unittest.main()