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

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

docs/mcp-namespace-eof-recovery.md

@@ -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.

gitea_mcp_server.py

@@ -191,6 +191,7 @@ MERGER_WORKTREE_ENV = "GITEA_MERGER_WORKTREE"
 RECONCILER_WORKTREE_ENV = "GITEA_RECONCILER_WORKTREE"
 
 import namespace_workspace_binding as nwb  # noqa: E402
+import mcp_namespace_health  # noqa: E402
 
 
 def _preflight_in_test_mode() -> bool:
@@ -2824,6 +2825,35 @@ _TERMINAL_REVIEW_ACTIONS = frozenset({"approve", "request_changes"})
 # remote + profile identity with TTL.
 _REVIEW_DECISION_LOCK: dict | None = None
 
+# Session-scoped live MCP namespace health assessments (#543).
+# Keyed by namespace name. Only client_namespace entries authorize mutations.
+_LIVE_NAMESPACE_HEALTH: dict[str, dict] = {}
+
+
+def _record_live_namespace_health(assessment: dict | None) -> None:
+    """Store a namespace health assessment for mutation gates."""
+    if not isinstance(assessment, dict):
+        return
+    ns = str(assessment.get("namespace") or "").strip()
+    if not ns:
+        return
+    _LIVE_NAMESPACE_HEALTH[ns] = {
+        "namespace": ns,
+        "healthy": bool(assessment.get("healthy")),
+        "ide_namespace_proven": bool(assessment.get("ide_namespace_proven")),
+        "probe_source": assessment.get("probe_source"),
+        "blocks_merge_workflow": bool(assessment.get("blocks_merge_workflow")),
+        "error_type": assessment.get("error_type"),
+        "required_tool": assessment.get("required_tool"),
+    }
+
+
+def _live_namespace_health_gate(task: str) -> list[str]:
+    """Fail closed on recorded broken/non-client IDE namespace health (#543)."""
+    return mcp_namespace_health.mutation_gate_from_session(
+        task, _LIVE_NAMESPACE_HEALTH
+    )
+
 
 def _decision_lock_binding(lock: dict | None = None) -> dict:
     """Resolve key fields for durable decision-lock storage."""
@@ -3514,6 +3544,11 @@ def _evaluate_pr_review_submission(
         reasons.extend(workflow_blockers)
         reasons.extend(review_workflow_load.recovery_handoff_without_replay())
         return result
+    if live:
+        ns_gate = _live_namespace_health_gate("review_pr")
+        if ns_gate:
+            reasons.extend(ns_gate)
+            return result
 
     if action not in _REVIEW_ACTIONS:
         reasons.append(
@@ -4615,6 +4650,12 @@ def gitea_merge_pr(
         reasons.extend(review_workflow_load.recovery_handoff_without_replay())
         return result
 
+    # Gate 0b — recorded live MCP namespace health must not be broken (#543).
+    ns_gate = _live_namespace_health_gate("merge_pr")
+    if ns_gate:
+        reasons.extend(ns_gate)
+        return result
+
     # Gate 1 — valid merge method (no API call on a bad method).
     if do not in _MERGE_METHODS:
         reasons.append(
@@ -6609,39 +6650,10 @@ def _try_auto_switch_for_operation(op: str, host: str | None = None) -> bool:
     return False
 
 
-def _git_default_remote_name(root: str) -> str:
-    """First configured git remote name for *root*, defaulting to 'origin'.
-
-    Used to resolve the live remote master target for parity (#610). Best
-    effort: any failure falls back to 'origin' so callers never raise.
-    """
-    try:
-        res = subprocess.run(
-            ["git", "-C", root, "remote"],
-            capture_output=True, text=True, check=False,
-        )
-    except Exception:
-        return "origin"
-    if res.returncode != 0:
-        return "origin"
-    names = [n.strip() for n in (res.stdout or "").splitlines() if n.strip()]
-    return names[0] if names else "origin"
-
-
 def _current_master_parity() -> dict:
-    """Assess this process's code against local and live remote master (#420/#610).
-
-    Compares the daemon's startup commit, the on-disk checkout HEAD, and the
-    live remote master target. A stale daemon relative to live master fails
-    closed for mutations even when the local checkout HEAD still matches the
-    startup commit. The live-remote read is best effort: an unresolved live
-    head leaves read-only diagnostics unblocked but is never mutation-safe.
-    """
+    """Assess this process's code against the on-disk master HEAD (#420)."""
     current_head = master_parity_gate.read_git_head(PROJECT_ROOT)
-    live_head = master_parity_gate.read_remote_master_head(
-        PROJECT_ROOT, remote=_git_default_remote_name(PROJECT_ROOT))
-    return master_parity_gate.assess_master_parity(
-        _STARTUP_PARITY, current_head, live_remote_head=live_head)
+    return master_parity_gate.assess_master_parity(_STARTUP_PARITY, current_head)
 
 
 def _master_parity_block(op: str) -> list[str]:
@@ -8653,40 +8665,45 @@ def gitea_assess_review_merge_state_machine(
     pre_merge_gates: dict[str, bool] | None = None,
     infra_stop: bool = False,
     capability_blocked: bool = False,
+    live_namespace_broken: bool = False,
     recovery_handoff_text: str | None = None,
     final_report_text: str | None = None,
 ) -> dict:
-    """Read-only: assess enforced PR review/merge workflow state (#290)."""
+    """Read-only: assess enforced PR review/merge workflow state (#290).
+
+    ``live_namespace_broken`` fails review/merge closed when the live MCP
+    namespace call path is unusable even though the tool is registered in
+    FastMCP (#543 AC5). Supply the ``blocks_merge_workflow`` verdict from
+    ``gitea_assess_mcp_namespace_health``.
+    """
     completion = state_completion or {}
-    blockers = review_merge_state_machine.assess_workflow_blockers(
-        infra_stop=infra_stop,
-        capability_blocked=capability_blocked,
-    )
+    blocker_kwargs = {
+        "infra_stop": infra_stop,
+        "capability_blocked": capability_blocked,
+        "live_namespace_broken": live_namespace_broken,
+    }
+    blockers = review_merge_state_machine.assess_workflow_blockers(**blocker_kwargs)
     result = {
         "workflow": review_merge_state_machine.workflow_status(
             completion,
-            infra_stop=infra_stop,
-            capability_blocked=capability_blocked,
+            **blocker_kwargs,
         ),
         "blockers": blockers,
         "approve": review_merge_state_machine.can_approve(
             completion,
-            infra_stop=infra_stop,
-            capability_blocked=capability_blocked,
+            **blocker_kwargs,
         ),
         "merge": review_merge_state_machine.can_merge(
             completion,
             pre_merge_gates=pre_merge_gates,
-            infra_stop=infra_stop,
-            capability_blocked=capability_blocked,
+            **blocker_kwargs,
         ),
     }
     if target_state:
         result["advancement"] = review_merge_state_machine.assess_state_advancement(
             completion,
             target_state=target_state,
-            infra_stop=infra_stop,
-            capability_blocked=capability_blocked,
+            **blocker_kwargs,
         )
     if recovery_handoff_text is not None:
         result["recovery_handoff"] = (
@@ -8971,34 +8988,15 @@ def gitea_get_runtime_context(
         "restart_required": parity["restart_required"],
         "startup_head": parity["startup_head"],
         "current_head": parity["current_head"],
-        # #610 distinguished mutation-safety signals:
-        "daemon_start_head": parity["daemon_start_head"],
-        "local_head": parity["local_head"],
-        "live_remote_head": parity["live_remote_head"],
-        "live_known": parity["live_known"],
-        "live_stale": parity["live_stale"],
-        "mutation_safe": parity["mutation_safe"],
         "summary": master_parity_gate.format_parity(parity),
         "mutation_gate_enforced": not master_parity_gate.gate_disabled(),
-        # #610: the capability resolver is authoritative for mutation safety;
-        # local parity alone must never authorize a mutation.
-        "resolver_authoritative_for_mutation_safety": True,
     }
-    if parity["restart_required"] and not master_parity_gate.gate_disabled():
-        if parity["live_stale"]:
-            safe_next_action = (
-                "Daemon is stale relative to LIVE remote master "
-                f"(started {parity['startup_head'][:12] if parity['startup_head'] else 'unknown'}, "
-                f"live master {parity['live_remote_head'][:12] if parity['live_remote_head'] else 'unknown'}); "
-                "restart/reconnect the Gitea MCP server before mutating. The "
-                "capability resolver is authoritative for mutation safety."
-            )
-        else:
-            safe_next_action = (
-                "Server code is stale relative to master; restart the Gitea MCP "
-                "server to load current capability gates before mutating. "
-                f"({master_parity_gate.format_parity(parity)})"
-            )
+    if parity["stale"] and not master_parity_gate.gate_disabled():
+        safe_next_action = (
+            "Server code is stale relative to master; restart the Gitea MCP "
+            "server to load current capability gates before mutating. "
+            f"({master_parity_gate.format_parity(parity)})"
+        )
         result["safe_next_action"] = safe_next_action
 
     if reveal and h:
@@ -9037,19 +9035,12 @@ def gitea_assess_master_parity(
         "determinable": parity["determinable"],
         "startup_head": parity["startup_head"],
         "current_head": parity["current_head"],
-        # #610 distinguished mutation-safety signals:
-        "daemon_start_head": parity["daemon_start_head"],
-        "local_head": parity["local_head"],
-        "live_remote_head": parity["live_remote_head"],
-        "live_known": parity["live_known"],
-        "live_stale": parity["live_stale"],
-        "mutation_safe": parity["mutation_safe"],
         "mutation_gate_enforced": enforced,
         "summary": master_parity_gate.format_parity(parity),
         "reasons": parity["reasons"],
         "process_root": PROJECT_ROOT,
     }
-    if parity["restart_required"] and enforced:
+    if parity["stale"] and enforced:
         out["report"] = master_parity_gate.parity_report(parity)
     return out
 def gitea_record_pre_review_command(
@@ -9242,6 +9233,46 @@ def gitea_list_profiles() -> dict:
     return {"profiles": profiles_out}
 
 
+@mcp.tool()
+def gitea_assess_mcp_namespace_health(
+    namespace: str,
+    required_tool: str | None = None,
+    registered_tools: list[str] | None = None,
+    probe_result: dict | None = None,
+    process: dict | None = None,
+    config_path: str | None = None,
+    profile: str | None = None,
+    configured: bool = True,
+    probe_source: str | None = None,
+) -> dict:
+    """Classify MCP namespace health for required Gitea tools (#543).
+
+    Static FastMCP registration is not enough to prove a namespace works: IDE
+    clients can keep a registered tool list while live calls fail with
+    ``client is closing: EOF``. Pass live IDE invocation evidence with
+    ``probe_source='client_namespace'``. Offline subprocess probes
+    (``test_mcp_conn.py``) must use ``probe_source='offline_spawn'`` and never
+    count as IDE proof.
+
+    Assessments are recorded in the session so live
+    ``gitea_submit_pr_review`` / ``gitea_merge_pr`` can fail closed when a
+    client-namespace probe reported unhealthy.
+    """
+    result = mcp_namespace_health.classify_namespace_probe(
+        namespace,
+        required_tool=required_tool,
+        registered_tools=registered_tools,
+        probe_result=probe_result,
+        process=process,
+        config_path=config_path,
+        profile=profile,
+        configured=configured,
+        probe_source=probe_source,
+    )
+    _record_live_namespace_health(result)
+    return result
+
+
 @mcp.tool()
 def gitea_activate_profile(
     profile_name: str,

master_parity_gate.py

@@ -24,26 +24,12 @@ from __future__ import annotations
 
 import os
 import subprocess
-import time
-
-# Live-remote head cache: the parity gate runs on every mutation and every
-# runtime-context read, so the ``git ls-remote`` result is cached briefly to
-# avoid a network round-trip per call (#610). Keyed by (root, remote, branch).
-_REMOTE_HEAD_CACHE: dict[tuple[str, str, str], tuple[float, str | None]] = {}
-_REMOTE_HEAD_TTL = 60.0
-
-
-def _clear_remote_head_cache() -> None:
-    """Reset the live-remote head cache (test isolation / forced refresh)."""
-    _REMOTE_HEAD_CACHE.clear()
 
 # Environment escape hatches (ops + tests):
 #   GITEA_MCP_DISABLE_PARITY_GATE  -> disable enforcement entirely (fail open).
 #   GITEA_TEST_CURRENT_HEAD        -> force the "current" HEAD read, for tests.
 ENV_DISABLE = "GITEA_MCP_DISABLE_PARITY_GATE"
 ENV_TEST_CURRENT_HEAD = "GITEA_TEST_CURRENT_HEAD"
-# GITEA_TEST_LIVE_REMOTE_HEAD -> force the live remote master read, for tests.
-ENV_TEST_LIVE_REMOTE_HEAD = "GITEA_TEST_LIVE_REMOTE_HEAD"
 
 
 def read_git_head(root: str) -> str | None:
@@ -72,57 +58,6 @@ def read_git_head(root: str) -> str | None:
     return (res.stdout or "").strip() or None
 
 
-def read_remote_master_head(
-    root: str,
-    remote: str = "origin",
-    branch: str = "master",
-    ttl: float = _REMOTE_HEAD_TTL,
-) -> str | None:
-    """Return the live remote ``branch`` commit SHA, or ``None`` (#610).
-
-    Resolves the *live* target commit via ``git ls-remote`` so parity can tell
-    a daemon that is behind the live remote master apart from one whose local
-    checkout simply hasn't been pulled. ``None`` means the live head could not
-    be resolved (offline, no such remote, git unavailable, error) -- callers
-    must treat unknown live state as *not mutation-safe* while never blocking
-    read-only diagnostics. A ``GITEA_TEST_LIVE_REMOTE_HEAD`` override takes
-    precedence so the wiring can be exercised deterministically and offline.
-
-    The result is cached for *ttl* seconds per (root, remote, branch) so the
-    gate does not run a network probe on every mutation/read (``ttl=0`` forces
-    a live probe). Both hits and ``None`` misses are cached to bound offline
-    latency; the env override bypasses the cache and the subprocess entirely.
-    """
-    forced = os.environ.get(ENV_TEST_LIVE_REMOTE_HEAD)
-    if forced is not None:
-        return forced.strip() or None
-    if not root:
-        return None
-    key = (root, remote, branch)
-    now = time.monotonic()
-    if ttl > 0:
-        cached = _REMOTE_HEAD_CACHE.get(key)
-        if cached is not None and (now - cached[0]) < ttl:
-            return cached[1]
-    sha: str | None = None
-    try:
-        res = subprocess.run(
-            ["git", "-C", root, "ls-remote", remote, f"refs/heads/{branch}"],
-            capture_output=True,
-            text=True,
-            check=False,
-            timeout=5,
-        )
-        if res.returncode == 0:
-            lines = (res.stdout or "").strip().splitlines()
-            if lines:
-                sha = lines[0].split("\t", 1)[0].split()[0].strip() or None
-    except Exception:
-        sha = None
-    _REMOTE_HEAD_CACHE[key] = (now, sha)
-    return sha
-
-
 def capture_startup_parity(root: str, head: str | None = None) -> dict:
     """Capture the process source-tree baseline once at server startup.
 
@@ -137,38 +72,18 @@ def _short(sha: str | None) -> str:
     return sha[:12] if sha else "unknown"
 
 
-def assess_master_parity(
-    startup: dict | None,
-    current_head: str | None,
-    live_remote_head: str | None = None,
-) -> dict:
+def assess_master_parity(startup: dict | None, current_head: str | None) -> dict:
     """Compare the startup baseline against the current on-disk ``HEAD``.
 
-    Pure: all HEADs are supplied by the caller. Returns a structured result:
+    Pure: both HEADs are supplied by the caller. Returns a structured result:
 
     - ``in_parity``    -- server code matches the on-disk master (or parity
       could not be determined, which is not treated as stale).
     - ``stale``        -- the on-disk master has definitively advanced past the
       running process.
-    - ``restart_required`` -- ``stale`` or ``live_stale``; the recovery action.
-    - ``determinable`` -- whether both local HEADs were known well enough to
-      compare.
+    - ``restart_required`` -- alias of ``stale``; the recovery action.
+    - ``determinable`` -- whether both HEADs were known well enough to compare.
     - ``startup_head`` / ``current_head`` / ``reasons``.
-
-    #610 adds live-remote awareness so a daemon that is stale relative to the
-    *live* remote master cannot report a mutation-safe result even when the
-    local checkout HEAD still matches the daemon's startup commit:
-
-    - ``daemon_start_head`` -- the commit the running process started at
-      (alias of ``startup_head``, named for clarity in reports).
-    - ``local_head`` -- the on-disk checkout HEAD (alias of ``current_head``).
-    - ``live_remote_head`` -- the live remote target commit, or ``None`` when it
-      could not be fetched.
-    - ``live_known`` -- whether the live remote target was resolved.
-    - ``live_stale`` -- the live remote master has advanced past the running
-      process (daemon is behind live master) even if local parity is green.
-    - ``mutation_safe`` -- the daemon code, local checkout, and live remote
-      target all agree; the only state in which a mutation may rely on parity.
     """
     startup_head = (startup or {}).get("startup_head")
     reasons: list[str] = []
@@ -176,56 +91,32 @@ def assess_master_parity(
     if startup_head is None:
         reasons.append(
             "startup commit was not captured; code parity cannot be enforced")
-        return _result(True, False, False, startup_head, current_head,
-                       live_remote_head, False, reasons)
+        return _result(True, False, False, startup_head, current_head, reasons)
 
     if current_head is None:
         reasons.append(
             "current workspace HEAD could not be read; code parity cannot be "
             "enforced")
-        return _result(True, False, False, startup_head, current_head,
-                       live_remote_head, False, reasons)
+        return _result(True, False, False, startup_head, current_head, reasons)
 
-    local_in_parity = startup_head == current_head
-    local_stale = not local_in_parity
-    if local_stale:
-        reasons.append(
-            f"MCP server started at commit {_short(startup_head)} but the "
-            f"workspace master is now {_short(current_head)}; restart the "
-            f"server to load the current capability gates")
+    if startup_head == current_head:
+        return _result(True, False, True, startup_head, current_head, reasons)
 
-    live_known = live_remote_head is not None
-    live_stale = live_known and live_remote_head != startup_head
-    if live_stale:
-        reasons.append(
-            f"live remote master is {_short(live_remote_head)} but the MCP "
-            f"server started at {_short(startup_head)}; the daemon is stale "
-            f"relative to live master -- restart/reconnect before mutating")
-
-    return _result(
-        local_in_parity, local_stale, True, startup_head, current_head,
-        live_remote_head, live_stale, reasons)
+    reasons.append(
+        f"MCP server started at commit {_short(startup_head)} but the workspace "
+        f"master is now {_short(current_head)}; restart the server to load the "
+        f"current capability gates")
+    return _result(False, True, True, startup_head, current_head, reasons)
 
 
-def _result(in_parity, stale, determinable, startup_head, current_head,
-            live_remote_head, live_stale, reasons):
-    live_known = live_remote_head is not None
-    mutation_safe = (
-        determinable and in_parity and live_known and not live_stale)
+def _result(in_parity, stale, determinable, startup_head, current_head, reasons):
     return {
         "in_parity": in_parity,
         "stale": stale,
-        "restart_required": stale or live_stale,
+        "restart_required": stale,
         "determinable": determinable,
         "startup_head": startup_head,
         "current_head": current_head,
-        # #610 distinguished signals:
-        "daemon_start_head": startup_head,
-        "local_head": current_head,
-        "live_remote_head": live_remote_head,
-        "live_known": live_known,
-        "live_stale": live_stale,
-        "mutation_safe": mutation_safe,
         "reasons": list(reasons),
     }
 
@@ -239,13 +130,11 @@ def parity_block_reasons(assessment: dict) -> list[str]:
     """Block reasons for a mutation gate (empty when the mutation may proceed).
 
     A disabled gate or an in-parity / non-determinable assessment yields no
-    reasons. A definitively stale server blocks, and (#610) a daemon that is
-    stale relative to the *live* remote master blocks even when the local
-    checkout HEAD still matches the daemon's startup commit.
+    reasons; only a definitively stale server blocks.
     """
     if gate_disabled():
         return []
-    if assessment.get("stale") or assessment.get("live_stale"):
+    if assessment.get("stale"):
         return list(assessment.get("reasons") or
                     ["server code is stale relative to master (fail closed)"])
     return []
@@ -258,10 +147,6 @@ def parity_report(assessment: dict) -> dict:
         "restart_required": True,
         "startup_head": assessment.get("startup_head"),
         "current_head": assessment.get("current_head"),
-        # #610: name the live remote target so the report distinguishes a
-        # local-code stale from a daemon-behind-live-master stale.
-        "live_remote_head": assessment.get("live_remote_head"),
-        "live_stale": bool(assessment.get("live_stale")),
         "reasons": list(assessment.get("reasons") or []),
         "recovery": [
             "The running MCP server is executing code older than the current "
@@ -272,45 +157,6 @@ def parity_report(assessment: dict) -> dict:
     }
 
 
-def parity_resolver_disagreement(
-    assessment: dict,
-    resolver_restart_required: bool,
-) -> dict | None:
-    """Typed blocker when the resolver requires restart but parity looks green.
-
-    The capability resolver (``gitea_resolve_task_capability``) detects stale
-    runtime authoritatively for mutation safety (#610). When it requires a
-    restart, local-only parity must never override it: this returns a typed,
-    fail-closed blocker that names the resolver as authoritative. Returns
-    ``None`` when the resolver does not require a restart.
-    """
-    if not resolver_restart_required:
-        return None
-    parity_optimistic = bool(assessment.get("in_parity")) and not (
-        assessment.get("stale") or assessment.get("live_stale"))
-    return {
-        "kind": "parity_resolver_disagreement",
-        "restart_required": True,
-        "resolver_authoritative": True,
-        "parity_optimistic": parity_optimistic,
-        "daemon_start_head": assessment.get("daemon_start_head"),
-        "local_head": assessment.get("local_head"),
-        "live_remote_head": assessment.get("live_remote_head"),
-        "reasons": [
-            "The capability resolver requires a restart/reconnect (stale "
-            "runtime) but master-parity reported local code as in-parity. "
-            "The resolver is authoritative for mutation safety; do not mutate "
-            "on local parity alone. Restart/reconnect the Gitea MCP server "
-            "and re-verify before mutating.",
-        ],
-        "recovery": [
-            "Trust the resolver: treat this session as stale.",
-            "Restart or /mcp reconnect the Gitea MCP namespace so it reloads "
-            "current master and live target state, then re-run preflight.",
-        ],
-    }
-
-
 def format_parity(assessment: dict) -> str:
     """One-line human summary for logs / runtime context."""
     if assessment.get("stale"):

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 []

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,
-    capability_blocked: bool = False,
+    **blocker_kwargs,
 ) -> 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(
-        infra_stop=infra_stop,
-        capability_blocked=capability_blocked,
-    )
+    blockers = assess_workflow_blockers(**blocker_kwargs)
     reasons = list(blockers["reasons"])
 
     try:

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,
-performs the JSON-RPC handshake, and queries the tools list to verify
-that the connection is fully operational and doesn't return EOF.
+Spawns a *separate* MCP server process from config via subprocess.Popen,
+performs the JSON-RPC handshake, verifies the required tool is registered,
+and invokes that tool. Results are classified with
+``probe_source=offline_spawn``.
+
+This path is useful for offline launch/registration debugging. It does
+**not** prove the IDE-managed MCP client namespace is healthy (#543). For
+workflow gates, pass live IDE call evidence with
+``probe_source=client_namespace`` to ``gitea_assess_mcp_namespace_health``.
 """
+
+import argparse
 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:
-        print(f"  [FAIL] Failed to spawn process: {e}")
+    except Exception as exc:
+        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")
-        proc.stdin.flush()
+        _write_message(proc, init_req)
         
         # Read response
-        line = proc.stdout.readline()
-        if not line:
-            stderr_content = proc.stderr.read()
+        res, stderr_content = _read_json_line(proc)
+        if res is None:
             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")
-        proc.stdin.flush()
+        _write_message(proc, init_notif)
         
         # 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")
-        proc.stdin.flush()
+        _write_message(proc, list_req)
         
-        line = proc.stdout.readline()
-        if not line:
+        res, stderr_content = _read_json_line(proc)
+        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:
-        print(f"  [FAIL] Error during handshake: {e}")
+    except Exception as exc:
+        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

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

tests/test_master_parity_gate.py

@@ -78,95 +78,6 @@ class TestBlockReasonsAndReport(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertTrue(report["recovery"])
 
 
-class TestLiveRemoteParity(unittest.TestCase):
-    """#610: parity must account for the live remote master, not just local.
-
-    The daemon can be stale relative to the live remote target while the local
-    checkout HEAD still matches the daemon's startup commit, so local parity
-    reports green even though a mutation would run against outdated code.
-    """
-
-    SHA_C = "c" * 40
-
-    def test_distinguishes_three_shas(self):
-        res = mp.assess_master_parity(
-            {"startup_head": SHA_A}, SHA_A, live_remote_head=SHA_B)
-        self.assertEqual(res["daemon_start_head"], SHA_A)
-        self.assertEqual(res["local_head"], SHA_A)
-        self.assertEqual(res["live_remote_head"], SHA_B)
-
-    def test_mutation_safe_only_when_all_three_match(self):
-        res = mp.assess_master_parity(
-            {"startup_head": SHA_A}, SHA_A, live_remote_head=SHA_A)
-        self.assertTrue(res["mutation_safe"])
-        self.assertTrue(res["live_known"])
-        self.assertFalse(res["live_stale"])
-
-    def test_live_stale_when_remote_advanced_past_daemon(self):
-        # Local checkout still matches the daemon start (local parity green),
-        # but the live remote master has advanced -> daemon is live-stale.
-        res = mp.assess_master_parity(
-            {"startup_head": SHA_A}, SHA_A, live_remote_head=SHA_B)
-        self.assertTrue(res["in_parity"])  # local parity still green
-        self.assertTrue(res["live_stale"])
-        self.assertFalse(res["mutation_safe"])
-        self.assertTrue(any("live" in r.lower() for r in res["reasons"]))
-
-    def test_live_unknown_is_not_mutation_safe_but_not_stale(self):
-        # Non-goal: unfetchable live remote must not be treated as stale for
-        # read-only, but a mutation-safe claim fails closed.
-        res = mp.assess_master_parity(
-            {"startup_head": SHA_A}, SHA_A, live_remote_head=None)
-        self.assertFalse(res["live_known"])
-        self.assertFalse(res["mutation_safe"])
-        self.assertFalse(res["live_stale"])
-        self.assertTrue(res["in_parity"])
-
-    def test_default_live_remote_preserves_legacy_shape(self):
-        # Callers that do not supply a live head keep the pre-#610 behavior:
-        # in-parity, not live-stale, no live-derived block.
-        res = mp.assess_master_parity({"startup_head": SHA_A}, SHA_A)
-        self.assertFalse(res["live_stale"])
-        self.assertEqual(mp.parity_block_reasons(res), [])
-
-
-class TestLiveStaleBlockAndReport(unittest.TestCase):
-    """#610: live-staleness must block mutations and surface a typed blocker."""
-
-    def test_live_stale_produces_block_reasons(self):
-        res = mp.assess_master_parity(
-            {"startup_head": SHA_A}, SHA_A, live_remote_head=SHA_B)
-        self.assertTrue(mp.parity_block_reasons(res))
-
-    def test_disable_env_suppresses_live_stale_block(self):
-        res = mp.assess_master_parity(
-            {"startup_head": SHA_A}, SHA_A, live_remote_head=SHA_B)
-        with patch.dict(os.environ, {mp.ENV_DISABLE: "1"}):
-            self.assertEqual(mp.parity_block_reasons(res), [])
-
-    def test_resolver_disagreement_returns_typed_blocker(self):
-        # Parity says local-green, resolver says restart required -> disagreement
-        # is a typed, fail-closed blocker naming the resolver as authoritative.
-        res = mp.assess_master_parity({"startup_head": SHA_A}, SHA_A)
-        blocker = mp.parity_resolver_disagreement(res, resolver_restart_required=True)
-        self.assertIsNotNone(blocker)
-        self.assertEqual(blocker["kind"], "parity_resolver_disagreement")
-        self.assertTrue(blocker["restart_required"])
-        self.assertTrue(blocker["resolver_authoritative"])
-
-    def test_no_disagreement_when_resolver_agrees(self):
-        res = mp.assess_master_parity({"startup_head": SHA_A}, SHA_A)
-        self.assertIsNone(
-            mp.parity_resolver_disagreement(res, resolver_restart_required=False))
-
-    def test_live_stale_report_names_live_remote(self):
-        res = mp.assess_master_parity(
-            {"startup_head": SHA_A}, SHA_A, live_remote_head=SHA_B)
-        report = mp.parity_report(res)
-        self.assertEqual(report["live_remote_head"], SHA_B)
-        self.assertTrue(report["restart_required"])
-
-
 class TestReadGitHead(unittest.TestCase):
     def test_test_override_takes_precedence(self):
         with patch.dict(os.environ, {mp.ENV_TEST_CURRENT_HEAD: SHA_B}):
@@ -184,78 +95,6 @@ class TestReadGitHead(unittest.TestCase):
             self.assertIsNone(mp.read_git_head(""))
 
 
-class TestReadRemoteMasterHead(unittest.TestCase):
-    """#610: live remote master head reader (env-overridable, fails to None)."""
-
-    def test_test_override_takes_precedence(self):
-        with patch.dict(os.environ, {mp.ENV_TEST_LIVE_REMOTE_HEAD: SHA_B}):
-            self.assertEqual(mp.read_remote_master_head("/nonexistent"), SHA_B)
-
-    def test_blank_override_is_none(self):
-        with patch.dict(os.environ, {mp.ENV_TEST_LIVE_REMOTE_HEAD: "   "}):
-            self.assertIsNone(mp.read_remote_master_head("/nonexistent"))
-
-    def test_unfetchable_remote_is_none(self):
-        # No override; a bogus root/remote must fail closed to None, never raise.
-        env = {k: v for k, v in os.environ.items()
-               if k != mp.ENV_TEST_LIVE_REMOTE_HEAD}
-        with patch.dict(os.environ, env, clear=True):
-            self.assertIsNone(
-                mp.read_remote_master_head("/nonexistent", remote="nope"))
-
-
-class TestRemoteHeadCache(unittest.TestCase):
-    """#610: live remote reads are cached with a TTL to stay off the network.
-
-    The parity gate runs on every mutation and every runtime-context read, so an
-    unbounded ``git ls-remote`` per call would be a latency/flakiness regression.
-    """
-
-    def setUp(self):
-        mp._clear_remote_head_cache()
-        env = {k: v for k, v in os.environ.items()
-               if k != mp.ENV_TEST_LIVE_REMOTE_HEAD}
-        self._env = patch.dict(os.environ, env, clear=True)
-        self._env.start()
-        self.addCleanup(self._env.stop)
-        self.addCleanup(mp._clear_remote_head_cache)
-
-    def _fake_run(self, sha):
-        class _R:
-            returncode = 0
-            stdout = f"{sha}\trefs/heads/master\n"
-        calls = {"n": 0}
-
-        def run(*args, **kwargs):
-            calls["n"] += 1
-            return _R()
-        return run, calls
-
-    def test_second_call_within_ttl_uses_cache(self):
-        run, calls = self._fake_run(SHA_B)
-        with patch.object(mp.subprocess, "run", run):
-            a = mp.read_remote_master_head("/repo", remote="prgs", ttl=100)
-            b = mp.read_remote_master_head("/repo", remote="prgs", ttl=100)
-        self.assertEqual(a, SHA_B)
-        self.assertEqual(b, SHA_B)
-        self.assertEqual(calls["n"], 1)
-
-    def test_zero_ttl_bypasses_cache(self):
-        run, calls = self._fake_run(SHA_B)
-        with patch.object(mp.subprocess, "run", run):
-            mp.read_remote_master_head("/repo", remote="prgs", ttl=0)
-            mp.read_remote_master_head("/repo", remote="prgs", ttl=0)
-        self.assertEqual(calls["n"], 2)
-
-    def test_env_override_never_touches_subprocess(self):
-        run, calls = self._fake_run(SHA_B)
-        with patch.dict(os.environ, {mp.ENV_TEST_LIVE_REMOTE_HEAD: SHA_A}):
-            with patch.object(mp.subprocess, "run", run):
-                self.assertEqual(
-                    mp.read_remote_master_head("/repo", remote="prgs"), SHA_A)
-        self.assertEqual(calls["n"], 0)
-
-
 class TestServerWiring(unittest.TestCase):
     """Integration with the gate choke point in the server namespace."""
 
@@ -266,13 +105,6 @@ class TestServerWiring(unittest.TestCase):
         self._saved = self.srv._STARTUP_PARITY
         self.srv._STARTUP_PARITY = {"root": self.srv.PROJECT_ROOT,
                                     "startup_head": SHA_A}
-        # Keep the live-remote read hermetic (no real ls-remote network call):
-        # default the live master to the daemon start so parity is fully green
-        # unless a test overrides the live head explicitly (#610).
-        self._live_patch = patch.dict(
-            os.environ, {mp.ENV_TEST_LIVE_REMOTE_HEAD: SHA_A})
-        self._live_patch.start()
-        self.addCleanup(self._live_patch.stop)
 
     def tearDown(self):
         self.srv._STARTUP_PARITY = self._saved
@@ -315,36 +147,6 @@ class TestServerWiring(unittest.TestCase):
             self.assertTrue(out["in_parity"])
             self.assertNotIn("report", out)
 
-    # --- #610: live-remote wiring -------------------------------------------
-
-    def test_live_stale_blocks_mutation_though_local_green(self):
-        # Local checkout matches the daemon start (local parity green) but the
-        # live remote master has advanced -> mutations must fail closed.
-        with patch.dict(os.environ, {mp.ENV_TEST_CURRENT_HEAD: SHA_A,
-                                     mp.ENV_TEST_LIVE_REMOTE_HEAD: SHA_B}):
-            self.assertEqual(self.srv._master_parity_block("gitea.read"), [])
-            self.assertTrue(
-                self.srv._master_parity_block("gitea.pr.create"))
-
-    def test_assess_tool_exposes_three_distinct_shas(self):
-        with patch.dict(os.environ, {mp.ENV_TEST_CURRENT_HEAD: SHA_A,
-                                     mp.ENV_TEST_LIVE_REMOTE_HEAD: SHA_B}):
-            out = self.srv.gitea_assess_master_parity(remote="prgs")
-            self.assertEqual(out["daemon_start_head"], SHA_A)
-            self.assertEqual(out["local_head"], SHA_A)
-            self.assertEqual(out["live_remote_head"], SHA_B)
-            self.assertTrue(out["live_stale"])
-            self.assertFalse(out["mutation_safe"])
-            self.assertIn("report", out)
-
-    def test_assess_tool_mutation_safe_when_all_three_match(self):
-        with patch.dict(os.environ, {mp.ENV_TEST_CURRENT_HEAD: SHA_A,
-                                     mp.ENV_TEST_LIVE_REMOTE_HEAD: SHA_A}):
-            out = self.srv.gitea_assess_master_parity(remote="prgs")
-            self.assertTrue(out["mutation_safe"])
-            self.assertFalse(out["live_stale"])
-            self.assertNotIn("report", out)
-
 
 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()