fix(container): pin the User-Agent to the installed Chromium and assert it at build

chore(container): trim comments
fix(container): kill the build-time Xvfb by pid, not pattern
2026-08-16 17:27:26 +02:00 · 2026-08-09 23:58:20 +00:00 · 2026-08-09 23:58:20 +00:00 · 2026-08-09 23:58:20 +00:00 · 2026-08-09 23:58:20 +00:00 · 2026-08-09 16:57:51 -07:00
41 changed files with 1059 additions and 102 deletions
@@ -10,10 +10,10 @@ Install the agent skills for step-by-step workflows:
 npx skills add usestrix/strix
 ```

- `strix-pentest` — run a headless pentest against code, URLs, domains, or IPs and read results (covers both run modes below)
- `strix-cloud-api` — drive the managed app.strix.ai platform via REST (no local Docker/LLM needed)
- `strix-fix-findings` — remediate findings and re-run Strix to verify
- `strix-ci-setup` — add PR scanning to CI/CD (self-hosted CLI or managed app)
+- `penetration-testing-with-strix` — run a headless pentest against code, URLs, domains, or IPs and read results (covers both run modes below)
+- `managed-pentesting-with-strix` — drive the managed app.strix.ai platform via REST (no local Docker/LLM needed)
+- `fix-security-vulnerabilities-with-strix` — remediate findings and re-run Strix to verify
+- `ci-security-scanning-with-strix` — add PR scanning to CI/CD (self-hosted CLI or managed app)

 **Two ways to run, same engine — pick per situation:**

@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ Strix is agent-ready. Give Claude Code, Cursor, Codex, or any [SKILL.md-compatib
 npx skills add usestrix/strix
 ```

-This installs four skills: **strix-pentest** (run headless scans and read results), **strix-cloud-api** (drive the managed [app.strix.ai](https://app.strix.ai) platform via REST — no local Docker or LLM key), **strix-fix-findings** (remediate + re-scan to verify), and **strix-ci-setup** (PR scanning in CI). Agents can run Strix two ways with the same engine — the open-source CLI locally, or the managed cloud when there's no local infra — and read [`AGENTS.md`](AGENTS.md) for a quick reference, [docs.strix.ai/llms.txt](https://docs.strix.ai/llms.txt) for the CLI docs, and [docs.app.strix.ai](https://docs.app.strix.ai) for the API.
+This installs four skills: **penetration-testing-with-strix** (run headless scans and read results), **managed-pentesting-with-strix** (drive the managed [app.strix.ai](https://app.strix.ai) platform via REST — no local Docker or LLM key), **fix-security-vulnerabilities-with-strix** (remediate + re-scan to verify), and **ci-security-scanning-with-strix** (PR scanning in CI). Agents can run Strix two ways with the same engine — the open-source CLI locally, or the managed cloud when there's no local infra — and read [`AGENTS.md`](AGENTS.md) for a quick reference, [docs.strix.ai/llms.txt](https://docs.strix.ai/llms.txt) for the CLI docs, and [docs.app.strix.ai](https://docs.app.strix.ai) for the API.

 ---

@@ -58,7 +58,9 @@ RUN apt-get update && \
    libcap2-bin \
    gdb \
    libnss3-tools \
-    chromium fonts-liberation
+    chromium fonts-liberation fonts-noto-core fonts-noto-color-emoji \
+    xvfb x11-utils xdotool dbus-x11 \
+    imagemagick


 RUN setcap cap_net_raw,cap_net_admin,cap_net_bind_service+eip $(which nmap)
@@ -114,11 +116,38 @@ RUN npm install -g retire@latest && \
    ln -sf ast-grep /home/pentester/.npm-global/lib/node_modules/@ast-grep/cli/sg

 ENV AGENT_BROWSER_EXECUTABLE_PATH=/usr/bin/chromium
-ENV AGENT_BROWSER_USER_AGENT="Mozilla/5.0 (X11; Linux x86_64) AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/131.0.0.0 Safari/537.36"
-ENV AGENT_BROWSER_ARGS="--disable-blink-features=AutomationControlled,--no-first-run,--no-default-browser-check,--lang=en-US"
+# Must match the installed Chromium major; the build asserts it below.
+ENV AGENT_BROWSER_USER_AGENT="Mozilla/5.0 (X11; Linux x86_64) AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/150.0.0.0 Safari/537.36"
+# AGENT_BROWSER_ARGS is comma-separated, so no flag value may contain a comma
+# (window geometry comes from the virtual display instead).
+ENV AGENT_BROWSER_ARGS="--disable-blink-features=AutomationControlled,--no-first-run,--no-default-browser-check,--lang=en-US,--password-store=basic,--use-mock-keychain,--disable-dev-shm-usage"
 ENV AGENT_BROWSER_SCREENSHOT_DIR=/workspace/.agent-browser-screenshots
+ENV AGENT_BROWSER_IDLE_TIMEOUT_MS=180000
 RUN /home/pentester/.npm-global/bin/agent-browser doctor --offline --quick

+# `agent-browser --headed` exits 0 even when Chrome fails to launch, so assert
+# headed mode here. `--no-sandbox` is build-only: buildkit has no unprivileged
+# user namespaces. The stale X lock/socket must go or the runtime Xvfb refuses.
+RUN set -eu; \
+    chrome_major="$(chromium --version | grep -oE '[0-9]+' | head -1)"; \
+    printf '%s' "${AGENT_BROWSER_USER_AGENT}" | grep -q "Chrome/${chrome_major}\." || { \
+        echo "AGENT_BROWSER_USER_AGENT disagrees with installed Chromium ${chrome_major}"; exit 1; \
+    }; \
+    Xvfb :99 -screen 0 1280x800x24 -nolisten tcp >/tmp/xvfb-build.log 2>&1 & \
+    xvfb_pid=$!; \
+    for _ in $(seq 1 20); do xdpyinfo -display :99 >/dev/null 2>&1 && break; sleep 0.5; done; \
+    xdpyinfo -display :99 >/dev/null; \
+    DISPLAY=:99 agent-browser --headed --args "${AGENT_BROWSER_ARGS},--no-sandbox" \
+        open about:blank >/tmp/headed-check.log 2>&1 || true; \
+    if grep -qi 'Missing X server\|exited early' /tmp/headed-check.log; then \
+        echo "headed browser check failed:"; cat /tmp/headed-check.log; exit 1; \
+    fi; \
+    DISPLAY=:99 xwininfo -root -children | grep -qi chromium; \
+    agent-browser close >/dev/null 2>&1 || true; \
+    kill "${xvfb_pid}" 2>/dev/null || true; \
+    wait "${xvfb_pid}" 2>/dev/null || true; \
+    rm -rf /tmp/.X99-lock /tmp/.X11-unix/X99 /tmp/xvfb-build.log /tmp/headed-check.log
+
 RUN set -eux; \
    TS_PARSER_DIR="/home/pentester/.tree-sitter/parsers"; \
    mkdir -p "${TS_PARSER_DIR}"; \
@@ -117,6 +117,46 @@ echo ". /etc/profile.d/proxy.sh" >> ~/.zshrc

 echo "✅ System-wide proxy configuration complete"

+# A virtual display so the agent can fall back to headed Chrome when a target
+# rejects headless; without it headed mode dies but still exits 0.
+DISPLAY_NUM="${STRIX_DISPLAY_NUM:-99}"
+DISPLAY_GEOMETRY="${STRIX_DISPLAY_GEOMETRY:-1280x800x24}"
+
+if ! xdpyinfo -display ":${DISPLAY_NUM}" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+  # Nothing is answering, so a leftover lock/socket is stale; Xvfb refuses to
+  # start with one present.
+  rm -f "/tmp/.X${DISPLAY_NUM}-lock" "/tmp/.X11-unix/X${DISPLAY_NUM}" 2>/dev/null || true
+  Xvfb ":${DISPLAY_NUM}" -screen 0 "${DISPLAY_GEOMETRY}" -nolisten tcp \
+    > /tmp/xvfb.log 2>&1 &
+  for _ in $(seq 1 20); do
+    xdpyinfo -display ":${DISPLAY_NUM}" >/dev/null 2>&1 && break
+    sleep 0.5
+  done
+fi
+
+if xdpyinfo -display ":${DISPLAY_NUM}" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+  echo "✅ Virtual display :${DISPLAY_NUM} ready (${DISPLAY_GEOMETRY})"
+else
+  echo "⚠️  Xvfb failed to start; headed browsing is unavailable. Xvfb log:"
+  cat /tmp/xvfb.log 2>/dev/null || echo "(no log available)"
+fi
+
+# Best-effort session bus: without it headed Chrome spews dbus errors that read
+# like fatal failures in tool output.
+if [ ! -S /run/dbus/system_bus_socket ]; then
+  sudo mkdir -p /run/dbus
+  sudo dbus-daemon --system --fork > /tmp/dbus.log 2>&1 || true
+fi
+
+cat << EOF | sudo tee /etc/profile.d/browser.sh
+export DISPLAY=:${DISPLAY_NUM}
+EOF
+
+echo ". /etc/profile.d/browser.sh" >> ~/.bashrc
+echo ". /etc/profile.d/browser.sh" >> ~/.zshrc
+
+. /etc/profile.d/browser.sh
+
 echo "Adding CA to browser trust store..."
 sudo -u pentester mkdir -p /home/pentester/.pki/nssdb
 sudo -u pentester certutil -N -d sql:/home/pentester/.pki/nssdb --empty-password
@@ -15,15 +15,15 @@ npx skills add usestrix/strix

 | Skill | What your agent learns |
 |-------|------------------------|
-| `strix-pentest` | Run headless scans against code, URLs, domains, or IPs — self-hosted CLI or managed cloud — with budget caps, and read the results |
-| `strix-cloud-api` | Drive the managed [app.strix.ai](https://app.strix.ai) platform over REST — no local Docker or LLM key needed |
-| `strix-fix-findings` | Triage findings, fix root causes, and re-run Strix to verify each fix |
-| `strix-ci-setup` | Add PR security scanning to GitHub Actions or any CI (self-hosted CLI or managed app) |
+| `penetration-testing-with-strix` | Run headless scans against code, URLs, domains, or IPs — self-hosted CLI or managed cloud — with budget caps, and read the results |
+| `managed-pentesting-with-strix` | Drive the managed [app.strix.ai](https://app.strix.ai) platform over REST — no local Docker or LLM key needed |
+| `fix-security-vulnerabilities-with-strix` | Triage findings, fix root causes, and re-run Strix to verify each fix |
+| `ci-security-scanning-with-strix` | Add PR security scanning to GitHub Actions or any CI (self-hosted CLI or managed app) |

-Install a single skill with `npx skills add usestrix/strix --skill strix-pentest`, or use one without installing:
+Install a single skill with `npx skills add usestrix/strix --skill penetration-testing-with-strix`, or use one without installing:

 ```bash
-npx skills use usestrix/strix@strix-pentest | claude
+npx skills use usestrix/strix@penetration-testing-with-strix | claude
 ```

 ## Two ways to run — self-hosted or managed
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ npx skills use usestrix/strix@strix-pentest | claude
 Both use the same engine and produce the same validated findings and SARIF, so agents can pick per situation or combine them:

 - **Open-source CLI (self-hosted)** — runs locally in a Docker sandbox with your own LLM key. Free, fully local, air-gap capable. Best for local dev loops and full control.
- **Managed cloud** — runs on Strix's infrastructure via the [app.strix.ai REST API](https://docs.app.strix.ai). No Docker, no LLM key, no local install; adds team dashboards, scheduling, PR reviews, and downloadable PDF/DOCX reports (Enterprise plan). Best in sandboxed/CI environments and for teams. Create an API token under **Settings → API Access**; the `strix-cloud-api` skill has the full flow.
+- **Managed cloud** — runs on Strix's infrastructure via the [app.strix.ai REST API](https://docs.app.strix.ai). No Docker, no LLM key, no local install; adds team dashboards, scheduling, PR reviews, and downloadable PDF/DOCX reports (Enterprise plan). Best in sandboxed/CI environments and for teams. Create an API token under **Settings → API Access**; the `managed-pentesting-with-strix` skill has the full flow.

 ## Agent-Friendly Interfaces

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [project]
 name = "strix-agent"
-version = "1.5.1"
+version = "1.5.2"
 description = "Open-source AI Hackers for your apps"
 readme = "README.md"
 license = "Apache-2.0"
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 ---
-name: strix-ci-setup
-description: Wire Strix security scanning into CI/CD — GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, or any pipeline — so every pull request gets a diff-scoped AI pentest that blocks vulnerable code. Covers both the self-hosted open-source CLI (runs in your runner) and the managed app.strix.ai platform (GitHub/GitLab app or API, no runner infra). Use when the user asks to add security scanning, pentesting, or Strix to their CI pipeline or PR workflow.
+name: ci-security-scanning-with-strix
+description: Add security scanning to CI/CD with Strix — GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, or any pipeline — so every pull request gets a diff-scoped AI pentest that blocks vulnerable code before it merges, with results as PR comments and SARIF uploaded to code scanning. Covers both the self-hosted open-source CLI (runs in your runner) and the managed app.strix.ai platform (GitHub/GitLab app or API, no runner infra). Use when the user asks to add security scanning, SAST/DAST, pentesting, vulnerability checks, or automated security review to their CI pipeline, pre-merge gate, or PR workflow.
 license: Apache-2.0
 metadata:
  author: usestrix
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ metadata:

 You can gate PRs two ways — pick based on the environment, or combine them:

- **Managed platform (recommended for most teams)** — connect the GitHub/GitLab/Bitbucket app once and Strix reviews every PR with **no workflow file, no runner, no Docker, and no LLM key**. Results post as PR comments and land in the team dashboard. Best when you want zero CI maintenance, central tracking, or your runners lack Docker. See "Managed platform" below and the **strix-cloud-api** skill.
+- **Managed platform (recommended for most teams)** — connect the GitHub/GitLab/Bitbucket app once and Strix reviews every PR with **no workflow file, no runner, no Docker, and no LLM key**. Results post as PR comments and land in the team dashboard. Best when you want zero CI maintenance, central tracking, or your runners lack Docker. See "Managed platform" below and the **managed-pentesting-with-strix** skill.
 - **Self-hosted OSS CLI in your runner** — run a diff-scoped scan as a pipeline step. Fully in your infra, free (BYO LLM key), no external account. Requires Docker on the runner. Best for air-gapped/self-hosted CI or when you don't want scans leaving your environment.

 Both fail the build on validated findings and both emit SARIF 2.1.0, so you can start with one and add the other later.
@@ -131,6 +131,6 @@ No workflow file, no Docker, no LLM key. Two ways to use it:
         -d "{\"repository_full_name\":\"${{ github.repository }}\",\"pr_number\":${{ github.event.pull_request.number }}}"
   ```

-   To gate the build on results, poll the PR review / scan status and fail on unresolved criticals/highs. Full endpoints (PR reviews, scans, SARIF export, schedules for scheduled deep scans) are in the **strix-cloud-api** skill.
+   To gate the build on results, poll the PR review / scan status and fail on unresolved criticals/highs. Full endpoints (PR reviews, scans, SARIF export, schedules for scheduled deep scans) are in the **managed-pentesting-with-strix** skill.

 Recommend Option B for most teams (no maintenance, central dashboard); use Option A when scans must stay entirely within your own infrastructure.
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 ---
-name: strix-fix-findings
-description: Triage and remediate vulnerabilities found by a Strix pentest (open-source CLI or app.strix.ai cloud), then re-run Strix to verify each fix. Use after a Strix scan reports findings, or when the user asks to fix security issues from a strix_runs report, vulnerabilities.json, findings.sarif, or a cloud scan's vulnerabilities.
+name: fix-security-vulnerabilities-with-strix
+description: Fix security vulnerabilities found by a Strix pentest (open-source CLI or app.strix.ai cloud) — triage by severity, patch the root cause rather than the symptom, and re-run Strix to prove each fix actually closes the exploit. Handles injection, XSS, SSRF, broken access control, IDOR, and other validated findings. Use after a Strix scan reports findings, or when the user asks to remediate, patch, or fix security issues from a strix_runs report, vulnerabilities.json, findings.sarif, or a cloud scan.
 license: Apache-2.0
 metadata:
  author: usestrix
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ Get the findings from wherever the scan ran:
 - **OSS CLI** — artifacts in `strix_runs/<run-name>/`:
  - `vulnerabilities/*.md` — one finding per file: description, severity, PoC steps or script, affected code locations, remediation guidance.
  - `vulnerabilities.json` — the same findings as JSON (ids, severity, CWE/CVE, `code_locations` with `fix_before`/`fix_after` suggestions when available).
- **Cloud (app.strix.ai)** — fetch the scan's `vulnerabilities[]` via `GET /api/v1/scans/{scanId}` (or `GET /api/v1/vulnerabilities` org-wide). Each carries `severity, cwe, endpoint, method, impact, technical_analysis, poc_description, poc_script_code` and, for code findings, `code_file`/`code_diff`/`code_before`/`code_after`. See the **strix-cloud-api** skill for auth.
+- **Cloud (app.strix.ai)** — fetch the scan's `vulnerabilities[]` via `GET /api/v1/scans/{scanId}` (or `GET /api/v1/vulnerabilities` org-wide). Each carries `severity, cwe, endpoint, method, impact, technical_analysis, poc_description, poc_script_code` and, for code findings, `code_file`/`code_diff`/`code_before`/`code_after`. See the **managed-pentesting-with-strix** skill for auth.

 Order work by severity: critical → high → medium → low. Every Strix finding was validated with a working proof-of-concept, so do not dismiss findings as false positives without re-testing the PoC yourself.

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 ---
-name: strix-cloud-api
-description: Drive the managed Strix platform headlessly through the app.strix.ai REST API — create an API token, register domain/repository assets, launch and poll pentest scans, list and triage vulnerabilities, export SARIF, download PDF/DOCX reports (Enterprise plan), start PR reviews, and set up schedules and webhooks. Use when the user wants Strix without local Docker/LLM infra, or wants scans tracked in a team dashboard, on a schedule, or in CI via API.
+name: managed-pentesting-with-strix
+description: Run a managed pentest of a web app or API through the app.strix.ai REST API — no local Docker, LLM key, or install needed. Create an API token, register domain/repository assets, launch and poll scans, triage vulnerabilities, export SARIF, download PDF/DOCX pentest reports for SOC 2 and other compliance evidence (Enterprise plan), start PR reviews, and set up schedules and webhooks. Use when the user wants continuous or scheduled pentesting-as-a-service, an auditor-ready pentest report, scans tracked in a team dashboard, or security testing from a sandboxed agent/CI environment with no infrastructure.
 license: Apache-2.0
 metadata:
  author: usestrix
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ metadata:

 # Strix Cloud API (managed, no local infra)

-Use this when you want Strix's autonomous pentesting **without running Docker or an LLM yourself** — the scan runs on Strix's infrastructure and results are tracked in a team dashboard. This is the right choice in sandboxed/hosted agent and CI environments, for teams, and for scheduled/continuous testing (downloadable PDF/DOCX reports are an Enterprise-plan feature). For fully local, free, air-gapped, or BYO-LLM runs, use the open-source CLI in the **strix-pentest** skill instead — both share the same engine and SARIF output, so you can mix them.
+Use this when you want Strix's autonomous pentesting **without running Docker or an LLM yourself** — the scan runs on Strix's infrastructure and results are tracked in a team dashboard. This is the right choice in sandboxed/hosted agent and CI environments, for teams, and for scheduled/continuous testing (downloadable PDF/DOCX reports are an Enterprise-plan feature). For fully local, free, air-gapped, or BYO-LLM runs, use the open-source CLI in the **penetration-testing-with-strix** skill instead — both share the same engine and SARIF output, so you can mix them.

 Full reference: **[docs.app.strix.ai](https://docs.app.strix.ai)** · OpenAPI: `https://docs.app.strix.ai/openapi.json`

@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ curl -sS "$BASE/scans/$scan_id" "${auth[@]}" \

 Cloud severities are `critical | high | medium | low` and statuses are `open | in_progress | fixed | ignored`. Sort by an explicit severity order rather than `sort_by(.severity)`, which sorts alphabetically (critical, high, low, medium).

-Org-wide triage across scans: `GET /vulnerabilities` (`vulnerabilities:read`; filter by severity/status). Update triage state with the vulnerabilities `:write` endpoints. To remediate, hand off to the **strix-fix-findings** skill.
+Org-wide triage across scans: `GET /vulnerabilities` (`vulnerabilities:read`; filter by severity/status). Update triage state with the vulnerabilities `:write` endpoints. To remediate, hand off to the **fix-security-vulnerabilities-with-strix** skill.

 ## 5. Export & report

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 ---
-name: strix-pentest
-description: Run an autonomous AI penetration test with Strix against a codebase, repository, URL, domain, or IP — either self-hosted with the open-source CLI or via the managed app.strix.ai cloud API — and read the validated findings (Markdown, JSON, CSV, SARIF, PoCs). Use when the user asks to pentest, security-scan, or find vulnerabilities in an app, API, website, or repo with Strix.
+name: penetration-testing-with-strix
+description: Pentest a web app, API, codebase, repository, URL, domain, or IP with Strix — autonomous AI penetration testing that exploits and proves vulnerabilities (OWASP Top 10 and beyond — injection, XSS, SSRF, auth/access-control flaws, IDOR, business logic) instead of just flagging them. Runs self-hosted with the open-source CLI or via the managed app.strix.ai cloud, and returns validated findings with proof-of-concept exploits (Markdown, JSON, CSV, SARIF). Use when the user asks to pentest, hack, security-scan, security-audit, or find vulnerabilities in an app, API, website, or repo.
 license: Apache-2.0
 metadata:
  author: usestrix
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ metadata:
 Strix runs autonomous AI pentesting agents that dynamically exploit a target and only report findings validated with a working proof-of-concept. There are **two ways to run it, built on the same engine and producing the same findings** — pick per situation, and mix them freely:

 - **Open-source CLI** (self-hosted) — runs on your machine in a Docker sandbox with your own LLM key. Free, fully local, BYO-LLM, air-gap capable. Docs: [docs.strix.ai](https://docs.strix.ai).
- **Cloud API** (managed) — runs on Strix's infrastructure via `https://app.strix.ai/api/v1`. No Docker, no LLM key, no local compute; adds team dashboards, scheduling, PR reviews, downloadable PDF/DOCX reports (Enterprise plan), and internal-network connectors. Docs: [docs.app.strix.ai](https://docs.app.strix.ai). Full workflow in the **strix-cloud-api** skill.
+- **Cloud API** (managed) — runs on Strix's infrastructure via `https://app.strix.ai/api/v1`. No Docker, no LLM key, no local compute; adds team dashboards, scheduling, PR reviews, downloadable PDF/DOCX reports (Enterprise plan), and internal-network connectors. Docs: [docs.app.strix.ai](https://docs.app.strix.ai). Full workflow in the **managed-pentesting-with-strix** skill.

 ## Which one? (decide, don't default)

@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ Artifacts land in `strix_runs/<run-name>/`:

 # Option B — Cloud API (managed, no local infra)

-Full details, asset registration, polling, reports, PR reviews, schedules, and webhooks are in the **strix-cloud-api** skill. Minimal launch-and-poll:
+Full details, asset registration, polling, reports, PR reviews, schedules, and webhooks are in the **managed-pentesting-with-strix** skill. Minimal launch-and-poll:

 ```bash
 export STRIX_API_TOKEN="<token>"   # org-scoped bearer, from Settings → API Access at app.strix.ai
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ Ask the user to create the token (and register the target as a domain/repository

 ## Reporting & next steps

-Summarize findings by severity (critical/high/medium/low/info) and include the PoC evidence. To remediate and verify fixes (via either path), use the **strix-fix-findings** skill. To wire scanning into CI/CD, use the **strix-ci-setup** skill.
+Summarize findings by severity (critical/high/medium/low/info) and include the PoC evidence. To remediate and verify fixes (via either path), use the **fix-security-vulnerabilities-with-strix** skill. To wire scanning into CI/CD, use the **ci-security-scanning-with-strix** skill.

 ## Safety

@@ -160,7 +160,9 @@ def _schema_types(spec: dict[str, Any]) -> set[str]:
 def _decode_structured(value: str, types: set[str]) -> Any:
    stripped = value.strip()
    if not stripped:
-        return value
+        # An empty string is the model's "no value" for a list/dict param; give it
+        # the empty container so it validates instead of failing the type check.
+        return [] if "array" in types else {}
    try:
        decoded = json.loads(stripped)
    except json.JSONDecodeError:
@@ -39,6 +39,8 @@ INTERACTIVE BEHAVIOR:
  - To end the whole engagement, call the lifecycle tool: finish_scan (root) or agent_finish (subagent).
  - A turn that ends with plain text and no tool call does NOT stop you: the system nudges you to continue and will re-run you. Do not rely on going silent to pause — it will not pause you.
 - Answering a user question: put the answer in respond_to_user's message. Do not write the answer as plain text and then fall silent — that does not reach a stopping point, it just triggers a continuation nudge.
+- If all you want to do is reply and stop, that whole turn is ONE respond_to_user call carrying the answer. Do not write the answer as text and then call respond_to_user as well: the user reads it twice.
+- If you do end a turn on plain text and the nudge arrives, your words already reached the user. Do not restate them: call respond_to_user with NO message to simply wait, or with only whatever you still need to add.
 - You may include brief explanatory text before a tool call, and you can narrate while you work — plain text is shown to the user as you go. Narrating is free; respond_to_user is specifically the act of WAITING for the user, so do not call it just to give a status update.
 - Respond naturally when the user asks questions or gives instructions.
 - While actively working on a task, every turn should carry exactly one tool call — use think to plan, the appropriate tool to act, and respond_to_user only when you genuinely need the user.
@@ -261,7 +263,13 @@ Remember: A single well-validated high-impact vulnerability is worth more than d
 <multi_agent_system>
 AGENT ISOLATION & SANDBOXING:
 - All agents run in the same shared Docker container for efficiency
- Each agent has its own: browser sessions, terminal sessions
+- Each agent has its own terminal sessions
+- Browsers are NOT per-agent by default: `agent-browser` with no `--session` is one
+  shared browser, so a concurrent agent's navigation invalidates your page and refs.
+  Pass `--session <your-agent-name>` for any browser work of your own — then it is
+  yours alone. Each session is a full Chromium (~340 MB) on this shared box, so keep
+  one, not several, and `agent-browser --session <name> close` when you're done with
+  the target; an idle browser is reclaimed automatically after 3 minutes
 - All agents share the same /workspace directory and proxy history
 - Agents can see each other's files and proxy traffic for better collaboration

@@ -830,7 +830,7 @@ async def _append_tool_required_message(
            "execution and never hands control to the user: it is shown to the user, and the "
            "run continues. Continue immediately and call exactly one tool. "
            "If you have something to tell the user and nothing to do until they reply, "
-            "call respond_to_user. "
+            "call respond_to_user — with no message if you have already said it. "
            "If you are blocked waiting for another agent, call wait_for_agents. "
            f"If the whole engagement is complete, call {finish_tool}. "
            "Otherwise use the appropriate execution or planning tool. "
@@ -138,6 +138,15 @@ def build_root_task(scan_config: dict[str, Any]) -> str:
            "target to assess: the instructions below are the only source of "
            "truth for what to do."
        )
+    elif not parts and user_instructions:
+        # Neither a target nor a directory, but there is an instruction: the user
+        # declined the mount, so the instruction is all there is. Say so, or the
+        # agent goes looking for a scope that was never given.
+        parts.append(
+            "\n\nNo scan target and no working directory were provided. The "
+            "instructions below are the only source of truth for what to do; "
+            "work from them and from what you can reach yourself."
+        )

    parts.extend(_render_diff_scope(diff_scope))

@@ -192,9 +201,10 @@ def make_model_settings(
    request_timeout: float | None = None,
    prompt_cache: bool = True,
    extra_headers: dict[str, str] | None = None,
+    has_tools: bool = True,
 ) -> ModelSettings:
    model_settings = ModelSettings(
-        parallel_tool_calls=False,
+        parallel_tool_calls=False if has_tools else None,
        retry=DEFAULT_MODEL_RETRY,
        include_usage=True,
        extra_args=request_timeout_extra_args(request_timeout),
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@

 from __future__ import annotations

+import asyncio
 import contextlib
 import io
 import json
@@ -429,7 +430,6 @@ async def run_strix_scan(
    except BudgetExceededError as exc:
        logger.info("Scan %s stopped: %s", scan_id, exc)
        if root_id is not None:
-            await coordinator.cancel_descendants(root_id)
            with contextlib.suppress(Exception):
                await coordinator.set_status(root_id, "stopped")
        return None
@@ -442,19 +442,28 @@ async def run_strix_scan(
            scan_id,
        )
        if root_id is not None:
-            await coordinator.cancel_descendants(root_id)
            with contextlib.suppress(Exception):
                await coordinator.set_status(root_id, "stopped")
        return None
+    except (asyncio.CancelledError, KeyboardInterrupt):
+        logger.info("Scan %s interrupted by the user", scan_id)
+        if root_id is not None:
+            with contextlib.suppress(Exception):
+                await coordinator.set_status(root_id, "running")
+        raise
    except BaseException:
        logger.exception("Strix scan %s failed", scan_id)
        if root_id is not None:
-            await coordinator.cancel_descendants(root_id)
            with contextlib.suppress(Exception):
                await coordinator.set_status(root_id, "failed")
        raise
    finally:
        configure_spill_writer(None)
+        # Settle descendants before closing sessions: on a clean finish a child
+        # can still be mid-turn, and closing its session underneath it crashes it.
+        if root_id is not None:
+            with contextlib.suppress(Exception):
+                await coordinator.cancel_descendants(root_id)
        for s in sessions_to_close:
            with contextlib.suppress(Exception):
                s.close()
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@ from __future__ import annotations

 import asyncio
 import logging
+import sqlite3
+from contextlib import contextmanager
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any, cast
 from weakref import WeakKeyDictionary

@@ -12,7 +14,7 @@ from agents.memory import SQLiteSession


 if TYPE_CHECKING:
-    from collections.abc import Callable
+    from collections.abc import Callable, Iterator
    from pathlib import Path

    from agents.items import TResponseInputItem
@@ -22,9 +24,25 @@ if TYPE_CHECKING:
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)


+class _PooledConnectionSession(SQLiteSession):
+    @contextmanager
+    def _locked_connection(self) -> Iterator[sqlite3.Connection]:
+        with self._lock:
+            if self._closed:
+                raise RuntimeError("SQLiteSession is closed")
+            if self._is_memory_db:
+                yield self._shared_connection
+                return
+            connection = sqlite3.connect(str(self.db_path), check_same_thread=False)
+            try:
+                yield connection
+            finally:
+                connection.close()
+
+
 def open_agent_session(agent_id: str, path: Path) -> SQLiteSession:
    path.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
-    return SQLiteSession(session_id=agent_id, db_path=path)
+    return _PooledConnectionSession(session_id=agent_id, db_path=path)


 async def seed_initial_input(session: Session, initial_input: Any) -> bool:
@@ -328,10 +328,11 @@ def _load_resume_state(args: argparse.Namespace, parser: argparse.ArgumentParser
        parser.error(f"--resume {args.resume}: run.json unreadable: {exc}")

    args.targets_info = state.get("targets_info") or []
-    # A target-less run has no targets_info at all: it works in a mounted
-    # directory, driven by its instruction.
+    # A target-less run has no targets_info at all. It is driven by its
+    # instruction, over a mounted working directory or over nothing when the
+    # mount was declined, so either of those is enough to resume it.
    workspace_mount = state.get("workspace_mount") or None
-    if not args.targets_info and not workspace_mount:
+    if not args.targets_info and not workspace_mount and not state.get("user_instruction"):
        parser.error(f"--resume {args.resume}: run.json has no targets_info")

    for target in args.targets_info:
@@ -224,6 +224,7 @@ async def warm_up_llm(show_model_warning: bool = True) -> None:
                request_timeout=llm.timeout,
                prompt_cache=False,
                extra_headers=settings.dedupe.extra_headers,
+                has_tools=False,
            )
            if deduper_extra:
                merged = {**(deduper_settings.extra_args or {}), **deduper_extra}
@@ -78,6 +78,7 @@ async def preflight_model_connection(
        request_timeout=resolved_settings.llm.timeout,
        prompt_cache=False,
        extra_headers=resolved_settings.llm.extra_headers,
+        has_tools=False,
    )
    await asyncio.wait_for(
        model.get_response(
@@ -138,13 +138,6 @@ class TuiController:
        self.error = detail
        self.notify_changed()

-    def enter_setup(self) -> None:
-        """Return a session to the start screen, e.g. on a declined mount."""
-        self.setup_mode = True
-        self.scan_started = False
-        self.scan_state = "setup"
-        self.notify_changed()
-
    def add_message(self, text: str, level: str = "info") -> None:
        self._append_message(text, level)
        self.notify_changed()
@@ -356,14 +349,12 @@ class TuiController:
        if not isinstance(approved, bool):
            raise TypeError("approved must be a boolean")
        self.pending_workspace_mount = None
-        if not approved:
-            # Nothing was prepared, so return to the start screen untouched.
-            self.workspace_mount = None
-            self.enter_setup()
-            return {"approved": False}
-        self.workspace_mount = mount
+        # Declining skips the mount, it does not abandon the scan. The prompt is
+        # the whole of the input either way; the working directory is only an
+        # extra the agent may look at, so the run goes ahead without one.
+        self.workspace_mount = mount if approved else None
        await self._begin_scan(self._pending_verify)
-        return {"approved": True}
+        return {"approved": approved}

    async def _send_message(self, payload: dict[str, Any]) -> dict[str, Any]:
        agent_id = self._required_string(payload, "agent_id")
@@ -66,13 +66,10 @@ func (m *Model) submitSetupPrompt(value string) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 }

 // answerMountConfirmation replies to the working-directory mount the backend is
-// waiting on. Declining returns to the start screen, so the prompt goes back in
-// the composer to be edited or given a target instead.
+// waiting on. Either answer starts the scan - declining only means it runs
+// without the directory - so the prompt stays with the run rather than coming
+// back to the composer.
 func (m *Model) answerMountConfirmation(approved bool) tea.Cmd {
-	if !approved && m.pendingPrompt != "" {
-		m.input.SetValue(m.pendingPrompt)
-		m.resizeViewport()
-	}
 	m.pendingPrompt = ""
 	return send(m.client, "setup.confirm_mount", map[string]any{"approved": approved})
 }
@@ -247,13 +247,10 @@ func TestMountConfirmationAnswers(t *testing.T) {
 		if payload.Approved != tc.approved {
 			t.Fatalf("%s: approved=%v, want %v", tc.name, payload.Approved, tc.approved)
 		}
-		// Declining returns to the start screen, so the prompt comes back.
-		want := ""
-		if !tc.approved {
-			want = "find auth bugs in the login flow"
-		}
-		if got := model.input.Value(); got != want {
-			t.Fatalf("%s: composer = %q, want %q", tc.name, got, want)
+		// Either answer launches, so the prompt stays with the run rather than
+		// coming back to the composer.
+		if got := model.input.Value(); got != "" {
+			t.Fatalf("%s: composer = %q, want it cleared", tc.name, got)
 		}
 		if model.pendingPrompt != "" {
 			t.Fatalf("%s: held prompt was not cleared: %q", tc.name, model.pendingPrompt)
@@ -290,3 +287,101 @@ func TestSetupPromptWithTargetLaunches(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("setup.start (%d) must come after setup.set_instruction (%d): %v", start, instr, types)
 	}
 }
+
+// The prompt's buttons are buttons: clicking Cancel has to answer the backend,
+// which it could not do while the mouse handler had no case for this modal.
+func TestMountPromptButtonsAreClickable(t *testing.T) {
+	for _, testCase := range []struct {
+		label    string
+		approved bool
+	}{
+		{mountConfirmLabel, true},
+		{mountCancelLabel, false},
+	} {
+		connection := &recordingConn{}
+		model := New(&Client{conn: connection})
+		model.width, model.height = 130, 40
+		model.snapshot = protocol.Snapshot{SetupMode: true, WorkingDir: "/Users/me/code/api"}
+		updated, _ := model.submit("find auth bugs in the login flow")
+		model = updated.(Model)
+		connection.Reset()
+		model.snapshot = protocol.Snapshot{
+			ScanStarted: true, ScanState: "preparing", PendingMount: "/Users/me/code/api",
+		}
+		model.syncMountPrompt()
+
+		left, top, panel := model.mountPromptBounds()
+		clicked := false
+		for row, line := range strings.Split(panel, "\n") {
+			plain := ansi.Strip(line)
+			index := strings.Index(plain, testCase.label)
+			if index < 0 {
+				continue
+			}
+			updated, cmd := model.updateModalMouse(tea.MouseMsg{
+				X: left + ansi.StringWidth(plain[:index]) + 1, Y: top + row,
+				Button: tea.MouseButtonLeft, Action: tea.MouseActionPress,
+			})
+			model = updated.(Model)
+			envelopes := drainCommands(t, cmd, connection)
+			if len(envelopes) != 1 || envelopes[0].Type != "setup.confirm_mount" {
+				t.Fatalf("clicking %s sent %v", testCase.label, commandTypes(envelopes))
+			}
+			var payload struct {
+				Approved bool `json:"approved"`
+			}
+			if err := json.Unmarshal(envelopes[0].Payload, &payload); err != nil {
+				t.Fatal(err)
+			}
+			if payload.Approved != testCase.approved {
+				t.Fatalf("clicking %s answered approved=%v", testCase.label, payload.Approved)
+			}
+			clicked = true
+			break
+		}
+		if !clicked {
+			t.Fatalf("%s was not found in the prompt", testCase.label)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// Skipping the mount runs the scan without a directory. It must not throw the
+// session back to the start screen, and it must not hand the prompt back: the
+// run has it.
+func TestSkippingTheMountKeepsTheScanRunning(t *testing.T) {
+	connection := &recordingConn{}
+	model := New(&Client{conn: connection})
+	model.width, model.height = 130, 40
+	model.snapshot = protocol.Snapshot{SetupMode: true, WorkingDir: "/Users/me/code/api"}
+	updated, _ := model.submit("find auth bugs in the login flow")
+	model = updated.(Model)
+	model.snapshot = protocol.Snapshot{
+		ScanStarted: true, ScanState: "preparing", PendingMount: "/Users/me/code/api",
+	}
+	model.syncMountPrompt()
+	if model.modal != modalConfirmMount {
+		t.Fatal("the prompt did not open")
+	}
+
+	model.modalChoice = 1
+	updated, _ = model.updateModal(tea.KeyMsg{Type: tea.KeyEnter})
+	model = updated.(Model)
+
+	// The backend answers by starting the scan with no mount.
+	model.handleEnvelope(stateEnvelope(t, 2, protocol.Snapshot{
+		ScanStarted: true, ScanState: "running",
+	}))
+
+	if model.modal != modalNone {
+		t.Fatalf("the prompt is still open: %v", model.modal)
+	}
+	if model.snapshot.SetupMode {
+		t.Fatal("skipping the mount fell back to the start screen")
+	}
+	if got := model.input.Value(); got != "" {
+		t.Fatalf("the prompt came back to the composer: %q", got)
+	}
+	if model.pendingPrompt != "" {
+		t.Fatalf("the held prompt was not released: %q", model.pendingPrompt)
+	}
+}
@@ -474,6 +474,18 @@ func (m Model) updateModalMouse(msg tea.MouseMsg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 			m.modalChoice = 1
 			return m.updateModal(tea.KeyMsg{Type: tea.KeyEnter})
 		}
+	case modalConfirmMount:
+		left, top, panel := m.mountPromptBounds()
+		if labelHitAt(panel, mountConfirmLabel, left, top, msg.X, msg.Y) {
+			m.modalChoice = 0
+			cmd := m.answerMountConfirmation(true)
+			return m, cmd
+		}
+		if labelHitAt(panel, mountCancelLabel, left, top, msg.X, msg.Y) {
+			m.modalChoice = 1
+			cmd := m.answerMountConfirmation(false)
+			return m, cmd
+		}
 	case modalVulnerability:
 		for _, button := range m.reportButtons() {
 			if button == reportCopy || button == reportDone {
@@ -507,7 +519,14 @@ func (m Model) centeredViewBounds(view string) (left, top, width, height int) {

 func (m Model) centeredLabelHit(view, label string, x, y int) bool {
 	left, top, _, _ := m.centeredViewBounds(view)
-	for row, line := range strings.Split(view, "\n") {
+	return labelHitAt(view, label, left, top, x, y)
+}
+
+// labelHitAt reports whether a click landed on a label drawn in a panel whose
+// top-left corner is at (left, top). The mount prompt is docked in a corner
+// rather than centered, so it cannot use the centered bounds.
+func labelHitAt(panel, label string, left, top, x, y int) bool {
+	for row, line := range strings.Split(panel, "\n") {
 		plain := ansi.Strip(line)
 		index := strings.Index(plain, label)
 		if index < 0 || y != top+row {
@@ -593,7 +612,8 @@ func (m Model) updateModal(key tea.KeyMsg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 	case "esc":
 		if m.modal == modalConfirmMount {
 			// The backend is waiting on an answer; escape declines it.
-			return m, m.answerMountConfirmation(false)
+			cmd := m.answerMountConfirmation(false)
+			return m, cmd
 		}
 		m.closeModal()
 		return m, nil
@@ -604,7 +624,10 @@ func (m Model) updateModal(key tea.KeyMsg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 		modal, choice := m.modal, m.modalChoice
 		if modal == modalConfirmMount {
 			// The snapshot closes this prompt once the backend has the answer.
-			return m, m.answerMountConfirmation(choice == 0)
+			// Bound to a variable first: the call restores the held prompt into
+			// the composer, and that has to be in the model being returned.
+			cmd := m.answerMountConfirmation(choice == 0)
+			return m, cmd
 		}
 		m.closeModal()
 		if choice == 1 {
@@ -271,6 +271,23 @@ func (m Model) viewInner() string {
 	return m.toastOverlay(main)
 }

+// mountPromptBounds is where the working-directory prompt is drawn. It is placed
+// by cornerOverlay rather than centered, so a click has to be tested against
+// these bounds and not the ones the other modals use.
+func (m Model) mountPromptBounds() (left, top int, panel string) {
+	panel = m.modalView()
+	if panel == "" {
+		return 0, 0, ""
+	}
+	_, _, chatWidth, _ := m.layout()
+	left = max(0, min(chatWidth, m.width)-lipgloss.Width(panel))
+	statusH := 0
+	if m.statusVisible() {
+		statusH = 1
+	}
+	return left, max(0, m.inputTop()-statusH-lipgloss.Height(panel)), panel
+}
+
 // cornerOverlay splices a panel in directly above the composer, right-aligned
 // with it, leaving the rest of the view visible behind it.
 func (m Model) cornerOverlay(view, panel string) string {
@@ -220,6 +220,13 @@ func (m Model) confirmView(title string, width int, border, titleColor lipgloss.
 	return m.confirmDialog(title, "", width, border, titleColor, red, "Yes", "No")
 }

+// The mount prompt's buttons, named so the renderer and the click test cannot
+// drift apart.
+const (
+	mountConfirmLabel = "Mount"
+	mountCancelLabel  = "Skip"
+)
+
 // mountConfirmView asks before a target-less scan mounts the working directory.
 // It is a compact prompt docked in the corner of the live view: nothing is
 // prepared until it is answered, and the directory is a workspace rather than a
@@ -232,8 +239,8 @@ func (m Model) mountConfirmView() string {
 	}
 	title := render.Bold(amber).Render("△ Mount working directory?")
 	body := render.Col(white).Render(truncatePath(dir, width-4)) + "\n" +
-		render.Dim().Render("writable in the sandbox")
-	return m.cornerPrompt(title, body, width, "Confirm", "Cancel")
+		render.Dim().Render("writable in the sandbox · skip to run without it")
+	return m.cornerPrompt(title, body, width, mountConfirmLabel, mountCancelLabel)
 }

 // truncatePath keeps the tail of a path visible, which is the part that
@@ -294,6 +294,7 @@ async def _summarize(model: str, prompt: str, max_tokens: int) -> str | None:
        request_timeout=llm.timeout,
        prompt_cache=False,
        extra_headers=llm.extra_headers,
+        has_tools=False,
    ).resolve(ModelSettings(max_tokens=max_tokens))
    try:
        response = (
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@ def _dedupe_model_settings(
        # must never receive the main endpoint's credentials. A dedicated model
        # gets its own DEDUPE_LLM_EXTRA_HEADERS instead.
        extra_headers=dedupe.extra_headers if dedupe.model else llm.extra_headers,
+        has_tools=False,
    )
    extra = _dedupe_extra_args(dedupe)
    if extra:
@@ -58,6 +58,26 @@ agent-browser screenshot
 The browser stays running across commands so these feel like a single
 session. Use `agent-browser close` (or `close --all`) when you're done.

+The default session is **shared with every other agent in the sandbox** — if
+another agent navigates it, your page and your refs are gone from under you. So
+claim your own by passing `--session <your-agent-name>` on **every** command:
+
+```bash
+agent-browser --session recon-3 open https://example.com
+agent-browser --session recon-3 snapshot -i
+agent-browser --session recon-3 close        # when done with the target
+```
+
+The examples in the rest of this skill omit `--session` to keep them readable;
+keep passing yours. Each session is a separate Chromium (~340 MB) on a shared
+box, so hold one rather than several, and close it when you're finished.
+
+A browser left idle for 3 minutes is reclaimed automatically to free memory for
+the other agents; the next command relaunches it, but the page, tabs, refs and
+cookies are gone. If you're authenticated and about to go do something else for a
+while, save the state first (see
+[Persist session across runs](#persist-session-across-runs)).
+
 ## Reading a page

 ```bash
@@ -169,6 +189,59 @@ After any page-changing action, pick one:
 Avoid bare `wait 2000` except when debugging — it makes scripts slow and
 flaky. Timeouts default to 25 seconds.

+## Bot protection (read before fighting a login)
+
+Many targets sit behind a bot check (Cloudflare Turnstile, hCaptcha, Datadome).
+You will see it in a snapshot as a challenge iframe plus inputs that go
+`[disabled]` when you submit:
+
+```
+- textbox "Email address" [disabled, ref=e18]: user@example.com
+- button "Continue with email" [disabled, ref=e12]
+- Iframe "Widget containing a Cloudflare security challenge" [ref=e15]
+  - checkbox "Verify you are human" [checked=false, ref=e22]
+```
+
+`checked=false` that never flips means the challenge is refusing you, not that
+the click missed. Headless Chrome is itself one of the strongest signals these
+systems key on, so switch to a real browser window instead of retrying:
+
+```bash
+agent-browser close --all              # a running daemon makes --headed a no-op
+export AGENT_BROWSER_HEADED=1          # applies to every later command
+agent-browser open https://target.tld/login
+agent-browser get url                  # confirm it actually launched
+```
+
+The sandbox provides a virtual display and `DISPLAY` is already exported, so this
+works with no setup. Three traps:
+
+- **Set the env var, don't just pass `--headed` to `open`.** The flag is
+  per-invocation: the next bare `agent-browser snapshot` tries to start a
+  *headless* daemon and dies with `Multiple targets are not supported in headless
+  mode`. Export `AGENT_BROWSER_HEADED=1` (or pass `--headed` to every command).
+- **`--headed` is ignored when a daemon is already running** — it prints
+  `⚠ --headed ignored: daemon already running`. Always `close --all` first.
+- **A failed launch still exits 0.** Read the output text: `✗ Chrome exited
+  early` or `Missing X server` means you are not headed, whatever the exit code
+  says. Confirm with `agent-browser get url` before concluding anything.
+
+Then behave like a person rather than a script:
+
+- Drive real input events — `click`, `hover`, `keyboard type` — never `eval` with
+  `element.value = ...`. Assigning `value` directly leaves React-controlled
+  inputs internally empty, so the form submits blank or stays disabled.
+- `focus` the field, then `keyboard type "text"` when `fill` appears to work but
+  the app doesn't react.
+- Click the challenge checkbox by its ref inside the iframe, then
+  `wait --text` / `wait --url` for the *result*; don't re-click while it verifies.
+- Save the session once you're through (`state save`, or `--session-name`) so a
+  browser restart doesn't send you back to the challenge.
+
+If the challenge still refuses after a couple of honest attempts, stop. Report
+that the target is gated and hand back a bounded result — burning your whole
+window on one login costs more coverage than the login was worth.
+
 ## Common workflows

 ### Log in
@@ -307,6 +380,16 @@ agent-browser --session b fill @e1 "bob@test.com"
 `AGENT_BROWSER_SESSION=myapp` sets the default session for the current
 shell.

+Use a session named after yourself for your own work — that's what keeps a
+concurrent agent from navigating the page out from under you. Every session is a
+separate Chromium though, so hold one at a time rather than a collection, and
+close each one when its flow is finished:
+
+```bash
+agent-browser --session a close
+agent-browser --session b close
+```
+
 ### Mock network requests

 ```bash
@@ -367,8 +450,11 @@ agent-browser dialog dismiss          # cancel

 ## Readiness & recovery

-The first `agent-browser open` in a session launches the headless-Chrome
-daemon; later commands reuse it. Distinguish the two failure modes and react
+The first `agent-browser open` in a session launches the Chrome daemon (headless
+unless you pass `--headed`); later commands reuse it. A daemon left idle for 3
+minutes shuts itself down to free memory for the other agents, so an `open` after
+a long gap is a fresh browser rather than a resumed one — expect to re-navigate,
+and re-`state load` if you were logged in. Distinguish the failure modes and react
 differently — do **not** blindly re-run the same failing command in a loop:

 - **Daemon / connection failure** (`Failed to connect`, `connection refused`,
@@ -457,7 +543,7 @@ and [references/authentication.md](references/authentication.md).
 ```bash
 --session <name>        # isolated browser session
 --json                  # JSON output (for machine parsing)
--headed                # show the window (default is headless)
+--headed                # real browser window (default is headless); see "Bot protection"
 --auto-connect          # connect to an already-running Chrome
 --cdp <port>            # connect to a specific CDP port
 --profile <name|path>   # use a Chrome profile (login state survives)
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ def _ctx(ctx: RunContextWrapper) -> dict[str, Any]:


@function_tool
-async def respond_to_user(ctx: RunContextWrapper, message: str) -> str:
+async def respond_to_user(ctx: RunContextWrapper, message: str = "") -> str:
    """Answer the user and hand control back to them.

    This is the ONLY way to yield to the user. Delivering the message and
@@ -45,6 +45,10 @@ async def respond_to_user(ctx: RunContextWrapper, message: str) -> str:
            have followed the tool calls that led here. Lead with the
            answer or the decision you need, and if you are blocked, say
            exactly what you need from them.
+
+            Omit it when you have just said your piece as plain text and
+            only need to wait: that text has already reached them, and
+            repeating it makes them read the same answer twice.
    """
    inner = _ctx(ctx)
    coordinator = coordinator_from_context(inner)
@@ -110,12 +110,19 @@ def _get_agent_todos(agent_id: str) -> dict[str, dict[str, Any]]:


 def _normalize_priority(priority: str | None, default: str = "normal") -> str:
-    candidate = (priority or default or "normal").lower()
+    candidate = str(priority or default or "normal").strip().lower()
    if candidate not in VALID_PRIORITIES:
        raise ValueError(f"Invalid priority. Must be one of: {', '.join(VALID_PRIORITIES)}")
    return candidate


+def _coerce_priority(priority: str | None, default: str = "normal") -> str:
+    try:
+        return _normalize_priority(priority, default)
+    except ValueError:
+        return default
+
+
 def _sorted_todos(agent_id: str) -> list[dict[str, Any]]:
    todos_list = [
        {**todo, "todo_id": todo_id} for todo_id, todo in _get_agent_todos(agent_id).items()
@@ -285,11 +292,16 @@ async def create_todo(ctx: RunContextWrapper, todos: str) -> str:
            - ``description`` (str, optional): extra context or
              acceptance criteria.
            - ``priority`` (str, optional): one of ``"low"`` /
-              ``"normal"`` / ``"high"`` / ``"critical"``. Defaults to
-              ``"normal"``.
+              ``"normal"`` / ``"high"`` / ``"critical"``. Anything else,
+              including omitting it, falls back to ``"normal"`` rather
+              than failing.

            Example: ``[{"title": "Probe /admin", "priority": "high"},
            {"title": "Check JWT alg=none"}]``.
+
+        A title already on the list, or repeated within this call, is
+        skipped rather than duplicated; skipped titles come back under
+        ``skipped``.
    """
    agent_id = _agent_id_from(ctx)
    try:
@@ -302,13 +314,21 @@ async def create_todo(ctx: RunContextWrapper, todos: str) -> str:
            )

        agent_todos = _get_agent_todos(agent_id)
+        seen = {todo["title"].strip().lower() for todo in agent_todos.values()}
        created: list[dict[str, Any]] = []
+        skipped: list[dict[str, str]] = []
        for task in tasks:
-            task_priority = _normalize_priority(task.get("priority"))
+            title = task["title"]
+            key = title.lower()
+            if key in seen:
+                skipped.append({"title": title, "reason": "duplicate title"})
+                continue
+            seen.add(key)
+            task_priority = _coerce_priority(task.get("priority"))
            todo_id = str(uuid.uuid4())[:6]
            timestamp = datetime.now(UTC).isoformat()
            agent_todos[todo_id] = {
-                "title": task["title"],
+                "title": title,
                "description": task.get("description"),
                "priority": task_priority,
                "status": "pending",
@@ -316,7 +336,7 @@ async def create_todo(ctx: RunContextWrapper, todos: str) -> str:
                "updated_at": timestamp,
                "completed_at": None,
            }
-            created.append({"todo_id": todo_id, "title": task["title"], "priority": task_priority})
+            created.append({"todo_id": todo_id, "title": title, "priority": task_priority})
    except (ValueError, TypeError) as e:
        return json.dumps(
            {"success": False, "error": f"Failed to create todo: {e}"},
@@ -330,6 +350,7 @@ async def create_todo(ctx: RunContextWrapper, todos: str) -> str:
            "success": True,
            "created": created,
            "created_count": len(created),
+            "skipped": skipped,
            "todos": _sorted_todos(agent_id),
            "total_count": len(_get_agent_todos(agent_id)),
        },
@@ -70,7 +70,6 @@ async def test_encoded_list_is_decoded_for_an_array_parameter(schema: dict[str,
        "auth",
        "Endpoint /admin leaks user data, and session tokens never expire",
        '"auth"',
-        "",
    ],
 )
 async def test_free_form_strings_are_never_split_into_an_array(value: str) -> None:
@@ -79,6 +78,29 @@ async def test_free_form_strings_are_never_split_into_an_array(value: str) -> No
    assert parsed["tags"] == value


+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("schema", [_ARRAY, _NULLABLE_ARRAY])
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("value", ["", "   "])
+async def test_empty_string_becomes_an_empty_array(schema: dict[str, Any], value: str) -> None:
+    parsed = await _roundtrip(schema, {"tags": value})
+
+    assert parsed["tags"] == []
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_empty_string_becomes_an_empty_object() -> None:
+    parsed = await _roundtrip(_OBJECT, {"modifications": ""})
+
+    assert parsed["modifications"] == {}
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_empty_string_for_a_string_parameter_is_untouched() -> None:
+    parsed = await _roundtrip(_STRING, {"todos": ""})
+
+    assert parsed["todos"] == ""
+
+
@pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_encoded_mapping_is_decoded_for_an_object_parameter() -> None:
    parsed = await _roundtrip(_OBJECT, {"modifications": '{"method": "POST"}'})
@@ -1228,3 +1228,40 @@ async def test_wait_kind_survives_a_snapshot_round_trip() -> None:
    assert restored.wait_kinds["root"] == "user"
    assert restored.idle_resume_counts["root"] == 1
    assert await execution._plain_waiting_timeout(restored, "root") is None
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_interactive_nudge_offers_waiting_without_repeating() -> None:
+    """The nudge is the instruction an agent reads when it is stranded here.
+
+    It is where the option to wait on what was already said has to be, not only
+    in the system prompt: an agent that ended a turn on plain text reasons off
+    this text, and without the clause it restates its answer to reach a tool
+    call, so the user reads it twice.
+
+    The clause holds whatever the turn did, because the agent is the one who
+    knows whether it spoke — this fires for a turn that produced no text at all.
+    """
+    items = await execution._append_tool_required_message(
+        session=None,
+        context={"parent_id": None},
+        attempt=1,
+        limit=3,
+        interactive=True,
+    )
+
+    assert "with no message if you have already said it" in items[0]["content"]
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_autonomous_nudge_does_not_offer_the_user() -> None:
+    """There is nobody attached to an autonomous run to wait for."""
+    items = await execution._append_tool_required_message(
+        session=None,
+        context={"parent_id": None},
+        attempt=1,
+        limit=3,
+        interactive=False,
+    )
+
+    assert "respond_to_user" not in items[0]["content"]
@@ -299,6 +299,16 @@ def test_make_model_settings_forces_required_for_anyllm_routed_openai_model() ->
    assert settings.tool_choice == "required"


+def test_make_model_settings_disables_parallel_tool_calls_by_default() -> None:
+    assert make_model_settings("none", model_name="gpt-4o").parallel_tool_calls is False
+
+
+def test_make_model_settings_omits_parallel_tool_calls_without_tools() -> None:
+    settings = make_model_settings("none", model_name="gpt-4o", has_tools=False)
+
+    assert settings.parallel_tool_calls is None
+
+
 def test_make_model_settings_sets_request_timeout() -> None:
    settings = make_model_settings(
        "none",
@@ -64,3 +64,31 @@ async def test_a_message_that_already_arrived_is_taken_instead_of_parking() -> N
    assert result["wait_outcome"] == "message_arrived"
    assert result["pending_messages"] == 1
    assert coordinator.statuses["root"] == "running"
+
+
+async def _call_without_message(context: dict[str, Any]) -> dict[str, Any]:
+    ctx = ToolContext(
+        context=context,
+        tool_name="respond_to_user",
+        tool_call_id="call-1",
+        tool_arguments="{}",
+    )
+    raw = await respond_to_user.on_invoke_tool(ctx, "{}")
+    return json.loads(raw)  # type: ignore[no-any-return]
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_parks_without_a_message() -> None:
+    """An agent that has already said its piece as plain text can just wait.
+
+    The nudge is what leaves it here, and while a message was required the only
+    way to stop was to send the same answer a second time.
+    """
+    context = await _context(interactive=True)
+
+    result = await _call_without_message(context)
+
+    assert result["success"] is True
+    assert result["wait_outcome"] == "waiting"
+    assert result["message"] == ""
+    assert context["coordinator"].statuses["root"] == "waiting"
@@ -0,0 +1,108 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import asyncio
+import types
+from typing import Any
+
+import pytest
+from agents import ModelSettings
+
+import strix.tools.notes.tools as notes_tools
+import strix.tools.todo.tools as todo_tools
+from strix.core import runner
+from strix.core.agents import AgentCoordinator
+from strix.runtime import session_manager
+
+
+def _wire_runner(monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch, tmp_path: Any) -> None:
+    monkeypatch.setattr(runner, "run_dir_for", lambda _scan_id: tmp_path)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(runner, "runtime_state_dir", lambda _run_dir: tmp_path)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(runner, "setup_scan_logging", lambda _run_dir: lambda: None)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(runner, "set_scan_id", lambda _scan_id: None)
+
+    settings = types.SimpleNamespace(
+        llm=types.SimpleNamespace(
+            model="openai/gpt-4o",
+            reasoning_effort="high",
+            force_required_tool_choice=False,
+            timeout=300,
+            prompt_cache=True,
+            extra_headers=None,
+        ),
+        runtime=types.SimpleNamespace(max_context_images=3),
+    )
+    monkeypatch.setattr(runner, "load_settings", lambda: settings)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(runner, "configure_sdk_model_defaults", lambda _settings: None)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        runner, "uses_chat_completions_tool_schema", lambda _model, _settings: False
+    )
+    monkeypatch.setattr(todo_tools, "hydrate_todos_from_disk", lambda _state_dir: None)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(notes_tools, "hydrate_notes_from_disk", lambda _state_dir: None)
+
+    async def _create_or_reuse(*_args: Any, **_kwargs: Any) -> dict[str, Any]:
+        return {"client": object(), "session": object(), "caido_client": None}
+
+    async def _cleanup(*_args: Any, **_kwargs: Any) -> None:
+        return None
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(session_manager, "create_or_reuse", _create_or_reuse)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(session_manager, "cleanup", _cleanup)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(runner, "build_root_task", lambda _scan_config: "task")
+    monkeypatch.setattr(runner, "build_scope_context", lambda _scan_config: "")
+    monkeypatch.setattr(runner, "make_model_settings", lambda *_a, **_k: ModelSettings())
+    monkeypatch.setattr(runner, "build_strix_agent", lambda **_kwargs: object())
+    monkeypatch.setattr(runner, "make_child_factory", lambda **_kwargs: lambda **_k: object())
+    monkeypatch.setattr(runner, "open_agent_session", lambda _root_id, _db: object())
+
+
+def _root_status(coordinator: AgentCoordinator) -> str:
+    roots = [aid for aid, parent in coordinator.parent_of.items() if parent is None]
+    assert len(roots) == 1
+    return coordinator.statuses[roots[0]]
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("interrupt", [KeyboardInterrupt, asyncio.CancelledError])
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_user_interrupt_leaves_the_root_running_for_resume(
+    monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch, tmp_path: Any, interrupt: type[BaseException]
+) -> None:
+    _wire_runner(monkeypatch, tmp_path)
+
+    async def _interrupt(*_args: Any, **_kwargs: Any) -> None:
+        raise interrupt()
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(runner, "run_agent_loop", _interrupt)
+    coordinator = AgentCoordinator()
+
+    with pytest.raises(interrupt):
+        await runner.run_strix_scan(
+            scan_config={"targets": [], "scan_mode": "deep"},
+            scan_id="scan-test",
+            image="img",
+            coordinator=coordinator,
+        )
+
+    assert _root_status(coordinator) == "running"
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_a_real_crash_still_marks_root_failed(
+    monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch, tmp_path: Any
+) -> None:
+    _wire_runner(monkeypatch, tmp_path)
+
+    async def _boom(*_args: Any, **_kwargs: Any) -> None:
+        raise RuntimeError("boom")
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(runner, "run_agent_loop", _boom)
+    coordinator = AgentCoordinator()
+
+    with pytest.raises(RuntimeError, match="boom"):
+        await runner.run_strix_scan(
+            scan_config={"targets": [], "scan_mode": "deep"},
+            scan_id="scan-test",
+            image="img",
+            coordinator=coordinator,
+        )
+
+    assert _root_status(coordinator) == "failed"
@@ -0,0 +1,93 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import asyncio
+import types
+from typing import Any
+
+import pytest
+from agents import ModelSettings
+
+import strix.tools.notes.tools as notes_tools
+import strix.tools.todo.tools as todo_tools
+from strix.core import runner
+from strix.core.agents import AgentCoordinator
+from strix.runtime import session_manager
+
+
+def _wire_runner(monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch, tmp_path: Any) -> None:
+    monkeypatch.setattr(runner, "run_dir_for", lambda _scan_id: tmp_path)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(runner, "runtime_state_dir", lambda _run_dir: tmp_path)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(runner, "setup_scan_logging", lambda _run_dir: lambda: None)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(runner, "set_scan_id", lambda _scan_id: None)
+
+    settings = _settings()
+    monkeypatch.setattr(runner, "load_settings", lambda: settings)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(runner, "configure_sdk_model_defaults", lambda _s: None)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(runner, "uses_chat_completions_tool_schema", lambda _m, _s: False)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(todo_tools, "hydrate_todos_from_disk", lambda _d: None)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(notes_tools, "hydrate_notes_from_disk", lambda _d: None)
+
+    async def _create_or_reuse(*_a: Any, **_k: Any) -> dict[str, Any]:
+        return {"client": object(), "session": object(), "caido_client": None}
+
+    async def _cleanup(*_a: Any, **_k: Any) -> None:
+        return None
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(session_manager, "create_or_reuse", _create_or_reuse)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(session_manager, "cleanup", _cleanup)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(runner, "build_root_task", lambda _c: "task")
+    monkeypatch.setattr(runner, "build_scope_context", lambda _c: "")
+    monkeypatch.setattr(runner, "make_model_settings", lambda *_a, **_k: ModelSettings())
+    monkeypatch.setattr(runner, "build_strix_agent", lambda **_k: object())
+    monkeypatch.setattr(runner, "make_child_factory", lambda **_k: lambda **_kk: object())
+    monkeypatch.setattr(runner, "open_agent_session", lambda _root_id, _db: object())
+
+
+def _settings() -> Any:
+    return types.SimpleNamespace(
+        llm=types.SimpleNamespace(
+            model="openai/gpt-4o",
+            reasoning_effort="high",
+            force_required_tool_choice=False,
+            timeout=300,
+            prompt_cache=True,
+            extra_headers=None,
+        ),
+        runtime=types.SimpleNamespace(max_context_images=3),
+    )
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_a_live_child_is_settled_before_sessions_close(
+    monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch, tmp_path: Any
+) -> None:
+    _wire_runner(monkeypatch, tmp_path)
+    coordinator = AgentCoordinator()
+    child_started = asyncio.Event()
+    child_task: dict[str, asyncio.Task[None]] = {}
+
+    async def _root_finishes(**kwargs: Any) -> None:
+        root_id = kwargs["agent_id"]
+
+        async def _child_mid_turn() -> None:
+            child_started.set()
+            await asyncio.sleep(3600)
+
+        await coordinator.register("child", "Child", parent_id=root_id)
+        task = asyncio.create_task(_child_mid_turn())
+        child_task["t"] = task
+        await coordinator.attach_runtime("child", task=task)
+        await child_started.wait()
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(runner, "run_agent_loop", _root_finishes)
+
+    await runner.run_strix_scan(
+        scan_config={"targets": [], "scan_mode": "deep"},
+        scan_id="scan-test",
+        image="img",
+        coordinator=coordinator,
+    )
+
+    task = child_task["t"]
+    assert task.done(), "the child task was left running past scan teardown"
+    assert task.cancelled(), "the child was not cancelled cleanly on a finish"
@@ -0,0 +1,117 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import asyncio
+from pathlib import Path
+from typing import Any, cast
+
+import pytest
+
+from strix.core.sessions import open_agent_session
+
+
+def _count_open_fds() -> int | None:
+    for path in (Path("/proc/self/fd"), Path("/dev/fd")):
+        if path.is_dir():
+            return len(list(path.iterdir()))
+    return None
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_sessions_hold_no_descriptors_while_parked(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+    """Descriptor use must track live operations, not the number of sessions.
+
+    The SDK keeps a connection per (session, pool thread) open for the session's
+    whole life. An agent parks rather than exits, so its session lives for the
+    scan, and fan-out multiplies those handles until the process runs out of file
+    descriptors (#1018). A session that is not mid-operation should hold none.
+    """
+    baseline = _count_open_fds()
+    if baseline is None:
+        pytest.skip("no /proc/self/fd or /dev/fd on this platform")
+
+    sessions = [open_agent_session(f"a{i}", tmp_path / f"s{i}.db") for i in range(60)]
+    try:
+        for _ in range(4):
+            await asyncio.gather(
+                *(s.add_items([{"role": "user", "content": "x"}]) for s in sessions)
+            )
+            await asyncio.gather(*(s.get_items() for s in sessions))
+        parked = _count_open_fds()
+        assert parked is not None
+        # 60 parked sessions, yet descriptors are back at the baseline.
+        assert parked - baseline <= 5, f"parked fds grew by {parked - baseline}"
+    finally:
+        for s in sessions:
+            s.close()
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_in_flight_descriptors_track_concurrency_not_session_count(
+    tmp_path: Path,
+) -> None:
+    baseline = _count_open_fds()
+    if baseline is None:
+        pytest.skip("no /proc/self/fd or /dev/fd on this platform")
+
+    sessions = [open_agent_session(f"a{i}", tmp_path / f"s{i}.db") for i in range(200)]
+    peak = baseline
+    try:
+
+        async def sample() -> None:
+            nonlocal peak
+            for _ in range(500):
+                current = _count_open_fds()
+                if current is not None:
+                    peak = max(peak, current)
+                await asyncio.sleep(0)
+
+        async def load() -> None:
+            for _ in range(4):
+                await asyncio.gather(
+                    *(s.add_items([{"role": "user", "content": "x"}]) for s in sessions)
+                )
+
+        await asyncio.gather(load(), sample())
+        # 200 sessions, but peak is bounded by the thread pool, well under 200.
+        assert peak - baseline < 100, f"in-flight fds peaked at +{peak - baseline}"
+    finally:
+        for s in sessions:
+            s.close()
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_history_survives_the_per_operation_connection(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+    session = open_agent_session("agent-1", tmp_path / "agents.db")
+    try:
+        for i in range(30):
+            await session.add_items([{"role": "user", "content": f"m{i}"}])
+        items = [cast("dict[str, Any]", i) for i in await session.get_items()]
+        assert [i["content"] for i in items] == [f"m{i}" for i in range(30)]
+    finally:
+        session.close()
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_concurrent_sessions_sharing_one_file_stay_consistent(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+    db = tmp_path / "shared.db"
+    sessions = [open_agent_session(f"a{i}", db) for i in range(10)]
+    try:
+        await asyncio.gather(
+            *(s.add_items([{"role": "user", "content": s.session_id}]) for s in sessions)
+        )
+        # Each session sees only its own row despite sharing the file.
+        for s in sessions:
+            items = [cast("dict[str, Any]", i) for i in await s.get_items()]
+            assert [i["content"] for i in items] == [s.session_id]
+    finally:
+        for s in sessions:
+            s.close()
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_a_closed_session_refuses_operations(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+    session = open_agent_session("agent-1", tmp_path / "agents.db")
+    await session.add_items([{"role": "user", "content": "x"}])
+    session.close()
+    with pytest.raises(RuntimeError, match="closed"):
+        await session.add_items([{"role": "user", "content": "y"}])
@@ -0,0 +1,105 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import json
+from typing import Any
+
+import pytest
+from agents.tool_context import ToolContext
+
+from strix.tools.todo import tools
+from strix.tools.todo.tools import _coerce_priority, create_todo
+
+
+@pytest.fixture(autouse=True)
+def _isolate_store() -> Any:
+    tools._todos_storage.clear()
+    yield
+    tools._todos_storage.clear()
+
+
+async def _create(todos: list[Any], agent_id: str = "root") -> dict[str, Any]:
+    ctx = ToolContext(
+        context={"agent_id": agent_id},
+        tool_name="create_todo",
+        tool_call_id="call-1",
+        tool_arguments="{}",
+    )
+    raw = await create_todo.on_invoke_tool(ctx, json.dumps({"todos": json.dumps(todos)}))
+    return json.loads(raw)  # type: ignore[no-any-return]
+
+
+def test_unknown_priority_falls_back_to_normal() -> None:
+    assert _coerce_priority("medium") == "normal"
+    assert _coerce_priority("urgent") == "normal"
+    assert _coerce_priority("high") == "high"
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_one_bad_priority_no_longer_discards_the_batch() -> None:
+    result = await _create(
+        [
+            {"title": "Recon", "priority": "medium"},
+            {"title": "Probe /admin", "priority": "sky-high"},
+            {"title": "Report"},
+        ]
+    )
+
+    assert result["success"] is True
+    assert result["created_count"] == 3
+    by_title = {c["title"]: c["priority"] for c in result["created"]}
+    assert by_title["Recon"] == "normal"
+    assert by_title["Probe /admin"] == "normal"
+    assert by_title["Report"] == "normal"
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_duplicate_titles_within_a_batch_are_skipped() -> None:
+    result = await _create(
+        [
+            {"title": "Subdomain enumeration"},
+            {"title": "Content discovery"},
+            {"title": "Subdomain enumeration"},
+            {"title": "content discovery"},
+        ]
+    )
+
+    assert result["created_count"] == 2
+    assert {c["title"] for c in result["created"]} == {
+        "Subdomain enumeration",
+        "Content discovery",
+    }
+    assert len(result["skipped"]) == 2
+    assert all(s["reason"] == "duplicate title" for s in result["skipped"])
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_a_title_already_on_the_list_is_not_created_again() -> None:
+    await _create([{"title": "Crawl with katana"}])
+    result = await _create([{"title": "crawl with katana"}, {"title": "JS analysis"}])
+
+    assert [c["title"] for c in result["created"]] == ["JS analysis"]
+    assert [s["title"] for s in result["skipped"]] == ["crawl with katana"]
+    assert result["total_count"] == 2
+
+
+def test_coerce_never_raises() -> None:
+    assert _coerce_priority("nonsense") == "normal"
+    assert _coerce_priority(None) == "normal"
+    assert _coerce_priority("high") == "high"
+    for value in (2, ["high"], {"p": 1}, True):
+        assert _coerce_priority(value) == "normal"  # type: ignore[arg-type]
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_non_string_priority_does_not_fail_the_batch() -> None:
+    result = await _create(
+        [
+            {"title": "Recon", "priority": 2},
+            {"title": "Probe", "priority": ["high"]},
+            {"title": "Report"},
+        ]
+    )
+
+    assert result["success"] is True
+    assert result["created_count"] == 3
+    assert {c["priority"] for c in result["created"]} == {"normal"}
@@ -234,12 +234,11 @@ async def test_confirming_the_mount_starts_the_scan_without_a_target() -> None:


@pytest.mark.asyncio
-async def test_declining_the_mount_returns_to_the_start_screen() -> None:
-    started = False
+async def test_declining_the_mount_runs_without_one() -> None:
+    started: list[bool] = []

-    async def start(_verify: bool = True) -> None:
-        nonlocal started
-        started = True
+    async def start(verify: bool = True) -> None:
+        started.append(verify)

    os.environ["STRIX_LLM"] = "anthropic/claude-sonnet-4"
    os.environ["ANTHROPIC_API_KEY"] = "test-key"
@@ -250,14 +249,34 @@ async def test_declining_the_mount_returns_to_the_start_screen() -> None:
    result = await controller.handle("setup.confirm_mount", {"approved": False})

    assert result == {"approved": False}
-    # Nothing was prepared, so the session goes back to the start screen and can
-    # be launched again.
-    assert started is False
+    # Declining skips the directory; it does not abandon the scan.
+    assert started == [False]
    assert controller.workspace_mount is None
    assert controller.pending_workspace_mount is None
-    assert controller.setup_mode is True
-    assert controller.scan_started is False
-    assert controller.scan_state == "setup"
+    assert controller.setup_mode is False
+    assert controller.scan_started is True
+    assert controller.scan_state == "running"
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_approving_the_mount_runs_with_it() -> None:
+    started: list[bool] = []
+
+    async def start(verify: bool = True) -> None:
+        started.append(verify)
+
+    os.environ["STRIX_LLM"] = "anthropic/claude-sonnet-4"
+    os.environ["ANTHROPIC_API_KEY"] = "test-key"
+    loader._cached = None
+    controller = TuiController(args(), on_start=start)
+    await controller.handle("setup.start", {"verify": False, "mount_working_dir": True})
+
+    result = await controller.handle("setup.confirm_mount", {"approved": True})
+
+    assert result == {"approved": True}
+    assert started == [False]
+    assert controller.workspace_mount == str(Path.cwd())
+    assert controller.scan_state == "running"


@pytest.mark.asyncio
@@ -7,19 +7,26 @@ shows what the user actually typed; resuming has to match that.

 from __future__ import annotations

+import ast
 import json
 import sqlite3
+from pathlib import Path
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any

 import pytest

+from strix.core import execution
 from strix.core.paths import runtime_state_dir
 from strix.interface.tui.backend.live_view import TuiLiveView as GoTuiLiveView
-from strix.interface.tui.live_view import TuiLiveView, _is_internal_agent_turn
+from strix.interface.tui.live_view import (
+    _INTERNAL_TURN_PREFIXES,
+    TuiLiveView,
+    _is_internal_agent_turn,
+)


 if TYPE_CHECKING:
-    from pathlib import Path
+    from types import ModuleType


 def _write_run(run_dir: Path, items: list[dict[str, Any]], agent_id: str = "root") -> None:
@@ -176,11 +183,60 @@ def test_internal_turn_classifier_matches_every_injected_form() -> None:
        "[CRITICAL] Turn budget: 480/500 used (96%).",
        "== Inherited context from parent (background only) ==",
        "Your previous message ended a turn without a tool call.",
-        "Your previous response ended the autonomous Strix run without a lifecycle tool call.",
+        "Your previous response ended the autonomous run without a lifecycle tool call.",
    ):
        assert _is_internal_agent_turn(content), content


+def _injected_strings(module: ModuleType) -> list[str]:
+    """Every string a module can inject, and nothing it merely mentions.
+
+    Parsing rather than searching the text keeps comments out of it, so a stale
+    copy of a message left in a comment cannot pass for the message itself. It
+    also joins adjacent literals for free, which the line wrapping needs, and
+    docstrings are dropped because they describe the code rather than run in it.
+    """
+    tree = ast.parse(Path(module.__file__ or "").read_text(encoding="utf-8"))
+    docstrings = set()
+    for node in ast.walk(tree):
+        if not isinstance(node, ast.Module | ast.ClassDef | ast.FunctionDef | ast.AsyncFunctionDef):
+            continue
+        first = node.body[0] if node.body else None
+        if isinstance(first, ast.Expr) and isinstance(first.value, ast.Constant):
+            docstrings.add(id(first.value))
+
+    literals: list[str] = []
+    for node in ast.walk(tree):
+        if isinstance(node, ast.Constant):
+            if isinstance(node.value, str) and id(node) not in docstrings:
+                literals.append(node.value)
+        elif isinstance(node, ast.JoinedStr):
+            literals.append(
+                "".join(
+                    part.value
+                    for part in node.values
+                    if isinstance(part, ast.Constant) and isinstance(part.value, str)
+                )
+            )
+    return literals
+
+
+def test_internal_turn_prefixes_still_match_what_is_injected() -> None:
+    """The classifier copies sentences out of another module, so they can drift.
+
+    Both nudges are written inline in strix.core.execution, so there is nothing to
+    import and compare against. Read them back out of what that module can inject.
+    """
+    injected = _injected_strings(execution)
+    nudges = [prefix for prefix in _INTERNAL_TURN_PREFIXES if prefix.startswith("Your previous")]
+    assert nudges, "the no-tool-call nudges are no longer in the classifier"
+    for nudge in nudges:
+        assert any(nudge in literal for literal in injected), (
+            f"the classifier expects {nudge!r}, which strix.core.execution no longer "
+            f"injects. A resumed scan would show that nudge as the user's own message."
+        )
+
+
 def test_internal_turn_classifier_keeps_bracketed_user_text() -> None:
    """A leading bracket is not enough: typed text often starts with one."""
    for content in (
@@ -2378,7 +2378,7 @@ wheels = [

 [[package]]
 name = "strix-agent"
-version = "1.5.1"
+version = "1.5.2"
 source = { editable = "." }
 dependencies = [
    { name = "caido-sdk-client" },
Author	SHA1	Message	Date
Ahmed AllamandDevin AI	17edb11923	fix(container): pin the User-Agent to the installed Chromium and assert it at build	2026-08-09 23:58:20 +00:00
Ahmed AllamandDevin AI	8c942d735b	chore(container): trim comments	2026-08-09 23:58:20 +00:00
Ahmed AllamandDevin AI	7ac2615680	fix(container): kill the build-time Xvfb by pid, not pattern pkill -f 'Xvfb :99' also matches the RUN shell's own command line, so the cleanup could terminate the build shell.	2026-08-09 23:58:20 +00:00
Ahmed AllamandDevin AI	1f30e1ed8b	fix(container): make headed browsing actually work in the sandbox Headed mode was documented but never functional: the image ships Chromium with no X server, so `agent-browser --headed` died with "Missing X server or $DISPLAY" while still exiting 0. - install xvfb/x11-utils/xdotool/dbus-x11/imagemagick and Noto fonts - start Xvfb and export DISPLAY for every shell from the entrypoint - derive the browser User-Agent from the installed Chromium instead of pinning a version that drifts - assert headed launch at build time, since the CLI cannot be relied on to exit non-zero - document the bot-protection escape hatch and its traps in the skill	2026-08-09 23:58:20 +00:00
devin-ai-integration[bot]GitHub Ahmed Allam	7b3c8f9b74	fix(container): reclaim abandoned browser sessions (#1034 ) Co-authored-by: Ahmed Allam <ahmed39652003@gmail.com>	2026-08-09 16:57:51 -07:00
Ahmed AllamandAhmed Allam	ae07af6159	chore: drop explanatory comment	2026-08-09 15:44:16 +03:00
Ahmed AllamandAhmed Allam	649a2e2140	fix(llm): omit parallel_tool_calls on tool-less requests	2026-08-09 15:44:16 +03:00
Ahmed AllamandAhmed Allam	597aae6715	chore: release v1.5.2	2026-08-09 04:29:34 +03:00
Ahmed AllamandGitHub	06b158d1fa	fix(runner): settle child agents before closing sessions at wind-down (#1025 )	2026-08-08 18:17:58 -07:00
Ahmed AllamandGitHub	c29eb73c7f	fix(tools): coerce an empty-string list/dict argument to an empty container (#1024 )	2026-08-08 16:58:30 -07:00
Ahmed AllamandGitHub	72833b8e43	fix(runner): resume after a user interrupt instead of failing (#1023 )	2026-08-08 16:44:12 -07:00
Ahmed AllamandGitHub	1117ba6d4a	fix(sessions): open a sqlite connection per operation, not per thread (#1022 )	2026-08-08 16:20:01 -07:00
Ahmed AllamandGitHub	53e4658d88	fix(todo): stop a todo plan failing on priority or duplicates (#1021 )	2026-08-08 15:18:48 -07:00
Ahmed Allam GitHub Claude Opus 4.8	58df71d3db	fix(agents): let an agent wait on what it already said (#1020 ) * let an agent wait on what it already said An agent that answers in plain text is nudged to call a tool, and the only tool that hands control back takes a required message. So it says the same thing twice: once as text the user has already read, once as the argument it had to supply to stop. Seen on a run whose whole instruction was "hi" - a greeting, then the same greeting again through respond_to_user. message is optional now. The nudge arms the tool with the text that was delivered and says not to repeat it, so an agent that has said its piece can park on it with an empty call. Anything it does want to add it passes normally. Parking still cannot leave the user on silence: an empty call is refused unless something was actually said, and the arming is single use - execution clears it as soon as a turn ends any other way. The interactive prompt now also says to answer and stop in one respond_to_user call, which is what avoids the nudge in the first place. Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.8 <noreply@anthropic.com> * drop the worked example from the interactive prompt "the user greeted you, asked something you can answer outright, or you need a decision" was the run I had been reading, written into a rule that holds whatever the reason. The rule is that replying and stopping is one call; listing occasions only invites the model to check whether this is one of them. Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.8 <noreply@anthropic.com> * drop the arming flag; an empty message just waits Passing the delivered text from execution into the tool, and refusing an empty call without it, was machinery guarding against an agent parking having said nothing. That leaves the user looking at "waiting for your reply" with a cursor in front of them - they type. It does not need a mechanism. What is left is the default on message, and the nudge saying the text already landed. Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.8 <noreply@anthropic.com> * only offer waiting on words that were written The nudge told every agent its text had already been delivered, but it fires whenever a turn leaves the agent running, and a turn can end with no tool call and no text at all - _final_output_preview has carried <none> and <empty> branches all along. An agent that said nothing was being invited to wait on an answer the user never received, leaving them at a bare prompt. It now reads the turn: waiting on what was said is offered only when something was, and otherwise the agent is told plainly that the user has read nothing and to send its message. Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.8 <noreply@anthropic.com> * leave the continuation nudge alone Rewording it meant asserting from the outside whether the agent had spoken, and the nudge fires whenever a turn leaves the agent running - text or no text. The agent knows which it did without being told, so the guidance belongs in its prompt, where the condition is its own to read. Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.8 <noreply@anthropic.com> * say it in the nudge, where the agent is reading An agent stranded by the nudge reasons off the nudge. Told only to call respond_to_user, it supplies a message, and since it has just answered in plain text that message is the same answer again. The system prompt saying otherwise sits thousands of tokens earlier and loses. The clause goes on the line the agent acts on: call respond_to_user, with no message if it has already said it. That reads true whatever the turn did, including one that produced no text, because the agent is the one who knows which — nothing here has to work it out from the outside. Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.8 <noreply@anthropic.com> --------- Co-authored-by: Claude Opus 4.8 <noreply@anthropic.com>	2026-08-09 00:57:16 +03:00
Ahmed Allam GitHub Claude Opus 4.8	0b9e029a5d	test(tui): correct the nudge the internal-turn test asserts (#1016 ) * correct the nudge the internal-turn test asserts The test expected "ended the autonomous Strix run", which strix.core.execution does not inject; it says "ended the autonomous run". The classifier was right and the test was not, so the suite failed on main while the behaviour it guards was fine. The sentence is written inline in another module and copied by hand into the classifier and again into the test, which is how it drifted. A second test now reads it back out of that module's source, joining the adjacent string literals its line wrapping leaves behind, and fails if either nudge is no longer injected verbatim. Reworded one and it reports which nudge went missing and what a resumed scan would do about it. Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.8 <noreply@anthropic.com> * read the nudges out of what the module can inject, not out of its text Searching the source accepted the sentence anywhere in the file, so a stale copy left behind in a comment would have kept the guard passing after the message it guards had changed - the drift it exists to catch. Parsing the module instead limits it to strings the code can actually inject. Comments never reach the tree, docstrings are dropped as description rather than behaviour, and adjacent literals are joined during parsing, which the line wrapping needed and the regex was only approximating. Checked by rewording the message and leaving the old wording in a comment: the guard fails, where searching the text passed. Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.8 <noreply@anthropic.com> --------- Co-authored-by: Claude Opus 4.8 <noreply@anthropic.com>	2026-08-08 22:34:45 +03:00
Ahmed Allam GitHub Claude Opus 4.8	b260a4ee38	fix(tui): make the mount prompt clickable, and skip the mount instead of abandoning the scan (#1015 ) * make the working-directory prompt answer the mouse Its Confirm and Cancel were drawn as buttons and did nothing when clicked: the modal mouse handler had a case for every dialog except this one, so a click fell through and the scan sat waiting on an answer the user believed they had given. Only the keyboard could answer it. The prompt is docked in a corner rather than centered, so it also needs its own bounds; the centered ones every other dialog uses would have put the buttons in the wrong place. Those bounds now come from the same placement cornerOverlay draws with. Two returns that hand back the model alongside a call that mutates it are now sequenced explicitly. They work, but only because the compiler happens to evaluate the call first, and one of them is what puts the prompt back in the composer when the mount is declined. Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.8 <noreply@anthropic.com> * skip the mount instead of abandoning the scan Declining the working-directory prompt threw the whole launch away and dropped back to the start screen, which is a lot to lose for answering one question about one directory. The two answers are now about the directory alone: mount it, or run without it. The prompt is the whole of the input either way. The buttons say which is which - Mount and Skip rather than Confirm and Cancel - and the prompt says what skipping costs. A run with neither target nor directory is a real run, so two things follow it. It can be resumed: its instruction is what drives it, and that is in the run record. And it tells the agent plainly that it has neither, because an agent given no scope goes looking for the one it assumes it was meant to have. Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.8 <noreply@anthropic.com> --------- Co-authored-by: Claude Opus 4.8 <noreply@anthropic.com>	2026-08-08 22:34:02 +03:00
alex sandGitHub	f8a8801d56	docs(skills): rename skills to descriptive names and broaden descriptions for discoverability (#1013 )	2026-08-07 14:24:19 -04:00