Keep autoresearch tests from using the real process table

The remote Node 20 logs still died during the early autoresearch CLI tests,
which pointed to another launch-adjacent harness still consulting the real
host process table. Those autoresearch integration tests create fake PATH
binaries but previously left     PID TTY          TIME CMD
   1941 ?        00:10:15 systemd
   1947 ?        00:00:00 (sd-pam)
   5798 ?        00:07:35 MainThread
 267288 ?        00:00:00 sshd
 267290 ?        00:00:00 sshd
 285431 ?        00:02:03 python3
 285996 ?        00:00:48 chrome
 303472 ?        00:00:56 chrome
 339815 ?        00:00:11 PM2 v6.0.14: Go
 437842 ?        00:00:00 sshd
 437890 ?        00:00:00 sshd
 680612 ?        00:00:00 clawdbot
 680650 ?        00:02:49 clawdbot-gatewa
 744476 ?        00:02:56 MainThread
1632351 ?        00:00:00 MainThread
1706678 ?        00:00:16 chrome
1709899 ?        00:00:25 chrome
1763346 ?        00:00:20 MainThread
1873615 ?        00:00:00 zsh
1873618 ?        00:00:00 ps
2107321 ?        00:00:05 chrome
2127476 ?        03:39:42 chrome
2127478 ?        00:00:00 chrome_crashpad
2127480 ?        00:00:00 chrome_crashpad
2127483 ?        00:00:00 chrome
2127484 ?        00:00:01 chrome
2127500 ?        00:00:00 dbus-daemon
2127504 ?        00:05:08 chrome
2127505 ?        00:20:16 chrome
2127518 ?        00:00:15 chrome
2127546 ?        03:13:55 chrome
2127556 ?        00:22:44 chrome
2127557 ?        00:40:32 chrome
2127559 ?        00:01:02 chrome
2127582 ?        00:00:00 at-spi-bus-laun
2127597 ?        00:00:00 dbus-daemon
2127599 ?        00:00:07 chrome
2127600 ?        00:12:53 chrome
2127617 ?        00:21:15 chrome
2127626 ?        00:03:48 chrome
2127636 ?        00:00:00 at-spi2-registr
2127637 ?        00:24:57 chrome
2127639 ?        00:36:40 chrome
2127680 ?        00:01:36 chrome
2127764 ?        00:01:06 chrome
2127784 ?        00:07:18 chrome
2127809 ?        00:01:35 chrome
2127888 ?        00:04:26 chrome
2127913 ?        00:06:34 chrome
2127989 ?        00:06:27 chrome
2128032 ?        00:01:42 chrome
2128042 ?        00:03:04 chrome
2128136 ?        00:05:50 chrome
2128165 ?        00:22:03 chrome
2128189 ?        00:01:41 chrome
2128239 ?        00:02:32 chrome
2128323 ?        00:00:07 chrome
2128345 ?        00:00:07 chrome
2128383 ?        00:00:10 chrome
2128395 ?        00:00:10 chrome
2128416 ?        00:00:10 chrome
2128451 ?        00:01:44 chrome
2128527 ?        00:00:10 chrome
2128552 ?        00:00:10 chrome
2128572 ?        00:00:10 chrome
2128584 ?        00:00:07 chrome
2129647 ?        00:04:29 chrome
2129752 ?        00:02:50 chrome
2129759 ?        00:02:23 chrome
2129761 ?        00:00:07 chrome
2129784 ?        00:09:10 chrome
2129795 ?        00:00:07 chrome
2129808 ?        00:09:14 chrome
2129815 ?        00:02:23 chrome
2129888 ?        00:04:15 chrome
2129925 ?        00:20:38 chrome
2129950 ?        00:13:15 chrome
2129957 ?        00:08:19 chrome
2129981 ?        00:07:45 chrome
2129987 ?        00:00:08 chrome
2130025 ?        00:13:27 chrome
2130059 ?        01:08:08 chrome
2130120 ?        01:08:03 chrome
2130267 ?        00:04:30 chrome
2130291 ?        02:12:59 chrome
2266023 ?        00:34:50 MainThread
2270867 ?        00:37:36 MainThread
2275994 ?        00:00:00 rusty_claude_cl
2285798 ?        00:00:00 rusty_claude_cl
2327451 ?        00:00:00 rusty_claude_cl
2338514 ?        00:00:00 rusty_claude_cl
2377473 ?        00:00:00 rusty_claude_cl
2406284 ?        00:09:53 chrome
2447501 ?        00:00:00 chrome
2448228 ?        00:00:00 chrome
2535673 ?        00:00:22 MainThread <defunct>
2826647 ?        04:13:43 tmux: server
3136573 ?        00:01:41 clawhip
3149348 ?        01:49:30 MainThread <defunct>
3154612 ?        00:00:39 chrome
3164813 ?        01:47:48 MainThread <defunct>
3181229 ?        01:50:11 MainThread <defunct>
3199779 ?        01:51:22 MainThread <defunct>
3219195 ?        01:52:00 MainThread <defunct>
3221609 ?        00:14:59 MainThread
3239922 ?        01:49:28 MainThread <defunct>
3261891 ?        01:49:00 MainThread <defunct>
3289313 ?        00:13:29 MainThread
3385138 ?        00:00:46 MainThread
3385763 ?        00:00:45 MainThread
3418389 ?        00:00:00 MainThread
3421210 ?        00:00:00 MainThread
3527865 ?        00:00:32 chrome
3578106 ?        00:00:45 MainThread
3702482 ?        00:00:02 docker-init
3702697 ?        00:17:27 openclaw-gatewa
3845529 ?        00:00:02 xeroclaw
3857374 ?        01:17:08 MainThread <defunct>
3864725 ?        00:00:00 sh
3864735 ?        00:00:00 MainThread
3865386 ?        1-08:04:59 codex
3883992 ?        00:00:22 screen real, so launch-safe MCP cleanup could still
interfere with sibling test-worker fixtures during aggregate runs.

This patch stubs     PID TTY          TIME CMD
   1941 ?        00:10:15 systemd
   1947 ?        00:00:00 (sd-pam)
   5798 ?        00:07:35 MainThread
 267288 ?        00:00:00 sshd
 267290 ?        00:00:00 sshd
 285431 ?        00:02:03 python3
 285996 ?        00:00:48 chrome
 303472 ?        00:00:56 chrome
 339815 ?        00:00:11 PM2 v6.0.14: Go
 437842 ?        00:00:00 sshd
 437890 ?        00:00:00 sshd
 680612 ?        00:00:00 clawdbot
 680650 ?        00:02:49 clawdbot-gatewa
 744476 ?        00:02:56 MainThread
1632351 ?        00:00:00 MainThread
1706678 ?        00:00:16 chrome
1709899 ?        00:00:25 chrome
1763346 ?        00:00:20 MainThread
1873615 ?        00:00:00 zsh
1873619 ?        00:00:00 ps
2107321 ?        00:00:05 chrome
2127476 ?        03:39:42 chrome
2127478 ?        00:00:00 chrome_crashpad
2127480 ?        00:00:00 chrome_crashpad
2127483 ?        00:00:00 chrome
2127484 ?        00:00:01 chrome
2127500 ?        00:00:00 dbus-daemon
2127504 ?        00:05:08 chrome
2127505 ?        00:20:16 chrome
2127518 ?        00:00:15 chrome
2127546 ?        03:13:55 chrome
2127556 ?        00:22:44 chrome
2127557 ?        00:40:32 chrome
2127559 ?        00:01:02 chrome
2127582 ?        00:00:00 at-spi-bus-laun
2127597 ?        00:00:00 dbus-daemon
2127599 ?        00:00:07 chrome
2127600 ?        00:12:53 chrome
2127617 ?        00:21:15 chrome
2127626 ?        00:03:48 chrome
2127636 ?        00:00:00 at-spi2-registr
2127637 ?        00:24:57 chrome
2127639 ?        00:36:40 chrome
2127680 ?        00:01:36 chrome
2127764 ?        00:01:06 chrome
2127784 ?        00:07:18 chrome
2127809 ?        00:01:35 chrome
2127888 ?        00:04:26 chrome
2127913 ?        00:06:34 chrome
2127989 ?        00:06:27 chrome
2128032 ?        00:01:42 chrome
2128042 ?        00:03:04 chrome
2128136 ?        00:05:50 chrome
2128165 ?        00:22:03 chrome
2128189 ?        00:01:41 chrome
2128239 ?        00:02:32 chrome
2128323 ?        00:00:07 chrome
2128345 ?        00:00:07 chrome
2128383 ?        00:00:10 chrome
2128395 ?        00:00:10 chrome
2128416 ?        00:00:10 chrome
2128451 ?        00:01:44 chrome
2128527 ?        00:00:10 chrome
2128552 ?        00:00:10 chrome
2128572 ?        00:00:10 chrome
2128584 ?        00:00:07 chrome
2129647 ?        00:04:29 chrome
2129752 ?        00:02:50 chrome
2129759 ?        00:02:23 chrome
2129761 ?        00:00:07 chrome
2129784 ?        00:09:10 chrome
2129795 ?        00:00:07 chrome
2129808 ?        00:09:14 chrome
2129815 ?        00:02:23 chrome
2129888 ?        00:04:15 chrome
2129925 ?        00:20:38 chrome
2129950 ?        00:13:15 chrome
2129957 ?        00:08:19 chrome
2129981 ?        00:07:45 chrome
2129987 ?        00:00:08 chrome
2130025 ?        00:13:27 chrome
2130059 ?        01:08:08 chrome
2130120 ?        01:08:03 chrome
2130267 ?        00:04:30 chrome
2130291 ?        02:12:59 chrome
2266023 ?        00:34:50 MainThread
2270867 ?        00:37:36 MainThread
2275994 ?        00:00:00 rusty_claude_cl
2285798 ?        00:00:00 rusty_claude_cl
2327451 ?        00:00:00 rusty_claude_cl
2338514 ?        00:00:00 rusty_claude_cl
2377473 ?        00:00:00 rusty_claude_cl
2406284 ?        00:09:53 chrome
2447501 ?        00:00:00 chrome
2448228 ?        00:00:00 chrome
2535673 ?        00:00:22 MainThread <defunct>
2826647 ?        04:13:43 tmux: server
3136573 ?        00:01:41 clawhip
3149348 ?        01:49:30 MainThread <defunct>
3154612 ?        00:00:39 chrome
3164813 ?        01:47:48 MainThread <defunct>
3181229 ?        01:50:11 MainThread <defunct>
3199779 ?        01:51:22 MainThread <defunct>
3219195 ?        01:52:00 MainThread <defunct>
3221609 ?        00:14:59 MainThread
3239922 ?        01:49:28 MainThread <defunct>
3261891 ?        01:49:00 MainThread <defunct>
3289313 ?        00:13:29 MainThread
3385138 ?        00:00:46 MainThread
3385763 ?        00:00:45 MainThread
3418389 ?        00:00:00 MainThread
3421210 ?        00:00:00 MainThread
3527865 ?        00:00:32 chrome
3578106 ?        00:00:45 MainThread
3702482 ?        00:00:02 docker-init
3702697 ?        00:17:27 openclaw-gatewa
3845529 ?        00:00:02 xeroclaw
3857374 ?        01:17:08 MainThread <defunct>
3864725 ?        00:00:00 sh
3864735 ?        00:00:00 MainThread
3865386 ?        1-08:04:59 codex
3883992 ?        00:00:22 screen in the autoresearch fake-bin scenarios and adds one more
selector test to cover the launch-safe branch where an MCP process has a live
but unrelated ancestor chain.

Constraint: Preserve the production launch-time cleanup behavior while isolating test harnesses from host-wide process discovery
Rejected: Remove launch-time cleanup from autoresearch paths | not the root cause and would leave the aggregate CI race untreated
Rejected: Rewrite production ancestor heuristics around Node test workers | broader behavior change than needed for the failing PR
Confidence: medium
Scope-risk: narrow
Reversibility: clean
Directive: Any CLI integration test that shells into OMX launch/exec flows with a fake PATH should stub     PID TTY          TIME CMD
   1941 ?        00:10:15 systemd
   1947 ?        00:00:00 (sd-pam)
   5798 ?        00:07:35 MainThread
 267288 ?        00:00:00 sshd
 267290 ?        00:00:00 sshd
 285431 ?        00:02:03 python3
 285996 ?        00:00:48 chrome
 303472 ?        00:00:56 chrome
 339815 ?        00:00:11 PM2 v6.0.14: Go
 437842 ?        00:00:00 sshd
 437890 ?        00:00:00 sshd
 680612 ?        00:00:00 clawdbot
 680650 ?        00:02:49 clawdbot-gatewa
 744476 ?        00:02:56 MainThread
1632351 ?        00:00:00 MainThread
1706678 ?        00:00:16 chrome
1709899 ?        00:00:25 chrome
1763346 ?        00:00:20 MainThread
1873615 ?        00:00:00 zsh
1873635 ?        00:00:00 ps
2107321 ?        00:00:05 chrome
2127476 ?        03:39:42 chrome
2127478 ?        00:00:00 chrome_crashpad
2127480 ?        00:00:00 chrome_crashpad
2127483 ?        00:00:00 chrome
2127484 ?        00:00:01 chrome
2127500 ?        00:00:00 dbus-daemon
2127504 ?        00:05:08 chrome
2127505 ?        00:20:16 chrome
2127518 ?        00:00:15 chrome
2127546 ?        03:13:55 chrome
2127556 ?        00:22:44 chrome
2127557 ?        00:40:32 chrome
2127559 ?        00:01:02 chrome
2127582 ?        00:00:00 at-spi-bus-laun
2127597 ?        00:00:00 dbus-daemon
2127599 ?        00:00:07 chrome
2127600 ?        00:12:53 chrome
2127617 ?        00:21:15 chrome
2127626 ?        00:03:48 chrome
2127636 ?        00:00:00 at-spi2-registr
2127637 ?        00:24:57 chrome
2127639 ?        00:36:40 chrome
2127680 ?        00:01:36 chrome
2127764 ?        00:01:06 chrome
2127784 ?        00:07:18 chrome
2127809 ?        00:01:35 chrome
2127888 ?        00:04:26 chrome
2127913 ?        00:06:34 chrome
2127989 ?        00:06:27 chrome
2128032 ?        00:01:42 chrome
2128042 ?        00:03:04 chrome
2128136 ?        00:05:50 chrome
2128165 ?        00:22:03 chrome
2128189 ?        00:01:41 chrome
2128239 ?        00:02:32 chrome
2128323 ?        00:00:07 chrome
2128345 ?        00:00:07 chrome
2128383 ?        00:00:10 chrome
2128395 ?        00:00:10 chrome
2128416 ?        00:00:10 chrome
2128451 ?        00:01:44 chrome
2128527 ?        00:00:10 chrome
2128552 ?        00:00:10 chrome
2128572 ?        00:00:10 chrome
2128584 ?        00:00:07 chrome
2129647 ?        00:04:29 chrome
2129752 ?        00:02:50 chrome
2129759 ?        00:02:23 chrome
2129761 ?        00:00:07 chrome
2129784 ?        00:09:10 chrome
2129795 ?        00:00:07 chrome
2129808 ?        00:09:14 chrome
2129815 ?        00:02:23 chrome
2129888 ?        00:04:15 chrome
2129925 ?        00:20:38 chrome
2129950 ?        00:13:15 chrome
2129957 ?        00:08:19 chrome
2129981 ?        00:07:45 chrome
2129987 ?        00:00:08 chrome
2130025 ?        00:13:27 chrome
2130059 ?        01:08:08 chrome
2130120 ?        01:08:03 chrome
2130267 ?        00:04:30 chrome
2130291 ?        02:12:59 chrome
2266023 ?        00:34:50 MainThread
2270867 ?        00:37:36 MainThread
2275994 ?        00:00:00 rusty_claude_cl
2285798 ?        00:00:00 rusty_claude_cl
2327451 ?        00:00:00 rusty_claude_cl
2338514 ?        00:00:00 rusty_claude_cl
2377473 ?        00:00:00 rusty_claude_cl
2406284 ?        00:09:53 chrome
2447501 ?        00:00:00 chrome
2448228 ?        00:00:00 chrome
2535673 ?        00:00:22 MainThread <defunct>
2826647 ?        04:13:43 tmux: server
3136573 ?        00:01:41 clawhip
3149348 ?        01:49:30 MainThread <defunct>
3154612 ?        00:00:39 chrome
3164813 ?        01:47:48 MainThread <defunct>
3181229 ?        01:50:11 MainThread <defunct>
3199779 ?        01:51:22 MainThread <defunct>
3219195 ?        01:52:00 MainThread <defunct>
3221609 ?        00:14:59 MainThread
3239922 ?        01:49:28 MainThread <defunct>
3261891 ?        01:49:00 MainThread <defunct>
3289313 ?        00:13:29 MainThread
3385138 ?        00:00:46 MainThread
3385763 ?        00:00:45 MainThread
3418389 ?        00:00:00 MainThread
3421210 ?        00:00:00 MainThread
3527865 ?        00:00:32 chrome
3578106 ?        00:00:45 MainThread
3702482 ?        00:00:02 docker-init
3702697 ?        00:17:27 openclaw-gatewa
3845529 ?        00:00:02 xeroclaw
3857374 ?        01:17:08 MainThread <defunct>
3864725 ?        00:00:00 sh
3864735 ?        00:00:00 MainThread
3865386 ?        1-08:04:59 codex
3883992 ?        00:00:22 screen unless the test is explicitly validating real process discovery
Tested: npx -y -p node@20 -c 'CI=1 npm run build && node --test dist/cli/__tests__/cleanup.test.js dist/cli/__tests__/autoresearch.test.js dist/cli/__tests__/exec.test.js dist/cli/__tests__/resume.test.js dist/cli/__tests__/launch-fallback.test.js dist/mcp/__tests__/server-lifecycle.test.js'
Tested: npx -y -p node@20 -c 'CI=1 node --test dist/cli/__tests__/autoresearch.test.js dist/mcp/__tests__/server-lifecycle.test.js'
Tested: npx -y -p node@20 -c 'CI=1 node --test dist/cli/__tests__/autoresearch.test.js dist/mcp/__tests__/server-lifecycle.test.js' (repeat loop)
Not-tested: Fresh GitHub Actions rerun after push
Not-tested: Full local Node 20 suite rerun after this second patch

Author: OMX Demo

src/cli/__tests__/autoresearch.test.ts

@@ -54,6 +54,12 @@ async function initRepo(): Promise<string> {
   return cwd;
 }
 
+async function installFakePs(fakeBin: string): Promise<void> {
+  const fakePsPath = join(fakeBin, 'ps');
+  await writeFile(fakePsPath, '#!/bin/sh\nexit 0\n', 'utf-8');
+  execFileSync('chmod', ['+x', fakePsPath], { stdio: 'ignore' });
+}
+
 describe('normalizeAutoresearchCodexArgs', () => {
   it('adds sandbox bypass by default for autoresearch workers', () => {
     assert.deepEqual(normalizeAutoresearchCodexArgs(['--model', 'gpt-5']), ['--model', 'gpt-5', '--dangerously-bypass-approvals-and-sandbox']);
@@ -242,6 +248,7 @@ touch -t 202603180000 "$OMX_TEST_REPO_ROOT/.omx/specs/autoresearch-test-launch/r
         'utf-8',
       );
       execFileSync('chmod', ['+x', fakeCodexPath], { stdio: 'ignore' });
+      await installFakePs(fakeBin);
 
       const result = runOmx(repo, ['autoresearch', '--topic', 'Investigate flaky onboarding behavior', '--evaluator', 'node scripts/eval.js', '--slug', 'test-launch'], {
         PATH: `${fakeBin}:${process.env.PATH || ''}`,
@@ -351,6 +358,7 @@ EOF
         'utf-8',
       );
       execFileSync('chmod', ['+x', fakeCodexPath], { stdio: 'ignore' });
+      await installFakePs(fakeBin);
 
       const fakeTmuxPath = join(fakeBin, 'tmux');
       await writeFile(
@@ -459,6 +467,7 @@ perl -0pi -e "s/HEAD_PLACEHOLDER/$head_commit/g" "$candidate_file"
         'utf-8',
       );
       execFileSync('chmod', ['+x', fakeCodexPath], { stdio: 'ignore' });
+      await installFakePs(fakeBin);
 
       const fakeTmuxPath = join(fakeBin, 'tmux');
       await writeFile(
@@ -564,6 +573,7 @@ perl -0pi -e "s/HEAD_PLACEHOLDER/$head_commit/g" "$candidate_file"
         'utf-8',
       );
       execFileSync('chmod', ['+x', fakeCodexPath], { stdio: 'ignore' });
+      await installFakePs(fakeBin);
 
       const fakeTmuxPath = join(fakeBin, 'tmux');
       await writeFile(
@@ -761,6 +771,7 @@ printf '{\\n  "status": "abort",\\n  "candidate_commit": null,\\n  "base_commit"
         'utf-8',
       );
       execFileSync('chmod', ['+x', fakeCodexPath], { stdio: 'ignore' });
+      await installFakePs(fakeBin);
 
       const result = runOmx(
         repo,
@@ -814,6 +825,7 @@ EOF
         'utf-8',
       );
       execFileSync('chmod', ['+x', fakeCodexPath], { stdio: 'ignore' });
+      await installFakePs(fakeBin);
 
       const result = runOmx(
         repo,

src/cli/__tests__/cleanup.test.ts

@@ -123,6 +123,24 @@ describe('findCleanupCandidates', () => {
       ],
     );
   });
+
+  it('keeps detached MCP candidates whose ancestor chain is live but unrelated to Codex or OMX launchers', () => {
+    const unrelatedAncestorProcesses: ProcessEntry[] = [
+      { pid: 701, ppid: 700, command: 'node /repo/bin/omx.js' },
+      { pid: 840, ppid: 841, command: 'node /tmp/unrelated/dist/mcp/state-server.js' },
+      { pid: 841, ppid: 842, command: 'node worker.js' },
+      { pid: 842, ppid: 1, command: 'bash' },
+    ];
+
+    assert.deepEqual(findLaunchSafeCleanupCandidates(unrelatedAncestorProcesses, 701), [
+      {
+        pid: 840,
+        ppid: 841,
+        command: 'node /tmp/unrelated/dist/mcp/state-server.js',
+        reason: 'outside-current-session',
+      },
+    ]);
+  });
 });
 
 describe('cleanupOmxMcpProcesses', () => {