@remnic/core 1.1.11 → 1.1.13

package/src/qmd.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,2614 @@
+import { createHash } from "node:crypto";
+import os from "node:os";
+import path from "node:path";
+import { log } from "./logger.js";
+import { getCachedQmdSearch, setCachedQmdSearch } from "./memory-cache.js";
+import {
+  abortError,
+  isAbortError,
+  throwIfAborted,
+} from "./abort-error.js";
+import type { QmdSearchExplain, QmdSearchResult } from "./types.js";
+import type { SearchBackend, SearchExecutionOptions, SearchQueryOptions } from "./search/port.js";
+import { launchProcess, type CommandChildProcess } from "./runtime/child-process.js";
+import { mergeEnv } from "./runtime/env.js";
+
+export interface QmdClientOptions {
+  slowLog?: { enabled: boolean; thresholdMs: number };
+  updateTimeoutMs?: number;
+  updateMinIntervalMs?: number;
+  qmdPath?: string;
+  daemonUrl?: string;
+  daemonRecheckIntervalMs?: number;
+  qmdSupportedVersion?: string;
+  qmdAutoUpgradeEnabled?: boolean;
+  qmdAutoUpgradeCheckIntervalMs?: number;
+  qmdChunkStrategy?: QmdChunkStrategy;
+  qmdCandidateLimit?: number;
+  qmdQueryRerankEnabled?: boolean;
+  qmdIndexName?: string;
+  qmdForceCpu?: boolean;
+  qmdGpuBackend?: "auto" | "metal" | "cuda" | "vulkan" | "false";
+  qmdEmbedParallelism?: number;
+  qmdEmbedModel?: string;
+  qmdRerankModel?: string;
+  qmdGenerateModel?: string;
+}
+
+export type QmdVersionTuple = [number, number, number];
+export type QmdChunkStrategy = "auto" | "regex";
+export type QmdStructuredSearchType = "lex" | "vec" | "hyde";
+export interface QmdStructuredSearch {
+  type: QmdStructuredSearchType;
+  query: string;
+}
+
+export interface QmdCapabilities {
+  version: string | null;
+  parsedVersion: QmdVersionTuple | null;
+  stableSdk: boolean;
+  unifiedSearch: boolean;
+  getDocumentBody: boolean;
+  maintenanceApi: boolean;
+  legacySkillInstall: boolean;
+  intentHints: boolean;
+  explainTraces: boolean;
+  candidateLimit: boolean;
+  v2McpQueryTool: boolean;
+  structuredSearches: boolean;
+  queryRerankToggle: boolean;
+  chunkStrategy: boolean;
+  qmdBench: boolean;
+  perCollectionModels: boolean;
+  jsonLineNumbers: boolean;
+  editorLinks: boolean;
+  doctor: boolean;
+  versionedSkills: boolean;
+  absoluteSnippetLines: boolean;
+  fullQueryOutput: boolean;
+  forceCpu: boolean;
+  gpuBackendOverride: boolean;
+  embedParallelism: boolean;
+  modelEnvConsistency: boolean;
+  scopedEmbed: boolean;
+  safeStatusDeviceProbe: boolean;
+  mcpIndexSelection: boolean;
+}
+
+export interface QmdVersionStatus {
+  installedVersion: string | null;
+  supportedVersion: string;
+  supported: boolean;
+  newerThanSupported: boolean;
+  upgradeAvailable: boolean;
+  capabilities: QmdCapabilities;
+}
+
+export interface QmdDoctorReport {
+  available: boolean;
+  skipped?: string;
+  report?: unknown;
+  raw?: string;
+  error?: string;
+}
+
+const QMD_TIMEOUT_MS = 30_000;
+// Daemon timeout for individual search calls. Keep well under RECALL_TIMEOUT_MS (75s) so a
+// slow/loading daemon fails fast and the caller can return early rather than hanging.
+// After the daemon has loaded its index (~90s for 75K files), actual searches complete in <3s.
+// During the loading window, searches will timeout/return [] quickly — this is preferable to
+// blocking the full 75s on every recall request.
+// Note: keep this ≥ 5s to allow normal searches (post-load) to complete reliably.
+const QMD_DAEMON_TIMEOUT_MS = 8_000;
+const QMD_PROBE_TIMEOUT_MS = 8_000;
+const QMD_UPDATE_BACKOFF_MS = 15 * 60 * 1000; // 15m
+const QMD_EMBED_BACKOFF_MS = 60 * 60 * 1000; // 60m
+const QMD_CLI_WARN_THROTTLE_MS = 15 * 60 * 1000; // 15m
+export const QMD_SUPPORTED_VERSION = "2.5.1";
+const QMD_PACKAGE_NAME = "@tobilu/qmd";
+const QMD_AUTO_UPGRADE_TIMEOUT_MS = 120_000;
+const QMD_AUTO_UPGRADE_CHECK_INTERVAL_MS = 24 * 60 * 60_000;
+const QMD_STRUCTURED_HYDE_MAX_CHARS = 320;
+const QMD_FALLBACK_PATHS = [
+  path.join(os.homedir(), ".bun", "bin", "qmd"),
+  "/usr/local/bin/qmd",
+  "/opt/homebrew/bin/qmd",
+];
+const QMD_GLOBAL_STATE_KEY = "__openclawEngramQmdGlobalState";
+
+type QmdGlobalState = {
+  warnedGlobalUpdateBehavior: boolean;
+  lastGlobalUpdateRunAtMs: number | null;
+  lastGlobalUpdateFailAtMs: number | null;
+  lastGlobalEmbedRunAtMs: number | null;
+  lastGlobalEmbedFailAtMs: number | null;
+  lastCliWarnAtMs: number | null;
+  lastUpdateByCollectionMs: Record<string, number>;
+  lastUpdateFailByCollectionMs: Record<string, number>;
+  lastEmbedByCollectionMs: Record<string, number>;
+  lastEmbedFailByCollectionMs: Record<string, number>;
+  lastAutoUpgradeCheckAtMs: number | null;
+  lastAutoUpgradeStatus: string | null;
+  lastAutoUpgradeCheckByTargetMs: Record<string, number>;
+  lastAutoUpgradeStatusByTarget: Record<string, string>;
+};
+
+type QmdRuntimeEnv = Record<string, string | undefined>;
+
+function getGlobalQmdState(): QmdGlobalState {
+  const g = globalThis as any;
+  if (!g[QMD_GLOBAL_STATE_KEY]) {
+    g[QMD_GLOBAL_STATE_KEY] = {
+      warnedGlobalUpdateBehavior: false,
+      lastGlobalUpdateRunAtMs: null,
+      lastGlobalUpdateFailAtMs: null,
+      lastGlobalEmbedRunAtMs: null,
+      lastGlobalEmbedFailAtMs: null,
+      lastCliWarnAtMs: null,
+      lastUpdateByCollectionMs: {},
+      lastUpdateFailByCollectionMs: {},
+      lastEmbedByCollectionMs: {},
+      lastEmbedFailByCollectionMs: {},
+      lastAutoUpgradeCheckAtMs: null,
+      lastAutoUpgradeStatus: null,
+      lastAutoUpgradeCheckByTargetMs: {},
+      lastAutoUpgradeStatusByTarget: {},
+    } satisfies QmdGlobalState;
+  }
+  const state = g[QMD_GLOBAL_STATE_KEY] as QmdGlobalState;
+  state.lastAutoUpgradeCheckByTargetMs ??= {};
+  state.lastAutoUpgradeStatusByTarget ??= {};
+  return state;
+}
+
+function sleep(ms: number): Promise<void> {
+  return new Promise((r) => setTimeout(r, ms));
+}
+
+function errorMessage(err: unknown): string {
+  if (typeof err === "string") return err;
+  if (err instanceof Error) return err.message;
+  if (err && typeof err === "object" && "message" in err && typeof (err as { message?: unknown }).message === "string") {
+    return (err as { message: string }).message;
+  }
+  return String(err);
+}
+
+function isCallerCancellation(err: unknown, signal?: AbortSignal): boolean {
+  if (signal?.aborted) return true;
+  if (isAbortError(err)) return true;
+  if (err && typeof err === "object") {
+    const code = "code" in err ? (err as { code?: unknown }).code : undefined;
+    if (code === "ABORT_ERR" || code === "ERR_CANCELED") return true;
+  }
+  return false;
+}
+
+function isDaemonTimeoutError(err: unknown): boolean {
+  return /timed out/i.test(errorMessage(err));
+}
+
+function sleepWithSignal(ms: number, signal?: AbortSignal): Promise<void> {
+  return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
+    throwIfAborted(signal);
+    const timer = setTimeout(() => {
+      cleanup();
+      resolve();
+    }, ms);
+    const onAbort = () => {
+      clearTimeout(timer);
+      cleanup();
+      reject(abortError("operation aborted while waiting"));
+    };
+    const cleanup = () => {
+      signal?.removeEventListener("abort", onAbort);
+    };
+    signal?.addEventListener("abort", onAbort, { once: true });
+  });
+}
+
+function isSqliteBusyError(msg: string): boolean {
+  const lower = msg.toLowerCase();
+  return (
+    lower.includes("database is locked") ||
+    lower.includes("sqlite_busy") ||
+    lower.includes("sqlite_busy_recovery") ||
+    lower.includes("sqliterror: database is locked")
+  );
+}
+
+function stripControlChars(s: string): string {
+  // Remove ANSI escapes and other control characters that explode logs.
+  return s.replace(/\x1b\[[0-9;]*[A-Za-z]/g, "").replace(/[\u0000-\u001f\u007f]/g, "");
+}
+
+function truncateForLog(s: string, max = 2000): string {
+  const cleaned = stripControlChars(s);
+  return cleaned.length > max ? cleaned.slice(0, max) + "…(truncated)" : cleaned;
+}
+
+function isVectorDimensionMismatchError(err: unknown): boolean {
+  const msg = err instanceof Error ? err.message : String(err);
+  return (
+    /dimension mismatch/i.test(msg) ||
+    (/vectors?_vec/i.test(msg) && /float\[\d+\]/i.test(msg)) ||
+    (/embedding/i.test(msg) && /dimensions?/i.test(msg))
+  );
+}
+
+export function parseQmdVersion(version: string | null): QmdVersionTuple | null {
+  if (!version) return null;
+  const match = version.match(/v?(\d{1,10})\.(\d{1,10})\.(\d{1,10})/i);
+  if (!match) return null;
+  return [
+    Number.parseInt(match[1] ?? "0", 10),
+    Number.parseInt(match[2] ?? "0", 10),
+    Number.parseInt(match[3] ?? "0", 10),
+  ];
+}
+
+export function parseQmdVersionOutput(stdout: string, stderr: string): string | null {
+  const lines = `${stdout}\n${stderr}`
+    .split("\n")
+    .map((s) => s.trim())
+    .filter((s) => s.length > 0);
+  if (lines.length === 0) return null;
+  const semanticLines = lines.filter((line) => parseQmdVersion(line) !== null);
+  if (semanticLines.length === 0) return lines[0] ?? null;
+  return semanticLines.find((line) => /\bqmd\b/i.test(line)) ?? semanticLines[0] ?? null;
+}
+
+export function compareQmdVersions(
+  left: QmdVersionTuple | null,
+  right: QmdVersionTuple | null,
+): number {
+  if (!left && !right) return 0;
+  if (!left) return -1;
+  if (!right) return 1;
+  for (let i = 0; i < 3; i += 1) {
+    if ((left[i] ?? 0) > (right[i] ?? 0)) return 1;
+    if ((left[i] ?? 0) < (right[i] ?? 0)) return -1;
+  }
+  return 0;
+}
+
+export function versionAtLeast(
+  current: QmdVersionTuple | null,
+  target: QmdVersionTuple,
+): boolean {
+  return compareQmdVersions(current, target) >= 0;
+}
+
+export function resolveQmdCapabilities(version: string | null): QmdCapabilities {
+  const parsedVersion = parseQmdVersion(version);
+  const atLeast = (target: QmdVersionTuple): boolean => versionAtLeast(parsedVersion, target);
+  return {
+    version,
+    parsedVersion,
+    stableSdk: atLeast([2, 0, 0]),
+    unifiedSearch: atLeast([2, 0, 0]),
+    getDocumentBody: atLeast([2, 0, 0]),
+    maintenanceApi: atLeast([2, 0, 0]),
+    legacySkillInstall: atLeast([2, 0, 1]),
+    intentHints: atLeast([1, 1, 5]),
+    explainTraces: atLeast([1, 1, 2]),
+    candidateLimit: atLeast([1, 1, 2]),
+    v2McpQueryTool: atLeast([2, 0, 0]),
+    structuredSearches: atLeast([2, 0, 0]),
+    queryRerankToggle: atLeast([2, 1, 0]),
+    chunkStrategy: atLeast([2, 1, 0]),
+    qmdBench: atLeast([2, 1, 0]),
+    perCollectionModels: atLeast([2, 1, 0]),
+    jsonLineNumbers: atLeast([2, 1, 0]),
+    editorLinks: atLeast([2, 1, 0]),
+    doctor: atLeast([2, 5, 0]),
+    versionedSkills: atLeast([2, 5, 0]),
+    absoluteSnippetLines: atLeast([2, 5, 0]),
+    fullQueryOutput: atLeast([2, 5, 0]),
+    forceCpu: atLeast([2, 5, 0]),
+    gpuBackendOverride: atLeast([2, 5, 0]),
+    embedParallelism: atLeast([2, 5, 0]),
+    modelEnvConsistency: atLeast([2, 5, 0]),
+    scopedEmbed: atLeast([2, 5, 0]),
+    safeStatusDeviceProbe: atLeast([2, 5, 0]),
+    mcpIndexSelection: atLeast([2, 5, 0]),
+  };
+}
+
+export function shouldAutoUpgradeQmd(
+  installedVersion: string | null,
+  supportedVersion: string = QMD_SUPPORTED_VERSION,
+): boolean {
+  const installed = parseQmdVersion(installedVersion);
+  const supported = parseQmdVersion(supportedVersion);
+  if (!installed || !supported) return false;
+  return compareQmdVersions(installed, supported) < 0;
+}
+
+export function getQmdPostInstallProbeTargets(
+  qmdPath: string,
+  qmdPathSource: "configured" | "auto-path" | "auto-fallback",
+): Array<{ qmdPath: string; source: "auto-path" | "auto-fallback" }> {
+  const targets: Array<{ qmdPath: string; source: "auto-path" | "auto-fallback" }> = [
+    { qmdPath: "qmd", source: "auto-path" },
+  ];
+  const normalizedPath = qmdPath.trim();
+  if (
+    qmdPathSource === "auto-fallback" &&
+    normalizedPath.length > 0 &&
+    normalizedPath !== "qmd"
+  ) {
+    targets.push({ qmdPath: normalizedPath, source: "auto-fallback" });
+  }
+  return targets;
+}
+
+function qmdVersionToString(version: QmdVersionTuple): string {
+  return `${version[0]}.${version[1]}.${version[2]}`;
+}
+
+function normalizeSearchOptions(options?: SearchQueryOptions): SearchQueryOptions | undefined {
+  if (!options) return undefined;
+  const intent = typeof options.intent === "string" ? options.intent.trim() : "";
+  const normalized: SearchQueryOptions = {};
+  if (intent.length > 0) {
+    normalized.intent = intent;
+  }
+  if (options.explain === true) {
+    normalized.explain = true;
+  }
+  if (options.rerank === false) {
+    normalized.rerank = false;
+  }
+  if (options.chunkStrategy === "auto" || options.chunkStrategy === "regex") {
+    normalized.chunkStrategy = options.chunkStrategy;
+  }
+  if (
+    typeof options.candidateLimit === "number" &&
+    Number.isFinite(options.candidateLimit) &&
+    options.candidateLimit > 0
+  ) {
+    normalized.candidateLimit = Math.floor(options.candidateLimit);
+  }
+  const structuredSearches = normalizeStructuredSearches(options.structuredSearches);
+  if (structuredSearches.length > 0) {
+    normalized.structuredSearches = structuredSearches;
+  }
+  return Object.keys(normalized).length > 0 ? normalized : undefined;
+}
+
+function normalizeStructuredSearches(value: unknown): QmdStructuredSearch[] {
+  if (!Array.isArray(value)) return [];
+  const normalized: QmdStructuredSearch[] = [];
+  for (const entry of value) {
+    if (!entry || typeof entry !== "object") continue;
+    const candidate = entry as { type?: unknown; query?: unknown };
+    const type = candidate.type;
+    const query = typeof candidate.query === "string" ? candidate.query.trim() : "";
+    if ((type === "lex" || type === "vec" || type === "hyde") && query.length > 0) {
+      normalized.push({ type, query });
+    }
+    if (normalized.length >= 10) break;
+  }
+  return normalized;
+}
+
+function buildSyntheticHydeQuery(query: string, intent?: string): string {
+  const base = intent && intent.trim().length > 0
+    ? `A relevant Remnic memory for ${intent.trim()} would answer: ${query.trim()}`
+    : `A relevant Remnic memory would answer: ${query.trim()}`;
+  return base.length > QMD_STRUCTURED_HYDE_MAX_CHARS
+    ? base.slice(0, QMD_STRUCTURED_HYDE_MAX_CHARS)
+    : base;
+}
+
+function buildDefaultStructuredSearches(
+  query: string,
+  options?: SearchQueryOptions,
+): QmdStructuredSearch[] {
+  const explicit = normalizeStructuredSearches(options?.structuredSearches);
+  if (explicit.length > 0) return explicit;
+  const trimmed = query.trim();
+  if (!trimmed) return [];
+  return [
+    { type: "lex", query: trimmed },
+    { type: "vec", query: trimmed },
+    { type: "hyde", query: buildSyntheticHydeQuery(trimmed, options?.intent) },
+  ];
+}
+
+function parseExplainScores(value: unknown): number[] | undefined {
+  if (!Array.isArray(value)) return undefined;
+  const scores = value.filter((entry): entry is number => typeof entry === "number");
+  return scores.length > 0 ? scores : undefined;
+}
+
+export function parseQmdExplain(value: unknown): QmdSearchExplain | undefined {
+  if (!value || typeof value !== "object") return undefined;
+  const candidate = value as Record<string, unknown>;
+  const rrf =
+    typeof candidate.rrf === "number"
+      ? candidate.rrf
+      : candidate.rrf && typeof candidate.rrf === "object" &&
+        typeof (candidate.rrf as Record<string, unknown>).totalScore === "number"
+      ? ((candidate.rrf as Record<string, unknown>).totalScore as number)
+      : undefined;
+  const rrfObj =
+    candidate.rrf && typeof candidate.rrf === "object"
+      ? (candidate.rrf as Record<string, unknown>)
+      : undefined;
+  const parsed: QmdSearchExplain = {
+    ftsScores: parseExplainScores(candidate.ftsScores),
+    vectorScores: parseExplainScores(candidate.vectorScores),
+    rrf,
+    rrfRank: typeof rrfObj?.rank === "number" ? rrfObj.rank : undefined,
+    rrfPositionScore:
+      typeof rrfObj?.positionScore === "number" ? rrfObj.positionScore : undefined,
+    rrfBaseScore: typeof rrfObj?.baseScore === "number" ? rrfObj.baseScore : undefined,
+    rrfTopRankBonus:
+      typeof rrfObj?.topRankBonus === "number" ? rrfObj.topRankBonus : undefined,
+    rerankScore: typeof candidate.rerankScore === "number" ? candidate.rerankScore : undefined,
+    blendedScore: typeof candidate.blendedScore === "number" ? candidate.blendedScore : undefined,
+  };
+  return Object.values(parsed).some((entry) => entry !== undefined) ? parsed : undefined;
+}
+
+class AsyncMutex {
+  private locked = false;
+  private queue: Array<{
+    resolve: (release: () => void) => void;
+    reject: (reason: Error) => void;
+    signal?: AbortSignal;
+    onAbort: () => void;
+  }> = [];
+
+  async runExclusive<T>(fn: () => Promise<T>, signal?: AbortSignal): Promise<T> {
+    const release = await this.acquire(signal);
+    try {
+      throwIfAborted(signal);
+      return await fn();
+    } finally {
+      release();
+    }
+  }
+
+  private acquire(signal?: AbortSignal): Promise<() => void> {
+    throwIfAborted(signal);
+    if (!this.locked) {
+      this.locked = true;
+      return Promise.resolve(() => this.release());
+    }
+
+    return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
+      const waiter = {
+        resolve: (release: () => void) => {
+          signal?.removeEventListener("abort", waiter.onAbort);
+          resolve(release);
+        },
+        reject: (reason: Error) => {
+          signal?.removeEventListener("abort", waiter.onAbort);
+          reject(reason);
+        },
+        signal,
+        onAbort: () => {
+          this.queue = this.queue.filter((entry) => entry !== waiter);
+          reject(abortError("operation aborted while waiting for qmd mutex"));
+        },
+      };
+      signal?.addEventListener("abort", waiter.onAbort, { once: true });
+      this.queue.push(waiter);
+    });
+  }
+
+  private release(): void {
+    while (this.queue.length > 0) {
+      const next = this.queue.shift();
+      if (!next) break;
+      if (next.signal?.aborted) {
+        next.reject(abortError("operation aborted while waiting for qmd mutex"));
+        continue;
+      }
+      this.locked = true;
+      next.resolve(() => this.release());
+      return;
+    }
+    this.locked = false;
+  }
+}
+
+const QMD_MUTEX = new AsyncMutex();
+
+function runQmd(
+  args: string[],
+  timeoutMs: number = QMD_TIMEOUT_MS,
+  qmdPath: string = "qmd",
+  signal?: AbortSignal,
+  runtimeEnv?: QmdRuntimeEnv,
+): Promise<{ stdout: string; stderr: string }> {
+  // Serialize all qmd calls. This avoids SQLite lock contention when multiple
+  // channels/agents trigger QMD operations at nearly the same time.
+  return QMD_MUTEX.runExclusive(async () => {
+    throwIfAborted(signal, `qmd ${args.join(" ")} aborted before start`);
+    const maxAttempts = isLikelyWriteCommand(args) ? 3 : 1;
+    for (let attempt = 1; attempt <= maxAttempts; attempt++) {
+      try {
+        return await runQmdOnce(args, timeoutMs, qmdPath, signal, runtimeEnv);
+      } catch (err) {
+        if (isAbortError(err)) throw err;
+        const msg = err instanceof Error ? err.message : String(err);
+        if (attempt < maxAttempts && isSqliteBusyError(msg)) {
+          // Another qmd call (or an external qmd process) currently holds the DB.
+          // Back off briefly and retry.
+          await sleepWithSignal(1500 * attempt, signal);
+          continue;
+        }
+        throw err;
+      }
+    }
+    // unreachable
+    throw new Error("qmd command failed");
+  }, signal);
+}
+
+function isLikelyWriteCommand(args: string[]): boolean {
+  const cmd = getQmdCommandName(args);
+  return cmd === "update" || cmd === "embed" || cmd === "cleanup" || cmd === "collection";
+}
+
+export function getQmdCommandName(args: string[]): string {
+  for (let i = 0; i < args.length; i += 1) {
+    const arg = args[i] ?? "";
+    if (arg === "--index") {
+      i += 1;
+      continue;
+    }
+    if (arg.startsWith("--index=")) {
+      continue;
+    }
+    if (arg.startsWith("-")) {
+      continue;
+    }
+    return arg;
+  }
+  return "";
+}
+
+function runQmdOnce(
+  args: string[],
+  timeoutMs: number,
+  qmdPath: string,
+  signal?: AbortSignal,
+  runtimeEnv?: QmdRuntimeEnv,
+): Promise<{ stdout: string; stderr: string }> {
+  const isVersionCheck = args.length === 1 && args[0] === "--version";
+  return runCommandWithTimeout(qmdPath, args, {
+    timeoutMs,
+    signal,
+    env: runtimeEnv,
+    label: `qmd ${args.join(" ")}`,
+    isSuccessExitCode: (code) => code === 0 || (isVersionCheck && code === 1),
+  });
+}
+
+function runCommandWithTimeout(
+  command: string,
+  args: string[],
+  options: {
+    timeoutMs: number;
+    signal?: AbortSignal;
+    env?: QmdRuntimeEnv;
+    label?: string;
+    isSuccessExitCode?: (code: number | null) => boolean;
+  },
+): Promise<{ stdout: string; stderr: string }> {
+  const label = options.label ?? `${command} ${args.join(" ")}`;
+  const isSuccessExitCode = options.isSuccessExitCode ?? ((code: number | null) => code === 0);
+  return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
+    throwIfAborted(options.signal, `${label} aborted before spawn`);
+    const child = launchProcess(command, args, {
+      env: mergeEnv({ NO_COLOR: "1", ...options.env }),
+      stdio: ["ignore", "pipe", "pipe"],
+    });
+    if (!child.stdout || !child.stderr) {
+      reject(new Error(`${label} failed to open stdio pipes`));
+      return;
+    }
+
+    let stdout = "";
+    let stderr = "";
+    let settled = false;
+
+    const timer = setTimeout(() => {
+      settled = true;
+      cleanup();
+      child.kill("SIGKILL");
+      reject(new Error(`${label} timed out after ${options.timeoutMs}ms`));
+    }, options.timeoutMs);
+    const onAbort = () => {
+      if (settled) return;
+      settled = true;
+      clearTimeout(timer);
+      cleanup();
+      child.kill("SIGKILL");
+      reject(abortError(`${label} aborted`));
+    };
+    const cleanup = () => {
+      options.signal?.removeEventListener("abort", onAbort);
+    };
+    options.signal?.addEventListener("abort", onAbort, { once: true });
+
+    child.stdout.on("data", (data: Buffer) => {
+      stdout += data.toString();
+    });
+    child.stderr.on("data", (data: Buffer) => {
+      stderr += data.toString();
+    });
+    child.on("error", (err) => {
+      if (settled) return;
+      settled = true;
+      clearTimeout(timer);
+      cleanup();
+      reject(err);
+    });
+    child.on("close", (code) => {
+      if (settled) return;
+      settled = true;
+      clearTimeout(timer);
+      cleanup();
+      if (isSuccessExitCode(code)) {
+        resolve({ stdout, stderr });
+      } else {
+        reject(
+          new Error(
+            `${label} failed (code ${code}): ${truncateForLog(stderr || stdout)}`,
+          ),
+        );
+      }
+    });
+  });
+}
+
+function runProcessCommand(
+  command: string,
+  args: string[],
+  timeoutMs: number,
+  signal?: AbortSignal,
+): Promise<{ stdout: string; stderr: string }> {
+  return runCommandWithTimeout(command, args, {
+    timeoutMs,
+    signal,
+  });
+}
+
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// QMD Stdio Daemon Session (MCP over stdio child process)
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+let nextJsonRpcId = 1;
+
+class QmdDaemonSession {
+  private child: CommandChildProcess | null = null;
+  private initialized = false;
+  private buffer = "";
+  private startPromise: Promise<boolean> | null = null;
+  private pendingRequests = new Map<
+    number,
+    {
+      resolve: (value: unknown) => void;
+      reject: (reason: Error) => void;
+      timer: ReturnType<typeof setTimeout>;
+      cleanup: () => void;
+    }
+  >();
+  private readonly qmdPath: string;
+  private readonly runtimeEnv: QmdRuntimeEnv;
+  private readonly indexName?: string;
+
+  constructor(qmdPath: string, runtimeEnv: QmdRuntimeEnv = {}, indexName?: string) {
+    this.qmdPath = qmdPath;
+    this.runtimeEnv = runtimeEnv;
+    this.indexName = indexName?.trim() || undefined;
+  }
+
+  /** Spawn the qmd mcp child process and perform MCP handshake. */
+  async start(): Promise<boolean> {
+    if (this.child && !this.child.killed && this.initialized) {
+      return true;
+    }
+    if (this.startPromise) {
+      return this.startPromise;
+    }
+    this.startPromise = (async () => {
+      // If the process is already running but not yet initialized (e.g. it is still
+      // loading its index after a previous handshake timeout), reuse it instead of
+      // killing and re-spawning. This prevents accumulating zombie qmd-mcp processes
+      // when the daemon takes >15s to load a large collection.
+      const processAlreadyRunning = this.child != null && !this.child.killed;
+      if (!processAlreadyRunning) {
+        if (this.child) {
+          this.cleanup({ killChild: true });
+        }
+        try {
+          const args = this.indexName ? ["--index", this.indexName, "mcp"] : ["mcp"];
+          const child = launchProcess(this.qmdPath, args, {
+            env: mergeEnv({ NO_COLOR: "1", ...this.runtimeEnv }),
+            stdio: ["pipe", "pipe", "pipe"],
+          });
+          this.child = child;
+          this.buffer = "";
+
+          child.stdout?.on("data", (data: Buffer) => {
+            if (this.child !== child) return;
+            this.handleStdoutData(data);
+          });
+          child.stderr?.on("data", (data: Buffer) => {
+            if (this.child !== child) return;
+            const msg = data.toString().trim();
+            if (msg) log.debug(`QMD mcp stderr: ${stripControlChars(msg)}`);
+          });
+          child.stdin?.on("error", (err) => {
+            // Swallow EPIPE/ERR_STREAM_DESTROYED — these happen when the child
+            // process is killed (e.g. due to recall timeout) and a write arrives
+            // after the pipe is broken.  Without this handler Node.js would throw
+            // an uncaught exception and crash the process.
+            log.debug(`QMD mcp stdin error (suppressed): ${err.message}`);
+          });
+          child.on("error", (err) => {
+            if (this.child !== child) return;
+            log.debug(`QMD mcp process error: ${err.message}`);
+            this.cleanup({ child });
+          });
+          child.on("close", (code) => {
+            if (this.child !== child) return;
+            log.debug(`QMD mcp process exited (code ${code})`);
+            this.cleanup({ child });
+          });
+        } catch (err) {
+          log.debug(`QMD mcp: failed to spawn process: ${err}`);
+          this.cleanup({ killChild: true });
+          return false;
+        }
+      } else {
+        log.debug("QMD mcp: process already running, retrying handshake");
+      }
+
+      try {
+        // Use a generous timeout — large collections (75K+ files) can take 60-90s
+        // to load their vector index. We keep the process alive across retries so
+        // only one mcp instance is running at a time.
+        const result = await this.sendRequest(
+          "initialize",
+          {
+            protocolVersion: "2024-11-05",
+            capabilities: {},
+            clientInfo: { name: "openclaw-remnic", version: "1.0.0" },
+          },
+          60_000,
+        );
+        if (!result) {
+          // Null result (non-timeout failure) — kill and let the next probe respawn.
+          this.cleanup({ killChild: true });
+          return false;
+        }
+        this.sendNotification("notifications/initialized");
+        this.initialized = true;
+        log.info("QMD mcp: stdio session initialized");
+        return true;
+      } catch (err) {
+        const msg = err instanceof Error ? err.message : String(err);
+        if (/timed out/i.test(msg)) {
+          // Handshake timeout — process is still loading. Keep it alive for the
+          // next retry (daemonRecheckIntervalMs). Do NOT kill and respawn.
+          log.debug(`QMD mcp: handshake timed out — process still loading, will retry later`);
+          // Reset initialized flag but leave child running.
+          this.initialized = false;
+        } else {
+          log.debug(`QMD mcp: failed to start stdio session: ${err}`);
+          this.cleanup({ killChild: true });
+        }
+        return false;
+      } finally {
+        this.startPromise = null;
+      }
+    })();
+    return this.startPromise;
+  }
+
+  /** Call an MCP tool and return the parsed result. */
+  async callTool(
+    name: string,
+    args: Record<string, unknown>,
+    timeoutMs: number = 30_000,
+    signal?: AbortSignal,
+  ): Promise<unknown> {
+    if (!this.child || this.child.killed || !this.initialized) {
+      throw new Error("QMD mcp process not running");
+    }
+    return this.sendRequest("tools/call", { name, arguments: args }, timeoutMs, signal);
+  }
+
+  /** Kill stdio process and clear state so the next probe can restart. */
+  invalidate(): void {
+    this.cleanup({ killChild: true });
+  }
+
+  /** Kill stdio process and wait briefly for the child handle to close. */
+  async close(timeoutMs = 1_000): Promise<void> {
+    const target = this.child;
+    if (!target) {
+      this.cleanup({ killChild: true });
+      return;
+    }
+
+    let closed = false;
+    const closedPromise = new Promise<void>((resolve) => {
+      target.once("close", () => {
+        closed = true;
+        resolve();
+      });
+    });
+
+    this.cleanup({ killChild: true });
+    await Promise.race([closedPromise, sleep(timeoutMs)]);
+    if (!closed) {
+      try {
+        target.kill("SIGKILL");
+      } catch {
+        // Ignore process-kill races during shutdown.
+      }
+      await Promise.race([closedPromise, sleep(250)]);
+    }
+  }
+
+  isActive(): boolean {
+    return this.child !== null && !this.child.killed && this.initialized;
+  }
+
+  /** True while the process is spawned but the MCP handshake has not yet completed. */
+  isLoading(): boolean {
+    return this.child !== null && !this.child.killed && !this.initialized;
+  }
+
+  private sendRequest(
+    method: string,
+    params: Record<string, unknown>,
+    timeoutMs: number,
+    signal?: AbortSignal,
+  ): Promise<unknown> {
+    return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
+      throwIfAborted(signal, `QMD mcp ${method} aborted before request`);
+      if (!this.child || !this.child.stdin || this.child.killed) {
+        reject(new Error("QMD mcp process not available"));
+        return;
+      }
+
+      const id = nextJsonRpcId++;
+      const timer = setTimeout(() => {
+        this.pendingRequests.delete(id);
+        cleanup();
+        reject(new Error(`QMD mcp ${method} timed out after ${timeoutMs}ms`));
+      }, timeoutMs);
+      const onAbort = () => {
+        clearTimeout(timer);
+        this.pendingRequests.delete(id);
+        cleanup();
+        reject(abortError(`QMD mcp ${method} aborted`));
+      };
+      const cleanup = () => {
+        signal?.removeEventListener("abort", onAbort);
+      };
+
+      this.pendingRequests.set(id, { resolve, reject, timer, cleanup });
+      signal?.addEventListener("abort", onAbort, { once: true });
+      const message = JSON.stringify({ jsonrpc: "2.0", id, method, params }) + "\n";
+      this.child.stdin.write(message, (err) => {
+        if (err) {
+          clearTimeout(timer);
+          this.pendingRequests.delete(id);
+          cleanup();
+          reject(new Error(`Failed to write to QMD mcp stdin: ${err.message}`));
+        }
+      });
+    });
+  }
+
+  private sendNotification(method: string, params?: Record<string, unknown>): void {
+    if (!this.child || !this.child.stdin || this.child.killed) return;
+    if (this.child.stdin.destroyed) return;
+    const msg: Record<string, unknown> = { jsonrpc: "2.0", method };
+    if (params) msg.params = params;
+    try {
+      this.child.stdin.write(JSON.stringify(msg) + "\n");
+    } catch {
+      // Ignore EPIPE / write-after-close
+    }
+  }
+
+  private handleStdoutData(data: Buffer): void {
+    this.buffer += data.toString();
+    let newlineIdx: number;
+    while ((newlineIdx = this.buffer.indexOf("\n")) !== -1) {
+      const line = this.buffer.slice(0, newlineIdx).trim();
+      this.buffer = this.buffer.slice(newlineIdx + 1);
+      if (!line) continue;
+      try {
+        const msg = JSON.parse(line);
+        this.handleMessage(msg);
+      } catch {
+        log.debug(`QMD mcp: unparseable stdout: ${truncateForLog(line, 200)}`);
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  private handleMessage(msg: Record<string, unknown>): void {
+    if (msg.id !== undefined && msg.id !== null) {
+      const pending = this.pendingRequests.get(msg.id as number);
+      if (pending) {
+        clearTimeout(pending.timer);
+        this.pendingRequests.delete(msg.id as number);
+        pending.cleanup();
+        if (msg.error) {
+          pending.reject(new Error(JSON.stringify(msg.error)));
+        } else {
+          pending.resolve(msg.result);
+        }
+      }
+      return;
+    }
+    if (msg.method) {
+      log.debug(`QMD mcp notification: ${msg.method}`);
+    }
+  }
+
+  private cleanup(opts?: { killChild?: boolean; child?: CommandChildProcess | null }): void {
+    const target = opts?.child ?? this.child;
+    if (!target) return;
+    if (opts?.child && this.child !== opts.child) {
+      return;
+    }
+    if (opts?.killChild && !target.killed) {
+      target.kill("SIGTERM");
+    }
+    this.initialized = false;
+    for (const [, pending] of this.pendingRequests) {
+      clearTimeout(pending.timer);
+      pending.cleanup();
+      pending.reject(new Error("QMD mcp process terminated"));
+    }
+    this.pendingRequests.clear();
+    this.startPromise = null;
+    this.child = null;
+    this.buffer = "";
+  }
+}
+
+/** Matches `#<hex-docid> <score>% <rest-of-line>` — rest is split in a second pass. */
+const QMD_RESULT_LINE_RE = /^#([0-9a-fA-F]+)\s+(\d+)%\s+(.+)/;
+
+/**
+ * Splits `collection/path.ext - Title text` into path and title.
+ * Non-greedy `.+?` finds the FIRST dot-extension (2+ alphabetic chars)
+ * followed by ` - `, accepting any indexed file type while skipping
+ * version-like segments (e.g. `v1.2` where `.2` is a single digit).
+ */
+const QMD_PATH_TITLE_RE = /^(.+?\.[a-zA-Z]{2,10})\s+-\s+(.*)$/;
+
+function parseQmdMarkdownResultText(
+  text: string,
+  transport: QmdSearchResult["transport"],
+): QmdSearchResult[] {
+  const results: QmdSearchResult[] = [];
+  for (const line of text.split("\n")) {
+    const m = QMD_RESULT_LINE_RE.exec(line.trim());
+    if (!m) continue;
+    const rest = m[3]; // "collection/path.md - Title with - dashes"
+    // Find the path by looking for known file extensions followed by " - "
+    const pathTitleSplit = QMD_PATH_TITLE_RE.exec(rest);
+    if (!pathTitleSplit) continue;
+    results.push({
+      docid: m[1],
+      path: pathTitleSplit[1] ?? "unknown",
+      snippet: "",
+      score: parseInt(m[2], 10) / 100,
+      transport,
+    });
+  }
+  return results;
+}
+
+function parseMcpSearchResult(
+  result: unknown,
+  transport: QmdSearchResult["transport"] = "daemon",
+): QmdSearchResult[] {
+  const resultObj = result as Record<string, unknown> | null;
+  if (!resultObj) return [];
+  const results: QmdSearchResult[] = [];
+  const pushDocs = (docs: unknown[]) => {
+    for (const doc of docs) {
+      const d = doc as Record<string, unknown>;
+      results.push({
+        docid: typeof d.docid === "string" ? d.docid.replace(/^#/, "") : "",
+        path: typeof d.file === "string"
+          ? d.file
+          : typeof d.path === "string"
+          ? d.path
+          : (typeof d.docid === "string" ? d.docid.replace(/^#/, "") : "unknown"),
+        snippet: typeof d.snippet === "string" ? d.snippet : "",
+        score: typeof d.score === "number" ? d.score : 0,
+        line: typeof d.line === "number" && Number.isFinite(d.line)
+          ? Math.max(1, Math.floor(d.line))
+          : undefined,
+        explain: parseQmdExplain(d.explain),
+        transport,
+      });
+    }
+  };
+  const topStructured = resultObj.structuredContent as Record<string, unknown> | undefined;
+  const topDocs = topStructured?.results ?? topStructured?.documents;
+  if (Array.isArray(topDocs)) pushDocs(topDocs);
+  const content = resultObj.content;
+  if (Array.isArray(content)) {
+    for (const item of content) {
+      const structured = item?.structuredContent;
+      const docResults = structured?.results ?? structured?.documents;
+      if (Array.isArray(docResults)) pushDocs(docResults);
+      if (typeof item?.text === "string") {
+        try {
+          const parsed = JSON.parse(item.text);
+          const textResults = parsed?.results ?? parsed?.documents;
+          if (Array.isArray(textResults)) pushDocs(textResults);
+        } catch {
+          const existingKeys = new Set(results.map((r) => `${r.docid.toLowerCase()}|${r.path}`));
+          const parsed = parseQmdMarkdownResultText(item.text, transport);
+          for (const p of parsed) {
+            const key = `${p.docid.toLowerCase()}|${p.path}`;
+            if (!existingKeys.has(key)) {
+              results.push(p);
+              existingKeys.add(key);
+            }
+          }
+        }
+      }
+    }
+  }
+  return results;
+}
+
+function parseQmdSearchStdout(
+  stdout: string,
+  transport: QmdSearchResult["transport"] = "subprocess",
+): QmdSearchResult[] {
+  const trimmedOut = stdout.trim();
+  if (!trimmedOut || trimmedOut === "No results found.") return [];
+  const parsed = JSON.parse(trimmedOut);
+  if (!Array.isArray(parsed)) return [];
+  return parsed.map(
+    (entry: Record<string, unknown>): QmdSearchResult => ({
+      docid: (entry.docid as string) ?? "",
+      path:
+        (entry.file as string) ??
+        (entry.path as string) ??
+        (entry.docid as string) ??
+        "unknown",
+      snippet: (entry.snippet as string) ?? "",
+      score: typeof entry.score === "number" ? entry.score : 0,
+      line: typeof entry.line === "number" && Number.isFinite(entry.line)
+        ? Math.max(1, Math.floor(entry.line))
+        : undefined,
+      explain: parseQmdExplain(entry.explain),
+      transport,
+    }),
+  );
+}
+
+type SharedDaemonSessionEntry = {
+  refs: number;
+  session: QmdDaemonSession;
+};
+
+const SHARED_DAEMON_SESSIONS = new Map<string, SharedDaemonSessionEntry>();
+
+function stableRuntimeEnvKey(runtimeEnv: QmdRuntimeEnv): string {
+  return JSON.stringify(
+    Object.keys(runtimeEnv)
+      .sort()
+      .map((key) => [key, runtimeEnv[key]]),
+  );
+}
+
+function recordAutoUpgradeStatus(
+  state: QmdGlobalState,
+  targetKey: string,
+  status: string,
+): void {
+  state.lastAutoUpgradeStatusByTarget[targetKey] = status;
+  state.lastAutoUpgradeStatus = status;
+}
+
+function retainSharedDaemonSession(
+  qmdPath: string,
+  runtimeEnv: QmdRuntimeEnv = {},
+  indexName?: string,
+  cliVersion?: string | null,
+): QmdDaemonSession {
+  const normalizedPath = qmdPath.trim() || "qmd";
+  const normalizedIndex = indexName?.trim() || "";
+  const normalizedVersion = cliVersion?.trim() || "";
+  const sessionKey = `${normalizedPath}\0${normalizedIndex}\0${normalizedVersion}\0${stableRuntimeEnvKey(runtimeEnv)}`;
+  const existing = SHARED_DAEMON_SESSIONS.get(sessionKey);
+  if (existing) {
+    existing.refs += 1;
+    return existing.session;
+  }
+
+  const session = new QmdDaemonSession(normalizedPath, runtimeEnv, normalizedIndex || undefined);
+  SHARED_DAEMON_SESSIONS.set(sessionKey, {
+    refs: 1,
+    session,
+  });
+  return session;
+}
+
+async function releaseSharedDaemonSession(session: QmdDaemonSession | null): Promise<void> {
+  if (!session) return;
+
+  for (const [qmdPath, entry] of SHARED_DAEMON_SESSIONS.entries()) {
+    if (entry.session !== session) continue;
+    entry.refs = Math.max(0, entry.refs - 1);
+    if (entry.refs === 0) {
+      SHARED_DAEMON_SESSIONS.delete(qmdPath);
+      await entry.session.close();
+    }
+    return;
+  }
+}
+
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// QmdClient
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+export class QmdClient implements SearchBackend {
+  private available: boolean | null = null;
+  private _lastUpdateFailAtMs: number | null = null;
+  private lastEmbedFailAtMs: number | null = null;
+  private lastUpdateRunAtMs: number | null = null;
+
+  get lastUpdateFailedAtMs(): number | null {
+    return this._lastUpdateFailAtMs;
+  }
+
+  get lastUpdateRanAtMs(): number | null {
+    return this.lastUpdateRunAtMs;
+  }
+
+  resetUpdateThrottles(): void {
+    this._lastUpdateFailAtMs = null;
+    this.lastUpdateRunAtMs = null;
+    const gs = getGlobalQmdState();
+    gs.lastGlobalUpdateRunAtMs = null;
+    gs.lastGlobalUpdateFailAtMs = null;
+  }
+
+  private readonly updateTimeoutMs: number;
+  private readonly updateMinIntervalMs: number;
+  private readonly slowLog?: { enabled: boolean; thresholdMs: number };
+  private readonly configuredQmdPath?: string;
+  private readonly qmdSupportedVersion: string;
+  private readonly qmdAutoUpgradeEnabled: boolean;
+  private readonly qmdAutoUpgradeCheckIntervalMs: number;
+  private readonly qmdChunkStrategy?: QmdChunkStrategy;
+  private readonly qmdCandidateLimit?: number;
+  private readonly qmdQueryRerankEnabled: boolean;
+  private readonly qmdIndexName?: string;
+  private readonly qmdRuntimeEnv: QmdRuntimeEnv;
+  private qmdPathSource: "auto-path" | "auto-fallback" | "configured" = "auto-path";
+  private cliVersion: string | null = null;
+  private lastCliProbeError: string | null = null;
+  private qmdCapabilities: QmdCapabilities = resolveQmdCapabilities(null);
+
+  // Daemon mode fields
+  private daemonSession: QmdDaemonSession | null = null;
+  private daemonAvailable = false;
+  private daemonSessionPath: string | null = null;
+  private lastDaemonCheckAtMs = 0;
+  private readonly daemonEnabled: boolean;
+  private readonly daemonRecheckIntervalMs: number;
+  /** Consecutive transient daemon failures before invalidating the session. */
+  private daemonTransientFailures = 0;
+  private static readonly DAEMON_MAX_TRANSIENT_FAILURES = 3;
+
+  constructor(
+    private readonly collection: string,
+    private readonly maxResults: number,
+    opts?: QmdClientOptions,
+  ) {
+    this.slowLog = opts?.slowLog;
+    this.updateTimeoutMs = opts?.updateTimeoutMs ?? 120_000;
+    this.updateMinIntervalMs = Math.max(0, opts?.updateMinIntervalMs ?? 15 * 60_000);
+    this.configuredQmdPath = opts?.qmdPath?.trim() ? opts.qmdPath.trim() : undefined;
+    this.qmdSupportedVersion =
+      parseQmdVersion(opts?.qmdSupportedVersion ?? null) !== null
+        ? (opts?.qmdSupportedVersion ?? QMD_SUPPORTED_VERSION)
+        : QMD_SUPPORTED_VERSION;
+    this.qmdAutoUpgradeEnabled = opts?.qmdAutoUpgradeEnabled === true;
+    this.qmdAutoUpgradeCheckIntervalMs = Math.max(
+      60_000,
+      Math.floor(opts?.qmdAutoUpgradeCheckIntervalMs ?? QMD_AUTO_UPGRADE_CHECK_INTERVAL_MS),
+    );
+    this.qmdChunkStrategy =
+      opts?.qmdChunkStrategy === "auto" || opts?.qmdChunkStrategy === "regex"
+        ? opts.qmdChunkStrategy
+        : undefined;
+    this.qmdCandidateLimit =
+      typeof opts?.qmdCandidateLimit === "number" &&
+      Number.isFinite(opts.qmdCandidateLimit) &&
+      opts.qmdCandidateLimit > 0
+        ? Math.floor(opts.qmdCandidateLimit)
+        : undefined;
+    this.qmdQueryRerankEnabled = opts?.qmdQueryRerankEnabled !== false;
+    this.qmdIndexName = opts?.qmdIndexName?.trim() || undefined;
+    this.qmdRuntimeEnv = this.buildRuntimeEnv(opts);
+    if (this.configuredQmdPath) {
+      this.qmdPath = this.configuredQmdPath;
+      this.qmdPathSource = "configured";
+    }
+    this.daemonEnabled = Boolean(opts?.daemonUrl);
+    this.daemonRecheckIntervalMs = opts?.daemonRecheckIntervalMs ?? 15_000;
+  }
+
+  private qmdPath: string = "qmd";
+
+  private buildRuntimeEnv(opts?: QmdClientOptions): QmdRuntimeEnv {
+    const env: QmdRuntimeEnv = {};
+    if (opts?.qmdForceCpu === true) {
+      env.QMD_FORCE_CPU = "1";
+    }
+    if (opts?.qmdGpuBackend) {
+      env.QMD_LLAMA_GPU = opts.qmdGpuBackend;
+    }
+    if (
+      typeof opts?.qmdEmbedParallelism === "number" &&
+      Number.isFinite(opts.qmdEmbedParallelism) &&
+      opts.qmdEmbedParallelism > 0
+    ) {
+      env.QMD_EMBED_PARALLELISM = String(Math.min(8, Math.max(1, Math.floor(opts.qmdEmbedParallelism))));
+    }
+    if (opts?.qmdEmbedModel?.trim()) {
+      env.QMD_EMBED_MODEL = opts.qmdEmbedModel.trim();
+    }
+    if (opts?.qmdRerankModel?.trim()) {
+      env.QMD_RERANK_MODEL = opts.qmdRerankModel.trim();
+    }
+    if (opts?.qmdGenerateModel?.trim()) {
+      env.QMD_GENERATE_MODEL = opts.qmdGenerateModel.trim();
+    }
+    return env;
+  }
+
+  async probe(): Promise<boolean> {
+    const cliOk = await this.probeCli();
+    if (this.daemonEnabled) {
+      await this.probeDaemon();
+    }
+    return cliOk || this.daemonAvailable;
+  }
+
+  private async probeDaemon(): Promise<boolean> {
+    this.lastDaemonCheckAtMs = Date.now();
+    const normalizedPath = this.qmdPath.trim() || "qmd";
+    const daemonIndexName =
+      this.qmdIndexName && this.qmdCapabilities.mcpIndexSelection
+        ? this.qmdIndexName
+        : undefined;
+    const daemonSessionPath = `${normalizedPath}\0${daemonIndexName ?? ""}\0${this.cliVersion ?? ""}`;
+    if (!this.daemonSession || this.daemonSessionPath !== daemonSessionPath) {
+      await releaseSharedDaemonSession(this.daemonSession);
+      this.daemonSession = retainSharedDaemonSession(
+        normalizedPath,
+        this.qmdRuntimeEnv,
+        daemonIndexName,
+        this.cliVersion,
+      );
+      this.daemonSessionPath = daemonSessionPath;
+    }
+    try {
+      // Race start() against a short window: if the session is already initialized
+      // this returns instantly; if the process is still loading its index we fail
+      // fast and let the caller fall back gracefully. The underlying start() promise
+      // continues running in the background so the process is NOT killed. On the
+      // next recheck cycle (daemonRecheckIntervalMs=15s) start() returns true
+      // immediately once the handshake has completed.
+      const PROBE_QUICK_TIMEOUT_MS = 3_000;
+      const ok = await Promise.race([
+        this.daemonSession.start(),
+        new Promise<false>((resolve) => setTimeout(() => resolve(false), PROBE_QUICK_TIMEOUT_MS)),
+      ]);
+      if (!ok) {
+        const loading = this.daemonSession.isLoading();
+        log.debug(`QMD daemon: stdio session not ready within ${PROBE_QUICK_TIMEOUT_MS}ms probe window${loading ? " (still loading)" : ""}`);
+        this.daemonAvailable = false;
+        return false;
+      }
+      log.info(`QMD daemon: stdio session active (collection=${this.collection})`);
+      this.daemonAvailable = true;
+      this.daemonTransientFailures = 0;
+      return true;
+    } catch (err) {
+      log.debug(`QMD daemon: probe failed: ${err}`);
+      this.daemonAvailable = false;
+      return false;
+    }
+  }
+
+  private async probeCli(): Promise<boolean> {
+    const markProbeFailure = (err: unknown): void => {
+      this.lastCliProbeError = err instanceof Error ? err.message : String(err);
+    };
+    const recordProbeSuccess = async (
+      result: { stdout: string; stderr: string },
+      qmdPath: string,
+      source: typeof this.qmdPathSource,
+    ): Promise<void> => {
+      this.available = true;
+      this.qmdPath = qmdPath;
+      this.qmdPathSource = source;
+      this.cliVersion = parseQmdVersionOutput(result.stdout, result.stderr);
+      this.qmdCapabilities = resolveQmdCapabilities(this.cliVersion);
+      this.lastCliProbeError = null;
+      await this.maybeAutoUpgradeQmd();
+    };
+
+    if (this.configuredQmdPath) {
+      try {
+        const result = await runQmd(["--version"], QMD_PROBE_TIMEOUT_MS, this.configuredQmdPath, undefined, this.qmdRuntimeEnv);
+        await recordProbeSuccess(result, this.configuredQmdPath, "configured");
+        return true;
+      } catch (err) {
+        markProbeFailure(err);
+        // Do not hard-fail here: fall through to PATH/fallback probing.
+        // This keeps recall healthy even when configured path is stale.
+        this.logCliProbeWarning(
+          `QMD: configured qmdPath failed (${this.configuredQmdPath}): ${this.lastCliProbeError}`,
+        );
+      }
+    }
+
+    // Try PATH first
+    try {
+      const result = await runQmd(["--version"], QMD_PROBE_TIMEOUT_MS, "qmd", undefined, this.qmdRuntimeEnv);
+      await recordProbeSuccess(result, "qmd", "auto-path");
+      return true;
+    } catch (err) {
+      markProbeFailure(err);
+      // Try fallback paths
+      for (const fallbackPath of QMD_FALLBACK_PATHS) {
+        try {
+          const result = await runQmd(["--version"], QMD_PROBE_TIMEOUT_MS, fallbackPath, undefined, this.qmdRuntimeEnv);
+          await recordProbeSuccess(result, fallbackPath, "auto-fallback");
+          log.info(`QMD: found at ${fallbackPath}`);
+          return true;
+        } catch (fallbackErr) {
+          markProbeFailure(fallbackErr);
+          // Continue to next fallback
+        }
+      }
+      this.available = false;
+      return false;
+    }
+  }
+
+  private async maybeAutoUpgradeQmd(): Promise<void> {
+    if (!this.qmdAutoUpgradeEnabled) return;
+    const state = getGlobalQmdState();
+    const targetKey = this.autoUpgradeTargetKey();
+    const now = Date.now();
+    const lastCheckAtMs = state.lastAutoUpgradeCheckByTargetMs[targetKey];
+    if (
+      Number.isFinite(lastCheckAtMs) &&
+      now - lastCheckAtMs < this.qmdAutoUpgradeCheckIntervalMs
+    ) {
+      return;
+    }
+    state.lastAutoUpgradeCheckByTargetMs[targetKey] = now;
+    state.lastAutoUpgradeCheckAtMs = now;
+
+    const installed = parseQmdVersion(this.cliVersion);
+    const supported = parseQmdVersion(this.qmdSupportedVersion);
+    if (!installed || !supported) {
+      const status = `skipped: unable to parse installed=${this.cliVersion ?? "unknown"} supported=${this.qmdSupportedVersion}`;
+      recordAutoUpgradeStatus(state, targetKey, status);
+      log.warn(`QMD auto-upgrade skipped: ${status}`);
+      return;
+    }
+    if (compareQmdVersions(installed, supported) >= 0) {
+      recordAutoUpgradeStatus(
+        state,
+        targetKey,
+        `current: installed=${qmdVersionToString(installed)} supported=${qmdVersionToString(supported)}`,
+      );
+      return;
+    }
+    if (this.qmdPathSource === "configured") {
+      const status = `skipped: configured qmdPath=${this.qmdPath}`;
+      recordAutoUpgradeStatus(state, targetKey, status);
+      log.warn(
+        `QMD auto-upgrade skipped because qmdPath is explicitly configured (${this.qmdPath}); install ${QMD_PACKAGE_NAME}@${this.qmdSupportedVersion} manually for that path.`,
+      );
+      return;
+    }
+
+    const packageSpec = `${QMD_PACKAGE_NAME}@${this.qmdSupportedVersion}`;
+    try {
+      log.warn(
+        `QMD auto-upgrade: installed=${qmdVersionToString(installed)} supported=${qmdVersionToString(supported)}; running npm install -g ${packageSpec}`,
+      );
+      await runProcessCommand(
+        "npm",
+        ["install", "-g", packageSpec],
+        QMD_AUTO_UPGRADE_TIMEOUT_MS,
+      );
+      const postInstall = await this.probePostInstallQmdVersion(supported);
+      this.qmdPath = postInstall.qmdPath;
+      this.qmdPathSource = postInstall.source;
+      this.cliVersion = postInstall.version;
+      this.qmdCapabilities = resolveQmdCapabilities(this.cliVersion);
+      await releaseSharedDaemonSession(this.daemonSession);
+      this.daemonSession = null;
+      this.daemonSessionPath = null;
+      this.daemonAvailable = false;
+      this.daemonTransientFailures = 0;
+      const upgraded = parseQmdVersion(this.cliVersion);
+      if (!upgraded || compareQmdVersions(upgraded, supported) < 0) {
+        const status = `failed: post-install version=${this.cliVersion ?? "unknown"} target=${this.qmdSupportedVersion}`;
+        recordAutoUpgradeStatus(state, targetKey, status);
+        log.warn(`QMD auto-upgrade did not reach supported version: ${status}`);
+        return;
+      }
+      recordAutoUpgradeStatus(
+        state,
+        targetKey,
+        `upgraded: installed=${this.cliVersion ?? "unknown"} target=${this.qmdSupportedVersion}`,
+      );
+    } catch (err) {
+      const msg = err instanceof Error ? err.message : String(err);
+      recordAutoUpgradeStatus(state, targetKey, `failed: ${msg}`);
+      log.warn(`QMD auto-upgrade failed: ${msg}`);
+    }
+  }
+
+  private async probePostInstallQmdVersion(supported: QmdVersionTuple): Promise<{
+    qmdPath: string;
+    source: "auto-path" | "auto-fallback";
+    version: string | null;
+  }> {
+    let lastErr: unknown;
+    let lastResult: { qmdPath: string; source: "auto-path" | "auto-fallback"; version: string | null } | null = null;
+    for (const candidate of getQmdPostInstallProbeTargets(this.qmdPath, this.qmdPathSource)) {
+      try {
+        const result = await runQmd(
+          ["--version"],
+          QMD_PROBE_TIMEOUT_MS,
+          candidate.qmdPath,
+          undefined,
+          this.qmdRuntimeEnv,
+        );
+        const postInstall = {
+          ...candidate,
+          version: parseQmdVersionOutput(result.stdout, result.stderr),
+        };
+        lastResult = postInstall;
+        const parsed = parseQmdVersion(postInstall.version);
+        if (parsed && compareQmdVersions(parsed, supported) >= 0) {
+          return postInstall;
+        }
+      } catch (err) {
+        lastErr = err;
+      }
+    }
+    if (lastResult) return lastResult;
+    throw lastErr instanceof Error ? lastErr : new Error(String(lastErr));
+  }
+
+  private autoUpgradeTargetKey(): string {
+    return JSON.stringify({
+      path: this.qmdPath.trim() || "qmd",
+      source: this.qmdPathSource,
+      index: this.qmdIndexName ?? "",
+      supportedVersion: this.qmdSupportedVersion,
+      runtimeEnv: stableRuntimeEnvKey(this.qmdRuntimeEnv),
+    });
+  }
+
+  private logCliProbeWarning(message: string): void {
+    const state = getGlobalQmdState();
+    const now = Date.now();
+    const canWarn =
+      state.lastCliWarnAtMs === null || now - state.lastCliWarnAtMs >= QMD_CLI_WARN_THROTTLE_MS;
+    if (!canWarn) {
+      log.debug(message);
+      return;
+    }
+    state.lastCliWarnAtMs = now;
+    if (this.daemonAvailable) {
+      // Daemon mode is healthy; keep this as debug noise rather than warning.
+      log.debug(message);
+      return;
+    }
+    log.warn(message);
+  }
+
+  /** Re-probe daemon if it was down and recheck interval has elapsed. */
+  private async maybeProbeDaemon(): Promise<void> {
+    if (!this.daemonEnabled) return;
+    // If daemon is marked healthy and session is active, nothing to do.
+    if (this.daemonAvailable && this.daemonSession?.isActive()) return;
+    // If recently checked and failed, respect the recheck interval.
+    if (this.daemonAvailable === false) {
+      const elapsed = Date.now() - this.lastDaemonCheckAtMs;
+      if (elapsed < this.daemonRecheckIntervalMs) return;
+    }
+    this.daemonAvailable = false;
+    await this.probeDaemon();
+  }
+
+  isAvailable(): boolean {
+    return this.available === true || this.daemonAvailable;
+  }
+
+  /** Debug string for troubleshooting availability issues. */
+  debugStatus(): string {
+    const cliPath = this.available ? this.qmdPath : (this.configuredQmdPath ?? "unavailable");
+    const cliVersion = this.cliVersion ?? "unknown";
+    const status = this.getVersionStatus();
+    const enabledFeatures = Object.entries(status.capabilities)
+      .filter(([key, value]) => key !== "version" && key !== "parsedVersion" && value === true)
+      .map(([key]) => key)
+      .join(",");
+    const globalState = getGlobalQmdState();
+    const autoUpgradeStatus =
+      globalState.lastAutoUpgradeStatusByTarget[this.autoUpgradeTargetKey()] ??
+      globalState.lastAutoUpgradeStatus;
+    const probeError = this.lastCliProbeError ? ` cliProbeError=${this.lastCliProbeError}` : "";
+    return `cli=${this.available} daemon=${this.daemonAvailable} session=${!!this.daemonSession} cliPath=${cliPath} cliPathSource=${this.qmdPathSource} cliVersion=${cliVersion} supportedVersion=${status.supportedVersion} upgradeAvailable=${status.upgradeAvailable} qmdFeatures=${enabledFeatures || "none"}${autoUpgradeStatus ? ` autoUpgrade=${autoUpgradeStatus}` : ""}${probeError}`;
+  }
+
+  getVersionStatus(): QmdVersionStatus {
+    const installed = parseQmdVersion(this.cliVersion);
+    const supported = parseQmdVersion(this.qmdSupportedVersion) ?? parseQmdVersion(QMD_SUPPORTED_VERSION)!;
+    const cmp = compareQmdVersions(installed, supported);
+    return {
+      installedVersion: this.cliVersion,
+      supportedVersion: qmdVersionToString(supported),
+      supported: installed !== null && cmp >= 0,
+      newerThanSupported: installed !== null && cmp > 0,
+      upgradeAvailable: installed !== null && cmp < 0,
+      capabilities: this.qmdCapabilities,
+    };
+  }
+
+  async doctor(): Promise<QmdDoctorReport> {
+    if (!this.isAvailable()) {
+      return { available: false, skipped: "qmd unavailable" };
+    }
+    if (!this.qmdCapabilities.doctor) {
+      return {
+        available: false,
+        skipped: `qmd doctor requires qmd >=2.5.0; installed ${this.cliVersion ?? "unknown"}`,
+      };
+    }
+    try {
+      const { stdout } = await this.runQmdCommand(["doctor", "--json"], QMD_TIMEOUT_MS);
+      const trimmed = stdout.trim();
+      if (!trimmed) return { available: true, report: null };
+      try {
+        return { available: true, report: JSON.parse(trimmed) };
+      } catch {
+        return { available: true, raw: trimmed };
+      }
+    } catch (err) {
+      return {
+        available: false,
+        error: err instanceof Error ? err.message : String(err),
+      };
+    }
+  }
+
+  isDaemonMode(): boolean {
+    return this.daemonAvailable;
+  }
+
+  async dispose(): Promise<void> {
+    await releaseSharedDaemonSession(this.daemonSession);
+    this.daemonSession = null;
+    this.daemonSessionPath = null;
+    this.daemonAvailable = false;
+    this.daemonTransientFailures = 0;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Record a daemon search success — resets the transient failure counter.
+   */
+  private recordDaemonSuccess(): void {
+    this.daemonTransientFailures = 0;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Handle a non-timeout, non-cancellation daemon error.
+   * Tolerates up to DAEMON_MAX_TRANSIENT_FAILURES consecutive failures
+   * before invalidating the session. This prevents a single transient
+   * error from pushing all concurrent searches through the subprocess
+   * mutex for the full recheck interval.
+   */
+  private handleDaemonTransientError(label: string, err: unknown, durationMs: number): void {
+    // If daemon was already marked unavailable by a concurrent call, don't
+    // increment further — the counter will reset on the next successful probe.
+    if (!this.daemonAvailable) {
+      log.debug(`QMD daemon ${label} failed after ${durationMs}ms (daemon already unavailable, ignoring): ${err}`);
+      return;
+    }
+    this.daemonTransientFailures += 1;
+    if (this.daemonTransientFailures >= QmdClient.DAEMON_MAX_TRANSIENT_FAILURES) {
+      log.debug(`QMD daemon ${label} failed after ${durationMs}ms (${this.daemonTransientFailures} consecutive failures, invalidating): ${err}`);
+      this.daemonSession?.invalidate();
+      this.daemonAvailable = false;
+      this.daemonTransientFailures = 0;
+    } else {
+      log.debug(`QMD daemon ${label} failed after ${durationMs}ms (transient ${this.daemonTransientFailures}/${QmdClient.DAEMON_MAX_TRANSIENT_FAILURES}): ${err}`);
+    }
+  }
+
+  private async runQmdCommand(
+    args: string[],
+    timeoutMs: number,
+    signal?: AbortSignal,
+  ): Promise<{ stdout: string; stderr: string }> {
+    const commandArgs =
+      this.qmdIndexName && this.qmdCapabilities.mcpIndexSelection
+        ? ["--index", this.qmdIndexName, ...args]
+        : args;
+    return runQmd(commandArgs, timeoutMs, this.qmdPath, signal, this.qmdRuntimeEnv);
+  }
+
+  private supportsIntentHints(): boolean {
+    return this.qmdCapabilities.intentHints;
+  }
+
+  private supportsExplainTraces(): boolean {
+    return this.qmdCapabilities.explainTraces;
+  }
+
+  private supportsCandidateLimit(): boolean {
+    return this.qmdCapabilities.candidateLimit;
+  }
+
+  private supportsRerankToggle(): boolean {
+    return this.qmdCapabilities.queryRerankToggle;
+  }
+
+  private supportsChunkStrategy(): boolean {
+    return this.qmdCapabilities.chunkStrategy;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * QMD v2 (>= 2.0.0) uses a new MCP tool API:
+   * - `search` and `vsearch` tools removed; only `query` tool exists
+   * - `query` accepts `{ searches: [{ type, query }], collections?: string[] }`
+   *   instead of `{ query: string, collection?: string }`
+   * - `collection` (singular) → `collections` (plural array)
+   */
+  private isQmdV2(): boolean {
+    return this.qmdCapabilities.v2McpQueryTool;
+  }
+
+  private resolveSearchOptions(options?: SearchQueryOptions): SearchQueryOptions | undefined {
+    const normalized = normalizeSearchOptions(options);
+    const withDefaults: SearchQueryOptions = { ...(normalized ?? {}) };
+    if (this.qmdCandidateLimit !== undefined && withDefaults.candidateLimit === undefined) {
+      withDefaults.candidateLimit = this.qmdCandidateLimit;
+    }
+    if (!this.qmdQueryRerankEnabled && withDefaults.rerank === undefined) {
+      withDefaults.rerank = false;
+    }
+    if (this.qmdChunkStrategy && withDefaults.chunkStrategy === undefined) {
+      withDefaults.chunkStrategy = this.qmdChunkStrategy;
+    }
+    const resolved: SearchQueryOptions = {};
+    if (withDefaults.intent && this.supportsIntentHints()) {
+      resolved.intent = withDefaults.intent;
+    }
+    if (withDefaults.explain === true && this.supportsExplainTraces()) {
+      resolved.explain = true;
+    }
+    if (
+      typeof withDefaults.candidateLimit === "number" &&
+      withDefaults.candidateLimit > 0 &&
+      this.supportsCandidateLimit()
+    ) {
+      resolved.candidateLimit = Math.floor(withDefaults.candidateLimit);
+    }
+    if (withDefaults.rerank === false && this.supportsRerankToggle()) {
+      resolved.rerank = false;
+    }
+    if (withDefaults.chunkStrategy && this.supportsChunkStrategy()) {
+      resolved.chunkStrategy = withDefaults.chunkStrategy;
+    }
+    if (this.qmdCapabilities.structuredSearches) {
+      const structuredSearches = normalizeStructuredSearches(withDefaults.structuredSearches);
+      if (structuredSearches.length > 0) {
+        resolved.structuredSearches = structuredSearches;
+      }
+    }
+    return Object.keys(resolved).length > 0 ? resolved : undefined;
+  }
+
+  resolveSupportedSearchOptions(options?: SearchQueryOptions): SearchQueryOptions | undefined {
+    return this.resolveSearchOptions(options);
+  }
+
+  private addResolvedSearchOptionsToArgs(args: string[], options?: SearchQueryOptions): void {
+    if (options?.intent) {
+      args.push("--intent", options.intent);
+    }
+    if (options?.explain === true) {
+      args.push("--explain");
+    }
+    if (typeof options?.candidateLimit === "number" && options.candidateLimit > 0) {
+      args.push("--candidate-limit", String(Math.floor(options.candidateLimit)));
+    }
+    if (options?.rerank === false) {
+      args.push("--no-rerank");
+    }
+    if (options?.chunkStrategy) {
+      args.push("--chunk-strategy", options.chunkStrategy);
+    }
+  }
+
+  private addResolvedSearchOptionsToMcpArgs(
+    args: Record<string, unknown>,
+    options?: SearchQueryOptions,
+  ): void {
+    if (options?.intent) {
+      args.intent = options.intent;
+    }
+    if (options?.explain === true) {
+      args.explain = true;
+    }
+    if (typeof options?.candidateLimit === "number" && options.candidateLimit > 0) {
+      args.candidateLimit = Math.floor(options.candidateLimit);
+    }
+    if (options?.rerank === false) {
+      args.rerank = false;
+    }
+    // QMD 2.5.1 MCP query does not expose chunkStrategy even though CLI/SDK
+    // search and embed do. Keep chunk strategy on CLI/embed paths only.
+  }
+
+  private buildEmbedArgs(collection: string, force = false): string[] {
+    const args = ["embed"];
+    if (force) args.push("-f");
+    args.push("-c", collection);
+    if (this.qmdChunkStrategy && this.qmdCapabilities.chunkStrategy) {
+      args.push("--chunk-strategy", this.qmdChunkStrategy);
+    }
+    return args;
+  }
+
+  async search(
+    query: string,
+    collection?: string,
+    maxResults?: number,
+    options?: SearchQueryOptions,
+    execution?: SearchExecutionOptions,
+  ): Promise<QmdSearchResult[]> {
+    if (!this.isAvailable()) return [];
+    const trimmed = query.trim();
+    if (!trimmed) return [];
+
+    const col = collection ?? this.collection;
+    const n = maxResults ?? this.maxResults;
+    const searchOptions = this.resolveSearchOptions(options);
+
+    // Short-lived search result cache — avoids redundant daemon calls for
+    // repeated queries within the same recall cycle (e.g., primary + hybrid
+    // top-up, or conversation recall using the same collection).
+    const optionsFingerprint = searchOptions ? JSON.stringify(searchOptions) : "";
+    const cacheKey = createHash("sha256").update(`${col}:${n}:${optionsFingerprint}:${trimmed}`).digest("hex");
+    const cached = getCachedQmdSearch(cacheKey);
+    if (cached) {
+      log.debug(`QMD search cache hit (${cached.length} results)`);
+      return cached as QmdSearchResult[];
+    }
+
+    // Try daemon first (bypasses QMD_MUTEX — daemon handles its own concurrency)
+    await this.maybeProbeDaemon();
+    if (this.daemonAvailable) {
+      let results: QmdSearchResult[] | null;
+      try {
+        results = await this.searchViaDaemon(trimmed, col, n, searchOptions, execution?.signal);
+      } catch (err) {
+        if (isCallerCancellation(err, execution?.signal)) {
+          throw isAbortError(err) ? err : abortError("QMD daemon search aborted");
+        }
+        throw err;
+      }
+      // When the daemon is available, trust its outcome and skip the subprocess.
+      // The subprocess runs `qmd query` (BM25 + LLM expansion) which hangs at
+      // 99% CPU on large collections (75K+ files) making it strictly worse than
+      // the daemon for this workload. Specifically:
+      //   results !== null → daemon succeeded (even with 0 hits) → return as-is
+      //   results === null → daemon timed-out or errored → still skip subprocess
+      //                      because subprocess will also hang or timeout
+      if (results !== null) {
+        if (results.length === 0) {
+          log.debug("QMD daemon search returned 0 results; skipping subprocess");
+        }
+        setCachedQmdSearch(cacheKey, results);
+        return results;
+      }
+      // Daemon timed out or had a transient error — skip subprocess for large
+      // collections. Return empty rather than hanging the caller.
+      log.debug("QMD daemon search timed out/failed; skipping subprocess (daemon-only mode)");
+      return [];
+    }
+
+    // If the daemon process is spawned but still loading (handshake not yet complete),
+    // skip subprocess — it would add load and block under QMD_MUTEX without helping.
+    // Return empty and let the next recheck cycle pick up the daemon once ready.
+    if (this.daemonSession?.isLoading()) {
+      log.debug("QMD search: daemon loading, skipping subprocess");
+      return [];
+    }
+
+    // Subprocess fallback (only reached when daemon is unavailable and not loading)
+    const subprocessResults = await this.searchViaSubprocess(trimmed, col, n, searchOptions, execution?.signal);
+    setCachedQmdSearch(cacheKey, subprocessResults);
+    return subprocessResults;
+  }
+
+  async searchGlobal(
+    query: string,
+    maxResults?: number,
+    execution?: SearchExecutionOptions,
+  ): Promise<QmdSearchResult[]> {
+    if (!this.isAvailable()) return [];
+    const trimmed = query.trim();
+    if (!trimmed) return [];
+
+    const n = maxResults ?? 6;
+    const searchOptions = this.resolveSearchOptions();
+
+    // Try daemon first
+    await this.maybeProbeDaemon();
+    if (this.daemonAvailable) {
+      // Global search: no collection filter
+      let results: QmdSearchResult[] | null;
+      try {
+        results = await this.searchViaDaemon(trimmed, undefined, n, searchOptions, execution?.signal);
+      } catch (err) {
+        if (isCallerCancellation(err, execution?.signal)) {
+          throw isAbortError(err) ? err : abortError("QMD daemon global search aborted");
+        }
+        throw err;
+      }
+      // Same rationale as search() — trust daemon outcome, skip subprocess.
+      if (results !== null) {
+        if (results.length === 0) {
+          log.debug("QMD daemon global search returned 0 results; skipping subprocess");
+        }
+        return results;
+      }
+      log.debug("QMD daemon global search timed out/failed; skipping subprocess (daemon-only mode)");
+      return [];
+    }
+
+    // If the daemon is spawned but still loading, skip subprocess — same as search().
+    if (this.daemonSession?.isLoading()) {
+      log.debug("QMD searchGlobal: daemon loading, skipping subprocess");
+      return [];
+    }
+
+    // Subprocess fallback (only reached when daemon is unavailable and not loading)
+    return this.searchGlobalViaSubprocess(trimmed, n, searchOptions, execution?.signal);
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * BM25 keyword search (fast, ~0.3s). Uses `qmd search`.
+   */
+  async bm25Search(
+    query: string,
+    collection?: string,
+    maxResults?: number,
+    execution?: SearchExecutionOptions,
+  ): Promise<QmdSearchResult[]> {
+    if (!this.isAvailable()) return [];
+    const trimmed = query.trim();
+    if (!trimmed) return [];
+    const col = collection ?? this.collection;
+    const n = maxResults ?? this.maxResults;
+
+    // Try daemon first — BM25 via daemon is much faster than subprocess.
+    await this.maybeProbeDaemon();
+    if (this.daemonAvailable && this.daemonSession) {
+      let results: QmdSearchResult[] | null;
+      try {
+        results = await this.bm25SearchViaDaemon(trimmed, col, n, execution?.signal);
+      } catch (err) {
+        if (isCallerCancellation(err, execution?.signal)) {
+          throw isAbortError(err) ? err : abortError("QMD daemon bm25 aborted");
+        }
+        throw err;
+      }
+      // When daemon is available, trust its outcome and skip subprocess (same
+      // rationale as search() — subprocess hangs at 99% CPU on 75K+ files).
+      if (results !== null) {
+        if (results.length === 0) {
+          log.debug("QMD daemon bm25 returned 0 results; skipping subprocess");
+        }
+        return results;
+      }
+      log.debug("QMD daemon bm25 timed out/failed; skipping subprocess (daemon-only mode)");
+      return [];
+    }
+    if (this.daemonSession?.isLoading()) {
+      log.debug("QMD bm25: daemon loading, skipping subprocess");
+      return [];
+    }
+    return this.bm25SearchViaSubprocess(trimmed, col, n, execution?.signal);
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Vector similarity search (~3-4s). Uses `qmd vsearch`.
+   */
+  async vectorSearch(
+    query: string,
+    collection?: string,
+    maxResults?: number,
+    execution?: SearchExecutionOptions,
+  ): Promise<QmdSearchResult[]> {
+    if (!this.isAvailable()) return [];
+    const trimmed = query.trim();
+    if (!trimmed) return [];
+    const col = collection ?? this.collection;
+    const n = maxResults ?? this.maxResults;
+
+    // Try daemon first — keeps models warm, avoids cold subprocess loads.
+    await this.maybeProbeDaemon();
+    if (this.daemonAvailable && this.daemonSession) {
+      let results: QmdSearchResult[] | null;
+      try {
+        results = await this.vsearchViaDaemon(trimmed, col, n, execution?.signal);
+      } catch (err) {
+        if (isCallerCancellation(err, execution?.signal)) {
+          throw isAbortError(err) ? err : abortError("QMD daemon vsearch aborted");
+        }
+        throw err;
+      }
+      // When daemon is available, trust its outcome and skip subprocess (same
+      // rationale as search() — subprocess hangs at 99% CPU on 75K+ files).
+      if (results !== null) {
+        if (results.length === 0) {
+          log.debug("QMD daemon vsearch returned 0 results; skipping subprocess");
+        }
+        return results;
+      }
+      log.debug("QMD daemon vsearch timed out/failed; skipping subprocess (daemon-only mode)");
+      return [];
+    }
+    if (this.daemonSession?.isLoading()) {
+      log.debug("QMD vsearch: daemon loading, skipping subprocess");
+      return [];
+    }
+    return this.vsearchViaSubprocess(trimmed, col, n, execution?.signal);
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Hybrid search: runs BM25 + vector in parallel, merges/dedupes by path
+   * keeping the best score and first non-empty snippet.
+   */
+  async hybridSearch(
+    query: string,
+    collection?: string,
+    maxResults?: number,
+    execution?: SearchExecutionOptions,
+  ): Promise<QmdSearchResult[]> {
+    const n = maxResults ?? this.maxResults;
+    const trimmed = query.trim();
+    if (!trimmed) return [];
+
+    const [bm25Results, vectorResults] = await Promise.all([
+      this.bm25Search(trimmed, collection, n, execution),
+      this.vectorSearch(trimmed, collection, n, execution),
+    ]);
+
+    // Merge by path, keeping best score
+    const merged = new Map<string, QmdSearchResult>();
+    for (const r of [...bm25Results, ...vectorResults]) {
+      const key = r.path || r.docid;
+      const existing = merged.get(key);
+      if (!existing || r.score > existing.score) {
+        merged.set(key, {
+          ...r,
+          snippet: r.snippet || existing?.snippet || "",
+        });
+      }
+    }
+
+    // Sort by score descending, take top N
+    return [...merged.values()]
+      .sort((a, b) => b.score - a.score)
+      .slice(0, n);
+  }
+
+  private async searchViaDaemon(
+    query: string,
+    collection: string | undefined,
+    maxResults: number,
+    options?: SearchQueryOptions,
+    signal?: AbortSignal,
+  ): Promise<QmdSearchResult[] | null> {
+    if (!this.daemonSession || !this.daemonAvailable) return null;
+
+    const startedAtMs = Date.now();
+    const v2 = this.isQmdV2();
+    try {
+      let args: Record<string, unknown>;
+      if (v2) {
+        // QMD v2: query tool expects { searches: [...], collections?: [...] }
+        // The MCP tool is structured-only in 2.x; use lex+vec+hyde by default
+        // to exercise QMD's RRF + rerank path and let callers override when
+        // they have stronger query-document structure.
+        const searches = buildDefaultStructuredSearches(query, options);
+        args = { searches, limit: maxResults };
+        if (collection) {
+          args.collections = [collection];
+        }
+        this.addResolvedSearchOptionsToMcpArgs(args, options);
+      } else {
+        // QMD v1: query tool accepts { query, collection?, limit }
+        args = { query, limit: maxResults };
+        if (collection) {
+          args.collection = collection;
+        }
+        this.addResolvedSearchOptionsToMcpArgs(args, options);
+      }
+
+      const result = await this.daemonSession.callTool("query", args, QMD_DAEMON_TIMEOUT_MS, signal);
+      const durationMs = Date.now() - startedAtMs;
+
+      if (this.slowLog?.enabled && durationMs >= this.slowLog.thresholdMs) {
+        log.warn(
+          `SLOW QMD daemon query: durationMs=${durationMs} collection=${collection ?? "global"} maxResults=${maxResults} queryChars=${query.length} v2=${v2}`,
+        );
+      }
+
+      const results = parseMcpSearchResult(result, "daemon");
+
+      log.debug(`QMD daemon search: ${results.length} results in ${durationMs}ms (v2=${v2})`);
+      this.recordDaemonSuccess();
+      return results;
+    } catch (err) {
+      const durationMs = Date.now() - startedAtMs;
+      if (isCallerCancellation(err, signal)) {
+        log.debug(`QMD daemon search aborted/cancelled after ${durationMs}ms`);
+        throw isAbortError(err) ? err : abortError("QMD daemon search aborted");
+      }
+      // Timeout: don't invalidate session — daemon is still running, just slow.
+      if (isDaemonTimeoutError(err)) {
+        log.debug(`QMD daemon search timed out after ${durationMs}ms, falling back to subprocess`);
+        return null;
+      }
+      // Transient error: tolerate a few before invalidating.
+      this.handleDaemonTransientError("search", err, durationMs);
+      return null;
+    }
+  }
+
+  private async bm25SearchViaDaemon(
+    query: string,
+    collection: string,
+    maxResults: number,
+    signal?: AbortSignal,
+  ): Promise<QmdSearchResult[] | null> {
+    if (!this.daemonSession || !this.daemonAvailable) return null;
+
+    const startedAtMs = Date.now();
+    const v2 = this.isQmdV2();
+    try {
+      let result: unknown;
+      if (v2) {
+        // QMD v2: no `search` tool — use `query` with lex-only sub-query
+        result = await this.daemonSession.callTool(
+          "query",
+          {
+            searches: [{ type: "lex", query }],
+            collections: [collection],
+            limit: maxResults,
+          },
+          QMD_DAEMON_TIMEOUT_MS,
+          signal,
+        );
+      } else {
+        // QMD v1: dedicated `search` tool for BM25
+        result = await this.daemonSession.callTool(
+          "search",
+          { query, limit: maxResults, collection },
+          QMD_DAEMON_TIMEOUT_MS,
+          signal,
+        );
+      }
+      const durationMs = Date.now() - startedAtMs;
+      const results = parseMcpSearchResult(result);
+      log.debug(`QMD daemon bm25: ${results.length} results in ${durationMs}ms (v2=${v2})`);
+      this.recordDaemonSuccess();
+      return results;
+    } catch (err) {
+      const durationMs = Date.now() - startedAtMs;
+      if (isCallerCancellation(err, signal)) {
+        log.debug(`QMD daemon bm25 aborted/cancelled after ${durationMs}ms`);
+        throw isAbortError(err) ? err : abortError("QMD daemon bm25 aborted");
+      }
+      if (isDaemonTimeoutError(err)) {
+        log.debug(`QMD daemon bm25 timed out after ${durationMs}ms, falling back to subprocess`);
+        return null;
+      }
+      this.handleDaemonTransientError("bm25", err, durationMs);
+      return null;
+    }
+  }
+
+  private async vsearchViaDaemon(
+    query: string,
+    collection: string,
+    maxResults: number,
+    signal?: AbortSignal,
+  ): Promise<QmdSearchResult[] | null> {
+    if (!this.daemonSession || !this.daemonAvailable) return null;
+
+    const startedAtMs = Date.now();
+    const v2 = this.isQmdV2();
+    try {
+      let result: unknown;
+      if (v2) {
+        // QMD v2: no `vsearch` tool — use `query` with vec-only sub-query
+        result = await this.daemonSession.callTool(
+          "query",
+          {
+            searches: [{ type: "vec", query }],
+            collections: [collection],
+            limit: maxResults,
+          },
+          QMD_DAEMON_TIMEOUT_MS,
+          signal,
+        );
+      } else {
+        // QMD v1: dedicated `vsearch` tool for vector search
+        result = await this.daemonSession.callTool(
+          "vsearch",
+          { query, limit: maxResults, collection },
+          QMD_DAEMON_TIMEOUT_MS,
+          signal,
+        );
+      }
+      const durationMs = Date.now() - startedAtMs;
+      const results = parseMcpSearchResult(result);
+      log.debug(`QMD daemon vsearch: ${results.length} results in ${durationMs}ms (v2=${v2})`);
+      this.recordDaemonSuccess();
+      return results;
+    } catch (err) {
+      const durationMs = Date.now() - startedAtMs;
+      if (isCallerCancellation(err, signal)) {
+        log.debug(`QMD daemon vsearch aborted/cancelled after ${durationMs}ms`);
+        throw isAbortError(err) ? err : abortError("QMD daemon vsearch aborted");
+      }
+      if (isDaemonTimeoutError(err)) {
+        log.debug(`QMD daemon vsearch timed out after ${durationMs}ms, falling back to subprocess`);
+        return null;
+      }
+      this.handleDaemonTransientError("vsearch", err, durationMs);
+      return null;
+    }
+  }
+
+  private async searchViaSubprocess(
+    query: string,
+    collection: string,
+    maxResults: number,
+    options?: SearchQueryOptions,
+    signal?: AbortSignal,
+  ): Promise<QmdSearchResult[]> {
+    if (this.available === false) return [];
+
+    const startedAtMs = Date.now();
+    try {
+      const args = ["query", query, "-c", collection, "--json", "-n", String(maxResults)];
+      this.addResolvedSearchOptionsToArgs(args, options);
+      const { stdout } = await this.runQmdCommand(args, QMD_TIMEOUT_MS, signal);
+      const durationMs = Date.now() - startedAtMs;
+      if (this.slowLog?.enabled && durationMs >= this.slowLog.thresholdMs) {
+        log.warn(
+          `SLOW QMD query: durationMs=${durationMs} collection=${collection} maxResults=${maxResults} queryChars=${query.length}`,
+        );
+      }
+
+      return parseQmdSearchStdout(stdout, "subprocess");
+    } catch (err) {
+      if (isCallerCancellation(err, signal)) {
+        throw isAbortError(err) ? err : abortError("QMD subprocess search aborted");
+      }
+      log.debug(`QMD search failed: ${err}`);
+      return [];
+    }
+  }
+
+  private async bm25SearchViaSubprocess(
+    query: string,
+    collection: string,
+    maxResults: number,
+    signal?: AbortSignal,
+  ): Promise<QmdSearchResult[]> {
+    if (this.available === false) return [];
+    const startedAtMs = Date.now();
+    try {
+      const { stdout } = await this.runQmdCommand(
+        ["search", query, "-c", collection, "--json", "-n", String(maxResults)],
+        QMD_TIMEOUT_MS,
+        signal,
+      );
+      log.debug(`QMD bm25: ${Date.now() - startedAtMs}ms`);
+      return parseQmdSearchStdout(stdout);
+    } catch (err) {
+      if (isCallerCancellation(err, signal)) {
+        throw isAbortError(err) ? err : abortError("QMD subprocess bm25 aborted");
+      }
+      log.debug(`QMD bm25 search failed: ${err}`);
+      return [];
+    }
+  }
+
+  private async vsearchViaSubprocess(
+    query: string,
+    collection: string,
+    maxResults: number,
+    signal?: AbortSignal,
+  ): Promise<QmdSearchResult[]> {
+    if (this.available === false) return [];
+    const startedAtMs = Date.now();
+    try {
+      const { stdout } = await this.runQmdCommand(
+        ["vsearch", query, "-c", collection, "--json", "-n", String(maxResults)],
+        QMD_TIMEOUT_MS,
+        signal,
+      );
+      log.debug(`QMD vsearch: ${Date.now() - startedAtMs}ms`);
+      return parseQmdSearchStdout(stdout);
+    } catch (err) {
+      if (isCallerCancellation(err, signal)) {
+        throw isAbortError(err) ? err : abortError("QMD subprocess vsearch aborted");
+      }
+      log.debug(`QMD vsearch failed: ${err}`);
+      return [];
+    }
+  }
+
+  private async searchGlobalViaSubprocess(
+    query: string,
+    maxResults: number,
+    options?: SearchQueryOptions,
+    signal?: AbortSignal,
+  ): Promise<QmdSearchResult[]> {
+    if (this.available === false) return [];
+
+    const startedAtMs = Date.now();
+    try {
+      const args = ["query", query, "--json", "-n", String(maxResults)];
+      this.addResolvedSearchOptionsToArgs(args, options);
+      const { stdout } = await this.runQmdCommand(args, QMD_TIMEOUT_MS, signal);
+      const durationMs = Date.now() - startedAtMs;
+      if (this.slowLog?.enabled && durationMs >= this.slowLog.thresholdMs) {
+        log.warn(
+          `SLOW QMD global query: durationMs=${durationMs} maxResults=${maxResults} queryChars=${query.length}`,
+        );
+      }
+
+      return parseQmdSearchStdout(stdout);
+    } catch (err) {
+      if (isCallerCancellation(err, signal)) {
+        throw isAbortError(err) ? err : abortError("QMD subprocess global search aborted");
+      }
+      log.debug(`QMD global search failed: ${err}`);
+      return [];
+    }
+  }
+
+  async update(execution?: SearchExecutionOptions): Promise<void> {
+    await this.runUpdateForCollection(
+      this.collection,
+      { perCollectionThrottle: false },
+      execution?.signal,
+    );
+  }
+
+  async updateCollection(
+    collection: string,
+    execution?: SearchExecutionOptions,
+  ): Promise<void> {
+    await this.runUpdateForCollection(
+      collection,
+      { perCollectionThrottle: true },
+      execution?.signal,
+    );
+  }
+
+  async updateCollectionStrict(
+    collection: string,
+    execution?: SearchExecutionOptions,
+  ): Promise<void> {
+    await this.runUpdateForCollection(
+      collection,
+      { perCollectionThrottle: true, strict: true },
+      execution?.signal,
+    );
+  }
+
+  updatesAllCollections(): boolean {
+    return true;
+  }
+
+  private async runUpdateForCollection(
+    collection: string,
+    options: { perCollectionThrottle: boolean; strict?: boolean },
+    signal?: AbortSignal,
+  ): Promise<void> {
+    if (this.available === false) {
+      if (options.strict) {
+        throw new Error("QMD unavailable");
+      }
+      return;
+    }
+    const name = collection.trim();
+    if (!name) {
+      if (options.strict) {
+        throw new Error("QMD collection name is required");
+      }
+      return;
+    }
+    const globalState = getGlobalQmdState();
+    const now = Date.now();
+    if (!options.strict && options.perCollectionThrottle) {
+      if (
+        globalState.lastGlobalUpdateFailAtMs &&
+        now - globalState.lastGlobalUpdateFailAtMs < QMD_UPDATE_BACKOFF_MS
+      ) {
+        log.debug("QMD update: suppressed by global failure backoff");
+        return;
+      }
+      const lastCollectionRun = globalState.lastUpdateByCollectionMs[name];
+      if (
+        Number.isFinite(lastCollectionRun) &&
+        now - lastCollectionRun < this.updateMinIntervalMs
+      ) {
+        log.debug(`QMD update: suppressed by per-collection min-interval gate (${name})`);
+        return;
+      }
+      const lastCollectionFail = globalState.lastUpdateFailByCollectionMs[name];
+      if (
+        Number.isFinite(lastCollectionFail) &&
+        now - lastCollectionFail < QMD_UPDATE_BACKOFF_MS
+      ) {
+        log.debug(`QMD update: suppressed by per-collection failure backoff (${name})`);
+        return;
+      }
+    } else if (!options.strict) {
+      if (
+        this.lastUpdateRunAtMs &&
+        now - this.lastUpdateRunAtMs < this.updateMinIntervalMs
+      ) {
+        log.debug("QMD update: suppressed due to min-interval gate");
+        return;
+      }
+      if (
+        this._lastUpdateFailAtMs &&
+        now - this._lastUpdateFailAtMs < QMD_UPDATE_BACKOFF_MS
+      ) {
+        log.debug("QMD update: suppressed due to recent failures (backoff)");
+        return;
+      }
+      if (
+        globalState.lastGlobalUpdateRunAtMs &&
+        now - globalState.lastGlobalUpdateRunAtMs < this.updateMinIntervalMs
+      ) {
+        log.debug("QMD update: suppressed by global min-interval gate");
+        return;
+      }
+      if (
+        globalState.lastGlobalUpdateFailAtMs &&
+        now - globalState.lastGlobalUpdateFailAtMs < QMD_UPDATE_BACKOFF_MS
+      ) {
+        log.debug("QMD update: suppressed by global failure backoff");
+        return;
+      }
+    }
+    try {
+      if (!globalState.warnedGlobalUpdateBehavior) {
+        globalState.warnedGlobalUpdateBehavior = true;
+        log.warn(
+          "QMD update runs globally across collections in current CLI versions; Engram now rate-limits update calls to reduce gateway load.",
+        );
+      }
+      const startedAtMs = Date.now();
+      await this.runQmdCommand(["update", "-c", name], this.updateTimeoutMs, signal);
+      const durationMs = Date.now() - startedAtMs;
+      if (this.slowLog?.enabled && durationMs >= this.slowLog.thresholdMs) {
+        log.warn(`SLOW QMD update: durationMs=${durationMs}`);
+      }
+      const at = Date.now();
+      if (options.perCollectionThrottle) {
+        globalState.lastUpdateByCollectionMs[name] = at;
+        globalState.lastGlobalUpdateRunAtMs = at;
+      } else {
+        this.lastUpdateRunAtMs = at;
+        globalState.lastGlobalUpdateRunAtMs = at;
+      }
+      log.debug(`QMD update completed for collection=${name}`);
+    } catch (err) {
+      const at = Date.now();
+      if (options.perCollectionThrottle) {
+        globalState.lastUpdateFailByCollectionMs[name] = at;
+        globalState.lastGlobalUpdateFailAtMs = at;
+      } else {
+        this._lastUpdateFailAtMs = at;
+        globalState.lastGlobalUpdateFailAtMs = at;
+      }
+      const msg = err instanceof Error ? err.message : String(err);
+      log.warn(`QMD update failed for collection ${name}: ${msg}`);
+      if (options.strict) {
+        throw err;
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  async embed(): Promise<void> {
+    if (this.available === false) return;
+    const globalState = getGlobalQmdState();
+    if (
+      this.lastEmbedFailAtMs &&
+      Date.now() - this.lastEmbedFailAtMs < QMD_EMBED_BACKOFF_MS
+    ) {
+      log.debug("QMD embed: suppressed due to recent failures (backoff)");
+      return;
+    }
+    if (
+      globalState.lastGlobalEmbedRunAtMs &&
+      Date.now() - globalState.lastGlobalEmbedRunAtMs < this.updateMinIntervalMs
+    ) {
+      log.debug("QMD embed: suppressed by global min-interval gate");
+      return;
+    }
+    if (
+      globalState.lastGlobalEmbedFailAtMs &&
+      Date.now() - globalState.lastGlobalEmbedFailAtMs < QMD_EMBED_BACKOFF_MS
+    ) {
+      log.debug("QMD embed: suppressed by global failure backoff");
+      return;
+    }
+    try {
+      const startedAtMs = Date.now();
+      await this.runQmdCommand(this.buildEmbedArgs(this.collection), 300_000);
+      const durationMs = Date.now() - startedAtMs;
+      if (this.slowLog?.enabled && durationMs >= this.slowLog.thresholdMs) {
+        log.warn(`SLOW QMD embed: durationMs=${durationMs}`);
+      }
+      globalState.lastGlobalEmbedRunAtMs = Date.now();
+      log.debug("QMD embed completed");
+    } catch (err) {
+      if (isVectorDimensionMismatchError(err)) {
+        try {
+          log.warn("QMD embed hit a vector dimension mismatch; retrying with force re-embed");
+          await this.runQmdCommand(this.buildEmbedArgs(this.collection, true), 300_000);
+          globalState.lastGlobalEmbedRunAtMs = Date.now();
+          this.lastEmbedFailAtMs = null;
+          globalState.lastGlobalEmbedFailAtMs = null;
+          log.warn("QMD embed recovered by forcing a full vector rebuild");
+          return;
+        } catch (retryErr) {
+          const retryMsg = retryErr instanceof Error ? retryErr.message : String(retryErr);
+          log.warn(`QMD force re-embed failed after dimension mismatch: ${retryMsg}`);
+        }
+      }
+      const now = Date.now();
+      this.lastEmbedFailAtMs = now;
+      globalState.lastGlobalEmbedFailAtMs = now;
+      const msg = err instanceof Error ? err.message : String(err);
+      log.warn(`QMD embed failed: ${msg}`);
+    }
+  }
+
+  async embedCollection(collection: string): Promise<void> {
+    if (this.available === false) return;
+    const name = collection.trim();
+    if (!name) return;
+    const globalState = getGlobalQmdState();
+    const now = Date.now();
+    if (
+      globalState.lastGlobalEmbedFailAtMs &&
+      now - globalState.lastGlobalEmbedFailAtMs < QMD_EMBED_BACKOFF_MS
+    ) {
+      log.debug(`QMD embed: suppressed by global failure backoff (${name})`);
+      return;
+    }
+    const lastCollectionRun = globalState.lastEmbedByCollectionMs[name];
+    if (
+      Number.isFinite(lastCollectionRun) &&
+      now - lastCollectionRun < this.updateMinIntervalMs
+    ) {
+      log.debug(`QMD embed: suppressed by per-collection min-interval gate (${name})`);
+      return;
+    }
+    const lastCollectionFail = globalState.lastEmbedFailByCollectionMs[name];
+    if (
+      Number.isFinite(lastCollectionFail) &&
+      now - lastCollectionFail < QMD_EMBED_BACKOFF_MS
+    ) {
+      log.debug(`QMD embed: suppressed by per-collection failure backoff (${name})`);
+      return;
+    }
+    try {
+      await this.runQmdCommand(this.buildEmbedArgs(name), 300_000);
+      const at = Date.now();
+      globalState.lastEmbedByCollectionMs[name] = at;
+      globalState.lastGlobalEmbedRunAtMs = at;
+    } catch (err) {
+      if (isVectorDimensionMismatchError(err)) {
+        try {
+          log.warn(`QMD embed for collection ${name} hit a vector dimension mismatch; retrying with force re-embed`);
+          await this.runQmdCommand(this.buildEmbedArgs(name, true), 300_000);
+          const recoveredAt = Date.now();
+          globalState.lastEmbedByCollectionMs[name] = recoveredAt;
+          globalState.lastGlobalEmbedRunAtMs = recoveredAt;
+          delete globalState.lastEmbedFailByCollectionMs[name];
+          globalState.lastGlobalEmbedFailAtMs = null;
+          log.warn(`QMD embed for collection ${name} recovered by forcing a full vector rebuild`);
+          return;
+        } catch (retryErr) {
+          const retryMsg = retryErr instanceof Error ? retryErr.message : String(retryErr);
+          log.warn(`QMD force re-embed failed for collection ${name}: ${retryMsg}`);
+        }
+      }
+      const at = Date.now();
+      globalState.lastEmbedFailByCollectionMs[name] = at;
+      globalState.lastGlobalEmbedFailAtMs = at;
+      const msg = err instanceof Error ? err.message : String(err);
+      log.warn(`QMD embed failed for collection ${name}: ${msg}`);
+    }
+  }
+
+  async ensureCollection(memoryDir: string): Promise<"present" | "missing" | "unknown" | "skipped"> {
+    if (this.available === false && !this.daemonAvailable) return "unknown";
+    // If only daemon is available (no CLI), skip collection check
+    if (this.available === false) return "skipped";
+    try {
+      const { stdout } = await this.runQmdCommand(["collection", "list"], QMD_TIMEOUT_MS);
+      // Parse text output: "openclaw-engram (qmd://openclaw-engram/)"
+      const collectionRegex = new RegExp(
+        `^${this.collection}\\s+\\(qmd://`,
+        "m",
+      );
+      if (collectionRegex.test(stdout)) {
+        return "present";
+      }
+    } catch (err) {
+      // Treat command/probe failures as unknown so callers do not disable features
+      // permanently after a transient CLI or daemon hiccup.
+      log.debug(
+        `QMD collection check unavailable for "${this.collection}" (will not disable features): ${err instanceof Error ? err.message : String(err)}`,
+      );
+      return "unknown";
+    }
+
+    log.info(
+      `QMD collection "${this.collection}" not found. ` +
+        `Add it to ~/.config/qmd/index.yml pointing at ${memoryDir}`,
+    );
+    return "missing";
+  }
+}