@remnic/core 9.69.63 → 9.69.65

package/dist/support-passport/index.js

@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import {
   SUPPORT_PASSPORT_MODEL_RESULT_PATH,
   SupportPassportModelBridge,
   parseSupportPassportModelJob
-} from "../chunk-LAEW4S43.js";
+} from "../chunk-DDY7LJMP.js";
 import {
   DEFAULT_SUPPORT_PASSPORT_CONFIG,
   parseSupportPassportConfig
@@ -14,8 +14,8 @@ import {
   buildSupportPassportPublicRequestHandler,
   composeSupportPassportExternalRequestHandlers,
   normalizeSupportPassportNetworkAddress
-} from "../chunk-LVGVXG22.js";
-import "../chunk-24TJ77TT.js";
+} from "../chunk-B2JE56NB.js";
+import "../chunk-6YTL3JYX.js";
 import {
   SUPPORT_PASSPORT_DRAFT_MAX_CONTENT_CHARACTERS,
   SUPPORT_PASSPORT_DRAFT_MAX_MEMORIES,
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ import {
   notifySupportPassportCommitted,
   resolveSupportPassportModelRoutePlan,
   syncDirectoryForDurability
-} from "../chunk-VXGB766B.js";
+} from "../chunk-2ZVSQPAA.js";
 import "../chunk-W4F3C7N7.js";
 import "../chunk-MPC7TYTZ.js";
 import "../chunk-ZHXSOMYH.js";
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ import "../chunk-IFBSZGW3.js";
 import "../chunk-C3QXITIP.js";
 import "../chunk-VQ7B2Q6M.js";
 import "../chunk-OGXXGHW6.js";
-import "../chunk-HNOKNHFO.js";
+import "../chunk-7L747CFR.js";
 import "../chunk-PJSK6OJM.js";
 import "../chunk-GNVZQ5JN.js";
 import "../chunk-YN2UN7N3.js";
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ import "../chunk-6DNMUYEE.js";
 import "../chunk-P5FPO2BR.js";
 import "../chunk-6ET2VII7.js";
 import "../chunk-S4DDLTPX.js";
-import "../chunk-FM5HN7LL.js";
+import "../chunk-WQC54W25.js";
 import "../chunk-5UBH37SL.js";
 import "../chunk-5HFVWYHL.js";
 import "../chunk-KIW3OOZE.js";
@@ -87,17 +87,17 @@ import "../chunk-H7XKCNR6.js";
 import "../chunk-VEBYLZQQ.js";
 import "../chunk-SOBJ6NEY.js";
 import "../chunk-YR6A6ZK7.js";
-import "../chunk-KRPMISWO.js";
+import "../chunk-5C765XYU.js";
 import "../chunk-E6UNM67F.js";
 import "../chunk-6WHJ2EAB.js";
 import "../chunk-AQEJKOKI.js";
 import "../chunk-HM7RHKS4.js";
 import "../chunk-UD7UNYRD.js";
 import "../chunk-IISBCCWR.js";
-import "../chunk-6RD7MSIO.js";
-import "../chunk-TYP7GYRI.js";
+import "../chunk-ZUT4FK5W.js";
+import "../chunk-SB4ZWVKI.js";
 import "../chunk-2YA5N2BY.js";
-import "../chunk-FWVDTLRK.js";
+import "../chunk-IJQEVNEF.js";
 import "../chunk-SF6RFI5Z.js";
 import "../chunk-EI6V5UXY.js";
 import "../chunk-KKNZ7PUZ.js";
@@ -120,13 +120,13 @@ import "../chunk-WUUGE7QC.js";
 import "../chunk-HRATODNO.js";
 import "../chunk-WTWQA7BB.js";
 import "../chunk-VZIAVM72.js";
-import "../chunk-LMLPLIT4.js";
-import "../chunk-CDQO5DCD.js";
-import "../chunk-QEGKMZNQ.js";
-import "../chunk-G4WZDQ32.js";
+import "../chunk-AQ6IBVFQ.js";
+import "../chunk-TO3G56GM.js";
+import "../chunk-FO5NDQZH.js";
+import "../chunk-3NG5OOCX.js";
 import "../chunk-UFGFMWAD.js";
 import "../chunk-BMWN7B3Y.js";
-import "../chunk-WEQZ5OYK.js";
+import "../chunk-U6GKPSZH.js";
 import "../chunk-3UXOZBHV.js";
 import "../chunk-PIWFNPQT.js";
 import "../chunk-GWK7FEUL.js";
@@ -135,15 +135,15 @@ import "../chunk-GKCXTSFF.js";
 import "../chunk-2LSZVONP.js";
 import "../chunk-DEUNUKTD.js";
 import "../chunk-LXY5VVGM.js";
-import "../chunk-FQGY7XB2.js";
-import "../chunk-52VL6LCY.js";
+import "../chunk-S52VKUUW.js";
+import "../chunk-2VH2JWYN.js";
 import "../chunk-CSAKJVXW.js";
 import "../chunk-K2XUWZBM.js";
 import "../chunk-OD4FM2U7.js";
 import "../chunk-ZY2MNJR6.js";
 import "../chunk-2QG4SLZI.js";
 import "../chunk-TBBDFYXW.js";
-import "../chunk-LDP6LBDS.js";
+import "../chunk-Y3AFTYK4.js";
 import "../chunk-6JMQR72P.js";
 import "../chunk-TOTT6S2V.js";
 import "../chunk-QLK3SL7Q.js";
@@ -161,18 +161,18 @@ import "../chunk-236PXYG7.js";
 import "../chunk-ZCUTSMR2.js";
 import "../chunk-QDW3E4RD.js";
 import "../chunk-LMMQKZK3.js";
-import "../chunk-5QZHDS4X.js";
+import "../chunk-LI4IWBLN.js";
 import "../chunk-46WM6JX2.js";
 import "../chunk-UHVXE24Y.js";
 import "../chunk-D5F7TKMH.js";
-import "../chunk-JTTLH646.js";
-import "../chunk-NRVGODSE.js";
-import "../chunk-WPGR3RW4.js";
+import "../chunk-C2W6JKQQ.js";
+import "../chunk-EK4MOTHM.js";
+import "../chunk-7VO6E5UD.js";
 import "../chunk-Z4TXB4K7.js";
-import "../chunk-D7MAYFQP.js";
-import "../chunk-KVO2BTA4.js";
+import "../chunk-S7LWX2PQ.js";
+import "../chunk-T2YX56QI.js";
 import "../chunk-CYEPCZN5.js";
-import "../chunk-G6NQ3L4T.js";
+import "../chunk-T3FMRLWQ.js";
 import "../chunk-4O6WRBGE.js";
 import "../chunk-GUMZC2BO.js";
 import "../chunk-TFA6HPOA.js";
@@ -202,8 +202,8 @@ import "../chunk-RBOJCG4T.js";
 import "../chunk-R7QY5ZVB.js";
 import "../chunk-5WITETWU.js";
 import "../chunk-6CIAGZ6X.js";
-import "../chunk-KG2OOAFF.js";
-import "../chunk-U2VDCFXW.js";
+import "../chunk-3NTVCMDD.js";
+import "../chunk-G26YNEOC.js";
 import "../chunk-ZLQ37WJX.js";
 import "../chunk-IUM3VSHI.js";
 import "../chunk-C64XATK7.js";

package/dist/transfer/export-okf.js

@@ -4,24 +4,24 @@ import {
   exportOkfBundle,
   firstHeading,
   parseIncludeStatus
-} from "../chunk-XDH5MO6L.js";
+} from "../chunk-WZ33AIOP.js";
 import {
   OKF_EXPORT_VERSION
 } from "../chunk-UJX4I26O.js";
 import "../chunk-D24OXEPB.js";
 import "../chunk-3UXOZBHV.js";
-import "../chunk-5QZHDS4X.js";
+import "../chunk-LI4IWBLN.js";
 import "../chunk-46WM6JX2.js";
 import "../chunk-UHVXE24Y.js";
 import "../chunk-D5F7TKMH.js";
-import "../chunk-JTTLH646.js";
-import "../chunk-NRVGODSE.js";
-import "../chunk-WPGR3RW4.js";
+import "../chunk-C2W6JKQQ.js";
+import "../chunk-EK4MOTHM.js";
+import "../chunk-7VO6E5UD.js";
 import "../chunk-Z4TXB4K7.js";
-import "../chunk-D7MAYFQP.js";
-import "../chunk-KVO2BTA4.js";
+import "../chunk-S7LWX2PQ.js";
+import "../chunk-T2YX56QI.js";
 import "../chunk-CYEPCZN5.js";
-import "../chunk-G6NQ3L4T.js";
+import "../chunk-T3FMRLWQ.js";
 import "../chunk-4O6WRBGE.js";
 import "../chunk-GUMZC2BO.js";
 import "../chunk-TFA6HPOA.js";
@@ -51,8 +51,8 @@ import "../chunk-RBOJCG4T.js";
 import "../chunk-R7QY5ZVB.js";
 import "../chunk-5WITETWU.js";
 import "../chunk-6CIAGZ6X.js";
-import "../chunk-KG2OOAFF.js";
-import "../chunk-U2VDCFXW.js";
+import "../chunk-3NTVCMDD.js";
+import "../chunk-G26YNEOC.js";
 import "../chunk-ZLQ37WJX.js";
 import "../chunk-IUM3VSHI.js";
 import "../chunk-C64XATK7.js";

package/dist/verified-recall.js

@@ -1,20 +1,20 @@
 import {
   compareVerifiedEpisodeResults,
   searchVerifiedEpisodes
-} from "./chunk-NRTVZSPO.js";
+} from "./chunk-L4HT5QZ5.js";
 import "./chunk-B7RWBZXW.js";
-import "./chunk-5QZHDS4X.js";
+import "./chunk-LI4IWBLN.js";
 import "./chunk-46WM6JX2.js";
 import "./chunk-UHVXE24Y.js";
 import "./chunk-D5F7TKMH.js";
-import "./chunk-JTTLH646.js";
-import "./chunk-NRVGODSE.js";
-import "./chunk-WPGR3RW4.js";
+import "./chunk-C2W6JKQQ.js";
+import "./chunk-EK4MOTHM.js";
+import "./chunk-7VO6E5UD.js";
 import "./chunk-Z4TXB4K7.js";
-import "./chunk-D7MAYFQP.js";
-import "./chunk-KVO2BTA4.js";
+import "./chunk-S7LWX2PQ.js";
+import "./chunk-T2YX56QI.js";
 import "./chunk-CYEPCZN5.js";
-import "./chunk-G6NQ3L4T.js";
+import "./chunk-T3FMRLWQ.js";
 import "./chunk-4O6WRBGE.js";
 import "./chunk-GUMZC2BO.js";
 import "./chunk-TFA6HPOA.js";
@@ -44,8 +44,8 @@ import "./chunk-RBOJCG4T.js";
 import "./chunk-R7QY5ZVB.js";
 import "./chunk-5WITETWU.js";
 import "./chunk-6CIAGZ6X.js";
-import "./chunk-KG2OOAFF.js";
-import "./chunk-U2VDCFXW.js";
+import "./chunk-3NTVCMDD.js";
+import "./chunk-G26YNEOC.js";
 import "./chunk-ZLQ37WJX.js";
 import "./chunk-IUM3VSHI.js";
 import "./chunk-C64XATK7.js";

package/dist/who-knows-cli.js

@@ -4,20 +4,20 @@ import {
   renderWhoKnows,
   renderWhoKnowsJson,
   renderWhoKnowsText
-} from "./chunk-KV44HTMJ.js";
-import "./chunk-HNOKNHFO.js";
-import "./chunk-5QZHDS4X.js";
+} from "./chunk-OBD77TYC.js";
+import "./chunk-7L747CFR.js";
+import "./chunk-LI4IWBLN.js";
 import "./chunk-46WM6JX2.js";
 import "./chunk-UHVXE24Y.js";
 import "./chunk-D5F7TKMH.js";
-import "./chunk-JTTLH646.js";
-import "./chunk-NRVGODSE.js";
-import "./chunk-WPGR3RW4.js";
+import "./chunk-C2W6JKQQ.js";
+import "./chunk-EK4MOTHM.js";
+import "./chunk-7VO6E5UD.js";
 import "./chunk-Z4TXB4K7.js";
-import "./chunk-D7MAYFQP.js";
-import "./chunk-KVO2BTA4.js";
+import "./chunk-S7LWX2PQ.js";
+import "./chunk-T2YX56QI.js";
 import "./chunk-CYEPCZN5.js";
-import "./chunk-G6NQ3L4T.js";
+import "./chunk-T3FMRLWQ.js";
 import "./chunk-4O6WRBGE.js";
 import "./chunk-GUMZC2BO.js";
 import "./chunk-TFA6HPOA.js";
@@ -47,8 +47,8 @@ import "./chunk-RBOJCG4T.js";
 import "./chunk-R7QY5ZVB.js";
 import "./chunk-5WITETWU.js";
 import "./chunk-6CIAGZ6X.js";
-import "./chunk-KG2OOAFF.js";
-import "./chunk-U2VDCFXW.js";
+import "./chunk-3NTVCMDD.js";
+import "./chunk-G26YNEOC.js";
 import "./chunk-ZLQ37WJX.js";
 import "./chunk-IUM3VSHI.js";
 import "./chunk-C64XATK7.js";

package/dist/who-knows.js

@@ -9,19 +9,19 @@ import {
   loadWhoKnowsEntities,
   tokenizeTopic,
   validateWhoKnowsInput
-} from "./chunk-HNOKNHFO.js";
-import "./chunk-5QZHDS4X.js";
+} from "./chunk-7L747CFR.js";
+import "./chunk-LI4IWBLN.js";
 import "./chunk-46WM6JX2.js";
 import "./chunk-UHVXE24Y.js";
 import "./chunk-D5F7TKMH.js";
-import "./chunk-JTTLH646.js";
-import "./chunk-NRVGODSE.js";
-import "./chunk-WPGR3RW4.js";
+import "./chunk-C2W6JKQQ.js";
+import "./chunk-EK4MOTHM.js";
+import "./chunk-7VO6E5UD.js";
 import "./chunk-Z4TXB4K7.js";
-import "./chunk-D7MAYFQP.js";
-import "./chunk-KVO2BTA4.js";
+import "./chunk-S7LWX2PQ.js";
+import "./chunk-T2YX56QI.js";
 import "./chunk-CYEPCZN5.js";
-import "./chunk-G6NQ3L4T.js";
+import "./chunk-T3FMRLWQ.js";
 import "./chunk-4O6WRBGE.js";
 import "./chunk-GUMZC2BO.js";
 import "./chunk-TFA6HPOA.js";
@@ -51,8 +51,8 @@ import "./chunk-RBOJCG4T.js";
 import "./chunk-R7QY5ZVB.js";
 import "./chunk-5WITETWU.js";
 import "./chunk-6CIAGZ6X.js";
-import "./chunk-KG2OOAFF.js";
-import "./chunk-U2VDCFXW.js";
+import "./chunk-3NTVCMDD.js";
+import "./chunk-G26YNEOC.js";
 import "./chunk-ZLQ37WJX.js";
 import "./chunk-IUM3VSHI.js";
 import "./chunk-C64XATK7.js";

package/package.json

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@remnic/core",
-  "version": "9.69.63",
+  "version": "9.69.65",
   "description": "Framework-agnostic Remnic memory engine — orchestrator, storage, extraction, search, trust zones",
   "type": "module",
   "main": "dist/index.js",
@@ -3317,7 +3317,7 @@
     "core"
   ],
   "peerDependencies": {
-    "@remnic/coding-graph": "^9.69.63"
+    "@remnic/coding-graph": "^9.69.65"
   },
   "peerDependenciesMeta": {
     "@remnic/coding-graph": {

package/src/access-mcp-output-schemas.ts

@@ -102,6 +102,10 @@ const TOOL_OUTPUT_SCHEMAS: Readonly<Record<string, Record<string, unknown>>> = {
     results: T_ARRAY,
     fallbackUsed: T_BOOLEAN,
     sourcesUsed: T_ARRAY,
+    retrievalFailure: objectSchema({
+      reason: T_STRING,
+      detail: T_STRING,
+    }),
   }),
   recall_explain: objectSchema({
     found: T_BOOLEAN,

package/src/access-recall-response.ts

@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ import type { RecallDisclosure, RecallPlanMode } from "./types.js";
 import { displaySafeRecallSnapshot } from "./orchestration/recall-result-formatter.js";
 import {
   boundRecallContextComposition,
+  composeMissingMemoryContext,
   composeRecallContext,
   type RecallContextComposition,
 } from "./recall-context-composition.js";
@@ -221,15 +222,30 @@ export async function assembleRecallResponse(
     const admittedIds = new Set(results.map((r) => r.id));
     const droppedAny = beforeIds.some((id) => !admittedIds.has(id));
     if (droppedAny) {
+      const priorDegradation = effectiveComposition.degradation;
       const filteredContext = results
         .map((result) => result.content || result.preview)
         .filter((s) => s.length > 0)
         .join("\n\n");
-      effectiveComposition = boundRecallContextComposition({
+      const rebuilt = boundRecallContextComposition({
         context: filteredContext,
         footer: effectiveComposition.footer,
         maxChars: deps.orchestrator.config.recallBudgetChars,
       });
+      effectiveComposition =
+        priorDegradation?.reason === "backend-unavailable"
+          ? rebuilt.context.trim().length === 0
+            ? composeMissingMemoryContext({ detail: priorDegradation.detail })
+            : {
+                ...rebuilt,
+                degradation: {
+                  state: "degraded" as const,
+                  reason: "backend-unavailable" as const,
+                  detail: priorDegradation.detail,
+                  ...(rebuilt.degradation?.budget ? { budget: rebuilt.degradation.budget } : {}),
+                },
+              }
+          : rebuilt;
       effectiveContext = composeRecallContext(effectiveComposition);
     }
   }
@@ -290,6 +306,14 @@ export async function assembleRecallResponse(
     }
   }
 
+  const retrievalFailure =
+    effectiveComposition.degradation?.reason === "backend-unavailable"
+      ? {
+          reason: "backend_unavailable" as const,
+          detail: effectiveComposition.degradation.detail ?? "backend_unavailable",
+        }
+      : undefined;
+
   return {
     response: {
       query,
@@ -297,6 +321,7 @@ export async function assembleRecallResponse(
       namespace: effectiveNamespace,
       context: effectiveContext,
       contextComposition: effectiveComposition,
+      ...(retrievalFailure ? { retrievalFailure } : {}),
       count: filterTags && filterTags.length > 0
         ? results.length
         : (snapshot?.memoryIds.length ?? results.length),

package/src/access-service.ts

@@ -445,6 +445,7 @@ export interface EngramAccessRecallResponse {
   context: string;
   /** Request-local split used by adapters that must re-render a tighter prompt budget. */
   contextComposition?: RecallContextComposition;
+  retrievalFailure?: { reason: "backend_unavailable"; detail: string };
   count: number;
   memoryIds: string[];
   results: EngramAccessMemorySummary[];

package/src/orchestration/recall-internal.ts

@@ -130,11 +130,9 @@ export class RecallInternalCoordinator {
     lifecycleCaps: MemoryLifecycleCapabilitySet = resolveMemoryLifecycleCapabilities(this.deps.config),
   ): Promise<string> {
     const recallStart = Date.now();
-    // Backend degradations observed by this recall's QMD searches (#1536):
-    // collected via the execution-options observer and attached to the
-    // LastRecallSnapshot after it is recorded, so surfaces can distinguish
-    // "no matches" from "backend could not answer" (CLAUDE.md rule 34).
-    const backendDegradations: SearchDegradation[] = options.degradationSink ?? [];
+    // Per-recall QMD degradations (#1536/#3082). Local array so overlapping
+    // recalls that share a sink cannot mark each other failed.
+    const backendDegradations: SearchDegradation[] = [];
     // Issue #680 — historical recall.  Parse `options.asOf` once at the
     // top of the recall so each boost-pass uses identical filter logic.
     // Invalid values are rejected at input boundaries (CLI / HTTP / MCP)
@@ -4964,7 +4962,12 @@ export class RecallInternalCoordinator {
         compactContext: compactRecallContextFromBuckets(sectionBuckets),
         footer: curiosityFooter,
         maxChars: recallBudgetChars,
+        backendDegradations,
+        qmdExpected: this.deps.config.searchBackend !== "noop" && (this.deps.config.searchBackend !== "qmd" || resolveQmdCapabilities(this.deps.config).qmd),
       });
+    if (options.degradationSink) {
+      for (const d of backendDegradations) options.degradationSink.push(d);
+    }
     notifyContextComposition(options.onContextComposition, composition, (err) => {
       log.warn("recall: context composition observer failed open", err);
     });

package/src/recall-composition-decision.test.ts

@@ -30,6 +30,81 @@ test("#2972 empty recall stays marker-free", () => {
   assert.equal("degradation" in composition, false);
 });
 
+test("#3082 empty context plus daemon_timeout is missing, not a genuine empty", () => {
+  const { composition, context } = decideRecallContextComposition({
+    context: "",
+    maxChars: 512,
+    backendDegradations: [{ backend: "qmd", code: "daemon_timeout", detail: "no response in 8000ms" }],
+  });
+
+  assert.equal(composition.degradation?.state, "missing");
+  assert.equal(composition.degradation?.reason, "backend-unavailable");
+  assert.match(composition.degradation?.detail ?? "", /qmd:daemon_timeout/);
+  assert.match(context, /memory context unavailable/i);
+});
+
+test("#3082 vector_tier_unavailable on empty context is not an outage", () => {
+  const { composition, context } = decideRecallContextComposition({
+    context: "",
+    maxChars: 512,
+    backendDegradations: [{ backend: "qmd", code: "vector_tier_unavailable" }],
+  });
+
+  assert.equal(context, "");
+  assert.equal("degradation" in composition, false);
+});
+
+test("#3082 daemon_timeout with recalled context keeps results and marks degraded", () => {
+  const { composition, truncated } = decideRecallContextComposition({
+    context: "A remembered deployment decision.",
+    maxChars: 512,
+    backendDegradations: [{ backend: "qmd", code: "daemon_timeout", detail: "cold-tier timed out" }],
+  });
+
+  assert.equal(composition.context, "A remembered deployment decision.");
+  assert.equal(composition.degradation?.state, "degraded");
+  assert.equal(composition.degradation?.reason, "backend-unavailable");
+  assert.equal(truncated, false);
+});
+
+test("#3082 QMD-disabled backend_unavailable is not an outage", () => {
+  const { composition, context } = decideRecallContextComposition({
+    context: "",
+    maxChars: 512,
+    qmdExpected: false,
+    backendDegradations: [{ backend: "qmd", code: "backend_unavailable", detail: "qmd disabled" }],
+  });
+
+  assert.equal(context, "");
+  assert.equal("degradation" in composition, false);
+});
+
+test("#3082 non-QMD backend_unavailable is still an outage when QMD is off", () => {
+  const { composition, context } = decideRecallContextComposition({
+    context: "",
+    maxChars: 512,
+    qmdExpected: false,
+    backendDegradations: [{ backend: "remote", code: "backend_unavailable" }],
+  });
+
+  assert.equal(composition.degradation?.state, "missing");
+  assert.equal(composition.degradation?.reason, "backend-unavailable");
+  assert.match(context, /memory context unavailable/i);
+});
+test("#3082 timeout plus budget clip still reports backend-unavailable", () => {
+  const longContext = "A remembered deployment decision. ".repeat(40).trim();
+  const { composition, truncated } = decideRecallContextComposition({
+    context: longContext,
+    maxChars: 80,
+    backendDegradations: [{ backend: "qmd", code: "daemon_timeout", detail: "no response in 8000ms" }],
+  });
+
+  assert.equal(composition.degradation?.reason, "backend-unavailable");
+  assert.match(composition.degradation?.detail ?? "", /qmd:daemon_timeout/);
+  assert.ok(composition.degradation?.budget, "budget accounting stays on the overlay");
+  assert.equal(truncated, true);
+});
+
 test("#2972 compact form from section buckets is preferred over clipping", () => {
   const longOne = "full-form entry one with a long body ".repeat(6).trim();
   const longTwo = "full-form entry two with a long body ".repeat(6).trim();

package/src/recall-composition-decision.ts

@@ -15,6 +15,11 @@ import {
   RECALL_CONTEXT_SEPARATOR,
   type RecallContextComposition,
 } from "./recall-context-composition.js";
+import {
+  describeSearchDegradations,
+  fatalSearchDegradations,
+  type SearchDegradation,
+} from "./search/port.js";
 
 export type RecallCompositionChunk = string | { readonly content: string };
 
@@ -23,6 +28,14 @@ export interface DecideRecallContextCompositionInput {
   compactContext?: string;
   footer?: string;
   maxChars: number;
+  /** Mid-recall backend degradations (#3082). Absent on the healthy path. */
+  backendDegradations?: readonly SearchDegradation[];
+  /**
+   * When false, `{ backend: "qmd", code: "backend_unavailable" }` is the
+   * QMD-disabled/noop skip marker, not an outage. Other backends still count.
+   * Default true so unit tests that pass degradations stay honest.
+   */
+  qmdExpected?: boolean;
 }
 
 export interface DecidedRecallContextComposition {
@@ -65,18 +78,54 @@ export function compactRecallContextFromBuckets(
 export function decideRecallContextComposition(
   input: DecideRecallContextCompositionInput,
 ): DecidedRecallContextComposition {
-  const composition = boundRecallContextComposition({
+  const observed = input.backendDegradations ?? [];
+  const qmdExpected = input.qmdExpected !== false;
+  const fatal = fatalSearchDegradations(observed).filter(
+    (d) => qmdExpected || d.backend !== "qmd" || d.code !== "backend_unavailable",
+  );
+  if (fatal.length > 0 && input.context.trim().length === 0) {
+    const missing = composeMissingMemoryContext({
+      detail: describeSearchDegradations(fatal),
+    });
+    const composition = input.footer
+      ? { ...missing, footer: input.footer }
+      : missing;
+    return {
+      composition,
+      context: composeRecallContext(composition),
+      truncated: false,
+    };
+  }
+  const bounded = boundRecallContextComposition({
     context: input.context,
     footer: input.footer,
     maxChars: input.maxChars,
     compactContext: input.compactContext,
   });
+  if (fatal.length === 0) {
+    return {
+      composition: bounded,
+      context: composeRecallContext(bounded),
+      truncated:
+        bounded.degradation?.reason === "budget-clipped" ||
+        bounded.degradation?.reason === "budget-compacted",
+    };
+  }
+  const composition = {
+    ...bounded,
+    degradation: {
+      state: "degraded" as const,
+      reason: "backend-unavailable" as const,
+      detail: describeSearchDegradations(fatal),
+      ...(bounded.degradation?.budget ? { budget: bounded.degradation.budget } : {}),
+    },
+  };
   return {
     composition,
     context: composeRecallContext(composition),
     truncated:
-      composition.degradation?.reason === "budget-clipped" ||
-      composition.degradation?.reason === "budget-compacted",
+      bounded.degradation?.reason === "budget-clipped" ||
+      bounded.degradation?.reason === "budget-compacted",
   };
 }