diff --git a/agent/chat_completion_helpers.py b/agent/chat_completion_helpers.py
index 589351c74e..7a1642fe29 100644
--- a/agent/chat_completion_helpers.py
+++ b/agent/chat_completion_helpers.py
@@ -1098,6 +1098,13 @@ class _RequestClientRegistry:
 # timeout's run-budget cap is applied AFTER this floor (AIAgent._compute_non_stream_stale_timeout).
 HIGH_EFFORT_SILENCE_FLOOR_SECONDS = 300.0
 
+# First-progress budget for a lifecycle-only stream on an official-Codex large request: the
+# stream opened but no substantive model event has arrived. Measured from the physical-attempt
+# start (a reconnect restarts it; lifecycle frames do not), and applied regardless of reasoning
+# effort. Equal to the high-effort floor today, but a separate knob so tuning one cannot silently
+# retune the other.
+CODEX_FIRST_PROGRESS_TIMEOUT_SECONDS = 300.0
+
 
 def _high_effort_silence_floor(agent) -> float:
     """``HIGH_EFFORT_SILENCE_FLOOR_SECONDS`` when the wire reasoning config is enabled at ``high`` or any
@@ -1124,6 +1131,7 @@ class _NonStreamWatchdogs:
     idle_enabled: bool
     idle_timeout: float
     idle_requires_progress: bool
+    progress_timeout: float = 0.0
 
 
 def _resolve_nonstream_watchdogs(agent, api_kwargs: dict) -> _NonStreamWatchdogs:
@@ -1209,12 +1217,13 @@ def _resolve_nonstream_watchdogs(agent, api_kwargs: dict) -> _NonStreamWatchdogs
     # default for unset AND unparseable values, so both count as implicit.
     idle_explicit = env_float("HERMES_CODEX_EVENT_STALE_TIMEOUT_SECONDS", -1.0) != -1.0
     idle_timeout = env_float("HERMES_CODEX_EVENT_STALE_TIMEOUT_SECONDS", idle_default)
+    progress_gated = codex and openai_codex_backend and codex_floor > 0 and not idle_explicit
     return _NonStreamWatchdogs(stale_timeout=stale_timeout, codex=codex, est_tokens=est_tokens,
         ttfb_enabled=ttfb_enabled, ttfb_timeout=ttfb_timeout, idle_enabled=codex and idle_timeout > 0,
-        idle_timeout=idle_timeout,
-        idle_requires_progress=(
-            codex and openai_codex_backend and codex_floor > 0 and not idle_explicit
-        ))
+        idle_timeout=idle_timeout, idle_requires_progress=progress_gated,
+        # A lifecycle frame proves transport liveness, not model progress. Bound that phase
+        # from the physical-attempt start; events cannot restart the grace period.
+        progress_timeout=CODEX_FIRST_PROGRESS_TIMEOUT_SECONDS if progress_gated else 0.0)
 
 
 def _codex_silent_hang_hint(agent, api_kwargs: dict) -> Optional[str]:
diff --git a/agent/chat_completion_nonstream.py b/agent/chat_completion_nonstream.py
index 8d12aff8db..62d5bd7af5 100644
--- a/agent/chat_completion_nonstream.py
+++ b/agent/chat_completion_nonstream.py
@@ -119,19 +119,31 @@ class _NonStreamRequest:
         return self.api_kwargs.get("model", "unknown")
 
     def _codex_watchdog_snapshot(self):
+        """``(last_event_ts, last_progress_ts, retry_started_ts, attempt_started_ts)`` under one lock.
+
+        ``attempt_started_ts`` is the physical attempt's origin (the reconnect marker, else
+        ``call_start``); the notice and the kill loop must anchor to the same value."""
         state = self.codex_watchdog_state
         if state is None:  # non-codex request: no watchdog reads these
-            return (None, None, None)
+            return (None, None, None, self.call_start)
         with state.lock:
-            return state.last_event_ts, state.last_progress_ts, state.retry_started_ts
+            retry_started_ts = state.retry_started_ts
+            return (state.last_event_ts, state.last_progress_ts, retry_started_ts,
+                    retry_started_ts if retry_started_ts is not None else self.call_start)
+
+    def _pre_progress(self, last_event_ts, last_progress_ts) -> bool:
+        """Stream open on this attempt, but no substantive model progress yet."""
+        return self.wd.progress_timeout > 0 and last_event_ts is not None and last_progress_ts is None
 
     def _emit_wait_notice(self, elapsed: float, *, heartbeat: bool = True) -> None:
         wd = self.wd
         try:
-            last_event_ts, last_progress_ts, retry_started_ts = self._codex_watchdog_snapshot()
-            activity_ts = retry_started_ts if retry_started_ts is not None else last_event_ts
-            # Only undo a notice this request owns, promptly rather than at the
-            # next heartbeat: reasoning callbacks do not reset the CLI spinner.
+            last_event_ts, last_progress_ts, retry_started_ts, attempt_started_ts = self._codex_watchdog_snapshot()
+            pre_progress = self._pre_progress(last_event_ts, last_progress_ts)
+            activity_ts = attempt_started_ts if pre_progress else (
+                retry_started_ts if retry_started_ts is not None else last_event_ts)
+            # Lifecycle chatter is not progress: once pre-progress begins it must not
+            # clear/reset this notice. Real progress changes phase and clears it.
             if (self.wait_notice_started_ts is not None and activity_ts is not None
                     and activity_ts > self.wait_notice_started_ts):
                 self.agent._emit_wait_notice("")
@@ -147,7 +159,9 @@ class _NonStreamRequest:
                     if retry_started_ts is not None else "waiting for provider response")
                 return
             phase = "first_event"
-            if retry_started_ts is not None:
+            if pre_progress:
+                phase = "pre_progress"
+            elif retry_started_ts is not None:
                 phase = "reconnect"
             elif last_event_ts is not None:
                 phase = "post_event"
@@ -156,7 +170,7 @@ class _NonStreamRequest:
                 last_event_ts=last_event_ts, last_progress_ts=last_progress_ts,
                 retry_started_ts=retry_started_ts,
                 call_start=self.call_start, idle_enabled=wd.idle_enabled, idle_timeout=wd.idle_timeout,
-                idle_requires_progress=wd.idle_requires_progress,
+                idle_requires_progress=wd.idle_requires_progress, progress_timeout=wd.progress_timeout,
                 elapsed=elapsed)
             # One neutral notice per silence; repeating it every heartbeat made
             # healthy long calls read as provider trouble (#92550).
@@ -189,6 +203,21 @@ class _NonStreamRequest:
             f"(TTFB threshold: {int(wd.ttfb_timeout)}s)"
             + (f". {silent_hint}" if silent_hint else ""))
 
+    def _progress_kill(self, elapsed: float) -> None:
+        """The stream opened, but this physical attempt never made model progress."""
+        agent, wd = self.agent, self.wd
+        h.logger.warning("Codex stream produced lifecycle events but no substantive model progress "
+            "for %.0fs (threshold %.0fs, model=%s, context=~%s tokens). Reconnecting.",
+            elapsed, wd.progress_timeout, self._model(), f"{wd.est_tokens:,}")
+        agent._buffer_diagnostic_status(
+            f"⚠️ Codex stream opened but made no model progress for {int(elapsed)}s "
+            f"(model: {self._model()}). Reconnecting.")
+        self._abort_request("codex_progress_kill")
+        agent._touch_activity(f"codex stream killed after {int(elapsed)}s without model progress")
+        self._await_worker_after_kill(
+            f"Codex stream produced no substantive model progress for {int(elapsed)}s "
+            f"(progress threshold: {int(wd.progress_timeout)}s)")
+
     def _idle_kill(self, event_stale_elapsed: float) -> None:
         """SSE events stopped after the phase-specific idle arm point.
 
@@ -226,7 +255,7 @@ class _NonStreamRequest:
 
     def _interrupt(self, elapsed: float) -> None:
         agent = self.agent
-        last_event_ts, _, _ = self._codex_watchdog_snapshot()
+        last_event_ts, _, _, _ = self._codex_watchdog_snapshot()
         h._record_interrupted_provider_wait(agent, elapsed,
             response_started=self.wd.codex and last_event_ts is not None
         )
@@ -262,14 +291,14 @@ class _NonStreamRequest:
             now = h.time.time()
             elapsed = now - self.call_start
             self._emit_wait_notice(elapsed, heartbeat=poll_count % 100 == 0)
-            last_event_ts, last_progress_ts, retry_started_ts = self._codex_watchdog_snapshot()
-            retry_ttfb_elapsed = now - retry_started_ts if retry_started_ts is not None else None
-            if wd.ttfb_enabled and retry_ttfb_elapsed is not None and retry_ttfb_elapsed > wd.ttfb_timeout:
-                self._ttfb_kill(retry_ttfb_elapsed)
+            last_event_ts, last_progress_ts, retry_started_ts, attempt_started_ts = self._codex_watchdog_snapshot()
+            attempt_elapsed = now - attempt_started_ts
+            if (wd.ttfb_enabled and last_event_ts is None and attempt_elapsed > wd.ttfb_timeout):
+                self._ttfb_kill(attempt_elapsed)
                 break
-            if (retry_started_ts is None and wd.ttfb_enabled
-                    and elapsed > wd.ttfb_timeout and last_event_ts is None):
-                self._ttfb_kill(elapsed)
+            if (self._pre_progress(last_event_ts, last_progress_ts)
+                    and attempt_elapsed > wd.progress_timeout):
+                self._progress_kill(attempt_elapsed)
                 break
             idle_elapsed = now - last_event_ts if last_event_ts is not None else None
             if (retry_started_ts is None and wd.idle_enabled and idle_elapsed is not None
diff --git a/agent/chat_completion_wait_notice.py b/agent/chat_completion_wait_notice.py
index 20b47b1f29..5fc15959cc 100644
--- a/agent/chat_completion_wait_notice.py
+++ b/agent/chat_completion_wait_notice.py
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ _PHASE_TEXT = {
     # Codex Responses (non-stream request path)
     "first_event": "{n}s waiting for the first provider event",
     "reconnect": "{n}s waiting for the first provider event after reconnect",
+    "pre_progress": "provider stream open; {n}s without substantive model progress",
     "post_event": "provider stream active; {n}s without stream events",
     # Chat-completions streaming path
     "first_chunk": "{n}s waiting for the first stream chunk",
@@ -43,18 +44,19 @@ def wait_notice_text(model: str, silence_secs: float, phase: str,
 def codex_watchdog_deadline(*, stale_timeout: float, ttfb_enabled: bool, ttfb_timeout: float,
     last_event_ts: Optional[float], last_progress_ts: Optional[float],
     retry_started_ts: Optional[float], call_start: float, idle_enabled: bool,
-    idle_timeout: float, idle_requires_progress: bool, elapsed: float) -> Optional[tuple[str, float]]:
+    idle_timeout: float, idle_requires_progress: bool, elapsed: float,
+    progress_timeout: float = 0.0) -> Optional[tuple[str, float]]:
     """Earliest enabled Codex watchdog as ``(label, seconds_until_it_fires)``; None when
     none applies (disabled/infinite, or its deadline already passed)."""
     deadlines: list[tuple[str, float]] = []
     if math.isfinite(stale_timeout):
         deadlines.append(("wall-clock stale", stale_timeout))
-    if retry_started_ts is not None:
+    attempt_offset = max(0.0, retry_started_ts - call_start) if retry_started_ts is not None else 0.0
+    if last_event_ts is None:
         if ttfb_enabled and math.isfinite(ttfb_timeout):
-            deadlines.append(("TTFB", max(0.0, retry_started_ts - call_start) + ttfb_timeout))
-    elif last_event_ts is None:
-        if ttfb_enabled and math.isfinite(ttfb_timeout):
-            deadlines.append(("TTFB", ttfb_timeout))
+            deadlines.append(("TTFB", attempt_offset + ttfb_timeout))
+    elif progress_timeout > 0 and last_progress_ts is None:
+        deadlines.append(("first progress", attempt_offset + progress_timeout))
     elif (not idle_requires_progress or last_progress_ts is not None) and idle_enabled and math.isfinite(idle_timeout):
         deadlines.append(("stream idle", max(0.0, last_event_ts - call_start) + idle_timeout))
     if not deadlines:
diff --git a/agent/codex_runtime.py b/agent/codex_runtime.py
index 14ba9d17c5..917212b5b1 100644
--- a/agent/codex_runtime.py
+++ b/agent/codex_runtime.py
@@ -1058,14 +1058,22 @@ def run_codex_stream(agent, api_kwargs: dict, client: Any = None, on_first_delta
         if getattr(agent, "_last_api_first_chunk_at", None) is None:
             agent._last_api_first_chunk_at = now
         has_progress = _codex_event_has_content(event)
+        first_event = first_progress = False
         if watchdog_state is not None:
             with watchdog_state.lock:
-                if watchdog_state.retry_started_ts is not None:
-                    watchdog_state.retry_started_ts = None
-                    watchdog_state.last_progress_ts = None
+                first_event = watchdog_state.last_event_ts is None
                 watchdog_state.last_event_ts = now
                 if has_progress:
+                    first_progress = watchdog_state.last_progress_ts is None
                     watchdog_state.last_progress_ts = now
+                    if watchdog_state.phase_aware:
+                        watchdog_state.retry_started_ts = None
+        if first_event:
+            logger.info("Codex stream first parsed event at %.3f (attempt=%s/%s, model=%s)",
+                now, attempt + 1, max_stream_retries + 1, model)
+        if first_progress:
+            logger.info("Codex stream first substantive progress at %.3f (attempt=%s/%s, model=%s)",
+                now, attempt + 1, max_stream_retries + 1, model)
         agent._touch_activity("receiving stream response")
 
     def _interrupt_or_superseded() -> bool:
@@ -1105,6 +1113,8 @@ def run_codex_stream(agent, api_kwargs: dict, client: Any = None, on_first_delta
         # Claim the delta sink for THIS attempt; a newer attempt supersedes this token.
         writer_token["value"] = claim_stream_writer(agent)
         writer_token["raw_stream"] = _raw_stream
+        logger.debug("Codex stream opened (attempt=%s/%s, model=%s)",
+            attempt + 1, max_stream_retries + 1, model)
 
     def _drain_for_finalizer(event_stream: Any) -> None:
         # ``final`` is already assembled; draining only lets Relay run its finalizer. A transport error
@@ -1166,10 +1176,14 @@ def run_codex_stream(agent, api_kwargs: dict, client: Any = None, on_first_delta
         if agent._interrupt_requested:
             raise InterruptedError("Agent interrupted before Codex stream retry")
         if attempt > 0 and watchdog_state is not None and watchdog_state.phase_aware:
-            # A physical reconnect has its own no-event TTFB phase. Its first parsed
-            # event clears this marker and starts a fresh model-progress phase.
+            # One origin for the whole physical attempt: lifecycle frames may change
+            # diagnostics, but cannot restart the first-progress budget.
             with watchdog_state.lock:
                 watchdog_state.retry_started_ts = time.time()
+                watchdog_state.last_event_ts = None
+                watchdog_state.last_progress_ts = None
+                logger.info("Codex physical stream retry at %.3f (attempt=%s/%s, model=%s)",
+                    watchdog_state.retry_started_ts, attempt + 1, max_stream_retries + 1, model)
         intercepted_events: list = []
         writer_token["value"] = writer_token["raw_stream"] = event_stream = None
         writer_token["superseded_logged"] = False
diff --git a/agent/conversation_loop.py b/agent/conversation_loop.py
index fb79d6242f..442f1d8b8a 100644
--- a/agent/conversation_loop.py
+++ b/agent/conversation_loop.py
@@ -606,14 +606,18 @@ def _print_billing_or_entitlement_guidance(
     ))
 
 
-def _bot_chat_prompt_stale(agent, stored_prompt: str) -> bool:
+def _bot_chat_prompt_stale(agent, stored_prompt: str | None) -> bool:
     """Bot Chat capability epoch check for a stored prompt.
 
     The stored prompt embeds a capability fingerprint; a mismatch is a deliberate
     once-per-change rebuild. Unstamped prompts never match; probe failures fail closed
     to "reuse" so the cache is kept. Legacy upgrade: a Bot Chat prompt predating the
     epoch mechanism gets ONE title-gated migration rebuild; the stamped result cannot
-    re-fire."""
+    re-fire. A NULL or empty stored prompt already rebuilds every turn, so this probe
+    is not a gate there and must not run.
+    """
+    if not stored_prompt:
+        return False
     try:
         from tools.bot_mode_probe import (
             BOT_CHAT_TITLE,
@@ -702,6 +706,7 @@ def _restore_or_build_system_prompt(agent, system_message, conversation_history)
             )
 
     if stored_prompt and _stored_prompt_matches_runtime(agent, stored_prompt):
+        # NULL/empty rows never reach this probe: they already rebuild below.
         if _bot_chat_prompt_stale(agent, stored_prompt):
             logger.info(
                 "Bot Chat capability epoch changed for session %s; rebuilding system prompt to "
diff --git a/hermes_cli/local_runtime/hardware.py b/hermes_cli/local_runtime/hardware.py
index b343ea5268..9665eaf558 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/local_runtime/hardware.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/local_runtime/hardware.py
@@ -61,6 +61,52 @@ def _stdout(*argv: str) -> str:
     ).stdout
 
 
+_LINUX_RAM_KEYS = frozenset({"MemTotal", "MemAvailable", "MemFree"})
+
+
+def _linux_meminfo_text() -> str | None:
+    """Raw /proc/meminfo, or None when procfs cannot be read."""
+    try:
+        return Path("/proc/meminfo").read_text(encoding="utf-8")
+    except OSError:
+        return None
+
+
+def _linux_ram_from_meminfo(text: str) -> tuple[int, int] | None:
+    """(total, available) from meminfo text, or None if it cannot be trusted.
+
+    MemAvailable includes reclaimable page cache, which ``getconf _AVPHYS_PAGES``
+    counts as used. Kernels that omit MemAvailable fall back to MemFree. Zero is
+    a real available value — a missing-field check must not treat it as absent.
+    """
+    fields: dict[str, int] = {}
+    try:
+        for line in text.splitlines():
+            name, separator, value = line.partition(":")
+            if not separator or name not in _LINUX_RAM_KEYS:
+                continue
+            parts = value.split()
+            if len(parts) != 2 or parts[1] != "kB":
+                continue
+            fields[name] = int(parts[0]) * 1024
+        total = fields.get("MemTotal")
+        # Key presence, not truthiness: MemAvailable 0 must not fall through to MemFree.
+        if "MemAvailable" in fields:
+            available = fields["MemAvailable"]
+        else:
+            available = fields.get("MemFree")
+        if (
+            total is None
+            or total <= 0
+            or available is None
+            or not 0 <= available <= total
+        ):
+            return None
+        return total, available
+    except (AttributeError, TypeError, ValueError):
+        return None
+
+
 def _ram_bytes() -> tuple[int, int]:
     """(total, available) physical memory, cross-platform stdlib."""
     try:
@@ -98,6 +144,12 @@ def _ram_bytes() -> tuple[int, int]:
                 if pages > 0:
                     avail = pages * page
             return total, avail
+        if sys.platform.startswith("linux"):
+            meminfo = _linux_meminfo_text()
+            if meminfo is not None:
+                linux_ram = _linux_ram_from_meminfo(meminfo)
+                if linux_ram is not None:
+                    return linux_ram
         # POSIX
         page = int(_stdout("getconf", "PAGE_SIZE") or 4096)
         total = int(_stdout("getconf", "_PHYS_PAGES") or 0) * page
diff --git a/plugin-catalog/blinkenbar.yaml b/plugin-catalog/blinkenbar.yaml
index ac9ce2139c..1e35b10d58 100644
--- a/plugin-catalog/blinkenbar.yaml
+++ b/plugin-catalog/blinkenbar.yaml
@@ -1,13 +1,13 @@
 name: blinkenbar
 repo: https://github.com/cygnostik/Hermes-Plugin-Blinkenlights
-sha: 144876ab41205c68e4dfe621bdad6cb4fcc5e1b0
+sha: 8bd20f8ca75716fb5816ca9cd4bc48db5ca4bcf6
 description: Dense, animated supercomputer light banks driven by system telemetry and live agent activity in Hermes Desktop.
 maintainer: cygnostik
 tier: community
 category: desktop
 version: "0.9.0-pre.3"
 docs_url: https://github.com/cygnostik/Hermes-Plugin-Blinkenlights#readme
-image: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/cygnostik/Hermes-Plugin-Blinkenlights/144876ab41205c68e4dfe621bdad6cb4fcc5e1b0/docs/media/blinkenbar-catalog.png
+image: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/cygnostik/Hermes-Plugin-Blinkenlights/8bd20f8ca75716fb5816ca9cd4bc48db5ca4bcf6/docs/media/blinkenbar-prodyn-hero.png
 platforms: [windows, macos, linux]
 capabilities:
   provides_tools: []
diff --git a/plugin-catalog/remarkable.yaml b/plugin-catalog/remarkable.yaml
index db654e8c16..b20afaaa47 100644
--- a/plugin-catalog/remarkable.yaml
+++ b/plugin-catalog/remarkable.yaml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 name: remarkable
 repo: https://github.com/cygnostik/hermes-plugin-remarkable
-sha: 98a0cade0fdc097ad2fca476245597f3bf1ee480
+sha: d582dd0b05cf99768887a09901350e26208c1c2a
 description: >-
   Unofficial reMarkable cloud transfers, library management, backups, typed text, and bounded native notebook rendering.
   Disclosure — talks to reMarkable cloud with a device token under ~/.hermes/credentials/remarkable/; remarkable_upload
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ category: tools
 requires_hermes: ">=0.21.3"
 version: "0.2.0"
 docs_url: https://github.com/cygnostik/hermes-plugin-remarkable#readme
+image: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/cygnostik/hermes-plugin-remarkable/d582dd0b05cf99768887a09901350e26208c1c2a/docs/media/remarkable-hermes-header.png
 platforms: [windows, linux, macos]
 capabilities:
   provides_tools:
diff --git a/tests/agent/test_codex_ttfb_watchdog.py b/tests/agent/test_codex_ttfb_watchdog.py
index 907b7838ce..7947a13f2f 100644
--- a/tests/agent/test_codex_ttfb_watchdog.py
+++ b/tests/agent/test_codex_ttfb_watchdog.py
@@ -10,10 +10,11 @@ emitting SSE events.
 
 Parsed-event activity is recorded on the request-local watchdog state;
 substantive model progress is recorded separately. For the implicit official
-OpenAI Codex policy on large contexts, lifecycle frames satisfy TTFB without
-arming the short post-progress idle budget. Small requests, explicit overrides,
-and compatible backends retain their first-parsed-event semantics. Raw SSE
-comments are outside this layer.
+OpenAI Codex policy on large contexts, lifecycle frames prove transport liveness
+but do not restart the attempt-local first-progress budget; substantive progress
+moves the attempt into the normal event-idle phase. Small requests, explicit
+overrides, and compatible backends retain their first-parsed-event semantics.
+Raw SSE comments are outside this layer.
 """
 
 from __future__ import annotations
@@ -70,14 +71,18 @@ def _make_codex_agent(
     return agent
 
 
-def _shorten_implicit_idle_watchdog(monkeypatch, helpers, timeout=2.0):
-    """Keep the resolver on its implicit branch while scaling time for tests."""
+def _shorten_implicit_idle_watchdog(monkeypatch, helpers, timeout=2.0, **overrides):
+    """Keep the resolver on its implicit branch while scaling time for tests.
+
+    ``timeout`` shortens ``idle_timeout``; ``overrides`` set any other resolved field."""
     monkeypatch.delenv("HERMES_CODEX_EVENT_STALE_TIMEOUT_SECONDS", raising=False)
     original = helpers._resolve_nonstream_watchdogs
 
     def resolve(agent, api_kwargs):
         watchdogs = original(agent, api_kwargs)
         watchdogs.idle_timeout = timeout
+        for field, value in overrides.items():
+            setattr(watchdogs, field, value)
         return watchdogs
 
     monkeypatch.setattr(helpers, "_resolve_nonstream_watchdogs", resolve)
@@ -320,6 +325,45 @@ def test_idle_phase_policy_is_narrow_and_preserves_operator_overrides(
     assert watchdogs.est_tokens == input_chars // 4
     assert watchdogs.idle_enabled is idle_enabled
     assert watchdogs.idle_requires_progress is requires_progress
+    assert (watchdogs.progress_timeout > 0) is requires_progress
+
+
+def test_lifecycle_event_does_not_restart_first_progress_deadline():
+    """The budget belongs to the physical attempt, not to the first lifecycle frame."""
+    from agent import chat_completion_wait_notice as wn
+
+    deadline = wn.codex_watchdog_deadline(
+        stale_timeout=900.0, ttfb_enabled=True, ttfb_timeout=300.0,
+        last_event_ts=280.0, last_progress_ts=None, retry_started_ts=None,
+        call_start=100.0, idle_enabled=True, idle_timeout=120.0,
+        idle_requires_progress=True, progress_timeout=300.0, elapsed=250.0,
+    )
+
+    assert deadline == ("first progress", 50.0)
+
+
+def test_large_codex_lifecycle_only_stream_hits_attempt_progress_budget(tmp_path, monkeypatch):
+    """Lifecycle events may change phase diagnostics, but cannot buy another full grace period."""
+    from agent import chat_completion_helpers as h
+
+    agent = _make_codex_agent(tmp_path, monkeypatch)
+    _shorten_implicit_idle_watchdog(monkeypatch, h, ttfb_timeout=0.9, progress_timeout=0.9)
+    closes = []
+
+    def stream_attempt():
+        time.sleep(0.7)
+        yield SimpleNamespace(type="response.created")
+        while getattr(agent, "_active_codex_stream_request_token", None) is not None:
+            time.sleep(0.02)
+        raise ConnectionError("retired lifecycle-only stream")
+
+    _install_codex_event_stream(agent, monkeypatch, stream_attempt, closes)
+    started = time.monotonic()
+    with pytest.raises(TimeoutError, match="no substantive model progress"):
+        h.interruptible_api_call(agent, {"model": "gpt-5.6-sol", "input": "x" * 40_004})
+
+    assert time.monotonic() - started < 1.5
+    assert "codex_progress_kill" in closes
 
 
 @pytest.mark.parametrize(
diff --git a/tests/agent/test_nonstream_wait_notice.py b/tests/agent/test_nonstream_wait_notice.py
index 2de95bdc54..0cc64859d8 100644
--- a/tests/agent/test_nonstream_wait_notice.py
+++ b/tests/agent/test_nonstream_wait_notice.py
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ def _request():
     request.call_start = 1000.0
     request.wd = SimpleNamespace(
         codex=True, stale_timeout=600.0, ttfb_enabled=True, ttfb_timeout=120.0,
-        idle_enabled=True, idle_timeout=180.0, idle_requires_progress=False,
+        idle_enabled=True, idle_timeout=180.0, idle_requires_progress=False, progress_timeout=0.0,
     )
     request.codex_watchdog_state = SimpleNamespace(
         lock=threading.Lock(), last_event_ts=None, last_progress_ts=None,
diff --git a/tests/agent/test_system_prompt_restore.py b/tests/agent/test_system_prompt_restore.py
index 20605ba129..e6eef21371 100644
--- a/tests/agent/test_system_prompt_restore.py
+++ b/tests/agent/test_system_prompt_restore.py
@@ -608,5 +608,37 @@ class TestPerResponseSessionWritePath:
             assert "is null" not in caplog.text
 
 
+def test_null_stored_prompt_does_not_take_the_stale_probe_path(tmp_path):
+    """A NULL system_prompt row already rebuilds. The capability probe must not gate it."""
+    from hermes_state import SessionDB
+    from agent.conversation_loop import _bot_chat_prompt_stale
+
+    agent = SimpleNamespace(
+        _bot_mode_protocol=True,
+        _session_title_hint="Bot Chat",
+        _session_db=None,
+        session_id="test-session-id",
+    )
+    with patch(
+        "tools.bot_mode_probe.stored_prompt_capability_stale", return_value=False
+    ) as probe:
+        assert _bot_chat_prompt_stale(agent, None) is False
+        probe.assert_not_called()
+
+    with SessionDB(db_path=tmp_path / "state.db") as db:
+        db.create_session("test-session-id", source="tui")
+        row = db.get_session("test-session-id")
+        assert row is not None and row["system_prompt"] is None
+        restoring = _make_agent(session_db=db, prebuilt_prompt="BUILT")
+        with patch(
+            "tools.bot_mode_probe.stored_prompt_capability_stale", return_value=False
+        ) as probe:
+            _restore_or_build_system_prompt(
+                restoring, None, [{"role": "user", "content": "hi"}]
+            )
+        probe.assert_not_called()
+        restoring._build_system_prompt.assert_called_once()
+
+
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     pytest.main([__file__, "-v"])
diff --git a/tests/agent/test_wait_notice_cadence.py b/tests/agent/test_wait_notice_cadence.py
index f362190508..bf7356b1d2 100644
--- a/tests/agent/test_wait_notice_cadence.py
+++ b/tests/agent/test_wait_notice_cadence.py
@@ -22,7 +22,8 @@ def _nonstream_request(ttfb_timeout=300.0):
     request.api_kwargs = {"model": "test-model"}
     request.call_start = 1000.0
     request.wd = SimpleNamespace(codex=True, stale_timeout=600.0, ttfb_enabled=True, ttfb_timeout=ttfb_timeout,
-                                 idle_enabled=True, idle_timeout=180.0, idle_requires_progress=False)
+                                 idle_enabled=True, idle_timeout=180.0, idle_requires_progress=False,
+                                 progress_timeout=0.0)
     request.codex_watchdog_state = SimpleNamespace(lock=threading.Lock(), last_event_ts=None,
                                                    last_progress_ts=None, retry_started_ts=None)
     request.wait_notice_started_ts = None
diff --git a/tests/hermes_cli/test_linux_ram_probe.py b/tests/hermes_cli/test_linux_ram_probe.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..eb4250fc5c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/hermes_cli/test_linux_ram_probe.py
@@ -0,0 +1,107 @@
+"""Linux RAM availability must include reclaimable page cache (#102252).
+
+``getconf _AVPHYS_PAGES`` counts only free pages, so the Desktop statusbar
+treats page cache as used. ``MemAvailable`` is the reclaimable-aware figure.
+A reported ``0`` is a real available value, not a missing field.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import ctypes
+
+import hermes_cli.local_runtime.hardware as hw
+
+GIB = 1 << 30
+
+
+def _as_linux(monkeypatch) -> None:
+    """Reach the Linux branch on every host without editing the Windows probe."""
+    monkeypatch.delattr(ctypes, "windll", raising=False)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(hw.sys, "platform", "linux")
+
+
+def test_memavailable_is_used_when_present():
+    text = (
+        "MemTotal:       67108864 kB\n"
+        "MemFree:        12582912 kB\n"
+        "MemAvailable:   56623104 kB\n"
+        "Cached:         44040192 kB\n"
+    )
+
+    assert hw._linux_ram_from_meminfo(text) == (64 * GIB, 54 * GIB)
+
+
+def test_zero_memavailable_is_a_real_value():
+    text = (
+        "MemTotal:       8388608 kB\n"
+        "MemFree:        2097152 kB\n"
+        "MemAvailable:         0 kB\n"
+    )
+
+    assert hw._linux_ram_from_meminfo(text) == (8 * GIB, 0)
+
+
+def test_missing_memavailable_falls_back_to_memfree():
+    text = "MemTotal:       8388608 kB\nMemFree:        2097152 kB\n"
+
+    assert hw._linux_ram_from_meminfo(text) == (8 * GIB, 2 * GIB)
+
+
+def test_unusable_meminfo_is_not_a_reading():
+    assert hw._linux_ram_from_meminfo("MemAvailable: 1048576 kB\n") is None
+    assert hw._linux_ram_from_meminfo(
+        "MemTotal: 1048576 kB\nMemAvailable: 2097152 kB\n"
+    ) is None
+
+
+def test_ram_bytes_uses_injected_meminfo_including_zero(monkeypatch):
+    _as_linux(monkeypatch)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        hw,
+        "_linux_meminfo_text",
+        lambda: (
+            "MemTotal:       8388608 kB\n"
+            "MemFree:        2097152 kB\n"
+            "MemAvailable:         0 kB\n"
+        ),
+    )
+
+    def _getconf_must_not_run(*_args, **_kwargs):
+        raise AssertionError("getconf must not run when MemAvailable is present")
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(hw, "_stdout", _getconf_must_not_run)
+
+    assert hw._ram_bytes() == (8 * GIB, 0)
+
+
+def test_ram_bytes_falls_back_when_memavailable_is_absent(monkeypatch):
+    _as_linux(monkeypatch)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        hw,
+        "_linux_meminfo_text",
+        lambda: "MemTotal:       8388608 kB\nMemFree:        2097152 kB\n",
+    )
+
+    def _getconf_must_not_run(*_args, **_kwargs):
+        raise AssertionError("MemFree is a valid fallback; getconf must not run")
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(hw, "_stdout", _getconf_must_not_run)
+
+    assert hw._ram_bytes() == (8 * GIB, 2 * GIB)
+
+
+def test_ram_bytes_falls_back_to_getconf_when_meminfo_unusable(monkeypatch):
+    _as_linux(monkeypatch)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(hw, "_linux_meminfo_text", lambda: None)
+    values = {
+        "PAGE_SIZE": "4096\n",
+        "_PHYS_PAGES": "2097152\n",
+        "_AVPHYS_PAGES": "524288\n",
+    }
+
+    def fake_stdout(*argv):
+        return values[argv[-1]]
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(hw, "_stdout", fake_stdout)
+
+    assert hw._ram_bytes() == (8 * GIB, 2 * GIB)
diff --git a/tests/tools/test_bot_mode_probe.py b/tests/tools/test_bot_mode_probe.py
index 00e87e6c33..3f542520f0 100644
--- a/tests/tools/test_bot_mode_probe.py
+++ b/tests/tools/test_bot_mode_probe.py
@@ -209,6 +209,60 @@ def test_fingerprint_changes_on_each_capability_axis(tmp_path):
     assert bot_mode_probe.capability_fingerprint(home) != after_soul
 
 
+def test_fingerprint_changes_when_model_vision_override_flips(tmp_path):
+    """A Bot Chat prompt must rebuild when model.supports_vision flips."""
+    home = tmp_path / ".hermes"
+    home.mkdir()
+    _make_bot_profile(home, "researcher", managed=True)
+    config = home / "config.yaml"
+
+    config.write_text("model:\n  supports_vision: true\n", encoding="utf-8")
+    vision_enabled = bot_mode_probe.capability_fingerprint(home)
+    stamped = "system stuff\n\n" + bot_mode_probe.epoch_line(home)
+    assert vision_enabled == bot_mode_probe.capability_fingerprint(home)
+    assert not bot_mode_probe.stored_prompt_capability_stale(stamped, home)
+
+    config.write_text("model:\n  supports_vision: false\n", encoding="utf-8")
+    vision_disabled = bot_mode_probe.capability_fingerprint(home)
+    assert vision_disabled != vision_enabled
+    assert bot_mode_probe.stored_prompt_capability_stale(stamped, home)
+
+    restamped = "system stuff\n\n" + bot_mode_probe.epoch_line(home)
+    assert not bot_mode_probe.stored_prompt_capability_stale(restamped, home)
+    config.write_text("model:\n  supports_vision: true\n", encoding="utf-8")
+    assert bot_mode_probe.capability_fingerprint(home) != vision_disabled
+
+
+def test_vision_override_spellings_share_one_fingerprint(tmp_path):
+    """YAML boolean tokens that image routing treats as the same override share an epoch."""
+    home = tmp_path / ".hermes"
+    home.mkdir()
+    _make_bot_profile(home, "researcher", managed=True)
+    config = home / "config.yaml"
+
+    config.write_text("model:\n  supports_vision: true\n", encoding="utf-8")
+    enabled = bot_mode_probe.capability_fingerprint(home)
+    config.write_text("model:\n  supports_vision: yes\n", encoding="utf-8")
+    assert bot_mode_probe.capability_fingerprint(home) == enabled
+    config.write_text("model:\n  supports_vision: false\n", encoding="utf-8")
+    assert bot_mode_probe.capability_fingerprint(home) != enabled
+
+
+def test_fingerprint_changes_when_model_context_length_override_changes(tmp_path):
+    """context_length truncates context files in the rebuilt prompt, so it is part of the epoch."""
+    home = tmp_path / ".hermes"
+    home.mkdir()
+    _make_bot_profile(home, "researcher", managed=True)
+    config = home / "config.yaml"
+
+    config.write_text("model:\n  context_length: 32768\n", encoding="utf-8")
+    narrow = bot_mode_probe.capability_fingerprint(home)
+    config.write_text("model:\n  context_length: 131072\n", encoding="utf-8")
+    assert bot_mode_probe.capability_fingerprint(home) != narrow
+    config.write_text("model:\n  context_length: 32768\n", encoding="utf-8")
+    assert bot_mode_probe.capability_fingerprint(home) == narrow
+
+
 def test_stored_prompt_staleness(tmp_path):
     home = tmp_path / ".hermes"
     home.mkdir()
diff --git a/tests/tools/test_fuzzy_match.py b/tests/tools/test_fuzzy_match.py
index 6c52ea47c4..64f4adcdb6 100644
--- a/tests/tools/test_fuzzy_match.py
+++ b/tests/tools/test_fuzzy_match.py
@@ -229,6 +229,28 @@ class TestUnicodeNormalized:
         assert new == expected, f"Got {new!r}"
 
 
+    def test_equal_boundary_inside_expansion_keeps_region_text(self):
+        """An edit boundary falling inside a multi-char expansion (em-dash ->
+        '--') must snap to the expansion, not copy text from the region start.
+
+        SequenceMatcher splits old/new so that the second equal block begins
+        at the expansion's second '-': a norm index with no direct original
+        position. The old fallback (position 0) spliced the whole region text
+        into the replacement, duplicating it after every edit.
+        """
+        content = "value = x\u2014y\n"
+        new, count, strategy, err = fuzzy_find_and_replace(
+            content, "value = x--y", "value = x-@-y")
+        assert count == 1, f"Expected match, got err={err}"
+        assert strategy == "unicode_normalized"
+        assert new == "value = x\u2014@\u2014y\n", f"Got {new!r}"
+
+        # Same boundary class for a 3-char expansion (ellipsis -> '...').
+        new, count, strategy, err = fuzzy_find_and_replace("a\u2026b\n", "a...b", "a..X.b")
+        assert count == 1, f"Expected match, got err={err}"
+        assert strategy == "unicode_normalized"
+        assert new == "a\u2026X\u2026b\n", f"Got {new!r}"
+
 
 class TestUnicodeSpaceAndMinusNormalized:
     """Space-separator family + Unicode minus normalization.
diff --git a/tools/bot_mode_probe.py b/tools/bot_mode_probe.py
index dd44c4d3c5..a964388c67 100644
--- a/tools/bot_mode_probe.py
+++ b/tools/bot_mode_probe.py
@@ -318,19 +318,50 @@ def get_bot_mode_protocol_section(home: str | os.PathLike | None = None, *, forc
 
 # ── capability epoch ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 # Bot Chat sessions are effectively eternal, so "build the prompt once" would strand
-# capability changes (skills, toolsets, MCP, SOUL, roster, peers) forever. The fingerprint
-# hashes exactly that surface; the built prompt embeds it and agent/conversation_loop.py
-# rebuilds only when the stored epoch differs from disk — once per change, never per-turn drift.
+# capability changes (skills, toolsets, MCP, SOUL, roster, peers, model capability
+# overrides that change the prompt) forever. The fingerprint hashes exactly that
+# surface; the built prompt embeds it and agent/conversation_loop.py rebuilds only
+# when the stored epoch differs from disk — once per change, never per-turn drift.
 
 _EPOCH_PREFIX = "Capability epoch: "
 _EPOCH_RE_TEXT = r"Capability epoch: ([0-9a-f]{12})"
 
 
+def _model_prompt_capability_surface(model_cfg: object) -> dict:
+    """``model.*`` overrides whose flip changes a rebuilt prompt, coerced like their consumers.
+
+    ``supports_vision`` uses image routing's strict bool so YAML ``yes`` and ``true`` share
+    one epoch. ``context_length`` is the cap ``build_system_prompt_parts`` uses to truncate
+    context files. Routing keys (provider, default, base_url) are identity lines, not this
+    surface — and no model id is special-cased.
+    """
+    from agent.image_routing import _coerce_capability_bool
+
+    if not isinstance(model_cfg, dict):
+        model_cfg = {}
+    raw_ctx = model_cfg.get("context_length")
+    ctx = None
+    # bool is an int subclass; ``context_length: true`` is not a window.
+    if isinstance(raw_ctx, bool):
+        ctx = None
+    elif isinstance(raw_ctx, int):
+        ctx = raw_ctx if raw_ctx > 0 else None
+    elif isinstance(raw_ctx, str) and raw_ctx.strip().isdigit():
+        parsed = int(raw_ctx.strip())
+        ctx = parsed if parsed > 0 else None
+    return {
+        "supports_vision": _coerce_capability_bool(model_cfg.get("supports_vision")),
+        "context_length": ctx,
+    }
+
+
 def capability_fingerprint(home: str | os.PathLike | None = None) -> str:
     """12-hex digest of the capability surface for ``home``'s profile: disabled skills +
-    enabled toolsets + MCP config, SOUL.md bytes, installed skill names, the Bot-Mode roster
-    (+ roles), peers and the relay roster. Deliberately NOT cached — the point is detecting
-    on-disk drift against a stored prompt's epoch. Never raises ("unavailable" on failure)."""
+    enabled toolsets + MCP config, model capability overrides that change the prompt
+    (``supports_vision``, ``context_length``), SOUL.md bytes, installed skill names, the
+    Bot-Mode roster (+ roles), peers and the relay roster. Deliberately NOT cached — the
+    point is detecting on-disk drift against a stored prompt's epoch. Never raises
+    ("unavailable" on failure)."""
     import hashlib
     import json
 
@@ -350,6 +381,8 @@ def capability_fingerprint(home: str | os.PathLike | None = None) -> str:
             reset_hermes_home_override(token)
         skills_cfg = cfg.get("skills") if isinstance(cfg.get("skills"), dict) else {}
         tools_cfg = cfg.get("tools") if isinstance(cfg.get("tools"), dict) else {}
+        model_cfg = cfg.get("model") if isinstance(cfg.get("model"), dict) else {}
+        surface["model_capabilities"] = _model_prompt_capability_surface(model_cfg)
         surface["disabled_skills"] = sorted(str(s).lower() for s in (skills_cfg.get("disabled") or []))
         surface["enabled_toolsets"] = sorted(str(t) for t in (tools_cfg.get("enabled_toolsets") or []))
         mcp = cfg.get("mcp_servers")
diff --git a/tools/fuzzy_match.py b/tools/fuzzy_match.py
index 1ee3d9f6c5..c60d098405 100644
--- a/tools/fuzzy_match.py
+++ b/tools/fuzzy_match.py
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ still land on the intended region::
         content, old_string, new_string, replace_all=False)
 """
 
+import bisect
 import re
 from difflib import SequenceMatcher
 from typing import Callable, Optional
@@ -509,12 +510,12 @@ def _preserve_unicode_in_replacement(content: str, matches: list[Span],
         return new_string  # strategy shouldn't have fired; fall back
 
     file_orig_to_norm = _build_orig_to_norm_map(file_region)
-    file_norm_to_orig = _invert_norm_map(file_orig_to_norm)
 
     result_parts: list[str] = []
     for tag, i1, i2, j1, j2 in SequenceMatcher(None, norm_old, new_string).get_opcodes():
         if tag == "equal":
-            orig_start = file_norm_to_orig.get(i1, 0)
+            # The original char owning norm index i1, even one inside a multi-char expansion (em-dash -> '--').
+            orig_start = bisect.bisect_right(file_orig_to_norm, i1) - 1
             orig_end = _norm_end_to_orig(file_orig_to_norm, orig_start, i2)
             result_parts.append(file_region[orig_start:orig_end])
         elif tag != "delete":