fix(run): address gadfly review of the critic-deadline PR

All 11 findings were real (3 clusters):

- Failsafe ceiling could pre-empt the critic's backstop (e9c9483f, 9109317b,
  d5a9bf0d, 76ad171e): CriticAbsoluteMax was 6h, but the host's backstop
  (MaxRuntime × multiplier, or its own absolute max) can reach 6h+, so the
  ceiling fired first and reintroduced a premature hard cap. Now CriticAbsoluteMax
  is a 24h RUNAWAY guard set far beyond any realistic backstop (the host clamps
  its own backstop to a much smaller absolute max, e.g. mort's 6h convar), so it
  never pre-empts a healthy supervised run. Comments corrected.

- nil Monitor handle lost the MaxRuntime cap (df016a6f, 9dd42827): a critic-enabled
  run whose host Monitor returned no handle had no deadline-watch and was bounded
  only by the generous ceiling. Added an unsupervised-run failsafe that re-wraps
  runCtx to the nominal MaxRuntime when the critic is enabled but didn't arm.
  New test TestCriticOwnsDeadline_NilHandleFallsBackToMaxRuntime.

- CriticSoftTimeout vestigial / dead fallback (f7764919, 9805bebe, 6864086f,
  b2b11721): the soft trigger is now always the resolved MaxRuntime (> 0), so the
  CriticSoftTimeout field + its startCritic fallback were unreachable. Removed the
  field entirely; the remaining 90s floor is documented as defensive-only.

- DRY (f30ce827): extracted e.criticOwnsDeadline(ra), now the single predicate used
  by both Run and startCritic so they can't drift.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.8 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>
Claude-Session: https://claude.ai/code/session_01Jo75sqmeVPgFUWZQBn179X

run/critic.go

@@ -22,6 +22,14 @@ type criticBinding struct {
 	h CriticHandle
 }
 
+// criticOwnsDeadline reports whether a critic is configured AND this run enables
+// it — the single predicate that decides the two-tier-timeout path. Used by BOTH
+// Run (to choose the generous runaway ceiling over the literal MaxRuntime cap) and
+// startCritic (the arm/no-op gate), so the two can never drift.
+func (e *Executor) criticOwnsDeadline(ra RunnableAgent) bool {
+	return e.cfg.Ports.Critic != nil && ra.Critic.Enabled
+}
+
 // startCritic begins critic monitoring for this run when one is configured and
 // the agent enables it. It launches a goroutine that cancels runCtx (via
 // cancelCause) the moment the critic's hard deadline passes — the critic may
@@ -35,18 +43,17 @@ type criticBinding struct {
 // softTrigger is the run's resolved MaxRuntime: for a critic-owned run MaxRuntime
 // is the soft wake (mort's two-tier semantics — the critic first reviews once the
 // run exceeds its nominal budget, and its backstop = softTrigger × multiplier).
-// It falls back to the configured CriticSoftTimeout when the run set no MaxRuntime.
+// The caller (Run) always passes the resolved MaxRuntime, which withFallbacks
+// guarantees is > 0; the 90s floor below is purely a defensive guard for a
+// hypothetical caller that passes a non-positive value.
 func (e *Executor) startCritic(runCtx context.Context, cancelCause context.CancelCauseFunc, ra RunnableAgent, info RunInfo, softTrigger time.Duration) (*criticBinding, func()) {
 	noop := func() {}
-	if e.cfg.Ports.Critic == nil || !ra.Critic.Enabled {
+	if !e.criticOwnsDeadline(ra) {
 		return nil, noop
 	}
 	soft := softTrigger
 	if soft <= 0 {
-		soft = e.cfg.Defaults.CriticSoftTimeout
+		soft = 90 * time.Second // defensive only; the sole caller passes MaxRuntime (>0)
-	}
-	if soft <= 0 {
-		soft = 90 * time.Second // defensive: withFallbacks normally guarantees >0
 	}
 	h := e.cfg.Ports.Critic.Monitor(runCtx, info, soft)
 	if h == nil {

run/critic_deadline_test.go

@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ func (c *capturingCritic) Monitor(_ context.Context, _ run.RunInfo, soft time.Du
 
 // TestCriticSoftTriggerIsMaxRuntime: the soft trigger handed to the host critic is
 // the run's resolved MaxRuntime (mort's two-tier model — the critic first wakes once
-// the run exceeds its nominal budget), NOT the global Defaults.CriticSoftTimeout.
+// the run exceeds its nominal budget), not some global/default value.
 func TestCriticSoftTriggerIsMaxRuntime(t *testing.T) {
 	fp := fake.New("fake")
 	fp.Enqueue("m", fake.Reply("done"))
@@ -116,7 +116,6 @@ func TestCriticSoftTriggerIsMaxRuntime(t *testing.T) {
 		Registry: tool.NewRegistry(),
 		Models:   func(ctx context.Context, _ string) (context.Context, llm.Model, error) { return ctx, m, nil },
 		Ports:    run.Ports{Critic: cc},
-		Defaults: run.Defaults{CriticSoftTimeout: 90 * time.Second}, // distinct from MaxRuntime below
 	})
 	const wantSoft = 7 * time.Minute
 	ex.Run(context.Background(),
@@ -126,6 +125,29 @@ func TestCriticSoftTriggerIsMaxRuntime(t *testing.T) {
 	got := cc.soft
 	cc.mu.Unlock()
 	if got != wantSoft {
-		t.Errorf("soft trigger = %v, want the agent's MaxRuntime %v (not Defaults.CriticSoftTimeout)", got, wantSoft)
+		t.Errorf("soft trigger = %v, want the agent's MaxRuntime %v", got, wantSoft)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestCriticOwnsDeadline_NilHandleFallsBackToMaxRuntime: the agent enables the
+// critic but the host Monitor returns NO handle (nil) — there is no deadline-watch,
+// so the run is unsupervised. It must fall back to the nominal MaxRuntime hard cap
+// (the slow 200ms tool outlasts the 20ms MaxRuntime → the run errors), NOT run free
+// up to the generous CriticAbsoluteMax runaway ceiling.
+func TestCriticOwnsDeadline_NilHandleFallsBackToMaxRuntime(t *testing.T) {
+	m := slowModel()
+	cc := &capturingCritic{} // h is the nil interface → Monitor returns a nil handle
+	ex := run.New(run.Config{
+		Registry: tool.NewRegistry(),
+		Models:   func(ctx context.Context, _ string) (context.Context, llm.Model, error) { return ctx, m, nil },
+		Ports:    run.Ports{Critic: cc},
+		Defaults: run.Defaults{CriticAbsoluteMax: time.Hour}, // generous ceiling; must NOT be what bounds the run
+	})
+	res := ex.Run(context.Background(),
+		run.RunnableAgent{Name: "x", ModelTier: "m", MaxIterations: 5, MaxRuntime: 20 * time.Millisecond,
+			Critic: run.CriticConfig{Enabled: true}},
+		slowToolInvocation("r", 200*time.Millisecond), "go")
+	if res.Err == nil {
+		t.Fatalf("critic-enabled run with a nil Monitor handle must fall back to the MaxRuntime hard cap; got output=%q err=nil", res.Output)
 	}
 }

run/critic_test.go

@@ -61,8 +61,8 @@ func TestCriticRaisesStepCeiling(t *testing.T) {
 		Registry: tool.NewRegistry(),
 		Models:   func(ctx context.Context, _ string) (context.Context, llm.Model, error) { return ctx, m, nil },
 		Ports:    run.Ports{Critic: &fakeCritic{h: h}},
-		// large soft timeout so the deadline-watch never interferes in the test
+		// The fake handle's Deadline() is zero (no hard deadline), so the
-		Defaults: run.Defaults{CriticSoftTimeout: time.Hour},
+		// deadline-watch never interferes regardless of the soft trigger.
 	})
 	res := ex.Run(context.Background(),
 		run.RunnableAgent{Name: "x", ModelTier: "m", MaxIterations: 1, Critic: run.CriticConfig{Enabled: true}},

run/executor.go

@@ -29,13 +29,17 @@ type Defaults struct {
 	MaxConsecutiveToolErrors int           // loop guard; default 3
 	MaxSameToolCallRepeats   int           // retry-storm guard; default 3
 	CompactionThresholdRatio float64       // fraction of model context to compact at; default 0.7
-	CriticSoftTimeout        time.Duration // idle window before the critic wakes; default 90s
+	// CriticAbsoluteMax is the RUNAWAY ceiling for a critic-OWNED run (Ports.Critic
-	// CriticAbsoluteMax is the failsafe wall-clock ceiling for a critic-OWNED run
+	// set AND the agent enables it). For such a run MaxRuntime is the SOFT trigger,
-	// (Ports.Critic set AND the agent enables it). For such a run MaxRuntime is the
+	// not a hard cap, and the critic's own extendable backstop is the normal
-	// SOFT trigger, not a hard cap, and the critic's extendable backstop is the
+	// deadline. This ceiling exists ONLY to stop a critic that never advances its
-	// normal deadline — so this ceiling only fires if the critic never acts (a
+	// deadline (a broken host handle) from running forever, so it is deliberately
-	// broken/nil host handle). Default 6h; never shorter than the run's MaxRuntime.
+	// set FAR beyond any realistic backstop (default 24h): the host clamps its own
-	// Non-critic runs ignore it (they keep the literal MaxRuntime kill).
+	// backstop to a much smaller absolute max (e.g. mort's agents.critic.
+	// absolute_max_seconds = 6h), so the ceiling never pre-empts a healthy
+	// supervised run. Keep it well above the host's absolute max. Never shorter than
+	// the run's MaxRuntime. Non-critic runs ignore it (they keep the literal
+	// MaxRuntime kill).
 	CriticAbsoluteMax time.Duration
 }
 
@@ -58,11 +62,8 @@ func (d Defaults) withFallbacks() Defaults {
 	if d.CompactionThresholdRatio <= 0 {
 		d.CompactionThresholdRatio = 0.7
 	}
-	if d.CriticSoftTimeout <= 0 {
-		d.CriticSoftTimeout = 90 * time.Second
-	}
 	if d.CriticAbsoluteMax <= 0 {
-		d.CriticAbsoluteMax = 6 * time.Hour
+		d.CriticAbsoluteMax = 24 * time.Hour
 	}
 	return d
 }
@@ -289,19 +290,26 @@ func (e *Executor) Run(ctx context.Context, ra RunnableAgent, inv tool.Invocatio
 	//     MaxRuntime becomes the SOFT trigger (passed to startCritic), and the
 	//     critic's extendable backstop — watched in startCritic, which cancels via
 	//     cancelCause — is the real deadline. A slow-but-progressing run is given
-	//     room up to the backstop; only a stalled one is killed. We still wrap a
+	//     room up to that backstop; only a stalled one is killed. The base context
-	//     GENEROUS WithTimeout at CriticAbsoluteMax so a broken/nil critic handle
+	//     gets a WithTimeout at CriticAbsoluteMax (default 24h) purely as a RUNAWAY
-	//     can't run unbounded; that ceiling never fires before the critic's backstop.
+	//     guard for a critic that never advances its deadline: it is set FAR beyond
+	//     any realistic backstop (the host clamps its own backstop to a much smaller
+	//     absolute max, e.g. mort's 6h convar), so it does NOT pre-empt a healthy
+	//     supervised run. If the host critic fails to ARM (nil handle), the run is
+	//     unsupervised and we tighten the cap back down to MaxRuntime below.
 	// A NESTED cause-carrying layer (cancelCause) lets a critic kill surface as a
 	// distinct "killed": only an ErrCriticKill cause is consulted in statusFor; a
 	// generic run error, a backstop expiry, or a caller cancel is classified by the
 	// run error itself.
-	criticOwnsDeadline := e.cfg.Ports.Critic != nil && ra.Critic.Enabled
+	criticOwns := e.criticOwnsDeadline(ra)
 	hardCap := maxRuntime
-	if criticOwnsDeadline {
+	if criticOwns {
+		// Runaway guard only — the critic's own (extendable) deadline-watch is the
+		// normal cap. Never shorter than the nominal budget, in case an operator
+		// sets MaxRuntime above the runaway ceiling (a degenerate config).
 		hardCap = e.cfg.Defaults.CriticAbsoluteMax
 		if hardCap < maxRuntime {
-			hardCap = maxRuntime // the failsafe ceiling is never shorter than the nominal budget
+			hardCap = maxRuntime
 		}
 	}
 	timeoutCtx, cancelTimeout := context.WithTimeout(context.WithoutCancel(ctx), hardCap)
@@ -310,9 +318,6 @@ func (e *Executor) Run(ctx context.Context, ra RunnableAgent, inv tool.Invocatio
 	defer cancelCause(nil)
 	runCtx, mergeCancel := MergeCancellation(runCtx, ctx)
 	defer mergeCancel()
-	// The finalize defer (top of Run) now has a run context to read the
-	// cancellation cause from (shutdown vs critic-kill vs deadline vs cancel).
-	checkpointCause = func() error { return context.Cause(runCtx) }
 
 	// Critic (optional): monitors the run for a stall, can nudge/extend/kill via
 	// its host Escalator. When it owns the deadline, MaxRuntime is its soft trigger
@@ -322,6 +327,22 @@ func (e *Executor) Run(ctx context.Context, ra RunnableAgent, inv tool.Invocatio
 	critic, stopCritic := e.startCritic(runCtx, cancelCause, ra, info, maxRuntime)
 	defer stopCritic()
 
+	// Unsupervised-run failsafe: the agent enabled the critic (so the base context
+	// got the generous runaway ceiling instead of MaxRuntime), but the host Monitor
+	// returned no handle — there is no deadline-watch. Without this the run would be
+	// bounded only by the 24h ceiling. Tighten it back to the nominal MaxRuntime so
+	// an unsupervised run can't hold its slot far past budget. mort's adapter always
+	// arms when the flag is set, so this is pure defence in depth.
+	if criticOwns && critic == nil {
+		var cancelUnsupervised context.CancelFunc
+		runCtx, cancelUnsupervised = context.WithTimeout(runCtx, maxRuntime)
+		defer cancelUnsupervised()
+	}
+	// The finalize defer (top of Run) now has a run context to read the
+	// cancellation cause from (shutdown vs critic-kill vs deadline vs cancel). Set
+	// AFTER the unsupervised-failsafe re-wrap so it reads the context the loop runs on.
+	checkpointCause = func() error { return context.Cause(runCtx) }
+
 	// Step instrumentation: accumulate Result.Steps + fire inv.OnStep, feed the
 	// audit recorder, and keep the live iteration counter fresh. majordomo's
 	// step observer hands us each completed iteration; we zip the model's tool