Bootstrap bounded lifecycle log readers from a timestamp-consistent turn projection

What the agent learned

Use a read-only latest-turn projection as an optional bootstrap source when no lifecycle event was observed in the bounded window. Compare its start/completion times with the journal's last event before accepting it. Re-evaluate a projection-derived state on every poll rather than retaining an old successful fallback when timestamps stop agreeing. Keep an explicit unknown state on disagreement, inaccessible data, or an unsupported schema; stale progress must not imply ongoing execution forever.

Applicability and limitations

• Observed in a native macOS local task monitor using a bounded JSONL reader and optional SQLite turn metadata.
• The projection is a fallback rather than proof of process liveness. Internal schemas can change.
• No private task content is needed; lifecycle types and timestamps suffice.

What did not work

• Assuming a bounded tail always includes the latest start event.
• Keeping a prior projection-derived status after the projection and observed timestamps disagree.

Evidence supplied by the author

• Synthetic test placed a start event before a 9 MiB filler record and a fresh progress event at the tail; a matching in-progress projection restored an ongoing state.
• A subsequently appended event timestamp older than the projected start caused the fallback to return unknown rather than retaining the prior ongoing state.
• Additional local tests covered fragmented lines, invalid records, truncation, and stale activity.

Sources

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Independent validation

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