fix: enforce active capacity and clarify queued cards

Refresh canonical live-task claims at serialized scheduler, planning, and merge admission boundaries, including workflow-step leases and reservation handoffs. Back off capacity-denied merges safely across abort and restart lifecycles. Render queued planning cards in the header badge family with compact reason-specific icons.

.changeset/steady-active-capacity.md

@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+---
+"@runfusion/fusion": patch
+---
+
+summary: Keep active task admission within worktree capacity and show queued cards as status badges.
+category: fix
+dev: Refreshes full live-task claims at serialized admission and defers capacity-blocked merge retries.

packages/dashboard/app/components/TaskCard.css

@@ -259,6 +259,11 @@ Lock the id to the same chip-height row as .card-header-actions so the task id,
   letter-spacing: 0.5px;
 }
 
+.card-queued-reason-icon {
+  flex: 0 0 auto;
+  margin-inline-start: calc(var(--space-xs) / 2);
+}
+
 /*
 FNXC:WorkflowBoard 2026-06-29-00:00:
 Aggregate Board cards need a compact workflow-name badge so operators can identify each card's source workflow while shared columns combine multiple workflows. The badge is opt-in metadata from Board and uses neutral card tokens so non-board TaskCard callers do not render empty workflow shells.

packages/dashboard/app/components/TaskCard.tsx

@@ -1581,7 +1581,7 @@ function TaskCardComponent({
     && !visualStatus
     && !planReviewRunning
     && !isAgentActive;
-  const showReadyBadge = showIdleTodoBadge && !awaitingPlanning;
+  const showReadyBadge = showIdleTodoBadge && !queued && !awaitingPlanning;
   /*
   FNXC:CodingIdeasWorkflow 2026-07-25-12:05:
   "Queued to plan" is the exact complement of Ready: same idle-in-Todo conditions, but the card has
@@ -1598,7 +1598,7 @@ function TaskCardComponent({
   Both badges now derive from the single `awaitingPlanning` value above, so "exact complement" is
   structural rather than a property of the step count that two independent conditions had to agree on.
   */
-  const showQueuedToPlanBadge = showIdleTodoBadge && awaitingPlanning;
+  const showQueuedToPlanBadge = showIdleTodoBadge && !queued && awaitingPlanning;
   // Native HTML5 drag is desktop-mouse only — it doesn't move cards via touch.
   // On touch-primary devices the `draggable` attribute still arms the browser's
   // touch-drag heuristic, which intermittently hijacks horizontal swipes meant
@@ -2130,8 +2130,6 @@ function TaskCardComponent({
   const showAddressPrFeedbackAction = canStartPrFeedbackAddressing(task, taskColumnFlags);
   const metaRowVisible =
     (task.dependencies?.length ?? 0) > 0
-    || queued
-    || task.status === "queued"
     || Boolean(task.blockedBy)
     || Boolean(task.overlapBlockedBy)
     || Boolean(fanout && fanout.totalCount > 0);
@@ -3370,6 +3368,16 @@ function TaskCardComponent({
     && !visualStatus
     && Boolean(task.recentAgentActivityAt)
     && isAgentActive;
+  /*
+  FNXC:TaskStatusBadge 2026-08-01-07:20 (operator: queued belongs with Planning and Ready):
+  Queued used to render as a clock-and-text footer tag, separating the waiting state from the
+  Planning and Ready badges operators compare it with. Treat every non-WIP queued card as a normal
+  header status badge instead. The shared badge geometry and column color carry desktop/mobile
+  behavior; no standalone queued visual remains at the bottom of the card.
+  */
+  const showQueuedBadge = !isPaused
+    && !isWipColumn
+    && (queued || visualStatus === "queued");
   const showStatusBadge = !isPaused
     && (hasTaskStatusBadge(visualStatus) || isTransientPlannerActive)
     && visualStatus !== "queued";
@@ -3400,6 +3408,8 @@ function TaskCardComponent({
             */
             : showQueuedToPlanBadge
               ? t("tasks.queuedToPlan", "Queued to plan")
+              : showQueuedBadge
+                ? t("tasks.statusQueued", "Queued")
               : getTaskStatusLabel(visualStatus ?? "", t, showOptionalGateBadge ? undefined : getRunningWorkflowStepLabel(task), { idle: !isAgentActive, overlapBlockedBy: task.overlapBlockedBy ?? null });
   const hasCardMetaBadges = showPriorityBadge
     || task.executionMode === "fast"
@@ -3411,6 +3421,7 @@ function TaskCardComponent({
     || showStatusBadge
     || showOptionalGateBadge
     || showReadyBadge
+    || showQueuedBadge
     // FNXC:CodingIdeasWorkflow 2026-07-25-12:05: the header wrapper only renders when it has a
     // real child, so a new badge must be declared here or it never mounts (Queued to plan is the
     // only badge on an unplanned idle Todo card — without this the whole cluster stays absent).
@@ -3544,7 +3555,7 @@ function TaskCardComponent({
               : pausedByAgent ? t("tasks.pausedByAgent", "paused by agent") : t("tasks.paused", "paused")}
           </span>
         )}
-        {(showStatusBadge || showQueuedToPlanBadge) && (
+        {(showStatusBadge || showQueuedToPlanBadge || showQueuedBadge) && (
           <span
             className={`card-status-badge card-status-badge--${task.column}${showQueuedToPlanBadge ? " queued-to-plan" : ""}${isAwaitingApproval ? " awaiting-approval" : ""}${isPlanReviewReplanCapApproval ? " awaiting-approval--plan-review-replan-cap" : ""}${isAwaitingInput ? " awaiting-input" : ""}${isAgentActive ? " pulsing" : ""}${isFailed ? " failed" : ""}${isStuck ? " stuck" : ""}`}
             title={
@@ -3573,6 +3584,10 @@ function TaskCardComponent({
                         "tasks.queuedToPlanTitle",
                         "Waiting for a planning slot — planning starts when an agent slot frees up",
                       )
+                  : showQueuedBadge && task.overlapBlockedBy
+                    ? t("tasks.queuedFileOverlapTitle", "Queued due to file overlap with {{taskId}}", { taskId: task.overlapBlockedBy })
+                  : showQueuedBadge && task.blockedBy
+                    ? t("tasks.queuedDependencyTitle", "Queued on dependency {{taskId}}", { taskId: task.blockedBy })
                   : task.status === "needs-replan" && !isAgentActive
                     ? t(
                         "tasks.needsReplanQueuedTitle",
@@ -3585,6 +3600,12 @@ function TaskCardComponent({
             data-awaiting-approval-reason={isAwaitingApproval ? (task.awaitingApprovalReason ?? "manual") : undefined}
           >
             {statusBadgeLabel}
+            {showQueuedBadge && task.overlapBlockedBy && (
+              <Layers className="card-queued-reason-icon" size={8} aria-hidden="true" data-testid={`card-queued-overlap-icon-${task.id}`} />
+            )}
+            {showQueuedBadge && !task.overlapBlockedBy && task.blockedBy && (
+              <Link className="card-queued-reason-icon" size={8} aria-hidden="true" data-testid={`card-queued-dependency-icon-${task.id}`} />
+            )}
           </span>
         )}
         {showOptionalGateBadge && optionalGateBadge && (
@@ -4183,7 +4204,6 @@ function TaskCardComponent({
               </span>
             </span>
           )}
-          {(queued || task.status === "queued") && !isWipColumn && <span className="queued-badge"><Clock size={12} style={{ verticalAlign: "middle" }} /> {t("tasks.queued", "Queued")}</span>}
           {placeFooterRightInMeta && footerRightCluster}
         </div>
       )}

packages/dashboard/app/components/__tests__/TaskCard.test.tsx

@@ -26,12 +26,12 @@ import { getPriorityColorVar, getPriorityLabel } from "../../utils/priorityIndic
 
 // Mock lucide-react to avoid SVG rendering issues in test env
 vi.mock("lucide-react", () => ({
-  Link: () => null,
+  Link: (props: React.SVGProps<SVGSVGElement>) => <svg {...props} />,
   GitBranch: () => null,
   Gitlab: () => null,
   Clock: () => null,
   Pencil: () => null,
-  Layers: () => null,
+  Layers: (props: React.SVGProps<SVGSVGElement>) => <svg {...props} />,
   ChevronDown: () => null,
   Folder: () => null,
   GitPullRequest: () => null,
@@ -4847,12 +4847,12 @@ describe("TaskCard", () => {
     expect(screen.getByTestId("provider-icon-github")).toBeDefined();
   });
 
-  it("renders the GitHub tracking link inline with queued metadata when the footer has no leading content", () => {
+  it("renders queued as a header status badge and leaves no clock tag at the bottom", () => {
     const { container } = render(
       <TaskCard
         task={makeTask({
           column: "todo",
-          status: "queued",
+          status: null,
           sourceType: "dashboard_ui",
           githubTracking: {
             issue: {
@@ -4864,20 +4864,41 @@ describe("TaskCard", () => {
             },
           },
         })}
+        queued
         onOpenDetail={noop}
         addToast={noop}
       />,
     );
 
     const link = screen.getByRole("link", { name: "Linked GitHub issue #42" });
-    const metaRow = container.querySelector(".card-meta");
-    const queuedBadge = container.querySelector(".queued-badge");
-    expect(container.querySelector(".card-footer-row")).toBeNull();
-    expect(link.closest(".card-meta")).toBe(metaRow);
-    expect(link.closest(".card-footer-row-right")?.closest(".card-meta")).toBe(metaRow);
-    expect(container.querySelector(".card-bottom-right-row")).toBeNull();
-    expect(queuedBadge).not.toBeNull();
-    expect(queuedBadge?.compareDocumentPosition(link) & Node.DOCUMENT_POSITION_FOLLOWING).toBeTruthy();
+    const queuedBadge = screen.getByText("Queued");
+    expect(link.closest(".card-footer-row")).not.toBeNull();
+    expect(queuedBadge).toHaveClass("card-status-badge", "card-status-badge--todo");
+    expect(queuedBadge.closest(".card-header-badges")).not.toBeNull();
+    expect(container.querySelector(".queued-badge")).toBeNull();
+    expect(queuedBadge.querySelector("svg")).toBeNull();
+    expect(link.closest(".card-meta")).toBeNull();
+  });
+
+  it.each([
+    ["file overlap", { overlapBlockedBy: "FN-OVERLAP" }, "card-queued-overlap-icon", "card-queued-dependency-icon", "Queued due to file overlap with FN-OVERLAP"],
+    ["dependency", { blockedBy: "FN-DEPENDENCY" }, "card-queued-dependency-icon", "card-queued-overlap-icon", "Queued on dependency FN-DEPENDENCY"],
+    ["file overlap when both blockers are present", { overlapBlockedBy: "FN-OVERLAP", blockedBy: "FN-DEPENDENCY" }, "card-queued-overlap-icon", "card-queued-dependency-icon", "Queued due to file overlap with FN-OVERLAP"],
+  ] as const)("shows the %s icon after Queued without putting the blocker id in the badge", (_case, blocker, expectedIcon, absentIcon, title) => {
+    const queuedTask = makeTask({ column: "todo", status: "queued", ...blocker });
+    const { container } = render(
+      <TaskCard task={queuedTask} onOpenDetail={noop} addToast={noop} />,
+    );
+
+    const badge = screen.getByText("Queued").closest(".card-status-badge") as HTMLElement;
+    expect(badge).toHaveTextContent(/^Queued$/);
+    const icon = badge.querySelector(`[data-testid="${expectedIcon}-${queuedTask.id}"]`);
+    expect(icon).not.toBeNull();
+    expect(icon).toHaveClass("card-queued-reason-icon");
+    expect(icon).toHaveAttribute("size", "8");
+    expect(badge.querySelector(`[data-testid="${absentIcon}-${queuedTask.id}"]`)).toBeNull();
+    expect(badge).toHaveAttribute("title", title);
+    expect(container.querySelector(".queued-badge")).toBeNull();
   });
 
 

packages/dashboard/app/styles.css

@@ -3020,16 +3020,6 @@ Toast text must contrast its status background across every dashboard theme and
   cursor: default;
 }
 
-.queued-badge {
-  display: inline-flex;
-  align-items: center;
-  gap: 3px;
-  font-size: 11px;
-  color: var(--todo);
-}
-
-
-
 /* === Dependency Dropdown (shared: InlineCreateCard, NewTaskModal, TaskDetailModal, TaskForm) === */
 .dep-trigger-wrap {
   position: relative;

packages/engine/src/__tests__/concurrency.test.ts

@@ -1176,6 +1176,75 @@ describe("ProjectAdmissionCoordinator", () => {
     coordinator.releaseReservation("FN-PLANNING");
   });
 
+  it("does not lose a holder that transfers from reservation to durable state during a claim read", async () => {
+    const coordinator = new ProjectAdmissionCoordinator();
+    expect(await coordinator.reserveIfAvailable({
+      projectId: "project-transfer",
+      taskId: "FN-HANDOFF",
+      maxConcurrent: 1,
+      claimed: () => 0,
+    })).toBe(true);
+
+    let finishSnapshot!: () => void;
+    const snapshotBlocked = new Promise<void>((resolve) => { finishSnapshot = resolve; });
+    let snapshotStarted!: () => void;
+    const snapshotDidStart = new Promise<void>((resolve) => { snapshotStarted = resolve; });
+    const candidate = coordinator.reserveIfAvailable({
+      projectId: "project-transfer",
+      taskId: "FN-CANDIDATE",
+      maxConcurrent: 1,
+      claimed: async () => {
+        snapshotStarted();
+        await snapshotBlocked;
+        // This is the pre-persistence snapshot: the handoff is not durable in it yet.
+        return 0;
+      },
+      claimedTaskIds: () => [],
+    });
+
+    await snapshotDidStart;
+    // The handoff becomes durable and releases its transient reservation while the stale read is open.
+    coordinator.releaseReservation("FN-HANDOFF");
+    finishSnapshot();
+
+    expect(await candidate).toBe(false);
+    coordinator.releaseReservation("FN-CANDIDATE");
+  });
+
+  it("evaluates a waiting admission claim only after the prior project drain finishes", async () => {
+    const coordinator = new ProjectAdmissionCoordinator();
+    let releaseDrain!: () => void;
+    const drainBlocked = new Promise<void>((resolve) => { releaseDrain = resolve; });
+    let drainStarted!: () => void;
+    const drainDidStart = new Promise<void>((resolve) => { drainStarted = resolve; });
+    const first = coordinator.reserveIfAvailable({
+      projectId: "project-serialized-snapshot",
+      taskId: "FN-BLOCKER",
+      maxConcurrent: 0,
+      claimed: async () => {
+        drainStarted();
+        await drainBlocked;
+        return 0;
+      },
+    });
+    await drainDidStart;
+
+    const freshClaim = vi.fn(() => 1);
+    const second = coordinator.reserveIfAvailable({
+      projectId: "project-serialized-snapshot",
+      taskId: "FN-WAITING",
+      maxConcurrent: 1,
+      claimed: freshClaim,
+    });
+    await Promise.resolve();
+    expect(freshClaim).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+
+    releaseDrain();
+    expect(await first).toBe(false);
+    expect(await second).toBe(false);
+    expect(freshClaim).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
+  });
+
   it("admits the oldest same-project candidate atomically and partitions projects", async () => {
     const coordinator = new ProjectAdmissionCoordinator();
     const started: string[] = [];

packages/engine/src/__tests__/project-engine.test.ts

@@ -2494,6 +2494,74 @@ describe("ProjectEngine paused in-review auto-merge behavior", () => {
     await engine.stop();
   });
 
+  it("does not admit a merge over a pending optional workflow-step lease", async () => {
+    const mockStore = createMockStore({ ...baseSettings, autoMerge: true, maxConcurrent: 1, maxWorktrees: 1 });
+    mockStore.store.getTask.mockResolvedValue({
+      id: "FN-MERGE-WAITING",
+      column: "in-review",
+      paused: false,
+      mergeRetries: 0,
+      status: null,
+      branch: "fusion/fn-merge-waiting",
+      createdAt: "2026-01-01T00:00:00.000Z",
+    });
+    mocks.currentStore = mockStore.store;
+
+    const engine = createEngine();
+    await engine.start();
+    mockStore.store.listTasks.mockImplementation(async (options?: { slim?: boolean }) => options?.slim === false
+      ? [{
+          id: "FN-LIVE-REVIEW",
+          column: "todo",
+          paused: false,
+          status: null,
+          workflowStepResults: [{
+            workflowStepId: "code-review",
+            workflowStepName: "Code Review",
+            phase: "pre-merge",
+            source: "optional-group",
+            status: "pending",
+            startedAt: "2026-08-01T00:00:00.000Z",
+          }],
+        }]
+      : []);
+
+    engine.enqueueMerge("FN-MERGE-WAITING");
+
+    await vi.waitFor(() => {
+      expect(mockStore.store.listTasks).toHaveBeenCalledWith({ slim: false, includeArchived: false });
+    });
+    expect(mocks.runAiMerge).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(mockStore.store.listTasks.mock.calls.filter(([options]) => options?.slim === false)).toHaveLength(1);
+    const privateEngine = engine as unknown as {
+      mergeQueue: string[];
+      capacityDeferredMergeTaskIds: Set<string>;
+    };
+    expect(privateEngine.mergeQueue).not.toContain("FN-MERGE-WAITING");
+    expect(privateEngine.capacityDeferredMergeTaskIds.has("FN-MERGE-WAITING")).toBe(true);
+    expect(engine.isMergePending("FN-MERGE-WAITING")).toBe(true);
+
+    // An unrelated queue wake must not make the deferred task runnable before its timer.
+    mockStore.store.getTask.mockResolvedValue({
+      id: "FN-OTHER-MERGE",
+      column: "in-review",
+      paused: false,
+      mergeRetries: 0,
+      status: null,
+      branch: "fusion/fn-other-merge",
+      createdAt: "2026-01-02T00:00:00.000Z",
+    });
+    engine.enqueueMerge("FN-OTHER-MERGE");
+    await vi.waitFor(() => {
+      expect(privateEngine.capacityDeferredMergeTaskIds.has("FN-OTHER-MERGE")).toBe(true);
+    });
+    expect(privateEngine.mergeQueue).not.toContain("FN-MERGE-WAITING");
+    expect(mocks.runAiMerge).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    await engine.stop();
+    expect(privateEngine.capacityDeferredMergeTaskIds.size).toBe(0);
+    expect(engine.isMergePending("FN-MERGE-WAITING")).toBe(false);
+  });
+
   it("records an audit event (not silent) when auto-promotion of a branch-group member fails (Fix #4)", async () => {
     const mockStore = createMockStore({ ...baseSettings, autoMerge: true });
     // The dequeued + merged task is a shared branch-group member, so the engine

packages/engine/src/__tests__/scheduler-workflow-cutover.test.ts

@@ -625,6 +625,88 @@ describe("Scheduler workflow cutover", () => {
     expect(second.status).toBe("queued");
   });
 
+  it("rechecks canonical live tasks inside final admission after the sweep snapshot goes stale", async () => {
+    const active = Array.from({ length: 8 }, (_, index) =>
+      task({ id: `FN-ACTIVE-${index}`, column: "in-progress" }),
+    );
+    const ready = task({ id: "FN-READY", status: "queued" });
+    const latePlanner = task({ id: "FN-LATE-PLANNER", status: "planning" });
+    const store = storeWith([...active, ready], { maxConcurrent: 12, maxWorktrees: 9 });
+    vi.mocked(store.listTasks)
+      .mockResolvedValueOnce([...active, ready])
+      .mockResolvedValue([...active, latePlanner, ready]);
+    const onSchedule = vi.fn();
+    const scheduler = new Scheduler(store, { onSchedule });
+    (scheduler as unknown as { running: boolean }).running = true;
+
+    await scheduler.schedule();
+
+    expect(store.listTasks).toHaveBeenCalledWith({ slim: false, includeArchived: false });
+    expect(store.moveTaskIf).not.toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      ready.id,
+      "in-progress",
+      expect.any(Function),
+      expect.anything(),
+    );
+    expect(onSchedule).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(ready.column).toBe("todo");
+    expect(ready.status).toBe("queued");
+  });
+
+  it("counts a pending optional workflow-step lease in final scheduler admission", async () => {
+    const active = Array.from({ length: 8 }, (_, index) =>
+      task({ id: `FN-LEASE-ACTIVE-${index}`, column: "in-progress" }),
+    );
+    const liveLease = task({
+      id: "FN-LIVE-LEASE",
+      status: null,
+      workflowStepResults: [{
+        workflowStepId: "code-review",
+        workflowStepName: "Code Review",
+        phase: "pre-merge",
+        source: "optional-group",
+        status: "pending",
+        startedAt: "2026-08-01T00:00:00.000Z",
+      }],
+    });
+    const ready = task({ id: "FN-READY", status: "queued" });
+    const store = storeWith([...active, liveLease, ready], { maxConcurrent: 12, maxWorktrees: 9 });
+    const onSchedule = vi.fn();
+    const scheduler = new Scheduler(store, { onSchedule });
+    (scheduler as unknown as { running: boolean }).running = true;
+
+    await scheduler.schedule();
+
+    expect(store.listTasks).toHaveBeenCalledWith({ slim: false, includeArchived: false });
+    expect(onSchedule).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(ready.column).toBe("todo");
+  });
+
+  it("does not let a stale full sweep hide capacity that freed before final admission", async () => {
+    const initiallyActive = Array.from({ length: 9 }, (_, index) =>
+      task({ id: `FN-STALE-ACTIVE-${index}`, column: "in-progress" }),
+    );
+    const ready = task({ id: "FN-READY", status: "queued" });
+    const store = storeWith([...initiallyActive, ready], { maxConcurrent: 12, maxWorktrees: 9 });
+    vi.mocked(store.listTasks)
+      .mockResolvedValueOnce([...initiallyActive, ready])
+      .mockResolvedValue(initiallyActive.slice(0, 8).concat(ready));
+    const onSchedule = vi.fn();
+    const scheduler = new Scheduler(store, { onSchedule });
+    (scheduler as unknown as { running: boolean }).running = true;
+
+    await scheduler.schedule();
+
+    expect(store.listTasks).toHaveBeenCalledWith({ slim: false, includeArchived: false });
+    expect(store.moveTaskIf).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      ready.id,
+      "in-progress",
+      expect.any(Function),
+      expect.anything(),
+    );
+    expect(onSchedule).toHaveBeenCalledWith(expect.objectContaining({ id: ready.id }));
+  });
+
   it("leaves a task queued when the authoritative release move rejects after reservation", async () => {
     const ready = task({ id: "FN-002", status: "queued" });
     const store = storeWith([ready], { maxConcurrent: 4, maxWorktrees: 4 });

packages/engine/src/__tests__/triage-admission-worktree-ledger-renamed-lanes.test.ts

@@ -72,7 +72,9 @@ function createStore(
       const found = tasks.find((candidate) => candidate.id === id);
       return found ? { ...found, prompt: "", attachments: [], comments: [] } : null;
     }),
-    listTasks: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(tasks),
+    listTasks: vi.fn(async (options?: { slim?: boolean }) => options?.slim === true
+      ? tasks.map(({ workflowStepResults: _omitted, ...candidate }) => candidate as Task)
+      : tasks),
     getSettings: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({
       maxConcurrent: 20,
       maxWorktrees,
@@ -215,4 +217,26 @@ describe("planning admission's worktree ledger on a renamed board", () => {
     expect(throttle.length, "a live task must still consume its worktree-capacity slot").toBeGreaterThan(0);
     expect(specifyTask).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
   });
+
+  it("counts a pending optional workflow-step lease in final planning admission", async () => {
+    const store = createStore([
+      task("FN-WAITING", "drafting"),
+      task("FN-LIVE-REVIEW", "drafting", {
+        steps: [{ name: "Implementation", status: "pending" }] as Task["steps"],
+        workflowStepResults: [{
+          workflowStepId: "code-review",
+          workflowStepName: "Code Review",
+          phase: "pre-merge",
+          source: "optional-group",
+          status: "pending",
+          startedAt: "2026-08-01T00:00:00.000Z",
+        }],
+      }),
+    ], recorded, 1);
+
+    const specifyTask = await pollOnce(store);
+
+    expect(store.listTasks).toHaveBeenCalledWith({ slim: false, includeArchived: false });
+    expect(specifyTask).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
 });

packages/engine/src/concurrency.ts

@@ -139,11 +139,22 @@ export class ProjectAdmissionCoordinator {
     claimed: () => Promise<number> | number;
     claimedTaskIds?: () => Promise<Iterable<string>> | Iterable<string>;
   }): Promise<number> {
+    /*
+    FNXC:ConcurrencyAdmission 2026-08-01-07:35:
+    A durable handoff can release its in-memory reservation while an asynchronous task snapshot is
+    being read. The snapshot then predates the durable row while a post-read reservation lookup
+    postdates its release, making one real holder disappear between the two ledgers. Union the
+    reservations observed on both sides of the read so that transfer window is conservatively
+    counted once. The next admission gets a fresh durable snapshot and naturally sheds the old id.
+    */
+    const reservations = new Set(this.reservations.get(params.projectId) ?? []);
     const claimed = await params.claimed();
-    if (!params.claimedTaskIds) return claimed + this.reservationCount(params.projectId);
+    for (const taskId of this.reservations.get(params.projectId) ?? []) reservations.add(taskId);
+    if (!params.claimedTaskIds) return claimed + reservations.size;
     const claimedIds = new Set(await params.claimedTaskIds());
+    for (const taskId of this.reservations.get(params.projectId) ?? []) reservations.add(taskId);
     let pendingReservations = 0;
-    for (const taskId of this.reservations.get(params.projectId) ?? []) {
+    for (const taskId of reservations) {
       if (!claimedIds.has(taskId)) pendingReservations += 1;
     }
     return claimed + pendingReservations;

packages/engine/src/project-engine.ts

@@ -457,6 +457,14 @@ export class ProjectEngine {
   // ── Auto-merge state ──
   private mergeQueue: string[] = [];
   private mergeActive = new Set<string>();
+  /** Capacity-deferred ids stay out of the runnable queue until their retry timer fires. */
+  private readonly capacityDeferredMergeTaskIds = new Set<string>();
+  private readonly capacityDeferredMerges = new Map<string, {
+    timer: ReturnType<typeof setTimeout>;
+    resolvers: MergeResolver[];
+    generation: number;
+    manual: boolean;
+  }>();
   /** Merge ids selected by the shared coordinator but not yet handed to rawMerge. */
   private readonly coordinatorAdmittedMergeTaskIds = new Set<string>();
   private unregisterMergeAdmissionProvider?: () => void;
@@ -805,7 +813,9 @@ export class ProjectEngine {
   window, checking it in addition to `mergeQueue` closes that TOCTOU gap.
   */
   isMergePending(taskId: string): boolean {
-    return this.mergeActive.has(taskId) || this.mergeQueue.includes(taskId);
+    return this.mergeActive.has(taskId)
+      || this.mergeQueue.includes(taskId)
+      || this.capacityDeferredMergeTaskIds.has(taskId);
   }
 
   /**
@@ -1316,6 +1326,14 @@ export class ProjectEngine {
       clearInterval(this.mergeActiveReconcileTimer);
       this.mergeActiveReconcileTimer = null;
     }
+    for (const [taskId, deferred] of this.capacityDeferredMerges) {
+      clearTimeout(deferred.timer);
+      for (const resolver of deferred.resolvers) {
+        resolver.reject(new Error(`Engine shutting down — deferred merge for ${taskId} aborted`));
+      }
+    }
+    this.capacityDeferredMerges.clear();
+    this.capacityDeferredMergeTaskIds.clear();
     this.stopPlannerOverseerPoll();
 
     /*
@@ -2311,6 +2329,15 @@ export class ProjectEngine {
       };
       abort = () => {
         this.removeMergeResolver(taskId, resolver);
+        const deferred = this.capacityDeferredMerges.get(taskId);
+        if (deferred) {
+          deferred.resolvers = deferred.resolvers.filter((candidate) => candidate !== resolver);
+          if (deferred.manual && deferred.resolvers.length === 0 && !this.hasMergeResolvers(taskId)) {
+            clearTimeout(deferred.timer);
+            this.capacityDeferredMerges.delete(taskId);
+            this.capacityDeferredMergeTaskIds.delete(taskId);
+          }
+        }
         if (this.activeMergeTaskId === taskId) {
           this.mergeAbortController?.abort();
           this.mergeAbortController = null;
@@ -2328,7 +2355,7 @@ export class ProjectEngine {
 
       // If this task is already queued or actively merging, wait for the
       // existing merge to finish rather than starting a second one.
-      if (this.mergeActive.has(taskId)) return;
+      if (this.mergeActive.has(taskId) || this.capacityDeferredMergeTaskIds.has(taskId)) return;
 
       if (!this.internalEnqueueMerge(taskId)) {
         this.removeMergeResolver(taskId, resolver);
@@ -2813,6 +2840,7 @@ export class ProjectEngine {
 
   private internalEnqueueMerge(taskId: string): boolean {
     if (this.shuttingDown || !this.started) return false;
+    if (this.capacityDeferredMergeTaskIds.has(taskId)) return false;
     if (this.mergeActive.has(taskId)) {
       // Distinguish "actually being processed" (queued or active) from a
       // leaked entry. Reconcile leaks immediately so recovery paths and fresh
@@ -3895,7 +3923,9 @@ export class ProjectEngine {
             const admissionSettings = await store.getSettings();
             let mergeClaimSnapshot: Promise<{ count: number; ids: string[] }> | undefined;
             const getMergeClaimSnapshot = () => mergeClaimSnapshot ??= (async () => {
-              const tasks = await store.listTasks({ slim: true, includeArchived: false });
+              // Full rows preserve pending optional workflow-step leases, which may be the only
+              // live-agent signal for a task while its ordinary status is null.
+              const tasks = await store.listTasks({ slim: false, includeArchived: false });
               const ids = await persistedTopLevelAgentTaskIdsFromStore(store, tasks);
               return { count: ids.length, ids };
             })();
@@ -3943,6 +3973,36 @@ export class ProjectEngine {
               projectAdmissionCoordinator.releaseReservation(taskId);
             }
           };
+          const deferMergeForCapacity = (): void => {
+            const retryMs = settings.pollIntervalMs ?? 15_000;
+            const stashedResolvers = this.takeMergeResolvers(taskId);
+            const generation = this.startupGeneration;
+            this.mergeActive.delete(taskId);
+            this.capacityDeferredMergeTaskIds.add(taskId);
+            const timer = setTimeout(() => {
+              const deferred = this.capacityDeferredMerges.get(taskId);
+              if (!deferred || deferred.timer !== timer) return;
+              this.capacityDeferredMerges.delete(taskId);
+              this.capacityDeferredMergeTaskIds.delete(taskId);
+              if (this.shuttingDown || deferred.generation !== this.startupGeneration) {
+                for (const resolver of deferred.resolvers) resolver.reject(new Error("Engine shutting down"));
+                return;
+              }
+              for (const resolver of deferred.resolvers) this.addMergeResolver(taskId, resolver);
+              if (!this.internalEnqueueMerge(taskId)) {
+                for (const resolver of this.takeMergeResolvers(taskId)) {
+                  resolver.reject(new Error(`Deferred merge enqueue rejected for ${taskId}`));
+                }
+              }
+            }, retryMs);
+            timer.unref?.();
+            this.capacityDeferredMerges.set(taskId, {
+              timer,
+              resolvers: stashedResolvers,
+              generation,
+              manual: stashedResolvers.length > 0,
+            });
+          };
 
           if (mergeStrategy === "pull-request" && this.options.processPullRequestMerge && !routeWorkspaceDirect) {
             /*
@@ -3966,10 +4026,11 @@ export class ProjectEngine {
             });
             if (result === undefined) {
               // Another older lane won the shared capacity pass. Re-queue rather
-              // than treating this deferral as a pull-request merge failure.
-              this.mergeActive.delete(taskId);
-              this.internalEnqueueMerge(taskId);
-              continue;
+              // than treating this deferral as a pull-request merge failure. End
+              // this drain: continuing would dequeue the same item immediately
+              // and spin at full speed while capacity remains unavailable.
+              deferMergeForCapacity();
+              break;
             }
             if (result === "merged") {
               runtimeLog.log(`${hasManualResolver ? "Manual" : "Auto"}-merge PR merged: ${taskId}`);
@@ -4127,9 +4188,10 @@ export class ProjectEngine {
             if (!result) {
               // An older lane won this admission pass. Keep this merge queued;
               // treating the deferral as a merge failure would consume retries.
-              this.mergeActive.delete(taskId);
-              this.internalEnqueueMerge(taskId);
-              continue;
+              // Exit this drain so the queued item waits for a normal future wake
+              // instead of retrying the same denied admission in a tight loop.
+              deferMergeForCapacity();
+              break;
             }
 
             this.activeMergeSession = null;

packages/engine/src/scheduler.ts

@@ -2836,22 +2836,11 @@ export class Scheduler {
             topLevelClaimedSlots: reservedWorktreeSlots,
           });
           /*
-          FNXC:WorkflowScheduling 2026-06-23-20:58:
-          The workflow hold/release sweep is the only todo pickup path, so it must honor the same maxConcurrent, maxWorktrees, and shared semaphore pressure before releasing a task to in-progress.
-
-          FNXC:GlobalConcurrencyControls 2026-07-14-18:30:
-          Preflight is no longer non-mutating for the shared semaphore: tryAcquire reserves a real slot before the move so triage cannot fill the global cap while this card is already counted as an in-progress runner. On move failure the reservation is released; on success the pre-held slot is transferred to the executor/graph run.
+          The sweep diagnostic is intentionally descriptive only. Worktree preparation can outlive
+          a holder, so using this older snapshot as an admission gate strands queued cards even after
+          capacity frees. The serialized fresh reservation below is the sole capacity authority; the
+          diagnostic remains available to explain a rejection from that authoritative check.
           */
-          if (concurrencyDiagnostic.available <= 0) {
-            if (reservedScope) {
-              activeScopes.delete(task.id);
-              activeScopeColumns.delete(task.id);
-            }
-            const reason = formatConcurrencyLimitReason(concurrencyDiagnostic);
-            await this.store.updateTask(task.id, { status: "queued" });
-            await this.logDispatchQueuedReason(task.id, reason, formatConcurrencyLimitMemoKey(concurrencyDiagnostic));
-            return null;
-          }
 
           /*
           FNXC:WorktreeCapacity 2026-08-01-04:38:
@@ -2860,12 +2849,28 @@ export class Scheduler {
           claim the final slot. The reservation remains until the executor observes the persisted
           WIP row and takes the handoff.
           */
+          let finalClaimSnapshot: Promise<{ count: number; ids: string[] }> | undefined;
+          const getFinalClaimSnapshot = () => finalClaimSnapshot ??= (async () => {
+            /*
+            FNXC:WorkflowContinuationCapacity 2026-08-01-07:10:
+            Worktree preparation and startup recovery can make the sweep's original task list stale
+            before this serialized admission point. A planner that became live after that snapshot
+            was absent from `activeWorktreeTaskIds`; once its handoff reservation transferred to the
+            durable planning status, the coordinator could no longer see either claim and admitted a
+            tenth active task against maxWorktrees=9. Re-read full rows lazily inside the coordinator
+            drain so pending workflow-step leases and every newly durable lane holder participate in
+            the final decision. Same-sweep transient starts remain covered by coordinator reservations.
+            */
+            const liveTasks = await this.store.listTasks({ slim: false, includeArchived: false });
+            const ids = await persistedTopLevelAgentTaskIdsFromStore(this.store, liveTasks);
+            return { count: ids.length, ids };
+          })();
           const projectSlotReserved = await projectAdmissionCoordinator.reserveIfAvailable({
             projectId: this.store.getRootDir(),
             taskId: task.id,
             maxConcurrent: activeTaskLimit,
-            claimed: () => activeWorktreeTaskIds.length,
-            claimedTaskIds: () => activeWorktreeTaskIds,
+            claimed: async () => (await getFinalClaimSnapshot()).count,
+            claimedTaskIds: async () => (await getFinalClaimSnapshot()).ids,
           });
           if (!projectSlotReserved) {
             if (reservedScope) {

packages/engine/src/triage.ts

@@ -2273,7 +2273,9 @@ export class TriageProcessor {
         worktreeBudget -= 1;
         let freshClaimSnapshot: Promise<{ count: number; ids: string[] }> | undefined;
         const getFreshClaimSnapshot = () => freshClaimSnapshot ??= (async () => {
-          const fresh = await this.store.listTasks({ slim: true, includeArchived: false });
+          // Full rows are required here: a pending optional workflow-step lease can be the task's
+          // only live-agent signal, and slim rows intentionally omit workflowStepResults.
+          const fresh = await this.store.listTasks({ slim: false, includeArchived: false });
           let pending = 0;
           for (const id of this.processing) {
             const row = fresh.find((task) => task.id === id);