feat: add parallel mode and idle daemon shutdown

- restore extension mode default to headed when headless is unspecified

- keep explicit headless override behavior

README.md

@@ -52,6 +52,33 @@ agent-browser snapshot -i
 agent-browser click @e2
 ```
 
+### Parallel AI Runs (Isolated Runtime Channel)
+
+Use `--parallel <name>` to run multiple AI flows concurrently without fighting over the same runtime channel.
+
+```bash
+agent-browser --parallel worker-a open https://example.com
+agent-browser --parallel worker-b open https://example.org
+```
+
+`--parallel` is designed for stateless throughput tasks (navigation, extraction, checks). For authenticated flows, keep using one stable `--session-name`.
+
+| Option | Purpose | Typical Usage |
+| --- | --- | --- |
+| `--parallel <name>` | Isolate runtime channel for concurrent AI tasks | Stateless/no-login parallel jobs |
+| `--session-name <name>` | Persist cookies/localStorage across restarts | Login/auth continuity |
+
+### Daemon Lifecycle
+
+- Daemons auto-shutdown after 10 minutes of inactivity by default.
+- Use `--resident` to keep a daemon alive until an explicit `close`.
+
+```bash
+agent-browser --resident open https://example.com
+# ... long-lived background workflow ...
+agent-browser close
+```
+
 ### Default: Auto Group Agent Tabs (CDP + Plugin)
 
 ```bash
@@ -233,6 +260,8 @@ flowchart TD
 
 - Prefer `--headed` for high-friction targets.
 - Reuse session state with one stable `--session-name` for continuity (when omitted, it defaults to `default`).
+- Use `--parallel <name>` only for stateless parallel workloads where higher throughput matters.
+- Use `--resident` only for deliberate long-running workflows, and close when done.
 - Keep locale/timezone consistent with target market.
 - For challenge-heavy pages, prefer `--wait-until domcontentloaded` on `open`/`navigate` to avoid `load` stalls.
 - Use `--risk-mode block` in strict pipelines that require explicit operator intervention on verification pages.

cli/Cargo.lock

@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "agent-browser-stealth"
-version = "0.16.3-fork.1"
+version = "0.16.3-fork.3"
 dependencies = [
  "aes-gcm",
  "async-trait",

cli/Cargo.toml

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [package]
 name = "agent-browser-stealth"
-version = "0.16.3-fork.1"
+version = "0.16.3-fork.3"
 edition = "2021"
 description = "Stealth browser automation CLI for AI agents with anti-bot evasions"
 license = "Apache-2.0"

cli/src/commands.rs

@@ -2060,6 +2060,7 @@ mod tests {
             full: false,
             headed: false,
             debug: false,
+            resident: false,
             headers: None,
             executable_path: None,
             extensions: Vec::new(),
@@ -2075,6 +2076,7 @@ mod tests {
             device: None,
             auto_connect: false,
             session_name: None,
+            parallel: None,
             cli_executable_path: false,
             cli_extensions: false,
             cli_state: false,
@@ -2094,6 +2096,8 @@ mod tests {
             wait_until: None,
             cli_tab_group: false,
             cli_tab_group_plugin_id: false,
+            cli_session_name: false,
+            cli_resident: false,
         }
     }
 

cli/src/connection.rs

@@ -183,6 +183,8 @@ pub struct DaemonResult {
 pub fn ensure_daemon(
     session: &str,
     headed: bool,
+    // Keep daemon resident and disable idle auto-shutdown.
+    resident: bool,
     executable_path: Option<&str>,
     extensions: &[String],
     args: Option<&str>,
@@ -289,6 +291,11 @@ pub fn ensure_daemon(
 
         let mut cmd = Command::new("node");
         cmd.arg(daemon_path)
+            .arg(if resident {
+                "--resident"
+            } else {
+                "--idle-auto-shutdown"
+            })
             .env("AGENT_BROWSER_DAEMON", "1")
             .env("AGENT_BROWSER_SESSION", session);
 
@@ -384,6 +391,11 @@ pub fn ensure_daemon(
         // and automatically quotes arguments containing spaces.
         let mut cmd = Command::new("node");
         cmd.arg(daemon_path)
+            .arg(if resident {
+                "--resident"
+            } else {
+                "--idle-auto-shutdown"
+            })
             .env("AGENT_BROWSER_DAEMON", "1")
             .env("AGENT_BROWSER_SESSION", session);
 

cli/src/flags.rs

@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 use crate::color;
+use crate::validation::is_valid_session_name;
 use serde::Deserialize;
 use std::env;
 use std::fs;
@@ -40,6 +41,7 @@ pub struct Config {
     pub tab_group_plugin_id: Option<String>,
     pub risk_mode: Option<String>,
     pub wait_until: Option<String>,
+    pub parallel: Option<String>,
 }
 
 impl Config {
@@ -78,6 +80,7 @@ impl Config {
             tab_group_plugin_id: other.tab_group_plugin_id.or(self.tab_group_plugin_id),
             risk_mode: other.risk_mode.or(self.risk_mode),
             wait_until: other.wait_until.or(self.wait_until),
+            parallel: other.parallel.or(self.parallel),
         }
     }
 }
@@ -148,6 +151,7 @@ fn extract_config_path(args: &[String]) -> Option<Option<String>> {
         "--tab-group-plugin-id",
         "--risk-mode",
         "--wait-until",
+        "--parallel",
     ];
     let mut i = 0;
     while i < args.len() {
@@ -199,6 +203,10 @@ pub struct Flags {
     pub full: bool,
     pub headed: bool,
     pub debug: bool,
+    /// Keep daemon resident and disable idle auto-shutdown.
+    pub resident: bool,
+    /// Runtime daemon session channel.
+    /// Defaults to `default`; when `--parallel <name>` is provided it becomes `parallel-<name>`.
     pub session: String,
     pub headers: Option<String>,
     pub executable_path: Option<String>,
@@ -214,7 +222,9 @@ pub struct Flags {
     pub allow_file_access: bool,
     pub device: Option<String>,
     pub auto_connect: bool,
-    pub session_name: Option<String>, // Defaults to "default" when unset
+    // Defaults to "default" when unset in default runtime mode.
+    // In --parallel mode, defaults to None unless explicitly provided on CLI.
+    pub session_name: Option<String>,
     pub annotate: bool,
     pub color_scheme: Option<String>,
     pub download_path: Option<String>,
@@ -226,6 +236,8 @@ pub struct Flags {
     /// Navigation wait strategy passed to navigate/open commands:
     /// `load`, `domcontentloaded`, or `networkidle`.
     pub wait_until: Option<String>,
+    /// Parallel execution channel name. When set, commands run in an isolated runtime session.
+    pub parallel: Option<String>,
 
     // Track which launch-time options were explicitly passed via CLI
     // (as opposed to being set only via environment variables)
@@ -241,6 +253,8 @@ pub struct Flags {
     pub cli_download_path: bool,
     pub cli_tab_group: bool,
     pub cli_tab_group_plugin_id: bool,
+    pub cli_session_name: bool,
+    pub cli_resident: bool,
 }
 
 pub fn parse_flags(args: &[String]) -> Flags {
@@ -273,7 +287,9 @@ pub fn parse_flags(args: &[String]) -> Flags {
             Err(_) => config.headed.unwrap_or(true),
         },
         debug: env_var_is_truthy("AGENT_BROWSER_DEBUG") || config.debug.unwrap_or(false),
-        // --session is disabled: user-facing CLI always uses one default session.
+        resident: false,
+        // --session is disabled for users.
+        // Runtime session defaults to `default`, and can be isolated with `--parallel`.
         session: "default".to_string(),
         headers: config.headers,
         executable_path: env::var("AGENT_BROWSER_EXECUTABLE_PATH")
@@ -321,6 +337,7 @@ pub fn parse_flags(args: &[String]) -> Flags {
             .or(config.risk_mode)
             .map(|s| s.to_ascii_lowercase()),
         wait_until: config.wait_until.map(|s| s.to_ascii_lowercase()),
+        parallel: env::var("AGENT_BROWSER_PARALLEL").ok().or(config.parallel),
         cli_executable_path: false,
         cli_extensions: false,
         cli_state: false,
@@ -333,6 +350,8 @@ pub fn parse_flags(args: &[String]) -> Flags {
         cli_download_path: false,
         cli_tab_group: false,
         cli_tab_group_plugin_id: false,
+        cli_session_name: false,
+        cli_resident: false,
     };
 
     let mut i = 0;
@@ -366,6 +385,14 @@ pub fn parse_flags(args: &[String]) -> Flags {
                     i += 1;
                 }
             }
+            "--resident" => {
+                let (val, consumed) = parse_bool_arg(args, i);
+                flags.resident = val;
+                flags.cli_resident = true;
+                if consumed {
+                    i += 1;
+                }
+            }
             "--headers" => {
                 if let Some(h) = args.get(i + 1) {
                     flags.headers = Some(h.clone());
@@ -464,6 +491,13 @@ pub fn parse_flags(args: &[String]) -> Flags {
             "--session-name" => {
                 if let Some(s) = args.get(i + 1) {
                     flags.session_name = Some(s.clone());
+                    flags.cli_session_name = true;
+                    i += 1;
+                }
+            }
+            "--parallel" => {
+                if let Some(s) = args.get(i + 1) {
+                    flags.parallel = Some(s.clone());
                     i += 1;
                 }
             }
@@ -523,9 +557,24 @@ pub fn parse_flags(args: &[String]) -> Flags {
         i += 1;
     }
 
-    // Keep auth/state continuity stable by default: if no explicit --session-name
+    if let Some(parallel_name) = &flags.parallel {
-    // is provided, derive it from the default session id.
+        // Validate early so session id derivation cannot introduce unsafe paths.
-    if flags.session_name.is_none() {
+        if !is_valid_session_name(parallel_name) {
+            // Keep default session and let main.rs surface a user-facing validation error.
+        } else {
+            flags.session = format!("parallel-{}", parallel_name);
+        }
+    }
+
+    // Parallel mode is for isolated/stateless runs.
+    // Unless --session-name is explicitly provided on this invocation, disable
+    // auto save/restore persistence to avoid cross-flow auth leakage.
+    if flags.parallel.is_some() && !flags.cli_session_name {
+        flags.session_name = None;
+    }
+
+    // Keep auth/state continuity stable by default for the default runtime session.
+    if flags.session_name.is_none() && flags.parallel.is_none() {
         flags.session_name = Some("default".to_string());
     }
 
@@ -542,6 +591,7 @@ pub fn clean_args(args: &[String]) -> Vec<String> {
         "--full",
         "--headed",
         "--debug",
+        "--resident",
         "--ignore-https-errors",
         "--allow-file-access",
         "--auto-connect",
@@ -569,6 +619,7 @@ pub fn clean_args(args: &[String]) -> Vec<String> {
         "--tab-group-plugin-id",
         "--risk-mode",
         "--wait-until",
+        "--parallel",
         "--config",
     ];
 
@@ -770,6 +821,34 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(flags.session_name.as_deref(), Some("default"));
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn test_parallel_sets_isolated_runtime_session() {
+        let flags = parse_flags(&args("--parallel worker_a snapshot"));
+        assert_eq!(flags.parallel.as_deref(), Some("worker_a"));
+        assert_eq!(flags.session, "parallel-worker_a");
+        assert_eq!(flags.session_name, None);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_parallel_keeps_explicit_session_name() {
+        let flags = parse_flags(&args(
+            "--parallel worker_b --session-name keep-state snapshot",
+        ));
+        assert_eq!(flags.session, "parallel-worker_b");
+        assert_eq!(flags.session_name.as_deref(), Some("keep-state"));
+        assert!(flags.cli_session_name);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_parallel_from_env_sets_runtime_session() {
+        let _guard = EnvGuard::new(&["AGENT_BROWSER_PARALLEL", "AGENT_BROWSER_SESSION_NAME"]);
+        env::set_var("AGENT_BROWSER_PARALLEL", "envworker");
+        env::set_var("AGENT_BROWSER_SESSION_NAME", "persisted");
+        let flags = parse_flags(&args("snapshot"));
+        assert_eq!(flags.session, "parallel-envworker");
+        assert_eq!(flags.session_name, None);
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn test_cli_executable_path_tracking() {
         // When --executable-path is passed via CLI, cli_executable_path should be true
@@ -805,6 +884,20 @@ mod tests {
         assert!(!flags.cli_annotate);
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn test_parse_resident_flag() {
+        let flags = parse_flags(&args("--resident open example.com"));
+        assert!(flags.resident);
+        assert!(flags.cli_resident);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_parse_resident_false() {
+        let flags = parse_flags(&args("--resident false open example.com"));
+        assert!(!flags.resident);
+        assert!(flags.cli_resident);
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn test_cli_download_path_tracking() {
         let flags = parse_flags(&args("--download-path /tmp/dl snapshot"));
@@ -940,6 +1033,18 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(cleaned, vec!["open", "example.com"]);
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn test_clean_args_removes_parallel() {
+        let cleaned = clean_args(&args("--parallel worker_x open example.com"));
+        assert_eq!(cleaned, vec!["open", "example.com"]);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_clean_args_removes_resident_flag() {
+        let cleaned = clean_args(&args("--resident open example.com"));
+        assert_eq!(cleaned, vec!["open", "example.com"]);
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn test_cli_multiple_flags_tracking() {
         let flags = parse_flags(&args(
@@ -978,7 +1083,8 @@ mod tests {
             "headers": "{\"Auth\":\"token\"}",
             "tabGroup": "Agent Browser Stealth",
             "tabGroupPluginId": "tab-group-plugin-id",
-            "riskMode": "block"
+            "riskMode": "block",
+            "parallel": "worker-c"
         }"#;
         let config: Config = serde_json::from_str(json).unwrap();
         assert_eq!(config.headed, Some(true));
@@ -1010,6 +1116,7 @@ mod tests {
             Some("tab-group-plugin-id")
         );
         assert_eq!(config.risk_mode.as_deref(), Some("block"));
+        assert_eq!(config.parallel.as_deref(), Some("worker-c"));
     }
 
     #[test]

cli/src/main.rs

@@ -174,6 +174,24 @@ fn main() {
         }
     }
 
+    if let Some(ref parallel) = flags.parallel {
+        if !validation::is_valid_session_name(parallel) {
+            let msg = format!(
+                "Invalid --parallel value '{}'. Only alphanumeric characters, hyphens, and underscores are allowed.",
+                parallel
+            );
+            if flags.json {
+                println!(
+                    r#"{{"success":false,"error":"{}","type":"invalid_parallel_name"}}"#,
+                    msg.replace('"', "\\\"")
+                );
+            } else {
+                eprintln!("{} {}", color::error_indicator(), msg);
+            }
+            exit(1);
+        }
+    }
+
     if args.iter().any(|a| a == "--profile") {
         let msg =
             "Project policy: --profile is forbidden. Use your existing browser and --session-name for state persistence.";
@@ -275,6 +293,7 @@ fn main() {
     let daemon_result = match ensure_daemon(
         &flags.session,
         flags.headed,
+        flags.resident,
         flags.executable_path.as_deref(),
         &flags.extensions,
         flags.args.as_deref(),
@@ -346,6 +365,7 @@ fn main() {
             flags
                 .cli_tab_group_plugin_id
                 .then_some("--tab-group-plugin-id"),
+            flags.cli_resident.then_some("--resident"),
         ]
         .into_iter()
         .flatten()

cli/src/native/daemon.rs

@@ -3,14 +3,20 @@ use std::env;
 use std::fs;
 use std::path::PathBuf;
 use std::process;
+use std::sync::atomic::{AtomicUsize, Ordering};
 
 use tokio::io::{AsyncBufReadExt, AsyncWriteExt, BufReader};
 use tokio::signal;
+use tokio::sync::mpsc::{unbounded_channel, UnboundedSender};
+use tokio::time::{Duration, Instant};
 
 use super::actions::{execute_command, DaemonState};
 use super::state;
 
+const IDLE_SHUTDOWN_SECS: u64 = 600;
+
 pub async fn run_daemon(session: &str) {
+    let resident_mode = env::args().any(|arg| arg == "--resident");
     let socket_dir = get_daemon_socket_dir();
     if !socket_dir.exists() {
         let _ = fs::create_dir_all(&socket_dir);
@@ -33,7 +39,7 @@ pub async fn run_daemon(session: &str) {
         }
     }
 
-    let result = run_socket_server(&socket_path, session).await;
+    let result = run_socket_server(&socket_path, session, resident_mode).await;
 
     let _ = fs::remove_file(&socket_path);
     let _ = fs::remove_file(&pid_path);
@@ -47,7 +53,11 @@ pub async fn run_daemon(session: &str) {
 }
 
 #[cfg(unix)]
-async fn run_socket_server(socket_path: &PathBuf, _session: &str) -> Result<(), String> {
+async fn run_socket_server(
+    socket_path: &PathBuf,
+    _session: &str,
+    resident_mode: bool,
+) -> Result<(), String> {
     use tokio::net::UnixListener;
 
     let listener =
@@ -55,6 +65,9 @@ async fn run_socket_server(socket_path: &PathBuf, _session: &str) -> Result<(),
 
     let state: std::sync::Arc<tokio::sync::Mutex<DaemonState>> =
         std::sync::Arc::new(tokio::sync::Mutex::new(DaemonState::new()));
+    let active_commands = std::sync::Arc::new(AtomicUsize::new(0));
+    let (activity_tx, mut activity_rx) = unbounded_channel::<()>();
+    let mut idle_deadline = Instant::now() + Duration::from_secs(IDLE_SHUTDOWN_SECS);
 
     loop {
         tokio::select! {
@@ -62,8 +75,10 @@ async fn run_socket_server(socket_path: &PathBuf, _session: &str) -> Result<(),
                 match accept_result {
                     Ok((stream, _)) => {
                         let state = state.clone();
+                        let activity_tx = activity_tx.clone();
+                        let active_commands = active_commands.clone();
                         tokio::spawn(async move {
-                            handle_connection(stream, state).await;
+                            handle_connection(stream, state, activity_tx, active_commands).await;
                         });
                     }
                     Err(e) => {
@@ -71,6 +86,19 @@ async fn run_socket_server(socket_path: &PathBuf, _session: &str) -> Result<(),
                     }
                 }
             }
+            Some(_) = activity_rx.recv() => {
+                idle_deadline = Instant::now() + Duration::from_secs(IDLE_SHUTDOWN_SECS);
+            }
+            _ = tokio::time::sleep_until(idle_deadline), if !resident_mode => {
+                if active_commands.load(Ordering::SeqCst) == 0 {
+                    let mut s = state.lock().await;
+                    if let Some(ref mut mgr) = s.browser {
+                        let _ = mgr.close().await;
+                    }
+                    break;
+                }
+                idle_deadline = Instant::now() + Duration::from_secs(IDLE_SHUTDOWN_SECS);
+            }
             _ = shutdown_signal() => {
                 let mut s = state.lock().await;
                 if let Some(ref mut mgr) = s.browser {
@@ -85,7 +113,11 @@ async fn run_socket_server(socket_path: &PathBuf, _session: &str) -> Result<(),
 }
 
 #[cfg(windows)]
-async fn run_socket_server(socket_path: &PathBuf, session: &str) -> Result<(), String> {
+async fn run_socket_server(
+    socket_path: &PathBuf,
+    session: &str,
+    resident_mode: bool,
+) -> Result<(), String> {
     use tokio::net::TcpListener;
 
     let port = get_port_for_session(session);
@@ -99,6 +131,9 @@ async fn run_socket_server(socket_path: &PathBuf, session: &str) -> Result<(), S
 
     let state: std::sync::Arc<tokio::sync::Mutex<DaemonState>> =
         std::sync::Arc::new(tokio::sync::Mutex::new(DaemonState::new()));
+    let active_commands = std::sync::Arc::new(AtomicUsize::new(0));
+    let (activity_tx, mut activity_rx) = unbounded_channel::<()>();
+    let mut idle_deadline = Instant::now() + Duration::from_secs(IDLE_SHUTDOWN_SECS);
 
     loop {
         tokio::select! {
@@ -106,8 +141,10 @@ async fn run_socket_server(socket_path: &PathBuf, session: &str) -> Result<(), S
                 match accept_result {
                     Ok((stream, _)) => {
                         let state = state.clone();
+                        let activity_tx = activity_tx.clone();
+                        let active_commands = active_commands.clone();
                         tokio::spawn(async move {
-                            handle_connection(stream, state).await;
+                            handle_connection(stream, state, activity_tx, active_commands).await;
                         });
                     }
                     Err(e) => {
@@ -115,6 +152,20 @@ async fn run_socket_server(socket_path: &PathBuf, session: &str) -> Result<(), S
                     }
                 }
             }
+            Some(_) = activity_rx.recv() => {
+                idle_deadline = Instant::now() + Duration::from_secs(IDLE_SHUTDOWN_SECS);
+            }
+            _ = tokio::time::sleep_until(idle_deadline), if !resident_mode => {
+                if active_commands.load(Ordering::SeqCst) == 0 {
+                    let mut s = state.lock().await;
+                    if let Some(ref mut mgr) = s.browser {
+                        let _ = mgr.close().await;
+                    }
+                    let _ = fs::remove_file(&port_path);
+                    break;
+                }
+                idle_deadline = Instant::now() + Duration::from_secs(IDLE_SHUTDOWN_SECS);
+            }
             _ = shutdown_signal() => {
                 let mut s = state.lock().await;
                 if let Some(ref mut mgr) = s.browser {
@@ -129,7 +180,12 @@ async fn run_socket_server(socket_path: &PathBuf, session: &str) -> Result<(), S
     Ok(())
 }
 
-async fn handle_connection<S>(stream: S, state: std::sync::Arc<tokio::sync::Mutex<DaemonState>>)
+async fn handle_connection<S>(
+    stream: S,
+    state: std::sync::Arc<tokio::sync::Mutex<DaemonState>>,
+    activity_tx: UnboundedSender<()>,
+    active_commands: std::sync::Arc<AtomicUsize>,
+)
 where
     S: tokio::io::AsyncRead + tokio::io::AsyncWrite + Unpin,
 {
@@ -166,6 +222,8 @@ where
                 };
 
                 let is_close = cmd.get("action").and_then(|v| v.as_str()) == Some("close");
+                let _ = activity_tx.send(());
+                active_commands.fetch_add(1, Ordering::SeqCst);
 
                 let response = {
                     let mut s = state.lock().await;
@@ -175,8 +233,11 @@ where
                 let mut resp = serde_json::to_string(&response).unwrap_or_default();
                 resp.push('\n');
                 if writer.write_all(resp.as_bytes()).await.is_err() {
+                    active_commands.fetch_sub(1, Ordering::SeqCst);
                     break;
                 }
+                active_commands.fetch_sub(1, Ordering::SeqCst);
+                let _ = activity_tx.send(());
 
                 if is_close {
                     tokio::time::sleep(tokio::time::Duration::from_millis(100)).await;

cli/src/output.rs

@@ -2076,9 +2076,11 @@ Operations:
 
 Automatic State Persistence:
   Use --session-name to auto-save/restore state across restarts.
-  If omitted, it defaults to "default":
+  If omitted in default runtime mode, it defaults to "default":
   agent-browser --session-name myapp open https://example.com
   Or set AGENT_BROWSER_SESSION_NAME environment variable.
+  Note: with --parallel <name>, persistence is disabled by default unless
+  --session-name is explicitly passed on the same command.
 
 State Encryption:
   Set AGENT_BROWSER_ENCRYPTION_KEY (64-char hex) for AES-256-GCM encryption.
@@ -2105,7 +2107,7 @@ agent-browser session - Manage sessions
 
 Usage: agent-browser session [operation]
 
-Show the current fixed session and active daemon state.
+Show the current runtime session and active daemon state.
 
 Operations:
   (none)               Show current session name
@@ -2437,7 +2439,7 @@ Snapshot Options:
   -s, --selector <sel>       Scope to CSS selector
 
 Options:
-  --session <name>           Ignored (single default session only)
+  --session <name>           Ignored (runtime uses default session unless --parallel is set)
   --state <path>             Load storage state from JSON file (or AGENT_BROWSER_STATE env)
   --headers <json>           HTTP headers scoped to URL's origin (for auth)
   --executable-path <path>   Custom browser executable (or AGENT_BROWSER_EXECUTABLE_PATH)
@@ -2467,7 +2469,10 @@ Options:
                              Extension side panel supports browser controls + console/network/DOM + workflow scheduling
   --risk-mode <mode>         Verify/captcha handling: off, warn, block (or AGENT_BROWSER_RISK_MODE)
   --wait-until <mode>        Navigation wait strategy for open/navigate: load, domcontentloaded, networkidle
-  --session-name <name>      Auto-save/restore session state (defaults to "default")
+  --parallel <name>          Isolated runtime channel for parallel AI runs (maps to parallel-<name>)
+                             Default behavior in this mode is stateless (no auto session persistence unless --session-name is explicitly passed)
+  --resident                 Keep daemon running; disable 10-minute idle auto-shutdown
+  --session-name <name>      Auto-save/restore session state (defaults to "default" in non-parallel mode)
   --content-boundaries       Wrap page output in boundary markers (or AGENT_BROWSER_CONTENT_BOUNDARIES)
   --max-output <chars>       Truncate page output to N chars (or AGENT_BROWSER_MAX_OUTPUT)
   --allowed-domains <list>   Restrict navigation domains (or AGENT_BROWSER_ALLOWED_DOMAINS)
@@ -2482,6 +2487,7 @@ Options:
 Policy:
   --profile / AGENT_BROWSER_PROFILE are forbidden
   --channel / AGENT_BROWSER_CHANNEL are forbidden
+  Daemon auto-shuts down after 10 minutes of inactivity unless --resident is set
   Auto-attach existing browser (prefer CDP localhost:9333, then auto-discovery), or pass --cdp explicitly
 
 Configuration:
@@ -2497,6 +2503,7 @@ Configuration:
   Boolean flags accept an optional true/false value to override config:
     --headed           (same as --headed true)
     --headed false     (disables "headed": true from config)
+    --resident false   (disable resident mode for this invocation)
 
   Extensions from user and project configs are merged (not replaced).
 
@@ -2505,7 +2512,8 @@ Configuration:
 
 Environment:
   AGENT_BROWSER_CONFIG           Path to config file (or use --config)
-    AGENT_BROWSER_SESSION_NAME     Auto-save/restore state persistence name (default: "default")
+  AGENT_BROWSER_PARALLEL         Isolated runtime channel for parallel AI runs (maps to parallel-<name>)
+                                 Best for stateless/no-login tasks where throughput matters
   AGENT_BROWSER_ENCRYPTION_KEY   64-char hex key for AES-256-GCM state encryption
   AGENT_BROWSER_STATE_EXPIRE_DAYS Auto-delete states older than N days (default: 30)
   AGENT_BROWSER_EXECUTABLE_PATH  Custom browser executable path
@@ -2528,7 +2536,7 @@ Environment:
   AGENT_BROWSER_TAB_GROUP_PLUGIN_ID Expected Chrome extension ID for tab-group handshake (default: "aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa")
   AGENT_BROWSER_RISK_MODE        Verify/captcha handling mode (off, warn, block)
   AGENT_BROWSER_DEFAULT_TIMEOUT  Default Playwright timeout in ms (default: 25000)
-  AGENT_BROWSER_SESSION_NAME     Auto-save/load state persistence name
+  AGENT_BROWSER_SESSION_NAME     Auto-save/load state persistence name (default: "default" when --parallel is not set)
   AGENT_BROWSER_STATE_EXPIRE_DAYS Auto-delete saved states older than N days (default: 30)
   AGENT_BROWSER_ENCRYPTION_KEY   64-char hex key for AES-256-GCM session encryption
   AGENT_BROWSER_STREAM_PORT      Enable WebSocket streaming on port (e.g., 9223)
@@ -2564,6 +2572,8 @@ Examples:
   agent-browser --color-scheme dark open example.com  # Dark mode
   agent-browser --risk-mode block open example.com  # Block on verification/captcha pages
   agent-browser --session-name myapp open example.com  # Auto-save/restore state
+  agent-browser --parallel worker-a open example.com  # Isolated runtime for parallel AI task
+  agent-browser --resident open example.com  # Keep daemon resident until explicit close
 
 Command Chaining:
   Chain commands with && in a single shell call (browser persists via daemon):

docs/src/app/commands/page.mdx

@@ -280,6 +280,18 @@ agent-browser state clean --older-than <days>  # Delete old states
 ```bash
 agent-browser session                 # Show current session name
 agent-browser session list            # List active sessions
+agent-browser --parallel worker-a open https://example.com  # Isolated runtime for parallel AI tasks
+```
+
+## Daemon lifetime
+
+By default, daemon processes auto-shutdown after 10 minutes of inactivity.
+
+Use `--resident` when you need a long-running daemon:
+
+```bash
+agent-browser --resident open https://example.com
+agent-browser close
 ```
 
 ## Navigation
@@ -293,7 +305,7 @@ agent-browser reload                  # Reload page
 ## Global options
 
 ```bash
---session-name <name>    # Auto-save/restore session state (defaults to "default" when omitted)
+--session-name <name>    # Auto-save/restore session state (defaults to "default" in non-parallel mode)
 --state <path>           # Load storage state from JSON file
 --headers <json>         # HTTP headers scoped to URL's origin
 --executable-path <path> # Custom browser executable
@@ -315,6 +327,8 @@ agent-browser reload                  # Reload page
 --auto-connect           # Auto-discover and connect to running Chrome
 --tab-group <name>       # Base title for agent tab groups (CDP plugin mode)
 --tab-group-plugin-id <id> # Expected extension ID for tab-group handshake
+--parallel <name>        # Isolated runtime channel for parallel AI runs (maps to parallel-<name>)
+--resident               # Keep daemon running; disable 10-minute idle auto-shutdown
 --wait-until <mode>      # Navigation wait strategy for open/navigate (load, domcontentloaded, networkidle)
 --debug                  # Debug output (includes stealth connection type + capabilities)
 ```

docs/src/app/configuration/page.mdx

@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ AGENT_BROWSER_CONFIG=./ci-config.json agent-browser open example.com
 
 ## All Options
 
-Every CLI flag can be set in the config file using its camelCase equivalent:
+Most CLI flags can be set in the config file using their camelCase equivalents (`--resident` is CLI-only):
 
 <table>
   <thead>
@@ -128,6 +128,15 @@ Every CLI flag can be set in the config file using its camelCase equivalent:
       </td>
       <td>string</td>
     </tr>
+    <tr>
+      <td>
+        <code>parallel</code>
+      </td>
+      <td>
+        <code>--parallel</code>
+      </td>
+      <td>string (isolated runtime channel name)</td>
+    </tr>
     <tr>
       <td>
         <code>executablePath</code>
@@ -353,6 +362,25 @@ session window isolation controls, activation guard toggles, empty-group cleanup
 }
 ```
 
+### Parallel Stateless Worker
+
+```json
+{
+  "parallel": "worker-a"
+}
+```
+
+Use this for stateless throughput tasks. For authenticated flows, prefer a stable `sessionName`.
+
+## CLI-only daemon lifecycle flag
+
+`--resident` is a CLI-only flag (not a config/env key). It keeps the daemon alive and disables the default 10-minute idle auto-shutdown.
+
+```bash
+agent-browser --resident open example.com
+agent-browser close
+```
+
 ## Overriding Boolean Options
 
 Boolean flags accept an optional `true`/`false` value to override config settings:
@@ -368,7 +396,7 @@ agent-browser --headed open example.com       # same as --headed true
 agent-browser --headed true open example.com  # explicit
 ```
 
-This applies to all boolean flags: `--headed`, `--debug`, `--json`, `--ignore-https-errors`, `--allow-file-access`, `--auto-connect`.
+This applies to all boolean flags: `--headed`, `--debug`, `--json`, `--ignore-https-errors`, `--allow-file-access`, `--auto-connect`, `--resident`.
 
 ## Extensions Merging
 
@@ -471,6 +499,15 @@ These environment variables configure additional daemon and runtime behavior:
         <code>default</code>
       </td>
     </tr>
+    <tr>
+      <td>
+        <code>AGENT_BROWSER_PARALLEL</code>
+      </td>
+      <td>
+        Isolated runtime channel name for parallel AI runs (maps to <code>parallel-&lt;name&gt;</code>).
+      </td>
+      <td>(none)</td>
+    </tr>
     <tr>
       <td>
         <code>AGENT_BROWSER_STATE_EXPIRE_DAYS</code>

docs/src/app/sessions/page.mdx

@@ -4,25 +4,49 @@ export const metadata = pageMetadata('sessions');
 
 # Sessions
 
-Use one default runtime session and optional named persistence:
+Use the default runtime session or an isolated parallel runtime channel, plus optional named persistence:
 
 ```bash
 # Show current runtime session
 agent-browser session
 # Output: default
 
+# Isolated runtime channel for parallel AI flow
+agent-browser --parallel worker-a session
+# Output: parallel-worker-a
+
 # Show active daemon sessions
 agent-browser session list
 ```
 
 ## Session isolation
 
-The runtime session is fixed to `default`. Use `--session-name` to isolate persisted state files per workflow.
+Runtime session defaults to `default`. Use `--parallel <name>` when you need isolated concurrent runtime channels, and `--session-name` to isolate persisted state files per workflow.
 
 - Cookies and storage snapshots
 - Authentication state
 - Saved state lifecycle
 
+Daemons auto-shutdown after 10 minutes of inactivity by default. Use `--resident` to keep a daemon alive until explicit `close`.
+
+## Parallel runtime channels
+
+Use `--parallel <name>` to isolate runtime channels for concurrent AI execution:
+
+```bash
+agent-browser --parallel worker-a open https://example.com
+agent-browser --parallel worker-b open https://example.org
+```
+
+`--parallel` is intended for stateless throughput tasks (navigation/extraction/checks). For authenticated flows, use a stable `--session-name`.
+
+For long-running workers, add `--resident` to disable idle auto-shutdown:
+
+```bash
+agent-browser --parallel worker-a --resident open https://example.com
+agent-browser --parallel worker-a close
+```
+
 ## Session persistence
 
 Use `--session-name` to automatically save and restore cookies and localStorage across browser restarts:
@@ -41,6 +65,8 @@ agent-browser open twitter.com
 
 If `--session-name` is omitted, it defaults to `default`.
 
+When `--parallel` is enabled, auto persistence is disabled by default unless `--session-name` is explicitly passed on that command.
+
 State files are stored in `~/.agent-browser/sessions/` and automatically loaded on daemon start.
 
 ### Session name rules
@@ -165,6 +191,12 @@ agent-browser set headers '{"X-Custom-Header": "value"}'
       </td>
       <td>Auto-save/load state persistence name</td>
     </tr>
+    <tr>
+      <td>
+        <code>AGENT_BROWSER_PARALLEL</code>
+      </td>
+      <td>Isolated runtime channel name for parallel AI runs (maps to <code>parallel-&lt;name&gt;</code>)</td>
+    </tr>
     <tr>
       <td>
         <code>AGENT_BROWSER_ENCRYPTION_KEY</code>

package.json

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "agent-browser-stealth",
-  "version": "0.16.3-fork.1",
+  "version": "0.16.3-fork.3",
   "description": "Stealth browser automation CLI for AI agents with anti-bot evasions",
   "type": "module",
   "main": "dist/daemon.js",

skills/agent-browser/SKILL.md

@@ -208,13 +208,15 @@ agent-browser get text @e1 --json
 ### Parallel Workflows
 
 ```bash
-agent-browser --session-name site1 open https://site-a.com
+agent-browser --parallel site1 open https://site-a.com
-agent-browser --session-name site2 open https://site-b.com
+agent-browser --parallel site2 open https://site-b.com
 
-agent-browser --session-name site1 snapshot -i
+agent-browser --parallel site1 snapshot -i
-agent-browser --session-name site2 snapshot -i
+agent-browser --parallel site2 snapshot -i
 ```
 
+Use `--parallel <name>` for stateless throughput tasks (navigation, extraction, checks). For login/auth continuity, use `--session-name` instead.
+
 ### Connect to Existing Chrome
 
 By default in this fork, commands without `--cdp` auto-attach to your existing browser with this order:
@@ -244,6 +246,18 @@ agent-browser --wait-until domcontentloaded open https://example.com
 pnpm run check:turnstile-testkey
 ```
 
+### Daemon Lifecycle
+
+Daemons auto-shutdown after 10 minutes of inactivity.
+
+Use `--resident` for long-running workflows that should not auto-close:
+
+```bash
+agent-browser --resident open https://example.com
+# keep running until explicit close
+agent-browser close
+```
+
 ### Color Scheme (Dark Mode)
 
 ```bash
@@ -489,7 +503,7 @@ These behaviors are always active. For sensitive sites, combine with `--headed`
 
 ## Session Management and Cleanup
 
-`--session` is ignored in this fork. The runtime always uses one default session. Use `--session-name` to isolate persistence when needed.
+`--session` is ignored in this fork. Runtime defaults to `default`; use `--parallel <name>` for isolated concurrent channels, and `--session-name` for persistence isolation.
 
 Always close your browser session when done to avoid leaked processes:
 

src/browser.ts

@@ -2135,7 +2135,7 @@ export class BrowserManager {
       context = await launcher.launchPersistentContext(
         path.join(os.tmpdir(), `agent-browser-ext-${session}`),
         {
-          headless: options.headless ?? true,
+          headless: options.headless ?? false,
           executablePath: options.executablePath,
           ...(chromeChannel && { channel: chromeChannel }),
           args: allArgs,

src/daemon.test.ts

@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import * as os from 'os';
 import * as path from 'path';
 import * as net from 'net';
 import { EventEmitter } from 'events';
-import { getSocketDir, safeWrite } from './daemon.js';
+import { createSerializedExecutor, getSocketDir, safeWrite } from './daemon.js';
 
 /**
  * HTTP request detection pattern used in daemon.ts to prevent cross-origin attacks.
@@ -159,3 +159,45 @@ describe('safeWrite', () => {
     expect(socket.listenerCount('close')).toBe(0);
   });
 });
+
+describe('createSerializedExecutor', () => {
+  it('should execute tasks one-by-one even when started concurrently', async () => {
+    const runSerialized = createSerializedExecutor();
+    const order: string[] = [];
+
+    const slow = runSerialized(async () => {
+      order.push('slow-start');
+      await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 30));
+      order.push('slow-end');
+      return 'slow';
+    });
+
+    const fast = runSerialized(async () => {
+      order.push('fast-start');
+      order.push('fast-end');
+      return 'fast';
+    });
+
+    await expect(Promise.all([slow, fast])).resolves.toEqual(['slow', 'fast']);
+    expect(order).toEqual(['slow-start', 'slow-end', 'fast-start', 'fast-end']);
+  });
+
+  it('should continue running queued tasks after a task fails', async () => {
+    const runSerialized = createSerializedExecutor();
+    const order: string[] = [];
+
+    const first = runSerialized(async () => {
+      order.push('first');
+      throw new Error('boom');
+    });
+
+    const second = runSerialized(async () => {
+      order.push('second');
+      return 'ok';
+    });
+
+    await expect(first).rejects.toThrow('boom');
+    await expect(second).resolves.toBe('ok');
+    expect(order).toEqual(['first', 'second']);
+  });
+});

src/daemon.ts

@@ -62,6 +62,23 @@ export function safeWrite(socket: net.Socket, payload: string): Promise<void> {
   });
 }
 
+/**
+ * Create an async executor that runs tasks strictly one-by-one.
+ * Used to serialize daemon commands across all client connections.
+ */
+export function createSerializedExecutor(): <T>(task: () => Promise<T>) => Promise<T> {
+  let tail: Promise<void> = Promise.resolve();
+
+  return async function runSerialized<T>(task: () => Promise<T>): Promise<T> {
+    const run = tail.then(task, task);
+    tail = run.then(
+      () => undefined,
+      () => undefined
+    );
+    return run;
+  };
+}
+
 // Platform detection
 const isWindows = process.platform === 'win32';
 
@@ -73,6 +90,8 @@ let streamServer: StreamServer | null = null;
 
 // Default stream port (can be overridden with AGENT_BROWSER_STREAM_PORT)
 const DEFAULT_STREAM_PORT = 9223;
+// Default idle auto-shutdown timeout: 10 minutes
+const DEFAULT_IDLE_SHUTDOWN_MS = 10 * 60 * 1000;
 
 /**
  * Save state to file with optional encryption.
@@ -325,6 +344,7 @@ export function getStreamPortFile(session?: string): string {
 export async function startDaemon(options?: {
   streamPort?: number;
   provider?: string;
+  resident?: boolean;
 }): Promise<void> {
   // Ensure socket directory exists with restricted permissions (owner-only access)
   const socketDir = getSocketDir();
@@ -345,6 +365,10 @@ export async function startDaemon(options?: {
   // Create appropriate manager
   const manager: Manager = isIOS ? new IOSManager() : new BrowserManager();
   let shuttingDown = false;
+  const runSerialized = createSerializedExecutor();
+  const residentMode = options?.resident ?? process.argv.includes('--resident');
+  let idleTimer: NodeJS.Timeout | null = null;
+  let pendingCommands = 0;
 
   // Start stream server if port is specified (or use default if env var is set)
   // Note: Stream server only works with BrowserManager (desktop), not iOS
@@ -363,6 +387,21 @@ export async function startDaemon(options?: {
     fs.writeFileSync(streamPortFile, streamPort.toString());
   }
 
+  const cancelIdleTimer = (): void => {
+    if (idleTimer) {
+      clearTimeout(idleTimer);
+      idleTimer = null;
+    }
+  };
+
+  const scheduleIdleShutdown = (): void => {
+    if (residentMode || shuttingDown || pendingCommands > 0) return;
+    cancelIdleTimer();
+    idleTimer = setTimeout(() => {
+      void shutdown('idle timeout');
+    }, DEFAULT_IDLE_SHUTDOWN_MS);
+  };
+
   const server = net.createServer((socket) => {
     let buffer = '';
     let httpChecked = false;
@@ -379,311 +418,326 @@ export async function startDaemon(options?: {
 
       while (commandQueue.length > 0) {
         const line = commandQueue.shift()!;
+        pendingCommands += 1;
+        cancelIdleTimer();
 
         try {
-          const parseResult = parseCommand(line);
+          await runSerialized(async () => {
-
-          if (!parseResult.success) {
-            const resp = errorResponse(parseResult.id ?? 'unknown', parseResult.error);
-            await safeWrite(socket, serializeResponse(resp) + '\n');
-            continue;
-          }
-
-          // Handle device_list specially - it works without a session and always uses IOSManager
-          if (parseResult.command.action === 'device_list') {
-            const iosManager = new IOSManager();
             try {
-              const devices = await iosManager.listAllDevices();
+              const parseResult = parseCommand(line);
-              const response = {
+
-                id: parseResult.command.id,
+              if (!parseResult.success) {
-                success: true as const,
+                const resp = errorResponse(parseResult.id ?? 'unknown', parseResult.error);
-                data: { devices },
+                await safeWrite(socket, serializeResponse(resp) + '\n');
-              };
+                return;
+              }
+
+              // Handle device_list specially - it works without a session and always uses IOSManager
+              if (parseResult.command.action === 'device_list') {
+                const iosManager = new IOSManager();
+                try {
+                  const devices = await iosManager.listAllDevices();
+                  const response = {
+                    id: parseResult.command.id,
+                    success: true as const,
+                    data: { devices },
+                  };
+                  await safeWrite(socket, serializeResponse(response) + '\n');
+                } catch (err) {
+                  const message = err instanceof Error ? err.message : String(err);
+                  await safeWrite(
+                    socket,
+                    serializeResponse(errorResponse(parseResult.command.id, message)) + '\n'
+                  );
+                }
+                return;
+              }
+
+              // Auto-launch if not already launched and this isn't a launch/close/state_load command.
+              // Default behavior for this fork: attach to an existing browser only.
+              const isDoctor = parseResult.command.action === 'doctor';
+              if (
+                !manager.isLaunched() &&
+                parseResult.command.action !== 'launch' &&
+                parseResult.command.action !== 'close' &&
+                parseResult.command.action !== 'state_load' &&
+                parseResult.command.action !== 'doctor'
+              ) {
+                if (isIOS && manager instanceof IOSManager) {
+                  // Auto-launch iOS Safari
+                  // Check for device in command first (for reused daemons), then fall back to env vars
+                  const cmd = parseResult.command as { iosDevice?: string };
+                  const iosDevice = cmd.iosDevice || process.env.AGENT_BROWSER_IOS_DEVICE;
+                  await manager.launch({
+                    device: iosDevice,
+                    udid: process.env.AGENT_BROWSER_IOS_UDID,
+                  });
+                } else if (manager instanceof BrowserManager) {
+                  // Auto-launch desktop browser
+                  const extensions = process.env.AGENT_BROWSER_EXTENSIONS
+                    ? process.env.AGENT_BROWSER_EXTENSIONS.split(/[,\n]/)
+                        .map((p) => p.trim())
+                        .filter(Boolean)
+                    : undefined;
+
+                  // Parse args from env (comma or newline separated)
+                  const argsEnv = process.env.AGENT_BROWSER_ARGS;
+                  const args = argsEnv
+                    ? argsEnv
+                        .split(/[,\n]/)
+                        .map((a) => a.trim())
+                        .filter((a) => a.length > 0)
+                    : undefined;
+
+                  // Parse proxy from env
+                  const proxyServer = process.env.AGENT_BROWSER_PROXY;
+                  const proxyBypass = process.env.AGENT_BROWSER_PROXY_BYPASS;
+                  const proxy = proxyServer
+                    ? {
+                        server: proxyServer,
+                        ...(proxyBypass && { bypass: proxyBypass }),
+                      }
+                    : undefined;
+
+                  const ignoreHTTPSErrors = process.env.AGENT_BROWSER_IGNORE_HTTPS_ERRORS === '1';
+                  const allowFileAccess = process.env.AGENT_BROWSER_ALLOW_FILE_ACCESS === '1';
+                  // Stealth is always enabled in agent-browser-stealth
+                  const colorSchemeEnv = process.env.AGENT_BROWSER_COLOR_SCHEME;
+                  const colorScheme: 'dark' | 'light' | 'no-preference' | undefined =
+                    colorSchemeEnv === 'dark' ||
+                    colorSchemeEnv === 'light' ||
+                    colorSchemeEnv === 'no-preference'
+                      ? colorSchemeEnv
+                      : undefined;
+                  const tabGroup = process.env.AGENT_BROWSER_TAB_GROUP?.trim();
+                  const tabGroupPluginId = process.env.AGENT_BROWSER_TAB_GROUP_PLUGIN_ID?.trim();
+                  const launchOptions = {
+                    id: 'auto',
+                    action: 'launch' as const,
+                    headless:
+                      process.env.AGENT_BROWSER_HEADED !== '1' &&
+                      process.env.AGENT_BROWSER_HEADED !== 'true',
+                    executablePath: process.env.AGENT_BROWSER_EXECUTABLE_PATH,
+                    extensions: extensions,
+                    storageState: process.env.AGENT_BROWSER_STATE,
+                    args,
+                    userAgent: process.env.AGENT_BROWSER_USER_AGENT,
+                    proxy,
+                    ignoreHTTPSErrors: ignoreHTTPSErrors,
+                    allowFileAccess: allowFileAccess,
+
+                    colorScheme,
+                    tabGroup: tabGroup && tabGroup.length > 0 ? tabGroup : undefined,
+                    tabGroupPluginId:
+                      tabGroupPluginId && tabGroupPluginId.length > 0
+                        ? tabGroupPluginId
+                        : undefined,
+                    autoStateFilePath: getSessionAutoStatePath(),
+                  };
+
+                  let attachedToExistingBrowser = false;
+                  try {
+                    // Keep default CDP attempt minimal. Launch-only options like extensions
+                    // are incompatible with CDP and can cause false-negative attach failures.
+                    const cdpLaunchOptions = {
+                      id: launchOptions.id,
+                      action: launchOptions.action,
+                      cdpPort: 9333,
+                      ignoreHTTPSErrors: launchOptions.ignoreHTTPSErrors,
+                      colorScheme: launchOptions.colorScheme,
+                      userAgent: launchOptions.userAgent,
+                      tabGroup: launchOptions.tabGroup,
+                      tabGroupPluginId: launchOptions.tabGroupPluginId,
+                    };
+                    await manager.launch({
+                      ...cdpLaunchOptions,
+                    });
+                    attachedToExistingBrowser = true;
+                    if (process.env.AGENT_BROWSER_DEBUG === '1') {
+                      console.error('[DEBUG] Auto-launch connected via default CDP port 9333');
+                    }
+                  } catch (error) {
+                    if (process.env.AGENT_BROWSER_DEBUG === '1') {
+                      const message = error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error);
+                      console.error(
+                        `[DEBUG] Default CDP port 9333 unavailable, trying auto-connect discovery: ${message}`
+                      );
+                    }
+                  }
+
+                  if (!attachedToExistingBrowser) {
+                    try {
+                      await manager.launch({
+                        id: launchOptions.id,
+                        action: launchOptions.action,
+                        autoConnect: true,
+                        ignoreHTTPSErrors: launchOptions.ignoreHTTPSErrors,
+                        colorScheme: launchOptions.colorScheme,
+                        userAgent: launchOptions.userAgent,
+                        tabGroup: launchOptions.tabGroup,
+                        tabGroupPluginId: launchOptions.tabGroupPluginId,
+                      });
+                      attachedToExistingBrowser = true;
+                      if (process.env.AGENT_BROWSER_DEBUG === '1') {
+                        console.error('[DEBUG] Auto-launch connected via auto-connect discovery');
+                      }
+                    } catch (error) {
+                      if (process.env.AGENT_BROWSER_DEBUG === '1') {
+                        const message = error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error);
+                        console.error(`[DEBUG] Auto-connect discovery failed: ${message}`);
+                      }
+                    }
+                  }
+
+                  if (!attachedToExistingBrowser) {
+                    throw new Error(
+                      'Project policy requires using your existing browser. Could not connect to CDP at localhost:9333 and auto-discovery also failed.'
+                    );
+                  }
+                }
+              }
+
+              // For doctor, attempt the same default attach flow but do not fail hard if attach is unavailable.
+              // This keeps diagnostics actionable even when CDP is down.
+              if (!manager.isLaunched() && isDoctor && manager instanceof BrowserManager) {
+                try {
+                  await manager.launch({
+                    id: 'doctor-cdp',
+                    action: 'launch',
+                    cdpPort: 9333,
+                    ignoreHTTPSErrors: process.env.AGENT_BROWSER_IGNORE_HTTPS_ERRORS === '1',
+                    userAgent: process.env.AGENT_BROWSER_USER_AGENT,
+                    colorScheme:
+                      process.env.AGENT_BROWSER_COLOR_SCHEME === 'dark' ||
+                      process.env.AGENT_BROWSER_COLOR_SCHEME === 'light' ||
+                      process.env.AGENT_BROWSER_COLOR_SCHEME === 'no-preference'
+                        ? (process.env.AGENT_BROWSER_COLOR_SCHEME as
+                            | 'dark'
+                            | 'light'
+                            | 'no-preference')
+                        : undefined,
+                    tabGroup: process.env.AGENT_BROWSER_TAB_GROUP?.trim() || undefined,
+                    tabGroupPluginId:
+                      process.env.AGENT_BROWSER_TAB_GROUP_PLUGIN_ID?.trim() || undefined,
+                  });
+                } catch {
+                  try {
+                    await manager.launch({
+                      id: 'doctor-auto-connect',
+                      action: 'launch',
+                      autoConnect: true,
+                      ignoreHTTPSErrors: process.env.AGENT_BROWSER_IGNORE_HTTPS_ERRORS === '1',
+                      userAgent: process.env.AGENT_BROWSER_USER_AGENT,
+                      colorScheme:
+                        process.env.AGENT_BROWSER_COLOR_SCHEME === 'dark' ||
+                        process.env.AGENT_BROWSER_COLOR_SCHEME === 'light' ||
+                        process.env.AGENT_BROWSER_COLOR_SCHEME === 'no-preference'
+                          ? (process.env.AGENT_BROWSER_COLOR_SCHEME as
+                              | 'dark'
+                              | 'light'
+                              | 'no-preference')
+                          : undefined,
+                      tabGroup: process.env.AGENT_BROWSER_TAB_GROUP?.trim() || undefined,
+                      tabGroupPluginId:
+                        process.env.AGENT_BROWSER_TAB_GROUP_PLUGIN_ID?.trim() || undefined,
+                    });
+                  } catch {
+                    // Keep running: doctor should report failures instead of exiting early.
+                  }
+                }
+              }
+
+              // Recover from stale state: browser is launched but all pages were closed
+              if (
+                manager instanceof BrowserManager &&
+                manager.isLaunched() &&
+                !manager.hasPages() &&
+                parseResult.command.action !== 'launch' &&
+                parseResult.command.action !== 'close'
+              ) {
+                await manager.ensurePage();
+              }
+
+              // Handle explicit launch with auto-load state
+              if (
+                parseResult.command.action === 'launch' &&
+                manager instanceof BrowserManager &&
+                !parseResult.command.autoStateFilePath
+              ) {
+                const autoStatePath = getSessionAutoStatePath();
+                if (autoStatePath) {
+                  parseResult.command.autoStateFilePath = autoStatePath;
+                }
+              }
+
+              // Handle close command specially - shuts down daemon
+              if (parseResult.command.action === 'close') {
+                // Auto-save state before closing
+                if (manager instanceof BrowserManager && manager.isLaunched()) {
+                  const savePath = getSessionSaveStatePath();
+                  if (savePath) {
+                    try {
+                      const { encrypted } = await saveStateToFile(manager, savePath);
+                      fs.chmodSync(savePath, 0o600);
+                      if (process.env.AGENT_BROWSER_DEBUG === '1') {
+                        console.error(
+                          `Auto-saved session state: ${savePath}${encrypted ? ' (encrypted)' : ''}`
+                        );
+                      }
+                    } catch (err) {
+                      if (process.env.AGENT_BROWSER_DEBUG === '1') {
+                        console.error(`Failed to auto-save session state:`, err);
+                      }
+                    }
+                  }
+                }
+
+                const response =
+                  isIOS && manager instanceof IOSManager
+                    ? await executeIOSCommand(parseResult.command, manager)
+                    : await executeCommand(parseResult.command, manager as BrowserManager);
+                await safeWrite(socket, serializeResponse(response) + '\n');
+
+                if (!shuttingDown) {
+                  shuttingDown = true;
+                  setTimeout(() => {
+                    server.close();
+                    cleanupSocket();
+                    process.exit(0);
+                  }, 100);
+                }
+
+                commandQueue.length = 0;
+                processing = false;
+                return;
+              }
+
+              // Execute command with appropriate handler
+              const response =
+                isIOS && manager instanceof IOSManager
+                  ? await executeIOSCommand(parseResult.command, manager)
+                  : await executeCommand(parseResult.command, manager as BrowserManager);
+
+              // Add any launch warnings to the response
+              if (manager instanceof BrowserManager) {
+                const warnings = manager.getAndClearWarnings();
+                if (warnings.length > 0 && response.success && response.data) {
+                  (response.data as Record<string, unknown>).warnings = warnings;
+                }
+              }
+
               await safeWrite(socket, serializeResponse(response) + '\n');
             } catch (err) {
               const message = err instanceof Error ? err.message : String(err);
               await safeWrite(
                 socket,
-                serializeResponse(errorResponse(parseResult.command.id, message)) + '\n'
+                serializeResponse(errorResponse('error', message)) + '\n'
-              );
+              ).catch(() => {}); // Socket may already be destroyed
             }
-            continue;
+          });
-          }
+        } finally {
-
+          pendingCommands = Math.max(0, pendingCommands - 1);
-          // Auto-launch if not already launched and this isn't a launch/close/state_load command.
+          scheduleIdleShutdown();
-          // Default behavior for this fork: attach to an existing browser only.
-          const isDoctor = parseResult.command.action === 'doctor';
-          if (
-            !manager.isLaunched() &&
-            parseResult.command.action !== 'launch' &&
-            parseResult.command.action !== 'close' &&
-            parseResult.command.action !== 'state_load' &&
-            parseResult.command.action !== 'doctor'
-          ) {
-            if (isIOS && manager instanceof IOSManager) {
-              // Auto-launch iOS Safari
-              // Check for device in command first (for reused daemons), then fall back to env vars
-              const cmd = parseResult.command as { iosDevice?: string };
-              const iosDevice = cmd.iosDevice || process.env.AGENT_BROWSER_IOS_DEVICE;
-              await manager.launch({
-                device: iosDevice,
-                udid: process.env.AGENT_BROWSER_IOS_UDID,
-              });
-            } else if (manager instanceof BrowserManager) {
-              // Auto-launch desktop browser
-              const extensions = process.env.AGENT_BROWSER_EXTENSIONS
-                ? process.env.AGENT_BROWSER_EXTENSIONS.split(/[,\n]/)
-                    .map((p) => p.trim())
-                    .filter(Boolean)
-                : undefined;
-
-              // Parse args from env (comma or newline separated)
-              const argsEnv = process.env.AGENT_BROWSER_ARGS;
-              const args = argsEnv
-                ? argsEnv
-                    .split(/[,\n]/)
-                    .map((a) => a.trim())
-                    .filter((a) => a.length > 0)
-                : undefined;
-
-              // Parse proxy from env
-              const proxyServer = process.env.AGENT_BROWSER_PROXY;
-              const proxyBypass = process.env.AGENT_BROWSER_PROXY_BYPASS;
-              const proxy = proxyServer
-                ? {
-                    server: proxyServer,
-                    ...(proxyBypass && { bypass: proxyBypass }),
-                  }
-                : undefined;
-
-              const ignoreHTTPSErrors = process.env.AGENT_BROWSER_IGNORE_HTTPS_ERRORS === '1';
-              const allowFileAccess = process.env.AGENT_BROWSER_ALLOW_FILE_ACCESS === '1';
-              // Stealth is always enabled in agent-browser-stealth
-              const colorSchemeEnv = process.env.AGENT_BROWSER_COLOR_SCHEME;
-              const colorScheme: 'dark' | 'light' | 'no-preference' | undefined =
-                colorSchemeEnv === 'dark' ||
-                colorSchemeEnv === 'light' ||
-                colorSchemeEnv === 'no-preference'
-                  ? colorSchemeEnv
-                  : undefined;
-              const tabGroup = process.env.AGENT_BROWSER_TAB_GROUP?.trim();
-              const tabGroupPluginId = process.env.AGENT_BROWSER_TAB_GROUP_PLUGIN_ID?.trim();
-              const launchOptions = {
-                id: 'auto',
-                action: 'launch' as const,
-                headless:
-                  process.env.AGENT_BROWSER_HEADED !== '1' &&
-                  process.env.AGENT_BROWSER_HEADED !== 'true',
-                executablePath: process.env.AGENT_BROWSER_EXECUTABLE_PATH,
-                extensions: extensions,
-                storageState: process.env.AGENT_BROWSER_STATE,
-                args,
-                userAgent: process.env.AGENT_BROWSER_USER_AGENT,
-                proxy,
-                ignoreHTTPSErrors: ignoreHTTPSErrors,
-                allowFileAccess: allowFileAccess,
-
-                colorScheme,
-                tabGroup: tabGroup && tabGroup.length > 0 ? tabGroup : undefined,
-                tabGroupPluginId:
-                  tabGroupPluginId && tabGroupPluginId.length > 0 ? tabGroupPluginId : undefined,
-                autoStateFilePath: getSessionAutoStatePath(),
-              };
-
-              let attachedToExistingBrowser = false;
-              try {
-                // Keep default CDP attempt minimal. Launch-only options like extensions
-                // are incompatible with CDP and can cause false-negative attach failures.
-                const cdpLaunchOptions = {
-                  id: launchOptions.id,
-                  action: launchOptions.action,
-                  cdpPort: 9333,
-                  ignoreHTTPSErrors: launchOptions.ignoreHTTPSErrors,
-                  colorScheme: launchOptions.colorScheme,
-                  userAgent: launchOptions.userAgent,
-                  tabGroup: launchOptions.tabGroup,
-                  tabGroupPluginId: launchOptions.tabGroupPluginId,
-                };
-                await manager.launch({
-                  ...cdpLaunchOptions,
-                });
-                attachedToExistingBrowser = true;
-                if (process.env.AGENT_BROWSER_DEBUG === '1') {
-                  console.error('[DEBUG] Auto-launch connected via default CDP port 9333');
-                }
-              } catch (error) {
-                if (process.env.AGENT_BROWSER_DEBUG === '1') {
-                  const message = error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error);
-                  console.error(
-                    `[DEBUG] Default CDP port 9333 unavailable, trying auto-connect discovery: ${message}`
-                  );
-                }
-              }
-
-              if (!attachedToExistingBrowser) {
-                try {
-                  await manager.launch({
-                    id: launchOptions.id,
-                    action: launchOptions.action,
-                    autoConnect: true,
-                    ignoreHTTPSErrors: launchOptions.ignoreHTTPSErrors,
-                    colorScheme: launchOptions.colorScheme,
-                    userAgent: launchOptions.userAgent,
-                    tabGroup: launchOptions.tabGroup,
-                    tabGroupPluginId: launchOptions.tabGroupPluginId,
-                  });
-                  attachedToExistingBrowser = true;
-                  if (process.env.AGENT_BROWSER_DEBUG === '1') {
-                    console.error('[DEBUG] Auto-launch connected via auto-connect discovery');
-                  }
-                } catch (error) {
-                  if (process.env.AGENT_BROWSER_DEBUG === '1') {
-                    const message = error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error);
-                    console.error(`[DEBUG] Auto-connect discovery failed: ${message}`);
-                  }
-                }
-              }
-
-              if (!attachedToExistingBrowser) {
-                throw new Error(
-                  'Project policy requires using your existing browser. Could not connect to CDP at localhost:9333 and auto-discovery also failed.'
-                );
-              }
-            }
-          }
-
-          // For doctor, attempt the same default attach flow but do not fail hard if attach is unavailable.
-          // This keeps diagnostics actionable even when CDP is down.
-          if (!manager.isLaunched() && isDoctor && manager instanceof BrowserManager) {
-            try {
-              await manager.launch({
-                id: 'doctor-cdp',
-                action: 'launch',
-                cdpPort: 9333,
-                ignoreHTTPSErrors: process.env.AGENT_BROWSER_IGNORE_HTTPS_ERRORS === '1',
-                userAgent: process.env.AGENT_BROWSER_USER_AGENT,
-                colorScheme:
-                  process.env.AGENT_BROWSER_COLOR_SCHEME === 'dark' ||
-                  process.env.AGENT_BROWSER_COLOR_SCHEME === 'light' ||
-                  process.env.AGENT_BROWSER_COLOR_SCHEME === 'no-preference'
-                    ? (process.env.AGENT_BROWSER_COLOR_SCHEME as 'dark' | 'light' | 'no-preference')
-                    : undefined,
-                tabGroup: process.env.AGENT_BROWSER_TAB_GROUP?.trim() || undefined,
-                tabGroupPluginId:
-                  process.env.AGENT_BROWSER_TAB_GROUP_PLUGIN_ID?.trim() || undefined,
-              });
-            } catch {
-              try {
-                await manager.launch({
-                  id: 'doctor-auto-connect',
-                  action: 'launch',
-                  autoConnect: true,
-                  ignoreHTTPSErrors: process.env.AGENT_BROWSER_IGNORE_HTTPS_ERRORS === '1',
-                  userAgent: process.env.AGENT_BROWSER_USER_AGENT,
-                  colorScheme:
-                    process.env.AGENT_BROWSER_COLOR_SCHEME === 'dark' ||
-                    process.env.AGENT_BROWSER_COLOR_SCHEME === 'light' ||
-                    process.env.AGENT_BROWSER_COLOR_SCHEME === 'no-preference'
-                      ? (process.env.AGENT_BROWSER_COLOR_SCHEME as
-                          | 'dark'
-                          | 'light'
-                          | 'no-preference')
-                      : undefined,
-                  tabGroup: process.env.AGENT_BROWSER_TAB_GROUP?.trim() || undefined,
-                  tabGroupPluginId:
-                    process.env.AGENT_BROWSER_TAB_GROUP_PLUGIN_ID?.trim() || undefined,
-                });
-              } catch {
-                // Keep running: doctor should report failures instead of exiting early.
-              }
-            }
-          }
-
-          // Recover from stale state: browser is launched but all pages were closed
-          if (
-            manager instanceof BrowserManager &&
-            manager.isLaunched() &&
-            !manager.hasPages() &&
-            parseResult.command.action !== 'launch' &&
-            parseResult.command.action !== 'close'
-          ) {
-            await manager.ensurePage();
-          }
-
-          // Handle explicit launch with auto-load state
-          if (
-            parseResult.command.action === 'launch' &&
-            manager instanceof BrowserManager &&
-            !parseResult.command.autoStateFilePath
-          ) {
-            const autoStatePath = getSessionAutoStatePath();
-            if (autoStatePath) {
-              parseResult.command.autoStateFilePath = autoStatePath;
-            }
-          }
-
-          // Handle close command specially - shuts down daemon
-          if (parseResult.command.action === 'close') {
-            // Auto-save state before closing
-            if (manager instanceof BrowserManager && manager.isLaunched()) {
-              const savePath = getSessionSaveStatePath();
-              if (savePath) {
-                try {
-                  const { encrypted } = await saveStateToFile(manager, savePath);
-                  fs.chmodSync(savePath, 0o600);
-                  if (process.env.AGENT_BROWSER_DEBUG === '1') {
-                    console.error(
-                      `Auto-saved session state: ${savePath}${encrypted ? ' (encrypted)' : ''}`
-                    );
-                  }
-                } catch (err) {
-                  if (process.env.AGENT_BROWSER_DEBUG === '1') {
-                    console.error(`Failed to auto-save session state:`, err);
-                  }
-                }
-              }
-            }
-
-            const response =
-              isIOS && manager instanceof IOSManager
-                ? await executeIOSCommand(parseResult.command, manager)
-                : await executeCommand(parseResult.command, manager as BrowserManager);
-            await safeWrite(socket, serializeResponse(response) + '\n');
-
-            if (!shuttingDown) {
-              shuttingDown = true;
-              setTimeout(() => {
-                server.close();
-                cleanupSocket();
-                process.exit(0);
-              }, 100);
-            }
-
-            commandQueue.length = 0;
-            processing = false;
-            return;
-          }
-
-          // Execute command with appropriate handler
-          const response =
-            isIOS && manager instanceof IOSManager
-              ? await executeIOSCommand(parseResult.command, manager)
-              : await executeCommand(parseResult.command, manager as BrowserManager);
-
-          // Add any launch warnings to the response
-          if (manager instanceof BrowserManager) {
-            const warnings = manager.getAndClearWarnings();
-            if (warnings.length > 0 && response.success && response.data) {
-              (response.data as Record<string, unknown>).warnings = warnings;
-            }
-          }
-
-          await safeWrite(socket, serializeResponse(response) + '\n');
-        } catch (err) {
-          const message = err instanceof Error ? err.message : String(err);
-          await safeWrite(socket, serializeResponse(errorResponse('error', message)) + '\n').catch(
-            () => {}
-          ); // Socket may already be destroyed
         }
       }
 
@@ -757,14 +811,16 @@ export async function startDaemon(options?: {
 
   server.on('error', (err) => {
     console.error('Server error:', err);
+    cancelIdleTimer();
     cleanupSocket();
     process.exit(1);
   });
 
   // Handle shutdown signals
-  const shutdown = async () => {
+  const shutdown = async (_reason?: string) => {
     if (shuttingDown) return;
     shuttingDown = true;
+    cancelIdleTimer();
 
     // Stop stream server if running
     if (streamServer) {
@@ -792,28 +848,35 @@ export async function startDaemon(options?: {
   // Handle unexpected errors - always cleanup
   process.on('uncaughtException', (err) => {
     console.error('Uncaught exception:', err);
+    cancelIdleTimer();
     cleanupSocket();
     process.exit(1);
   });
 
   process.on('unhandledRejection', (reason) => {
     console.error('Unhandled rejection:', reason);
+    cancelIdleTimer();
     cleanupSocket();
     process.exit(1);
   });
 
   // Cleanup on normal exit
   process.on('exit', () => {
+    cancelIdleTimer();
     cleanupSocket();
   });
 
+  scheduleIdleShutdown();
+
   // Keep process alive
   process.stdin.resume();
 }
 
 // Run daemon if this is the entry point
 if (process.argv[1]?.endsWith('daemon.js') || process.env.AGENT_BROWSER_DAEMON === '1') {
-  startDaemon().catch((err) => {
+  startDaemon({
+    resident: process.argv.includes('--resident'),
+  }).catch((err) => {
     console.error('Daemon error:', err);
     cleanupSocket();
     process.exit(1);