---
type: data-safety
coverage: 9
source: COMPLAINT_REGISTRY.jsonl via taxonomy.json _meta (2026-08-08)
absorbs: [lost-work, data-retention, file-sprawl]
---

# KB — data-safety

audience: AI coding agents first. Type-level patterns; per-incident entries land separately.

## Coverage

9 records. Small count, irreversible when mishandled.

## Recurring failure patterns

1. **ORPHANED session** — process gone, `finishedAt` null; in-flight turn never committed.
2. **SIGKILL mid-turn** — OOM killer; work after last completed turn lost everywhere except transcript.
3. **Destructive git in main checkout** — `git restore`/`reset --hard` hits other agents' uncommitted work.
4. **File sprawl** — duplicate worktrees, dirty trees block GC; 8GB+ dead worktrees reported in harness history.
5. **No push before box teardown** — ephemeral workspace destroyed; only `wip/<run-id>` salvage saves WIP.
6. **Handoff doc trusted after kill** — `session-recovery` verdict `unclean`; transcript wins.

## Fix vectors that worked

- `session-recovery --cwd` before trusting handoff.
- `git reflog` / `git fsck --lost-found`; worktree inventory.
- Salvage-push on harness teardown; push before scope delete.
- Worktree-only edits; never touch `~/Projects/overdeck` main tree.

## Related skill

`od-data-safety`