feat: auto-bypass daemon for wisp operations (bd-ta4r)

Wisp operations (mol wisp *, mol burn, mol squash) and commands operating on
ephemeral issue IDs (bd-eph-*, gt-eph-*, eph-*) now auto-bypass the daemon.

Since wisps are ephemeral (Ephemeral=true) and never exported to JSONL,
the daemon cannot help with them anyway. This eliminates the need to manually
add --no-daemon for every wisp operation.

Changes:
- Add isWispOperation() helper to detect wisp commands and ephemeral IDs
- Add FallbackWispOperation constant for daemon status tracking
- Insert wisp detection in PersistentPreRunE daemon connection logic
- Update error messages in wisp.go, mol_burn.go, mol_squash.go
- Add comprehensive unit tests for isWispOperation()

cmd/bd/daemon_autostart_unit_test.go

@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import (
 	"testing"
 	"time"
 
+	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 	"github.com/steveyegge/beads/internal/config"
 )
 
@@ -329,3 +330,128 @@ func TestDaemonAutostart_RestartDaemonForVersionMismatch_Stubbed(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("expected socket removed")
 	}
 }
+
+// TestIsWispOperation tests the wisp operation detection for auto-daemon-bypass (bd-ta4r)
+func TestIsWispOperation(t *testing.T) {
+	// Helper to create a command with parent hierarchy
+	makeCmd := func(names ...string) *cobra.Command {
+		var current *cobra.Command
+		for i, name := range names {
+			cmd := &cobra.Command{Use: name}
+			if i == 0 {
+				current = cmd
+			} else {
+				current.AddCommand(cmd)
+				current = cmd
+			}
+		}
+		return current
+	}
+
+	tests := []struct {
+		name     string
+		cmdNames []string // hierarchy: root, child, grandchild...
+		args     []string
+		want     bool
+	}{
+		// Wisp subcommands
+		{
+			name:     "mol wisp (direct)",
+			cmdNames: []string{"bd", "mol", "wisp"},
+			args:     []string{},
+			want:     true,
+		},
+		{
+			name:     "mol wisp create",
+			cmdNames: []string{"bd", "mol", "wisp", "create"},
+			args:     []string{"some-proto"},
+			want:     true,
+		},
+		{
+			name:     "mol wisp list",
+			cmdNames: []string{"bd", "mol", "wisp", "list"},
+			args:     []string{},
+			want:     true,
+		},
+		{
+			name:     "mol wisp gc",
+			cmdNames: []string{"bd", "mol", "wisp", "gc"},
+			args:     []string{},
+			want:     true,
+		},
+		// mol burn and squash (wisp-only operations)
+		{
+			name:     "mol burn",
+			cmdNames: []string{"bd", "mol", "burn"},
+			args:     []string{"bd-eph-abc"},
+			want:     true,
+		},
+		{
+			name:     "mol squash",
+			cmdNames: []string{"bd", "mol", "squash"},
+			args:     []string{"bd-eph-abc"},
+			want:     true,
+		},
+		// Ephemeral issue IDs in args
+		{
+			name:     "close with bd-eph ID",
+			cmdNames: []string{"bd", "close"},
+			args:     []string{"bd-eph-abc123"},
+			want:     true,
+		},
+		{
+			name:     "show with gt-eph ID",
+			cmdNames: []string{"bd", "show"},
+			args:     []string{"gt-eph-xyz"},
+			want:     true,
+		},
+		{
+			name:     "update with eph- prefix",
+			cmdNames: []string{"bd", "update"},
+			args:     []string{"eph-test", "--status=closed"},
+			want:     true,
+		},
+		// Non-wisp operations (should NOT bypass)
+		{
+			name:     "regular show",
+			cmdNames: []string{"bd", "show"},
+			args:     []string{"bd-abc123"},
+			want:     false,
+		},
+		{
+			name:     "regular close",
+			cmdNames: []string{"bd", "close"},
+			args:     []string{"bd-xyz"},
+			want:     false,
+		},
+		{
+			name:     "mol pour (persistent)",
+			cmdNames: []string{"bd", "mol", "pour"},
+			args:     []string{"some-formula"},
+			want:     false,
+		},
+		{
+			name:     "list command",
+			cmdNames: []string{"bd", "list"},
+			args:     []string{},
+			want:     false,
+		},
+		// Edge cases
+		{
+			name:     "flag that looks like eph ID should be ignored",
+			cmdNames: []string{"bd", "show"},
+			args:     []string{"--format=bd-eph-style", "bd-regular"},
+			want:     false,
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			cmd := makeCmd(tt.cmdNames...)
+			got := isWispOperation(cmd, tt.args)
+			if got != tt.want {
+				t.Errorf("isWispOperation() = %v, want %v", got, tt.want)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}

cmd/bd/main.go

@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@ const (
 	FallbackAutoStartDisabled = "auto_start_disabled"
 	FallbackAutoStartFailed   = "auto_start_failed"
 	FallbackDaemonUnsupported = "daemon_unsupported"
+	FallbackWispOperation     = "wisp_operation"
 )
 
 var (
@@ -634,10 +635,22 @@ var rootCmd = &cobra.Command{
 			noDaemon = true
 		}
 
+		// Wisp operations auto-bypass daemon (bd-ta4r)
+		// Wisps are ephemeral (Ephemeral=true) and never exported to JSONL,
+		// so daemon can't help anyway. This reduces friction in wisp workflows.
+		if isWispOperation(cmd, args) {
+			noDaemon = true
+			daemonStatus.FallbackReason = FallbackWispOperation
+			debug.Logf("wisp operation detected, using direct mode")
+		}
+
 		// Try to connect to daemon first (unless --no-daemon flag is set or worktree safety check fails)
 		if noDaemon {
-			daemonStatus.FallbackReason = FallbackFlagNoDaemon
+			// Only set FallbackFlagNoDaemon if not already set by auto-bypass logic
-			debug.Logf("--no-daemon flag set, using direct mode")
+			if daemonStatus.FallbackReason == FallbackNone {
+				daemonStatus.FallbackReason = FallbackFlagNoDaemon
+				debug.Logf("--no-daemon flag set, using direct mode")
+			}
 		} else if shouldDisableDaemonForWorktree() {
 			// In a git worktree without sync-branch configured - daemon is unsafe
 			// because all worktrees share the same .beads directory and the daemon
@@ -1091,3 +1104,45 @@ func handleFreshCloneError(err error, beadsDir string) bool {
 	fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "For more information: bd init --help\n")
 	return true
 }
+
+// isWispOperation returns true if the command operates on ephemeral wisps.
+// Wisp operations auto-bypass the daemon because wisps are local-only
+// (Ephemeral=true issues are never exported to JSONL).
+// Detects:
+//   - mol wisp subcommands (create, list, gc, or direct proto invocation)
+//   - mol burn (only operates on wisps)
+//   - mol squash (condenses wisps to digests)
+//   - Commands with ephemeral issue IDs in args (bd-*-eph-*, eph-*)
+func isWispOperation(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) bool {
+	cmdName := cmd.Name()
+
+	// Check command hierarchy for wisp subcommands
+	// bd mol wisp → parent is "mol", cmd is "wisp"
+	// bd mol wisp create → parent is "wisp", cmd is "create"
+	if cmd.Parent() != nil {
+		parentName := cmd.Parent().Name()
+		// Direct wisp command or subcommands under wisp
+		if parentName == "wisp" || cmdName == "wisp" {
+			return true
+		}
+		// mol burn and mol squash are wisp-only operations
+		if parentName == "mol" && (cmdName == "burn" || cmdName == "squash") {
+			return true
+		}
+	}
+
+	// Check for ephemeral issue IDs in arguments
+	// Ephemeral IDs have "eph" segment: bd-eph-xxx, gt-eph-xxx, eph-xxx
+	for _, arg := range args {
+		// Skip flags
+		if strings.HasPrefix(arg, "-") {
+			continue
+		}
+		// Check for ephemeral prefix patterns
+		if strings.Contains(arg, "-eph-") || strings.HasPrefix(arg, "eph-") {
+			return true
+		}
+	}
+
+	return false
+}

cmd/bd/mol_burn.go

@@ -50,14 +50,10 @@ func runMolBurn(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
 
 	ctx := rootCtx
 
-	// mol burn requires direct store access
+	// mol burn requires direct store access (daemon auto-bypassed for wisp ops)
 	if store == nil {
-		if daemonClient != nil {
+		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Error: no database connection\n")
-			fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Error: mol burn requires direct database access\n")
+		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Hint: run 'bd init' or 'bd import' to initialize the database\n")
-			fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Hint: use --no-daemon flag: bd --no-daemon mol burn %s ...\n", args[0])
-		} else {
-			fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Error: no database connection\n")
-		}
 		os.Exit(1)
 	}
 

cmd/bd/mol_squash.go

@@ -66,14 +66,10 @@ func runMolSquash(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
 
 	ctx := rootCtx
 
-	// mol squash requires direct store access
+	// mol squash requires direct store access (daemon auto-bypassed for wisp ops)
 	if store == nil {
-		if daemonClient != nil {
+		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Error: no database connection\n")
-			fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Error: mol squash requires direct database access\n")
+		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Hint: run 'bd init' or 'bd import' to initialize the database\n")
-			fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Hint: use --no-daemon flag: bd --no-daemon mol squash %s ...\n", args[0])
-		} else {
-			fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Error: no database connection\n")
-		}
 		os.Exit(1)
 	}
 

cmd/bd/wisp.go

@@ -139,14 +139,10 @@ func runWispCreate(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
 
 	ctx := rootCtx
 
-	// Wisp create requires direct store access
+	// Wisp create requires direct store access (daemon auto-bypassed for wisp ops)
 	if store == nil {
-		if daemonClient != nil {
+		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Error: no database connection\n")
-			fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Error: wisp create requires direct database access\n")
+		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Hint: run 'bd init' or 'bd import' to initialize the database\n")
-			fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Hint: use --no-daemon flag: bd --no-daemon mol wisp %s ...\n", args[0])
-		} else {
-			fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Error: no database connection\n")
-		}
 		os.Exit(1)
 	}
 
@@ -564,14 +560,10 @@ func runWispGC(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
 		}
 	}
 
-	// Wisp gc requires direct store access for deletion
+	// Wisp gc requires direct store access for deletion (daemon auto-bypassed for wisp ops)
 	if store == nil {
-		if daemonClient != nil {
+		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Error: no database connection\n")
-			fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Error: wisp gc requires direct database access\n")
+		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Hint: run 'bd init' or 'bd import' to initialize the database\n")
-			fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Hint: use --no-daemon flag: bd --no-daemon mol wisp gc\n")
-		} else {
-			fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Error: no database connection\n")
-		}
 		os.Exit(1)
 	}