fix(cos): warn when pending on-demand tasks can't run because the daemon is stopped

client/src/components/cos/tabs/ScheduleTab.jsx

@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import { useSearchParams } from 'react-router';
 import { AlertCircle, RefreshCw } from 'lucide-react';
 import toast from '../../ui/Toast';
 import * as api from '../../../services/api';
-import { formatDateTime, formatTimeOfDaySeconds } from '../../../utils/formatters';
+import { formatDateTime, formatTimeOfDaySeconds, timeAgo } from '../../../utils/formatters';
 import Banner from '../../ui/Banner';
 import { CodeReviewDefaultsProvider } from '../../../hooks/useCodeReviewDefaults';
 import { useAppOverrideActions } from '../../../hooks/useAppOverrideActions';
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ function mergeOnDemandRequest(schedule, request) {
 // passed down — same convention as TasksTab/AgentsTab — so this tab's provider/
 // model pickers stay live without standing up a second independent poll of the
 // same data.
-export default function ScheduleTab({ apps, providers, providersLoaded, activeProviderId }) {
+export default function ScheduleTab({ apps, providers, providersLoaded, activeProviderId, daemonRunning }) {
   const [searchParams, setSearchParams] = useSearchParams();
   const [schedule, setSchedule] = useState(null);
   const [loading, setLoading] = useState(true);
@@ -101,7 +101,12 @@ export default function ScheduleTab({ apps, providers, providersLoaded, activePr
     if (!result?.success) return null;
 
     const appName = appId ? apps?.find(app => app.id === appId)?.name || 'selected app' : null;
-    toast.success(`Queued ${taskType} request${appName ? ` for ${appName}` : ''} — it will appear in Tasks when evaluation begins`);
+    const queuedMsg = `Queued ${taskType} request${appName ? ` for ${appName}` : ''}`;
+    if (daemonRunning === false) {
+      toast.error(`${queuedMsg} — but the CoS daemon is stopped, so it will not run until you start it`);
+    } else {
+      toast.success(`${queuedMsg} — it will appear in Tasks when evaluation begins`);
+    }
 
     // The POST returns the persisted request. Paint it immediately instead of
     // waiting for a second round trip; the evaluator may drain it into Tasks
@@ -112,7 +117,7 @@ export default function ScheduleTab({ apps, providers, providersLoaded, activePr
     }
     fetchSchedule();
     return result.request || true;
-  }, [apps, fetchSchedule]);
+  }, [apps, fetchSchedule, daemonRunning]);
 
   const handleTriggerAppImprovement = handleTriggerTask;
 
@@ -170,11 +175,20 @@ export default function ScheduleTab({ apps, providers, providersLoaded, activePr
       )}
 
       {schedule.onDemandRequests?.length > 0 && (
-        <Banner tone="info" size="lg" title="Pending On-Demand Tasks">
+        <Banner
+          tone={daemonRunning === false ? 'warning' : 'info'}
+          size="lg"
+          title="Pending On-Demand Tasks"
+        >
+          {daemonRunning === false && (
+            <div className="text-sm mb-2">
+              The CoS daemon is stopped, so these requests will not run until it's started — use the Start button above.
+            </div>
+          )}
           <div className="space-y-1 mt-2">
             {schedule.onDemandRequests.map(req => (
               <div key={req.id} className="text-sm text-gray-300">
-                {req.taskType}{req.appId ? ` (${apps?.find(app => app.id === req.appId)?.name || req.appId})` : ''} - requested {formatTimeOfDaySeconds(req.requestedAt)}
+                {req.taskType}{req.appId ? ` (${apps?.find(app => app.id === req.appId)?.name || req.appId})` : ''} - requested {formatTimeOfDaySeconds(req.requestedAt)} ({timeAgo(req.requestedAt)})
               </div>
             ))}
           </div>

client/src/components/cos/tabs/ScheduleTab.test.jsx

@@ -98,4 +98,58 @@ describe('ScheduleTab on-demand feedback', () => {
     expect(screen.getByText('Pending On-Demand Tasks')).toBeVisible();
     expect(screen.getByText(/review \(Example App\) - requested/)).toBeVisible();
   });
+
+  it('warns instead of celebrating a queued request when the CoS daemon is stopped', async () => {
+    const user = userEvent.setup();
+    const request = {
+      id: 'request-2',
+      taskType: 'review',
+      appId: 'app-1',
+      requestedAt: '2026-09-01T12:00:00.000Z',
+    };
+    api.getCodeReviewDefaults.mockResolvedValue({});
+    api.getCosSchedule
+      .mockResolvedValueOnce({
+        improvementEnabled: true,
+        tasks: {
+          review: {
+            type: 'on-demand',
+            enabled: true,
+            enabledAppCount: 1,
+            totalAppCount: 1,
+            invocation: { userInvokable: true },
+          },
+        },
+        onDemandRequests: [],
+      })
+      // Hold the background refresh so this assertion proves the
+      // optimistically-painted request (and its daemon-stopped warning)
+      // stays visible without waiting on a second round trip.
+      .mockReturnValueOnce(new Promise(() => {}));
+    api.triggerCosOnDemandTask.mockResolvedValue({ success: true, request });
+
+    render(
+      <MemoryRouter>
+        <ScheduleTab
+          apps={[{ id: 'app-1', name: 'Example App' }]}
+          providers={[]}
+          activeProviderId={null}
+          daemonRunning={false}
+        />
+      </MemoryRouter>,
+    );
+
+    await user.click(await screen.findByRole('button', { name: /Run on App/i }));
+    await user.click(screen.getByRole('button', { name: 'Example App' }));
+
+    await waitFor(() => expect(api.triggerCosOnDemandTask).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      'review',
+      'app-1',
+      { silent: true },
+    ));
+    expect(toast.error).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      'Queued review request for Example App — but the CoS daemon is stopped, so it will not run until you start it',
+    );
+    expect(await screen.findByText(/CoS daemon is stopped/)).toBeVisible();
+  });
 });

client/src/pages/ChiefOfStaff.jsx

@@ -1237,7 +1237,7 @@ export default function ChiefOfStaff() {
         {activeTab === 'schedule' && (
           <div role="tabpanel" id="tabpanel-schedule" aria-labelledby="tab-schedule">
             <Suspense fallback={<TabLoadFallback label="schedule" />}>
-              <ScheduleTab apps={apps} providers={providers} activeProviderId={activeProviderId} providersLoaded={providersLoaded} />
+              <ScheduleTab apps={apps} providers={providers} activeProviderId={activeProviderId} providersLoaded={providersLoaded} daemonRunning={status?.running} />
             </Suspense>
           </div>
         )}