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+---
+id: 20260531-124040-dev-pod-runtime-command-env
+slug: dev-pod-runtime-command-env
+title: Dev: add Pod runtime executable override env
+status: open
+kind: task
+priority: P2
+labels: [cli, pod, env, dev]
+created_at: 2026-05-31T12:40:40Z
+updated_at: 2026-05-31T12:40:40Z
+assignee: null
+legacy_ticket: null
+---
+
+## Background
+
+During dogfooding, long-running TUI/Pod processes can keep executing an old `target/debug/insomnia` inode after `cargo build` or `cargo clean` replaces/removes the binary. On Linux, `std::env::current_exe()` then returns a path like:
+
+```text
+/home/.../target/debug/insomnia (deleted)
+```
+
+Current Pod spawn/restore paths use `current_exe() + ["pod"]` as the runtime command, so a long-running process can try to spawn `.../insomnia (deleted) pod` and fail with `No such file or directory`.
+
+This is primarily a development/dogfooding problem. The previous general-purpose `INSOMNIA_POD_COMMAND` override was intentionally removed; do not restore that semantics. Instead, add a narrow development escape hatch that replaces only the executable used in the standard `insomnia pod ...` runtime command.
+
+## Requirements
+
+- Add a narrowly scoped development override environment variable, tentatively `INSOMNIA_POD_RUNTIME_COMMAND`.
+- Semantics:
+  - if unset/empty, default remains `current_exe() + ["pod"]`;
+  - if set, the value is the executable path used instead of `current_exe()`;
+  - the `pod` prefix argument is still automatically added;
+  - the value is not shell-parsed and cannot include arguments.
+- Keep this as a development escape hatch, not normal user configuration.
+- Update diagnostics so a failed spawn shows the resolved runtime command clearly enough to debug deleted-path issues.
+- Document the variable in `docs/environment.md` under a clearly development-only section.
+- Do not reintroduce `INSOMNIA_POD_COMMAND` or its old executable-without-prefix semantics.
+- Do not change Pod runtime flags/profile/manifest/protocol semantics.
+- This ticket may be implemented before or folded into `insomnia-crate-cli-owner`, but must not create `pod -> insomnia` or `tui -> insomnia` architectural coupling beyond the current transitional state.
+
+## Non-goals
+
+- Making environment variables a general configuration mechanism.
+- Adding shell-string command parsing.
+- Supporting wrapper commands with arguments.
+- Solving all hot-reload/self-rebuild lifecycle issues.
+- Reintroducing the removed `insomnia-pod` binary/alias.
+
+## Acceptance criteria
+
+- Setting `INSOMNIA_POD_RUNTIME_COMMAND=/path/to/insomnia` causes spawn/restore paths to execute `/path/to/insomnia pod ...`.
+- Unset or empty `INSOMNIA_POD_RUNTIME_COMMAND` preserves the default `current_exe() + ["pod"]` behavior.
+- Tests cover override, empty-as-unset, and no shell parsing/argument splitting semantics.
+- Active code/docs do not reference the old `INSOMNIA_POD_COMMAND` name except historical work items.
+- `docs/environment.md` explains this as a development-only escape hatch for dogfooding/rebuild deleted-exe cases.
+- `cargo fmt --check`, focused tests for the runtime command helper/spawn paths, `cargo check` for affected crates, `./tickets.sh doctor`, and `git diff --check` pass.
diff --git a/work-items/open/20260531-124040-dev-pod-runtime-command-env/thread.md b/work-items/open/20260531-124040-dev-pod-runtime-command-env/thread.md
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+<!-- event: create author: tickets.sh at: 2026-05-31T12:40:40Z -->
+
+## Created
+
+Created by tickets.sh create.
+
+---