Command Still Running: Should You Keep Waiting or Restart?
Waiting for a return does not mean the process has ended; first check the original execution session.
Distinguishing Between Waiting Completion and Execution Completion
A command may exceed the initial waiting time, and the tool may subsequently return a session identifier indicating it is still running. This usually means you can continue to monitor or wait, and does not imply execution failure. Restarting directly may create duplicate processes, duplicate files, or duplicate access to the target.
Only when you see a clear exit, failure, or termination status is it appropriate to conclude that the execution has ended.
Let the Agent Continue the Original Session
You can request to "continue viewing the previous command, keep existing results, do not restart." The tool will continue processing using the actual returned session.
If the task needs to run for a long time, you can request to save intermediate output to a file and specify what the current progress is based on. Do not rely solely on a window without new text as the only judgment criterion; existing files, process status, and program behavior should all be considered together.
- Check if the last output clearly indicates it is still running.
- Continue waiting or view new output from that session.
- Confirm exit status and completeness of outputs.
- If deciding to terminate, check whether partial files remain.
No New Output Does Not Necessarily Mean It Is Stuck
Some programs only output upon completion, while others may be waiting for input or constrained by the target. Judgments should be made based on process status, tool documentation, and existing files. Waiting for a return does not guarantee the process will always survive; interruptions in the underlying environment or resource limits may still stop it. After recovery, first check execution logs and outputs before deciding whether to rerun.