diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 83c8802..6cf4d35 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -256,6 +256,28 @@ be split into per-release sections once tagging begins.
   now returns a `LoadedModel` dataclass bundling the TF handle with
   the pinned SHA and filename so the estimator can build the
   `Provenance` without re-hashing the tarball.
+- **`neuropose.reset`** — pipeline-wide reset utility for the
+  benchmark / iteration loop. `find_neuropose_processes()` scans the
+  OS process table (via `psutil`) for running `neuropose watch` and
+  `neuropose serve` instances and classifies each as `daemon` or
+  `monitor`. `terminate_processes()` SIGINTs them, polls for graceful
+  exit up to a configurable grace period, and optionally escalates
+  to SIGKILL with `force_kill=True`. `wipe_state()` removes the
+  contents of `$data_dir/in/`, `$data_dir/out/` (including
+  `status.json`), `$data_dir/failed/` (unless `keep_failed=True`),
+  the `.neuropose.lock` file, and any leftover `.ingest_<uuid>/`
+  staging dirs from interrupted ingests; container directories
+  themselves are preserved so the daemon does not need to recreate
+  them on next startup. `reset_pipeline()` composes the three with
+  one safety guard: if any process survives termination, the wipe
+  phase is skipped and the returned `ResetReport` flags
+  `wipe_skipped_due_to_survivors`, because removing `$data_dir`
+  out from under an active daemon would corrupt its in-flight
+  writes. Surfaced as `neuropose reset` in the CLI with
+  `--yes/-y`, `--keep-failed`, `--force-kill`, `--grace-seconds`,
+  and `--dry-run/-n` flags; the command always prints a preview
+  before prompting (skipped under `--yes`) and returns
+  `EXIT_USAGE=2` when survivors block the wipe.
 - **`neuropose.benchmark`** — multi-pass inference benchmarking for
   a single video. `run_benchmark()` runs `process_video` N times
   (default 5), always discards the first pass as warmup (graph
@@ -304,7 +326,7 @@ be split into per-release sections once tagging begins.
     `slow`) loads the real model and asserts the constant still
     matches, so any upstream skeleton drift fails CI.
 - **`neuropose.cli`** — Typer-based command-line interface with
-  seven subcommands: `watch` (run the daemon), `process <video>`
+  eight subcommands: `watch` (run the daemon), `process <video>`
   (run the estimator on a single video), `ingest <archive>` (unzip
   a video archive into per-video job directories under
   `$data_dir/in/` with validation-before-write and atomic
@@ -315,6 +337,13 @@ be split into per-release sections once tagging begins.
   KeyboardInterrupt exits with the standard shell-interruption
   code and an `OSError` at bind time is translated to a clean
   usage error with the bind target in the message),
+  `reset` (stop the daemon and monitor, then wipe pipeline state
+  for a clean restart — wraps `neuropose.reset` with a confirmation
+  prompt, `--dry-run` preview, `--keep-failed` to preserve the
+  forensic quarantine, `--force-kill` to escalate to SIGKILL after
+  the SIGINT grace period, and `--grace-seconds` to tune the wait;
+  refuses to wipe state while any process survives termination so
+  active writes cannot be corrupted),
   `segment <results>` (post-hoc repetition segmentation — loads a
   JobResults or a single VideoPredictions, runs
   `neuropose.analyzer.segment.segment_predictions` with the chosen
diff --git a/docs/api/reset.md b/docs/api/reset.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..91fb277
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/api/reset.md
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+# `neuropose.reset`
+
+::: neuropose.reset
diff --git a/mkdocs.yml b/mkdocs.yml
index 9e5559b..145da66 100644
--- a/mkdocs.yml
+++ b/mkdocs.yml
@@ -95,6 +95,7 @@ nav:
       - neuropose.interfacer: api/interfacer.md
       - neuropose.ingest: api/ingest.md
       - neuropose.monitor: api/monitor.md
+      - neuropose.reset: api/reset.md
       - neuropose.io: api/io.md
       - neuropose.migrations: api/migrations.md
       - neuropose.benchmark: api/benchmark.md
diff --git a/src/neuropose/cli.py b/src/neuropose/cli.py
index ce08ced..9ff2729 100644
--- a/src/neuropose/cli.py
+++ b/src/neuropose/cli.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 """NeuroPose command-line interface.
 
-Seven subcommands:
+Eight subcommands:
 
 - ``neuropose watch`` — run the :class:`~neuropose.interfacer.Interfacer`
   daemon against the configured input directory.
@@ -12,6 +12,10 @@ Seven subcommands:
 - ``neuropose serve`` — start the :mod:`~neuropose.monitor` localhost
   HTTP dashboard so collaborators can watch a run's progress in a
   browser or via ``curl``.
+- ``neuropose reset`` — stop the daemon and monitor, then wipe pipeline
+  state (input queue, results, status file, lock file, ingest staging
+  dirs) for a clean restart. See :mod:`neuropose.reset` for the layered
+  implementation.
 - ``neuropose segment <results>`` — post-hoc repetition segmentation of
   an existing predictions file. Attaches a named
   :class:`~neuropose.io.Segmentation` to every video it contains and
@@ -426,6 +430,156 @@ def serve(
         raise typer.Exit(code=EXIT_USAGE) from exc
 
 
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# reset
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+@app.command()
+def reset(
+    ctx: typer.Context,
+    yes: Annotated[
+        bool,
+        typer.Option(
+            "--yes",
+            "-y",
+            help="Skip the interactive confirmation prompt.",
+        ),
+    ] = False,
+    keep_failed: Annotated[
+        bool,
+        typer.Option(
+            "--keep-failed",
+            help=(
+                "Preserve $data_dir/failed/ for forensic review. By "
+                "default the failed-job quarantine is wiped along with "
+                "in/ and out/."
+            ),
+        ),
+    ] = False,
+    force_kill: Annotated[
+        bool,
+        typer.Option(
+            "--force-kill",
+            help=(
+                "Escalate to SIGKILL on any daemon or monitor still "
+                "alive after the SIGINT grace period. Necessary if the "
+                "daemon is mid-inference on a long video and you do "
+                "not want to wait for the current video to finish."
+            ),
+        ),
+    ] = False,
+    grace_seconds: Annotated[
+        float,
+        typer.Option(
+            "--grace-seconds",
+            min=0.0,
+            help=(
+                "Seconds to wait after SIGINT before declaring a "
+                "process a survivor (or escalating to SIGKILL when "
+                "--force-kill is set)."
+            ),
+        ),
+    ] = 10.0,
+    dry_run: Annotated[
+        bool,
+        typer.Option(
+            "--dry-run",
+            "-n",
+            help="Show what would be killed and removed without doing it.",
+        ),
+    ] = False,
+) -> None:
+    """Stop the daemon and monitor, then wipe pipeline state.
+
+    Discovers running ``neuropose watch`` and ``neuropose serve``
+    processes, sends SIGINT, waits ``--grace-seconds`` for graceful
+    shutdown (optionally escalating to SIGKILL with ``--force-kill``),
+    then removes the contents of ``$data_dir/in/``, ``$data_dir/out/``
+    (including ``status.json``), ``$data_dir/failed/`` (unless
+    ``--keep-failed``), the daemon lock file, and any leftover
+    ``.ingest_<uuid>/`` staging directories from interrupted ingests.
+
+    Refuses to wipe state if any process survives the termination
+    phase — wiping the data directory out from under an active daemon
+    would leave it writing into deleted directory entries. Re-run
+    with ``--force-kill`` or stop the survivor manually.
+    """
+    # Deferred import so reset's psutil scan stays off the watch/process
+    # hot path. psutil is already a runtime dependency for benchmark
+    # metrics, so this import is free at install time.
+    from neuropose.reset import find_neuropose_processes, reset_pipeline, wipe_state
+
+    settings: Settings = ctx.obj
+
+    discovered = find_neuropose_processes()
+    preview = wipe_state(settings, keep_failed=keep_failed, dry_run=True)
+
+    typer.echo(f"data dir:       {settings.data_dir}")
+    if discovered:
+        typer.echo(f"would stop:     {len(discovered)} process(es)")
+        for rp in discovered:
+            typer.echo(f"  pid {rp.pid:>7}  {rp.role:<7}  {rp.cmdline}")
+    else:
+        typer.echo("would stop:     no daemon or monitor running")
+    if preview.removed_paths:
+        size_mb = preview.bytes_freed / (1024 * 1024)
+        typer.echo(
+            f"would remove:   {len(preview.removed_paths)} path(s) ({size_mb:.1f} MB)"
+        )
+        for path in preview.removed_paths:
+            typer.echo(f"  {path}")
+    else:
+        typer.echo("would remove:   nothing — data dir is already clean")
+
+    if dry_run:
+        typer.echo("(dry-run; no changes made)")
+        return
+
+    if not discovered and not preview.removed_paths:
+        typer.echo("nothing to do.")
+        return
+
+    if not yes and not typer.confirm("\nproceed?"):
+        typer.echo("aborted.")
+        raise typer.Exit(code=EXIT_USAGE)
+
+    report = reset_pipeline(
+        settings,
+        grace_seconds=grace_seconds,
+        force_kill=force_kill,
+        keep_failed=keep_failed,
+    )
+
+    if report.termination.stopped:
+        typer.echo(f"stopped {len(report.termination.stopped)} process(es) via SIGINT")
+    if report.termination.force_killed:
+        typer.echo(
+            f"force-killed {len(report.termination.force_killed)} process(es) "
+            f"after {grace_seconds:.0f}s grace period"
+        )
+    if report.termination.survivors:
+        typer.echo(
+            f"error: {len(report.termination.survivors)} process(es) did not exit:",
+            err=True,
+        )
+        for rp in report.termination.survivors:
+            typer.echo(f"  pid {rp.pid} ({rp.role})", err=True)
+        if report.wipe_skipped_due_to_survivors:
+            typer.echo(
+                "  state on disk was NOT wiped — re-run with --force-kill, "
+                "or stop these processes manually first.",
+                err=True,
+            )
+        raise typer.Exit(code=EXIT_USAGE)
+
+    size_mb = report.wipe.bytes_freed / (1024 * 1024)
+    typer.echo(
+        f"removed {len(report.wipe.removed_paths)} path(s) "
+        f"({size_mb:.1f} MB freed)"
+    )
+
+
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # segment
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/src/neuropose/reset.py b/src/neuropose/reset.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..25ee718
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/neuropose/reset.py
@@ -0,0 +1,388 @@
+"""Pipeline-wide reset utility.
+
+Tear down a running NeuroPose deployment back to a clean state: stop
+the watch daemon and the monitor server, then wipe the job queue,
+results, status file, and ingest staging directories. Intended for
+the rapid iteration loop that comes up during benchmark and validation
+work, where you want an empty ``$data_dir/in`` without manually
+``rm -rf``-ing five separate paths and pkill'ing two processes.
+
+The module is split into three independently-callable layers so each
+piece is testable in isolation and reusable from non-CLI contexts:
+
+- :func:`find_neuropose_processes` enumerates running ``neuropose
+  watch`` and ``neuropose serve`` processes by scanning the OS process
+  table. Pure read; no side effects.
+- :func:`terminate_processes` signals the discovered processes (SIGINT
+  first, optionally SIGKILL after a grace period) and reports
+  survivors.
+- :func:`wipe_state` removes the data-directory paths that the daemon
+  and monitor produce. Idempotent; safe against a fresh install.
+
+The top-level :func:`reset_pipeline` orchestrates all three and
+returns a :class:`ResetReport` summarizing what happened.
+
+Safety
+------
+:func:`reset_pipeline` refuses to wipe state while *any* discovered
+process is still alive after the termination phase. Wiping
+``$data_dir`` out from under an active daemon would leave the daemon
+writing into deleted directory entries — a guaranteed mess. Callers
+that hit a survivor must either raise the grace period, opt into
+``force_kill=True`` (SIGKILL), or kill the survivor manually before
+re-running.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import contextlib
+import logging
+import os
+import shutil
+import signal
+import time
+from dataclasses import dataclass, field
+from pathlib import Path
+from typing import Literal
+
+import psutil
+
+from neuropose.config import Settings
+from neuropose.interfacer import LOCK_FILENAME
+
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+
+# Cmdline substrings that identify the daemon and monitor.
+# Matched against the joined argv so ``uv run neuropose watch -v`` and
+# ``python -m neuropose watch`` both hit. The substring choice
+# deliberately includes the subcommand name so a generic
+# ``neuropose --help`` shell doesn't get caught.
+_DAEMON_MARKER = "neuropose watch"
+_MONITOR_MARKER = "neuropose serve"
+
+DEFAULT_GRACE_SECONDS = 10.0
+"""How long :func:`terminate_processes` waits after SIGINT before
+declaring a process a survivor (or escalating to SIGKILL when
+``force_kill`` is set). Long enough for an idle daemon to finish its
+current poll iteration; short enough that an interactive ``reset``
+invocation doesn't feel hung. Override per-call when waiting on a
+multi-minute inference."""
+
+_POLL_INTERVAL_SECONDS = 0.2
+
+ProcessRole = Literal["daemon", "monitor"]
+
+
+@dataclass(frozen=True)
+class RunningProcess:
+    """A neuropose process discovered in the OS process table."""
+
+    pid: int
+    role: ProcessRole
+    cmdline: str
+
+
+@dataclass
+class TerminationReport:
+    """Outcome of trying to stop a set of running processes."""
+
+    stopped: list[RunningProcess] = field(default_factory=list)
+    survivors: list[RunningProcess] = field(default_factory=list)
+    force_killed: list[RunningProcess] = field(default_factory=list)
+
+
+@dataclass
+class WipeReport:
+    """Outcome of wiping data-directory state."""
+
+    removed_paths: list[Path] = field(default_factory=list)
+    bytes_freed: int = 0
+
+
+@dataclass
+class ResetReport:
+    """Aggregate report from a full pipeline reset."""
+
+    discovered: list[RunningProcess]
+    termination: TerminationReport
+    wipe: WipeReport
+    dry_run: bool
+    wipe_skipped_due_to_survivors: bool = False
+
+
+def find_neuropose_processes(*, exclude_self: bool = True) -> list[RunningProcess]:
+    """Scan the process table for ``neuropose watch`` / ``neuropose serve``.
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    exclude_self
+        Skip the current process. The ``neuropose reset`` command
+        itself has ``"neuropose"`` in its argv and would otherwise see
+        itself in the result. Set to ``False`` only in tests where the
+        caller has constructed a process table that should match
+        verbatim.
+
+    Returns
+    -------
+    list[RunningProcess]
+        Processes whose joined argv contains either marker substring.
+        Empty list when nothing matches.
+    """
+    self_pid = os.getpid()
+    found: list[RunningProcess] = []
+    for proc in psutil.process_iter(["pid", "cmdline"]):
+        try:
+            pid = proc.info["pid"]
+            cmdline = proc.info["cmdline"] or []
+        except (psutil.NoSuchProcess, psutil.AccessDenied):
+            continue
+        if exclude_self and pid == self_pid:
+            continue
+        joined = " ".join(cmdline)
+        # Daemon check first because "neuropose serve" and
+        # "neuropose watch" cannot both appear in a single process.
+        if _DAEMON_MARKER in joined:
+            found.append(RunningProcess(pid=pid, role="daemon", cmdline=joined))
+        elif _MONITOR_MARKER in joined:
+            found.append(RunningProcess(pid=pid, role="monitor", cmdline=joined))
+    return found
+
+
+def terminate_processes(
+    processes: list[RunningProcess],
+    *,
+    grace_seconds: float = DEFAULT_GRACE_SECONDS,
+    force_kill: bool = False,
+) -> TerminationReport:
+    """Send SIGINT to each process; optionally escalate to SIGKILL.
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    processes
+        The processes to stop. Pass an empty list for a no-op.
+    grace_seconds
+        Maximum time to wait for processes to exit after SIGINT.
+    force_kill
+        When ``True``, any process still alive after ``grace_seconds``
+        is sent SIGKILL. When ``False``, survivors are reported back
+        to the caller untouched.
+
+    Notes
+    -----
+    SIGTERM is *not* used as an intermediate escalation step. The
+    interfacer's signal handler treats SIGINT and SIGTERM identically
+    (both call :meth:`Interfacer.stop`), so SIGTERM accomplishes
+    nothing that SIGINT did not already attempt. The only escalation
+    that actually forces a stuck daemon to exit is SIGKILL, which
+    bypasses the handler entirely.
+    """
+    report = TerminationReport()
+    if not processes:
+        return report
+
+    for rp in processes:
+        with contextlib.suppress(ProcessLookupError, PermissionError):
+            os.kill(rp.pid, signal.SIGINT)
+            logger.info("sent SIGINT to pid %d (%s)", rp.pid, rp.role)
+
+    survivors = _wait_for_exit(processes, grace_seconds)
+    stopped = [p for p in processes if p not in survivors]
+    report.stopped.extend(stopped)
+
+    if not survivors:
+        return report
+
+    if not force_kill:
+        report.survivors.extend(survivors)
+        return report
+
+    for rp in survivors:
+        with contextlib.suppress(ProcessLookupError, PermissionError):
+            os.kill(rp.pid, signal.SIGKILL)
+            logger.warning("escalated to SIGKILL for pid %d (%s)", rp.pid, rp.role)
+
+    # SIGKILL is delivered synchronously enough that a short final
+    # poll is sufficient — any remaining "survivor" at this point is
+    # a permission error or a kernel-side hang, not graceful shutdown.
+    final_survivors = _wait_for_exit(survivors, grace_seconds=2.0)
+    killed = [p for p in survivors if p not in final_survivors]
+    report.force_killed.extend(killed)
+    report.survivors.extend(final_survivors)
+    return report
+
+
+def _wait_for_exit(
+    processes: list[RunningProcess],
+    grace_seconds: float,
+) -> list[RunningProcess]:
+    """Poll until every process exits or the deadline passes."""
+    deadline = time.monotonic() + grace_seconds
+    while time.monotonic() < deadline:
+        survivors = [p for p in processes if _is_alive(p.pid)]
+        if not survivors:
+            return []
+        time.sleep(_POLL_INTERVAL_SECONDS)
+    return [p for p in processes if _is_alive(p.pid)]
+
+
+def _is_alive(pid: int) -> bool:
+    """Return ``True`` if ``pid`` is still running and not a zombie."""
+    try:
+        proc = psutil.Process(pid)
+    except psutil.NoSuchProcess:
+        return False
+    try:
+        return proc.status() != psutil.STATUS_ZOMBIE
+    except psutil.NoSuchProcess:
+        return False
+
+
+def wipe_state(
+    settings: Settings,
+    *,
+    keep_failed: bool = False,
+    dry_run: bool = False,
+) -> WipeReport:
+    """Remove data-directory paths produced by the daemon and monitor.
+
+    Removes the *contents* of ``in/``, ``out/``, and (unless
+    ``keep_failed`` is set) ``failed/``, plus the daemon lock file and
+    any leftover ``.ingest_<uuid>/`` staging directories. The
+    container directories themselves are preserved so the daemon does
+    not need to recreate them on next startup.
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    settings
+        Resolved :class:`~neuropose.config.Settings`. Determines all
+        target paths via the ``input_dir`` / ``output_dir`` /
+        ``failed_dir`` properties.
+    keep_failed
+        Preserve ``$data_dir/failed/`` for forensic review of past
+        crashes. Default removes it along with the rest of the
+        pipeline state.
+    dry_run
+        Compute the report without actually deleting anything. Useful
+        for previewing the blast radius before confirming a reset.
+    """
+    report = WipeReport()
+
+    targets: list[Path] = []
+    if settings.input_dir.exists():
+        targets.extend(settings.input_dir.iterdir())
+    if settings.output_dir.exists():
+        targets.extend(settings.output_dir.iterdir())
+    if not keep_failed and settings.failed_dir.exists():
+        targets.extend(settings.failed_dir.iterdir())
+
+    lock_path = settings.data_dir / LOCK_FILENAME
+    if lock_path.exists():
+        targets.append(lock_path)
+
+    if settings.data_dir.exists():
+        targets.extend(settings.data_dir.glob(".ingest_*"))
+
+    for target in targets:
+        size = _path_size(target)
+        if not dry_run:
+            _remove(target)
+        report.removed_paths.append(target)
+        report.bytes_freed += size
+
+    return report
+
+
+def _path_size(path: Path) -> int:
+    """Return the cumulative size of ``path``, recursing into directories."""
+    if path.is_symlink() or path.is_file():
+        try:
+            return path.stat().st_size
+        except OSError:
+            return 0
+    total = 0
+    for sub in path.rglob("*"):
+        try:
+            if sub.is_file() and not sub.is_symlink():
+                total += sub.stat().st_size
+        except OSError:
+            continue
+    return total
+
+
+def _remove(path: Path) -> None:
+    """Remove ``path`` whether file, symlink, or directory."""
+    if path.is_dir() and not path.is_symlink():
+        shutil.rmtree(path)
+    else:
+        path.unlink()
+
+
+def reset_pipeline(
+    settings: Settings,
+    *,
+    grace_seconds: float = DEFAULT_GRACE_SECONDS,
+    force_kill: bool = False,
+    keep_failed: bool = False,
+    dry_run: bool = False,
+) -> ResetReport:
+    """Stop daemon + monitor, then wipe pipeline state.
+
+    Composes :func:`find_neuropose_processes`,
+    :func:`terminate_processes`, and :func:`wipe_state` into a single
+    operation. The wipe phase is *skipped* if any process survives
+    termination — wiping ``$data_dir`` out from under an active
+    daemon would corrupt its in-flight writes. The returned
+    :class:`ResetReport` flags this case via
+    ``wipe_skipped_due_to_survivors``.
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    settings
+        Resolved :class:`~neuropose.config.Settings`.
+    grace_seconds
+        Maximum time to wait for SIGINT to take effect.
+    force_kill
+        Escalate to SIGKILL on any process still alive after
+        ``grace_seconds``. Necessary when the daemon is mid-inference
+        on a long video and you do not want to wait for the current
+        video to finish.
+    keep_failed
+        Preserve ``$data_dir/failed/`` during the wipe.
+    dry_run
+        Discover and report without killing anything or removing any
+        paths. Termination phase is skipped entirely.
+    """
+    discovered = find_neuropose_processes()
+
+    if dry_run:
+        wipe = wipe_state(settings, keep_failed=keep_failed, dry_run=True)
+        return ResetReport(
+            discovered=discovered,
+            termination=TerminationReport(),
+            wipe=wipe,
+            dry_run=True,
+        )
+
+    termination = terminate_processes(
+        discovered,
+        grace_seconds=grace_seconds,
+        force_kill=force_kill,
+    )
+
+    if termination.survivors:
+        return ResetReport(
+            discovered=discovered,
+            termination=termination,
+            wipe=WipeReport(),
+            dry_run=False,
+            wipe_skipped_due_to_survivors=True,
+        )
+
+    wipe = wipe_state(settings, keep_failed=keep_failed, dry_run=False)
+    return ResetReport(
+        discovered=discovered,
+        termination=termination,
+        wipe=wipe,
+        dry_run=False,
+    )
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_reset.py b/tests/unit/test_reset.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d2b35ed
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit/test_reset.py
@@ -0,0 +1,453 @@
+"""Tests for :mod:`neuropose.reset` and the ``neuropose reset`` CLI command.
+
+Coverage:
+
+- :func:`find_neuropose_processes` filters by cmdline marker, classifies
+  daemon vs monitor, and excludes the calling process.
+- :func:`terminate_processes` sends SIGINT, escalates to SIGKILL when
+  asked, and reports survivors.
+- :func:`wipe_state` removes contents of in/, out/, failed/, the lock
+  file, and ``.ingest_*`` staging dirs; honors ``keep_failed`` and
+  ``dry_run``.
+- :func:`reset_pipeline` skips the wipe phase when termination leaves
+  survivors.
+- The ``neuropose reset`` CLI command renders previews, honors
+  ``--dry-run`` and ``--yes``, and exits non-zero on survivors.
+
+The process-killing tests use monkeypatched ``psutil.process_iter``
+and ``os.kill`` so the suite never touches the real process table or
+sends real signals.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import signal
+from pathlib import Path
+from typing import Any
+
+import pytest
+from typer.testing import CliRunner
+
+from neuropose.cli import EXIT_OK, EXIT_USAGE, app
+from neuropose.config import Settings
+from neuropose.interfacer import LOCK_FILENAME
+from neuropose.reset import (
+    DEFAULT_GRACE_SECONDS,
+    RunningProcess,
+    TerminationReport,
+    WipeReport,
+    find_neuropose_processes,
+    reset_pipeline,
+    terminate_processes,
+    wipe_state,
+)
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Helpers
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+class _FakeProc:
+    """Minimal stand-in for ``psutil.Process`` for the discovery tests."""
+
+    def __init__(self, pid: int, cmdline: list[str]) -> None:
+        self.info = {"pid": pid, "cmdline": cmdline}
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def settings(tmp_path: Path) -> Settings:
+    """A Settings pointing at an isolated temp data dir, with subdirs created."""
+    s = Settings(data_dir=tmp_path / "jobs", model_cache_dir=tmp_path / "models")
+    s.ensure_dirs()
+    return s
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# find_neuropose_processes
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+class TestFindNeuroposeProcesses:
+    def test_classifies_watch_as_daemon(self, monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch) -> None:
+        procs = [_FakeProc(1234, ["python", "-m", "neuropose", "watch"])]
+        monkeypatch.setattr("psutil.process_iter", lambda attrs: iter(procs))
+        found = find_neuropose_processes()
+        assert len(found) == 1
+        assert found[0].pid == 1234
+        assert found[0].role == "daemon"
+
+    def test_classifies_serve_as_monitor(self, monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch) -> None:
+        procs = [_FakeProc(5678, ["uv", "run", "neuropose", "serve", "--port", "8765"])]
+        monkeypatch.setattr("psutil.process_iter", lambda attrs: iter(procs))
+        found = find_neuropose_processes()
+        assert len(found) == 1
+        assert found[0].role == "monitor"
+
+    def test_ignores_unrelated_processes(self, monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch) -> None:
+        procs = [
+            _FakeProc(1, ["bash"]),
+            _FakeProc(2, ["python", "-m", "pip", "install", "neuropose"]),
+            _FakeProc(3, ["neuropose", "--help"]),
+        ]
+        monkeypatch.setattr("psutil.process_iter", lambda attrs: iter(procs))
+        assert find_neuropose_processes() == []
+
+    def test_excludes_self(self, monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch) -> None:
+        import os
+
+        self_pid = os.getpid()
+        procs = [
+            _FakeProc(self_pid, ["python", "-m", "neuropose", "watch"]),
+            _FakeProc(9999, ["python", "-m", "neuropose", "watch"]),
+        ]
+        monkeypatch.setattr("psutil.process_iter", lambda attrs: iter(procs))
+        found = find_neuropose_processes()
+        assert [rp.pid for rp in found] == [9999]
+
+    def test_includes_self_when_disabled(self, monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch) -> None:
+        import os
+
+        self_pid = os.getpid()
+        procs = [_FakeProc(self_pid, ["python", "-m", "neuropose", "watch"])]
+        monkeypatch.setattr("psutil.process_iter", lambda attrs: iter(procs))
+        found = find_neuropose_processes(exclude_self=False)
+        assert [rp.pid for rp in found] == [self_pid]
+
+    def test_handles_dead_processes(self, monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch) -> None:
+        """A NoSuchProcess raised mid-iteration must not crash the scan."""
+        import psutil
+
+        class _RaisingProc:
+            @property
+            def info(self) -> dict[str, Any]:
+                raise psutil.NoSuchProcess(pid=1)
+
+        procs = [
+            _RaisingProc(),
+            _FakeProc(2, ["python", "-m", "neuropose", "watch"]),
+        ]
+        monkeypatch.setattr("psutil.process_iter", lambda attrs: iter(procs))
+        found = find_neuropose_processes()
+        assert [rp.pid for rp in found] == [2]
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# terminate_processes
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+class TestTerminateProcesses:
+    def test_empty_list_is_noop(self) -> None:
+        report = terminate_processes([])
+        assert report.stopped == []
+        assert report.survivors == []
+        assert report.force_killed == []
+
+    def test_sigint_to_each_process(self, monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch) -> None:
+        sent: list[tuple[int, int]] = []
+        monkeypatch.setattr("os.kill", lambda pid, sig: sent.append((pid, sig)))
+        # Mark all processes immediately dead so the wait loop exits fast.
+        monkeypatch.setattr("neuropose.reset._is_alive", lambda pid: False)
+
+        rps = [
+            RunningProcess(pid=10, role="daemon", cmdline="x"),
+            RunningProcess(pid=20, role="monitor", cmdline="y"),
+        ]
+        report = terminate_processes(rps, grace_seconds=0.0)
+        assert sent == [(10, signal.SIGINT), (20, signal.SIGINT)]
+        assert {p.pid for p in report.stopped} == {10, 20}
+        assert report.survivors == []
+
+    def test_survivors_reported_when_force_kill_off(
+        self, monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch
+    ) -> None:
+        monkeypatch.setattr("os.kill", lambda pid, sig: None)
+        # Process 10 always alive; process 20 dies after SIGINT.
+        alive = {10}
+        monkeypatch.setattr("neuropose.reset._is_alive", lambda pid: pid in alive)
+
+        rps = [
+            RunningProcess(pid=10, role="daemon", cmdline="x"),
+            RunningProcess(pid=20, role="monitor", cmdline="y"),
+        ]
+        # Drop pid 20 so it appears dead immediately.
+        alive.discard(20)
+        report = terminate_processes(rps, grace_seconds=0.0, force_kill=False)
+        assert {p.pid for p in report.stopped} == {20}
+        assert {p.pid for p in report.survivors} == {10}
+        assert report.force_killed == []
+
+    def test_force_kill_escalates_to_sigkill(self, monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch) -> None:
+        sent: list[tuple[int, int]] = []
+        monkeypatch.setattr("os.kill", lambda pid, sig: sent.append((pid, sig)))
+
+        # Start alive; SIGKILL "kills" by toggling the flag from inside _is_alive.
+        alive = {10}
+
+        def fake_is_alive(pid: int) -> bool:
+            if (pid, signal.SIGKILL) in sent:
+                return False
+            return pid in alive
+
+        monkeypatch.setattr("neuropose.reset._is_alive", fake_is_alive)
+
+        rp = RunningProcess(pid=10, role="daemon", cmdline="x")
+        report = terminate_processes([rp], grace_seconds=0.0, force_kill=True)
+        assert (10, signal.SIGINT) in sent
+        assert (10, signal.SIGKILL) in sent
+        assert {p.pid for p in report.force_killed} == {10}
+        assert report.survivors == []
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# wipe_state
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+class TestWipeState:
+    def test_no_op_on_empty_dirs(self, settings: Settings) -> None:
+        report = wipe_state(settings)
+        assert report.removed_paths == []
+        assert report.bytes_freed == 0
+
+    def test_removes_in_out_failed_contents(self, settings: Settings) -> None:
+        (settings.input_dir / "job_a").mkdir()
+        (settings.input_dir / "job_a" / "video.mp4").write_bytes(b"x" * 100)
+        (settings.output_dir / "status.json").write_text("{}")
+        (settings.failed_dir / "job_b").mkdir()
+
+        report = wipe_state(settings)
+        names = {p.name for p in report.removed_paths}
+        assert names == {"job_a", "status.json", "job_b"}
+        # Containers themselves preserved.
+        assert settings.input_dir.exists()
+        assert settings.output_dir.exists()
+        assert settings.failed_dir.exists()
+
+    def test_keep_failed_preserves_failed_contents(self, settings: Settings) -> None:
+        (settings.input_dir / "job_a").mkdir()
+        (settings.failed_dir / "job_b").mkdir()
+        (settings.failed_dir / "job_b" / "evidence.log").write_text("crash")
+
+        report = wipe_state(settings, keep_failed=True)
+        names = {p.name for p in report.removed_paths}
+        assert "job_a" in names
+        assert "job_b" not in names
+        assert (settings.failed_dir / "job_b" / "evidence.log").exists()
+
+    def test_removes_lock_file(self, settings: Settings) -> None:
+        (settings.data_dir / LOCK_FILENAME).write_text("12345\n")
+        report = wipe_state(settings)
+        assert (settings.data_dir / LOCK_FILENAME) in report.removed_paths
+        assert not (settings.data_dir / LOCK_FILENAME).exists()
+
+    def test_removes_ingest_staging_dirs(self, settings: Settings) -> None:
+        staging_a = settings.data_dir / ".ingest_abc123"
+        staging_b = settings.data_dir / ".ingest_def456"
+        staging_a.mkdir()
+        staging_b.mkdir()
+        (staging_a / "leftover.mp4").write_bytes(b"y" * 50)
+
+        report = wipe_state(settings)
+        assert staging_a in report.removed_paths
+        assert staging_b in report.removed_paths
+        assert not staging_a.exists()
+        assert not staging_b.exists()
+
+    def test_dry_run_reports_without_removing(self, settings: Settings) -> None:
+        (settings.input_dir / "job_a").mkdir()
+        (settings.input_dir / "job_a" / "video.mp4").write_bytes(b"z" * 200)
+
+        report = wipe_state(settings, dry_run=True)
+        assert len(report.removed_paths) == 1
+        assert report.bytes_freed == 200
+        # Nothing actually deleted.
+        assert (settings.input_dir / "job_a" / "video.mp4").exists()
+
+    def test_bytes_freed_recurses_into_subdirs(self, settings: Settings) -> None:
+        job = settings.input_dir / "job_a"
+        job.mkdir()
+        (job / "a.mp4").write_bytes(b"a" * 100)
+        (job / "nested").mkdir()
+        (job / "nested" / "b.mp4").write_bytes(b"b" * 250)
+
+        report = wipe_state(settings, dry_run=True)
+        assert report.bytes_freed == 350
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# reset_pipeline
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+class TestResetPipeline:
+    def test_dry_run_skips_termination(
+        self,
+        settings: Settings,
+        monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch,
+    ) -> None:
+        rp = RunningProcess(pid=10, role="daemon", cmdline="x")
+        monkeypatch.setattr("neuropose.reset.find_neuropose_processes", lambda: [rp])
+
+        # Sentinel to detect termination calls.
+        def _should_not_be_called(*args: Any, **kwargs: Any) -> TerminationReport:
+            raise AssertionError("dry_run must not invoke terminate_processes")
+
+        monkeypatch.setattr("neuropose.reset.terminate_processes", _should_not_be_called)
+
+        report = reset_pipeline(settings, dry_run=True)
+        assert report.dry_run is True
+        assert report.discovered == [rp]
+        assert report.termination.stopped == []
+
+    def test_skips_wipe_when_survivors_remain(
+        self,
+        settings: Settings,
+        monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch,
+    ) -> None:
+        rp = RunningProcess(pid=10, role="daemon", cmdline="x")
+        monkeypatch.setattr("neuropose.reset.find_neuropose_processes", lambda: [rp])
+        monkeypatch.setattr(
+            "neuropose.reset.terminate_processes",
+            lambda procs, **_: TerminationReport(survivors=list(procs)),
+        )
+
+        # Seed something to wipe so we can confirm it's untouched.
+        (settings.input_dir / "job_a").mkdir()
+
+        report = reset_pipeline(settings, dry_run=False)
+        assert report.wipe_skipped_due_to_survivors is True
+        assert report.wipe.removed_paths == []
+        assert (settings.input_dir / "job_a").exists()
+
+    def test_wipes_when_all_processes_stopped(
+        self,
+        settings: Settings,
+        monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch,
+    ) -> None:
+        rp = RunningProcess(pid=10, role="daemon", cmdline="x")
+        monkeypatch.setattr("neuropose.reset.find_neuropose_processes", lambda: [rp])
+        monkeypatch.setattr(
+            "neuropose.reset.terminate_processes",
+            lambda procs, **_: TerminationReport(stopped=list(procs)),
+        )
+
+        (settings.input_dir / "job_a").mkdir()
+
+        report = reset_pipeline(settings, dry_run=False)
+        assert report.wipe_skipped_due_to_survivors is False
+        assert any(p.name == "job_a" for p in report.wipe.removed_paths)
+        assert not (settings.input_dir / "job_a").exists()
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# CLI: neuropose reset
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def runner() -> CliRunner:
+    return CliRunner()
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def env_data_dir(monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch, tmp_path: Path) -> Path:
+    """Point NEUROPOSE_DATA_DIR at an isolated temp dir for CLI tests."""
+    data_dir = tmp_path / "jobs"
+    data_dir.mkdir()
+    (data_dir / "in").mkdir()
+    (data_dir / "out").mkdir()
+    (data_dir / "failed").mkdir()
+    monkeypatch.setenv("NEUROPOSE_DATA_DIR", str(data_dir))
+    return data_dir
+
+
+class TestResetCli:
+    def test_reset_dry_run_does_not_modify(
+        self,
+        runner: CliRunner,
+        env_data_dir: Path,
+        monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch,
+    ) -> None:
+        (env_data_dir / "in" / "job_a").mkdir()
+        monkeypatch.setattr("neuropose.reset.find_neuropose_processes", list)
+
+        result = runner.invoke(app, ["reset", "--dry-run"])
+        assert result.exit_code == EXIT_OK, result.output
+        assert "would remove" in result.output
+        assert "(dry-run; no changes made)" in result.output
+        assert (env_data_dir / "in" / "job_a").exists()
+
+    def test_reset_yes_skips_confirmation_and_wipes(
+        self,
+        runner: CliRunner,
+        env_data_dir: Path,
+        monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch,
+    ) -> None:
+        (env_data_dir / "in" / "job_a").mkdir()
+        (env_data_dir / "in" / "job_a" / "video.mp4").write_bytes(b"x" * 100)
+        monkeypatch.setattr("neuropose.reset.find_neuropose_processes", list)
+
+        result = runner.invoke(app, ["reset", "--yes"])
+        assert result.exit_code == EXIT_OK, result.output
+        assert "removed" in result.output
+        assert not (env_data_dir / "in" / "job_a").exists()
+
+    def test_reset_aborts_on_no_confirmation(
+        self,
+        runner: CliRunner,
+        env_data_dir: Path,
+        monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch,
+    ) -> None:
+        (env_data_dir / "in" / "job_a").mkdir()
+        monkeypatch.setattr("neuropose.reset.find_neuropose_processes", list)
+
+        # typer.confirm reads from stdin; "n\n" declines.
+        result = runner.invoke(app, ["reset"], input="n\n")
+        assert result.exit_code == EXIT_USAGE, result.output
+        assert "aborted" in result.output
+        assert (env_data_dir / "in" / "job_a").exists()
+
+    def test_reset_clean_state_is_noop(
+        self,
+        runner: CliRunner,
+        env_data_dir: Path,
+        monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch,
+    ) -> None:
+        del env_data_dir
+        monkeypatch.setattr("neuropose.reset.find_neuropose_processes", list)
+
+        result = runner.invoke(app, ["reset"])
+        assert result.exit_code == EXIT_OK, result.output
+        assert "nothing to do" in result.output
+
+    def test_reset_reports_survivors_with_nonzero_exit(
+        self,
+        runner: CliRunner,
+        env_data_dir: Path,
+        monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch,
+    ) -> None:
+        del env_data_dir
+        rp = RunningProcess(pid=42, role="daemon", cmdline="neuropose watch")
+        monkeypatch.setattr("neuropose.reset.find_neuropose_processes", lambda: [rp])
+        monkeypatch.setattr(
+            "neuropose.reset.terminate_processes",
+            lambda procs, **_: TerminationReport(survivors=list(procs)),
+        )
+
+        result = runner.invoke(app, ["reset", "--yes"])
+        assert result.exit_code == EXIT_USAGE, result.output
+        assert "did not exit" in result.output
+        assert "pid 42" in result.output
+        assert "--force-kill" in result.output
+
+
+def test_default_grace_seconds_constant_is_reasonable() -> None:
+    """Lock the default grace period so a refactor cannot silently lower it."""
+    assert 5.0 <= DEFAULT_GRACE_SECONDS <= 60.0
+
+
+def test_wipe_report_default_construction() -> None:
+    r = WipeReport()
+    assert r.removed_paths == []
+    assert r.bytes_freed == 0