sentinel

Detect Mesen2 crashes and softlocks and trigger crash-dump investigations.

Updated Dec 30, 2025
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/scawful/afs_scawful --skill sentinel-scawful
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent▼
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: sentinel
Source: https://github.com/scawful/afs_scawful/tree/main/skills/sentinel
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/scawful/afs_scawful --skill sentinel-scawful

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve?

Background watchdog that automatically detects emulator crashes and softlocks in Mesen2 and triggers a crash-dump investigation to preserve state for debugging.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Continuous monitoring alongside games and automated tests to catch pauses and input stagnation.
  • Detection logic for crashes (emulator paused), softlocks (stuck in transition or input stagnation), and triggering crash_dump processes.
  • Use Case: during long pathfinding or game-testing sessions, ensure crash data is captured without manual intervention.

Quick Start

Launch sentinel to begin monitoring Mesen2 for crashes and softlocks and automatically invoke crash-investigator on detection.

Frequently Asked Questions about sentinel

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I detect emulator crashes and softlocks automatically in Mesen2?▼

You can detect Mesen2 crashes and softlocks automatically by running a background watchdog that monitors for emulator paused states, input stagnation, and stuck transitions during gameplay or testing sessions.

What is a softlock and how does watchdog monitoring catch it during game testing?▼

A softlock occurs when a game gets stuck in a transition or experiences input stagnation. Watchdog monitoring catches it by actively tracking game and submode conditions to identify when normal progress halts unexpectedly.

Can I capture crash dumps in Mesen2 without manual intervention during long play sessions?▼

Yes, continuous monitoring alongside long pathfinding or game-testing sessions captures crash data without manual intervention by automatically triggering crash-dump investigations when a crash or softlock is detected.

How do I trigger a crash-dump investigation when an emulator pauses or freezes?▼

Triggering a crash-dump investigation when an emulator pauses involves using detection logic that identifies the paused state and automatically invokes an integrated crash-investigator process to generate and store reports.

Does background crash detection work with automated tests in Mesen2?▼

Yes, background crash detection applies during automated tests in Mesen2, continuously monitoring for input stagnation and emulator pauses to ensure any crash data is captured throughout the automated testing process.