diff --git a/scripts/nightly-pipeline-scheduler.sh b/scripts/nightly-pipeline-scheduler.sh
new file mode 100644
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+++ b/scripts/nightly-pipeline-scheduler.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,383 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+# nightly-pipeline-scheduler.sh — Auto-start batch pipelines when inference is available.
+#
+# Checks provider health, pipeline progress, token budget, and interactive load.
+# Starts the highest-priority incomplete pipeline that can run.
+#
+# Usage:
+#   ./scripts/nightly-pipeline-scheduler.sh          # Normal run
+#   ./scripts/nightly-pipeline-scheduler.sh --dry-run # Show what would start
+#   ./scripts/nightly-pipeline-scheduler.sh --status  # Pipeline status report
+
+set -euo pipefail
+
+# --- Configuration ---
+HERMES_HOME="${HERMES_HOME:-$HOME/.hermes}"
+BUDGET_FILE="${HERMES_HOME}/pipeline_budget.json"
+STATE_FILE="${HERMES_HOME}/pipeline_state.json"
+LOG_FILE="${HERMES_HOME}/logs/pipeline-scheduler.log"
+TOKEN_DAILY_LIMIT="${PIPELINE_TOKEN_LIMIT:-500000}"
+PEAK_HOURS_START="${PIPELINE_PEAK_START:-9}"
+PEAK_HOURS_END="${PIPELINE_PEAK_END:-18}"
+
+# Pipeline definitions (priority order)
+# Each pipeline: name, script, max_tokens, dependencies
+PIPELINES=(
+    "playground-factory|scripts/pipeline_playground_factory.sh|100000|none"
+    "training-factory|scripts/pipeline_training_factory.sh|150000|none"
+    "knowledge-mine|scripts/pipeline_knowledge_mine.sh|80000|training-factory"
+    "adversary|scripts/pipeline_adversary.sh|50000|knowledge-mine"
+    "codebase-genome|scripts/pipeline_codebase_genome.sh|120000|none"
+)
+
+# --- Colors ---
+RED='\033[0;31m'
+GREEN='\033[0;32m'
+YELLOW='\033[0;33m'
+CYAN='\033[0;36m'
+NC='\033[0m'
+
+# --- Helpers ---
+now_hour() { date +%-H; }
+is_peak_hours() {
+    local h=$(now_hour)
+    [[ $h -ge $PEAK_HOURS_START && $h -lt $PEAK_HOURS_END ]]
+}
+
+ensure_dirs() {
+    mkdir -p "$(dirname "$LOG_FILE")" "$(dirname "$BUDGET_FILE")" "$(dirname "$STATE_FILE")"
+}
+
+log() { echo "[$(date '+%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S')] $*" | tee -a "$LOG_FILE"; }
+
+get_budget_used_today() {
+    if [[ -f "$BUDGET_FILE" ]]; then
+        local today=$(date +%Y-%m-%d)
+        python3 -c "
+import json, sys
+with open('$BUDGET_FILE') as f:
+    d = json.load(f)
+print(d.get('daily', {}).get('$today', {}).get('tokens_used', 0))
+" 2>/dev/null || echo 0
+    else
+        echo 0
+    fi
+}
+
+get_budget_remaining() {
+    local used=$(get_budget_used_today)
+    echo $((TOKEN_DAILY_LIMIT - used))
+}
+
+update_budget() {
+    local pipeline="$1"
+    local tokens="$2"
+    local today=$(date +%Y-%m-%d)
+    python3 -c "
+import json, os
+path = '$BUDGET_FILE'
+d = {}
+if os.path.exists(path):
+    with open(path) as f:
+        d = json.load(f)
+daily = d.setdefault('daily', {})
+day = daily.setdefault('$today', {'tokens_used': 0, 'pipelines': {}})
+day['tokens_used'] = day.get('tokens_used', 0) + $tokens
+day['pipelines']['$pipeline'] = day['pipelines'].get('$pipeline', 0) + $tokens
+with open(path, 'w') as f:
+    json.dump(d, f, indent=2)
+"
+}
+
+get_pipeline_state() {
+    if [[ -f "$STATE_FILE" ]]; then
+        cat "$STATE_FILE"
+    else
+        echo "{}"
+    fi
+}
+
+set_pipeline_state() {
+    local pipeline="$1"
+    local state="$2"  # running, complete, failed, skipped
+    python3 -c "
+import json, os
+path = '$STATE_FILE'
+d = {}
+if os.path.exists(path):
+    with open(path) as f:
+        d = json.load(f)
+d['$pipeline'] = {'state': '$state', 'updated': '$(date -Iseconds)'}
+with open(path, 'w') as f:
+    json.dump(d, f, indent=2)
+"
+}
+
+is_pipeline_complete() {
+    local pipeline="$1"
+    python3 -c "
+import json, os
+path = '$STATE_FILE'
+if not os.path.exists(path):
+    print('false')
+else:
+    with open(path) as f:
+        d = json.load(f)
+    state = d.get('$pipeline', {}).get('state', 'not_started')
+    print('true' if state == 'complete' else 'false')
+" 2>/dev/null || echo false
+}
+
+is_pipeline_running() {
+    local pipeline="$1"
+    python3 -c "
+import json, os
+path = '$STATE_FILE'
+if not os.path.exists(path):
+    print('false')
+else:
+    with open(path) as f:
+        d = json.load(f)
+    state = d.get('$pipeline', {}).get('state', 'not_started')
+    print('true' if state == 'running' else 'false')
+" 2>/dev/null || echo false
+}
+
+check_dependency() {
+    local dep="$1"
+    if [[ "$dep" == "none" ]]; then
+        return 0
+    fi
+    # For knowledge-mine: training-factory must be running or complete
+    if [[ "$dep" == "training-factory" ]]; then
+        local state=$(python3 -c "
+import json, os
+path = '$STATE_FILE'
+if not os.path.exists(path):
+    print('not_started')
+else:
+    with open(path) as f:
+        d = json.load(f)
+    print(d.get('training-factory', {}).get('state', 'not_started'))
+" 2>/dev/null || echo "not_started")
+        [[ "$state" == "running" || "$state" == "complete" ]]
+        return $?
+    fi
+    # For adversary: knowledge-mine must be at least 50% done
+    # Simplified: check if it's running (we'd need progress tracking for 50%)
+    if [[ "$dep" == "knowledge-mine" ]]; then
+        local state=$(python3 -c "
+import json, os
+path = '$STATE_FILE'
+if not os.path.exists(path):
+    print('not_started')
+else:
+    with open(path) as f:
+        d = json.load(f)
+    print(d.get('knowledge-mine', {}).get('state', 'not_started'))
+" 2>/dev/null || echo "not_started")
+        [[ "$state" == "running" || "$state" == "complete" ]]
+        return $?
+    fi
+    return 0
+}
+
+check_inference_available() {
+    # Check if any inference provider is responding
+    # 1. Check OpenRouter
+    local or_ok=$(curl -s -o /dev/null -w "%{http_code}" \
+        --connect-timeout 5 "https://openrouter.ai/api/v1/models" 2>/dev/null || echo "000")
+
+    # 2. Check local Ollama
+    local ollama_ok=$(curl -s -o /dev/null -w "%{http_code}" \
+        --connect-timeout 5 "http://localhost:11434/api/tags" 2>/dev/null || echo "000")
+
+    # 3. Check RunPod (if configured)
+    local runpod_ok="000"
+    if [[ -n "${RUNPOD_ENDPOINT:-}" ]]; then
+        runpod_ok=$(curl -s -o /dev/null -w "%{http_code}" \
+            --connect-timeout 5 "$RUNPOD_ENDPOINT/health" 2>/dev/null || echo "000")
+    fi
+
+    if [[ "$or_ok" == "200" || "$ollama_ok" == "200" || "$runpod_ok" == "200" ]]; then
+        return 0
+    fi
+    return 1
+}
+
+check_interactive_load() {
+    # Check if there are active interactive sessions (don't fight with live users)
+    # Look for tmux panes with active hermes sessions
+    local active=$(tmux list-panes -a -F '#{pane_pid} #{pane_current_command}' 2>/dev/null \
+        | grep -c "hermes\|python3" || echo 0)
+
+    # If more than 3 interactive sessions, skip pipeline start
+    if [[ $active -gt 3 ]]; then
+        return 1
+    fi
+    return 0
+}
+
+start_pipeline() {
+    local name="$1"
+    local script="$2"
+    local max_tokens="$3"
+    local budget_remaining="$4"
+    local mode="${5:-run}"
+
+    if [[ "$budget_remaining" -lt "$max_tokens" ]]; then
+        log "SKIP $name: insufficient budget ($budget_remaining < $max_tokens tokens)"
+        return 1
+    fi
+
+    if [[ ! -f "$script" ]]; then
+        log "SKIP $name: script not found ($script)"
+        return 1
+    fi
+
+    if [[ "$mode" == "dry-run" ]]; then
+        log "DRY-RUN: Would start $name (budget: $budget_remaining, needs: $max_tokens)"
+        return 0
+    fi
+
+    log "START $name (budget: $budget_remaining, max_tokens: $max_tokens)"
+    set_pipeline_state "$name" "running"
+
+    # Run in background, capture output
+    local log_path="${HERMES_HOME}/logs/pipeline-${name}.log"
+    bash "$script" --max-tokens "$max_tokens" >> "$log_path" 2>&1 &
+    local pid=$!
+
+    # Wait a moment to check if it started OK
+    sleep 2
+    if kill -0 $pid 2>/dev/null; then
+        log "RUNNING $name (PID: $pid, log: $log_path)"
+        # Record the PID
+        python3 -c "
+import json, os
+path = '$STATE_FILE'
+d = {}
+if os.path.exists(path):
+    with open(path) as f:
+        d = json.load(f)
+d['$name']['pid'] = $pid
+with open(path, 'w') as f:
+    json.dump(d, f, indent=2)
+"
+        return 0
+    else
+        log "FAIL $name: script exited immediately"
+        set_pipeline_state "$name" "failed"
+        return 1
+    fi
+}
+
+# --- Main ---
+main() {
+    local mode="${1:-run}"
+    ensure_dirs
+
+    log "=== Pipeline Scheduler ($mode) ==="
+
+    # Check 1: Is inference available?
+    if ! check_inference_available; then
+        log "No inference provider available. Skipping all pipelines."
+        exit 0
+    fi
+    log "Inference: AVAILABLE"
+
+    # Check 2: Is it peak hours?
+    if is_peak_hours && [[ "$mode" != "--force" ]]; then
+        local h=$(now_hour)
+        log "Peak hours ($h:00). Skipping pipeline start. Use --force to override."
+        exit 0
+    fi
+    log "Off-peak: OK"
+
+    # Check 3: Interactive load
+    if ! check_interactive_load && [[ "$mode" != "--force" ]]; then
+        log "High interactive load. Skipping pipeline start."
+        exit 0
+    fi
+    log "Interactive load: OK"
+
+    # Check 4: Token budget
+    local budget=$(get_budget_remaining)
+    log "Token budget remaining: $budget / $TOKEN_DAILY_LIMIT"
+
+    if [[ $budget -le 0 ]]; then
+        log "Daily token budget exhausted. Stopping."
+        exit 0
+    fi
+
+    # Check 5: Pipeline status
+    if [[ "$mode" == "--status" ]]; then
+        echo -e "${CYAN}Pipeline Status:${NC}"
+        echo "────────────────────────────────────────────────────"
+        for entry in "${PIPELINES[@]}"; do
+            IFS='|' read -r name script max_tokens dep <<< "$entry"
+            local state=$(python3 -c "
+import json, os
+path = '$STATE_FILE'
+if not os.path.exists(path):
+    print('not_started')
+else:
+    with open(path) as f:
+        d = json.load(f)
+    print(d.get('$name', {}).get('state', 'not_started'))
+" 2>/dev/null || echo "not_started")
+
+            local color=$NC
+            case "$state" in
+                running)  color=$YELLOW ;;
+                complete) color=$GREEN ;;
+                failed)   color=$RED ;;
+            esac
+            printf "  %-25s %b%s%b (max: %s tokens, dep: %s)\n" "$name" "$color" "$state" "$NC" "$max_tokens" "$dep"
+        done
+        echo "────────────────────────────────────────────────────"
+        echo "  Budget: $budget / $TOKEN_DAILY_LIMIT tokens remaining"
+        echo "  Peak hours: $PEAK_HOURS_START:00 - $PEAK_HOURS_END:00"
+        exit 0
+    fi
+
+    # Find and start the highest-priority incomplete pipeline
+    local started=0
+    for entry in "${PIPELINES[@]}"; do
+        IFS='|' read -r name script max_tokens dep <<< "$entry"
+
+        # Skip if already running or complete
+        if [[ "$(is_pipeline_running $name)" == "true" ]]; then
+            log "SKIP $name: already running"
+            continue
+        fi
+        if [[ "$(is_pipeline_complete $name)" == "true" ]]; then
+            log "SKIP $name: already complete"
+            continue
+        fi
+
+        # Check dependency
+        if ! check_dependency "$dep"; then
+            log "SKIP $name: dependency $dep not met"
+            continue
+        fi
+
+        # Try to start
+        if start_pipeline "$name" "$script" "$max_tokens" "$budget" "$mode"; then
+            started=1
+            # Only start one pipeline per run (let it claim tokens before next check)
+            # Exception: playground-factory and training-factory can run in parallel
+            if [[ "$name" != "playground-factory" && "$name" != "training-factory" ]]; then
+                break
+            fi
+        fi
+    done
+
+    if [[ $started -eq 0 ]]; then
+        log "No pipelines to start (all complete, running, or blocked)."
+    fi
+
+    log "=== Pipeline Scheduler done ==="
+}
+
+main "$@"