settings-validator now validates the autoMode block (auto-mode classifier
config). Structure (medium): autoMode must be an object whose only keys are
environment/allow/soft_deny/hard_deny, each a string array ("$defaults" is a
valid entry); flags not-an-object, unknown-subkey, not-string-array. Dead-config
(low): Claude Code does not read autoMode from shared project settings
(.claude/settings.json), so an autoMode block committed there has no effect —
keyed on file.scope === 'project'.
Both premises primary-source-verified (code.claude.com/docs/en/auto-mode-config).
The plan's "test per-file scope first" gate passed: ConfigFile already carries
scope. SET is in the orchestrator; SC-5 re-checked, byte-equal (snapshot fixture
has no autoMode). Fixtures force-added (.claude/ is gitignored).
Tests +5 (944->949). Scanner count unchanged (13). --json/--raw byte-stable.
Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.8 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>
Claude-Session: https://claude.ai/code/session_01Ter3E2JSi1Khgmuf2kady8