fix: improve worker startup on fresh install

This fixes the issue where the worker service wouldn't start automatically
after installing the plugin, leaving users with confusing error messages.

Changes:
- Update worker-utils.ts to use local PM2 from node_modules instead of
  requiring it in PATH
- Improve error messages to suggest npx pm2 commands
- Add auto-start attempt in smart-install.js after fresh installation
- Fall back gracefully if worker can't start (will auto-start on first use)

Fixes issue where users with PM2 not in their PATH couldn't start the worker.

scripts/smart-install.js

@@ -260,10 +260,27 @@ async function main() {
         log('', colors.reset);
         process.exit(1);
       }
-    }
 
-    // Worker will be started lazily when needed (e.g., when save-hook sends data)
+      // Try to start the PM2 worker after fresh install
-    // Context hook only needs database access, not the worker service
+      try {
+        log('🚀 Starting worker service...', colors.cyan);
+        const localPm2 = join(NODE_MODULES_PATH, '.bin', 'pm2');
+        const pm2Command = existsSync(localPm2) ? localPm2 : 'pm2';
+        const ecosystemPath = join(PLUGIN_ROOT, 'ecosystem.config.cjs');
+
+        execSync(`"${pm2Command}" start "${ecosystemPath}"`, {
+          cwd: PLUGIN_ROOT,
+          stdio: 'pipe',
+          encoding: 'utf-8'
+        });
+
+        log('✅ Worker service started', colors.green);
+      } catch (error) {
+        // Worker might already be running or PM2 not available - that's okay
+        // The ensureWorkerRunning() function will handle auto-start when needed
+        log('ℹ️  Worker will start automatically when needed', colors.dim);
+      }
+    }
 
     // Success - dependencies installed (if needed)
     process.exit(0);

src/shared/worker-utils.ts

@@ -55,9 +55,13 @@ async function startWorker(): Promise<boolean> {
       throw new Error(`Ecosystem config not found at ${ecosystemPath}`);
     }
 
+    // Try to use local PM2 from node_modules first, fall back to global PM2
+    const localPm2 = path.join(pluginRoot, 'node_modules', '.bin', 'pm2');
+    const pm2Command = existsSync(localPm2) ? localPm2 : 'pm2';
+
     // Start using PM2 with the ecosystem config
     // CRITICAL: Must set cwd to pluginRoot so PM2 starts from marketplace directory
-    execSync(`pm2 start "${ecosystemPath}"`, {
+    execSync(`"${pm2Command}" start "${ecosystemPath}"`, {
       cwd: pluginRoot,
       stdio: 'pipe',
       encoding: 'utf-8'
@@ -93,10 +97,13 @@ export async function ensureWorkerRunning(): Promise<void> {
 
   if (!started) {
     const port = getWorkerPort();
+    const pluginRoot = getPackageRoot();
     throw new Error(
       `Worker service failed to start on port ${port}.\n\n` +
-      `Try manually running: pm2 start ecosystem.config.cjs\n` +
+      `To start manually, run:\n` +
-      `Or restart: pm2 restart claude-mem-worker`
+      `  cd ${pluginRoot}\n` +
+      `  npx pm2 start ecosystem.config.cjs\n\n` +
+      `If already running, try: npx pm2 restart claude-mem-worker`
     );
   }
 }