Merge pull request 'The image build context is the module's own directory, so a Dockerfile in a subdirectory builds (issue 1703)' (#512) from fix/1703-image-context into main

Main's #508 (the binary refusal) pinned mesh-sdk fe11db9; 805b4d9 is the capacity work merged with
sdk main, so it holds both.

.gitignore

@@ -35,8 +35,6 @@ modules/mesh-build-image/cmd/mesh-build-image/mesh-build-image
 /checks/paths/paths
 /modules/mesh-build-go/mesh-build-go
 /modules/mesh-delivery-gate/mesh-delivery-gate
-modules/mesh-config/cmd/mesh-config/mesh-config
-checks/placement/placement
 
 # Built by their modules' build step (issue 1577), never committed.
 modules/forticlient/cmd/forticlient-tools/forticlient-tools

checks/placement/go.mod

@@ -1,5 +0,0 @@
-module checks/placement
-
-go 1.26.0
-
-require git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261026193323-03dce1237803

checks/placement/go.sum

@@ -1,14 +0,0 @@
-git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261026193323-03dce1237803 h1:RInAboHBk5THYf6Agvy05iO9p2XV5zGb0ilYa+iSO7o=
-git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261026193323-03dce1237803/go.mod h1:ouERNpZizzwZ0HLEtAypsY9FR20FyUgUYRni6J7kVCY=
-github.com/klauspost/compress v1.20.0 h1:a3C1ke2ohxFymNlb2HWAHjDeKCI90scRskErZkR0ezA=
-github.com/klauspost/compress v1.20.0/go.mod h1:LUdAzn7YLVvxLpc7y3V1m40wESHTgc1422pwwBSKYuI=
-github.com/nats-io/nats.go v1.54.0 h1:vsXoOxjHp/GmPUN+EcI7uOf/uB+iAP+kEsAFNQN0yzA=
-github.com/nats-io/nats.go v1.54.0/go.mod h1:y+DZoD1oBOYfZTU681eTUiUjI0vbqYGixNVFHcjHJ0k=
-github.com/nats-io/nkeys v0.4.16 h1:rd5oAuLOb8mnAycB0xleuEBNS1pVVnN0fv/FF34Eypg=
-github.com/nats-io/nkeys v0.4.16/go.mod h1:llLgWoI0o4z/Q57q2R1kHfmocyhGV6VG/U18Glg1Afs=
-github.com/nats-io/nuid v1.0.1 h1:5iA8DT8V7q8WK2EScv2padNa/rTESc1KdnPw4TC2paw=
-github.com/nats-io/nuid v1.0.1/go.mod h1:19wcPz3Ph3q0Jbyiqsd0kePYG7A95tJPxeL+1OSON2c=
-golang.org/x/crypto v0.57.0 h1:3ZVCjf8Ggz7zneR/EHRVx68Ctf+2pmIMP2UFhh9cC6M=
-golang.org/x/crypto v0.57.0/go.mod h1:Fdz0i5U6CoizGwLda9DttjSk6qlZo25zYNtR+ycvuZA=
-golang.org/x/sys v0.48.0 h1:bbX/i/6MgT9BVLM9RT1thmxL04yeTAhbEz4SyadbXoo=
-golang.org/x/sys v0.48.0/go.mod h1:hNLxWAXmnKAxqDtdwIYC4bM9oQPEecfsnNMuSxOs3og=

checks/placement/main.go

@@ -1,80 +0,0 @@
-// Command placement is the catalogue's check of its placement files (novox/hq ADR 0549 §1, ADR 0555; issue 1126): every
-// `placement/<node>.json` reads as a placement of the node its name says, and the files together are refused, every
-// finding named at once, for two modules of one node on one host port, a pin, binding or holding naming a provider not
-// placed where it says, a seat held once for the mesh held twice, two nodes with one address on the private network, or
-// more than one hub (mesh-sdk delivery.CheckPlacements).
-//
-// A module the catalogue does not hold and a node not enrolled are the composition check's to refuse: placement names
-// modules of every repository the indexer reads and the nodes the mesh enrolled, neither of which this tree holds.
-//
-//	go run . <catalogue root>
-//
-// Exits 1 on a finding.
-package main
-
-import (
-	"fmt"
-	"os"
-	"path/filepath"
-	"sort"
-
-	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/delivery"
-)
-
-// Check reads every placement file under root and answers each finding; none is a catalogue whose placement holds. A
-// catalogue with no placement directory has none to check.
-func Check(root string) ([]string, error) {
-	dir := filepath.Join(root, delivery.PlacementDir)
-	entries, err := os.ReadDir(dir)
-	if os.IsNotExist(err) {
-		return nil, nil
-	}
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-	var found []string
-	placements := map[string]delivery.Placement{}
-	for _, e := range entries {
-		rel := delivery.PlacementDir + "/" + e.Name()
-		node, ok := delivery.PlacementFileNode(rel)
-		if e.IsDir() || !ok {
-			found = append(found, fmt.Sprintf("%s is not a placement file: the directory holds only <node>.json, one per node", rel))
-			continue
-		}
-		raw, err := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(dir, e.Name()))
-		if err != nil {
-			return nil, err
-		}
-		p, err := delivery.DecodePlacement(raw)
-		if err != nil {
-			found = append(found, fmt.Sprintf("%s does not read as a placement: %v", rel, err))
-			continue
-		}
-		if p.Revision != "" {
-			found = append(found, fmt.Sprintf("%s names a revision, which only the indexer writes into the key", rel))
-		}
-		placements[node] = p
-	}
-	all := func(string) bool { return true }
-	found = append(found, delivery.CheckPlacements(placements, all, all)...)
-	sort.Strings(found)
-	return found, nil
-}
-
-func main() {
-	if len(os.Args) != 2 {
-		fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr, "usage: placement <catalogue root>")
-		os.Exit(2)
-	}
-	found, err := Check(os.Args[1])
-	if err != nil {
-		fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr, err)
-		os.Exit(2)
-	}
-	for _, f := range found {
-		fmt.Println(f)
-	}
-	if len(found) > 0 {
-		os.Exit(1)
-	}
-}

checks/placement/main_test.go

@@ -1,55 +0,0 @@
-package main
-
-import (
-	"os"
-	"path/filepath"
-	"strings"
-	"testing"
-)
-
-// The catalogue's placement files as the merge check reads them (ADR 0549 §1, ADR 0555): the real tree holds every
-// rule, and a tree that breaks them is refused with every finding named at once.
-func TestPlacementFiles(t *testing.T) {
-	found, err := Check("../..")
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-	for _, f := range found {
-		t.Errorf("%s (novox/hq ADR 0549 §1)", f)
-	}
-
-	root := t.TempDir()
-	write := func(name, body string) {
-		t.Helper()
-		if err := os.MkdirAll(filepath.Join(root, "placement"), 0o755); err != nil {
-			t.Fatal(err)
-		}
-		if err := os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(root, "placement", name), []byte(body), 0o644); err != nil {
-			t.Fatal(err)
-		}
-	}
-	if found, err := Check(root); err != nil || len(found) != 0 {
-		t.Fatalf("a catalogue with no placement directory: %v, %v", found, err)
-	}
-	write("ace.json", `{"v":1,"node":"ace","decided":{"hub":true,"address":"10.77.0.1"},"modules":[{"module":"a","ports":{"80":8080}},{"module":"b","ports":{"81":8080}}]}`)
-	write("g14.json", `{"v":1,"node":"g14","decided":{"hub":true,"address":"10.77.0.1"},"modules":[{"module":"c","bindings":{"pg":{"node":"ace","module":"pg"}}}]}`)
-	write("novox.json", `{"v":1,"node":"shanks","modules":[]}`)
-	write("bad.json", `{"v":1,"node":"bad","modules":{}}`)
-	write("dated.json", `{"v":1,"node":"dated","revision":"abc","modules":[]}`)
-	write("notes.md", "x")
-	found, err = Check(root)
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-	for _, want := range []string{"a and b are both published on host port 8080", "bound to ace/pg", "both have the address 10.77.0.1",
-		"ace, g14 are each placed as it", "placement file of novox names the node", "bad.json does not read", "dated.json names a revision",
-		"notes.md is not a placement file"} {
-		hit := false
-		for _, f := range found {
-			hit = hit || strings.Contains(f, want)
-		}
-		if !hit {
-			t.Errorf("no finding says %q; found %v", want, found)
-		}
-	}
-}

checks/placement/reads-outside

@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-These tests read files outside this directory (the whole catalogue, the repository, or its root files): mesh-build-go never keeps this package's verdict (issue 1935).

modules/gitea/client.ts

@@ -174,8 +174,27 @@ function ignoreSecretSetting(cfg: Record<string, unknown>, key: string): void {
   console.error(`the setting ${key} is ignored: it comes from the vault`);
 }
 
+/** How long the forge may take to answer one request before it is cut and said (novox/hq issue 1577: a request for a 5 MB
+ *  file never ended, and every read through the module timed out behind it). */
+export const FORGE_REQUEST_TIMEOUT_MS = 20_000;
+
+/** The most a tool's answer carries of one file: the bus's message bound is 1 MiB and a file travels as text (issue 1577). */
+export const MAX_FILE_BYTES = 512 * 1024;
+
+/** One request to the forge, cut at the limit and failing loud naming the request. */
+async function timedFetch(url: string, init: RequestInit, label: string, timeoutMs: number): Promise<Response> {
+  try {
+    return await fetch(url, { ...init, signal: init.signal ? AbortSignal.any([init.signal, AbortSignal.timeout(timeoutMs)]) : AbortSignal.timeout(timeoutMs) });
+  } catch (err) {
+    if (err instanceof Error && err.name === "TimeoutError") throw new Error(`Gitea API ${label}: no answer in ${timeoutMs / 1000} s, the request was cut`);
+    throw err;
+  }
+}
+
 export class GiteaClient {
   readonly baseUrl: string;
+  /** The limit of one request; a test sets it short. */
+  requestTimeoutMs = FORGE_REQUEST_TIMEOUT_MS;
   private readonly tokens: TokenSource;
 
   /** A token given as a string is one somebody configured; a source decides for itself (token.ts). */
@@ -230,14 +249,14 @@ export class GiteaClient {
 
   private send(path: string, options: RequestInit, token: string): Promise<Response> {
     checkSentPath(path);
-    return fetch(`${this.baseUrl}/api/v1${path}`, {
+    return timedFetch(`${this.baseUrl}/api/v1${path}`, {
       ...options,
       headers: {
         "Content-Type": "application/json",
         Authorization: `token ${token}`,
         ...(options.headers as Record<string, string> | undefined),
       },
-    });
+    }, `${options.method ?? "GET"} ${path}`, this.requestTimeoutMs);
   }
 
   /** Generic authenticated API call — the escape hatch for endpoints without a dedicated method.
@@ -540,7 +559,7 @@ export class GiteaClient {
    *  **A listing the forge cut is no listing** (it says `truncated` on a page with nothing more to read, or the pages
    *  run past a bound): the call fails naming the repository and the commit, never answering the directories it did
    *  see, since a directory left out would be taken for one without a module. Reads only. */
-  async commitTrees(owner: string, repo: string, sha: string, paths?: Record<string, string[]>, listed?: string[]): Promise<{ root: string; trees: Record<string, string>; paths?: Record<string, Record<string, string>>; listed?: Record<string, Record<string, string>> }> {
+  async commitTrees(owner: string, repo: string, sha: string, paths?: Record<string, string[]>): Promise<{ root: string; trees: Record<string, string>; paths?: Record<string, Record<string, string>> }> {
     const base = `${repoPath(owner, repo)}/git/trees/${commitSegment(sha)}?recursive=true`;
     const cut = (why: string) => new Error(`the forge's tree listing of ${owner}/${repo} at ${sha} was cut (${why}); no trees are answered from a part`);
     const entries: any[] = [];
@@ -567,23 +586,7 @@ export class GiteaClient {
       if (!tree) throw new Error(`the forge's tree listing of ${owner}/${repo} at ${sha} holds ${e.path} but not the tree of ${dir}`);
       trees[dir] = tree;
     }
-    // **Listed directories** (novox/hq ADR 0549 §2, issue 1126): each asked directory's files directly under it, by name
+    if (paths === undefined) return { root, trees };
-    // to blob id, from the same listing: how the forge bridge finds the catalogue's placement files, one per node, at a
-    // merge. A directory the commit lacks lists nothing (the catalogue before its first placement file).
-    let files: Record<string, Record<string, string>> | undefined;
-    if (listed !== undefined) {
-      files = {};
-      for (const dir of listed) {
-        files[dir] = {};
-        const prefix = dir === "" ? "" : `${dir}/`;
-        for (const e of entries) {
-          if (e?.type !== "blob" || typeof e.path !== "string" || !e.path.startsWith(prefix)) continue;
-          const name = e.path.slice(prefix.length);
-          if (name !== "" && !name.includes("/")) files[dir][name] = String(e.sha);
-        }
-      }
-    }
-    if (paths === undefined) return files === undefined ? { root, trees } : { root, trees, listed: files };
     // **Named paths** (novox/hq ADR 0499 §3, issue 1758): each asked path's git object id at the commit, a file's or a
     // directory's, from the same listing, by directory and by path relative to it. A path the listing lacks fails
     // naming both, and nothing is answered in part.
@@ -598,7 +601,7 @@ export class GiteaClient {
         named[dir][p] = id;
       }
     }
-    return files === undefined ? { root, trees, paths: named } : { root, trees, paths: named, listed: files };
+    return { root, trees, paths: named };
   }
 
   /** Whether a repository holds a file at a commit: true, false for a 404, thrown when the forge cannot say. */
@@ -787,6 +790,22 @@ export class GiteaClient {
   /** One file's contents at a ref (default the repository's default branch), decoded. */
   async getFile(owner: string, repo: string, path: string, ref?: string): Promise<{ path: string; ref?: string; sha: string; size: number; content: string }> {
     const qs = ref ? `?ref=${encodeURIComponent(ref)}` : "";
+    // The size first, from the file's directory listing, which carries no content: a file over what an answer can carry is
+    // refused without its body being fetched (issue 1577). A file the listing does not show is asked for as before.
+    const clean = path.replace(/^\/+|\/+$/g, "");
+    pathSegments("file path", clean); // a path that is another path or user is refused before anything reaches the forge
+    const slash = clean.lastIndexOf("/");
+    const dir = slash < 0 ? "" : clean.slice(0, slash);
+    let listing: any[] | null = null;
+    try {
+      listing = await this.request<any[]>(`${repoPath(owner, repo)}/contents${dir ? "/" + pathSegments("file path", dir) : ""}${qs}`);
+    } catch (err) {
+      if (!(err instanceof Error) || !/: 404 /.test(err.message)) throw err;
+    }
+    const entry = Array.isArray(listing) ? listing.find((e) => e?.path === clean) : undefined;
+    if (entry && Number(entry.size) > MAX_FILE_BYTES) {
+      throw new Error(`the file is ${Number(entry.size)} bytes, over the ${MAX_FILE_BYTES / 1024} KiB a tool answer can carry; read it from a clone`);
+    }
     const f = await this.request<any>(`${repoPath(owner, repo)}/contents/${pathSegments("file path", path.replace(/^\/+|\/+$/g, ""))}${qs}`);
     if (!f || f.type !== "file") throw new Error(`Gitea API: ${path} is not a file`);
     const content = f.encoding === "base64" ? Buffer.from(String(f.content ?? ""), "base64").toString("utf8") : String(f.content ?? "");
@@ -956,14 +975,14 @@ export class GiteaAdmin {
    *  throwing on it — the caller decides which non-2xx codes are idempotent successes. Only an
    *  unexpected status becomes an error, and only where the caller says so. */
   private async request(path: string, options: RequestInit = {}): Promise<AdminResponse> {
-    const res = await fetch(`${this.baseUrl}/api/v1${path}`, {
+    const res = await timedFetch(`${this.baseUrl}/api/v1${path}`, {
       ...options,
       headers: {
         "Content-Type": "application/json",
         Authorization: this.authorization,
         ...(options.headers as Record<string, string> | undefined),
       },
-    });
+    }, `${options.method ?? "GET"} ${path}`, FORGE_REQUEST_TIMEOUT_MS);
     const text = await res.text();
     let body: any = null;
     if (text) {
@@ -1063,12 +1082,19 @@ export class GiteaAdmin {
     return true;
   }
 
-  /** What the forge itself says an account may do on a repository: none, read, write, admin or owner. */
+  /** What the forge gives an account on a repository, effective: none, read, write, admin or owner. It is the repository as
+   *  that account sees it (the site administrator acts as the account with `sudo`), so access through an organisation's team
+   *  counts. The collaborator endpoint is not used: it names only a collaborator's own permission, and says "read" of an
+   *  account that writes through a team (novox/hq issue 1945). */
   async repositoryPermission(owner: string, repo: string, user: string): Promise<string> {
-    const path = `${repoPath(owner, repo)}/collaborators/${encodeURIComponent(user)}/permission`;
+    const path = `${repoPath(owner, repo)}?sudo=${encodeURIComponent(user)}`;
     const res = await this.request(path);
+    if (res.status === 404) return "none";
     if (res.status !== 200) GiteaAdmin.fail(path, res);
-    return String(res.body?.permission ?? "none");
+    const p = res.body?.permissions;
+    if (p?.admin === true) return res.body?.owner?.login === user ? "owner" : "admin";
+    if (p?.push === true) return "write";
+    return p?.pull === true ? "read" : "none";
   }
 
   /** Make an account a collaborator of a repository that reads only. The forge asks a repository's administrator for
@@ -1083,6 +1109,38 @@ export class GiteaAdmin {
     await this.addCollaborator(owner, repo, user, "write");
   }
 
+  /** The rule that applies to main in a repository, as its administrator reads it: a rule named main, else the first glob
+   *  rule covering main; null when none does. With the administrator's login. */
+  async mainRule(owner: string, repo: string): Promise<BranchProtection | null> {
+    const rules = await this.branchProtections(owner, repo);
+    return rules.find((r) => (r.rule_name ?? r.branch_name) === MAIN_BRANCH)
+      ?? rules.find((r) => ruleCovers(String(r.rule_name ?? r.branch_name ?? ""), MAIN_BRANCH)) ?? null;
+  }
+
+  /** Put an account on main's merge whitelist in a repository of a user, and nothing else (the operator, 2026-10-26:
+   *  write, the rule untouched). Only an existing rule whose merge whitelist is on is changed, and only its whitelist: the
+   *  account is added to the logins already there. Push, status checks, approvals and the administrator override stay as
+   *  the operator set them; with no rule, or the whitelist off, nothing is written (whoever writes may merge). Read back:
+   *  the forge drops a whitelist login that cannot write the repository and still answers success, so a whitelist read back
+   *  without the account fails loud. Answers the rule as the forge holds it after. With the administrator's login. */
+  async ensureMergerListed(owner: string, repo: string, account: string): Promise<{ changed: boolean; rule: BranchProtection | null }> {
+    const rule = await this.mainRule(owner, repo);
+    const listed = rule?.merge_whitelist_usernames ?? [];
+    if (!rule || rule.enable_merge_whitelist !== true || listed.includes(account)) return { changed: false, rule };
+    const name = String(rule.rule_name ?? rule.branch_name);
+    const path = `${repoPath(owner, repo)}/branch_protections/${encodeURIComponent(name)}`;
+    const res = await this.request(path, { method: "PATCH", body: JSON.stringify({ merge_whitelist_usernames: [...listed, account] }) });
+    if (res.status !== 200) GiteaAdmin.fail(path, res);
+    const after = (await this.branchProtections(owner, repo)).find((r) => (r.rule_name ?? r.branch_name) === name);
+    if (!after) throw new Error(`main's rule ${name} of ${owner}/${repo} was written, but the forge does not list it`);
+    const held = after.merge_whitelist_usernames ?? [];
+    if (after.enable_merge_whitelist === true && !held.includes(account)) {
+      throw new Error(`${account} was added to the merge whitelist of main's rule ${name} of ${owner}/${repo}, but the forge ` +
+        `holds [${held.join(", ")}]: it drops a login that cannot write the repository`);
+    }
+    return { changed: true, rule: after };
+  }
+
   private async addCollaborator(owner: string, repo: string, user: string, permission: "read" | "write"): Promise<void> {
     const path = `${repoPath(owner, repo)}/collaborators/${encodeURIComponent(user)}`;
     const res = await this.request(path, { method: "PUT", body: JSON.stringify({ permission }) });
@@ -1208,9 +1266,9 @@ export class GiteaAdmin {
    * other answer rejects (novox/hq issue 120).
    */
   async holdsTeamMember(org: string, team: string, username: string, password: string): Promise<boolean> {
-    const me = await fetch(`${this.baseUrl}/api/v1/user`, {
+    const me = await timedFetch(`${this.baseUrl}/api/v1/user`, {
       headers: { Authorization: "Basic " + Buffer.from(`${username}:${password}`).toString("base64") },
-    });
+    }, "GET /user", FORGE_REQUEST_TIMEOUT_MS);
     if (me.status === 401 || me.status === 403) return false;
     if (me.status !== 200) throw new Error(`Gitea GET /user as ${username}: ${me.status}`);
     const teams = await this.request(`/orgs/${encodeURIComponent(org)}/teams?limit=50`);

modules/gitea/test/commit-trees.test.ts

@@ -183,15 +183,6 @@ test("named paths: each asked path's git object id at the commit, a file's or a
     });
     assert.deepEqual(got.trees, { "": ROOT, "modules/a": h("4"), "modules/b/c": h("8") });
     assert.equal((await client.commitTrees("novox", "hq", COMMIT)).paths, undefined, "no paths asked, none answered");
-    // Listed directories (ADR 0549 §2, issue 1126): the files directly under each, not deeper; a missing one lists none.
-    const listed = await client.commitTrees("novox", "hq", COMMIT, undefined, ["modules/a", "modules/b", "", "placement"]);
-    assert.deepEqual(listed.listed, {
-      "modules/a": { "main.go": h("6"), "module.json": h("5") },
-      "modules/b": {},
-      "": { "README.md": h("1"), "module.json": h("2") },
-      placement: {},
-    });
-    assert.equal((await client.commitTrees("novox", "hq", COMMIT)).listed, undefined, "no directory asked, none listed");
   } finally {
     server.close();
   }
@@ -218,12 +209,7 @@ test("gitea_commit_trees takes paths as {directory: [paths]} and refuses another
   const { client, server, asked } = await serve([{ sha: COMMIT, url: "u", tree: LISTING, truncated: false, page: 1, total_count: LISTING.length }]);
   try {
     const tool = getGiteaTools(client).find((t) => t.name === "gitea_commit_trees")!;
-    assert.ok("paths" in tool.input && "listed" in tool.input, "the tool names the arguments");
+    assert.ok("paths" in tool.input, "the tool names the argument");
-    const listedAnswer: any = await tool.run({ owner: "novox", repo: "hq", sha: COMMIT, listed: ["modules/d"] } as any);
-    assert.deepEqual(listedAnswer.listed, { "modules/d": { "notes.md": h("b") } });
-    for (const bad of ["modules/d", ["../x"], ["/abs"], [1]]) {
-      await assert.rejects(tool.run({ owner: "novox", repo: "hq", sha: COMMIT, listed: bad } as any), /listed/, JSON.stringify(bad));
-    }
     const got: any = await tool.run({ owner: "novox", repo: "hq", sha: COMMIT, paths: { "modules/a": ["main.go"] } } as any);
     assert.deepEqual(got.paths, { "modules/a": { "main.go": h("6") } });
     const before = asked.length;

modules/gitea/test/guard.test.ts

@@ -640,6 +640,7 @@ test("no tool's caller text becomes another path or another user: `..` and `?sud
   await tool("gitea_delete_branch").run({ ...repo, branch: "feat/x" });
   await tool("gitea_get_file").run({ ...repo, path: "modules/gitea/module.json" }).catch(() => undefined);
   assert.deepEqual(state.asked, ["DELETE /repos/novox/mesh-catalog/branches/feat/x",
+    "GET /repos/novox/mesh-catalog/contents/modules/gitea", // the file's size first (issue 1577)
     "GET /repos/novox/mesh-catalog/contents/modules/gitea/module.json"]);
 });
 

modules/gitea/test/paging.test.ts

@@ -90,3 +90,48 @@ test("a pass pages until it reaches back past its floor, and no further", async
     server.close();
   }
 });
+
+// **One forge request never holds the others, and a file too big for an answer is not downloaded** (novox/hq issue 1577): a
+// request for a 4.9 MB file never ended and every read through the module timed out behind it.
+test("a request the forge never answers is cut at the limit and says which request", async () => {
+  const { GiteaClient } = await import("../client.ts");
+  const server = createServer((req) => { if (!req.url?.includes("fast")) return; });
+  await new Promise<void>((r) => server.listen(0, r));
+  const client = new GiteaClient(`http://127.0.0.1:${(server.address() as any).port}`, "t");
+  client.requestTimeoutMs = 150;
+  try {
+    const started = Date.now();
+    await assert.rejects(client.api("/repos/novox/hq/pulls"), /Gitea API GET \/repos\/novox\/hq\/pulls: no answer in 0\.15 s/);
+    assert.ok(Date.now() - started < 3000);
+  } finally {
+    server.closeAllConnections();
+    await new Promise<void>((r) => server.close(() => r()));
+  }
+});
+
+test("a file over 512 KiB is refused from its directory listing, and its body is never asked for", async () => {
+  const { GiteaClient } = await import("../client.ts");
+  const asked: string[] = [];
+  const server = createServer((req, res) => {
+    asked.push(req.url ?? "");
+    res.setHeader("Content-Type", "application/json");
+    if (req.url?.startsWith("/api/v1/repos/novox/hq/contents/bin?")) {
+      return res.end(JSON.stringify([{ path: "bin/big", type: "file", size: 5_000_000 }, { path: "bin/small", type: "file", size: 5 }]));
+    }
+    if (req.url?.startsWith("/api/v1/repos/novox/hq/contents/bin/small")) {
+      return res.end(JSON.stringify({ type: "file", encoding: "base64", sha: "s", size: 5, content: Buffer.from("hello").toString("base64") }));
+    }
+    res.statusCode = 404;
+    res.end("{}");
+  });
+  await new Promise<void>((r) => server.listen(0, r));
+  const client = new GiteaClient(`http://127.0.0.1:${(server.address() as any).port}`, "t");
+  try {
+    await assert.rejects(client.getFile("novox", "hq", "bin/big", "main"),
+      /the file is 5000000 bytes, over the 512 KiB a tool answer can carry; read it from a clone/);
+    assert.ok(!asked.some((u) => u.includes("/contents/bin/big")), asked.join("\n"));
+    assert.equal((await client.getFile("novox", "hq", "bin/small", "main")).content, "hello");
+  } finally {
+    await new Promise<void>((r) => server.close(() => r()));
+  }
+});

modules/gitea/test/tools-account.test.ts

@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ interface Team { id: number; name: string; units: any; members: Set<string> }
 
 interface ForgeRepo { owner: string; name: string; full: string; private: boolean; archived?: boolean; ownerVisibility: string; collaborators: Map<string, string> }
 const forgeRepos: ForgeRepo[] = [];
+const userRules = new Map<string, any>();
 const repoFaults = { refuse: new Set<string>(), permission: new Set<string>() };
 function addRepo(full: string, isPrivate: boolean, ownerVisibility = "public"): ForgeRepo {
   const [owner, name] = full.split("/");
@@ -84,7 +85,7 @@ function fakeForge() {
   const server = createServer(async (req, res) => {
     const url = new URL(req.url ?? "/", "http://fake");
     const p = url.pathname.replace(/^\/api\/v1/, "");
-    const me = who(req);
+    const me = url.searchParams.has("sudo") && isAdmin(who(req)) ? url.searchParams.get("sudo") : who(req);
     calls.push(`${req.method} ${p} as ${me}`);
     if (me === null) return json(res, 401, { message: "unauthorized" });
 
@@ -168,6 +169,23 @@ function fakeForge() {
       if (m[2] === "feat/unguarded") return json(res, 200, { name: m[2], protected: false });
       return json(res, 404, { message: "branch does not exist" });
     }
+    // A repository of a user: its rules are its administrator's (a site administrator, or a collaborator with admin).
+    m = p.match(/^\/repos\/(?!novox\/)([^/]+)\/([^/]+)\/branch_protections(?:\/(.*))?$/);
+    if (m) {
+      const key = `${m[1]}/${m[2]}`;
+      const repo = forgeRepos.find((r) => r.full === key);
+      if (!repo || !["admin", "owner"].includes(permissionOf(me, repo))) return json(res, 403, { message: "user should be an owner or a collaborator with admin write of a repository" });
+      if (req.method === "GET" && m[3] === undefined) return json(res, 200, userRules.has(key) ? [userRules.get(key)] : []);
+      // As gitea does: a whitelist login that cannot write the repository is dropped, and the write still answered.
+      const keep = (b: any) => (Array.isArray(b.merge_whitelist_usernames)
+        ? { ...b, merge_whitelist_usernames: b.merge_whitelist_usernames.filter((u: string) => ["write", "admin", "owner"].includes(permissionOf(u, repo))) } : b);
+      if (req.method === "PATCH" && m[3] === "main") {
+        if (!userRules.has(key)) return json(res, 404, { message: "branch protection does not exist" });
+        Object.assign(userRules.get(key), keep(await read(req)));
+        return json(res, 200, userRules.get(key));
+      }
+      if (req.method === "POST") { const b = keep(await read(req)); userRules.set(key, b); return json(res, 201, b); }
+    }
     // gitea's reqAdmin on the whole group: reading the rules is administration too.
     m = p.match(/^\/repos\/novox\/([^/]+)\/branch_protections(?:\/(.*))?$/);
     if (m) {
@@ -205,6 +223,7 @@ function fakeForge() {
     m = p.match(/^\/repos\/([^/]+)\/([^/]+)(?:\/collaborators\/([^/]+)(\/permission)?)?$/);
     if (m) {
       const repo = forgeRepos.find((r) => r.owner === decodeURIComponent(m![1]) && r.name === decodeURIComponent(m![2]));
+      if (repo && req.method === "GET" && !m[3] && url.searchParams.has("sudo") && repoFaults.permission.has(repo.full)) return json(res, 500, { message: "the forge is not well" });
       if (!repo || permissionOf(me, repo) === "none") return json(res, 404, { message: "repository does not exist" });
       if (req.method === "GET" && !m[3]) {
         const mine = permissionOf(me, repo);
@@ -214,7 +233,8 @@ function fakeForge() {
       if (req.method === "GET" && m[4]) {
         if (repoFaults.permission.has(repo.full)) return json(res, 500, { message: "the forge is not well" });
         if (!isAdmin(me) && me !== user) return json(res, 403, { message: "only the user or an administrator" });
-        return json(res, 200, { permission: permissionOf(user, repo) });
+        // As gitea answers: the collaborator's own permission, not what a team gives the account.
+        return json(res, 200, { permission: repo.collaborators.get(user) ?? "read" });
       }
       if (req.method === "PUT" && !m[4]) {
         // gitea's reqAdmin: the repository's administration, which on a repository of another user the site administrator alone holds.
@@ -608,7 +628,8 @@ test("the merging account is given write on each repository the indexer's module
   await writes.take({ key: "car-hunter-2", op: "put", value: { v: 1, repository: "jschoubben/car-hunter" } });
   assert.equal(forge.calls.length, from, "a repository already written asks nothing more");
   const repo = (full: string) => forgeRepos.find((x) => x.full === full)!;
-  assert.equal(repo("jschoubben/car-hunter").collaborators.get(TOOLS_ACCOUNT), "write");
+  assert.equal(repo("jschoubben/car-hunter").collaborators.get(TOOLS_ACCOUNT), "write", "a user's repository is written, not administered");
+  assert.equal(userRules.has("jschoubben/car-hunter"), false, "a repository with no rule for main is given none");
   assert.equal(repo("novox/hq").collaborators.size, 0, "the organisation's repository is written through its team, no collaborator");
   assert.equal((await client.getRepo("jschoubben", "car-hunter")).writes, true);
   assert.deepEqual(said, [{ type: WRITABLE_EVENT, body: { owner: "jschoubben", repo: "car-hunter", account: TOOLS_ACCOUNT } }]);
@@ -636,9 +657,37 @@ test("the merging account is given write on each repository the indexer's module
   assert.ok(!forge.calls.slice(puts).some((c) => c.startsWith("PUT ")), "no write is asked on a repository no module builds from");
   assert.equal(repo("jschoubben/dotfiles").collaborators.get(TOOLS_ACCOUNT), "read");
   repoFaults.refuse.clear();
+  // The operator's rule is left as set (the operator, 2026-10-26: "Write, rule untouched"): only mesh-tools is added to its
+  // merge whitelist; a status the mesh does not set and required approvals are said as blocking the mesh's merge, unchanged.
+  const operators = { rule_name: "main", enable_push: true, enable_merge_whitelist: true, merge_whitelist_usernames: ["jschoubben"],
+    enable_status_check: true, status_check_contexts: ["mesh/check", "mesh/merge-gate", "ci/external"], required_approvals: 2,
+    block_admin_merge_override: false, require_signed_commits: true, block_on_outdated_branch: true, block_on_rejected_reviews: true };
+  userRules.set("jschoubben/snake", structuredClone(operators));
   const after = await grantTool.run({ repositories: ["jschoubben/snake"] }) as any;
   assert.deepEqual(after.granted, ["jschoubben/snake"]);
-  assert.deepEqual(((await unwritableTool.run({})) as any).unwritable, []);
+  assert.equal(repo("jschoubben/snake").collaborators.get(TOOLS_ACCOUNT), "write");
+  assert.deepEqual(userRules.get("jschoubben/snake"), { ...operators, merge_whitelist_usernames: ["jschoubben", TOOLS_ACCOUNT] }, "only the whitelist changed");
+  assert.deepEqual(after.merge_whitelist, [{ repository: "jschoubben/snake", changed: true, listed: ["jschoubben", TOOLS_ACCOUNT] }]);
+  const blockedWhy = "writable, but main's rule blocks the mesh's merge: it requires the status ci/external, which the mesh does not set; " +
+    "it requires 2 approving reviews on the forge, which the gate does not give; it requires signed commits, which the mesh does not make; " +
+    "it refuses a branch behind main, which the mesh does not bring up to date; " +
+    "it refuses a merge after a review asked for changes, which the gate does not clear";
+  assert.deepEqual(after.merge_blocked, [{ repository: "jschoubben/snake", why: blockedWhy }]);
+  const again = await unwritableTool.run({}) as any;
+  assert.deepEqual([again.unwritable, again.merge_blocked], [[], [{ repository: "jschoubben/snake", why: blockedWhy }]]);
+  const writesBefore = forge.calls.filter((c) => /^PATCH .*branch_protections/.test(c)).length;
+  assert.deepEqual(((await grantTool.run({ repositories: ["jschoubben/snake"] })) as any).merge_whitelist[0].changed, false);
+  assert.equal(forge.calls.filter((c) => /^PATCH .*branch_protections/.test(c)).length, writesBefore, "a listed account is not written again");
+  // The mesh's own statuses never block: a rule requiring only them, with mesh-tools listed, is not reported.
+  userRules.set("jschoubben/snake", { rule_name: "main", enable_merge_whitelist: true, merge_whitelist_usernames: [TOOLS_ACCOUNT],
+    enable_status_check: true, status_check_contexts: ["mesh/check", "mesh/merge-gate", "mesh/repo-check"] });
+  assert.deepEqual(((await unwritableTool.run({})) as any).merge_blocked, []);
+  assert.deepEqual(((await grantTool.run({ repositories: ["jschoubben/snake"] })) as any).merge_blocked, []);
+  // The forge drops a whitelist login that cannot write and still answers 200: the whitelist is read back and that fails loud.
+  userRules.set("jschoubben/dotfiles", { rule_name: "main", enable_merge_whitelist: true, merge_whitelist_usernames: ["jschoubben"] });
+  await assert.rejects(GiteaAdmin.fromEnv(env).ensureMergerListed("jschoubben", "dotfiles", TOOLS_ACCOUNT),
+    /mesh-tools was added to the merge whitelist of main's rule main of jschoubben\/dotfiles, but the forge holds \[jschoubben\]: it drops a login that cannot write/);
+  userRules.delete("jschoubben/dotfiles");
   // A module gone from the indexer leaves its repository out of the delivered list.
   await writes.take({ key: "snake", op: "delete" });
   assert.deepEqual(writes.delivered(), ["jschoubben/car-hunter", "novox/hq"]);

modules/gitea/tools/index.ts

@@ -76,17 +76,6 @@ function namedPaths(raw: unknown): Record<string, string[]> | undefined {
   return out;
 }
 
-/** The `listed` argument of gitea_commit_trees: [directory], each plain (no `.` or `..` segment, not absolute, the root
- *  the empty name); anything else is refused before the forge is asked. Absent is absent. */
-function listedDirs(raw: unknown): string[] | undefined {
-  if (raw === undefined || raw === null) return undefined;
-  if (!Array.isArray(raw) || raw.some((d) => typeof d !== "string")) throw new Error("listed is [directory, ...]");
-  for (const d of raw as string[]) {
-    if (d !== "" && d.split("/").some((seg) => seg === "" || seg === "." || seg === "..")) throw new Error(`listed: ${JSON.stringify(d)} is not a plain relative directory`);
-  }
-  return raw as string[];
-}
-
 export function getGiteaTools(gitea: GiteaClient, admin?: () => GiteaAdmin): ToolDefinition[] {
   return namesChecked(allGiteaTools(gitea, admin));
 }
@@ -385,7 +374,7 @@ function allGiteaTools(gitea: GiteaClient, admin?: () => GiteaAdmin): ToolDefini
     // ---- Contents and branches ----
     {
       name: "gitea_get_file",
-      description: "One file's contents from a repository, decoded, at a branch, tag or commit (default the repository's default branch).",
+      description: "One file's contents from a repository, decoded, at a branch, tag or commit (default the repository's default branch). Refuses a file over 512 KiB, which a tool answer cannot carry: read it from a clone.",
       input: {
         owner: { type: "string", description: "the repository owner" },
         repo: { type: "string", description: "the repository name" },
@@ -561,20 +550,19 @@ function allGiteaTools(gitea: GiteaClient, admin?: () => GiteaAdmin): ToolDefini
     },
     {
       name: "gitea_commit_trees",
-      description: "A commit's trees from the forge's one recursive listing: the root tree, and the tree of every directory that holds a module.json (the root as an empty name), each by its git hash. What the forge bridge puts in a merge's message (novox/hq ADR 0437 §5). With paths, {directory: [path relative to it]}, the answer also carries paths, {directory: {path: git object id}} of each named file or directory at the commit (novox/hq ADR 0499 §3); a path the commit lacks fails naming the directory and the path. The commit is a full 40-hex sha. With listed, [directory], the answer also carries listed, {directory: {name: git blob id}} of the files directly under each (the catalogue's placement files, novox/hq ADR 0549 §2). A listing the forge cut is refused, never answered in part. Reads only.",
+      description: "A commit's trees from the forge's one recursive listing: the root tree, and the tree of every directory that holds a module.json (the root as an empty name), each by its git hash. What the forge bridge puts in a merge's message (novox/hq ADR 0437 §5). With paths, {directory: [path relative to it]}, the answer also carries paths, {directory: {path: git object id}} of each named file or directory at the commit (novox/hq ADR 0499 §3); a path the commit lacks fails naming the directory and the path. The commit is a full 40-hex sha. A listing the forge cut is refused, never answered in part. Reads only.",
       input: {
         owner: { type: "string", description: "the repository owner" },
         repo: { type: "string", description: "the repository name" },
         sha: { type: "string", description: "the commit, its full 40-hex sha" },
         paths: { type: "object", description: "optional, {directory: [path relative to it]}: the git object id of each named file or directory is answered under paths; the root directory is the empty name" },
-        listed: { type: "array", items: { type: "string" }, description: "optional, [directory]: the files directly under each, {directory: {name: git blob id}}, are answered under listed; a directory the commit lacks lists none" },
       },
       run: async (args) => {
         const owner = String(args.owner ?? "").trim(), repo = String(args.repo ?? "").trim();
         const sha = String(args.sha ?? "").trim();
         if (!owner || !repo) throw new Error("name the repository: owner and repo");
         if (!/^[0-9a-f]{40}$/i.test(sha)) throw new Error("sha is a commit's full 40-hex sha");
-        return gitea.commitTrees(owner, repo, sha, namedPaths(args.paths), listedDirs(args.listed));
+        return gitea.commitTrees(owner, repo, sha, namedPaths(args.paths));
       },
     },
     {

modules/gitea/writes.ts

@@ -18,10 +18,18 @@
 // `repo.writable` {owner, repo, account}: mesh-delivery-gate, which does not ask the operator's Approve of a pull request
 // whose merge the forge would refuse, reads that repository again on it.
 //
+// **A repository of a user is written, and main's rule is left as the operator set it** (the operator, 2026-10-26, asked
+// "Write, rule untouched"): the account is a write collaborator there, and only added to main's merge whitelist when that
+// rule keeps one (client.ts ensureMergerListed). What else in main's rule stops the mesh's merge (a status the mesh does not
+// set, approvals the gate does not give) is changed by nobody but said: both tools list such a repository as writable, but
+// blocked, with why (merge_blocked).
+//
 // Not taken away: a repository whose last module goes from the indexer keeps its collaborator until a hand removes it;
 // gitea_unwritable_repos and gitea_grant_write say the delivered list as it is now.
 
 import type { ForgeRepository } from "./client.js";
+import type { BranchProtection } from "./protection.js";
+import { CHECK_CONTEXT, CHECK_STATUS, REPO_CHECK_CONTEXT } from "./pulls.js";
 
 /** The indexer's state this module reads: one key per registered module, its value naming the repository. */
 export const INDEXER_MODULES = "mesh-delivery-indexer.modules";
@@ -34,8 +42,35 @@ export interface WriteForge {
   repository(owner: string, repo: string): Promise<ForgeRepository | null>;
   repositoryPermission(owner: string, repo: string, user: string): Promise<string>;
   addWriteCollaborator(owner: string, repo: string, user: string): Promise<void>;
+  mainRule(owner: string, repo: string): Promise<BranchProtection | null>;
+  ensureMergerListed(owner: string, repo: string, account: string): Promise<{ changed: boolean; rule: BranchProtection | null }>;
 }
 
+/** The statuses every pull request the mesh delivers carries (mesh-delivery's checks); a rule requiring another blocks. */
+const MESH_CONTEXTS = new Set([CHECK_STATUS, CHECK_CONTEXT, REPO_CHECK_CONTEXT]);
+
+/** What in main's rule stops the mesh's merge, in words; empty when nothing does. Changed by nobody here: the operator's. */
+export function mergeBlocks(rule: BranchProtection | null, account: string): string[] {
+  if (!rule) return [];
+  const blocks: string[] = [];
+  if (rule.enable_merge_whitelist === true && !(rule.merge_whitelist_usernames ?? []).includes(account)) {
+    blocks.push(`its merge whitelist [${(rule.merge_whitelist_usernames ?? []).join(", ")}] leaves out ${account} (gitea_grant_write adds it)`);
+  }
+  if (rule.enable_status_check === true) {
+    for (const c of rule.status_check_contexts ?? []) {
+      if (!MESH_CONTEXTS.has(c)) blocks.push(`it requires the status ${c}, which the mesh does not set`);
+    }
+  }
+  const approvals = Number(rule.required_approvals ?? 0);
+  if (approvals > 0) blocks.push(`it requires ${approvals} approving review${approvals === 1 ? "" : "s"} on the forge, which the gate does not give`);
+  if (rule.require_signed_commits === true) blocks.push("it requires signed commits, which the mesh does not make");
+  if (rule.block_on_outdated_branch === true) blocks.push("it refuses a branch behind main, which the mesh does not bring up to date");
+  if (rule.block_on_rejected_reviews === true) blocks.push("it refuses a merge after a review asked for changes, which the gate does not clear");
+  return blocks;
+}
+
+const blockedWhy = (blocks: string[]): string => `writable, but main's rule blocks the mesh's merge: ${blocks.join("; ")}`;
+
 /** One change of the indexer's modules state, as the SDK's state watch hands it. */
 export interface ModulesChange {
   key: string;
@@ -51,8 +86,13 @@ export interface Written {
   delivered: string[];
   /** Made writable now, each read back from the forge. */
   granted: string[];
-  /** Written already (the organisation's team, or a collaborator that writes). */
+  /** Written already (a collaborator of a user's repository), or written through the organisation's team. */
   already: string[];
+  /** Each repository of a user: whether the account was added to main's merge whitelist now, and the whitelist read back
+   *  (null: main's rule keeps no whitelist, or there is no rule, and whoever writes may merge). */
+  merge_whitelist: { repository: string; changed: boolean; listed: string[] | null }[];
+  /** Writable, but main's rule (the operator's, left as set) stops the mesh's merge, and why. */
+  merge_blocked: { repository: string; why: string }[];
   /** The forge refused, in its own words; or the repository is the organisation's, whose team should write it. */
   refused: { repository: string; why: string }[];
   /** Repositories the account cannot write that are left so, and why: they build no registered module. */
@@ -118,7 +158,7 @@ export class DeliveredWrites {
         "(the watch is not granted or not answered); nothing is granted");
     }
     const delivered = this.delivered();
-    const result: Written = { account: this.account, delivered, granted: [], already: [], refused: [], left_read_only: [] };
+    const result: Written = { account: this.account, delivered, granted: [], already: [], merge_whitelist: [], merge_blocked: [], refused: [], left_read_only: [] };
     const named = only && only.length ? only.map((x) => String(x).trim()) : null;
     const targets: string[] = [];
     for (const full of named ?? delivered) {
@@ -140,36 +180,55 @@ export class DeliveredWrites {
         result.refused.push({ repository: full, why: `its permission could not be read — ${said(err)}` });
         continue;
       }
-      if (WRITES.has(permission)) {
-        this.writable.add(full);
-        result.already.push(full);
-        continue;
-      }
       if (owner === this.org) {
+        if (WRITES.has(permission)) {
+          this.writable.add(full);
+          result.already.push(full);
+          continue;
+        }
         // The organisation's repositories are written through its team (tools-account.ts), never a collaborator.
         result.refused.push({ repository: full, why: `a repository of ${this.org}, which ${this.account} writes through the ` +
           `team ${this.org}/${this.account}; the forge gives it "${permission}", so the team is not as it should be (it is ` +
           "set again at the next mint of the tools' token)" });
         continue;
       }
-      try {
+      // A repository of a user: the account writes it, and is put on main's merge whitelist when the rule keeps one.
-        await this.forge.addWriteCollaborator(owner, name, this.account);
+      let changed = false;
-      } catch (err) {
+      if (!WRITES.has(permission)) {
-        result.refused.push({ repository: full, why: said(err) });
+        try {
-        continue;
+          await this.forge.addWriteCollaborator(owner, name, this.account);
+        } catch (err) {
+          result.refused.push({ repository: full, why: said(err) });
+          continue;
+        }
+        let after: string;
+        try {
+          after = await this.forge.repositoryPermission(owner, name, this.account);
+        } catch (err) {
+          result.refused.push({ repository: full, why: `granted, but its permission could not be read back — ${said(err)}` });
+          continue;
+        }
+        if (!WRITES.has(after)) {
+          result.refused.push({ repository: full, why: `the grant was answered, but the forge still gives ${this.account} "${after}"` });
+          continue;
+        }
+        changed = true;
       }
-      let after: string;
       try {
-        after = await this.forge.repositoryPermission(owner, name, this.account);
+        const { changed: listedNow, rule } = await this.forge.ensureMergerListed(owner, name, this.account);
+        result.merge_whitelist.push({ repository: full, changed: listedNow,
+          listed: rule?.enable_merge_whitelist === true ? (rule.merge_whitelist_usernames ?? []) : null });
+        const blocks = mergeBlocks(rule, this.account);
+        if (blocks.length > 0) result.merge_blocked.push({ repository: full, why: blockedWhy(blocks) });
       } catch (err) {
-        result.refused.push({ repository: full, why: `granted, but its permission could not be read back — ${said(err)}` });
+        result.refused.push({ repository: full, why: `${this.account} writes it, but could not be put on main's merge whitelist — ${said(err)}` });
-        continue;
-      }
-      if (!WRITES.has(after)) {
-        result.refused.push({ repository: full, why: `the grant was answered, but the forge still gives ${this.account} "${after}"` });
         continue;
       }
       this.writable.add(full);
+      if (!changed) {
+        result.already.push(full);
+        continue;
+      }
       result.granted.push(full);
       await this.emit(WRITABLE_EVENT, { owner, repo: name, account: this.account }).catch((err) =>
         this.log(`${this.account} writes ${full} now, and that could not be said on the bus — ${said(err)}`));
@@ -192,10 +251,12 @@ export class DeliveredWrites {
   }
 
   /** Every delivered repository the account cannot write, as the forge says now, and why. */
-  async unwritable(): Promise<{ account: string; delivered: number; unwritable: { repository: string; permission: string; why: string }[] }> {
+  async unwritable(): Promise<{ account: string; delivered: number; unwritable: { repository: string; permission: string; why: string }[];
+    merge_blocked: { repository: string; why: string }[] }> {
     if (!this.heard) throw new Error(`which repositories build a registered module is not known yet: ${INDEXER_MODULES} has not been read`);
     const delivered = this.delivered();
     const out: { repository: string; permission: string; why: string }[] = [];
+    const blocked: { repository: string; why: string }[] = [];
     for (const full of delivered) {
       const [owner, name] = split(full);
       let permission: string;
@@ -205,12 +266,21 @@ export class DeliveredWrites {
         out.push({ repository: full, permission: "unknown", why: `the forge did not answer ${this.account}'s permission on it — ${said(err)}` });
         continue;
       }
-      if (WRITES.has(permission)) continue;
+      if (WRITES.has(permission)) {
+        if (owner === this.org) continue; // the organisation's main rules are the mesh's own (mainrules.ts)
+        try {
+          const blocks = mergeBlocks(await this.forge.mainRule(owner, name), this.account);
+          if (blocks.length > 0) blocked.push({ repository: full, why: blockedWhy(blocks) });
+        } catch (err) {
+          blocked.push({ repository: full, why: `writable, but main's rule could not be read — ${said(err)}` });
+        }
+        continue;
+      }
       const modules = [...this.modules].filter(([, r]) => r === full).map(([m]) => m).sort();
       out.push({ repository: full, permission, why: `builds ${modules.join(", ")}, and the forge gives ${this.account} ` +
         `"${permission}" on it: its commit status and its merge are refused until gitea_grant_write grants it` });
     }
-    return { account: this.account, delivered: delivered.length, unwritable: out };
+    return { account: this.account, delivered: delivered.length, unwritable: out, merge_blocked: blocked };
   }
 }
 
@@ -224,14 +294,19 @@ export function writeTools(writes: () => DeliveredWrites): Tool[] {
       description: "Every repository that builds a registered module (the indexer's modules, read over the bus) on which " +
         "the mesh's merging forge account (mesh-tools, which sets commit statuses and merges) cannot write, with the " +
         "permission the forge gives it there and why: such a pull request can be checked but never merged, and the " +
-        "delivery gate does not ask its Approve. Empty when it writes every one. Read with the site administrator's login.",
+        "delivery gate does not ask its Approve. Empty when it writes every one. Its merge_blocked lists each repository of " +
+        "a user it writes whose main's rule (the operator's, left as set) still stops the mesh's merge: a merge whitelist " +
+        "without it, a required status the mesh does not set, required approving reviews. Read with the site administrator's login.",
       input: {},
       run: async () => writes().unwritable(),
     },
     {
       name: "gitea_grant_write",
-      description: "Give the mesh's merging forge account (mesh-tools) write, as a collaborator, on every repository that " +
+      description: "Give the mesh's merging forge account (mesh-tools) write, as a collaborator, on every repository of a " +
-        "builds a registered module and that it cannot write now, or on the repositories named (each must build one). " +
+        "user that builds a registered module, or on the repositories named (each must build one). Main's rule there is left " +
+        "as the operator set it; only when it keeps a merge whitelist is mesh-tools added to it, read back (merge_whitelist). " +
+        "What else in that rule stops the mesh's merge (a required status the mesh does not set, required approving reviews) " +
+        "is changed by nobody and said in merge_blocked. " +
         "The module does this itself at its start and when a module of a new repository is registered; this is the same " +
         "act by hand, such as when a merge or a commit status was refused 403. A repository of the organisation novox " +
         "is written through its team and needs nothing. Answers what was granted (each read back from the forge), what " +

modules/mesh-build-go/cmd/mesh-build-go/asks.go

@@ -84,9 +84,17 @@ func (m *Module) Puller(steps []StepTool, source buildstep.AskSource) *buildstep
 	// The capacity's own change wakes the puller (issue 1887): the runtime's watch of the config value as mesh-config
 	// resolved it; the settings file is read only when that watch cannot start. A test's Capacity is its own.
 	var watch func(string, func(stdio.ProvisionChange) error) error
+	// And the CPU bounds it (issue 1806's follow-up): the configured capacity is an upper bound, the node's build slice
+	// gives floor(its quota's cores / the module's cores-per-step) at once, read live; a test judges by its own Capacity.
+	// And the node's build hours (the operator, 2026-10-26: g14 builds only from 18:00 to 06:00): outside them it takes
+	// nothing new.
+	var cores func() float64
+	var hours func() (*buildstep.BuildWindow, string)
 	if capacity == nil {
+		hours = buildstep.NodeBuildHours(m.Settings, m.Node, m.Say)
 		capacity = buildstep.NodeCapacity(m.Settings, buildstep.DefaultCapacities, m.Node, m.Say)
 		watch = buildstep.WatchConfigServed
+		cores = buildstep.NodeCoresPerStep(m.Settings, buildstep.DefaultCoresPerStep[delivery.AskGo], m.Say)
 	}
 	ask := m.askSteps(steps)
 	var load func(string) ([]byte, error)
@@ -97,7 +105,7 @@ func (m *Module) Puller(steps []StepTool, source buildstep.AskSource) *buildstep
 		}
 	}
 	return &buildstep.Puller{Source: source, Language: delivery.AskGo, Node: m.Node, Put: m.Steps, PausePut: m.Pauses, Load: load,
-		Capacity: capacity, WatchConfig: watch, Logf: m.Say, Has: m.Has,
+		Capacity: capacity, WatchConfig: watch, CoresPerStep: cores, BuildHours: hours, Logf: m.Say, Has: m.Has,
 		Run: func(ctx context.Context, a delivery.StepAsk) (any, error) {
 			if err := m.Check(ctx); err != nil {
 				return nil, err

modules/mesh-build-go/cmd/mesh-build-go/asks_test.go

@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package main
 import (
 	"context"
 	"encoding/json"
+	"fmt"
 	"os"
 	"slices"
 	"strings"
@@ -125,12 +126,28 @@ func TestManifestClaimsTheGoBuildSeatAndReadsItsCapacity(t *testing.T) {
 	raw, _ := os.ReadFile(moduleDir + "/module.json")
 	var doc struct {
 		Config map[string]struct {
-			Default string `json:"default"`
+			Default json.RawMessage `json:"default"`
 		} `json:"config"`
 	}
 	_ = json.Unmarshal(raw, &doc)
-	if doc.Config[buildstep.CapacitySetting].Default != buildstep.DefaultCapacities {
+	// Issue 1806's follow-up: the cores a step needs is a setting of its own, in the settings file, with the SDK's default.
-		t.Errorf("the capacity's default = %q, want %q", doc.Config[buildstep.CapacitySetting].Default, buildstep.DefaultCapacities)
+	if cores := string(doc.Config[buildstep.CoresPerStepSetting].Default); cores != fmt.Sprint(buildstep.DefaultCoresPerStep[delivery.AskGo]) {
+		t.Errorf("the cores-per-step default = %s, want %g", cores, buildstep.DefaultCoresPerStep[delivery.AskGo])
+	}
+	if got := buildstep.NodeCoresPerStep(moduleDir+"/files/settings.json", 0, nil)(); got != buildstep.DefaultCoresPerStep[delivery.AskGo] {
+		t.Errorf("the settings template holds cores-per-step %g", got)
+	}
+	// And the build hours (the operator, 2026-10-26): a setting of their own, empty by default (any hour), in the template.
+	if hours := string(doc.Config[buildstep.BuildHoursSetting].Default); hours != `""` {
+		t.Errorf("the build-hours default = %s, want empty", hours)
+	}
+	if w, fault := buildstep.NodeBuildHours(moduleDir+"/files/settings.json", "g14", t.Errorf)(); w != nil || fault != "" {
+		t.Errorf("the settings template holds build hours %v (%s)", w, fault)
+	}
+	var capacity string
+	_ = json.Unmarshal(doc.Config[buildstep.CapacitySetting].Default, &capacity)
+	if capacity != buildstep.DefaultCapacities {
+		t.Errorf("the capacity's default = %q, want %q", capacity, buildstep.DefaultCapacities)
 	}
 	settings := resource(t, m, "settings")
 	if settings["path"] != "${dir:state}/settings.json" {

modules/mesh-build-go/cmd/mesh-build-go/cpu.go

@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@ import (
 func (m *Module) cpuLimits() buildcpu.Limits {
 	slots := 1
 	switch {
+	case m.Held != nil:
+		slots = m.Held.CapacityNow() // the capacity the puller judges by, bounded by the node's build slice
 	case m.Capacity != nil:
 		slots = m.Capacity()
 	case m.Settings != "":
@@ -32,5 +34,9 @@ func (m *Module) threadEnv() []string {
 // cpuStatus is what the status tool says of it: the limits a step is given, and what the kernel holds this runtime
 // to (its unit and its slice), read from its cgroup rather than assumed.
 func (m *Module) cpuStatus() map[string]any {
-	return map[string]any{"limits": m.cpuLimits(), "in-force": buildcpu.ReadInForce()}
+	out := map[string]any{"limits": m.cpuLimits(), "in-force": buildcpu.ReadInForce()}
+	if m.Held != nil {
+		out["capacity"] = m.Held.CapacityDetail() // the capacity judged by and why (issue 1806's follow-up)
+	}
+	return out
 }

modules/mesh-build-go/cmd/mesh-build-go/fetch.go

@@ -42,11 +42,13 @@ type FetchResult struct {
 	// head onto it, the paths the merge changes, and the tree of each module directory (a directory holding a
 	// module.json) in the merge. A head that does not merge cleanly is an answer: Merge is empty, Conflicts names the
 	// files, and the workspace is left at the trunk commit.
-	Base      string                          `json:"base,omitempty"`
+	Base      string   `json:"base,omitempty"`
-	Merge     string                          `json:"merge,omitempty"`
+	Merge     string   `json:"merge,omitempty"`
-	Conflicts []string                        `json:"conflicts,omitempty"`
+	Conflicts []string `json:"conflicts,omitempty"`
-	Changed   []string                        `json:"changed,omitempty"`
+	Changed   []string `json:"changed,omitempty"`
-	Trees     map[string]buildstep.ModuleTree `json:"trees,omitempty"`
+	// Programs are the changed files that are compiled programs (issue 1577); a merge answers it, a pointer to an empty list when there are none, absent for a fetch that made no merge.
+	Programs *[]buildstep.Program            `json:"programs,omitempty"`
+	Trees    map[string]buildstep.ModuleTree `json:"trees,omitempty"`
 	// Beside are the sibling repositories placed as plain directories under the workspace's beside directory, which
 	// build_go_test hands to the tests as MESH_CHECK_BESIDE (ADR 0484 clause 4).
 	Beside []Sibling `json:"beside,omitempty"`

modules/mesh-build-go/cmd/mesh-build-go/lint.go

@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 	"sync"
 
+	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/buildstep"
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/forgekey"
 )
 
@@ -132,6 +133,9 @@ func (m *Module) lint(ctx context.Context, run forgekey.Runner, tree, d string,
 // lintAll lints each directory, up to m.parallel() at once like the level's tests; the failures join in directory order
 // and the error is the first directory's, so the answer does not depend on which ended first (issue 1930).
 func (m *Module) lintAll(ctx context.Context, run forgekey.Runner, tree string, dirs []string, env func(d string) []string) ([]Failure, error) {
+	// The ask's phases say it (issue 1890): lint of the directories, then their tests.
+	buildstep.Phase(ctx, fmt.Sprintf("unit: lint of %d directories", len(dirs)))
+	defer buildstep.Phase(ctx, fmt.Sprintf("unit: tests of %d directories", len(dirs)))
 	type answer struct {
 		failed []Failure
 		err    error

modules/mesh-build-go/cmd/mesh-build-go/preview.go

@@ -41,6 +41,9 @@ func (m *Module) merge(ctx context.Context, res *FetchResult, tree, remote, base
 	}
 	res.Base = mr.Base
 	res.Conflicts, res.Merge, res.Changed = mr.Conflicts, mr.Merge, mr.Changed
+	if mr.Merge != "" {
+		res.Programs = &mr.Programs
+	}
 	if res.Merge == "" {
 		return nil
 	}

modules/mesh-build-go/cmd/mesh-build-go/preview_test.go

@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ func TestFetchWithABaseMergesAndAnswersThePreview(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
 	if res.Base != baseSHA || res.Merge != mergeSHA || res.Commit != commitSHA || len(res.Conflicts) != 0 ||
-		strings.Join(res.Changed, ",") != "a.go,modules/m/main.go" {
+		strings.Join(res.Changed, ",") != "a.go,modules/m/main.go" || res.Programs == nil || len(*res.Programs) != 0 { // 1577: a merge says it found no program
 		t.Errorf("result = %s", st.Result)
 	}
 	mt, ok := res.Trees["modules/m"]

modules/mesh-build-go/files/settings.json

@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
 {
-  "capacity": "shanks=3,ace=2,g14=0,novox=0"
+  "capacity": "shanks=3,ace=2,g14=0,novox=0",
+  "cores-per-step": 6,
+  "build-hours": ""
 }

modules/mesh-build-go/go.mod

@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ module meshbuildgo
 go 1.26.0
 
 require (
-	git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261026142629-ff81bdf8cc8f
+	git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261026202658-805b4d9a3536
 	github.com/distribution/distribution/v3 v3.1.2
 	github.com/nats-io/nats-server/v2 v2.11.17
 	github.com/nats-io/nats.go v1.54.0

modules/mesh-build-go/go.sum

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261026142629-ff81bdf8cc8f h1:GYLCvz2x+JNUOTbXzyh2QwzX0sTzvRlXR7lGocWjk3A=
+git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261026202658-805b4d9a3536 h1:+SoDdDXF7Tgj38WP4kRpUSps6DJVl6P+w5u/KfdtwnQ=
-git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261026142629-ff81bdf8cc8f/go.mod h1:ouERNpZizzwZ0HLEtAypsY9FR20FyUgUYRni6J7kVCY=
+git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261026202658-805b4d9a3536/go.mod h1:ouERNpZizzwZ0HLEtAypsY9FR20FyUgUYRni6J7kVCY=
 github.com/alicebob/miniredis/v2 v2.35.0 h1:QwLphYqCEAo1eu1TqPRN2jgVMPBweeQcR21jeqDCONI=
 github.com/alicebob/miniredis/v2 v2.35.0/go.mod h1:TcL7YfarKPGDAthEtl5NBeHZfeUQj6OXMm/+iu5cLMM=
 github.com/antithesishq/antithesis-sdk-go v0.7.0-default-no-op h1:Z/MZK75wC/NSrkgqeNIa7jexam9uWzhLmFTSCPI/kn0=

modules/mesh-build-go/module.json

@@ -29,6 +29,18 @@
       "description": "How many asks of the Go build seat this module runs at once on each node, as node=asks pairs separated by commas, such as shanks=3,ace=2 (novox/hq ADR 0525 §5); a node set to 0 pulls nothing, a node not named runs one at a time. The control-node and the laptop build nothing.",
       "pattern": "|[a-z0-9_-]+=[0-9]+(,[a-z0-9_-]+=[0-9]+)*",
       "default": "shanks=3,ace=2,g14=0,novox=0"
+    },
+    "build-hours": {
+      "type": "string",
+      "description": "When each node may take this module's build asks, as node=HH:MM-HH:MM pairs in the node's local time, separated by commas, such as g14=18:00-06:00 (an end before its start crosses midnight). Outside its window a node takes no new step and finishes the ones it runs; a node not named, or an empty value, builds at any hour. The operator, 2026-10-26: g14 builds only outside office hours.",
+      "pattern": "|[a-z0-9_-]+=([01][0-9]|2[0-3]):[0-5][0-9]-([01][0-9]|2[0-3]):[0-5][0-9](,[a-z0-9_-]+=([01][0-9]|2[0-3]):[0-5][0-9]-([01][0-9]|2[0-3]):[0-5][0-9])*",
+      "default": ""
+    },
+    "cores-per-step": {
+      "type": "number",
+      "description": "How many processors one Go step of this module needs (a full check of a large repository takes what it is given: three at about 4 cores each ran past the 30-minute step bound on 2026-10-26). The capacity above is an upper bound: on each node the module runs at most floor(the cores of its build slice's CPU quota / this) steps at once, the quota read live from its cgroup (issue 1806), so a lowered build CPU share never starves its steps. Above 0.",
+      "minimum": 0.1,
+      "default": 6
     }
   },
   "tools": [
@@ -107,7 +119,7 @@
       "path": "${dir:state}/settings.json",
       "mode": "0600",
       "owner": "mesh-build-go",
-      "takes-config": ["capacity"],
+      "takes-config": ["capacity", "cores-per-step", "build-hours"],
       "merge": "json",
       "template": "files/settings.json"
     },

modules/mesh-build-image/README.md

@@ -24,8 +24,9 @@ The Dockerfile's steps may use the network (ADR 0487 §6); nothing a step can re
 
 - `build_image_fetch` fetches a commit over SSH into a workspace (a base commit makes the merge preview, as the other
   build modules' fetch). Long: answers a step id and ends on its key in `steps`.
-- `build_image_build` builds one image artifact: `buildah bud` with the Dockerfile of the module's directory as file
+- `build_image_build` builds one image artifact: `buildah bud` with the Dockerfile `from` names (in the module's
-  and context, `--target`, and the images `build.on` pins as `--build-arg`. Answers the image's digest. With
+  directory or a subdirectory of it) as file and the module's own directory as context, so a COPY names paths from the
+  module's root (issue 1703), `--target`, and the images `build.on` pins as `--build-arg`. Answers the image's digest. With
   `publish: true` (a merged trunk commit only) the module's own process then pushes it to the registry under
   `<module>/<artifact>:<tag of its own>` (the first 12 hex digits of the digest unless the call gives one), waiting out
   a registry held still, and the key carries the digest the registry serves and the reference pinned by it. Without

modules/mesh-build-image/cmd/mesh-build-image/asks.go

@@ -40,9 +40,17 @@ func (m *Module) Puller(steps []StepTool, source buildstep.AskSource) *buildstep
 	// The capacity's own change wakes the puller (issue 1887): the runtime's watch of the config value as mesh-config
 	// resolved it; the settings file is read only when that watch cannot start. A test's Capacity is its own.
 	var watch func(string, func(stdio.ProvisionChange) error) error
+	// And the CPU bounds it (issue 1806's follow-up): the configured capacity is an upper bound, the node's build slice
+	// gives floor(its quota's cores / the module's cores-per-step) at once, read live; a test judges by its own Capacity.
+	// And the node's build hours (the operator, 2026-10-26: g14 builds only from 18:00 to 06:00): outside them it takes
+	// nothing new.
+	var cores func() float64
+	var hours func() (*buildstep.BuildWindow, string)
 	if capacity == nil {
+		hours = buildstep.NodeBuildHours(m.Settings, m.Node, m.Say)
 		capacity = buildstep.NodeCapacity(m.Settings, buildstep.DefaultCapacities, m.Node, m.Say)
 		watch = buildstep.WatchConfigServed
+		cores = buildstep.NodeCoresPerStep(m.Settings, buildstep.DefaultCoresPerStep[delivery.AskImage], m.Say)
 	}
 	ask := m.askSteps(steps)
 	var load func(string) ([]byte, error)
@@ -50,7 +58,7 @@ func (m *Module) Puller(steps []StepTool, source buildstep.AskSource) *buildstep
 		load = func(key string) ([]byte, error) { return m.ReadPauses.Get(key) }
 	}
 	return &buildstep.Puller{Source: source, Language: delivery.AskImage, Node: m.Node, Put: m.Steps, PausePut: m.Pauses, Load: load,
-		Capacity: capacity, WatchConfig: watch, Logf: m.Say,
+		Capacity: capacity, WatchConfig: watch, CoresPerStep: cores, BuildHours: hours, Logf: m.Say,
 		Run: func(ctx context.Context, a delivery.StepAsk) (any, error) {
 			if err := m.Check(ctx); err != nil {
 				return nil, err

modules/mesh-build-image/cmd/mesh-build-image/build.go

@@ -55,18 +55,18 @@ func (m *Module) buildTool() StepTool {
 }
 
 // unsupportedImage says why this module does not build the artifact, or "" when it does. It is the one place that
-// knows which image forms are out: ADR 0487 §1 takes the Dockerfile's directory as the build context and the base
+// knows which image forms are out: ADR 0487 §1 builds from the module's own directory (the build context) and the base
 // from the Dockerfile or an image pinned in `build.on`, so a context that is another repository and a base that is
 // another module's artifact are not built (the lead's decision for R4c-9, which retires them with build-agent at R4g).
 func unsupportedImage(manifest catalogue.Manifest, a catalogue.Artifact) string {
 	if a.Context != nil {
-		return fmt.Sprintf("the image %s of %s builds with the repository %s as its context; mesh-build-image takes the Dockerfile's directory as the build context (ADR 0487 §1) and does not build a whole repository",
+		return fmt.Sprintf("the image %s of %s builds with the repository %s as its context; mesh-build-image takes the module's own directory as the build context (ADR 0487 §1) and does not build another repository",
 			a.Name, manifest.Module, a.Context.Repository)
 	}
 	if manifest.Build != nil {
 		for _, on := range manifest.Build.On {
 			if on.Module != "" {
-				return fmt.Sprintf("the image %s of %s stands on the artifact %s of the module %s through the build argument %s; mesh-build-image builds only from the Dockerfile's directory and an image pinned in build.on (ADR 0487 §1)",
+				return fmt.Sprintf("the image %s of %s stands on the artifact %s of the module %s through the build argument %s; mesh-build-image builds only from the module's own directory and an image pinned in build.on (ADR 0487 §1)",
 					a.Name, manifest.Module, on.Artifact, on.Module, on.Arg)
 			}
 		}
@@ -183,8 +183,14 @@ func (m *Module) build(ctx context.Context, args map[string]any) (any, error) {
 	return m.push(ctx, workspace, manifest.Module, local, res, tag)
 }
 
-// dockerfileOf is the Dockerfile an artifact's `from` names and the build context: the directory it lies in. It must
+// dockerfileOf is the Dockerfile an artifact's `from` names and the build context: the module's own directory, the
-// be a regular file inside the module's own directory (checks/imageplace holds the catalogue to the same).
+// one its manifest lies in, whichever subdirectory the Dockerfile sits in. `from` is a path relative to that
+// directory, and so is every COPY of the Dockerfile: a recipe in a subdirectory (photos' admin-client/Dockerfile
+// copies admin-client/... and client-server/serve.mjs) builds as build-agent built it, and as the fingerprint reads
+// the module's whole directory as its build source. Taking the Dockerfile's own directory instead failed every such
+// COPY with `copier: stat ... no such file or directory` (issue 1703, 2026-10-26). The context never leaves the module's
+// directory, so a module's build reads no other module's files. The Dockerfile must be a regular file inside that
+// directory (checks/imageplace holds the catalogue to the same).
 func dockerfileOf(moduleDir, from string) (dockerfile, contextDir string, err error) {
 	clean := filepath.Clean(filepath.FromSlash(strings.TrimSpace(from)))
 	if from == "" || filepath.IsAbs(clean) || clean == ".." || strings.HasPrefix(clean, ".."+string(filepath.Separator)) {
@@ -195,7 +201,7 @@ func dockerfileOf(moduleDir, from string) (dockerfile, contextDir string, err er
 	if err != nil || !info.Mode().IsRegular() {
 		return "", "", fmt.Errorf("%q is not a file in the module's directory", from)
 	}
-	return dockerfile, filepath.Dir(dockerfile), nil
+	return dockerfile, moduleDir, nil
 }
 
 // localName names the image in buildah's store: one name for each artifact of a workspace.

modules/mesh-build-image/cmd/mesh-build-image/build_test.go

@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ func TestBuildRunsBuildahRootlessAndAnswersTheDigest(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 	}
 	if !strings.HasSuffix(bud[0].line, " "+dir) {
-		t.Errorf("the context is not the Dockerfile's directory:\n%s", bud[0].line)
+		t.Errorf("the context is not the module's directory:\n%s", bud[0].line)
 	}
 	for _, c := range f.calls {
 		if c.name != "buildah" {
@@ -122,6 +122,43 @@ func TestBuildRunsBuildahRootlessAndAnswersTheDigest(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+// Issue 1703, 2026-10-26: a Dockerfile in a subdirectory of the module builds with the module's directory as its
+// context, so its COPY of a path from the module's root (photos' admin-client/Dockerfile copies admin-client/... and
+// client-server/serve.mjs) finds it; the Dockerfile's own directory as the context failed with `copier: stat
+// "/admin-client/package.json": no such file or directory`.
+func TestBuildContextIsTheModulesDirectoryForADockerfileInASubdirectory(t *testing.T) {
+	m, f, states := setup(t, func(s string) string {
+		return strings.Replace(s, `"from": "Dockerfile"`, `"from": "admin-client/Dockerfile"`, 1)
+	})
+	dir := filepath.Join(m.Work, "ws1", "tree", "modules", "demo")
+	for name, body := range map[string]string{
+		"admin-client/Dockerfile":   "ARG DEMO_BASE\nFROM ${DEMO_BASE} AS final\nCOPY admin-client/package.json client-server/serve.mjs /\n",
+		"admin-client/package.json": "{}\n",
+		"client-server/serve.mjs":   "\n",
+	} {
+		if err := os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(filepath.Join(dir, name)), 0o755); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		if err := os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(dir, name), []byte(body), 0o644); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+	}
+	_, st := runBuild(t, m, states, nil)
+	if st.State != delivery.StepPassed {
+		t.Fatalf("step = %+v", st)
+	}
+	bud := f.called("bud")
+	if len(bud) != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("buildah bud ran %d times", len(bud))
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(bud[0].line, "--file "+dir+"/admin-client/Dockerfile ") {
+		t.Errorf("the Dockerfile is not the subdirectory's:\n%s", bud[0].line)
+	}
+	if !strings.HasSuffix(bud[0].line, " "+dir) {
+		t.Errorf("the context is not the module's directory, so admin-client/ and client-server/ are out of reach:\n%s", bud[0].line)
+	}
+}
+
 // 1703c, issue 1703: a failing Dockerfile step fails the step, its reason saying buildah's error from stderr, never the
 // last STEP line buildah writes on stdout; nothing is pushed.
 func TestBuildFailsWithBuildahsError(t *testing.T) {
@@ -178,7 +215,7 @@ func TestBuildRefusesAnImageWithARepositoryContextOrAModuleBase(t *testing.T) {
 	}{
 		"context": {func(s string) string {
 			return strings.Replace(s, `"target": "final"`, `"target": "final", "context": {"seat": "git", "repository": "novox/mesh-controller"}`, 1)
-		}, []string{"novox/mesh-controller", "Dockerfile's directory", "ADR 0487"}},
+		}, []string{"novox/mesh-controller", "module's own directory", "ADR 0487"}},
 		"module base": {func(s string) string {
 			return strings.Replace(s, `"image": "docker.io/library/busybox@sha256:0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000001"`, `"module": "mesh-sdk", "artifact": "lib"`, 1)
 		}, []string{"artifact lib of the module mesh-sdk", "DEMO_BASE"}},

modules/mesh-build-image/cmd/mesh-build-image/cpu.go

@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@ import (
 func (m *Module) cpuLimits() buildcpu.Limits {
 	slots := 1
 	switch {
+	case m.Held != nil:
+		slots = m.Held.CapacityNow() // the capacity the puller judges by, bounded by the node's build slice
 	case m.Capacity != nil:
 		slots = m.Capacity()
 	case m.Settings != "":
@@ -32,5 +34,9 @@ func (m *Module) threadEnv() []string {
 // cpuStatus is what the status tool says of it: the limits a step is given, and what the kernel holds this runtime
 // to (its unit and its slice), read from its cgroup rather than assumed.
 func (m *Module) cpuStatus() map[string]any {
-	return map[string]any{"limits": m.cpuLimits(), "in-force": buildcpu.ReadInForce()}
+	out := map[string]any{"limits": m.cpuLimits(), "in-force": buildcpu.ReadInForce()}
+	if m.Held != nil {
+		out["capacity"] = m.Held.CapacityDetail() // the capacity judged by and why (issue 1806's follow-up)
+	}
+	return out
 }

modules/mesh-build-image/cmd/mesh-build-image/fetch.go

@@ -31,13 +31,15 @@ const ForgeAlias = "mesh-forge"
 // files in conflict, the paths the merge changes and the tree of each module directory). A head that does not
 // merge cleanly is an answer: Merge is empty, Conflicts names the files, and the workspace is left at the trunk.
 type FetchResult struct {
-	Workspace string                          `json:"workspace"`
+	Workspace string   `json:"workspace"`
-	Commit    string                          `json:"commit"`
+	Commit    string   `json:"commit"`
-	Base      string                          `json:"base,omitempty"`
+	Base      string   `json:"base,omitempty"`
-	Merge     string                          `json:"merge,omitempty"`
+	Merge     string   `json:"merge,omitempty"`
-	Conflicts []string                        `json:"conflicts,omitempty"`
+	Conflicts []string `json:"conflicts,omitempty"`
-	Changed   []string                        `json:"changed,omitempty"`
+	Changed   []string `json:"changed,omitempty"`
-	Trees     map[string]buildstep.ModuleTree `json:"trees,omitempty"`
+	// Programs are the changed files that are compiled programs (issue 1577); a merge answers it, a pointer to an empty list when there are none, absent for a fetch that made no merge.
+	Programs *[]buildstep.Program            `json:"programs,omitempty"`
+	Trees    map[string]buildstep.ModuleTree `json:"trees,omitempty"`
 }
 
 func (m *Module) fetchTool() StepTool {
@@ -127,6 +129,9 @@ func (m *Module) merge(ctx context.Context, res *FetchResult, tree, remote, base
 	}
 	res.Base = mr.Base
 	res.Conflicts, res.Merge, res.Changed = mr.Conflicts, mr.Merge, mr.Changed
+	if mr.Merge != "" {
+		res.Programs = &mr.Programs
+	}
 	if res.Merge == "" {
 		return nil
 	}

modules/mesh-build-image/files/settings.json

@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
 {
-  "capacity": "shanks=3,ace=2,g14=0,novox=0"
+  "capacity": "shanks=3,ace=2,g14=0,novox=0",
+  "cores-per-step": 2,
+  "build-hours": ""
 }

modules/mesh-build-image/go.mod

@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ module meshbuildimage
 go 1.26.0
 
 require (
-	git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261026142629-ff81bdf8cc8f
+	git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261026202658-805b4d9a3536
 	github.com/nats-io/nats-server/v2 v2.11.17
 	github.com/nats-io/nats.go v1.54.0
 )

modules/mesh-build-image/go.sum

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261026142629-ff81bdf8cc8f h1:GYLCvz2x+JNUOTbXzyh2QwzX0sTzvRlXR7lGocWjk3A=
+git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261026202658-805b4d9a3536 h1:+SoDdDXF7Tgj38WP4kRpUSps6DJVl6P+w5u/KfdtwnQ=
-git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261026142629-ff81bdf8cc8f/go.mod h1:ouERNpZizzwZ0HLEtAypsY9FR20FyUgUYRni6J7kVCY=
+git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261026202658-805b4d9a3536/go.mod h1:ouERNpZizzwZ0HLEtAypsY9FR20FyUgUYRni6J7kVCY=
 github.com/antithesishq/antithesis-sdk-go v0.7.0-default-no-op h1:Z/MZK75wC/NSrkgqeNIa7jexam9uWzhLmFTSCPI/kn0=
 github.com/antithesishq/antithesis-sdk-go v0.7.0-default-no-op/go.mod h1:FQyySiasQQM8735Ddel3MRojmy4dA1IqCeyJ5jmPMbI=
 github.com/google/go-tpm v0.9.8 h1:slArAR9Ft+1ybZu0lBwpSmpwhRXaa85hWtMinMyRAWo=

modules/mesh-build-image/module.json

@@ -24,6 +24,18 @@
       "description": "How many asks of the image build seat this module runs at once on each node, as node=asks pairs separated by commas, such as shanks=3,ace=2 (novox/hq ADR 0525 §5); a node set to 0 pulls nothing, a node not named runs one at a time. The control-node and the laptop build nothing.",
       "pattern": "|[a-z0-9_-]+=[0-9]+(,[a-z0-9_-]+=[0-9]+)*",
       "default": "shanks=3,ace=2,g14=0,novox=0"
+    },
+    "build-hours": {
+      "type": "string",
+      "description": "When each node may take this module's build asks, as node=HH:MM-HH:MM pairs in the node's local time, separated by commas, such as g14=18:00-06:00 (an end before its start crosses midnight). Outside its window a node takes no new step and finishes the ones it runs; a node not named, or an empty value, builds at any hour. The operator, 2026-10-26: g14 builds only outside office hours.",
+      "pattern": "|[a-z0-9_-]+=([01][0-9]|2[0-3]):[0-5][0-9]-([01][0-9]|2[0-3]):[0-5][0-9](,[a-z0-9_-]+=([01][0-9]|2[0-3]):[0-5][0-9]-([01][0-9]|2[0-3]):[0-5][0-9])*",
+      "default": ""
+    },
+    "cores-per-step": {
+      "type": "number",
+      "description": "How many processors one image step of this module needs (buildah, whose RUN lines are mostly fetches). The capacity above is an upper bound: on each node the module runs at most floor(the cores of its build slice's CPU quota / this) steps at once, the quota read live from its cgroup (issue 1806), so a lowered build CPU share never starves its steps. Above 0.",
+      "minimum": 0.1,
+      "default": 2
     }
   },
   "tools": [
@@ -78,7 +90,7 @@
       "path": "${dir:state}/settings.json",
       "mode": "0600",
       "owner": "mesh-build-image",
-      "takes-config": ["capacity"],
+      "takes-config": ["capacity", "cores-per-step", "build-hours"],
       "merge": "json",
       "template": "files/settings.json"
     },

modules/mesh-build-node/cmd/mesh-build-node/asks.go

@@ -48,9 +48,17 @@ func (m *Module) Puller(steps []StepTool, source buildstep.AskSource) *buildstep
 	// The capacity's own change wakes the puller (issue 1887): the runtime's watch of the config value as mesh-config
 	// resolved it; the settings file is read only when that watch cannot start. A test's Capacity is its own.
 	var watch func(string, func(stdio.ProvisionChange) error) error
+	// And the CPU bounds it (issue 1806's follow-up): the configured capacity is an upper bound, the node's build slice
+	// gives floor(its quota's cores / the module's cores-per-step) at once, read live; a test judges by its own Capacity.
+	// And the node's build hours (the operator, 2026-10-26: g14 builds only from 18:00 to 06:00): outside them it takes
+	// nothing new.
+	var cores func() float64
+	var hours func() (*buildstep.BuildWindow, string)
 	if capacity == nil {
+		hours = buildstep.NodeBuildHours(m.Settings, m.Node, m.Say)
 		capacity = buildstep.NodeCapacity(m.Settings, buildstep.DefaultCapacities, m.Node, m.Say)
 		watch = buildstep.WatchConfigServed
+		cores = buildstep.NodeCoresPerStep(m.Settings, buildstep.DefaultCoresPerStep[delivery.AskNode], m.Say)
 	}
 	ask := m.askSteps(steps)
 	var load func(string) ([]byte, error)
@@ -58,7 +66,7 @@ func (m *Module) Puller(steps []StepTool, source buildstep.AskSource) *buildstep
 		load = func(key string) ([]byte, error) { return m.ReadPauses.Get(key) }
 	}
 	return &buildstep.Puller{Source: source, Language: delivery.AskNode, Node: m.Node, Put: m.Steps, PausePut: m.Pauses, Load: load,
-		Capacity: capacity, WatchConfig: watch, Logf: m.Say,
+		Capacity: capacity, WatchConfig: watch, CoresPerStep: cores, BuildHours: hours, Logf: m.Say,
 		Run: func(ctx context.Context, a delivery.StepAsk) (any, error) {
 			if err := m.Prepare(ctx); err != nil {
 				return nil, err

modules/mesh-build-node/cmd/mesh-build-node/asks_test.go

@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package main
 import (
 	"context"
 	"encoding/json"
+	"fmt"
 	"os"
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
@@ -83,12 +84,28 @@ func TestManifestTakesTheBuildCapacity(t *testing.T) {
 	raw, _ := os.ReadFile(moduleDir + "/module.json")
 	var doc struct {
 		Config map[string]struct {
-			Default string `json:"default"`
+			Default json.RawMessage `json:"default"`
 		} `json:"config"`
 	}
 	_ = json.Unmarshal(raw, &doc)
-	if doc.Config[buildstep.CapacitySetting].Default != buildstep.DefaultCapacities {
+	// Issue 1806's follow-up: the cores a step needs is a setting of its own, in the settings file, with the SDK's default.
-		t.Errorf("the capacity's default = %q", doc.Config[buildstep.CapacitySetting].Default)
+	if cores := string(doc.Config[buildstep.CoresPerStepSetting].Default); cores != fmt.Sprint(buildstep.DefaultCoresPerStep[delivery.AskNode]) {
+		t.Errorf("the cores-per-step default = %s, want %g", cores, buildstep.DefaultCoresPerStep[delivery.AskNode])
+	}
+	if got := buildstep.NodeCoresPerStep(moduleDir+"/files/settings.json", 0, nil)(); got != buildstep.DefaultCoresPerStep[delivery.AskNode] {
+		t.Errorf("the settings template holds cores-per-step %g", got)
+	}
+	// And the build hours (the operator, 2026-10-26): a setting of their own, empty by default (any hour), in the template.
+	if hours := string(doc.Config[buildstep.BuildHoursSetting].Default); hours != `""` {
+		t.Errorf("the build-hours default = %s, want empty", hours)
+	}
+	if w, fault := buildstep.NodeBuildHours(moduleDir+"/files/settings.json", "g14", t.Errorf)(); w != nil || fault != "" {
+		t.Errorf("the settings template holds build hours %v (%s)", w, fault)
+	}
+	var capacity string
+	_ = json.Unmarshal(doc.Config[buildstep.CapacitySetting].Default, &capacity)
+	if capacity != buildstep.DefaultCapacities {
+		t.Errorf("the capacity's default = %q", capacity)
 	}
 	if resource(t, m, "settings")["path"] != "${dir:state}/settings.json" {
 		t.Error("no settings file")

modules/mesh-build-node/cmd/mesh-build-node/cpu.go

@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@ import (
 func (m *Module) cpuLimits() buildcpu.Limits {
 	slots := 1
 	switch {
+	case m.Held != nil:
+		slots = m.Held.CapacityNow() // the capacity the puller judges by, bounded by the node's build slice
 	case m.Capacity != nil:
 		slots = m.Capacity()
 	case m.Settings != "":
@@ -32,5 +34,9 @@ func (m *Module) threadEnv() []string {
 // cpuStatus is what the status tool says of it: the limits a step is given, and what the kernel holds this runtime
 // to (its unit and its slice), read from its cgroup rather than assumed.
 func (m *Module) cpuStatus() map[string]any {
-	return map[string]any{"limits": m.cpuLimits(), "in-force": buildcpu.ReadInForce()}
+	out := map[string]any{"limits": m.cpuLimits(), "in-force": buildcpu.ReadInForce()}
+	if m.Held != nil {
+		out["capacity"] = m.Held.CapacityDetail() // the capacity judged by and why (issue 1806's follow-up)
+	}
+	return out
 }

modules/mesh-build-node/cmd/mesh-build-node/fetch.go

@@ -51,11 +51,13 @@ type FetchResult struct {
 	// commit, the merge commit of the head onto it, the paths the merge changes and the tree of each module directory.
 	// A head that does not merge cleanly is an answer: Merge is empty, Conflicts names the files, and the workspace is
 	// left at the trunk commit with nothing installed.
-	Base      string                          `json:"base,omitempty"`
+	Base      string   `json:"base,omitempty"`
-	Merge     string                          `json:"merge,omitempty"`
+	Merge     string   `json:"merge,omitempty"`
-	Conflicts []string                        `json:"conflicts,omitempty"`
+	Conflicts []string `json:"conflicts,omitempty"`
-	Changed   []string                        `json:"changed,omitempty"`
+	Changed   []string `json:"changed,omitempty"`
-	Trees     map[string]buildstep.ModuleTree `json:"trees,omitempty"`
+	// Programs are the changed files that are compiled programs (issue 1577); a merge answers it, a pointer to an empty list when there are none, absent for a fetch that made no merge.
+	Programs *[]buildstep.Program            `json:"programs,omitempty"`
+	Trees    map[string]buildstep.ModuleTree `json:"trees,omitempty"`
 	// Group is the group's package the fetch packed and served to the TypeScript members (the call's `package`):
 	// "<name>@<version> <integrity>".
 	Group string `json:"group,omitempty"`

modules/mesh-build-node/cmd/mesh-build-node/preview.go

@@ -27,6 +27,9 @@ func (m *Module) merge(ctx context.Context, run forgekey.Runner, res *FetchResul
 	}
 	res.Base = mr.Base
 	res.Conflicts, res.Merge, res.Changed = mr.Conflicts, mr.Merge, mr.Changed
+	if mr.Merge != "" {
+		res.Programs = &mr.Programs
+	}
 	if res.Merge == "" {
 		return nil
 	}

modules/mesh-build-node/files/settings.json

@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
 {
-  "capacity": "shanks=3,ace=2,g14=0,novox=0"
+  "capacity": "shanks=3,ace=2,g14=0,novox=0",
+  "cores-per-step": 2,
+  "build-hours": ""
 }

modules/mesh-build-node/go.mod

@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ module meshbuildnode
 go 1.26.0
 
 require (
-	git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261026142629-ff81bdf8cc8f
+	git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261026202658-805b4d9a3536
 	github.com/distribution/distribution/v3 v3.1.2
 	github.com/nats-io/nats.go v1.54.0
 )

modules/mesh-build-node/go.sum

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261026142629-ff81bdf8cc8f h1:GYLCvz2x+JNUOTbXzyh2QwzX0sTzvRlXR7lGocWjk3A=
+git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261026202658-805b4d9a3536 h1:+SoDdDXF7Tgj38WP4kRpUSps6DJVl6P+w5u/KfdtwnQ=
-git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261026142629-ff81bdf8cc8f/go.mod h1:ouERNpZizzwZ0HLEtAypsY9FR20FyUgUYRni6J7kVCY=
+git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261026202658-805b4d9a3536/go.mod h1:ouERNpZizzwZ0HLEtAypsY9FR20FyUgUYRni6J7kVCY=
 github.com/alicebob/miniredis/v2 v2.35.0 h1:QwLphYqCEAo1eu1TqPRN2jgVMPBweeQcR21jeqDCONI=
 github.com/alicebob/miniredis/v2 v2.35.0/go.mod h1:TcL7YfarKPGDAthEtl5NBeHZfeUQj6OXMm/+iu5cLMM=
 github.com/antithesishq/antithesis-sdk-go v0.7.0-default-no-op h1:Z/MZK75wC/NSrkgqeNIa7jexam9uWzhLmFTSCPI/kn0=

modules/mesh-build-node/module.json

@@ -25,6 +25,18 @@
       "description": "How many asks of the Node build seat this module runs at once on each node, as node=asks pairs separated by commas, such as shanks=3,ace=2 (novox/hq ADR 0525 §5); a node set to 0 pulls nothing, a node not named runs one at a time. The control-node and the laptop build nothing.",
       "pattern": "|[a-z0-9_-]+=[0-9]+(,[a-z0-9_-]+=[0-9]+)*",
       "default": "shanks=3,ace=2,g14=0,novox=0"
+    },
+    "build-hours": {
+      "type": "string",
+      "description": "When each node may take this module's build asks, as node=HH:MM-HH:MM pairs in the node's local time, separated by commas, such as g14=18:00-06:00 (an end before its start crosses midnight). Outside its window a node takes no new step and finishes the ones it runs; a node not named, or an empty value, builds at any hour. The operator, 2026-10-26: g14 builds only outside office hours.",
+      "pattern": "|[a-z0-9_-]+=([01][0-9]|2[0-3]):[0-5][0-9]-([01][0-9]|2[0-3]):[0-5][0-9](,[a-z0-9_-]+=([01][0-9]|2[0-3]):[0-5][0-9]-([01][0-9]|2[0-3]):[0-5][0-9])*",
+      "default": ""
+    },
+    "cores-per-step": {
+      "type": "number",
+      "description": "How many processors one Node step of this module needs (tsc, esbuild and a test runner; a median step takes 15 s). The capacity above is an upper bound: on each node the module runs at most floor(the cores of its build slice's CPU quota / this) steps at once, the quota read live from its cgroup (issue 1806), so a lowered build CPU share never starves its steps. Above 0.",
+      "minimum": 0.1,
+      "default": 2
     }
   },
   "tools": [
@@ -100,7 +112,7 @@
       "path": "${dir:state}/settings.json",
       "mode": "0600",
       "owner": "mesh-build-node",
-      "takes-config": ["capacity"],
+      "takes-config": ["capacity", "cores-per-step", "build-hours"],
       "merge": "json",
       "template": "files/settings.json"
     },

modules/mesh-config/cmd/mesh-config/main.go

@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ func resolving(c *Config) {
 		}
 		return nil
 	}
-	for _, read := range []string{AssignmentsRead, PlacementRead, DeclaredConfigRead, PredefinedRead} {
+	for _, read := range []string{AssignmentsRead, DeclaredConfigRead, PredefinedRead} {
 		go func(read string) {
 			for wait := 2 * time.Second; ; wait = min(wait*2, time.Minute) {
 				time.Sleep(wait)

modules/mesh-config/cmd/mesh-config/pulled_in_test.go

@@ -21,16 +21,4 @@ func TestAModulePulledInHasItsValuesResolvedOnItsNode(t *testing.T) {
 	if r, _ := c.Reconcile(); len(r.Moved) != 4 || !r.Moved[0].Gone {
 		t.Errorf("a module no longer pulled in moved %+v", r.Moved)
 	}
-
-	// 1126 (ADR 0549 §3, §5): a module the catalogue's placement names on a node resolves there as an assigned one does,
-	// while the two sources stand; it goes when neither names it.
-	m.mirror(t, PlacementRead, "placement.ace", `{"v":1,"node":"ace","modules":[{"module":"dunst"}]}`)
-	if r, err := c.Reconcile(); err != nil || len(r.Moved) != 4 {
-		t.Fatalf("a placed module's values moved %+v (%v)", r.Moved, err)
-	}
-	expect(t, m, "ace", "10", SourceDefault)
-	_ = m.Delete(PlacementRead, "placement.ace")
-	if r, _ := c.Reconcile(); len(r.Moved) != 4 || !r.Moved[0].Gone {
-		t.Errorf("a module no longer placed moved %+v", r.Moved)
-	}
 }

modules/mesh-config/cmd/mesh-config/resolve.go

@@ -20,10 +20,7 @@ const (
 	PredefinedState = "predefined"
 	ProposalsState  = "proposals"
 
-	AssignmentsRead = "mesh-controller.assignments"
+	AssignmentsRead    = "mesh-controller.assignments"
-	// PlacementRead is the indexer's placement, read from the catalogue at each merge (novox/hq ADR 0549 §2, §3): each
-	// node's key `placement.<node>` with the modules placed there.
-	PlacementRead      = "mesh-delivery-indexer.placement"
 	DeclaredConfigRead = "mesh-controller.declared-config"
 	PredefinedRead     = "mesh-controller.predefined"
 

modules/mesh-config/cmd/mesh-config/sources.go

@@ -27,38 +27,6 @@ func (c *Config) sources() (Sources, error) {
 	}); err != nil {
 		return s, fmt.Errorf("the assignments cannot be read: %w", err)
 	}
-	// And every module the catalogue's placement names on a node (ADR 0549 §3): until ADR 0547's third milestone both
-	// sources stand (ADR 0549 §5), so a pair either names is resolved, and none loses its values while the two differ.
-	// Placement that cannot be read yet (the indexer's state not on the bus) leaves the assignments alone, said.
-	standing := map[string]bool{}
-	for _, a := range s.Assignments {
-		standing[a.Node+"."+a.Module] = true
-	}
-	if err := c.each(PlacementRead, func(key string, raw []byte) error {
-		node, ok := strings.CutPrefix(key, "placement.")
-		if !ok {
-			return nil
-		}
-		var p struct {
-			Node    string `json:"node"`
-			Modules []struct {
-				Module string `json:"module"`
-			} `json:"modules"`
-		}
-		if err := json.Unmarshal(raw, &p); err != nil || p.Node != node {
-			problems = append(problems, fmt.Sprintf("the placement %s is not one", key))
-			return nil
-		}
-		for _, m := range p.Modules {
-			if m.Module != "" && !standing[node+"."+m.Module] {
-				standing[node+"."+m.Module] = true
-				s.Assignments = append(s.Assignments, Assignment{Node: node, Module: m.Module})
-			}
-		}
-		return nil
-	}); err != nil {
-		problems = append(problems, fmt.Sprintf("the catalogue's placement cannot be read, so the assignments alone are resolved: %v", err))
-	}
 	if err := c.each(DeclaredConfigRead, func(key string, raw []byte) error {
 		m, err := ParseModuleDeclarations(raw)
 		if err != nil {

modules/mesh-config/module.json

@@ -29,7 +29,6 @@
   ],
   "reads": [
     "mesh-controller.assignments",
-    "mesh-delivery-indexer.placement",
     "mesh-controller.declared-config",
     "mesh-controller.predefined"
   ],

modules/mesh-issues/cmd/mesh-issues/list_progress_test.go

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package main
 
 import (
 	"reflect"
+	"strings"
 	"testing"
 	"time"
 )
@@ -26,6 +27,22 @@ func TestListSaysWhenEachIssueMovedAndKeepsTheLinkedOnes(t *testing.T) {
 	if _, err := h.Link(LinkAsk{Number: quiet, Kind: LinkDesign, Target: "03-DESIGN/01-to-be/47-delivery-from-commit-to-delivered.md"}); err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
+	// Issue 1781: a milestone or a commit link places the issue and moves nothing, nor keeps its worker current.
+	if _, err := h.milestoneSet("lead@shanks", MilestoneSetAsk{Design: 47, ID: "R6", Outcome: "x"}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	h.fixing(t, noted)
+	worked, _ := h.Get(noted)
+	clock = clock.Add(time.Hour)
+	for _, l := range []LinkAsk{{Number: noted, Kind: LinkMilestone, Target: "47/R6"},
+		{Number: noted, Kind: LinkCommit, Target: "mesh-catalog@" + strings.Repeat("a", 40)}} {
+		if _, err := h.link("seed@shanks", l); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+	}
+	if after, _ := h.Get(noted); !after.Worker.Active.Equal(worked.Worker.Active) {
+		t.Fatalf("a milestone link kept the worker current: %v, was %v", after.Worker.Active, worked.Worker.Active)
+	}
 	start := time.Date(2026, 10, 26, 12, 0, 0, 0, time.UTC)
 	for _, c := range []struct {
 		name   string
@@ -35,7 +52,7 @@ func TestListSaysWhenEachIssueMovedAndKeepsTheLinkedOnes(t *testing.T) {
 		refuse bool
 	}{
 		{"numbers say moved", ListAsk{Numbers: []uint64{quiet, noted, linked}}, []uint64{quiet, noted, linked},
-			[]time.Time{start.Add(2 * time.Hour), start.Add(time.Hour), start.Add(2 * time.Hour)}, false},
+			[]time.Time{start.Add(2 * time.Hour), start.Add(2 * time.Hour), start.Add(2 * time.Hour)}, false},
 		{"linked to a decision", ListAsk{Linked: "decision:0493"}, []uint64{linked}, nil, false},
 		{"linked to a design", ListAsk{Linked: " design:03-DESIGN/01-to-be/47-delivery-from-commit-to-delivered.md"}, []uint64{quiet}, nil, false},
 		{"linked and numbers together", ListAsk{Linked: "decision:0493", Numbers: []uint64{quiet, noted}}, nil, nil, false},

modules/mesh-issues/cmd/mesh-issues/tracker.go

@@ -675,7 +675,9 @@ func (t *Tracker) link(by string, a LinkAsk) (*Linked, error) {
 					return fmt.Errorf("issue %d already has the %s link to %s", is.Number, kind, target)
 				}
 				is.Links = append(is.Links[:i:i], is.Links[i+1:]...)
-				touch(is, by, at)
+				if !placesOnly(kind) {
+					touch(is, by, at)
+				}
 				return nil
 			}
 		}
@@ -692,7 +694,9 @@ func (t *Tracker) link(by string, a LinkAsk) (*Linked, error) {
 			return fmt.Errorf("issue %d has %d links, the most one issue keeps", is.Number, MostLinks)
 		}
 		is.Links = append(is.Links, Link{Kind: kind, Target: target, By: by, At: at})
-		touch(is, by, at)
+		if !placesOnly(kind) {
+			touch(is, by, at)
+		}
 		return nil
 	})
 	if err != nil {
@@ -768,7 +772,7 @@ type Row struct {
 }
 
 // lastMoved is when an issue last changed, as its own record says: the latest of its opening, its closing, its
-// notes, its links, its worker's start and last act, its import and what the delivery last said of each fix.
+// notes, its links but those that only place it, its worker's start and last act, its import and what the delivery last said of each fix.
 func lastMoved(is *Issue) time.Time {
 	at := is.Opened
 	later := func(t time.Time) {
@@ -783,7 +787,9 @@ func lastMoved(is *Issue) time.Time {
 		later(n.At)
 	}
 	for _, l := range is.Links {
-		later(l.At)
+		if !placesOnly(l.Kind) {
+			later(l.At)
+		}
 	}
 	if w := is.Worker; w != nil {
 		later(w.Since)
@@ -798,6 +804,10 @@ func lastMoved(is *Issue) time.Time {
 	return at
 }
 
+// placesOnly says a link of this kind only places the issue (its milestone) or names a commit that fixed it: no work
+// on it, so it neither moves the issue nor keeps its worker current (issue 1781: the seed linked 188 issues at once).
+func placesOnly(kind string) bool { return kind == LinkMilestone || kind == LinkCommit }
+
 // checkLinked is a list's linked filter, kind:target, said the one way a link of that kind is kept.
 func checkLinked(s string) (kind, target string, err error) {
 	k, t, ok := strings.Cut(strings.TrimSpace(s), ":")

modules/mesh-knowledge/cmd/mesh-knowledge/progress.go

@@ -168,6 +168,8 @@ func (k *KB) Progress(a ProgressAsk) (*Progress, error) {
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
+	// A cut takes the warnings from the last: the calls that failed are said before the answers that did not parse.
+	callsFirst(p.Warnings)
 	fitProgress(p, boundOf(a.Bound))
 	return p, nil
 }
@@ -835,8 +837,21 @@ func movedSay(t *time.Time) string {
 	return " · moved " + when(t)
 }
 
+// callsFirst puts the warnings of calls that failed before those of answers that did not parse, in place.
+func callsFirst(w []string) {
+	sort.SliceStable(w, func(i, j int) bool {
+		return !strings.Contains(w[i], " answered something else") && strings.Contains(w[j], " answered something else")
+	})
+}
+
 // fitProgress keeps an answer within its bound: the items go first, then the tree's last lines, saying what was cut.
+// A minimal answer never carries the items: its tree says the same, one line per milestone, so leaving them out is how
+// the minimal form is made (the items of design 47 alone passed 8192 bytes) and no cut. A detailed answer's items, and
+// everything else that goes, are said in cut.
 func fitProgress(p *Progress, bound int) {
+	if p.Detail == DetailMinimal && p.Tree != "" {
+		p.Items = nil
+	}
 	if size(p) <= bound {
 		return
 	}

modules/mesh-knowledge/cmd/mesh-knowledge/progress_test.go

@@ -306,12 +306,23 @@ func TestProgressOfADesignMinimalAndDetailed(t *testing.T) {
 	if len(raw) > DefaultBound || p.Detail != DetailMinimal || !strings.Contains(p.Source, "the issue tracker's milestone records of design 47") {
 		t.Fatalf("%d bytes, %s, %s", len(raw), p.Detail, p.Source)
 	}
+	if p.Cut != "" || len(p.Items) != 0 {
+		t.Errorf("a minimal answer leaves the items to its tree and is not a cut: cut %q, %d items", p.Cut, len(p.Items))
+	}
+	warns := []string{"mesh-delivery.show a answered something else: x", "issue-tracker.get 1: refused", "the tracker did not name 2", "issue-tracker.get 3 answered something else: y"}
+	callsFirst(warns)
+	if strings.Join(warns, "|") != "issue-tracker.get 1: refused|the tracker did not name 2|mesh-delivery.show a answered something else: x|issue-tracker.get 3 answered something else: y" {
+		t.Errorf("call failures do not come first: %q", warns)
+	}
 	if seats.asked["seat:issue-tracker.list"] != 1 || seats.asked["seat:mesh-delivery.deliveries"] != 0 || seats.asked["seat:issue-tracker.get"] != 0 {
 		t.Fatalf("minimal asked %v", seats.asked)
 	}
 	if w := strings.Join(p.Warnings, "\n"); !strings.Contains(w, "the tracker neither answered nor named missing") || !strings.Contains(w, "973, 525") {
 		t.Errorf("a row the tracker did not answer is not said: %v", p.Warnings)
 	}
+	if big, _ := k.Progress(ProgressAsk{Of: "design 47", Bound: 8192}); big.Cut != "" || big.Tree != p.Tree {
+		t.Errorf("a minimal answer at bound 8192 is cut: %q", big.Cut)
+	}
 	lines := strings.Split(p.Tree, "\n")
 	if !strings.HasPrefix(lines[0], "✗ design 47 · Delivery: from a commit to delivered — ") {
 		t.Fatalf("first line %q", lines[0])

modules/mesh-vault/cmd/mesh-vault/nodekey_test.go

@@ -5,8 +5,6 @@ package main
 // key (or a first one) raises `secret-changed` for the machine's core secrets, the same key says nothing.
 
 import (
-	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/seal"
-
 	"encoding/json"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
@@ -102,17 +100,14 @@ authorization {
   users = [
     { user: "novox.mesh-vault", password: "pw", permissions: {
         publish: { deny: [">"] }
-        subscribe: { allow: ["mesh.seat.mesh-vault.call.node-key.*", "mesh.seat.mesh-vault.call.own.*"] }
+        subscribe: { allow: ["mesh.seat.mesh-vault.call.node-key.*"] }
         allow_responses: true } }
     { user: "node.ace", password: "pw", permissions: {
-        publish: { allow: ["mesh.seat.mesh-vault.call.node-key.node_ace", "mesh.seat.mesh-vault.call.own.node_ace"] }
+        publish: { allow: ["mesh.seat.mesh-vault.call.node-key.node_ace"] }
         subscribe: { allow: ["_INBOX.node.ace.>"] } } }
     { user: "node.g14", password: "pw", permissions: {
-        publish: { allow: ["mesh.seat.mesh-vault.call.node-key.node_g14", "mesh.seat.mesh-vault.call.own.node_g14"] }
+        publish: { allow: ["mesh.seat.mesh-vault.call.node-key.node_g14"] }
         subscribe: { allow: ["_INBOX.node.g14.>"] } } }
-    { user: "controller", password: "pw", permissions: {
-        publish: { allow: ["mesh.seat.mesh-vault.call.own.controller"] }
-        subscribe: { allow: ["_INBOX.controller.>"] } } }
   ]
 }
 `
@@ -140,48 +135,39 @@ func TestOnARealBusANodeEngineStatesOnlyItsOwnKey(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Cleanup(s.Shutdown)
 
 	v := newVault(t, nil)
-	v.Askers = Declared{Read: assignments{"ace.web": `{"node":"ace","module":"web"}`}.read, Store: v.Store}
+	tool := toolNamed(t, definitions(&Env{Vault: v.Vault}), Seat+".node-key")
-	tools := map[string]toolDef{"node-key": toolNamed(t, definitions(&Env{Vault: v.Vault}), Seat+".node-key"),
-		"own": toolNamed(t, definitions(&Env{Vault: v.Vault}), Seat+".own")}
 	vaultConn := connectAs(t, s.ClientURL(), "novox.mesh-vault")
-	serve := func(m *nats.Msg) {
+	if _, err := vaultConn.Subscribe("mesh.seat.mesh-vault.call.node-key.*", func(m *nats.Msg) {
 		parts := strings.Split(m.Subject, ".")
 		var args map[string]any
 		_ = json.Unmarshal(m.Data, &args)
 		answer := busAnswer{}
-		if got, err := tools[parts[len(parts)-2]].runAs(untoken(parts[len(parts)-1]), args); err != nil {
+		if got, err := tool.runAs(untoken(parts[len(parts)-1]), args); err != nil {
 			answer.Error = err.Error()
 		} else {
 			answer.Result, _ = json.Marshal(got)
 		}
 		raw, _ := json.Marshal(answer)
 		_ = m.Respond(raw)
-	}
+	}); err != nil {
-	for _, verb := range []string{"node-key", "own"} {
+		t.Fatal(err)
-		if _, err := vaultConn.Subscribe("mesh.seat.mesh-vault.call."+verb+".*", serve); err != nil {
-			t.Fatal(err)
-		}
 	}
 	_ = vaultConn.Flush()
 
-	call := func(user, subject string, args any) (json.RawMessage, error) {
+	say := func(user, subject, key string) (string, error) {
-		raw, _ := json.Marshal(args)
+		raw, _ := json.Marshal(map[string]string{"key": key})
 		msg, err := connectAs(t, s.ClientURL(), user).Request(subject, raw, 3*time.Second)
 		if err != nil {
-			return nil, err
+			return "", err
 		}
 		var a busAnswer
 		_ = json.Unmarshal(msg.Data, &a)
 		if a.Error != "" {
-			return nil, errString(a.Error)
+			return a.Error, errString(a.Error)
 		}
-		return a.Result, nil
+		return "", nil
 	}
-	say := func(user, subject, key string) (string, error) {
+	aceKey, _ := aSealingKey(t)
-		_, err := call(user, subject, map[string]string{"key": key})
-		return "", err
-	}
-	aceKey, acePriv := aSealingKey(t)
 	g14Key, _ := aSealingKey(t)
 	if _, err := say("node.ace", "mesh.seat.mesh-vault.call.node-key.node_ace", aceKey); err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
@@ -202,32 +188,4 @@ func TestOnARealBusANodeEngineStatesOnlyItsOwnKey(t *testing.T) {
 	if got, held, _ := v.Store.NodeKey("g14"); !held || got != g14Key {
 		t.Errorf("g14's key is %q, %v", got, held)
 	}
-
-	// Issue 1126 (ADR 0547 §2, ADR 0550 §5): `own` on the same bus. node.ace asks its own and gets its module's secret
-	// sealed to the key it stated, opening with its key alone; g14 cannot ask in ace's name, and asking in its own gets
-	// none of ace's; the controller is refused, as no node-engine.
-	if _, err := moveIn(t, v, "node.ace", MoveOf{Node: "ace", Module: "web", Name: "password", Origin: "made", Generation: "g-1",
-		SealingKey: aceKey}, "ace-web-pw"); err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-	raw, err := call("node.ace", "mesh.seat.mesh-vault.call.own.node_ace", map[string]any{})
-	var own OwnAnswer
-	if err != nil || json.Unmarshal(raw, &own) != nil || own.Node != "ace" || len(own.Own) != 1 {
-		t.Fatalf("ace's own over the bus: %s, %v", raw, err)
-	}
-	if value, err := seal.Open(own.Own[0].Sealed, acePriv); err != nil || string(value) != "ace-web-pw" {
-		t.Errorf("ace's secret does not open with ace's key: %q, %v", value, err)
-	}
-	if strings.Contains(string(raw), "ace-web-pw") {
-		t.Error("ace's secret crossed the bus in the clear")
-	}
-	if _, err := call("node.g14", "mesh.seat.mesh-vault.call.own.node_ace", map[string]any{}); err == nil {
-		t.Error("node.g14 asked ace's own in ace's name")
-	}
-	if raw, err := call("node.g14", "mesh.seat.mesh-vault.call.own.node_g14", map[string]any{}); err != nil || strings.Contains(string(raw), "web") {
-		t.Errorf("g14 asking its own was answered %s, %v", raw, err)
-	}
-	if _, err := call("controller", "mesh.seat.mesh-vault.call.own.controller", map[string]any{}); err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "not a node-engine") {
-		t.Errorf("the controller asking own: %v", err)
-	}
 }

modules/mesh-vault/cmd/mesh-vault/ownnode.go

@@ -1,288 +0,0 @@
-package main
-
-// A machine's node-engine composes its own modules (novox/hq ADR 0547 §2, issue 1126), and asks the vault for their own
-// secrets sealed to its own key (ADR 0349 §11, ADR 0550 §5): the verb `own`, answered to the node-engine of a machine
-// alone, about that machine alone (the machine is the caller's, as the bus proved it, never an argument). Each value is
-// sealed to the sealing key the machine's engine stated (`node-key`), so what crosses the bus opens on that machine only,
-// and the composition carries it sealed (no composition carries a secret in the clear). A module handed to the
-// provisioner is left out: its client fills its secrets from `get` (ADR 0349 §17).
-
-import (
-	"encoding/json"
-	"errors"
-	"fmt"
-	"sort"
-	"strings"
-
-	stdio "git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go"
-	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/seal"
-)
-
-// NodeOwnSecret is one own secret of a module on the asking machine, sealed to the machine's key.
-type NodeOwnSecret struct {
-	Module     string   `json:"module"`
-	Name       string   `json:"name"`
-	Origin     string   `json:"origin"`
-	Generation int      `json:"generation"`
-	Sealed     seal.Box `json:"sealed"`
-}
-
-// OwnAnswer is what `own` answers: the machine, the sealing key every value is sealed to (raw X25519, base64, as its
-// engine stated it), each own secret of its modules, and each pair credential it asked for that the vault holds.
-type OwnAnswer struct {
-	Node        string            `json:"node"`
-	Key         string            `json:"key"`
-	Own         []NodeOwnSecret   `json:"own"`
-	Credentials []NodeCredential  `json:"credentials,omitempty"`
-	Missing     []CredentialAsked `json:"missing,omitempty"`
-}
-
-// CredentialAsked names one pair credential by its ends, as a node composing its own asks for it (mesh-sdk
-// compose.CredentialKey): Role is `consumer` when the asking machine consumes it, `provider` when it grants it.
-type CredentialAsked struct {
-	Role           string `json:"role"`
-	Provision      string `json:"provision"`
-	Consumer       string `json:"consumer"`
-	ConsumerModule string `json:"consumer_module"`
-	Provider       string `json:"provider"`
-	Local          string `json:"local,omitempty"`
-}
-
-// NodeCredential is one pair credential answered, sealed to the asking machine's key, with the name the vault keeps it
-// under (`pair/...` per pair, `provision/<provider>/<provision>/<node>/<module>` issued for one holder, or the provision's
-// one shared value `provision/<provider>/<provision>`).
-type NodeCredential struct {
-	CredentialAsked
-	Name       string   `json:"name"`
-	Generation int      `json:"generation"`
-	Sealed     seal.Box `json:"sealed"`
-}
-
-// credentialNames are the names a pair credential may be kept under, the most particular first.
-func credentialNames(c CredentialAsked) []string {
-	pair := "pair/" + c.Provider + "/" + c.Provision + "/" + c.Consumer + "/" + c.ConsumerModule
-	if c.Local != "" {
-		pair += "/" + c.Local
-	}
-	return []string{pair, "provision/" + c.Provider + "/" + c.Provision + "/" + c.Consumer + "/" + c.ConsumerModule,
-		"provision/" + c.Provider + "/" + c.Provision}
-}
-
-// credentialRefusal says why node may not have c, or "": a consumer's credential to the machine its consuming module
-// stands on, a provider's to the providing machine, and nothing to a machine that is neither.
-func (v *Vault) credentialRefusal(node string, c CredentialAsked) string {
-	for _, part := range []string{c.Provision, c.Consumer, c.ConsumerModule, c.Provider} {
-		if !namePart.MatchString(part) {
-			return fmt.Sprintf("%q is not a name the mesh writes", part)
-		}
-	}
-	if c.Local != "" && !namePart.MatchString(c.Local) {
-		return fmt.Sprintf("%q is not a name the mesh writes", c.Local)
-	}
-	switch c.Role {
-	case "consumer":
-		if c.Consumer != node {
-			return fmt.Sprintf("%s asks as a consumer on %s, and is not that machine", node, c.Consumer)
-		}
-		// The consuming module stands on the machine: read, never assumed (an assignment that cannot be read refuses).
-		read, why := v.assignmentReader(node)
-		if why != "" {
-			return why
-		}
-		raw, err := read(node + "." + c.ConsumerModule)
-		if err != nil {
-			return fmt.Sprintf(notYetPrefix+"the assignment %s.%s could not be read: %v", node, c.ConsumerModule, err)
-		}
-		if raw == nil {
-			return fmt.Sprintf("%s is not on %s: neither assigned there nor required by a module there", c.ConsumerModule, node)
-		}
-		return ""
-	case "provider":
-		if c.Provider != node {
-			return fmt.Sprintf("%s asks as the provider %s, and is not that machine", node, c.Provider)
-		}
-		return ""
-	}
-	return fmt.Sprintf("the role %q is not consumer or provider", c.Role)
-}
-
-// assignmentReader is the vault's reader of the assignments, or why it has none: the rule `own` keeps reads them,
-// and without them it refuses rather than hands (a rule that cannot be read is no rule).
-func (v *Vault) assignmentReader(node string) (AssignmentReader, string) {
-	d, ok := v.Askers.(Declared)
-	if !ok || d.Read == nil {
-		return nil, "the vault cannot read the assignments, so it cannot tell what " + node + "'s modules are; nothing is handed"
-	}
-	return standing(d.Read), ""
-}
-
-// sharedRefusal says why node may not have the provision's one shared value `provision/<provider>/<provision>` for c,
-// or "": the vault's record of who holds it names the consumer's module among its consumers, or the machine as its
-// provider. Without that record nothing is handed: the shared value is not one any machine may have by naming a
-// provider (ADR 0550 §5).
-func (v *Vault) sharedRefusal(node string, c CredentialAsked) (string, error) {
-	name := "provision/" + c.Provider + "/" + c.Provision
-	sh, ok, err := v.Store.ReadShared(name)
-	if err != nil {
-		return "", err
-	}
-	if !ok {
-		return fmt.Sprintf("the vault keeps no record of who holds %s", name), nil
-	}
-	switch c.Role {
-	case "consumer":
-		want := consumerOf(c.Consumer, c.ConsumerModule, c.Local)
-		for _, held := range sh.Consumers {
-			if held == want {
-				return "", nil
-			}
-		}
-		return fmt.Sprintf("%s is held by %s, not by %s", name, strings.Join(sh.Consumers, ", "), want), nil
-	case "provider":
-		if sh.Provider == node {
-			return "", nil
-		}
-		return fmt.Sprintf("%s is provided from %s, not %s", name, sh.Provider, node), nil
-	}
-	return fmt.Sprintf("the role %q is not consumer or provider", c.Role), nil
-}
-
-// composeOrigin is the vault's origin of a value as the composition reads it: made by the mesh, or given (accepted at a
-// terminal, typed at a desk, issued by a provider's software).
-func composeOrigin(origin string) string {
-	if origin == "" || origin == OriginMade {
-		return OriginMade
-	}
-	return OriginAccepted
-}
-
-// OwnOfNode answers the node-engine of a machine the own secrets of its modules, each sealed to the machine's stated key.
-func (v *Vault) OwnOfNode(caller string, asked ...CredentialAsked) (OwnAnswer, error) {
-	node, ok := nodeEngineOf(caller)
-	if !ok {
-		if caller == "" || caller == stdio.Unproven {
-			caller = "an unproven caller"
-		}
-		return OwnAnswer{}, fmt.Errorf("own answers a machine's node-engine alone, about its own machine; %s is not a node-engine", caller)
-	}
-	key, had, err := v.Store.NodeKey(node)
-	if err != nil {
-		return OwnAnswer{}, err
-	}
-	if !had {
-		return OwnAnswer{}, fmt.Errorf("the vault holds no secret named own/%s yet: %s's node-engine has stated no sealing key "+
-			"(node-key), so there is no key of its own to seal to", node, node)
-	}
-	to, err := publicPEM(key)
-	if err != nil {
-		return OwnAnswer{}, fmt.Errorf("%s's sealing key as recorded is not usable: %w", node, err)
-	}
-	all, err := v.Store.List()
-	if err != nil {
-		return OwnAnswer{}, err
-	}
-	out := OwnAnswer{Node: node, Key: key}
-	for _, r := range all {
-		parts := strings.Split(r.Name, "/")
-		if len(parts) != 4 || parts[0] != "own" || parts[1] != node {
-			continue
-		}
-		handed, err := v.handed(node, parts[2])
-		if err != nil {
-			return OwnAnswer{}, err
-		}
-		if handed {
-			continue
-		}
-		value, err := seal.Open(r.AtRest, v.Own.PrivateKey)
-		if err != nil {
-			return OwnAnswer{}, fmt.Errorf("%s does not open with the vault's key: %w", r.Name, err)
-		}
-		sealed, err := seal.Seal(value, to)
-		if err != nil {
-			return OwnAnswer{}, err
-		}
-		if err := v.recordHanding(Handing{To: caller, Name: r.Name, Generation: r.Generation, Outcome: "handed"}); err != nil {
-			return OwnAnswer{}, fmt.Errorf("%s is not handed out: who was handed it could not be recorded: %w", r.Name, err)
-		}
-		out.Own = append(out.Own, NodeOwnSecret{Module: parts[2], Name: parts[3], Origin: composeOrigin(r.Origin),
-			Generation: r.Generation, Sealed: sealed})
-	}
-	sort.Slice(out.Own, func(i, j int) bool {
-		if out.Own[i].Module != out.Own[j].Module {
-			return out.Own[i].Module < out.Own[j].Module
-		}
-		return out.Own[i].Name < out.Own[j].Name
-	})
-	for _, c := range asked {
-		if why := v.credentialRefusal(node, c); why != "" {
-			return OwnAnswer{}, fmt.Errorf("%s may not ask for the credential of %s from %s to %s on %s: %s", caller,
-				c.Provision, c.Provider, c.ConsumerModule, c.Consumer, why)
-		}
-		found := false
-		names := credentialNames(c)
-		for i, name := range names {
-			r, held, err := v.Store.Read(name)
-			if err != nil {
-				return OwnAnswer{}, err
-			}
-			if !held {
-				continue
-			}
-			if i == len(names)-1 {
-				// The provision's one shared value: handed only to a machine the record of its holders names.
-				why, err := v.sharedRefusal(node, c)
-				if err != nil {
-					return OwnAnswer{}, err
-				}
-				if why != "" {
-					v.log("%s is not handed %s: %s", node, name, why)
-					continue
-				}
-			}
-			value, err := seal.Open(r.AtRest, v.Own.PrivateKey)
-			if err != nil {
-				return OwnAnswer{}, fmt.Errorf("%s does not open with the vault's key: %w", name, err)
-			}
-			sealed, err := seal.Seal(value, to)
-			if err != nil {
-				return OwnAnswer{}, err
-			}
-			if err := v.recordHanding(Handing{To: caller, Name: name, Generation: r.Generation, Outcome: "handed"}); err != nil {
-				return OwnAnswer{}, fmt.Errorf("%s is not handed out: who was handed it could not be recorded: %w", name, err)
-			}
-			out.Credentials = append(out.Credentials, NodeCredential{CredentialAsked: c, Name: name, Generation: r.Generation, Sealed: sealed})
-			found = true
-			break
-		}
-		if !found {
-			out.Missing = append(out.Missing, c)
-		}
-	}
-	v.log("handed %s's node-engine the %d own secrets of its modules and %d credentials (%d not held), sealed to its key",
-		node, len(out.Own), len(out.Credentials), len(out.Missing))
-	return out, nil
-}
-
-// handed says the plan of module on node hands it to the provisioner, so its secrets are filled from `get`, not composed.
-// A plan that cannot be read is an error, never "not handed": `own` refuses rather than hands a secret the provisioner
-// holds.
-func (v *Vault) handed(node, module string) (bool, error) {
-	read, why := v.assignmentReader(node)
-	if why != "" {
-		return false, errors.New(why)
-	}
-	raw, err := read(node + "." + module)
-	if err != nil {
-		return false, fmt.Errorf(notYetPrefix+"the assignment %s.%s could not be read, so whether it is handed to the "+
-			"provisioner is not known: %w", node, module, err)
-	}
-	if raw == nil {
-		return false, nil
-	}
-	var a plannedSecrets
-	if err := json.Unmarshal(raw, &a); err != nil {
-		return false, fmt.Errorf("the assignment %s.%s is not the controller's: %w", node, module, err)
-	}
-	return a.Provisioning != nil, nil
-}

modules/mesh-vault/cmd/mesh-vault/ownnode_test.go

@@ -1,121 +0,0 @@
-package main
-
-import (
-	"errors"
-	"strings"
-	"testing"
-
-	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/seal"
-)
-
-// Issue 1126 (ADR 0547 §2, ADR 0550 §5): `own` answers a machine's node-engine the own secrets of its modules, sealed to
-// the key that machine's engine stated, about that machine alone; another caller, another machine's secrets and a
-// machine with no stated key get nothing.
-func TestOwnAnswersAMachineItsModulesSecretsSealedToItsKey(t *testing.T) {
-	plans := assignments{"anchor.web": `{"node":"anchor","module":"web"}`, "laptop.web": `{"node":"laptop","module":"web"}`}
-	v := newVault(t, nil)
-	v.Askers = Declared{Read: plans.read, Store: v.Store}
-	anchorPub, anchorPriv := aSealingKey(t)
-	laptopPub, _ := aSealingKey(t)
-	for _, m := range []struct {
-		caller string
-		of     MoveOf
-		value  string
-	}{
-		{"node.anchor", MoveOf{Node: "anchor", Module: "web", Name: "password", Origin: "made", Generation: "g-1", SealingKey: anchorPub}, "anchor-web-pw"},
-		{"node.anchor", MoveOf{Node: "anchor", Module: "web", Name: "api-key", Origin: "accepted", Generation: "g-1", SealingKey: anchorPub}, "anchor-web-key"},
-		{"node.laptop", MoveOf{Node: "laptop", Module: "web", Name: "password", Origin: "made", Generation: "g-1", SealingKey: laptopPub}, "laptop-web-pw"},
-	} {
-		if _, err := moveIn(t, v, m.caller, m.of, m.value); err != nil {
-			t.Fatal(err)
-		}
-	}
-	got, err := v.OwnOfNode("node.anchor")
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-	if got.Node != "anchor" || got.Key != anchorPub || len(got.Own) != 2 {
-		t.Fatalf("anchor was answered %+v", got)
-	}
-	want := map[string][2]string{"api-key": {"accepted", "anchor-web-key"}, "password": {"made", "anchor-web-pw"}}
-	for _, s := range got.Own {
-		w, ok := want[s.Name]
-		if !ok || s.Module != "web" || s.Origin != w[0] || s.Generation < 1 {
-			t.Errorf("anchor's %s: %+v", s.Name, s)
-			continue
-		}
-		value, err := seal.Open(s.Sealed, anchorPriv)
-		if err != nil || string(value) != w[1] {
-			t.Errorf("anchor's %s does not open to its value with anchor's key: %q, %v", s.Name, value, err)
-		}
-	}
-	for caller, says := range map[string]string{
-		"controller":   "is not a node-engine",
-		"anchor.web":   "is not a node-engine",
-		"":             "an unproven caller",
-		"node.unknown": "no secret named own/unknown yet",
-	} {
-		if _, err := v.OwnOfNode(caller); err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), says) {
-			t.Errorf("%q: %v, want a refusal saying %q", caller, err, says)
-		}
-	}
-	if laptop, err := v.OwnOfNode("node.laptop"); err != nil || len(laptop.Own) != 1 || laptop.Own[0].Name != "password" {
-		t.Errorf("laptop was answered %+v, %v; want its one secret alone", laptop, err)
-	}
-
-	// A pair credential: laptop's web consumes anchor's postgres. Each end is answered the one value sealed to its own key;
-	// a credential the vault holds none of is named missing; a machine at neither end is refused.
-	if _, err := moveIn(t, v, "node.laptop", MoveOf{Provider: "anchor", Provision: "postgres", Consumer: "laptop",
-		ConsumerModule: "web", Origin: "made", Generation: "g-1", SealingKey: laptopPub}, "pg-pair"); err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-	pair := CredentialAsked{Provision: "postgres", Consumer: "laptop", ConsumerModule: "web", Provider: "anchor"}
-	asConsumer, asProvider := pair, pair
-	asConsumer.Role, asProvider.Role = "consumer", "provider"
-	none := CredentialAsked{Role: "consumer", Provision: "redis", Consumer: "laptop", ConsumerModule: "web", Provider: "anchor"}
-	laptop, err := v.OwnOfNode("node.laptop", asConsumer, none)
-	if err != nil || len(laptop.Credentials) != 1 || len(laptop.Missing) != 1 || laptop.Missing[0] != none {
-		t.Fatalf("laptop as consumer: %+v, %v", laptop, err)
-	}
-	if !strings.HasPrefix(laptop.Credentials[0].Name, "pair/anchor/postgres/laptop/web") {
-		t.Errorf("laptop's credential is kept as %s", laptop.Credentials[0].Name)
-	}
-	anchor, err := v.OwnOfNode("node.anchor", asProvider)
-	if err != nil || len(anchor.Credentials) != 1 {
-		t.Fatalf("anchor as provider: %+v, %v", anchor, err)
-	}
-	if value, err := seal.Open(anchor.Credentials[0].Sealed, anchorPriv); err != nil || string(value) != "pg-pair" {
-		t.Errorf("anchor's copy does not open to the value with its key: %q, %v", value, err)
-	}
-	for who, c := range map[string]CredentialAsked{"node.anchor": asConsumer, "node.laptop": asProvider} {
-		if _, err := v.OwnOfNode(who, c); err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "is not that machine") {
-			t.Errorf("%s asking %+v: %v", who, c, err)
-		}
-	}
-
-	// Review of L2 (C1, C2): `own` fails closed. A provision's one shared value is handed only to a consumer the record
-	// of its holders names, never to a machine that names its provider; assignments that cannot be read, or a vault
-	// that reads none, refuse rather than hand.
-	if _, err := v.keep("provision/anchor/redis", "shared-redis", "test", "", OriginMade); err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-	if err := v.Store.WriteShared(Shared{Name: "provision/anchor/redis", Provider: "anchor", Provision: "redis",
-		Consumers: []string{"anchor/web"}}); err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-	if got, err := v.OwnOfNode("node.laptop", none); err != nil || len(got.Credentials) != 0 || len(got.Missing) != 1 {
-		t.Errorf("laptop, whose web the shared value's record does not name, got %+v, %v", got, err)
-	}
-	anchorRedis := CredentialAsked{Role: "consumer", Provision: "redis", Consumer: "anchor", ConsumerModule: "web", Provider: "anchor"}
-	if got, err := v.OwnOfNode("node.anchor", anchorRedis); err != nil || len(got.Credentials) != 1 {
-		t.Errorf("anchor's web, a holder the record names, got %+v, %v", got, err)
-	}
-	v.Askers = Declared{Read: func(string) ([]byte, error) { return nil, errors.New("the bucket did not answer") }, Store: v.Store}
-	if _, err := v.OwnOfNode("node.anchor"); err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "could not be read") {
-		t.Errorf("own with the assignments unread: %v", err)
-	}
-	v.Askers = nil
-	if _, err := v.OwnOfNode("node.anchor", anchorRedis); err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "cannot read the assignments") {
-		t.Errorf("own with no reader of the assignments: %v", err)
-	}
-}

modules/mesh-vault/cmd/mesh-vault/tools.go

@@ -251,34 +251,6 @@ func definitions(env *Env) []toolDef {
 				// clause 9, adopt.go): a public half, never the private one.
 				return map[string]any{"recorded": true, "vault_key": v.Own.PublicKey}, nil
 			}},
-		{Name: Seat + ".own",
-			Description: "The own secrets of this machine's modules, each sealed to the machine's sealing key (novox/hq ADR 0547 §2, " +
-				"ADR 0550 §5, issue 1126): from the node-engine of the machine alone, about its own machine (the bus proves which), " +
-				"for the compositions it makes itself. Answers the machine, the key each value is sealed to, and per module and " +
-				"name the origin, the generation and the sealed value; a module handed to the provisioner is left out. With credentials, " +
-				"also each pair credential the machine consumes or grants, sealed the same way. Never a value in the clear.",
-			Input: map[string]any{"type": "object", "properties": map[string]any{
-				"credentials": map[string]any{"type": "array", "description": "the pair credentials the machine's composition " +
-					"reads, each {role: consumer|provider, provision, consumer, consumer_module, provider, local}: answered " +
-					"sealed to the machine's key when the machine is that consumer's or that provider, and named missing when " +
-					"the vault holds none", "items": map[string]any{"type": "object"}}}},
-			run: func(caller string, a map[string]any) (any, error) {
-				v, err := env.ready()
-				if err != nil {
-					return nil, err
-				}
-				var asked []CredentialAsked
-				if raw, ok := a["credentials"]; ok && raw != nil {
-					b, err := json.Marshal(raw)
-					if err == nil {
-						err = json.Unmarshal(b, &asked)
-					}
-					if err != nil {
-						return nil, fmt.Errorf("credentials is a list of {role, provision, consumer, consumer_module, provider, local}: %w", err)
-					}
-				}
-				return v.OwnOfNode(caller, asked...)
-			}},
 		{Name: Seat + ".move-asks",
 			Description: "Copy rows of the controller's record of asks at a desk into the vault's, as they are and once " +
 				"(design 57's V3): from the controller alone, at most 500 at a time. No value is in any of them.",

modules/mesh-vault/module.json

@@ -177,8 +177,7 @@
         "rotate",
         "move-in",
         "node-key",
-        "move-asks",
+        "move-asks"
-        "own"
       ]
     }
   ]