.gitignore

@@ -42,3 +42,5 @@ modules/mesh-config/cmd/mesh-config/mesh-config
 modules/forticlient/cmd/forticlient-tools/forticlient-tools
 modules/networkmanager/uplink-tools
 checks/words/words
+modules/mesh-cli/mesh-cli
+modules/mesh-cli/cmd/mesh-cli/mesh-cli

modules/mesh-cli/README.md

@@ -1,12 +1,16 @@
 # mesh-cli
 
-The operator's command on every node (novox/hq ADR 0272): `mesh-cli <command line>` asks the controller to run one
-of its command lines, from wherever the operator is. In interactive zsh it is also `nox`.
+The operator's command on every node: `mesh-cli <command line>`, in interactive zsh also `nox`. Each line calls the
+seat verb or the module tool that owns its job, through this machine's console, and prints the owner's answer.
 
 ```
 nox status
-nox settings show zsh --node <node>
-nox settings set zsh '{"execute":"withhold"}' --node <node>
+nox conditions --severity urgent
+nox deliveries
+nox assign <node> <module> --why <text>
+nox issue <number>
+nox call <node>/node-service-manager.status '{"unit":"plex"}'
+nox help
 ```
 
 ## What it places
@@ -14,57 +18,61 @@ nox settings set zsh '{"execute":"withhold"}' --node <node>
 | What | Where | How |
 |---|---|---|
 | the program | `/usr/local/bin/mesh-cli` | the `program` bundle, unpacked by an `archive` resource: the node-engine moves the one file in, refuses to write over a file it did not place, and takes out only that file when the module goes |
+| the console's address | `/etc/mesh-cli/console` | a file resource from `files/console`: `http://127.0.0.1:${bound:mcp-endpoint:port}/mcp`, from the `mcp-endpoint` the module requires |
 | the alias `nox` | the zsh module's mesh block in `~/.zshrc` | a `shell` contribution in the `normal` slot (ADR 0204) |
 
-No link and no second copy. `/usr/local/bin` is on every account's `PATH` already, so the module contributes no
-environment. The alias is interactive zsh only: a script, `sudo`, a cron line and any document meant to work
-everywhere say `mesh-cli`. In interactive zsh the alias hides any other `nox` (Arch's `python-nox` installs
-`/usr/bin/nox`); `command nox` still reaches it.
+No link and no second copy. `/usr/local/bin` is on every account's `PATH` already. The alias is interactive zsh only:
+a script, `sudo`, a cron line and any document meant to work everywhere say `mesh-cli`. In interactive zsh the alias
+hides any other `nox` (Arch's `python-nox` installs `/usr/bin/nox`); `command nox` still reaches it.
 
 ## How it is answered
 
-`mesh-cli` holds no credential and reads no file of the mesh. It writes one request to the node-engine's socket
-(the SDK's `go/cli`: the line, as words) and prints the one answer.
+`mesh-cli` holds no credential and has no bus account of its own (so its manifest declares no `invokes`: an account
+nothing dials would only be minted and kept). It calls `mesh_call` on this machine's console, the mesh MCP server the
+module node-tools serves on loopback (novox/hq ADR 0152: whoever is on the machine owns the mesh there), and the console
+puts the call on the bus, as every agent session on the machine does. The console's address is read from
+`/etc/mesh-cli/console`, or `MESH_CONSOLE` when set, or node-tools' declared port when the file is not there yet.
 
-1. The node-engine reads which account is asking from the kernel, never from the program, and asks the controller
-   on its own node's subject.
-2. The controller judges (ADR 0272 §4):
-   - **the controller's terminal**: the node's operator account, on the control-node. The line runs as the
-     operator typed it there.
-   - **an ordinary call**: the node's operator account on any other node, where agents may run as that account.
-     It meets every refusal of the generic `command` verb, and a change made at the terminal alone is refused with
-     the reason.
-   - **refused**: any other account, root included. Run it as yourself, not under `sudo`.
-3. A line still running after ten seconds is followed by its call until it ends. `mesh-cli` prints standard
-   output and standard error as the command wrote them, says why a line was not the terminal or was refused, says
-   when the output was cut to fit one bus message, and exits with the command's status. When no answer comes in
-   time it says the line may have run and names its call; "nothing ran" is said only of a line no controller
-   took.
+- **Who judges.** The seat that owns the job: a change of placement is a proposal the operator approves
+  (`mesh-placement.propose`), a config value is set with its why (`mesh-config.config`), a silence or a hand act is
+  recorded as one. Until novox/hq issue 1126 the controller ran these lines and judged the account (ADR 0272); with
+  the controller unassigned, that judgement went with it.
+- **The map.** Every line the controller ran, and the seat verb or tool that does its job now, or none, is
+  `commands.go`'s table (and hq's `.work/1126/nox-map.md` while issue 1126 runs). A line no seat or module owns says
+  that it was the controller's, that the controller is unassigned, and what to use instead, and exits 1 having called
+  nothing. A line nox cannot read says how it is written and exits 2.
+- **Any address.** `nox call <address> [json]` calls any seat verb or tool; `nox search <words>` and
+  `nox describe <address>` find one and its arguments.
+- **What is printed.** The owner's answer as the console gave it (JSON), on standard output with exit 0; an answer the
+  console marks an error (a refusal, nothing serving, no answer within its bound) on standard error with exit 1. A
+  console that does not answer is said as nothing having been called; no answer in time is said as a call that may
+  have run.
+- **`nox status`** is the delivery view's (`mesh-delivery-view.view_status`). When the view does not answer, nox says
+  so first, shows the open conditions and the deliveries under their own addresses, and exits 1: they are never
+  passed off as the status.
+- **`nox enrol open --key <file>`** runs here and asks nothing of the mesh (ADR 0587 §8).
 
-A process that runs for a verb (it carries `MESH_VERB`) is refused before anything is asked: a verb is never the
+A process that runs for a verb (it carries `MESH_VERB`) is refused before anything is called: a verb is never the
 operator.
 
 ## What it does not do yet
 
-- **No standard input.** A command that reads one gets nothing, and fails saying so.
-- **No local files.** A path in a line names a file where the controller runs, read by the controller's account.
-  Give settings inline: `nox settings set <module> "$(cat settings.json)" --node <node>`.
-- **No streaming.** The answer arrives when the command ends, within the controller's bound on a call (five
-  minutes). Interrupting `mesh-cli` stops the wait, not the command.
-- **The `MESH_VERB` refusal is a courtesy.** A verb's process is refused before asking, but the gate is the
-  controller: it judges the account the node-engine vouches for, whatever the program says.
-- **No other node is the terminal.** Phase 2 of ADR 0272 adds a node whose agents run under an account of their
-  own (ADR 0266), judged unable to become root.
+- **No formatting beyond `nox nodes`.** Answers are the owners' JSON.
+- **Lines with no owner.** Accepting a secret from a person, making or setting the operator key, opening a sealed
+  secret locally, registering a module from another repository and forgetting a module have no seat verb yet; nox
+  names what to use meanwhile.
 
 ## Tests
 
-`go test ./...`: the module places exactly one file (one archive resource, one Go bundle compiled to the binary
-alone); the line is asked as given and the answer printed with its exit; a reason, a refusal, a cut and an outcome not known
-are said and a refusal never exits 0; a verb's process is refused before asking; an engine that does not answer
-is said.
+`go test ./...`: every owned line calls its owner's address with the arguments it reads, against a stand-in console
+answering MCP `tools/call` as node-tools does; a line with no owner or not read calls nothing and says why; an error
+answer, a silent console and a verb's process are said; the status's fallback is labelled and exits 1; the console's
+address is found; `enrol open` opens a sealed token locally; the module places the program and the console's address
+and nothing else.
 
 ## Files it does not know
 
 Each directory or archive this module declares says how it treats a file it did not write (ADR 0422, ADR 0416).
 
 - `/usr/local/bin`: everything in it is the program's; the mesh moves nothing out (ADR 0422 §2).
+- `/etc/mesh-cli`: the program's; it holds the console's address alone.

modules/mesh-cli/cmd/mesh-cli/commands.go

@@ -0,0 +1,729 @@
+package main
+
+// Every command line nox takes, and the seat verb or module tool that owns its job now that the controller is
+// unassigned (novox/hq issue 1126; the map is hq's .work/1126/nox-map.md). A line no seat or module owns says so and
+// names what to use instead: it never fails silently, and it never pretends to have run.
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"fmt"
+	"io"
+	"sort"
+	"strconv"
+	"strings"
+	"time"
+)
+
+// line is a command line's words after the command's own: positionals and --flags, in any order.
+type line struct {
+	pos   []string
+	flags map[string]string
+}
+
+// boolFlags are the flags that take no value.
+var boolFlags = map[string]bool{"json": true, "confirm": true, "collected": true, "brief": true, "all": true,
+	"reasoning": true, "clear": true}
+
+func parseLine(args []string) (line, error) {
+	l := line{flags: map[string]string{}}
+	for i := 0; i < len(args); i++ {
+		a := args[i]
+		if !strings.HasPrefix(a, "--") || a == "--" {
+			l.pos = append(l.pos, a)
+			continue
+		}
+		name, value, has := strings.Cut(strings.TrimPrefix(a, "--"), "=")
+		if boolFlags[name] {
+			if has {
+				return l, usageErr("--%s takes no value", name)
+			}
+			l.flags[name] = "true"
+			continue
+		}
+		if !has {
+			if i+1 >= len(args) {
+				return l, usageErr("--%s needs a value", name)
+			}
+			i++
+			value = args[i]
+		}
+		l.flags[name] = value
+	}
+	return l, nil
+}
+
+func (l line) has(flag string) bool { return l.flags[flag] != "" }
+
+// usageError is a line nox cannot read: nothing was called.
+type usageError struct{ msg string }
+
+func (u usageError) Error() string { return u.msg }
+
+func usageErr(format string, a ...any) error { return usageError{fmt.Sprintf(format, a...)} }
+
+// call is what one line asks: an address and its arguments.
+type call struct {
+	Address string
+	Args    map[string]any
+}
+
+// command is one of nox's lines.
+type command struct {
+	words []string
+	usage string
+	does  string
+	// build reads the line and answers the call; nil for a line no seat owns.
+	build func(l line) (call, error)
+	// allowed are the flags the line reads; any other is refused before anything is called.
+	allowed []string
+	// instead says, for a line with no owner, what to use; empty for one that is owned.
+	instead string
+	// render shapes a successful answer for reading; nil prints it as the console gave it.
+	render func(text string) string
+}
+
+// gone is the reason every unowned line gives.
+const gone = "this was the controller's, and the controller is unassigned (novox/hq issue 1126). Nothing was called"
+
+// commands is every line, longest words first within a word.
+var commands = []command{
+	// What runs where.
+	{words: []string{"status"}, does: "what is wrong, what is quiet, what is moving (the delivery view)",
+		build: fixed("mesh-delivery-view.view_status")},
+	{words: []string{"nodes"}, does: "the nodes placement holds", build: fixed("mesh-placement.placement"),
+		render: renderNodes},
+	{words: []string{"node", "list"}, does: "the nodes placement holds", build: fixed("mesh-placement.placement"),
+		render: renderNodes},
+	{words: []string{"node", "show"}, usage: "<node>", does: "one node's placement: what it runs and its decided fields",
+		build: nodeArg("mesh-placement.placement")},
+	{words: []string{"node", "public-domain"}, usage: "<node> [<domain> | --clear] [--why <text>]",
+		does:    "the domain a node composes its routed names under; with a domain or --clear, proposed to placement",
+		allowed: []string{"clear", "why"}, build: publicDomain},
+	{words: []string{"node", "add"}, instead: "a new machine joins through the seat mesh-enrolment: nox enrol issue <node> --why <text>"},
+	{words: []string{"node", "networks"}, instead: "no seat keeps a node's routed networks yet; mesh-placement.placement shows what a node decides"},
+	{words: []string{"plan"}, usage: "<node>", does: "what the assigner wants the node to run", build: optNode("mesh-delivery-view.assigner_wants")},
+	{words: []string{"haves"}, usage: "[<node>]", does: "what each node runs, as its node-engine said", build: optNode("mesh-delivery-view.node_haves")},
+	{words: []string{"switch"}, does: "what each node runs, as its node-engine said", build: fixed("mesh-delivery-view.node_haves")},
+	{words: []string{"composition"}, usage: "<node> <module>", does: "one module's composition on a node beside what runs",
+		build: func(l line) (call, error) {
+			if len(l.pos) != 2 {
+				return call{}, usageErr("give the node and the module")
+			}
+			return call{l.pos[0] + "/node-engine.composition", map[string]any{"module": l.pos[1]}}, nil
+		}},
+	{words: []string{"seats"}, does: "who holds each seat, and where", build: func(line) (call, error) {
+		return call{"mesh-placement.placement", map[string]any{"seats": "true"}}, nil
+	}},
+	{words: []string{"seat"}, instead: "a seat is held by placing its module: nox assign <node> <module> --why <text> (mesh-placement.propose)"},
+	{words: []string{"assign"}, usage: "<node> <module>... --why <text>", does: "propose placing modules on a node",
+		allowed: []string{"why"}, build: placeModules("place")},
+	{words: []string{"unassign"}, usage: "<node> <module>... --why <text>", does: "propose taking modules off a node",
+		allowed: []string{"why"}, build: placeModules("take-off")},
+	{words: []string{"pin"}, usage: "<node> <provision> <from-node> <module> --why <text>", does: "propose which provider a node gets a provision from",
+		allowed: []string{"why"}, build: func(l line) (call, error) {
+			if len(l.pos) != 4 {
+				return call{}, usageErr("give the node, the provision, the provider's node and its module")
+			}
+			return propose(l, map[string]any{"op": "pin", "node": l.pos[0], "provision": l.pos[1],
+				"provider": map[string]any{"node": l.pos[2], "module": l.pos[3]}})
+		}},
+	{words: []string{"unpin"}, usage: "<node> <provision> --why <text>", does: "propose putting that question back",
+		allowed: []string{"why"}, build: func(l line) (call, error) {
+			if len(l.pos) != 2 {
+				return call{}, usageErr("give the node and the provision")
+			}
+			return propose(l, map[string]any{"op": "unpin", "node": l.pos[0], "provision": l.pos[1]})
+		}},
+	{words: []string{"proposals"}, usage: "[<id>]", does: "the open proposals of placement", build: optArg("mesh-placement.proposals", "id")},
+	{words: []string{"overlay", "show"}, does: "every node's placement, with its tunnel", build: fixed("mesh-placement.placement")},
+	{words: []string{"overlay"}, instead: "a node's tunnel is a decided field of its placement: mesh-placement.propose with op decide"},
+
+	// Deliveries and builds.
+	{words: []string{"deliveries"}, usage: "[--state s] [--repository owner/repo] [--group g] [--all]",
+		does:    "every delivery not final, and those that ended in the last day",
+		allowed: []string{"state", "repository", "group", "all"}, build: func(l line) (call, error) {
+			return call{"mesh-delivery.deliveries", pick(l, "state", "repository", "group", "all")}, nil
+		}},
+	{words: []string{"delivery"}, usage: "<id>", does: "one delivery or group whole", build: needArg("mesh-delivery.show", "id")},
+	{words: []string{"groups"}, usage: "[--all]", does: "every delivery group", allowed: []string{"all"},
+		build: func(l line) (call, error) { return call{"mesh-delivery.groups", pick(l, "all")}, nil }},
+	{words: []string{"stalled"}, does: "every delivery held past its state's bound", build: fixed("mesh-delivery.stalled")},
+	{words: []string{"checks"}, usage: "<owner/repo> [--number n | --commit c]", does: "what the mesh's checks said of a head",
+		allowed: []string{"number", "commit"}, build: func(l line) (call, error) {
+			if len(l.pos) != 1 {
+				return call{}, usageErr("give the repository, owner/repo")
+			}
+			a := pick(l, "number", "commit")
+			a["repository"] = l.pos[0]
+			return call{"mesh-delivery.checks", a}, nil
+		}},
+	{words: []string{"try"}, usage: "<owner/repo> <head> [--level l] [--trunk t] [--tests t]",
+		does: "try a pushed head before its pull request is opened", allowed: []string{"level", "trunk", "tests"},
+		build: func(l line) (call, error) {
+			if len(l.pos) != 2 {
+				return call{}, usageErr("give the repository and the head")
+			}
+			a := pick(l, "level", "trunk", "tests")
+			a["repository"], a["head"] = l.pos[0], l.pos[1]
+			return call{"mesh-delivery-checker.try", a}, nil
+		}},
+	{words: []string{"builds"}, usage: "[--since <RFC 3339 time>]", does: "every build that ended since (the last day by default)",
+		allowed: []string{"since"}, build: func(l line) (call, error) {
+			since := l.flags["since"]
+			if since == "" {
+				since = now().Add(-24 * time.Hour).UTC().Format(time.RFC3339)
+			}
+			return call{"mesh-delivery-builder.builder_builds_since", map[string]any{"since": since}}, nil
+		}},
+	{words: []string{"upgrade"}, usage: "[<module>] [--policy roll|together|record|default --why <text>]",
+		does:    "whether each module's new builds wait for a person; with --policy, a person's choice",
+		allowed: []string{"policy", "why"}, build: func(l line) (call, error) {
+			if len(l.pos) > 1 {
+				return call{}, usageErr("give at most one module; rolling out is the delivery's: nox deliveries")
+			}
+			a := pick(l, "policy", "why")
+			if len(l.pos) == 1 {
+				a["module"] = l.pos[0]
+			}
+			if a["policy"] != nil && (a["module"] == nil || a["why"] == nil) {
+				return call{}, usageErr("a policy needs the module and --why")
+			}
+			return call{"mesh-wants.upgrade", a}, nil
+		}},
+	{words: []string{"bus"}, does: "what a bus upgrade would do", build: fixed("mesh-wants.bus")},
+
+	// Conditions, the self-check, the healers and hand acts.
+	{words: []string{"conditions", "show"}, usage: "<key>", does: "one condition whole", build: needArg("mesh-conditions.conditions", "key")},
+	{words: []string{"conditions", "silence"}, usage: "<key> --for <30m|4h|2d> --why <text> [--cause <word>]",
+		does: "send no message for it a while; a hand act", allowed: []string{"for", "why", "cause"},
+		build: func(l line) (call, error) {
+			if len(l.pos) != 1 || !l.has("for") || !l.has("why") {
+				return call{}, usageErr("give the key, --for and --why")
+			}
+			a := pick(l, "for", "why", "cause")
+			a["key"] = l.pos[0]
+			return call{"mesh-conditions.silence", a}, nil
+		}},
+	{words: []string{"conditions", "history"}, usage: "[--days N] [--key K] [--limit N]", does: "every raising, change and clearing lately",
+		allowed: []string{"days", "key", "limit"}, build: func(l line) (call, error) {
+			if l.has("key") {
+				return call{"mesh-conditions.conditions_history", pick(l, "key", "limit")}, nil
+			}
+			a := pick(l, "days")
+			a["history"] = "true"
+			return call{"mesh-conditions.conditions", a}, nil
+		}},
+	{words: []string{"conditions"}, usage: "[--scope S] [--severity S] [--machine M]", does: "what is wrong now, urgent first",
+		allowed: []string{"scope", "severity", "machine"}, build: func(l line) (call, error) {
+			if len(l.pos) > 0 {
+				return call{}, usageErr("%q is not a conditions line", l.pos[0])
+			}
+			return call{"mesh-conditions.conditions", pick(l, "scope", "severity", "machine")}, nil
+		}},
+	{words: []string{"doctor", "probes"}, does: "the self-check's probes", build: fixed("mesh-self-check.probes")},
+	{words: []string{"doctor", "run"}, does: "run every probe now", build: func(line) (call, error) {
+		return call{"mesh-self-check.doctor", map[string]any{"run": true}}, nil
+	}},
+	{words: []string{"doctor", "probe"}, usage: "<id>", does: "one probe's verdict whole", build: needArg("mesh-self-check.doctor", "probe")},
+	{words: []string{"doctor", "signals"}, does: "the watchman's signals and their ages", build: fixed("mesh-watchdogs.signals")},
+	{words: []string{"doctor"}, does: "the self-check's last verdict", build: fixed("mesh-self-check.doctor")},
+	{words: []string{"healers"}, usage: "[--days N]", does: "the healers, what they did lately, and their brake",
+		allowed: []string{"days"}, build: func(l line) (call, error) {
+			a, err := numbers(pick(l, "days"), "days")
+			return call{"mesh-healers.healers", a}, err
+		}},
+	{words: []string{"hand-act", "record"}, usage: "<what> --why <text> [--cause <word>] [--condition <key>]",
+		does: "record an act done by hand", allowed: []string{"why", "cause", "condition"},
+		build: func(l line) (call, error) {
+			if len(l.pos) == 0 || !l.has("why") {
+				return call{}, usageErr("give what was done and --why")
+			}
+			a := pick(l, "why", "cause", "condition")
+			a["what"] = strings.Join(l.pos, " ")
+			return call{"mesh-hand-acts.hand-act", a}, nil
+		}},
+	{words: []string{"hand-acts"}, usage: "[--days N] [--cause c] [--who w]", does: "what was done by hand lately",
+		allowed: []string{"days", "cause", "who"}, build: func(l line) (call, error) {
+			a, err := numbers(pick(l, "days", "cause", "who"), "days")
+			return call{"mesh-hand-acts.hand-acts", a}, err
+		}},
+	{words: []string{"stuck"}, does: "what stopped moving, as the watchman holds it", build: fixed("mesh-watchdogs.stuck")},
+	{words: []string{"dead-letters"}, usage: "[--consumer c]", does: "what a consumer gave up on", allowed: []string{"consumer"},
+		build: func(l line) (call, error) { return call{"mesh-watchdogs.dead-letters", pick(l, "consumer")}, nil }},
+
+	// Config, secrets, the vault, artifacts, licences, modules.
+	{words: []string{"settings", "show"}, usage: "<module> [--node n]", does: "a module's config values",
+		allowed: []string{"node"}, build: func(l line) (call, error) {
+			if len(l.pos) != 1 {
+				return call{}, usageErr("give the module")
+			}
+			a := pick(l, "node")
+			a["action"], a["module"] = "list", l.pos[0]
+			return call{"mesh-config.config", a}, nil
+		}},
+	{words: []string{"settings", "set"}, usage: "<module> <key> <value> --node n --why <text>",
+		does: "set one of a module's config values on one node", allowed: []string{"node", "why"},
+		build: func(l line) (call, error) { return configChange(l, "set") }},
+	{words: []string{"settings", "clear"}, usage: "<module> <key> --node n --why <text>",
+		does: "clear one of a module's config values on one node", allowed: []string{"node", "why"},
+		build: func(l line) (call, error) { return configChange(l, "clear") }},
+	{words: []string{"config"}, usage: "[list|set|clear|history|propose|proposals] [--module m] [--node n] [--key k] [--value v] [--why w]",
+		does: "the mesh's config values, at any level", allowed: []string{"module", "node", "key", "value", "why", "limit", "proposal", "pull", "clear"},
+		build: func(l line) (call, error) {
+			if len(l.pos) > 1 {
+				return call{}, usageErr("give at most one action")
+			}
+			a := pick(l, "module", "node", "key", "why", "proposal", "pull", "clear", "limit")
+			if len(l.pos) == 1 {
+				a["action"] = l.pos[0]
+			}
+			if v, ok := l.flags["value"]; ok {
+				a["value"] = jsonOrText(v)
+			}
+			if c, ok := a["clear"]; ok {
+				a["clear"] = c == "true"
+			}
+			a, err := numbers(a, "limit")
+			return call{"mesh-config.config", a}, err
+		}},
+	{words: []string{"secret", "export"}, does: "every secret the vault holds, as its copy sealed to the operator key",
+		build: fixed("mesh-vault.secret_vault_export")},
+	{words: []string{"secret", "accept"}, instead: "mesh-vault.accept takes a value from the controller alone, and no seat takes one from a person yet; a module's own secret is asked at a desk (mesh-vault.secret-ask)"},
+	{words: []string{"secret", "recover"}, instead: "opening a sealed copy locally is not built yet (beside nox enrol open); nox secret export gives the sealed copies"},
+	{words: []string{"secret"}, instead: "nox secret export; mesh-vault.rotate makes one anew"},
+	{words: []string{"operator", "key", "show"}, does: "what needs a person's eye in the vault, the operator key among it", build: fixed("mesh-vault.vault_status")},
+	{words: []string{"operator"}, instead: "no seat sets or makes the operator key yet; nox operator key show reads it (mesh-vault.vault_status)"},
+	{words: []string{"rotate"}, usage: "[--node n --module m --name s | --provider n --provision p] --why <text>",
+		does: "make a secret anew", allowed: []string{"node", "module", "name", "provider", "provision", "consumer", "consumer_module", "why"},
+		build: func(l line) (call, error) {
+			if len(l.pos) == 1 {
+				l.flags["provision"] = l.pos[0]
+			} else if len(l.pos) > 1 {
+				return call{}, usageErr("give the secret by its flags")
+			}
+			if !l.has("why") {
+				return call{}, usageErr("give --why")
+			}
+			return call{"mesh-vault.rotate", pick(l, "node", "module", "name", "provider", "provision", "consumer", "consumer_module", "why")}, nil
+		}},
+	{words: []string{"identity", "show"}, does: "the vault's signing key and authority", build: fixed("mesh-vault.vault_signers")},
+	{words: []string{"retire", "approve"}, usage: "<consumer>... --why <text>", does: "retire the set waiting for a person",
+		allowed: []string{"why"}, build: retirement("mesh-vault.provisioner_retire_approve")},
+	{words: []string{"retire", "reject"}, usage: "<consumer>... --why <text>", does: "keep the set waiting for a person active",
+		allowed: []string{"why"}, build: retirement("mesh-vault.provisioner_retire_reject")},
+	{words: []string{"retire"}, does: "every retirement waiting for a person", build: fixed("mesh-vault.provisioner_retirement")},
+	{words: []string{"cleanup", "delete"}, usage: "<consumer> --why <text> --confirm", does: "delete one retired holder from the ledger",
+		allowed: []string{"why", "confirm"}, build: func(l line) (call, error) {
+			if len(l.pos) != 1 || !l.has("why") {
+				return call{}, usageErr("give the consumer and --why")
+			}
+			a := pick(l, "why")
+			a["consumer"] = l.pos[0]
+			// The vault deletes only when confirm repeats the holder's name (mesh-vault retirement.go); without
+			// --confirm it answers what it would delete.
+			if l.has("confirm") {
+				a["confirm"] = l.pos[0]
+			}
+			return call{"mesh-vault.provisioner_delete", a}, nil
+		}},
+	{words: []string{"cleanup"}, does: "every retired holder per provider", build: fixed("mesh-vault.provisioner_retirement")},
+	{words: []string{"artifacts"}, usage: "[--collected]", does: "every artifact the mesh made: kept and why, or eligible",
+		allowed: []string{"collected"}, build: func(l line) (call, error) {
+			return call{"mesh-artifact-sweep.artifacts", pick(l, "collected")}, nil
+		}},
+	{words: []string{"collection"}, does: "every artifact the mesh made: kept and why, or eligible", build: fixed("mesh-artifact-sweep.artifacts")},
+	{words: []string{"collect"}, usage: "[--confirm --why <text>] [--most n]", does: "the sweep: a dry run, or with --confirm the sweep now",
+		allowed: []string{"confirm", "why", "most"}, build: func(l line) (call, error) {
+			if l.has("confirm") && !l.has("why") {
+				return call{}, usageErr("--confirm needs --why")
+			}
+			return call{"mesh-artifact-sweep.collect", pick(l, "confirm", "why", "most")}, nil
+		}},
+	{words: []string{"images"}, usage: "<node>", does: "every container image a machine's wants and haves name", build: needArg("mesh-artifact-sweep.images", "node")},
+	{words: []string{"mirrors"}, does: "the bases the mesh copied into its store", build: fixed("mesh-artifact-sweep.mirrors")},
+	{words: []string{"licence", "list"}, does: "every licence the manager holds", build: fixed("anthropic-licence-manager.licences")},
+	{words: []string{"licence", "use"}, usage: "<consumer> <licence>", does: "move a node's agent to another licence",
+		build: func(l line) (call, error) {
+			if len(l.pos) != 2 {
+				return call{}, usageErr("give the consumer (a node) and the licence")
+			}
+			return call{"anthropic-licence-manager.switch", map[string]any{"consumer": l.pos[0], "licence": l.pos[1]}}, nil
+		}},
+	{words: []string{"licence", "refresh"}, usage: "[<licence>]", does: "refresh a licence now, or every due one", build: optArg("anthropic-licence-manager.refresh", "licence")},
+	{words: []string{"licence", "key"}, does: "the manager's public key", build: fixed("anthropic-licence-manager.public-key")},
+	{words: []string{"licence"}, instead: "anthropic-licence-manager.adopt takes an API key from a file on the manager's node; nox licence list|use|refresh|key"},
+	{words: []string{"module", "list"}, does: "every module the indexer holds", build: fixed("mesh-delivery-view.indexer_modules")},
+	{words: []string{"module", "show"}, usage: "<module>", does: "what the indexer holds of one module", build: needArg("mesh-delivery-view.indexer_module", "module")},
+	{words: []string{"module", "moved"}, usage: "<module> --why <text>", does: "take a registered module in now", allowed: []string{"why"},
+		build: func(l line) (call, error) {
+			if len(l.pos) < 1 {
+				return call{}, usageErr("give the module")
+			}
+			return call{"mesh-delivery-indexer.indexer_take_in", map[string]any{"module": l.pos[0], "why": l.flags["why"]}}, nil
+		}},
+	{words: []string{"module"}, instead: "the indexer takes modules in from their repositories; nox module list|show|moved, and nothing forgets one by hand yet"},
+	{words: []string{"register"}, instead: "no seat registers a module from another repository yet (novox/hq ADR 0501 §4); nox module moved <module> takes a registered one in"},
+	{words: []string{"account", "issue"}, usage: "<user>", does: "mint one bus account the grants part wants, now", build: needArg("mesh-vault.issue-account", "user")},
+
+	// Issues and records.
+	{words: []string{"issues"}, usage: "[<words>] [--status s] [--limit n] [--owner o]", does: "the issues, newest first, or those that match",
+		allowed: []string{"status", "limit", "owner", "severity", "needs"}, build: func(l line) (call, error) {
+			a := pick(l, "status", "owner", "severity", "needs", "limit")
+			if len(l.pos) > 0 {
+				a["search"] = strings.Join(l.pos, " ")
+			}
+			a, err := numbers(a, "limit")
+			return call{"issue-tracker.list", a}, err
+		}},
+	{words: []string{"issue"}, usage: "<number> [--brief]", does: "one issue whole", allowed: []string{"brief"},
+		build: func(l line) (call, error) {
+			if len(l.pos) != 1 {
+				return call{}, usageErr("give the issue's number")
+			}
+			n, err := strconv.Atoi(l.pos[0])
+			if err != nil || n < 1 {
+				return call{}, usageErr("%q is not an issue's number", l.pos[0])
+			}
+			a := map[string]any{"number": n}
+			if l.has("brief") {
+				a["brief"] = true
+			}
+			return call{"issue-tracker.get", a}, nil
+		}},
+	{words: []string{"kb", "ask"}, usage: "<question>", does: "what holds about something, and why", build: func(l line) (call, error) {
+		if len(l.pos) == 0 {
+			return call{}, usageErr("give the question")
+		}
+		return call{"knowledge-base.ask", map[string]any{"question": strings.Join(l.pos, " ")}}, nil
+	}},
+	{words: []string{"kb", "get"}, usage: "<number> [--kind research] [--reasoning]", does: "one record by its number",
+		allowed: []string{"kind", "reasoning"}, build: func(l line) (call, error) {
+			if len(l.pos) != 1 {
+				return call{}, usageErr("give the record's number")
+			}
+			n, err := strconv.Atoi(l.pos[0])
+			if err != nil {
+				return call{}, usageErr("%q is not a record's number", l.pos[0])
+			}
+			a := pick(l, "kind")
+			a["number"] = n
+			if l.has("reasoning") {
+				a["reasoning"] = true
+			}
+			return call{"knowledge-base.get", a}, nil
+		}},
+	{words: []string{"progress"}, usage: "[<design>|mesh] [--detail minimal|detailed]", does: "how far the designs have come",
+		allowed: []string{"detail", "since"}, build: func(l line) (call, error) {
+			a := pick(l, "detail", "since")
+			a["of"] = "mesh"
+			if len(l.pos) == 1 {
+				a["of"] = l.pos[0]
+				if _, err := strconv.Atoi(l.pos[0]); err == nil {
+					a["of"] = "design " + l.pos[0]
+				}
+			}
+			return call{"knowledge-base.progress", a}, nil
+		}},
+
+	// Enrolment (the seat mesh-enrolment; `enrol open` is local, in main.go).
+	{words: []string{"enrol", "issue"}, usage: "<node> --why <text> [--expires 1h]", does: "a one-time token for a new machine, on the operator's Approve",
+		allowed: []string{"why", "expires"}, build: enrolIssue},
+	{words: []string{"token", "issue"}, usage: "--new <node> --why <text>", does: "the same as nox enrol issue",
+		allowed: []string{"new", "node", "why", "expires", "adopted"}, build: func(l line) (call, error) {
+			node := l.flags["new"]
+			if node == "" {
+				node = l.flags["node"]
+			}
+			if node != "" {
+				l.pos = append([]string{node}, l.pos...)
+			}
+			return enrolIssue(l)
+		}},
+	{words: []string{"enrol", "tokens"}, usage: "[<node>]", does: "every open enrolment, or one", build: optArg("mesh-enrolment.tokens", "node")},
+	{words: []string{"enrol", "revoke"}, usage: "<node> --why <text>", does: "end an enrolment at any stage", allowed: []string{"why"},
+		build: func(l line) (call, error) {
+			if len(l.pos) != 1 || !l.has("why") {
+				return call{}, usageErr("give the node and --why")
+			}
+			return call{"mesh-enrolment.revoke", map[string]any{"node": l.pos[0], "why": l.flags["why"]}}, nil
+		}},
+	{words: []string{"enrol", "again"}, usage: "<node>", does: "raise an enrolment's ask again", build: needArg("mesh-enrolment.again", "node")},
+
+	// Any address.
+	{words: []string{"call"}, usage: "<address> [<json arguments>]", does: "call any seat verb or module tool, e.g. ace/node-service-manager.status",
+		build: func(l line) (call, error) {
+			if len(l.pos) < 1 || len(l.pos) > 2 {
+				return call{}, usageErr("give the address and at most one JSON object of arguments")
+			}
+			return addressCall(l.pos[0], l.pos[1:])
+		}},
+	{words: []string{"ask"}, usage: "<module> <tool> [<json arguments>]", does: "call one of a module's tools",
+		build: func(l line) (call, error) {
+			if len(l.pos) < 2 || len(l.pos) > 3 {
+				return call{}, usageErr("give the module, the tool and at most one JSON object of arguments")
+			}
+			return addressCall(l.pos[0]+"."+l.pos[1], l.pos[2:])
+		}},
+}
+
+// unowned are the controller's own lines that no seat or module took over, and what to use where there is anything.
+var unowned = map[string]string{
+	"migrate": "", "prepare": "", "serve": "", "declare": "", "broker": "", "board": "", "api": "", "facts": "",
+	"rehearse": "", "take": "", "converge": "", "adopt": "", "move-placement": "", "move-config": "", "durations": "",
+	"data":          "each machine's backups: nox call <node>/node-backup.backed-up",
+	"forget-checks": "nox checks <owner/repo>", "queue": "nox builds; nox stuck", "cancel": "nox deliveries",
+	"clear": "nox deliveries", "kill": "nox deliveries", "replay": "nox dead-letters",
+	"pause":   "nox call <node>/node-build-go.pause (or node-build-node, node-build-image)",
+	"resume":  "nox call <node>/node-build-go.resume (or node-build-node, node-build-image)",
+	"push":    "a merge is delivered by mesh-delivery: nox deliveries; one version on one machine is mesh-delivery-assigner.assigner_put",
+	"deliver": "nox deliveries", "plans": "nox deliveries", "delivery-stop": "nox stalled",
+	"delivery-backups-again": "nox deliveries", "delivery-walks": "nox deliveries", "delivery-order": "nox deliveries",
+	"rollout": "nox upgrade <module>; delivery is mesh-delivery's: nox deliveries",
+}
+
+// find answers the command whose words begin the line, the longest first, and what follows them.
+func find(args []string) (*command, []string) {
+	var best *command
+	for i := range commands {
+		c := &commands[i]
+		if len(c.words) > len(args) || (best != nil && len(c.words) <= len(best.words)) {
+			continue
+		}
+		match := true
+		for j, w := range c.words {
+			if args[j] != w {
+				match = false
+				break
+			}
+		}
+		if match {
+			best = c
+		}
+	}
+	if best == nil {
+		return nil, nil
+	}
+	return best, args[len(best.words):]
+}
+
+// read builds the call of a line for a command that has an owner.
+func (c *command) read(args []string) (call, error) {
+	l, err := parseLine(args)
+	if err != nil {
+		return call{}, err
+	}
+	allowed := map[string]bool{"json": true}
+	for _, f := range c.allowed {
+		allowed[f] = true
+	}
+	for f := range l.flags {
+		if !allowed[f] {
+			return call{}, usageErr("--%s is not a flag of this line", f)
+		}
+	}
+	return c.build(l)
+}
+
+// now is the clock; a variable so a test can say.
+var now = time.Now
+
+func fixed(address string) func(line) (call, error) {
+	return func(l line) (call, error) {
+		if len(l.pos) > 0 {
+			return call{}, usageErr("this line takes no %q", l.pos[0])
+		}
+		return call{address, map[string]any{}}, nil
+	}
+}
+
+func needArg(address, name string) func(line) (call, error) {
+	return func(l line) (call, error) {
+		if len(l.pos) != 1 {
+			return call{}, usageErr("give the %s", name)
+		}
+		return call{address, map[string]any{name: l.pos[0]}}, nil
+	}
+}
+
+func optArg(address, name string) func(line) (call, error) {
+	return func(l line) (call, error) {
+		switch len(l.pos) {
+		case 0:
+			return call{address, map[string]any{}}, nil
+		case 1:
+			return call{address, map[string]any{name: l.pos[0]}}, nil
+		}
+		return call{}, usageErr("give at most one %s", name)
+	}
+}
+
+func nodeArg(address string) func(line) (call, error) { return needArg(address, "node") }
+
+func optNode(address string) func(line) (call, error) { return optArg(address, "node") }
+
+// pick is the line's flags named, as string arguments.
+func pick(l line, names ...string) map[string]any {
+	a := map[string]any{}
+	for _, n := range names {
+		if v, ok := l.flags[n]; ok {
+			a[n] = v
+		}
+	}
+	return a
+}
+
+// numbers turns the named arguments into numbers; the call's address is left to the caller.
+func numbers(a map[string]any, names ...string) (map[string]any, error) {
+	for _, n := range names {
+		v, ok := a[n].(string)
+		if !ok {
+			continue
+		}
+		i, err := strconv.Atoi(v)
+		if err != nil {
+			return a, usageErr("--%s takes a number, not %q", n, v)
+		}
+		a[n] = i
+	}
+	return a, nil
+}
+
+// propose is a change of placement with its why.
+func propose(l line, changes ...map[string]any) (call, error) {
+	if !l.has("why") {
+		return call{}, usageErr("a change of placement needs --why; the operator is asked to approve it")
+	}
+	list := make([]any, len(changes))
+	for i, c := range changes {
+		list[i] = c
+	}
+	return call{"mesh-placement.propose", map[string]any{"why": l.flags["why"], "changes": list}}, nil
+}
+
+func placeModules(op string) func(line) (call, error) {
+	return func(l line) (call, error) {
+		if len(l.pos) < 2 {
+			return call{}, usageErr("give the node and at least one module")
+		}
+		var changes []map[string]any
+		for _, m := range l.pos[1:] {
+			changes = append(changes, map[string]any{"op": op, "node": l.pos[0], "module": m})
+		}
+		return propose(l, changes...)
+	}
+}
+
+func publicDomain(l line) (call, error) {
+	switch {
+	case len(l.pos) == 1 && !l.has("clear"):
+		return call{"mesh-placement.placement", map[string]any{"node": l.pos[0]}}, nil
+	case len(l.pos) == 1:
+		return propose(l, map[string]any{"op": "decide", "node": l.pos[0], "field": "public-domain", "value": nil})
+	case len(l.pos) == 2 && !l.has("clear"):
+		return propose(l, map[string]any{"op": "decide", "node": l.pos[0], "field": "public-domain", "value": l.pos[1]})
+	}
+	return call{}, usageErr("give the node, and a domain or --clear")
+}
+
+func configChange(l line, action string) (call, error) {
+	want := 3
+	if action == "clear" {
+		want = 2
+	}
+	if len(l.pos) == 2 && action == "set" && strings.HasPrefix(strings.TrimSpace(l.pos[1]), "{") {
+		return call{}, usageErr("a whole settings file is not set at once any more: set each key, " +
+			"nox settings set <module> <key> <value> --node <node> --why <text> (mesh-config.config)")
+	}
+	if len(l.pos) != want || !l.has("node") || !l.has("why") {
+		return call{}, usageErr("give the module, the key%s, --node and --why", map[bool]string{true: " and the value"}[action == "set"])
+	}
+	a := map[string]any{"action": action, "module": l.pos[0], "key": l.pos[1], "node": l.flags["node"], "why": l.flags["why"]}
+	if action == "set" {
+		a["value"] = jsonOrText(l.pos[2])
+	}
+	return call{"mesh-config.config", a}, nil
+}
+
+// jsonOrText is a value as JSON when it reads as JSON (a number, true, an object), else the text itself.
+func jsonOrText(v string) any {
+	var out any
+	if err := json.Unmarshal([]byte(v), &out); err == nil {
+		return out
+	}
+	return v
+}
+
+func retirement(address string) func(line) (call, error) {
+	return func(l line) (call, error) {
+		if len(l.pos) == 0 || !l.has("why") {
+			return call{}, usageErr("give the consumers waiting and --why")
+		}
+		consumers := make([]any, len(l.pos))
+		for i, c := range l.pos {
+			consumers[i] = c
+		}
+		return call{address, map[string]any{"consumers": consumers, "why": l.flags["why"]}}, nil
+	}
+}
+
+func enrolIssue(l line) (call, error) {
+	if len(l.pos) != 1 || !l.has("why") {
+		return call{}, usageErr("give the new machine's name and --why")
+	}
+	a := pick(l, "why", "expires")
+	a["node"] = l.pos[0]
+	return call{"mesh-enrolment.issue", a}, nil
+}
+
+func addressCall(address string, rest []string) (call, error) {
+	a := map[string]any{}
+	if len(rest) == 1 {
+		if err := json.Unmarshal([]byte(rest[0]), &a); err != nil {
+			return call{}, usageErr("the arguments are not a JSON object: %v", err)
+		}
+	}
+	return call{address, a}, nil
+}
+
+// renderNodes shapes placement's keys as one line per node: its name, address and site.
+func renderNodes(text string) string {
+	var p struct {
+		Keys map[string]struct {
+			Placement struct {
+				Decided map[string]any `json:"decided"`
+				Modules []any          `json:"modules"`
+			} `json:"placement"`
+		} `json:"keys"`
+	}
+	// The console says after the answer which machine answered it ("answered by ace"): kept, below the lines.
+	dec := json.NewDecoder(strings.NewReader(text))
+	if err := dec.Decode(&p); err != nil || len(p.Keys) == 0 {
+		return text
+	}
+	after := ""
+	if rest, err := io.ReadAll(dec.Buffered()); err == nil {
+		after = strings.TrimSpace(string(rest))
+	}
+	names := make([]string, 0, len(p.Keys))
+	for n := range p.Keys {
+		names = append(names, n)
+	}
+	sort.Strings(names)
+	var b strings.Builder
+	for _, n := range names {
+		k := p.Keys[n]
+		fmt.Fprintf(&b, "%-10s %-15v %-8v %d modules\n", n, orDash(k.Placement.Decided["address"]),
+			orDash(k.Placement.Decided["site"]), len(k.Placement.Modules))
+	}
+	if after != "" {
+		b.WriteString(after + "\n")
+	}
+	return b.String()
+}
+
+func orDash(v any) any {
+	if v == nil || v == "" {
+		return "-"
+	}
+	return v
+}

modules/mesh-cli/cmd/mesh-cli/console.go

@@ -0,0 +1,144 @@
+package main
+
+// How mesh-cli reaches the mesh now that the controller is unassigned (novox/hq issue 1126): through this machine's
+// console, the mesh MCP server the module node-tools serves on loopback (provision mcp-endpoint, ADR 0152: the
+// machine's login is the authority). mesh-cli calls `mesh_call` with a seat verb's or a module tool's address, and the
+// console puts the call on the bus, the way every agent session on the machine does. mesh-cli holds no credential and
+// keeps no bus account of its own.
+
+import (
+	"bufio"
+	"bytes"
+	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"io"
+	"net/http"
+	"os"
+	"strings"
+	"time"
+)
+
+// consoleFile is where the module writes the console's address, from the mcp-endpoint it requires; a variable so a
+// test can name its own.
+var consoleFile = "/etc/mesh-cli/console"
+
+// defaultConsole is the console's address when the file is not there yet: the port node-tools declares it serves.
+const defaultConsole = "http://127.0.0.1:4270/mcp"
+
+// callWithin bounds one call: the console's own bound on a call is 30 seconds, and a wait is longer.
+var callWithin = 2 * time.Minute
+
+// maxAnswer bounds what is read of the console's answer.
+const maxAnswer = 16 << 20
+
+// consoleAddress is where the console listens, and where that was read from, for what is said when it does not answer.
+func consoleAddress() (string, string) {
+	if v := strings.TrimSpace(os.Getenv("MESH_CONSOLE")); v != "" {
+		return v, "MESH_CONSOLE"
+	}
+	if raw, err := os.ReadFile(consoleFile); err == nil {
+		if v := strings.TrimSpace(string(raw)); v != "" && !strings.Contains(v, "${") {
+			return v, consoleFile
+		}
+	}
+	return defaultConsole, "the console's declared port (" + consoleFile + " is not there)"
+}
+
+// answer is what the console said of one call: its text, and whether the console marked it an error (a refusal, a
+// tool's failure, nothing serving, no answer in time).
+type answer struct {
+	Text    string
+	IsError bool
+}
+
+// errNoConsole is a console that did not answer at all: nothing was called.
+var errNoConsole = errors.New("no console")
+
+// consoleTool asks the console one of its own tools (mesh_call, mesh_search, mesh_describe) and answers what it said.
+func consoleTool(ctx context.Context, tool string, arguments map[string]any) (answer, error) {
+	url, from := consoleAddress()
+	body, err := json.Marshal(map[string]any{"jsonrpc": "2.0", "id": 1, "method": "tools/call",
+		"params": map[string]any{"name": tool, "arguments": arguments}})
+	if err != nil {
+		return answer{}, err
+	}
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(ctx, callWithin)
+	defer cancel()
+	req, err := http.NewRequestWithContext(ctx, http.MethodPost, url, bytes.NewReader(body))
+	if err != nil {
+		return answer{}, fmt.Errorf("the console's address %q (from %s) is not usable: %v", url, from, err)
+	}
+	req.Header.Set("Content-Type", "application/json")
+	req.Header.Set("Accept", "application/json, text/event-stream")
+	resp, err := http.DefaultClient.Do(req)
+	if err != nil {
+		if ctx.Err() != nil {
+			return answer{}, ctx.Err()
+		}
+		return answer{}, fmt.Errorf("%w: nothing answers at %s (from %s), so nothing was called. The console is the "+
+			"module node-tools on this machine: `systemctl status` of its unit, or call from another machine: %v",
+			errNoConsole, url, from, err)
+	}
+	defer resp.Body.Close()
+	raw, err := io.ReadAll(io.LimitReader(resp.Body, maxAnswer))
+	if err != nil {
+		return answer{}, fmt.Errorf("the console's answer could not be read: %v; the call may have run", err)
+	}
+	if resp.StatusCode != http.StatusOK {
+		return answer{}, fmt.Errorf("the console at %s answered %s: %s", url, resp.Status, strings.TrimSpace(string(raw)))
+	}
+	return decodeAnswer(raw)
+}
+
+// decodeAnswer reads the console's JSON-RPC answer, given as JSON or as a server-sent event's data.
+func decodeAnswer(raw []byte) (answer, error) {
+	payload := bytes.TrimSpace(raw)
+	if !bytes.HasPrefix(payload, []byte("{")) {
+		sc := bufio.NewScanner(bytes.NewReader(raw))
+		sc.Buffer(make([]byte, 0, 64<<10), maxAnswer)
+		payload = nil
+		for sc.Scan() {
+			if d, ok := strings.CutPrefix(sc.Text(), "data:"); ok {
+				payload = []byte(strings.TrimSpace(d))
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	var rpc struct {
+		Result *struct {
+			Content []struct {
+				Type string `json:"type"`
+				Text string `json:"text"`
+			} `json:"content"`
+			IsError bool `json:"isError"`
+		} `json:"result"`
+		Error *struct {
+			Message string `json:"message"`
+		} `json:"error"`
+	}
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(payload, &rpc); err != nil {
+		return answer{}, fmt.Errorf("the console's answer is not one mesh-cli reads (%v); the call may have run", err)
+	}
+	if rpc.Error != nil {
+		return answer{Text: rpc.Error.Message, IsError: true}, nil
+	}
+	if rpc.Result == nil {
+		return answer{}, errors.New("the console answered nothing; the call may have run")
+	}
+	var parts []string
+	for _, c := range rpc.Result.Content {
+		if c.Type == "text" || c.Type == "" {
+			parts = append(parts, c.Text)
+		}
+	}
+	return answer{Text: strings.Join(parts, "\n"), IsError: rpc.Result.IsError}, nil
+}
+
+// meshCall calls one address through the console.
+func meshCall(ctx context.Context, address string, args map[string]any) (answer, error) {
+	if args == nil {
+		args = map[string]any{}
+	}
+	return consoleTool(ctx, "mesh_call", map[string]any{"address": address, "arguments": args})
+}

modules/mesh-cli/cmd/mesh-cli/enrol_test.go

@@ -17,8 +17,8 @@ import (
 
 // 774/S51/AC1, AC2 (novox/hq ADR 0587 §6, §8): a token sealed to a test operator key (as mesh-vault seals it: the text
 // of the token, anonymous box, base64) is opened with the private half and printed as a token the engine's parser reads
-// (base64url of version 1 JSON with node, broker, fingerprint, signer and secret), and nothing is asked of the engine's
-// socket, which here is a path nobody listens on; the wrong key prints nothing and says the token is not sealed to it.
+// (base64url of version 1 JSON with node, broker, fingerprint, signer and secret), and nothing is asked of the console, which
+// here is an address nobody listens on; the wrong key prints nothing and says the token is not sealed to it.
 func TestEnrolOpenOpensASealedTokenLocallyAndOnlyWithItsKey(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Setenv("MESH_VERB", "")
 	token := base64.RawURLEncoding.EncodeToString([]byte(`{"v":1,"node":"new1","broker":"tls://10.77.0.1:4222",` +
@@ -37,9 +37,9 @@ func TestEnrolOpenOpensASealedTokenLocallyAndOnlyWithItsKey(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 		return p
 	}
-	before, beforeIn := socket, standardInput
-	socket = filepath.Join(dir, "nobody-listens.sock")
-	t.Cleanup(func() { socket, standardInput = before, beforeIn })
+	beforeIn := standardInput
+	t.Setenv("MESH_CONSOLE", "http://127.0.0.1:1/mcp") // nothing listens: enrol open asks nothing of the mesh
+	t.Cleanup(func() { standardInput = beforeIn })
 	for _, c := range []struct {
 		name  string
 		args  []string

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

@@ -1,11 +1,8 @@
-// Command mesh-cli is the operator's command on every node (novox/hq ADR 0272): `mesh-cli <command line>` asks the
-// controller to run one of its command lines, and prints what it said. In interactive zsh it is also `nox`.
+// Command mesh-cli is the operator's command on every node: `mesh-cli <command line>`, in interactive zsh also `nox`.
 //
-// It holds no credential and reads no file of the mesh. It asks the node-engine on this machine over a local
-// socket; the engine reads which account is asking from the kernel and asks the controller. The controller decides:
-// on the control-node, from the operator's own account, the line runs as the controller's terminal; elsewhere it is
-// an ordinary call, and a change made at the terminal alone is refused with the reason; from any other account
-// nothing runs.
+// Each line calls the seat verb or the module tool that owns its job (novox/hq issue 1126: the controller that ran
+// these lines before is unassigned), through this machine's console, the mesh MCP server on loopback (console.go).
+// A line no seat or module owns says so and names what to use instead. `enrol open` runs here and asks nothing.
 package main
 
 import (
@@ -15,16 +12,14 @@ import (
 	"io"
 	"os"
 	"os/signal"
+	"runtime/debug"
+	"sort"
+	"strings"
 	"syscall"
-
-	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/cli"
 )
 
-// socket is where the node-engine answers; a variable so a test can name its own.
-var socket = cli.Socket
-
-// standardInput is mesh-cli's own standard input, and whether it is a terminal (or a device such as /dev/null),
-// which is never read; a variable so a test can say.
+// standardInput is mesh-cli's own standard input, and whether it is a terminal (or a device such as /dev/null); a
+// variable so a test can say.
 var standardInput = func() (io.Reader, bool) {
 	info, err := os.Stdin.Stat()
 	if err != nil {
@@ -33,39 +28,6 @@ var standardInput = func() (io.Reader, bool) {
 	return os.Stdin, info.Mode()&os.ModeCharDevice != 0
 }
 
-// carried is what mesh-cli carries of its standard input for the line: what a pipe or a file held, at most
-// cli.MaxStdin, for the controller's terminal alone (a secret given with `secret accept … --from -`). A terminal is
-// never read: the line is asked without. More than the bound is refused, and nothing is asked.
-func carried() ([]byte, error) {
-	in, terminal := standardInput()
-	if terminal {
-		return nil, nil
-	}
-	body, err := io.ReadAll(io.LimitReader(in, cli.MaxStdin+1))
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("standard input could not be read (%v); nothing was asked", err)
-	}
-	if len(body) > cli.MaxStdin {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("standard input is more than %d bytes, which mesh-cli does not carry; nothing was asked", cli.MaxStdin)
-	}
-	return body, nil
-}
-
-const usage = `mesh-cli — the controller's command lines, from this node (novox/hq ADR 0272)
-
-  mesh-cli <command line>     e.g. mesh-cli status, mesh-cli settings show zsh --node <node>
-  nox <command line>          the same, in interactive zsh
-
-  nox enrol open --key <file> opens a sealed enrolment token here, asking nothing of the mesh (ADR 0587)
-
-Run it as yourself, never under sudo: the node-engine tells the controller which account asks.
-What a pipe or a file gives its standard input (at most 64 KiB) goes with the line to the controller's
-terminal alone, e.g. a secret: mesh-cli secret accept <node> <module> <name> --from - < file
-On the control-node, from its operator's account, the line runs as the controller's terminal.
-Anywhere else it is an ordinary call, and a terminal-only change is refused with the reason.
-'mesh-cli help' asks the controller for its own list of command lines.
-`
-
 func main() {
 	ctx, stop := signal.NotifyContext(context.Background(), os.Interrupt, syscall.SIGTERM)
 	code := run(ctx, os.Args[1:], os.Stdout, os.Stderr)
@@ -74,56 +36,178 @@ func main() {
 }
 
 func run(ctx context.Context, args []string, stdout, stderr io.Writer) int {
-	if len(args) == 0 || args[0] == "-h" || args[0] == "--help" {
-		fmt.Fprint(stderr, usage)
-		return 2
+	if len(args) == 0 || args[0] == "-h" || args[0] == "--help" || args[0] == "help" {
+		fmt.Fprint(stderr, usage())
+		if len(args) == 0 {
+			return 2
+		}
+		return 0
 	}
-	// A verb's own process carries the verb it runs for; a verb is never a person, so it is never the terminal.
+	// A verb's own process carries the verb it runs for; a verb is never a person.
 	if verb := os.Getenv("MESH_VERB"); verb != "" {
 		fmt.Fprintf(stderr, "mesh-cli: this process runs for the verb %q, and a verb is never the operator. "+
-			"Nothing was asked\n", verb)
+			"Nothing was called\n", verb)
 		return 1
 	}
+	switch args[0] {
+	case "version":
+		fmt.Fprintln(stdout, version())
+		return 0
+	case "search":
+		if len(args) < 2 {
+			fmt.Fprintln(stderr, "mesh-cli: give the words: nox search <words>")
+			return 2
+		}
+		return show(ctx, "mesh_search", map[string]any{"query": strings.Join(args[1:], " ")}, nil, stdout, stderr)
+	case "describe":
+		if len(args) != 2 {
+			fmt.Fprintln(stderr, "mesh-cli: give one address: nox describe <address>")
+			return 2
+		}
+		return show(ctx, "mesh_describe", map[string]any{"address": args[1]}, nil, stdout, stderr)
+	}
 	// `enrol open` is local: it opens a sealed enrolment token with the operator's private key and asks nothing of the
-	// node-engine or the mesh (novox/hq ADR 0587 §8).
+	// mesh (novox/hq ADR 0587 §8).
 	if len(args) >= 2 && args[0] == "enrol" && args[1] == "open" {
 		in, terminal := standardInput()
 		return enrolOpen(args[2:], in, terminal, stdout, stderr)
 	}
-	in, err := carried()
+	c, rest := find(args)
+	if c == nil {
+		if instead, ok := unowned[args[0]]; ok {
+			return noOwner(args[0], instead, stderr)
+		}
+		fmt.Fprintf(stderr, "mesh-cli: %q is not a command. nox help lists them; nox search <words> finds a seat verb "+
+			"or a tool, and nox call <address> calls it\n", args[0])
+		return 2
+	}
+	if c.build == nil {
+		return noOwner(strings.Join(c.words, " "), c.instead, stderr)
+	}
+	k, err := c.read(rest)
 	if err != nil {
-		fmt.Fprintf(stderr, "mesh-cli: %v\n", err)
-		return 1
+		fmt.Fprintf(stderr, "mesh-cli: %v. Nothing was called\n  nox %s %s\n", err, strings.Join(c.words, " "), c.usage)
+		return 2
 	}
-	a, err := cli.AskWith(ctx, socket, cli.Request{Line: args, Stdin: in})
-	if err != nil {
-		if errors.Is(ctx.Err(), context.Canceled) {
-			fmt.Fprintln(stderr, "mesh-cli: stopped waiting; the line may still be running on the controller")
-			return 130
-		}
-		fmt.Fprintf(stderr, "mesh-cli: %v\n", err)
-		return 1
+	if k.Address == "mesh-delivery-view.view_status" {
+		return status(ctx, stdout, stderr)
 	}
-	_, _ = stdout.Write(a.Stdout)
-	_, _ = stderr.Write(a.Stderr)
-	if a.Cut {
-		fmt.Fprintln(stderr, "mesh-cli: the output was longer than one bus message, and was cut there")
-	}
-	if !a.Terminal && a.Why != "" {
-		fmt.Fprintln(stderr, "mesh-cli: "+a.Why)
-	}
-	if a.Unknown != "" {
-		// Asked, and what came of it not known: never said as nothing having run.
-		fmt.Fprintln(stderr, "mesh-cli: "+a.Unknown)
-		if a.Exit == 0 {
-			return 1
+	return show(ctx, "mesh_call", map[string]any{"address": k.Address, "arguments": k.Args}, c.render, stdout, stderr)
+}
+
+// noOwner says a line has no owner since the controller went, and what to use.
+func noOwner(what, instead string, stderr io.Writer) int {
+	fmt.Fprintf(stderr, "mesh-cli: nox %s: %s.\n", what, gone)
+	if instead != "" {
+		fmt.Fprintf(stderr, "  instead: %s\n", instead)
+	} else {
+		fmt.Fprintln(stderr, "  no seat or module does this now; nox search <words> finds what does nearby")
+	}
+	return 1
+}
+
+// show calls one of the console's tools and prints what it answered: an answer marked an error on standard error, with
+// exit 1.
+func show(ctx context.Context, tool string, args map[string]any, render func(string) string, stdout, stderr io.Writer) int {
+	a, err := consoleTool(ctx, tool, args)
+	if err != nil {
+		return failed(err, stderr)
+	}
+	if a.IsError {
+		fmt.Fprintln(stderr, "mesh-cli: "+strings.TrimRight(a.Text, "\n"))
+		return 1
+	}
+	text := a.Text
+	if render != nil {
+		text = render(text)
+	}
+	fmt.Fprintln(stdout, strings.TrimRight(text, "\n"))
+	return 0
+}
+
+// failed says why a call did not come back, and never as nothing having run unless nothing answered.
+func failed(err error, stderr io.Writer) int {
+	switch {
+	case errors.Is(err, context.Canceled):
+		fmt.Fprintln(stderr, "mesh-cli: stopped waiting; the call may still run")
+		return 130
+	case errors.Is(err, context.DeadlineExceeded):
+		fmt.Fprintln(stderr, "mesh-cli: no answer in time; the call may have run. Check before repeating a change")
+		return 1
+	}
+	fmt.Fprintf(stderr, "mesh-cli: %v\n", err)
+	return 1
+}
+
+// status is the delivery view's status. When the view does not answer, that is said first and loudly, and what the
+// condition keeper and mesh-delivery hold is shown in its place, each under its address, with exit 1: never shown as
+// the status.
+func status(ctx context.Context, stdout, stderr io.Writer) int {
+	a, err := meshCall(ctx, "mesh-delivery-view.view_status", nil)
+	if err == nil && !a.IsError {
+		fmt.Fprintln(stdout, strings.TrimRight(a.Text, "\n"))
+		return 0
+	}
+	if errors.Is(err, errNoConsole) || errors.Is(err, context.Canceled) {
+		return failed(err, stderr)
+	}
+	why := a.Text
+	if err != nil {
+		why = err.Error()
+	}
+	fmt.Fprintf(stderr, "mesh-cli: the status (mesh-delivery-view.view_status) did not answer: %s\n"+
+		"mesh-cli: what follows is not the status: the open conditions and the deliveries, read on their own\n",
+		strings.TrimRight(why, "\n"))
+	for _, address := range []string{"mesh-conditions.conditions", "mesh-delivery.deliveries"} {
+		fmt.Fprintf(stdout, "== %s\n", address)
+		show(ctx, "mesh_call", map[string]any{"address": address, "arguments": map[string]any{}}, nil, stdout, stderr)
+	}
+	return 1
+}
+
+// version is what this binary was built from.
+func version() string {
+	info, ok := debug.ReadBuildInfo()
+	if !ok {
+		return "mesh-cli (unknown build)"
+	}
+	v := "mesh-cli " + info.Main.Version
+	for _, s := range info.Settings {
+		if s.Key == "vcs.revision" {
+			v += " " + s.Value
 		}
 	}
-	if a.Refused != "" {
-		fmt.Fprintln(stderr, "mesh-cli: "+a.Refused)
-		if a.Exit == 0 {
-			return 1
+	return v
+}
+
+// usage is every line nox takes, grouped by its first word.
+func usage() string {
+	var b strings.Builder
+	b.WriteString(`mesh-cli: the operator's command (nox in interactive zsh)
+
+Each line calls the seat verb or module tool that owns the job, through this machine's console (the mesh MCP
+server on loopback). The controller that ran these lines before is unassigned (novox/hq issue 1126).
+
+`)
+	lines := make([]string, 0, len(commands))
+	for _, c := range commands {
+		if c.build == nil {
+			continue
 		}
+		lines = append(lines, fmt.Sprintf("  nox %s %s\n      %s", strings.Join(c.words, " "), c.usage, c.does))
 	}
-	return a.Exit
+	sort.Strings(lines)
+	b.WriteString(strings.Join(lines, "\n"))
+	b.WriteString(`
+  nox search <words>
+      find a seat verb or a module tool
+  nox describe <address>
+      one address's arguments
+  nox enrol open --key <file>
+      open an enrolment token sealed to the operator key, here; asks nothing of the mesh
+  nox version
+
+Every answer is the owner's own, as JSON. A line the controller ran that no seat owns says so and what to use.
+`)
+	return b.String()
 }

modules/mesh-cli/cmd/mesh-cli/main_test.go

@@ -3,153 +3,285 @@ package main
 import (
 	"bytes"
 	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
 	"io"
-	"net"
+	"net/http"
+	"net/http/httptest"
+	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
-
-	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/cli"
+	"time"
 )
 
-// The tests' own standard input is the runner's, which may be a pipe nobody closes: read as a terminal unless a test
-// says otherwise.
+// The tests' own standard input is the runner's, which may be a pipe nobody closes: read as a terminal.
 func init() { standardInput = func() (io.Reader, bool) { return nil, true } }
 
-// lastStdin is the standard input the engine was last given.
-var lastStdin []byte
+// asked is one call the stand-in console took: the console's tool, and for mesh_call the address and its arguments.
+type asked struct {
+	Tool    string
+	Address string
+	Args    string
+}
 
-// engine answers one connection on a socket of the test's own as the node-engine would, and says what it was asked.
-func engine(t *testing.T, answer cli.Answer) <-chan []string {
+// console is a stand-in for this machine's console: it answers MCP tools/call over HTTP as node-tools does, with the
+// answer the test gives per address (an error when it starts with "!"), and records what it was asked.
+func console(t *testing.T, answers map[string]string) *[]asked {
 	t.Helper()
-	path := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "cli.sock")
-	l, err := net.Listen("unix", path)
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Skipf("no unix socket here: %v", err)
-	}
-	t.Cleanup(func() { l.Close() })
-	before := socket
-	socket = path
-	t.Cleanup(func() { socket = before })
-	asked := make(chan []string, 1)
-	lastStdin = nil
-	go func() {
-		conn, err := l.Accept()
-		if err != nil {
+	var got []asked
+	srv := httptest.NewServer(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		if r.URL.Path != "/mcp" || r.Method != http.MethodPost {
+			http.NotFound(w, r)
 			return
 		}
-		defer conn.Close()
-		req, err := cli.ReadRequest(conn)
-		if err != nil {
-			return
+		var req struct {
+			Method string `json:"method"`
+			Params struct {
+				Name      string `json:"name"`
+				Arguments struct {
+					Address   string         `json:"address"`
+					Arguments map[string]any `json:"arguments"`
+					Query     string         `json:"query"`
+				} `json:"arguments"`
+			} `json:"params"`
 		}
-		lastStdin = req.Stdin
-		asked <- req.Line
-		_ = cli.WriteAnswer(conn, answer)
-	}()
-	return asked
-}
-
-// The line is asked as given, what the controller printed is printed, and its exit is mesh-cli's.
-func TestTheLineIsAskedAndTheAnswerIsPrinted(t *testing.T) {
+		if err := json.NewDecoder(r.Body).Decode(&req); err != nil || req.Method != "tools/call" {
+			t.Errorf("the console was asked %v %v", req.Method, err)
+		}
+		a := req.Params.Arguments
+		args, _ := json.Marshal(a.Arguments)
+		got = append(got, asked{req.Params.Name, a.Address, string(args)})
+		key := a.Address
+		if req.Params.Name != "mesh_call" {
+			key = req.Params.Name
+		}
+		text, ok := answers[key]
+		if !ok {
+			text = `{"ok":true}`
+		}
+		isError := strings.HasPrefix(text, "!")
+		w.Header().Set("Content-Type", "application/json")
+		_ = json.NewEncoder(w).Encode(map[string]any{"jsonrpc": "2.0", "id": 1, "result": map[string]any{
+			"content": []any{map[string]any{"type": "text", "text": strings.TrimPrefix(text, "!")},
+				map[string]any{"type": "text", "text": "answered by ace"}}, "isError": isError}})
+	}))
+	t.Cleanup(srv.Close)
+	t.Setenv("MESH_CONSOLE", srv.URL+"/mcp")
 	t.Setenv("MESH_VERB", "")
-	asked := engine(t, cli.Answer{Stdout: []byte("out\n"), Stderr: []byte("err\n"), Exit: 3, Terminal: true, Why: "the terminal"})
+	return &got
+}
+
+func runLine(args ...string) (int, string, string) {
 	var out, errOut bytes.Buffer
-	code := run(context.Background(), []string{"settings", "set", "zsh", `{"execute":"withhold"}`}, &out, &errOut)
-	if line := <-asked; strings.Join(line, "|") != `settings|set|zsh|{"execute":"withhold"}` {
-		t.Fatalf("asked %q", line)
-	}
-	if code != 3 || out.String() != "out\n" || errOut.String() != "err\n" {
-		t.Fatalf("exit %d, stdout %q, stderr %q", code, out.String(), errOut.String())
+	code := run(context.Background(), args, &out, &errOut)
+	return code, out.String(), errOut.String()
+}
+
+// Every owned line calls the seat verb or module tool that owns its job, with the arguments the owner reads
+// (novox/hq issue 1126; hq .work/1126/nox-map.md), and prints its answer.
+func TestEachLineCallsItsOwner(t *testing.T) {
+	now = func() time.Time { return time.Date(2026, 11, 2, 10, 0, 0, 0, time.UTC) }
+	t.Cleanup(func() { now = time.Now })
+	for _, c := range []struct {
+		line    string
+		address string
+		args    string
+	}{
+		{"node show ace", "mesh-placement.placement", `{"node":"ace"}`},
+		{"node public-domain ace", "mesh-placement.placement", `{"node":"ace"}`},
+		{"node public-domain ace example.org --why moved", "mesh-placement.propose", `{"changes":[{"field":"public-domain","node":"ace","op":"decide","value":"example.org"}],"why":"moved"}`},
+		{"plan ace", "mesh-delivery-view.assigner_wants", `{"node":"ace"}`},
+		{"haves", "mesh-delivery-view.node_haves", `{}`},
+		{"composition ace plex", "ace/node-engine.composition", `{"module":"plex"}`},
+		{"seats", "mesh-placement.placement", `{"seats":"true"}`},
+		{"assign ace plex sonarr --why=media", "mesh-placement.propose", `{"changes":[{"module":"plex","node":"ace","op":"place"},{"module":"sonarr","node":"ace","op":"place"}],"why":"media"}`},
+		{"unassign ace plex --why gone", "mesh-placement.propose", `{"changes":[{"module":"plex","node":"ace","op":"take-off"}],"why":"gone"}`},
+		{"pin ace postgres-database novox postgres --why one", "mesh-placement.propose", `{"changes":[{"node":"ace","op":"pin","provider":{"module":"postgres","node":"novox"},"provision":"postgres-database"}],"why":"one"}`},
+		{"unpin ace postgres-database --why back", "mesh-placement.propose", `{"changes":[{"node":"ace","op":"unpin","provision":"postgres-database"}],"why":"back"}`},
+		{"deliveries --state merged --json", "mesh-delivery.deliveries", `{"state":"merged"}`},
+		{"delivery novox/mesh-sdk@dff0ce2abb21", "mesh-delivery.show", `{"id":"novox/mesh-sdk@dff0ce2abb21"}`},
+		{"checks novox/mesh-catalog --number 591", "mesh-delivery.checks", `{"number":"591","repository":"novox/mesh-catalog"}`},
+		{"try novox/mesh-catalog abc123 --level unit", "mesh-delivery-checker.try", `{"head":"abc123","level":"unit","repository":"novox/mesh-catalog"}`},
+		{"builds", "mesh-delivery-builder.builder_builds_since", `{"since":"2026-11-01T10:00:00Z"}`},
+		{"upgrade nats --policy record --why bus", "mesh-wants.upgrade", `{"module":"nats","policy":"record","why":"bus"}`},
+		{"bus", "mesh-wants.bus", `{}`},
+		{"conditions --severity urgent", "mesh-conditions.conditions", `{"severity":"urgent"}`},
+		{"conditions show machine.g14.root-not-free", "mesh-conditions.conditions", `{"key":"machine.g14.root-not-free"}`},
+		{"conditions silence k1 --for 4h --why known", "mesh-conditions.silence", `{"for":"4h","key":"k1","why":"known"}`},
+		{"conditions history --days 3", "mesh-conditions.conditions", `{"days":"3","history":"true"}`},
+		{"conditions history --key k1", "mesh-conditions.conditions_history", `{"key":"k1"}`},
+		{"doctor", "mesh-self-check.doctor", `{}`},
+		{"doctor run", "mesh-self-check.doctor", `{"run":true}`},
+		{"doctor probe D6", "mesh-self-check.doctor", `{"probe":"D6"}`},
+		{"healers --days 2", "mesh-healers.healers", `{"days":2}`},
+		{"hand-act record restarted the view --why stuck --cause view", "mesh-hand-acts.hand-act", `{"cause":"view","what":"restarted the view","why":"stuck"}`},
+		{"hand-acts --days 3", "mesh-hand-acts.hand-acts", `{"days":3}`},
+		{"settings show zsh --node g14", "mesh-config.config", `{"action":"list","module":"zsh","node":"g14"}`},
+		{"settings set zsh execute withhold --node g14 --why test", "mesh-config.config", `{"action":"set","key":"execute","module":"zsh","node":"g14","value":"withhold","why":"test"}`},
+		{"settings clear zsh execute --node g14 --why test", "mesh-config.config", `{"action":"clear","key":"execute","module":"zsh","node":"g14","why":"test"}`},
+		{"config history --key k --limit 5", "mesh-config.config", `{"action":"history","key":"k","limit":5}`},
+		{"secret export", "mesh-vault.secret_vault_export", `{}`},
+		{"operator key show", "mesh-vault.vault_status", `{}`},
+		{"rotate --node ace --module plex --name token --why leak", "mesh-vault.rotate", `{"module":"plex","name":"token","node":"ace","why":"leak"}`},
+		{"retire approve c1 c2 --why done", "mesh-vault.provisioner_retire_approve", `{"consumers":["c1","c2"],"why":"done"}`},
+		{"cleanup delete ace.plex --why done --confirm", "mesh-vault.provisioner_delete", `{"confirm":"ace.plex","consumer":"ace.plex","why":"done"}`},
+		{"cleanup delete ace.plex --why dry", "mesh-vault.provisioner_delete", `{"consumer":"ace.plex","why":"dry"}`},
+		{"collect --confirm --why space", "mesh-artifact-sweep.collect", `{"confirm":"true","why":"space"}`},
+		{"images ace", "mesh-artifact-sweep.images", `{"node":"ace"}`},
+		{"licence use g14 work", "anthropic-licence-manager.switch", `{"consumer":"g14","licence":"work"}`},
+		{"module show plex", "mesh-delivery-view.indexer_module", `{"module":"plex"}`},
+		{"issues apostrophe bug --status open --limit 5", "issue-tracker.list", `{"limit":5,"search":"apostrophe bug","status":"open"}`},
+		{"issue 1126 --brief", "issue-tracker.get", `{"brief":true,"number":1126}`},
+		{"kb ask what holds about the merge window", "knowledge-base.ask", `{"question":"what holds about the merge window"}`},
+		{"kb get 587 --reasoning", "knowledge-base.get", `{"number":587,"reasoning":true}`},
+		{"progress 47", "knowledge-base.progress", `{"of":"design 47"}`},
+		{"enrol issue new1 --why laptop --expires 2h", "mesh-enrolment.issue", `{"expires":"2h","node":"new1","why":"laptop"}`},
+		{"token issue --new new1 --why laptop", "mesh-enrolment.issue", `{"node":"new1","why":"laptop"}`},
+		{"enrol tokens", "mesh-enrolment.tokens", `{}`},
+		{"call ace/node-service-manager.status {\"unit\":\"plex\"}", "ace/node-service-manager.status", `{"unit":"plex"}`},
+		{"ask mesh-catalog catalog_modules", "mesh-catalog.catalog_modules", `{}`},
+	} {
+		got := console(t, nil)
+		args := strings.Fields(c.line)
+		if strings.HasPrefix(c.line, "call ") {
+			args = []string{"call", "ace/node-service-manager.status", `{"unit":"plex"}`}
+		}
+		code, out, errOut := runLine(args...)
+		if code != 0 || len(*got) != 1 || (*got)[0].Tool != "mesh_call" || (*got)[0].Address != c.address || (*got)[0].Args != c.args {
+			t.Errorf("nox %s: exit %d, asked %+v, stderr %q; want %s %s", c.line, code, *got, errOut, c.address, c.args)
+			continue
+		}
+		if !strings.Contains(out, `"ok":true`) {
+			t.Errorf("nox %s printed %q, not the owner's answer", c.line, out)
+		}
 	}
 }
 
-// Not the terminal, refused, or cut: each is said, and a refusal never exits 0.
-func TestWhyARefusalAndACutAreSaid(t *testing.T) {
-	t.Setenv("MESH_VERB", "")
-	engine(t, cli.Answer{Why: "not the controller's terminal: agents on laptop may run as operator",
-		Refused: "set at the controller's terminal only", Cut: true})
-	var out, errOut bytes.Buffer
-	code := run(context.Background(), []string{"settings", "set", "x", "{}"}, &out, &errOut)
-	said := errOut.String()
-	if code == 0 || !strings.Contains(said, "not the controller's terminal") || !strings.Contains(said, "terminal only") ||
-		!strings.Contains(said, "cut") {
-		t.Fatalf("exit %d, said %q", code, said)
+// A line the controller ran that no seat owns says so and what to use, exits 1 and calls nothing; a line nox cannot
+// read says how it is written, exits 2 and calls nothing.
+func TestALineWithNoOwnerOrNotReadCallsNothingAndSaysWhy(t *testing.T) {
+	for _, c := range []struct {
+		line string
+		code int
+		err  string
+	}{
+		{"push ace", 1, "mesh-delivery-assigner.assigner_put"},
+		{"migrate", 1, "no seat or module does this now"},
+		{"secret accept ace plex token", 1, "mesh-vault.secret-ask"},
+		{"node add new1", 1, "nox enrol issue"},
+		{"pause", 1, "node-build-go.pause"},
+		{"operator key make", 1, "operator key show"},
+		{"assign ace plex", 2, "needs --why"},
+		{"issue twelve", 2, "not an issue's number"},
+		{"conditions --bogus x", 2, "--bogus is not a flag"},
+		{"settings set zsh {\"execute\":\"withhold\"} --node g14 --why x", 2, "set each key"},
+		{"healers --days soon", 2, "takes a number"},
+		{"frobnicate", 2, "is not a command"},
+	} {
+		got := console(t, nil)
+		args := strings.Fields(c.line)
+		code, _, errOut := runLine(args...)
+		if code != c.code || len(*got) != 0 || !strings.Contains(errOut, c.err) {
+			t.Errorf("nox %s: exit %d, asked %+v, stderr %q; want exit %d saying %q", c.line, code, *got, errOut, c.code, c.err)
+		}
+		if c.code == 1 && !strings.Contains(errOut, "issue 1126") {
+			t.Errorf("nox %s does not say the controller is unassigned: %q", c.line, errOut)
+		}
 	}
 }
 
-// A verb's own process is never the operator: refused before anything is asked.
-func TestAVerbsProcessIsRefusedBeforeAsking(t *testing.T) {
-	t.Setenv("MESH_VERB", "command")
-	before := socket
-	socket = filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "nothing-listens.sock")
-	t.Cleanup(func() { socket = before })
-	var out, errOut bytes.Buffer
-	if code := run(context.Background(), []string{"status"}, &out, &errOut); code != 1 ||
-		!strings.Contains(errOut.String(), "never the operator") {
-		t.Fatalf("exit %d, said %q", code, errOut.String())
+// What the console says is printed as said: an answer it marks an error on standard error with exit 1, a console that
+// does not answer as nothing called, a verb's process refused before anything is called; nodes are one line each.
+func TestAnswersRefusalsAndSilenceAreSaid(t *testing.T) {
+	got := console(t, map[string]string{"mesh-enrolment.tokens": "!nothing serves seat:mesh-enrolment.tokens"})
+	if code, out, errOut := runLine("enrol", "tokens"); code != 1 || out != "" || !strings.Contains(errOut, "nothing serves") {
+		t.Errorf("an error answer: exit %d, stdout %q, stderr %q", code, out, errOut)
+	}
+	placement := `{"keys":{"novox":{"placement":{"decided":{"address":"10.10.0.1","site":"hub"},"modules":[{},{}]}},` +
+		`"ace":{"placement":{"decided":{"address":"10.10.0.2"},"modules":[{}]}}}}`
+	console(t, map[string]string{"mesh-placement.placement": placement})
+	if code, out, _ := runLine("nodes"); code != 0 || !strings.HasPrefix(out, "ace ") ||
+		!strings.Contains(out, "10.10.0.1") || !strings.Contains(out, "2 modules") || !strings.HasSuffix(out, "answered by ace\n") {
+		t.Errorf("nodes: exit %d, %q", code, out)
+	}
+	got = console(t, map[string]string{"mesh_search": `{"matches":[]}`})
+	if code, out, _ := runLine("search", "restart", "a", "unit"); code != 0 || (*got)[0].Tool != "mesh_search" || !strings.Contains(out, "matches") {
+		t.Errorf("search: exit %d, asked %+v, %q", code, *got, out)
+	}
+	t.Setenv("MESH_CONSOLE", "http://127.0.0.1:1/mcp")
+	if code, _, errOut := runLine("conditions"); code != 1 || !strings.Contains(errOut, "nothing was called") {
+		t.Errorf("no console: exit %d, %q", code, errOut)
+	}
+	t.Setenv("MESH_VERB", "some.verb")
+	if code, _, errOut := runLine("conditions"); code != 1 || !strings.Contains(errOut, "a verb is never the operator") {
+		t.Errorf("a verb's process: exit %d, %q", code, errOut)
 	}
 }
 
-// An engine that does not answer is said, with where it was asked.
-func TestAnEngineThatDoesNotAnswerIsSaid(t *testing.T) {
-	t.Setenv("MESH_VERB", "")
-	before := socket
-	socket = filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "nothing-listens.sock")
-	t.Cleanup(func() { socket = before })
-	var out, errOut bytes.Buffer
-	if code := run(context.Background(), []string{"status"}, &out, &errOut); code != 1 ||
-		!strings.Contains(errOut.String(), "does not answer") {
-		t.Fatalf("exit %d, said %q", code, errOut.String())
+// The status is the delivery view's. When the view does not answer, that is said first, the conditions and the
+// deliveries are shown under their own addresses, and the exit is 1: they are never passed off as the status.
+func TestStatusIsTheViewsAndItsSilenceIsSaid(t *testing.T) {
+	got := console(t, map[string]string{"mesh-delivery-view.view_status": `{"well":true}`})
+	if code, out, _ := runLine("status"); code != 0 || len(*got) != 1 || !strings.Contains(out, `"well":true`) {
+		t.Errorf("status: exit %d, asked %+v, %q", code, *got, out)
+	}
+	got = console(t, map[string]string{"mesh-delivery-view.view_status": "!mesh-delivery-view.view_status did not answer within 30s",
+		"mesh-conditions.conditions": `{"conditions":[]}`, "mesh-delivery.deliveries": `{"deliveries":[]}`})
+	code, out, errOut := runLine("status")
+	if code != 1 || len(*got) != 3 || !strings.Contains(errOut, "did not answer") || !strings.Contains(errOut, "not the status") ||
+		!strings.Contains(out, "== mesh-conditions.conditions") || !strings.Contains(out, "== mesh-delivery.deliveries") {
+		t.Errorf("status, the view silent: exit %d, asked %+v, stdout %q, stderr %q", code, *got, out, errOut)
 	}
 }
 
-// An outcome not known is said as such — the line may have run — and never as nothing having run.
-func TestAnOutcomeNotKnownIsSaid(t *testing.T) {
-	t.Setenv("MESH_VERB", "")
-	engine(t, cli.NotKnown("call-4", "no answer within 6m0s"))
-	var out, errOut bytes.Buffer
-	code := run(context.Background(), []string{"push", "laptop"}, &out, &errOut)
-	if code == 0 || !strings.Contains(errOut.String(), "may have run") || !strings.Contains(errOut.String(), "call-4") {
-		t.Fatalf("exit %d, said %q", code, errOut.String())
+// The console's address comes from the file the module writes from its mcp-endpoint; MESH_CONSOLE overrides it; with
+// neither, the port node-tools declares. An answer given as a server-sent event is read like one given as JSON.
+func TestTheConsoleIsFoundAndItsAnswerRead(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Setenv("MESH_CONSOLE", "")
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	before := consoleFile
+	consoleFile = filepath.Join(dir, "console")
+	t.Cleanup(func() { consoleFile = before })
+	if url, _ := consoleAddress(); url != defaultConsole {
+		t.Errorf("no file: %s", url)
+	}
+	if err := os.WriteFile(consoleFile, []byte("http://127.0.0.1:4999/mcp\n"), 0o644); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if url, from := consoleAddress(); url != "http://127.0.0.1:4999/mcp" || from != consoleFile {
+		t.Errorf("the file: %s from %s", url, from)
+	}
+	t.Setenv("MESH_CONSOLE", "http://127.0.0.1:5000/mcp")
+	if url, _ := consoleAddress(); url != "http://127.0.0.1:5000/mcp" {
+		t.Errorf("the variable: %s", url)
+	}
+	a, err := decodeAnswer([]byte("event: message\ndata: {\"jsonrpc\":\"2.0\",\"id\":1,\"result\":{\"content\":[{\"type\":\"text\",\"text\":\"hi\"}],\"isError\":true}}\n\n"))
+	if err != nil || a.Text != "hi" || !a.IsError {
+		t.Errorf("an event: %+v %v", a, err)
+	}
+	if _, err := decodeAnswer([]byte("<html>")); err == nil {
+		t.Error("a page that is no answer was read as one")
 	}
 }
 
-// A pipe's or a file's standard input goes with the line, whole; a terminal's is never read; more than the bound is
-// refused and nothing is asked (novox/hq ADR 0259 §10).
-func TestStandardInputGoesWithTheLineAndATerminalIsNeverRead(t *testing.T) {
-	t.Setenv("MESH_VERB", "")
-	was := standardInput
-	t.Cleanup(func() { standardInput = was })
-	secret := "123456789:the-bot-token\n"
-
-	standardInput = func() (io.Reader, bool) { return strings.NewReader(secret), false }
-	asked := engine(t, cli.Answer{Terminal: true})
-	var out, errOut bytes.Buffer
-	if code := run(context.Background(), []string{"secret", "accept", "anchor", "telegram", "telegram-token", "--from", "-"},
-		&out, &errOut); code != 0 {
-		t.Fatalf("exit %d: %s", code, errOut.String())
-	}
-	<-asked
-	if string(lastStdin) != secret {
-		t.Fatalf("the engine was given %q", lastStdin)
-	}
-	if strings.Contains(out.String()+errOut.String(), "bot-token") {
-		t.Fatal("mesh-cli printed what it carried")
-	}
-
-	standardInput = func() (io.Reader, bool) { return strings.NewReader("typed"), true }
-	asked = engine(t, cli.Answer{})
-	_ = run(context.Background(), []string{"status"}, &out, &errOut)
-	<-asked
-	if len(lastStdin) != 0 {
-		t.Fatalf("a terminal's input was read: %q", lastStdin)
-	}
-
-	standardInput = func() (io.Reader, bool) { return bytes.NewReader(make([]byte, cli.MaxStdin+1)), false }
-	errOut.Reset()
-	if code := run(context.Background(), []string{"secret", "accept", "a", "b", "c", "--from", "-"}, &out, &errOut); code == 0 ||
-		!strings.Contains(errOut.String(), "nothing was asked") {
-		t.Fatalf("more than the bound was asked: %d %s", code, errOut.String())
+// Every command's line is in the help, and none is defined twice.
+func TestEveryLineIsInTheHelpOnce(t *testing.T) {
+	seen := map[string]bool{}
+	help := usage()
+	for _, c := range commands {
+		w := strings.Join(c.words, " ")
+		if seen[w] {
+			t.Errorf("nox %s is defined twice", w)
+		}
+		seen[w] = true
+		if c.build != nil && !strings.Contains(help, "nox "+w+" ") {
+			t.Errorf("nox %s is not in the help", w)
+		}
+		if c.build == nil && c.instead == "" {
+			t.Errorf("nox %s has neither an owner nor an instead", w)
+		}
+		if _, dup := unowned[c.words[0]]; dup && len(c.words) == 1 {
+			t.Errorf("nox %s is both owned and unowned", w)
+		}
 	}
 }

modules/mesh-cli/cmd/mesh-cli/manifest_test.go

@@ -6,11 +6,11 @@ import (
 	"testing"
 )
 
-// **The archive places exactly one file, /usr/local/bin/mesh-cli** (review of novox/hq ADR 0272): one archive
+// **The archive places exactly one file, /usr/local/bin/mesh-cli**, and the console's address is one file more (review of novox/hq ADR 0272): one archive
 // resource, unpacking one artifact into /usr/local/bin, and that artifact a compiled Go bundle — the builder writes
 // such a bundle as its binary alone (`go build -o <out>/<binary>`), named mesh-cli — with nothing the runtime would
 // load or put beside it. A second file in the bundle, or a second resource writing there, fails here.
-func TestTheArchivePlacesExactlyOneFile(t *testing.T) {
+func TestTheArchivePlacesExactlyOneFileAndTheConsolesAddressOne(t *testing.T) {
 	raw, err := os.ReadFile("../../module.json")
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
@@ -24,12 +24,24 @@ func TestTheArchivePlacesExactlyOneFile(t *testing.T) {
 	if err := json.Unmarshal(raw, &m); err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
-	if len(m.Resources) != 1 {
-		t.Fatalf("the module declares %d resources; it places one file", len(m.Resources))
+	// Beside the program, one directory and one file: the console's address, from the mcp-endpoint it requires
+	// (novox/hq issue 1126). Nothing else.
+	var r map[string]any
+	for _, res := range m.Resources {
+		switch {
+		case res["type"] == "archive":
+			if r != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("two archives: %v", res)
+			}
+			r = res
+		case res["type"] == "directory" && res["path"] == "/etc/mesh-cli":
+		case res["type"] == "file" && res["path"] == consoleFile && res["template"] == "files/console":
+		default:
+			t.Fatalf("the module declares %v beside the program and the console's address", res)
+		}
 	}
-	r := m.Resources[0]
-	if r["type"] != "archive" || r["path"] != "/usr/local/bin" {
-		t.Fatalf("its resource is %v", r)
+	if len(m.Resources) != 3 || r == nil || r["path"] != "/usr/local/bin" {
+		t.Fatalf("its resources are %v", m.Resources)
 	}
 	// The build has a second artifact, the files archive the controller reads the templates back from; it
 	// places no file. The artifact the resource unpacks is the one that does.
@@ -66,3 +78,22 @@ func TestTheArchivePlacesExactlyOneFile(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 	}
 }
+
+// The console's address is written from the mcp-endpoint the module requires, as claude-code writes it, so it follows
+// the port node-tools is bound on.
+func TestTheConsolesAddressIsBoundFromTheEndpoint(t *testing.T) {
+	raw, err := os.ReadFile("../../module.json")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	var m struct {
+		Requires []string `json:"requires"`
+	}
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(raw, &m); err != nil || len(m.Requires) != 1 || m.Requires[0] != "mcp-endpoint" {
+		t.Fatalf("it requires %v (%v)", m.Requires, err)
+	}
+	tpl, err := os.ReadFile("../../files/console")
+	if err != nil || string(tpl) != "http://127.0.0.1:${bound:mcp-endpoint:port}/mcp\n" {
+		t.Fatalf("files/console is %q (%v)", tpl, err)
+	}
+}

modules/mesh-cli/files/console

@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+http://127.0.0.1:${bound:mcp-endpoint:port}/mcp

modules/mesh-cli/go.mod

@@ -2,14 +2,6 @@ module mesh-cli
 
 go 1.26.0
 
-require git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261102004146-dff0ce2abb21
-
 require golang.org/x/crypto v0.57.0
 
-require (
-	github.com/klauspost/compress v1.20.0 // indirect
-	github.com/nats-io/nats.go v1.54.0 // indirect
-	github.com/nats-io/nkeys v0.4.16 // indirect
-	github.com/nats-io/nuid v1.0.1 // indirect
-	golang.org/x/sys v0.48.0 // indirect
-)
+require golang.org/x/sys v0.48.0 // indirect

modules/mesh-cli/go.sum

@@ -1,15 +1,3 @@
-git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261101022206-8af6e7266915 h1:x8k7IeMirMTxUo8BH+xUO+MDnHYgU+636jl1NIw1wvs=
-git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261101022206-8af6e7266915/go.mod h1:ouERNpZizzwZ0HLEtAypsY9FR20FyUgUYRni6J7kVCY=
-git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261102004146-dff0ce2abb21 h1:4I4ayo0fZYP4PBfEX1sGDDd6arnw5IQJySJ3jcFobPM=
-git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261102004146-dff0ce2abb21/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=

modules/mesh-cli/module.json

@@ -2,6 +2,9 @@
   "module": "mesh-cli",
   "version": "1",
   "moved": true,
+  "requires": [
+    "mcp-endpoint"
+  ],
   "resources": [
     {
       "id": "program",
@@ -9,6 +12,20 @@
       "artifact": "program",
       "path": "/usr/local/bin",
       "unknown": "program"
+    },
+    {
+      "id": "console-dir",
+      "type": "directory",
+      "path": "/etc/mesh-cli",
+      "mode": "0755",
+      "unknown": "program"
+    },
+    {
+      "id": "console",
+      "type": "file",
+      "path": "/etc/mesh-cli/console",
+      "mode": "0644",
+      "template": "files/console"
     }
   ],
   "items": [