Answer the build queue as data too, so a check can say how far back it waits

The queue verb answered only a table, so nothing outside the controller
could say an ask's place in the queue. It now asks its command for JSON:
each ask's state, kind, repository, commit, machine, since and position
among the waiting, with the table carried beside it and answered as the
verb's output, both written from one read. A repository's password, if
one were ever written into it, is left out of what is shown.

novox/hq issue 455

cmd/mesh-controller/queue.go

@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
 	"os"
+	"regexp"
 	"sort"
 	"strings"
 	"time"
@@ -67,18 +68,95 @@ func listQueue(ctx context.Context, args []string, w io.Writer) error {
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
+	now := time.Now()
 	if *asJSON {
-		body, err := json.MarshalIndent(q, "", "  ")
+		body, err := json.MarshalIndent(queueAnswerOf(q, now), "", "  ")
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
 		fmt.Fprintln(w, string(body))
 		return nil
 	}
-	fmt.Fprint(w, queueText(q, time.Now()))
+	fmt.Fprint(w, queueText(q, now))
 	return nil
 }
 
+// queueAnswer is the queue as data (novox/hq issue 455): what a caller reads to say how far back an ask
+// waits — "waiting in the build queue behind 2" — which the table alone could not tell it. Text is the
+// table, written from the same read: the verb answers it as its output and the rest as its answer, so the
+// two never disagree.
+type queueAnswer struct {
+	Seat       string         `json:"seat"`
+	Waiting    int            `json:"waiting"`
+	InFlight   int            `json:"in-flight"`
+	Dead       int            `json:"dead"`
+	MaxDeliver int            `json:"max-deliver"`
+	Asks       []queuedAnswer `json:"asks"`
+	Text       string         `json:"text"`
+}
+
+// queuedAnswer is one ask as data. Never what the request carries beyond its source — not `held`, every
+// artifact the mesh has built, nor a check's checkouts beside it.
+type queuedAnswer struct {
+	ID    string `json:"id"`
+	State string `json:"state"`
+	// Kind is "check" for a pull request's merge check, "build" for anything else.
+	Kind       string `json:"kind"`
+	Repository string `json:"repository"`
+	Path       string `json:"path,omitempty"`
+	Ref        string `json:"ref,omitempty"`
+	// Commit is the ref when it names a commit; empty when the ask follows a branch or the default.
+	Commit string `json:"commit,omitempty"`
+	// Machine is the one building an ask in flight; WasOn the one that started it and handed it back.
+	Machine string    `json:"machine,omitempty"`
+	WasOn   string    `json:"was-on,omitempty"`
+	AskedAt time.Time `json:"asked-at,omitzero"`
+	// Since is when the ask came to its state: its start on the machine for one in flight that a
+	// machine said it started, otherwise when it was asked.
+	Since time.Time `json:"since,omitzero"`
+	// Position is its place among the waiting, 1 being handed out next; 0 for an ask not waiting.
+	Position int    `json:"position,omitempty"`
+	Seq      uint64 `json:"seq"`
+}
+
+// aCommitRef is a ref that names a commit by its full hash (SHA-1 or SHA-256).
+var aCommitRef = regexp.MustCompile(`^(?:[0-9a-f]{40}|[0-9a-f]{64})$`)
+
+// queueAnswerOf is the queue as data, in the table's order: in flight, the waiting from the next one to
+// be handed out, then the dead. A pure function of one read (novox/hq issue 455).
+func queueAnswerOf(q link.Queue, now time.Time) queueAnswer {
+	waiting, running, dead := q.Of(link.AskWaiting), q.Of(link.AskInFlight), q.Of(link.AskDead)
+	out := queueAnswer{Seat: q.Seat, Waiting: len(waiting), InFlight: len(running), Dead: len(dead),
+		MaxDeliver: q.MaxDeliver, Asks: []queuedAnswer{}, Text: queueText(q, now)}
+	one := func(a link.QueuedAsk, position int) queuedAnswer {
+		kind := "build"
+		if a.Request.Check != nil {
+			kind = "check"
+		}
+		since := a.AskedAt
+		if a.State == link.AskInFlight && a.On != "" && !a.Started.IsZero() {
+			since = a.Started
+		}
+		commit := ""
+		if aCommitRef.MatchString(a.Ref) {
+			commit = a.Ref
+		}
+		return queuedAnswer{ID: a.ID, State: a.State, Kind: kind, Repository: link.WithoutPassword(a.Repository), Path: a.Path,
+			Ref: a.Ref, Commit: commit, Machine: a.On, WasOn: a.Was, AskedAt: a.AskedAt, Since: since,
+			Position: position, Seq: a.Seq}
+	}
+	for _, a := range running {
+		out.Asks = append(out.Asks, one(a, 0))
+	}
+	for i, a := range waiting {
+		out.Asks = append(out.Asks, one(a, i+1))
+	}
+	for _, a := range dead {
+		out.Asks = append(out.Asks, one(a, 0))
+	}
+	return out
+}
+
 // queueText is the queue as a person reads it: a summary line, then each kind in queue order.
 // Never what an ask carries as `held` — that is every artifact the mesh has built.
 func queueText(q link.Queue, now time.Time) string {
@@ -92,7 +170,7 @@ func queueText(q link.Queue, now time.Time) string {
 		return "asked " + now.Sub(t).Round(time.Second).String() + " ago"
 	}
 	what := func(a link.QueuedAsk) string {
-		s := a.Repository
+		s := link.WithoutPassword(a.Repository)
 		if a.Path != "" {
 			s += " at " + a.Path
 		}

cmd/mesh-controller/queue_answer_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,137 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"reflect"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/novox/mesh-controller/internal/link"
+)
+
+// The queue answers as data as well as text (novox/hq issue 455): each ask's repository, commit, kind,
+// machine, since and position among the waiting, read from the same queue the table is written from.
+
+const aCommit = "0123456789abcdef0123456789abcdef01234567"
+
+func aQueueOfEachKind(now time.Time) link.Queue {
+	asked := now.Add(-5 * time.Minute)
+	started := now.Add(-2 * time.Minute)
+	return link.Queue{Seat: link.TheBuildMachine, Delivered: 2, AckPending: 1, MaxDeliver: 5, Asks: []link.QueuedAsk{
+		{Seq: 1, ID: "build-dead", Repository: "ssh://forge/novox/x", AskedAt: asked, State: link.AskDead},
+		{Seq: 2, ID: "build-running", Repository: "ssh://forge/novox/mesh-host", Ref: aCommit, AskedAt: asked,
+			State: link.AskInFlight, On: "ace", Started: started,
+			Request: link.BuildRequest{ID: "build-running", Check: &link.CheckRequest{Owner: "novox", Repo: "mesh-host"}}},
+		{Seq: 3, ID: "build-first", Repository: "ssh://forge/novox/mesh-catalog", Ref: "main", AskedAt: asked,
+			State: link.AskWaiting},
+		{Seq: 4, ID: "build-second", Repository: "ssh://forge/novox/mesh-catalog", Path: "modules/gitea", Ref: aCommit,
+			AskedAt: now.Add(-time.Minute), State: link.AskWaiting,
+			Request: link.BuildRequest{ID: "build-second", Check: &link.CheckRequest{Owner: "novox", Repo: "mesh-catalog"}}},
+	}}
+}
+
+func TestTheQueueVerbAnswersEachAskAsData(t *testing.T) {
+	now := time.Date(2026, 10, 12, 12, 0, 0, 0, time.UTC)
+	q := aQueueOfEachKind(now)
+	got := queueAnswerOf(q, now)
+	if got.Waiting != 2 || got.InFlight != 1 || got.Dead != 1 || got.Seat != link.TheBuildMachine {
+		t.Fatalf("counts: %+v", got)
+	}
+	if got.Text != queueText(q, now) {
+		t.Fatalf("the data's text is not the table read from the same queue:\n%s", got.Text)
+	}
+	byID := map[string]queuedAnswer{}
+	for _, a := range got.Asks {
+		byID[a.ID] = a
+	}
+	running := byID["build-running"]
+	if running.Kind != "check" || running.Machine != "ace" || running.Commit != aCommit || running.Position != 0 ||
+		!running.Since.Equal(now.Add(-2*time.Minute)) || running.State != link.AskInFlight {
+		t.Errorf("in flight: %+v", running)
+	}
+	first, second := byID["build-first"], byID["build-second"]
+	if first.Position != 1 || first.Kind != "build" || first.Commit != "" || first.Ref != "main" || first.Machine != "" ||
+		!first.Since.Equal(now.Add(-5*time.Minute)) {
+		t.Errorf("first waiting: %+v", first)
+	}
+	if second.Position != 2 || second.Kind != "check" || second.Commit != aCommit || second.Path != "modules/gitea" ||
+		second.Repository != "ssh://forge/novox/mesh-catalog" {
+		t.Errorf("second waiting: %+v", second)
+	}
+	if dead := byID["build-dead"]; dead.Position != 0 || dead.State != link.AskDead {
+		t.Errorf("dead: %+v", dead)
+	}
+	// In the table's order: in flight, then the waiting by position, then the dead.
+	var order []string
+	for _, a := range got.Asks {
+		order = append(order, a.ID)
+	}
+	if want := []string{"build-running", "build-first", "build-second", "build-dead"}; !reflect.DeepEqual(order, want) {
+		t.Errorf("order %v, want %v", order, want)
+	}
+}
+
+// The verb asks its command for JSON, and its answer carries the data while its output stays the table a
+// person reads, so a text caller reads what it always did.
+func TestTheQueueVerbKeepsTheTableAndCarriesTheData(t *testing.T) {
+	argv, err := argvFor("queue", nil)
+	if err != nil || !reflect.DeepEqual(argv, []string{"queue", "--json"}) {
+		t.Fatalf("queue's command line: %v %v", argv, err)
+	}
+	now := time.Now()
+	q := aQueueOfEachKind(now)
+	body, err := json.Marshal(queueAnswerOf(q, now))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	answer := answerOf(argv, body, "", true)
+	if answer.Output != queueText(q, now) {
+		t.Fatalf("the output is not the table:\n%s", answer.Output)
+	}
+	data, ok := answer.Answer.(map[string]any)
+	if !ok {
+		t.Fatalf("no data: %#v", answer.Answer)
+	}
+	if _, doubled := data["text"]; doubled {
+		t.Error("the table is said twice: once as the output and again inside the data")
+	}
+	asks, _ := data["asks"].([]any)
+	if len(asks) != 4 || data["waiting"] != float64(2) {
+		t.Fatalf("data: %v", data)
+	}
+	second := asks[2].(map[string]any)
+	if second["position"] != float64(2) || second["kind"] != "check" || second["commit"] != aCommit {
+		t.Errorf("second waiting: %v", second)
+	}
+	for _, a := range asks {
+		if _, held := a.(map[string]any)["held"]; held {
+			t.Error("an ask carries what the mesh holds")
+		}
+	}
+	// A failure is said as text, as before.
+	failed := answerOf(argv, nil, "mesh-controller: the bus cannot be reached\n", false)
+	if failed.Answer != nil || !strings.Contains(failed.Output, "cannot be reached") {
+		t.Errorf("a failure: %+v", failed)
+	}
+}
+
+// A repository named with a password never shows it, in the table or the data.
+func TestTheQueueNeverShowsARepositorysPassword(t *testing.T) {
+	if got := link.WithoutPassword("https://agent:s3cret@forge.example/novox/x.git"); strings.Contains(got, "s3cret") ||
+		!strings.Contains(got, "agent@forge.example/novox/x.git") {
+		t.Errorf("redacted: %s", got)
+	}
+	now := time.Now()
+	q := link.Queue{Seat: link.TheBuildMachine, Asks: []link.QueuedAsk{{Seq: 1, ID: "build-1",
+		Repository: "https://agent:s3cret@forge.example/novox/x.git", State: link.AskWaiting}}}
+	body, _ := json.Marshal(queueAnswerOf(q, now))
+	if strings.Contains(string(body), "s3cret") {
+		t.Errorf("the queue said a password: %s", body)
+	}
+	for _, kept := range []string{"ssh://git@forge:222/novox/x.git", "novox/x", "git@forge:novox/x.git", ""} {
+		if got := link.WithoutPassword(kept); got != kept {
+			t.Errorf("%q became %q", kept, got)
+		}
+	}
+}

cmd/mesh-controller/queue_test.go

@@ -326,7 +326,7 @@ func TestTheQueueVerbsRunTheirCommands(t *testing.T) {
 		args map[string]any
 		want []string
 	}{
-		{"queue", nil, []string{"queue"}},
+		{"queue", nil, []string{"queue", "--json"}},
 		{"cancel", map[string]any{"id": "build-1"}, []string{"cancel", "build-1"}},
 		{"clear", nil, []string{"clear"}},
 		{"clear", map[string]any{"dead": "true"}, []string{"clear", "--dead"}},

cmd/mesh-controller/seatverbs.go

@@ -426,7 +426,8 @@ func (a *verbArguments) commandLine() ([]string, error) {
 		return argv, nil
 	// The build queue (novox/hq ADR 0219).
 	case "queue":
-		return []string{"queue"}, nil
+		// As data, the table its output (novox/hq issue 455).
+		return []string{"queue", "--json"}, nil
 	case "cancel", "kill":
 		if err := need("id"); err != nil {
 			return nil, err
@@ -977,7 +978,14 @@ var jsonVerbs = map[string]bool{"status": true, "seats": true, "plan": true, "co
 	// What the records say the registries may keep (novox/hq ADR 0251).
 	"artifacts": true, "collect": true, "images": true, "mirrors": true,
 	// The delivery's owner's verbs answer JSON where they read (plan, order, check, walks) — novox/hq ADR 0239.
-	"delivery": true}
+	"delivery": true,
+	// The build queue, each ask with its position among the waiting (novox/hq issue 455).
+	"queue": true}
+
+// tableBesideVerbs are the JSON verbs whose document carries the table a person reads as its `text`: the
+// verb answers that table as its output, as it did before it answered data, and the rest as `answer` —
+// both from the one read, so they never disagree (novox/hq issue 455).
+var tableBesideVerbs = map[string]bool{"queue": true}
 
 // overviewVerbs are the JSON verbs whose answer is said once, as data, and not again as the text the
 // command printed: the overviews, which grow with the mesh (novox/hq issue 314). Every reader of theirs
@@ -1097,6 +1105,12 @@ func answerOf(argv []string, stdout []byte, stderr string, ok bool) verbAnswer {
 		var parsed any
 		if json.Unmarshal(bytes.TrimSpace(stdout), &parsed) == nil {
 			answer.Answer = parsed
+			if doc, isDoc := parsed.(map[string]any); isDoc && tableBesideVerbs[argv[0]] {
+				if table, said := doc["text"].(string); said {
+					answer.Output = table + stderr
+					delete(doc, "text")
+				}
+			}
 			if overviewVerbs[argv[0]] {
 				// Once, as data: the same document again as text doubled an answer that already
 				// outgrew one message of the bus (novox/hq issue 314).

cmd/mesh-controller/seatverbs_schema_test.go

@@ -256,7 +256,7 @@ func stringLit(e ast.Expr) (string, bool) {
 var accountedFlags = map[string]map[string]string{
 	"status": {"json": "set by the verb: the answer is data"},
 	"seats":  {"json": "set by the verb: the answer is data"},
-	"queue":  {"json": "not set: the verb answers the table a person reads"},
+	"queue":  {"json": "set by the verb: the answer is data, its output the table (novox/hq issue 455)"},
 	"plan":   {"json": "set by the verb unless files is asked"},
 	"push": {
 		"wait": "set by the verb to 0: a tool call cannot hold a connection for a whole apply",

internal/catalogue/verbs.go

@@ -333,7 +333,9 @@ var ControllerVerbs = []Verb{
 	// The build queue, controlled by hand (novox/hq ADR 0219). Every verb that drops an ask leaves a
 	// failed outcome for it, so a plan waiting on it fails visibly instead of hanging.
 	{Name: "queue", Description: "Every ask in the build queue: waiting, in flight (on which machine, for how long), " +
-		"and dead (handed out as often as allowed and never settled) — each with its id, repository, path, ref and when it was asked.",
+		"and dead (handed out as often as allowed and never settled) — each with its id, repository, path, ref and when it was asked. " +
+		"Answers the table as text and, as data, each ask's state, kind (check or build), repository, commit, machine, since " +
+		"and position among the waiting (novox/hq issue 455).",
 		Input: schema(nil, nil)},
 	{Name: "cancel", Description: "Drop one waiting or dead ask from the build queue; its outcome is recorded failed, " +
 		"cancelled by hand, and a plan that asked for it fails. One in flight is refused: `kill` ends it where it runs.",

internal/link/queue.go

@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"regexp"
 	"sort"
+	"strings"
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/nats-io/nats.go"
@@ -268,6 +269,30 @@ func ReadQueue(ctx context.Context, js *broker.JetStream, seat string) (Queue, e
 	return q, nil
 }
 
+// WithoutPassword is a repository as a listing may say it: a URL's password, should one ever be written
+// into it, left out (novox/hq issue 455). Only for what is shown: the ask itself keeps what it was given,
+// which a cancel's outcome and a rebuild's match are read from.
+func WithoutPassword(repository string) string {
+	scheme, rest, found := strings.Cut(repository, "://")
+	if !found {
+		return repository
+	}
+	authority, path, _ := strings.Cut(rest, "/")
+	at := strings.LastIndex(authority, "@")
+	if at < 0 {
+		return repository
+	}
+	user, _, password := strings.Cut(authority[:at], ":")
+	if !password {
+		return repository
+	}
+	out := scheme + "://" + user + authority[at:]
+	if len(rest) > len(authority) {
+		out += "/" + path
+	}
+	return out
+}
+
 // ReadBuildEvents is every start and outcome the seat announced since a moment, from the events
 // stream, with a consumer of its own that is gone when this returns.
 func ReadBuildEvents(ctx context.Context, js *broker.JetStream, seat string, since time.Time) (BuildHeard, error) {