Merge pull request 'A check never sees the forge credential, and what it publishes is redacted (issue 462)' (#226) from fix/462-a-check-never-sees-the-forge-credential into main

A build wrote .npmrc into its source tree and never removed it, and its clone
recorded the URL's userinfo; a later check's container mounts the workspace as
HOME. The .npmrc and the tree now go when the build ends, clones record their
URL without userinfo, and a check first removes any .npmrc an older builder left.

cmd/mesh-controller/plan_retry.go

@@ -288,13 +288,24 @@ func retryPlan(ctx context.Context, open *stores, id string) (string, error) {
 				"those walks answer them; a newer merge, or `rebuild <module>`, builds again", p.ID)
 		}
 	}
+	// Settled from the build records before anything is judged (novox/hq issue 457): a build of the tier
+	// that failed after the plan did is as failed as the one that failed it. What toRetry says is the
+	// failed set every step below works from.
+	var failed []string
+	if p.Tier < len(p.Tiers) {
+		recorded, byID, err := recordsOfAsked(ctx, inv, &p, p.Tiers[p.Tier])
+		if err != nil {
+			return "", err
+		}
+		failed = toRetry(&p, recorded, byID)
+	}
 	if err := retryRefusal(p, plans); err != nil {
 		return "", err
 	}
-	if again := unjudgedAtGate(p); len(failedIn(p)) == 0 && len(again) > 0 {
+	if again := unjudgedAtGate(p); len(failed) == 0 && len(again) > 0 {
 		return retryTierWhole(ctx, open, &p, again)
 	}
-	if len(failedIn(p)) == 0 {
+	if len(failed) == 0 {
 		return retryRollouts(ctx, open, &p)
 	}
 	entries, err := inv.Catalogued(ctx)
@@ -305,7 +316,6 @@ func retryPlan(ctx context.Context, open *stores, id string) (string, error) {
 	for _, e := range entries {
 		byName[e.Manifest.Module] = e
 	}
-	failed := failedIn(p)
 	var asked []string
 	for _, m := range failed {
 		askModule(ctx, &p, m, byName)
@@ -525,3 +535,16 @@ func retryTierWhole(ctx context.Context, open *stores, p *inventory.Plan, again
 func sendAgain(s *inventory.PlanModule) {
 	s.First, s.FirstAt, s.Gate, s.GatedBy, s.Previous, s.Why = nil, nil, nil, "", "", ""
 }
+
+// toRetry is the modules a retry asks again: every one of the tier that failed, the plan's state
+// settled from the build records first (novox/hq issue 457). A plan fails on the first failure in its
+// tier, and an outcome arriving after that finds no open plan to answer — it is kept only in the build
+// records. Read from the plan alone, a retry asked only the build that failed first, and the records
+// then failed the plan again on the next: each failed build of a tier took a retry of its own. What
+// still runs is left asked, and its outcome is the plan's once the retry sets it building.
+func toRetry(p *inventory.Plan, recorded map[string][]inventory.Build, byID map[string]inventory.Build) []string {
+	if p.Tier < len(p.Tiers) {
+		settleFromRecords(p, p.Tiers[p.Tier], recorded, byID)
+	}
+	return failedIn(*p)
+}

cmd/mesh-controller/plan_retry_tier_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"reflect"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/novox/mesh-controller/internal/inventory"
+)
+
+// A retry asks every failed build of the tier, not one (novox/hq issue 457). Seen 2026-10-11: gitea
+// and plex both failed in tier 0 while the registry was held still; gitea's failure failed the plan,
+// and plex's, arriving after, found no open plan and was kept only in the build records. The first
+// retry asked gitea alone, the records then failed the plan again on plex, and a second retry asked
+// plex.
+func TestARetryAsksEveryFailedBuildOfTheTier(t *testing.T) {
+	asked := time.Date(2026, 10, 11, 1, 29, 0, 0, time.UTC)
+	failedAt := asked.Add(2 * time.Minute)
+	p := inventory.Plan{ID: "plan-457", State: inventory.PlanFailed, Tier: 0,
+		Tiers: [][]string{{"gitea", "plex"}}, Note: "gitea failed to build in tier 0",
+		Modules: map[string]*inventory.PlanModule{
+			"gitea": {State: "failed", AskedAt: &asked, Build: "build-gitea", Why: "cannot reach the registry"},
+			"plex":  {State: "asked", AskedAt: &asked, Build: "build-plex"},
+		}}
+	byID := map[string]inventory.Build{
+		"build-plex": {ID: "build-plex", Module: "plex", At: failedAt, Failed: "cannot reach the registry"},
+	}
+
+	if got := toRetry(&p, nil, byID); !reflect.DeepEqual(got, []string{"gitea", "plex"}) {
+		t.Fatalf("a retry of a tier where gitea and plex failed asks %v", got)
+	}
+}
+
+// A build of the tier still running when the plan failed is not asked again: its outcome is the plan's
+// once the retry sets it building, and one that is recorded built is taken as built.
+func TestARetryLeavesABuildThatRunsOrWorked(t *testing.T) {
+	asked := time.Date(2026, 10, 11, 1, 29, 0, 0, time.UTC)
+	builtAt := asked.Add(3 * time.Minute)
+	p := inventory.Plan{ID: "plan-457", State: inventory.PlanFailed, Tier: 0,
+		Tiers: [][]string{{"a", "b", "c"}},
+		Modules: map[string]*inventory.PlanModule{
+			"a": {State: "failed", AskedAt: &asked, Build: "build-a", Why: "broken"},
+			"b": {State: "asked", AskedAt: &asked, Build: "build-b"},
+			"c": {State: "asked", AskedAt: &asked, Build: "build-c"},
+		}}
+	byID := map[string]inventory.Build{"build-c": {ID: "build-c", Module: "c", At: builtAt, Commit: "c0ffee"}}
+
+	if got := toRetry(&p, nil, byID); !reflect.DeepEqual(got, []string{"a"}) {
+		t.Fatalf("asks %v, want a alone", got)
+	}
+	if s := p.Modules["c"]; s.State != "built" || s.Commit != "c0ffee" {
+		t.Errorf("c, recorded built, is %+v", s)
+	}
+	if s := p.Modules["b"]; s.State != "asked" {
+		t.Errorf("b, still building, is %+v", s)
+	}
+}

cmd/mesh-controller/release_plan.go

@@ -649,26 +649,9 @@ func advanceOnce(ctx context.Context, open *stores, p *inventory.Plan,
 	// the controller in its first tier: the build that produced the new one is recorded, and the
 	// plan never hears it. The record is the fact; a build recorded after the ask is that tier's
 	// outcome, whoever was listening.
-	recorded := map[string][]inventory.Build{}
-	byID := map[string]inventory.Build{}
-	for _, m := range tier {
-		if s := p.Modules[m]; s != nil && s.State == "asked" {
-			builds, err := inv.Builds(ctx, m, 5)
-			if err != nil {
-				return false, err
-			}
-			recorded[m] = builds
-			// Its own ask's record, by id — found even when the outcome named no module (ADR 0219).
-			if s.Build != "" {
-				b, found, err := inv.BuildByID(ctx, s.Build)
-				if err != nil {
-					return false, err
-				}
-				if found {
-					byID[s.Build] = b
-				}
-			}
-		}
+	recorded, byID, err := recordsOfAsked(ctx, inv, p, tier)
+	if err != nil {
+		return false, err
 	}
 	if settleFromRecords(p, tier, recorded, byID) {
 		return true, nil
@@ -1776,6 +1759,34 @@ func splitList(s string) []string {
 	return out
 }
 
+// recordsOfAsked is what settleFromRecords reads: for every module of the tier still `asked`, its last
+// builds and the record of its own ask, by id.
+func recordsOfAsked(ctx context.Context, inv *inventory.Inventory, p *inventory.Plan, tier []string) (
+	map[string][]inventory.Build, map[string]inventory.Build, error) {
+	recorded := map[string][]inventory.Build{}
+	byID := map[string]inventory.Build{}
+	for _, m := range tier {
+		if s := p.Modules[m]; s != nil && s.State == "asked" {
+			builds, err := inv.Builds(ctx, m, 5)
+			if err != nil {
+				return nil, nil, err
+			}
+			recorded[m] = builds
+			// Its own ask's record, by id — found even when the outcome named no module (ADR 0219).
+			if s.Build != "" {
+				b, found, err := inv.BuildByID(ctx, s.Build)
+				if err != nil {
+					return nil, nil, err
+				}
+				if found {
+					byID[s.Build] = b
+				}
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	return recorded, byID, nil
+}
+
 // settleFromRecords marks every module of the tier still `asked` built — or failed — from a build
 // recorded after it was asked, and says whether it changed anything (novox/hq 04-ISSUES/214).
 // Newest first, as Builds answers: the first record after the ask is the outcome of that ask.

internal/broker/callers.go

@@ -0,0 +1,117 @@
+package broker
+
+import (
+	"regexp"
+	"strings"
+)
+
+// A tool call names its caller (novox/hq issue 365, by ADR 0259 §3's precedent for asks).
+//
+//	mesh.mod.<module>.call.<tool>[.<node>].<caller>
+//	mesh.seat.<seat>.call.<verb>[.<node>].<caller>
+//
+// The last token is the bus user that published the call, and each user is granted these subjects with its own
+// name there and no other — the caller is a fact the server enforces, and the tool runtime hands it to the
+// module from the subject a call arrived on (mesh-tools node-tools internal/bus caller.go holds the same shape).
+//
+// **A kind of its own, `call`, not the `tool` subject with a token appended.** Every grant to call a tool is a
+// wildcard over the `tool` kind — `.tool.<t>.*` for the instance on any machine, `mesh.mod.*.tool.>` for every
+// tool — and either would match a `tool` subject with any caller appended, so a caller could name another.
+// Under `call` nothing is granted but the caller-named subjects. No stream's filter covers it: a tool call is
+// never persisted (design 25 §3).
+//
+// **Derived from the `tool` grants, in one place** (callerNamed): wherever a principal may call or answer a
+// tool, it may call it in its own name, or answer it naming any caller — so no kind of principal is left
+// unable to call in its own name, and a new grant to call is one in both shapes by construction.
+//
+// The `tool` grants stay beside these for one release, so every caller and every runtime moves without a gap:
+// their retirement is hq issue 464.
+const CallKind = "call"
+
+var userName = regexp.MustCompile(`^[A-Za-z0-9_-]+(\.[A-Za-z0-9_-]+)*$`)
+
+// CallerToken is a bus user's name as the last token of a call it publishes: each dot written `~`, which no part
+// of a user's name may hold (safeSubject), so the token names that user and no other. "" for a name that is not
+// a user's.
+func CallerToken(user string) string {
+	if !userName.MatchString(user) {
+		return ""
+	}
+	return strings.ReplaceAll(user, ".", "~")
+}
+
+// toolGrant splits a grant on the `tool` kind — `mesh.mod.<m>.tool.<rest>` or `mesh.seat.<s>.tool.<rest>`, any
+// part possibly a wildcard — at the kind; ok is false for any other subject.
+func toolGrant(subject string) (head, rest string, ok bool) {
+	parts := strings.SplitN(subject, ".", 5)
+	if len(parts) != 5 || parts[0] != "mesh" || (parts[1] != "mod" && parts[1] != "seat") || parts[3] != "tool" ||
+		parts[2] == "" || parts[4] == "" {
+		return "", "", false
+	}
+	return parts[0] + "." + parts[1] + "." + parts[2], parts[4], true
+}
+
+// CalledSubject is where a call to a tool subject goes naming its caller; "" when the subject is not a tool's
+// or the user is not a bus user.
+func CalledSubject(subject, user string) string {
+	head, rest, ok := toolGrant(subject)
+	token := CallerToken(user)
+	if !ok || token == "" || strings.ContainsAny(rest, "*>") {
+		return ""
+	}
+	return head + "." + CallKind + "." + rest + "." + token
+}
+
+// CalledPattern is what a holder answering a tool subject also subscribes, to hear the calls that name their
+// caller: the same address under the `call` kind, any caller last. "" for a subject that is not a tool's.
+func CalledPattern(subject string) string {
+	head, rest, ok := toolGrant(subject)
+	if !ok || strings.ContainsAny(rest, "*>") {
+		return ""
+	}
+	return head + "." + CallKind + "." + rest + ".*"
+}
+
+// calledPublish is a grant to call on the `tool` kind, as the same grant in the caller's own name: its last
+// token the caller's, and nothing that reaches past it. A `>` is every tail a call carries — the tool alone or
+// the tool and the machine — so it becomes both, each ending in the caller.
+func calledPublish(grant, token string) []string {
+	head, rest, ok := toolGrant(grant)
+	if !ok || token == "" {
+		return nil
+	}
+	base := head + "." + CallKind + "."
+	switch {
+	case rest == ">":
+		return []string{base + "*." + token, base + "*.*." + token}
+	case strings.HasSuffix(rest, ".>"):
+		return []string{base + strings.TrimSuffix(rest, ">") + "*." + token}
+	}
+	return []string{base + rest + "." + token}
+}
+
+// calledSubscribe is a grant to answer on the `tool` kind, as the same grant for the calls naming any caller.
+func calledSubscribe(grant string) []string {
+	head, rest, ok := toolGrant(grant)
+	if !ok {
+		return nil
+	}
+	base := head + "." + CallKind + "."
+	if strings.HasSuffix(rest, ">") {
+		return []string{base + rest}
+	}
+	return []string{base + rest + ".*"}
+}
+
+// callerNamed adds, beside a principal's grants on the `tool` kind, the same grants under `call`: to publish in
+// its own name, to subscribe naming anybody.
+func callerNamed(user string, pub, sub []string) ([]string, []string) {
+	token := CallerToken(user)
+	for _, g := range pub {
+		pub = append(pub, calledPublish(g, token)...)
+	}
+	for _, g := range sub {
+		sub = append(sub, calledSubscribe(g)...)
+	}
+	return unique(pub), unique(sub)
+}

internal/broker/callers_live_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,100 @@
+package broker
+
+import (
+	"errors"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/nats-io/nats-server/v2/server"
+	"github.com/nats-io/nats.go"
+	"golang.org/x/crypto/bcrypt"
+)
+
+// **On a real server, as composed** (novox/hq issue 365): a machine's runtime calls in its own name, and the
+// server refuses it a call naming another — the grant, not the runtime, is what makes the caller a fact.
+func TestAServerComposedFromTheGrantsRefusesACallNamingAnother(t *testing.T) {
+	hash, err := bcrypt.GenerateFromPassword([]byte("pw"), bcrypt.MinCost)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	ledger := Seat{Name: "issue-tracker", Scope: "mesh", Serves: []string{"open"}}
+	accounts, err := ComposeAccounts([]Principal{
+		{Kind: KindNodeTools, Node: "novox", Module: RuntimeModule, PasswordHash: string(hash),
+			Carries: []Declared{{Module: "mesh-issues", Holds: []Seat{ledger}}}},
+		{Kind: KindNodeTools, Node: "shanks", Module: RuntimeModule, PasswordHash: string(hash)},
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	conf := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "bus.conf")
+	if err := os.WriteFile(conf, []byte("listen: 127.0.0.1:-1\njetstream { store_dir: "+
+		`"`+t.TempDir()+`"`+" }\n"+accounts), 0o600); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	opts, err := server.ProcessConfigFile(conf)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("the composed accounts do not parse: %v", err)
+	}
+	opts.NoLog, opts.NoSigs = true, true
+	s, err := server.NewServer(opts)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	go s.Start()
+	if !s.ReadyForConnections(10 * time.Second) {
+		t.Fatal("the bus did not come up")
+	}
+	defer s.Shutdown()
+
+	holder, err := nats.Connect(s.ClientURL(), nats.UserInfo("novox.node-tools", "pw"))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	defer holder.Close()
+	heard := make(chan string, 4)
+	sub, err := holder.Subscribe("mesh.seat.issue-tracker.call.open.*", func(m *nats.Msg) {
+		heard <- m.Subject
+		_ = m.Respond([]byte(`{"result":{}}`))
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	_ = holder.Flush()
+	if !sub.IsValid() {
+		t.Fatal("the holder may not hear the caller-named calls to its seat")
+	}
+
+	refusals := make(chan error, 4)
+	caller, err := nats.Connect(s.ClientURL(), nats.UserInfo("shanks.node-tools", "pw"),
+		nats.CustomInboxPrefix("_INBOX.shanks.node-tools"),
+		nats.ErrorHandler(func(_ *nats.Conn, _ *nats.Subscription, err error) { refusals <- err }))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	defer caller.Close()
+	if _, err := caller.Request("mesh.seat.issue-tracker.call.open.shanks~node-tools", []byte(`{}`), 3*time.Second); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("a call in the caller's own name was not answered: %v", err)
+	}
+	if got := <-heard; got != "mesh.seat.issue-tracker.call.open.shanks~node-tools" {
+		t.Fatalf("heard %s", got)
+	}
+	if err := caller.Publish("mesh.seat.issue-tracker.call.open.novox~node-tools", []byte(`{}`)); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	_ = caller.Flush()
+	select {
+	case err := <-refusals:
+		if !errors.Is(err, nats.ErrPermissionViolation) {
+			t.Errorf("the server said %v, want a permissions violation", err)
+		}
+	case <-time.After(3 * time.Second):
+		t.Error("the server did not refuse a call naming another caller")
+	}
+	select {
+	case got := <-heard:
+		t.Errorf("a call naming another reached the holder: %s", got)
+	case <-time.After(200 * time.Millisecond):
+	}
+}

internal/broker/callers_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,119 @@
+package broker
+
+import (
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+// **A tool call names its caller, and the bus lets each user name itself alone** (novox/hq issue 365, by ADR
+// 0259 §3's precedent for asks): wherever a principal may call a tool, it may call it on the caller-named
+// subject — kind `call`, its own bus user last, dots written `~` — and on no subject naming anybody else.
+func TestEachCredentialMayCallOnlyInItsOwnName(t *testing.T) {
+	ledger := Seat{Name: "node-desk", Scope: "node", Serves: []string{"who"}}
+	tracker := Seat{Name: "issue-tracker", Scope: "mesh", Serves: []string{"open"}}
+	for _, c := range []struct {
+		p       Principal
+		may     []string
+		mayNot  []string
+		subject []string // what it subscribes, to answer calls naming any caller
+	}{
+		{p: Principal{Kind: KindPerson, Module: "jochen", Invokes: []string{"*"}},
+			may: []string{"mesh.mod.ledger.call.who.person~jochen", "mesh.mod.ledger.call.who.anchor.person~jochen",
+				"mesh.seat.issue-tracker.call.open.person~jochen", "mesh.seat.node-desk.call.who.anchor.person~jochen"},
+			mayNot: []string{"mesh.mod.ledger.call.who.shanks~node-tools", "mesh.mod.ledger.call.who.anchor.controller",
+				"mesh.seat.issue-tracker.call.open.person~somebody", "mesh.mod.ledger.call.who.person"}},
+		{p: Principal{Kind: KindNodeTools, Node: "shanks", Module: RuntimeModule,
+			Carries: []Declared{{Module: "ledger", Holds: []Seat{ledger, tracker}}}},
+			may:     []string{"mesh.mod.ledger.call.who.shanks~node-tools", "mesh.seat.issue-tracker.call.open.shanks~node-tools"},
+			mayNot:  []string{"mesh.mod.ledger.call.who.novox~node-tools", "mesh.seat.issue-tracker.call.open.controller"},
+			subject: []string{"mesh.mod.ledger.call.who.novox~node-tools", "mesh.seat.node-desk.call.who.shanks.person~jochen", "mesh.seat.issue-tracker.call.open.controller"}},
+		{p: Principal{Kind: KindModule, Node: "two", Module: "shop", Invokes: []string{"ledger.who", "seat:issue-tracker.open"}},
+			may: []string{"mesh.mod.ledger.call.who.two~shop", "mesh.mod.ledger.call.who.anchor.two~shop",
+				"mesh.seat.issue-tracker.call.open.two~shop"},
+			mayNot: []string{"mesh.mod.ledger.call.other.two~shop", "mesh.mod.ledger.call.who.one~shop",
+				"mesh.seat.issue-tracker.call.open.one~telegram"}},
+		{p: Principal{Kind: KindNode, Node: "one", Checks: []string{"ledger.health"}},
+			may:    []string{"mesh.mod.ledger.call.health.one.node~one"},
+			mayNot: []string{"mesh.mod.ledger.call.health.two.node~one", "mesh.mod.ledger.call.health.one.node~two"}},
+		{p: Principal{Kind: KindModule, Node: "one", Module: "ledger", Holds: []Seat{ledger, tracker}},
+			subject: []string{"mesh.mod.ledger.call.who.person~jochen", "mesh.mod.ledger.call.who.one.controller",
+				"mesh.seat.node-desk.call.who.one.two~shop", "mesh.seat.issue-tracker.call.open.two~shop"}},
+	} {
+		perms, err := PermissionsFor(c.p)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("%s: %v", c.p.Username(), err)
+		}
+		for _, s := range c.may {
+			if !MayPublish(perms, s) {
+				t.Errorf("%s may not call %s, in its own name", c.p.Username(), s)
+			}
+		}
+		for _, s := range c.mayNot {
+			if MayPublish(perms, s) {
+				t.Errorf("%s may call %s, naming somebody else", c.p.Username(), s)
+			}
+		}
+		for _, s := range c.subject {
+			if !MaySubscribe(perms, s) {
+				t.Errorf("%s does not hear %s, a call to what it serves", c.p.Username(), s)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// The subjects that name no caller stay granted beside the caller-named ones for one release, so a caller
+// moves over without a gap (their retirement: hq issue 464).
+func TestTheSubjectsThatNameNoCallerStayGrantedForOneRelease(t *testing.T) {
+	perms, err := PermissionsFor(Principal{Kind: KindModule, Node: "two", Module: "shop", Invokes: []string{"ledger.who"}})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	for _, s := range []string{"mesh.mod.ledger.tool.who", "mesh.mod.ledger.tool.who.anchor"} {
+		if !MayPublish(perms, s) {
+			t.Errorf("the old subject %s is no longer granted", s)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// The desk's hidden prompt is the controller's alone on the caller-named subjects too (the review of
+// 2026-10-09, M4): a grant of every tool does not reach it there either.
+func TestTheDesksPromptIsTheControllersAloneUnderCallToo(t *testing.T) {
+	for _, p := range []Principal{{Kind: KindPerson, Module: "jochen", Invokes: []string{"*"}},
+		{Kind: KindNodeTools, Node: "shanks", Module: RuntimeModule}} {
+		perms, err := PermissionsFor(p)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		token := CallerToken(p.Username())
+		for _, s := range []string{"mesh.seat.node-launcher.call.secret.shanks." + token,
+			"mesh.mod.shell.call.node-launcher.secret.shanks." + token, "mesh.mod.shell.call.node-launcher.secret." + token} {
+			if MayPublish(perms, s) {
+				t.Errorf("%s may publish %s, the desk's hidden prompt", p.Username(), s)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// The controller's grants are the installer's first user list too, so they move with hq issue 464: this release
+// it calls and serves on the subjects that name no caller alone, and nobody may call in its name.
+func TestTheControllerKeepsTheSubjectsThatNameNoCallerThisRelease(t *testing.T) {
+	perms, err := PermissionsFor(Principal{Kind: KindController})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	for _, s := range append(perms.Publish, perms.Subscribe...) {
+		if strings.Contains(s, "."+CallKind+".") {
+			t.Errorf("the controller is granted %s, which the installer's first user list does not carry", s)
+		}
+	}
+	for _, p := range []Principal{{Kind: KindPerson, Module: "jochen", Invokes: []string{"*"}},
+		{Kind: KindNodeTools, Node: "shanks", Module: RuntimeModule}} {
+		perms, err := PermissionsFor(p)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		if MayPublish(perms, "mesh.mod.ledger.call.who.controller") || MayPublish(perms, "mesh.seat.mesh-controller.call.status.controller") {
+			t.Errorf("%s may call in the controller's name", p.Username())
+		}
+	}
+}

internal/broker/invokes_test.go

@@ -42,8 +42,9 @@ func TestInvokingGrantsNothingButTheCall(t *testing.T) {
 		if strings.Contains(p, ".event.") {
 			t.Errorf("a module that only invokes may publish %q, an event it never declared", p)
 		}
-		// A role's tools are tools (ADR 0132); a role's work queue and events are not.
-		if strings.HasPrefix(p, "mesh.seat.") && !strings.Contains(p, ".tool.") {
+		// A role's tools are tools (ADR 0132), named by their caller or not (novox/hq issue 365); a role's work
+		// queue and events are not.
+		if strings.HasPrefix(p, "mesh.seat.") && !strings.Contains(p, ".tool.") && !strings.Contains(p, ".call.") {
 			t.Errorf("a module that only invokes may publish %q, a seat it neither holds nor uses", p)
 		}
 	}

internal/broker/nats.go

@@ -212,6 +212,10 @@ func ControllerOnly() []string {
 		for _, base := range []string{"mesh.seat." + v.Seat + ".tool." + v.Verb, "mesh.mod.*.tool." + v.Seat + "." + v.Verb} {
 			out = append(out, base, base+".*")
 		}
+		// And where a call names its caller (novox/hq issue 365): any machine, any caller.
+		for _, base := range []string{"mesh.seat." + v.Seat + "." + CallKind + "." + v.Verb, "mesh.mod.*." + CallKind + "." + v.Seat + "." + v.Verb} {
+			out = append(out, base+".>")
+		}
 	}
 	return out
 }
@@ -875,6 +879,19 @@ func PermissionsFor(p Principal) (Permissions, error) {
 		pub = append(pub, "$JS.ACK."+consumerStream(p)+"."+consumerDurable(p)+".>")
 	}
 
+	// **And every tool grant again, naming its caller** (novox/hq issue 365): a call in this principal's own
+	// name, and an answer to a call naming anybody. The `tool` grants above stay for one release beside these,
+	// so callers and runtimes move without a gap; their retirement is hq issue 464.
+	//
+	// **Not the controller's, this release.** Its grants are also the installer's first user list
+	// (TestTheInstallersFirstUserListIsWhatTheControllerWouldCompose), judged against the node-engine the mesh
+	// runs, so a change to them waits on a node-engine delivery. It calls and serves on the subjects that name
+	// no caller meanwhile — a caller-named call to its seat reaches nobody and is asked again on those at once —
+	// and moves with issue 464.
+	if p.Kind != KindController {
+		pub, sub = callerNamed(p.Username(), pub, sub)
+	}
+
 	sort.Strings(pub)
 	sort.Strings(sub)
 	// One writer per piece of state (novox/hq to-be 45 §1): a grant that would make a second is

internal/broker/nats_test.go

@@ -240,9 +240,9 @@ func TestAPersonReachesNothingButTools(t *testing.T) {
 	perms, _ := PermissionsFor(Principal{Kind: KindPerson, Module: "jo",
 		Invokes: []string{"*"}, PasswordHash: "x"})
 	for _, p := range perms.Publish {
-		// A tool call, or asking what answers (novox/hq ADR 0197) — a question every service
-		// answers about itself, which claims nothing and controls nothing.
-		if !strings.Contains(p, ".tool.") && !strings.HasPrefix(p, "$SRV.") {
+		// A tool call — named by its caller or not (novox/hq issue 365) — or asking what answers (novox/hq
+		// ADR 0197), a question every service answers about itself, which claims nothing and controls nothing.
+		if !strings.Contains(p, ".tool.") && !strings.Contains(p, ".call.") && !strings.HasPrefix(p, "$SRV.") {
 			t.Errorf("a person may publish %q, which is not a tool call", p)
 		}
 	}

internal/broker/testdata/composed.conf

@@ -43,17 +43,17 @@ accounts {
       } }
       { user: "one.telegram", password: "$2a$11$tttttttttttttttttttttt", permissions: {
         publish: { allow: ["$JS.ACK.EVENTS.one_telegram.>", "$JS.ACK.SEAT_TELEGRAM_SENDER.SEAT_TELEGRAM_SENDER_worker.>", "$JS.API.CONSUMER.INFO.EVENTS.one_telegram", "$JS.API.CONSUMER.INFO.SEAT_TELEGRAM_SENDER.SEAT_TELEGRAM_SENDER_worker", "$JS.API.CONSUMER.MSG.NEXT.EVENTS.one_telegram", "$JS.API.CONSUMER.MSG.NEXT.SEAT_TELEGRAM_SENDER.SEAT_TELEGRAM_SENDER_worker", "$JS.API.DIRECT.GET.ASSIGNMENTS.mesh.assignment.one.telegram", "mesh.seat.telegram-sender.event.delivered", "mesh.seat.telegram-sender.event.failed"] }
-        subscribe: { allow: ["$SRV.INFO", "$SRV.INFO.telegram", "$SRV.INFO.telegram.>", "$SRV.PING", "$SRV.PING.telegram", "$SRV.PING.telegram.>", "$SRV.STATS", "$SRV.STATS.telegram", "$SRV.STATS.telegram.>", "_INBOX.one.telegram.>", "mesh.assignment.one.telegram", "mesh.mod.telegram.tool.>", "mesh.seat.telegram-sender.accept.send"] }
+        subscribe: { allow: ["$SRV.INFO", "$SRV.INFO.telegram", "$SRV.INFO.telegram.>", "$SRV.PING", "$SRV.PING.telegram", "$SRV.PING.telegram.>", "$SRV.STATS", "$SRV.STATS.telegram", "$SRV.STATS.telegram.>", "_INBOX.one.telegram.>", "mesh.assignment.one.telegram", "mesh.mod.telegram.call.>", "mesh.mod.telegram.tool.>", "mesh.seat.telegram-sender.accept.send"] }
         allow_responses: { max: 1, ttl: "1m" }
       } }
       { user: "two.audit", password: "$2a$11$aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa", permissions: {
         publish: { allow: ["$JS.ACK.EVENTS.two_audit.>", "$JS.API.CONSUMER.INFO.EVENTS.two_audit", "$JS.API.CONSUMER.MSG.NEXT.EVENTS.two_audit", "$JS.API.DIRECT.GET.ASSIGNMENTS.mesh.assignment.two.audit"] }
-        subscribe: { allow: ["$SRV.INFO", "$SRV.INFO.audit", "$SRV.INFO.audit.>", "$SRV.PING", "$SRV.PING.audit", "$SRV.PING.audit.>", "$SRV.STATS", "$SRV.STATS.audit", "$SRV.STATS.audit.>", "_INBOX.two.audit.>", "mesh.assignment.two.audit", "mesh.mod.audit.tool.>", "mesh.mod.shop.event.order.placed"] }
+        subscribe: { allow: ["$SRV.INFO", "$SRV.INFO.audit", "$SRV.INFO.audit.>", "$SRV.PING", "$SRV.PING.audit", "$SRV.PING.audit.>", "$SRV.STATS", "$SRV.STATS.audit", "$SRV.STATS.audit.>", "_INBOX.two.audit.>", "mesh.assignment.two.audit", "mesh.mod.audit.call.>", "mesh.mod.audit.tool.>", "mesh.mod.shop.event.order.placed"] }
         allow_responses: { max: 1, ttl: "1m" }
       } }
       { user: "two.shop", password: "$2a$11$ssssssssssssssssssssss", permissions: {
         publish: { allow: ["$JS.ACK.EVENTS.two_shop.>", "$JS.API.CONSUMER.INFO.EVENTS.two_shop", "$JS.API.CONSUMER.MSG.NEXT.EVENTS.two_shop", "$JS.API.DIRECT.GET.ASSIGNMENTS.mesh.assignment.two.shop", "mesh.mod.shop.event.order.placed", "mesh.seat.telegram-sender.accept.send"] }
-        subscribe: { allow: ["$SRV.INFO", "$SRV.INFO.shop", "$SRV.INFO.shop.>", "$SRV.PING", "$SRV.PING.shop", "$SRV.PING.shop.>", "$SRV.STATS", "$SRV.STATS.shop", "$SRV.STATS.shop.>", "_INBOX.two.shop.>", "mesh.assignment.two.shop", "mesh.mod.shop.tool.>"] }
+        subscribe: { allow: ["$SRV.INFO", "$SRV.INFO.shop", "$SRV.INFO.shop.>", "$SRV.PING", "$SRV.PING.shop", "$SRV.PING.shop.>", "$SRV.STATS", "$SRV.STATS.shop", "$SRV.STATS.shop.>", "_INBOX.two.shop.>", "mesh.assignment.two.shop", "mesh.mod.shop.call.>", "mesh.mod.shop.tool.>"] }
         allow_responses: { max: 1, ttl: "1m" }
       } }
     ]

internal/builder/builder.go

@@ -7,8 +7,10 @@ import (
 	"crypto/sha256"
 	"encoding/hex"
 	"encoding/json"
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
+	"io/fs"
 	"os"
 	"os/exec"
 	"path"
@@ -159,17 +161,18 @@ func build(ctx context.Context, run Runner, publish Publisher,
 	}
 	// The credential is a file git reads, never an argument: a URL carrying a password in argv
 	// would be readable by anything that can list processes for as long as a clone runs.
-	credentials := ""
-	if forge.URL != "" {
-		credentials = filepath.Join(workspace, "git-credentials")
-		if err := os.WriteFile(credentials, []byte(forge.URL+"\n"), 0o600); err != nil {
-			return Result{}, err
-		}
+	credentials, forget, err := storeCredential(workspace, forge)
+	if err != nil {
+		return Result{}, err
 	}
+	defer forget()
 	tree := filepath.Join(workspace, "source")
 	if err := os.RemoveAll(tree); err != nil {
 		return Result{}, err
 	}
+	// Removed when the build ends, whatever happens: the tree holds the .npmrc a build may be handed, in the
+	// workspace a later check's container mounts as its HOME (novox/hq issue 462).
+	defer os.RemoveAll(tree)
 	// A fresh clone every time rather than a fetch into a tree that is already there. A build
 	// that reuses a working tree can succeed because of something a previous build left behind,
 	// and that is a build nobody can reproduce.
@@ -177,6 +180,9 @@ func build(ctx context.Context, run Runner, publish Publisher,
 		say("clone", "FAILED: %v", err)
 		return Result{}, fmt.Errorf("cannot clone %s: %w", repository, err)
 	}
+	if err := recordedWithoutUserinfo(ctx, run, tree, repository); err != nil {
+		return Result{}, err
+	}
 	say("clone", "done")
 	if ref != "" {
 		if _, err := run(ctx, tree, "git", "checkout", "--quiet", ref); err != nil {
@@ -248,6 +254,8 @@ func build(ctx context.Context, run Runner, publish Publisher,
 		if err := os.WriteFile(npmrcPath, []byte(content), 0o600); err != nil {
 			return Result{}, fmt.Errorf("cannot write the package-registry credential for the build: %w", err)
 		}
+		// Only for as long as the build: a later check's container mounts this workspace (novox/hq issue 462).
+		defer os.Remove(npmrcPath)
 		say("packages", "resolving %s from the mesh's package registry", npmrc.Scope)
 		src.notPinned("it resolves packages from the mesh's registry at build time")
 	}
@@ -441,6 +449,9 @@ func contextFrom(ctx context.Context, run Runner, workspace, artifact, credentia
 	if _, err := run(ctx, workspace, "git", cloneWith(credentials, "clone", "--quiet", url, dir)...); err != nil {
 		return "", fmt.Errorf("cannot clone %s: %w", url, err)
 	}
+	if err := recordedWithoutUserinfo(ctx, run, dir, url); err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
 	if from.Ref != "" {
 		if _, err := run(ctx, dir, "git", "checkout", "--quiet", from.Ref); err != nil {
 			return "", fmt.Errorf("%s has no %s: %w", from.Repository, from.Ref, err)
@@ -467,6 +478,96 @@ func contextURL(from catalogue.ArtifactContext, seats map[string]string) (string
 	return strings.TrimRight(base, "/") + "/" + strings.TrimSuffix(strings.Trim(from.Repository, "/"), ".git") + ".git", nil
 }
 
+// storeCredential writes the forge credential where git's credential store reads it, and the function that
+// removes it again; "" and nothing to remove when the builder holds none.
+//
+// **Never inside the workspace** (novox/hq issue 462): a merge check's toolchain container mounts the
+// workspace as its HOME, so a credential kept there — even one a build left behind — is readable by any pull
+// request's merge-check.sh, and what it prints is kept on the bus. So it lives in a directory of its own
+// outside the workspace, made private, and a credential an older builder left in the workspace is removed.
+func storeCredential(workspace string, forge GitCredential) (string, func(), error) {
+	if err := os.Remove(filepath.Join(workspace, "git-credentials")); err != nil && !errors.Is(err, os.ErrNotExist) {
+		return "", nil, fmt.Errorf("a credential left in the workspace cannot be removed: %w", err)
+	}
+	if forge.URL == "" {
+		return "", func() {}, nil
+	}
+	dir, err := os.MkdirTemp("", "mesh-forge-credential-")
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", nil, err
+	}
+	forget := func() { os.RemoveAll(dir) }
+	if withinDir(workspace, dir) {
+		forget()
+		return "", nil, fmt.Errorf("the temporary directory %s is inside the workspace %s, which a check's "+
+			"container mounts: the forge credential is not written where it could read it", dir, workspace)
+	}
+	path := filepath.Join(dir, "git-credentials")
+	if err := os.WriteFile(path, []byte(forge.URL+"\n"), 0o600); err != nil {
+		forget()
+		return "", nil, err
+	}
+	return path, forget, nil
+}
+
+// recordedWithoutUserinfo makes a clone record the URL it came from without userinfo: git keeps it as given in
+// the clone's .git/config, inside the workspace a check's container mounts (novox/hq issue 462).
+func recordedWithoutUserinfo(ctx context.Context, run Runner, clone, repository string) error {
+	bare, carried := withoutUserinfo(repository)
+	if !carried {
+		return nil
+	}
+	if _, err := run(ctx, clone, "git", "remote", "set-url", "origin", bare); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("the clone of %s keeps its credential: %w", bare, err)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+// forgetLeftCredentials removes what an earlier build or an older builder left in the workspace that holds
+// a credential: the forge's git-credentials, and every .npmrc a build wrote into a tree it cloned. Run
+// before a check, whose container mounts the workspace as its HOME (novox/hq issue 462). The Go caches are
+// not walked: no build writes a credential there, and they hold more files than everything else.
+func forgetLeftCredentials(workspace string) error {
+	if err := os.Remove(filepath.Join(workspace, "git-credentials")); err != nil && !errors.Is(err, os.ErrNotExist) {
+		return err
+	}
+	return filepath.WalkDir(workspace, func(p string, d fs.DirEntry, err error) error {
+		if err != nil {
+			if errors.Is(err, os.ErrNotExist) {
+				return nil
+			}
+			return err
+		}
+		if d.IsDir() && p != workspace && (d.Name() == "go-cache" || d.Name() == "go-modules") &&
+			filepath.Dir(p) == workspace {
+			return filepath.SkipDir
+		}
+		if !d.IsDir() && d.Name() == ".npmrc" {
+			if err := os.Remove(p); err != nil && !errors.Is(err, os.ErrNotExist) {
+				return fmt.Errorf("a package-registry credential left at %s cannot be removed: %w", p, err)
+			}
+		}
+		return nil
+	})
+}
+
+// withinDir is whether path is dir or under it, both made absolute and resolved.
+func withinDir(dir, path string) bool {
+	d, err1 := filepath.Abs(dir)
+	p, err2 := filepath.Abs(path)
+	if err1 != nil || err2 != nil {
+		return true
+	}
+	if r, err := filepath.EvalSymlinks(d); err == nil {
+		d = r
+	}
+	if r, err := filepath.EvalSymlinks(p); err == nil {
+		p = r
+	}
+	rel, err := filepath.Rel(d, p)
+	return err != nil || rel == "." || filepath.IsLocal(rel)
+}
+
 // cloneWith is a git invocation that may offer a stored credential.
 //
 // The first `-c credential.helper=` clears every helper the environment might carry, so exactly

internal/builder/builder_test.go

@@ -438,30 +438,34 @@ func TestABuildOffersTheForgesCredentialThroughGitsOwnStore(t *testing.T) {
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
-	stored := filepath.Join(workspace, "git-credentials")
 	clone := r.ran[0]
-	if !strings.Contains(clone, "credential.helper=store --file="+stored) {
-		t.Fatalf("the clone does not name the credential store: %s", clone)
-	}
+	stored := storeNamedIn(t, clone)
 	for _, line := range r.ran {
 		if strings.Contains(line, "sw0rdfi5h") {
 			t.Fatalf("the secret is in a command line, readable by anything that can list processes: %s", line)
 		}
 	}
-	raw, err := os.ReadFile(stored)
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
+	// Outside the workspace a check's container mounts, and gone once the build is (novox/hq issue 462); what
+	// it held while git read it is checked with the check's clones (TestACheckContainerSeesNoForgeCredential).
+	if withinDir(workspace, stored) {
+		t.Fatalf("the credential store %s is inside the workspace %s", stored, workspace)
 	}
-	if strings.TrimSpace(string(raw)) != "http://mesh_novox_builder:sw0rdfi5h@forge.invalid:20000" {
-		t.Fatalf("the store does not hold the credential as given: %q", raw)
+	if _, err := os.Stat(stored); !os.IsNotExist(err) {
+		t.Fatalf("the credential store outlives the build: %v", err)
 	}
-	info, err := os.Stat(stored)
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
+	if _, err := os.Stat(filepath.Join(workspace, "git-credentials")); !os.IsNotExist(err) {
+		t.Fatal("a credential file is left in the workspace")
 	}
-	if info.Mode().Perm() != 0o600 {
-		t.Fatalf("the credential file is readable beyond its owner: %v", info.Mode())
+}
+
+// storeNamedIn is the credential store a git command line offers.
+func storeNamedIn(t *testing.T, line string) string {
+	t.Helper()
+	_, after, ok := strings.Cut(line, "credential.helper=store --file=")
+	if !ok {
+		t.Fatalf("the clone does not name the credential store: %s", line)
 	}
+	return strings.Fields(after)[0]
 }
 
 // Without a credential, a clone is exactly the invocation it always was, and no credential file
@@ -506,7 +510,7 @@ func TestAContextCloneCarriesTheSameCredentialStore(t *testing.T) {
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
-	stored := filepath.Join(workspace, "git-credentials")
+	stored := storeNamedIn(t, r.ran[0])
 	var contextClone string
 	for _, line := range r.ran {
 		if strings.Contains(line, "clone") && strings.Contains(line, "source.git") {

internal/builder/check.go

@@ -229,7 +229,13 @@ func ScriptToolchain(script []byte) string {
 // Check runs one merge check. An error is that it could not run; the verdict is then "error".
 func Check(ctx context.Context, run Runner, spec CheckSpec, workspace, registry string, forge GitCredential,
 	log Log) (CheckVerdict, error) {
-	say := logging(log)
+	// Everything a check says goes to the build's log, which the bus keeps: said redacted (novox/hq issue 462).
+	redact := redactorFor(forge)
+	say := logging(func(step, message string) {
+		if log != nil {
+			log(step, redact.redact(message))
+		}
+	})
 	began := time.Now()
 	ctx, stop := context.WithTimeout(ctx, CheckTimeout)
 	defer stop()
@@ -242,20 +248,26 @@ func Check(ctx context.Context, run Runner, spec CheckSpec, workspace, registry
 		return CheckVerdict{}, err
 	}
 	defer os.RemoveAll(root)
-	credentials := ""
-	if forge.URL != "" {
-		credentials = filepath.Join(workspace, "git-credentials")
-		if err := os.WriteFile(credentials, []byte(forge.URL+"\n"), 0o600); err != nil {
-			return CheckVerdict{}, err
-		}
+	// The forge credential lives outside the workspace the check's containers mount, and only while the
+	// check clones (novox/hq issue 462).
+	credentials, forget, err := storeCredential(workspace, forge)
+	if err != nil {
+		return CheckVerdict{}, err
+	}
+	defer forget()
+	if err := forgetLeftCredentials(workspace); err != nil {
+		return CheckVerdict{}, err
 	}
 	clone := func(repository, ref, dir string) error {
 		if _, err := run(ctx, root, "git", cloneWith(credentials, "clone", "--quiet", repository, dir)...); err != nil {
-			return fmt.Errorf("cannot clone %s: %w", repository, err)
+			return fmt.Errorf("cannot clone %s: %s", redact.redact(repository), redact.redact(err.Error()))
+		}
+		if err := recordedWithoutUserinfo(ctx, run, filepath.Join(root, dir), repository); err != nil {
+			return err
 		}
 		if ref != "" {
 			if _, err := run(ctx, filepath.Join(root, dir), "git", "checkout", "--quiet", ref); err != nil {
-				return fmt.Errorf("%s has no %s: %w", repository, ref, err)
+				return fmt.Errorf("%s has no %s: %w", redact.redact(repository), ref, err)
 			}
 		}
 		return nil
@@ -323,6 +335,9 @@ func Check(ctx context.Context, run Runner, spec CheckSpec, workspace, registry
 		}
 	}
 
+	// Every clone is made: the credential is gone before anything of the check runs (novox/hq issue 462).
+	forget()
+
 	// The facts, and the versions they say the mesh runs.
 	if registry == "" {
 		return CheckVerdict{}, errors.New("no artifact store to read the facts snapshot from")
@@ -479,8 +494,11 @@ func Check(ctx context.Context, run Runner, spec CheckSpec, workspace, registry
 		}
 	}
 
+	// What the check printed travels in the verdict to the forge and the controller: redacted as the log is.
+	v.Gate.Summary, v.Repo.Summary, v.Repo.Failed = redact.redact(v.Gate.Summary), redact.redact(v.Repo.Summary),
+		redact.redact(v.Repo.Failed)
 	v.Verdict, v.Summary = v.Gate.Verdict, v.Gate.Summary
-	v.Report, v.Took = withWhatFailed(out.String(), v.Repo), time.Since(began)
+	v.Report, v.Took = redact.redact(withWhatFailed(out.String(), v.Repo)), time.Since(began)
 	say("check", "gate %s — %s; repository %s — %s (%s)", strings.ToUpper(v.Gate.Verdict), v.Gate.Summary,
 		strings.ToUpper(v.Repo.Verdict), v.Repo.Summary, v.Took.Round(time.Second))
 	return v, nil
@@ -606,7 +624,9 @@ func (l *toTheLog) line(line string) {
 		line = line[:logLineBytes] + fmt.Sprintf(" … (%d bytes more)", len(line)-logLineBytes)
 	}
 	l.said++
-	l.say("output", "%s", line)
+	// Redacted by its shape before the bus keeps it (novox/hq issue 462); Check's own say adds the secrets
+	// the builder knows.
+	l.say("output", "%s", redactor{}.redact(line))
 }
 
 // close says the last line, and, when lines were left out, how many and what failed.
@@ -624,7 +644,7 @@ func (l *toTheLog) close(failed string) {
 	}
 	l.say("output", "--- what failed, picked from the whole of its output")
 	for _, line := range strings.Split(failed, "\n") {
-		l.say("output", "%s", line)
+		l.say("output", "%s", redactor{}.redact(line))
 	}
 }
 

internal/builder/check_credential_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,251 @@
+package builder
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"crypto/sha256"
+	"encoding/hex"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"errors"
+	"io/fs"
+	"net/http"
+	"net/http/httptest"
+	"net/url"
+	"os"
+	"os/exec"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/novox/mesh-controller/internal/facts"
+)
+
+// **A check's container never sees the forge credential** (novox/hq issue 462): the toolchain container
+// mounts the workspace as HOME, so a credential kept there — or a clone's .git/config carrying one — is
+// readable by any pull request's merge-check.sh, and printed, kept on the bus for days.
+
+const (
+	forgeSecret  = "sw0rdfi5h-forge"
+	forgeURL     = "http://mesh_novox_builder:" + forgeSecret + "@forge.invalid:20000"
+	besideSecret = "b3side-t0ken"
+	npmSecret    = "npm-s3cret-t0ken"
+)
+
+// aFactsRegistry is an artifact store holding the facts snapshot, and nothing else.
+func aFactsRegistry(t *testing.T) string {
+	t.Helper()
+	body, err := json.Marshal(facts.Facts{Format: facts.Format, Taken: time.Now().UTC(),
+		Versions: facts.Versions{Bus: "2.11.17", Store: "17.11"}, Machines: []facts.Machine{{Name: "abcdef", Length: 6}}})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	sum := sha256.Sum256(body)
+	digest := "sha256:" + hex.EncodeToString(sum[:])
+	manifest, _ := json.Marshal(map[string]any{"schemaVersion": 2, "layers": []map[string]any{
+		{"mediaType": facts.MediaType, "digest": digest, "size": len(body)}}})
+	srv := httptest.NewServer(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		switch {
+		case strings.Contains(r.URL.Path, "/manifests/"):
+			w.Write(manifest)
+		case strings.HasSuffix(r.URL.Path, "/blobs/"+digest):
+			w.Write(body)
+		default:
+			http.NotFound(w, r)
+		}
+	}))
+	t.Cleanup(srv.Close)
+	return strings.TrimPrefix(srv.URL, "http://")
+}
+
+// bareURL is a URL with its userinfo left out.
+func bareURL(t *testing.T, raw string) string {
+	u, err := url.Parse(raw)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	u.User = nil
+	return u.String()
+}
+
+func TestACheckContainerSeesNoForgeCredential(t *testing.T) {
+	repo, head := aCheckedRepository(t, map[string]string{CheckScript: "echo checked\n"})
+	besideRepo, besideHead := aCheckedRepository(t, map[string]string{"README": "beside"})
+	// A clone source that carries userinfo, as a forge's clone URL may: git records it as given in the
+	// clone's .git/config, which the container reads.
+	besideURL := "file://beside-user:" + besideSecret + "@" + besideRepo
+	workspace := t.TempDir()
+
+	var stores []string
+	reached := false
+	var leaks []string
+	run := func(ctx context.Context, dir, name string, args ...string) (string, error) {
+		switch name {
+		case "git":
+			for _, a := range args {
+				if f, ok := strings.CutPrefix(a, "credential.helper=store --file="); ok {
+					stores = append(stores, f)
+					raw, err := os.ReadFile(f)
+					if err != nil || strings.TrimSpace(string(raw)) != forgeURL {
+						t.Errorf("git is offered a store that does not hold the credential as given: %q, %v", raw, err)
+					}
+					if info, err := os.Stat(f); err == nil && info.Mode().Perm() != 0o600 {
+						t.Errorf("the credential store is readable beyond its owner: %v", info.Mode())
+					}
+				}
+			}
+			if len(args) >= 2 && args[len(args)-3] == "--quiet" && hasString(args, "clone") {
+				source := args[len(args)-2]
+				if u, err := url.Parse(source); err == nil && u.User != nil {
+					// Git cannot reach a file:// URL with userinfo; clone it without, then record it as git
+					// would have: as given.
+					clone := append(append([]string{}, args[:len(args)-2]...), bareURL(t, source), args[len(args)-1])
+					if out, err := Command(ctx, dir, "git", clone...); err != nil {
+						return out, err
+					}
+					return Command(ctx, filepath.Join(dir, args[len(args)-1]), "git", "remote", "set-url", "origin", source)
+				}
+			}
+			return Command(ctx, dir, name, args...)
+		case "docker":
+			if !reached {
+				reached = true
+				// The first container: everything the workspace holds is what the toolchain container sees.
+				filepath.WalkDir(workspace, func(path string, d fs.DirEntry, err error) error {
+					if err != nil || d.IsDir() {
+						return nil
+					}
+					raw, _ := os.ReadFile(path)
+					s := string(raw)
+					if strings.Contains(s, forgeSecret) || strings.Contains(s, besideSecret) ||
+						strings.Contains(s, npmSecret) || d.Name() == "git-credentials" || d.Name() == ".npmrc" ||
+						strings.Contains(s, "credential.helper") {
+						leaks = append(leaks, path)
+					}
+					return nil
+				})
+				for _, f := range stores {
+					if _, err := os.Stat(f); !errors.Is(err, os.ErrNotExist) {
+						leaks = append(leaks, f+" (still there when the first container runs)")
+					}
+					if rel, err := filepath.Rel(workspace, f); err == nil && !strings.HasPrefix(rel, "..") {
+						leaks = append(leaks, f+" (inside the workspace the container mounts)")
+					}
+				}
+			}
+			if len(args) > 0 && args[0] == "ps" {
+				return "", nil
+			}
+			return "", errors.New("no container runtime in this test")
+		}
+		return "", errors.New("unexpected command " + name)
+	}
+	// A credential an older builder left in the workspace is removed too: the forge's, and the .npmrc a
+	// build wrote into the tree it cloned.
+	if err := os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(workspace, "git-credentials"), []byte(forgeURL+"\n"), 0o600); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	for _, dir := range []string{"source/x", "context-server"} {
+		if err := os.MkdirAll(filepath.Join(workspace, dir), 0o755); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		if err := os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(workspace, dir, ".npmrc"),
+			[]byte("//forge.invalid/api/packages/novox/npm/:_authToken="+npmSecret+"\n"), 0o600); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+	}
+	_, err := Check(t.Context(), run, CheckSpec{ID: "check-462", Repository: repo, Ref: head, Owner: "novox",
+		Repo: "mesh-controller", Number: 1, Toolchain: "golang", Beside: map[string]Beside{
+			"mesh-catalog": {Repository: besideURL, Ref: besideHead}}}, workspace, aFactsRegistry(t),
+		GitCredential{URL: forgeURL}, nil)
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("the check ran past its first container in a test with none")
+	}
+	if !reached {
+		t.Fatalf("the check never reached its first container: %v", err)
+	}
+	if len(stores) == 0 {
+		t.Fatal("no clone was offered the forge credential")
+	}
+	if len(leaks) > 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("the check's container sees the credential:\n%s", strings.Join(leaks, "\n"))
+	}
+}
+
+// Every line a repository's own check prints is published to the build's log redacted.
+func TestACheckLinePublishedToTheLogIsRedacted(t *testing.T) {
+	var said []string
+	say := func(step, format string, args ...any) {
+		if step == "output" && len(args) > 0 {
+			said = append(said, args[0].(string))
+		}
+	}
+	var out tail
+	layer := ownCheck(t.Context(), CheckSpec{Toolchain: "golang"}, []ScriptPart{{Toolchain: "go", Script: CheckScript}},
+		t.TempDir(), &out, func() bool { return false }, func(string, string) *exec.Cmd {
+			return exec.CommandContext(t.Context(), "sh", "-c", "echo cloning http://mesh_builder:t0ps3cret-forge@forge.invalid/novox/x.git; "+
+				"echo token ghp_abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz0123456789")
+		}, say)
+	if layer == nil || layer.Verdict != "pass" {
+		t.Fatalf("the check answered %+v\n%s", layer, out.String())
+	}
+	joined := strings.Join(said, "\n")
+	if strings.Contains(joined, "t0ps3cret-forge") || strings.Contains(joined, "ghp_abcdef") {
+		t.Fatalf("a secret the check printed is published to the build's log:\n%s", joined)
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(joined, "http://mesh_builder:[redacted: a password in a URI]@forge.invalid/novox/x.git") {
+		t.Fatalf("the line is not said with what was there named:\n%s", joined)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestTheRedactorHidesTheForgeCredentialAndShapes(t *testing.T) {
+	r := redactorFor(GitCredential{URL: forgeURL})
+	for in, want := range map[string]string{
+		"the secret alone: " + forgeSecret:    "the secret alone: [redacted: the forge credential]",
+		"go test ./... ok":                    "go test ./... ok",
+		"--password hunter22 and done":        "--password [redacted: the word after --password] and done",
+		"commit 3b6b54a0c1d2e3f4a5b6c7d8e9f0": "commit 3b6b54a0c1d2e3f4a5b6c7d8e9f0",
+	} {
+		if got := r.redact(in); got != want {
+			t.Errorf("%q redacted as %q, want %q", in, got, want)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// A build's clone of a URL carrying userinfo records it without, so no build leaves a credential in
+// workspace/source/.git/config while it runs either (novox/hq issue 462); the tree itself is gone when the
+// build ends.
+func TestABuildsCloneRecordsNoUserinfo(t *testing.T) {
+	repo, _ := aCheckedRepository(t, map[string]string{ManifestName: `{"module":"plain","version":"1"}`})
+	source := "file://build-user:" + besideSecret + "@" + repo
+	workspace := t.TempDir()
+	tree := filepath.Join(workspace, "source")
+	var configs []string
+	run := func(ctx context.Context, dir, name string, args ...string) (string, error) {
+		if name == "git" && hasString(args, "clone") && args[len(args)-2] == source {
+			clone := append(append([]string{}, args[:len(args)-2]...), bareURL(t, source), args[len(args)-1])
+			if out, err := Command(ctx, dir, "git", clone...); err != nil {
+				return out, err
+			}
+			return Command(ctx, args[len(args)-1], "git", "remote", "set-url", "origin", source)
+		}
+		if name == "git" && len(args) > 0 && args[0] == "rev-parse" {
+			raw, _ := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(tree, ".git", "config"))
+			configs = append(configs, string(raw))
+		}
+		return Command(ctx, dir, name, args...)
+	}
+	if _, err := Build(t.Context(), run, &recorded{}, source, "", "", workspace, nil, Npmrc{}, GitCredential{}, nil); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if len(configs) == 0 {
+		t.Fatal("the build never read its clone")
+	}
+	for _, c := range configs {
+		if strings.Contains(c, besideSecret) || strings.Contains(c, "build-user") {
+			t.Fatalf("the build's clone records the credential it was cloned with:\n%s", c)
+		}
+	}
+	if _, err := os.Stat(tree); !os.IsNotExist(err) {
+		t.Fatalf("the build's tree outlives the build: %v", err)
+	}
+}

internal/builder/mirror.go

@@ -429,6 +429,11 @@ func (r Registry) copyBlob(ctx context.Context, src *source, where upstream, dig
 	if response.ContentLength > 0 {
 		put.ContentLength = response.ContentLength
 	}
+	// **Not waited for if refused** (novox/hq issue 457): the body streams from upstream and cannot be
+	// read twice, so a registry held still between the POST above and this PUT fails the copy with
+	// "its body cannot be read twice" rather than waiting. Accepted: the POST a moment before already
+	// waited the registry out, so the window is the length of one upstream fetch, and the build fails
+	// loudly, to be asked again, rather than buffering every base blob in memory.
 	done, err := r.client().Do(put)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("cannot upload blob %s: %w", digest, err)

internal/builder/packages_test.go

@@ -70,7 +70,16 @@ func TestNpmrcDisabledUntilThereIsARegistry(t *testing.T) {
 func TestAnImageBuildGetsTheCredentialInTheContextAndHostNetwork(t *testing.T) {
 	r, workspace := aRepository(t, withBoth, map[string]string{"Dockerfile": "FROM scratch\nCOPY .npmrc ./", "files/x": "y"})
 	n := Npmrc{Scope: "@novox", Registry: "https://forge.invalid/api/packages/novox/npm/", Token: "t"}
-	if _, err := Build(context.Background(), r.run, r,
+	npmrc := filepath.Join(workspace, "source", ".npmrc")
+	inContext := false
+	run := func(ctx context.Context, dir, name string, args ...string) (string, error) {
+		if name == "docker" && len(args) > 0 && args[0] == "build" {
+			_, err := os.Stat(npmrc)
+			inContext = err == nil
+		}
+		return r.run(ctx, dir, name, args...)
+	}
+	if _, err := Build(context.Background(), run, r,
 		"https://forge.invalid/meshboard.git", "", "", workspace, nil, n, GitCredential{}, nil); err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("the build failed: %v", err)
 	}
@@ -90,11 +99,14 @@ func TestAnImageBuildGetsTheCredentialInTheContextAndHostNetwork(t *testing.T) {
 	if !strings.Contains(build, "--network host") {
 		t.Fatalf("the build was not given the host network to reach the registry: %s", build)
 	}
-	// The .npmrc is written into the build context (the source tree), where a Dockerfile COPYs it.
-	tree := filepath.Join(workspace, "source")
-	npmrc := filepath.Join(tree, ".npmrc")
-	if _, err := os.Stat(npmrc); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("the credential was not written into the build context: %v", err)
+	// The .npmrc is written into the build context (the source tree), where a Dockerfile COPYs it, and
+	// removed with the tree when the build ends: a later check's container mounts the workspace (novox/hq
+	// issue 462).
+	if !inContext {
+		t.Fatal("the credential was not in the build context when the image was built")
+	}
+	if _, err := os.Stat(npmrc); !os.IsNotExist(err) {
+		t.Fatalf("the credential outlives the build in the workspace: %v", err)
 	}
 }
 

internal/builder/redact.go

@@ -0,0 +1,191 @@
+package builder
+
+// **Every line of a check's output is redacted before it is kept** (novox/hq issue 462).
+//
+// A repository's own check prints into the build's log, which the bus keeps for days and anyone who may read
+// its events reads, and into the verdict, which the forge shows on the pull request. Software prints what it
+// was given — a URL carrying a password, a token in a flag — and a pull request may print on purpose.
+// So a line is said only after every secret the builder knows (the forge credential's password) and every
+// value whose shape says it is one is replaced by a mark naming what was there, as the journal verb does.
+//
+// Copied from the journal tool's redactor (mesh-catalog, modules/systemd/cmd/systemd-tools/secrets.go,
+// itself a copy of the docker module's), narrowed to a line's shapes, with the token shapes a check's output
+// may carry added. A third copy: sharing them through mesh-sdk is novox/hq issue 471.
+
+import (
+	"net/url"
+	"regexp"
+	"strings"
+)
+
+// secretName is a variable name that says its value is a secret.
+var secretName = regexp.MustCompile(`(?i)(pass(word|wd|phrase)?|secret|token|api_?key|private_?key|access_?key|credential|auth)`)
+
+// notAValue is a name that says its value is where a secret is, not the secret: a file or a path.
+var notAValue = regexp.MustCompile(`(?i)(_FILE|FILE|_PATH|_DIR)$`)
+
+// uriPassword is a URI carrying a password in its userinfo: scheme://user:password@.
+var uriPassword = regexp.MustCompile(`[A-Za-z][A-Za-z0-9+.-]*://[^\s/:@'"]*:([^\s/@'"]+)@`)
+
+// tokenShaped are tokens recognised by their own prefix, whatever surrounds them: a forge's or a host's
+// access token, a JSON web token, a NATS seed.
+var tokenShaped = []struct {
+	name string
+	re   *regexp.Regexp
+}{
+	{"an access token", regexp.MustCompile(`\b(gh[pousr]_[A-Za-z0-9]{20,}|github_pat_[A-Za-z0-9_]{20,}|glpat-[A-Za-z0-9_-]{20,}|xox[abpr]-[A-Za-z0-9-]{10,}|sk-ant-[A-Za-z0-9_-]{20,})`)},
+	{"a JSON web token", regexp.MustCompile(`\beyJ[A-Za-z0-9_-]{8,}\.eyJ[A-Za-z0-9_-]{8,}\.[A-Za-z0-9_-]+`)},
+	{"a NATS seed", regexp.MustCompile(`\bS[ACNOU][A-Z2-7]{56}\b`)},
+}
+
+// masked is a password a program already hid: ***, xxx, <redacted>, [REDACTED].
+var masked = regexp.MustCompile(`^(\*+|x+|X+|<[^>]*>|\[[^\]]*\]|%2A+)$`)
+
+// ordinary is a value under a secret's name that is not one: a path, an address, a number, a switch.
+var ordinary = regexp.MustCompile(`^(/.*|[A-Za-z][A-Za-z0-9+.-]*://.*|[0-9.]+[a-z]?|(?i:true|false|yes|no|on|off|none|null))$`)
+
+// leastSecret is the shortest value compared as a secret: a shorter one matches ordinary words.
+const leastSecret = 6
+
+// passwordFlags take a secret as their next word, or after `=`, whatever the program.
+var passwordFlags = map[string]bool{
+	"-P": true, "--password": true, "--pass": true, "--passwd": true, "--secret": true, "--secret-key": true,
+	"--token": true, "--api-key": true, "--apikey": true, "--auth": true,
+}
+
+// knownSecret is one value the builder holds, by the name it is said under.
+type knownSecret struct {
+	Name  string
+	Value string
+}
+
+// redactor hides the secrets it knows and those a line's shapes say are secrets.
+type redactor struct{ known []knownSecret }
+
+// redactorFor knows the forge credential's password, and its user's name with it, in every form git or a
+// program may print them.
+func redactorFor(forge GitCredential) redactor {
+	var r redactor
+	if forge.URL == "" {
+		return r
+	}
+	for _, m := range uriPassword.FindAllStringSubmatch(forge.URL, -1) {
+		r.add("the forge credential", m[1])
+		if dec, err := url.PathUnescape(m[1]); err == nil && dec != m[1] {
+			r.add("the forge credential", dec)
+		}
+	}
+	return r
+}
+
+func (r *redactor) add(name, value string) {
+	if len(value) < leastSecret || masked.MatchString(value) {
+		return
+	}
+	for _, k := range r.known {
+		if k.Value == value {
+			return
+		}
+	}
+	r.known = append(r.known, knownSecret{name, value})
+}
+
+// redact is a text with every known secret, every value its shape says is one, and every password inside a
+// URI replaced by a mark naming what was there. Line by line: a shape is judged within its line.
+func (r redactor) redact(text string) string {
+	if !strings.ContainsAny(text, "\n") {
+		return r.line(text)
+	}
+	lines := strings.Split(text, "\n")
+	for i, l := range lines {
+		lines[i] = r.line(l)
+	}
+	return strings.Join(lines, "\n")
+}
+
+func (r redactor) line(line string) string {
+	replace := func(s knownSecret) {
+		for _, f := range forms(s.Value) {
+			line = strings.ReplaceAll(line, f, "[redacted: "+s.Name+"]")
+		}
+	}
+	for _, s := range r.known {
+		replace(s)
+	}
+	for _, s := range shaped(line) {
+		replace(s)
+	}
+	line = uriPassword.ReplaceAllStringFunc(line, func(m string) string {
+		sub := uriPassword.FindStringSubmatch(m)
+		if masked.MatchString(sub[1]) || strings.HasPrefix(sub[1], "[redacted") {
+			return m
+		}
+		return strings.TrimSuffix(m, sub[1]+"@") + "[redacted: a password in a URI]@"
+	})
+	for _, t := range tokenShaped {
+		line = t.re.ReplaceAllString(line, "[redacted: "+t.name+"]")
+	}
+	return line
+}
+
+// forms are the ways a value may appear printed: as given, and URL-encoded.
+func forms(value string) []string {
+	out := []string{value}
+	for _, f := range []string{url.QueryEscape(value), url.PathEscape(value)} {
+		if f != value && !hasString(out, f) {
+			out = append(out, f)
+		}
+	}
+	return out
+}
+
+func hasString(list []string, s string) bool {
+	for _, x := range list {
+		if x == s {
+			return true
+		}
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
+// shaped are the values a line carries by their shape: the word after a password flag, or the value of one
+// given with `=`, and a NAME=value whose name says secret.
+func shaped(line string) []knownSecret {
+	var out []knownSecret
+	add := func(name, value string) {
+		value = strings.Trim(value, `"',;`)
+		if len(value) < leastSecret || masked.MatchString(value) || ordinary.MatchString(value) ||
+			strings.HasPrefix(value, "[redacted") {
+			return
+		}
+		out = append(out, knownSecret{name, value})
+	}
+	words := strings.Fields(line)
+	for i, w := range words {
+		if flag, value, ok := strings.Cut(w, "="); ok && strings.HasPrefix(flag, "-") {
+			if passwordFlags[flag] {
+				add("the value of "+flag, value)
+			}
+			continue
+		}
+		if name, value, ok := strings.Cut(w, "="); ok && name != "" && secretName.MatchString(name) &&
+			!notAValue.MatchString(name) && !strings.ContainsAny(name, "/:") {
+			add("the value of "+name, value)
+			continue
+		}
+		if i+1 < len(words) && passwordFlags[w] {
+			add("the word after "+w, words[i+1])
+		}
+	}
+	return out
+}
+
+// withoutUserinfo is a URL with its userinfo left out, and whether it carried any.
+func withoutUserinfo(raw string) (string, bool) {
+	u, err := url.Parse(raw)
+	if err != nil || u.User == nil {
+		return raw, false
+	}
+	u.User = nil
+	return u.String(), true
+}

internal/builder/registry.go

@@ -52,7 +52,11 @@ func (r Registry) PublishImage(ctx context.Context, localTag, repository string)
 	if _, err := r.Run(ctx, "", "docker", "tag", localTag, remote); err != nil {
 		return "", err
 	}
-	if _, err := r.Run(ctx, "", "docker", "push", remote); err != nil {
+	// The push waits for a registry held still, as every request to it does (novox/hq issue 457).
+	if err := waitForRegistry(ctx, r.Address, "docker push "+remote, func() error {
+		_, err := r.Run(ctx, "", "docker", "push", remote)
+		return err
+	}); err != nil {
 		return "", err
 	}
 	out, err := r.Run(ctx, "", "docker", "inspect", "--format", "{{index .RepoDigests 0}}", remote)
@@ -169,11 +173,13 @@ func (r Registry) has(ctx context.Context, url string, accept ...string) (bool,
 	return response.StatusCode == http.StatusOK, nil
 }
 
+// client is the client for the registry and for upstream, whose requests to the registry wait out a
+// registry held still (novox/hq issue 457).
 func (r Registry) client() *http.Client {
 	if r.HTTP != nil {
-		return r.HTTP
+		return waiting(r.HTTP, r.Address)
 	}
-	return http.DefaultClient
+	return waiting(http.DefaultClient, r.Address)
 }
 
 // separator is whether the upload location already carries a query.

internal/builder/registry_wait.go

@@ -0,0 +1,137 @@
+package builder
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"net/http"
+	"strings"
+	"syscall"
+	"time"
+)
+
+// A build waits out a registry that refuses connections, for a bounded time (novox/hq issue 457).
+//
+// **Why waiting, and why here.** The store's nightly collection holds the registry still for its run —
+// about a minute and a half, measured on 2026-10-11 — and a build that reached the registry in that
+// window failed on "connection refused", and its whole delivery plan with it: a plan failed for a
+// pause the mesh itself scheduled. The other design weighed was the collection telling the controller
+// it holds the registry, and the controller holding build asks while it runs. Waiting here is smaller
+// and covers more: it is local to the one place that talks to the registry, needs no new message
+// between modules, and also carries a build over any other short outage — a registry restarted by its
+// own update, say. A refusal is the one error waited for: nothing was sent, so trying again cannot
+// do anything twice, and it is what a registry that is stopped answers.
+//
+// **Bounded, and loud past the bound.** registryWait is longer than the collection holds the registry
+// (five minutes against about one and a half), so the pause the mesh schedules is always waited out,
+// and a registry that is really down still fails the build — saying how long it was refused — rather
+// than holding a build machine for ever. Every wait is said in the build's log, with why, and so is
+// the registry answering again.
+
+var (
+	// registryWait is how long a build waits for a registry that refuses, per call that found it so.
+	registryWait = 5 * time.Minute
+	// registryFirstPause is the first pause between tries; each pause doubles, up to registryMostPause.
+	registryFirstPause = time.Second
+)
+
+// registryMostPause is the longest pause between two tries: short enough that a build goes on within
+// seconds of the registry answering again.
+const registryMostPause = 10 * time.Second
+
+// refused is whether an error is a connection refused: from a dial here, or as a command such as docker
+// said it in its output.
+func refused(err error) bool {
+	return err != nil && (errors.Is(err, syscall.ECONNREFUSED) || strings.Contains(err.Error(), "connection refused"))
+}
+
+// waitForRegistry runs try, and while it fails because the registry at address refuses connections,
+// tries again with a growing pause until registryWait has passed. what names the call, for the log.
+func waitForRegistry(ctx context.Context, address, what string, try func() error) error {
+	err := try()
+	if !refused(err) {
+		return err
+	}
+	started := time.Now()
+	pause := registryFirstPause
+	tell("registry", "%s: refused; the build waits for the registry at %s, for up to %s — it is held still while "+
+		"the store's nightly collection runs, about a minute and a half (novox/hq issue 457)",
+		what, address, registryWait)
+	for {
+		left := registryWait - time.Since(started)
+		if left <= 0 {
+			tell("registry", "%s: the registry at %s still refuses after %s; the build fails", what, address,
+				time.Since(started).Round(time.Second))
+			return fmt.Errorf("the registry at %s refused every connection for %s, longer than its nightly "+
+				"collection holds it still, so it is down, not paused: %w",
+				address, time.Since(started).Round(time.Millisecond), err)
+		}
+		wait := min(pause, left)
+		select {
+		case <-ctx.Done():
+			return fmt.Errorf("stopped while waiting for the registry at %s: %w (last: %v)", address, ctx.Err(), err)
+		case <-time.After(wait):
+		}
+		pause = min(pause*2, registryMostPause)
+		if err = try(); !refused(err) {
+			// Said as it is: the registry answering is only the build going on when the call worked.
+			if err == nil {
+				tell("registry", "%s: the registry at %s answers again after %s; the build goes on", what, address,
+					time.Since(started).Round(time.Millisecond))
+			} else {
+				tell("registry", "%s: the registry at %s no longer refuses after %s, and answered with: %v", what,
+					address, time.Since(started).Round(time.Millisecond), err)
+			}
+			return err
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// waitingTransport waits for the registry on every request to it, and on none to anywhere else: the
+// same client copies from upstream registries, whose refusals are theirs to answer.
+type waitingTransport struct {
+	base    http.RoundTripper
+	address string
+}
+
+func (t waitingTransport) RoundTrip(request *http.Request) (*http.Response, error) {
+	if request.URL.Host != t.address {
+		return t.base.RoundTrip(request)
+	}
+	var response *http.Response
+	tries := 0
+	err := waitForRegistry(request.Context(), t.address, request.Method+" "+request.URL.Path, func() error {
+		attempt := request
+		if tries > 0 && request.Body != nil && request.Body != http.NoBody {
+			// A body is sent again only when it can be read again; one that cannot is not retried.
+			if request.GetBody == nil {
+				return fmt.Errorf("%s %s cannot be sent again: its body cannot be read twice", request.Method, request.URL)
+			}
+			body, err := request.GetBody()
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+			attempt = request.Clone(request.Context())
+			attempt.Body = body
+		}
+		tries++
+		var err error
+		response, err = t.base.RoundTrip(attempt)
+		return err
+	})
+	return response, err
+}
+
+// waiting is a client like c whose requests to the registry wait for it.
+func waiting(c *http.Client, address string) *http.Client {
+	if _, already := c.Transport.(waitingTransport); already {
+		return c
+	}
+	copied := *c
+	base := c.Transport
+	if base == nil {
+		base = http.DefaultTransport
+	}
+	copied.Transport = waitingTransport{base: base, address: address}
+	return &copied
+}

internal/builder/registry_wait_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,154 @@
+package builder
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"crypto/sha256"
+	"encoding/hex"
+	"net"
+	"net/http"
+	"strings"
+	"sync"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+)
+
+// A registry held still for a while (novox/hq issue 457): the store's nightly collection stops it for
+// about a minute and a half, and a build in that window was failed, and its whole plan with it, for a
+// pause the mesh itself scheduled. A build waits it out — for a bound longer than the collection
+// holds it — says so in its log, and still fails, loudly, past the bound.
+
+// heldStill is a registry address that refuses every connection until it starts answering after
+// pause, or never when pause is negative.
+func heldStill(t *testing.T, f *fakeRegistry, pause time.Duration) string {
+	t.Helper()
+	handler := f.serve(t).Config.Handler
+	reserved, err := net.Listen("tcp", "127.0.0.1:0")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	address := reserved.Addr().String()
+	reserved.Close() // refused from here on: nothing listens
+	if pause < 0 {
+		return address
+	}
+	server := &http.Server{Handler: handler}
+	go func() {
+		time.Sleep(pause)
+		l, err := net.Listen("tcp", address)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Errorf("cannot answer at %s again: %v", address, err)
+			return
+		}
+		_ = server.Serve(l)
+	}()
+	t.Cleanup(func() { _ = server.Close() })
+	return address
+}
+
+// saying collects what a build says, as the build machine's per-build Said does.
+func saying(t *testing.T) func() []string {
+	t.Helper()
+	var mu sync.Mutex
+	var lines []string
+	was := Said
+	Said = func(step, message string) {
+		mu.Lock()
+		defer mu.Unlock()
+		lines = append(lines, step+": "+message)
+	}
+	t.Cleanup(func() { Said = was })
+	return func() []string {
+		mu.Lock()
+		defer mu.Unlock()
+		return append([]string(nil), lines...)
+	}
+}
+
+// waitingFor shortens the bound and the first pause, so a test waits for milliseconds.
+func waitingFor(t *testing.T, bound time.Duration) {
+	t.Helper()
+	wasBound, wasFirst := registryWait, registryFirstPause
+	registryWait, registryFirstPause = bound, 20*time.Millisecond
+	t.Cleanup(func() { registryWait, registryFirstPause = wasBound, wasFirst })
+}
+
+func TestABuildWaitsForARegistryHeldStillAndGoesOn(t *testing.T) {
+	waitingFor(t, 5*time.Second)
+	said := saying(t)
+	f := &fakeRegistry{}
+	r := Registry{Address: heldStill(t, f, 400*time.Millisecond)}
+	body := []byte("a theme")
+	sum := sha256.Sum256(body)
+	digest := "sha256:" + hex.EncodeToString(sum[:])
+
+	if _, err := r.PublishArchive(context.Background(), "shell/config", body, digest); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("a registry refusing for 400ms failed the build: %v", err)
+	}
+	if string(f.blobs[digest]) != "a theme" {
+		t.Fatalf("the registry holds %q", f.blobs[digest])
+	}
+	log := strings.Join(said(), "\n")
+	if !strings.Contains(log, "waits for the registry at "+r.Address) || !strings.Contains(log, "nightly collection") {
+		t.Errorf("the build's log does not say it waited for the registry, and why:\n%s", log)
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(log, "answers again") {
+		t.Errorf("the build's log does not say the registry came back:\n%s", log)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestABuildFailsLoudlyOnARegistryRefusingPastTheBound(t *testing.T) {
+	waitingFor(t, 300*time.Millisecond)
+	said := saying(t)
+	f := &fakeRegistry{}
+	r := Registry{Address: heldStill(t, f, -1)}
+	body := []byte("a theme")
+	sum := sha256.Sum256(body)
+	digest := "sha256:" + hex.EncodeToString(sum[:])
+
+	started := time.Now()
+	_, err := r.PublishArchive(context.Background(), "shell/config", body, digest)
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("a registry that never answered published the archive")
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "refused every connection for") || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "connection refused") {
+		t.Errorf("the failure does not say it waited and was refused throughout: %v", err)
+	}
+	if waited := time.Since(started); waited < 300*time.Millisecond {
+		t.Errorf("failed after %s, before the bound", waited)
+	}
+	if log := strings.Join(said(), "\n"); !strings.Contains(log, "waits for the registry") {
+		t.Errorf("the build's log does not say it waited:\n%s", log)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestAnImagePushWaitsForARegistryHeldStill(t *testing.T) {
+	waitingFor(t, 5*time.Second)
+	said := saying(t)
+	pushes := 0
+	run := func(_ context.Context, _ string, name string, args ...string) (string, error) {
+		switch args[0] {
+		case "push":
+			pushes++
+			if pushes < 3 {
+				return "", errorString("docker push: dial tcp 127.0.0.1:5000: connect: connection refused")
+			}
+		case "inspect":
+			return "127.0.0.1:5000/m/server@sha256:abc\n", nil
+		}
+		return "", nil
+	}
+	r := Registry{Address: "127.0.0.1:5000", Run: run}
+	if _, err := r.PublishImage(context.Background(), "local", "m/server"); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("a push refused twice failed the build: %v", err)
+	}
+	if pushes != 3 {
+		t.Errorf("pushed %d times, want 3", pushes)
+	}
+	if log := strings.Join(said(), "\n"); !strings.Contains(log, "waits for the registry") {
+		t.Errorf("the build's log does not say it waited:\n%s", log)
+	}
+}
+
+type errorString string
+
+func (e errorString) Error() string { return string(e) }

internal/inventory/people_test.go

@@ -44,15 +44,17 @@ func TestAPersonMayCallToolsAndNothingElse(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 		// The one tool, both ways it is addressed (novox/hq ADR 0159): to whichever instance
 		// answers, and to the instance on one machine. Nothing else.
-		// And asking what answers (novox/hq ADR 0197), which claims nothing and calls nothing.
+		// And asking what answers (novox/hq ADR 0197), which claims nothing and calls nothing. Each way again
+		// naming ada as the caller and nobody else (novox/hq issue 365).
 		var tools []string
 		for _, s := range perms.Publish {
 			if !strings.HasPrefix(s, "$SRV.") {
 				tools = append(tools, s)
 			}
 		}
-		if len(tools) != 2 || tools[0] != "mesh.mod.mesh-catalog.tool.catalog_tools" ||
-			tools[1] != "mesh.mod.mesh-catalog.tool.catalog_tools.*" {
+		want := []string{"mesh.mod.mesh-catalog.call.catalog_tools.*.person~ada", "mesh.mod.mesh-catalog.call.catalog_tools.person~ada",
+			"mesh.mod.mesh-catalog.tool.catalog_tools", "mesh.mod.mesh-catalog.tool.catalog_tools.*"}
+		if strings.Join(tools, " ") != strings.Join(want, " ") {
 			t.Errorf("ada may publish %v, which should be the one tool, both ways addressed, and nothing else", perms.Publish)
 		}
 		for _, s := range perms.Publish {