Merge pull request '57/K2: The controller reads, judges against and keeps the catalogue's list of predefined keys (issue 661)' (#323) from pkg/57-k2-predefined-keys into feat/57-config-and-provisioning

Placed above the lines both branches added at the end of the file, so the pull request merges into feat/57-config-and-provisioning without a conflict and the merged list is the union of both.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>

cmd/mesh-builder/main.go

@@ -332,6 +332,12 @@ func answer(ctx context.Context, publisher builder.Publisher, on, workspace stri
 				result.Check.Members = append(result.Check.Members, link.CheckedMember{Owner: m.Owner, Repo: m.Repo,
 					Commit: m.Head, Trunk: m.Trunk})
 			}
+			// A branch tried before its pull request reads its outcome from this log, whole (novox/hq issue 686).
+			if request.Check.Try {
+				if line, err := json.Marshal(triedOf(v)); err == nil {
+					say(link.StepTried, string(line))
+				}
+			}
 		}
 	} else if err == nil {
 		// The package-registry credential is a build input, so it is resolved before the clone: a
@@ -418,6 +424,11 @@ func answer(ctx context.Context, publisher builder.Publisher, on, workspace stri
 			for _, s := range built.Sources {
 				result.Sources = append(result.Sources, link.BuildSource{Repository: s.Repository, Ref: s.Ref, Paths: s.Paths})
 			}
+			// The list of predefined keys the manifest was judged against, for the controller to publish
+			// (novox/hq ADR 0348 §7).
+			if p := built.Predefined; p != nil {
+				result.Predefined = &link.PredefinedList{Keys: p.Keys, Generation: p.Generation}
+			}
 			say("built", built.Manifest.Module+" from "+short(built.Commit))
 		}
 	}
@@ -457,7 +468,8 @@ func checkSpecOf(request link.BuildRequest) builder.CheckSpec {
 	spec := builder.CheckSpec{ID: request.ID, Repository: request.Repository, Ref: request.Ref,
 		Owner: c.Owner, Repo: c.Repo, Number: c.Number, Paths: c.Paths, Beside: map[string]builder.Beside{},
 		Modules: c.Modules, New: c.New, Manifests: c.Manifests, Judge: c.Judge, Base: c.Base,
-		Toolchain: builder.ToolchainOf(request.Held), Toolchains: builder.ToolchainsOf(request.Held)}
+		Toolchain: builder.ToolchainOf(request.Held), Toolchains: builder.ToolchainsOf(request.Held),
+		Tests: c.Tests, StoreOnly: c.StoreOnly}
 	for dir, b := range c.Beside {
 		spec.Beside[dir] = builder.Beside{Repository: b.Repository, Ref: b.Ref}
 	}
@@ -472,6 +484,23 @@ func checkSpecOf(request link.BuildRequest) builder.CheckSpec {
 	return spec
 }
 
+// triedOf is a try's outcome as its log line says it (novox/hq issue 686): the repository's own check's verdict,
+// or the check's where that did not run — a head that does not merge — and the lines naming what failed.
+func triedOf(v builder.CheckVerdict) link.Tried {
+	t := link.Tried{Verdict: v.Verdict, Summary: v.Summary, Took: v.Took.Round(time.Second).String(),
+		Head: v.Head, Trunk: v.Trunk}
+	if v.Repo != nil && (v.Gate == nil || v.Gate.Verdict == "pass") {
+		t.Verdict, t.Summary = v.Repo.Verdict, v.Repo.Summary
+	}
+	if v.Repo != nil && v.Repo.Failed != "" {
+		t.Failed = strings.Split(v.Repo.Failed, "\n")
+	}
+	if t.Verdict == "" {
+		t.Verdict = "error"
+	}
+	return t
+}
+
 // checkBuiltOf is a check's builds for its merge as the outcome carries them (novox/hq ADR 0350 §1).
 func checkBuiltOf(built []builder.CheckBuilt) []link.CheckBuilt {
 	var out []link.CheckBuilt

cmd/mesh-builder/tried_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/novox/mesh-controller/internal/builder"
+)
+
+// A try's outcome, as the build seat says it in the build's log (novox/hq issue 686): the repository's own
+// check's verdict, how long it took, and each line naming what failed.
+func TestATrysOutcomeNamesWhatFailed(t *testing.T) {
+	tried := triedOf(builder.CheckVerdict{Verdict: "pass", Summary: "the change touches no module", Took: 303 * time.Second,
+		Head: "c0ffee", Trunk: "ca3f43c", Gate: &builder.Layer{Verdict: "pass"},
+		Repo: &builder.Layer{Verdict: "fail", Summary: "its merge-check.sh failed: TestX",
+			Failed: "--- FAIL: TestX (0.01s)\n    x_test.go:12: got 1, want 2"}})
+	if tried.Verdict != "fail" || tried.Took != "5m3s" || len(tried.Failed) != 2 || tried.Trunk != "ca3f43c" ||
+		tried.Summary != "its merge-check.sh failed: TestX" {
+		t.Fatalf("a failed try: %+v", tried)
+	}
+	// A head that does not merge fails both layers: the check's own word.
+	conflict := triedOf(builder.CheckVerdict{Verdict: "fail", Summary: "does not merge", Gate: &builder.Layer{Verdict: "fail"},
+		Repo: &builder.Layer{Verdict: "fail", Summary: "does not merge"}})
+	if conflict.Verdict != "fail" || conflict.Summary != "does not merge" {
+		t.Fatalf("a try that does not merge: %+v", conflict)
+	}
+	// No verdict is an error, never a pass.
+	if none := triedOf(builder.CheckVerdict{}); none.Verdict != "error" {
+		t.Fatalf("a try with no verdict: %+v", none)
+	}
+}

cmd/mesh-controller/adoption.go

@@ -424,8 +424,9 @@ func comparisonOf(module string, c comparison, opts takeOptions) (preview string
 	}
 	// And its settings on this machine, composed against its definition (rule 1, rule 6).
 	for _, layer := range c.layers {
-		keys := make([]string, 0, len(layer.Values))
-		for k := range layer.Values {
+		said := layer.Whole()
+		keys := make([]string, 0, len(said))
+		for k := range said {
 			keys = append(keys, k)
 		}
 		sort.Strings(keys)

cmd/mesh-controller/build.go

@@ -183,8 +183,10 @@ func buildFrom(result link.BuildResult) inventory.Build {
 	kept.Manifest = recordedManifest(result.Manifest, announced)
 	// The module name comes from the manifest, which only exists when the build got that far.
 	if len(kept.Manifest) > 0 {
-		if m, err := catalogue.ParseManifest(kept.Manifest); err == nil {
-			kept.Module = m.Module
+		if list, err := judgedWith(result); err == nil {
+			if m, err := catalogue.ParseManifestWith(kept.Manifest, list); err == nil {
+				kept.Module = m.Module
+			}
 		}
 	}
 	return kept
@@ -603,6 +605,11 @@ func saysWhenThePolicyActs(ctx context.Context, inv *inventory.Inventory, module
 // written with the same values.
 func takeIn(ctx context.Context, inv *inventory.Inventory, result link.BuildResult) (
 	catalogue.Manifest, inventory.Build, error) {
+	// The list of predefined keys as the store keeps it now: another controller process may have kept a newer one.
+	if err := loadPredefined(ctx, inv); err != nil {
+		return catalogue.Manifest{}, inventory.Build{}, fmt.Errorf("the list of predefined keys kept cannot be "+
+			"read: %w", err)
+	}
 	kept := buildFrom(result)
 	if err := inv.RecordBuild(ctx, kept); err != nil {
 		return catalogue.Manifest{}, kept, err
@@ -613,7 +620,15 @@ func takeIn(ctx context.Context, inv *inventory.Inventory, result link.BuildResu
 		return catalogue.Manifest{}, kept, fmt.Errorf("%s could not build %s:\n%s",
 			result.On, result.Repository, result.Failed)
 	}
-	manifest, err := catalogue.ParseManifest(kept.Manifest)
+	// Judged first against the list the build was judged against: the catalogue's at the commit built (novox/hq
+	// ADR 0348 §7), so a module naming a key its own commit adds is read; and again below against the list the
+	// mesh publishes, before it is registered.
+	list, err := judgedWith(result)
+	if err != nil {
+		return catalogue.Manifest{}, kept, fmt.Errorf("%s built %s (%s), recorded and not registered: %w", result.On,
+			result.Repository, short(result.Commit), err)
+	}
+	manifest, err := catalogue.ParseManifestWith(kept.Manifest, list)
 	if err != nil {
 		return catalogue.Manifest{}, kept, fmt.Errorf("%s built %s and what came back is not a manifest: %w",
 			result.On, result.Repository, err)
@@ -687,6 +702,23 @@ func takeIn(ctx context.Context, inv *inventory.Inventory, result link.BuildResu
 			"back: it is recorded and not registered again — a newer build is", result.On, manifest.Module,
 			short(result.Commit))
 	}
+	// **The newest trunk build's list of predefined keys is published** (novox/hq ADR 0348 §7): a build of the
+	// catalogue that may be registered keeps its list when its commit is newer than the one kept. Then the module
+	// is judged against the list the mesh publishes, as every manifest read again is: one naming a key that list
+	// does not hold, or of another type, is refused here and never enters the catalogue.
+	if carried, err := carriedList(result); err != nil {
+		return manifest, kept, err
+	} else if carried != nil {
+		if err := publishPredefined(ctx, inv, result, carried); err != nil {
+			fmt.Printf("%s: the list of predefined keys it carried is not published: %v\n", result.ID, err)
+		}
+	}
+	if manifest.NamesPredefined() {
+		if _, err := catalogue.ParseManifest(kept.Manifest); err != nil {
+			return manifest, kept, fmt.Errorf("%s built %s (%s), recorded and not registered: judged against the "+
+				"list of predefined keys the mesh publishes, %w", result.On, manifest.Module, short(result.Commit), err)
+		}
+	}
 	// **A build whose source is unchanged is never a move** (novox/hq issue 280): a rebuild made from
 	// what the build the mesh stands on was made from registers that build's artifacts at the new
 	// commit, so no machine is sent a new digest for a source nobody changed — an image is not

cmd/mesh-controller/check.go

@@ -47,6 +47,24 @@ func moduleCheckFor(paths []string, longestMachine int, out io.Writer) error {
 	shelf := catalogue.Shelf{}
 	faulted := map[string]bool{}
 	failed := 0
+	// The list of predefined keys at the root of the repository above each manifest (novox/hq ADR 0348 §7), read
+	// once per repository: a manifest naming a key is judged against the list its own tree holds.
+	lists := map[string]catalogue.PredefinedList{}
+	listOf := func(path string) (catalogue.PredefinedList, error) {
+		root := catalogue.RepositoryRoot(filepath.Dir(path))
+		if root == "" {
+			return nil, nil
+		}
+		if list, read := lists[root]; read {
+			return list, nil
+		}
+		list, err := catalogue.ReadPredefined(root)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		lists[root] = list
+		return list, nil
+	}
 	for _, path := range paths {
 		raw, err := os.ReadFile(path)
 		if err != nil {
@@ -54,7 +72,18 @@ func moduleCheckFor(paths []string, longestMachine int, out io.Writer) error {
 			failed++
 			continue
 		}
-		m, err := catalogue.ParseManifest(raw)
+		list, err := listOf(path)
+		if err != nil {
+			fmt.Fprintf(out, "%s: %v\n", path, err)
+			failed++
+			continue
+		}
+		m, err := catalogue.ParseManifestWith(raw, list)
+		if err == nil {
+			// Each template's text read from the tree beside the manifest, and judged as inline content is
+			// (novox/hq ADR 0349 §2): a missing template is refused by name.
+			m, err = catalogue.WithTemplatesFrom(m, filepath.Dir(path))
+		}
 		if err != nil {
 			fmt.Fprintf(out, "%s: %v\n", path, err)
 			failed++

cmd/mesh-controller/facts.go

@@ -348,11 +348,11 @@ func gatherFacts(ctx context.Context, open *stores, busVersion string) (snapshot
 				if layer.From == catalogue.MeshWideLayer {
 					if !meshWide[module] {
 						meshWide[module] = true
-						f.Settings = append(f.Settings, snapshot.Settings{Module: module, Values: scrub.Values(layer.Values)})
+						f.Settings = append(f.Settings, snapshot.Settings{Module: module, Values: scrub.Values(layer.Whole())})
 					}
 					continue
 				}
-				m.Settings = append(m.Settings, snapshot.Settings{Module: module, Values: scrub.Values(layer.Values)})
+				m.Settings = append(m.Settings, snapshot.Settings{Module: module, Values: scrub.Values(layer.Whole())})
 			}
 		}
 		m.Declaration = declarationFacts(ctx, open, n.Name, gens, gensErr, scrub)

cmd/mesh-controller/gate.go

@@ -1443,6 +1443,12 @@ func probeGates(ctx context.Context, d *doctor) ([]conditions.Observation, error
 	}
 	// A release held after a failed one, while builds still wait for a gate (ADR 0236).
 	out = append(out, backlogObservation()...)
+	// And a rest that went silent (novox/hq ADR 0353 §4).
+	silent, err := silentObservation(ctx, d.open.inventory)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	out = append(out, silent...)
 	return sortedFound(dedupeObservations(out)), nil
 }
 
@@ -1532,6 +1538,12 @@ func gateLine(g *inventory.PlanGate) string {
 	case inventory.GateFailed:
 		what = "FAILED"
 	}
+	switch {
+	case g.Verdict == "" && g.Pending:
+		what = "kept, not yet sent" // novox/hq ADR 0353 §8
+	case g.Verdict == "" && g.Silent:
+		what = "silent on its send, left" // ADR 0353 §4
+	}
 	if g.Verdict == "" && g.Waiting() {
 		what = "waits for a busy container on " + g.Busy.Machine
 	}

cmd/mesh-controller/held_back.go

@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ func heldMachines(ctx context.Context, open *stores, names []string) (map[string
 		for _, mv := range f.moves(node, modules, same, known, false) {
 			if planStillToSend(plans, mv.Module, node) == "" {
 				why = append(why, fmt.Sprintf("%s would move from %s to %s, which has passed no gate yet — a release "+
-					"plan sends it, one machine at a time, judged", mv.Module, buildName(mv.From), buildName(mv.To)))
+					"plan sends it, one machine first and then the rest at once, judged", mv.Module, buildName(mv.From), buildName(mv.To)))
 			}
 		}
 		if len(why) > 0 {

cmd/mesh-controller/issue648_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,87 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/novox/mesh-controller/internal/catalogue"
+	"github.com/novox/mesh-controller/internal/inventory"
+)
+
+// A tier whose module is no move — made from the source every machine running it runs, so nothing is
+// sent — is not waited on for a report after its marking (novox/hq issue 648). Its machines answered the
+// send that last carried that build before the walk got there, and nothing will make them report again:
+// the walk asks the next tier in the same step, rather than "waiting for app on anchor, laptop" for ever.
+func TestANoMoveTierWaitsForNoNewReport(t *testing.T) {
+	judgeLeavesAsTheCore(t)
+	g := aGateMesh(t)
+	ctx := t.Context()
+	inv := g.open.inventory
+
+	// app is the build machine, so a module of the next tier is built by it: the tier gates the next on app
+	// running on its machines.
+	for _, m := range []catalogue.Manifest{
+		{Module: "app", Version: "c2", Claims: []catalogue.Claim{{Name: "node-build-agent", Scope: catalogue.ScopeNode}}},
+		{Module: "web", Version: "w1"},
+	} {
+		if err := inv.RegisterModule(ctx, m, inventory.Source{Repository: "novox/mesh-catalog", Seat: "git",
+			Path: "modules/" + m.Module, BuiltFrom: m.Version, Head: m.Version, Asked: time.Now().Add(-time.Minute)}); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+	}
+	// What anchor and laptop were last sent (c1) was made from the source the plan's build of c2 is.
+	for _, b := range []inventory.Build{
+		{ID: "build-1s", Module: "app", Commit: "c1", SourceFingerprint: "src1:app",
+			Asked: time.Now().Add(-30 * time.Second), At: time.Now().Add(-30 * time.Second)},
+		{ID: "build-2s", Module: "app", Commit: "c2", SourceFingerprint: "src1:app", Asked: time.Now(), At: time.Now()},
+	} {
+		b.Manifest, _ = json.Marshal(catalogue.Manifest{Module: "app", Version: "1"})
+		if err := inv.RecordBuild(ctx, b); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+	}
+	// Each machine answered that send, applied, before the walk's tier was built.
+	for _, n := range []string{"anchor", "laptop"} {
+		if _, err := inv.RecordDoing(ctx, nodeID(t, g.open, n), inventory.Doing{Node: n,
+			Outcome: inventory.OutcomeApplied, Declared: "d-" + n + "-c1", Applied: 1,
+			At: time.Now().Add(-10 * time.Second)}); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+	}
+	built := time.Now().UTC()
+	p := g.plan(t)
+	p.Tiers = [][]string{{"app"}, {"web"}}
+	p.Modules["app"].Build, p.Modules["app"].BuiltAt = "build-2s", &built
+	if err := inv.SavePlan(ctx, &p); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	advancePlans(ctx, g.open)
+
+	if len(g.sent) != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("a no-move build was sent: %v", g.sent)
+	}
+	p = g.plan(t)
+	if s := p.Modules["app"]; s == nil || !strings.HasPrefix(s.Why, "no move") {
+		t.Fatalf("the build was not marked no move: %+v", s)
+	}
+	if p.Tier < 1 || strings.Contains(p.Note, "waiting for app") {
+		t.Fatalf("the walk waits on a no-move tier for a report nothing will cause: tier %d, %s %q", p.Tier, p.State, p.Note)
+	}
+
+	// A machine that has not answered its last send is still waited on: no move is not "never sent".
+	p.Tier, p.State, p.Note = 0, inventory.PlanRolling, ""
+	if err := inv.RecordSent(ctx, nodeID(t, g.open, "laptop"), "d-laptop-later", map[string]string{"app": "c1"}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if err := inv.SavePlan(ctx, &p); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	advancePlans(ctx, g.open)
+	p = g.plan(t)
+	if p.Tier != 0 || !strings.Contains(p.Note, "waiting for app on laptop") {
+		t.Fatalf("a machine that has not answered its last send was not waited on: tier %d, %q", p.Tier, p.Note)
+	}
+}

cmd/mesh-controller/main.go

@@ -106,6 +106,8 @@ func run() error {
 		return killCommand(ctx, args[1:])
 	case "forget-checks":
 		return forgetChecksCommand(ctx, args[1:])
+	case "try":
+		return tryCommand(ctx, args[1:])
 	case "pause", "resume":
 		return pauseCommand(ctx, args[0], args[1:])
 	case "collection":
@@ -381,6 +383,13 @@ func (b builds) Built(ctx context.Context, result link.BuildResult) error {
 	// **A merge check builds nothing** (novox/hq to-be 45 §9): its verdict is said, and nothing of it is
 	// recorded or registered.
 	if result.Check != nil || result.Checked != nil {
+		if isTry(result) {
+			// A branch tried before its pull request (novox/hq issue 686): its asker reads the outcome from the
+			// build's log. Never said as `checked`, so the forge's holder sets no status.
+			fmt.Printf("%s: a try of %s at %.8s, read with `try --id`: said to nobody, nothing taken in\n", result.ID,
+				result.Repository, result.Ref)
+			return nil
+		}
 		checked(ctx, result)
 		return nil
 	}

cmd/mesh-controller/merge_gate.go

@@ -550,8 +550,17 @@ func shelfWithChange(base map[string]catalogue.Manifest, sources map[string]inve
 		out[k] = m
 	}
 	var failures []string
+	// The list of predefined keys at the tree's root (novox/hq ADR 0348 §7): what the build of this tree judges each
+	// manifest against and registration publishes, so what the gate judges each against too. A list that is
+	// wrong is refused by name, and every manifest is then judged against none.
+	predefined, err := catalogue.ReadPredefined(tree)
+	if err != nil {
+		failures = append(failures, fmt.Sprintf("%s: the controller judging this (%s) refuses it — %s",
+			catalogue.PredefinedFile, version, oneLine(err.Error())))
+		predefined = nil
+	}
 	found := map[string]string{} // module → its directory in the tree
-	err := filepath.WalkDir(tree, func(path string, d fs.DirEntry, err error) error {
+	err = filepath.WalkDir(tree, func(path string, d fs.DirEntry, err error) error {
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
@@ -575,7 +584,12 @@ func shelfWithChange(base map[string]catalogue.Manifest, sources map[string]inve
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
-		m, err := catalogue.ParseManifest(raw)
+		m, err := catalogue.ParseManifestWith(raw, predefined)
+		if err == nil {
+			// Each template's text from the tree beside the manifest, as the build reads it back from the archive it
+			// packs (novox/hq ADR 0349 §2): so a change to a template alone is a change to its module.
+			m, err = catalogue.WithTemplatesFrom(m, filepath.Dir(path))
+		}
 		if err != nil {
 			if inScope(dir) {
 				failures = append(failures, fmt.Sprintf("%s: the controller judging this (%s) refuses it — %s",
@@ -605,7 +619,7 @@ func shelfWithChange(base map[string]catalogue.Manifest, sources map[string]inve
 			// As registration reads a built manifest: strictly, again (takeIn).
 			var raw []byte
 			if raw, err = json.Marshal(resolved); err == nil {
-				resolved, err = catalogue.ParseManifest(raw)
+				resolved, err = catalogue.ParseManifestWith(raw, predefined)
 			}
 		}
 		if err == nil {

cmd/mesh-controller/mesh_for_test.go

@@ -33,7 +33,21 @@ import (
 func aMesh(t *testing.T) *stores {
 	t.Helper()
 	inventory.ForTest(t) // raises the store, migrates it, and points the environment at it
-	licences.ForTest(t)  // planning reaches this one too, by name and never by connection
+	return aMeshOnTheStore(t)
+}
+
+// aMeshBefore is aMesh on a store migrated only below migration `number`, with the function that runs the
+// rest: for a test of what a migration that moves data does to what the mesh composes (novox/hq issue 651).
+func aMeshBefore(t *testing.T, number int) (*stores, func()) {
+	t.Helper()
+	_, migrate := inventory.ForTestBefore(t, number)
+	return aMeshOnTheStore(t), migrate
+}
+
+// aMeshOnTheStore is the mesh aMesh makes, on the store the environment points at.
+func aMeshOnTheStore(t *testing.T) *stores {
+	t.Helper()
+	licences.ForTest(t) // planning reaches this one too, by name and never by connection
 
 	open, err := openStores(t.Context())
 	if err != nil {

cmd/mesh-controller/modules.go

@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"net"
 	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
 	"sort"
 	"strings"
 	"time"
@@ -127,6 +128,10 @@ func moduleCommand(ctx context.Context, args []string) error {
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
+		// A manifest handed over by hand takes each template's text from the tree beside it (novox/hq ADR 0349 §2).
+		if m, err = catalogue.WithTemplatesFrom(m, filepath.Dir(positionals[0])); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
 		from, err := whereItComesFrom(*repo, *ref, *commit, *path, *self)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
@@ -537,6 +542,10 @@ func settingsCommand(ctx context.Context, args []string) error {
 				if p.SetBy != "" {
 					by = "; " + p.SetBy
 				}
+				if p.Why != "" {
+					// A layer whose placement moved out of it (migration 0097): still the layer, as it stands.
+					by += "; " + p.Why
+				}
 				fmt.Printf("%s on %s, until %s (%s%s):\n  %s\n", positionals[0], where,
 					p.ReplacedAt.Local().Format("2006-01-02 15:04:05"), p.ReplacedBy, by, shown)
 			}

cmd/mesh-controller/placement_moved_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,113 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"sort"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/novox/mesh-controller/internal/catalogue"
+)
+
+// **Placement leaves the settings layers and no machine is told anything new** (novox/hq ADR 0348 clause
+// 11, issue 651). A mesh is seeded as the store holds it before migration 0097 — `places`, `accesses` and a
+// kept network among the settings, at the mesh's level and a machine's, one layer of placement only — then
+// migrated, and every machine's declaration is composed. What each machine is told of the seeded modules is
+// byte for byte what the controller before this change composed from the same seed: the golden files were
+// written by the integration branch's controller at bfc79c6 running this same test (MESH_WRITE_GOLDEN=1),
+// where there was no migration 0097 to run.
+func TestADeclarationIsTheSameAfterPlacementMoves(t *testing.T) {
+	open, migrate := aMeshBefore(t, 97)
+	ctx := t.Context()
+	inv := open.inventory
+	image := "registry.invalid:5000/library@sha256:" + strings.Repeat("a", 64)
+	register(t, open, catalogue.Manifest{Module: "library", Version: "1",
+		Accesses: []catalogue.Access{{ID: "series"}, {ID: "downloads", Mode: catalogue.AccessRead}},
+		Resources: []map[string]any{
+			{"id": "config", "type": "directory", "mode": "0750"},
+			{"id": "server", "type": "container", "image": image,
+				"volumes": []any{"${dir:config}:/config", "${access:series}:/series", "${access:downloads}:/downloads:ro"}},
+			// Today's form: a mergeable file naming no keys takes every key of the layer (ADR 0326 §3).
+			{"id": "runtime-config", "type": "file", "path": "${dir:config}/runtime.json", "mode": "0640",
+				"content": `{"log":"info"}`, "merge": "json"},
+		}})
+	register(t, open, catalogue.Manifest{Module: "found", Version: "1",
+		Resources: []map[string]any{{"id": "server", "type": "container", "image": image}}})
+	if err := inv.SetAdopted(ctx, "anchor", true); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	for _, l := range []struct{ node, module, values string }{
+		{"", "library", `{"accesses": {"downloads": "/storage/downloads"}, "log": "warn"}`},
+		{"anchor", "library", `{"places": {"config": {"path": "/var/lib/library/config", "owner": "1001:2000"}},
+			"accesses": {"series": "/storage/media/series"}, "workers": 4}`},
+		{"laptop", "library", `{"accesses": {"series": "/home/media/series"}}`},
+		{"anchor", "found", `{"networks": {"server": ["predecessor_default"]}}`},
+	} {
+		if l.node == "" {
+			inv.ExecForTest(t, `insert into settings (node, module, values) values (null, $1, $2)`, l.module, l.values)
+			continue
+		}
+		inv.ExecForTest(t, `insert into settings (node, module, values) select id, $2, $3 from node where name = $1`,
+			l.node, l.module, l.values)
+	}
+
+	migrate()
+	// Assigned once the store is migrated: an assignment reads the layers, as this controller holds them.
+	for _, a := range [][]string{{"anchor", "library", "found"}, {"laptop", "library"}} {
+		if _, err := assign(ctx, open, a[0], a[1:]...); err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("assign %v: %v", a, err)
+		}
+	}
+
+	gens, err := generators(ctx, open)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	for _, node := range []string{"anchor", "laptop"} {
+		plan, settings, err := planFor(ctx, open, node)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		with, _, err := renderingFor(ctx, open, node, plan, settings, gens, Allocating)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		composed, err := plan.Compose(with)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		if len(composed.LeftOut) > 0 {
+			t.Fatalf("%s leaves out %v", node, composed.LeftOut)
+		}
+		var told []map[string]any
+		for _, r := range composed.Resources {
+			if owner := composed.Owner[r["id"].(string)]; owner == "library" || owner == "found" {
+				told = append(told, r)
+			}
+		}
+		sort.Slice(told, func(i, j int) bool { return told[i]["id"].(string) < told[j]["id"].(string) })
+		got, err := json.MarshalIndent(told, "", "  ")
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		golden := filepath.Join("testdata", "placement-moved", node+".json")
+		if os.Getenv("MESH_WRITE_GOLDEN") != "" {
+			if err := os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(golden), 0o755); err != nil {
+				t.Fatal(err)
+			}
+			if err := os.WriteFile(golden, append(got, '\n'), 0o644); err != nil {
+				t.Fatal(err)
+			}
+			continue
+		}
+		want, err := os.ReadFile(golden)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		if string(want) != string(got)+"\n" {
+			t.Errorf("%s is told something else after placement moved:\n%s\nwas:\n%s", node, got, want)
+		}
+	}
+}

cmd/mesh-controller/plain_words.go

@@ -456,6 +456,9 @@ var plainWordings = map[string]func(conditions.Observation) words{
 	"release-held": worded(func(o conditions.Observation) words {
 		return releaseHeldWords(nil, o.Also)
 	}),
+	"release-silent": worded(func(o conditions.Observation) words {
+		return releaseSilentWords(o.Also)
+	}),
 	"facts-stale": worded(func(o conditions.Observation) words {
 		return words{Headline: "Merge checks use outdated facts",
 			Explanation: "The facts a merge check judges a change against are out of date; they are gathered again " +
@@ -841,6 +844,19 @@ func releaseHeldWords(modules, machines []string) words {
 		Resolved: "Resolved: the held updates are released"}
 }
 
+// releaseSilentWords are the plain words of machines that said nothing on an update they were sent (ADR 0353 §4).
+func releaseSilentWords(machines []string) words {
+	where := "Some machines"
+	if len(machines) > 0 {
+		where = conditions.Capital(namesWords(machines, 4))
+	}
+	return words{Headline: "Machines did not answer an update",
+		Needs: "check that they are awake and on the mesh; the next walk sends them what waits.",
+		Explanation: where + " were sent module updates and said nothing about them within fifteen minutes, so " +
+			"they were left as they were. What they run is not known to be the update.",
+		Resolved: "Resolved: the next walk reached them"}
+}
+
 // reloginNeeds is what an account waiting for its groups needs (ADR 0252).
 func reloginNeeds(node string) string {
 	return fmt.Sprintf("log out of %s completely and log in again, or restart it.", node)

cmd/mesh-controller/predefined.go

@@ -0,0 +1,93 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"fmt"
+	"path"
+	"strings"
+
+	"github.com/novox/mesh-controller/internal/catalogue"
+	"github.com/novox/mesh-controller/internal/inventory"
+	"github.com/novox/mesh-controller/internal/link"
+)
+
+// The list of predefined keys the mesh publishes (novox/hq ADR 0348 §7, design 57 package K2, issue 661).
+//
+// **The newest trunk build of the catalogue wins.** A build of the catalogue reads predefined.json at the commit
+// it builds and carries it with the commit's generation (link.PredefinedList). Registration keeps it in the
+// controller's store when that generation is larger than the one kept (inventory.KeepPredefined), so an older
+// build's list heard later never replaces a newer one, and every manifest the controller reads again is judged
+// against the list kept (catalogue.UsePredefined). mesh-config publishes it on the bus from there (design 57
+// package K3); the controller keeps no config value, only the keys.
+
+// fromTheCatalogue is whether a build is of the catalogue's repository, whose list alone the mesh publishes: by
+// its name, in the URL form or the seat form.
+func fromTheCatalogue(result link.BuildResult) bool {
+	for _, repository := range []string{result.Repository, sourceRepository(result)} {
+		name := strings.TrimSuffix(path.Base(strings.TrimRight(repository, "/")), ".git")
+		if name == catalogue.CatalogueRepository {
+			return true
+		}
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
+func sourceRepository(result link.BuildResult) string {
+	if result.Source == nil {
+		return ""
+	}
+	return result.Source.Repository
+}
+
+// carriedList is the list a build of the catalogue carried, read strictly; nil for a build of another
+// repository, or one that carried none.
+func carriedList(result link.BuildResult) (catalogue.PredefinedList, error) {
+	if result.Predefined == nil || !fromTheCatalogue(result) {
+		return nil, nil
+	}
+	list, err := catalogue.ParsePredefined(result.Predefined.Keys)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%s carried a list of predefined keys that is refused: %w", result.ID, err)
+	}
+	return list, nil
+}
+
+// judgedWith is the list a build's manifest is first judged against at registration: the catalogue's own at the
+// commit built, which its build judged it against, where it carried one; the list kept otherwise.
+func judgedWith(result link.BuildResult) (catalogue.PredefinedList, error) {
+	list, err := carriedList(result)
+	if err != nil || list != nil {
+		return list, err
+	}
+	return catalogue.PublishedPredefined(), nil
+}
+
+// loadPredefined makes the list kept in the store the one this controller judges manifests against. A store
+// keeping none leaves the list it has.
+func loadPredefined(ctx context.Context, inv *inventory.Inventory) error {
+	kept, has, err := inv.PredefinedKept(ctx)
+	if err != nil || !has {
+		return err
+	}
+	catalogue.UsePredefined(kept.Keys)
+	return nil
+}
+
+// publishPredefined keeps a trunk build's list when it is newer than the one kept, says so, and loads what the
+// store keeps then — this build's, or a newer one another controller process kept.
+func publishPredefined(ctx context.Context, inv *inventory.Inventory, result link.BuildResult,
+	list catalogue.PredefinedList) error {
+	kept, err := inv.KeepPredefined(ctx, inventory.PredefinedRecord{Keys: list, Repository: result.Repository,
+		Commit: result.Commit, Generation: result.Predefined.Generation, Build: result.ID})
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	if kept {
+		fmt.Printf("%s: the list of predefined keys at %s (generation %d) is published: %s\n", result.ID,
+			short(result.Commit), result.Predefined.Generation, strings.Join(list.Keys(), ", "))
+	} else {
+		fmt.Printf("%s: the list of predefined keys at %s (generation %d) is not newer than the one kept, which "+
+			"stands\n", result.ID, short(result.Commit), result.Predefined.Generation)
+	}
+	return loadPredefined(ctx, inv)
+}

cmd/mesh-controller/predefined_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,197 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/novox/mesh-controller/internal/catalogue"
+	"github.com/novox/mesh-controller/internal/link"
+)
+
+// The list of predefined keys (novox/hq ADR 0348 §7, design 57 package K2, issue 661): `module check` and the
+// merge gate judge each manifest against the list at the root of its tree; registration publishes the newest
+// trunk build's list of the catalogue and judges every module against the list the mesh publishes.
+
+const theFirstKeys = `{
+  "font-size": {"type": "number", "description": "the size text is shown in, in points", "minimum": 6, "maximum": 72},
+  "agent-managed-settings": {"type": "object", "description": "the managed settings of every agent session, a JSON object", "trusted": true}
+}`
+
+// notifierFallingBackTo is the notifier in the config form, its font size falling back to the key named.
+func notifierFallingBackTo(key, kind string) string {
+	def := "10"
+	if kind == "string" {
+		def = `"10"`
+	}
+	return `{"module":"notifier","version":"1",
+  "config":{"font-size":{"type":"` + kind + `","description":"the notification's font size, in points",
+    "default":` + def + `,"predefined":"` + key + `"}},
+  "resources":[{"id":"conf","type":"file","path":"/etc/notifier/notifier.conf","mode":"0644",
+    "content":"font = ${config:font-size}\n"}]}`
+}
+
+// withoutAPublishedList judges the test against no list the mesh published, and puts the process's back after.
+func withoutAPublishedList(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Helper()
+	was := catalogue.ReplacePublished(nil)
+	t.Cleanup(func() { catalogue.ReplacePublished(was) })
+}
+
+// aRepositoryTree is a repository's checkout holding one module at modules/notifier, and the list when given.
+func aRepositoryTree(t *testing.T, manifest string, list *string) string {
+	t.Helper()
+	root := t.TempDir()
+	if err := os.Mkdir(filepath.Join(root, ".git"), 0o755); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if list != nil {
+		if err := os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(root, catalogue.PredefinedFile), []byte(*list), 0o644); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+	}
+	return aTemplatedModule(t, filepath.Join(root, "modules", "notifier"), manifest, nil)
+}
+
+func TestModuleCheckJudgesAManifestAgainstTheListAtItsRepositoryRoot(t *testing.T) {
+	withoutAPublishedList(t)
+	list := theFirstKeys
+	check := func(path string) (string, error) {
+		var out bytes.Buffer
+		err := moduleCheck([]string{path}, &out)
+		return out.String(), err
+	}
+	if out, err := check(aRepositoryTree(t, notifierFallingBackTo("font-size", "number"), &list)); err != nil ||
+		!strings.Contains(out, "notifier: ok") {
+		t.Fatalf("a module naming font-size was refused: %v\n%s", err, out)
+	}
+	for _, c := range []struct {
+		manifest string
+		list     *string
+		says     string
+	}{
+		{notifierFallingBackTo("font-scale", "number"), &list, `"font-scale", which is not on the list`},
+		{notifierFallingBackTo("font-size", "string"), &list, "which is a number, and this value is a string"},
+		{notifierFallingBackTo("font-size", "number"), nil, "is not present"},
+		{notifierFallingBackTo("font-size", "number"), ptr(`{"font-size": {"type": "number"}}`), "no description"},
+	} {
+		if out, err := check(aRepositoryTree(t, c.manifest, c.list)); err == nil || !strings.Contains(out, c.says) {
+			t.Errorf("wanted the check refused saying %q, got %v:\n%s", c.says, err, out)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func ptr(s string) *string { return &s }
+
+// writeTheList puts the list at the root of a tree the gate judges.
+func writeTheList(t *testing.T, tree, list string) string {
+	t.Helper()
+	if err := os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(tree, catalogue.PredefinedFile), []byte(list), 0o644); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	return tree
+}
+
+func TestTheMergeGateJudgesEachManifestAgainstTheListOfTheTree(t *testing.T) {
+	withoutAPublishedList(t)
+	f, manifests := templatedMesh(t)
+
+	v := gateJudged(t, f, writeTheList(t, aTree(t, withEdit(manifests, "notifier",
+		notifierFallingBackTo("font-size", "number"))), theFirstKeys), "modules/notifier/module.json")
+	if v.Verdict == "fail" || v.Modules["notifier"] != "changed" {
+		t.Fatalf("a module naming font-size on the tree's list failed the gate (%v):\n%s", v.Modules, v.Report())
+	}
+	for _, c := range []struct{ manifest, list, says string }{
+		{notifierFallingBackTo("font-scale", "number"), theFirstKeys, `"font-scale", which is not on the list`},
+		{notifierFallingBackTo("font-size", "string"), theFirstKeys, "which is a number"},
+		{inlineNotifier, `{"font-size": {"type": "number", "description": "points", "unit": "pt"}}`, `unknown field "unit"`},
+	} {
+		v := gateJudged(t, f, writeTheList(t, aTree(t, withEdit(manifests, "notifier", c.manifest)), c.list),
+			"modules/notifier/module.json", catalogue.PredefinedFile)
+		if v.Verdict != "fail" || !strings.Contains(v.Report(), c.says) {
+			t.Errorf("wanted the gate to fail saying %q:\n%s", c.says, v.Report())
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// catalogueBuild is a trunk build of the catalogue carrying the list at a generation.
+func catalogueBuild(id, manifest, list string, generation int) link.BuildResult {
+	r := link.BuildResult{ID: id, Repository: "http://forge.internal:20000/novox/mesh-catalog.git",
+		Path: "modules/notifier", Ref: "main", On: "anchor", Commit: strings.Repeat(id[len(id)-1:], 12),
+		Manifest: json.RawMessage(manifest), Source: &link.SourceOnSeat{Seat: "git", Repository: "novox/mesh-catalog"}}
+	if list != "" {
+		r.Predefined = &link.PredefinedList{Keys: json.RawMessage(list), Generation: generation}
+	}
+	return r
+}
+
+func TestRegistrationPublishesTheNewestTrunkListAndJudgesEveryModuleAgainstIt(t *testing.T) {
+	withoutAPublishedList(t)
+	open := aMesh(t)
+	ctx := t.Context()
+
+	// A manifest naming font-size registers, and its build's list is published.
+	if _, _, err := takeIn(ctx, open.inventory, asTheOperator(t, open.inventory,
+		catalogueBuild("b-1", notifierFallingBackTo("font-size", "number"), theFirstKeys, 10))); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("a module naming font-size was not registered: %v", err)
+	}
+	kept, has, err := open.inventory.PredefinedKept(ctx)
+	if err != nil || !has || kept.Generation != 10 || kept.Build != "b-1" {
+		t.Fatalf("the list was not published: %+v %v %v", kept, has, err)
+	}
+	if got := catalogue.PublishedPredefined(); len(got) != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("the controller judges against %v, not the list published", got)
+	}
+
+	// One naming a key not on the list, or of another type, is refused and never enters the catalogue.
+	for i, c := range []struct{ manifest, says string }{
+		{notifierFallingBackTo("font-scale", "number"), "not on the list"},
+		{notifierFallingBackTo("font-size", "string"), "which is a number"},
+	} {
+		id := []string{"b-2", "b-3"}[i]
+		if _, _, err := takeIn(ctx, open.inventory, catalogueBuild(id, c.manifest, theFirstKeys, 10)); err == nil ||
+			!strings.Contains(err.Error(), c.says) {
+			t.Errorf("wanted the registration refused saying %q, got %v", c.says, err)
+		}
+	}
+	src, err := open.inventory.SourceOf(ctx, "notifier")
+	if err != nil || src.BuiltFrom != strings.Repeat("1", 12) {
+		t.Fatalf("a refused build replaced the registered one: %+v %v", src, err)
+	}
+
+	// A newer build's list, which drops agent-managed-settings, replaces the published one.
+	smaller := `{"font-size": {"type": "number", "description": "points", "minimum": 6, "maximum": 72}}`
+	if _, _, err := takeIn(ctx, open.inventory, catalogueBuild("b-4",
+		notifierFallingBackTo("font-size", "number"), smaller, 12)); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	// The older build's outcome heard later registers nothing new about the list: the newer stands.
+	if _, _, err := takeIn(ctx, open.inventory, catalogueBuild("b-5",
+		notifierFallingBackTo("font-size", "number"), theFirstKeys, 11)); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	kept, _, _ = open.inventory.PredefinedKept(ctx)
+	if kept.Build != "b-4" || len(kept.Keys) != 1 || len(catalogue.PublishedPredefined()) != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("an older build's list heard later replaced the newer one: %+v", kept)
+	}
+
+	// A build of another repository publishes nothing, and its manifest is judged against the published list.
+	other := catalogueBuild("b-6", notifierFallingBackTo("font-size", "number"), theFirstKeys, 99)
+	other.Repository, other.Source.Repository = "http://forge.internal:20000/novox/notifier.git", "novox/notifier"
+	other.Manifest = json.RawMessage(strings.Replace(notifierFallingBackTo("font-size", "number"), `"notifier"`,
+		`"chimes"`, 1))
+	if _, _, err := takeIn(ctx, open.inventory, asTheOperator(t, open.inventory, other)); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("a module of another repository naming a published key: %v", err)
+	}
+	if kept, _, _ = open.inventory.PredefinedKept(ctx); kept.Build != "b-4" {
+		t.Fatalf("a build of another repository published its list: %+v", kept)
+	}
+	other.ID, other.Manifest = "b-7", json.RawMessage(strings.Replace(notifierFallingBackTo("agent-managed-settings",
+		"number"), `"notifier"`, `"chimes"`, 1))
+	if _, _, err := takeIn(ctx, open.inventory, other); err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "not on the list") {
+		t.Fatalf("a key only another repository's list holds was registered: %v", err)
+	}
+}

cmd/mesh-controller/release.go

@@ -39,8 +39,8 @@ import (
 //     from the same manifest is no move.
 //
 // **The release plan** is what walks the waiting moves through: whenever moves wait for a gate that no
-// started plan is walking, the mesh opens one — every such machine, one at a time, the control node last,
-// each sent and judged before the next. A release plan that fails stops the next one opening on its own:
+// started plan is walking, the mesh opens one — every such machine, the first sent and judged, then the rest
+// at once, each judged by its own gate (novox/hq ADR 0353, in place of one at a time). A release plan that fails stops the next one opening on its own:
 // a person releases it again (`upgrade release-backlog --why`), after the condition says why.
 
 // sendScope is what a send may carry that no gate has seen.
@@ -81,6 +81,15 @@ type moveFacts struct {
 	srcs   map[string]map[string]string
 	passed map[string]map[string]bool
 	plans  []inventory.Plan
+	// self is the release walking these moves, whose own gates are no other walk's (novox/hq ADR 0353).
+	self string
+}
+
+type walkingKey struct{}
+
+// withWalking says a release plan is the one sending: its own gates never hold its own sends back.
+func withWalking(ctx context.Context, id string) context.Context {
+	return context.WithValue(ctx, walkingKey{}, id)
 }
 
 func readMoveFacts(ctx context.Context, inv *inventory.Inventory) (moveFacts, error) {
@@ -99,6 +108,7 @@ func readMoveFacts(ctx context.Context, inv *inventory.Inventory) (moveFacts, er
 		return f, err
 	}
 	f.plans, err = inv.OpenPlans(ctx)
+	f.self, _ = ctx.Value(walkingKey{}).(string)
 	return f, err
 }
 
@@ -193,17 +203,24 @@ func (f moveFacts) moves(node string, modules []string, sent map[string]string,
 // feet. A release keeps no module records: its open gate's carried moves are its walk.
 func (f moveFacts) walkedBy(module, node, to string) string {
 	for _, p := range f.plans {
-		if !p.Open() {
+		if !p.Open() || (p.Release != nil && p.ID == f.self) {
 			continue
 		}
 		if p.Release != nil {
-			g := p.Release.Gate
-			if g == nil || g.Verdict != "" {
-				continue
+			// The first machine's gate, and every gate of the rest still judging (novox/hq ADR 0353).
+			gates := []*inventory.PlanGate{p.Release.Gate}
+			for _, g := range p.Release.Gates {
+				gates = append(gates, g)
 			}
-			for _, c := range g.Carried {
-				if c.Module == module && !(slices.Contains(g.Machines, node) && sameCommit(c.To, to)) {
-					return p.ID
+			for _, g := range gates {
+				// A send kept and not yet made walks nothing yet (ADR 0353 §8).
+				if g == nil || g.Verdict != "" || g.Silent || g.Pending {
+					continue
+				}
+				for _, c := range g.Carried {
+					if c.Module == module && !(slices.Contains(g.Machines, node) && sameCommit(c.To, to)) {
+						return p.ID
+					}
 				}
 			}
 			continue
@@ -303,8 +320,8 @@ func ungatedIn(ctx context.Context, open *stores, names []string, addedHolder st
 		}
 	}
 	if len(refused) > 0 {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: %s — a walk sends them, one machine at a time, each judged (novox/hq ADR "+
-			"0236); `upgrade backlog` lists them", errUngated, strings.Join(refused, "; "))
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: %s — a walk sends them, one machine first and then the rest at once, each judged (novox/hq ADR "+
+			"0236, ADR 0353); `upgrade backlog` lists them", errUngated, strings.Join(refused, "; "))
 	}
 	return kept, nil
 }
@@ -320,19 +337,35 @@ func ungatedIn(ctx context.Context, open *stores, names []string, addedHolder st
 // And the grants step first, when the send changes what the bus's user list must say (novox/hq issue 490):
 // answered for the gate to keep, nil when there was none.
 func gatedSend(ctx context.Context, open *stores, node string, owns []inventory.CarriedMove) ([]inventory.CarriedMove, []string, *inventory.GrantsStep, error) {
-	inv := open.inventory
-	f, err := readMoveFacts(ctx, inv)
+	moves, err := gatedMoves(ctx, open, node, owns)
+	if err != nil || len(moves) == 0 {
+		return nil, nil, nil, err
+	}
+	sayRecreations(ctx, open, moves)
+	sent, grants, err := sendJudged(ctx, open, node)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, nil, nil, err
 	}
+	return moves, sent, grants, nil
+}
+
+// gatedMoves is what a gated send to one machine would carry, with the build each moves to, made of nothing:
+// gatedSend's reading, which a walk also keeps before it sends (novox/hq ADR 0353 §8). Refused the same way
+// while a plan that has started walks one of those builds elsewhere.
+func gatedMoves(ctx context.Context, open *stores, node string, owns []inventory.CarriedMove) ([]inventory.CarriedMove, error) {
+	inv := open.inventory
+	f, err := readMoveFacts(ctx, inv)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
 	moves, err := machineMoves(ctx, open, f, node, true)
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, nil, nil, err
+		return nil, err
 	}
 	// A move the send keeps is not made, and is no move for the gate to judge (novox/hq issue 201): a core module
 	// kept over an older record judged as moving back to it would read the gate as superseded by its own send.
 	if moves, err = withoutKept(ctx, open, node, moves); err != nil {
-		return nil, nil, nil, err
+		return nil, err
 	}
 	own := func(module string) bool {
 		return slices.ContainsFunc(owns, func(o inventory.CarriedMove) bool { return o.Module == module })
@@ -342,7 +375,7 @@ func gatedSend(ctx context.Context, open *stores, node string, owns []inventory.
 			continue
 		}
 		if id := f.walkedBy(mv.Module, node, mv.To); id != "" {
-			return nil, nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: %s's build %s waits on %s, which %s is walking", errWalkedElsewhere,
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: %s's build %s waits on %s, which %s is walking", errWalkedElsewhere,
 				mv.Module, short(mv.To), node, id)
 		}
 	}
@@ -350,7 +383,7 @@ func gatedSend(ctx context.Context, open *stores, node string, owns []inventory.
 	// plan, or a release, on this machine is not crossed with a newer build; this send waits for its gate.
 	for _, o := range owns {
 		if id := f.walkedBy(o.Module, node, o.To); id != "" {
-			return nil, nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: %s's build %s waits on %s, which %s is walking", errWalkedElsewhere,
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: %s's build %s waits on %s, which %s is walking", errWalkedElsewhere,
 				o.Module, short(o.To), node, id)
 		}
 	}
@@ -363,30 +396,26 @@ func gatedSend(ctx context.Context, open *stores, node string, owns []inventory.
 			moves[i].Build = o.Build
 		}
 	}
-	if len(moves) == 0 && len(owns) == 0 {
-		return nil, nil, nil, nil
+	if len(moves) == 0 {
+		return nil, nil
 	}
 	for i := range moves {
 		if moves[i].Build == "" {
 			if moves[i].Build, err = inv.BuildOf(ctx, moves[i].Module, moves[i].To); err != nil {
-				return nil, nil, nil, err
+				return nil, err
 			}
 		}
 	}
 	sort.Slice(moves, func(i, j int) bool { return moves[i].Module < moves[j].Module })
-	sayRecreations(ctx, open, moves)
-	sent, grants, err := sendJudged(ctx, open, node)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, nil, nil, err
-	}
-	return moves, sent, grants, nil
+	return moves, nil
 }
 
 // passCarried keeps a pass as the verdict of every build the gate judged beside its own module.
 func passCarried(ctx context.Context, open *stores, p *inventory.Plan, g *inventory.PlanGate, except string) {
 	seen := map[string]bool{}
 	for _, c := range g.Carried {
-		if c.Module == except || c.Build == "" || seen[c.Build] {
+		// A build put back with another machine's failure is not this gate's to pass (novox/hq ADR 0353 §3).
+		if c.Module == except || c.Build == "" || seen[c.Build] || slices.Contains(g.Returned, c.Module) {
 			continue
 		}
 		seen[c.Build] = true
@@ -695,7 +724,7 @@ func releaseBacklog(ctx context.Context, open *stores, by string) (*inventory.Pl
 	p := inventory.Plan{ID: fmt.Sprintf("release-%d", now.UnixNano()), Repository: releaseRepository,
 		Created: now, State: inventory.PlanRolling, Tiers: [][]string{names}, Modules: map[string]*inventory.PlanModule{},
 		Release: &inventory.PlanRelease{Order: order, By: by},
-		Note: fmt.Sprintf("%d build(s) wait for a gate on %s; one machine at a time, each judged", len(names),
+		Note: fmt.Sprintf("%d build(s) wait for a gate on %s; one machine first, then the rest at once, each judged", len(names),
 			strings.Join(order, ", "))}
 	if err := inv.SavePlan(ctx, &p); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
@@ -704,14 +733,23 @@ func releaseBacklog(ctx context.Context, open *stores, by string) (*inventory.Pl
 	return &p, nil
 }
 
-// advanceRelease takes one step of a release plan: the next machine sent everything waiting there under a
-// gate, or the machine being judged judged once more; the plan done when every machine is.
+// advanceRelease takes one step of a release plan: the first machine sent everything waiting there under a
+// gate and judged; once it passed, every other machine sent at once, each under its own gate (novox/hq ADR
+// 0353 §1), and judged; the plan done when every machine is.
+//
+// **A send is kept before it is made** (ADR 0353 §8): the step that chooses a machine keeps its gate pending with
+// what it will carry, and the next step makes the send. A controller replaced between the send and keeping it
+// finds the gate pending, reads the machine's last send, and neither sends again nor leaves the machine unjudged.
 func advanceRelease(ctx context.Context, open *stores, p *inventory.Plan) (bool, error) {
 	r := p.Release
 	if r.Settings != nil {
 		return advanceSettingsWalk(ctx, open, p)
 	}
+	ctx = withWalking(ctx, p.ID)
 	now := time.Now().UTC()
+	if r.Rest {
+		return advanceRest(ctx, open, p, now)
+	}
 	if r.Gate == nil {
 		heard, err := releaseHeard(ctx, open)
 		if err != nil {
@@ -724,7 +762,7 @@ func advanceRelease(ctx context.Context, open *stores, p *inventory.Plan) (bool,
 				r.Next++
 				continue
 			}
-			moves, sent, grants, err := gatedSend(ctx, open, node, nil)
+			moves, err := gatedMoves(ctx, open, node, nil)
 			if errors.Is(err, errWalkedElsewhere) {
 				note := fmt.Sprintf("waiting before %s: %v", node, err)
 				changed := p.Note != note
@@ -732,23 +770,15 @@ func advanceRelease(ctx context.Context, open *stores, p *inventory.Plan) (bool,
 				return changed, nil
 			}
 			if err != nil {
-				return false, fmt.Errorf("sending %s what waits there: %w", node, err)
+				return false, fmt.Errorf("reading what waits on %s: %w", node, err)
 			}
 			if len(moves) == 0 {
 				r.Done = append(r.Done, node)
 				r.Next++
 				continue
 			}
-			r.Gate = &inventory.PlanGate{Machines: sent, Since: &now, Carried: moves, Sent: sentNow(ctx, open.inventory, sent),
-				Grants: grants}
-			p.Note = fmt.Sprintf("sent %s %d build(s) that waited for a gate; judging them there", node, len(moves))
-			if said := grantsSaid(grants); said != "" {
-				p.Note += "; " + said
-			}
-			if said := recreationsSaid(moves); said != "" {
-				p.Note += "; " + said
-			}
-			fmt.Printf("%s: %s\n", p.ID, p.Note)
+			r.Gate = &inventory.PlanGate{Machines: []string{node}, Carried: moves, Pending: true}
+			p.Note = fmt.Sprintf("sending %s %d build(s) that wait for a gate, first", node, len(moves))
 			return true, nil
 		}
 		p.State, p.Tier = inventory.PlanDone, len(p.Tiers)
@@ -759,6 +789,19 @@ func advanceRelease(ctx context.Context, open *stores, p *inventory.Plan) (bool,
 		return true, nil
 	}
 	g := r.Gate
+	if g.Pending {
+		node := firstOf(g.Machines)
+		out, err := sendKept(ctx, open, p, node, g, now)
+		if err != nil || out == keptWaiting {
+			return out == keptWaiting, err
+		}
+		if out == keptNothing {
+			r.Gate = nil
+			r.Done = append(r.Done, node)
+			r.Next++
+		}
+		return true, nil
+	}
 	verdict, err := judgeMoves(ctx, open, g, nil, now)
 	if err != nil {
 		return false, err
@@ -777,6 +820,11 @@ func advanceRelease(ctx context.Context, open *stores, p *inventory.Plan) (bool,
 		r.Done = append(r.Done, firstOf(g.Machines))
 		r.Next++
 		r.Gate = nil
+		// **Then the rest at once** (novox/hq ADR 0353 §1): every other machine heard from, each judged by its own
+		// gate, in place of one machine at a time (ADR 0236 §22).
+		r.Rest = true
+		p.Note = fmt.Sprintf("passed on %s; the rest are sent at once, each judged", firstOf(g.Machines))
+		fmt.Printf("%s: %s\n", p.ID, p.Note)
 		return true, nil
 	case inventory.GateSuperseded:
 		// Another send moved a judged module on the judged machine (novox/hq issue 352): no verdict on what
@@ -797,6 +845,453 @@ func advanceRelease(ctx context.Context, open *stores, p *inventory.Plan) (bool,
 	return true, nil
 }
 
+// What sendKept did with a kept send.
+const (
+	keptSent    = iota // sent now
+	keptAlready        // the machine was already sent it: judged from that send, nothing sent
+	keptNothing        // nothing waits there any more: no gate
+	keptWaiting        // another walk judges a build it would carry: it waits
+)
+
+// sendKept makes a send a gate kept before it was made (novox/hq ADR 0353 §8) — unless the machine's last send
+// already carries what the gate is for, made before a controller was replaced and before it was kept: then
+// nothing is sent, and the gate judges from that send (§6).
+func sendKept(ctx context.Context, open *stores, p *inventory.Plan, node string, g *inventory.PlanGate,
+	now time.Time) (int, error) {
+	inv := open.inventory
+	moves, sent, grants, err := gatedSend(ctx, open, node, nil)
+	if errors.Is(err, errWalkedElsewhere) {
+		p.Note = fmt.Sprintf("waiting before %s: %v", node, err)
+		return keptWaiting, nil
+	}
+	if err != nil {
+		return keptSent, fmt.Errorf("sending %s what waits there: %w", node, err)
+	}
+	if len(moves) > 0 {
+		g.Machines, g.Carried, g.Since, g.Grants, g.Pending = sent, moves, &now, grants, false
+		g.Sent = sentNow(ctx, inv, sent)
+		p.Note = fmt.Sprintf("sent %s %d build(s) that waited for a gate; judging them there", node, len(moves))
+		if said := grantsSaid(grants); said != "" {
+			p.Note += "; " + said
+		}
+		if said := recreationsSaid(moves); said != "" {
+			p.Note += "; " + said
+		}
+		fmt.Printf("%s: %s\n", p.ID, p.Note)
+		return keptSent, nil
+	}
+	if !alreadySent(ctx, inv, node, g.Carried) {
+		return keptNothing, nil
+	}
+	since := now
+	if s, found, err := inv.SentTo(ctx, node); err == nil && found {
+		if !s.At.IsZero() {
+			since = s.At
+		}
+		g.Sent = map[string]inventory.SentDeclaration{node: s}
+	}
+	g.Since, g.Pending = &since, false
+	p.Note = fmt.Sprintf("%s was already sent the %d build(s) kept for it, at %s: judged from that send, nothing sent again",
+		node, len(g.Carried), since.Local().Format("15:04:05"))
+	fmt.Printf("%s: %s\n", p.ID, p.Note)
+	return keptAlready, nil
+}
+
+// alreadySent says a machine's last send carries every build of the moves: a send made and not kept.
+func alreadySent(ctx context.Context, inv *inventory.Inventory, node string, moves []inventory.CarriedMove) bool {
+	if len(moves) == 0 {
+		return false
+	}
+	sent, known, err := inv.SentBuilds(ctx, node)
+	if err != nil || !known {
+		return false
+	}
+	for _, mv := range moves {
+		if !sameCommit(sent[mv.Module], mv.To) {
+			return false
+		}
+	}
+	return true
+}
+
+// advanceRest takes one step of a release plan's rest (novox/hq ADR 0353): the sends kept for a step made, every
+// machine of the step judged by its own gate, one that fails put back by itself while the others go on to their
+// verdicts, and the next step — or the end — once every gate of the step has its verdict or is silent.
+func advanceRest(ctx context.Context, open *stores, p *inventory.Plan, now time.Time) (bool, error) {
+	r := p.Release
+	// The sends kept for this step, in the plan's order: the control node, last in it, last (§1).
+	var pending []string
+	for _, n := range r.Order {
+		if g := r.Gates[n]; g != nil && g.Pending {
+			pending = append(pending, n)
+		}
+	}
+	if len(pending) > 0 {
+		// **A kept send carries only what was kept** (ADR 0353 §2): a build that passed no gate and came to wait on
+		// a machine since its step was chosen could reach a second machine in it; the step is chosen again.
+		if grew, err := keptStepGrew(ctx, open, r, pending); err != nil {
+			return false, err
+		} else if grew != "" {
+			for _, n := range pending {
+				delete(r.Gates, n)
+			}
+			opened, waiting, err := openRestStep(ctx, open, p)
+			if err != nil {
+				return true, err
+			}
+			p.Note = "chosen again: " + grew
+			if !opened && waiting != "" {
+				p.Note += "; " + waiting
+			}
+			return true, nil
+		}
+		var sent, already, waiting []string
+		for _, node := range pending {
+			out, err := sendKept(ctx, open, p, node, r.Gates[node], now)
+			if err != nil {
+				return true, err
+			}
+			switch out {
+			case keptSent:
+				sent = append(sent, node)
+			case keptAlready:
+				already = append(already, node)
+			case keptNothing:
+				delete(r.Gates, node)
+				r.Done = append(r.Done, node)
+			case keptWaiting:
+				waiting = append(waiting, node)
+			}
+		}
+		var said []string
+		if len(sent) > 0 {
+			said = append(said, "sent "+strings.Join(sent, ", ")+" at once, each judged there")
+		}
+		if len(already) > 0 {
+			said = append(said, strings.Join(already, ", ")+" already sent it: judged from that send")
+		}
+		if len(waiting) > 0 {
+			said = append(said, "waiting before "+strings.Join(waiting, ", ")+": another walk judges a build it carries")
+		}
+		if len(said) > 0 {
+			p.Note = strings.Join(said, "; ")
+		}
+		return len(sent)+len(already) > 0 || len(waiting) < len(pending), nil
+	}
+	reports, err := open.inventory.LastReports(ctx)
+	if err != nil {
+		return false, err
+	}
+	byNode := map[string]inventory.Reported{}
+	for _, rep := range reports {
+		byNode[rep.Node] = rep
+	}
+	changed, noteWas := false, p.Note
+	var notes, judging []string
+	batched, back := batchingRollbacks(ctx)
+	for _, node := range r.Order {
+		g := r.Gates[node]
+		if g == nil || g.Verdict != "" || g.Silent {
+			continue
+		}
+		// What another machine's failure already put back is not this gate's to judge (ADR 0353 §3).
+		if len(g.Carried) > 0 && len(g.Returned) >= len(g.Carried) {
+			decide(g, inventory.GateFailed, "what it was sent was put back with another machine's failure", now)
+			r.Failed = append(r.Failed, node)
+			changed = true
+			continue
+		}
+		// **A machine that says nothing on its send is left silent, not failed** (ADR 0353 §4): it is not judged
+		// until it reports, and past ApplySilentAfter it is listed and left.
+		if !reportedOnSend(byNode[node], node, g) {
+			if now.Sub(*g.Since) > inventory.ApplySilentAfter {
+				g.Silent = true
+				r.Silent = append(r.Silent, node)
+				changed = true
+				notes = append(notes, fmt.Sprintf("%s said nothing on its send within %s: left silent", node,
+					inventory.ApplySilentAfter))
+				continue
+			}
+			judging = append(judging, node+": not yet reported on its send")
+			continue
+		}
+		verdict, err := judgeMoves(ctx, open, g, nil, now)
+		if err != nil {
+			return changed, err
+		}
+		switch verdict {
+		case "":
+			if putBackBroken(ctx, open, p, g, "", nil) {
+				changed = true
+				notes = append(notes, p.Note)
+			}
+			judging = append(judging, node+": "+gateLine(g))
+		case inventory.GatePassed:
+			passCarried(ctx, open, p, g, "")
+			r.Done = append(r.Done, node)
+			changed = true
+		case inventory.GateSuperseded:
+			// Another send moved a judged module there (novox/hq issue 352): nothing judged, nothing put back on
+			// it; what still waits is released again.
+			r.Done = append(r.Done, node)
+			changed = true
+			notes = append(notes, fmt.Sprintf("superseded on %s: %s", node, g.Why))
+		default:
+			// **Put back by itself** (ADR 0353 §3): what was found wanting goes back at once, and every other
+			// machine of the step goes on to its own verdict.
+			stateWas := p.State
+			p.Note = ""
+			failCarried(batched, open, p, g, "")
+			p.State = stateWas
+			r.Failed = append(r.Failed, node)
+			changed = true
+			notes = append(notes, fmt.Sprintf("failed its gate on %s: %s — %s", node, g.Why, p.Note))
+			returnedElsewhere(ctx, open, r, node, g)
+		}
+	}
+	p.Note = ""
+	sendRollbacks(ctx, open, p, back)
+	if p.Note != "" {
+		notes = append(notes, strings.TrimPrefix(p.Note, "; "))
+	}
+	if len(judging) > 0 {
+		note := strings.Join(append(notes, "judging "+strings.Join(judging, "; ")), "; ")
+		p.Note = note
+		return changed || noteWas != note, nil
+	}
+	// Every gate of the step has its verdict or is silent: the next step, unless a machine failed (§3).
+	if len(r.Failed) == 0 {
+		opened, waiting, err := openRestStep(ctx, open, p)
+		if err != nil {
+			return changed, err
+		}
+		if opened {
+			return true, nil
+		}
+		if waiting != "" {
+			note := strings.Join(append(notes, waiting), "; ")
+			p.Note = note
+			return changed || noteWas != note, nil
+		}
+	}
+	p.Tier = len(p.Tiers)
+	end := fmt.Sprintf("released on %s", orNone(strings.Join(r.Done, ", ")))
+	if len(r.Silent) > 0 {
+		end += "; silent on their send, left: " + strings.Join(r.Silent, ", ")
+	}
+	if len(r.Skipped) > 0 {
+		end += "; not heard from, left as they were: " + strings.Join(r.Skipped, ", ")
+	}
+	p.State = inventory.PlanDone
+	if len(r.Failed) > 0 {
+		p.State = inventory.PlanFailed
+		end = "failed on " + strings.Join(r.Failed, ", ") + "; " + end
+	} else if len(r.Silent) > 0 && len(r.Gates) == len(r.Silent) {
+		// **A rest that said nothing is no success** (ADR 0353 §4): failure is loud; the condition says it.
+		p.State = inventory.PlanFailed
+		end = "no machine of the rest reported on its send; " + end
+	}
+	p.Note = strings.Join(append(notes, end), "; ")
+	fmt.Printf("%s: %s\n", p.ID, p.Note)
+	return true, nil
+}
+
+// keptStepGrew says why a step's kept sends would now carry a build no gate passed that they were not kept with;
+// empty when none would.
+func keptStepGrew(ctx context.Context, open *stores, r *inventory.PlanRelease, pending []string) (string, error) {
+	f, err := readMoveFacts(ctx, open.inventory)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+	shelf, err := open.inventory.Catalogue(ctx)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+	for _, node := range pending {
+		moves, err := gatedMoves(ctx, open, node, nil)
+		if errors.Is(err, errWalkedElsewhere) {
+			continue // sendKept says it waits
+		}
+		if err != nil {
+			return "", err
+		}
+		kept := r.Gates[node].Carried
+		for _, mv := range moves {
+			// The node-engine and the resolver keep one machine at a time, passed or not (ADR 0353 §9).
+			if (f.gated(mv.Module, mv.To) && !oneAtATime(mv.Module, shelf[mv.Module])) || slices.ContainsFunc(kept, func(c inventory.CarriedMove) bool {
+				return c.Module == mv.Module && sameCommit(c.To, mv.To)
+			}) {
+				continue
+			}
+			return fmt.Sprintf("%s's build %s, which this step did not keep for it, came to wait on %s", mv.Module, short(mv.To), node), nil
+		}
+	}
+	return "", nil
+}
+
+// reportedOnSend says a machine's last report is about the send its gate judges (novox/hq issue 352): the
+// declaration kept on the gate, or one sequenced after it; a gate that kept none reads the send made last.
+func reportedOnSend(r inventory.Reported, node string, g *inventory.PlanGate) bool {
+	if r.At == nil {
+		return false
+	}
+	if s, kept := g.Sent[node]; kept {
+		return s.ReportsOn(r)
+	}
+	return r.Current
+}
+
+// returnedElsewhere marks, on every other gate of the rest still judging, the builds a failed machine's
+// rollback put back wherever they were sent (ADR 0236 §5): no longer theirs to judge (ADR 0353 §3).
+func returnedElsewhere(ctx context.Context, open *stores, r *inventory.PlanRelease, failed string, g *inventory.PlanGate) {
+	for _, c := range g.Carried {
+		if c.Build == "" {
+			continue
+		}
+		if marked, err := open.inventory.GateFailed(ctx, c.Build); err != nil || !marked {
+			continue
+		}
+		for node, other := range r.Gates {
+			if node == failed || other.Verdict != "" || slices.Contains(other.Returned, c.Module) {
+				continue
+			}
+			for _, oc := range other.Carried {
+				if oc.Module == c.Module && sameCommit(oc.To, c.To) {
+					other.Returned = append(other.Returned, c.Module)
+				}
+			}
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// openRestStep chooses the next step of a release plan's rest and keeps its sends (novox/hq ADR 0353 §1, §2):
+// every machine left that is heard from and has something waiting, except that a build no gate has passed goes
+// to one machine of the step only. Answers whether a step was kept, or why the walk waits.
+func openRestStep(ctx context.Context, open *stores, p *inventory.Plan) (bool, string, error) {
+	r := p.Release
+	heard, err := releaseHeard(ctx, open)
+	if err != nil {
+		return false, "", err
+	}
+	f, err := readMoveFacts(ctx, open.inventory)
+	if err != nil {
+		return false, "", err
+	}
+	waiting := map[string][]inventory.CarriedMove{}
+	var nodes, walked []string
+	for _, node := range r.Order[min(r.Next, len(r.Order)):] {
+		if r.Gates[node] != nil || slices.Contains(r.Done, node) || slices.Contains(r.Skipped, node) ||
+			slices.Contains(r.Failed, node) || slices.Contains(r.Silent, node) {
+			continue
+		}
+		if !heard[node] {
+			r.Skipped = append(r.Skipped, node)
+			continue
+		}
+		moves, err := gatedMoves(ctx, open, node, nil)
+		if errors.Is(err, errWalkedElsewhere) {
+			walked = append(walked, fmt.Sprintf("%s (%v)", node, err))
+			continue
+		}
+		if err != nil {
+			return false, "", fmt.Errorf("reading what waits on %s: %w", node, err)
+		}
+		if len(moves) == 0 {
+			r.Done = append(r.Done, node)
+			continue
+		}
+		waiting[node] = moves
+		nodes = append(nodes, node)
+	}
+	shelf, err := open.inventory.Catalogue(ctx)
+	if err != nil {
+		return false, "", err
+	}
+	step := restStep(nodes, waiting, f.gated, func(module string) bool { return oneAtATime(module, shelf[module]) })
+	if len(step) == 0 {
+		if len(walked) > 0 {
+			return false, "waiting before " + strings.Join(walked, "; "), nil
+		}
+		return false, "", nil
+	}
+	if r.Gates == nil {
+		r.Gates = map[string]*inventory.PlanGate{}
+	}
+	for _, node := range step {
+		r.Gates[node] = &inventory.PlanGate{Machines: []string{node}, Carried: waiting[node], Pending: true}
+	}
+	p.Note = fmt.Sprintf("sending %s at once, each judged there", strings.Join(step, ", "))
+	if left := len(nodes) - len(step); left > 0 {
+		p.Note += fmt.Sprintf("; %d machine(s) wait for a build that passed no gate yet to pass on one", left)
+	}
+	return true, "", nil
+}
+
+// oneAtATime is a module whose builds go to the rest one machine at a time (novox/hq ADR 0353 §9): the
+// node-engine, which applies every send, and a module holding the mesh's resolver, which names the bus.
+func oneAtATime(module string, m catalogue.Manifest) bool {
+	if module == hostModule {
+		return true
+	}
+	return slices.ContainsFunc(m.Claims, func(c catalogue.Claim) bool { return c.Name == resolverSeat })
+}
+
+// restStep is the machines of one step of the rest (novox/hq ADR 0353 §2), in the order given: each machine, unless
+// a build it would carry has passed no gate and an earlier machine of the step already carries it — that build's
+// first machine. Pure.
+//
+// **The node-engine and the mesh's resolver still go one machine at a time** (ADR 0353 §9): a step carries a
+// build of either to one machine only, judged before the next, since a fault that cuts a machine off the bus
+// shows only as its silence and no rollback reaches it.
+func restStep(nodes []string, waiting map[string][]inventory.CarriedMove, passed func(module, commit string) bool,
+	alone func(module string) bool) []string {
+	first := map[string]string{}
+	var out []string
+	for _, n := range nodes {
+		var unpassed []string
+		for _, mv := range waiting[n] {
+			if !passed(mv.Module, mv.To) || alone(mv.Module) {
+				unpassed = append(unpassed, mv.Module+"@"+mv.To)
+			}
+		}
+		if slices.ContainsFunc(unpassed, func(k string) bool { _, taken := first[k]; return taken }) {
+			continue
+		}
+		for _, k := range unpassed {
+			first[k] = n
+		}
+		out = append(out, n)
+	}
+	return out
+}
+
+// silentObservation is what the gate's probe says of the newest release whose rest went silent (novox/hq ADR 0353
+// §4): machines that never reported on their send, left as they were — loud, never a success said by nothing.
+func silentObservation(ctx context.Context, inv *inventory.Inventory) ([]conditions.Observation, error) {
+	recent, err := inv.RecentPlans(ctx, 20)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	for _, p := range recent {
+		if p.Release == nil || p.Release.Settings != nil || p.Open() {
+			continue
+		}
+		if len(p.Release.Silent) == 0 {
+			return nil, nil
+		}
+		machines := append([]string(nil), p.Release.Silent...)
+		sort.Strings(machines)
+		o := conditions.Observation{Scope: conditions.ScopeMesh, ID: "release", Token: "silent", Kind: "release-silent",
+			Severity: conditions.Warning, Resolver: conditions.ResolverOperator, Also: machines,
+			Summary: fmt.Sprintf("%s: %s said nothing on the send of the builds that waited for a gate within %s, and were "+
+				"left as they were", p.ID, strings.Join(machines, ", "), inventory.ApplySilentAfter)}
+		w := releaseSilentWords(machines)
+		o.Headline, o.Explanation, o.Resolved, o.Needs = w.Headline, w.Explanation, w.Resolved, w.Needs
+		return []conditions.Observation{o}, nil
+	}
+	return nil, nil
+}
+
 // backlogObservation is what the gate's probe says of a release held after a failure.
 func backlogObservation() []conditions.Observation {
 	if backlogNow.held == "" || len(backlogNow.waiting) == 0 {

cmd/mesh-controller/release_plan.go

@@ -251,6 +251,20 @@ func gates(p inventory.Plan, edges []inventory.Edge, rollsOut func(string) bool)
 	return out
 }
 
+// noMoveWhy is what a plan says of a module of its tier whose build was made from the source every machine
+// running it runs (novox/hq issue 280): nothing is sent for it.
+// noMovePrefix opens it, and is what noMove reads: one prefix for the writer and the reader.
+const (
+	noMovePrefix = "no move"
+	noMoveWhy    = noMovePrefix + ": made from the source every machine running it runs"
+)
+
+// noMove is whether the plan marked the module no move and sent it nothing. Read from what the plan says,
+// so a plan kept before the mark had a name of its own is read the same (novox/hq issue 648).
+func noMove(s *inventory.PlanModule) bool {
+	return s != nil && s.FirstAt == nil && s.Gate == nil && strings.HasPrefix(s.Why, noMovePrefix)
+}
+
 // applied says whether every machine running the module has reported since the module was built.
 // appliedEach is applied with a moment of its own for each machine: the reports that count are the ones
 // after that machine was sent the build (novox/hq issue 256).
@@ -595,7 +609,7 @@ func advancePlans(ctx context.Context, open *stores) {
 		return
 	}
 	defer release()
-	// What waits for a gate, released one machine at a time (ADR 0236).
+	// What waits for a gate, released one machine first, then the rest at once (ADR 0236, ADR 0353).
 	if _, err := releaseBacklog(ctx, open, ""); err != nil {
 		fmt.Printf("plans: what waits for a gate could not be looked at: %v\n", err)
 	}
@@ -805,7 +819,7 @@ func advanceOnce(ctx context.Context, open *stores, p *inventory.Plan,
 			} else if same {
 				now := time.Now().UTC()
 				state.SentAt = &now
-				state.Why = "no move: made from the source every machine running it runs"
+				state.Why = noMoveWhy
 				fmt.Printf("%s: %s built from the source every machine running it runs: no move, nothing sent\n", p.ID, m)
 				continue
 			}
@@ -995,6 +1009,25 @@ func advanceOnce(ctx context.Context, open *stores, p *inventory.Plan,
 			if state.BuiltAt != nil {
 				since = *state.BuiltAt
 			}
+			// **A build that is no move is waited on by the send that last carried it** (novox/hq issue 648).
+			// Nothing was sent for it, so no report follows its marking or its build: a machine that does not
+			// happen to report again held the walk for ever. Each machine runs it once it answered its last
+			// send — the one whose builds made it no move — whenever that was.
+			if noMove(state) {
+				byNode := map[string]inventory.Reported{}
+				for _, r := range reports {
+					byNode[r.Node] = r
+				}
+				if ok, on := appliedEach(m, func(node string) time.Time {
+					if s := byNode[node].Sent; s != nil {
+						return *s
+					}
+					return time.Time{}
+				}, running, reports); !ok {
+					waiting = append(waiting, fmt.Sprintf("%s on %s", m, strings.Join(on, ", ")))
+				}
+				continue
+			}
 			// **Each machine from its own send** (novox/hq issue 256). With one machine first (ADR 0218)
 			// a module is sent twice — the first machine, then the rest — and SentAt is the second.
 			// Asked of every machine, the first machine's report, made between the two sends, read as
@@ -1056,10 +1089,36 @@ func firstSend(ctx context.Context, open *stores, p *inventory.Plan, node string
 	runningOf map[string][]string) error {
 	inv := open.inventory
 	before, beforeKnown, _ := inv.SentBuilds(ctx, node)
+	// **A machine already sent what this send is for is not sent again** (novox/hq ADR 0353 §6): sent by this plan
+	// before a controller was replaced and before it was kept, or by another walk. Judged from that send, and from
+	// the readings of a gate already judging it there.
+	// Only a send the machine reported it applied is one it has; one it never reported on is sent, as before
+	// (issue 280: what it ran before is then that build, and a failure leaves it as it was).
+	if beforeKnown && slices.IndexFunc(modules, func(m string) bool { return !sameCommit(before[m], p.Modules[m].Commit) }) < 0 &&
+		appliedLastSend(ctx, inv, node) {
+		if others, err := gatedMoves(ctx, open, node, nil); err == nil && len(others) == 0 {
+			adoptSend(ctx, open, p, node, modules, before, runningOf)
+			return nil
+		}
+	}
+	// **What the machine ran before is kept before the send is made** (novox/hq ADR 0353 §6): a controller replaced
+	// between the send and keeping it reads it here, and a failure still puts the machine back.
+	kept := false
+	for _, m := range modules {
+		s := p.Modules[m]
+		if beforeKnown && (s.Previous == "" || !sameCommit(before[m], s.Commit)) && s.Previous != before[m] {
+			s.Previous, kept = before[m], true
+		}
+	}
+	if kept {
+		if err := inv.SavePlan(ctx, p); err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("what %s ran before is not kept, so nothing is sent: %w", node, err)
+		}
+	}
 	owns := make([]inventory.CarriedMove, 0, len(modules))
 	for _, m := range modules {
 		s := p.Modules[m]
-		owns = append(owns, inventory.CarriedMove{Module: m, Node: node, From: before[m], To: s.Commit, Build: s.Build})
+		owns = append(owns, inventory.CarriedMove{Module: m, Node: node, From: s.Previous, To: s.Commit, Build: s.Build})
 	}
 	// A gated send (ADR 0236): everything waiting on the machine goes with the tier, and the gate judges
 	// all of it there.
@@ -1074,10 +1133,7 @@ func firstSend(ctx context.Context, open *stores, p *inventory.Plan, node string
 	sentWhat := sentNow(ctx, inv, sent)
 	for _, m := range modules {
 		s := p.Modules[m]
-		// What the first machine ran before: what a failed gate puts back (ADR 0236).
-		if beforeKnown {
-			s.Previous = before[m]
-		}
+		// What the first machine ran before (ADR 0236), kept above before the send.
 		s.First, s.FirstAt = sent, &now
 		s.Gate = &inventory.PlanGate{Component: coreComponent(m), Machines: firstRunning(sent, runningOf[m]),
 			From: s.Previous, To: s.Commit, Since: &now, Sent: sentWhat}
@@ -1106,6 +1162,113 @@ func firstSend(ctx context.Context, open *stores, p *inventory.Plan, node string
 	return nil
 }
 
+// adoptSend records a first send the machine already had (novox/hq ADR 0353 §6, §7): nothing is sent; the gate counts
+// from the machine's last send, and takes over the readings of an open gate of another walk judging the same build
+// there — whose carried move also says what the machine ran before, for a rollback.
+func adoptSend(ctx context.Context, open *stores, p *inventory.Plan, node string, modules []string,
+	before map[string]string, runningOf map[string][]string) {
+	inv := open.inventory
+	since := time.Now().UTC()
+	last, found, err := inv.SentTo(ctx, node)
+	if err == nil && found && !last.At.IsZero() {
+		since = last.At
+	}
+	lead := modules[0]
+	other, id, from := judgingThere(ctx, inv, p.ID, lead, node, p.Modules[lead].Commit, p.Modules[lead].Build)
+	for _, m := range modules {
+		s := p.Modules[m]
+		// What it ran before: kept by this walk before its send was made (§6); else what the other walk's send
+		// moved it from; else the build itself, so a failure leaves it as it was (issue 280).
+		switch {
+		case s.Previous != "":
+		case m == lead && from != "":
+			s.Previous = from
+		default:
+			s.Previous = before[m]
+		}
+		at := since
+		s.First, s.FirstAt = []string{node}, &at
+		s.Gate = &inventory.PlanGate{Component: coreComponent(m), Machines: firstRunning([]string{node}, runningOf[m]),
+			From: s.Previous, To: s.Commit, Since: &at}
+		if found {
+			s.Gate.Sent = map[string]inventory.SentDeclaration{node: last}
+		}
+		s.GatedBy = ""
+		if m == lead {
+			s.Gate.TakeReadings(other, modules, id)
+		} else {
+			s.GatedBy = lead
+		}
+	}
+	p.State = inventory.PlanRolling
+	p.Note = fmt.Sprintf("tier %d built; %s already runs %s's build: nothing sent again, judged from that send",
+		p.Tier, node, strings.Join(modules, ", "))
+	if id != "" {
+		p.Note += ", going on from the readings of " + id
+	}
+	fmt.Printf("%s: %s\n", p.ID, p.Note)
+}
+
+// appliedLastSend says a machine reported it applied the declaration it was sent last.
+func appliedLastSend(ctx context.Context, inv *inventory.Inventory, node string) bool {
+	reports, err := inv.LastReports(ctx)
+	if err != nil {
+		return false
+	}
+	for _, r := range reports {
+		if r.Node == node {
+			return r.Current && r.At != nil && r.Outcome == inventory.OutcomeApplied
+		}
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
+// judgingThere is an open gate of another walk judging a module's build on a machine (novox/hq ADR 0353 §7), the
+// walk's id, and what the machine ran before; nil when none does.
+func judgingThere(ctx context.Context, inv *inventory.Inventory, self, module, node, commit, build string) (*inventory.PlanGate, string, string) {
+	plans, err := inv.OpenPlans(ctx)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, "", ""
+	}
+	// The same build, by its id where both name one, else by its commit.
+	same := func(b, c string) bool {
+		if b != "" && build != "" {
+			return b == build
+		}
+		return sameCommit(c, commit)
+	}
+	usable := func(g *inventory.PlanGate) bool {
+		return g != nil && !g.Pending && g.Since != nil && (g.Verdict == "" || g.Verdict == inventory.GatePassed) &&
+			slices.Contains(g.Machines, node)
+	}
+	for _, q := range plans {
+		if q.ID == self {
+			continue
+		}
+		if r := q.Release; r != nil {
+			gates := []*inventory.PlanGate{r.Gate}
+			for _, g := range r.Gates {
+				gates = append(gates, g)
+			}
+			for _, g := range gates {
+				if !usable(g) {
+					continue
+				}
+				for _, c := range g.Carried {
+					if c.Module == module && c.Node == node && same(c.Build, c.To) {
+						return g, q.ID, c.From
+					}
+				}
+			}
+			continue
+		}
+		if s := q.Modules[module]; s != nil && usable(s.Gate) && same(s.Build, s.Commit) {
+			return s.Gate, q.ID, s.Previous
+		}
+	}
+	return nil, "", ""
+}
+
 // passedWith keeps, on a module sent with others, the verdict of the gate that judged the send: the gate
 // on the first of them passed, and its pass was kept for every build it carried (passCarried).
 func passedWith(module string, s *inventory.PlanModule, lead string, g *inventory.PlanGate) {
@@ -1594,9 +1757,19 @@ func plansCommand(ctx context.Context, args []string) error {
 			// A release plan's walk (ADR 0236): machines done, the one judged, those to come.
 			fmt.Printf("  machines in order: %s; done: %s; skipped: %s\n", strings.Join(r.Order, ", "),
 				orNone(strings.Join(r.Done, ", ")), orNone(strings.Join(r.Skipped, ", ")))
-			if r.Gate != nil {
-				fmt.Printf("  %s\n", gateLine(r.Gate))
-				for _, c := range r.Gate.Carried {
+			if len(r.Failed)+len(r.Silent) > 0 {
+				fmt.Printf("  failed: %s; silent: %s\n", orNone(strings.Join(r.Failed, ", ")), orNone(strings.Join(r.Silent, ", ")))
+			}
+			gates := []*inventory.PlanGate{r.Gate}
+			for _, n := range r.Order {
+				gates = append(gates, r.Gates[n])
+			}
+			for _, g := range gates {
+				if g == nil {
+					continue
+				}
+				fmt.Printf("  %s\n", gateLine(g))
+				for _, c := range g.Carried {
 					fmt.Printf("    %-22s %s → %s\n", c.Module, short(c.From), short(c.To))
 					if c.Recreates != "" {
 						fmt.Printf("    %-22s %s\n", "", c.Recreates)

cmd/mesh-controller/rest_at_once_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,372 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"slices"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/novox/mesh-controller/internal/catalogue"
+	"github.com/novox/mesh-controller/internal/inventory"
+)
+
+// novox/hq ADR 0353: after its first machine passes, a build goes to every other machine at once, each judged by
+// its own gate and a failing one put back by itself; and a gate's readings outlive the controller that took them —
+// a machine already sent what a send is for is not sent again, and its judging goes on from what was read.
+//
+// Seen 2026-10-14: release-1791930194184991192 sent ace, g14, shanks and the control node one after another in
+// eleven minutes; the new controller its last send started sent the control node again the controller build it
+// had just applied, and judged it from its first reading.
+
+// aBacklogOnThree is the backlog fixture with a third machine, desk, running app at c1 like the others.
+func aBacklogOnThree(t *testing.T) *backlogMesh {
+	t.Helper()
+	b := aBacklog(t)
+	ctx := t.Context()
+	inv := b.open.inventory
+	if _, err := inv.AddNode(ctx, "desk"); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if _, err := inv.Assign(ctx, "desk", "app"); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if err := inv.RecordSent(ctx, nodeID(t, b.open, "desk"), "d-desk", map[string]string{"app": "c1"}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	wasHeard := releaseHeard
+	releaseHeard = func(context.Context, *stores) (map[string]bool, error) {
+		return map[string]bool{"anchor": true, "laptop": true, "desk": true}, nil
+	}
+	t.Cleanup(func() { releaseHeard = wasHeard })
+	return b
+}
+
+// events records every send and every judging, in order.
+func events(t *testing.T) *[]string {
+	t.Helper()
+	var said []string
+	wasSend, wasGather := sendRollout, gatherGateFacts
+	sendRollout = func(ctx context.Context, open *stores, names []string) ([]string, error) {
+		said = append(said, "send "+strings.Join(names, ","))
+		return wasSend(ctx, open, names)
+	}
+	gatherGateFacts = func(ctx context.Context, open *stores, component string) (gateFacts, error) {
+		said = append(said, "judge")
+		return wasGather(ctx, open, component)
+	}
+	t.Cleanup(func() { sendRollout, gatherGateFacts = wasSend, wasGather })
+	return &said
+}
+
+// Once the first machine passed, the rest are both sent before either is judged (ADR 0353 §1); before, the second
+// was judged to its verdict before the third was sent.
+func TestAReleaseSendsTheRestAtOnceAfterTheFirstPasses(t *testing.T) {
+	judgeLeavesAsTheCore(t)
+	b := aBacklogOnThree(t)
+	ctx := t.Context()
+	said := events(t)
+	gateEvery = 0
+	for i := 0; i < 12; i++ {
+		advancePlans(ctx, b.open)
+	}
+	p := b.release(t)
+	if p.State != inventory.PlanDone || len(p.Release.Done) != 3 {
+		t.Fatalf("the release is %s: %s %+v", p.State, p.Note, p.Release)
+	}
+	desk, laptop := slices.Index(*said, "send desk"), slices.Index(*said, "send laptop")
+	if desk < 0 || laptop < 0 || slices.Index(*said, "send anchor") > min(desk, laptop) {
+		t.Fatalf("sends and judgings: %v", *said)
+	}
+	if slices.Contains((*said)[min(desk, laptop):max(desk, laptop)], "judge") {
+		t.Fatalf("the rest were sent one at a time, each judged before the next: %v", *said)
+	}
+	if v, found, err := b.open.inventory.GateOf(ctx, "build-late-c2"); err != nil || !found || v.Verdict != inventory.GatePassed {
+		t.Fatalf("late's pass on laptop was not kept: %+v %v %v", v, found, err)
+	}
+}
+
+// A machine of the rest whose gate fails is put back at once, and the other machine of the step goes on to its own
+// verdict (ADR 0353 §3); before, the walk stopped at the failure and the machine after it was never sent.
+func TestARestMachineThatFailsIsPutBackAloneAndTheOthersAreJudgedOn(t *testing.T) {
+	judgeLeavesAsTheCore(t)
+	b := aBacklogOnThree(t)
+	ctx := t.Context()
+	inv := b.open.inventory
+	gateEvery = 0
+	b.broken["desk"] = true // desk fails what it is sent in the rest's step
+	advancePlans(ctx, b.open)
+	for i := 0; i < 12 && b.release(t).Open(); i++ {
+		advancePlans(ctx, b.open)
+	}
+	p := b.release(t)
+	if p.State != inventory.PlanFailed || !slices.Equal(p.Release.Failed, []string{"desk"}) {
+		t.Fatalf("the release is %s: %s %+v", p.State, p.Note, p.Release)
+	}
+	if !slices.ContainsFunc(b.sent, func(s []string) bool { return slices.Equal(s, []string{"laptop"}) }) {
+		t.Fatalf("laptop was never sent: %v", b.sent)
+	}
+	if !slices.Contains(p.Release.Done, "laptop") {
+		t.Fatalf("laptop has no verdict of its own: %+v", p.Release)
+	}
+	// late waited on laptop alone and was healthy there: its pass is kept, whatever desk did.
+	if v, found, err := inv.GateOf(ctx, "build-late-c2"); err != nil || !found || v.Verdict != inventory.GatePassed {
+		t.Fatalf("late's pass on laptop was not kept: %+v %v %v", v, found, err)
+	}
+	// app failed on desk: marked, and put back wherever it was sent (ADR 0236).
+	if failed, _ := inv.GateFailed(ctx, "build-app-c2"); !failed {
+		t.Fatal("app's build is not marked failed")
+	}
+	if sent, _, _ := inv.SentBuilds(ctx, "desk"); sent["app"] != "c1" {
+		t.Fatalf("desk was not put back: %v", sent)
+	}
+}
+
+// A walk whose first machine already runs its build under another walk's gate sends nothing and goes on from that
+// gate's readings (ADR 0353 §7); before, it sent the machine again and judged from its first reading.
+func TestAWalkTakesOverTheReadingsOfAGateJudgingTheSameBuildThere(t *testing.T) {
+	judgeLeavesAsTheCore(t)
+	b := aBacklog(t)
+	ctx := t.Context()
+	inv := b.open.inventory
+	advancePlans(ctx, b.open) // the release sends anchor app c2, and reads it once
+	release := b.release(t)
+	judging := release.Release.Gate
+	if judging == nil || judging.Pending || judging.Passes == 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("the release is not judging anchor: %+v", judging)
+	}
+	built := time.Now().UTC()
+	plan := inventory.Plan{ID: "plan-app", Repository: "novox/mesh-catalog", Branch: "main", Commit: "c2",
+		Created: built, State: inventory.PlanBuilding, Tiers: [][]string{{"app"}},
+		Modules: map[string]*inventory.PlanModule{"app": {State: "built", BuiltAt: &built, Commit: "c2",
+			Build: "build-app-c2"}}}
+	if err := inv.SavePlan(ctx, &plan); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	advancePlans(ctx, b.open)
+	if len(b.sent) != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("anchor was sent again what it runs: %v", b.sent)
+	}
+	p, err := inv.PlanByID(ctx, "plan-app")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	g := p.Modules["app"].Gate
+	if g == nil || g.Since == nil || !g.Since.Equal(*judging.Since) || g.Passes < judging.Passes || g.TookOver != release.ID {
+		t.Fatalf("the walk's gate starts from zero: %+v (the release's: %+v)", g, judging)
+	}
+	if p.Modules["app"].Previous != "c1" {
+		t.Fatalf("what anchor ran before is %q, not c1", p.Modules["app"].Previous)
+	}
+}
+
+// A walk's first send that was made and not kept — the controller replaced between the two — is not made again
+// by the controller that takes over: the gate counts from that send (ADR 0353 §5, §6).
+func TestAFirstSendMadeAndNotKeptIsNotSentAgain(t *testing.T) {
+	judgeLeavesAsTheCore(t)
+	g := aGateMesh(t)
+	ctx := t.Context()
+	// The old controller sends anchor app c2 and is replaced before it keeps the send.
+	made := sendRollout
+	sendRollout = func(ctx context.Context, open *stores, names []string) ([]string, error) {
+		if _, err := made(ctx, open, names); err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		return nil, context.Canceled
+	}
+	advancePlans(ctx, g.open)
+	sendRollout = made
+	if len(g.sent) != 1 || g.plan(t).Modules["app"].FirstAt != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("the fixture's send was not made, or was kept: %v", g.sent)
+	}
+	last, _, err := g.open.inventory.SentTo(ctx, "anchor")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	advancePlans(ctx, g.open)
+	if len(g.sent) != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("the send was made again: %v", g.sent)
+	}
+	s := g.plan(t).Modules["app"]
+	if s.FirstAt == nil || s.Gate == nil || s.Gate.Since == nil || !s.Gate.Since.Equal(last.At) {
+		t.Fatalf("the gate does not count from the send made: %+v %+v", s, s.Gate)
+	}
+	// What anchor ran before was kept before the send, so a failure still puts it back (§5).
+	if s.Previous != "c1" || s.Gate.From != "c1" {
+		t.Fatalf("what anchor ran before is %q (gate from %q), not c1", s.Previous, s.Gate.From)
+	}
+}
+
+// A release's send kept before it was made, and made, is judged by the controller that takes over without being
+// made again (ADR 0353 §8).
+func TestAReleaseSendKeptAndMadeIsNotMadeAgain(t *testing.T) {
+	judgeLeavesAsTheCore(t)
+	b := aBacklog(t)
+	ctx := t.Context()
+	inv := b.open.inventory
+	p, err := releaseBacklog(ctx, b.open, "")
+	if err != nil || p == nil {
+		t.Fatalf("no release opened: %v", err)
+	}
+	if _, err := advanceRelease(ctx, b.open, p); err != nil || p.Release.Gate == nil || !p.Release.Gate.Pending {
+		t.Fatalf("the send was not kept before it was made: %+v %v", p.Release, err)
+	}
+	if err := inv.SavePlan(ctx, p); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	// The send is made, and the controller is replaced before it keeps it.
+	if _, err := sendRollout(ctx, b.open, []string{"anchor"}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	advancePlans(ctx, b.open)
+	if len(b.sent) != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("anchor was sent again: %v", b.sent)
+	}
+	g := b.release(t).Release.Gate
+	if g == nil || g.Pending || g.Since == nil || len(g.Carried) == 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("anchor is not judged on the send made: %+v", g)
+	}
+}
+
+// A build no gate has passed goes to one machine of a step, its first; a machine that would be its second waits
+// for the next step, and one whose every build passed goes now (ADR 0353 §2).
+func TestABuildThatPassedNoGateGoesToOneMachineOfAStep(t *testing.T) {
+	waiting := map[string][]inventory.CarriedMove{
+		"desk":   {{Module: "app", To: "c2"}, {Module: "new", To: "n1"}},
+		"laptop": {{Module: "app", To: "c2"}, {Module: "new", To: "n1"}},
+		"shanks": {{Module: "app", To: "c2"}},
+		"novox":  {{Module: "app", To: "c2"}, {Module: "ctl", To: "k1"}},
+	}
+	passed := func(module, commit string) bool { return module == "app" && commit == "c2" }
+	never := func(string) bool { return false }
+	step := restStep([]string{"desk", "laptop", "shanks", "novox"}, waiting, passed, never)
+	if !slices.Equal(step, []string{"desk", "shanks", "novox"}) {
+		t.Fatalf("the step is %v: laptop would be new's second machine before it passed", step)
+	}
+	if step := restStep([]string{"laptop"}, waiting, func(string, string) bool { return true }, never); !slices.Equal(step, []string{"laptop"}) {
+		t.Fatalf("a machine whose every build passed waits: %v", step)
+	}
+}
+
+// The node-engine and the mesh's resolver go to the rest one machine at a time, even passed (ADR 0353 §9): a step
+// carries either to one machine only, while what else passed goes everywhere at once.
+func TestTheNodeEngineAndTheResolverGoToTheRestOneAtATime(t *testing.T) {
+	waiting := map[string][]inventory.CarriedMove{
+		"desk":   {{Module: hostModule, To: "h2"}},
+		"laptop": {{Module: hostModule, To: "h2"}, {Module: "app", To: "c2"}},
+		"shanks": {{Module: "app", To: "c2"}},
+		"novox":  {{Module: "dns", To: "d2"}},
+		"ace":    {{Module: "dns", To: "d2"}},
+	}
+	resolver := catalogue.Manifest{Module: "dns", Claims: []catalogue.Claim{{Name: resolverSeat}}}
+	alone := func(m string) bool {
+		if m == "dns" {
+			return oneAtATime(m, resolver)
+		}
+		return oneAtATime(m, catalogue.Manifest{Module: m})
+	}
+	step := restStep([]string{"desk", "laptop", "shanks", "novox", "ace"}, waiting,
+		func(string, string) bool { return true }, alone)
+	if !slices.Equal(step, []string{"desk", "shanks", "novox"}) {
+		t.Fatalf("the step is %v: the node-engine and the resolver each reach one machine of it", step)
+	}
+	if oneAtATime("app", catalogue.Manifest{Module: "app"}) {
+		t.Fatal("a leaf module is held to one machine at a time")
+	}
+}
+
+// A first machine that fails still stops the walk (ADR 0236 §5, kept by ADR 0353 §3): the rest are never sent.
+func TestAFirstMachineThatFailsStillStopsTheWalk(t *testing.T) {
+	b := aBacklogOnThree(t)
+	ctx := t.Context()
+	gateEvery = 0
+	b.broken["anchor"] = true
+	advancePlans(ctx, b.open)
+	for i := 0; i < 6 && b.release(t).Open(); i++ {
+		advancePlans(ctx, b.open)
+	}
+	if p := b.release(t); p.State != inventory.PlanFailed || p.Release.Rest {
+		t.Fatalf("the release is %s: %s %+v", p.State, p.Note, p.Release)
+	}
+	for _, s := range b.sent {
+		if !slices.Equal(s, []string{"anchor"}) {
+			t.Fatalf("sent %v: the rest after a failed first machine", b.sent)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// The control node is sent last in a step of the rest (ADR 0353 §1): the machine holding the controller is
+// ordered after every other.
+func TestTheControlNodeIsSentLastInAStep(t *testing.T) {
+	judgeLeavesAsTheCore(t)
+	b := aBacklogOnThree(t)
+	ctx := t.Context()
+	register(t, b.open, catalogue.Manifest{Module: catalogue.ControllerSeatName, Version: "1"})
+	if _, err := b.open.inventory.Assign(ctx, "anchor", catalogue.ControllerSeatName); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	said := events(t)
+	gateEvery = 0
+	for i := 0; i < 12 && (len(b.sent) == 0 || b.release(t).Open()); i++ {
+		advancePlans(ctx, b.open)
+	}
+	if p := b.release(t); !slices.Equal(p.Release.Order, []string{"desk", "laptop", "anchor"}) {
+		t.Fatalf("the order is %v", p.Release.Order)
+	}
+	laptop, anchor := slices.Index(*said, "send laptop"), slices.Index(*said, "send anchor")
+	if laptop < 0 || anchor < laptop || slices.Contains((*said)[laptop:anchor], "judge") {
+		t.Fatalf("the control node is not sent last in the rest's step: %v", *said)
+	}
+}
+
+// A machine of the rest that says nothing on its send is left silent after fifteen minutes: not failed, not put
+// back; a rest that went silent whole ends failed, said as a condition (ADR 0353 §4).
+func TestARestMachineSilentPastItsBoundIsLeftAndSaid(t *testing.T) {
+	judgeLeavesAsTheCore(t)
+	b := aBacklog(t)
+	ctx := t.Context()
+	inv := b.open.inventory
+	reporting := sendRollout
+	sendRollout = func(ctx context.Context, open *stores, names []string) ([]string, error) {
+		if slices.Equal(names, []string{"laptop"}) { // laptop sleeps: sent, and says nothing
+			b.sent = append(b.sent, names)
+			current, _ := open.inventory.CurrentBuilds(ctx)
+			return names, open.inventory.RecordSent(ctx, nodeID(t, open, "laptop"), "d-laptop-asleep",
+				map[string]string{"app": current["app"].Commit, "late": current["late"].Commit, "same": current["same"].Commit})
+		}
+		return reporting(ctx, open, names)
+	}
+	t.Cleanup(func() { sendRollout = reporting })
+	gateEvery = 0
+	for i := 0; i < 8; i++ {
+		advancePlans(ctx, b.open)
+	}
+	p := b.release(t)
+	g := p.Release.Gates["laptop"]
+	if !p.Open() || g == nil || g.Verdict != "" || g.Silent {
+		t.Fatalf("laptop is judged before fifteen minutes: %s %s %+v", p.State, p.Note, g)
+	}
+	since := time.Now().Add(-inventory.ApplySilentAfter - time.Minute)
+	g.Since = &since
+	if err := inv.SavePlan(ctx, &p); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	advancePlans(ctx, b.open)
+	p = b.release(t)
+	if p.State != inventory.PlanFailed || !slices.Equal(p.Release.Silent, []string{"laptop"}) || len(p.Release.Failed) > 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("the release is %s: %s %+v", p.State, p.Note, p.Release)
+	}
+	if failed, _ := inv.GateFailed(ctx, "build-late-c2"); failed {
+		t.Fatal("a silent machine's build was marked failed")
+	}
+	if sent, _, _ := inv.SentBuilds(ctx, "laptop"); sent["late"] != "c2" {
+		t.Fatalf("laptop was put back: %v", sent)
+	}
+	obs, err := silentObservation(ctx, inv)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if len(obs) != 1 || obs[0].Kind != "release-silent" || !slices.Equal(obs[0].Also, []string{"laptop"}) {
+		t.Fatalf("the silence is not said: %+v", obs)
+	}
+}

cmd/mesh-controller/seatverbs.go

@@ -457,6 +457,28 @@ func (a *verbArguments) commandLine() ([]string, error) {
 			return nil, err
 		}
 		return []string{"forget-checks", str("owner"), str("repo"), str("number")}, nil
+	case "try":
+		// A branch tried before its pull request (novox/hq issue 686): asked, or read by the id it answered.
+		if id := str("id"); id != "" {
+			return []string{"try", "--id", id}, nil
+		}
+		if a.given["repository"] == "" && a.given["ref"] == "" {
+			// Neither shape named: the command says its usage, which names both, as `build` does.
+			return []string{"try"}, nil
+		}
+		if err := need("repository", "ref"); err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		argv := []string{"try", str("repository"), str("ref")}
+		for _, flag := range []string{"base", "tests"} {
+			if v := str(flag); v != "" {
+				argv = append(argv, "--"+flag, v)
+			}
+		}
+		if on("store-only") {
+			argv = append(argv, "--store-only")
+		}
+		return argv, nil
 	case "cancel", "kill":
 		if err := need("id"); err != nil {
 			return nil, err
@@ -1018,6 +1040,8 @@ var jsonVerbs = map[string]bool{"status": true, "seats": true, "plan": true, "co
 	"delivery": true,
 	// The build queue, each ask with its position among the waiting (novox/hq issue 455).
 	"queue": true,
+	// A branch tried before its pull request (novox/hq issue 686).
+	"try": true,
 	// A plan followed (novox/hq issue 229): `plans wait` answers JSON; its other forms say text, and so answer no data.
 	"plans": true}
 
@@ -1308,6 +1332,10 @@ func seatToolHandlers() (map[string]link.ToolHandler, []string, error) {
 					link.AnswersWithin(ctx, bound+planWaitStart)
 				}
 			}
+			if verb == "try" && len(argv) > 1 && argv[1] == "--id" {
+				// Reading a try holds its answer for the verdict, up to its bound (novox/hq issue 686, 229).
+				link.AnswersWithin(ctx, tryWait+planWaitStart)
+			}
 			if answer, read := readHere(ctx, argv); read {
 				return answer, nil
 			}

cmd/mesh-controller/stores.go

@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package main
 import (
 	"context"
 	"fmt"
+	"os"
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/novox/mesh-controller/internal/catalogue"
@@ -124,6 +125,11 @@ func openInventory(ctx context.Context) (*inventory.Inventory, error) {
 	if aliases, err := inv.Aliases(ctx); err == nil {
 		catalogue.UseAliases(aliases)
 	}
+	// And the list of predefined keys the mesh publishes (novox/hq ADR 0348 §7), which every manifest read again
+	// is judged against. A store a migration has not reached yet keeps none, and nothing names a key then.
+	if err := loadPredefined(ctx, inv); err != nil {
+		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "the list of predefined keys kept cannot be read: %v\n", err)
+	}
 	return inv, nil
 }
 

cmd/mesh-controller/template_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,204 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/novox/mesh-controller/internal/catalogue"
+	snapshot "github.com/novox/mesh-controller/internal/facts"
+	"github.com/novox/mesh-controller/internal/inventory"
+)
+
+// A file's text kept as a template file in its module's repository (novox/hq ADR 0349 §2, design 57 package T1,
+// issue 654): `module check` and the merge gate read it from the tree beside the manifest, so a change to a
+// template alone is judged as a change to its module.
+
+const templatedNotifier = `{"module":"notifier","version":"1",
+  "build":{"artifacts":[{"name":"files","kind":"archive","from":"files"}]},
+  "resources":[{"id":"conf","type":"file","path":"/etc/notifier/notifier.conf","mode":"0644","template":"files/notifier.conf"}]}`
+
+// inlineNotifier is the same module as the mesh holds it: built, its text inline.
+const inlineNotifier = `{"module":"notifier","version":"1",
+  "resources":[{"id":"conf","type":"file","path":"/etc/notifier/notifier.conf","mode":"0644","content":"volume = 3\n"}]}`
+
+// aTemplatedModule writes a module's directory: its manifest and its files/.
+func aTemplatedModule(t *testing.T, dir, manifest string, files map[string]string) string {
+	t.Helper()
+	if err := os.MkdirAll(dir, 0o755); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	path := filepath.Join(dir, "module.json")
+	if err := os.WriteFile(path, []byte(manifest), 0o644); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	for name, text := range files {
+		full := filepath.Join(dir, filepath.FromSlash(name))
+		if err := os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(full), 0o755); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		if err := os.WriteFile(full, []byte(text), 0o644); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+	}
+	return path
+}
+
+func TestModuleCheckReadsTemplatesFromTheTreeBesideTheManifest(t *testing.T) {
+	good := aTemplatedModule(t, t.TempDir(), templatedNotifier, map[string]string{"files/notifier.conf": "volume = 3\n"})
+	var out bytes.Buffer
+	if err := moduleCheck([]string{good}, &out); err != nil || !strings.Contains(out.String(), "notifier: ok") {
+		t.Fatalf("a module with its text in files/ was refused: %v\n%s", err, out.String())
+	}
+
+	// A change to the template alone, to text the controller refuses inline, is refused the same.
+	bad := aTemplatedModule(t, t.TempDir(), templatedNotifier,
+		map[string]string{"files/notifier.conf": "volume = 3\nstore = ${dir:nowhere}\n"})
+	out.Reset()
+	if err := moduleCheck([]string{bad}, &out); err == nil || !strings.Contains(out.String(), "nowhere") {
+		t.Fatalf("a template whose text is refused inline passed:\n%s", out.String())
+	}
+
+	// A symlink under files/ that no template names: the build's packing refuses it, so the check does too.
+	linked := t.TempDir()
+	aTemplatedModule(t, linked, templatedNotifier, map[string]string{"files/notifier.conf": "volume = 3\n"})
+	if err := os.Symlink("/etc/hostname", filepath.Join(linked, "files", "elsewhere")); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	out.Reset()
+	if err := moduleCheck([]string{filepath.Join(linked, "module.json")}, &out); err == nil ||
+		!strings.Contains(out.String(), "files/elsewhere is a symlink") {
+		t.Fatalf("a symlink under files/ passed the check:\n%s", out.String())
+	}
+
+	// And a template the tree lacks, by name.
+	missing := aTemplatedModule(t, t.TempDir(), templatedNotifier, nil)
+	out.Reset()
+	if err := moduleCheck([]string{missing}, &out); err == nil || !strings.Contains(out.String(), "files/notifier.conf") {
+		t.Fatalf("a missing template was not refused by name:\n%s", out.String())
+	}
+}
+
+// templatedMesh is catalogueMesh with the notifier on the laptop, registered as built: its text inline.
+func templatedMesh(t *testing.T) (snapshot.Facts, map[string]string) {
+	t.Helper()
+	open := aMesh(t)
+	ctx := t.Context()
+	manifests := map[string]string{
+		"lemurs": `{"module":"lemurs","version":"1","capabilities":["systemd"],
+			"resources":[{"id":"service","type":"service","unit":"lemurs.service","state":"running","boot":"enabled"}]}`,
+		"notifier": inlineNotifier,
+	}
+	for name, raw := range manifests {
+		m, err := catalogue.ParseManifest([]byte(raw))
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("%s: %v", name, err)
+		}
+		if err := open.inventory.RegisterModule(ctx, m, inventory.Source{Repository: "novox/mesh-catalog",
+			Path: "modules/" + name, BuiltFrom: "c0ffee"}); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		if _, err := assign(ctx, open, "laptop", name); err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("assign %s: %v", name, err)
+		}
+	}
+	f, err := gatherFacts(ctx, open, "2.11.17")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	return f, manifests
+}
+
+// aTemplatedTree is the catalogue's checkout with the notifier's text in files/.
+func aTemplatedTree(t *testing.T, manifests map[string]string, text string, has bool) string {
+	t.Helper()
+	tree := aTree(t, withEdit(manifests, "notifier", ""))
+	files := map[string]string{}
+	if has {
+		files["files/notifier.conf"] = text
+	}
+	aTemplatedModule(t, filepath.Join(tree, "modules", "notifier"), templatedNotifier, files)
+	return tree
+}
+
+const notifierTemplate = "modules/notifier/files/notifier.conf"
+
+func TestTheMergeGateJudgesAChangeToATemplateAlone(t *testing.T) {
+	f, manifests := templatedMesh(t)
+
+	// The module moved to its template, the same text: nothing changes on any machine.
+	v := gateJudged(t, f, aTemplatedTree(t, manifests, "volume = 3\n", true), "modules/notifier/module.json",
+		notifierTemplate)
+	if v.Verdict == "fail" || v.Modules["notifier"] != "" {
+		t.Fatalf("the module moved to its template with the same text reads as a change (%v):\n%s", v.Modules, v.Report())
+	}
+
+	// The template alone changed: its module changed, and composes.
+	v = gateJudged(t, f, aTemplatedTree(t, manifests, "volume = 4\n", true), notifierTemplate)
+	if v.Verdict == "fail" || v.Modules["notifier"] != "changed" {
+		t.Fatalf("a change to the template alone is not a change to its module (%v):\n%s", v.Modules, v.Report())
+	}
+	if v.Width == nil || strings.Join(v.Width.Modules, ",") != "notifier" {
+		t.Fatalf("a change to the template rebuilds %+v, not its module", v.Width)
+	}
+
+	// The template alone changed to text the controller refuses: the pull request fails, naming the module.
+	v = gateJudged(t, f, aTemplatedTree(t, manifests, "store = ${dir:nowhere}\n", true), notifierTemplate)
+	if v.Verdict != "fail" || !strings.Contains(v.Report(), "notifier") {
+		t.Fatalf("a template the controller refuses passed the gate:\n%s", v.Report())
+	}
+
+	// A symlinked files/ fails: nothing is read from outside the tree.
+	tree := aTree(t, withEdit(manifests, "notifier", ""))
+	elsewhere := t.TempDir()
+	if err := os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(elsewhere, "notifier.conf"), []byte("volume = 3\n"), 0o644); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	aTemplatedModule(t, filepath.Join(tree, "modules", "notifier"), templatedNotifier, nil)
+	if err := os.Symlink(elsewhere, filepath.Join(tree, "modules", "notifier", "files")); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	v = gateJudged(t, f, tree, notifierTemplate)
+	if v.Verdict != "fail" || !strings.Contains(v.Report(), "files/ is a symlink") {
+		t.Fatalf("a symlinked files/ passed the gate:\n%s", v.Report())
+	}
+
+	// And the template removed from the tree fails, naming it.
+	v = gateJudged(t, f, aTemplatedTree(t, manifests, "", false), notifierTemplate)
+	if v.Verdict != "fail" || !strings.Contains(v.Report(), "files/notifier.conf") {
+		t.Fatalf("a missing template passed the gate:\n%s", v.Report())
+	}
+}
+
+// What the gate composes for the module in its template form is what the mesh composes for it inline.
+func TestTheMergeGateResolvesATemplatedModuleToItsInlineTwin(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	path := aTemplatedModule(t, dir, templatedNotifier, map[string]string{"files/notifier.conf": "volume = 3\n"})
+	raw, err := os.ReadFile(path)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	m, err := catalogue.ParseManifest(raw)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	m, err = catalogue.WithTemplatesFrom(m, dir)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	resolved, err := standInBuild(m)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	inline, err := catalogue.ParseManifest([]byte(inlineNotifier))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if builtAlike(resolved) != builtAlike(inline) {
+		got, _ := json.Marshal(resolved)
+		t.Fatalf("the templated module resolves to %s, not its inline twin", got)
+	}
+}

cmd/mesh-controller/testdata/placement-moved/anchor.json

@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+[
+  {
+    "id": "found.server",
+    "image": "registry.invalid:5000/library@sha256:aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa",
+    "networks": [
+      "predecessor_default"
+    ],
+    "type": "container"
+  },
+  {
+    "id": "library.access-storage/downloads",
+    "mode": "read",
+    "path": "/storage/downloads",
+    "type": "access"
+  },
+  {
+    "id": "library.access-storage/media/series",
+    "mode": "read",
+    "path": "/storage/media/series",
+    "type": "access"
+  },
+  {
+    "id": "library.config",
+    "mode": "0750",
+    "owner": "1001:2000",
+    "path": "/var/lib/library/config",
+    "type": "directory"
+  },
+  {
+    "content": "{\n  \"accesses\": {\n    \"downloads\": \"/storage/downloads\",\n    \"series\": \"/storage/media/series\"\n  },\n  \"log\": \"warn\",\n  \"places\": {\n    \"config\": {\n      \"owner\": \"1001:2000\",\n      \"path\": \"/var/lib/library/config\"\n    }\n  },\n  \"workers\": 4\n}\n",
+    "id": "library.runtime-config",
+    "mode": "0640",
+    "path": "/var/lib/library/config/runtime.json",
+    "type": "file"
+  },
+  {
+    "id": "library.server",
+    "image": "registry.invalid:5000/library@sha256:aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa",
+    "type": "container",
+    "volumes": [
+      "/var/lib/library/config:/config",
+      "/storage/media/series:/series",
+      "/storage/downloads:/downloads:ro"
+    ]
+  }
+]

cmd/mesh-controller/testdata/placement-moved/laptop.json

@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+[
+  {
+    "id": "library.access-home/media/series",
+    "mode": "read",
+    "path": "/home/media/series",
+    "type": "access"
+  },
+  {
+    "id": "library.access-storage/downloads",
+    "mode": "read",
+    "path": "/storage/downloads",
+    "type": "access"
+  },
+  {
+    "id": "library.config",
+    "mode": "0750",
+    "path": "/var/lib/library/config",
+    "type": "directory"
+  },
+  {
+    "content": "{\n  \"accesses\": {\n    \"downloads\": \"/storage/downloads\",\n    \"series\": \"/home/media/series\"\n  },\n  \"log\": \"warn\"\n}\n",
+    "id": "library.runtime-config",
+    "mode": "0640",
+    "path": "/var/lib/library/config/runtime.json",
+    "type": "file"
+  },
+  {
+    "id": "library.server",
+    "image": "registry.invalid:5000/library@sha256:aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa",
+    "type": "container",
+    "volumes": [
+      "/var/lib/library/config:/config",
+      "/home/media/series:/series",
+      "/storage/downloads:/downloads:ro"
+    ]
+  }
+]

cmd/mesh-controller/try.go

@@ -0,0 +1,353 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"errors"
+	"flag"
+	"fmt"
+	"net/url"
+	"os"
+	"regexp"
+	"strings"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/nats-io/nats.go"
+
+	"github.com/novox/mesh-controller/internal/broker"
+	"github.com/novox/mesh-controller/internal/link"
+)
+
+// A branch is tried before its pull request (novox/hq issue 686).
+//
+// A repository's store tests skip without a store, and no agent may start a database on its machine. So a
+// builder pushed, a reviewer read, and only the pull request's merge check ran those tests for the first time:
+// each failure there cost a round of fifteen to thirty minutes (mesh-controller #283, #310, #312).
+//
+// `try <owner>/<repository> <ref>` asks the build seat for the repository's own check of a pushed branch or
+// commit, as the merge check runs it (internal/builder/check.go): the ref merged into the trunk's head, the
+// trunk's merge-check.sh, each part in its toolchain's container, against a throwaway store and bus. It is a
+// check and nothing more:
+//
+//   - **no pull request, so no status**: its outcome is never said as `checked`, which is what the forge's
+//     holder sets statuses from (isTry, in Built);
+//   - **nothing registered, nothing built**: it names no module of the graph, so the merge gate does not run and
+//     no build is made for a merge (novox/hq ADR 0350's scratch builds are a pull request's check's alone);
+//   - **a check in the build queue**: after deliveries (link.KindOf, novox/hq issue 558), and bounded by the
+//     check's own bound (checkTimeout);
+//   - **the code a pull request's check would run anyway**: only a repository of the mesh, whose every pull
+//     request the build seat already checks, in containers that hold no runtime socket.
+//
+// A check outlasts a seat verb's one answer, so the ask answers its id at once and `try --id <id>` reads what
+// came of it from the build's log, where the build seat says it whole (link.StepTried): holding its answer up
+// to tryWait for a verdict, like `plans wait` (novox/hq issue 229). Nothing is kept beside the log.
+
+// tryWait is how long reading a try holds its answer for the verdict. A variable so a test need not wait.
+var tryWait = 20 * time.Second
+
+// A ref as the forge is asked for it — a branch or a commit, never an option — and a `go test -run` pattern.
+var (
+	tryRef   = regexp.MustCompile(`^[A-Za-z0-9][A-Za-z0-9._/-]*$`)
+	tryTests = regexp.MustCompile(`^[A-Za-z0-9_^$|().*+?/\[\]-]+$`)
+)
+
+// tryAnswer is what `try` answers, asking or reading.
+type tryAnswer struct {
+	ID string `json:"id"`
+	// State is asked (just now), waiting (nothing said of it yet: in the build queue), running, or the verdict:
+	// pass, warning (the repository declares no merge-check.sh), fail, or error (it could not run).
+	State      string   `json:"state"`
+	Said       string   `json:"said"`
+	Repository string   `json:"repository,omitempty"`
+	Ref        string   `json:"ref,omitempty"`
+	Commit     string   `json:"commit,omitempty"`
+	Base       string   `json:"base,omitempty"`
+	Trunk      string   `json:"trunk,omitempty"`
+	On         string   `json:"on,omitempty"`
+	Took       string   `json:"took,omitempty"`
+	Failed     []string `json:"failed,omitempty"`
+	// Last is the last thing the build seat said of one still running.
+	Last string `json:"last,omitempty"`
+}
+
+// isTry says a check's outcome is a try's: marked so, or — echoed by a build seat from before the mark — a
+// check of no pull request and no group, which is nobody's status either.
+func isTry(result link.BuildResult) bool {
+	c := result.Checked
+	return c != nil && (c.Try || (c.Number == 0 && c.Group == ""))
+}
+
+// asATry makes a check's ask a try's: the repository's own script alone, for no pull request.
+func asATry(request link.BuildRequest, tests string, storeOnly bool) link.BuildRequest {
+	c := *request.Check
+	c.Number, c.Try, c.Tests, c.StoreOnly = 0, true, tests, storeOnly
+	c.Paths, c.Modules, c.New, c.Dependents, c.Manifests, c.Builds = nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil
+	c.Judge, c.Plan, c.Group, c.Members = "", nil, "", nil
+	request.Check = &c
+	return request
+}
+
+// maxTries is how many tries may wait or run at once, mesh-wide: each holds a build machine for minutes.
+const maxTries = 4
+
+// triesIn reads the build queue for a new try of one commit: the id of a try of that commit already waiting or
+// running — the answer to a second ask — and whether there is room for another.
+func triesIn(q link.Queue, owner, repo, commit string) (same string, room bool) {
+	n := 0
+	for _, a := range q.Asks {
+		if !link.IsTry(a.Request) || (a.State != link.AskWaiting && a.State != link.AskInFlight) {
+			continue
+		}
+		n++
+		c := a.Request.Check
+		if same == "" && strings.EqualFold(c.Owner, owner) && strings.EqualFold(c.Repo, repo) && a.Request.Ref == commit {
+			same = a.ID
+		}
+	}
+	return same, n < maxTries
+}
+
+// forgeCommit asks the forge, through its module's tools on the bus, which commit a branch or commit of a
+// repository is, and the repository's default branch. A variable so a test needs no forge.
+var forgeCommit = func(ctx context.Context, owner, repo, ref string) (commit, trunk string, err error) {
+	js, err := aBus()
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", "", err
+	}
+	defer js.Close()
+	bus := link.OverNATS{Conn: js.Conn()}
+	ask := func(path string, into any) error {
+		raw, _ := json.Marshal(map[string]any{"path": path})
+		answer, err := link.Ask(ctx, bus, "gitea", "gitea_api", raw, 30*time.Second)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		if answer.Error != "" {
+			return errors.New(answer.Error)
+		}
+		return json.Unmarshal(answer.Result, into)
+	}
+	var commits struct {
+		Result []struct {
+			SHA string `json:"sha"`
+		} `json:"result"`
+	}
+	if err := ask("/repos/"+owner+"/"+repo+"/commits?limit=1&stat=false&verification=false&files=false&sha="+
+		url.QueryEscape(ref), &commits); err != nil {
+		return "", "", err
+	}
+	if len(commits.Result) == 0 || commits.Result[0].SHA == "" {
+		return "", "", errors.New("the forge named no commit for it")
+	}
+	var found struct {
+		Result struct {
+			DefaultBranch string `json:"default_branch"`
+		} `json:"result"`
+	}
+	if err := ask("/repos/"+owner+"/"+repo, &found); err != nil {
+		return "", "", err
+	}
+	return commits.Result[0].SHA, found.Result.DefaultBranch, nil
+}
+
+// tryCommand is `try <owner>/<repository> <ref> [--base <branch>] [--tests <pattern>] [--store-only]`, and
+// `try --id <id>` to read what came of one.
+func tryCommand(ctx context.Context, args []string) error {
+	set := flag.NewFlagSet("try", flag.ContinueOnError)
+	base := set.String("base", "", "the branch it is merged into (the repository's default branch when none)")
+	tests := set.String("tests", "", "only the tests this `go test -run` pattern names")
+	storeOnly := set.Bool("store-only", false, "only the repository's store tests")
+	id := set.String("id", "", "a try's id: what came of it")
+	positionals, err := parseAround(set, args)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	usage := errors.New("try <owner>/<repository> <branch or commit> [--base <branch>] [--tests <pattern>] " +
+		"[--store-only], or try --id <id>")
+	if *id != "" {
+		if len(positionals) != 0 {
+			return usage
+		}
+		// Before it is a token of a bus subject: an id, never a pattern.
+		if !link.SafeBuildID(*id) {
+			return fmt.Errorf("%q is not a try's id", *id)
+		}
+		return tryRead(ctx, *id)
+	}
+	if len(positionals) != 2 {
+		return usage
+	}
+	owner, repo, isPath := strings.Cut(positionals[0], "/")
+	ref := positionals[1]
+	switch {
+	case !isPath || !tryRef.MatchString(owner) || !tryRef.MatchString(repo) || strings.Contains(repo, "/"):
+		return fmt.Errorf("%q is not a repository on the forge, owner/name; nothing was asked", positionals[0])
+	case !tryRef.MatchString(ref):
+		return fmt.Errorf("%q is not a branch or a commit; nothing was asked", ref)
+	case *base != "" && !tryRef.MatchString(*base):
+		return fmt.Errorf("%q is not a branch; nothing was asked", *base)
+	case *tests != "" && !tryTests.MatchString(*tests):
+		return fmt.Errorf("%q is not a `go test -run` pattern of test names; nothing was asked", *tests)
+	}
+	// **An unknown ref is refused here, loudly** — not sent to a machine to fail at its clone minutes later.
+	commit, trunk, err := forgeCommit(ctx, owner, repo, ref)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("the forge holds no branch or commit %s in %s/%s — is it pushed? — so nothing was asked: %w",
+			ref, owner, repo, err)
+	}
+	if *base != "" {
+		trunk = *base
+	}
+	if trunk == "" {
+		return fmt.Errorf("the forge named no default branch for %s/%s, and no --base says what %s is merged into; "+
+			"nothing was asked", owner, repo, ref)
+	}
+
+	open, err := openStores(ctx)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	defer open.Close()
+	entries, read, edges, err := theGraph(ctx, open.inventory)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	p := link.PullUpdated{Owner: owner, Repo: repo, Base: trunk, Commit: commit}
+	// Whose repository it is, as a pull request's check reckons it: only the mesh's is tried, the code the
+	// build seat runs for every pull request already.
+	mesh := pullScope(p, entries, read, edges)
+	if !mesh.Mesh {
+		return fmt.Errorf("%s/%s is no repository of the mesh — no module is built from it and its owner is not "+
+			"the core's — and only the mesh's are tried on the build seat; nothing was asked", owner, repo)
+	}
+	request, err := checkRequestFor(ctx, open, p, checkScope{Mesh: true, From: mesh.From}, entries)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	request = asATry(request, *tests, *storeOnly)
+	seat := buildSeatHeld(ctx)
+	// **Bounded in number** (novox/hq issue 686): one try of a commit at a time, and maxTries in all.
+	js, err := dialTheBus()
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	queue, err := link.ReadQueue(ctx, js, seat)
+	js.Close()
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	same, room := triesIn(queue, owner, repo, commit)
+	if same != "" {
+		return printTry(tryAnswer{ID: same, State: "asked", Repository: owner + "/" + repo, Ref: ref, Commit: commit,
+			On: seat, Said: fmt.Sprintf("a try of %s/%s at %.12s already waits or runs, as %s: nothing new was asked. "+
+				"Read it with try id=%s", owner, repo, commit, same, same)})
+	}
+	if !room {
+		return fmt.Errorf("%d tries already wait or run on the build seat, the most at once (`queue` lists them); "+
+			"nothing was asked — read one of yours, or ask again when one has ended", maxTries)
+	}
+	ask, err := askOverOn(seat)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	defer ask.Close()
+	if err := ask.Ask(ctx, request); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	return printTry(tryAnswer{ID: request.ID, State: "asked", Repository: owner + "/" + repo, Ref: ref, Commit: commit,
+		Base: trunk, On: seat, Said: fmt.Sprintf("asked %s to try %s/%s at %.12s (%s) merged into %s: its own "+
+			"merge-check.sh, as a check in the build queue, bounded at %s; no status is set and nothing is registered. "+
+			"Read it with try id=%s — a full run of this kind takes minutes", seat, owner, repo, commit, ref, trunk,
+			checkTimeout, request.ID)})
+}
+
+// tryRead answers what came of a try, holding the answer up to tryWait for its verdict.
+func tryRead(ctx context.Context, id string) error {
+	until := time.Now().Add(tryWait)
+	for {
+		lines, err := buildLines(ctx, id)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		a := tryAnswerOf(id, lines)
+		if (a.State != "waiting" && a.State != "running") || !time.Now().Add(2*time.Second).Before(until) {
+			return printTry(a)
+		}
+		if err := sleepOrDone(ctx, 2*time.Second); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// tryAnswerOf reads a try's answer from what the build seat said of it: its outcome under StepTried; `failed`
+// for one that could not run — an error, never a pass; else how far it is.
+func tryAnswerOf(id string, lines []link.BuildLine) tryAnswer {
+	a := tryAnswer{ID: id, State: "waiting", Said: "nothing is said of " + id + " yet: it waits in the build queue " +
+		"(`queue` says where), or no try has that id; ask again"}
+	for _, l := range lines {
+		switch l.Step {
+		case link.StepTried:
+			var t link.Tried
+			if err := json.Unmarshal([]byte(l.Message), &t); err != nil || t.Verdict == "" {
+				return tryAnswer{ID: id, State: "error", Said: "the build seat's word on it cannot be read: " + l.Message}
+			}
+			return tryAnswer{ID: id, State: t.Verdict, Said: t.Summary, Took: t.Took, Commit: t.Head, Trunk: t.Trunk,
+				Failed: t.Failed}
+		case "failed":
+			return tryAnswer{ID: id, State: "error", Said: "it could not run: " + l.Message}
+		case "checked":
+			// A check that is no try, or a build seat from before the verb: its verdict is not a try's.
+			return tryAnswer{ID: id, State: "error", Said: "the build seat checked it and said no try's outcome — " +
+				"it predates the verb (novox/hq issue 686), or " + id + " is no try: " + l.Message + "; `builds` with " +
+				"the id says every line"}
+		}
+		a.State, a.Last = "running", l.Message
+		a.Said = "still running; ask again. `builds` with the id says every line so far"
+	}
+	return a
+}
+
+func printTry(a tryAnswer) error {
+	fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr, a.Said)
+	for _, l := range a.Failed {
+		fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr, "    "+l)
+	}
+	out, err := json.MarshalIndent(a, "", "  ")
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	fmt.Println(string(out))
+	return nil
+}
+
+// buildLines is everything the build seat said of one build, as the bus keeps it, in order.
+func buildLines(ctx context.Context, id string) ([]link.BuildLine, error) {
+	js, err := aBus()
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("cannot reach the bus to read a build's log: %w", err)
+	}
+	defer js.Close()
+	subject := link.BuildLogOf("*", id)
+	sub, err := js.Context().PullSubscribe(subject, "",
+		nats.BindStream(broker.EventsStream), nats.DeliverAll(), nats.AckNone())
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("cannot read %s from the bus: %w", subject, err)
+	}
+	defer func() { _ = sub.Unsubscribe() }()
+	var lines []link.BuildLine
+	for {
+		batch, err := sub.Fetch(200, nats.MaxWait(2*time.Second))
+		if err != nil && !errors.Is(err, nats.ErrTimeout) && !errors.Is(err, context.DeadlineExceeded) {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("reading a build's log: %w", err)
+		}
+		for _, msg := range batch {
+			var line link.BuildLine
+			if json.Unmarshal(msg.Data, &line) == nil {
+				lines = append(lines, line)
+			}
+		}
+		if len(batch) < 200 {
+			return lines, nil
+		}
+	}
+}

cmd/mesh-controller/try_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,194 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"errors"
+	"reflect"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/novox/mesh-controller/internal/catalogue"
+	"github.com/novox/mesh-controller/internal/link"
+)
+
+// A branch is tried before its pull request (novox/hq issue 686): the repository's own check asked for a pushed
+// branch or commit, with no pull request.
+
+// What a try asks is a check — after deliveries in the build queue, bounded as one — of the repository's own
+// script alone: no module of the graph, so no gate; nothing built for a merge, so no reusable image.
+func TestATryAsksACheckOfTheRepositorysOwnScriptAlone(t *testing.T) {
+	request := link.BuildRequest{ID: "build-1", Ref: "c0ffee", Check: &link.CheckRequest{Owner: "novox", Repo: "a",
+		Number: 7, Base: "main", Modules: []string{"a"}, New: []string{"b"}, Manifests: []string{"module.json"},
+		Dependents: []string{"c"}, Builds: []link.CheckBuild{{Module: "a"}}, Judge: link.JudgeSelf,
+		Plan: &link.ChangePlan{}}}
+	tried := asATry(request, "^TestStore", true)
+	c := tried.Check
+	if !c.Try || c.Number != 0 || c.Tests != "^TestStore" || !c.StoreOnly {
+		t.Fatalf("not marked a try, or it kept a pull request's number: %+v", c)
+	}
+	if len(c.Modules)+len(c.New)+len(c.Manifests)+len(c.Dependents)+len(c.Builds) != 0 || c.Judge != "" || c.Plan != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("a try runs the gate or builds for a merge: %+v", c)
+	}
+	if c.Base != "main" || c.Owner != "novox" || tried.Ref != "c0ffee" {
+		t.Fatalf("a try lost what it merges into what: %+v", tried)
+	}
+	if link.KindOf(tried) != link.KindCheck {
+		t.Fatal("a try does not count as a check in the build queue")
+	}
+}
+
+// A try's outcome is heard and left there: no `checked` is said, so the forge's holder sets no status, and
+// nothing is recorded or registered (the handler holds no store here, and would fail reaching for one).
+func TestATrysOutcomeSetsNoStatusAndRegistersNothing(t *testing.T) {
+	said := &saidOnTheBus{}
+	checkEvents = said
+	defer func() { checkEvents = nil }()
+	for name, result := range map[string]link.BuildResult{
+		"a try": {ID: "build-1", Ref: "c0ffee", Checked: &link.CheckRequest{Owner: "novox", Repo: "a", Try: true},
+			Check: &link.CheckOutcome{Verdict: "pass", RepoCheck: &link.CheckLayer{Verdict: "fail", Summary: "failed"}}},
+		"a try that could not run": {ID: "build-2", Checked: &link.CheckRequest{Owner: "novox", Repo: "a", Try: true},
+			Failed: "cannot clone"},
+		// A build seat from before the mark echoes the ask without it: a check of no pull request and no
+		// group is still nobody's status.
+		"a try echoed by an older build seat": {ID: "build-3", Checked: &link.CheckRequest{Owner: "novox", Repo: "a"},
+			Check: &link.CheckOutcome{Verdict: "pass"}},
+	} {
+		if err := (builds{}).Built(context.Background(), result); err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("%s: %v", name, err)
+		}
+	}
+	if len(said.events) != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("a try's outcome was said for the forge: %v", said.events)
+	}
+	// A pull request's check is still said.
+	_ = (builds{}).Built(context.Background(), link.BuildResult{ID: "build-4", Checked: &link.CheckRequest{
+		Owner: "novox", Repo: "a", Number: 7}, Check: &link.CheckOutcome{Verdict: "pass"}})
+	if len(said.events) != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("a pull request's check was said %d time(s)", len(said.events))
+	}
+}
+
+// saidOnTheBus keeps the seat events said, and nothing else.
+type saidOnTheBus struct {
+	link.Bus
+	events []string
+}
+
+func (s *saidOnTheBus) PublishSeatEvent(_ context.Context, seat, event string, _ []byte) error {
+	s.events = append(s.events, seat+" "+event)
+	return nil
+}
+
+// A ref the forge does not hold is refused before anything is asked, naming it.
+func TestATryOfAnUnknownRefIsRefusedLoudly(t *testing.T) {
+	was := forgeCommit
+	defer func() { forgeCommit = was }()
+	forgeCommit = func(_ context.Context, owner, repo, ref string) (string, string, error) {
+		return "", "", errors.New("404 object does not exist [id: " + ref + "]")
+	}
+	err := tryCommand(context.Background(), []string{"novox/mesh-controller", "fix/no-such-branch"})
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("a try of a ref the forge does not hold was asked")
+	}
+	for _, want := range []string{"fix/no-such-branch", "novox/mesh-controller", "nothing was asked", "404"} {
+		if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), want) {
+			t.Errorf("the refusal does not say %q: %v", want, err)
+		}
+	}
+	for _, args := range [][]string{{"mesh-controller", "main"}, {"novox/mesh-controller"}, {"novox/a", "--upload-pack=x"},
+		{"novox/a", "main", "--tests", "x; rm -rf /"}, {"novox/a", "main", "--id", "build-1"}} {
+		if err := tryCommand(context.Background(), args); err == nil {
+			t.Errorf("try %v was taken", args)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// The answer of a try carries the lines that name what failed (novox/hq issue 460's shape) and how long it took.
+func TestATrysAnswerCarriesTheFailingLines(t *testing.T) {
+	tried, _ := json.Marshal(link.Tried{Verdict: "fail", Summary: "its merge-check.sh failed: TestX", Took: "5m3s",
+		Head: "c0ffee", Trunk: "ca3f43c", Failed: []string{"--- FAIL: TestX (0.01s)", "    x_test.go:12: got 1, want 2",
+			"FAIL\tgithub.com/novox/a/cmd\t3.1s"}})
+	lines := []link.BuildLine{{Seq: 1, Step: "check", Message: "novox/a#0 at c0ffee"},
+		{Seq: 2, Step: "output", Message: "ok  	github.com/novox/a/internal	1.2s"},
+		{Seq: 3, Step: link.StepTried, Message: string(tried)}, {Seq: 4, Step: "checked", Message: "pass: x"}}
+	a := tryAnswerOf("build-1", lines)
+	if a.State != "fail" || a.Took != "5m3s" || len(a.Failed) != 3 || a.Failed[0] != "--- FAIL: TestX (0.01s)" ||
+		a.Trunk != "ca3f43c" || a.ID != "build-1" {
+		t.Fatalf("the answer lost the verdict, the time or the failing lines: %+v", a)
+	}
+	// Not answered yet: said as running, with how far it is — never as a pass.
+	if a := tryAnswerOf("build-1", lines[:2]); a.State != "running" || a.Last == "" {
+		t.Fatalf("a try still running: %+v", a)
+	}
+	if a := tryAnswerOf("build-1", nil); a.State != "waiting" {
+		t.Fatalf("a try nothing was said of: %+v", a)
+	}
+	// One that could not run is an error with the build seat's word, never a pass.
+	if a := tryAnswerOf("build-1", append(lines[:1:1], link.BuildLine{Seq: 2, Step: "failed",
+		Message: "cannot clone"})); a.State != "error" || !strings.Contains(a.Said, "cannot clone") {
+		t.Fatalf("a try that could not run: %+v", a)
+	}
+}
+
+// One try of a commit at a time, and four in all (novox/hq issue 686): a second ask is answered the first's id,
+// a fifth is refused; a try that ended, and a pull request's check, count for nothing.
+func TestTriesAreBoundedInNumber(t *testing.T) {
+	ask := func(id, repo, ref, state string, try bool) link.QueuedAsk {
+		return link.QueuedAsk{ID: id, State: state, Request: link.BuildRequest{ID: id, Ref: ref,
+			Check: &link.CheckRequest{Owner: "novox", Repo: repo, Try: try}}}
+	}
+	q := link.Queue{Asks: []link.QueuedAsk{
+		ask("t1", "a", "c1", link.AskInFlight, true), ask("t2", "a", "c2", link.AskWaiting, true),
+		ask("t3", "b", "c1", link.AskDead, true), ask("p1", "a", "c9", link.AskWaiting, false)}}
+	if same, room := triesIn(q, "novox", "a", "c2"); same != "t2" || !room {
+		t.Fatalf("a second try of a commit: %q %v", same, room)
+	}
+	if same, room := triesIn(q, "novox", "b", "c1"); same != "" || !room {
+		t.Fatalf("a dead try, or another repository's, was taken for this one: %q %v", same, room)
+	}
+	if same, _ := triesIn(q, "novox", "a", "c9"); same != "" {
+		t.Fatalf("a pull request's check was taken for a try: %q", same)
+	}
+	q.Asks = append(q.Asks, ask("t4", "c", "c3", link.AskWaiting, true), ask("t5", "d", "c4", link.AskWaiting, true))
+	if _, room := triesIn(q, "novox", "e", "c5"); room {
+		t.Fatal("a fifth try was let in")
+	}
+	// An id is checked before it is a token of a bus subject.
+	for _, id := range []string{"x.>", "*", "a b"} {
+		if err := tryCommand(context.Background(), []string{"--id", id}); err == nil ||
+			!strings.Contains(err.Error(), "not a try's id") {
+			t.Errorf("try --id %q: %v", id, err)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// The verb runs its command, and is declared with the shell habit it replaces (novox/hq ADR 0245).
+func TestTheTryVerbRunsItsCommand(t *testing.T) {
+	for _, c := range []struct {
+		args map[string]any
+		want []string
+	}{
+		{map[string]any{"repository": "novox/a", "ref": "fix/x"}, []string{"try", "novox/a", "fix/x"}},
+		{map[string]any{"repository": "novox/a", "ref": "fix/x", "base": "main", "tests": "^TestX$", "store-only": "true"},
+			[]string{"try", "novox/a", "fix/x", "--base", "main", "--tests", "^TestX$", "--store-only"}},
+		{map[string]any{"id": "build-1"}, []string{"try", "--id", "build-1"}},
+	} {
+		got, err := argvFor("try", c.args)
+		if err != nil || !reflect.DeepEqual(got, c.want) {
+			t.Errorf("try %v: %v %v, want %v", c.args, got, err, c.want)
+		}
+	}
+	if _, err := argvFor("try", map[string]any{"repository": "novox/a"}); err == nil {
+		t.Error("a try of no ref was taken")
+	}
+	for _, v := range catalogue.ControllerVerbs {
+		if v.Name == "try" {
+			if len(v.Replaces) == 0 {
+				t.Error("try names no shell habit it replaces")
+			}
+			return
+		}
+	}
+	t.Error("try is not a verb of the controller seat")
+}

cmd/mesh-controller/upgrades.go

@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ func (f following) Upgraded(ctx context.Context, u link.Upgraded) error {
 	// `rebuild`, a `replay` registered — was sent here one machine after another without any judging; it
 	// now waits for a gate like any other build, and the release plan walks it through the machines, one
 	// at a time, each judged.
-	fmt.Printf("%s moved to %s outside a plan; a release plan sends it to %s, one machine at a time, each judged "+
+	fmt.Printf("%s moved to %s outside a plan; a release plan sends it to %s, one machine first and then the rest at once, each judged "+
 		"(`upgrade backlog` lists what waits)\n", u.Module, shortCommit(u.Commit), readableList(on))
 	return nil
 }

cmd/mesh-controller/walk_said.go

@@ -177,6 +177,12 @@ func walkReached(p inventory.Plan, running func(string) []string) map[string][]s
 			reached = appendNew(reached, r.Gate.Machines...)
 			carried(r.Gate)
 		}
+		for _, g := range r.Gates {
+			if g != nil && !g.Pending {
+				reached = appendNew(reached, g.Machines...)
+				carried(g)
+			}
+		}
 		for _, tier := range p.Tiers {
 			for _, m := range tier {
 				for _, n := range running(m) {

internal/builder/builder.go

@@ -108,6 +108,17 @@ type Result struct {
 	// recipe and the package it compiles; for any other, nothing is said and the whole of what the build
 	// sees stays its source, as before.
 	Sources []BuildSource
+
+	// Predefined is the list of predefined keys at the root of the repository at the commit built (novox/hq ADR
+	// 0348 §7), which the manifest was judged against; nil for a repository that holds none.
+	Predefined *Predefined
+}
+
+// Predefined is the list of predefined keys a build read: its text, canonical (catalogue.PredefinedList), and
+// the generation of the commit built — how many commits it stands on, which orders two builds of one trunk.
+type Predefined struct {
+	Keys       []byte
+	Generation int
 }
 
 // BuildSource is the build source a build read in one repository (novox/hq ADR 0267).
@@ -261,14 +272,38 @@ func build(ctx context.Context, run Runner, publish Publisher,
 			"%s has no %s at %s, so there is nothing saying what it is: %w",
 			repository, ManifestName, describe(path), err)
 	}
-	manifest, err := catalogue.ParseManifest(raw)
+	// **The list of predefined keys at the commit built** (novox/hq ADR 0348 §7): predefined.json at the
+	// repository's root, read strictly; a list that is wrong fails the build, and the manifest is judged against
+	// the list of its own tree, never against one the mesh published from another commit.
+	predefined, err := catalogue.ReadPredefined(tree)
+	if err != nil {
+		say("predefined", "INVALID: %v", err)
+		return Result{}, err
+	}
+	manifest, err := catalogue.ParseManifestWith(raw, predefined)
 	if err != nil {
 		say("manifest", "INVALID: %v", err)
 		return Result{}, err
 	}
+	var listed *Predefined
+	if predefined != nil {
+		text, err := predefined.Canonical()
+		if err != nil {
+			return Result{}, err
+		}
+		listed = &Predefined{Keys: text, Generation: generationOf(ctx, run, tree, commit)}
+		say("predefined", "%d key(s) at %s, generation %d", len(predefined), short(commit), listed.Generation)
+	}
 	// What is judged only where a definition is written (novox/hq ADR 0326 §3, issue 574): a build is
 	// where a changed definition is first read, so it is refused here before anything is made of it.
-	if problems := catalogue.WrittenSettingsProblems(manifest); len(problems) > 0 {
+	// Judged with each template's text in its file, as written in the tree (novox/hq ADR 0349 §2): a template the
+	// module's directory lacks is refused here, before anything is built.
+	judged, err := catalogue.WithTemplatesFrom(manifest, within)
+	if err != nil {
+		say("manifest", "INVALID: %v", err)
+		return Result{}, err
+	}
+	if problems := catalogue.WrittenSettingsProblems(judged); len(problems) > 0 {
 		err := fmt.Errorf("%s", strings.Join(problems, "; "))
 		say("manifest", "INVALID: %v", err)
 		return Result{}, err
@@ -284,6 +319,11 @@ func build(ctx context.Context, run Runner, publish Publisher,
 	if src.tree, err = gitTree(ctx, run, tree, path); err != nil {
 		src.notPinned("its tree could not be named: " + err.Error())
 	}
+	// A module falling back to a predefined key was judged against the list, so a change to the list is a change
+	// to it: the planner rebuilds it, and its build publishes the list (ADR 0348 §7).
+	if predefined != nil && manifest.NamesPredefined() {
+		src.rootHas(catalogue.PredefinedFile)
+	}
 
 	// A build-time credential, written into the build context as .npmrc, but ONLY for a module that
 	// asks for it: a `package` artifact (which publishes), or an image whose Dockerfile COPYs .npmrc.
@@ -410,6 +450,11 @@ func build(ctx context.Context, run Runner, publish Publisher,
 		}
 	}
 
+	// Each template's text, read back from the archive the build made or took (novox/hq ADR 0349 §2).
+	if built, err = withTemplateTexts(manifest, within, built); err != nil {
+		say("templates", "FAILED: %v", err)
+		return Result{}, err
+	}
 	resolved, err := manifest.Resolve(built)
 	if err != nil {
 		say("resolve", "FAILED: %v", err)
@@ -439,7 +484,23 @@ func build(ctx context.Context, run Runner, publish Publisher,
 	return Result{Manifest: resolved, Commit: commit, Built: built,
 		Against: against(within, manifest, stoodOn), Read: readBy(manifest), Source: fingerprint,
 		Trunk: trunk, OnTrunk: onTrunk, Branches: branches, Sources: sources,
-		ReuseKey: key.Key, ReuseParts: key.Parts, NoKey: key.Why, Reused: reused, Why: builtWhy}, nil
+		ReuseKey: key.Key, ReuseParts: key.Parts, NoKey: key.Why, Reused: reused, Why: builtWhy,
+		Predefined: listed}, nil
+}
+
+// generationOf is how many commits the commit built stands on, itself included: of two commits on one trunk the
+// later has more, so the controller keeps the list of the newer one whatever order it hears them in (ADR 0348
+// §7). 0 when git could not say.
+func generationOf(ctx context.Context, run Runner, tree, commit string) int {
+	out, err := run(ctx, tree, "git", "rev-list", "--count", commit)
+	if err != nil {
+		return 0
+	}
+	n, err := strconv.Atoi(strings.TrimSpace(out))
+	if err != nil || n < 0 {
+		return 0
+	}
+	return n
 }
 
 // takeACheckBuild is the walk's look for a check build of its key (novox/hq ADR 0350 §2, §3): the key taken by
@@ -1076,6 +1137,16 @@ func one(ctx context.Context, run Runner, publish Publisher,
 			return catalogue.Built{}, fmt.Errorf("%s: building %s failed: %w", module, a.Name, err)
 		}
 		say("image", "built, publishing")
+		// Its bases linked into its repository first, so the push needs none of their blobs from this
+		// machine's store, which may not hold them (novox/hq issue 694). Said and not fatal: a push
+		// from a store that holds them works without, and one that fails says which blob it lacked.
+		if lender, can := publish.(BaseLender); can {
+			if n, err := lender.LendBases(ctx, module+"/"+a.Name, buildArgValues(args)); err != nil {
+				say("image", "its bases could not all be linked into %s/%s before the push: %v", module, a.Name, err)
+			} else if n > 0 {
+				say("image", "%d blob(s) of its bases linked into %s/%s before the push", n, module, a.Name)
+			}
+		}
 		reference, err := publish.PublishImage(ctx, local, module+"/"+a.Name)
 		if err != nil {
 			return catalogue.Built{}, err
@@ -1427,6 +1498,19 @@ func standingOn(ctx context.Context, manifest catalogue.Manifest, held map[strin
 	return args, resolved, nil
 }
 
+// buildArgValues is what each --build-arg of a build was handed: the bases, as this mesh holds them.
+func buildArgValues(args []string) []string {
+	var values []string
+	for i := 0; i+1 < len(args); i += 2 {
+		if args[i] == "--build-arg" {
+			if _, value, has := strings.Cut(args[i+1], "="); has {
+				values = append(values, value)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	return values
+}
+
 // compile runs a module's own code through its toolchain, and says where the result is.
 //
 // **In the module's own directory, under the path the toolchain expects.** A module is compiled

internal/builder/builder_test.go

@@ -83,6 +83,8 @@ func (r *recorded) run(_ context.Context, dir, name string, args ...string) (str
 		return r.tree + "\n", nil
 	case name == "git" && len(args) > 0 && args[0] == "rev-parse":
 		return "c0ffeec0ffeec0ffeec0ffeec0ffeec0ffeec0ff\n", nil
+	case name == "git" && len(args) > 1 && args[0] == "rev-list" && args[1] == "--count":
+		return "42\n", nil
 	}
 	return "", nil
 }

internal/builder/check.go

@@ -103,6 +103,23 @@ type CheckSpec struct {
 	// for the walk to take. None for a group's composed check, whose members' own checks build.
 	Builds    []CheckBuildSpec
 	BuildWith *CheckBuilding
+	// Tests and StoreOnly narrow what the repository's own script runs, for a branch tried before its pull
+	// request (novox/hq issue 686): handed to the script as EnvTests and EnvStoreOnly, which it may read.
+	Tests     string
+	StoreOnly bool
+}
+
+// selection is what a check hands the repository's script to narrow what it runs (novox/hq issue 686): nothing
+// for a pull request's check, which always runs whole.
+func selection(spec CheckSpec) []string {
+	var env []string
+	if spec.Tests != "" {
+		env = append(env, EnvTests+"="+spec.Tests)
+	}
+	if spec.StoreOnly {
+		env = append(env, EnvStoreOnly+"=1")
+	}
+	return env
 }
 
 // GroupHead is one other head of a delivery group's composed check.
@@ -193,6 +210,11 @@ const (
 	// EnvGroup is a delivery group's other heads, as JSON, for the gate (novox/hq ADR 0239); empty for a
 	// pull request checked alone.
 	EnvGroup = "MESH_CHECK_GROUP"
+	// EnvTests is a `go test -run` pattern and EnvStoreOnly is 1 when a branch tried before its pull request
+	// asks for only those tests, or only the store tests (novox/hq issue 686). Never set for a pull request's
+	// check. A script that reads neither runs whole.
+	EnvTests     = "MESH_CHECK_TESTS"
+	EnvStoreOnly = "MESH_CHECK_STORE_ONLY"
 )
 
 // CheckTimeout bounds one check; a check that runs past it is an error, not a pass.
@@ -515,6 +537,7 @@ func Check(ctx context.Context, run Runner, spec CheckSpec, workspace, registry
 		EnvModules + "=" + strings.Join(append(append([]string{}, spec.Modules...), spec.New...), ","),
 		EnvGroup + "=" + groupFile,
 		"GOCACHE=" + filepath.Join(workspace, "go-cache"), "GOMODCACHE=" + filepath.Join(workspace, "go-modules")}
+	env = append(env, selection(spec)...)
 
 	v := CheckVerdict{}
 	modules := append(append([]string{}, spec.Modules...), prefixed("new:", spec.New)...)

internal/builder/check_test.go

@@ -590,3 +590,15 @@ func TestARepositoryInTwoLanguagesIsCheckedInBoth(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Errorf("a part in a toolchain the mesh does not hold answered %+v — never a pass", layer)
 	}
 }
+
+// A branch tried before its pull request may narrow what the repository's script runs (novox/hq issue 686); a
+// pull request's check is handed nothing, and runs whole.
+func TestOnlyATrysSelectionReachesTheScript(t *testing.T) {
+	if env := selection(CheckSpec{Number: 7}); len(env) != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("a pull request's check was handed a selection: %v", env)
+	}
+	env := selection(CheckSpec{Tests: "^TestX$", StoreOnly: true})
+	if len(env) != 2 || env[0] != "MESH_CHECK_TESTS=^TestX$" || env[1] != "MESH_CHECK_STORE_ONLY=1" {
+		t.Fatalf("a try's selection: %v", env)
+	}
+}

internal/builder/lend.go

@@ -0,0 +1,178 @@
+package builder
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"fmt"
+	"io"
+	"net/http"
+	"runtime"
+	"strings"
+)
+
+// **A built image's bases are linked into its repository before it is pushed** (novox/hq issue 694).
+//
+// A push reads every blob of the image out of this machine's store, unless the repository it goes to
+// already holds that blob: the runtime asks the registry first, blob by blob, and reads locally only
+// what the registry lacks. A runtime keeping its images in containerd's store — the default for a
+// fresh install from docker 29 on — does not always hold the compressed layers of the base an image
+// was built FROM: a layer whose unpacked form it already had is never fetched. The push of such an
+// image then fails on a layer this machine never had ("not all of them are available locally"), while
+// the very bytes sit in this registry, under the repository the base was mirrored into.
+//
+// So the base's blobs are mounted into the image's repository first. A mount moves no bytes, and once
+// the repository holds a blob the push asks this machine for nothing of it — whichever store the
+// runtime keeps. A runtime that holds every layer (the classic store) is not changed by this: its push
+// finds the same blobs already there.
+
+// BaseLender links what a build's bases hold into the repository its image is about to be pushed to.
+type BaseLender interface {
+	// LendBases mounts every blob of each base this registry holds — for the platform this machine
+	// builds — into `repository`, and answers how many it mounted.
+	LendBases(ctx context.Context, repository string, bases []string) (int, error)
+}
+
+// platformed is an index's entry: a manifest and the platform it is for.
+type platformed struct {
+	descriptor
+	Platform *struct {
+		OS           string `json:"os"`
+		Architecture string `json:"architecture"`
+	} `json:"platform"`
+}
+
+// LendBases mounts each base's blobs into the repository. A base this registry does not hold under its
+// repository — named by tag, or held somewhere else — lends nothing and is no error: the push reads it
+// from this machine's store as before.
+func (r Registry) LendBases(ctx context.Context, repository string, bases []string) (int, error) {
+	mounted := 0
+	for _, base := range bases {
+		name, digest, pinned := strings.Cut(base, "@")
+		if !pinned || !strings.HasPrefix(digest, "sha256:") {
+			continue
+		}
+		where, err := parseReference(name + "@" + digest)
+		if err != nil {
+			continue
+		}
+		from := where.repository
+		if from == repository {
+			continue
+		}
+		blobs, held, err := r.blobsOf(ctx, from, digest)
+		if err != nil {
+			return mounted, fmt.Errorf("reading %s: %w", base, err)
+		}
+		if !held {
+			continue
+		}
+		for _, blob := range blobs {
+			did, err := r.mount(ctx, repository, from, blob)
+			if err != nil {
+				return mounted, fmt.Errorf("linking %s of %s into %s: %w", blob, base, repository, err)
+			}
+			if did {
+				mounted++
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	return mounted, nil
+}
+
+// blobsOf is the config and layers of the manifest under repository@digest — for an index, of each
+// manifest it names for this machine's platform. False when the registry holds no such manifest there.
+func (r Registry) blobsOf(ctx context.Context, repository, digest string) ([]string, bool, error) {
+	body, held, err := r.manifest(ctx, repository, digest)
+	if err != nil || !held {
+		return nil, held, err
+	}
+	var document struct {
+		Manifests []platformed `json:"manifests"`
+		Config    *descriptor  `json:"config"`
+		Layers    []descriptor `json:"layers"`
+	}
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(body, &document); err != nil {
+		return nil, false, fmt.Errorf("%s@%s is not a manifest: %w", repository, digest, err)
+	}
+	var blobs []string
+	if document.Config != nil {
+		blobs = append(blobs, document.Config.Digest)
+	}
+	for _, l := range document.Layers {
+		blobs = append(blobs, l.Digest)
+	}
+	for _, m := range document.Manifests {
+		if m.Platform == nil || m.Platform.OS != runtime.GOOS || m.Platform.Architecture != runtime.GOARCH {
+			continue
+		}
+		more, held, err := r.blobsOf(ctx, repository, m.Digest)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, false, err
+		}
+		if held {
+			blobs = append(blobs, more...)
+		}
+	}
+	return blobs, true, nil
+}
+
+// manifest reads one manifest document from this registry; false when it is not there.
+func (r Registry) manifest(ctx context.Context, repository, digest string) ([]byte, bool, error) {
+	request, err := http.NewRequestWithContext(ctx, http.MethodGet,
+		"http://"+r.Address+"/v2/"+repository+"/manifests/"+digest, nil)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, false, err
+	}
+	request.Header.Set("Accept", manifestAccept)
+	response, err := r.client().Do(request)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, false, fmt.Errorf("cannot reach the registry at %s: %w", r.Address, err)
+	}
+	defer response.Body.Close()
+	if response.StatusCode == http.StatusNotFound {
+		return nil, false, nil
+	}
+	if response.StatusCode != http.StatusOK {
+		return nil, false, fmt.Errorf("%s/%s@%s: %s", r.Address, repository, digest, response.Status)
+	}
+	body, err := io.ReadAll(io.LimitReader(response.Body, 4<<20))
+	return body, err == nil, err
+}
+
+// mount links one blob from one repository into another; false when the repository already held it.
+func (r Registry) mount(ctx context.Context, repository, from, digest string) (bool, error) {
+	base := "http://" + r.Address + "/v2/" + repository
+	if there, err := r.has(ctx, base+"/blobs/"+digest); err != nil {
+		return false, err
+	} else if there {
+		return false, nil
+	}
+	start, err := http.NewRequestWithContext(ctx, http.MethodPost,
+		base+"/blobs/uploads/?mount="+digest+"&from="+from, nil)
+	if err != nil {
+		return false, err
+	}
+	begun, err := r.client().Do(start)
+	if err != nil {
+		return false, fmt.Errorf("cannot reach the registry at %s: %w", r.Address, err)
+	}
+	begun.Body.Close()
+	if begun.StatusCode == http.StatusCreated {
+		return true, nil
+	}
+	if begun.StatusCode == http.StatusAccepted {
+		// Not mounted, and an upload begun in its place: let go of it, so nothing is left half-open.
+		if location := begun.Header.Get("Location"); location != "" {
+			if strings.HasPrefix(location, "/") {
+				location = "http://" + r.Address + location
+			}
+			if cancel, err := http.NewRequestWithContext(ctx, http.MethodDelete, location, nil); err == nil {
+				if done, err := r.client().Do(cancel); err == nil {
+					done.Body.Close()
+				}
+			}
+		}
+		return false, fmt.Errorf("%s did not mount it from %s", r.Address, from)
+	}
+	return false, fmt.Errorf("%s answered %s when asked to mount it from %s", r.Address, begun.Status, from)
+}

internal/builder/lend_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,140 @@
+package builder
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"net/http/httptest"
+	"runtime"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+// A built image's bases are linked into its repository before it is pushed (novox/hq issue 694): a
+// runtime keeping containerd's image store may not hold a base layer it never had to fetch, and its push
+// asks this machine only for what the repository lacks.
+
+// aBaseForThisMachine puts an index into the registry under `repository`: one manifest for this
+// machine's platform, one for another, and answers the index's digest and each manifest's blobs.
+func aBaseForThisMachine(t *testing.T, dst *aRegistryOfRepositories, repository string) (string, []string, []string) {
+	t.Helper()
+	put := func(arch string) (string, []string) {
+		config := []byte(`{"architecture":"` + arch + `"}`)
+		layer := []byte(arch + " layer bytes")
+		for _, b := range [][]byte{config, layer} {
+			dst.blobs[digestOf(b)] = b
+			dst.link(repository, digestOf(b))
+		}
+		m, _ := json.Marshal(map[string]any{
+			"schemaVersion": 2, "mediaType": mediaManifestOCI,
+			"config": map[string]any{"mediaType": "application/vnd.oci.image.config.v1+json", "digest": digestOf(config), "size": len(config)},
+			"layers": []map[string]any{{"mediaType": "application/vnd.oci.image.layer.v1.tar+gzip", "digest": digestOf(layer), "size": len(layer)}},
+		})
+		dst.manifests[repository+"@"+digestOf(m)] = m
+		return digestOf(m), []string{digestOf(config), digestOf(layer)}
+	}
+	other := "s390x"
+	if runtime.GOARCH == other {
+		other = "amd64"
+	}
+	mine, mineBlobs := put(runtime.GOARCH)
+	theirs, theirBlobs := put(other)
+	index, _ := json.Marshal(map[string]any{
+		"schemaVersion": 2, "mediaType": mediaIndexOCI,
+		"manifests": []map[string]any{
+			{"mediaType": mediaManifestOCI, "digest": mine, "size": 1, "platform": map[string]string{"os": runtime.GOOS, "architecture": runtime.GOARCH}},
+			{"mediaType": mediaManifestOCI, "digest": theirs, "size": 1, "platform": map[string]string{"os": "linux", "architecture": other}},
+		},
+	})
+	dst.manifests[repository+"@"+digestOf(index)] = index
+	return digestOf(index), mineBlobs, theirBlobs
+}
+
+func TestABuildsBaseIsLinkedIntoItsRepositoryBeforeThePush(t *testing.T) {
+	dst := newRegistryOfRepositories()
+	server := httptest.NewServer(dst.handler())
+	defer server.Close()
+	address := strings.TrimPrefix(server.URL, "http://")
+	r := Registry{Address: address}
+
+	const from = "upstream/docker.io/library/golang"
+	index, mine, theirs := aBaseForThisMachine(t, dst, from)
+	bases := []string{
+		address + "/" + from + "@" + index,
+		// Not bases this registry holds: a package version, a tag, an image held nowhere here.
+		"@novox/mesh-sdk@1.2.3",
+		"golang:1-alpine",
+		"elsewhere.invalid/thing@sha256:" + strings.Repeat("e", 64),
+	}
+	n, err := r.LendBases(context.Background(), "mesh-tools-go/build", bases)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	// Every blob of this machine's platform is in the image's repository, so a push asks this machine's
+	// store for none of them; another platform's are not, since nothing built here stands on them.
+	for _, blob := range mine {
+		if !dst.links["mesh-tools-go/build"][blob] {
+			t.Fatalf("the base's blob %s is not in the image's repository", blob)
+		}
+	}
+	for _, blob := range theirs {
+		if dst.links["mesh-tools-go/build"][blob] {
+			t.Fatalf("another platform's blob %s was linked", blob)
+		}
+	}
+	if n != len(mine) || dst.mounts != len(mine) || dst.uploads != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("%d linked, %d mounts, %d uploads; want %d mounts and no bytes moved", n, dst.mounts, dst.uploads, len(mine))
+	}
+
+	// Asked again, nothing is mounted twice.
+	if n, err := r.LendBases(context.Background(), "mesh-tools-go/build", bases); err != nil || n != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("a second lending mounted %d: %v", n, err)
+	}
+}
+
+// A registry that will not mount is said, not hidden: the push is still tried, from the store.
+func TestABaseTheRegistryWillNotMountIsAnError(t *testing.T) {
+	dst := newRegistryOfRepositories()
+	dst.noMount = true
+	server := httptest.NewServer(dst.handler())
+	defer server.Close()
+	address := strings.TrimPrefix(server.URL, "http://")
+	index, _, _ := aBaseForThisMachine(t, dst, "upstream/thing")
+	_, err := Registry{Address: address}.LendBases(context.Background(), "hello/server",
+		[]string{address + "/upstream/thing@" + index})
+	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "did not mount") {
+		t.Fatalf("a refused mount passed silently: %v", err)
+	}
+}
+
+// lending records what a build lent, and when, against the push.
+type lending struct {
+	*mirroring
+	order []string
+}
+
+func (l *lending) LendBases(_ context.Context, repository string, bases []string) (int, error) {
+	l.order = append(l.order, "lend "+repository+" "+strings.Join(bases, " "))
+	return len(bases), nil
+}
+
+func (l *lending) PublishImage(ctx context.Context, localTag, repository string) (string, error) {
+	l.order = append(l.order, "push "+repository)
+	return l.mirroring.PublishImage(ctx, localTag, repository)
+}
+
+func TestAnImageIsPushedOnlyAfterItsBasesAreLent(t *testing.T) {
+	r, workspace := aRepository(t, anImage, map[string]string{"modules/bus/Dockerfile": "ARG BASE\nFROM ${BASE}"})
+	r.contents["modules/bus/module.json"] = anImage
+	l := &lending{mirroring: &mirroring{recorded: r, at: "127.0.0.1:5000"}}
+	if _, err := Build(context.Background(), r.run, l, "https://forge.invalid/catalogue.git", "modules/bus", "", workspace,
+		nil, Npmrc{}, GitCredential{}, nil); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	want := []string{
+		"lend bus/server 127.0.0.1:5000/upstream/docker.io/vendor/server@sha256:" + strings.Repeat("1", 64),
+		"push bus/server",
+	}
+	if strings.Join(l.order, "\n") != strings.Join(want, "\n") {
+		t.Fatalf("the build did:\n%s\nwant:\n%s", strings.Join(l.order, "\n"), strings.Join(want, "\n"))
+	}
+}

internal/builder/predefined_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,106 @@
+package builder
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"slices"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/novox/mesh-controller/internal/catalogue"
+)
+
+// A build reads the list of predefined keys at the root of the repository at the commit it builds (novox/hq ADR
+// 0348 §7, design 57 package K2, issue 661): it refuses a list that is wrong, judges the manifest against it, and
+// carries it with the commit's generation for the controller to publish.
+
+const theFirstKeys = `{
+  "font-size": {"type": "number", "description": "the size text is shown in, in points", "minimum": 6, "maximum": 72},
+  "agent-managed-settings": {"type": "object", "description": "the managed settings of every agent session, a JSON object", "trusted": true}
+}`
+
+// fallingBack is a module of the catalogue whose font size falls back to the predefined key named.
+func fallingBack(key, kind string) string {
+	def := "10"
+	if kind == "string" {
+		def = `"10"`
+	}
+	return `{"module":"dunst","version":"1",
+  "build":{"artifacts":[{"name":"look","kind":"archive","from":"files"}]},
+  "config":{"font-size":{"type":"` + kind + `","description":"the notification's font size, in points",
+    "default":` + def + `,"predefined":"` + key + `"}},
+  "resources":[
+    {"id":"theme","type":"archive","path":"/opt/dunst","artifact":"look"},
+    {"id":"rc","type":"file","path":"/etc/xdg/dunst/dunstrc","content":"font = Inter ${config:font-size}\n"}]}`
+}
+
+func buildInTheCatalogue(t *testing.T, manifest string, list *string) (Result, error) {
+	t.Helper()
+	r := &recorded{contents: map[string]string{"modules/dunst/" + ManifestName: manifest,
+		"modules/dunst/files/theme.conf": "dark", "README.md": "the catalogue"}}
+	if list != nil {
+		r.contents[catalogue.PredefinedFile] = *list
+	}
+	return Build(context.Background(), onTrunk{recorded: r}.run, r, "https://forge.invalid/mesh-catalog.git",
+		"modules/dunst", "", t.TempDir(), nil, Npmrc{}, GitCredential{}, nil)
+}
+
+func TestABuildNamingAPredefinedKeyIsJudgedAgainstItsTreesListAndCarriesIt(t *testing.T) {
+	list := theFirstKeys
+	got, err := buildInTheCatalogue(t, fallingBack("font-size", "number"), &list)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("a module falling back to font-size did not build: %v", err)
+	}
+	if got.Predefined == nil || got.Predefined.Generation != 42 {
+		t.Fatalf("the list was not carried with its generation: %+v", got.Predefined)
+	}
+	carried, err := catalogue.ParsePredefined(got.Predefined.Keys)
+	if err != nil || len(carried) != 2 || carried["font-size"].Type != catalogue.ConfigNumber {
+		t.Fatalf("the list carried is %s (%v)", got.Predefined.Keys, err)
+	}
+	// A change to the list is a change to the module that was judged against it.
+	if len(got.Sources) == 0 || !slices.Contains(got.Sources[0].Paths, catalogue.PredefinedFile) {
+		t.Fatalf("its build source leaves the list out: %+v", got.Sources)
+	}
+
+	for _, c := range []struct{ manifest, says string }{
+		{fallingBack("font-scale", "number"), `"font-scale", which is not on the list`},
+		{fallingBack("font-size", "string"), "which is a number, and this value is a string"},
+	} {
+		if _, err := buildInTheCatalogue(t, c.manifest, &list); err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), c.says) {
+			t.Errorf("wanted the build refused saying %q, got %v", c.says, err)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestABuildRefusesAWrongList(t *testing.T) {
+	wrong := `{"font-size": {"type": "number", "description": "points", "unit": "pt"}}`
+	if _, err := buildInTheCatalogue(t, fallingBack("font-size", "number"), &wrong); err == nil ||
+		!strings.Contains(err.Error(), `unknown field "unit"`) {
+		t.Fatalf("a wrong list was built with: %v", err)
+	}
+}
+
+// A repository without the list builds as before, carrying none; a value naming a key there is refused.
+func TestABuildWithoutAListCarriesNone(t *testing.T) {
+	plain := strings.Replace(fallingBack("font-size", "number"), `,"predefined":"font-size"`, "", 1)
+	got, err := buildInTheCatalogue(t, plain, nil)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if got.Predefined != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("a list was carried from a tree holding none: %+v", got.Predefined)
+	}
+	if slices.Contains(got.Sources[0].Paths, catalogue.PredefinedFile) {
+		t.Fatalf("the build source names a list: %+v", got.Sources)
+	}
+	if _, err := buildInTheCatalogue(t, fallingBack("font-size", "number"), nil); err == nil ||
+		!strings.Contains(err.Error(), "is not present") {
+		t.Fatalf("a key named where no list is: %v", err)
+	}
+	// A list present and a module naming no key: carried, and not the module's build source.
+	list := theFirstKeys
+	got, err = buildInTheCatalogue(t, plain, &list)
+	if err != nil || got.Predefined == nil || slices.Contains(got.Sources[0].Paths, catalogue.PredefinedFile) {
+		t.Fatalf("a module naming no key: %+v %+v %v", got.Predefined, got.Sources, err)
+	}
+}

internal/builder/reuse.go

@@ -257,6 +257,13 @@ func (s scratchPublisher) PublishArchive(ctx context.Context, repository string,
 	return s.to.PublishArchive(ctx, ScratchPrefix+repository, body, digest)
 }
 
+func (s scratchPublisher) LendBases(ctx context.Context, repository string, bases []string) (int, error) {
+	if l, can := s.to.(BaseLender); can {
+		return l.LendBases(ctx, ScratchPrefix+repository, bases)
+	}
+	return 0, nil
+}
+
 func (s scratchPublisher) MirrorImage(ctx context.Context, from, repository string) (string, error) {
 	m, can := s.to.(Mirrorer)
 	if !can {

internal/builder/reuse_test.go

@@ -73,8 +73,14 @@ const reusedModule = `{"module":"meshboard","version":"1",
 // aModuleAt is a repository holding the module under mod/, whose directory git names as tree, on its trunk.
 func aModuleAt(t *testing.T, tree string) (*recorded, Runner, string) {
 	t.Helper()
-	r := &recorded{tree: tree, contents: map[string]string{"mod/" + ManifestName: reusedModule,
-		"mod/Dockerfile": "FROM scratch", "mod/files/theme.conf": "dark"}}
+	return aModuleWith(t, tree, map[string]string{"mod/" + ManifestName: reusedModule,
+		"mod/Dockerfile": "FROM scratch", "mod/files/theme.conf": "dark"})
+}
+
+// aModuleWith is aModuleAt with the repository's files given.
+func aModuleWith(t *testing.T, tree string, contents map[string]string) (*recorded, Runner, string) {
+	t.Helper()
+	r := &recorded{tree: tree, contents: contents}
 	run := func(ctx context.Context, dir, name string, args ...string) (string, error) {
 		if name == "git" && len(args) > 0 && args[0] == "symbolic-ref" {
 			r.ran = append(r.ran, name+" "+strings.Join(args, " "))
@@ -100,6 +106,12 @@ var aPull = PullRef{Owner: "novox", Repo: "meshboard", Number: 7}
 func aCheckBuilt(t *testing.T, scratch *aScratch, tree string) CheckBuilt {
 	t.Helper()
 	r, run, workspace := aModuleAt(t, tree)
+	return aCheckBuiltBy(t, scratch, r, run, workspace)
+}
+
+// aCheckBuiltBy is aCheckBuilt of the repository given.
+func aCheckBuiltBy(t *testing.T, scratch *aScratch, r *recorded, run Runner, workspace string) CheckBuilt {
+	t.Helper()
 	spec := CheckSpec{ID: "build-1", Owner: aPull.Owner, Repo: aPull.Repo, Number: aPull.Number,
 		Builds: []CheckBuildSpec{{Module: "meshboard", Repository: "https://forge.invalid/meshboard.git", Path: "mod",
 			Ref: "main"}}}

internal/builder/source.go

@@ -58,6 +58,9 @@ type sourceInputs struct {
 	// whole when an artifact's is not known (novox/hq ADR 0267).
 	own      map[string]bool
 	ownIsAll bool
+	// root is the module's build source in its own repository outside its directory, relative to the
+	// repository's root: the list of predefined keys a manifest naming one was judged against (ADR 0348 §7).
+	root map[string]bool
 	// read is, per context (repository and ref), the build source read there; nil for one read whole.
 	read   map[string]map[string]bool
 	readAs map[string]catalogue.ArtifactContext
@@ -86,6 +89,9 @@ func (s *sourceInputs) copy() *sourceInputs {
 	for k, v := range s.own {
 		c.own[k] = v
 	}
+	for k, v := range s.root {
+		c.root[k] = v
+	}
 	for k, v := range s.read {
 		if v == nil {
 			c.read[k] = nil
@@ -112,7 +118,7 @@ func (s *sourceInputs) contextOffHead() {
 
 func newSourceInputs(module string) *sourceInputs {
 	return &sourceInputs{module: module, contexts: map[string]string{}, toolchains: map[string]string{},
-		own: map[string]bool{}, read: map[string]map[string]bool{}, readAs: map[string]catalogue.ArtifactContext{},
+		own: map[string]bool{}, root: map[string]bool{}, read: map[string]map[string]bool{}, readAs: map[string]catalogue.ArtifactContext{},
 		contextsAtHead: true}
 }
 
@@ -126,6 +132,16 @@ func (s *sourceInputs) ownHas(entries ...string) {
 	}
 }
 
+// rootHas adds entries, relative to the repository's root, to the module's build source in its own repository.
+func (s *sourceInputs) rootHas(entries ...string) {
+	if s == nil {
+		return
+	}
+	for _, e := range entries {
+		s.root[e] = true
+	}
+}
+
 // ownWhole says an artifact's build source in the module's own repository is not known: the module's
 // whole directory is its source, as it was before.
 func (s *sourceInputs) ownWhole() {
@@ -178,6 +194,9 @@ func (s *sourceInputs) buildSources() []BuildSource {
 		for e := range s.own {
 			own = append(own, withPrefix(s.prefix, e))
 		}
+		for e := range s.root {
+			own = append(own, e)
+		}
 		sort.Strings(own)
 		out = append(out, BuildSource{Paths: compactSorted(own)})
 	}

internal/builder/template.go

@@ -0,0 +1,94 @@
+package builder
+
+import (
+	"archive/tar"
+	"bytes"
+	"compress/gzip"
+	"crypto/sha256"
+	"encoding/hex"
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"io"
+	"path/filepath"
+
+	"github.com/novox/mesh-controller/internal/catalogue"
+)
+
+// withTemplateTexts is what was built with each template's text, for a module whose files name templates
+// (novox/hq ADR 0349 §2): its templates archive gains the text of every file in it, read back from the packed
+// bytes, by its path inside the archive. Resolve reads them into the files' content.
+//
+// **Read from the archive, proven by its digest.** The module's files/ is packed again, as the build packs it,
+// and the bytes are read only when they hash to the digest the build made or took: a fresh build's own archive,
+// or a check's build a walk copied by digest without building (novox/hq ADR 0350 §2). Packing is deterministic,
+// so one source packs to one digest; a tree that packs to another is not the archive, and its text is refused.
+func withTemplateTexts(manifest catalogue.Manifest, within string, built []catalogue.Built) ([]catalogue.Built, error) {
+	if !manifest.Templated() {
+		return built, nil
+	}
+	name := catalogue.TemplatesArtifact(manifest)
+	at := -1
+	for i, b := range built {
+		if b.Name == name {
+			at = i
+		}
+	}
+	if name == "" || at < 0 {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%s names templates and built no archive of %s/ to read them from",
+			manifest.Module, catalogue.TemplatesDir)
+	}
+	body, err := pack(filepath.Join(within, catalogue.TemplatesDir))
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%s: packing %s/ to read its templates back failed: %w", manifest.Module,
+			catalogue.TemplatesDir, err)
+	}
+	sum := sha256.Sum256(body)
+	digest := "sha256:" + hex.EncodeToString(sum[:])
+	if built[at].Digest != digest {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%s: %s/ packs to the digest %s, and the archive %q built or taken is %s: the "+
+			"templates are read only from the archive the mesh records", manifest.Module, catalogue.TemplatesDir,
+			digest, name, orNone(built[at].Digest))
+	}
+	texts, err := unpackTexts(body)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%s: reading the archive %q back failed: %w", manifest.Module, name, err)
+	}
+	out := append([]catalogue.Built(nil), built...)
+	out[at].Texts = texts
+	return out, nil
+}
+
+// unpackTexts is every file of a packed archive (pack), by its path inside it.
+func unpackTexts(body []byte) (map[string]string, error) {
+	zipped, err := gzip.NewReader(bytes.NewReader(body))
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	defer zipped.Close()
+	reader := tar.NewReader(zipped)
+	texts := map[string]string{}
+	for {
+		header, err := reader.Next()
+		if errors.Is(err, io.EOF) {
+			return texts, nil
+		}
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		if header.Typeflag != tar.TypeReg {
+			continue
+		}
+		text, err := io.ReadAll(reader)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		texts[header.Name] = string(text)
+	}
+}
+
+func orNone(digest string) string {
+	if digest == "" {
+		return "no digest"
+	}
+	return digest
+}

internal/builder/template_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,136 @@
+package builder
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/novox/mesh-controller/internal/catalogue"
+)
+
+// A module's files kept as template files in its repository (novox/hq ADR 0349 §2, design 57 package T1, issue
+// 654): the build packs files/ into the module's templates archive and reads each template's text back from the
+// packed bytes into the file's content, so the manifest the mesh holds is the one it would hold for the text inline.
+
+const templatedModule = `{"module":"meshboard","version":"1",
+  "build":{"artifacts":[
+    {"name":"server","kind":"image","from":"Dockerfile"},
+    {"name":"files","kind":"archive","from":"files"}]},
+  "resources":[
+    {"id":"svc","type":"container","name":"meshboard","artifact":"server"},
+    {"id":"conf","type":"file","path":"/etc/meshboard/meshboard.conf","template":"files/meshboard.conf"},
+    {"id":"deeper","type":"file","path":"/etc/meshboard/deeper.conf","template":"files/a/deeper.conf"}]}`
+
+var templatedFiles = map[string]string{
+	"Dockerfile": "FROM scratch", "files/meshboard.conf": "listen = 8080\n\"quoted\" é\n",
+	"files/a/deeper.conf": "deeper\n", "files/unused.conf": "packed, named by nothing",
+}
+
+func contentOf(t *testing.T, m catalogue.Manifest, id string) string {
+	t.Helper()
+	for _, r := range m.Resources {
+		if r["id"] == id {
+			if _, has := r[catalogue.TemplateField]; has {
+				t.Fatalf("%s still names its template in the built manifest: %v", id, r)
+			}
+			text, ok := r["content"].(string)
+			if !ok {
+				t.Fatalf("%s carries no content: %v", id, r)
+			}
+			return text
+		}
+	}
+	t.Fatalf("no resource %s in %v", id, m.Resources)
+	return ""
+}
+
+func TestABuildReadsEachTemplateBackFromItsArchive(t *testing.T) {
+	r, workspace := aRepository(t, templatedModule, templatedFiles)
+	got, err := Build(context.Background(), r.run, r, "https://forge.invalid/meshboard.git", "", "", workspace, nil,
+		Npmrc{}, GitCredential{}, nil)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if text := contentOf(t, got.Manifest, "conf"); text != templatedFiles["files/meshboard.conf"] {
+		t.Fatalf("the template's text is %q, not the file's", text)
+	}
+	if text := contentOf(t, got.Manifest, "deeper"); text != templatedFiles["files/a/deeper.conf"] {
+		t.Fatalf("the template's text is %q, not the file's", text)
+	}
+	if r.archives["meshboard/files"] == "" {
+		t.Fatalf("the templates archive was not published: %v", r.archives)
+	}
+	if problem := catalogue.HeldTemplateProblem(got.Manifest); problem != "" {
+		t.Fatal(problem)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestABuildWhoseTemplateIsMissingFailsNamingIt(t *testing.T) {
+	files := map[string]string{}
+	for k, v := range templatedFiles {
+		files[k] = v
+	}
+	delete(files, "files/a/deeper.conf")
+	r, workspace := aRepository(t, templatedModule, files)
+	_, err := Build(context.Background(), r.run, r, "https://forge.invalid/meshboard.git", "", "", workspace, nil,
+		Npmrc{}, GitCredential{}, nil)
+	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "files/a/deeper.conf") {
+		t.Fatalf("a build whose template is missing did not fail naming it: %v", err)
+	}
+}
+
+// A walk that takes its check's build copies the archive by digest and builds nothing: the templates are read back
+// from the tree packed again, which is the archive only when it packs to the digest taken.
+func TestAWalkTakingAChecksBuildReadsTheTemplatesBackToo(t *testing.T) {
+	withVersion(t, "builder-1")
+	contents := map[string]string{"mod/" + ManifestName: templatedModule}
+	for k, v := range templatedFiles {
+		contents["mod/"+k] = v
+	}
+	scratch := newScratch()
+	r, run, workspace := aModuleWith(t, "tree-one", contents)
+	checked := aCheckBuiltBy(t, scratch, r, run, workspace)
+
+	r, run, workspace = aModuleWith(t, "tree-one", contents)
+	got, err := BuildReusing(t.Context(), run, r, Reuse{Scratch: scratch, Pulls: []PullRef{aPull}, Named: named(checked)},
+		"https://forge.invalid/meshboard.git", "mod", "main", workspace, nil, Npmrc{}, GitCredential{}, nil)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if got.Reused == nil || len(r.archives) > 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("the walk built again: reused %+v, why %q, published %v", got.Reused, got.Why, r.archives)
+	}
+	if text := contentOf(t, got.Manifest, "conf"); text != templatedFiles["files/meshboard.conf"] {
+		t.Fatalf("the template's text is %q, not the file's", text)
+	}
+}
+
+// The tree packed again must be the archive taken; text read from anything else is not the archive's.
+func TestTemplateTextsAreRefusedWhenTheTreeDoesNotPackToTheDigestTaken(t *testing.T) {
+	m, err := catalogue.ParseManifest([]byte(templatedModule))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	within := writeTree(t, t.TempDir(), templatedFiles)
+	built := []catalogue.Built{{Name: "files", Kind: catalogue.ArtifactArchive, Digest: "sha256:" + strings.Repeat("0", 64)}}
+	if _, err := withTemplateTexts(m, within, built); err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "digest") {
+		t.Fatalf("text was read from a tree that does not pack to the archive taken: %v", err)
+	}
+}
+
+// writeTree writes files under dir and answers dir.
+func writeTree(t *testing.T, dir string, files map[string]string) string {
+	t.Helper()
+	for name, body := range files {
+		full := filepath.Join(dir, filepath.FromSlash(name))
+		if err := os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(full), 0o755); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		if err := os.WriteFile(full, []byte(body), 0o644); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+	}
+	return dir
+}

internal/catalogue/build.go

@@ -35,6 +35,10 @@ type Built struct {
 	// Launchers are, for a bundle in an interpreted language, the executable the build wrote beside
 	// each entrypoint, by entrypoint (novox/hq ADR 0193): what the node's runtime starts to serve it.
 	Launchers map[string]string
+	// Texts are, for the archive a module packs its templates into (TemplatesArtifact), each file's text as the
+	// build read it back from the packed archive, by its path inside it (novox/hq ADR 0349 §2). Never carried on
+	// the wire or kept: Resolve reads them into the files' content, which is what the mesh holds.
+	Texts map[string]string `json:"-"`
 }
 
 // Resolve fills a manifest's resources in from what was built.
@@ -71,6 +75,26 @@ func (m Manifest) Resolve(built []Built) (Manifest, error) {
 			m.Module, strings.Join(missing, " and "), oneOrOther(len(missing)))
 	}
 
+	// **Each template's text, as the build read it back from its templates archive** (novox/hq ADR 0349 §2): into
+	// the file's content, so what the mesh holds and composes is what the same text inline would be.
+	if m.Templated() {
+		name := TemplatesArtifact(m)
+		texts := by[name].Texts
+		if name == "" || texts == nil {
+			return Manifest{}, fmt.Errorf("%s names templates, and the build carried no text read back from the "+
+				"archive it packs %s/ into (%q): the builder that built it does not read templates",
+				m.Module, TemplatesDir, name)
+		}
+		filled, err := fillTemplates(m.Module, m.Resources, func(template string) (string, bool) {
+			t, ok := texts[strings.TrimPrefix(template, TemplatesDir+"/")]
+			return t, ok
+		}, fmt.Sprintf("the archive %q", name))
+		if err != nil {
+			return Manifest{}, err
+		}
+		m.Resources = filled
+	}
+
 	out := m
 	out.Build = nil
 	out.Resources = nil

internal/catalogue/co_located_test.go

@@ -51,6 +51,15 @@ func stepCA() Manifest {
 	}
 }
 
+// stepCAWithItsRoot is the authority whose root the operator supplies: the served key asks for it as
+// `${setting:root}` (ADR 0155), the only way a setting reaches what a provider serves since a layer
+// stopped replacing a served key (novox/hq issue 696; before it, the empty `root` was replaced whole).
+func stepCAWithItsRoot() Manifest {
+	m := stepCA()
+	m.Serves["acme-ca"]["root"] = "${setting:root}"
+	return m
+}
+
 // routeProxy issues from that authority, so it must be told the root to verify it with.
 func routeProxy() Manifest {
 	return Manifest{
@@ -78,7 +87,7 @@ func routeProxy() Manifest {
 // The consequence is silent and total: route-proxy wrote an empty CA bundle, fell back to the
 // system trust store, could not verify the internal authority, and no certificate was ever issued.
 func TestACoLocatedProvidersServedValuesReachItsConsumer(t *testing.T) {
-	r, err := Resolve(shelf(stepCA(), routeProxy()),
+	r, err := Resolve(shelf(stepCAWithItsRoot(), routeProxy()),
 		[]string{"step-ca", "route-proxy"}, reachable(), World{})
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
@@ -106,7 +115,7 @@ func TestACoLocatedProvidersServedValuesReachItsConsumer(t *testing.T) {
 // And the binding file says the same thing, for a consumer that reads the binding rather than a
 // substituted placeholder. The two are one fact and must not be able to disagree.
 func TestACoLocatedConsumersBindingCarriesTheSettledValues(t *testing.T) {
-	r, err := Resolve(shelf(stepCA(), routeProxy()),
+	r, err := Resolve(shelf(stepCAWithItsRoot(), routeProxy()),
 		[]string{"step-ca", "route-proxy"}, reachable(), World{})
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
@@ -152,7 +161,7 @@ func TestACoLocatedProviderIsSettledWhicheverWayItWasPulledIn(t *testing.T) {
 		{"step-ca", "route-proxy"},
 		{"route-proxy", "step-ca"},
 	} {
-		r, err := Resolve(shelf(stepCA(), routeProxy()), assigned, reachable(), World{})
+		r, err := Resolve(shelf(stepCAWithItsRoot(), routeProxy()), assigned, reachable(), World{})
 		if err != nil {
 			t.Fatal(err)
 		}

internal/catalogue/config.go

@@ -0,0 +1,458 @@
+package catalogue
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"fmt"
+	"regexp"
+	"slices"
+	"strings"
+)
+
+// A module declares its config (novox/hq ADR 0348 §1, §4, §5, §6, §8, §11; design 57 package K1, issue 660).
+//
+// **One concept, two spellings for a while.** "Config" replaces "settings": the manifest says `config` for
+// `settings`, `takes-config` for `takes-settings` and `${config:<key>}` for `${setting:<key>}`. The old names stay
+// accepted as aliases until every module has moved (ADR 0348 §1), and a module uses one form or the other, never
+// both. The config form is read into the very fields the settings form fills — Settings, a mergeable file's
+// takes-settings and `${setting:<key>}` — so composition has one path and `${config:<key>}` fills exactly as
+// `${setting:<key>}` does: a module rewritten from settings to config composes byte-identically. It is written
+// back in the form it was read in, so what the mesh holds is what its author wrote.
+//
+// **A moved module is held to the whole declaration.** Under `config` every value has a type (number, string or
+// boolean; an object or a list only when trusted), a description including its unit, its validation (enum,
+// minimum and maximum, pattern), whether it is trusted, optionally the predefined key it falls back to, and either
+// a default or `required`; it lands in a file or is read at runtime (`runtime: true`); every mergeable file names
+// the keys it takes; a `reload-on` or `restart-on` names a file the module declares. A module not yet moved keeps
+// today's form and today's rules (SettingProblems, TakenSettingsProblems) until the catalogue's list of such
+// modules is empty (ADR 0348 §11).
+//
+// **A required value nothing sets** is the operator's own: it composes as an operator's setting nobody gave does
+// today, refused by name at composition (UnsetSettingError). Who reports it once mesh-config answers values is the
+// provisioner's (ADR 0349), not this file's.
+
+// ConfigField is the manifest key a module declares its config values under.
+const ConfigField = "config"
+
+// TakesConfigField is the key a mergeable file names the config values it takes by.
+const TakesConfigField = "takes-config"
+
+// SettingsField is the old name of ConfigField, read as its alias.
+const SettingsField = "settings"
+
+// configRef is how a file asks for a config value: ${config:<key>}, the same keys as settingRef.
+var configRef = regexp.MustCompile(`\$\{config:([a-z0-9][a-z0-9_.-]*)\}`)
+
+// takesConfigKey and takesSettingsKey are the two spellings as a key of a JSON object. A string value is never
+// followed by a colon, and a quote inside a string is escaped, so these match only keys.
+var (
+	takesConfigKey   = regexp.MustCompile(`"` + TakesConfigField + `"(\s*):`)
+	takesSettingsKey = regexp.MustCompile(`"` + TakesSettingsField + `"(\s*):`)
+)
+
+// The types a config value may have (ADR 0348 §4).
+const (
+	ConfigNumber  = "number"
+	ConfigString  = "string"
+	ConfigBoolean = "boolean"
+	ConfigObject  = "object"
+	ConfigList    = "list"
+)
+
+// accountFacts are what the mesh places for a module's account, never config values (ADR 0348 §11).
+var accountFacts = map[string]bool{"puid": true, "pgid": true}
+
+// configForms is which of the two forms a manifest was written in, by the words of each it uses.
+type configForms struct {
+	config, settings []string
+}
+
+// DeclaresConfig is whether the manifest is written in the config form: `config`, `takes-config` or
+// `${config:<key>}` (ADR 0348 §1, §11).
+func (m Manifest) DeclaresConfig() bool { return len(m.forms.config) > 0 }
+
+// toSettingsForm is raw with the config form's placeholders and takes-config read as the settings form's, and
+// which words of each form it used. `config` itself is a top-level key, renamed where the keys are read
+// (UnmarshalJSON).
+func toSettingsForm(raw []byte) ([]byte, configForms) {
+	var f configForms
+	if configRef.Match(raw) {
+		f.config = append(f.config, "${config:…}")
+	}
+	if takesConfigKey.Match(raw) {
+		f.config = append(f.config, TakesConfigField)
+	}
+	if settingRef.Match(raw) {
+		f.settings = append(f.settings, "${setting:…}")
+	}
+	if takesSettingsKey.Match(raw) {
+		f.settings = append(f.settings, TakesSettingsField)
+	}
+	if len(f.config) == 0 {
+		return raw, f
+	}
+	raw = configRef.ReplaceAllFunc(raw, func(ref []byte) []byte {
+		return []byte("${setting:" + string(configRef.FindSubmatch(ref)[1]) + "}")
+	})
+	raw = takesConfigKey.ReplaceAllFunc(raw, func(key []byte) []byte {
+		return []byte(`"` + TakesSettingsField + `"` + string(takesConfigKey.FindSubmatch(key)[1]) + ":")
+	})
+	return raw, f
+}
+
+// toConfigForm is a manifest written in the settings form's words, as JSON, in the config form's: what
+// toSettingsForm and UnmarshalJSON read, written back.
+func toConfigForm(raw []byte) ([]byte, error) {
+	var keys map[string]json.RawMessage
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(raw, &keys); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	if settings, has := keys[SettingsField]; has {
+		keys[ConfigField] = settings
+		delete(keys, SettingsField)
+		var err error
+		if raw, err = json.Marshal(keys); err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+	}
+	raw = settingRef.ReplaceAllFunc(raw, func(ref []byte) []byte {
+		return []byte("${config:" + string(settingRef.FindSubmatch(ref)[1]) + "}")
+	})
+	raw = takesSettingsKey.ReplaceAllFunc(raw, func(key []byte) []byte {
+		return []byte(`"` + TakesConfigField + `"` + string(takesSettingsKey.FindSubmatch(key)[1]) + ":")
+	})
+	return raw, nil
+}
+
+// inConfigWords is a refusal said of a module in the config form in its words: `${config:<key>}` and
+// takes-config, where the rules shared with the settings form say `${setting:<key>}` and takes-settings.
+func inConfigWords(problem string) string {
+	problem = settingRef.ReplaceAllStringFunc(problem, func(ref string) string {
+		return "${config:" + settingRef.FindStringSubmatch(ref)[1] + "}"
+	})
+	return strings.ReplaceAll(problem, TakesSettingsField, TakesConfigField)
+}
+
+// MixedFormProblems is a manifest using both forms, said with the words of each (ADR 0348 §1).
+func MixedFormProblems(m Manifest) []string {
+	if len(m.forms.config) == 0 || len(m.forms.settings) == 0 {
+		return nil
+	}
+	return []string{fmt.Sprintf("%s mixes the config form (%s) with the settings form (%s): a module uses one form "+
+		"or the other, never both; write %s, %s and ${config:<key>} throughout (novox/hq ADR 0348 §1)",
+		m.Module, strings.Join(m.forms.config, ", "), strings.Join(m.forms.settings, ", "),
+		ConfigField, TakesConfigField)}
+}
+
+// configDeclaration is the config form's declaration as written: nothing of the settings form's, and nothing
+// unsaid.
+type configDeclaration struct {
+	Type        string   `json:"type,omitempty"`
+	Description string   `json:"description,omitempty"`
+	Enum        []any    `json:"enum,omitempty"`
+	Minimum     *float64 `json:"minimum,omitempty"`
+	Maximum     *float64 `json:"maximum,omitempty"`
+	Pattern     string   `json:"pattern,omitempty"`
+	Trusted     bool     `json:"trusted,omitempty"`
+	Predefined  string   `json:"predefined,omitempty"`
+	Default     any      `json:"default,omitempty"`
+	Required    bool     `json:"required,omitempty"`
+	Runtime     bool     `json:"runtime,omitempty"`
+}
+
+// MarshalJSON writes a settings declaration exactly as before, and a config declaration without the settings
+// form's kind and why, and without a default it does not have.
+func (d SettingDeclaration) MarshalJSON() ([]byte, error) {
+	type plain SettingDeclaration
+	if d.Kind != "" || d.Why != "" {
+		return json.Marshal(plain(d))
+	}
+	return json.Marshal(configDeclaration{Type: d.Type, Description: d.Description, Enum: d.Enum,
+		Minimum: d.Minimum, Maximum: d.Maximum, Pattern: d.Pattern, Trusted: d.Trusted, Predefined: d.Predefined,
+		Default: d.Default, Required: d.Required, Runtime: d.Runtime})
+}
+
+// configShaped is whether a declaration says anything of the config form's.
+func configShaped(d SettingDeclaration) bool {
+	return d.Type != "" || d.Description != "" || len(d.Enum) > 0 || d.Minimum != nil || d.Maximum != nil ||
+		d.Pattern != "" || d.Trusted || d.Predefined != "" || d.Required || d.Runtime
+}
+
+// TypedSettingProblems is a declaration under `settings` that says what only `config` says: a value with a type,
+// a description and its validation is declared in the config form (ADR 0348 §1, §4).
+func TypedSettingProblems(m Manifest) []string {
+	var problems []string
+	for _, key := range sortedSettingKeys(m.Settings) {
+		if configShaped(m.Settings[key]) {
+			problems = append(problems, fmt.Sprintf("%s's setting %q says its type, description or validation "+
+				"under %s: a value declared with those is declared under config, with ${config:<key>} and "+
+				"takes-config, never under %s (novox/hq ADR 0348 §1, §4)", m.Module, key, SettingsField, SettingsField))
+		}
+	}
+	return problems
+}
+
+// ConfigProblems is every way a module in the config form declares its config wrongly, each said by name with
+// what to do (ADR 0348 How it is checked, design 57 package K1).
+func ConfigProblems(m Manifest) []string {
+	if !m.DeclaresConfig() {
+		return nil
+	}
+	var problems []string
+	placed := configPlaced(m)
+	for _, key := range sortedSettingKeys(m.Settings) {
+		d := m.Settings[key]
+		say := func(format string, args ...any) {
+			problems = append(problems, fmt.Sprintf("%s's config value %q: ", m.Module, key)+fmt.Sprintf(format, args...))
+		}
+		if !settingRef.MatchString("${setting:" + key + "}") {
+			say("not a usable key: lower-case letters, digits, dots, dashes and underscores")
+			continue
+		}
+		if meshWords[key] || accountFacts[key] {
+			say("%q is placement, which the mesh decides, never a config value (novox/hq ADR 0348 §11)", key)
+			continue
+		}
+		if d.Kind != "" || d.Why != "" {
+			say("kind and why are the settings form's; under config a value says its type and its description " +
+				"(novox/hq ADR 0348 §1, §4)")
+		}
+		switch d.Type {
+		case ConfigNumber, ConfigString, ConfigBoolean:
+		case ConfigObject, ConfigList:
+			if !d.Trusted {
+				say("is %s and not trusted: an object or a list decides more than one value can say, so it is "+
+					"trusted, \"trusted\": true, or split into numbers, strings and booleans (novox/hq ADR 0348 §4)", d.Type)
+			}
+		case "":
+			say("no type: say \"type\": number, string or boolean, or object or list when trusted (novox/hq ADR 0348 §4)")
+		default:
+			say("type %q is none of number, string, boolean, object and list (novox/hq ADR 0348 §4)", d.Type)
+		}
+		if strings.TrimSpace(d.Description) == "" {
+			say("no description: say in a sentence what the value is, including its unit (novox/hq ADR 0348 §4)")
+		}
+		switch {
+		case d.Required && d.Default != nil:
+			say("both a default and required: a required value is the operator's own and has no default; give " +
+				"one or the other (novox/hq ADR 0348 §4)")
+		case !d.Required && d.Default == nil:
+			say("neither a default nor required: give a default, or say \"required\": true for a value that is " +
+				"the operator's own (novox/hq ADR 0348 §4)")
+		}
+		for _, wrong := range validationProblems(d) {
+			say("%s", wrong)
+		}
+		if word := operatorsWord(key); word != "" && d.Default != nil {
+			say("a key naming %q is the operator's value: declare it \"required\": true, with no default "+
+				"(novox/hq ADR 0348 §4, ADR 0112)", word)
+		}
+		if d.Predefined != "" {
+			p, listed := m.predefined[d.Predefined]
+			switch {
+			case m.predefined == nil:
+				say("falls back to the predefined key %q, and the list of predefined keys (%s at the root of "+
+					"the catalogue's repository) is not present where it is judged: a value falls back only to a "+
+					"key on that list; judge it in the catalogue, or leave \"predefined\" out (novox/hq ADR 0348 §7)",
+					d.Predefined, PredefinedFile)
+			case !listed:
+				say("falls back to %q, which is not on the list of predefined keys: name a key on it, or leave "+
+					"\"predefined\" out (novox/hq ADR 0348 §7)", d.Predefined)
+			default:
+				if p.Type != d.Type {
+					say("falls back to the predefined key %q, which is a %s, and this value is a %s: a value falls "+
+						"back only to a key of its own type (novox/hq ADR 0348 §4)", d.Predefined, p.Type, d.Type)
+				}
+				if p.Trusted && !d.Trusted {
+					say("falls back to the trusted predefined key %q and is not trusted itself: a value that falls "+
+						"back to a trusted key is trusted, \"trusted\": true (novox/hq ADR 0348 §8)", d.Predefined)
+				}
+			}
+		}
+		// A template's text is not here yet. Resolve fills it from the build, WithTemplatesFrom from the tree; neither
+		// judges again itself, but WithTemplatesFrom parses its result again, and a resolved build is parsed again
+		// where it is registered, and this is judged then.
+		if !placed[key] && !d.Runtime && !m.Templated() {
+			say("placed nowhere: no file says ${config:%s} or takes it under %s, and it is not marked "+
+				"\"runtime\": true for a value the module's code reads itself (novox/hq ADR 0348 §5)", key, TakesConfigField)
+		}
+	}
+	used := settingKeysUsedBy(m)
+	for _, key := range sortedKeys(used) {
+		if _, declared := m.Settings[key]; !declared {
+			problems = append(problems, fmt.Sprintf("%s says ${config:%s} and declares no such value under %s: "+
+				"declare %q with its type, description and a default or required (novox/hq ADR 0348 §4, §5)",
+				m.Module, key, ConfigField, key))
+		}
+	}
+	problems = append(problems, configTakesProblems(m)...)
+	problems = append(problems, reflectsProblems(m)...)
+	return problems
+}
+
+// configPlaced is every value a file, a unit, a directory's owner, a contribution or a served fact asks for, and
+// every value a mergeable file takes.
+func configPlaced(m Manifest) map[string]bool {
+	placed := settingKeysUsedBy(m)
+	for _, r := range m.Resources {
+		for _, k := range stringsOf(r[TakesSettingsField]) {
+			placed[k] = true
+		}
+	}
+	return placed
+}
+
+// validationProblems is what is wrong with a declaration's validation, and its default against it.
+func validationProblems(d SettingDeclaration) []string {
+	var problems []string
+	isNumber := d.Type == ConfigNumber
+	if len(d.Enum) > 0 && d.Type != ConfigNumber && d.Type != ConfigString {
+		problems = append(problems, fmt.Sprintf("an enum is for a number or a string, and this is a %s", d.Type))
+	}
+	if (d.Minimum != nil || d.Maximum != nil) && !isNumber {
+		problems = append(problems, fmt.Sprintf("a minimum or maximum is for a number, and this is a %s", d.Type))
+	}
+	if d.Minimum != nil && d.Maximum != nil && *d.Minimum > *d.Maximum {
+		problems = append(problems, fmt.Sprintf("its minimum %v is above its maximum %v", *d.Minimum, *d.Maximum))
+	}
+	var pattern *regexp.Regexp
+	if d.Pattern != "" {
+		if d.Type != ConfigString {
+			problems = append(problems, fmt.Sprintf("a pattern is for a string, and this is a %s", d.Type))
+		}
+		var err error
+		if pattern, err = regexp.Compile(`^(?:` + d.Pattern + `)$`); err != nil {
+			problems = append(problems, fmt.Sprintf("its pattern %q is not a regular expression: %v", d.Pattern, err))
+		}
+	}
+	for _, v := range d.Enum {
+		if !ofType(v, d.Type) {
+			problems = append(problems, fmt.Sprintf("its enum holds %v, which is not a %s", v, d.Type))
+		}
+	}
+	if d.Default == nil {
+		return problems
+	}
+	if !ofType(d.Default, d.Type) {
+		if d.Type != "" {
+			problems = append(problems, fmt.Sprintf("its default %v is not a %s", d.Default, d.Type))
+		}
+		return problems
+	}
+	if len(d.Enum) > 0 && !slices.ContainsFunc(d.Enum, func(v any) bool { return v == d.Default }) {
+		problems = append(problems, fmt.Sprintf("its default %v is not one of %v", d.Default, d.Enum))
+	}
+	if n, ok := d.Default.(float64); ok {
+		if d.Minimum != nil && n < *d.Minimum {
+			problems = append(problems, fmt.Sprintf("its default %v is below its minimum %v", n, *d.Minimum))
+		}
+		if d.Maximum != nil && n > *d.Maximum {
+			problems = append(problems, fmt.Sprintf("its default %v is above its maximum %v", n, *d.Maximum))
+		}
+	}
+	if s, ok := d.Default.(string); ok && pattern != nil && !pattern.MatchString(s) {
+		problems = append(problems, fmt.Sprintf("its default %q does not match its pattern %q", s, d.Pattern))
+	}
+	return problems
+}
+
+// ofType is whether a value read from JSON is of a config type.
+func ofType(v any, kind string) bool {
+	switch v.(type) {
+	case float64:
+		return kind == ConfigNumber
+	case string:
+		return kind == ConfigString
+	case bool:
+		return kind == ConfigBoolean
+	case map[string]any:
+		return kind == ConfigObject
+	case []any:
+		return kind == ConfigList
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
+// configTakesProblems is what ADR 0348 §11 adds for a module in the config form: an account fact in
+// takes-config (the mesh's own words are refused for both forms by TakenSettingsProblems), and a mergeable file
+// naming no keys where none of the module's does (where one does, TakenSettingsProblems names every one that
+// does not).
+func configTakesProblems(m Manifest) []string {
+	var problems, silent []string
+	naming := false
+	for _, r := range m.Resources {
+		if how, _ := r["merge"].(string); how == "" {
+			continue
+		}
+		if _, said := r[TakesSettingsField]; !said {
+			silent = append(silent, fmt.Sprint(r["id"]))
+			continue
+		}
+		naming = true
+		for _, k := range stringsOf(r[TakesSettingsField]) {
+			_, declared := m.Settings[k]
+			switch {
+			case accountFacts[k]:
+				problems = append(problems, fmt.Sprintf("%s's %v names %q in %s, and %q is an account fact the "+
+					"mesh places, never a config value (novox/hq ADR 0348 §11)", m.Module, r["id"], k,
+					TakesConfigField, k))
+			case meshWords[k]:
+				// Refused for both forms by TakenSettingsProblems, in its words.
+			case !declared:
+				problems = append(problems, fmt.Sprintf("%s's %v names %q in %s and declares no such value under "+
+					"%s: a value a file takes is declared like every other, with its type, description and a "+
+					"default or required, or the config verb could never set it (novox/hq ADR 0348 §4, §11)",
+					m.Module, r["id"], k, TakesConfigField, ConfigField))
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	if !naming {
+		for _, id := range silent {
+			problems = append(problems, fmt.Sprintf("%s's mergeable %s names no %s: a module that declares config "+
+				"names the keys each mergeable file takes, an empty list for none (novox/hq ADR 0348 §11)",
+				m.Module, id, TakesConfigField))
+		}
+	}
+	return problems
+}
+
+// meshMadeIDs are the resources the mesh composes into a module's own set, which its `restart-on` may name
+// without declaring them; meshMadePrefixes are those named after what they are for.
+var (
+	meshMadeIDs      = []string{ComposedJailsID(), FilteringID(), CertificateID(), AuthorityID(), BusUsersID()}
+	meshMadePrefixes = []string{NeedID(""), SecretID(""), strings.TrimSuffix(GrantID("", ""), "-"), BoundID(""), ReceivedID(""), AccessID("/")}
+)
+
+// reflectsProblems is a `reload-on` or `restart-on` naming a file the module does not declare (ADR 0348 §6): not
+// one of its own resources, not one the mesh composes for it, and not another module's, which is named
+// `<module>.<id>`.
+func reflectsProblems(m Manifest) []string {
+	own := map[string]bool{}
+	for _, r := range m.Resources {
+		own[fmt.Sprint(r["id"])] = true
+	}
+	meshMade := func(id string) bool {
+		if slices.Contains(meshMadeIDs, id) {
+			return true
+		}
+		for _, p := range meshMadePrefixes {
+			if strings.HasPrefix(id, p) && len(id) > len(p) {
+				return true
+			}
+		}
+		return false
+	}
+	var problems []string
+	for _, r := range m.Resources {
+		for _, field := range []string{"reload-on", "restart-on"} {
+			for _, id := range stringsOf(r[field]) {
+				if strings.Contains(id, ".") || own[id] || meshMade(id) {
+					continue
+				}
+				problems = append(problems, fmt.Sprintf("%s's %v names %q in its %s, and %s declares no such "+
+					"file: name a file of its own, or another module's as <module>.<id> (novox/hq ADR 0348 §6)",
+					m.Module, r["id"], id, field, m.Module))
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	return problems
+}

internal/catalogue/config_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,454 @@
+package catalogue
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"errors"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+// A module declares its config (novox/hq ADR 0348 §1, §4, §5, §6, §8, §11; design 57 package K1, issue 660):
+// one registration refusal per rule of design 57's K1, the old names read as aliases, and a module rewritten
+// from settings to config composing byte-identically.
+
+// inConfigForm is a module in the config form that registers: every value typed, described, defaulted or
+// required, placed in a file or read at runtime, and its mergeable file naming its keys.
+func inConfigForm() map[string]any {
+	return map[string]any{
+		"module":  "notifier",
+		"version": "1",
+		"config": map[string]any{
+			"font-size": map[string]any{"type": "number", "description": "the notification's font size, in points",
+				"minimum": 6, "maximum": 40, "default": 10},
+			"width": map[string]any{"type": "number", "description": "the notification's width, in pixels",
+				"default": 250},
+			"position": map[string]any{"type": "string", "description": "the corner it shows in, a word",
+				"enum": []any{"top-right", "top-left"}, "default": "top-right"},
+			"theme": map[string]any{"type": "string", "description": "the colour theme, a lower-case name",
+				"pattern": "[a-z]+", "default": "dark"},
+			"history": map[string]any{"type": "number", "description": "how many notifications it keeps, a count",
+				"default": 20, "runtime": true},
+			"sender": map[string]any{"type": "string", "description": "the address it mails a digest from",
+				"required": true},
+		},
+		"resources": []any{
+			map[string]any{"id": "configuration", "type": "file", "path": "/x/notifierrc",
+				"content": "font = Inter ${config:font-size}\nwidth = ${config:width}\nfrom = ${config:sender}\n"},
+			map[string]any{"id": "rules", "type": "file", "path": "/x/rules.json", "merge": "json",
+				"takes-config": []any{"position", "theme"}, "content": "{\"position\": \"top-right\"}\n"},
+			map[string]any{"id": "notifier", "type": "service", "unit": "notifier.service",
+				"reload-on": []any{"configuration"}, "restart-on": []any{"rules"}},
+		},
+	}
+}
+
+// declaration is one value of inConfigForm's config, to change in place.
+func declaration(m map[string]any, key string) map[string]any {
+	return m["config"].(map[string]any)[key].(map[string]any)
+}
+
+func resourceOf(m map[string]any, id string) map[string]any {
+	for _, r := range m["resources"].([]any) {
+		if r.(map[string]any)["id"] == id {
+			return r.(map[string]any)
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func parseRaw(t *testing.T, m map[string]any) (Manifest, error) {
+	t.Helper()
+	raw, err := json.Marshal(m)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	return ParseManifest(raw)
+}
+
+// refused is that the manifest is refused with every one of these words.
+func refused(t *testing.T, m map[string]any, words ...string) {
+	t.Helper()
+	_, err := parseRaw(t, m)
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatalf("registered; wanted a refusal saying %q", words)
+	}
+	for _, w := range words {
+		if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), w) {
+			t.Fatalf("refused without %q:\n%v", w, err)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestAModuleInTheConfigFormRegisters(t *testing.T) {
+	m, err := parseRaw(t, inConfigForm())
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if !m.DeclaresConfig() {
+		t.Fatal("a module declaring config is not read as in the config form")
+	}
+	d := m.Settings["font-size"]
+	if d.Type != "number" || d.Description == "" || d.Minimum == nil || *d.Minimum != 6 || d.Default != float64(10) {
+		t.Fatalf("font-size read as %+v", d)
+	}
+	if s := m.Settings["sender"]; !s.Required || s.Default != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("sender read as %+v", s)
+	}
+}
+
+// Rule 1: a value without type or description.
+func TestConfigRefusesAValueWithoutTypeOrDescription(t *testing.T) {
+	m := inConfigForm()
+	delete(declaration(m, "width"), "type")
+	refused(t, m, `notifier's config value "width"`, "no type")
+	m = inConfigForm()
+	declaration(m, "width")["type"] = "colour"
+	refused(t, m, `"width"`, `type "colour"`)
+	m = inConfigForm()
+	delete(declaration(m, "width"), "description")
+	refused(t, m, `"width"`, "no description")
+}
+
+// Rule 2: a value with neither a default nor required.
+func TestConfigRefusesAValueWithNeitherDefaultNorRequired(t *testing.T) {
+	m := inConfigForm()
+	delete(declaration(m, "width"), "default")
+	refused(t, m, `"width"`, "neither a default nor required")
+	m = inConfigForm()
+	declaration(m, "sender")["default"] = "noreply@example.org"
+	refused(t, m, `"sender"`, "both a default and required")
+}
+
+// Rule 3: a default failing its validation.
+func TestConfigRefusesADefaultFailingItsValidation(t *testing.T) {
+	for _, c := range []struct {
+		key   string
+		value any
+		said  string
+	}{
+		{"font-size", 4, "below its minimum"},
+		{"font-size", 41, "above its maximum"},
+		{"font-size", "10", "not a number"},
+		{"position", "bottom", "not one of"},
+		{"theme", "Dark", "does not match"},
+	} {
+		m := inConfigForm()
+		declaration(m, c.key)["default"] = c.value
+		refused(t, m, `"`+c.key+`"`, c.said)
+	}
+}
+
+// Rule 4: an object or a list not trusted.
+func TestConfigRefusesAnObjectOrListNotTrusted(t *testing.T) {
+	for _, kind := range []string{"object", "list"} {
+		m := inConfigForm()
+		def := any(map[string]any{"a": 1})
+		if kind == "list" {
+			def = []any{"a"}
+		}
+		m["config"].(map[string]any)["rules"] = map[string]any{"type": kind, "description": "the rules, as " + kind,
+			"default": def, "runtime": true}
+		refused(t, m, `"rules"`, "is "+kind+" and not trusted")
+		m["config"].(map[string]any)["rules"].(map[string]any)["trusted"] = true
+		if _, err := parseRaw(t, m); err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("a trusted %s is refused: %v", kind, err)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// withPredefined is the list of predefined keys the mesh published, for the length of a test.
+func withPredefined(t *testing.T, keys PredefinedList) {
+	t.Helper()
+	was := ReplacePublished(keys)
+	t.Cleanup(func() { ReplacePublished(was) })
+}
+
+// Rule 5: a predefined key not on the list, or of another type. Where no list is present, a value naming one is
+// refused saying so.
+func TestConfigRefusesAPredefinedKeyNotOnTheListOrOfAnotherType(t *testing.T) {
+	withPredefined(t, nil)
+	m := inConfigForm()
+	declaration(m, "font-size")["predefined"] = "font-size"
+	refused(t, m, `"font-size"`, "the list of predefined keys", "is not present")
+
+	withPredefined(t, map[string]PredefinedKey{"font-size": {Type: "number"}, "accent": {Type: "string"}})
+	if _, err := parseRaw(t, m); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("a value falling back to a listed key of its type is refused: %v", err)
+	}
+	m = inConfigForm()
+	declaration(m, "font-size")["predefined"] = "font-scale"
+	refused(t, m, `"font-size"`, `"font-scale"`, "not on the list")
+	m = inConfigForm()
+	declaration(m, "font-size")["predefined"] = "accent"
+	refused(t, m, `"font-size"`, `"accent"`, "is a string")
+}
+
+// Rule 6: an untrusted value falling back to a trusted predefined key.
+func TestConfigRefusesAnUntrustedValueFallingBackToATrustedKey(t *testing.T) {
+	withPredefined(t, nil)
+	m := inConfigForm()
+	declaration(m, "theme")["predefined"] = "theme"
+	refused(t, m, `"theme"`, "is not present")
+
+	withPredefined(t, map[string]PredefinedKey{"theme": {Type: "string", Trusted: true}})
+	refused(t, m, `"theme"`, "trusted", "is not")
+	declaration(m, "theme")["trusted"] = true
+	if _, err := parseRaw(t, m); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("a trusted value falling back to a trusted key is refused: %v", err)
+	}
+}
+
+// Rule 7: a value neither placed in a template nor read at runtime.
+func TestConfigRefusesAValueNeitherPlacedNorReadAtRuntime(t *testing.T) {
+	m := inConfigForm()
+	delete(declaration(m, "history"), "runtime")
+	refused(t, m, `"history"`, "${config:history}", `"runtime": true`)
+	// Taken by a mergeable file is placed.
+	m = inConfigForm()
+	if _, err := parseRaw(t, m); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+}
+
+// Rule 8: a placeholder naming an undeclared value.
+func TestConfigRefusesAPlaceholderNamingAnUndeclaredValue(t *testing.T) {
+	m := inConfigForm()
+	resourceOf(m, "configuration")["content"] = "font = ${config:font-size}\nwidth = ${config:width}\n" +
+		"from = ${config:sender}\ncolour = ${config:colour}\n"
+	refused(t, m, "${config:colour}", "declares no such value")
+}
+
+// Rule 9: a reload-on or restart-on naming a file the module does not declare.
+func TestConfigRefusesAReloadOrRestartOnNamingAnUndeclaredFile(t *testing.T) {
+	m := inConfigForm()
+	resourceOf(m, "notifier")["reload-on"] = []any{"configuration", "dunstrc"}
+	refused(t, m, "reload-on", `"dunstrc"`, "declares no such")
+	m = inConfigForm()
+	resourceOf(m, "notifier")["restart-on"] = []any{"rule"}
+	refused(t, m, "restart-on", `"rule"`)
+	// Another module's file, and one the mesh makes for the module, are not the module's to declare.
+	m = inConfigForm()
+	resourceOf(m, "notifier")["restart-on"] = []any{"rules", "resolver.fact-zones", "secret-mail", "composed-jails"}
+	if _, err := parseRaw(t, m); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("refused: %v", err)
+	}
+}
+
+// Rule 10: a moved module's mergeable file not naming its keys under takes-config.
+func TestConfigRefusesAMergeableFileNotNamingItsKeys(t *testing.T) {
+	m := inConfigForm()
+	delete(resourceOf(m, "rules"), "takes-config")
+	// position and theme are then placed nowhere; say they are read at runtime so only the file's rule speaks.
+	declaration(m, "position")["runtime"] = true
+	declaration(m, "theme")["runtime"] = true
+	refused(t, m, "rules", "names no takes-config")
+}
+
+// Rule 11: a mesh word, puid or pgid in takes-config.
+func TestConfigRefusesAMeshWordOrAnAccountFactInTakesConfig(t *testing.T) {
+	for _, word := range []string{"ports", "expose", "reach", "endpoints", "places", "accesses", "networks", "puid", "pgid"} {
+		m := inConfigForm()
+		resourceOf(m, "rules")["takes-config"] = []any{"position", "theme", word}
+		refused(t, m, `"`+word+`"`, "takes-config")
+	}
+}
+
+// A module uses one form or the other, never both.
+func TestAManifestMixingTheConfigAndSettingsFormsIsRefused(t *testing.T) {
+	m := inConfigForm()
+	resourceOf(m, "configuration")["content"] = "font = ${config:font-size}\nwidth = ${setting:width}\nfrom = ${config:sender}\n"
+	refused(t, m, "mixes", "${setting:", "config")
+
+	m = inConfigForm()
+	delete(resourceOf(m, "rules"), "takes-config")
+	resourceOf(m, "rules")["takes-settings"] = []any{"position", "theme"}
+	refused(t, m, "mixes", "takes-settings")
+
+	m = inConfigForm()
+	m["settings"] = map[string]any{"colour": map[string]any{"kind": "preference", "default": "red", "why": "red"}}
+	refused(t, m, "mixes", "settings")
+}
+
+// The settings form keeps its own declaration; the config form's has no kind or why.
+func TestEachFormKeepsItsOwnDeclaration(t *testing.T) {
+	m := inConfigForm()
+	declaration(m, "width")["why"] = "fits a title"
+	refused(t, m, `"width"`, "why")
+
+	err := parsed(t, Manifest{Module: "notifier",
+		Settings: map[string]SettingDeclaration{"width": {Kind: KindPreference, Default: float64(250),
+			Why: "fits a title", Type: "number"}},
+		Resources: []map[string]any{{"id": "c", "type": "file", "path": "/x", "content": "${setting:width}"}}})
+	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "under config") {
+		t.Fatalf("a typed value under settings: %v", err)
+	}
+}
+
+// What the mesh holds is what was written: a module in the config form is written back in it, and read again
+// the same.
+func TestAConfigManifestIsWrittenBackInItsOwnForm(t *testing.T) {
+	m, err := parseRaw(t, inConfigForm())
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	raw, err := json.Marshal(m)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	for _, said := range []string{`"config":`, `${config:font-size}`, `"takes-config":`, `"required":true`} {
+		if !strings.Contains(string(raw), said) {
+			t.Fatalf("written back without %s: %s", said, raw)
+		}
+	}
+	for _, unsaid := range []string{`"settings":`, `${setting:`, `"takes-settings"`, `"kind"`, `"why"`, `"default":null`} {
+		if strings.Contains(string(raw), unsaid) {
+			t.Fatalf("written back with %s: %s", unsaid, raw)
+		}
+	}
+	again, err := ParseManifest(raw)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	twice, _ := json.Marshal(again)
+	if !bytes.Equal(raw, twice) {
+		t.Fatalf("read again it is written\n%s\nwhere it was\n%s", twice, raw)
+	}
+}
+
+// A module in the settings form is written back byte for byte as before.
+func TestASettingsManifestIsWrittenBackAsBefore(t *testing.T) {
+	d := SettingDeclaration{Kind: KindPreference, Default: float64(10), Why: "readable"}
+	raw, err := json.Marshal(d)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if string(raw) != `{"kind":"preference","default":10,"why":"readable"}` {
+		t.Fatalf("written as %s", raw)
+	}
+}
+
+// settingsDunst is the dunst module as it is written today; configDunst the same module rewritten from settings to
+// config.
+const settingsDunst = `{"module": "dunst", "version": "1",
+  "settings": {
+    "font-size": {"kind": "preference", "default": 10, "why": "10 points of Inter reads well on a screen of about 100 DPI"},
+    "width": {"kind": "preference", "default": 250, "why": "250 pixels fits a title of about forty characters at 10 points"}
+  },
+  "resources": [
+    {"id": "package", "type": "package", "package": "dunst"},
+    {"id": "configuration", "type": "file", "path": "/home/me/.config/dunst/dunstrc", "mode": "0644",
+     "content": "[global]\n    font = Inter ${setting:font-size}\n    width = ${setting:width}\n"},
+    {"id": "rules", "type": "file", "path": "/home/me/.config/dunst/rules.json", "merge": "json",
+     "takes-settings": [], "content": "{\"urgency\": \"low\"}\n"},
+    {"id": "notifier", "type": "service", "unit": "dunst.service", "reload-on": ["configuration"]}
+  ]}`
+
+const configDunst = `{"module": "dunst", "version": "1",
+  "config": {
+    "font-size": {"type": "number", "description": "the font size of a notification, in points", "minimum": 6,
+                  "maximum": 40, "default": 10},
+    "width": {"type": "number", "description": "the width of a notification, in pixels", "minimum": 100,
+              "default": 250}
+  },
+  "resources": [
+    {"id": "package", "type": "package", "package": "dunst"},
+    {"id": "configuration", "type": "file", "path": "/home/me/.config/dunst/dunstrc", "mode": "0644",
+     "content": "[global]\n    font = Inter ${config:font-size}\n    width = ${config:width}\n"},
+    {"id": "rules", "type": "file", "path": "/home/me/.config/dunst/rules.json", "merge": "json",
+     "takes-config": [], "content": "{\"urgency\": \"low\"}\n"},
+    {"id": "notifier", "type": "service", "unit": "dunst.service", "reload-on": ["configuration"]}
+  ]}`
+
+// ${config:<key>} fills exactly as ${setting:<key>} does: the module rewritten from settings to config composes
+// to the same bytes, with no layer, with the node's, and with the mesh's under the node's.
+func TestAModuleRewrittenFromSettingsToConfigComposesByteIdentically(t *testing.T) {
+	composed := func(manifest string, layers []Layer) []byte {
+		t.Helper()
+		m, err := ParseManifest([]byte(manifest))
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		r := anAdoptedAnchor()
+		r.Modules = append(r.Modules, m)
+		with := anchorRendering(false)
+		if layers != nil {
+			with.Settings["dunst"] = layers
+		}
+		c, err := r.Compose(with)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		if why, left := c.LeftOut["dunst"]; left {
+			t.Fatalf("dunst was left out: %s", why)
+		}
+		raw, err := json.Marshal(c)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		return raw
+	}
+	for _, layers := range [][]Layer{
+		nil,
+		{{From: "anchor", Values: map[string]any{"font-size": float64(13)}}},
+		{{From: MeshWideLayer, Values: map[string]any{"width": float64(300)}},
+			{From: "anchor", Values: map[string]any{"font-size": float64(12), "width": float64(320)}}},
+	} {
+		was, is := composed(settingsDunst, layers), composed(configDunst, layers)
+		if !bytes.Equal(was, is) {
+			t.Fatalf("composed differently with %v:\nsettings: %s\nconfig:   %s", layers, was, is)
+		}
+		if !strings.Contains(string(is), "font = Inter 1") || strings.Contains(string(is), "${config:") {
+			t.Fatalf("not filled: %s", is)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// A key a mergeable file takes is a config value like every other: one not declared under config is refused by
+// name (ADR 0348 §4, review of mesh-controller#320).
+func TestConfigRefusesATakesConfigKeyNotDeclared(t *testing.T) {
+	m := inConfigForm()
+	resourceOf(m, "rules")["takes-config"] = []any{"position", "theme", "urgency"}
+	refused(t, m, `"urgency"`, "takes-config", "declares no such value under config")
+}
+
+// A required value nothing sets is refused at composition in the config form's words: ${config:<key>} and the
+// config verb, never `settings set` (review of mesh-controller#320). The settings form's words are unchanged.
+func TestAnUnsetRequiredValueIsRefusedInTheConfigFormsWords(t *testing.T) {
+	m, err := parseRaw(t, inConfigForm())
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	r := anAdoptedAnchor()
+	r.Modules = append(r.Modules, m)
+	composed, err := r.Compose(anchorRendering(false))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	why, left := composed.LeftOut["notifier"]
+	if !left {
+		t.Fatal("a module whose required value nothing sets was not left out")
+	}
+	for _, said := range []string{"${config:sender}", `required config value "sender"`, "config verb"} {
+		if !strings.Contains(why, said) {
+			t.Fatalf("left out without %q: %s", said, why)
+		}
+	}
+	for _, unsaid := range []string{"${setting:", "settings set"} {
+		if strings.Contains(why, unsaid) {
+			t.Fatalf("left out in the settings form's words (%q): %s", unsaid, why)
+		}
+	}
+	var unset *UnsetSettingError
+	if err := unsetInConfigWords(settingInto(map[string]any{"type": "file", "content": "${setting:sender}"}, nil,
+		"notifier"), m); !errors.As(err, &unset) || unset.Setting != "sender" {
+		t.Fatalf("not typed as a value nobody gave: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	settingsForm := notifier()
+	settingsForm.Resources[0]["content"] = "from = ${setting:domain}\n"
+	err = unsetInConfigWords(settingInto(settingsForm.Resources[0], nil, "notifier"), settingsForm)
+	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "`settings set notifier <file>`") {
+		t.Fatalf("the settings form's refusal changed: %v", err)
+	}
+}

internal/catalogue/data_test.go

@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ func TestTheBackupHoldersLinesAreDerivedFromTheData(t *testing.T) {
 			{"id":"meta","path":"${dir:meta}","class":"rebuildable"}]},
 		"resources":[{"id":"meta","type":"directory","mode":"0700"}]}`)
 	facts := map[string]string{"account-home": "/home/op"}
-	with := Rendering{Settings: SettingsBy{"media": {{From: "node", Values: map[string]any{AccessesSetting: map[string]any{"films": "/tank/films"}}}}}}
+	with := Rendering{Settings: SettingsBy{"media": {LayerOf("node", map[string]any{AccessesSetting: map[string]any{"films": "/tank/films"}})}}}
 	backup, _, err := seatContributions([]Manifest{pg, agent, media}, Manifest{}, BackupSeat+":"+BackupKindBackup, with, facts, nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)

internal/catalogue/declaration.go

@@ -1003,7 +1003,7 @@ func (r Resolution) compose(with Rendering, owner map[string]string,
 			// **An operator's value, from the assignment** (novox/hq ADR 0112, ADR 0155): what a
 			// definition may not carry because it is true of one installation only. Filled from
 			// the same layers a mergeable file takes, and refused when no layer set it.
-			if err := settingInto(copied, WithDefaults(m, with.Settings[m.Module]), m.Module); err != nil {
+			if err := unsetInConfigWords(settingInto(copied, WithDefaults(m, with.Settings[m.Module]), m.Module), m); err != nil {
 				return nil, err
 			}
 			// **Placed before anything reads a path.** A pathless directory receives the path

internal/catalogue/derived_for_consumer_test.go

@@ -165,16 +165,19 @@ func TestTwoConsumersOfOneProviderGetTheirOwnDerivation(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-// An operator may still set what the provider serves, and the mesh still derives the rest: the
-// setting is laid on first, then the consumer's half is filled.
+// An operator may still set what the provider serves where its definition asks (${setting:…}), and
+// the mesh still derives the rest: the setting is filled first, then the consumer's half. (Until
+// novox/hq issue 696 the layer replaced the served bucket whole; a layer replaces no served key now.)
 func TestASettingComposesWithADerivedValue(t *testing.T) {
-	r, err := Resolve(shelf(store(), files()), []string{"store", "files"}, reachable(), World{})
+	prefixed := store()
+	prefixed.Serves["s3-bucket"]["bucket"] = "${setting:bucket-prefix}${consumer:as:dns}"
+	r, err := Resolve(shelf(prefixed, files()), []string{"store", "files"}, reachable(), World{})
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
 	out, err := r.Declaration(Rendering{
 		Settings: SettingsBy{"store": {{From: "the operator",
-			Values: map[string]any{"bucket": "team-${consumer:as:dns}"}}}},
+			Values: map[string]any{"bucket-prefix": "team-"}}}},
 		Grants: []Grant{{Provision: "s3-bucket", Consumer: "workstation", From: "files", Slug: "files",
 			Values: map[string]any{}, Sealed: "c2VhbGVk"}},
 	})

internal/catalogue/manifest.go

@@ -530,12 +530,21 @@ type Manifest struct {
 	// stays refused by name until a layer sets it. The mesh's layer, then the node's, override it.
 	Settings map[string]SettingDeclaration `json:"settings,omitempty"`
 
+	// forms is which of the two forms its config is written in, `config` or its alias `settings` (config.go,
+	// novox/hq ADR 0348 §1): the config form is read into Settings, a mergeable file's takes-settings and
+	// `${setting:<key>}`, and written back as it was read.
+	forms configForms
+
 	// unknown is the first key this manifest has that this controller does not know, at any depth, when
 	// it was read from the store (novox/hq ADR 0262): a manifest a newer controller registered.
 	// ParseManifest refuses it; the store's catalogue still loads, and the module is left out of every
 	// machine's declaration by name until the controller is updated (LeftOut).
 	unknown string
 
+	// predefined is the list of predefined keys it was judged against (predefined.go, novox/hq ADR 0348 §7):
+	// read again — its templates filled from the tree — it is judged against the same list.
+	predefined PredefinedList
+
 	// bestEffort marks the view of a left-out module that only its backup lines are made from
 	// (backupView, novox/hq ADR 0262): a line of it that cannot be placed is said in the plan's list of
 	// what could not be placed, never an error that would cost the whole machine its declaration.
@@ -1321,10 +1330,25 @@ type manifestFields Manifest
 // strict read there failed the whole catalogue, and with it every plan and every send, the moment a
 // controller was rolled back. UnknownField says what was set aside.
 func (m *Manifest) UnmarshalJSON(raw []byte) error {
+	// The config form read into the settings form's fields, so both compose by one path (config.go).
+	raw, forms := toSettingsForm(raw)
 	var keys map[string]json.RawMessage
 	if err := json.Unmarshal(raw, &keys); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
+	if settings, has := keys[SettingsField]; has && string(settings) != "null" {
+		forms.settings = append(forms.settings, SettingsField)
+	}
+	if config, has := keys[ConfigField]; has {
+		if string(config) != "null" {
+			forms.config = append(forms.config, ConfigField)
+		}
+		if _, both := keys[SettingsField]; !both {
+			keys[SettingsField] = config
+		}
+		// Beside `settings` it is refused by name (MixedFormProblems), never merged into it.
+		delete(keys, ConfigField)
+	}
 	plain := map[string]string{}
 	many := map[string]map[string]string{}
 	if secrets, ok := keys["secrets"]; ok && string(secrets) != "null" {
@@ -1453,6 +1477,7 @@ func (m *Manifest) UnmarshalJSON(raw []byte) error {
 	}
 	*m = Manifest(fields)
 	m.unknown = unknown
+	m.forms = forms
 	m.OptionalRequires = optionalRequires
 	if len(plain) > 0 {
 		m.Secrets = plain
@@ -1470,8 +1495,16 @@ func (m *Manifest) UnmarshalJSON(raw []byte) error {
 }
 
 // MarshalJSON writes `secrets` and `contributes` back in the shape they were read: single values,
-// and objects of local names.
+// and objects of local names; and its config in the form it was read in (config.go).
 func (m Manifest) MarshalJSON() ([]byte, error) {
+	raw, err := m.marshalFields()
+	if err != nil || !m.DeclaresConfig() {
+		return raw, err
+	}
+	return toConfigForm(raw)
+}
+
+func (m Manifest) marshalFields() ([]byte, error) {
 	raw, err := json.Marshal(manifestFields(m))
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
@@ -1571,6 +1604,17 @@ func SecretLocal(to, local string) string {
 func (m Manifest) UnknownField() string { return m.unknown }
 
 func ParseManifest(raw []byte) (Manifest, error) {
+	return parseManifest(raw, PublishedPredefined())
+}
+
+// ParseManifestWith is ParseManifest judging every value that falls back to a predefined key against the list
+// given — the one read from the tree the manifest is in (predefined.go, novox/hq ADR 0348 §7) — where
+// ParseManifest judges against the list the mesh published. Nil is no list: a value naming a key is refused.
+func ParseManifestWith(raw []byte, predefined PredefinedList) (Manifest, error) {
+	return parseManifest(raw, predefined)
+}
+
+func parseManifest(raw []byte, predefined PredefinedList) (Manifest, error) {
 	var m Manifest
 	// Strictly. **An unknown key is refused**, which is the discipline the host's declaration
 	// parser has and manifests lacked (novox/hq 04-ISSUES/003): a `scope:` key survived in five
@@ -1598,6 +1642,7 @@ func ParseManifest(raw []byte) (Manifest, error) {
 		}
 		return Manifest{}, fmt.Errorf("this is not a module manifest: %w", err)
 	}
+	m.predefined = predefined
 
 	var problems []string
 	if !name.MatchString(m.Module) {
@@ -1783,8 +1828,14 @@ func ParseManifest(raw []byte) (Manifest, error) {
 	problems = append(problems, StateProblems(m)...)
 	// And what it may call its logs, and how large it may ask them to grow (logs.go, novox/hq ADR 0297).
 	problems = append(problems, LogProblems(m)...)
-	// And the defaults it gives its settings (setting_defaults.go, novox/hq ADR 0262).
-	problems = append(problems, SettingProblems(m)...)
+	// And the defaults it gives its settings (setting_defaults.go, novox/hq ADR 0262), or, written in the
+	// config form, the whole declaration of each value (config.go, novox/hq ADR 0348).
+	if m.DeclaresConfig() {
+		problems = append(problems, ConfigProblems(m)...)
+	} else {
+		problems = append(problems, SettingProblems(m)...)
+		problems = append(problems, TypedSettingProblems(m)...)
+	}
 	// And what it requires optionally, and the files it delivers only while bound (novox/hq ADR 0330).
 	problems = append(problems, OptionalProblems(m)...)
 	// And which setting keys each mergeable file takes (setting_takes.go, novox/hq ADR 0326).
@@ -1853,6 +1904,9 @@ func ParseManifest(raw []byte) (Manifest, error) {
 		}
 	}
 	problems = append(problems, m.Build.problems(m.Module)...)
+	// A file's text in a template file of the module's repository (novox/hq ADR 0349 §2): only a file, never beside
+	// content, only under files/, and packed by the module's build.
+	problems = append(problems, templateProblems(m)...)
 	problems = append(problems, undeliveredBundles(m)...)
 	// **What provides the artifact store cannot be delivered through it** (novox/hq 04-ISSUES/029).
 	//
@@ -2338,6 +2392,14 @@ func ParseManifest(raw []byte) (Manifest, error) {
 	problems = append(problems, healthProblems(m)...)
 	// And whether a container is busy (novox/hq ADR 0335), likewise.
 	problems = append(problems, busyProblems(m)...)
+	if m.DeclaresConfig() {
+		// Said in the words it was written in: the rules shared with the settings form say ${setting:<key>}
+		// and takes-settings.
+		for i, p := range problems {
+			problems[i] = inConfigWords(p)
+		}
+		problems = append(problems, MixedFormProblems(m)...)
+	}
 	if len(problems) > 0 {
 		sort.Strings(problems)
 		return Manifest{}, fmt.Errorf("this manifest cannot be used:\n  - %s",

internal/catalogue/placement.go

@@ -34,6 +34,69 @@ const PlacesSetting = "places"
 // AccessesSetting is the settings key that says where a module's accesses are on this node, by id.
 const AccessesSetting = "accesses"
 
+// **Placement is not config** (novox/hq ADR 0348 clause 11, issue 651). `places`, `accesses` and
+// `networks` are facts of an assignment the controller decides, held beside the assignment and apart
+// from its settings: a Layer carries them in Placement, never in Values, and only Places, AccessPlaces
+// and KeptNetworks read them. A person still says them as keys of a layer through `settings`; LayerOf
+// splits such a layer, so what they type is routed to the placement and nothing they do changes.
+
+// placementKeys are the keys of a layer that are placement, not config.
+var placementKeys = map[string]bool{PlacesSetting: true, AccessesSetting: true, NetworksSetting: true}
+
+// SplitPlacement divides a layer as a person says it into its config values and its placement. Each is
+// nil when it holds nothing; the values themselves are not copied.
+func SplitPlacement(values map[string]any) (config, placement map[string]any) {
+	for key, value := range values {
+		if placementKeys[key] {
+			if placement == nil {
+				placement = map[string]any{}
+			}
+			placement[key] = value
+			continue
+		}
+		if config == nil {
+			config = map[string]any{}
+		}
+		config[key] = value
+	}
+	return config, placement
+}
+
+// LayerOf is a layer as a person says it — config values and placement in one map — split into the two.
+func LayerOf(from string, values map[string]any) Layer {
+	config, placement := SplitPlacement(values)
+	if config == nil {
+		config = map[string]any{}
+	}
+	return Layer{From: from, Values: config, Placement: placement}
+}
+
+// Whole is the layer as a person says it: its values and its placement in one map, a new map.
+func (l Layer) Whole() map[string]any {
+	out := make(map[string]any, len(l.Values)+len(l.Placement))
+	for k, v := range l.Values {
+		out[k] = v
+	}
+	for k, v := range l.Placement {
+		out[k] = v
+	}
+	return out
+}
+
+// asSaid is the layers with placement folded back into the values, for what reads a layer whole as it
+// did while placement was kept in it: today's mergeable file, which takes every key (ADR 0326 §3), and
+// the judgement that no value holds a line end.
+func asSaid(layers []Layer) []Layer {
+	out := make([]Layer, len(layers))
+	for i, l := range layers {
+		out[i] = l
+		if len(l.Placement) > 0 {
+			out[i] = Layer{From: l.From, Values: l.Whole(), Default: l.Default}
+		}
+	}
+	return out
+}
+
 // Placement is what an assignment says about one of a module's directories.
 type Placement struct {
 	// Path is where the directory is on this machine. Absolute.
@@ -208,7 +271,7 @@ func Places(m Manifest, layers []Layer) (map[string]Placement, error) {
 	}
 	out := map[string]Placement{}
 	for _, layer := range layers {
-		raw, ok := layer.Values[PlacesSetting]
+		raw, ok := layer.Placement[PlacesSetting]
 		if !ok {
 			continue
 		}
@@ -278,7 +341,7 @@ func AccessPlaces(m Manifest, layers []Layer) (map[string]string, error) {
 	}
 	out := map[string]string{}
 	for _, layer := range layers {
-		raw, ok := layer.Values[AccessesSetting]
+		raw, ok := layer.Placement[AccessesSetting]
 		if !ok {
 			continue
 		}

internal/catalogue/placement_test.go

@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ func placeable() Manifest {
 }
 
 func placedBy(values map[string]any) Rendering {
-	return Rendering{Settings: SettingsBy{"arr": {{From: "node anchor", Values: values}}}}
+	return Rendering{Settings: SettingsBy{"arr": {LayerOf("node anchor", values)}}}
 }
 
 func TestAnAssignmentPlacesDirectoriesAndAccesses(t *testing.T) {
@@ -179,3 +179,43 @@ func TestAnUnknownAccessReferenceIsRefusedAtParse(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("an access with no id and no path was accepted: %v", err)
 	}
 }
+
+// **Placement is read from the placement, never from a layer's values** (novox/hq ADR 0348 clause 11, issue
+// 651). A `places` or `accesses` among the config values places nothing; the same in Placement does. A
+// mergeable file of today's form still takes every key of the layer as it is said, placement too, so it
+// composes as it did while placement was kept in the layer.
+func TestPlacementIsReadFromThePlacementOnly(t *testing.T) {
+	m := placeable()
+	said := map[string]any{
+		PlacesSetting:   map[string]any{"config": "/services/arr/config"},
+		AccessesSetting: map[string]any{"series": "/storage/media/series", "spool": "/storage/downloads"},
+		"log":           "warn",
+	}
+	among := []Layer{{From: "anchor", Values: said}}
+	if placed, err := Places(m, among); err != nil || placed != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("a place among the config values placed %v (%v)", placed, err)
+	}
+	if _, _, err := accessesFor(m, among); err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("an access among the config values placed it")
+	}
+	beside := []Layer{LayerOf("anchor", said)}
+	if beside[0].Values["log"] != "warn" || beside[0].Values[PlacesSetting] != nil || beside[0].Placement[PlacesSetting] == nil {
+		t.Fatalf("LayerOf split %+v", beside[0])
+	}
+	if placed, err := Places(m, beside); err != nil || placed["config"].Path != "/services/arr/config" {
+		t.Fatalf("the placement did not place: %v (%v)", placed, err)
+	}
+
+	file := map[string]any{"id": "runtime", "type": "file", "path": "/x", "content": `{"a":1}`, "merge": "json"}
+	whole, err := ApplySettings(file, among)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	split, err := ApplySettings(file, beside)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if whole["content"] != split["content"] || !strings.Contains(split["content"].(string), `"places"`) {
+		t.Fatalf("today's mergeable file composes %q, was %q", split["content"], whole["content"])
+	}
+}

internal/catalogue/predefined.go

@@ -0,0 +1,236 @@
+package catalogue
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"io/fs"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"sort"
+	"strings"
+	"sync"
+)
+
+// The list of predefined keys (novox/hq ADR 0348 §7, design 57 package K2, issue 661).
+//
+// **A fixed, reviewable list, owned by the build.** Mesh config and node config hold values only for the keys
+// in the catalogue's `predefined.json`, at the root of its repository: each key with its type, a description
+// including its unit, its validation (enum, minimum and maximum, pattern) and whether it is trusted. A module's
+// value may fall back to one of them, of the same type (ADR 0348 §2, §4).
+//
+// **Read where a manifest is judged, from the tree it is judged in.** A build reads the file at the root of the
+// repository at the commit it builds, `module check` at the root of the repository above each manifest, the
+// merge gate at the root of the tree under check; each refuses a file that is not exactly a list of keys, and
+// judges every manifest it reads against it (ParseManifestWith). Everywhere else — registration, a stored build
+// read again — a manifest is judged against the list the mesh published (PublishedPredefined): the newest trunk
+// build's of the catalogue, which the controller keeps and loads with its store.
+
+// PredefinedFile is the list's file at the root of the catalogue's repository.
+const PredefinedFile = "predefined.json"
+
+// CatalogueRepository is the name of the repository whose list the mesh publishes: the catalogue's, by the name
+// a check finds it beside under (internal/builder's check, ADR 0121).
+const CatalogueRepository = "mesh-catalog"
+
+// PredefinedKey is one key of the list: its type, its description, its validation and whether it is trusted
+// (ADR 0348 §7). It has no default: a module's value falling back to it has its own.
+type PredefinedKey struct {
+	Type        string   `json:"type"`
+	Description string   `json:"description"`
+	Enum        []any    `json:"enum,omitempty"`
+	Minimum     *float64 `json:"minimum,omitempty"`
+	Maximum     *float64 `json:"maximum,omitempty"`
+	Pattern     string   `json:"pattern,omitempty"`
+	Trusted     bool     `json:"trusted,omitempty"`
+}
+
+// PredefinedList is the list by key. Nil is no list at all, which is not the same as an empty one: a value
+// naming a key is refused then saying the list is not present.
+type PredefinedList map[string]PredefinedKey
+
+// ParsePredefined reads predefined.json strictly: one JSON object of keys, each with exactly the fields of a
+// PredefinedKey, and every key judged as a module's config value is (PredefinedProblems). Anything else is
+// refused whole, naming each problem — a list half read would let a module fall back to a key nobody reviewed.
+func ParsePredefined(raw []byte) (PredefinedList, error) {
+	var keys map[string]json.RawMessage
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(raw, &keys); err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%s is not a JSON object of keys: %w", PredefinedFile, err)
+	}
+	if keys == nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%s is not a JSON object of keys: it says null", PredefinedFile)
+	}
+	list := PredefinedList{}
+	var problems []string
+	for _, key := range sortedKeys(keys) {
+		decoder := json.NewDecoder(bytes.NewReader(keys[key]))
+		decoder.DisallowUnknownFields()
+		var k PredefinedKey
+		if err := decoder.Decode(&k); err != nil {
+			problems = append(problems, fmt.Sprintf("%q is not a predefined key's declaration (type, description, "+
+				"enum, minimum, maximum, pattern, trusted): %v", key, err))
+			continue
+		}
+		list[key] = k
+	}
+	problems = append(problems, PredefinedProblems(list)...)
+	if len(problems) > 0 {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%s is refused: %s", PredefinedFile, strings.Join(problems, "; "))
+	}
+	return list, nil
+}
+
+// PredefinedProblems is every way a key of the list is declared wrongly, by the rules a module's config value
+// is held to (ADR 0348 §4, §7, §11): a usable name that is not placement, a type, a description, validation
+// that fits the type, and an object or a list only when trusted.
+func PredefinedProblems(list PredefinedList) []string {
+	var problems []string
+	for _, key := range sortedKeys(list) {
+		k := list[key]
+		say := func(format string, args ...any) {
+			problems = append(problems, fmt.Sprintf("the predefined key %q: ", key)+fmt.Sprintf(format, args...))
+		}
+		if !settingRef.MatchString("${setting:" + key + "}") {
+			say("not a usable key: lower-case letters, digits, dots, dashes and underscores")
+			continue
+		}
+		if meshWords[key] || accountFacts[key] {
+			say("%q is placement, which the mesh decides, never a config value (novox/hq ADR 0348 §11)", key)
+			continue
+		}
+		switch k.Type {
+		case ConfigNumber, ConfigString, ConfigBoolean:
+		case ConfigObject, ConfigList:
+			if !k.Trusted {
+				say("is %s and not trusted: an object or a list is trusted, \"trusted\": true (novox/hq ADR 0348 §4)", k.Type)
+			}
+		case "":
+			say("no type: say \"type\": number, string or boolean, or object or list when trusted (novox/hq ADR 0348 §4)")
+		default:
+			say("type %q is none of number, string, boolean, object and list (novox/hq ADR 0348 §4)", k.Type)
+		}
+		if strings.TrimSpace(k.Description) == "" {
+			say("no description: say in a sentence what the value is, including its unit (novox/hq ADR 0348 §7)")
+		}
+		for _, wrong := range validationProblems(SettingDeclaration{Type: k.Type, Enum: k.Enum, Minimum: k.Minimum,
+			Maximum: k.Maximum, Pattern: k.Pattern}) {
+			say("%s", wrong)
+		}
+	}
+	return problems
+}
+
+// ReadPredefined is the list in predefined.json at a repository's root, and nil with no error when the root
+// holds none: a repository other than the catalogue, or the catalogue before the file.
+func ReadPredefined(root string) (PredefinedList, error) {
+	path := filepath.Join(root, PredefinedFile)
+	info, err := os.Lstat(path)
+	if errors.Is(err, fs.ErrNotExist) {
+		return nil, nil
+	}
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	if !info.Mode().IsRegular() {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%s is %s, not a plain file", path, kindOf(info.Mode()))
+	}
+	raw, err := os.ReadFile(path)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	return ParsePredefined(raw)
+}
+
+// RepositoryRoot is the nearest directory at or above dir holding `.git`: the root of the repository a manifest
+// is in, where `module check` reads the list. Empty when none is: a manifest outside a repository is judged
+// against no list.
+func RepositoryRoot(dir string) string {
+	at, err := filepath.Abs(dir)
+	if err != nil {
+		return ""
+	}
+	for {
+		if _, err := os.Lstat(filepath.Join(at, ".git")); err == nil {
+			return at
+		}
+		up := filepath.Dir(at)
+		if up == at {
+			return ""
+		}
+		at = up
+	}
+}
+
+// PredefinedAbove is the list at the root of the repository above dir (RepositoryRoot), nil when there is no
+// repository or it holds no list.
+func PredefinedAbove(dir string) (PredefinedList, error) {
+	root := RepositoryRoot(dir)
+	if root == "" {
+		return nil, nil
+	}
+	return ReadPredefined(root)
+}
+
+// Canonical is the list as JSON with its keys sorted: what a build carries and the controller keeps, so one list
+// is one text.
+func (l PredefinedList) Canonical() ([]byte, error) {
+	if l == nil {
+		return nil, nil
+	}
+	return json.Marshal(map[string]PredefinedKey(l))
+}
+
+// Keys is the list's keys, sorted.
+func (l PredefinedList) Keys() []string {
+	out := make([]string, 0, len(l))
+	for k := range l {
+		out = append(out, k)
+	}
+	sort.Strings(out)
+	return out
+}
+
+// NamesPredefined is whether any value of the manifest falls back to a predefined key.
+func (m Manifest) NamesPredefined() bool {
+	for _, d := range m.Settings {
+		if d.Predefined != "" {
+			return true
+		}
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
+// publishedPredefined is the list the mesh published, which a manifest is judged against where no tree is read.
+var publishedPredefined struct {
+	sync.RWMutex
+	list PredefinedList
+}
+
+// UsePredefined makes list the one a manifest is judged against where no tree is read: what the controller
+// loads from its store, and what it keeps when a newer trunk build of the catalogue publishes one. Nil leaves
+// the list it has: a store that holds none yet never empties one already loaded.
+func UsePredefined(list PredefinedList) {
+	if list == nil {
+		return
+	}
+	publishedPredefined.Lock()
+	defer publishedPredefined.Unlock()
+	publishedPredefined.list = list
+}
+
+// PublishedPredefined is the list a manifest is judged against where no tree is read; nil when none is loaded.
+func PublishedPredefined() PredefinedList {
+	publishedPredefined.RLock()
+	defer publishedPredefined.RUnlock()
+	return publishedPredefined.list
+}
+
+// ReplacePublished sets the published list, nil included, and answers the one it replaced: for a test that
+// judges against a list of its own and puts the mesh's back.
+func ReplacePublished(list PredefinedList) (was PredefinedList) {
+	publishedPredefined.Lock()
+	defer publishedPredefined.Unlock()
+	was, publishedPredefined.list = publishedPredefined.list, list
+	return was
+}

internal/catalogue/predefined_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,175 @@
+package catalogue
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+// The list of predefined keys (novox/hq ADR 0348 §7, design 57 package K2, issue 661): read strictly, and every
+// manifest naming a key judged against the list of the tree it is read in.
+
+// theFirstKeys is the catalogue's first list: font-size and agent-managed-settings.
+const theFirstKeys = `{
+  "font-size": {"type": "number", "description": "the size text is shown in, in points", "minimum": 6, "maximum": 72},
+  "agent-managed-settings": {"type": "object", "description": "the managed settings of every agent session, a JSON object", "trusted": true}
+}`
+
+func TestTheFirstListIsRead(t *testing.T) {
+	list, err := ParsePredefined([]byte(theFirstKeys))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if got := strings.Join(list.Keys(), ","); got != "agent-managed-settings,font-size" {
+		t.Fatalf("keys %s", got)
+	}
+	if k := list["font-size"]; k.Type != ConfigNumber || *k.Minimum != 6 || *k.Maximum != 72 || k.Trusted {
+		t.Fatalf("font-size read as %+v", k)
+	}
+	if k := list["agent-managed-settings"]; k.Type != ConfigObject || !k.Trusted {
+		t.Fatalf("agent-managed-settings read as %+v", k)
+	}
+	// One list is one text, however it was written.
+	a, _ := list.Canonical()
+	again, _ := ParsePredefined(a)
+	b, _ := again.Canonical()
+	if string(a) != string(b) {
+		t.Fatalf("canonical text moved:\n%s\n%s", a, b)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestAListIsRefusedWholeForAnyWrongKey(t *testing.T) {
+	for _, c := range []struct{ file, says string }{
+		{`[]`, "not a JSON object of keys"},
+		{`null`, "not a JSON object of keys"},
+		{`{"font-size": {"type": "number", "description": "points", "default": 10}}`, `unknown field "default"`},
+		{`{"font-size": {"description": "points"}}`, "no type"},
+		{`{"font-size": {"type": "decimal", "description": "points"}}`, `type "decimal"`},
+		{`{"font-size": {"type": "number"}}`, "no description"},
+		{`{"accent": {"type": "object", "description": "colours"}}`, "not trusted"},
+		{`{"font-size": {"type": "number", "description": "points", "minimum": 9, "maximum": 6}}`, "above its maximum"},
+		{`{"accent": {"type": "string", "description": "a name", "pattern": "("}}`, "not a regular expression"},
+		{`{"accent": {"type": "boolean", "description": "on or off", "minimum": 1}}`, "minimum or maximum is for a number"},
+		{`{"Font Size": {"type": "number", "description": "points"}}`, "not a usable key"},
+		{`{"places": {"type": "string", "description": "where"}}`, "placement"},
+		{`{"puid": {"type": "number", "description": "an id"}}`, "placement"},
+	} {
+		if _, err := ParsePredefined([]byte(c.file)); err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), c.says) {
+			t.Errorf("%s: wanted a refusal saying %q, got %v", c.file, c.says, err)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// fallingBackTo is inConfigForm with its font size falling back to a predefined key.
+func fallingBackTo(t *testing.T, key string) []byte {
+	t.Helper()
+	m := inConfigForm()
+	declaration(m, "font-size")["predefined"] = key
+	raw, err := json.Marshal(m)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	return raw
+}
+
+// A manifest naming font-size registers against the list; one naming a key not on it, or of another type, is
+// refused — judged against the list given, whatever the mesh published.
+func TestAManifestIsJudgedAgainstTheListOfItsTree(t *testing.T) {
+	withPredefined(t, nil)
+	list, err := ParsePredefined([]byte(theFirstKeys))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if _, err := ParseManifestWith(fallingBackTo(t, "font-size"), list); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("a value falling back to font-size is refused: %v", err)
+	}
+	if _, err := ParseManifestWith(fallingBackTo(t, "font-scale"), list); err == nil ||
+		!strings.Contains(err.Error(), `"font-scale", which is not on the list`) {
+		t.Fatalf("a key not on the list: %v", err)
+	}
+	m := inConfigForm()
+	declaration(m, "theme")["predefined"] = "font-size"
+	raw, _ := json.Marshal(m)
+	if _, err := ParseManifestWith(raw, list); err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "which is a number") {
+		t.Fatalf("a key of another type: %v", err)
+	}
+	// Where no tree is read, the published list judges: none published refuses.
+	if _, err := ParseManifest(fallingBackTo(t, "font-size")); err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "is not present") {
+		t.Fatalf("judged against no list: %v", err)
+	}
+	withPredefined(t, list)
+	if _, err := ParseManifest(fallingBackTo(t, "font-size")); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("judged against the published list: %v", err)
+	}
+}
+
+// A template's text filled from the tree keeps the list the manifest was judged against: read again, it is not
+// judged against the published one.
+func TestTemplatesFilledKeepTheListTheManifestWasJudgedAgainst(t *testing.T) {
+	withPredefined(t, nil)
+	list, _ := ParsePredefined([]byte(theFirstKeys))
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	if err := os.MkdirAll(filepath.Join(dir, TemplatesDir), 0o755); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if err := os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(dir, TemplatesDir, "rc"), []byte("font = ${config:font-size}\n"), 0o644); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	m := inConfigForm()
+	declaration(m, "font-size")["predefined"] = "font-size"
+	r := resourceOf(m, "configuration")
+	delete(r, "content")
+	r["template"] = TemplatesDir + "/rc"
+	m["build"] = map[string]any{"artifacts": []any{map[string]any{"name": "files", "kind": "archive", "from": "files"}}}
+	declaration(m, "width")["runtime"] = true
+	declaration(m, "sender")["runtime"] = true
+	raw, _ := json.Marshal(m)
+	parsed, err := ParseManifestWith(raw, list)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if _, err := WithTemplatesFrom(parsed, dir); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("filled from the tree, it was judged against another list: %v", err)
+	}
+}
+
+// module check reads the list at the root of the repository above the manifest; no repository, no list.
+func TestTheListIsFoundAtTheRepositoryRootAboveAManifest(t *testing.T) {
+	root := t.TempDir()
+	module := filepath.Join(root, "modules", "dunst")
+	if err := os.MkdirAll(module, 0o755); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if list, err := PredefinedAbove(module); err != nil || list != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("outside a repository: %v %v", list, err)
+	}
+	if err := os.Mkdir(filepath.Join(root, ".git"), 0o755); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if list, err := PredefinedAbove(module); err != nil || list != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("a repository without the file: %v %v", list, err)
+	}
+	if err := os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(root, PredefinedFile), []byte(theFirstKeys), 0o644); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	list, err := PredefinedAbove(module)
+	if err != nil || len(list) != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("the list above: %v %v", list, err)
+	}
+	if err := os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(root, PredefinedFile), []byte(`{"font-size": {}}`), 0o644); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if _, err := PredefinedAbove(module); err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("a wrong list above was read")
+	}
+	if err := os.Remove(filepath.Join(root, PredefinedFile)); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if err := os.Symlink("/etc/hostname", filepath.Join(root, PredefinedFile)); err == nil {
+		if _, err := PredefinedAbove(module); err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "not a plain file") {
+			t.Fatalf("a link read as the list: %v", err)
+		}
+	}
+}

internal/catalogue/seats.go

@@ -128,7 +128,19 @@ var defaultSeats = append([]Seat{
 	// The vault: the controller seals every minted credential with what it provides, which is the
 	// test for a seat of the mesh's own (novox/hq ADR 0161) — a second provider of `secret` is a
 	// second claimant, refused by name, rather than a candidate for a pin.
-	{Name: "mesh-vault", Scope: ScopeMesh, Delivers: "secret", Decision: "novox/hq ADR 0161"},
+	//
+	// Its one verb, `get`, hands a secret on request and reply, sealed to the key the asker sends and only
+	// to an asker the vault allows (novox/hq ADR 0349 §11, issue 674). Optional until the vault that runs
+	// serves it (design 33 §7).
+	{Name: "mesh-vault", Scope: ScopeMesh, Delivers: "secret", Decision: "novox/hq ADR 0161",
+		Serves: []Verb{
+			{Name: "get", Optional: true, Description: "One secret, sealed to the public key the asker sends (the " +
+				"sealed box of ADR 0206), with its generation; answered only to an asker the vault allows, as the " +
+				"bus proved it. Never the value in the clear, and never to a private key.",
+				Input: schema(map[string]string{"name": "the secret's name",
+					"public_key": "the asker's X25519 public key as SPKI PEM — never a private key"},
+					[]string{"name", "public_key"})},
+		}},
 	// Named for its scope since 2026-09-30 (novox/hq ADR 0156); `the-artifact-store` resolves to it as
 	// an alias on a mesh that predates the rename. It serves artifacts of every kind a build makes —
 	// images and archives, by digest — which is why the provision is the artifact store and not an

internal/catalogue/served_by_setting_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,194 @@
+package catalogue
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"os"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+// influxdb and grafana as the catalogue declares them, cut to what composes the data source on a
+// machine like ace (novox/hq issue 696): what influxdb serves for influxdb-api and its mergeable
+// runtime configuration, and grafana's binding, data source file and credential.
+const grafanaLikeTheCatalogue = `{
+  "module": "grafana", "version": "1",
+  "requires": [{"name": "influxdb-api", "optional": true}],
+  "contributes": {"influxdb-api": {"access": "read"}},
+  "binds": {"influxdb-api": "${dir:state}/influxdb.json"},
+  "secrets": {"influxdb-api": "${dir:mesh-state}/influxdb-api"},
+  "resources": [
+    {"id": "mesh-state", "type": "directory", "mode": "0700", "place": "mesh"},
+    {"id": "state", "type": "directory", "mode": "0700", "place": "."},
+    {"id": "influxdb-datasources", "type": "directory", "mode": "0755", "owner": "472:0"},
+    {"id": "influxdb-datasource", "type": "file", "path": "${dir:influxdb-datasources}/mesh-influxdb.yaml", "mode": "0644",
+     "content": "apiVersion: 1\n# Written by the mesh from grafana's influxdb-api binding, only while it is bound (novox/hq ADR 0330):\n# without influxdb, grafana runs with no mesh data source. grafana reads it at start. Its own name and\n# uid, so a data source somebody made in the UI is never overwritten, and read-only in the UI because\n# the mesh resets it. The password is read from the file the mesh delivers, never written here.\ndatasources:\n  - name: InfluxDB (mesh)\n    uid: mesh-influxdb-api\n    type: influxdb\n    access: proxy\n    url: ${bound:influxdb-api:scheme}://${bound:influxdb-api:at}:${bound:influxdb-api:port}\n    user: ${bound:influxdb-api:as}\n    isDefault: false\n    editable: false\n    jsonData:\n      dbName: ${bound:influxdb-api:bucket}\n      httpMode: POST\n    secureJsonData:\n      password: $__file{/run/secrets/influxdb/influxdb-api}\n",
+     "only-when-bound": "influxdb-api"}
+  ]
+}`
+
+// influxdbServing is influxdb as the catalogue declared it before issue 696 (literal served org and
+// bucket) or after (served from its settings, today's literals as their defaults).
+func influxdbServing(after bool) string {
+	served := `"org": "mesh", "bucket": "default"`
+	settings, takes := ``, ``
+	if after {
+		served = `"org": "${setting:org}", "bucket": "${setting:bucket}"`
+		settings = `"settings": {
+      "org": {"kind": "preference", "default": "mesh", "why": "the org influxdb makes at its first start"},
+      "bucket": {"kind": "preference", "default": "default", "why": "the bucket influxdb makes at its first start"}},`
+		takes = `, "takes-settings": ["bucket", "org", "url"], "trusted": true`
+	}
+	return `{
+  "module": "influxdb", "version": "1",
+  "provides": [{"name": "influxdb-api", "scope": "mesh", "identity": {"in": "an InfluxDB v1 authorization"}}],
+  "listens": [{"name": "api", "port": 8086, "protocol": "tcp", "from": "mesh", "why": "queries and writes"}],
+  ` + settings + `
+  "serves": {"influxdb-api": {"scheme": "http", "port": 8086, ` + served + `}},
+  "resources": [
+    {"id": "mesh-state", "type": "directory", "mode": "0700", "place": "mesh"},
+    {"id": "runtime-config", "type": "file", "path": "${dir:mesh-state}/config.json", "mode": "0600",
+     "content": "{}\n", "merge": "json"` + takes + `}
+  ]
+}`
+}
+
+// composedLikeAce is every resource of grafana and influxdb as one machine composes them, by id, with
+// influxdb's settings layer on it.
+func composedLikeAce(t *testing.T, influxdb string, layers []Layer) map[string]string {
+	t.Helper()
+	var ms []Manifest
+	for _, raw := range []string{influxdb, grafanaLikeTheCatalogue} {
+		m, err := ParseManifest([]byte(raw))
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		ms = append(ms, m)
+	}
+	r, err := Resolve(shelf(ms...), []string{"influxdb", "grafana"}, reachable(), World{})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	out, err := r.Declaration(Rendering{Settings: SettingsBy{"influxdb": layers},
+		Needed: map[string]map[string]string{}})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	got := map[string]string{}
+	for _, res := range out {
+		id, _ := res["id"].(string)
+		if !strings.HasPrefix(id, "grafana.") && !strings.HasPrefix(id, "influxdb.") {
+			continue
+		}
+		b, err := json.Marshal(res)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		got[id] = string(b)
+	}
+	return got
+}
+
+// aceLikeLayer is a layer like influxdb's on ace: its own org and bucket (made up here), and the
+// endpoint block the mesh reads itself.
+func aceLikeLayer() []Layer {
+	return []Layer{{From: "ace", Values: map[string]any{
+		"org": "made-up-org", "bucket": "made-up-bucket",
+		"endpoints": map[string]any{"api": map[string]any{"label": "influx", "port": float64(8086), "reach": "internal"}},
+	}}}
+}
+
+// grafana composes byte for byte as it did before issue 696, on a machine like ace and on one
+// without a layer, now that influxdb serves its org and bucket from its settings and no layer
+// replaces a served key. The golden files are grafana's resources as the integration branch's
+// controller composed them at 71362c1 (Settle still overriding), with influxdb serving the literals.
+func TestGrafanaComposesTheSameOnceInfluxdbServesItsSettings(t *testing.T) {
+	for name, layers := range map[string][]Layer{"ace": aceLikeLayer(), "unlayered": nil} {
+		raw, err := os.ReadFile("testdata/influxdb-served-by-setting/grafana-" + name + ".json")
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		var want map[string]json.RawMessage
+		if err := json.Unmarshal(raw, &want); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		got := composedLikeAce(t, influxdbServing(true), layers)
+		seen := 0
+		for id, v := range got {
+			if !strings.HasPrefix(id, "grafana.") {
+				continue
+			}
+			seen++
+			w, ok := want[id]
+			if !ok {
+				t.Errorf("%s: %s composes and did not before", name, id)
+				continue
+			}
+			var compact bytes.Buffer
+			if err := json.Compact(&compact, w); err != nil {
+				t.Fatal(err)
+			}
+			if compact.String() != v {
+				t.Errorf("%s: %s changed:\n got %s\nwant %s", name, id, v, compact.String())
+			}
+		}
+		if seen != len(want) {
+			t.Errorf("%s: %d of grafana's %d resources compose", name, seen, len(want))
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// What a provider serves is its definition's, filled from settings only where it asks with
+// ${setting:<key>} (novox/hq issue 696, ADR 0348 clause 11): a layer that sets a key the provider
+// serves as a literal replaces nothing, and a key it does not serve is never added.
+func TestALayerNoLongerReplacesAServedKey(t *testing.T) {
+	served, err := Settle(map[string]any{"host": "mail", "port": 25},
+		[]Layer{{From: "the mesh", Values: map[string]any{"host": "post", "sitename": "Mail"}}})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if served["host"] != "mail" {
+		t.Errorf("a layer replaced the served host: %v", served)
+	}
+	if _, leaked := served["sitename"]; leaked {
+		t.Errorf("a setting for a file reached the consumers: %v", served)
+	}
+
+	// And a layer setting it is said to reach nothing, rather than taken for a change.
+	m := Manifest{Module: "mail", Serves: map[string]map[string]any{"smtp": {"host": "mail"}}}
+	if unused := UnusedSettings(m, []Layer{{From: "the mesh", Values: map[string]any{"host": "post"}}}); len(unused) != 1 {
+		t.Errorf("a layer setting a literal served key was not said to reach nothing: %v", unused)
+	}
+
+	// influxdb as it was before issue 696, serving literals, under a layer like ace's: the layer no
+	// longer reaches grafana — which is why the catalogue moves influxdb first.
+	got := composedLikeAce(t, influxdbServing(false), aceLikeLayer())
+	for _, id := range []string{"grafana.influxdb-datasource", "grafana.bound-influxdb-api"} {
+		if strings.Contains(got[id], "made-up") {
+			t.Errorf("%s still carries the layer's value over a literal served key: %s", id, got[id])
+		}
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(got["grafana.influxdb-datasource"], `dbName: default\n`) {
+		t.Errorf("the data source does not name the served literal: %s", got["grafana.influxdb-datasource"])
+	}
+}
+
+// influxdb's own runtime configuration takes the keys it names: org and bucket from a layer like
+// ace's, and not the endpoint block the mesh reads itself, which today's form wrote there too.
+func TestInfluxdbsConfigTakesItsOrgAndBucket(t *testing.T) {
+	got := composedLikeAce(t, influxdbServing(true), aceLikeLayer())["influxdb.runtime-config"]
+	var r map[string]any
+	if err := json.Unmarshal([]byte(got), &r); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if want := "{\n  \"bucket\": \"made-up-bucket\",\n  \"org\": \"made-up-org\"\n}\n"; r["content"] != want {
+		t.Errorf("config.json: got %q, want %q", r["content"], want)
+	}
+	got = composedLikeAce(t, influxdbServing(true), nil)["influxdb.runtime-config"]
+	if err := json.Unmarshal([]byte(got), &r); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if r["content"] != "{}\n" {
+		t.Errorf("a default reached the mergeable file: %q", r["content"])
+	}
+}

internal/catalogue/setting_defaults.go

@@ -31,6 +31,28 @@ type SettingDeclaration struct {
 	Default any `json:"default"`
 	// Why this default: one sentence for whoever wonders whether to change it.
 	Why string `json:"why"`
+
+	// The config form's declaration (novox/hq ADR 0348 §4, config.go): none of these is said under
+	// `settings`, and neither Kind nor Why under `config`.
+
+	// Type is number, string or boolean; object or list only when Trusted.
+	Type string `json:"type,omitempty"`
+	// Description says what the value is, including its unit.
+	Description string `json:"description,omitempty"`
+	// Enum, Minimum, Maximum and Pattern are its validation: the values it may take, the bounds of a
+	// number, and the whole of a string matching the pattern.
+	Enum    []any    `json:"enum,omitempty"`
+	Minimum *float64 `json:"minimum,omitempty"`
+	Maximum *float64 `json:"maximum,omitempty"`
+	Pattern string   `json:"pattern,omitempty"`
+	// Trusted is a value that decides what runs or who can reach what (ADR 0348 §8).
+	Trusted bool `json:"trusted,omitempty"`
+	// Predefined is the predefined key the value falls back to, of the same type (ADR 0348 §2, §7).
+	Predefined string `json:"predefined,omitempty"`
+	// Required is the operator's own value: it has no default (ADR 0348 §4).
+	Required bool `json:"required,omitempty"`
+	// Runtime is a value the module's code reads at runtime rather than one placed in a file (ADR 0348 §5).
+	Runtime bool `json:"runtime,omitempty"`
 }
 
 // KindPreference is the kind of a setting that may have a default.
@@ -203,11 +225,16 @@ type SettingSource struct {
 func Effective(m Manifest, layers []Layer) []SettingSource {
 	byKey := map[string]*SettingSource{}
 	for key, d := range m.Settings {
+		if d.Default == nil {
+			// A required config value has no default (ADR 0348 §4); a settings declaration always has one.
+			continue
+		}
 		byKey[key] = &SettingSource{Key: key, Value: d.Default, From: DefaultLayer, FromDefault: true,
 			Default: d.Default, HasDefault: true}
 	}
 	for _, layer := range layers {
-		for key, v := range layer.Values {
+		// As the layer is said, placement too: `settings` answers it as a person set it.
+		for key, v := range layer.Whole() {
 			s, ok := byKey[key]
 			if !ok {
 				s = &SettingSource{Key: key}

internal/catalogue/setting_defaults_test.go

@@ -427,7 +427,7 @@ func TestALeftOutModulesUnplaceableBackupLineCostsOnlyThatLine(t *testing.T) {
 	r := anAdoptedAnchor()
 	r.Modules = append(r.Modules, holder, media, placedBadly)
 	with := anchorRendering(false)
-	with.Settings["notes"] = []Layer{{From: "anchor", Values: map[string]any{PlacesSetting: "not a map"}}}
+	with.Settings["notes"] = []Layer{LayerOf("anchor", map[string]any{PlacesSetting: "not a map"})}
 	composed, err := r.Compose(with)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("an unplaceable line of a left-out module failed the machine: %v", err)

internal/catalogue/setting_into.go

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package catalogue
 
 import (
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"regexp"
 	"sort"
@@ -47,10 +48,30 @@ func settingsUsed(content string) []string {
 type UnsetSettingError struct {
 	Module, Setting string
 	said            string
+	// where says what asks for it — "a file", "a service whose unit", "a directory <id> whose owner" — and
+	// setToday which of the module's keys a layer sets, for saying it again in the config form's words.
+	where, setToday string
 }
 
 func (e *UnsetSettingError) Error() string { return e.said }
 
+// unsetInConfigWords is the refusal of a required config value nothing sets, in the words of a module written in the
+// config form (novox/hq ADR 0348 §1, §4): `${config:<key>}` and the config verb, never `settings set`. Any other
+// error, and any error of a module in the settings form, is returned as it was.
+func unsetInConfigWords(err error, m Manifest) error {
+	var unset *UnsetSettingError
+	if err == nil || !m.DeclaresConfig() || !errors.As(err, &unset) {
+		return err
+	}
+	return &UnsetSettingError{Module: unset.Module, Setting: unset.Setting, where: unset.where,
+		setToday: unset.setToday, said: fmt.Sprintf(
+			"%s has %s that says ${config:%s}, and nothing sets the required config value %q for it — a "+
+				"required value is the operator's own and has no default (novox/hq ADR 0348 §4): set it with "+
+				"the config verb, for %s on this node, key %q%s",
+			unset.Module, unset.where, unset.Setting, unset.Setting, unset.Module, unset.Setting,
+			strings.ReplaceAll(unset.setToday, "no setting is set", "no config value is set"))}
+}
+
 // settingInto fills a file's ${setting:…} placeholders from the layers over a module.
 //
 // The last layer setting a key wins, which is the node's over the mesh's over the module's own
@@ -74,12 +95,13 @@ func settingInto(resource map[string]any, layers []Layer, module string) error {
 	for _, key := range settingsUsed(content) {
 		value, set := settingValue(layers, key)
 		if !set {
-			return &UnsetSettingError{Module: module, Setting: key, said: fmt.Sprintf(
-				"%s has a file that says ${setting:%s}, and nothing sets %q for it — an operator's "+
-					"value is the assignment's, never the definition's (novox/hq ADR 0112), and only a "+
-					"preference has a default in the definition (ADR 0262): "+
-					"`settings set %s <file>` with {%q: …}%s",
-				module, key, key, module, key, orNoSettings(layers))}
+			return &UnsetSettingError{Module: module, Setting: key, where: "a file",
+				setToday: orNoSettings(layers), said: fmt.Sprintf(
+					"%s has a file that says ${setting:%s}, and nothing sets %q for it — an operator's "+
+						"value is the assignment's, never the definition's (novox/hq ADR 0112), and only a "+
+						"preference has a default in the definition (ADR 0262): "+
+						"`settings set %s <file>` with {%q: …}%s",
+					module, key, key, module, key, orNoSettings(layers))}
 		}
 		content = strings.ReplaceAll(content, "${setting:"+key+"}", plainly(value))
 	}
@@ -130,11 +152,12 @@ func settingIntoUnit(resource map[string]any, layers []Layer, module string) err
 	for _, key := range settingsUsed(unit) {
 		value, set := settingValue(layers, key)
 		if !set {
-			return &UnsetSettingError{Module: module, Setting: key, said: fmt.Sprintf(
-				"%s has a service whose unit says ${setting:%s}, and nothing sets %q for it — an operator's "+
-					"value is the assignment's, never the definition's (novox/hq ADR 0112): "+
-					"`settings set %s <file>` with {%q: …}%s",
-				module, key, key, module, key, orNoSettings(layers))}
+			return &UnsetSettingError{Module: module, Setting: key, where: "a service whose unit",
+				setToday: orNoSettings(layers), said: fmt.Sprintf(
+					"%s has a service whose unit says ${setting:%s}, and nothing sets %q for it — an operator's "+
+						"value is the assignment's, never the definition's (novox/hq ADR 0112): "+
+						"`settings set %s <file>` with {%q: …}%s",
+					module, key, key, module, key, orNoSettings(layers))}
 		}
 		v := plainly(value)
 		if !unitPart.MatchString(v) {
@@ -229,11 +252,13 @@ func settingIntoOwner(resource map[string]any, layers []Layer, module string) er
 	for _, key := range settingsUsed(owner) {
 		value, set := settingValue(layers, key)
 		if !set {
-			return &UnsetSettingError{Module: module, Setting: key, said: fmt.Sprintf(
-				"%s has a directory %v whose owner says ${setting:%s}, and nothing sets %q for it — an operator's "+
-					"value is the assignment's, never the definition's (novox/hq ADR 0112): "+
-					"`settings set %s <file>` with {%q: …}%s",
-				module, resource["id"], key, key, module, key, orNoSettings(layers))}
+			return &UnsetSettingError{Module: module, Setting: key,
+				where: fmt.Sprintf("a directory %v whose owner", resource["id"]), setToday: orNoSettings(layers),
+				said: fmt.Sprintf(
+					"%s has a directory %v whose owner says ${setting:%s}, and nothing sets %q for it — an operator's "+
+						"value is the assignment's, never the definition's (novox/hq ADR 0112): "+
+						"`settings set %s <file>` with {%q: …}%s",
+					module, resource["id"], key, key, module, key, orNoSettings(layers))}
 		}
 		v := plainly(value)
 		id, whole := wholeID(v)

internal/catalogue/setting_takes.go

@@ -83,7 +83,8 @@ func TakenSettingsProblems(m Manifest) []string {
 // Said only when none of the module's mergeable files names its keys: when one does, §2 already
 // names every file that does not, and a file is not reported twice.
 func WrittenSettingsProblems(m Manifest) []string {
-	if len(m.Settings) == 0 {
+	if len(m.Settings) == 0 || m.DeclaresConfig() {
+		// A module in the config form is held to this where it is read, in its own words (ConfigProblems).
 		return nil
 	}
 	var silent []string

internal/catalogue/settings.go

@@ -37,6 +37,11 @@ type Layer struct {
 	// Default marks the layer a module's own defaults make (novox/hq ADR 0262). Marked rather than
 	// recognised by From, which is a node's name for a node's layer, and a node may be called anything.
 	Default bool
+	// Placement is the assignment's placement at this layer's scope — `places`, `accesses`, `networks`
+	// — which the controller holds apart from settings (novox/hq ADR 0348 clause 11, issue 651): read
+	// by Places, AccessPlaces and KeptNetworks, and never from Values. LayerOf splits a layer as a person
+	// says it into the two.
+	Placement map[string]any
 }
 
 // ApplySettings produces a resource's final content from the module's own and the layers over it.
@@ -45,6 +50,10 @@ type Layer struct {
 // module first, then this node's. A node that differs from the rest is expressed by differing,
 // rather than by repeating everything the rest already say.
 func ApplySettings(resource map[string]any, layers []Layer) (map[string]any, error) {
+	// Today's form reaches a mergeable file with every key of the layer as it was said, placement too
+	// (novox/hq ADR 0326 §3, ADR 0348 clause 11: a module not yet moved keeps it), so a file composes
+	// byte for byte as it did while placement was kept in the layer.
+	layers = asSaid(layers)
 	how, _ := resource["merge"].(string)
 	taken, names := takenKeys(resource)
 	if how == "" {
@@ -108,25 +117,27 @@ func ApplySettings(resource map[string]any, layers []Layer) (map[string]any, err
 	return out, nil
 }
 
-// Settle lays settings over what a provider serves. Exported because a served fact is settled where
-// the mesh is walked rather than where a node is declared.
+// Settle fills what a provider serves from its settings. Exported because a served fact is settled
+// where the mesh is walked rather than where a node is declared.
 //
-// **A setting overrides a served key; it never adds one** (novox/hq 04-ISSUES/173). What a consumer
-// is told is the provider's contract, and a setting made for one of the provider's files — a site
-// name, a public address — is not part of it. Before this, every setting of a module reached every
-// consumer of every provision it served.
+// **What a provider serves is its definition's; a layer replaces none of it** (novox/hq ADR 0348
+// clause 11, issue 696). A served value is filled from the layers only where the definition asks,
+// with `${setting:<key>}` (ADR 0155) — a mail provider's domain, an identity provider's issuer, a
+// time-series store's org and bucket — and a layer that sets a key the provider serves as a literal
+// changes nothing a consumer is told. Nor does a setting add a key (novox/hq 04-ISSUES/173): a
+// setting made for one of the provider's files — a site name, a public address — is not part of the
+// contract. Until issue 696, a layer replaced any served key it named; influxdb on ace was the one
+// layer relying on it, and serves `${setting:org}` and `${setting:bucket}` since.
 func Settle(base map[string]any, layers []Layer) (map[string]any, error) {
-	return overridden(base, layers, "what is served")
+	return filledFromSettings(deepCopy(base), layers, "what is served")
 }
 
-// overridden lays settings over a map whose keys are its contract: a contribution, a served fact.
-// Only the keys the map already declares are touched; the rest of a layer is somebody else's
-// business (a file's, another destination's) and is left to reach it there.
+// overridden lays settings over a contribution: a map whose keys are its contract. Only the keys the
+// map already declares are touched; the rest of a layer is somebody else's business (a file's,
+// another destination's) and is left to reach it there.
 //
-// A declared value may itself be the operator's, `${setting:<key>}` (ADR 0155): a mail provider
-// serves its domain, an identity provider its issuer, and neither is the definition's to state.
-// Filled from the layers after the overrides, and refused by name when nothing sets it — a literal
-// placeholder handed to a consumer is a service configured against a string nobody meant.
+// A declared value may itself be the operator's, `${setting:<key>}` (ADR 0155), filled after the
+// overrides (filledFromSettings).
 func overridden(base map[string]any, layers []Layer, what string) (map[string]any, error) {
 	kept := make([]Layer, 0, len(layers))
 	for _, layer := range layers {
@@ -142,6 +153,14 @@ func overridden(base map[string]any, layers []Layer, what string) (map[string]an
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
+	return filledFromSettings(merged, layers, what)
+}
+
+// filledFromSettings fills each `${setting:<key>}` in a map's top-level strings from the layers,
+// later beating earlier and a module's defaults lowest, and refuses one nothing sets by name — a
+// literal placeholder handed to a consumer is a service configured against a string nobody meant.
+// It fills merged in place and returns it.
+func filledFromSettings(merged map[string]any, layers []Layer, what string) (map[string]any, error) {
 	for key, value := range merged {
 		s, ok := value.(string)
 		if !ok {
@@ -168,7 +187,8 @@ func overridden(base map[string]any, layers []Layer, what string) (map[string]an
 // module says what it means by default, and somebody says what it means here. A contribution that
 // could not be settled would have to be edited to be reused anywhere else. The two differ in one
 // respect, and the caller decides it: a file takes keys it did not declare (a setting may add to a
-// configuration), a contribution or served fact does not (overridden).
+// configuration), a contribution does not (overridden). A served fact takes no layer at all; only
+// its ${setting:<key>} is filled (Settle).
 func settle(base map[string]any, layers []Layer, protected map[string]bool, what string) (
 	map[string]any, error) {
 	merged := deepCopy(base)
@@ -344,8 +364,9 @@ func sortedKeysAny(m map[string]any) []string {
 // way there is. This is what makes that visible at the moment they set it.
 //
 // Where a key can land: any mergeable file takes any key; a file asking for `${setting:<key>}`
-// takes that key (ADR 0155); a contribution or a served fact takes a key it declares, and no other
-// (novox/hq 04-ISSUES/173); and the mesh's own words — `expose`, `ports`, `reach`, `endpoints` —
+// takes that key (ADR 0155); a contribution takes a key it declares, and no other (novox/hq
+// 04-ISSUES/173); a served fact takes only the keys it asks for as `${setting:<key>}`, since a layer
+// replaces no served key (novox/hq issue 696); and the mesh's own words — `expose`, `ports`, `reach`, `endpoints` —
 // are read by the mesh. A key none of those takes is stray, and is said so rather than dropped.
 func UnusedSettings(m Manifest, layers []Layer) []string {
 	named := namesItsKeys(m)
@@ -388,14 +409,9 @@ func UnusedSettings(m Manifest, layers []Layer) []string {
 			}
 		}
 	}
-	for _, served := range m.Serves {
-		for key := range served {
-			lands[key] = true
-		}
-	}
 	var unused []string
 	for _, layer := range layers {
-		for key := range layer.Values {
+		for key := range layer.Whole() {
 			if lands[key] {
 				continue
 			}
@@ -435,7 +451,7 @@ func UnusedSettings(m Manifest, layers []Layer) []string {
 			}
 			unused = append(unused, fmt.Sprintf(
 				"%s sets %q, and %s has no file that merges it, asks for no ${setting:%s}, and "+
-					"declares no %q in what it contributes or serves%s",
+					"declares no %q in what it contributes%s",
 				layer.From, key, m.Module, key, key, takenSaid(m)))
 		}
 	}
@@ -483,7 +499,7 @@ func KeptNetworks(m Manifest, layers []Layer, adopted bool) (map[string][]string
 	}
 	out := map[string][]string{}
 	for _, layer := range layers {
-		raw, ok := layer.Values[NetworksSetting]
+		raw, ok := layer.Placement[NetworksSetting]
 		if !ok {
 			continue
 		}
@@ -543,7 +559,8 @@ var networkName = regexp.MustCompile(`^[A-Za-z0-9][A-Za-z0-9_.-]*$`)
 // refused where it is stored (SetSettings, with UnusedSettings) and said where a plan is read,
 // and never costs a module its place.
 func JudgeSettings(m Manifest, layers []Layer, adopted bool) error {
-	if err := settingsHoldOneLine(m.Module, layers); err != nil {
+	// Placement is judged for line ends as it always was: a path is written into files as well.
+	if err := settingsHoldOneLine(m.Module, asSaid(layers)); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 	// Which keys each mergeable file takes is the definition's to say right (novox/hq ADR 0326);
@@ -580,7 +597,7 @@ func JudgeSettings(m Manifest, layers []Layer, adopted bool) error {
 		for k, v := range settled {
 			copied[k] = v
 		}
-		if err := settingInto(copied, WithDefaults(m, layers), m.Module); err != nil {
+		if err := unsetInConfigWords(settingInto(copied, WithDefaults(m, layers), m.Module), m); err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
 	}

internal/catalogue/settings_judge_test.go

@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ func TestASettingThatCannotComposeIsRefusedByNameAndLeavesOnlyItsModuleOut(t *te
 		if c.name == "a mesh-wide port" {
 			from = MeshWideLayer
 		}
-		err := JudgeSettings(web, []Layer{{From: from, Values: c.layer}}, true)
+		err := JudgeSettings(web, []Layer{LayerOf(from, c.layer)}, true)
 		if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), c.refuse) {
 			t.Errorf("%s: judged %v, want %q", c.name, err, c.refuse)
 		}
@@ -69,8 +69,8 @@ func TestASettingThatCannotComposeIsRefusedByNameAndLeavesOnlyItsModuleOut(t *te
 // declaration as the networks it also joins.
 func TestAKeptNetworkReachesTheContainerOnAnAdoptedMachineOnly(t *testing.T) {
 	r := anAdoptedAnchor()
-	keep := SettingsBy{"hello-web": {{From: "anchor",
-		Values: map[string]any{NetworksSetting: map[string]any{"server": []any{"predecessor_default"}}}}}}
+	keep := SettingsBy{"hello-web": {LayerOf("anchor",
+		map[string]any{NetworksSetting: map[string]any{"server": []any{"predecessor_default"}}})}}
 
 	with := anchorRendering(true)
 	with.Settings = keep
@@ -107,13 +107,13 @@ func TestAKeptNetworkReachesTheContainerOnAnAdoptedMachineOnly(t *testing.T) {
 		layer Layer
 		want  string
 	}{
-		{"mesh-wide", Layer{From: MeshWideLayer, Values: map[string]any{NetworksSetting: map[string]any{"server": []any{"x"}}}},
+		{"mesh-wide", LayerOf(MeshWideLayer, map[string]any{NetworksSetting: map[string]any{"server": []any{"x"}}}),
 			"a found network is a fact about one machine"},
-		{"an unknown container", Layer{From: "anchor", Values: map[string]any{NetworksSetting: map[string]any{"db": []any{"x"}}}},
+		{"an unknown container", LayerOf("anchor", map[string]any{NetworksSetting: map[string]any{"db": []any{"x"}}}),
 			`names the container "db", which it does not declare`},
-		{"not a list", Layer{From: "anchor", Values: map[string]any{NetworksSetting: map[string]any{"server": "x"}}},
+		{"not a list", LayerOf("anchor", map[string]any{NetworksSetting: map[string]any{"server": "x"}}),
 			"is a list of network names"},
-		{"not a network name", Layer{From: "anchor", Values: map[string]any{NetworksSetting: map[string]any{"server": []any{"a/b"}}}},
+		{"not a network name", LayerOf("anchor", map[string]any{NetworksSetting: map[string]any{"server": []any{"a/b"}}}),
 			"which is not a network name"},
 	} {
 		_, err := KeptNetworks(web, []Layer{c.layer}, true)

internal/catalogue/settings_test.go

@@ -190,22 +190,6 @@ func TestASettingLandsOnlyWhereSomethingDeclaresIt(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-func TestASettingOverridesAServedKeyAndAddsNone(t *testing.T) {
-	// What a consumer is told is the provider's contract. A setting made for one of the
-	// provider's files — its site name, its public address — is not part of it.
-	served, err := Settle(map[string]any{"host": "mail", "port": 25},
-		[]Layer{{From: "the mesh", Values: map[string]any{"host": "post", "sitename": "Mail"}}})
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-	if served["host"] != "post" {
-		t.Errorf("the setting did not override the served host: %v", served)
-	}
-	if _, leaked := served["sitename"]; leaked {
-		t.Errorf("a setting for a file reached the consumers: %v", served)
-	}
-}
-
 func TestContentThatIsNotJSONIsRefusedWhereSomebodyIsLooking(t *testing.T) {
 	// Rather than on the machine, at apply time, as a file the program cannot read.
 	_, err := ApplySettings(file(`this is not json`), nil)

internal/catalogue/template.go

@@ -0,0 +1,334 @@
+package catalogue
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"io/fs"
+	"os"
+	"path"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"sort"
+	"strings"
+	"unicode/utf8"
+)
+
+// A file's text kept as a template file in its module's repository (novox/hq ADR 0349 §2, design 57 package T1,
+// issue 654).
+//
+// **Two forms, one composition.** A file resource says its text inline (`content`) or names a template file
+// beside its manifest (`"template": "files/<name>"`), never both. The module's build packs `files/` into an
+// archive artifact of its own — an `archive` artifact built `from: "files"` — and resolving the build reads each
+// template's text back from that packed archive into `content` and drops `template`. So the manifest the mesh
+// holds, composition and the node-engine are exactly as they were: a module with its text in `files/` composes
+// byte-identically to the same module with it inline. Where there is no build — `module check`, the merge gate,
+// `module add` — the text is read from the repository tree beside the manifest (WithTemplatesFrom).
+//
+// **Read back by the builder, carried in the resolved manifest.** The builder reads each template from the very
+// bytes it hashed into the archive's digest, so the text the mesh holds is the archive's. The controller
+// registers the resolved manifest as the build result carries it and fetches nothing from the artifact store; a
+// manifest that still names a template when it would be held — built by a builder that predates templates — is
+// refused at registration (HeldTemplateProblem).
+
+// TemplateField is the key a file resource names its template file by.
+const TemplateField = "template"
+
+// TemplatesDir is the module's directory its template files are kept in, and the directory its templates archive
+// is built from.
+const TemplatesDir = "files"
+
+// Templated is whether any of the manifest's resources names a template.
+func (m Manifest) Templated() bool {
+	for _, r := range m.Resources {
+		if _, has := r[TemplateField]; has {
+			return true
+		}
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
+// TemplatesArtifact is the name of the archive artifact the module packs its templates into — the one built from
+// files/ — or "" when it declares none, or more than one (both refused by templateProblems for a module naming a
+// template).
+func TemplatesArtifact(m Manifest) string {
+	found := templatesArtifacts(m)
+	if len(found) != 1 {
+		return ""
+	}
+	return found[0]
+}
+
+func templatesArtifacts(m Manifest) []string {
+	if m.Build == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	var found []string
+	for _, a := range m.Build.Artifacts {
+		if a.Kind == ArtifactArchive && a.URL == "" && cleanFrom(a.From) == TemplatesDir {
+			found = append(found, a.Name)
+		}
+	}
+	return found
+}
+
+// cleanFrom is an artifact's directory as one relative path: "./files/" is "files".
+func cleanFrom(from string) string {
+	c := path.Clean(strings.TrimSpace(from))
+	return strings.TrimPrefix(c, "./")
+}
+
+// templateOf is the template a resource names, whether it names one, and what is wrong with it ("" when nothing).
+func templateOf(module string, r map[string]any) (string, bool, string) {
+	raw, has := r[TemplateField]
+	if !has {
+		return "", false, ""
+	}
+	id := fmt.Sprint(r["id"])
+	if t := fmt.Sprint(r["type"]); t != "file" {
+		return "", true, fmt.Sprintf("%s: %s is a %s and names a template; only a file takes its text from one "+
+			"(novox/hq ADR 0349 §2)", module, id, t)
+	}
+	name, ok := raw.(string)
+	if !ok || strings.TrimSpace(name) == "" {
+		return "", true, fmt.Sprintf("%s: %s names a template that is not a path: %v; a template is %q",
+			module, id, raw, TemplatesDir+"/<name>")
+	}
+	if _, both := r["content"]; both {
+		return name, true, fmt.Sprintf("%s: %s names the template %q and says its content too; a file's text is "+
+			"in one place, the template or the content, never both (novox/hq ADR 0349 §2)", module, id, name)
+	}
+	if strings.HasPrefix(name, "/") || path.Clean(name) != name || !strings.HasPrefix(name, TemplatesDir+"/") ||
+		strings.Contains(name, "\\") {
+		return name, true, fmt.Sprintf("%s: %s names the template %q, which is not a file under %s/ of its own "+
+			"repository: a template is %q, a plain relative path, and the build packs only %s/",
+			module, id, name, TemplatesDir, TemplatesDir+"/<name>", TemplatesDir)
+	}
+	return name, true, ""
+}
+
+// templateProblems is what is wrong with the manifest's templates, as written: a template on something not a file,
+// beside content, outside files/, or a module naming templates whose build packs no archive from files/. Whether
+// each template exists is judged where a tree is (ReadTemplates) or the archive's text is (Resolve).
+func templateProblems(m Manifest) []string {
+	var problems []string
+	templated := false
+	for _, r := range m.Resources {
+		_, has, wrong := templateOf(m.Module, r)
+		templated = templated || has
+		if wrong != "" {
+			problems = append(problems, wrong)
+		}
+	}
+	if !templated {
+		return problems
+	}
+	switch found := templatesArtifacts(m); len(found) {
+	case 0:
+		problems = append(problems, fmt.Sprintf("%s names templates and its build packs no archive from %s/: "+
+			"declare an artifact {\"name\": \"files\", \"kind\": \"archive\", \"from\": %q} (novox/hq ADR 0349 §2)",
+			m.Module, TemplatesDir, TemplatesDir))
+	case 1:
+	default:
+		sort.Strings(found)
+		problems = append(problems, fmt.Sprintf("%s packs %s/ into %s; its templates are read from one archive",
+			m.Module, TemplatesDir, strings.Join(found, " and ")))
+	}
+	return problems
+}
+
+// fillTemplates is resources with each template's text as its content and the template key dropped: text says the
+// text of a template by its path ("files/<name>"), and whether it has one. A template it has no text for, or text
+// that is not UTF-8, is refused by name. Every resource is copied; the manifest's own are left as they were.
+func fillTemplates(module string, resources []map[string]any, text func(string) (string, bool),
+	where string) ([]map[string]any, error) {
+	out := make([]map[string]any, 0, len(resources))
+	var problems []string
+	for _, r := range resources {
+		name, has, wrong := templateOf(module, r)
+		if !has {
+			out = append(out, r)
+			continue
+		}
+		if wrong != "" {
+			problems = append(problems, wrong)
+			continue
+		}
+		body, ok := text(name)
+		if !ok {
+			problems = append(problems, fmt.Sprintf("%s: %v names the template %q, and %s holds no such file",
+				module, r["id"], name, where))
+			continue
+		}
+		if !utf8.ValidString(body) {
+			// A manifest is JSON: text that is not UTF-8 would be changed on the way, silently.
+			problems = append(problems, fmt.Sprintf("%s: %v names the template %q, which is not UTF-8 text; a "+
+				"file's text is carried as JSON and would not reach the machine as written", module, r["id"], name))
+			continue
+		}
+		filled := make(map[string]any, len(r))
+		for k, v := range r {
+			filled[k] = v
+		}
+		delete(filled, TemplateField)
+		filled["content"] = body
+		out = append(out, filled)
+	}
+	if len(problems) > 0 {
+		return nil, errors.New(strings.Join(problems, "; "))
+	}
+	return out, nil
+}
+
+// ReadTemplates is the text of each template the manifest names, read from the module's directory in a repository
+// tree, by template path. Refused by name: a template the directory lacks, and anything under files/ the build's
+// packing refuses — files/ itself, or any directory or file under it, that is a symlink or not a plain file — so
+// nothing judged here can be read from outside the tree, and no tree passes here that the build would refuse. Each
+// template is read through an os.Root of the module's directory besides, which no path element can leave.
+func ReadTemplates(m Manifest, dir string) (map[string]string, error) {
+	problems := templatesTreeProblems(m.Module, dir)
+	root, err := os.OpenRoot(dir)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%s: the module's directory cannot be opened to read its templates: %w", m.Module, err)
+	}
+	defer root.Close()
+	texts := map[string]string{}
+	for _, r := range m.Resources {
+		name, has, wrong := templateOf(m.Module, r)
+		if !has {
+			continue
+		}
+		if wrong != "" {
+			problems = append(problems, wrong)
+			continue
+		}
+		if _, read := texts[name]; read {
+			continue
+		}
+		info, err := root.Lstat(name)
+		switch {
+		case errors.Is(err, fs.ErrNotExist):
+			problems = append(problems, fmt.Sprintf("%s: %v names the template %q, and the module's directory "+
+				"has no such file", m.Module, r["id"], name))
+			continue
+		case err != nil:
+			problems = append(problems, fmt.Sprintf("%s: %v names the template %q, which cannot be read: %v",
+				m.Module, r["id"], name, err))
+			continue
+		case !info.Mode().IsRegular():
+			problems = append(problems, fmt.Sprintf("%s: %v names the template %q, which is not a plain file; "+
+				"the build packs only files", m.Module, r["id"], name))
+			continue
+		}
+		body, err := root.ReadFile(name)
+		if err != nil {
+			problems = append(problems, fmt.Sprintf("%s: %v names the template %q, which cannot be read: %v",
+				m.Module, r["id"], name, err))
+			continue
+		}
+		texts[name] = string(body)
+	}
+	if len(problems) > 0 {
+		return nil, errors.New(strings.Join(problems, "; "))
+	}
+	return texts, nil
+}
+
+// templatesTreeProblems is everything under the module's files/ that the build's packing refuses: files/ itself not
+// a plain directory, and any entry under it that is neither a directory nor a plain file — a symlink, to a file or a
+// directory, a device, a pipe. Each said by its path. A files/ that does not exist is no problem here: each template
+// it would have held is refused as missing.
+func templatesTreeProblems(module, dir string) []string {
+	top := filepath.Join(dir, TemplatesDir)
+	info, err := os.Lstat(top)
+	if errors.Is(err, fs.ErrNotExist) {
+		return nil
+	}
+	if err != nil {
+		return []string{fmt.Sprintf("%s: %s/ cannot be read: %v", module, TemplatesDir, err)}
+	}
+	if !info.IsDir() {
+		return []string{fmt.Sprintf("%s: %s/ is %s, not a directory of the module's own; its templates are read "+
+			"only from inside the repository, and the build packs only directories and files", module, TemplatesDir,
+			kindOf(info.Mode()))}
+	}
+	var problems []string
+	err = filepath.WalkDir(top, func(at string, d fs.DirEntry, err error) error {
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		if d.IsDir() || d.Type().IsRegular() {
+			return nil
+		}
+		rel, _ := filepath.Rel(dir, at)
+		problems = append(problems, fmt.Sprintf("%s: %s is %s; the build packs only directories and files, so "+
+			"%s/ holds nothing else", module, filepath.ToSlash(rel), kindOf(d.Type()), TemplatesDir))
+		return nil
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		problems = append(problems, fmt.Sprintf("%s: %s/ cannot be read: %v", module, TemplatesDir, err))
+	}
+	return problems
+}
+
+// kindOf says what a file that is not a plain file is.
+func kindOf(mode fs.FileMode) string {
+	switch {
+	case mode&fs.ModeSymlink != 0:
+		return "a symlink"
+	case mode&fs.ModeDevice != 0:
+		return "a device"
+	case mode&fs.ModeNamedPipe != 0:
+		return "a named pipe"
+	case mode&fs.ModeSocket != 0:
+		return "a socket"
+	case mode.IsDir():
+		return "a directory"
+	}
+	return "not a plain file"
+}
+
+// WithTemplatesFrom is the manifest with each template's text read from the module's directory in a repository
+// tree as its content: what `module check`, the merge gate and `module add` judge, where nothing was built. Read
+// again strictly afterwards, so every rule about a file's text judges the template's text exactly as it judges
+// inline content. A manifest naming no template is returned as it is.
+func WithTemplatesFrom(m Manifest, dir string) (Manifest, error) {
+	if !m.Templated() {
+		return m, nil
+	}
+	texts, err := ReadTemplates(m, dir)
+	if err != nil {
+		return Manifest{}, err
+	}
+	filled, err := fillTemplates(m.Module, m.Resources, func(name string) (string, bool) {
+		t, ok := texts[name]
+		return t, ok
+	}, "the module's directory")
+	if err != nil {
+		return Manifest{}, err
+	}
+	out := m
+	out.Resources = filled
+	raw, err := json.Marshal(out)
+	if err != nil {
+		return Manifest{}, err
+	}
+	return parseManifest(raw, m.predefined)
+}
+
+// HeldTemplateProblem is why a manifest cannot be held by the mesh because it still names a template, or "": the
+// manifest the mesh holds carries every file's text, which a build reads back from its templates archive. One
+// naming a template was resolved by a builder that does not read templates, and would compose files with no text.
+func HeldTemplateProblem(m Manifest) string {
+	var named []string
+	for _, r := range m.Resources {
+		if t, has := r[TemplateField]; has {
+			named = append(named, fmt.Sprintf("%v (%v)", r["id"], t))
+		}
+	}
+	if len(named) == 0 {
+		return ""
+	}
+	return fmt.Sprintf("%s still names the template(s) of %s: the manifest the mesh holds carries each file's "+
+		"text, read back from the build's templates archive — this one was resolved by a builder that does not "+
+		"read templates, or not built at all (novox/hq ADR 0349 §2)", m.Module, strings.Join(named, ", "))
+}

internal/catalogue/template_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,323 @@
+package catalogue
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+// A file resource may name a template file in its module's repository (novox/hq ADR 0349 §2, design 57 package
+// T1, issue 654): the build packs files/ into an archive, and resolving the build reads each template's text back
+// into content, so the mesh holds, composes and sends exactly what it would for the same text inline.
+
+// The two forms of one module: its text inline, and its text in files/.
+const (
+	inlineTwin = `{"module":"tidy","version":"1",
+  "build":{"artifacts":[{"name":"files","kind":"archive","from":"files"}]},
+  "resources":[
+    {"id":"conf","type":"directory","path":"${dir:conf}"},
+    {"id":"main","type":"file","path":"${dir:conf}/tidy.conf","mode":"0644","content":"` + mainText + `"},
+    {"id":"extra","type":"file","path":"${dir:conf}/extra.conf","content":"` + extraText + `"}]}`
+	templatedTwin = `{"module":"tidy","version":"1",
+  "build":{"artifacts":[{"name":"files","kind":"archive","from":"files"}]},
+  "resources":[
+    {"id":"conf","type":"directory","path":"${dir:conf}"},
+    {"id":"main","type":"file","path":"${dir:conf}/tidy.conf","mode":"0644","template":"files/tidy.conf"},
+    {"id":"extra","type":"file","path":"${dir:conf}/extra.conf","template":"files/deeper/extra.conf"}]}`
+	mainText  = `# tidy\nroot = ${dir:conf}\nquoted = \"yes\" é\n`
+	extraText = `one\ntwo\n`
+)
+
+// templateTexts is what a build reads back from the packed files/ archive: by path inside it.
+func templateTexts(t *testing.T) map[string]string {
+	t.Helper()
+	var m struct{ Main, Extra string }
+	if err := json.Unmarshal([]byte(`{"Main":"`+mainText+`","Extra":"`+extraText+`"}`), &m); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	return map[string]string{"tidy.conf": m.Main, "deeper/extra.conf": m.Extra, "unused.conf": "not named"}
+}
+
+func builtFiles(texts map[string]string) []Built {
+	return []Built{{Name: "files", Kind: ArtifactArchive,
+		Reference: ArtifactStoreScheme + "tidy/files/blobs/sha256:" + strings.Repeat("c", 64),
+		Digest:    "sha256:" + strings.Repeat("c", 64), Texts: texts}}
+}
+
+// held is a manifest as registration holds it: resolved with what was built, then read again strictly.
+func held(t *testing.T, raw string, built []Built) Manifest {
+	t.Helper()
+	m, err := ParseManifest([]byte(raw))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	resolved, err := m.Resolve(built)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	again, err := json.Marshal(resolved)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	out, err := ParseManifest(again)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if problem := HeldTemplateProblem(out); problem != "" {
+		t.Fatal(problem)
+	}
+	return out
+}
+
+func composed(t *testing.T, m Manifest) string {
+	t.Helper()
+	got, err := Resolve(shelf(m), []string{m.Module}, workstation(), World{})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	out, err := json.Marshal(mustDeclare(t, got))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	return string(out)
+}
+
+func TestATemplatedModuleComposesByteIdenticallyToItsInlineTwin(t *testing.T) {
+	inline := composed(t, held(t, inlineTwin, builtFiles(nil)))
+	templated := composed(t, held(t, templatedTwin, builtFiles(templateTexts(t))))
+	if inline != templated {
+		t.Fatalf("the two forms compose differently:\ninline:    %s\ntemplated: %s", inline, templated)
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(templated, "quoted = \\\"yes\\\"") || strings.Contains(templated, `"template"`) {
+		t.Fatalf("the composition does not carry the template's text as content: %s", templated)
+	}
+}
+
+// What `module check`, the merge gate and `module add` judge: the text read from the tree beside the manifest.
+func TestATemplatedModuleReadFromItsTreeComposesByteIdenticallyToItsInlineTwin(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	for name, text := range templateTexts(t) {
+		full := filepath.Join(dir, "files", filepath.FromSlash(name))
+		if err := os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(full), 0o755); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		if err := os.WriteFile(full, []byte(text), 0o644); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+	}
+	m, err := ParseManifest([]byte(templatedTwin))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	filled, err := WithTemplatesFrom(m, dir)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if filled.Templated() {
+		t.Fatal("a manifest read from its tree still names a template")
+	}
+	resolved, err := filled.Resolve(builtFiles(nil))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if got, want := composed(t, resolved), composed(t, held(t, inlineTwin, builtFiles(nil))); got != want {
+		t.Fatalf("read from the tree, the module composes differently:\ninline:    %s\ntemplated: %s", want, got)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestAFileNamingBothATemplateAndContentIsRefused(t *testing.T) {
+	raw := strings.Replace(templatedTwin, `"template":"files/tidy.conf"`,
+		`"template":"files/tidy.conf","content":"x"`, 1)
+	_, err := ParseManifest([]byte(raw))
+	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "main") || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "never both") {
+		t.Fatalf("a file with both a template and content was not refused by name: %v", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestATemplateOutsideFilesIsRefusedByName(t *testing.T) {
+	for _, bad := range []string{"../tidy.conf", "/etc/tidy.conf", "files", "files/", "files/../tidy.conf",
+		"files/./tidy.conf", "other/tidy.conf", "tidy.conf", "files//tidy.conf", `files\\tidy.conf`} {
+		raw := strings.Replace(templatedTwin, `"files/tidy.conf"`, `"`+bad+`"`, 1)
+		_, err := ParseManifest([]byte(raw))
+		if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "main") || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "not a file under files/") {
+			t.Errorf("the template %q was not refused by name: %v", bad, err)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestATemplateOnAResourceThatIsNotAFileIsRefused(t *testing.T) {
+	raw := strings.Replace(templatedTwin, `{"id":"conf","type":"directory","path":"${dir:conf}"}`,
+		`{"id":"conf","type":"directory","path":"${dir:conf}","template":"files/tidy.conf"}`, 1)
+	_, err := ParseManifest([]byte(raw))
+	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "conf is a directory and names a template") {
+		t.Fatalf("a directory naming a template was not refused: %v", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestATemplatedModuleWhoseBuildPacksNoFilesIsRefused(t *testing.T) {
+	for _, build := range []string{
+		``,
+		`"build":{"artifacts":[{"name":"look","kind":"archive","from":"theme"}]},`,
+		`"build":{"artifacts":[{"name":"a","kind":"archive","from":"files"},{"name":"b","kind":"archive","from":"./files/"}]},`,
+	} {
+		raw := strings.Replace(templatedTwin,
+			`"build":{"artifacts":[{"name":"files","kind":"archive","from":"files"}]},`, build, 1)
+		_, err := ParseManifest([]byte(raw))
+		if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "files/") {
+			t.Errorf("a templated module with the build %q was not refused: %v", build, err)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestAMissingTemplateIsRefusedByName(t *testing.T) {
+	m, err := ParseManifest([]byte(templatedTwin))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	// In the tree beside the manifest.
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	if err := os.MkdirAll(filepath.Join(dir, "files"), 0o755); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if err := os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(dir, "files", "tidy.conf"), []byte("x"), 0o644); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	_, err = WithTemplatesFrom(m, dir)
+	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "extra") || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "files/deeper/extra.conf") {
+		t.Fatalf("a template missing from the tree was not refused by name: %v", err)
+	}
+	// And in what the build read back from its archive.
+	texts := templateTexts(t)
+	delete(texts, "deeper/extra.conf")
+	_, err = m.Resolve(builtFiles(texts))
+	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "extra") || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "files/deeper/extra.conf") {
+		t.Fatalf("a template missing from the archive was not refused by name: %v", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestATemplateThatIsASymlinkIsRefused(t *testing.T) {
+	m, err := ParseManifest([]byte(templatedTwin))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	if err := os.MkdirAll(filepath.Join(dir, "files", "deeper"), 0o755); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if err := os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(dir, "elsewhere"), []byte("x"), 0o644); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if err := os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(dir, "files", "tidy.conf"), []byte("x"), 0o644); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if err := os.Symlink(filepath.Join(dir, "elsewhere"), filepath.Join(dir, "files", "deeper", "extra.conf")); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if _, err := WithTemplatesFrom(m, dir); err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "not a plain file") {
+		t.Fatalf("a template that is a symlink was not refused: %v", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestAResolveWithoutTheArchivesTextIsRefused(t *testing.T) {
+	m, err := ParseManifest([]byte(templatedTwin))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if _, err := m.Resolve(builtFiles(nil)); err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "files") {
+		t.Fatalf("a templated module resolved with no text read back from its archive: %v", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestATemplateThatIsNotUTF8IsRefused(t *testing.T) {
+	m, err := ParseManifest([]byte(templatedTwin))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	texts := templateTexts(t)
+	texts["tidy.conf"] = "\xff\xfe"
+	if _, err := m.Resolve(builtFiles(texts)); err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "UTF-8") {
+		t.Fatalf("a template that is not UTF-8 was resolved: %v", err)
+	}
+}
+
+// What registration refuses: a manifest to be held that still names a template — one resolved by a builder that
+// predates templates would otherwise compose files with no text.
+func TestAManifestStillNamingATemplateIsNotHeld(t *testing.T) {
+	m, err := ParseManifest([]byte(templatedTwin))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if problem := HeldTemplateProblem(m); !strings.Contains(problem, "main") || !strings.Contains(problem, "files/tidy.conf") {
+		t.Fatalf("a manifest naming a template would be held: %q", problem)
+	}
+	if problem := HeldTemplateProblem(held(t, inlineTwin, builtFiles(nil))); problem != "" {
+		t.Fatalf("an inline manifest is refused: %s", problem)
+	}
+}
+
+// A symlinked files/, or a symlinked directory under it, would read a file outside the tree: refused by name,
+// as is any symlink or special file under files/ that no template names, which the build's packing refuses.
+func TestASymlinkAnywhereUnderFilesIsRefusedByName(t *testing.T) {
+	m, err := ParseManifest([]byte(templatedTwin))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	outside := t.TempDir()
+	if err := os.MkdirAll(filepath.Join(outside, "deeper"), 0o755); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	for _, name := range []string{"tidy.conf", "deeper/extra.conf", "secret"} {
+		if err := os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(outside, filepath.FromSlash(name)), []byte("outside"), 0o644); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+	}
+	write := func(t *testing.T, dir, name string) {
+		t.Helper()
+		full := filepath.Join(dir, filepath.FromSlash(name))
+		if err := os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(full), 0o755); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		if err := os.WriteFile(full, []byte("inside"), 0o644); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+	}
+	link := func(t *testing.T, target, at string) {
+		t.Helper()
+		if err := os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(at), 0o755); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		if err := os.Symlink(target, at); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+	}
+	for _, c := range []struct {
+		name  string
+		make  func(t *testing.T, dir string)
+		names string
+	}{
+		{"files/ itself", func(t *testing.T, dir string) {
+			link(t, outside, filepath.Join(dir, "files"))
+		}, "files/ is a symlink"},
+		{"a directory under files/", func(t *testing.T, dir string) {
+			write(t, dir, "files/tidy.conf")
+			link(t, filepath.Join(outside, "deeper"), filepath.Join(dir, "files", "deeper"))
+		}, "files/deeper is a symlink"},
+		{"a file no template names", func(t *testing.T, dir string) {
+			write(t, dir, "files/tidy.conf")
+			write(t, dir, "files/deeper/extra.conf")
+			link(t, filepath.Join(outside, "secret"), filepath.Join(dir, "files", "unnamed"))
+		}, "files/unnamed is a symlink"},
+	} {
+		dir := t.TempDir()
+		c.make(t, dir)
+		_, err := WithTemplatesFrom(m, dir)
+		if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), c.names) {
+			t.Errorf("a symlinked %s was not refused by name: %v", c.name, err)
+		}
+		if err != nil && strings.Contains(err.Error(), "outside") {
+			t.Errorf("a symlinked %s was read: %v", c.name, err)
+		}
+	}
+}

internal/catalogue/terminal_settings_test.go

@@ -13,22 +13,22 @@ func TestAPlacementOrAnAccessAtTheMachinesOwnIsRefused(t *testing.T) {
 	for _, path := range []string{"/", "/etc", "/etc/", "/etc/sudoers.d", "/usr/bin", "/root", "/var", "/var/lib",
 		"/home", "/home/", "/run", "/run/user/1000", "/var/lib/mesh/x", "/var/lib/mesh-host", "/var/lib/mesh-host/identity",
 		"/srv/../etc", "//etc", "/proc/1", "/sys", "/dev", "/boot/efi", "/bin", "/sbin", "/lib", "/lib64"} {
-		layers := []Layer{{From: "laptop", Values: map[string]any{PlacesSetting: map[string]any{"data": path}}}}
+		layers := []Layer{LayerOf("laptop", map[string]any{PlacesSetting: map[string]any{"data": path}})}
 		if _, err := Places(m, layers); err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "issue 339") {
 			t.Errorf("a place at %s: %v", path, err)
 		}
-		layers = []Layer{{From: "laptop", Values: map[string]any{AccessesSetting: map[string]any{"media": path}}}}
+		layers = []Layer{LayerOf("laptop", map[string]any{AccessesSetting: map[string]any{"media": path}})}
 		if _, err := AccessPlaces(m, layers); err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "issue 339") {
 			t.Errorf("an access at %s: %v", path, err)
 		}
 	}
 	for _, path := range []string{"/srv/notes", "/mnt/plex/data", "/storage/media", "/services/media/movies",
 		"/var/lib/notes/data", "/home/restic/repo", "/var/lib/mesh-store"} {
-		layers := []Layer{{From: "laptop", Values: map[string]any{PlacesSetting: map[string]any{"data": path}}}}
+		layers := []Layer{LayerOf("laptop", map[string]any{PlacesSetting: map[string]any{"data": path}})}
 		if got, err := Places(m, layers); err != nil || got["data"].Path != path {
 			t.Errorf("a place at %s: %v %v", path, got, err)
 		}
-		layers = []Layer{{From: "laptop", Values: map[string]any{AccessesSetting: map[string]any{"media": path}}}}
+		layers = []Layer{LayerOf("laptop", map[string]any{AccessesSetting: map[string]any{"media": path}})}
 		if got, err := AccessPlaces(m, layers); err != nil || got["media"] != path {
 			t.Errorf("an access at %s: %v %v", path, got, err)
 		}
@@ -111,17 +111,17 @@ func TestTheRuntimesDataAndAnyHomesSSHAreTheMachinesOwn(t *testing.T) {
 	for _, path := range []string{"/var/spool", "/var/spool/cron", "/var/lib/docker", "/var/lib/docker/volumes",
 		"/var/lib/containers/storage", "/var/lib/containerd", "/var/lib/containerd/io.containerd.snapshotter.v1", "/opt", "/opt/app", "/home/alice/.ssh", "/home/alice/.ssh/keys",
 		"/srv/backup/.ssh", "/root/.ssh"} {
-		layers := []Layer{{From: "laptop", Values: map[string]any{PlacesSetting: map[string]any{"data": path}}}}
+		layers := []Layer{LayerOf("laptop", map[string]any{PlacesSetting: map[string]any{"data": path}})}
 		if _, err := Places(m, layers); err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "issue 339") {
 			t.Errorf("a place at %s: %v", path, err)
 		}
-		layers = []Layer{{From: "laptop", Values: map[string]any{AccessesSetting: map[string]any{"media": path}}}}
+		layers = []Layer{LayerOf("laptop", map[string]any{AccessesSetting: map[string]any{"media": path}})}
 		if _, err := AccessPlaces(m, layers); err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "issue 339") {
 			t.Errorf("an access at %s: %v", path, err)
 		}
 	}
 	for _, path := range []string{"/var/lib/dockerish", "/home/alice/ssh", "/home/alice/.sshd-notes", "/storage/media"} {
-		layers := []Layer{{From: "laptop", Values: map[string]any{PlacesSetting: map[string]any{"data": path}}}}
+		layers := []Layer{LayerOf("laptop", map[string]any{PlacesSetting: map[string]any{"data": path}})}
 		if _, err := Places(m, layers); err != nil {
 			t.Errorf("a place at %s: %v", path, err)
 		}

internal/catalogue/testdata/influxdb-served-by-setting/grafana-ace.json

@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+{
+  "grafana.bound-influxdb-api": {
+    "content": "{\n  \"as\": \"mesh_workstation_grafana\",\n  \"at\": \"workstation.internal\",\n  \"binding\": 1,\n  \"from\": \"workstation\",\n  \"generated\": \"by the mesh — do not edit; replaced whenever this changes. The credential is not here: it is sealed, in the file this module's manifest names under `secrets`\",\n  \"provision\": \"influxdb-api\",\n  \"serves\": {\n    \"bucket\": \"made-up-bucket\",\n    \"org\": \"made-up-org\",\n    \"port\": 8086,\n    \"scheme\": \"http\"\n  }\n}\n",
+    "id": "grafana.bound-influxdb-api",
+    "mode": "0644",
+    "path": "/var/lib/grafana/influxdb.json",
+    "type": "file"
+  },
+  "grafana.influxdb-datasource": {
+    "content": "apiVersion: 1\n# Written by the mesh from grafana's influxdb-api binding, only while it is bound (novox/hq ADR 0330):\n# without influxdb, grafana runs with no mesh data source. grafana reads it at start. Its own name and\n# uid, so a data source somebody made in the UI is never overwritten, and read-only in the UI because\n# the mesh resets it. The password is read from the file the mesh delivers, never written here.\ndatasources:\n  - name: InfluxDB (mesh)\n    uid: mesh-influxdb-api\n    type: influxdb\n    access: proxy\n    url: http://workstation.internal:8086\n    user: mesh_workstation_grafana\n    isDefault: false\n    editable: false\n    jsonData:\n      dbName: made-up-bucket\n      httpMode: POST\n    secureJsonData:\n      password: $__file{/run/secrets/influxdb/influxdb-api}\n",
+    "id": "grafana.influxdb-datasource",
+    "mode": "0644",
+    "path": "/var/lib/grafana/influxdb-datasources/mesh-influxdb.yaml",
+    "type": "file"
+  },
+  "grafana.influxdb-datasources": {
+    "id": "grafana.influxdb-datasources",
+    "mode": "0755",
+    "owner": "472:0",
+    "path": "/var/lib/grafana/influxdb-datasources",
+    "type": "directory"
+  },
+  "grafana.mesh-state": {
+    "id": "grafana.mesh-state",
+    "mode": "0700",
+    "path": "/var/lib/mesh/grafana",
+    "type": "directory"
+  },
+  "grafana.state": {
+    "id": "grafana.state",
+    "mode": "0700",
+    "path": "/var/lib/grafana",
+    "type": "directory"
+  }
+}

internal/catalogue/testdata/influxdb-served-by-setting/grafana-unlayered.json

@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+{
+  "grafana.bound-influxdb-api": {
+    "content": "{\n  \"as\": \"mesh_workstation_grafana\",\n  \"at\": \"workstation.internal\",\n  \"binding\": 1,\n  \"from\": \"workstation\",\n  \"generated\": \"by the mesh — do not edit; replaced whenever this changes. The credential is not here: it is sealed, in the file this module's manifest names under `secrets`\",\n  \"provision\": \"influxdb-api\",\n  \"serves\": {\n    \"bucket\": \"default\",\n    \"org\": \"mesh\",\n    \"port\": 8086,\n    \"scheme\": \"http\"\n  }\n}\n",
+    "id": "grafana.bound-influxdb-api",
+    "mode": "0644",
+    "path": "/var/lib/grafana/influxdb.json",
+    "type": "file"
+  },
+  "grafana.influxdb-datasource": {
+    "content": "apiVersion: 1\n# Written by the mesh from grafana's influxdb-api binding, only while it is bound (novox/hq ADR 0330):\n# without influxdb, grafana runs with no mesh data source. grafana reads it at start. Its own name and\n# uid, so a data source somebody made in the UI is never overwritten, and read-only in the UI because\n# the mesh resets it. The password is read from the file the mesh delivers, never written here.\ndatasources:\n  - name: InfluxDB (mesh)\n    uid: mesh-influxdb-api\n    type: influxdb\n    access: proxy\n    url: http://workstation.internal:8086\n    user: mesh_workstation_grafana\n    isDefault: false\n    editable: false\n    jsonData:\n      dbName: default\n      httpMode: POST\n    secureJsonData:\n      password: $__file{/run/secrets/influxdb/influxdb-api}\n",
+    "id": "grafana.influxdb-datasource",
+    "mode": "0644",
+    "path": "/var/lib/grafana/influxdb-datasources/mesh-influxdb.yaml",
+    "type": "file"
+  },
+  "grafana.influxdb-datasources": {
+    "id": "grafana.influxdb-datasources",
+    "mode": "0755",
+    "owner": "472:0",
+    "path": "/var/lib/grafana/influxdb-datasources",
+    "type": "directory"
+  },
+  "grafana.mesh-state": {
+    "id": "grafana.mesh-state",
+    "mode": "0700",
+    "path": "/var/lib/mesh/grafana",
+    "type": "directory"
+  },
+  "grafana.state": {
+    "id": "grafana.state",
+    "mode": "0700",
+    "path": "/var/lib/grafana",
+    "type": "directory"
+  }
+}

internal/catalogue/vault_seat_test.go

@@ -23,3 +23,34 @@ func TestTheVaultsSeatDeliversSecret(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatal("a provider of secret that does not claim the seat was allowed to hold it")
 	}
 }
+
+// The vault answers `get` on request and reply (novox/hq ADR 0349 §11, issue 674): the seat promises the
+// verb, so a holder serving it is accepted — and, optional while the vault that runs is the TypeScript one,
+// so is a holder that does not yet.
+func TestTheVaultsSeatPromisesGet(t *testing.T) {
+	seat, _ := SeatNamed("mesh-vault")
+	var get *Verb
+	for i := range seat.Serves {
+		if seat.Serves[i].Name == "get" {
+			get = &seat.Serves[i]
+		}
+	}
+	if get == nil {
+		t.Fatal("the vault's seat does not promise get")
+	}
+	for _, arg := range []string{"name", "public_key"} {
+		if props, _ := get.Input["properties"].(map[string]any); props[arg] == nil {
+			t.Errorf("get takes no %s", arg)
+		}
+	}
+	serving := Manifest{Module: "mesh-vault", Provides: []Offer{{Name: "secret", Scope: ScopeMesh}},
+		Claims: []Claim{{Name: "mesh-vault", Scope: ScopeMesh, Serves: []string{"get"}}}}
+	if err := CanHold(serving, seat); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("the vault serving get was refused: %v", err)
+	}
+	notYet := Manifest{Module: "mesh-vault", Provides: []Offer{{Name: "secret", Scope: ScopeMesh}},
+		Claims: []Claim{{Name: "mesh-vault", Scope: ScopeMesh}}}
+	if err := CanHold(notYet, seat); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("the vault that does not serve get yet was refused: %v", err)
+	}
+}

internal/catalogue/verbs.go

@@ -362,6 +362,28 @@ var ControllerVerbs = []Verb{
 			"register": "\"true\" to register what it builds",
 			"older":    "\"true\", with register: even though a newer build of the module is registered",
 		}, []string{"id"}, "register", "older")},
+	// novox/hq issue 686: a builder ran a branch's store tests for the first time in its pull request's merge check.
+	{Name: "try", Description: "Try a pushed branch or commit before its pull request (novox/hq issue 686): the build " +
+		"seat merges it into the repository's trunk and runs the repository's own merge-check.sh on the merge, in the " +
+		"toolchain containers and against the throwaway store and bus a pull request's merge check gets. Answers at " +
+		"once with an id; asked again with that id it waits up to 20 s and answers pass, fail or error, how long it " +
+		"took and the lines naming what failed — or that it is still waiting or running, to ask again. Sets no " +
+		"status on the forge, registers and builds nothing, runs no merge gate, counts as a check in the build queue " +
+		"(after deliveries and after every pull request's check, however long it waits) and is bounded as one. One " +
+		"try of a commit at a time — a second ask answers the first's id — and at most four waiting or running in " +
+		"all: a fifth is refused. Only for a repository of the mesh; the ref must be on the forge.",
+		Input: schema(map[string]string{
+			"repository": "the repository on the forge, owner/name; with ref",
+			"ref":        "the branch or commit to try, as pushed to the forge",
+			"base": "the branch it is merged into (the repository's default branch when none is named). The " +
+				"merge-check.sh that runs is that branch's, never the ref's own: the same trust as a pull request's base",
+			"tests": "only the tests this `go test -run` pattern names, where the repository's merge-check.sh reads " +
+				"MESH_CHECK_TESTS; a script that does not runs whole",
+			"store-only": "\"true\": only the repository's store tests, where its merge-check.sh reads " +
+				"MESH_CHECK_STORE_ONLY",
+			"id": "instead of a repository: the id a try answered, to read what came of it",
+		}, nil, "store-only"),
+		Replaces: []string{"sh merge-check.sh", "docker run postgres"}},
 	// novox/hq ADR 0350 §5: asked by the delivery's owner when the forge says a pull request closed unmerged.
 	{Name: "forget-checks", Description: "Let go of every build a pull request's merge checks made for its merge in " +
 		"the artifact store's scratch namespace (novox/hq ADR 0350 §5): asked when it closed unmerged; a merged one's go " +

internal/inventory/catalogue.go

@@ -117,6 +117,11 @@ func (i *Inventory) RegisterModule(ctx context.Context, m catalogue.Manifest, fr
 			}
 		}
 	}
+	// **The manifest the mesh holds carries each file's text** (novox/hq ADR 0349 §2): one still naming a template
+	// would compose a file with no text, so it is refused by name — a build by a builder that predates templates.
+	if why := catalogue.HeldTemplateProblem(m); why != "" {
+		return fmt.Errorf("%s is not registered: %s", m.Module, why)
+	}
 	raw, err := json.Marshal(m)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -839,7 +844,18 @@ func (i *Inventory) KeepSettings(ctx context.Context, nodeName, module string, v
 }
 
 func (i *Inventory) setSettings(ctx context.Context, nodeName, module string, values map[string]any, judge bool, setBy string) error {
-	raw, err := json.Marshal(values)
+	// **Placement is not config** (novox/hq ADR 0348 clause 11, issue 651): the layer is said whole, as
+	// it always was, and its placement keys are kept beside the assignment, never in the settings row.
+	// Both are written in one transaction, and the layer a set replaces is the whole of both.
+	config, placement := catalogue.SplitPlacement(values)
+	if config == nil {
+		config = map[string]any{}
+	}
+	raw, err := json.Marshal(config)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	placed, err := placementJSON(placement)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -881,6 +897,9 @@ func (i *Inventory) setSettings(ctx context.Context, nodeName, module string, va
 			 do update set values = excluded.values, set_at = now(), set_by = excluded.set_by`, module, raw, nullable(setBy)); err != nil {
 			return wrapModule(err, module)
 		}
+		if err := keepPlacement(ctx, tx, nil, module, placed, setBy); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
 		return tx.Commit(ctx)
 	}
 	node, err := i.NodeByName(ctx, nodeName)
@@ -912,6 +931,9 @@ func (i *Inventory) setSettings(ctx context.Context, nodeName, module string, va
 	if err != nil {
 		return wrapModule(err, module)
 	}
+	if err := keepPlacement(ctx, tx, &node.ID, module, placed, setBy); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 	// A given port replaces what the mesh assigned for that port: the assignment is given back,
 	// so the number is free for the next module rather than held for ever in the name of a port
 	// that now lives elsewhere.
@@ -942,21 +964,15 @@ func (i *Inventory) judgeSettings(ctx context.Context, nodeName, module string,
 			return err
 		}
 		where, from, adopted = nodeName, nodeName, node.Adopted
-		var meshWide []byte
-		err = i.store.Pool().QueryRow(ctx,
-			`select values from settings where module = $1 and node is null`, module).Scan(&meshWide)
-		if err != nil && !errors.Is(err, pgx.ErrNoRows) {
+		under, has, err := i.Layer(ctx, "", module)
+		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
-		if len(meshWide) > 0 {
-			var under map[string]any
-			if err := json.Unmarshal(meshWide, &under); err != nil {
-				return err
-			}
-			layers = append(layers, catalogue.Layer{From: catalogue.MeshWideLayer, Values: under})
+		if has {
+			layers = append(layers, catalogue.LayerOf(catalogue.MeshWideLayer, under))
 		}
 	}
-	layers = append(layers, catalogue.Layer{From: from, Values: values})
+	layers = append(layers, catalogue.LayerOf(from, values))
 	if err := catalogue.JudgeSettings(m, layers, adopted); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("refused: %s on %s cannot compose with the layer %q — %w", module, where, from, err)
 	}
@@ -1089,7 +1105,8 @@ func refuseGivenCollisions(ctx context.Context, tx pgx.Tx, nodeID any, node, mod
 }
 
 func wrapModule(err error, module string) error {
-	if err != nil && strings.Contains(err.Error(), "settings_module_fkey") {
+	if err != nil && (strings.Contains(err.Error(), "settings_module_fkey") ||
+		strings.Contains(err.Error(), "placement_module_fkey")) {
 		return fmt.Errorf("%w: %s", ErrNoSuchModule, module)
 	}
 	return err
@@ -1130,6 +1147,11 @@ func (i *Inventory) ClearSettingsBy(ctx context.Context, nodeName, module, clear
 		`delete from settings where module = $1 and node is not distinct from $2::uuid`, module, nodeID); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
+	// And its placement, which is the same layer as a person says it (novox/hq ADR 0348 clause 11).
+	if _, err := tx.Exec(ctx,
+		`delete from placement where module = $1 and node is not distinct from $2::uuid`, module, nodeID); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 	return tx.Commit(ctx)
 }
 
@@ -1142,10 +1164,13 @@ func (i *Inventory) SettingsFor(ctx context.Context, nodeName, module string) ([
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
+	// Each layer's placement beside it, from the placement the controller holds (novox/hq ADR 0348
+	// clause 11): a layer's Values hold its config values only, its Placement where things are.
 	rows, err := i.store.Pool().Query(ctx,
-		`select node is null, values from settings
-		  where module = $1 and (node is null or node = $2)
-		  order by node is null desc`, module, node.ID)
+		`select s.node is null, s.values, p.values from settings s
+		   left join placement p on p.module = s.module and p.node is not distinct from s.node
+		  where s.module = $1 and (s.node is null or s.node = $2)
+		  order by s.node is null desc`, module, node.ID)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
@@ -1154,23 +1179,62 @@ func (i *Inventory) SettingsFor(ctx context.Context, nodeName, module string) ([
 	var layers []catalogue.Layer
 	for rows.Next() {
 		var meshWide bool
-		var raw []byte
-		if err := rows.Scan(&meshWide, &raw); err != nil {
+		var raw, placed []byte
+		if err := rows.Scan(&meshWide, &raw, &placed); err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
 		values := map[string]any{}
 		if err := json.Unmarshal(raw, &values); err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
+		var placement map[string]any
+		if len(placed) > 0 {
+			if err := json.Unmarshal(placed, &placement); err != nil {
+				return nil, err
+			}
+		}
 		from := nodeName
 		if meshWide {
 			from = catalogue.MeshWideLayer
 		}
-		layers = append(layers, catalogue.Layer{From: from, Values: values})
+		layers = append(layers, catalogue.Layer{From: from, Values: values, Placement: placement})
 	}
 	return layers, rows.Err()
 }
 
+// placementJSON is a layer's placement as the placement table keeps it, or nil when it has none.
+func placementJSON(placement map[string]any) ([]byte, error) {
+	if len(placement) == 0 {
+		return nil, nil
+	}
+	return json.Marshal(placement)
+}
+
+// keepPlacement writes one layer's placement beside its settings row, in the write's transaction: the
+// placement the layer says, or none when it says none — a set replaces the layer whole, placement too.
+func keepPlacement(ctx context.Context, tx pgx.Tx, nodeID *string, module string, placed []byte, setBy string) error {
+	if placed == nil {
+		_, err := tx.Exec(ctx,
+			`delete from placement where module = $1 and node is not distinct from $2::uuid`, module, nodeID)
+		return err
+	}
+	var err error
+	if nodeID == nil {
+		_, err = tx.Exec(ctx,
+			`insert into placement (node, module, values, set_by) values (null, $1, $2, $3)
+			 on conflict (module) where node is null
+			 do update set values = excluded.values, set_at = now(), set_by = excluded.set_by`,
+			module, placed, nullable(setBy))
+	} else {
+		_, err = tx.Exec(ctx,
+			`insert into placement (node, module, values, set_by) values ($1, $2, $3, $4)
+			 on conflict (node, module) where node is not null
+			 do update set values = excluded.values, set_at = now(), set_by = excluded.set_by`,
+			*nodeID, module, placed, nullable(setBy))
+	}
+	return wrapModule(err, module)
+}
+
 // PinProvision records which provider a machine gets a provision from: a module, and the node it
 // runs on — both, always (novox/hq #258). A provision comes from a module, and the same module on
 // two machines is two answers, so neither half alone says which.

internal/inventory/fortest.go

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package inventory
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
 	"fmt"
 	"os"
 	"strings"
@@ -75,3 +76,94 @@ func (i *Inventory) RemoveNodeForTest(ctx context.Context, name string) (bool, e
 	}
 	return tag.RowsAffected() == 1, nil
 }
+
+// ForTestBefore is ForTest with the store migrated only below migration `number`, and a function that runs the
+// rest: for a test of a migration that moves data, which seeds the store as the mesh holds it before the
+// migration, migrates, and reads what the migration made of it (novox/hq issue 651).
+func ForTestBefore(t *testing.T, number int) (*Inventory, func()) {
+	t.Helper()
+	admin := os.Getenv("MESH_TEST_POSTGRES")
+	if admin == "" {
+		t.Skip("no MESH_TEST_POSTGRES; run `make check` to raise one")
+	}
+	name := fmt.Sprintf("invb_%d_%s", time.Now().UnixNano()%1_000_000,
+		strings.ToLower(strings.NewReplacer("/", "", "-", "").Replace(t.Name())))
+	if len(name) > 60 {
+		name = name[:60]
+	}
+	all, err := Migrations()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	var before []store.Migration
+	for _, m := range all {
+		if m.Number < number {
+			before = append(before, m)
+		}
+	}
+	store.CreateMigratedForTest(t, admin, name, before)
+	busPasswordCostForTest.Store(int32(bcrypt.MinCost))
+	cut := strings.LastIndex(admin, "/")
+	t.Setenv(store.Variable(Name), admin[:cut]+"/"+name+"?sslmode=disable")
+	inv, err := Open(t.Context())
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	t.Cleanup(func() {
+		inv.Close()
+		c, err := pgx.Connect(context.Background(), admin)
+		if err != nil {
+			return
+		}
+		defer c.Close(context.Background())
+		_, _ = c.Exec(context.Background(), "drop database if exists "+name+" with (force)")
+	})
+	if err := inv.Ready(t.Context(), 20*time.Second); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	return inv, func() {
+		t.Helper()
+		if _, err := inv.store.Migrate(t.Context(), all); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// ExecForTest runs one statement against a test's store, for a fixture no verb of the mesh writes: a row as an
+// older migration left it.
+func (i *Inventory) ExecForTest(t *testing.T, sql string, args ...any) {
+	t.Helper()
+	if _, err := i.store.Pool().Exec(t.Context(), sql, args...); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("%s: %v", sql, err)
+	}
+}
+
+// QueryForTest reads rows of a test's store, each row's columns as JSON text, for a test that checks what a
+// migration left.
+func (i *Inventory) QueryForTest(t *testing.T, sql string, args ...any) [][]string {
+	t.Helper()
+	rows, err := i.store.Pool().Query(t.Context(), sql, args...)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("%s: %v", sql, err)
+	}
+	defer rows.Close()
+	var out [][]string
+	for rows.Next() {
+		values, err := rows.Values()
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		row := make([]string, len(values))
+		for k, v := range values {
+			row[k] = fmt.Sprint(v)
+			if b, err := json.Marshal(v); err == nil {
+				row[k] = string(b)
+			}
+		}
+		out = append(out, row)
+	}
+	if err := rows.Err(); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	return out
+}

internal/inventory/migrations/0097-placement-is-not-config.sql

@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+-- Placement is not config (novox/hq ADR 0348 clause 11, issue 651).
+--
+-- Where a module's directories are on a machine (`places`), where the operator's data it reads is
+-- (`accesses`) and which found networks a taken container keeps (`networks`) were kept as keys of a
+-- settings layer. They are facts of an assignment that the controller decides, never config values, and
+-- the config values are leaving for the mesh-config module (ADR 0348 clause 9) while placement stays with
+-- the controller. So they get a table of their own beside the assignment, and every settings layer's
+-- placement keys move into it, unchanged.
+--
+-- Scoped exactly as the layer they came from: one machine's, or the whole mesh's (node null) for a
+-- module's every assignment, which is how a mesh-wide `places` or `accesses` layer composes today. The
+-- composer reads placement from here only; the `settings` verb still takes the three keys and routes
+-- them here, so nothing a person types changes.
+create table placement (
+    node   uuid        references node(id) on delete cascade,
+    module text        not null references module(name) on delete cascade,
+    -- Only `places`, `accesses` and `networks`, as the settings layer held them.
+    values jsonb       not null,
+    set_at timestamptz not null default now(),
+    set_by text
+);
+create unique index placement_for_the_mesh on placement (module) where node is null;
+create unique index placement_for_a_node   on placement (node, module) where node is not null;
+
+-- Why a layer went into the history, beside how (`replaced_by`): said for a layer this migration moved.
+alter table settings_history add column why text;
+
+-- Each layer that held a placement key is kept whole in the history first, as a `settings history` reads it.
+insert into settings_history (node, module, values, set_at, replaced_by, set_by, why)
+select node, module, values, set_at, 'moved', set_by, 'moved to placement, ADR 0348 clause 11'
+  from settings
+ where values ?| array['places', 'accesses', 'networks'];
+
+insert into placement (node, module, values, set_at, set_by)
+select node, module,
+       (select jsonb_object_agg(e.key, e.value) from jsonb_each(values) as e
+         where e.key in ('places', 'accesses', 'networks')),
+       set_at, set_by
+  from settings
+ where values ?| array['places', 'accesses', 'networks'];
+
+-- The layer keeps its other keys, when it was set and who set it; a layer that held only placement stays,
+-- empty, so a layer that existed still exists.
+update settings
+   set values = values - 'places' - 'accesses' - 'networks'
+ where values ?| array['places', 'accesses', 'networks'];

internal/inventory/migrations/0098-the-list-of-predefined-keys.sql

@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+-- The list of predefined keys (novox/hq ADR 0348 clause 7, design 57 package K2, issue 661).
+--
+-- Mesh config and node config hold values only for the keys in the catalogue's `predefined.json`. A build of
+-- the catalogue reads the file at the commit it builds and carries it; the controller keeps the newest trunk
+-- build's, which every manifest it reads again is judged against, and which mesh-config publishes from here
+-- (design 57 package K3). One list for the mesh: one row.
+--
+-- **The newest trunk build wins**, by the generation of the commit built — how many commits it stands on, which
+-- of two commits on one trunk is larger for the later — so a list heard late from an older build never replaces
+-- a newer one. Not a config value: a key, its type, description, validation and whether it is trusted, all of it
+-- public in the catalogue's repository.
+create table predefined_list (
+    one        boolean     primary key default true check (one),
+    keys       jsonb       not null,
+    repository text        not null,
+    commit     text        not null,
+    generation bigint      not null check (generation > 0),
+    build      text        not null,
+    kept_at    timestamptz not null default now()
+);

internal/inventory/placement_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,222 @@
+package inventory
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"reflect"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/novox/mesh-controller/internal/catalogue"
+)
+
+// placedLibrary is a module with each kind of placement: a directory to place, two accesses, a container that
+// may keep a found network.
+func placedLibrary() catalogue.Manifest {
+	return catalogue.Manifest{Module: "library", Version: "1",
+		Accesses: []catalogue.Access{{ID: "series"}, {ID: "downloads"}},
+		Resources: []map[string]any{
+			{"id": "config", "type": "directory", "mode": "0750"},
+			{"id": "server", "type": "container",
+				"image":   "registry.invalid:5000/library@sha256:" + strings.Repeat("a", 64),
+				"volumes": []any{"${dir:config}:/config", "${access:series}:/series", "${access:downloads}:/downloads"}},
+			{"id": "runtime-config", "type": "file", "path": "${dir:config}/runtime.json", "mode": "0640",
+				"content": `{"log":"info"}`, "merge": "json"},
+		}}
+}
+
+// The layers of the issue (651): a mesh-wide layer with an access and a config value, a node's layer with a
+// place, an access and a kept network beside a config value, a node's layer of placement only, and one with
+// none.
+var placementLayers = []struct {
+	node   string
+	values string
+}{
+	{"", `{"accesses": {"downloads": "/storage/downloads"}, "log": "warn"}`},
+	{"anchor", `{"places": {"config": {"path": "/var/lib/library/config", "owner": "1001:2000"}},
+		"accesses": {"series": "/storage/media/series"}, "networks": {"server": ["predecessor_default"]}, "workers": 4}`},
+	{"laptop", `{"accesses": {"series": "/home/media/series"}}`},
+	{"spare", `{"log": "debug"}`},
+}
+
+// **Placement moves out of the settings layers, and every layer reads as it did** (novox/hq ADR 0348 clause
+// 11, issue 651). Migration 0097 moves each layer's places, accesses and kept networks beside it: no settings
+// row holds a placement key after, every layer the settings verb and composition read is what it was, each
+// moved layer is kept whole in the history with why, and a layer without placement is not touched.
+func TestPlacementMovesOutOfTheSettingsLayers(t *testing.T) {
+	inv, migrate := ForTestBefore(t, 97)
+	ctx := t.Context()
+	if err := inv.RegisterModule(ctx, placedLibrary(), Source{}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	for _, n := range []string{"anchor", "laptop", "spare"} {
+		if _, err := inv.AddNode(ctx, n); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+	}
+	if err := inv.SetAdopted(ctx, "anchor", true); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	// As the mesh holds them before the migration: placement among the settings.
+	for _, l := range placementLayers {
+		if l.node == "" {
+			inv.ExecForTest(t, `insert into settings (node, module, values, set_by) values (null, 'library', $1, 'the operator')`, l.values)
+			continue
+		}
+		inv.ExecForTest(t, `insert into settings (node, module, values) select id, 'library', $2 from node where name = $1`,
+			l.node, l.values)
+	}
+	setAt := inv.QueryForTest(t, `select coalesce(n.name, ''), s.set_at from settings s left join node n on n.id = s.node order by 1`)
+
+	migrate()
+
+	if held := inv.QueryForTest(t, `select module from settings where values ?| array['places', 'accesses', 'networks']`); len(held) != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("a settings layer still holds a placement key: %v", held)
+	}
+	if after := inv.QueryForTest(t, `select coalesce(n.name, ''), s.set_at from settings s left join node n on n.id = s.node order by 1`); !reflect.DeepEqual(after, setAt) {
+		t.Fatalf("the layers or when they were set changed: %v, was %v", after, setAt)
+	}
+	for _, l := range placementLayers {
+		var want map[string]any
+		if err := json.Unmarshal([]byte(l.values), &want); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		got, has, err := inv.Layer(ctx, l.node, "library")
+		if err != nil || !has || !reflect.DeepEqual(roundTrip(t, got), want) {
+			t.Errorf("the layer on %q reads %v (%v, %v), was %v", l.node, got, has, err, want)
+		}
+	}
+	// Composition's view: the config values in Values, the placement in Placement, together the layer.
+	layers, err := inv.SettingsFor(ctx, "anchor", "library")
+	if err != nil || len(layers) != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("anchor's layers: %v, %v", layers, err)
+	}
+	if layers[1].Values["workers"] == nil || layers[1].Values["places"] != nil || layers[1].Placement["places"] == nil ||
+		layers[1].Placement["networks"] == nil || layers[0].Placement["accesses"] == nil || layers[0].Values["log"] != "warn" {
+		t.Fatalf("anchor's layers split wrong: %+v", layers)
+	}
+	for i, l := range layers {
+		var want map[string]any
+		_ = json.Unmarshal([]byte(placementLayers[i].values), &want)
+		if !reflect.DeepEqual(roundTrip(t, l.Whole()), want) {
+			t.Errorf("anchor's layer %s is %v whole, was %v", l.From, l.Whole(), want)
+		}
+	}
+	// Judged as composition judges them, as before: anchor is adopted, so its kept network composes.
+	if err := catalogue.JudgeSettings(placedLibrary(), layers, true); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("the moved layers no longer compose: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	moved := inv.QueryForTest(t, `select coalesce(n.name, ''), h.replaced_by, h.why, h.set_by from settings_history h
+		left join node n on n.id = h.node order by 1`)
+	want := [][]string{
+		{`""`, `"moved"`, `"moved to placement, ADR 0348 clause 11"`, `"the operator"`},
+		{`"anchor"`, `"moved"`, `"moved to placement, ADR 0348 clause 11"`, `null`},
+		{`"laptop"`, `"moved"`, `"moved to placement, ADR 0348 clause 11"`, `null`},
+	}
+	if !reflect.DeepEqual(moved, want) {
+		t.Fatalf("the history of what moved: %v, want %v", moved, want)
+	}
+	past, err := inv.SettingsHistory(ctx, "anchor", "library")
+	if err != nil || len(past) != 1 || past[0].Why != "moved to placement, ADR 0348 clause 11" || past[0].Values["places"] == nil {
+		t.Fatalf("settings history on anchor: %+v, %v", past, err)
+	}
+}
+
+// **The settings verb's path still takes a placement key, and routes it** (issue 651): a set keeps the
+// placement beside the layer and the rest in it, reads back whole, is refused as before when the placement
+// cannot compose (nothing written), and a set or a clear replaces the placement with the layer.
+func TestASettingRoutesPlacementBesideTheLayer(t *testing.T) {
+	inv := ForTest(t)
+	ctx := t.Context()
+	if err := inv.RegisterModule(ctx, placedLibrary(), Source{}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if _, err := inv.AddNode(ctx, "anchor"); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	// Placement alone is a layer as well: the whole mesh's says where both accesses are.
+	meshWide := map[string]any{"accesses": map[string]any{
+		"downloads": "/storage/downloads", "series": "/storage/series"}}
+	if err := inv.SetSettings(ctx, "", "library", meshWide); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if got, has, _ := inv.Layer(ctx, "", "library"); !has || !reflect.DeepEqual(roundTrip(t, got), roundTrip(t, meshWide)) {
+		t.Fatalf("the mesh-wide layer of placement only reads %v (%v)", got, has)
+	}
+	set := map[string]any{"log": "warn",
+		"places":   map[string]any{"config": map[string]any{"path": "/var/lib/library/config"}},
+		"accesses": map[string]any{"series": "/storage/media/series"}}
+	if err := inv.SetSettings(ctx, "anchor", "library", set); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	stored := inv.QueryForTest(t, `select s.values, p.values from settings s join placement p using (module, node)
+		where s.node is not null`)
+	if len(stored) != 1 || stored[0][0] != `{"log":"warn"}` ||
+		!strings.Contains(stored[0][1], `"places"`) || !strings.Contains(stored[0][1], `"accesses"`) {
+		t.Fatalf("the layer and its placement are kept as %v", stored)
+	}
+	if got, _, _ := inv.Layer(ctx, "anchor", "library"); !reflect.DeepEqual(roundTrip(t, got), roundTrip(t, set)) {
+		t.Fatalf("the layer reads %v, was set %v", got, set)
+	}
+
+	// Refused as before, by the same judgement, and nothing changes.
+	for name, bad := range map[string]map[string]any{
+		"an undeclared directory": {"places": map[string]any{"cache": "/var/lib/library/cache"}},
+		"the machine's own":       {"accesses": map[string]any{"series": "/etc"}},
+		"a kept network on a converged machine": {
+			"networks": map[string]any{"server": []any{"predecessor_default"}}},
+	} {
+		if err := inv.SetSettings(ctx, "anchor", "library", bad); err == nil {
+			t.Errorf("%s was kept", name)
+		}
+	}
+	if err := inv.SetSettings(ctx, "", "library", map[string]any{"accesses": meshWide["accesses"],
+		"networks": map[string]any{"server": []any{"x"}}}); err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "per node") {
+		t.Errorf("a mesh-wide kept network: %v", err)
+	}
+	if got, _, _ := inv.Layer(ctx, "anchor", "library"); !reflect.DeepEqual(roundTrip(t, got), roundTrip(t, set)) {
+		t.Fatalf("a refused set changed the layer to %v", got)
+	}
+
+	// A set without placement replaces it too, and the history keeps the layer whole.
+	if err := inv.SetSettings(ctx, "anchor", "library", map[string]any{"log": "debug"}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if rows := inv.QueryForTest(t, `select module from placement where node is not null`); len(rows) != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("a set without placement left it: %v", rows)
+	}
+	past, err := inv.SettingsHistory(ctx, "anchor", "library")
+	if err != nil || len(past) != 1 || past[0].Values["places"] == nil || past[0].Values["log"] != "warn" {
+		t.Fatalf("the replaced layer is not kept whole: %+v, %v", past, err)
+	}
+
+	// The merge gate's way in keeps a layer as the facts carry it, whole: split the same way.
+	if err := inv.KeepSettings(ctx, "anchor", "library", map[string]any{"log": "info",
+		"places": map[string]any{"config": "/var/lib/library/config"}}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if rows := inv.QueryForTest(t, `select values from settings where values ? 'places'`); len(rows) != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("a kept layer put placement among the settings: %v", rows)
+	}
+	for _, node := range []string{"", "anchor"} {
+		if err := inv.ClearSettings(ctx, node, "library"); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+	}
+	if rows := inv.QueryForTest(t, `select module from placement`); len(rows) != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("a clear left the placement: %v", rows)
+	}
+}
+
+func roundTrip(t *testing.T, v map[string]any) map[string]any {
+	t.Helper()
+	b, err := json.Marshal(v)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	out := map[string]any{}
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(b, &out); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	return out
+}

internal/inventory/plans.go

@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import (
 	"encoding/json"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
+	"slices"
 	"strings"
 	"time"
 
@@ -391,6 +392,65 @@ type PlanGate struct {
 	// reports its module's container left running because it said busy, the judging waits and has not
 	// started; once it reports the container replaced, Since is moved to then. Nil when nothing waited.
 	Busy *GateBusy `json:"busy,omitempty"`
+	// Pending says the send this gate judges is kept and not yet made (novox/hq ADR 0353 §8): a controller that
+	// takes over reads the machine's last send before making it, and never sends it twice.
+	Pending bool `json:"pending,omitempty"`
+	// Silent says the machine reported nothing on its send within ApplySilentAfter (novox/hq ADR 0353 §4): left,
+	// neither failed nor put back.
+	Silent bool `json:"silent,omitempty"`
+	// TookOver names the gate whose readings this one took over (novox/hq ADR 0353 §7): another walk's judging of
+	// the same build on the same machine, which this gate goes on from instead of starting from zero.
+	TookOver string `json:"took_over,omitempty"`
+}
+
+// TakeReadings makes this gate go on from another's readings of the same build on the same machine (novox/hq ADR
+// 0353 §7): when the judging began, when each machine applied, the passes counted and when, and what each found.
+// A module's own count is taken only for the modules this gate judges.
+func (g *PlanGate) TakeReadings(from *PlanGate, modules []string, id string) {
+	if from == nil {
+		return
+	}
+	if from.Since != nil {
+		since := *from.Since
+		g.Since = &since
+	}
+	for n, s := range from.Sent {
+		if slices.Contains(g.Machines, n) {
+			if g.Sent == nil {
+				g.Sent = map[string]SentDeclaration{}
+			}
+			g.Sent[n] = s
+		}
+	}
+	for n, at := range from.Applied {
+		if slices.Contains(g.Machines, n) {
+			if g.Applied == nil {
+				g.Applied = map[string]time.Time{}
+			}
+			g.Applied[n] = at
+		}
+	}
+	g.Passes, g.Faulted, g.HealthySeen, g.Last = from.Passes, from.Faulted, from.HealthySeen, from.Last
+	if from.LastPass != nil {
+		at := *from.LastPass
+		g.LastPass = &at
+	}
+	for _, m := range modules {
+		if n, counted := from.Healthy[m]; counted {
+			if g.Healthy == nil {
+				g.Healthy = map[string]int{}
+			}
+			g.Healthy[m] = n
+		}
+		if at, counted := from.HealthyAt[m]; counted {
+			if g.HealthyAt == nil {
+				g.HealthyAt = map[string]time.Time{}
+			}
+			g.HealthyAt[m] = at
+		}
+	}
+	g.Readings = append([]GateReading(nil), from.Readings...)
+	g.TookOver = id
 }
 
 // GateBusy is a first-node gate's wait for a busy container (novox/hq ADR 0335 §4).
@@ -477,9 +537,17 @@ type CarriedMove struct {
 type PlanRelease struct {
 	Order []string `json:"order"`
 	Next  int      `json:"next"`
-	// Gate is the machine being judged; nil between machines.
+	// Gate is the first machine being judged; nil between machines.
 	Gate *PlanGate `json:"gate,omitempty"`
-	Done []string  `json:"done,omitempty"`
+	// Rest says the first machine passed (novox/hq ADR 0353 §1): every other machine is sent at once, each judged by
+	// its own gate in Gates, by machine — a build no gate passed going to one machine of a step only (§2).
+	Rest  bool                 `json:"rest,omitempty"`
+	Gates map[string]*PlanGate `json:"gates,omitempty"`
+	// Failed are the machines of the rest whose gate failed, and Silent those that said nothing on their send
+	// within ApplySilentAfter (ADR 0353 §3 and §4).
+	Failed []string `json:"failed,omitempty"`
+	Silent []string `json:"silent,omitempty"`
+	Done   []string `json:"done,omitempty"`
 	// Skipped are the machines not heard from when their turn came, left as they were.
 	Skipped []string `json:"skipped,omitempty"`
 	// By is the person who released it, empty when the mesh did.

internal/inventory/predefined.go

@@ -0,0 +1,76 @@
+package inventory
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/jackc/pgx/v5"
+
+	"github.com/novox/mesh-controller/internal/catalogue"
+)
+
+// The list of predefined keys the mesh publishes (novox/hq ADR 0348 §7, design 57 package K2): the newest trunk
+// build's of the catalogue, by the generation of the commit built.
+
+// PredefinedRecord is the list kept, and the build it came from.
+type PredefinedRecord struct {
+	Keys       catalogue.PredefinedList
+	Repository string
+	Commit     string
+	Generation int
+	Build      string
+	KeptAt     time.Time
+}
+
+// KeepPredefined keeps a trunk build's list when its commit is newer than the one kept — a larger generation —
+// and answers whether it did. An older build's list, or one of the same generation, heard later is not kept: the
+// newer one stands, whatever order the outcomes arrive in. One statement, so two builds heard at once cannot both
+// win.
+func (i *Inventory) KeepPredefined(ctx context.Context, r PredefinedRecord) (bool, error) {
+	if r.Keys == nil {
+		return false, errors.New("no list to keep")
+	}
+	if r.Generation <= 0 {
+		return false, fmt.Errorf("the build %s did not say its commit's generation, so whether its list is newer "+
+			"than the one kept cannot be said", r.Build)
+	}
+	if problems := catalogue.PredefinedProblems(r.Keys); len(problems) > 0 {
+		return false, fmt.Errorf("the list of %s is refused: %v", r.Build, problems)
+	}
+	text, err := r.Keys.Canonical()
+	if err != nil {
+		return false, err
+	}
+	tag, err := i.store.Pool().Exec(ctx, `
+		insert into predefined_list (keys, repository, commit, generation, build)
+		values ($1, $2, $3, $4, $5)
+		on conflict (one) do update set keys = excluded.keys, repository = excluded.repository,
+			commit = excluded.commit, generation = excluded.generation, build = excluded.build, kept_at = now()
+		where predefined_list.generation < excluded.generation`,
+		text, r.Repository, r.Commit, r.Generation, r.Build)
+	if err != nil {
+		return false, err
+	}
+	return tag.RowsAffected() == 1, nil
+}
+
+// PredefinedKept is the list kept, and false when none is yet.
+func (i *Inventory) PredefinedKept(ctx context.Context) (PredefinedRecord, bool, error) {
+	var r PredefinedRecord
+	var text []byte
+	err := i.store.Pool().QueryRow(ctx,
+		`select keys, repository, commit, generation, build, kept_at from predefined_list`).
+		Scan(&text, &r.Repository, &r.Commit, &r.Generation, &r.Build, &r.KeptAt)
+	if errors.Is(err, pgx.ErrNoRows) {
+		return PredefinedRecord{}, false, nil
+	}
+	if err != nil {
+		return PredefinedRecord{}, false, err
+	}
+	if r.Keys, err = catalogue.ParsePredefined(text); err != nil {
+		return PredefinedRecord{}, false, fmt.Errorf("the list kept from %s cannot be read: %w", r.Build, err)
+	}
+	return r, true, nil
+}

internal/inventory/predefined_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,69 @@
+package inventory
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/novox/mesh-controller/internal/catalogue"
+)
+
+// The list of predefined keys the controller keeps (novox/hq ADR 0348 §7 and its check "a newer trunk build's
+// list replaces the published one, and an older build's list heard later does not"; design 57 package K2).
+
+func listOf(t *testing.T, text string) catalogue.PredefinedList {
+	t.Helper()
+	l, err := catalogue.ParsePredefined([]byte(text))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	return l
+}
+
+func TestANewerBuildsListReplacesTheKeptOneAndAnOlderOneHeardLaterDoesNot(t *testing.T) {
+	inv := ForTest(t)
+	ctx := t.Context()
+	if _, has, err := inv.PredefinedKept(ctx); err != nil || has {
+		t.Fatalf("a fresh store keeps a list: %v %v", has, err)
+	}
+	older := PredefinedRecord{Keys: listOf(t, `{"font-size": {"type": "number", "description": "points"}}`),
+		Repository: "novox/mesh-catalog", Commit: "aaaa", Generation: 100, Build: "b-older"}
+	newer := PredefinedRecord{Keys: listOf(t, `{"font-size": {"type": "number", "description": "points"},
+		"agent-managed-settings": {"type": "object", "description": "a JSON object", "trusted": true}}`),
+		Repository: "novox/mesh-catalog", Commit: "bbbb", Generation: 101, Build: "b-newer"}
+
+	if kept, err := inv.KeepPredefined(ctx, older); err != nil || !kept {
+		t.Fatalf("the first list was not kept: %v %v", kept, err)
+	}
+	if kept, err := inv.KeepPredefined(ctx, newer); err != nil || !kept {
+		t.Fatalf("a newer build's list did not replace the kept one: %v %v", kept, err)
+	}
+	// The older build's outcome heard after the newer one's.
+	if kept, err := inv.KeepPredefined(ctx, older); err != nil || kept {
+		t.Fatalf("an older build's list heard later replaced the newer one: %v %v", kept, err)
+	}
+	// Nor one of the same generation: the one kept stands.
+	same := newer
+	same.Keys, same.Build = older.Keys, "b-again"
+	if kept, err := inv.KeepPredefined(ctx, same); err != nil || kept {
+		t.Fatalf("a list of the same generation replaced the kept one: %v %v", kept, err)
+	}
+	got, has, err := inv.PredefinedKept(ctx)
+	if err != nil || !has {
+		t.Fatal(has, err)
+	}
+	if got.Build != "b-newer" || got.Commit != "bbbb" || got.Generation != 101 || len(got.Keys) != 2 ||
+		!got.Keys["agent-managed-settings"].Trusted {
+		t.Fatalf("kept %+v", got)
+	}
+
+	// A build that could not say its generation, or carried a wrong list, is never kept.
+	unordered := newer
+	unordered.Generation = 0
+	if kept, err := inv.KeepPredefined(ctx, unordered); err == nil || kept {
+		t.Fatalf("a list without a generation was kept: %v", err)
+	}
+	wrong := newer
+	wrong.Generation, wrong.Keys = 200, catalogue.PredefinedList{"accent": {Type: "object", Description: "x"}}
+	if kept, err := inv.KeepPredefined(ctx, wrong); err == nil || kept {
+		t.Fatalf("a wrong list was kept: %v", err)
+	}
+}

internal/inventory/template_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+package inventory
+
+import (
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/novox/mesh-controller/internal/catalogue"
+)
+
+// The manifest the mesh holds carries each file's text (novox/hq ADR 0349 §2): one still naming a template — a
+// build by a builder that predates templates, or a manifest handed over unbuilt — would compose a file with no
+// text, and is refused by name.
+func TestAManifestStillNamingATemplateIsNotRegistered(t *testing.T) {
+	inv := ForTest(t)
+	m := catalogue.Manifest{Module: "notifier", Version: "1", Resources: []map[string]any{
+		{"id": "conf", "type": "file", "path": "/etc/notifier.conf", "template": "files/notifier.conf"}}}
+	err := inv.RegisterModule(t.Context(), m, Source{})
+	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "files/notifier.conf") {
+		t.Fatalf("a manifest naming a template was registered: %v", err)
+	}
+	m.Resources[0] = map[string]any{"id": "conf", "type": "file", "path": "/etc/notifier.conf", "content": "x"}
+	if err := inv.RegisterModule(t.Context(), m, Source{}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("the same manifest with its text was refused: %v", err)
+	}
+}

internal/inventory/unseen.go

@@ -20,9 +20,11 @@ func (i *Inventory) Layer(ctx context.Context, nodeName, module string) (map[str
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, false, err
 	}
+	// Said whole, as it was set: its config values and the placement kept beside them (novox/hq ADR 0348
+	// clause 11), so a person reading it before setting it sees every key they may keep or remove.
 	var raw []byte
-	err = i.store.Pool().QueryRow(ctx,
-		`select values from settings where module = $1 and node is not distinct from $2::uuid`,
+	err = i.store.Pool().QueryRow(ctx, `select `+layerWhole+` from settings s
+		  where s.module = $1 and s.node is not distinct from $2::uuid`,
 		module, nodeID).Scan(&raw)
 	if errors.Is(err, pgx.ErrNoRows) {
 		return nil, false, nil
@@ -46,6 +48,9 @@ type PastLayer struct {
 	ReplacedBy string
 	// SetBy is who had set the layer, when it was kept (novox/hq ADR 0277); empty for one set before that was kept.
 	SetBy string
+	// Why is why it went, where that was said: "moved to placement, ADR 0348 clause 11" for a layer whose
+	// placement keys migration 0097 moved out of it (ReplacedBy "moved").
+	Why string
 }
 
 // LayerOrigin is who set a layer and when (novox/hq ADR 0277): empty words for a layer set before who set it was
@@ -79,7 +84,7 @@ func (i *Inventory) SettingsHistory(ctx context.Context, nodeName, module string
 		return nil, err
 	}
 	rows, err := i.store.Pool().Query(ctx,
-		`select values, set_at, replaced_at, replaced_by, set_by from settings_history
+		`select values, set_at, replaced_at, replaced_by, set_by, why from settings_history
 		  where module = $1 and node is not distinct from $2::uuid order by replaced_at desc`,
 		module, nodeID)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -90,13 +95,16 @@ func (i *Inventory) SettingsHistory(ctx context.Context, nodeName, module string
 	for rows.Next() {
 		var raw []byte
 		var p PastLayer
-		var by *string
-		if err := rows.Scan(&raw, &p.SetAt, &p.ReplacedAt, &p.ReplacedBy, &by); err != nil {
+		var by, why *string
+		if err := rows.Scan(&raw, &p.SetAt, &p.ReplacedAt, &p.ReplacedBy, &by, &why); err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
 		if by != nil {
 			p.SetBy = *by
 		}
+		if why != nil {
+			p.Why = *why
+		}
 		if err := json.Unmarshal(raw, &p.Values); err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
@@ -107,9 +115,15 @@ func (i *Inventory) SettingsHistory(ctx context.Context, nodeName, module string
 
 // keepReplacedSQL copies a layer into the history before it is replaced or cleared; run in the same
 // transaction as the write where there is one, so a write that fails leaves no history of it.
+//
+// The layer is kept whole, as it was set: its config values and its placement (novox/hq ADR 0348 clause 11).
 const keepReplacedSQL = `insert into settings_history (node, module, values, set_at, replaced_by, set_by)
-	select node, module, values, set_at, $3, set_by from settings
-	 where module = $1 and node is not distinct from $2::uuid`
+	select s.node, s.module, ` + layerWhole + `, s.set_at, $3, s.set_by from settings s
+	 where s.module = $1 and s.node is not distinct from $2::uuid`
+
+// layerWhole is a settings row `s` with the placement kept beside it folded back in: the layer as it was set.
+const layerWhole = `s.values || coalesce((select p.values from placement p
+	 where p.module = s.module and p.node is not distinct from s.node), '{}'::jsonb)`
 
 // layerNode is the node id of a layer, nil for the whole mesh's.
 func (i *Inventory) layerNode(ctx context.Context, nodeName string) (*string, error) {

internal/link/build.go

@@ -164,6 +164,30 @@ type CheckRequest struct {
 	// each, from the merge it judged, into the scratch namespace once it has judged and not failed, for the walk to
 	// take. A build seat from before it builds nothing, and the walk builds as before.
 	Builds []CheckBuild `json:"builds,omitempty"`
+	// Try marks a branch tried before its pull request (novox/hq issue 686): the repository's own check for a
+	// pushed branch or commit, asked by a builder through the controller's `try` verb. Its outcome is read from
+	// the build's log (StepTried) and said to nobody: no status on the forge, nothing recorded or registered,
+	// nothing built for a merge. Tests narrows what the repository's script runs to the tests a pattern names,
+	// and StoreOnly to its store tests; a script that reads neither runs whole.
+	Try       bool   `json:"try,omitempty"`
+	Tests     string `json:"tests,omitempty"`
+	StoreOnly bool   `json:"store-only,omitempty"`
+}
+
+// StepTried is the step a build seat says a try's outcome under, in the build's log: one line, a Tried as JSON
+// (novox/hq issue 686).
+const StepTried = "tried"
+
+// Tried is what came of a branch tried before its pull request (novox/hq issue 686): the verdict of the
+// repository's own check for the ref merged into the trunk, how long it took, and the lines that name what
+// failed, picked from the whole of its output (issue 460).
+type Tried struct {
+	Verdict string   `json:"verdict"`
+	Summary string   `json:"summary"`
+	Took    string   `json:"took"`
+	Head    string   `json:"head,omitempty"`
+	Trunk   string   `json:"trunk,omitempty"`
+	Failed  []string `json:"failed,omitempty"`
 }
 
 // CheckBuild is one module a check builds for its merge: from the merge it made when Merged — a module built from
@@ -334,6 +358,12 @@ type BuildResult struct {
 	ReusedFrom *ReusedFrom `json:"reused-from,omitempty"`
 	BuiltWhy   string      `json:"built-why,omitempty"`
 
+	// Predefined is the list of predefined keys at the root of the repository at the commit built (novox/hq ADR
+	// 0348 §7), which the manifest was judged against: the controller publishes the catalogue's from a trunk
+	// build, the newest by Generation winning. Absent for a repository holding none, and from a builder that
+	// predates the list.
+	Predefined *PredefinedList `json:"predefined,omitempty"`
+
 	// Source is the request's, echoed: the seat form of the repository, for whoever registers.
 	Source *SourceOnSeat `json:"source,omitempty"`
 
@@ -346,6 +376,14 @@ type BuildResult struct {
 	Checked *CheckRequest `json:"check,omitempty"`
 }
 
+// PredefinedList is the list of predefined keys a build read (novox/hq ADR 0348 §7): Keys its canonical text, a
+// JSON object of keys, and Generation how many commits the commit built stands on — of two commits on one trunk
+// the later has more, which is what orders two builds' lists; 0 when the builder could not say.
+type PredefinedList struct {
+	Keys       json.RawMessage `json:"keys"`
+	Generation int             `json:"generation,omitempty"`
+}
+
 // ReadRepository is a repository a build read source from besides the module's own, at the branch,
 // tag or commit it read. Spelled here as well as in the catalogue and the inventory, for the reason
 // MadeArtifact is: one direction of dependency.

internal/link/builds.go

@@ -96,8 +96,27 @@ type BuildStart struct {
 	// an earlier taker left unfinished — most often a build agent replaced mid-build — and started
 	// again from the beginning (novox/hq issue 594). 0 from a machine that predates it.
 	Delivery int `json:"delivery,omitempty"`
+	// Try marks the start of a branch tried before its pull request (novox/hq issue 686), which names no
+	// repository and no ref (startOf).
+	Try bool `json:"try,omitempty"`
 }
 
+// startOf is what a build machine says of the ask it took. **A try's start names no repository and no commit**
+// (novox/hq issue 686): the forge's holder writes mesh/merge-gate pending on an open pull request whose head is
+// the commit a start names, and a try of that head is no check of the pull request — nothing on the forge moves
+// for a try. Its id, machine and time are all the queue reads of a start.
+func startOf(r BuildRequest, on string, delivery int, at time.Time) BuildStart {
+	s := BuildStart{ID: r.ID, Repository: r.Repository, Path: r.Path, Ref: r.Ref, On: on,
+		At: at.UTC().Format(time.RFC3339Nano), Delivery: delivery}
+	if IsTry(r) {
+		s.Repository, s.Path, s.Ref, s.Try = "", "", "", true
+	}
+	return s
+}
+
+// IsTry says an ask is a branch tried before its pull request (novox/hq issue 686).
+func IsTry(r BuildRequest) bool { return r.Check != nil && r.Check.Try }
+
 // Restarted is how a build handed out again says so (novox/hq issue 594), in its log and in its check's
 // report, so a second run never reads as the first. Neutral on why: a holder replaced mid-build, a paused
 // holder handing an ask back as it arrived, and a bus that held its acknowledgements past the wait all

internal/link/builds_nats.go

@@ -401,10 +401,7 @@ func (b *natsBuild) Done() error { return b.msg.Ack() }
 // Began publishes that this machine has taken the build, into the stream like the outcome, so a
 // reader that asks afterwards sees when it started as well as how it ended.
 func (b *natsBuild) Began(ctx context.Context) error {
-	body, err := json.Marshal(BuildStart{
-		ID: b.request.ID, Repository: b.request.Repository, Path: b.request.Path,
-		Ref: b.request.Ref, On: b.on, At: time.Now().UTC().Format(time.RFC3339Nano), Delivery: b.delivery,
-	})
+	body, err := json.Marshal(startOf(b.request, b.on, b.delivery, time.Now()))
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}

internal/link/queue.go

@@ -427,6 +427,9 @@ func ReadCheckBuilds(ctx context.Context, js *broker.JetStream, seat string, pul
 // safeKey is an id that can be a key, and a subject token, as it is: a build id, never a pattern.
 var safeKey = regexp.MustCompile(`^[A-Za-z0-9_-]+$`)
 
+// SafeBuildID says an id can be a subject token as it is: a build's id, never a pattern.
+func SafeBuildID(id string) bool { return safeKey.MatchString(id) }
+
 // Cancelled is what the controller writes for an ask it cancelled.
 type Cancelled struct {
 	At  string `json:"at"`

internal/link/queue_order.go

@@ -26,6 +26,8 @@ import (
 //   - a check that has waited CheckWaitsAtMost goes before every delivery asked after it, so no check
 //     waits for ever behind a stream of deliveries;
 //   - within a kind, first come, first served, by when it was asked;
+//   - a branch tried before its pull request goes after everything else, however long it has waited: it is
+//     never promoted ahead of a delivery, and never ahead of a pull request's check (novox/hq issue 686);
 //   - an ask whose kind cannot be told counts as a check: a delivery taken late breaks a budget, a check
 //     taken late breaks nothing.
 //
@@ -64,8 +66,12 @@ func (a QueuedAsk) askedOrStored() time.Time {
 // QueueOrder is the order the waiting asks are to be handed out in, now: the deliveries and every check
 // that has waited CheckWaitsAtMost, by when each was asked, then the other checks, by when each was asked.
 func QueueOrder(waiting []QueuedAsk, now time.Time) []QueuedAsk {
-	var first, then []QueuedAsk
+	var first, then, tries []QueuedAsk
 	for _, a := range waiting {
+		if IsTry(a.Request) {
+			tries = append(tries, a)
+			continue
+		}
 		if KindOf(a.Request) == KindCheck && now.Sub(a.askedOrStored()) < CheckWaitsAtMost {
 			then = append(then, a)
 			continue
@@ -82,7 +88,8 @@ func QueueOrder(waiting []QueuedAsk, now time.Time) []QueuedAsk {
 	}
 	byAsking(first)
 	byAsking(then)
-	return append(first, then...)
+	byAsking(tries)
+	return append(append(first, then...), tries...)
 }
 
 // toMove is the asks to move to the tail, in this order, for the queue to stand as order says: everything

internal/link/try_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+package link
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"reflect"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+)
+
+// The start of a try names no repository and no commit (novox/hq issue 686): the forge's holder writes
+// mesh/merge-gate pending on the open pull request whose head a start names, and nothing on the forge moves
+// for a try. A pull request's check still names both.
+func TestATrysStartNamesNoCommitTheForgeCouldMatch(t *testing.T) {
+	sha := strings.Repeat("c0ffee", 7)[:40]
+	at := time.Date(2026, 10, 14, 0, 0, 0, 0, time.UTC)
+	try := BuildRequest{ID: "build-1", Repository: "https://forge/novox/a.git", Ref: sha,
+		Check: &CheckRequest{Owner: "novox", Repo: "a", Try: true}}
+	body, _ := json.Marshal(startOf(try, "ace", 1, at))
+	if strings.Contains(string(body), sha) || strings.Contains(string(body), "novox/a") {
+		t.Fatalf("a try's start names what the forge matches a pull request by: %s", body)
+	}
+	if s := startOf(try, "ace", 2, at); s.ID != "build-1" || s.On != "ace" || !s.Try || s.Delivery != 2 || s.At == "" {
+		t.Fatalf("a try's start lost what the queue reads: %+v", s)
+	}
+	pull := try
+	pull.Check = &CheckRequest{Owner: "novox", Repo: "a", Number: 7}
+	if s := startOf(pull, "ace", 1, at); s.Ref != sha || s.Repository == "" || s.Try {
+		t.Fatalf("a pull request's check's start: %+v", s)
+	}
+}
+
+// A try stays behind every delivery and every pull request's check, however long it has waited: the ten
+// minutes that put a check ahead of later deliveries never promote a try (novox/hq issue 686).
+func TestATryIsNeverHandedOutBeforeADeliveryOrAPullRequestsCheck(t *testing.T) {
+	now := time.Date(2026, 10, 12, 12, 0, 0, 0, time.UTC)
+	try := func(seq uint64, id string, asked time.Time) QueuedAsk {
+		a := anAsk(seq, id, asked, true)
+		a.Request.Check.Try = true
+		return a
+	}
+	waiting := []QueuedAsk{
+		try(1, "try-old", now.Add(-40*time.Minute)),
+		try(2, "try-young", now.Add(-time.Minute)),
+		anAsk(3, "check-young", now.Add(-2*time.Minute), true),
+		anAsk(4, "delivery", now.Add(-time.Minute), false),
+	}
+	want := []string{"delivery", "check-young", "try-old", "try-young"}
+	if got := idsOf(QueueOrder(waiting, now)); !reflect.DeepEqual(got, want) {
+		t.Fatalf("handed out as %v, want %v", got, want)
+	}
+	if !SafeBuildID("build-20261014T000000-1a2b") || SafeBuildID("x.>") || SafeBuildID("*") || SafeBuildID("") {
+		t.Fatal("an id that is a pattern passes for a build's id")
+	}
+}

merge-check.sh

@@ -54,11 +54,26 @@ if [ -n "$unformatted" ]; then
 fi
 CGO_ENABLED=0 go vet ./...
 
-if command -v gcc >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-	CGO_ENABLED=1 go test -race -count=1 -timeout 30m ./...
+suite() {
+	if command -v gcc >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+		CGO_ENABLED=1 go test -race -count=1 -timeout 30m "$@"
+	else
+		echo "NOT RACE-CHECKED: the toolchain holds no C compiler; the suite runs without the race detector"
+		CGO_ENABLED=0 go test -count=1 -timeout 30m "$@"
+	fi
+}
+# **A branch tried before its pull request may ask for a part** (novox/hq issue 686): the controller's `try` verb
+# hands MESH_CHECK_TESTS, a `go test -run` pattern, or MESH_CHECK_STORE_ONLY=1. A pull request's merge check is
+# handed neither and always runs whole; a part that passes is said as a part, never as the check.
+if [ -n "${MESH_CHECK_TESTS:-}" ]; then
+	echo "TRIED IN PART: only the tests matching $MESH_CHECK_TESTS, in every package"
+	suite -run "$MESH_CHECK_TESTS" ./...
+	exit 0
+fi
+if [ "${MESH_CHECK_STORE_ONLY:-}" = 1 ]; then
+	echo "TRIED IN PART: only the store tests listed in testdata/store-tests"
 else
-	echo "NOT RACE-CHECKED: the toolchain holds no C compiler; the suite runs without the race detector"
-	CGO_ENABLED=0 go test -count=1 -timeout 30m ./...
+	suite ./...
 fi
 
 # **The store tests listed ran** (novox/hq issue 459): a test that needs the store skips without one, and a skip

module.json

@@ -77,6 +77,7 @@
     "replay",
     "kill",
     "forget-checks",
+    "try",
     "pause",
     "resume",
     "hand-act",

testdata/store-tests

@@ -61,3 +61,20 @@
 ./cmd/mesh-controller TestAProviderElsewhereServesItsOwnComposedName
 ./cmd/mesh-controller TestAReusedCheckBuildIsRegisteredByItsDigestAndGatedAsABuiltOne
 ./internal/inventory TestAReportOfABusyContainerIsKeptAndReadBack
+./internal/inventory TestANewerBuildsListReplacesTheKeptOneAndAnOlderOneHeardLaterDoesNot
+./cmd/mesh-controller TestTheMergeGateJudgesEachManifestAgainstTheListOfTheTree
+./cmd/mesh-controller TestRegistrationPublishesTheNewestTrunkListAndJudgesEveryModuleAgainstIt
+./internal/inventory TestPlacementMovesOutOfTheSettingsLayers
+./internal/inventory TestASettingRoutesPlacementBesideTheLayer
+./cmd/mesh-controller TestADeclarationIsTheSameAfterPlacementMoves
+./cmd/mesh-controller TestAReleaseSendsTheRestAtOnceAfterTheFirstPasses
+./cmd/mesh-controller TestARestMachineThatFailsIsPutBackAloneAndTheOthersAreJudgedOn
+./cmd/mesh-controller TestAWalkTakesOverTheReadingsOfAGateJudgingTheSameBuildThere
+./cmd/mesh-controller TestAFirstSendMadeAndNotKeptIsNotSentAgain
+./cmd/mesh-controller TestAReleaseSendKeptAndMadeIsNotMadeAgain
+./cmd/mesh-controller TestAFirstMachineThatFailsStillStopsTheWalk
+./cmd/mesh-controller TestTheControlNodeIsSentLastInAStep
+./cmd/mesh-controller TestARestMachineSilentPastItsBoundIsLeftAndSaid
+./cmd/mesh-controller TestANoMoveTierWaitsForNoNewReport
+./cmd/mesh-controller TestOneProviderDownAndThreeConsumersFailingAreOneCondition
+./cmd/mesh-controller TestAConsumerFailingBesideAHealthyProviderIsItsOwn