Merge pull request 'Link a build's bases into its repository before pushing it (issue 694)' (#318) from fix/694-a-push-holds-its-bases into main

A runtime on containerd's image store, the default on a fresh docker 29,
need not hold the compressed layers of a base it built FROM: a layer it
had unpacked already is never fetched. Its push then fails on that layer
although the registry holds it under the base's mirror. A push reads
locally only what the target repository lacks, so mount the base's blobs
there first.

RELEASE-57.md

@@ -1,6 +0,0 @@
-# Release 57: config and provisioning
-
-This branch carries the work of hq design 57 (ADR 0348, ADR 0349) in this repository. Each package
-merges here through its own reviewed pull request; the branch reaches main as one pull request, in one
-delivery group with the branch of the same name in mesh-controller, mesh-host, mesh-sdk, mesh-catalog
-and hq, after a rehearsal in the lab. This file is deleted by the last commit before that pull request.

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
@@ -457,7 +463,8 @@ 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 +479,23 @@ 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/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/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/push.go

@@ -264,9 +264,6 @@ func serve(ctx context.Context) (err error) {
 	// The facts snapshot a merge check is fed (novox/hq to-be 45 §9): kept current while this
 	// controller holds the lease, read by the build seat from the artifact store.
 	go exportingFacts(ctx, open, bus.Conn.ConnectedServerVersion)
-	// The record mirrors (novox/hq ADR 0289, design 57 F3): the assignments and each registered module's
-	// declared config on the bus, written from the store only when a record changed, by the lease holder.
-	go mirroringRecords(ctx, inv, bus.Conn, bus)
 	// Every call carries the lease's epoch, and its record is written only under the lease (novox/hq
 	// to-be 45 §6).
 	link.Calls.UnderLease(func() (uint64, error) { return theLease.epoch(ctx) })

cmd/mesh-controller/record_mirrors.go

@@ -1,105 +0,0 @@
-package main
-
-import (
-	"context"
-	"fmt"
-	"time"
-
-	"github.com/nats-io/nats.go"
-	"github.com/nats-io/nats.go/jetstream"
-
-	"github.com/novox/mesh-controller/internal/inventory"
-	"github.com/novox/mesh-controller/internal/recordmirror"
-)
-
-// The controller's record mirrors on the bus (novox/hq ADR 0289, design 54, design 57 F3): the assignments,
-// and each registered module's declared config, which mesh-config resolves a module's config values from.
-//
-// **Built from the store, on a tick of their own, by the lease holder alone.** A record changes through a
-// verb that runs as a command of its own, a reconcile, a merge's registration or a pending assignment made,
-// so no one call site sees every change; what every change has in common is that it is committed to the
-// store. So the serving controller reads the store every mirrorEvery and writes only what differs from what
-// the bucket holds (ADR 0289 §1): a quiet mesh writes nothing, and a change rolled back is never read. A
-// mirror is therefore at most mirrorEvery behind its store.
-
-// mirrorEvery is how often the mirrors are compared with the store: two small reads of the store.
-const mirrorEvery = 10 * time.Second
-
-// mirroringRecords keeps the mirrors current for as long as this controller serves: ctx ends when it stops.
-func mirroringRecords(ctx context.Context, inv *inventory.Inventory, conn *nats.Conn, announce recordmirror.Announcer) {
-	api, err := jetstream.New(conn)
-	if err != nil {
-		fmt.Printf("the record mirrors are not kept: %v\n", err)
-		return
-	}
-	holds := func() bool {
-		epoch, err := theLease.epoch(ctx)
-		return err == nil && epoch > 0
-	}
-	epoch := func() uint64 {
-		e, _ := theLease.epoch(ctx)
-		return e
-	}
-	sources := map[string]func(context.Context) (map[string][]byte, error){
-		recordmirror.Assignments.Name:    inv.AssignmentsMirror,
-		recordmirror.DeclaredConfig.Name: inv.DeclaredConfigMirror,
-	}
-	writers := map[string]*recordmirror.Writer{}
-	failing := map[string]string{}
-	tick := time.NewTicker(mirrorEvery)
-	defer tick.Stop()
-	for {
-		if holds() {
-			for _, m := range recordmirror.Mirrors() {
-				why := mirrorOnce(ctx, api, m, writers, sources[m.Name], announce, epoch, holds)
-				if why != failing[m.Name] {
-					if why != "" {
-						fmt.Printf("the %s mirror cannot be kept: %s\n", m.Name, why)
-					} else {
-						fmt.Printf("the %s mirror is kept again\n", m.Name)
-					}
-					failing[m.Name] = why
-				}
-			}
-		}
-		select {
-		case <-ctx.Done():
-			return
-		case <-tick.C:
-		}
-	}
-}
-
-// mirrorOnce brings one mirror to what the store holds, and answers why it could not; empty when it could.
-func mirrorOnce(ctx context.Context, api jetstream.JetStream, m recordmirror.Mirror, writers map[string]*recordmirror.Writer,
-	source func(context.Context) (map[string][]byte, error), announce recordmirror.Announcer, epoch func() uint64,
-	holds func() bool) string {
-	reading, cancel := context.WithTimeout(ctx, 30*time.Second)
-	defer cancel()
-	w := writers[m.Name]
-	if w == nil {
-		kv, err := api.KeyValue(reading, m.Bucket)
-		if err != nil {
-			return fmt.Sprintf("the bucket %s cannot be read: %v", m.Bucket, err)
-		}
-		w = &recordmirror.Writer{Mirror: m, KV: kv, Announce: announce, Epoch: epoch, Holds: holds}
-		writers[m.Name] = w
-	}
-	want, err := source(reading)
-	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Sprintf("the store cannot be read: %v", err)
-	}
-	lost := w.LostEvents
-	r, err := w.Sync(reading, want)
-	if r.Written+r.Removed > 0 {
-		fmt.Printf("the %s mirror moved: %d written, %d removed\n", m.Name, r.Written, r.Removed)
-	}
-	if w.LostEvents > lost {
-		fmt.Printf("the %s mirror lost %d event(s): the bucket holds the change, its notice was refused twice\n",
-			m.Name, w.LostEvents-lost)
-	}
-	if err != nil {
-		return err.Error()
-	}
-	return ""
-}

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,
+// started plan is walking, the mesh opens one — every such machine, the first sent and judged, then the rest
-// each sent and judged before the next. A release plan that fails stops the next one opening on its own:
+// 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
+			// The first machine's gate, and every gate of the rest still judging (novox/hq ADR 0353).
-			if g == nil || g.Verdict != "" {
+			gates := []*inventory.PlanGate{p.Release.Gate}
-				continue
+			for _, g := range p.Release.Gates {
+				gates = append(gates, g)
 			}
-			for _, c := range g.Carried {
+			for _, g := range gates {
-				if c.Module == module && !(slices.Contains(g.Machines, node) && sameCommit(c.To, to)) {
+				// A send kept and not yet made walks nothing yet (ADR 0353 §8).
-					return p.ID
+				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 "+
+		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); `upgrade backlog` lists them", errUngated, strings.Join(refused, "; "))
+			"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
+	moves, err := gatedMoves(ctx, open, node, owns)
-	f, err := readMoveFacts(ctx, inv)
+	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 {
+	if len(moves) == 0 {
-		return nil, nil, nil, nil
+		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)
+	return moves, nil
-	sent, grants, err := sendJudged(ctx, open, node)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, nil, nil, err
-	}
-	return moves, sent, grants, 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
+// advanceRelease takes one step of a release plan: the first machine sent everything waiting there under a
-// gate, or the machine being judged judged once more; the plan done when every machine is.
+// 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),
+			r.Gate = &inventory.PlanGate{Machines: []string{node}, Carried: moves, Pending: true}
-				Grants: grants}
+			p.Note = fmt.Sprintf("sending %s %d build(s) that wait for a gate, first", node, len(moves))
-			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 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).
+		// What the first machine ran before (ADR 0236), kept above before the send.
-		if beforeKnown {
-			s.Previous = before[m]
-		}
 		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 {
+			if len(r.Failed)+len(r.Silent) > 0 {
-				fmt.Printf("  %s\n", gateLine(r.Gate))
+				fmt.Printf("  failed: %s; silent: %s\n", orNone(strings.Join(r.Failed, ", ")), orNone(strings.Join(r.Silent, ", ")))
-				for _, c := range r.Gate.Carried {
+			}
+			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/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/broker/controller_buckets.go

@@ -40,39 +40,6 @@ var (
 	AskedBucket = BucketName(ControllerSeat, "asked")
 )
 
-// The controller's record mirrors (novox/hq ADR 0289, design 54, design 57 package F3): a bucket per kind of
-// record, one key per record, written from the store by the lease holder only when the record changed, with
-// one event on the controller's seat per write. Read by whatever names them in `reads` as
-// `mesh-controller.<mirror>` (ADR 0201 §1), written by nobody else. **No secret in either** (ADR 0201): an
-// assignment's value names its module and node; a module's declared config is what its manifest, which is
-// public, declares.
-//
-// AssignmentsBucket holds which module is assigned to which node, keyed `<node>.<module>`; and
-// DeclaredConfigBucket each registered module's config declarations as its manifest holds them, keyed by
-// the module: what mesh-config resolves a config value from (ADR 0348 clauses 2 and 4).
-var (
-	AssignmentsBucket    = BucketName(ControllerSeat, MirrorAssignments)
-	DeclaredConfigBucket = BucketName(ControllerSeat, MirrorDeclaredConfig)
-)
-
-// The mirrors' local names, as a reader names them in `reads` after `mesh-controller.`.
-const (
-	MirrorAssignments    = "assignments"
-	MirrorDeclaredConfig = "declared-config"
-)
-
-// ControllerMirrors are the local names of the controller's record mirrors, which a module may read.
-func ControllerMirrors() []string { return []string{MirrorAssignments, MirrorDeclaredConfig} }
-
-// The mirrors' caps (design 54 §5): one value per key, no age, 64 KiB a value, 64 MiB a bucket.
-const (
-	MirrorValueBytes = 64 << 10
-	MirrorBytes      = 64 << 20
-	// MirrorMarkerTTL is the longest a purge's marker is kept (design 54 §2): the bucket allows a
-	// per-message age for it, and the writer gives each marker a day.
-	MirrorMarkerTTL = 24 * time.Hour
-)
-
 // AskedKeptFor is how long an ask is kept after it was made: a month, as the router keeps its own.
 const AskedKeptFor = 30 * 24 * time.Hour
 
@@ -99,14 +66,12 @@ const (
 // IsControllerBucket says a bucket is the controller's own, not a module's state nothing declares.
 func IsControllerBucket(bucket string) bool {
 	return bucket == CallsBucket || bucket == HandActsBucket || bucket == ConditionsBucket ||
-		bucket == ConditionHistoryBucket || bucket == LeaseBucket || bucket == AskedBucket ||
+		bucket == ConditionHistoryBucket || bucket == LeaseBucket || bucket == AskedBucket
-		bucket == AssignmentsBucket || bucket == DeclaredConfigBucket
 }
 
 // ControllerBuckets are the controller's own buckets, in the order they are asserted.
 func ControllerBuckets() []string {
-	return []string{LeaseBucket, CallsBucket, HandActsBucket, ConditionsBucket, ConditionHistoryBucket, AskedBucket,
+	return []string{LeaseBucket, CallsBucket, HandActsBucket, ConditionsBucket, ConditionHistoryBucket, AskedBucket}
-		AssignmentsBucket, DeclaredConfigBucket}
 }
 
 // ControllerBucketsAsserter is what raising the controller's buckets needs of a connection.
@@ -203,27 +168,6 @@ func (j *JetStream) EnsureControllerBuckets() error {
 	}); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("asserting bucket %s: %w", AskedBucket, err)
 	}
-	// **The record mirrors: no age** (design 54 §5). A key is removed when its record is, by a purge whose
-	// marker lives a day; a key that expired would be a record the bus forgot while the store still holds it.
-	for _, m := range []struct{ bucket, why string }{
-		{AssignmentsBucket, "which module is assigned to which node, keyed <node>.<module> (novox/hq ADR 0289, " +
-			"design 54): written by the controller alone from its store when an assignment changes, read through `reads`"},
-		{DeclaredConfigBucket, "each registered module's config declarations as its manifest holds them, keyed by " +
-			"the module (novox/hq ADR 0348, design 57 F3): written by the controller alone from its store when a " +
-			"registration changes them, read through `reads`"},
-	} {
-		if _, err := js.CreateOrUpdateKeyValue(ctx, jetstream.KeyValueConfig{
-			Bucket:         m.bucket,
-			Description:    m.why,
-			History:        1,
-			MaxValueSize:   MirrorValueBytes,
-			MaxBytes:       MirrorBytes,
-			Storage:        jetstream.FileStorage,
-			LimitMarkerTTL: MirrorMarkerTTL,
-		}); err != nil {
-			return fmt.Errorf("asserting bucket %s: %w", m.bucket, err)
-		}
-	}
 	return nil
 }
 

internal/broker/controller_buckets_test.go

@@ -21,8 +21,7 @@ func TestTheControllerMayWriteEveryBucketItWrites(t *testing.T) {
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
-	want := []string{"$KV." + CallsBucket + ".>", "$KV." + HandActsBucket + ".>",
+	want := []string{"$KV." + CallsBucket + ".>", "$KV." + HandActsBucket + ".>"}
-		"$KV." + AssignmentsBucket + ".>", "$KV." + DeclaredConfigBucket + ".>"}
 	for _, seat := range seatsTheControllerAsks {
 		if hasCancelledSet(seat) {
 			want = append(want, "$KV."+CancelledSetName(seat)+".>")
@@ -38,34 +37,6 @@ func TestTheControllerMayWriteEveryBucketItWrites(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-// **A module reads a record mirror through `reads`, and never writes it** (ADR 0201 §1, design 54 §5,
-// design 57 F3): granted the direct reads and watches of the bucket, and refused at composition a grant to
-// write it, whose writer is the controller.
-func TestAModuleReadsTheControllersMirrorsAndWritesNone(t *testing.T) {
-	reader := Principal{Kind: KindModule, Node: "one", Module: "mesh-config", PasswordHash: "x",
-		Reads: []string{"mesh-controller." + MirrorAssignments, "mesh-controller." + MirrorDeclaredConfig}}
-	p, err := PermissionsFor(reader)
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-	for _, bucket := range []string{AssignmentsBucket, DeclaredConfigBucket} {
-		for _, subject := range []string{"$JS.API.STREAM.INFO.KV_" + bucket, "$JS.API.DIRECT.GET.KV_" + bucket + ".>",
-			"$JS.API.CONSUMER.CREATE.KV_" + bucket + ".>"} {
-			if !slices.Contains(p.Publish, subject) {
-				t.Errorf("a module reading %s may not publish %s", bucket, subject)
-			}
-		}
-		for _, subject := range p.Publish {
-			if SubjectsOverlap(subject, "$KV."+bucket+".>") {
-				t.Errorf("a module reading %s may write it through %s", bucket, subject)
-			}
-		}
-		if err := CheckWriters(reader, []string{"$KV." + bucket + ".>"}); err == nil {
-			t.Errorf("a module granted a write of %s would compose", bucket)
-		}
-	}
-}
-
 // **A machine's node tools may say they are there, as that machine and no other** (novox/hq to-be 45
 // S11), and the controller may hear the bus's advisories and ask who answers — read-only, named.
 func TestTheWatchedSignalsMayBeSaidAndHeard(t *testing.T) {
@@ -125,56 +96,3 @@ func TestWhatTheControllerAskedIsBounded(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Errorf("history %d, age %s, bytes %d", status.History(), status.TTL(), info.Config.MaxBytes)
 	}
 }
-
-// **A listed mirror is no undeclared bucket** (ADR 0356 §3, ADR 0201 §16): the controller's list of its mirrors
-// stands for their declaration, so the report of state nothing declares never names one.
-func TestAListedMirrorIsNotReportedAsUndeclared(t *testing.T) {
-	names := []string{"gone_state"}
-	for _, m := range ControllerMirrors() {
-		names = append(names, BucketName(ControllerSeat, m))
-	}
-	undeclared, err := RaiseBuckets(fakeBuckets{names: names}, nil)
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-	if !slices.Equal(undeclared, []string{"gone_state"}) {
-		t.Fatalf("the report of undeclared state names %v", undeclared)
-	}
-}
-
-// **The mirrors' list and the writers table agree** (ADR 0356 §3, to-be 45 §1): every listed mirror is a row of
-// the table whose one writer is the controller, on its bucket alone; and every row that writes a bucket of the
-// controller's named as a mirror is on the list.
-func TestTheMirrorsListAndTheWritersTableAgree(t *testing.T) {
-	controller := Principal{Kind: KindController}
-	module := Principal{Kind: KindModule, Module: ControllerSeat, Node: "one"}
-	rowed := map[string]bool{}
-	for _, row := range WritersTable {
-		if !strings.HasSuffix(row.State, " mirror") {
-			continue
-		}
-		for _, subject := range row.Subjects {
-			bucket := strings.TrimSuffix(strings.TrimPrefix(subject, "$KV."), ".>")
-			rowed[bucket] = true
-			if row.Writes == nil || !row.Writes(controller, subject) || row.Writes(module, subject) {
-				t.Errorf("%q is not written by the controller alone", row.State)
-			}
-		}
-	}
-	listed := map[string]bool{}
-	for _, m := range ControllerMirrors() {
-		bucket := BucketName(ControllerSeat, m)
-		listed[bucket] = true
-		if !rowed[bucket] {
-			t.Errorf("the mirror %s is listed and no row of the writers table writes it", bucket)
-		}
-		if !IsControllerBucket(bucket) || !slices.Contains(ControllerBuckets(), bucket) {
-			t.Errorf("the mirror %s is listed and not asserted as the controller's own", bucket)
-		}
-	}
-	for bucket := range rowed {
-		if !listed[bucket] {
-			t.Errorf("the writers table writes the mirror %s, which the list does not name", bucket)
-		}
-	}
-}

internal/broker/log_test.go

@@ -172,9 +172,7 @@ func TestRaisingLogsReportsWhatNothingDeclares(t *testing.T) {
 // **No path of the mesh deletes or purges a log or a bucket, or recreates one** (novox/hq ADR 0297 §2,
 // ADR 0201 §15–16): no code of this repository outside its tests calls the client's stream or bucket
 // delete, or purges a stream, but for the controller lease's own stream, which purges its own history
-// below a sequence (internal/lease), and the controller's record mirrors, which purge the key of a record
+// below a sequence (internal/lease). A new call is a decision, not a refactor.
-// the store no longer holds (internal/recordmirror; novox/hq ADR 0289, design 54 §2). A new call is a decision,
-// not a refactor.
 func TestNoPathDeletesALogOrABucket(t *testing.T) {
 	removers := map[string]bool{"DeleteStream": true, "DeleteKeyValue": true, "PurgeStream": true,
 		"DeleteObjectStore": true}
@@ -199,9 +197,7 @@ func TestNoPathDeletesALogOrABucket(t *testing.T) {
 					return true
 				}
 				name := sel.Sel.Name
-				decided := strings.Contains(filepath.ToSlash(path), "internal/lease/") ||
+				if removers[name] || (name == "Purge" && !strings.Contains(filepath.ToSlash(path), "internal/lease/")) {
-					strings.Contains(filepath.ToSlash(path), "internal/recordmirror/")
-				if removers[name] || (name == "Purge" && !decided) {
 					found = append(found, path+": "+name)
 				}
 				return true

internal/broker/states_agreement_test.go

@@ -34,8 +34,6 @@ func TestTheFactsTheGrantPermitsAreTheFactsTheMeshStates(t *testing.T) {
 	states = append(states, link.KeyChecked)
 	// And a walk kept in a new state, for the delivery it walks (novox/hq ADR 0239).
 	states = append(states, link.KeyPlanMoved)
-	// And a key of a record mirror written or removed (novox/hq ADR 0289, design 54 §3; design 57 F3).
-	states = append(states, link.KeyAssignmentChanged, link.KeyDeclaredConfigChanged)
 	for _, event := range states {
 		if !slices.Contains(broker.ControllerStates, event) {
 			t.Errorf("the mesh states %q and its account may not publish it", event)
@@ -44,11 +42,6 @@ func TestTheFactsTheGrantPermitsAreTheFactsTheMeshStates(t *testing.T) {
 	if len(broker.ControllerStates) != len(states) {
 		t.Errorf("the grant permits %v, which is more than the mesh states", broker.ControllerStates)
 	}
-	// The record mirrors a module may read are the ones the bus holds (design 54 §5, design 57 F3).
-	if !slices.Equal(catalogue.ControllerMirrors, broker.ControllerMirrors()) {
-		t.Errorf("the catalogue lets a module read the controller's mirrors %v and the bus holds %v",
-			catalogue.ControllerMirrors, broker.ControllerMirrors())
-	}
 	// **And the seat says it.** A seat carries the protocol of its role (novox/hq ADR 0129), so the
 	// facts the control plane states are the seat's `emits` — which is what lets anything else declare
 	// that it consumes them, and what the subject-agreement check reads to know they have an owner.

internal/broker/streams.go

@@ -313,10 +313,7 @@ var ControllerStates = []string{"applied", "refused", "built-before",
 	// the pull request's status, and anybody else may read.
 	"checked",
 	// And a walk kept in a new state (novox/hq ADR 0239): what the delivery it walks reads its steps from.
-	"plan-moved",
+	"plan-moved"}
-	// And a key of a record mirror written or removed (novox/hq ADR 0289, design 54 §3): the assignments and
-	// each registered module's declared config (design 57 F3).
-	"assignment-changed", "declared-config-changed"}
 
 // BusAdvisories are what the bus server says about the mesh's own account that the controller
 // reads (novox/hq to-be 45 §3, S9): a durable consumer that handed a message over as often as it

internal/broker/testdata/composed.conf

@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ accounts {
     jetstream: enabled
     users = [
       { user: "controller", password: "$2a$11$cccccccccccccccccccccc", permissions: {
-        publish: { allow: ["$JS.ACK.CONTROL.controller.>", "$JS.ACK.DEAD_LETTER_NOTICES.controller.>", "$JS.ACK.EVENTS.controller.>", "$JS.API.>", "$KV.SEAT_MESH_BUILD_MACHINE_cancelled.>", "$KV.SEAT_NODE_BUILD_AGENT_cancelled.>", "$KV.mesh-controller_asked.>", "$KV.mesh-controller_assignments.>", "$KV.mesh-controller_calls.>", "$KV.mesh-controller_condition-history.>", "$KV.mesh-controller_conditions.>", "$KV.mesh-controller_declared-config.>", "$KV.mesh-controller_hand-acts.>", "$KV.mesh-controller_lease.>", "$SRV.INFO", "_INBOX.enrol.>", "mesh.again.>", "mesh.assignment.>", "mesh.events.dead.>", "mesh.mod.*.tool.>", "mesh.node.>", "mesh.seat.mesh-build-machine.accept.>", "mesh.seat.mesh-build-machine.tool.>", "mesh.seat.mesh-controller.event.applied", "mesh.seat.mesh-controller.event.assignment-changed", "mesh.seat.mesh-controller.event.built-before", "mesh.seat.mesh-controller.event.checked", "mesh.seat.mesh-controller.event.condition-changed", "mesh.seat.mesh-controller.event.condition-cleared", "mesh.seat.mesh-controller.event.condition-raised", "mesh.seat.mesh-controller.event.declared-config-changed", "mesh.seat.mesh-controller.event.doctor-heartbeat", "mesh.seat.mesh-controller.event.healer-acted", "mesh.seat.mesh-controller.event.plan-moved", "mesh.seat.mesh-controller.event.refused", "mesh.seat.mesh-controller.event.rolled-back", "mesh.seat.mesh-controller.event.secret-replaced", "mesh.seat.mesh-controller.tool.plans", "mesh.seat.mesh-delivery.tool.close", "mesh.seat.mesh-delivery.tool.groups", "mesh.seat.mesh-delivery.tool.release", "mesh.seat.mesh-delivery.tool.stalled", "mesh.seat.mesh-delivery.tool.stop", "mesh.seat.mesh-delivery.tool.times", "mesh.seat.node-backup.tool.backed-up.*", "mesh.seat.node-backup.tool.now.*", "mesh.seat.node-build-agent.accept.>", "mesh.seat.node-build-agent.tool.>", "mesh.seat.node-intrusion-prevention.tool.banned.*", "mesh.seat.node-launcher.tool.secret.*", "mesh.seat.node-service-manager.tool.restart.*"] }
+        publish: { allow: ["$JS.ACK.CONTROL.controller.>", "$JS.ACK.DEAD_LETTER_NOTICES.controller.>", "$JS.ACK.EVENTS.controller.>", "$JS.API.>", "$KV.SEAT_MESH_BUILD_MACHINE_cancelled.>", "$KV.SEAT_NODE_BUILD_AGENT_cancelled.>", "$KV.mesh-controller_asked.>", "$KV.mesh-controller_calls.>", "$KV.mesh-controller_condition-history.>", "$KV.mesh-controller_conditions.>", "$KV.mesh-controller_hand-acts.>", "$KV.mesh-controller_lease.>", "$SRV.INFO", "_INBOX.enrol.>", "mesh.again.>", "mesh.assignment.>", "mesh.events.dead.>", "mesh.mod.*.tool.>", "mesh.node.>", "mesh.seat.mesh-build-machine.accept.>", "mesh.seat.mesh-build-machine.tool.>", "mesh.seat.mesh-controller.event.applied", "mesh.seat.mesh-controller.event.built-before", "mesh.seat.mesh-controller.event.checked", "mesh.seat.mesh-controller.event.condition-changed", "mesh.seat.mesh-controller.event.condition-cleared", "mesh.seat.mesh-controller.event.condition-raised", "mesh.seat.mesh-controller.event.doctor-heartbeat", "mesh.seat.mesh-controller.event.healer-acted", "mesh.seat.mesh-controller.event.plan-moved", "mesh.seat.mesh-controller.event.refused", "mesh.seat.mesh-controller.event.rolled-back", "mesh.seat.mesh-controller.event.secret-replaced", "mesh.seat.mesh-controller.tool.plans", "mesh.seat.mesh-delivery.tool.close", "mesh.seat.mesh-delivery.tool.groups", "mesh.seat.mesh-delivery.tool.release", "mesh.seat.mesh-delivery.tool.stalled", "mesh.seat.mesh-delivery.tool.stop", "mesh.seat.mesh-delivery.tool.times", "mesh.seat.node-backup.tool.backed-up.*", "mesh.seat.node-backup.tool.now.*", "mesh.seat.node-build-agent.accept.>", "mesh.seat.node-build-agent.tool.>", "mesh.seat.node-intrusion-prevention.tool.banned.*", "mesh.seat.node-launcher.tool.secret.*", "mesh.seat.node-service-manager.tool.restart.*"] }
         subscribe: { allow: ["$JS.API.>", "$JS.EVENT.ADVISORY.CONSUMER.DELETED.>", "$JS.EVENT.ADVISORY.CONSUMER.MAX_DELIVERIES.>", "$SRV.INFO", "$SRV.INFO.mesh-controller", "$SRV.INFO.mesh-controller.>", "$SRV.PING", "$SRV.PING.mesh-controller", "$SRV.PING.mesh-controller.>", "$SRV.STATS", "$SRV.STATS.mesh-controller", "$SRV.STATS.mesh-controller.>", "_DELIVER.controller", "_DELIVER.controller.>", "_INBOX.controller.>", "mesh.control.>", "mesh.mod.*.event.provisioner.failing", "mesh.mod.*.event.provisioner.recovered", "mesh.mod.*.event.provisioner.retirement", "mesh.mod.gitea.event.pull.merged", "mesh.mod.gitea.event.pull.updated", "mesh.mod.mesh-catalog.event.catching-up", "mesh.mod.mesh-catalog.event.upgraded", "mesh.seat.mesh-build-machine.event.built", "mesh.seat.mesh-controller.tool.>", "mesh.seat.node-build-agent.event.built", "mesh.seat.operator-channel.event.decided.mesh-controller"] }
         allow_responses: { max: 1, ttl: "1m" }
       } }

internal/broker/writers.go

@@ -158,15 +158,6 @@ var WritersTable = []WriterRow{
 	{State: "a message a consumer gave up on", Writer: "controller", KeptIn: "the bus, the stream " + DeadLettersStream,
 		Others:   "read, delivered again or dropped through the controller's dead-letters verb",
 		Subjects: []string{deadLetterPrefix + ">", againPrefix + ">"}, Writes: isController},
-	// The record mirrors (novox/hq ADR 0289 §9, design 54 §2): rows of this table, so a grant that lets
-	// anything else write them is refused at composition. Built so far: the assignments and each registered
-	// module's declared config (design 57 F3).
-	{State: "the assignments mirror", Writer: "controller (lease holder), from its store, only on a change",
-		KeptIn: "key-value " + AssignmentsBucket, Others: "read through `reads` as mesh-controller." + MirrorAssignments,
-		Subjects: kvOf(AssignmentsBucket), Writes: isController},
-	{State: "the declared-config mirror", Writer: "controller (lease holder), from its store, only on a change",
-		KeptIn: "key-value " + DeclaredConfigBucket, Others: "read through `reads` as mesh-controller." + MirrorDeclaredConfig,
-		Subjects: kvOf(DeclaredConfigBucket), Writes: isController},
 }
 
 // CheckWriters refuses a grant that lets a principal publish on a subject the writers table gives

internal/broker/writers_test.go

@@ -34,9 +34,6 @@ var designRows = []string{
 	"the operator-channel's open messages",
 	"the facts snapshot",
 	"a message a consumer gave up on",
-	// The record mirrors, rows of to-be 45 §1's table by design 54 §2 (ADR 0289 §9).
-	"the assignments mirror",
-	"the declared-config mirror",
 }
 
 func TestTheWritersTableIsTheDesigns(t *testing.T) {

internal/builder/builder.go

@@ -1076,6 +1076,16 @@ 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 +1437,19 @@ 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/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/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/catalogue/seats.go

@@ -107,9 +107,7 @@ var defaultSeats = append([]Seat{
 			// A pull request's merge check, judged (novox/hq to-be 45 §9).
 			"checked",
 			// A walk kept in a new state, for the delivery it walks (novox/hq ADR 0239).
-			"plan-moved",
+			"plan-moved"},
-			// A key of a record mirror written or removed (novox/hq ADR 0289, design 54 §3; design 57 F3).
-			"assignment-changed", "declared-config-changed"},
 		Serves: ControllerVerbs},
 	// The store's first verbs (novox/hq ADR 0159): the smallest set that makes the store askable,
 	// served by whichever module holds the seat with tools of these names.

internal/catalogue/state.go

@@ -124,14 +124,6 @@ func StateProblems(m Manifest) []string {
 	return problems
 }
 
-// ControllerMirrors are the controller's record mirrors a module may read, each `mesh-controller.<name>`
-// (novox/hq ADR 0289, design 54 §5, design 57 F3). **The controller keeps them, not its manifest's `state`**:
-// they are asserted with the controller's own buckets, with options of their own, and written by the
-// controller's account alone (the writers table); declared as a module's state, they would be asserted a
-// second way and granted to the module's own principal as well. Named here so a read of one is a read of
-// kept state. The bus's list is broker.ControllerMirrors; a test keeps the two agreeing.
-var ControllerMirrors = []string{"assignments", "declared-config"}
-
 // StateReadsNothingDeclares is every read across a catalogue whose owner is present and declares no
 // such state. An absent owner says nothing — a module may be installed long before the one whose
 // state it reads, as a consumer may before its emitter (design 32 §1).
@@ -144,11 +136,6 @@ func StateReadsNothingDeclares(manifests []Manifest) []string {
 		}
 		declared[m.Module] = own
 	}
-	if own, present := declared[ControllerSeatName]; present {
-		for _, name := range ControllerMirrors {
-			own[name] = true
-		}
-	}
 	var problems []string
 	for _, m := range manifests {
 		for _, r := range m.Reads {

internal/catalogue/state_test.go

@@ -67,21 +67,6 @@ func TestAReadNamesStateItsOwnerKeeps(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-// **The controller's record mirrors are kept state** (design 54 §5, design 57 F3): a module may read
-// `mesh-controller.assignments` and `mesh-controller.declared-config` although the controller's manifest
-// declares no `state`; a read of anything else of the controller's is still named.
-func TestAReadOfTheControllersMirrorsIsAReadOfKeptState(t *testing.T) {
-	controller := Manifest{Module: ControllerSeatName}
-	reader := Manifest{Module: "mesh-config", Reads: []string{"mesh-controller.assignments", "mesh-controller.declared-config"}}
-	if p := StateReadsNothingDeclares([]Manifest{controller, reader}); len(p) != 0 {
-		t.Fatalf("a read of the controller's mirrors was refused: %v", p)
-	}
-	other := Manifest{Module: "other", Reads: []string{"mesh-controller.calls"}}
-	if p := StateReadsNothingDeclares([]Manifest{controller, other}); len(p) != 1 {
-		t.Fatalf("a read of the controller's own calls was not named: %v", p)
-	}
-}
-
 // **Across the whole catalogue**: every state name is local, and every read whose owner is present
 // names state that owner keeps.
 func TestEveryManifestsStateIsLocalAndEveryReadIsKept(t *testing.T) {

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/mirrors.go

@@ -1,122 +0,0 @@
-package inventory
-
-import (
-	"bytes"
-	"context"
-	"encoding/json"
-	"fmt"
-	"time"
-)
-
-// The values of the controller's record mirrors, built from the store (novox/hq ADR 0289, design 54 §1,
-// design 57 package F3).
-//
-// **Each value is built from a named list of fields, and nothing else** (design 54 §1): no epoch, no time
-// of writing and no time of the last look, so any lease holder builds the same bytes from the same record
-// and a pass over unchanged records writes nothing (ADR 0289 §1, §4). The encoding is fixed: the fields in
-// their struct's order, a declaration's maps sorted.
-
-// AssignmentMirrored is one assignment as the assignments mirror holds it: the module, the node, and since
-// when it is assigned there. Design 54 §1 also lists whether it is pending, the builds sent and running and
-// the seats and provisions it holds there; those join with issue 419, which builds the rest of design 54.
-type AssignmentMirrored struct {
-	Node     string    `json:"node"`
-	Module   string    `json:"module"`
-	Assigned time.Time `json:"assigned"`
-}
-
-// DeclaredConfigMirrored is one registered module's config declarations as the declared-config mirror holds
-// them: the module, and each key its manifest's `settings` declares with that declaration's listed fields.
-// An empty object when the module declares none: registered, declaring nothing.
-type DeclaredConfigMirrored struct {
-	Module   string                      `json:"module"`
-	Settings map[string]DeclaredMirrored `json:"settings"`
-}
-
-// DeclaredMirrored is one key's declaration as the mirror holds it: **its listed fields and no other**
-// (ADR 0289 §12). Today a declaration is kind, default and why (catalogue.SettingDeclaration); a field the
-// manifest gains reaches the bus only once it is added here, deliberately, and a test fails until it is
-// listed or refused (ADR 0348 clause 4's fields arrive with package K1). A default is never a secret: the
-// catalogue refuses a default for a key whose name says secret.
-type DeclaredMirrored struct {
-	Kind    string          `json:"kind"`
-	Default json.RawMessage `json:"default"`
-	Why     string          `json:"why"`
-}
-
-// DeclaredMirroredFields are the fields of a declaration the mirror carries, by their manifest names.
-var DeclaredMirroredFields = []string{"kind", "default", "why"}
-
-// AssignmentsMirror is every assignment's mirrored value, keyed `<node>.<module>`.
-func (i *Inventory) AssignmentsMirror(ctx context.Context) (map[string][]byte, error) {
-	rows, err := i.store.Pool().Query(ctx,
-		`select n.name, a.module, a.assigned from assignment a join node n on n.id = a.node`)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-	defer rows.Close()
-	out := map[string][]byte{}
-	for rows.Next() {
-		var a AssignmentMirrored
-		if err := rows.Scan(&a.Node, &a.Module, &a.Assigned); err != nil {
-			return nil, err
-		}
-		a.Assigned = a.Assigned.UTC()
-		value, err := json.Marshal(a)
-		if err != nil {
-			return nil, err
-		}
-		out[a.Node+"."+a.Module] = value
-	}
-	return out, rows.Err()
-}
-
-// DeclaredConfigMirror is every registered module's mirrored config declarations, keyed by the module.
-func (i *Inventory) DeclaredConfigMirror(ctx context.Context) (map[string][]byte, error) {
-	rows, err := i.store.Pool().Query(ctx,
-		`select name, coalesce(manifest->'settings', '{}'::jsonb) from module`)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-	defer rows.Close()
-	out := map[string][]byte{}
-	for rows.Next() {
-		var (
-			d   DeclaredConfigMirrored
-			raw []byte
-		)
-		if err := rows.Scan(&d.Module, &raw); err != nil {
-			return nil, err
-		}
-		var declared map[string]DeclaredMirrored
-		if err := json.Unmarshal(raw, &declared); err != nil {
-			return nil, fmt.Errorf("the declarations of %s cannot be read: %w", d.Module, err)
-		}
-		d.Settings = map[string]DeclaredMirrored{}
-		for key, decl := range declared {
-			if len(decl.Default) > 0 {
-				if decl.Default, err = canonical(decl.Default); err != nil {
-					return nil, err
-				}
-			}
-			d.Settings[key] = decl
-		}
-		value, err := json.Marshal(d)
-		if err != nil {
-			return nil, err
-		}
-		out[d.Module] = value
-	}
-	return out, rows.Err()
-}
-
-// canonical is a JSON document encoded the one way: objects' keys sorted, numbers as written.
-func canonical(raw []byte) ([]byte, error) {
-	dec := json.NewDecoder(bytes.NewReader(raw))
-	dec.UseNumber()
-	var v any
-	if err := dec.Decode(&v); err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-	return json.Marshal(v)
-}

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/record_mirrors_test.go

@@ -1,41 +0,0 @@
-package inventory
-
-import (
-	"reflect"
-	"slices"
-	"strings"
-	"testing"
-
-	"github.com/novox/mesh-controller/internal/catalogue"
-)
-
-// jsonFields is the names a struct's fields are encoded under.
-func jsonFields(t reflect.Type) []string {
-	var out []string
-	for i := 0; i < t.NumField(); i++ {
-		name, _, _ := strings.Cut(t.Field(i).Tag.Get("json"), ",")
-		if name != "" && name != "-" {
-			out = append(out, name)
-		}
-	}
-	return out
-}
-
-// **A declaration reaches the bus with its listed fields and no other** (ADR 0289 §12): the mirror's value
-// carries exactly DeclaredMirroredFields, and every field a manifest's declaration has is on that list. A
-// field a declaration gains (package K1 widens it, ADR 0348 clause 4) fails here until it is listed — read,
-// judged not a secret and carried — so nothing reaches the declared-config mirror unreviewed.
-func TestTheDeclaredConfigMirrorCarriesOnlyItsListedFields(t *testing.T) {
-	if got := jsonFields(reflect.TypeOf(DeclaredMirrored{})); !slices.Equal(got, DeclaredMirroredFields) {
-		t.Errorf("the mirrored declaration carries %v, its list is %v", got, DeclaredMirroredFields)
-	}
-	for _, field := range jsonFields(reflect.TypeOf(catalogue.SettingDeclaration{})) {
-		if !slices.Contains(DeclaredMirroredFields, field) {
-			t.Errorf("a declaration has the field %q, which the declared-config mirror does not list: list it "+
-				"in DeclaredMirrored (and say why it is no secret), or say here why it stays off the bus", field)
-		}
-	}
-	if got := jsonFields(reflect.TypeOf(DeclaredConfigMirrored{})); !slices.Equal(got, []string{"module", "settings"}) {
-		t.Errorf("the mirrored module carries %v", got)
-	}
-}

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

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{
+	body, err := json.Marshal(startOf(b.request, b.on, b.delivery, time.Now()))
-		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,
-	})
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}

internal/link/events.go

@@ -81,11 +81,6 @@ const (
 	// steps from. Said after every save of the serving controller; a delivery's holder also asks for the
 	// walks it follows, so a save made elsewhere is found by comparison, never lost.
 	KeyPlanMoved = "plan-moved"
-	// KeyAssignmentChanged and KeyDeclaredConfigChanged: a key of the controller's assignments or declared-config
-	// mirror was written or removed (novox/hq ADR 0289, design 54 §3, design 57 F3): which key, how and at which
-	// revision of the bucket — never the value, which the bucket holds.
-	KeyAssignmentChanged     = "assignment-changed"
-	KeyDeclaredConfigChanged = "declared-config-changed"
 )
 
 // Applied is what a machine now runs, as the mesh states it.

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")
+	}
+}

internal/recordmirror/mirror.go

@@ -1,344 +0,0 @@
-// Package recordmirror writes the controller's record mirrors (novox/hq ADR 0289, design 54): a bucket per kind
-// of record, one key per record, written from the store only when the record changed, and one event on the
-// controller's seat per write.
-//
-// **The store stays the record.** A mirror is built from what the store committed, so a change rolled back
-// is never written. Every pass reads what the bucket holds and compares it byte for byte with what the store
-// says: a pass over unchanged records writes nothing and says nothing (ADR 0289 §1), and a value somebody
-// else wrote behind the writer's back (a former lease holder) differs from the store and is put right on
-// the next pass. Each write names the revision it read (compare-and-set), so a write in between is noticed,
-// never overwritten blind.
-//
-// **Only the lease holder writes** (ADR 0289 §9, design 54 §2): a pass begins by asking whether this
-// controller holds the lease, and asks again before every write; without it, it writes nothing.
-//
-// **The bucket is the authority, the event a notice** (design 54 §3): the event is sent after the write
-// succeeded, so there is no event for a value the bucket does not hold. A refused event is tried once more
-// and then counted as lost; a watcher that must not miss a change watches the bucket.
-//
-// What this package does not do yet is design 54 §4's audit (probe D17 and its healer H6), which compares a
-// mirror with its store behind the writer's back; novox/hq issue 419 carries it.
-package recordmirror
-
-import (
-	"bytes"
-	"context"
-	"encoding/json"
-	"errors"
-	"fmt"
-	"regexp"
-	"sort"
-	"time"
-
-	"github.com/nats-io/nats.go/jetstream"
-
-	"github.com/novox/mesh-controller/internal/broker"
-	"github.com/novox/mesh-controller/internal/link"
-)
-
-// A Mirror is one kind of record the controller keeps on the bus: its local name, its bucket and the event
-// each write raises on the controller's seat.
-type Mirror struct {
-	Name   string
-	Bucket string
-	Event  string
-}
-
-// The mirrors this package writes (novox/hq design 57, package F3). The assignments mirror is design 54's,
-// keyed `<node>.<module>`; the declared config is each registered module's config declarations as its
-// manifest holds them, keyed by the module, which mesh-config resolves a module's config values from
-// (ADR 0348 clauses 2 and 4).
-var (
-	Assignments = Mirror{Name: broker.MirrorAssignments, Bucket: broker.AssignmentsBucket,
-		Event: link.KeyAssignmentChanged}
-	DeclaredConfig = Mirror{Name: broker.MirrorDeclaredConfig, Bucket: broker.DeclaredConfigBucket,
-		Event: link.KeyDeclaredConfigChanged}
-)
-
-// Mirrors is every mirror this package writes, in the order they are written.
-func Mirrors() []Mirror { return []Mirror{Assignments, DeclaredConfig} }
-
-// The changes an event says.
-const (
-	Added   = "added"
-	Changed = "changed"
-	Removed = "removed"
-)
-
-// Event is what one write says on the controller's seat (design 54 §3): which mirror and key, what kind of
-// change, the names of the top-level fields that changed, the bucket's revision of the write, the lease's
-// epoch and when. Never the value: a watcher reads it from the bucket at that revision or later.
-type Event struct {
-	Mirror   string    `json:"mirror"`
-	Key      string    `json:"key"`
-	Change   string    `json:"change"`
-	Fields   []string  `json:"fields,omitempty"`
-	Revision uint64    `json:"revision"`
-	Epoch    uint64    `json:"epoch,omitempty"`
-	At       time.Time `json:"at"`
-}
-
-// Announcer says an event on a seat; link.OverNATS is one, and so is link.Bus.
-type Announcer interface {
-	PublishSeatEvent(ctx context.Context, seat, event string, body []byte) error
-}
-
-// MarkerTTL is how long the marker a purge leaves is kept (design 54 §2): a day, so the markers of removed
-// records do not pile up in a bucket that has no age.
-const MarkerTTL = 24 * time.Hour
-
-// ErrNotHeld is a pass refused because this controller does not hold the lease: it wrote nothing.
-var ErrNotHeld = errors.New("this controller does not hold the lease, so it writes no mirror")
-
-// Writer writes one mirror. Not safe for use by two goroutines at once: one controller's one loop owns it.
-type Writer struct {
-	Mirror   Mirror
-	KV       jetstream.KeyValue
-	Announce Announcer
-	// Epoch is the lease's epoch the events carry; nil carries none.
-	Epoch func() uint64
-	// Holds says this controller holds the lease. Asked before every pass and every write; a writer
-	// without it writes nothing (design 54 §2). Required: nil holds nothing.
-	Holds func() bool
-	// Now is the clock the events are dated by; nil is time.Now.
-	Now func() time.Time
-
-	known map[string]kept
-	// LostEvents counts the events refused twice since the writer was made.
-	LostEvents int
-}
-
-type kept struct {
-	value    []byte
-	revision uint64
-}
-
-// Result is what one pass did: keys written, keys removed, and keys refused with why.
-type Result struct {
-	Written int
-	Removed int
-	Refused int
-}
-
-// Sync makes the bucket hold want, one key per record: writes each value that differs from what the key
-// holds, purges each key no record is left for, and raises one event per write. A key the bus cannot hold
-// is refused alone, and the others are written; the error then names it.
-func (w *Writer) Sync(ctx context.Context, want map[string][]byte) (Result, error) {
-	var r Result
-	if !w.holds() {
-		return r, ErrNotHeld
-	}
-	// What the bucket holds now, every pass: a value written behind this writer's back differs from the
-	// store's and is written again below.
-	if err := w.fill(ctx); err != nil {
-		return r, fmt.Errorf("reading the %s mirror: %w", w.Mirror.Name, err)
-	}
-	var problems []error
-	keys := make([]string, 0, len(want))
-	for k := range want {
-		keys = append(keys, k)
-	}
-	sort.Strings(keys)
-	for _, key := range keys {
-		value := want[key]
-		before, had := w.known[key]
-		if had && bytes.Equal(before.value, value) {
-			continue
-		}
-		if err := validKey(key); err != nil {
-			r.Refused++
-			problems = append(problems, err)
-			continue
-		}
-		if !w.holds() {
-			return r, errors.Join(append(problems, ErrNotHeld)...)
-		}
-		revision, wrote, err := w.put(ctx, key, value, before, had)
-		if err != nil {
-			problems = append(problems, fmt.Errorf("writing %s: %w", key, err))
-			continue
-		}
-		w.known[key] = kept{value: append([]byte(nil), value...), revision: revision}
-		if !wrote {
-			continue
-		}
-		r.Written++
-		change, fields := Added, []string(nil)
-		if had {
-			change, fields = Changed, changedFields(before.value, value)
-		}
-		w.say(ctx, key, change, fields, revision)
-	}
-	gone := make([]string, 0)
-	for key := range w.known {
-		if _, ok := want[key]; !ok {
-			gone = append(gone, key)
-		}
-	}
-	sort.Strings(gone)
-	for _, key := range gone {
-		k := w.known[key]
-		if !w.holds() {
-			return r, errors.Join(append(problems, ErrNotHeld)...)
-		}
-		err := w.KV.Purge(ctx, key, jetstream.LastRevision(k.revision), jetstream.PurgeTTL(MarkerTTL))
-		if refusedByRevision(err) {
-			// Read it again: purged already, or moved by another writer.
-			if e, gerr := w.KV.Get(ctx, key); errors.Is(gerr, jetstream.ErrKeyNotFound) {
-				delete(w.known, key)
-				continue
-			} else if gerr == nil && w.holds() {
-				err = w.KV.Purge(ctx, key, jetstream.LastRevision(e.Revision()), jetstream.PurgeTTL(MarkerTTL))
-			}
-		}
-		if err != nil {
-			problems = append(problems, fmt.Errorf("removing %s: %w", key, err))
-			continue
-		}
-		delete(w.known, key)
-		r.Removed++
-		revision := uint64(0)
-		if status, err := w.KV.Status(ctx); err == nil {
-			// The purge's own sequence is the stream's last one only when nothing wrote in between, which no
-			// other writer may; said as the bucket's revision after it.
-			if s, ok := status.(interface{ StreamInfo() *jetstream.StreamInfo }); ok {
-				revision = s.StreamInfo().State.LastSeq
-			}
-		}
-		w.say(ctx, key, Removed, nil, revision)
-	}
-	return r, errors.Join(problems...)
-}
-
-// put writes one value by compare-and-set and answers its revision, and whether this call wrote it (false
-// when the bucket already held it).
-func (w *Writer) put(ctx context.Context, key string, value []byte, before kept, had bool) (uint64, bool, error) {
-	var (
-		revision uint64
-		err      error
-	)
-	if had {
-		revision, err = w.KV.Update(ctx, key, value, before.revision)
-	} else {
-		revision, err = w.KV.Create(ctx, key, value)
-	}
-	if !refusedByRevision(err) {
-		return revision, err == nil, err
-	}
-	// Refused: another writer in between, or this writer's own write whose acknowledgement was lost.
-	e, gerr := w.KV.Get(ctx, key)
-	switch {
-	case errors.Is(gerr, jetstream.ErrKeyNotFound):
-		if !w.holds() {
-			return 0, false, errors.New("the key moved and this controller no longer holds the lease")
-		}
-		revision, err = w.KV.Create(ctx, key, value)
-		return revision, err == nil, err
-	case gerr != nil:
-		return 0, false, gerr
-	case bytes.Equal(e.Value(), value):
-		return e.Revision(), false, nil
-	case !w.holds():
-		return 0, false, errors.New("the key moved and this controller no longer holds the lease")
-	}
-	revision, err = w.KV.Update(ctx, key, value, e.Revision())
-	return revision, err == nil, err
-}
-
-// say raises one write's event, tried once more when refused and then counted as lost.
-func (w *Writer) say(ctx context.Context, key, change string, fields []string, revision uint64) {
-	if w.Announce == nil {
-		return
-	}
-	e := Event{Mirror: w.Mirror.Name, Key: key, Change: change, Fields: fields, Revision: revision, At: w.now().UTC()}
-	if w.Epoch != nil {
-		e.Epoch = w.Epoch()
-	}
-	body, err := json.Marshal(e)
-	if err != nil {
-		w.LostEvents++
-		return
-	}
-	for try := 0; try < 2; try++ {
-		if err = w.Announce.PublishSeatEvent(ctx, broker.ControllerSeat, w.Mirror.Event, body); err == nil {
-			return
-		}
-	}
-	w.LostEvents++
-}
-
-// fill reads what the bucket holds now, so a controller started again writes only what differs.
-func (w *Writer) fill(ctx context.Context) error {
-	w.known = map[string]kept{}
-	watch, err := w.KV.WatchAll(ctx, jetstream.IgnoreDeletes())
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	defer func() { _ = watch.Stop() }()
-	for {
-		select {
-		case <-ctx.Done():
-			return ctx.Err()
-		case e := <-watch.Updates():
-			if e == nil {
-				return nil
-			}
-			w.known[e.Key()] = kept{value: append([]byte(nil), e.Value()...), revision: e.Revision()}
-		}
-	}
-}
-
-func (w *Writer) holds() bool { return w.Holds != nil && w.Holds() }
-
-func (w *Writer) now() time.Time {
-	if w.Now == nil {
-		return time.Now()
-	}
-	return w.Now()
-}
-
-// refusedByRevision is the server refusing a compare-and-set: the key is not at the revision named.
-func refusedByRevision(err error) bool {
-	if err == nil {
-		return false
-	}
-	if errors.Is(err, jetstream.ErrKeyExists) {
-		return true
-	}
-	var apiErr *jetstream.APIError
-	return errors.As(err, &apiErr) && apiErr.ErrorCode == jetstream.JSErrCodeStreamWrongLastSequence
-}
-
-// keyChars is what a bucket's key may be made of.
-var keyChars = regexp.MustCompile(`^[-/_=.a-zA-Z0-9]+$`)
-
-// validKey refuses a key the bus cannot hold, naming it.
-func validKey(key string) error {
-	if key == "" || !keyChars.MatchString(key) || key[0] == '.' || key[len(key)-1] == '.' {
-		return fmt.Errorf("%q cannot be a key of a bucket: letters, digits, '-', '_', '=', '/' and '.', not at "+
-			"either end", key)
-	}
-	return nil
-}
-
-// changedFields names the top-level fields whose values differ between two encoded objects, sorted; nil
-// when either is not an object.
-func changedFields(before, after []byte) []string {
-	var a, b map[string]json.RawMessage
-	if json.Unmarshal(before, &a) != nil || json.Unmarshal(after, &b) != nil || a == nil || b == nil {
-		return nil
-	}
-	var out []string
-	for k, v := range b {
-		if old, ok := a[k]; !ok || !bytes.Equal(old, v) {
-			out = append(out, k)
-		}
-	}
-	for k := range a {
-		if _, ok := b[k]; !ok {
-			out = append(out, k)
-		}
-	}
-	sort.Strings(out)
-	return out
-}

internal/recordmirror/mirror_store_test.go

@@ -1,178 +0,0 @@
-package recordmirror
-
-import (
-	"encoding/json"
-	"strings"
-	"testing"
-
-	"github.com/novox/mesh-controller/internal/broker"
-	"github.com/novox/mesh-controller/internal/catalogue"
-	"github.com/novox/mesh-controller/internal/inventory"
-)
-
-// **Design 57's F3, end to end** (novox/hq issue 652): from the controller's store to a real bus. An
-// assignment changes exactly one key of the assignments mirror and raises exactly one `assignment-changed`;
-// a registration changes exactly one key of the declared-config mirror and raises exactly one
-// `declared-config-changed`; and the same records written again change nothing and say nothing — a module
-// registered again unchanged included, although the store's registration time moved.
-func TestNatsAnAssignmentAndARegistrationEachChangeOneKeyAndRaiseOneEvent(t *testing.T) {
-	inv := inventory.ForTest(t)
-	ctx := t.Context()
-	js, api := aMirrorBus(t)
-	assignments := aWriter(t, js, api, Assignments)
-	declared := aWriter(t, js, api, DeclaredConfig)
-	heardAssignments := listen(t, js.Conn(), "mesh.seat."+broker.ControllerSeat+".event."+Assignments.Event)
-	heardDeclared := listen(t, js.Conn(), "mesh.seat."+broker.ControllerSeat+".event."+DeclaredConfig.Event)
-
-	pass := func() (Result, Result) {
-		t.Helper()
-		a, err := inv.AssignmentsMirror(ctx)
-		if err != nil {
-			t.Fatal(err)
-		}
-		ra, err := assignments.Sync(ctx, a)
-		if err != nil {
-			t.Fatal(err)
-		}
-		d, err := inv.DeclaredConfigMirror(ctx)
-		if err != nil {
-			t.Fatal(err)
-		}
-		rd, err := declared.Sync(ctx, d)
-		if err != nil {
-			t.Fatal(err)
-		}
-		return ra, rd
-	}
-
-	if _, err := inv.AddNode(ctx, "anchor"); err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-	ui := catalogue.Manifest{Module: "ui", Version: "1", Settings: map[string]catalogue.SettingDeclaration{
-		"font-size": {Kind: catalogue.KindPreference, Default: 14, Why: "readable on the desktop"}}}
-	if err := inv.RegisterModule(ctx, ui, inventory.Source{}); err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-	pass()
-	assignmentWrites, declaredWrites := writes(t, api, Assignments.Bucket), writes(t, api, DeclaredConfig.Bucket)
-	assignmentsSaid, declaredSaid := len(settle(heardAssignments, 0)), len(settle(heardDeclared, 1))
-
-	// **A registration**: a module new to the catalogue.
-	if err := inv.RegisterModule(ctx, catalogue.Manifest{Module: "notes", Version: "1"}, inventory.Source{}); err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-	ra, rd := pass()
-	if ra != (Result{}) || rd != (Result{Written: 1}) {
-		t.Errorf("a registration wrote assignments %+v and declared config %+v", ra, rd)
-	}
-	if got := writes(t, api, DeclaredConfig.Bucket) - declaredWrites; got != 1 {
-		t.Errorf("a registration changed %d keys of the declared config", got)
-	}
-	if got := writes(t, api, Assignments.Bucket) - assignmentWrites; got != 0 {
-		t.Errorf("a registration changed %d keys of the assignments", got)
-	}
-	said := settle(heardDeclared, declaredSaid+1)[declaredSaid:]
-	if len(said) != 1 || said[0].Key != "notes" || said[0].Change != Added {
-		t.Errorf("a registration raised %+v", said)
-	}
-	declaredWrites, declaredSaid = writes(t, api, DeclaredConfig.Bucket), declaredSaid+len(said)
-
-	// **An assignment.**
-	if _, err := inv.Assign(ctx, "anchor", "ui"); err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-	ra, rd = pass()
-	if ra != (Result{Written: 1}) || rd != (Result{}) {
-		t.Errorf("an assignment wrote assignments %+v and declared config %+v", ra, rd)
-	}
-	if got := writes(t, api, Assignments.Bucket) - assignmentWrites; got != 1 {
-		t.Errorf("an assignment changed %d keys of the assignments", got)
-	}
-	said = settle(heardAssignments, assignmentsSaid+1)[assignmentsSaid:]
-	if len(said) != 1 || said[0].Key != "anchor.ui" || said[0].Change != Added {
-		t.Errorf("an assignment raised %+v", said)
-	}
-	assignmentWrites, assignmentsSaid = writes(t, api, Assignments.Bucket), assignmentsSaid+len(said)
-	e, err := assignments.KV.Get(ctx, "anchor.ui")
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-	var value inventory.AssignmentMirrored
-	if err := json.Unmarshal(e.Value(), &value); err != nil || value.Node != "anchor" || value.Module != "ui" ||
-		value.Assigned.IsZero() {
-		t.Errorf("the assignment is mirrored as %s (%v)", e.Value(), err)
-	}
-
-	// **The same records written again change nothing**: an assignment made again, and a module registered
-	// again with the manifest it had.
-	if _, err := inv.Assign(ctx, "anchor", "ui"); err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-	if err := inv.RegisterModule(ctx, ui, inventory.Source{}); err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-	if ra, rd := pass(); ra != (Result{}) || rd != (Result{}) {
-		t.Errorf("unchanged records wrote assignments %+v and declared config %+v", ra, rd)
-	}
-	if writes(t, api, Assignments.Bucket) != assignmentWrites || writes(t, api, DeclaredConfig.Bucket) != declaredWrites {
-		t.Error("unchanged records changed a key")
-	}
-	if a, d := settle(heardAssignments, assignmentsSaid+1), settle(heardDeclared, declaredSaid+1); len(a) != assignmentsSaid ||
-		len(d) != declaredSaid {
-		t.Errorf("unchanged records raised %+v and %+v", a[assignmentsSaid:], d[declaredSaid:])
-	}
-
-	// **A declaration changed by a registration**: one key, one event, naming the field that moved.
-	ui.Version = "2"
-	ui.Settings["font-size"] = catalogue.SettingDeclaration{Kind: catalogue.KindPreference, Default: 16,
-		Why: "readable on the desktop"}
-	if err := inv.RegisterModule(ctx, ui, inventory.Source{}); err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-	if ra, rd := pass(); ra != (Result{}) || rd != (Result{Written: 1}) {
-		t.Errorf("a changed declaration wrote assignments %+v and declared config %+v", ra, rd)
-	}
-	said = settle(heardDeclared, declaredSaid+1)[declaredSaid:]
-	if len(said) != 1 || said[0].Key != "ui" || said[0].Change != Changed || strings.Join(said[0].Fields, ",") != "settings" {
-		t.Errorf("a changed declaration raised %+v", said)
-	}
-	got, err := declared.KV.Get(ctx, "ui")
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-	if want := `{"module":"ui","settings":{"font-size":{"kind":"preference","default":16,"why":"readable on the desktop"}}}`; string(got.Value()) != want {
-		t.Errorf("the declaration is mirrored as %s, want %s", got.Value(), want)
-	}
-
-	// **An unassignment** removes its key, said once.
-	if err := inv.Unassign(ctx, "anchor", "ui"); err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-	if ra, _ := pass(); ra != (Result{Removed: 1}) {
-		t.Errorf("an unassignment did %+v", ra)
-	}
-	said = settle(heardAssignments, assignmentsSaid+1)[assignmentsSaid:]
-	if len(said) != 1 || said[0].Key != "anchor.ui" || said[0].Change != Removed {
-		t.Errorf("an unassignment raised %+v", said)
-	}
-
-	// **A module no longer registered** has its key removed, said once as `removed` (ADR 0356 §4).
-	if err := inv.ForgetModule(ctx, "notes"); err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-	declaredWrites = writes(t, api, DeclaredConfig.Bucket)
-	declaredSaid = len(heardDeclared.all())
-	if _, rd := pass(); rd != (Result{Removed: 1}) {
-		t.Errorf("a module forgotten did %+v", rd)
-	}
-	if got := writes(t, api, DeclaredConfig.Bucket) - declaredWrites; got != 1 {
-		t.Errorf("a module forgotten changed %d keys of the declared config", got)
-	}
-	if _, err := declared.KV.Get(ctx, "notes"); err == nil {
-		t.Error("a module forgotten keeps its key")
-	}
-	said = settle(heardDeclared, declaredSaid+1)[declaredSaid:]
-	if len(said) != 1 || said[0].Key != "notes" || said[0].Change != Removed {
-		t.Errorf("a module forgotten raised %+v", said)
-	}
-}

internal/recordmirror/mirror_test.go

@@ -1,356 +0,0 @@
-package recordmirror
-
-import (
-	"encoding/json"
-	"errors"
-	"slices"
-	"sync"
-	"testing"
-	"time"
-
-	"github.com/nats-io/nats.go"
-	"github.com/nats-io/nats.go/jetstream"
-
-	"github.com/novox/mesh-controller/internal/broker"
-	"github.com/novox/mesh-controller/internal/link"
-	"github.com/novox/mesh-controller/internal/testbus"
-)
-
-// A record mirror against a real bus (novox/hq design 54 §2, §3; ADR 0289): a change of a record changes
-// exactly one key and raises exactly one event; a pass over unchanged records writes nothing and says
-// nothing; a record gone is a purge said as `removed`.
-
-// aMirrorBus is a bus of this test alone with the mesh's streams and the controller's buckets, as the
-// controller asserts them at its start, and a counter of the writes made to one bucket.
-func aMirrorBus(t *testing.T) (*broker.JetStream, jetstream.JetStream) {
-	t.Helper()
-	js, err := broker.Dial(testbus.URL(t))
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-	t.Cleanup(js.Close)
-	if err := broker.AssertMeshStreams(js); err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-	if err := js.EnsureControllerBuckets(); err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-	api, err := jetstream.New(js.Conn())
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-	return js, api
-}
-
-// heard counts what is said on one subject, each body kept.
-type heard struct {
-	mu     sync.Mutex
-	bodies []Event
-}
-
-func (h *heard) all() []Event {
-	h.mu.Lock()
-	defer h.mu.Unlock()
-	return append([]Event(nil), h.bodies...)
-}
-
-func listen(t *testing.T, conn *nats.Conn, subject string) *heard {
-	t.Helper()
-	h := &heard{}
-	sub, err := conn.Subscribe(subject, func(m *nats.Msg) {
-		var e Event
-		if err := json.Unmarshal(m.Data, &e); err != nil {
-			t.Errorf("an event that is not one: %s", m.Data)
-			return
-		}
-		h.mu.Lock()
-		h.bodies = append(h.bodies, e)
-		h.mu.Unlock()
-	})
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-	t.Cleanup(func() { _ = sub.Unsubscribe() })
-	if err := conn.Flush(); err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-	return h
-}
-
-// writes is how many messages the bucket's stream has taken: every put and every purge is one.
-func writes(t *testing.T, api jetstream.JetStream, bucket string) uint64 {
-	t.Helper()
-	s, err := api.Stream(t.Context(), "KV_"+bucket)
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-	info, err := s.Info(t.Context())
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-	return info.State.LastSeq
-}
-
-// settle waits until n events are heard or a second passed, and answers what was heard.
-func settle(h *heard, n int) []Event {
-	deadline := time.Now().Add(time.Second)
-	for time.Now().Before(deadline) && len(h.all()) < n {
-		time.Sleep(10 * time.Millisecond)
-	}
-	// And a moment more, so an event too many is heard too.
-	time.Sleep(100 * time.Millisecond)
-	return h.all()
-}
-
-func aWriter(t *testing.T, js *broker.JetStream, api jetstream.JetStream, m Mirror) *Writer {
-	t.Helper()
-	kv, err := api.KeyValue(t.Context(), m.Bucket)
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-	return &Writer{Mirror: m, KV: kv, Announce: link.OverNATS{Conn: js.Conn(), JS: js.Context()},
-		Epoch: func() uint64 { return 7 }, Holds: func() bool { return true }}
-}
-
-func TestNatsAMirrorChangesOneKeyAndRaisesOneEventPerChange(t *testing.T) {
-	for _, m := range []Mirror{Assignments, DeclaredConfig} {
-		t.Run(m.Name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			js, api := aMirrorBus(t)
-			events := listen(t, js.Conn(), "mesh.seat."+broker.ControllerSeat+".event."+m.Event)
-			w := aWriter(t, js, api, m)
-			ctx := t.Context()
-
-			first := map[string][]byte{"anchor.gitea": []byte(`{"a":1}`)}
-			if _, err := w.Sync(ctx, first); err != nil {
-				t.Fatal(err)
-			}
-			before := writes(t, api, m.Bucket)
-			heardBefore := len(settle(events, 1))
-
-			// One record changes, one is added: two keys, two events, nothing else.
-			second := map[string][]byte{"anchor.gitea": []byte(`{"a":2}`), "anchor.forgejo": []byte(`{"a":1}`)}
-			r, err := w.Sync(ctx, second)
-			if err != nil {
-				t.Fatal(err)
-			}
-			if r.Written != 2 || r.Removed != 0 {
-				t.Errorf("a pass over one changed and one new record wrote %+v", r)
-			}
-			if got := writes(t, api, m.Bucket) - before; got != 2 {
-				t.Errorf("the bucket took %d writes for two changed records", got)
-			}
-			said := settle(events, heardBefore+2)[heardBefore:]
-			if len(said) != 2 {
-				t.Fatalf("two changes raised %d events: %+v", len(said), said)
-			}
-			changes := map[string]Event{}
-			for _, e := range said {
-				changes[e.Key] = e
-			}
-			if e := changes["anchor.gitea"]; e.Change != Changed || !slices.Equal(e.Fields, []string{"a"}) ||
-				e.Mirror != m.Name || e.Epoch != 7 || e.Revision == 0 {
-				t.Errorf("the change of anchor.gitea was said as %+v", e)
-			}
-			if e := changes["anchor.forgejo"]; e.Change != Added {
-				t.Errorf("the new anchor.forgejo was said as %+v", e)
-			}
-
-			// **An unchanged pass writes nothing**, and says nothing (ADR 0289 §1).
-			heardBefore = len(events.all())
-			before = writes(t, api, m.Bucket)
-			r, err = w.Sync(ctx, second)
-			if err != nil {
-				t.Fatal(err)
-			}
-			if r != (Result{}) {
-				t.Errorf("a pass over unchanged records did %+v", r)
-			}
-			if got := writes(t, api, m.Bucket) - before; got != 0 {
-				t.Errorf("a pass over unchanged records wrote the bucket %d times", got)
-			}
-			if said := settle(events, heardBefore+1)[heardBefore:]; len(said) != 0 {
-				t.Errorf("a pass over unchanged records raised %+v", said)
-			}
-
-			// **A record gone is a purge**, one write and one `removed`.
-			before = writes(t, api, m.Bucket)
-			r, err = w.Sync(ctx, map[string][]byte{"anchor.gitea": []byte(`{"a":2}`)})
-			if err != nil {
-				t.Fatal(err)
-			}
-			if r.Removed != 1 || r.Written != 0 {
-				t.Errorf("a record gone did %+v", r)
-			}
-			if got := writes(t, api, m.Bucket) - before; got != 1 {
-				t.Errorf("a record gone wrote the bucket %d times", got)
-			}
-			if _, err := w.KV.Get(ctx, "anchor.forgejo"); !errors.Is(err, jetstream.ErrKeyNotFound) {
-				t.Errorf("the key of a record gone is still read: %v", err)
-			}
-			said = settle(events, heardBefore+1)[heardBefore:]
-			if len(said) != 1 || said[0].Change != Removed || said[0].Key != "anchor.forgejo" {
-				t.Errorf("a record gone was said as %+v", said)
-			}
-		})
-	}
-}
-
-// **A controller started again writes nothing for what the bucket already holds** (design 54 §2: the writer's
-// memory is filled from the bucket), and a key nobody holds a record for is removed.
-func TestNatsAWriterStartedAgainWritesOnlyWhatDiffers(t *testing.T) {
-	js, api := aMirrorBus(t)
-	ctx := t.Context()
-	first := aWriter(t, js, api, Assignments)
-	held := map[string][]byte{"anchor.gitea": []byte(`{"a":1}`), "anchor.forgejo": []byte(`{"a":1}`)}
-	if _, err := first.Sync(ctx, held); err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-	before := writes(t, api, Assignments.Bucket)
-	again := aWriter(t, js, api, Assignments)
-	r, err := again.Sync(ctx, held)
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-	if r != (Result{}) || writes(t, api, Assignments.Bucket) != before {
-		t.Errorf("a writer started again over unchanged records did %+v", r)
-	}
-}
-
-// **Another writer in between is no lost value** (design 54 §2, compare-and-set): a write refused because the
-// key moved reads it again, takes the revision when it already holds the value, and otherwise writes again.
-func TestNatsAWriteRefusedByCompareAndSetReadsAgain(t *testing.T) {
-	js, api := aMirrorBus(t)
-	ctx := t.Context()
-	w := aWriter(t, js, api, Assignments)
-	if _, err := w.Sync(ctx, map[string][]byte{"anchor.gitea": []byte(`{"a":1}`)}); err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-	// Behind its back, as a former lease holder would.
-	if _, err := w.KV.Put(ctx, "anchor.gitea", []byte(`{"a":9}`)); err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-	r, err := w.Sync(ctx, map[string][]byte{"anchor.gitea": []byte(`{"a":2}`)})
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-	if r.Written != 1 {
-		t.Errorf("a refused write was not made again: %+v", r)
-	}
-	e, err := w.KV.Get(ctx, "anchor.gitea")
-	if err != nil || string(e.Value()) != `{"a":2}` {
-		t.Fatalf("the bucket holds %v, %v", e, err)
-	}
-}
-
-// **A value written behind the writer's back is put right on the next pass** (ADR 0289 §10): a former lease
-// holder's write differs from the store, and the store's value is written again, said as one change.
-func TestNatsAForeignWriteIsCorrectedOnTheNextPass(t *testing.T) {
-	js, api := aMirrorBus(t)
-	ctx := t.Context()
-	events := listen(t, js.Conn(), "mesh.seat."+broker.ControllerSeat+".event."+Assignments.Event)
-	w := aWriter(t, js, api, Assignments)
-	store := map[string][]byte{"anchor.gitea": []byte(`{"a":1}`)}
-	if _, err := w.Sync(ctx, store); err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-	heardBefore := len(settle(events, 1))
-	if _, err := w.KV.Put(ctx, "anchor.gitea", []byte(`{"a":9}`)); err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-	r, err := w.Sync(ctx, store)
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-	if r != (Result{Written: 1}) {
-		t.Errorf("a pass after a foreign write did %+v", r)
-	}
-	e, err := w.KV.Get(ctx, "anchor.gitea")
-	if err != nil || string(e.Value()) != `{"a":1}` {
-		t.Fatalf("the bucket still holds %v, %v", e, err)
-	}
-	if said := settle(events, heardBefore+1)[heardBefore:]; len(said) != 1 || said[0].Change != Changed {
-		t.Errorf("the correction was said as %+v", said)
-	}
-	// And put right, it stays: the next pass writes nothing.
-	if r, err := w.Sync(ctx, store); err != nil || r != (Result{}) {
-		t.Errorf("a pass after the correction did %+v, %v", r, err)
-	}
-}
-
-// **A writer without the lease writes nothing** (ADR 0289 §9, design 54 §2): not a new key, not a change, not
-// a removal, and it says so.
-func TestNatsAWriterWithoutTheLeaseWritesNothing(t *testing.T) {
-	js, api := aMirrorBus(t)
-	ctx := t.Context()
-	held := aWriter(t, js, api, Assignments)
-	if _, err := held.Sync(ctx, map[string][]byte{"anchor.gitea": []byte(`{"a":1}`)}); err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-	before := writes(t, api, Assignments.Bucket)
-	for _, holds := range []func() bool{nil, func() bool { return false }} {
-		w := aWriter(t, js, api, Assignments)
-		w.Holds = holds
-		r, err := w.Sync(ctx, map[string][]byte{"anchor.gitea": []byte(`{"a":2}`), "anchor.forgejo": []byte(`{"a":1}`)})
-		if !errors.Is(err, ErrNotHeld) || r != (Result{}) {
-			t.Errorf("a writer without the lease did %+v, %v", r, err)
-		}
-		r, err = w.Sync(ctx, map[string][]byte{})
-		if !errors.Is(err, ErrNotHeld) || r != (Result{}) {
-			t.Errorf("a writer without the lease removed: %+v, %v", r, err)
-		}
-	}
-	// And one that loses it mid-pass stops before its next write.
-	asked := 0
-	w := aWriter(t, js, api, Assignments)
-	w.Holds = func() bool { asked++; return asked <= 2 }
-	r, err := w.Sync(ctx, map[string][]byte{"anchor.a": []byte(`{}`), "anchor.b": []byte(`{}`), "anchor.gitea": []byte(`{"a":1}`)})
-	if !errors.Is(err, ErrNotHeld) || r.Written != 1 {
-		t.Errorf("a writer that lost the lease mid-pass did %+v, %v", r, err)
-	}
-	if got := writes(t, api, Assignments.Bucket) - before; got != 1 {
-		t.Errorf("writers without the lease wrote the bucket %d times", got)
-	}
-}
-
-// **A removal asks for the lease too** (ADR 0289 §9): a writer that held the lease when its pass began and lost
-// it before its first removal purges nothing, and says it does not hold the lease.
-func TestNatsARemovalWithoutTheLeaseRemovesNothing(t *testing.T) {
-	js, api := aMirrorBus(t)
-	ctx := t.Context()
-	held := aWriter(t, js, api, Assignments)
-	if _, err := held.Sync(ctx, map[string][]byte{"anchor.gitea": []byte(`{"a":1}`)}); err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-	before := writes(t, api, Assignments.Bucket)
-	asked := 0
-	w := aWriter(t, js, api, Assignments)
-	w.Holds = func() bool { asked++; return asked == 1 }
-	r, err := w.Sync(ctx, map[string][]byte{})
-	if !errors.Is(err, ErrNotHeld) || r != (Result{}) || asked != 2 {
-		t.Errorf("a removal without the lease did %+v, %v (the lease asked %d times)", r, err, asked)
-	}
-	if got := writes(t, api, Assignments.Bucket) - before; got != 0 {
-		t.Errorf("a removal without the lease wrote the bucket %d times", got)
-	}
-	if _, err := w.KV.Get(ctx, "anchor.gitea"); err != nil {
-		t.Errorf("the key was removed without the lease: %v", err)
-	}
-}
-
-// **A key the bus cannot hold is refused alone**, and the others are written.
-func TestAKeyTheBusCannotHoldIsRefusedAlone(t *testing.T) {
-	if validKey("anchor.gitea") != nil || validKey("bad key") == nil || validKey(".lead") == nil ||
-		validKey("") == nil || validKey("trail.") == nil {
-		t.Error("the keys a bucket may hold are not told apart")
-	}
-}
-
-func TestTheFieldsThatChangedAreNamed(t *testing.T) {
-	got := changedFields([]byte(`{"a":1,"b":{"x":1},"c":"same"}`), []byte(`{"a":2,"b":{"x":1},"d":true,"c":"same"}`))
-	if !slices.Equal(got, []string{"a", "d"}) {
-		t.Errorf("the fields that changed are %v", got)
-	}
-	if got := changedFields(nil, []byte(`{"a":1}`)); got != nil {
-		t.Errorf("an added key names fields %v", got)
-	}
-}

internal/recordmirror/readers_test.go

@@ -1,181 +0,0 @@
-package recordmirror
-
-import (
-	"go/ast"
-	"go/parser"
-	"go/token"
-	"io/fs"
-	"os"
-	"path/filepath"
-	"slices"
-	"strconv"
-	"strings"
-	"testing"
-
-	"github.com/novox/mesh-controller/internal/broker"
-)
-
-// mayNameAMirror are the files of the controller that may name a record mirror's bucket outside their tests:
-// where the buckets are defined, asserted and granted (internal/broker), the list a reader names in `reads`
-// (internal/catalogue/state.go), and each mirror's own writer (this package and the loop that runs it). The
-// audit of a mirror against its store (ADR 0289 §4, issue 419) joins this list when it is built.
-var mayNameAMirror = []string{
-	"cmd/mesh-controller/record_mirrors.go",
-	"internal/broker/controller_buckets.go",
-	"internal/broker/writers.go",
-	"internal/catalogue/state.go",
-}
-
-// The packages whose names stand for a mirror, by import path, and the names in each.
-const (
-	brokerPath       = "github.com/novox/mesh-controller/internal/broker"
-	recordmirrorPath = "github.com/novox/mesh-controller/internal/recordmirror"
-)
-
-var mirrorNames = map[string][]string{
-	brokerPath: {"AssignmentsBucket", "DeclaredConfigBucket", "MirrorAssignments", "MirrorDeclaredConfig",
-		"ControllerMirrors"},
-	recordmirrorPath: {"Assignments", "DeclaredConfig", "Mirrors"},
-}
-
-// **Nothing in the controller reads a mirror to decide anything** (ADR 0289 §19 as ADR 0356 §2 changes it): no
-// file of the controller's packages outside its tests names a mirror's bucket but the audit and a mirror's own
-// writer. A reader elsewhere fails here, naming the file and what it named.
-//
-// **What it catches**: a name that stands for a mirror, qualified by the package it comes from under any
-// local name the file imports it as (`broker.AssignmentsBucket`, `b.AssignmentsBucket`); the same names bare
-// in a file of package broker or package recordmirror; and a string literal holding a mirror's bucket name.
-// **What it does not catch**: a bucket name built at run time, such as `BucketName(ControllerSeat,
-// "assignments")` or literals concatenated into one, and a mirror reached through a value passed in from an
-// allowed file. Those are deliberate evasions rather than ordinary code; a reviewer judges them.
-func TestOnlyTheAuditAndAMirrorsWriterReadAMirror(t *testing.T) {
-	var buckets []string
-	for _, m := range broker.ControllerMirrors() {
-		buckets = append(buckets, broker.BucketName(broker.ControllerSeat, m))
-	}
-	root := filepath.Join("..", "..")
-	found := mirrorReaders(t, root, buckets)
-	if len(found) > 0 {
-		t.Fatalf("a package of the controller reads a record mirror, which only the audit and the mirror's "+
-			"writer may (ADR 0289 §19, ADR 0356 §2):\n  %s", strings.Join(found, "\n  "))
-	}
-}
-
-// **The reader test sees what it says it sees**: in a planted tree, each planted reader is named, and an allowed
-// file and a selector on a value are not.
-func TestTheReaderTestFindsPlantedReaders(t *testing.T) {
-	root := t.TempDir()
-	plant := func(path, src string) {
-		full := filepath.Join(root, path)
-		if err := os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(full), 0o755); err != nil {
-			t.Fatal(err)
-		}
-		if err := os.WriteFile(full, []byte(src), 0o644); err != nil {
-			t.Fatal(err)
-		}
-	}
-	plant("cmd/mesh-controller/qualified.go", "package main\n\nimport \""+brokerPath+"\"\n\nvar a = broker.AssignmentsBucket\n")
-	plant("internal/x/aliased.go", "package x\n\nimport b \""+brokerPath+"\"\n\nvar a = b.DeclaredConfigBucket\n")
-	plant("internal/broker/zz_reader.go", "package broker\n\nfunc zzR() string { return AssignmentsBucket }\n")
-	plant("internal/inventory/literal.go", "package inventory\n\nvar a = \"mesh-controller_declared-config\"\n")
-	plant("internal/y/writer.go", "package y\n\nimport \""+recordmirrorPath+"\"\n\nvar a = recordmirror.Assignments\n")
-	// Allowed: a mirror's definition and its writer.
-	plant("internal/broker/controller_buckets.go", "package broker\n\nvar AssignmentsBucket = \"x\"\n")
-	plant("internal/broker/other.go", "package broker\n\nfunc other() string { return \"nothing\" }\n")
-	// A selector on a value (v.AssignmentsBucket) is no use of the mirror, but declaring a field of a mirror's
-	// name in package broker is named, on the safe side; and a bare use inside a call under a selector is found.
-	plant("internal/broker/field.go", "package broker\n\ntype s struct{ AssignmentsBucket string }\n\nfunc f(v s) string { return v.AssignmentsBucket }\n")
-	plant("internal/broker/nested.go", "package broker\n\nfunc g() int { return len(h(DeclaredConfigBucket).x) }\n")
-	found := mirrorReaders(t, root, []string{"mesh-controller_assignments", "mesh-controller_declared-config"})
-	want := []string{
-		"cmd/mesh-controller/qualified.go: broker.AssignmentsBucket",
-		"internal/broker/field.go: AssignmentsBucket",
-		"internal/broker/nested.go: DeclaredConfigBucket",
-		"internal/broker/zz_reader.go: AssignmentsBucket",
-		"internal/inventory/literal.go: \"mesh-controller_declared-config\"",
-		"internal/x/aliased.go: b.DeclaredConfigBucket",
-		"internal/y/writer.go: recordmirror.Assignments",
-	}
-	slices.Sort(found)
-	if !slices.Equal(found, want) {
-		t.Errorf("the planted readers were found as\n  %s\nwant\n  %s", strings.Join(found, "\n  "),
-			strings.Join(want, "\n  "))
-	}
-}
-
-// mirrorReaders is every place under root's cmd and internal, outside tests and the allowed files, that names a
-// mirror.
-func mirrorReaders(t *testing.T, root string, buckets []string) []string {
-	t.Helper()
-	var found []string
-	for _, dir := range []string{"cmd", "internal"} {
-		err := filepath.WalkDir(filepath.Join(root, dir), func(path string, e fs.DirEntry, err error) error {
-			if err != nil || e.IsDir() || !strings.HasSuffix(path, ".go") || strings.HasSuffix(path, "_test.go") {
-				return err
-			}
-			rel, err := filepath.Rel(root, path)
-			if err != nil {
-				return err
-			}
-			rel = filepath.ToSlash(rel)
-			if strings.HasPrefix(rel, "internal/recordmirror/") || slices.Contains(mayNameAMirror, rel) {
-				return nil
-			}
-			f, err := parser.ParseFile(token.NewFileSet(), path, nil, 0)
-			if err != nil {
-				return err
-			}
-			// Each import's local name, mapped to the package it stands for.
-			imported := map[string]string{}
-			for _, imp := range f.Imports {
-				p, _ := strconv.Unquote(imp.Path.Value)
-				if _, ok := mirrorNames[p]; !ok {
-					continue
-				}
-				local := filepath.Base(p)
-				if imp.Name != nil {
-					local = imp.Name.Name
-				}
-				imported[local] = p
-			}
-			// A file of the package that defines the names may use them bare.
-			var bare []string
-			switch f.Name.Name {
-			case "broker":
-				bare = mirrorNames[brokerPath]
-			case "recordmirror":
-				bare = mirrorNames[recordmirrorPath]
-			}
-			ast.Inspect(f, func(n ast.Node) bool {
-				switch n := n.(type) {
-				case *ast.SelectorExpr:
-					pkg, ok := n.X.(*ast.Ident)
-					if !ok {
-						return true
-					}
-					if p, imp := imported[pkg.Name]; imp && slices.Contains(mirrorNames[p], n.Sel.Name) {
-						found = append(found, rel+": "+pkg.Name+"."+n.Sel.Name)
-					}
-					// Neither a selector's own name nor its package is a bare use.
-					return false
-				case *ast.Ident:
-					if slices.Contains(bare, n.Name) {
-						found = append(found, rel+": "+n.Name)
-					}
-				case *ast.BasicLit:
-					for _, b := range buckets {
-						if n.Kind == token.STRING && strings.Contains(n.Value, b) {
-							found = append(found, rel+": "+n.Value)
-						}
-					}
-				}
-				return true
-			})
-			return nil
-		})
-		if err != nil {
-			t.Fatal(err)
-		}
-	}
-	return found
-}

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
+suite() {
-	CGO_ENABLED=1 go test -race -count=1 -timeout 30m ./...
+	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"
+	suite ./...
-	CGO_ENABLED=0 go test -count=1 -timeout 30m ./...
 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/beside/CAPTURED

@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ private addresses. That is acceptable while mesh-controller is private; if it ev
 a second place to clean besides the catalogue itself.
 
 mesh-catalog  e0bc919d4945bb5f13f971f74643a0b714cf45da  modules/*/module.json, modules/nats/Dockerfile
-mesh-host     c8920622516548978d92e734f3991a262f98a742  examples/foundation-first-node.lock
+mesh-host     7a41e120635b3f7b6cb94cca8b3fc4093e4e6110  examples/foundation-first-node.lock
 mesh-sdk      5933eb757d443293631be2bed27a96288c2348d8  conformance/events/module-event.json
 
 To move them, from this repository's root, with the two repositories checked out beside it:

testdata/beside/mesh-host/examples/foundation-first-node.lock

@@ -28,12 +28,11 @@
 // image, and this file is applied on a machine with no mesh to ask about anything (ADR 0006). The
 // registry prefix is the lab's; the digests are upstream's.
 //
-// **The store is raised where the `postgres` module keeps it** (novox/hq ADR 0338): the container
+// The store's data is a NAMED VOLUME, not a directory on the machine. A directory the host
-// `postgres`, on the module's pgvector image, its data in the directory /var/lib/mesh-store owned by
+// creates is owned by root, and the database runs as somebody else inside the container — so it
-// the image's postgres user, its superuser password read from the module's own-secret file — so the
+// could not write, and the container crash-looped. A named volume lets the image set up its own
-// store step adopts it as it runs. Pinned upstream by the module's own digest, not through the lab's
+// ownership, and outlives the container, which is what you want for the thing holding the mesh's
-// registry prefix, because the two must be the same reference (mesh-host internal/bootstrap holds
+// state.
-// them to each other against the module's manifest).
 
 {
   "declaration": 1,
@@ -84,28 +83,17 @@
       "boot": "enabled",
       "restart-on": ["base-filter"]
     },
-    // The store's data is a directory owned by the image's postgres user (999), made before the
-    // container starts: a directory the runtime made would be root's, and the database could not
-    // write it. Measured on the module's image 2026-10-13: it initialises a new store on a directory
-    // made so (novox/hq ADR 0338 §5).
-    {
-      "id": "store-data",
-      "type": "directory",
-      "path": "/var/lib/mesh-store",
-      "mode": "0700",
-      "owner": "999:70"
-    },
     {
       "id": "store",
       "type": "container",
-      "name": "postgres",
+      "name": "mesh-store",
-      "image": "pgvector/pgvector@sha256:cf134a767f474095eeba57e0117be8e568e011a63f33fbf252f14c9b760f8e6f",
+      "image": "192.0.2.250:5000/postgres@sha256:7abf537131b66ed5af448d90653abf1679b0c7e9a1f07efdd4c3108a401b259a",
       "env": {
         "POSTGRES_PASSWORD": "bootstrap",
         "PGDATA": "/var/lib/postgresql/data/pgdata"
       },
       "ports": ["5432:5432"],
-      "volumes": ["/var/lib/mesh-store:/var/lib/postgresql/data"]
+      "volumes": ["mesh-store-data:/var/lib/postgresql/data"]
     },
     // Over TCP, not the socket. While the store initialises it runs a temporary server on the
     // socket ONLY, then stops it and starts the real one — so a socket check passes, the action
@@ -114,21 +102,21 @@
     {
       "id": "store-ready",
       "type": "action",
-      "in": "postgres",
+      "in": "mesh-store",
       "command": ["sh", "-c", "for i in $(seq 1 180); do pg_isready -h 127.0.0.1 -U postgres >/dev/null 2>&1 && exit 0; sleep 1; done; echo 'the store did not answer within 180s; its own last words follow'; pg_isready -h 127.0.0.1 -U postgres; tail -n 20 /var/lib/postgresql/data/log/*.log 2>/dev/null; exit 1"],
 "verify": ["pg_isready", "-h", "127.0.0.1", "-U", "postgres"]
     },
     {
       "id": "inventory-database",
       "type": "action",
-      "in": "postgres",
+      "in": "mesh-store",
       "command": ["sh", "-c", "psql -U postgres -c 'CREATE DATABASE inventory'"],
       "verify": ["sh", "-c", "psql -U postgres -lqt | cut -d'|' -f1 | grep -qw inventory"]
     },
     {
       "id": "identity-database",
       "type": "action",
-      "in": "postgres",
+      "in": "mesh-store",
       "command": ["sh", "-c", "psql -U postgres -c 'CREATE DATABASE identity'"],
       "verify": ["sh", "-c", "psql -U postgres -lqt | cut -d'|' -f1 | grep -qw identity"]
     },
@@ -138,44 +126,20 @@
     {
       "id": "licences-database",
       "type": "action",
-      "in": "postgres",
+      "in": "mesh-store",
       "command": ["sh", "-c", "psql -U postgres -c 'CREATE DATABASE licences'"],
       "verify": ["sh", "-c", "psql -U postgres -lqt | cut -d'|' -f1 | grep -qw licences"]
     },
     {
       "id": "context-schemas",
       "type": "action",
-      "command": ["docker", "run", "--rm", "--network", "container:postgres",
+      "command": ["docker", "run", "--rm", "--network", "container:mesh-store",
                   "-e", "MESH_STORE_INVENTORY=postgres://postgres:bootstrap@127.0.0.1:5432/inventory?sslmode=disable",
                   "-e", "MESH_STORE_IDENTITY=postgres://postgres:bootstrap@127.0.0.1:5432/identity?sslmode=disable",
         "-e", "MESH_STORE_LICENCES=postgres://postgres:bootstrap@127.0.0.1:5432/licences?sslmode=disable",
                   "192.0.2.250:5000/mesh-controller@sha256:c67db38439ff0aee242b467486765467bb95801f52175fc5727cc4e437338ace",
                   "migrate"],
-      "verify": ["sh", "-c", "docker exec postgres psql -U postgres -d inventory -tAc \"select to_regclass('public.node')\" | grep -qx node && docker exec postgres psql -U postgres -d identity -tAc \"select to_regclass('public.signing_key')\" | grep -qx signing_key && docker exec postgres psql -U postgres -d licences -tAc \"select to_regclass('public.licence')\" | grep -qx licence"]
+      "verify": ["sh", "-c", "docker exec mesh-store psql -U postgres -d inventory -tAc \"select to_regclass('public.node')\" | grep -qx node && docker exec mesh-store psql -U postgres -d identity -tAc \"select to_regclass('public.signing_key')\" | grep -qx signing_key && docker exec mesh-store psql -U postgres -d licences -tAc \"select to_regclass('public.licence')\" | grep -qx licence"]
-    },
-    // **The bus is raised where the `nats` module keeps it** (novox/hq ADR 0333 §1): the container
-    // `mesh-broker-nats`, its configuration and user list in /var/lib/nats-module/conf, its streams in
-    // /var/lib/mesh-broker-nats and its certificate in /var/lib/mesh-broker-tls — the names and paths the
-    // catalogue's module declares. So adopting it as that module at the broker step keeps it: the
-    // module's built image takes the place of the upstream one below, once, on the same streams, users
-    // and certificate, and nothing else moves. mesh-host's internal/bootstrap holds the two to each other
-    // against the module's own manifest (busLayout), at the broker step and in its tests.
-    //
-    // Directories on the machine, not volumes the runtime names: the module mounts these paths, and the
-    // control plane, once it runs as the mesh's process, reads the certificate at its path on the machine.
-    // The certificate's directory is readable by everyone because the certificate is public and the control
-    // plane runs as nobody; its key is written 0600 by the program that makes it.
-    {
-      "id": "bus-tls-dir",
-      "type": "directory",
-      "path": "/var/lib/mesh-broker-tls",
-      "mode": "0755"
-    },
-    {
-      "id": "bus-data-dir",
-      "type": "directory",
-      "path": "/var/lib/mesh-broker-nats",
-      "mode": "0700"
     },
     {
       "id": "bus-certificate",
@@ -187,63 +151,49 @@
       // it, and asking nothing of the image it writes into. Self-signed on purpose: a host pins
       // this server's exact certificate (novox/hq ADR 0004), and at this moment there is no mesh
       // to ask an authority of.
-      // `--user 0:0` because the directory is root's and this image runs as nobody, which is right
+      // `--user 0:0` because the volume is root's and this image runs as nobody, which is right
-      // for the long-running control plane and wrong for a one-shot writing into a fresh directory.
+      // for the long-running control plane and wrong for a one-shot writing into a fresh volume.
-      "command": ["docker", "run", "--rm", "--user", "0:0", "-v", "/var/lib/mesh-broker-tls:/tls",
+      "command": ["docker", "run", "--rm", "--user", "0:0", "-v", "mesh-broker-tls:/tls",
                   "192.0.2.250:5000/mesh-controller@sha256:c67db38439ff0aee242b467486765467bb95801f52175fc5727cc4e437338ace",
                   "broker", "certificate", "--into", "/tls"],
-      "verify": ["docker", "run", "--rm", "--user", "0:0", "-v", "/var/lib/mesh-broker-tls:/tls",
+      "verify": ["docker", "run", "--rm", "--user", "0:0", "-v", "mesh-broker-tls:/tls",
                  "192.0.2.250:5000/mesh-controller@sha256:c67db38439ff0aee242b467486765467bb95801f52175fc5727cc4e437338ace",
                  "broker", "certificate", "--check", "--into", "/tls"]
     },
-    // **Seeds, written only where nothing is** (create-once). The bus's configuration and user list are
-    // the bundle's until the bus is adopted, and the module's from then on (ADR 0333 §4): an installer
-    // run again after the adoption applies this bundle again, and an ordinary file would put the
-    // bundle's one user back over every user the mesh composed, and leave the node unable to reach its
-    // bus. Until the adoption the installer places the composed list over the seed (enrol.go).
     {
       "id": "bus-conf-dir",
       "type": "directory",
-      "path": "/var/lib/nats-module/conf",
+      "path": "/var/lib/mesh-bus-conf",
       "mode": "0700"
     },
     {
       "id": "bus-conf",
       "type": "file",
-      "path": "/var/lib/nats-module/conf/nats.conf",
+      "path": "/var/lib/mesh-bus-conf/nats.conf",
       "mode": "0644",
-      "create-once": true,
+      "content": "port: 4222\nhttp: 127.0.0.1:8222\n\ntls {\n  cert_file: \"/tls/tls.crt\"\n  key_file: \"/tls/tls.key\"\n}\n\njetstream {\n  store_dir: \"/data\"\n}\n\ninclude accounts.conf\n"
-      "content": "port: 4222\nhttp: 0.0.0.0:8222\n\ntls {\n  cert_file: \"/tls/tls.crt\"\n  key_file: \"/tls/tls.key\"\n}\n\njetstream {\n  store_dir: \"/data\"\n}\n\ninclude accounts.conf\n"
     },
     {
       "id": "bus-accounts",
       "type": "file",
-      "path": "/var/lib/nats-module/conf/accounts.conf",
+      "path": "/var/lib/mesh-bus-conf/accounts.conf",
       "mode": "0600",
-      "create-once": true,
+      "content": "// The first user list, carried by the installer because at genesis there is no mesh to\n// compose one. A bootstrap credential, rotated with the store's and replaced by the\n// controller's own composition from its first start onward.\naccounts {\n  MESH {\n    jetstream: enabled\n    users = [\n      { user: \"controller\", password: \"$2a$10$AHqJgOifIVbU41KmATiMhuXFs8xa7Wl2HuN4UVBCXdN2jIQzjqApy\", permissions: {\n        publish: { allow: [\"$JS.ACK.CONTROL.controller.>\", \"$JS.ACK.EVENTS.controller.>\", \"$JS.ACK.DEAD_LETTER_NOTICES.controller.>\", \"$JS.API.>\", \"$KV.mesh-controller_asked.>\", \"$KV.mesh-controller_calls.>\", \"$KV.mesh-controller_hand-acts.>\", \"$KV.mesh-controller_conditions.>\", \"$KV.mesh-controller_condition-history.>\", \"$KV.mesh-controller_lease.>\", \"$KV.SEAT_MESH_BUILD_MACHINE_cancelled.>\", \"$KV.SEAT_NODE_BUILD_AGENT_cancelled.>\", \"_INBOX.enrol.>\", \"mesh.assignment.>\", \"mesh.mod.*.tool.>\", \"mesh.node.>\", \"mesh.seat.mesh-build-machine.accept.>\", \"mesh.seat.node-build-agent.accept.>\", \"mesh.seat.mesh-build-machine.tool.>\", \"mesh.seat.node-build-agent.tool.>\", \"mesh.seat.mesh-controller.event.applied\", \"mesh.seat.mesh-controller.event.built-before\", \"mesh.seat.mesh-controller.event.refused\", \"mesh.seat.mesh-controller.event.rolled-back\", \"mesh.seat.mesh-controller.event.checked\", \"mesh.seat.mesh-controller.event.plan-moved\", \"mesh.seat.mesh-controller.event.condition-raised\", \"mesh.seat.mesh-controller.event.condition-changed\", \"mesh.seat.mesh-controller.event.condition-cleared\", \"mesh.seat.mesh-controller.event.doctor-heartbeat\", \"mesh.seat.mesh-controller.event.secret-replaced\", \"mesh.seat.mesh-controller.event.healer-acted\", \"$SRV.INFO\", \"mesh.seat.node-intrusion-prevention.tool.banned.*\", \"mesh.seat.node-backup.tool.backed-up.*\", \"mesh.seat.node-backup.tool.now.*\", \"mesh.seat.mesh-delivery.tool.stalled\", \"mesh.seat.mesh-delivery.tool.close\", \"mesh.seat.node-launcher.tool.secret.*\", \"mesh.seat.mesh-delivery.tool.release\", \"mesh.seat.mesh-delivery.tool.stop\", \"mesh.seat.mesh-delivery.tool.times\", \"mesh.seat.mesh-delivery.tool.groups\", \"mesh.seat.node-service-manager.tool.restart.*\", \"mesh.seat.mesh-controller.tool.plans\", \"mesh.events.dead.>\", \"mesh.again.>\"] }\n        subscribe: { allow: [\"$JS.API.>\", \"$JS.EVENT.ADVISORY.CONSUMER.MAX_DELIVERIES.>\", \"$JS.EVENT.ADVISORY.CONSUMER.DELETED.>\", \"_DELIVER.controller\", \"_DELIVER.controller.>\", \"_INBOX.controller.>\", \"mesh.control.>\", \"mesh.mod.*.event.provisioner.failing\", \"mesh.mod.*.event.provisioner.recovered\", \"mesh.mod.*.event.provisioner.retirement\", \"mesh.mod.gitea.event.pull.merged\", \"mesh.mod.gitea.event.pull.updated\", \"mesh.mod.mesh-catalog.event.catching-up\", \"mesh.mod.mesh-catalog.event.upgraded\", \"mesh.seat.mesh-build-machine.event.built\", \"mesh.seat.node-build-agent.event.built\", \"mesh.seat.operator-channel.event.decided.mesh-controller\", \"mesh.seat.mesh-controller.tool.>\", \"$SRV.PING\", \"$SRV.INFO\", \"$SRV.PING.mesh-controller\", \"$SRV.PING.mesh-controller.>\", \"$SRV.INFO.mesh-controller\", \"$SRV.INFO.mesh-controller.>\", \"$SRV.STATS\", \"$SRV.STATS.mesh-controller\", \"$SRV.STATS.mesh-controller.>\"] }\n        allow_responses: { max: 1, ttl: \"1m\" }\n      } }\n    ]\n  }\n}\n"
-      "content": "// The first user list, carried by the installer because at genesis there is no mesh to\n// compose one. A bootstrap credential, rotated with the store's and replaced by the\n// controller's own composition from its first start onward.\naccounts {\n  MESH {\n    jetstream: enabled\n    users = [\n      { user: \"controller\", password: \"$2a$10$AHqJgOifIVbU41KmATiMhuXFs8xa7Wl2HuN4UVBCXdN2jIQzjqApy\", permissions: {\n        publish: { allow: [\"$JS.ACK.CONTROL.controller.>\", \"$JS.ACK.EVENTS.controller.>\", \"$JS.ACK.DEAD_LETTER_NOTICES.controller.>\", \"$JS.API.>\", \"$KV.mesh-controller_asked.>\", \"$KV.mesh-controller_assignments.>\", \"$KV.mesh-controller_calls.>\", \"$KV.mesh-controller_hand-acts.>\", \"$KV.mesh-controller_conditions.>\", \"$KV.mesh-controller_condition-history.>\", \"$KV.mesh-controller_declared-config.>\", \"$KV.mesh-controller_lease.>\", \"$KV.SEAT_MESH_BUILD_MACHINE_cancelled.>\", \"$KV.SEAT_NODE_BUILD_AGENT_cancelled.>\", \"_INBOX.enrol.>\", \"mesh.assignment.>\", \"mesh.mod.*.tool.>\", \"mesh.node.>\", \"mesh.seat.mesh-build-machine.accept.>\", \"mesh.seat.node-build-agent.accept.>\", \"mesh.seat.mesh-build-machine.tool.>\", \"mesh.seat.node-build-agent.tool.>\", \"mesh.seat.mesh-controller.event.applied\", \"mesh.seat.mesh-controller.event.built-before\", \"mesh.seat.mesh-controller.event.refused\", \"mesh.seat.mesh-controller.event.rolled-back\", \"mesh.seat.mesh-controller.event.checked\", \"mesh.seat.mesh-controller.event.plan-moved\", \"mesh.seat.mesh-controller.event.assignment-changed\", \"mesh.seat.mesh-controller.event.declared-config-changed\", \"mesh.seat.mesh-controller.event.condition-raised\", \"mesh.seat.mesh-controller.event.condition-changed\", \"mesh.seat.mesh-controller.event.condition-cleared\", \"mesh.seat.mesh-controller.event.doctor-heartbeat\", \"mesh.seat.mesh-controller.event.secret-replaced\", \"mesh.seat.mesh-controller.event.healer-acted\", \"$SRV.INFO\", \"mesh.seat.node-intrusion-prevention.tool.banned.*\", \"mesh.seat.node-backup.tool.backed-up.*\", \"mesh.seat.node-backup.tool.now.*\", \"mesh.seat.mesh-delivery.tool.stalled\", \"mesh.seat.mesh-delivery.tool.close\", \"mesh.seat.node-launcher.tool.secret.*\", \"mesh.seat.mesh-delivery.tool.release\", \"mesh.seat.mesh-delivery.tool.stop\", \"mesh.seat.mesh-delivery.tool.times\", \"mesh.seat.mesh-delivery.tool.groups\", \"mesh.seat.node-service-manager.tool.restart.*\", \"mesh.seat.mesh-controller.tool.plans\", \"mesh.events.dead.>\", \"mesh.again.>\"] }\n        subscribe: { allow: [\"$JS.API.>\", \"$JS.EVENT.ADVISORY.CONSUMER.MAX_DELIVERIES.>\", \"$JS.EVENT.ADVISORY.CONSUMER.DELETED.>\", \"_DELIVER.controller\", \"_DELIVER.controller.>\", \"_INBOX.controller.>\", \"mesh.control.>\", \"mesh.mod.*.event.provisioner.failing\", \"mesh.mod.*.event.provisioner.recovered\", \"mesh.mod.*.event.provisioner.retirement\", \"mesh.mod.gitea.event.pull.merged\", \"mesh.mod.gitea.event.pull.updated\", \"mesh.mod.mesh-catalog.event.catching-up\", \"mesh.mod.mesh-catalog.event.upgraded\", \"mesh.seat.mesh-build-machine.event.built\", \"mesh.seat.node-build-agent.event.built\", \"mesh.seat.operator-channel.event.decided.mesh-controller\", \"mesh.seat.mesh-controller.tool.>\", \"$SRV.PING\", \"$SRV.INFO\", \"$SRV.PING.mesh-controller\", \"$SRV.PING.mesh-controller.>\", \"$SRV.INFO.mesh-controller\", \"$SRV.INFO.mesh-controller.>\", \"$SRV.STATS\", \"$SRV.STATS.mesh-controller\", \"$SRV.STATS.mesh-controller.>\"] }\n        allow_responses: { max: 1, ttl: \"1m\" }\n      } }\n    ]\n  }\n}\n"
     },
-    // The upstream server, until the broker step adopts it: the `nats` module's own image, built by the
-    // mesh, takes its place there once, on these same directories (ADR 0333 §3), as the bus's planned
-    // step (ADR 0236). The release is the one the module's image is built on (its NATS_BASE, 2.11.17),
-    // pinned upstream by that same digest: the adoption changes no server release, so it can be undone
-    // by putting the old image back and is said reversible. The published port is the
-    // node's bus port, 5671 unless given, which every enrolment token names; the installer gives the
-    // module the setting that maps its declared 4222 to it (ADR 0333 §2).
     {
       "id": "broker",
       "type": "container",
-      "name": "mesh-broker-nats",
+      "name": "mesh-broker",
-      "image": "nats@sha256:e4bf19f15fd3218814a4e3c9e0064e1334bd8aa20d5984b9f1a0afd084f8cc00",
+      "image": "192.0.2.250:5000/nats@sha256:b83efabe3e7def1e0a4a31ec6e078999bb17c80363f881df35edc70fcb6bb927",
       "ports": ["5671:4222", "127.0.0.1:8222:8222"],
-      "volumes": ["/var/lib/mesh-broker-nats:/data", "/var/lib/nats-module/conf:/etc/nats:ro", "/var/lib/mesh-broker-tls:/tls:ro"],
+      "volumes": ["mesh-broker-data:/data", "mesh-broker-tls:/tls:ro", "/var/lib/mesh-bus-conf:/etc/nats:ro"],
       "args": ["-c", "/etc/nats/nats.conf", "-js"]
     },
     {
       "id": "broker-ready",
       "type": "action",
-      "command": ["sh", "-c", "for i in $(seq 1 60); do docker run --rm --network host --entrypoint sh nats@sha256:e4bf19f15fd3218814a4e3c9e0064e1334bd8aa20d5984b9f1a0afd084f8cc00 -c 'nc -z 127.0.0.1 5671' >/dev/null 2>&1 && exit 0; sleep 1; done; exit 1"],
+      "command": ["sh", "-c", "for i in $(seq 1 60); do docker run --rm --network host --entrypoint sh 192.0.2.250:5000/nats@sha256:b83efabe3e7def1e0a4a31ec6e078999bb17c80363f881df35edc70fcb6bb927 -c 'nc -z 127.0.0.1 5671' >/dev/null 2>&1 && exit 0; sleep 1; done; exit 1"],
-      "verify": ["sh", "-c", "docker run --rm --network host --entrypoint sh nats@sha256:e4bf19f15fd3218814a4e3c9e0064e1334bd8aa20d5984b9f1a0afd084f8cc00 -c 'nc -z 127.0.0.1 5671'"]
+      "verify": ["sh", "-c", "docker run --rm --network host --entrypoint sh 192.0.2.250:5000/nats@sha256:b83efabe3e7def1e0a4a31ec6e078999bb17c80363f881df35edc70fcb6bb927 -c 'nc -z 127.0.0.1 5671'"]
     },
     {
       "id": "control-plane",
@@ -252,7 +202,7 @@
       "image": "192.0.2.250:5000/mesh-controller@sha256:c67db38439ff0aee242b467486765467bb95801f52175fc5727cc4e437338ace",
       "network": "host",
       "args": ["serve"],
-      "volumes": ["/var/lib/mesh-broker-tls:/broker-tls:ro"],
+      "volumes": ["mesh-broker-tls:/broker-tls:ro"],
       "env": {
         "MESH_STORE_INVENTORY": "postgres://postgres:bootstrap@127.0.0.1:5432/inventory?sslmode=disable",
         "MESH_STORE_IDENTITY": "postgres://postgres:bootstrap@127.0.0.1:5432/identity?sslmode=disable",

testdata/store-tests

@@ -49,7 +49,6 @@
 ./internal/inventory TestACredentialIssuedOutsideIsNeverMade
 ./internal/inventory TestOneAcceptForAProviderIsSealedToEveryConsumer
 ./internal/inventory TestASharedOwnSecretIssuedOutsideIsNeverMade
-./internal/recordmirror TestNatsAnAssignmentAndARegistrationEachChangeOneKeyAndRaiseOneEvent
 ./cmd/mesh-controller TestOneAcceptForAProviderIsPlacedForEveryConsumer
 ./cmd/mesh-controller TestReplay164
 ./cmd/mesh-controller TestAnApprovedLayerOpensTheWalkThatSendsIt
@@ -62,3 +61,12 @@
 ./cmd/mesh-controller TestAProviderElsewhereServesItsOwnComposedName
 ./cmd/mesh-controller TestAReusedCheckBuildIsRegisteredByItsDigestAndGatedAsABuiltOne
 ./internal/inventory TestAReportOfABusyContainerIsKeptAndReadBack
+./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