Merge pull request 'Delivery parts keep running when the bus refuses a bucket they can work without; the builder asks a lost build again; the assigner says why a node gets no want (issue 1945)' (#51) from fix/1945-ask-again-and-why into main

modules/mesh-delivery-assigner/cmd/mesh-delivery-assigner/main.go

@@ -86,11 +86,11 @@ var keptStates = []announce.State{
 // buckets is every bucket the assigner opened, by name.
 type buckets map[string]jetstream.KeyValue
 
-// open opens every bucket the assigner reads and writes; a bucket it cannot open stops the start, named, since a pass
-// without it would write wants from half the mesh. The puts' bucket is the exception: whatever keeps it from opening (it
+// open opens every bucket the assigner reads and writes; a bucket it cannot open stops the start, named with its grant (issue 1945),
+// since a pass without it would write wants from half the mesh. The puts' bucket is the exception: whatever keeps it from opening (it
 // does not exist yet, the credential is not granted it yet, the bus does not answer in time), the assigner writes wants
 // without it and takes no put further until it starts again (ADR 0546).
-func open(ctx context.Context, js jetstream.JetStream, logf func(string, ...any)) (buckets, error) {
+func open(ctx context.Context, js process.BucketOpener, logf func(string, ...any)) (buckets, error) {
 	out := buckets{}
 	for _, name := range append(append([]string{}, readBuckets...), ownBuckets...) {
 		kv, err := js.KeyValue(ctx, name)
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ func open(ctx context.Context, js jetstream.JetStream, logf func(string, ...any)
 			continue
 		}
 		if err != nil {
-			return nil, fmt.Errorf("the bucket %s cannot be opened: %w", name, err)
+			return nil, process.EssentialErr("assigner", name, "write a want from the whole mesh", err)
 		}
 		out[name] = kv
 	}

modules/mesh-delivery-assigner/cmd/mesh-delivery-assigner/main_test.go

@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ func TestOpensWhatItsManifestNames(t *testing.T) {
 		switch {
 		case c.starts && (err != nil || kvs[c.missing] != nil || len(kvs) != len(readBuckets)+len(ownBuckets)-1 || !strings.Contains(logged, "no put is taken further")):
 			t.Errorf("%s refused with %v: the start answered %v, %d buckets, logged %q", c.missing, c.err, err, len(kvs), logged)
-		case !c.starts && (err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), c.missing)):
+		case !c.starts && (err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "grant of "+c.missing)): // 1945: named with its grant
 			t.Errorf("%s refused with %v: the start answered %v", c.missing, c.err, err)
 		}
 	}

modules/mesh-delivery-assigner/cmd/mesh-delivery-assigner/pass.go

@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package main
 import (
 	"context"
 	"errors"
+	"fmt"
 	"strings"
 	"time"
 
@@ -35,6 +36,9 @@ type passer struct {
 	neither map[string]neitherOne
 	// acts are the puts' acts (ADR 0546); nil: the puts are not taken further (no bus to call, or no puts bucket).
 	acts *putActs
+	// noWant is, by node and module, the reason last said why the node gets no want for the module (issue 1945): a reason is
+	// said in the journal when it appears or changes, and its clearing when the node has a want again; one line per change.
+	noWant map[string]string
 }
 
 func (p *passer) clock() time.Time {
@@ -148,6 +152,7 @@ func (p *passer) wants(ctx context.Context) {
 		}
 		out := assign.Wants(m, nodes, wanted[name], last)
 		gatherNeither(neither, name, out)
+		p.sayNoWant(name, m.Nodes, wanted[name], out)
 		if first {
 			startClears(stale, m, out)
 			if fp != "" && !m.Held && out.Held == nil && !out.Lifted {
@@ -186,6 +191,42 @@ func (p *passer) wants(ctx context.Context) {
 	}
 }
 
+// sayNoWant says in the journal why a node of module gets no want after this pass, from the rule the outcome names for it
+// (issue 1945: a new assignment whose trunk build was not done was held back with nothing said), once per reason, and says
+// when the node has a want again. A node with a live want, written before and kept or written in this pass, has one.
+func (p *passer) sayNoWant(module string, nodes []string, before map[string]delivery.Want, out assign.Outcome) {
+	if p.noWant == nil {
+		p.noWant = map[string]string{}
+	}
+	assigned := map[string]bool{}
+	for _, node := range nodes {
+		assigned[node] = true
+		key := node + "." + module
+		w, written := out.Wants[node]
+		if !written {
+			w, written = before[node]
+		}
+		reason := ""
+		if h, held := out.Rules[node]; held && (!written || w.Removed) {
+			reason = fmt.Sprintf("rule %d: %s", h.Rule, h.Words)
+		}
+		last, said := p.noWant[key]
+		switch {
+		case reason != "" && reason != last:
+			p.logf("%s on %s gets no want: %s", module, node, reason)
+			p.noWant[key] = reason
+		case reason == "" && said && written && !w.Removed:
+			p.logf("%s on %s has a want", module, node)
+			delete(p.noWant, key)
+		}
+	}
+	for key := range p.noWant {
+		if node, m, _ := strings.Cut(key, "."); m == module && !assigned[node] {
+			delete(p.noWant, key) // no longer assigned there: its removed want says so
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 // neitherOne is a module assigned to a node that holds no want for it after a pass, and the rule holding its first want back.
 type neitherOne struct {
 	node, module string

modules/mesh-delivery-assigner/cmd/mesh-delivery-assigner/pass_test.go

@@ -380,6 +380,31 @@ func TestThePassGathersTheModulesOnNeitherList(t *testing.T) {
 	if len(got) != 1 || got["g14.screen-lock"].node != "g14" || got["g14.screen-lock"].module != "screen-lock" || got["g14.screen-lock"].holding.Rule != delivery.RuleGrant {
 		t.Errorf("gathered = %+v", got)
 	}
+	// 1945 (a first want held back silently): the journal says why a node gets no want when the reason appears or changes, and
+	// when it has a want again: one line per change, not per pass.
+	p := newPasser(buckets{}, time.Date(2026, 10, 25, 21, 30, 0, 0, time.UTC))
+	var logged []string
+	p.logf = func(f string, a ...any) { logged = append(logged, fmt.Sprintf(f, a...)) }
+	notDone := assign.Outcome{Rules: map[string]assign.Holding{"shanks": {Rule: delivery.RuleBuildDone, Words: "the build of rofi at 4e7b118e is not done"}}}
+	wanted := assign.Outcome{Wants: map[string]delivery.Want{"shanks": {FP: fpTest, Composed: "sha256:" + strings.Repeat("c", 64)}}}
+	for i, c := range []struct {
+		before map[string]delivery.Want
+		out    assign.Outcome
+		line   string // the line said in this pass, "" for none
+	}{
+		{nil, notDone, "rofi on shanks gets no want: rule 1: the build of rofi at 4e7b118e is not done"},
+		{nil, notDone, ""},
+		{map[string]delivery.Want{"shanks": {Removed: true}}, notDone, ""},
+		{nil, assign.Outcome{Rules: map[string]assign.Holding{"shanks": {Rule: delivery.RuleGrant, Words: "no credential"}}}, "rofi on shanks gets no want: rule 6: no credential"},
+		{nil, wanted, "rofi on shanks has a want"},
+		{map[string]delivery.Want{"shanks": wanted.Wants["shanks"]}, assign.Outcome{}, ""},
+	} {
+		logged = nil
+		p.sayNoWant("rofi", []string{"shanks"}, c.before, c.out)
+		if got := strings.Join(logged, "\n"); got != c.line {
+			t.Errorf("pass %d said %q, want %q", i, got, c.line)
+		}
+	}
 }
 
 // A neither or held condition a previous process raised is cleared by the first pass after a start: a fresh pass remembers

modules/mesh-delivery-assigner/go.mod

@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ module mesh-delivery-assigner
 go 1.26.0
 
 require (
-	git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261025203528-db26f7e8b6f5
+	git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261025211220-e0d1de047585
 	github.com/nats-io/nats-server/v2 v2.11.17
 	github.com/nats-io/nats.go v1.54.0
 )

modules/mesh-delivery-assigner/go.sum

@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261025200810-d4ae4b6790b8 h1:vhYk/iv4
 git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261025200810-d4ae4b6790b8/go.mod h1:ouERNpZizzwZ0HLEtAypsY9FR20FyUgUYRni6J7kVCY=
 git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261025203528-db26f7e8b6f5 h1:gE80bR0tPME7MTMBLcdP62v+F/9soVXmdcBYNMOye44=
 git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261025203528-db26f7e8b6f5/go.mod h1:ouERNpZizzwZ0HLEtAypsY9FR20FyUgUYRni6J7kVCY=
+git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261025211220-e0d1de047585 h1:7QoFH5qjXRpx5M4uPdYsVJ5qKl2082gq8n0lFxhoNIg=
+git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261025211220-e0d1de047585/go.mod h1:ouERNpZizzwZ0HLEtAypsY9FR20FyUgUYRni6J7kVCY=
 github.com/antithesishq/antithesis-sdk-go v0.7.0-default-no-op h1:Z/MZK75wC/NSrkgqeNIa7jexam9uWzhLmFTSCPI/kn0=
 github.com/antithesishq/antithesis-sdk-go v0.7.0-default-no-op/go.mod h1:FQyySiasQQM8735Ddel3MRojmy4dA1IqCeyJ5jmPMbI=
 github.com/google/go-tpm v0.9.8 h1:slArAR9Ft+1ybZu0lBwpSmpwhRXaa85hWtMinMyRAWo=

modules/mesh-delivery-assigner/internal/assign/wants.go

@@ -333,8 +333,18 @@ func Wants(m Module, n Nodes, wants map[string]delivery.Want, lastHealthy map[st
 				// the pass says so. A new assignment, with no have, waits for the rules and is on no list yet by design. A held module (rule 2,
 				// held before or by this pass) is on the held list instead, whose hold is said and answered on its own: it is never on neither
 				// list (issue 1945: systemd-resolved, held on shanks by the operator, was said as urgent every hour).
-				if h, there := n.Haves[node][m.Name]; there && h.Phase != delivery.PhaseRemoved && !held {
+				h, there := n.Haves[node][m.Name]
+				switch {
+				case there && h.Phase != delivery.PhaseRemoved && !held:
 					out.Neither[node] = Holding{Rule: rule, Words: words}
+				case had && (!there || h.Phase == delivery.PhaseRemoved):
+					// A removed want of a node that does not run the module says why no want follows it (issue 1945), so the view's
+					// assigner_want answers it; it stays removed. A node with no key gets none: a removed want written where none was
+					// would have its node agent remove the module and stop holding its composition's resources back.
+					next = delivery.Want{Removed: true, Words: NoWantWords(rule, words)}
+					if !delivery.SameWant(normal(before), normal(next)) {
+						out.Wants[node] = next
+					}
 				}
 				continue
 			}
@@ -370,6 +380,11 @@ func Wants(m Module, n Nodes, wants map[string]delivery.Want, lastHealthy map[st
 	return out
 }
 
+// NoWantWords say why a node gets no want for a module: the rule that holds its first want back and why (issue 1945).
+func NoWantWords(rule int, words string) string {
+	return fmt.Sprintf("no want: rule %d: %s", rule, words)
+}
+
 // failed says whether a have's health check failed once the node is done moving: phase running or failed (never removed, held, or
 // moving). A failed health while it
 // backs up, applies or checks is a step of the move, not its outcome (on novox at 15:27:36 on 2026-10-25, "health failed, phase

modules/mesh-delivery-assigner/internal/assign/wants_test.go

@@ -867,6 +867,33 @@ func TestANewAssignmentWaitingIsNotOnNeitherList(t *testing.T) {
 	if out := Wants(m, n, nil, nil); len(out.Neither) != 1 || out.Neither["g14"].Rule != delivery.RuleBuildDone {
 		t.Errorf("with no build: neither = %+v, want g14 alone (it runs the module), by rule 1", out.Neither)
 	}
+	// 1945 (the assigner holds a first want back silently): with no build, a node whose want was removed and that does not run
+	// the module has the reason written into its removed want, once; a node with no key gets no want written, and a node that
+	// runs the module is on neither list, its removed want left as it is.
+	gone := delivery.Want{Removed: true, Words: "screen-lock is no longer assigned to shanks"}
+	for _, c := range []struct {
+		name   string
+		before map[string]delivery.Want
+		want   map[string]delivery.Want
+	}{
+		{"no key: nothing written", nil, map[string]delivery.Want{}},
+		{"a removed want: it says why", map[string]delivery.Want{"shanks": gone},
+			map[string]delivery.Want{"shanks": {Removed: true, Words: "no want: rule 1: the build of screen-lock at " + short(m.FP) + " is not done"}}},
+		{"a removed want that says why already: nothing written", map[string]delivery.Want{"shanks": {Removed: true, Words: "no want: rule 1: the build of screen-lock at " + short(m.FP) + " is not done"}},
+			map[string]delivery.Want{}},
+		{"a node that runs it: on neither list, its removed want left", map[string]delivery.Want{"g14": gone}, map[string]delivery.Want{}},
+	} {
+		out := Wants(m, n, c.before, nil)
+		if len(out.Wants) != len(c.want) {
+			t.Errorf("%s: wants = %+v, want %+v", c.name, out.Wants, c.want)
+			continue
+		}
+		for node, w := range c.want {
+			if !delivery.SameWant(normal(out.Wants[node]), w) {
+				t.Errorf("%s: want of %s = %+v, want %+v", c.name, node, out.Wants[node], w)
+			}
+		}
+	}
 	m.FP = ""
 	if out := Wants(m, n, nil, nil); len(out.Neither) != 0 {
 		t.Errorf("a module of the node's own composition named on neither list: %+v", out.Neither)

modules/mesh-delivery-builder/cmd/mesh-delivery-builder-tools/main.go

@@ -0,0 +1,93 @@
+// Command mesh-delivery-builder-tools serves the builder's tools (novox/hq issue 1945): the runtime launches it for a call.
+// builder_stuck reads the builder's builds and reasks states and the build modules' steps through the builder's state and
+// reads; builder_ask_again writes one value of the reasks state, which the builder watches and answers. The builder is the
+// other program: it serves no tool (ADR 0437 §4).
+package main
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+	"strings"
+	"time"
+
+	stdio "git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go"
+
+	"mesh-delivery-builder/internal/build"
+)
+
+// Tools are the builder's two tools: stuck reads, askAgain writes the reasks value.
+func Tools(r build.StuckReader, askAgain func(key string, value []byte) error, now func() time.Time) []stdio.Tool {
+	str := func(args map[string]any, k string) string { s, _ := args[k].(string); return strings.TrimSpace(s) }
+	return []stdio.Tool{
+		{Name: build.StuckTool,
+			Description: "Every build key that waits (building or queued), oldest first: its module, fingerprint, step words and since when, and each ask it " +
+				"waits on by language with its id, when it was put, its asking (1 for the first; the builder asks an ask again when it can no longer be " +
+				"answered, at most 3 times) and what its build module's steps hold of it (none, or its state on its node since its start). The " +
+				"seat workers' delivery counts are not readable by the builder. With module, that module's keys only. Read-only.",
+			Input: map[string]any{"type": "object", "properties": map[string]any{
+				"module": map[string]any{"type": "string", "description": "only this module's keys"}}},
+			Run: func(args map[string]any) (any, error) { return r.Stuck(str(args, "module")) }},
+		{Name: build.AskAgainTool,
+			Description: "Ask a waiting build key's asks again now, under new ids the key then names, as the builder does by itself for an ask its build " +
+				"seat's stream gave up on. The builder answers in the reasks state, which " + build.StuckTool + " shows beside the key; a key no ask of " +
+				"which waits is answered so and nothing is asked. An ask whose step already runs on a node is asked again too: it is then " +
+				"built twice, the first run's work wasted and its end read by nobody, never a wrong key; builder_stuck shows whether a step runs.",
+			Input: map[string]any{"type": "object", "required": []string{"module", "fp", "why"}, "properties": map[string]any{
+				"module": map[string]any{"type": "string", "description": "the module's name"},
+				"fp":     map[string]any{"type": "string", "description": "its new-form fingerprint, src2:<hex>, as builder_stuck shows it"},
+				"why":    map[string]any{"type": "string", "description": "why it is asked again, in plain words"}}},
+			Run: func(args map[string]any) (any, error) {
+				key, value, err := build.NewReAsk(str(args, "module"), str(args, "fp"), str(args, "why"), stdio.CallerOf(args), now())
+				if err != nil {
+					return nil, err
+				}
+				if err := askAgain(key, value); err != nil {
+					return nil, fmt.Errorf("the ask could not be written to %s: %w", build.ReAsksBucket, err)
+				}
+				return map[string]any{"key": key, "asked": true,
+					"next": "the builder answers in " + build.ReAsksState + "." + key + "; " + build.StuckTool + " shows the answer and the new ask"}, nil
+			}},
+	}
+}
+
+func read(s stdio.KeptState) build.StateRead {
+	return build.StateRead{Keys: s.Keys, Get: func(key string) (json.RawMessage, time.Time, error) {
+		e, err := s.Get(key)
+		if err != nil || e == nil {
+			return nil, time.Time{}, err
+		}
+		return e.Value, written(s, key, e.Revision), nil
+	}}
+}
+
+// written is when the key's revision was written, from its history, or zero.
+func written(s stdio.KeptState, key string, revision uint64) time.Time {
+	h, err := s.History(key)
+	if err != nil {
+		return time.Time{}
+	}
+	for _, r := range h {
+		if r.Revision == revision {
+			return r.At
+		}
+	}
+	return time.Time{}
+}
+
+func main() {
+	steps := map[string]build.StateRead{}
+	for _, bm := range build.StuckBuildModules {
+		steps[bm] = read(stdio.State(bm + ".steps"))
+	}
+	reasks := stdio.State(build.ReAsksState)
+	r := build.StuckReader{Builds: read(stdio.State("builds")), ReAsks: read(reasks), Steps: steps}
+	put := func(key string, value []byte) error {
+		_, err := reasks.Put(key, json.RawMessage(value))
+		return err
+	}
+	if err := stdio.Serve("", Tools(r, put, time.Now)); err != nil {
+		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "[mesh-delivery-builder-tools] %v\n", err)
+		os.Exit(1)
+	}
+}

modules/mesh-delivery-builder/cmd/mesh-delivery-builder/held.go

@@ -8,57 +8,82 @@ import (
 	"github.com/nats-io/nats.go/jetstream"
 
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/delivery"
+
+	"mesh-delivery-builder/internal/build"
 )
 
 // heldOnTheBus says whether an ask a build key names is on its build seat's stream, or a build node wrote a step for it
-// (issue 1910): read once, at the take-over of a key at start, never polled.
+// (issue 1910), read once at the take-over of a key at start; and, at the builder's check bound, whether an ask can still
+// be answered (issue 1945). Never polled.
 type heldOnTheBus struct{ js jetstream.JetStream }
 
 // Held is build.Builder's Held: a step key `<node>.<ask id>` in the build module's steps, or a message of the stream under
 // the ask's subject whose Nats-Msg-Id is the ask's id.
 func (h heldOnTheBus) Held(ctx context.Context, a delivery.StepAsk) (bool, error) {
-	module, err := delivery.BuildModuleOf(a.Language)
+	seen, err := h.seen(ctx, a, false)
 	if err != nil {
 		return false, err
 	}
+	return seen.Step || seen.OnStream, nil
+}
+
+// Gone is build.Builder's Gone: why the ask can no longer be answered (build.AskSeen.Why), or "".
+func (h heldOnTheBus) Gone(ctx context.Context, a delivery.StepAsk) (string, error) {
+	seen, err := h.seen(ctx, a, true)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+	return seen.Why(), nil
+}
+
+// seen reads what the bus holds of the ask; with later, a step of its build module started after the ask was put too,
+// when the ask waits first in line.
+func (h heldOnTheBus) seen(ctx context.Context, a delivery.StepAsk, later bool) (build.AskSeen, error) {
+	var seen build.AskSeen
+	module, err := delivery.BuildModuleOf(a.Language)
+	if err != nil {
+		return seen, err
+	}
 	pattern, err := delivery.AskStepWatch(a.ID)
 	if err != nil {
-		return false, err
+		return seen, err
 	}
 	steps, err := h.js.KeyValue(ctx, delivery.StepsBucket(module))
 	if err != nil {
-		return false, fmt.Errorf("the bucket %s: %w", delivery.StepsBucket(module), err)
+		return seen, fmt.Errorf("the bucket %s: %w", delivery.StepsBucket(module), err)
 	}
 	keys, err := steps.ListKeysFiltered(ctx, pattern)
 	if err != nil {
-		return false, err
+		return seen, err
 	}
 	for range keys.Keys() {
 		keys.Stop()
-		return true, nil // a node took it
+		seen.Step = true // a node took it
+		return seen, nil
 	}
 	subject, err := delivery.AskSubject(a.Language, a.Kind)
 	if err != nil {
-		return false, err
+		return seen, err
 	}
 	// The seat's stream by its name (delivery.AskStream), as the broker grants the builder its information and its
 	// messages by sequence and nothing wider (issue 1910).
 	name, err := delivery.AskStream(a.Language)
 	if err != nil {
-		return false, err
+		return seen, err
 	}
+	seen.Stream = name
 	stream, err := h.js.Stream(ctx, name)
 	if errors.Is(err, jetstream.ErrStreamNotFound) {
-		return false, nil
+		return seen, nil
 	}
 	if err != nil {
-		return false, err
+		return seen, err
 	}
 	// A seat's stream is a work queue, which takes no second consumer over its subjects: its messages are read by sequence
 	// instead, each a direct read that consumes nothing.
 	info, err := stream.Info(ctx)
 	if err != nil {
-		return false, err
+		return seen, err
 	}
 	for seq := info.State.FirstSeq; seq != 0 && seq <= info.State.LastSeq; seq++ {
 		m, err := stream.GetMsg(ctx, seq)
@@ -66,11 +91,37 @@ func (h heldOnTheBus) Held(ctx context.Context, a delivery.StepAsk) (bool, error
 			continue // taken and acknowledged, or removed
 		}
 		if err != nil {
-			return false, err
+			return seen, err
 		}
-		if m.Subject == subject && m.Header.Get(jetstream.MsgIDHeader) == a.ID {
-			return true, nil
+		if m.Subject != subject {
+			continue
 		}
+		if m.Header.Get(jetstream.MsgIDHeader) == a.ID {
+			seen.OnStream, seen.PutAt = true, m.Time
+			break
+		}
+		seen.Ahead++
 	}
-	return false, nil
+	if !later || !seen.OnStream || seen.Ahead > 0 {
+		return seen, nil
+	}
+	// First in line and not taken: did a build node take any ask put after it? Its stream then no longer delivers it.
+	all, err := steps.ListKeys(ctx)
+	if err != nil {
+		return seen, err
+	}
+	defer all.Stop()
+	for k := range all.Keys() {
+		e, err := steps.Get(ctx, k)
+		if err != nil {
+			continue
+		}
+		s, err := delivery.DecodeStep(e.Value())
+		if err != nil || !s.Started.After(seen.PutAt) {
+			continue // not a step (a node's pause key), or one started before the ask was put
+		}
+		seen.Later = &s
+		break
+	}
+	return seen, nil
 }

modules/mesh-delivery-builder/cmd/mesh-delivery-builder/main.go

@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@ import (
 	"encoding/json"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
-	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/delivery/buildrun"
 	"io"
 	"log"
 	"maps"
@@ -25,6 +24,8 @@ import (
 	"syscall"
 	"time"
 
+	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/delivery/buildrun"
+
 	"github.com/nats-io/nats.go"
 	"github.com/nats-io/nats.go/jetstream"
 
@@ -124,29 +125,20 @@ func run(ctx context.Context, getenv func(string) string, logOut io.Writer) erro
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	bucket := func(name string) (jetstream.KeyValue, error) {
-		kv, err := js.KeyValue(ctx, name)
-		if err != nil {
-			return nil, fmt.Errorf("the bucket %s: %w", name, err)
-		}
-		return kv, nil
-	}
-	builds, err := bucket(delivery.BuilderBuildsBucket)
+	builds, err := process.EssentialBucket(ctx, js, "builder", delivery.BuilderBuildsBucket, "claim or write a build key")
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	modules, err := bucket(delivery.ModulesBucket)
+	modules, err := process.EssentialBucket(ctx, js, "builder", delivery.ModulesBucket, "know any fingerprint to build")
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	manifests, err := bucket(delivery.ManifestsBucket)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	candidates, err := bucket(delivery.CandidatesBucket)
+	manifests, err := process.EssentialBucket(ctx, js, "builder", delivery.ManifestsBucket, "read what a module builds")
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
+	// The candidates' fingerprints are built too (issue 1684): a builder that cannot read them builds the trunk's.
+	candidates := process.OptionalBucket(ctx, js, delivery.CandidatesBucket, "no candidate's fingerprint is built until the builder starts again; the trunk's are", logger.Printf)
 	bound := defaultStepBound
 	if v := strings.TrimSpace(getenv("MESH_BUILDER_STEP_BOUND")); v != "" {
 		if bound, err = time.ParseDuration(v); err != nil {
@@ -169,44 +161,36 @@ func run(ctx context.Context, getenv func(string) string, logOut io.Writer) erro
 	}
 	defer calls.Close()
 	b := &build.Builder{
-		Claimer:    build.Claimer{Store: kvStore{builds}, By: cred.Node + "." + cred.Module},
-		Asks:       buildrun.Asker{Publisher: asks, Waiter: asks, Bound: bound},
-		Held:       heldOnTheBus{js},
+		Claimer: build.Claimer{Store: kvStore{builds}, By: cred.Node + "." + cred.Module},
+		Asks:    buildrun.Asker{Publisher: asks, Waiter: asks, Bound: bound},
+		Held:    heldOnTheBus{js},
+		// An ask that can no longer be answered is asked again (issue 1945), read at the step bound: a context's bound.
+		Gone:       heldOnTheBus{js},
+		CheckAfter: bound,
 		Toolchains: tools,
 		Manifests:  manifestReader{manifests},
 		Logf:       logger.Printf,
 		Stored:     storedVia(calls.Call),
 	}
 	// A candidate's preview is merged onto the trunk head the indexer previewed it onto: source.main at the candidate's base
-	// revision (the gate's source state). Where the bucket is not there yet no candidate's fingerprint is built, and said.
-	// The source's revisions are watched with their history (a direct get of one revision is not what a read grants): a
-	// revision heard after the candidate that names it builds that candidate then.
-	trunks := &sourceHeads{}
-	var sw jetstream.KeyWatcher
-	switch kv, err := js.KeyValue(ctx, delivery.SourceBucket); {
-	case errors.Is(err, jetstream.ErrBucketNotFound):
-		logger.Printf("the bucket %s does not exist yet: no candidate's fingerprint is built until the builder starts again", delivery.SourceBucket)
-	case err != nil:
-		return fmt.Errorf("the bucket %s: %w", delivery.SourceBucket, err)
-	default:
-		w, err := kv.Watch(ctx, delivery.SourceMainKey, jetstream.IncludeHistory())
-		if err != nil {
-			return fmt.Errorf("the bucket %s cannot be watched: %w", delivery.SourceBucket, err)
+	// revision (the gate's source state). The source's revisions are watched with their history (a direct get of one revision
+	// is not what a read grants): a revision heard after the candidate that names it builds that candidate then. Where it
+	// cannot be read the trunk's keys are built and the candidates wait (issue 1945).
+	errs := make(chan error, 4)
+	trunks := &trunkSource{ctx: ctx, js: js, heads: &sourceHeads{}, moved: b.TrunkMoved, errs: errs, logf: logger.Printf}
+	trunks.start()
+	b.Trunk = trunks.head
+	b.Said = func(e build.AskedAgain) {
+		if err := emitAskedAgain(context.WithoutCancel(ctx), js, cred, e); err != nil {
+			logger.Printf("%v", err)
 		}
-		if sw, err = settled(ctx, w, func(e jetstream.KeyValueEntry) { trunks.put(e) }); err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-		b.Trunk = trunks.head
 	}
 	// **Said once every build module answered a reference, taken away when stopped** (issue 1886, ADR 0522): the
 	// controller delivers from this builder's keys only while an instance says it writes references. A bucket not there
 	// yet (the manifest's state not made) is said, and the controller's plan waits for the keys, named (no build-agent
 	// is asked since R4g, ADR 0524 §7).
-	switch kv, err := js.KeyValue(ctx, instancesBucket); {
-	case errors.Is(err, jetstream.ErrBucketNotFound):
-		logger.Printf("the bucket %s does not exist yet: the controller is not told that this builder writes references until it starts again", instancesBucket)
-	case err != nil:
-		return fmt.Errorf("the bucket %s: %w", instancesBucket, err)
+	switch kv := process.OptionalBucket(ctx, js, instancesBucket, "the controller is not told that this builder writes references until it starts again", logger.Printf); {
+	case kv == nil:
 	default:
 		says := newSayer(ctx, kv, cred.Node, []string{buildrun.GoBuildModule, buildrun.NodeBuildModule, build.ImageBuildModule}, logger.Printf)
 		b.Answered = says.Answered
@@ -286,23 +270,26 @@ func run(ctx context.Context, getenv func(string) string, logOut io.Writer) erro
 			b.ForgetCandidate(e.Key())
 		}
 	}
-	cw, err := settle(ctx, candidates, eachCandidate)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
+	if candidates != nil {
+		cw, err := settle(ctx, candidates, eachCandidate)
+		if err != nil {
+			process.NotWatched(logger.Printf, delivery.CandidatesBucket, err, "no candidate's fingerprint is built until the builder starts again")
+		} else {
+			go func() { errs <- follow(ctx, cw, eachCandidate) }()
+		}
+	}
+	// A person asks a key's build again with builder_ask_again, which writes the reasks state (issue 1945): watched, as
+	// every other input. The builder asks again by itself without it.
+	if kv := process.OptionalBucket(ctx, js, build.ReAsksBucket, "builder_ask_again is not heard until the builder starts again; an ask that can no longer be answered is still asked again by itself", logger.Printf); kv != nil {
+		eachReAsk := func(e jetstream.KeyValueEntry) { reAsked(ctx, b, kv, e, logger.Printf) }
+		if rw, err := settle(ctx, kv, eachReAsk); err != nil {
+			process.NotWatched(logger.Printf, build.ReAsksBucket, err, "builder_ask_again is not heard until the builder starts again")
+		} else {
+			go func() { errs <- follow(ctx, rw, eachReAsk) }()
+		}
 	}
 	logger.Printf("started on %s", cred.Node)
-	errs := make(chan error, 3)
 	go func() { errs <- follow(ctx, w, each) }()
-	go func() { errs <- follow(ctx, cw, eachCandidate) }()
-	if sw != nil {
-		go func() {
-			errs <- follow(ctx, sw, func(e jetstream.KeyValueEntry) {
-				if trunks.put(e) {
-					b.TrunkMoved(ctx)
-				}
-			})
-		}()
-	}
 	select {
 	case <-ctx.Done():
 		b.Wait()

modules/mesh-delivery-builder/cmd/mesh-delivery-builder/optional.go

@@ -0,0 +1,78 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"fmt"
+	"sync"
+
+	"github.com/nats-io/nats.go/jetstream"
+
+	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/delivery"
+)
+
+// **A part does not stop for a bucket it can work without** (mesh-sdk process.EssentialBucket, OptionalBucket) (novox/hq issue 1945, met twice on 2026-10-25: the builder of
+// mesh-delivery #48 exited on a refused read of the gate's source, and its reasks bucket would have done the same). A grant
+// reaches the bus with a delivery, so a bucket the bus refuses, or times out on, at start is often only not granted yet:
+// exiting for it stops every build until a person's hand. A bucket the builder cannot build at all without (its builds,
+// the indexer's modules and manifests) still stops the start, naming the grant to look at; every other is said and left,
+// and opened again at the next event that needs it where there is one.
+
+// trunkSource is the gate's source history the candidates' previews are merged onto (sourceHeads), opened at start and,
+// while it cannot be, again at the next candidate that asks a trunk head: a builder without it builds the trunk's keys,
+// and a candidate's preview waits, saying why.
+type trunkSource struct {
+	ctx   context.Context
+	js    bucketOpener
+	heads *sourceHeads
+	moved func(context.Context)
+	errs  chan<- error
+	logf  func(string, ...any)
+
+	mu     sync.Mutex
+	opened bool
+}
+
+// ensure opens and settles the source's watch once, and follows it; an error leaves it closed for the next ask.
+func (t *trunkSource) ensure() error {
+	t.mu.Lock()
+	defer t.mu.Unlock()
+	if t.opened {
+		return nil
+	}
+	kv, err := t.js.KeyValue(t.ctx, delivery.SourceBucket)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("the bucket %s cannot be read (%v)", delivery.SourceBucket, err)
+	}
+	w, err := kv.Watch(t.ctx, delivery.SourceMainKey, jetstream.IncludeHistory())
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("the bucket %s cannot be watched (%v)", delivery.SourceBucket, err)
+	}
+	sw, err := settled(t.ctx, w, func(e jetstream.KeyValueEntry) { t.heads.put(e) })
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("the bucket %s: %w", delivery.SourceBucket, err)
+	}
+	t.opened = true
+	go func() {
+		t.errs <- follow(t.ctx, sw, func(e jetstream.KeyValueEntry) {
+			if t.heads.put(e) && t.moved != nil {
+				t.moved(t.ctx)
+			}
+		})
+	}()
+	return nil
+}
+
+// start opens the source at start; one that cannot be is said, and the builder goes on.
+func (t *trunkSource) start() {
+	if err := t.ensure(); err != nil {
+		t.logf("%v: the trunk's keys are built, and a candidate's preview waits until the source can be read, tried again at its next candidate", err)
+	}
+}
+
+// head is Builder.Trunk: the head of repository at source revision rev, opening the source first if it is not yet.
+func (t *trunkSource) head(ctx context.Context, rev uint64, repository string) (string, error) {
+	if err := t.ensure(); err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+	return t.heads.head(ctx, rev, repository)
+}

modules/mesh-delivery-builder/cmd/mesh-delivery-builder/reasks.go

@@ -0,0 +1,75 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"strings"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/nats-io/nats.go"
+	"github.com/nats-io/nats.go/jetstream"
+
+	"mesh-delivery-builder/internal/build"
+)
+
+// askAgainer is the part of the builder a reasks value asks through.
+type askAgainer interface {
+	AskAgain(key, why string) []string
+}
+
+// reAsked answers one value of the reasks state (the tool builder_ask_again, issue 1945): a value not yet answered asks the
+// key's waiting lanes again and is written back, by compare-and-set at its revision, with what the builder did. A value
+// answered already (this builder's own write) or deleted is left.
+func reAsked(ctx context.Context, b askAgainer, kv jetstream.KeyValue, e jetstream.KeyValueEntry, logf func(string, ...any)) {
+	if e.Operation() != jetstream.KeyValuePut {
+		return
+	}
+	r, err := build.DecodeReAsk(e.Value())
+	if err != nil {
+		logf("%s.%s holds what is not an ask to ask again, left: %v", build.ReAsksState, e.Key(), err)
+		return
+	}
+	if r.Answer != "" {
+		return
+	}
+	asked := b.AskAgain(e.Key(), r.Why)
+	if len(asked) == 0 {
+		r.Answer = "no ask of this key waits in this builder now (it is not building, or its build has not reached its ask yet): nothing was asked; builder_stuck shows where it stands"
+	} else {
+		r.Answer = "asked again: the " + strings.Join(asked, ", ") + " ask, under a new id the key names"
+	}
+	r.Answered = time.Now().UTC()
+	logf("%s: asked again by %s (%s): %s", e.Key(), r.By, r.Why, r.Answer)
+	data, err := json.Marshal(r)
+	if err != nil {
+		return
+	}
+	if _, err := kv.Update(ctx, e.Key(), data, e.Revision()); err != nil && !errors.Is(err, jetstream.ErrKeyExists) && !errors.Is(err, jetstream.ErrKeyRevisionMismatch) {
+		logf("%s.%s: the answer could not be written: %v", build.ReAsksState, e.Key(), err)
+	}
+}
+
+// emitAskedAgain says the builder's event build.asked-again (issue 1945): mesh.mod.<module>.event.build.asked-again,
+// with the SDK's envelope headers and the new ask's id as the bus's dedup id.
+func emitAskedAgain(ctx context.Context, js jetstream.JetStream, cred credential, e build.AskedAgain) error {
+	data, err := json.Marshal(e)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	msg := nats.NewMsg("mesh.mod." + cred.Module + ".event." + build.AskedAgainEvent)
+	id := "asked-again-" + e.New
+	msg.Header.Set("x-event-id", id)
+	msg.Header.Set("x-source", cred.Module)
+	msg.Header.Set("x-node", cred.Node)
+	msg.Header.Set("x-time", time.Now().UTC().Format(time.RFC3339Nano))
+	msg.Header.Set("content-type", "application/json")
+	msg.Data = data
+	pub, cancel := context.WithTimeout(ctx, 10*time.Second)
+	defer cancel()
+	if _, err := js.PublishMsg(pub, msg, jetstream.WithMsgID(id)); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("saying %s for %s: %w", build.AskedAgainEvent, e.Key, err)
+	}
+	return nil
+}

modules/mesh-delivery-builder/cmd/mesh-delivery-builder/standing.go

@@ -193,7 +193,9 @@ func watchAssignments(ctx context.Context, js bucketOpener, gate *toolchainGate,
 	each := func(e jetstream.KeyValueEntry) { gate.Assignment(e.Key(), e.Value(), !opOf(e), e.Created()) }
 	w, err := settle(ctx, kv, each)
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("the bucket %s: %w", provider.AssignmentsBucket, err)
+		// Not fatal either (issue 1945): a watch the bus refuses is the same missing grant as a refused read.
+		logger.Printf("the bucket %s cannot be watched, so every node's toolchain report counts, an unassigned build node's too (issue 1940): %v", provider.AssignmentsBucket, err)
+		return errs, nil
 	}
 	if gate.Settled() {
 		changed(ctx)

modules/mesh-delivery-builder/cmd/mesh-delivery-builder/standing_test.go

@@ -3,11 +3,19 @@ package main
 // The same in mesh-delivery-indexer, mesh-delivery-builder and mesh-delivery-checker, as standing.go is (issue 1940).
 
 import (
+	"bytes"
+	"context"
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
+	"log"
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
 	"time"
 
+	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/process"
+
+	"github.com/nats-io/nats.go/jetstream"
+
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/delivery"
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/delivery/buildrun"
 )
@@ -89,6 +97,61 @@ func TestAnUnassignedBuildNodesReportIsNoBuilder(t *testing.T) {
 	if n := len(set.Entries("typescript")); n != 2 {
 		t.Fatalf("novox and shanks are left; got %d entries", n)
 	}
+
+	// 1945 (a part exits at start for a bucket it works without): a bus that refuses the assignments' watch, or every
+	// toolchains bucket, leaves the watches unstarted and the part running, said; a refused bucket it cannot work without
+	// is an error naming the bucket and its grant.
+	var logs bytes.Buffer
+	logger := log.New(&logs, "", 0)
+	refused := refusingBus{err: errors.New("nats: permissions violation for publish to $JS.API.CONSUMER.CREATE.KV_mesh-controller_assignments")}
+	if _, err := watchAssignments(context.Background(), refused, newToolchainGate(nil, set.Put, t.Logf), func(context.Context) {}, logger); err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("a refused watch of the assignments stopped the start: %v", err)
+	}
+	if err := newToolchainWatch(context.Background(), refusingBus{refuseOpen: true, err: refused.err}, set, func(context.Context) {}, logger).start(); err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("a refused toolchains bucket stopped the start: %v", err)
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(logs.String(), "cannot be watched") || !strings.Contains(logs.String(), "cannot be read") {
+		t.Errorf("the refusals were not said: %q", logs.String())
+	}
+	if _, err := process.EssentialBucket(context.Background(), refusingBus{refuseOpen: true, err: refused.err}, "builder", "mesh-delivery-indexer_modules", "work"); err == nil ||
+		!strings.Contains(err.Error(), "grant of mesh-delivery-indexer_modules") {
+		t.Errorf("a refused bucket the part needs: %v, want an error naming its grant", err)
+	}
+	// The gate's source (the previews' trunk heads): refused at start, the builder goes on, and a candidate asking a trunk
+	// head is told why and opens it again then.
+	src := &trunkSource{ctx: context.Background(), js: refusingBus{refuseOpen: true, err: refused.err}, heads: &sourceHeads{}, errs: make(chan error, 1), logf: logger.Printf}
+	src.start()
+	if _, err := src.head(context.Background(), 7, "novox/mesh-catalog"); err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), delivery.SourceBucket) {
+		t.Errorf("a trunk head with the source refused: %v, want why", err)
+	}
+	if src.opened {
+		t.Error("a refused source counts as opened, so it is never opened again")
+	}
+}
+
+// refusingBus is a bus that refuses: every open (refuseOpen), or every watch of a bucket it opens, with err.
+type refusingBus struct {
+	refuseOpen bool
+	err        error
+}
+
+func (r refusingBus) KeyValue(context.Context, string) (jetstream.KeyValue, error) {
+	if r.refuseOpen {
+		return nil, r.err
+	}
+	return refusedWatch{err: r.err}, nil
+}
+
+type refusedWatch struct {
+	jetstream.KeyValue
+	err error
+}
+
+func (r refusedWatch) WatchAll(context.Context, ...jetstream.WatchOpt) (jetstream.KeyWatcher, error) {
+	return nil, r.err
+}
+func (r refusedWatch) Watch(context.Context, string, ...jetstream.WatchOpt) (jetstream.KeyWatcher, error) {
+	return nil, r.err
 }
 
 // A build node's report counts from the first one it writes since its assignment: a newly assigned node that has not

modules/mesh-delivery-builder/cmd/mesh-delivery-builder/toolchains.go

@@ -4,11 +4,13 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
-	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/delivery/buildrun"
 	"log"
 	"strings"
 	"sync"
 
+	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/delivery/buildrun"
+	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/process"
+
 	"github.com/nats-io/nats.go/jetstream"
 
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/delivery"
@@ -62,11 +64,14 @@ func (w *toolchainWatch) ensure(module string) error {
 		w.logger.Printf("the bucket %s does not exist yet: it is watched when %s reports a toolchain", name, module)
 		return nil
 	case err != nil:
-		return fmt.Errorf("the bucket %s: %w", name, err)
+		// Refused or not answered (its grant not on the bus yet, issue 1945): said, and opened again at the module's next report.
+		w.logger.Printf("the bucket %s cannot be read (%v): %s's toolchains are not heard until its next report", name, err, module)
+		return nil
 	}
 	watcher, err := settle(w.ctx, kv, func(e jetstream.KeyValueEntry) { w.put(module, e.Key(), e.Value(), !opOf(e)) })
 	if err != nil {
-		return err
+		process.NotWatched(w.logger.Printf, name, err, fmt.Sprintf("%s's toolchains are not heard until its next report", module))
+		return nil
 	}
 	w.watched[module] = true
 	go func() {

modules/mesh-delivery-builder/go.mod

@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ module mesh-delivery-builder
 go 1.26.0
 
 require (
-	git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261024020722-34f210e5eba1
+	git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261025211220-e0d1de047585
 	github.com/nats-io/nats-server/v2 v2.11.17
 	github.com/nats-io/nats.go v1.54.0
 )

modules/mesh-delivery-builder/go.sum

@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261024020722-34f210e5eba1 h1:fzOkrz9CSp3mEjeV7NfZx8yoivI1sD1AOtIPtyyF8RI=
 git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261024020722-34f210e5eba1/go.mod h1:ouERNpZizzwZ0HLEtAypsY9FR20FyUgUYRni6J7kVCY=
+git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261025211220-e0d1de047585 h1:7QoFH5qjXRpx5M4uPdYsVJ5qKl2082gq8n0lFxhoNIg=
+git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261025211220-e0d1de047585/go.mod h1:ouERNpZizzwZ0HLEtAypsY9FR20FyUgUYRni6J7kVCY=
 github.com/antithesishq/antithesis-sdk-go v0.7.0-default-no-op h1:Z/MZK75wC/NSrkgqeNIa7jexam9uWzhLmFTSCPI/kn0=
 github.com/antithesishq/antithesis-sdk-go v0.7.0-default-no-op/go.mod h1:FQyySiasQQM8735Ddel3MRojmy4dA1IqCeyJ5jmPMbI=
 github.com/google/go-tpm v0.9.8 h1:slArAR9Ft+1ybZu0lBwpSmpwhRXaa85hWtMinMyRAWo=

modules/mesh-delivery-builder/internal/build/askagain.go

@@ -0,0 +1,235 @@
+package build
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"regexp"
+	"strconv"
+	"strings"
+	"time"
+
+	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/buildstep"
+	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/delivery"
+)
+
+// **An ask that can no longer be answered is asked again** (novox/hq issue 1945). A build seat's stream gives an ask up
+// once it was delivered as often as its worker may (delivery.AskMaxDeliver), and a message given up on, dropped or
+// terminated with no step written is answered by no build node: the lane waiting for its step would wait for ever, and on
+// restart take over the same id and wait again. The builder notices it at the check bound (CheckAfter, the step bound),
+// a context's bound and no timer of its own: it asks Gone, which reads the bus, and asks such an ask again under a new
+// id, written into the key, said in its log and as the event build.asked-again, at most Askings times; then the key is
+// failed with why. A person asks the same by hand with the tool builder_ask_again (AskAgain).
+
+// DefaultAskings is how many times a build module's part of a build is asked, the first included, when Builder.Askings is 0.
+const DefaultAskings = 3
+
+// AskedAgainEvent is the event the builder says when it asked an ask again: mesh.mod.mesh-delivery-builder.event.<this>.
+const AskedAgainEvent = "build.asked-again"
+
+// AskedAgain is the body of AskedAgainEvent.
+type AskedAgain struct {
+	Key         string    `json:"key"`
+	Module      string    `json:"module"`
+	FP          string    `json:"fp"`
+	BuildModule string    `json:"build_module"`
+	Language    string    `json:"language"`
+	Old         string    `json:"old"`
+	New         string    `json:"new"`
+	Asking      int       `json:"asking"`
+	Askings     int       `json:"askings"`
+	Why         string    `json:"why"`
+	At          time.Time `json:"at"`
+}
+
+// AskSeen is what the bus says of an ask whose step has not ended, as the builder may read it: its build seat's stream
+// (information and messages by sequence) and its build module's steps. The builder may not read the seat workers'
+// delivery counts (granted to the delivery view alone), so a message given up on is told by what the workers did after it.
+type AskSeen struct {
+	Stream string
+	// Step is whether a build node wrote a step for the ask (running: the step bound of buildrun.Asker judges it).
+	Step bool
+	// OnStream is whether the stream still holds the ask's message; PutAt is when it was put, Ahead how many messages of
+	// its subject wait before it.
+	OnStream bool
+	PutAt    time.Time
+	Ahead    int
+	// Later is a step of the same build module that started after the ask was put, when one did.
+	Later *delivery.Step
+}
+
+// Why is why the ask can no longer be answered, or "" when it can: it has a step, waits behind others of its kind, or no
+// build node took any ask since it was put (the nodes are busy or paused: a backlog, never a fault, ADR 0525 §9).
+func (s AskSeen) Why() string {
+	switch {
+	case s.Step:
+		return ""
+	case !s.OnStream:
+		return fmt.Sprintf("no build node wrote a step for it and %s no longer holds it: it was given up on or dropped", s.Stream)
+	case s.Ahead > 0 || s.Later == nil:
+		return ""
+	default:
+		return fmt.Sprintf("it waits first in line on %s since %s while %s took a later ask at %s: its stream no longer delivers it (given up after its most deliveries)",
+			s.Stream, s.PutAt.UTC().Format(time.RFC3339), s.Later.Node, s.Later.Started.UTC().Format(time.RFC3339))
+	}
+}
+
+func (b *Builder) askings() int {
+	if b.Askings > 0 {
+		return b.Askings
+	}
+	return DefaultAskings
+}
+
+var askingWords = regexp.MustCompile(`asked (\S+) again \(asking (\d+)\)`)
+
+// askingOf is the asking a key's step words name for a build module's ask, 1 when none.
+func askingOf(step, buildModule string) int {
+	for _, m := range askingWords.FindAllStringSubmatch(step, -1) {
+		if m[1] == buildModule {
+			if n, err := strconv.Atoi(m[2]); err == nil && n > 0 {
+				return n
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	return 1
+}
+
+// AskAgain asks the waiting asks of a build key again now, under new ids (the tool builder_ask_again): it answers the
+// languages whose lane waits, none when no lane of this builder waits on the key.
+func (b *Builder) AskAgain(key, why string) []string {
+	b.init()
+	b.mu.Lock()
+	defer b.mu.Unlock()
+	var asked []string
+	for language, c := range b.waiting[key] {
+		select {
+		case c <- why:
+		default: // one is already asked
+		}
+		asked = append(asked, language)
+	}
+	return asked
+}
+
+// Waiting are the build keys whose lanes wait for a step now, each with its languages.
+func (b *Builder) Waiting() map[string][]string {
+	b.init()
+	b.mu.Lock()
+	defer b.mu.Unlock()
+	out := map[string][]string{}
+	for key, ls := range b.waiting {
+		for l := range ls {
+			out[key] = append(out[key], l)
+		}
+	}
+	return out
+}
+
+func (b *Builder) listen(key, language string) chan string {
+	b.init()
+	c := make(chan string, 1)
+	b.mu.Lock()
+	if b.waiting[key] == nil {
+		b.waiting[key] = map[string]chan string{}
+	}
+	b.waiting[key][language] = c
+	b.mu.Unlock()
+	return c
+}
+
+func (b *Builder) unlisten(key, language string, c chan string) {
+	b.mu.Lock()
+	if b.waiting[key][language] == c {
+		delete(b.waiting[key], language)
+		if len(b.waiting[key]) == 0 {
+			delete(b.waiting, key)
+		}
+	}
+	b.mu.Unlock()
+}
+
+var (
+	errCheck = errors.New("the check bound passed")
+	errAgain = errors.New("asked again")
+)
+
+type byHand struct{ why string }
+
+func (h byHand) Error() string { return "asked again by hand: " + h.why }
+
+// answer waits for the step of the lane's ask, and asks it again while it can no longer be answered (Gone) or a person
+// asked it again (AskAgain); it answers the step and the ask that has it.
+func (b *Builder) answer(ctx context.Context, l *lane, ask delivery.StepAsk, asked *askNotes, module, fp string) (delivery.Step, delivery.StepAsk, error) {
+	key, _ := delivery.BuilderBuildKey(module, fp)
+	again := b.listen(key, ask.Language)
+	defer b.unlisten(key, ask.Language, again)
+	asking := askingOf(asked.step, l.module)
+	for {
+		step, why, err := b.waitOnce(ctx, ask, again)
+		switch {
+		case errors.Is(err, errCheck):
+			continue
+		case errors.Is(err, errAgain):
+			if asking >= b.askings() {
+				return step, ask, fmt.Errorf("the ask %s could not be answered and was asked %d times, the most it is: %s", ask.ID, asking, why)
+			}
+			asking++
+			old := ask.ID
+			ask.ID, ask.At = buildstep.NewID(), time.Now()
+			if err := asked.note(ctx, ask.Language, ask.ID, fmt.Sprintf("asked %s again (asking %d): %s", l.module, asking, why)); err != nil {
+				return step, ask, fmt.Errorf("the ask of %s asked again could not be written to the key: %w", l.module, err)
+			}
+			if err := b.Asks.Put(ctx, ask); err != nil {
+				return step, ask, err
+			}
+			b.logf("%s: the ask %s of %s is asked again as %s (asking %d of %d): %s", key, old, l.module, ask.ID, asking, b.askings(), why)
+			if b.Said != nil {
+				b.Said(AskedAgain{Key: key, Module: module, FP: fp, BuildModule: l.module, Language: ask.Language, Old: old, New: ask.ID,
+					Asking: asking, Askings: b.askings(), Why: why, At: ask.At})
+			}
+		default:
+			return step, ask, err
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// waitOnce waits for the ask's step until it ends, a person asks it again, or the check bound passes: then it asks Gone
+// and answers errAgain with why when the ask can no longer be answered, errCheck when it waits on.
+func (b *Builder) waitOnce(ctx context.Context, ask delivery.StepAsk, again <-chan string) (delivery.Step, string, error) {
+	hand, cancel := context.WithCancelCause(ctx)
+	defer cancel(nil)
+	go func() {
+		select {
+		case why := <-again:
+			cancel(byHand{why})
+		case <-hand.Done():
+		}
+	}()
+	wait := hand
+	if b.Gone != nil && b.CheckAfter > 0 {
+		var stop context.CancelFunc
+		wait, stop = context.WithTimeoutCause(hand, b.CheckAfter, errCheck)
+		defer stop()
+	}
+	step, err := b.Asks.Wait(wait, ask)
+	if err == nil || ctx.Err() != nil {
+		return step, "", err
+	}
+	var h byHand
+	if errors.As(context.Cause(hand), &h) {
+		return step, strings.TrimSpace("asked again by hand: " + h.why), errAgain
+	}
+	if errors.Is(context.Cause(wait), errCheck) {
+		why, gerr := b.Gone.Gone(ctx, ask)
+		if gerr != nil {
+			b.logf("whether the ask %s can still be answered cannot be read, so it is waited for: %v", ask.ID, gerr)
+			return step, "", errCheck
+		}
+		if why == "" {
+			return step, "", errCheck
+		}
+		return step, why, errAgain
+	}
+	return step, "", err
+}

modules/mesh-delivery-builder/internal/build/run.go

@@ -56,6 +56,18 @@ type Builder struct {
 	// Trunk answers the head of a repository in the gate's source revision rev (source.main at that revision): the trunk a
 	// candidate's preview is merged onto (Candidate.Base). Nil builds no candidate's fingerprint, and says why.
 	Trunk func(ctx context.Context, rev uint64, repository string) (string, error)
+	// Gone says why an ask with no ended step can no longer be answered, or "" when it can (issue 1945): asked once the
+	// ask has waited CheckAfter, and again each CheckAfter it goes on waiting. An ask that cannot be answered is asked
+	// again under a new id, at most Askings times. Nil, or CheckAfter 0, never asks it.
+	Gone interface {
+		Gone(ctx context.Context, a delivery.StepAsk) (string, error)
+	}
+	CheckAfter time.Duration
+	// Askings is how many times one build module's part of a build is asked, the first included, before its key is failed
+	// with why; DefaultAskings when 0.
+	Askings int
+	// Said is told each ask asked again (the builder's event build.asked-again). Nil tells nobody.
+	Said func(AskedAgain)
 
 	once     sync.Once
 	sem      chan struct{}
@@ -75,6 +87,8 @@ type Builder struct {
 	// held are the done keys' references the store answered held, by `<key> <references>`, asked once per process: a
 	// blob collected later is found by the take-in, whose artifacts-gone forgets the key here (issue 1937).
 	held map[string]bool
+	// waiting are the lanes that wait for an ask's step, by build key and language: AskAgain asks through them.
+	waiting map[string]map[string]chan string
 }
 
 type planned struct {
@@ -91,7 +105,7 @@ func (b *Builder) init() {
 		b.sem = make(chan struct{}, limit)
 		b.cands, b.via, b.trunkFP = map[string]delivery.Candidate{}, map[string]via{}, map[string]bool{}
 		b.known, b.inflight, b.again, b.plans, b.tried = map[string]delivery.Module{}, map[string]bool{}, map[string]delivery.Module{}, map[string]planned{}, map[string]bool{}
-		b.published, b.held = map[string]bool{}, map[string]bool{}
+		b.published, b.held, b.waiting = map[string]bool{}, map[string]bool{}, map[string]map[string]chan string{}
 	})
 }
 
@@ -673,12 +687,14 @@ type askNotes struct {
 	b       *Builder
 	cl      *Claim
 	resumed map[string]string
+	// step is the step words of a key taken over at start: an ask asked again says its asking there (askingOf).
+	step string
 }
 
 func (b *Builder) notes(cl *Claim) *askNotes {
 	n := &askNotes{b: b, cl: cl}
 	if cl.Build.State == delivery.BuildBuilding && len(cl.Build.Asks) > 0 {
-		n.resumed = maps.Clone(cl.Build.Asks)
+		n.resumed, n.step = maps.Clone(cl.Build.Asks), cl.Build.Step
 	}
 	return n
 }
@@ -776,7 +792,7 @@ func (b *Builder) runLane(ctx context.Context, l *lane, repository string, m del
 			return
 		}
 	}
-	step, err := b.Asks.Wait(ctx, ask)
+	step, ask, err := b.answer(ctx, l, ask, asked, module, m.FP2)
 	if err != nil {
 		l.err = fmt.Errorf("%s: %w", l.module, err)
 		return

modules/mesh-delivery-builder/internal/build/run_test.go

@@ -616,27 +616,198 @@ func TestAFailedPublishOfACandidatesImageIsWrittenToTheKey(t *testing.T) { // re
 	}
 }
 
-// Review round 2 item 1: a build ask that waits in its stream longer than the step bound is not failed and not asked
-// again; the key is done when a node takes it.
-func TestABuildAskWaitingInItsStreamIsNotBounded(t *testing.T) {
-	r := newRig(t, goBundle)
-	r.asks.Answer = nil
-	r.b.Asks = buildrun.Asker{Publisher: r.asks, Waiter: r.asks, Bound: 20 * time.Millisecond}
-	r.b.Module(context.Background(), "m", moduleValue(t, "modules/m"))
-	for deadline := time.Now().Add(2 * time.Second); len(r.asks.Asks()) == 0; time.Sleep(time.Millisecond) {
+// goneAsks answers Gone from a function of the ask, and counts how often it was asked.
+type goneAsks struct {
+	mu  sync.Mutex
+	n   int
+	why func(a delivery.StepAsk) string
+}
+
+func (g *goneAsks) Gone(_ context.Context, a delivery.StepAsk) (string, error) {
+	g.mu.Lock()
+	g.n++
+	g.mu.Unlock()
+	return g.why(a), nil
+}
+
+func (g *goneAsks) asked() int {
+	g.mu.Lock()
+	defer g.mu.Unlock()
+	return g.n
+}
+
+// waitForAsks waits until n asks were put.
+func waitForAsks(t *testing.T, r *rig, n int) []delivery.StepAsk {
+	t.Helper()
+	for deadline := time.Now().Add(2 * time.Second); len(r.asks.Asks()) < n; time.Sleep(time.Millisecond) {
 		if time.Now().After(deadline) {
-			t.Fatal("no ask was put")
+			t.Fatalf("%d asks put, want %d", len(r.asks.Asks()), n)
 		}
 	}
-	time.Sleep(100 * time.Millisecond)
-	if v := valueOf(t, r.st, r.key); v.State != delivery.BuildBuilding {
-		t.Fatalf("the key = %+v while its ask waits, want building", v)
-	}
-	r.asks.End(r.answer(r.asks.Asks()[0]))
-	r.b.Wait()
-	if v := valueOf(t, r.st, r.key); v.State != delivery.BuildDone || len(r.asks.Asks()) != 1 {
-		t.Fatalf("the key = %+v after %d asks, want done from the one ask", v, len(r.asks.Asks()))
+	return r.asks.Asks()
+}
+
+// Review round 2 item 1: a build ask that waits in its stream longer than the step bound is not failed and not asked
+// again; the key is done when a node takes it. Issue 1945: an ask that can no longer be answered (its stream gave it up)
+// is asked again under a new id, said, at most Askings times; a person asks it again by hand the same way.
+func TestABuildAskWaitingInItsStreamIsNotBounded(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Run("waits in its stream: never asked again", func(t *testing.T) {
+		r := newRig(t, goBundle)
+		r.asks.Answer = nil
+		r.b.Asks = buildrun.Asker{Publisher: r.asks, Waiter: r.asks, Bound: 20 * time.Millisecond}
+		gone := &goneAsks{why: func(delivery.StepAsk) string { return "" }}
+		r.b.Gone, r.b.CheckAfter = gone, 5*time.Millisecond
+		r.b.Module(context.Background(), "m", moduleValue(t, "modules/m"))
+		waitForAsks(t, r, 1)
+		time.Sleep(100 * time.Millisecond)
+		if v := valueOf(t, r.st, r.key); v.State != delivery.BuildBuilding {
+			t.Fatalf("the key = %+v while its ask waits, want building", v)
+		}
+		if gone.asked() == 0 {
+			t.Fatal("whether the ask can still be answered was never read at the check bound") // 1945
+		}
+		r.asks.End(r.answer(r.asks.Asks()[0]))
+		r.b.Wait()
+		if v := valueOf(t, r.st, r.key); v.State != delivery.BuildDone || len(r.asks.Asks()) != 1 {
+			t.Fatalf("the key = %+v after %d asks, want done from the one ask", v, len(r.asks.Asks()))
+		}
+	})
+	for _, c := range []struct {
+		name    string
+		askings int
+		// step is the key's step words at start when it names an ask (a key taken over), "" for a fresh build.
+		step   string
+		byHand bool
+		always bool // Gone says every ask cannot be answered, not only the first
+		puts   int
+		done   bool
+		asking int // the asking the event says, 0 when none is said
+	}{
+		{name: "given up by its stream: asked again under a new id and done from it", puts: 2, done: true, asking: 2},
+		{name: "asked again by hand: the same, with no check bound", byHand: true, puts: 2, done: true, asking: 2},
+		{name: "never answerable: failed after its askings", askings: 2, always: true, puts: 2},
+		{name: "taken over at its last asking: failed, not asked again", askings: 3, always: true, step: "asked mesh-build-go again (asking 3): x", puts: 0},
+	} {
+		t.Run(c.name, func(t *testing.T) { // 1945
+			r := newRig(t, goBundle)
+			r.asks.Answer = nil
+			r.b.Askings = c.askings
+			var said []AskedAgain
+			var mu sync.Mutex
+			r.b.Said = func(e AskedAgain) { mu.Lock(); said = append(said, e); mu.Unlock() }
+			first := ""
+			if c.step != "" {
+				first = "mvl0frv18d1960"
+				data, _ := delivery.EncodeBuilderBuild(delivery.BuilderBuild{State: delivery.BuildBuilding, By: "novox.builder", Manifest: manifestD,
+					Step: c.step, Asks: map[string]string{delivery.AskGo: first}})
+				r.st.vals[r.key] = data
+			}
+			if !c.byHand {
+				r.b.Gone = &goneAsks{why: func(a delivery.StepAsk) string {
+					if c.always || a.ID == first || first == "" {
+						return "it waits first in line while a node took a later ask"
+					}
+					return ""
+				}}
+				r.b.CheckAfter = 5 * time.Millisecond
+			}
+			r.b.Module(context.Background(), "m", moduleValue(t, "modules/m"))
+			if c.byHand {
+				waitForAsks(t, r, 1)
+				for deadline := time.Now().Add(2 * time.Second); len(r.b.AskAgain(r.key, "stuck since 19:06")) == 0; time.Sleep(time.Millisecond) {
+					if time.Now().After(deadline) {
+						t.Fatal("no lane of the key waits")
+					}
+				}
+			}
+			if c.done {
+				asks := waitForAsks(t, r, c.puts)
+				if first == "" && !c.byHand {
+					first = asks[0].ID
+				}
+				last := asks[len(asks)-1]
+				if v := valueOf(t, r.st, r.key); v.Asks[delivery.AskGo] != last.ID || !strings.Contains(v.Step, "again (asking 2)") {
+					t.Fatalf("the key = %+v, want building naming the ask asked again %s", v, last.ID)
+				}
+				r.asks.End(r.answer(last))
+			}
+			r.b.Wait()
+			v := valueOf(t, r.st, r.key)
+			if n := len(r.asks.Asks()); n != c.puts {
+				t.Errorf("%d asks put, want %d", n, c.puts)
+			}
+			if c.done && v.State != delivery.BuildDone {
+				t.Errorf("the key = %+v, want done from the ask asked again", v)
+			}
+			if !c.done && (v.State != delivery.BuildFailed || !strings.Contains(v.Error, "could not be answered and was asked")) {
+				t.Errorf("the key = %+v, want failed saying the ask could not be answered", v)
+			}
+			mu.Lock()
+			defer mu.Unlock()
+			if c.asking > 0 && (len(said) != 1 || said[0].Asking != c.asking || said[0].New == said[0].Old || said[0].Key != r.key || said[0].Why == "") {
+				t.Errorf("said %+v, want once at asking %d", said, c.asking)
+			}
+		})
 	}
+	t.Run("what the bus says of an ask", func(t *testing.T) { // 1945
+		put := time.Date(2026, 10, 25, 17, 6, 0, 0, time.UTC)
+		later := &delivery.Step{Node: "g14", Started: put.Add(time.Minute)}
+		for _, c := range []struct {
+			seen AskSeen
+			want string // a part of the why, "" when it can be answered
+		}{
+			{AskSeen{Stream: "S", Step: true}, ""},
+			{AskSeen{Stream: "S"}, "no longer holds it"},
+			{AskSeen{Stream: "S", OnStream: true, PutAt: put, Later: later}, "no longer delivers it"},
+			{AskSeen{Stream: "S", OnStream: true, PutAt: put, Ahead: 2, Later: later}, ""},
+			{AskSeen{Stream: "S", OnStream: true, PutAt: put}, ""},
+		} {
+			got := c.seen.Why()
+			if (c.want == "") != (got == "") || !strings.Contains(got, c.want) {
+				t.Errorf("%+v: why %q, want %q", c.seen, got, c.want)
+			}
+		}
+	})
+	t.Run("the tool builder_stuck", func(t *testing.T) { // 1945
+		at := time.Date(2026, 10, 25, 17, 6, 0, 0, time.UTC)
+		state := func(vals map[string]string) StateRead {
+			return StateRead{Keys: func() ([]string, error) {
+				var ks []string
+				for k := range vals {
+					ks = append(ks, k)
+				}
+				return ks, nil
+			}, Get: func(k string) (json.RawMessage, time.Time, error) {
+				if v, ok := vals[k]; ok {
+					return json.RawMessage(v), at, nil
+				}
+				return nil, time.Time{}, nil
+			}}
+		}
+		key, _ := delivery.BuilderBuildKey("m", fp1)
+		done, _ := delivery.BuilderBuildKey("d", fp1)
+		building, _ := delivery.EncodeBuilderBuild(delivery.BuilderBuild{State: delivery.BuildBuilding, By: "novox.builder", Manifest: manifestD,
+			Step: "asked mesh-build-go again (asking 2): x", Asks: map[string]string{delivery.AskGo: "mvo53jcm70b5f7", delivery.AskImage: "mvo53jcm70b5f8"}})
+		finished, _ := delivery.EncodeBuilderBuild(delivery.BuilderBuild{State: delivery.BuildDone, Manifest: manifestD, Step: "built"})
+		running, _ := json.Marshal(delivery.Step{V: delivery.Version, ID: "mvo53jcm70b5f8", Tool: "delivery ask", Node: "g14", State: delivery.StepRunning, Started: at})
+		_, reask, _ := NewReAsk("m", fp1, "stuck", "shanks.lead", at)
+		r := StuckReader{Builds: state(map[string]string{key: string(building), done: string(finished)}), ReAsks: state(map[string]string{key: string(reask)}),
+			Steps: map[string]StateRead{buildrun.GoBuildModule: state(map[string]string{}), ImageBuildModule: state(map[string]string{"g14.mvo53jcm70b5f8": string(running)})},
+			Now:   func() time.Time { return at.Add(time.Hour) }}
+		out, err := r.Stuck("")
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		stuck := out["stuck"].([]Stuck)
+		if len(stuck) != 1 || stuck[0].Key != key || stuck[0].Age != "1h0m0s" || stuck[0].NoneStep != 1 || stuck[0].ReAsk == nil || stuck[0].ReAsk.Why != "stuck" {
+			t.Fatalf("stuck = %+v, want the building key alone, an hour old, one ask with no step, with its ask again", stuck)
+		}
+		a := stuck[0].Asks
+		if len(a) != 2 || a[0].Language != delivery.AskGo || a[0].Asking != 2 || a[0].Step != "none" || a[0].Asked.IsZero() ||
+			a[1].Asking != 1 || !strings.HasPrefix(a[1].Step, "running on g14") {
+			t.Fatalf("asks = %+v, want go at asking 2 with no step and image at asking 1 running on g14", a)
+		}
+	})
 }
 
 // heldAsks says an ask is held when its id is among held.

modules/mesh-delivery-builder/internal/build/stuck.go

@@ -0,0 +1,200 @@
+package build
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"sort"
+	"strconv"
+	"strings"
+	"time"
+
+	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/delivery"
+	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/delivery/buildrun"
+)
+
+// The builder's tools (novox/hq issue 1945; the instruction "tools are how a module is spoken to"): builder_stuck reads
+// every key that waits on an ask, builder_ask_again asks a key's build again now. The tools bundle serves them through
+// the tool runner; the builder's process serves no tool (ADR 0437 §4), so builder_ask_again writes the ask into the
+// builder's state reasks, which the builder watches and answers there.
+const (
+	StuckTool    = "builder_stuck"
+	AskAgainTool = "builder_ask_again"
+	// ReAsksState is the builder's state of asks to ask again: the bucket mesh-delivery-builder_reasks, keyed as the build key.
+	ReAsksState  = "reasks"
+	ReAsksBucket = delivery.BuilderModule + "_" + ReAsksState
+)
+
+// ReAsk is a value of the reasks state: why a person asked the key's build again, who and when, and, once the builder
+// read it, its answer.
+type ReAsk struct {
+	V        int       `json:"v"`
+	Why      string    `json:"why"`
+	By       string    `json:"by,omitempty"`
+	At       time.Time `json:"at"`
+	Answer   string    `json:"answer,omitempty"`
+	Answered time.Time `json:"answered,omitzero"`
+}
+
+// DecodeReAsk reads a reasks value.
+func DecodeReAsk(data []byte) (ReAsk, error) {
+	var r ReAsk
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(data, &r); err != nil {
+		return r, err
+	}
+	if r.V != 1 {
+		return r, fmt.Errorf("a reasks value of version %d, not 1", r.V)
+	}
+	return r, nil
+}
+
+// NewReAsk is the value builder_ask_again writes for a module's fingerprint: its key and the value.
+func NewReAsk(module, fp, why, by string, at time.Time) (string, []byte, error) {
+	key, err := delivery.BuilderBuildKey(module, fp)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", nil, err
+	}
+	if strings.TrimSpace(why) == "" {
+		return "", nil, errors.New("say why the build is asked again (why)")
+	}
+	data, err := json.Marshal(ReAsk{V: 1, Why: strings.TrimSpace(why), By: by, At: at.UTC()})
+	return key, data, err
+}
+
+// StateRead is a state the tools read: its keys, and a key's value with when it was written (zero when not known).
+type StateRead struct {
+	Keys func() ([]string, error)
+	Get  func(key string) (json.RawMessage, time.Time, error)
+}
+
+// StuckAsk is one ask a key waits on.
+type StuckAsk struct {
+	Language    string `json:"language"`
+	BuildModule string `json:"build_module"`
+	ID          string `json:"id"`
+	Asking      int    `json:"asking"`
+	// Asked is when the ask was put, read from its id; Step is what its build module's steps hold of it: none, or its
+	// state on its node since its start.
+	Asked time.Time `json:"asked,omitzero"`
+	Step  string    `json:"step"`
+}
+
+// Stuck is one build key that waits on an ask.
+type Stuck struct {
+	Key      string     `json:"key"`
+	Module   string     `json:"module"`
+	FP       string     `json:"fp"`
+	State    string     `json:"state"`
+	Step     string     `json:"step"`
+	By       string     `json:"by"`
+	Since    time.Time  `json:"since,omitzero"`
+	Age      string     `json:"age,omitempty"`
+	Asks     []StuckAsk `json:"asks"`
+	ReAsk    *ReAsk     `json:"reask,omitempty"`
+	Unasked  bool       `json:"unasked,omitempty"`
+	NoneStep int        `json:"asks_with_no_step"`
+}
+
+// StuckReader reads what builder_stuck answers.
+type StuckReader struct {
+	Builds StateRead
+	ReAsks StateRead
+	// Steps are the build modules' steps states, by build module.
+	Steps map[string]StateRead
+	Now   func() time.Time
+}
+
+// Stuck is every key building or queued with its asks, oldest first; with module, that module's only.
+func (r StuckReader) Stuck(module string) (map[string]any, error) {
+	keys, err := r.Builds.Keys()
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	now := time.Now
+	if r.Now != nil {
+		now = r.Now
+	}
+	stepKeys := map[string][]string{}
+	for bm, s := range r.Steps {
+		ks, err := s.Keys()
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("the steps of %s: %w", bm, err)
+		}
+		stepKeys[bm] = ks
+	}
+	out := []Stuck{}
+	for _, key := range keys {
+		mod, fp, err := delivery.ParseBuilderBuildKey(key)
+		if err != nil || (module != "" && mod != module) {
+			continue
+		}
+		raw, at, err := r.Builds.Get(key)
+		if err != nil || raw == nil {
+			continue
+		}
+		v, err := delivery.DecodeBuilderBuild(raw)
+		if err != nil || (v.State != delivery.BuildBuilding && v.State != delivery.BuildQueued) {
+			continue
+		}
+		s := Stuck{Key: key, Module: mod, FP: fp, State: v.State, Step: v.Step, By: v.By, Since: at, Asks: []StuckAsk{}}
+		if !at.IsZero() {
+			s.Age = now().Sub(at).Round(time.Second).String()
+		}
+		for language, id := range v.Asks {
+			bm, _ := delivery.BuildModuleOf(language)
+			a := StuckAsk{Language: language, BuildModule: bm, ID: id, Asking: askingOf(v.Step, bm), Step: "none"}
+			if t, ok := idTime(id); ok {
+				a.Asked = t
+			}
+			if st, ok := r.Steps[bm]; ok {
+				for _, k := range stepKeys[bm] {
+					if !strings.HasSuffix(k, "."+id) {
+						continue
+					}
+					if raw, _, err := st.Get(k); err == nil && raw != nil {
+						if step, err := delivery.DecodeStep(raw); err == nil {
+							a.Step = fmt.Sprintf("%s on %s since %s", step.State, step.Node, step.Started.UTC().Format(time.RFC3339))
+						}
+					}
+				}
+			}
+			if a.Step == "none" {
+				s.NoneStep++
+			}
+			s.Asks = append(s.Asks, a)
+		}
+		sort.Slice(s.Asks, func(i, j int) bool { return s.Asks[i].Language < s.Asks[j].Language })
+		s.Unasked = v.State == delivery.BuildBuilding && len(v.Asks) == 0
+		if r.ReAsks.Get != nil {
+			if raw, _, err := r.ReAsks.Get(key); err == nil && raw != nil {
+				if ra, err := DecodeReAsk(raw); err == nil {
+					s.ReAsk = &ra
+				}
+			}
+		}
+		out = append(out, s)
+	}
+	sort.Slice(out, func(i, j int) bool {
+		if !out[i].Since.Equal(out[j].Since) {
+			return out[i].Since.Before(out[j].Since)
+		}
+		return out[i].Key < out[j].Key
+	})
+	return map[string]any{"stuck": out, "count": len(out),
+		"delivery_counts": "not readable by the builder: the build seats' workers' information is granted to the delivery view alone (its backlog); an ask given up on is told by the builder at its check bound and asked again"}, nil
+}
+
+// StuckBuildModules are the build modules whose steps builder_stuck reads.
+var StuckBuildModules = []string{buildrun.GoBuildModule, buildrun.NodeBuildModule, ImageBuildModule}
+
+// idTime is when a step id was made (buildstep.NewID: the time in milliseconds in base 36, then six hex digits).
+func idTime(id string) (time.Time, bool) {
+	if len(id) <= 6 {
+		return time.Time{}, false
+	}
+	ms, err := strconv.ParseInt(id[:len(id)-6], 36, 64)
+	if err != nil || ms <= 0 {
+		return time.Time{}, false
+	}
+	return time.UnixMilli(ms).UTC(), true
+}

modules/mesh-delivery-builder/manifest_test.go

@@ -23,18 +23,21 @@ type state struct {
 }
 
 type artifact struct {
-	Name     string `json:"name"`
-	Kind     string `json:"kind"`
-	Language string `json:"language"`
-	System   string `json:"system"`
-	From     string `json:"from"`
-	Binary   string `json:"binary"`
+	Name     string   `json:"name"`
+	Kind     string   `json:"kind"`
+	Language string   `json:"language"`
+	System   string   `json:"system"`
+	From     string   `json:"from"`
+	Binary   string   `json:"binary"`
+	Loads    []string `json:"loads"`
 }
 
 type manifest struct {
 	Module   string   `json:"module"`
 	Version  string   `json:"version"`
 	Slug     string   `json:"slug"`
+	Tools    []string `json:"tools"`
+	Emits    []string `json:"emits"`
 	Consumes []string `json:"consumes"`
 	State    []state  `json:"state"`
 	Reads    []string `json:"reads"`
@@ -84,7 +87,7 @@ func TestManifestDeclarations(t *testing.T) { // 1607/AC1
 	if m.Module != "mesh-delivery-builder" {
 		t.Errorf("module = %q", m.Module)
 	}
-	if want := []state{{Name: "builds", History: 5}, {Name: "instances", History: 1}}; !reflect.DeepEqual(m.State, want) { // delivery.BuilderBuildsHistory
+	if want := []state{{Name: "builds", History: 5}, {Name: "instances", History: 1}, {Name: "reasks", History: 1}}; !reflect.DeepEqual(m.State, want) { // delivery.BuilderBuildsHistory
 		t.Errorf("state = %+v, want %+v", m.State, want)
 	}
 	// 1887/A4c: the builder chooses no node, so it reads neither presence nor have, invokes no build module's tool and
@@ -112,7 +115,14 @@ func TestManifestDeclarations(t *testing.T) { // 1607/AC1
 	if m.SecretsOwner != "mesh-delivery-builder" {
 		t.Errorf("secrets-owner = %q", m.SecretsOwner)
 	}
-	for _, k := range []string{"streams", "logs", "emits", "claims", "provides", "requires", "defines-seats", "tools", "seat", "seats", "bus", "config"} {
+	// 1945: the builder's tools, served by its tools bundle, and the event it says when it asks an ask again.
+	if want := []string{"builder_ask_again", "builder_stuck"}; !reflect.DeepEqual(sorted(m.Tools), want) {
+		t.Errorf("tools = %v, want %v", m.Tools, want)
+	}
+	if want := []string{"build.asked-again"}; !reflect.DeepEqual(m.Emits, want) {
+		t.Errorf("emits = %v, want %v", m.Emits, want)
+	}
+	for _, k := range []string{"streams", "logs", "claims", "provides", "requires", "defines-seats", "seat", "seats", "bus", "config"} {
 		if _, ok := top[k]; ok {
 			t.Errorf("the manifest declares %q: the builder has none", k)
 		}
@@ -127,7 +137,7 @@ func TestManifestProcess(t *testing.T) { // 1607/AC1
 			procs = append(procs, r)
 		}
 		if r["type"] == "tool" || r["type"] == "seat" {
-			t.Errorf("resource %v: the builder serves no tool and holds no seat", r)
+			t.Errorf("resource %v: the builder's tools are its bundle's, and it holds no seat", r)
 		}
 	}
 	if len(procs) != 1 {
@@ -149,8 +159,13 @@ func TestManifestProcess(t *testing.T) { // 1607/AC1
 	if _, bus := p["bus"]; bus {
 		t.Errorf("the process declares a bus: it runs on its own broker credential")
 	}
-	if len(m.Build.Artifacts) != 1 {
-		t.Fatalf("artifacts = %+v, want the program alone", m.Build.Artifacts)
+	if len(m.Build.Artifacts) != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("artifacts = %+v, want the program and the tools", m.Build.Artifacts)
+	}
+	if a := m.Build.Artifacts[1]; a.Name != "tools" || a.Kind != "bundle" || a.Binary != "mesh-delivery-builder-tools" || !reflect.DeepEqual(a.Loads, []string{"mesh-delivery-builder-tools"}) {
+		t.Errorf("tools artifact = %+v", a) // 1945
+	} else if st, err := os.Stat(a.From); err != nil || !st.IsDir() {
+		t.Errorf("the tools' source %s: %v", a.From, err)
 	}
 	a := m.Build.Artifacts[0]
 	if st, err := os.Stat(a.From); err != nil || !st.IsDir() || a.Binary != "mesh-delivery-builder" || !strings.HasSuffix(a.From, a.Binary) || a.Kind != "bundle" || a.Language != "go" {

modules/mesh-delivery-builder/module.json

@@ -2,6 +2,13 @@
   "module": "mesh-delivery-builder",
   "version": "1",
   "slug": "builder",
+  "tools": [
+    "builder_ask_again",
+    "builder_stuck"
+  ],
+  "emits": [
+    "build.asked-again"
+  ],
   "consumes": [
     "mesh-build-go.toolchain.reported",
     "mesh-build-node.toolchain.reported",
@@ -12,7 +19,8 @@
   ],
   "state": [
     { "name": "builds", "history": 5 },
-    { "name": "instances", "history": 1 }
+    { "name": "instances", "history": 1 },
+    { "name": "reasks", "history": 1 }
   ],
   "reads": [
     "mesh-build-go.steps",
@@ -78,6 +86,17 @@
         "system": "arch",
         "from": "cmd/mesh-delivery-builder",
         "binary": "mesh-delivery-builder"
+      },
+      {
+        "name": "tools",
+        "kind": "bundle",
+        "language": "go",
+        "system": "arch",
+        "from": "cmd/mesh-delivery-builder-tools",
+        "binary": "mesh-delivery-builder-tools",
+        "loads": [
+          "mesh-delivery-builder-tools"
+        ]
       }
     ]
   }

modules/mesh-delivery-checker/cmd/mesh-delivery-checker/main.go

@@ -152,17 +152,12 @@ func run(ctx context.Context, getenv func(string) string, logOut io.Writer) erro
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	bucket := func(name string) (jetstream.KeyValue, error) {
-		kv, err := js.KeyValue(ctx, name)
-		if err != nil {
-			return nil, fmt.Errorf("the bucket %s: %w", name, err)
-		}
-		return kv, nil
-	}
+	// Its own states, the candidates it checks, and the modules and manifests that say which build modules judge a repository:
+	// a check without one of them would be wrong or unwritten, so each stops the start, naming its grant (issue 1945).
 	buckets := map[string]jetstream.KeyValue{}
 	for _, name := range []string{delivery.CheckerVerdictsBucket, delivery.CheckerKeptBucket, delivery.CheckerOwedBucket, delivery.PreviewsBucket,
 		delivery.CandidatesBucket, delivery.ModulesBucket, delivery.ManifestsBucket, check.TriesBucket} {
-		if buckets[name], err = bucket(name); err != nil {
+		if buckets[name], err = process.EssentialBucket(ctx, js, "checker", name, "judge or keep a check"); err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
 	}
@@ -212,12 +207,7 @@ func run(ctx context.Context, getenv func(string) string, logOut io.Writer) erro
 	// The builder's builds say how the candidates' fingerprints stand (issue 1684); where its bucket is not there yet the line
 	// says nothing of the builds, until the checker starts again.
 	var builds check.BuildStates
-	switch kv, err := js.KeyValue(ctx, delivery.BuilderBuildsBucket); {
-	case errors.Is(err, jetstream.ErrBucketNotFound):
-		logger.Printf("the bucket %s does not exist yet: the line says nothing of the builds until the checker starts again", delivery.BuilderBuildsBucket)
-	case err != nil:
-		return fmt.Errorf("the bucket %s: %w", delivery.BuilderBuildsBucket, err)
-	default:
+	if kv := process.OptionalBucket(ctx, js, delivery.BuilderBuildsBucket, "the line says nothing of the builds until the checker starts again", logger.Printf); kv != nil {
 		builds = buildReader{kvStore{kv}}
 	}
 	// The assigner's compositions (ADR 0528 clause 5, issue 1297): their bucket is looked up at each check until it is
@@ -290,47 +280,38 @@ func run(ctx context.Context, getenv func(string) string, logOut io.Writer) erro
 	// the assigner's own presence says whether a composition is being made (compositionWatch, ADR 0537 §4). A check is no
 	// longer held for a node: its asks wait in the build seats' streams, which redeliver a lost node's ask (ADR 0525 §6,
 	// issue 1912), so the node-engine's have is not watched here.
-	switch kv, err := js.KeyValue(ctx, delivery.PresenceBucket); {
-	case errors.Is(err, jetstream.ErrBucketNotFound):
-		logger.Printf("the bucket %s does not exist yet: no node counts as online until the checker starts again", delivery.PresenceBucket)
-	case err != nil:
-		return fmt.Errorf("the bucket %s: %w", delivery.PresenceBucket, err)
-	default:
-		pw, err := settle(ctx, kv, func(e jetstream.KeyValueEntry) { presence.Put(e.Key(), e.Value(), !opOf(e)) })
-		if err != nil {
-			return err
+	if kv := process.OptionalBucket(ctx, js, delivery.PresenceBucket, "no node counts as online until the checker starts again", logger.Printf); kv != nil {
+		if pw, err := settle(ctx, kv, func(e jetstream.KeyValueEntry) { presence.Put(e.Key(), e.Value(), !opOf(e)) }); err != nil {
+			process.NotWatched(logger.Printf, delivery.PresenceBucket, err, "no node counts as online until the checker starts again")
+		} else {
+			go func() {
+				errs <- follow(ctx, pw, func(e jetstream.KeyValueEntry) {
+					if presence.Put(e.Key(), e.Value(), !opOf(e)) {
+						ch.NodesChanged(ctx) // a node came online or went: a check whose forge was not heard may now be heard
+					}
+				})
+			}()
 		}
-		go func() {
-			errs <- follow(ctx, pw, func(e jetstream.KeyValueEntry) {
-				if presence.Put(e.Key(), e.Value(), !opOf(e)) {
-					ch.NodesChanged(ctx) // a node came online or went: a check whose forge was not heard may now be heard
-				}
-			})
-		}()
 	}
 	// The gate's source says the trunk head of each repository, which a pull request is merged onto. Where it is not there
 	// yet no trunk is known, so nothing is checked.
-	switch kv, err := js.KeyValue(ctx, delivery.SourceBucket); {
-	case errors.Is(err, jetstream.ErrBucketNotFound):
-		logger.Printf("the bucket %s does not exist yet: no trunk is known until the checker starts again", delivery.SourceBucket)
-	case err != nil:
-		return fmt.Errorf("the bucket %s: %w", delivery.SourceBucket, err)
-	default:
+	if kv := process.OptionalBucket(ctx, js, delivery.SourceBucket, "no trunk is known, so nothing is checked until the checker starts again", logger.Printf); kv != nil {
 		sw, err := settle(ctx, kv, func(e jetstream.KeyValueEntry) {
 			if e.Key() == delivery.SourceMainKey {
 				trunks.Put(e.Value(), !opOf(e))
 			}
 		})
 		if err != nil {
-			return err
+			process.NotWatched(logger.Printf, delivery.SourceBucket, err, "no trunk is known, so nothing is checked until the checker starts again")
+		} else {
+			go func() {
+				errs <- follow(ctx, sw, func(e jetstream.KeyValueEntry) {
+					if e.Key() == delivery.SourceMainKey && trunks.Put(e.Value(), !opOf(e)) {
+						ch.TrunkMoved(ctx) // the trunk moved: its statuses go pending, and a verdict for the old trunk is judged again
+					}
+				})
+			}()
 		}
-		go func() {
-			errs <- follow(ctx, sw, func(e jetstream.KeyValueEntry) {
-				if e.Key() == delivery.SourceMainKey && trunks.Put(e.Value(), !opOf(e)) {
-					ch.TrunkMoved(ctx) // the trunk moved: its statuses go pending, and a verdict for the old trunk is judged again
-				}
-			})
-		}()
 	}
 	// The modules say which repository holds a TypeScript module, so the Node build module judges it too.
 	mw, err := settle(ctx, buckets[delivery.ModulesBucket], func(e jetstream.KeyValueEntry) { repos.Put(ctx, e.Key(), e.Value(), !opOf(e)) })

modules/mesh-delivery-checker/cmd/mesh-delivery-checker/standing.go

@@ -193,7 +193,9 @@ func watchAssignments(ctx context.Context, js bucketOpener, gate *toolchainGate,
 	each := func(e jetstream.KeyValueEntry) { gate.Assignment(e.Key(), e.Value(), !opOf(e), e.Created()) }
 	w, err := settle(ctx, kv, each)
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("the bucket %s: %w", provider.AssignmentsBucket, err)
+		// Not fatal either (issue 1945): a watch the bus refuses is the same missing grant as a refused read.
+		logger.Printf("the bucket %s cannot be watched, so every node's toolchain report counts, an unassigned build node's too (issue 1940): %v", provider.AssignmentsBucket, err)
+		return errs, nil
 	}
 	if gate.Settled() {
 		changed(ctx)

modules/mesh-delivery-checker/cmd/mesh-delivery-checker/standing_test.go

@@ -3,11 +3,19 @@ package main
 // The same in mesh-delivery-indexer, mesh-delivery-builder and mesh-delivery-checker, as standing.go is (issue 1940).
 
 import (
+	"bytes"
+	"context"
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
+	"log"
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
 	"time"
 
+	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/process"
+
+	"github.com/nats-io/nats.go/jetstream"
+
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/delivery"
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/delivery/buildrun"
 )
@@ -89,6 +97,51 @@ func TestAnUnassignedBuildNodesReportIsNoBuilder(t *testing.T) {
 	if n := len(set.Entries("typescript")); n != 2 {
 		t.Fatalf("novox and shanks are left; got %d entries", n)
 	}
+
+	// 1945 (a part exits at start for a bucket it works without): a bus that refuses the assignments' watch, or every
+	// toolchains bucket, leaves the watches unstarted and the part running, said; a refused bucket it cannot work without
+	// is an error naming the bucket and its grant.
+	var logs bytes.Buffer
+	logger := log.New(&logs, "", 0)
+	refused := refusingBus{err: errors.New("nats: permissions violation for publish to $JS.API.CONSUMER.CREATE.KV_mesh-controller_assignments")}
+	if _, err := watchAssignments(context.Background(), refused, newToolchainGate(nil, set.Put, t.Logf), func(context.Context) {}, logger); err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("a refused watch of the assignments stopped the start: %v", err)
+	}
+	if err := newToolchainWatch(context.Background(), refusingBus{refuseOpen: true, err: refused.err}, set, func(context.Context) {}, logger).start(); err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("a refused toolchains bucket stopped the start: %v", err)
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(logs.String(), "cannot be watched") || !strings.Contains(logs.String(), "cannot be read") {
+		t.Errorf("the refusals were not said: %q", logs.String())
+	}
+	if _, err := process.EssentialBucket(context.Background(), refusingBus{refuseOpen: true, err: refused.err}, "checker", "mesh-delivery-indexer_modules", "work"); err == nil ||
+		!strings.Contains(err.Error(), "grant of mesh-delivery-indexer_modules") {
+		t.Errorf("a refused bucket the part needs: %v, want an error naming its grant", err)
+	}
+}
+
+// refusingBus is a bus that refuses: every open (refuseOpen), or every watch of a bucket it opens, with err.
+type refusingBus struct {
+	refuseOpen bool
+	err        error
+}
+
+func (r refusingBus) KeyValue(context.Context, string) (jetstream.KeyValue, error) {
+	if r.refuseOpen {
+		return nil, r.err
+	}
+	return refusedWatch{err: r.err}, nil
+}
+
+type refusedWatch struct {
+	jetstream.KeyValue
+	err error
+}
+
+func (r refusedWatch) WatchAll(context.Context, ...jetstream.WatchOpt) (jetstream.KeyWatcher, error) {
+	return nil, r.err
+}
+func (r refusedWatch) Watch(context.Context, string, ...jetstream.WatchOpt) (jetstream.KeyWatcher, error) {
+	return nil, r.err
 }
 
 // A build node's report counts from the first one it writes since its assignment: a newly assigned node that has not

modules/mesh-delivery-checker/cmd/mesh-delivery-checker/toolchains.go

@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 	"sync"
 
+	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/process"
+
 	"github.com/nats-io/nats.go/jetstream"
 
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/delivery"
@@ -63,11 +65,14 @@ func (w *toolchainWatch) ensure(module string) error {
 		w.logger.Printf("the bucket %s does not exist yet: it is watched when %s reports a toolchain", name, module)
 		return nil
 	case err != nil:
-		return fmt.Errorf("the bucket %s: %w", name, err)
+		// Refused or not answered (its grant not on the bus yet, issue 1945): said, and opened again at the module's next report.
+		w.logger.Printf("the bucket %s cannot be read (%v): %s's toolchains are not heard until its next report", name, err, module)
+		return nil
 	}
 	watcher, err := settle(w.ctx, kv, func(e jetstream.KeyValueEntry) { w.put(module, e.Key(), e.Value(), !opOf(e)) })
 	if err != nil {
-		return err
+		process.NotWatched(w.logger.Printf, name, err, fmt.Sprintf("%s's toolchains are not heard until its next report", module))
+		return nil
 	}
 	w.watched[module] = true
 	go func() {

modules/mesh-delivery-checker/go.mod

@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ module mesh-delivery-checker
 go 1.26.0
 
 require (
-	git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261023213200-403a5d72ab93
+	git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261025211220-e0d1de047585
 	github.com/nats-io/nats-server/v2 v2.11.17
 	github.com/nats-io/nats.go v1.54.0
 )

modules/mesh-delivery-checker/go.sum

@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261023213200-403a5d72ab93 h1:FAiFY2KBKEoZSH49OZTt7/zRBIQxyl5g/KhYrpggbN4=
 git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261023213200-403a5d72ab93/go.mod h1:ouERNpZizzwZ0HLEtAypsY9FR20FyUgUYRni6J7kVCY=
+git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261025211220-e0d1de047585 h1:7QoFH5qjXRpx5M4uPdYsVJ5qKl2082gq8n0lFxhoNIg=
+git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261025211220-e0d1de047585/go.mod h1:ouERNpZizzwZ0HLEtAypsY9FR20FyUgUYRni6J7kVCY=
 github.com/antithesishq/antithesis-sdk-go v0.7.0-default-no-op h1:Z/MZK75wC/NSrkgqeNIa7jexam9uWzhLmFTSCPI/kn0=
 github.com/antithesishq/antithesis-sdk-go v0.7.0-default-no-op/go.mod h1:FQyySiasQQM8735Ddel3MRojmy4dA1IqCeyJ5jmPMbI=
 github.com/google/go-tpm v0.9.8 h1:slArAR9Ft+1ybZu0lBwpSmpwhRXaa85hWtMinMyRAWo=

modules/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/cmd/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/main.go

@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@ import (
 	"syscall"
 	"time"
 
+	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/process"
+
 	"github.com/nats-io/nats.go"
 	"github.com/nats-io/nats.go/jetstream"
 
@@ -188,18 +190,18 @@ func run(ctx context.Context, getenv func(string) string, logOut io.Writer) erro
 	call := callerOn(conn, cred.User)
 	// No forge event is heard while the open pull requests are read and said (ADR 0443 §5): events and syncs take turns.
 	var turn sync.Mutex
-	kv, err := js.KeyValue(ctx, headsBucket)
+	kv, err := process.EssentialBucket(ctx, js, "bridge", headsBucket, "keep the heads it wrote on the forge stream")
 	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("the bucket %s: %w", headsBucket, err)
+		return err
 	}
 	heads := kvHeads{kv}
 	// Everything written on FORGE, an event's and a sync's, keeps the head in the bucket.
 	rec := &recorder{pub: js, heads: heads, logger: logger}
 	said := func(ctx context.Context) error { return syncOpen(ctx, call, rec, heads, &turn, logger) }
 	// What the gate asks of the forge (ADR 0437 §8): its owed acts and its merges, each performed once per revision.
-	performedKV, err := js.KeyValue(ctx, performedBucket)
+	performedKV, err := process.EssentialBucket(ctx, js, "bridge", performedBucket, "perform an act of the gate only once")
 	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("the bucket %s: %w", performedBucket, err)
+		return err
 	}
 	perf := &performer{call: call, pub: rec, done: kvRevisions{performedKV}, logger: logger}
 	watching := make(chan error, 3)
@@ -207,16 +209,12 @@ func run(ctx context.Context, getenv func(string) string, logOut io.Writer) erro
 		bucket string
 		react  func(ctx context.Context, key string, rev uint64, value []byte)
 	}{{delivery.OwedBucket, perf.owed}, {delivery.MergesBucket, perf.merges}} {
-		kv, err := js.KeyValue(ctx, w.bucket)
-		if errors.Is(err, jetstream.ErrBucketNotFound) {
-			// The gate's buckets come with the gate; the bridge does not wait for them (no timer), and is started again
-			// by its delivery when the gate arrives.
-			logger.Printf("the bucket %s does not exist yet: nothing of it is performed until the bridge starts again", w.bucket)
+		// The gate's buckets come with the gate and its grant; the bridge does not wait for them (no timer), and is started
+		// again by its delivery when the gate arrives. A bucket refused or not answered is the same (issue 1945).
+		kv := process.OptionalBucket(ctx, js, w.bucket, "nothing of it is performed until the bridge starts again", logger.Printf)
+		if kv == nil {
 			continue
 		}
-		if err != nil {
-			return fmt.Errorf("the bucket %s: %w", w.bucket, err)
-		}
 		go func() {
 			watching <- watch(ctx, kv, func(key string, rev uint64, value []byte) {
 				hctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(ctx, syncDeadline)
@@ -231,7 +229,8 @@ func run(ctx context.Context, getenv func(string) string, logOut io.Writer) erro
 	go onReconnect(ctx, again, said, logger)
 	cons, err := js.Consumer(ctx, eventsStream, cred.Node+"_"+cred.Module)
 	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("the consumer %s_%s on %s: %w", cred.Node, cred.Module, eventsStream, err)
+		// Essential: the forge's events are what the bridge carries.
+		return fmt.Errorf("the consumer %s_%s on %s cannot be read (%v): the bridge hears no forge event without it, so it stops; where the bus refused it or did not answer, this module's consumes (made by the controller with its grant) have not reached the bus yet", cred.Node, cred.Module, eventsStream, err)
 	}
 	cc, err := cons.Consume(func(m jetstream.Msg) {
 		hear(&turn, func() {

modules/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/cmd/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/main_test.go

@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"encoding/json"
 	"errors"
+	"fmt"
 	"log"
 	"slices"
 	"strings"
@@ -12,6 +13,8 @@ import (
 	"testing"
 	"time"
 
+	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/process"
+
 	"github.com/nats-io/nats.go"
 	"github.com/nats-io/nats.go/jetstream"
 
@@ -66,6 +69,16 @@ func body(m map[string]any) []byte {
 }
 
 func TestReadableEventIsWrittenOnForgeAndAcked(t *testing.T) { // 1235/AC2 (unit part; the bus is the integration test)
+	t.Run("1945: a refused bucket is said, or stops the start naming its grant", func(t *testing.T) {
+		refusal := errors.New("nats: permissions violation for publish to $JS.API.STREAM.INFO.KV_x")
+		var said []string
+		if kv := process.OptionalBucket(context.Background(), refusingBus{refusal}, "x", "x is not heard", func(f string, a ...any) { said = append(said, fmt.Sprintf(f, a...)) }); kv != nil || len(said) != 1 || !strings.Contains(said[0], "permissions violation") {
+			t.Errorf("an optional bucket refused: %v, said %v", kv, said)
+		}
+		if _, err := process.EssentialBucket(context.Background(), refusingBus{refusal}, "bridge", "x", "work"); err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "grant of x") {
+			t.Errorf("an essential bucket refused: %v, want its grant named", err)
+		}
+	})
 	var logs bytes.Buffer
 	m, pub := &fakeMsg{subject: "mesh.mod.gitea.event.pull.updated", data: body(nil)}, &fakePub{}
 	handle(context.Background(), m, pub, nil, someFiles, log.New(&logs, "", 0))
@@ -230,3 +243,8 @@ func someFiles(_, _, path, _ string) ([]byte, error) {
 	}
 	return nil, bridge.ErrNotFound
 }
+
+// refusingBus refuses every bucket with err (issue 1945).
+type refusingBus struct{ err error }
+
+func (r refusingBus) KeyValue(context.Context, string) (jetstream.KeyValue, error) { return nil, r.err }

modules/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/go.mod

@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ module mesh-delivery-forge-bridge
 go 1.26.0
 
 require (
-	git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261022190740-104533e8c0c9
+	git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261025211220-e0d1de047585
 	github.com/nats-io/nats-server/v2 v2.11.17
 	github.com/nats-io/nats.go v1.54.0
 )

modules/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/go.sum

@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261022190740-104533e8c0c9 h1:Ufmd2cYEXICQ817IGflccP9bexABE4WhIO49HPbaoSo=
 git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261022190740-104533e8c0c9/go.mod h1:ouERNpZizzwZ0HLEtAypsY9FR20FyUgUYRni6J7kVCY=
+git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261025211220-e0d1de047585 h1:7QoFH5qjXRpx5M4uPdYsVJ5qKl2082gq8n0lFxhoNIg=
+git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261025211220-e0d1de047585/go.mod h1:ouERNpZizzwZ0HLEtAypsY9FR20FyUgUYRni6J7kVCY=
 github.com/antithesishq/antithesis-sdk-go v0.7.0-default-no-op h1:Z/MZK75wC/NSrkgqeNIa7jexam9uWzhLmFTSCPI/kn0=
 github.com/antithesishq/antithesis-sdk-go v0.7.0-default-no-op/go.mod h1:FQyySiasQQM8735Ddel3MRojmy4dA1IqCeyJ5jmPMbI=
 github.com/google/go-tpm v0.9.8 h1:slArAR9Ft+1ybZu0lBwpSmpwhRXaa85hWtMinMyRAWo=

modules/mesh-delivery-indexer/cmd/mesh-delivery-indexer/main.go

@@ -240,29 +240,21 @@ func run(ctx context.Context, getenv func(string) string, logOut io.Writer) erro
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	bucket := func(name string) (jetstream.KeyValue, error) {
-		kv, err := js.KeyValue(ctx, name)
-		if err != nil {
-			return nil, fmt.Errorf("the bucket %s: %w", name, err)
-		}
-		return kv, nil
-	}
-	candidates, err := bucket(delivery.CandidatesBucket)
+	candidates, err := process.EssentialBucket(ctx, js, "indexer", delivery.CandidatesBucket, "write a candidate's fingerprints")
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	modules, err := bucket(delivery.ModulesBucket)
+	modules, err := process.EssentialBucket(ctx, js, "indexer", delivery.ModulesBucket, "write a module's fingerprint")
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	manifests, err := bucket(delivery.ManifestsBucket)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	builds, err := bucket(delivery.BuildsBucket)
+	manifests, err := process.EssentialBucket(ctx, js, "indexer", delivery.ManifestsBucket, "keep a module's manifest")
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
+	// The controller's build records only name the directory of a module whose key names none (fillPaths): without them
+	// such a module waits for its path, every other is indexed (issue 1945).
+	builds := process.OptionalBucket(ctx, js, delivery.BuildsBucket, "a module whose key names no directory is not given one from the controller's build records until the indexer starts again", logger.Printf)
 	known := index.NewBuilds()
 	// The controller's build records name the directory of a module whose key names none (fillPaths); no build of any
 	// module moves a fingerprint since no fingerprint takes the builder (ADR 0530 §1).
@@ -273,12 +265,14 @@ func run(ctx context.Context, getenv func(string) string, logOut io.Writer) erro
 			known.Delete(e.Key())
 		}
 	}
-	w, err := settle(ctx, builds, each)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
 	errs := make(chan error, 1)
-	go func() { errs <- follow(ctx, w, each) }()
+	if builds != nil {
+		if w, err := settle(ctx, builds, each); err != nil {
+			process.NotWatched(logger.Printf, delivery.BuildsBucket, err, "a module whose key names no directory is not given one until the indexer starts again")
+		} else {
+			go func() { errs <- follow(ctx, w, each) }()
+		}
+	}
 
 	// The indexer asks the forge for the objects of a manifest's named paths as its own account (ADR 0499 clause 3).
 	account, err := process.ReadAccount(path)
@@ -296,22 +290,17 @@ func run(ctx context.Context, getenv func(string) string, logOut io.Writer) erro
 	// main is the mesh's source revision, which stamps the modules (issue 1344). Where it does not exist yet the indexer does
 	// not wait for it (that needs a timer, ADR 0437 §8): it says so, and is started again with the gate.
 	sourceErrs := make(chan error, 1)
-	switch source, err := js.KeyValue(ctx, delivery.SourceBucket); {
-	case errors.Is(err, jetstream.ErrBucketNotFound):
-		logger.Printf("the bucket %s does not exist yet: no source revision is read until the indexer starts again", delivery.SourceBucket)
-	case err != nil:
-		return fmt.Errorf("the bucket %s: %w", delivery.SourceBucket, err)
-	default:
+	if source := process.OptionalBucket(ctx, js, delivery.SourceBucket, "no source revision is read until the indexer starts again", logger.Printf); source != nil {
 		each := func(e jetstream.KeyValueEntry) {
 			if opOf(e) {
 				applySource(ctx, ix, e.Key(), e.Revision(), e.Value(), logger)
 			}
 		}
-		sw, err := settle(ctx, source, each)
-		if err != nil {
-			return err
+		if sw, err := settle(ctx, source, each); err != nil {
+			process.NotWatched(logger.Printf, delivery.SourceBucket, err, "no source revision is read until the indexer starts again")
+		} else {
+			go func() { sourceErrs <- follow(ctx, sw, each) }()
 		}
-		go func() { sourceErrs <- follow(ctx, sw, each) }()
 	}
 	// Only the toolchain reports of nodes the build module is assigned to count (issue 1940): the controller's
 	// assignments are settled first, so the toolchains settle through the gate already knowing them.
@@ -381,7 +370,8 @@ func run(ctx context.Context, getenv func(string) string, logOut io.Writer) erro
 	}
 	cons, err := js.Consumer(ctx, forgeStream, cred.Node+"_"+cred.Module)
 	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("the consumer %s_%s on %s: %w", cred.Node, cred.Module, forgeStream, err)
+		// Essential: the forge's merges are what the indexer indexes.
+		return fmt.Errorf("the consumer %s_%s on %s cannot be read (%v): the indexer hears no merge without it, so it stops; where the bus refused it or did not answer, this module's consumes (made by the controller with its grant) have not reached the bus yet", cred.Node, cred.Module, forgeStream, err)
 	}
 	cc, err := cons.Consume(func(m jetstream.Msg) { handle(ctx, m, ix, logger) },
 		jetstream.ConsumeErrHandler(func(_ jetstream.ConsumeContext, err error) { logger.Printf("hearing the bus: %v", err) }))

modules/mesh-delivery-indexer/cmd/mesh-delivery-indexer/previews.go

@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ package main
 import (
 	"context"
 	"errors"
-	"fmt"
+	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/process"
 	"log"
 	"strings"
 	"sync"
@@ -55,11 +55,14 @@ func (w *previewWatch) ensure() error {
 		w.logger.Printf("the bucket %s does not exist yet: it is watched when the checker says it wrote a preview", delivery.PreviewsBucket)
 		return nil
 	case err != nil:
-		return fmt.Errorf("the bucket %s: %w", delivery.PreviewsBucket, err)
+		// Refused or not answered (its grant not on the bus yet, issue 1945): said, and opened again at the checker's next preview.
+		w.logger.Printf("the bucket %s cannot be read (%v): it is watched when the checker says it wrote a preview", delivery.PreviewsBucket, err)
+		return nil
 	}
 	watcher, err := settle(w.ctx, kv, func(e jetstream.KeyValueEntry) { w.ix.PutPreview(e.Key(), e.Value(), !opOf(e)) })
 	if err != nil {
-		return err
+		process.NotWatched(w.logger.Printf, delivery.PreviewsBucket, err, "it is watched when the checker says it wrote a preview")
+		return nil
 	}
 	w.watched = true
 	go func() {

modules/mesh-delivery-indexer/cmd/mesh-delivery-indexer/standing.go

@@ -193,7 +193,9 @@ func watchAssignments(ctx context.Context, js bucketOpener, gate *toolchainGate,
 	each := func(e jetstream.KeyValueEntry) { gate.Assignment(e.Key(), e.Value(), !opOf(e), e.Created()) }
 	w, err := settle(ctx, kv, each)
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("the bucket %s: %w", provider.AssignmentsBucket, err)
+		// Not fatal either (issue 1945): a watch the bus refuses is the same missing grant as a refused read.
+		logger.Printf("the bucket %s cannot be watched, so every node's toolchain report counts, an unassigned build node's too (issue 1940): %v", provider.AssignmentsBucket, err)
+		return errs, nil
 	}
 	if gate.Settled() {
 		changed(ctx)

modules/mesh-delivery-indexer/cmd/mesh-delivery-indexer/toolchains.go

@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 	"sync"
 
+	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/process"
+
 	"github.com/nats-io/nats.go/jetstream"
 
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/delivery"
@@ -73,11 +75,14 @@ func (w *toolchainWatch) ensure(module string) error {
 			w.logger.Printf("the bucket %s does not exist yet: it is watched when %s reports a toolchain", name, module)
 			return nil
 		case err != nil:
-			return fmt.Errorf("the bucket %s: %w", name, err)
+			// Refused or not answered (its grant not on the bus yet, issue 1945): said, and opened again at the module's next report.
+			w.logger.Printf("the bucket %s cannot be read (%v): %s's toolchains are not heard until its next report", name, err, module)
+			return nil
 		}
 		watcher, err := settle(w.ctx, kv, func(e jetstream.KeyValueEntry) { w.sink.put(module, e.Key(), e.Value(), !opOf(e)) })
 		if err != nil {
-			return err
+			process.NotWatched(w.logger.Printf, name, err, fmt.Sprintf("%s's toolchains are not heard until its next report", module))
+			return nil
 		}
 		w.watched[module] = true
 		go func() {

modules/mesh-delivery-indexer/cmd/mesh-delivery-indexer/toolchains_test.go

@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package main
 import (
 	"bytes"
 	"context"
+	"errors"
 	"log"
 	"strings"
 	"sync"
@@ -21,6 +22,7 @@ type laterBuckets struct {
 	mu      sync.Mutex
 	appears map[string]jetstream.KeyValue // buckets that exist now
 	asked   map[string]int
+	refuse  error // answered for a bucket that does not exist, when set: a bus that refuses it (issue 1945)
 }
 
 func (l *laterBuckets) KeyValue(_ context.Context, name string) (jetstream.KeyValue, error) {
@@ -30,6 +32,9 @@ func (l *laterBuckets) KeyValue(_ context.Context, name string) (jetstream.KeyVa
 	if kv, ok := l.appears[name]; ok {
 		return kv, nil
 	}
+	if l.refuse != nil {
+		return nil, l.refuse
+	}
 	return nil, jetstream.ErrBucketNotFound
 }
 
@@ -100,6 +105,12 @@ func TestABuildModulesBucketThatAppearsLaterIsWatchedWhenItsEventArrives(t *test
 		recompute: func(context.Context) error { mu.Lock(); recomputes++; mu.Unlock(); return nil },
 	}
 	var logs bytes.Buffer
+	// 1945: a bus that refuses both buckets, or does not answer, leaves them unwatched, said, and the indexer running.
+	refusing := &laterBuckets{appears: map[string]jetstream.KeyValue{}, asked: map[string]int{}, refuse: errors.New("context deadline exceeded")}
+	if err := newToolchainWatch(ctx, refusing, sink, log.New(&logs, "", 0)).start(); err != nil || !strings.Contains(logs.String(), "cannot be read") {
+		t.Fatalf("a refused toolchains bucket: start %v, log %q; want it said and the start going on", err, logs.String())
+	}
+	logs.Reset()
 	w := newToolchainWatch(ctx, buckets, sink, log.New(&logs, "", 0))
 	if err := w.start(); err != nil { // neither bucket exists: nothing is watched, nothing is written, nobody waits
 		t.Fatal(err)

modules/mesh-delivery-indexer/go.mod

@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ module mesh-delivery-indexer
 go 1.26.0
 
 require (
-	git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261023150321-a2c813a6b468
+	git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261025211220-e0d1de047585
 	github.com/nats-io/nats-server/v2 v2.11.17
 	github.com/nats-io/nats.go v1.54.0
 )

modules/mesh-delivery-indexer/go.sum

@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261023150321-a2c813a6b468 h1:UcMee+IV2ii5E4dRZdQUaSaeh9IedTFYumuQbBiB0k0=
 git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261023150321-a2c813a6b468/go.mod h1:ouERNpZizzwZ0HLEtAypsY9FR20FyUgUYRni6J7kVCY=
+git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261025211220-e0d1de047585 h1:7QoFH5qjXRpx5M4uPdYsVJ5qKl2082gq8n0lFxhoNIg=
+git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261025211220-e0d1de047585/go.mod h1:ouERNpZizzwZ0HLEtAypsY9FR20FyUgUYRni6J7kVCY=
 github.com/antithesishq/antithesis-sdk-go v0.7.0-default-no-op h1:Z/MZK75wC/NSrkgqeNIa7jexam9uWzhLmFTSCPI/kn0=
 github.com/antithesishq/antithesis-sdk-go v0.7.0-default-no-op/go.mod h1:FQyySiasQQM8735Ddel3MRojmy4dA1IqCeyJ5jmPMbI=
 github.com/google/go-tpm v0.9.8 h1:slArAR9Ft+1ybZu0lBwpSmpwhRXaa85hWtMinMyRAWo=

modules/mesh-delivery-teller/cmd/mesh-delivery-teller/main.go

@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 	"syscall"
 
+	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/process"
+
 	"github.com/nats-io/nats.go"
 	"github.com/nats-io/nats.go/jetstream"
 
@@ -119,12 +121,14 @@ func run(ctx context.Context, getenv func(string) string, logOut io.Writer) erro
 		return nil
 	}
 	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("the bucket %s: %w", delivery.AsksBucket, err)
+		// Essential: the gate's asks are what the teller tells (issue 1945: the error names the grant).
+		return process.EssentialErr("teller", delivery.AsksBucket, "tell any of the gate's asks", err)
 	}
+	// The answers it writes and what it asked: its own work, so each stops the start, naming its grant.
 	var kvs [2]jetstream.KeyValue
 	for i, name := range []string{delivery.AnswersBucket, askedBucket} {
-		if kvs[i], err = js.KeyValue(ctx, name); err != nil {
-			return fmt.Errorf("the bucket %s: %w", name, err)
+		if kvs[i], err = process.EssentialBucket(ctx, js, "teller", name, "write an answer or remember what it asked"); err != nil {
+			return err
 		}
 	}
 	state := kvStore{ctx: ctx, kv: kvs[1]}
@@ -140,7 +144,7 @@ func run(ctx context.Context, getenv func(string) string, logOut io.Writer) erro
 	// The view's answers to the assigner's asks (issue 1297 B10): both buckets are the controller's to create, and a bucket not
 	// there is said and leaves the teller without that path rather than without the gate's asks (a wait for it needs a timer).
 	failed := make(chan error, 2)
-	assignerKV, viewKV := optionalBucket(ctx, js, delivery.AssignerAsksBucket, logger), optionalBucket(ctx, js, delivery.ViewAnswersBucket, logger)
+	assignerKV, viewKV := process.OptionalBucket(ctx, js, delivery.AssignerAsksBucket, teller, logger.Printf), process.OptionalBucket(ctx, js, delivery.ViewAnswersBucket, teller, logger.Printf)
 	// The assigner's asks are raised on the operator channel whether or not the view's answers can be read (issue 1906).
 	if viewKV != nil {
 		t.View = kvGate{ctx: ctx, kv: viewKV}
@@ -172,15 +176,8 @@ func run(ctx context.Context, getenv func(string) string, logOut io.Writer) erro
 	}
 }
 
-// optionalBucket is a bucket the teller reads when it exists, and nil, said once, when it does not.
-func optionalBucket(ctx context.Context, js jetstream.JetStream, name string, logger *log.Logger) jetstream.KeyValue {
-	kv, err := js.KeyValue(ctx, name)
-	if err != nil {
-		logger.Printf("the bucket %s cannot be read (%v): the asks and answers it holds are not carried until the teller is started again with it", name, err)
-		return nil
-	}
-	return kv
-}
+// teller is what an optional bucket of the teller leaves out.
+const teller = "the asks and answers it holds are not carried until the teller is started again with it"
 
 // askedBucket is the teller's state bucket asked, `<module>_<name>`: what it asked of the router and which condition it
 // raised (manifest state entry asked, novox/hq ADR 0437 §4).

modules/mesh-delivery-teller/cmd/mesh-delivery-teller/teller_test.go

@@ -1,12 +1,17 @@
 package main
 
 import (
+	"context"
 	"encoding/json"
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
 	"time"
 
+	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/process"
+	"github.com/nats-io/nats.go/jetstream"
+
 	stdio "git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go"
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/asker"
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/asks"
@@ -236,6 +241,16 @@ func (b *bed) askedOf(subject string) []published {
 }
 
 func TestAnAsksKeyBecomesOneRouterAskAndDeletingItCancelsIt(t *testing.T) { // 1343/AC1
+	t.Run("1945: a refused bucket is said, or stops the start naming its grant", func(t *testing.T) {
+		refusal := errors.New("nats: permissions violation for publish to $JS.API.STREAM.INFO.KV_x")
+		var said []string
+		if kv := process.OptionalBucket(context.Background(), refusingBus{refusal}, "x", "x is not heard", func(f string, a ...any) { said = append(said, fmt.Sprintf(f, a...)) }); kv != nil || len(said) != 1 || !strings.Contains(said[0], "permissions violation") {
+			t.Errorf("an optional bucket refused: %v, said %v", kv, said)
+		}
+		if _, err := process.EssentialBucket(context.Background(), refusingBus{refusal}, "teller", "x", "work"); err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "grant of x") {
+			t.Errorf("an essential bucket refused: %v, want its grant named", err)
+		}
+	})
 	b := newBed(t)
 	key, value, ga := gateAsk(t, twoHeads(), twoHeads())
 	b.gate[key] = value
@@ -518,3 +533,8 @@ func TestAnAnswerToAnEarlierAskingDoesNotBlockTheNextAsking(t *testing.T) { // R
 		t.Errorf("writes %d asks %d dropped %v", b.answers.writes, len(b.askedOf(asks.AskSubject(delivery.TellerModule))), b.dropped)
 	}
 }
+
+// refusingBus refuses every bucket with err (issue 1945).
+type refusingBus struct{ err error }
+
+func (r refusingBus) KeyValue(context.Context, string) (jetstream.KeyValue, error) { return nil, r.err }

modules/mesh-delivery-teller/go.mod

@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ module mesh-delivery-teller
 go 1.26.0
 
 require (
-	git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261025203528-db26f7e8b6f5
+	git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261025211220-e0d1de047585
 	github.com/nats-io/nats-server/v2 v2.11.17
 	github.com/nats-io/nats.go v1.54.0
 )

modules/mesh-delivery-teller/go.sum

@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261025200810-d4ae4b6790b8 h1:vhYk/iv4
 git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261025200810-d4ae4b6790b8/go.mod h1:ouERNpZizzwZ0HLEtAypsY9FR20FyUgUYRni6J7kVCY=
 git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261025203528-db26f7e8b6f5 h1:gE80bR0tPME7MTMBLcdP62v+F/9soVXmdcBYNMOye44=
 git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261025203528-db26f7e8b6f5/go.mod h1:ouERNpZizzwZ0HLEtAypsY9FR20FyUgUYRni6J7kVCY=
+git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261025211220-e0d1de047585 h1:7QoFH5qjXRpx5M4uPdYsVJ5qKl2082gq8n0lFxhoNIg=
+git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261025211220-e0d1de047585/go.mod h1:ouERNpZizzwZ0HLEtAypsY9FR20FyUgUYRni6J7kVCY=
 github.com/antithesishq/antithesis-sdk-go v0.7.0-default-no-op h1:Z/MZK75wC/NSrkgqeNIa7jexam9uWzhLmFTSCPI/kn0=
 github.com/antithesishq/antithesis-sdk-go v0.7.0-default-no-op/go.mod h1:FQyySiasQQM8735Ddel3MRojmy4dA1IqCeyJ5jmPMbI=
 github.com/google/go-tpm v0.9.8 h1:slArAR9Ft+1ybZu0lBwpSmpwhRXaa85hWtMinMyRAWo=

modules/mesh-delivery-view/cmd/mesh-delivery-view-tools/main.go

@@ -9,8 +9,9 @@ import (
 	"os"
 	"strings"
 
-	stdio "git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go"
 	"mesh-delivery-view/internal/view"
+
+	stdio "git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go"
 )
 
 // Tools are the read tools over a modules state.

modules/mesh-delivery-watchman/cmd/mesh-delivery-watchman/main.go

@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@ import (
 	"syscall"
 	"time"
 
+	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/process"
+
 	"github.com/nats-io/nats.go"
 	"github.com/nats-io/nats.go/jetstream"
 
@@ -222,23 +224,23 @@ func run(ctx context.Context, getenv func(string) string, logOut io.Writer) erro
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	bucket := func(name string) (jetstream.KeyValue, error) {
-		kv, err := js.KeyValue(ctx, name)
-		if err != nil {
-			return nil, fmt.Errorf("the bucket %s: %w", name, err)
-		}
-		return kv, nil
-	}
+	// Its own presence, pulses and stuck rows are what it keeps: each stops the start, naming its grant. The assigner's wants
+	// and the node-engine's haves only make the pulses of a move: without one the watchman watches presence and the build
+	// seats' steps, and says that moves are not watched (issue 1945).
 	var kvs struct{ presence, pulse, stuck, wants, haves jetstream.KeyValue }
 	for _, b := range []struct {
 		name string
 		into *jetstream.KeyValue
-	}{{delivery.PresenceBucket, &kvs.presence}, {delivery.PulseBucket, &kvs.pulse}, {delivery.StuckBucket, &kvs.stuck},
-		{delivery.AssignerWantsBucket, &kvs.wants}, {delivery.HaveBucket, &kvs.haves}} {
-		if *b.into, err = bucket(b.name); err != nil {
+	}{{delivery.PresenceBucket, &kvs.presence}, {delivery.PulseBucket, &kvs.pulse}, {delivery.StuckBucket, &kvs.stuck}} {
+		if *b.into, err = process.EssentialBucket(ctx, js, "watchman", b.name, "say who is online or what stopped moving"); err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
 	}
+	kvs.wants = process.OptionalBucket(ctx, js, delivery.AssignerWantsBucket, "a want makes no pulse, so a move that stops is not seen, until the watchman starts again", logger.Printf)
+	kvs.haves = process.OptionalBucket(ctx, js, delivery.HaveBucket, "a want makes no pulse, so a move that stops is not seen, until the watchman starts again", logger.Printf)
+	if kvs.wants == nil || kvs.haves == nil {
+		kvs.wants, kvs.haves = nil, nil // a want is a pulse only against the have that ends it
+	}
 
 	w := watch.New(&kvOut{ctx: ctx, presence: kvs.presence, pulse: kvs.pulse, stuk: kvs.stuck}, time.Now)
 	w.Logf(logger.Printf)
@@ -283,13 +285,15 @@ func run(ctx context.Context, getenv func(string) string, logOut io.Writer) erro
 	}
 	// What the node agents run, then the assigner's wants (issue 1906, ADR 0539 §19): a want is a pulse owed by its node's agent
 	// until the have names its fingerprint, so the haves are read first and a want already applied makes no pulse.
-	haveSeen, err := settle(ctx, kvs.haves, func(e jetstream.KeyValueEntry) { w.Have(e.Key(), e.Value(), opOf(e)) })
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	wantSeen, err := settle(ctx, kvs.wants, func(e jetstream.KeyValueEntry) { w.Want(e.Key(), e.Value(), opOf(e), e.Created()) })
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
+	var haveSeen, wantSeen jetstream.KeyWatcher
+	if kvs.haves != nil {
+		if haveSeen, err = settle(ctx, kvs.haves, func(e jetstream.KeyValueEntry) { w.Have(e.Key(), e.Value(), opOf(e)) }); err != nil {
+			process.NotWatched(logger.Printf, delivery.HaveBucket, err, "moves are not watched until the watchman starts again")
+		} else if wantSeen, err = settle(ctx, kvs.wants, func(e jetstream.KeyValueEntry) { w.Want(e.Key(), e.Value(), opOf(e), e.Created()) }); err != nil {
+			process.NotWatched(logger.Printf, delivery.AssignerWantsBucket, err, "moves are not watched until the watchman starts again")
+			haveSeen.Stop()
+			haveSeen = nil
+		}
 	}
 	// The build seats' steps: a step key `<node>.<ask id>` written is the ask taken (issue 1887 A8b). A seat whose build module
 	// keeps no steps bucket (yet) is said and left; the asks of its stream are mirrored all the same.
@@ -304,7 +308,8 @@ func run(ctx context.Context, getenv func(string) string, logOut io.Writer) erro
 		lang := lang
 		sw, err := settle(ctx, kv, func(e jetstream.KeyValueEntry) { stepTaken(w, lang, e) })
 		if err != nil {
-			return err
+			logger.Printf("the steps of %s cannot be watched (%v): its asks are mirrored and never seen taken", module, err)
+			continue
 		}
 		taken[lang] = sw
 	}
@@ -348,12 +353,14 @@ func run(ctx context.Context, getenv func(string) string, logOut io.Writer) erro
 	go func() {
 		errs <- follow(ctx, pulses, func(e jetstream.KeyValueEntry) { w.Pulse(e.Key(), opOf(e), e.Created()) })
 	}()
-	go func() {
-		errs <- follow(ctx, haveSeen, func(e jetstream.KeyValueEntry) { w.Have(e.Key(), e.Value(), opOf(e)) })
-	}()
-	go func() {
-		errs <- follow(ctx, wantSeen, func(e jetstream.KeyValueEntry) { w.Want(e.Key(), e.Value(), opOf(e), e.Created()) })
-	}()
+	if haveSeen != nil && wantSeen != nil {
+		go func() {
+			errs <- follow(ctx, haveSeen, func(e jetstream.KeyValueEntry) { w.Have(e.Key(), e.Value(), opOf(e)) })
+		}()
+		go func() {
+			errs <- follow(ctx, wantSeen, func(e jetstream.KeyValueEntry) { w.Want(e.Key(), e.Value(), opOf(e), e.Created()) })
+		}()
+	}
 	for lang, sw := range taken {
 		lang, sw := lang, sw
 		go func() { errs <- follow(ctx, sw, func(e jetstream.KeyValueEntry) { stepTaken(w, lang, e) }) }()

modules/mesh-delivery-watchman/cmd/mesh-delivery-watchman/main_test.go

@@ -2,11 +2,17 @@ package main
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
 	"io"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
+
+	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/process"
+
+	"github.com/nats-io/nats.go/jetstream"
 )
 
 func TestCredentialIsTheBrokerFile(t *testing.T) { // 1135/AC6
@@ -27,8 +33,23 @@ func TestCredentialIsTheBrokerFile(t *testing.T) { // 1135/AC6
 }
 
 func TestRunNeedsItsCredential(t *testing.T) { // 1135/AC6
+	t.Run("1945: a refused bucket is said, or stops the start naming its grant", func(t *testing.T) {
+		refusal := errors.New("nats: permissions violation for publish to $JS.API.STREAM.INFO.KV_x")
+		var said []string
+		if kv := process.OptionalBucket(context.Background(), refusingBus{refusal}, "x", "x is not heard", func(f string, a ...any) { said = append(said, fmt.Sprintf(f, a...)) }); kv != nil || len(said) != 1 || !strings.Contains(said[0], "permissions violation") {
+			t.Errorf("an optional bucket refused: %v, said %v", kv, said)
+		}
+		if _, err := process.EssentialBucket(context.Background(), refusingBus{refusal}, "watchman", "x", "work"); err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "grant of x") {
+			t.Errorf("an essential bucket refused: %v, want its grant named", err)
+		}
+	})
 	err := run(context.Background(), func(string) string { return "" }, io.Discard)
 	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "MESH_BROKER_FILE") {
 		t.Fatalf("run = %v, want a refusal naming MESH_BROKER_FILE", err)
 	}
 }
+
+// refusingBus refuses every bucket with err (issue 1945).
+type refusingBus struct{ err error }
+
+func (r refusingBus) KeyValue(context.Context, string) (jetstream.KeyValue, error) { return nil, r.err }

modules/mesh-delivery-watchman/go.mod

@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ module mesh-delivery-watchman
 go 1.26.0
 
 require (
-	git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261024210118-748c564cdf7c
+	git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261025211220-e0d1de047585
 	github.com/nats-io/nats-server/v2 v2.11.17
 	github.com/nats-io/nats.go v1.54.0
 )

modules/mesh-delivery-watchman/go.sum

@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261024210118-748c564cdf7c h1:pY2YpHSSsfDPBrOEiWTNSIPn0zdnAayRmtmmyQ3hCHY=
 git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261024210118-748c564cdf7c/go.mod h1:ouERNpZizzwZ0HLEtAypsY9FR20FyUgUYRni6J7kVCY=
+git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261025211220-e0d1de047585 h1:7QoFH5qjXRpx5M4uPdYsVJ5qKl2082gq8n0lFxhoNIg=
+git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261025211220-e0d1de047585/go.mod h1:ouERNpZizzwZ0HLEtAypsY9FR20FyUgUYRni6J7kVCY=
 github.com/antithesishq/antithesis-sdk-go v0.8.0-default-no-op h1:1BOWQJweNyvZMlpAHXGLiZQn9S+QXGcz3xh94lC0w6E=
 github.com/antithesishq/antithesis-sdk-go v0.8.0-default-no-op/go.mod h1:FQyySiasQQM8735Ddel3MRojmy4dA1IqCeyJ5jmPMbI=
 github.com/google/go-tpm v0.9.8 h1:slArAR9Ft+1ybZu0lBwpSmpwhRXaa85hWtMinMyRAWo=