A runtime that already dropped a carried module's tools serves them again, read from what runs and its build (issue 1126, review)

rev-held2: ToolsRunning took a carried module's bundles from the runtime's MESH_TOOL_MODULES alone, and shanks had
already applied the drop of systemd-resolved, so its runs stayed empty and the drop permanent. Now every bundle
archive that runs at its module's BundlePath is a running bundle; one the runtime loads nothing of takes its loads and
words from the module's build (its built bundles, else its build's artifacts, by catalogue.BundleLoads, the rule a
build's resolution keeps, now one function). The runtime process and each archive are matched by their owning module
too, not only by id and path. A row added: the runtime already dropped it.

go/buildstep/capacity.go

@@ -22,20 +22,7 @@ func NodeCapacity(path, node string, logf func(string, ...any)) func() int {
 		}
 	}
 	return func() int {
-		if path == "" {
-			return 0
-		}
-		raw, err := os.ReadFile(path)
-		if err != nil {
-			say("the build capacity cannot be read, so %s pulls nothing: %v", node, err)
-			return 0
-		}
-		var s map[string]json.RawMessage
-		if err := json.Unmarshal(raw, &s); err != nil {
-			say("the settings file %s is not JSON, so %s pulls nothing: %v", path, node, err)
-			return 0
-		}
-		n, err := capacityOf(s[CapacitySetting])
+		n, err := ReadCapacity(path)
 		if err != nil {
 			say("%v, so %s pulls nothing", err, node)
 			return 0
@@ -44,6 +31,22 @@ func NodeCapacity(path, node string, logf func(string, ...any)) func() int {
 	}
 }
 
+// ReadCapacity is the capacity the settings file at path holds, and why it cannot be read when it cannot (then 0).
+func ReadCapacity(path string) (int, error) {
+	if path == "" {
+		return 0, nil
+	}
+	raw, err := os.ReadFile(path)
+	if err != nil {
+		return 0, fmt.Errorf("the build capacity cannot be read: %w", err)
+	}
+	var s map[string]json.RawMessage
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(raw, &s); err != nil {
+		return 0, fmt.Errorf("the settings file %s is not JSON: %w", path, err)
+	}
+	return capacityOf(s[CapacitySetting])
+}
+
 // capacityOf is the capacity a config value holds: absent or null is 0; anything but a whole number of at least 0 is
 // refused, naming it.
 func capacityOf(value json.RawMessage) (int, error) {

go/buildstep/pull.go

@@ -98,6 +98,12 @@ type Puller struct {
 	// again, and the worker it came from is not looked at again until the next pull's wait, so a node lacking the need
 	// does not take the asker's next copy at once. Nil has nothing.
 	Has func(need string) bool
+	// SettingsFile is the module's settings file. With it set the puller wakes whenever the file is written (a file event,
+	// WatchSettings), and reads Capacity from it itself, keeping why it cannot be read (CapacityNote); a parked puller at
+	// capacity 0 therefore wakes when the node-engine refills the file, and a failed config follow is tried again then.
+	SettingsFile string
+	// watching, when set, is called each time the settings file's watch is (re)armed: a test waits on it, not on a sleep.
+	watching func()
 
 	mu      sync.Mutex
 	inHand  int
@@ -108,6 +114,14 @@ type Puller struct {
 	// watched is the capacity the config watch handed last, used in place of Capacity once hasWatched.
 	watched    int
 	hasWatched bool
+	// capFollow and hoursFollow are the state of the two config follows: followed once WatchConfig took them, trying
+	// while a start is in flight; followFault is the last failure said, so each failure is said once.
+	capFollowed, capTrying, hoursFollowed, hoursTrying bool
+	followFault                                        string
+	// fileFault is why the settings file's capacity cannot be read, "" when it can.
+	fileFault string
+	// capWhy is why the config watch's last value could not be read, "" when it could.
+	capWhy string
 	// hours is the build window the config watch handed last, and hoursFault why its value cannot be read; used in place
 	// of BuildHours once hasHours.
 	hours      *BuildWindow
@@ -248,6 +262,21 @@ func (p *Puller) roomNow() (ok bool, capacity, inHand int) {
 	return !p.paused && p.inHand < capacity, capacity, p.inHand
 }
 
+// CapacityNote says when the puller takes nothing for want of a capacity: why, and whether it is a fault (a setting that
+// cannot be read or is refused, so a person must look) and not a choice (a capacity set to 0). "" when it pulls.
+func (p *Puller) CapacityNote() (why string, fault bool) {
+	c := p.CapacityDetail()
+	if c.Effective > 0 {
+		return "", false
+	}
+	p.mu.Lock()
+	defer p.mu.Unlock()
+	if p.fileFault != "" && !p.hasWatched {
+		return "the " + p.Language + " build capacity of " + p.Node + " is 0 because it cannot be read: " + p.fileFault, true
+	}
+	return "the " + p.Language + " build capacity of " + p.Node + " is " + c.Why, p.hasWatched && p.capWhy != ""
+}
+
 // CapacityNow is the capacity the puller judges by (CapacityDetail's Effective).
 func (p *Puller) CapacityNow() int {
 	return p.CapacityDetail().Effective
@@ -265,6 +294,15 @@ func (p *Puller) CapacityDetail() delivery.Capacity {
 	switch {
 	case has:
 		configured, from = watched, "mesh-config, as the config watch handed it"
+	case p.SettingsFile != "":
+		n, err := ReadCapacity(p.SettingsFile)
+		configured = n
+		p.mu.Lock()
+		p.fileFault = ""
+		if err != nil {
+			p.fileFault = err.Error()
+		}
+		p.mu.Unlock()
 	case p.Capacity != nil:
 		configured = p.Capacity()
 	}
@@ -386,8 +424,8 @@ func (p *Puller) Pull(ctx context.Context) error {
 		// node kept from building is held by its capacity (0), not by a pause.
 		p.logf("the pause of %s cannot be read: %v; pulling as not paused", p.Node, err)
 	}
-	go p.watchCapacity() // WatchConfigServed waits for Serve, which a module starts after its pull
-	go p.watchHours()
+	p.follow() // WatchConfigServed waits for Serve, which a module starts after its pull
+	go p.watchSettings(ctx)
 	wait := p.PullWait
 	if wait <= 0 {
 		wait = DefaultPullWait
@@ -414,6 +452,7 @@ func (p *Puller) Pull(ctx context.Context) error {
 			case <-edge:
 			}
 			stop()
+			p.follow() // a follow that failed is tried again at the next event
 			_, capacity, inHand = p.roomNow()
 			p.logf("the %s puller on %s wakes: %d of capacity %d in hand, paused %v", p.Language, p.Node, inHand, capacity, p.Paused())
 			continue
@@ -432,6 +471,7 @@ func (p *Puller) Pull(ctx context.Context) error {
 			case <-ctx.Done():
 				return ctx.Err()
 			case <-p.wake:
+				p.follow()
 			case <-time.After(wait):
 			}
 			continue
@@ -620,11 +660,18 @@ func (p *Puller) watchCapacity() {
 	if p.WatchConfig == nil {
 		return
 	}
+	p.mu.Lock()
+	if p.capFollowed || p.capTrying {
+		p.mu.Unlock()
+		return
+	}
+	p.capTrying = true
+	p.mu.Unlock()
 	err := p.WatchConfig(CapacitySetting, func(c stdio.ProvisionChange) error {
 		n, why := p.capacityFrom(c)
 		p.mu.Lock()
 		before, had := p.watched, p.hasWatched
-		p.watched, p.hasWatched = n, true
+		p.watched, p.hasWatched, p.capWhy = n, true, why
 		p.mu.Unlock()
 		switch {
 		case why != "":
@@ -635,9 +682,31 @@ func (p *Puller) watchCapacity() {
 		p.Wake()
 		return nil
 	})
+	p.followed(&p.capFollowed, &p.capTrying, err, "build capacity")
+}
+
+// follow starts each config follow that is not running: at the start, and at every wake after (a file event, a resume, a
+// step's end), so a follow that failed is tried again by the next event and not given up for good.
+func (p *Puller) follow() {
+	go p.watchCapacity()
+	go p.watchHours()
+}
+
+// followed records the end of one follow's start. A failure is said once per distinct error, with that it is tried again.
+func (p *Puller) followed(done, trying *bool, err error, what string) {
+	p.mu.Lock()
+	*trying = false
+	*done = err == nil
+	said := err != nil && err.Error() == p.followFault
 	if err != nil {
-		p.logf("the %s build capacity of %s cannot be followed on the bus, so it is read from the settings file when the "+
-			"puller wakes: %v", p.Language, p.Node, err)
+		p.followFault = err.Error()
+	} else {
+		p.followFault = ""
+	}
+	p.mu.Unlock()
+	if err != nil && !said {
+		p.logf("the %s %s of %s cannot be followed on the bus, so it is read from the settings file; the follow is tried "+
+			"again at the next event: %v", p.Language, what, p.Node, err)
 	}
 }
 
@@ -648,6 +717,13 @@ func (p *Puller) watchHours() {
 	if p.WatchConfig == nil || p.BuildHours == nil {
 		return
 	}
+	p.mu.Lock()
+	if p.hoursFollowed || p.hoursTrying {
+		p.mu.Unlock()
+		return
+	}
+	p.hoursTrying = true
+	p.mu.Unlock()
 	err := p.WatchConfig(BuildHoursSetting, func(c stdio.ProvisionChange) error {
 		setting := ""
 		var w *BuildWindow
@@ -672,9 +748,7 @@ func (p *Puller) watchHours() {
 		p.Wake()
 		return nil
 	})
-	if err != nil {
-		p.logf("the %s build hours of %s cannot be followed on the bus, so they are read from the settings file: %v", p.Language, p.Node, err)
-	}
+	p.followed(&p.hoursFollowed, &p.hoursTrying, err, "build hours")
 }
 
 // WatchConfigServed is stdio.WatchConfig once Serve has the runtime's channel (stdio.Served): a build module starts its

go/buildstep/pull_test.go

@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@ import (
 	"encoding/json"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
 	"strings"
 	"sync"
 	"sync/atomic"
@@ -301,6 +303,71 @@ func TestPullAtCapacityZeroTakesNothing(t *testing.T) {
 		w.set(t, "2")
 		waitFor(t, "the ask taken once the capacity moved to 2", func() bool { a, _, _ := src.Fates(); return len(a) == 1 })
 	})
+	t.Run("settings refill wakes a parked puller and retries a failed follow", func(t *testing.T) {
+		// 2026-10-28: a replaced builder held the old "shanks=2,..." in its settings file, its config follow timed out, and
+		// the puller parked at 0 with nothing to wake it when the node-engine refilled the file.
+		src, st := NewFakeAsks(), newSteps()
+		_ = src.PublishAsk(testAsk(delivery.AskDelivery))
+		file := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "settings.json")
+		if err := os.WriteFile(file, []byte(`{"capacity":"shanks=2,ace=2"}`), 0o600); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		var mu sync.Mutex
+		attempts := 0
+		watch := func(key string, handle func(stdio.ProvisionChange) error) error {
+			mu.Lock()
+			defer mu.Unlock()
+			attempts++
+			if attempts == 1 {
+				return errors.New("nats: timeout")
+			}
+			return nil // followed; no value handed yet
+		}
+		armed := make(chan struct{}, 8)
+		var parked atomic.Int32
+		parks := func() int32 { return parked.Load() }
+		logf := func(format string, args ...any) {
+			if strings.Contains(format, "parks") {
+				parked.Add(1)
+			}
+		}
+		p := &Puller{Source: src, Language: delivery.AskGo, Node: "shanks", Put: st.put, PullWait: 10 * time.Millisecond,
+			SettingsFile: file, WatchConfig: watch, Logf: logf, watching: func() { armed <- struct{}{} },
+			Run: func(ctx context.Context, a delivery.StepAsk) (any, error) { return nil, nil }}
+		ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+		defer cancel()
+		go p.Pull(ctx)
+		waitFor(t, "the parked puller to say why", func() bool { why, fault := p.CapacityNote(); return fault && why != "" })
+		if src.Waiting(delivery.AskDelivery) != 1 {
+			t.Fatal("a node whose capacity cannot be read took an ask")
+		}
+		<-armed // the file watch is in place
+		tmp := file + ".new"
+		if err := os.WriteFile(tmp, []byte(`{"capacity":2}`), 0o600); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		if err := os.Rename(tmp, file); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		waitFor(t, "the ask taken once the file was refilled", func() bool { a, _, _ := src.Fates(); return len(a) == 1 })
+		// and the directory itself replaced (IN_IGNORED): the watch is armed again and a later refill still wakes the puller
+		dir := filepath.Dir(file)
+		before := parks()
+		if err := os.RemoveAll(dir); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		if err := os.Mkdir(dir, 0o700); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		<-armed // armed again
+		waitFor(t, "the puller parked with no settings file", func() bool { return parks() > before })
+		_ = src.PublishAsk(testAsk(delivery.AskDelivery))
+		if err := os.WriteFile(file, []byte(`{"capacity":2}`), 0o600); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		waitFor(t, "the second ask taken after the directory was replaced", func() bool { a, _, _ := src.Fates(); return len(a) == 2 })
+		waitFor(t, "the failed follow tried again", func() bool { mu.Lock(); defer mu.Unlock(); return attempts >= 2 })
+	})
 	for _, c := range []struct {
 		name  string
 		watch func(string, func(stdio.ProvisionChange) error) error

go/buildstep/watch_settings_linux.go

@@ -0,0 +1,112 @@
+//go:build linux
+
+package buildstep
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"encoding/binary"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"syscall"
+)
+
+const settingsMask = syscall.IN_CLOSE_WRITE | syscall.IN_MOVED_TO | syscall.IN_CREATE
+
+// watchSettings wakes the puller each time its settings file is written or replaced (inotify on the file's directory, so
+// a rename over it counts): the event the node-engine's refill of the file is, which a parked puller at capacity 0
+// otherwise never sees. No timer: it blocks on the kernel's event. When the kernel drops the watch (IN_IGNORED: the
+// directory was replaced or removed) it is added again, said once; while the directory is missing the nearest existing
+// ancestor is watched for the directory's return. A watch that cannot start is said once.
+func (p *Puller) watchSettings(ctx context.Context) {
+	if p.SettingsFile == "" {
+		return
+	}
+	fd, err := syscall.InotifyInit1(syscall.IN_CLOEXEC | syscall.IN_NONBLOCK)
+	if err != nil {
+		p.logf("the settings file %s cannot be watched, so a refill of it wakes the puller only at another event: %v", p.SettingsFile, err)
+		return
+	}
+	f := os.NewFile(uintptr(fd), "inotify")
+	defer f.Close()
+	dir, base := filepath.Split(p.SettingsFile)
+	dir = filepath.Clean(dir)
+	// arm watches dir, or when it is missing its nearest existing ancestor; it returns the watch descriptor and whether it
+	// is the directory's own.
+	arm := func() (int, bool, error) {
+		wd, err := syscall.InotifyAddWatch(fd, dir, settingsMask)
+		if err == nil {
+			return wd, true, nil
+		}
+		for up := filepath.Dir(dir); ; up = filepath.Dir(up) {
+			wd, aerr := syscall.InotifyAddWatch(fd, up, settingsMask)
+			if aerr == nil {
+				// the directory may have come back between the two calls: look once more, now that the ancestor is watched
+				if own, oerr := syscall.InotifyAddWatch(fd, dir, settingsMask); oerr == nil {
+					return own, true, nil
+				}
+				return wd, false, nil
+			}
+			if up == filepath.Dir(up) {
+				return 0, false, err
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	wd, own, err := arm()
+	if err != nil {
+		p.logf("the settings file %s cannot be watched, so a refill of it wakes the puller only at another event: %v", p.SettingsFile, err)
+		return
+	}
+	if p.watching != nil {
+		p.watching()
+	}
+	go func() { <-ctx.Done(); f.Close() }()
+	buf := make([]byte, 4096)
+	for {
+		n, err := f.Read(buf)
+		if err != nil {
+			return
+		}
+		hit, rearm := false, false
+		for off := 0; off+16 <= n; {
+			ewd := int(int32(binary.LittleEndian.Uint32(buf[off:])))
+			mask := binary.LittleEndian.Uint32(buf[off+4:])
+			l := int(binary.LittleEndian.Uint32(buf[off+12:]))
+			name := buf[off+16 : off+16+l]
+			for i, c := range name {
+				if c == 0 {
+					name = name[:i]
+					break
+				}
+			}
+			switch {
+			case mask&syscall.IN_IGNORED != 0 && ewd == wd:
+				rearm = true
+			case ewd == wd && own && string(name) == base:
+				hit = true
+			case ewd == wd && !own:
+				rearm = true // something appeared where the directory was: look again
+			}
+			off += 16 + l
+		}
+		if rearm {
+			nwd, nown, err := arm()
+			if err != nil {
+				p.logf("the settings file %s is no longer watched, so a refill of it wakes the puller only at another event: %v", p.SettingsFile, err)
+				return
+			}
+			if own || nown { // said once per loss of the watch on the directory itself
+				if own {
+					p.logf("the watch of the settings file %s was dropped (its directory was replaced); watching again", p.SettingsFile)
+				}
+			}
+			wd, own = nwd, nown
+			if p.watching != nil {
+				p.watching()
+			}
+			hit = true // the file may have been refilled meanwhile
+		}
+		if hit {
+			p.Wake()
+		}
+	}
+}

go/buildstep/watch_settings_other.go

@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+//go:build !linux
+
+package buildstep
+
+import "context"
+
+// watchSettings watches nothing off Linux: the puller wakes at its other events.
+func (p *Puller) watchSettings(ctx context.Context) {}

go/catalogue/build.go

@@ -126,23 +126,7 @@ func (m Manifest) Resolve(built []Built) (Manifest, error) {
 				continue
 			}
 			made := by[a.Name]
-			// What the runtime loads: what the artifact said, else every entrypoint of a module
-			// that declares tools, else nothing (the field's own rule; see Artifact.Loads).
-			//
-			// **Never, unasked, a bundle one of the module's own resources runs** (novox/hq issue 213).
-			// A process the host runs is the module's service, not its tools: the controller declares
-			// the verbs it answers as `tools` and serves them itself, and its bundle would otherwise
-			// have been launched a second time by the node's runtime, as an MCP child it is not.
-			loads := append([]string(nil), a.Loads...)
-			if a.Loads == nil && len(m.Tools) > 0 && !run[a.Name] {
-				loads = append([]string(nil), a.Entrypoints...)
-				// A bundle compiled to a binary has no entrypoints: the binary is what it is, and what
-				// the runtime starts to serve it (novox/hq ADR 0193). So a Go tools bundle is served
-				// as Go — the runtime execs it — exactly as a TypeScript one is through its launcher.
-				if bin := BinaryOf(a); bin != "" {
-					loads = []string{bin}
-				}
-			}
+			loads := BundleLoads(m, a, run)
 			// **Kept, never routed** (ADR 0155): the builder publishes to the store at the address
 			// it reached it by, and a manifest carrying that address names an installation —
 			// registration refused node-tools for exactly this on 2026-10-02. The build record
@@ -715,3 +699,31 @@ func undeliveredBundles(m Manifest) []string {
 	}
 	return problems
 }
+
+// BundleLoads is what the runtime loads of the bundle artifact a of m (run: the bundles one of m's own resources runs,
+// runByAResource): what the artifact said, else every entrypoint of a module that declares tools, else nothing; a
+// bundle compiled to a binary is served by its binary. The rule a build's resolution keeps on Bundle.Loads, and what a
+// module composed as what runs of it reads again when the runtime already dropped it (issue 1126).
+func BundleLoads(m Manifest, a Artifact, run map[string]bool) []string {
+	// What the runtime loads: what the artifact said, else every entrypoint of a module
+	// that declares tools, else nothing (the field's own rule; see Artifact.Loads).
+	//
+	// **Never, unasked, a bundle one of the module's own resources runs** (novox/hq issue 213).
+	// A process the host runs is the module's service, not its tools: the controller declares
+	// the verbs it answers as `tools` and serves them itself, and its bundle would otherwise
+	// have been launched a second time by the node's runtime, as an MCP child it is not.
+	loads := append([]string(nil), a.Loads...)
+	if a.Loads == nil && len(m.Tools) > 0 && !run[a.Name] {
+		loads = append([]string(nil), a.Entrypoints...)
+		// A bundle compiled to a binary has no entrypoints: the binary is what it is, and what
+		// the runtime starts to serve it (novox/hq ADR 0193). So a Go tools bundle is served
+		// as Go — the runtime execs it — exactly as a TypeScript one is through its launcher.
+		if bin := BinaryOf(a); bin != "" {
+			loads = []string{bin}
+		}
+	}
+	return loads
+}
+
+// RunByAResource is the bundles of m one of its own resources runs (its service, not its tools).
+func RunByAResource(m Manifest) map[string]bool { return runByAResource(m) }

go/catalogue/declaration.go

@@ -1103,6 +1103,9 @@ func (r Resolution) compose(with Rendering, owner map[string]string,
 		}
 		for _, unsettled := range resources {
 			if pr, ok := unsettled[HandedProvisionField].(PlanProvision); ok {
+				if handing == nil && m.Stubbed {
+					continue // held: its credential file is what runs of it, left out (issue 1126)
+				}
 				if handing == nil {
 					return nil, fmt.Errorf("%s: its credential of %s is handed to the provisioner and the module is "+
 						"not: nothing would fill it", m.Module, pr.Provision)
@@ -1127,6 +1130,9 @@ func (r Resolution) compose(with Rendering, owner map[string]string,
 				continue
 			}
 			if unsettled[HandedSecretField] != nil {
+				if handing == nil && m.Stubbed {
+					continue // held: its own secret's file is what runs of it, left out (issue 1126)
+				}
 				if handing == nil {
 					return nil, fmt.Errorf("%s: its own secret %v is handed to the provisioner and the module is "+
 						"not: nothing would fill it", m.Module, unsettled[HandedSecretField])

go/catalogue/handed_secrets_test.go

@@ -185,6 +185,22 @@ func TestAHandedModulesCredentialIssuedForItIsNamedInItsPlanAndNoValueIsSealed(t
 	if !reflect.DeepEqual(c.Plans["bot"].Provisions, want) {
 		t.Fatalf("the plan names %+v, want %+v", c.Plans["bot"].Provisions, want)
 	}
+	// Issue 1126 (novox's seed: "gitea: its credential of postgres-database is handed to the provisioner and the module
+	// is not"): held, the module is composed as its stub, with no template and no item, so nothing is handed. Its
+	// credential and its own secret are what runs of it, left out, and the composition is not refused.
+	r := forgeReader(t, true, true)
+	for i := range r.Modules {
+		if r.Modules[i].Module == "bot" {
+			h := *r.Modules[i].Handed
+			h.Templates = nil
+			r.Modules[i].Handed, r.Modules[i].Stubbed, r.Modules[i].Build = &h, true, nil
+			r.Modules[i].Resources = slices.DeleteFunc(r.Modules[i].Resources, func(x map[string]any) bool { return x["type"] != "directory" })
+		}
+	}
+	c, got = composeWith(t, r, handingTo("store:5000"))
+	if strings.Contains(got, SecretID("forge-read")) || strings.Contains(got, NeedID("token")) || c.Plans["bot"].Provisions != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("a held module's handed credential or own secret is composed: %s", got)
+	}
 }
 
 func TestACredentialIssuedForAHolderIsSealedAsBeforeWhereItsModuleIsNotHanded(t *testing.T) {

go/catalogue/manifest.go

@@ -870,6 +870,11 @@ type Manifest struct {
 	// path its manifest leaves to the mesh, a binding). Nil for any other module. Never in a manifest's JSON.
 	OwnsPaths []string `json:"-"`
 
+	// Stubbed marks a module composed as its stub (compose.Stub: held on its node, issue 1126): none of its own
+	// composition is applied, so what it hands the provisioner (a credential the vault keeps for it, its own secrets)
+	// is left out of its plan as it runs, never refused for want of a plan. Never in a manifest's JSON.
+	Stubbed bool `json:"-"`
+
 	// Jails are the fail2ban jails this module declares for its own service (novox/hq to-be 31).
 	// Written into whichever node runs the module, the same way `listens` become that node's rules.
 	Jails []Jail `json:"jails,omitempty"`

go/compose/composed.go

@@ -130,6 +130,22 @@ func compositions(in Input, node string, fps map[string]string, mode Mode, appli
 			n.Kept = kept
 		}
 	}
+	// A module composed as what runs of it contributes to the runtime what the runtime serves of it as it runs
+	// (Node.RunsTools); one of its own account is served by a runtime of its own, from its manifest as before.
+	for i := range reading.Nodes {
+		n := &reading.Nodes[i]
+		if n.Name != node || n.RunsTools == nil {
+			continue
+		}
+		kept := make(map[string]catalogue.Manifest, len(n.Kept))
+		for m, man := range n.Kept {
+			if man.Stubbed && man.RunsAs == "" {
+				man.Bundles = runningBundles(n.RunsTools[m], reading.Catalogue[m])
+			}
+			kept[m] = man
+		}
+		n.Kept = kept
+	}
 	isCarried := func(module, id string) bool {
 		if module == "" {
 			module, _ = declaration.ModuleGuess(id)
@@ -293,6 +309,106 @@ func RunsAnyOf(runs *delivery.Composed, module string) bool {
 	return false
 }
 
+// ToolsRunning is, by module, the tools bundles that run on the node (Node.RunsTools): each bundle archive a module's
+// resource unpacks at its BundlePath, with what the runtime's own process loads of it and the words it hands it
+// (catalogue.RuntimeToolModules, catalogue.RuntimeToolEnv, the mesh's own words left out). A bundle the runtime loads
+// nothing of has no Loads: the runtime dropped it, and the composition reads its loads again from the module's build
+// (issue 1126, review: shanks had already applied the drop of systemd-resolved). Nil when running holds no runtime process.
+func ToolsRunning(running []delivery.Composed) map[string][]catalogue.Bundle {
+	runtimeID := catalogue.RuntimeModule + "." + catalogue.RuntimeProcessID()
+	type resource struct {
+		ID     string            `json:"id"`
+		Module string            `json:"module"`
+		Type   string            `json:"type"`
+		Path   string            `json:"path"`
+		Source string            `json:"source"`
+		Digest string            `json:"digest"`
+		Env    map[string]string `json:"env"`
+	}
+	var env map[string]string
+	out := map[string][]catalogue.Bundle{}
+	for _, c := range running {
+		for _, raw := range c.Resources {
+			var r resource
+			if json.Unmarshal(raw, &r) != nil {
+				continue
+			}
+			owner := r.Module
+			if owner == "" {
+				owner, _ = declaration.ModuleGuess(r.ID)
+			}
+			switch {
+			case r.Type == "process" && r.ID == runtimeID && owner == catalogue.RuntimeModule:
+				env = r.Env
+			case r.Type == "archive" && owner != "" && strings.HasPrefix(r.ID, owner+"."+catalogue.BundleID("")):
+				name := strings.TrimPrefix(r.ID, owner+"."+catalogue.BundleID(""))
+				if r.Path == catalogue.BundlePath(owner, name) {
+					out[owner] = append(out[owner], catalogue.Bundle{Name: name, Source: catalogue.Recorded(r.Source), Digest: r.Digest})
+				}
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	if env == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	var words map[string]map[string]string
+	_ = json.Unmarshal([]byte(env[catalogue.RuntimeToolEnv]), &words)
+	for _, entry := range strings.Split(env[catalogue.RuntimeToolModules], ",") {
+		module, path, ok := strings.Cut(entry, "=")
+		if !ok || !strings.HasPrefix(path, catalogue.BundleRoot+"/"+module+"/") {
+			continue
+		}
+		name, load, ok := strings.Cut(strings.TrimPrefix(path, catalogue.BundleRoot+"/"+module+"/"), "/")
+		bundles := out[module]
+		i := slices.IndexFunc(bundles, func(b catalogue.Bundle) bool { return b.Name == name })
+		if !ok || i < 0 {
+			continue // no archive of it runs: nothing to load
+		}
+		var own map[string]string
+		for w, v := range words[module] {
+			if w == catalogue.FilesOwnedPaths || w == catalogue.ReadsSecretPlaces {
+				continue // the mesh's to say, composed again
+			}
+			if own == nil {
+				own = map[string]string{}
+			}
+			own[w] = v
+		}
+		bundles[i].Loads = append(bundles[i].Loads, load)
+		bundles[i].Env = own
+	}
+	for _, bundles := range out {
+		sort.Slice(bundles, func(i, j int) bool { return bundles[i].Name < bundles[j].Name })
+	}
+	return out
+}
+
+// runningBundles is the bundles of a module composed as what runs of it (Node.RunsTools): each that runs, with what the
+// runtime loads of it and its words; one the runtime loads nothing of takes its loads and words from the module's build
+// (man: its built bundles, else its build's artifacts, catalogue.BundleLoads), so a drop already applied is undone.
+func runningBundles(runs []catalogue.Bundle, man catalogue.Manifest) []catalogue.Bundle {
+	var out []catalogue.Bundle
+	for _, b := range runs {
+		if len(b.Loads) == 0 {
+			for _, built := range man.Bundles {
+				if built.Name == b.Name {
+					b.Loads, b.Env, b.Launchers, b.Binary = built.Loads, built.Env, built.Launchers, built.Binary
+				}
+			}
+			if man.Build != nil {
+				run := catalogue.RunByAResource(man)
+				for _, a := range man.Build.Artifacts {
+					if a.Kind == catalogue.ArtifactBundle && a.Name == b.Name {
+						b.Loads, b.Env, b.Binary = catalogue.BundleLoads(man, a, run), a.Env, catalogue.BinaryOf(a)
+					}
+				}
+			}
+		}
+		out = append(out, b)
+	}
+	return out
+}
+
 // NamesBuild says a manifest names what a build makes: its build, or a resource naming an artifact. A node cannot
 // compose such a module folded into its own composition: the build of the old form it runs is held by the controller
 // alone (issue 1126).
@@ -318,6 +434,17 @@ func Stub(m catalogue.Manifest) catalogue.Manifest {
 		m.OwnsPaths = catalogue.DeclaredPaths(m)
 	}
 	m.Build = nil
+	// What it hands the provisioner is left out as it runs, not refused for want of a plan (catalogue.Manifest.Stubbed).
+	m.Stubbed = true
+	// Nor is a template its build kept for its own files handed: a stub carries none of them (issue 1126: novox's node
+	// refused "postgres: its build kept a template for consumers, which it does not declare" with postgres held). Its
+	// items stay, and the templates they render through: a held module's contributions to other modules' collections
+	// (seat contributions, shell blocks, seat data) still reach their collectors.
+	if m.Handed != nil {
+		h := *m.Handed
+		h.Templates = nil
+		m.Handed = &h
+	}
 	var dirs []map[string]any
 	for _, r := range m.Resources {
 		if r["type"] == "directory" {

go/compose/composed_test.go

@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import (
 
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/catalogue"
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/delivery"
+	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/overlay"
 )
 
 func fpFor(c byte) string { return delivery.SourcePrefix2 + strings.Repeat(string(c), 64) }
@@ -96,6 +97,91 @@ func TestCompositionsAreTheDeclarationSplitByModule(t *testing.T) {
 	if _, _, err := Compositions(in, "nowhere", fps, Foreseeing); err == nil {
 		t.Errorf("a node the mesh does not have was composed")
 	}
+
+	// Issue 1126, 2026-10-29: a module composed as what runs of it (folded at a build of the old form, or held) still
+	// contributes to the runtime what the runtime serves of it as it runs (Node.RunsTools): its manifest at the
+	// indexer's commit has no bundles (shanks's runtime lost the folded systemd-resolved, novox's the folded nats), and a
+	// held module's new build's bundles are not delivered.
+	dg := func(c byte) string { return "sha256:" + strings.Repeat(string(c), 64) }
+	runtime := catalogue.Manifest{Module: catalogue.RuntimeModule, Version: "1",
+		OwnSecrets: catalogue.OwnSecrets{"broker": {Path: "/var/lib/mesh/node-tools/broker"}},
+		Bundles: []catalogue.Bundle{{Name: "runtime", Source: catalogue.ArtifactStoreScheme + "node-tools/runtime/blobs/" + dg('a'),
+			Digest: dg('a'), Language: "go", Binary: "node-tools"}}}
+	store := catalogue.Manifest{Module: "artifacts", Version: "1",
+		Serves: map[string]map[string]any{catalogue.ArtifactStoreProvision: {"port": 5100}}}
+	lamp := catalogue.Manifest{Module: "lamp", Version: "1", Tools: []string{"on"},
+		Resources: []map[string]any{{"id": "state", "type": "directory", "path": "/var/lib/lamp", "mode": "0700"}},
+		Build: &catalogue.Build{Artifacts: []catalogue.Artifact{{Name: "tools", Kind: catalogue.ArtifactBundle,
+			Language: "go", System: "arch", From: "cmd/lamp-tools", Env: map[string]string{"LAMP_CONF": "/var/lib/lamp/conf"}}}}}
+	newLamp, err := lamp.Resolve([]catalogue.Built{{Name: "tools", Kind: catalogue.ArtifactBundle,
+		Reference: catalogue.ArtifactStoreScheme + "lamp/tools/blobs/" + dg('c'), Digest: dg('c')}})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	served := "lamp=" + catalogue.BundlePath("lamp", "tools") + "/lamp-tools"
+	runtimeRuns := func(dropped bool) delivery.Composed {
+		env := `"MESH_TOOL_MODULES":"` + served + `","MESH_TOOL_ENV":"{\"lamp\":{\"LAMP_CONF\":\"/var/lib/lamp/conf\"}}"`
+		if dropped {
+			env = `"MESH_TOOL_MODULES":""` // the drop already applied (shanks, 2026-10-29)
+		}
+		return delivery.Composed{Node: "anchor", Module: catalogue.RuntimeModule, Resources: []json.RawMessage{json.RawMessage(
+			`{"id":"node-tools.runtime","module":"node-tools","type":"process","name":"node-tools","env":{` + env + `}}`)}}
+	}
+	lampRuns := `{"id":"lamp.bundle-tools","type":"archive","source":"` + catalogue.ArtifactStoreScheme + `lamp/tools/blobs/` + dg('b') +
+		`","digest":"` + dg('b') + `","path":"` + catalogue.BundlePath("lamp", "tools") + `"}`
+	for _, row := range []struct {
+		name    string
+		set     func(n *Node) delivery.Composed // and what runs of lamp
+		fps     map[string]string
+		dropped bool
+	}{
+		{"folded at a build of the old form", func(n *Node) delivery.Composed {
+			n.InOwn = map[string]bool{"lamp": true}
+			n.RunsOwn = &delivery.Composed{Node: "anchor", Resources: []json.RawMessage{json.RawMessage(lampRuns)}}
+			return *n.RunsOwn
+		}, map[string]string{}, false},
+		{"folded, the runtime already dropped it", func(n *Node) delivery.Composed {
+			n.InOwn = map[string]bool{"lamp": true}
+			n.RunsOwn = &delivery.Composed{Node: "anchor", Resources: []json.RawMessage{json.RawMessage(lampRuns)}}
+			return *n.RunsOwn
+		}, map[string]string{}, true},
+		{"held, its new build not delivered", func(n *Node) delivery.Composed {
+			n.Held = map[string]bool{"lamp": true}
+			lr := delivery.Composed{Node: "anchor", Module: "lamp", Resources: []json.RawMessage{json.RawMessage(
+				strings.Replace(lampRuns, `"type"`, `"module":"lamp","type"`, 1))}}
+			n.Kept = map[string]catalogue.Manifest{"lamp": Carried(newLamp, "lamp", &lr)}
+			return lr
+		}, map[string]string{"lamp": fpFor('1')}, false},
+	} {
+		tools := aMesh(t)
+		tools.Catalogue[catalogue.RuntimeModule], tools.Catalogue["artifacts"], tools.Catalogue["lamp"] = runtime, store, lamp
+		anchor := nodeOf(t, &tools, "anchor")
+		anchor.Assigned = append(anchor.Assigned, "artifacts", catalogue.RuntimeModule, "lamp")
+		tools.BusMinted = []string{"anchor." + catalogue.RuntimeModule}
+		anchor.SealingKey = keyOf(t, "anchor")
+		anchor.RunsTools = ToolsRunning([]delivery.Composed{runtimeRuns(row.dropped), row.set(anchor)})
+		row.fps[overlay.Name], row.fps["artifacts"], row.fps[catalogue.RuntimeModule] = fpFor('a'), fpFor('5'), fpFor('e')
+		out, _, _, err := CompositionsIn(tools, "anchor", row.fps, Foreseeing)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("%s: %v", row.name, err)
+		}
+		var env map[string]any
+		for _, c := range out {
+			for _, raw := range c.Resources {
+				var r struct {
+					ID  string         `json:"id"`
+					Env map[string]any `json:"env"`
+				}
+				if json.Unmarshal(raw, &r) == nil && r.ID == "node-tools.runtime" {
+					env = r.Env
+				}
+			}
+		}
+		if env[catalogue.RuntimeToolModules] != served || env[catalogue.RuntimeToolEnv] != `{"lamp":{"LAMP_CONF":"/var/lib/lamp/conf"}}` {
+			t.Errorf("%s: the runtime serves %v with %v, want what runs of lamp, %s", row.name,
+				env[catalogue.RuntimeToolModules], env[catalogue.RuntimeToolEnv], served)
+		}
+	}
 }
 
 // 1943/AC1: the upgrade policies and sources a composition's value may name are the catalogue's own words.

go/compose/frombus/answer.go

@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ package frombus
 
 import (
 	"context"
-	"encoding/json"
 	"fmt"
 	"regexp"
 	"slices"
@@ -11,7 +10,6 @@ import (
 
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/catalogue"
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/compose"
-	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/declaration"
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/delivery"
 )
 
@@ -99,6 +97,7 @@ func Answer(ctx context.Context, r Reader, mesh Mesh, s Scope, fps map[string]st
 		for _, m := range sortedKeys(failed) {
 			a.Refusals = append(a.Refusals, delivery.ModuleRefused{Module: m, Why: failed[m]})
 		}
+		heldAsToday(&a, s.HeldToday)
 		a.Verdict = delivery.VerdictOf(a)
 		return a
 	}
@@ -203,10 +202,69 @@ func Answer(ctx context.Context, r Reader, mesh Mesh, s Scope, fps map[string]st
 		a.Refusals = append(a.Refusals, delivery.ModuleRefused{Module: m, Why: failed[m]})
 	}
 	sort.Slice(a.Refusals, func(i, j int) bool { return a.Refusals[i].Module < a.Refusals[j].Module })
+	heldAsToday(&a, s.HeldToday)
 	a.Verdict = delivery.VerdictOf(a)
 	return a
 }
 
+// heldBehind is why a module is held with a held one it reads (composeEach's dependents).
+func heldBehind(m string) string {
+	return "it reads what " + m + " contributes or listens on, and " + m + " is held"
+}
+
+// behind is the held module a refusal's words say it is held behind, or "".
+func behind(why string) string {
+	rest, ok := strings.CutPrefix(why, "it reads what ")
+	if !ok {
+		return ""
+	}
+	m, _, ok := strings.Cut(rest, " contributes or listens on, and ")
+	if !ok || why != heldBehind(m) {
+		return ""
+	}
+	return m
+}
+
+// heldAsToday moves into Held each refusal of a module the node keeps today as it runs (Scope.HeldToday, with how:
+// held, failed, running a build of the old form), and of each module held only behind one of those: the candidate keeps
+// them as the node does, which is no change (issue 1126: a seed reproduces today, and today keeps them so). Each says
+// how it stands today (ModuleRefused.Today).
+func heldAsToday(a *delivery.CandidateAnswer, today map[string]string) {
+	if len(today) == 0 {
+		return
+	}
+	how := map[string]string{}
+	for m, w := range today {
+		how[m] = w
+	}
+	for moved := true; moved; {
+		moved = false
+		kept := a.Refusals[:0]
+		for _, r := range a.Refusals {
+			w, keep := how[r.Module]
+			if !keep {
+				if m := behind(r.Why); m != "" {
+					if _, behindKept := how[m]; behindKept {
+						w, keep = "held behind "+m, true
+					}
+				}
+			}
+			if keep {
+				r.Today = w
+				how[r.Module] = w
+				a.Held = append(a.Held, r)
+				moved = true
+			} else {
+				kept = append(kept, r)
+			}
+		}
+		a.Refusals = kept
+	}
+	if len(a.Refusals) == 0 {
+		a.Refusals = nil
+	}
+}
+
 // maxCulprits bounds the modules one refusal is tried on, each a whole composition.
 const maxCulprits = 8
 
@@ -252,11 +310,14 @@ func standsInFor(x, node string) (string, string) {
 // **A held module is what runs of it** (review of the apply, round 1): composed from what running holds of it
 // (compose.Carried of its own composition there; the node's own carries it wherever it runs there), so what the others
 // read of it (the machine ports its containers publish, the routes reaching it) is what runs, and none of its own
-// composition is in out: the node keeps what it last applied. **What depends on how it is held is held too:** a module
-// whose composition differs when the held ones are composed as their stubs instead is held with them, and a node's own
-// composition that differs (but for the held modules' own resources) refuses the node. And since a held module is
-// composed from its new manifest, which may not be the build's that runs, what reads that manifest is held with it
-// (dependents): the providers of what it contributes to (the proxy its routes), and, when it listens, the filter.
+// composition is in out: the node keeps what it last applied. **A held module is no dependence of its neighbours**
+// (issue 1126, the spreading hold): a consumer of what it provides, or a collector of its items, composes against what
+// runs of it like any other module, and is never held for how the held one would compose as its stub (that comparison
+// held every postgres consumer behind de-spiegel's hold on novox, three rounds in a row). What it composes is compared
+// with what runs as any module's is: a real difference is still named, and a refusal of its own still refuses it. Only
+// what a held module's new manifest says to others, which may not be the build's that runs, is held with it
+// (dependents): the providers of what it contributes to in their own files (the proxy its routes), and, when it
+// listens, the filter; its items reach their collectors through its own plan, which it keeps as it runs.
 func composeEach(in compose.Input, node string, fps map[string]string, applied bool, running []delivery.Composed, failed map[string]string) (out map[string]delivery.Composed, skipped, stood []string, err error) {
 	mode := compose.Foreseeing
 	if applied {
@@ -291,7 +352,7 @@ func composeEach(in compose.Input, node string, fps map[string]string, applied b
 		// What the others read of its manifest (what it contributes, what it listens on) is its new manifest's, not
 		// necessarily the build's that runs: what reads it is held with it (review of the apply, round 2).
 		for _, r := range dependents(in, node, src[m], failed) {
-			hold(r, "it reads what "+m+" contributes or listens on, and "+m+" is held", false)
+			hold(r, heldBehind(m), false)
 		}
 	}
 	for _, m := range sortedKeys(failed) {
@@ -332,17 +393,6 @@ func composeEach(in compose.Input, node string, fps map[string]string, applied b
 				return nil, nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("%w on %s: %s", compose.ErrStoodIn, node, strings.Join(nodes, ", "))
 			}
 		}
-		if !again && len(failed) > 0 {
-			dependent, own := dependsOnHeld(in, node, fps, mode, out, src, bareOf, failed)
-			if own {
-				return nil, nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("frombus: %s's own composition depends on how %s, held, is composed, and is not applied",
-					node, strings.Join(sortedKeys(failed), ", "))
-			}
-			for _, m := range dependent {
-				hold(m, "what it composes of "+strings.Join(sortedKeys(failed), ", ")+", held, is not what runs of them", false)
-				again = true
-			}
-		}
 		if !again {
 			break
 		}
@@ -351,80 +401,6 @@ func composeEach(in compose.Input, node string, fps map[string]string, applied b
 	return out, skipped, stood, nil
 }
 
-// dependsOnHeld composes in again with each held module as its stub rather than as what runs of it, and answers the
-// modules, not held, whose composition differs between the two (sorted), and own when the node's own composition does
-// but for the held modules' own resources. A composition of stubs that fails says nothing more: what runs composed.
-func dependsOnHeld(in compose.Input, node string, fps map[string]string, mode compose.Mode, asRuns map[string]delivery.Composed,
-	src map[string]catalogue.Manifest, bareOf map[string]bool, failed map[string]string) (dependent []string, own bool) {
-	stubs := in
-	for _, m := range sortedKeys(failed) {
-		if man, ok := src[m]; ok {
-			stubs = heldAs(stubs, node, m, man, bareOf[m], nil)
-		}
-	}
-	asStubs, _, _, err := compose.CompositionsIn(stubs, node, fps, mode)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, false
-	}
-	isHeld := func(m string) bool { _, ok := failed[m]; return ok }
-	keys := map[string]bool{}
-	for k := range asRuns {
-		keys[k] = true
-	}
-	for k := range asStubs {
-		keys[k] = true
-	}
-	for _, k := range sortedKeys(keys) {
-		a, inA := asRuns[k]
-		b, inB := asStubs[k]
-		m := a.Module
-		if !inA {
-			m = b.Module
-		}
-		if m != "" && isHeld(m) {
-			continue
-		}
-		if m == "" {
-			a, b = withoutHeld(a, isHeld), withoutHeld(b, isHeld)
-		}
-		da, errA := delivery.ComposedDigestOf(a)
-		db, errB := delivery.ComposedDigestOf(b)
-		if inA == inB && errA == nil && errB == nil && da == db {
-			continue
-		}
-		if m == "" {
-			own = true
-			continue
-		}
-		dependent = append(dependent, m)
-	}
-	return dependent, own
-}
-
-// withoutHeld is the node's own composition c without the resources of a held module (its id naming it) and without
-// its filled paths, for comparing the rest.
-func withoutHeld(c delivery.Composed, isHeld func(string) bool) delivery.Composed {
-	out := c
-	out.Filled = nil
-	out.Resources = nil
-	for _, raw := range c.Resources {
-		var head struct {
-			ID     string `json:"id"`
-			Module string `json:"module"`
-		}
-		_ = json.Unmarshal(raw, &head)
-		owner := head.Module
-		if owner == "" {
-			owner, _ = declaration.ModuleGuess(head.ID)
-		}
-		if owner != "" && isHeld(owner) {
-			continue
-		}
-		out.Resources = append(out.Resources, raw)
-	}
-	return out
-}
-
 // dependents is, of the modules placed on node and not held, those that read what man says to them: each that provides
 // what man contributes to (the proxy its routes), and, when man listens on a port, each that holds the filter (the
 // openings).

go/compose/frombus/answer_rows_test.go

@@ -91,6 +91,27 @@ func answerNamesEveryRefusalAndLeavesAnOldBuildToTheNode(t *testing.T) {
 	if lemursOK := slices.ContainsFunc(a.Added, func(m delivery.ModuleAdded) bool { return m.Module == "lemurs" }); !lemursOK {
 		t.Errorf("lemurs, which composes, is not answered beside the refusals: %+v", a)
 	}
+	// Issue 1126: a module the node holds today that the candidate holds too is held as today, no refusal: with every
+	// refused module held today the verdict is no refusal, and each is named under Held.
+	today := Answer(ctx, b, Mesh{}, Scope{Node: "n1", Placements: given(b), HeldToday: map[string]string{"api": "held", "spiegel": "held", "web": "held"}},
+		map[string]string{"lemurs": fp("e"), "web": fp("1"), "api": fp("2"), "spiegel": fp("3")}, nil, "p-h1", 3)
+	if today.Verdict == delivery.CandidateRefused || len(today.Refusals) != 0 || len(today.Held) != 3 || today.Held[0].Why == "" {
+		t.Errorf("held as today: %+v", today)
+	}
+	// A refused module the node does not hold today stays a refusal: holding only api today leaves spiegel and web refused.
+	part := Answer(ctx, b, Mesh{}, Scope{Node: "n1", Placements: given(b), HeldToday: map[string]string{"api": "held"}},
+		map[string]string{"lemurs": fp("e"), "web": fp("1"), "api": fp("2"), "spiegel": fp("3")}, nil, "p-h1", 3)
+	if part.Verdict != delivery.CandidateRefused || len(part.Refusals) != 2 || len(part.Held) != 1 || part.Held[0].Module != "api" {
+		t.Errorf("held as today in part: %+v", part)
+	}
+	// A module held only behind one kept today is kept as today too, saying behind which (novox's mailu behind de-spiegel).
+	if a := (delivery.CandidateAnswer{Refusals: []delivery.ModuleRefused{{Module: "de-spiegel", Why: "a value is unset"},
+		{Module: "mailu", Why: heldBehind("de-spiegel")}, {Module: "proxy", Why: heldBehind("mailu")}, {Module: "web", Why: "no build"}}}); true {
+		heldAsToday(&a, map[string]string{"de-spiegel": "runs a build of the old form"})
+		if len(a.Refusals) != 1 || a.Refusals[0].Module != "web" || len(a.Held) != 3 || a.Held[2].Today != "held behind mailu" {
+			t.Errorf("held behind a module kept today: %+v", a)
+		}
+	}
 
 	// The fold: spiegel runs inside the node's own composition at a build of the old form. Its resources are carried as
 	// they run, each after the one it runs after: the node's own is the one it runs, and the node composes itself.
@@ -273,6 +294,31 @@ func answerNamesEveryRefusalAndLeavesAnOldBuildToTheNode(t *testing.T) {
 	if got, want := catalogue.DeclaredPaths(compose.Carried(f1, "f1-circuits", &f1runs)), catalogue.DeclaredPaths(f1); !reflect.DeepEqual(got, want) {
 		t.Errorf("f1-circuits carried owns %v, want what the controller composes from its manifest, %v", got, want)
 	}
+	// Issue 1126: a held module hands no template its build kept for a file it no longer carries (novox's node:
+	// "postgres: its build kept a template for consumers"), but keeps its items and their templates, so what it
+	// contributes to other modules' collections still reaches them.
+	for _, row := range []struct {
+		name   string
+		handed *catalogue.Handed
+		items  []catalogue.Item
+	}{
+		{"templates and items", &catalogue.Handed{Templates: map[string]string{"consumers": "files/consumers.json"},
+			Items: map[string]string{"routes": "files/routes.tmpl"}}, []catalogue.Item{{Collection: "routes", Content: "x"}}},
+		{"items alone", nil, []catalogue.Item{{Collection: "routes", Content: "x"}}},
+	} {
+		kept := f1
+		kept.Handed, kept.Items = row.handed, row.items
+		st := compose.Stub(kept)
+		if st.Handed != nil && st.Handed.Templates != nil {
+			t.Errorf("%s: a stub hands templates %v", row.name, st.Handed.Templates)
+		}
+		if !reflect.DeepEqual(st.Items, row.items) {
+			t.Errorf("%s: a stub collects %+v, want its items %+v", row.name, st.Items, row.items)
+		}
+		if row.handed != nil && (st.Handed == nil || !reflect.DeepEqual(st.Handed.Items, row.handed.Items) || row.handed.Templates == nil) {
+			t.Errorf("%s: a stub hands item templates %+v, want %v and its manifest untouched", row.name, st.Handed, row.handed.Items)
+		}
+	}
 	var k1, k2 any
 	_ = json.Unmarshal(keptComposed, &k1)
 	_ = json.Unmarshal(keptFile, &k2)
@@ -387,8 +433,8 @@ func answerNamesEveryRefusalAndLeavesAnOldBuildToTheNode(t *testing.T) {
 
 	// (G) A held module that runs a composition of its own (review of the apply, round 1, finding 2): what the others
 	// compose of it is what runs, never its stub's. site listens on 8080, placed at the machine's 20005, and its own
-	// secret was never issued here: held, the filter must not open 8080 and drop the 20005 that runs. A module whose
-	// composition depends on how site is held (here the filter) is held with it.
+	// secret was never issued here: held, the filter must not open 8080 and drop the 20005 that runs. The filter, which
+	// reads what site's manifest listens on, is held with it (dependents).
 	site := []byte(`{"module":"site","version":"1","capabilities":["container-runtime"],` +
 		`"listens":[{"port":8080,"from":"mesh","why":"the site"}],"own-secrets":{"key":"${dir:state}/key"},` +
 		`"resources":[{"id":"state","type":"directory","path":"/var/lib/site","mode":"0700"},` +
@@ -424,6 +470,53 @@ func answerNamesEveryRefusalAndLeavesAnOldBuildToTheNode(t *testing.T) {
 			}
 		}
 	}
+	// (G2) Issue 1126, the spreading hold: a held module is no dependence of its neighbours. site, held, provides page, and
+	// app requires and binds it: app composes against what runs of site and is not held (novox's seed held every postgres
+	// consumer behind de-spiegel's hold, "what it composes of …, held, is not what runs of them").
+	provider := []byte(strings.Replace(string(site), `"listens":`, `"provides":[{"name":"page","scope":"node"}],"serves":{"page":{"port":8080}},"listens":`, 1))
+	app := []byte(`{"module":"app","version":"1","capabilities":["systemd"],"requires":["page"],"binds":{"page":"/etc/app/page.json"},` +
+		`"resources":[{"id":"service","type":"service","unit":"app.service","state":"running","boot":"enabled"}]}`)
+	b2 := mk("lemurs", overlay.Name, "site", "nft", "app")
+	for m, raw := range map[string][]byte{"site": provider, "nft": nft, "app": app} {
+		b2.manifests[delivery.ManifestDigest(raw)] = raw
+		b2.modules[m] = delivery.Module{Manifest: delivery.ManifestDigest(raw)}
+	}
+	p2 := b2.placements["n1"]
+	p2.Decided.Endpoint = "n1.example:51820"
+	for i := range p2.Modules {
+		if p2.Modules[i].Module == "site" {
+			p2.Modules[i].Ports = map[string]int{"8080": 20005}
+		}
+	}
+	b2.placements["n1"] = p2
+	b2.records["n1"] = rec
+	b2.held = true
+	fps["app"] = fp("9")
+	got, _, held, err = Compose(ctx, b2, Mesh{}, Scope{Node: "n1", Running: []delivery.Composed{siteRuns}}, fps)
+	appKey, _ := delivery.ComposedKey("n1", "app", fps["app"])
+	if _, composed := got[appKey]; err != nil || held["site"] == "" || held["app"] != "" || !composed {
+		t.Errorf("a consumer of held site: %v, held %v; want site held, and app composed against what runs of it", err, held)
+	}
+	if bound, _ := json.Marshal(got[appKey].Resources); !strings.Contains(string(bound), "20005") {
+		t.Errorf("app's binding does not reach held site where it runs (20005): %s", bound)
+	}
+	delete(fps, "app")
+	// A held feeder of a collector holds no collector: its items reach their collection through its own plan, which it
+	// keeps as it runs. Only a provider it contributes to in that provider's own files is held behind it (the proxy its
+	// routes), as is the filter where it listens.
+	withCollector := compose.Input{Catalogue: map[string]catalogue.Manifest{
+		"feeder": {Module: "feeder", Items: []catalogue.Item{{Collection: "routes", Content: "x"}}},
+		"col":    {Module: "col", Collections: []catalogue.Collection{{Name: "routes"}}},
+		"proxy":  {Module: "proxy", Provides: []catalogue.Offer{{Name: "route"}}}},
+		Nodes: []compose.Node{{Name: "n1", Assigned: []string{"feeder", "col", "proxy"}}}}
+	feeder := withCollector.Catalogue["feeder"]
+	if d := dependents(withCollector, "n1", feeder, map[string]string{"feeder": "held"}); len(d) != 0 {
+		t.Errorf("a held feeder of a collector holds %v, want none", d)
+	}
+	feeder.Contributes = map[string]map[string]any{"route": {"name": "x"}}
+	if d := dependents(withCollector, "n1", feeder, map[string]string{"feeder": "held"}); !reflect.DeepEqual(d, []string{"proxy"}) {
+		t.Errorf("a held module contributing routes holds %v, want the proxy", d)
+	}
 	// (H) Review of the apply, round 2: a held module is composed from its new manifest, so what the others read of its
 	// manifest (its listens, what it contributes) may not be what runs. site's new manifest moves it to 9090 while the
 	// build that runs listens on 8080: the filter, the holder of what site listens on, is held with it, and nothing

go/compose/frombus/frombus.go

@@ -134,6 +134,10 @@ type Scope struct {
 	Placements map[string]*delivery.Placement
 	InOwn      []string
 	Running    []delivery.Composed
+	// HeldToday is, in an answer, the modules the node keeps today as they run ("node" for its own composition), each with
+	// how ("held", "failed", "runs a build of the old form"): a candidate that cannot compose one, or holds one only
+	// behind one of them, keeps it as today, which is said under CandidateAnswer.Held and is no refusal (issue 1126).
+	HeldToday map[string]string
 	// SameValue, in an answer, says whether two sealed values open to the same value (the node opens them with its own
 	// key), so a differing resource shows a value sealed again as such (delivery.CompareComposedWith). Nil shows them
 	// as differing.
@@ -309,6 +313,8 @@ func input(ctx context.Context, r Reader, mesh Mesh, s Scope, refuse func(module
 			}
 		}
 		if node == s.Node {
+			// What its runtime serves as it runs: what a module composed as what runs of it contributes there (issue 1126).
+			n.RunsTools = compose.ToolsRunning(s.Running)
 			for _, module := range s.InOwn {
 				if n.InOwn == nil {
 					n.InOwn = map[string]bool{}

go/compose/frombus/frombus_test.go

@@ -45,6 +45,8 @@ type bus struct {
 	served     map[string]map[string]any
 	servedRead []string
 	buildsRead []string
+	// held answers every credential asked as held, sealed to the consumer.
+	held bool
 }
 
 func (b *bus) Build(_ context.Context, module, fp string) (*delivery.BuilderBuild, error) {
@@ -89,7 +91,7 @@ func (b *bus) OwnSecrets(context.Context, string) ([]compose.OwnSecretRow, error
 	return b.own, b.ownErr
 }
 
-func (b *bus) Credentials(_ context.Context, node string, asConsumer, _ []compose.CredentialKey) ([]compose.Credential, []compose.Issued, error) {
+func (b *bus) Credentials(_ context.Context, node string, asConsumer, asProvider []compose.CredentialKey) ([]compose.Credential, []compose.Issued, error) {
 	b.asked = append(b.asked, asConsumer...)
 	for _, k := range asConsumer {
 		placed := false
@@ -100,7 +102,17 @@ func (b *bus) Credentials(_ context.Context, node string, asConsumer, _ []compos
 			return nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("%s is not on %s: neither assigned there nor required by a module there", k.ConsumerModule, node)
 		}
 	}
-	return nil, nil, nil
+	var out []compose.Credential
+	var issued []compose.Issued
+	for _, k := range append(append([]compose.CredentialKey{}, asConsumer...), asProvider...) {
+		if b.held {
+			out = append(out, compose.Credential{Provision: k.Provision, Consumer: k.Consumer, ConsumerModule: k.ConsumerModule,
+				Provider: k.Provider, Local: k.Local, State: compose.CredentialHeld, Sealed: `"box"`})
+			issued = append(issued, compose.Issued{Provision: k.Provision, Consumer: k.Consumer, ConsumerModule: k.ConsumerModule,
+				Provider: k.Provider, Local: k.Local, ForProvider: `"box"`})
+		}
+	}
+	return out, issued, nil
 }
 
 func (b *bus) Values(_ context.Context, node, module string) (map[string]any, error) {

go/compose/input.go

@@ -210,6 +210,12 @@ type Node struct {
 	// (RunsOwn), folded or leaving the fold, is carried there as it runs, whatever its manifest names, so the node's own
 	// never drops it.
 	Held map[string]bool
+	// RunsTools is, by module, the tools bundles the node's runtime serves of it as it runs (ToolsRunning of what the
+	// node runs); nil when not known. A module composed as what runs of it (its Stub or Carried: held, or folded at a
+	// build of the old form) contributes these to the runtime, never its manifest's: a manifest no build resolved has no
+	// bundles, and a held module's new build's bundles are not delivered (issue 1126, 2026-10-29: shanks's runtime lost
+	// the folded systemd-resolved, novox's the folded nats).
+	RunsTools map[string][]catalogue.Bundle
 }
 
 // Place is where a node is, as its placement says (inv.Overlay).

go/compose/judge/judge.go

@@ -5,9 +5,11 @@
 package judge
 
 import (
+	"encoding/json"
 	"fmt"
 	"reflect"
 	"sort"
+	"strconv"
 	"strings"
 	"time"
 
@@ -121,7 +123,7 @@ func Intended(current, laidInput *compose.Input, currentPlaced map[string]delive
 // shown in the ask's brief. The seed alone fails on any difference.
 func JudgeAnswers(p delivery.PlacementProposal, intended map[string]map[string]bool, answers map[string]*delivery.CandidateAnswer,
 	revisions map[string]uint64, online map[string]bool, pulsing map[string]bool, now time.Time) delivery.PlacementVerdict {
-	v := delivery.PlacementVerdict{At: now.UTC(), Intended: map[string][]string{}, Unintended: map[string][]string{},
+	v := delivery.PlacementVerdict{At: now.UTC(), Intended: map[string][]string{}, Unintended: map[string][]string{}, Carried: map[string][]string{},
 		Answers: map[string]delivery.CandidateAnswer{}}
 	for node, set := range intended {
 		for m := range set {
@@ -150,7 +152,8 @@ func JudgeAnswers(p delivery.PlacementProposal, intended map[string]map[string]b
 		want := intended[node]
 		differs := func(module, words string) {
 			if p.Seed {
-				v.Fails = append(v.Fails, fmt.Sprintf("%s %s with the seed, which must be the same as what runs", node, words))
+				// The seed carries what its nodes found, each named in the brief for the operator who approves it.
+				v.Carried[node] = append(v.Carried[node], words)
 				return
 			}
 			if !want[module] {
@@ -158,7 +161,7 @@ func JudgeAnswers(p delivery.PlacementProposal, intended map[string]map[string]b
 			}
 		}
 		for _, d := range a.Differs {
-			differs(d.Module, fmt.Sprintf("composes %s differently (%s)", d.Module, d.Why))
+			differs(d.Module, differenceWords(d))
 		}
 		for _, d := range a.Added {
 			differs(d.Module, "would run "+d.Module)
@@ -174,6 +177,9 @@ func JudgeAnswers(p delivery.PlacementProposal, intended map[string]map[string]b
 	if len(v.Unintended) == 0 {
 		v.Unintended = nil
 	}
+	if len(v.Carried) == 0 {
+		v.Carried = nil
+	}
 	if len(v.Answers) == 0 {
 		v.Answers = nil
 	}
@@ -209,7 +215,7 @@ func JudgeAnswers(p delivery.PlacementProposal, intended map[string]map[string]b
 }
 
 // Brief is the verdict as the ask's brief shows it, by node (§5): what the proposal changes and what each node answered
-// beside it, marked, with the proposal's why.
+// beside it, marked, and what stays held as the node holds it today, with the proposal's why.
 func Brief(p delivery.PlacementProposal, v delivery.PlacementVerdict) string {
 	var b strings.Builder
 	fmt.Fprintf(&b, "%s (proposed by %s)", p.Why, p.By)
@@ -223,6 +229,14 @@ func Brief(p delivery.PlacementProposal, v delivery.PlacementVerdict) string {
 	for _, n := range p.Nodes() {
 		nodes[n] = true
 	}
+	for n, a := range v.Answers {
+		if len(a.Held) > 0 {
+			nodes[n] = true
+		}
+	}
+	for n := range v.Carried {
+		nodes[n] = true
+	}
 	names := make([]string, 0, len(nodes))
 	for n := range nodes {
 		names = append(names, n)
@@ -238,6 +252,121 @@ func Brief(p delivery.PlacementProposal, v delivery.PlacementVerdict) string {
 		if m := v.Unintended[n]; len(m) > 0 {
 			fmt.Fprintf(&b, "; also differs, not computed: %s", strings.Join(m, ", "))
 		}
+		if m := v.Carried[n]; len(m) > 0 {
+			fmt.Fprintf(&b, "; the seed carries: %s", strings.Join(m, "; "))
+		}
+		if held := v.Answers[n].Held; len(held) > 0 {
+			var names []string
+			for _, h := range held {
+				today := h.Today
+				if today == "" {
+					today = "held"
+				}
+				names = append(names, h.Module+" ("+today+")")
+			}
+			fmt.Fprintf(&b, "; stays as today: %s", strings.Join(names, ", "))
+		}
 	}
 	return b.String()
 }
+
+// differenceWords names one module's difference: the module, the first field that differs in it with its value as it
+// runs and as the seed composes it, each cut to about 60 characters ("(value cut)" where a body shown is cut before the
+// field), and how many fields more; or the resource and why when no body is shown.
+func differenceWords(d delivery.ModuleDiffers) string {
+	for _, b := range d.Bodies {
+		if len(b.Paths) == 0 {
+			continue
+		}
+		path := b.Paths[0]
+		words := fmt.Sprintf("%s: %s %s → %s", d.Module, fieldName(b.Running, b.Composed, path),
+			valueAt(b.Running, path), valueAt(b.Composed, path))
+		if n := len(b.Paths) - 1; n > 0 {
+			words += fmt.Sprintf(" (and %d more fields)", n)
+		}
+		return words
+	}
+	if d.Resource != "" {
+		return fmt.Sprintf("%s: %s (%s)", d.Module, d.Resource, d.Why)
+	}
+	return fmt.Sprintf("%s: %s", d.Module, d.Why)
+}
+
+// shownValue bounds a value named in a brief.
+const shownValue = 60
+
+// walk follows a differing path (delivery.DifferingPaths: keys joined by dots, a key may hold dots, and a JSON value
+// written in a string is read as JSON) through a body, answering the keys it passed and the value at its end.
+func walk(body, path string) (keys []string, value any, ok bool) {
+	var v any
+	if json.Unmarshal([]byte(body), &v) != nil {
+		return nil, nil, false
+	}
+	rest := path
+	for rest != "" {
+		if s, isString := v.(string); isString {
+			var inner any
+			if json.Unmarshal([]byte(s), &inner) != nil {
+				return nil, nil, false
+			}
+			v = inner
+		}
+		switch t := v.(type) {
+		case map[string]any:
+			best := ""
+			for k := range t {
+				if (rest == k || strings.HasPrefix(rest, k+".")) && len(k) > len(best) {
+					best = k
+				}
+			}
+			if best == "" {
+				return nil, nil, false
+			}
+			keys, v, rest = append(keys, best), t[best], strings.TrimPrefix(strings.TrimPrefix(rest, best), ".")
+		case []any:
+			seg, after, _ := strings.Cut(rest, ".")
+			n, err := strconv.Atoi(seg)
+			if err != nil || n < 0 || n >= len(t) {
+				return nil, nil, false
+			}
+			keys, v, rest = append(keys, seg), t[n], after
+		default:
+			return nil, nil, false
+		}
+	}
+	return keys, v, true
+}
+
+// valueAt is the value at path in a shown body, cut to shownValue, or why it is not shown.
+func valueAt(body, path string) string {
+	if body == "" {
+		return "(none)"
+	}
+	_, v, ok := walk(body, path)
+	if !ok {
+		return "(value cut)"
+	}
+	s, isString := v.(string)
+	if !isString {
+		raw, _ := json.Marshal(v)
+		s = string(raw)
+	}
+	if r := []rune(s); len(r) > shownValue {
+		s = string(r[:shownValue-1]) + "…"
+	}
+	return s
+}
+
+// fieldName is the differing field as a person reads it: its parent's name and its own, `PARENT[key]`, from whichever
+// body reaches it; the path's end when neither does.
+func fieldName(running, composed, path string) string {
+	for _, body := range []string{running, composed} {
+		if keys, _, ok := walk(body, path); ok && len(keys) > 0 {
+			if len(keys) == 1 {
+				return keys[0]
+			}
+			return keys[len(keys)-2] + "[" + keys[len(keys)-1] + "]"
+		}
+	}
+	return path
+}

go/compose/judge/judge_test.go

@@ -47,11 +47,17 @@ func TestJudge(t *testing.T) {
 		{"a module added where intended", false, map[string]*delivery.CandidateAnswer{"anchor": {Proposal: "p-one", Revision: 7, Verdict: delivery.CandidateDiffers,
 			Added: []delivery.ModuleAdded{{Module: "web", Unissued: []string{"its own secret"}}}}, "laptop": same(8)}, nil, delivery.VerdictPass, "", ""},
 		{"a difference not computed passes, marked", false, map[string]*delivery.CandidateAnswer{"anchor": differs(7, "mail"), "laptop": same(8)}, nil, delivery.VerdictPass, "", "mail"},
-		{"the seed with a difference", true, map[string]*delivery.CandidateAnswer{"anchor": same(7), "laptop": differs(8, "web")}, nil, delivery.VerdictFail, "laptop composes web differently", ""},
+		{"the seed carries a difference, named", true, map[string]*delivery.CandidateAnswer{"anchor": same(7), "laptop": {Proposal: "p-one", Revision: 8,
+			Verdict: delivery.CandidateDiffers, Differs: []delivery.ModuleDiffers{{Module: "node-tools", Resource: "node-tools.runtime", Why: "the resource differs",
+				Bodies: []delivery.ResourceBodies{{ID: "node-tools.runtime", Paths: []string{"env.MESH_OWNED_PATHS./etc/resolv.conf", "env.MESH_TOOL_MODULES"},
+					Running:  `{"env":{"MESH_OWNED_PATHS":"{\"/etc/hosts\":\"hostname\",\"/etc/resolv.conf\":\"networkmanager (node-uplink)\"}"}}`,
+					Composed: `{"env":{"MESH_OWNED_PATHS":"{\"/etc/hosts\":\"hostname\",\"/etc/resolv.conf\":\"systemd-resolved (node-resolver)\"}","MESH_TOOL_MODULES":"… (cut at 8192 bytes)`}}}}}}, nil, delivery.VerdictPass, "", ""},
 		{"a refusal", false, map[string]*delivery.CandidateAnswer{"anchor": same(7), "laptop": {Proposal: "p-one", Revision: 8, Verdict: delivery.CandidateRefused,
 			Refusals: []delivery.ModuleRefused{{Module: "web", Why: "no own secret"}}}}, nil, delivery.VerdictFail, "laptop refuses", ""},
 		{"a node not answering, within its bound", false, map[string]*delivery.CandidateAnswer{"anchor": same(7)}, map[string]bool{"laptop": true}, delivery.VerdictWaits, "laptop (offline)", ""},
 		{"an answer of an earlier revision, past its bound", false, map[string]*delivery.CandidateAnswer{"anchor": same(6), "laptop": same(8)}, nil, delivery.VerdictFail, "anchor did not answer", ""},
+		{"a module held as today passes, shown in the brief", false, map[string]*delivery.CandidateAnswer{"anchor": same(7), "laptop": {Proposal: "p-one", Revision: 8,
+			Verdict: delivery.CandidateSame, Held: []delivery.ModuleRefused{{Module: "spiegel", Why: "a required value is unset"}}}}, nil, delivery.VerdictPass, "", ""},
 		{"its later answer", false, map[string]*delivery.CandidateAnswer{"anchor": same(7), "laptop": same(8)}, nil, delivery.VerdictPass, "", ""},
 	} {
 		q := p
@@ -61,6 +67,21 @@ func TestJudge(t *testing.T) {
 		if v.State != row.state || !strings.Contains(all, row.words) {
 			t.Errorf("%s: %s, %q", row.name, v.State, all)
 		}
+		if row.seed && row.state == delivery.VerdictPass && !strings.Contains(Brief(q, v), "the seed carries: node-tools: MESH_OWNED_PATHS[/etc/resolv.conf] networkmanager (node-uplink) → (value cut) (and 1 more fields)") {
+			t.Errorf("%s: the brief does not name it: %s", row.name, Brief(q, v))
+		}
+		if row.seed && row.state == delivery.VerdictPass {
+			whole := row.answers["laptop"].Differs[0]
+			whole.Bodies = []delivery.ResourceBodies{{ID: "r", Paths: []string{"env.MESH_OWNED_PATHS./etc/resolv.conf"},
+				Running:  `{"env":{"MESH_OWNED_PATHS":"{\"/etc/resolv.conf\":\"networkmanager (node-uplink)\"}"}}`,
+				Composed: `{"env":{"MESH_OWNED_PATHS":"{\"/etc/resolv.conf\":\"systemd-resolved (node-resolver)\"}"}}`}}
+			if got := differenceWords(whole); got != "node-tools: MESH_OWNED_PATHS[/etc/resolv.conf] networkmanager (node-uplink) → systemd-resolved (node-resolver)" {
+				t.Errorf("the difference is named %q", got)
+			}
+		}
+		if strings.HasPrefix(row.name, "a module held as today") && !strings.Contains(Brief(q, v), "stays as today: spiegel (held)") {
+			t.Errorf("%s: the brief does not show it: %s", row.name, Brief(q, v))
+		}
 		if row.marked != "" && (!slices.Contains(v.Unintended["anchor"], row.marked) || !strings.Contains(Brief(q, v), "not computed: "+row.marked)) {
 			t.Errorf("%s: the difference is not marked: %+v, %s", row.name, v.Unintended, Brief(q, v))
 		}

go/delivery/judge.go

@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package delivery
 import (
 	"bytes"
 	"encoding/json"
+	"fmt"
 	"path"
 	"sort"
 	"strings"
@@ -84,9 +85,6 @@ func judged(from, to Composed) (Judgement, string) {
 	if ids := changedOf(before, after, func(kind string) bool { return kind == string(declaration.TypeContainer) }); len(ids) > 0 {
 		return JudgedRecreates, "it recreates " + strings.Join(ids, ", ")
 	}
-	if from.Data != to.Data {
-		return JudgedMovesData, "its data declaration changes"
-	}
 	places := dataPlaces(before, after)
 	held := func(kind string) bool {
 		return kind == string(declaration.TypeDirectory) || kind == string(declaration.TypeFile)
@@ -104,9 +102,20 @@ func judged(from, to Composed) (Judgement, string) {
 	if to.Data || from.Data {
 		moved = append(moved, changedOf(before, after, func(kind string) bool { return kind == string(declaration.TypeProcess) })...)
 	}
+	// A data flag that differs is no move of data by itself: data moves only when a data item does (issue 1126, 2026-10-29:
+	// a running composition read back from the kept declaration carries no flag, and mongodb's toolchain move asked a yes for
+	// moving its data). It is said loudly in the words, and never hides an item that moved.
 	if len(moved) > 0 {
 		sort.Strings(moved)
-		return JudgedMovesData, "it changes where its data is kept: " + strings.Join(moved, ", ")
+		words := "it changes where its data is kept: " + strings.Join(moved, ", ")
+		if from.Data != to.Data {
+			words += fmt.Sprintf("; its data flag differs too (running %v, composed %v)", from.Data, to.Data)
+		}
+		return JudgedMovesData, words
+	}
+	if from.Data != to.Data {
+		return JudgedNeither, fmt.Sprintf("it recreates no container and moves no data; WARNING: its data flag differs "+
+			"(running %v, composed %v) while no data item does, so one side's flag is wrong", from.Data, to.Data)
 	}
 	return JudgedNeither, "it recreates no container and moves no data"
 }

go/delivery/judge_test.go

@@ -48,7 +48,8 @@ func TestJudgeMove(t *testing.T) {
 		{"a container gone", mail('a', true, container, spool), mail('b', true, spool), JudgedRecreates, false},
 		{"its spool moved", mail('a', true, container, spool), mail('b', true, container, spoolMoved), JudgedMovesData, false},
 		{"a file in its spool", mail('a', true, container, spool, config), mail('b', true, container, spool, config2), JudgedMovesData, false},
-		{"its data declaration", mail('a', false, container, spool), mail('b', true, container, spool), JudgedMovesData, false},
+		{"its data flag alone", mail('a', false, container, spool), mail('b', true, container, spool), JudgedNeither, false},
+		{"its data flag and its spool", mail('a', false, container, spool), mail('b', true, container, spoolMoved), JudgedMovesData, false},
 		{"a process of a module with data", mail('a', true, spool, process), mail('b', true, spool, process2), JudgedMovesData, false},
 		{"a process of a module without", mail('a', false, process), mail('b', false, process2), JudgedNeither, false},
 		{"its tools only", mail('a', true, container, spool, tools), mail('b', true, container, spool, tools2), JudgedNeither, false},
@@ -61,6 +62,9 @@ func TestJudgeMove(t *testing.T) {
 		if got.Judgement != c.want || got.UserListOnly != c.userList || got.Words == "" {
 			t.Errorf("%s: %+v, want %s (user list only %v)", c.name, got, c.want, c.userList)
 		}
+		if strings.Contains(c.name, "data flag alone") && !strings.Contains(got.Words, "WARNING: its data flag differs") {
+			t.Errorf("%s: the flag's difference is not said: %q", c.name, got.Words)
+		}
 	}
 	if got := JudgeMove(nil, Composed{Node: "ace"}); got.Judgement != JudgedNeither {
 		t.Errorf("the node's own composition: %+v", got)

go/delivery/placement_candidate.go

@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package delivery
 import (
 	"encoding/json"
 	"fmt"
+	"slices"
 	"strings"
 )
 
@@ -121,6 +122,9 @@ type CandidateAnswer struct {
 	Added    []ModuleAdded   `json:"added,omitempty"`
 	Removed  []string        `json:"removed,omitempty"`
 	Refusals []ModuleRefused `json:"refusals,omitempty"`
+	// Held is each module the candidate cannot compose that the node holds today too, with why: held as today, which
+	// changes nothing and counts for no verdict (issue 1126: a seed reproduces today).
+	Held []ModuleRefused `json:"held,omitempty"`
 	// Refused is why the node could not compose with the candidate at all; Refusals is then empty.
 	Refused string `json:"refused,omitempty"`
 	// Returns is, for a proposal that takes the node's placement key away, what the node does then: it returns to the
@@ -186,10 +190,13 @@ type ModuleAdded struct {
 	Unissued []string `json:"unissued,omitempty"`
 }
 
-// ModuleRefused is a value missing for a module the node runs, in the words the composition stood in for it with.
+// ModuleRefused is a value missing for a module the node runs, in the words the composition stood in for it with. Today,
+// in CandidateAnswer.Held, is how the node keeps it today (held, failed, runs a build of the old form, held behind
+// another), which the candidate keeps.
 type ModuleRefused struct {
 	Module string `json:"module"`
 	Why    string `json:"why"`
+	Today  string `json:"today,omitempty"`
 }
 
 // VerdictOf is the verdict of an answer's lists: refused on any refusal, differs on any difference, addition or
@@ -233,7 +240,7 @@ func (a CandidateAnswer) check() error {
 			return fmt.Errorf("delivery: a module the candidate adds is not named")
 		}
 	}
-	for _, d := range a.Refusals {
+	for _, d := range append(slices.Clone(a.Refusals), a.Held...) {
 		if d.Module == "" || d.Why == "" {
 			return fmt.Errorf("delivery: a candidate refusal names no module or no why")
 		}

go/delivery/placement_proposal.go

@@ -356,15 +356,19 @@ func NewProposalID(at time.Time) string {
 // is shown by node: Intended is what the holder computed the proposal changes, Unintended what a node answered beside
 // it, marked as such in the brief.
 type PlacementVerdict struct {
-	State      string                     `json:"state"`
-	At         time.Time                  `json:"at"`
-	Fails      []string                   `json:"fails,omitempty"`
-	Silent     []string                   `json:"silent,omitempty"`
-	Until      time.Time                  `json:"until,omitempty"`
-	Intended   map[string][]string        `json:"intended,omitempty"`
-	Unintended map[string][]string        `json:"unintended,omitempty"`
-	Answers    map[string]CandidateAnswer `json:"answers,omitempty"`
-	Notes      []string                   `json:"notes,omitempty"`
+	State      string              `json:"state"`
+	At         time.Time           `json:"at"`
+	Fails      []string            `json:"fails,omitempty"`
+	Silent     []string            `json:"silent,omitempty"`
+	Until      time.Time           `json:"until,omitempty"`
+	Intended   map[string][]string `json:"intended,omitempty"`
+	Unintended map[string][]string `json:"unintended,omitempty"`
+	// Carried is, for the seed, by node each difference a node found that the seed carries, named for the operator who
+	// approves it knowingly ("<module>: <resource> at <path>"): the seed fails on no difference, only on a refusal or
+	// silence (issue 1126).
+	Carried map[string][]string        `json:"carried,omitempty"`
+	Answers map[string]CandidateAnswer `json:"answers,omitempty"`
+	Notes   []string                   `json:"notes,omitempty"`
 }
 
 // PlacementProposal is an open proposal, the value of its key in PlacementProposalsBucket.