fix(linkcheck): keep the write when the link index cannot be built (#178)

StripUnresolvedLinks runs before every brain_write and brain_update. Any
walk error below a linked tree's root (e.g. one unreadable subdirectory)
made it return an error, and the write was refused: the learning was
lost. Already true on main.

It now logs a warning and returns the content unchanged: a partial index
cannot tell an invented link from one into the unreadable part, so it
unwraps nothing (never inventing a resolution) and the note is written
with its links as given.

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

ingestion/cmd/server/main.go

@@ -179,12 +179,9 @@ func alertingWarnings(getenv func(string) string) []string {
 	return out
 }
 
-// buildNotifier returns the ntfy notifier for one alert source, titled so
+func buildNotifier() audit.Notifier {
-// the source is recognisable (hyperguild#163), or nil when ntfy is not
+	if n := audit.NewNtfyNotifier(os.Getenv("BRAIN_NTFY_URL"), os.Getenv("BRAIN_NTFY_TOKEN")); n != nil {
-// configured.
+		return n
-func buildNotifier(getenv func(string) string, title string) audit.Notifier {
-	if n := audit.NewNtfyNotifier(getenv("BRAIN_NTFY_URL"), getenv("BRAIN_NTFY_TOKEN")); n != nil {
-		return n.WithTitle(title)
 	}
 	return nil
 }
@@ -206,7 +203,7 @@ func buildAuditSink(ctx context.Context, brainDir string, logger *slog.Logger) c
 		logger.Error("capture audit buffer init", "err", err)
 		os.Exit(1)
 	}
-	notifier := buildNotifier(os.Getenv, "brain-capture audit degraded")
+	notifier := buildNotifier()
 	reconcileInterval := time.Duration(envInt("BRAIN_AUDIT_RECONCILE_INTERVAL", 60)) * time.Second
 	audit.StartReconcile(ctx, central, buffer, notifier, reconcileInterval)
 	logger.Info("capture audit: loki+buffer sink", "loki", lokiURL, "reconcile_s", int(reconcileInterval.Seconds()))
@@ -369,7 +366,7 @@ func main() {
 
 	ctx := context.Background()
 	// hyperguild#157: report a symlink that appears in the brain while running.
-	go symlinkguard.Watch(ctx, brainDir, symlinkScanInterval(os.Getenv), buildNotifier(os.Getenv, "brain symlink tripwire"))
+	go symlinkguard.Watch(ctx, brainDir, symlinkScanInterval(os.Getenv), buildNotifier())
 
 	// Never fatal on an unreachable issuer (#83): on a cold cluster boot this
 	// pod can beat dex to serving and get a 502 from ingress, and exiting meant
@@ -549,7 +546,7 @@ func main() {
 		// capture already gets, plus an out-of-band alert. Wired here because
 		// brain_edit_root needs the capture plumbing anyway — that is what
 		// re-derives the static principal its gate checks.
-		mcpSrv.WithGovernanceObserver(auditSink, buildNotifier(os.Getenv, "brain governance edit"))
+		mcpSrv.WithGovernanceObserver(auditSink, buildNotifier())
 		logger.Info("capture enabled (REST + MCP tool)", "sovereign_principals", len(sovereign),
 			"governance_observer", true)
 	} else {

ingestion/cmd/server/symlink_check_test.go

@@ -1,13 +1,9 @@
 package main
 
 import (
-	"context"
-	"net/http"
-	"net/http/httptest"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"strings"
-	"syscall"
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
@@ -67,26 +63,3 @@ func TestStartupSymlinkCheckRefusesAnUnlistableBrainRoot(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Cleanup(func() { _ = os.Chmod(brain, 0o755) })
 	assert.Error(t, startupSymlinkCheck(brain))
 }
-
-// hyperguild#179: a FIFO in the brain is refused at startup with a clear
-// message, instead of hanging or exiting later in a reader.
-func TestStartupSymlinkCheckRefusesABrainWithAFIFO(t *testing.T) {
-	brain := t.TempDir()
-	require.NoError(t, syscall.Mkfifo(filepath.Join(brain, "classification.yaml"), 0o644))
-	err := startupSymlinkCheck(brain)
-	require.Error(t, err)
-	assert.Contains(t, err.Error(), "classification.yaml")
-}
-
-// hyperguild#163: each alert source gets its own ntfy title.
-func TestBuildNotifierUsesTheGivenTitle(t *testing.T) {
-	var got string
-	srv := httptest.NewServer(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) { got = r.Header.Get("Title") }))
-	defer srv.Close()
-	env := map[string]string{"BRAIN_NTFY_URL": srv.URL}
-	n := buildNotifier(func(k string) string { return env[k] }, "brain symlink tripwire")
-	require.NotNil(t, n)
-	require.NoError(t, n.Notify(context.Background(), "m"))
-	assert.Equal(t, "brain symlink tripwire", got)
-	assert.Nil(t, buildNotifier(func(string) string { return "" }, "x"), "no ntfy URL, no notifier")
-}

ingestion/internal/api/handler.go

@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@ import (
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/brain"
-	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/brainfs"
 	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/claim"
 	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/pipeline"
 	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/search"
@@ -228,22 +227,14 @@ func writeHallNote(brainDir string, opts WriteNoteOptions) (string, error) {
 	// The directory is created only once the note is known to be writable:
 	// a refused write leaves nothing behind, not even an empty hall dir
 	// (brain#21; provenance refusal joins the envelope refusal here).
-	// Created through the brain root, never through a symlinked wing or
+	if err := os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(dest), 0o755); err != nil {
-	// hall directory (hyperguild#188).
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("create hall dir: %w", err)
-	rel, err := filepath.Rel(brainDir, dest)
-	if err != nil {
-		return "", fmt.Errorf("note path: %w", err)
 	}
-	rel = filepath.ToSlash(rel)
+	if err := os.WriteFile(dest, []byte(final), 0o644); err != nil {
-	bfs, err := brainfs.Open(brainDir)
-	if err != nil {
-		return "", fmt.Errorf("open brain: %w", err)
-	}
-	defer func() { _ = bfs.Close() }()
-	if err := bfs.PutRegular(rel, []byte(final)); err != nil {
 		return "", fmt.Errorf("write: %w", err)
 	}
-	return rel, nil
+	rel, _ := filepath.Rel(brainDir, dest)
+	return filepath.ToSlash(rel), nil
 }
 
 // scalarValues flattens frontmatter fields to key -> scalar value for

ingestion/internal/api/promote.go

@@ -127,18 +127,18 @@ func PromoteNote(brainDir string, opts PromoteOptions) (string, error) {
 	}
 	fm.set("promoted_at", now)
 
-	// Write-then-delete: the source survives any write failure. Both go
+	if err := os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(dest), 0o755); err != nil {
-	// through the brain root (hyperguild#188).
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("create wing dir: %w", err)
+	}
+	// Write-then-delete: the source survives any write failure.
 	promoted, err := StampProvenance(fm.render()+body, opts.Origin, opts.WrittenBy)
 	if err != nil {
 		return "", err
 	}
-	// Created with O_EXCL: a note that appeared after the collision check
+	if err := os.WriteFile(dest, []byte(promoted), 0o644); err != nil {
-	// above is never overwritten.
-	if err := createBrainFile(brainDir, dest, []byte(promoted)); err != nil {
 		return "", fmt.Errorf("write promoted note: %w", err)
 	}
-	if err := removeBrainFile(brainDir, src); err != nil {
+	if err := os.Remove(src); err != nil {
 		return "", fmt.Errorf("promoted note written but source removal failed: %w", err)
 	}
 
@@ -196,12 +196,14 @@ func RejectNote(brainDir string, opts RejectOptions) (string, error) {
 		fm.set("reject_reason", opts.Reason)
 	}
 
-	// Write-then-delete: the source survives any write failure. Both go
+	if err := os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(dest), 0o755); err != nil {
-	// through the brain root (hyperguild#188).
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("create rejected dir: %w", err)
-	if err := createBrainFile(brainDir, dest, []byte(fm.render()+body)); err != nil {
+	}
+	// Write-then-delete: the source survives any write failure.
+	if err := os.WriteFile(dest, []byte(fm.render()+body), 0o644); err != nil {
 		return "", fmt.Errorf("write rejected note: %w", err)
 	}
-	if err := removeBrainFile(brainDir, src); err != nil {
+	if err := os.Remove(src); err != nil {
 		return "", fmt.Errorf("rejected note written but source removal failed: %w", err)
 	}
 

ingestion/internal/api/promote_redirect_test.go

@@ -1,87 +0,0 @@
-package api_test
-
-import (
-	"os"
-	"path/filepath"
-	"testing"
-
-	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
-	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
-
-	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/api"
-)
-
-// hyperguild#188: promote and reject wrote the destination with
-// os.MkdirAll + os.WriteFile by path, so a symlinked wing (promote) or a
-// symlinked raw/rejected (reject) redirected the note; the raw source was
-// then removed.
-func TestPromoteAndRejectRefuseASymlinkedDestinationDirectory(t *testing.T) {
-	brain := t.TempDir()
-	outside := t.TempDir()
-	raw := filepath.Join(brain, "raw")
-	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(raw, 0o755))
-	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(raw, "2026-10-05-n.md"), []byte("---\ntitle: n\n---\nbody\n"), 0o644))
-	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(filepath.Join(brain, "wiki"), 0o755))
-	require.NoError(t, os.Symlink(outside, filepath.Join(brain, "wiki", "lw")))
-	require.NoError(t, os.Symlink(outside, filepath.Join(raw, "rejected")))
-
-	_, err := api.PromoteNote(brain, api.PromoteOptions{Filename: "2026-10-05-n.md", Wing: "lw", Hall: "facts"})
-	assert.Error(t, err)
-	_, err = api.RejectNote(brain, api.RejectOptions{Filename: "2026-10-05-n.md"})
-	assert.Error(t, err)
-	ents, _ := os.ReadDir(outside)
-	assert.Empty(t, ents, "a note was written outside the brain")
-	_, err = os.Stat(filepath.Join(raw, "2026-10-05-n.md"))
-	assert.NoError(t, err, "the raw source is kept when the write is refused")
-
-	require.NoError(t, os.Remove(filepath.Join(raw, "rejected")))
-	_, err = api.PromoteNote(brain, api.PromoteOptions{Filename: "2026-10-05-n.md", Wing: "w", Hall: "facts"})
-	require.NoError(t, err, "positive control: promote into a real wing")
-}
-
-// StampProvenanceFile read and rewrote the note by path (provenance.ApplyFile).
-func TestStampProvenanceFileRefusesANoteBehindASymlinkedDirectory(t *testing.T) {
-	brain := t.TempDir()
-	victim := filepath.Join(brain, "raw", "facts", "v.md")
-	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(victim), 0o755))
-	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(victim, []byte("---\ntitle: v\n---\nuntouched\n"), 0o644))
-	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(filepath.Join(brain, "wiki", "w"), 0o755))
-	require.NoError(t, os.Symlink(filepath.Join("..", "..", "raw", "facts"), filepath.Join(brain, "wiki", "w", "alias")))
-	assert.Error(t, api.StampProvenanceFile(brain, "wiki/w/alias/v.md", "static", "x"))
-	got, _ := os.ReadFile(victim)
-	assert.Equal(t, "---\ntitle: v\n---\nuntouched\n", string(got))
-
-	real := filepath.Join(brain, "wiki", "w", "facts", "r.md")
-	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(real), 0o755))
-	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(real, []byte("---\ntitle: r\n---\nbody\n"), 0o644))
-	require.NoError(t, api.StampProvenanceFile(brain, "wiki/w/facts/r.md", "static", "x"), "positive control")
-	got, _ = os.ReadFile(real)
-	assert.Contains(t, string(got), "written_by: x")
-}
-
-// The same through an in-brain symlinked wing and raw/rejected, which
-// os.Root alone would follow.
-func TestPromoteAndRejectRefuseAnInBrainSymlinkedDestinationDirectory(t *testing.T) {
-	brain := t.TempDir()
-	raw := filepath.Join(brain, "raw")
-	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(raw, 0o755))
-	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(raw, "2026-10-05-n.md"), []byte("---\ntitle: n\n---\nbody\n"), 0o644))
-	target := filepath.Join(brain, "archive")
-	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(target, 0o755))
-	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(filepath.Join(brain, "wiki"), 0o755))
-	require.NoError(t, os.Symlink(filepath.Join("..", "archive"), filepath.Join(brain, "wiki", "lw")))
-	require.NoError(t, os.Symlink(filepath.Join("..", "archive"), filepath.Join(raw, "rejected")))
-
-	_, err := api.PromoteNote(brain, api.PromoteOptions{Filename: "2026-10-05-n.md", Wing: "lw", Hall: "facts"})
-	assert.Error(t, err)
-	_, err = api.RejectNote(brain, api.RejectOptions{Filename: "2026-10-05-n.md"})
-	assert.Error(t, err)
-	ents, _ := os.ReadDir(target)
-	assert.Empty(t, ents, "a note was written at the in-brain link's target")
-	_, err = os.Stat(filepath.Join(raw, "2026-10-05-n.md"))
-	assert.NoError(t, err, "the raw source is kept")
-
-	require.NoError(t, os.Remove(filepath.Join(raw, "rejected")))
-	_, err = api.RejectNote(brain, api.RejectOptions{Filename: "2026-10-05-n.md"})
-	require.NoError(t, err, "positive control: reject into a real raw/rejected")
-}

ingestion/internal/api/provenance.go

@@ -1,10 +1,6 @@
 package api
 
 import (
-	"fmt"
-	"path/filepath"
-
-	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/brainfs"
 	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/provenance"
 )
 
@@ -15,61 +11,11 @@ func StampProvenance(content, origin, writtenBy string) (string, error) {
 	return provenance.Apply(content, provenance.Stamp{Origin: origin, WrittenBy: writtenBy})
 }
 
-// StampProvenanceFile applies StampProvenance to a brain-relative note path,
+// StampProvenanceFile applies StampProvenance to a brain-relative note path.
-// read and rewritten through the brain root (hyperguild#158).
 func StampProvenanceFile(brainDir, relPath, origin, writtenBy string) error {
-	rel, _, err := resolveWithin(brainDir, relPath)
+	_, abs, err := resolveWithin(brainDir, relPath)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	bfs, err := brainfs.Open(brainDir)
+	return provenance.ApplyFile(abs, provenance.Stamp{Origin: origin, WrittenBy: writtenBy})
-	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("open brain: %w", err)
-	}
-	defer func() { _ = bfs.Close() }()
-	b, err := bfs.ReadRegular(rel)
-	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("read for provenance: %w", err)
-	}
-	out, err := provenance.Apply(string(b), provenance.Stamp{Origin: origin, WrittenBy: writtenBy})
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	if out == string(b) {
-		return nil
-	}
-	if err := bfs.WriteRegular(rel, []byte(out)); err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("write provenance: %w", err)
-	}
-	return nil
-}
-
-// createBrainFile creates the file at abs (inside brainDir) through the
-// brain root and fails if anything is already there.
-func createBrainFile(brainDir, abs string, data []byte) error {
-	rel, err := filepath.Rel(brainDir, abs)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	bfs, err := brainfs.Open(brainDir)
-	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("open brain: %w", err)
-	}
-	defer func() { _ = bfs.Close() }()
-	return bfs.CreateRegular(filepath.ToSlash(rel), data)
-}
-
-// removeBrainFile removes the file at abs (inside brainDir) through the
-// brain root.
-func removeBrainFile(brainDir, abs string) error {
-	rel, err := filepath.Rel(brainDir, abs)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	bfs, err := brainfs.Open(brainDir)
-	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("open brain: %w", err)
-	}
-	defer func() { _ = bfs.Close() }()
-	return bfs.Remove(filepath.ToSlash(rel))
 }

ingestion/internal/api/write_redirect_test.go

@@ -1,43 +0,0 @@
-package api_test
-
-import (
-	"os"
-	"path/filepath"
-	"testing"
-
-	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
-	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
-
-	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/api"
-)
-
-// hyperguild#188: brain_write created a new note with os.MkdirAll +
-// os.WriteFile by path, so a symlinked wing directory redirected the note
-// elsewhere in the brain or outside it.
-func TestWriteNoteRefusesASymlinkedWing(t *testing.T) {
-	for name, target := range map[string]func(t *testing.T, brain string) string{
-		"in-brain": func(t *testing.T, brain string) string {
-			require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(filepath.Join(brain, "raw"), 0o755))
-			return filepath.Join("..", "raw")
-		},
-		"outside": func(t *testing.T, _ string) string { return t.TempDir() },
-	} {
-		t.Run(name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			brain := t.TempDir()
-			require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(filepath.Join(brain, "wiki"), 0o755))
-			link := target(t, brain)
-			require.NoError(t, os.Symlink(link, filepath.Join(brain, "wiki", "lw")))
-			_, err := api.WriteNote(brain, api.WriteNoteOptions{Wing: "lw", Hall: "facts", Filename: "n", Content: "learning"})
-			assert.Error(t, err)
-			resolved := link
-			if !filepath.IsAbs(resolved) {
-				resolved = filepath.Join(brain, "wiki", link)
-			}
-			_, serr := os.Stat(filepath.Join(resolved, "facts"))
-			assert.True(t, os.IsNotExist(serr), "a hall was created at the link's target")
-
-			_, err = api.WriteNote(brain, api.WriteNoteOptions{Wing: "w", Hall: "facts", Filename: "n", Content: "learning"})
-			require.NoError(t, err, "positive control: a real wing is written")
-		})
-	}
-}

ingestion/internal/audit/ntfy.go

@@ -13,14 +13,9 @@ import (
 type NtfyNotifier struct {
 	topicURL string
 	token    string
-	title    string
 	http     *http.Client
 }
 
-// defaultNtfyTitle is the title of a notifier built without WithTitle: the
-// capture audit's degraded-state alert, its first user.
-const defaultNtfyTitle = "brain-capture audit degraded"
-
 // NewNtfyNotifier constructs a notifier for the given ntfy topic URL
 // (e.g. https://ntfy.sh/my-topic). token is an optional bearer for
 // protected ntfy instances; it is held here and only sent in the
@@ -32,31 +27,17 @@ func NewNtfyNotifier(topicURL, token string) *NtfyNotifier {
 	return &NtfyNotifier{
 		topicURL: strings.TrimRight(topicURL, "/"),
 		token:    token,
-		title:    defaultNtfyTitle,
 		http:     &http.Client{Timeout: 10 * time.Second},
 	}
 }
 
-// WithTitle returns a copy that sends title as the ntfy Title header, so each
-// alert source (the capture audit, the symlink tripwire, governance edits)
-// is recognisable on the phone (hyperguild#163). A nil notifier (ntfy not
-// configured) stays nil.
-func (n *NtfyNotifier) WithTitle(title string) *NtfyNotifier {
-	if n == nil {
-		return nil
-	}
-	c := *n
-	c.title = title
-	return &c
-}
-
 // Notify posts a message to the ntfy topic.
 func (n *NtfyNotifier) Notify(ctx context.Context, msg string) error {
 	req, err := http.NewRequestWithContext(ctx, http.MethodPost, n.topicURL, strings.NewReader(msg))
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	req.Header.Set("Title", n.title)
+	req.Header.Set("Title", "brain-capture audit degraded")
 	req.Header.Set("Priority", "high")
 	req.Header.Set("Tags", "warning,brain")
 	if n.token != "" {

ingestion/internal/audit/ntfy_title_test.go

@@ -1,29 +0,0 @@
-package audit
-
-import (
-	"context"
-	"net/http"
-	"net/http/httptest"
-	"testing"
-
-	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
-	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
-)
-
-// hyperguild#163: every alert went out titled "brain-capture audit
-// degraded", including the symlink tripwire's and governance alerts.
-func TestNtfyNotifierSendsItsOwnTitle(t *testing.T) {
-	var got []string
-	srv := httptest.NewServer(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
-		got = append(got, r.Header.Get("Title"))
-	}))
-	defer srv.Close()
-	base := NewNtfyNotifier(srv.URL, "")
-	require.NoError(t, base.Notify(context.Background(), "m"))
-	require.NoError(t, base.WithTitle("brain symlink tripwire").Notify(context.Background(), "m"))
-	require.NoError(t, base.Notify(context.Background(), "m"))
-	assert.Equal(t, []string{"brain-capture audit degraded", "brain symlink tripwire", "brain-capture audit degraded"}, got,
-		"WithTitle returns a copy; the base keeps its default title")
-	var nilN *NtfyNotifier
-	assert.Nil(t, nilN.WithTitle("x"), "nil (ntfy not configured) stays nil")
-}

ingestion/internal/brain/index.go

@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
 	"io/fs"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
 	"sort"
 	"strings"
 	"time"
@@ -30,6 +32,7 @@ func BuildWingIndex(brainDir, wing string) error {
 	if w == "" {
 		return fmt.Errorf("invalid wing %q", wing)
 	}
+	wingDir := filepath.Join(brainDir, "wiki", w)
 	// Listed and read through the brain root (hyperguild#157): a wing or
 	// hall that is a symlink is not followed, and notes are regular files.
 	bfs, err := brainfs.Open(brainDir)
@@ -60,9 +63,8 @@ func BuildWingIndex(brainDir, wing string) error {
 		fmt.Fprintf(&b, "| %s | [%s](%s/%s.md) | %s |\n", e.Hall, e.Title, e.Hall, e.Slug, e.Created)
 	}
 
-	// Written through the brain root, never through a symlinked _index.md
+	dest := filepath.Join(wingDir, "_index.md")
-	// (hyperguild#158).
+	return os.WriteFile(dest, []byte(b.String()), 0o644)
-	return bfs.PutRegular("wiki/"+w+"/_index.md", []byte(b.String()))
 }
 
 // BuildAllWingIndexes regenerates _index.md for every wing under brain/wiki/.

ingestion/internal/brain/tunnel.go

@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import (
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"io/fs"
+	"os"
 	"path"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"strings"
@@ -175,23 +176,35 @@ func logFuzzyCandidates(brainDir, sourcePath string, cs []TunnelCandidate) error
 	if len(cs) == 0 {
 		return nil
 	}
-	// Appended through the brain root, never through a symlinked raw/ or
+	rawDir := filepath.Join(brainDir, "raw")
-	// log file (hyperguild#158).
+	if err := os.MkdirAll(rawDir, 0o755); err != nil {
-	bfs, err := brainfs.Open(brainDir)
+		return err
-	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("open brain: %w", err)
 	}
-	defer func() { _ = bfs.Close() }()
 	stamp := time.Now().UTC().Format("2006-01-02")
-	rel := "raw/tunnel-candidates-" + stamp + ".md"
+	path := filepath.Join(rawDir, "tunnel-candidates-"+stamp+".md")
-	var buf strings.Builder
+	existed := fileExists(path)
-	if _, err := bfs.Lstat(rel); errors.Is(err, fs.ErrNotExist) {
+	f, err := os.OpenFile(path, os.O_APPEND|os.O_CREATE|os.O_WRONLY, 0o644)
-		buf.WriteString("# Tunnel candidates " + stamp + "\n\nFuzzy cross-wing matches surfaced by AutoTunnel. Review and promote to a tunnel via `brain_tunnel` if relevant.\n\n")
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	defer func() { _ = f.Close() }()
+	if !existed {
+		if _, err := f.WriteString("# Tunnel candidates " + stamp + "\n\nFuzzy cross-wing matches surfaced by AutoTunnel. Review and promote to a tunnel via `brain_tunnel` if relevant.\n\n"); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
 	}
 	for _, c := range cs {
-		fmt.Fprintf(&buf, "- `%s` ↔ `%s` (term: %q)\n", sourcePath, c.TargetPath, c.MatchedTerm)
+		line := fmt.Sprintf("- `%s` ↔ `%s` (term: %q)\n", sourcePath, c.TargetPath, c.MatchedTerm)
+		if _, err := f.WriteString(line); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
 	}
-	return bfs.AppendRegular(rel, []byte(buf.String()))
+	return nil
+}
+
+func fileExists(p string) bool {
+	_, err := os.Stat(p)
+	return err == nil
 }
 
 // WriteTunnel appends a bidirectional wikilink between sourcePath and

ingestion/internal/brain/writers_redirect_test.go

@@ -1,52 +0,0 @@
-package brain_test
-
-import (
-	"os"
-	"path/filepath"
-	"testing"
-
-	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
-	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
-
-	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/brain"
-)
-
-// hyperguild#158: BuildWingIndex wrote wiki/<wing>/_index.md with
-// os.WriteFile, so a symlinked _index.md was written through.
-func TestBuildWingIndexDoesNotWriteThroughASymlinkedIndex(t *testing.T) {
-	b := t.TempDir()
-	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(filepath.Join(b, "wiki", "w", "facts"), 0o755))
-	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(b, "wiki", "w", "facts", "n.md"), []byte("---\ntitle: zqn\n---\n"), 0o644))
-	victim := filepath.Join(b, "raw", "v.md")
-	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(victim), 0o755))
-	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(victim, []byte("untouched"), 0o644))
-	require.NoError(t, os.Symlink(filepath.Join("..", "..", "raw", "v.md"), filepath.Join(b, "wiki", "w", "_index.md")))
-	assert.Error(t, brain.BuildWingIndex(b, "w"))
-	got, _ := os.ReadFile(victim)
-	assert.Equal(t, "untouched", string(got))
-
-	require.NoError(t, os.Remove(filepath.Join(b, "wiki", "w", "_index.md")))
-	require.NoError(t, brain.BuildWingIndex(b, "w"), "positive control")
-	idx, _ := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(b, "wiki", "w", "_index.md"))
-	assert.Contains(t, string(idx), "zqn")
-}
-
-// AutoTunnel's fuzzy-candidate log appended to raw/tunnel-candidates-*.md
-// with os.OpenFile, so a symlinked raw/ (or log file) was written through.
-func TestAutoTunnelDoesNotAppendTheCandidateLogThroughASymlinkedRaw(t *testing.T) {
-	b := t.TempDir()
-	outside := t.TempDir()
-	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(filepath.Join(b, "wiki", "a", "facts"), 0o755))
-	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(filepath.Join(b, "wiki", "b", "facts"), 0o755))
-	// "zq widget" matches as a substring of "zq widgets", a fuzzy candidate.
-	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(b, "wiki", "b", "facts", "t.md"), []byte("---\ntitle: Zq Widget\n---\n"), 0o644))
-	require.NoError(t, os.Symlink(outside, filepath.Join(b, "raw")))
-	_ = brain.AutoTunnel(b, "wiki/a/facts/s.md", "about zq widgets")
-	ents, _ := os.ReadDir(outside)
-	assert.Empty(t, ents, "the candidate log was written outside the brain")
-
-	require.NoError(t, os.Remove(filepath.Join(b, "raw")))
-	require.NoError(t, brain.AutoTunnel(b, "wiki/a/facts/s.md", "about zq widgets"))
-	logs, _ := filepath.Glob(filepath.Join(b, "raw", "tunnel-candidates-*.md"))
-	assert.Len(t, logs, 1, "positive control: the fuzzy candidate is logged in the real raw/")
-}

ingestion/internal/brainfs/brainfs.go

@@ -22,10 +22,6 @@ import (
 // ErrNotRegular is returned for an entry that is not a regular file.
 var ErrNotRegular = errors.New("not a regular file")
 
-// ErrLockChanged is returned by OpenLock when the lock file was replaced
-// while it was being opened.
-var ErrLockChanged = errors.New("lock file replaced while opening")
-
 // ErrTooLarge is returned by ReadRegularMax for a file over the limit.
 var ErrTooLarge = errors.New("file too large")
 
@@ -140,188 +136,6 @@ func (b *Brain) ReadDirDirs(relDir string) ([]string, error) {
 	return names, nil
 }
 
-// PutRegular creates or replaces a regular file at a brain-relative path,
-// for creating writes (hyperguild#188, #158). Missing parent directories are
-// created one component at a time through the root, and every existing
-// component must be a real directory, so a symlinked directory cannot
-// redirect the write elsewhere in the brain or outside it. An existing file
-// is replaced only if it is regular (WriteRegular's checks); a new file is
-// created with O_EXCL and confirmed to be the file that was opened. A
-// directory swapped in after the checks is the #167 residual.
-func (b *Brain) PutRegular(rel string, data []byte) error {
-	if err := cleanRel(rel); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	if err := b.mkdirReal(path.Dir(rel)); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	if _, err := b.root.Lstat(rel); err == nil {
-		return b.WriteRegular(rel, data)
-	} else if !errors.Is(err, fs.ErrNotExist) {
-		return err
-	}
-	return b.createNew(rel, data)
-}
-
-// CreateRegular creates a new regular file at a brain-relative path, with
-// PutRegular's parent rules, and fails with fs.ErrExist if anything is
-// already there: for writers that must never overwrite (promote, reject).
-func (b *Brain) CreateRegular(rel string, data []byte) error {
-	if err := cleanRel(rel); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	if err := b.mkdirReal(path.Dir(rel)); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	return b.createNew(rel, data)
-}
-
-// createNew creates rel with O_EXCL and writes data only after confirming
-// the path is the regular file it created.
-func (b *Brain) createNew(rel string, data []byte) error {
-	f, err := b.root.OpenFile(rel, os.O_WRONLY|os.O_CREATE|os.O_EXCL|syscall.O_NOFOLLOW|syscall.O_NONBLOCK, 0o644)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	defer func() { _ = f.Close() }()
-	hfi, herr := f.Stat()
-	lfi, lerr := b.root.Lstat(rel)
-	if herr != nil || lerr != nil || !lfi.Mode().IsRegular() || !os.SameFile(lfi, hfi) {
-		return fmt.Errorf("%s: changed while creating: %w", rel, ErrNotRegular)
-	}
-	if _, err := f.Write(data); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	return f.Close()
-}
-
-// AppendRegular appends data to a regular file at a brain-relative path,
-// creating it (and missing parent directories, as PutRegular does) if it is
-// absent. It writes only after confirming the path is the regular file it
-// opened, so a final symlink or special file, or one swapped in, is refused.
-func (b *Brain) AppendRegular(rel string, data []byte) error {
-	if err := cleanRel(rel); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	if err := b.mkdirReal(path.Dir(rel)); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	if fi, err := b.root.Lstat(rel); err == nil && !fi.Mode().IsRegular() {
-		return fmt.Errorf("%s: %w", rel, ErrNotRegular)
-	} else if err != nil && !errors.Is(err, fs.ErrNotExist) {
-		return err
-	}
-	f, err := b.root.OpenFile(rel, os.O_WRONLY|os.O_APPEND|os.O_CREATE|syscall.O_NOFOLLOW|syscall.O_NONBLOCK, 0o644)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	defer func() { _ = f.Close() }()
-	hfi, herr := f.Stat()
-	lfi, lerr := b.root.Lstat(rel)
-	if herr != nil || lerr != nil || !lfi.Mode().IsRegular() || !os.SameFile(lfi, hfi) {
-		return fmt.Errorf("%s: changed while opening: %w", rel, ErrNotRegular)
-	}
-	if _, err := f.Write(data); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	return f.Close()
-}
-
-// Remove removes the file at a clean brain-relative path through the root,
-// refusing a path behind a symlinked directory. A final symlink is removed
-// itself, never its target.
-func (b *Brain) Remove(rel string) error {
-	if err := b.RealParent(rel); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	return b.root.Remove(rel)
-}
-
-// RealParent returns ErrNotRegular unless rel is clean and every directory
-// above it is a real directory, for writers that do their own I/O (an atomic
-// rename) but must not be redirected by a symlinked directory.
-func (b *Brain) RealParent(rel string) error {
-	if err := cleanRel(rel); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	return b.realDir(path.Dir(rel))
-}
-
-// mkdirReal makes sure every component of rel exists as a real directory,
-// creating missing ones through the root; an existing component that is
-// not a real directory is ErrNotRegular.
-func (b *Brain) mkdirReal(rel string) error {
-	if rel == "." {
-		return nil
-	}
-	prefix := ""
-	for _, part := range strings.Split(rel, "/") {
-		prefix = path.Join(prefix, part)
-		fi, err := b.root.Lstat(prefix)
-		if errors.Is(err, fs.ErrNotExist) {
-			if err := b.root.Mkdir(prefix, 0o755); err != nil && !errors.Is(err, fs.ErrExist) {
-				return err
-			}
-			fi, err = b.root.Lstat(prefix)
-		}
-		if err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-		if !fi.IsDir() {
-			return fmt.Errorf("%s: component %s is not a directory: %w", rel, prefix, ErrNotRegular)
-		}
-	}
-	return nil
-}
-
-// OpenLock opens (creating if absent) a regular lock file at a clean
-// brain-relative path for flock, through the root (hyperguild#192): every
-// directory above it must be real, an existing lock must be a regular file,
-// and the opened handle must be the file at the path (os.Root follows an
-// in-root final symlink even with O_NOFOLLOW, so the Lstat pre-check is
-// what refuses a dangling in-brain link). A link swapped in between the
-// pre-check and the open can still have an empty file created at an in-brain
-// target before the refusal: the #167 residual. ErrLockChanged reports a
-// lock replaced while opening (a peer removed and recreated it); callers
-// retry.
-func (b *Brain) OpenLock(rel string) (*os.File, error) {
-	if err := b.RealParent(rel); err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-	if fi, err := b.root.Lstat(rel); err == nil && !fi.Mode().IsRegular() {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%s: %w", rel, ErrNotRegular)
-	} else if err != nil && !errors.Is(err, fs.ErrNotExist) {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-	f, err := b.root.OpenFile(rel, os.O_RDWR|os.O_CREATE|syscall.O_NOFOLLOW|syscall.O_NONBLOCK, 0o644)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-	hfi, herr := f.Stat()
-	lfi, lerr := b.root.Lstat(rel)
-	if herr != nil || !hfi.Mode().IsRegular() {
-		_ = f.Close()
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%s: %w", rel, ErrNotRegular)
-	}
-	if lerr != nil || !os.SameFile(lfi, hfi) {
-		_ = f.Close()
-		if lerr == nil && !lfi.Mode().IsRegular() {
-			return nil, fmt.Errorf("%s: %w", rel, ErrNotRegular)
-		}
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%s: %w", rel, ErrLockChanged)
-	}
-	return f, nil
-}
-
-// LockIsCurrent reports whether f is still the file at rel: after taking a
-// flock, a lock file removed and recreated by a peer means the flock is on
-// an orphaned inode and does not exclude anyone (hyperguild#192).
-func (b *Brain) LockIsCurrent(rel string, f *os.File) bool {
-	hfi, herr := f.Stat()
-	lfi, lerr := b.root.Lstat(rel)
-	return herr == nil && lerr == nil && os.SameFile(lfi, hfi)
-}
-
 // ReadRegular reads a brain-relative path, refusing anything that is not a
 // regular file, both before the open and on the opened handle.
 func (b *Brain) ReadRegular(rel string) ([]byte, error) {

ingestion/internal/brainfs/brainfs_test.go

@@ -376,202 +376,3 @@ func TestReadAndWriteRegularRefuseAPathThatIsNotClean(t *testing.T) {
 	got, _ := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(dir, "raw", "v.md"))
 	assert.Equal(t, "untouched", string(got))
 }
-
-// hyperguild#188: PutRegular creates or replaces a regular file through the
-// root. Missing parent directories are created; an existing component that
-// is not a real directory, a final symlink or special file, and an unclean
-// path are refused, and nothing is created at a link's target.
-func TestPutRegularCreatesOrReplacesOnlyThroughRealDirectories(t *testing.T) {
-	dir := t.TempDir()
-	outside := t.TempDir()
-	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(filepath.Join(dir, "raw"), 0o755))
-	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(filepath.Join(dir, "wiki"), 0o755))
-	require.NoError(t, os.Symlink(filepath.Join("..", "raw"), filepath.Join(dir, "wiki", "inwing")))
-	require.NoError(t, os.Symlink(outside, filepath.Join(dir, "wiki", "outwing")))
-	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(dir, "raw", "v.md"), []byte("untouched"), 0o644))
-	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(filepath.Join(dir, "wiki", "w"), 0o755))
-	require.NoError(t, os.Symlink(filepath.Join("..", "..", "raw", "v.md"), filepath.Join(dir, "wiki", "w", "link.md")))
-	require.NoError(t, syscall.Mkfifo(filepath.Join(dir, "wiki", "w", "f.md"), 0o644))
-	b, err := Open(dir)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	defer func() { _ = b.Close() }()
-
-	for _, rel := range []string{"wiki/inwing/facts/n.md", "wiki/outwing/facts/n.md", "wiki/w/link.md", "wiki/w/f.md", "wiki/w/../../raw/v.md", "/abs.md"} {
-		assert.ErrorIs(t, b.PutRegular(rel, []byte("x")), ErrNotRegular, rel)
-	}
-	ents, _ := os.ReadDir(outside)
-	assert.Empty(t, ents, "nothing created outside the brain")
-	_, err = os.Stat(filepath.Join(dir, "raw", "facts"))
-	assert.True(t, os.IsNotExist(err), "nothing created through the in-brain link")
-	got, _ := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(dir, "raw", "v.md"))
-	assert.Equal(t, "untouched", string(got))
-
-	require.NoError(t, b.PutRegular("wiki/new/facts/n.md", []byte("one")), "positive control: create with missing parents")
-	got, _ = os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(dir, "wiki", "new", "facts", "n.md"))
-	assert.Equal(t, "one", string(got))
-	require.NoError(t, b.PutRegular("wiki/new/facts/n.md", []byte("two")), "positive control: replace")
-	got, _ = os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(dir, "wiki", "new", "facts", "n.md"))
-	assert.Equal(t, "two", string(got))
-}
-
-func TestAppendRegularCreatesOrAppendsOnlyThroughRealDirectories(t *testing.T) {
-	dir := t.TempDir()
-	outside := t.TempDir()
-	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(filepath.Join(dir, "raw"), 0o755))
-	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(dir, "raw", "v.md"), []byte("untouched"), 0o644))
-	require.NoError(t, os.Symlink(outside, filepath.Join(dir, "outdir")))
-	require.NoError(t, os.Symlink("raw", filepath.Join(dir, "indir")))
-	require.NoError(t, os.Symlink(filepath.Join("raw", "v.md"), filepath.Join(dir, "log.md")))
-	require.NoError(t, syscall.Mkfifo(filepath.Join(dir, "f.md"), 0o644))
-	b, err := Open(dir)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	defer func() { _ = b.Close() }()
-
-	for _, rel := range []string{"outdir/l.md", "indir/v.md", "log.md", "f.md", "raw/../log.md"} {
-		assert.ErrorIs(t, b.AppendRegular(rel, []byte("x")), ErrNotRegular, rel)
-	}
-	ents, _ := os.ReadDir(outside)
-	assert.Empty(t, ents)
-	got, _ := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(dir, "raw", "v.md"))
-	assert.Equal(t, "untouched", string(got))
-
-	require.NoError(t, b.AppendRegular("logs/a.md", []byte("one\n")), "positive control: create")
-	require.NoError(t, b.AppendRegular("logs/a.md", []byte("two\n")), "positive control: append")
-	got, _ = os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(dir, "logs", "a.md"))
-	assert.Equal(t, "one\ntwo\n", string(got))
-}
-
-func TestRealParentRefusesASymlinkedDirectoryOrUncleanPath(t *testing.T) {
-	dir := t.TempDir()
-	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(filepath.Join(dir, "raw"), 0o755))
-	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(filepath.Join(dir, "wiki"), 0o755))
-	require.NoError(t, os.Symlink(filepath.Join("..", "raw"), filepath.Join(dir, "wiki", "alias")))
-	b, err := Open(dir)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	defer func() { _ = b.Close() }()
-	assert.ErrorIs(t, b.RealParent("wiki/alias/x.md"), ErrNotRegular)
-	assert.ErrorIs(t, b.RealParent("wiki/../raw/x.md"), ErrNotRegular)
-	assert.NoError(t, b.RealParent("wiki/x.md"), "positive control")
-}
-
-// cleanRel must refuse an unclean path on its own: here the ".." resolves,
-// after a symlinked directory, to a real regular file, so only the clean
-// check stands between the call and that file.
-func TestAppendRegularRefusesAnUncleanPathThatResolvesToARealFile(t *testing.T) {
-	dir := t.TempDir()
-	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(filepath.Join(dir, "raw", "keep"), 0o755))
-	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(dir, "raw", "v.md"), []byte("untouched"), 0o644))
-	require.NoError(t, os.Symlink(filepath.Join("raw", "keep"), filepath.Join(dir, "indir")))
-	b, err := Open(dir)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	defer func() { _ = b.Close() }()
-	assert.ErrorIs(t, b.AppendRegular("indir/../v.md", []byte("x")), ErrNotRegular)
-	assert.ErrorIs(t, b.PutRegular("indir/../v.md", []byte("x")), ErrNotRegular)
-	got, _ := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(dir, "raw", "v.md"))
-	assert.Equal(t, "untouched", string(got))
-}
-
-func TestRemoveRefusesAPathBehindASymlinkedDirectoryAndRemovesOnlyTheLink(t *testing.T) {
-	dir := t.TempDir()
-	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(filepath.Join(dir, "raw"), 0o755))
-	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(dir, "raw", "v.md"), []byte("keep"), 0o644))
-	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(filepath.Join(dir, "wiki"), 0o755))
-	require.NoError(t, os.Symlink(filepath.Join("..", "raw"), filepath.Join(dir, "wiki", "alias")))
-	require.NoError(t, os.Symlink(filepath.Join("..", "raw", "v.md"), filepath.Join(dir, "wiki", "link.md")))
-	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(dir, "wiki", "n.md"), []byte("n"), 0o644))
-	b, err := Open(dir)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	defer func() { _ = b.Close() }()
-
-	assert.ErrorIs(t, b.Remove("wiki/alias/v.md"), ErrNotRegular)
-	_, err = os.Stat(filepath.Join(dir, "raw", "v.md"))
-	assert.NoError(t, err, "the file behind the symlinked directory is kept")
-	require.NoError(t, b.Remove("wiki/link.md"))
-	_, err = os.Stat(filepath.Join(dir, "raw", "v.md"))
-	assert.NoError(t, err, "removing a final symlink never removes its target")
-	require.NoError(t, b.Remove("wiki/n.md"), "positive control")
-	_, err = os.Stat(filepath.Join(dir, "wiki", "n.md"))
-	assert.True(t, os.IsNotExist(err))
-}
-
-// CreateRegular is the only write path for promote and reject: it creates
-// missing parents through the root, refuses an in-brain symlinked parent and
-// an unclean path, and never replaces anything already there (fs.ErrExist,
-// content unchanged), including a dangling link.
-func TestCreateRegularCreatesOnlyNewFilesThroughRealDirectories(t *testing.T) {
-	dir := t.TempDir()
-	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(filepath.Join(dir, "raw", "keep"), 0o755))
-	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(filepath.Join(dir, "wiki"), 0o755))
-	require.NoError(t, os.Symlink(filepath.Join("..", "raw"), filepath.Join(dir, "wiki", "inwing")))
-	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(dir, "raw", "v.md"), []byte("untouched"), 0o644))
-	require.NoError(t, os.Symlink(filepath.Join("raw", "keep"), filepath.Join(dir, "indir")))
-	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(dir, "wiki", "exists.md"), []byte("original"), 0o644))
-	require.NoError(t, os.Symlink("nowhere.md", filepath.Join(dir, "wiki", "dangling.md")))
-	b, err := Open(dir)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	defer func() { _ = b.Close() }()
-
-	assert.ErrorIs(t, b.CreateRegular("wiki/inwing/facts/n.md", []byte("x")), ErrNotRegular)
-	_, err = os.Stat(filepath.Join(dir, "raw", "facts"))
-	assert.True(t, os.IsNotExist(err), "nothing created through the in-brain link")
-	assert.ErrorIs(t, b.CreateRegular("indir/../v.md", []byte("x")), ErrNotRegular)
-	got, _ := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(dir, "raw", "v.md"))
-	assert.Equal(t, "untouched", string(got))
-
-	assert.ErrorIs(t, b.CreateRegular("wiki/exists.md", []byte("x")), fs.ErrExist)
-	got, _ = os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(dir, "wiki", "exists.md"))
-	assert.Equal(t, "original", string(got))
-	assert.ErrorIs(t, b.CreateRegular("wiki/dangling.md", []byte("x")), fs.ErrExist)
-	_, err = os.Stat(filepath.Join(dir, "wiki", "nowhere.md"))
-	assert.True(t, os.IsNotExist(err), "nothing created at the dangling link's target")
-
-	require.NoError(t, b.CreateRegular("wiki/new/facts/n.md", []byte("one")), "positive control: create with missing parents")
-	got, _ = os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(dir, "wiki", "new", "facts", "n.md"))
-	assert.Equal(t, "one", string(got))
-}
-
-// hyperguild#192: OpenLock creates or reuses a regular lock file through the
-// root and refuses every other shape without creating anything at a link's
-// target or hanging.
-func TestOpenLockOpensOnlyARegularLockThroughRealDirectories(t *testing.T) {
-	dir := t.TempDir()
-	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(filepath.Join(dir, "raw"), 0o755))
-	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(filepath.Join(dir, "wiki", "w"), 0o755))
-	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(dir, "raw", "v.md"), []byte("untouched"), 0o644))
-	require.NoError(t, os.Symlink(filepath.Join("..", "..", "raw", "created"), filepath.Join(dir, "wiki", "w", "dangling.lock")))
-	require.NoError(t, os.Symlink(filepath.Join("..", "..", "raw", "v.md"), filepath.Join(dir, "wiki", "w", "live.lock")))
-	require.NoError(t, syscall.Mkfifo(filepath.Join(dir, "wiki", "w", "fifo.lock"), 0o644))
-	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(filepath.Join(dir, "wiki", "w", "dir.lock"), 0o755))
-	require.NoError(t, os.Symlink(filepath.Join("..", "raw"), filepath.Join(dir, "wiki", "alias")))
-	b, err := Open(dir)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	defer func() { _ = b.Close() }()
-
-	for _, rel := range []string{"wiki/w/dangling.lock", "wiki/w/live.lock", "wiki/w/fifo.lock", "wiki/w/dir.lock", "wiki/alias/x.lock", "wiki/w/../w/x.lock"} {
-		done := make(chan error, 1)
-		go func() {
-			f, err := b.OpenLock(rel)
-			if f != nil {
-				_ = f.Close()
-			}
-			done <- err
-		}()
-		select {
-		case err := <-done:
-			assert.ErrorIs(t, err, ErrNotRegular, rel)
-		case <-time.After(3 * time.Second):
-			t.Fatalf("OpenLock hung on %s", rel)
-		}
-	}
-	_, err = os.Lstat(filepath.Join(dir, "raw", "created"))
-	assert.True(t, os.IsNotExist(err), "nothing created at the dangling link's target")
-	got, _ := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(dir, "raw", "v.md"))
-	assert.Equal(t, "untouched", string(got))
-
-	f, err := b.OpenLock("wiki/w/n.md.lock")
-	require.NoError(t, err, "positive control: creates a lock")
-	assert.True(t, b.LockIsCurrent("wiki/w/n.md.lock", f))
-	require.NoError(t, b.Remove("wiki/w/n.md.lock"))
-	assert.False(t, b.LockIsCurrent("wiki/w/n.md.lock", f), "a removed lock is no longer current")
-	_ = f.Close()
-}

ingestion/internal/mcp/edit_pathio_test.go

@@ -1,124 +0,0 @@
-package mcp_test
-
-import (
-	"os"
-	"path/filepath"
-	"syscall"
-	"testing"
-	"time"
-
-	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
-	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
-
-	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/audit"
-	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/brainstore"
-	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/capture"
-	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/capturehttp"
-	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/classification"
-	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/mcp"
-)
-
-// hyperguild#192: brain_edit snapshotted the note with os.ReadFile by path,
-// which blocks on a FIFO held open by a writer, and hung the call.
-func TestBrainEditReturnsPromptlyOnAFIFONoteWithAWriter(t *testing.T) {
-	dir := newBrainRepo(t)
-	fifo := filepath.Join(dir, "wiki", "homelab", "facts", "f.md")
-	require.NoError(t, syscall.Mkfifo(fifo, 0o644))
-	w, err := os.OpenFile(fifo, os.O_RDWR, 0)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	t.Cleanup(func() { _ = w.Close() })
-	srv := mcp.NewServer(dir, nil, nil, nil)
-
-	done := make(chan map[string]any, 1)
-	go func() {
-		done <- call(t, srv, "brain_edit", map[string]any{"path": "wiki/homelab/facts/f.md", "old_str": "a", "new_str": "b"})
-	}()
-	select {
-	case resp := <-done:
-		assert.Contains(t, resp, "error", "a FIFO note is refused")
-	case <-time.After(3 * time.Second):
-		t.Fatal("brain_edit hung on a FIFO note")
-	}
-
-	resp := call(t, srv, "brain_edit", map[string]any{"path": "wiki/homelab/facts/n.md", "old_str": "beta", "new_str": "BETA"})
-	require.NotContains(t, resp, "error", "positive control: a regular note is edited: %v", resp["error"])
-}
-
-// hyperguild#192: the edit lock "<note>.lock" was opened by path with
-// O_CREATE, so a planted dangling .lock symlink made a successful edit create
-// a file at the link's target, outside the brain or elsewhere in it.
-func TestBrainEditDoesNotCreateAFileThroughADanglingLockSymlink(t *testing.T) {
-	for name, target := range map[string]func(t *testing.T, dir string) string{
-		"outside":  func(t *testing.T, _ string) string { return filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "created") },
-		// Relative, as Syncthing carries it: os.Root refuses an absolute
-		// link on its own, so only OpenLock's pre-check stops this one.
-		"in-brain": func(t *testing.T, dir string) string { return filepath.Join(dir, "raw", "created") },
-	} {
-		t.Run(name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			dir := newBrainRepo(t)
-			require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(filepath.Join(dir, "raw"), 0o755))
-			tgt := target(t, dir)
-			lock := filepath.Join(dir, "wiki", "homelab", "facts", "n.md.lock")
-			linkTo := tgt
-			if name == "in-brain" {
-				rel, err := filepath.Rel(filepath.Dir(lock), tgt)
-				require.NoError(t, err)
-				linkTo = rel
-			}
-			require.NoError(t, os.Symlink(linkTo, lock))
-			srv := mcp.NewServer(dir, nil, nil, nil)
-			resp := call(t, srv, "brain_edit", map[string]any{"path": "wiki/homelab/facts/n.md", "old_str": "beta", "new_str": "BETA"})
-			require.NotNil(t, resp["error"], "the edit is refused")
-			assert.Contains(t, resp["error"].(map[string]any)["message"], "lock", "refused because of the lock file")
-			_, err := os.Lstat(tgt)
-			assert.True(t, os.IsNotExist(err), "a file was created at the lock symlink's target")
-		})
-	}
-}
-
-// The rollback (when the stamp cannot be verified) writes the prior bytes
-// through the brain root: a symlink swapped in for the note before the
-// rollback is refused, and its target, in the brain or outside, is
-// untouched.
-func TestBrainEditRollbackDoesNotWriteThroughASymlinkSwappedInForTheNote(t *testing.T) {
-	for name, mk := range map[string]func(t *testing.T, dir string) (link, victim string){
-		"outside": func(t *testing.T, _ string) (string, string) {
-			v := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "victim.md")
-			return v, v
-		},
-		"in-brain": func(t *testing.T, dir string) (string, string) {
-			return filepath.Join("..", "..", "..", "raw", "victim.md"), filepath.Join(dir, "raw", "victim.md")
-		},
-	} {
-		t.Run(name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			dir := newBrainRepo(t)
-			require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(filepath.Join(dir, "raw"), 0o755))
-			cfg, err := classification.Load(dir)
-			require.NoError(t, err)
-			svc := capture.NewService(brainstore.New(dir), capFakeTracker{}, cfg, audit.NewSlogSink(nil))
-			srv := mcp.NewServer(dir, nil, nil, nil)
-			srv.WithCapture(svc, capFakeValidator{subject: "bad\xff"}, capStaticTok, "local-cli", capturehttp.NewOriginResolver(nil))
-			out := resultText(t, authCall(t, srv, "Bearer "+capStaticTok, "brain_write", map[string]any{
-				"content": "# R\n\nstatic body", "wing": "testing", "hall": "facts", "filename": "rb",
-			}))
-			path := out["path"].(string)
-			note := filepath.Join(dir, path)
-			link, victim := mk(t, dir)
-			require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(victim, []byte("untouched"), 0o644))
-			defer mcp.SetBeforeStampHook(func() {
-				require.NoError(t, os.Remove(note))
-				require.NoError(t, os.Symlink(link, note))
-			})()
-			resp := authCall(t, srv, jwtAuthz, "brain_edit", map[string]any{"path": path, "old_str": "static body", "new_str": "injected"})
-			require.NotNil(t, resp["error"])
-			// The swap happened and the rollback refused it: the error says so,
-			// and the note path is still the planted symlink.
-			assert.Contains(t, resp["error"].(map[string]any)["message"], "could NOT be rolled back")
-			fi, err := os.Lstat(note)
-			require.NoError(t, err)
-			assert.NotZero(t, fi.Mode()&os.ModeSymlink, "the note path is still the swapped-in symlink")
-			got, _ := os.ReadFile(victim)
-			assert.Equal(t, "untouched", string(got), "the rollback wrote through the swapped-in symlink")
-		})
-	}
-}

ingestion/internal/mcp/export_test.go

@@ -1,9 +0,0 @@
-package mcp
-
-// SetBeforeStampHook installs beforeStampHook for a test and returns a
-// restore func.
-func SetBeforeStampHook(f func()) func() {
-	old := beforeStampHook
-	beforeStampHook = f
-	return func() { beforeStampHook = old }
-}

ingestion/internal/mcp/tools_notes.go

@@ -6,8 +6,8 @@ import (
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/api"
-	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/brainfs"
 	"log/slog"
+	"os"
 	"strings"
 	"time"
 
@@ -118,14 +118,7 @@ func (s *Server) brainEdit(ctx context.Context, args json.RawMessage) (json.RawM
 		return nil, err
 	}
 	// No snapshot, no edit: without one a failed stamp could not be undone.
-	// Read through the brain root, regular files only (hyperguild#192): a
+	prior, err := os.ReadFile(target.Abs)
-	// FIFO held open by a writer hung os.ReadFile.
-	bfs, err := brainfs.Open(s.brainDir)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("snapshot before edit: %w", err)
-	}
-	defer func() { _ = bfs.Close() }()
-	prior, err := bfs.ReadRegular(target.Rel)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("snapshot before edit: %w", err)
 	}
@@ -137,11 +130,8 @@ func (s *Server) brainEdit(ctx context.Context, args json.RawMessage) (json.RawM
 	// whoever edits a note is the author of what a reader now sees: re-stamp
 	// to the editor after every edit (PR #147 review, escape E1).
 	origin, writtenBy := provenanceFrom(ctx)
-	if beforeStampHook != nil {
-		beforeStampHook()
-	}
 	if serr := api.StampProvenanceFile(s.brainDir, res.Path, origin, writtenBy); serr != nil {
-		if werr := bfs.WriteRegular(target.Rel, prior); werr != nil {
+		if werr := os.WriteFile(target.Abs, prior, 0o644); werr != nil {
 			// Say exactly what state the note is in: edited, unverified.
 			return nil, fmt.Errorf("stamp provenance failed (%v) AND the edit could NOT be rolled back: %w; "+
 				"%s carries the edit under its previous attribution", serr, werr, res.Path)
@@ -151,11 +141,6 @@ func (s *Server) brainEdit(ctx context.Context, args json.RawMessage) (json.RawM
 	return out, nil
 }
 
-// beforeStampHook is a test seam (nil in production): it runs between the
-// edit and the provenance stamp, so a test can swap the note before the
-// rollback path runs.
-var beforeStampHook func()
-
 // brainEditRoot edits a governance file (CLAUDE.md). De-surfaced AND gated on
 // the authenticated principal: only the static local-CLI token may call it, so
 // a claude.ai-origin session — the one that may have just read an untrusted

ingestion/internal/notes/edit.go

@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ func Edit(brainDir, path, oldStr, newStr string, scope Scope) (Result, error) {
 	mu.Lock()
 	defer mu.Unlock()
 
-	unlock, err := flockFile(t)
+	unlock, err := flockFile(t.Abs)
 	if err != nil {
 		return Result{}, err
 	}
@@ -220,49 +220,21 @@ func lockFor(abs string) *sync.Mutex {
 }
 
 // flockFile takes an advisory lock covering other processes sharing the
-// hostPath — during a RollingUpdate two ingestion pods do. The lock file is
+// hostPath — during a RollingUpdate two ingestion pods do.
-// opened and removed through the brain root, never through a symlink
+func flockFile(abs string) (func(), error) {
-// (hyperguild#192): a planted dangling "<note>.lock" link made a successful
+	f, err := os.OpenFile(abs+".lock", os.O_CREATE|os.O_RDWR, 0o644)
-// edit create a file at its target.
-//
-// Unlock removes the lock file while still holding the flock, so a waiter
-// can wake holding a lock on an orphaned inode while the next caller locks a
-// fresh file: two editors at once (measured on main). After taking the
-// flock, the file must still be the one at the path; otherwise retry.
-func flockFile(t Target) (func(), error) {
-	lockRel := t.Rel + ".lock"
-	bfs, err := brainfs.Open(t.Brain)
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("notes: lock %s: %w", lockRel, err)
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("notes: lock %s: %w", filepath.Base(abs), err)
 	}
-	for attempt := 0; attempt < 1000; attempt++ {
+	if err := syscall.Flock(int(f.Fd()), syscall.LOCK_EX); err != nil {
-		f, err := bfs.OpenLock(lockRel)
+		_ = f.Close()
-		if errors.Is(err, brainfs.ErrLockChanged) {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("notes: flock %s: %w", filepath.Base(abs), err)
-			continue
-		}
-		if err != nil {
-			_ = bfs.Close()
-			return nil, fmt.Errorf("notes: lock %s: %w", lockRel, err)
-		}
-		if err := syscall.Flock(int(f.Fd()), syscall.LOCK_EX); err != nil {
-			_ = f.Close()
-			_ = bfs.Close()
-			return nil, fmt.Errorf("notes: flock %s: %w", lockRel, err)
-		}
-		if !bfs.LockIsCurrent(lockRel, f) {
-			_ = syscall.Flock(int(f.Fd()), syscall.LOCK_UN)
-			_ = f.Close()
-			continue
-		}
-		return func() {
-			_ = bfs.Remove(lockRel)
-			_ = syscall.Flock(int(f.Fd()), syscall.LOCK_UN)
-			_ = f.Close()
-			_ = bfs.Close()
-		}, nil
 	}
-	_ = bfs.Close()
+	return func() {
-	return nil, fmt.Errorf("notes: lock %s: kept changing while locking", lockRel)
+		_ = syscall.Flock(int(f.Fd()), syscall.LOCK_UN)
+		_ = f.Close()
+		_ = os.Remove(abs + ".lock")
+	}, nil
 }
 
 // writeAtomic replaces the file via a same-directory temp + rename, then

ingestion/internal/notes/edit_redirect_test.go

@@ -1,36 +0,0 @@
-package notes
-
-import (
-	"os"
-	"path/filepath"
-	"testing"
-
-	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
-	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
-)
-
-// hyperguild#188/#173: brain_edit's atomic rename must not be redirected by
-// a symlinked directory inside the brain.
-func TestEditRefusesANoteBehindASymlinkedDirectory(t *testing.T) {
-	b := t.TempDir()
-	// Edit refuses a tree that is not the sync source before any path
-	// check, so the test needs a .git to reach the symlink refusal.
-	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(filepath.Join(b, ".git"), 0o755))
-	victim := filepath.Join(b, "raw", "facts", "v.md")
-	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(victim), 0o755))
-	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(victim, []byte("old text\n"), 0o644))
-	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(filepath.Join(b, "wiki", "w"), 0o755))
-	require.NoError(t, os.Symlink(filepath.Join("..", "..", "raw", "facts"), filepath.Join(b, "wiki", "w", "alias")))
-	_, err := Edit(b, "wiki/w/alias/v.md", "old text", "new text", ScopeNotes)
-	assert.Error(t, err)
-	got, _ := os.ReadFile(victim)
-	assert.Equal(t, "old text\n", string(got))
-
-	real := filepath.Join(b, "wiki", "w", "facts", "r.md")
-	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(real), 0o755))
-	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(real, []byte("old text\n"), 0o644))
-	_, err = Edit(b, "wiki/w/facts/r.md", "old text", "new text", ScopeNotes)
-	require.NoError(t, err, "positive control: a note in a real directory is edited")
-	got, _ = os.ReadFile(real)
-	assert.Equal(t, "new text\n", string(got))
-}

ingestion/internal/notes/lock_xproc_test.go

@@ -1,82 +0,0 @@
-package notes
-
-import (
-	"errors"
-	"fmt"
-	"os"
-	"os/exec"
-	"path/filepath"
-	"strconv"
-	"strings"
-	"testing"
-
-	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
-)
-
-// lockChild runs inside a re-executed test binary: it takes the note's edit
-// lock N times and, while holding it, creates an O_EXCL marker. Finding the
-// marker already there means another process holds the "same" lock: mutual
-// exclusion failed. It prints the overlap count.
-func lockChild(brainDir string, rounds int) {
-	t, err := Resolve(brainDir, "wiki/w/facts/n.md", ScopeNotes)
-	if err != nil {
-		fmt.Println("resolve:", err)
-		os.Exit(2)
-	}
-	marker := filepath.Join(brainDir, "marker")
-	overlaps := 0
-	for i := 0; i < rounds; i++ {
-		unlock, err := flockFile(t)
-		if err != nil {
-			fmt.Println("lock:", err)
-			os.Exit(2)
-		}
-		f, err := os.OpenFile(marker, os.O_CREATE|os.O_EXCL|os.O_WRONLY, 0o644)
-		if errors.Is(err, os.ErrExist) {
-			overlaps++
-		} else if err == nil {
-			_ = f.Close()
-			_ = os.Remove(marker)
-		}
-		unlock()
-	}
-	fmt.Println(overlaps)
-	os.Exit(0)
-}
-
-func TestMain(m *testing.M) {
-	if dir := os.Getenv("NOTES_LOCK_CHILD"); dir != "" {
-		n, _ := strconv.Atoi(os.Getenv("NOTES_LOCK_ROUNDS"))
-		lockChild(dir, n)
-	}
-	os.Exit(m.Run())
-}
-
-// hyperguild#192: the edit lock must exclude other processes (two ingestion
-// pods share the hostPath brain during a RollingUpdate). Unlock removes the
-// lock file, so without re-checking that the locked file is still the one at
-// the path, a waiter and the next caller each held a lock (measured on main:
-// hundreds of overlaps in 2000 rounds).
-func TestEditLockExcludesOtherProcesses(t *testing.T) {
-	brain := t.TempDir()
-	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(filepath.Join(brain, "wiki", "w", "facts"), 0o755))
-	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(brain, "wiki", "w", "facts", "n.md"), []byte("x"), 0o644))
-	const procs, rounds = 3, 400
-	cmds := make([]*exec.Cmd, procs)
-	outs := make([]*strings.Builder, procs)
-	for i := range cmds {
-		outs[i] = &strings.Builder{}
-		cmds[i] = exec.Command(os.Args[0], "-test.run=^$")
-		cmds[i].Env = append(os.Environ(), "NOTES_LOCK_CHILD="+brain, "NOTES_LOCK_ROUNDS="+strconv.Itoa(rounds))
-		cmds[i].Stdout, cmds[i].Stderr = outs[i], outs[i]
-		require.NoError(t, cmds[i].Start())
-	}
-	total := 0
-	for i, c := range cmds {
-		require.NoError(t, c.Wait(), "child %d: %s", i, outs[i].String())
-		n, err := strconv.Atoi(strings.TrimSpace(outs[i].String()))
-		require.NoError(t, err, "child %d output: %q", i, outs[i].String())
-		total += n
-	}
-	require.Zero(t, total, "processes held the edit lock at the same time")
-}

ingestion/internal/provenance/provenance.go

@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
+	"os"
 	"regexp"
 	"strings"
 
@@ -101,6 +102,25 @@ func Apply(content string, s Stamp) (string, error) {
 	return out, nil
 }
 
+// ApplyFile applies the stamp to the note at absPath in place.
+func ApplyFile(absPath string, s Stamp) error {
+	b, err := os.ReadFile(absPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("read for provenance: %w", err)
+	}
+	out, err := Apply(string(b), s)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	if out == string(b) {
+		return nil
+	}
+	if err := os.WriteFile(absPath, []byte(out), 0o644); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("write provenance: %w", err)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
 // plainGroups keeps the provably plain key groups of a frontmatter block.
 func plainGroups(block string) string {
 	lines := strings.Split(strings.TrimSuffix(block, "\n"), "\n")

ingestion/internal/symlinkguard/special_test.go

@@ -1,104 +0,0 @@
-package symlinkguard
-
-import (
-	"context"
-	"net"
-	"os"
-	"path/filepath"
-	"syscall"
-	"testing"
-	"time"
-
-	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
-	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
-)
-
-// hyperguild#179: the tripwire looked only for symlinks, so a FIFO (or
-// socket) in the brain passed it. A FIFO at classification.yaml then made
-// startup exit; at a note path it could hang readers that skip the handle
-// check.
-func TestScanReportsFIFOsAndSocketsAsSpecialFiles(t *testing.T) {
-	brain := t.TempDir()
-	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(filepath.Join(brain, "wiki", "w"), 0o755))
-	require.NoError(t, syscall.Mkfifo(filepath.Join(brain, "classification.yaml"), 0o644))
-	require.NoError(t, syscall.Mkfifo(filepath.Join(brain, "wiki", "w", "f.md"), 0o644))
-	l, err := net.Listen("unix", filepath.Join(brain, "s.sock"))
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	defer func() { _ = l.Close() }()
-	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(brain, "wiki", "w", "n.md"), []byte("n"), 0o644))
-
-	r, err := Scan(brain)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	assert.Equal(t, []string{"classification.yaml", "s.sock", "wiki/w/f.md"}, r.Special)
-	assert.False(t, r.Clean())
-	assert.Contains(t, r.String(), "special file")
-}
-
-// Watch removes a FIFO as it removes symlinks, and leaves a regular file
-// (which Scan never reports) alone.
-func TestWatchRemovesAFIFOAndLeavesAnUnreportedRegularFile(t *testing.T) {
-	brain := t.TempDir()
-	fifo := filepath.Join(brain, "f.md")
-	require.NoError(t, syscall.Mkfifo(fifo, 0o644))
-	regular := filepath.Join(brain, "n.md")
-	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(regular, []byte("n"), 0o644))
-	n := &recNotifier{}
-	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
-	defer cancel()
-	go Watch(ctx, brain, 10*time.Millisecond, n)
-	require.Eventually(t, func() bool {
-		_, err := os.Lstat(fifo)
-		return os.IsNotExist(err)
-	}, 2*time.Second, 10*time.Millisecond, "the FIFO is removed")
-	require.Eventually(t, func() bool { return n.count() >= 1 }, 2*time.Second, 10*time.Millisecond)
-	b, err := os.ReadFile(regular)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	assert.Equal(t, "n", string(b))
-	n.mu.Lock()
-	defer n.mu.Unlock()
-	assert.Contains(t, n.msgs[0], "f.md")
-}
-
-// removeSpecial re-checks the type: a path that is a regular file or a
-// directory at the re-check is not removed. (A swap between the re-check and
-// the unlink can still remove one; Linux has no conditional unlink. The same
-// window exists in removeSymlinks.)
-func TestRemoveSpecialRefusesRegularFilesAndDirectories(t *testing.T) {
-	brain := t.TempDir()
-	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(brain, "n.md"), []byte("n"), 0o644))
-	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(filepath.Join(brain, "d"), 0o755))
-	require.NoError(t, syscall.Mkfifo(filepath.Join(brain, "f.md"), 0o644))
-	removed, failed := removeSpecial(brain, []string{"n.md", "d", "f.md"})
-	assert.Equal(t, []string{"f.md"}, removed)
-	assert.Equal(t, []string{"n.md", "d"}, failed)
-	_, err := os.Stat(filepath.Join(brain, "n.md"))
-	assert.NoError(t, err)
-}
-
-// A special file Watch cannot remove (its directory is read-only) stays
-// reported: the persistent-finding alert names it.
-func TestWatchReportsASpecialFileItCannotRemove(t *testing.T) {
-	if os.Geteuid() == 0 {
-		t.Skip("root ignores directory permissions")
-	}
-	brain := t.TempDir()
-	ro := filepath.Join(brain, "ro")
-	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(ro, 0o755))
-	require.NoError(t, syscall.Mkfifo(filepath.Join(ro, "f.md"), 0o644))
-	require.NoError(t, os.Chmod(ro, 0o555))
-	t.Cleanup(func() { _ = os.Chmod(ro, 0o755) })
-	n := &recNotifier{}
-	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
-	defer cancel()
-	go Watch(ctx, brain, 10*time.Millisecond, n)
-	require.Eventually(t, func() bool { return n.count() >= 1 }, 2*time.Second, 10*time.Millisecond)
-	_, err := os.Lstat(filepath.Join(ro, "f.md"))
-	require.NoError(t, err, "the FIFO could not be removed")
-	n.mu.Lock()
-	defer n.mu.Unlock()
-	assert.Contains(t, n.msgs[0], "ro/f.md")
-	assert.Contains(t, n.msgs[0], "special file")
-	for _, m := range n.msgs {
-		assert.NotContains(t, m, "removed", "a file it could not remove was reported as removed")
-	}
-}

ingestion/internal/symlinkguard/symlinkguard.go

@@ -46,16 +46,10 @@ type Notifier interface {
 type Result struct {
 	Symlinks   []string
 	Unreadable []string
-	// Special holds FIFOs, sockets and devices (hyperguild#179): a reader
-	// that opens one by path can hang, and a FIFO at classification.yaml
-	// stops startup.
-	Special []string
 }
 
 // Clean reports whether the scan found nothing to act on.
-func (r Result) Clean() bool {
+func (r Result) Clean() bool { return len(r.Symlinks) == 0 && len(r.Unreadable) == 0 }
-	return len(r.Symlinks) == 0 && len(r.Unreadable) == 0 && len(r.Special) == 0
-}
 
 // String describes the findings for a log line or alert. Paths are quoted, so
 // a name containing a newline cannot blur two findings together.
@@ -65,9 +59,6 @@ func (r Result) String() string {
 	if len(r.Symlinks) > 0 {
 		parts = append(parts, fmt.Sprintf("%d symlink(s): %s", len(r.Symlinks), q(r.Symlinks)))
 	}
-	if len(r.Special) > 0 {
-		parts = append(parts, fmt.Sprintf("%d special file(s) (FIFO, socket or device; delete them): %s", len(r.Special), q(r.Special)))
-	}
 	if len(r.Unreadable) > 0 {
 		parts = append(parts, fmt.Sprintf("%d unreadable dir(s): %s", len(r.Unreadable), q(r.Unreadable)))
 	}
@@ -122,16 +113,12 @@ func Scan(brainDir string) (Result, error) {
 		if d.IsDir() && p == rootGit {
 			return filepath.SkipDir
 		}
-		switch {
+		if d.Type()&os.ModeSymlink != 0 {
-		case d.Type()&os.ModeSymlink != 0:
 			r.Symlinks = append(r.Symlinks, rel)
-		case !d.IsDir() && !d.Type().IsRegular():
-			r.Special = append(r.Special, rel)
 		}
 		return nil
 	})
 	sort.Strings(r.Symlinks)
-	sort.Strings(r.Special)
 	sort.Strings(r.Unreadable)
 	if walkErr != nil {
 		// Only the root's own error reaches here (deeper errors are recorded
@@ -195,20 +182,14 @@ func Watch(ctx context.Context, brainDir string, interval time.Duration, n Notif
 				q.push(fmt.Sprintf("brain symlink tripwire (hyperguild#157): removed %d symlink(s) from the brain dir: %s",
 					len(removed), Result{}.quoted(removed)))
 			}
-			sRemoved, sFailed := removeSpecial(brainDir, r.Special)
+			key = Result{Symlinks: failed, Unreadable: r.Unreadable}.String()
-			if len(sRemoved) > 0 {
-				slog.Error("brain symlink tripwire removed special files", "count", len(sRemoved))
-				q.push(fmt.Sprintf("brain symlink tripwire (hyperguild#179): removed %d special file(s) (FIFO, socket or device) from the brain dir: %s",
-					len(sRemoved), Result{}.quoted(sRemoved)))
-			}
-			key = Result{Symlinks: failed, Unreadable: r.Unreadable, Special: sFailed}.String()
 		}
 		if key != reported {
 			reported = key
 			if key != "" {
 				slog.Error("brain symlink tripwire", "finding", key)
-				q.push("brain symlink tripwire (hyperguild#157, #179): " + key +
+				q.push("brain symlink tripwire (hyperguild#157): " + key +
-					". Symlinks can lead readers out of the brain and special files can hang them; remove them.")
+					". Readers may follow symlinks out of the brain; fix them.")
 			}
 		}
 	}
@@ -341,40 +322,6 @@ func permanent(err error) bool {
 	return errors.As(err, &p) && p.Permanent()
 }
 
-// removeSpecial unlinks each brain-relative FIFO, socket or device through
-// an os.Root on the brain dir, after re-checking that it is still one: a
-// path that is a regular file, a directory or a symlink at the re-check is
-// left alone and reported as failed. The re-check narrows, but cannot close,
-// the window before the unlink (Linux has no conditional unlink); the same
-// window exists in removeSymlinks, and only a local writer can use it.
-func removeSpecial(brainDir string, rels []string) (removed, failed []string) {
-	if len(rels) == 0 {
-		return nil, nil
-	}
-	resolved, err := filepath.EvalSymlinks(brainDir)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, rels
-	}
-	root, err := os.OpenRoot(resolved)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, rels
-	}
-	defer func() { _ = root.Close() }()
-	for _, rel := range rels {
-		fi, err := root.Lstat(rel)
-		if err != nil || fi.IsDir() || fi.Mode().IsRegular() || fi.Mode()&os.ModeSymlink != 0 {
-			failed = append(failed, rel)
-			continue
-		}
-		if err := root.Remove(rel); err != nil {
-			failed = append(failed, rel)
-			continue
-		}
-		removed = append(removed, rel)
-	}
-	return removed, failed
-}
-
 // removeSymlinks unlinks each brain-relative symlink through an os.Root on
 // the brain dir, after re-checking it is still a symlink. Removing a symlink
 // never touches its target. It returns what was removed and what was not.

ingestion/internal/symlinkguard/symlinkguard_test.go

@@ -381,19 +381,18 @@ func TestWatchQueueIsBoundedDuringAnOutage(t *testing.T) {
 		require.Eventually(t, func() bool { _, err := os.Lstat(link); return os.IsNotExist(err) }, 2*time.Second, 2*time.Millisecond)
 	}
 	n.down.Store(false)
-	// Synchronise on the summary being delivered (hyperguild#193: a fixed
+	require.Eventually(t, func() bool { return n.count() >= 1 }, 2*time.Second, 5*time.Millisecond)
-	// sleep flaked under load); once it is, the queue has been flushed.
+	time.Sleep(100 * time.Millisecond)
-	require.Eventually(t, func() bool {
-		n.mu.Lock()
-		defer n.mu.Unlock()
-		for _, m := range n.msgs {
-			if strings.Contains(m, "suppressed") {
-				return true
-			}
-		}
-		return false
-	}, 10*time.Second, 5*time.Millisecond, "suppressed alerts are counted in a summary")
 	assert.LessOrEqual(t, n.count(), maxPending+1, "queued alerts plus at most one suppression summary")
+	n.mu.Lock()
+	defer n.mu.Unlock()
+	found := false
+	for _, m := range n.msgs {
+		if strings.Contains(m, "suppressed") {
+			found = true
+		}
+	}
+	assert.True(t, found, "suppressed alerts are counted in a summary")
 }
 
 // Within the bound, every alert queued during an outage is delivered after
@@ -412,21 +411,11 @@ func TestWatchDeliversEveryQueuedAlertAfterAShortOutage(t *testing.T) {
 		require.Eventually(t, func() bool { _, err := os.Lstat(link); return os.IsNotExist(err) }, 2*time.Second, 2*time.Millisecond)
 	}
 	n.down.Store(false)
-	require.Eventually(t, func() bool { return n.count() >= 3 }, 10*time.Second, 5*time.Millisecond)
+	require.Eventually(t, func() bool { return n.count() == 3 }, 2*time.Second, 5*time.Millisecond)
 	n.mu.Lock()
 	defer n.mu.Unlock()
-	// Each removal delivered exactly once, in any order: the outage ends
+	for i, name := range []string{"qa", "qb", "qc"} {
-	// asynchronously, possibly mid-flush, so a later item can send before an
+		assert.Contains(t, n.msgs[i], strconv.Quote(name))
-	// earlier one (hyperguild#193). Order is not what this test is about.
-	assert.Len(t, n.msgs, 3)
-	for _, name := range []string{"qa", "qb", "qc"} {
-		hits := 0
-		for _, m := range n.msgs {
-			if strings.Contains(m, strconv.Quote(name)) {
-				hits++
-			}
-		}
-		assert.Equal(t, 1, hits, "%s delivered exactly once", name)
 	}
 }
 
@@ -468,30 +457,29 @@ func TestWatchAccountsForEveryRemovalDuringAnOutage(t *testing.T) {
 		require.Eventually(t, func() bool { _, err := os.Lstat(link); return os.IsNotExist(err) }, 2*time.Second, 1*time.Millisecond)
 	}
 	n.down.Store(false)
-	// Synchronise on the record being complete, not on a fixed sleep after
+	require.Eventually(t, func() bool {
-	// the first summary (hyperguild#193): sum every "removed N" alert and
-	// every suppression count until they account for all plants.
-	account := func() (delivered, counted int) {
 		n.mu.Lock()
 		defer n.mu.Unlock()
 		for _, m := range n.msgs {
-			var k int
+			if strings.Contains(m, "suppressed") {
-			if i := strings.Index(m, "removed "); i >= 0 && strings.Contains(m, "symlink(s)") {
+				return true
-				if _, err := fmt.Sscanf(m[i+len("removed "):], "%d", &k); err == nil {
-					delivered += k
-				}
-			}
-			if i := strings.Index(m, "): "); i >= 0 && strings.Contains(m, "suppressed") {
-				if _, err := fmt.Sscanf(m[i+3:], "%d", &k); err == nil {
-					counted += k
-				}
 			}
 		}
-		return delivered, counted
+		return false
+	}, 2*time.Second, 5*time.Millisecond)
+	time.Sleep(50 * time.Millisecond)
+	n.mu.Lock()
+	defer n.mu.Unlock()
+	delivered, counted := 0, 0
+	for _, m := range n.msgs {
+		if strings.Contains(m, "removed 1 symlink(s)") {
+			delivered++
+		}
+		if i := strings.Index(m, "): "); i >= 0 && strings.Contains(m, "suppressed") {
+			_, _ = fmt.Sscanf(m[i+3:], "%d", &counted)
+		}
 	}
-	require.Eventually(t, func() bool { d, c := account(); return d+c >= plants }, 10*time.Second, 5*time.Millisecond)
+	assert.Equal(t, plants, delivered+counted, "delivered %d + counted %d must equal %d removals", delivered, counted, plants)
-	d, c := account()
-	assert.Equal(t, plants, d+c, "delivered %d + counted %d must equal %d removals", d, c, plants)
 }
 
 // A poison message is still dropped (others send while it fails), and the

ingestion/internal/wiki/index.go

@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@ package wiki
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
 	"strings"
 
 	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/brainfs"
@@ -48,8 +50,8 @@ func RebuildIndex(brainDir, date string) error {
 		sb.WriteString("\n")
 	}
 
-	// Written through the brain root, never through a symlink (#158).
+	dest := filepath.Join(brainDir, "wiki", "index.md")
-	return bfs.PutRegular("wiki/index.md", []byte(sb.String()))
+	return os.WriteFile(dest, []byte(sb.String()), 0o644)
 }
 
 // pageFirstSentence reads the page through the brain root, regular files

ingestion/internal/wiki/log.go

@@ -3,7 +3,8 @@ package wiki
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
-	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/brainfs"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
 	"strings"
 )
 
@@ -26,14 +27,14 @@ func AppendLog(brainDir, source string, pages, warnings []string, date string) e
 	}
 	sb.WriteString("\n")
 
-	// Appended through the brain root, never through a symlink (#158).
+	logPath := filepath.Join(brainDir, "log.md")
-	bfs, err := brainfs.Open(brainDir)
+	f, err := os.OpenFile(logPath, os.O_APPEND|os.O_CREATE|os.O_WRONLY, 0o644)
 	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("open brain: %w", err)
+		return fmt.Errorf("open log: %w", err)
 	}
-	defer func() { _ = bfs.Close() }()
+	if _, err = f.WriteString(sb.String()); err != nil {
-	if err := bfs.AppendRegular("log.md", []byte(sb.String())); err != nil {
+		f.Close() //nolint:errcheck
 		return fmt.Errorf("write log: %w", err)
 	}
-	return nil
+	return f.Close()
 }

ingestion/internal/wiki/writers_redirect_test.go

@@ -1,35 +0,0 @@
-package wiki
-
-import (
-	"os"
-	"path/filepath"
-	"testing"
-
-	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
-	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
-)
-
-// hyperguild#158: RebuildIndex wrote wiki/index.md and AppendLog appended
-// log.md with os.WriteFile / os.OpenFile, so a symlinked file was written
-// through.
-func TestRebuildIndexAndAppendLogDoNotWriteThroughSymlinks(t *testing.T) {
-	b := t.TempDir()
-	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(filepath.Join(b, "wiki", "concepts"), 0o755))
-	victim := filepath.Join(b, "raw", "v.md")
-	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(victim), 0o755))
-	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(victim, []byte("untouched"), 0o644))
-	require.NoError(t, os.Symlink(filepath.Join("..", "raw", "v.md"), filepath.Join(b, "wiki", "index.md")))
-	require.NoError(t, os.Symlink(filepath.Join("raw", "v.md"), filepath.Join(b, "log.md")))
-
-	assert.Error(t, RebuildIndex(b, "2026-10-05"))
-	assert.Error(t, AppendLog(b, "src", []string{"p"}, nil, "2026-10-05"))
-	got, _ := os.ReadFile(victim)
-	assert.Equal(t, "untouched", string(got))
-
-	require.NoError(t, os.Remove(filepath.Join(b, "wiki", "index.md")))
-	require.NoError(t, os.Remove(filepath.Join(b, "log.md")))
-	require.NoError(t, RebuildIndex(b, "2026-10-05"), "positive control")
-	require.NoError(t, AppendLog(b, "src", []string{"p"}, nil, "2026-10-05"), "positive control")
-	l, _ := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(b, "log.md"))
-	assert.Contains(t, string(l), "src")
-}