test(search): in-brain Query race queries the inside note too

After main's #177 floor (AssertNoLeakFrom needs at least one read that
returns the inside note), this test went red on merge: the reader
queried only the sentinel, so the regular note could never be a hit
and the race had been passing vacuously. Query both terms.

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

ingestion/internal/api/readnote_root_test.go

@@ -23,6 +23,13 @@ func TestReadNoteRefusesSymlinksAndSurvivesSwapRaces(t *testing.T) {
 	_, body, _, err := api.ReadNote(brain, "wiki/w/facts/leak.md")
 	assert.Error(t, err)
 	assert.NotContains(t, body, brainfstest.Sentinel)
+	// A link to a file elsewhere in the brain: os.Root allows it, only the
+	// regular-file check refuses it (hyperguild#171).
+	brainfstest.WriteSentinelAt(t, filepath.Join(brain, "raw", "s.md"))
+	require.NoError(t, os.Symlink(filepath.Join("..", "..", "..", "raw", "s.md"), filepath.Join(facts, "inlink.md")))
+	_, body, _, err = api.ReadNote(brain, "wiki/w/facts/inlink.md")
+	assert.Error(t, err)
+	assert.NotContains(t, body, brainfstest.Sentinel)
 
 	p := filepath.Join(facts, "r.md")
 	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(p, []byte("---\nx: y\n---\ninside"), 0o644))
@@ -39,5 +46,7 @@ func TestReadNoteRefusesSymlinksAndSurvivesSwapRaces(t *testing.T) {
 		return s
 	}
 	brainfstest.AssertNoLeak(t, p, "---\nx: y\n---\ninside", 1500*time.Millisecond, read)
+	inBrain := brainfstest.WriteSentinelAt(t, filepath.Join(brain, "raw", "s.md"))
+	brainfstest.AssertNoLeakFrom(t, p, "---\nx: y\n---\ninside", inBrain, 1500*time.Millisecond, read)
 	brainfstest.AssertNoHang(t, p, "---\nx: y\n---\ninside", 1500*time.Millisecond, 6*time.Second, func() { _ = read() })
 }

ingestion/internal/api/update.go

@@ -3,18 +3,15 @@ package api
 import (
 	"crypto/sha256"
 	"encoding/hex"
-	"errors"
 	"fmt"
-	"io/fs"
+	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/brainfs"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"strings"
 	"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/notes"
 )
 
 // ContentHash returns the lowercase hex sha256 of b. It is the note's
@@ -94,23 +91,14 @@ func UpdateNote(brainDir string, opts UpdateNoteOptions) (relPath, contentHash,
 		rel = filepath.ToSlash(rel)
 	}
 
-	// The path is caller-supplied (brain_update): resolve it as brain_edit
-	// does, knowledge/ and wiki/ notes only, and read and rewrite it through
-	// the brain root, never through a symlink (hyperguild#169).
-	t, err := notes.Resolve(brainDir, rel, notes.ScopeNotes)
+	rel, abs, err := resolveWithin(brainDir, rel)
 	if err != nil {
 		return "", "", "", err
 	}
-	rel = t.Rel
-	bfs, err := brainfs.Open(brainDir)
-	if err != nil {
-		return "", "", "", fmt.Errorf("open brain: %w", err)
-	}
-	defer func() { _ = bfs.Close() }()
 
-	prior, err := bfs.ReadRegular(rel)
+	prior, err := os.ReadFile(abs)
 	if err != nil {
-		if errors.Is(err, fs.ErrNotExist) {
+		if os.IsNotExist(err) {
 			return "", "", "", fmt.Errorf("note %q does not exist: use brain_write to create", rel)
 		}
 		return "", "", "", fmt.Errorf("read target: %w", err)
@@ -176,7 +164,7 @@ func UpdateNote(brainDir string, opts UpdateNoteOptions) (relPath, contentHash,
 		return "", "", "", err
 	}
 	out := []byte(stamped)
-	if err := bfs.WriteRegular(rel, out); err != nil {
+	if err := os.WriteFile(abs, out, 0o644); err != nil {
 		return "", "", "", fmt.Errorf("write: %w", err)
 	}
 	return rel, ContentHash(out), priorHash, nil

ingestion/internal/api/update_scope_test.go

@@ -1,112 +0,0 @@
-package api_test
-
-import (
-	"os"
-	"path/filepath"
-	"sync"
-	"sync/atomic"
-	"testing"
-	"time"
-
-	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
-	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
-
-	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/api"
-)
-
-// brain_update passed the caller's path through resolveWithin, a lexical
-// containment check only: any file in the brain could be superseded
-// (classification.yaml, raw/, sessions/), and a final symlink was written
-// through. It now resolves like brain_edit: knowledge/ and wiki/ notes only,
-// read and rewritten through the brain root.
-func TestUpdateNoteRefusesPathsOutsideKnowledgeAndWikiNotes(t *testing.T) {
-	brain := t.TempDir()
-	files := map[string]string{
-		"classification.yaml": "levels: {}\n",
-		"raw/r.md":            "raw\n",
-		"sessions/s.jsonl":    "{}\n",
-		"wiki/w/facts/ok.md":  "---\ntitle: ok\n---\nold\n",
-		"knowledge/k.md":      "---\ntitle: k\n---\nold\n",
-		"wiki/w/facts/x.txt":  "txt\n",
-	}
-	for rel, body := range files {
-		p := filepath.Join(brain, filepath.FromSlash(rel))
-		require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(p), 0o755))
-		require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(p, []byte(body), 0o644))
-	}
-	for _, rel := range []string{"classification.yaml", "raw/r.md", "sessions/s.jsonl", "wiki/w/facts/x.txt", "wiki/w/../../raw/r.md"} {
-		_, _, _, err := api.UpdateNote(brain, api.UpdateNoteOptions{Path: rel, Content: "replaced"})
-		assert.Error(t, err, rel)
-	}
-	for rel, body := range files {
-		if rel == "wiki/w/facts/ok.md" || rel == "knowledge/k.md" {
-			continue
-		}
-		got, err := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(brain, filepath.FromSlash(rel)))
-		require.NoError(t, err)
-		assert.Equal(t, body, string(got), rel)
-	}
-	for _, rel := range []string{"wiki/w/facts/ok.md", "knowledge/k.md"} {
-		_, _, _, err := api.UpdateNote(brain, api.UpdateNoteOptions{Path: rel, Content: "new body"})
-		require.NoError(t, err, "positive control: %s", rel)
-		got, _ := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(brain, filepath.FromSlash(rel)))
-		assert.Contains(t, string(got), "new body")
-	}
-}
-
-func TestUpdateNoteDoesNotWriteThroughASymlinkedNote(t *testing.T) {
-	brain := t.TempDir()
-	facts := filepath.Join(brain, "wiki", "w", "facts")
-	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(facts, 0o755))
-	victim := filepath.Join(brain, "raw", "victim.md")
-	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(victim), 0o755))
-	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(victim, []byte("untouched\n"), 0o644))
-	require.NoError(t, os.Symlink(filepath.Join("..", "..", "..", "raw", "victim.md"), filepath.Join(facts, "l.md")))
-	_, _, _, err := api.UpdateNote(brain, api.UpdateNoteOptions{Path: "wiki/w/facts/l.md", Content: "replaced"})
-	assert.Error(t, err)
-	got, _ := os.ReadFile(victim)
-	assert.Equal(t, "untouched\n", string(got))
-}
-
-// The note is swapped between a regular file and an in-brain symlink to a
-// raw/ file while UpdateNote runs: the read and the write each refuse a
-// symlink, so the raw/ file is never rewritten.
-func TestUpdateNoteNeverRewritesASymlinkSwappedInForTheNote(t *testing.T) {
-	brain := t.TempDir()
-	facts := filepath.Join(brain, "wiki", "w", "facts")
-	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(facts, 0o755))
-	victim := filepath.Join(brain, "raw", "victim.md")
-	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(victim), 0o755))
-	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(victim, []byte("untouched\n"), 0o644))
-	note := filepath.Join(facts, "n.md")
-	body := "---\ntitle: n\n---\nold\n"
-	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(note, []byte(body), 0o644))
-
-	var stop atomic.Bool
-	var wg sync.WaitGroup
-	wg.Add(1)
-	go func() {
-		defer wg.Done()
-		tmp := note + ".swap"
-		for i := 0; !stop.Load(); i++ {
-			_ = os.Remove(tmp)
-			if i%2 == 0 {
-				_ = os.WriteFile(tmp, []byte(body), 0o644)
-			} else {
-				_ = os.Symlink(filepath.Join("..", "..", "..", "raw", "victim.md"), tmp)
-			}
-			_ = os.Rename(tmp, note)
-		}
-	}()
-	ok := 0
-	for deadline := time.Now().Add(1500 * time.Millisecond); time.Now().Before(deadline); {
-		if _, _, _, err := api.UpdateNote(brain, api.UpdateNoteOptions{Path: "wiki/w/facts/n.md", Content: "new"}); err == nil {
-			ok++
-		}
-	}
-	stop.Store(true)
-	wg.Wait()
-	got, _ := os.ReadFile(victim)
-	assert.Equal(t, "untouched\n", string(got))
-	assert.Positive(t, ok, "positive control: some updates reach the regular note")
-}

ingestion/internal/brain/tunnel.go

@@ -4,12 +4,9 @@ import (
 	"bufio"
 	"fmt"
 	"os"
-	"path"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"strings"
 	"time"
-
-	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/brainfs"
 )
 
 // seeAlsoHeader is the markdown heading used to group cross-wing links.
@@ -200,12 +197,6 @@ func fileExists(p string) bool {
 // section headers. Rejects same-wing pairs (a tunnel is by definition
 // cross-wing) and missing notes.
 func WriteTunnel(brainDir, sourcePath, targetPath string) error {
-	if err := checkNotePath(sourcePath); err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("source: %w", err)
-	}
-	if err := checkNotePath(targetPath); err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("target: %w", err)
-	}
 	srcWing, err := wingOf(sourcePath)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("source: %w", err)
@@ -218,50 +209,20 @@ func WriteTunnel(brainDir, sourcePath, targetPath string) error {
 		return fmt.Errorf("tunnel must cross wings; got both in %q", srcWing)
 	}
 
-	// Both notes are read and rewritten through the brain root, regular
-	// files only: brain_tunnel passes caller-supplied paths, and the brain is
-	// a Syncthing folder that can hold symlinks.
-	bfs, err := brainfs.Open(brainDir)
-	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("open brain: %w", err)
-	}
-	defer func() { _ = bfs.Close() }()
-	srcContent, err := bfs.ReadRegular(sourcePath)
-	if err != nil {
+	srcFull := filepath.Join(brainDir, filepath.FromSlash(sourcePath))
+	tgtFull := filepath.Join(brainDir, filepath.FromSlash(targetPath))
+	if _, err := os.Stat(srcFull); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("source note: %w", err)
 	}
-	tgtContent, err := bfs.ReadRegular(targetPath)
-	if err != nil {
+	if _, err := os.Stat(tgtFull); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("target note: %w", err)
 	}
 
-	if out, changed, err := withSeeAlso(srcContent, wikilinkOf(targetPath)); err != nil {
+	if err := appendSeeAlso(srcFull, wikilinkOf(targetPath)); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("update source: %w", err)
-	} else if changed {
-		if err := bfs.WriteRegular(sourcePath, out); err != nil {
-			return fmt.Errorf("update source: %w", err)
-		}
 	}
-	if out, changed, err := withSeeAlso(tgtContent, wikilinkOf(sourcePath)); err != nil {
+	if err := appendSeeAlso(tgtFull, wikilinkOf(sourcePath)); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("update target: %w", err)
-	} else if changed {
-		if err := bfs.WriteRegular(targetPath, out); err != nil {
-			return fmt.Errorf("update target: %w", err)
-		}
-	}
-	return nil
-}
-
-// checkNotePath accepts only a clean, local wiki/<wing>/<hall>/.../<slug>.md
-// path: no "." or ".." segments, no empty segments, no leading slash.
-func checkNotePath(p string) error {
-	if p == "" || path.Clean(p) != p || !filepath.IsLocal(p) || !strings.HasSuffix(p, ".md") {
-		return fmt.Errorf("not a clean wiki note path: %q", p)
-	}
-	for _, part := range strings.Split(p, "/") {
-		if part == "" || part == "." || part == ".." {
-			return fmt.Errorf("not a clean wiki note path: %q", p)
-		}
 	}
 	return nil
 }
@@ -287,13 +248,16 @@ func wingOf(relPath string) (string, error) {
 	return parts[1], nil
 }
 
-// withSeeAlso returns content with `- [[link]]` under its See also section,
-// creating the section if absent. changed is false when the link is already
-// present.
-func withSeeAlso(content []byte, link string) (out []byte, changed bool, err error) {
+// appendSeeAlso inserts `- [[link]]` under the file's See also section,
+// creating the section if absent. No-op when the link is already present.
+func appendSeeAlso(filePath, link string) error {
+	content, err := os.ReadFile(filePath)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 	wikilink := "[[" + link + "]]"
 	if strings.Contains(string(content), wikilink) {
-		return content, false, nil
+		return nil
 	}
 
 	bullet := "- " + wikilink
@@ -302,7 +266,8 @@ func withSeeAlso(content []byte, link string) (out []byte, changed bool, err err
 		// No section yet — append a fresh one. Always emit a trailing
 		// newline so subsequent appends don't merge into the previous line.
 		trimmed := strings.TrimRight(string(content), "\n")
-		return []byte(trimmed + "\n\n" + seeAlsoHeader + "\n\n" + bullet + "\n"), true, nil
+		out := trimmed + "\n\n" + seeAlsoHeader + "\n\n" + bullet + "\n"
+		return os.WriteFile(filePath, []byte(out), 0o644)
 	}
 
 	// Section exists — splice the bullet in just before the next `## `
@@ -328,11 +293,12 @@ func withSeeAlso(content []byte, link string) (out []byte, changed bool, err err
 		b.WriteByte('\n')
 	}
 	if err := scanner.Err(); err != nil {
-		return nil, false, err
+		return err
 	}
 	if !inserted {
 		// section was the last thing in the file — just append bullet
-		return []byte(strings.TrimRight(b.String(), "\n") + "\n" + bullet + "\n"), true, nil
+		out := strings.TrimRight(b.String(), "\n") + "\n" + bullet + "\n"
+		return os.WriteFile(filePath, []byte(out), 0o644)
 	}
-	return []byte(b.String()), true, nil
+	return os.WriteFile(filePath, []byte(b.String()), 0o644)
 }

ingestion/internal/brain/tunnel_root_test.go

@@ -1,141 +0,0 @@
-package brain_test
-
-import (
-	"os"
-	"path/filepath"
-	"strings"
-	"sync"
-	"sync/atomic"
-	"testing"
-	"time"
-
-	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
-	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
-
-	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/brain"
-)
-
-// brain_tunnel passes caller-supplied source and target paths to WriteTunnel,
-// which checked only "wiki/<wing>/..." and then joined them onto the brain
-// dir: ".." segments resolved outside the brain and appendSeeAlso rewrote the
-// file there.
-func TestWriteTunnelRefusesATargetThatTraversesOutOfTheBrain(t *testing.T) {
-	brain0 := t.TempDir()
-	src := filepath.Join(brain0, "wiki", "a", "facts", "s.md")
-	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(src), 0o755))
-	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(src, []byte("---\ntitle: S\n---\nbody\n"), 0o644))
-	victim := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "victim.md")
-	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(victim, []byte("untouched\n"), 0o644))
-
-	up := strings.Repeat("../", strings.Count(filepath.Clean(brain0), "/")+3)
-	target := "wiki/b/x/" + up + strings.TrimPrefix(victim, "/")
-	err := brain.WriteTunnel(brain0, "wiki/a/facts/s.md", target)
-	assert.Error(t, err)
-	got, rerr := os.ReadFile(victim)
-	require.NoError(t, rerr)
-	assert.Equal(t, "untouched\n", string(got), "a file outside the brain was modified")
-}
-
-func TestWriteTunnelRefusesUncleanOrNonWikiPaths(t *testing.T) {
-	brain0 := t.TempDir()
-	for _, p := range []string{"wiki/a/facts/s.md", "wiki/b/facts/t.md", "wiki/b/facts/t.txt", "raw/r.md"} {
-		require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(filepath.Join(brain0, p)), 0o755))
-		require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(brain0, p), []byte("x\n"), 0o644))
-	}
-	for _, target := range []string{
-		"wiki/b/facts/../../../raw/r.md",
-		"wiki/b/./facts/t.md",
-		"wiki/b//facts/t.md",
-		"/wiki/b/facts/t.md",
-		"wiki/b/facts/t.txt",
-		"wiki/b/facts/",
-	} {
-		assert.Error(t, brain.WriteTunnel(brain0, "wiki/a/facts/s.md", target), target)
-	}
-	for _, p := range []string{"raw/r.md", "wiki/b/facts/t.txt"} {
-		got, err := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(brain0, p))
-		require.NoError(t, err)
-		assert.Equal(t, "x\n", string(got), p)
-	}
-	require.NoError(t, brain.WriteTunnel(brain0, "wiki/a/facts/s.md", "wiki/b/facts/t.md"), "positive control")
-	got, err := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(brain0, "wiki", "b", "facts", "t.md"))
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	assert.Contains(t, string(got), "[[a/facts/s]]")
-}
-
-func TestWriteTunnelDoesNotWriteThroughASymlinkedNote(t *testing.T) {
-	brain0 := t.TempDir()
-	src := filepath.Join(brain0, "wiki", "a", "facts", "s.md")
-	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(src), 0o755))
-	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(src, []byte("x\n"), 0o644))
-	tdir := filepath.Join(brain0, "wiki", "b", "facts")
-	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(tdir, 0o755))
-	victim := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "victim.md")
-	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(victim, []byte("untouched\n"), 0o644))
-	require.NoError(t, os.Symlink(victim, filepath.Join(tdir, "t.md")))
-	assert.Error(t, brain.WriteTunnel(brain0, "wiki/a/facts/s.md", "wiki/b/facts/t.md"))
-	got, err := os.ReadFile(victim)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	assert.Equal(t, "untouched\n", string(got))
-
-	// The same with a link to a file elsewhere in the brain, which os.Root
-	// would follow.
-	inVictim := filepath.Join(brain0, "raw", "v.md")
-	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(inVictim), 0o755))
-	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(inVictim, []byte("untouched\n"), 0o644))
-	require.NoError(t, os.Symlink(filepath.Join("..", "..", "..", "raw", "v.md"), filepath.Join(tdir, "u.md")))
-	assert.Error(t, brain.WriteTunnel(brain0, "wiki/a/facts/s.md", "wiki/b/facts/u.md"))
-	got, err = os.ReadFile(inVictim)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	assert.Equal(t, "untouched\n", string(got))
-	got, err = os.ReadFile(src)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	assert.Equal(t, "x\n", string(got), "the source is not touched when the target is refused")
-}
-
-// The target is swapped between a regular note and a symlink to an in-brain
-// file outside wiki/ while WriteTunnel runs: the read and the write each
-// refuse a symlink, so the other file is never rewritten.
-func TestWriteTunnelNeverRewritesASymlinkSwappedInForTheTarget(t *testing.T) {
-	brain0 := t.TempDir()
-	src := filepath.Join(brain0, "wiki", "a", "facts", "s.md")
-	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(src), 0o755))
-	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(src, []byte("x\n"), 0o644))
-	tdir := filepath.Join(brain0, "wiki", "b", "facts")
-	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(tdir, 0o755))
-	victim := filepath.Join(brain0, "raw", "victim.md")
-	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(victim), 0o755))
-	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(victim, []byte("untouched\n"), 0o644))
-	tgt := filepath.Join(tdir, "t.md")
-	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(tgt, []byte("t\n"), 0o644))
-
-	var stop atomic.Bool
-	var wg sync.WaitGroup
-	wg.Add(1)
-	go func() {
-		defer wg.Done()
-		tmp := tgt + ".swap"
-		for i := 0; !stop.Load(); i++ {
-			_ = os.Remove(tmp)
-			if i%2 == 0 {
-				_ = os.WriteFile(tmp, []byte("t\n"), 0o644)
-			} else {
-				_ = os.Symlink(filepath.Join("..", "..", "..", "raw", "victim.md"), tmp)
-			}
-			_ = os.Rename(tmp, tgt)
-		}
-	}()
-	ok := 0
-	for deadline := time.Now().Add(1500 * time.Millisecond); time.Now().Before(deadline); {
-		if brain.WriteTunnel(brain0, "wiki/a/facts/s.md", "wiki/b/facts/t.md") == nil {
-			ok++
-		}
-		_ = os.WriteFile(src, []byte("x\n"), 0o644)
-	}
-	stop.Store(true)
-	wg.Wait()
-	got, err := os.ReadFile(victim)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	assert.Equal(t, "untouched\n", string(got), "the swapped-in symlink's target was rewritten")
-	assert.Positive(t, ok, "positive control: some tunnels were written to the regular target")
-}

ingestion/internal/brainfs/brainfs.go

@@ -249,41 +249,3 @@ func (b *Brain) WalkRegular(relDir string, fn func(rel string) error, onErr func
 		return fn(p)
 	})
 }
-
-// WriteRegular replaces the contents of an existing regular file at a
-// brain-relative path. It never creates a file and never writes through a
-// final symlink: os.Root.OpenFile follows an in-root final symlink even with
-// O_NOFOLLOW (verified on go1.27), so the path is Lstat-ed through the root
-// first and the opened handle must be that same file (os.SameFile), which
-// also catches a swap between the two. O_NONBLOCK keeps a FIFO from blocking
-// the open. Intermediate in-brain symlinks are still followed (os.Root keeps
-// the write inside the brain; hyperguild#167).
-func (b *Brain) WriteRegular(rel string, data []byte) error {
-	rel = filepath.ToSlash(rel)
-	lfi, err := b.root.Lstat(rel)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	if !lfi.Mode().IsRegular() {
-		return fmt.Errorf("%s: %w", rel, ErrNotRegular)
-	}
-	f, err := b.root.OpenFile(rel, os.O_WRONLY|syscall.O_NOFOLLOW|syscall.O_NONBLOCK, 0)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	defer func() { _ = f.Close() }()
-	fi, err := f.Stat()
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	if !fi.Mode().IsRegular() || !os.SameFile(lfi, fi) {
-		return fmt.Errorf("%s: changed while opening: %w", rel, ErrNotRegular)
-	}
-	if err := f.Truncate(0); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	if _, err := f.Write(data); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	return f.Close()
-}

ingestion/internal/brainfs/brainfs_test.go

@@ -218,7 +218,7 @@ func TestReadDirRegularListsOnlyRegularFilesAndRefusesSymlinkedComponents(t *tes
 // A final component swapped for a symlink to another regular file in the
 // brain between the Lstat and the open: os.Root follows in-root links, so
 // only comparing the two (os.SameFile) refuses it.
-func TestReadRegularNeverReturnsAnInBrainFileSwappedInBehindASymlink(t *testing.T) {
+func TestReadRegularDoesNotReturnAnInBrainFileSwappedInBehindASymlink(t *testing.T) {
 	dir := t.TempDir()
 	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(dir, "s.md"), []byte("zqsamefilesentinel"), 0o644))
 	p := filepath.Join(dir, "r.md")
@@ -263,52 +263,6 @@ func TestReadRegularNeverReturnsAnInBrainFileSwappedInBehindASymlink(t *testing.
 	assert.Positive(t, ok, "positive control: the regular file is read")
 }
 
-func TestWriteRegularRefusesFinalSymlinksFIFOsEscapesAndMissingFilesAndRewritesRegularFiles(t *testing.T) {
-	dir := t.TempDir()
-	outside := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "o.md")
-	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(outside, []byte("untouched"), 0o644))
-	require.NoError(t, os.Symlink(outside, filepath.Join(dir, "l.md")))
-	require.NoError(t, syscall.Mkfifo(filepath.Join(dir, "f.md"), 0o644))
-	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(dir, "n.md"), []byte("old content"), 0o644))
-	b, err := Open(dir)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	defer func() { _ = b.Close() }()
-
-	assert.Error(t, b.WriteRegular("l.md", []byte("x")))
-	got, _ := os.ReadFile(outside)
-	assert.Equal(t, "untouched", string(got))
-
-	// A symlink to another file inside the brain: os.Root would allow it,
-	// only O_NOFOLLOW refuses it.
-	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(dir, "in.md"), []byte("inside"), 0o644))
-	require.NoError(t, os.Symlink("in.md", filepath.Join(dir, "il.md")))
-	assert.Error(t, b.WriteRegular("il.md", []byte("x")))
-	got, _ = os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(dir, "in.md"))
-	assert.Equal(t, "inside", string(got))
-
-	// A reader held open, so a non-blocking write open would succeed. The
-	// Lstat type check refuses the FIFO first; the handle check and
-	// O_NONBLOCK matter only if it is swapped in after the Lstat.
-	r, err := os.OpenFile(filepath.Join(dir, "f.md"), os.O_RDONLY|syscall.O_NONBLOCK, 0)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	defer func() { _ = r.Close() }()
-	done := make(chan error, 1)
-	go func() { done <- b.WriteRegular("f.md", []byte("x")) }()
-	select {
-	case err := <-done:
-		assert.Error(t, err)
-	case <-time.After(3 * time.Second):
-		t.Fatal("WriteRegular hung on a FIFO")
-	}
-
-	assert.Error(t, b.WriteRegular("../"+filepath.Base(filepath.Dir(outside))+"/o.md", []byte("x")))
-	assert.Error(t, b.WriteRegular("missing.md", []byte("x")), "does not create files")
-
-	require.NoError(t, b.WriteRegular("n.md", []byte("new")))
-	got, _ = os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(dir, "n.md"))
-	assert.Equal(t, "new", string(got), "truncated and rewritten")
-}
-
 func TestReadDirDirsListsOnlyRealSubdirsAndRefusesSymlinkedComponents(t *testing.T) {
 	dir := t.TempDir()
 	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(filepath.Join(dir, "a", "real"), 0o755))

ingestion/internal/brainfs/brainfstest/brainfstest.go

@@ -1,8 +1,10 @@
 // Package brainfstest is the shared harness for hyperguild#157's swap-race
-// tests: it keeps swapping a regular note, a symlink to an outside file, or a
-// FIFO (with a writer held open) into a path while a reader under test loops.
-// It observes two things: no sentinel byte from the outside file reaches the
-// reader's output, and the reader returns within a timeout. It does not cover
+// tests: it keeps swapping a regular note, a symlink to a sentinel target file
+// (outside the brain, or inside it for hyperguild#171), or a FIFO (with a
+// writer held open) into a path while a reader under test loops.
+// It observes two things, over a sampled window only: no sentinel byte from
+// the target reaches the reader's output, and the reader returns within a
+// timeout. It does not cover
 // hard links, other paths into the reader, or races it does not generate.
 package brainfstest
 
@@ -18,7 +20,7 @@ import (
 	"time"
 )
 
-// Sentinel marks the outside file's contents.
+// Sentinel marks the target file's contents.
 const Sentinel = "zqbrainfssentinelonefiftyseven"
 
 // outsideContent carries Sentinel in every field a reader might extract: the
@@ -141,7 +143,7 @@ func AssertNoLeakFrom(t testing.TB, path, inside, target string, d time.Duration
 		}
 	}
 	if leaks > 0 {
-		t.Fatalf("outside file leaked %d times in %d iterations", leaks, iters)
+		t.Fatalf("symlink target %s leaked %d times in %d iterations", target, leaks, iters)
 	}
 	if n := swaps.Load(); n == 0 {
 		t.Fatalf("no symlink was swapped into %s in %d iterations: the race did not run", path, iters)

ingestion/internal/mcp/readexcerpt_root_test.go

@@ -21,6 +21,11 @@ func TestReadExcerptRefusesSymlinksAndSurvivesSwapRaces(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(facts, 0o755))
 	require.NoError(t, os.Symlink(brainfstest.Outside(t), filepath.Join(facts, "leak.md")))
 	assert.NotContains(t, readExcerpt(brain, "wiki/w/facts/leak.md", 500), brainfstest.Sentinel)
+	// A link to a file elsewhere in the brain: os.Root allows it, only the
+	// regular-file check refuses it (hyperguild#171).
+	inBrain := brainfstest.WriteSentinelAt(t, filepath.Join(brain, "raw", "s.md"))
+	require.NoError(t, os.Symlink(filepath.Join("..", "..", "..", "raw", "s.md"), filepath.Join(facts, "inlink.md")))
+	assert.NotContains(t, readExcerpt(brain, "wiki/w/facts/inlink.md", 500), brainfstest.Sentinel)
 
 	p := filepath.Join(facts, "r.md")
 	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(p, []byte("---\nx: y\n---\ninside"), 0o644))
@@ -28,6 +33,9 @@ func TestReadExcerptRefusesSymlinksAndSurvivesSwapRaces(t *testing.T) {
 	brainfstest.AssertNoLeak(t, p, "---\nx: y\n---\ninside", 1500*time.Millisecond, func() string {
 		return readExcerpt(brain, "wiki/w/facts/r.md", 500)
 	})
+	brainfstest.AssertNoLeakFrom(t, p, "---\nx: y\n---\ninside", inBrain, 1500*time.Millisecond, func() string {
+		return readExcerpt(brain, "wiki/w/facts/r.md", 500)
+	})
 	brainfstest.AssertNoHang(t, p, "---\nx: y\n---\ninside", 1500*time.Millisecond, 6*time.Second, func() {
 		_ = readExcerpt(brain, "wiki/w/facts/r.md", 500)
 	})

ingestion/internal/notes/read_root_test.go

@@ -38,3 +38,31 @@ func TestReadScopedRefusesANoteOverMaxNoteBytes(t *testing.T) {
 	_, err := ReadScoped(brain, "wiki/w/facts/big.md", ScopeNotes)
 	assert.ErrorIs(t, err, ErrTooLarge)
 }
+
+// hyperguild#171 (review of #172, finding 1): os.Root alone refuses links that
+// leave the brain, so the outside-target race above stays green for a reader
+// that skips brainfs's Lstat and SameFile checks. An in-brain target (raw/,
+// outside ScopeNotes) is what tells them apart.
+func TestReadScopedDoesNotReturnAnInBrainSymlinkTargetStaticallyOrDuringASampledSwapRace(t *testing.T) {
+	brain := t.TempDir()
+	facts := filepath.Join(brain, "wiki", "w", "facts")
+	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(facts, 0o755))
+	target := brainfstest.WriteSentinelAt(t, filepath.Join(brain, "raw", "s.md"))
+
+	require.NoError(t, os.Symlink(filepath.Join("..", "..", "..", "raw", "s.md"), filepath.Join(facts, "inlink.md")))
+	b, err := ReadScoped(brain, "wiki/w/facts/inlink.md", ScopeNotes)
+	assert.Error(t, err, "static in-brain link")
+	assert.NotContains(t, string(b), brainfstest.Sentinel, "static in-brain link")
+
+	p := filepath.Join(facts, "r.md")
+	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(p, []byte("inside"), 0o644))
+	b, err = ReadScoped(brain, "wiki/w/facts/r.md", ScopeNotes)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, "inside", string(b), "positive control: a regular note reads")
+
+	read := func() string {
+		b, _ := ReadScoped(brain, "wiki/w/facts/r.md", ScopeNotes)
+		return string(b)
+	}
+	brainfstest.AssertNoLeakFrom(t, p, "inside", target, 1500*time.Millisecond, read)
+}

ingestion/internal/search/brainroot_test.go

@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+
+	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/brainfs/brainfstest"
 )
 
 // hyperguild#157 option 1: search walked and read the brain by path, so a
@@ -189,3 +191,49 @@ func TestHydrateRefusesASymlink(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Error(t, err)
 	assert.NotContains(t, r.Excerpt, sentinel157)
 }
+
+// hyperguild#171: os.Root refuses links that leave the brain on its own, so
+// the outside-target cases above would stay green for a caller that read
+// without brainfs's Lstat and SameFile checks. These targets are inside the
+// brain (raw/, which is not a search root).
+func inBrainTarget(t *testing.T, brain string) string {
+	t.Helper()
+	return brainfstest.WriteSentinelAt(t, filepath.Join(brain, "raw", "s.md"))
+}
+
+func TestQueryDoesNotReturnAnInBrainSymlinkTargetDuringASampledSwapRace(t *testing.T) {
+	brain, facts, _ := searchBrain(t)
+	target := inBrainTarget(t, brain)
+	read := func() string {
+		// Both terms, so the regular note is a possible hit: a reader that
+		// never returns the inside note would pass vacuously (#177 floor).
+		rs, _ := Query(brain, QueryOptions{Query: brainfstest.Sentinel + " zqinside", Limit: 10})
+		s := ""
+		for _, r := range rs {
+			s += r.Title + r.Excerpt
+		}
+		return s
+	}
+	brainfstest.AssertNoLeakFrom(t, filepath.Join(facts, "r.md"), "# r\n\nzqinside", target, 1500*time.Millisecond, read)
+	require.NoError(t, os.Symlink(filepath.Join("..", "..", "..", "raw", "s.md"), filepath.Join(facts, "inlink.md")))
+	assert.NotContains(t, read(), brainfstest.Sentinel, "static in-brain link")
+}
+
+func TestHydrateRefusesAnInBrainSymlinkAndDoesNotReturnItsTargetDuringASampledSwapRace(t *testing.T) {
+	brain, facts, _ := searchBrain(t)
+	target := inBrainTarget(t, brain)
+	require.NoError(t, os.Symlink(filepath.Join("..", "..", "..", "raw", "s.md"), filepath.Join(facts, "inlink.md")))
+	r, err := hydrate(brain, "wiki/w/facts/inlink.md")
+	assert.Error(t, err)
+	assert.NotContains(t, r.Excerpt+r.Title, brainfstest.Sentinel)
+
+	p := filepath.Join(facts, "r.md")
+	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(p, []byte("# r\n\nzqinside"), 0o644))
+	r, err = hydrate(brain, "wiki/w/facts/r.md")
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Contains(t, r.Excerpt, "zqinside", "positive control: a regular note hydrates")
+	brainfstest.AssertNoLeakFrom(t, p, "# r\n\nzqinside", target, 1500*time.Millisecond, func() string {
+		r, _ := hydrate(brain, "wiki/w/facts/r.md")
+		return r.Title + r.Excerpt
+	})
+}

ingestion/internal/session/id_test.go

@@ -1,92 +0,0 @@
-package session
-
-import (
-	"errors"
-	"os"
-	"path/filepath"
-	"syscall"
-	"testing"
-	"time"
-
-	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
-	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
-)
-
-// session_log passed the caller's session_id straight into
-// filepath.Join(sessionsDir, id+".jsonl") and opened it O_CREATE|O_APPEND:
-// path segments in the id created or appended files anywhere the pod could
-// write. The id is now a plain name, and the open does not follow a final
-// symlink.
-func TestAppendRefusesSessionIDsThatAreNotPlainNames(t *testing.T) {
-	root := t.TempDir()
-	dir := filepath.Join(root, "sessions")
-	for _, id := range []string{"../x", "a/b", "/abs", ".", "..", ".hidden", "", "a\\b", "a\x00b"} {
-		assert.Error(t, Append(dir, id, Entry{SessionID: id}), "%q", id)
-	}
-	ents, _ := os.ReadDir(root)
-	for _, e := range ents {
-		assert.Equal(t, "sessions", e.Name(), "nothing created beside the sessions dir")
-	}
-	for _, id := range []string{"1557b2e1-bf0d-5c4f-bbe3-0754d087e356", "_routing", "2026-05-05-infra.plan", "0"} {
-		require.NoError(t, Append(dir, id, Entry{SessionID: id}), "positive control: %q", id)
-	}
-}
-
-func TestAppendDoesNotWriteThroughASymlinkedLog(t *testing.T) {
-	root := t.TempDir()
-	dir := filepath.Join(root, "sessions")
-	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(dir, 0o755))
-	victim := filepath.Join(root, "victim.md")
-	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(victim, []byte("untouched\n"), 0o644))
-	require.NoError(t, os.Symlink(filepath.Join("..", "victim.md"), filepath.Join(dir, "s.jsonl")))
-	assert.Error(t, Append(dir, "s", Entry{SessionID: "s"}))
-	got, _ := os.ReadFile(victim)
-	assert.Equal(t, "untouched\n", string(got))
-}
-
-func TestReadRefusesSessionIDsThatAreNotPlainNames(t *testing.T) {
-	root := t.TempDir()
-	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(root, "x.jsonl"), []byte(`{"session_id":"x"}`+"\n"), 0o644))
-	_, err := Read(filepath.Join(root, "sessions"), "../x")
-	assert.Error(t, err)
-}
-
-// A name that starts plainly and then climbs out with ".." is exactly what the
-// ban on "/" in the id's tail stops: filepath.Join cleans "a/../../x" to a
-// path beside the sessions dir without needing sessions/a to exist. The
-// assertion is on the refusal itself (ErrInvalidID), not on any error.
-func TestAppendRefusesAnIDThatClimbsOutAfterAPlainPrefix(t *testing.T) {
-	root := t.TempDir()
-	dir := filepath.Join(root, "sessions")
-	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(dir, 0o755))
-	for _, id := range []string{"a/../../escape", "a/../../../escape", "a/../b"} {
-		err := Append(dir, id, Entry{SessionID: id})
-		assert.ErrorIs(t, err, ErrInvalidID, "%q", id)
-	}
-	_, err := os.Lstat(filepath.Join(root, "escape.jsonl"))
-	assert.True(t, errors.Is(err, os.ErrNotExist), "nothing created beside the sessions dir")
-	_, err = os.Lstat(filepath.Join(dir, "b.jsonl"))
-	assert.True(t, errors.Is(err, os.ErrNotExist), "no in-dir alias created either")
-}
-
-// Append does no Lstat type check, so O_NONBLOCK is the only thing that keeps
-// a FIFO named <id>.jsonl with no reader from blocking session_log forever.
-func TestAppendReturnsPromptlyOnAFIFOLogWithNoReader(t *testing.T) {
-	dir := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "sessions")
-	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(dir, 0o755))
-	fifo := filepath.Join(dir, "s.jsonl")
-	require.NoError(t, syscall.Mkfifo(fifo, 0o644))
-	done := make(chan error, 1)
-	go func() { done <- Append(dir, "s", Entry{SessionID: "s"}) }()
-	select {
-	case err := <-done:
-		assert.Error(t, err, "a FIFO with no reader is refused, not written")
-	case <-time.After(3 * time.Second):
-		// Unblock the stuck open so the goroutine and TempDir cleanup finish.
-		if r, err := os.OpenFile(fifo, os.O_RDONLY|syscall.O_NONBLOCK, 0); err == nil {
-			defer r.Close() //nolint:errcheck
-		}
-		<-done
-		t.Fatal("Append blocked on a FIFO log with no reader")
-	}
-}

ingestion/internal/session/session.go

@@ -9,8 +9,6 @@ import (
 	"io/fs"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
-	"regexp"
-	"syscall"
 	"time"
 )
 
@@ -44,32 +42,13 @@ type Attempt struct {
 	RunnerOutput  string `json:"runner_output,omitempty"`
 }
 
-// idPattern is a plain file name: session_log takes the id from the caller,
-// and a path segment in it created or appended files anywhere the pod could
-// write (hyperguild#169).
-var idPattern = regexp.MustCompile(`^[A-Za-z0-9_][A-Za-z0-9._-]{0,127}$`)
-
-// ErrInvalidID is returned when a session id is not a plain file name.
-var ErrInvalidID = errors.New("session id is not a plain name")
-
-func checkID(sessionID string) error {
-	if !idPattern.MatchString(sessionID) {
-		return fmt.Errorf("%w: %q", ErrInvalidID, sessionID)
-	}
-	return nil
-}
-
 // Append writes entry as a single JSON line to sessionsDir/{sessionID}.jsonl.
-// The open does not follow a final symlink.
 func Append(sessionsDir, sessionID string, entry Entry) error {
-	if err := checkID(sessionID); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
 	if err := os.MkdirAll(sessionsDir, 0o755); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("create sessions dir: %w", err)
 	}
 	path := filepath.Join(sessionsDir, sessionID+".jsonl")
-	f, err := os.OpenFile(path, os.O_CREATE|os.O_APPEND|os.O_WRONLY|syscall.O_NOFOLLOW|syscall.O_NONBLOCK, 0o644)
+	f, err := os.OpenFile(path, os.O_CREATE|os.O_APPEND|os.O_WRONLY, 0o644)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("open session log: %w", err)
 	}
@@ -91,9 +70,6 @@ func Append(sessionsDir, sessionID string, entry Entry) error {
 
 // Read returns all entries for sessionID. Returns empty slice if no log exists.
 func Read(sessionsDir, sessionID string) ([]Entry, error) {
-	if err := checkID(sessionID); err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
 	path := filepath.Join(sessionsDir, sessionID+".jsonl")
 	f, err := os.Open(path)
 	if errors.Is(err, fs.ErrNotExist) {

ingestion/internal/vectorstore/sync_root_test.go

@@ -42,6 +42,11 @@ func TestSyncRefusesSymlinkedNotesAndSurvivesSwapRaces(t *testing.T) {
 	brain := t.TempDir()
 	writeNote(t, brain, "wiki/w/facts/ok.md", "inside note")
 	require.NoError(t, os.Symlink(brainfstest.Outside(t), filepath.Join(brain, "wiki", "w", "facts", "leak.md")))
+	// A link to a file elsewhere in the brain: os.Root allows it, only the
+	// regular-file checks refuse it (hyperguild#171). raw/ is not a scan root,
+	// so its sentinel can only arrive through the link.
+	inBrain := brainfstest.WriteSentinelAt(t, filepath.Join(brain, "raw", "s.md"))
+	require.NoError(t, os.Symlink(filepath.Join("..", "..", "..", "raw", "s.md"), filepath.Join(brain, "wiki", "w", "facts", "inlink.md")))
 
 	emb := &recordingEmbedder{}
 	store := &stubStore{}
@@ -51,6 +56,7 @@ func TestSyncRefusesSymlinkedNotesAndSurvivesSwapRaces(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.NotContains(t, emb.all(), brainfstest.Sentinel)
 	for p := range store.upserts {
 		assert.NotContains(t, p, "leak.md")
+		assert.NotContains(t, p, "inlink.md")
 	}
 
 	p := filepath.Join(brain, "knowledge", "r.md")
@@ -61,6 +67,7 @@ func TestSyncRefusesSymlinkedNotesAndSurvivesSwapRaces(t *testing.T) {
 		return e.all()
 	}
 	brainfstest.AssertNoLeak(t, p, "inside", 1500*time.Millisecond, sync)
+	brainfstest.AssertNoLeakFrom(t, p, "inside", inBrain, 1500*time.Millisecond, sync)
 	brainfstest.AssertNoHang(t, p, "inside", 1500*time.Millisecond, 6*time.Second, func() { _ = sync() })
 }