test(ingestion): /mcp's JWT validator and resource_metadata; narrow comments

PR #183 review (comment 15474):
- TestBuildMuxAnswers503ToAJWTOnMCPWhileTheIssuerIsUnresolved: building
  /mcp's middleware with a nil validator turns it red.
- TestBuildMuxMCP401CarriesResourceMetadataInWWWAuthenticate: building it
  with resourceMetadataURL "" turns it red.
- main.go, routes.go and the testMux comment now say exactly what is
  untested: main's restAuth fields and public map passed to buildMux, and
  ListenAndServe (hyperguild#182). Stale public-route list in the
  TestBuildMuxDoesNotWrapPublicRoutes comment corrected.

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

.context/PROJECT.md

@@ -64,7 +64,11 @@ the routing pod; brain tools moved to the brain MCP.
 
 The brain HTTP REST API (`/query`, `/write`, `/ingest`, `/ingest-raw`,
 `/ingest-path`, `/backfill-refs`, `/pass-rate`) remains available on port 3300
-for shell scripts and non-MCP clients.
+for shell scripts and non-MCP clients, **with the same bearer token as `/mcp`**
+(`BRAIN_MCP_TOKEN`; hyperguild#149). It is not served on the public host
+(infra#517): use the tailnet (`koala:8443`) or in-cluster
+`ingestion.supervisor.svc:3300`. `/ingest-path` and `brain_ingest` `path`
+accept only paths inside `brain/raw/`.
 
 `brain_answer(query)` performs BM25 retrieval + LLM synthesis (berget.ai
 gemma4:31b → iguana fallback). `brain_classify(text)` infers doc type, title,

.context/mcp.json

@@ -7,6 +7,29 @@
     "supervisor": {
       "url": "http://localhost:3200/mcp",
       "description": "Hyperguild SDO — skill workers (tdd, retrospective), brain tools (brain_query, brain_write), session logging, tier detection"
+    },
+    "brain": {
+      "type": "http",
+      "url": "https://koala.tail30472e.ts.net:8443/mcp",
+      "headers": {
+        "Authorization": "Bearer ${BRAIN_MCP_TOKEN}"
+      }
+    },
+    "gitea": {
+      "_comment": "gitea-mcp authenticates by PASS-THROUGH: the bearer is a Gitea PAT it validates against Gitea and then acts as. GITEA_MCP_TOKEN -- which this entry used until 2026-09-08 -- 401s against it, so every harness synced from this file had a dead gitea server and no signal saying so. Probed 2026-09-08: GITEA_MCP_TOKEN 401, DMABE_GITEA_API_TOKEN 200, on both the public and the Serve URL.",
+      "type": "http",
+      "url": "https://koala.tail30472e.ts.net:8446/mcp",
+      "headers": {
+        "Authorization": "Bearer ${DMABE_GITEA_API_TOKEN}"
+      }
+    },
+    "infra": {
+      "_comment": "The bearer is belt-and-braces: this endpoint answers 200 with or without it, since Serve already limits reach to the tailnet. Sending it anyway means the day the server starts enforcing is not the day every harness breaks.",
+      "type": "http",
+      "url": "https://koala.tail30472e.ts.net:8444/mcp",
+      "headers": {
+        "Authorization": "Bearer ${INFRA_MCP_TOKEN}"
+      }
     }
   }
 }

.context/system-prompt.txt

@@ -53,14 +53,51 @@ These rules apply to every task across every project, regardless of harness.
    logical change (one tool, one fix, one test) with passing tests. Main is always
    deployable. Never create long-lived feature branches.
 
-   **Exception — parallel agents on same repo:** If another agent is known to be
+   **The PR trigger is RISK, not concurrency.** `risk/low` work commits straight to
-   actively working on the same repo simultaneously, create a short-lived branch
+   main with CI as the gate — that is most work and is unchanged. `risk/medium` and
-   (`agent/<description>`), finish the task, and merge to main within the same
+   above opens a PR, even solo, even with nobody waiting to review it. This mirrors
-   session. Do not leave agent branches open between sessions.
+   the tiered merge model in `assessor-loop`
+   `method/transfer-to-a-regulated-organisation.md` §4.1, so the estate practises
+   what it sells instead of merging everything on green and claiming otherwise.
 
-   **Exception — external contributor or client four-eyes requirement:** Use
+   **Concurrency is NOT a reason to branch.** Measured 2026-08-29 across three real
-   PR flow only when a human reviewer outside the project is required. Document
+   collisions between parallel sessions: two were not branching problems at all — a
-   the reason in PROJECT.md.
+   generated artifact written to the same path by both (branching turns that into a
+   merge conflict on a 33k-line JSON), and uncommitted work in a shared checkout
+   (a per-session worktree fixes it) — and the third was an ordinary non-fast-forward
+   push resolved by rebase in seconds. Use a worktree per session on shared repos and
+   timestamp generated artifacts. Do not reach for a branch.
+
+   Branch+PR flow carries documented costs on solo repos: merging auto-closes gated
+   issues, review comments live on a thread separate from the issue's, and a
+   merged-and-deleted branch cannot be amended (brain:
+   `gitea-pr-merge-autoclose-and-review-comment-footguns`). Those are the price of
+   the `risk/medium`+ lane — paid deliberately, not incurred by accident.
+
+   **Exception — external contributor or client four-eyes requirement:** Use PR flow
+   when a human reviewer outside the project is required. Document the reason in
+   PROJECT.md.
+
+   **Exception — a GitOps repo where a branch cannot be reconciled.** In a repo whose
+   deployment watches one branch (`mathias/infra`: Flux watches `main`), a branch is
+   invisible to the thing that applies it. A `risk/medium` change to `alerts.yaml` or
+   `litellm-config.yaml` can be linted on a branch but never *exercised* there, so a
+   PR would buy a review of a state that was never deployed.
+
+   There, `risk/medium`+ work stays on `main` and instead requires a **recorded
+   adversarial review pass before the push** — `skills:pr-gatekeeper` or equivalent,
+   reviewing the staged diff. **The reviewer's verdict goes in the issue, not a PR
+   thread.** No verdict recorded means the lane was not used, and saying "the gate was
+   green" is not the same claim.
+
+   Be honest about what this is: a recorded *independent* pass, not four-eyes in the
+   sense `assessor-loop` §4.1 means for a regulated organisation, because the reviewer
+   is an agent. It is more than the repo had and less than the model it mirrors; do not
+   describe it as the stronger property. (infra#470, decided 2026-09-29.)
+
+   This lane depends on the `risk/` label being right. A label that triggers a heavier
+   lane is load-bearing, not cosmetic — if work that belongs in it is unlabelled, the
+   lane silently does not apply.
 
 6. **Close the loop — every substantive task ends with the same ritual.** Shipping
    the code is not the end of the task; capturing it is. Run this unprompted:
@@ -78,6 +115,63 @@ These rules apply to every task across every project, regardless of harness.
    - Surface the brain entries and issue numbers in the closing summary so the
      trail is auditable.
 
+   **Chat is not a durable store. Never rely on Mathias remembering anything.**
+   Every gap, caveat, risk, open question and next step must land in one of four
+   places before the turn ends: **the brain**, **a repo** (code, docs, ADR),
+   **a tracker issue**, or **a plan file**. A finding stated only in conversation is
+   lost the moment the session closes — and this estate has repeatedly proved that a
+   remembered convention is an unreliable control.
+
+   This applies hardest to what is tempting to leave as a closing remark: "worth
+   knowing X isn't enforced yet", "this is a convention, not a gate", "we should
+   revisit Y". Those are exactly the items that need a locator. If it is worth
+   saying in a summary, it is worth writing where it can be found again without you.
+
+7. **Finish what's closable — only involve me for a genuine call.** If a
+   tracker issue, PR, or checklist item is demonstrably resolved — the fix
+   landed, the state changed, you verified it live — close/merge/check it off
+   in the same turn. Don't leave it open "for the record" or park it waiting
+   on me to confirm something that already happened; that's bookkeeping, not
+   a decision. Reserve asking me (`AskUserQuestion`, a `DECISION NEEDED`
+   comment, or otherwise pausing) for when it's genuinely mine to call:
+   irreversible or prod/host-impacting actions, a real judgment call with no
+   clearly-better option, ambiguous intent, or anything secret-writes/
+   destructive-git already gate. Before claiming something is closable,
+   verify it live (re-check the issue, re-run the command) rather than
+   trusting your own earlier summary (brain: `filed-issue-not-same-as-fixed`).
+
+8. **Control code needs an adversary, not a checklist.** Code whose job is to
+   refuse, deny, gate or contain is not adequately verified by a green gate.
+   Rule 5 makes CI the quality gate and that holds for ordinary work — but a
+   passing suite only asserts what its author already thought of, and for a
+   control the author is precisely the person whose imagination just failed.
+   Measured on `dispatch#75`: five review rounds, five real escapes verified by
+   execution, and **CI was green on every one of them** while `git rm
+   ././.dispatch-allow` deleted the file the control existed to protect. So
+   route this work through a review with authority to block, instructed to
+   verify by execution rather than by reading the implementation. Expect to be
+   blocked more than once; that is the control working, not the reviewer being
+   difficult. (brain: `a-green-gate-is-not-evidence-for-control-code`; the
+   practices live in the `pr-gatekeeper` agent.)
+
+9. **A test's name must not claim more than its assertions prove.** Name a test
+   after the mechanism it observes, not the goal it serves.
+   `DoesNotInheritEnv` is honest; `IsContained` is a claim the test cannot
+   support. This is not pedantry about naming — when name and assertion
+   diverge, the name wins in the reader's head and the gap becomes invisible,
+   which is what lets the defect survive review. Found three times in one PR,
+   twice in tests written to fix the previous instance of it; each passed while
+   the thing it was named for was exploitable. If you cannot name the mechanism,
+   you do not yet know what the test observes.
+
+## CAD sprint patterns
+
+Two CAD sprint archetypes (defs: brain `wiki/homelab/decisions/continuous-agentic-development-cad-concept-2026-06-16`):
+- **Inception Sprint** — birth a new repo. Oath-gated close; tag only once every clause holds. Brain: `.../inception-sprint-and-oath`.
+- **Sweep Sprint** — clear an existing backlog. Parallel read-only research per issue → sequential one-issue-per-commit execution. Brain: `.../sweep-sprint-and-oath`.
+
+Shared: decisions that are yours, not the agent's, surface as `DECISION NEEDED` (question/options/recommendation/blocks) — ask live if you're present, else comment and wait, never act past it. Live-breaking regressions get `git revert`, never forward-fixed; host-network work skips even read-only research (solo, synchronous, you present). Rule 6's closing ritual only fires once every Oath clause genuinely holds — blocked = descoped-and-tracked, never marked done.
+
 ## Default stack
 
 | Layer | Default | Fallback | Last resort |
@@ -140,10 +234,10 @@ Three machines on Tailscale:
 |---------|------|-----------|
 | koala | GPU inference, heavy compute | RTX 5070, runs k3s + llama-swap + shared postgres18/pgvector |
 | iguana | Services, builds | M2 Ultra Mac |
-| flamingo | Daily driver, edge | Mac mini, ~/dev is here |
+| flamingo | Daily driver, edge | Apple Silicon Mac, ~/dev is here |
 
 - **Model routing**: LiteLLM in front of llama-swap (local) + cloud APIs (when permitted)
-- **Orchestration**: k3s cluster across all three machines
+- **Orchestration**: k3s on koala only — single control-plane node, no workers (verified 2026-08-30). iguana and flamingo are on the tailnet but are not cluster members
 - **Networking**: Tailscale mesh
 
 ## Project landscape
@@ -210,10 +304,16 @@ entries that age well are about *why*, *how to avoid*, and *what to do when*.
 |---------|-------|-------|
 | **Claude Code, Claude Desktop** | `brain_query` (BM25), `brain_answer` (LLM-synth + sources) MCP tools | `brain_write` MCP tool |
 | **Crush, Pi, Antigravity, other MCP-capable** | same MCP server: `ingestion-brain` (via the `mcp__*_brain__*` namespace once authenticated) | same |
-| **Anything HTTP-only (curl, scripts)** | `POST https://brain-mcp.d-ma.be/query` with `{"query":"..."}` (auth via `BRAIN_MCP_TOKEN`) | `POST .../write` with `{"content":"...","filename":"..."}` |
+| **Anything HTTP-only (curl, scripts)** | Tailnet only: `POST https://koala.tail30472e.ts.net:8443/query` with `{"query":"..."}`, sending `BRAIN_MCP_TOKEN` (not yet enforced on REST, hyperguild#149). The public `brain-mcp.d-ma.be` serves `/mcp` only (infra#517). | `POST .../write` with `{"content":"...","wing":"...","hall":"..."}` |
 | **Browser / human inspection** | `https://git.d-ma.be/mathias/hyperguild` → `knowledge/` and `wiki/` markdown files |
 
-- **Scoping**: defaults to `public` collection; client projects filter to `{client}` + `public`.
+- **Scoping — the brain holds no confidential client content.** Nothing on the read path
+  filters by client: every token holder can read every wing, and `wing` on `brain_query`
+  is an optional argument, not an access control. Client confidentiality is enforced only
+  at write time (`capture`'s I1 gate refuses internal/confidential). So never `brain_write`
+  client material; generalise it first or keep it in the client's own repo. (hyperguild#144,
+  decided 2026-10-01. This line previously claimed client projects were filtered; they
+  were not.)
 - **Routing**: brain_answer's LLM uses berget.ai as primary, iguana ollama as
   fallback. Both are configurable in the `supervisor/ingestion-deployment.yaml`
   on the koala k3s cluster; don't hardcode local-only model names into the
@@ -239,10 +339,11 @@ When working on a project tagged with a client name:
 
 ## Harness-agnostic principles
 
-This context is designed to work with any AI coding tool:
+Supported harnesses (2026-09-01) — Cursor and Aider were dropped; do not
-- Claude Code, Cursor, Aider, Open WebUI, Charmbracelet Mods/Crush
+re-add adapters for them:
-- Pi Coding Agent, Mistral Vibe, Antigravity
+- Claude Code, Antigravity, OpenCode, Mistral Vibe, Crush, Pi Coding Agent
-- Any tool that accepts a system prompt or reads a markdown context file
+- Open WebUI, Charmbracelet Mods, or any tool that takes a system prompt string
+- Any other tool that reads `AGENTS.md`, which is the de facto convention
 
 The canonical source is always `.context/AGENT.md` (root) and `.context/PROJECT.md` (per-project).
 Derived files are committed (see *How context propagates* below) so a `git pull` on any host yields full agent context with no setup.
@@ -254,26 +355,65 @@ Canonical sources of truth:
 - Project: `<repo>/.context/PROJECT.md` (per-repo)
 
 Derived files (committed, regenerated by `task context:sync`):
-- `CLAUDE.md`, `AGENTS.md`, `.cursorrules`, `.aider.conventions.md`,
+- `CLAUDE.md`, `AGENTS.md`, `.context/system-prompt.txt`
-  `.context/system-prompt.txt`
+
+Repos still carrying `.cursorrules`, `.aider.conventions.md` or
+`.aider.conf.yml` are stale: nothing regenerates them. Delete them the next time
+you touch the repo, along with their entries in that repo's `task check`
+assertion.
 
 Workflow:
 1. Edit a canonical file. Run `task context:sync`. Commit canonical and
    derived together. Push.
-2. On any other host, `git pull` brings both. Claude Code (tree-walking)
+2. On any other host, `git pull` brings both. Which file a harness reads does
-   uses `CLAUDE.md`; Crush / Pi / Antigravity (cwd-only) use `AGENTS.md`;
+   NOT split cleanly by lookup strategy, so do not reason from the strategy:
-   Cursor uses `.cursorrules`; Aider uses `.aider.conventions.md`.
+   - `CLAUDE.md` — Claude Code (walks up the tree)
+   - `AGENTS.md` — Crush, Pi, Antigravity (cwd-only), OpenCode (project root,
+     global at `~/.config/opencode/AGENTS.md`), and Mistral Vibe, which **walks
+     up** from cwd and takes the first `AGENTS.md` it finds
+     (user-level `~/.vibe/AGENTS.md`)
+   - `.context/system-prompt.txt` — Open WebUI, Mods, raw API calls; not read by
+     any harness, it is for pasting
+
+   Vibe tree-walks for `AGENTS.md`, so "tree-walkers use CLAUDE.md" is false.
+   Each repo's `AGENTS.md` embeds the canonical and is the first one found from
+   inside that repo, so this works — but by construction, not by luck.
 3. `task check` runs `context:sync` then asserts `git status --porcelain`
    is empty over the derived files (catches both modified-tracked drift
    and missing-untracked adapters). A drift fails the check with a
    message telling you to stage the regenerated files.
 
-Behavior rules in this file and per-project rules in `PROJECT.md` apply
+Behavior rules in this file and per-project rules in `PROJECT.md` apply on every
-unconditionally on every host, every harness.
+host and every harness.
+
+**Where a project rule contradicts a rule here, the project rule governs — and it
+must state its reason.** Both halves matter: the project file wins because it knows
+something this file cannot (infra's Flux constraint is real and not visible from
+here), and it must say why because a bare override is indistinguishable from drift.
+
+This replaces the previous wording, which said rules here and in `PROJECT.md` both
+apply *"unconditionally"*. That was not a tiebreak but a contradiction, and it went
+unnoticed until rule 5 and infra's "never create feature branches" had to be obeyed
+at the same time (infra#470). A standard can hold two individually sensible clauses
+that are jointly unsatisfiable, and survive for as long as everyone reads it
+charitably — the same failure the Inception Sprint Oath's G6 had.
 
 ## Engineering Skills
 
-Shared engineering skills live in the **`mathias/skills`** repo (`git.d-ma.be/mathias/skills`). Clone it to `~/dev/skills/` and run `SKILLS_CHECKOUT_DIR="$PWD" bash install.sh` there to wire every skill into your harnesses (Claude Code, Crush, Antigravity, Mistral Vibe) as native, on-demand skills. (Use `install.sh`, not `task install` — the latter is currently broken, skills#7.) Load at task start — not "on demand" but on schedule, before writing code. Browse `~/dev/skills/SKILLS_INDEX.md` for the full list.
+Shared engineering skills live in the **`mathias/skills`** repo (`git.d-ma.be/mathias/skills`). Load at task start — not "on demand" but on schedule, before writing code. Browse `SKILLS_INDEX.md` for the full list.
+
+**Claude Code** installs the repo as a plugin from the marketplace the same repo hosts. That path also carries the `secret-guard` and `pre-task-ritual` hooks and the brain/gitea/infra MCP servers, which symlinks cannot:
+
+```
+/plugin marketplace add https://git.d-ma.be/mathias/skills.git
+/plugin install skills@mathias
+```
+
+Skills are **namespaced** under Claude Code: load `tdd` as `skills:tdd`. The trigger table below uses bare names — prefix them.
+
+**Crush, Pi and OpenCode** have no plugin system and are wired by `install.sh` as one directory symlink per harness via `~/.agents/skills`. Do not clone the checkout into `~/dev`: that folder is iCloud-shared between the Macs and spans two path roots (`/Users/mathias` vs `/home/mathias` on koala), so a checkout there is a git working tree with two concurrent writers, and any absolute symlink stored in it is broken on one side by construction (skills#23). Leave `SKILLS_CHECKOUT_DIR` at its host-local default.
+
+Check a host with `task doctor` in the skills repo; it also runs automatically at session start via the plugin.
 
 **Skill trigger table — load before starting, not after getting stuck:**
 
@@ -353,7 +493,11 @@ the routing pod; brain tools moved to the brain MCP.
 
 The brain HTTP REST API (`/query`, `/write`, `/ingest`, `/ingest-raw`,
 `/ingest-path`, `/backfill-refs`, `/pass-rate`) remains available on port 3300
-for shell scripts and non-MCP clients.
+for shell scripts and non-MCP clients, **with the same bearer token as `/mcp`**
+(`BRAIN_MCP_TOKEN`; hyperguild#149). It is not served on the public host
+(infra#517): use the tailnet (`koala:8443`) or in-cluster
+`ingestion.supervisor.svc:3300`. `/ingest-path` and `brain_ingest` `path`
+accept only paths inside `brain/raw/`.
 
 `brain_answer(query)` performs BM25 retrieval + LLM synthesis (berget.ai
 gemma4:31b → iguana fallback). `brain_classify(text)` infers doc type, title,

.dispatch-allow

@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+# Presence of this file marks this repo as opt-in for headless dispatch.
+# See dispatch#3.

.env.example

@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 # Supervisor MCP server
 SUPERVISOR_PORT=3200
 SUPERVISOR_CONFIG_DIR=./config/supervisor
-SUPERVISOR_MODELS_FILE=./config/models.yaml
 
 # LiteLLM gateway (iguana)
 LITELLM_BASE_URL=http://iguana:4000

.gitea/workflows/cd.yml

@@ -45,6 +45,12 @@ jobs:
           set -e
           trap 'rm -rf /tmp/infra-update; rm -f ~/.ssh/infra_deploy_key' EXIT
           IMAGE_TAG="${{ github.sha }}"
+          # infra#311: github.sha is never empty in practice, but the manifest
+          # patch below is the same shape that took Flux down estate-wide on
+          # 2026-08-25 -- an empty tag yields `image: <repo>:`, which is invalid
+          # YAML and fails the ENTIRE Kustomization, not just this app. The
+          # assert costs nothing and removes the class.
+          [ -n "${IMAGE_TAG:-}" ] || { echo "IMAGE_TAG is empty - refusing to patch"; exit 1; }
           mkdir -p ~/.ssh
           echo "${{ secrets.INFRA_DEPLOY_KEY }}" > ~/.ssh/infra_deploy_key
           chmod 600 ~/.ssh/infra_deploy_key
@@ -75,11 +81,19 @@ jobs:
           git config user.email "cd-bot@d-ma.be"
           git config user.name "CD Bot"
           git add "k3s/apps/supervisor/ingestion-deployment.yaml"
-          git commit -m "chore(deploy): ingestion → ${IMAGE_TAG}"
+          # Idempotent: `git commit` exits 1 on an empty index, so a run that
-          GIT_SSH_COMMAND="ssh -i ~/.ssh/infra_deploy_key -o IdentitiesOnly=yes" \
+          # finds the bump already applied failed the whole job and rang the
-            git push
+          # CI-red alarm for a deploy that was fine (hyperguild#118). Two
-
+          # sources of a no-op run: a manual re-run, and the tag-push CI run
-          echo "Infra repo updated: ingestion → ${IMAGE_TAG}"
+          # that used to shadow the branch-push one for the same sha.
+          if git diff --cached --quiet; then
+            echo "Infra already at ${IMAGE_TAG} — nothing to commit"
+          else
+            git commit -m "chore(deploy): ingestion → ${IMAGE_TAG}"
+            GIT_SSH_COMMAND="ssh -i ~/.ssh/infra_deploy_key -o IdentitiesOnly=yes" \
+              git push
+            echo "Infra repo updated: ingestion → ${IMAGE_TAG}"
+          fi
 
       - name: Trigger Flux reconcile (immediate)
         run: |

.gitea/workflows/ci.yml

@@ -2,8 +2,13 @@ name: CI
 
 "on":
   push:
+    # Branch only. A `v*` tag here points at a commit main already tested, so
+    # the tag push re-ran the whole gate and — because cd.yml keys off "CI
+    # succeeded" — triggered a SECOND full image build and deploy for the same
+    # sha. That second deploy then died on "nothing to commit" (hyperguild#118).
+    # Nothing consumes a tag-triggered run: there is no release workflow, and
+    # cd.yml reads github.sha, not the tag.
     branches: [main]
-    tags: ["v*"]
   pull_request:
     branches: [main]
 

.githooks/pre-commit

@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+# Pre-commit secret scan for the hyperguild repo.
+#
+# task check -> security:gitleaks enforces this in CI, but CI is after the
+# push. This catches a staged secret before it ever leaves the machine --
+# the infra#39 rotation pass found exactly this class of leak (a printed
+# credential, committed, archived into git) and there was no local gate to
+# have caught it. Mirrors infra's own .githooks/pre-commit (infra#326).
+#
+# Enable once per clone:   git config core.hooksPath .githooks
+# Bypass if absolutely needed: git commit --no-verify
+
+set -euo pipefail
+
+GITLEAKS="$(command -v gitleaks || true)"
+if [[ -z "$GITLEAKS" && -x "$(go env GOPATH 2>/dev/null)/bin/gitleaks" ]]; then
+  GITLEAKS="$(go env GOPATH)/bin/gitleaks"
+fi
+
+if [[ -z "$GITLEAKS" ]]; then
+  echo "⚠ gitleaks not installed — skipping local secret scan (CI still enforces it)."
+  echo "  Install: go install github.com/zricethezav/gitleaks/v8@latest"
+  exit 0
+fi
+
+echo "→ Scanning staged changes for secrets..."
+if ! "$GITLEAKS" protect --staged --redact --config .gitleaks.toml >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+  echo "  ✗ gitleaks found a secret in the staged changes."
+  echo "    Review with: gitleaks protect --staged --redact --config .gitleaks.toml -v"
+  echo "    If it is a false positive, allowlist it in .gitleaks.toml or add a"
+  echo "    '# gitleaks:allow' comment. Do NOT --no-verify a real secret."
+  exit 1
+fi
+echo "  ✓ no staged secrets"

.gitleaks.toml

@@ -56,8 +56,16 @@ paths = [
   '''ingestion/internal/claudewatcher/watcher_test\.go$''',
 ]
 
-[[allowlists]]
+# infra#344: the allowlist that used to sit here is gone, and so is the reason
-description = "Literal placeholder word REDACTED matched as if it were a token (verified 2026-08-04: extracted Secret == 'REDACTED' exactly, gitleaks' curl-auth-header rule matched the placeholder text itself, not a real credential)"
+# for it. It suppressed docs/superpowers/plans/2026-04-22-phase4-attempt-wiring.md
-condition = "AND"
+# on the stated grounds that "extracted Secret == 'REDACTED' exactly ... the
-paths = ['''docs/superpowers/plans/2026-04-22-phase4-attempt-wiring\.md$''']
+# placeholder text itself, not a real credential" (verified 2026-08-04). That was
-regexes = ['''REDACTED''']
+# not what the file contained: line 1054 carried a real 40-char hex Gitea PAT in
+# an `Authorization: token ...` header. Confirmed dead by side-effect — GET
+# /api/v1/user with it returns 401 — and redacted in that file, so there is now
+# nothing to allowlist.
+#
+# The `paths` entry also made the block far broader than its description: gitleaks
+# ORs global allowlist clauses and ignores `condition = "AND"`, so the whole file
+# was immune, not just lines matching /REDACTED/. A live token added to that doc
+# would have been suppressed on the strength of a note about a different value.

.gitleaksignore

@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+# Historical gitleaks findings, dispositioned (infra#326 / infra#317).
+#
+# WHY THIS FILE AND NOT .gitleaks.toml:
+# This is a finding in git HISTORY, surfaced by the full-history audit
+# (`task security:gitleaks:history`). The working-tree scan that gates commits
+# (`task security:gitleaks`, the pre-commit hook, CI) is clean. Suppressing by
+# PATH in .gitleaks.toml would also blind the working-tree scan for that file
+# forever; a fingerprint pins one finding in one commit, so a NEW secret in the
+# same file still fires.
+#
+# History is not rewritten here, so the remediation for a real leak is
+# ROTATION -- making the committed value worthless -- never scrubbing.
+#
+# Dispositioned 2026-08-29. Re-check with: task security:gitleaks:history
+
+# --- Real credential, ALREADY DEAD -------------------------------------------
+# A Gitea PAT pasted into a CD-watching command in a planning doc
+# (`Authorization: token <40-hex>`, last_eight 3105a670).
+#
+# Verified dead 2026-08-29: authenticating against
+# GET https://git.d-ma.be/api/v1/user with this exact value returns 401, so the
+# committed token no longer grants anything. It was almost certainly invalidated
+# by the early-August rotation of the `mathias` PATs (the same rotation whose
+# fan-out caused infra#260, where CI copies of the old value kept failing).
+#
+# No rotation action outstanding. Kept as a fingerprint rather than removed from
+# history because history cannot be rewritten here.
+#
+# The generalisable lesson is recorded separately: a credential printed into a
+# doc/transcript is permanent, so the only remedy is rotating it -- which in
+# this case had already happened for unrelated reasons, by luck rather than by
+# the leak being noticed.
+c9310b1079478bf4430b0a2dfb25445d7ccc9b59:docs/superpowers/plans/2026-04-22-phase4-attempt-wiring.md:curl-auth-header:1053

AGENTS.md

@@ -48,14 +48,51 @@ These rules apply to every task across every project, regardless of harness.
    logical change (one tool, one fix, one test) with passing tests. Main is always
    deployable. Never create long-lived feature branches.
 
-   **Exception — parallel agents on same repo:** If another agent is known to be
+   **The PR trigger is RISK, not concurrency.** `risk/low` work commits straight to
-   actively working on the same repo simultaneously, create a short-lived branch
+   main with CI as the gate — that is most work and is unchanged. `risk/medium` and
-   (`agent/<description>`), finish the task, and merge to main within the same
+   above opens a PR, even solo, even with nobody waiting to review it. This mirrors
-   session. Do not leave agent branches open between sessions.
+   the tiered merge model in `assessor-loop`
+   `method/transfer-to-a-regulated-organisation.md` §4.1, so the estate practises
+   what it sells instead of merging everything on green and claiming otherwise.
 
-   **Exception — external contributor or client four-eyes requirement:** Use
+   **Concurrency is NOT a reason to branch.** Measured 2026-08-29 across three real
-   PR flow only when a human reviewer outside the project is required. Document
+   collisions between parallel sessions: two were not branching problems at all — a
-   the reason in PROJECT.md.
+   generated artifact written to the same path by both (branching turns that into a
+   merge conflict on a 33k-line JSON), and uncommitted work in a shared checkout
+   (a per-session worktree fixes it) — and the third was an ordinary non-fast-forward
+   push resolved by rebase in seconds. Use a worktree per session on shared repos and
+   timestamp generated artifacts. Do not reach for a branch.
+
+   Branch+PR flow carries documented costs on solo repos: merging auto-closes gated
+   issues, review comments live on a thread separate from the issue's, and a
+   merged-and-deleted branch cannot be amended (brain:
+   `gitea-pr-merge-autoclose-and-review-comment-footguns`). Those are the price of
+   the `risk/medium`+ lane — paid deliberately, not incurred by accident.
+
+   **Exception — external contributor or client four-eyes requirement:** Use PR flow
+   when a human reviewer outside the project is required. Document the reason in
+   PROJECT.md.
+
+   **Exception — a GitOps repo where a branch cannot be reconciled.** In a repo whose
+   deployment watches one branch (`mathias/infra`: Flux watches `main`), a branch is
+   invisible to the thing that applies it. A `risk/medium` change to `alerts.yaml` or
+   `litellm-config.yaml` can be linted on a branch but never *exercised* there, so a
+   PR would buy a review of a state that was never deployed.
+
+   There, `risk/medium`+ work stays on `main` and instead requires a **recorded
+   adversarial review pass before the push** — `skills:pr-gatekeeper` or equivalent,
+   reviewing the staged diff. **The reviewer's verdict goes in the issue, not a PR
+   thread.** No verdict recorded means the lane was not used, and saying "the gate was
+   green" is not the same claim.
+
+   Be honest about what this is: a recorded *independent* pass, not four-eyes in the
+   sense `assessor-loop` §4.1 means for a regulated organisation, because the reviewer
+   is an agent. It is more than the repo had and less than the model it mirrors; do not
+   describe it as the stronger property. (infra#470, decided 2026-09-29.)
+
+   This lane depends on the `risk/` label being right. A label that triggers a heavier
+   lane is load-bearing, not cosmetic — if work that belongs in it is unlabelled, the
+   lane silently does not apply.
 
 6. **Close the loop — every substantive task ends with the same ritual.** Shipping
    the code is not the end of the task; capturing it is. Run this unprompted:
@@ -73,6 +110,63 @@ These rules apply to every task across every project, regardless of harness.
    - Surface the brain entries and issue numbers in the closing summary so the
      trail is auditable.
 
+   **Chat is not a durable store. Never rely on Mathias remembering anything.**
+   Every gap, caveat, risk, open question and next step must land in one of four
+   places before the turn ends: **the brain**, **a repo** (code, docs, ADR),
+   **a tracker issue**, or **a plan file**. A finding stated only in conversation is
+   lost the moment the session closes — and this estate has repeatedly proved that a
+   remembered convention is an unreliable control.
+
+   This applies hardest to what is tempting to leave as a closing remark: "worth
+   knowing X isn't enforced yet", "this is a convention, not a gate", "we should
+   revisit Y". Those are exactly the items that need a locator. If it is worth
+   saying in a summary, it is worth writing where it can be found again without you.
+
+7. **Finish what's closable — only involve me for a genuine call.** If a
+   tracker issue, PR, or checklist item is demonstrably resolved — the fix
+   landed, the state changed, you verified it live — close/merge/check it off
+   in the same turn. Don't leave it open "for the record" or park it waiting
+   on me to confirm something that already happened; that's bookkeeping, not
+   a decision. Reserve asking me (`AskUserQuestion`, a `DECISION NEEDED`
+   comment, or otherwise pausing) for when it's genuinely mine to call:
+   irreversible or prod/host-impacting actions, a real judgment call with no
+   clearly-better option, ambiguous intent, or anything secret-writes/
+   destructive-git already gate. Before claiming something is closable,
+   verify it live (re-check the issue, re-run the command) rather than
+   trusting your own earlier summary (brain: `filed-issue-not-same-as-fixed`).
+
+8. **Control code needs an adversary, not a checklist.** Code whose job is to
+   refuse, deny, gate or contain is not adequately verified by a green gate.
+   Rule 5 makes CI the quality gate and that holds for ordinary work — but a
+   passing suite only asserts what its author already thought of, and for a
+   control the author is precisely the person whose imagination just failed.
+   Measured on `dispatch#75`: five review rounds, five real escapes verified by
+   execution, and **CI was green on every one of them** while `git rm
+   ././.dispatch-allow` deleted the file the control existed to protect. So
+   route this work through a review with authority to block, instructed to
+   verify by execution rather than by reading the implementation. Expect to be
+   blocked more than once; that is the control working, not the reviewer being
+   difficult. (brain: `a-green-gate-is-not-evidence-for-control-code`; the
+   practices live in the `pr-gatekeeper` agent.)
+
+9. **A test's name must not claim more than its assertions prove.** Name a test
+   after the mechanism it observes, not the goal it serves.
+   `DoesNotInheritEnv` is honest; `IsContained` is a claim the test cannot
+   support. This is not pedantry about naming — when name and assertion
+   diverge, the name wins in the reader's head and the gap becomes invisible,
+   which is what lets the defect survive review. Found three times in one PR,
+   twice in tests written to fix the previous instance of it; each passed while
+   the thing it was named for was exploitable. If you cannot name the mechanism,
+   you do not yet know what the test observes.
+
+## CAD sprint patterns
+
+Two CAD sprint archetypes (defs: brain `wiki/homelab/decisions/continuous-agentic-development-cad-concept-2026-06-16`):
+- **Inception Sprint** — birth a new repo. Oath-gated close; tag only once every clause holds. Brain: `.../inception-sprint-and-oath`.
+- **Sweep Sprint** — clear an existing backlog. Parallel read-only research per issue → sequential one-issue-per-commit execution. Brain: `.../sweep-sprint-and-oath`.
+
+Shared: decisions that are yours, not the agent's, surface as `DECISION NEEDED` (question/options/recommendation/blocks) — ask live if you're present, else comment and wait, never act past it. Live-breaking regressions get `git revert`, never forward-fixed; host-network work skips even read-only research (solo, synchronous, you present). Rule 6's closing ritual only fires once every Oath clause genuinely holds — blocked = descoped-and-tracked, never marked done.
+
 ## Default stack
 
 | Layer | Default | Fallback | Last resort |
@@ -135,10 +229,10 @@ Three machines on Tailscale:
 |---------|------|-----------|
 | koala | GPU inference, heavy compute | RTX 5070, runs k3s + llama-swap + shared postgres18/pgvector |
 | iguana | Services, builds | M2 Ultra Mac |
-| flamingo | Daily driver, edge | Mac mini, ~/dev is here |
+| flamingo | Daily driver, edge | Apple Silicon Mac, ~/dev is here |
 
 - **Model routing**: LiteLLM in front of llama-swap (local) + cloud APIs (when permitted)
-- **Orchestration**: k3s cluster across all three machines
+- **Orchestration**: k3s on koala only — single control-plane node, no workers (verified 2026-08-30). iguana and flamingo are on the tailnet but are not cluster members
 - **Networking**: Tailscale mesh
 
 ## Project landscape
@@ -205,10 +299,16 @@ entries that age well are about *why*, *how to avoid*, and *what to do when*.
 |---------|-------|-------|
 | **Claude Code, Claude Desktop** | `brain_query` (BM25), `brain_answer` (LLM-synth + sources) MCP tools | `brain_write` MCP tool |
 | **Crush, Pi, Antigravity, other MCP-capable** | same MCP server: `ingestion-brain` (via the `mcp__*_brain__*` namespace once authenticated) | same |
-| **Anything HTTP-only (curl, scripts)** | `POST https://brain-mcp.d-ma.be/query` with `{"query":"..."}` (auth via `BRAIN_MCP_TOKEN`) | `POST .../write` with `{"content":"...","filename":"..."}` |
+| **Anything HTTP-only (curl, scripts)** | Tailnet only: `POST https://koala.tail30472e.ts.net:8443/query` with `{"query":"..."}`, sending `BRAIN_MCP_TOKEN` (not yet enforced on REST, hyperguild#149). The public `brain-mcp.d-ma.be` serves `/mcp` only (infra#517). | `POST .../write` with `{"content":"...","wing":"...","hall":"..."}` |
 | **Browser / human inspection** | `https://git.d-ma.be/mathias/hyperguild` → `knowledge/` and `wiki/` markdown files |
 
-- **Scoping**: defaults to `public` collection; client projects filter to `{client}` + `public`.
+- **Scoping — the brain holds no confidential client content.** Nothing on the read path
+  filters by client: every token holder can read every wing, and `wing` on `brain_query`
+  is an optional argument, not an access control. Client confidentiality is enforced only
+  at write time (`capture`'s I1 gate refuses internal/confidential). So never `brain_write`
+  client material; generalise it first or keep it in the client's own repo. (hyperguild#144,
+  decided 2026-10-01. This line previously claimed client projects were filtered; they
+  were not.)
 - **Routing**: brain_answer's LLM uses berget.ai as primary, iguana ollama as
   fallback. Both are configurable in the `supervisor/ingestion-deployment.yaml`
   on the koala k3s cluster; don't hardcode local-only model names into the
@@ -234,10 +334,11 @@ When working on a project tagged with a client name:
 
 ## Harness-agnostic principles
 
-This context is designed to work with any AI coding tool:
+Supported harnesses (2026-09-01) — Cursor and Aider were dropped; do not
-- Claude Code, Cursor, Aider, Open WebUI, Charmbracelet Mods/Crush
+re-add adapters for them:
-- Pi Coding Agent, Mistral Vibe, Antigravity
+- Claude Code, Antigravity, OpenCode, Mistral Vibe, Crush, Pi Coding Agent
-- Any tool that accepts a system prompt or reads a markdown context file
+- Open WebUI, Charmbracelet Mods, or any tool that takes a system prompt string
+- Any other tool that reads `AGENTS.md`, which is the de facto convention
 
 The canonical source is always `.context/AGENT.md` (root) and `.context/PROJECT.md` (per-project).
 Derived files are committed (see *How context propagates* below) so a `git pull` on any host yields full agent context with no setup.
@@ -249,26 +350,65 @@ Canonical sources of truth:
 - Project: `<repo>/.context/PROJECT.md` (per-repo)
 
 Derived files (committed, regenerated by `task context:sync`):
-- `CLAUDE.md`, `AGENTS.md`, `.cursorrules`, `.aider.conventions.md`,
+- `CLAUDE.md`, `AGENTS.md`, `.context/system-prompt.txt`
-  `.context/system-prompt.txt`
+
+Repos still carrying `.cursorrules`, `.aider.conventions.md` or
+`.aider.conf.yml` are stale: nothing regenerates them. Delete them the next time
+you touch the repo, along with their entries in that repo's `task check`
+assertion.
 
 Workflow:
 1. Edit a canonical file. Run `task context:sync`. Commit canonical and
    derived together. Push.
-2. On any other host, `git pull` brings both. Claude Code (tree-walking)
+2. On any other host, `git pull` brings both. Which file a harness reads does
-   uses `CLAUDE.md`; Crush / Pi / Antigravity (cwd-only) use `AGENTS.md`;
+   NOT split cleanly by lookup strategy, so do not reason from the strategy:
-   Cursor uses `.cursorrules`; Aider uses `.aider.conventions.md`.
+   - `CLAUDE.md` — Claude Code (walks up the tree)
+   - `AGENTS.md` — Crush, Pi, Antigravity (cwd-only), OpenCode (project root,
+     global at `~/.config/opencode/AGENTS.md`), and Mistral Vibe, which **walks
+     up** from cwd and takes the first `AGENTS.md` it finds
+     (user-level `~/.vibe/AGENTS.md`)
+   - `.context/system-prompt.txt` — Open WebUI, Mods, raw API calls; not read by
+     any harness, it is for pasting
+
+   Vibe tree-walks for `AGENTS.md`, so "tree-walkers use CLAUDE.md" is false.
+   Each repo's `AGENTS.md` embeds the canonical and is the first one found from
+   inside that repo, so this works — but by construction, not by luck.
 3. `task check` runs `context:sync` then asserts `git status --porcelain`
    is empty over the derived files (catches both modified-tracked drift
    and missing-untracked adapters). A drift fails the check with a
    message telling you to stage the regenerated files.
 
-Behavior rules in this file and per-project rules in `PROJECT.md` apply
+Behavior rules in this file and per-project rules in `PROJECT.md` apply on every
-unconditionally on every host, every harness.
+host and every harness.
+
+**Where a project rule contradicts a rule here, the project rule governs — and it
+must state its reason.** Both halves matter: the project file wins because it knows
+something this file cannot (infra's Flux constraint is real and not visible from
+here), and it must say why because a bare override is indistinguishable from drift.
+
+This replaces the previous wording, which said rules here and in `PROJECT.md` both
+apply *"unconditionally"*. That was not a tiebreak but a contradiction, and it went
+unnoticed until rule 5 and infra's "never create feature branches" had to be obeyed
+at the same time (infra#470). A standard can hold two individually sensible clauses
+that are jointly unsatisfiable, and survive for as long as everyone reads it
+charitably — the same failure the Inception Sprint Oath's G6 had.
 
 ## Engineering Skills
 
-Shared engineering skills live in the **`mathias/skills`** repo (`git.d-ma.be/mathias/skills`). Clone it to `~/dev/skills/` and run `SKILLS_CHECKOUT_DIR="$PWD" bash install.sh` there to wire every skill into your harnesses (Claude Code, Crush, Antigravity, Mistral Vibe) as native, on-demand skills. (Use `install.sh`, not `task install` — the latter is currently broken, skills#7.) Load at task start — not "on demand" but on schedule, before writing code. Browse `~/dev/skills/SKILLS_INDEX.md` for the full list.
+Shared engineering skills live in the **`mathias/skills`** repo (`git.d-ma.be/mathias/skills`). Load at task start — not "on demand" but on schedule, before writing code. Browse `SKILLS_INDEX.md` for the full list.
+
+**Claude Code** installs the repo as a plugin from the marketplace the same repo hosts. That path also carries the `secret-guard` and `pre-task-ritual` hooks and the brain/gitea/infra MCP servers, which symlinks cannot:
+
+```
+/plugin marketplace add https://git.d-ma.be/mathias/skills.git
+/plugin install skills@mathias
+```
+
+Skills are **namespaced** under Claude Code: load `tdd` as `skills:tdd`. The trigger table below uses bare names — prefix them.
+
+**Crush, Pi and OpenCode** have no plugin system and are wired by `install.sh` as one directory symlink per harness via `~/.agents/skills`. Do not clone the checkout into `~/dev`: that folder is iCloud-shared between the Macs and spans two path roots (`/Users/mathias` vs `/home/mathias` on koala), so a checkout there is a git working tree with two concurrent writers, and any absolute symlink stored in it is broken on one side by construction (skills#23). Leave `SKILLS_CHECKOUT_DIR` at its host-local default.
+
+Check a host with `task doctor` in the skills repo; it also runs automatically at session start via the plugin.
 
 **Skill trigger table — load before starting, not after getting stuck:**
 
@@ -348,7 +488,11 @@ the routing pod; brain tools moved to the brain MCP.
 
 The brain HTTP REST API (`/query`, `/write`, `/ingest`, `/ingest-raw`,
 `/ingest-path`, `/backfill-refs`, `/pass-rate`) remains available on port 3300
-for shell scripts and non-MCP clients.
+for shell scripts and non-MCP clients, **with the same bearer token as `/mcp`**
+(`BRAIN_MCP_TOKEN`; hyperguild#149). It is not served on the public host
+(infra#517): use the tailnet (`koala:8443`) or in-cluster
+`ingestion.supervisor.svc:3300`. `/ingest-path` and `brain_ingest` `path`
+accept only paths inside `brain/raw/`.
 
 `brain_answer(query)` performs BM25 retrieval + LLM synthesis (berget.ai
 gemma4:31b → iguana fallback). `brain_classify(text)` infers doc type, title,

CLAUDE.md

@@ -64,7 +64,11 @@ the routing pod; brain tools moved to the brain MCP.
 
 The brain HTTP REST API (`/query`, `/write`, `/ingest`, `/ingest-raw`,
 `/ingest-path`, `/backfill-refs`, `/pass-rate`) remains available on port 3300
-for shell scripts and non-MCP clients.
+for shell scripts and non-MCP clients, **with the same bearer token as `/mcp`**
+(`BRAIN_MCP_TOKEN`; hyperguild#149). It is not served on the public host
+(infra#517): use the tailnet (`koala:8443`) or in-cluster
+`ingestion.supervisor.svc:3300`. `/ingest-path` and `brain_ingest` `path`
+accept only paths inside `brain/raw/`.
 
 `brain_answer(query)` performs BM25 retrieval + LLM synthesis (berget.ai
 gemma4:31b → iguana fallback). `brain_classify(text)` infers doc type, title,

Procfile

@@ -1,2 +1 @@
 ingestion: cd ingestion && INGEST_BRAIN_DIR=../brain INGEST_PORT=3300 INGEST_WATCH_INTERVAL=30 go run ./cmd/server/
-supervisor: SUPERVISOR_CONFIG_DIR=./config/supervisor SUPERVISOR_MODELS_FILE=./config/models.yaml SUPERVISOR_SESSIONS_DIR=./brain/sessions INGEST_BASE_URL=http://localhost:3300 INGEST_SVC_URL=http://localhost:3300 go run ./cmd/supervisor/

README.md

@@ -5,6 +5,11 @@ Instead of letting Claude Code do whatever it wants, hyperguild enforces structu
 workflows (TDD red/green/refactor), logs every session, and accumulates learnings
 into a searchable brain.
 
+**This repo is also where `brain-mcp` lives** — the MCP server at
+`brain-mcp.d-ma.be` that `brain_query`, `brain_write`, `brain_read`, `brain_edit`
+and `capture` are served from. It is not a separate deployable; see
+[Where brain-mcp lives](#where-brain-mcp-lives).
+
 ## Hypothesis
 
 > We believe routing skill tasks through local models, backed by brain context,
@@ -20,7 +25,7 @@ usage, the fast-model routing path should be reconsidered.
 
 **hyperguild = Claude Code + MCP.** This is a supervisor for Claude Code sessions specifically.
 For multi-agent orchestration (OpenCode + LiteLLM, executor/reviewer pipelines), see
-[agentsquad](http://gitea.d-ma.be/mathias/agentsquad) — a separate harness for a different
+[agentsquad](https://git.d-ma.be/mathias/agentsquad) — a separate harness for a different
 orchestration model. Skills (mathias/skills) are shared between both.
 
 ## How it works
@@ -44,6 +49,91 @@ brain/
 └── knowledge/      — legacy flat notes (migration pending: hyperguild#22)
 ```
 
+## Where brain-mcp lives
+
+`brain-mcp` is served from **`ingestion/internal/mcp`** in this repo, at
+**`brain-mcp.d-ma.be`**. It is a component *inside* the `ingestion` service, not
+a standalone deployable — one pod in the `supervisor` namespace serves the MCP
+endpoint, the REST API, and the claudewatcher together.
+
+| You are looking for | It is here |
+|---|---|
+| The MCP tool surface (`brain_query`, `brain_write`, `brain_read`, `brain_edit`, `capture`, …) | `ingestion/internal/mcp` |
+| The HTTP/REST API (`/query`, `/write`, `/ingest`) | `ingestion/internal/api` |
+| Session ingestion from Claude Code transcripts | `ingestion/internal/claudewatcher` |
+| The brain *content* (notes, wings, halls) | [`mathias/brain`](https://git.d-ma.be/mathias/brain) — a separate repo |
+| Deployment manifests | `config/supervisor` |
+
+### Why it is not its own repo
+
+Asked and decided in [#91](https://git.d-ma.be/mathias/hyperguild/issues/91)
+(part 2). `internal/mcp` imports 17 of ingestion's other internal packages and
+has exactly one importer — it is the MCP facade over the service's own
+internals, so "move it out" resolves to renaming `ingestion`, publishing 17
+packages as a shared library, or maintaining a shim. The discoverability problem
+that prompted the question is answered by naming it here instead.
+
+Full reasoning, including the reversal trigger: brain
+`wiki/hyperguild/decisions/brain-mcp-stays-in-ingestion-fix-discoverability-by-name`.
+
+## Ingest revises, it does not overwrite
+
+Re-ingesting a source **merges into the page already on disk** rather than
+replacing it. Previously the write was unconditional, so a second ingest of the
+same source discarded everything accumulated since — including hand-written
+sections.
+
+The merge is deliberately asymmetric in the existing page's favour:
+
+| On the page | In the fresh extraction | Result |
+|---|---|---|
+| a section | the same section | **the on-disk version wins** |
+| — | a new section | added |
+| a bullet list (`Sources`, `Key Claims`, …) | more bullets | unioned, no duplicates |
+| an append section (`Open Questions`, `Updates`, …) | more lines | only genuinely new lines appended |
+| frontmatter | frontmatter | **the on-disk frontmatter wins** |
+
+So an extraction can add to a note but never silently rewrite what a human put
+there, which is what makes it safe to run on every ingest rather than behind a
+review gate.
+
+Re-ingesting unchanged content is **byte-identical** — no diff, so brain-sync
+does not commit noise that hides real edits.
+
+Two fields are **generator-owned** and do get refreshed on a revise:
+`last_updated` and `source_hash`. Everything else on disk wins. The boundary is
+an explicit allowlist, so a field nobody has thought about stays human-owned.
+
+### Disagreement is reported, not resolved
+
+When the fresh extraction produces a *different version* of a section that
+already exists, the on-disk version still wins — but the run now says so:
+
+```
+wiki/sources/shape-up.md: source now disagrees on section "Summary" — on-disk version kept
+```
+
+That line lands in `log.md` with the rest of the run's warnings. Without it, "the
+source is unchanged" and "the source changed its mind and we ignored it" look
+identical from the outside.
+
+This is deliberately **textual** disagreement, not semantic contradiction: cheap,
+deterministic, no model on the write path. Deciding whether a disagreement is a
+genuine contradiction stays with the Judge-gated `brain-enrich` pass, which is
+approval-gated by design. Detection here, adjudication there.
+
+## Re-ingesting an unchanged source is skipped
+
+Ingest stores `source_hash` — sha256 of the ingested **body**, frontmatter
+excluded — on the source page. A later ingest of the same source compares it
+first and skips extraction entirely when it matches, reporting the skip rather
+than doing it silently.
+
+Body-only is deliberate: a re-crawl that stamps a new fetch date has not changed
+the source, and treating that as drift would re-extract the corpus every time a
+crawler ran. A missing or unreadable hash always means "extract" — a missed skip
+costs one extraction, a wrong skip loses an update.
+
 ## Phase 1 tools (available now)
 
 | Tool | What it does |
@@ -58,7 +148,7 @@ brain/
 | `tier` | Returns the current connectivity tier (1=cloud, 2=LAN, 3=offline) |
 
 > **Note:** `tdd_red/green/refactor` and `spec` were retired in Plan 7 (2026-05-12).
-> They are now SKILL.md files in [mathias/skills](http://gitea.d-ma.be/mathias/skills).
+> They are now SKILL.md files in [mathias/skills](https://git.d-ma.be/mathias/skills).
 
 ## Connect a project
 
@@ -147,7 +237,7 @@ The routing pod selects models per skill call based on historical pass rate:
 
 ## Open issues
 
-See [issues](http://gitea.d-ma.be/mathias/hyperguild/issues) — key open items:
+See [issues](https://git.d-ma.be/mathias/hyperguild/issues) — key open items:
 
 - **#25** — skills platform overhaul (audit first, then lazy loading + brain feedback loop)
 - **#24** — reduce context burn from skill listing

Taskfile.yml

@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ tasks:
   # ── Development ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
   start:
-    desc: Start ingestion + supervisor (requires goreman — go install github.com/mattn/goreman@latest)
+    desc: Start ingestion (requires goreman — go install github.com/mattn/goreman@latest)
     cmds:
       - goreman start
 
@@ -32,11 +32,6 @@ tasks:
       - lsof -ti:3200 | xargs kill -9 2>/dev/null || true
       - echo "hyperguild stopped"
 
-  supervisor:dev:
-    desc: Run supervisor MCP server (development)
-    cmds:
-      - go run ./cmd/supervisor
-
   hyperguild:dev:
     desc: Run hyperguild CLI from source (e.g. task hyperguild:dev -- tier)
     cmds:
@@ -67,14 +62,9 @@ tasks:
   build:
     desc: Build all binaries
     cmds:
-      - task: supervisor:build
+      - task: hyperguild:build
       - task: ingestion:build
 
-  supervisor:build:
-    desc: Build supervisor binary
-    cmds:
-      - go build -trimpath -ldflags="-s -w -X main.version={{.VERSION}}" -o bin/supervisor ./cmd/supervisor
-
   ingestion:build:
     desc: Build ingestion server binary
     dir: ingestion
@@ -84,23 +74,48 @@ tasks:
   # ── Quality ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
   check:
-    desc: Run all checks (context freshness + lint + test + vet) across all modules
+    desc: Run all checks (context freshness + lint + test + vet + build) across all modules
     cmds:
-      - task: context:sync
+      # Context sync is skipped under CI, matching dma-cli, gitea-mcp, and the
+      # rest of the estate. It is not a preference: context-sync.sh walks UP
+      # the tree for the canonical .context/AGENT.md, which lives in local-dev
+      # and does not exist on a CI runner. Without this guard, the script
+      # silently falls back to "project context only" and regenerates AGENTS.md
+      # and .context/system-prompt.txt shorter than their committed, correct
+      # versions -- so the drift assertion fails every CI run for a purely
+      # environmental reason, not real drift. Verified, not assumed: this is
+      # exactly what was happening here (AGENTS.md 430 lines committed vs. an
+      # 82-line regeneration on the runner).
+      #
+      # The cost is real and worth stating: drift is therefore only ever caught
+      # on a developer machine, or by infra's estate-wide context-sync-drift
+      # CronJob (ADR-0019), which does have canonical access and is the actual
+      # enforcement mechanism now.
       - cmd: |
-          drift=$(git status --porcelain -- AGENTS.md CLAUDE.md .context/system-prompt.txt 2>/dev/null)
+          if [ -n "${CI:-}" ]; then
-          if [ -n "$drift" ]; then
+            echo "✓ context sync: skipped in CI (no canonical AGENT.md on the runner)"
-            echo "ERROR: derived adapters drifted from canonical context." >&2
+          else
-            echo "$drift" >&2
+            bash scripts/context-sync.sh
-            echo "" >&2
+            drift=$(git status --porcelain -- AGENTS.md CLAUDE.md .context/system-prompt.txt 2>/dev/null)
-            echo "Run: git add AGENTS.md CLAUDE.md .context/system-prompt.txt" >&2
+            if [ -n "$drift" ]; then
-            echo "     git commit -m 'chore: re-sync context adapters'" >&2
+              echo "ERROR: derived adapters drifted from canonical context." >&2
-            exit 1
+              echo "$drift" >&2
+              echo "" >&2
+              echo "Run: git add AGENTS.md CLAUDE.md .context/system-prompt.txt" >&2
+              echo "     git commit -m 'chore: re-sync context adapters'" >&2
+              exit 1
+            fi
+            echo "✓ context: canonical and adapters are in sync"
           fi
-          echo "✓ context: canonical and adapters are in sync"
       - task: lint
       - task: test
       - task: vet
+      # `build` is in the gate deliberately (hyperguild#120). vet and test walk
+      # ./... , which enumerates the packages that EXIST — so a build target
+      # naming a DELETED package is invisible to both. `task build` pointed at
+      # ./cmd/supervisor for months after that directory was removed, and CI
+      # stayed green the whole time because nothing in check ever built.
+      - task: build
       - task: security:gitleaks
 
   # ── Security ─────────────────────────────────────────────
@@ -138,6 +153,11 @@ tasks:
       - golangci-lint run ./...
       - cd ingestion && golangci-lint run ./...
 
+  lint:frontmatter:
+    desc: Report brain notes whose YAML frontmatter does not parse (BRAIN=path, FIX=1 repairs in place)
+    cmds:
+      - cd ingestion && go run ./cmd/frontmatterlint {{if .FIX}}-fix{{end}} {{.BRAIN | default "../../brain"}}
+
   test:
     cmds:
       - go test -race -count=1 ./...
@@ -149,19 +169,6 @@ tasks:
       - govulncheck ./... || true
       - cd ingestion && go vet ./...
 
-  supervisor:test:smoke:
-    desc: Smoke test supervisor via MCP (requires start running)
-    cmds:
-      - |
-        curl -s -X POST http://localhost:${SUPERVISOR_PORT:-3200}/mcp \
-          -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-          -d '{"jsonrpc":"2.0","id":1,"method":"tools/list","params":{}}' | jq .
-
-  smoke:routing:
-    desc: Boot the routing pod against live LiteLLM + brain and verify _routing logs land
-    cmds:
-      - bash scripts/smoke-routing.sh
-
   # ── Git / Release ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
   tag:

cmd/hyperguild/README.md

@@ -55,18 +55,21 @@ Flags:
 - `--limit N` — max results (default 5)
 - `--json` — emit the raw response envelope
 
-### `hyperguild brain write <type> <slug>`
+### `hyperguild brain write <wing> <hall> <slug>`
 
-Reads markdown from stdin, writes a knowledge entry.
+Reads markdown from stdin, writes it to `brain/wiki/<wing>/<hall>/<slug>.md`
+with `wing`/`hall`/`created_at` frontmatter injected (there is no legacy
+`brain/knowledge/` fallback — ADR-0012 / #79, both wing and hall are
+required).
 
 ```bash
-$ cat <<EOF | hyperguild brain write knowledge example-lesson
+$ cat <<EOF | hyperguild brain write homelab facts example-lesson
 # Example lesson
 
 ## Lesson
 ...
 EOF
-knowledge/example-lesson.md
+wiki/homelab/facts/example-lesson.md
 ```
 
 ### `hyperguild brain pass-rate <skill>`

cmd/hyperguild/brain.go

@@ -60,13 +60,14 @@ func runBrainWrite(ctx context.Context, args []string, stdin io.Reader, stdout,
 	if err := fs.Parse(args); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("parse flags: %w", err)
 	}
-	if fs.NArg() < 2 {
+	if fs.NArg() < 3 {
-		return errors.New("type and slug required (e.g. brain write knowledge my-slug)")
+		return errors.New("wing, hall and slug required (e.g. brain write homelab facts my-slug)")
 	}
-	kind := fs.Arg(0)
+	wing := fs.Arg(0)
-	slug := fs.Arg(1)
+	hall := fs.Arg(1)
+	slug := fs.Arg(2)
 
-	res, err := newBrainClient().Write(ctx, kind, slug, stdin)
+	res, err := newBrainClient().Write(ctx, wing, hall, slug, stdin)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}

cmd/hyperguild/brain_test.go

@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ func TestRunBrainWrite_Success(t *testing.T) {
 	var out, errBuf bytes.Buffer
 	err := runBrain(
 		context.Background(),
-		[]string{"write", "knowledge", "test-slug"},
+		[]string{"write", "homelab", "facts", "test-slug"},
 		strings.NewReader("# Test\n\nSome body content.\n"),
 		&out, &errBuf,
 	)
@@ -111,9 +111,9 @@ func TestRunBrainWrite_Success(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestRunBrainWrite_MissingArgs(t *testing.T) {
 	var out, errBuf bytes.Buffer
-	err := runBrain(context.Background(), []string{"write", "knowledge"}, strings.NewReader("x"), &out, &errBuf)
+	err := runBrain(context.Background(), []string{"write", "homelab"}, strings.NewReader("x"), &out, &errBuf)
 	assert.Error(t, err)
-	assert.Contains(t, err.Error(), "type and slug required")
+	assert.Contains(t, err.Error(), "wing, hall and slug required")
 }
 
 func TestRunBrainWrite_BackendError(t *testing.T) {
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ func TestRunBrainWrite_BackendError(t *testing.T) {
 	var out, errBuf bytes.Buffer
 	err := runBrain(
 		context.Background(),
-		[]string{"write", "knowledge", "bad slug"},
+		[]string{"write", "homelab", "facts", "bad slug"},
 		strings.NewReader("body"),
 		&out, &errBuf,
 	)
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ func TestRunBrainWrite_EmptyStdin(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Setenv("BRAIN_URL", srv.URL)
 
 	var out, errBuf bytes.Buffer
-	err := runBrain(context.Background(), []string{"write", "knowledge", "empty"}, strings.NewReader(""), &out, &errBuf)
+	err := runBrain(context.Background(), []string{"write", "homelab", "facts", "empty"}, strings.NewReader(""), &out, &errBuf)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	assert.Equal(t, 0, gotLen, "empty stdin should produce empty content payload")
 }

cmd/hyperguild/http.go

@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ const defaultBrainURL = "http://koala:30330"
 // shell-friendly client; MCP framing is unnecessary.
 type brainClient struct {
 	baseURL string
+	token   string // BRAIN_MCP_TOKEN; the REST API requires it since hyperguild#149
 	http    *http.Client
 }
 
@@ -30,6 +31,7 @@ func newBrainClient() *brainClient {
 	}
 	return &brainClient{
 		baseURL: u,
+		token:   os.Getenv("BRAIN_MCP_TOKEN"),
 		http:    &http.Client{Timeout: 5 * time.Second},
 	}
 }
@@ -62,8 +64,7 @@ func (c *brainClient) Query(ctx context.Context, topic string, limit int) (*Quer
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("build request: %w", err)
 	}
 	req.Header.Set("Content-Type", "application/json")
-
+	resp, err := c.do(req)
-	resp, err := c.http.Do(req)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("brain POST /query: %w", err)
 	}
@@ -84,16 +85,17 @@ type WriteResult struct {
 	Path string `json:"path"`
 }
 
-func (c *brainClient) Write(ctx context.Context, kind, slug string, content io.Reader) (*WriteResult, error) {
+func (c *brainClient) Write(ctx context.Context, wing, hall, filename string, content io.Reader) (*WriteResult, error) {
 	body, err := io.ReadAll(content)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("read content: %w", err)
 	}
 	payload, err := json.Marshal(struct {
-		Type    string `json:"type"`
+		Wing     string `json:"wing"`
-		Slug    string `json:"slug"`
+		Hall     string `json:"hall"`
-		Content string `json:"content"`
+		Filename string `json:"filename"`
-	}{Type: kind, Slug: slug, Content: string(body)})
+		Content  string `json:"content"`
+	}{Wing: wing, Hall: hall, Filename: filename, Content: string(body)})
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("marshal payload: %w", err)
 	}
@@ -104,8 +106,7 @@ func (c *brainClient) Write(ctx context.Context, kind, slug string, content io.R
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("build request: %w", err)
 	}
 	req.Header.Set("Content-Type", "application/json")
-
+	resp, err := c.do(req)
-	resp, err := c.http.Do(req)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("brain POST /write: %w", err)
 	}
@@ -142,7 +143,7 @@ func (c *brainClient) PassRate(ctx context.Context, skill, window string) (*Pass
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("build request: %w", err)
 	}
-	resp, err := c.http.Do(req)
+	resp, err := c.do(req)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("brain GET /pass-rate: %w", err)
 	}
@@ -157,3 +158,13 @@ func (c *brainClient) PassRate(ctx context.Context, skill, window string) (*Pass
 	}
 	return &out, nil
 }
+
+// do sends every brain request, adding the bearer token when one is
+// configured. All methods go through here so none can forget it (PassRate
+// did, PR #152 review).
+func (c *brainClient) do(req *http.Request) (*http.Response, error) {
+	if c.token != "" {
+		req.Header.Set("Authorization", "Bearer "+c.token)
+	}
+	return c.http.Do(req)
+}

cmd/hyperguild/http_auth_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"net/http"
+	"net/http/httptest"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+)
+
+// hyperguild#149: the ingestion REST API now requires a bearer token; the CLI
+// sends BRAIN_MCP_TOKEN, or it gets 401 on every brain call.
+func TestBrainClientSendsBrainMCPTokenOnQueryWriteAndPassRate(t *testing.T) {
+	var got []string
+	srv := httptest.NewServer(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		got = append(got, r.URL.Path+" "+r.Header.Get("Authorization"))
+		switch r.URL.Path {
+		case "/write":
+			_, _ = w.Write([]byte(`{"path":"wiki/x/facts/y.md"}`))
+			return
+		case "/pass-rate":
+			_, _ = w.Write([]byte(`{}`))
+			return
+		}
+		_, _ = w.Write([]byte(`{"results":[]}`))
+	}))
+	defer srv.Close()
+	t.Setenv("BRAIN_URL", srv.URL)
+	t.Setenv("BRAIN_MCP_TOKEN", "cli-test-token")
+
+	c := newBrainClient()
+	_, err := c.Query(context.Background(), "x", 1)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	_, err = c.Write(context.Background(), "x", "facts", "y", strings.NewReader("# y"))
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	// PR #152 review: PassRate sent no token and would 401 in production.
+	_, _ = c.PassRate(context.Background(), "tdd", "7d")
+	assert.Equal(t, []string{"/query Bearer cli-test-token", "/write Bearer cli-test-token",
+		"/pass-rate Bearer cli-test-token"}, got)
+}
+
+func TestBrainClientSendsNoAuthorizationWhenTokenUnset(t *testing.T) {
+	var auth string
+	srv := httptest.NewServer(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		auth = r.Header.Get("Authorization")
+		_, _ = w.Write([]byte(`{"results":[]}`))
+	}))
+	defer srv.Close()
+	t.Setenv("BRAIN_URL", srv.URL)
+	t.Setenv("BRAIN_MCP_TOKEN", "")
+	_, err := newBrainClient().Query(context.Background(), "x", 1)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Empty(t, auth)
+}

cmd/hyperguild/http_test.go

@@ -65,23 +65,25 @@ func TestBrainClient_Write_Success(t *testing.T) {
 		assert.Equal(t, http.MethodPost, r.Method)
 		body, _ := io.ReadAll(r.Body)
 		var got struct {
-			Type    string `json:"type"`
+			Wing     string `json:"wing"`
-			Slug    string `json:"slug"`
+			Hall     string `json:"hall"`
-			Content string `json:"content"`
+			Filename string `json:"filename"`
+			Content  string `json:"content"`
 		}
 		require.NoError(t, json.Unmarshal(body, &got))
-		assert.Equal(t, "knowledge", got.Type)
+		assert.Equal(t, "homelab", got.Wing)
-		assert.Equal(t, "find-h", got.Slug)
+		assert.Equal(t, "facts", got.Hall)
+		assert.Equal(t, "find-h", got.Filename)
 		assert.Equal(t, "# body\n", got.Content)
 		w.Header().Set("Content-Type", "application/json")
-		_, _ = w.Write([]byte(`{"path":"knowledge/find-h.md"}`))
+		_, _ = w.Write([]byte(`{"path":"wiki/homelab/facts/find-h.md"}`))
 	}))
 	defer srv.Close()
 
 	c := &brainClient{baseURL: srv.URL, http: srv.Client()}
-	res, err := c.Write(context.Background(), "knowledge", "find-h", strings.NewReader("# body\n"))
+	res, err := c.Write(context.Background(), "homelab", "facts", "find-h", strings.NewReader("# body\n"))
 	require.NoError(t, err)
-	assert.Equal(t, "knowledge/find-h.md", res.Path)
+	assert.Equal(t, "wiki/homelab/facts/find-h.md", res.Path)
 }
 
 func TestBrainClient_PassRate_Success(t *testing.T) {

config/models.yaml

@@ -1,26 +0,0 @@
-# Model selection — first entry per skill is used.
-# Override per-call by passing model in the MCP tool args.
-# Model names come from LiteLLM /v1/models (host/name format).
-
-default_chain:
-  - iguana/qwen3-coder-next
-
-skills:
-  tdd:
-    chain:
-      - koala/qwen3-coder-30b
-  review:
-    chain:
-      - iguana/devstral
-  debug:
-    chain:
-      - iguana/deepseek-r1-14b
-  spec:
-    chain:
-      - koala/phi4-14b
-  retrospective:
-    chain:
-      - iguana/qwen3-coder-next
-  trainer:
-    chain:
-      - iguana/qwen3-coder-next

docs/runbooks/exercising-pass-rate-traffic.md

@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ Only a `tools/call` to the routing pod records a pass/fail.
 |---------|-----|------|
 | Routing MCP (local, Tailscale) | `http://koala:30310/mcp` | Bearer `ROUTING_MCP_TOKEN` |
 | Routing MCP (remote) | `https://routing-mcp.d-ma.be/mcp` | OAuth via `auth.d-ma.be` (audience `claude-ai`) |
-| Pass-rate readout | `http://koala:30330/pass-rate?skill=<name>` | none (read-only) |
+| Pass-rate readout | `http://koala:30330/pass-rate?skill=<name>` | Bearer `BRAIN_MCP_TOKEN` (since hyperguild#149) |
 
 Tools advertised: **`review`**, **`debug`** (the two the #35 gate measures),
 plus `session_log`, `retrospective`, `trainer`.

docs/superpowers/plans/2026-04-22-phase4-attempt-wiring.md

@@ -1051,7 +1051,7 @@ git push
 ```bash
 # Poll until complete (replace RUN_ID with the new run):
 curl -s "https://gitea.d-ma.be/api/v1/repos/mathias/hyperguild/actions/runs?limit=2" \
-  -H "Authorization: token 736a8c36adcc6ecb41fff56e5ae4d0eb3105a670" \
+  -H "Authorization: token <REDACTED-dead-gitea-pat-infra#344>" \
   | python3 -c "import sys,json; [print(r['id'],r['status'],r.get('conclusion','—')) for r in json.load(sys.stdin)['workflow_runs']]"
 ```
 

docs/superpowers/specs/2026-05-03-hyperguild-cli-design.md

@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ Three needs converge on a single small Go binary:
 
 - [ ] `hyperguild tier` returns the same `tier.Info` that `internal/tier.Detect` produces for the same probe URLs, in < 3 s under all three tier conditions, with both human-readable and `--json` output.
 - [ ] `hyperguild brain query <topic>` returns BM25 results from the brain HTTP REST `/query` endpoint, exit 0 on success and non-zero on transport failure.
-- [ ] `hyperguild brain write <type> <slug>` reads markdown content from stdin, posts to `/write` with the type and slug, and creates `brain/knowledge/<slug>.md`. A round-trip (`hyperguild brain query <slug>` immediately after) finds the entry.
+- [ ] `hyperguild brain write <wing> <hall> <slug>` reads markdown content from stdin, posts to `/write` with wing/hall/filename, and creates `brain/wiki/<wing>/<hall>/<slug>.md`. A round-trip (`hyperguild brain query <slug>` immediately after) finds the entry. (Updated post-ADR-0012/#79: the legacy `<type> <slug>` shape and the `brain/knowledge/` fallback were removed; wing and hall are now required.)
 - [ ] `hyperguild mode <cloud|client-local|sovereign>` writes a parseable JSON file at the target path with the per-mode `mcpServers` entries; `jq -e .mcpServers` succeeds on the output.
 - [ ] All commands print usage on `--help`, exit 2 on unknown flags, exit non-zero on operational errors.
 - [ ] `task check` passes (lint + test + vet) on each task and on the merged branch.
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ Three needs converge on a single small Go binary:
 
 - **`brain` subcommand calls the HTTP REST API.** Two nested subcommands:
   - `brain query <topic>` issues `POST /query` with JSON body `{query, limit}` (default `--limit 5`), prints results in human-readable form by default and with `--json` for machine consumption.
-  - `brain write <type> <slug>` reads stdin, posts `POST /write` with JSON body `{type, slug, content}`, prints the resulting path on success.
+  - `brain write <wing> <hall> <slug>` reads stdin, posts `POST /write` with JSON body `{wing, hall, filename, content}`, prints the resulting path on success. (Updated post-ADR-0012/#79: wing and hall are required, replacing the old `<type> <slug>` shape and the `brain/knowledge/` legacy fallback.)
   Rationale: HTTP REST is simpler than MCP framing for a CLI. Per CLAUDE.md, the REST endpoints are documented as the official non-MCP interface.
 
 - **`mode <name>` writes a per-mode `.mcp.json` template.** Defaults to writing `./.mcp.json` (cwd); accepts `--out <path>`. Per-mode bodies:

ingestion/cmd/frontmatterlint/main.go

@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+// Command frontmatterlint reports markdown notes whose YAML frontmatter does
+// not parse, and optionally repairs the ones that only need quoting.
+//
+//	go run ./cmd/frontmatterlint ../../brain          # report
+//	go run ./cmd/frontmatterlint -fix ../../brain     # repair in place
+//
+// Exit codes: 0 clean (or everything repaired), 1 findings remain, 2 the scan
+// itself failed.
+package main
+
+import (
+	"flag"
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+
+	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/frontmatter"
+)
+
+func main() {
+	fix := flag.Bool("fix", false, "repair files that quoting can rescue, in place")
+	flag.Parse()
+
+	root := "."
+	if flag.NArg() > 0 {
+		root = flag.Arg(0)
+	}
+
+	findings, err := frontmatter.Scan(root, *fix)
+	if err != nil {
+		fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr, "frontmatterlint:", err)
+		os.Exit(2)
+	}
+
+	var unresolved int
+	for _, f := range findings {
+		if f.Repaired {
+			fmt.Printf("repaired  %s\n", f.Path)
+			continue
+		}
+		unresolved++
+		fmt.Printf("BROKEN    %s: %v\n", f.Path, f.Err)
+	}
+
+	if unresolved > 0 {
+		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "\n%d file(s) with unparseable frontmatter", unresolved)
+		if !*fix {
+			fmt.Fprint(os.Stderr, " — re-run with -fix")
+		}
+		fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr)
+		os.Exit(1)
+	}
+	fmt.Printf("✓ frontmatter: %d file(s) repaired, none broken\n", len(findings))
+}

ingestion/cmd/server/jwt_validator.go

@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"fmt"
+	"log/slog"
+
+	chassisauth "git.d-ma.be/mathias/mcp-chassis/auth"
+)
+
+// buildJWTValidator builds the JWT validator for issuer (nil when issuer is
+// empty: JWT auth disabled). Since mcp-chassis v0.7 construction no longer
+// fails when OIDC discovery does (mcp-chassis#4): the issuer resolves lazily,
+// and until it does a JWT is answered 503-and-retry, not 401. That replaces
+// #83's boot-time retry loop (hyperguild#155). An issuer still unresolved at
+// boot is logged, so a misconfigured issuer is visible rather than silent.
+func buildJWTValidator(ctx context.Context, logger *slog.Logger, issuer, audience string) (*chassisauth.JWTValidator, error) {
+	v, err := chassisauth.NewJWTValidator(ctx, issuer, audience)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("build jwt validator: %w", err)
+	}
+	if ok, rerr := v.Ready(ctx); !ok {
+		logger.Warn("jwt issuer not resolved at boot; JWTs answer 503 until it is", "issuer", issuer, "err", rerr)
+	}
+	return v, nil
+}

ingestion/cmd/server/jwt_validator_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,111 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"context"
+	"io"
+	"log/slog"
+	"net/http"
+	"net/http/httptest"
+	"sync/atomic"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+
+	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/metrics"
+)
+
+// fakeIssuer answers OIDC discovery with 502 for the first fail requests, as
+// ingress does while dex is not yet serving on a cold boot (#83), then with a
+// real discovery document and an empty JWKS.
+func fakeIssuer(t *testing.T, fail int32) (*httptest.Server, *atomic.Int32) {
+	t.Helper()
+	var discoveries atomic.Int32
+	mux := http.NewServeMux()
+	var srv *httptest.Server
+	mux.HandleFunc("/.well-known/openid-configuration", func(w http.ResponseWriter, _ *http.Request) {
+		if discoveries.Add(1) <= fail {
+			w.WriteHeader(http.StatusBadGateway)
+			return
+		}
+		w.Header().Set("Content-Type", "application/json")
+		_, _ = io.WriteString(w, `{"issuer":"`+srv.URL+`","jwks_uri":"`+srv.URL+`/keys"}`)
+	})
+	mux.HandleFunc("/keys", func(w http.ResponseWriter, _ *http.Request) {
+		w.Header().Set("Content-Type", "application/json")
+		_, _ = io.WriteString(w, `{"keys":[]}`)
+	})
+	srv = httptest.NewServer(mux)
+	t.Cleanup(srv.Close)
+	return srv, &discoveries
+}
+
+// #83 retried discovery at boot because chassis v0.2.0 failed construction on
+// a 502. Since chassis v0.7 (mcp-chassis#4) the validator is built anyway and
+// resolves the issuer lazily, so boot no longer waits or exits on it
+// (hyperguild#155). An unresolved issuer is logged at boot.
+func TestBuildJWTValidatorReturnsAValidatorWhileDiscovery502s(t *testing.T) {
+	srv, _ := fakeIssuer(t, 1000)
+	var buf bytes.Buffer
+	v, err := buildJWTValidator(context.Background(), slog.New(slog.NewTextHandler(&buf, nil)), srv.URL, "brain")
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.NotNil(t, v)
+	assert.Contains(t, buf.String(), "jwt issuer not resolved at boot")
+}
+
+func TestBuildJWTValidatorLogsNothingAgainstAHealthyIssuer(t *testing.T) {
+	srv, _ := fakeIssuer(t, 0)
+	var buf bytes.Buffer
+	v, err := buildJWTValidator(context.Background(), slog.New(slog.NewTextHandler(&buf, nil)), srv.URL, "brain")
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.NotNil(t, v)
+	assert.NotContains(t, buf.String(), "not resolved")
+}
+
+func TestBuildJWTValidatorIsNilWithoutAnIssuer(t *testing.T) {
+	v, err := buildJWTValidator(context.Background(), slog.New(slog.DiscardHandler), "", "brain")
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Nil(t, v)
+}
+
+// With the issuer unresolved, a JWT on a REST route answers 503 (retry), not
+// 401: the token may be fine, the server just cannot check it yet.
+func TestBuildMuxAnswers503ToAJWTWhileTheIssuerIsUnresolved(t *testing.T) {
+	srv, _ := fakeIssuer(t, 1000)
+	v, err := buildJWTValidator(context.Background(), slog.New(slog.DiscardHandler), srv.URL, "brain")
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	mux, err := buildMux(restAuth{token: routesTok, validator: v, realm: "brain"}, testHandler(t),
+		okHandler("mcp"), metrics.New(), nil)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	code, _ := do(t, mux, "GET", "/pending", "Bearer aaa.bbb.ccc")
+	assert.Equal(t, http.StatusServiceUnavailable, code)
+}
+
+// PR #183 review: /mcp shares REST's bearer, but only the static token was
+// asserted on it. With the issuer unresolved, a JWT on /mcp answers 503 too,
+// so /mcp's middleware was built with the JWT validator.
+func TestBuildMuxAnswers503ToAJWTOnMCPWhileTheIssuerIsUnresolved(t *testing.T) {
+	srv, _ := fakeIssuer(t, 1000)
+	v, err := buildJWTValidator(context.Background(), slog.New(slog.DiscardHandler), srv.URL, "brain")
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	mux, err := buildMux(restAuth{token: routesTok, validator: v, realm: "brain"}, testHandler(t),
+		okHandler("mcp"), metrics.New(), nil)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	code, _ := do(t, mux, "POST", "/mcp", "Bearer aaa.bbb.ccc")
+	assert.Equal(t, http.StatusServiceUnavailable, code)
+}
+
+// PR #183 review: a 401 on /mcp names the protected-resource metadata in
+// WWW-Authenticate (what the claude.ai OAuth connector discovers from), so
+// /mcp's middleware was built with resourceMetadataURL.
+func TestBuildMuxMCP401CarriesResourceMetadataInWWWAuthenticate(t *testing.T) {
+	const rm = "https://brain.example/.well-known/oauth-protected-resource"
+	mux, err := buildMux(restAuth{token: routesTok, realm: "brain", resourceMetadataURL: rm}, testHandler(t),
+		okHandler("mcp"), metrics.New(), nil)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	rec := httptest.NewRecorder()
+	mux.ServeHTTP(rec, httptest.NewRequest(http.MethodPost, "/mcp", nil))
+	require.Equal(t, http.StatusUnauthorized, rec.Code)
+	assert.Contains(t, rec.Header().Get("WWW-Authenticate"), `resource_metadata="`+rm+`"`)
+}

ingestion/cmd/server/main.go

@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/pipeline"
 	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/reranker"
 	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/search"
+	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/symlinkguard"
 	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/vectorstore"
 	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/watcher"
 	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/webhook"
@@ -143,6 +144,48 @@ func envInt(key string, fallback int) int {
 	return fallback
 }
 
+// buildNotifier returns the ntfy notifier, or a nil interface when
+// BRAIN_NTFY_URL is unset. A nil *interface* (not a typed-nil) is required so
+// DegradingSink/Reconcile and the governance observer skip it cleanly.
+// alertingWarnings names every alert that will not fire under the current
+// configuration (#107).
+//
+// buildNotifier returns a nil interface when BRAIN_NTFY_URL is unset, and every
+// consumer skips a nil notifier silently — right for an unconfigured homelab,
+// wrong for an alert whose entire value is that someone finds out. The cost of
+// the silence is that "configured and working" and "never configured" are
+// byte-identical in behaviour: no error, no warning, only a message that never
+// arrives, which nobody notices because nobody is waiting for an alert they
+// have never seen. Two alerts were dark in production for exactly that reason
+// (#100), found by firing a real event rather than by reading anything.
+//
+// WARN rather than fatal, deliberately. The brain sibling rule
+// (`empty-credential-must-refuse-to-start-not-switch-modes`) says an empty
+// credential must be a startup error, never a silent mode switch — but that is
+// about a control being removed. Here observability is degraded, not a gate
+// bypassed, and refusing to boot would break the unconfigured-homelab case the
+// nil notifier exists to support. What the rule does demand, and what this
+// provides, is that the mode switch stops being silent.
+//
+// Pure and env-injected so the message is testable without a running server:
+// the reason this gap survived is that nothing about it was observable.
+func alertingWarnings(getenv func(string) string) []string {
+	var out []string
+	if getenv("BRAIN_NTFY_URL") == "" {
+		out = append(out, "alerting DISABLED: BRAIN_NTFY_URL unset — "+
+			"brain_edit_root governance rewrites, capture audit degradation and the "+
+			"brain symlink tripwire (hyperguild#157) will not notify")
+	}
+	return out
+}
+
+func buildNotifier() audit.Notifier {
+	if n := audit.NewNtfyNotifier(os.Getenv("BRAIN_NTFY_URL"), os.Getenv("BRAIN_NTFY_TOKEN")); n != nil {
+		return n
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
 // buildAuditSink selects the capture audit sink. When BRAIN_LOKI_URL is
 // set it builds the classification-aware DegradingSink (loki central +
 // durable file buffer + optional ntfy) and starts the reconcile loop;
@@ -160,12 +203,7 @@ func buildAuditSink(ctx context.Context, brainDir string, logger *slog.Logger) c
 		logger.Error("capture audit buffer init", "err", err)
 		os.Exit(1)
 	}
-	// Keep notifier as a nil interface (not a typed-nil) when unconfigured
+	notifier := buildNotifier()
-	// so DegradingSink/Reconcile skip it cleanly.
-	var notifier audit.Notifier
-	if n := audit.NewNtfyNotifier(os.Getenv("BRAIN_NTFY_URL"), os.Getenv("BRAIN_NTFY_TOKEN")); n != nil {
-		notifier = n
-	}
 	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()))
@@ -197,7 +235,15 @@ func systemHostname() string {
 func main() {
 	logger := slog.New(slog.NewJSONHandler(os.Stdout, nil))
 
+	for _, w := range alertingWarnings(os.Getenv) {
+		logger.Warn(w)
+	}
+
 	brainDir := envOr("INGEST_BRAIN_DIR", "../brain")
+	if err := startupSymlinkCheck(brainDir); err != nil {
+		logger.Error("brain symlink tripwire", "err", err)
+		os.Exit(1)
+	}
 	port := envOr("INGEST_PORT", "3300")
 
 	llmURL := envOr("INGEST_LLM_URL", "http://iguana:4000/v1")
@@ -230,6 +276,11 @@ func main() {
 			fallbackModel := envOr("BRAIN_LLM_FALLBACK_MODEL", "gemma4:31b")
 			router.Fallback = llm.New(fallbackURL, "", fallbackModel, timeout)
 		}
+		if tertiaryURL := os.Getenv("BRAIN_LLM_TERTIARY_URL"); tertiaryURL != "" {
+			tertiaryModel := envOr("BRAIN_LLM_TERTIARY_MODEL", "gemini-2.5-flash")
+			tertiaryKey := os.Getenv("GEMINI_API_KEY")
+			router.Tertiary = llm.New(tertiaryURL, tertiaryKey, tertiaryModel, timeout)
+		}
 		answerComplete = router.Complete
 		logger.Info("brain answer LLM configured", "primary", primaryURL, "model", primaryModel)
 	}
@@ -314,6 +365,26 @@ 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())
+
+	// 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
+	// CrashLoopBackOff redoing the backfill. Since mcp-chassis v0.7 the
+	// validator resolves the issuer lazily and answers JWTs 503-and-retry until
+	// it does (hyperguild#155), so no boot retry is needed. A misconfigured
+	// issuer no longer exits the process: it is logged at boot and every JWT
+	// gets 503; the static bearer keeps working.
+	jwtValidator, err := buildJWTValidator(ctx, logger,
+		os.Getenv("DEX_ISSUER_URL"), os.Getenv("MCP_AUDIENCE"))
+	if err != nil {
+		logger.Error("build jwt validator", "err", err)
+		os.Exit(1)
+	}
+	if jwtValidator != nil {
+		logger.Info("jwt auth enabled", "issuer", os.Getenv("DEX_ISSUER_URL"))
+	}
+
 	if watchInterval > 0 {
 		watcher.Start(ctx, watcher.Config{
 			BrainDir: brainDir,
@@ -355,15 +426,39 @@ func main() {
 		}
 		host := envOr("CLAUDE_INGEST_HOST", systemHostname())
 		interval := time.Duration(envInt("CLAUDE_INGEST_INTERVAL", 60)) * time.Second
+
+		// Project directories excluded from ingestion entirely, as globs
+		// against the project directory name — e.g.
+		// "*cobalt-dingo*,*claude-worktrees-bridge-cse*".
+		//
+		// This is a veto list, deliberately named as one. It complements the
+		// client-name scrubber rather than replacing it: the scrubber drops
+		// individual TURNS whose content matches, while this never opens a
+		// project's files at all. Sessions working on live company financials
+		// are excluded here because their content is confidential in ways no
+		// pattern reliably recognises, and their learnings are captured
+		// deliberately through the session-close ritual instead.
+		//
+		// Caveat worth knowing: a project directory is derived from the
+		// session's WORKING DIRECTORY, not from the repositories it touches.
+		// A session run from ~/dev that happens to read a skipped repo will
+		// NOT be excluded by this. The scrubber remains the control for
+		// content; this is a control for whole workspaces.
+		skipProjects := splitList(os.Getenv("CLAUDE_INGEST_SKIP_PROJECTS"))
+		if len(skipProjects) > 0 {
+			logger.Info("claudewatcher: projects excluded from ingestion", "patterns", skipProjects)
+		}
+
 		sink := &claudeSink{brainDir: brainDir, logger: logger}
 		go func() {
 			if err := claudewatcher.Watch(ctx, claudewatcher.Config{
-				SessionsDir: claudeDir,
+				SessionsDir:  claudeDir,
-				Host:        host,
+				Host:         host,
-				Interval:    interval,
+				Interval:     interval,
-				Sink:        sink,
+				Sink:         sink,
-				Cursors:     cursorStore,
+				Cursors:      cursorStore,
-				Logger:      logger,
+				Logger:       logger,
+				SkipProjects: skipProjects,
 			}); err != nil && err != context.Canceled {
 				logger.Error("claudewatcher exited", "err", err)
 			}
@@ -403,45 +498,24 @@ func main() {
 		logger.Info("embed sync started", "interval_s", embedSyncInterval)
 	}
 
-	mux := http.NewServeMux()
+	// Public routes only; buildMux mounts the authenticated REST API (#149).
-	mux.HandleFunc("POST /query", h.Query)
+	public := map[string]http.Handler{}
-	mux.HandleFunc("POST /write", h.Write)
-	mux.HandleFunc("POST /index", h.Index)
-	mux.HandleFunc("POST /ingest", h.Ingest)
-	mux.HandleFunc("POST /ingest-path", h.IngestPath)
-	mux.HandleFunc("POST /ingest-raw", h.IngestRaw)
-	mux.HandleFunc("POST /backfill-refs", h.BackfillRefs)
-	mux.HandleFunc("GET /pending", h.Pending)
-	mux.HandleFunc("POST /promote", h.Promote)
-	mux.HandleFunc("POST /backfill-embeddings", h.BackfillEmbeddings)
-	mux.HandleFunc("GET /pass-rate", h.PassRate)
 	if webhookHandler != nil {
-		mux.Handle("POST /webhooks/brain-sync", webhookHandler)
+		public["POST /webhooks/brain-sync"] = webhookHandler
 	}
-	jwtValidator, err := chassisauth.NewJWTValidator(ctx, os.Getenv("DEX_ISSUER_URL"), os.Getenv("MCP_AUDIENCE"))
-	if err != nil {
-		logger.Error("build jwt validator", "err", err)
-		os.Exit(1)
-	}
-	if jwtValidator != nil {
-		logger.Info("jwt auth enabled", "issuer", os.Getenv("DEX_ISSUER_URL"))
-	}
-
 	// Resource-metadata URL is only emitted on 401 when Dex OAuth is
 	// configured. Static-Bearer-only deployments leave this empty so
 	// clients never see an OAuth challenge.
 	var resourceMetadataURL string
 	if dexURL := os.Getenv("DEX_ISSUER_URL"); dexURL != "" {
 		resourceURL := os.Getenv("MCP_RESOURCE_URL")
-		mux.HandleFunc("GET /.well-known/oauth-protected-resource",
+		public["GET /.well-known/oauth-protected-resource"] = http.HandlerFunc(
 			chassisauth.ProtectedResourceHandler(resourceURL, dexURL))
 		if resourceURL != "" {
 			resourceMetadataURL = strings.TrimRight(resourceURL, "/") + "/.well-known/oauth-protected-resource"
 		}
 	}
 
-	mux.Handle("/mcp", chassisauth.BearerMiddleware(mcpToken, jwtValidator, "brain", resourceMetadataURL, mcpSrv))
-
 	// POST /capture (#53/#54): the uniform capture REST door. Needs a ticket
 	// tracker to file action items, so it only mounts when Gitea is
 	// configured. It reuses the MCP server's graph-wired brain store (one
@@ -462,13 +536,19 @@ func main() {
 		sovereign := splitList(os.Getenv("BRAIN_CAPTURE_SOVEREIGN_PRINCIPALS"))
 		resolver := capturehttp.NewOriginResolver(sovereign)
 		captureH := capturehttp.New(captureSvc, jwtValidator, mcpToken, "local-cli", resolver)
-		mux.Handle("POST /capture", captureH)
+		public["POST /capture"] = captureH
 		// Same use-case behind the MCP `capture` tool (#55 relay) so MCP-native
 		// harnesses (claude.ai, Crush, Pi, LLM Council) reach capture through
-		// the existing /mcp OAuth connector. mcpSrv is already wrapped above;
+		// the existing /mcp OAuth connector. buildMux wraps this same mcpSrv;
 		// WithCapture mutates the same instance, so the tool appears live.
 		mcpSrv.WithCapture(captureSvc, jwtValidator, mcpToken, "local-cli", resolver)
-		logger.Info("capture enabled (REST + MCP tool)", "sovereign_principals", len(sovereign))
+		// hyperguild#97: a governance-file rewrite gets the same trail a
+		// 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())
+		logger.Info("capture enabled (REST + MCP tool)", "sovereign_principals", len(sovereign),
+			"governance_observer", true)
 	} else {
 		logger.Info("capture endpoint disabled (BRAIN_GITEA_TOKEN unset)")
 	}
@@ -486,9 +566,9 @@ func main() {
 			logger.Error("OAUTH_CLIENT_ID/SECRET set but MCP_RESOURCE_URL is empty; cannot derive issuer")
 			os.Exit(1)
 		}
-		mux.HandleFunc("GET /.well-known/oauth-authorization-server",
+		public["GET /.well-known/oauth-authorization-server"] = http.HandlerFunc(
 			oauth.MetadataHandler(issuer))
-		mux.HandleFunc("POST /oauth/token", oauth.TokenHandler(oauth.TokenConfig{
+		public["POST /oauth/token"] = http.HandlerFunc(oauth.TokenHandler(oauth.TokenConfig{
 			ClientID:     oauthID,
 			ClientSecret: oauthSecret,
 			AccessToken:  mcpToken,
@@ -501,13 +581,22 @@ func main() {
 		os.Exit(1)
 	}
 
-	// /metrics — unauthenticated Prometheus endpoint. kube-prometheus-stack
+	// /metrics — unauthenticated Prometheus endpoint, scraped via the
-	// scrapes it via the ServiceMonitor in k3s/apps/supervisor/. The metrics
+	// ServiceMonitor in k3s/apps/supervisor/. buildMux registers it and wraps
-	// middleware below wraps every other registered handler so it observes
+	// the whole router in the registry's middleware.
-	// real request latency. /metrics itself is excluded from its own
+	//
-	// observation by registering it on the outer mux (post-wrap).
+	// The whole router, /mcp's bearer included, is built in buildMux so its
-	reg := metrics.New()
+	// tests are tests of production wiring (PR #152 review, hyperguild#154).
-	mux.HandleFunc("GET /metrics", reg.Handler())
+	// The REST API's credential is the same as /mcp's. Untested here: the
+	// restAuth fields and the public map this call passes in (e.g. a nil
+	// validator would drop JWT auth on /mcp and REST and the suite stays
+	// green), and ListenAndServe serving the result unchanged (hyperguild#182).
+	handler, err := buildMux(restAuth{token: mcpToken, validator: jwtValidator, realm: "brain",
+		resourceMetadataURL: resourceMetadataURL}, h, mcpSrv, metrics.New(), public)
+	if err != nil {
+		logger.Error("build router", "err", err)
+		os.Exit(1)
+	}
 	logger.Info("metrics endpoint registered", "path", "/metrics")
 
 	addr := ":" + port
@@ -524,7 +613,7 @@ func main() {
 		"watch_interval", watchIntervalLog,
 		"mcp_enabled", true,
 	)
-	if err := http.ListenAndServe(addr, reg.Middleware(mux)); err != nil {
+	if err := http.ListenAndServe(addr, handler); err != nil {
 		logger.Error("server stopped", "err", err)
 		os.Exit(1)
 	}

ingestion/cmd/server/main_test.go

@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import (
 	"log/slog"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
@@ -36,3 +37,42 @@ func TestClaudeSink_IngestWritesToNonIndexedArchiveNotWiki(t *testing.T) {
 	_, err = os.Stat(filepath.Join(dir, "wiki", "claude-sessions"))
 	assert.True(t, os.IsNotExist(err), "raw transcripts must never land under wiki/ (ai-sessions#10 — BM25 pollution)")
 }
+
+// --- #107: an unconfigured alert must announce itself ----------------------
+
+func TestAlertingWarnings(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name string
+		env  map[string]string
+		want []string // substrings that must appear across the warnings
+		none bool     // true = expect no warnings at all
+	}{
+		{
+			// The failure this exists to prevent: two alerts dark in
+			// production, discovered only by firing a real event and watching
+			// nothing arrive (#100).
+			name: "notifier unconfigured names what will not fire",
+			env:  map[string]string{},
+			want: []string{"BRAIN_NTFY_URL", "brain_edit_root", "audit"},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "configured notifier is silent",
+			env:  map[string]string{"BRAIN_NTFY_URL": "http://ntfy/brain-alerts"},
+			none: true,
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			got := alertingWarnings(func(k string) string { return tt.env[k] })
+			if tt.none {
+				assert.Empty(t, got)
+				return
+			}
+			joined := strings.Join(got, " ")
+			for _, w := range tt.want {
+				assert.Contains(t, joined, w)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}

ingestion/cmd/server/routes.go

@@ -0,0 +1,109 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"net/http"
+
+	chassisauth "git.d-ma.be/mathias/mcp-chassis/auth"
+
+	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/api"
+	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/metrics"
+)
+
+// publicRoutes is the complete set of patterns a caller may register on the
+// outer mux, outside the REST API's auth (hyperguild#149). Each authenticates
+// itself or is meant to be open: /capture (bearer/JWT), the webhook (HMAC),
+// /oauth/token (client secret) and OAuth metadata (open). /mcp and /metrics
+// are not here: buildMux builds them itself (hyperguild#154). A REST pattern
+// added here would beat the authenticated catch-all by specificity and ship
+// open, which is why buildMux refuses anything else.
+var publicRoutes = map[string]bool{
+	"POST /capture":             true,
+	"POST /webhooks/brain-sync": true,
+	"GET /.well-known/oauth-protected-resource":   true,
+	"GET /.well-known/oauth-authorization-server": true,
+	"POST /oauth/token":                           true,
+}
+
+// restAuth is the credential the REST API checks: the same as /mcp's.
+type restAuth struct {
+	token               string
+	validator           *chassisauth.JWTValidator
+	realm               string
+	resourceMetadataURL string
+}
+
+// buildMux builds the handler main passes to ListenAndServe unchanged. The
+// REST API is mounted at "/" and /mcp is registered, both behind bearer auth
+// that buildMux constructs itself from auth (one credential), so a caller
+// cannot pass a no-op. GET /metrics serves reg, and the whole router is
+// wrapped in reg's middleware. Other public handlers are registered as given,
+// and only for patterns on the publicRoutes allowlist. It returns an
+// http.Handler, not the *ServeMux, so nothing can register a route on the
+// result. What stays untested is main's call site: the restAuth fields and
+// the public map main passes in, and ListenAndServe serving this handler
+// unchanged (hyperguild#182). The tests build their own arguments.
+func buildMux(
+	auth restAuth, h *api.Handler, mcpHandler http.Handler, reg *metrics.Registry, public map[string]http.Handler,
+) (http.Handler, error) {
+	if auth.token == "" {
+		return nil, errors.New("buildMux: REST auth needs a token")
+	}
+	if mcpHandler == nil || reg == nil {
+		return nil, errors.New("buildMux: needs the MCP handler and the metrics registry")
+	}
+	mux := http.NewServeMux()
+	for pattern, handler := range public {
+		if !publicRoutes[pattern] {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("buildMux: %q is not an allowed public route", pattern)
+		}
+		mux.Handle(pattern, handler)
+	}
+	bearer := func(next http.Handler) http.Handler {
+		return chassisauth.BearerMiddleware(auth.token, auth.validator, auth.realm, auth.resourceMetadataURL, next)
+	}
+	mux.Handle("/mcp", bearer(mcpHandler))
+	// /metrics is registered on the mux and so observed by its own
+	// middleware, like any route.
+	mux.Handle("GET /metrics", reg.Handler())
+	mountREST(mux, h, bearer)
+	return reg.Middleware(mux), nil
+}
+
+// mountREST registers the REST API on its own mux and mounts it at "/" behind
+// auth: anything not registered as public lands here and is authenticated,
+// including routes added later.
+func mountREST(mux *http.ServeMux, h *api.Handler, auth func(http.Handler) http.Handler) {
+	rest := http.NewServeMux()
+	rest.HandleFunc("POST /query", h.Query)
+	rest.HandleFunc("POST /write", h.Write)
+	rest.HandleFunc("POST /index", h.Index)
+	rest.HandleFunc("POST /ingest", h.Ingest)
+	rest.HandleFunc("POST /ingest-path", h.IngestPath)
+	rest.HandleFunc("POST /ingest-raw", h.IngestRaw)
+	rest.HandleFunc("POST /backfill-refs", h.BackfillRefs)
+	rest.HandleFunc("GET /pending", h.Pending)
+	rest.HandleFunc("POST /promote", h.Promote)
+	rest.HandleFunc("POST /backfill-embeddings", h.BackfillEmbeddings)
+	rest.HandleFunc("GET /pass-rate", h.PassRate)
+	mux.Handle("/", labelRESTPattern(rest, auth(rest)))
+}
+
+// labelRESTPattern sets the request's Pattern to the REST route it addresses
+// before auth runs, so the metrics middleware (which reads Pattern from the
+// same *http.Request) labels a refused request by its route rather than by
+// the "/" mount (hyperguild#155). A refused request to a path no route
+// matches keeps "/", so for refused requests the label set stays bounded by
+// the registered routes. That bound does not hold for authenticated
+// requests: an unregistered path reaches the REST mux, which 404s with an
+// empty Pattern, and the metrics middleware falls back to the raw URL path
+// (hyperguild#185).
+func labelRESTPattern(rest *http.ServeMux, next http.Handler) http.Handler {
+	return http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		if _, pattern := rest.Handler(r); pattern != "" {
+			r.Pattern = pattern
+		}
+		next.ServeHTTP(w, r)
+	})
+}

ingestion/cmd/server/routes_observability_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,88 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"log/slog"
+	"net/http"
+	"net/http/httptest"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+)
+
+// wrongTokSentinel is a presented credential distinctive enough that any
+// occurrence in a log line is the raw token, not a coincidence.
+const wrongTokSentinel = "wrong-tok-sentinel-q7zx"
+
+// hyperguild#155: since #149 every REST route sits behind BearerMiddleware,
+// and chassis v0.2.0 refused without logging, so an unknown caller got
+// silent 401s. The chassis now writes an `mcp auth rejected` line, and the
+// presented token appears nowhere in the log as a bare value (PR #181
+// review: asserting on the "Bearer " header form could never fail, since
+// the chassis logs fields, not headers).
+func TestBuildMuxRejectionLogLineOmitsTheBarePresentedToken(t *testing.T) {
+	var buf bytes.Buffer
+	prev := slog.Default()
+	slog.SetDefault(slog.New(slog.NewTextHandler(&buf, nil)))
+	t.Cleanup(func() { slog.SetDefault(prev) })
+
+	code, _ := do(t, testMux(t), "POST", "/query", "Bearer "+wrongTokSentinel)
+	require.Equal(t, http.StatusUnauthorized, code)
+	assert.Contains(t, buf.String(), "mcp auth rejected")
+	assert.Contains(t, buf.String(), "path=/query")
+	assert.NotContains(t, buf.String(), wrongTokSentinel, "the rejected token is logged as a bare value")
+	assert.NotContains(t, buf.String(), routesTok, "the valid static token is logged")
+}
+
+// The `mcp auth accepted` line leaves out the valid static token.
+func TestBuildMuxAcceptedLogLineOmitsTheBareStaticToken(t *testing.T) {
+	var buf bytes.Buffer
+	prev := slog.Default()
+	slog.SetDefault(slog.New(slog.NewTextHandler(&buf, nil)))
+	t.Cleanup(func() { slog.SetDefault(prev) })
+
+	code, _ := do(t, testMux(t), "GET", "/pending", "Bearer "+routesTok)
+	require.Equal(t, http.StatusOK, code)
+	assert.Contains(t, buf.String(), "mcp auth accepted")
+	assert.NotContains(t, buf.String(), routesTok, "the accepted static token is logged as a bare value")
+}
+
+// An authenticated REST request is labelled with the REST mux's pattern:
+// the inner mux sets it on the same *http.Request the outer middleware reads.
+func TestMetricsLabelAnAuthenticatedRESTRequestWithItsRoutePattern(t *testing.T) {
+	mux, reg := testMuxAndRegistry(t)
+	code, _ := do(t, mux, "GET", "/pending", "Bearer "+routesTok)
+	require.Equal(t, http.StatusOK, code)
+
+	rec := httptest.NewRecorder()
+	reg.Handler().ServeHTTP(rec, httptest.NewRequest(http.MethodGet, "/metrics", nil))
+	assert.Contains(t, rec.Body.String(), `path="GET /pending"`)
+	assert.NotContains(t, rec.Body.String(), `path="/"`)
+}
+
+// hyperguild#155: a request refused by REST auth never reaches the REST mux,
+// so it was labelled path="/" and a 4xx on /query could not be told from one
+// on /write. It is now labelled with the REST pattern it was addressed to.
+func TestMetricsLabelARejectedRESTRequestWithItsRoutePattern(t *testing.T) {
+	mux, reg := testMuxAndRegistry(t)
+	code, _ := do(t, mux, "POST", "/query", "")
+	require.Equal(t, http.StatusUnauthorized, code)
+
+	rec := httptest.NewRecorder()
+	reg.Handler().ServeHTTP(rec, httptest.NewRequest(http.MethodGet, "/metrics", nil))
+	assert.Contains(t, rec.Body.String(), `path="POST /query",status="4xx"`)
+}
+
+// A path no REST route matches keeps the catch-all label, so an attacker
+// probing random URLs cannot grow the series set.
+func TestMetricsLabelARejectedUnknownPathWithTheCatchAll(t *testing.T) {
+	mux, reg := testMuxAndRegistry(t)
+	code, _ := do(t, mux, "POST", "/no-such-route-zq", "")
+	require.Equal(t, http.StatusUnauthorized, code)
+
+	rec := httptest.NewRecorder()
+	reg.Handler().ServeHTTP(rec, httptest.NewRequest(http.MethodGet, "/metrics", nil))
+	assert.Contains(t, rec.Body.String(), `path="/",status="4xx"`)
+	assert.NotContains(t, rec.Body.String(), "no-such-route-zq")
+}

ingestion/cmd/server/routes_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,161 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"log/slog"
+	"net/http"
+	"net/http/httptest"
+	"os"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+
+	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/api"
+	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/metrics"
+	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/pipeline"
+)
+
+const routesTok = "routes-test-token"
+
+func okHandler(body string) http.Handler {
+	return http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, _ *http.Request) { _, _ = w.Write([]byte(body)) })
+}
+
+// testMux builds the router through buildMux, the function main calls, with
+// every allowlisted public pattern (stub handlers), a stub MCP server and a
+// static token only: no JWT validator and no resourceMetadataURL (the tests
+// in jwt_validator_test.go pass those). It does not use main's own restAuth
+// or public map (hyperguild#182). hyperguild#149: the REST API is
+// authenticated as a whole; the PR #152 review showed a test of a COPY of
+// the router let main.go regress unseen.
+func testMux(t *testing.T) http.Handler {
+	t.Helper()
+	mux, _ := testMuxAndRegistry(t)
+	return mux
+}
+
+func testMuxAndRegistry(t *testing.T) (http.Handler, *metrics.Registry) {
+	t.Helper()
+	public := map[string]http.Handler{}
+	for p := range publicRoutes {
+		public[p] = okHandler("public " + p)
+	}
+	reg := metrics.New()
+	mux, err := buildMux(restAuth{token: routesTok, realm: "brain"}, testHandler(t), okHandler("mcp"), reg, public)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	return mux, reg
+}
+
+func testHandler(t *testing.T) *api.Handler {
+	t.Helper()
+	return api.NewHandler(t.TempDir(), slog.New(slog.NewTextHandler(os.Stderr, nil)), pipeline.Config{})
+}
+
+func do(t *testing.T, h http.Handler, method, path, authz string) (int, string) {
+	t.Helper()
+	req := httptest.NewRequest(method, path, strings.NewReader(`{"query":"x"}`))
+	if authz != "" {
+		req.Header.Set("Authorization", authz)
+	}
+	rec := httptest.NewRecorder()
+	h.ServeHTTP(rec, req)
+	return rec.Code, rec.Body.String()
+}
+
+func TestBuildMuxRefusesRESTRoutesWithoutAValidToken(t *testing.T) {
+	r := testMux(t)
+	for _, rt := range []struct{ method, path string }{
+		{"POST", "/query"}, {"POST", "/write"}, {"POST", "/index"}, {"POST", "/ingest"},
+		{"POST", "/ingest-path"}, {"POST", "/ingest-raw"}, {"POST", "/backfill-refs"},
+		{"GET", "/pending"}, {"POST", "/promote"}, {"POST", "/backfill-embeddings"}, {"GET", "/pass-rate"},
+	} {
+		code, _ := do(t, r, rt.method, rt.path, "")
+		assert.Equal(t, http.StatusUnauthorized, code, "%s %s without a token", rt.method, rt.path)
+		code, _ = do(t, r, rt.method, rt.path, "Bearer wrong")
+		assert.Equal(t, http.StatusUnauthorized, code, "%s %s with a wrong token", rt.method, rt.path)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestBuildMuxServesRESTRoutesToAValidToken(t *testing.T) {
+	r := testMux(t)
+	code, _ := do(t, r, "GET", "/pending", "Bearer "+routesTok)
+	assert.Equal(t, http.StatusOK, code)
+}
+
+func TestBuildMuxAuthenticatesAnUnregisteredPath(t *testing.T) {
+	code, _ := do(t, testMux(t), "POST", "/some-future-route", "")
+	assert.Equal(t, http.StatusUnauthorized, code)
+}
+
+// buildMux registers public handlers as given, without adding auth: each
+// public route owns its own (bearer/JWT on /capture, HMAC on the webhook,
+// client secret on /oauth/token) or is meant to be open (OAuth metadata).
+// /mcp and /metrics are not public routes: buildMux builds them itself.
+func TestBuildMuxDoesNotWrapPublicRoutes(t *testing.T) {
+	r := testMux(t)
+	for p := range publicRoutes {
+		method, path, ok := strings.Cut(p, " ")
+		if !ok {
+			method, path = "GET", p
+		}
+		code, body := do(t, r, method, path, "")
+		assert.Equal(t, http.StatusOK, code, p)
+		assert.Equal(t, "public "+p, body, p)
+	}
+}
+
+// The allowlist is the control: a REST pattern registered as public would win
+// over the authenticated catch-all (more specific pattern), so it is refused.
+func TestBuildMuxRefusesAPublicPatternOffTheAllowlist(t *testing.T) {
+	h := api.NewHandler(t.TempDir(), slog.New(slog.NewTextHandler(os.Stderr, nil)), pipeline.Config{})
+	// "/mcp" and "GET /metrics" are built by buildMux itself (hyperguild#154):
+	// passing either as public would register them unauthenticated or twice.
+	for _, p := range []string{"POST /query", "GET /pending", "/", "POST /metrics", "/mcp", "GET /metrics"} {
+		_, err := buildMux(restAuth{token: routesTok, realm: "brain"}, h, okHandler("mcp"), metrics.New(),
+			map[string]http.Handler{p: okHandler("x")})
+		assert.Error(t, err, "public pattern %q must be refused", p)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestBuildMuxRefusesAnEmptyToken(t *testing.T) {
+	h := api.NewHandler(t.TempDir(), slog.New(slog.NewTextHandler(os.Stderr, nil)), pipeline.Config{})
+	_, err := buildMux(restAuth{token: "", realm: "brain"}, h, okHandler("mcp"), metrics.New(), nil)
+	assert.Error(t, err)
+}
+
+// hyperguild#154: /mcp's bearer was built in main.go, untested; the buildMux
+// tests used stubs. buildMux now wraps the MCP handler itself, with the same
+// credential as the REST API.
+func TestBuildMuxRefusesMCPWithoutAValidToken(t *testing.T) {
+	r := testMux(t)
+	for _, authz := range []string{"", "Bearer wrong"} {
+		code, body := do(t, r, "POST", "/mcp", authz)
+		assert.Equal(t, http.StatusUnauthorized, code, "authz %q", authz)
+		assert.NotEqual(t, "mcp", body)
+	}
+	code, body := do(t, r, "POST", "/mcp", "Bearer "+routesTok)
+	assert.Equal(t, http.StatusOK, code)
+	assert.Equal(t, "mcp", body)
+}
+
+func TestBuildMuxRefusesANilMCPHandlerOrRegistry(t *testing.T) {
+	auth := restAuth{token: routesTok, realm: "brain"}
+	_, err := buildMux(auth, testHandler(t), nil, metrics.New(), nil)
+	assert.Error(t, err)
+	_, err = buildMux(auth, testHandler(t), okHandler("mcp"), nil, nil)
+	assert.Error(t, err)
+}
+
+// hyperguild#154: main wrapped buildMux's result in the metrics middleware
+// before ListenAndServe, untested. buildMux now returns the handler main
+// serves as-is, metrics included: a request through it is observed and
+// exposed on its own GET /metrics.
+func TestBuildMuxObservesRequestsAndServesMetrics(t *testing.T) {
+	r := testMux(t)
+	code, _ := do(t, r, "GET", "/pending", "Bearer "+routesTok)
+	require.Equal(t, http.StatusOK, code)
+	code, body := do(t, r, "GET", "/metrics", "")
+	require.Equal(t, http.StatusOK, code)
+	assert.Contains(t, body, `path="GET /pending"`)
+}

ingestion/cmd/server/symlink_check.go

@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+	"strconv"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/symlinkguard"
+)
+
+// startupSymlinkCheck is the hyperguild#157 tripwire at boot: a symlink in the
+// brain dir would let brain readers serve a file from outside the brain, so
+// the server does not start until it is removed. A directory the scan cannot
+// read could hide one, so it refuses on that too. A missing brain dir (first
+// boot) is the only case it lets pass.
+func startupSymlinkCheck(brainDir string) error {
+	r, err := symlinkguard.Scan(brainDir)
+	if err != nil {
+		if errors.Is(err, os.ErrNotExist) {
+			return nil
+		}
+		return fmt.Errorf("refusing to start: cannot scan the brain dir %s (hyperguild#157): %w", brainDir, err)
+	}
+	if !r.Clean() {
+		return fmt.Errorf("refusing to start: brain dir %s has %s (hyperguild#157); fix them first", brainDir, r)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+// symlinkScanInterval reads BRAIN_SYMLINK_SCAN_INTERVAL (seconds), falling
+// back to the default on an unset, non-numeric or non-positive value.
+func symlinkScanInterval(getenv func(string) string) time.Duration {
+	if s, err := strconv.Atoi(getenv("BRAIN_SYMLINK_SCAN_INTERVAL")); err == nil && s > 0 {
+		return time.Duration(s) * time.Second
+	}
+	return symlinkguard.DefaultInterval
+}

ingestion/cmd/server/symlink_check_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,65 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+)
+
+// hyperguild#157: the server refuses to start while a symlink exists in the
+// brain dir, or while any part of it cannot be scanned (which could hide
+// one); a missing brain dir is the only thing it lets pass.
+func TestStartupSymlinkCheckRefusesABrainWithASymlink(t *testing.T) {
+	brain := t.TempDir()
+	require.NoError(t, os.Symlink(t.TempDir(), filepath.Join(brain, "planted")))
+	err := startupSymlinkCheck(brain)
+	require.Error(t, err)
+	assert.Contains(t, err.Error(), "planted")
+}
+
+func TestStartupSymlinkCheckRefusesABrainWithAnUnreadableDir(t *testing.T) {
+	if os.Geteuid() == 0 {
+		t.Skip("root reads mode-000 directories")
+	}
+	brain := t.TempDir()
+	locked := filepath.Join(brain, "aaa")
+	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(locked, 0o755))
+	require.NoError(t, os.Chmod(locked, 0o000))
+	t.Cleanup(func() { _ = os.Chmod(locked, 0o755) })
+	err := startupSymlinkCheck(brain)
+	require.Error(t, err)
+	assert.Contains(t, err.Error(), "aaa")
+}
+
+func TestStartupSymlinkCheckPassesACleanOrMissingBrain(t *testing.T) {
+	brain := t.TempDir()
+	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(brain, "n.md"), []byte("x"), 0o644))
+	assert.NoError(t, startupSymlinkCheck(brain))
+	assert.NoError(t, startupSymlinkCheck(filepath.Join(brain, "missing")))
+}
+
+func TestSymlinkScanIntervalFallsBackOnNonPositive(t *testing.T) {
+	for _, v := range []string{"0", "-5", "", "junk"} {
+		got := symlinkScanInterval(func(string) string { return v })
+		assert.Positive(t, got, "env %q", v)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestAlertingWarningsNamesTheSymlinkTripwire(t *testing.T) {
+	w := strings.Join(alertingWarnings(func(string) string { return "" }), " ")
+	assert.Contains(t, w, "symlink tripwire")
+}
+
+func TestStartupSymlinkCheckRefusesAnUnlistableBrainRoot(t *testing.T) {
+	if os.Geteuid() == 0 {
+		t.Skip("root lists mode-0100 directories")
+	}
+	brain := t.TempDir()
+	require.NoError(t, os.Chmod(brain, 0o100))
+	t.Cleanup(func() { _ = os.Chmod(brain, 0o755) })
+	assert.Error(t, startupSymlinkCheck(brain))
+}

ingestion/go.mod

@@ -34,9 +34,9 @@ require (
 	github.com/rogpeppe/go-internal v1.15.0 // indirect
 	github.com/spf13/pflag v1.0.5 // indirect
 	github.com/x448/float16 v0.8.4 // indirect
-	golang.org/x/net v0.26.0 // indirect
+	golang.org/x/net v0.55.0 // indirect
 	golang.org/x/oauth2 v0.21.0 // indirect
-	golang.org/x/term v0.28.0 // indirect
+	golang.org/x/term v0.43.0 // indirect
 	golang.org/x/time v0.3.0 // indirect
 	google.golang.org/protobuf v1.34.2 // indirect
 	gopkg.in/evanphx/json-patch.v4 v4.12.0 // indirect
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ require (
 )
 
 require (
-	git.d-ma.be/mathias/mcp-chassis v0.2.0
+	git.d-ma.be/mathias/mcp-chassis v0.7.1
 	github.com/davecgh/go-spew v1.1.2-0.20180830191138-d8f796af33cc // indirect
 	github.com/decred/dcrd/dcrec/secp256k1/v4 v4.4.0 // indirect
 	github.com/goccy/go-json v0.10.3 // indirect
@@ -66,9 +66,9 @@ require (
 	github.com/lestrrat-go/option v1.0.1 // indirect
 	github.com/pmezard/go-difflib v1.0.1-0.20181226105442-5d4384ee4fb2 // indirect
 	github.com/segmentio/asm v1.2.0 // indirect
-	golang.org/x/crypto v0.32.0 // indirect
+	golang.org/x/crypto v0.51.0 // indirect
-	golang.org/x/sync v0.17.0 // indirect
+	golang.org/x/sync v0.21.0 // indirect
-	golang.org/x/sys v0.31.0 // indirect
+	golang.org/x/sys v0.45.0 // indirect
-	golang.org/x/text v0.29.0 // indirect
+	golang.org/x/text v0.39.0 // indirect
 	gopkg.in/yaml.v3 v3.0.1
 )

ingestion/go.sum

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-git.d-ma.be/mathias/mcp-chassis v0.2.0 h1:6fLmb7xqRa2nNVWsHaUbbfbArgDXJw/gDhb09clBIjo=
+git.d-ma.be/mathias/mcp-chassis v0.7.1 h1:4h8TOBHTA0L/no4IPcr4tLcQtmKUlhE2/cXyPdNFGmM=
-git.d-ma.be/mathias/mcp-chassis v0.2.0/go.mod h1:Ks7EK2UnGAN0H3rJjKUxUagX8/ZBdtLrOlcUbv0RwH8=
+git.d-ma.be/mathias/mcp-chassis v0.7.1/go.mod h1:Ks7EK2UnGAN0H3rJjKUxUagX8/ZBdtLrOlcUbv0RwH8=
 github.com/creack/pty v1.1.9/go.mod h1:oKZEueFk5CKHvIhNR5MUki03XCEU+Q6VDXinZuGJ33E=
 github.com/davecgh/go-spew v1.1.0/go.mod h1:J7Y8YcW2NihsgmVo/mv3lAwl/skON4iLHjSsI+c5H38=
 github.com/davecgh/go-spew v1.1.1/go.mod h1:J7Y8YcW2NihsgmVo/mv3lAwl/skON4iLHjSsI+c5H38=
@@ -117,42 +117,42 @@ github.com/yuin/goldmark v1.2.1/go.mod h1:3hX8gzYuyVAZsxl0MRgGTJEmQBFcNTphYh9dec
 golang.org/x/crypto v0.0.0-20190308221718-c2843e01d9a2/go.mod h1:djNgcEr1/C05ACkg1iLfiJU5Ep61QUkGW8qpdssI0+w=
 golang.org/x/crypto v0.0.0-20191011191535-87dc89f01550/go.mod h1:yigFU9vqHzYiE8UmvKecakEJjdnWj3jj499lnFckfCI=
 golang.org/x/crypto v0.0.0-20200622213623-75b288015ac9/go.mod h1:LzIPMQfyMNhhGPhUkYOs5KpL4U8rLKemX1yGLhDgUto=
-golang.org/x/crypto v0.32.0 h1:euUpcYgM8WcP71gNpTqQCn6rC2t6ULUPiOzfWaXVVfc=
+golang.org/x/crypto v0.51.0 h1:IBPXwPfKxY7cWQZ38ZCIRPI50YLeevDLlLnyC5wRGTI=
-golang.org/x/crypto v0.32.0/go.mod h1:ZnnJkOaASj8g0AjIduWNlq2NRxL0PlBrbKVyZ6V/Ugc=
+golang.org/x/crypto v0.51.0/go.mod h1:8AdwkbraGNABw2kOX6YFPs3WM22XqI4EXEd8g+x7Oc8=
 golang.org/x/mod v0.2.0/go.mod h1:s0Qsj1ACt9ePp/hMypM3fl4fZqREWJwdYDEqhRiZZUA=
 golang.org/x/mod v0.3.0/go.mod h1:s0Qsj1ACt9ePp/hMypM3fl4fZqREWJwdYDEqhRiZZUA=
 golang.org/x/net v0.0.0-20190404232315-eb5bcb51f2a3/go.mod h1:t9HGtf8HONx5eT2rtn7q6eTqICYqUVnKs3thJo3Qplg=
 golang.org/x/net v0.0.0-20190620200207-3b0461eec859/go.mod h1:z5CRVTTTmAJ677TzLLGU+0bjPO0LkuOLi4/5GtJWs/s=
 golang.org/x/net v0.0.0-20200226121028-0de0cce0169b/go.mod h1:z5CRVTTTmAJ677TzLLGU+0bjPO0LkuOLi4/5GtJWs/s=
 golang.org/x/net v0.0.0-20201021035429-f5854403a974/go.mod h1:sp8m0HH+o8qH0wwXwYZr8TS3Oi6o0r6Gce1SSxlDquU=
-golang.org/x/net v0.26.0 h1:soB7SVo0PWrY4vPW/+ay0jKDNScG2X9wFeYlXIvJsOQ=
+golang.org/x/net v0.55.0 h1:bcvxaJn3e1U6InsFWt1JUq1aSjnRxLzT2rtD2KfkDF8=
-golang.org/x/net v0.26.0/go.mod h1:5YKkiSynbBIh3p6iOc/vibscux0x38BZDkn8sCUPxHE=
+golang.org/x/net v0.55.0/go.mod h1:L5U2KuzuOe1lY7Z+aWVIKK6qEeJXnXV9yzGA+WCHJww=
 golang.org/x/oauth2 v0.21.0 h1:tsimM75w1tF/uws5rbeHzIWxEqElMehnc+iW793zsZs=
 golang.org/x/oauth2 v0.21.0/go.mod h1:XYTD2NtWslqkgxebSiOHnXEap4TF09sJSc7H1sXbhtI=
 golang.org/x/sync v0.0.0-20190423024810-112230192c58/go.mod h1:RxMgew5VJxzue5/jJTE5uejpjVlOe/izrB70Jof72aM=
 golang.org/x/sync v0.0.0-20190911185100-cd5d95a43a6e/go.mod h1:RxMgew5VJxzue5/jJTE5uejpjVlOe/izrB70Jof72aM=
 golang.org/x/sync v0.0.0-20201020160332-67f06af15bc9/go.mod h1:RxMgew5VJxzue5/jJTE5uejpjVlOe/izrB70Jof72aM=
-golang.org/x/sync v0.17.0 h1:l60nONMj9l5drqw6jlhIELNv9I0A4OFgRsG9k2oT9Ug=
+golang.org/x/sync v0.21.0 h1:HLII4xRRTtCRkxYp4HNFF0Js/Og6q2i++KXbg0gHCwM=
-golang.org/x/sync v0.17.0/go.mod h1:9KTHXmSnoGruLpwFjVSX0lNNA75CykiMECbovNTZqGI=
+golang.org/x/sync v0.21.0/go.mod h1:9xrNwdLfx4jkKbNva9FpL6vEN7evnE43NNNJQ2LF3+0=
 golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20190215142949-d0b11bdaac8a/go.mod h1:STP8DvDyc/dI5b8T5hshtkjS+E42TnysNCUPdjciGhY=
 golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20190412213103-97732733099d/go.mod h1:h1NjWce9XRLGQEsW7wpKNCjG9DtNlClVuFLEZdDNbEs=
 golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20200930185726-fdedc70b468f/go.mod h1:h1NjWce9XRLGQEsW7wpKNCjG9DtNlClVuFLEZdDNbEs=
-golang.org/x/sys v0.31.0 h1:ioabZlmFYtWhL+TRYpcnNlLwhyxaM9kWTDEmfnprqik=
+golang.org/x/sys v0.45.0 h1:dO4czNzziLiiXplLQgBCEpCvXQ3dnkn0SdaZSYdQ+FY=
-golang.org/x/sys v0.31.0/go.mod h1:BJP2sWEmIv4KK5OTEluFJCKSidICx8ciO85XgH3Ak8k=
+golang.org/x/sys v0.45.0/go.mod h1:4GL1E5IUh+htKOUEOaiffhrAeqysfVGipDYzABqnCmw=
-golang.org/x/term v0.28.0 h1:/Ts8HFuMR2E6IP/jlo7QVLZHggjKQbhu/7H0LJFr3Gg=
+golang.org/x/term v0.43.0 h1:S4RLU2sB31O/NCl+zFN9Aru9A/Cq2aqKpTZJ6B+DwT4=
-golang.org/x/term v0.28.0/go.mod h1:Sw/lC2IAUZ92udQNf3WodGtn4k/XoLyZoh8v/8uiwek=
+golang.org/x/term v0.43.0/go.mod h1:lrhlHNdQJHO+1qVYiHfFKVuVioJIheAc3fBSMFYEIsk=
 golang.org/x/text v0.3.0/go.mod h1:NqM8EUOU14njkJ3fqMW+pc6Ldnwhi/IjpwHt7yyuwOQ=
 golang.org/x/text v0.3.3/go.mod h1:5Zoc/QRtKVWzQhOtBMvqHzDpF6irO9z98xDceosuGiQ=
-golang.org/x/text v0.29.0 h1:1neNs90w9YzJ9BocxfsQNHKuAT4pkghyXc4nhZ6sJvk=
+golang.org/x/text v0.39.0 h1:UbZz4pLOvn600D6Oh6GGEI6VAmndrEBLv8/6BEXzyus=
-golang.org/x/text v0.29.0/go.mod h1:7MhJOA9CD2qZyOKYazxdYMF85OwPdEr9jTtBpO7ydH4=
+golang.org/x/text v0.39.0/go.mod h1:3UwRclnC2g0TU9x8PZiyfOajCd1zaUNHF9cvqcQZ+ZM=
 golang.org/x/time v0.3.0 h1:rg5rLMjNzMS1RkNLzCG38eapWhnYLFYXDXj2gOlr8j4=
 golang.org/x/time v0.3.0/go.mod h1:tRJNPiyCQ0inRvYxbN9jk5I+vvW/OXSQhTDSoE431IQ=
 golang.org/x/tools v0.0.0-20180917221912-90fa682c2a6e/go.mod h1:n7NCudcB/nEzxVGmLbDWY5pfWTLqBcC2KZ6jyYvM4mQ=
 golang.org/x/tools v0.0.0-20191119224855-298f0cb1881e/go.mod h1:b+2E5dAYhXwXZwtnZ6UAqBI28+e2cm9otk0dWdXHAEo=
 golang.org/x/tools v0.0.0-20200619180055-7c47624df98f/go.mod h1:EkVYQZoAsY45+roYkvgYkIh4xh/qjgUK9TdY2XT94GE=
 golang.org/x/tools v0.0.0-20210106214847-113979e3529a/go.mod h1:emZCQorbCU4vsT4fOWvOPXz4eW1wZW4PmDk9uLelYpA=
-golang.org/x/tools v0.36.0 h1:kWS0uv/zsvHEle1LbV5LE8QujrxB3wfQyxHfhOk0Qkg=
+golang.org/x/tools v0.47.0 h1:7Kn5x/d1svx/PzryTsqeoZN4TZwqeH5pGWjefhLi/1Q=
-golang.org/x/tools v0.36.0/go.mod h1:WBDiHKJK8YgLHlcQPYQzNCkUxUypCaa5ZegCVutKm+s=
+golang.org/x/tools v0.47.0/go.mod h1:dFHnyTvFWY212G+h7ZY4Vsp/K3U4/7W9TyVaAul8uCA=
 golang.org/x/xerrors v0.0.0-20190717185122-a985d3407aa7/go.mod h1:I/5z698sn9Ka8TeJc9MKroUUfqBBauWjQqLJ2OPfmY0=
 golang.org/x/xerrors v0.0.0-20191011141410-1b5146add898/go.mod h1:I/5z698sn9Ka8TeJc9MKroUUfqBBauWjQqLJ2OPfmY0=
 golang.org/x/xerrors v0.0.0-20191204190536-9bdfabe68543/go.mod h1:I/5z698sn9Ka8TeJc9MKroUUfqBBauWjQqLJ2OPfmY0=

ingestion/internal/api/frontmatter.go

@@ -1,6 +1,12 @@
 package api
 
-import "strings"
+import (
+	"strings"
+
+	// Aliased: this package's own frontmatter type (below) would collide
+	// with the imported package's name otherwise.
+	sharedfm "github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/frontmatter"
+)
 
 // frontmatter is an ordered, line-preserving view of a note's YAML
 // frontmatter block. It deliberately avoids a full YAML round-trip: the
@@ -25,21 +31,37 @@ type fmLine struct {
 // frontmatter block is recognised only when the file opens with a `---`
 // fence and a closing `---` fence follows. Otherwise the whole input is
 // the body and the returned frontmatter is empty.
+//
+// Fence detection itself is frontmatter.Split (hyperguild#138) — this
+// package's own contribution is purely the ordered, line-preserving fmLine
+// shape below, which a shared parser has no business owning since it's
+// specific to how brain_update does a surgical, byte-round-trip edit.
 func parseFrontmatter(src string) (frontmatter, string) {
 	var fm frontmatter
-	if !strings.HasPrefix(src, "---\n") {
+	blockBytes, restBytes, ok := sharedfm.Split([]byte(src))
+	if !ok {
 		return fm, src
 	}
-	rest := src[len("---\n"):]
+	// sharedfm.Split's block/rest boundary sits one byte earlier than this
-	end := strings.Index(rest, "\n---\n")
+	// package's always has: block keeps the "\n" immediately before the
-	if end < 0 {
+	// closing fence, and rest keeps the "\n" immediately after it (both by
-		// Opening fence with no closing fence — treat as bodyless content.
+	// design, for Fix's own reconstruction). This package's block/body
-		return fm, src
+	// never included either — TrimSuffix/TrimPrefix restore that exact
-	}
+	// boundary. Split guarantees ok=true only when "\n---\n" matched, so
-	block := rest[:end]
+	// both trims are always exactly one byte, never ambiguous.
-	body := rest[end+len("\n---\n"):]
+	block := strings.TrimSuffix(string(blockBytes), "\n")
+	body := strings.TrimPrefix(string(restBytes), "\n")
 
 	for _, line := range strings.Split(block, "\n") {
+		// An indented line is a continuation (a YAML block-list item, a
+		// wrapped value) never a top-level key, regardless of whether it
+		// happens to contain a colon — "  - 'Chapter 3: The Reckoning'" is
+		// not a key named "- 'Chapter 3" (hyperguild#128). Checked before
+		// Cut so a colon inside one never reaches the key/value path.
+		if line != "" && (line[0] == ' ' || line[0] == '\t') {
+			fm.lines = append(fm.lines, fmLine{raw: line})
+			continue
+		}
 		key, val, ok := strings.Cut(line, ":")
 		key = strings.TrimSpace(key)
 		if !ok || key == "" || strings.HasPrefix(strings.TrimSpace(line), "#") {
@@ -83,9 +105,19 @@ func (f *frontmatter) render() string {
 	var b strings.Builder
 	b.WriteString("---\n")
 	for _, l := range f.lines {
-		if l.key == "" {
+		switch {
+		case l.key == "":
 			b.WriteString(l.raw)
-		} else {
+		case l.value == "":
+			// A key with nothing after the colon (the YAML block-list
+			// shape: "aliases:" followed by indented "- item" lines on
+			// their own raw lines) must stay bare — "key: " with a
+			// trailing space is a different byte sequence than the
+			// original, and this type's whole purpose (see the package
+			// doc) is a byte-preserving round-trip.
+			b.WriteString(l.key)
+			b.WriteByte(':')
+		default:
 			b.WriteString(l.key)
 			b.WriteString(": ")
 			b.WriteString(l.value)

ingestion/internal/api/frontmatter_test.go

@@ -59,3 +59,37 @@ func TestFrontmatterRenderRoundTrips(t *testing.T) {
 	fm, _ := parseFrontmatter(src)
 	assert.Equal(t, src, fm.render())
 }
+
+func TestParseFrontmatterIndentedListItemWithColonIsNotMisparsedAsKey(t *testing.T) {
+	// hyperguild#128: an indented YAML block-list item that happens to
+	// contain a colon (e.g. a title with a subtitle) is a continuation
+	// line, never a top-level key — strings.Cut doesn't know that just
+	// because TrimSpace(key) happens to be non-empty. Misparsing it as a
+	// key/value pair and re-rendering strips its indentation, de-indenting
+	// it out of the list it belongs to. Same bug class already found and
+	// fixed in the sibling internal/wiki package's parseFrontmatterBlock
+	// (hyperguild#126 review round 3) — this package was the original the
+	// reimplementation was modeled on and had the gap too.
+	src := "---\naliases:\n  - 'Chapter 3: The Reckoning'\ntitle: 'X'\n---\nbody\n"
+	fm, _ := parseFrontmatter(src)
+	fm.set("updated_at", "2026-09-23T00:00:00Z")
+
+	out := fm.render()
+	assert.Contains(t, out, "  - 'Chapter 3: The Reckoning'",
+		"the indented list item must survive verbatim, not get re-emitted as a de-indented fake key")
+	assert.NotContains(t, out, "\n- 'Chapter 3",
+		"must not be split into a fake key/value pair at column 0 (as opposed to surviving indented, asserted above)")
+}
+
+func TestFrontmatterRenderEmptyValueKeyStaysBareNoTrailingSpace(t *testing.T) {
+	// Companion to the indented-list-item fix: "aliases:" (a key with
+	// nothing after the colon, the YAML block-list header) must round-trip
+	// bare, not as "aliases: " with a trailing space — a different byte
+	// sequence than the original, breaking this type's whole reason for
+	// being a line-preserving view rather than a YAML re-marshal.
+	// render() returns only the frontmatter block (see
+	// TestFrontmatterRenderRoundTrips), no trailing body.
+	src := "---\naliases:\n  - one\n  - two\n---\n"
+	fm, _ := parseFrontmatter(src)
+	assert.Equal(t, src, fm.render())
+}

ingestion/internal/api/handler.go

@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ import (
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/brain"
-	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/extract"
+	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/claim"
 	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/pipeline"
 	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/search"
 	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/vectorstore"
@@ -53,8 +53,6 @@ type queryRequest struct {
 type writeRequest struct {
 	Content    string `json:"content"`
 	Filename   string `json:"filename,omitempty"`
-	Type       string `json:"type,omitempty"`
-	Domain     string `json:"domain,omitempty"`
 	Wing       string `json:"wing,omitempty"`
 	Hall       string `json:"hall,omitempty"`
 	SourceType string `json:"source_type,omitempty"` // "external" opts a hall=facts entry out of the internal default
@@ -109,20 +107,21 @@ func (h *Handler) Query(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 
 // WriteNoteOptions configures how a brain note is written.
 //
-// When both Wing and Hall are non-empty, the note routes into the
+// Wing and Hall are both required: the note routes into the structured
-// structured wiki at brain/wiki/<wing>/<hall>/<slug>.md and gets
+// wiki at brain/wiki/<wing>/<hall>/<slug>.md and gets wing/hall/created_at
-// wing/hall/created_at injected into its YAML frontmatter.
+// injected into its YAML frontmatter. There is no other valid destination
-//
+// (the legacy brain/knowledge/ fallback was removed — ADR-0012 / #79).
-// When either is empty, the note falls back to brain/knowledge/<filename>
-// with optional type/domain frontmatter (legacy behaviour).
 type WriteNoteOptions struct {
 	Content    string
 	Filename   string
-	Type       string
-	Domain     string
 	Wing       string
 	Hall       string
 	SourceType string // "internal" marks a first-party observation (e.g. claudewatcher) that needs no external citation
+	// Origin/WrittenBy are server-owned provenance (hyperguild#145): any
+	// origin/written_by in Content's own frontmatter is discarded, so a
+	// caller cannot claim a more trusted origin than it authenticated as.
+	Origin    string
+	WrittenBy string
 }
 
 // WriteNote writes a markdown note into the brain. Returns the path
@@ -131,14 +130,21 @@ func WriteNote(brainDir string, opts WriteNoteOptions) (string, error) {
 	if opts.Content == "" {
 		return "", fmt.Errorf("content is required")
 	}
+	if opts.Wing == "" || opts.Hall == "" {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("wing and hall are required")
+	}
 
-	if opts.Wing != "" && opts.Hall != "" {
+	// In the primitive, not in a caller: POST /write reaches here directly,
-		return writeHallNote(brainDir, opts)
+	// without the BrainStore, and a gate one door wide is not a gate.
+	// BrainStore still calls the strip itself to report Ref.Unlinked; the
+	// second pass is a no-op on already-clean content.
+	clean, _, err := brain.StripUnresolvedLinks(brainDir, opts.Content)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", err
 	}
-	if opts.Wing != "" || opts.Hall != "" {
+	opts.Content = clean
-		return "", fmt.Errorf("wing and hall must be set together")
+
-	}
+	return writeHallNote(brainDir, opts)
-	return writeLegacyNote(brainDir, opts)
 }
 
 // writeHallNote routes a note into brain/wiki/<wing>/<hall>/ and injects
@@ -152,15 +158,21 @@ func writeHallNote(brainDir string, opts WriteNoteOptions) (string, error) {
 	if err != nil {
 		return "", err
 	}
-	if err := os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(dest), 0o755); err != nil {
-		return "", fmt.Errorf("create hall dir: %w", err)
-	}
-
 	existingFields, body := splitFrontmatter(opts.Content)
 	existingByKey := make(map[string]frontmatterField, len(existingFields))
 	for _, f := range existingFields {
 		existingByKey[f.key] = f
 	}
+
+	// Validate the claim-property envelope BEFORE creating the directory, so a
+	// rejected write leaves nothing behind — not even an empty hall dir
+	// (brain#21). Fail closed: a value outside the enum is worse than an absent
+	// one, because a lint skips what it cannot parse and the note then reads as
+	// classified while nothing acts on it.
+	if err := claim.ValidateEnvelope(scalarValues(existingFields)); err != nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("claim envelope: %w", err)
+	}
+
 	emitted := make(map[string]bool, 6)
 
 	var fm strings.Builder
@@ -187,9 +199,6 @@ func writeHallNote(brainDir string, opts WriteNoteOptions) (string, error) {
 			fmt.Fprintf(&fm, "%s: %s\n", key, fallback)
 		}
 	}
-	writeField("type", opts.Type)
-	writeField("domain", opts.Domain)
-
 	sourceType := opts.SourceType
 	if sourceType == "" && opts.Hall == "facts" {
 		// Most hall=facts entries are first-party (an eval/benchmark the
@@ -211,13 +220,42 @@ func writeHallNote(brainDir string, opts WriteNoteOptions) (string, error) {
 	}
 	fm.WriteString("---\n")
 
-	if err := os.WriteFile(dest, []byte(fm.String()+body), 0o644); err != nil {
+	final, err := StampProvenance(fm.String()+body, opts.Origin, opts.WrittenBy)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+	// 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).
+	if err := os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(dest), 0o755); err != nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("create hall dir: %w", err)
+	}
+	if err := os.WriteFile(dest, []byte(final), 0o644); err != nil {
 		return "", fmt.Errorf("write: %w", err)
 	}
 	rel, _ := filepath.Rel(brainDir, dest)
 	return filepath.ToSlash(rel), nil
 }
 
+// scalarValues flattens frontmatter fields to key -> scalar value for
+// validation. Multi-line values (lists, nested blocks) yield the text after
+// the colon on the first line, which is empty for a list — correct here,
+// since every claim-property field is a scalar enum.
+func scalarValues(fields []frontmatterField) map[string]string {
+	out := make(map[string]string, len(fields))
+	for _, f := range fields {
+		if len(f.lines) == 0 {
+			continue
+		}
+		_, value, found := strings.Cut(f.lines[0], ":")
+		if !found {
+			continue
+		}
+		out[f.key] = strings.TrimSpace(value)
+	}
+	return out
+}
+
 // frontmatterField is one top-level YAML key from a frontmatter block,
 // along with its raw line and any indented continuation lines (e.g. a
 // bulleted list value spanning multiple lines).
@@ -261,69 +299,32 @@ func splitFrontmatter(content string) (fields []frontmatterField, body string) {
 	return fields, body
 }
 
-// writeLegacyNote preserves the original brain/knowledge/ behaviour for
+// Write handles POST /write — write a note into brain/wiki/<wing>/<hall>/.
-// callers that have not adopted the wing/hall taxonomy.
-func writeLegacyNote(brainDir string, opts WriteNoteOptions) (string, error) {
-	filename := opts.Filename
-	if filename == "" {
-		filename = fmt.Sprintf("%s-auto.md", time.Now().UTC().Format("2006-01-02-150405"))
-	}
-
-	rawDir := filepath.Join(brainDir, "knowledge")
-	if err := os.MkdirAll(rawDir, 0o755); err != nil {
-		return "", fmt.Errorf("create raw dir: %w", err)
-	}
-
-	finalContent := opts.Content
-	if opts.Type != "" || opts.Domain != "" {
-		var fm strings.Builder
-		fm.WriteString("---\n")
-		if opts.Type != "" {
-			fmt.Fprintf(&fm, "type: %s\n", opts.Type)
-		}
-		if opts.Domain != "" {
-			fmt.Fprintf(&fm, "domain: %s\n", opts.Domain)
-		}
-		fm.WriteString("---\n")
-		finalContent = fm.String() + opts.Content
-	}
-
-	if strings.ContainsAny(filename, `/\`) {
-		return "", fmt.Errorf("invalid filename")
-	}
-	base := filepath.Base(filename)
-	if base == "." || base == ".." || base == "" {
-		return "", fmt.Errorf("invalid filename")
-	}
-	if !strings.HasSuffix(base, ".md") {
-		base += ".md"
-	}
-	dest := filepath.Join(rawDir, base)
-	if err := os.WriteFile(dest, []byte(finalContent), 0o644); err != nil {
-		return "", fmt.Errorf("write: %w", err)
-	}
-
-	rel, _ := filepath.Rel(brainDir, dest)
-	return filepath.ToSlash(rel), nil
-}
-
-// Write handles POST /write — write raw content to brain/knowledge/.
 func (h *Handler) Write(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	var req writeRequest
 	if err := json.NewDecoder(r.Body).Decode(&req); err != nil {
 		writeError(w, http.StatusBadRequest, "invalid JSON")
 		return
 	}
-	relPath, err := WriteNote(h.brainDir, WriteNoteOptions(req))
+	// Field by field, not a struct conversion: provenance is server-owned and
+	// this door carries no principal, so it stamps origin: unknown
+	// (hyperguild#145). A JSON body must never be able to set it.
+	relPath, err := WriteNote(h.brainDir, WriteNoteOptions{
+		Content:    req.Content,
+		Filename:   req.Filename,
+		Wing:       req.Wing,
+		Hall:       req.Hall,
+		SourceType: req.SourceType,
+	})
 	if err != nil {
 		h.logger.Error("write failed", "err", err)
 		writeError(w, http.StatusBadRequest, err.Error())
 		return
 	}
-	if req.Wing != "" && req.Hall != "" {
+	// WriteNote errors out above unless both are set, so this always runs —
-		if err := brain.BuildWingIndex(h.brainDir, req.Wing); err != nil {
+	// no legacy fallback path left to guard against.
-			h.logger.Warn("auto-index failed", "wing", req.Wing, "err", err)
+	if err := brain.BuildWingIndex(h.brainDir, req.Wing); err != nil {
-		}
+		h.logger.Warn("auto-index failed", "wing", req.Wing, "err", err)
 	}
 	writeJSON(w, map[string]string{"path": relPath})
 }
@@ -445,6 +446,12 @@ func (h *Handler) IngestPath(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 		writeError(w, http.StatusBadRequest, "path is required")
 		return
 	}
+	resolved, err := ResolveIngestPath(h.brainDir, req.Path)
+	if err != nil {
+		writeError(w, http.StatusBadRequest, err.Error())
+		return
+	}
+	req.Path = resolved
 
 	info, err := os.Stat(req.Path)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -467,7 +474,13 @@ func (h *Handler) IngestPath(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 			if !isSupportedExtension(ext) {
 				return nil
 			}
-			content, readErr := extract.Text(path)
+			// Each walked file is re-resolved: a symlinked file inside raw/
+			// would otherwise lead extract.Text out of the inbox (#149).
+			if _, rerr := ResolveIngestPath(h.brainDir, path); rerr != nil {
+				allWarnings = append(allWarnings, fmt.Sprintf("skipped %s: %v", path, rerr))
+				return nil
+			}
+			content, readErr := ReadIngestFile(h.brainDir, path)
 			if readErr != nil {
 				allWarnings = append(allWarnings, fmt.Sprintf("extract %s: %v", path, readErr))
 				return nil
@@ -496,7 +509,7 @@ func (h *Handler) IngestPath(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 			writeError(w, http.StatusBadRequest, fmt.Sprintf("unsupported file extension: %s", ext))
 			return
 		}
-		content, readErr := extract.Text(req.Path)
+		content, readErr := ReadIngestFile(h.brainDir, req.Path)
 		if readErr != nil {
 			writeError(w, http.StatusInternalServerError, fmt.Sprintf("extract text: %v", readErr))
 			return
@@ -548,7 +561,8 @@ func (h *Handler) IngestRaw(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 		return
 	}
 
-	result, err := pipeline.RunRaw(h.brainDir, req.Source, req.Pages, req.DryRun)
+	// No principal on this door: pages are stamped origin: unknown (#145).
+	result, err := pipeline.RunRaw(r.Context(), h.brainDir, req.Source, req.Pages, req.DryRun)
 	if err != nil {
 		h.logger.Error("ingest-raw failed", "source", req.Source, "err", err)
 		writeError(w, http.StatusInternalServerError, "ingest error")
@@ -604,7 +618,11 @@ func (h *Handler) Promote(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 		writeError(w, http.StatusBadRequest, "invalid JSON")
 		return
 	}
-	rel, err := PromoteNote(h.brainDir, PromoteOptions(req))
+	// Field by field: this door carries no principal, so the promoted note is
+	// stamped origin: unknown and the body cannot set provenance (#145).
+	rel, err := PromoteNote(h.brainDir, PromoteOptions{
+		Filename: req.Filename, Wing: req.Wing, Hall: req.Hall, Slug: req.Slug,
+	})
 	if err != nil {
 		writeError(w, http.StatusBadRequest, err.Error())
 		return

ingestion/internal/api/handler_test.go

@@ -65,11 +65,13 @@ func TestQuery_ReturnsResults(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.NotEmpty(t, results)
 }
 
-func TestWrite_CreatesKnowledgeFile(t *testing.T) {
+func TestWrite_CreatesWikiFile(t *testing.T) {
 	dir, h := setup(t)
 	body, _ := json.Marshal(map[string]any{
 		"content":  "# Test note\n\nSome content.",
-		"filename": "test-note.md",
+		"filename": "test-note",
+		"wing":     "homelab",
+		"hall":     "facts",
 	})
 	req := httptest.NewRequest(http.MethodPost, "/write", bytes.NewReader(body))
 	rec := httptest.NewRecorder()
@@ -81,11 +83,25 @@ func TestWrite_CreatesKnowledgeFile(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, json.Unmarshal(rec.Body.Bytes(), &resp))
 	assert.NotEmpty(t, resp["path"])
 
-	content, err := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(dir, "knowledge", "test-note.md"))
+	content, err := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(dir, "wiki", "homelab", "facts", "test-note.md"))
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	assert.Contains(t, string(content), "Some content.")
 }
 
+// TestWrite_RequiresWingAndHall is the HTTP-contract counterpart of
+// TestWriteNote_RequiresWingAndHall: a caller (e.g. the MCP brain_write
+// handler) that omits wing/hall gets a 400, not a silent legacy write.
+func TestWrite_RequiresWingAndHall(t *testing.T) {
+	_, h := setup(t)
+	body, _ := json.Marshal(map[string]any{"content": "no destination"})
+	req := httptest.NewRequest(http.MethodPost, "/write", bytes.NewReader(body))
+	rec := httptest.NewRecorder()
+
+	h.Write(rec, req)
+
+	assert.Equal(t, http.StatusBadRequest, rec.Code)
+}
+
 func TestQuery_RequiresQuery(t *testing.T) {
 	_, h := setup(t)
 	body, _ := json.Marshal(map[string]any{"limit": 5})
@@ -97,27 +113,6 @@ func TestQuery_RequiresQuery(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Equal(t, http.StatusBadRequest, rec.Code)
 }
 
-func TestWrite_IncludesFrontmatterWhenTypeProvided(t *testing.T) {
-	dir, h := setup(t)
-	body, _ := json.Marshal(map[string]any{
-		"content":  "Some learning.",
-		"filename": "typed-note.md",
-		"type":     "concept",
-		"domain":   "software",
-	})
-	req := httptest.NewRequest(http.MethodPost, "/write", bytes.NewReader(body))
-	rec := httptest.NewRecorder()
-
-	h.Write(rec, req)
-
-	assert.Equal(t, http.StatusOK, rec.Code)
-	content, err := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(dir, "knowledge", "typed-note.md"))
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	assert.Contains(t, string(content), "type: concept")
-	assert.Contains(t, string(content), "domain: software")
-	assert.Contains(t, string(content), "Some learning.")
-}
-
 func TestWriteNote_HallRouteIncludesSourceTypeWhenSet(t *testing.T) {
 	dir := t.TempDir()
 
@@ -126,7 +121,6 @@ func TestWriteNote_HallRouteIncludesSourceTypeWhenSet(t *testing.T) {
 		Filename:   "session-koala-abc",
 		Wing:       "claude-sessions",
 		Hall:       "facts",
-		Type:       "source",
 		SourceType: "internal",
 	})
 	require.NoError(t, err)
@@ -210,37 +204,95 @@ func TestWriteNote_HallRouteMergesExistingFrontmatterInsteadOfStacking(t *testin
 	assert.Contains(t, body, "# Body")
 }
 
-func TestWriteNote_HallRouteExistingTypeWinsOverOptsType(t *testing.T) {
+// TestWriteNote_RequiresWingAndHall pins the post-legacy-removal contract
-	dir := t.TempDir()
+// (hyperguild#79 / ADR-0012): with the knowledge/ fallback gone, wing+hall
-
+// is the only valid destination, so omitting either is a caller error, not
-	rel, err := api.WriteNote(dir, api.WriteNoteOptions{
+// a silent fallback.
-		Content:  "---\ntype: hypothesis\n---\n\nBody.\n",
+func TestWriteNote_RequiresWingAndHall(t *testing.T) {
-		Filename: "note",
+	cases := []struct {
-		Wing:     "agentsquad",
+		name string
-		Hall:     "decisions",
+		wing string
-		Type:     "decision", // should lose to content's own "type: hypothesis"
+		hall string
-	})
+	}{
-	require.NoError(t, err)
+		{"neither set", "", ""},
-
+		{"wing only", "homelab", ""},
-	got, err := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(dir, filepath.FromSlash(rel)))
+		{"hall only", "", "facts"},
-	require.NoError(t, err)
+	}
-	assert.Contains(t, string(got), "type: hypothesis")
+	for _, tc := range cases {
-	assert.NotContains(t, string(got), "type: decision")
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			dir := t.TempDir()
+			_, err := api.WriteNote(dir, api.WriteNoteOptions{
+				Content: "body",
+				Wing:    tc.wing,
+				Hall:    tc.hall,
+			})
+			require.Error(t, err)
+			assert.Contains(t, err.Error(), "wing and hall are required")
+		})
+	}
 }
 
 func TestWrite_GeneratesFilenameIfAbsent(t *testing.T) {
 	dir, h := setup(t)
-	body, _ := json.Marshal(map[string]any{"content": "auto name"})
+	body, _ := json.Marshal(map[string]any{
+		"content": "auto name",
+		"wing":    "homelab",
+		"hall":    "facts",
+	})
 	req := httptest.NewRequest(http.MethodPost, "/write", bytes.NewReader(body))
 	rec := httptest.NewRecorder()
 
 	h.Write(rec, req)
 
 	assert.Equal(t, http.StatusOK, rec.Code)
-	entries, _ := os.ReadDir(filepath.Join(dir, "knowledge"))
+	entries, err := os.ReadDir(filepath.Join(dir, "wiki", "homelab", "facts"))
-	// +1 because setup already wrote tdd.md
+	require.NoError(t, err)
-	assert.Len(t, entries, 2)
+	require.Len(t, entries, 1)
-	assert.True(t, strings.HasSuffix(entries[1].Name(), ".md"))
+	assert.True(t, strings.HasSuffix(entries[0].Name(), ".md"))
+}
+
+// TestWrite_CLIPayloadRoundTrips exercises the real Handler.Write (not a
+// hand-rolled mock) over an actual HTTP round trip, POSTing the exact JSON
+// envelope cmd/hyperguild's brainClient.Write sends: {wing, hall, filename,
+// content}. cmd/hyperguild lives in a separate Go module from ingestion
+// (no shared go.work), so a Go-level test can't import brainClient
+// directly — this test instead pins the wire contract from the server
+// side and proves a real `hyperguild brain write <wing> <hall> <slug>`
+// invocation writes a real file with real frontmatter under wiki/<wing>/<hall>/.
+// A prior version of this contract test on the client side (in
+// cmd/hyperguild/http_test.go) used only an httptest.NewServer with a
+// hand-rolled mock body, so it stayed green through a regression where the
+// server required wing/hall but the client never sent them (hyperguild#79
+// PR review).
+func TestWrite_CLIPayloadRoundTrips(t *testing.T) {
+	dir, h := setup(t)
+	srv := httptest.NewServer(http.HandlerFunc(h.Write))
+	defer srv.Close()
+
+	payload, err := json.Marshal(struct {
+		Wing     string `json:"wing"`
+		Hall     string `json:"hall"`
+		Filename string `json:"filename"`
+		Content  string `json:"content"`
+	}{Wing: "homelab", Hall: "facts", Filename: "cli-roundtrip", Content: "# CLI roundtrip\n\nReal write.\n"})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	resp, err := http.Post(srv.URL+"/write", "application/json", bytes.NewReader(payload)) //nolint:noctx
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	defer resp.Body.Close() //nolint:errcheck
+
+	assert.Equal(t, http.StatusOK, resp.StatusCode)
+	var out struct {
+		Path string `json:"path"`
+	}
+	require.NoError(t, json.NewDecoder(resp.Body).Decode(&out))
+	assert.Equal(t, "wiki/homelab/facts/cli-roundtrip.md", out.Path)
+
+	written, err := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(dir, "wiki", "homelab", "facts", "cli-roundtrip.md"))
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Contains(t, string(written), "wing: homelab")
+	assert.Contains(t, string(written), "hall: facts")
+	assert.Contains(t, string(written), "Real write.")
 }
 
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -309,10 +361,11 @@ func TestIngestPath_MissingPath(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestIngestPath_File(t *testing.T) {
-	_, h := setup(t)
+	brainDir, h := setup(t)
 
 	// Create a temp file with content
-	dir := t.TempDir()
+	dir := filepath.Join(brainDir, "raw", "fixture") // ingest paths must live in brain/raw/ (#149)
+	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(dir, 0o755))
 	f := filepath.Join(dir, "doc.md")
 	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(f, []byte("# Hello\nThis is markdown content."), 0o644))
 
@@ -416,10 +469,11 @@ func TestIngestRaw_DryRun(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestIngestPath_Directory(t *testing.T) {
-	_, h := setup(t)
+	brainDir, h := setup(t)
 
 	// Create a temp dir with one .md file
-	dir := t.TempDir()
+	dir := filepath.Join(brainDir, "raw", "fixture") // ingest paths must live in brain/raw/ (#149)
+	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(dir, 0o755))
 	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(dir, "notes.md"), []byte("# Notes\nSome notes."), 0o644))
 
 	body, _ := json.Marshal(map[string]any{
@@ -440,3 +494,102 @@ func TestIngestPath_Directory(t *testing.T) {
 	require.True(t, ok, "pages must be an array")
 	assert.NotEmpty(t, pagesSlice)
 }
+
+// --- brain#21: claim-property envelope on the write path -------------------
+
+func TestWriteNote_PreservesClaimEnvelopeVerbatim(t *testing.T) {
+	// writeHallNote already passes unknown keys through; this pins that
+	// behaviour for the envelope specifically, so a future refactor of the
+	// merge loop cannot silently drop it.
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+
+	rel, err := api.WriteNote(dir, api.WriteNoteOptions{
+		Content: "---\nhalf_life: durable\napplies: universal\nclaim_provenance: asserted\n---\n\nA durable claim.\n",
+		Wing:    "homelab",
+		Hall:    "decisions",
+	})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	got, err := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(dir, filepath.FromSlash(rel)))
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Contains(t, string(got), "half_life: durable")
+	assert.Contains(t, string(got), "applies: universal")
+	assert.Contains(t, string(got), "claim_provenance: asserted")
+}
+
+func TestWriteNote_RejectsInvalidClaimEnvelopeAndWritesNothing(t *testing.T) {
+	// Fail closed: a value outside the enum must not land. A lint skips what
+	// it cannot parse, so an unvalidated write produces a note that reads as
+	// classified while nothing acts on it.
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+
+	_, err := api.WriteNote(dir, api.WriteNoteOptions{
+		Content:  "---\nhalf_life: forever\nclaim_provenance: asserted\n---\n\nBody.\n",
+		Filename: "bad-envelope",
+		Wing:     "homelab",
+		Hall:     "facts",
+	})
+	require.Error(t, err)
+	assert.Contains(t, err.Error(), "half_life")
+
+	_, statErr := os.Stat(filepath.Join(dir, "wiki/homelab/facts/bad-envelope.md"))
+	assert.True(t, os.IsNotExist(statErr), "a rejected write must leave no file behind")
+}
+
+func TestWriteNote_RejectsClaimFieldWithoutProvenance(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+
+	_, err := api.WriteNote(dir, api.WriteNoteOptions{
+		Content:  "---\napplies: homelab\n---\n\nBody.\n",
+		Filename: "no-provenance",
+		Wing:     "homelab",
+		Hall:     "facts",
+	})
+	require.Error(t, err)
+	assert.Contains(t, err.Error(), "claim_provenance")
+
+	_, statErr := os.Stat(filepath.Join(dir, "wiki/homelab/facts/no-provenance.md"))
+	assert.True(t, os.IsNotExist(statErr))
+}
+
+// The HTTP POST /write door reaches WriteNote directly, without the
+// BrainStore, so the unresolved-wikilink strip has to live in the primitive
+// or that door stays ungated.
+func TestWriteNote_UnwrapsUnresolvedWikilinks(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	_, err := api.WriteNote(dir, api.WriteNoteOptions{
+		Content: "# Target\n\nbody\n", Filename: "target", Wing: "a", Hall: "facts",
+	})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	rel, err := api.WriteNote(dir, api.WriteNoteOptions{
+		Content:  "See [[target]] and [[gitea-ci]].\n",
+		Filename: "src", Wing: "a", Hall: "facts",
+	})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	got, err := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(dir, filepath.FromSlash(rel)))
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Contains(t, string(got), "[[target]]")
+	assert.Contains(t, string(got), "and gitea-ci.")
+	assert.NotContains(t, string(got), "[[gitea-ci]]")
+}
+
+func TestUpdateNote_UnwrapsUnresolvedWikilinks(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	_, err := api.WriteNote(dir, api.WriteNoteOptions{
+		Content: "old\n", Filename: "n", Wing: "a", Hall: "facts",
+	})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	rel, _, _, err := api.UpdateNote(dir, api.UpdateNoteOptions{
+		Wing: "a", Hall: "facts", Slug: "n",
+		Content: "Related: [[secret-hygiene]].\n", Reason: "r",
+	})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	got, err := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(dir, filepath.FromSlash(rel)))
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Contains(t, string(got), "Related: secret-hygiene.")
+	assert.NotContains(t, string(got), "[[secret-hygiene]]")
+}

ingestion/internal/api/ingestpath_docmark_test.go

@@ -40,9 +40,10 @@ func TestIngestPath_DocxSupportedWhenDocmarkConfigured(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Setenv("DOCMARK_URL", srv.URL+"/mcp")
 	t.Setenv("DOCMARK_BEARER_TOKEN", "tok")
 
-	_, h := setup(t)
+	brainDir, h := setup(t)
 
-	dir := t.TempDir()
+	dir := filepath.Join(brainDir, "raw", "fixture") // ingest paths must live in brain/raw/ (#149)
+	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(dir, 0o755))
 	f := filepath.Join(dir, "doc.docx")
 	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(f, []byte("fake docx"), 0o644))
 

ingestion/internal/api/ingestpath_root.go

@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+package api
+
+import (
+	"errors"
+	"os"
+
+	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/extract"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+)
+
+// ErrOutsideIngestRoot is the one refusal for every bad ingest path. It never
+// carries the underlying error: "no such file" versus "permission denied"
+// would let a caller probe which server files exist (PR #152 review).
+var ErrOutsideIngestRoot = errors.New("ingest path must be an existing file or directory inside brain/raw/")
+
+// ResolveIngestPath confines a caller-supplied ingest path to brain/raw/, the
+// inbox the watcher already owns (hyperguild#149). Relative paths resolve
+// against that root; symlinks are evaluated before the containment check, so
+// a link inside raw/ that points elsewhere is refused. The path must exist.
+func ResolveIngestPath(brainDir, p string) (string, error) {
+	if strings.TrimSpace(p) == "" {
+		return "", ErrOutsideIngestRoot
+	}
+	// raw/ itself must be a real directory: if it were a symlink, containment
+	// inside it would mean nothing (hyperguild#153 item 4).
+	if fi, lerr := os.Lstat(filepath.Join(brainDir, "raw")); lerr != nil || fi.Mode()&os.ModeSymlink != 0 || !fi.IsDir() {
+		return "", ErrOutsideIngestRoot
+	}
+	root, err := filepath.EvalSymlinks(filepath.Join(brainDir, "raw"))
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", ErrOutsideIngestRoot
+	}
+	if !filepath.IsAbs(p) {
+		p = filepath.Join(root, p)
+	}
+	real, err := filepath.EvalSymlinks(filepath.Clean(p))
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", ErrOutsideIngestRoot
+	}
+	rel, err := filepath.Rel(root, real)
+	if err != nil || rel == ".." || strings.HasPrefix(rel, ".."+string(filepath.Separator)) || filepath.IsAbs(rel) {
+		return "", ErrOutsideIngestRoot
+	}
+	return real, nil
+}
+
+// ReadIngestFile extracts text from an ingest path already confined by
+// ResolveIngestPath, reading it through the raw/ root rather than reopening
+// the path by name (hyperguild#153 item 3): if the file is swapped for a
+// symlink after the check, the read still cannot leave raw/.
+func ReadIngestFile(brainDir, resolved string) (string, error) {
+	root, rawPath, err := OpenRawRoot(brainDir)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", ErrOutsideIngestRoot
+	}
+	defer func() { _ = root.Close() }()
+	realRoot, err := filepath.EvalSymlinks(rawPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", ErrOutsideIngestRoot
+	}
+	rel, err := filepath.Rel(realRoot, resolved)
+	if err != nil || rel == ".." || strings.HasPrefix(rel, ".."+string(filepath.Separator)) || filepath.IsAbs(rel) {
+		return "", ErrOutsideIngestRoot
+	}
+	return extract.TextIn(root, rel)
+}

ingestion/internal/api/ingestpath_root_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,88 @@
+package api_test
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"net/http"
+	"net/http/httptest"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+
+	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/api"
+)
+
+// hyperguild#149: /ingest-path and MCP brain_ingest read a caller-chosen
+// server path, so any file the pod could read (the ServiceAccount token,
+// /etc/passwd) could be pulled into the brain and read back out. Ingest paths
+// now resolve inside brain/raw/ — the inbox the watcher already owns — with
+// symlinks evaluated, or are refused.
+func TestResolveIngestPathConfinesToRawInbox(t *testing.T) {
+	brain := t.TempDir()
+	raw := filepath.Join(brain, "raw")
+	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(filepath.Join(raw, "sub"), 0o755))
+	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(raw, "sub", "ok.md"), []byte("x"), 0o644))
+	outside := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "secret.txt")
+	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(outside, []byte("s"), 0o644))
+	require.NoError(t, os.Symlink(outside, filepath.Join(raw, "link.md")))
+	require.NoError(t, os.Symlink(filepath.Dir(outside), filepath.Join(raw, "dirlink")))
+
+	for _, ok := range []string{filepath.Join(raw, "sub", "ok.md"), "sub/ok.md", raw, "sub"} {
+		_, err := api.ResolveIngestPath(brain, ok)
+		assert.NoError(t, err, ok)
+	}
+	for _, bad := range []string{
+		"/etc/hostname", outside, "../secret.txt", filepath.Join(raw, "..", "wiki"),
+		filepath.Join(raw, "link.md"), filepath.Join(raw, "dirlink", "secret.txt"),
+		raw + "-evil/x.md", "",
+	} {
+		_, err := api.ResolveIngestPath(brain, bad)
+		assert.Error(t, err, "must refuse %q", bad)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestIngestPathRefusesAPathOutsideTheInbox(t *testing.T) {
+	_, h := setup(t)
+	body, _ := json.Marshal(map[string]any{"path": "/etc/hostname"})
+	rec := httptest.NewRecorder()
+	h.IngestPath(rec, httptest.NewRequest(http.MethodPost, "/ingest-path", bytes.NewReader(body)))
+	assert.Equal(t, http.StatusBadRequest, rec.Code)
+	assert.Contains(t, rec.Body.String(), "raw")
+}
+
+// A directory ingest must not follow a symlinked FILE inside raw/ out of it.
+func TestIngestPathDirectoryWalkSkipsSymlinksLeavingTheInbox(t *testing.T) {
+	dir, h := setup(t)
+	raw := filepath.Join(dir, "raw", "batch")
+	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(raw, 0o755))
+	outside := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "secret.md")
+	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(outside, []byte("# secret\n\nSENTINEL-149-OUTSIDE"), 0o644))
+	require.NoError(t, os.Symlink(outside, filepath.Join(raw, "leak.md")))
+	body, _ := json.Marshal(map[string]any{"path": "batch", "source": "walk"})
+	rec := httptest.NewRecorder()
+	h.IngestPath(rec, httptest.NewRequest(http.MethodPost, "/ingest-path", bytes.NewReader(body)))
+	assert.Contains(t, rec.Body.String(), "skipped")
+	assert.NotContains(t, rec.Body.String(), "SENTINEL-149-OUTSIDE")
+}
+
+// PR #152 review: the raw EvalSymlinks error told an authenticated caller
+// whether any server file existed ("no such file") or was unreadable
+// ("permission denied"), and leaked the brain directory. Every refusal now
+// reads the same.
+func TestResolveIngestPathRefusalsAreIndistinguishable(t *testing.T) {
+	brain := t.TempDir()
+	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(filepath.Join(brain, "raw"), 0o755))
+	var msgs []string
+	for _, p := range []string{"/etc/hostname", "/etc/definitely-not-here-149", "../x", "nope/missing.md", ""} {
+		_, err := api.ResolveIngestPath(brain, p)
+		require.Error(t, err, p)
+		msgs = append(msgs, err.Error())
+		assert.NotContains(t, err.Error(), brain, "refusal for %q leaks the brain dir", p)
+	}
+	for _, m := range msgs[1:] {
+		assert.Equal(t, msgs[0], m)
+	}
+}

ingestion/internal/api/promote.go

@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
 package api
 
 import (
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
+	"io/fs"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"regexp"
@@ -28,25 +30,25 @@ var datePrefix = regexp.MustCompile(`^\d{4}-\d{2}-\d{2}-`)
 // (natural review order). An absent raw/ dir yields an empty slice, not an
 // error. Only .md files are listed; tunnel-candidate files are skipped.
 func ListPending(brainDir string) ([]PendingNote, error) {
-	dir := filepath.Join(brainDir, "raw")
+	root, _, err := OpenRawRoot(brainDir)
-	entries, err := os.ReadDir(dir)
 	if err != nil {
-		if os.IsNotExist(err) {
+		if errors.Is(err, os.ErrNotExist) {
 			return []PendingNote{}, nil
 		}
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("read raw dir: %w", err)
 	}
+	defer func() { _ = root.Close() }()
+	entries, err := fs.ReadDir(root.FS(), ".")
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("read raw dir: %w", err)
+	}
 
 	out := make([]PendingNote, 0, len(entries))
 	for _, e := range entries {
-		if e.IsDir() || !strings.HasSuffix(e.Name(), ".md") || strings.HasPrefix(e.Name(), "tunnel-candidates-") {
+		if !e.Type().IsRegular() || !strings.HasSuffix(e.Name(), ".md") || strings.HasPrefix(e.Name(), "tunnel-candidates-") {
-			continue
+			continue // directories, and symlinks whose target may be anywhere (#153)
 		}
-		info, statErr := e.Info()
+		raw, info, readErr := readRawNote(root, e.Name())
-		if statErr != nil {
-			continue
-		}
-		raw, readErr := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(dir, e.Name()))
 		if readErr != nil {
 			continue
 		}
@@ -72,6 +74,10 @@ type PromoteOptions struct {
 	Wing     string
 	Hall     string
 	Slug     string // optional; defaults to Filename minus date prefix + .md
+	// Origin/WrittenBy re-attribute the promoted note to the promoter: the raw
+	// note's own frontmatter claims are not provenance (hyperguild#145).
+	Origin    string
+	WrittenBy string
 }
 
 // PromoteNote moves a note from brain/raw/ into the structured wiki: it
@@ -101,12 +107,9 @@ func PromoteNote(brainDir string, opts PromoteOptions) (string, error) {
 	}
 
 	src := filepath.Join(brainDir, "raw", base)
-	raw, err := os.ReadFile(src)
+	raw, err := readRawSource(brainDir, base)
 	if err != nil {
-		if os.IsNotExist(err) {
+		return "", err
-			return "", fmt.Errorf("pending note %q does not exist in raw/", base)
-		}
-		return "", fmt.Errorf("read source: %w", err)
 	}
 
 	// Collision: never silently overwrite an existing promoted note.
@@ -128,7 +131,11 @@ func PromoteNote(brainDir string, opts PromoteOptions) (string, error) {
 		return "", fmt.Errorf("create wing dir: %w", err)
 	}
 	// Write-then-delete: the source survives any write failure.
-	if err := os.WriteFile(dest, []byte(fm.render()+body), 0o644); err != nil {
+	promoted, err := StampProvenance(fm.render()+body, opts.Origin, opts.WrittenBy)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+	if err := os.WriteFile(dest, []byte(promoted), 0o644); err != nil {
 		return "", fmt.Errorf("write promoted note: %w", err)
 	}
 	if err := os.Remove(src); err != nil {
@@ -145,6 +152,65 @@ func PromoteNote(brainDir string, opts PromoteOptions) (string, error) {
 	return relSlash, nil
 }
 
+// RejectOptions identifies a raw note to reject and why.
+type RejectOptions struct {
+	Filename string // basename in brain/raw/
+	Reason   string // optional
+}
+
+// RejectNote records a human decision not to promote a brain/raw/ note,
+// without silently losing it: it stamps rejected_at (+ reject_reason when
+// given) into frontmatter and moves the file to brain/raw/rejected/, using
+// the same write-then-delete safety PromoteNote uses — the source survives
+// any write failure — and the same basename-only filename validation.
+//
+// A rejected note never entered the wiki, so no index rebuild or
+// auto-tunnel run: unlike PromoteNote, this is the end of the note's
+// journey, not the start of a new one. It stays out of ListPending's view
+// (raw/rejected/ is a subdirectory, and ListPending's os.ReadDir on raw/
+// does not recurse), so a rejected note is never re-surfaced as pending —
+// the human decision, once made, stays made, the same principle behind
+// this estate's "issue status is surfaced, not auto-closed, but once a
+// human decides, the decision is recorded" rule applied one level earlier.
+func RejectNote(brainDir string, opts RejectOptions) (string, error) {
+	base := filepath.Base(opts.Filename)
+	if base != opts.Filename || base == "." || base == ".." || strings.ContainsAny(opts.Filename, `/\`) {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("invalid filename %q", opts.Filename)
+	}
+
+	src := filepath.Join(brainDir, "raw", base)
+	raw, err := readRawSource(brainDir, base)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+
+	dest := filepath.Join(brainDir, "raw", "rejected", base)
+	if _, statErr := os.Stat(dest); statErr == nil {
+		rel, _ := filepath.Rel(brainDir, dest)
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("a rejected note named %s already exists", filepath.ToSlash(rel))
+	}
+
+	fm, body := parseFrontmatter(string(raw))
+	fm.set("rejected_at", time.Now().UTC().Format(time.RFC3339))
+	if opts.Reason != "" {
+		fm.set("reject_reason", opts.Reason)
+	}
+
+	if err := os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(dest), 0o755); err != nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("create rejected dir: %w", err)
+	}
+	// 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 := os.Remove(src); err != nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("rejected note written but source removal failed: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	rel, _ := filepath.Rel(brainDir, dest)
+	return filepath.ToSlash(rel), nil
+}
+
 // excerpt returns the first n runes of s, trimmed, single-spaced.
 func excerpt(s string, n int) string {
 	s = strings.TrimSpace(s)
@@ -154,3 +220,24 @@ func excerpt(s string, n int) string {
 	}
 	return strings.TrimSpace(string(r))
 }
+
+// readRawSource reads a pending note for promote/reject through the raw root,
+// refusing symlinks and a symlinked raw/ (hyperguild#153).
+func readRawSource(brainDir, base string) ([]byte, error) {
+	root, _, err := OpenRawRoot(brainDir)
+	if err != nil {
+		if errors.Is(err, os.ErrNotExist) {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("pending note %q does not exist in raw/", base)
+		}
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("read source: %w", err)
+	}
+	defer func() { _ = root.Close() }()
+	raw, _, err := readRawNote(root, base)
+	if err != nil {
+		if errors.Is(err, os.ErrNotExist) {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("pending note %q does not exist in raw/", base)
+		}
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("read source: %w", err)
+	}
+	return raw, nil
+}

ingestion/internal/api/promote_test.go

@@ -119,3 +119,85 @@ func TestPromoteRebuildsWingIndex(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, err, "wing _index regenerated")
 	assert.Contains(t, string(idx), "x", "promoted note appears in the index")
 }
+
+// --- RejectNote (hyperguild#81) ---------------------------------------------
+
+func TestRejectHappyPath(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	writeRaw(t, dir, "2026-04-23-fed-sentiment-scrape.md",
+		"---\ncreated_at: 2026-04-23T13:20:07Z\n---\n# Sentiment scrape\n\nbody.\n")
+
+	rel, err := RejectNote(dir, RejectOptions{
+		Filename: "2026-04-23-fed-sentiment-scrape.md", Reason: "generic scrape, not homelab-relevant",
+	})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, "raw/rejected/2026-04-23-fed-sentiment-scrape.md", rel)
+
+	// Source removed from the pending queue.
+	_, statErr := os.Stat(filepath.Join(dir, "raw", "2026-04-23-fed-sentiment-scrape.md"))
+	assert.True(t, os.IsNotExist(statErr), "source removed from raw/ after reject")
+
+	got, err := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(dir, filepath.FromSlash(rel)))
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	s := string(got)
+	assert.Contains(t, s, "created_at: 2026-04-23T13:20:07Z", "original created_at preserved")
+	assert.Contains(t, s, "rejected_at:")
+	assert.Contains(t, s, "reject_reason: generic scrape, not homelab-relevant")
+	assert.Contains(t, s, "# Sentiment scrape", "body preserved for later reference")
+
+	// Rejected notes never entered the wiki, and are no longer pending.
+	pending, err := ListPending(dir)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Empty(t, pending)
+}
+
+func TestRejectWithoutReason(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	writeRaw(t, dir, "2026-06-01-x.md", "body\n")
+	rel, err := RejectNote(dir, RejectOptions{Filename: "2026-06-01-x.md"})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	got, _ := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(dir, filepath.FromSlash(rel)))
+	assert.NotContains(t, string(got), "reject_reason:", "no reason given, none stamped")
+}
+
+func TestRejectMissingSourceErrors(t *testing.T) {
+	_, err := RejectNote(t.TempDir(), RejectOptions{Filename: "ghost.md"})
+	require.Error(t, err)
+}
+
+func TestRejectRejectsTraversalFilename(t *testing.T) {
+	_, err := RejectNote(t.TempDir(), RejectOptions{Filename: "../escape.md"})
+	require.Error(t, err)
+}
+
+func TestRejectCollisionNoOverwrite(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	dest := filepath.Join(dir, "raw", "rejected", "x.md")
+	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(dest), 0o755))
+	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(dest, []byte("EXISTING\n"), 0o644))
+	writeRaw(t, dir, "x.md", "NEW\n")
+
+	_, err := RejectNote(dir, RejectOptions{Filename: "x.md"})
+	require.Error(t, err, "collision must error, not overwrite")
+
+	got, _ := os.ReadFile(dest)
+	assert.Equal(t, "EXISTING\n", string(got), "target not overwritten")
+	_, statErr := os.Stat(filepath.Join(dir, "raw", "x.md"))
+	assert.NoError(t, statErr, "source preserved on collision (atomic: no delete without write)")
+}
+
+func TestRejectedNotesAreNotListedAsPendingAgain(t *testing.T) {
+	// ListPending already skips tunnel-candidates-*.md; confirm raw/rejected/
+	// (a subdirectory) doesn't leak into the top-level pending listing either
+	// — os.ReadDir on raw/ doesn't recurse, but pin it so a future change to
+	// ListPending can't silently start surfacing rejected notes as pending
+	// again.
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	writeRaw(t, dir, "2026-06-01-x.md", "body\n")
+	_, err := RejectNote(dir, RejectOptions{Filename: "2026-06-01-x.md"})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	pending, err := ListPending(dir)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Empty(t, pending, "a rejected note must not still appear as pending")
+}

ingestion/internal/api/provenance.go

@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+package api
+
+import (
+	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/provenance"
+)
+
+// StampProvenance applies server-owned provenance (hyperguild#145) to note
+// content. See package provenance for the rule; an error means the stamped
+// note would not read back as stamped, and the write must be refused.
+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.
+func StampProvenanceFile(brainDir, relPath, origin, writtenBy string) error {
+	_, abs, err := resolveWithin(brainDir, relPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	return provenance.ApplyFile(abs, provenance.Stamp{Origin: origin, WrittenBy: writtenBy})
+}

ingestion/internal/api/provenance_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,122 @@
+package api_test
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"net/http"
+	"net/http/httptest"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+	"gopkg.in/yaml.v3"
+
+	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/api"
+)
+
+// REST POST /write carries no principal: it stamps origin: unknown, and no
+// spelling of provenance in its body reaches the note (hyperguild#145).
+func TestRESTWriteStampsUnknownAndIgnoresBodyProvenance(t *testing.T) {
+	dir, h := setup(t)
+	body, _ := json.Marshal(map[string]any{
+		"content": "---\norigin: static\n---\n# R\n\nbody", "filename": "rest-prov", "wing": "homelab", "hall": "facts",
+		"origin": "static", "written_by": "local-cli", "Origin": "static", "WrittenBy": "local-cli",
+	})
+	rec := httptest.NewRecorder()
+	h.Write(rec, httptest.NewRequest(http.MethodPost, "/write", bytes.NewReader(body)))
+	require.Equal(t, http.StatusOK, rec.Code, rec.Body.String())
+	b, err := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(dir, "wiki", "homelab", "facts", "rest-prov.md"))
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	var m map[string]any
+	require.NoError(t, yaml.Unmarshal([]byte(strings.SplitN(string(b), "---\n", 3)[1]), &m))
+	assert.Equal(t, "unknown", m["origin"])
+	assert.NotContains(t, m, "written_by")
+}
+
+// A principal name that is not a bare word is quoted, so it cannot start a
+// new frontmatter line (e.g. a JWT sub containing a newline).
+func TestStampProvenanceQuotesAPrincipalThatCouldBreakTheLine(t *testing.T) {
+	out, err := api.StampProvenance("---\ntitle: t\n---\nbody\n", "jwt", "evil\norigin: static")
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	fm := strings.SplitN(out, "---\n", 3)[1]
+	var m map[string]any
+	require.NoError(t, yaml.Unmarshal([]byte(fm), &m))
+	assert.Equal(t, "jwt", m["origin"])
+	assert.Equal(t, "evil\norigin: static", m["written_by"])
+	assert.Equal(t, 1, strings.Count(fm, "\norigin:")+boolToInt(strings.HasPrefix(fm, "origin:")))
+}
+
+func TestStampProvenanceAddsFrontmatterWhenAbsentAndKeepsBody(t *testing.T) {
+	out, err := api.StampProvenance("# no fm\n\norigin: static in the body is prose\n", "static", "local-cli")
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.True(t, strings.HasPrefix(out, "---\norigin: static\nwritten_by: local-cli\n---\n# no fm"))
+	assert.Contains(t, out, "origin: static in the body is prose", "body lines are never touched")
+}
+
+func boolToInt(b bool) int {
+	if b {
+		return 1
+	}
+	return 0
+}
+
+// Round 2 (R3/R4): the REST ingest doors write through the pipeline, which
+// now stamps every page; a title newline cannot forge provenance for the
+// brain's line-oriented reader.
+func TestRESTIngestRawStampsUnknownAndTitleNewlineCannotForge(t *testing.T) {
+	dir, h := setup(t)
+	body, _ := json.Marshal(map[string]any{
+		"source": "zqrest", "pages": []map[string]any{
+			{"title": "Zqrestinj\norigin: static\nwritten_by: local-cli\nx: 'y", "type": "concept", "content": "zqrestinj body"},
+		},
+	})
+	rec := httptest.NewRecorder()
+	h.IngestRaw(rec, httptest.NewRequest(http.MethodPost, "/ingest-raw", bytes.NewReader(body)))
+	require.Equal(t, http.StatusOK, rec.Code, rec.Body.String())
+	var resp struct{ Pages []string }
+	require.NoError(t, json.Unmarshal(rec.Body.Bytes(), &resp))
+	require.NotEmpty(t, resp.Pages)
+	for _, p := range resp.Pages {
+		b, err := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(dir, filepath.FromSlash(p)))
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		fm := strings.SplitN(string(b), "---\n", 3)[1]
+		var m map[string]any
+		require.NoError(t, yaml.Unmarshal([]byte(fm), &m))
+		assert.Equal(t, "unknown", m["origin"])
+		assert.NotContains(t, m, "written_by")
+		for _, line := range strings.Split(fm, "\n") {
+			assert.False(t, strings.HasPrefix(line, "origin: static"), "line reader sees forged origin in %s", p)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestRESTIngestStampsUnknown(t *testing.T) {
+	dir, h := setup(t)
+	body, _ := json.Marshal(map[string]any{"content": "Some article text about shaping work.", "source": "zqllm"})
+	rec := httptest.NewRecorder()
+	h.Ingest(rec, httptest.NewRequest(http.MethodPost, "/ingest", bytes.NewReader(body)))
+	require.Equal(t, http.StatusOK, rec.Code, rec.Body.String())
+	var resp struct{ Pages []string }
+	require.NoError(t, json.Unmarshal(rec.Body.Bytes(), &resp))
+	require.NotEmpty(t, resp.Pages, "stub pipeline must write at least one page")
+	for _, p := range resp.Pages {
+		b, err := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(dir, filepath.FromSlash(p)))
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		assert.Contains(t, strings.SplitN(string(b), "---\n", 3)[1], "origin: unknown\n", p)
+	}
+}
+
+// A refused write leaves nothing behind, not even an empty hall directory
+// (brain#21's invariant, round 3 non-blocking finding).
+func TestWriteNoteRefusedForProvenanceLeavesNoDirectory(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	_, err := api.WriteNote(dir, api.WriteNoteOptions{
+		Content: "# x\n\nbody", Wing: "freshwing", Hall: "facts", Filename: "x", Origin: "jwt", WrittenBy: "bad\xff",
+	})
+	require.Error(t, err)
+	_, statErr := os.Stat(filepath.Join(dir, "wiki", "freshwing"))
+	assert.True(t, os.IsNotExist(statErr), "no wing directory may be created by a refused write")
+}

ingestion/internal/api/raw_race_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,178 @@
+package api_test
+
+import (
+	"encoding/base64"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"net/http"
+	"net/http/httptest"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+	"sync"
+	"sync/atomic"
+	"syscall"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/api"
+)
+
+// hyperguild#153 / PR #156: behavioural race tests, so the control does not
+// rest on lints that list forbidden APIs (round 3: an os.ReadFile or
+// Root.ReadFile rewrite passed the lint and leaked 19k times in 4s). A
+// swapper keeps renaming a regular note, a symlink to an outside file, or a
+// FIFO into raw/r.md while the public readers loop. Any leaked byte fails;
+// any hang fails.
+
+const raceSentinel = "SENTINEL-153-RACE"
+
+// startSwapper runs fn until the test ends, and waits for it to exit before
+// t.TempDir's cleanup removes the directory it writes into (hyperguild#162:
+// an unawaited swapper raced the cleanup, "directory not empty").
+func startSwapper(t *testing.T, fn func(stop *atomic.Bool)) {
+	t.Helper()
+	var stop atomic.Bool
+	var wg sync.WaitGroup
+	wg.Add(1)
+	go func() { defer wg.Done(); fn(&stop) }()
+	t.Cleanup(func() { stop.Store(true); wg.Wait() })
+}
+
+func swap(raw, outside string, fifo bool, stop *atomic.Bool) {
+	tgt := filepath.Join(raw, "r.md")
+	for i := 0; !stop.Load(); i++ {
+		tmp := filepath.Join(raw, ".swap")
+		_ = os.Remove(tmp)
+		switch {
+		case i%2 == 0:
+			_ = os.WriteFile(tmp, []byte("# r\n\ninside"), 0o644)
+		case fifo:
+			_ = syscall.Mkfifo(tmp, 0o644)
+		default:
+			_ = os.Symlink(outside, tmp)
+		}
+		_ = os.Rename(tmp, tgt)
+	}
+}
+
+func raceBrain(t *testing.T) (brain, raw, outside string) {
+	t.Helper()
+	brain = t.TempDir()
+	raw = filepath.Join(brain, "raw")
+	if err := os.MkdirAll(raw, 0o755); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	outside = filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "secret.md")
+	if err := os.WriteFile(outside, []byte("# s\n\n"+raceSentinel), 0o644); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if err := os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(raw, "r.md"), []byte("# r\n\ninside"), 0o644); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	return brain, raw, outside
+}
+
+// readers runs every public raw/ reader once and returns all text they
+// produced (excerpts, extracted text).
+func readers(brain, raw string) string {
+	var b strings.Builder
+	if ns, err := api.ListPending(brain); err == nil {
+		for _, n := range ns {
+			b.WriteString(n.Excerpt)
+		}
+	}
+	if s, err := api.ReadIngestFile(brain, filepath.Join(raw, "r.md")); err == nil {
+		b.WriteString(s)
+	}
+	return b.String()
+}
+
+func TestRawReadersLeakNothingUnderASymlinkSwapRace(t *testing.T) {
+	brain, raw, outside := raceBrain(t)
+	startSwapper(t, func(stop *atomic.Bool) { swap(raw, outside, false, stop) })
+	leaks, iters := 0, 0
+	for deadline := time.Now().Add(1500 * time.Millisecond); time.Now().Before(deadline); iters++ {
+		leaks += strings.Count(readers(brain, raw), raceSentinel)
+	}
+	if leaks > 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("outside file leaked %d times in %d iterations", leaks, iters)
+	}
+	t.Logf("%d iterations, 0 leaks", iters)
+}
+
+func TestRawReadersDoNotHangUnderAFIFOSwapRace(t *testing.T) {
+	brain, raw, outside := raceBrain(t)
+	startSwapper(t, func(stop *atomic.Bool) { swap(raw, outside, true, stop) })
+	var iters atomic.Int64
+	done := make(chan struct{})
+	go func() {
+		for deadline := time.Now().Add(1500 * time.Millisecond); time.Now().Before(deadline); {
+			_ = readers(brain, raw)
+			iters.Add(1)
+		}
+		close(done)
+	}()
+	select {
+	case <-done:
+	case <-time.After(6 * time.Second):
+		// Unblock the stuck open so the test process can exit.
+		if f, err := os.OpenFile(filepath.Join(raw, "r.md"), os.O_WRONLY|syscall.O_NONBLOCK, 0); err == nil {
+			_ = f.Close()
+		}
+		t.Fatalf("a raw/ reader hung on a swapped-in FIFO after %d iterations", iters.Load())
+	}
+}
+
+// PR #156 round 4: the pdf/docmark branch of TextIn copies the file through
+// the root to a temp file; pointing the extractor back at the raw/ path by
+// name stayed green because the race tests only used r.md (a stub docmark
+// then received the outside file's bytes 34k times in 4s). This races a
+// symlink into raw/r.docx and has a fake docmark count the sentinel in every
+// document it is sent.
+func TestDocmarkExtractionLeaksNothingUnderASymlinkSwapRace(t *testing.T) {
+	var seen atomic.Int64
+	srv := httptest.NewServer(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		var req struct {
+			Params struct {
+				Arguments struct {
+					ContentBase64 string `json:"content_base64"`
+				} `json:"arguments"`
+			} `json:"params"`
+		}
+		_ = json.NewDecoder(r.Body).Decode(&req)
+		if b, err := base64.StdEncoding.DecodeString(req.Params.Arguments.ContentBase64); err == nil &&
+			strings.Contains(string(b), raceSentinel) {
+			seen.Add(1)
+		}
+		w.Header().Set("Content-Type", "application/json")
+		_, _ = w.Write([]byte(`{"jsonrpc":"2.0","id":1,"result":{"content":[{"type":"text","text":"converted"}]}}`))
+	}))
+	defer srv.Close()
+	t.Setenv("DOCMARK_URL", srv.URL)
+
+	brain, raw, outside := raceBrain(t)
+	tgt := filepath.Join(raw, "r.docx")
+	if err := os.WriteFile(tgt, []byte("inside docx bytes"), 0o644); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	startSwapper(t, func(stop *atomic.Bool) {
+		for i := 0; !stop.Load(); i++ {
+			tmp := filepath.Join(raw, ".swapdocx")
+			_ = os.Remove(tmp)
+			if i%2 == 0 {
+				_ = os.WriteFile(tmp, []byte("inside docx bytes"), 0o644)
+			} else {
+				_ = os.Symlink(outside, tmp)
+			}
+			_ = os.Rename(tmp, tgt)
+		}
+	})
+	iters := 0
+	for deadline := time.Now().Add(1500 * time.Millisecond); time.Now().Before(deadline); iters++ {
+		_, _ = api.ReadIngestFile(brain, tgt)
+	}
+	if n := seen.Load(); n > 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("docmark received the outside file %d times in %d iterations", n, iters)
+	}
+	t.Logf("%d iterations, 0 leaks to docmark", iters)
+}

ingestion/internal/api/raw_symlink_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,80 @@
+package api_test
+
+import (
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+
+	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/api"
+)
+
+// hyperguild#153: readers of brain/raw/ followed symlinks. /pending showed the
+// target's contents and promote would copy it into wiki/ (and brain-sync to
+// Gitea). raw/ is writable via Syncthing, so a symlink there is reachable
+// input. Every raw/ reader now treats a symlink as not-a-note.
+const sentinel153 = "SENTINEL-153-OUTSIDE"
+
+func rawWithSymlink(t *testing.T) (brain string) {
+	t.Helper()
+	brain = t.TempDir()
+	raw := filepath.Join(brain, "raw")
+	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(raw, 0o755))
+	outside := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "secret.md")
+	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(outside, []byte("---\ncreated_at: 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z\n---\n# s\n\n"+sentinel153), 0o644))
+	require.NoError(t, os.Symlink(outside, filepath.Join(raw, "2026-01-01-leak.md")))
+	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(raw, "2026-01-02-real.md"), []byte("# real\n\nreal body"), 0o644))
+	return brain
+}
+
+func TestListPendingSkipsSymlinkedNotes(t *testing.T) {
+	notes, err := api.ListPending(rawWithSymlink(t))
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	var names []string
+	for _, n := range notes {
+		names = append(names, n.Filename)
+		assert.NotContains(t, n.Excerpt, sentinel153)
+	}
+	assert.Equal(t, []string{"2026-01-02-real.md"}, names)
+}
+
+func TestPromoteNoteRefusesASymlinkedSource(t *testing.T) {
+	brain := rawWithSymlink(t)
+	_, err := api.PromoteNote(brain, api.PromoteOptions{Filename: "2026-01-01-leak.md", Wing: "testing", Hall: "facts"})
+	require.Error(t, err)
+	_, statErr := os.Stat(filepath.Join(brain, "wiki", "testing", "facts", "leak.md"))
+	assert.True(t, os.IsNotExist(statErr), "nothing may be promoted from a symlink")
+}
+
+func TestRejectNoteRefusesASymlinkedSource(t *testing.T) {
+	brain := rawWithSymlink(t)
+	_, err := api.RejectNote(brain, api.RejectOptions{Filename: "2026-01-01-leak.md"})
+	require.Error(t, err)
+	b, _ := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(brain, "raw", "rejected", "2026-01-01-leak.md"))
+	assert.False(t, strings.Contains(string(b), sentinel153))
+}
+
+// Item 4: if raw/ itself is a symlink, containment inside it means nothing.
+func TestResolvePendingPromoteRejectAndReadIngestRefuseASymlinkedRawRoot(t *testing.T) {
+	brain := t.TempDir()
+	elsewhere := t.TempDir()
+	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(elsewhere, "x.md"), []byte("# x\n\n"+sentinel153), 0o644))
+	require.NoError(t, os.Symlink(elsewhere, filepath.Join(brain, "raw")))
+
+	_, err := api.ResolveIngestPath(brain, "x.md")
+	assert.Error(t, err, "ingest must refuse a symlinked raw/")
+	notes, err := api.ListPending(brain)
+	assert.Error(t, err, "pending must refuse a symlinked raw/")
+	assert.Empty(t, notes)
+	_, err = api.PromoteNote(brain, api.PromoteOptions{Filename: "x.md", Wing: "testing", Hall: "facts"})
+	assert.Error(t, err, "promote must refuse a symlinked raw/")
+	_, err = api.RejectNote(brain, api.RejectOptions{Filename: "x.md"})
+	assert.Error(t, err, "reject must refuse a symlinked raw/")
+	text, err := api.ReadIngestFile(brain, filepath.Join(elsewhere, "x.md"))
+	assert.Error(t, err, "ReadIngestFile must refuse a symlinked raw/")
+	assert.NotContains(t, text, sentinel153)
+	// The watcher's refusal is tested in internal/watcher.
+}

ingestion/internal/api/rawroot.go

@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+package api
+
+import (
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"io"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+
+	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/extract"
+)
+
+// errNotANote is returned for a raw/ entry that is not a regular file — in
+// particular a symlink, whose target may be anywhere (hyperguild#153).
+var errNotANote = errors.New("not a regular note file in raw/ (symlinks are refused)")
+
+// errRawNotDir means brain/raw is not a real directory (e.g. a symlink), so
+// containment inside it would mean nothing (hyperguild#153 item 4).
+var errRawNotDir = errors.New("brain/raw is not a real directory")
+
+// OpenRawRoot opens brain/raw as an os.Root, refusing a raw/ that is itself a
+// symlink. Reads through the root cannot leave it, even if an entry is
+// swapped for a symlink between a check and the read. It returns the root
+// and raw/'s path. A missing raw/ returns an error wrapping os.ErrNotExist.
+func OpenRawRoot(brainDir string) (*os.Root, string, error) {
+	p := filepath.Join(brainDir, "raw")
+	fi, err := os.Lstat(p)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, "", err
+	}
+	if fi.Mode()&os.ModeSymlink != 0 || !fi.IsDir() {
+		return nil, "", errRawNotDir
+	}
+	r, err := os.OpenRoot(p)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, "", fmt.Errorf("open raw root: %w", err)
+	}
+	return r, p, nil
+}
+
+// readRawNote reads one raw/ entry by basename through the root, refusing
+// anything that is not a regular file.
+//
+// Accepted residual: a HARD link to an outside file is a regular file and is
+// read. Syncthing syncs contents, not links, so a peer cannot create one;
+// fs.protected_hardlinks=1 and the pod's secrets live on a different
+// filesystem from the brain volume, so a local caller cannot link them in.
+// Refusing Nlink > 1 is the next step if either assumption changes.
+func readRawNote(r *os.Root, base string) ([]byte, os.FileInfo, error) {
+	fi, err := r.Lstat(base)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, nil, err
+	}
+	if !fi.Mode().IsRegular() {
+		return nil, nil, errNotANote
+	}
+	f, _, err := extract.OpenRegular(r, base)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, nil, err
+	}
+	defer func() { _ = f.Close() }()
+	b, err := io.ReadAll(f)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, nil, err
+	}
+	return b, fi, nil
+}

ingestion/internal/api/readnote_root_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+package api_test
+
+import (
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+
+	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/api"
+	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/brainfs/brainfstest"
+)
+
+// hyperguild#157 slice 2: ReadNote (brain_get, read-after-write) read by
+// path; it now reads through brainfs.
+func TestReadNoteRefusesSymlinksAndSurvivesSwapRaces(t *testing.T) {
+	brain := t.TempDir()
+	facts := filepath.Join(brain, "wiki", "w", "facts")
+	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(facts, 0o755))
+	require.NoError(t, os.Symlink(brainfstest.Outside(t), filepath.Join(facts, "leak.md")))
+	_, body, _, err := api.ReadNote(brain, "wiki/w/facts/leak.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))
+	fm, body, _, err := api.ReadNote(brain, "wiki/w/facts/r.md")
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, "y", fm["x"])
+	assert.Contains(t, body, "inside")
+	read := func() string {
+		fm, body, _, _ := api.ReadNote(brain, "wiki/w/facts/r.md")
+		s := body
+		for k, v := range fm {
+			s += k + v
+		}
+		return s
+	}
+	brainfstest.AssertNoLeak(t, p, "---\nx: y\n---\ninside", 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

@@ -4,12 +4,14 @@ import (
 	"crypto/sha256"
 	"encoding/hex"
 	"fmt"
+	"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/claim"
 )
 
 // ContentHash returns the lowercase hex sha256 of b. It is the note's
@@ -45,6 +47,11 @@ type UpdateNoteOptions struct {
 	Slug    string
 	Content string // new full body (whole-note replace)
 	Reason  string // optional; stamped as supersede_reason
+	// Origin/WrittenBy re-stamp provenance to the updating principal: the
+	// body is replaced wholesale, so the last writer is the author of what
+	// a reader sees (hyperguild#145). Never taken from Content's fragment.
+	Origin    string
+	WrittenBy string
 }
 
 // UpdateNote supersedes an existing note in place. It replaces the body
@@ -64,6 +71,14 @@ func UpdateNote(brainDir string, opts UpdateNoteOptions) (relPath, contentHash,
 		return "", "", "", fmt.Errorf("content is required")
 	}
 
+	// Same reason as WriteNote: the strip belongs in the primitive so every
+	// door inherits it.
+	clean, _, err := brain.StripUnresolvedLinks(brainDir, opts.Content)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", "", "", err
+	}
+	opts.Content = clean
+
 	var rel string
 	if opts.Path != "" {
 		rel = opts.Path
@@ -90,14 +105,65 @@ func UpdateNote(brainDir string, opts UpdateNoteOptions) (relPath, contentHash,
 	}
 	priorHash = ContentHash(prior)
 
+	// A caller may lead opts.Content with its own frontmatter fence to set or
+	// change fields on supersede (e.g. the claim envelope). Split it off
+	// before it reaches the body — left un-split, it would render as a
+	// second, inert `---`-fenced block of literal text rather than taking
+	// effect, and any claim-envelope fields inside it would reach disk
+	// unvalidated (hyperguild#111: the same rule that guards note birth in
+	// writeHallNote must guard a change to the same fields).
+	contentFM, contentBody := parseFrontmatter(opts.Content)
+
 	fm, _ := parseFrontmatter(string(prior))
+	for _, l := range contentFM.lines {
+		// updated_at/supersedes/supersede_reason are this function's own
+		// output, not something a caller's fragment sets — updated_at and
+		// supersedes are already unconditionally re-set below regardless of
+		// what the loop does with them, but supersede_reason is only
+		// re-set when opts.Reason is non-empty, so without this skip a
+		// caller could set it via its own fragment and have it survive
+		// even when Reason is empty, bypassing the one intended entry
+		// point for that field (hyperguild#125, found in #111's review).
+		// Skipping all three here rather than relying on the unconditional
+		// overwrites below to save the other two keeps the invariant
+		// explicit at the one place it can be silently broken by a future
+		// reordering, not implicit in call order.
+		if l.key == "" || l.key == "updated_at" || l.key == "supersedes" || l.key == "supersede_reason" ||
+			l.key == "origin" || l.key == "written_by" {
+			continue
+		}
+		fm.set(l.key, l.value)
+	}
 	fm.set("updated_at", time.Now().UTC().Format(time.RFC3339))
 	fm.set("supersedes", priorHash)
 	if opts.Reason != "" {
 		fm.set("supersede_reason", opts.Reason)
 	}
 
-	out := []byte(fm.render() + opts.Content)
+	// Validate the envelope AFTER the merge, against the full field set that
+	// is about to reach disk — not just the caller's fragment. Validating the
+	// fragment alone would miss a caller that supersedes claim_provenance to
+	// empty while half_life/applies survive untouched from the prior note:
+	// each side looks individually fine, but the merged result is an
+	// unprovenanced envelope, which is the exact laundering this check
+	// exists to catch. (Caught in review before merge, not filed after —
+	// worth being honest about in the history: this second pass was the
+	// actual fix; the first one validated the wrong document.)
+	envelope := make(map[string]string, len(fm.lines))
+	for _, l := range fm.lines {
+		if l.key != "" {
+			envelope[l.key] = l.value
+		}
+	}
+	if err := claim.ValidateEnvelope(envelope); err != nil {
+		return "", "", "", fmt.Errorf("claim envelope: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	stamped, err := StampProvenance(fm.render()+contentBody, opts.Origin, opts.WrittenBy)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", "", "", err
+	}
+	out := []byte(stamped)
 	if err := os.WriteFile(abs, out, 0o644); err != nil {
 		return "", "", "", fmt.Errorf("write: %w", err)
 	}
@@ -109,11 +175,17 @@ func UpdateNote(brainDir string, opts UpdateNoteOptions) (relPath, contentHash,
 // write primitive behind brain_get: the hash it returns equals the hash
 // brain_write / brain_update returned for the same bytes.
 func ReadNote(brainDir, relPath string) (fm map[string]string, body, contentHash string, err error) {
-	_, abs, err := resolveWithin(brainDir, relPath)
+	rel, _, err := resolveWithin(brainDir, relPath)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, "", "", err
 	}
-	raw, err := os.ReadFile(abs)
+	// Through the brain root, regular files only (hyperguild#157).
+	bfs, err := brainfs.Open(brainDir)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, "", "", fmt.Errorf("read note: %w", err)
+	}
+	defer func() { _ = bfs.Close() }()
+	raw, err := bfs.ReadRegular(rel)
 	if err != nil {
 		if os.IsNotExist(err) {
 			return nil, "", "", fmt.Errorf("note %q does not exist", relPath)

ingestion/internal/api/update_test.go

@@ -52,6 +52,114 @@ func TestUpdateNoteSupersedesAndStamps(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Contains(t, s, "supersede_reason: facts changed")
 }
 
+func TestUpdateNoteRejectsInvalidEnvelopeAndWritesNothing(t *testing.T) {
+	// hyperguild#111: WriteNote validates the claim envelope before create;
+	// UpdateNote didn't before supersede, so the same rule must hold on
+	// change as on birth, fail-closed, nothing written on rejection.
+	brainDir := t.TempDir()
+	original := "---\nwing: jepa-fx\nhall: facts\ncreated_at: 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z\n---\n# Old\n\nold body\n"
+	rel := seedNote(t, brainDir, "wiki/jepa-fx/facts/val-vol.md", original)
+
+	_, _, _, err := UpdateNote(brainDir, UpdateNoteOptions{
+		Path:    rel,
+		Content: "---\nhalf_life: forever\n---\n# New\n\nnew body\n",
+	})
+	require.Error(t, err)
+	assert.Contains(t, err.Error(), "claim envelope")
+
+	got, err := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(brainDir, filepath.FromSlash(rel)))
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, original, string(got), "rejected update must leave the note byte-identical")
+}
+
+func TestUpdateNoteRejectsAppliesWithoutProvenance(t *testing.T) {
+	brainDir := t.TempDir()
+	original := "---\nwing: jepa-fx\nhall: facts\n---\nold\n"
+	rel := seedNote(t, brainDir, "wiki/jepa-fx/facts/val-vol.md", original)
+
+	_, _, _, err := UpdateNote(brainDir, UpdateNoteOptions{
+		Path:    rel,
+		Content: "---\napplies: universal\n---\nnew\n",
+	})
+	require.Error(t, err)
+	assert.Contains(t, err.Error(), "claim envelope")
+
+	got, err := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(brainDir, filepath.FromSlash(rel)))
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, original, string(got))
+}
+
+func TestUpdateNoteAcceptsValidEnvelopeAndMergesIntoFrontmatter(t *testing.T) {
+	brainDir := t.TempDir()
+	rel := seedNote(t, brainDir, "wiki/jepa-fx/facts/val-vol.md",
+		"---\nwing: jepa-fx\nhall: facts\ncreated_at: 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z\n---\nold\n")
+
+	_, _, _, err := UpdateNote(brainDir, UpdateNoteOptions{
+		Path:    rel,
+		Content: "---\nhalf_life: durable\napplies: universal\nclaim_provenance: asserted\n---\nnew body\n",
+	})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	got, err := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(brainDir, filepath.FromSlash(rel)))
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	s := string(got)
+	assert.Contains(t, s, "half_life: durable")
+	assert.Contains(t, s, "applies: universal")
+	assert.Contains(t, s, "claim_provenance: asserted")
+	assert.Contains(t, s, "wing: jepa-fx", "prior fields survive")
+	assert.Contains(t, s, "new body")
+	assert.Equal(t, 2, strings.Count(s, "---\n"),
+		"exactly one open+close fence pair — the caller's own fence must not leak in as a second, inert block")
+}
+
+func TestUpdateNoteRejectsClearingProvenanceWhileEnvelopeSurvives(t *testing.T) {
+	// Found in review, not written speculatively: validating only the
+	// caller's fragment (rather than the merged result) let a caller blank
+	// out claim_provenance alone while half_life/applies survived from the
+	// prior note untouched — each side looks fine on its own, the merged
+	// envelope on disk is the unprovenanced one the whole check exists to
+	// catch.
+	brainDir := t.TempDir()
+	original := "---\nwing: jepa-fx\nhall: facts\nhalf_life: durable\napplies: universal\nclaim_provenance: asserted\n---\nold\n"
+	rel := seedNote(t, brainDir, "wiki/jepa-fx/facts/val-vol.md", original)
+
+	_, _, _, err := UpdateNote(brainDir, UpdateNoteOptions{
+		Path:    rel,
+		Content: "---\nclaim_provenance: \n---\nnew body\n",
+	})
+	require.Error(t, err)
+	assert.Contains(t, err.Error(), "claim envelope")
+
+	got, err := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(brainDir, filepath.FromSlash(rel)))
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, original, string(got), "rejected update must leave the note byte-identical")
+}
+
+func TestUpdateNoteWithoutEnvelopeFieldsIsUnchangedFromToday(t *testing.T) {
+	// Regression pin: plain fence-less content (the common case) must behave
+	// exactly as it did before the envelope-merge fix.
+	brainDir := t.TempDir()
+	rel := seedNote(t, brainDir, "wiki/jepa-fx/facts/val-vol.md",
+		"---\nwing: jepa-fx\nhall: facts\ncreated_at: 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z\ncustom: keep-me\n---\n# Old\n\nold body\n")
+
+	relPath, hash, priorHash, err := UpdateNote(brainDir, UpdateNoteOptions{
+		Path:    rel,
+		Content: "# New\n\nnew body\n",
+		Reason:  "facts changed",
+	})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, rel, relPath)
+	assert.NotEmpty(t, hash)
+	assert.NotEqual(t, hash, priorHash)
+
+	got, err := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(brainDir, filepath.FromSlash(rel)))
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	s := string(got)
+	assert.Contains(t, s, "# New")
+	assert.Contains(t, s, "custom: keep-me")
+	assert.Contains(t, s, "supersedes: "+priorHash)
+}
+
 func TestUpdateNoteResolvesByWingHallSlug(t *testing.T) {
 	brainDir := t.TempDir()
 	seedNote(t, brainDir, "wiki/jepa-fx/facts/val-vol.md",
@@ -123,6 +231,45 @@ func TestUpdateThenReadRoundTripsHash(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Equal(t, hash, readHash, "update content_hash must round-trip through ReadNote")
 }
 
+func TestUpdateNoteSupersedeReasonNotSettableViaCallerFragmentWhenReasonOptionEmpty(t *testing.T) {
+	// hyperguild#125, found in #111's review: the merge loop applied every
+	// field from the caller's leading frontmatter fragment, including
+	// supersede_reason -- which is only re-set unconditionally when
+	// opts.Reason is non-empty, so a caller could set it via its own
+	// fragment and have it survive even with Reason left empty, bypassing
+	// the one intended entry point for that field.
+	brainDir := t.TempDir()
+	rel := seedNote(t, brainDir, "wiki/a/facts/n.md", "---\nwing: a\nhall: facts\n---\nold\n")
+
+	_, _, _, err := UpdateNote(brainDir, UpdateNoteOptions{
+		Path:    rel,
+		Content: "---\nsupersede_reason: snuck in via the fragment\n---\nnew\n",
+		// Reason deliberately left empty.
+	})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	got, err := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(brainDir, filepath.FromSlash(rel)))
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.NotContains(t, string(got), "supersede_reason",
+		"supersede_reason must not appear at all when opts.Reason is empty, regardless of what the fragment tried to set")
+}
+
+func TestUpdateNoteSupersedeReasonFromOptionStillWorks(t *testing.T) {
+	// Regression pin: the legitimate entry point (opts.Reason) must be
+	// completely unaffected by #125's fix.
+	brainDir := t.TempDir()
+	rel := seedNote(t, brainDir, "wiki/a/facts/n.md", "---\nwing: a\nhall: facts\n---\nold\n")
+
+	_, _, _, err := UpdateNote(brainDir, UpdateNoteOptions{
+		Path: rel, Content: "new\n", Reason: "facts changed",
+	})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	got, err := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(brainDir, filepath.FromSlash(rel)))
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Contains(t, string(got), "supersede_reason: facts changed")
+}
+
 func TestContentHashStable(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Equal(t, ContentHash([]byte("abc")), ContentHash([]byte("abc")))
 	assert.NotEqual(t, ContentHash([]byte("abc")), ContentHash([]byte("abd")))

ingestion/internal/audit/buffer.go

@@ -28,8 +28,8 @@ type FileBuffer struct {
 }
 
 type bufferLine struct {
-	ID    string              `json:"id"`
+	ID    string             `json:"id"`
-	Entry capture.AuditEntry  `json:"entry"`
+	Entry capture.AuditEntry `json:"entry"`
 }
 
 // NewFileBuffer returns a buffer backed by path. The parent directory is

ingestion/internal/audit/degrading_test.go

@@ -46,10 +46,10 @@ func (f *fakeNotifier) Notify(_ context.Context, msg string) error {
 // unwritableBuffer always reports it cannot be written (floor condition).
 type unwritableBuffer struct{}
 
-func (unwritableBuffer) Writable() error                       { return errors.New("disk full") }
+func (unwritableBuffer) Writable() error                    { return errors.New("disk full") }
-func (unwritableBuffer) Append(capture.AuditEntry) error       { return errors.New("disk full") }
+func (unwritableBuffer) Append(capture.AuditEntry) error    { return errors.New("disk full") }
-func (unwritableBuffer) Pending() ([]audit.Buffered, error)    { return nil, nil }
+func (unwritableBuffer) Pending() ([]audit.Buffered, error) { return nil, nil }
-func (unwritableBuffer) Confirm(string) error                  { return nil }
+func (unwritableBuffer) Confirm(string) error               { return nil }
 
 func newFileBuffer(t *testing.T) *audit.FileBuffer {
 	t.Helper()

ingestion/internal/audit/ntfy.go

@@ -49,7 +49,19 @@ func (n *NtfyNotifier) Notify(ctx context.Context, msg string) error {
 	}
 	defer func() { _ = resp.Body.Close() }()
 	if resp.StatusCode < 200 || resp.StatusCode >= 300 {
-		return fmt.Errorf("ntfy notify: status %d", resp.StatusCode)
+		return &RejectedError{Status: resp.StatusCode}
 	}
 	return nil
 }
+
+// RejectedError is a non-2xx ntfy response.
+type RejectedError struct{ Status int }
+
+func (e *RejectedError) Error() string { return fmt.Sprintf("ntfy notify: status %d", e.Status) }
+
+// Permanent reports whether resending the same message cannot succeed: a 4xx
+// other than 429 (rate limited). Callers may drop such a message; anything
+// else (5xx, 429, transport errors) is an outage and must be retried.
+func (e *RejectedError) Permanent() bool {
+	return e.Status >= 400 && e.Status < 500 && e.Status != http.StatusTooManyRequests
+}

ingestion/internal/audit/ntfy_rejected_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+package audit
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"net/http"
+	"net/http/httptest"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+)
+
+// A non-2xx ntfy response is a *RejectedError, and only a client-side refusal
+// other than rate limiting is permanent: callers may drop a message on a
+// permanent rejection and must retry the rest (hyperguild#157, PR #160).
+func TestNotifyClassifiesRejectionsAsPermanentOrNot(t *testing.T) {
+	for status, permanent := range map[int]bool{413: true, 400: true, 403: true, 429: false, 500: false, 503: false} {
+		srv := httptest.NewServer(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, _ *http.Request) { w.WriteHeader(status) }))
+		err := NewNtfyNotifier(srv.URL, "").Notify(context.Background(), "m")
+		srv.Close()
+		var rej *RejectedError
+		require.True(t, errors.As(err, &rej), "status %d: %v", status, err)
+		assert.Equal(t, status, rej.Status)
+		assert.Equal(t, permanent, rej.Permanent(), "status %d", status)
+	}
+}

ingestion/internal/brain/index.go

@@ -2,12 +2,18 @@ package brain
 
 import (
 	"bufio"
+	"bytes"
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
+	"io"
+	"io/fs"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"sort"
 	"strings"
 	"time"
+
+	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/brainfs"
 )
 
 // noteEntry is one row in a Wing _index.md.
@@ -27,13 +33,18 @@ func BuildWingIndex(brainDir, wing string) error {
 		return fmt.Errorf("invalid wing %q", wing)
 	}
 	wingDir := filepath.Join(brainDir, "wiki", w)
-	if _, err := os.Stat(wingDir); os.IsNotExist(err) {
+	// 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)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("open brain: %w", err)
+	}
+	defer func() { _ = bfs.Close() }()
+	if _, err := bfs.Lstat("wiki/" + w); errors.Is(err, fs.ErrNotExist) {
 		return nil
-	} else if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("stat wing: %w", err)
 	}
 
-	entries, err := collectWingEntries(wingDir)
+	entries, err := collectWingEntries(bfs, "wiki/"+w)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -58,51 +69,47 @@ func BuildWingIndex(brainDir, wing string) error {
 
 // BuildAllWingIndexes regenerates _index.md for every wing under brain/wiki/.
 func BuildAllWingIndexes(brainDir string) error {
-	wikiDir := filepath.Join(brainDir, "wiki")
+	bfs, err := brainfs.Open(brainDir)
-	ents, err := os.ReadDir(wikiDir)
+	if err != nil {
-	if os.IsNotExist(err) {
+		return fmt.Errorf("open brain: %w", err)
+	}
+	wings, err := bfs.ReadDirDirs("wiki")
+	_ = bfs.Close()
+	if errors.Is(err, fs.ErrNotExist) {
 		return nil
 	}
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("read wiki: %w", err)
 	}
-	for _, e := range ents {
+	for _, w := range wings {
-		if !e.IsDir() {
+		if err := BuildWingIndex(brainDir, w); err != nil {
-			continue
+			return fmt.Errorf("index %s: %w", w, err)
-		}
-		if err := BuildWingIndex(brainDir, e.Name()); err != nil {
-			return fmt.Errorf("index %s: %w", e.Name(), err)
 		}
 	}
 	return nil
 }
 
-func collectWingEntries(wingDir string) ([]noteEntry, error) {
+func collectWingEntries(bfs *brainfs.Brain, wingRel string) ([]noteEntry, error) {
 	var out []noteEntry
-	ents, err := os.ReadDir(wingDir)
+	halls, err := bfs.ReadDirDirs(wingRel)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("read wing: %w", err)
 	}
-	for _, hallEnt := range ents {
+	for _, hall := range halls {
-		if !hallEnt.IsDir() {
-			continue
-		}
-		hall := hallEnt.Name()
 		if !IsValidHall(hall) {
 			continue
 		}
-		hallDir := filepath.Join(wingDir, hall)
+		hallRel := wingRel + "/" + hall
-		notes, err := os.ReadDir(hallDir)
+		names, err := bfs.ReadDirRegular(hallRel)
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, fmt.Errorf("read hall %s: %w", hall, err)
 		}
-		for _, n := range notes {
+		for _, name := range names {
-			if n.IsDir() || !strings.HasSuffix(n.Name(), ".md") || n.Name() == "_index.md" {
+			if !strings.HasSuffix(name, ".md") || name == "_index.md" {
 				continue
 			}
-			slug := strings.TrimSuffix(n.Name(), ".md")
+			slug := strings.TrimSuffix(name, ".md")
-			full := filepath.Join(hallDir, n.Name())
+			title, created := readTitleAndCreatedIn(bfs, hallRel+"/"+name, slug)
-			title, created := readTitleAndCreated(full, slug)
 			out = append(out, noteEntry{Hall: hall, Slug: slug, Title: title, Created: created})
 		}
 	}
@@ -117,9 +124,40 @@ func readTitleAndCreated(path, slug string) (string, string) {
 		return slug, ""
 	}
 	defer func() { _ = f.Close() }()
+	title, created := parseTitleAndCreated(f)
+	if created == "" {
+		if info, err := os.Stat(path); err == nil {
+			created = info.ModTime().UTC().Format("2006-01-02")
+		}
+	}
+	return titleOrSlug(title, slug), created
+}
 
-	title, created := "", ""
+// readTitleAndCreatedIn is readTitleAndCreated through the brain root,
-	scanner := bufio.NewScanner(f)
+// regular files only (hyperguild#157).
+func readTitleAndCreatedIn(bfs *brainfs.Brain, rel, slug string) (string, string) {
+	content, err := bfs.ReadRegular(rel)
+	if err != nil {
+		return slug, ""
+	}
+	title, created := parseTitleAndCreated(bytes.NewReader(content))
+	if created == "" {
+		if info, err := bfs.Lstat(rel); err == nil {
+			created = info.ModTime().UTC().Format("2006-01-02")
+		}
+	}
+	return titleOrSlug(title, slug), created
+}
+
+func titleOrSlug(title, slug string) string {
+	if title == "" {
+		return strings.ReplaceAll(slug, "-", " ")
+	}
+	return title
+}
+
+func parseTitleAndCreated(r io.Reader) (title, created string) {
+	scanner := bufio.NewScanner(r)
 	inFrontmatter := false
 	for scanner.Scan() {
 		line := scanner.Text()
@@ -149,13 +187,5 @@ func readTitleAndCreated(path, slug string) (string, string) {
 			}
 		}
 	}
-	if title == "" {
-		title = strings.ReplaceAll(slug, "-", " ")
-	}
-	if created == "" {
-		if info, err := os.Stat(path); err == nil {
-			created = info.ModTime().UTC().Format("2006-01-02")
-		}
-	}
 	return title, created
 }

ingestion/internal/brain/index_root_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,132 @@
+package brain_test
+
+import (
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+
+	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/brain"
+	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/brainfs/brainfstest"
+)
+
+func readIndex(t *testing.T, brainDir, wing string) string {
+	t.Helper()
+	b, _ := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(brainDir, "wiki", wing, "_index.md"))
+	return string(b)
+}
+
+// hyperguild#157 slice 5: BuildWingIndex listed wiki/<wing>/<hall>/ with
+// os.ReadDir and opened each note by path, so a symlinked note put the
+// target's title into _index.md, and a FIFO hung the index build.
+func TestBuildWingIndexRefusesSymlinkedNotesAndSurvivesSwapRaces(t *testing.T) {
+	b := t.TempDir()
+	facts := filepath.Join(b, "wiki", "w", "facts")
+	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(facts, 0o755))
+	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(facts, "ok.md"), []byte("---\ntitle: zqinside\n---\n"), 0o644))
+	require.NoError(t, os.Symlink(brainfstest.Outside(t), filepath.Join(facts, "leak.md")))
+	inBrain := brainfstest.WriteSentinelAt(t, filepath.Join(b, "raw", "s.md"))
+	require.NoError(t, os.Symlink(filepath.Join("..", "..", "..", "raw", "s.md"), filepath.Join(facts, "inlink.md")))
+
+	require.NoError(t, brain.BuildWingIndex(b, "w"))
+	idx := readIndex(t, b, "w")
+	assert.Contains(t, idx, "zqinside", "positive control")
+	assert.NotContains(t, idx, brainfstest.Sentinel)
+	assert.NotContains(t, idx, "leak")
+	assert.NotContains(t, idx, "inlink")
+
+	p := filepath.Join(facts, "r.md")
+	read := func() string {
+		_ = brain.BuildWingIndex(b, "w")
+		return readIndex(t, b, "w")
+	}
+	brainfstest.AssertNoLeak(t, p, "---\ntitle: zqinside\n---\n", 1500*time.Millisecond, read)
+	brainfstest.AssertNoLeakFrom(t, p, "---\ntitle: zqinside\n---\n", inBrain, 1500*time.Millisecond, read)
+	brainfstest.AssertNoHang(t, p, "---\ntitle: zqinside\n---\n", 1500*time.Millisecond, 6*time.Second, func() { _ = read() })
+}
+
+// A symlinked hall is skipped while a real hall next to it is indexed; a
+// symlinked wing is refused and nothing is written into its target.
+func TestBuildWingIndexSkipsASymlinkedHallAndRefusesASymlinkedWing(t *testing.T) {
+	b := t.TempDir()
+	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(filepath.Join(b, "raw", "facts"), 0o755))
+	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(b, "raw", "facts", "r.md"), []byte("---\ntitle: zqrawonly\n---\n"), 0o644))
+	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(filepath.Join(b, "wiki", "w", "decisions"), 0o755))
+	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(b, "wiki", "w", "decisions", "d.md"), []byte("---\ntitle: zqrealhall\n---\n"), 0o644))
+	require.NoError(t, os.Symlink(filepath.Join("..", "..", "raw", "facts"), filepath.Join(b, "wiki", "w", "facts")))
+	require.NoError(t, os.Symlink(filepath.Join("..", "raw"), filepath.Join(b, "wiki", "alias")))
+
+	require.NoError(t, brain.BuildWingIndex(b, "w"))
+	idx, err := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(b, "wiki", "w", "_index.md"))
+	require.NoError(t, err, "the wing index is written")
+	assert.Contains(t, string(idx), "zqrealhall", "the real hall is indexed")
+	assert.NotContains(t, string(idx), "zqrawonly", "the symlinked hall is not")
+
+	assert.Error(t, brain.BuildWingIndex(b, "alias"))
+	_, err = os.Stat(filepath.Join(b, "raw", "_index.md"))
+	assert.True(t, os.IsNotExist(err), "an index was written into the symlinked wing's target")
+}
+
+// BuildAllWingIndexes indexes the real wings and skips a symlinked one.
+func TestBuildAllWingIndexesSkipsASymlinkedWing(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: zqrealwing\n---\n"), 0o644))
+	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(filepath.Join(b, "raw", "facts"), 0o755))
+	require.NoError(t, os.Symlink(filepath.Join("..", "raw"), filepath.Join(b, "wiki", "alias")))
+
+	require.NoError(t, brain.BuildAllWingIndexes(b))
+	idx, err := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(b, "wiki", "w", "_index.md"))
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Contains(t, string(idx), "zqrealwing")
+	_, err = os.Stat(filepath.Join(b, "raw", "_index.md"))
+	assert.True(t, os.IsNotExist(err))
+}
+
+// A link to a symlinked note does not resolve: only regular files count as
+// entries, so StripUnresolvedLinks unwraps it.
+func TestStripUnresolvedLinksDoesNotCountASymlinkedNoteAsAnEntry(t *testing.T) {
+	b := t.TempDir()
+	facts := filepath.Join(b, "wiki", "w", "facts")
+	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(facts, 0o755))
+	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(facts, "real.md"), []byte("x"), 0o644))
+	brainfstest.WriteSentinelAt(t, filepath.Join(b, "raw", "s.md"))
+	require.NoError(t, os.Symlink(filepath.Join("..", "..", "..", "raw", "s.md"), filepath.Join(facts, "ghost.md")))
+	out, unlinked, err := brain.StripUnresolvedLinks(b, "see [[real]] and [[ghost]]")
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Contains(t, out, "[[real]]", "positive control")
+	assert.NotContains(t, out, "[[ghost]]")
+	assert.Contains(t, unlinked, "ghost")
+}
+
+// A linked tree (knowledge/ or wiki/) that is not a real directory is
+// skipped, not an error: StripUnresolvedLinks runs before every brain_write,
+// and an error there loses the learning.
+func TestStripUnresolvedLinksSkipsALinkedTreeThatIsNotARealDirectory(t *testing.T) {
+	for name, mk := range map[string]func(t *testing.T, b string){
+		"symlink to an in-brain dir": func(t *testing.T, b string) {
+			require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(filepath.Join(b, "raw", "k"), 0o755))
+			require.NoError(t, os.Symlink(filepath.Join("raw", "k"), filepath.Join(b, "knowledge")))
+		},
+		"dangling symlink": func(t *testing.T, b string) {
+			require.NoError(t, os.Symlink("nowhere", filepath.Join(b, "knowledge")))
+		},
+		"regular file": func(t *testing.T, b string) {
+			require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(b, "knowledge"), []byte("x"), 0o644))
+		},
+	} {
+		t.Run(name, func(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", "real.md"), []byte("x"), 0o644))
+			mk(t, b)
+			out, _, err := brain.StripUnresolvedLinks(b, "learning [[real]] and [[gone]]")
+			require.NoError(t, err)
+			assert.Contains(t, out, "[[real]]", "links into wiki/ still resolve")
+			assert.NotContains(t, out, "[[gone]]")
+		})
+	}
+}

ingestion/internal/brain/linkcheck.go

@@ -0,0 +1,172 @@
+package brain
+
+import (
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"io/fs"
+	"log/slog"
+	"path"
+	"regexp"
+	"sort"
+	"strings"
+
+	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/brainfs"
+)
+
+// wikilinkRE matches [[target]] and [[target|Display Text]].
+var wikilinkRE = regexp.MustCompile(`\[\[([^\]|]+)(?:\|([^\]]*))?\]\]`)
+
+// fencedCodeRE and inlineCodeRE mark the regions where a [[...]] is a
+// syntax example rather than a link. Same exclusion brain-gardener's audit
+// applies on the read side, so the write gate and the audit agree on what
+// counts as a link at all.
+var (
+	fencedCodeRE = regexp.MustCompile("(?s)```.*?```")
+	inlineCodeRE = regexp.MustCompile("`[^`\n]*`")
+)
+
+// StripUnresolvedLinks unwraps every [[wikilink]] in content whose target
+// resolves to no entry under knowledge/ or wiki/, leaving the link's display
+// text (or its target) as plain prose. It returns the rewritten content and
+// the sorted, de-duplicated targets it unwrapped.
+//
+// WHY UNWRAP RATHER THAN REJECT THE WRITE
+// Agents write [[...]] around anything that feels related — a skill name, a
+// repo, an agent-local memory file — and none of those are brain entries.
+// Every one of those becomes a permanent [high] broken-link finding that no
+// deterministic Fixer can repair, because there is no target to repoint to:
+// the brain-audit digest grew from 19 to 63 high findings between 2026-08-26
+// and 2026-09-16, and 53 of the 63 were exactly this. Rejecting the write
+// instead would push the failure onto claudewatcher's unattended ingest path,
+// where a refused write is a lost learning. Unwrapping keeps the author's
+// words, keeps the write, and keeps the graph honest.
+//
+// An empty corpus (no knowledge/ or wiki/ yet, or a misconfigured brainDir)
+// returns content unchanged: nothing resolving is a bootstrap state, not
+// evidence that every target was invented.
+func StripUnresolvedLinks(brainDir, content string) (string, []string, error) {
+	index, err := entryIndex(brainDir)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", nil, err
+	}
+	if len(index) == 0 {
+		return content, nil, nil
+	}
+
+	code := codeSpans(content)
+	stripped := map[string]struct{}{}
+
+	var b strings.Builder
+	last := 0
+	for _, m := range wikilinkRE.FindAllStringSubmatchIndex(content, -1) {
+		start, end := m[0], m[1]
+		if overlaps(start, end, code) {
+			continue
+		}
+		target := strings.TrimSpace(content[m[2]:m[3]])
+		if _, ok := index[linkKey(target)]; ok {
+			continue
+		}
+		display := target
+		if m[4] >= 0 {
+			if d := strings.TrimSpace(content[m[4]:m[5]]); d != "" {
+				display = d
+			}
+		}
+		b.WriteString(content[last:start])
+		b.WriteString(display)
+		last = end
+		stripped[target] = struct{}{}
+	}
+	if last == 0 {
+		return content, nil, nil
+	}
+	b.WriteString(content[last:])
+
+	targets := make([]string, 0, len(stripped))
+	for t := range stripped {
+		targets = append(targets, t)
+	}
+	sort.Strings(targets)
+	return b.String(), targets, nil
+}
+
+// linkedTrees are the two trees that hold linkable entries — the same pair
+// package notes admits under ScopeNotes. Duplicated rather than imported
+// because that list is unexported there and this is a read-only mirror.
+var linkedTrees = []string{"knowledge", "wiki"}
+
+// entryIndex maps every form a wikilink may name an entry by — its bare slug
+// and its path form (wiki/<wing>/<hall>/<slug>.md -> wing/hall/slug) — to a
+// present marker. Mirrors brain-gardener's resolver so an accepted link is
+// one the audit will also resolve.
+func entryIndex(brainDir string) (map[string]struct{}, error) {
+	index := map[string]struct{}{}
+	// Walked through the brain root (hyperguild#157): only regular files
+	// count as entries, so a symlinked .md name cannot make a link resolve.
+	bfs, err := brainfs.Open(brainDir)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("open brain: %w", err)
+	}
+	defer func() { _ = bfs.Close() }()
+	for _, dir := range linkedTrees {
+		if _, err := bfs.Lstat(dir); errors.Is(err, fs.ErrNotExist) {
+			continue
+		}
+		var walkErr error
+		err := bfs.WalkRegular(dir, func(rel string) error {
+			if !strings.HasSuffix(rel, ".md") {
+				return nil
+			}
+			index[strings.TrimSuffix(path.Base(rel), ".md")] = struct{}{}
+			index[strings.TrimPrefix(strings.TrimSuffix(rel, ".md"), "wiki/")] = struct{}{}
+			return nil
+		}, func(rel string, err error) {
+			// A linked tree that is not a real directory (a symlink, a
+			// file) is skipped, as filepath.WalkDir did: this runs before
+			// every brain_write, and an error here loses the learning.
+			if rel == dir && errors.Is(err, brainfs.ErrNotRegular) {
+				slog.Warn("link check: skipping a linked tree that is not a real directory", "dir", dir)
+				return
+			}
+			if walkErr == nil {
+				walkErr = fmt.Errorf("%s: %w", rel, err)
+			}
+		})
+		if err == nil {
+			err = walkErr
+		}
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("walk %s: %w", dir, err)
+		}
+	}
+	return index, nil
+}
+
+// linkKey normalises a link target for index lookup: an exact path form is
+// tried as written, and anything else falls back to its final segment.
+func linkKey(target string) string {
+	return strings.TrimSuffix(target, ".md")
+}
+
+// codeSpans returns the byte ranges of fenced blocks and inline code spans.
+func codeSpans(content string) [][2]int {
+	var spans [][2]int
+	for _, m := range fencedCodeRE.FindAllStringIndex(content, -1) {
+		spans = append(spans, [2]int{m[0], m[1]})
+	}
+	for _, m := range inlineCodeRE.FindAllStringIndex(content, -1) {
+		spans = append(spans, [2]int{m[0], m[1]})
+	}
+	return spans
+}
+
+// overlaps reports whether [start,end) intersects any span.
+func overlaps(start, end int, spans [][2]int) bool {
+	for _, s := range spans {
+		if start < s[1] && end > s[0] {
+			return true
+		}
+	}
+	return false
+}

ingestion/internal/brain/linkcheck_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,93 @@
+package brain_test
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/brain"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+)
+
+// seedCorpus writes the two entries every linkcheck case resolves against.
+func seedCorpus(t *testing.T, dir string) {
+	t.Helper()
+	seedNote(t, dir, "wiki/homelab/facts/real-entry.md",
+		"---\nwing: homelab\nhall: facts\ntitle: 'Real entry'\n---\n\nbody.\n")
+	seedNote(t, dir, "knowledge/legacy-entry.md",
+		"---\ntitle: 'Legacy entry'\n---\n\nbody.\n")
+}
+
+func TestStripUnresolvedLinks(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name     string
+		body     string
+		want     string
+		stripped []string
+	}{
+		{
+			name: "bare slug that resolves is kept",
+			body: "See [[real-entry]] for the rule.",
+			want: "See [[real-entry]] for the rule.",
+		},
+		{
+			name: "path-style target that resolves is kept",
+			body: "See [[homelab/facts/real-entry]].",
+			want: "See [[homelab/facts/real-entry]].",
+		},
+		{
+			name: "knowledge/ entry resolves by bare slug",
+			body: "See [[legacy-entry]].",
+			want: "See [[legacy-entry]].",
+		},
+		{
+			name:     "unresolvable target is unwrapped to plain text",
+			body:     "Related: [[secret-hygiene]].",
+			want:     "Related: secret-hygiene.",
+			stripped: []string{"secret-hygiene"},
+		},
+		{
+			name:     "unresolvable aliased target keeps its display text",
+			body:     "Related: [[feedback_check_host_not_assume|check the host]].",
+			want:     "Related: check the host.",
+			stripped: []string{"feedback_check_host_not_assume"},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "link inside a fenced code block is left alone",
+			body: "Syntax:\n\n```\n[[wing/hall/slug]]\n```\n",
+			want: "Syntax:\n\n```\n[[wing/hall/slug]]\n```\n",
+		},
+		{
+			name: "link inside an inline code span is left alone",
+			body: "Write `[[wing/hall/slug]]` to link.",
+			want: "Write `[[wing/hall/slug]]` to link.",
+		},
+		{
+			name:     "every unresolvable target is reported once, sorted",
+			body:     "[[zeta-gap]] and [[alpha-gap]] and [[zeta-gap]] again.",
+			want:     "zeta-gap and alpha-gap and zeta-gap again.",
+			stripped: []string{"alpha-gap", "zeta-gap"},
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, tc := range tests {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			dir := t.TempDir()
+			seedCorpus(t, dir)
+
+			got, stripped, err := brain.StripUnresolvedLinks(dir, tc.body)
+			require.NoError(t, err)
+			assert.Equal(t, tc.want, got)
+			assert.Equal(t, tc.stripped, stripped)
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestStripUnresolvedLinks_MissingBrainDirIsNotAGate(t *testing.T) {
+	// A brain dir with no knowledge//wiki/ tree yet must not turn every link
+	// into an unresolved one — an empty corpus is a bootstrap state, not
+	// evidence that the author invented the target.
+	got, stripped, err := brain.StripUnresolvedLinks(t.TempDir(), "See [[real-entry]].")
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, "See [[real-entry]].", got)
+	assert.Nil(t, stripped)
+}

ingestion/internal/brain/tunnel.go

@@ -54,11 +54,24 @@ func DetectTunnels(brainDir, content string) ([]TunnelCandidate, error) {
 			return nil
 		}
 		title, _ := readTitleAndCreated(path, strings.TrimSuffix(d.Name(), ".md"))
-		needle := strings.ToLower(strings.TrimSpace(title))
+		title = strings.TrimSpace(title)
-		if needle == "" {
+		if title == "" {
 			return nil
 		}
-		idx := strings.Index(lowerContent, needle)
+
+		// A one-word title has to match the prose case-exactly. Matched
+		// case-insensitively, it links every entry that happens to use the
+		// word: "WRONG" (wiki/telos/decisions/wrong.md) collected 185 inbound
+		// See-also links and "Status" 136, making the two most-linked nodes in
+		// the graph artifacts of the English language rather than references.
+		// Multi-word titles keep the case-insensitive match — "risk tier
+		// middleware" in prose is a real mention however it is capitalised,
+		// and a three-word collision is not an accident.
+		haystack, needle := lowerContent, strings.ToLower(title)
+		if isSingleWord(title) {
+			haystack, needle = content, title
+		}
+		idx := strings.Index(haystack, needle)
 		if idx == -1 {
 			return nil
 		}
@@ -69,7 +82,7 @@ func DetectTunnels(brainDir, content string) ([]TunnelCandidate, error) {
 		out = append(out, TunnelCandidate{
 			TargetPath:  filepath.ToSlash(rel),
 			MatchedTerm: title,
-			Exact:       isWholeWord(lowerContent, idx, len(needle)),
+			Exact:       isWholeWord(haystack, idx, len(needle)),
 		})
 		return nil
 	})
@@ -79,6 +92,11 @@ func DetectTunnels(brainDir, content string) ([]TunnelCandidate, error) {
 	return out, nil
 }
 
+// isSingleWord reports whether title is one whitespace-free token.
+func isSingleWord(title string) bool {
+	return !strings.ContainsAny(title, " \t")
+}
+
 // isWholeWord reports whether the substring at [idx, idx+n) in s is
 // bounded by non-alphanumeric characters (or string edges).
 func isWholeWord(s string, idx, n int) bool {

ingestion/internal/brain/tunnel_test.go

@@ -102,16 +102,29 @@ func TestDetectTunnels_ExactTitleMatch(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestDetectTunnels_FuzzyMatch(t *testing.T) {
 	dir := t.TempDir()
-	seedNote(t, dir, "wiki/x/facts/routing.md",
+	seedNote(t, dir, "wiki/x/facts/routing-table.md",
-		"---\ntitle: Routing\n---\nbody.\n")
+		"---\ntitle: 'Routing Table'\n---\nbody.\n")
 
 	// Substring of title appears in content, but not as a whole word.
-	candidates, err := brain.DetectTunnels(dir, "rerouting handles failover")
+	candidates, err := brain.DetectTunnels(dir, "the routing tables were rebuilt")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	require.Len(t, candidates, 1)
 	assert.False(t, candidates[0].Exact, "substring-only match should be fuzzy")
 }
 
+// A one-word title whose only appearance is lowercase inside another word is
+// not even a candidate: it would fill the review file with English rather than
+// with references.
+func TestDetectTunnels_SingleWordSubstringIsNotACandidate(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	seedNote(t, dir, "wiki/x/facts/routing.md",
+		"---\ntitle: Routing\n---\nbody.\n")
+
+	candidates, err := brain.DetectTunnels(dir, "rerouting handles failover")
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Empty(t, candidates)
+}
+
 func TestDetectTunnels_NoFrontmatterFallsBackToSlug(t *testing.T) {
 	dir := t.TempDir()
 	seedNote(t, dir, "wiki/x/facts/widget-flags.md", "# widget flags\n\nbody.\n")
@@ -126,20 +139,21 @@ func TestDetectTunnels_NoFrontmatterFallsBackToSlug(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestAutoTunnel_FuzzyGoesToCandidatesFile(t *testing.T) {
 	dir := t.TempDir()
-	// Existing note in a different wing whose title is "Routing".
+	// Existing note in a different wing whose title is "Routing Table".
-	seedNote(t, dir, "wiki/other/facts/routing.md",
+	seedNote(t, dir, "wiki/other/facts/routing-table.md",
-		"---\nwing: other\nhall: facts\ntitle: Routing\n---\nbody.\n")
+		"---\nwing: other\nhall: facts\ntitle: 'Routing Table'\n---\nbody.\n")
-	// Source note in another wing whose body mentions "rerouting" (substring match only).
+	// Source note in another wing whose body mentions "routing tables"
+	// (substring match only — the title is not there as a whole word).
 	seedNote(t, dir, "wiki/jepa-fx/facts/new.md",
-		"---\nwing: jepa-fx\nhall: facts\n---\nrerouting traffic\n")
+		"---\nwing: jepa-fx\nhall: facts\n---\nrouting tables rebuilt\n")
 
 	require.NoError(t, brain.AutoTunnel(dir,
-		"wiki/jepa-fx/facts/new.md", "rerouting traffic"))
+		"wiki/jepa-fx/facts/new.md", "routing tables rebuilt"))
 
 	// Source must not get auto-linked (fuzzy).
 	got, err := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(dir, "wiki/jepa-fx/facts/new.md"))
 	require.NoError(t, err)
-	assert.NotContains(t, string(got), "[[other/facts/routing]]")
+	assert.NotContains(t, string(got), "[[other/facts/routing-table]]")
 
 	// Candidates file must list the pair.
 	matches, err := filepath.Glob(filepath.Join(dir, "raw", "tunnel-candidates-*.md"))
@@ -148,7 +162,7 @@ func TestAutoTunnel_FuzzyGoesToCandidatesFile(t *testing.T) {
 	body, err := os.ReadFile(matches[0])
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	assert.Contains(t, string(body), "wiki/jepa-fx/facts/new.md")
-	assert.Contains(t, string(body), "wiki/other/facts/routing.md")
+	assert.Contains(t, string(body), "wiki/other/facts/routing-table.md")
 	assert.Contains(t, string(body), "Routing")
 }
 
@@ -175,3 +189,35 @@ func TestWriteTunnel_AppendsToExistingSeeAlso(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Contains(t, s, "[[a/facts/old]]")
 	assert.Contains(t, s, "[[b/facts/y]]")
 }
+
+// A one-word title matched case-insensitively links every entry that happens
+// to use that word. Live cost before this rule: 185 entries auto-linked to
+// wiki/telos/decisions/wrong.md (title "WRONG") and 136 to .../status.md,
+// making the two most-linked nodes in the graph pure artifacts.
+func TestDetectTunnels_SingleWordTitleNeedsAnExactCaseMatch(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	seedNote(t, dir, "wiki/telos/decisions/wrong.md",
+		"---\nwing: telos\nhall: decisions\ntitle: WRONG\n---\n# WRONG\n\nRetired beliefs.\n")
+
+	got, err := brain.DetectTunnels(dir, "The obvious fix was to reject the write. Wrong here.")
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	for _, c := range got {
+		assert.False(t, c.Exact, "a lowercase prose word must not auto-link a one-word title: %+v", c)
+	}
+
+	got, err = brain.DetectTunnels(dir, "The beliefs listed under WRONG were retired.")
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.Len(t, got, 1)
+	assert.True(t, got[0].Exact, "the title's own casing appearing in prose is a real reference")
+}
+
+func TestDetectTunnels_MultiWordTitleStaysCaseInsensitive(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	seedNote(t, dir, "wiki/homelab/facts/risk-tier.md",
+		"---\nwing: homelab\nhall: facts\ntitle: 'Risk Tier Middleware'\n---\nbody\n")
+
+	got, err := brain.DetectTunnels(dir, "We rebuilt the risk tier middleware last week.")
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.Len(t, got, 1)
+	assert.True(t, got[0].Exact)
+}

ingestion/internal/brainfs/brainfs.go

@@ -0,0 +1,251 @@
+// Package brainfs reads the brain directory through an os.Root (hyperguild#157).
+// The brain dir is a Syncthing sendreceive folder and Syncthing syncs
+// symlinks; a reader that walks and reads by path follows a planted symlink
+// out of the brain, and blocks forever on a planted FIFO. Readers that go
+// through a Brain only ever read regular files inside the brain: os.Root
+// refuses to leave the root even if an entry is swapped mid-read, and every
+// open is non-blocking with the type checked on the opened handle.
+package brainfs
+
+import (
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"io"
+	"io/fs"
+	"os"
+	"path"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+	"syscall"
+)
+
+// ErrNotRegular is returned for an entry that is not a regular file.
+var ErrNotRegular = errors.New("not a regular file")
+
+// ErrTooLarge is returned by ReadRegularMax for a file over the limit.
+var ErrTooLarge = errors.New("file too large")
+
+// Brain is an open brain directory.
+type Brain struct {
+	root *os.Root
+	dir  string
+}
+
+// Open opens brainDir (which may itself be a mount symlink) as a root.
+func Open(brainDir string) (*Brain, error) {
+	r, err := os.OpenRoot(brainDir)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("open brain root: %w", err)
+	}
+	return &Brain{root: r, dir: brainDir}, nil
+}
+
+// Close releases the root.
+func (b *Brain) Close() error { return b.root.Close() }
+
+// Rel converts a path under the brain dir to a root-relative path.
+func (b *Brain) Rel(path string) (string, error) {
+	rel, err := filepath.Rel(b.dir, path)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+	if rel == ".." || len(rel) > 2 && rel[:3] == ".."+string(filepath.Separator) {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("%s is outside the brain dir", path)
+	}
+	return filepath.ToSlash(rel), nil
+}
+
+// Lstat stats a brain-relative path through the root without following a
+// final symlink.
+func (b *Brain) Lstat(rel string) (fs.FileInfo, error) {
+	return b.root.Lstat(filepath.ToSlash(rel))
+}
+
+// realDir returns ErrNotRegular unless every component of rel is a real
+// directory. A swap after the check is not caught (accepted residual,
+// hyperguild#157).
+func (b *Brain) realDir(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 err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		if !fi.IsDir() {
+			return fmt.Errorf("%s: walk root component %s is not a directory: %w", rel, prefix, ErrNotRegular)
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+// ReadDirRegular lists the regular files directly in a brain-relative
+// directory, by name. Every component of relDir must be a real directory
+// (ErrNotRegular otherwise); symlinks, FIFOs, devices and subdirectories in
+// it are left out.
+func (b *Brain) ReadDirRegular(relDir string) ([]string, error) {
+	relDir = filepath.ToSlash(relDir)
+	if err := b.realDir(relDir); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	ents, err := fs.ReadDir(b.root.FS(), relDir)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	var names []string
+	for _, e := range ents {
+		if e.Type().IsRegular() {
+			names = append(names, e.Name())
+		}
+	}
+	return names, nil
+}
+
+// ReadDirDirs lists the real subdirectories directly in a brain-relative
+// directory, by name. Every component of relDir must be a real directory
+// (ErrNotRegular otherwise); symlinks to directories are left out.
+func (b *Brain) ReadDirDirs(relDir string) ([]string, error) {
+	relDir = filepath.ToSlash(relDir)
+	if err := b.realDir(relDir); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	ents, err := fs.ReadDir(b.root.FS(), relDir)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	var names []string
+	for _, e := range ents {
+		if e.Type().IsDir() {
+			names = append(names, e.Name())
+		}
+	}
+	return names, nil
+}
+
+// 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) {
+	fi, err := b.root.Lstat(rel)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	if !fi.Mode().IsRegular() {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%s: %w", rel, ErrNotRegular)
+	}
+	return b.readOpenedMax(rel, -1, fi)
+}
+
+// readOpened opens rel non-blocking and reads it only if the OPENED handle is
+// a regular file. This is the check that matters under a race: an entry
+// swapped for a FIFO after the Lstat, with a writer holding it open, would
+// otherwise park io.ReadAll forever (PR #161 review: removing it hung search
+// after 16 iterations).
+//
+// Accepted residual, as in api/rawroot.go: a HARD link to an outside file is
+// a regular file and is read. Syncthing syncs contents, not links, so a peer
+// cannot create one; fs.protected_hardlinks=1 and the pod's secrets are on a
+// different filesystem from the brain volume, so a local caller cannot link
+// them in. Refusing Nlink > 1 is the next step if either changes.
+func (b *Brain) readOpened(rel string) ([]byte, error) { return b.readOpenedMax(rel, -1, nil) }
+
+// ReadRegularMax is ReadRegular with a size limit, checked on the opened
+// handle before reading (max < 0 means no limit).
+func (b *Brain) ReadRegularMax(rel string, max int64) ([]byte, error) {
+	fi, err := b.root.Lstat(rel)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	if !fi.Mode().IsRegular() {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%s: %w", rel, ErrNotRegular)
+	}
+	return b.readOpenedMax(rel, max, fi)
+}
+
+// readOpenedMax opens rel and reads it if the opened handle is a regular file
+// and, when lfi is set, the same file the caller Lstat-ed: os.Root follows an
+// in-root final symlink even with O_NOFOLLOW, so a symlink to another brain
+// file swapped in between the Lstat and the open is refused only here.
+func (b *Brain) readOpenedMax(rel string, max int64, lfi fs.FileInfo) ([]byte, error) {
+	f, err := b.root.OpenFile(rel, os.O_RDONLY|syscall.O_NONBLOCK, 0)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	defer func() { _ = f.Close() }()
+	hfi, err := f.Stat()
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	if !hfi.Mode().IsRegular() {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%s: %w", rel, ErrNotRegular)
+	}
+	if lfi != nil && !os.SameFile(lfi, hfi) {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%s: changed while opening: %w", rel, ErrNotRegular)
+	}
+	if max >= 0 && hfi.Size() > max {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%s is %d bytes (limit %d): %w", rel, hfi.Size(), max, ErrTooLarge)
+	}
+	var r io.Reader = f
+	if wrapAfterStat != nil {
+		r = wrapAfterStat(r)
+	}
+	if max < 0 {
+		return io.ReadAll(r)
+	}
+	// The handle's size can grow after the check; bound the read itself.
+	data, err := io.ReadAll(io.LimitReader(r, max+1))
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	if int64(len(data)) > max {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%s grew past %d bytes while read: %w", rel, max, ErrTooLarge)
+	}
+	return data, nil
+}
+
+// wrapAfterStat is a test seam: it runs between the size check and the read,
+// and wraps the reader the read consumes. A package global: brainfs tests
+// must not use t.Parallel.
+var wrapAfterStat func(io.Reader) io.Reader
+
+// WalkRegular walks a brain-relative directory through the root and calls fn
+// for each regular file. Directories are descended; symlinks, FIFOs and
+// devices found by the walk are skipped. A walk root with any component that
+// is not a real directory goes to onErr as ErrNotRegular and nothing is
+// yielded. An entry error is passed to onErr and the walk continues; a nil
+// onErr ignores it.
+//
+// Accepted residual (hyperguild#157): a directory swapped for a symlink
+// between the listing and the read is followed. os.Root still keeps the read
+// inside the brain, but not inside relDir.
+func (b *Brain) WalkRegular(relDir string, fn func(rel string) error, onErr func(rel string, err error)) error {
+	relDir = filepath.ToSlash(relDir)
+	// fs.WalkDir stats its root with a follow, and os.Root allows a symlink
+	// that stays inside the brain: knowledge -> . would alias the whole
+	// brain. Require every component of the root to be a real directory
+	// (Lstat checks only the last one).
+	err := b.realDir(relDir)
+	if err != nil {
+		if onErr != nil {
+			onErr(relDir, err)
+		}
+		return nil
+	}
+	return fs.WalkDir(b.root.FS(), relDir, func(p string, d fs.DirEntry, err error) error {
+		if err != nil {
+			if onErr != nil {
+				onErr(p, err)
+			}
+			if d != nil && d.IsDir() {
+				return fs.SkipDir
+			}
+			return nil
+		}
+		if d.IsDir() || !d.Type().IsRegular() {
+			return nil
+		}
+		return fn(p)
+	})
+}

ingestion/internal/brainfs/brainfs_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,282 @@
+package brainfs
+
+import (
+	"errors"
+	"io"
+	"io/fs"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"sync"
+	"sync/atomic"
+	"syscall"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+)
+
+// The handle check is what stops a FIFO swapped in after the Lstat. A FIFO
+// with no writer reads EOF at once, so a race test could not see the check
+// missing; here a writer holds the FIFO open, as any local process can, and
+// readOpened must refuse it promptly (PR #161 review).
+func TestReadOpenedRefusesAFIFOHeldOpenByAWriter(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	fifo := filepath.Join(dir, "p.md")
+	require.NoError(t, syscall.Mkfifo(fifo, 0o644))
+	w, err := os.OpenFile(fifo, os.O_RDWR, 0)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	defer func() { _ = w.Close() }()
+
+	b, err := Open(dir)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	defer func() { _ = b.Close() }()
+
+	done := make(chan error, 1)
+	go func() { _, err := b.readOpened("p.md"); done <- err }()
+	select {
+	case err := <-done:
+		assert.True(t, errors.Is(err, ErrNotRegular), "got %v", err)
+	case <-time.After(2 * time.Second):
+		t.Fatal("readOpened blocked on a FIFO with a writer")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestReadRegularRefusesSymlinksAndReadsRegularFiles(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(dir, "ok.md"), []byte("ok"), 0o644))
+	outside := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "s.md")
+	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(outside, []byte("secret"), 0o644))
+	require.NoError(t, os.Symlink(outside, filepath.Join(dir, "link.md")))
+	b, err := Open(dir)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	defer func() { _ = b.Close() }()
+	got, err := b.ReadRegular("ok.md")
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, "ok", string(got))
+	_, err = b.ReadRegular("link.md")
+	assert.True(t, errors.Is(err, ErrNotRegular), "got %v", err)
+	_, err = b.ReadRegular("../" + filepath.Base(outside))
+	assert.Error(t, err)
+}
+
+func TestRelAcceptsPathsInsideAndRefusesEscapes(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	b, err := Open(dir)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	defer func() { _ = b.Close() }()
+	for in, want := range map[string]string{
+		filepath.Join(dir, "wiki", "x.md"): "wiki/x.md",
+		filepath.Join(dir, "..foo", "x"):   "..foo/x",
+		dir:                                ".",
+	} {
+		got, err := b.Rel(in)
+		require.NoError(t, err, in)
+		assert.Equal(t, want, got, in)
+	}
+	for _, bad := range []string{filepath.Join(dir, "..", "x"), dir + "-evil/x", "/etc/passwd", filepath.Join(dir, "wiki", "..", "..", "x")} {
+		_, err := b.Rel(bad)
+		assert.Error(t, err, bad)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestWalkRegularYieldsOnlyRegularFiles(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(filepath.Join(dir, "a"), 0o755))
+	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(dir, "a", "n.md"), []byte("n"), 0o644))
+	require.NoError(t, os.Symlink(t.TempDir(), filepath.Join(dir, "a", "dirlink")))
+	require.NoError(t, os.Symlink(filepath.Join(dir, "a", "n.md"), filepath.Join(dir, "a", "filelink.md")))
+	require.NoError(t, syscall.Mkfifo(filepath.Join(dir, "a", "p.md"), 0o644))
+	b, err := Open(dir)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	defer func() { _ = b.Close() }()
+	var got []string
+	require.NoError(t, b.WalkRegular(".", func(rel string) error { got = append(got, rel); return nil }, nil))
+	assert.Equal(t, []string{"a/n.md"}, got)
+}
+
+func TestReadRegularMaxRefusesAFileOverTheLimit(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(dir, "big.md"), make([]byte, 100), 0o644))
+	b, err := Open(dir)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	defer func() { _ = b.Close() }()
+	_, err = b.ReadRegularMax("big.md", 99)
+	assert.True(t, errors.Is(err, ErrTooLarge), "got %v", err)
+	got, err := b.ReadRegularMax("big.md", 100)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Len(t, got, 100)
+}
+
+func TestReadRegularMaxRefusesAndStopsReadingAFileThatGrowsPastTheLimit(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	p := filepath.Join(dir, "grow.md")
+	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(p, make([]byte, 10), 0o644))
+	consumed := &countingReader{}
+	wrapAfterStat = func(r io.Reader) io.Reader {
+		f, err := os.OpenFile(p, os.O_WRONLY|os.O_APPEND, 0)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		_, err = f.Write(make([]byte, 1000))
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		require.NoError(t, f.Close())
+		consumed.r = r
+		return consumed
+	}
+	t.Cleanup(func() { wrapAfterStat = nil })
+	b, err := Open(dir)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	defer func() { _ = b.Close() }()
+	got, err := b.ReadRegularMax("grow.md", 100)
+	assert.True(t, errors.Is(err, ErrTooLarge), "got %v", err)
+	assert.Nil(t, got)
+	assert.LessOrEqual(t, consumed.n, 101, "read past max+1 bytes")
+}
+
+type countingReader struct {
+	r io.Reader
+	n int
+}
+
+func (c *countingReader) Read(p []byte) (int, error) {
+	n, err := c.r.Read(p)
+	c.n += n
+	return n, err
+}
+
+func TestLstatDoesNotFollowSymlinksAndRefusesEscapes(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	outside := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "o.md")
+	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(outside, []byte("o"), 0o644))
+	require.NoError(t, os.Symlink(outside, filepath.Join(dir, "l.md")))
+	b, err := Open(dir)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	defer func() { _ = b.Close() }()
+	fi, err := b.Lstat("l.md")
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, fs.ModeSymlink, fi.Mode().Type())
+	_, err = b.Lstat("../" + filepath.Base(filepath.Dir(outside)) + "/o.md")
+	assert.Error(t, err)
+}
+
+func TestWalkRegularReportsASymlinkedWalkRootAndYieldsNothing(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(filepath.Join(dir, "real"), 0o755))
+	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(dir, "real", "n.md"), []byte("n"), 0o644))
+	require.NoError(t, os.Symlink("real", filepath.Join(dir, "alias")))
+	b, err := Open(dir)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	defer func() { _ = b.Close() }()
+	var got []string
+	var errs []error
+	require.NoError(t, b.WalkRegular("alias", func(rel string) error { got = append(got, rel); return nil },
+		func(_ string, err error) { errs = append(errs, err) }))
+	assert.Empty(t, got)
+	require.Len(t, errs, 1)
+	assert.ErrorIs(t, errs[0], ErrNotRegular)
+}
+
+func TestWalkRegularReportsASymlinkedIntermediateComponentOfTheWalkRoot(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(filepath.Join(dir, "real", "sub"), 0o755))
+	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(dir, "real", "sub", "n.md"), []byte("n"), 0o644))
+	require.NoError(t, os.Symlink("real", filepath.Join(dir, "alias")))
+	b, err := Open(dir)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	defer func() { _ = b.Close() }()
+	var got []string
+	var errs []error
+	require.NoError(t, b.WalkRegular("alias/sub", func(rel string) error { got = append(got, rel); return nil },
+		func(_ string, err error) { errs = append(errs, err) }))
+	assert.Empty(t, got)
+	require.Len(t, errs, 1)
+	assert.ErrorIs(t, errs[0], ErrNotRegular)
+}
+
+func TestReadDirRegularListsOnlyRegularFilesAndRefusesSymlinkedComponents(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(filepath.Join(dir, "a", "b", "sub"), 0o755))
+	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(dir, "a", "b", "n.md"), []byte("n"), 0o644))
+	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(dir, "other.md"), []byte("o"), 0o644))
+	require.NoError(t, os.Symlink(filepath.Join("..", "..", "other.md"), filepath.Join(dir, "a", "b", "l.md")))
+	require.NoError(t, syscall.Mkfifo(filepath.Join(dir, "a", "b", "f.md"), 0o644))
+	require.NoError(t, os.Symlink("a", filepath.Join(dir, "alias")))
+	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(filepath.Join(dir, "x"), 0o755))
+	require.NoError(t, os.Symlink(filepath.Join("..", "a"), filepath.Join(dir, "x", "mid")))
+	b, err := Open(dir)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	defer func() { _ = b.Close() }()
+
+	names, err := b.ReadDirRegular("a/b")
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, []string{"n.md"}, names)
+	for _, rel := range []string{"alias/b", "x/mid/b"} {
+		_, err := b.ReadDirRegular(rel)
+		assert.ErrorIs(t, err, ErrNotRegular, rel)
+	}
+}
+
+// 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) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(dir, "s.md"), []byte("zqsamefilesentinel"), 0o644))
+	p := filepath.Join(dir, "r.md")
+	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(p, []byte("inside"), 0o644))
+	b, err := Open(dir)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	defer func() { _ = b.Close() }()
+
+	var stop atomic.Bool
+	var wg sync.WaitGroup
+	wg.Add(1)
+	go func() {
+		defer wg.Done()
+		tmp := p + ".swap"
+		for i := 0; !stop.Load(); i++ {
+			_ = os.Remove(tmp)
+			if i%2 == 0 {
+				_ = os.WriteFile(tmp, []byte("inside"), 0o644)
+			} else {
+				_ = os.Symlink("s.md", tmp)
+			}
+			_ = os.Rename(tmp, p)
+		}
+	}()
+	leaks, ok := 0, 0
+	for deadline := time.Now().Add(1500 * time.Millisecond); time.Now().Before(deadline); {
+		got, err := b.ReadRegular("r.md")
+		if err == nil {
+			ok++
+		}
+		if string(got) == "zqsamefilesentinel" {
+			leaks++
+		}
+		got, _ = b.ReadRegularMax("r.md", 1<<20)
+		if string(got) == "zqsamefilesentinel" {
+			leaks++
+		}
+	}
+	stop.Store(true)
+	wg.Wait()
+	assert.Zero(t, leaks)
+	assert.Positive(t, ok, "positive control: the regular file is read")
+}
+
+func TestReadDirDirsListsOnlyRealSubdirsAndRefusesSymlinkedComponents(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(filepath.Join(dir, "a", "real"), 0o755))
+	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(filepath.Join(dir, "other"), 0o755))
+	require.NoError(t, os.Symlink(filepath.Join("..", "other"), filepath.Join(dir, "a", "linked")))
+	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(dir, "a", "f.md"), []byte("f"), 0o644))
+	require.NoError(t, os.Symlink("a", filepath.Join(dir, "alias")))
+	b, err := Open(dir)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	defer func() { _ = b.Close() }()
+
+	names, err := b.ReadDirDirs("a")
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, []string{"real"}, names)
+	_, err = b.ReadDirDirs("alias")
+	assert.ErrorIs(t, err, ErrNotRegular)
+}

ingestion/internal/brainfs/brainfstest/brainfstest.go

@@ -0,0 +1,171 @@
+// 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
+// hard links, other paths into the reader, or races it does not generate.
+package brainfstest
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+	"sync"
+	"sync/atomic"
+	"syscall"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+)
+
+// Sentinel marks the outside file's contents.
+const Sentinel = "zqbrainfssentinelonefiftyseven"
+
+// outsideContent carries Sentinel in every field a reader might extract: the
+// frontmatter title and aliases, a heading, a wikilink and the body.
+const outsideContent = "---\ntitle: " + Sentinel + "\naliases:\n  - " + Sentinel + "\n---\n# " + Sentinel +
+	"\n\n" + Sentinel + " [[" + Sentinel + "]]\n"
+
+// Outside writes a file outside any brain dir containing Sentinel.
+func Outside(t testing.TB) string {
+	t.Helper()
+	p := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "secret.md")
+	if err := os.WriteFile(p, []byte(outsideContent), 0o644); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	return p
+}
+
+var swapSeq atomic.Int64
+
+// StartSwap renames, in a loop, a regular note (content inside) and either
+// a symlink to outside or a FIFO into path, until the test ends. FIFOs get a
+// writer held open until the swapper exits, so a reader that skips the
+// handle check parks forever instead of reading EOF. The swapper is stopped
+// and awaited before t.TempDir cleanup. It returns the number of symlinks
+// or FIFOs actually renamed into path so far, so a caller can tell a race
+// that ran from one whose every swap failed (hyperguild#177).
+func StartSwap(t testing.TB, path, inside, outside string, fifo bool) *atomic.Int64 {
+	t.Helper()
+	var swaps atomic.Int64
+	var stop atomic.Bool
+	var wg sync.WaitGroup
+	wg.Add(1)
+	go func() {
+		defer wg.Done()
+		// A name of its own: swappers on one path share a test, and one
+		// opening another's FIFO for write would block forever.
+		tmp := fmt.Sprintf("%s.swap%d", path, swapSeq.Add(1))
+		// A relative link: os.Root refuses every absolute link on its own, so
+		// an absolute in-brain target would test nothing.
+		link := outside
+		if rel, err := filepath.Rel(filepath.Dir(path), outside); err == nil {
+			link = rel
+		}
+		var writers []*os.File
+		defer func() {
+			for _, w := range writers {
+				_ = w.Close()
+			}
+		}()
+		for i := 0; !stop.Load(); i++ {
+			_ = os.Remove(tmp)
+			var made error
+			switch {
+			case i%2 == 0:
+				_ = os.WriteFile(tmp, []byte(inside), 0o644)
+			case fifo:
+				if made = syscall.Mkfifo(tmp, 0o644); made == nil {
+					if w, err := os.OpenFile(tmp, os.O_RDWR, 0); err == nil {
+						writers = append(writers, w)
+					}
+				}
+			default:
+				made = os.Symlink(link, tmp)
+			}
+			if err := os.Rename(tmp, path); err == nil && made == nil && i%2 == 1 {
+				swaps.Add(1)
+			}
+		}
+	}()
+	t.Cleanup(func() { stop.Store(true); wg.Wait() })
+	return &swaps
+}
+
+// WriteSentinelAt writes a file carrying Sentinel at p (creating its
+// directory), for an in-brain symlink target.
+func WriteSentinelAt(t *testing.T, p string) string {
+	t.Helper()
+	if err := os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(p), 0o755); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if err := os.WriteFile(p, []byte(outsideContent), 0o644); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	return p
+}
+
+// AssertNoLeak loops read for d while a symlink swapper runs on path, and
+// fails if any output contains Sentinel. The symlink points outside the
+// brain; os.Root refuses that on its own, so pair it with AssertNoLeakFrom
+// and an in-brain target.
+func AssertNoLeak(t *testing.T, path, inside string, d time.Duration, read func() string) {
+	t.Helper()
+	AssertNoLeakFrom(t, path, inside, Outside(t), d, read)
+}
+
+// InsideMarker must appear in the inside note's content and in read's
+// output whenever read saw that note: the floor below counts such reads.
+const InsideMarker = "inside"
+
+// AssertNoLeakFrom is AssertNoLeak with the symlink pointing at target, e.g.
+// a file elsewhere in the brain written with WriteSentinelAt.
+//
+// Beyond "no Sentinel in any output" it sets two floors, because without
+// them the assertion passes when nothing was tested (hyperguild#177): at
+// least one symlink must have been swapped into path, and at least one read
+// must have returned InsideMarker (a reader that always errors returns
+// nothing, and so never leaks).
+func AssertNoLeakFrom(t testing.TB, path, inside, target string, d time.Duration, read func() string) {
+	t.Helper()
+	if !strings.Contains(inside, InsideMarker) {
+		t.Fatalf("inside content must contain %q", InsideMarker)
+	}
+	swaps := StartSwap(t, path, inside, target, false)
+	leaks, iters, insideReads := 0, 0, 0
+	for deadline := time.Now().Add(d); time.Now().Before(deadline); iters++ {
+		out := read()
+		leaks += strings.Count(out, Sentinel)
+		if strings.Contains(out, InsideMarker) {
+			insideReads++
+		}
+	}
+	if leaks > 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("outside file leaked %d times in %d iterations", 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)
+	}
+	if insideReads == 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("no read in %d iterations returned the inside note (%q): the reader read nothing", iters, InsideMarker)
+	}
+}
+
+// AssertNoHang loops read for d while a FIFO swapper (held writers) runs on
+// path, and fails if a read does not return within timeout.
+func AssertNoHang(t *testing.T, path, inside string, d, timeout time.Duration, read func()) {
+	t.Helper()
+	StartSwap(t, path, inside, Outside(t), true)
+	done := make(chan struct{})
+	go func() {
+		for deadline := time.Now().Add(d); time.Now().Before(deadline); {
+			read()
+		}
+		close(done)
+	}()
+	select {
+	case <-done:
+	case <-time.After(timeout):
+		t.Fatal("reader hung on a swapped-in FIFO with a writer held open")
+	}
+}

ingestion/internal/brainfs/brainfstest/brainfstest_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,79 @@
+package brainfstest
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"runtime"
+	"syscall"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+)
+
+// recordingTB stands in for the test under AssertNoLeakFrom so a fatal
+// there can be observed instead of failing this test. Fatalf ends the
+// calling goroutine the way testing.T does.
+type recordingTB struct {
+	testing.TB
+	failed bool
+	msg    string
+}
+
+func (r *recordingTB) Fatalf(format string, args ...any) {
+	r.failed, r.msg = true, fmt.Sprintf(format, args...)
+	runtime.Goexit()
+}
+
+func runAssert(t *testing.T, path, target string, read func() string) *recordingTB {
+	t.Helper()
+	r := &recordingTB{TB: t}
+	done := make(chan struct{})
+	go func() {
+		defer close(done)
+		AssertNoLeakFrom(r, path, "inside", target, 200*time.Millisecond, read)
+	}()
+	<-done
+	return r
+}
+
+// hyperguild#177: with every swap failing, no leak can occur, so the leak
+// assertion passed without testing anything.
+func TestAssertNoLeakFromFailsWhenNoSymlinkSwapSucceeds(t *testing.T) {
+	path := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "missing-dir", "r.md")
+	r := runAssert(t, path, Outside(t), func() string { return "inside" })
+	if !r.failed {
+		t.Fatal("AssertNoLeakFrom passed with zero successful symlink swaps")
+	}
+}
+
+// hyperguild#177: a reader that always errors returns nothing, so it never
+// leaks either.
+func TestAssertNoLeakFromFailsWhenNoReadReturnsTheInsideNote(t *testing.T) {
+	path := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "r.md")
+	r := runAssert(t, path, Outside(t), func() string { return "" })
+	if !r.failed {
+		t.Fatal("AssertNoLeakFrom passed with zero reads returning the inside note")
+	}
+}
+
+// Positive control: a reader that refuses symlinks and reads regular files
+// passes, so the floors do not fail a working reader.
+func TestAssertNoLeakFromPassesAReaderThatRefusesSymlinks(t *testing.T) {
+	path := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "r.md")
+	read := func() string {
+		f, err := os.OpenFile(path, os.O_RDONLY|noFollow, 0)
+		if err != nil {
+			return ""
+		}
+		defer func() { _ = f.Close() }()
+		b := make([]byte, 64)
+		n, _ := f.Read(b)
+		return string(b[:n])
+	}
+	r := runAssert(t, path, Outside(t), read)
+	if r.failed {
+		t.Fatalf("a symlink-refusing reader failed: %s", r.msg)
+	}
+}
+
+const noFollow = syscall.O_NOFOLLOW

ingestion/internal/brainstore/store.go

@@ -42,13 +42,19 @@ func (s *Store) WithGraph(g graphsync.Store) *Store {
 
 // Write creates a brain note and returns its read-after-write handle.
 func (s *Store) Write(ctx context.Context, n capture.Note) (capture.Ref, error) {
+	content, unlinked, err := brain.StripUnresolvedLinks(s.brainDir, n.Content)
+	if err != nil {
+		return capture.Ref{}, err
+	}
+	n.Content = content
+
 	relPath, err := api.WriteNote(s.brainDir, api.WriteNoteOptions{
-		Content:  n.Content,
+		Content:   n.Content,
-		Filename: n.Filename,
+		Filename:  n.Filename,
-		Type:     n.Type,
+		Wing:      n.Wing,
-		Domain:   n.Domain,
+		Hall:      n.Hall,
-		Wing:     n.Wing,
+		Origin:    n.Origin,
-		Hall:     n.Hall,
+		WrittenBy: n.WrittenBy,
 	})
 	if err != nil {
 		return capture.Ref{}, err
@@ -57,14 +63,20 @@ func (s *Store) Write(ctx context.Context, n capture.Note) (capture.Ref, error)
 	s.indexInGraph(ctx, "brain_write", relPath)
 
 	_, _, hash, _ := api.ReadNote(s.brainDir, relPath)
-	return capture.Ref{ID: relPath, Path: relPath, ContentHash: hash}, nil
+	return capture.Ref{ID: relPath, Path: relPath, ContentHash: hash, Unlinked: unlinked}, nil
 }
 
 // Update supersedes an existing note in place. slug may be a bare slug
 // (resolved against n.Wing/n.Hall) or a full brain-relative path (when it
 // contains a slash). It never creates — a missing target is an error.
 func (s *Store) Update(ctx context.Context, slug string, n capture.Note) (capture.Ref, error) {
-	opts := api.UpdateNoteOptions{Content: n.Content, Reason: n.Reason}
+	content, unlinked, err := brain.StripUnresolvedLinks(s.brainDir, n.Content)
+	if err != nil {
+		return capture.Ref{}, err
+	}
+	n.Content = content
+
+	opts := api.UpdateNoteOptions{Content: n.Content, Reason: n.Reason, Origin: n.Origin, WrittenBy: n.WrittenBy}
 	if strings.Contains(slug, "/") {
 		opts.Path = slug
 	} else {
@@ -80,7 +92,7 @@ func (s *Store) Update(ctx context.Context, slug string, n capture.Note) (captur
 	}
 	s.indexInGraph(ctx, "brain_update", relPath)
 
-	return capture.Ref{ID: relPath, Path: relPath, ContentHash: hash, Superseded: true}, nil
+	return capture.Ref{ID: relPath, Path: relPath, ContentHash: hash, Superseded: true, Unlinked: unlinked}, nil
 }
 
 // Get fetches a note by id/path — the read-after-write confirmation

ingestion/internal/brainstore/store_test.go

@@ -83,3 +83,45 @@ func TestStoreGetRoundTripsHash(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Equal(t, "a", note.Frontmatter["wing"])
 	assert.Contains(t, note.Body, "# Body")
 }
+
+func TestStoreWriteUnwrapsUnresolvedWikilinks(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	s := brainstore.New(dir)
+	_, err := s.Write(context.Background(), capture.Note{
+		Content: "# Target\n\nbody\n", Filename: "target", Wing: "a", Hall: "facts",
+	})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	ref, err := s.Write(context.Background(), capture.Note{
+		Content:  "See [[target]] and [[secret-hygiene]].\n",
+		Filename: "src", Wing: "a", Hall: "facts",
+	})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, []string{"secret-hygiene"}, ref.Unlinked)
+
+	got, err := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(dir, "wiki/a/facts/src.md"))
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Contains(t, string(got), "[[target]]")
+	assert.Contains(t, string(got), "and secret-hygiene.")
+	assert.NotContains(t, string(got), "[[secret-hygiene]]")
+}
+
+func TestStoreUpdateUnwrapsUnresolvedWikilinks(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	s := brainstore.New(dir)
+	_, err := s.Write(context.Background(), capture.Note{
+		Content: "old\n", Filename: "n", Wing: "a", Hall: "facts",
+	})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	ref, err := s.Update(context.Background(), "n", capture.Note{
+		Content: "Related: [[cad-babysit]].\n", Wing: "a", Hall: "facts", Reason: "r",
+	})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, []string{"cad-babysit"}, ref.Unlinked)
+
+	got, err := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(dir, "wiki/a/facts/n.md"))
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Contains(t, string(got), "Related: cad-babysit.")
+	assert.NotContains(t, string(got), "[[cad-babysit]]")
+}

ingestion/internal/capture/entities.go

@@ -60,6 +60,7 @@ type CaptureContext struct {
 	Classification string // caller-declared level token ("" = unspecified)
 	Principal      string // server-derived (auth); audit identity
 	Origin         Zone   // server-derived trust zone; the I1 gate input
+	AuthPath       string // server-derived: "static" or "jwt"; stamped as note provenance (#145)
 }
 
 // Insight is one piece of session knowledge bound for the brain. A

ingestion/internal/capture/ports.go

@@ -15,6 +15,10 @@ type Ref struct {
 	Path        string
 	ContentHash string
 	Superseded  bool
+	// Unlinked names the [[wikilink]] targets the store unwrapped to plain
+	// text because they resolve to no entry. Reported rather than rejected:
+	// see brain.StripUnresolvedLinks for why the write still lands.
+	Unlinked []string
 }
 
 // StoredNote is a brain note fetched by Get: the read-after-write
@@ -27,18 +31,20 @@ type StoredNote struct {
 	Body        string
 }
 
-// Note is the brain-write payload. It carries both the wing/hall taxonomy
+// Note is the brain-write payload: wing+hall are the only routing fields
-// and the legacy type/domain fields so a single BrainStore serves both
+// (the legacy type/domain params were removed — ADR-0012 / #79). Reason is
-// capture insights and the existing MCP brain_write surface. Reason is
 // the supersede rationale, used only by Update.
 type Note struct {
 	Content  string
 	Filename string
 	Wing     string
 	Hall     string
-	Type     string
-	Domain   string
 	Reason   string
+	// Provenance (hyperguild#145) is stamped by the server from the
+	// authenticated principal, never taken from Content's frontmatter.
+	// Origin is "static", "jwt" or "unknown"; empty means "unknown".
+	Origin    string
+	WrittenBy string
 }
 
 // BrainStore is the brain persistence port — the shared implementation of

ingestion/internal/capture/service.go

@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ func (s *Service) Capture(ctx context.Context, in CaptureInput) (CaptureReceipt,
 		declared, _ = classification.ParseLevel(in.Context.Classification)
 	}
 
-	effective, securityEvents := s.resolveClassification(declared, in)
+	effective, securityEvents, escalators := s.resolveClassification(declared, in)
 
 	// Server-derived origin governs the I1 gate; a caller-asserted harness
 	// label that names a different zone is descriptive-only and logged as a
@@ -107,8 +107,8 @@ func (s *Service) Capture(ctx context.Context, in CaptureInput) (CaptureReceipt,
 			Items:                   nil, // refused before any write
 			SecurityEvents:          append(securityEvents, "I1 refusal: confidential capture via us-nexus origin"),
 		}, AuditCentral)
-		return CaptureReceipt{}, fmt.Errorf("%w: effective classification confidential through %s origin",
+		return CaptureReceipt{}, fmt.Errorf("%w: effective classification confidential through %s origin (%s)",
-			ErrSovereigntyRefused, in.Context.Origin)
+			ErrSovereigntyRefused, in.Context.Origin, escalationReason(escalators))
 	}
 
 	receipt := CaptureReceipt{
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ func (s *Service) Capture(ctx context.Context, in CaptureInput) (CaptureReceipt,
 	var landed []string
 
 	for i, ins := range in.Insights {
-		res, item, err := s.persistInsight(ctx, ins)
+		res, item, err := s.persistInsight(ctx, ins, in.Context)
 		receipt.Insights = append(receipt.Insights, res)
 		if err != nil {
 			receipt.Errors = append(receipt.Errors, ItemError{Item: fmt.Sprintf("insight[%d]", i), Error: err.Error()})
@@ -221,15 +221,28 @@ func (s *Service) validate(in CaptureInput) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-// resolveClassification computes the effective level (stricter of
+// resolveClassification computes the effective level (stricter of declared
-// declared and every target's derived level) and collects a security
+// and every target's derived level), collects a security event whenever the
-// event whenever the caller under-declared relative to a target floor.
+// caller under-declared relative to a target floor, and names the targets
-func (s *Service) resolveClassification(declared classification.Level, in CaptureInput) (classification.Level, []string) {
+// that carry the strictest level.
+//
+// That third return is what makes an I1 refusal actionable. A caller sending
+// twenty tickets gets one refusal; without the offending target it cannot
+// tell which repo tripped the gate, and infra#265 shows what happens next —
+// the caller concluded the tickets ARRAY was broken, built a fallback of
+// twenty individual calls, and filed a bug against the wrong thing.
+func (s *Service) resolveClassification(declared classification.Level, in CaptureInput) (classification.Level, []string, []string) {
 	effective := declared
 	var events []string
+	derivedFor := map[string]classification.Level{}
+	var order []string
 	consider := func(kind classification.TargetKind, name string) {
 		derived := s.policy.Derive(classification.Target{Kind: kind, Name: name})
 		effective = classification.Stricter(effective, derived)
+		if _, seen := derivedFor[name]; !seen {
+			derivedFor[name] = derived
+			order = append(order, name)
+		}
 		if declared < derived {
 			events = append(events, fmt.Sprintf("classification under-declared: declared=%s target=%s(%s) derived=%s",
 				declared, name, kindString(kind), derived))
@@ -241,11 +254,35 @@ func (s *Service) resolveClassification(declared classification.Level, in Captur
 	for _, tk := range in.Tickets {
 		consider(classification.RepoTarget, tk.Repo)
 	}
-	return effective, events
+
+	// Only targets that actually reach the effective level are named: at
+	// twenty tickets, listing the innocent ones is noise that hides the one
+	// that matters.
+	var escalators []string
+	for _, name := range order {
+		if derivedFor[name] == effective && effective > declared {
+			escalators = append(escalators, name)
+		}
+	}
+	return effective, events, escalators
 }
 
-func (s *Service) persistInsight(ctx context.Context, ins Insight) (InsightResult, string, error) {
+// escalationReason renders why the effective classification landed where it
-	note := Note{Content: ins.Text, Wing: ins.Wing, Hall: ins.Hall, Filename: brain.Sanitise(firstLine(ins.Text))}
+// did, for an operator reading a refusal. Naming the caller's own declaration
+// matters as much as naming a target: "you asked for this" and "a repo you
+// touched required it" call for different fixes.
+func escalationReason(escalators []string) string {
+	if len(escalators) == 0 {
+		return "declared by the caller; no target required it"
+	}
+	return "required by: " + strings.Join(escalators, ", ")
+}
+
+func (s *Service) persistInsight(ctx context.Context, ins Insight, cc CaptureContext) (InsightResult, string, error) {
+	note := Note{
+		Content: ins.Text, Wing: ins.Wing, Hall: ins.Hall, Filename: brain.Sanitise(firstLine(ins.Text)),
+		Origin: cc.AuthPath, WrittenBy: cc.Principal,
+	}
 	var ref Ref
 	var err error
 	if ins.SupersedeSlug != "" {

ingestion/internal/capture/service_test.go

@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package capture
 import (
 	"context"
 	"errors"
+	"fmt"
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
 	"time"
@@ -59,12 +60,18 @@ type fakeTracker struct {
 	closed   []int
 	comments []int
 	err      error
+	// failOnTitle makes CreateIssue fail for one specific title, so a
+	// partial-failure receipt can be exercised without failing every item.
+	failOnTitle string
 }
 
 func (f *fakeTracker) CreateIssue(_ context.Context, repo, title, _ string) (IssueRef, error) {
 	if f.err != nil {
 		return IssueRef{}, f.err
 	}
+	if f.failOnTitle != "" && title == f.failOnTitle {
+		return IssueRef{}, errors.New("tracker refused this one")
+	}
 	f.created = append(f.created, repo+":"+title)
 	return IssueRef{Repo: repo, Number: 100 + len(f.created), URL: "https://git/" + repo + "/issues/x"}, nil
 }
@@ -87,7 +94,9 @@ func (f *fakeTracker) CommentIssue(_ context.Context, repo string, number int, _
 
 // fakePolicy derives from an explicit map; default Internal so tests pin
 // behaviour without depending on the real defaulting.
-type fakePolicy struct{ tags map[string]classification.Level }
+type fakePolicy struct {
+	tags map[string]classification.Level
+}
 
 func (p fakePolicy) Derive(t classification.Target) classification.Level {
 	if lvl, ok := p.tags[t.Name]; ok {
@@ -434,3 +443,98 @@ func TestCaptureDryRunSkipsAuditGate(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.True(t, rec.DryRun)
 	assert.Empty(t, au.entries)
 }
+
+// ---- hyperguild#91 part 1 -------------------------------------------------
+//
+// The reported symptom was "capture with a tickets array fails" (infra#265:
+// 20 tickets errored, 5 errored, caller fell back to 20 individual
+// issue_create calls). The array was never the failing dimension — every
+// ticket targeted a client repo, and the I1 gate refuses that through a
+// us-nexus origin at ANY length. The refusal did not say which target
+// escalated the classification, so it read as a malfunction.
+
+func TestCapture_TicketsArrayWorksAtLengthOne(t *testing.T) {
+	b, tr, au := &fakeBrain{}, &fakeTracker{}, &fakeAudit{}
+	svc := newSvc(b, tr, fakePolicy{}, au)
+
+	rec, err := svc.Capture(context.Background(), CaptureInput{
+		Context: baseCtx(),
+		Tickets: []Ticket{{Repo: "hyperguild", Action: "create", Title: "one", Body: "b"}},
+	})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.Len(t, rec.Tickets, 1)
+	assert.True(t, rec.Tickets[0].OK)
+	assert.Len(t, tr.created, 1)
+	assert.Empty(t, rec.Errors)
+}
+
+func TestCapture_TicketsArrayWorksAtLengthMany(t *testing.T) {
+	b, tr, au := &fakeBrain{}, &fakeTracker{}, &fakeAudit{}
+	svc := newSvc(b, tr, fakePolicy{}, au)
+
+	in := CaptureInput{Context: baseCtx()}
+	for i := range 20 {
+		in.Tickets = append(in.Tickets, Ticket{
+			Repo: "hyperguild", Action: "create", Title: fmt.Sprintf("t%02d", i), Body: "b",
+		})
+	}
+
+	rec, err := svc.Capture(context.Background(), in)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.Len(t, rec.Tickets, 20, "one receipt entry per ticket")
+	for i, r := range rec.Tickets {
+		assert.True(t, r.OK, "ticket %d failed: %+v", i, rec.Errors)
+	}
+	assert.Len(t, tr.created, 20)
+	assert.Empty(t, rec.Errors)
+}
+
+func TestCapture_OneFailingTicketDoesNotSinkTheRest(t *testing.T) {
+	// infra#265 asked explicitly: "if ticket 3 of 5 fails, what happened to
+	// 1 and 2?" They land, and the receipt says so per item.
+	b, au := &fakeBrain{}, &fakeAudit{}
+	tr := &fakeTracker{failOnTitle: "boom"}
+	svc := newSvc(b, tr, fakePolicy{}, au)
+
+	rec, err := svc.Capture(context.Background(), CaptureInput{
+		Context: baseCtx(),
+		Tickets: []Ticket{
+			{Repo: "hyperguild", Action: "create", Title: "ok-1", Body: "b"},
+			{Repo: "hyperguild", Action: "create", Title: "boom", Body: "b"},
+			{Repo: "hyperguild", Action: "create", Title: "ok-3", Body: "b"},
+		},
+	})
+	require.NoError(t, err, "a per-item failure is a partial receipt, not a call error")
+	require.Len(t, rec.Tickets, 3)
+	assert.True(t, rec.Tickets[0].OK)
+	assert.False(t, rec.Tickets[1].OK)
+	assert.True(t, rec.Tickets[2].OK)
+	require.Len(t, rec.Errors, 1)
+	assert.Contains(t, rec.Errors[0].Item, "ticket[1]")
+}
+
+func TestCapture_I1RefusalNamesWhatEscalatedTheClassification(t *testing.T) {
+	// The actual defect behind infra#265. Without the offending target in
+	// the message, a caller with 20 tickets cannot tell which repo tripped
+	// the gate — and reasonably concludes the array itself is broken.
+	b, tr, au := &fakeBrain{}, &fakeTracker{}, &fakeAudit{}
+	pol := fakePolicy{tags: map[string]classification.Level{"trucker-ecommerce": classification.Confidential}}
+	svc := newSvc(b, tr, pol, au)
+
+	ctx := baseCtx()
+	ctx.Origin = ZoneUSNexus
+	_, err := svc.Capture(context.Background(), CaptureInput{
+		Context: ctx,
+		Tickets: []Ticket{
+			{Repo: "hyperguild", Action: "create", Title: "fine", Body: "b"},
+			{Repo: "trucker-ecommerce", Action: "create", Title: "client work", Body: "b"},
+		},
+	})
+
+	require.ErrorIs(t, err, ErrSovereigntyRefused)
+	assert.Contains(t, err.Error(), "trucker-ecommerce",
+		"the refusal must name the target that escalated the classification")
+	assert.NotContains(t, err.Error(), "hyperguild",
+		"only the offending target, or the message is noise at 20 tickets")
+	assert.Empty(t, tr.created, "refused before any write")
+}

ingestion/internal/capturehttp/handler.go

@@ -104,6 +104,10 @@ func (h *Handler) ServeHTTP(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	// caller may have tried to put in the body.
 	in.Context.Principal = principal
 	in.Context.Origin = h.resolver.Resolve(principal, viaStatic)
+	in.Context.AuthPath = "jwt"
+	if viaStatic {
+		in.Context.AuthPath = "static"
+	}
 
 	rec, err := h.svc.Capture(r.Context(), in)
 	switch {

ingestion/internal/capturehttp/handler_test.go

@@ -38,9 +38,11 @@ func (f fakeTracker) CreateIssue(context.Context, string, string, string) (captu
 	}
 	return capture.IssueRef{Repo: "hyperguild", Number: 1, URL: "https://git/1"}, nil
 }
+
 func (fakeTracker) CloseIssue(context.Context, string, int, string) (capture.IssueRef, error) {
 	return capture.IssueRef{}, nil
 }
+
 func (fakeTracker) CommentIssue(context.Context, string, int, string) (capture.IssueRef, error) {
 	return capture.IssueRef{}, nil
 }
@@ -183,6 +185,7 @@ type refusingAudit struct{}
 func (refusingAudit) Reserve(context.Context, classification.Level) (capture.AuditOutcome, error) {
 	return 0, errors.New("central audit sink unreachable")
 }
+
 func (refusingAudit) Record(context.Context, capture.AuditEntry, capture.AuditOutcome) error {
 	return nil
 }

ingestion/internal/capturehttp/provenance_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+package capturehttp_test
+
+import (
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"testing"
+
+	"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"
+)
+
+// The REST capture door derives AuthPath itself (hyperguild#145); a body
+// field cannot set it, and static vs JWT are told apart.
+func TestRESTCaptureStampsAuthPathFromAuthentication(t *testing.T) {
+	for _, tc := range []struct {
+		name, authz, wantOrigin, wantBy string
+		v                               capturehttp.Validator
+		sovereign                       []string
+	}{
+		{"static", "Bearer " + staticTok, "origin: static\n", "written_by: local-cli\n", nil, nil},
+		{"jwt", "Bearer jwt", "origin: jwt\n", "written_by: koala-cli\n", fakeValidator{subject: "koala-cli"}, []string{"koala-cli"}},
+	} {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			brainDir := t.TempDir()
+			cfg, err := classification.Load(t.TempDir())
+			require.NoError(t, err)
+			svc := capture.NewService(brainstore.New(brainDir), fakeTracker{}, cfg, audit.NewSlogSink(nil))
+			h := capturehttp.New(svc, tc.v, staticTok, "local-cli", capturehttp.NewOriginResolver(tc.sovereign))
+			rr := do(t, h, tc.authz, map[string]any{
+				"context": map[string]any{
+					"harness": "claude-code", "actor": "mathias", "classification": "internal",
+					"AuthPath": "static", "auth_path": "static", "principal": "local-cli",
+				},
+				"insights": []map[string]any{{"text": "rest provenance probe", "wing": "hyperguild", "hall": "facts"}},
+			})
+			require.Equal(t, 200, rr.Code, rr.Body.String())
+			matches, _ := filepath.Glob(filepath.Join(brainDir, "wiki/hyperguild/facts/*.md"))
+			require.Len(t, matches, 1)
+			b, err := os.ReadFile(matches[0])
+			require.NoError(t, err)
+			assert.Contains(t, string(b), tc.wantOrigin)
+			assert.Contains(t, string(b), tc.wantBy)
+		})
+	}
+}

ingestion/internal/claim/claim.go

@@ -0,0 +1,98 @@
+// Package claim validates the claim-property frontmatter that says when and
+// where a note's claim holds, and who decided that (brain#21).
+//
+// Two families were designed together and land separately. This is the
+// applicability envelope:
+//
+//	half_life:        volatile | seasonal | durable   — how fast it decays
+//	applies:          local | homelab | universal     — how widely it holds
+//	claim_provenance: asserted | inferred             — who set the above
+//
+// The strength family (confidence, contested) follows once the ingest-time
+// contradiction detector exists to populate it.
+//
+// Why the envelope is validated rather than merely accepted: a value outside
+// the enum is worse than an absent one. A lint skips what it cannot parse, so
+// the note reads as classified while nothing acts on it — the field becomes
+// decoration that suppresses the very review it was added to trigger.
+//
+// Why `applies` and not `scope`: `scope:` has been in use since brain#5 for
+// glossary terms (`homelab-core`, `project:<repo>`) — a disjoint value space
+// on the same key. The shipped schema keeps the name; this one takes another.
+package claim
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"strings"
+)
+
+// Field names, exported so writers and lints agree on the spelling.
+const (
+	FieldHalfLife   = "half_life"
+	FieldApplies    = "applies"
+	FieldProvenance = "claim_provenance"
+)
+
+var (
+	halfLives   = []string{"volatile", "seasonal", "durable"}
+	appliesTo   = []string{"local", "homelab", "universal"}
+	provenances = []string{"asserted", "inferred"}
+)
+
+// ValidateEnvelope checks the envelope fields of one note's frontmatter.
+//
+// Absent fields are valid: the envelope is opt-in for new writes, and a
+// corpus-wide backfill is deliberately out of scope (brain#21) — inferring
+// 1113 notes' properties in bulk has the same failure mode as the extraction
+// pass that produced 28 wrong wikilinks out of 67.
+func ValidateEnvelope(fm map[string]string) error {
+	halfLife, hasHalfLife := present(fm, FieldHalfLife)
+	applies, hasApplies := present(fm, FieldApplies)
+	prov, hasProv := present(fm, FieldProvenance)
+
+	if hasHalfLife {
+		if err := oneOf(FieldHalfLife, halfLife, halfLives); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+	}
+	if hasApplies {
+		if err := oneOf(FieldApplies, applies, appliesTo); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+	}
+	if hasProv {
+		if err := oneOf(FieldProvenance, prov, provenances); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+	}
+
+	// The field and its provenance travel together or not at all. A value
+	// whose author is unknown cannot be trusted differently from one Mathias
+	// asserted, which is how an inferred guess hardens into accepted fact.
+	switch {
+	case (hasHalfLife || hasApplies) && !hasProv:
+		return fmt.Errorf("%s is required when %s or %s is set",
+			FieldProvenance, FieldHalfLife, FieldApplies)
+	case hasProv && !hasHalfLife && !hasApplies:
+		return fmt.Errorf("%s is set but neither %s nor %s is",
+			FieldProvenance, FieldHalfLife, FieldApplies)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+// present reports a trimmed field value and whether it was set to anything
+// non-empty. A key written with an empty value is treated as absent rather
+// than as an error: that is a caller emitting a placeholder, not asserting.
+func present(fm map[string]string, key string) (string, bool) {
+	v := strings.TrimSpace(fm[key])
+	return v, v != ""
+}
+
+func oneOf(field, value string, allowed []string) error {
+	for _, a := range allowed {
+		if a == value {
+			return nil
+		}
+	}
+	return fmt.Errorf("%s: %q is not one of %s", field, value, strings.Join(allowed, ", "))
+}

ingestion/internal/claim/claim_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,89 @@
+// Package claim_test covers the claim-property envelope (brain#21).
+package claim_test
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/claim"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+)
+
+func TestValidateEnvelope(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name    string
+		fm      map[string]string
+		wantErr string
+	}{
+		{
+			name: "absent is fine — the fields are opt-in on new writes",
+			fm:   map[string]string{"wing": "homelab", "hall": "facts"},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "complete envelope with provenance",
+			fm: map[string]string{
+				"half_life": "durable", "applies": "universal", "claim_provenance": "asserted",
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "inferred provenance is equally valid — it just must be stated",
+			fm: map[string]string{
+				"half_life": "volatile", "applies": "local", "claim_provenance": "inferred",
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			// A value nobody can act on is worse than no value: a lint
+			// silently skips it, so the note looks classified and isn't.
+			name:    "unknown half_life value",
+			fm:      map[string]string{"half_life": "forever", "claim_provenance": "asserted"},
+			wantErr: `half_life: "forever" is not one of volatile, seasonal, durable`,
+		},
+		{
+			name:    "unknown applies value",
+			fm:      map[string]string{"applies": "galaxy", "claim_provenance": "asserted"},
+			wantErr: `applies: "galaxy" is not one of local, homelab, universal`,
+		},
+		{
+			// brain#21: a value a model inferred must never be
+			// indistinguishable from one Mathias asserted. Writing the field
+			// without saying who set it is exactly that laundering.
+			name:    "envelope field without provenance",
+			fm:      map[string]string{"half_life": "durable"},
+			wantErr: "claim_provenance is required when half_life or applies is set",
+		},
+		{
+			name:    "applies without provenance",
+			fm:      map[string]string{"applies": "homelab"},
+			wantErr: "claim_provenance is required when half_life or applies is set",
+		},
+		{
+			name:    "unknown provenance value",
+			fm:      map[string]string{"half_life": "durable", "claim_provenance": "probably"},
+			wantErr: `claim_provenance: "probably" is not one of asserted, inferred`,
+		},
+		{
+			// Provenance alone says who set fields that aren't there.
+			name:    "provenance without any envelope field",
+			fm:      map[string]string{"claim_provenance": "asserted"},
+			wantErr: "claim_provenance is set but neither half_life nor applies is",
+		},
+		{
+			// The glossary wing has used scope: homelab-core since #5. The
+			// envelope deliberately does NOT claim that key (brain#21).
+			name: "glossary scope is untouched",
+			fm:   map[string]string{"scope": "homelab-core", "term": "koala"},
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			err := claim.ValidateEnvelope(tt.fm)
+			if tt.wantErr == "" {
+				assert.NoError(t, err)
+				return
+			}
+			require.Error(t, err)
+			assert.Contains(t, err.Error(), tt.wantErr)
+		})
+	}
+}

ingestion/internal/claudewatcher/scrubber.go

@@ -43,6 +43,26 @@ var DefaultRules = []Rule{
 	// JSON, so both segments begin with "eyJ".
 	{Name: "jwt", RE: regexp.MustCompile(`eyJ[A-Za-z0-9_\-]{8,}\.eyJ[A-Za-z0-9_\-]{8,}\.[A-Za-z0-9_\-]{8,}`)},
 	{Name: "postgres-uri-with-password", RE: regexp.MustCompile(`postgres(?:ql)?://[^:\s/]+:[^@\s/]+@`)},
+	// Any credential embedded in a URL's userinfo, which is what a git credential
+	// store holds: `https://<user>:<token>@host`. The postgres rule above is the
+	// same shape narrowed to one scheme, and is kept ahead of this one only so a
+	// DSN reports the more specific name -- same ordering convention as
+	// authorization-header before bearer-token.
+	//
+	// Added after this shape passed ALL rules and was therefore ingested rather
+	// than dropped (hyperguild#142). It reached ~/.claude/projects -- this
+	// watcher's own input -- because a test suite in mathias/infra executed a
+	// script that configures git while inheriting the operator's real $HOME, read
+	// koala's live credential store, and printed it. Two credentials were rotated
+	// (infra#466). The scrubber is the control that decides whether that class of
+	// mistake is survivable, and for this shape it was failing open.
+	//
+	// The {8,} floor on the secret half is what keeps `https://host:443/path` and
+	// `https://user:@host` out; the `[^:\s/@]+` user half stops a host:port pair
+	// being read as userinfo. Both directions are covered by
+	// TestScrub_URLUserinfoCredential, because a rule that dropped every URL with
+	// a colon in it would discard most of the signal this watcher exists to keep.
+	{Name: "url-userinfo-credential", RE: regexp.MustCompile(`[a-zA-Z][a-zA-Z0-9+.\-]*://[^:\s/@]+:[^@\s/]{8,}@`)},
 	{Name: "private-key", RE: regexp.MustCompile(`-----BEGIN[^-]*PRIVATE KEY-----`)},
 	{Name: "ssh-key", RE: regexp.MustCompile(`ssh-(?:rsa|ed25519|ecdsa)\s+[A-Za-z0-9+/=]{40,}`)},
 	{Name: "github-pat", RE: regexp.MustCompile(`\b(?:ghp|gho|ghu|ghr|gha)_[A-Za-z0-9]{30,}\b`)},

ingestion/internal/claudewatcher/scrubber_test.go

@@ -46,6 +46,64 @@ func TestScrub_PoisonedFixtures(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+// A credential embedded in a URL's userinfo is the shape a git credential store
+// holds -- `https://<user>:<token>@host` -- and it walked past every rule until
+// hyperguild#142. There was a rule for `postgres://user:pass@` and nothing for the
+// general form, so `~/.git-credentials` content was ingested rather than dropped.
+//
+// Found the hard way: a test suite in mathias/infra executed a script that
+// configures git while inheriting the operator's real $HOME, read koala's live
+// credential store, and printed two live credentials into a session transcript.
+// ~/.claude/projects is this watcher's own input, so the scrubber was the last
+// line of defence for that mistake and it failed open. Two credentials were
+// rotated (infra#466).
+//
+// The lesson is not "do not read the credential file" -- that mistake will recur.
+// It is that this shape must fail closed, because the scrubber is what decides
+// whether such a mistake is survivable.
+func TestScrub_URLUserinfoCredential(t *testing.T) {
+	// Every secret below is INVENTED. None is or was a real credential.
+	mustScrub := []struct {
+		name    string
+		content string
+	}{
+		{"git-credential-store-user", "https://mathias:0123456789abcdef0123456789abcdef01234567@git.d-ma.be"},
+		{"git-credential-store-oauth2", "https://oauth2:0123456789abcdef0123456789abcdef01234567@git.d-ma.be"},
+		{"in-context-payload-line", `payload line: https://mathias:0123456789abcdef0123456789abcdef01234567@git.d-ma.be`},
+		{"clone-url-in-argv", "git clone https://oauth2:abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwx@git.d-ma.be/mathias/infra.git"},
+		{"http-not-https", "http://admin:supersecretvalue123@10.0.1.20/api"},
+		{"git-plus-ssh-scheme", "git+ssh://deploy:abcdefghijklmnop@example.com/repo"},
+		{"redis-scheme", "redis://default:abcdefghijklmnopqrst@10.0.1.20:6379/0"},
+	}
+	for _, tc := range mustScrub {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			assert.NotEmpty(t, Scrub(tc.content),
+				"a credential in URL userinfo must be dropped, not ingested")
+		})
+	}
+
+	// The other direction matters as much: a rule that scrubs every URL with a
+	// colon in it would drop most of the signal this watcher exists to keep.
+	mustNotScrub := []struct {
+		name    string
+		content string
+	}{
+		{"host-with-port", "cloning https://git.d-ma.be:443/mathias/infra.git"},
+		{"postgres-no-password", "postgres://localhost:5432/brain"},
+		{"url-with-colon-in-query", "GET https://example.com/path?filter=a:b&x=1"},
+		{"plain-url", "see https://git.d-ma.be/mathias/infra/issues/466"},
+		{"userinfo-no-secret", "https://user:@example.com"},
+		{"format-string-placeholder", `printf 'https://oauth2:%s@%s\n' "$TOKEN" "$HOST"`},
+		{"scheme-relative-time", "duration https://example.com took 00:03:22"},
+	}
+	for _, tc := range mustNotScrub {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			assert.Empty(t, Scrub(tc.content),
+				"this is not a credential and must pass through")
+		})
+	}
+}
+
 func TestScrub_CleanContentPassesThrough(t *testing.T) {
 	cases := []string{
 		"",

ingestion/internal/claudewatcher/skip_projects_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,231 @@
+package claudewatcher
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"log/slog"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+	"sync"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+)
+
+// recordingHandler captures log records so a test can assert that a file was
+// never even attempted — the absence of a read error is the evidence.
+type recordingHandler struct {
+	mu      sync.Mutex
+	records []string
+}
+
+func (h *recordingHandler) Enabled(context.Context, slog.Level) bool { return true }
+
+func (h *recordingHandler) Handle(_ context.Context, r slog.Record) error {
+	h.mu.Lock()
+	defer h.mu.Unlock()
+	var sb strings.Builder
+	sb.WriteString(r.Message)
+	r.Attrs(func(a slog.Attr) bool {
+		sb.WriteString(" " + a.Key + "=" + a.Value.String())
+		return true
+	})
+	h.records = append(h.records, sb.String())
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (h *recordingHandler) WithAttrs([]slog.Attr) slog.Handler { return h }
+func (h *recordingHandler) WithGroup(string) slog.Handler      { return h }
+
+func (h *recordingHandler) contains(substr string) bool {
+	h.mu.Lock()
+	defer h.mu.Unlock()
+	for _, r := range h.records {
+		if strings.Contains(r, substr) {
+			return true
+		}
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
+func session(t *testing.T, root, project, id string) string {
+	t.Helper()
+	dir := filepath.Join(root, project)
+	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(dir, 0o755))
+	return writeSession(t, dir, id, []string{
+		`{"type":"user","sessionId":"` + id + `","message":"a prompt"}`,
+		`{"type":"assistant","sessionId":"` + id + `","message":{"content":[{"type":"text","text":"an answer"}]}}`,
+	})
+}
+
+// A named project is not ingested, and its neighbours still are.
+func TestSkipProjects_skipsTheNamedProjectOnly(t *testing.T) {
+	tmp := t.TempDir()
+	session(t, tmp, "-home-mathias-dev-AGENTS-cobalt-dingo", "skipped")
+	session(t, tmp, "-home-mathias-dev", "kept")
+
+	sink := &memSink{}
+	require.NoError(t, TickOnce(context.Background(), Config{
+		SessionsDir:  tmp,
+		Host:         "koala",
+		Sink:         sink,
+		SkipProjects: []string{"-home-mathias-dev-AGENTS-cobalt-dingo"},
+	}))
+
+	require.Len(t, sink.batches, 1)
+	assert.Equal(t, "kept", sink.batches[0].SessionID)
+	assert.Equal(t, "-home-mathias-dev", sink.batches[0].ProjectID)
+}
+
+// Globs are necessary, not a convenience. A project directory is derived from
+// the session's WORKING DIRECTORY, so a git worktree produces an ephemeral
+// name like "-home-mathias-dev--claude-worktrees-bridge-cse-017xoC...". An
+// exact-match list could never keep up with those.
+func TestSkipProjects_globMatchesEphemeralWorktreeNames(t *testing.T) {
+	tmp := t.TempDir()
+	session(t, tmp, "-home-mathias-dev--claude-worktrees-bridge-cse-017xoCEcrc35", "worktree")
+	session(t, tmp, "-home-mathias-dev", "kept")
+
+	sink := &memSink{}
+	require.NoError(t, TickOnce(context.Background(), Config{
+		SessionsDir:  tmp,
+		Host:         "koala",
+		Sink:         sink,
+		SkipProjects: []string{"*claude-worktrees-bridge-cse*"},
+	}))
+
+	require.Len(t, sink.batches, 1)
+	assert.Equal(t, "kept", sink.batches[0].SessionID)
+}
+
+// The point of skipping at the directory walk: the file is never OPENED, so
+// its content never enters this process. Proven by making it unreadable — a
+// skipped file produces no read error because nothing tried to read it, while
+// the same file in a non-skipped project does.
+func TestSkipProjects_theFileIsNeverOpened(t *testing.T) {
+	tmp := t.TempDir()
+	path := session(t, tmp, "-home-mathias-dev-AGENTS-cobalt-dingo", "unreadable")
+	require.NoError(t, os.Chmod(path, 0o000))
+	t.Cleanup(func() { _ = os.Chmod(path, 0o644) })
+
+	rec := &recordingHandler{}
+	sink := &memSink{}
+	require.NoError(t, TickOnce(context.Background(), Config{
+		SessionsDir:  tmp,
+		Host:         "koala",
+		Sink:         sink,
+		Logger:       slog.New(rec),
+		SkipProjects: []string{"*cobalt-dingo*"},
+	}))
+
+	assert.Empty(t, sink.batches)
+	assert.False(t, rec.contains("file failed"),
+		"a skipped file must not even be attempted")
+}
+
+// The control test for the one above: without the skip, the unreadable file IS
+// attempted and fails. Otherwise the assertion above could pass for the wrong
+// reason.
+func TestSkipProjects_withoutTheSkipTheSameFileIsAttempted(t *testing.T) {
+	tmp := t.TempDir()
+	path := session(t, tmp, "-home-mathias-dev-AGENTS-cobalt-dingo", "unreadable")
+	require.NoError(t, os.Chmod(path, 0o000))
+	t.Cleanup(func() { _ = os.Chmod(path, 0o644) })
+
+	rec := &recordingHandler{}
+	require.NoError(t, TickOnce(context.Background(), Config{
+		SessionsDir: tmp,
+		Host:        "koala",
+		Sink:        &memSink{},
+		Logger:      slog.New(rec),
+	}))
+
+	assert.True(t, rec.contains("file failed"),
+		"the unreadable file must fail when not skipped — otherwise the skip test proves nothing")
+}
+
+// Patterns match the project directory NAME, not the whole path. A temp
+// directory or a home directory component must not accidentally match and
+// silently disable ingestion.
+func TestSkipProjects_matchesTheProjectNameNotTheFullPath(t *testing.T) {
+	tmp := t.TempDir()
+	session(t, tmp, "-home-mathias-dev", "kept")
+
+	sink := &memSink{}
+	require.NoError(t, TickOnce(context.Background(), Config{
+		SessionsDir: tmp,
+		Host:        "koala",
+		Sink:        sink,
+		// tmp is somewhere under /tmp; this must not match the project name.
+		SkipProjects: []string{"*tmp*"},
+	}))
+
+	require.Len(t, sink.batches, 1, "a path component outside the project name must not match")
+}
+
+// An unparseable pattern must stop the watcher rather than be ignored. A
+// silently dropped skip rule means ingesting what was meant to be excluded,
+// which is the failure that cannot be noticed after the fact.
+func TestSkipProjects_invalidPatternRefusesToRun(t *testing.T) {
+	tmp := t.TempDir()
+	session(t, tmp, "-home-mathias-dev", "kept")
+
+	sink := &memSink{}
+	err := TickOnce(context.Background(), Config{
+		SessionsDir:  tmp,
+		Host:         "koala",
+		Sink:         sink,
+		SkipProjects: []string{"[unclosed"},
+	})
+
+	require.Error(t, err)
+	assert.Contains(t, err.Error(), "[unclosed")
+	assert.Empty(t, sink.batches, "nothing may be ingested while a skip rule is broken")
+}
+
+func TestSkipProjects_emptyListChangesNothing(t *testing.T) {
+	tmp := t.TempDir()
+	session(t, tmp, "-home-mathias-dev", "kept")
+
+	sink := &memSink{}
+	require.NoError(t, TickOnce(context.Background(), Config{
+		SessionsDir: tmp, Host: "koala", Sink: sink, SkipProjects: nil,
+	}))
+
+	require.Len(t, sink.batches, 1)
+}
+
+// The difference between SkipDir and filtering after the walk, made
+// observable: an unreadable skipped directory must not disturb anything.
+//
+// Without SkipDir, WalkDir reads the directory's entries, gets a permission
+// error, and that error aborts the ENTIRE walk — so one skipped project with
+// awkward permissions would silently stop ingesting every other project.
+// Returning SkipDir means its contents are never listed at all.
+//
+// Added after a mutation test showed the earlier assertions could not tell the
+// two implementations apart.
+func TestSkipProjects_anUnreadableSkippedDirDoesNotBreakTheWalk(t *testing.T) {
+	tmp := t.TempDir()
+	session(t, tmp, "-home-mathias-dev", "kept")
+
+	blocked := filepath.Join(tmp, "-home-mathias-dev-AGENTS-cobalt-dingo")
+	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(blocked, 0o755))
+	_ = writeSession(t, blocked, "secret", []string{
+		`{"type":"user","sessionId":"secret","message":"should never be read"}`,
+	})
+	require.NoError(t, os.Chmod(blocked, 0o000))
+	t.Cleanup(func() { _ = os.Chmod(blocked, 0o755) })
+
+	sink := &memSink{}
+	require.NoError(t, TickOnce(context.Background(), Config{
+		SessionsDir:  tmp,
+		Host:         "koala",
+		Sink:         sink,
+		SkipProjects: []string{"*cobalt-dingo*"},
+	}))
+
+	require.Len(t, sink.batches, 1, "an unreadable skipped directory must not abort the walk")
+	assert.Equal(t, "kept", sink.batches[0].SessionID)
+}

ingestion/internal/claudewatcher/watcher.go

@@ -45,6 +45,25 @@ type Config struct {
 	Sink        Sink
 	Cursors     *CursorStore
 	Logger      *slog.Logger
+
+	// SkipProjects excludes whole project directories from ingestion, as
+	// filepath.Match globs tested against the project directory NAME (the
+	// basename, e.g. "-home-mathias-dev"), not the full path.
+	//
+	// Globs rather than exact names because a project directory is derived
+	// from the session's working directory, so a git worktree yields an
+	// ephemeral name like
+	// "-home-mathias-dev--claude-worktrees-bridge-cse-017xoC..." that no
+	// exact-match list could keep up with.
+	//
+	// Matching directories are skipped during the directory WALK, so their
+	// files are never opened and their content never enters this process —
+	// which is a stronger property than filtering it out afterwards.
+	//
+	// An unparseable pattern stops the watcher. A silently dropped skip rule
+	// means ingesting what was meant to be excluded, and that is not
+	// noticeable after the fact.
+	SkipProjects []string
 }
 
 // Watch runs the polling loop until ctx is cancelled. Returns ctx.Err()
@@ -68,6 +87,9 @@ func Watch(ctx context.Context, cfg Config) error {
 	if cfg.Logger == nil {
 		cfg.Logger = slog.Default()
 	}
+	if err := validateSkipPatterns(cfg.SkipProjects); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 	cfg.Logger.Info("claudewatcher: started",
 		"sessions_dir", cfg.SessionsDir,
 		"host", cfg.Host,
@@ -91,7 +113,7 @@ func Watch(ctx context.Context, cfg Config) error {
 // runTick is one polling pass. Exposed (lowercase) for tests via
 // TickOnce.
 func runTick(ctx context.Context, cfg Config) {
-	files, err := listSessionFiles(cfg.SessionsDir)
+	files, err := listSessionFiles(cfg.SessionsDir, cfg.SkipProjects, cfg.Logger)
 	if err != nil {
 		cfg.Logger.Warn("claudewatcher: list session files", "err", err)
 		return
@@ -119,17 +141,52 @@ func TickOnce(ctx context.Context, cfg Config) error {
 	if cfg.Logger == nil {
 		cfg.Logger = slog.Default()
 	}
+	if err := validateSkipPatterns(cfg.SkipProjects); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 	runTick(ctx, cfg)
 	return nil
 }
 
-func listSessionFiles(root string) ([]string, error) {
+// validateSkipPatterns rejects a pattern filepath.Match cannot parse.
+//
+// Checked up front rather than per file: a bad pattern that only failed at
+// match time would be reported once per session file per tick, and — worse —
+// filepath.Match returns an error alongside a false match, so the directory
+// would be ingested while the log complained.
+func validateSkipPatterns(patterns []string) error {
+	for _, p := range patterns {
+		if _, err := filepath.Match(p, "probe"); err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("invalid skip-project pattern %q: %w", p, err)
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+// skipProject reports whether a project directory name matches any pattern.
+func skipProject(name string, patterns []string) bool {
+	for _, p := range patterns {
+		// The error case is already excluded by validateSkipPatterns.
+		if ok, _ := filepath.Match(p, name); ok {
+			return true
+		}
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
+func listSessionFiles(root string, skip []string, log *slog.Logger) ([]string, error) {
 	var out []string
 	err := filepath.WalkDir(root, func(path string, d os.DirEntry, walkErr error) error {
 		if walkErr != nil {
 			return walkErr
 		}
 		if d.IsDir() {
+			// SkipDir, so nothing inside is even listed. The files are never
+			// opened and their content never reaches this process.
+			if path != root && skipProject(d.Name(), skip) {
+				log.Info("claudewatcher: project skipped by configuration", "project", d.Name())
+				return filepath.SkipDir
+			}
 			return nil
 		}
 		if !strings.HasSuffix(path, ".jsonl") {

ingestion/internal/extract/callsites_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,130 @@
+package extract
+
+import (
+	"go/ast"
+	"go/parser"
+	"go/token"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strconv"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+const extractPkg = "github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/extract"
+
+// parseNonTest parses every non-test Go file under the module.
+func parseNonTest(t *testing.T) map[string]*ast.File {
+	t.Helper()
+	fset := token.NewFileSet()
+	out := map[string]*ast.File{}
+	err := filepath.WalkDir(filepath.Join("..", ".."), func(p string, d os.DirEntry, err error) error {
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		if d.IsDir() && (d.Name() == "vendor" || d.Name() == ".git") {
+			return filepath.SkipDir
+		}
+		if d.IsDir() || !strings.HasSuffix(p, ".go") || strings.HasSuffix(p, "_test.go") {
+			return nil
+		}
+		f, perr := parser.ParseFile(fset, p, nil, 0)
+		if perr != nil {
+			return perr
+		}
+		out[filepath.ToSlash(p)] = f
+		return nil
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	return out
+}
+
+// PR #156 review: reading a caller-chosen path by name reopens it after the
+// containment check (hyperguild#153 item 3). Outside this package, nothing
+// may reference extract.Text — called OR taken as a value — under whatever
+// name the package is imported (round 2: an alias and a func value slipped
+// past a plain text search).
+func TestNoPackageReferencesExtractTextOutsideExtract(t *testing.T) {
+	for path, f := range parseNonTest(t) {
+		if strings.Contains(path, "internal/extract/") {
+			continue
+		}
+		names := map[string]bool{}
+		for _, imp := range f.Imports {
+			if p, _ := strconv.Unquote(imp.Path.Value); p == extractPkg {
+				name := "extract"
+				if imp.Name != nil {
+					name = imp.Name.Name
+				}
+				if name == "." {
+					t.Errorf("%s dot-imports extract; import it by name so its use stays checkable", path)
+				}
+				names[name] = true
+			}
+		}
+		if len(names) == 0 {
+			continue
+		}
+		ast.Inspect(f, func(n ast.Node) bool {
+			if sel, ok := n.(*ast.SelectorExpr); ok {
+				if id, ok := sel.X.(*ast.Ident); ok && names[id.Name] && sel.Sel.Name == "Text" {
+					t.Errorf("%s references %s.Text; use extract.TextIn through an os.Root", path, id.Name)
+				}
+			}
+			return true
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+// PR #156 review round 2: the FIFO fix (open non-blocking, check the handle)
+// lives in OpenRegular, and reverting any caller to a plain Root.Open stayed
+// green. In the three raw/ reader FILES parsed below (and only those: a
+// wrapper in another file is not seen), no Open/OpenFile/ReadFile selector
+// may appear outside OpenRegular, called or taken as a method value. This is
+// a second layer; the behavioural race tests in internal/api and
+// internal/watcher are what catch a rewrite through any API (round 3).
+// osOpenAllowed names the functions in guarded files that may call os.Open*
+// on a path that is not a raw/ read.
+var osOpenAllowed = map[string]bool{
+	"internal/watcher/watcher.go:appendWatcherLog": true, // ingest log append, not a raw/ read
+	// Text reads by path; outside this package only TextIn's temp copy reaches
+	// it (TestNoPackageReferencesExtractTextOutsideExtract enforces that).
+	"internal/extract/extract.go:Text": true,
+}
+
+func TestRawReaderFilesUseNoOpenOrReadFileOutsideOpenRegular(t *testing.T) {
+	guarded := []string{"internal/api/rawroot.go", "internal/extract/extract.go", "internal/watcher/watcher.go"}
+	files := parseNonTest(t)
+	for _, g := range guarded {
+		var f *ast.File
+		for p, af := range files {
+			if strings.HasSuffix(p, g) {
+				f = af
+			}
+		}
+		if f == nil {
+			t.Fatalf("guarded file %s not found", g)
+		}
+		for _, decl := range f.Decls {
+			fn, ok := decl.(*ast.FuncDecl)
+			if !ok || fn.Name.Name == "OpenRegular" {
+				continue
+			}
+			ast.Inspect(fn, func(n ast.Node) bool {
+				sel, ok := n.(*ast.SelectorExpr)
+				if !ok {
+					return true
+				}
+				if sel.Sel.Name == "Open" || sel.Sel.Name == "OpenFile" || sel.Sel.Name == "ReadFile" {
+					if id, ok := sel.X.(*ast.Ident); ok && id.Name == "os" && osOpenAllowed[g+":"+fn.Name.Name] {
+						return true // a named non-raw write (the ingest log append)
+					}
+					t.Errorf("%s: %s calls .%s; raw/ reads must go through OpenRegular", g, fn.Name.Name, sel.Sel.Name)
+				}
+				return true
+			})
+		}
+	}
+}

ingestion/internal/extract/extract.go

@@ -3,8 +3,10 @@ package extract
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
+	"io"
 	"os"
 	"strings"
+	"syscall"
 )
 
 // Text reads the file at path and returns its plain-text content.
@@ -41,3 +43,70 @@ func fileExt(path string) string {
 	}
 	return ""
 }
+
+// TextIn is Text for a file read through an os.Root (hyperguild#153): the
+// read cannot leave the root, so a path checked earlier cannot be swapped
+// for a symlink pointing elsewhere before it is read. Formats that need an
+// external tool (pdf, docmark) are copied to a temp file from the handle
+// opened through the root, then extracted from the copy.
+func TextIn(r *os.Root, rel string) (string, error) {
+	fi, err := r.Lstat(rel)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("stat %s: %w", rel, err)
+	}
+	if !fi.Mode().IsRegular() {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("%s: not a regular file", rel)
+	}
+	f, _, err := OpenRegular(r, rel)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("open %s: %w", rel, err)
+	}
+	defer func() { _ = f.Close() }()
+	ext := strings.ToLower(fileExt(rel))
+	switch ext {
+	case ".md", ".txt":
+		b, err := io.ReadAll(f)
+		if err != nil {
+			return "", fmt.Errorf("read %s: %w", rel, err)
+		}
+		return string(b), nil
+	case ".pdf", ".docx", ".xlsx", ".pptx", ".png", ".jpg", ".jpeg":
+		tmp, err := os.CreateTemp("", "ingest-*"+ext)
+		if err != nil {
+			return "", fmt.Errorf("temp copy: %w", err)
+		}
+		defer func() { _ = os.Remove(tmp.Name()) }()
+		if _, err := io.Copy(tmp, f); err != nil {
+			_ = tmp.Close()
+			return "", fmt.Errorf("copy %s: %w", rel, err)
+		}
+		if err := tmp.Close(); err != nil {
+			return "", fmt.Errorf("copy %s: %w", rel, err)
+		}
+		return Text(tmp.Name())
+	default:
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("unsupported file extension: %s", ext)
+	}
+}
+
+// OpenRegular opens rel inside r and returns it only if the OPENED handle is
+// a regular file. The open is non-blocking, so a FIFO swapped in after an
+// Lstat (PR #156 review: it hung open(2) forever) is refused promptly rather
+// than stalling the reader. Callers keep their Lstat check, which refuses
+// symlinks outright; this closes the race between that check and the open.
+func OpenRegular(r *os.Root, rel string) (*os.File, os.FileInfo, error) {
+	f, err := r.OpenFile(rel, os.O_RDONLY|syscall.O_NONBLOCK, 0)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, nil, err
+	}
+	fi, err := f.Stat()
+	if err != nil {
+		_ = f.Close()
+		return nil, nil, err
+	}
+	if !fi.Mode().IsRegular() {
+		_ = f.Close()
+		return nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("%s: not a regular file", rel)
+	}
+	return f, fi, nil
+}

ingestion/internal/extract/root_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+package extract
+
+import (
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"syscall"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+)
+
+// hyperguild#153 item 3: ingest checked a path, then extract.Text reopened it
+// by name, so a file swapped for a symlink in between was followed out of
+// raw/. TextIn reads through an os.Root, which refuses to leave the root.
+func TestTextInReadsInsideTheRootAndRefusesEscapes(t *testing.T) {
+	root := t.TempDir()
+	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(root, "ok.md"), []byte("inside"), 0o644))
+	outside := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "secret.md")
+	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(outside, []byte("SENTINEL-153-TEXTIN"), 0o644))
+	require.NoError(t, os.Symlink(outside, filepath.Join(root, "leak.md")))
+
+	r, err := os.OpenRoot(root)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	defer func() { _ = r.Close() }()
+
+	got, err := TextIn(r, "ok.md")
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, "inside", got)
+
+	got, err = TextIn(r, "leak.md")
+	assert.Error(t, err)
+	assert.NotContains(t, got, "SENTINEL-153-TEXTIN")
+
+	_, err = TextIn(r, "../"+filepath.Base(outside))
+	assert.Error(t, err)
+}
+
+// PR #156 review: a regular file swapped for a FIFO between Lstat and Open
+// blocked open(2) forever. OpenRegular opens non-blocking and checks the type
+// on the opened handle, so a FIFO is refused promptly instead of hanging.
+func TestOpenRegularRefusesAFIFOWithoutBlocking(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	require.NoError(t, syscall.Mkfifo(filepath.Join(dir, "pipe.md"), 0o644))
+	r, err := os.OpenRoot(dir)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	defer func() { _ = r.Close() }()
+
+	done := make(chan error, 1)
+	go func() {
+		f, _, err := OpenRegular(r, "pipe.md")
+		if f != nil {
+			_ = f.Close()
+		}
+		done <- err
+	}()
+	select {
+	case err := <-done:
+		assert.Error(t, err)
+	case <-time.After(2 * time.Second):
+		t.Fatal("OpenRegular blocked on a FIFO")
+	}
+}

ingestion/internal/frontmatter/frontmatter.go

@@ -0,0 +1,167 @@
+// Package frontmatter lints and repairs the YAML frontmatter block of a
+// markdown note.
+//
+// Notes written directly — hand-authored, or promoted from brain/raw/ — do not
+// pass through pipeline.BuildPages, so nothing quotes their scalars. A title
+// containing an unescaped ": " then produces a block that yaml.Unmarshal
+// rejects with "mapping values are not allowed here", and every consumer that
+// reads frontmatter silently skips the note.
+//
+// Fix is deliberately conservative: it only adds quoting, never reorders or
+// rewrites, and it refuses to return a document that still does not parse.
+package frontmatter
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"fmt"
+	"regexp"
+	"strings"
+
+	"gopkg.in/yaml.v3"
+)
+
+const fence = "---"
+
+// Lint reports whether doc's frontmatter block parses as YAML.
+//
+// A document with no frontmatter block, or with an unterminated one, is not an
+// error: there is nothing claiming to be YAML.
+func Lint(doc []byte) error {
+	b, ok := block(doc)
+	if !ok {
+		return nil
+	}
+	var v any
+	if err := yaml.Unmarshal(b, &v); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("frontmatter: %w", err)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+// Fix quotes unquoted scalars whose value breaks YAML parsing and returns the
+// repaired document.
+//
+// It returns (doc, false, nil) when the document already parses, and
+// (doc, false, err) when quoting cannot rescue it — an unfixable document is
+// always returned byte-identical, never half-repaired.
+func Fix(doc []byte) ([]byte, bool, error) {
+	if err := Lint(doc); err == nil {
+		return doc, false, nil
+	}
+
+	b, ok := block(doc)
+	if !ok {
+		// Lint only fails when there is a block, so this is unreachable in
+		// practice; return the original rather than guess.
+		return doc, false, nil
+	}
+
+	fixed := quoteScalars(b)
+	if bytes.Equal(fixed, b) {
+		return doc, false, fmt.Errorf("frontmatter: not repairable by quoting: %w", Lint(doc))
+	}
+
+	var v any
+	if err := yaml.Unmarshal(fixed, &v); err != nil {
+		return doc, false, fmt.Errorf("frontmatter: quoting did not repair the block: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	_, rest, _ := Split(doc)
+	out := []byte(fence + "\n")
+	out = append(out, fixed...)
+	out = append(out, []byte(fence)...)
+	out = append(out, rest...)
+	return out, true, nil
+}
+
+// mappingLine matches "key: value" at any indentation, capturing the prefix so
+// it can be re-emitted untouched.
+//
+// Sequence items ("- value") are deliberately not handled: "- foo: bar" is
+// valid YAML, so a document containing one does not reach Fix in the first
+// place. See the Lint table for why that gap is left open.
+var mappingLine = regexp.MustCompile(`^(\s*[A-Za-z_][\w.-]*:[ \t]+)(\S.*)$`)
+
+// quoteScalars single-quotes every unquoted scalar value in the block that
+// contains a colon. Values that are already quoted, or that carry YAML syntax
+// this package has no business rewriting, are left alone.
+func quoteScalars(block []byte) []byte {
+	lines := strings.Split(string(block), "\n")
+	for i, line := range lines {
+		m := mappingLine.FindStringSubmatch(line)
+		if m == nil {
+			continue
+		}
+		prefix, value := m[1], m[2]
+		if !needsQuoting(value) {
+			continue
+		}
+		lines[i] = prefix + "'" + strings.ReplaceAll(value, "'", "''") + "'"
+	}
+	return []byte(strings.Join(lines, "\n"))
+}
+
+// needsQuoting reports whether a scalar value has to be quoted to load as the
+// string it plainly is.
+//
+// The test is YAML's own parser rather than a pattern: ask whether the value
+// stands alone as the right-hand side of a mapping. Heuristics get this wrong
+// in both directions — `title: "Foo" — bar` opens with a quote but is not
+// quoted, and a value may contain a colon inside quotes and be perfectly fine.
+//
+// Anything that already parses is left alone, whatever it parses into — a flow
+// collection, a number, a bool. It is not broken, and quoting would change its
+// type.
+func needsQuoting(value string) bool {
+	if strings.HasPrefix(value, "|") || strings.HasPrefix(value, ">") {
+		return false // block scalar; its content is not parsed as YAML
+	}
+	var probe map[string]any
+	return yaml.Unmarshal([]byte("v: "+value+"\n"), &probe) != nil
+}
+
+// block returns the raw YAML between the opening and closing fences.
+func block(doc []byte) ([]byte, bool) {
+	b, _, ok := Split(doc)
+	return b, ok
+}
+
+// Split returns doc's frontmatter block and everything from the closing
+// fence onward (the closing fence itself excluded, its trailing newline
+// included), or ok=false if doc has no properly-fenced frontmatter.
+//
+// The canonical fence detector for this codebase (hyperguild#138): three
+// independent reimplementations of this same logic each grew their own gap
+// through separate bug-fixing before being consolidated here —
+// internal/mcp's needed a CRLF/BOM guard added after both silently defeated
+// its own HasPrefix check, and internal/api's closing-fence match had no
+// trailing-newline requirement, so a document ending in "\n---extra" with no
+// real newline after the fence was treated as validly closed. Both classes
+// are closed here, once, for every caller.
+func Split(doc []byte) (block, rest []byte, ok bool) {
+	s := strings.TrimPrefix(string(doc), "\xef\xbb\xbf")
+	s = strings.ReplaceAll(s, "\r\n", "\n")
+	if !strings.HasPrefix(s, fence+"\n") {
+		return nil, nil, false
+	}
+	body := s[len(fence)+1:]
+
+	idx := strings.Index(body, "\n"+fence)
+	if idx < 0 {
+		return nil, nil, false
+	}
+	// What follows the closing fence must be either a newline (a real body
+	// follows) or nothing at all (the fence is the literal end of the
+	// document — no body, not a bypass attempt). Anything else, e.g.
+	// "\n---extra", is not a valid close: an earlier version of this check
+	// accepted it, which is exactly the looser match hyperguild#138 closes.
+	after := idx + 1 + len(fence)
+	switch {
+	case after == len(body):
+		return []byte(body[:idx+1]), nil, true
+	case body[after] == '\n':
+		return []byte(body[:idx+1]), []byte(body[after:]), true
+	default:
+		return nil, nil, false
+	}
+}

ingestion/internal/frontmatter/frontmatter_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,240 @@
+// ingestion/internal/frontmatter/frontmatter_test.go
+package frontmatter
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+	"gopkg.in/yaml.v3"
+)
+
+func TestLint(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name    string
+		doc     string
+		wantErr bool
+	}{
+		{
+			name: "no frontmatter block is not an error",
+			doc:  "# Just a heading\n\nSome body text.\n",
+		},
+		{
+			name: "quoted title parses",
+			doc:  "---\ntitle: 'Headless dispatch runs: Bash is denied'\n---\n\nbody\n",
+		},
+		{
+			name: "plain title parses",
+			doc:  "---\ntitle: A simple title\nwing: homelab\n---\n\nbody\n",
+		},
+		{
+			name:    "unquoted colon in title does not parse",
+			doc:     "---\ntitle: Headless dispatch runs: Bash is denied — use gitea MCP\nwing: homelab\n---\n\nbody\n",
+			wantErr: true,
+		},
+		{
+			// Known gap, deliberately not fixed here: this parses, but the
+			// item becomes map[string]any{"Headless dispatch": "denied"}
+			// rather than a string. It is a silent type corruption, not a
+			// parse failure, so repairing it would rewrite documents that
+			// currently load — out of scope for a lint about broken YAML.
+			name: "unquoted colon in a list item parses as a mapping, not an error",
+			doc:  "---\ntitle: Fine\naliases:\n  - Headless dispatch: denied\n---\n\nbody\n",
+		},
+		{
+			name: "unterminated frontmatter is not treated as frontmatter",
+			doc:  "---\ntitle: no closing fence\n\nbody\n",
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			err := Lint([]byte(tt.doc))
+			if tt.wantErr {
+				require.Error(t, err)
+				return
+			}
+			require.NoError(t, err)
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestFix(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name        string
+		doc         string
+		wantChanged bool
+		wantKey     string
+		wantValue   string
+	}{
+		{
+			name:        "quotes an unquoted title containing a colon",
+			doc:         "---\ntitle: Headless dispatch runs: Bash is denied — use gitea MCP\nwing: homelab\n---\n\nbody\n",
+			wantChanged: true,
+			wantKey:     "title",
+			wantValue:   "Headless dispatch runs: Bash is denied — use gitea MCP",
+		},
+		{
+			// Parses already (see the Lint table), so Fix must leave it alone
+			// rather than rewrite a document that loads.
+			name:        "leaves a colon-bearing list item alone because it already parses",
+			doc:         "---\ntitle: Fine\naliases:\n  - Headless dispatch: denied\n---\n\nbody\n",
+			wantChanged: false,
+			wantKey:     "title",
+			wantValue:   "Fine",
+		},
+		{
+			name:        "escapes an embedded single quote when quoting",
+			doc:         "---\ntitle: Don't do this: it breaks\n---\n\nbody\n",
+			wantChanged: true,
+			wantKey:     "title",
+			wantValue:   "Don't do this: it breaks",
+		},
+		{
+			// The value opens with a double quote and then keeps going after
+			// the closing one, so YAML reads it as a quoted scalar followed by
+			// junk. Treating "starts with a quote" as "already quoted" leaves
+			// this broken forever.
+			name:        "quotes a value that only looks quoted",
+			doc:         "---\ntitle: \"Evaluation Driven Generation\" — a TDD-style scaffold\ntags: [a, b]\n---\n\nbody\n",
+			wantChanged: true,
+			wantKey:     "title",
+			wantValue:   "\"Evaluation Driven Generation\" — a TDD-style scaffold",
+		},
+		{
+			name:        "leaves an already-valid document untouched",
+			doc:         "---\ntitle: 'Already quoted: fine'\nwing: homelab\n---\n\nbody\n",
+			wantChanged: false,
+			wantKey:     "title",
+			wantValue:   "Already quoted: fine",
+		},
+		{
+			name:        "leaves a document with no frontmatter untouched",
+			doc:         "# Heading\n\nbody: with a colon\n",
+			wantChanged: false,
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			got, changed, err := Fix([]byte(tt.doc))
+			require.NoError(t, err)
+			assert.Equal(t, tt.wantChanged, changed)
+
+			if !tt.wantChanged {
+				assert.Equal(t, tt.doc, string(got), "unchanged docs must be returned byte-identical")
+			}
+
+			// Whatever came back must parse — that is the whole point.
+			require.NoError(t, Lint(got), "Fix must not return a document that still fails to parse")
+
+			if tt.wantKey == "" {
+				return
+			}
+			block, ok := block(got)
+			require.True(t, ok)
+			var m map[string]any
+			require.NoError(t, yaml.Unmarshal(block, &m))
+			assert.Equal(t, tt.wantValue, m[tt.wantKey], "the value must survive quoting unchanged")
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestFix_LeavesStructuredValuesStructured(t *testing.T) {
+	// Only the broken scalar may be touched. A flow sequence on a neighbouring
+	// line still has to load as a sequence afterwards, not as a string.
+	doc := "---\ntitle: Broken: here\ntags: [prompting, llm]\ncount: 3\n---\n\nbody\n"
+
+	got, changed, err := Fix([]byte(doc))
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.True(t, changed)
+
+	b, ok := block(got)
+	require.True(t, ok)
+	var m map[string]any
+	require.NoError(t, yaml.Unmarshal(b, &m))
+
+	assert.Equal(t, "Broken: here", m["title"])
+	assert.Equal(t, []any{"prompting", "llm"}, m["tags"])
+	assert.Equal(t, 3, m["count"])
+}
+
+func TestFix_PreservesBodyExactly(t *testing.T) {
+	body := "\nThe body has: colons, 'quotes', and\n---\na horizontal rule.\n"
+	doc := "---\ntitle: Broken: title\n---" + body
+
+	got, changed, err := Fix([]byte(doc))
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.True(t, changed)
+	assert.True(t, len(got) > 0)
+
+	_, rest, ok := Split([]byte(doc))
+	require.True(t, ok)
+	_, gotRest, ok := Split(got)
+	require.True(t, ok)
+	assert.Equal(t, string(rest), string(gotRest), "the body must not be touched")
+}
+
+func TestFix_RefusesToReturnAnUnparseableResult(t *testing.T) {
+	// A frontmatter block that quoting cannot rescue: the structure itself is
+	// broken, not a scalar. Fix must return the original and an error rather
+	// than a half-repaired document.
+	doc := "---\ntitle: fine\n\tbad: tab-indented mapping\n  - stray list item\n---\n\nbody\n"
+
+	got, changed, err := Fix([]byte(doc))
+	require.Error(t, err)
+	assert.False(t, changed)
+	assert.Equal(t, doc, string(got), "an unfixable document must come back byte-identical")
+}
+
+// TestSplit_NormalizesCRLFBeforeFenceDetection is hyperguild#138: a note
+// whose fence lines use CRLF ("---\r\n") failed strings.HasPrefix(doc,
+// "---\n") on the precondition read in internal/mcp's independent
+// reimplementation -- encoding alone, no adversarial input, silently
+// defeated fence detection there before this consolidation. Split must
+// never repeat that.
+func TestSplit_NormalizesCRLFBeforeFenceDetection(t *testing.T) {
+	doc := "---\r\ntitle: 'n'\r\nhalf_life: durable\r\n---\r\n\r\nbody\r\n"
+	block, rest, ok := Split([]byte(doc))
+	require.True(t, ok)
+	assert.Contains(t, string(block), "half_life: durable")
+	assert.Contains(t, string(rest), "body")
+}
+
+// TestSplit_StripsALeadingUTF8BOM is the same mechanism one layer earlier:
+// a leading BOM (Notepad's default "UTF-8" save, PowerShell's pre-v6
+// Out-File/Set-Content) defeats the same HasPrefix check before CRLF
+// normalization even applies.
+func TestSplit_StripsALeadingUTF8BOM(t *testing.T) {
+	doc := "\xef\xbb\xbf---\ntitle: 'n'\n---\n\nbody\n"
+	block, rest, ok := Split([]byte(doc))
+	require.True(t, ok)
+	assert.Contains(t, string(block), "title: 'n'")
+	assert.Contains(t, string(rest), "body")
+}
+
+// TestSplit_RequiresANewlineAfterTheClosingFence closes the looser match
+// internal/api's independent reimplementation carried (strings.Index(body,
+// "\n"+fence) with no trailing-newline requirement): a document ending in
+// "\n---extra" with no newline separating the fence from what follows it is
+// not a valid closing fence and must not be treated as one.
+func TestSplit_RequiresANewlineAfterTheClosingFence(t *testing.T) {
+	doc := "---\ntitle: 'n'\n---extra-not-a-real-close"
+	_, _, ok := Split([]byte(doc))
+	assert.False(t, ok, "a fence line not followed by a newline is not a valid closing fence")
+}
+
+// TestSplit_AcceptsAClosingFenceThatIsTheLastBytesOfTheDocument is a
+// regression pin found in review of hyperguild#138: the fix for the
+// "\n---extra" bypass above must not also reject the legitimate case of a
+// closing fence with nothing after it at all (no trailing newline because
+// there's no body, not because a bypass is being attempted) -- this
+// package's own private split() accepted that shape before the
+// consolidation, and cmd/frontmatterlint's Lint/Fix relied on it.
+func TestSplit_AcceptsAClosingFenceThatIsTheLastBytesOfTheDocument(t *testing.T) {
+	doc := "---\ntitle: 'n'\n---"
+	block, rest, ok := Split([]byte(doc))
+	require.True(t, ok, "a closing fence at literal end-of-file, with nothing after it, is valid -- there is no body to require a newline before")
+	assert.Contains(t, string(block), "title: 'n'")
+	assert.Equal(t, "", string(rest))
+}

ingestion/internal/frontmatter/scan.go

@@ -0,0 +1,84 @@
+// ingestion/internal/frontmatter/scan.go
+package frontmatter
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"io/fs"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+	"unicode/utf8"
+)
+
+// Finding is one markdown file whose frontmatter does not parse.
+type Finding struct {
+	Path     string // relative to the scanned root
+	Err      error  // why it does not parse, or why the repair was refused
+	Repaired bool   // true only when fix was requested and the file was rewritten
+}
+
+// Scan walks root for *.md files whose frontmatter fails to parse.
+//
+// With fix set, each finding that quoting can rescue is rewritten in place;
+// anything quoting cannot rescue is reported and left byte-identical. A file
+// that cannot be read or decoded is reported as a finding rather than aborting
+// the walk — one poisoned note must not hide the other findings.
+func Scan(root string, fix bool) ([]Finding, error) {
+	var found []Finding
+
+	err := filepath.WalkDir(root, func(path string, d fs.DirEntry, err error) error {
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		if d.IsDir() || !strings.EqualFold(filepath.Ext(path), ".md") {
+			return nil
+		}
+
+		rel, relErr := filepath.Rel(root, path)
+		if relErr != nil {
+			rel = path
+		}
+
+		doc, readErr := os.ReadFile(path)
+		if readErr != nil {
+			found = append(found, Finding{Path: rel, Err: readErr})
+			return nil
+		}
+		if !utf8.Valid(doc) {
+			found = append(found, Finding{Path: rel, Err: fmt.Errorf("not valid UTF-8")})
+			return nil
+		}
+		if lintErr := Lint(doc); lintErr == nil {
+			return nil
+		}
+
+		if !fix {
+			found = append(found, Finding{Path: rel, Err: Lint(doc)})
+			return nil
+		}
+
+		repaired, changed, fixErr := Fix(doc)
+		if fixErr != nil || !changed {
+			found = append(found, Finding{Path: rel, Err: fixErr})
+			return nil
+		}
+		if writeErr := writeFilePreservingMode(path, repaired); writeErr != nil {
+			found = append(found, Finding{Path: rel, Err: writeErr})
+			return nil
+		}
+		found = append(found, Finding{Path: rel, Repaired: true})
+		return nil
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("scan %s: %w", root, err)
+	}
+	return found, nil
+}
+
+func writeFilePreservingMode(path string, content []byte) error {
+	mode := fs.FileMode(0o644)
+	if info, err := os.Stat(path); err == nil {
+		mode = info.Mode().Perm()
+	}
+	return os.WriteFile(path, content, mode)
+}

ingestion/internal/frontmatter/scan_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,103 @@
+// ingestion/internal/frontmatter/scan_test.go
+package frontmatter
+
+import (
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+)
+
+func writeTree(t *testing.T, files map[string]string) string {
+	t.Helper()
+	root := t.TempDir()
+	for name, content := range files {
+		path := filepath.Join(root, name)
+		require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(path), 0o755))
+		require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(path, []byte(content), 0o644))
+	}
+	return root
+}
+
+const (
+	brokenDoc = "---\ntitle: Broken: title here\nwing: homelab\n---\n\nbody\n"
+	validDoc  = "---\ntitle: 'Fine: quoted'\n---\n\nbody\n"
+)
+
+func TestScan_ReportsOnlyBrokenFiles(t *testing.T) {
+	root := writeTree(t, map[string]string{
+		"wiki/a/broken.md": brokenDoc,
+		"wiki/a/valid.md":  validDoc,
+		"wiki/b/plain.md":  "# no frontmatter\n\nbody: with colon\n",
+		"wiki/a/notes.txt": brokenDoc, // not markdown — must be ignored
+	})
+
+	found, err := Scan(root, false)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	require.Len(t, found, 1)
+	assert.Equal(t, "wiki/a/broken.md", found[0].Path)
+	assert.False(t, found[0].Repaired)
+	assert.Error(t, found[0].Err)
+
+	// Dry run must not touch the file.
+	got, err := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(root, "wiki/a/broken.md"))
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, brokenDoc, string(got))
+}
+
+func TestScan_FixWritesRepairedFilesAndLeavesTheRestAlone(t *testing.T) {
+	root := writeTree(t, map[string]string{
+		"wiki/a/broken.md": brokenDoc,
+		"wiki/a/valid.md":  validDoc,
+	})
+
+	found, err := Scan(root, true)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.Len(t, found, 1)
+	assert.True(t, found[0].Repaired)
+	assert.NoError(t, found[0].Err)
+
+	repaired, err := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(root, "wiki/a/broken.md"))
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.NoError(t, Lint(repaired), "the repaired file must parse")
+	assert.Contains(t, string(repaired), "title: 'Broken: title here'")
+	assert.Contains(t, string(repaired), "wing: homelab", "untouched keys must survive")
+
+	untouched, err := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(root, "wiki/a/valid.md"))
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, validDoc, string(untouched))
+
+	// Second pass finds nothing — the repair is idempotent and complete.
+	again, err := Scan(root, true)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Empty(t, again)
+}
+
+func TestScan_ReportsUnfixableWithoutWriting(t *testing.T) {
+	unfixable := "---\ntitle: fine\n\tbad: tab-indented\n  - stray\n---\n\nbody\n"
+	root := writeTree(t, map[string]string{"wiki/x.md": unfixable})
+
+	found, err := Scan(root, true)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.Len(t, found, 1)
+	assert.False(t, found[0].Repaired)
+	assert.Error(t, found[0].Err)
+
+	got, err := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(root, "wiki/x.md"))
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, unfixable, string(got), "an unfixable file must be left exactly as it was")
+}
+
+func TestScan_ReportsUndecodableFilesInsteadOfFailingTheRun(t *testing.T) {
+	root := writeTree(t, map[string]string{"wiki/ok.md": validDoc})
+	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(root, "wiki/bad-bytes.md"),
+		[]byte{'-', '-', '-', '\n', 0xff, 0xfe, '\n', '-', '-', '-', '\n'}, 0o644))
+
+	found, err := Scan(root, false)
+	require.NoError(t, err, "one unreadable file must not abort the whole scan")
+	require.Len(t, found, 1)
+	assert.Equal(t, "wiki/bad-bytes.md", found[0].Path)
+}

ingestion/internal/graphsync/graphsync.go

@@ -12,10 +12,14 @@ package graphsync
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
-	"os"
+	"io/fs"
+	"path"
 	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
 
+	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/brainfs"
 	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/graph"
 	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/graphstore"
 )
@@ -46,8 +50,25 @@ func IndexDoc(ctx context.Context, store Store, brainDir, relPath string) error
 	if relPath == "" {
 		return nil
 	}
-	abs := filepath.Join(brainDir, filepath.FromSlash(relPath))
+	// Callers pass caller-supplied paths (brain_tunnel, brain_update): index
-	content, err := os.ReadFile(abs)
+	// only a clean path under wiki/ or knowledge/.
+	if path.Clean(relPath) != relPath || !filepath.IsLocal(relPath) ||
+		(!strings.HasPrefix(relPath, "wiki/") && !strings.HasPrefix(relPath, "knowledge/")) {
+		return fmt.Errorf("index %q: not a clean wiki/ or knowledge/ path", relPath)
+	}
+	bfs, err := brainfs.Open(brainDir)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("open brain: %w", err)
+	}
+	defer func() { _ = bfs.Close() }()
+	return indexDoc(ctx, store, bfs, relPath)
+}
+
+// indexDoc reads relPath through the brain root, regular files only
+// (hyperguild#157): the brain is a Syncthing folder, and os.ReadFile
+// followed a synced symlink into the graph and blocked on a FIFO.
+func indexDoc(ctx context.Context, store Store, bfs *brainfs.Brain, relPath string) error {
+	content, err := bfs.ReadRegular(relPath)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("read %q: %w", relPath, err)
 	}
@@ -77,33 +98,34 @@ func BackfillFromBrainDir(ctx context.Context, store Store, brainDir string) (in
 	if store == nil {
 		return 0, nil
 	}
-	roots := []string{"wiki", "knowledge"}
+	bfs, err := brainfs.Open(brainDir)
-	for _, root := range roots {
+	if err != nil {
-		base := filepath.Join(brainDir, root)
+		return 0, fmt.Errorf("open brain: %w", err)
-		if _, err := os.Stat(base); os.IsNotExist(err) {
+	}
+	defer func() { _ = bfs.Close() }()
+	for _, root := range []string{"wiki", "knowledge"} {
+		if _, err := bfs.Lstat(root); errors.Is(err, fs.ErrNotExist) {
 			continue
 		}
-		err := filepath.WalkDir(base, func(path string, d os.DirEntry, walkErr error) error {
+		// Any walk error, including a root that is a symlink, aborts.
-			if walkErr != nil {
+		var walkErr error
-				return walkErr
+		err := bfs.WalkRegular(root, func(rel string) error {
-			}
+			if path.Ext(rel) != ".md" {
-			if d.IsDir() {
 				return nil
 			}
-			if filepath.Ext(path) != ".md" {
+			if err := indexDoc(ctx, store, bfs, rel); err != nil {
-				return nil
-			}
-			rel, relErr := filepath.Rel(brainDir, path)
-			if relErr != nil {
-				return fmt.Errorf("rel %q: %w", path, relErr)
-			}
-			rel = filepath.ToSlash(rel)
-			if err := IndexDoc(ctx, store, brainDir, rel); err != nil {
 				return fmt.Errorf("index %q: %w", rel, err)
 			}
 			indexed++
 			return nil
+		}, func(rel string, err error) {
+			if walkErr == nil {
+				walkErr = fmt.Errorf("%s: %w", rel, err)
+			}
 		})
+		if err == nil {
+			err = walkErr
+		}
 		if err != nil {
 			return indexed, fmt.Errorf("walk %s: %w", root, err)
 		}

ingestion/internal/graphsync/graphsync_root_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,92 @@
+package graphsync
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+
+	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/brainfs/brainfstest"
+)
+
+func (f *fakeStore) dump() string {
+	f.mu.Lock()
+	defer f.mu.Unlock()
+	return fmt.Sprintf("%+v %+v", f.upserts, f.replaces)
+}
+
+// hyperguild#157 slice 4: IndexDoc and BackfillFromBrainDir read notes with
+// os.ReadFile, so a symlinked note put the target's title and wikilinks into
+// the graph, and a FIFO hung the read.
+func TestIndexDocRefusesSymlinksAndSurvivesSwapRaces(t *testing.T) {
+	brain := t.TempDir()
+	facts := filepath.Join(brain, "wiki", "w", "facts")
+	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(facts, 0o755))
+	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(facts, "ok.md"), []byte("---\ntitle: zqinside\n---\nbody [[other]]\n"), 0o644))
+	require.NoError(t, os.Symlink(brainfstest.Outside(t), filepath.Join(facts, "leak.md")))
+
+	store := newFakeStore()
+	require.NoError(t, IndexDoc(context.Background(), store, brain, "wiki/w/facts/ok.md"))
+	assert.Contains(t, store.dump(), "zqinside", "positive control: a regular note is indexed")
+	assert.Error(t, IndexDoc(context.Background(), store, brain, "wiki/w/facts/leak.md"))
+	// A link to a file elsewhere in the brain: os.Root allows it, only the
+	// regular-file check refuses it.
+	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.Error(t, IndexDoc(context.Background(), store, brain, "wiki/w/facts/inlink.md"))
+	assert.NotContains(t, store.dump(), brainfstest.Sentinel)
+
+	p := filepath.Join(facts, "r.md")
+	read := func() string {
+		s := newFakeStore()
+		_ = IndexDoc(context.Background(), s, brain, "wiki/w/facts/r.md")
+		return s.dump()
+	}
+	brainfstest.AssertNoLeak(t, p, "---\ntitle: zqinside\n---\n", 1500*time.Millisecond, read)
+	brainfstest.AssertNoLeakFrom(t, p, "---\ntitle: zqinside\n---\n", inBrain, 1500*time.Millisecond, read)
+	brainfstest.AssertNoHang(t, p, "---\ntitle: zqinside\n---\n", 1500*time.Millisecond, 6*time.Second, func() { _ = read() })
+}
+
+func TestBackfillSkipsSymlinkedNotesAndAbortsOnASymlinkedRoot(t *testing.T) {
+	brain := t.TempDir()
+	facts := filepath.Join(brain, "wiki", "w", "facts")
+	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(facts, 0o755))
+	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(facts, "ok.md"), []byte("---\ntitle: zqinside\n---\n"), 0o644))
+	require.NoError(t, os.Symlink(brainfstest.Outside(t), filepath.Join(facts, "leak.md")))
+	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(filepath.Join(brain, "raw"), 0o755))
+	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(brain, "raw", "r.md"), []byte("---\ntitle: zqrawonly\n---\n"), 0o644))
+	require.NoError(t, os.Symlink(filepath.Join("..", "..", "..", "raw", "r.md"), filepath.Join(facts, "inlink.md")))
+	require.NoError(t, os.Symlink(".", filepath.Join(brain, "knowledge")))
+
+	store := newFakeStore()
+	_, err := BackfillFromBrainDir(context.Background(), store, brain)
+	assert.Error(t, err, "a symlinked root aborts the backfill")
+	assert.NotContains(t, store.dump(), brainfstest.Sentinel)
+	assert.NotContains(t, store.dump(), "zqrawonly")
+
+	require.NoError(t, os.Remove(filepath.Join(brain, "knowledge")))
+	store = newFakeStore()
+	n, err := BackfillFromBrainDir(context.Background(), store, brain)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, 1, n, "only the regular note is indexed")
+	assert.Contains(t, store.dump(), "zqinside")
+	assert.NotContains(t, store.dump(), brainfstest.Sentinel)
+}
+
+// IndexDoc gets caller-supplied paths (brain_tunnel, brain_update): only a
+// clean path under wiki/ or knowledge/ is indexed.
+func TestIndexDocRefusesPathsOutsideWikiAndKnowledgeAndUncleanPaths(t *testing.T) {
+	brain := t.TempDir()
+	brainfstest.WriteSentinelAt(t, filepath.Join(brain, "raw", "secret.md"))
+	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(filepath.Join(brain, "wiki", "w"), 0o755))
+	for _, p := range []string{"raw/secret.md", "wiki/w/../../raw/secret.md", "./raw/secret.md", "/raw/secret.md"} {
+		store := newFakeStore()
+		assert.Error(t, IndexDoc(context.Background(), store, brain, p), p)
+		assert.NotContains(t, store.dump(), brainfstest.Sentinel, p)
+	}
+}

ingestion/internal/llm/router.go

@@ -5,14 +5,18 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 )
 
-// Router calls Primary first; on any error falls back to Fallback.
+// Router calls Primary first; on any error falls back to Fallback, then to
-// Fallback may be nil, in which case primary errors are returned directly.
+// Tertiary. Fallback and Tertiary may each be nil — a nil tier is skipped and
+// the chain returns the errors accumulated so far.
 type Router struct {
 	Primary  *Client
 	Fallback *Client
+	Tertiary *Client
 }
 
-// Complete implements pipeline.CompleteFunc, routing through Primary then Fallback.
+// Complete implements pipeline.CompleteFunc, routing through Primary, then
+// Fallback, then Tertiary — trying each configured tier in order and
+// returning the first success.
 func (r *Router) Complete(ctx context.Context, system, user string) (string, error) {
 	out, err := r.Primary.Complete(ctx, system, user)
 	if err == nil {
@@ -22,8 +26,15 @@ func (r *Router) Complete(ctx context.Context, system, user string) (string, err
 		return "", fmt.Errorf("primary llm: %w", err)
 	}
 	out, err2 := r.Fallback.Complete(ctx, system, user)
-	if err2 != nil {
+	if err2 == nil {
+		return out, nil
+	}
+	if r.Tertiary == nil {
 		return "", fmt.Errorf("primary llm: %w; fallback llm: %v", err, err2)
 	}
+	out, err3 := r.Tertiary.Complete(ctx, system, user)
+	if err3 != nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("primary llm: %w; fallback llm: %v; tertiary llm: %v", err, err2, err3)
+	}
 	return out, nil
 }

ingestion/internal/llm/router_test.go

@@ -69,3 +69,78 @@ func TestRouter_NilFallback(t *testing.T) {
 	_, err := r.Complete(context.Background(), "sys", "user")
 	assert.Error(t, err)
 }
+
+func TestRouter_FallsBackToTertiaryWhenPrimaryAndFallbackFail(t *testing.T) {
+	fail := httptest.NewServer(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		http.Error(w, "unavailable", http.StatusServiceUnavailable)
+	}))
+	defer fail.Close()
+	tertiary := mockServer(t, "from-tertiary")
+	defer tertiary.Close()
+
+	r := &Router{
+		Primary:  New(fail.URL, "", "m", time.Second),
+		Fallback: New(fail.URL, "", "m", time.Second),
+		Tertiary: New(tertiary.URL, "", "m", time.Second),
+	}
+	out, err := r.Complete(context.Background(), "sys", "user")
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, "from-tertiary", out)
+}
+
+func TestRouter_TertiaryNotCalledWhenFallbackSucceeds(t *testing.T) {
+	fail := httptest.NewServer(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		http.Error(w, "unavailable", http.StatusServiceUnavailable)
+	}))
+	defer fail.Close()
+	fallback := mockServer(t, "from-fallback")
+	defer fallback.Close()
+	tertiary := httptest.NewServer(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		t.Error("tertiary must not be called when fallback succeeds")
+	}))
+	defer tertiary.Close()
+
+	r := &Router{
+		Primary:  New(fail.URL, "", "m", time.Second),
+		Fallback: New(fallback.URL, "", "m", time.Second),
+		Tertiary: New(tertiary.URL, "", "m", time.Second),
+	}
+	out, err := r.Complete(context.Background(), "sys", "user")
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, "from-fallback", out)
+}
+
+func TestRouter_AllThreeFail(t *testing.T) {
+	fail := httptest.NewServer(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		http.Error(w, "err", http.StatusBadGateway)
+	}))
+	defer fail.Close()
+
+	r := &Router{
+		Primary:  New(fail.URL, "", "m", time.Second),
+		Fallback: New(fail.URL, "", "m", time.Second),
+		Tertiary: New(fail.URL, "", "m", time.Second),
+	}
+	_, err := r.Complete(context.Background(), "sys", "user")
+	assert.Error(t, err)
+	assert.Contains(t, err.Error(), "primary llm")
+	assert.Contains(t, err.Error(), "fallback llm")
+	assert.Contains(t, err.Error(), "tertiary llm")
+}
+
+func TestRouter_NilTertiary(t *testing.T) {
+	// Existing 2-tier deployments (no BRAIN_LLM_TERTIARY_URL) must keep working
+	// exactly as before — Tertiary is opt-in, not required.
+	fail := httptest.NewServer(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		http.Error(w, "err", http.StatusBadGateway)
+	}))
+	defer fail.Close()
+
+	r := &Router{
+		Primary:  New(fail.URL, "", "m", time.Second),
+		Fallback: New(fail.URL, "", "m", time.Second),
+	}
+	_, err := r.Complete(context.Background(), "sys", "user")
+	assert.Error(t, err)
+	assert.NotContains(t, err.Error(), "tertiary")
+}

ingestion/internal/mcp/audit.go

@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+package mcp
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"log/slog"
+	"time"
+)
+
+// logToolCall emits one structured record per tools/call (hyperguild#144,
+// OWASP MCP08): who called which tool, against which wing/hall, and how it
+// ended. Brain content is never copied into the record — only its size — so
+// the audit trail does not become a second, unscrubbed copy of the brain.
+func logToolCall(ctx context.Context, name string, args json.RawMessage, start time.Time, err error) {
+	origin, principal := provenanceFrom(ctx)
+	attrs := []any{
+		"tool", name,
+		"principal", principal,
+		"origin", origin,
+		"duration_ms", time.Since(start).Milliseconds(),
+	}
+	var a struct {
+		Wing    string `json:"wing"`
+		Hall    string `json:"hall"`
+		Content string `json:"content"`
+	}
+	if json.Unmarshal(args, &a) == nil {
+		if a.Wing != "" {
+			attrs = append(attrs, "wing", a.Wing)
+		}
+		if a.Hall != "" {
+			attrs = append(attrs, "hall", a.Hall)
+		}
+		if a.Content != "" {
+			attrs = append(attrs, "content_bytes", len(a.Content))
+		}
+	}
+	// The outcome is a class, never the error text: handler errors echo
+	// argument values (a rejected half_life, a requested path), which would
+	// make the audit line a copy of what the caller sent (PR #147 review E6).
+	// The caller already received the full error in the tool response.
+	outcome := "ok"
+	if err != nil {
+		outcome = "error"
+	}
+	attrs = append(attrs, "outcome", outcome)
+	slog.InfoContext(ctx, "mcp tool call", attrs...)
+}

ingestion/internal/mcp/audit_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,83 @@
+package mcp_test
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"log/slog"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+)
+
+// captureToolCallLog routes slog to a buffer for fn and returns the decoded
+// "mcp tool call" records.
+func captureToolCallLog(t *testing.T, fn func()) []map[string]any {
+	t.Helper()
+	var buf bytes.Buffer
+	prev := slog.Default()
+	slog.SetDefault(slog.New(slog.NewJSONHandler(&buf, nil)))
+	t.Cleanup(func() { slog.SetDefault(prev) })
+	fn()
+	var out []map[string]any
+	for _, l := range strings.Split(strings.TrimSpace(buf.String()), "\n") {
+		var rec map[string]any
+		if json.Unmarshal([]byte(l), &rec) == nil && rec["msg"] == "mcp tool call" {
+			out = append(out, rec)
+		}
+	}
+	return out
+}
+
+// hyperguild#144: brain_query/brain_read left no record of who read what.
+func TestToolsCallLogsOneRecordWithToolPrincipalOriginAndScope(t *testing.T) {
+	srv, _, _, _ := govServer(t)
+	recs := captureToolCallLog(t, func() {
+		authCall(t, srv, "Bearer "+capStaticTok, "brain_query",
+			map[string]any{"query": "anything", "wing": "homelab", "hall": "facts"})
+	})
+	require.Len(t, recs, 1)
+	r := recs[0]
+	assert.Equal(t, "brain_query", r["tool"])
+	assert.Equal(t, "local-cli", r["principal"])
+	assert.Equal(t, "static", r["origin"])
+	assert.Equal(t, "homelab", r["wing"])
+	assert.Equal(t, "facts", r["hall"])
+	assert.Equal(t, "ok", r["outcome"])
+	assert.Contains(t, r, "duration_ms")
+}
+
+func TestToolsCallWithoutDerivablePrincipalLogsOriginUnknown(t *testing.T) {
+	srv, _, _, _ := govServer(t)
+	recs := captureToolCallLog(t, func() {
+		authCall(t, srv, "", "brain_query", map[string]any{"query": "x"})
+	})
+	require.Len(t, recs, 1)
+	assert.Equal(t, "unknown", recs[0]["origin"])
+	assert.Equal(t, "", recs[0]["principal"])
+}
+
+func TestToolsCallLogsErrorOutcome(t *testing.T) {
+	srv, _, _, _ := govServer(t)
+	recs := captureToolCallLog(t, func() {
+		authCall(t, srv, "Bearer "+capStaticTok, "brain_query", map[string]any{})
+	})
+	require.Len(t, recs, 1)
+	assert.Equal(t, "error", recs[0]["outcome"])
+}
+
+// The audit line must not become a second copy of brain content.
+func TestToolsCallLogOmitsContentButRecordsItsSize(t *testing.T) {
+	const sentinel = "SENTINEL-BRAIN-CONTENT-91c2"
+	srv, _, _, _ := govServer(t)
+	recs := captureToolCallLog(t, func() {
+		authCall(t, srv, "Bearer "+capStaticTok, "brain_write", map[string]any{
+			"content": "# t\n\n" + sentinel, "wing": "testing", "hall": "facts", "filename": "audit-sentinel",
+		})
+	})
+	require.Len(t, recs, 1)
+	raw, _ := json.Marshal(recs[0])
+	assert.NotContains(t, string(raw), sentinel)
+	assert.EqualValues(t, len("# t\n\n"+sentinel), recs[0]["content_bytes"])
+}

ingestion/internal/mcp/brain_update_test.go

@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ func TestBrainUpdateReembedsNewContent(t *testing.T) {
 	ctx := context.Background()
 
 	callResult(t, toolCall(t, srv, "brain_write", map[string]any{
-		"content": "# Note\n\nthe OLD distinctive payload\n",
+		"content":  "# Note\n\nthe OLD distinctive payload\n",
 		"filename": "n", "wing": "a", "hall": "facts",
 	}))
 

ingestion/internal/mcp/handlers.go

@@ -12,9 +12,10 @@ import (
 	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/api"
 	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/brain"
 	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/capture"
-	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/extract"
 	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/graphsync"
+	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/notes"
 	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/pipeline"
+	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/provenance"
 	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/search"
 	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/session"
 )
@@ -52,14 +53,12 @@ func (s *Server) tools() []map[string]any {
 		},
 		{
 			"name":        "brain_write",
-			"description": "Write a markdown note to the brain. With wing+hall set, routes to brain/wiki/<wing>/<hall>/ with wing/hall/created_at frontmatter; otherwise writes to brain/knowledge/ (legacy).",
+			"description": "Write a markdown note to brain/wiki/<wing>/<hall>/ with wing/hall/created_at frontmatter. Both wing and hall are required.",
-			"inputSchema": schema([]string{"content"}, map[string]any{
+			"inputSchema": schema([]string{"content", "wing", "hall"}, map[string]any{
 				"content":  str("markdown content"),
 				"filename": str("optional filename or slug"),
-				"type":     str("optional frontmatter type (legacy)"),
+				"wing":     str("topic domain, e.g. jepa-fx"),
-				"domain":   str("optional frontmatter domain (legacy)"),
+				"hall":     enum("memory type", halls...),
-				"wing":     str("optional topic domain, e.g. jepa-fx"),
-				"hall":     enum("optional memory type (requires wing)", halls...),
 			}),
 		},
 		{
@@ -97,6 +96,16 @@ func (s *Server) tools() []map[string]any {
 				"slug":     str("optional target slug; defaults to filename minus date prefix"),
 			}),
 		},
+		{
+			"name":        "brain_reject",
+			"description": "Reject a brain/raw/ note: stamps rejected_at (+ reject_reason if given) into frontmatter and moves it to brain/raw/rejected/ — never deleted outright, and never re-surfaced by brain_pending. The third option alongside promote/leave-pending; a human decision, never automatic. Returns {path}.",
+			"inputSchema": schema([]string{"filename"}, map[string]any{
+				"filename": str("basename in brain/raw/, e.g. 2026-04-23-fed-sentiment-scrape.md"),
+				"reason":   str("optional; why this isn't worth promoting"),
+			}),
+		},
+		noteToolDescriptors()[0],
+		noteToolDescriptors()[1],
 		{
 			"name":        "brain_tunnel",
 			"description": "Create an explicit bidirectional [[wikilink]] between two notes in different wings. Idempotent.",
@@ -105,13 +114,6 @@ func (s *Server) tools() []map[string]any {
 				"target": str("path of target note (must be in a different wing)"),
 			}),
 		},
-		{
-			"name":        "brain_index",
-			"description": "Regenerate _index.md (Map of Content) for one or all wings under brain/wiki/. Auto-called after brain_write with wing+hall.",
-			"inputSchema": schema([]string{}, map[string]any{
-				"wing": str("optional wing to index; if absent, rebuilds every wing"),
-			}),
-		},
 		{
 			"name":        "brain_ingest_raw",
 			"description": "Ingest pre-structured pages into the brain wiki, bypassing the LLM extraction step.",
@@ -231,12 +233,19 @@ func (s *Server) brainQuery(ctx context.Context, args json.RawMessage) (json.Raw
 type brainWriteArgs struct {
 	Content  string `json:"content"`
 	Filename string `json:"filename,omitempty"`
-	Type     string `json:"type,omitempty"`
-	Domain   string `json:"domain,omitempty"`
 	Wing     string `json:"wing,omitempty"`
 	Hall     string `json:"hall,omitempty"`
 }
 
+// unlinkedNote explains the `unlinked` field to the caller that caused it.
+// The write landed; what is gone is the [[...]] around a target that names no
+// brain entry. Said here rather than only in a doc comment because the caller
+// is a model that will otherwise repeat it on the next write.
+const unlinkedNote = "these [[wikilink]] targets resolve to no brain entry, " +
+	"so they were unwrapped to plain text. Link only entries that exist " +
+	"(a filename under knowledge/ or wiki/); write the target entry first if " +
+	"you want the link, and keep skills, repos and agent-local memory files as prose."
+
 func (s *Server) brainWrite(ctx context.Context, args json.RawMessage) (json.RawMessage, error) {
 	var a brainWriteArgs
 	if err := json.Unmarshal(args, &a); err != nil {
@@ -246,18 +255,24 @@ func (s *Server) brainWrite(ctx context.Context, args json.RawMessage) (json.Raw
 	// one implementation (capture uses the same store). The read-after-write
 	// handle {id, path, content_hash} comes back from the store; path is kept
 	// for backward compatibility.
+	origin, writtenBy := provenanceFrom(ctx)
 	ref, err := s.store.Write(ctx, capture.Note{
-		Content:  a.Content,
+		Content:   a.Content,
-		Filename: a.Filename,
+		Filename:  a.Filename,
-		Type:     a.Type,
+		Wing:      a.Wing,
-		Domain:   a.Domain,
+		Hall:      a.Hall,
-		Wing:     a.Wing,
+		Origin:    origin,
-		Hall:     a.Hall,
+		WrittenBy: writtenBy,
 	})
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
-	return json.Marshal(map[string]string{"id": ref.ID, "path": ref.Path, "content_hash": ref.ContentHash})
+	out := map[string]any{"id": ref.ID, "path": ref.Path, "content_hash": ref.ContentHash}
+	if len(ref.Unlinked) > 0 {
+		out["unlinked"] = ref.Unlinked
+		out["unlinked_note"] = unlinkedNote
+	}
+	return json.Marshal(out)
 }
 
 type brainUpdateArgs struct {
@@ -292,18 +307,26 @@ func (s *Server) brainUpdate(ctx context.Context, args json.RawMessage) (json.Ra
 	if a.Path != "" {
 		slug = a.Path
 	}
+	origin, writtenBy := provenanceFrom(ctx)
 	ref, err := s.store.Update(ctx, slug, capture.Note{
-		Content: a.Content,
+		Content:   a.Content,
-		Wing:    a.Wing,
+		Wing:      a.Wing,
-		Hall:    a.Hall,
+		Hall:      a.Hall,
-		Reason:  a.Reason,
+		Reason:    a.Reason,
+		Origin:    origin,
+		WrittenBy: writtenBy,
 	})
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
-	return json.Marshal(map[string]any{
+	out := map[string]any{
 		"id": ref.ID, "path": ref.Path, "content_hash": ref.ContentHash, "superseded": ref.Superseded,
-	})
+	}
+	if len(ref.Unlinked) > 0 {
+		out["unlinked"] = ref.Unlinked
+		out["unlinked_note"] = unlinkedNote
+	}
+	return json.Marshal(out)
 }
 
 type brainGetArgs struct {
@@ -327,6 +350,15 @@ func (s *Server) brainGet(ctx context.Context, args json.RawMessage) (json.RawMe
 	if target == "" {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("id or path is required")
 	}
+	// Containment: the store resolves any brain-relative path, and
+	// parseFrontmatter returns the WHOLE file as body when there is no
+	// frontmatter fence — so without this, brain_get reads verbatim session
+	// transcripts under archive/ and sessions/, which BM25 never indexes and
+	// which nobody therefore thinks of as reachable. Same allowlist as
+	// brain_read (brain#4).
+	if _, err := notes.Resolve(s.brainDir, target, notes.ScopeNotes); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
 	note, err := s.store.Get(ctx, target)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
@@ -361,8 +393,10 @@ func (s *Server) brainPromote(ctx context.Context, args json.RawMessage) (json.R
 	if err := json.Unmarshal(args, &a); err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("parse args: %w", err)
 	}
+	origin, writtenBy := provenanceFrom(ctx)
 	relPath, err := api.PromoteNote(s.brainDir, api.PromoteOptions{
 		Filename: a.Filename, Wing: a.Wing, Hall: a.Hall, Slug: a.Slug,
+		Origin: origin, WrittenBy: writtenBy,
 	})
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
@@ -371,6 +405,26 @@ func (s *Server) brainPromote(ctx context.Context, args json.RawMessage) (json.R
 	return json.Marshal(map[string]string{"path": relPath})
 }
 
+type brainRejectArgs struct {
+	Filename string `json:"filename"`
+	Reason   string `json:"reason,omitempty"`
+}
+
+// brainReject records a decision not to promote a raw/ note (api.RejectNote:
+// frontmatter-stamp + move to raw/rejected/). No graph indexing — a rejected
+// note never entered the wiki, so there's nothing to index.
+func (s *Server) brainReject(_ context.Context, args json.RawMessage) (json.RawMessage, error) {
+	var a brainRejectArgs
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(args, &a); err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("parse args: %w", err)
+	}
+	relPath, err := api.RejectNote(s.brainDir, api.RejectOptions{Filename: a.Filename, Reason: a.Reason})
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	return json.Marshal(map[string]string{"path": relPath})
+}
+
 // indexInGraph is a best-effort wrapper around graphsync.IndexDoc that
 // logs failures but never propagates them — the underlying write/ingest
 // has already succeeded and the graph is an augmentation, not a
@@ -445,7 +499,7 @@ func (s *Server) brainIngestRaw(ctx context.Context, args json.RawMessage) (json
 	if len(a.Pages) == 0 {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("pages must be non-empty")
 	}
-	result, err := pipeline.RunRaw(s.brainDir, a.Source, a.Pages, a.DryRun)
+	result, err := pipeline.RunRaw(withCallerStamp(ctx), s.brainDir, a.Source, a.Pages, a.DryRun)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("ingest: %w", err)
 	}
@@ -488,7 +542,13 @@ func (s *Server) brainIngest(ctx context.Context, args json.RawMessage) (json.Ra
 	}
 
 	if a.Path != "" {
-		text, err := extract.Text(a.Path)
+		// Confined to brain/raw/ with symlinks evaluated (hyperguild#149).
+		resolved, err := api.ResolveIngestPath(s.brainDir, a.Path)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		a.Path = resolved
+		text, err := api.ReadIngestFile(s.brainDir, a.Path)
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, fmt.Errorf("extract: %w", err)
 		}
@@ -544,7 +604,7 @@ func (s *Server) sessionLog(ctx context.Context, args json.RawMessage) (json.Raw
 }
 
 func (s *Server) runIngest(ctx context.Context, content, source string, dryRun bool) (json.RawMessage, error) {
-	result, err := pipeline.Run(ctx, s.pipeline, s.brainDir, content, source, dryRun)
+	result, err := pipeline.Run(withCallerStamp(ctx), s.pipeline, s.brainDir, content, source, dryRun)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("ingest: %w", err)
 	}
@@ -563,3 +623,10 @@ func (s *Server) runIngest(ctx context.Context, content, source string, dryRun b
 	}
 	return json.Marshal(map[string]any{"pages": pages, "warnings": warnings})
 }
+
+// withCallerStamp attaches the caller's provenance for the ingest pipeline,
+// which stamps every page it writes or merges into (hyperguild#145).
+func withCallerStamp(ctx context.Context) context.Context {
+	origin, writtenBy := provenanceFrom(ctx)
+	return provenance.WithStamp(ctx, provenance.Stamp{Origin: origin, WrittenBy: writtenBy})
+}

ingestion/internal/mcp/handlers_test.go

@@ -51,25 +51,50 @@ func TestBrainQueryReturnsResults(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Contains(t, text, "tdd.md")
 }
 
-func TestBrainWriteCreatesFile(t *testing.T) {
+// TestBrainWriteIgnoresLegacyTypeAndDomainParams pins the post-#79 contract:
+// domain/type were removed from the schema and the handler's arg struct, so
+// a caller that still sends them (the old MCP surface) gets a normal wing+
+// hall write with no error and no effect from the stale fields — silently
+// dropped by json.Unmarshal, not rejected. Only content in its OWN
+// frontmatter (unrelated to these params) can set type/domain, per
+// TestWriteNote_HallRouteMergesExistingFrontmatterInsteadOfStacking in the
+// api package.
+func TestBrainWriteIgnoresLegacyTypeAndDomainParams(t *testing.T) {
 	brainDir := t.TempDir()
 	srv := mcp.NewServer(brainDir, nil, nil, nil)
 
 	resp := toolCall(t, srv, "brain_write", map[string]any{
 		"content":  "# Test\n\nbody",
-		"filename": "test.md",
+		"filename": "test",
+		"wing":     "homelab",
+		"hall":     "facts",
 		"type":     "note",
 		"domain":   "personal",
 	})
 	require.Nil(t, resp["error"])
 
-	got, err := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(brainDir, "knowledge", "test.md"))
+	got, err := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(brainDir, "wiki", "homelab", "facts", "test.md"))
 	require.NoError(t, err)
-	assert.Contains(t, string(got), "type: note")
+	assert.NotContains(t, string(got), "type: note")
-	assert.Contains(t, string(got), "domain: personal")
+	assert.NotContains(t, string(got), "domain: personal")
 	assert.Contains(t, string(got), "# Test")
 }
 
+// TestBrainWriteRequiresWingAndHall is the MCP-tool-call counterpart of
+// api.TestWriteNote_RequiresWingAndHall: the legacy brain/knowledge/
+// fallback is gone, so a caller omitting either param gets a tool error,
+// not a silent legacy write.
+func TestBrainWriteRequiresWingAndHall(t *testing.T) {
+	brainDir := t.TempDir()
+	srv := mcp.NewServer(brainDir, nil, nil, nil)
+
+	resp := toolCall(t, srv, "brain_write", map[string]any{
+		"content":  "x",
+		"filename": "no-destination",
+	})
+	require.NotNil(t, resp["error"])
+}
+
 func TestBrainWriteWingHallRoutesToWiki(t *testing.T) {
 	brainDir := t.TempDir()
 	srv := mcp.NewServer(brainDir, nil, nil, nil)
@@ -208,30 +233,11 @@ func TestBrainTunnelRejectsMissing(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NotNil(t, resp["error"])
 }
 
-func TestBrainWriteRejectsTraversal(t *testing.T) {
+// Filename traversal/sanitisation on the wiki route is covered directly
-	brainDir := t.TempDir()
+// against brain.NotePath/Sanitise in internal/brain/path_test.go
-	srv := mcp.NewServer(brainDir, nil, nil, nil)
+// (TestNotePath_SanitisesWingAndSlug, TestSanitise) — those tests exercised
-
+// the now-deleted brain/knowledge/ legacy path's own separate filename
-	resp := toolCall(t, srv, "brain_write", map[string]any{
+// validation, which had no equivalent once that path was removed (#79).
-		"content":  "x",
-		"filename": "../escape.md",
-	})
-	require.NotNil(t, resp["error"])
-}
-
-func TestBrainWriteAcceptsDoubleDotInName(t *testing.T) {
-	brainDir := t.TempDir()
-	srv := mcp.NewServer(brainDir, nil, nil, nil)
-
-	resp := toolCall(t, srv, "brain_write", map[string]any{
-		"content":  "x",
-		"filename": "notes..draft.md",
-	})
-	require.Nil(t, resp["error"])
-
-	_, err := os.Stat(filepath.Join(brainDir, "knowledge", "notes..draft.md"))
-	require.NoError(t, err, "filename with embedded .. should be allowed")
-}
 
 func TestBrainIngestRawDryRun(t *testing.T) {
 	brainDir := t.TempDir()
@@ -390,3 +396,38 @@ func TestBrainPromoteInvalidHallErrors(t *testing.T) {
 	_, srcErr := os.Stat(filepath.Join(raw, "x.md"))
 	assert.NoError(t, srcErr, "source untouched on validation error")
 }
+
+func TestBrainRejectMovesToRejectedSubdir(t *testing.T) {
+	brainDir := t.TempDir()
+	raw := filepath.Join(brainDir, "raw")
+	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(raw, 0o755))
+	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(raw, "2026-04-23-scrape.md"),
+		[]byte("---\ncreated_at: 2026-04-23T13:20:07Z\n---\n# Scrape\n\nbody\n"), 0o644))
+	srv := mcp.NewServer(brainDir, nil, nil, nil)
+
+	resp := toolCall(t, srv, "brain_reject", map[string]any{
+		"filename": "2026-04-23-scrape.md", "reason": "generic scrape, not homelab-relevant",
+	})
+	require.Nil(t, resp["error"], "got: %v", resp["error"])
+	text := resp["result"].(map[string]any)["content"].([]any)[0].(map[string]any)["text"].(string)
+	assert.Contains(t, text, "raw/rejected/2026-04-23-scrape.md")
+
+	got, err := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(brainDir, "raw/rejected/2026-04-23-scrape.md"))
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Contains(t, string(got), "reject_reason: generic scrape, not homelab-relevant")
+
+	_, srcErr := os.Stat(filepath.Join(raw, "2026-04-23-scrape.md"))
+	assert.True(t, os.IsNotExist(srcErr), "source removed from raw/")
+
+	// A rejected note must not still show up as pending.
+	pendingResp := toolCall(t, srv, "brain_pending", map[string]any{})
+	pendingText := pendingResp["result"].(map[string]any)["content"].([]any)[0].(map[string]any)["text"].(string)
+	assert.Contains(t, pendingText, `"pending":[]`)
+}
+
+func TestBrainRejectMissingSourceErrors(t *testing.T) {
+	brainDir := t.TempDir()
+	srv := mcp.NewServer(brainDir, nil, nil, nil)
+	resp := toolCall(t, srv, "brain_reject", map[string]any{"filename": "ghost.md"})
+	require.NotNil(t, resp["error"])
+}

ingestion/internal/mcp/ingest_path_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+package mcp_test
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+
+	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/mcp"
+	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/pipeline"
+)
+
+// hyperguild#149: brain_ingest's `path` read any file the pod could read and
+// ingested it into the brain, where brain_query reads it back out.
+func TestBrainIngestRefusesAPathOutsideTheRawInbox(t *testing.T) {
+	stub := pipeline.Config{Complete: func(context.Context, string, string) (string, error) {
+		return `[{"title":"Leak","type":"concept","content":"x"}]`, nil
+	}}
+	srv := mcp.NewServer(newBrainRepo(t), &stub, nil, nil)
+	resp := authCall(t, srv, "", "brain_ingest", map[string]any{"path": "/etc/hostname"})
+	require.NotNil(t, resp["error"], "a path outside brain/raw/ must be refused")
+	assert.Contains(t, resp["error"].(map[string]any)["message"], "brain/raw/")
+}