feat: first-class skill packs on agents + ship gifsmith builtin

Lifts the 'an agent uses a SKILL.md pack' concept out of a host and into the
harness:
- run.Ports.SkillPacks (SkillPackActivator) — nil-safe port; the executor folds
  a loaded agent's pack catalog into the system prompt and adds a skill_use
  loader tool to the toolbox (uses the existing ra.SystemPrompt + toolbox seams)
- run.RunnableAgent.SkillPacks + persona.Agent.SkillPacks (+ skill_packs YAML,
  extends-inherit, ToRunnable) — the Agent noun is now pack-aware
- skillpack.Activator — the battery's default port impl (resolve names → packs →
  catalog + skill_use), with a per-run BundleStager factory the host plumbs;
  satisfies the port structurally (no import of run)
- agentbuiltins: ships gifsmith, a portable focused GIF/MP4 render agent that
  uses the gif pack — references tool/tier/pack NAMES only, no host coupling

A host now wires run.Ports.SkillPacks instead of carrying its own activation
glue. Tests: Activator resolution + gifsmith loads through persona→RunnableAgent.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.8 <noreply@anthropic.com>

.gitea/workflows/adversarial-review.yml

@@ -1,10 +1,8 @@
-# Gadfly — agentic adversarial PR reviewer (https://gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/gadfly).
-#
-# Runs the published Gadfly image (pinned to :v1) as a specialist swarm and posts
-# ONE consolidated review comment as gitea-actions. Advisory only — never blocks a
-# merge. This reviews executus PRs (same setup as mort: m1/m5 locals + 2 cloud,
-# 3-lens suite). Gadfly is a simple system — treat its findings as advisory and
-# double-check before acting.
+# Gadfly adversarial review — subscribes to steve/gadfly's reusable workflow and
+# INHERITS its default swarm. This stub holds only the triggers, the actor gate,
+# secret forwarding, and the allow-list; the swarm config (models, lenses,
+# concurrency, timeouts) lives centrally in gadfly's review-reusable.yml so it is
+# tuned in ONE place. Advisory only — never blocks a merge.
 
 name: Adversarial Review (Gadfly)
 
@@ -31,46 +29,27 @@ concurrency:
 jobs:
   review:
     # Security: only trusted users may trigger a secret-bearing run via a PR
-    # comment (pull_request + workflow_dispatch are already trusted). Mirrors
-    # GADFLY_ALLOWED_USERS, the in-container belt-and-suspenders check.
+    # comment (pull_request + workflow_dispatch are already trusted). Mirrors the
+    # allowed_users input below (the in-container belt-and-suspenders check) — both
+    # lists must stay in sync; a workflow if: can't read a workflow_call input.
     if: >-
       github.event_name != 'issue_comment'
       || (github.event.issue.pull_request
           && (github.actor == 'steve'
               || github.actor == 'fizi'
               || github.actor == 'dazed'))
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    # Full fleet (2 cloud + 2 local Macs, all running concurrently) reviewing
-    # every PR with the 3-lens suite — the slow local lanes dominate wall time.
-    timeout-minutes: 90
-    steps:
-      - uses: docker://gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/gadfly:v1
-        env:
-          GITEA_API: ${{ github.server_url }}/api/v1/repos/${{ github.repository }}
-          GITEA_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITEA_TOKEN }}
-          OLLAMA_CLOUD_API_KEY: ${{ secrets.OLLAMA_CLOUD_API_KEY }}
-          # Local Ollama boxes (each its own lane, cap 1). NOTE: both Macs must be
-          # awake/reachable for their reviews to run; if a box is offline, that
-          # model's comment shows an error and the others still post.
-          GADFLY_ENDPOINT_M1PRO: "ollama|http://192.168.0.175:11434"
-          GADFLY_ENDPOINT_M5MAX: "ollama|http://192.168.0.173:11434"
-          # 2 cloud (parallel) + M1 Pro + M5 Max — one consolidated comment each.
-          GADFLY_MODELS: "minimax-m3:cloud,deepseek-v4-flash:cloud,m1pro/qwen3:14b,m5max/qwen3.6:35b-mlx"
-          # cloud runs 2 at once; each Mac one at a time; all three lanes parallel.
-          GADFLY_PROVIDER_CONCURRENCY: "ollama-cloud=2,m1pro=1,m5max=1"
-          # Default => the 3-lens suite (security, correctness, error-handling).
-          # Set the repo var GADFLY_SPECIALISTS to override (csv / "all" / "auto").
-          GADFLY_SPECIALISTS: ${{ vars.GADFLY_SPECIALISTS || 'security,correctness,error-handling' }}
-          # Per-lens deadline + bounded steps so the slow local models stay sane.
-          GADFLY_TIMEOUT_SECS: "600"
-          GADFLY_MAX_STEPS: "14"
-          # Allow-list for the comment trigger (mirrors the job-level if: guard).
-          GADFLY_ALLOWED_USERS: "steve,fizi,dazed"
-          # --- event context (leave as-is) ---
-          EVENT_NAME: ${{ github.event_name }}
-          PR: ${{ github.event.pull_request.number || github.event.issue.number || github.event.inputs.pr_number }}
-          PR_BRANCH: ${{ github.head_ref }}
-          IS_DRAFT: ${{ github.event.pull_request.draft }}
-          COMMENT_BODY: ${{ github.event.comment.body }}
-          COMMENT_ID: ${{ github.event.comment.id }}
-          ACTOR: ${{ github.actor }}
+    # Pinned to an immutable gadfly commit (not @v1): our act_runners are long-lived
+    # and cache the reusable-workflow ref, so a moved v1 tag keeps resolving to the
+    # stale cached copy. A unique sha forces a cache miss → fresh fetch. Bump this
+    # sha to adopt central swarm changes.
+    uses: steve/gadfly/.gitea/workflows/review-reusable.yml@5007597cf921dc3f0a83c708878facfe65fd8e8b
+    # Least privilege: forward only the review secrets (not `secrets: inherit`,
+    # which would expose every repo secret). GITEA_TOKEN is the automatic token.
+    secrets:
+      OLLAMA_CLOUD_API_KEY:    ${{ secrets.OLLAMA_CLOUD_API_KEY }}
+      CLAUDE_CODE_OAUTH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.CLAUDE_CODE_OAUTH_TOKEN }}
+      GADFLY_FINDINGS_URL:     ${{ secrets.GADFLY_FINDINGS_URL }}
+      GADFLY_FINDINGS_TOKEN:   ${{ secrets.GADFLY_FINDINGS_TOKEN }}
+    with:
+      # Consumer-specific allow-list; everything else is inherited.
+      allowed_users: "steve,fizi,dazed"

.gitea/workflows/ci.yml

@@ -103,3 +103,26 @@ jobs:
             exit 1
           fi
           echo "OK: core go.sum is free of host/DB dependencies."
+
+      - name: Light-tier canary imports no battery
+        run: |
+          # examples/reviewer is gadfly's shape on the CORE only. If it ever
+          # pulls in a battery (audit/budget/persona/skill/critic/schedule/
+          # checkpoint/contrib), the light path has regressed.
+          LEAK=$(go list -deps ./examples/reviewer/... | grep -E 'executus/(audit|budget|persona|skill|critic|schedule|checkpoint|contrib)' || true)
+          if [ -n "$LEAK" ]; then
+            echo "ERROR: light-tier canary pulled in a battery:"; echo "$LEAK"; exit 1
+          fi
+          echo "OK: examples/reviewer is core-only."
+
+      - name: contrib/store (nested SQLite module — isolated from core)
+        run: |
+          # contrib/store is a SEPARATE module carrying modernc.org/sqlite; the
+          # core's `go test ./...` doesn't reach it. Build + test it on its own,
+          # and confirm it DOES carry the driver the core forbids (proof the
+          # split works: persistence lives here, not in the core go.sum).
+          cd contrib/store
+          go build ./...
+          go test -race -count=1 -timeout 5m ./...
+          grep -qE 'modernc.org/sqlite' go.sum || { echo "ERROR: contrib/store should carry the sqlite driver"; exit 1; }
+          echo "OK: contrib/store builds, tests pass, and owns the SQLite dep."

CLAUDE.md

@@ -43,8 +43,14 @@ CORE (majordomo + stdlib):
   fanout/   programmatic N×M swarm                       [P0 ✓]
   deliver/  output egress seam (+ Discard/Stdout)        [P0 ✓]
   identity/ caller identity seams                        [P0 ✓]
-  run/      progress bridge now; the executor kernel +   [P0 partial]
-            nil-safe Ports + RunnableAgent later         [P2]
+  run/      run.Executor is RUNNABLE: model-resolve +    [P2 core ✓]
+            toolbox + majordomo loop + compaction +
+            run-bounding (V10 detached timeout) + step/
+            audit observers + Budget gate; RunnableAgent
+            DTO + nil-safe run.Ports. Palette delegation +
+            Critic (monitor/deadline/steer) + Delivery
+            WIRED. Follow-ups: Checkpointer (needs a
+            majordomo msg-history hook), Phases           [C0c]
   dispatchguard/  loop/depth/fan-out caps                [P0 ✓]
   pendingattach/  attachment dedupe                      [P0 ✓]
   tool/     registry + 3-stage permissions + ssrf        [P1 ✓]
@@ -52,20 +58,51 @@ CORE (majordomo + stdlib):
             (convar->config.Source; UsageSink/TraceSink seams; GenerateWith[T]
              structured output — no separate structured/ pkg)
   llmmeta/  shared meta-LLM helper over model/            [P1 ✓]
-  compact/  context compactor (WithCompactor hook)       [P2]
-  tools/{web,net,store,compose,meta,comms}  generic tools [P3]
+  compact/  context compactor (WithCompactor hook)       [P2 ✓]
+  tools/    generic tool library: Register (think/now/    [P3 ✓]
+            cite, zero-config) + RegisterMeta (classify/
+            extract_entities/summarize) + RegisterStore
+            (kv_*/file_*, default static quota); seams in
+            research_providers.go/file_storage.go/
+            kv_storage.go/quota_provider.go. End-to-end
+            "agent calls a tool" test green. Remaining
+            (deferred): web/net/compose groups + backends
 
 BATTERIES (opt-in siblings, each nil-safe + a default):
-  persona/   Agent noun + AgentStore seam + yml loader   [P4]
-  skill/     rich Skill + SkillStore seam + toml loader  [P4]
-  audit/     run-trace Sink (+ Noop/Slog)                [P4]
-  critic/    two-tier timeout state machine + Escalator  [P4]
-  schedule/  cron runner cores                           [P4]
-  checkpoint/ durable resume seam                        [P4]
-  budget/    rolling-window tracker (+ NoOp)             [P4]
+  persona/   Agent noun + Storage seam + builtin loader [P4 ✓]
+             + ToRunnable() bridge to run.RunnableAgent +
+             Memory default (host: chatbot/commands/personalization)
+  skill/     Skill noun + LEAN SkillStore (lifecycle/    [P4 ✓]
+             versions/schedule, NOT mort's 60-method
+             monster) + ToRunnable + Memory default
+  audit/     run.Audit Sink + Writer + queryable Memory  [P4 ✓]
+             default (skillaudit Storage iface; GORM stays in mort)
+  critic/    two-tier timeout watchdog (run.Critic) +    [P4 ✓]
+             Escalator policy seam + ExtendOnce default
+  schedule/  generic cron Runner (Tick/Loop over a wired [P4 ✓]
+             Due/Run/Mark/Next; no cron grammar of its own)
+  checkpoint/ CheckpointStore + run.Checkpointer handle  [P4 ✓]
+             (throttled Save/Complete/Fail) + Memory
+  budget/    DBBudget rolling-7d + NoOp (run.Budget);    [P4 ✓]
+             BudgetStorage iface + Memory default
+  skillpack/ SKILL.md-subscription battery: Manifest +   [P5 ✓]
+             Source (Dir/Git) + Subscription/Store +
+             content-addressed PackCache + Syncer
+             (pending-only; Apply re-pins) + Activate →
+             majordomo agent.Skill (catalog + skill_use,
+             progressive disclosure) + Memory defaults.
+             NOT executus/skill (saved-agent noun) nor
+             majordomo/skill (eager capability bundle).
 
-contrib/store/   SECOND module (+ modernc.org/sqlite):   [P4]
-  in-memory + pure-Go SQLite impls of every *Store seam
+contrib/store/   SECOND module (+ modernc.org/sqlite):   [P4 ✓]
+  pure-Go SQLite impls of ALL store seams: budget +
+  persona + skill + audit (JSON-blob+indexed cols,
+  round-trip tested). CI proves the driver lands HERE,
+  not in the core go.sum.
+
+NOTE: critic/checkpoint executor wiring (run.Ports.Critic /
+.Checkpointer call sites) is a P2 follow-up — the batteries +
+defaults exist ahead of that wiring.
 ```
 
 ### The one architectural move
@@ -87,7 +124,7 @@ repackaging.
 
 P0 module + zero-coupling moves + core seams (this) → P1 tool registry + model →
 P2 run kernel + Ports inversion → P3 generic tools + defaults → P4 persona/skill
-redesign + batteries + SQLite store → P5 gadfly on core (light-tier canary) → P6
+redesign + batteries + SQLite store → P5 gadfly-on-core canary (examples/reviewer ✓) → P6
 rewire mort + tag v0.1.0. The mort-side rewrite reuses mort's existing
 `mort_*_adapters.go` wall as the host adapter layer.
 

README.md

@@ -31,15 +31,26 @@ bot) — mort and gadfly are the first two consumers (heavy and light). See
 
 [mort]: https://gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/mort
 
-**Available today (P0):**
+**Available today:**
 
+- `run/` — **executus is runnable.** `run.Executor` ties model resolution, the
+  tool registry, majordomo's agent loop, context compaction, run-bounding, and
+  step/audit instrumentation into one `Run(ctx, RunnableAgent, inv) Result`, with
+  every host concern behind a nil-safe `run.Ports` (Audit/Budget/Critic/
+  Checkpointer/PaletteSource/Delivery/InputFiles). See `examples/minimal`.
+- `model/` — config-driven tier resolution + failover over majordomo, with
+  pluggable `UsageSink`/`TraceSink` and `GenerateWith[T]` structured output.
+- `tool/` — the tool registry + 3-stage permission model + SSRF guard.
+- `compact/` — the per-run context compactor.
 - `lane/` — bounded worker pool with fair-share queueing (run- and
   provider-concurrency).
 - `fanout/` — programmatic N×M swarm with bounded global + per-key concurrency.
-- `config/` — the host config seam (`Source`) with an env-var default.
-- `deliver/` — the output-egress seam with `Discard`/`Stdout` defaults.
-- `identity/` — caller-identity seams (`AdminPolicy`, `MemberResolver`).
-- `dispatchguard/`, `pendingattach/`, `run/progress.go` — run-safety primitives.
+- `config/`, `deliver/`, `identity/` — host seams (config / output / identity),
+  each with a shipped default.
+- `dispatchguard/`, `pendingattach/` — run-safety primitives.
+- `examples/reviewer` — a **gadfly-shaped PR reviewer on the core only** (env-config
+  model fleet → `fanout` N×M swarm → `model.GenerateWith[T]` structured findings →
+  consolidation), the light-tier canary; CI asserts it pulls in no battery.
 
 ## Design
 

agentbuiltins/agents/gifsmith/agent.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+# gifsmith — a portable, focused render agent that makes animated GIFs/MP4s via
+# the `gif` skill pack. Shipped by executus (agentbuiltins), run by any host that
+# provides tools with these names, a `thinking` model tier, and the `gif` pack.
+# Nothing here is host-specific — the names are the contract the host binds.
+name: gifsmith
+description: >-
+  Makes a funny animated GIF (or an MP4 when the piece is long or a GIF is too
+  big) from a description, via the gif skill pack. A single-purpose render agent
+  — use it for any request to draw/animate/gif something, including multi-minute
+  bits about people or things that happened.
+model_tier: thinking
+system_prompt: |
+  You make funny animated GIFs and MP4s from a description — often caricatures of
+  the people in the channel or a bit about something that happened. Work by
+  calling tools; do NOT introduce yourself or list capabilities.
+
+  Load the `gif` skill FIRST: call skill_use with name `gif` to get the full
+  recipe (scene/cast planning, the code_exec workspace rules, the bundled encode
+  helper, and the GIF-vs-MP4 size/length decision), then follow it exactly to
+  render and deliver the result. The skill also bundles an encode helper that
+  picks GIF vs MP4 and guarantees a Discord-playable MP4 — use it, don't hand-roll
+  the encode.
+
+  Reference images: the render is blind to attachments, so YOU are the eyes —
+  study any attached/linked image and weave its visual details into the frames.
+  If you can't make it out, proceed from the words.
+low_level_tools:
+  - code_exec
+  - image_describe
+  - send_attachments
+  - file_get_metadata
+  - file_save
+  - think
+skill_packs:
+  - gif
+execution_lane: animate
+max_iterations: 50
+max_tool_calls: 80
+max_runtime_seconds: 1800
+critic_enabled: true
+default_emoji: "🎬"
+state_react:
+  __start__: "🎬"
+  code_exec: "🐍"
+  image_describe: "🖼️"
+  think: "🧠"
+  send_attachments: "📎"
+  __end__: "✅"
+  __error__: "❌"

agentbuiltins/builtins.go

@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+// Package agentbuiltins ships executus's canonical builtin agent definitions as
+// an embedded filesystem. They are portable persona manifests
+// (agents/<name>/agent.yml): each references tool NAMES, a model-tier NAME, and
+// skill-pack names — the host binds those to implementations. Nothing here
+// imports a host or a battery, so any executus consumer can seed these via
+// persona.LoadBuiltinAgents (or its own loader that reads the same schema):
+//
+//	persona.LoadBuiltinAgents(ctx, store, agentbuiltins.FS(), skillChecker)
+//
+// Ships:
+//   - gifsmith — a focused GIF/MP4 render agent that uses the `gif` skill pack.
+package agentbuiltins
+
+import (
+	"embed"
+	"io/fs"
+)
+
+//go:embed agents
+var embedded embed.FS
+
+// FS returns the builtin agents tree, rooted so that a loader finds each
+// definition at agents/<name>/agent.yml (the layout LoadBuiltinAgents expects).
+func FS() fs.FS { return embedded }

agentbuiltins/builtins_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+package agentbuiltins_test
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"slices"
+	"testing"
+
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/executus/agentbuiltins"
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/executus/persona"
+)
+
+// TestGifsmithLoads proves executus's shipped gifsmith manifest flows through
+// the persona loader and lowers into a RunnableAgent carrying the gif pack — the
+// path a host uses to dogfood it.
+func TestGifsmithLoads(t *testing.T) {
+	ctx := context.Background()
+	store := persona.NewMemory()
+	n, err := persona.LoadBuiltinAgents(ctx, store, agentbuiltins.FS(), nil)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if n < 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected gifsmith seeded, got %d", n)
+	}
+	a, err := store.GetAgentByName(ctx, persona.BuiltinAgentOwnerID, "gifsmith")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if len(a.SkillPacks) != 1 || a.SkillPacks[0] != "gif" {
+		t.Errorf("skill_packs = %v", a.SkillPacks)
+	}
+	if a.ModelTier != "thinking" {
+		t.Errorf("model_tier = %q (want a portable tier name)", a.ModelTier)
+	}
+	if !slices.Contains(a.LowLevelTools, "code_exec") || !slices.Contains(a.LowLevelTools, "send_attachments") {
+		t.Errorf("low_level_tools missing render/deliver tools: %v", a.LowLevelTools)
+	}
+	// The pack must survive the lowering the executor consumes.
+	if ra := a.ToRunnable(); len(ra.SkillPacks) != 1 || ra.SkillPacks[0] != "gif" {
+		t.Errorf("RunnableAgent.SkillPacks = %v", ra.SkillPacks)
+	}
+}

audit/audit_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,78 @@
+package audit_test
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"testing"
+
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/majordomo/llm"
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/majordomo/provider/fake"
+
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/executus/audit"
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/executus/run"
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/executus/tool"
+)
+
+// TestAuditBatteryEndToEnd wires the audit battery (Memory storage) into
+// run.Ports.Audit, runs an agent, and verifies the run was recorded and is
+// queryable — proving Sink/Writer/Memory satisfy the core seams end to end.
+func TestAuditBatteryEndToEnd(t *testing.T) {
+	mem := audit.NewMemory()
+
+	fp := fake.New("fake")
+	fp.Enqueue("m", fake.Reply("the answer"))
+	m, err := fp.Model("m")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	ex := run.New(run.Config{
+		Registry: tool.NewRegistry(),
+		Models: func(ctx context.Context, _ string) (context.Context, llm.Model, error) {
+			return ctx, m, nil
+		},
+		Ports: run.Ports{Audit: audit.NewSink(mem)},
+	})
+
+	res := ex.Run(context.Background(),
+		run.RunnableAgent{ID: "agent-1", Name: "a", ModelTier: "m"},
+		tool.Invocation{RunID: "run-xyz", CallerID: "caller-1"},
+		"question")
+	if res.Err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("run error: %v", res.Err)
+	}
+
+	// The run was recorded with a terminal status + output.
+	got, err := mem.GetRun(context.Background(), "run-xyz")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("GetRun: %v", err)
+	}
+	if got.Status != "ok" {
+		t.Errorf("status = %q, want ok", got.Status)
+	}
+	if got.Output != "the answer" {
+		t.Errorf("output = %q, want %q", got.Output, "the answer")
+	}
+	if got.FinishedAt == nil {
+		t.Error("FinishedAt should be set after the run")
+	}
+	if got.SkillID != "agent-1" {
+		t.Errorf("SkillID = %q, want agent-1 (the subject id)", got.SkillID)
+	}
+
+	// And it is queryable by caller.
+	runs, err := mem.ListRunsByCaller(context.Background(), "caller-1", 10)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("ListRunsByCaller: %v", err)
+	}
+	if len(runs) != 1 || runs[0].ID != "run-xyz" {
+		t.Errorf("ListRunsByCaller = %+v, want [run-xyz]", runs)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestNilSinkRecordsNothing: NewSink(nil) is equivalent to no audit.
+func TestNilSinkRecordsNothing(t *testing.T) {
+	s := audit.NewSink(nil)
+	if rec := s.StartRun(context.Background(), run.RunInfo{RunID: "r"}); rec != nil {
+		t.Error("NewSink(nil).StartRun should return a nil recorder")
+	}
+}

audit/memory.go

@@ -0,0 +1,280 @@
+package audit
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"sort"
+	"sync"
+	"time"
+)
+
+// Memory is an in-process Storage: it retains runs + logs in memory so a light
+// host (or a test) gets queryable run history with zero setup. It is bounded
+// only by process memory — a host that runs forever should PurgeOlderThan
+// periodically, or use a persistent Storage. Construct with NewMemory.
+//
+// Mort uses its GORM/MySQL Storage; contrib/store adds a durable SQLite one.
+// Memory is the zero-dependency default behind audit.NewSink(audit.NewMemory()).
+type Memory struct {
+	mu    sync.RWMutex
+	order []string                 // run ids in insertion order
+	runs  map[string]SkillRun      // by run id
+	logs  map[string][]SkillRunLog // by run id
+}
+
+// NewMemory returns an empty in-memory Storage.
+func NewMemory() *Memory {
+	return &Memory{runs: map[string]SkillRun{}, logs: map[string][]SkillRunLog{}}
+}
+
+var _ Storage = (*Memory)(nil)
+
+func (m *Memory) Initialize(context.Context) error { return nil }
+
+func (m *Memory) StartRun(_ context.Context, run SkillRun) error {
+	m.mu.Lock()
+	defer m.mu.Unlock()
+	if _, ok := m.runs[run.ID]; !ok {
+		m.order = append(m.order, run.ID)
+	}
+	m.runs[run.ID] = run
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (m *Memory) FinishRun(_ context.Context, runID string, s RunStats) error {
+	m.mu.Lock()
+	defer m.mu.Unlock()
+	r, ok := m.runs[runID]
+	if !ok {
+		return ErrNotFound
+	}
+	now := time.Now()
+	r.FinishedAt = &now
+	r.Status = s.Status
+	r.Output = s.Output
+	r.Error = s.Error
+	r.ToolCallsCount = s.ToolCalls
+	r.RuntimeSeconds = s.RuntimeSeconds
+	r.TotalInputTokens = s.InputTokens
+	r.TotalOutputTokens = s.OutputTokens
+	r.TotalThinkingTokens = s.ThinkingTokens
+	m.runs[runID] = r
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (m *Memory) AppendLog(_ context.Context, log SkillRunLog) error {
+	m.mu.Lock()
+	defer m.mu.Unlock()
+	m.logs[log.RunID] = append(m.logs[log.RunID], log)
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (m *Memory) GetRun(_ context.Context, runID string) (*SkillRun, error) {
+	m.mu.RLock()
+	defer m.mu.RUnlock()
+	r, ok := m.runs[runID]
+	if !ok {
+		return nil, ErrNotFound
+	}
+	return &r, nil
+}
+
+func (m *Memory) ListLogsByRun(_ context.Context, runID string) ([]SkillRunLog, error) {
+	m.mu.RLock()
+	defer m.mu.RUnlock()
+	ls := append([]SkillRunLog(nil), m.logs[runID]...)
+	sort.SliceStable(ls, func(i, j int) bool { return ls[i].Sequence < ls[j].Sequence })
+	return ls, nil
+}
+
+// newestFirst returns the retained runs in reverse insertion order, optionally
+// filtered. Caller holds at least RLock.
+func (m *Memory) newestFirst(keep func(SkillRun) bool) []SkillRun {
+	out := make([]SkillRun, 0, len(m.order))
+	for i := len(m.order) - 1; i >= 0; i-- {
+		r := m.runs[m.order[i]]
+		if keep == nil || keep(r) {
+			out = append(out, r)
+		}
+	}
+	return out
+}
+
+// oldestFirst returns the retained runs in insertion (oldest-first) order,
+// optionally filtered. Caller holds at least RLock.
+func (m *Memory) oldestFirst(keep func(SkillRun) bool) []SkillRun {
+	out := make([]SkillRun, 0, len(m.order))
+	for _, id := range m.order {
+		r := m.runs[id]
+		if keep == nil || keep(r) {
+			out = append(out, r)
+		}
+	}
+	return out
+}
+
+func page(rs []SkillRun, offset, limit int) []SkillRun {
+	if offset < 0 {
+		offset = 0
+	}
+	if offset >= len(rs) {
+		return nil
+	}
+	rs = rs[offset:]
+	if limit > 0 && limit < len(rs) {
+		rs = rs[:limit]
+	}
+	return rs
+}
+
+func (m *Memory) ListRunsBySkill(ctx context.Context, skillID string, limit int) ([]SkillRun, error) {
+	return m.ListRunsBySkillPaginated(ctx, skillID, 0, limit, false)
+}
+
+func (m *Memory) ListRunsBySkillPaginated(_ context.Context, skillID string, offset, limit int, includeDryRun bool) ([]SkillRun, error) {
+	m.mu.RLock()
+	defer m.mu.RUnlock()
+	return page(m.newestFirst(func(r SkillRun) bool {
+		return r.SkillID == skillID && (includeDryRun || r.Status != "dry_run")
+	}), offset, limit), nil
+}
+
+func (m *Memory) CountRunsBySkill(_ context.Context, skillID string, includeDryRun bool) (int64, error) {
+	m.mu.RLock()
+	defer m.mu.RUnlock()
+	return int64(len(m.newestFirst(func(r SkillRun) bool {
+		return r.SkillID == skillID && (includeDryRun || r.Status != "dry_run")
+	}))), nil
+}
+
+func (m *Memory) ListRunsByCaller(_ context.Context, callerID string, limit int) ([]SkillRun, error) {
+	m.mu.RLock()
+	defer m.mu.RUnlock()
+	return page(m.newestFirst(func(r SkillRun) bool {
+		return r.CallerID == callerID && r.Status != "dry_run"
+	}), 0, limit), nil
+}
+
+func (m *Memory) matchesFilter(r SkillRun, f RunFilter) bool {
+	if f.Status != "" {
+		if r.Status != f.Status {
+			return false
+		}
+		// An explicit Status (even "dry_run") matches regardless of IncludeDryRun.
+	} else if !f.IncludeDryRun && r.Status == "dry_run" {
+		return false
+	}
+	if f.SkillID != "" && r.SkillID != f.SkillID {
+		return false
+	}
+	if f.CallerID != "" && r.CallerID != f.CallerID {
+		return false
+	}
+	if f.ChannelID != "" && r.ChannelID != f.ChannelID {
+		return false
+	}
+	if f.TopLevelOnly && r.ParentRunID != "" {
+		return false
+	}
+	if !f.Since.IsZero() && r.StartedAt.Before(f.Since) {
+		return false
+	}
+	if !f.Until.IsZero() && r.StartedAt.After(f.Until) {
+		return false
+	}
+	return true
+}
+
+func (m *Memory) ListRunsFiltered(_ context.Context, f RunFilter, offset, limit int) ([]SkillRun, error) {
+	if limit <= 0 || limit > 500 {
+		limit = 50 // bound admin scans, per the Storage contract
+	}
+	m.mu.RLock()
+	defer m.mu.RUnlock()
+	return page(m.newestFirst(func(r SkillRun) bool { return m.matchesFilter(r, f) }), offset, limit), nil
+}
+
+func (m *Memory) CountRunsFiltered(_ context.Context, f RunFilter) (int64, error) {
+	m.mu.RLock()
+	defer m.mu.RUnlock()
+	return int64(len(m.newestFirst(func(r SkillRun) bool { return m.matchesFilter(r, f) }))), nil
+}
+
+func (m *Memory) PurgeOlderThan(_ context.Context, t time.Time) (int64, error) {
+	m.mu.Lock()
+	defer m.mu.Unlock()
+	var purged int64
+	kept := m.order[:0:0]
+	for _, id := range m.order {
+		r := m.runs[id]
+		if r.FinishedAt != nil && r.FinishedAt.Before(t) {
+			delete(m.runs, id)
+			delete(m.logs, id)
+			purged++
+			continue
+		}
+		kept = append(kept, id)
+	}
+	m.order = kept
+	return purged, nil
+}
+
+func (m *Memory) ListChildrenByParent(_ context.Context, parentRunID string) ([]SkillRun, error) {
+	m.mu.RLock()
+	defer m.mu.RUnlock()
+	return m.oldestFirst(func(r SkillRun) bool { return r.ParentRunID == parentRunID }), nil
+}
+
+func (m *Memory) WalkParentChain(_ context.Context, runID string) ([]SkillRun, error) {
+	m.mu.RLock()
+	defer m.mu.RUnlock()
+	var chain []SkillRun
+	seen := map[string]bool{}
+	for id := runID; id != "" && len(chain) < MaxParentChainDepth; {
+		r, ok := m.runs[id]
+		if !ok || seen[id] {
+			break
+		}
+		seen[id] = true
+		chain = append(chain, r)
+		id = r.ParentRunID
+	}
+	// Contract: root first, the queried run last. We walked child→root, so reverse.
+	for i, j := 0, len(chain)-1; i < j; i, j = i+1, j-1 {
+		chain[i], chain[j] = chain[j], chain[i]
+	}
+	return chain, nil
+}
+
+func (m *Memory) ListFinishedRunsBefore(_ context.Context, cutoff time.Time, limit int) ([]SkillRun, error) {
+	if limit <= 0 {
+		return nil, nil // contract: a real bound is required
+	}
+	m.mu.RLock()
+	defer m.mu.RUnlock()
+	return page(m.oldestFirst(func(r SkillRun) bool {
+		return r.FinishedAt != nil && r.FinishedAt.Before(cutoff)
+	}), 0, limit), nil
+}
+
+func (m *Memory) LastRunBySkills(_ context.Context, skillIDs []string, includeFailed bool) (map[string]time.Time, error) {
+	m.mu.RLock()
+	defer m.mu.RUnlock()
+	want := map[string]bool{}
+	for _, id := range skillIDs {
+		want[id] = true
+	}
+	out := map[string]time.Time{}
+	for _, id := range m.order {
+		r := m.runs[id]
+		if !want[r.SkillID] {
+			continue
+		}
+		if !includeFailed && r.Status != "ok" {
+			continue // contract: only status=="ok" counts unless includeFailed
+		}
+		if r.StartedAt.After(out[r.SkillID]) {
+			out[r.SkillID] = r.StartedAt
+		}
+	}
+	return out, nil
+}

audit/redaction_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+package audit
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/majordomo/llm"
+)
+
+// TestOnToolRedactsSecretTools: a secret-bearing tool's args/result must NOT be
+// persisted verbatim in the audit log.
+func TestOnToolRedactsSecretTools(t *testing.T) {
+	ctx := context.Background()
+	mem := NewMemory()
+	mem.StartRun(ctx, SkillRun{ID: "r1"})
+	w := NewWriter(mem, "r1")
+
+	secret := `{"url":"https://x","headers":{"Authorization":"Bearer SUPERSECRET"}}`
+	w.OnTool(llm.ToolCall{Name: "http_get", ID: "1", Arguments: []byte(secret)}, "TOPSECRETBODY")
+	// a non-secret tool is logged verbatim
+	w.OnTool(llm.ToolCall{Name: "think", ID: "2", Arguments: []byte(`{"thought":"hi"}`)}, "ok")
+
+	logs, _ := mem.ListLogsByRun(ctx, "r1")
+	var dump strings.Builder
+	for _, l := range logs {
+		for k, v := range l.Payload {
+			dump.WriteString(k)
+			dump.WriteString("=")
+			if s, ok := v.(string); ok {
+				dump.WriteString(s)
+			}
+			dump.WriteString(" ")
+		}
+	}
+	all := dump.String()
+	if strings.Contains(all, "SUPERSECRET") || strings.Contains(all, "TOPSECRETBODY") {
+		t.Fatalf("secret leaked into audit log: %s", all)
+	}
+	// the redaction marker is present, and the non-secret tool's args survive
+	foundRedacted, foundThink := false, false
+	for _, l := range logs {
+		if l.EventType == "tool_call" {
+			if r, _ := l.Payload["args_redacted"].(bool); r {
+				foundRedacted = true
+			}
+			if a, _ := l.Payload["args"].(string); strings.Contains(a, "thought") {
+				foundThink = true
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	if !foundRedacted {
+		t.Error("secret tool_call should carry args_redacted=true")
+	}
+	if !foundThink {
+		t.Error("non-secret tool args should be logged verbatim")
+	}
+}

audit/sink.go

@@ -0,0 +1,81 @@
+package audit
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"log/slog"
+	"time"
+
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/majordomo/llm"
+
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/executus/run"
+)
+
+// Sink adapts an audit Storage to the run.Audit port: StartRun opens a run row
+// and returns a per-run recorder (a Writer) that the executor feeds with steps,
+// tool calls, and the terminal roll-up. This is what plugs the audit battery
+// into run.Ports.Audit — mort backs it with its GORM Storage, a light host with
+// Memory() (or omits it entirely).
+type Sink struct{ storage Storage }
+
+// NewSink wraps a Storage as a run.Audit. A nil Storage yields a Sink whose
+// StartRun returns nil (the executor then records nothing) — so NewSink(nil) is
+// equivalent to leaving run.Ports.Audit unset.
+func NewSink(storage Storage) *Sink { return &Sink{storage: storage} }
+
+// compile-time proof the adapter satisfies the core seams.
+var (
+	_ run.Audit       = (*Sink)(nil)
+	_ run.RunRecorder = (*recorder)(nil)
+)
+
+// StartRun records the run start and returns a recorder. Implements run.Audit.
+func (s *Sink) StartRun(ctx context.Context, info run.RunInfo) run.RunRecorder {
+	if s == nil || s.storage == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	started := info.StartedAt
+	if started.IsZero() {
+		started = time.Now()
+	}
+	// Best-effort: a failed StartRun must not break the user-visible run, but we
+	// surface it (a swallowed failure leaves orphan log events with no run row).
+	if err := s.storage.StartRun(ctx, SkillRun{
+		ID:          info.RunID,
+		SkillID:     info.SubjectID,
+		CallerID:    info.CallerID,
+		ChannelID:   info.ChannelID,
+		ParentRunID: info.ParentRunID,
+		Inputs:      info.Inputs,
+		StartedAt:   started,
+		Status:      "running",
+	}); err != nil {
+		slog.Warn("audit: StartRun failed; the run row is missing so its log events will orphan",
+			"run_id", info.RunID, "error", err)
+	}
+	return &recorder{w: NewWriter(s.storage, info.RunID)}
+}
+
+// recorder adapts a *Writer to run.RunRecorder, converting run.RunStats to the
+// audit RunStats on Close (the two have identical fields).
+type recorder struct{ w *Writer }
+
+func (r *recorder) TokenStats() (in, out, thinking int64)   { return r.w.TokenStats() }
+func (r *recorder) ToolCallsCount() int                     { return r.w.ToolCallsCount() }
+func (r *recorder) OnStep(iter int, resp *llm.Response)     { r.w.OnStep(iter, resp) }
+func (r *recorder) OnTool(call llm.ToolCall, result string) { r.w.OnTool(call, result) }
+func (r *recorder) LogEvent(eventType string, payload map[string]any) {
+	r.w.LogEvent(eventType, payload)
+}
+func (r *recorder) LogError(msg string) { r.w.LogError(msg) }
+func (r *recorder) Close(ctx context.Context, s run.RunStats) {
+	r.w.Close(ctx, RunStats{
+		Status:         s.Status,
+		Output:         s.Output,
+		Error:          s.Error,
+		ToolCalls:      s.ToolCalls,
+		RuntimeSeconds: s.RuntimeSeconds,
+		InputTokens:    s.InputTokens,
+		OutputTokens:   s.OutputTokens,
+		ThinkingTokens: s.ThinkingTokens,
+	})
+}

audit/storage.go

@@ -0,0 +1,245 @@
+// Package skillaudit persists skill execution traces: per-run summary rows
+// (skill_runs) and per-step event logs (skill_run_logs). The executor in
+// pkg/logic/skillexec emits events through a Writer; the storage layer is
+// kept separate so tests can mock it and so retention pruning has a clear
+// home.
+//
+// Why: agentic runs can be long, multi-tool affairs. Without a structured
+// audit trail, debugging "why did the LLM do that?" is impossible. The
+// log table is keyed by (run_id, sequence) so insert order is preserved.
+package audit
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"time"
+)
+
+// ErrNotFound is returned when a run lookup fails.
+var ErrNotFound = errors.New("skill run not found")
+
+// SkillRun is the per-invocation summary row. One per call to
+// Executor.Run. Status transitions through running → ok / error /
+// timeout / budget_exceeded / dry_run.
+type SkillRun struct {
+	ID             string
+	SkillID        string
+	CallerID       string
+	ChannelID      string
+	Inputs         map[string]any
+	StartedAt      time.Time
+	FinishedAt     *time.Time
+	Status         string // running|ok|error|timeout|budget_exceeded|dry_run
+	Output         string
+	Error          string
+	ToolCallsCount int
+	RuntimeSeconds float64
+	// ParentRunID is the run_id of the parent skill that invoked this
+	// run via skill_invoke. Empty for top-level invocations. Indexed
+	// in the gorm model so call-tree queries (ListChildrenByParent +
+	// WalkParentChain) are cheap.
+	ParentRunID string
+
+	// Token roll-ups, summed across all model completions in this run
+	// (one Usage per OnStep). All default to 0 when the provider did
+	// not expose token usage.
+	TotalInputTokens    int64
+	TotalOutputTokens   int64
+	TotalThinkingTokens int64
+}
+
+// RunStats captures the terminal state of a run for FinishRun. Bundling
+// these into one struct (vs a long positional argument list) keeps
+// callers readable; future fields slot in here without touching every
+// call site.
+//
+// Why: FinishRun originally took six positional args; adding token
+// columns would push it higher. A struct is the idiomatic Go way to
+// avoid the positional-arg explosion.
+type RunStats struct {
+	Status         string  // ok|error|timeout|budget_exceeded|dry_run
+	Output         string  // final agent output (empty on error)
+	Error          string  // error message (empty on success)
+	ToolCalls      int     // total OnTool count
+	RuntimeSeconds float64 // wall-clock duration
+
+	// Token roll-ups (all default to 0 when token usage was not
+	// exposed by the provider).
+	InputTokens    int64
+	OutputTokens   int64
+	ThinkingTokens int64
+}
+
+// SkillRunLog is one event recorded during a run. EventType ∈
+// step|tool_call|tool_result|error. Payload is opaque JSON the writer
+// emits.
+type SkillRunLog struct {
+	RunID     string
+	Sequence  int
+	EventType string
+	Payload   map[string]any
+	CreatedAt time.Time
+}
+
+// RunFilter is the predicate bundle for the cross-surface "recent runs"
+// query (ListRunsFiltered / CountRunsFiltered). Every field is optional;
+// the zero value matches the most recent runs across ALL audited surfaces
+// (agents + skills). This powers the admin agent-trace debug view and the
+// Claude debug API's /runs list.
+//
+// Why a struct (vs positional args): the debug list filters along several
+// independent axes and more will be added; bundling avoids a positional
+// explosion and keeps call sites readable.
+type RunFilter struct {
+	Status    string // exact status match; "" = all (dry_run excluded unless IncludeDryRun)
+	SkillID   string // exact skill_id (holds the agent UUID for agent runs)
+	CallerID  string // exact caller (Discord member id)
+	ChannelID string // exact channel id
+
+	// TopLevelOnly restricts to root runs (parent_run_id = ''), hiding
+	// nested sub-agent / sub-skill runs from the firehose. The debug list
+	// defaults this on; an "include nested" toggle clears it.
+	TopLevelOnly bool
+
+	// IncludeDryRun surfaces status="dry_run" sandbox rows, which are
+	// excluded by default. Ignored when Status is set explicitly (an
+	// explicit Status=="dry_run" still matches).
+	IncludeDryRun bool
+
+	// Since / Until bound started_at: started_at >= Since (zero = no lower
+	// bound) and started_at < Until (zero = no upper bound).
+	Since time.Time
+	Until time.Time
+}
+
+// Storage is the persistence interface for skill runs and per-step logs.
+//
+// Why: tests substitute fake implementations; production wires
+// NewGormStorage. Keep the interface narrow — the system only needs CRUD
+// plus the retention prune helper.
+type Storage interface {
+	Initialize(ctx context.Context) error
+
+	// StartRun inserts the run with status=running. The caller MUST
+	// invoke FinishRun later (or the row stays in running indefinitely
+	// — operationally that signals a crash mid-run, which is useful
+	// signal).
+	StartRun(ctx context.Context, run SkillRun) error
+
+	// FinishRun updates the running row with terminal status, output
+	// and stats. Idempotent on second call (last write wins).
+	//
+	// V5: takes a RunStats struct so token + cost columns can be
+	// written alongside the legacy fields without changing the
+	// signature for every future addition.
+	FinishRun(ctx context.Context, runID string, stats RunStats) error
+
+	// AppendLog adds one event to the run's log. Sequence numbers must
+	// be unique per run; the writer is responsible for monotonic
+	// ordering.
+	AppendLog(ctx context.Context, log SkillRunLog) error
+
+	// GetRun returns the run summary, or ErrNotFound.
+	GetRun(ctx context.Context, runID string) (*SkillRun, error)
+
+	// ListLogsByRun returns all logs for a run in sequence order.
+	ListLogsByRun(ctx context.Context, runID string) ([]SkillRunLog, error)
+
+	// ListRunsBySkill returns recent runs for a skill, newest first,
+	// capped at limit. Excludes dry-run rows by default — use
+	// ListRunsBySkillPaginated with includeDryRun=true to see them.
+	ListRunsBySkill(ctx context.Context, skillID string, limit int) ([]SkillRun, error)
+
+	// ListRunsBySkillPaginated returns recent runs for a skill, newest
+	// first, with offset+limit. When includeDryRun is false, rows with
+	// status="dry_run" are excluded (matches the wizard's sandbox
+	// status; see skillaudit.Writer / wizardtools docs).
+	//
+	// Why a separate paginated method vs. expanding ListRunsBySkill:
+	// callers that need the legacy "last N" view (Discord .skill runs,
+	// chatbot tool result) want the simpler signature; the paginated
+	// view is webui-specific.
+	ListRunsBySkillPaginated(ctx context.Context, skillID string,
+		offset, limit int, includeDryRun bool) ([]SkillRun, error)
+
+	// CountRunsBySkill returns the total number of runs for a skill.
+	// When includeDryRun is false, dry-run rows are excluded so the
+	// count matches the default ListRunsBySkillPaginated result.
+	CountRunsBySkill(ctx context.Context, skillID string, includeDryRun bool) (int64, error)
+
+	// ListRunsByCaller returns recent runs by a caller, newest first,
+	// capped at limit.
+	ListRunsByCaller(ctx context.Context, callerID string, limit int) ([]SkillRun, error)
+
+	// ListRunsFiltered returns runs matching f, newest first
+	// (started_at DESC), with offset+limit. With an all-zero filter it
+	// returns the most recent runs across EVERY audited surface (agents +
+	// skills) — the cross-surface feed behind the admin agent-trace debug
+	// view and the Claude debug API. dry_run rows are excluded unless
+	// f.IncludeDryRun or f.Status=="dry_run". limit is clamped (<=0 or
+	// >500 → 50) to bound admin scans.
+	ListRunsFiltered(ctx context.Context, f RunFilter, offset, limit int) ([]SkillRun, error)
+
+	// CountRunsFiltered returns the total rows matching f (ignoring
+	// offset/limit), for pagination math.
+	CountRunsFiltered(ctx context.Context, f RunFilter) (int64, error)
+
+	// PurgeOlderThan deletes runs (and their logs) whose StartedAt is
+	// strictly before t. Returns the number of runs deleted.
+	PurgeOlderThan(ctx context.Context, t time.Time) (int64, error)
+
+	// ListChildrenByParent returns all SkillRun rows where
+	// parent_run_id == parentRunID, oldest first. Used for the
+	// call-tree view (skill_invoke trace section) and as a building
+	// block for WalkParentChain.
+	//
+	// Returns an empty slice when parentRunID has no children. An
+	// empty parentRunID never matches anything (no row stores ""
+	// as a parent — that's the top-level sentinel).
+	ListChildrenByParent(ctx context.Context, parentRunID string) ([]SkillRun, error)
+
+	// WalkParentChain walks from runID up via parent_run_id, returning
+	// the chain of SkillRun summaries (oldest = root first, newest =
+	// runID last). Used by the loop guard in skill_invoke.
+	//
+	// Cap walk depth at 32 to prevent pathological loops in the data
+	// itself: if the parent_run_id chain has been corrupted (e.g. by
+	// a bad migration) and forms a cycle, we want a bounded result
+	// rather than an infinite loop.
+	WalkParentChain(ctx context.Context, runID string) ([]SkillRun, error)
+
+	// ListFinishedRunsBefore returns runs whose FinishedAt is strictly
+	// before cutoff, oldest first, capped at limit. limit <= 0 yields
+	// no rows (the caller is expected to specify a real bound).
+	//
+	// Why: skills.StorageSweeper drives the run-scope storage purge from
+	// this query. The sweeper picks up only finished runs so an
+	// in-flight run's run-scope KV/files cannot be deleted out from
+	// under it.
+	//
+	// Test: storage_test.go covers the include/exclude boundaries
+	// (running rows excluded; finished-after-cutoff excluded; finished-
+	// before-cutoff included).
+	ListFinishedRunsBefore(ctx context.Context, cutoff time.Time, limit int) ([]SkillRun, error)
+
+	// LastRunBySkills returns the most recent StartedAt timestamp per
+	// skill in the input ID list. Skills with no rows simply have no
+	// entry in the result map (caller distinguishes "never run" from
+	// "run but no timestamp" by map key presence).
+	//
+	// When includeFailed is true, all non-dry-run statuses count
+	// (ok / error / timeout / budget_exceeded / preempted / lane_busy).
+	// When false, only status="ok" rows count — useful for "last
+	// successful run" semantics on dashboards where errored runs
+	// shouldn't surface as recent activity.
+	//
+	// Empty skillIDs short-circuits to an empty map without touching
+	// the DB.
+	LastRunBySkills(ctx context.Context, skillIDs []string, includeFailed bool) (map[string]time.Time, error)
+}
+
+// MaxParentChainDepth is the safety cap for WalkParentChain. The loop
+// guard in skill_invoke enforces a separate (smaller) MaxInvokeDepth
+// at the tool layer; this cap exists only to bound the walk in the
+// presence of corrupted data.
+const MaxParentChainDepth = 32

audit/writer.go

@@ -0,0 +1,359 @@
+package audit
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"fmt"
+	"log/slog"
+	"strings"
+	"sync"
+	"sync/atomic"
+	"time"
+
+	llm "gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/majordomo/llm"
+)
+
+// stepTextMax caps the per-step assistant-text preview persisted on a
+// "step" event. Large enough to capture the model's reasoning around a
+// (mis)fired tool call — the single best clue to WHY a model emitted a
+// malformed call — but bounded so the longtext payload can't balloon.
+const stepTextMax = 2000
+
+// Writer wraps a Storage with the OnStep / OnTool callbacks suitable for
+// wiring into the majordomo agent loop's step observer, tracking sequence
+// numbers and tool-call counts internally.
+//
+// Why: the agent loop's observer hooks are unaware of run identity; the
+// writer captures the runID + skill metadata at construction so the
+// per-event callbacks stay simple. AppendLog failures are logged but
+// never fatal — audit must not break user-visible execution.
+//
+// What: NewWriter(storage, runID) → use OnStep / OnTool / Close. Close
+// records the final FinishRun. The executors translate each agent.Step
+// into one OnStep call (1-indexed iteration, the step's *llm.Response)
+// plus one OnTool call per executed tool.
+//
+// Test: see writer_test.go for sequence ordering and finish semantics.
+type Writer struct {
+	storage  Storage
+	runID    string
+	sequence atomic.Int32
+	calls    atomic.Int32
+	mu       sync.Mutex // guards Close idempotency + token tally
+	closed   bool
+
+	// V5 token accumulator — summed across each OnStep's resp.Usage.
+	// Reads come from TokenStats() so the executor can pass them to
+	// FinishRun. atomics-on-Int64 would also work, but mu already
+	// guards Close + we need consistent multi-field reads anyway
+	// (input + output + thinking). The mutex hot-path overhead is
+	// negligible vs the LLM call latency that dominates step time.
+	inputTokens    int64
+	outputTokens   int64
+	thinkingTokens int64
+
+	// Per-step wall-clock + run-level model attribution (guarded by mu).
+	// startedAt anchors the first step's duration; lastStepAt is the
+	// previous step's observation time; resolvedModelLogged ensures the
+	// one-shot "resolved_model" run-level event fires at most once.
+	startedAt           time.Time
+	lastStepAt          time.Time
+	resolvedModelLogged bool
+}
+
+// NewWriter constructs a Writer. The caller is expected to have already
+// called Storage.StartRun.
+func NewWriter(storage Storage, runID string) *Writer {
+	return &Writer{storage: storage, runID: runID, startedAt: time.Now()}
+}
+
+// OnStep records one agent-loop step: a "step" event with the iteration
+// number and the response's text size.
+//
+// V5: also tallies per-step token usage. majordomo populates
+// resp.Usage when the provider reports it; for providers that don't,
+// the fields stay 0 and the tally stays at 0 — the formatter then
+// renders "—" rather than a misleading "$0.00".
+//
+// Why we tally here vs in the agent loop: the loop's Result.Usage is a
+// run total; the audit row needs the same numbers, but the writer also
+// serves the live RunState accessor mid-run, so a per-step running sum
+// is the right shape. Global usage attribution is handled by the llms
+// package's instrumented models — the writer tally is strictly the
+// per-run audit roll-up.
+func (w *Writer) OnStep(iter int, resp *llm.Response) {
+	if w == nil || w.storage == nil {
+		return
+	}
+	now := time.Now()
+	payload := map[string]any{"iter": iter}
+
+	w.mu.Lock()
+	// Per-step wall-clock: time since the previous observed step, or since
+	// run start for the first step. A long gap localises a slow/hung model
+	// call — the signal that was missing when an animate step-0 call hung
+	// ~5 min. NOTE: this is step-to-step wall time (model call + the prior
+	// step's tool execution), not pure model latency.
+	prev := w.lastStepAt
+	if prev.IsZero() {
+		prev = w.startedAt
+	}
+	if !prev.IsZero() {
+		payload["step_ms"] = now.Sub(prev).Milliseconds()
+	}
+	w.lastStepAt = now
+	if resp != nil {
+		w.inputTokens += int64(resp.Usage.InputTokens)
+		w.outputTokens += int64(resp.Usage.OutputTokens)
+		// Thinking/reasoning tokens are a first-class Usage field in
+		// majordomo (populated by the providers that report them).
+		w.thinkingTokens += int64(resp.Usage.ReasoningTokens)
+	}
+	// One-shot run-level served-model attribution: the FIRST step with a
+	// resolved model name emits a "resolved_model" event so a run that
+	// errors before producing a useful step still records which model
+	// served it. resp.Model is failover-aware ("provider/model-id" of the
+	// element that actually served), unlike the static configured head.
+	logResolvedModel := ""
+	if resp != nil && resp.Model != "" && !w.resolvedModelLogged {
+		w.resolvedModelLogged = true
+		logResolvedModel = resp.Model
+	}
+	w.mu.Unlock()
+
+	if resp != nil {
+		payload["text_len"] = len(resp.Text())
+		// Served model + why generation stopped — the two scalars that turn
+		// a "model misbehaved" guess into a fact. finish_reason on an
+		// empty-tool-call step disambiguates truncation (length) from a
+		// deliberate empty emission (tool_calls).
+		if resp.Model != "" {
+			payload["model"] = resp.Model
+		}
+		if resp.FinishReason != "" {
+			payload["finish_reason"] = string(resp.FinishReason)
+		}
+		// Per-step token breakdown (OnStep already reads these into the run
+		// total above; persisting the per-step slice costs nothing more).
+		payload["in_tokens"] = resp.Usage.InputTokens
+		payload["out_tokens"] = resp.Usage.OutputTokens
+		if resp.Usage.ReasoningTokens > 0 {
+			payload["thinking_tokens"] = resp.Usage.ReasoningTokens
+		}
+		if resp.Usage.CacheReadTokens > 0 {
+			payload["cache_read_tokens"] = resp.Usage.CacheReadTokens
+		}
+		// The model's own narration accompanying this step — the smoking gun
+		// for WHY a malformed tool call was emitted. Capped; suppressed when
+		// the step fired a secret-bearing tool (mcp_call/email_send/http_*)
+		// whose narration could echo the secret it's about to send.
+		if t := strings.TrimSpace(resp.Text()); t != "" {
+			if stepHasSecretTool(resp) {
+				payload["text_redacted"] = true
+			} else {
+				payload["text"] = truncate(t, stepTextMax)
+			}
+		}
+	} else {
+		payload["text_len"] = 0
+	}
+
+	w.appendLog("step", payload)
+
+	if logResolvedModel != "" {
+		w.appendLog("resolved_model", map[string]any{"model": logResolvedModel})
+	}
+}
+
+// stepHasSecretTool reports whether a step's response fired a tool whose
+// surrounding narration could leak a secret (MCP args, email body/
+// recipients, raw HTTP request). Mirrors the steps.go redaction list so
+// the audit trace never persists secret-adjacent assistant text.
+// isSecretTool reports whether a tool's arguments/results may carry secrets
+// (MCP args, email bodies/recipients, HTTP auth headers/bodies) and so must be
+// redacted from the persisted audit log. Single source of truth for both the
+// step-narration redaction and the OnTool arg/result redaction. NOTE: this is
+// a name-prefix allowlist — a NEW secret-bearing tool must be added here or its
+// args/results will be logged verbatim.
+func isSecretTool(name string) bool {
+	switch name {
+	case "mcp_call", "email_send":
+		return true
+	}
+	return strings.HasPrefix(name, "http_")
+}
+
+func stepHasSecretTool(resp *llm.Response) bool {
+	if resp == nil {
+		return false
+	}
+	for _, c := range resp.ToolCalls {
+		if isSecretTool(c.Name) {
+			return true
+		}
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
+// TokenStats returns the running totals tallied from OnStep.
+// Safe to call concurrently. Returned values are a snapshot at call
+// time. Used by the executors to populate RunStats before Close
+// finalises the audit row.
+//
+// Why: the executor needs the totals AND a model name to compute cost,
+// but cost calculation is a different concern from audit persistence.
+// Exposing this getter lets the cost calculation live in the executor
+// where the model is known.
+func (w *Writer) TokenStats() (input, output, thinking int64) {
+	if w == nil {
+		return 0, 0, 0
+	}
+	w.mu.Lock()
+	defer w.mu.Unlock()
+	return w.inputTokens, w.outputTokens, w.thinkingTokens
+}
+
+// OnTool records a "tool_call" event with the tool name and a
+// "tool_result" event with the result length. Tool count is incremented
+// for each call. The executors call this once per executed tool call
+// from their step observers (call + matching result content).
+func (w *Writer) OnTool(call llm.ToolCall, result string) {
+	if w == nil || w.storage == nil {
+		return
+	}
+	w.calls.Add(1)
+	// Redact the args/result of secret-bearing tools — these fields actually
+	// CARRY the secret (MCP args, email body/recipients, HTTP auth/body), so
+	// logging them verbatim would defeat the OnStep narration redaction.
+	if isSecretTool(call.Name) {
+		w.appendLog("tool_call", map[string]any{
+			"name":          call.Name,
+			"id":            call.ID,
+			"args_redacted": true,
+			"args_len":      len(call.Arguments),
+		})
+		w.appendLog("tool_result", map[string]any{
+			"name":            call.Name,
+			"id":              call.ID,
+			"result_redacted": true,
+			"result_len":      len(result),
+		})
+		return
+	}
+	w.appendLog("tool_call", map[string]any{
+		"name": call.Name,
+		"args": string(call.Arguments),
+		"id":   call.ID,
+	})
+	w.appendLog("tool_result", map[string]any{
+		"name":      call.Name,
+		"id":        call.ID,
+		"result":    truncate(result, 4000),
+		"truncated": len(result) > 4000,
+	})
+}
+
+// LogEvent records a custom event mid-run. The executor uses this for
+// diagnostic events (e.g. "compaction_setup" / "compaction_fired")
+// outside the canonical step / tool_call / tool_result / error set.
+// Nil-safe: no-op when receiver or storage is nil.
+//
+// Why: skill_run_logs is the only sink Steve can read from SQL, so
+// diagnostics intended for post-hoc debugging belong here. slog goes
+// to mort.log which is harder to reach from outside the host.
+func (w *Writer) LogEvent(eventType string, payload map[string]any) {
+	if w == nil || w.storage == nil {
+		return
+	}
+	w.appendLog(eventType, payload)
+}
+
+// LogError records an "error" event mid-run. Distinct from the terminal
+// status set by Close.
+func (w *Writer) LogError(msg string) {
+	if w == nil || w.storage == nil {
+		return
+	}
+	w.appendLog("error", map[string]any{"message": msg})
+}
+
+// Close finishes the run. The caller assembles a RunStats; the writer
+// fills in ToolCalls (which is bookkept on the writer itself) and
+// hands the full record to FinishRun.
+//
+// Idempotent: subsequent calls are no-ops.
+//
+// Why a struct vs the old positional form: v5 adds four token + cost
+// fields on top of the legacy six. The struct keeps call sites readable
+// and lets future fields slot in without churning every caller.
+//
+// Why context.WithoutCancel: the run's terminal status MUST land in
+// the audit row regardless of the run ctx's state. Pre-fix, child
+// skill runs invoked via skill_invoke / skill_invoke_parallel inherited
+// the parent agent's runCtx as their outer ctx; when the parent
+// timed out at MaxRuntime, every in-flight child's FinishRun fired
+// with that already-cancelled ctx and the row was left in
+// status=running forever. Detaching here is defence in depth — the
+// caller (skillexec.runInner / agentexec.runInner) ALSO detaches at
+// the call site, but a cancelled ctx in the writer's hands MUST NOT
+// drop the audit write. The short timeout (auditFinishTimeout) bounds
+// the write so a hung DB doesn't pin the run goroutine indefinitely.
+func (w *Writer) Close(ctx context.Context, stats RunStats) {
+	if w == nil || w.storage == nil {
+		return
+	}
+	w.mu.Lock()
+	defer w.mu.Unlock()
+	if w.closed {
+		return
+	}
+	w.closed = true
+	stats.ToolCalls = int(w.calls.Load())
+	// Detach from the caller's deadline + cancellation. Run cleanup
+	// must complete even when the run ctx is dead. The fresh
+	// auditFinishTimeout caps how long we'll wait on the storage.
+	finishCtx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.WithoutCancel(ctx), auditFinishTimeout)
+	defer cancel()
+	if err := w.storage.FinishRun(finishCtx, w.runID, stats); err != nil {
+		slog.Warn("skillaudit: FinishRun failed", "run_id", w.runID, "error", err)
+	}
+}
+
+// auditFinishTimeout caps how long Close will wait on the storage's
+// FinishRun call after detaching from the caller's ctx. 10s is generous
+// for a single-row UPDATE against MySQL — anything longer suggests a
+// hung connection that the run goroutine shouldn't keep waiting on.
+const auditFinishTimeout = 10 * time.Second
+
+// auditAppendTimeout bounds each per-event AppendLog on the hot path so a hung
+// storage backend can't block the run goroutine.
+const auditAppendTimeout = 3 * time.Second
+
+// ToolCallsCount returns how many tool invocations OnTool has seen so
+// far. Useful for budget enforcement.
+func (w *Writer) ToolCallsCount() int { return int(w.calls.Load()) }
+
+func (w *Writer) appendLog(eventType string, payload map[string]any) {
+	seq := int(w.sequence.Add(1))
+	log := SkillRunLog{
+		RunID:     w.runID,
+		Sequence:  seq,
+		EventType: eventType,
+		Payload:   payload,
+		CreatedAt: time.Now(),
+	}
+	// Bound the write: a hung storage backend must not block the run goroutine
+	// on the hot path (every step/tool event flows through here). Detached from
+	// any caller deadline — the log write is independent of the run's context.
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), auditAppendTimeout)
+	defer cancel()
+	if err := w.storage.AppendLog(ctx, log); err != nil {
+		slog.Warn("skillaudit: AppendLog failed", "run_id", w.runID, "seq", seq, "type", eventType, "error", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func truncate(s string, max int) string {
+	if len(s) <= max {
+		return s
+	}
+	return s[:max] + fmt.Sprintf("…[+%d bytes]", len(s)-max)
+}

budget/budget.go

@@ -0,0 +1,169 @@
+// Package budget gates and meters per-caller resource use over a rolling
+// 7-day window (run.Ports.Budget). DBBudget is the durable tracker; NoOpBudget
+// disables metering; the BudgetStorage seam backs it (Memory / contrib SQLite).
+// loop (gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/majordomo/agent).
+//
+// Why: a Skill is data; the executor turns data into a running agent
+// (resolve model, build toolbox, start audit, run the agent loop,
+// finish audit, deliver).
+package budget
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"log/slog"
+	"time"
+)
+
+// BudgetTracker enforces per-user GPU budgets in v2. v1 ships
+// NoOpBudget which always allows. The interface exists now so the v2
+// migration is a single line in the executor.
+//
+// Why interface now: the executor's Check/Commit calls would need to
+// be added in v2 anyway; doing it now means v2 only swaps NoOp for
+// DBBudget without touching call sites.
+type BudgetTracker interface {
+	// Check reports whether the caller has remaining budget. Returns
+	// nil for "yes" or an error describing the exhaustion.
+	Check(ctx context.Context, callerID string) error
+
+	// Commit records that the caller spent runtimeSeconds of budget on
+	// this run. Called after the agent completes (success or error).
+	Commit(ctx context.Context, callerID string, runtimeSeconds float64)
+}
+
+// NoOpBudget always allows and never records. v1 default.
+type NoOpBudget struct{}
+
+// NewNoOpBudget constructs the no-op tracker.
+func NewNoOpBudget() BudgetTracker { return NoOpBudget{} }
+
+// Check always returns nil.
+func (NoOpBudget) Check(_ context.Context, _ string) error { return nil }
+
+// Commit is a no-op.
+func (NoOpBudget) Commit(_ context.Context, _ string, _ float64) {}
+
+// ErrBudgetExceeded is returned by DBBudget.Check when the caller's
+// 7-day rolling window has hit the convar-configured cap.
+//
+// Why a sentinel: callers (executor, audit writer) need to distinguish
+// budget rejection from generic errors so they can record
+// status="budget_exceeded" instead of "error" and skip user-visible
+// delivery side-effects.
+var ErrBudgetExceeded = errors.New("weekly skill budget exceeded")
+
+// BudgetNotifier is the optional callback DBBudget invokes when a
+// Check rejects a caller. Production wires a Discord-DM hook so the
+// user knows why their skill failed; tests inject a recorder.
+//
+// nil is allowed and is silently skipped.
+type BudgetNotifier func(ctx context.Context, userID string, secondsUsed, cap float64)
+
+// DBBudget enforces per-user weekly GPU budgets via the BudgetStorage
+// interface. The "weekly" cap is a rolling 7-day window — see
+// SkillBudget for the rollover semantics.
+//
+// Why a closure for the limit instead of an int field: the cap comes
+// from a runtime convar. Reading it on every Check means a `.convar
+// set skills.user_budget_seconds_per_week 7200` takes effect on the
+// next call without restarting the bot or rewiring the executor.
+type DBBudget struct {
+	storage BudgetStorage
+	// weeklyLimit returns the current cap in seconds. Reads convar at
+	// every Check so a runtime convar bump takes effect on the next
+	// call.
+	weeklyLimit func() float64
+
+	// notify is called when a Check rejects a caller. Optional —
+	// production wires a Discord-DM hook so the user knows why their
+	// skill failed. nil-safe.
+	notify BudgetNotifier
+
+	// now is the time source. Test injects a fake clock; production
+	// uses time.Now.
+	now func() time.Time
+}
+
+// NewDBBudget constructs a DBBudget. now may be nil — defaults to
+// time.Now.
+//
+// Why time injection: budget rollover is time-sensitive; tests need to
+// fast-forward past the 7-day boundary deterministically. now=nil
+// means production callers (mort.go) don't have to think about it.
+//
+// Test: pass a closure that returns a fixed instant; assert rollover
+// only happens when (now - WindowStart) >= 7 days.
+func NewDBBudget(storage BudgetStorage, weeklyLimit func() float64, notify BudgetNotifier, now func() time.Time) *DBBudget {
+	if now == nil {
+		now = time.Now
+	}
+	return &DBBudget{
+		storage:     storage,
+		weeklyLimit: weeklyLimit,
+		notify:      notify,
+		now:         now,
+	}
+}
+
+// Check returns ErrBudgetExceeded if the caller has spent at least
+// weeklyLimit seconds in the current rolling 7-day window.
+//
+// Why anonymous callerID="" is unbudgeted: scheduler-driven and
+// system-initiated runs don't have a Discord user to bill; charging
+// "system" would conflate them with a real user. The scheduler sets
+// CallerID to the skill owner where applicable, so cron-loop
+// abusiveness still consumes the owner's budget.
+//
+// Why cap<=0 means "disabled": operator wants a runtime kill-switch.
+// Setting the convar to "0" turns enforcement off without restart.
+//
+// Test: Get returns nil → Check returns nil; Get returns row with
+// SecondsUsed >= cap → Check returns ErrBudgetExceeded and notify is
+// invoked; window expired (>=7d) → Check returns nil regardless of
+// SecondsUsed.
+func (b *DBBudget) Check(ctx context.Context, callerID string) error {
+	if callerID == "" {
+		return nil
+	}
+	bud, err := b.storage.Get(ctx, callerID)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("budget: %w", err)
+	}
+	if bud != nil {
+		if b.now().Sub(bud.WindowStart) < budgetWindow {
+			cap := b.weeklyLimit()
+			if cap > 0 && bud.SecondsUsed >= cap {
+				if b.notify != nil {
+					b.notify(ctx, callerID, bud.SecondsUsed, cap)
+				}
+				return ErrBudgetExceeded
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+// Commit records the run's runtime against the caller's budget.
+// Failures are logged but never returned — budget accounting must
+// not break user-visible execution.
+//
+// Why callerID="" is a no-op: matches Check's anonymous-caller
+// shortcut; system runs don't get billed.
+//
+// Why runtimeSeconds<=0 is a no-op: a run that errored before
+// resolving a model has wallSecs near 0 in floating-point terms but
+// can also be exactly 0 (synthetic test fixtures). Skipping avoids
+// spurious 0-runs rows from short-lived failures.
+//
+// Test: Commit(50) → Get reports SecondsUsed=50; storage failure
+// surfaces only as a slog.Warn (no panic, no return).
+func (b *DBBudget) Commit(ctx context.Context, callerID string, runtimeSeconds float64) {
+	if callerID == "" || runtimeSeconds <= 0 {
+		return
+	}
+	if err := b.storage.Add(ctx, callerID, runtimeSeconds, b.now()); err != nil {
+		slog.Warn("skills budget: commit failed", "user", callerID, "error", err)
+	}
+}

budget/budget_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+package budget
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+)
+
+func TestDBBudgetRollingWindow(t *testing.T) {
+	ctx := context.Background()
+	mem := NewMemory()
+	now := time.Now()
+	clock := func() time.Time { return now }
+	b := NewDBBudget(mem, func() float64 { return 100 }, nil, clock)
+
+	// Under cap: allowed.
+	if err := b.Check(ctx, "u"); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("fresh caller should pass: %v", err)
+	}
+	b.Commit(ctx, "u", 60)
+	if err := b.Check(ctx, "u"); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("60/100 should pass: %v", err)
+	}
+	// Over cap: rejected.
+	b.Commit(ctx, "u", 50) // 110 total
+	if err := b.Check(ctx, "u"); !errors.Is(err, ErrBudgetExceeded) {
+		t.Fatalf("110/100 should be ErrBudgetExceeded, got %v", err)
+	}
+	// Window rolls over after 7 days: allowed again.
+	now = now.Add(8 * 24 * time.Hour)
+	b.Commit(ctx, "u", 1) // triggers rollover inside Add
+	if err := b.Check(ctx, "u"); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("after window rollover should pass: %v", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestNoOpBudgetAlwaysAllows(t *testing.T) {
+	b := NewNoOpBudget()
+	if err := b.Check(context.Background(), "anyone"); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("NoOp must always allow: %v", err)
+	}
+	b.Commit(context.Background(), "anyone", 1e9) // no-op
+}

budget/memory.go

@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+package budget
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"sync"
+	"time"
+)
+
+// Memory is a zero-dependency in-process BudgetStorage: per-user rolling-window
+// usage held in memory (lost on restart). The default behind DBBudget for a
+// light host or tests; mort uses its GORM Storage, contrib/store adds SQLite.
+type Memory struct {
+	mu   sync.RWMutex
+	rows map[string]*SkillBudget
+}
+
+// NewMemory returns an empty in-memory BudgetStorage.
+func NewMemory() *Memory { return &Memory{rows: map[string]*SkillBudget{}} }
+
+var _ BudgetStorage = (*Memory)(nil)
+
+func (m *Memory) Initialize(context.Context) error { return nil }
+
+func (m *Memory) Get(_ context.Context, userID string) (*SkillBudget, error) {
+	m.mu.RLock()
+	defer m.mu.RUnlock()
+	r, ok := m.rows[userID]
+	if !ok {
+		return nil, nil
+	}
+	cp := *r // copy out so callers can't mutate our row
+	return &cp, nil
+}
+
+func (m *Memory) Add(_ context.Context, userID string, secondsUsed float64, now time.Time) error {
+	m.mu.Lock()
+	defer m.mu.Unlock()
+	r, ok := m.rows[userID]
+	if !ok {
+		m.rows[userID] = &SkillBudget{
+			UserID: userID, WindowStart: now,
+			SecondsUsed: secondsUsed, RunsCount: 1, UpdatedAt: now,
+		}
+		return nil
+	}
+	// Roll the window over if it's older than the window length.
+	if now.Sub(r.WindowStart) >= budgetWindow {
+		r.WindowStart = now
+		r.SecondsUsed = 0
+		r.RunsCount = 0
+	}
+	r.SecondsUsed += secondsUsed
+	r.RunsCount++
+	r.UpdatedAt = now
+	return nil
+}

budget/run.go

@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+package budget
+
+import "gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/executus/run"
+
+// The budget trackers plug directly into run.Ports.Budget (Check/Commit match).
+var (
+	_ run.Budget = NoOpBudget{}
+	_ run.Budget = (*DBBudget)(nil)
+)

budget/storage.go

@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+package budget
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"time"
+)
+
+// BudgetStorage is the persistence seam behind DBBudget: one budget row per
+// user, with an atomic Add that rolls the 7-day window over transparently. Mort
+// backs this with GORM/MySQL (the skill_budgets table); Memory() is the
+// zero-dependency default; contrib/store adds a durable SQLite one.
+type BudgetStorage interface {
+	// Initialize runs any schema setup. Safe to call repeatedly.
+	Initialize(ctx context.Context) error
+	// Get returns the user's current budget row, or (nil, nil) if none exists.
+	Get(ctx context.Context, userID string) (*SkillBudget, error)
+	// Add increments seconds_used + runs_count atomically, rolling the window
+	// over when WindowStart is older than 7 days (reset to now, fresh count).
+	// Creates the row if absent.
+	Add(ctx context.Context, userID string, secondsUsed float64, now time.Time) error
+}
+
+// SkillBudget is one user's rolling-window usage row.
+type SkillBudget struct {
+	UserID      string
+	WindowStart time.Time
+	SecondsUsed float64
+	RunsCount   int
+	UpdatedAt   time.Time
+}
+
+// budgetWindow is the rolling window length the storage rolls over at.
+const budgetWindow = 7 * 24 * time.Hour

checkpoint/checkpoint.go

@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+// Package checkpoint is the durable-resume battery: it persists a run's
+// resumable progress so a run interrupted by a shutdown can be recovered and
+// continued on the next boot, rather than silently lost. It plugs into
+// run.Ports.Checkpointer.
+//
+// Mort backs CheckpointStore with its durable-job table; Memory() is the
+// zero-dependency default; contrib/store can add a SQLite one. The executor calls
+// run.Ports.Checkpointer (a CheckpointerFactory) during the run loop; NewFactory
+// wires this battery into that seam.
+package checkpoint
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"time"
+
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/majordomo/llm"
+
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/executus/run"
+)
+
+// RunCheckpointMeta is the run attribution needed to resume a run from scratch
+// (mirrors mort's agentexec.RunCheckpointMeta).
+type RunCheckpointMeta struct {
+	RunID       string
+	AgentID     string
+	AgentName   string
+	CallerID    string
+	ChannelID   string
+	GuildID     string
+	Prompt      string
+	ModelTier   string
+	ParentRunID string
+}
+
+// RunCheckpoint is one persisted snapshot of a run's resumable progress.
+type RunCheckpoint struct {
+	Meta            RunCheckpointMeta
+	Messages        []llm.Message     // conversation so far (single-loop runs)
+	Iteration       int               // completed agent-loop iterations
+	CompletedPhases []run.PhaseOutput // finished phases, in order (multi-phase agents)
+	UpdatedAt       time.Time
+}
+
+// CheckpointStore persists run checkpoints keyed by run id. A live checkpoint
+// means "this run was in flight and not cleanly finished"; Complete/Fail delete
+// it. ListInterrupted returns every surviving checkpoint at boot for recovery.
+type CheckpointStore interface {
+	Save(ctx context.Context, cp RunCheckpoint) error
+	Load(ctx context.Context, runID string) (*RunCheckpoint, error)
+	Delete(ctx context.Context, runID string) error
+	ListInterrupted(ctx context.Context) ([]RunCheckpoint, error)
+}

checkpoint/checkpoint_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+package checkpoint
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/executus/run"
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/majordomo/llm"
+)
+
+func TestHandleSaveCompleteDelete(t *testing.T) {
+	ctx := context.Background()
+	mem := NewMemory()
+	meta := RunCheckpointMeta{RunID: "r1", AgentID: "a1", CallerID: "c1"}
+	cp := New(mem, meta, 0, nil) // throttle 0 = save every call
+
+	if err := cp.Save(ctx, run.RunCheckpointState{Messages: []llm.Message{{Role: "user"}}, Iteration: 2}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	got, _ := mem.Load(ctx, "r1")
+	if got == nil || got.Iteration != 2 || got.Meta.AgentID != "a1" {
+		t.Fatalf("checkpoint not persisted: %+v", got)
+	}
+	if il, _ := mem.ListInterrupted(ctx); len(il) != 1 {
+		t.Errorf("ListInterrupted = %d, want 1 (in-flight)", len(il))
+	}
+	// Complete clears it (no longer a recovery candidate).
+	if err := cp.Complete(ctx); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if il, _ := mem.ListInterrupted(ctx); len(il) != 0 {
+		t.Errorf("after Complete, ListInterrupted = %d, want 0", len(il))
+	}
+}
+
+func TestHandleThrottle(t *testing.T) {
+	ctx := context.Background()
+	mem := NewMemory()
+	now := time.Now()
+	cp := New(mem, RunCheckpointMeta{RunID: "r"}, time.Minute, func() time.Time { return now })
+
+	cp.Save(ctx, run.RunCheckpointState{Iteration: 1})
+	now = now.Add(10 * time.Second) // within throttle window
+	cp.Save(ctx, run.RunCheckpointState{Iteration: 2})
+	if got, _ := mem.Load(ctx, "r"); got.Iteration != 1 {
+		t.Errorf("throttled save should keep iteration 1, got %d", got.Iteration)
+	}
+	now = now.Add(time.Minute) // past throttle
+	cp.Save(ctx, run.RunCheckpointState{Iteration: 3})
+	if got, _ := mem.Load(ctx, "r"); got.Iteration != 3 {
+		t.Errorf("post-throttle save should land iteration 3, got %d", got.Iteration)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestNilStoreNoop(t *testing.T) {
+	cp := New(nil, RunCheckpointMeta{RunID: "r"}, 0, nil)
+	if err := cp.Save(context.Background(), run.RunCheckpointState{}); err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("nil-store Save should be a no-op, got %v", err)
+	}
+	if err := cp.Complete(context.Background()); err != nil {
+		t.Error(err)
+	}
+}

checkpoint/handle.go

@@ -0,0 +1,121 @@
+package checkpoint
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"sync"
+	"time"
+
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/executus/run"
+)
+
+// handle is a per-run run.Checkpointer bound to one run's id + meta. Save writes
+// a fresh snapshot (throttled), Complete/Fail delete the checkpoint (a cleanly
+// finished or terminally failed run is NOT a recovery candidate). A run
+// interrupted by shutdown never calls Complete/Fail, so its checkpoint survives
+// for ListInterrupted at boot.
+type handle struct {
+	store    CheckpointStore
+	meta     RunCheckpointMeta
+	throttle time.Duration
+	now      func() time.Time
+
+	mu       sync.Mutex
+	lastSave time.Time
+}
+
+var _ run.Checkpointer = (*handle)(nil)
+
+// New returns a run.Checkpointer that persists snapshots of the run identified
+// by meta.RunID to store, no more often than throttle (Save calls inside the
+// window are skipped). A nil store yields a no-op Checkpointer. throttle <= 0
+// saves every call; now defaults to time.Now.
+func New(store CheckpointStore, meta RunCheckpointMeta, throttle time.Duration, now func() time.Time) run.Checkpointer {
+	if store == nil {
+		return noop{}
+	}
+	if now == nil {
+		now = time.Now
+	}
+	return &handle{store: store, meta: meta, throttle: throttle, now: now}
+}
+
+func (h *handle) Save(ctx context.Context, st run.RunCheckpointState) error {
+	h.mu.Lock()
+	now := h.now()
+	if h.throttle > 0 && !h.lastSave.IsZero() && now.Sub(h.lastSave) < h.throttle {
+		h.mu.Unlock()
+		return nil // throttled — a more recent snapshot will land shortly
+	}
+	h.mu.Unlock()
+
+	// Advance the throttle clock only AFTER a successful persist. If the store
+	// write fails, lastSave stays put so the next Save isn't throttled away —
+	// otherwise a transient store error would silently drop the snapshot the
+	// caller believes was saved. (A run drives one Save goroutine, so the brief
+	// unguarded window here can't double-write.)
+	if err := h.store.Save(ctx, RunCheckpoint{
+		Meta:            h.meta,
+		Messages:        st.Messages,
+		Iteration:       st.Iteration,
+		CompletedPhases: st.CompletedPhases,
+		UpdatedAt:       now,
+	}); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	h.mu.Lock()
+	if now.After(h.lastSave) {
+		h.lastSave = now
+	}
+	h.mu.Unlock()
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (h *handle) Complete(ctx context.Context) error { return h.store.Delete(ctx, h.meta.RunID) }
+
+func (h *handle) Fail(ctx context.Context, _ error) error { return h.store.Delete(ctx, h.meta.RunID) }
+
+// noop is the nil-store Checkpointer: every method is a successful no-op.
+type noop struct{}
+
+var _ run.Checkpointer = noop{}
+
+func (noop) Save(context.Context, run.RunCheckpointState) error { return nil }
+func (noop) Complete(context.Context) error                     { return nil }
+func (noop) Fail(context.Context, error) error                  { return nil }
+
+// factory is a run.CheckpointerFactory that mints a per-run handle over store,
+// deriving the per-run meta from the kernel's RunInfo. It is the battery's glue
+// for the Ports.Checkpointer (factory) seam: every run becomes durable (the
+// store persists snapshots; a host wanting lazy/short-run skipping uses its own
+// factory, as mort does over its durable-job table).
+type factory struct {
+	store    CheckpointStore
+	throttle time.Duration
+}
+
+var _ run.CheckpointerFactory = (*factory)(nil)
+
+// NewFactory returns a run.CheckpointerFactory backed by store: each run gets a
+// per-run Checkpointer (throttled to at most once per throttle). A nil store
+// yields factory.Begin returning a no-op Checkpointer.
+func NewFactory(store CheckpointStore, throttle time.Duration) run.CheckpointerFactory {
+	return &factory{store: store, throttle: throttle}
+}
+
+// Begin mints the per-run Checkpointer. The prompt is read from
+// info.Inputs["prompt"] when present so a recovered run can re-dispatch.
+func (f *factory) Begin(_ context.Context, info run.RunInfo) (run.Checkpointer, error) {
+	prompt, _ := info.Inputs["prompt"].(string)
+	meta := RunCheckpointMeta{
+		RunID:       info.RunID,
+		AgentID:     info.SubjectID,
+		AgentName:   info.Name,
+		CallerID:    info.CallerID,
+		ChannelID:   info.ChannelID,
+		GuildID:     info.GuildID,
+		Prompt:      prompt,
+		ModelTier:   info.ModelTier,
+		ParentRunID: info.ParentRunID,
+	}
+	return New(f.store, meta, f.throttle, nil /* now defaults to time.Now */), nil
+}

checkpoint/memory.go

@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+package checkpoint
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"sync"
+)
+
+// Memory is a zero-dependency in-process CheckpointStore. NOTE: an in-memory
+// checkpoint store does NOT survive the process restart it exists to recover
+// from — it is the test/light-host default and makes ListInterrupted meaningful
+// only within a single process lifetime. A host that wants real
+// crash-recovery wires a durable CheckpointStore (mort's durable-job table).
+type Memory struct {
+	mu  sync.RWMutex
+	cps map[string]RunCheckpoint // by run id
+}
+
+// NewMemory returns an empty in-memory CheckpointStore.
+func NewMemory() *Memory { return &Memory{cps: map[string]RunCheckpoint{}} }
+
+var _ CheckpointStore = (*Memory)(nil)
+
+func (m *Memory) Save(_ context.Context, cp RunCheckpoint) error {
+	m.mu.Lock()
+	defer m.mu.Unlock()
+	m.cps[cp.Meta.RunID] = cp
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (m *Memory) Load(_ context.Context, runID string) (*RunCheckpoint, error) {
+	m.mu.RLock()
+	defer m.mu.RUnlock()
+	cp, ok := m.cps[runID]
+	if !ok {
+		return nil, nil // no checkpoint (not an error — the run finished cleanly or never started)
+	}
+	return &cp, nil
+}
+
+func (m *Memory) Delete(_ context.Context, runID string) error {
+	m.mu.Lock()
+	defer m.mu.Unlock()
+	delete(m.cps, runID)
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (m *Memory) ListInterrupted(_ context.Context) ([]RunCheckpoint, error) {
+	m.mu.RLock()
+	defer m.mu.RUnlock()
+	out := make([]RunCheckpoint, 0, len(m.cps))
+	for _, cp := range m.cps {
+		out = append(out, cp)
+	}
+	return out, nil
+}

compact/compactor.go

@@ -0,0 +1,369 @@
+// V15.2 context compactor (re-based on majordomo).
+//
+// Why: the agent loop accumulates tool results indefinitely. A
+// research-heavy run with many web_search / read_page / http_get
+// results easily crosses 200K tokens and trips the model's HTTP-400
+// "prompt too long" rejection mid-run (observed at 410K tokens on
+// qwen3-coder:480b which has a 262K cap). majordomo's agent loop calls
+// the compactor with the full message slice before every model call;
+// the compactor returns a shorter slice that preserves the system
+// prompt + recent messages, with the middle range replaced by a
+// synthetic summary.
+//
+// Strategy (unchanged from the agentkit era):
+//   - Keep any leading system message verbatim. (Under majordomo the
+//     system prompt normally travels in Request.System, not in the
+//     message slice, so this is defensive.)
+//   - Keep the last KeepRecent messages verbatim. This ensures the
+//     agent has fresh tool state to act on; compacting too aggressively
+//     would strip the in-flight context it needs to make the next
+//     decision.
+//   - Compress the middle range via a single fast-tier LLM call that
+//     receives the middle messages as raw text and produces a paragraph
+//     summary (URLs visited, key findings, file_ids created, what the
+//     agent is trying to accomplish).
+//   - Replace the middle range with one synthetic user-role message
+//     containing the summary. (user-role chosen because tool-result-role
+//     would be ambiguous without a matching tool_call_id.)
+//
+// What moved in the majordomo conversion:
+//   - The token-threshold gate lives HERE now. agentkit estimated
+//     tokens and only invoked the compactor past a configured
+//     threshold; majordomo's hook fires before every model call, so
+//     the threshold check (estimateTokens vs the per-run threshold the
+//     executor computes from the model's context limit) is the
+//     compactor's first step.
+//   - The compactor is per-run STATEFUL: majordomo does not replace
+//     the loop's internal transcript with the compacted slice (the
+//     hook shapes only what is SENT), so without memory the middle
+//     would be re-summarised from scratch on every step past the
+//     threshold. The state remembers how far the transcript has been
+//     folded into the running summary and folds the previous summary
+//     into the next one instead of re-paying for it.
+//
+// Failure path: any error (LLM unavailable, malformed response, etc.)
+// is returned to the agent loop, which treats compactor errors as
+// non-fatal and sends the original slice — if the next model call hits
+// the provider's limit, the existing HTTP-400 error path takes over.
+
+package compact
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"strings"
+	"sync"
+
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/majordomo/llm"
+)
+
+// ModelResolver resolves a tier/spec to a usable llm.Model (and an enriched
+// context for usage attribution). model.ParseModelForContext satisfies it.
+type ModelResolver func(ctx context.Context, tier string) (context.Context, llm.Model, error)
+
+// Compactor is the per-run compaction hook handed to the agent loop
+// (matches the signature agent.WithCompactor expects).
+type Compactor = func(ctx context.Context, msgs []llm.Message) ([]llm.Message, error)
+
+// CompactionEvent describes one fired compaction so the executor can
+// log it to skill_run_logs ("compaction_fired").
+type CompactionEvent struct {
+	// MessagesBefore/After count the messages that would have been
+	// sent without/with this compaction.
+	MessagesBefore int
+	MessagesAfter  int
+	// TokensBefore/After are the estimateTokens values for the same
+	// two slices.
+	TokensBefore int
+	TokensAfter  int
+}
+
+// CompactorFactory mints a fresh per-run Compactor bound to a token
+// threshold. onFire (nil-safe) observes every compaction that actually
+// fires. A non-positive threshold yields a pass-through compactor.
+type CompactorFactory func(thresholdTokens int, onFire func(CompactionEvent)) Compactor
+
+// CompactorConfig controls the v15.2 compactor's behaviour. Construct
+// in mort.go from convars + the executor's ModelResolver.
+type CompactorConfig struct {
+	// Models resolves a model spec (typically "fast" or a specific tier)
+	// to an llm.Model. Required; nil disables compaction.
+	Models ModelResolver
+
+	// SummarizerTier is the model tier used for the compression LLM call.
+	// Production default "fast"; an admin may set "haiku" or a specific
+	// model spec. Empty falls back to "fast".
+	SummarizerTier string
+
+	// KeepRecent is the number of trailing messages preserved verbatim.
+	// Default 8. Lower values compact more aggressively (the next loop
+	// iteration sees less recent context); higher values keep more.
+	KeepRecent int
+
+	// SummaryWordCap bounds the LLM-generated summary length. Default
+	// 200 words ≈ 800 chars ≈ 200 tokens — small enough that the
+	// compaction always shrinks the slice meaningfully.
+	SummaryWordCap int
+}
+
+// NewCompactor returns a CompactorFactory implementing the middle-range
+// summarisation strategy. nil cfg.Models returns a factory of no-op
+// compactors that always return the input unchanged (degrades to
+// v15.1 behaviour).
+func NewCompactor(cfg CompactorConfig) CompactorFactory {
+	if cfg.Models == nil {
+		return func(int, func(CompactionEvent)) Compactor {
+			return func(_ context.Context, msgs []llm.Message) ([]llm.Message, error) {
+				return msgs, nil
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	if cfg.SummarizerTier == "" {
+		cfg.SummarizerTier = "fast"
+	}
+	if cfg.KeepRecent <= 0 {
+		cfg.KeepRecent = 8
+	}
+	if cfg.SummaryWordCap <= 0 {
+		cfg.SummaryWordCap = 200
+	}
+	return func(threshold int, onFire func(CompactionEvent)) Compactor {
+		st := &compactionState{}
+		return func(ctx context.Context, msgs []llm.Message) ([]llm.Message, error) {
+			return compactIfNeeded(ctx, cfg, st, threshold, onFire, msgs)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// compactionState is the per-run fold memory: msgs[:prefixEnd]
+// (excluding a leading system message) are represented by summaryText
+// in the rendered slice. Guarded by mu for safety although the agent
+// loop invokes the hook from a single goroutine.
+type compactionState struct {
+	mu          sync.Mutex
+	prefixEnd   int
+	summaryText string
+}
+
+// compactIfNeeded is the workhorse: render the transcript with any
+// existing fold applied, check the threshold, and fold more of the
+// middle into the summary when the rendered size still exceeds it.
+func compactIfNeeded(ctx context.Context, cfg CompactorConfig, st *compactionState,
+	threshold int, onFire func(CompactionEvent), msgs []llm.Message) ([]llm.Message, error) {
+	st.mu.Lock()
+	defer st.mu.Unlock()
+
+	rendered := renderCompacted(st, msgs)
+	if threshold <= 0 {
+		return rendered, nil
+	}
+	tokensBefore := estimateTokens(rendered)
+	if tokensBefore < threshold {
+		return rendered, nil
+	}
+
+	// Determine the new middle range to fold: everything between what
+	// is already summarised (or the optional leading system message)
+	// and the KeepRecent tail.
+	startMiddle := st.prefixEnd
+	if startMiddle == 0 && len(msgs) > 0 && msgs[0].Role == llm.RoleSystem {
+		startMiddle = 1
+	}
+	endMiddle := len(msgs) - cfg.KeepRecent
+	if endMiddle <= startMiddle {
+		// Nothing new to fold (the tail alone exceeds the threshold).
+		// Return the rendered slice; the model call may still succeed.
+		return rendered, nil
+	}
+	middle := msgs[startMiddle:endMiddle]
+
+	summary, err := summariseMiddle(ctx, cfg, st.summaryText, middle)
+	if err != nil {
+		// Non-fatal upstream: the agent loop sends the ORIGINAL slice. Return
+		// msgs, not `rendered` — on a second+ compaction `rendered` already
+		// carries a prior synthetic summary, which is not the documented
+		// "original slice" the loop expects on a compactor error.
+		return msgs, fmt.Errorf("compactor: summarise middle: %w", err)
+	}
+	st.summaryText = summary
+	st.prefixEnd = endMiddle
+
+	out := renderCompacted(st, msgs)
+	if onFire != nil {
+		onFire(CompactionEvent{
+			MessagesBefore: len(rendered),
+			MessagesAfter:  len(out),
+			TokensBefore:   tokensBefore,
+			TokensAfter:    estimateTokens(out),
+		})
+	}
+	return out, nil
+}
+
+// renderCompacted applies the fold state to msgs: [optional system] +
+// [synthetic summary] + msgs[prefixEnd:]. With no fold yet, msgs is
+// returned unchanged.
+func renderCompacted(st *compactionState, msgs []llm.Message) []llm.Message {
+	if st.prefixEnd <= 0 || st.prefixEnd > len(msgs) {
+		return msgs
+	}
+	tail := msgs[st.prefixEnd:]
+	out := make([]llm.Message, 0, len(tail)+2)
+	if msgs[0].Role == llm.RoleSystem {
+		out = append(out, msgs[0])
+	}
+	out = append(out, llm.UserText(
+		"[CONTEXT COMPACTED] The earlier portion of this conversation was summarised "+
+			"to fit the model's context window. Summary:\n\n"+st.summaryText+
+			"\n\nResume from the recent messages below."))
+	out = append(out, tail...)
+	return out
+}
+
+// summariseMiddle composes a "compress this transcript" prompt and
+// fires one fast-tier LLM call. prevSummary (may be empty) is the
+// running summary from earlier compactions; it is folded into the new
+// summary so prior context is not lost.
+func summariseMiddle(ctx context.Context, cfg CompactorConfig, prevSummary string, middle []llm.Message) (string, error) {
+	if len(middle) == 0 {
+		return "", errors.New("compactor: empty middle range")
+	}
+	modelCtx, model, err := cfg.Models(ctx, cfg.SummarizerTier)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("compactor: resolve summarizer model %q: %w", cfg.SummarizerTier, err)
+	}
+	if model == nil {
+		return "", errors.New("compactor: summarizer model resolved to nil")
+	}
+	if modelCtx != nil {
+		ctx = modelCtx
+	}
+
+	var prior string
+	if strings.TrimSpace(prevSummary) != "" {
+		prior = "AN EARLIER PORTION WAS ALREADY SUMMARISED AS:\n" + prevSummary +
+			"\n\nFold that summary into your new one — its facts must survive.\n\n"
+	}
+	transcript := renderTranscript(middle)
+	prompt := fmt.Sprintf(
+		"You are compressing an in-flight agent's conversation transcript so the agent "+
+			"can continue working without blowing its model context. The transcript below is "+
+			"a sequence of tool calls and their results. Produce a single paragraph (under %d words) "+
+			"that captures:\n"+
+			"  - WHAT the agent has been trying to accomplish.\n"+
+			"  - WHICH URLs were visited / fetched (list inline, comma-separated).\n"+
+			"  - KEY findings or decisions (factual results the agent will need later).\n"+
+			"  - ANY file_ids or KV keys the agent created — these are persistent state references the agent must keep.\n"+
+			"  - ANY errors or dead-ends that the agent should not re-try.\n"+
+			"DO NOT include verbose HTTP headers, tool-call metadata, error stack traces, or repetitive content. "+
+			"DO NOT add commentary or markdown headers. Output prose only.\n\n"+
+			"%sTRANSCRIPT TO COMPRESS:\n%s",
+		cfg.SummaryWordCap,
+		prior,
+		transcript,
+	)
+
+	resp, err := model.Generate(ctx, llm.Request{Messages: []llm.Message{llm.UserText(prompt)}})
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("compactor: summarise LLM call: %w", err)
+	}
+	text := strings.TrimSpace(resp.Text())
+	if text == "" {
+		return "", errors.New("compactor: summarizer returned empty text")
+	}
+	return text, nil
+}
+
+// estimateTokens is the chars/4 heuristic over a message slice's text,
+// tool calls, and tool results. Images count a flat ~1K tokens each.
+// It intentionally matches the coarse estimator the old agentkit loop
+// used — the 0.7 threshold ratio provides the safety margin.
+func estimateTokens(msgs []llm.Message) int {
+	chars := 0
+	for _, m := range msgs {
+		for _, p := range m.Parts {
+			switch v := p.(type) {
+			case llm.TextPart:
+				chars += len(v.Text)
+			case llm.ImagePart:
+				chars += 4096
+			default:
+				// llm.Part is a sealed-but-extensible interface (future media
+				// kinds). Count an unknown part conservatively (like an image)
+				// rather than 0, so a transcript of unrecognised content can't
+				// silently slip under the compaction threshold and 400 the
+				// model. Bump this if a large new part kind lands.
+				_ = v
+				chars += 4096
+			}
+		}
+		for _, tc := range m.ToolCalls {
+			chars += len(tc.Name) + len(tc.Arguments)
+		}
+		for _, tr := range m.ToolResults {
+			chars += len(tr.Content)
+		}
+	}
+	return chars / 4
+}
+
+// transcriptMessageCap bounds individual message bodies at ~2KB so a
+// single ultra-long tool result can't dominate the prompt sent to the
+// summarizer.
+const transcriptMessageCap = 2048
+
+// secretBearingTools name tools whose ARGUMENTS routinely carry credentials or
+// message bodies (bearer tokens, API keys, recipients, request bodies). Their
+// args are dropped before the transcript reaches the summarizer model — which
+// may be a different provider/tier than the run model — mirroring the redaction
+// run/steps.go applies to user-facing step summaries. http_* and webhook_* are
+// matched by prefix below.
+var secretBearingTools = map[string]bool{
+	"mcp_call":   true,
+	"email_send": true,
+}
+
+// redactToolArgs returns a summariser-safe rendering of a tool call's args:
+// "[redacted]" for known secret-bearing tools, the args verbatim otherwise.
+func redactToolArgs(name, args string) string {
+	if secretBearingTools[name] ||
+		strings.HasPrefix(name, "http_") ||
+		strings.HasPrefix(name, "webhook_") {
+		return "[redacted]"
+	}
+	return args
+}
+
+// renderTranscript flattens a message slice to a plain-text transcript
+// suitable for the summarisation prompt. Tool calls show name + (redacted) args,
+// tool results show name + body. Empty fields are skipped.
+//
+// NOTE: tool-RESULT bodies are forwarded to the summarizer (the summary needs
+// the findings). A host whose tool results may contain secrets and whose
+// summarizer tier resolves to an untrusted provider should ensure that tier is
+// trusted, or pre-sanitise results before they reach the agent loop.
+func renderTranscript(msgs []llm.Message) string {
+	var sb strings.Builder
+	for i, m := range msgs {
+		fmt.Fprintf(&sb, "---\n[%d] role=%s\n", i+1, m.Role)
+		if text := m.Text(); text != "" {
+			sb.WriteString(truncate(text, transcriptMessageCap))
+			sb.WriteString("\n")
+		}
+		for _, tc := range m.ToolCalls {
+			fmt.Fprintf(&sb, "tool_call name=%s args=%s\n", tc.Name, truncate(redactToolArgs(tc.Name, string(tc.Arguments)), transcriptMessageCap))
+		}
+		for _, tr := range m.ToolResults {
+			fmt.Fprintf(&sb, "tool_result name=%s body=%s\n", tr.Name, truncate(tr.Content, transcriptMessageCap))
+		}
+	}
+	return sb.String()
+}
+
+func truncate(s string, n int) string {
+	if len(s) <= n {
+		return s
+	}
+	return s[:n] + "...(truncated)"
+}

contrib/store/audit_store.go

@@ -0,0 +1,356 @@
+package store
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"database/sql"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"strings"
+	"time"
+
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/executus/audit"
+)
+
+// auditStore is the SQLite-backed audit.Storage: one row per run (+ a JSON
+// `inputs` blob), one row per log event. The run-list/filter/walk queries are
+// indexed on the columns they filter; the log payload is a JSON blob.
+type auditStore struct{ db *sql.DB }
+
+// Audit returns a durable audit.Storage backed by this database.
+func (d *DB) Audit() audit.Storage { return &auditStore{db: d.sql} }
+
+var _ audit.Storage = (*auditStore)(nil)
+
+func (s *auditStore) Initialize(ctx context.Context) error {
+	_, err := s.db.ExecContext(ctx, `
+CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS skill_runs (
+	id                    TEXT PRIMARY KEY,
+	skill_id              TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
+	caller_id             TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
+	channel_id            TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
+	parent_run_id         TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
+	inputs                TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT '{}',
+	started_at            INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
+	finished_at           INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0, -- 0 = still running
+	status                TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT 'running',
+	output                TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
+	error                 TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
+	tool_calls            INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
+	runtime_seconds       REAL NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
+	total_input_tokens    INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
+	total_output_tokens   INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
+	total_thinking_tokens INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0
+);
+CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_runs_skill   ON skill_runs(skill_id, started_at);
+CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_runs_caller  ON skill_runs(caller_id, started_at);
+CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_runs_parent  ON skill_runs(parent_run_id);
+CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_runs_started ON skill_runs(started_at);
+CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS skill_run_logs (
+	run_id     TEXT NOT NULL,
+	seq        INTEGER NOT NULL,
+	event_type TEXT NOT NULL,
+	payload    TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT '{}',
+	created_at INTEGER NOT NULL,
+	PRIMARY KEY (run_id, seq)
+);`)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("auditStore.Initialize: %w", err)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func unixOrZero(t time.Time) int64 {
+	if t.IsZero() {
+		return 0
+	}
+	return t.Unix()
+}
+
+func (s *auditStore) StartRun(ctx context.Context, r audit.SkillRun) error {
+	inputs, _ := json.Marshal(r.Inputs)
+	var fin int64
+	if r.FinishedAt != nil {
+		fin = unixOrZero(*r.FinishedAt)
+	}
+	status := r.Status
+	if status == "" {
+		status = "running"
+	}
+	_, err := s.db.ExecContext(ctx, `
+INSERT INTO skill_runs (id, skill_id, caller_id, channel_id, parent_run_id, inputs, started_at, finished_at,
+	status, output, error, tool_calls, runtime_seconds, total_input_tokens, total_output_tokens, total_thinking_tokens)
+VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?)
+ON CONFLICT(id) DO UPDATE SET
+	skill_id=excluded.skill_id, caller_id=excluded.caller_id, channel_id=excluded.channel_id,
+	parent_run_id=excluded.parent_run_id, inputs=excluded.inputs, started_at=excluded.started_at`,
+		r.ID, r.SkillID, r.CallerID, r.ChannelID, r.ParentRunID, string(inputs), unixOrZero(r.StartedAt), fin,
+		status, r.Output, r.Error, r.ToolCallsCount, r.RuntimeSeconds,
+		r.TotalInputTokens, r.TotalOutputTokens, r.TotalThinkingTokens)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("auditStore.StartRun: %w", err)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (s *auditStore) FinishRun(ctx context.Context, runID string, st audit.RunStats) error {
+	res, err := s.db.ExecContext(ctx, `
+UPDATE skill_runs SET finished_at=?, status=?, output=?, error=?, tool_calls=?, runtime_seconds=?,
+	total_input_tokens=?, total_output_tokens=?, total_thinking_tokens=? WHERE id=?`,
+		time.Now().Unix(), st.Status, st.Output, st.Error, st.ToolCalls, st.RuntimeSeconds,
+		st.InputTokens, st.OutputTokens, st.ThinkingTokens, runID)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("auditStore.FinishRun: %w", err)
+	}
+	if n, _ := res.RowsAffected(); n == 0 {
+		return audit.ErrNotFound
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (s *auditStore) AppendLog(ctx context.Context, l audit.SkillRunLog) error {
+	payload, _ := json.Marshal(l.Payload)
+	created := unixOrZero(l.CreatedAt)
+	if created == 0 {
+		created = time.Now().Unix()
+	}
+	_, err := s.db.ExecContext(ctx,
+		`INSERT OR REPLACE INTO skill_run_logs (run_id, seq, event_type, payload, created_at) VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?, ?)`,
+		l.RunID, l.Sequence, l.EventType, string(payload), created)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("auditStore.AppendLog: %w", err)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+// runCols is the SELECT column list matching scanRun.
+const runCols = `id, skill_id, caller_id, channel_id, parent_run_id, inputs, started_at, finished_at,
+	status, output, error, tool_calls, runtime_seconds, total_input_tokens, total_output_tokens, total_thinking_tokens`
+
+func scanRun(sc interface{ Scan(...any) error }) (*audit.SkillRun, error) {
+	var r audit.SkillRun
+	var inputs string
+	var started, finished int64
+	if err := sc.Scan(&r.ID, &r.SkillID, &r.CallerID, &r.ChannelID, &r.ParentRunID, &inputs,
+		&started, &finished, &r.Status, &r.Output, &r.Error, &r.ToolCallsCount, &r.RuntimeSeconds,
+		&r.TotalInputTokens, &r.TotalOutputTokens, &r.TotalThinkingTokens); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	_ = json.Unmarshal([]byte(inputs), &r.Inputs)
+	r.StartedAt = time.Unix(started, 0).UTC()
+	if finished > 0 {
+		t := time.Unix(finished, 0).UTC()
+		r.FinishedAt = &t
+	}
+	return &r, nil
+}
+
+func (s *auditStore) GetRun(ctx context.Context, runID string) (*audit.SkillRun, error) {
+	row := s.db.QueryRowContext(ctx, `SELECT `+runCols+` FROM skill_runs WHERE id = ?`, runID)
+	r, err := scanRun(row)
+	if errors.Is(err, sql.ErrNoRows) {
+		return nil, audit.ErrNotFound
+	}
+	return r, err
+}
+
+func (s *auditStore) queryRuns(ctx context.Context, tail string, args ...any) ([]audit.SkillRun, error) {
+	rows, err := s.db.QueryContext(ctx, `SELECT `+runCols+` FROM skill_runs `+tail, args...)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	defer rows.Close()
+	var out []audit.SkillRun
+	for rows.Next() {
+		r, err := scanRun(rows)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		out = append(out, *r)
+	}
+	return out, rows.Err()
+}
+
+func (s *auditStore) ListLogsByRun(ctx context.Context, runID string) ([]audit.SkillRunLog, error) {
+	rows, err := s.db.QueryContext(ctx,
+		`SELECT run_id, seq, event_type, payload, created_at FROM skill_run_logs WHERE run_id = ? ORDER BY seq`, runID)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("auditStore.ListLogsByRun: %w", err)
+	}
+	defer rows.Close()
+	var out []audit.SkillRunLog
+	for rows.Next() {
+		var l audit.SkillRunLog
+		var payload string
+		var created int64
+		if err := rows.Scan(&l.RunID, &l.Sequence, &l.EventType, &payload, &created); err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		_ = json.Unmarshal([]byte(payload), &l.Payload)
+		l.CreatedAt = time.Unix(created, 0).UTC()
+		out = append(out, l)
+	}
+	return out, rows.Err()
+}
+
+func (s *auditStore) ListRunsBySkill(ctx context.Context, skillID string, limit int) ([]audit.SkillRun, error) {
+	return s.ListRunsBySkillPaginated(ctx, skillID, 0, limit, false)
+}
+
+func (s *auditStore) ListRunsBySkillPaginated(ctx context.Context, skillID string, offset, limit int, includeDryRun bool) ([]audit.SkillRun, error) {
+	w := `WHERE skill_id = ?`
+	args := []any{skillID}
+	if !includeDryRun {
+		w += ` AND status != 'dry_run'`
+	}
+	return s.queryRuns(ctx, w+` ORDER BY started_at DESC `+limitOffset(limit, offset), args...)
+}
+
+func (s *auditStore) CountRunsBySkill(ctx context.Context, skillID string, includeDryRun bool) (int64, error) {
+	q := `SELECT COUNT(*) FROM skill_runs WHERE skill_id = ?`
+	if !includeDryRun {
+		q += ` AND status != 'dry_run'`
+	}
+	var n int64
+	err := s.db.QueryRowContext(ctx, q, skillID).Scan(&n)
+	return n, err
+}
+
+func (s *auditStore) ListRunsByCaller(ctx context.Context, callerID string, limit int) ([]audit.SkillRun, error) {
+	return s.queryRuns(ctx, `WHERE caller_id = ? AND status != 'dry_run' ORDER BY started_at DESC `+limitOffset(limit, 0), callerID)
+}
+
+func (s *auditStore) buildFilter(f audit.RunFilter) (string, []any) {
+	var conds []string
+	var args []any
+	if !f.IncludeDryRun {
+		conds = append(conds, `status != 'dry_run'`)
+	}
+	if f.Status != "" {
+		conds = append(conds, `status = ?`)
+		args = append(args, f.Status)
+	}
+	if f.SkillID != "" {
+		conds = append(conds, `skill_id = ?`)
+		args = append(args, f.SkillID)
+	}
+	if f.CallerID != "" {
+		conds = append(conds, `caller_id = ?`)
+		args = append(args, f.CallerID)
+	}
+	if f.ChannelID != "" {
+		conds = append(conds, `channel_id = ?`)
+		args = append(args, f.ChannelID)
+	}
+	if f.TopLevelOnly {
+		conds = append(conds, `parent_run_id = ''`)
+	}
+	if !f.Since.IsZero() {
+		conds = append(conds, `started_at >= ?`)
+		args = append(args, f.Since.Unix())
+	}
+	if !f.Until.IsZero() {
+		conds = append(conds, `started_at <= ?`)
+		args = append(args, f.Until.Unix())
+	}
+	where := ""
+	if len(conds) > 0 {
+		where = `WHERE ` + strings.Join(conds, " AND ")
+	}
+	return where, args
+}
+
+func (s *auditStore) ListRunsFiltered(ctx context.Context, f audit.RunFilter, offset, limit int) ([]audit.SkillRun, error) {
+	where, args := s.buildFilter(f)
+	return s.queryRuns(ctx, where+` ORDER BY started_at DESC `+limitOffset(limit, offset), args...)
+}
+
+func (s *auditStore) CountRunsFiltered(ctx context.Context, f audit.RunFilter) (int64, error) {
+	where, args := s.buildFilter(f)
+	var n int64
+	err := s.db.QueryRowContext(ctx, `SELECT COUNT(*) FROM skill_runs `+where, args...).Scan(&n)
+	return n, err
+}
+
+func (s *auditStore) PurgeOlderThan(ctx context.Context, t time.Time) (int64, error) {
+	res, err := s.db.ExecContext(ctx, `DELETE FROM skill_runs WHERE finished_at > 0 AND finished_at < ?`, t.Unix())
+	if err != nil {
+		return 0, fmt.Errorf("auditStore.PurgeOlderThan: %w", err)
+	}
+	n, _ := res.RowsAffected()
+	// Best-effort orphan-log cleanup.
+	_, _ = s.db.ExecContext(ctx, `DELETE FROM skill_run_logs WHERE run_id NOT IN (SELECT id FROM skill_runs)`)
+	return n, nil
+}
+
+func (s *auditStore) ListChildrenByParent(ctx context.Context, parentRunID string) ([]audit.SkillRun, error) {
+	return s.queryRuns(ctx, `WHERE parent_run_id = ? ORDER BY started_at DESC`, parentRunID)
+}
+
+func (s *auditStore) WalkParentChain(ctx context.Context, runID string) ([]audit.SkillRun, error) {
+	var chain []audit.SkillRun
+	seen := map[string]bool{}
+	for id := runID; id != ""; {
+		if seen[id] {
+			break
+		}
+		seen[id] = true
+		r, err := s.GetRun(ctx, id)
+		if errors.Is(err, audit.ErrNotFound) {
+			break
+		}
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		chain = append(chain, *r)
+		id = r.ParentRunID
+	}
+	return chain, nil
+}
+
+func (s *auditStore) ListFinishedRunsBefore(ctx context.Context, cutoff time.Time, limit int) ([]audit.SkillRun, error) {
+	return s.queryRuns(ctx,
+		`WHERE finished_at > 0 AND finished_at < ? ORDER BY started_at DESC `+limitOffset(limit, 0), cutoff.Unix())
+}
+
+func (s *auditStore) LastRunBySkills(ctx context.Context, skillIDs []string, includeFailed bool) (map[string]time.Time, error) {
+	out := map[string]time.Time{}
+	if len(skillIDs) == 0 {
+		return out, nil
+	}
+	q := `SELECT skill_id, MAX(started_at) FROM skill_runs WHERE skill_id IN (` +
+		strings.TrimSuffix(strings.Repeat("?,", len(skillIDs)), ",") + `)`
+	args := make([]any, 0, len(skillIDs))
+	for _, id := range skillIDs {
+		args = append(args, id)
+	}
+	if !includeFailed {
+		q += ` AND status NOT IN ('error','timeout')`
+	}
+	q += ` GROUP BY skill_id`
+	rows, err := s.db.QueryContext(ctx, q, args...)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("auditStore.LastRunBySkills: %w", err)
+	}
+	defer rows.Close()
+	for rows.Next() {
+		var id string
+		var ts int64
+		if err := rows.Scan(&id, &ts); err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		out[id] = time.Unix(ts, 0).UTC()
+	}
+	return out, rows.Err()
+}
+
+// limitOffset renders an optional LIMIT/OFFSET clause (limit<=0 = no limit).
+func limitOffset(limit, offset int) string {
+	if limit <= 0 {
+		return ""
+	}
+	if offset > 0 {
+		return fmt.Sprintf("LIMIT %d OFFSET %d", limit, offset)
+	}
+	return fmt.Sprintf("LIMIT %d", limit)
+}

contrib/store/audit_store_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+package store
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/executus/audit"
+)
+
+func TestSQLiteAuditStore(t *testing.T) {
+	ctx := context.Background()
+	db, err := Open(":memory:")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	defer db.Close()
+	st := db.Audit()
+	if err := st.Initialize(ctx); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	now := time.Now().UTC()
+	// parent run
+	if err := st.StartRun(ctx, audit.SkillRun{ID: "r1", SkillID: "agent-x", CallerID: "c1",
+		Inputs: map[string]any{"q": "hi"}, StartedAt: now}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	// child run
+	st.StartRun(ctx, audit.SkillRun{ID: "r2", SkillID: "skill-y", CallerID: "c1", ParentRunID: "r1", StartedAt: now.Add(time.Second)})
+
+	st.AppendLog(ctx, audit.SkillRunLog{RunID: "r1", Sequence: 1, EventType: "step", Payload: map[string]any{"i": 1}, CreatedAt: now})
+	if err := st.FinishRun(ctx, "r1", audit.RunStats{Status: "ok", Output: "done", ToolCalls: 2, InputTokens: 10, OutputTokens: 5}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	got, err := st.GetRun(ctx, "r1")
+	if err != nil || got.Status != "ok" || got.Output != "done" || got.FinishedAt == nil ||
+		got.Inputs["q"] != "hi" || got.TotalInputTokens != 10 {
+		t.Fatalf("GetRun: %v %+v", err, got)
+	}
+	if logs, _ := st.ListLogsByRun(ctx, "r1"); len(logs) != 1 || logs[0].EventType != "step" {
+		t.Errorf("ListLogsByRun = %+v", logs)
+	}
+	if kids, _ := st.ListChildrenByParent(ctx, "r1"); len(kids) != 1 || kids[0].ID != "r2" {
+		t.Errorf("ListChildrenByParent = %+v", kids)
+	}
+	if chain, _ := st.WalkParentChain(ctx, "r2"); len(chain) != 2 || chain[1].ID != "r1" {
+		t.Errorf("WalkParentChain = %+v", chain)
+	}
+	if byCaller, _ := st.ListRunsByCaller(ctx, "c1", 10); len(byCaller) != 2 {
+		t.Errorf("ListRunsByCaller = %d, want 2", len(byCaller))
+	}
+	// filter: top-level only
+	tl, _ := st.ListRunsFiltered(ctx, audit.RunFilter{TopLevelOnly: true}, 0, 10)
+	if len(tl) != 1 || tl[0].ID != "r1" {
+		t.Errorf("TopLevelOnly filter = %+v", tl)
+	}
+	// last-run map
+	last, _ := st.LastRunBySkills(ctx, []string{"agent-x", "skill-y"}, true)
+	if _, ok := last["agent-x"]; !ok {
+		t.Errorf("LastRunBySkills missing agent-x: %+v", last)
+	}
+	if n, _ := st.CountRunsBySkill(ctx, "agent-x", false); n != 1 {
+		t.Errorf("CountRunsBySkill = %d, want 1", n)
+	}
+}

contrib/store/budget_store.go

@@ -0,0 +1,105 @@
+package store
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"database/sql"
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"math"
+	"time"
+
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/executus/budget"
+)
+
+// budgetStore is the SQLite-backed budget.BudgetStorage.
+type budgetStore struct{ db *sql.DB }
+
+// Budget returns a durable budget.BudgetStorage backed by this database.
+func (d *DB) Budget() budget.BudgetStorage { return &budgetStore{db: d.sql} }
+
+var _ budget.BudgetStorage = (*budgetStore)(nil)
+
+func (s *budgetStore) Initialize(ctx context.Context) error {
+	_, err := s.db.ExecContext(ctx, `
+CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS skill_budgets (
+	user_id      TEXT PRIMARY KEY,
+	window_start INTEGER NOT NULL, -- unix seconds
+	seconds_used REAL    NOT NULL,
+	runs_count   INTEGER NOT NULL,
+	updated_at   INTEGER NOT NULL
+)`)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("budgetStore.Initialize: %w", err)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (s *budgetStore) Get(ctx context.Context, userID string) (*budget.SkillBudget, error) {
+	row := s.db.QueryRowContext(ctx,
+		`SELECT window_start, seconds_used, runs_count, updated_at FROM skill_budgets WHERE user_id = ?`, userID)
+	var ws, ua int64
+	var used float64
+	var runs int
+	switch err := row.Scan(&ws, &used, &runs, &ua); {
+	case errors.Is(err, sql.ErrNoRows):
+		return nil, nil // no row yet — documented (nil, nil)
+	case err != nil:
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("budgetStore.Get: %w", err)
+	}
+	return &budget.SkillBudget{
+		UserID:      userID,
+		WindowStart: time.Unix(ws, 0).UTC(),
+		SecondsUsed: used,
+		RunsCount:   runs,
+		UpdatedAt:   time.Unix(ua, 0).UTC(),
+	}, nil
+}
+
+// Add increments usage atomically, rolling the 7-day window over inside one
+// transaction so concurrent Adds can't race the read-modify-write.
+func (s *budgetStore) Add(ctx context.Context, userID string, secondsUsed float64, now time.Time) error {
+	// A NaN/Inf would poison the seconds_used column irrecoverably (NaN
+	// propagates through every later add), so reject it at the boundary.
+	if math.IsNaN(secondsUsed) || math.IsInf(secondsUsed, 0) {
+		return fmt.Errorf("budgetStore.Add: invalid secondsUsed %v", secondsUsed)
+	}
+	tx, err := s.db.BeginTx(ctx, nil)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("budgetStore.Add: begin: %w", err)
+	}
+	defer tx.Rollback() //nolint:errcheck // no-op after Commit
+
+	var ws int64
+	var used float64
+	var runs int
+	err = tx.QueryRowContext(ctx,
+		`SELECT window_start, seconds_used, runs_count FROM skill_budgets WHERE user_id = ?`, userID).
+		Scan(&ws, &used, &runs)
+	switch {
+	case errors.Is(err, sql.ErrNoRows):
+		ws, used, runs = now.Unix(), 0, 0
+	case err != nil:
+		return fmt.Errorf("budgetStore.Add: select: %w", err)
+	}
+	// Roll the window over if older than 7 days.
+	if now.Sub(time.Unix(ws, 0)) >= 7*24*time.Hour {
+		ws, used, runs = now.Unix(), 0, 0
+	}
+	used += secondsUsed
+	runs++
+	if _, err := tx.ExecContext(ctx, `
+INSERT INTO skill_budgets (user_id, window_start, seconds_used, runs_count, updated_at)
+VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?, ?)
+ON CONFLICT(user_id) DO UPDATE SET
+	window_start = excluded.window_start,
+	seconds_used = excluded.seconds_used,
+	runs_count   = excluded.runs_count,
+	updated_at   = excluded.updated_at`,
+		userID, ws, used, runs, now.Unix()); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("budgetStore.Add: upsert: %w", err)
+	}
+	if err := tx.Commit(); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("budgetStore.Add: commit: %w", err)
+	}
+	return nil
+}

contrib/store/budget_store_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,65 @@
+package store
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/executus/budget"
+)
+
+// TestSQLiteBudgetConformance runs the budget battery over the SQLite store and
+// asserts the same rolling-window contract the in-memory store must satisfy.
+func TestSQLiteBudgetConformance(t *testing.T) {
+	ctx := context.Background()
+	db, err := Open(":memory:")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	defer db.Close()
+	st := db.Budget()
+	if err := st.Initialize(ctx); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	now := time.Now().UTC()
+	b := budget.NewDBBudget(st, func() float64 { return 100 }, nil, func() time.Time { return now })
+
+	if err := b.Check(ctx, "u"); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("fresh caller should pass: %v", err)
+	}
+	b.Commit(ctx, "u", 60)
+	if err := b.Check(ctx, "u"); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("60/100 should pass: %v", err)
+	}
+	b.Commit(ctx, "u", 50) // 110 total
+	if err := b.Check(ctx, "u"); !errors.Is(err, budget.ErrBudgetExceeded) {
+		t.Fatalf("110/100 should be ErrBudgetExceeded, got %v", err)
+	}
+
+	// Direct Get reflects the persisted row.
+	row, err := st.Get(ctx, "u")
+	if err != nil || row == nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Get: %v %+v", err, row)
+	}
+	if row.SecondsUsed != 110 || row.RunsCount != 2 {
+		t.Errorf("row = %+v, want seconds=110 runs=2", row)
+	}
+
+	// Window rolls over after 7 days.
+	now = now.Add(8 * 24 * time.Hour)
+	b.Commit(ctx, "u", 1)
+	if err := b.Check(ctx, "u"); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("after rollover should pass: %v", err)
+	}
+	row, _ = st.Get(ctx, "u")
+	if row.SecondsUsed != 1 || row.RunsCount != 1 {
+		t.Errorf("post-rollover row = %+v, want seconds=1 runs=1", row)
+	}
+
+	// Unknown user -> (nil, nil).
+	if r, err := st.Get(ctx, "nobody"); err != nil || r != nil {
+		t.Errorf("Get(unknown) = %+v %v, want nil,nil", r, err)
+	}
+}

contrib/store/go.mod

@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+module gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/executus/contrib/store
+
+go 1.26.2
+
+require (
+	gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/executus v0.0.0
+	modernc.org/sqlite v1.34.4
+)
+
+require (
+	cloud.google.com/go v0.123.0 // indirect
+	cloud.google.com/go/auth v0.18.1 // indirect
+	cloud.google.com/go/compute/metadata v0.9.0 // indirect
+	gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/majordomo v0.0.0-20260626223738-1fd7109a42f3 // indirect
+	github.com/cespare/xxhash/v2 v2.3.0 // indirect
+	github.com/dustin/go-humanize v1.0.1 // indirect
+	github.com/felixge/httpsnoop v1.0.4 // indirect
+	github.com/go-logr/logr v1.4.3 // indirect
+	github.com/go-logr/stdr v1.2.2 // indirect
+	github.com/google/go-cmp v0.7.0 // indirect
+	github.com/google/s2a-go v0.1.9 // indirect
+	github.com/google/uuid v1.6.0 // indirect
+	github.com/googleapis/enterprise-certificate-proxy v0.3.11 // indirect
+	github.com/googleapis/gax-go/v2 v2.17.0 // indirect
+	github.com/gorilla/websocket v1.5.3 // indirect
+	github.com/hashicorp/golang-lru/v2 v2.0.7 // indirect
+	github.com/mattn/go-isatty v0.0.20 // indirect
+	github.com/ncruces/go-strftime v0.1.9 // indirect
+	github.com/remyoudompheng/bigfft v0.0.0-20230129092748-24d4a6f8daec // indirect
+	github.com/robfig/cron/v3 v3.0.1 // indirect
+	go.opentelemetry.io/auto/sdk v1.2.1 // indirect
+	go.opentelemetry.io/contrib/instrumentation/net/http/otelhttp v0.65.0 // indirect
+	go.opentelemetry.io/otel v1.40.0 // indirect
+	go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric v1.40.0 // indirect
+	go.opentelemetry.io/otel/trace v1.40.0 // indirect
+	golang.org/x/crypto v0.53.0 // indirect
+	golang.org/x/net v0.55.0 // indirect
+	golang.org/x/sys v0.46.0 // indirect
+	golang.org/x/text v0.38.0 // indirect
+	google.golang.org/genai v1.59.0 // indirect
+	google.golang.org/genproto/googleapis/rpc v0.0.0-20260203192932-546029d2fa20 // indirect
+	google.golang.org/grpc v1.78.0 // indirect
+	google.golang.org/protobuf v1.36.11 // indirect
+	gopkg.in/yaml.v3 v3.0.1 // indirect
+	modernc.org/gc/v3 v3.0.0-20240107210532-573471604cb6 // indirect
+	modernc.org/libc v1.55.3 // indirect
+	modernc.org/mathutil v1.6.0 // indirect
+	modernc.org/memory v1.8.0 // indirect
+	modernc.org/strutil v1.2.0 // indirect
+	modernc.org/token v1.1.0 // indirect
+)
+
+// Co-developed against the local checkout; dropped (pinned) at executus v0.1.0.
+replace gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/executus => ../../

contrib/store/go.sum

@@ -0,0 +1,105 @@
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+gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/majordomo v0.0.0-20260626223738-1fd7109a42f3/go.mod h1:UZLveG17SmENt4sne2RSLIbioix30RZbRIQUzBAnOyY=
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contrib/store/persona_store.go

@@ -0,0 +1,174 @@
+package store
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"database/sql"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"time"
+
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/executus/persona"
+)
+
+// personaStore is the SQLite-backed persona.Storage. It stores each Agent as a
+// JSON blob in `data` with a handful of extracted, indexed columns for the
+// query methods — so the FULL struct round-trips (no domain↔GORM↔DB field-loss
+// footgun) while owner/name/webhook/schedule lookups stay indexable.
+type personaStore struct{ db *sql.DB }
+
+// Personas returns a durable persona.Storage backed by this database.
+func (d *DB) Personas() persona.Storage { return &personaStore{db: d.sql} }
+
+var _ persona.Storage = (*personaStore)(nil)
+
+func (s *personaStore) InitializeAgentStorage(ctx context.Context) error {
+	_, err := s.db.ExecContext(ctx, `
+CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS agents (
+	id                     TEXT PRIMARY KEY,
+	owner_id               TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
+	name                   TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
+	webhook_secret         TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
+	chatbot_channel_filter TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
+	schedule               TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
+	next_run_at            INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0, -- unix seconds; 0 = unset
+	data                   TEXT NOT NULL              -- full Agent as JSON
+);
+CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_agents_owner ON agents(owner_id);
+CREATE UNIQUE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_agents_owner_name ON agents(owner_id, name);
+CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_agents_sched ON agents(schedule, next_run_at);`)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("personaStore.Initialize: %w", err)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (s *personaStore) SaveAgent(ctx context.Context, a *persona.Agent) error {
+	blob, err := json.Marshal(a)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("personaStore.SaveAgent: marshal: %w", err)
+	}
+	var next int64
+	if a.NextRunAt != nil && !a.NextRunAt.IsZero() {
+		next = a.NextRunAt.Unix()
+	}
+	_, err = s.db.ExecContext(ctx, `
+INSERT INTO agents (id, owner_id, name, webhook_secret, chatbot_channel_filter, schedule, next_run_at, data)
+VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?)
+ON CONFLICT(id) DO UPDATE SET
+	owner_id=excluded.owner_id, name=excluded.name, webhook_secret=excluded.webhook_secret,
+	chatbot_channel_filter=excluded.chatbot_channel_filter, schedule=excluded.schedule,
+	next_run_at=excluded.next_run_at, data=excluded.data`,
+		a.ID, a.OwnerID, a.Name, a.WebhookSecret, a.ChatbotChannelFilter, a.Schedule, next, string(blob))
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("personaStore.SaveAgent: %w", err)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+// scanAgents unmarshals the `data` column of every row in rows.
+func scanAgents(rows *sql.Rows) ([]*persona.Agent, error) {
+	defer rows.Close()
+	var out []*persona.Agent
+	for rows.Next() {
+		var blob string
+		if err := rows.Scan(&blob); err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		var a persona.Agent
+		if err := json.Unmarshal([]byte(blob), &a); err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		out = append(out, &a)
+	}
+	return out, rows.Err()
+}
+
+func (s *personaStore) getOne(ctx context.Context, where string, arg ...any) (*persona.Agent, error) {
+	var blob string
+	err := s.db.QueryRowContext(ctx, `SELECT data FROM agents WHERE `+where, arg...).Scan(&blob)
+	switch {
+	case errors.Is(err, sql.ErrNoRows):
+		return nil, persona.ErrNotFound
+	case err != nil:
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	var a persona.Agent
+	if err := json.Unmarshal([]byte(blob), &a); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	return &a, nil
+}
+
+func (s *personaStore) GetAgent(ctx context.Context, id string) (*persona.Agent, error) {
+	return s.getOne(ctx, "id = ?", id)
+}
+
+func (s *personaStore) GetAgentByName(ctx context.Context, ownerID, name string) (*persona.Agent, error) {
+	return s.getOne(ctx, "owner_id = ? AND name = ?", ownerID, name)
+}
+
+func (s *personaStore) GetAgentByWebhookSecret(ctx context.Context, secret string) (*persona.Agent, error) {
+	if secret == "" {
+		return nil, persona.ErrNotFound
+	}
+	return s.getOne(ctx, "webhook_secret = ?", secret)
+}
+
+func (s *personaStore) ListAgents(ctx context.Context, ownerID string) ([]*persona.Agent, error) {
+	rows, err := s.db.QueryContext(ctx, `SELECT data FROM agents WHERE owner_id = ? ORDER BY name`, ownerID)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("personaStore.ListAgents: %w", err)
+	}
+	return scanAgents(rows)
+}
+
+func (s *personaStore) ListAllAgents(ctx context.Context) ([]*persona.Agent, error) {
+	rows, err := s.db.QueryContext(ctx, `SELECT data FROM agents ORDER BY name`)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("personaStore.ListAllAgents: %w", err)
+	}
+	return scanAgents(rows)
+}
+
+func (s *personaStore) DeleteAgent(ctx context.Context, id string) error {
+	if _, err := s.db.ExecContext(ctx, `DELETE FROM agents WHERE id = ?`, id); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("personaStore.DeleteAgent: %w", err)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (s *personaStore) ListAgentsByChatbotChannelFilter(ctx context.Context) ([]*persona.Agent, error) {
+	rows, err := s.db.QueryContext(ctx, `SELECT data FROM agents WHERE chatbot_channel_filter != '' ORDER BY name`)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("personaStore.ListAgentsByChatbotChannelFilter: %w", err)
+	}
+	return scanAgents(rows)
+}
+
+func (s *personaStore) ListScheduledAgents(ctx context.Context, dueBefore time.Time) ([]*persona.Agent, error) {
+	rows, err := s.db.QueryContext(ctx,
+		`SELECT data FROM agents WHERE schedule != '' AND next_run_at > 0 AND next_run_at <= ? ORDER BY next_run_at`,
+		dueBefore.Unix())
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("personaStore.ListScheduledAgents: %w", err)
+	}
+	return scanAgents(rows)
+}
+
+func (s *personaStore) MarkAgentScheduledRun(ctx context.Context, agentID string, ranAt, nextAt time.Time) error {
+	// Single atomic statement, not Get→mutate→Save: closes the lost-update
+	// window a concurrent Mark/edit would otherwise open. json_set keeps the
+	// blob's *time.Time fields consistent with the next_run_at column (Go
+	// encodes time.Time as RFC3339Nano, so it round-trips through GetAgent).
+	res, err := s.db.ExecContext(ctx,
+		`UPDATE agents SET next_run_at=?, data=json_set(data,'$.NextRunAt',?,'$.LastScheduledRunAt',?) WHERE id=?`,
+		nextAt.Unix(), nextAt.Format(time.RFC3339Nano), ranAt.Format(time.RFC3339Nano), agentID)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("personaStore.MarkAgentScheduledRun: %w", err)
+	}
+	if n, _ := res.RowsAffected(); n == 0 {
+		return persona.ErrNotFound
+	}
+	return nil
+}

contrib/store/persona_store_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,106 @@
+package store
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/executus/persona"
+)
+
+func TestSQLitePersonaStore(t *testing.T) {
+	ctx := context.Background()
+	db, err := Open(":memory:")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	defer db.Close()
+	st := db.Personas()
+	if err := st.InitializeAgentStorage(ctx); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	// Full struct round-trips through the JSON blob (incl. nested + map fields).
+	a := &persona.Agent{
+		ID: "a1", Name: "helper", OwnerID: "o1", SystemPrompt: "be nice",
+		ModelTier: "fast", SkillPalette: []string{"animate"},
+		StateReactEmoji:      map[string]string{"running": "⏳"},
+		ChatbotChannelFilter: "general",
+	}
+	if err := st.SaveAgent(ctx, a); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	got, err := st.GetAgent(ctx, "a1")
+	if err != nil || got.SystemPrompt != "be nice" || len(got.SkillPalette) != 1 ||
+		got.StateReactEmoji["running"] != "⏳" {
+		t.Fatalf("round-trip lost fields: %+v (err %v)", got, err)
+	}
+	if byName, err := st.GetAgentByName(ctx, "o1", "helper"); err != nil || byName.ID != "a1" {
+		t.Fatalf("GetAgentByName: %v %+v", err, byName)
+	}
+	if cf, _ := st.ListAgentsByChatbotChannelFilter(ctx); len(cf) != 1 {
+		t.Errorf("ListAgentsByChatbotChannelFilter = %d, want 1", len(cf))
+	}
+
+	// Scheduling: due query + MarkAgentScheduledRun round-trip.
+	now := time.Now().UTC()
+	sched := &persona.Agent{ID: "s1", Name: "cron", OwnerID: "o1", Schedule: "0 * * * *"}
+	due := now.Add(-time.Minute)
+	sched.NextRunAt = &due
+	if err := st.SaveAgent(ctx, sched); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	dueList, _ := st.ListScheduledAgents(ctx, now)
+	if len(dueList) != 1 || dueList[0].ID != "s1" {
+		t.Fatalf("ListScheduledAgents = %+v", dueList)
+	}
+	next := now.Add(time.Hour)
+	if err := st.MarkAgentScheduledRun(ctx, "s1", now, next); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if again, _ := st.ListScheduledAgents(ctx, now); len(again) != 0 {
+		t.Errorf("after MarkAgentScheduledRun, nothing should be due before now: %+v", again)
+	}
+
+	if err := st.DeleteAgent(ctx, "a1"); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if _, err := st.GetAgent(ctx, "a1"); err != persona.ErrNotFound {
+		t.Errorf("GetAgent after delete = %v, want ErrNotFound", err)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestMarkAgentScheduledRunBlobRoundTrips guards the json_set atomic update:
+// the JSON blob must stay parseable and reflect the new scheduled times.
+func TestMarkAgentScheduledRunBlobRoundTrips(t *testing.T) {
+	ctx := context.Background()
+	db, _ := Open(":memory:")
+	defer db.Close()
+	st := db.Personas()
+	st.InitializeAgentStorage(ctx)
+	start := time.Now().UTC()
+	a := &persona.Agent{ID: "m1", Name: "n", OwnerID: "o", Schedule: "0 * * * *"}
+	a.NextRunAt = &start
+	if err := st.SaveAgent(ctx, a); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	ran := start
+	next := start.Add(time.Hour)
+	if err := st.MarkAgentScheduledRun(ctx, "m1", ran, next); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	got, err := st.GetAgent(ctx, "m1") // blob must still unmarshal
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("GetAgent after json_set Mark failed (blob corrupt?): %v", err)
+	}
+	if got.NextRunAt == nil || !got.NextRunAt.Equal(next) {
+		t.Errorf("blob NextRunAt = %v, want %v", got.NextRunAt, next)
+	}
+	if got.LastScheduledRunAt == nil || !got.LastScheduledRunAt.Equal(ran) {
+		t.Errorf("blob LastScheduledRunAt = %v, want %v", got.LastScheduledRunAt, ran)
+	}
+	// Unknown id -> ErrNotFound.
+	if err := st.MarkAgentScheduledRun(ctx, "nope", ran, next); err != persona.ErrNotFound {
+		t.Errorf("Mark(unknown) = %v, want ErrNotFound", err)
+	}
+}

contrib/store/skill_store.go

@@ -0,0 +1,280 @@
+package store
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"database/sql"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"time"
+
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/executus/skill"
+)
+
+// skillStore is the SQLite-backed skill.SkillStore. Same JSON-blob + indexed
+// columns approach as personaStore: the full Skill round-trips, lookups stay
+// indexed. Versions live in their own table (each SkillVersion embeds a full
+// Skill snapshot, stored as a JSON blob).
+type skillStore struct{ db *sql.DB }
+
+// Skills returns a durable skill.SkillStore backed by this database.
+func (d *DB) Skills() skill.SkillStore { return &skillStore{db: d.sql} }
+
+var _ skill.SkillStore = (*skillStore)(nil)
+
+func (s *skillStore) Initialize(ctx context.Context) error {
+	_, err := s.db.ExecContext(ctx, `
+CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS skills (
+	id            TEXT PRIMARY KEY,
+	owner_id      TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
+	name          TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
+	source        TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
+	visibility    TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
+	chatbot       INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0, -- ExposeAsChatbotTool
+	schedule      TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
+	next_run_at   INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
+	data          TEXT NOT NULL
+);
+CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_skills_owner ON skills(owner_id);
+CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_skills_vis ON skills(visibility);
+CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_skills_sched ON skills(schedule, next_run_at);
+CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS skill_versions (
+	id        TEXT PRIMARY KEY,
+	skill_id  TEXT NOT NULL,
+	version   TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
+	seq       INTEGER NOT NULL,            -- append order, for newest-first
+	data      TEXT NOT NULL
+);
+CREATE UNIQUE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_skill_versions_skill ON skill_versions(skill_id, seq);`)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("skillStore.Initialize: %w", err)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (s *skillStore) Save(ctx context.Context, sk *skill.Skill) error {
+	blob, err := json.Marshal(sk)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("skillStore.Save: marshal: %w", err)
+	}
+	var next int64
+	if !sk.NextRunAt.IsZero() {
+		next = sk.NextRunAt.Unix()
+	}
+	chatbot := 0
+	if sk.ExposeAsChatbotTool {
+		chatbot = 1
+	}
+	_, err = s.db.ExecContext(ctx, `
+INSERT INTO skills (id, owner_id, name, source, visibility, chatbot, schedule, next_run_at, data)
+VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?)
+ON CONFLICT(id) DO UPDATE SET
+	owner_id=excluded.owner_id, name=excluded.name, source=excluded.source,
+	visibility=excluded.visibility, chatbot=excluded.chatbot, schedule=excluded.schedule,
+	next_run_at=excluded.next_run_at, data=excluded.data`,
+		sk.ID, sk.OwnerID, sk.Name, string(sk.Source), string(sk.Visibility), chatbot,
+		sk.Schedule, next, string(blob))
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("skillStore.Save: %w", err)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func scanSkills(rows *sql.Rows) ([]skill.Skill, error) {
+	defer rows.Close()
+	var out []skill.Skill
+	for rows.Next() {
+		var blob string
+		if err := rows.Scan(&blob); err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		var sk skill.Skill
+		if err := json.Unmarshal([]byte(blob), &sk); err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		out = append(out, sk)
+	}
+	return out, rows.Err()
+}
+
+func (s *skillStore) getOne(ctx context.Context, where string, arg ...any) (*skill.Skill, error) {
+	var blob string
+	err := s.db.QueryRowContext(ctx, `SELECT data FROM skills WHERE `+where, arg...).Scan(&blob)
+	switch {
+	case errors.Is(err, sql.ErrNoRows):
+		return nil, skill.ErrNotFound
+	case err != nil:
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	var sk skill.Skill
+	if err := json.Unmarshal([]byte(blob), &sk); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	return &sk, nil
+}
+
+func (s *skillStore) Get(ctx context.Context, id string) (*skill.Skill, error) {
+	return s.getOne(ctx, "id = ?", id)
+}
+
+func (s *skillStore) GetByName(ctx context.Context, ownerID, name string) (*skill.Skill, error) {
+	return s.getOne(ctx, "owner_id = ? AND name = ?", ownerID, name)
+}
+
+func (s *skillStore) ListBuiltinByName(ctx context.Context, name string) (*skill.Skill, error) {
+	return s.getOne(ctx, "source = ? AND name = ?", string(skill.SourceBuiltin), name)
+}
+
+func (s *skillStore) Delete(ctx context.Context, id string) error {
+	if _, err := s.db.ExecContext(ctx, `DELETE FROM skills WHERE id = ?`, id); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("skillStore.Delete: %w", err)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (s *skillStore) query(ctx context.Context, where string, arg ...any) ([]skill.Skill, error) {
+	rows, err := s.db.QueryContext(ctx, `SELECT data FROM skills WHERE `+where+` ORDER BY name`, arg...)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	return scanSkills(rows)
+}
+
+func (s *skillStore) ListByOwner(ctx context.Context, ownerID string) ([]skill.Skill, error) {
+	return s.query(ctx, "owner_id = ?", ownerID)
+}
+
+func (s *skillStore) ListPublic(ctx context.Context) ([]skill.Skill, error) {
+	return s.query(ctx, "visibility = ?", string(skill.VisibilityPublic))
+}
+
+func (s *skillStore) ListChatbotExposed(ctx context.Context) ([]skill.Skill, error) {
+	return s.query(ctx, "chatbot = 1")
+}
+
+// ListSharedWith loads visibility=shared rows and filters SharedWith in Go (the
+// shared set per skill is small; avoids a JSON-array query).
+func (s *skillStore) ListSharedWith(ctx context.Context, memberID string) ([]skill.Skill, error) {
+	shared, err := s.query(ctx, "visibility = ?", string(skill.VisibilityShared))
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	out := shared[:0]
+	for _, sk := range shared {
+		for _, id := range sk.SharedWith {
+			if id == memberID {
+				out = append(out, sk)
+				break
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	return out, nil
+}
+
+func (s *skillStore) ListDueScheduled(ctx context.Context, now time.Time) ([]skill.Skill, error) {
+	rows, err := s.db.QueryContext(ctx,
+		`SELECT data FROM skills WHERE schedule != '' AND next_run_at > 0 AND next_run_at <= ? ORDER BY next_run_at`,
+		now.Unix())
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("skillStore.ListDueScheduled: %w", err)
+	}
+	return scanSkills(rows)
+}
+
+func (s *skillStore) MarkScheduledRun(ctx context.Context, skillID string, ranAt, nextAt time.Time) error {
+	// Single atomic statement instead of Get→mutate→Save: a concurrent Mark or
+	// admin edit can't lose this update (no read-modify-write window). json_set
+	// keeps the JSON blob's NextRunAt/LastScheduledRunAt consistent with the
+	// indexed next_run_at column; RFC3339Nano matches Go's time JSON encoding so
+	// the blob still round-trips through Get.
+	var next int64
+	if !nextAt.IsZero() {
+		next = nextAt.Unix()
+	}
+	res, err := s.db.ExecContext(ctx,
+		`UPDATE skills SET next_run_at=?, data=json_set(data,'$.NextRunAt',?,'$.LastScheduledRunAt',?) WHERE id=?`,
+		next, nextAt.Format(time.RFC3339Nano), ranAt.Format(time.RFC3339Nano), skillID)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("skillStore.MarkScheduledRun: %w", err)
+	}
+	if n, _ := res.RowsAffected(); n == 0 {
+		return skill.ErrNotFound
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (s *skillStore) AppendVersion(ctx context.Context, sv skill.SkillVersion) error {
+	if sv.SkillID == "" {
+		return fmt.Errorf("skillStore.AppendVersion: skill_id is required")
+	}
+	blob, err := json.Marshal(sv)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("skillStore.AppendVersion: marshal: %w", err)
+	}
+	// seq = current max+1 for this skill (newest-first ordering key). The
+	// MAX-then-INSERT runs in ONE transaction and the (skill_id, seq) index is
+	// UNIQUE, so two concurrent appends can't both land the same seq: the loser
+	// fails loudly on commit instead of silently corrupting the ordering. The
+	// Scan error is propagated (was swallowed, leaving seq=0 on failure).
+	tx, err := s.db.BeginTx(ctx, nil)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("skillStore.AppendVersion: begin: %w", err)
+	}
+	defer tx.Rollback() //nolint:errcheck // no-op after Commit
+	var seq int64
+	if err := tx.QueryRowContext(ctx, `SELECT COALESCE(MAX(seq),0)+1 FROM skill_versions WHERE skill_id = ?`, sv.SkillID).Scan(&seq); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("skillStore.AppendVersion: seq: %w", err)
+	}
+	if _, err := tx.ExecContext(ctx,
+		`INSERT INTO skill_versions (id, skill_id, version, seq, data) VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?, ?)`,
+		sv.ID, sv.SkillID, sv.Version, seq, string(blob)); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("skillStore.AppendVersion: insert: %w", err)
+	}
+	if err := tx.Commit(); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("skillStore.AppendVersion: commit: %w", err)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (s *skillStore) ListVersionsBySkill(ctx context.Context, skillID string, limit int) ([]skill.SkillVersion, error) {
+	q := `SELECT data FROM skill_versions WHERE skill_id = ? ORDER BY seq DESC`
+	args := []any{skillID}
+	if limit > 0 {
+		q += ` LIMIT ?`
+		args = append(args, limit)
+	}
+	rows, err := s.db.QueryContext(ctx, q, args...)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("skillStore.ListVersionsBySkill: %w", err)
+	}
+	defer rows.Close()
+	var out []skill.SkillVersion
+	for rows.Next() {
+		var blob string
+		if err := rows.Scan(&blob); err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		var sv skill.SkillVersion
+		if err := json.Unmarshal([]byte(blob), &sv); err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		out = append(out, sv)
+	}
+	return out, rows.Err()
+}
+
+func (s *skillStore) GetVersionByID(ctx context.Context, versionID string) (*skill.SkillVersion, error) {
+	var blob string
+	err := s.db.QueryRowContext(ctx, `SELECT data FROM skill_versions WHERE id = ?`, versionID).Scan(&blob)
+	switch {
+	case errors.Is(err, sql.ErrNoRows):
+		return nil, skill.ErrNotFound
+	case err != nil:
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	var sv skill.SkillVersion
+	if err := json.Unmarshal([]byte(blob), &sv); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	return &sv, nil
+}

contrib/store/skill_store_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,72 @@
+package store
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/executus/skill"
+)
+
+func TestSQLiteSkillStore(t *testing.T) {
+	ctx := context.Background()
+	db, err := Open(":memory:")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	defer db.Close()
+	st := db.Skills()
+	if err := st.Initialize(ctx); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	pub := &skill.Skill{ID: "a", Name: "pub", OwnerID: "o1", Visibility: skill.VisibilityPublic,
+		Tools: []string{"summarize"}, ExposeAsChatbotTool: true}
+	shared := &skill.Skill{ID: "b", Name: "shr", OwnerID: "o1", Visibility: skill.VisibilityShared, SharedWith: []string{"bob"}}
+	if err := st.Save(ctx, pub); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if err := st.Save(ctx, shared); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	got, err := st.Get(ctx, "a")
+	if err != nil || len(got.Tools) != 1 || !got.ExposeAsChatbotTool {
+		t.Fatalf("round-trip: %v %+v", err, got)
+	}
+	if ps, _ := st.ListPublic(ctx); len(ps) != 1 || ps[0].ID != "a" {
+		t.Errorf("ListPublic = %+v", ps)
+	}
+	if ss, _ := st.ListSharedWith(ctx, "bob"); len(ss) != 1 || ss[0].ID != "b" {
+		t.Errorf("ListSharedWith(bob) = %+v", ss)
+	}
+	if ss, _ := st.ListSharedWith(ctx, "carol"); len(ss) != 0 {
+		t.Errorf("ListSharedWith(carol) should be empty: %+v", ss)
+	}
+	if ce, _ := st.ListChatbotExposed(ctx); len(ce) != 1 {
+		t.Errorf("ListChatbotExposed = %d, want 1", len(ce))
+	}
+
+	// Versions newest-first + by id.
+	st.AppendVersion(ctx, skill.SkillVersion{ID: "v1", SkillID: "a", Version: "1.0.0"})
+	st.AppendVersion(ctx, skill.SkillVersion{ID: "v2", SkillID: "a", Version: "1.1.0"})
+	vs, _ := st.ListVersionsBySkill(ctx, "a", 10)
+	if len(vs) != 2 || vs[0].ID != "v2" {
+		t.Errorf("versions newest-first: %+v", vs)
+	}
+	if gv, err := st.GetVersionByID(ctx, "v1"); err != nil || gv.Version != "1.0.0" {
+		t.Errorf("GetVersionByID: %v %+v", err, gv)
+	}
+
+	// Scheduling.
+	now := time.Now().UTC()
+	cron := &skill.Skill{ID: "c", Name: "cron", OwnerID: "o1", Schedule: "0 * * * *", NextRunAt: now.Add(-time.Minute)}
+	st.Save(ctx, cron)
+	if due, _ := st.ListDueScheduled(ctx, now); len(due) != 1 || due[0].ID != "c" {
+		t.Fatalf("ListDueScheduled = %+v", due)
+	}
+	st.MarkScheduledRun(ctx, "c", now, now.Add(time.Hour))
+	if due, _ := st.ListDueScheduled(ctx, now); len(due) != 0 {
+		t.Errorf("after MarkScheduledRun nothing due: %+v", due)
+	}
+}

contrib/store/sqlite.go

@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+// Package store provides durable, pure-Go SQLite implementations of executus's
+// battery store seams (audit, budget, persona, skill). It is a SEPARATE nested
+// module so the SQLite driver (modernc.org/sqlite — pure Go, no cgo) never
+// enters the executus core go.sum: a static-binary host (gadfly) that imports
+// only the core stays static, while a host that wants turnkey persistence
+// imports this module and gets every *Store seam backed by one SQLite file.
+//
+//	db, _ := store.Open("file:executus.db?_pragma=busy_timeout(5000)")
+//	defer db.Close()
+//	budgetStore := db.Budget() // satisfies budget.BudgetStorage
+package store
+
+import (
+	"database/sql"
+	"fmt"
+
+	_ "modernc.org/sqlite" // pure-Go driver, registered as "sqlite"
+)
+
+// DB is a handle to one SQLite database backing the executus store seams. Each
+// accessor (Budget(), …) returns a seam implementation sharing this connection.
+// Safe for concurrent use (SQLite serializes writes; busy_timeout handles
+// contention). Construct with Open; close with Close.
+type DB struct {
+	sql *sql.DB
+}
+
+// Open opens (creating if absent) a SQLite database at dsn and returns a DB. A
+// dsn of ":memory:" yields an ephemeral in-memory database. The caller owns the
+// returned DB and must Close it.
+func Open(dsn string) (*DB, error) {
+	sqldb, err := sql.Open("sqlite", dsn)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("store: open %q: %w", dsn, err)
+	}
+	// A contended writer should WAIT for the lock, not fail immediately — set a
+	// busy_timeout so concurrent stores don't see spurious SQLITE_BUSY. (The
+	// doc example advertised this; it's now actually applied for every DSN.)
+	if _, err := sqldb.Exec("PRAGMA busy_timeout=5000"); err != nil {
+		sqldb.Close()
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("store: set busy_timeout %q: %w", dsn, err)
+	}
+	if err := sqldb.Ping(); err != nil {
+		sqldb.Close()
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("store: ping %q: %w", dsn, err)
+	}
+	return &DB{sql: sqldb}, nil
+}
+
+// Close closes the underlying database.
+func (d *DB) Close() error { return d.sql.Close() }
+
+// SQL exposes the underlying *sql.DB for hosts that need direct access.
+func (d *DB) SQL() *sql.DB { return d.sql }

critic/critic.go

@@ -0,0 +1,302 @@
+// Package critic is the run-watchdog battery: a two-tier timeout monitor that
+// catches a run that has stopped making progress. It plugs into
+// run.Ports.Critic.
+//
+// The split of concerns is deliberate. executus owns the deterministic
+// MECHANICS — track activity, fire on a soft timeout, enforce a hard-kill
+// backstop, carry steer messages and the extendable deadline back to the
+// executor. The POLICY — what to actually do when a run stalls (nudge it,
+// extend its deadline, kill it, escalate to a human) — is the Escalator seam.
+// Mort plugs its LLM critic-agent in as an Escalator; ExtendOnce is the
+// zero-dependency default.
+//
+// The executor wires run.Ports.Critic (C0b): it feeds the handle activity,
+// binds the run context to its extendable Deadline, drains its Steer, and polls
+// MaxSteps each step so an Escalator can also raise a long run's step ceiling
+// (Decision.RaiseStepsBy).
+package critic
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"log/slog"
+	"math"
+	"sync"
+	"time"
+
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/majordomo/llm"
+
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/executus/run"
+)
+
+// Progress is the snapshot the critic hands an Escalator when a run stalls.
+type Progress struct {
+	Iterations   int           // completed agent-loop iterations so far
+	LastActivity time.Time     // wall-clock of the last step/tool event
+	Idle         time.Duration // now - LastActivity
+	LastTool     string        // name of the most recently started tool ("" if none)
+}
+
+// Decision is the Escalator's verdict for a stalled run. Zero value = do
+// nothing (let the hard backstop eventually kill a truly hung run).
+type Decision struct {
+	Nudge        []llm.Message // injected before the agent's next turn (a steer)
+	ExtendBy     time.Duration // push the hard deadline out by this much
+	RaiseStepsBy int           // raise the run's tool-dispatch step ceiling by this
+	Kill         bool          // cancel the run now
+	KillReason   string
+}
+
+// Escalator decides what to do when a run crosses its soft timeout. It is
+// called at most once per idle period (a fresh step/tool event re-arms it).
+type Escalator interface {
+	OnSoftTimeout(ctx context.Context, info run.RunInfo, p Progress) Decision
+}
+
+// ExtendOnce is the default Escalator: the first time a given run stalls it
+// extends that run's deadline by By (giving a slow-but-healthy run room), then
+// takes no further action for it — so a genuinely hung run is later killed by
+// the hard backstop. A nil/zero By falls back to one soft-timeout's worth.
+//
+// The one-shot is keyed PER RUN (by RunInfo.RunID): a single System shares one
+// ExtendOnce across every run it monitors, so a global flag would let only the
+// first run to stall ever get its extension. The fired set grows with the
+// number of distinct runs that stall — fine for a process's run volume; a host
+// running unboundedly long can construct a fresh System periodically.
+type ExtendOnce struct {
+	By time.Duration
+
+	mu    sync.Mutex
+	fired map[string]bool // run ids that have already had their one extension
+}
+
+// OnSoftTimeout implements Escalator.
+func (e *ExtendOnce) OnSoftTimeout(_ context.Context, info run.RunInfo, p Progress) Decision {
+	e.mu.Lock()
+	defer e.mu.Unlock()
+	if e.fired[info.RunID] {
+		return Decision{}
+	}
+	if e.fired == nil {
+		e.fired = map[string]bool{}
+	}
+	e.fired[info.RunID] = true
+	by := e.By
+	if by <= 0 {
+		by = p.Idle // ~one soft timeout
+	}
+	return Decision{ExtendBy: by}
+}
+
+// System implements run.Critic. Construct with New; one System monitors many
+// runs concurrently (each Monitor returns an independent handle).
+type System struct {
+	esc           Escalator
+	backstopMul   float64 // hard deadline = softTimeout * backstopMul from start
+	checkInterval time.Duration
+	now           func() time.Time
+	logger        *slog.Logger
+}
+
+func (s *System) log() *slog.Logger {
+	if s.logger != nil {
+		return s.logger
+	}
+	return slog.Default()
+}
+
+// New builds a run.Critic. esc is the policy (nil → ExtendOnce). backstopMul is
+// the hard-kill backstop as a multiple of each run's soft timeout (<=1 → 3). A
+// nil esc + the default backstop gives a safe "extend once, then hard-kill"
+// watchdog with no host wiring.
+func New(esc Escalator, backstopMul float64) *System {
+	if esc == nil {
+		esc = &ExtendOnce{}
+	}
+	if backstopMul <= 1 {
+		backstopMul = 3
+	}
+	return &System{esc: esc, backstopMul: backstopMul, now: time.Now}
+}
+
+var _ run.Critic = (*System)(nil)
+
+// Monitor starts watching a run and returns its handle. Implements run.Critic.
+func (s *System) Monitor(ctx context.Context, info run.RunInfo, softTimeout time.Duration) run.CriticHandle {
+	if softTimeout <= 0 {
+		return run.CriticHandle(nil) // no soft timeout → not monitored
+	}
+	now := s.now()
+	check := s.checkInterval
+	if check <= 0 {
+		check = softTimeout / 2
+		if check < time.Second {
+			check = time.Second
+		}
+	}
+	h := &handle{
+		sys:          s,
+		info:         info,
+		softTimeout:  softTimeout,
+		now:          s.now,
+		lastActivity: now,
+		deadline:     now.Add(time.Duration(float64(softTimeout) * s.backstopMul)),
+		maxSteps:     info.MaxIterations, // base ceiling; an Escalator may RaiseStepsBy
+		stopCh:       make(chan struct{}),
+	}
+	go h.watch(ctx, check)
+	return h
+}
+
+// handle is one run's live critic link. Implements run.CriticHandle.
+type handle struct {
+	sys         *System
+	info        run.RunInfo
+	softTimeout time.Duration
+	now         func() time.Time
+
+	mu           sync.Mutex
+	lastActivity time.Time
+	escalatedAt  time.Time // lastActivity value we last escalated for (de-dupes per idle period)
+	deadline     time.Time
+	steer        []llm.Message
+	iterations   int
+	maxSteps     int // current tool-dispatch ceiling (base MaxIterations, raised by RaiseStepsBy)
+	lastTool     string
+	killed       bool  // sticky: once an Escalator kills, no later decision un-kills it
+	killCause    error // non-nil once killed; surfaced via KillCause for "killed" status
+	stopped      bool
+	stopCh       chan struct{}
+}
+
+func (h *handle) RecordStep(iter int, _ *llm.Response) {
+	// This battery's Progress tracks iteration count + activity, not per-step
+	// payload, so the response is unused here; a richer Escalator could record it.
+	h.mu.Lock()
+	h.iterations = iter
+	h.lastActivity = h.now()
+	h.mu.Unlock()
+}
+
+func (h *handle) RecordToolStart(name, _ string) {
+	h.mu.Lock()
+	h.lastTool = name
+	h.lastActivity = h.now()
+	h.mu.Unlock()
+}
+
+func (h *handle) Steer() []llm.Message {
+	h.mu.Lock()
+	defer h.mu.Unlock()
+	if len(h.steer) == 0 {
+		return nil
+	}
+	out := h.steer
+	h.steer = nil
+	return out
+}
+
+func (h *handle) Deadline() time.Time {
+	h.mu.Lock()
+	defer h.mu.Unlock()
+	return h.deadline
+}
+
+func (h *handle) MaxSteps() int {
+	h.mu.Lock()
+	defer h.mu.Unlock()
+	return h.maxSteps
+}
+
+func (h *handle) KillCause() error {
+	h.mu.Lock()
+	defer h.mu.Unlock()
+	return h.killCause
+}
+
+func (h *handle) Stop() {
+	h.mu.Lock()
+	if !h.stopped {
+		h.stopped = true
+		close(h.stopCh)
+	}
+	h.mu.Unlock()
+}
+
+// watch fires the Escalator once per idle period the run crosses its soft
+// timeout, and applies the returned Decision.
+func (h *handle) watch(ctx context.Context, interval time.Duration) {
+	// A misbehaving Escalator that panics must not silently kill the watch
+	// goroutine (which would leave the run unmonitored for its lifetime). Log
+	// and exit cleanly — the run falls back to the deadline already set.
+	defer func() {
+		if r := recover(); r != nil {
+			h.sys.log().Error("critic watch panicked; run is now unmonitored", "run", h.info.RunID, "panic", r)
+		}
+	}()
+	t := time.NewTicker(interval)
+	defer t.Stop()
+	for {
+		select {
+		case <-h.stopCh:
+			return
+		case <-ctx.Done():
+			return
+		case <-t.C:
+			h.tick(ctx)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func (h *handle) tick(ctx context.Context) {
+	h.mu.Lock()
+	// Kill is sticky: once an Escalator has killed this run, no later tick (and
+	// no later Decision) un-collapses the deadline.
+	if h.killed {
+		h.mu.Unlock()
+		return
+	}
+	idle := h.now().Sub(h.lastActivity)
+	// Only escalate once per idle period: skip if we already escalated for this
+	// exact lastActivity (a fresh step/tool updates lastActivity and re-arms).
+	if idle < h.softTimeout || h.escalatedAt.Equal(h.lastActivity) {
+		h.mu.Unlock()
+		return
+	}
+	h.escalatedAt = h.lastActivity
+	snap := Progress{Iterations: h.iterations, LastActivity: h.lastActivity, Idle: idle, LastTool: h.lastTool}
+	h.mu.Unlock()
+
+	d := h.sys.esc.OnSoftTimeout(ctx, h.info, snap)
+
+	h.mu.Lock()
+	defer h.mu.Unlock()
+	if h.killed { // a concurrent tick may have killed while OnSoftTimeout ran
+		return
+	}
+	if d.Kill {
+		h.killed = true
+		reason := d.KillReason
+		if reason == "" {
+			reason = "critic killed the run"
+		}
+		h.killCause = errors.New(reason) // surfaced via KillCause → "killed" status
+		h.deadline = h.now()             // immediate hard deadline → executor cancels
+		return                           // ignore any Nudge/ExtendBy paired with a Kill
+	}
+	if len(d.Nudge) > 0 {
+		h.steer = append(h.steer, d.Nudge...)
+	}
+	if d.ExtendBy > 0 {
+		h.deadline = h.deadline.Add(d.ExtendBy)
+	}
+	if d.RaiseStepsBy > 0 {
+		// Overflow-safe: a buggy Escalator returning a huge delta must not wrap
+		// maxSteps negative (which the executor would read as "defer to base").
+		if d.RaiseStepsBy > math.MaxInt-h.maxSteps {
+			h.maxSteps = math.MaxInt
+		} else {
+			h.maxSteps += d.RaiseStepsBy
+		}
+	}
+}

critic/critic_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,100 @@
+package critic
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"sync"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/executus/run"
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/majordomo/llm"
+)
+
+// escFunc adapts a func to an Escalator.
+type escFunc func(context.Context, run.RunInfo, Progress) Decision
+
+func (f escFunc) OnSoftTimeout(ctx context.Context, i run.RunInfo, p Progress) Decision {
+	return f(ctx, i, p)
+}
+
+func TestMonitorEscalatesOncePerIdlePeriodAndExtends(t *testing.T) {
+	var mu sync.Mutex
+	var calls int
+	esc := escFunc(func(_ context.Context, _ run.RunInfo, p Progress) Decision {
+		mu.Lock()
+		calls++
+		mu.Unlock()
+		return Decision{ExtendBy: 50 * time.Millisecond, Nudge: []llm.Message{{Role: llm.RoleUser}}}
+	})
+	s := New(esc, 3)
+	s.checkInterval = 5 * time.Millisecond
+	h := s.Monitor(context.Background(), run.RunInfo{RunID: "r"}, 20*time.Millisecond)
+	defer h.Stop()
+
+	d0 := h.Deadline()
+	time.Sleep(60 * time.Millisecond) // cross the soft timeout with no activity
+	mu.Lock()
+	c := calls
+	mu.Unlock()
+	if c < 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected at least one escalation, got %d", c)
+	}
+	// Nudge was queued and is drained once.
+	if msgs := h.Steer(); len(msgs) == 0 {
+		t.Error("expected a queued steer nudge")
+	}
+	if msgs := h.Steer(); len(msgs) != 0 {
+		t.Error("steer should drain (be empty on second read)")
+	}
+	// Deadline was extended.
+	if !h.Deadline().After(d0) {
+		t.Error("deadline should have been extended past the original")
+	}
+	// A fresh step re-arms; another idle period escalates again.
+	h.RecordStep(1, nil)
+	time.Sleep(60 * time.Millisecond)
+	mu.Lock()
+	c2 := calls
+	mu.Unlock()
+	if c2 <= c {
+		t.Errorf("a re-armed idle period should escalate again (%d -> %d)", c, c2)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestKillCollapsesDeadline(t *testing.T) {
+	esc := escFunc(func(context.Context, run.RunInfo, Progress) Decision {
+		return Decision{Kill: true, KillReason: "hung"}
+	})
+	s := New(esc, 10) // big backstop so only Kill collapses it
+	s.checkInterval = 5 * time.Millisecond
+	h := s.Monitor(context.Background(), run.RunInfo{RunID: "r"}, 20*time.Millisecond)
+	defer h.Stop()
+	time.Sleep(60 * time.Millisecond)
+	if h.Deadline().After(time.Now().Add(time.Second)) {
+		t.Error("Kill should collapse the deadline to ~now")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestExtendOnceOnlyFiresOnce(t *testing.T) {
+	e := &ExtendOnce{By: time.Minute}
+	// Same run id: only the first call extends.
+	d1 := e.OnSoftTimeout(context.Background(), run.RunInfo{RunID: "r1"}, Progress{})
+	d2 := e.OnSoftTimeout(context.Background(), run.RunInfo{RunID: "r1"}, Progress{})
+	if d1.ExtendBy != time.Minute {
+		t.Errorf("first decision should extend, got %+v", d1)
+	}
+	if d2.ExtendBy != 0 || d2.Kill {
+		t.Errorf("second call for the same run should be a no-op, got %+v", d2)
+	}
+	// A DIFFERENT run still gets its own one extension (per-run, not global).
+	if d3 := e.OnSoftTimeout(context.Background(), run.RunInfo{RunID: "r2"}, Progress{}); d3.ExtendBy != time.Minute {
+		t.Errorf("a different run should get its own extension, got %+v", d3)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestZeroSoftTimeoutNotMonitored(t *testing.T) {
+	s := New(nil, 3)
+	if h := s.Monitor(context.Background(), run.RunInfo{}, 0); h != nil {
+		t.Error("zero soft timeout should return a nil handle (not monitored)")
+	}
+}

examples/minimal/main.go

@@ -1,27 +1,49 @@
-// Command minimal demonstrates executus's standalone core primitives available
-// today (P0): the config seam + bounded fan-out. The full zero-config "agentic
-// in ~12 lines" example arrives once the model, tool, and run packages land
-// (P1–P3).
+// Command minimal is executus's "hello, agentic world": wire a model resolver,
+// a tool registry, and the run executor, then run an agent. With no batteries
+// (Audit/Budget/Critic/Checkpointer/Palette/Delivery all nil) this is a
+// bounded, in-memory run — the light-host shape (gadfly's case).
+//
+// Run it with a provider key for the configured tier, e.g.
+//
+//	ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=sk-... go run ./examples/minimal
+//
+// Override a tier from the environment without touching code, e.g.
+//
+//	EXECUTUS_MODEL_TIER_FAST=openai/gpt-4o-mini ANTHROPIC_API_KEY= OPENAI_KEY=sk-... go run ./examples/minimal
 package main
 
 import (
 	"context"
 	"fmt"
+	"log"
 
 	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/executus/config"
-	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/executus/fanout"
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/executus/model"
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/executus/run"
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/executus/tool"
 )
 
 func main() {
-	cfg := config.Env("EXECUTUS_") // e.g. EXECUTUS_FANOUT_MAX_CONCURRENT=8
-	max := cfg.Int("fanout.max_concurrent", 4)
+	// 1. Configure model tiers: live values come from the environment
+	//    (EXECUTUS_MODEL_TIER_<NAME>), falling back to these defaults.
+	model.Configure(config.Env("EXECUTUS_"), map[string]string{
+		"fast":     "anthropic/claude-haiku-4-5",
+		"thinking": "anthropic/claude-opus-4-8",
+	}, 0)
 
-	items := []string{"alpha", "beta", "gamma", "delta"}
-	results := fanout.Run(context.Background(), items,
-		fanout.Options[string]{MaxConcurrent: max},
-		func(_ context.Context, s string) (int, error) { return len(s), nil })
+	// 2. Build the executor: a tool registry + the model resolver. No batteries.
+	ex := run.New(run.Config{
+		Registry: tool.NewRegistry(),
+		Models:   model.ParseModelForContext,
+	})
 
-	for _, r := range results {
-		fmt.Printf("%-6s -> %d (err=%v)\n", items[r.Index], r.Value, r.Err)
+	// 3. Run an agent and print its answer.
+	res := ex.Run(context.Background(),
+		run.RunnableAgent{Name: "assistant", SystemPrompt: "You are concise.", ModelTier: "fast"},
+		tool.Invocation{RunID: "demo-1", CallerID: "local"},
+		"In one sentence, what is an agent harness?")
+	if res.Err != nil {
+		log.Fatalf("run failed: %v", res.Err)
 	}
+	fmt.Println(res.Output)
 }

examples/reviewer/README.md

@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+# examples/reviewer — the light-tier canary
+
+A **gadfly-shaped adversarial PR reviewer built on the executus core only** — no
+batteries, no database, no host adapters. It exists to prove that the core is
+sufficient for a static-binary light host (gadfly's shape), and that such a host
+keeps a `go.sum` free of `gorm`/`redis`/`discordgo`/`sqlite`.
+
+What it exercises, all from core:
+
+| Concern | executus core piece |
+|---|---|
+| Env-driven model fleet + tier overrides | `config.Env` + `model.Configure` |
+| Tier resolution + failover | `model.ParseModelForContext` |
+| N models × M lenses swarm | `fanout.Run` (with `PerKey` per-provider caps) |
+| Structured findings per cell | `model.GenerateWith[T]` |
+| One report section per model, worst-verdict-led | `Consolidate` (local) |
+
+## Run
+
+```sh
+REVIEWER_MODELS=fast,thinking \
+ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=sk-... \
+go run ./examples/reviewer -diff "$(git diff HEAD~1)"
+```
+
+Config (all optional, `REVIEWER_`-prefixed env):
+
+- `REVIEWER_MODELS` — csv of tier names / `provider/model` specs (default `fast`)
+- `REVIEWER_MODEL_TIER_<NAME>` — override a tier's resolved spec
+- `REVIEWER_MAX_CONCURRENT` — total in-flight swarm cells (default 6)
+- `REVIEWER_PROVIDER_CONCURRENCY` — per-provider cap (default 3)
+
+## Test
+
+`reviewer_test.go` runs the whole swarm against majordomo's fake provider
+(hermetic, no network) and asserts the consolidated verdicts. A `go list -deps`
+check in CI confirms the package pulls in no battery and no DB driver — the
+light-tier invariant.

examples/reviewer/main.go

@@ -0,0 +1,110 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"flag"
+	"fmt"
+	"io"
+	"os"
+	"strings"
+
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/executus/config"
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/executus/fanout"
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/executus/model"
+)
+
+// DefaultLenses is the canary's review suite (mirrors gadfly's default).
+var DefaultLenses = []Lens{
+	{Name: "security", Focus: "auth, injection, secret leakage, unsafe deserialization, SSRF."},
+	{Name: "correctness", Focus: "logic errors, broken invariants, off-by-one, contract violations."},
+	{Name: "error-handling", Focus: "swallowed errors, missing timeouts, races, unhandled edge cases."},
+}
+
+// Reviewer is configured entirely from the environment (the GADFLY_*-style light
+// host): REVIEWER_MODELS (csv of tier/spec), REVIEWER_MODEL_TIER_<NAME> overrides,
+// REVIEWER_MAX_CONCURRENT, REVIEWER_PROVIDER_CONCURRENCY. The diff is read from
+// -diff or stdin.
+//
+//	REVIEWER_MODELS=fast,thinking ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=... go run ./examples/reviewer < my.diff
+func main() {
+	cfg := config.Env("REVIEWER_")
+
+	// Tier table from env, with code defaults.
+	model.Configure(cfg, map[string]string{
+		"fast":     "anthropic/claude-haiku-4-5",
+		"thinking": "anthropic/claude-opus-4-8",
+	}, 0)
+
+	fleet := splitCSV(cfg.String("models", "fast"))
+	maxConc := cfg.Int("max_concurrent", 6)
+	perProvider := cfg.Int("provider_concurrency", 3)
+
+	diffFlag := flag.String("diff", "", "diff text to review; reads stdin when empty")
+	flag.Parse()
+	diff := *diffFlag
+	if strings.TrimSpace(diff) == "" {
+		// Guard against blocking forever on an interactive TTY (no piped input).
+		if fi, _ := os.Stdin.Stat(); fi != nil && fi.Mode()&os.ModeCharDevice != 0 {
+			fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr, "reviewer: no diff (pass -diff or pipe one on stdin)")
+			os.Exit(2)
+		}
+		b, err := io.ReadAll(os.Stdin)
+		if err != nil {
+			fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "reviewer: reading stdin: %v\n", err)
+			os.Exit(2)
+		}
+		diff = string(b)
+	}
+	if strings.TrimSpace(diff) == "" {
+		fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr, "reviewer: no diff (pass -diff or pipe one on stdin)")
+		os.Exit(2)
+	}
+
+	ctx := context.Background()
+	var models []NamedModel
+	for _, spec := range fleet {
+		_, m, err := model.ParseModelForContext(ctx, spec)
+		if err != nil {
+			fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "reviewer: resolve model %q: %v\n", spec, err)
+			os.Exit(1)
+		}
+		models = append(models, NamedModel{Name: spec, Provider: providerOf(spec), Model: m})
+	}
+
+	results := Review(ctx, models, DefaultLenses, diff, fanout.Options[cell]{
+		MaxConcurrent: maxConc,
+		PerKey:        perKeyCaps(models, perProvider),
+	})
+	fmt.Print(Consolidate(results))
+}
+
+func splitCSV(s string) []string {
+	var out []string
+	for _, p := range strings.Split(s, ",") {
+		if p = strings.TrimSpace(p); p != "" {
+			out = append(out, p)
+		}
+	}
+	return out
+}
+
+// providerOf returns a model spec's provider (the first path segment, e.g.
+// "anthropic/claude-…" → "anthropic"; a bare tier name → itself).
+func providerOf(spec string) string {
+	if i := strings.IndexByte(spec, '/'); i > 0 {
+		return spec[:i]
+	}
+	return spec // bare tier name → its own bucket (don't collapse distinct tiers)
+}
+
+// perKeyCaps builds the PerKey map: each distinct provider capped at perProvider.
+func perKeyCaps(models []NamedModel, perProvider int) map[string]int {
+	if perProvider <= 0 {
+		return nil
+	}
+	caps := map[string]int{}
+	for _, m := range models {
+		caps[m.Provider] = perProvider
+	}
+	return caps
+}

examples/reviewer/reviewer.go

@@ -0,0 +1,204 @@
+// Command reviewer is executus's light-tier CANARY: a gadfly-shaped adversarial
+// PR reviewer built on the executus CORE ONLY — no batteries, no DB, no host.
+// It proves the core is sufficient for a static-binary host like gadfly:
+//
+//   - config.Env            → env-driven model fleet + concurrency (GADFLY_*-style)
+//   - model.Configure/...   → tier resolution + failover over majordomo
+//   - fanout.Run            → the N-models × M-lenses swarm, with per-provider caps
+//   - model.GenerateWith[T] → structured findings per (model, lens)
+//   - consolidation         → one report section per model, worst-verdict-led
+//
+// The whole thing imports only executus core packages, so a binary built from it
+// keeps a go.sum free of gorm/redis/discordgo/sqlite — the light-tier invariant.
+//
+// See reviewer_test.go for the hermetic swarm test (majordomo's fake provider).
+package main
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"fmt"
+	"sort"
+	"strings"
+
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/majordomo/llm"
+
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/executus/fanout"
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/executus/model"
+)
+
+// Severity orders findings; the rank drives a model's worst-verdict header.
+type Severity string
+
+const (
+	SevTrivial  Severity = "trivial"
+	SevSmall    Severity = "small"
+	SevMedium   Severity = "medium"
+	SevHigh     Severity = "high"
+	SevCritical Severity = "critical"
+)
+
+func severityRank(s Severity) int {
+	switch s {
+	case SevCritical:
+		return 4
+	case SevHigh:
+		return 3
+	case SevMedium:
+		return 2
+	case SevSmall:
+		return 1
+	default:
+		return 0
+	}
+}
+
+// Finding is one issue a lens reports. It is the structured-output schema the
+// model must satisfy (majordomo derives the JSON schema from this struct).
+type Finding struct {
+	Severity Severity `json:"severity" jsonschema:"enum=trivial,enum=small,enum=medium,enum=high,enum=critical"`
+	Title    string   `json:"title"`
+	Detail   string   `json:"detail"`
+}
+
+// lensReport is the per-(model,lens) structured response.
+type lensReport struct {
+	Findings []Finding `json:"findings"`
+}
+
+// Lens is one review dimension (security / correctness / …).
+type Lens struct {
+	Name  string
+	Focus string // appended to the base system prompt
+}
+
+// NamedModel is a resolved model plus the label + provider used for fan-out
+// keying (per-provider concurrency) and reporting.
+type NamedModel struct {
+	Name     string // display label (the tier/spec the host configured)
+	Provider string // fan-out key for PerKey concurrency (e.g. "ollama-cloud")
+	Model    llm.Model
+}
+
+// LensResult is one swarm cell's outcome.
+type LensResult struct {
+	Model    string
+	Lens     string
+	Findings []Finding
+	Err      error
+}
+
+const baseSystemPrompt = "You are an adversarial code reviewer. Review the diff for real, verifiable problems only — no style nits. Return ONLY JSON matching the schema. Report nothing if you find nothing."
+
+// Review runs every (model × lens) cell of the swarm concurrently, bounded by
+// opts (total + per-provider caps), and returns one LensResult per cell. A cell
+// whose model call fails carries the error in LensResult.Err — one bad cell
+// never aborts the swarm (the closure embeds per-cell errors in LensResult.Err).
+func Review(ctx context.Context, models []NamedModel, lenses []Lens, diff string, opts fanout.Options[cell]) []LensResult {
+	cells := make([]cell, 0, len(models)*len(lenses))
+	for _, m := range models {
+		for _, l := range lenses {
+			cells = append(cells, cell{model: m, lens: l})
+		}
+	}
+	// Key each cell by its provider so PerKey throttles per backend (the
+	// GADFLY_PROVIDER_CONCURRENCY analogue).
+	if opts.Key == nil {
+		opts.Key = func(c cell) string { return c.model.Provider }
+	}
+	results := fanout.Run(ctx, cells, opts, func(ctx context.Context, c cell) (LensResult, error) {
+		sys := baseSystemPrompt
+		if c.lens.Focus != "" {
+			sys += "\n\nLens — " + c.lens.Name + ": " + c.lens.Focus
+		}
+		msgs := []llm.Message{{Role: llm.RoleUser, Parts: []llm.Part{llm.Text("Diff under review:\n" + diff)}}}
+		rep, err := model.GenerateWith[lensReport](ctx, c.model.Model, sys, msgs)
+		lr := LensResult{Model: c.model.Name, Lens: c.lens.Name, Findings: rep.Findings, Err: err}
+		// Return the value either way (err embedded) so every cell reports.
+		return lr, nil
+	})
+	out := make([]LensResult, 0, len(results))
+	for _, r := range results {
+		if r.Err != nil { // a swarm-level error (ctx cancel) with no value
+			out = append(out, LensResult{Err: r.Err})
+			continue
+		}
+		out = append(out, r.Value)
+	}
+	return out
+}
+
+// cell is one (model, lens) swarm task.
+type cell struct {
+	model NamedModel
+	lens  Lens
+}
+
+// Consolidate renders the swarm's results into one report: a section per model,
+// each led by that model's worst finding severity, mirroring gadfly's
+// one-comment-per-model output.
+func Consolidate(results []LensResult) string {
+	byModel := map[string][]LensResult{}
+	var order []string
+	aborted := 0 // cells dropped before running (swarm cancelled) — no model attribution
+	for _, r := range results {
+		if r.Model == "" {
+			if r.Err != nil {
+				aborted++
+			}
+			continue
+		}
+		if _, ok := byModel[r.Model]; !ok {
+			order = append(order, r.Model)
+		}
+		byModel[r.Model] = append(byModel[r.Model], r)
+	}
+	sort.Strings(order)
+
+	var b strings.Builder
+	if aborted > 0 {
+		fmt.Fprintf(&b, "> ⚠ swarm cancelled — %d cell(s) did not run; results below are partial.\n\n", aborted)
+	}
+	for _, m := range order {
+		rs := byModel[m]
+		var all []Finding
+		worst := -1
+		errored := 0
+		for _, r := range rs {
+			if r.Err != nil {
+				errored++
+				continue
+			}
+			all = append(all, r.Findings...)
+			for _, f := range r.Findings {
+				if severityRank(f.Severity) > worst {
+					worst = severityRank(f.Severity)
+				}
+			}
+		}
+		// A model whose every lens errored produced NO data — saying "no issues
+		// found" would be misleading, so it gets its own verdict.
+		successful := len(rs) - errored
+		verdict := "no issues found"
+		switch {
+		case successful == 0 && errored > 0:
+			verdict = "review incomplete"
+		case worst >= severityRank(SevHigh):
+			verdict = "blocking issues found"
+		case worst >= 0:
+			verdict = "minor issues"
+		}
+		fmt.Fprintf(&b, "## %s — %s", m, verdict)
+		if errored > 0 {
+			fmt.Fprintf(&b, " (⚠ %d lens(es) errored)", errored)
+		}
+		b.WriteString("\n")
+		sort.SliceStable(all, func(i, j int) bool {
+			return severityRank(all[i].Severity) > severityRank(all[j].Severity)
+		})
+		for _, f := range all {
+			fmt.Fprintf(&b, "- [%s] %s — %s\n", f.Severity, f.Title, f.Detail)
+		}
+		b.WriteString("\n")
+	}
+	return b.String()
+}

examples/reviewer/reviewer_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,128 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/majordomo/provider/fake"
+
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/executus/fanout"
+)
+
+// TestReviewSwarm proves the light-tier path end-to-end against the fake
+// provider: a 2-model × 3-lens swarm runs, structured findings parse, and
+// consolidation produces one verdict-led section per model — no batteries, no
+// network.
+func TestReviewSwarm(t *testing.T) {
+	fp := fake.New("fakeprov")
+
+	// Model "hot" reports a high-severity finding on every lens; "cold" reports
+	// nothing. Each model is called once per lens (3×), so enqueue 3 each.
+	hot := `{"findings":[{"severity":"high","title":"SQL injection","detail":"unsanitized id in query"}]}`
+	cold := `{"findings":[]}`
+	for i := 0; i < 3; i++ {
+		fp.Enqueue("hot", fake.Reply(hot))
+		fp.Enqueue("cold", fake.Reply(cold))
+	}
+	hotM, err := fp.Model("hot")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	coldM, err := fp.Model("cold")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	models := []NamedModel{
+		{Name: "hot", Provider: "fakeprov", Model: hotM},
+		{Name: "cold", Provider: "fakeprov", Model: coldM},
+	}
+	lenses := []Lens{{Name: "security"}, {Name: "correctness"}, {Name: "error-handling"}}
+
+	results := Review(context.Background(), models, lenses, "some diff",
+		fanout.Options[cell]{MaxConcurrent: 6, PerKey: map[string]int{"fakeprov": 3}})
+
+	// 2 models × 3 lenses = 6 cells, all successful.
+	if len(results) != 6 {
+		t.Fatalf("got %d cells, want 6", len(results))
+	}
+	var hotFindings, coldFindings, errs int
+	for _, r := range results {
+		if r.Err != nil {
+			errs++
+			continue
+		}
+		switch r.Model {
+		case "hot":
+			hotFindings += len(r.Findings)
+		case "cold":
+			coldFindings += len(r.Findings)
+		}
+	}
+	if errs != 0 {
+		t.Errorf("expected no cell errors, got %d", errs)
+	}
+	if hotFindings != 3 { // one per lens
+		t.Errorf("hot model findings = %d, want 3", hotFindings)
+	}
+	if coldFindings != 0 {
+		t.Errorf("cold model findings = %d, want 0", coldFindings)
+	}
+
+	report := Consolidate(results)
+	if !strings.Contains(report, "hot — blocking issues found") {
+		t.Errorf("hot section should lead with a blocking verdict:\n%s", report)
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(report, "cold — no issues found") {
+		t.Errorf("cold section should report no issues:\n%s", report)
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(report, "SQL injection") {
+		t.Errorf("report should surface the finding:\n%s", report)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestConsolidateVerdicts checks the worst-severity-led header logic.
+func TestConsolidateVerdicts(t *testing.T) {
+	got := Consolidate([]LensResult{
+		{Model: "m", Lens: "a", Findings: []Finding{{Severity: SevSmall, Title: "x"}}},
+		{Model: "m", Lens: "b", Findings: []Finding{{Severity: SevMedium, Title: "y"}}},
+	})
+	if !strings.Contains(got, "m — minor issues") {
+		t.Errorf("medium-max should be 'minor issues', got:\n%s", got)
+	}
+	// An errored lens is surfaced in the header.
+	got = Consolidate([]LensResult{
+		{Model: "m", Lens: "a", Findings: []Finding{{Severity: SevCritical, Title: "boom"}}},
+		{Model: "m", Lens: "b", Err: context.DeadlineExceeded},
+	})
+	if !strings.Contains(got, "blocking issues found") || !strings.Contains(got, "errored") {
+		t.Errorf("critical + errored lens header wrong:\n%s", got)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestConsolidateAllErrored: a model whose every lens errored must NOT be
+// labelled "no issues found" (the gadfly P5 finding).
+func TestConsolidateAllErrored(t *testing.T) {
+	got := Consolidate([]LensResult{
+		{Model: "m", Lens: "a", Err: context.DeadlineExceeded},
+		{Model: "m", Lens: "b", Err: context.DeadlineExceeded},
+	})
+	if !strings.Contains(got, "m — review incomplete") {
+		t.Errorf("all-errored model should be 'review incomplete', got:\n%s", got)
+	}
+	if strings.Contains(got, "no issues found") {
+		t.Errorf("all-errored model must not say 'no issues found':\n%s", got)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestConsolidateSwarmCancelled: dropped (unattributed) cells surface a banner.
+func TestConsolidateSwarmCancelled(t *testing.T) {
+	got := Consolidate([]LensResult{
+		{Err: context.Canceled}, // dropped cell, no model
+		{Model: "m", Lens: "a", Findings: []Finding{{Severity: SevSmall, Title: "x"}}},
+	})
+	if !strings.Contains(got, "swarm cancelled") {
+		t.Errorf("dropped cells should surface a cancellation banner:\n%s", got)
+	}
+}

go.mod

@@ -5,7 +5,9 @@ go 1.26.2
 require (
 	gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/majordomo v0.0.0-20260626223738-1fd7109a42f3
 	github.com/google/uuid v1.6.0
+	github.com/robfig/cron/v3 v3.0.1
 	golang.org/x/crypto v0.53.0
+	gopkg.in/yaml.v3 v3.0.1
 )
 
 require (

go.sum

@@ -50,6 +50,8 @@ github.com/gorilla/websocket v1.5.3 h1:saDtZ6Pbx/0u+bgYQ3q96pZgCzfhKXGPqt7kZ72aN
 github.com/gorilla/websocket v1.5.3/go.mod h1:YR8l580nyteQvAITg2hZ9XVh4b55+EU/adAjf1fMHhE=
 github.com/pmezard/go-difflib v1.0.0/go.mod h1:iKH77koFhYxTK1pcRnkKkqfTogsbg7gZNVY4sRDYZ/4=
 github.com/prometheus/client_model v0.0.0-20190812154241-14fe0d1b01d4/go.mod h1:xMI15A0UPsDsEKsMN9yxemIoYk6Tm2C1GtYGdfGttqA=
+github.com/robfig/cron/v3 v3.0.1 h1:WdRxkvbJztn8LMz/QEvLN5sBU+xKpSqwwUO1Pjr4qDs=
+github.com/robfig/cron/v3 v3.0.1/go.mod h1:eQICP3HwyT7UooqI/z+Ov+PtYAWygg1TEWWzGIFLtro=
 github.com/stretchr/objx v0.1.0/go.mod h1:HFkY916IF+rwdDfMAkV7OtwuqBVzrE8GR6GFx+wExME=
 github.com/stretchr/objx v0.4.0/go.mod h1:YvHI0jy2hoMjB+UWwv71VJQ9isScKT/TqJzVSSt89Yw=
 github.com/stretchr/objx v0.5.0/go.mod h1:Yh+to48EsGEfYuaHDzXPcE3xhTkx73EhmCGUpEOglKo=
@@ -123,8 +125,10 @@ google.golang.org/protobuf v1.23.1-0.20200526195155-81db48ad09cc/go.mod h1:EGpAD
 google.golang.org/protobuf v1.25.0/go.mod h1:9JNX74DMeImyA3h4bdi1ymwjUzf21/xIlbajtzgsN7c=
 google.golang.org/protobuf v1.34.2 h1:6xV6lTsCfpGD21XK49h7MhtcApnLqkfYgPcdHftf6hg=
 google.golang.org/protobuf v1.34.2/go.mod h1:qYOHts0dSfpeUzUFpOMr/WGzszTmLH+DiWniOlNbLDw=
+gopkg.in/check.v1 v0.0.0-20161208181325-20d25e280405 h1:yhCVgyC4o1eVCa2tZl7eS0r+SDo693bJlVdllGtEeKM=
 gopkg.in/check.v1 v0.0.0-20161208181325-20d25e280405/go.mod h1:Co6ibVJAznAaIkqp8huTwlJQCZ016jof/cbN4VW5Yz0=
 gopkg.in/yaml.v3 v3.0.0-20200313102051-9f266ea9e77c/go.mod h1:K4uyk7z7BCEPqu6E+C64Yfv1cQ7kz7rIZviUmN+EgEM=
+gopkg.in/yaml.v3 v3.0.1 h1:fxVm/GzAzEWqLHuvctI91KS9hhNmmWOoWu0XTYJS7CA=
 gopkg.in/yaml.v3 v3.0.1/go.mod h1:K4uyk7z7BCEPqu6E+C64Yfv1cQ7kz7rIZviUmN+EgEM=
 honnef.co/go/tools v0.0.0-20190102054323-c2f93a96b099/go.mod h1:rf3lG4BRIbNafJWhAfAdb/ePZxsR/4RtNHQocxwk9r4=
 honnef.co/go/tools v0.0.0-20190523083050-ea95bdfd59fc/go.mod h1:rf3lG4BRIbNafJWhAfAdb/ePZxsR/4RtNHQocxwk9r4=

llmmeta/helper.go

@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"encoding/json"
 	"fmt"
+	"log/slog"
 	"strings"
 	"time"
 
@@ -574,7 +575,9 @@ func (h *Helper) recordLedger(ctx context.Context, call MetaCall) {
 	if h.storage == nil {
 		return
 	}
-	_ = h.storage.RecordMetaCall(ctx, call)
+	if err := h.storage.RecordMetaCall(ctx, call); err != nil {
+		slog.Warn("llmmeta: failed to record ledger row", "err", err)
+	}
 }
 
 // tryParseJSON attempts to decode text as JSON. Returns the parsed

model/call.go

@@ -237,7 +237,7 @@ func recordUsage(ctx context.Context, resp *llm.Response) {
 		return
 	}
 	u := resp.Usage
-	if u.InputTokens == 0 && u.OutputTokens == 0 {
+	if u.InputTokens == 0 && u.OutputTokens == 0 && u.CacheReadTokens == 0 && u.CacheWriteTokens == 0 {
 		return
 	}
 	model := resolvedModelName(ctx, resp)

model/cloud_sync.go

@@ -314,7 +314,7 @@ func (c *CloudOllamaLimitCache) fetchTags(ctx context.Context) ([]string, error)
 		return nil, err
 	}
 	defer resp.Body.Close()
-	body, err := io.ReadAll(resp.Body)
+	body, err := readCapped(resp.Body)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
@@ -367,7 +367,7 @@ func (c *CloudOllamaLimitCache) fetchContextLength(ctx context.Context, modelNam
 		return 0, err
 	}
 	defer resp.Body.Close()
-	respBody, err := io.ReadAll(resp.Body)
+	respBody, err := readCapped(resp.Body)
 	if err != nil {
 		return 0, err
 	}
@@ -451,3 +451,24 @@ func truncate(b []byte, n int) string {
 	}
 	return string(b[:n]) + "...(truncated)"
 }
+
+// maxLimitCacheResponseBytes bounds the ollama.com limit-cache HTTP responses
+// (/api/tags, /api/show) so a misbehaving endpoint can't stream an unbounded
+// body before the 15s timeout fires. 1 MiB is far above any real response.
+const maxLimitCacheResponseBytes = 1 << 20
+
+// readCapped reads up to maxLimitCacheResponseBytes from r and returns a clear
+// error if the response EXCEEDS the cap — rather than silently truncating (as a
+// bare io.LimitReader does) and letting downstream json.Unmarshal fail with an
+// opaque "unexpected end of JSON input". It reads one extra byte to detect the
+// overflow.
+func readCapped(r io.Reader) ([]byte, error) {
+	body, err := io.ReadAll(io.LimitReader(r, maxLimitCacheResponseBytes+1))
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	if len(body) > maxLimitCacheResponseBytes {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("cloud_sync: response exceeded %d bytes", maxLimitCacheResponseBytes)
+	}
+	return body, nil
+}

model/sink.go

@@ -16,6 +16,11 @@ import (
 // UsageSink receives one record per successful Generate through a model parsed
 // by this package (ParseModelRequest / ParseModelForContext). Implement it to
 // meter or bill; the token detail mirrors majordomo's Response.Usage.
+//
+// IMPORTANT: cacheReadTokens and cacheWriteTokens are PORTIONS of inputTokens,
+// not independent additive values (they let a sink price cached vs fresh input
+// differently). A sink must NOT compute total = input+output+cacheRead+
+// cacheWrite — that double-counts the cached input.
 type UsageSink interface {
 	Record(ctx context.Context, model string, inputTokens, outputTokens, cacheReadTokens, cacheWriteTokens int)
 }

persona/agent.go

@@ -0,0 +1,194 @@
+// Package agents implements the Agent noun: a persisted persona +
+// execution spec + palette of skills/sub-agents/low-level tools, with
+// optional trigger metadata (schedule, webhook, chatbot channel
+// listener) and personalization sources.
+//
+// Phase 1 scope: this package introduces Agent as a persisted noun
+// with CRUD only — no execution path, no palette resolution, no
+// trigger handling. See /Users/steve/.claude/plans/serene-churning-micali.md
+// for the staged rollout. Later phases add agentexec, agent_invoke,
+// trigger dispatch (schedule/webhook/chatbot), and CommandBinding.
+//
+// The three-layer storage pattern from pkg/logic/storage/CLAUDE.md
+// applies — when adding a field to Agent, you MUST update
+// pkg/logic/storage/agents.go (gormAgent, agentFromStorage,
+// toStorage) or persistence will silently break.
+package persona
+
+import "time"
+
+// Agent is the domain definition of an Agent persona + execution spec.
+//
+// Why: an Agent is the "configured invoker" — model tier + base
+// system prompt + a palette of capabilities (skills, sub-agents,
+// low-level tools) it may exercise during a run. Where a Skill is a
+// reusable parameterised callable (a library function), an Agent is
+// the actor with a persistent persona that calls those skills. The
+// struct is flat — every field lives on its own column on the
+// agents table; JSON columns are used only for variable-length
+// collections (palette lists, tags, etc.).
+//
+// What: identity + persona + execution caps + palette + triggers +
+// personalization + UX, all on one struct. Several field families
+// (Palette, Triggers, Personalization) are persisted now but NOT
+// exercised until later phases — they exist so the schema is stable
+// and future phases can light up behaviour without DB migrations.
+//
+// Test: see pkg/logic/agents/storage_round_trip_test.go for
+// Save/Get/GetByName/List/Delete coverage.
+type Agent struct {
+	// Identity
+	ID          string // UUID
+	Name        string // unique per OwnerID; human-friendly identifier
+	Description string
+	OwnerID     string // Discord member ID
+	AuthoredBy  string // Discord member ID; usually == OwnerID
+	Version     int    // monotonic, for future versioning
+	CreatedAt   time.Time
+	UpdatedAt   time.Time
+
+	// Extends names the parent agent this agent inherits from. Only used
+	// during builtin loading — the loader resolves extends references and
+	// merges fields before persisting. The resolved agent is a standalone
+	// entity; Extends is NOT persisted in the database. Only single-level
+	// extends is supported (no chains).
+	Extends string
+
+	// SystemPromptPrepend, when non-empty, is prepended to the system
+	// prompt (with a trailing newline separator). Used by the extends
+	// mechanism so a child agent can prepend persona instructions to the
+	// parent's full system prompt without duplicating it. Like Extends,
+	// this is resolved at load time and NOT persisted — the final
+	// SystemPrompt on the persisted Agent already has the prepend applied.
+	SystemPromptPrepend string
+
+	// Persona / execution spec
+	ModelTier         string        // "fast" | "standard" | "thinking" | provider/model
+	SystemPrompt      string        // base persona prompt (Phase 5 layers personalization on top)
+	MaxIterations     int           // 0 → use convar default at execution time
+	MaxToolCalls      int           // 0 → use convar default at execution time
+	MaxRuntime        time.Duration // stored as MaxRuntimeNs int64 in GORM (avoid duration-driver flakiness)
+	ExecutionLane     string        // lane name; empty = default at execution time
+	EncryptionEnabled bool          // Phase 1 stores the flag; envelope-encryption bridge wires in a later phase
+
+	// Run-critic (two-tier timeout). When CriticEnabled is false (the
+	// default) MaxRuntime is the hard kill, exactly as before. When true,
+	// MaxRuntime becomes a SOFT trigger: at MaxRuntime the run-critic
+	// activates and periodically reviews the run; the hard backstop (the
+	// absolute kill) is MaxRuntime × the multiplier. CriticBackstopMultiplier
+	// of 0 means "use the convar default" (agents.critic.backstop_multiplier_default,
+	// default 6×). See pkg/logic/agentcritic.
+	CriticEnabled            bool
+	CriticBackstopMultiplier float64
+
+	// Palette — what this Agent may invoke (Phase 2 reads these).
+	// Stored as JSON arrays; not exercised by Phase 1 CRUD.
+	SkillPalette    []string // skill IDs/names
+	SubAgentPalette []string // agent IDs/names
+	LowLevelTools   []string // skilltools registry names
+	// SkillPacks names SKILL.md skill-pack subscriptions activated for a run via
+	// run.Ports.SkillPacks (catalog folded into the prompt + a skill_use loader).
+	SkillPacks []string
+
+	// Personalization (Phase 5 reads these). Each layer name maps to
+	// a registered PersonalizationProvider that returns text appended
+	// to SystemPrompt at run time. Empty list = base prompt only.
+	PersonalizationSources []string
+
+	// Triggers — persisted now, NOT dispatched by Phase 1.
+	//
+	// Schedule: cron expression or "daily"/"weekly" shorthand. Empty
+	// = on-demand only. NextRunAt + LastScheduledRunAt are scheduler
+	// bookkeeping for Phase 3's per-Agent scheduler.
+	Schedule           string
+	NextRunAt          *time.Time
+	LastScheduledRunAt *time.Time
+
+	// Webhook trigger metadata. WebhookSecret empty = inbound
+	// webhooks disabled. WebhookSignatureRequired defaults true at
+	// save time (see Skill's lesson: don't store a GORM default on a
+	// bool where false is a legitimate explicit value — application
+	// layer is the source of truth).
+	WebhookSecret            string
+	WebhookSignatureRequired bool
+	WebhookIPAllowlist       []string // CIDR strings; stored as JSON array
+
+	// Chatbot trigger metadata. ChatbotChannelFilter names a filter
+	// registered in pkg/logic/skills' ChannelFilterRegistry — when
+	// the migrated chatbot dispatches via this Agent, the filter
+	// gates which channels it listens in.
+	ChatbotChannelFilter string
+
+	// UX
+	//
+	// DefaultEmoji is an optional identity emoji for this agent.
+	// Used as the __start__ fallback and forwarded to the invoking
+	// Discord message when a parent calls this agent via agent_invoke.
+	DefaultEmoji string
+
+	// StateReactEmoji maps tool names (and reserved keys "__start__",
+	// "__end__", "__error__") to Discord emoji that the executor
+	// reacts with as the run progresses. Empty map = no reactions.
+	StateReactEmoji map[string]string
+
+	// Tags is a free-form set of short labels for organisation +
+	// discovery on the agents list page (Phase 1 admin commands +
+	// future web UI).
+	Tags []string
+
+	// Phases defines a multi-phase pipeline for this agent. When
+	// non-empty, the executor runs agentexec's sequential phase runner
+	// instead of the single agent loop. Empty = single-loop agent.
+	//
+	// Phases IS persisted (JSON struct-slice column `phases` on
+	// gormAgent). It used to be transient — "TOML is the only source of
+	// truth" — but every production dispatch path resolves the agent from
+	// the DB, where the dropped Phases meant research / deepresearch
+	// silently degraded to a single-loop run (the executor's
+	// `len(a.Phases) > 0` pipeline branch was dead). The builtin loader
+	// still seeds phases from YAML; persisting them is what makes the
+	// pipeline branch fire for DB-loaded agents.
+	Phases []AgentPhase
+}
+
+// AgentPhase describes one stage of a multi-phase pipeline in an
+// agent definition. Executed directly by agentexec's phase runner
+// (pipeline.go) — there is no intermediate execution-spec struct.
+//
+// What: name + prompt template + model/iteration overrides + tool
+// list + optional/fallback flags + IsRunFunc indicator.
+//
+// Test: see builtin_loader_test.go for YAML round-trip coverage.
+type AgentPhase struct {
+	// Name identifies the phase (e.g., "scout", "plan", "investigate").
+	Name string
+
+	// SystemPrompt for this phase. Supports template variables:
+	// {{.Query}} for the original query, and {{.<PhaseName>}} for
+	// prior phase outputs (e.g., {{.scout}}, {{.plan}}).
+	SystemPrompt string
+
+	// ModelTier overrides the agent's ModelTier for this phase.
+	// Empty = use agent default.
+	ModelTier string
+
+	// MaxIter overrides the agent's MaxIterations for this phase.
+	// 0 = use agent default.
+	MaxIter int
+
+	// Tools are tool names for this phase only. These are resolved
+	// from the agent's low-level tools + palette at execution time.
+	Tools []string
+
+	// Optional means errors in this phase don't abort the pipeline.
+	Optional bool
+
+	// FallbackMessage is used when an optional phase fails.
+	// Default: "(Phase <Name> encountered an error)"
+	FallbackMessage string
+
+	// IsRunFunc indicates this phase is a bare LLM call (no tool
+	// loop). When true, the executor makes a single model.Complete
+	// call instead of running the full agent loop.
+	IsRunFunc bool
+}

persona/builtin_loader.go

@@ -0,0 +1,604 @@
+package persona
+
+// Phase 6 — Builtin Agent loader.
+//
+// Why: Phase 1-5 introduced the Agent noun, runtime, triggers,
+// CommandBinding, and ChatBot bridge — but every Agent in production
+// was either (a) a wrapper auto-migrated from a triggered Skill, or
+// (b) admin-created via `.agent new`. There were no SHIPPED Agents
+// authored as builtins. Phase 6 adds an idempotent boot-time loader so
+// the repo can ship canonical Agent definitions (alongside the
+// existing skills/<name>/skill.yml builtins) without manual admin
+// creation per deploy.
+//
+// What: scans `<builtinsDir>/agents/*/agent.yml`, decodes each YAML
+// into an Agent, and upserts via Storage.SaveAgent under the deterministic
+// system owner ID "builtin". Skill-palette entries are validated AT LOAD
+// TIME against the live skills storage; missing skills warn but do not
+// fail the load (the skill might arrive later via a different code
+// path, and runtime resolution happens at invocation time anyway).
+//
+// Bypass note (v3 lesson, mirrored): like skills.LoadBuiltins, this
+// loader writes via Storage.SaveAgent directly. There is no agents
+// equivalent of SaveUserSkill's save-time gates today (Phase 1-5 don't
+// have authoring requirements on agents), but if such gates appear in
+// future phases, this loader MUST keep bypassing them — builtins are
+// trusted infrastructure.
+//
+// Test: pkg/logic/agents/builtin_loader_test.go covers happy path,
+// idempotent re-load, missing-skill warn capture, and malformed YAML
+// surfaced as a per-bundle warning (not a fatal error).
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"io/fs"
+	"log/slog"
+	"net"
+	"path"
+	"strings"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/google/uuid"
+	"gopkg.in/yaml.v3"
+)
+
+// BuiltinAgentOwnerID is the deterministic system owner ID used for
+// every Agent created by LoadBuiltinAgents. Chosen as a non-empty
+// string so the (owner_id, name) unique index distinguishes builtins
+// from any user-authored Agent (Discord member IDs are numeric, so
+// "builtin" cannot collide). The skills builtin loader uses owner_id=""
+// instead; the two systems are independent storage scopes — there's
+// no need for consistency here.
+const BuiltinAgentOwnerID = "builtin"
+
+// SkillExistenceChecker is the narrow surface LoadBuiltinAgents needs
+// to validate skill_palette entries at load time. Production wires
+// skills.Storage which already exposes ListByName for non-owner-scoped
+// lookups. nil means "skip palette validation" (tests that don't care).
+//
+// Why a separate narrow interface (vs importing skills.Storage):
+// agents already transitively depends on skills via migrate_from_skills,
+// but the loader only needs "does a skill with this name exist
+// somewhere?" — a single Boolean. Keeping the interface narrow makes
+// the loader testable without a full skills storage stub.
+type SkillExistenceChecker interface {
+	// SkillExistsByName reports whether at least one skill row has the
+	// given name across any owner (builtins live under owner_id="";
+	// users own their own rows; the loader's validation just wants
+	// "does ANY row exist with this name?").
+	SkillExistsByName(ctx context.Context, name string) (bool, error)
+}
+
+// LoadBuiltinAgents discovers and seeds builtin Agents from `builtinsDir`.
+// `builtinsDir` is the root that contains an `agents/` subdirectory;
+// per-agent YAML lives at `agents/<name>/agent.yml`. Returns the count
+// of agents seeded or updated (skipped rows do not contribute to the
+// count). Returns nil error when the agents/ directory is absent — a
+// deployment without any builtin agents is valid; the loader is then a
+// no-op.
+//
+// Idempotency contract: existing Agent rows (matched by (owner_id="builtin",
+// name)) are UPDATED to the freshly-parsed YAML on each boot. ID +
+// CreatedAt are preserved; UpdatedAt is refreshed. User clones of a
+// builtin Agent (different owner_id, same name) are NEVER touched —
+// the loader only writes to (owner_id="builtin", name) rows.
+//
+// `skillChecker` may be nil; when non-nil, each SkillPalette entry is
+// looked up and a WARN log emitted (with the agent + missing skill
+// name) for absent references. The Agent row is still seeded with the
+// palette intact — runtime resolution at invocation time is the
+// authoritative gate.
+func LoadBuiltinAgents(ctx context.Context, store Storage, builtinsDir fs.FS, skillChecker SkillExistenceChecker) (int, error) {
+	if store == nil {
+		return 0, errors.New("agents.LoadBuiltinAgents: nil store")
+	}
+	if builtinsDir == nil {
+		return 0, errors.New("agents.LoadBuiltinAgents: nil builtinsDir FS")
+	}
+	entries, err := fs.ReadDir(builtinsDir, "agents")
+	if err != nil {
+		// Missing agents/ directory is benign — a deployment may not
+		// ship any builtins. Other errors propagate so a permission /
+		// IO problem surfaces loudly.
+		if errors.Is(err, fs.ErrNotExist) {
+			slog.Info("agents: no builtin agents directory", "path", "agents")
+			return 0, nil
+		}
+		return 0, fmt.Errorf("agents: read agents dir: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	// Phase 1: parse all agent manifests into a map keyed by name.
+	// The map is needed so extends references can be resolved before
+	// any agent is upserted.
+	type parsedEntry struct {
+		agent *Agent
+		dir   string
+	}
+	parsed := make(map[string]*parsedEntry)
+	var parseOrder []string // preserve FS iteration order for deterministic upsert
+
+	var scanned, failed int
+	for _, entry := range entries {
+		if !entry.IsDir() {
+			continue
+		}
+		manifestPath := path.Join("agents", entry.Name(), "agent.yml")
+		data, readErr := fs.ReadFile(builtinsDir, manifestPath)
+		if readErr != nil {
+			slog.Debug("agents: skipping (no agent.yml)", "dir", entry.Name(), "error", readErr)
+			continue
+		}
+		scanned++
+		ag, parseErr := decodeAgentManifest(data)
+		if parseErr != nil {
+			slog.Warn("agents: invalid agent.yml", "dir", entry.Name(), "error", parseErr)
+			failed++
+			continue
+		}
+		parsed[ag.Name] = &parsedEntry{agent: ag, dir: entry.Name()}
+		parseOrder = append(parseOrder, ag.Name)
+	}
+
+	// Phase 2: resolve extends references. Only single-level is
+	// supported — chains (A extends B extends C) are rejected.
+	for _, name := range parseOrder {
+		pe := parsed[name]
+		ag := pe.agent
+		if ag.Extends == "" {
+			continue
+		}
+		parent, ok := parsed[ag.Extends]
+		if !ok {
+			slog.Warn("agents: extends references unknown agent",
+				"agent", ag.Name, "extends", ag.Extends)
+			failed++
+			delete(parsed, name)
+			continue
+		}
+		if parent.agent.Extends != "" {
+			slog.Warn("agents: extends chain not supported — parent also uses extends",
+				"agent", ag.Name, "extends", ag.Extends,
+				"parent_extends", parent.agent.Extends)
+			failed++
+			delete(parsed, name)
+			continue
+		}
+		if ag.Extends == ag.Name {
+			slog.Warn("agents: agent extends itself", "agent", ag.Name)
+			failed++
+			delete(parsed, name)
+			continue
+		}
+		resolveExtends(ag, parent.agent)
+	}
+
+	// Phase 3: palette validation + upsert.
+	var seeded, updated, skipped int
+	for _, name := range parseOrder {
+		pe, ok := parsed[name]
+		if !ok {
+			continue // removed during extends resolution
+		}
+		ag := pe.agent
+
+		if skillChecker != nil {
+			for _, sk := range ag.SkillPalette {
+				ok, lookupErr := skillChecker.SkillExistsByName(ctx, sk)
+				if lookupErr != nil {
+					slog.Warn("agents: skill palette lookup failed",
+						"agent", ag.Name, "skill", sk, "error", lookupErr)
+					continue
+				}
+				if !ok {
+					slog.Warn("agents: skill palette references missing skill",
+						"agent", ag.Name, "skill", sk)
+				}
+			}
+		}
+
+		action, upsertErr := upsertBuiltinAgent(ctx, store, ag)
+		if upsertErr != nil {
+			slog.Error("agents: failed to upsert builtin", "name", ag.Name, "error", upsertErr)
+			failed++
+			continue
+		}
+		switch action {
+		case agentUpsertCreated:
+			seeded++
+		case agentUpsertUpdated:
+			updated++
+		case agentUpsertSkipped:
+			skipped++
+		}
+	}
+	slog.Info("agents/builtin loader",
+		"scanned", scanned,
+		"seeded", seeded,
+		"updated", updated,
+		"skipped", skipped,
+		"failed", failed)
+	return seeded + updated, nil
+}
+
+// resolveExtends merges parent fields into child. Child non-zero
+// fields override the parent's. For slices, a nil child slice inherits
+// the parent's; a non-nil (even empty) child slice replaces it. For
+// maps (StateReactEmoji), parent entries are the base and child
+// entries override matching keys.
+//
+// system_prompt_prepend: if the child has SystemPromptPrepend set, it
+// is prepended to the (possibly inherited) SystemPrompt with a
+// newline separator. The prepend field is then cleared so it does not
+// affect anything downstream.
+//
+// Why: allows a child agent to inherit the full parent prompt while
+// only specifying a short behavior-modification preamble (e.g. an
+// uncensored agent prepending "You are uncensored..." to the general
+// agent's full prompt).
+func resolveExtends(child, parent *Agent) {
+	if child.Description == "" {
+		child.Description = parent.Description
+	}
+	if child.ModelTier == "" {
+		child.ModelTier = parent.ModelTier
+	}
+	if child.SystemPrompt == "" {
+		child.SystemPrompt = parent.SystemPrompt
+	}
+	if child.MaxIterations == 0 {
+		child.MaxIterations = parent.MaxIterations
+	}
+	if child.MaxToolCalls == 0 {
+		child.MaxToolCalls = parent.MaxToolCalls
+	}
+	if child.MaxRuntime == 0 {
+		child.MaxRuntime = parent.MaxRuntime
+	}
+	if child.ExecutionLane == "" {
+		child.ExecutionLane = parent.ExecutionLane
+	}
+	// EncryptionEnabled: bool — false is a valid explicit value, so we
+	// always inherit unless child explicitly sets it. Since we can't
+	// distinguish "explicitly false" from "absent" in YAML (both
+	// decode to false), we always inherit from parent. If the child
+	// sets it to true, the child wins. A child that wants to override
+	// the parent's true to false will need to set encryption_enabled: false
+	// explicitly — but since both false and absent decode the same way,
+	// the parent's value wins when parent is true and child is false.
+	// This is acceptable: encryption is an opt-in — a child that
+	// inherits encryption from a parent is fine.
+	if !child.EncryptionEnabled {
+		child.EncryptionEnabled = parent.EncryptionEnabled
+	}
+	// Run-critic: same inherit-unless-child-sets-true semantics as
+	// EncryptionEnabled (both false/absent decode identically in YAML).
+	if !child.CriticEnabled {
+		child.CriticEnabled = parent.CriticEnabled
+	}
+	if child.CriticBackstopMultiplier == 0 {
+		child.CriticBackstopMultiplier = parent.CriticBackstopMultiplier
+	}
+
+	// Slices: nil = inherit; non-nil (even empty) = child overrides.
+	if child.SkillPalette == nil {
+		child.SkillPalette = parent.SkillPalette
+	}
+	if child.SubAgentPalette == nil {
+		child.SubAgentPalette = parent.SubAgentPalette
+	}
+	if child.LowLevelTools == nil {
+		child.LowLevelTools = parent.LowLevelTools
+	}
+	if child.SkillPacks == nil {
+		child.SkillPacks = parent.SkillPacks
+	}
+	if child.PersonalizationSources == nil {
+		child.PersonalizationSources = parent.PersonalizationSources
+	}
+	if child.Tags == nil {
+		child.Tags = parent.Tags
+	}
+	if child.WebhookIPAllowlist == nil {
+		child.WebhookIPAllowlist = parent.WebhookIPAllowlist
+	}
+	if child.Phases == nil {
+		child.Phases = parent.Phases
+	}
+
+	// Triggers (Schedule, ChatbotChannelFilter, WebhookSecret, …) are
+	// deliberately NOT inherited. A trigger is an ACTIVATION decision —
+	// "this agent fires on a schedule" / "this agent is a chatbot tool in
+	// these channels" — and silently inheriting it from a parent persona
+	// is a behavioural surprise: `uncensored extends general` would inherit
+	// general's `chatbot_channel_filter: "none"` (match-every-channel) and
+	// surface the unfiltered model as a direct chatbot tool everywhere the
+	// instant agents.triggers.enabled flips on. A child that wants a trigger
+	// must declare it explicitly. (Persona, caps, palette, and tools are
+	// inherited above — those are capability, not activation.)
+
+	// DefaultEmoji: child wins if set; otherwise inherit.
+	if child.DefaultEmoji == "" {
+		child.DefaultEmoji = parent.DefaultEmoji
+	}
+
+	// Maps: merge — parent is the base, child entries override.
+	if child.StateReactEmoji == nil && parent.StateReactEmoji != nil {
+		child.StateReactEmoji = make(map[string]string, len(parent.StateReactEmoji))
+		for k, v := range parent.StateReactEmoji {
+			child.StateReactEmoji[k] = v
+		}
+	} else if parent.StateReactEmoji != nil {
+		merged := make(map[string]string, len(parent.StateReactEmoji)+len(child.StateReactEmoji))
+		for k, v := range parent.StateReactEmoji {
+			merged[k] = v
+		}
+		for k, v := range child.StateReactEmoji {
+			merged[k] = v
+		}
+		child.StateReactEmoji = merged
+	}
+
+	// SystemPromptPrepend: prepend to the (now resolved) SystemPrompt.
+	if child.SystemPromptPrepend != "" {
+		child.SystemPrompt = child.SystemPromptPrepend + "\n\n" + child.SystemPrompt
+		child.SystemPromptPrepend = "" // consumed
+	}
+
+	// Clear Extends — the resolution is complete, the persisted agent
+	// is standalone.
+	child.Extends = ""
+}
+
+// agentUpsertAction reports what upsertBuiltinAgent did. Exported only
+// to the test in this package; the loader's public surface returns a
+// count, not a per-row action.
+type agentUpsertAction int
+
+const (
+	agentUpsertCreated agentUpsertAction = iota
+	agentUpsertUpdated
+	agentUpsertSkipped // reserved; current loader never returns this — every parse-OK row is upserted
+)
+
+// upsertBuiltinAgent looks up an existing (BuiltinAgentOwnerID, name)
+// row. If absent, inserts a new row with a freshly-minted UUID.
+// Otherwise updates the existing row in place, preserving ID + CreatedAt.
+//
+// Why not version-skip like skills.upsertBuiltin: the Agent struct has
+// a Version int field but it's a monotonic counter, not a semver
+// string for change detection. Agent YAML doesn't carry a "version"
+// at the wire shape; every boot writes the latest YAML content,
+// trusting the YAML file in-repo IS the source of truth. The Agent's
+// internal Version int auto-increments on each loader pass so admin
+// inspection (`.agent show`) reveals "how many times has the loader
+// touched this row".
+func upsertBuiltinAgent(ctx context.Context, store Storage, fresh *Agent) (agentUpsertAction, error) {
+	existing, err := store.GetAgentByName(ctx, BuiltinAgentOwnerID, fresh.Name)
+	if err != nil && !errors.Is(err, ErrNotFound) {
+		return agentUpsertCreated, fmt.Errorf("lookup builtin agent %q: %w", fresh.Name, err)
+	}
+	if errors.Is(err, ErrNotFound) {
+		fresh.ID = uuid.New().String()
+		fresh.OwnerID = BuiltinAgentOwnerID
+		fresh.AuthoredBy = BuiltinAgentOwnerID
+		if fresh.Version == 0 {
+			fresh.Version = 1
+		}
+		now := time.Now()
+		fresh.CreatedAt = now
+		fresh.UpdatedAt = now
+		if saveErr := store.SaveAgent(ctx, fresh); saveErr != nil {
+			return agentUpsertCreated, saveErr
+		}
+		slog.Info("agents: created builtin", "name", fresh.Name, "id", fresh.ID)
+		return agentUpsertCreated, nil
+	}
+	// Update in place. Preserve ID, OwnerID, AuthoredBy, CreatedAt.
+	// Bump Version so admins can see "the loader has touched this N
+	// times" — useful when investigating a builtin that was
+	// hand-edited via the future web UI and unexpectedly reverted on
+	// next boot.
+	fresh.ID = existing.ID
+	fresh.OwnerID = BuiltinAgentOwnerID
+	fresh.AuthoredBy = BuiltinAgentOwnerID
+	fresh.Version = existing.Version + 1
+	fresh.CreatedAt = existing.CreatedAt
+	fresh.UpdatedAt = time.Now()
+	// Carry forward operator/scheduler-owned fields that the manifest
+	// never sets (decodeAgentManifest leaves these zero by design — a
+	// secret in-repo would be a credential leak). Without this, every
+	// boot CLOBBERS an operator-armed webhook secret + signature flag
+	// back to empty/false and nukes the scheduler's next-fire cursor, so
+	// a scheduled or webhook-armed builtin silently breaks on each deploy.
+	fresh.WebhookSecret = existing.WebhookSecret
+	fresh.WebhookSignatureRequired = existing.WebhookSignatureRequired
+	fresh.NextRunAt = existing.NextRunAt
+	fresh.LastScheduledRunAt = existing.LastScheduledRunAt
+	if saveErr := store.SaveAgent(ctx, fresh); saveErr != nil {
+		return agentUpsertUpdated, saveErr
+	}
+	slog.Info("agents: updated builtin",
+		"name", fresh.Name, "id", fresh.ID, "version", fresh.Version)
+	return agentUpsertUpdated, nil
+}
+
+// builtinAgentManifest is the YAML wire format for agents/<name>/agent.yml.
+// The schema is intentionally a SUBSET of the Agent struct — future
+// fields can be added without breaking existing manifests so long as
+// we keep KnownFields(true) decoding (so a typo on a key surfaces as
+// an error rather than silently dropping data).
+//
+// See pkg/logic/agents/CLAUDE.md for the schema reference.
+type builtinAgentManifest struct {
+	Name                string `yaml:"name"`
+	Description         string `yaml:"description"`
+	ModelTier           string `yaml:"model_tier"`
+	SystemPrompt        string `yaml:"system_prompt"`
+	SystemPromptPrepend string `yaml:"system_prompt_prepend"`
+	MaxIterations       int    `yaml:"max_iterations"`
+	MaxToolCalls        int    `yaml:"max_tool_calls"`
+	MaxRuntimeSeconds   int    `yaml:"max_runtime_seconds"`
+	ExecutionLane       string `yaml:"execution_lane"`
+	EncryptionEnabled   bool   `yaml:"encryption_enabled"`
+
+	// Run-critic two-tier timeout. CriticEnabled flips MaxRuntime from a
+	// hard kill into a soft trigger; CriticBackstopMultiplier (0 => convar
+	// default 6×) sets the hard backstop = MaxRuntime × multiplier.
+	CriticEnabled            bool    `yaml:"critic_enabled"`
+	CriticBackstopMultiplier float64 `yaml:"critic_backstop_multiplier"`
+
+	// Extends names a parent agent whose fields are inherited. The
+	// child's non-zero fields override the parent; nil/empty slices
+	// inherit the parent's. Maps (state_react) are merged — child
+	// entries override parent entries with the same key. Only single-
+	// level extends is supported (no chains).
+	Extends string `yaml:"extends"`
+
+	SkillPalette    []string `yaml:"skill_palette"`
+	SubAgentPalette []string `yaml:"sub_agent_palette"`
+	LowLevelTools   []string `yaml:"low_level_tools"`
+	SkillPacks      []string `yaml:"skill_packs"`
+
+	PersonalizationSources []string `yaml:"personalization_sources"`
+
+	// Triggers — builtin agents typically don't ship with triggers
+	// (admins flip these on per-deployment), but the keys are accepted
+	// so a sufficiently sophisticated builtin (e.g. a scheduled "weekly
+	// digest" agent) can ship triggers in-repo. Default empty.
+	Schedule             string   `yaml:"schedule"`
+	WebhookIPAllowlist   []string `yaml:"webhook_ip_allowlist"`
+	ChatbotChannelFilter string   `yaml:"chatbot_channel_filter"`
+
+	DefaultEmoji string            `yaml:"default_emoji"`
+	StateReact   map[string]string `yaml:"state_react"`
+	Tags         []string          `yaml:"tags"`
+
+	// Pipeline phases — when non-empty, the executor runs the
+	// sequential phase runner instead of the single agent loop.
+	Phases []builtinAgentPhaseManifest `yaml:"phases"`
+}
+
+// builtinAgentPhaseManifest is the YAML wire format for a single
+// phases list entry in agents/<name>/agent.yml. Maps 1:1 to
+// AgentPhase at decode time.
+type builtinAgentPhaseManifest struct {
+	Name            string   `yaml:"name"`
+	SystemPrompt    string   `yaml:"system_prompt"`
+	ModelTier       string   `yaml:"model_tier"`
+	MaxIter         int      `yaml:"max_iter"`
+	Tools           []string `yaml:"tools"`
+	Optional        bool     `yaml:"optional"`
+	FallbackMessage string   `yaml:"fallback_message"`
+	IsRunFunc       bool     `yaml:"is_run_func"`
+}
+
+// decodeAgentManifest parses an agent.yml bundle into a domain Agent.
+// Uses KnownFields(true) so a typo'd key surfaces as a parse error
+// rather than silently dropping the value.
+//
+// What this method does NOT set:
+//   - ID (loader mints UUID on insert / preserves existing on update)
+//   - OwnerID + AuthoredBy (loader sets to BuiltinAgentOwnerID)
+//   - Version (loader increments on update)
+//   - CreatedAt + UpdatedAt (loader stamps)
+//   - WebhookSecret (operator generates via admin tooling at deploy
+//     time — shipping a secret in-repo would be a credential leak)
+//   - NextRunAt + LastScheduledRunAt (scheduler bookkeeping; nil at
+//     load time, populated on first scheduled fire)
+//   - WebhookSignatureRequired (application-layer default applies on
+//     first save; a `default:true` GORM tag would substitute on every
+//     write — see the v8 lesson on this exact trap)
+func decodeAgentManifest(data []byte) (*Agent, error) {
+	var m builtinAgentManifest
+	dec := yaml.NewDecoder(strings.NewReader(string(data)))
+	dec.KnownFields(true)
+	if err := dec.Decode(&m); err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("decode agent.yml: %w", err)
+	}
+	if strings.TrimSpace(m.Name) == "" {
+		return nil, errors.New("agent.yml: missing required field 'name'")
+	}
+	// system_prompt is required UNLESS the agent uses extends (the parent
+	// will supply it) or system_prompt_prepend (the prepend will be
+	// combined with the parent's system_prompt after extends resolution).
+	if strings.TrimSpace(m.SystemPrompt) == "" && strings.TrimSpace(m.Extends) == "" && strings.TrimSpace(m.SystemPromptPrepend) == "" {
+		return nil, errors.New("agent.yml: missing required field 'system_prompt'")
+	}
+
+	// Convert YAML phase manifests to domain AgentPhase structs.
+	var phases []AgentPhase
+	for _, pm := range m.Phases {
+		if strings.TrimSpace(pm.Name) == "" {
+			return nil, errors.New("agent.yml: phase missing required field 'name'")
+		}
+		phases = append(phases, AgentPhase{
+			Name:            strings.TrimSpace(pm.Name),
+			SystemPrompt:    pm.SystemPrompt,
+			ModelTier:       strings.TrimSpace(pm.ModelTier),
+			MaxIter:         pm.MaxIter,
+			Tools:           pm.Tools,
+			Optional:        pm.Optional,
+			FallbackMessage: pm.FallbackMessage,
+			IsRunFunc:       pm.IsRunFunc,
+		})
+	}
+
+	// Validate the webhook IP allow-list (CIDR or bare IP); drop + warn on
+	// malformed entries so a typo can't silently widen or void the allow-list.
+	allowlist := validateIPAllowlist(m.WebhookIPAllowlist, m.Name)
+
+	ag := &Agent{
+		Name:                     strings.TrimSpace(m.Name),
+		Description:              m.Description,
+		Extends:                  strings.TrimSpace(m.Extends),
+		SystemPromptPrepend:      m.SystemPromptPrepend,
+		ModelTier:                strings.TrimSpace(m.ModelTier),
+		SystemPrompt:             m.SystemPrompt,
+		MaxIterations:            m.MaxIterations,
+		MaxToolCalls:             m.MaxToolCalls,
+		MaxRuntime:               time.Duration(m.MaxRuntimeSeconds) * time.Second,
+		ExecutionLane:            strings.TrimSpace(m.ExecutionLane),
+		EncryptionEnabled:        m.EncryptionEnabled,
+		CriticEnabled:            m.CriticEnabled,
+		CriticBackstopMultiplier: m.CriticBackstopMultiplier,
+		SkillPalette:             m.SkillPalette,
+		SubAgentPalette:          m.SubAgentPalette,
+		LowLevelTools:            m.LowLevelTools,
+		SkillPacks:               m.SkillPacks,
+		PersonalizationSources:   m.PersonalizationSources,
+		Schedule:                 strings.TrimSpace(m.Schedule),
+		WebhookIPAllowlist:       allowlist,
+		ChatbotChannelFilter:     strings.TrimSpace(m.ChatbotChannelFilter),
+		DefaultEmoji:             m.DefaultEmoji,
+		StateReactEmoji:          m.StateReact,
+		Tags:                     m.Tags,
+		Phases:                   phases,
+	}
+	return ag, nil
+}
+
+// validateIPAllowlist keeps only entries that parse as a CIDR block or a bare
+// IP; malformed entries are dropped with a warning (a typo must not silently
+// widen or void the webhook allow-list). The struct field documents "CIDR
+// strings", so this enforces it at load time.
+func validateIPAllowlist(entries []string, agent string) []string {
+	var out []string
+	for _, e := range entries {
+		e = strings.TrimSpace(e)
+		if e == "" {
+			continue
+		}
+		if _, _, err := net.ParseCIDR(e); err == nil {
+			out = append(out, e)
+			continue
+		}
+		if ip := net.ParseIP(e); ip != nil {
+			out = append(out, e)
+			continue
+		}
+		slog.Warn("agents: dropping malformed webhook_ip_allowlist entry (not a CIDR or IP)", "agent", agent, "entry", e)
+	}
+	return out
+}

persona/ipallowlist_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+package persona
+
+import "testing"
+
+func TestValidateIPAllowlist(t *testing.T) {
+	in := []string{"10.0.0.0/8", " 192.168.1.5 ", "not-an-ip", "", "2001:db8::/32", "garbage/99"}
+	got := validateIPAllowlist(in, "test")
+	want := map[string]bool{"10.0.0.0/8": true, "192.168.1.5": true, "2001:db8::/32": true}
+	if len(got) != len(want) {
+		t.Fatalf("got %v, want %d valid entries", got, len(want))
+	}
+	for _, e := range got {
+		if !want[e] {
+			t.Errorf("unexpected entry kept: %q", e)
+		}
+	}
+}

persona/memory.go

@@ -0,0 +1,120 @@
+package persona
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"sort"
+	"sync"
+	"time"
+)
+
+// Memory is a zero-dependency in-process Storage for agent personas — a light
+// host (or tests) gets persona persistence with no DB. Mort keeps its
+// GORM/MySQL Storage; contrib/store adds a durable SQLite one.
+type Memory struct {
+	mu     sync.RWMutex
+	agents map[string]*Agent // by ID
+}
+
+// NewMemory returns an empty in-memory persona Storage.
+func NewMemory() *Memory { return &Memory{agents: map[string]*Agent{}} }
+
+var _ Storage = (*Memory)(nil)
+
+func (m *Memory) InitializeAgentStorage(context.Context) error { return nil }
+
+func (m *Memory) SaveAgent(_ context.Context, a *Agent) error {
+	m.mu.Lock()
+	defer m.mu.Unlock()
+	cp := *a
+	m.agents[a.ID] = &cp
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (m *Memory) GetAgent(_ context.Context, id string) (*Agent, error) {
+	m.mu.RLock()
+	defer m.mu.RUnlock()
+	a, ok := m.agents[id]
+	if !ok {
+		return nil, ErrNotFound
+	}
+	cp := *a
+	return &cp, nil
+}
+
+func (m *Memory) GetAgentByName(_ context.Context, ownerID, name string) (*Agent, error) {
+	m.mu.RLock()
+	defer m.mu.RUnlock()
+	for _, a := range m.agents {
+		if a.OwnerID == ownerID && a.Name == name {
+			cp := *a
+			return &cp, nil
+		}
+	}
+	return nil, ErrNotFound
+}
+
+func (m *Memory) listWhere(keep func(*Agent) bool) []*Agent {
+	m.mu.RLock()
+	defer m.mu.RUnlock()
+	out := make([]*Agent, 0, len(m.agents))
+	for _, a := range m.agents {
+		if keep == nil || keep(a) {
+			cp := *a
+			out = append(out, &cp)
+		}
+	}
+	sort.Slice(out, func(i, j int) bool { return out[i].Name < out[j].Name })
+	return out
+}
+
+func (m *Memory) ListAgents(_ context.Context, ownerID string) ([]*Agent, error) {
+	return m.listWhere(func(a *Agent) bool { return a.OwnerID == ownerID }), nil
+}
+
+func (m *Memory) ListAllAgents(context.Context) ([]*Agent, error) {
+	return m.listWhere(nil), nil
+}
+
+func (m *Memory) DeleteAgent(_ context.Context, id string) error {
+	m.mu.Lock()
+	defer m.mu.Unlock()
+	delete(m.agents, id)
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (m *Memory) GetAgentByWebhookSecret(_ context.Context, secret string) (*Agent, error) {
+	if secret == "" {
+		return nil, ErrNotFound
+	}
+	m.mu.RLock()
+	defer m.mu.RUnlock()
+	for _, a := range m.agents {
+		if a.WebhookSecret == secret {
+			cp := *a
+			return &cp, nil
+		}
+	}
+	return nil, ErrNotFound
+}
+
+func (m *Memory) ListAgentsByChatbotChannelFilter(context.Context) ([]*Agent, error) {
+	return m.listWhere(func(a *Agent) bool { return a.ChatbotChannelFilter != "" }), nil
+}
+
+func (m *Memory) ListScheduledAgents(_ context.Context, dueBefore time.Time) ([]*Agent, error) {
+	return m.listWhere(func(a *Agent) bool {
+		return a.Schedule != "" && a.NextRunAt != nil && !a.NextRunAt.After(dueBefore)
+	}), nil
+}
+
+func (m *Memory) MarkAgentScheduledRun(_ context.Context, agentID string, ranAt, nextAt time.Time) error {
+	m.mu.Lock()
+	defer m.mu.Unlock()
+	a, ok := m.agents[agentID]
+	if !ok {
+		return ErrNotFound
+	}
+	a.LastScheduledRunAt = &ranAt
+	a.NextRunAt = &nextAt
+	return nil
+}

persona/persona_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+package persona
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+)
+
+func TestToRunnable(t *testing.T) {
+	a := &Agent{
+		ID: "id1", Name: "helper", SystemPrompt: "be nice", ModelTier: "fast",
+		MaxIterations: 5, MaxRuntime: 30 * time.Second,
+		LowLevelTools: []string{"think"}, SkillPalette: []string{"animate"},
+		CriticEnabled: true, CriticBackstopMultiplier: 2,
+		Phases: []AgentPhase{{Name: "p1", ModelTier: "thinking", MaxIter: 3, Tools: []string{"now"}, Optional: true}},
+	}
+	r := a.ToRunnable()
+	if r.ID != "id1" || r.ModelTier != "fast" || r.MaxIterations != 5 || !r.Critic.Enabled {
+		t.Fatalf("ToRunnable mapping wrong: %+v", r)
+	}
+	if len(r.Phases) != 1 || r.Phases[0].MaxIterations != 3 || !r.Phases[0].Optional {
+		t.Fatalf("phase mapping wrong: %+v", r.Phases)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestMemoryStoreRoundTrip(t *testing.T) {
+	ctx := context.Background()
+	m := NewMemory()
+	a := &Agent{ID: "a1", Name: "n", OwnerID: "o1"}
+	if err := m.SaveAgent(ctx, a); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	got, err := m.GetAgent(ctx, "a1")
+	if err != nil || got.Name != "n" {
+		t.Fatalf("GetAgent: %v %+v", err, got)
+	}
+	byName, err := m.GetAgentByName(ctx, "o1", "n")
+	if err != nil || byName.ID != "a1" {
+		t.Fatalf("GetAgentByName: %v %+v", err, byName)
+	}
+	list, _ := m.ListAgents(ctx, "o1")
+	if len(list) != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("ListAgents = %d", len(list))
+	}
+}

persona/runnable.go

@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+package persona
+
+import "gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/executus/run"
+
+// ToRunnable lowers an Agent persona into the kernel's run.RunnableAgent DTO —
+// the bridge that lets run.Executor run a persona WITHOUT importing this
+// battery (the inversion of mort's agentexec.Run(*agents.Agent)). It maps the
+// static shape only; per-run personalization, palette resolution, the critic,
+// audit, etc. are supplied separately via run.Ports.
+func (a *Agent) ToRunnable() run.RunnableAgent {
+	ra := run.RunnableAgent{
+		ID:              a.ID,
+		Name:            a.Name,
+		SystemPrompt:    a.SystemPrompt,
+		ModelTier:       a.ModelTier,
+		MaxIterations:   a.MaxIterations,
+		MaxRuntime:      a.MaxRuntime,
+		LowLevelTools:   a.LowLevelTools,
+		SkillPalette:    a.SkillPalette,
+		SubAgentPalette: a.SubAgentPalette,
+		SkillPacks:      a.SkillPacks,
+		Critic: run.CriticConfig{
+			Enabled:            a.CriticEnabled,
+			BackstopMultiplier: a.CriticBackstopMultiplier,
+		},
+	}
+	for _, p := range a.Phases {
+		ra.Phases = append(ra.Phases, run.Phase{
+			Name:          p.Name,
+			SystemPrompt:  p.SystemPrompt,
+			ModelTier:     p.ModelTier,
+			MaxIterations: p.MaxIter,
+			Tools:         p.Tools,
+			Optional:      p.Optional,
+		})
+	}
+	return ra
+}

persona/storage.go

@@ -0,0 +1,115 @@
+package persona
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"time"
+)
+
+// ErrNotFound is returned when an agent lookup fails. Callers compare
+// with errors.Is(err, ErrNotFound).
+var ErrNotFound = errors.New("agent not found")
+
+// Storage is the persistence interface for the agents system.
+//
+// Why: tests substitute fake implementations; production wires
+// through pkg/logic/storage's Grand Storage which embeds this
+// interface. Mirrors the three-layer pattern in
+// pkg/logic/storage/CLAUDE.md (domain → GORM → DB).
+//
+// What: Phase 1 CRUD plus Phase 3 trigger queries
+// (ListDueScheduled, GetAgentByWebhookSecret,
+// ListAgentsByChatbotChannelFilter, MarkScheduledRun). Trigger
+// queries are read by the agentsched runner, webhook router, and
+// chatbot tool provider; all are gated behind the
+// agents.triggers.enabled convar so old skill-driven paths keep
+// running until the convar flips.
+//
+// Test: see storage_round_trip_test.go for round-trip coverage.
+type Storage interface {
+	// (Mort's Discord command-binding CRUD — the CommandBindingStorage
+	// embedding — stays a host concern and is NOT part of the executus
+	// persona Storage seam.)
+
+	// InitializeAgentStorage prepares storage (e.g. AutoMigrate)
+	// and is idempotent. Called from the grand storage's
+	// InitializeAll path.
+	InitializeAgentStorage(ctx context.Context) error
+
+	// SaveAgent creates or updates an Agent by ID. ID must be
+	// non-empty (Phase 1 admin commands mint a UUID).
+	SaveAgent(ctx context.Context, a *Agent) error
+
+	// GetAgent returns the agent with the given ID, or ErrNotFound.
+	GetAgent(ctx context.Context, id string) (*Agent, error)
+
+	// GetAgentByName resolves (owner_id, name) → agent. ownerID
+	// must match exactly (Phase 1 has no shared/public visibility
+	// yet; every agent is owned).
+	GetAgentByName(ctx context.Context, ownerID, name string) (*Agent, error)
+
+	// ListAgents returns every agent owned by the given member ID,
+	// sorted by Name ASC.
+	ListAgents(ctx context.Context, ownerID string) ([]*Agent, error)
+
+	// ListAllAgents returns every agent across all owners, sorted by
+	// (OwnerID ASC, Name ASC) so builtin rows (OwnerID="builtin")
+	// group together, then numeric Discord-ID owners in lexical order,
+	// then chatbot-shadow rows whose OwnerID is the chatbot owner's
+	// Discord ID but whose Name carries the "chatbot:" prefix.
+	//
+	// Why: Phase 1 admin commands ran owner-scoped (a steve-owned
+	// agent list shows ONLY steve's rows), which hid builtin and
+	// shadow Agents from the admin view. `.agent list` for admins now
+	// uses this method to surface every row. Non-admin invocations
+	// (or `.agent list --mine`) keep using ListAgents.
+	//
+	// Storage MAY back this with a single full-table scan — admin
+	// row counts are small (dozens to low hundreds), so no need for
+	// pagination at this phase.
+	ListAllAgents(ctx context.Context) ([]*Agent, error)
+
+	// DeleteAgent removes an agent by ID. Idempotent — deleting a
+	// missing row returns nil.
+	DeleteAgent(ctx context.Context, id string) error
+
+	// GetAgentByWebhookSecret resolves a posted /webhooks/<secret> URL
+	// to the matching agent. Returns ErrNotFound when no agent has
+	// the secret. Phase 3 webhook router consults this AFTER the
+	// existing Skill lookup falls through, but only when
+	// agents.triggers.enabled is true.
+	//
+	// Empty secret is rejected with ErrNotFound (empty WebhookSecret
+	// rows are NOT webhook-enabled — the application layer guards
+	// this, the lookup defends against accidental match).
+	GetAgentByWebhookSecret(ctx context.Context, secret string) (*Agent, error)
+
+	// ListAgentsByChatbotChannelFilter returns every agent with a
+	// non-empty ChatbotChannelFilter. Phase 3 chatbot tool provider
+	// uses this on every chatbot turn to assemble the per-channel
+	// tool list (gated by agents.triggers.enabled). The result is
+	// not channel-filtered here — the provider applies the channel
+	// filter predicate (registered in skills.ChannelFilterRegistry)
+	// to each row.
+	//
+	// Why no channel filter at the storage layer: the filter is a
+	// runtime predicate (e.g. dm_only depends on the live Discord
+	// channel kind cache), not a static column we can index on.
+	ListAgentsByChatbotChannelFilter(ctx context.Context) ([]*Agent, error)
+
+	// ListScheduledAgents returns every agent with a non-empty
+	// Schedule whose NextRunAt is at or before `dueBefore`. Result
+	// is ordered by NextRunAt ASC so the scheduler runner can drain
+	// in oldest-due-first order. Mirrors skills.Storage.ListDueScheduled.
+	//
+	// Phase 3 scheduler reads this on every tick when
+	// agents.triggers.enabled is true. The (Schedule, NextRunAt)
+	// composite index backs the query — see gorm tags on gormAgent.
+	ListScheduledAgents(ctx context.Context, dueBefore time.Time) ([]*Agent, error)
+
+	// MarkAgentScheduledRun atomically updates LastScheduledRunAt
+	// and NextRunAt for the given agent. Called by the agentsched
+	// runner after each scheduled invocation. Mirrors
+	// skills.Storage.MarkScheduledRun semantics.
+	MarkAgentScheduledRun(ctx context.Context, agentID string, ranAt, nextAt time.Time) error
+}

run/agent.go

@@ -0,0 +1,93 @@
+package run
+
+import "time"
+
+// RunnableAgent is the kernel's view of "a thing to run": an identity, a model
+// tier, a system prompt, execution caps, and a tool palette. It is a plain DTO
+// on purpose — the run kernel never imports a noun battery. The persona Agent
+// and the saved Skill each LOWER themselves into a RunnableAgent (a ToRunnable
+// method on the battery side), and the kernel runs the DTO. This is the
+// inversion of mort's agentexec.Executor.Run(*agents.Agent): the executor no
+// longer depends on the persona struct, only on this shape.
+//
+// A light host can build a RunnableAgent inline (model tier + prompt + a few
+// tool names) for a one-shot bounded run, with no persona or skill battery at
+// all — that is exactly gadfly's swarm task.
+type RunnableAgent struct {
+	// ID is a stable identifier for the run subject (an agent/skill UUID, or
+	// any host-chosen id). Used for audit attribution and dispatch-guard
+	// genealogy. Empty is allowed for anonymous one-shot runs.
+	ID string
+
+	// Name is a human label (audit/logs/delivery). Empty is allowed.
+	Name string
+
+	// SystemPrompt is the agent's base system prompt (before per-run
+	// personalization, which a host layers via Ports).
+	SystemPrompt string
+
+	// ModelTier is a tier alias or concrete spec resolved through
+	// model.ParseModelForContext. Empty resolves to the host's default tier.
+	ModelTier string
+
+	// MaxIterations caps the agent loop's tool-dispatch steps. 0 = kernel
+	// default. MaxRuntime caps wall-clock for the whole run (the kernel starts
+	// this clock AFTER any lane dequeue, not at submission). 0 = kernel
+	// default.
+	MaxIterations int
+	MaxRuntime    time.Duration
+
+	// LowLevelTools are tool-registry names the run may call directly.
+	// SkillPalette / SubAgentPalette name saved skills / sub-agents exposed as
+	// skill__<name> / agent__<name> delegation tools, resolved through
+	// Ports.Palette (nil Palette => those entries are inert).
+	LowLevelTools   []string
+	SkillPalette    []string
+	SubAgentPalette []string
+	// SkillPacks names SKILL.md skill-pack subscriptions activated for the run
+	// via Ports.SkillPacks: each pack's name+description joins a catalog folded
+	// into the system prompt, and a skill_use tool loads a pack's body on demand
+	// (progressive disclosure). nil Ports.SkillPacks => inert.
+	SkillPacks []string
+
+	// Phases optionally model a multi-step pipeline (each phase its own prompt
+	// + tier + tools). An empty slice is a single-phase run — the common case.
+	Phases []Phase
+
+	// Critic configures the optional two-tier run-critic (Ports.Critic). The
+	// zero value (disabled) is the light-host default.
+	Critic CriticConfig
+}
+
+// Phase is one step of a multi-step run: its own system prompt, model tier,
+// iteration cap, and tool subset. Phase prompts are Go text/template strings
+// expanded against {{.Query}} (the original input) and {{.<PhaseName>}} (a
+// prior phase's output) before the phase runs, so a phase can consume earlier
+// work. The final phase's output is the run's output.
+type Phase struct {
+	Name          string
+	SystemPrompt  string
+	ModelTier     string
+	MaxIterations int
+	Tools         []string
+	// Optional swallows a phase's error and substitutes FallbackMessage (or a
+	// generated note) as its output, so a non-critical phase failing does not
+	// abort the pipeline.
+	Optional bool
+	// FallbackMessage is the substitute output when an Optional phase fails.
+	// Empty → a generated "(phase %q encountered an error…)" note.
+	FallbackMessage string
+	// IsRunFunc marks a phase as a single bare LLM call (no tool loop, no tools
+	// array) — a deterministic transform step (plan/synthesize) rather than an
+	// agentic loop. Its Tools/MaxIterations are ignored.
+	IsRunFunc bool
+}
+
+// CriticConfig configures the optional run-critic. Enabled gates whether a
+// critic monitor is started at all; BackstopMultiplier sets the hard-kill
+// deadline as a multiple of the soft trigger (MaxRuntime). A non-positive
+// multiplier uses the kernel default.
+type CriticConfig struct {
+	Enabled            bool
+	BackstopMultiplier float64
+}

run/checkpoint.go

@@ -0,0 +1,103 @@
+package run
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"log/slog"
+
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/majordomo/llm"
+)
+
+// Durable-recovery plumbing for the executor. The Checkpointer port (set via
+// Ports.Checkpointer, a CheckpointerFactory) persists a run's resumable progress
+// during the loop; on boot a host re-dispatches an interrupted run through the
+// executor with a ResumeState (the saved transcript / completed phases) so it
+// CONTINUES rather than restarting, reusing the SAME durable record via an
+// existing Checkpointer. Both are carried into Run via the context (mirrors
+// mort's agentexec.WithResumeState / WithExistingCheckpointer).
+
+// ResumeState carries a recovered run's prior progress into Run so the run
+// continues instead of restarting. The host's recovery path sets it via
+// WithResumeState; the executor reads it:
+//   - single-loop: History seeds the saved transcript (the run continues).
+//   - multi-phase: CompletedPhases are skipped; the interrupted phase re-runs
+//     from its start (boundary-granular — there is no mid-phase transcript
+//     resume, so History is unused for multi-phase runs).
+type ResumeState struct {
+	History         []llm.Message // single-loop transcript (unused for multi-phase)
+	CompletedPhases []PhaseOutput // multi-phase: outputs of finished phases, in order
+}
+
+type resumeStateKey struct{}
+
+// WithResumeState carries a recovered run's prior progress into Run.
+func WithResumeState(ctx context.Context, rs *ResumeState) context.Context {
+	return context.WithValue(ctx, resumeStateKey{}, rs)
+}
+
+func resumeStateFromContext(ctx context.Context) *ResumeState {
+	rs, _ := ctx.Value(resumeStateKey{}).(*ResumeState)
+	return rs
+}
+
+type existingCheckpointerKey struct{}
+
+// WithExistingCheckpointer carries a pre-existing Checkpointer into Run so a
+// recovery re-run reuses the SAME durable record (the executor uses it instead of
+// calling Ports.Checkpointer.Begin).
+func WithExistingCheckpointer(ctx context.Context, cp Checkpointer) context.Context {
+	return context.WithValue(ctx, existingCheckpointerKey{}, cp)
+}
+
+func existingCheckpointerFromContext(ctx context.Context) Checkpointer {
+	cp, _ := ctx.Value(existingCheckpointerKey{}).(Checkpointer)
+	return cp
+}
+
+// checkpointOutcome is the finalize decision for a durable run.
+type checkpointOutcome int
+
+const (
+	checkpointComplete checkpointOutcome = iota
+	checkpointLeaveRunning
+	checkpointFail
+)
+
+// classifyCheckpointOutcome maps (run error, cancellation cause) to the durable
+// finalize action: success clears the checkpoint (Complete); a shutdown-caused
+// cancellation leaves the record so boot recovery picks it up (neither
+// Complete nor Fail); anything else (model error, tool loop, the run's own
+// deadline, a critic kill, a caller cancel) is terminal (Fail). Mirrors mort's
+// agentexec.classifyCheckpointOutcome.
+func classifyCheckpointOutcome(runErr, cause error) checkpointOutcome {
+	switch {
+	case runErr == nil:
+		return checkpointComplete
+	case errors.Is(cause, ErrShutdown):
+		return checkpointLeaveRunning
+	default:
+		return checkpointFail
+	}
+}
+
+// finalizeCheckpoint applies the outcome to the per-run checkpointer (nil-safe).
+// Runs on a detached context so a cancelled run still records its terminal state.
+// Complete/Fail errors are best-effort but logged (a stale record would only
+// cause a wasteful boot-recovery retry, not data loss).
+func finalizeCheckpoint(ctx context.Context, cp Checkpointer, runErr error, cause error) {
+	if cp == nil {
+		return
+	}
+	switch classifyCheckpointOutcome(runErr, cause) {
+	case checkpointComplete:
+		if err := cp.Complete(detach(ctx)); err != nil {
+			slog.Warn("run: checkpoint Complete failed", "error", err)
+		}
+	case checkpointFail:
+		if err := cp.Fail(detach(ctx), runErr); err != nil {
+			slog.Warn("run: checkpoint Fail failed", "error", err)
+		}
+	case checkpointLeaveRunning:
+		// Interrupted by shutdown: leave the record for boot recovery.
+	}
+}

run/checkpoint_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,200 @@
+package run
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"testing"
+
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/majordomo/llm"
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/majordomo/provider/fake"
+
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/executus/tool"
+)
+
+// fakeCheckpointer records every Save state + whether Complete/Fail fired.
+type fakeCheckpointer struct {
+	saves     []RunCheckpointState
+	completed bool
+	failed    bool
+	failErr   error
+}
+
+func (c *fakeCheckpointer) Save(_ context.Context, st RunCheckpointState) error {
+	c.saves = append(c.saves, st)
+	return nil
+}
+func (c *fakeCheckpointer) Complete(context.Context) error { c.completed = true; return nil }
+func (c *fakeCheckpointer) Fail(_ context.Context, err error) error {
+	c.failed = true
+	c.failErr = err
+	return nil
+}
+
+// fakeCheckpointFactory hands out one fakeCheckpointer and records the RunInfo.
+type fakeCheckpointFactory struct {
+	cp   *fakeCheckpointer
+	info RunInfo
+}
+
+func (f *fakeCheckpointFactory) Begin(_ context.Context, info RunInfo) (Checkpointer, error) {
+	f.info = info
+	return f.cp, nil
+}
+
+// TestClassifyCheckpointOutcome covers the finalize decision matrix.
+func TestClassifyCheckpointOutcome(t *testing.T) {
+	cases := []struct {
+		name  string
+		err   error
+		cause error
+		want  checkpointOutcome
+	}{
+		{"success", nil, nil, checkpointComplete},
+		{"shutdown", context.Canceled, ErrShutdown, checkpointLeaveRunning},
+		{"critic-kill", context.Canceled, ErrCriticKill, checkpointFail},
+		{"deadline", context.DeadlineExceeded, context.DeadlineExceeded, checkpointFail},
+		{"model-error", errors.New("boom"), nil, checkpointFail},
+		{"caller-cancel", context.Canceled, context.Canceled, checkpointFail},
+	}
+	for _, tc := range cases {
+		if got := classifyCheckpointOutcome(tc.err, tc.cause); got != tc.want {
+			t.Errorf("%s: classifyCheckpointOutcome = %v, want %v", tc.name, got, tc.want)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// TestCheckpoint_SingleLoopSaveAndComplete: a durable single-loop run gets a
+// per-run checkpointer (Begin), Saves its transcript each step, and Completes on
+// success (clearing the checkpoint). The RunInfo carries the resume meta.
+func TestCheckpoint_SingleLoopSaveAndComplete(t *testing.T) {
+	models, _ := phaseProvider(t, fake.Reply("done"))
+	cp := &fakeCheckpointer{}
+	f := &fakeCheckpointFactory{cp: cp}
+	ex := New(Config{Registry: tool.NewRegistry(), Models: models, Ports: Ports{Checkpointer: f}})
+
+	res := ex.Run(context.Background(),
+		RunnableAgent{ID: "a1", Name: "boss", ModelTier: "test-model"},
+		tool.Invocation{RunID: "run-x", CallerID: "steve", ChannelID: "chan", GuildID: "g", SkillInputs: map[string]any{"prompt": "go"}},
+		"go")
+	if res.Err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("run error: %v", res.Err)
+	}
+	if f.info.RunID != "run-x" || f.info.SubjectID != "a1" || f.info.ModelTier != "test-model" || f.info.GuildID != "g" {
+		t.Errorf("Begin RunInfo missing resume meta: %+v", f.info)
+	}
+	if len(cp.saves) == 0 {
+		t.Error("expected at least one checkpoint Save during the run")
+	} else if len(cp.saves[len(cp.saves)-1].Messages) == 0 {
+		t.Error("checkpoint Save should carry the running transcript")
+	}
+	if !cp.completed {
+		t.Error("a successful run must Complete (clear) its checkpoint")
+	}
+	if cp.failed {
+		t.Error("a successful run must NOT Fail its checkpoint")
+	}
+}
+
+// TestCheckpoint_TerminalErrorFails: a run that errors (not shutdown) Fails its
+// checkpoint (clears it — not a recovery candidate).
+func TestCheckpoint_TerminalErrorFails(t *testing.T) {
+	models, _ := phaseProvider(t, fake.Fail(errors.New("model down")))
+	cp := &fakeCheckpointer{}
+	ex := New(Config{Registry: tool.NewRegistry(), Models: models, Ports: Ports{Checkpointer: &fakeCheckpointFactory{cp: cp}}})
+
+	res := ex.Run(context.Background(),
+		RunnableAgent{ID: "a1", ModelTier: "test-model"},
+		tool.Invocation{RunID: "r", CallerID: "c", SkillInputs: map[string]any{"prompt": "go"}}, "go")
+	if res.Err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("expected a run error")
+	}
+	if !cp.failed {
+		t.Error("a terminal (non-shutdown) error must Fail the checkpoint")
+	}
+	if cp.completed {
+		t.Error("a failed run must NOT Complete its checkpoint")
+	}
+}
+
+// TestCheckpoint_ResumeSeedsHistory: a run carrying a ResumeState seeds the saved
+// transcript as the model's opening messages (continues) instead of the input.
+func TestCheckpoint_ResumeSeedsHistory(t *testing.T) {
+	models, fp := phaseProvider(t, fake.Reply("continued"))
+	history := []llm.Message{llm.UserText("prior turn 1"), llm.AssistantText("prior answer 1")}
+	ctx := WithResumeState(context.Background(), &ResumeState{History: history})
+
+	ex := New(Config{Registry: tool.NewRegistry(), Models: models})
+	res := ex.Run(ctx,
+		RunnableAgent{ID: "a1", ModelTier: "test-model"},
+		tool.Invocation{RunID: "r", CallerID: "c", SkillInputs: map[string]any{"prompt": "ignored-on-resume"}}, "ignored-on-resume")
+	if res.Err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("run error: %v", res.Err)
+	}
+	got := fp.Calls()[0].Request.Messages
+	if len(got) != len(history) {
+		t.Fatalf("resume should seed the saved %d-message transcript, got %d messages", len(history), len(got))
+	}
+}
+
+// TestCheckpoint_PhaseBoundarySavesCompleted: a durable multi-phase run records
+// the completed phases at each boundary, growing the list, and Completes on
+// success.
+func TestCheckpoint_PhaseBoundarySavesCompleted(t *testing.T) {
+	models, _ := phaseProvider(t, fake.Reply("out-a"), fake.Reply("out-b"))
+	cp := &fakeCheckpointer{}
+	ex := New(Config{Registry: tool.NewRegistry(), Models: models, Ports: Ports{Checkpointer: &fakeCheckpointFactory{cp: cp}}})
+
+	ra := RunnableAgent{
+		ID: "p", ModelTier: "test-model",
+		Phases: []Phase{{Name: "a", SystemPrompt: "A"}, {Name: "b", SystemPrompt: "B"}},
+	}
+	if res := ex.Run(context.Background(), ra, tool.Invocation{RunID: "r", CallerID: "c"}, "Q"); res.Err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("run error: %v", res.Err)
+	}
+	// The final phase-boundary Save must list both completed phases.
+	var lastPhaseSave *RunCheckpointState
+	for i := range cp.saves {
+		if len(cp.saves[i].CompletedPhases) > 0 {
+			lastPhaseSave = &cp.saves[i]
+		}
+	}
+	if lastPhaseSave == nil || len(lastPhaseSave.CompletedPhases) != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected a phase-boundary Save listing 2 completed phases; saves=%+v", cp.saves)
+	}
+	if !cp.completed {
+		t.Error("a successful phased run must Complete its checkpoint")
+	}
+}
+
+// TestCheckpoint_ResumeSkipsCompletedPhases: a resumed multi-phase run skips
+// phases already in ResumeState.CompletedPhases (only the remaining phase calls
+// the model) and threads their outputs into the remaining phase's template.
+func TestCheckpoint_ResumeSkipsCompletedPhases(t *testing.T) {
+	models, fp := phaseProvider(t, fake.Reply("out-b")) // ONLY phase b should call the model
+	ctx := WithResumeState(context.Background(), &ResumeState{
+		CompletedPhases: []PhaseOutput{{Name: "a", Output: "saved-a"}},
+	})
+	ex := New(Config{Registry: tool.NewRegistry(), Models: models})
+
+	ra := RunnableAgent{
+		ID: "p", ModelTier: "test-model",
+		Phases: []Phase{
+			{Name: "a", SystemPrompt: "A"},
+			{Name: "b", SystemPrompt: "B saw {{.a}}"},
+		},
+	}
+	res := ex.Run(ctx, ra, tool.Invocation{RunID: "r", CallerID: "c"}, "Q")
+	if res.Err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("run error: %v", res.Err)
+	}
+	if res.Output != "out-b" {
+		t.Fatalf("output = %q, want out-b", res.Output)
+	}
+	calls := fp.Calls()
+	if len(calls) != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("only the un-completed phase b should call the model; got %d calls", len(calls))
+	}
+	if calls[0].Request.System != "B saw saved-a" {
+		t.Errorf("resumed phase b should see the completed phase a's saved output; system = %q", calls[0].Request.System)
+	}
+}

run/critic.go

@@ -0,0 +1,136 @@
+package run
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"fmt"
+	"time"
+
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/majordomo/agent"
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/majordomo/llm"
+)
+
+// criticDeadlineCheck is how often the deadline-watch goroutine polls the
+// critic's hard deadline. Small relative to any realistic soft timeout.
+const criticDeadlineCheck = time.Second
+
+// criticBinding wires a CriticHandle into a run: the executor forwards activity
+// (steps + tool starts) to it, binds the run's hard cancellation to the critic's
+// extendable deadline, and exposes the critic's Steer messages as an agent
+// RunOption. All methods are nil-safe so the executor can call them
+// unconditionally when no critic is configured.
+type criticBinding struct {
+	h CriticHandle
+}
+
+// criticOwnsDeadline reports whether a critic is configured AND this run enables
+// it — the single predicate that decides the two-tier-timeout path. Used by BOTH
+// Run (to choose the generous runaway ceiling over the literal MaxRuntime cap) and
+// startCritic (the arm/no-op gate), so the two can never drift.
+func (e *Executor) criticOwnsDeadline(ra RunnableAgent) bool {
+	return e.cfg.Ports.Critic != nil && ra.Critic.Enabled
+}
+
+// startCritic begins critic monitoring for this run when one is configured and
+// the agent enables it. It launches a goroutine that cancels runCtx (via
+// cancelCause) the moment the critic's hard deadline passes — the critic may
+// extend that deadline, so a healthy-but-slow run is given room while a hung one
+// is killed. When the deadline passes because the critic KILLED the run
+// (KillCause() != nil), the cancellation cause is ErrCriticKill (→ status
+// "killed"); when the backstop simply expired, it is context.DeadlineExceeded (→
+// "timeout"). Returns (nil, no-op stop) when there is no critic. The caller MUST
+// defer the returned stop.
+//
+// softTrigger is the run's resolved MaxRuntime: for a critic-owned run MaxRuntime
+// is the soft wake (mort's two-tier semantics — the critic first reviews once the
+// run exceeds its nominal budget, and its backstop = softTrigger × multiplier).
+// The caller (Run) always passes the resolved MaxRuntime, which withFallbacks
+// guarantees is > 0, so no fallback is needed here. (A non-positive soft would make
+// the host Monitor return no handle, and Run's unsupervised-run failsafe then bounds
+// the run at MaxRuntime — so even that impossible case stays bounded.)
+func (e *Executor) startCritic(runCtx context.Context, cancelCause context.CancelCauseFunc, ra RunnableAgent, info RunInfo, softTrigger time.Duration) (*criticBinding, func()) {
+	noop := func() {}
+	if !e.criticOwnsDeadline(ra) {
+		return nil, noop
+	}
+	h := e.cfg.Ports.Critic.Monitor(runCtx, info, softTrigger)
+	if h == nil {
+		return nil, noop
+	}
+	done := make(chan struct{})
+	go func() {
+		// A host CriticHandle.Deadline() that panics must not crash the process
+		// (this runs on its own goroutine, so the executor's top-level recover
+		// can't catch it). Log-free best-effort: just stop watching.
+		defer func() { _ = recover() }()
+		t := time.NewTicker(criticDeadlineCheck)
+		defer t.Stop()
+		for {
+			select {
+			case <-done:
+				return
+			case <-runCtx.Done():
+				return
+			case <-t.C:
+				// A zero deadline = no hard cap (not yet set); otherwise cancel
+				// once we're at or past it, distinguishing an explicit kill from a
+				// natural backstop expiry so the run gets the right status.
+				if d := h.Deadline(); !d.IsZero() && !time.Now().Before(d) {
+					if cause := h.KillCause(); cause != nil {
+						cancelCause(fmt.Errorf("%w: %s", ErrCriticKill, cause.Error()))
+					} else {
+						cancelCause(context.DeadlineExceeded)
+					}
+					return
+				}
+			}
+		}
+	}()
+	return &criticBinding{h: h}, func() {
+		close(done)
+		h.Stop()
+	}
+}
+
+func (b *criticBinding) recordStep(iter int, resp *llm.Response) {
+	if b != nil {
+		b.h.RecordStep(iter, resp)
+	}
+}
+
+// recordToolStart forwards a tool call to the critic. NOTE: majordomo's step
+// observer only fires AFTER an iteration completes, so this currently lands
+// post-tool, not at dispatch — the activity clock is refreshed once per
+// iteration, not mid-tool. A single very long tool call (e.g. a 30-min render)
+// therefore won't refresh the clock until it returns; a host that runs such
+// tools should feed interim progress to its Critic (mort's InstallProgressBridge
+// pattern). A true pre-dispatch refresh needs a majordomo hook (follow-up).
+func (b *criticBinding) recordToolStart(name, args string) {
+	if b != nil {
+		b.h.RecordToolStart(name, args)
+	}
+}
+
+// maxStepsOption returns the agent step-ceiling Option. With no critic it's a
+// fixed WithMaxSteps(base); with a critic it's a DYNAMIC WithMaxStepsFunc that
+// polls the handle each step (so the critic can raise a long run's budget),
+// falling back to base when the handle defers (MaxSteps() <= 0).
+func (b *criticBinding) maxStepsOption(base int) agent.Option {
+	if b == nil {
+		return agent.WithMaxSteps(base)
+	}
+	return agent.WithMaxStepsFunc(func() int {
+		if n := b.h.MaxSteps(); n > 0 {
+			return n
+		}
+		return base
+	})
+}
+
+// drainSteer returns the critic's queued steer messages (nil-safe), so the
+// executor can merge them with the session steer mailbox into one WithSteer.
+func (b *criticBinding) drainSteer() []llm.Message {
+	if b == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	return b.h.Steer()
+}

run/critic_deadline_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,153 @@
+package run_test
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"sync"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/majordomo/llm"
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/majordomo/provider/fake"
+
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/executus/run"
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/executus/tool"
+)
+
+// slowToolInvocation builds an Invocation whose session factory adds a "slow"
+// tool that sleeps for d (respecting ctx). The model script calls it once, then
+// answers — so the run's wall-clock is dominated by d, letting a test set a tiny
+// MaxRuntime and observe whether MaxRuntime hard-cancels the run.
+func slowToolInvocation(runID string, d time.Duration) tool.Invocation {
+	slow := llm.DefineTool("slow", "sleeps for a while",
+		func(ctx context.Context, _ struct{}) (any, error) {
+			select {
+			case <-time.After(d):
+				return "ok", nil
+			case <-ctx.Done():
+				return nil, ctx.Err()
+			}
+		})
+	return tool.Invocation{
+		RunID: runID,
+		SessionToolFactory: func(_ tool.AgentSession) tool.SessionTools {
+			return tool.SessionTools{Tools: []llm.Tool{slow}}
+		},
+	}
+}
+
+func slowModel() llm.Model {
+	fp := fake.New("fake")
+	fp.Enqueue("m",
+		fake.ReplyWith(llm.Response{ToolCalls: []llm.ToolCall{{ID: "c1", Name: "slow", Arguments: []byte(`{}`)}}}),
+		fake.Reply("done"),
+	)
+	m, _ := fp.Model("m")
+	return m
+}
+
+// TestNoCritic_MaxRuntimeIsHardCap: the legacy contract is preserved — without a
+// critic, MaxRuntime is a literal WithTimeout that kills a run whose work outlasts
+// it. The slow tool (200ms) outlasts MaxRuntime (20ms), so runCtx cancels mid-tool
+// and the run ends in error (timeout).
+func TestNoCritic_MaxRuntimeIsHardCap(t *testing.T) {
+	m := slowModel()
+	ex := run.New(run.Config{
+		Registry: tool.NewRegistry(),
+		Models:   func(ctx context.Context, _ string) (context.Context, llm.Model, error) { return ctx, m, nil },
+	})
+	res := ex.Run(context.Background(),
+		run.RunnableAgent{Name: "x", ModelTier: "m", MaxIterations: 5, MaxRuntime: 20 * time.Millisecond},
+		slowToolInvocation("r", 200*time.Millisecond), "go")
+	if res.Err == nil {
+		t.Fatalf("non-critic run should hard-timeout at MaxRuntime; got output=%q err=nil", res.Output)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestCriticOwnsDeadline_SurvivesPastMaxRuntime: the fix — when the critic owns the
+// deadline (Ports.Critic set + Critic.Enabled), MaxRuntime becomes the SOFT trigger
+// and is NOT a hard cap. The fake critic exposes no hard deadline (Deadline()==zero,
+// no kill), so the only hard ceiling is CriticAbsoluteMax (10s here). The slow tool
+// (200ms) outlasts the tiny MaxRuntime (20ms) but the run completes — proving the
+// old agentexec two-tier semantics are restored.
+func TestCriticOwnsDeadline_SurvivesPastMaxRuntime(t *testing.T) {
+	m := slowModel()
+	h := &fakeCriticHandle{} // Deadline()==zero → no hard deadline, no kill
+	ex := run.New(run.Config{
+		Registry: tool.NewRegistry(),
+		Models:   func(ctx context.Context, _ string) (context.Context, llm.Model, error) { return ctx, m, nil },
+		Ports:    run.Ports{Critic: &fakeCritic{h: h}},
+		Defaults: run.Defaults{CriticAbsoluteMax: 10 * time.Second},
+	})
+	res := ex.Run(context.Background(),
+		run.RunnableAgent{Name: "watched", ModelTier: "m", MaxIterations: 5, MaxRuntime: 20 * time.Millisecond,
+			Critic: run.CriticConfig{Enabled: true}},
+		slowToolInvocation("r", 200*time.Millisecond), "go")
+	if res.Err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("critic-owned run must survive past MaxRuntime (soft trigger); got err=%v", res.Err)
+	}
+	if res.Output != "done" {
+		t.Errorf("output = %q, want %q", res.Output, "done")
+	}
+}
+
+// capturingCritic records the soft trigger the executor passes to Monitor.
+type capturingCritic struct {
+	mu   sync.Mutex
+	soft time.Duration
+	h    run.CriticHandle
+}
+
+func (c *capturingCritic) Monitor(_ context.Context, _ run.RunInfo, soft time.Duration) run.CriticHandle {
+	c.mu.Lock()
+	c.soft = soft
+	c.mu.Unlock()
+	return c.h
+}
+
+// TestCriticSoftTriggerIsMaxRuntime: the soft trigger handed to the host critic is
+// the run's resolved MaxRuntime (mort's two-tier model — the critic first wakes once
+// the run exceeds its nominal budget), not some global/default value.
+func TestCriticSoftTriggerIsMaxRuntime(t *testing.T) {
+	fp := fake.New("fake")
+	fp.Enqueue("m", fake.Reply("done"))
+	m, _ := fp.Model("m")
+	cc := &capturingCritic{h: &fakeCriticHandle{}}
+	ex := run.New(run.Config{
+		Registry: tool.NewRegistry(),
+		Models:   func(ctx context.Context, _ string) (context.Context, llm.Model, error) { return ctx, m, nil },
+		Ports:    run.Ports{Critic: cc},
+	})
+	const wantSoft = 7 * time.Minute
+	ex.Run(context.Background(),
+		run.RunnableAgent{Name: "x", ModelTier: "m", MaxRuntime: wantSoft, Critic: run.CriticConfig{Enabled: true}},
+		tool.Invocation{RunID: "r"}, "go")
+	cc.mu.Lock()
+	got := cc.soft
+	cc.mu.Unlock()
+	if got != wantSoft {
+		t.Errorf("soft trigger = %v, want the agent's MaxRuntime %v", got, wantSoft)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestCriticOwnsDeadline_NilHandleFallsBackToMaxRuntime: the agent enables the
+// critic but the host Monitor returns NO handle (nil) — there is no deadline-watch,
+// so the run is unsupervised. It must fall back to the nominal MaxRuntime hard cap
+// (the slow 200ms tool outlasts the 20ms MaxRuntime → the run errors), NOT run free
+// up to the generous CriticAbsoluteMax runaway ceiling.
+func TestCriticOwnsDeadline_NilHandleFallsBackToMaxRuntime(t *testing.T) {
+	m := slowModel()
+	cc := &capturingCritic{} // h is the nil interface → Monitor returns a nil handle
+	ex := run.New(run.Config{
+		Registry: tool.NewRegistry(),
+		Models:   func(ctx context.Context, _ string) (context.Context, llm.Model, error) { return ctx, m, nil },
+		Ports:    run.Ports{Critic: cc},
+		Defaults: run.Defaults{CriticAbsoluteMax: time.Hour}, // generous ceiling; must NOT be what bounds the run
+	})
+	res := ex.Run(context.Background(),
+		run.RunnableAgent{Name: "x", ModelTier: "m", MaxIterations: 5, MaxRuntime: 20 * time.Millisecond,
+			Critic: run.CriticConfig{Enabled: true}},
+		slowToolInvocation("r", 200*time.Millisecond), "go")
+	if res.Err == nil {
+		t.Fatalf("critic-enabled run with a nil Monitor handle must fall back to the MaxRuntime hard cap; got output=%q err=nil", res.Output)
+	}
+}

run/critic_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,128 @@
+package run_test
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"sync"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/majordomo/llm"
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/majordomo/provider/fake"
+
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/executus/run"
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/executus/tool"
+)
+
+type fakeCritic struct{ h *fakeCriticHandle }
+
+func (c *fakeCritic) Monitor(_ context.Context, _ run.RunInfo, _ time.Duration) run.CriticHandle {
+	return c.h
+}
+
+type fakeCriticHandle struct {
+	mu                  sync.Mutex
+	steps, tools, stops int
+	steered             int
+	maxSteps            int   // 0 => defer to the run's base MaxIterations
+	killCause           error // non-nil simulates a critic kill
+}
+
+func (h *fakeCriticHandle) RecordStep(int, *llm.Response) { h.mu.Lock(); h.steps++; h.mu.Unlock() }
+func (h *fakeCriticHandle) KillCause() error {
+	h.mu.Lock()
+	defer h.mu.Unlock()
+	return h.killCause
+}
+func (h *fakeCriticHandle) RecordToolStart(string, string) {
+	h.mu.Lock()
+	h.tools++
+	h.mu.Unlock()
+}
+func (h *fakeCriticHandle) Steer() []llm.Message { h.mu.Lock(); h.steered++; h.mu.Unlock(); return nil }
+func (h *fakeCriticHandle) Deadline() time.Time  { return time.Time{} } // no hard deadline
+func (h *fakeCriticHandle) MaxSteps() int        { h.mu.Lock(); defer h.mu.Unlock(); return h.maxSteps }
+func (h *fakeCriticHandle) Stop()                { h.mu.Lock(); h.stops++; h.mu.Unlock() }
+
+// TestCriticRaisesStepCeiling: a critic returning a higher MaxSteps lets the agent
+// run PAST its base MaxIterations (the dynamic step ceiling). With base=1 and no
+// critic the run would hit ErrMaxSteps after the first tool-dispatch step; the
+// critic raises it to 5 so the run completes.
+func TestCriticRaisesStepCeiling(t *testing.T) {
+	h := &fakeCriticHandle{maxSteps: 5}
+	fp := fake.New("fake")
+	fp.Enqueue("m",
+		// two tool-call steps (unknown tool → tolerated error results), then answer
+		fake.ReplyWith(llm.Response{ToolCalls: []llm.ToolCall{{ID: "c1", Name: "noop", Arguments: []byte(`{}`)}}}),
+		fake.ReplyWith(llm.Response{ToolCalls: []llm.ToolCall{{ID: "c2", Name: "noop", Arguments: []byte(`{}`)}}}),
+		fake.Reply("done after 2 tool steps"),
+	)
+	m, _ := fp.Model("m")
+	ex := run.New(run.Config{
+		Registry: tool.NewRegistry(),
+		Models:   func(ctx context.Context, _ string) (context.Context, llm.Model, error) { return ctx, m, nil },
+		Ports:    run.Ports{Critic: &fakeCritic{h: h}},
+		// The fake handle's Deadline() is zero (no hard deadline), so the
+		// deadline-watch never interferes regardless of the soft trigger.
+	})
+	res := ex.Run(context.Background(),
+		run.RunnableAgent{Name: "x", ModelTier: "m", MaxIterations: 1, Critic: run.CriticConfig{Enabled: true}},
+		tool.Invocation{RunID: "r"}, "go")
+	if res.Err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("critic raised the ceiling to 5, run should complete past base=1: %v", res.Err)
+	}
+	if res.Output != "done after 2 tool steps" {
+		t.Errorf("output = %q", res.Output)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestCriticWired: an agent with Critic.Enabled gets monitored — Monitor returns
+// a handle the executor feeds (RecordStep), drains (Steer), and stops.
+func TestCriticWired(t *testing.T) {
+	h := &fakeCriticHandle{}
+	fp := fake.New("fake")
+	fp.Enqueue("m", fake.Reply("done"))
+	m, _ := fp.Model("m")
+	ex := run.New(run.Config{
+		Registry: tool.NewRegistry(),
+		Models:   func(ctx context.Context, _ string) (context.Context, llm.Model, error) { return ctx, m, nil },
+		Ports:    run.Ports{Critic: &fakeCritic{h: h}},
+	})
+	res := ex.Run(context.Background(),
+		run.RunnableAgent{Name: "watched", ModelTier: "m", Critic: run.CriticConfig{Enabled: true}},
+		tool.Invocation{RunID: "r"}, "go")
+	if res.Err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("run error: %v", res.Err)
+	}
+	h.mu.Lock()
+	defer h.mu.Unlock()
+	if h.steps < 1 {
+		t.Errorf("critic should have seen >=1 step, got %d", h.steps)
+	}
+	if h.steered < 1 {
+		t.Errorf("critic Steer should be drained at least once, got %d", h.steered)
+	}
+	if h.stops != 1 {
+		t.Errorf("critic Stop should be called exactly once, got %d", h.stops)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestCriticDisabledNotMonitored: Critic.Enabled=false → Monitor never called.
+func TestCriticDisabledNotMonitored(t *testing.T) {
+	h := &fakeCriticHandle{}
+	fp := fake.New("fake")
+	fp.Enqueue("m", fake.Reply("done"))
+	m, _ := fp.Model("m")
+	ex := run.New(run.Config{
+		Registry: tool.NewRegistry(),
+		Models:   func(ctx context.Context, _ string) (context.Context, llm.Model, error) { return ctx, m, nil },
+		Ports:    run.Ports{Critic: &fakeCritic{h: h}},
+	})
+	ex.Run(context.Background(),
+		run.RunnableAgent{Name: "x", ModelTier: "m"}, // Critic.Enabled=false
+		tool.Invocation{RunID: "r"}, "go")
+	h.mu.Lock()
+	defer h.mu.Unlock()
+	if h.stops != 0 || h.steps != 0 {
+		t.Errorf("disabled critic should not be monitored: steps=%d stops=%d", h.steps, h.stops)
+	}
+}

run/delivery_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,114 @@
+package run_test
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"testing"
+
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/majordomo/llm"
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/majordomo/provider/fake"
+
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/executus/deliver"
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/executus/run"
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/executus/tool"
+)
+
+type recordingDelivery struct {
+	target   deliver.Target
+	output   string
+	errored  error
+	delivers int
+}
+
+func (d *recordingDelivery) Deliver(_ context.Context, t deliver.Target, output string, _ []deliver.Artifact) (string, error) {
+	d.target, d.output, d.delivers = t, output, d.delivers+1
+	return "msg-1", nil
+}
+func (d *recordingDelivery) DeliverError(_ context.Context, t deliver.Target, e error) error {
+	d.target, d.errored = t, e
+	return nil
+}
+
+func TestDeliveryWired(t *testing.T) {
+	d := &recordingDelivery{}
+	fp := fake.New("fake")
+	fp.Enqueue("m", fake.Reply("the output"))
+	m, _ := fp.Model("m")
+	ex := run.New(run.Config{
+		Registry: tool.NewRegistry(),
+		Models:   func(ctx context.Context, _ string) (context.Context, llm.Model, error) { return ctx, m, nil },
+		Ports:    run.Ports{Delivery: d},
+	})
+	// With a delivery target, the executor posts the output.
+	ex.Run(context.Background(),
+		run.RunnableAgent{Name: "x", ModelTier: "m"},
+		tool.Invocation{RunID: "r", DeliveryKind: "channel", DeliveryID: "chan-9"}, "go")
+	if d.delivers != 1 || d.output != "the output" || d.target.ID != "chan-9" || d.target.Kind != "channel" {
+		t.Fatalf("delivery wrong: %+v out=%q", d.target, d.output)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestNoDeliveryWithoutTarget(t *testing.T) {
+	d := &recordingDelivery{}
+	fp := fake.New("fake")
+	fp.Enqueue("m", fake.Reply("x"))
+	m, _ := fp.Model("m")
+	ex := run.New(run.Config{
+		Registry: tool.NewRegistry(),
+		Models:   func(ctx context.Context, _ string) (context.Context, llm.Model, error) { return ctx, m, nil },
+		Ports:    run.Ports{Delivery: d},
+	})
+	// No DeliveryID → executor delivers nothing (caller reads Result.Output).
+	ex.Run(context.Background(),
+		run.RunnableAgent{Name: "x", ModelTier: "m"},
+		tool.Invocation{RunID: "r"}, "go")
+	if d.delivers != 0 {
+		t.Errorf("no target should mean no delivery, got %d", d.delivers)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestNoDeliveryOnEarlyResolveError: an error BEFORE the run starts (model
+// resolve) returns before delivery is reached — neither Deliver nor DeliverError
+// fires. (Delivery covers run OUTCOMES, not pre-run setup failures.)
+func TestNoDeliveryOnEarlyResolveError(t *testing.T) {
+	d := &recordingDelivery{}
+	ex := run.New(run.Config{
+		Registry: tool.NewRegistry(),
+		Models: func(ctx context.Context, _ string) (context.Context, llm.Model, error) {
+			return ctx, nil, errors.New("resolve boom")
+		},
+		Ports: run.Ports{Delivery: d},
+	})
+	ex.Run(context.Background(),
+		run.RunnableAgent{Name: "x", ModelTier: "m"},
+		tool.Invocation{RunID: "r", DeliveryKind: "channel", DeliveryID: "chan-9"}, "go")
+	if d.delivers != 0 || d.errored != nil {
+		t.Errorf("early resolve failure should neither Deliver nor DeliverError: delivers=%d errored=%v", d.delivers, d.errored)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestDeliverErrorOnRunFailure: an in-loop run failure (the model errors) routes
+// through DeliverError with the run error.
+func TestDeliverErrorOnRunFailure(t *testing.T) {
+	d := &recordingDelivery{}
+	fp := fake.New("fake")
+	fp.Enqueue("m", fake.Step{Err: errors.New("model boom")}) // model errors mid-run
+	m, _ := fp.Model("m")
+	ex := run.New(run.Config{
+		Registry: tool.NewRegistry(),
+		Models:   func(ctx context.Context, _ string) (context.Context, llm.Model, error) { return ctx, m, nil },
+		Ports:    run.Ports{Delivery: d},
+	})
+	res := ex.Run(context.Background(),
+		run.RunnableAgent{Name: "x", ModelTier: "m"},
+		tool.Invocation{RunID: "r", DeliveryKind: "channel", DeliveryID: "chan-9"}, "go")
+	if res.Err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("expected a run error")
+	}
+	if d.delivers != 0 {
+		t.Errorf("a failed run should not Deliver (success path), got %d", d.delivers)
+	}
+	if d.errored == nil || d.target.ID != "chan-9" {
+		t.Errorf("a failed run with a target should DeliverError to chan-9, got errored=%v target=%+v", d.errored, d.target)
+	}
+}

run/executor.go

@@ -0,0 +1,651 @@
+package run
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"log/slog"
+	"time"
+
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/majordomo/agent"
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/majordomo/llm"
+
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/executus/compact"
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/executus/deliver"
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/executus/tool"
+)
+
+// ModelResolver resolves a tier alias or concrete spec to a usable llm.Model
+// and an enriched context (for usage attribution). model.ParseModelForContext
+// satisfies it.
+type ModelResolver func(ctx context.Context, tier string) (context.Context, llm.Model, error)
+
+// Defaults are the executor's fallback caps and loop guards, applied per run
+// when the RunnableAgent leaves a field zero.
+type Defaults struct {
+	MaxIterations            int           // tool-dispatch steps; default 12
+	MaxRuntime               time.Duration // wall-clock per run; default 60s
+	FallbackTier             string        // tier when the agent's is empty; default "fast"
+	MaxConsecutiveToolErrors int           // loop guard; default 3
+	MaxSameToolCallRepeats   int           // retry-storm guard; default 3
+	CompactionThresholdRatio float64       // fraction of model context to compact at; default 0.7
+	// CriticAbsoluteMax is the RUNAWAY ceiling for a critic-OWNED run (Ports.Critic
+	// set AND the agent enables it). For such a run MaxRuntime is the SOFT trigger,
+	// not a hard cap, and the critic's own extendable backstop is the normal
+	// deadline. This ceiling exists ONLY to stop a critic that never advances its
+	// deadline (a broken host handle) from running forever, so it is deliberately
+	// set FAR beyond any realistic backstop (default 24h): the host clamps its own
+	// backstop to a much smaller absolute max (e.g. a 6h host convar), so the ceiling
+	// never pre-empts a healthy supervised run. Keep it well above the host's
+	// absolute max. Never shorter than the run's MaxRuntime. Non-critic runs ignore
+	// it (they keep the literal MaxRuntime kill).
+	CriticAbsoluteMax time.Duration
+}
+
+func (d Defaults) withFallbacks() Defaults {
+	if d.MaxIterations <= 0 {
+		d.MaxIterations = 12
+	}
+	if d.MaxRuntime <= 0 {
+		d.MaxRuntime = 60 * time.Second
+	}
+	if d.FallbackTier == "" {
+		d.FallbackTier = "fast"
+	}
+	if d.MaxConsecutiveToolErrors <= 0 {
+		d.MaxConsecutiveToolErrors = 3
+	}
+	if d.MaxSameToolCallRepeats <= 0 {
+		d.MaxSameToolCallRepeats = 3
+	}
+	if d.CompactionThresholdRatio <= 0 {
+		d.CompactionThresholdRatio = 0.7
+	}
+	if d.CriticAbsoluteMax <= 0 {
+		d.CriticAbsoluteMax = 24 * time.Hour
+	}
+	return d
+}
+
+// Config wires an Executor. Registry + Models are required; everything else is
+// optional and nil-safe — the zero Config beyond those yields a bounded,
+// in-memory run with no persistence/audit/budget/critic/delegation/compaction
+// (gadfly's case).
+type Config struct {
+	Registry tool.Registry
+	Models   ModelResolver
+	Defaults Defaults
+	Ports    Ports
+
+	// Compactor mints the per-run context-compaction hook. nil disables
+	// compaction. ContextTokens resolves a tier's model context-window (for
+	// the compaction threshold); nil — or a zero return — also disables it.
+	Compactor     compact.CompactorFactory
+	ContextTokens func(tier string) int
+
+	// SystemHeader is an optional platform header prepended to every agent's
+	// system prompt.
+	SystemHeader string
+}
+
+// Executor runs a RunnableAgent through majordomo's agent loop with the wired
+// Ports. Construct with New; safe for concurrent use across runs.
+type Executor struct {
+	cfg Config
+}
+
+// New builds an Executor. It panics if Registry or Models is nil — those are
+// structural, not runtime, errors.
+func New(cfg Config) *Executor {
+	if cfg.Registry == nil || cfg.Models == nil {
+		panic("run.New: Registry and Models are required")
+	}
+	cfg.Defaults = cfg.Defaults.withFallbacks()
+	return &Executor{cfg: cfg}
+}
+
+// Result is one run's outcome. Err carries the run failure (if any); the other
+// fields are populated best-effort even on error (partial output/steps/usage).
+type Result struct {
+	RunID  string
+	Output string
+	Steps  []tool.Step
+	Usage  llm.Usage
+	Err    error
+	// PostRunResult carries artifacts produced by a SessionToolFactory's PostRun
+	// hook (rendered images, files). nil when no factory was set or PostRun
+	// returned nil. The host delivers these (e.g. mort's chat API / Discord).
+	PostRunResult *tool.PostRunResult
+}
+
+// Run executes ra with the given invocation + input and returns the Result. It
+// never propagates a panic; failures surface in Result.Err (a top-level recover
+// converts any panic — including from a host Port — into a run error).
+func (e *Executor) Run(ctx context.Context, ra RunnableAgent, inv tool.Invocation, input string) (res Result) {
+	started := time.Now()
+	res = Result{RunID: inv.RunID}
+	// ckpt is the per-run durable checkpointer (resolved below; nil = non-durable).
+	// checkpointCause yields the run context's cancellation cause once the run
+	// context exists; nil before then (an early build-error return).
+	var ckpt Checkpointer
+	var checkpointCause func() error
+	// Enforce the no-panic contract: a panic anywhere in the run (incl. a host
+	// Critic/Audit/Palette callback on the main goroutine) becomes Result.Err
+	// rather than unwinding into the caller. This defer ALSO finalizes the
+	// checkpoint on EVERY exit path — panic, an early build-error return (before
+	// the run loop), or normal completion — so a recovered run's durable record is
+	// never left dangling (which would loop boot-recovery on a persistent error).
+	defer func() {
+		if r := recover(); r != nil {
+			res.Err = fmt.Errorf("run.Executor: recovered panic: %v", r)
+		}
+		var cause error
+		if checkpointCause != nil {
+			cause = checkpointCause()
+		}
+		finalizeCheckpoint(ctx, ckpt, res.Err, cause)
+	}()
+
+	tier := ra.ModelTier
+	if tier == "" {
+		tier = e.cfg.Defaults.FallbackTier
+	}
+	maxIter := ra.MaxIterations
+	if maxIter <= 0 {
+		maxIter = e.cfg.Defaults.MaxIterations
+	}
+	maxRuntime := ra.MaxRuntime
+	if maxRuntime <= 0 {
+		maxRuntime = e.cfg.Defaults.MaxRuntime
+	}
+
+	// Budget gate (pre-run): a rejected run makes no model call.
+	if e.cfg.Ports.Budget != nil {
+		if err := e.cfg.Ports.Budget.Check(ctx, inv.CallerID); err != nil {
+			res.Err = err
+			return res
+		}
+	}
+
+	// Resolve the model (enriches ctx for usage attribution).
+	modelCtx, model, err := e.cfg.Models(ctx, tier)
+	if err != nil {
+		res.Err = fmt.Errorf("resolve model %q: %w", tier, err)
+		return res
+	}
+	if model == nil {
+		// A resolver returning (ctx, nil, nil) would otherwise nil-panic inside
+		// the agent loop; surface it as a clean error (Run never panics out).
+		res.Err = fmt.Errorf("resolve model %q: resolver returned a nil model", tier)
+		return res
+	}
+	ctx = modelCtx
+
+	// Audit start (optional). The recorder satisfies RunTally; stamp it on the
+	// invocation so a self-status tool can read live progress.
+	info := RunInfo{
+		RunID:         inv.RunID,
+		SubjectID:     ra.ID,
+		Name:          ra.Name,
+		CallerID:      inv.CallerID,
+		ChannelID:     inv.ChannelID,
+		GuildID:       inv.GuildID,
+		ParentRunID:   inv.ParentRunID,
+		ModelTier:     tier,
+		Inputs:        inv.SkillInputs,
+		StartedAt:     started,
+		MaxIterations: maxIter,
+	}
+	var rec RunRecorder
+	var stateAcc *RunStateAccessor
+	if e.cfg.Ports.Audit != nil {
+		rec = e.cfg.Ports.Audit.StartRun(ctx, info)
+	}
+	if rec != nil {
+		stateAcc = NewRunStateAccessor(rec, maxIter, 0, started)
+		inv.RunState = stateAcc
+	}
+
+	// Durable recovery (optional): a recovered run carries a ResumeState (prior
+	// transcript / completed phases) + an existing Checkpointer in ctx so it
+	// continues on the SAME durable record; a fresh run mints a per-run
+	// Checkpointer via the factory (which decides durability — nil = non-durable).
+	// nil-safe throughout.
+	resume := resumeStateFromContext(ctx)
+	ckpt = existingCheckpointerFromContext(ctx)
+	if ckpt == nil && e.cfg.Ports.Checkpointer != nil {
+		c, cerr := e.cfg.Ports.Checkpointer.Begin(ctx, info)
+		if cerr != nil {
+			// Degrade to non-durable (the documented contract) but log it — a
+			// failing checkpoint store must not fail the run, yet shouldn't be silent.
+			slog.Warn("run: checkpointer Begin failed; running non-durable",
+				"run_id", inv.RunID, "error", cerr)
+		} else {
+			ckpt = c
+		}
+	}
+
+	// Steer mailbox: lets session tools (via inv.AttachImages) feed multimodal
+	// messages into the running conversation before its next step. Created BEFORE
+	// the toolbox build so any tool's handler captures the live AttachImages seam.
+	mailbox := &steerMailbox{}
+	inv.AttachImages = (&runSession{mailbox: mailbox}).AttachImages
+
+	// Build the toolbox from the agent's low-level tools.
+	toolbox, err := e.cfg.Registry.Build(ra.LowLevelTools, inv, tool.Visibility("private"), nil)
+	if err != nil {
+		res.Err = fmt.Errorf("build toolbox: %w", err)
+		e.finishAudit(ctx, rec, "error", res, started, res.Err)
+		return res
+	}
+
+	// Add skill__/agent__ delegation tools from the agent's palette (nil-safe:
+	// no PaletteSource or empty palette → no delegation tools).
+	if err := addDelegationTools(toolbox, ra, inv, e.cfg.Ports.Palette); err != nil {
+		res.Err = fmt.Errorf("build delegation tools: %w", err)
+		e.finishAudit(ctx, rec, "error", res, started, res.Err)
+		return res
+	}
+
+	// Per-invocation ExtraTools + a SessionToolFactory's per-run tools, added on
+	// top of the agent's palette. The factory closes over the live session (the
+	// AttachImages mailbox); its PostRun hook (held for after the run) produces
+	// artifacts attached to res.PostRunResult, and its Cleanup is deferred. All
+	// nil-safe.
+	for _, t := range inv.ExtraTools {
+		if err := toolbox.Add(t); err != nil {
+			res.Err = fmt.Errorf("add extra tool: %w", err)
+			e.finishAudit(ctx, rec, "error", res, started, res.Err)
+			return res
+		}
+	}
+	var postRun func(ctx context.Context, transcript []llm.Message, output string, runErr error) *tool.PostRunResult
+	if inv.SessionToolFactory != nil {
+		st := inv.SessionToolFactory(&runSession{mailbox: mailbox})
+		if st.Cleanup != nil {
+			defer safeCleanup(st.Cleanup) // panic-isolated, like runPostRun
+		}
+		for _, t := range st.Tools {
+			if err := toolbox.Add(t); err != nil {
+				res.Err = fmt.Errorf("add session tool: %w", err)
+				e.finishAudit(ctx, rec, "error", res, started, res.Err)
+				return res
+			}
+		}
+		postRun = st.PostRun
+	}
+
+	// Skill packs: resolve the agent's subscribed packs into a catalog (folded
+	// into the system prompt) + a skill_use loader tool added to the toolbox.
+	// nil-safe; activation failures are non-fatal — the run proceeds without
+	// packs rather than dying on a fetch/cache miss.
+	if len(ra.SkillPacks) > 0 && e.cfg.Ports.SkillPacks != nil {
+		instr, packTools, aerr := e.cfg.Ports.SkillPacks.ActivateSkillPacks(ctx, ra.SkillPacks, inv.RunID, ra.ID)
+		if aerr != nil {
+			slog.Warn("run: skill-pack activation failed; continuing without packs", "run_id", inv.RunID, "error", aerr)
+		} else {
+			for _, t := range packTools {
+				if err := toolbox.Add(t); err != nil {
+					res.Err = fmt.Errorf("add skill-pack tool: %w", err)
+					e.finishAudit(ctx, rec, "error", res, started, res.Err)
+					return res
+				}
+			}
+			if instr != "" {
+				if ra.SystemPrompt != "" {
+					ra.SystemPrompt += "\n\n" + instr
+				} else {
+					ra.SystemPrompt = instr
+				}
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	// Run context: detached from the caller's deadline so a lane/queue wait doesn't
+	// eat the run budget (mort's V10 lesson). Caller cancellation still propagates
+	// via MergeCancellation. Created BEFORE the step observer so the observer
+	// forwards the merged run context (not a possibly-cancelled caller ctx) to
+	// OnStep consumers.
+	//
+	// Two-tier timeout: who owns the hard deadline depends on the critic.
+	//   - NO critic (the default): MaxRuntime is a literal WithTimeout. Its
+	//     DeadlineExceeded propagates through the child chain (→ "timeout"),
+	//     preserving the run's-own-timeout vs caller-cancel distinction.
+	//   - critic OWNS the deadline (Ports.Critic set + ra.Critic.Enabled):
+	//     MaxRuntime becomes the SOFT trigger (passed to startCritic), and the
+	//     critic's extendable backstop — watched in startCritic, which cancels via
+	//     cancelCause — is the real deadline. A slow-but-progressing run is given
+	//     room up to that backstop; only a stalled one is killed. The base context
+	//     gets a WithTimeout at CriticAbsoluteMax (default 24h) purely as a RUNAWAY
+	//     guard for a critic that never advances its deadline: it is set FAR beyond
+	//     any realistic backstop (the host clamps its own backstop to a much smaller
+	//     absolute max, e.g. a 6h host convar), so it does NOT pre-empt a healthy
+	//     supervised run. If the host critic fails to ARM (nil handle), the run is
+	//     unsupervised and we tighten the cap back down to MaxRuntime below.
+	// A NESTED cause-carrying layer (cancelCause) lets a critic kill surface as a
+	// distinct "killed": only an ErrCriticKill cause is consulted in statusFor; a
+	// generic run error, a backstop expiry, or a caller cancel is classified by the
+	// run error itself.
+	criticOwns := e.criticOwnsDeadline(ra)
+	hardCap := maxRuntime
+	if criticOwns {
+		// Runaway guard only — the critic's own (extendable) deadline-watch is the
+		// normal cap. max() keeps it from being shorter than the nominal budget if an
+		// operator sets MaxRuntime above the runaway ceiling (a degenerate config).
+		hardCap = max(e.cfg.Defaults.CriticAbsoluteMax, maxRuntime)
+	}
+	timeoutCtx, cancelTimeout := context.WithTimeout(context.WithoutCancel(ctx), hardCap)
+	defer cancelTimeout()
+	runCtx, cancelCause := context.WithCancelCause(timeoutCtx)
+	defer cancelCause(nil)
+	runCtx, mergeCancel := MergeCancellation(runCtx, ctx)
+	defer mergeCancel()
+
+	// Critic (optional): monitors the run for a stall, can nudge/extend/kill via
+	// its host Escalator. When it owns the deadline, MaxRuntime is its soft trigger
+	// (so a slow-but-progressing run survives past it); its extendable backstop is
+	// bound to runCtx (cancel on pass). nil-safe: no-op when no critic is configured
+	// or the agent doesn't enable it.
+	critic, stopCritic := e.startCritic(runCtx, cancelCause, ra, info, maxRuntime)
+	defer stopCritic()
+
+	// Unsupervised-run failsafe: the agent enabled the critic (so the base context
+	// got the generous runaway ceiling instead of MaxRuntime), but the host Monitor
+	// returned no handle — there is no deadline-watch. Without this the run would be
+	// bounded only by the 24h ceiling. Tighten it back to the nominal MaxRuntime so
+	// an unsupervised run can't hold its slot far past budget. mort's adapter always
+	// arms when the flag is set, so this is pure defence in depth.
+	if criticOwns && critic == nil {
+		var cancelUnsupervised context.CancelFunc
+		runCtx, cancelUnsupervised = context.WithTimeout(runCtx, maxRuntime)
+		defer cancelUnsupervised()
+	}
+	// The finalize defer (top of Run) now has a run context to read the
+	// cancellation cause from (shutdown vs critic-kill vs deadline vs cancel). Set
+	// AFTER the unsupervised-failsafe re-wrap so it reads the context the loop runs on.
+	checkpointCause = func() error { return context.Cause(runCtx) }
+
+	// Step instrumentation: accumulate Result.Steps + fire inv.OnStep, feed the
+	// audit recorder, and keep the live iteration counter fresh. majordomo's
+	// step observer hands us each completed iteration; we zip the model's tool
+	// calls with their executed results PAIRWISE — a result without a matching
+	// call (or a call without a result) is skipped rather than recorded as an
+	// empty-name "ghost" step.
+	emitter := newStepEmitter(inv.OnStep)
+	stepObserver := func(s agent.Step) {
+		if stateAcc != nil {
+			stateAcc.SetIteration(s.Index)
+		}
+		if rec != nil {
+			rec.OnStep(s.Index, s.Response)
+		}
+		critic.recordStep(s.Index, s.Response) // keep the critic's activity clock fresh + carry the step payload
+		var calls []llm.ToolCall
+		if s.Response != nil {
+			calls = s.Response.ToolCalls
+		}
+		n := len(s.Results)
+		if len(calls) < n {
+			n = len(calls)
+		}
+		for i := 0; i < n; i++ {
+			call, r := calls[i], s.Results[i]
+			critic.recordToolStart(call.Name, string(call.Arguments))
+			emitter.toolStart(runCtx, call.Name, call.Arguments)
+			emitter.toolEnd(runCtx, call, r.Content, r.IsError)
+			if rec != nil {
+				rec.OnTool(call, r.Content)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	// Shared agent options used by BOTH the single-loop path and every phase: the
+	// tool-error guards and optional compaction. The toolbox, step ceiling, AND
+	// step observer are added per path (the observer is wrapped for checkpointing,
+	// which differs single-loop vs per-phase).
+	sharedOpts := []agent.Option{
+		agent.WithToolErrorLimits(e.cfg.Defaults.MaxConsecutiveToolErrors, e.cfg.Defaults.MaxSameToolCallRepeats),
+	}
+	if e.cfg.Compactor != nil && e.cfg.ContextTokens != nil {
+		if threshold := e.compactionThreshold(tier); threshold > 0 {
+			// Forward compaction events to the audit log (makes the
+			// CompactionEvent doc's "logged to the run trace" promise true).
+			var onFire func(compact.CompactionEvent)
+			if rec != nil {
+				onFire = func(ev compact.CompactionEvent) {
+					rec.LogEvent("compaction_fired", map[string]any{
+						"messages_before": ev.MessagesBefore,
+						"messages_after":  ev.MessagesAfter,
+						"tokens_before":   ev.TokensBefore,
+						"tokens_after":    ev.TokensAfter,
+					})
+				}
+			}
+			sharedOpts = append(sharedOpts, agent.WithCompactor(e.cfg.Compactor(threshold, onFire)))
+		}
+	}
+
+	// Stage non-image input attachments (audio/PDF/binary) into the host file
+	// store and fold an [ATTACHED FILES] descriptor into the prompt so the agent
+	// can reach them by file_id. No-op when Ports.InputFiles is nil or there are
+	// no files. Done after the model/toolbox build but before the loop, so the
+	// descriptor rides the very first user turn.
+	input = e.stageInputFiles(runCtx, inv.RunID, ra.ID, inv.InputFiles, input)
+	// One WithSteer drains BOTH the session mailbox (a tool's AttachImages) and
+	// the critic's nudges before each step.
+	steer := func() []llm.Message { return append(mailbox.drain(), critic.drainSteer()...) }
+
+	resuming := resume != nil && len(resume.History) > 0
+
+	var runRes *agent.Result
+	var runErr error
+	if len(ra.Phases) == 0 {
+		// Single-loop run: the agent's base prompt + full toolbox, with the
+		// critic's DYNAMIC step ceiling (WithMaxStepsFunc, so it can raise a
+		// healthy-but-long run's budget mid-flight; falls back to maxIter).
+		//
+		// Checkpointing: wrap the step observer to accumulate the running transcript
+		// and Save it each step. Save is called every step; THROTTLING is the
+		// Checkpointer's responsibility (the battery + mort's durable-job adapter
+		// both throttle + size-cap), so the kernel doesn't gate the hot path. The
+		// accumulated transcript is the pre-compaction one (the observer sees raw
+		// step responses, not the loop's compacted history) — a host that caps size
+		// bounds it. A recovered run seeds the saved transcript and continues.
+		obs := stepObserver
+		if ckpt != nil {
+			var acc []llm.Message
+			if resuming {
+				acc = append([]llm.Message(nil), resume.History...)
+			} else {
+				acc = []llm.Message{multimodalUserMessage(input, inv.Images)}
+			}
+			obs = func(s agent.Step) {
+				stepObserver(s)
+				if s.Response != nil {
+					acc = append(acc, s.Response.Message())
+				}
+				if len(s.Results) > 0 {
+					acc = append(acc, llm.ToolResultsMessage(s.Results...))
+				}
+				_ = ckpt.Save(runCtx, RunCheckpointState{Messages: acc, Iteration: s.Index + 1})
+			}
+		}
+		opts := append([]agent.Option{
+			agent.WithToolbox(toolbox),
+			critic.maxStepsOption(maxIter),
+			agent.WithStepObserver(obs),
+		}, sharedOpts...)
+		ag := agent.New(model, e.systemPrompt(ra), opts...)
+		if resuming {
+			// Resume: seed the saved transcript and continue (no new input — the
+			// completed tool calls in the transcript are NOT re-run).
+			runRes, runErr = ag.Run(runCtx, "", agent.WithSteer(steer), agent.WithHistory(resume.History))
+		} else {
+			runRes, runErr = runAgent(runCtx, ag, input, inv.Images, agent.WithSteer(steer))
+		}
+	} else {
+		// Multi-phase pipeline: each phase runs its own prompt/tier/tools/step-cap
+		// sequentially, threading outputs through {{.<PhaseName>}} templates. The
+		// shared step observer (audit/steps/critic) is wired per phase by the phase
+		// runner; checkpointing is phase-boundary granular (completed phases are
+		// recorded so a resumed run skips them).
+		runRes, runErr = e.runPhases(runCtx, ra, phaseDeps{
+			baseModel:    model,
+			baseToolbox:  toolbox,
+			baseMaxIter:  maxIter,
+			sharedOpts:   sharedOpts,
+			stepObserver: stepObserver,
+			steer:        steer,
+			rec:          rec,
+			checkpointer: ckpt,
+			resume:       resume,
+		}, input, inv.Images)
+	}
+
+	// Durable-recovery finalize (Complete/Fail/leave-running) happens in the
+	// top-of-Run defer so it covers panics + early build-error returns too.
+
+	status := statusFor(runCtx, runErr)
+	if runRes != nil {
+		res.Output = runRes.Output
+		res.Usage = runRes.Usage
+	}
+	res.Steps = emitter.snapshot()
+	res.Err = runErr
+
+	// PostRun: hand the SessionToolFactory's hook the full transcript (populated
+	// even on partial results) so it can produce artifacts. Best-effort +
+	// panic-isolated — a PostRun failure never fails an otherwise-successful run.
+	if postRun != nil {
+		var transcript []llm.Message
+		if runRes != nil {
+			transcript = runRes.Messages
+		}
+		// Detach from the caller's ctx: a finished/cancelled caller must not abort
+		// artifact production (the hook owns its own bounding, per its contract).
+		res.PostRunResult = runPostRun(detach(ctx), postRun, transcript, res.Output, runErr)
+	}
+
+	e.finishAudit(ctx, rec, status, res, started, runErr)
+	if e.cfg.Ports.Budget != nil {
+		e.cfg.Ports.Budget.Commit(detach(ctx), inv.CallerID, time.Since(started).Seconds())
+	}
+	e.deliver(ctx, inv, res, runErr)
+	return res
+}
+
+// statusFor maps a run error to a RunStats.Status, distinguishing a critic kill
+// (killed), a deadline (timeout), and a cancellation (cancelled — caller cancel
+// or shutdown) from a generic error so audit consumers can tell them apart. The
+// run context's cancellation cause carries the distinction (ErrCriticKill /
+// DeadlineExceeded), since ctx.Err() alone only reports Canceled.
+func statusFor(runCtx context.Context, runErr error) string {
+	switch {
+	case runErr == nil:
+		return "ok"
+	// Only the kill is recovered from the cancellation cause — a critic kill
+	// surfaces as a plain Canceled run error, so without this it'd read as
+	// "cancelled". Everything else is classified by the run error itself, so a
+	// genuine run error is never relabeled just because the context was later
+	// cancelled, and a caller cancel/deadline stays "cancelled" (not "timeout").
+	case errors.Is(context.Cause(runCtx), ErrCriticKill):
+		return "killed"
+	case errors.Is(runErr, context.DeadlineExceeded):
+		return "timeout"
+	case errors.Is(runErr, context.Canceled):
+		return "cancelled"
+	default:
+		return "error"
+	}
+}
+
+// finishAudit writes the terminal roll-up on a detached context so a cancelled
+// run still records (mort's CleanupContextTimeout lesson).
+func (e *Executor) finishAudit(ctx context.Context, rec RunRecorder, status string, res Result, started time.Time, runErr error) {
+	if rec == nil {
+		return
+	}
+	stats := RunStats{
+		Status:         status,
+		Output:         res.Output,
+		ToolCalls:      rec.ToolCallsCount(),
+		RuntimeSeconds: time.Since(started).Seconds(),
+	}
+	if runErr != nil {
+		stats.Error = runErr.Error()
+	}
+	stats.InputTokens, stats.OutputTokens, stats.ThinkingTokens = rec.TokenStats()
+	rec.Close(detach(ctx), stats)
+}
+
+func (e *Executor) systemPrompt(ra RunnableAgent) string {
+	return e.systemPromptWithBody(ra.SystemPrompt)
+}
+
+// systemPromptWithBody composes the optional platform header with an arbitrary
+// body. The single-loop path passes ra.SystemPrompt; the phase runner passes a
+// phase's expanded instructions, so each phase keeps the platform header.
+func (e *Executor) systemPromptWithBody(body string) string {
+	if e.cfg.SystemHeader == "" {
+		return body
+	}
+	if body == "" {
+		return e.cfg.SystemHeader
+	}
+	return e.cfg.SystemHeader + "\n\n" + body
+}
+
+// compactionThreshold returns the token threshold for the tier's model context
+// window (ratio × limit), or 0 when the limit is unknown.
+func (e *Executor) compactionThreshold(tier string) int {
+	max := e.cfg.ContextTokens(tier)
+	if max <= 0 {
+		return 0
+	}
+	return int(float64(max) * e.cfg.Defaults.CompactionThresholdRatio)
+}
+
+// deliver posts the run's output (or error) via run.Ports.Delivery when both a
+// Delivery and a target (inv.DeliveryID) are set. No target = the caller reads
+// Result.Output itself (the synchronous default). Best-effort + detached: a
+// delivery failure must not change the run's outcome.
+func (e *Executor) deliver(ctx context.Context, inv tool.Invocation, res Result, runErr error) {
+	if e.cfg.Ports.Delivery == nil || inv.DeliveryID == "" {
+		return
+	}
+	target := deliver.Target{Kind: inv.DeliveryKind, ID: inv.DeliveryID}
+	dctx := detach(ctx)
+	if runErr != nil {
+		_ = e.cfg.Ports.Delivery.DeliverError(dctx, target, runErr)
+		return
+	}
+	_, _ = e.cfg.Ports.Delivery.Deliver(dctx, target, res.Output, nil)
+}
+
+// detach derives a bounded cleanup context off ctx, detached from its
+// cancellation, for post-run writes. The cancel is intentionally not returned;
+// CleanupContextTimeout bounds the lifetime.
+func detach(ctx context.Context) context.Context {
+	c, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.WithoutCancel(ctx), CleanupContextTimeout)
+	_ = cancel // bounded by the timeout; nothing to cancel early
+	return c
+}
+
+// runAgent dispatches the majordomo agent loop. majordomo's Run takes a text-only
+// input arg, so when the invocation carries images they're folded into the first
+// user message (text + image parts) via WithHistory and Run is called with an
+// empty input — the model then sees a multimodal opening turn. The image-less path
+// passes the prompt straight through.
+//
+// The text part is omitted when input is blank (image-only run), matching
+// runSession.AttachImages so no empty TextPart is sent.
+func runAgent(ctx context.Context, ag *agent.Agent, input string, images []llm.ImagePart, opts ...agent.RunOption) (*agent.Result, error) {
+	if len(images) == 0 {
+		return ag.Run(ctx, input, opts...)
+	}
+	// Copy opts before appending so a caller-supplied backing array is never
+	// mutated/aliased (the variadic slice can have spare capacity). The multimodal
+	// opening turn (text + image parts) is built by the shared helper.
+	opts = append(opts[:len(opts):len(opts)], agent.WithHistory([]llm.Message{multimodalUserMessage(input, images)}))
+	return ag.Run(ctx, "", opts...)
+}

run/executor_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,181 @@
+package run
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"testing"
+
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/majordomo/llm"
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/majordomo/provider/fake"
+
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/executus/tool"
+)
+
+// fakeModels returns a ModelResolver backed by a fake provider scripted to
+// reply with the given text (no tool calls — the loop terminates immediately).
+func fakeModels(t *testing.T, reply string) ModelResolver {
+	t.Helper()
+	fp := fake.New("fake")
+	fp.Enqueue("test-model", fake.Reply(reply))
+	m, err := fp.Model("test-model")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("fake model: %v", err)
+	}
+	return func(ctx context.Context, _ string) (context.Context, llm.Model, error) {
+		return ctx, m, nil
+	}
+}
+
+// TestExecutorRunHelloWorld is the milestone: executus runs an agent end-to-end
+// against the fake provider and returns its output. Proves the kernel is
+// runnable with the zero Ports (no persistence/audit/budget/critic).
+func TestExecutorRunHelloWorld(t *testing.T) {
+	ex := New(Config{
+		Registry: tool.NewRegistry(),
+		Models:   fakeModels(t, "hello from executus"),
+	})
+
+	res := ex.Run(context.Background(),
+		RunnableAgent{Name: "greeter", SystemPrompt: "be brief", ModelTier: "test-model"},
+		tool.Invocation{RunID: "run-1", CallerID: "caller-1"},
+		"say hi")
+
+	if res.Err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("run error: %v", res.Err)
+	}
+	if res.Output != "hello from executus" {
+		t.Fatalf("output = %q, want %q", res.Output, "hello from executus")
+	}
+	if res.RunID != "run-1" {
+		t.Errorf("RunID = %q, want run-1", res.RunID)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestExecutorBudgetRejection: a Budget that denies makes no model call.
+func TestExecutorBudgetRejection(t *testing.T) {
+	denied := errors.New("over budget")
+	var modelCalled bool
+	models := func(ctx context.Context, _ string) (context.Context, llm.Model, error) {
+		modelCalled = true
+		return ctx, nil, nil
+	}
+	ex := New(Config{
+		Registry: tool.NewRegistry(),
+		Models:   models,
+		Ports:    Ports{Budget: budgetFunc{check: func(string) error { return denied }}},
+	})
+
+	res := ex.Run(context.Background(),
+		RunnableAgent{ModelTier: "test-model"},
+		tool.Invocation{RunID: "r", CallerID: "broke"}, "hi")
+
+	if !errors.Is(res.Err, denied) {
+		t.Fatalf("err = %v, want budget denial", res.Err)
+	}
+	if modelCalled {
+		t.Error("model must not be resolved/called when budget denies")
+	}
+}
+
+// TestExecutorAuditWiring: the Audit port receives StartRun + Close with the
+// terminal status/output.
+func TestExecutorAuditWiring(t *testing.T) {
+	rec := &captureRecorder{}
+	ex := New(Config{
+		Registry: tool.NewRegistry(),
+		Models:   fakeModels(t, "done"),
+		Ports:    Ports{Audit: auditFunc{start: func(RunInfo) RunRecorder { return rec }}},
+	})
+
+	res := ex.Run(context.Background(),
+		RunnableAgent{ModelTier: "test-model"},
+		tool.Invocation{RunID: "r2", CallerID: "c"}, "go")
+
+	if res.Err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("run error: %v", res.Err)
+	}
+	if !rec.closed {
+		t.Fatal("recorder.Close was not called")
+	}
+	if rec.stats.Status != "ok" {
+		t.Errorf("close status = %q, want ok", rec.stats.Status)
+	}
+	if rec.stats.Output != "done" {
+		t.Errorf("close output = %q, want done", rec.stats.Output)
+	}
+}
+
+// --- test doubles ---
+
+type budgetFunc struct{ check func(callerID string) error }
+
+func (b budgetFunc) Check(_ context.Context, callerID string) error { return b.check(callerID) }
+func (b budgetFunc) Commit(context.Context, string, float64)        {}
+
+type auditFunc struct{ start func(RunInfo) RunRecorder }
+
+func (a auditFunc) StartRun(_ context.Context, info RunInfo) RunRecorder { return a.start(info) }
+
+type captureRecorder struct {
+	closed bool
+	stats  RunStats
+	steps  int
+	tools  int
+}
+
+func (r *captureRecorder) TokenStats() (in, out, thinking int64) { return 0, 0, 0 }
+func (r *captureRecorder) ToolCallsCount() int                   { return r.tools }
+func (r *captureRecorder) OnStep(int, *llm.Response)             { r.steps++ }
+func (r *captureRecorder) OnTool(llm.ToolCall, string)           { r.tools++ }
+func (r *captureRecorder) LogEvent(string, map[string]any)       {}
+func (r *captureRecorder) LogError(string)                       {}
+func (r *captureRecorder) Close(_ context.Context, s RunStats)   { r.closed = true; r.stats = s }
+
+// TestExecutorNilModelNoPanic: a resolver returning (ctx, nil, nil) yields a
+// clean error, not a nil-pointer panic (gadfly F1, high severity).
+func TestExecutorNilModelNoPanic(t *testing.T) {
+	ex := New(Config{
+		Registry: tool.NewRegistry(),
+		Models: func(ctx context.Context, _ string) (context.Context, llm.Model, error) {
+			return ctx, nil, nil // nil model, nil error
+		},
+	})
+	res := ex.Run(context.Background(),
+		RunnableAgent{ModelTier: "x"}, tool.Invocation{RunID: "r"}, "hi")
+	if res.Err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("expected an error for a nil model, got nil (would have panicked in the loop)")
+	}
+}
+
+// TestStatusFor maps run errors + cancellation cause to RunStats.Status (gadfly F3).
+func TestStatusFor(t *testing.T) {
+	bg := context.Background()
+	// A context cancelled with the critic-kill cause: ctx.Err() is Canceled, but
+	// context.Cause carries ErrCriticKill → "killed".
+	killCtx, killCancel := context.WithCancelCause(context.Background())
+	killCancel(fmt.Errorf("%w: hung", ErrCriticKill))
+	// A context cancelled with a non-kill cause must NOT relabel a genuine run
+	// error: a real error stays "error" even though the ctx was later cancelled.
+	cancelledCtx, cc := context.WithCancelCause(context.Background())
+	cc(context.DeadlineExceeded)
+	cases := []struct {
+		ctx  context.Context
+		err  error
+		want string
+	}{
+		{bg, nil, "ok"},
+		{bg, context.DeadlineExceeded, "timeout"},
+		{bg, context.Canceled, "cancelled"},
+		{bg, fmt.Errorf("wrapped: %w", context.DeadlineExceeded), "timeout"},
+		{bg, errors.New("boom"), "error"},
+		{killCtx, context.Canceled, "killed"},
+		{cancelledCtx, errors.New("boom"), "error"},   // generic error not relabeled by cause
+		{cancelledCtx, context.Canceled, "cancelled"}, // caller cancel stays cancelled, not timeout
+	}
+	for _, c := range cases {
+		if got := statusFor(c.ctx, c.err); got != c.want {
+			t.Errorf("statusFor(%v) = %q, want %q", c.err, got, c.want)
+		}
+	}
+}

run/images_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,121 @@
+package run_test
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/majordomo/llm"
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/majordomo/provider/fake"
+
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/executus/run"
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/executus/tool"
+)
+
+// TestExecutorFoldsInitialImages: when the invocation carries Images, they're
+// folded into the first user message (alongside the prompt text) instead of being
+// dropped — majordomo's Run input arg is text-only, so the executor seeds the
+// multimodal opening turn via history.
+func TestExecutorFoldsInitialImages(t *testing.T) {
+	fp := fake.New("fake")
+	fp.Enqueue("m", fake.Reply("saw the image"))
+	m, _ := fp.Model("m")
+
+	img := llm.ImagePart{MIME: "image/png", Data: []byte("PNGDATA")}
+	inv := tool.Invocation{RunID: "r1", Images: []llm.ImagePart{img}}
+	ex := run.New(run.Config{
+		Registry: tool.NewRegistry(),
+		Models:   func(ctx context.Context, _ string) (context.Context, llm.Model, error) { return ctx, m, nil },
+	})
+	res := ex.Run(context.Background(), run.RunnableAgent{ModelTier: "m"}, inv, "describe this")
+	if res.Err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("run error: %v", res.Err)
+	}
+
+	calls := fp.Calls()
+	if len(calls) == 0 {
+		t.Fatal("no model calls recorded")
+	}
+	// The text + image must be CO-LOCATED in a single user message (not split
+	// across two), so the model reads them as one multimodal turn.
+	coLocated := false
+	for _, msg := range calls[0].Request.Messages {
+		sawImage, sawText := false, false
+		for _, p := range msg.Parts {
+			switch pp := p.(type) {
+			case llm.ImagePart:
+				if string(pp.Data) == "PNGDATA" {
+					sawImage = true
+				}
+			case llm.TextPart:
+				if strings.Contains(pp.Text, "describe this") {
+					sawText = true
+				}
+			}
+		}
+		if sawImage && sawText {
+			coLocated = true
+		}
+	}
+	if !coLocated {
+		t.Error("image + prompt text were not folded into the SAME user message")
+	}
+}
+
+// TestExecutorImageOnlyNoBlankText: an image-only run (blank prompt) must NOT emit
+// an empty TextPart — the message carries just the image, matching
+// runSession.AttachImages's guard.
+func TestExecutorImageOnlyNoBlankText(t *testing.T) {
+	fp := fake.New("fake")
+	fp.Enqueue("m", fake.Reply("saw it"))
+	m, _ := fp.Model("m")
+
+	inv := tool.Invocation{RunID: "r3", Images: []llm.ImagePart{{MIME: "image/png", Data: []byte("IMG")}}}
+	ex := run.New(run.Config{
+		Registry: tool.NewRegistry(),
+		Models:   func(ctx context.Context, _ string) (context.Context, llm.Model, error) { return ctx, m, nil },
+	})
+	res := ex.Run(context.Background(), run.RunnableAgent{ModelTier: "m"}, inv, "   ")
+	if res.Err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("run error: %v", res.Err)
+	}
+	for _, msg := range fp.Calls()[0].Request.Messages {
+		for _, p := range msg.Parts {
+			if tp, ok := p.(llm.TextPart); ok && strings.TrimSpace(tp.Text) == "" {
+				t.Error("image-only run emitted a blank TextPart")
+			}
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// TestExecutorTextOnlyUnchanged: with no Images, the prompt flows through as the
+// text input (regression guard that the fold path didn't break the common case).
+func TestExecutorTextOnlyUnchanged(t *testing.T) {
+	fp := fake.New("fake")
+	fp.Enqueue("m", fake.Reply("ok"))
+	m, _ := fp.Model("m")
+
+	ex := run.New(run.Config{
+		Registry: tool.NewRegistry(),
+		Models:   func(ctx context.Context, _ string) (context.Context, llm.Model, error) { return ctx, m, nil },
+	})
+	res := ex.Run(context.Background(), run.RunnableAgent{ModelTier: "m"}, tool.Invocation{RunID: "r2"}, "plain prompt")
+	if res.Err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("run error: %v", res.Err)
+	}
+	calls := fp.Calls()
+	if len(calls) == 0 {
+		t.Fatal("no model calls recorded")
+	}
+	sawText := false
+	for _, msg := range calls[0].Request.Messages {
+		for _, p := range msg.Parts {
+			if tp, ok := p.(llm.TextPart); ok && strings.Contains(tp.Text, "plain prompt") {
+				sawText = true
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	if !sawText {
+		t.Error("text-only prompt did not reach the model")
+	}
+}

run/input_files.go

@@ -0,0 +1,179 @@
+package run
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"fmt"
+	"log/slog"
+	"path"
+	"strings"
+	"unicode"
+
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/executus/tool"
+)
+
+// maxInputFileBytes is a defense-in-depth cap at the staging boundary. A host's
+// extraction path may already cap downloads, but stageInputFiles is the trust
+// boundary for the InputFiles seam: a call site or bug that populates InputFiles
+// directly must not write an unbounded blob to the host file store.
+const maxInputFileBytes = 50_000_000
+
+// maxInputFiles bounds how many attachments a single run stages, independent of
+// the per-file byte cap — defense-in-depth against a flood of tiny files.
+const maxInputFiles = 32
+
+// stageInputFiles persists each non-image input attachment into the host file
+// store (Ports.InputFiles) under run scope and appends a descriptor block to the
+// prompt so the agent knows the file_ids it can pass to a worker tool. The bytes
+// are NOT inlined into the model context — the LLM can't read raw audio/binary —
+// so the agent reaches them via a file_id-aware tool (e.g. code_exec files_in,
+// which writes the file to /workspace/<name>).
+//
+// Best-effort: a nil stager, no files, or a per-file save error degrades to
+// "skip that file" — the run still proceeds. Returns the (possibly augmented)
+// prompt.
+func (e *Executor) stageInputFiles(ctx context.Context, runID, agentID string, files []tool.InputFile, prompt string) string {
+	if e.cfg.Ports.InputFiles == nil || len(files) == 0 {
+		return prompt
+	}
+	// Count cap: bound how many attachments one run can stage, independent of the
+	// per-file byte cap (defense-in-depth against a flood of tiny files).
+	if len(files) > maxInputFiles {
+		slog.Warn("run: too many input files, truncating",
+			"agent", agentID, "run_id", runID, "count", len(files), "cap", maxInputFiles)
+		files = files[:maxInputFiles]
+	}
+
+	type stagedFile struct {
+		name, mime, fileID string
+		size               int
+	}
+	var staged []stagedFile
+	seenNames := make(map[string]int, len(files))
+	for _, f := range files {
+		if len(f.Data) == 0 {
+			slog.Warn("run: skipping empty input file",
+				"agent", agentID, "run_id", runID, "name", f.Name)
+			continue
+		}
+		if len(f.Data) > maxInputFileBytes {
+			slog.Warn("run: skipping oversized input file",
+				"agent", agentID, "run_id", runID, "name", f.Name,
+				"size", len(f.Data), "cap", maxInputFileBytes)
+			continue
+		}
+		// Reduce the untrusted filename to a safe base name BEFORE staging or
+		// inlining: strips ../ and absolute-path components (so it can't escape
+		// the host store or /workspace/<name>) and drops control chars/newlines
+		// (so a crafted name can't inject text into the descriptor block below).
+		// Then disambiguate colliding base names so two attachments don't both map
+		// to /workspace/<name> (the second would clobber the first).
+		name := uniqueName(sanitizeName(f.Name), seenNames)
+		// Sanitize the mime ONCE and pass the clean value to both the host store
+		// and the descriptor (don't hand the raw value to StageInputFile).
+		mime := sanitizeField(f.MimeType)
+		fileID, err := e.cfg.Ports.InputFiles.StageInputFile(ctx, runID, agentID, name, mime, f.Data)
+		if err != nil {
+			slog.Warn("run: failed to stage input file",
+				"agent", agentID, "run_id", runID, "name", name, "error", err)
+			continue
+		}
+		if fileID == "" {
+			slog.Warn("run: stager returned empty file_id, skipping",
+				"agent", agentID, "run_id", runID, "name", name)
+			continue
+		}
+		// fileID is host-generated, but sanitize it too before inlining — the
+		// descriptor must never carry control chars no matter the stager impl.
+		staged = append(staged, stagedFile{name: name, mime: mime, fileID: sanitizeField(fileID), size: len(f.Data)})
+	}
+	if len(staged) == 0 {
+		return prompt
+	}
+
+	var b strings.Builder
+	b.WriteString("[ATTACHED FILES]\n")
+	b.WriteString("The user attached the following file(s). Their contents are NOT included in this prompt and you cannot read them directly. ")
+	b.WriteString("To work with one, call the code_exec tool with a files_in entry — e.g. ")
+	b.WriteString(`files_in: [{"name": "<name>", "file_id": "<file_id>"}]`)
+	b.WriteString(" — which writes it to /workspace/<name> inside the Python sandbox. You may also pass a file_id to any other tool that accepts one.\n")
+	for _, s := range staged {
+		fmt.Fprintf(&b, "- %s (%s, %s) → file_id: %s\n", s.name, s.mime, humanizeBytes(s.size), s.fileID)
+	}
+
+	if strings.TrimSpace(prompt) == "" {
+		return b.String()
+	}
+	return prompt + "\n\n" + b.String()
+}
+
+// sanitizeName reduces an untrusted attachment filename to a safe base name. It
+// drops control characters / newlines (which would otherwise let a crafted name
+// inject text into the [ATTACHED FILES] descriptor) and strips every directory
+// component — defeating ../ traversal, nested dirs, and absolute / drive paths
+// both in the host file store and at /workspace/<name>. Returns "attachment"
+// when nothing usable remains (empty, ".", "..").
+func sanitizeName(name string) string {
+	name = sanitizeField(name)
+	// Normalize backslashes so a Windows-style path also reduces to its base.
+	base := path.Base(strings.ReplaceAll(name, `\`, "/"))
+	base = strings.TrimSpace(base)
+	if base == "" || base == "." || base == ".." {
+		return "attachment"
+	}
+	return base
+}
+
+// sanitizeField strips characters that could let a value inlined verbatim into
+// the prompt descriptor break out of its line or visually mislead: control
+// characters (IsControl covers newlines/tabs) AND Unicode format characters
+// (category Cf — e.g. the bidi overrides U+202A–U+202E, which can reorder how
+// the descriptor renders).
+func sanitizeField(s string) string {
+	return strings.Map(func(r rune) rune {
+		if unicode.IsControl(r) || unicode.Is(unicode.Cf, r) {
+			return -1
+		}
+		return r
+	}, s)
+}
+
+// uniqueName returns name unchanged the first time it's seen, then name-2,
+// name-3, … (suffix inserted before the extension) on repeats, recording each
+// result in seen so later collisions keep counting up.
+func uniqueName(name string, seen map[string]int) string {
+	if seen[name] == 0 {
+		seen[name]++
+		return name
+	}
+	ext := path.Ext(name)
+	base := strings.TrimSuffix(name, ext)
+	for {
+		seen[name]++
+		candidate := fmt.Sprintf("%s-%d%s", base, seen[name], ext)
+		if seen[candidate] == 0 {
+			seen[candidate]++
+			return candidate
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// humanizeBytes renders a byte count as a short human-readable string (e.g.
+// "2.1 MB") for the attached-files descriptor block.
+func humanizeBytes(n int) string {
+	if n < 0 {
+		n = 0
+	}
+	const unit = 1024
+	if n < unit {
+		return fmt.Sprintf("%d B", n)
+	}
+	const prefixes = "KMGTPE"
+	div, exp := int64(unit), 0
+	// Clamp exp to the last prefix so an absurd size (≥1024^7) can't index past
+	// "KMGTPE" and panic — a no-panic guarantee independent of the per-file cap.
+	for v := int64(n) / unit; v >= unit && exp < len(prefixes)-1; v /= unit {
+		div *= unit
+		exp++
+	}
+	return fmt.Sprintf("%.1f %cB", float64(n)/float64(div), prefixes[exp])
+}

run/input_files_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,243 @@
+package run
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/majordomo/llm"
+
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/executus/tool"
+)
+
+// stagerFunc is a test InputFileStager: it records each staged file and returns
+// a deterministic file_id ("file_<name>"), or an error if err is set.
+type stagerFunc struct {
+	staged []stagedRec
+	err    error
+}
+
+type stagedRec struct {
+	runID, agentID, name, mime string
+	size                       int
+}
+
+func (s *stagerFunc) StageInputFile(_ context.Context, runID, agentID, name, mime string, content []byte) (string, error) {
+	if s.err != nil {
+		return "", s.err
+	}
+	s.staged = append(s.staged, stagedRec{runID, agentID, name, mime, len(content)})
+	return "file_" + name, nil
+}
+
+func newStagerExecutor(s InputFileStager) *Executor {
+	return New(Config{
+		Registry: tool.NewRegistry(),
+		Models:   func(ctx context.Context, _ string) (context.Context, llm.Model, error) { return ctx, nil, nil },
+		Ports:    Ports{InputFiles: s},
+	})
+}
+
+// TestStageInputFiles: files are staged via the port and an [ATTACHED FILES]
+// descriptor (with each file_id) is appended to the prompt.
+func TestStageInputFiles(t *testing.T) {
+	st := &stagerFunc{}
+	ex := newStagerExecutor(st)
+	out := ex.stageInputFiles(context.Background(), "run-1", "agent-1",
+		[]tool.InputFile{{Name: "clip.mp3", MimeType: "audio/mpeg", Data: []byte("abcd")}},
+		"transcribe this")
+
+	if len(st.staged) != 1 || st.staged[0].name != "clip.mp3" {
+		t.Fatalf("staged = %+v, want one clip.mp3", st.staged)
+	}
+	if st.staged[0].runID != "run-1" || st.staged[0].agentID != "agent-1" {
+		t.Errorf("stager got runID/agentID = %q/%q, want run-1/agent-1", st.staged[0].runID, st.staged[0].agentID)
+	}
+	for _, want := range []string{"transcribe this", "[ATTACHED FILES]", "clip.mp3", "file_clip.mp3", "audio/mpeg"} {
+		if !strings.Contains(out, want) {
+			t.Errorf("output missing %q:\n%s", want, out)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// TestStageInputFilesNoStager: a nil port leaves the prompt untouched and never
+// drops the run.
+func TestStageInputFilesNoStager(t *testing.T) {
+	ex := newStagerExecutor(nil) // Ports.InputFiles == nil
+	out := ex.stageInputFiles(context.Background(), "r", "a",
+		[]tool.InputFile{{Name: "x.bin", Data: []byte("z")}}, "prompt")
+	if out != "prompt" {
+		t.Errorf("nil stager changed the prompt: %q", out)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestStageInputFilesNoFiles: no attachments leaves the prompt untouched.
+func TestStageInputFilesNoFiles(t *testing.T) {
+	ex := newStagerExecutor(&stagerFunc{})
+	out := ex.stageInputFiles(context.Background(), "r", "a", nil, "prompt")
+	if out != "prompt" {
+		t.Errorf("no files changed the prompt: %q", out)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestStageInputFilesDedup: colliding base names are disambiguated so they don't
+// clobber each other at /workspace/<name>.
+func TestStageInputFilesDedup(t *testing.T) {
+	st := &stagerFunc{}
+	ex := newStagerExecutor(st)
+	out := ex.stageInputFiles(context.Background(), "r", "a", []tool.InputFile{
+		{Name: "a.wav", MimeType: "audio/wav", Data: []byte("1")},
+		{Name: "a.wav", MimeType: "audio/wav", Data: []byte("2")},
+	}, "go")
+	if len(st.staged) != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("staged %d files, want 2", len(st.staged))
+	}
+	if st.staged[0].name != "a.wav" || st.staged[1].name != "a-2.wav" {
+		t.Errorf("dedup names = %q, %q; want a.wav, a-2.wav", st.staged[0].name, st.staged[1].name)
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(out, "a-2.wav") {
+		t.Errorf("output missing disambiguated name:\n%s", out)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestStageInputFilesSkipsBad: empty + oversized files are skipped; a save error
+// drops only that file. With nothing staged, the prompt is unchanged.
+func TestStageInputFilesSkipsBad(t *testing.T) {
+	// Empty data → skipped; with no good files the prompt is returned as-is.
+	ex := newStagerExecutor(&stagerFunc{})
+	if out := ex.stageInputFiles(context.Background(), "r", "a",
+		[]tool.InputFile{{Name: "empty.bin", Data: nil}}, "p"); out != "p" {
+		t.Errorf("empty file should be skipped, got %q", out)
+	}
+	// A stager error → that file is dropped; nothing staged → prompt unchanged.
+	exErr := newStagerExecutor(&stagerFunc{err: errors.New("disk full")})
+	if out := exErr.stageInputFiles(context.Background(), "r", "a",
+		[]tool.InputFile{{Name: "x.bin", Data: []byte("z")}}, "p"); out != "p" {
+		t.Errorf("save error should drop the file and leave the prompt, got %q", out)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestStageInputFilesOversize: a file past the byte cap is skipped (prompt
+// unchanged), exercising the size guard directly.
+func TestStageInputFilesOversize(t *testing.T) {
+	st := &stagerFunc{}
+	ex := newStagerExecutor(st)
+	big := make([]byte, maxInputFileBytes+1)
+	out := ex.stageInputFiles(context.Background(), "r", "a",
+		[]tool.InputFile{{Name: "huge.bin", Data: big}}, "p")
+	if out != "p" || len(st.staged) != 0 {
+		t.Errorf("oversized file should be skipped: out=%q staged=%d", out, len(st.staged))
+	}
+}
+
+// TestStageInputFilesCountCap: more than maxInputFiles attachments are truncated
+// to the cap.
+func TestStageInputFilesCountCap(t *testing.T) {
+	st := &stagerFunc{}
+	ex := newStagerExecutor(st)
+	files := make([]tool.InputFile, maxInputFiles+5)
+	for i := range files {
+		files[i] = tool.InputFile{Name: "f.bin", Data: []byte("x")}
+	}
+	ex.stageInputFiles(context.Background(), "r", "a", files, "p")
+	if len(st.staged) != maxInputFiles {
+		t.Errorf("count cap: staged %d, want %d", len(st.staged), maxInputFiles)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestSanitizeName: traversal + absolute + control-char filenames are reduced to
+// a safe base name (no path separators, no newlines), with a fallback.
+func TestSanitizeName(t *testing.T) {
+	cases := map[string]string{
+		"../../etc/passwd":  "passwd",
+		"/etc/cron.d/x":     "x",
+		`..\..\windows\sys`: "sys",
+		"clip.mp3":          "clip.mp3",
+		"":                  "attachment",
+		"..":                "attachment",
+		".":                 "attachment",
+		"evil\n- injected":  "evil- injected",
+		"a/b/c.wav":         "c.wav",
+	}
+	for in, want := range cases {
+		if got := sanitizeName(in); got != want {
+			t.Errorf("sanitizeName(%q) = %q, want %q", in, got, want)
+		}
+		// A sanitized name must never carry a path separator or newline.
+		got := sanitizeName(in)
+		if strings.ContainsAny(got, "/\\\n\r") {
+			t.Errorf("sanitizeName(%q) = %q still contains a separator/newline", in, got)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// TestStageInputFilesSanitizesTraversal: a traversal filename is staged AND
+// described under its safe base name only.
+func TestStageInputFilesSanitizesTraversal(t *testing.T) {
+	st := &stagerFunc{}
+	ex := newStagerExecutor(st)
+	out := ex.stageInputFiles(context.Background(), "r", "a",
+		[]tool.InputFile{{Name: "../../../etc/passwd", MimeType: "text/plain", Data: []byte("x")}}, "go")
+	if len(st.staged) != 1 || st.staged[0].name != "passwd" {
+		t.Fatalf("staged name = %+v, want passwd", st.staged)
+	}
+	if strings.Contains(out, "..") || strings.Contains(out, "/etc/") {
+		t.Errorf("descriptor leaked the traversal path:\n%s", out)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestSanitizeFieldStripsBidiAndControl: control chars AND Unicode format/bidi
+// overrides are removed from inlined values.
+func TestSanitizeFieldStripsBidiAndControl(t *testing.T) {
+	in := "audio/‮mpg\n; rm -rf" // bidi override + newline
+	got := sanitizeField(in)
+	if strings.ContainsAny(got, "\n\r\t") || strings.ContainsRune(got, '‮') {
+		t.Errorf("sanitizeField left control/bidi chars: %q", got)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestStageInputFilesSanitizesMime: a mime with a control char is cleaned in BOTH
+// the staged value and the descriptor.
+func TestStageInputFilesSanitizesMime(t *testing.T) {
+	st := &stagerFunc{}
+	ex := newStagerExecutor(st)
+	out := ex.stageInputFiles(context.Background(), "r", "a",
+		[]tool.InputFile{{Name: "c.wav", MimeType: "audio/wav\ninjected", Data: []byte("x")}}, "go")
+	if len(st.staged) != 1 || strings.ContainsAny(st.staged[0].mime, "\n\r") {
+		t.Errorf("mime not sanitized before staging: %+v", st.staged)
+	}
+	if strings.Contains(out, "\ninjected") {
+		t.Errorf("descriptor carried an unsanitized mime newline:\n%s", out)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestStageInputFilesEmptyFileID: a stager returning an empty file_id drops the
+// file (no blank file_id in the descriptor).
+func TestStageInputFilesEmptyFileID(t *testing.T) {
+	ex := newStagerExecutor(emptyIDStager{})
+	out := ex.stageInputFiles(context.Background(), "r", "a",
+		[]tool.InputFile{{Name: "x.bin", Data: []byte("z")}}, "p")
+	if out != "p" {
+		t.Errorf("empty file_id should drop the file, got %q", out)
+	}
+}
+
+type emptyIDStager struct{}
+
+func (emptyIDStager) StageInputFile(context.Context, string, string, string, string, []byte) (string, error) {
+	return "", nil
+}
+
+// TestHumanizeBytesNoPanic: an absurd size clamps to the last prefix instead of
+// indexing past "KMGTPE".
+func TestHumanizeBytesNoPanic(t *testing.T) {
+	defer func() {
+		if r := recover(); r != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("humanizeBytes panicked: %v", r)
+		}
+	}()
+	for _, n := range []int{0, 512, 2048, 5_000_000, 1 << 62} {
+		_ = humanizeBytes(n)
+	}
+}

run/palette.go

@@ -0,0 +1,102 @@
+package run
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"fmt"
+
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/majordomo/llm"
+
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/executus/tool"
+)
+
+// addDelegationTools adds a delegation tool to the toolbox for each
+// SkillPalette / SubAgentPalette entry, backed by the PaletteSource:
+//
+//   - skill__<name> invokes the named saved skill with structured inputs.
+//   - agent__<name> invokes the named sub-agent with a prompt.
+//
+// Each delegated call runs as a CHILD of the current run (parentRunID =
+// inv.RunID), inheriting the caller + channel. No-op when palette is nil or both
+// palettes are empty — so an agent with no palette (or a host with no
+// PaletteSource) simply has no delegation tools, exactly as before.
+func addDelegationTools(box *llm.Toolbox, ra RunnableAgent, inv tool.Invocation, palette PaletteSource) error {
+	if palette == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	seen := map[string]bool{} // dedupe across both palettes by final tool name
+	for _, name := range ra.SkillPalette {
+		name := name // capture
+		toolName := "skill__" + name
+		if name == "" || seen[toolName] { // skip empty / duplicate palette entries
+			continue
+		}
+		seen[toolName] = true
+		t := llm.DefineTool(
+			toolName,
+			fmt.Sprintf("Delegate the task to the %q skill. Provide its declared inputs.", name),
+			func(ctx context.Context, args skillDelegateArgs) (any, error) {
+				out, _, status, err := palette.InvokeSkill(ctx, inv.CallerID, inv.ChannelID, name, args.Inputs, inv.RunID)
+				if err != nil {
+					return nil, delegationErr("skill", name, out, err)
+				}
+				return delegationResult(name, "skill", out, status), nil
+			},
+		)
+		if err := box.Add(t); err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("add %s: %w", toolName, err)
+		}
+	}
+	for _, name := range ra.SubAgentPalette {
+		name := name // capture
+		toolName := "agent__" + name
+		if name == "" || seen[toolName] {
+			continue
+		}
+		seen[toolName] = true
+		t := llm.DefineTool(
+			toolName,
+			fmt.Sprintf("Delegate the task to the %q sub-agent with a natural-language prompt.", name),
+			func(ctx context.Context, args agentDelegateArgs) (any, error) {
+				out, _, status, err := palette.InvokeAgent(ctx, inv.CallerID, inv.ChannelID, name, args.Prompt, inv.RunID, "", "", nil, nil)
+				if err != nil {
+					return nil, delegationErr("agent", name, out, err)
+				}
+				return delegationResult(name, "agent", out, status), nil
+			},
+		)
+		if err := box.Add(t); err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("add %s: %w", toolName, err)
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+// delegationResult surfaces a non-ok child status to the parent agent (so it can
+// react to a timeout/cancel/budget stop) while still passing the partial output.
+func delegationResult(name, kind, out, status string) string {
+	if status != "" && status != "ok" {
+		header := fmt.Sprintf("[%s %q ended with status %q]", kind, name, status)
+		if out == "" { // no trailing blank line when there's no body
+			return header
+		}
+		return header + "\n" + out
+	}
+	return out
+}
+
+// delegationErr wraps a hard delegation failure, folding in any partial output
+// the child produced before failing (so it isn't silently lost).
+func delegationErr(kind, name, partial string, err error) error {
+	if partial != "" {
+		return fmt.Errorf("%s %q failed (partial output: %q): %w", kind, name, partial, err)
+	}
+	return fmt.Errorf("%s %q failed: %w", kind, name, err)
+}
+
+type skillDelegateArgs struct {
+	Inputs map[string]any `json:"inputs" description:"Inputs for the skill, matching its declared input schema."`
+}
+
+type agentDelegateArgs struct {
+	Prompt string `json:"prompt" description:"The task/prompt to hand the sub-agent."`
+}

run/palette_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,125 @@
+package run_test
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"testing"
+
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/majordomo/llm"
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/majordomo/provider/fake"
+
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/executus/run"
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/executus/tool"
+)
+
+// recordingPalette captures the delegation call it received.
+type recordingPalette struct {
+	gotName, gotCaller, gotParent string
+	gotInputs                     map[string]any
+}
+
+func (p *recordingPalette) ResolveSkill(context.Context, string, string) (string, error) {
+	return "", nil
+}
+func (p *recordingPalette) InvokeSkill(_ context.Context, callerID, _, name string, inputs map[string]any, parentRunID string) (string, string, string, error) {
+	p.gotName, p.gotCaller, p.gotParent, p.gotInputs = name, callerID, parentRunID, inputs
+	return "the skill output", "child-run-1", "ok", nil
+}
+func (p *recordingPalette) ResolveAgent(context.Context, string, string) (string, error) {
+	return "", nil
+}
+func (p *recordingPalette) InvokeAgent(context.Context, string, string, string, string, string, string, string, []string, func(context.Context, string, string)) (string, string, string, error) {
+	return "", "", "ok", nil
+}
+
+// TestPaletteDelegation: an agent with a SkillPalette gets a skill__<name> tool;
+// the model calls it, the executor routes it through run.Ports.Palette as a
+// child of the current run, and the result flows back into the loop.
+func TestPaletteDelegation(t *testing.T) {
+	pal := &recordingPalette{}
+
+	fp := fake.New("fake")
+	fp.Enqueue("m",
+		fake.ReplyWith(llm.Response{ToolCalls: []llm.ToolCall{{
+			ID:        "c1",
+			Name:      "skill__helper",
+			Arguments: json.RawMessage(`{"inputs":{"q":"hi"}}`),
+		}}}),
+		fake.Reply("delegated and done"),
+	)
+	m, err := fp.Model("m")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	ex := run.New(run.Config{
+		Registry: tool.NewRegistry(),
+		Models:   func(ctx context.Context, _ string) (context.Context, llm.Model, error) { return ctx, m, nil },
+		Ports:    run.Ports{Palette: pal},
+	})
+
+	res := ex.Run(context.Background(),
+		run.RunnableAgent{ID: "a1", Name: "boss", ModelTier: "m", SkillPalette: []string{"helper"}},
+		tool.Invocation{RunID: "parent-run", CallerID: "caller-7", ChannelID: "chan"},
+		"delegate please")
+	if res.Err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("run error: %v", res.Err)
+	}
+	if res.Output != "delegated and done" {
+		t.Errorf("output = %q", res.Output)
+	}
+	if pal.gotName != "helper" {
+		t.Errorf("InvokeSkill name = %q, want helper", pal.gotName)
+	}
+	if pal.gotCaller != "caller-7" {
+		t.Errorf("InvokeSkill caller = %q, want caller-7", pal.gotCaller)
+	}
+	if pal.gotParent != "parent-run" {
+		t.Errorf("InvokeSkill parentRunID = %q, want parent-run (child of the current run)", pal.gotParent)
+	}
+	if pal.gotInputs["q"] != "hi" {
+		t.Errorf("InvokeSkill inputs = %+v, want q=hi", pal.gotInputs)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestNoPaletteNoDelegationTools: nil PaletteSource → no delegation tools, run
+// still works (the agent just has no skill__/agent__ tools).
+func TestNoPaletteNoDelegationTools(t *testing.T) {
+	fp := fake.New("fake")
+	fp.Enqueue("m", fake.Reply("ok"))
+	m, _ := fp.Model("m")
+	ex := run.New(run.Config{
+		Registry: tool.NewRegistry(),
+		Models:   func(ctx context.Context, _ string) (context.Context, llm.Model, error) { return ctx, m, nil },
+	})
+	res := ex.Run(context.Background(),
+		run.RunnableAgent{Name: "x", ModelTier: "m", SkillPalette: []string{"helper"}},
+		tool.Invocation{RunID: "r"}, "hi")
+	if res.Err != nil || res.Output != "ok" {
+		t.Fatalf("nil-palette run failed: %v / %q", res.Err, res.Output)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestDelegationDedupeAndEmptySkip: empty + duplicate palette names are skipped,
+// not turned into "skill__"/duplicate tools that error at box.Add (gadfly C0).
+func TestDelegationDedupeAndEmptySkip(t *testing.T) {
+	pal := &recordingPalette{}
+	fp := fake.New("fake")
+	fp.Enqueue("m", fake.Reply("ok"))
+	m, _ := fp.Model("m")
+	ex := run.New(run.Config{
+		Registry: tool.NewRegistry(),
+		Models:   func(ctx context.Context, _ string) (context.Context, llm.Model, error) { return ctx, m, nil },
+		Ports:    run.Ports{Palette: pal},
+	})
+	// "" (empty) and a duplicate "helper" must not break the build.
+	res := ex.Run(context.Background(),
+		run.RunnableAgent{Name: "x", ModelTier: "m", SkillPalette: []string{"helper", "", "helper"}},
+		tool.Invocation{RunID: "r"}, "hi")
+	if res.Err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("empty/duplicate palette names should be skipped, not error: %v", res.Err)
+	}
+	if res.Output != "ok" {
+		t.Fatalf("output = %q", res.Output)
+	}
+}

run/phases.go

@@ -0,0 +1,398 @@
+package run
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"log/slog"
+	"strings"
+	"text/template"
+	"unicode/utf8"
+
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/majordomo/agent"
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/majordomo/llm"
+)
+
+// The multi-step phase runner. A phased RunnableAgent (ra.Phases non-empty) runs
+// its phases in order; each phase is a fresh majordomo agent loop (or a single
+// bare LLM call for IsRunFunc phases) with its own template-expanded system
+// prompt, model tier, step cap, and tool subset. Phase outputs feed later phases
+// through {{.<PhaseName>}} template variables; {{.Query}} is the original input.
+// The final phase's output is the run's output.
+//
+// Ported from mort's agentexec pipeline so the executus kernel — which already
+// carries RunnableAgent.Phases as a DTO — actually EXECUTES them (it previously
+// ignored the slice and ran a single loop with the base prompt). It reuses the
+// shared run machinery built once in Run: the same stepObserver (so audit/steps/
+// critic-activity accumulate across every phase, including IsRunFunc bare calls),
+// the same critic steer, and the same compaction option.
+//
+// Semantics preserved from mort's pipeline:
+//   - phases run sequentially; ctx cancellation/deadline/critic-kill aborts the
+//     run (even mid-phase and even for an Optional phase).
+//   - IsRunFunc = one bare LLM call, no tools, no loop.
+//   - Optional phases swallow NON-context errors and substitute FallbackMessage.
+//   - a non-optional phase that merely exhausts its step/tool budget is NOT fatal:
+//     its partial transcript is salvaged and the pipeline continues — EXCEPT a
+//     final phase that salvaged nothing, which is a genuine empty-result failure.
+//   - per-phase ModelTier resolve failures fall back to the base model with a WARN.
+//
+// Deliberately NOT carried over (kernel is leaner than mort's legacy pipeline):
+// the legacy `submit` capture tool (the kernel relies on majordomo's
+// no-tool-call-is-final-answer termination, like its single-loop path), and the
+// critic's dynamic iteration ceiling (per-phase caps are fixed at phase start —
+// the run-level critic's steer + hard deadline still apply across phases).
+//
+// NOTE on phase names: {{.<PhaseName>}} resolves a map key, so a phase whose name
+// is not a Go-template identifier (hyphens, spaces, leading digit) cannot be
+// referenced as {{.my-phase}} — authors must use {{index . "my-phase"}}. A
+// template that fails to parse/execute is logged (WARN) and passed through
+// unchanged rather than silently dropped (see expandPhaseTemplate). Avoid naming
+// a phase "Query" — it shadows the original-input variable.
+
+// phaseDeps carries the per-run state the phase runner shares with Run: the base
+// model, the full decorated toolbox (filtered per phase), the base step cap, the
+// shared agent options (tool-error limits + compactor — the step observer is
+// added per phase, NOT in sharedOpts, so checkpointing can vary per path), the
+// shared step observer (wired into each phase's loop AND invoked for IsRunFunc
+// bare calls), the critic/session steer, and the audit recorder (phase events).
+type phaseDeps struct {
+	baseModel    llm.Model
+	baseToolbox  *llm.Toolbox
+	baseMaxIter  int
+	sharedOpts   []agent.Option
+	stepObserver func(agent.Step)
+	steer        func() []llm.Message
+	rec          RunRecorder
+	// checkpointer records phase-boundary progress (completed phases) for durable
+	// recovery; nil = non-durable. resume carries a recovered run's completed
+	// phases so they are skipped on re-run. Phase recovery is boundary-granular:
+	// the interrupted (active) phase re-runs from its start (its mid-phase
+	// transcript is NOT resumed — only the single-loop path resumes mid-loop).
+	checkpointer Checkpointer
+	resume       *ResumeState
+}
+
+// runPhases executes ra.Phases sequentially and returns a synthetic agent.Result
+// whose Output is the final phase's output, with Usage aggregated across phases
+// and Messages set to the last phase's transcript (for the PostRun hook). A hard
+// (non-optional, non-budget) phase failure — and any context cancellation/
+// deadline/critic-kill — returns the error.
+func (e *Executor) runPhases(runCtx context.Context, ra RunnableAgent, deps phaseDeps, query string, images []llm.ImagePart) (*agent.Result, error) {
+	outputs := make(map[string]string, len(ra.Phases))
+	var completed []PhaseOutput
+	var lastResult *agent.Result
+	var lastOutput string
+	var totalUsage llm.Usage
+
+	// resumeSkip is the set of phases already finished on a RECOVERED run — kept
+	// SEPARATE from the live `outputs` map (which fills as phases run this time) so
+	// the skip guard only skips RESUME-completed phases, never a fresh run's own
+	// phases. (Reusing `outputs` would make a second phase with a duplicate name
+	// skip itself.) Pre-populate outputs + completed so a resumed run threads the
+	// saved outputs into later phases. The interrupted (active) phase is NOT
+	// pre-populated, so it re-runs from its start (boundary-granular recovery).
+	resumeSkip := map[string]bool{}
+	if deps.resume != nil {
+		for _, pc := range deps.resume.CompletedPhases {
+			outputs[pc.Name] = pc.Output
+			resumeSkip[pc.Name] = true
+			completed = append(completed, pc)
+			lastOutput = pc.Output
+		}
+	}
+
+	// finish stamps the aggregated usage + final output onto the synthetic result.
+	finish := func(err error) (*agent.Result, error) {
+		if lastResult == nil {
+			lastResult = &agent.Result{}
+		}
+		lastResult.Usage = totalUsage
+		if err == nil {
+			lastResult.Output = lastOutput
+		}
+		return lastResult, err
+	}
+
+	for i, phase := range ra.Phases {
+		// Skip phases already completed on a resumed run.
+		if resumeSkip[phase.Name] {
+			continue
+		}
+		// A killed/timed-out/cancelled run must not start its next phase.
+		if err := runCtx.Err(); err != nil {
+			return finish(err)
+		}
+
+		instructions := expandPhaseTemplate(phase.SystemPrompt, query, outputs)
+		if deps.rec != nil {
+			deps.rec.LogEvent("phase_start", map[string]any{"phase": phase.Name})
+		}
+
+		output, res, err := e.runOnePhase(runCtx, ra, deps, phase, instructions, query, images)
+		if res != nil {
+			lastResult = res
+			totalUsage = addUsage(totalUsage, res.Usage)
+		}
+		if err != nil {
+			// A context cancellation / deadline / critic-kill is NEVER swallowed by
+			// the Optional or budget-salvage branches — the run genuinely ended and
+			// must surface as cancelled/timeout/killed (statusFor classifies it).
+			if errors.Is(err, context.Canceled) || errors.Is(err, context.DeadlineExceeded) {
+				return finish(err)
+			}
+			isLast := i == len(ra.Phases)-1
+			trimmed := strings.TrimSpace(output)
+			switch {
+			case phase.Optional:
+				output = phase.FallbackMessage
+				if output == "" {
+					output = fmt.Sprintf("(Phase %q encountered an error -- proceeding without its results)", phase.Name)
+				}
+				slog.Warn("run: optional pipeline phase failed",
+					"agent", ra.Name, "phase", phase.Name, "error", err)
+				if deps.rec != nil {
+					deps.rec.LogEvent("phase_failed_optional", map[string]any{"phase": phase.Name, "error": err.Error()})
+				}
+
+			case isPhaseBudgetExhaustion(err) && (!isLast || trimmed != ""):
+				// Soft stop: the phase ran out of its step/tool budget before
+				// composing a final answer. Not fatal — it did real work (runOnePhase
+				// salvaged its partial transcript into output), and aborting would
+				// discard every completed phase before it. Degrade and continue.
+				// (A FINAL phase that salvaged nothing falls through to the hard error
+				// below: there is no result to return.)
+				if trimmed == "" {
+					output = fmt.Sprintf("(Phase %q reached its step budget before producing a consolidated result; continuing with its partial findings.)", phase.Name)
+				} else {
+					output += fmt.Sprintf("\n\n(Note: phase %q reached its step budget before fully completing; the above is its partial output.)", phase.Name)
+				}
+				slog.Warn("run: pipeline phase exhausted its budget; salvaging partial output and continuing",
+					"agent", ra.Name, "phase", phase.Name, "last_phase", isLast, "error", err)
+				if deps.rec != nil {
+					deps.rec.LogEvent("phase_budget_exhausted", map[string]any{"phase": phase.Name, "error": err.Error(), "last_phase": isLast})
+				}
+
+			default:
+				return finish(fmt.Errorf("pipeline phase %q: %w", phase.Name, err))
+			}
+		}
+
+		outputs[phase.Name] = output
+		lastOutput = output
+		// Checkpoint the phase boundary: this phase is done, so a resumed run skips
+		// it and continues from the next. (Copy the slice — the checkpointer may
+		// hold/serialize it asynchronously.)
+		completed = append(completed, PhaseOutput{Name: phase.Name, Output: output})
+		if deps.checkpointer != nil {
+			_ = deps.checkpointer.Save(runCtx, RunCheckpointState{
+				CompletedPhases: append([]PhaseOutput(nil), completed...),
+			})
+		}
+	}
+
+	return finish(nil)
+}
+
+// runOnePhase runs a single phase: a bare LLM call for IsRunFunc phases, a fresh
+// agent loop otherwise. Returns the phase output, the loop result (nil for a
+// failed bare call), and any error. On a budget-exhaustion error the loop's
+// partial transcript is salvaged into the returned output.
+func (e *Executor) runOnePhase(runCtx context.Context, ra RunnableAgent, deps phaseDeps, phase Phase, instructions, query string, images []llm.ImagePart) (string, *agent.Result, error) {
+	phaseCtx, model := e.phaseModel(runCtx, deps, ra, phase)
+	// The phase's expanded instructions are the system prompt (with the platform
+	// header so tools keep their run ids); the original query is the user message.
+	system := e.systemPromptWithBody(instructions)
+
+	if phase.IsRunFunc {
+		// Bare LLM call: no tool loop, no tools array (some models 400 on an empty
+		// tools list). The response is fed through the SAME step observer as a loop
+		// step so the audit token tally, Result.Steps, AND the critic's activity
+		// clock all see it (a long synthesize phase must not look idle to the critic).
+		msgs := []llm.Message{multimodalUserMessage(query, images)}
+		resp, err := model.Generate(phaseCtx, llm.Request{System: system, Messages: msgs})
+		if err != nil {
+			return "", nil, fmt.Errorf("phase %q model call: %w", phase.Name, err)
+		}
+		if deps.stepObserver != nil {
+			deps.stepObserver(agent.Step{Index: 0, Response: resp})
+		}
+		return resp.Text(), &agent.Result{
+			Output:   resp.Text(),
+			Usage:    resp.Usage,
+			Messages: append(msgs, resp.Message()),
+		}, nil
+	}
+
+	toolbox := filterToolbox(deps.baseToolbox, phase.Tools)
+	maxIter := phase.MaxIterations
+	if maxIter <= 0 {
+		maxIter = deps.baseMaxIter
+	}
+	// Per-phase opts: a fixed step ceiling for this phase (the critic's dynamic
+	// ceiling is intentionally not propagated to phases) + the phase toolbox + the
+	// shared step observer (audit/steps/critic), on top of the shared opts
+	// (tool-error limits, compactor).
+	opts := append([]agent.Option{
+		agent.WithToolbox(toolbox),
+		agent.WithMaxSteps(maxIter),
+		agent.WithStepObserver(deps.stepObserver),
+	}, deps.sharedOpts...)
+	ag := agent.New(model, system, opts...)
+
+	res, runErr := runAgent(phaseCtx, ag, query, images, agent.WithSteer(deps.steer))
+	output := ""
+	if res != nil {
+		output = res.Output
+	}
+	// Budget/guard exhaustion leaves a usable partial transcript but an empty
+	// final answer; salvage the narrated work so the pipeline can carry it forward.
+	if runErr != nil && isPhaseBudgetExhaustion(runErr) {
+		if salvaged := salvagePhaseTranscript(res); salvaged != "" {
+			output = salvaged
+		}
+	}
+	return output, res, runErr
+}
+
+// phaseModel resolves the phase's model tier, returning the resolver's enriched
+// context (usage attribution) alongside the model. An empty tier or a resolution
+// failure falls back to the base model + the run context (WARN — visible, not
+// fatal). Returning the enriched ctx mirrors the single-loop path, which adopts
+// ctx = modelCtx, so a non-base-tier phase's calls are attributed correctly.
+func (e *Executor) phaseModel(ctx context.Context, deps phaseDeps, ra RunnableAgent, phase Phase) (context.Context, llm.Model) {
+	if phase.ModelTier == "" {
+		return ctx, deps.baseModel
+	}
+	modelCtx, m, err := e.cfg.Models(ctx, phase.ModelTier)
+	if err != nil || m == nil {
+		reason := "resolver returned a nil model"
+		if err != nil {
+			reason = err.Error()
+		}
+		slog.Warn("run: pipeline phase model resolve failed; using base model",
+			"agent", ra.Name, "phase", phase.Name, "tier", phase.ModelTier, "reason", reason)
+		return ctx, deps.baseModel
+	}
+	return modelCtx, m
+}
+
+// isPhaseBudgetExhaustion reports whether err is a soft budget/guard stop (the
+// loop hit its step cap or tripped a tool-error guard) — which leaves a usable
+// partial transcript — as opposed to a hard error (cancellation, model failure).
+func isPhaseBudgetExhaustion(err error) bool {
+	return errors.Is(err, agent.ErrMaxSteps) || errors.Is(err, agent.ErrToolLoop)
+}
+
+// maxSalvageBytes bounds a salvaged partial transcript so a long phase's narrated
+// reasoning doesn't blow up the next phase's prompt (the tail is the most recent,
+// most relevant reasoning). Matches mort's pipeline cap.
+const maxSalvageBytes = 8000
+
+// salvagePhaseTranscript reconstructs a best-effort phase output from a loop that
+// ended without a final answer: the assistant's narrated text across every step,
+// tail-trimmed to maxSalvageBytes on a rune boundary. Returns "" when the model
+// wrote no prose.
+func salvagePhaseTranscript(res *agent.Result) string {
+	if res == nil {
+		return ""
+	}
+	var b strings.Builder
+	for _, step := range res.Steps {
+		if step.Response == nil {
+			continue
+		}
+		if t := strings.TrimSpace(step.Response.Text()); t != "" {
+			if b.Len() > 0 {
+				b.WriteString("\n\n")
+			}
+			b.WriteString(t)
+		}
+	}
+	out := strings.TrimSpace(b.String())
+	if len(out) > maxSalvageBytes {
+		tail := out[len(out)-maxSalvageBytes:]
+		// Advance to the next rune boundary so the cut never splits a UTF-8 rune.
+		for len(tail) > 0 && !utf8.RuneStart(tail[0]) {
+			tail = tail[1:]
+		}
+		out = "...(earlier reasoning trimmed)...\n" + tail
+	}
+	return out
+}
+
+// multimodalUserMessage builds a user message from text + inline images. Shared
+// by the phase runner and runAgent so the image-folding lives in one place.
+// Empty text with images yields an image-only message (no empty text part).
+func multimodalUserMessage(text string, images []llm.ImagePart) llm.Message {
+	if len(images) == 0 {
+		return llm.UserText(text)
+	}
+	parts := make([]llm.Part, 0, len(images)+1)
+	if strings.TrimSpace(text) != "" {
+		parts = append(parts, llm.Text(text))
+	}
+	for _, img := range images {
+		parts = append(parts, img)
+	}
+	return llm.UserParts(parts...)
+}
+
+// expandPhaseTemplate applies Go text/template substitution to a phase prompt,
+// replacing {{.Query}} with the original query and {{.<PhaseName>}} with a prior
+// phase's output. On a parse/execute error it logs a WARN and returns the
+// template unchanged (best-effort, non-fatal) so a misconfigured prompt is
+// visible rather than silently masked.
+func expandPhaseTemplate(tmpl, query string, priorOutputs map[string]string) string {
+	t, err := template.New("phase").Option("missingkey=zero").Parse(tmpl)
+	if err != nil {
+		slog.Warn("run: pipeline phase template parse failed; using it unexpanded", "error", err)
+		return tmpl
+	}
+	data := map[string]string{"Query": query}
+	for k, v := range priorOutputs {
+		data[k] = v
+	}
+	var buf bytes.Buffer
+	if err := t.Execute(&buf, data); err != nil {
+		slog.Warn("run: pipeline phase template execute failed; using it unexpanded", "error", err)
+		return tmpl
+	}
+	return buf.String()
+}
+
+// filterToolbox returns a toolbox restricted to the named tools (preserving
+// palette order). Empty names = the full palette (the base toolbox is returned
+// as-is — it is read-only during a run, like the single-loop path). Unknown names
+// are skipped with a WARN — a typo'd phase tool list should not abort a run.
+func filterToolbox(box *llm.Toolbox, names []string) *llm.Toolbox {
+	if len(names) == 0 {
+		return box
+	}
+	out := llm.NewToolbox(box.Name())
+	for _, name := range names {
+		t, ok := box.Get(name)
+		if !ok {
+			slog.Warn("run: pipeline phase references unknown tool; skipping", "tool", name)
+			continue
+		}
+		if err := out.Add(t); err != nil {
+			slog.Warn("run: pipeline phase tool duplicated; skipping", "tool", name, "error", err)
+		}
+	}
+	return out
+}
+
+// addUsage sums two llm.Usage tallies field-by-field so a phased run reports the
+// total tokens across all phases. NOTE: if llm.Usage gains a field, add it here
+// too — the audit recorder (rec) is the authoritative per-run token source, this
+// is the secondary Result.Usage roll-up.
+func addUsage(a, b llm.Usage) llm.Usage {
+	a.InputTokens += b.InputTokens
+	a.OutputTokens += b.OutputTokens
+	a.CacheReadTokens += b.CacheReadTokens
+	a.CacheWriteTokens += b.CacheWriteTokens
+	a.ReasoningTokens += b.ReasoningTokens
+	return a
+}

run/phases_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,278 @@
+package run
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"errors"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/majordomo/llm"
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/majordomo/provider/fake"
+
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/executus/tool"
+)
+
+// phaseProvider builds a fake provider scripted with the given per-call steps
+// (consumed in order across every phase's model call) and a resolver over it,
+// returning both so a test can read back each call's request.
+func phaseProvider(t *testing.T, steps ...fake.Step) (ModelResolver, *fake.Provider) {
+	t.Helper()
+	fp := fake.New("fake")
+	fp.Enqueue("test-model", steps...)
+	m, err := fp.Model("test-model")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("fake model: %v", err)
+	}
+	return func(ctx context.Context, _ string) (context.Context, llm.Model, error) {
+		return ctx, m, nil
+	}, fp
+}
+
+// TestPhases_SequentialThreadsOutputs: phases run in order, each phase's output
+// is threaded into the next via {{.<PhaseName>}}, {{.Query}} reaches a phase, and
+// the final phase's output is the run output.
+func TestPhases_SequentialThreadsOutputs(t *testing.T) {
+	models, fp := phaseProvider(t,
+		fake.Reply("out-a"),
+		fake.Reply("out-b"),
+		fake.Reply("out-c"),
+	)
+	ex := New(Config{Registry: tool.NewRegistry(), Models: models})
+
+	ra := RunnableAgent{
+		Name:      "pipeline",
+		ModelTier: "test-model",
+		Phases: []Phase{
+			{Name: "a", SystemPrompt: "Phase A instructions"},
+			{Name: "b", SystemPrompt: "B saw: {{.a}}"},
+			{Name: "c", SystemPrompt: "C saw: {{.b}} and query {{.Query}}"},
+		},
+	}
+	res := ex.Run(context.Background(), ra, tool.Invocation{RunID: "r", CallerID: "c"}, "QUERY-TEXT")
+	if res.Err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("run error: %v", res.Err)
+	}
+	if res.Output != "out-c" {
+		t.Fatalf("final output = %q, want the LAST phase's output out-c", res.Output)
+	}
+	calls := fp.Calls()
+	if len(calls) != 3 {
+		t.Fatalf("want 3 model calls (one per phase), got %d", len(calls))
+	}
+	if got := calls[0].Request.System; got != "Phase A instructions" {
+		t.Errorf("phase a system = %q", got)
+	}
+	if got := calls[1].Request.System; got != "B saw: out-a" {
+		t.Errorf("phase b should see phase a's output threaded; system = %q", got)
+	}
+	if got := calls[2].Request.System; got != "C saw: out-b and query QUERY-TEXT" {
+		t.Errorf("phase c should see phase b's output + {{.Query}}; system = %q", got)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestPhases_OptionalFailureSubstitutesFallback: an Optional phase that errors
+// does not abort the pipeline — its FallbackMessage becomes its output and is
+// threaded into later phases, which still run.
+func TestPhases_OptionalFailureSubstitutesFallback(t *testing.T) {
+	models, fp := phaseProvider(t,
+		fake.Fail(errors.New("provider exploded")), // phase a fails
+		fake.Reply("out-b"),                        // phase b runs
+	)
+	ex := New(Config{Registry: tool.NewRegistry(), Models: models})
+
+	ra := RunnableAgent{
+		Name:      "pipeline",
+		ModelTier: "test-model",
+		Phases: []Phase{
+			{Name: "a", SystemPrompt: "Phase A", Optional: true, FallbackMessage: "FALLBACK-A"},
+			{Name: "b", SystemPrompt: "B saw: {{.a}}"},
+		},
+	}
+	res := ex.Run(context.Background(), ra, tool.Invocation{RunID: "r", CallerID: "c"}, "Q")
+	if res.Err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("optional-phase failure must not fail the run: %v", res.Err)
+	}
+	if res.Output != "out-b" {
+		t.Fatalf("final output = %q, want out-b", res.Output)
+	}
+	calls := fp.Calls()
+	if len(calls) != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("want 2 calls (failed phase a + phase b), got %d", len(calls))
+	}
+	if got := calls[1].Request.System; got != "B saw: FALLBACK-A" {
+		t.Errorf("phase b should see the fallback threaded; system = %q", got)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestPhases_OptionalDoesNotSwallowCancellation: an Optional phase that fails
+// with a context cancellation must NOT be swallowed into its FallbackMessage —
+// the run genuinely ended (cancel/deadline/critic-kill) and must surface the
+// error so the run is classified cancelled/timeout/killed, not "ok".
+func TestPhases_OptionalDoesNotSwallowCancellation(t *testing.T) {
+	models, _ := phaseProvider(t, fake.Fail(context.Canceled))
+	ex := New(Config{Registry: tool.NewRegistry(), Models: models})
+
+	ra := RunnableAgent{
+		Name:      "pipeline",
+		ModelTier: "test-model",
+		Phases: []Phase{
+			// IsRunFunc so the cancellation surfaces directly wrapped (%w).
+			{Name: "a", SystemPrompt: "Phase A", IsRunFunc: true, Optional: true, FallbackMessage: "FB"},
+		},
+	}
+	res := ex.Run(context.Background(), ra, tool.Invocation{RunID: "r", CallerID: "c"}, "Q")
+	if !errors.Is(res.Err, context.Canceled) {
+		t.Fatalf("Optional phase must NOT swallow a cancellation; res.Err = %v", res.Err)
+	}
+	if res.Output == "FB" {
+		t.Error("a cancelled run must not report the fallback message as output")
+	}
+}
+
+// TestPhases_DuplicateNamesBothRun: a fresh (non-resume) run with two phases
+// sharing a name must run BOTH — the resume-skip guard keys off a separate
+// resume set, not the live outputs map (which fills as phases run), so a phase
+// never skips a same-named sibling on a fresh run.
+func TestPhases_DuplicateNamesBothRun(t *testing.T) {
+	models, fp := phaseProvider(t, fake.Reply("first"), fake.Reply("second"))
+	ex := New(Config{Registry: tool.NewRegistry(), Models: models})
+	ra := RunnableAgent{
+		Name: "p", ModelTier: "test-model",
+		Phases: []Phase{{Name: "x", SystemPrompt: "P1"}, {Name: "x", SystemPrompt: "P2"}},
+	}
+	res := ex.Run(context.Background(), ra, tool.Invocation{RunID: "r"}, "Q")
+	if res.Err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("run error: %v", res.Err)
+	}
+	if n := len(fp.Calls()); n != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("both same-named phases must run on a fresh run; got %d model calls", n)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestPhases_HardErrorAborts: a NON-optional phase that hits a hard error (not a
+// budget/step exhaustion) aborts the pipeline; later phases do not run.
+func TestPhases_HardErrorAborts(t *testing.T) {
+	boom := errors.New("model down")
+	models, fp := phaseProvider(t,
+		fake.Fail(boom),     // phase a (non-optional) fails hard
+		fake.Reply("out-b"), // must NOT be consumed
+	)
+	ex := New(Config{Registry: tool.NewRegistry(), Models: models})
+
+	ra := RunnableAgent{
+		Name:      "pipeline",
+		ModelTier: "test-model",
+		Phases: []Phase{
+			{Name: "a", SystemPrompt: "Phase A"},
+			{Name: "b", SystemPrompt: "Phase B"},
+		},
+	}
+	res := ex.Run(context.Background(), ra, tool.Invocation{RunID: "r", CallerID: "c"}, "Q")
+	if res.Err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("a hard non-optional phase error must fail the run")
+	}
+	if !errors.Is(res.Err, boom) {
+		t.Errorf("run error %v should wrap the phase's model error", res.Err)
+	}
+	if n := len(fp.Calls()); n != 1 {
+		t.Errorf("pipeline must abort after phase a; got %d calls (phase b should not run)", n)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestPhases_IsRunFuncBareCall: an IsRunFunc phase produces output via a bare LLM
+// call and that output threads into a following loop phase.
+func TestPhases_IsRunFuncBareCall(t *testing.T) {
+	models, fp := phaseProvider(t,
+		fake.Reply("plan-output"), // IsRunFunc phase a
+		fake.Reply("final"),       // loop phase b
+	)
+	ex := New(Config{Registry: tool.NewRegistry(), Models: models})
+
+	ra := RunnableAgent{
+		Name:      "pipeline",
+		ModelTier: "test-model",
+		Phases: []Phase{
+			{Name: "plan", SystemPrompt: "Make a plan for {{.Query}}", IsRunFunc: true},
+			{Name: "exec", SystemPrompt: "Execute: {{.plan}}"},
+		},
+	}
+	res := ex.Run(context.Background(), ra, tool.Invocation{RunID: "r", CallerID: "c"}, "do-thing")
+	if res.Err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("run error: %v", res.Err)
+	}
+	if res.Output != "final" {
+		t.Fatalf("output = %q, want final", res.Output)
+	}
+	calls := fp.Calls()
+	if len(calls) != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("want 2 calls, got %d", len(calls))
+	}
+	if got := calls[0].Request.System; got != "Make a plan for do-thing" {
+		t.Errorf("IsRunFunc phase system = %q", got)
+	}
+	if got := calls[1].Request.System; got != "Execute: plan-output" {
+		t.Errorf("exec phase should see the plan output threaded; system = %q", got)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestPhases_SystemHeaderAppliedPerPhase: the platform SystemHeader is prepended
+// to every phase's prompt (each phase keeps it).
+func TestPhases_SystemHeaderAppliedPerPhase(t *testing.T) {
+	models, fp := phaseProvider(t, fake.Reply("a"), fake.Reply("b"))
+	ex := New(Config{Registry: tool.NewRegistry(), Models: models, SystemHeader: "PLATFORM"})
+
+	ra := RunnableAgent{
+		Name:      "p",
+		ModelTier: "test-model",
+		Phases:    []Phase{{Name: "one", SystemPrompt: "P1"}, {Name: "two", SystemPrompt: "P2"}},
+	}
+	if res := ex.Run(context.Background(), ra, tool.Invocation{RunID: "r"}, "Q"); res.Err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("run error: %v", res.Err)
+	}
+	for i, want := range []string{"PLATFORM\n\nP1", "PLATFORM\n\nP2"} {
+		if got := fp.Calls()[i].Request.System; got != want {
+			t.Errorf("phase %d system = %q, want %q", i, got, want)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// TestFilterToolbox: a named subset restricts the toolbox (preserving order);
+// empty names = the full palette; unknown names are skipped.
+func TestFilterToolbox(t *testing.T) {
+	box := llm.NewToolbox("base")
+	noop := func(context.Context, json.RawMessage) (any, error) { return "", nil }
+	for _, name := range []string{"alpha", "beta", "gamma"} {
+		if err := box.Add(llm.Tool{Name: name, Description: "d", Handler: noop}); err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("add %s: %v", name, err)
+		}
+	}
+
+	full := filterToolbox(box, nil)
+	if len(full.Tools()) != 3 {
+		t.Errorf("nil names = full palette; got %d tools", len(full.Tools()))
+	}
+
+	sub := filterToolbox(box, []string{"gamma", "alpha", "nonexistent"})
+	names := make([]string, 0)
+	for _, tl := range sub.Tools() {
+		names = append(names, tl.Name)
+	}
+	if strings.Join(names, ",") != "gamma,alpha" {
+		t.Errorf("subset (order-preserving, unknown skipped) = %v, want [gamma alpha]", names)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestExpandPhaseTemplate: {{.Query}} + prior outputs substitute; a parse error
+// returns the template unchanged (best-effort).
+func TestExpandPhaseTemplate(t *testing.T) {
+	got := expandPhaseTemplate("q={{.Query}} a={{.a}}", "QQ", map[string]string{"a": "AA"})
+	if got != "q=QQ a=AA" {
+		t.Errorf("expand = %q", got)
+	}
+	// Malformed template → returned unchanged.
+	bad := "{{.Unclosed"
+	if expandPhaseTemplate(bad, "QQ", nil) != bad {
+		t.Errorf("malformed template should pass through unchanged")
+	}
+}

run/ports.go

@@ -0,0 +1,252 @@
+package run
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"time"
+
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/majordomo/llm"
+
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/executus/deliver"
+)
+
+// ErrCriticKill is the cancellation cause the executor stamps on a run the
+// critic kills, so a critic kill surfaces as a distinct "killed" status (vs a
+// backstop "timeout" or a caller "cancelled"). A host CriticHandle signals a
+// kill via KillCause(); the executor wraps that reason with this sentinel.
+var ErrCriticKill = errors.New("run: critic killed the run")
+
+// Ports are the host seams the run executor consumes. Every field is nil-safe:
+// a light host passes the zero Ports and gets a bounded, in-memory run with no
+// persistence, audit, budget, critic, delegation, or delivery — which is
+// exactly a gadfly swarm task. A heavy host (mort) wires each one to a battery.
+//
+// This struct IS the inversion: in mort, agentexec imports agents /
+// agentcritic / skillaudit and skillexec imports skills / paste directly; here
+// the kernel depends only on these interfaces, and the batteries implement
+// them. The mort_*_adapters.go wall becomes the set of impls.
+type Ports struct {
+	// Audit records the run trace (start, per-step/per-tool events, final
+	// stats). nil = no audit.
+	Audit Audit
+	// Budget gates and meters per-caller resource use. nil = unbounded.
+	Budget Budget
+	// Critic optionally monitors a long run for hangs/runaways. nil = none.
+	Critic Critic
+	// Checkpointer mints a per-run Checkpointer for durable recovery (it decides
+	// per run whether the run is durable). nil = no checkpointing (a run
+	// interrupted by shutdown is simply lost).
+	Checkpointer CheckpointerFactory
+	// Palette resolves SkillPalette / SubAgentPalette entries into delegation
+	// tools (skill__<name> / agent__<name>). nil = those entries are inert.
+	Palette PaletteSource
+	// Delivery is where the run's output + artifacts go. nil = the caller
+	// reads the Result in-process (the light-host default).
+	Delivery deliver.Delivery
+	// InputFiles persists non-image input attachments (audio, PDF, binary)
+	// carried on Invocation.InputFiles into a host file store under run scope,
+	// returning file_ids the agent can hand to a worker tool. nil = input files
+	// are silently ignored (the run still proceeds, text-only). The bytes are
+	// never inlined into the model context — the LLM can't read raw audio/binary.
+	InputFiles InputFileStager
+	// SkillPacks activates a RunnableAgent.SkillPacks (SKILL.md subscriptions)
+	// for the run: it folds a catalog into the system prompt and adds a skill_use
+	// loader tool. nil = SkillPacks are inert. The executus/skillpack battery
+	// ships a default impl (skillpack.Activator).
+	SkillPacks SkillPackActivator
+}
+
+// SkillPackActivator resolves an agent's subscribed skill-pack names for a run
+// into system-prompt instructions (a catalog of what's available on demand) and
+// the tools that back them (a single skill_use loader). It receives the run +
+// subject ids so the impl can scope any per-run file staging. It returns "" +
+// nil when nothing resolves; activation errors are non-fatal to the run. Defined
+// here (the consumer) so the battery satisfies it structurally without importing
+// run — the same inversion as the other ports.
+type SkillPackActivator interface {
+	ActivateSkillPacks(ctx context.Context, names []string, runID, subjectID string) (instructions string, tools []llm.Tool, err error)
+}
+
+// InputFileStager persists a single non-image input attachment into a host file
+// store under run scope and returns a file_id the run can reference. It is the
+// seam mort's skill FileStorage (and any host blob store) implements so the
+// kernel can stage Invocation.InputFiles without importing a storage layer.
+type InputFileStager interface {
+	StageInputFile(ctx context.Context, runID, agentID, name, mime string, content []byte) (fileID string, err error)
+}
+
+// RunInfo describes a run at start time — the attribution a recorder/critic
+// needs. Host-neutral rename of mort's SkillRun start fields.
+type RunInfo struct {
+	RunID       string
+	SubjectID   string // the agent/skill id being run (audit "skill_id")
+	Name        string
+	CallerID    string
+	ChannelID   string
+	GuildID     string // the originating guild/server id (empty for DMs/triggers)
+	ParentRunID string
+	ModelTier   string // the run's resolved base tier (for checkpoint re-dispatch)
+	Inputs      map[string]any
+	StartedAt   time.Time
+	// MaxIterations is the run's base tool-dispatch step ceiling, so a critic can
+	// raise it relative to the baseline (see CriticHandle.MaxSteps).
+	MaxIterations int
+}
+
+// RunStats is the terminal roll-up a recorder's Close writes. Mirrors mort's
+// skillaudit/skillexec RunStats.
+type RunStats struct {
+	Status         string // ok | error | timeout | budget_exceeded | cancelled | dry_run
+	Output         string
+	Error          string
+	ToolCalls      int
+	RuntimeSeconds float64
+	InputTokens    int64
+	OutputTokens   int64
+	ThinkingTokens int64
+}
+
+// --- Audit ---
+
+// Audit begins recording a run. StartRun returns a per-run RunRecorder (or nil
+// to skip recording this run). The audit battery wires its Storage behind this.
+type Audit interface {
+	StartRun(ctx context.Context, info RunInfo) RunRecorder
+}
+
+// RunRecorder records the events of one in-flight run and its final stats. It
+// satisfies RunTally so the kernel can surface live token/tool counts to the
+// self-status tool. Mirrors mort's skillaudit.Writer.
+type RunRecorder interface {
+	RunTally
+	// OnStep records one completed agent-loop iteration's model response.
+	OnStep(iter int, resp *llm.Response)
+	// OnTool records one executed tool call + its result.
+	OnTool(call llm.ToolCall, result string)
+	// LogEvent / LogError append structured events to the run log.
+	LogEvent(eventType string, payload map[string]any)
+	LogError(msg string)
+	// Close writes the terminal roll-up. Detaches from the caller's context
+	// internally so a cancelled run still records.
+	Close(ctx context.Context, stats RunStats)
+}
+
+// --- Budget ---
+
+// Budget gates and meters per-caller resource use. Mirrors mort's
+// skillexec.BudgetTracker.
+type Budget interface {
+	// Check reports whether the caller has remaining budget (nil = allowed).
+	Check(ctx context.Context, callerID string) error
+	// Commit records that the caller spent runtimeSeconds on this run.
+	Commit(ctx context.Context, callerID string, runtimeSeconds float64)
+}
+
+// --- Critic ---
+
+// Critic optionally monitors a long-running run (the two-tier soft/hard
+// timeout). Monitor returns a handle the executor feeds progress into and
+// queries for steer/deadline decisions; a nil handle means "not monitored".
+//
+// The exact wiring (how the handle's Steer/Deadline bind into majordomo's
+// agent.WithSteer / agent.WithMaxStepsFunc / run-context cancellation) is
+// finalized in the executor; this is the seam the agentcritic battery adapts.
+type Critic interface {
+	Monitor(ctx context.Context, info RunInfo, softTimeout time.Duration) CriticHandle
+}
+
+// CriticHandle is the executor's live link to a run's critic.
+//
+// Concurrency: the executor calls RecordStep/RecordToolStart/Steer from the run
+// goroutine while a separate watch goroutine polls Deadline() and the run's end
+// calls Stop() — so implementations MUST be safe for concurrent use across these
+// methods (the critic battery's handle guards its state with a mutex).
+type CriticHandle interface {
+	// RecordStep / RecordToolStart keep the critic's activity clock fresh so a
+	// healthy-but-slow run is not mistaken for a hang. RecordStep also carries the
+	// completed step's model response (nil-safe) so the critic's Trace can show
+	// what the agent actually produced, not just an iteration count.
+	RecordStep(iter int, resp *llm.Response)
+	RecordToolStart(name, args string)
+	// Steer returns any messages the critic wants injected into the loop (a
+	// nudge), drained before each step — matches majordomo agent.WithSteer.
+	Steer() []llm.Message
+	// Deadline returns the current hard-kill deadline (the critic may extend
+	// it); the executor binds the run context to it. Zero = no hard deadline.
+	Deadline() time.Time
+	// MaxSteps returns the current tool-dispatch step ceiling, polled by the
+	// executor each step (via majordomo WithMaxStepsFunc) so a critic can raise a
+	// healthy-but-long run's iteration budget mid-flight. Return <= 0 to defer to
+	// the run's base MaxIterations.
+	MaxSteps() int
+	// KillCause returns a non-nil reason iff the critic has decided to KILL this
+	// run (as opposed to letting the hard-deadline backstop expire). The executor
+	// reads it when the deadline passes: non-nil → cancel the run with
+	// ErrCriticKill (status "killed"); nil → the backstop expired naturally
+	// (status "timeout"). Hosts that never distinguish the two may return nil.
+	KillCause() error
+	// Stop ends monitoring when the run finishes.
+	Stop()
+}
+
+// --- Checkpointer ---
+
+// CheckpointerFactory decides, per run, whether the run is durable and (if so)
+// mints the per-run Checkpointer that records its progress. It returns (nil, nil)
+// for a non-durable run (the common short-run case — no checkpointing overhead).
+// A storage error should be logged and degraded to (nil, nil) so a failing
+// checkpoint store never fails the run. Mirrors mort's
+// agentexec.CheckpointerFactory.
+type CheckpointerFactory interface {
+	Begin(ctx context.Context, info RunInfo) (Checkpointer, error)
+}
+
+// Checkpointer persists a run's resumable progress for durable recovery.
+// Mirrors mort's agentexec.RunCheckpointer.
+type Checkpointer interface {
+	// Save persists the run's current resumable progress (throttled).
+	Save(ctx context.Context, st RunCheckpointState) error
+	// Complete clears the checkpoint on success.
+	Complete(ctx context.Context) error
+	// Fail clears the checkpoint on terminal failure. A run interrupted by
+	// shutdown is left untouched so boot recovery picks it up.
+	Fail(ctx context.Context, err error) error
+}
+
+// RunCheckpointState is the resumable snapshot a Checkpointer persists.
+type RunCheckpointState struct {
+	// Messages is the running transcript of a SINGLE-LOOP run (grows each step;
+	// resumed via WithHistory). nil for multi-phase runs — phase recovery is
+	// boundary-granular (see CompletedPhases), not mid-phase transcript.
+	Messages  []llm.Message
+	Iteration int
+	// CompletedPhases is set only for multi-phase runs: the outputs of phases
+	// already finished, in phase order, so a resumed run skips them and re-runs
+	// the interrupted phase from its start. nil for single-loop runs.
+	CompletedPhases []PhaseOutput
+}
+
+// PhaseOutput is one completed pipeline phase's name and output text, recorded in
+// a checkpoint so a resumed multi-phase run can skip already-finished phases.
+type PhaseOutput struct {
+	Name   string
+	Output string
+}
+
+// --- PaletteSource ---
+
+// PaletteSource resolves a RunnableAgent's SkillPalette / SubAgentPalette names
+// into delegation tools and invokes them. Mirrors mort's
+// SkillInvokerForPalette + AgentInvokerForPalette. nil Palette => palette
+// entries are inert ("not configured" at first call).
+type PaletteSource interface {
+	ResolveSkill(ctx context.Context, callerID, name string) (skillID string, err error)
+	InvokeSkill(ctx context.Context, callerID, channelID, name string,
+		inputs map[string]any, parentRunID string) (output, runID, status string, err error)
+
+	ResolveAgent(ctx context.Context, callerID, name string) (agentID string, err error)
+	InvokeAgent(ctx context.Context, callerID, channelID, name string,
+		prompt, parentRunID, modelTierOverride, promptPrepend string,
+		toolsSubset []string,
+		onEvent func(ctx context.Context, event, emoji string)) (output, runID, status string, err error)
+}

run/runengine.go

@@ -0,0 +1,157 @@
+// Package run is executus's run kernel: the shared run-loop mechanics around
+// majordomo's agent loop, plus the host seams (run.Ports / RunnableAgent) that
+// let one executor serve every surface — a light host's bounded one-shot run,
+// a heavy host's persona agent or saved skill — without the kernel importing a
+// battery.
+//
+// This file holds the genuinely-identical scaffolding both run shapes need:
+// context cancellation merging, the detached-cleanup timeout, the per-run
+// progress accessor the self-status tool reads, the legacy `submit`
+// compatibility tool (submit.go), the ancestor progress bridge (progress.go),
+// and the run-finalizer machinery — one source of truth.
+//
+// The kernel depends only on majordomo + executus/tool + the run.Ports
+// interfaces; persistence, audit, the persona/skill nouns, and the critic are
+// host-supplied via Ports (see ports.go) so importing the kernel never drags in
+// a store or a battery.
+package run
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"log/slog"
+	"sync/atomic"
+	"time"
+
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/executus/tool"
+)
+
+// ErrShutdown is the cancellation cause set on mort's base lifecycle context
+// when the process is shutting down (SIGTERM after the drain window). The
+// agent executor uses it to distinguish a run interrupted by shutdown (which
+// should be left durable-recoverable) from a run that errored or hit its own
+// deadline (terminal).
+var ErrShutdown = errors.New("mort: shutting down")
+
+// CleanupContextTimeout caps how long a run's post-completion cleanup ops
+// (budget commit, audit Close, attachment bookkeeping) may wait on
+// storage after detaching from the caller's — possibly already
+// cancelled — context. 10s is generous for a single-row UPDATE against
+// MySQL; longer suggests a hung connection the run goroutine shouldn't
+// keep waiting on. Both executors derive their cleanup contexts as
+// context.WithTimeout(context.WithoutCancel(ctx), CleanupContextTimeout).
+const CleanupContextTimeout = 10 * time.Second
+
+// Reserved state-react lifecycle event keys, shared so both nouns surface
+// the same UX shape. Namespaced with double-underscores to make accidental
+// collision with a tool name near-impossible.
+const (
+	StateReactStart          = "__start__"
+	StateReactEnd            = "__end__"
+	StateReactError          = "__error__"
+	StateReactBudgetExceeded = "__budget_exceeded__"
+)
+
+// MergeCancellation returns a context cancelled when EITHER input is
+// cancelled, propagating the cancellation Cause from whichever fired. Used
+// by the lane preemption path (the lane's per-job ctx.Cause flows into the
+// run context) and by the runtime-detach path (process shutdown still
+// reaches a run whose deadline was reset after a lane wait). Always call
+// the returned cancel to release the watcher goroutine; it is also invoked
+// once when either input fires.
+func MergeCancellation(parent, secondary context.Context) (context.Context, context.CancelFunc) {
+	merged, cancel := context.WithCancelCause(parent)
+	go func() {
+		select {
+		case <-merged.Done():
+			return
+		case <-secondary.Done():
+			cancel(context.Cause(secondary))
+		}
+	}()
+	return merged, func() { cancel(nil) }
+}
+
+// RunFinalizer is invoked at run finish so per-run tool state (open HTTP
+// streams, per-run code_exec counters, per-run search budgets) is released
+// and the process-lifetime maps keyed by run id don't grow unbounded.
+// Both executors fire their registered finalizers via FireFinalizers.
+type RunFinalizer interface {
+	FinalizeRun(runID string)
+}
+
+// FireFinalizers runs every finalizer for runID, isolating each behind a
+// panic-recover so one buggy finalizer can't take down the run goroutine
+// or skip the others. Safe to call with a nil/empty slice.
+func FireFinalizers(fs []RunFinalizer, runID string) {
+	for _, f := range fs {
+		if f == nil {
+			continue
+		}
+		func() {
+			defer func() {
+				if r := recover(); r != nil {
+					slog.Error("runengine: run finalizer panicked",
+						"run_id", runID, "panic", r)
+				}
+			}()
+			f.FinalizeRun(runID)
+		}()
+	}
+}
+
+// RunTally is the narrow live-progress source the RunStateAccessor reads —
+// the running token and tool-call counts for the in-flight run. The audit
+// battery's writer satisfies it; this interface is how the run kernel reads
+// live tallies without importing the audit package (the inversion of mort's
+// direct *skillaudit.Writer dependency).
+type RunTally interface {
+	// TokenStats returns the running input, output, and thinking token totals.
+	TokenStats() (in, out, thinking int64)
+	// ToolCallsCount returns the number of tool calls executed so far.
+	ToolCallsCount() int
+}
+
+// RunStateAccessor is the per-run live-progress accessor the executor
+// stamps on Invocation.RunState before building the toolbox, so the
+// self-status tool can report iteration / tool-calls / tokens / elapsed for
+// the in-flight run. Construct with NewRunStateAccessor; the executor's step
+// observer calls SetIteration each loop.
+type RunStateAccessor struct {
+	tally     RunTally
+	iter      atomic.Int32
+	maxIter   int
+	maxCalls  int
+	startedAt time.Time
+}
+
+// NewRunStateAccessor builds the accessor. writer supplies the live token
+// + tool-call tallies; maxIter / maxCalls are the reported caps (0 =
+// uncapped); startedAt anchors the elapsed clock.
+func NewRunStateAccessor(tally RunTally, maxIter, maxCalls int, startedAt time.Time) *RunStateAccessor {
+	return &RunStateAccessor{
+		tally:     tally,
+		maxIter:   maxIter,
+		maxCalls:  maxCalls,
+		startedAt: startedAt,
+	}
+}
+
+// SetIteration records the current agent-loop iteration (called from the
+// executor's step observer).
+func (a *RunStateAccessor) SetIteration(iter int) { a.iter.Store(int32(iter)) }
+
+// RunState satisfies tool.RunStateAccessor.
+func (a *RunStateAccessor) RunState() tool.RunState {
+	in, out, think := a.tally.TokenStats()
+	return tool.RunState{
+		Iteration:      int(a.iter.Load()),
+		MaxIterations:  a.maxIter,
+		ToolCalls:      a.tally.ToolCallsCount(),
+		MaxToolCalls:   a.maxCalls,
+		InputTokens:    in,
+		OutputTokens:   out,
+		ThinkingTokens: think,
+		ElapsedSeconds: int(time.Since(a.startedAt).Seconds()),
+	}
+}

run/session.go

@@ -0,0 +1,88 @@
+package run
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"log/slog"
+	"strings"
+	"sync"
+
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/majordomo/llm"
+
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/executus/tool"
+)
+
+// runPostRun invokes a SessionToolFactory's PostRun hook with panic isolation:
+// a PostRun panic (or a slow artifact build that the hook mishandles) must not
+// fail an otherwise-successful run — artifacts are best-effort, the agent's text
+// output is the source of truth.
+func runPostRun(ctx context.Context,
+	hook func(context.Context, []llm.Message, string, error) *tool.PostRunResult,
+	transcript []llm.Message, output string, runErr error) (prr *tool.PostRunResult) {
+	defer func() {
+		if r := recover(); r != nil {
+			slog.Error("run: PostRun hook panicked; no artifacts produced", "panic", r)
+			prr = nil
+		}
+	}()
+	return hook(ctx, transcript, output, runErr)
+}
+
+// steerMailbox is a thread-safe queue of messages a session tool (via
+// tool.Invocation.AttachImages) wants injected into the agent loop before its
+// next step — the same WithSteer mechanism the critic uses for nudges, exposed
+// to ordinary tools so they can show the model content (e.g. a rendered
+// preview) it must SEE, not just be told about.
+type steerMailbox struct {
+	mu   sync.Mutex
+	msgs []llm.Message
+}
+
+func (m *steerMailbox) push(msg llm.Message) {
+	m.mu.Lock()
+	m.msgs = append(m.msgs, msg)
+	m.mu.Unlock()
+}
+
+// drain returns and clears the queued messages (nil when empty).
+func (m *steerMailbox) drain() []llm.Message {
+	m.mu.Lock()
+	defer m.mu.Unlock()
+	if len(m.msgs) == 0 {
+		return nil
+	}
+	out := m.msgs
+	m.msgs = nil
+	return out
+}
+
+// runSession implements tool.AgentSession over a steer mailbox: AttachImages
+// queues a user-role multimodal message the agent loop injects before its next
+// step. Replaces legacy agentkit's Agent.AttachImages — majordomo's *agent.Agent
+// is immutable mid-run, so mutation flows through the run-scoped steer mailbox.
+type runSession struct{ mailbox *steerMailbox }
+
+func (s *runSession) AttachImages(text string, images ...llm.ImagePart) {
+	parts := make([]llm.Part, 0, len(images)+1)
+	if strings.TrimSpace(text) != "" {
+		parts = append(parts, llm.Text(text))
+	}
+	for _, img := range images {
+		parts = append(parts, img)
+	}
+	if len(parts) == 0 {
+		return
+	}
+	s.mailbox.push(llm.UserParts(parts...))
+}
+
+// safeCleanup runs a SessionTools.Cleanup with panic isolation, so a misbehaving
+// teardown (temp-dir removal, handle close) can't clobber an otherwise-successful
+// run via the executor's top-level recover.
+func safeCleanup(fn func()) {
+	defer func() {
+		if r := recover(); r != nil {
+			slog.Error("run: session Cleanup panicked", "panic", r)
+		}
+	}()
+	fn()
+}

run/session_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,94 @@
+package run_test
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"testing"
+
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/majordomo/llm"
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/majordomo/provider/fake"
+
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/executus/run"
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/executus/tool"
+)
+
+// TestSessionToolFactoryPostRun: a SessionToolFactory's PostRun hook produces an
+// artifact (from the run output + transcript) that lands on Result.PostRunResult,
+// and its Cleanup is deferred.
+func TestSessionToolFactoryPostRun(t *testing.T) {
+	fp := fake.New("fake")
+	fp.Enqueue("m", fake.Reply("hello artifacts"))
+	m, _ := fp.Model("m")
+
+	cleanupCalled := false
+	inv := tool.Invocation{
+		RunID: "r1",
+		SessionToolFactory: func(_ tool.AgentSession) tool.SessionTools {
+			return tool.SessionTools{
+				PostRun: func(_ context.Context, transcript []llm.Message, output string, _ error) *tool.PostRunResult {
+					return &tool.PostRunResult{
+						Artifacts: []tool.Artifact{{Name: "out.txt", MimeType: "text/plain", Data: []byte(output)}},
+						Metadata:  map[string]any{"transcript_len": len(transcript)},
+					}
+				},
+				Cleanup: func() { cleanupCalled = true },
+			}
+		},
+	}
+	ex := run.New(run.Config{
+		Registry: tool.NewRegistry(),
+		Models:   func(ctx context.Context, _ string) (context.Context, llm.Model, error) { return ctx, m, nil },
+	})
+	res := ex.Run(context.Background(), run.RunnableAgent{ModelTier: "m"}, inv, "go")
+	if res.Err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("run error: %v", res.Err)
+	}
+	if res.PostRunResult == nil {
+		t.Fatal("Result.PostRunResult is nil — PostRun hook not invoked / not attached")
+	}
+	if n := len(res.PostRunResult.Artifacts); n != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("artifacts = %d, want 1", n)
+	}
+	a := res.PostRunResult.Artifacts[0]
+	if a.Name != "out.txt" || string(a.Data) != "hello artifacts" {
+		t.Errorf("artifact = {%q, %q}", a.Name, string(a.Data))
+	}
+	if tl, _ := res.PostRunResult.Metadata["transcript_len"].(int); tl < 1 {
+		t.Errorf("transcript not passed to PostRun (len=%d)", tl)
+	}
+	if !cleanupCalled {
+		t.Error("Cleanup was not deferred/called")
+	}
+}
+
+// TestSessionToolFactoryAddsTool: tools the factory returns join the run's
+// toolbox and are callable by the model.
+func TestSessionToolFactoryAddsTool(t *testing.T) {
+	fp := fake.New("fake")
+	fp.Enqueue("m",
+		fake.ReplyWith(llm.Response{ToolCalls: []llm.ToolCall{{ID: "c1", Name: "render", Arguments: []byte(`{}`)}}}),
+		fake.Reply("rendered"),
+	)
+	m, _ := fp.Model("m")
+
+	toolCalled := false
+	renderTool := llm.DefineTool("render", "render a preview",
+		func(_ context.Context, _ struct{}) (any, error) { toolCalled = true; return "ok", nil })
+	inv := tool.Invocation{
+		RunID: "r2",
+		SessionToolFactory: func(_ tool.AgentSession) tool.SessionTools {
+			return tool.SessionTools{Tools: []llm.Tool{renderTool}}
+		},
+	}
+	ex := run.New(run.Config{
+		Registry: tool.NewRegistry(),
+		Models:   func(ctx context.Context, _ string) (context.Context, llm.Model, error) { return ctx, m, nil },
+	})
+	res := ex.Run(context.Background(),
+		run.RunnableAgent{ModelTier: "m", MaxIterations: 5}, inv, "go")
+	if res.Err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("run error: %v", res.Err)
+	}
+	if !toolCalled {
+		t.Error("session-factory tool was not added to the toolbox / not called")
+	}
+}

run/steps.go

@@ -0,0 +1,419 @@
+package run
+
+// steps.go — the per-run step emitter and the tool→step presentation
+// mapping. This is the single place that turns the executor's post-step
+// observer into ordered tool.Step records: one per tool call, each with a
+// stable id, an open-vocabulary kind, and a human present-tense summary
+// that flips running→complete/error.
+//
+// One source feeds two consumers (mirroring the OnEvent/OnToolEvent/
+// PostRunResult pattern): the live tool.Invocation.OnStep callback
+// (nil-safe) AND snapshot(), which the executor copies onto Result.Steps.
+// Because the Result accumulation does not depend on OnStep being set,
+// every surface — chat (JSON + SSE), Discord, cron, sub-agents — carries
+// steps; OnStep is needed only for live streaming.
+//
+// LIMITATION (current): majordomo exposes only a POST-step observer, so
+// the executor calls toolStart+toolEnd back-to-back after each tool has
+// already run. Steps are therefore recorded faithfully, but step.StartedAt
+// ≈ EndedAt and the intermediate "running" phase is never observable to a
+// live OnStep consumer. A pre-dispatch hook (wrapping each tool's handler
+// to emit toolStart before execution, like mort's state-react decorator)
+// is a follow-up that would restore real start timing + the running phase.
+// The emitter already supports that two-call shape — toolStart and toolEnd
+// are separate methods — so wiring it later is additive.
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"fmt"
+	"net/url"
+	"strings"
+	"time"
+
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/majordomo/llm"
+
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/executus/tool"
+)
+
+// stepSummaryMaxLen caps the human summary length (section G size cap).
+// Detail is unused in v1 (no live detail source while replies are
+// generated blocking) so there is no Detail cap yet.
+const stepSummaryMaxLen = 200
+
+// stepEmitter accumulates ordered steps for one run and fires the live
+// OnStep callback.
+//
+// Concurrency: touched ONLY from the agent-loop goroutine — the executor's
+// stepObserver (and, once a pre-dispatch hook is wired, that hook) run
+// there; majordomo executes a step's tool calls sequentially, and
+// sub-agents build their own Invocation so they never reach this
+// emitter. Same single-goroutine contract as the audit Writer and the
+// critic ProgressRecorder — no internal lock.
+type stepEmitter struct {
+	onStep func(ctx context.Context, ev tool.StepEvent)
+	now    func() time.Time
+
+	seq     int
+	steps   []tool.Step         // ordered; the snapshot for Result.Steps
+	byID    map[string]int      // step id -> index into steps
+	pending map[string][]string // correlation key -> queued running ids (FIFO)
+}
+
+// newStepEmitter returns an emitter that forwards to onStep (nil-safe).
+func newStepEmitter(onStep func(ctx context.Context, ev tool.StepEvent)) *stepEmitter {
+	return &stepEmitter{
+		onStep:  onStep,
+		now:     time.Now,
+		byID:    map[string]int{},
+		pending: map[string][]string{},
+	}
+}
+
+// corrKey correlates a "start" (name + raw args, no call id available at
+// the pre-dispatch hook) with its later "end" (the stepObserver has the
+// full call incl. id + the same raw args).
+func corrKey(name string, args json.RawMessage) string {
+	return name + "\x00" + string(args)
+}
+
+// toolStart records + emits the "start" of a tool call. Called from the
+// pre-dispatch hookToolbox closure, before the tool runs.
+func (e *stepEmitter) toolStart(ctx context.Context, name string, args json.RawMessage) {
+	if e == nil {
+		return
+	}
+	step := e.newStep(name, args)
+	key := corrKey(name, args)
+	e.pending[key] = append(e.pending[key], step.ID)
+	e.fire(ctx, "start", step)
+}
+
+// toolEnd records + emits the terminal "end" of a tool call. Called from
+// the stepObserver for each completed tool call. If no matching start was
+// seen (e.g. a tool with a nil handler the pre-dispatch hook skipped), a
+// start is synthesized so the step still appears.
+func (e *stepEmitter) toolEnd(ctx context.Context, call llm.ToolCall, result string, isError bool) {
+	if e == nil {
+		return
+	}
+	id := e.matchPending(call.Name, call.Arguments)
+	if id == "" {
+		id = e.newStep(call.Name, call.Arguments).ID
+	}
+	idx, ok := e.byID[id]
+	if !ok {
+		return
+	}
+	step := &e.steps[idx]
+	end := e.now()
+	step.EndedAt = &end
+	if isError {
+		step.Status = "error"
+	} else {
+		step.Status = "complete"
+	}
+	if s := summaryForEnd(call.Name, call.Arguments, result, isError); s != "" {
+		step.Summary = s
+	}
+	e.fire(ctx, "end", *step)
+}
+
+// newStep mints + appends a running step and returns it (by value).
+func (e *stepEmitter) newStep(name string, args json.RawMessage) tool.Step {
+	e.seq++
+	step := tool.Step{
+		ID:        fmt.Sprintf("s%d", e.seq),
+		Kind:      kindForTool(name),
+		Title:     name,
+		Summary:   summaryForStart(name, args),
+		Status:    "running",
+		StartedAt: e.now(),
+	}
+	e.byID[step.ID] = len(e.steps)
+	e.steps = append(e.steps, step)
+	return step
+}
+
+// matchPending pops the oldest running step id for (name, args). Falls back to
+// the OLDEST still-running step of the same tool name when the args don't
+// byte-match between start and end (e.g. JSON key reordering). FIFO on the
+// fallback too, consistent with the per-key queue pop above — closing the
+// oldest avoids mis-correlating concurrent same-named calls. Returns "" on no
+// match.
+func (e *stepEmitter) matchPending(name string, args json.RawMessage) string {
+	key := corrKey(name, args)
+	if q := e.pending[key]; len(q) > 0 {
+		id := q[0]
+		if len(q) == 1 {
+			delete(e.pending, key)
+		} else {
+			e.pending[key] = q[1:]
+		}
+		return id
+	}
+	for i := 0; i < len(e.steps); i++ {
+		if e.steps[i].Title == name && e.steps[i].Status == "running" {
+			return e.steps[i].ID
+		}
+	}
+	return ""
+}
+
+func (e *stepEmitter) fire(ctx context.Context, phase string, step tool.Step) {
+	if e.onStep == nil {
+		return
+	}
+	e.onStep(ctx, tool.StepEvent{Phase: phase, Step: step})
+}
+
+// snapshot returns a copy of the ordered, deduplicated step set for the
+// run Result. A step still "running" at run end (e.g. the run was
+// cancelled mid-tool-call) is reported as-is.
+func (e *stepEmitter) snapshot() []tool.Step {
+	if e == nil || len(e.steps) == 0 {
+		return nil
+	}
+	out := make([]tool.Step, len(e.steps))
+	copy(out, e.steps)
+	return out
+}
+
+// kindForTool maps a tool name to an open-vocabulary step kind. Unknown
+// tools fall back to "tool" — never an error, just a generic step (the
+// client maps unknown kinds to a default icon). Loosely tracks the
+// catalog in pkg/skilltools/CLAUDE.md.
+func kindForTool(name string) string {
+	switch name {
+	case "web_search", "search_reddit", "wikipedia_summary":
+		return "search"
+	case "read_page", "read_pdf", "read_reddit", "read_video", "verify_url",
+		"summary_summarise", "summarize", "file_get_text", "file_get_metadata",
+		"http_get", "http_post", "http_get_stream", "http_stream_read":
+		return "read"
+	case "code_exec", "calculate":
+		return "code"
+	case "file_save", "file_get", "file_list", "file_delete", "file_search":
+		return "file"
+	case "kv_get", "kv_set", "kv_list", "kv_delete",
+		"remember", "recall", "chatbot_get_memories":
+		return "memory"
+	case "query", "query_research", "deepresearch", "animate",
+		"agent_invoke", "agent_invoke_parallel", "agent_spawn",
+		"agent_spawn_parallel", "skill_invoke", "skill_invoke_parallel":
+		return "delegate"
+	case "think":
+		return "thinking"
+	default:
+		switch {
+		case strings.HasPrefix(name, "image") || strings.Contains(name, "draw"):
+			return "image"
+		default:
+			return "tool"
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// summaryForStart builds the human present-tense running summary. It
+// derives specifics from safe arg fields only; secret-bearing tools
+// (mcp_call, email_send, http_*) are summarized without echoing args.
+func summaryForStart(name string, args json.RawMessage) string {
+	var s string
+	switch name {
+	case "web_search":
+		if q := argString(args, "query", "q"); q != "" {
+			s = fmt.Sprintf("Searching the web for %q", q)
+		} else {
+			s = "Searching the web"
+		}
+	case "search_reddit":
+		if q := argString(args, "query", "q"); q != "" {
+			s = fmt.Sprintf("Searching Reddit for %q", q)
+		} else {
+			s = "Searching Reddit"
+		}
+	case "wikipedia_summary":
+		if q := argString(args, "query", "title"); q != "" {
+			s = fmt.Sprintf("Looking up %q on Wikipedia", q)
+		} else {
+			s = "Looking up Wikipedia"
+		}
+	case "read_page", "read_pdf", "read_reddit", "read_video", "verify_url":
+		if u := argString(args, "url", "post", "page"); u != "" {
+			s = "Reading " + hostOf(u)
+		} else {
+			s = "Reading a page"
+		}
+	case "http_get", "http_post", "http_get_stream":
+		// Show host only — a full URL can embed credentials/tokens.
+		if u := argString(args, "url"); u != "" {
+			s = "Fetching " + hostOf(u)
+		} else {
+			s = "Making an HTTP request"
+		}
+	case "summary_summarise", "summarize":
+		s = "Summarizing text"
+	case "translate":
+		if lang := argString(args, "target_lang", "target_language", "lang"); lang != "" {
+			s = "Translating to " + lang
+		} else {
+			s = "Translating text"
+		}
+	case "code_exec":
+		s = "Running code"
+	case "calculate":
+		if q := argString(args, "query", "expression", "expr"); q != "" {
+			s = "Calculating " + truncateStep(q, 60)
+		} else {
+			s = "Calculating"
+		}
+	case "remember":
+		// Never echo the stored value.
+		s = "Saving a memory"
+	case "recall", "chatbot_get_memories":
+		s = "Recalling memories"
+	case "kv_get", "kv_list":
+		s = "Reading saved data"
+	case "kv_set":
+		s = "Saving data"
+	case "kv_delete":
+		s = "Deleting saved data"
+	case "file_save":
+		if n := argString(args, "name", "filename"); n != "" {
+			s = "Saving file " + truncateStep(n, 60)
+		} else {
+			s = "Saving a file"
+		}
+	case "file_get", "file_get_text", "file_get_metadata":
+		s = "Reading a file"
+	case "file_list", "file_search":
+		s = "Listing files"
+	case "query", "query_research":
+		if q := argString(args, "query", "question", "prompt", "task"); q != "" {
+			s = "Researching " + truncateStep(q, 80)
+		} else {
+			s = "Researching"
+		}
+	case "deepresearch":
+		s = "Running deep research"
+	case "animate":
+		s = "Generating an animation"
+	case "agent_invoke", "agent_spawn":
+		if a := argString(args, "agent", "agent_name", "name"); a != "" {
+			s = "Delegating to " + a
+		} else {
+			s = "Delegating to a sub-agent"
+		}
+	case "agent_invoke_parallel", "agent_spawn_parallel":
+		s = "Delegating to sub-agents"
+	case "skill_invoke":
+		if sk := argString(args, "skill_name", "skill", "name"); sk != "" {
+			s = "Running skill " + sk
+		} else {
+			s = "Running a skill"
+		}
+	case "skill_invoke_parallel":
+		s = "Running skills in parallel"
+	case "think":
+		s = "Thinking"
+	case "mcp_call":
+		// Redact: MCP args frequently carry secrets. Name server/tool only.
+		srv, tl := argString(args, "server"), argString(args, "tool")
+		switch {
+		case srv != "" && tl != "":
+			s = fmt.Sprintf("Calling %s/%s", srv, tl)
+		case srv != "":
+			s = "Calling " + srv
+		default:
+			s = "Calling an MCP tool"
+		}
+	case "email_send":
+		// Redact recipients + body.
+		s = "Sending an email"
+	default:
+		s = "Using " + name
+	}
+	return truncateStep(s, stepSummaryMaxLen)
+}
+
+// summaryForEnd optionally upgrades the summary to a cheap result phrase.
+// Returns "" to keep the running summary (the caller then just flips the
+// status). Never returns a phrase derived from raw result bytes.
+func summaryForEnd(name string, _ json.RawMessage, result string, isError bool) string {
+	if isError {
+		return ""
+	}
+	switch name {
+	case "web_search", "search_reddit":
+		if n := countResults(result); n >= 0 {
+			return fmt.Sprintf("Found %d result%s", n, plural(n))
+		}
+	}
+	return ""
+}
+
+// argString pulls the first present non-empty string field from a tool's
+// raw JSON args, trying keys in order. Returns "" when none parse.
+func argString(args json.RawMessage, keys ...string) string {
+	if len(args) == 0 {
+		return ""
+	}
+	var m map[string]any
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(args, &m); err != nil {
+		return ""
+	}
+	for _, k := range keys {
+		if v, ok := m[k]; ok {
+			if s, ok := v.(string); ok && strings.TrimSpace(s) != "" {
+				return strings.TrimSpace(s)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	return ""
+}
+
+// countResults parses a v11-style {"results":[...]} envelope and returns
+// the count, or -1 when the shape doesn't match.
+func countResults(result string) int {
+	if strings.TrimSpace(result) == "" {
+		return -1
+	}
+	var env struct {
+		Results []json.RawMessage `json:"results"`
+	}
+	if err := json.Unmarshal([]byte(result), &env); err != nil || env.Results == nil {
+		return -1
+	}
+	return len(env.Results)
+}
+
+// hostOf returns the bare host (no leading www.) of a URL, or a short
+// form of the raw string when it doesn't parse as a URL.
+func hostOf(raw string) string {
+	if u, err := url.Parse(raw); err == nil && u.Host != "" {
+		return strings.TrimPrefix(u.Host, "www.")
+	}
+	return truncateStep(raw, 60)
+}
+
+// truncateStep rune-safely caps s to max, appending an ellipsis when cut.
+func truncateStep(s string, max int) string {
+	if max <= 0 {
+		return ""
+	}
+	r := []rune(s)
+	if len(r) <= max {
+		return s
+	}
+	if max == 1 {
+		return string(r[:1])
+	}
+	return string(r[:max-1]) + "…"
+}
+
+func plural(n int) string {
+	if n == 1 {
+		return ""
+	}
+	return "s"
+}

run/submit.go

@@ -0,0 +1,84 @@
+package run
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"strings"
+	"sync"
+
+	llm "gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/majordomo/llm"
+)
+
+// SubmitCapture records the output a run's `submit` tool received.
+//
+// Why this exists: legacy agentkit injected a synthetic `submit` tool and
+// ended the loop when it fired; years of mort system prompts (agent
+// YAMLs, skill manifests, the executors' platform headers) teach the
+// model to "call submit with your final answer". majordomo's agent loop
+// has no submit concept — it ends when the model replies WITHOUT tool
+// calls. Dropping submit cold would make every prompt-trained model
+// burn turns on "unknown tool \"submit\"" errors.
+//
+// The compatibility shape: the executors add NewSubmitTool's tool to
+// every run's toolset (unless the palette already defines a `submit`).
+// The handler records the FIRST submitted answer and tells the model
+// the answer was accepted so its next turn is a bare reply (which ends
+// the loop naturally). After the run, the executor consults
+// Output(loopOutput, runErr): a captured submission wins over an empty
+// or budget-exhausted ending, so a model that submits on its final
+// allowed step still produces its answer instead of ErrMaxSteps.
+type SubmitCapture struct {
+	mu     sync.Mutex
+	output string
+	called bool
+}
+
+// Record stores the first submitted answer; later calls are ignored
+// (matching legacy agentkit's "multiple calls keep the first" contract).
+func (c *SubmitCapture) Record(output string) {
+	c.mu.Lock()
+	defer c.mu.Unlock()
+	if c.called {
+		return
+	}
+	c.called = true
+	c.output = output
+}
+
+// Submitted returns the captured answer and whether submit fired.
+func (c *SubmitCapture) Submitted() (string, bool) {
+	c.mu.Lock()
+	defer c.mu.Unlock()
+	return c.output, c.called
+}
+
+// Output resolves the run's final output: the submitted answer when the
+// model called submit (parity with legacy agentkit, where submit's argument
+// WAS the run output), otherwise the loop's own final text. resolvedErr
+// is nil when a submission exists — a run that submitted its answer and
+// then ran out of steps (or timed out composing the courtesy
+// confirmation turn) is a SUCCESS, not an error.
+func (c *SubmitCapture) Output(loopOutput string, runErr error) (output string, resolvedErr error) {
+	if out, ok := c.Submitted(); ok {
+		return out, nil
+	}
+	return loopOutput, runErr
+}
+
+// submitArgs mirrors legacy agentkit's synthetic submit tool schema so
+// models prompted under the old contract emit compatible calls.
+type submitArgs struct {
+	Output string `json:"output" description:"The final answer, summary, or output for this task."`
+}
+
+// NewSubmitTool builds the compatibility `submit` tool bound to the
+// given capture. Both executors (skill + agent) install one per run.
+func NewSubmitTool(capture *SubmitCapture) llm.Tool {
+	return llm.DefineTool[submitArgs](
+		"submit",
+		"Submit your final answer or output to end this task. Call exactly once when you are done.",
+		func(_ context.Context, args submitArgs) (any, error) {
+			capture.Record(strings.TrimSpace(args.Output))
+			return "Final answer recorded. Do not call any more tools; reply now with a brief closing message.", nil
+		},
+	)
+}

schedule/runner.go

@@ -0,0 +1,132 @@
+// Package schedule is the cron-runner battery: a generic ticker that, each
+// interval, asks a store for the jobs whose next-run time has passed, runs each
+// one, and stamps its next fire time. It is host-agnostic orchestration — the
+// host wires the store (skill.SkillStore.ListDueScheduled /
+// persona.Storage.ListScheduledAgents), the run (run.Executor), and the cron
+// "next fire" function (a cron library, or skill's schedule parser). The
+// battery owns no cron grammar of its own, so it never duplicates the parser.
+package schedule
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"log/slog"
+	"time"
+)
+
+// Due is one schedulable job: its id and its cron expression.
+type Due struct {
+	ID   string
+	Cron string
+}
+
+// Runner periodically fires due jobs. Every func field is required except Now
+// (defaults to time.Now) and Logger (defaults to slog.Default). Construct the
+// struct directly and call Loop (or Tick for a single pass / tests).
+type Runner struct {
+	// Interval is how often Loop checks for due jobs. <= 0 defaults to 1m.
+	Interval time.Duration
+	// Due lists the jobs due at now.
+	Due func(ctx context.Context, now time.Time) ([]Due, error)
+	// Run executes one job by id.
+	Run func(ctx context.Context, id string) error
+	// Mark records that a job ran at ranAt and is next due at nextAt.
+	Mark func(ctx context.Context, id string, ranAt, nextAt time.Time) error
+	// Next computes a cron expression's next fire after a given time.
+	Next func(cron string, after time.Time) (time.Time, error)
+
+	Now    func() time.Time
+	Logger *slog.Logger
+}
+
+func (r *Runner) now() time.Time {
+	if r.Now != nil {
+		return r.Now()
+	}
+	return time.Now()
+}
+
+func (r *Runner) log() *slog.Logger {
+	if r.Logger != nil {
+		return r.Logger
+	}
+	return slog.Default()
+}
+
+// Tick runs one pass: every currently-due job is run, then stamped with its
+// next fire time. A job whose Run or Next errors is logged and skipped (its
+// next-run time is left unchanged so it stays due and retries next tick) — one
+// bad job never stalls the others. Returns the error from Due (the only
+// pass-fatal step).
+func (r *Runner) Tick(ctx context.Context) error {
+	if err := r.validate(); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	now := r.now()
+	due, err := r.Due(ctx, now)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	for _, j := range due {
+		// Compute the next fire BEFORE running. A permanently-unparseable cron
+		// then skips the job entirely (logged) rather than running it — an
+		// unstamped job stays due, so checking Next first avoids a hot-loop of
+		// real Run executions every tick.
+		next, err := r.Next(j.Cron, now)
+		if err != nil {
+			r.log().Warn("scheduled job has an unparseable cron; skipping (not run, not rescheduled)", "job", j.ID, "cron", j.Cron, "error", err)
+			continue
+		}
+		if err := r.Run(ctx, j.ID); err != nil {
+			r.log().Warn("scheduled job failed; stays due, will retry next tick", "job", j.ID, "error", err)
+			continue
+		}
+		// A Mark failure leaves the job due, so it re-runs next tick — Run must
+		// be idempotent (there is no atomic run+stamp across two host callbacks).
+		if err := r.Mark(ctx, j.ID, now, next); err != nil {
+			r.log().Warn("failed to stamp next run; job may re-execute next tick (Run must be idempotent)", "job", j.ID, "error", err)
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+// validate reports a misconfigured Runner (a required callback left nil) as a
+// clear error rather than a nil-deref panic on first tick.
+func (r *Runner) validate() error {
+	if r.Due == nil || r.Run == nil || r.Mark == nil || r.Next == nil {
+		return errors.New("schedule: Runner requires non-nil Due, Run, Mark, and Next")
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+// Loop ticks every Interval until ctx is cancelled. A Tick error (the Due
+// lister failing) is logged and the loop continues — a transient store hiccup
+// shouldn't kill the scheduler — and a panic from any host callback is
+// recovered so one bad tick can't silently kill the scheduler goroutine.
+func (r *Runner) Loop(ctx context.Context) {
+	interval := r.Interval
+	if interval <= 0 {
+		interval = time.Minute
+	}
+	t := time.NewTicker(interval)
+	defer t.Stop()
+	for {
+		select {
+		case <-ctx.Done():
+			return
+		case <-t.C:
+			r.safeTick(ctx)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func (r *Runner) safeTick(ctx context.Context) {
+	defer func() {
+		if rec := recover(); rec != nil {
+			r.log().Error("schedule tick panicked; scheduler continues", "panic", rec)
+		}
+	}()
+	if err := r.Tick(ctx); err != nil {
+		r.log().Warn("schedule tick failed", "error", err)
+	}
+}

schedule/runner_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,111 @@
+package schedule
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+)
+
+func TestTickRunsDueAndStampsNext(t *testing.T) {
+	ctx := context.Background()
+	now := time.Date(2026, 1, 1, 12, 0, 0, 0, time.UTC)
+	var ran []string
+	marked := map[string]time.Time{}
+
+	r := &Runner{
+		Now: func() time.Time { return now },
+		Due: func(_ context.Context, _ time.Time) ([]Due, error) {
+			return []Due{{ID: "a", Cron: "hourly"}, {ID: "b", Cron: "bad"}}, nil
+		},
+		Run:  func(_ context.Context, id string) error { ran = append(ran, id); return nil },
+		Mark: func(_ context.Context, id string, _, next time.Time) error { marked[id] = next; return nil },
+		Next: func(cron string, after time.Time) (time.Time, error) {
+			if cron == "bad" {
+				return time.Time{}, errors.New("unparseable")
+			}
+			return after.Add(time.Hour), nil
+		},
+	}
+	if err := r.Tick(ctx); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	// Next is checked first, so the bad-cron job is skipped BEFORE Run — only
+	// the parseable job runs and gets stamped (no hot-loop of a bad-cron Run).
+	if len(ran) != 1 || ran[0] != "a" {
+		t.Errorf("ran = %v, want only [a] (bad-cron b skipped before Run)", ran)
+	}
+	if marked["a"] != now.Add(time.Hour) {
+		t.Errorf("a next = %v, want +1h", marked["a"])
+	}
+	if _, ok := marked["b"]; ok {
+		t.Errorf("b should not be stamped (bad cron), got %v", marked["b"])
+	}
+}
+
+func TestTickRunFailureDoesNotStampOrStall(t *testing.T) {
+	ctx := context.Background()
+	var ran []string
+	marked := map[string]bool{}
+	r := &Runner{
+		Due: func(_ context.Context, _ time.Time) ([]Due, error) {
+			return []Due{{ID: "x", Cron: "h"}, {ID: "y", Cron: "h"}}, nil
+		},
+		Run: func(_ context.Context, id string) error {
+			ran = append(ran, id)
+			if id == "x" {
+				return errors.New("boom")
+			}
+			return nil
+		},
+		Mark: func(_ context.Context, id string, _, _ time.Time) error { marked[id] = true; return nil },
+		Next: func(string, time.Time) (time.Time, error) { return time.Now(), nil },
+	}
+	if err := r.Tick(ctx); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if len(ran) != 2 { // y still runs despite x failing
+		t.Errorf("ran = %v, want both attempted", ran)
+	}
+	if marked["x"] { // failed job NOT stamped -> stays due, retries
+		t.Error("failed job x should not be stamped")
+	}
+	if !marked["y"] {
+		t.Error("y should be stamped")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestTickDueErrorIsFatalToPass(t *testing.T) {
+	r := &Runner{
+		Due:  func(context.Context, time.Time) ([]Due, error) { return nil, errors.New("store down") },
+		Run:  func(context.Context, string) error { return nil },
+		Mark: func(context.Context, string, time.Time, time.Time) error { return nil },
+		Next: func(string, time.Time) (time.Time, error) { return time.Now(), nil },
+	}
+	if err := r.Tick(context.Background()); err == nil {
+		t.Error("Tick should surface the Due lister error")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestUnparseableCronSkipsRunEntirely(t *testing.T) {
+	var ran []string
+	r := &Runner{
+		Due:  func(context.Context, time.Time) ([]Due, error) { return []Due{{ID: "z", Cron: "bad"}}, nil },
+		Run:  func(_ context.Context, id string) error { ran = append(ran, id); return nil },
+		Mark: func(context.Context, string, time.Time, time.Time) error { return nil },
+		Next: func(string, time.Time) (time.Time, error) { return time.Time{}, errors.New("bad cron") },
+	}
+	if err := r.Tick(context.Background()); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if len(ran) != 0 {
+		t.Errorf("a job with an unparseable cron must NOT be run (avoids hot-loop), ran=%v", ran)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestValidateRejectsNilCallbacks(t *testing.T) {
+	r := &Runner{Due: func(context.Context, time.Time) ([]Due, error) { return nil, nil }} // missing Run/Mark/Next
+	if err := r.Tick(context.Background()); err == nil {
+		t.Error("Tick should return a validation error for a partially-wired Runner, not panic")
+	}
+}

skill/consts.go

@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+package skill
+
+// DefaultChatbotInputName is the input-param name a chatbot-exposed skill
+// receives the user's message under when its schema doesn't name one. Moved
+// from mort's chatbot_provider.go (a host concern) as a host-agnostic default.
+const DefaultChatbotInputName = "request"

skill/inputs.go

@@ -0,0 +1,422 @@
+package skill
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"strings"
+)
+
+// This file holds the shared input-parsing primitives used by both the
+// chatbot exposure adapter (chatbot_provider.go) and the .skill Discord
+// command handler (commands.go) to construct a SkillInputs map from
+// caller-supplied raw values. Centralising here avoids the two paths
+// drifting in their type-coercion or required-check semantics.
+//
+// Two layers:
+//
+//   - CoerceInputValue: per-param-type coercion (int/float/bool/string).
+//     Accepts loosely-typed values (LLM-stringified numbers, JSON
+//     float64s for ints) and returns a value in the target Go shape.
+//
+//   - CoerceInputs: per-skill validation. Walks the InputSchema, coerces
+//     each declared param via CoerceInputValue, drops extras silently,
+//     errors on missing required.
+//
+// Why exported (capital): both consumers live in the same package, but
+// the names are also referenced in test files and the symbols are
+// genuinely useful API for any future consumer (webui form handler,
+// scheduler in v2). Keep the surface small.
+
+// CoerceInputValue coerces a single raw value to the target InputParam
+// type. JSON numbers arrive from json.Unmarshal as float64; bools as
+// bool; strings as string. Type-mismatched strings are accepted ("3" →
+// int 3, "true" → bool true) because both LLM tool calls and Discord
+// command args frequently surface scalars as strings.
+//
+// Why: LLM tool-call args come through json.Unmarshal of a plain
+// map[string]any, which forces every JSON number into float64 and every
+// JSON string into string. Without this coerce step, an int parameter
+// would arrive in SkillInputs as a float64, a bool sent as "true" would
+// arrive as a string, etc. — confusing the skill agent's prompt
+// renderer and any tool-side logic that switches on Go type. The
+// .skill command handler benefits identically: arg tokens arrive as
+// strings, but downstream tools may expect typed values.
+//
+// Test: TestCoerceInputValue in inputs_test.go covers each branch.
+func CoerceInputValue(paramType string, v any) (any, error) {
+	switch paramType {
+	case "int":
+		switch x := v.(type) {
+		case float64:
+			return int(x), nil
+		case int:
+			return x, nil
+		case string:
+			var i int
+			if _, err := fmt.Sscanf(x, "%d", &i); err != nil {
+				return nil, fmt.Errorf("not an int: %q", x)
+			}
+			return i, nil
+		default:
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("not an int: %T", v)
+		}
+	case "float":
+		switch x := v.(type) {
+		case float64:
+			return x, nil
+		case int:
+			return float64(x), nil
+		case string:
+			var f float64
+			if _, err := fmt.Sscanf(x, "%f", &f); err != nil {
+				return nil, fmt.Errorf("not a float: %q", x)
+			}
+			return f, nil
+		default:
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("not a float: %T", v)
+		}
+	case "bool":
+		switch x := v.(type) {
+		case bool:
+			return x, nil
+		case string:
+			switch x {
+			case "true", "True", "TRUE", "1":
+				return true, nil
+			case "false", "False", "FALSE", "0":
+				return false, nil
+			default:
+				return nil, fmt.Errorf("not a bool: %q", x)
+			}
+		default:
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("not a bool: %T", v)
+		}
+	default:
+		// "string", "user", "channel", "url", and unknown — coerce to
+		// string. JSON numbers/bools are stringified so the executor's
+		// validateInputs (which strips e.g. <@!123> wrappers) gets a
+		// uniform string input.
+		switch x := v.(type) {
+		case string:
+			return x, nil
+		case float64:
+			return fmt.Sprintf("%v", x), nil
+		case bool:
+			return fmt.Sprintf("%v", x), nil
+		default:
+			return fmt.Sprintf("%v", v), nil
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// CoerceInputs validates and coerces a map of raw caller-supplied values
+// against the declared parameter set:
+//
+//   - Extra keys (not in params) are dropped silently.
+//   - Missing required keys return an error so the caller can surface
+//     usage information.
+//   - Per-param type coercion handles int/float/bool sent as strings.
+//
+// Returns a fresh map containing only declared params; never mutates the
+// input map.
+//
+// Why: see CoerceInputValue. Both callers (chatbot exposure adapter,
+// .skill command handler) need the same required-check + extra-drop
+// semantics; previously only the chatbot path implemented them, which
+// is exactly why .skill <name> <args> dropped its arguments entirely.
+//
+// Test: TestCoerceInputs in inputs_test.go.
+func CoerceInputs(params []InputParam, raw map[string]any) (map[string]any, error) {
+	out := make(map[string]any, len(params))
+	for _, p := range params {
+		v, present := raw[p.Name]
+		if !present {
+			if p.Required {
+				return nil, fmt.Errorf("missing required parameter %q", p.Name)
+			}
+			continue
+		}
+		typed, err := CoerceInputValue(p.Type, v)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("parameter %q: %w", p.Name, err)
+		}
+		out[p.Name] = typed
+	}
+	return out, nil
+}
+
+// ParseCommandInputs parses a free-form command argument string into a
+// raw map[string]any keyed by InputSchema parameter names. Three modes
+// are supported, picked by the shape of `schema`:
+//
+//	CASE A — empty schema:
+//	  The whole string becomes {"request": "<rest>"}. Mirrors the
+//	  chatbot exposure default (DefaultChatbotInputName) so a skill with
+//	  no declared inputs can still receive its trigger text uniformly
+//	  across both surfaces.
+//
+//	CASE B — exactly one required param (with optional non-required
+//	tail):
+//	  If the user passed any --key=value or --key value flags they're
+//	  parsed as flags (Case C). Otherwise the WHOLE rest-of-message
+//	  becomes that single required param's value. This is the
+//	  "single-arg convenience" pattern that lets `.skill weather Boston
+//	  today` work without the user typing --city=.
+//
+//	CASE C — multiple params, OR any --flag style input:
+//	  Tokens are parsed as `--name=value` or `--name value`. Bare
+//	  positional tokens after a flag are collected as that flag's value.
+//	  Trailing positional tokens with no preceding flag are dropped
+//	  (the caller's usage string should mention the flag form).
+//
+// The returned map values are RAW strings (or bool true for
+// presence-only flags); type coercion is the caller's job via
+// CoerceInputs.
+//
+// Why this signature instead of returning the typed map directly: the
+// caller wants to distinguish "missing required" (→ usage reply) from
+// "type coercion failed" (→ explicit error). Splitting parse from
+// coerce keeps the message specific.
+func ParseCommandInputs(schema []InputParam, raw string) map[string]any {
+	out := map[string]any{}
+	raw = strings.TrimSpace(raw)
+	if raw == "" {
+		return out
+	}
+
+	// Detect flag-style input regardless of schema shape — even a single
+	// required-param schema may be invoked via `.skill x --name value`
+	// for forward compat.
+	hasFlag := strings.Contains(raw, "--")
+
+	switch {
+	case len(schema) == 0:
+		// Empty schema: mirror the chatbot exposure adapter's default
+		// "request" pseudo-param so executor.composePrompt can render
+		// it uniformly.
+		out[DefaultChatbotInputName] = raw
+
+	case !hasFlag && countRequired(schema) == 1:
+		// Single-required-param convenience: whole rest-of-message is the
+		// value, regardless of any other (non-required) params declared.
+		// They can be supplied via --flag form if needed.
+		req := firstRequired(schema)
+		out[req.Name] = raw
+
+	default:
+		// Flag-style parse. Walk tokens looking for --name[=value] or
+		// --name <value>.
+		parseFlagStyle(out, schema, raw)
+	}
+	return out
+}
+
+// countRequired returns the number of params marked Required.
+func countRequired(schema []InputParam) int {
+	n := 0
+	for _, p := range schema {
+		if p.Required {
+			n++
+		}
+	}
+	return n
+}
+
+// firstRequired returns the first required param. Caller must have
+// already verified at least one exists.
+func firstRequired(schema []InputParam) *InputParam {
+	for i := range schema {
+		if schema[i].Required {
+			return &schema[i]
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+// parseFlagStyle walks tokens for --name=value and --name value forms.
+// Unknown flags (not in schema) are still accepted into the output map
+// so the caller can detect and warn about them; CoerceInputs will drop
+// extras when constructing the final SkillInputs.
+//
+// Tokens not preceded by a --flag are dropped. v1 is intentionally
+// strict-ish here: we don't try to guess which positional token belongs
+// to which param when there are several. The single-required-param
+// convenience handles the common ambiguity-free case in the caller.
+func parseFlagStyle(out map[string]any, schema []InputParam, raw string) {
+	tokens := tokeniseCommandLine(raw)
+	declared := map[string]bool{}
+	for _, p := range schema {
+		declared[p.Name] = true
+	}
+
+	i := 0
+	for i < len(tokens) {
+		t := tokens[i]
+		if !strings.HasPrefix(t, "--") {
+			// Bare positional token outside a flag context — drop. The
+			// caller's usage string should steer users to flag form.
+			i++
+			continue
+		}
+		key := t[2:]
+		// --name=value form
+		if eq := strings.IndexByte(key, '='); eq >= 0 {
+			out[key[:eq]] = key[eq+1:]
+			i++
+			continue
+		}
+		// --name <value> form: take the next token IF it doesn't itself
+		// start with --. Otherwise treat as a presence-only boolean flag.
+		if i+1 < len(tokens) && !strings.HasPrefix(tokens[i+1], "--") {
+			out[key] = tokens[i+1]
+			i += 2
+			continue
+		}
+		out[key] = "true"
+		i++
+	}
+	_ = declared // reserved for v2 unknown-flag warnings
+}
+
+// tokeniseCommandLine splits a free-form Discord command argument
+// string into tokens. Quoted spans (single or double quotes) are kept
+// as one token so users can pass values with spaces:
+//
+//	.skill weather --city="New York"
+//	.skill summarise --text 'a long sentence here'
+//
+// Mirrors the user's intuition without introducing a full shell
+// parser. Newlines split as whitespace.
+func tokeniseCommandLine(s string) []string {
+	var out []string
+	var cur strings.Builder
+	var quote rune
+	flush := func() {
+		if cur.Len() > 0 {
+			out = append(out, cur.String())
+			cur.Reset()
+		}
+	}
+	for _, r := range s {
+		switch {
+		case quote != 0:
+			if r == quote {
+				quote = 0
+				continue
+			}
+			cur.WriteRune(r)
+		case r == '"' || r == '\'':
+			quote = r
+		case r == ' ' || r == '\t' || r == '\n':
+			flush()
+		default:
+			cur.WriteRune(r)
+		}
+	}
+	flush()
+	return out
+}
+
+// ResolveCommandInputs is the one-call helper a Discord .skill handler
+// uses to turn a free-form rest-of-message into a coerced
+// SkillInputs map ready to hand to the executor. It is the single
+// production entry point for command-side input resolution: every
+// caller must use it (do NOT chain ParseCommandInputs + CoerceInputs
+// directly).
+//
+// Why this exists as a single function: chaining
+// ParseCommandInputs + CoerceInputs at the call site is what broke
+// `.skill echo hello world` in production. ParseCommandInputs Case A
+// (empty schema) writes the user's text into out["request"], but
+// CoerceInputs(emptySchema, …) iterates the DECLARED params and
+// silently drops every key not in the schema — so "request" is
+// dropped before reaching the executor, and the agent's user-prompt
+// renders "(no input provided)". The fix is to mirror the chatbot
+// exposure adapter: derive the EFFECTIVE param set (which inflates
+// an empty schema to a single required "request" param) and coerce
+// against that, not the original empty schema.
+//
+// What:
+//   - Empty input_schema → effective params = [{request, required, string}],
+//     so ParseCommandInputs Case A's "request" key survives Coerce.
+//   - Non-empty input_schema → effective params = the schema as-is, so
+//     Case B / Case C parse-and-coerce semantics are unchanged.
+//
+// Returns the coerced SkillInputs map, or an error suitable for
+// surfacing to the user (e.g. via FormatUsage). Never mutates
+// `schema`.
+//
+// Test: TestResolveCommandInputs_* in inputs_test.go cover the three
+// cases plus the empty-schema regression.
+func ResolveCommandInputs(schema []InputParam, raw string) (map[string]any, error) {
+	rawInputs := ParseCommandInputs(schema, raw)
+	effective := effectiveCommandParams(schema)
+	return CoerceInputs(effective, rawInputs)
+}
+
+// effectiveCommandParams returns the parameter set the .skill command
+// path should use for coercion. Mirrors chatbotToolParams in
+// chatbot_provider.go: an empty input_schema is inflated to a single
+// required "request" string param so the user's free-text trigger
+// survives CoerceInputs's drop-extras semantics.
+//
+// Why a separate helper (vs reusing chatbotToolParams): keeping the
+// helper local to inputs.go avoids dragging chatbot_provider.go into
+// the .skill command path's import surface and makes the intent
+// (Discord-side parameter inflation) explicit at the call site.
+func effectiveCommandParams(schema []InputParam) []InputParam {
+	if len(schema) > 0 {
+		return schema
+	}
+	return []InputParam{{
+		Name:        DefaultChatbotInputName,
+		Description: "The user's free-text trigger.",
+		Type:        "string",
+		Required:    true,
+	}}
+}
+
+// FormatUsage renders a human-readable usage string for the .skill
+// invocation form. Used by command handlers when required params are
+// missing or coercion fails.
+//
+// Why: keep the usage message in one place so both the missing-required
+// and coercion-failed paths produce identical output.
+func FormatUsage(name string, schema []InputParam) string {
+	var sb strings.Builder
+	fmt.Fprintf(&sb, "usage: `.skill %s", name)
+	if len(schema) == 0 {
+		sb.WriteString(" <text>`")
+		return sb.String()
+	}
+	if countRequired(schema) == 1 {
+		req := firstRequired(schema)
+		fmt.Fprintf(&sb, " <%s>`", req.Name)
+		// Show optional flags (if any).
+		var optional []InputParam
+		for _, p := range schema {
+			if !p.Required {
+				optional = append(optional, p)
+			}
+		}
+		if len(optional) > 0 {
+			sb.WriteString("\n  optional:")
+			for _, p := range optional {
+				fmt.Fprintf(&sb, " --%s=<%s>", p.Name, p.Type)
+			}
+		}
+		return sb.String()
+	}
+	// Multi-param: full --flag form.
+	for _, p := range schema {
+		if p.Required {
+			fmt.Fprintf(&sb, " --%s=<%s>", p.Name, p.Type)
+		}
+	}
+	for _, p := range schema {
+		if !p.Required {
+			fmt.Fprintf(&sb, " [--%s=<%s>]", p.Name, p.Type)
+		}
+	}
+	sb.WriteString("`")
+	return sb.String()
+}

skill/memory.go

@@ -0,0 +1,169 @@
+package skill
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"sort"
+	"sync"
+	"time"
+)
+
+// Memory is a zero-dependency in-process SkillStore — a light host or test gets
+// saved-skill persistence with no DB. Mort backs SkillStore with GORM/MySQL;
+// contrib/store adds durable SQLite.
+type Memory struct {
+	mu       sync.RWMutex
+	skills   map[string]*Skill         // by ID
+	versions map[string][]SkillVersion // by skill ID, append order
+	byVerID  map[string]SkillVersion   // by version ID
+}
+
+// NewMemory returns an empty in-memory SkillStore.
+func NewMemory() *Memory {
+	return &Memory{
+		skills:   map[string]*Skill{},
+		versions: map[string][]SkillVersion{},
+		byVerID:  map[string]SkillVersion{},
+	}
+}
+
+var _ SkillStore = (*Memory)(nil)
+
+func (m *Memory) Initialize(context.Context) error { return nil }
+
+func (m *Memory) Save(_ context.Context, s *Skill) error {
+	m.mu.Lock()
+	defer m.mu.Unlock()
+	cp := *s
+	m.skills[s.ID] = &cp
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (m *Memory) Get(_ context.Context, id string) (*Skill, error) {
+	m.mu.RLock()
+	defer m.mu.RUnlock()
+	s, ok := m.skills[id]
+	if !ok {
+		return nil, ErrNotFound
+	}
+	cp := *s
+	return &cp, nil
+}
+
+func (m *Memory) GetByName(_ context.Context, ownerID, name string) (*Skill, error) {
+	m.mu.RLock()
+	defer m.mu.RUnlock()
+	for _, s := range m.skills {
+		if s.OwnerID == ownerID && s.Name == name {
+			cp := *s
+			return &cp, nil
+		}
+	}
+	return nil, ErrNotFound
+}
+
+func (m *Memory) Delete(_ context.Context, id string) error {
+	m.mu.Lock()
+	defer m.mu.Unlock()
+	delete(m.skills, id)
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (m *Memory) listWhere(keep func(*Skill) bool) []Skill {
+	m.mu.RLock()
+	defer m.mu.RUnlock()
+	out := make([]Skill, 0, len(m.skills))
+	for _, s := range m.skills {
+		if keep == nil || keep(s) {
+			out = append(out, *s)
+		}
+	}
+	sort.Slice(out, func(i, j int) bool { return out[i].Name < out[j].Name })
+	return out
+}
+
+func (m *Memory) ListByOwner(_ context.Context, ownerID string) ([]Skill, error) {
+	return m.listWhere(func(s *Skill) bool { return s.OwnerID == ownerID }), nil
+}
+
+func (m *Memory) ListPublic(context.Context) ([]Skill, error) {
+	return m.listWhere(func(s *Skill) bool { return s.Visibility == VisibilityPublic }), nil
+}
+
+func (m *Memory) ListSharedWith(_ context.Context, memberID string) ([]Skill, error) {
+	return m.listWhere(func(s *Skill) bool {
+		if s.Visibility != VisibilityShared {
+			return false
+		}
+		for _, id := range s.SharedWith {
+			if id == memberID {
+				return true
+			}
+		}
+		return false
+	}), nil
+}
+
+func (m *Memory) ListBuiltinByName(_ context.Context, name string) (*Skill, error) {
+	m.mu.RLock()
+	defer m.mu.RUnlock()
+	for _, s := range m.skills {
+		if s.Source == SourceBuiltin && s.Name == name {
+			cp := *s
+			return &cp, nil
+		}
+	}
+	return nil, ErrNotFound
+}
+
+func (m *Memory) ListChatbotExposed(context.Context) ([]Skill, error) {
+	return m.listWhere(func(s *Skill) bool { return s.ExposeAsChatbotTool }), nil
+}
+
+func (m *Memory) ListDueScheduled(_ context.Context, now time.Time) ([]Skill, error) {
+	return m.listWhere(func(s *Skill) bool { return s.DueAt(now) }), nil
+}
+
+func (m *Memory) MarkScheduledRun(_ context.Context, skillID string, ranAt, nextAt time.Time) error {
+	m.mu.Lock()
+	defer m.mu.Unlock()
+	s, ok := m.skills[skillID]
+	if !ok {
+		return ErrNotFound
+	}
+	s.LastScheduledRunAt = ranAt
+	s.NextRunAt = nextAt
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (m *Memory) AppendVersion(_ context.Context, sv SkillVersion) error {
+	m.mu.Lock()
+	defer m.mu.Unlock()
+	m.versions[sv.SkillID] = append(m.versions[sv.SkillID], sv)
+	m.byVerID[sv.ID] = sv
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (m *Memory) ListVersionsBySkill(_ context.Context, skillID string, limit int) ([]SkillVersion, error) {
+	m.mu.RLock()
+	defer m.mu.RUnlock()
+	all := m.versions[skillID]
+	// newest first
+	out := make([]SkillVersion, 0, len(all))
+	for i := len(all) - 1; i >= 0; i-- {
+		out = append(out, all[i])
+		if limit > 0 && len(out) >= limit {
+			break
+		}
+	}
+	return out, nil
+}
+
+func (m *Memory) GetVersionByID(_ context.Context, versionID string) (*SkillVersion, error) {
+	m.mu.RLock()
+	defer m.mu.RUnlock()
+	sv, ok := m.byVerID[versionID]
+	if !ok {
+		return nil, ErrNotFound
+	}
+	return &sv, nil
+}

skill/runnable.go

@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+package skill
+
+import (
+	"time"
+
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/executus/run"
+)
+
+// ToRunnable lowers a saved Skill into the kernel's run.RunnableAgent DTO, so
+// run.Executor can run a skill WITHOUT importing this battery (the inversion of
+// mort's skillexec running a skills.Skill). Maps the static shape only; the
+// skill's input schema → prompt rendering, palette resolution, audit, etc. are
+// supplied separately (the host renders inputs into the input string and wires
+// run.Ports). A skill exposes a flat tool list (no SkillPalette/SubAgentPalette
+// — composition is a host concern), so those stay empty.
+func (s *Skill) ToRunnable() run.RunnableAgent {
+	return run.RunnableAgent{
+		ID:            s.ID,
+		Name:          s.Name,
+		SystemPrompt:  s.SystemPrompt,
+		ModelTier:     s.ModelTier,
+		MaxIterations: s.MaxIterations,
+		MaxRuntime:    s.MaxRuntime,
+		LowLevelTools: s.Tools,
+	}
+}
+
+// DueAt reports whether a scheduled skill is due at now (cron empty => never).
+// Convenience for a host scheduler that doesn't want to re-parse the cron.
+func (s *Skill) DueAt(now time.Time) bool {
+	if s.Schedule == "" || s.NextRunAt.IsZero() {
+		return false
+	}
+	return !s.NextRunAt.After(now)
+}

skill/schedule.go

@@ -0,0 +1,107 @@
+package skill
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"strings"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/robfig/cron/v3"
+)
+
+// scheduleParser is the cron parser shared across the skills package. It
+// accepts the standard 5-field syntax (minute hour dom month dow) plus
+// descriptors such as @daily, @hourly, etc. We do not enable the seconds
+// field — schedule cadence is governed in minutes, and a seconds field
+// would invite specs that fire below the min-interval floor without
+// surfacing as such in the spec text.
+//
+// Why standalone vs. cron.ParseStandard: ParseStandard rejects descriptors
+// (@daily, @hourly). Skills callers may want to write @daily as a
+// shorthand alongside the explicit "daily" / "weekly" forms we translate
+// below.
+var scheduleParser = cron.NewParser(
+	cron.Minute | cron.Hour | cron.Dom | cron.Month | cron.Dow | cron.Descriptor,
+)
+
+// ParseSchedule turns a user-supplied schedule expression into a
+// cron.Schedule. The empty string returns (nil, nil) — callers should
+// treat that as "on-demand only".
+//
+// Why: Skill.Schedule is a string field stored verbatim; the validator,
+// the scheduler runner, and any future tooling all need to round-trip
+// through the same parser. Centralising it here avoids drift.
+//
+// Accepted shorthands:
+//   - "daily"  → "0 0 * * *"   (midnight UTC every day)
+//   - "weekly" → "0 0 * * 0"   (midnight UTC every Sunday)
+//
+// Anything else is fed through robfig/cron/v3's standard parser
+// (descriptors enabled).
+//
+// Test: schedule_test.go covers shorthand expansion and invalid-spec
+// rejection.
+func ParseSchedule(expr string) (cron.Schedule, error) {
+	expr = strings.TrimSpace(expr)
+	if expr == "" {
+		return nil, nil
+	}
+	switch strings.ToLower(expr) {
+	case "daily":
+		expr = "0 0 * * *"
+	case "weekly":
+		expr = "0 0 * * 0"
+	}
+	sched, err := scheduleParser.Parse(expr)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("invalid schedule %q: %w", expr, err)
+	}
+	return sched, nil
+}
+
+// ScheduleMinInterval returns an estimate of the smallest gap between
+// consecutive fire times for a parsed schedule. It samples the next two
+// fire times from a couple of starting points and returns the smallest
+// observed gap.
+//
+// Why: cron.Schedule does not expose a "smallest interval" API. The
+// validator needs this to enforce a per-skill min-interval floor (so an
+// admin can't accidentally register "* * * * *" and burn GPU minutes).
+// Two probe points are enough to catch irregular schedules whose tightest
+// gap appears at a particular point in the week (e.g. "0 9 * * 1,5",
+// where Mon→Fri is 4d but Fri→Mon is 3d — both sampled).
+//
+// Returns 0 if sched is nil.
+//
+// Test: schedule_test.go covers a "* * * * *" minute-interval probe and
+// the irregular Mon/Fri case.
+func ScheduleMinInterval(sched cron.Schedule) time.Duration {
+	if sched == nil {
+		return 0
+	}
+	// Probe from a fixed reference and from a midweek offset. Six fire
+	// times across two starts catches weekly irregularities (the worst
+	// case is a schedule that fires once a week — we still get one gap
+	// per probe). Using a wall-clock-independent reference keeps the
+	// test deterministic.
+	starts := []time.Time{
+		time.Date(2024, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, time.UTC),     // Monday 00:00
+		time.Date(2024, 1, 4, 12, 30, 0, 0, time.UTC),   // Thursday 12:30
+		time.Date(2024, 6, 15, 23, 59, 59, 0, time.UTC), // mid-year, late
+	}
+	var min time.Duration
+	for _, t := range starts {
+		// Sample three consecutive fires per start to capture two gaps.
+		f1 := sched.Next(t)
+		f2 := sched.Next(f1)
+		f3 := sched.Next(f2)
+		for _, gap := range []time.Duration{f2.Sub(f1), f3.Sub(f2)} {
+			if gap <= 0 {
+				continue
+			}
+			if min == 0 || gap < min {
+				min = gap
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	return min
+}

skill/skill.go

@@ -0,0 +1,424 @@
+// Package skills implements the agentic skills platform: user-creatable
+// agent definitions (system prompt + tool whitelist + I/O spec) that run
+// in-process via majordomo's agent loop.
+//
+// A Skill is a saved agent definition. It can be invoked from Discord
+// (.skill <name>), exposed to the chatbot as a tool (via the
+// SkillsToolProvider), and (in v2) scheduled. Skills compose tools from
+// the skilltools registry, gated by a three-stage permission model:
+// save-time AuthoringRequirement, share-time SafeForShare, execute-time
+// SkillNameGate.
+//
+// This file declares the domain types only. Storage lives in storage.go;
+// validation lives in validate.go. The grand storage pattern documented in
+// pkg/logic/storage/CLAUDE.md applies — when adding a field to Skill, you
+// MUST also update pkg/logic/skills/gorm_model.go (gormSkill, fromStorage,
+// toStorage) or persistence will silently break.
+package skill
+
+import "time"
+
+// Skill is the domain definition of an agentic skill.
+//
+// Why: a skill is a saved agent definition reusable across invocations
+// (Discord, chatbot tool, scheduled run in v2). The struct is intentionally
+// flat — every field lives on its own column on the skills table; there is
+// no JSON-blob spec column. This keeps queries (e.g. "list all skills with
+// chatbot exposure") indexable and avoids opaque migration headaches.
+//
+// What: identity + authoring + agent spec + visibility + chatbot exposure
+// fields, all on one struct.
+//
+// Test: see validate_test.go and integration_test.go for round-trip and
+// validation coverage.
+type Skill struct {
+	// Identity
+	ID          string // UUID
+	OwnerID     string // Discord member ID; empty for builtin
+	Name        string // unique per (owner, builtin namespace)
+	Description string
+	Source      Source // SourceBuiltin | SourceManual
+	CreatedAt   time.Time
+	UpdatedAt   time.Time
+
+	// Authoring (copied at save time from the user)
+	AuthoredBy string // member ID at time of last edit (audit; may differ from owner over time)
+
+	// Versioning (for builtins; user skills typically stay at 1.0.0)
+	Version string // semver; used by builtin loader to decide re-seed
+
+	// Spec — agent definition
+	SystemPrompt   string
+	Tools          []string // registry tool names
+	ModelTier      string   // "fast" | "standard" | "thinking" | explicit "provider/model"
+	InputSchema    []InputParam
+	OutputTarget   OutputTarget
+	Schedule       string        // cron; empty = on-demand only; rejected in v1 (ships in v2)
+	Visibility     Visibility    // VisibilityPrivate | VisibilityShared | VisibilityPublic
+	SharedWith     []string      // member IDs for visibility=shared
+	MaxIterations  int           // 0 → use convar default
+	MaxToolCalls   int           // 0 → use convar default
+	MaxRuntime     time.Duration // 0 → use convar default
+	InitialMessage string
+
+	// Chatbot exposure (v1 — proves out the platform via mortventure)
+	ExposeAsChatbotTool    bool
+	ChatbotToolName        string
+	ChatbotToolDescription string
+	ChatbotChannelFilter   string // named filter from the channel-filter registry
+
+	// Admin gating (v2 — public scheduled channel skills require approval).
+	// DEPRECATED in v3: PinnedVersionID subsumes this flag for non-owner
+	// invocation gating. CanInvoke no longer references this column.
+	// Drop in v4.
+	PendingApproval bool
+
+	// Pinned version (v3 — admin-curated invocation gate).
+	//
+	// Why: in v3, non-owner invocation requires that an admin explicitly
+	// pin a known snapshot. This replaces v2's PendingApproval flag —
+	// pinning is the explicit "approved for general use" signal, and the
+	// pinned snapshot is what executes for non-owner callers (so an owner
+	// editing a public skill never accidentally exposes work-in-progress
+	// to other users).
+	//
+	// PinnedVersionID is the SkillVersion.ID (UUID) of the snapshot that
+	// non-owner invocations resolve to. Empty means "no pin yet" — only
+	// the owner and admins can invoke.
+	//
+	// Schema column is `pinned_version` per the design spec but the field
+	// name in the domain struct is explicit about the kind of value it
+	// holds (a snapshot row's UUID, NOT a semver string), which avoids
+	// the spec ambiguity around "pin to v1.0.5" potentially mapping to
+	// multiple snapshot rows over time.
+	PinnedVersionID string
+
+	// PinnedAt is the wall-clock time the pin was set. Zero means
+	// PinnedVersionID is empty (never pinned).
+	PinnedAt time.Time
+
+	// PinnedBy is the admin member ID who set the current pin. Empty
+	// when PinnedVersionID is empty.
+	PinnedBy string
+
+	// Scheduler bookkeeping (v2). Updated by the scheduler runner after
+	// a successful (or failed-but-counted) scheduled execution.
+	//
+	// LastScheduledRunAt records the wall-clock time of the most recent
+	// scheduled invocation; zero means "never run on schedule".
+	//
+	// NextRunAt is the precomputed wake-up time the scheduler polls for
+	// (`WHERE next_run_at <= NOW()`). It is recomputed by feeding
+	// LastScheduledRunAt (or NOW() on first scheduling) through
+	// ParseSchedule(Schedule).Next(...). Manual / on-demand invocations
+	// MUST NOT touch these fields.
+	LastScheduledRunAt time.Time
+	NextRunAt          time.Time
+
+	// ExtendedBounds, when true, lets a non-admin author save the skill
+	// with bounds (MaxIterations / MaxToolCalls / MaxRuntime) above the
+	// default tier (12/30/60s) up to the extended tier (50/150/600s).
+	// Set by an admin via `.skill admin grant-extended <name>`. Cleared
+	// by `.skill admin revoke-extended <name>`. Builtins and admin-
+	// authored skills bypass the cap entirely (the tier resolution in
+	// Validate treats AuthorIsAdmin and ExtendedBounds equivalently).
+	//
+	// Why a per-skill flag vs a per-user grant: governance is per-skill
+	// — an admin reviews a specific skill's bounds and decides those
+	// resource limits are justified for THAT skill. A user grant would
+	// blanket-allow expensive bounds on every skill they author.
+	ExtendedBounds bool
+
+	// ParallelCompositionAllowed gates whether this skill may use the
+	// skill_invoke_parallel tool. Default false.
+	//
+	// Why a per-skill admin gate: parallel fan-out multiplies blast
+	// radius (one bad skill spawns N concurrent runs). Admins approve
+	// each skill that's allowed to use parallel composition; granting
+	// is per-skill via `.skill admin grant-parallel <name>`. Builtins
+	// may set this directly in skill.yml (the loader bypasses
+	// save-time gates by design).
+	//
+	// Checked AT INVOCATION TIME (every skill_invoke_parallel call), so
+	// admins can grant or revoke without redeploying. The check lives
+	// in the tool handler (pkg/skilltools/tools/skill_invoke_parallel.go)
+	// via the SkillInvokerProvider.IsParallelAllowed extension.
+	ParallelCompositionAllowed bool
+
+	// ExecutionLane is the named lane the skill's runs are submitted to
+	// when the executor routes through pkg/lane (v6). Default
+	// "skill-default"; admin overrides per-skill via
+	// `.skill admin set-lane <name> <lane>`.
+	//
+	// Why per-skill (vs a single global skill lane): different skills
+	// have different concurrency profiles. A long-running web-research
+	// skill might warrant a dedicated 1-slot lane to avoid starving
+	// quick chatbot-exposed skills; an admin should be able to isolate
+	// it without a code change.
+	//
+	// Empty string falls through to "skill-default" at executor time
+	// — keeping the field nullable lets a future schema change
+	// distinguish "explicit skill-default" from "never set".
+	ExecutionLane string
+
+	// WebhookSecret enables inbound webhooks (v7). Empty = disabled
+	// (the default). Non-empty = the random secret URL path segment
+	// for POST /webhooks/<secret>. Generated by EnableWebhook;
+	// rotated by RegenerateWebhookSecret. Storage is varchar(64) and
+	// the secret is 32 random bytes (64 hex chars), so the column
+	// holds a fully unique secret per skill.
+	//
+	// Why store the secret directly (not a hash): the webhook handler
+	// must look up the skill by the secret on every POST, which would
+	// require comparing every stored hash against the supplied secret
+	// — a per-call O(n_skills) operation. The secret is treated as a
+	// long random URL key (like a paste UUID); compromise is mitigated
+	// via RegenerateWebhookSecret rotation, not via storage hashing.
+	WebhookSecret string
+
+	// WebhookSignatureRequired controls whether the inbound webhook
+	// handler verifies HMAC against the X-Mort-Signature header. Default
+	// true (the storage column default). Toggling to false skips HMAC
+	// verification — useful for low-stakes integrations behind an IP
+	// allowlist where the caller can't easily compute HMAC. Owners
+	// flip this on the management page; admins can also force it
+	// back on if a leaked allowlist becomes a concern.
+	WebhookSignatureRequired bool
+
+	// WebhookIPAllowlist is a newline-separated list of CIDR blocks
+	// (or bare IPs). Empty string = no allowlist (accept any source
+	// IP). The handler parses the list at request time so updates take
+	// effect immediately without a redeploy. Invalid CIDR entries
+	// are silently dropped at parse time (the management page form
+	// shows a parse-error preview before save).
+	WebhookIPAllowlist string
+
+	// EncryptionEnabled (v8) opts the skill into per-skill envelope
+	// encryption for KV values and file blob content. Default false
+	// (plaintext storage; matches the legacy default). When true, new
+	// writes go through the AES-256-GCM helpers in pkg/skilltools and
+	// the corresponding skill_kv / skill_file_blobs row stamps
+	// encryption_key_version=1; reads transparently decrypt rows whose
+	// version > 0 and pass through rows whose version == 0 (mixed
+	// storage is supported indefinitely).
+	//
+	// !!!!! OPERATIONAL WARNING !!!!! This flag is a write-side switch
+	// only. Disabling encryption for an already-encrypted skill does
+	// NOT decrypt existing rows — they remain reachable as long as
+	// the master key is intact. Losing SKILLS_ENCRYPTION_MASTER_KEY
+	// renders every encrypted row unreadable; back the master key up
+	// separately from database backups. See pkg/skilltools/encryption.go
+	// for the full operational rules.
+	EncryptionEnabled bool
+
+	// Preemptible (v9) opts the skill into preemption: when a higher-
+	// priority job arrives at a full lane, this skill's running job may
+	// be cancelled mid-flight to free a slot. Default false.
+	//
+	// !!!!! OPERATIONAL WARNING !!!!! Preemption means the skill's
+	// scaddy.Agent context is cancelled mid-step; any partial side
+	// effects (file writes, KV updates, sent emails, etc.) remain
+	// committed. Only mark a skill preemptible when it is idempotent
+	// or read-only — otherwise the user-visible state may be
+	// inconsistent with the run's "preempted" terminal status.
+	//
+	// The lane scheduler will not preempt jobs younger than
+	// `skills.lane.preemption_min_runtime_seconds` (default 30s) to
+	// prevent thrashing. The preempted run is recorded with
+	// status="preempted".
+	Preemptible bool
+
+	// DefaultPriority (v9) is the per-skill default priority used by
+	// the lane scheduler's fair-share queue ordering. Higher numbers
+	// run first within a single user's sub-queue. Default 0.
+	//
+	// Per-invocation overrides (skill_invoke priority arg, webhook
+	// X-Mort-Priority header) win over this default. Owners may set
+	// values in the range [-`skills.priority_max_per_user`,
+	// +`skills.priority_max_per_user`] (default cap 5); admins may
+	// exceed the cap.
+	DefaultPriority int
+
+	// Tags is a free-form set of short labels owners attach to a skill
+	// for organisation + discovery. The list page renders each tag as a
+	// chip and offers a dropdown filter populated from all visible
+	// skills' tags.
+	//
+	// Why a separate field (vs reusing Description / Tools): tags are a
+	// curatorial signal, not part of the agent spec — they only matter
+	// to humans browsing the list. Storing them on the skill row (vs a
+	// side table) keeps lookups index-only and matches how the rest of
+	// the skill's flat fields are persisted.
+	//
+	// Validate enforces: each tag is trimmed + lowercased; max 32 chars
+	// per tag; max 16 tags per skill; duplicates within a single skill
+	// are deduped.
+	Tags []string
+
+	// DeprecatedByAgentID is the Phase 7 soft-retire pointer: when
+	// non-empty, the Skill is "soft retired" — hidden from default
+	// listings (`.skill list`, the webui index, chatbot tool exposure)
+	// but STILL invokable via `.skill <name>` and via `skill_invoke`
+	// tool calls. The string is the agents.Agent.ID of the replacement
+	// Agent that supersedes this Skill.
+	//
+	// Why a pointer (not a bool): a future audit / migration tool needs
+	// to follow the soft-retire link back to the replacement. An admin
+	// browsing the deprecated-skills page wants to see "what should I
+	// use instead?" without a separate lookup table.
+	//
+	// Why keep the Skill row (not drop it): existing skill_invoke calls
+	// in user-authored skills, scheduled jobs, and webhook integrations
+	// would break if the row vanished. Soft-retire preserves the
+	// callable surface while signalling "this is the old name; the
+	// replacement Agent is the curated version."
+	//
+	// Set by the Phase 7 boot migration (pkg/logic/agents/migrate_phase7.go);
+	// admins may also flip it manually via storage tooling. Listing
+	// methods filter on this field by default but explicit GetByName /
+	// GetForInvocation lookups bypass the filter so direct invocation
+	// continues to work.
+	DeprecatedByAgentID string
+
+	// DefaultEmoji is an optional identity emoji for the skill, shown
+	// as the __start__ fallback when StateReactEmoji has no __start__
+	// entry. Also forwarded to the invoking Discord message when a
+	// parent agent calls this skill via skill_invoke, so the user sees
+	// the child skill's identity emoji during execution.
+	DefaultEmoji string
+
+	// StateReactEmoji maps tool names (and reserved keys "__start__",
+	// "__end__", "__error__") to Discord emoji that the bot reacts to
+	// the invoking message with as the skill progresses. Empty map
+	// (the default) disables state-react reactions for this skill.
+	//
+	// Why: the legacy `.query` agent surfaced live progress via emoji
+	// reactions on the invoking message (magnifying glass on search,
+	// page on read, …). Skills inherit the same UX without each
+	// author having to wire `update_status` for trivial signalling —
+	// the emoji map is declarative and the executor calls inv.OnEvent
+	// at the relevant boundaries. update_status remains for richer
+	// interim text; emoji reactions are an additive lightweight signal.
+	//
+	// Reserved keys:
+	//   - __start__: reacted right before agent.Run starts
+	//   - __end__:   reacted on successful completion
+	//   - __error__: reacted on terminal error
+	//
+	// Tool keys: react fires on each tool dispatch. Repeated reactions
+	// of the same emoji are no-ops at Discord (idempotent), so a skill
+	// that calls web_search 5x just leaves one 🔍.
+	//
+	// Map values are arbitrary Discord emoji strings (unicode emoji,
+	// custom emoji `<:name:id>`, animated `<a:name:id>`). Validate does
+	// not enforce a format — Discord rejects invalid emoji at react
+	// time and the executor swallows that with a log line.
+	StateReactEmoji map[string]string
+}
+
+// ThreadIDInputKey is the magic key under skilltools.Invocation.SkillInputs
+// that the v2 .skill new / .skill edit wizard handlers use to thread a
+// pre-created thread channel ID through to delivery. When
+// OutputTarget.Kind == "thread" and this key is present in
+// inv.SkillInputs, delivery posts directly to that thread channel;
+// otherwise it falls back to OutputTarget.Target / inv.ChannelID.
+//
+// Why a magic input key vs an OutputTarget override field: keeps the
+// wire shape (Skill struct) unchanged and keeps the override scoped
+// to a single invocation. Wizard commands set this immediately after
+// MessageThreadStartComplex; nothing else writes it.
+//
+// Why defined here vs in skillexec: wizard command handlers in this
+// package need to write the key, and skillexec imports skills (so
+// the reverse import would cycle). Skillexec aliases this constant.
+const ThreadIDInputKey = "__thread_id__"
+
+// Source distinguishes builtins (loaded from skills/<name>/skill.yml on
+// boot) from user-authored manual skills.
+//
+// Why: builtin skills bypass save-time authoring and share-time safety
+// checks because the loader is trusted infrastructure.
+type Source string
+
+const (
+	SourceBuiltin Source = "builtin"
+	SourceManual  Source = "manual"
+)
+
+// InputParam declares a typed input slot on a skill, populated at
+// invocation time from positional/flag args (Discord) or form fields
+// (webui).
+//
+// Why: skills are invoked from heterogeneous surfaces and need a uniform
+// schema for input collection and validation. The Type drives string→typed
+// coercion in skillexec.validateInputs; Choices restricts to an enum set.
+type InputParam struct {
+	Name        string
+	Description string
+	Type        string // "string"|"int"|"float"|"bool"|"user"|"channel"|"url"
+	Required    bool
+	Default     string // string-encoded; parsed per Type at invocation
+	Choices     []string
+}
+
+// OutputTarget controls where the executor delivers a skill's output.
+//
+// Why: skills run in many contexts and the user shouldn't have to think
+// about delivery — the spec encodes it once. The Discord delivery
+// implementation in pkg/logic/skillexec/delivery.go reads this struct.
+type OutputTarget struct {
+	Kind   string // "channel"|"dm"|"thread"|"webui_only"|"channel_with_summary"
+	Target string // channel/member/thread ID, or empty for caller-context
+}
+
+// Visibility controls who may invoke a skill.
+//
+// Why: separates *invocation* gating (this struct) from *tool authoring*
+// gating (skilltools.Permission) — they are orthogonal. A non-admin can
+// invoke an admin-authored public skill that uses db_select; the permission
+// model for the underlying tool only fires at save time, not invocation.
+type Visibility string
+
+const (
+	VisibilityPrivate Visibility = "private"
+	VisibilityShared  Visibility = "shared"
+	VisibilityPublic  Visibility = "public"
+)
+
+// IsKnownVisibility reports whether v is a recognised visibility value.
+// Used by Validate.
+func IsKnownVisibility(v Visibility) bool {
+	switch v {
+	case VisibilityPrivate, VisibilityShared, VisibilityPublic:
+		return true
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
+// IsKnownOutputKind reports whether kind is a recognised OutputTarget.Kind.
+// Used by Validate and by the Discord delivery switch.
+//
+// "channel_with_summary" is the v-research delivery kind: full output
+// posts to a configured spam channel (skills.research.spam_channel_id)
+// while a generated summary posts in the original channel as a reply
+// linking back. Falls through to plain "channel" behaviour when the
+// spam channel convar is unset or matches the invocation channel.
+// Validate accepts this kind here; the Discord delivery switch in
+// pkg/logic/skillexec/delivery_discord.go is the consumer side.
+func IsKnownOutputKind(kind string) bool {
+	switch kind {
+	case "channel", "dm", "thread", "webui_only", "channel_with_summary":
+		return true
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
+// IsKnownInputType reports whether t is a recognised InputParam.Type.
+// Used by Validate and by skillexec.validateInputs for coercion dispatch.
+func IsKnownInputType(t string) bool {
+	switch t {
+	case "string", "int", "float", "bool", "user", "channel", "url":
+		return true
+	}
+	return false
+}

skill/skill_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+package skill
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+)
+
+func TestSkillToRunnable(t *testing.T) {
+	s := &Skill{
+		ID: "s1", Name: "summarizer", SystemPrompt: "summarize well", ModelTier: "fast",
+		MaxIterations: 4, MaxRuntime: 20 * time.Second, Tools: []string{"summarize", "now"},
+	}
+	r := s.ToRunnable()
+	if r.ID != "s1" || r.ModelTier != "fast" || r.MaxIterations != 4 || len(r.LowLevelTools) != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("ToRunnable mapping wrong: %+v", r)
+	}
+	// A skill exposes a flat tool list, not a palette.
+	if len(r.SkillPalette) != 0 || len(r.SubAgentPalette) != 0 {
+		t.Errorf("skill should have empty palettes, got %+v", r)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestMemoryStoreVisibilityAndVersions(t *testing.T) {
+	ctx := context.Background()
+	m := NewMemory()
+	pub := &Skill{ID: "a", Name: "pub", OwnerID: "o1", Visibility: VisibilityPublic}
+	shared := &Skill{ID: "b", Name: "shr", OwnerID: "o1", Visibility: VisibilityShared, SharedWith: []string{"bob"}}
+	priv := &Skill{ID: "c", Name: "prv", OwnerID: "o1", Visibility: VisibilityPrivate}
+	for _, s := range []*Skill{pub, shared, priv} {
+		if err := m.Save(ctx, s); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+	}
+	if ps, _ := m.ListPublic(ctx); len(ps) != 1 || ps[0].ID != "a" {
+		t.Errorf("ListPublic = %+v", ps)
+	}
+	if ss, _ := m.ListSharedWith(ctx, "bob"); len(ss) != 1 || ss[0].ID != "b" {
+		t.Errorf("ListSharedWith(bob) = %+v", ss)
+	}
+	if ss, _ := m.ListSharedWith(ctx, "carol"); len(ss) != 0 {
+		t.Errorf("ListSharedWith(carol) should be empty, got %+v", ss)
+	}
+	if all, _ := m.ListByOwner(ctx, "o1"); len(all) != 3 {
+		t.Errorf("ListByOwner = %d, want 3", len(all))
+	}
+	// Versions: newest-first, fetchable by id.
+	m.AppendVersion(ctx, SkillVersion{ID: "v1", SkillID: "a", Version: "1.0.0"})
+	m.AppendVersion(ctx, SkillVersion{ID: "v2", SkillID: "a", Version: "1.1.0"})
+	vs, _ := m.ListVersionsBySkill(ctx, "a", 10)
+	if len(vs) != 2 || vs[0].ID != "v2" {
+		t.Errorf("versions newest-first wrong: %+v", vs)
+	}
+	if got, err := m.GetVersionByID(ctx, "v1"); err != nil || got.Version != "1.0.0" {
+		t.Errorf("GetVersionByID: %v %+v", err, got)
+	}
+}

skill/skill_version.go

@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+package skill
+
+import "time"
+
+// SkillVersion is one immutable snapshot of a Skill at the moment it
+// was saved. The skill_versions table is append-only; pruning is by
+// retention policy in PruneOldVersions.
+//
+// Why: edit history with rollback (v3) and the admin pin gate (v3 Phase 4)
+// both need a stable snapshot of the skill at a known version. The Snapshot
+// field carries the FULL Skill struct so a later restore or pin produces
+// the exact agent definition that was saved — system_prompt, tools,
+// schedule, every field — not a synthesized partial snapshot.
+//
+// What: identity (UUID per snapshot) + skill ref + version-string copy +
+// the full Skill payload + audit fields (saved_by, saved_at, edit_summary).
+//
+// Test: see skill_version_test.go for round-trip, list ordering, prune
+// retention, and version-by-number disambiguation coverage.
+type SkillVersion struct {
+	ID          string    // UUID per snapshot (NOT the skill's ID)
+	SkillID     string    // FK to skills.id (conceptually; not enforced by GORM)
+	Version     string    // Skill.Version at save time (semver)
+	Snapshot    Skill     // full Skill struct embedded; serialised as JSON
+	SavedBy     string    // caller member ID (or "" for builtin loader / pre-v3)
+	SavedAt     time.Time // wall-clock save time
+	EditSummary string    // optional human-readable note ("changed model tier", "...")
+}

skill/store.go

@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+package skill
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"time"
+)
+
+// ErrNotFound is returned when a skill (or version) lookup misses.
+var ErrNotFound = errors.New("skill not found")
+
+// SkillStore is the persistence seam for saved skills. This is the DELIBERATELY
+// LEAN redesign of mort's 60-method skills.Storage: it carries only skill
+// lifecycle (CRUD + visibility), versioning, and scheduling. The KV/file/quota
+// sub-stores that were fused into mort's interface are NOT here — they are the
+// tools/ store seams (KVStorage / FileStorage / QuotaProvider); email recipients
+// and channel grants stay host concerns. A host backs this with its DB; Memory()
+// is the zero-dependency default; contrib/store adds durable SQLite.
+type SkillStore interface {
+	// Initialize prepares storage (idempotent).
+	Initialize(ctx context.Context) error
+
+	// --- lifecycle ---
+	Save(ctx context.Context, s *Skill) error
+	Get(ctx context.Context, id string) (*Skill, error)
+	GetByName(ctx context.Context, ownerID, name string) (*Skill, error)
+	Delete(ctx context.Context, id string) error
+
+	// --- listing / visibility ---
+	ListByOwner(ctx context.Context, ownerID string) ([]Skill, error)
+	ListPublic(ctx context.Context) ([]Skill, error)
+	ListSharedWith(ctx context.Context, memberID string) ([]Skill, error)
+	ListBuiltinByName(ctx context.Context, name string) (*Skill, error)
+	ListChatbotExposed(ctx context.Context) ([]Skill, error)
+
+	// --- scheduling ---
+	ListDueScheduled(ctx context.Context, now time.Time) ([]Skill, error)
+	MarkScheduledRun(ctx context.Context, skillID string, ranAt, nextAt time.Time) error
+
+	// --- versioning ---
+	AppendVersion(ctx context.Context, sv SkillVersion) error
+	ListVersionsBySkill(ctx context.Context, skillID string, limit int) ([]SkillVersion, error)
+	GetVersionByID(ctx context.Context, versionID string) (*SkillVersion, error)
+}

skill/validate.go

@@ -0,0 +1,374 @@
+package skill
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"strings"
+	"time"
+
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/executus/model"
+)
+
+// ChannelFilterChecker is the subset of ChannelFilterRegistry used by
+// Validate to check that a skill references a registered channel filter.
+//
+// Why: kept narrow so tests can pass a tiny stub; full registry is
+// declared in channel_filters.go.
+type ChannelFilterChecker interface {
+	Has(name string) bool
+}
+
+// ModelTierChecker reports whether the given model tier or
+// "provider/model" spec is recognised. Validate uses this to reject
+// typos at save time.
+//
+// Why: tiers come from llms.tier.* convars (fast/standard/thinking by
+// default) but admins may add custom tiers; explicit "provider/model"
+// is also valid. Validate accepts anything non-empty matching either
+// pattern — finer correctness is the LLM call's job.
+type ModelTierChecker interface {
+	IsValid(spec string) bool
+}
+
+// defaultModelTierChecker accepts all registered tier names (via
+// model.IsTierName) plus any "provider/model" form (string contains "/").
+// Tests can substitute a strict checker via ValidateOpts.ModelTierChecker.
+type defaultModelTierChecker struct{}
+
+func (defaultModelTierChecker) IsValid(spec string) bool {
+	if spec == "" {
+		return false
+	}
+	if model.IsTierName(spec) {
+		return true
+	}
+	// Accept tier-with-reasoning (e.g. "thinking:high")
+	if i := strings.IndexByte(spec, ':'); i > 0 {
+		if model.IsTierName(spec[:i]) {
+			return true
+		}
+	}
+	// Accept explicit "provider/model" or "provider/model:reasoning"
+	return strings.ContainsRune(spec, '/')
+}
+
+// ValidateOpts customises what Validate accepts. All fields are optional;
+// nil checkers fall back to permissive defaults.
+//
+// Why: Validate is called from save paths (which know the registries) and
+// from tests (which want to control acceptance). Bundling the deps here
+// keeps the Skill API stable.
+type ValidateOpts struct {
+	// Filters is consulted when the skill declares a chatbot channel
+	// filter. nil → channel-filter validity is not checked (use only in
+	// tests).
+	Filters ChannelFilterChecker
+	// ModelTier checks the ModelTier spec. nil → defaultModelTierChecker.
+	ModelTier ModelTierChecker
+	// MinIntervalMinutes is the floor on the smallest gap between
+	// consecutive fires of a skill's cron schedule. Zero → use the
+	// package default (defaultMinScheduleIntervalMinutes). Tests pass an
+	// explicit value to exercise the boundary.
+	MinIntervalMinutes int
+
+	// AuthorIsAdmin tells Validate the author has admin privileges and
+	// may save with extended-tier bounds without ExtendedBounds=true.
+	// SaveUserSkill passes this from s.admin.IsAdmin(sk.AuthoredBy).
+	// Builtin loader sets this true to bypass the per-skill flag check
+	// (builtins are trusted infrastructure).
+	AuthorIsAdmin bool
+
+	// DefaultMaxIterations / DefaultMaxToolCalls / DefaultMaxRuntimeSecs
+	// override the package-default tier-1 caps. Zero → fall back to the
+	// constants below. Production wiring populates these from convars
+	// (skills.default_max_iterations etc.) so admins can adjust the
+	// default tier without a redeploy.
+	DefaultMaxIterations  int
+	DefaultMaxToolCalls   int
+	DefaultMaxRuntimeSecs int
+
+	// ExtendedMaxIterations / ExtendedMaxToolCalls / ExtendedMaxRuntimeSecs
+	// override the package-default tier-2 caps (the ceilings allowed when
+	// ExtendedBounds=true OR AuthorIsAdmin=true). Zero → fall back to the
+	// constants below.
+	ExtendedMaxIterations  int
+	ExtendedMaxToolCalls   int
+	ExtendedMaxRuntimeSecs int
+}
+
+// Tiered cap defaults. The DEFAULT tier is what a non-admin author sees
+// without an explicit grant; the EXTENDED tier is what admin authors and
+// admin-granted skills may use. Values are tuned in the v3 spec
+// "Governance: tiered resource caps" section.
+//
+// The package's existing absolute ceilings (maxIterationsLimit=50 and
+// maxRuntime=10m) act as outer floors / sanity bounds; the tier caps
+// are the active gate at save time. Extended caps respect the absolute
+// ceilings naturally (50 iter, 600s = 10min runtime).
+const (
+	// Default tier — non-admin authors of skills without ExtendedBounds.
+	DefaultMaxIterations  = 12
+	DefaultMaxToolCalls   = 30
+	DefaultMaxRuntimeSecs = 60
+
+	// Extended tier — admin authors OR ExtendedBounds=true.
+	ExtendedMaxIterations  = 50
+	ExtendedMaxToolCalls   = 150
+	ExtendedMaxRuntimeSecs = 600 // 10m
+
+	maxIterationsLimit                = 50
+	minRuntime                        = time.Second
+	maxRuntime                        = 10 * time.Minute
+	defaultMinScheduleIntervalMinutes = 30
+
+	// MaxTagsPerSkill caps the number of organisation tags any single
+	// skill may carry. Generous compared to typical taxonomies (GitHub
+	// allows ~10 topics/repo). The cap exists to prevent the list
+	// page's chip rendering from becoming unmanageable.
+	MaxTagsPerSkill = 16
+
+	// MaxTagLength is the per-tag character ceiling. Long enough for
+	// hyphenated phrases ("retro-gaming") but short enough that the
+	// list-page tag dropdown stays readable.
+	MaxTagLength = 32
+)
+
+// Validate enforces the skill spec invariants documented in the design
+// spec ("Skill domain model" section). It is called at save time; the
+// builtin loader skips authoring/share-safety checks but still runs
+// Validate, so all callers can rely on a saved skill being well-formed.
+//
+// Why: spec rules are easy to violate by hand and silently break
+// downstream (e.g. an unknown channel filter never exposes the skill to
+// the chatbot). Every rule fails loudly here.
+//
+// What: returns the first error found; callers may surface it directly to
+// users. opts may be the zero value, in which case channel-filter
+// validation is skipped (tests).
+//
+// Test: each rejection branch has a dedicated unit test in
+// validate_test.go.
+func (s *Skill) Validate(opts ValidateOpts) error {
+	if s == nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("skill is nil")
+	}
+	if strings.TrimSpace(s.Name) == "" {
+		return fmt.Errorf("skill name is required")
+	}
+	if strings.TrimSpace(s.SystemPrompt) == "" {
+		return fmt.Errorf("skill system prompt is required")
+	}
+
+	// ModelTier
+	tierCheck := opts.ModelTier
+	if tierCheck == nil {
+		tierCheck = defaultModelTierChecker{}
+	}
+	if !tierCheck.IsValid(s.ModelTier) {
+		return fmt.Errorf("unknown model tier %q (expected a tier alias or provider/model)", s.ModelTier)
+	}
+
+	// Schedule — empty means on-demand only. A non-empty value must be
+	// a valid cron expression (or one of the "daily" / "weekly"
+	// shorthands) AND have a smallest fire-gap >= the configured
+	// min-interval floor. Both checks share the package-level
+	// ParseSchedule helper so the scheduler runner uses the same parser.
+	if expr := strings.TrimSpace(s.Schedule); expr != "" {
+		sched, err := ParseSchedule(expr)
+		if err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("schedule: %w", err)
+		}
+		minMinutes := opts.MinIntervalMinutes
+		if minMinutes == 0 {
+			minMinutes = defaultMinScheduleIntervalMinutes
+		}
+		floor := time.Duration(minMinutes) * time.Minute
+		if interval := ScheduleMinInterval(sched); interval < floor {
+			return fmt.Errorf(
+				"schedule %q runs more often than the minimum (every %s, floor is %s)",
+				expr, interval.Round(time.Second), floor)
+		}
+	}
+
+	// Iteration / call / runtime budgets. Zero is allowed — the executor
+	// substitutes a convar-backed default. Negative is always wrong.
+	// The absolute ceilings (maxIterationsLimit=50, maxRuntime=10m) are
+	// outer sanity bounds; the tier caps below are the active gate.
+	//
+	// Why admin bypass on the outer ceilings: builtins are trusted
+	// infrastructure (per the v2 "Builtin loader must bypass save-time
+	// gates" lesson). The builtin loader passes AuthorIsAdmin=true so
+	// trusted skills like `deepresearch` (max_iterations=100,
+	// max_runtime=45m) and `research` (max_runtime=15m) can validate
+	// without re-tuning the package-wide outer floor for everyone.
+	// Non-admin authors still hit the original ceilings AND the
+	// tier-based cap (default 12 iter / 60s runtime, extended 50 iter /
+	// 600s runtime) — both layers stay intact for the untrusted path.
+	if s.MaxIterations < 0 {
+		return fmt.Errorf("max_iterations must be >= 0, got %d", s.MaxIterations)
+	}
+	if !opts.AuthorIsAdmin && s.MaxIterations > maxIterationsLimit {
+		return fmt.Errorf("max_iterations must be 0..%d, got %d", maxIterationsLimit, s.MaxIterations)
+	}
+	if s.MaxToolCalls < 0 {
+		return fmt.Errorf("max_tool_calls must be >= 0, got %d", s.MaxToolCalls)
+	}
+	if s.MaxRuntime < 0 {
+		return fmt.Errorf("max_runtime must be 0 or positive, got %s", s.MaxRuntime)
+	}
+	if s.MaxRuntime > 0 && s.MaxRuntime < minRuntime {
+		return fmt.Errorf("max_runtime must be 0 or >= %s, got %s", minRuntime, s.MaxRuntime)
+	}
+	if !opts.AuthorIsAdmin && s.MaxRuntime > maxRuntime {
+		return fmt.Errorf("max_runtime must be 0 or in [%s..%s], got %s", minRuntime, maxRuntime, s.MaxRuntime)
+	}
+
+	// Tiered cap resolution: a skill saved by an admin OR a skill with
+	// ExtendedBounds=true (admin-granted) may use the extended tier;
+	// everything else saturates at the default tier. Builtins go through
+	// the loader's bypass path (AuthorIsAdmin=true).
+	defIter := opts.DefaultMaxIterations
+	if defIter == 0 {
+		defIter = DefaultMaxIterations
+	}
+	defCalls := opts.DefaultMaxToolCalls
+	if defCalls == 0 {
+		defCalls = DefaultMaxToolCalls
+	}
+	defRuntime := opts.DefaultMaxRuntimeSecs
+	if defRuntime == 0 {
+		defRuntime = DefaultMaxRuntimeSecs
+	}
+	extIter := opts.ExtendedMaxIterations
+	if extIter == 0 {
+		extIter = ExtendedMaxIterations
+	}
+	extCalls := opts.ExtendedMaxToolCalls
+	if extCalls == 0 {
+		extCalls = ExtendedMaxToolCalls
+	}
+	extRuntime := opts.ExtendedMaxRuntimeSecs
+	if extRuntime == 0 {
+		extRuntime = ExtendedMaxRuntimeSecs
+	}
+	maxIter := defIter
+	maxCalls := defCalls
+	maxRuntimeSecs := defRuntime
+	tier := "default"
+	hint := "; ask an admin to grant extended_bounds for higher"
+	if s.ExtendedBounds || opts.AuthorIsAdmin {
+		maxIter = extIter
+		maxCalls = extCalls
+		maxRuntimeSecs = extRuntime
+		tier = "extended"
+		hint = "" // already at the highest tier — no upgrade path
+	}
+	// Admin bypass on the tier cap: trusted infrastructure (builtins,
+	// admin-authored skills) may exceed the extended tier. The
+	// non-admin author still hits the tier cap above. See the
+	// "trusted infrastructure" rationale on the outer-ceiling block.
+	if !opts.AuthorIsAdmin {
+		if s.MaxIterations > maxIter {
+			return fmt.Errorf("max_iterations %d exceeds %s cap (%d)%s",
+				s.MaxIterations, tier, maxIter, hint)
+		}
+		if s.MaxToolCalls > maxCalls {
+			return fmt.Errorf("max_tool_calls %d exceeds %s cap (%d)%s",
+				s.MaxToolCalls, tier, maxCalls, hint)
+		}
+		if s.MaxRuntime > 0 && s.MaxRuntime > time.Duration(maxRuntimeSecs)*time.Second {
+			return fmt.Errorf("max_runtime %s exceeds %s cap (%ds)%s",
+				s.MaxRuntime, tier, maxRuntimeSecs, hint)
+		}
+	}
+
+	// Output target
+	if !IsKnownOutputKind(s.OutputTarget.Kind) {
+		return fmt.Errorf("unknown output_target.kind %q", s.OutputTarget.Kind)
+	}
+
+	// Input schema
+	seenInput := map[string]struct{}{}
+	for i, p := range s.InputSchema {
+		if strings.TrimSpace(p.Name) == "" {
+			return fmt.Errorf("input_schema[%d]: Name is required", i)
+		}
+		if !IsKnownInputType(p.Type) {
+			return fmt.Errorf("input_schema[%d] (%q): unknown type %q", i, p.Name, p.Type)
+		}
+		if _, dup := seenInput[p.Name]; dup {
+			return fmt.Errorf("input_schema: duplicate parameter name %q", p.Name)
+		}
+		seenInput[p.Name] = struct{}{}
+	}
+
+	// Tools
+	seenTool := map[string]struct{}{}
+	for _, t := range s.Tools {
+		if strings.TrimSpace(t) == "" {
+			return fmt.Errorf("tools: empty tool name")
+		}
+		if _, dup := seenTool[t]; dup {
+			return fmt.Errorf("tools: duplicate tool name %q", t)
+		}
+		seenTool[t] = struct{}{}
+	}
+
+	// Tags — normalise + bounds-check. The caller may pass user input
+	// directly; we trim, lowercase, dedup, and bound count + per-tag
+	// length. Mutating the slice in place is intentional so callers
+	// don't need a separate normalise pass.
+	//
+	// Why caps (16 tags / 32 chars): both are generous for human-
+	// curated organisation labels (compare to GitHub's 10 topics/repo
+	// + ~50 chars). The aim is rejecting accidental data dumps and
+	// keeping the list-page chip rendering manageable, not strict
+	// taxonomy enforcement.
+	if len(s.Tags) > MaxTagsPerSkill {
+		return fmt.Errorf("tags: too many (max %d, got %d)", MaxTagsPerSkill, len(s.Tags))
+	}
+	if len(s.Tags) > 0 {
+		seenTag := map[string]struct{}{}
+		out := make([]string, 0, len(s.Tags))
+		for _, raw := range s.Tags {
+			t := strings.ToLower(strings.TrimSpace(raw))
+			if t == "" {
+				continue
+			}
+			if len(t) > MaxTagLength {
+				return fmt.Errorf("tags: %q exceeds %d chars", t, MaxTagLength)
+			}
+			if _, dup := seenTag[t]; dup {
+				continue
+			}
+			seenTag[t] = struct{}{}
+			out = append(out, t)
+		}
+		s.Tags = out
+	}
+
+	// Visibility
+	if !IsKnownVisibility(s.Visibility) {
+		return fmt.Errorf("unknown visibility %q", s.Visibility)
+	}
+	if s.Visibility == VisibilityShared && len(s.SharedWith) == 0 {
+		return fmt.Errorf("visibility=shared requires non-empty shared_with")
+	}
+
+	// Chatbot exposure
+	if s.ExposeAsChatbotTool {
+		if strings.TrimSpace(s.ChatbotToolName) == "" {
+			return fmt.Errorf("expose_as_chatbot_tool=true requires chatbot_tool_name")
+		}
+		if strings.TrimSpace(s.ChatbotToolDescription) == "" {
+			return fmt.Errorf("expose_as_chatbot_tool=true requires chatbot_tool_description")
+		}
+		if strings.TrimSpace(s.ChatbotChannelFilter) == "" {
+			return fmt.Errorf("expose_as_chatbot_tool=true requires chatbot_channel_filter")
+		}
+		if opts.Filters != nil && !opts.Filters.Has(s.ChatbotChannelFilter) {
+			return fmt.Errorf("unknown chatbot_channel_filter %q (not registered)", s.ChatbotChannelFilter)
+		}
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}

skillpack/activation.go

@@ -0,0 +1,156 @@
+package skillpack
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"sort"
+	"strings"
+
+	mdagent "gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/majordomo/agent"
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/majordomo/llm"
+	mdskill "gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/majordomo/skill"
+)
+
+// Resolve loads the pinned Pack for each enabled subscription from the cache. It
+// is how a host turns "this agent subscribes to these packs" into activatable
+// packs at run time without touching the network. A pinned digest missing from
+// the cache is an error (the host should have cached it at pin/apply time).
+// Disabled subscriptions are skipped.
+func Resolve(ctx context.Context, cache PackCache, subs []Subscription) ([]*Pack, error) {
+	out := make([]*Pack, 0, len(subs))
+	for i := range subs {
+		s := &subs[i]
+		if !s.Enabled {
+			continue
+		}
+		tree, err := cache.Get(ctx, s.PinnedDigest)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("skillpack: resolving %q: %w", s.Name, err)
+		}
+		pack, err := LoadPack(tree)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("skillpack: loading %q: %w", s.Name, err)
+		}
+		out = append(out, pack)
+	}
+	return out, nil
+}
+
+// Catalog renders the always-in-prompt block for a set of packs: one line per
+// pack (name + description) plus how to load one. This is the whole prompt cost
+// of a subscription — the bodies stay out until skill_use is called.
+func Catalog(packs []*Pack) string {
+	sorted := make([]*Pack, 0, len(packs))
+	for _, p := range packs {
+		if p != nil && p.Manifest != nil {
+			sorted = append(sorted, p)
+		}
+	}
+	if len(sorted) == 0 {
+		return ""
+	}
+	sort.Slice(sorted, func(i, j int) bool { return sorted[i].Manifest.Name < sorted[j].Manifest.Name })
+
+	var b strings.Builder
+	b.WriteString("You have access to skills — packaged instructions for specific tasks. ")
+	b.WriteString("When a task matches one, call skill_use with its name to load its full instructions before proceeding.\n\n")
+	b.WriteString("Available skills:\n")
+	for _, p := range sorted {
+		fmt.Fprintf(&b, "- %s: %s\n", p.Manifest.Name, p.Manifest.Description)
+	}
+	return strings.TrimRight(b.String(), "\n")
+}
+
+type skillUseArgs struct {
+	Name string `json:"name" description:"the exact name of the skill to load, from the Available skills list"`
+}
+
+// BundleStager makes a pack's bundled files available to the current run and
+// returns a short note the model can act on (e.g. where the files are and how to
+// reference them). It is called LAZILY, inside the skill_use tool, so a pack's
+// files are staged only when the model actually loads that pack — not for every
+// subscribed pack on every run. A host implements it over its own file plumbing
+// (mort saves the files to run-scoped storage and returns their file_ids). nil =
+// no staging: skill_use just lists the bundled file names.
+type BundleStager func(ctx context.Context, p *Pack) (string, error)
+
+// Activate turns a set of resolved packs into a majordomo agent.Skill: its
+// Instructions are the Catalog, and it contributes a single skill_use tool that
+// returns a named pack's full body (progressive disclosure). Attach the result
+// to an agent with agent.WithSkill. Returns nil when there are no packs, which
+// agent.WithSkill tolerates (a nil skill contributes nothing).
+//
+// stager, if non-nil, is invoked when skill_use loads a pack with bundled files;
+// its returned note is appended to the body so the model knows how to reach the
+// staged scripts/references. A stager error degrades gracefully (the
+// instructions still return, with a note that the files are unavailable).
+func Activate(packs []*Pack, stager BundleStager) mdagent.Skill {
+	byName := make(map[string]*Pack, len(packs))
+	for _, p := range packs {
+		if p != nil && p.Manifest != nil {
+			byName[p.Manifest.Name] = p
+		}
+	}
+	if len(byName) == 0 {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	tool := llm.DefineTool("skill_use",
+		"Load the full instructions for a skill by name before doing a task it covers. Returns the skill's instructions and, if it has bundled files, how to access them.",
+		func(ctx context.Context, args skillUseArgs) (any, error) {
+			p, ok := byName[strings.TrimSpace(args.Name)]
+			if !ok {
+				return fmt.Sprintf("No skill named %q. Use one of the names from the Available skills list.", args.Name), nil
+			}
+			body := renderPackBody(p)
+			if stager != nil && len(p.Bundled) > 0 {
+				note, err := stager(ctx, p)
+				switch {
+				case err != nil:
+					body += "\n\n(bundled files could not be staged: " + err.Error() + ")"
+				case note != "":
+					body += "\n\n" + note
+				}
+			}
+			return body, nil
+		})
+
+	tb := llm.NewToolbox("skillpack", tool)
+	return mdskill.New("skillpacks",
+		mdskill.WithInstructions(Catalog(packs)),
+		mdskill.WithToolbox(tb),
+	)
+}
+
+// renderPackBody is the base skill_use payload: the pack's instructions plus, if
+// it has any, a list of its bundled file names. A stager (see Activate) appends
+// the concrete access note.
+func renderPackBody(p *Pack) string {
+	if p == nil || p.Manifest == nil {
+		return "Error: invalid skill pack."
+	}
+	var b strings.Builder
+	fmt.Fprintf(&b, "# Skill: %s\n\n%s\n", p.Manifest.Name, p.Manifest.Body)
+	if len(p.Bundled) > 0 {
+		b.WriteString("\nBundled files:\n")
+		for _, f := range p.Bundled {
+			fmt.Fprintf(&b, "- %s\n", f)
+		}
+	}
+	return strings.TrimRight(b.String(), "\n")
+}
+
+// Stage materializes a pack's files under baseDir/<pack name>/ so a host can
+// mount them (read-only is the host's concern) into a sandbox the agent's file
+// tools can read. Returns the pack's staged directory.
+func Stage(p *Pack, baseDir string) (string, error) {
+	if p == nil || p.Manifest == nil {
+		return "", errors.New("skillpack: Stage requires a non-nil pack")
+	}
+	dir := baseDir + "/" + p.Manifest.Name
+	if err := p.Tree.WriteTo(dir); err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+	return dir, nil
+}

skillpack/activation_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,154 @@
+package skillpack
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func mustPack(t *testing.T, name, body string, extra map[string]string) *Pack {
+	t.Helper()
+	tr := packTree(name, body)
+	for k, v := range extra {
+		tr[k] = []byte(v)
+	}
+	p, err := LoadPack(tr)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	return p
+}
+
+func TestCatalog(t *testing.T) {
+	packs := []*Pack{
+		mustPack(t, "zebra", "z", nil),
+		mustPack(t, "alpha", "a", nil),
+	}
+	cat := Catalog(packs)
+	if !strings.Contains(cat, "skill_use") {
+		t.Error("catalog should tell the model how to load a skill")
+	}
+	ai := strings.Index(cat, "alpha")
+	zi := strings.Index(cat, "zebra")
+	if ai < 0 || zi < 0 || ai > zi {
+		t.Errorf("catalog should list packs sorted by name:\n%s", cat)
+	}
+	if Catalog(nil) != "" {
+		t.Error("empty catalog should be empty string")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestActivate_SkillUseTool(t *testing.T) {
+	ctx := context.Background()
+	packs := []*Pack{
+		mustPack(t, "pdf", "Use pdfplumber.", map[string]string{"scripts/x.py": "print()"}),
+	}
+	staged := 0
+	stager := func(_ context.Context, p *Pack) (string, error) {
+		staged++
+		return "staged " + p.Manifest.Name + " (file_id=abc)", nil
+	}
+	sk := Activate(packs, stager)
+	if sk == nil {
+		t.Fatal("expected a non-nil skill")
+	}
+	if sk.Instructions() != Catalog(packs) {
+		t.Error("skill instructions should be the catalog")
+	}
+	tb := sk.Tools()
+	tool, ok := tb.Get("skill_use")
+	if !ok {
+		t.Fatal("skill_use tool missing from toolbox")
+	}
+	if staged != 0 {
+		t.Error("stager must be lazy — not called until skill_use runs")
+	}
+
+	// load an existing pack
+	out, err := tool.Handler(ctx, json.RawMessage(`{"name":"pdf"}`))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	body, _ := out.(string)
+	if !strings.Contains(body, "Use pdfplumber.") {
+		t.Errorf("skill_use body missing instructions: %q", body)
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(body, "scripts/x.py") {
+		t.Errorf("skill_use should list bundled files: %q", body)
+	}
+	if staged != 1 || !strings.Contains(body, "file_id=abc") {
+		t.Errorf("stager should run on load and its note append to the body: staged=%d body=%q", staged, body)
+	}
+
+	// unknown pack returns guidance, not an error
+	out, err = tool.Handler(ctx, json.RawMessage(`{"name":"nope"}`))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if s, _ := out.(string); !strings.Contains(s, "No skill named") {
+		t.Errorf("unknown skill should return guidance: %q", s)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestActivate_Empty(t *testing.T) {
+	if Activate(nil, nil) != nil {
+		t.Error("no packs should activate to a nil skill")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestNilPackElementsAreSafe(t *testing.T) {
+	packs := []*Pack{nil, mustPack(t, "real", "b", nil), {Manifest: nil}}
+	// Neither Catalog nor Activate may panic on nil / malformed elements.
+	if got := Catalog(packs); !strings.Contains(got, "real") {
+		t.Errorf("catalog should include the valid pack and skip nils: %q", got)
+	}
+	sk := Activate(packs, nil)
+	if sk == nil {
+		t.Fatal("a valid pack among nils should still activate")
+	}
+	if _, ok := sk.Tools().Get("skill_use"); !ok {
+		t.Error("skill_use missing")
+	}
+	// All-nil activates to nothing rather than panicking.
+	if Activate([]*Pack{nil, {Manifest: nil}}, nil) != nil {
+		t.Error("only-nil packs should activate to nil")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestResolveFromCache(t *testing.T) {
+	ctx := context.Background()
+	cache := NewMemoryPackCache()
+	p := mustPack(t, "alpha", "a", nil)
+	cache.Put(ctx, p.Digest, p.Tree)
+
+	subs := []Subscription{
+		{Name: "alpha", PinnedDigest: p.Digest, Enabled: true},
+		{Name: "disabled", PinnedDigest: p.Digest, Enabled: false},
+	}
+	packs, err := Resolve(ctx, cache, subs)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if len(packs) != 1 || packs[0].Manifest.Name != "alpha" {
+		t.Fatalf("resolve should skip disabled subs; got %d packs", len(packs))
+	}
+
+	// missing from cache is an error
+	subs = []Subscription{{Name: "ghost", PinnedDigest: "deadbeef", Enabled: true}}
+	if _, err := Resolve(ctx, cache, subs); err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("expected error resolving an uncached pin")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestStage(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	p := mustPack(t, "pdf", "b", map[string]string{"scripts/x.py": "print()"})
+	staged, err := Stage(p, dir)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if !strings.HasSuffix(staged, "/pdf") {
+		t.Errorf("staged dir = %q", staged)
+	}
+}

skillpack/activator.go

@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+package skillpack
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/majordomo/llm"
+)
+
+// Activator adapts the battery to executus/run's SkillPackActivator port: given
+// an agent's subscribed pack names, it resolves them to their pinned packs and
+// returns the catalog instructions + the skill_use tool the run injects. It
+// satisfies run.SkillPackActivator structurally — no import of run — so the
+// battery stays run-agnostic (the same inversion as the other batteries).
+//
+// StagerFor, when set, builds the per-run BundleStager (a host plumbs bundled
+// files into its own run-scoped storage from the run + subject ids); nil means
+// skill_use lists a pack's bundled filenames without staging them.
+type Activator struct {
+	Cache     PackCache
+	Subs      Store
+	StagerFor func(runID, subjectID string) BundleStager
+}
+
+// ActivateSkillPacks implements run.SkillPackActivator. Unknown or disabled pack
+// names are skipped; it returns "" + nil when nothing resolves.
+func (a *Activator) ActivateSkillPacks(ctx context.Context, names []string, runID, subjectID string) (string, []llm.Tool, error) {
+	if a == nil || a.Subs == nil || a.Cache == nil || len(names) == 0 {
+		return "", nil, nil
+	}
+	chosen := make([]Subscription, 0, len(names))
+	for _, n := range names {
+		sub, err := a.Subs.GetByName(ctx, n)
+		if errors.Is(err, ErrNotFound) {
+			continue
+		}
+		if err != nil {
+			return "", nil, err
+		}
+		if !sub.Enabled {
+			continue
+		}
+		chosen = append(chosen, *sub)
+	}
+	packs, err := Resolve(ctx, a.Cache, chosen)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", nil, err
+	}
+	var stager BundleStager
+	if a.StagerFor != nil {
+		stager = a.StagerFor(runID, subjectID)
+	}
+	sk := Activate(packs, stager)
+	if sk == nil {
+		return "", nil, nil
+	}
+	return sk.Instructions(), sk.Tools().Tools(), nil
+}

skillpack/activator_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+package skillpack
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func TestActivator(t *testing.T) {
+	ctx := context.Background()
+	src := &fakeSource{tree: packTree("alpha", "do alpha things"), ref: "r1"}
+	y := newTestSyncer(src)
+	if _, err := y.Subscribe(ctx, src, "main", "steve"); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	staged := 0
+	act := &Activator{
+		Cache: y.Cache, Subs: y.Subs,
+		StagerFor: func(runID, subjectID string) BundleStager {
+			return func(context.Context, *Pack) (string, error) { staged++; return "", nil }
+		},
+	}
+
+	instr, tools, err := act.ActivateSkillPacks(ctx, []string{"alpha"}, "run1", "agent1")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if instr == "" {
+		t.Error("expected catalog instructions")
+	}
+	found := false
+	for _, tl := range tools {
+		if tl.Name == "skill_use" {
+			found = true
+		}
+	}
+	if !found {
+		t.Errorf("expected a skill_use tool, got %d tools", len(tools))
+	}
+
+	// unknown name → nothing resolves (no error, no tools).
+	if in, tl, err := act.ActivateSkillPacks(ctx, []string{"nope"}, "r", "a"); err != nil || in != "" || tl != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("unknown pack should resolve to nothing: in=%q tools=%v err=%v", in, tl, err)
+	}
+
+	// nil-safe: a zero Activator (or empty names) is inert.
+	if in, tl, err := (&Activator{}).ActivateSkillPacks(ctx, []string{"alpha"}, "r", "a"); err != nil || in != "" || tl != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("zero Activator should be inert: %q %v %v", in, tl, err)
+	}
+}

skillpack/manifest.go

@@ -0,0 +1,208 @@
+package skillpack
+
+import (
+	"bufio"
+	"bytes"
+	"fmt"
+	"strings"
+
+	"gopkg.in/yaml.v3"
+)
+
+// ManifestName is the required filename at a pack's root.
+const ManifestName = "SKILL.md"
+
+// Limits on manifest fields, matching the Anthropic agent-skills constraints so
+// packs authored against that ecosystem validate here unchanged.
+const (
+	maxNameLen        = 64
+	maxDescriptionLen = 1024
+	maxBodyBytes      = 1 << 20 // 1 MiB of instruction text is already excessive
+)
+
+// Manifest is a parsed SKILL.md: YAML frontmatter plus the markdown body. Only
+// Name and Description are required; everything else is optional and passes
+// through so a host can honor it (or ignore it) without this package growing a
+// policy opinion.
+type Manifest struct {
+	// Name is the pack's stable identifier (kebab-case, unique within a host's
+	// subscriptions). It is what the model passes to skill_use.
+	Name string
+	// Description is the one-liner shown in the catalog — the ONLY text loaded
+	// into the prompt up front, so it must convey when to reach for the skill.
+	Description string
+	// License is an optional SPDX-ish tag, informational only.
+	License string
+	// AllowedTools is the pack author's declared tool allow-list. It is advisory
+	// here: a host MAY intersect it with the agent's real toolset, but it can
+	// only ever NARROW, never grant (see the host wiring, not this package).
+	AllowedTools []string
+	// Metadata is arbitrary passthrough frontmatter (e.g. version) the host may
+	// use; this package does not interpret it.
+	Metadata map[string]string
+	// Body is the markdown instruction text after the frontmatter — the payload
+	// skill_use returns on demand.
+	Body string
+}
+
+// ParseManifest parses a SKILL.md byte slice into a validated Manifest. The
+// input must begin with a `---` YAML frontmatter block; the remainder is the
+// body. It returns a descriptive error on malformed frontmatter or a field that
+// violates the limits, so a bad pack fails loudly at subscribe/sync time rather
+// than silently activating.
+func ParseManifest(raw []byte) (*Manifest, error) {
+	front, body, err := splitFrontmatter(raw)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	// Decode into a permissive intermediate: SKILL.md uses hyphenated keys
+	// (allowed-tools) and lets metadata values be scalars of any type.
+	var fm struct {
+		Name         string         `yaml:"name"`
+		Description  string         `yaml:"description"`
+		License      string         `yaml:"license"`
+		AllowedTools stringList     `yaml:"allowed-tools"`
+		Metadata     map[string]any `yaml:"metadata"`
+	}
+	if err := yaml.Unmarshal(front, &fm); err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("skillpack: invalid SKILL.md frontmatter: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	m := &Manifest{
+		Name:         strings.TrimSpace(fm.Name),
+		Description:  strings.TrimSpace(fm.Description),
+		License:      strings.TrimSpace(fm.License),
+		AllowedTools: []string(fm.AllowedTools),
+		Body:         strings.TrimSpace(string(body)),
+	}
+	if len(fm.Metadata) > 0 {
+		m.Metadata = make(map[string]string, len(fm.Metadata))
+		for k, v := range fm.Metadata {
+			m.Metadata[k] = fmt.Sprintf("%v", v)
+		}
+	}
+
+	if err := m.Validate(); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	return m, nil
+}
+
+// Validate reports the first field that violates the manifest contract.
+func (m *Manifest) Validate() error {
+	switch {
+	case m.Name == "":
+		return fmt.Errorf("skillpack: SKILL.md missing required 'name'")
+	case len(m.Name) > maxNameLen:
+		return fmt.Errorf("skillpack: name %q exceeds %d chars", m.Name, maxNameLen)
+	case !isKebab(m.Name):
+		return fmt.Errorf("skillpack: name %q must be lowercase kebab-case (a-z, 0-9, -)", m.Name)
+	case m.Description == "":
+		return fmt.Errorf("skillpack: SKILL.md missing required 'description'")
+	case len(m.Description) > maxDescriptionLen:
+		return fmt.Errorf("skillpack: description exceeds %d chars", maxDescriptionLen)
+	case len(m.Body) > maxBodyBytes:
+		return fmt.Errorf("skillpack: body exceeds %d bytes", maxBodyBytes)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+// splitFrontmatter separates a leading `---`-delimited YAML block from the body.
+// Leading blank lines/BOM are tolerated. A missing or unterminated block is an
+// error — a SKILL.md without frontmatter has no name/description to catalog.
+func splitFrontmatter(raw []byte) (front, body []byte, err error) {
+	// Strip a leading UTF-8 BOM: editors on some platforms prepend one, and
+	// bytes.TrimSpace (used below) does not remove it, so a BOM would otherwise
+	// make the first "---" fence unrecognizable.
+	raw = bytes.TrimPrefix(raw, []byte{0xEF, 0xBB, 0xBF})
+	s := bufio.NewScanner(bytes.NewReader(raw))
+	s.Buffer(make([]byte, 0, 64*1024), maxBodyBytes+64*1024)
+
+	var frontLines [][]byte
+	var bodyLines [][]byte
+	state := 0 // 0=before open fence, 1=in frontmatter, 2=in body
+	sawOpen := false
+	for s.Scan() {
+		line := s.Bytes()
+		trimmed := bytes.TrimRight(line, "\r")
+		switch state {
+		case 0:
+			if len(bytes.TrimSpace(trimmed)) == 0 {
+				continue // skip leading blanks
+			}
+			if string(bytes.TrimSpace(trimmed)) != "---" {
+				return nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("skillpack: SKILL.md must start with a '---' frontmatter block")
+			}
+			sawOpen = true
+			state = 1
+		case 1:
+			if string(bytes.TrimSpace(trimmed)) == "---" {
+				state = 2
+				continue
+			}
+			frontLines = append(frontLines, append([]byte(nil), trimmed...))
+		case 2:
+			bodyLines = append(bodyLines, append([]byte(nil), trimmed...))
+		}
+	}
+	if err := s.Err(); err != nil {
+		return nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("skillpack: reading SKILL.md: %w", err)
+	}
+	if !sawOpen || state != 2 {
+		return nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("skillpack: SKILL.md frontmatter block is not terminated by a closing '---'")
+	}
+	return bytes.Join(frontLines, []byte("\n")), bytes.Join(bodyLines, []byte("\n")), nil
+}
+
+// stringList decodes either a YAML sequence or a comma-separated scalar into a
+// []string, so `allowed-tools: [Read, Bash]` and `allowed-tools: "Read, Bash"`
+// both work.
+type stringList []string
+
+func (l *stringList) UnmarshalYAML(node *yaml.Node) error {
+	var seq []string
+	if err := node.Decode(&seq); err == nil {
+		*l = trimAll(seq)
+		return nil
+	}
+	var scalar string
+	if err := node.Decode(&scalar); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	*l = trimAll(strings.Split(scalar, ","))
+	return nil
+}
+
+func trimAll(in []string) []string {
+	out := in[:0]
+	for _, s := range in {
+		if t := strings.TrimSpace(s); t != "" {
+			out = append(out, t)
+		}
+	}
+	return out
+}
+
+// isKebab reports whether s is strict lowercase kebab-case: [a-z0-9] segments
+// joined by single hyphens, with no leading, trailing, or consecutive hyphens.
+func isKebab(s string) bool {
+	if s == "" || s[0] == '-' || s[len(s)-1] == '-' {
+		return false
+	}
+	prevHyphen := false
+	for _, r := range s {
+		switch {
+		case r >= 'a' && r <= 'z', r >= '0' && r <= '9':
+			prevHyphen = false
+		case r == '-':
+			if prevHyphen {
+				return false
+			}
+			prevHyphen = true
+		default:
+			return false
+		}
+	}
+	return true
+}

skillpack/manifest_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,96 @@
+package skillpack
+
+import (
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+const goodManifest = `---
+name: pdf-processing
+description: Extract text and tables from PDF files and fill forms.
+license: MIT
+allowed-tools: [Read, Bash]
+metadata:
+  version: 1.2.0
+---
+# PDF Processing
+
+Use pdfplumber for extraction.
+`
+
+func TestParseManifest_Good(t *testing.T) {
+	m, err := ParseManifest([]byte(goodManifest))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("ParseManifest: %v", err)
+	}
+	if m.Name != "pdf-processing" {
+		t.Errorf("name = %q", m.Name)
+	}
+	if !strings.HasPrefix(m.Description, "Extract text") {
+		t.Errorf("description = %q", m.Description)
+	}
+	if m.License != "MIT" {
+		t.Errorf("license = %q", m.License)
+	}
+	if len(m.AllowedTools) != 2 || m.AllowedTools[0] != "Read" || m.AllowedTools[1] != "Bash" {
+		t.Errorf("allowed-tools = %v", m.AllowedTools)
+	}
+	if m.Metadata["version"] != "1.2.0" {
+		t.Errorf("metadata version = %q", m.Metadata["version"])
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(m.Body, "pdfplumber") || strings.Contains(m.Body, "---") {
+		t.Errorf("body not cleanly extracted: %q", m.Body)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestParseManifest_AllowedToolsScalar(t *testing.T) {
+	m, err := ParseManifest([]byte("---\nname: n\ndescription: d\nallowed-tools: \"Read, Bash , Grep\"\n---\nbody\n"))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if len(m.AllowedTools) != 3 || m.AllowedTools[2] != "Grep" {
+		t.Errorf("scalar allowed-tools = %v", m.AllowedTools)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestParseManifest_Errors(t *testing.T) {
+	cases := map[string]string{
+		"no frontmatter":     "# just a heading\n",
+		"unterminated":       "---\nname: x\ndescription: y\n",
+		"missing name":       "---\ndescription: y\n---\nb\n",
+		"missing desc":       "---\nname: x\n---\nb\n",
+		"bad name uppercase": "---\nname: PdfProcessing\ndescription: d\n---\nb\n",
+		"bad name space":     "---\nname: pdf processing\ndescription: d\n---\nb\n",
+		"bad name leading -": "---\nname: -pdf\ndescription: d\n---\nb\n",
+		"bad name trailing-": "---\nname: pdf-\ndescription: d\n---\nb\n",
+		"bad name double -":  "---\nname: pdf--tools\ndescription: d\n---\nb\n",
+		"bad yaml":           "---\nname: [unclosed\n---\nb\n",
+	}
+	for label, in := range cases {
+		if _, err := ParseManifest([]byte(in)); err == nil {
+			t.Errorf("%s: expected error, got nil", label)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestParseManifest_LeadingBlanksAndCRLF(t *testing.T) {
+	in := "\r\n\n---\r\nname: ok-name\r\ndescription: fine\r\n---\r\nbody line\r\n"
+	m, err := ParseManifest([]byte(in))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("tolerant parse: %v", err)
+	}
+	if m.Name != "ok-name" || m.Body != "body line" {
+		t.Errorf("got name=%q body=%q", m.Name, m.Body)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestParseManifest_BOM(t *testing.T) {
+	in := append([]byte{0xEF, 0xBB, 0xBF}, []byte("---\nname: bom-ok\ndescription: d\n---\nbody\n")...)
+	m, err := ParseManifest(in)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("BOM-prefixed SKILL.md should parse: %v", err)
+	}
+	if m.Name != "bom-ok" {
+		t.Errorf("name = %q", m.Name)
+	}
+}

skillpack/memory.go

@@ -0,0 +1,114 @@
+package skillpack
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"sort"
+	"sync"
+)
+
+// Memory is a zero-dependency in-process Store — a light host or a test gets
+// subscription persistence with no DB. Returned values are copies, so callers
+// can mutate them without corrupting the store.
+type Memory struct {
+	mu   sync.RWMutex
+	subs map[string]*Subscription // by ID
+}
+
+// NewMemory returns an empty in-memory Store.
+func NewMemory() *Memory {
+	return &Memory{subs: map[string]*Subscription{}}
+}
+
+var _ Store = (*Memory)(nil)
+
+func (m *Memory) Initialize(context.Context) error { return nil }
+
+func (m *Memory) Save(_ context.Context, s *Subscription) error {
+	m.mu.Lock()
+	defer m.mu.Unlock()
+	cp := *s
+	m.subs[s.ID] = &cp
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (m *Memory) Get(_ context.Context, id string) (*Subscription, error) {
+	m.mu.RLock()
+	defer m.mu.RUnlock()
+	s, ok := m.subs[id]
+	if !ok {
+		return nil, ErrNotFound
+	}
+	cp := *s
+	return &cp, nil
+}
+
+func (m *Memory) GetByName(_ context.Context, name string) (*Subscription, error) {
+	m.mu.RLock()
+	defer m.mu.RUnlock()
+	for _, s := range m.subs {
+		if s.Name == name {
+			cp := *s
+			return &cp, nil
+		}
+	}
+	return nil, ErrNotFound
+}
+
+func (m *Memory) List(context.Context) ([]Subscription, error) {
+	m.mu.RLock()
+	defer m.mu.RUnlock()
+	out := make([]Subscription, 0, len(m.subs))
+	for _, s := range m.subs {
+		out = append(out, *s)
+	}
+	sort.Slice(out, func(i, j int) bool { return out[i].Name < out[j].Name })
+	return out, nil
+}
+
+func (m *Memory) Delete(_ context.Context, id string) error {
+	m.mu.Lock()
+	defer m.mu.Unlock()
+	delete(m.subs, id)
+	return nil
+}
+
+// MemoryPackCache is a zero-dependency in-process PackCache. Trees are copied on
+// the way in and out so a cached pin is immutable in practice.
+type MemoryPackCache struct {
+	mu    sync.RWMutex
+	trees map[string]Tree
+}
+
+// NewMemoryPackCache returns an empty in-memory PackCache.
+func NewMemoryPackCache() *MemoryPackCache {
+	return &MemoryPackCache{trees: map[string]Tree{}}
+}
+
+var _ PackCache = (*MemoryPackCache)(nil)
+
+func (c *MemoryPackCache) Put(_ context.Context, digest string, t Tree) error {
+	c.mu.Lock()
+	defer c.mu.Unlock()
+	c.trees[digest] = cloneTree(t)
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (c *MemoryPackCache) Get(_ context.Context, digest string) (Tree, error) {
+	c.mu.RLock()
+	defer c.mu.RUnlock()
+	t, ok := c.trees[digest]
+	if !ok {
+		return nil, ErrNotFound
+	}
+	return cloneTree(t), nil
+}
+
+func cloneTree(t Tree) Tree {
+	cp := make(Tree, len(t))
+	for k, v := range t {
+		b := make([]byte, len(v))
+		copy(b, v)
+		cp[k] = b
+	}
+	return cp
+}

skillpack/pack.go

@@ -0,0 +1,139 @@
+package skillpack
+
+import (
+	"crypto/sha256"
+	"encoding/hex"
+	"fmt"
+	"io/fs"
+	"os"
+	"path"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"sort"
+	"strings"
+)
+
+// Tree is a pack's file set: relative slash-separated path -> file bytes,
+// including the SKILL.md itself. It is self-contained (no live filesystem
+// handle) so it can be cached, digested, and staged without worrying about the
+// lifetime of a clone or temp dir.
+type Tree map[string][]byte
+
+// Digest is the content address of the tree: a SHA-256 over every file's path
+// and bytes, order-independent. Two trees with identical contents produce the
+// same digest regardless of how they were fetched — this is the pin identity
+// and the change-detection signal (a git SHA is provenance, but the digest is
+// what says "the bytes an agent runs changed").
+func (t Tree) Digest() string {
+	paths := t.Paths()
+	h := sha256.New()
+	for _, p := range paths {
+		fh := sha256.Sum256(t[p])
+		// path \x00 filehash \n — the NUL prevents path/content boundary games.
+		fmt.Fprintf(h, "%s\x00%s\n", p, hex.EncodeToString(fh[:]))
+	}
+	return hex.EncodeToString(h.Sum(nil))
+}
+
+// Paths returns the tree's file paths, sorted.
+func (t Tree) Paths() []string {
+	out := make([]string, 0, len(t))
+	for p := range t {
+		out = append(out, p)
+	}
+	sort.Strings(out)
+	return out
+}
+
+// WriteTo materializes the tree under dir (creating it and any parents). It is
+// how a host stages a pack's files for a sandbox; the host owns mount/read-only
+// policy. Paths are cleaned and constrained to dir — a tree entry that escapes
+// (via .. or an absolute path) is rejected rather than written outside dir.
+func (t Tree) WriteTo(dir string) error {
+	for _, p := range t.Paths() {
+		dest := filepath.Join(dir, filepath.FromSlash(p))
+		if !within(dir, dest) {
+			return fmt.Errorf("skillpack: refusing to stage %q outside %q", p, dir)
+		}
+		if err := os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(dest), 0o755); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		if err := os.WriteFile(dest, t[p], 0o644); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+// Pack is a fetched, parsed pack: its manifest, its file tree, the tree's
+// content digest, and the non-manifest ("bundled") file paths a host can stage.
+type Pack struct {
+	Manifest *Manifest
+	Tree     Tree
+	Digest   string
+	// Bundled is every tree path except the SKILL.md, sorted — the scripts and
+	// reference files skill_use points the model at.
+	Bundled []string
+}
+
+// LoadPack parses a fetched Tree into a Pack: it requires a root SKILL.md,
+// parses+validates it, computes the digest, and lists the bundled files.
+func LoadPack(t Tree) (*Pack, error) {
+	raw, ok := t[ManifestName]
+	if !ok {
+		return nil, ErrNoManifest
+	}
+	m, err := ParseManifest(raw)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	bundled := make([]string, 0, len(t))
+	for _, p := range t.Paths() {
+		if p != ManifestName {
+			bundled = append(bundled, p)
+		}
+	}
+	return &Pack{Manifest: m, Tree: t, Digest: t.Digest(), Bundled: bundled}, nil
+}
+
+// readTree reads an entire fs.FS (rooted at ".") into a Tree, skipping
+// directories. It is the shared reader for DirSource and GitSource, so both
+// produce identical self-contained trees.
+func readTree(fsys fs.FS) (Tree, error) {
+	t := Tree{}
+	err := fs.WalkDir(fsys, ".", func(p string, d fs.DirEntry, err error) error {
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		if d.IsDir() {
+			return nil
+		}
+		// Skip symlinks. A pack must be self-contained; os.DirFS + ReadFile
+		// follows symlinks, so a malicious pack with `SKILL.md -> /etc/passwd`
+		// or `scripts/x -> ../../.ssh/id_rsa` would otherwise read host files
+		// into the tree. WalkDir yields a symlink-to-dir as a non-dir entry
+		// carrying ModeSymlink, so this one check covers file and dir symlinks.
+		if d.Type()&fs.ModeSymlink != 0 {
+			return nil
+		}
+		b, err := fs.ReadFile(fsys, p)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		t[path.Clean(p)] = b
+		return nil
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	return t, nil
+}
+
+// within reports whether dest is inside dir (defense against path traversal in
+// a staged tree).
+func within(dir, dest string) bool {
+	rel, err := filepath.Rel(dir, dest)
+	if err != nil {
+		return false
+	}
+	return rel != ".." && !strings.HasPrefix(rel, ".."+string(filepath.Separator))
+}

skillpack/pack_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,105 @@
+package skillpack
+
+import (
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func sampleTree() Tree {
+	return Tree{
+		ManifestName:         []byte(goodManifest),
+		"scripts/fill.py":    []byte("print('hi')\n"),
+		"references/spec.md": []byte("# spec\n"),
+	}
+}
+
+func TestTreeDigest_StableAndContentSensitive(t *testing.T) {
+	a := sampleTree()
+	b := sampleTree()
+	if a.Digest() != b.Digest() {
+		t.Fatal("identical trees must share a digest")
+	}
+	b["scripts/fill.py"] = []byte("print('bye')\n")
+	if a.Digest() == b.Digest() {
+		t.Fatal("content change must change the digest")
+	}
+	// Adding a file changes the digest.
+	c := sampleTree()
+	c["extra.txt"] = []byte("x")
+	if a.Digest() == c.Digest() {
+		t.Fatal("added file must change the digest")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestLoadPack(t *testing.T) {
+	p, err := LoadPack(sampleTree())
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if p.Manifest.Name != "pdf-processing" {
+		t.Errorf("name = %q", p.Manifest.Name)
+	}
+	if len(p.Bundled) != 2 || p.Bundled[0] != "references/spec.md" || p.Bundled[1] != "scripts/fill.py" {
+		t.Errorf("bundled = %v (want sorted, sans SKILL.md)", p.Bundled)
+	}
+	if p.Digest == "" {
+		t.Error("digest empty")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestLoadPack_NoManifest(t *testing.T) {
+	if _, err := LoadPack(Tree{"readme.md": []byte("x")}); err != ErrNoManifest {
+		t.Fatalf("want ErrNoManifest, got %v", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestTreeWriteTo(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	if err := sampleTree().WriteTo(dir); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	got, err := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(dir, "scripts", "fill.py"))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if string(got) != "print('hi')\n" {
+		t.Errorf("staged content = %q", got)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestReadTree_SkipsSymlinks(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	if err := os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(dir, ManifestName), []byte(goodManifest), 0o644); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	// A malicious pack pointing at a host file must NOT be read into the tree.
+	secret := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "secret")
+	if err := os.WriteFile(secret, []byte("TOPSECRET"), 0o600); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if err := os.Symlink(secret, filepath.Join(dir, "leak")); err != nil {
+		t.Skipf("symlink unsupported: %v", err)
+	}
+	tree, err := readTree(os.DirFS(dir))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if _, ok := tree["leak"]; ok {
+		t.Fatal("symlink was followed into the tree — arbitrary host file read")
+	}
+	if _, ok := tree[ManifestName]; !ok {
+		t.Fatal("real file should still be read")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestTreeWriteTo_RejectsTraversal(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	evil := Tree{"../escape.txt": []byte("nope")}
+	if err := evil.WriteTo(dir); err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("expected traversal rejection")
+	}
+	if _, err := os.Stat(filepath.Join(filepath.Dir(dir), "escape.txt")); err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("traversal file was written outside dir")
+	}
+}

skillpack/skillpack.go

@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+// Package skillpack is the SKILL.md-subscription battery: it lets an agent host
+// subscribe to skill packages published as directories/git repos in the
+// Anthropic "agent skills" format (a SKILL.md manifest plus optional bundled
+// scripts and reference files) and activate them for a run with progressive
+// disclosure.
+//
+// It is a THIRD, distinct concept from the two "skill" nouns already in the
+// stack — do not conflate them:
+//
+//   - majordomo/skill  — a lightweight capability bundle (instructions + tools)
+//     appended to an agent eagerly at construction.
+//   - executus/skill   — a heavyweight persisted "saved agent" noun.
+//   - executus/skillpack (this package) — an externally-authored, versioned,
+//     on-demand-loaded instruction pack fetched from a Source and pinned by
+//     content digest.
+//
+// Progressive disclosure is the reason this is not just a majordomo/skill:
+// majordomo skills inject their whole instruction text into the system prompt
+// up front, which does not scale to a catalog of large third-party packs. Here
+// only each pack's name+description sits in the prompt permanently (the
+// Catalog); the full body is loaded lazily when the model calls the single
+// skill_use tool (see Activate).
+//
+// Design shape (each piece is nil-safe / host-agnostic, mirroring the other
+// executus batteries):
+//
+//   - Manifest / ParseManifest — parse+validate a SKILL.md.
+//   - Tree / Pack / LoadPack    — a fetched pack's files, content digest, and
+//     parsed manifest.
+//   - Source (Dir, Git)         — where packs come from; Fetch returns the file
+//     tree and the source's resolved ref.
+//   - Subscription + Store      — the persisted "this host tracks this pack at
+//     this pinned digest" record; Memory is the zero-dep default.
+//   - PackCache                 — content-addressed store of pinned pack trees
+//     so activation never re-fetches; Memory default.
+//   - Syncer                    — checks the tracked ref and records a PENDING
+//     update; applying it is an explicit, separate re-pin (supply-chain guard —
+//     upstream can never silently change what an agent runs).
+//   - Catalog / Activate / Stage — turn a set of resolved packs into a
+//     majordomo agent.Skill (catalog instructions + skill_use tool) and
+//     materialize a pack's files for a sandbox.
+//
+// The host (e.g. mort) supplies policy: which sources are allowed, who may
+// subscribe, and where staged files are mounted. This package supplies only the
+// mechanism.
+package skillpack
+
+import "errors"
+
+// ErrNotFound is returned when a subscription or cached pack lookup misses.
+var ErrNotFound = errors.New("skillpack: not found")
+
+// ErrNoManifest is returned when a fetched tree has no SKILL.md at its root.
+var ErrNoManifest = errors.New("skillpack: tree has no SKILL.md")

skillpack/source.go

@@ -0,0 +1,149 @@
+package skillpack
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+	"os/exec"
+	"path"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+)
+
+// Source is where a pack's files come from. Fetch retrieves the tree at ref and
+// returns it together with the source's own resolved ref (a git commit SHA, or
+// the content digest for a plain directory) — provenance a host can show and
+// pin against. ref semantics are source-specific and may be empty ("the
+// default": a dir's current contents, a repo's default branch).
+type Source interface {
+	Fetch(ctx context.Context, ref string) (Tree, string, error)
+	// Kind is a short stable tag ("dir", "git") for persistence + display.
+	Kind() string
+	// String is a human-readable identifier (path or URL[/subpath]).
+	String() string
+}
+
+// DirSource reads a pack from a local directory. ref is ignored (a directory
+// has no versions); the resolved ref is the content digest. Useful for
+// first-party/builtin packs shipped on disk and for tests.
+type DirSource struct {
+	Path string
+}
+
+func (d DirSource) Kind() string   { return "dir" }
+func (d DirSource) String() string { return d.Path }
+
+func (d DirSource) Fetch(_ context.Context, _ string) (Tree, string, error) {
+	info, err := os.Stat(d.Path)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, "", fmt.Errorf("skillpack: dir source %q: %w", d.Path, err)
+	}
+	if !info.IsDir() {
+		return nil, "", fmt.Errorf("skillpack: dir source %q is not a directory", d.Path)
+	}
+	t, err := readTree(os.DirFS(d.Path))
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, "", err
+	}
+	return t, t.Digest(), nil
+}
+
+// GitSource fetches a pack from a git repository, optionally from a Subpath
+// within it (for repos that publish several packs). ref is any git commit-ish
+// (branch, tag, or SHA); empty means the default branch. The resolved ref is
+// the checked-out commit SHA.
+//
+// Fetch clones into a temp dir, reads the subpath tree into memory, and removes
+// the clone before returning — the returned Tree is self-contained, so there is
+// no clone lifetime to manage and nothing left on disk. Git runs via the system
+// `git`; GitRunner is overridable for tests.
+type GitSource struct {
+	URL     string
+	Subpath string
+	// GitRunner runs a git command in dir and returns combined output. Nil uses
+	// the system git.
+	GitRunner func(ctx context.Context, dir string, args ...string) ([]byte, error)
+}
+
+func (g GitSource) Kind() string { return "git" }
+
+func (g GitSource) String() string {
+	if g.Subpath != "" {
+		return g.URL + "//" + g.Subpath
+	}
+	return g.URL
+}
+
+func (g GitSource) run(ctx context.Context, dir string, args ...string) ([]byte, error) {
+	if g.GitRunner != nil {
+		return g.GitRunner(ctx, dir, args...)
+	}
+	cmd := exec.CommandContext(ctx, "git", args...)
+	cmd.Dir = dir
+	out, err := cmd.CombinedOutput()
+	if err != nil {
+		return out, fmt.Errorf("skillpack: git %s: %w: %s", strings.Join(args, " "), err, strings.TrimSpace(string(out)))
+	}
+	return out, nil
+}
+
+func (g GitSource) Fetch(ctx context.Context, ref string) (Tree, string, error) {
+	// Argument-injection guard: a URL or ref beginning with "-" would be parsed
+	// by git as an option (e.g. --upload-pack=…), not a value. Reject it rather
+	// than rely solely on the "--" separator, which checkout does not honor for
+	// a rev. Hosts should also allow-list sources, but this is defense-in-depth
+	// for a library.
+	if strings.HasPrefix(g.URL, "-") {
+		return nil, "", fmt.Errorf("skillpack: git url must not start with '-': %q", g.URL)
+	}
+	if strings.HasPrefix(ref, "-") {
+		return nil, "", fmt.Errorf("skillpack: git ref must not start with '-': %q", ref)
+	}
+
+	tmp, err := os.MkdirTemp("", "skillpack-git-*")
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, "", err
+	}
+	defer os.RemoveAll(tmp)
+
+	// --filter=blob:none: a blobless partial clone gets the ref graph cheaply
+	// and fetches only the blobs the checkout needs — much less than the full
+	// history, while still supporting an arbitrary commit-ish ref. "--" ends
+	// option parsing before the URL.
+	if _, err := g.run(ctx, "", "clone", "--quiet", "--filter=blob:none", "--", g.URL, tmp); err != nil {
+		return nil, "", err
+	}
+	if ref != "" {
+		if _, err := g.run(ctx, tmp, "checkout", "--quiet", "--detach", ref); err != nil {
+			return nil, "", err
+		}
+	}
+	shaOut, err := g.run(ctx, tmp, "rev-parse", "HEAD")
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, "", err
+	}
+	sha := strings.TrimSpace(string(shaOut))
+
+	root := tmp
+	if g.Subpath != "" {
+		clean := path.Clean("/" + g.Subpath) // normalize, strip leading ../
+		root = filepath.Join(tmp, filepath.FromSlash(strings.TrimPrefix(clean, "/")))
+		if !within(tmp, root) {
+			return nil, "", fmt.Errorf("skillpack: subpath %q escapes the repo", g.Subpath)
+		}
+		if info, err := os.Stat(root); err != nil || !info.IsDir() {
+			return nil, "", fmt.Errorf("skillpack: subpath %q not found in %s", g.Subpath, g.URL)
+		}
+	}
+	t, err := readTree(os.DirFS(root))
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, "", err
+	}
+	// Drop a nested .git if the subpath was the repo root.
+	for p := range t {
+		if p == ".git" || strings.HasPrefix(p, ".git/") {
+			delete(t, p)
+		}
+	}
+	return t, sha, nil
+}

skillpack/source_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,97 @@
+package skillpack
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"os"
+	"os/exec"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func writePack(t *testing.T, dir string) {
+	t.Helper()
+	if err := os.MkdirAll(filepath.Join(dir, "scripts"), 0o755); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if err := os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(dir, ManifestName), []byte(goodManifest), 0o644); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if err := os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(dir, "scripts", "fill.py"), []byte("print('hi')\n"), 0o644); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestDirSource(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	writePack(t, dir)
+
+	tree, ref, err := DirSource{Path: dir}.Fetch(context.Background(), "")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if ref != tree.Digest() {
+		t.Errorf("dir resolved ref should be the content digest")
+	}
+	p, err := LoadPack(tree)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if p.Manifest.Name != "pdf-processing" || len(p.Bundled) != 1 {
+		t.Errorf("loaded pack wrong: name=%q bundled=%v", p.Manifest.Name, p.Bundled)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestDirSource_NotADir(t *testing.T) {
+	f := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "file")
+	os.WriteFile(f, []byte("x"), 0o644)
+	if _, _, err := (DirSource{Path: f}).Fetch(context.Background(), ""); err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("expected error for non-directory source")
+	}
+}
+
+// TestGitSource drives a real local git repo (no network) to exercise clone +
+// checkout + subpath + SHA resolution. Skipped when git is unavailable.
+func TestGitSource(t *testing.T) {
+	if _, err := exec.LookPath("git"); err != nil {
+		t.Skip("git not installed")
+	}
+	repo := t.TempDir()
+	git := func(args ...string) {
+		t.Helper()
+		cmd := exec.Command("git", args...)
+		cmd.Dir = repo
+		cmd.Env = append(os.Environ(),
+			"GIT_AUTHOR_NAME=t", "GIT_AUTHOR_EMAIL=t@t", "GIT_COMMITTER_NAME=t", "GIT_COMMITTER_EMAIL=t@t")
+		if out, err := cmd.CombinedOutput(); err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("git %v: %v: %s", args, err, out)
+		}
+	}
+	git("init", "-q", "-b", "main")
+	// pack lives under packs/pdf/
+	sub := filepath.Join(repo, "packs", "pdf")
+	writePack(t, sub)
+	git("add", "-A")
+	git("commit", "-q", "-m", "add pack")
+
+	src := GitSource{URL: repo, Subpath: "packs/pdf"}
+	tree, sha, err := src.Fetch(context.Background(), "main")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if len(sha) != 40 {
+		t.Errorf("resolved ref should be a full SHA, got %q", sha)
+	}
+	if _, ok := tree[ManifestName]; !ok {
+		t.Errorf("subpath tree missing SKILL.md; got %v", tree.Paths())
+	}
+	if _, ok := tree[".git"]; ok {
+		t.Error(".git leaked into the tree")
+	}
+	p, err := LoadPack(tree)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if p.Manifest.Name != "pdf-processing" {
+		t.Errorf("name = %q", p.Manifest.Name)
+	}
+}