feat(release): bootstrap new npm packages with a placeholder publish (#11757)

## Thinking Path

> - Paperclip is the open source app people use to manage AI agents for
work
> - Its release pipeline publishes a set of npm packages from CI with
npm trusted publishing (GitHub OIDC), gated by
`scripts/release-package-manifest.json`
> - A brand-new package name cannot be published by CI directly: the PR
bootstrap gate requires the name to resolve on npm, and a
trusted-publisher rule can only be configured after the package page
exists
> - The current bootstrap helper closes that gap by building the package
locally and publishing its real output from a maintainer machine —
before the PR that adds the package has passed CI or review
> - This pull request replaces that flow: the helper now publishes a
minimal deprecated placeholder at version `0.0.0` that only reserves the
name, so every real version ships from CI
> - The benefit is that unreviewed build output never reaches npm, and
the bootstrap runs from any checkout (including `master`, before the new
package's PR merges) with no local build

## Linked Issues or Issue Description

**What existing behavior does this improve?**

The one-time npm bootstrap for a brand-new release package (`pnpm run
release:bootstrap-package`).

**Current behavior**

The helper builds the target package locally and publishes the real
build output from a maintainer machine. That content has not passed
repository CI or review at publish time. The helper also requires the
new package to exist in the local workspace, so it must run from the
(unmerged) PR branch that adds the package.

**Proposed behavior**

The helper publishes a three-file placeholder at version `0.0.0`
(manifest, README, and an `index.js` that throws a descriptive error),
waits for the registry to show the package, then deprecates it. The PR
bootstrap gate (`scripts/check-release-package-bootstrap.mjs`) only
requires the name to resolve on the registry, so the placeholder
satisfies it. The first real calver release from CI supersedes the
placeholder, and a stable release moves `latest` off it — the same
`latest` window that existed under the old flow, but containing an
explicit inert stub instead of unreviewed code.

**Reason and benefit**

Real package content only ever reaches npm from CI, after review and
merge. The bootstrap becomes safer (scope guard refuses names outside
`@paperclipai/`, already-published names are rejected) and simpler (no
local build, no workspace state, runs from any checkout).

**Breaking changes**

None at runtime. The helper's CLI surface changes: it now takes a
package name only (no directory selector) and drops `--skip-build`.
`doc/PUBLISHING.md` is updated to match.

## What Changed

- `scripts/bootstrap-npm-package.mjs`: replaced the build-and-publish
flow with a placeholder publish — stages `package.json` + `README.md` +
throwing `index.js` at version `0.0.0` in a temp directory, previews
with `npm publish --dry-run`, and publishes only with `--publish`.
One-time passwords are prompted interactively (never passed as
arguments, since they are single-use and would land in shell history),
with re-prompt on a rejected or expired code. After publishing, the
helper polls the registry until the package is visible (a first publish
can lag by minutes; verified live at ~5 minutes), requiring two
consecutive sightings before prompting for a second code and deprecating
the placeholder so accidental installs warn loudly; on timeout or
failure it prints the exact manual `npm deprecate` command. Added an
`@paperclipai/`-scope guard and a fail-fast error when `--publish` runs
without an interactive terminal. Removed the workspace-plan dependency
so it runs from any checkout.
- `scripts/bootstrap-npm-package.test.mjs`: rewrote for the new
interface — argument parsing, scope validation, the generated
placeholder files (manifest shape, throwing entry point, README), the
OTP re-prompt loop, and the registry poll (consecutive-sighting
requirement, timeout, transient-error tolerance) via injected fakes.
- `doc/PUBLISHING.md`: rewrote the "One-time bootstrap sequence for a
new package" section for the placeholder flow, including the `latest`
dist-tag window and the trusted-publishing setup ordering (placeholder
publish → trusted publisher rule → `"publishFromCi": true`).
- `.github/scripts/check-pr-release-bootstrap.mjs` (+ test, + wiring in
`run-quality-gates.mjs`): new informational commitperclip notice on PRs
that need this bootstrap. It fires when the PR newly release-enables a
package that is missing from npm, or adds an unpublished `publishFromCi:
false` package that published packages declare a `workspace:*`
dependency on, and names the exact maintainer command — so contributors
know the red `policy` check is not theirs to fix. It never fails the
gate (the `policy` job remains the enforcer), only looks up
scope-validated names on the registry, and stays quiet on registry
errors.

## Verification

- `node --test scripts/bootstrap-npm-package.test.mjs`: 13/13 pass
- `node --test .github/scripts/tests/*.test.mjs`: 147/147 pass (10 new
for the PR notice)
- `pnpm run test:release-registry`: 82/82 pass
- Replayed the new PR notice against a real historical PR's live API
data (files, manifest at base and head refs): with the registry in its
pre-bootstrap state it produces the exact maintainer instruction; with
the package bootstrapped it stays silent
- Full live end-to-end run: the flow bootstrapped
`@paperclipai/adapter-kimi-local` for real — dry-run preview (634-byte,
3-file tarball), publish, registry visibility after ~5 minutes of
propagation lag, deprecation confirmed via `npm view ... deprecated`
- Guards verified live: an already-published name is rejected, an
out-of-scope name (`left-pad`) is rejected, unknown options (including
the removed `--otp`) are rejected, and `--publish` in a non-interactive
shell fails fast before any network call

## Risks

- The `latest` dist-tag points at the deprecated `0.0.0` placeholder
until the first stable release supersedes it. This window also existed
under the old flow (which parked `latest` at a locally built version);
internal consumers are unaffected because release version rewrites pin
exact calver versions.
- The registry poll caps at ~10 minutes. If propagation is slower than
that, the helper prints the exact `npm deprecate ... --otp <code>`
command to run manually once `npm view` resolves.
- The helper no longer validates the name against the workspace release
plan, so a typo within the `@paperclipai/` scope would reserve a wrong
name. The dry-run preview shows the exact name before any publish.

## Model Used

- Anthropic, **Claude Fable 5** (`claude-fable-5`) via Claude Code, with
repository, shell, and Git tooling. It analyzed the existing bootstrap
flow and the release scripts (`release-package-map.mjs`,
`check-release-package-bootstrap.mjs`, `release.sh` dist-tag handling),
wrote the replacement script and tests, updated the documentation, and
ran the verification above.

## Checklist

- [x] I have included a thinking path that traces from project context
to this change
- [x] I have specified the model used (with version and capability
details)
- [x] I have checked ROADMAP.md and confirmed this PR does not duplicate
planned core work
- [x] I have searched GitHub for duplicate or related PRs and linked
them above
- [x] I have either (a) linked existing issues with `Fixes: #` / `Closes
#` / `Refs #` OR (b) described the issue in-PR following the relevant
issue template
- [x] I have not referenced internal/instance-local Paperclip issues or
links (only public GitHub `#NNN` / `github.com/paperclipai/paperclip`
URLs)
- [x] My branch name describes the change (e.g. `docs/...`, `fix/...`)
and contains no internal Paperclip ticket id or instance-derived details
- [x] I have run tests locally and they pass
- [x] I have added or updated tests where applicable
- [x] I have updated relevant documentation to reflect my changes
- [x] I have considered and documented any risks above
- [ ] All Paperclip CI gates are green
- [ ] Greptile is 5/5 with no open P2s, recommendations, or follow-ups
- [x] I will address all Greptile and reviewer comments before
requesting merge

.github/scripts/tests/check-pr-release-bootstrap.test.mjs

@@ -0,0 +1,265 @@
+import { test } from 'node:test';
+import assert from 'node:assert/strict';
+import {
+  addedWorkspaceDependencyNames,
+  checkReleaseBootstrap,
+} from '../check-pr-release-bootstrap.mjs';
+
+const MANIFEST_PATH = 'scripts/release-package-manifest.json';
+
+function encodeManifest(entries) {
+  return { content: Buffer.from(JSON.stringify(entries)).toString('base64') };
+}
+
+function stubGitHub({ base = [], head = [] }) {
+  return async (path) => {
+    if (path.includes('ref=refs%2Fpull%2F')) return encodeManifest(head);
+    if (path.includes(`/contents/`)) return encodeManifest(base);
+    throw new Error(`unexpected fetch: ${path}`);
+  };
+}
+
+const manifestChangedFile = { filename: MANIFEST_PATH, status: 'modified' };
+
+test('does nothing (and fetches nothing) when the manifest is untouched', async () => {
+  const result = await checkReleaseBootstrap(
+    [{ filename: 'server/src/index.ts', status: 'modified' }],
+    'token',
+    'paperclipai/paperclip',
+    9967,
+    'master',
+    {
+      fetchFromGitHub: async () => { throw new Error('should not fetch'); },
+      registryPackageExists: async () => { throw new Error('should not look up'); },
+    }
+  );
+
+  assert.deepEqual(result, { passed: true, informational: [] });
+});
+
+test('notices a new publishFromCi:true package that is missing from npm', async () => {
+  const result = await checkReleaseBootstrap(
+    [manifestChangedFile],
+    'token',
+    'paperclipai/paperclip',
+    9967,
+    'master',
+    {
+      fetchFromGitHub: stubGitHub({
+        base: [{ dir: 'a', name: '@paperclipai/existing', publishFromCi: true }],
+        head: [
+          { dir: 'a', name: '@paperclipai/existing', publishFromCi: true },
+          { dir: 'b', name: '@paperclipai/brand-new', publishFromCi: true },
+        ],
+      }),
+      registryPackageExists: async (name) => name !== '@paperclipai/brand-new',
+    }
+  );
+
+  assert.equal(result.informational.length, 1);
+  assert.match(result.informational[0], /@paperclipai\/brand-new/);
+  assert.match(result.informational[0], /release:bootstrap-package -- @paperclipai\/brand-new --publish/);
+  assert.match(result.informational[0], /No contributor action/);
+});
+
+test('stays quiet when the new package already exists on npm', async () => {
+  const result = await checkReleaseBootstrap(
+    [manifestChangedFile],
+    'token',
+    'paperclipai/paperclip',
+    9967,
+    'master',
+    {
+      fetchFromGitHub: stubGitHub({
+        base: [],
+        head: [{ dir: 'b', name: '@paperclipai/already-bootstrapped', publishFromCi: true }],
+      }),
+      registryPackageExists: async () => true,
+    }
+  );
+
+  assert.deepEqual(result.informational, []);
+});
+
+test('notices a publishFromCi flip from false to true on a missing package', async () => {
+  const result = await checkReleaseBootstrap(
+    [manifestChangedFile],
+    'token',
+    'paperclipai/paperclip',
+    9967,
+    'master',
+    {
+      fetchFromGitHub: stubGitHub({
+        base: [{ dir: 'b', name: '@paperclipai/flipped', publishFromCi: false }],
+        head: [{ dir: 'b', name: '@paperclipai/flipped', publishFromCi: true }],
+      }),
+      registryPackageExists: async () => false,
+    }
+  );
+
+  assert.equal(result.informational.length, 1);
+  assert.match(result.informational[0], /@paperclipai\/flipped/);
+});
+
+test('notices a publishFromCi:false package that published packages newly depend on', async () => {
+  const files = [
+    manifestChangedFile,
+    {
+      filename: 'server/package.json',
+      status: 'modified',
+      patch: '@@ -1 +1 @@\n+    "@paperclipai/adapter-kimi-local": "workspace:*",',
+    },
+  ];
+
+  const result = await checkReleaseBootstrap(
+    files,
+    'token',
+    'paperclipai/paperclip',
+    9967,
+    'master',
+    {
+      fetchFromGitHub: stubGitHub({
+        base: [],
+        head: [{ dir: 'b', name: '@paperclipai/adapter-kimi-local', publishFromCi: false }],
+      }),
+      registryPackageExists: async () => false,
+    }
+  );
+
+  assert.equal(result.informational.length, 1);
+  assert.match(result.informational[0], /depend on it/);
+  assert.match(result.informational[0], /"publishFromCi": true/);
+  assert.match(result.informational[0], /drop the workspace dependency/);
+});
+
+test('notices a newly added dependency on an existing unpublished package even when the manifest is untouched', async () => {
+  const files = [
+    {
+      filename: 'server/package.json',
+      status: 'modified',
+      patch: '@@ -1 +1 @@\n+    "@paperclipai/adapter-hermes-gateway": "workspace:*",',
+    },
+  ];
+
+  const manifest = [{ dir: 'g', name: '@paperclipai/adapter-hermes-gateway', publishFromCi: false }];
+  const result = await checkReleaseBootstrap(
+    files,
+    'token',
+    'paperclipai/paperclip',
+    9967,
+    'master',
+    {
+      fetchFromGitHub: stubGitHub({ base: manifest, head: manifest }),
+      registryPackageExists: async () => false,
+    }
+  );
+
+  assert.equal(result.informational.length, 1);
+  assert.match(result.informational[0], /@paperclipai\/adapter-hermes-gateway/);
+  assert.match(result.informational[0], /depend on it/);
+});
+
+test('stays quiet for a publishFromCi:false package nothing depends on', async () => {
+  const result = await checkReleaseBootstrap(
+    [manifestChangedFile],
+    'token',
+    'paperclipai/paperclip',
+    9967,
+    'master',
+    {
+      fetchFromGitHub: stubGitHub({
+        base: [],
+        head: [{ dir: 'b', name: '@paperclipai/deliberately-private', publishFromCi: false }],
+      }),
+      registryPackageExists: async () => { throw new Error('should not look up'); },
+    }
+  );
+
+  assert.deepEqual(result.informational, []);
+});
+
+test('never looks up names outside the @paperclipai scope', async () => {
+  const lookedUp = [];
+  const result = await checkReleaseBootstrap(
+    [manifestChangedFile],
+    'token',
+    'paperclipai/paperclip',
+    9967,
+    'master',
+    {
+      fetchFromGitHub: stubGitHub({
+        base: [],
+        head: [
+          { dir: 'x', name: '@evil/probe', publishFromCi: true },
+          { dir: 'y', name: 'unscoped-name', publishFromCi: true },
+          { dir: 'z', name: '@paperclipai/UPPER', publishFromCi: true },
+        ],
+      }),
+      registryPackageExists: async (name) => {
+        lookedUp.push(name);
+        return false;
+      },
+    }
+  );
+
+  assert.deepEqual(lookedUp, []);
+  assert.deepEqual(result.informational, []);
+});
+
+test('stays quiet when the registry lookup fails', async () => {
+  const result = await checkReleaseBootstrap(
+    [manifestChangedFile],
+    'token',
+    'paperclipai/paperclip',
+    9967,
+    'master',
+    {
+      fetchFromGitHub: stubGitHub({
+        base: [],
+        head: [{ dir: 'b', name: '@paperclipai/brand-new', publishFromCi: true }],
+      }),
+      registryPackageExists: async () => { throw new Error('registry down'); },
+    }
+  );
+
+  assert.deepEqual(result, { passed: true, informational: [] });
+});
+
+test('treats a missing base manifest as empty (every head entry is new)', async () => {
+  const result = await checkReleaseBootstrap(
+    [manifestChangedFile],
+    'token',
+    'paperclipai/paperclip',
+    9967,
+    'master',
+    {
+      fetchFromGitHub: async (path) => {
+        if (path.includes('ref=refs%2Fpull%2F')) {
+          return encodeManifest([{ dir: 'b', name: '@paperclipai/brand-new', publishFromCi: true }]);
+        }
+        throw new Error('404 base manifest');
+      },
+      registryPackageExists: async () => false,
+    }
+  );
+
+  assert.equal(result.informational.length, 1);
+});
+
+test('addedWorkspaceDependencyNames reads only added lines of package.json patches', () => {
+  const names = addedWorkspaceDependencyNames([
+    {
+      filename: 'server/package.json',
+      patch: [
+        '@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@',
+        '     "@paperclipai/context-line": "workspace:*",',
+        '-    "@paperclipai/removed-dep": "workspace:*",',
+        '+    "@paperclipai/added-dep": "workspace:*",',
+      ].join('\n'),
+    },
+    { filename: 'ui/src/index.ts', patch: '+    "@paperclipai/not-a-pkg-json": "workspace:*",' },
+    { filename: 'node_modules/x/package.json', patch: '+    "@paperclipai/vendored": "workspace:*",' },
+  ]);
+
+  assert.deepEqual([...names], ['@paperclipai/added-dep']);
+});