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https://entire.com/gh/paperclipai/-/trails/103/changes/paperclip/103
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## Thinking Path
> - Paperclip manages real agent work.
> - Controlled Runner evaluations record model spend and traces.
> - A trusted build creates one portable controller with a complete file
inventory.
> - GitHub artifact upload omitted one hidden dependency metadata file.
> - The next job correctly refused the incomplete inventory before any
paid worker started.
> - This change preserves all inventoried bytes without relaxing
verification.
## Linked Issues or Issue Description
Refs #17889, #17929.
**What happened?**
[Run
40585138437](https://github.com/paperclipai/paperclip/actions/runs/40585138437)
failed at copied controller verification. Its artifact contains 294
files; its signed inventory expects 295. The only missing file is
`server/node_modules/protobufjs/node_modules/@protobufjs/pool/.npmignore`.
No extra files exist. Every paid worker was skipped and no model request
ran.
**Expected behavior**
The trusted controller artifact preserves its full inventory, including
hidden package metadata. The strict verifier rejects any actual change
or missing file.
**Steps to reproduce**
Build the portable runtime, upload the directory with the action's
default hidden-file exclusion, then verify the downloaded artifact
against the original receipt.
## What Changed
- Enable hidden files only on the fresh trusted controller code upload.
- Download that exact upload and run a real artifact-service round-trip
test before any private preparation. The test fails if the upload drops
hidden files again; it tests the actual transport instead of matching a
YAML flag.
- Keep the strict byte inventory and trusted source/receipt checks.
- Document why this code artifact differs from private attempt evidence,
which still uses the protected archive.
## Verification
- Exact retained artifact comparison: one missing `.npmignore`, zero
extra files.
- `actionlint .github/workflows/runner-protocol-live-evals.yml` passed.
- Protocol workflow security tests: 14 passed.
- The artifact-service integration test is explicit-only locally. The
controlled workflow supplies the real downloaded artifact, trusted
source and receipt digest.
- No product runtime, provider routing or grading code changed. CI runs
broader checks. Fresh controlled workflow qualification follows merge.
## Risks
Hidden files are allowed only in the code-only output of the
provider-credential-free build. Raw private evidence and credentials do
not enter that upload. The artifact verifier still requires every file
and SHA-256 from the trusted receipt.
## Model Used
OpenAI Codex, GPT-6 family, with reasoning, repository inspection and
code execution. The exact serving model ID and context window are not
exposed to this session.
## 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
---------
Co-authored-by: Paperclip <noreply@paperclip.ing>
Dotta