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PaperClipAI/maps
Dotta a3e7e63330 Guard Native recovery with process-space proof and explicit containment (#19813)
## Thinking Path

> - Paperclip manages agents and their work.
> - Recovery must preserve execution ownership and accepted results.
> - A saved PID proves nothing outside its recorded process namespace.
> - Uncertain unfinished work must stay held until its original owners
stop.
> - Operators need a source-bound containment action and a separate
ordinary Retry.
> - Accepted results must use the existing finalizer without another
provider turn.
> - This PR keeps those paths safe, recoverable, and quiet between real
obligations.

## Linked Issues or Issue Description

Refs: #19713

Refs: #19591

Recovery could use a local PID to release or replace a controller from
another process namespace. Connected-chat Retry also rejected successful
containment on a task in `todo`. The new containment action used a
broader permission than the existing owner-stop action. A later review
found that result-less guards also rejected the existing accepted-result
confirmation action.

## What Changed

- Record and verify the controller's kernel/PID namespace. Keep unknown
and foreign unfinished ownership held. Preserve independent durable stop
evidence and the existing remote lease fences.
- Use the shared accepted-result ownership reconciler. Bind settlement
to the observed lease token, generation, boot, PID, namespace and
process birth. Retain finalizer, cleanup, current-controller, live-owner
and remote exclusions.
- Share the remote-owner reader across recovery consumers. Scope runner
leases to the same company, task and run. Do not make local PID probes
for remote accepted-result ownership.
- Gate original-host containment on `runtime:confirm_owner_stop`. Bind
it to the current task, source, assignee, original expiry, lease and
Stop state. Audit separate controller/provider containment and reviewed
action outcomes.
- Keep containment separate from ordinary Retry. Use one canonical
committed receipt and the normal admission, budget, workspace and
lineage checks. Preserve the recorded external-action outcomes.
- Keep the controller-only confirmation actionable for both result-less
work and accepted results. Result-less work gets its next source-bound
attention in the same transaction. Accepted results keep their original
result and use normal shared settlement/finalization.
- Keep identity inspection quiet. Preserve the original foreign-owner
expiry and use the existing scoped finalizer in accepted-result recovery
controls.
- Update the recovery card, validators, execution projection, docs and
access maps. Reuse existing canonical columns; add no migration or
ownership backfill.

## Verification

Current publication head: `71ea76b568de09d6313d8992e803131d9d5c54f3`.

**The current fix has a causal red/green check.** On the test-only
revision, both foreign-local stopped/fenced controller cases failed
because recovery probed saved runner, process-group and provider PIDs in
this host's namespace. This measured the wrong probes; it did not run
duplicate providers. After the fix, the same two cases passed every
no-probe, no-claim, no-controller-stamp, no-stop-receipt and
unchanged-authority assertion. Three existing remote preparation, grace
and fenced-controller progress cases also passed. Total: **5 passed, 0
failed;170 filtered rows excluded**. All three normal affected App
TypeScript programs passed on this head (660,681 and428 roots).

The fix separates a controller wait from execution stop proof.
Independent live/grace evidence still schedules recovery. A
stopped/fenced foreign controller can pass this namespace guard only for
remote execution, which keeps its later checkpoint and never-launched
checks. Foreign local execution stays held before runner or provider PID
inspection.

Earlier source-scoped results remain evidence, not fresh executions on
the current head:

- On `c86dd741`, the complete failed-owner file passed **25/25**, with
no skips or filters. Empty scans wrote no controller stamps. Foreign
ownership kept its original expiry. Normal returned-claim settlement and
attention at the exact deadline passed.
- On `c86dd741`, **15 selected accepted-result/restart controls
passed**. The81 filtered rows are excluded. Both completion cases used
the existing scoped finalizer and kept their accepted result without
another provider turn.
- Trusted CI at synthetic merge `50d072a5` (actual master `1b7fe334`
plus `c86dd741`) passed the complete **17-case maintenance-server
file**. This includes the original90-real-second quiet observation and
two qualified hourly windows. The quiet case took118,918ms. The four
jobs that failed on the earlier publication all passed on that synthetic
merge.
- On `6243b32c`, the complete ownership-report file passed **29/29**.
Native NULL namespace stayed unprovable and generic compatibility
remained. Three selected recovery controls passed;170 filtered rows are
excluded.
- On `f81f2c3c`,356 business cases passed: whole ownership-route221,
recoveryUI70, owner-proof38 and controller-confirmation8; selected
accepted-result authority18; and one real connected-chat containment,
separate authorized Retry, useful Native result and downstream reply
case. The2,024 filtered rows are excluded. A separate earlier
accepted-result causal case kept the original result and completed after
restart without replay.

Normal Shared exports, App programs, UI typecheck, token gates and map
checks passed on their recorded revisions. Unchanged DB, adapter, Eval
and Runner inputs/outputs have explicit carry proofs. The clean normal
merge with fetched master `8fe524f7` preserves all31 exclusive owned
paths and14,827 unrelated master entries. The nine overlapping paths
were reviewed, including the upstream unidentified-run stop action.
Fresh CI must validate that actual merge composition.

PG cases used existing external PG17, fresh owned databases, pools at
most4, one worker and no SQL observer during cases. Registered clients
and recorded process groups closed. Independent final SQL audits found
zero campaign sessions before normal database cleanup. Original failing
fixtures remain retained.

Original failures are preserved. One new test first failed compilation
due to a missing getter import; an import-only correction passed its
full owning programs before the causal red/green check. A local quiet
attempt stopped in the normal prerequisite hook before any business case
and its collector rejected two normal build markers. The later17-case CI
pass establishes quiet recovery; it does not turn that failed local
collector into a pass. An earlier useful case passed before its private
cleanup collector failed on an owned read-only directory; normal cleanup
completed after all owners closed. Earlier runner-shutdown cancellation
and a separate private whole-suite failure remain unexplained.

Current-head checks are complete:57 success,1 neutral and3 skipped,
including the successful aggregate CI gate. The legacy status passed.
Greptile is5/5 and Ponytail gives an explicit5/5 Ship verdict for this
head. All seven review threads are resolved. Full recursive typecheck,
the full test suite and release build were not repeated locally. No
result here proves deployed suspension, a live provider or termination
on another host.

## Risks

- Unknown physical ownership can require an owner/admin action. A false
containment statement can be unsafe.
- New work, reassignment, Stop, renewed authority, accepted results or
pending cleanup can invalidate an action. The operator must refresh.
- Controller confirmation does not prove provider/tool containment.
Completed external actions must not be replayed.
- Generic legacy and child-process compatibility remains separate from
the strict Native controller policy.
- Existing saved state and canonical schema are preserved. Permanent
safety refusals remain held with their normal named recovery path.

## Model Used

OpenAI `gpt-6.1-sol` agents implemented and tested the changes with
reasoning, repository tools and code execution. A GPT-6-based Codex
managing agent reviewed and integrated them. The host does not expose
the manager's exact build or the context-window sizes.

## 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 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
- [x] All Paperclip CI gates are green
- [x] Greptile is 5/5 with no open P2s, recommendations, or follow-ups
- [x] I will address all Greptile and reviewer comments before
requesting merge
2026-11-09 12:06:11 -06:00
..

Paperclip maps

The maps describe the same capabilities from two perspectives:

  • Feature map: what a person can do, where to reach it, and how to verify the user journey. Preserve its Poteto format.
  • Agent access map: the APIs and agent entry points for those capabilities, their permission boundaries, and access verification.

The chat scenario catalog adds natural-language requests, starting context and expected conversational outcomes for the same capability IDs. It lives with Product E2E as planning data; a scenario reference is neither a registered execution nor evidence that a journey passed.

These are sibling directories under maps/. Each feature file has a same-named agent access companion. Reuse the product map's sub-feature IDs, so tasks/create identifies the same capability in both maps. Product behavior remains governed by the implementation spec; a map cannot grant authority or redefine a permission denial as success.

Capability identifiers

The feature ID is the recipe filename without .md, such as onboarding. The full capability ID joins that feature ID and a Sub-features key with /: the company key in feature-map/onboarding.md is onboarding/company. Its agent-access-map/onboarding.md companion uses the same local company key. The feature-map index lists the existing feature and full capability IDs.

Each child page states Feature ID: `onboarding`. after its introduction or product-map link. In feature recipes, show the full ID beside the parsed local key: - `company`: `onboarding/company` — create a company. In access companions and Storybook verification guidance, keep the existing local heading and put Capability ID: `onboarding/company`. beneath it. These labels make the existing identifiers visible without changing keys, anchors, or ID generation.

Use full capability IDs in cross-feature references, Storybook annotations, tests, issues, PRs, and verification evidence. Both segments use lowercase letters, digits, and hyphens. Keep filenames and keys stable when display titles or navigation labels change; renaming either changes the capability ID.

Entry-point IDs describe a surface, such as web-wizard, and are scoped to their recipe. Reference them with a recipe link, such as onboarding.md#web-wizard, and record the capability exercised separately. Navigation section labels are not capability IDs. See IDs and references for examples.

Access contract

Every business operation needs both an API and a usable agent entry point for an actor authorized to perform it. A dedicated tool is optional when REST, the CLI, an assigned MCP client, or native search_api / call_api already provides the operation. Record which agent surfaces actually have that path; an installed CLI or optional MCP package cannot be assumed available to every native/remote run.

Track these independently:

Dimension Values and meaning
API present, missing, not-applicable, or unreviewed. Use exact methods/paths; distinguish protocols from REST.
Agent access available, partial, missing, restricted, operator-only, not-applicable, or unreviewed. Name the supported surface and actual entry point.
Policy Actor, action/grant, company/resource/ownership scope, responsible-user intersection, run requirements, work modes, and gates relevant to the operation.
Evidence source-only, verified, failed, blocked, or not-run. Source presence and successful board calls are not agent verification.
Review depth baseline records representative operations and known gaps; operation-reviewed enumerates the capability's meaningful operations and their individual access contracts.

Broad capabilities such as task properties must be split into operations before they count as operation-reviewed: renaming, metadata edits, assignment, dependencies, and lifecycle changes can use different tools and permission rules. An available read path cannot certify a write path. List/get/create/update/delete, execution/control, credential handling, and resolution are separate where their authority or transport differs. Do not duplicate request schemas from OpenAPI.

Exceptions and restrictions

Presentation-only state, static developer fixtures, and pre-start/local operator work may use not-applicable for a domain API, with a concrete reason and the existing local path. When a capability combines shared data with presentation, split the operations: browser recents do not exempt resource lookup from API coverage. Promoting local state to a shared feature requires revisiting the entry.

A board-only endpoint is restricted for agent identity, not an automatic exception or a missing API. Cite the enforced policy and record whether the agent can request the authorized human's action and observe its result. An unresolved delegation question remains in Gaps. Company access, a job title, a personal assistant's OAuth grant, or an accepted interaction does not grant board identity. Keep budget, approval, secret and execution authority intact.

Check actual route/service authorization and production tool admission. OpenAPI actor labels and scenario/evaluation tool declarations are supporting metadata; record disagreements rather than using them as proof of access. Native API fallback restrictions, tool field/scope limits, and rollout settings are part of the agent path, even when a legacy agent can call the REST endpoint directly.

Companion file format

Each agent-access-map/<area>.md has an H1, a relative link to its product file, and its feature ID, followed by one H2 backticked local key per product sub-feature. Each capability starts with its full capability ID and contains these fields:

  • Review: baseline or operation-reviewed.
  • API: presence state and exact operation IDs, or a reasoned exception.
  • Agent access: availability state and concrete entry points by surface.
  • Policy: relevant permission and runtime boundaries, with source references.
  • Evidence: evidence state, reviewed commit and sources or executed proof.
  • Verification: allowed/denied assertions and observable result; record what has actually run separately from the proposed recipe.
  • Gaps: missing APIs/paths, discovery drift, unreviewed operations or policy decisions; use none only for the enumerated scope that was reviewed.

For an operation-reviewed capability, use H3 backticked operation IDs and repeat API, Agent access, Policy, Evidence, Verification and Gaps for each operation. Use small operation names such as create, update, read, or run-now. The enclosing capability has Review: operation-reviewed only after its meaningful operations have been enumerated. The following excerpt shows one operation; include the others before using that review label:

## `definition`

Review: `operation-reviewed`.

### `create`

API: `present` — POST /api/companies/{companyId}/routines.
Agent access: `available` — agent REST, CLI routine create and native call_api
under the enabled rollout and active-run/mode gates.
Policy: same company; assigneeAgentId must be the calling agent; cite the
routine authorization and native API policy sources.
Evidence: `source-only` — reviewed commit and source links; no live proof.
Verification: `not-run` — create an owned routine; reject assignment to another
agent; inspect saved configuration, attribution and retry behavior.
Gaps: verify ownership and responsible-user resolution with a permitted agent
context; source presence alone does not qualify this operation.

Keeping the maps synchronized

Add entries only for substantial new features under the feature-map scope rule. Routine fixes, polish, refactors, performance work, and test changes do not require map updates. Correct or remove existing text only when behavior or access changes make it materially inaccurate; keep the correction local to the affected recipe or companion. Preserve IDs across renames where the capability is unchanged; update the affected cross-links together. Indexes discover recipes automatically. An API-only change may update the companion without rewriting unchanged user instructions. Update the corresponding chat scenarios when their request, assumptions or expected outcome changes; use multiple cases for meaningfully different starting conditions rather than treating an API path as conversational coverage.

maintain-verification-skill owns reconciliation of both maps. It follows changed source and authorization, checks real agent reachability, and records product gaps without implementing them during a maintenance pass. The creation skill uses this structure. verify-paperclip consumes the relevant recipes and reports evidence/drift; map editing belongs to maintenance.

Run the structural check after map changes:

node scripts/check-maps.mjs

It checks paired areas/IDs, navigation metadata, required fields, and local references. It does not certify endpoint authorization, production bindings, operation completeness, or live behavior. Source audits must check those against the existing API and tool contracts; avoid a second schema catalog or runtime.

For live access proof, use Paperclip's existing API/runner/MCP fixtures or an owned isolated instance. Use the actual agent identity, target and work mode. Assert the allowed result and relevant denial (another company/private resource, wrong owner, missing grant, invalid run, restricted mode or resolver). Mutations also need persisted state/attribution and retry behavior. Capture evidence using the existing artifact workflow; keep executed run results separate from generated maps/generated/coverage.json, which lists page references.

Local authorship and generated indexes

Change only the recipes, access contracts and stories whose behavior or intent changed. Feature recipes own navigation metadata; stories own small parameters.paperclip annotations. Keep the feature-map README's readable ID index aligned with those sources; it does not register entries for generation. Do not refresh counts in shared READMEs, inventories, fingerprints or review journals.

node scripts/storybook-catalog.mjs validates and generates aggregate navigation, Storybook data, verification routes and the page inventory. All outputs live in ignored maps/generated/, ui/storybook/generated/, and the ignored Storybook preview.tsx wrapper. Start/build and UI typechecking generate their own inputs. A clean merged checkout therefore assembles both branches' changes automatically.

Git provides history and diffs. PRs, issues and CI artifacts retain review/run evidence for the named revision. Capability associations do not create whole-file review dependencies. Keep durable scenario limits in the affected recipe or story.