Add ? prefix for sample files in file-list; fix bootstrap/upgrade

bootstrap.sh wrote .diachron-version to the temp clone directory
instead of the target project, causing upgrade.sh to fail. Fix that
and teach all three scripts (bootstrap, upgrade, diff-upstream) about
the new ? prefix convention in file-list.

Sample files (?-prefixed) are copied on bootstrap but left alone on
upgrade so user modifications are preserved. New samples introduced
in a newer framework version are still copied if absent.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.6 <noreply@anthropic.com>

.gitignore

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 **/node_modules
-framework/downloads
-framework/binaries
-framework/.nodejs
-framework/.nodejs-config
+diachron/downloads
+diachron/binaries
+diachron/.nodejs
+diachron/.nodejs-config

AGENTS.md

@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+# Agent Instructions
+
+Read and follow the instructions in `diachron/AGENTS.md`.  That file
+contains framework conventions, commands, and structure that apply to
+all coding agents working on diachron-based projects.
+
+This project uses **bd** (beads) for issue tracking. Run `bd onboard` to get started.
+
+## Quick Reference
+
+```bash
+bd ready              # Find available work
+bd show <id>          # View issue details
+bd update <id> --status in_progress  # Claim work
+bd close <id>         # Complete work
+bd sync               # Sync with git
+```
+
+## Landing the Plane (Session Completion)
+
+**When ending a work session**, you MUST complete ALL steps below. Work is NOT complete until `git push` succeeds.
+
+**MANDATORY WORKFLOW:**
+
+1. **File issues for remaining work** - Create issues for anything that needs follow-up
+2. **Run quality gates** (if code changed) - Tests, linters, builds
+3. **Update issue status** - Close finished work, update in-progress items
+4. **PUSH TO REMOTE** - This is MANDATORY:
+   ```bash
+   git pull --rebase
+   bd sync
+   git push
+   git status  # MUST show "up to date with origin"
+   ```
+5. **Clean up** - Clear stashes, prune remote branches
+6. **Verify** - All changes committed AND pushed
+7. **Hand off** - Provide context for next session
+
+**CRITICAL RULES:**
+- Work is NOT complete until `git push` succeeds
+- NEVER stop before pushing - that leaves work stranded locally
+- NEVER say "ready to push when you are" - YOU must push
+- If push fails, resolve and retry until it succeeds
+

CLAUDE.md

@@ -3,6 +3,10 @@
 This file provides guidance to Claude Code (claude.ai/code) when working with
 code in this repository.
 
+Read and follow the instructions in `diachron/AGENTS.md`.  That file
+contains framework conventions, commands, and structure that apply to
+all coding agents working on diachron-based projects.
+
 ## Project Overview
 
 Diachron is an opinionated TypeScript/Node.js web framework with a Go-based
@@ -38,7 +42,7 @@ master process. Key design principles:
 
 **Format TypeScript code:**
 ```bash
-cd express && ../cmd pnpm biome check --write .
+cd backend && ../cmd pnpm biome check --write .
 ```
 
 **Build Go master process:**
@@ -54,9 +58,9 @@ cd master && go build
 
 ### Components
 
-- **express/** - TypeScript/Express.js backend application
+- **backend/** - TypeScript/Express.js backend application
 - **master/** - Go-based master process for file watching and process management
-- **framework/** - Managed binaries (Node.js, pnpm), command wrappers, and
+- **diachron/** - Managed binaries (Node.js, pnpm), command wrappers, and
   framework-specific library code
 - **monitor/** - Go file watcher that triggers rebuilds (experimental)
 
@@ -68,7 +72,7 @@ Responsibilities:
 - Proxy web requests to backend workers
 - Behaves identically in all environments (no dev/prod distinction)
 
-### Express App Structure
+### Backend App Structure
 
 - `app.ts` - Main Express application setup with route matching
 - `routes.ts` - Route definitions
@@ -78,7 +82,7 @@ Responsibilities:
 
 ### Framework Command System
 
-Commands flow through: `./cmd` → `framework/cmd.d/*` → `framework/shims/*` → managed binaries in `framework/binaries/`
+Commands flow through: `./cmd` → `diachron/cmd.d/*` → `diachron/shims/*` → managed binaries in `diachron/binaries/`
 
 This ensures consistent tooling versions across the team without system-wide installations.
 
@@ -94,8 +98,8 @@ This ensures consistent tooling versions across the team without system-wide ins
 
 ## Platform Requirements
 
-Linux x86_64 only (currently). Requires:
-- Modern libc for Go binaries
+Linux or macOS on x86_64. Requires:
+- Modern libc for Go binaries (Linux)
 - docker compose (for full stack)
 - fd, shellcheck, shfmt (for development)
 

DIACHRON.md

@@ -0,0 +1,184 @@
+# What is diachron?
+
+diachron is a web framework for TypeScript and Node.js.  It uses a Go-based
+master process that handles file watching, building, process management, and
+request proxying.  The application code is TypeScript running on Express.js.
+
+If you're joining a project that uses diachron, this document will orient you.
+
+## Why diachron exists
+
+diachron was built around a few frustrations with mainstream web frameworks:
+
+- **No dev/prod split.**  Most frameworks behave differently in development and
+  production.  diachron doesn't.  The master process watches files, rebuilds,
+  and manages workers the same way everywhere.  There is no `NODE_ENV`.
+
+- **Managed tooling.**  Node.js, pnpm, and other tools are downloaded and
+  pinned to exact versions inside the project.  You don't install them
+  system-wide.  Everyone on the team runs the same binaries.
+
+- **PostgreSQL, directly.**  No ORM, no database abstraction layer.  You write
+  SQL (via Kysely for type safety) and talk to PostgreSQL.  If you need
+  MySQL or SQLite support, this is not the framework for you.
+
+- **Debuggability over magic.**  Everything is explicit and inspectable.
+  Logging and observability are first-class concerns, not afterthoughts.
+
+diachron is inspired by the
+[Taking PHP Seriously](https://slack.engineering/taking-php-seriously/) essay
+from Slack Engineering.  It's designed for small to medium systems (what we
+call "Ring 0 and Ring 1") -- not heavy-compliance or banking-scale
+applications.
+
+## How it works
+
+When you run `./master`, the following happens:
+
+1. The Go master process starts and watches your TypeScript source files.
+2. It builds the backend using `@vercel/ncc`, producing a single bundled JS
+   file.
+3. It starts one or more Node.js worker processes running your Express app.
+4. It proxies HTTP requests from port 8080 to the workers.
+5. When you edit a source file, it rebuilds and restarts the workers
+   automatically.
+6. If a worker crashes, it restarts automatically.
+
+There is no separate "dev server" or "hot module replacement."  The master
+process is the only way to run the application.
+
+## Project structure
+
+A diachron project looks like this:
+
+```
+.
+├── DIACHRON.md      # This file (framework overview for newcomers)
+├── master/          # Go master process (framework-owned)
+├── logger/          # Go logging service (framework-owned)
+├── diachron/        # Managed binaries, shims, framework library
+│   ├── AGENTS.md    # Guide for AI coding agents
+│   ├── binaries/    # Downloaded Node.js, pnpm (gitignored)
+│   ├── cmd.d/       # Commands available via ./cmd
+│   ├── shims/       # Wrappers that use managed binaries
+│   └── ...
+├── backend/         # Your application code
+│   ├── app.ts       # Entry point
+│   ├── routes.ts    # Route definitions
+│   ├── handlers.ts  # Route handlers
+│   ├── services.ts  # Service layer
+│   ├── types.ts     # Application types
+│   ├── config.ts    # Application configuration
+│   └── diachron/    # Framework library code (framework-owned)
+├── cmd              # Run managed commands (./cmd pnpm install, etc.)
+├── develop          # Development-only commands (./develop reset-db, etc.)
+├── mgmt             # Management commands safe for production
+├── sync.sh          # Install/update all dependencies
+├── master           # The compiled master binary (after sync)
+└── docker-compose.yml
+```
+
+### File ownership
+
+There are two owners of files in a diachron project:
+
+- **You own** everything in `backend/` (except `backend/diachron/`), plus
+  `docker-compose.yml`, `package.json`, and anything else you create.
+- **The framework owns** `master/`, `logger/`, `diachron/`,
+  `backend/diachron/`, and the top-level scripts (`cmd`, `develop`, `mgmt`,
+  `sync.sh`, `check.sh`).
+
+Don't modify framework-owned files unless you need to.  This separation
+keeps framework upgrades clean.  If you do need to change framework files
+(especially early on, there are rough edges), you can extract your changes
+as a patch:
+
+```bash
+./diff-upstream.sh          # full diff against upstream
+./diff-upstream.sh --stat   # just list changed files
+```
+
+This diffs every file in `file-list` against the upstream ref recorded in
+`.diachron-version`.
+
+When you do change framework files, make each change in its own commit with
+a clear message explaining what the change is and why it's needed.  Mixing
+framework fixes with application work in a single commit makes it much
+harder to upstream later.  A clean history of discrete, well-explained
+framework commits is the easiest thing to turn into contributions.
+
+## Getting started
+
+```bash
+# Install dependencies and build the master process
+./sync.sh
+
+# Start the application
+./master
+```
+
+The app will be available at `http://localhost:8080`.
+
+You need Linux or macOS on x86_64.  For the full stack (database, Redis,
+etc.), you also need `docker compose`.
+
+## The command system
+
+diachron has three types of commands, separated by intent and safety:
+
+- **`./cmd <command>`** -- Run managed tools (node, pnpm, tsx, etc.).  These
+  use the project's pinned versions, not whatever is installed on your system.
+
+  ```bash
+  ./cmd pnpm install
+  ./cmd pnpm test
+  ```
+
+- **`./mgmt <command>`** -- Management commands that are safe to run in
+  production.  Migrations, user management, that sort of thing.
+
+  ```bash
+  ./mgmt migrate
+  ./mgmt add-user
+  ```
+
+- **`./develop <command>`** -- Development commands that may be destructive.
+  Database resets, fixture loading, etc.  These are gated in production.
+
+  ```bash
+  ./develop reset-db
+  ./develop db           # Open a database shell
+  ```
+
+The rule of thumb: if you'd run it at 3am while tired and worried, it's a
+`mgmt` command.  If it destroys data on purpose, it's a `develop` command.
+
+## Key concepts
+
+### Call and Result
+
+diachron wraps Express's `Request` and `Response` in its own types called
+`Call` and `Result`.  This avoids shadowing and keeps the framework's
+interface distinct from Express internals.  Your handlers receive a `Call`
+and return a `Result`.
+
+### Routes
+
+Routes are defined as data (arrays of `Route` objects in `routes.ts`), not
+through decorators or method chaining.  The framework processes them into
+Express handlers.
+
+### No environment variables for behavior
+
+There is no `NODE_ENV`, no `DEBUG`, no mode switching.  Configuration that
+must vary between deployments (database URLs, secrets) lives in
+configuration files, but the application's behavior doesn't branch on
+environment.
+
+## Further reading
+
+- `README.md` -- Project introduction and requirements
+- `diachron/AGENTS.md` -- Guide for AI coding agents
+- `docs/` -- Design documents and philosophy
+- `docs/commands.md` -- Detailed explanation of the command system
+- `docs/concentric-circles.md` -- What diachron is (and isn't) designed for

README.md

@@ -2,16 +2,13 @@ diachron
 
 ## Introduction
 
-Is your answer to some of these questions "yes"?  If so, you might like
-diachron.  (When it comes to that dev/test/prod one, hear us out first, ok?)
-
 - Do you want to share a lot of backend and frontend code?
 
 - Are you tired of your web stack breaking when you blink too hard?
 
 - Have you read [Taking PHP
-  Seriously](https://slack.engineering/taking-php-seriously/) and wish you had
-  something similar for Typescript?
+  Seriously](https://slack.engineering/taking-php-seriously/) and do you wish
+  you had something similar for Typescript?
 
 - Do you think that ORMs are not all that?  Do you wish you had first class
   unmediated access to your database?  And do you think that database
@@ -35,6 +32,9 @@ diachron.  (When it comes to that dev/test/prod one, hear us out first, ok?)
   you're trying to fix?  We're talking authentication, authorization, XSS,
   https, nested paths, all that stuff.
 
+Is your answer to some of these questions "yes"?  If so, you might like
+diachron.  (When it comes to that dev/test/prod one, hear us out first, ok?)
+
 ## Getting started
 
 Different situations require different getting started docs.
@@ -44,12 +44,21 @@ Different situations require different getting started docs.
 
 ## Requirements
 
-To run diachron, you currently need to have a Linux box running x86_64 with a
-new enough libc to run golang binaries.  Support for other platforms will come
-eventually.
+To run diachron, you need Linux or macOS on x86_64.  Linux requires a new
+enough libc to run golang binaries.
 
 To run a more complete system, you also need to have docker compose installed.
 
+### Database
+
+To connect to the database, you need psql (PostgreSQL client, for
+`./diachron/common.d/db`)
+
+- macOS: `brew install libpq` (and follow the caveat to add it to your PATH),
+  or `brew install postgresql`
+- Debian/Ubuntu: `apt install postgresql-client`
+- Fedora/RHEL: `dnf install postgresql`
+
 ### Development requirements
 
 To hack on diachron itself, you need the following:

TODO.md

@@ -56,6 +56,13 @@ CREATE TABLE app.customer_metadata (...);
       leaves around `master-bin`, `logger-bin`, and `diachron:nnnn` processes.
       Huge problem.
 
+- [ ] Fix format used by master (and logger?)'s output: it should be logfmt
+  - A lot of other stuff should probably be logfmt too but maybe we can get to
+    that later
+
+- [ ] master rebuilds (or tries to) too many times; need some sort of debounce
+      or whatever it's called
+
 ## medium importance
 
 - [ ] Add a log viewer

backend/.npmrc

@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+shamefully-hoist=true

backend/app.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+// This is a sample file provided by diachron.  You are encouraged to modify it.
+
+
+
+
+import { core } from "./diachron/core";
+
+import { routes } from "./routes";
+import {makeApp}from'./diachron/app'
+
+
+const app = makeApp({routes});
+
+
+core.logging.log({ source: "logging", text: ["1"] });
+
+
+
+
+app.start()

backend/build.sh

@@ -6,4 +6,4 @@ DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")" && pwd)"
 
 cd "$DIR"
 
-../cmd pnpm ncc build ./app.ts -o dist
+../cmd pnpm ncc build ./app.ts -o dist --source-map

backend/check-deps.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+import { readFileSync } from "node:fs";
+import { dirname, join } from "node:path";
+import { fileURLToPath } from "node:url";
+
+const __dirname = dirname(fileURLToPath(import.meta.url));
+
+interface PackageJson {
+    dependencies?: Record<string, string>;
+    devDependencies?: Record<string, string>;
+}
+
+function readPackageJson(path: string): PackageJson {
+    const content = readFileSync(path, "utf-8");
+    return JSON.parse(content);
+}
+
+function getAllDependencyNames(pkg: PackageJson): Set<string> {
+    const names = new Set<string>();
+    for (const name of Object.keys(pkg.dependencies ?? {})) {
+        names.add(name);
+    }
+    for (const name of Object.keys(pkg.devDependencies ?? {})) {
+        names.add(name);
+    }
+    return names;
+}
+
+const diachronPkgPath = join(__dirname, "diachron", "package.json");
+const backendPkgPath = join(__dirname, "package.json");
+
+const diachronPkg = readPackageJson(diachronPkgPath);
+const backendPkg = readPackageJson(backendPkgPath);
+
+const diachronDeps = getAllDependencyNames(diachronPkg);
+const backendDeps = getAllDependencyNames(backendPkg);
+
+const duplicates: string[] = [];
+
+for (const dep of diachronDeps) {
+    if (backendDeps.has(dep)) {
+        duplicates.push(dep);
+    }
+}
+
+if (duplicates.length > 0) {
+    console.error("Error: Duplicate dependencies found.");
+    console.error("");
+    console.error(
+        "The following dependencies exist in both backend/package.json and backend/diachron/package.json:",
+    );
+    console.error("");
+    for (const dep of duplicates.sort()) {
+        console.error(`  - ${dep}`);
+    }
+    console.error("");
+    console.error(
+        "Dependencies in backend/diachron/package.json are provided by the framework",
+    );
+    console.error(
+        "and must not be duplicated in backend/package.json. Remove them from",
+    );
+    console.error("backend/package.json to fix this error.");
+    process.exit(1);
+}
+
+console.log("No duplicate dependencies found.");

backend/check.sh

@@ -8,7 +8,8 @@ check_dir="$DIR"
 
 out_dir="$check_dir/out"
 
-source "$check_dir"/../framework/shims/common
-source "$check_dir"/../framework/shims/node.common
+source "$check_dir"/../diachron/shims/common
+source "$check_dir"/../diachron/shims/node.common
 
+$ROOT/cmd tsx "$check_dir/check-deps.ts"
 $ROOT/cmd pnpm tsc --outDir "$out_dir"

backend/diachron/app.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,137 @@
+// FIXME: rename this to make-app.ts and adjust imports accordingly
+
+import{contentTypes} from './content-types'
+import{httpCodes}from'./http-codes'
+import express, {
+type Express,
+    type NextFunction,
+    type Request as ExpressRequest,
+    type Response as ExpressResponse,
+} from "express";
+import { formatError, formatErrorHtml } from "./errors";
+import {isRedirect,     InternalHandler,    AuthenticationRequired,
+    AuthorizationDenied, Call,type Method, type ProcessedRoute,methodParser, type Result, type Route,massageMethod } from "./types";
+
+
+
+import { cli } from "./cli";
+import{processRoutes}from'./routing'
+
+
+process.on('uncaughtException', (err) => {
+    console.error(formatError(err));
+    process.exit(1);
+});
+
+process.on('unhandledRejection', (reason) => {
+    console.error(formatError(reason));
+});
+
+
+type MakeAppArgs={routes:Route[],
+    processTitle?: string,
+}
+ 
+export interface DiachronApp extends Express {
+    start: () => void 
+}
+
+const makeApp = ({routes, processTitle}: MakeAppArgs) => {
+    if (process.title) {
+        process.title = `diachron:${cli.listen.port}`;
+    }
+
+    const processedRoutes = processRoutes(routes)
+
+    async function handler(
+    req: ExpressRequest,
+    _res: ExpressResponse,
+): Promise<Result> {
+    const method = await methodParser.parseAsync(req.method);
+
+    const byMethod = processedRoutes[method];
+    console.log(
+        "DEBUG: req.path =",
+        JSON.stringify(req.path),
+        "method =",
+        method,
+    );
+    for (const [_idx, pr] of byMethod.entries()) {
+        const match = pr.matcher(req.path);
+        console.log("DEBUG: trying pattern, match result =", match);
+        if (match) {
+            console.log("match", match);
+            const resp = await pr.handler(req, match.params);
+
+            return resp;
+        }
+    }
+
+    const retval: Result = {
+        code: httpCodes.clientErrors.NotFound,
+        contentType: contentTypes.text.plain,
+        result: "not found!",
+    };
+
+    return retval;
+}
+
+    // I don't like going around tsc but this is simple enough that it's probably OK.
+    const app = express() as DiachronApp
+    app.start = function() {
+        this.listen(cli.listen.port, cli.listen.host, () => {
+            console.log(`Listening on ${cli.listen.host}:${cli.listen.port}`);
+        });
+    };
+    
+
+
+
+
+    app.use(express.json())
+
+    app.use(express.urlencoded({ extended: true }));
+
+    app.use(async (req: ExpressRequest, res: ExpressResponse) => {
+        const result0 = await handler(req, res);
+        
+        const code = result0.code.code;
+    const result = result0.result;
+
+    console.log(result);
+
+    // Set any cookies from the result
+    if (result0.cookies) {
+        for (const cookie of result0.cookies) {
+            res.cookie(cookie.name, cookie.value, cookie.options ?? {});
+        }
+    }
+
+    if (isRedirect(result0)) {
+        res.redirect(code, result0.redirect);
+    } else {
+        res.status(code).send(result);
+    }
+    });
+
+    app.use(
+        (
+            err: Error,
+            _req: ExpressRequest,
+            res: ExpressResponse,
+            _next: NextFunction,
+        ) => {
+            console.error(formatError(err));
+            res.status(500).type("html").send(formatErrorHtml(err));
+        },
+    );
+
+return app;
+}
+
+export{makeApp};
+
+function _isPromise<T>(value: T | Promise<T>): value is Promise<T> {
+    return typeof (value as any)?.then === "function";
+}
+

backend/diachron/basic/routes.ts

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import { DateTime } from "ts-luxon";
-import { get, User } from "../framework/hydrators/user";
+import { get, User } from "../hydrators/user";
 import { request } from "../request";
 import { html, render } from "../request/util";
 import type { Call, Result, Route } from "../types";
@@ -10,9 +10,16 @@ const routes: Record<string, Route> = {
     hello: {
         path: "/hello",
         methods: ["GET"],
-        handler: async (_call: Call): Promise<Result> => {
+        handler: async (call: Call): Promise<Result> => {
             const now = DateTime.now();
-            const c = await render("basic/hello", { now });
+            const args: {now: DateTime,greeting?: string} = {now};
+
+            if (call.path !== '/hello') {
+                const greeting = call. path.replaceAll('/','').replaceAll('-', ' ')
+                args.greeting = greeting;
+            }
+
+            const c = await render("basic/hello", args);
 
             return html(c);
         },

backend/diachron/core/index.ts

@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import nunjucks from "nunjucks";
 import { db, migrate, migrationStatus } from "../database";
+import { formatError, formatErrorHtml } from "../errors";
 import { getLogs, log } from "../logging";
 
 // FIXME: This doesn't belong here; move it somewhere else.
@@ -40,6 +41,7 @@ const misc = {
 const core = {
     conf,
     database,
+    errors: { formatError, formatErrorHtml },
     logging,
     misc,
     random,

backend/diachron/database.ts

@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ async function raw<T = unknown>(
 //
 // Migrations directory: express/migrations/
 
-const FRAMEWORK_MIGRATIONS_DIR = path.join(__dirname, "framework/migrations");
+const FRAMEWORK_MIGRATIONS_DIR = path.join(__dirname, "diachron/migrations");
 const APP_MIGRATIONS_DIR = path.join(__dirname, "migrations");
 const MIGRATIONS_TABLE = "_migrations";
 

backend/diachron/errors.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,229 @@
+// ANSI escape codes
+const bold = "\x1b[1m";
+const red = "\x1b[31m";
+const cyan = "\x1b[36m";
+const dim = "\x1b[2m";
+const reset = "\x1b[0m";
+
+interface ParsedFrame {
+    raw: string;
+    fn: string;
+    file: string;
+    line: string;
+    col: string;
+    isApp: boolean;
+}
+
+const frameRe = /^\s*at\s+(?:(.+?)\s+)?\(?((?:\/|[a-zA-Z]:\\).+?):(\d+):(\d+)\)?$/;
+
+function parseFrame(line: string): ParsedFrame | null {
+    const m = line.match(frameRe);
+    if (!m) return null;
+
+    const fn = m[1] ?? "<anonymous>";
+    const file = m[2];
+    const lineNum = m[3];
+    const col = m[4];
+
+    const isApp =
+        !file.includes("node_modules") && !file.startsWith("node:");
+
+    return { raw: line, fn, file, line: lineNum, col, isApp };
+}
+
+function relativePath(absPath: string): string {
+    const marker = "backend/";
+    const idx = absPath.lastIndexOf(marker);
+    if (idx !== -1) return absPath.slice(idx);
+    return absPath;
+}
+
+function libraryName(file: string): string {
+    const nmIdx = file.indexOf("node_modules/");
+    if (nmIdx === -1) return "node";
+    const after = file.slice(nmIdx + "node_modules/".length);
+    // Handle scoped packages like @scope/pkg
+    if (after.startsWith("@")) {
+        const parts = after.split("/");
+        return `${parts[0]}/${parts[1]}`;
+    }
+    return after.split("/")[0];
+}
+
+interface ParsedError {
+    message: string;
+    frames: ParsedFrame[];
+}
+
+function parseError(error: unknown): ParsedError {
+    if (!(error instanceof Error)) {
+        return { message: String(error), frames: [] };
+    }
+
+    const message = error.message ?? String(error);
+    const stack = error.stack ?? "";
+
+    const lines = stack.split("\n");
+    const frameLines: string[] = [];
+    for (const line of lines) {
+        if (line.trimStart().startsWith("at ")) {
+            frameLines.push(line);
+        }
+    }
+
+    const frames = frameLines
+        .map(parseFrame)
+        .filter((f): f is ParsedFrame => f !== null);
+
+    return { message, frames };
+}
+
+// Group consecutive library frames into collapsed runs
+type FrameGroup =
+    | { kind: "app"; frame: ParsedFrame }
+    | { kind: "lib"; count: number; names: string[] };
+
+function groupFrames(frames: ParsedFrame[]): FrameGroup[] {
+    const groups: FrameGroup[] = [];
+    let i = 0;
+    while (i < frames.length) {
+        if (frames[i].isApp) {
+            groups.push({ kind: "app", frame: frames[i] });
+            i++;
+        } else {
+            const libNames = new Set<string>();
+            let count = 0;
+            while (i < frames.length && !frames[i].isApp) {
+                libNames.add(libraryName(frames[i].file));
+                count++;
+                i++;
+            }
+            groups.push({ kind: "lib", count, names: [...libNames] });
+        }
+    }
+    return groups;
+}
+
+function libSummary(count: number, names: string[]): string {
+    const s = count === 1 ? "" : "s";
+    return `... ${count} internal frame${s} (${names.join(", ")})`;
+}
+
+// --- Console formatting (ANSI) ---
+
+function formatError(error: unknown): string {
+    const { message, frames } = parseError(error);
+    if (frames.length === 0) {
+        return `${bold}${red}ERROR${reset}  ${message}`;
+    }
+
+    const parts: string[] = [];
+    parts.push(`${bold}${red}ERROR${reset}  ${message}`);
+    parts.push("");
+
+    for (const group of groupFrames(frames)) {
+        if (group.kind === "app") {
+            const rel = relativePath(group.frame.file);
+            const loc = `${rel}:${group.frame.line}`;
+            parts.push(
+                `  ${bold}${cyan}${loc.padEnd(24)}${reset}at ${group.frame.fn}`,
+            );
+        } else {
+            parts.push(
+                `  ${dim}${libSummary(group.count, group.names)}${reset}`,
+            );
+        }
+    }
+
+    return parts.join("\n");
+}
+
+// --- HTML formatting (browser) ---
+
+function esc(s: string): string {
+    return s
+        .replace(/&/g, "&amp;")
+        .replace(/</g, "&lt;")
+        .replace(/>/g, "&gt;")
+        .replace(/"/g, "&quot;");
+}
+
+function formatErrorHtml(error: unknown): string {
+    const { message, frames } = parseError(error);
+    const groups = groupFrames(frames);
+
+    let frameRows = "";
+    for (const group of groups) {
+        if (group.kind === "app") {
+            const rel = relativePath(group.frame.file);
+            const loc = `${rel}:${group.frame.line}`;
+            frameRows += `<tr class="app">
+  <td class="loc">${esc(loc)}</td>
+  <td class="fn">at ${esc(group.frame.fn)}</td>
+</tr>\n`;
+        } else {
+            frameRows += `<tr class="lib">
+  <td colspan="2">${esc(libSummary(group.count, group.names))}</td>
+</tr>\n`;
+        }
+    }
+
+    return `<!doctype html>
+<html>
+<head>
+<meta charset="utf-8">
+<title>Error</title>
+<style>
+  * { margin: 0; padding: 0; box-sizing: border-box; }
+  body {
+    font-family: "SF Mono", "Menlo", "Consolas", monospace;
+    font-size: 14px;
+    background: #1a1a2e;
+    color: #e0e0e0;
+    padding: 40px;
+  }
+  .error-label {
+    display: inline-block;
+    background: #e74c3c;
+    color: #fff;
+    font-weight: 700;
+    font-size: 12px;
+    padding: 2px 8px;
+    border-radius: 3px;
+    letter-spacing: 0.5px;
+  }
+  .message {
+    margin-top: 12px;
+    font-size: 18px;
+    font-weight: 600;
+    color: #f8f8f2;
+    line-height: 1.4;
+  }
+  table {
+    margin-top: 24px;
+    border-collapse: collapse;
+  }
+  tr.app td { padding: 4px 0; }
+  tr.app .loc {
+    color: #56d4dd;
+    font-weight: 600;
+    padding-right: 24px;
+    white-space: nowrap;
+  }
+  tr.app .fn { color: #ccc; }
+  tr.lib td {
+    color: #666;
+    padding: 4px 0;
+    font-style: italic;
+  }
+</style>
+</head>
+<body>
+  <span class="error-label">ERROR</span>
+  <div class="message">${esc(message)}</div>
+  <table>${frameRows}</table>
+</body>
+</html>`;
+}
+
+export { formatError, formatErrorHtml };

backend/diachron/hydrators/hydrator.ts

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import { Kysely, PostgresDialect } from "kysely";
 import { Pool } from "pg";
-import { connectionConfig } from "../../database";
 import type { DB } from "../../generated/db";
+import { connectionConfig } from "../database";
 
 const db = new Kysely<DB>({
     dialect: new PostgresDialect({

backend/diachron/hydrators/index.ts

@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+export type Hydrators = {};

backend/diachron/hydrators/tests/setup.ts

@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 // Run: DB_PORT=5433 DB_USER=diachron_test DB_PASSWORD=diachron_test DB_NAME=diachron_test npx tsx --test tests/*.test.ts
 
 import { Pool } from "pg";
-import { connectionConfig, migrate } from "../../../database";
+import { connectionConfig, migrate } from "../../database";
 
 const pool = new Pool(connectionConfig);
 

backend/diachron/hydrators/tests/user.spec.ts

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 // Tests for user hydrator
-// Run with: cd express && DB_PORT=5433 DB_USER=diachron_test DB_PASSWORD=diachron_test DB_NAME=diachron_test ../cmd npx tsx --test framework/hydrators/tests/user.test.ts
+// Run with: cd express && DB_PORT=5433 DB_USER=diachron_test DB_PASSWORD=diachron_test DB_NAME=diachron_test ../cmd npx tsx --test diachron/hydrators/tests/user.test.ts
 
 import assert from "node:assert/strict";
 import { after, before, beforeEach, describe, it } from "node:test";

backend/diachron/hydrators/user.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+import {
+    ColumnType,
+    Generated,
+    Insertable,
+    JSONColumnType,
+    Selectable,
+    Updateable,
+} from "kysely";
+import type { TypeID } from "typeid-js";
+import { z } from "zod";
+import { db, Hydrator } from "./hydrator";
+
+const parser = z.object({
+    // id: z.uuidv7(),
+    id: z.uuid(),
+    display_name: z.string(),
+    // FIXME: status is duplicated elsewhere
+    status: z.union([
+        z.literal("active"),
+        z.literal("suspended"),
+        z.literal("pending"),
+    ]),
+    email: z.email(),
+});
+
+const tp = parser.parse({
+    id: "cfae0a19-6515-4813-bc2d-1e032b72b203",
+    display_name: "foo",
+    status: "active",
+    email: "mw@philologue.net",
+});
+
+export type User = z.infer<typeof parser>;
+
+const get = async (id: string): Promise<null | User> => {
+    const ret = await db
+        .selectFrom("users")
+        .where("users.id", "=", id)
+        .innerJoin("user_emails", "user_emails.user_id", "users.id")
+        .select([
+            "users.id",
+            "users.status",
+            "users.display_name",
+            "user_emails.email",
+        ])
+        .executeTakeFirst();
+
+    if (ret === undefined) {
+        return null;
+    }
+
+    console.dir(ret);
+
+    const parsed = parser.parse(ret);
+
+    return parsed;
+};
+
+export { get };

backend/diachron/package.json

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 {
-    "name": "express",
+    "name": "diachron",
     "version": "1.0.0",
     "description": "",
     "main": "index.js",

backend/diachron/routing.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,94 @@
+import { contentTypes } from "./content-types";
+import { httpCodes } from "./http-codes";
+import express, {
+    type NextFunction,
+    type Request as ExpressRequest,
+    type Response as ExpressResponse,
+} from "express";
+
+import {isRedirect,     InternalHandler,    AuthenticationRequired,
+    AuthorizationDenied, Call,type Method, type ProcessedRoute,methodParser, type Result, type Route,massageMethod } from "./types";
+import { runWithContext } from "./context";
+import { Session } from "./auth";import { request } from "./request";
+import { match } from "path-to-regexp";
+
+type ProcessedRoutes= {[K in Method]: ProcessedRoute[] }
+const processRoutes=(routes:Route[]) :ProcessedRoutes => {
+    const    retval:ProcessedRoutes= {
+        GET: [],
+        POST: [],
+        PUT: [],
+        PATCH: [],
+        DELETE: [],
+    };
+
+    routes.forEach((route: Route, _idx: number, _allRoutes: Route[]) => {
+        // const pattern /*: URLPattern */ = new URLPattern({ pathname: route.path });
+        const matcher = match<Record<string, string>>(route.path);
+        const methodList = route.methods;
+        
+        const handler: InternalHandler = async (
+            expressRequest: ExpressRequest,
+            params: Record<string, string>,
+        ): Promise<Result> => {
+            const method = massageMethod(expressRequest.method);
+            
+            console.log("method", method);
+            
+            if (!methodList.includes(method)) {
+                // XXX: Worth asserting this?
+            }
+            
+            console.log("request.originalUrl", expressRequest.originalUrl);
+            
+            // Authenticate the request
+            const auth = await request.auth.validateRequest(expressRequest);
+            
+            const req: Call = {
+                pattern: route.path,
+                path: expressRequest.originalUrl,
+                method,
+                parameters: params,
+                request: expressRequest,
+                user: auth.user,
+                session: new Session(auth.session, auth.user),
+            };
+            
+            try {
+                const retval = await runWithContext({ user: auth.user }, () =>
+                    route.handler(req),
+                );
+                return retval;
+            } catch (error) {
+                // Handle authentication errors
+                if (error instanceof AuthenticationRequired) {
+                    return {
+                        code: httpCodes.clientErrors.Unauthorized,
+                        contentType: contentTypes.application.json,
+                        result: JSON.stringify({
+                            error: "Authentication required",
+                        }),
+                    };
+                }
+                if (error instanceof AuthorizationDenied) {
+                    return {
+                        code: httpCodes.clientErrors.Forbidden,
+                        contentType: contentTypes.application.json,
+                        result: JSON.stringify({ error: "Access denied" }),
+                    };
+                }
+                throw error;
+            }
+        };
+        
+        for (const [_idx, method] of methodList.entries()) {
+            const pr: ProcessedRoute = { matcher, method, handler };
+            
+          retval[method].push(pr);
+        }
+    });
+    
+    return retval;
+}
+
+export{processRoutes}

backend/diachron/types.ts

@@ -29,13 +29,13 @@ export type Call = {
     pattern: string;
     path: string;
     method: Method;
-    parameters: object;
+    parameters: Record<string, string>;
     request: ExpressRequest;
     user: User;
     session: Session;
 };
 
-export type InternalHandler = (req: ExpressRequest) => Promise<Result>;
+export type InternalHandler = (req: ExpressRequest, params: Record<string, string>) => Promise<Result>;
 
 export type Handler = (call: Call) => Promise<Result>;
 export type ProcessedRoute = {

backend/generated/db.d.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,109 @@
+/**
+ * This file was generated by kysely-codegen.
+ * Please do not edit it manually.
+ */
+
+import type { ColumnType } from "kysely";
+
+export type Generated<T> =
+    T extends ColumnType<infer S, infer I, infer U>
+        ? ColumnType<S, I | undefined, U>
+        : ColumnType<T, T | undefined, T>;
+
+export type Timestamp = ColumnType<Date, Date | string, Date | string>;
+
+export interface _Migrations {
+    applied_at: Generated<Timestamp>;
+    id: Generated<number>;
+    name: string;
+}
+
+export interface Capabilities {
+    description: string | null;
+    id: string;
+    name: string;
+}
+
+export interface Groups {
+    created_at: Generated<Timestamp>;
+    id: string;
+    name: string;
+}
+
+export interface RoleCapabilities {
+    capability_id: string;
+    granted_at: Generated<Timestamp>;
+    revoked_at: Timestamp | null;
+    role_id: string;
+}
+
+export interface Roles {
+    description: string | null;
+    id: string;
+    name: string;
+}
+
+export interface Sessions {
+    auth_method: string;
+    created_at: Generated<Timestamp>;
+    expires_at: Timestamp;
+    id: Generated<string>;
+    ip_address: string | null;
+    is_used: Generated<boolean | null>;
+    revoked_at: Timestamp | null;
+    token_hash: string;
+    token_type: string;
+    user_agent: string | null;
+    user_email_id: string | null;
+    user_id: string;
+}
+
+export interface UserCredentials {
+    created_at: Generated<Timestamp>;
+    credential_type: Generated<string>;
+    id: string;
+    password_hash: string | null;
+    updated_at: Generated<Timestamp>;
+    user_id: string;
+}
+
+export interface UserEmails {
+    created_at: Generated<Timestamp>;
+    email: string;
+    id: string;
+    is_primary: Generated<boolean>;
+    is_verified: Generated<boolean>;
+    normalized_email: string;
+    revoked_at: Timestamp | null;
+    user_id: string;
+    verified_at: Timestamp | null;
+}
+
+export interface UserGroupRoles {
+    granted_at: Generated<Timestamp>;
+    group_id: string;
+    revoked_at: Timestamp | null;
+    role_id: string;
+    user_id: string;
+}
+
+export interface Users {
+    created_at: Generated<Timestamp>;
+    display_name: string | null;
+    id: string;
+    status: Generated<string>;
+    updated_at: Generated<Timestamp>;
+}
+
+export interface DB {
+    _migrations: _Migrations;
+    capabilities: Capabilities;
+    groups: Groups;
+    role_capabilities: RoleCapabilities;
+    roles: Roles;
+    sessions: Sessions;
+    user_credentials: UserCredentials;
+    user_emails: UserEmails;
+    user_group_roles: UserGroupRoles;
+    users: Users;
+}

backend/handlers.spec.ts

@@ -4,12 +4,12 @@
 import assert from "node:assert/strict";
 import { describe, it } from "node:test";
 import type { Request as ExpressRequest } from "express";
-import { Session } from "./auth/types";
-import { contentTypes } from "./content-types";
+import { Session } from "./diachron/auth/types";
+import { contentTypes } from "./diachron/content-types";
 import { multiHandler } from "./handlers";
-import { httpCodes } from "./http-codes";
-import type { Call } from "./types";
-import { anonymousUser } from "./user";
+import { httpCodes } from "./diachron/http-codes";
+import type { Call } from "./diachron/types";
+import { anonymousUser } from "./diachron/user";
 
 // Helper to create a minimal mock Call
 function createMockCall(overrides: Partial<Call> = {}): Call {

backend/handlers.ts

@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
-import { contentTypes } from "./content-types";
-import { core } from "./core";
-import { httpCodes } from "./http-codes";
-import type { Call, Handler, Result } from "./types";
+// This is a sample file provided by diachron.  You are encouraged to modify it.
+
+import { contentTypes } from "./diachron/content-types";
+import { core } from "./diachron/core";
+import { httpCodes } from "./diachron/http-codes";
+import type { Call, Handler, Result } from "./diachron/types";
 
 const multiHandler: Handler = async (call: Call): Promise<Result> => {
     const code = httpCodes.success.OK;

backend/migrations/2026-01-15_01-create-test-application-table.sql

@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+CREATE TABLE test_application_table ();

backend/migrations/2026-01-15_01.sql

@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+CREATE TABLE test_application_table ();

backend/package.json

@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+{
+    "name": "my app",
+    "version": "0.0.1",
+    "description": "",
+    "main": "index.js",
+    "scripts": {
+        "test": "DB_PORT=5433 DB_USER=diachron_test DB_PASSWORD=diachron_test DB_NAME=diachron_test tsx --test '**/*.{test,spec}.ts'",
+        "test:watch": "DB_PORT=5433 DB_USER=diachron_test DB_PASSWORD=diachron_test DB_NAME=diachron_test tsx --test --watch '**/*.{test,spec}.ts'",
+        "nodemon": "nodemon dist/index.js",
+        "kysely-codegen": "kysely-codegen"
+    },
+    "keywords": [],
+    "author": "",
+    "license": "ISC",
+    "packageManager": "pnpm@10.12.4",
+    "dependencies": {
+        "diachron": "workspace:*"
+    },
+    "devDependencies": {
+    }
+}

backend/pnpm-workspace.yaml

@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+packages:
+  - 'diachron'

backend/routes.ts

@@ -1,14 +1,16 @@
+// This is a sample file provided by diachron.  You are encouraged to modify it.
+
 /// <reference lib="dom" />
 
 import nunjucks from "nunjucks";
 import { DateTime } from "ts-luxon";
-import { authRoutes } from "./auth/routes";
-import { routes as basicRoutes } from "./basic/routes";
-import { contentTypes } from "./content-types";
-import { core } from "./core";
+import { authRoutes } from "./diachron/auth/routes";
+import { routes as basicRoutes } from "./diachron/basic/routes";
+import { contentTypes } from "./diachron/content-types";
+import { core } from "./diachron/core";
 import { multiHandler } from "./handlers";
-import { httpCodes } from "./http-codes";
-import type { Call, Result, Route } from "./types";
+import { httpCodes } from "./diachron/http-codes";
+import type { Call, Result, Route } from "./diachron/types";
 
 // FIXME: Obviously put this somewhere else
 const okText = (result: string): Result => {
@@ -27,6 +29,9 @@ const routes: Route[] = [
     ...authRoutes,
     basicRoutes.home,
     basicRoutes.hello,
+    {...basicRoutes.hello,
+     path: "/yo-whats-up"
+},
     basicRoutes.login,
     basicRoutes.logout,
     {
@@ -35,7 +40,7 @@ const routes: Route[] = [
         handler: async (_call: Call): Promise<Result> => {
             console.log("starting slow request");
 
-            await core.misc.sleep(2);
+            await core.misc.sleep(5000);
 
             console.log("finishing slow request");
             const retval = okText("that was slow");
@@ -72,7 +77,6 @@ const routes: Route[] = [
 `;
             const result = nunjucks.renderString(template, { rrr });
 
-            const _listing = lr(routes).join(", ");
             return {
                 code,
                 result,

backend/run.sh

@@ -6,4 +6,4 @@ DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")" && pwd)"
 
 cd "$DIR"
 
-exec ../cmd node dist/index.js "$@"
+exec ../cmd node --enable-source-maps dist/index.js "$@"

backend/services.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+// This is a sample file provided by diachron.  You are encouraged to modify it.
+
+// Application services go here.  A service encapsulates a capability that
+// handlers depend on: database queries, external API calls, business logic
+// that doesn't belong in a handler.
+//
+// The framework provides core services via `core` (from ./diachron/core):
+// core.database, core.logging, core.misc, etc.  This file is for your
+// application's own services.
+
+import { core } from "./diachron/core";
+
+const db = core.database.db;
+
+export { db };

backend/show-config.sh

@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")" && pwd)"
 
 check_dir="$DIR"
 
-source "$check_dir"/../framework/shims/common
-source "$check_dir"/../framework/shims/node.common
+source "$check_dir"/../diachron/shims/common
+source "$check_dir"/../diachron/shims/node.common
 
 $ROOT/cmd pnpm tsc --showConfig

backend/tsconfig.json

@@ -9,5 +9,6 @@
         "strict": true,
         "types": ["node"],
         "outDir": "out"
-    }
+    },
+    "exclude": ["**/*.spec.ts", "**/*.test.ts", "check-deps.ts"]
 }

backend/types.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+// This is a sample file provided by diachron.  You are encouraged to modify it.
+
+// Application-specific types go here.  Framework types (Call, Result, Route,
+// Handler, etc.) are defined in ./diachron/types and should be imported from
+// there.
+//
+// This file is for your domain types: the nouns and shapes that are specific
+// to your application.

backend/watch.sh

@@ -6,8 +6,8 @@ DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")" && pwd)"
 
 check_dir="$DIR"
 
-source "$check_dir"/../framework/shims/common
-source "$check_dir"/../framework/shims/node.common
+source "$check_dir"/../diachron/shims/common
+source "$check_dir"/../diachron/shims/node.common
 
 # $ROOT/cmd pnpm tsc --lib ES2023  --esModuleInterop -w $check_dir/app.ts
 # $ROOT/cmd pnpm tsc -w $check_dir/app.ts

bootstrap.sh

@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+# shellcheck disable=SC2002
+
+set -eu
+set -o pipefail
+IFS=$'\n\t'
+
+# print useful message on failure
+trap 's=$?; echo >&2 "$0: Error on line "$LINENO": $BASH_COMMAND"; exit $s' ERR
+
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")" && pwd)"
+
+# cd "$DIR"
+here="$PWD"
+
+"$DIR/update-cached-repository.sh"
+
+# repository="${2:-https://gitea.philologue.net/philologue/diachron}"
+repository="${2:-$HOME/.cache/diachron/v1/repositories/diachron.git}"
+ref="${1:-hydrators-kysely}"
+
+echo will bootstrap ref "$ref" of repo "$repository"
+
+into=$(mktemp -d)
+cd "$into"
+echo I am in $(pwd)
+echo I will clone repository "$repository", ref "$ref"
+git clone "$repository"
+
+r=$(ls -1)
+
+cd "$r"
+
+echo I am in $(pwd)
+
+git checkout "$ref"
+
+ls
+echo working dir: $PWD
+# ls backend
+
+# exit 0
+
+tar cvf - $(cat "$PWD/file-list" | grep -v '^#' | sed 's/^?//') | (cd "$here" && tar xf -)
+
+echo "$ref" > "$here/.diachron-version"
+
+echo "Now, run the command ./sync.sh"

check.sh

@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ cd "$DIR"
 #
 exclusions="SC2002"
 
-source "$DIR/framework/versions"
+source "$DIR/diachron/versions"
 
 if [[ $# -ne 0 ]]; then
     shellcheck --exclude="$exclusions" "$@"
@@ -20,10 +20,10 @@ fi
 shell_scripts="$(fd .sh | xargs)"
 
 # The files we need to check all either end in .sh or else they're the files
-# in framework/cmd.d and framework/shims.  -x instructs shellcheck to also
+# in diachron/cmd.d and diachron/shims.  -x instructs shellcheck to also
 # check `source`d files.
 
-shellcheck -x --exclude="$exclusions" "$DIR/cmd" "$DIR"/framework/cmd.d/* "$DIR"/framework/shims/* "$shell_scripts"
+shellcheck -x --exclude="$exclusions" "$DIR/cmd" "$DIR"/diachron/cmd.d/* "$DIR"/diachron/shims/* "$shell_scripts"
 
 pushd "$DIR/master"
 docker run --rm -v $(pwd):/app -w /app golangci/golangci-lint:$golangci_lint golangci-lint run

cmd

@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ if [ $# -lt 1 ]; then
     echo "Usage: ./cmd <command> [args...]"
     echo ""
     echo "Available commands:"
-    for cmd in "$DIR"/framework/cmd.d/*; do
+    for cmd in "$DIR"/diachron/cmd.d/*; do
         if [ -x "$cmd" ]; then
             basename "$cmd"
         fi
@@ -24,4 +24,4 @@ fi
 subcmd="$1"
 shift
 
-exec "$DIR"/framework/cmd.d/"$subcmd" "$@"
+exec "$DIR"/diachron/cmd.d/"$subcmd" "$@"

develop

@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ if [ $# -lt 1 ]; then
     echo "Usage: ./develop <command> [args...]"
     echo ""
     echo "Available commands:"
-    for cmd in "$DIR"/framework/develop.d/*; do
+    for cmd in "$DIR"/diachron/develop.d/*; do
         if [ -x "$cmd" ]; then
             basename "$cmd"
         fi
@@ -24,4 +24,4 @@ fi
 subcmd="$1"
 shift
 
-exec "$DIR"/framework/develop.d/"$subcmd" "$@"
+exec "$DIR"/diachron/develop.d/"$subcmd" "$@"

diachron/AGENTS.md

@@ -0,0 +1,214 @@
+# Working with diachron (Agent Guide)
+
+This document helps AI coding agents work effectively with projects built on
+the diachron framework.  It covers the conventions, commands, and structures
+you need to know.
+
+## Quick orientation
+
+diachron is a TypeScript/Express web framework with a Go master process.
+Your application code lives in `backend/`.  The framework owns `master/`,
+`logger/`, `diachron/`, and `backend/diachron/`.
+
+**Do not modify framework-owned files** unless explicitly asked to work on
+the framework itself.
+
+## Running the application
+
+```bash
+./sync.sh       # Install dependencies (run once, or after pulling changes)
+./master        # Start the application (watches files, rebuilds, proxies)
+```
+
+By default, the app listens on port 8080 (proxy) and workers run on
+ports starting at 3000.
+
+## Commands you'll need
+
+All tools (node, pnpm, tsx, etc.) are managed by the framework.  Do not
+invoke system-installed versions.
+
+```bash
+./cmd pnpm install          # Install npm packages
+./cmd pnpm test             # Run tests
+./cmd pnpm biome check .    # Lint (run from backend/)
+./develop db                # Open database shell
+./develop reset-db          # Drop and recreate database
+./develop migrate           # Run migrations (development)
+./mgmt migrate              # Run migrations (production-safe)
+```
+
+### Formatting and linting
+
+```bash
+cd backend && ../cmd pnpm biome check --write .
+```
+
+### Building Go code
+
+```bash
+cd master && go build
+cd logger && go build
+```
+
+### Quality checks
+
+```bash
+./check.sh                  # shellcheck + golangci-lint
+```
+
+## Application structure
+
+### Where to put code
+
+| What                     | Where                       |
+|--------------------------|-----------------------------|
+| Application entry point  | `backend/app.ts`            |
+| Route definitions        | `backend/routes.ts`         |
+| Route handlers           | `backend/handlers.ts`       |
+| Service layer            | `backend/services.ts`       |
+| Application types        | `backend/types.ts`          |
+| Application config       | `backend/config.ts`         |
+| Database migrations      | `backend/migrations/`       |
+| Framework library code   | `backend/diachron/`         |
+
+### Types and naming
+
+- HTTP request wrapper: `Call` (not Request)
+- HTTP response wrapper: `Result` (not Response)
+- Route definitions: arrays of `Route` objects
+- Handlers: functions that take a `Call` and return a `Result`
+
+These names are intentional.  Use them consistently.
+
+Import framework types from `./diachron/types`:
+
+```typescript
+import type { Call, Result, Route, Handler } from "./diachron/types";
+```
+
+Application-specific domain types go in `backend/types.ts`.
+
+### Services
+
+Application services go in `backend/services.ts`.  Framework services are
+accessed through the `core` object:
+
+```typescript
+import { core } from "./diachron/core";
+
+core.database.db     // Kysely database instance
+core.logging.log     // Logging
+core.misc.sleep      // Utilities
+```
+
+### Exports
+
+When a TypeScript file exports symbols, they should be listed in
+alphabetical order.
+
+## Database
+
+diachron uses PostgreSQL exclusively, accessed through Kysely (type-safe
+query builder).  There is no ORM.
+
+- Write SQL via Kysely, not raw query strings (unless Kysely can't express
+  the query)
+- Migrations live in `backend/migrations/`
+- Run `./develop codegen` after schema changes to regenerate Kysely types
+
+## Key conventions
+
+### No dev/prod distinction
+
+There is no `NODE_ENV`.  The application behaves identically everywhere.
+Do not introduce environment-based branching.
+
+### Managed tooling
+
+Never reference globally installed `node`, `npm`, `npx`, or `pnpm`.
+Always use `./cmd node`, `./cmd pnpm`, etc.
+
+### File ownership boundary
+
+```
+You may edit:          backend/* (except backend/diachron/)
+Do not edit:           master/*, logger/*, diachron/*, backend/diachron/*
+```
+
+If a task requires framework changes, confirm with the user first.
+When framework files are modified, the changes can be extracted as a
+diff against upstream with `./diff-upstream.sh` (or `--stat` to list
+changed files only).
+
+When committing framework changes, keep them in separate commits from
+application code.  Each framework commit should have a clear message
+explaining what was changed and why.  This makes it much easier to
+upstream the changes later.
+
+### Command safety tiers
+
+- `./cmd` -- Tool wrappers, always safe
+- `./mgmt` -- Production-safe operations (migrations, user management)
+- `./develop` -- Destructive operations, development only
+
+Never use `./develop` commands against production data.
+
+## Common tasks
+
+### Add a new route
+
+1. Define the route in `backend/routes.ts` as a `Route` object
+2. Implement the handler in `backend/handlers.ts`
+3. Add any needed types to `backend/types.ts`
+
+### Add a database migration
+
+1. Create a migration file in `backend/migrations/`
+2. Run `./develop migrate` to apply it
+3. Run `./develop codegen` to regenerate Kysely types
+
+### Install a package
+
+```bash
+cd backend && ../cmd pnpm add <package>
+```
+
+### Run a one-off TypeScript script
+
+```bash
+./develop tsx backend/path/to/script.ts
+```
+
+## file-list
+
+The root `file-list` file is a manifest of all files that ship with the
+framework.  When you create or delete a file that is part of the project
+(not a scratch file or generated output), you must update `file-list` to
+match.  Keep it sorted alphabetically.
+
+Entries can have a `?` prefix (e.g. `?backend/app.ts`).  These are
+**sample files** -- starter code that `bootstrap.sh` copies into a new
+project but that `upgrade.sh` will not overwrite.  Once the user has the
+file, it belongs to them.  On upgrade, new sample files that don't exist
+yet in the project are copied in; existing ones are left untouched.
+
+Unprefixed entries are **framework-owned** and are always replaced on
+upgrade.  When adding a new file to `file-list`, decide which category
+it belongs to:
+
+- Framework-owned (no prefix): infrastructure scripts, framework
+  library code, build tooling, config that must stay in sync.
+- Sample (`?` prefix): application starter code the user is expected
+  to edit (routes, handlers, services, types, package.json, etc.).
+
+## Things to avoid
+
+- Do not introduce `.env` files or `dotenv` without checking with the
+  team first.  The configuration story is still being decided.
+- Do not introduce webpack, vite, or other bundlers.  The master process
+  handles building via `@vercel/ncc`.
+- Do not add express middleware directly.  Use the framework's route
+  processing in `backend/diachron/routing.ts`.
+- Do not use `npm` or globally installed `pnpm`.  Use `./cmd pnpm`.
+- Do not add `NODE_ENV` checks or development/production branches.