feat(webui): versioned project registry API (Closes #635)

Evolve the MVP project registry (#427) into a versioned, fail-closed
project registry API for the console (Phase 1, read-only).

- Add schema version 2 with project `status`, per-step onboarding
  `state`/`required`, optional redacted `last_seen_health`, and
  `remote_name`. Version 1 files stay loadable and are normalized with
  explicit defaults.
- Serve `/api/v1/projects` and `/api/v1/projects/{project_id}` with API
  provenance (`api_version`, `schema_version`, `source`). `/api/projects`
  is retained as an unversioned Phase 1 alias.
- Replace bare `ValueError` with `RegistryError`, carrying an operator
  `remediation` and `field_path`; invalid registries fail closed as a
  500 JSON payload or a dedicated HTML error page instead of a traceback.
- Reject credential-shaped keys before any DTO is built, reusing
  `registry_safety.is_forbidden_key` as the single source of truth
  shared with the worker registry (#798).
- Render HTML views from `project_to_dict`, so the console and the JSON
  API cannot disagree about status or onboarding progress.
- Document the contract in docs/webui-project-registry-api.md.

Tests: registry load/validate (valid, missing project, schema
validation, credential rejection) and API route coverage.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.8 (1M context) <[email protected]>

docs/webui-local-dev.md

@@ -43,6 +43,10 @@ for the console architecture: layer and authority boundaries, the redaction
 boundary, `/api/v1/...` versioning, the target page map, and the phase gates
 that govern when a write path may open (#632, epic #631).
 
+See [webui-project-registry-api.md](webui-project-registry-api.md) for the
+versioned project registry contract: registry schema versions 1 and 2, project
+status, onboarding checklist state, and the fail-closed error payloads (#635).
+
 ## Routes (MVP)
 
 | Path | Description |
@@ -51,9 +55,11 @@ that govern when a write path may open (#632, epic #631).
 | `/health` | JSON liveness (`status`, `service`, `mode`, `timestamp`) |
 | `/queue` | Live PR and issue queue dashboard (#429) |
 | `/api/queue` | JSON queue export with pagination metadata |
-| `/projects` | Project registry list (#427) |
+| `/projects` | Project registry list with status and onboarding progress (#427, #635) |
 | `/projects/{id}` | Project detail + onboarding checklist |
-| `/api/projects` | JSON registry export |
+| `/api/v1/projects` | Versioned JSON registry export (#635) |
+| `/api/v1/projects/{id}` | Versioned JSON project detail (#635) |
+| `/api/projects` | JSON registry export — unversioned Phase 1 alias of `/api/v1/projects` |
 | `/prompts` | Prompt library with per-prompt copy buttons (#428) |
 | `/api/prompts` | JSON prompt export with workflow hashes |
 | `/runtime` | MCP runtime health and stale detection (#430) |

docs/webui-project-registry-api.md

@@ -0,0 +1,213 @@
+# Project registry API (#635)
+
+Phase 1 of the [console architecture ADR](architecture/webui-control-plane-console-architecture-adr.md)
+gives the project registry a versioned, read-only API. This document is the
+field-by-field contract for that API and for the registry file behind it.
+
+Everything here is **read-only**. The console never writes the registry; an
+operator edits the JSON file, and an invalid file fails closed rather than
+rendering a partial inventory.
+
+## Routes
+
+| Route | Method | Description |
+|-------|--------|-------------|
+| `/api/v1/projects` | GET | Versioned registry export: all projects, with provenance |
+| `/api/v1/projects/{project_id}` | GET | Single project; `404` with `project_not_found` when unknown |
+| `/api/projects` | GET | Unversioned MVP alias (#427), retained for all of Phase 1 |
+| `/projects` | GET | HTML list — status and onboarding progress per project |
+| `/projects/{project_id}` | GET | HTML detail — identity, profiles, paths, checklist |
+
+Per ADR section 6 the unversioned alias may be retired no earlier than Phase 2,
+and only after this document and `webui-local-dev.md` record the swap. The alias
+returns the same payload as `/api/v1/projects`, including the legacy `version`
+and `source_path` keys #427 consumers already read.
+
+The HTML views render from the same DTO the JSON routes serialize
+(`project_to_dict`), so the console and the API cannot disagree about a
+project's status or onboarding progress.
+
+## Registry file
+
+Default location: `webui/data/projects.registry.json`. Override with the
+`WEBUI_PROJECT_REGISTRY` environment variable.
+
+Schema versions: **1** and **2** are accepted; **2** is current. A version 1
+file loads unchanged and is normalized with the documented defaults, so an
+existing operator registry keeps working without edits.
+
+### Root
+
+| Field | Type | Required | Notes |
+|-------|------|----------|-------|
+| `version` | int | yes | `1` or `2`. Anything else fails closed |
+| `projects` | array | yes | Must be non-empty |
+
+### Project
+
+| Field | Type | Required | Default | Notes |
+|-------|------|----------|---------|-------|
+| `id` | string | yes | — | Stable registry id used in URLs |
+| `repo_name` | string | yes | — | Gitea repository name |
+| `gitea_owner` | string | yes | — | Owning org or user |
+| `remote_host` | string | yes | — | Instance base URL, no credentials |
+| `remote_name` | string | no | `null` | Logical remote label, e.g. `prgs` (v2) |
+| `default_branch` | string | yes | — | Stable branch name |
+| `local_checkout_path` | string | yes | — | Control checkout path |
+| `status` | string | no | `active` | `active`, `onboarding`, `paused`, `archived` (v2) |
+| `profiles` | object | yes | — | Must map `author`, `reviewer`, `reconciler` |
+| `workflow_paths` | object | yes | — | Non-empty; label to repo-relative path |
+| `schema_paths` | object | no | `{}` | Label to repo-relative path |
+| `onboarding_checklist` | array | no | `[]` | See below |
+| `last_seen_health` | object | no | `null` | Redacted health only (v2) |
+
+### Onboarding step
+
+| Field | Type | Required | Default | Notes |
+|-------|------|----------|---------|-------|
+| `id` | string | yes | — | Stable step id |
+| `title` | string | yes | — | Short operator-facing label |
+| `description` | string | yes | — | Self-contained; assumes no chat history |
+| `state` | string | no | `pending` | `complete`, `pending`, `blocked`, `not_applicable` (v2) |
+| `required` | bool | no | `true` | Optional steps never block readiness (v2) |
+
+### Last-seen health
+
+| Field | Type | Required | Notes |
+|-------|------|----------|-------|
+| `status` | string | no (default `unknown`) | `healthy`, `degraded`, `unreachable`, `unknown` |
+| `checked_at` | string | no | ISO-8601 UTC timestamp, e.g. `2026-01-01T00:00:00Z` |
+| `detail` | string | no | Short redacted note |
+
+Health is recorded metadata, not a live probe: Phase 1 performs no outbound
+health checks. Endpoints, tokens, and keychain identifiers must never appear
+here.
+
+## Response shape
+
+`GET /api/v1/projects`:
+
+```json
+{
+  "api_version": "v1",
+  "schema_version": 2,
+  "version": 2,
+  "source_path": "/path/to/webui/data/projects.registry.json",
+  "source": {
+    "kind": "file",
+    "path": "/path/to/webui/data/projects.registry.json",
+    "inventory_complete": true
+  },
+  "project_count": 1,
+  "projects": [
+    {
+      "id": "example",
+      "repo_name": "Example",
+      "gitea_owner": "Org",
+      "repo_full_name": "Org/Example",
+      "remote_host": "https://gitea.example.invalid",
+      "remote_name": "example-remote",
+      "default_branch": "main",
+      "local_checkout_path": ".",
+      "status": "active",
+      "profiles": {"author": "...", "reviewer": "...", "reconciler": "..."},
+      "workflow_paths": {"skill": "skills/..."},
+      "schema_paths": {},
+      "onboarding_checklist": [
+        {
+          "id": "profiles",
+          "title": "Configure execution profiles",
+          "description": "...",
+          "state": "complete",
+          "required": true
+        }
+      ],
+      "onboarding_summary": {
+        "total": 1,
+        "complete": 1,
+        "pending": 0,
+        "blocked": 0,
+        "not_applicable": 0,
+        "required_outstanding": 0,
+        "onboarding_complete": true
+      },
+      "last_seen_health": null
+    }
+  ]
+}
+```
+
+`GET /api/v1/projects/{project_id}` returns `api_version`, `schema_version`,
+`source`, and a single `project` object with the same fields.
+
+The `source` block satisfies the ADR section 6 provenance rule: every payload
+states where the data came from and whether the inventory is complete. A
+file-backed registry is always complete — there is no pagination to truncate it.
+
+`onboarding_summary` is derived, never stored. `required_outstanding` counts
+steps that are `required` **and** in state `pending` or `blocked`;
+`onboarding_complete` is true when that count is zero.
+
+## Fail-closed errors
+
+Validation failures raise `RegistryError`, which routes render instead of a
+traceback.
+
+`404` — unknown project id on `/api/v1/projects/{project_id}`:
+
+```json
+{
+  "error": "project_not_found",
+  "project_id": "not-registered",
+  "known_project_ids": ["example"],
+  "remediation": "Request one of the known project ids, or add the project ...",
+  "source": {"kind": "file", "path": "...", "inventory_complete": true}
+}
+```
+
+`500` — invalid registry, on both the versioned route and the alias:
+
+```json
+{
+  "error": "registry_invalid",
+  "detail": "unsupported registry version: 42",
+  "remediation": "Set 'version' to one of 1, 2 (current schema is 2) ...",
+  "field_path": "version",
+  "source_path": "/path/to/registry.json"
+}
+```
+
+`field_path` points at the offending location (`projects[0].profiles.reconciler`,
+`projects[0].onboarding_checklist[2].state`, and so on). The HTML routes render
+the same detail, field, source, and remediation on a "Project registry
+unavailable" page.
+
+Conditions that fail closed:
+
+* file missing or unreadable;
+* invalid JSON (the remediation names line and column);
+* root not an object, or `projects` missing/empty;
+* unsupported `version`;
+* a credential-shaped key anywhere in the file (`token`, `*_secret`, `auth_*`, and similar);
+* a project missing a required field, or missing an `author`/`reviewer`/`reconciler` profile;
+* an unknown `status`, onboarding `state`, or health `status`.
+
+## Credential rule
+
+The registry stores redacted metadata only. Credential-shaped keys are
+rejected at load time, before any DTO is built, consistent with
+[safety-model.md](safety-model.md) and
+[credential-isolation.md](credential-isolation.md). Tokens live in the keychain
+and are resolved server-side by `gitea_auth`.
+
+## Migrating a version 1 registry
+
+1. Set `"version": 2`.
+2. Optionally add `"status"` per project (omitted means `active`).
+3. Optionally add `"remote_name"` per project.
+4. Optionally add `"state"` and `"required"` to each onboarding step (omitted
+   means `pending` and `true`).
+5. Optionally add `"last_seen_health"`.
+
+No step is mandatory: a version 1 file keeps loading. Bumping the version only
+declares that the file may use the v2 fields.

gitea_mcp_server.py

@@ -12536,10 +12536,39 @@ def _try_auto_switch_for_operation(op: str, host: str | None = None) -> bool:
     return False
 
 
+def _git_default_remote_name(root: str) -> str:
+    """First configured git remote name for *root*, defaulting to 'origin'.
+
+    Used to resolve the live remote master target for parity (#610). Best
+    effort: any failure falls back to 'origin' so callers never raise.
+    """
+    try:
+        res = subprocess.run(
+            ["git", "-C", root, "remote"],
+            capture_output=True, text=True, check=False,
+        )
+    except Exception:
+        return "origin"
+    if res.returncode != 0:
+        return "origin"
+    names = [n.strip() for n in (res.stdout or "").splitlines() if n.strip()]
+    return names[0] if names else "origin"
+
+
 def _current_master_parity() -> dict:
-    """Assess this process's code against the on-disk master HEAD (#420)."""
+    """Assess this process's code against local and live remote master (#420/#610).
+
+    Compares the daemon's startup commit, the on-disk checkout HEAD, and the
+    live remote master target. A stale daemon relative to live master fails
+    closed for mutations even when the local checkout HEAD still matches the
+    startup commit. The live-remote read is best effort: an unresolved live
+    head leaves read-only diagnostics unblocked but is never mutation-safe.
+    """
     current_head = master_parity_gate.read_git_head(PROJECT_ROOT)
-    return master_parity_gate.assess_master_parity(_STARTUP_PARITY, current_head)
+    live_head = master_parity_gate.read_remote_master_head(
+        PROJECT_ROOT, remote=_git_default_remote_name(PROJECT_ROOT))
+    return master_parity_gate.assess_master_parity(
+        _STARTUP_PARITY, current_head, live_remote_head=live_head)
 
 
 def _current_runtime_mode_report(refresh: bool = False) -> dict:
@@ -16480,15 +16509,34 @@ def gitea_get_runtime_context(
         "restart_required": parity["restart_required"],
         "startup_head": parity["startup_head"],
         "current_head": parity["current_head"],
+        # #610 distinguished mutation-safety signals:
+        "daemon_start_head": parity["daemon_start_head"],
+        "local_head": parity["local_head"],
+        "live_remote_head": parity["live_remote_head"],
+        "live_known": parity["live_known"],
+        "live_stale": parity["live_stale"],
+        "mutation_safe": parity["mutation_safe"],
         "summary": master_parity_gate.format_parity(parity),
         "mutation_gate_enforced": not master_parity_gate.gate_disabled(),
+        # #610: the capability resolver is authoritative for mutation safety;
+        # local parity alone must never authorize a mutation.
+        "resolver_authoritative_for_mutation_safety": True,
     }
-    if parity["stale"] and not master_parity_gate.gate_disabled():
+    if parity["restart_required"] and not master_parity_gate.gate_disabled():
-        safe_next_action = (
+        if parity["live_stale"]:
-            "Server code is stale relative to master; restart the Gitea MCP "
+            safe_next_action = (
-            "server to load current capability gates before mutating. "
+                "Daemon is stale relative to LIVE remote master "
-            f"({master_parity_gate.format_parity(parity)})"
+                f"(started {parity['startup_head'][:12] if parity['startup_head'] else 'unknown'}, "
-        )
+                f"live master {parity['live_remote_head'][:12] if parity['live_remote_head'] else 'unknown'}); "
+                "restart/reconnect the Gitea MCP server before mutating. The "
+                "capability resolver is authoritative for mutation safety."
+            )
+        else:
+            safe_next_action = (
+                "Server code is stale relative to master; restart the Gitea MCP "
+                "server to load current capability gates before mutating. "
+                f"({master_parity_gate.format_parity(parity)})"
+            )
         result["safe_next_action"] = safe_next_action
 
     if reveal and h:
@@ -16537,6 +16585,13 @@ def gitea_assess_master_parity(
         "determinable": parity["determinable"],
         "startup_head": parity["startup_head"],
         "current_head": parity["current_head"],
+        # #610 distinguished mutation-safety signals:
+        "daemon_start_head": parity["daemon_start_head"],
+        "local_head": parity["local_head"],
+        "live_remote_head": parity["live_remote_head"],
+        "live_known": parity["live_known"],
+        "live_stale": parity["live_stale"],
+        "mutation_safe": parity["mutation_safe"],
         "mutation_gate_enforced": enforced,
         "summary": master_parity_gate.format_parity(parity),
         "reasons": parity["reasons"],
@@ -16553,7 +16608,7 @@ def gitea_assess_master_parity(
             source=canonical_source,
         ),
     }
-    if parity["stale"] and enforced:
+    if parity["restart_required"] and enforced:
         out["report"] = master_parity_gate.parity_report(parity)
     return out
 

master_parity_gate.py

@@ -24,12 +24,50 @@ from __future__ import annotations
 
 import os
 import subprocess
+import time
+
+# Live-remote head cache: the parity gate runs on every mutation and every
+# runtime-context read, so the ``git ls-remote`` result is cached briefly to
+# avoid a network round-trip per call (#610). Keyed by (root, remote, branch).
+_REMOTE_HEAD_CACHE: dict[tuple[str, str, str], tuple[float, str | None]] = {}
+_REMOTE_HEAD_TTL = 60.0
+
+# When True, ``read_remote_master_head`` never performs ``git ls-remote`` unless
+# ``GITEA_TEST_LIVE_REMOTE_HEAD`` is set. Conftest enables this suite-wide so
+# feature worktrees (whose HEAD differs from live master) cannot flip legacy
+# runtime-context assertions to live_stale, and so unit tests never depend on
+# a live network (PR #788 F1/F2 / issue #610). Module-level (not env-only) so
+# ``patch.dict(os.environ, …, clear=True)`` cannot re-enable the probe.
+_HERMETIC_TEST_MODE: bool = False
+
+
+def _clear_remote_head_cache() -> None:
+    """Reset the live-remote head cache (test isolation / forced refresh)."""
+    _REMOTE_HEAD_CACHE.clear()
+
+
+def set_hermetic_test_mode(enabled: bool) -> None:
+    """Enable or disable suite-wide hermetic live-remote reads (tests only)."""
+    global _HERMETIC_TEST_MODE
+    _HERMETIC_TEST_MODE = bool(enabled)
+    _clear_remote_head_cache()
+
+
+def hermetic_test_mode() -> bool:
+    """Return whether hermetic live-remote reads are active."""
+    return bool(_HERMETIC_TEST_MODE)
+
 
 # Environment escape hatches (ops + tests):
 #   GITEA_MCP_DISABLE_PARITY_GATE  -> disable enforcement entirely (fail open).
 #   GITEA_TEST_CURRENT_HEAD        -> force the "current" HEAD read, for tests.
 ENV_DISABLE = "GITEA_MCP_DISABLE_PARITY_GATE"
 ENV_TEST_CURRENT_HEAD = "GITEA_TEST_CURRENT_HEAD"
+# GITEA_TEST_LIVE_REMOTE_HEAD -> force the live remote master read, for tests.
+ENV_TEST_LIVE_REMOTE_HEAD = "GITEA_TEST_LIVE_REMOTE_HEAD"
+# GITEA_TEST_ALLOW_LIVE_REMOTE_PROBE -> opt a single test into a real ls-remote
+# even when hermetic mode is on (rare; prefer ENV_TEST_LIVE_REMOTE_HEAD).
+ENV_TEST_ALLOW_LIVE_REMOTE_PROBE = "GITEA_TEST_ALLOW_LIVE_REMOTE_PROBE"
 
 
 def read_git_head(root: str) -> str | None:
@@ -58,6 +96,75 @@ def read_git_head(root: str) -> str | None:
     return (res.stdout or "").strip() or None
 
 
+def read_remote_master_head(
+    root: str,
+    remote: str = "origin",
+    branch: str = "master",
+    ttl: float = _REMOTE_HEAD_TTL,
+) -> str | None:
+    """Return the live remote ``branch`` commit SHA, or ``None`` (#610).
+
+    Resolves the *live* target commit via ``git ls-remote`` so parity can tell
+    a daemon that is behind the live remote master apart from one whose local
+    checkout simply hasn't been pulled. ``None`` means the live head could not
+    be resolved (offline, no such remote, git unavailable, error) -- callers
+    must treat unknown live state as *not mutation-safe* while never blocking
+    read-only diagnostics. A ``GITEA_TEST_LIVE_REMOTE_HEAD`` override takes
+    precedence so the wiring can be exercised deterministically and offline.
+
+    The result is cached for *ttl* seconds per (root, remote, branch) so the
+    gate does not run a network probe on every mutation/read (``ttl=0`` forces
+    a live probe). Both hits and ``None`` misses are cached to bound offline
+    latency; the env override bypasses the cache and the subprocess entirely.
+
+    Under suite hermetic mode (``set_hermetic_test_mode(True)``, set by
+    conftest) a missing override returns ``None`` without network I/O so
+    feature-worktree test runs cannot observe live_stale against real master
+    (PR #788 F1) and unit tests stay offline (F2). Opt out with an explicit
+    ``GITEA_TEST_LIVE_REMOTE_HEAD`` pin or ``GITEA_TEST_ALLOW_LIVE_REMOTE_PROBE``.
+    """
+    forced = os.environ.get(ENV_TEST_LIVE_REMOTE_HEAD)
+    if forced is not None:
+        return forced.strip() or None
+    if _HERMETIC_TEST_MODE and not (
+        os.environ.get(ENV_TEST_ALLOW_LIVE_REMOTE_PROBE) or ""
+    ).strip():
+        # Hermetic default: live head unknown. live_stale stays False;
+        # mutation_safe is False when live is unknown (documented #610 note).
+        return None
+    # Defense in depth: even without the module flag, never probe while pytest
+    # is running unless the test opted into a real probe or set an override.
+    if (os.environ.get("PYTEST_CURRENT_TEST") or "").strip() and not (
+        os.environ.get(ENV_TEST_ALLOW_LIVE_REMOTE_PROBE) or ""
+    ).strip():
+        return None
+    if not root:
+        return None
+    key = (root, remote, branch)
+    now = time.monotonic()
+    if ttl > 0:
+        cached = _REMOTE_HEAD_CACHE.get(key)
+        if cached is not None and (now - cached[0]) < ttl:
+            return cached[1]
+    sha: str | None = None
+    try:
+        res = subprocess.run(
+            ["git", "-C", root, "ls-remote", remote, f"refs/heads/{branch}"],
+            capture_output=True,
+            text=True,
+            check=False,
+            timeout=5,
+        )
+        if res.returncode == 0:
+            lines = (res.stdout or "").strip().splitlines()
+            if lines:
+                sha = lines[0].split("\t", 1)[0].split()[0].strip() or None
+    except Exception:
+        sha = None
+    _REMOTE_HEAD_CACHE[key] = (now, sha)
+    return sha
+
+
 def capture_startup_parity(root: str, head: str | None = None) -> dict:
     """Capture the process source-tree baseline once at server startup.
 
@@ -72,18 +179,38 @@ def _short(sha: str | None) -> str:
     return sha[:12] if sha else "unknown"
 
 
-def assess_master_parity(startup: dict | None, current_head: str | None) -> dict:
+def assess_master_parity(
+    startup: dict | None,
+    current_head: str | None,
+    live_remote_head: str | None = None,
+) -> dict:
     """Compare the startup baseline against the current on-disk ``HEAD``.
 
-    Pure: both HEADs are supplied by the caller. Returns a structured result:
+    Pure: all HEADs are supplied by the caller. Returns a structured result:
 
     - ``in_parity``    -- server code matches the on-disk master (or parity
       could not be determined, which is not treated as stale).
     - ``stale``        -- the on-disk master has definitively advanced past the
       running process.
-    - ``restart_required`` -- alias of ``stale``; the recovery action.
+    - ``restart_required`` -- ``stale`` or ``live_stale``; the recovery action.
-    - ``determinable`` -- whether both HEADs were known well enough to compare.
+    - ``determinable`` -- whether both local HEADs were known well enough to
+      compare.
     - ``startup_head`` / ``current_head`` / ``reasons``.
+
+    #610 adds live-remote awareness so a daemon that is stale relative to the
+    *live* remote master cannot report a mutation-safe result even when the
+    local checkout HEAD still matches the daemon's startup commit:
+
+    - ``daemon_start_head`` -- the commit the running process started at
+      (alias of ``startup_head``, named for clarity in reports).
+    - ``local_head`` -- the on-disk checkout HEAD (alias of ``current_head``).
+    - ``live_remote_head`` -- the live remote target commit, or ``None`` when it
+      could not be fetched.
+    - ``live_known`` -- whether the live remote target was resolved.
+    - ``live_stale`` -- the live remote master has advanced past the running
+      process (daemon is behind live master) even if local parity is green.
+    - ``mutation_safe`` -- the daemon code, local checkout, and live remote
+      target all agree; the only state in which a mutation may rely on parity.
     """
     startup_head = (startup or {}).get("startup_head")
     reasons: list[str] = []
@@ -91,32 +218,56 @@ def assess_master_parity(startup: dict | None, current_head: str | None) -> dict
     if startup_head is None:
         reasons.append(
             "startup commit was not captured; code parity cannot be enforced")
-        return _result(True, False, False, startup_head, current_head, reasons)
+        return _result(True, False, False, startup_head, current_head,
+                       live_remote_head, False, reasons)
 
     if current_head is None:
         reasons.append(
             "current workspace HEAD could not be read; code parity cannot be "
             "enforced")
-        return _result(True, False, False, startup_head, current_head, reasons)
+        return _result(True, False, False, startup_head, current_head,
+                       live_remote_head, False, reasons)
 
-    if startup_head == current_head:
+    local_in_parity = startup_head == current_head
-        return _result(True, False, True, startup_head, current_head, reasons)
+    local_stale = not local_in_parity
+    if local_stale:
+        reasons.append(
+            f"MCP server started at commit {_short(startup_head)} but the "
+            f"workspace master is now {_short(current_head)}; restart the "
+            f"server to load the current capability gates")
 
-    reasons.append(
+    live_known = live_remote_head is not None
-        f"MCP server started at commit {_short(startup_head)} but the workspace "
+    live_stale = live_known and live_remote_head != startup_head
-        f"master is now {_short(current_head)}; restart the server to load the "
+    if live_stale:
-        f"current capability gates")
+        reasons.append(
-    return _result(False, True, True, startup_head, current_head, reasons)
+            f"live remote master is {_short(live_remote_head)} but the MCP "
+            f"server started at {_short(startup_head)}; the daemon is stale "
+            f"relative to live master -- restart/reconnect before mutating")
+
+    return _result(
+        local_in_parity, local_stale, True, startup_head, current_head,
+        live_remote_head, live_stale, reasons)
 
 
-def _result(in_parity, stale, determinable, startup_head, current_head, reasons):
+def _result(in_parity, stale, determinable, startup_head, current_head,
+            live_remote_head, live_stale, reasons):
+    live_known = live_remote_head is not None
+    mutation_safe = (
+        determinable and in_parity and live_known and not live_stale)
     return {
         "in_parity": in_parity,
         "stale": stale,
-        "restart_required": stale,
+        "restart_required": stale or live_stale,
         "determinable": determinable,
         "startup_head": startup_head,
         "current_head": current_head,
+        # #610 distinguished signals:
+        "daemon_start_head": startup_head,
+        "local_head": current_head,
+        "live_remote_head": live_remote_head,
+        "live_known": live_known,
+        "live_stale": live_stale,
+        "mutation_safe": mutation_safe,
         "reasons": list(reasons),
     }
 
@@ -130,11 +281,13 @@ def parity_block_reasons(assessment: dict) -> list[str]:
     """Block reasons for a mutation gate (empty when the mutation may proceed).
 
     A disabled gate or an in-parity / non-determinable assessment yields no
-    reasons; only a definitively stale server blocks.
+    reasons. A definitively stale server blocks, and (#610) a daemon that is
+    stale relative to the *live* remote master blocks even when the local
+    checkout HEAD still matches the daemon's startup commit.
     """
     if gate_disabled():
         return []
-    if assessment.get("stale"):
+    if assessment.get("stale") or assessment.get("live_stale"):
         return list(assessment.get("reasons") or
                     ["server code is stale relative to master (fail closed)"])
     return []
@@ -147,6 +300,10 @@ def parity_report(assessment: dict) -> dict:
         "restart_required": True,
         "startup_head": assessment.get("startup_head"),
         "current_head": assessment.get("current_head"),
+        # #610: name the live remote target so the report distinguishes a
+        # local-code stale from a daemon-behind-live-master stale.
+        "live_remote_head": assessment.get("live_remote_head"),
+        "live_stale": bool(assessment.get("live_stale")),
         "reasons": list(assessment.get("reasons") or []),
         "recovery": [
             "The running MCP server is executing code older than the current "
@@ -157,6 +314,45 @@ def parity_report(assessment: dict) -> dict:
     }
 
 
+def parity_resolver_disagreement(
+    assessment: dict,
+    resolver_restart_required: bool,
+) -> dict | None:
+    """Typed blocker when the resolver requires restart but parity looks green.
+
+    The capability resolver (``gitea_resolve_task_capability``) detects stale
+    runtime authoritatively for mutation safety (#610). When it requires a
+    restart, local-only parity must never override it: this returns a typed,
+    fail-closed blocker that names the resolver as authoritative. Returns
+    ``None`` when the resolver does not require a restart.
+    """
+    if not resolver_restart_required:
+        return None
+    parity_optimistic = bool(assessment.get("in_parity")) and not (
+        assessment.get("stale") or assessment.get("live_stale"))
+    return {
+        "kind": "parity_resolver_disagreement",
+        "restart_required": True,
+        "resolver_authoritative": True,
+        "parity_optimistic": parity_optimistic,
+        "daemon_start_head": assessment.get("daemon_start_head"),
+        "local_head": assessment.get("local_head"),
+        "live_remote_head": assessment.get("live_remote_head"),
+        "reasons": [
+            "The capability resolver requires a restart/reconnect (stale "
+            "runtime) but master-parity reported local code as in-parity. "
+            "The resolver is authoritative for mutation safety; do not mutate "
+            "on local parity alone. Restart/reconnect the Gitea MCP server "
+            "and re-verify before mutating.",
+        ],
+        "recovery": [
+            "Trust the resolver: treat this session as stale.",
+            "Restart or /mcp reconnect the Gitea MCP namespace so it reloads "
+            "current master and live target state, then re-run preflight.",
+        ],
+    }
+
+
 def format_parity(assessment: dict) -> str:
     """One-line human summary for logs / runtime context."""
     if assessment.get("stale"):

tests/conftest.py

@@ -167,6 +167,35 @@ def _reset_mutation_authority(monkeypatch):
 import pytest
 
 
+@pytest.fixture(autouse=True)
+def _hermetic_live_remote_master_head():
+    """#610 / PR #788 F1/F2: keep live-remote parity reads offline in tests.
+
+    ``read_remote_master_head`` would otherwise ``git ls-remote`` whenever
+    ``GITEA_TEST_LIVE_REMOTE_HEAD`` is unset. Feature worktrees under
+    ``branches/`` always differ from live master, so legacy suites that assert
+    runtime-context ``safe_next_action`` flip to live_stale. Module-level
+    hermetic mode survives ``patch.dict(os.environ, …, clear=True)``.
+    Tests that exercise the real probe path call
+    ``master_parity_gate.set_hermetic_test_mode(False)`` and/or set
+    ``GITEA_TEST_ALLOW_LIVE_REMOTE_PROBE``.
+    """
+    try:
+        import master_parity_gate as _mpg
+
+        _mpg.set_hermetic_test_mode(True)
+    except Exception:
+        _mpg = None
+    try:
+        yield
+    finally:
+        if _mpg is not None:
+            try:
+                _mpg.set_hermetic_test_mode(False)
+            except Exception:
+                pass
+
+
 @pytest.fixture(autouse=True)
 def _deterministic_workspace_remotes():
     try:

tests/test_master_parity_gate.py

@@ -78,6 +78,95 @@ class TestBlockReasonsAndReport(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertTrue(report["recovery"])
 
 
+class TestLiveRemoteParity(unittest.TestCase):
+    """#610: parity must account for the live remote master, not just local.
+
+    The daemon can be stale relative to the live remote target while the local
+    checkout HEAD still matches the daemon's startup commit, so local parity
+    reports green even though a mutation would run against outdated code.
+    """
+
+    SHA_C = "c" * 40
+
+    def test_distinguishes_three_shas(self):
+        res = mp.assess_master_parity(
+            {"startup_head": SHA_A}, SHA_A, live_remote_head=SHA_B)
+        self.assertEqual(res["daemon_start_head"], SHA_A)
+        self.assertEqual(res["local_head"], SHA_A)
+        self.assertEqual(res["live_remote_head"], SHA_B)
+
+    def test_mutation_safe_only_when_all_three_match(self):
+        res = mp.assess_master_parity(
+            {"startup_head": SHA_A}, SHA_A, live_remote_head=SHA_A)
+        self.assertTrue(res["mutation_safe"])
+        self.assertTrue(res["live_known"])
+        self.assertFalse(res["live_stale"])
+
+    def test_live_stale_when_remote_advanced_past_daemon(self):
+        # Local checkout still matches the daemon start (local parity green),
+        # but the live remote master has advanced -> daemon is live-stale.
+        res = mp.assess_master_parity(
+            {"startup_head": SHA_A}, SHA_A, live_remote_head=SHA_B)
+        self.assertTrue(res["in_parity"])  # local parity still green
+        self.assertTrue(res["live_stale"])
+        self.assertFalse(res["mutation_safe"])
+        self.assertTrue(any("live" in r.lower() for r in res["reasons"]))
+
+    def test_live_unknown_is_not_mutation_safe_but_not_stale(self):
+        # Non-goal: unfetchable live remote must not be treated as stale for
+        # read-only, but a mutation-safe claim fails closed.
+        res = mp.assess_master_parity(
+            {"startup_head": SHA_A}, SHA_A, live_remote_head=None)
+        self.assertFalse(res["live_known"])
+        self.assertFalse(res["mutation_safe"])
+        self.assertFalse(res["live_stale"])
+        self.assertTrue(res["in_parity"])
+
+    def test_default_live_remote_preserves_legacy_shape(self):
+        # Callers that do not supply a live head keep the pre-#610 behavior:
+        # in-parity, not live-stale, no live-derived block.
+        res = mp.assess_master_parity({"startup_head": SHA_A}, SHA_A)
+        self.assertFalse(res["live_stale"])
+        self.assertEqual(mp.parity_block_reasons(res), [])
+
+
+class TestLiveStaleBlockAndReport(unittest.TestCase):
+    """#610: live-staleness must block mutations and surface a typed blocker."""
+
+    def test_live_stale_produces_block_reasons(self):
+        res = mp.assess_master_parity(
+            {"startup_head": SHA_A}, SHA_A, live_remote_head=SHA_B)
+        self.assertTrue(mp.parity_block_reasons(res))
+
+    def test_disable_env_suppresses_live_stale_block(self):
+        res = mp.assess_master_parity(
+            {"startup_head": SHA_A}, SHA_A, live_remote_head=SHA_B)
+        with patch.dict(os.environ, {mp.ENV_DISABLE: "1"}):
+            self.assertEqual(mp.parity_block_reasons(res), [])
+
+    def test_resolver_disagreement_returns_typed_blocker(self):
+        # Parity says local-green, resolver says restart required -> disagreement
+        # is a typed, fail-closed blocker naming the resolver as authoritative.
+        res = mp.assess_master_parity({"startup_head": SHA_A}, SHA_A)
+        blocker = mp.parity_resolver_disagreement(res, resolver_restart_required=True)
+        self.assertIsNotNone(blocker)
+        self.assertEqual(blocker["kind"], "parity_resolver_disagreement")
+        self.assertTrue(blocker["restart_required"])
+        self.assertTrue(blocker["resolver_authoritative"])
+
+    def test_no_disagreement_when_resolver_agrees(self):
+        res = mp.assess_master_parity({"startup_head": SHA_A}, SHA_A)
+        self.assertIsNone(
+            mp.parity_resolver_disagreement(res, resolver_restart_required=False))
+
+    def test_live_stale_report_names_live_remote(self):
+        res = mp.assess_master_parity(
+            {"startup_head": SHA_A}, SHA_A, live_remote_head=SHA_B)
+        report = mp.parity_report(res)
+        self.assertEqual(report["live_remote_head"], SHA_B)
+        self.assertTrue(report["restart_required"])
+
+
 class TestReadGitHead(unittest.TestCase):
     def test_test_override_takes_precedence(self):
         with patch.dict(os.environ, {mp.ENV_TEST_CURRENT_HEAD: SHA_B}):
@@ -95,6 +184,149 @@ class TestReadGitHead(unittest.TestCase):
             self.assertIsNone(mp.read_git_head(""))
 
 
+class TestReadRemoteMasterHead(unittest.TestCase):
+    """#610: live remote master head reader (env-overridable, fails to None)."""
+
+    def test_test_override_takes_precedence(self):
+        with patch.dict(os.environ, {mp.ENV_TEST_LIVE_REMOTE_HEAD: SHA_B}):
+            self.assertEqual(mp.read_remote_master_head("/nonexistent"), SHA_B)
+
+    def test_blank_override_is_none(self):
+        with patch.dict(os.environ, {mp.ENV_TEST_LIVE_REMOTE_HEAD: "   "}):
+            self.assertIsNone(mp.read_remote_master_head("/nonexistent"))
+
+    def test_unfetchable_remote_is_none(self):
+        # No override; a bogus root/remote must fail closed to None, never raise.
+        env = {k: v for k, v in os.environ.items()
+               if k != mp.ENV_TEST_LIVE_REMOTE_HEAD}
+        with patch.dict(os.environ, env, clear=True):
+            self.assertIsNone(
+                mp.read_remote_master_head("/nonexistent", remote="nope"))
+
+
+class TestRemoteHeadCache(unittest.TestCase):
+    """#610: live remote reads are cached with a TTL to stay off the network.
+
+    The parity gate runs on every mutation and every runtime-context read, so an
+    unbounded ``git ls-remote`` per call would be a latency/flakiness regression.
+    """
+
+    def setUp(self):
+        # These cases intentionally exercise the subprocess/cache path, so they
+        # opt out of suite-wide hermetic mode (PR #788 F1).
+        self._saved_hermetic = mp.hermetic_test_mode()
+        mp.set_hermetic_test_mode(False)
+        mp._clear_remote_head_cache()
+        env = {
+            k: v for k, v in os.environ.items()
+            if k not in (mp.ENV_TEST_LIVE_REMOTE_HEAD,
+                         mp.ENV_TEST_ALLOW_LIVE_REMOTE_PROBE,
+                         "PYTEST_CURRENT_TEST")
+        }
+        # Allow the probe path under hermetic defenses while still mocking
+        # subprocess so no real network call runs.
+        env[mp.ENV_TEST_ALLOW_LIVE_REMOTE_PROBE] = "1"
+        self._env = patch.dict(os.environ, env, clear=True)
+        self._env.start()
+        self.addCleanup(self._env.stop)
+        self.addCleanup(mp._clear_remote_head_cache)
+        self.addCleanup(
+            lambda: mp.set_hermetic_test_mode(self._saved_hermetic)
+        )
+
+    def _fake_run(self, sha):
+        class _R:
+            returncode = 0
+            stdout = f"{sha}\trefs/heads/master\n"
+        calls = {"n": 0}
+
+        def run(*args, **kwargs):
+            calls["n"] += 1
+            return _R()
+        return run, calls
+
+    def test_second_call_within_ttl_uses_cache(self):
+        run, calls = self._fake_run(SHA_B)
+        with patch.object(mp.subprocess, "run", run):
+            a = mp.read_remote_master_head("/repo", remote="prgs", ttl=100)
+            b = mp.read_remote_master_head("/repo", remote="prgs", ttl=100)
+        self.assertEqual(a, SHA_B)
+        self.assertEqual(b, SHA_B)
+        self.assertEqual(calls["n"], 1)
+
+    def test_zero_ttl_bypasses_cache(self):
+        run, calls = self._fake_run(SHA_B)
+        with patch.object(mp.subprocess, "run", run):
+            mp.read_remote_master_head("/repo", remote="prgs", ttl=0)
+            mp.read_remote_master_head("/repo", remote="prgs", ttl=0)
+        self.assertEqual(calls["n"], 2)
+
+    def test_env_override_never_touches_subprocess(self):
+        run, calls = self._fake_run(SHA_B)
+        with patch.dict(os.environ, {mp.ENV_TEST_LIVE_REMOTE_HEAD: SHA_A}):
+            with patch.object(mp.subprocess, "run", run):
+                self.assertEqual(
+                    mp.read_remote_master_head("/repo", remote="prgs"), SHA_A)
+        self.assertEqual(calls["n"], 0)
+
+
+class TestHermeticLiveRemoteReads(unittest.TestCase):
+    """#610 / PR #788 F1/F2: suite hermetic mode never hits the network."""
+
+    def setUp(self):
+        self._saved = mp.hermetic_test_mode()
+        mp.set_hermetic_test_mode(True)
+        mp._clear_remote_head_cache()
+        self.addCleanup(lambda: mp.set_hermetic_test_mode(self._saved))
+        self.addCleanup(mp._clear_remote_head_cache)
+
+    def test_hermetic_mode_returns_none_without_subprocess(self):
+        run_calls = {"n": 0}
+
+        def boom(*args, **kwargs):
+            run_calls["n"] += 1
+            raise AssertionError("ls-remote must not run under hermetic mode")
+
+        env = {
+            k: v for k, v in os.environ.items()
+            if k not in (mp.ENV_TEST_LIVE_REMOTE_HEAD,
+                         mp.ENV_TEST_ALLOW_LIVE_REMOTE_PROBE)
+        }
+        with patch.dict(os.environ, env, clear=True):
+            with patch.object(mp.subprocess, "run", boom):
+                self.assertIsNone(
+                    mp.read_remote_master_head("/repo", remote="prgs")
+                )
+        self.assertEqual(run_calls["n"], 0)
+
+    def test_hermetic_mode_survives_clear_true_env(self):
+        """Module flag, not env pin: clear=True cannot re-enable the probe."""
+        run_calls = {"n": 0}
+
+        def boom(*args, **kwargs):
+            run_calls["n"] += 1
+            raise AssertionError("ls-remote must not run after clear=True")
+
+        with patch.dict(os.environ, {}, clear=True):
+            with patch.object(mp.subprocess, "run", boom):
+                self.assertIsNone(mp.read_remote_master_head("/repo"))
+        self.assertEqual(run_calls["n"], 0)
+
+    def test_explicit_override_still_wins_under_hermetic(self):
+        run_calls = {"n": 0}
+
+        def boom(*args, **kwargs):
+            run_calls["n"] += 1
+            raise AssertionError("override must bypass subprocess")
+
+        with patch.dict(os.environ, {mp.ENV_TEST_LIVE_REMOTE_HEAD: SHA_B}):
+            with patch.object(mp.subprocess, "run", boom):
+                self.assertEqual(
+                    mp.read_remote_master_head("/repo"), SHA_B
+                )
+        self.assertEqual(run_calls["n"], 0)
+
+
 class TestServerWiring(unittest.TestCase):
     """Integration with the gate choke point in the server namespace."""
 
@@ -105,6 +337,13 @@ class TestServerWiring(unittest.TestCase):
         self._saved = self.srv._STARTUP_PARITY
         self.srv._STARTUP_PARITY = {"root": self.srv.PROJECT_ROOT,
                                     "startup_head": SHA_A}
+        # Keep the live-remote read hermetic (no real ls-remote network call):
+        # default the live master to the daemon start so parity is fully green
+        # unless a test overrides the live head explicitly (#610).
+        self._live_patch = patch.dict(
+            os.environ, {mp.ENV_TEST_LIVE_REMOTE_HEAD: SHA_A})
+        self._live_patch.start()
+        self.addCleanup(self._live_patch.stop)
 
     def tearDown(self):
         self.srv._STARTUP_PARITY = self._saved
@@ -147,6 +386,36 @@ class TestServerWiring(unittest.TestCase):
             self.assertTrue(out["in_parity"])
             self.assertNotIn("report", out)
 
+    # --- #610: live-remote wiring -------------------------------------------
+
+    def test_live_stale_blocks_mutation_though_local_green(self):
+        # Local checkout matches the daemon start (local parity green) but the
+        # live remote master has advanced -> mutations must fail closed.
+        with patch.dict(os.environ, {mp.ENV_TEST_CURRENT_HEAD: SHA_A,
+                                     mp.ENV_TEST_LIVE_REMOTE_HEAD: SHA_B}):
+            self.assertEqual(self.srv._master_parity_block("gitea.read"), [])
+            self.assertTrue(
+                self.srv._master_parity_block("gitea.pr.create"))
+
+    def test_assess_tool_exposes_three_distinct_shas(self):
+        with patch.dict(os.environ, {mp.ENV_TEST_CURRENT_HEAD: SHA_A,
+                                     mp.ENV_TEST_LIVE_REMOTE_HEAD: SHA_B}):
+            out = self.srv.gitea_assess_master_parity(remote="prgs")
+            self.assertEqual(out["daemon_start_head"], SHA_A)
+            self.assertEqual(out["local_head"], SHA_A)
+            self.assertEqual(out["live_remote_head"], SHA_B)
+            self.assertTrue(out["live_stale"])
+            self.assertFalse(out["mutation_safe"])
+            self.assertIn("report", out)
+
+    def test_assess_tool_mutation_safe_when_all_three_match(self):
+        with patch.dict(os.environ, {mp.ENV_TEST_CURRENT_HEAD: SHA_A,
+                                     mp.ENV_TEST_LIVE_REMOTE_HEAD: SHA_A}):
+            out = self.srv.gitea_assess_master_parity(remote="prgs")
+            self.assertTrue(out["mutation_safe"])
+            self.assertFalse(out["live_stale"])
+            self.assertNotIn("report", out)
+
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     unittest.main()

tests/test_webui_project_registry.py

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-"""Tests for web UI project registry (#427)."""
+"""Tests for web UI project registry (#427) and its API evolution (#635)."""
 import json
 import sys
 import tempfile
@@ -11,57 +11,246 @@ from starlette.testclient import TestClient
 
 from webui.app import create_app
 from webui.project_registry import (
+    CURRENT_SCHEMA_VERSION,
+    REGISTRY_API_VERSION,
+    SUPPORTED_SCHEMA_VERSIONS,
+    RegistryError,
     default_registry_path,
     load_registry,
+    onboarding_summary,
     project_to_dict,
 )
+from webui.registry_safety import is_forbidden_key
+
+_REPO_ROOT = Path(__file__).resolve().parent.parent
+_API_DOC = _REPO_ROOT / "docs" / "webui-project-registry-api.md"
 
 
-class TestProjectRegistryLoader(unittest.TestCase):
+def _valid_project(**overrides):
+    project = {
+        "id": "example",
+        "repo_name": "Example",
+        "gitea_owner": "Org",
+        "remote_host": "https://gitea.example.invalid",
+        "default_branch": "main",
+        "local_checkout_path": ".",
+        "profiles": {"author": "a", "reviewer": "r", "reconciler": "c"},
+        "workflow_paths": {"skill": "skills/x.md"},
+    }
+    project.update(overrides)
+    return project
+
+
+def _write_registry(payload) -> Path:
+    with tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile("w", suffix=".json", delete=False) as handle:
+        json.dump(payload, handle)
+        return Path(handle.name)
+
+
+class RegistryFileCase(unittest.TestCase):
+    """Base class that cleans up temporary registry files."""
+
+    def setUp(self):
+        self._temp_paths: list[Path] = []
+
+    def tearDown(self):
+        for path in self._temp_paths:
+            path.unlink(missing_ok=True)
+
+    def write_registry(self, payload) -> Path:
+        path = _write_registry(payload)
+        self._temp_paths.append(path)
+        return path
+
+
+class TestProjectRegistryLoader(RegistryFileCase):
     def test_default_registry_loads_gitea_tools(self):
         registry = load_registry()
-        self.assertEqual(registry.version, 1)
+        self.assertEqual(registry.version, CURRENT_SCHEMA_VERSION)
+        self.assertEqual(registry.schema_version, CURRENT_SCHEMA_VERSION)
+        self.assertEqual(registry.api_version, REGISTRY_API_VERSION)
         self.assertEqual(len(registry.projects), 1)
         project = registry.projects[0]
         self.assertEqual(project.id, "gitea-tools")
         self.assertEqual(project.repo_name, "Gitea-Tools")
         self.assertEqual(project.gitea_owner, "Scaled-Tech-Consulting")
+        self.assertEqual(project.repo_full_name, "Scaled-Tech-Consulting/Gitea-Tools")
         self.assertEqual(project.remote_host, "https://gitea.prgs.cc")
+        self.assertEqual(project.remote_name, "prgs")
+        self.assertEqual(project.status, "active")
         self.assertEqual(project.profiles["author"], "prgs-author")
         self.assertEqual(project.profiles["reviewer"], "prgs-reviewer")
         self.assertEqual(project.profiles["reconciler"], "prgs-reconciler")
         self.assertIn("skill", project.workflow_paths)
         self.assertGreaterEqual(len(project.onboarding_checklist), 4)
 
-    def test_registry_rejects_credential_keys(self):
+    def test_default_registry_onboarding_summary_is_complete(self):
-        payload = {
+        summary = onboarding_summary(load_registry().projects[0])
+        self.assertEqual(summary.total, summary.complete)
+        self.assertEqual(summary.required_outstanding, 0)
+        self.assertTrue(summary.onboarding_complete)
+
+    def test_version_1_registry_still_loads_with_defaults(self):
+        path = self.write_registry({
             "version": 1,
             "projects": [
-                {
+                _valid_project(
-                    "id": "bad",
+                    onboarding_checklist=[
-                    "repo_name": "Bad",
+                        {"id": "step", "title": "Step", "description": "Do it"}
-                    "gitea_owner": "Org",
+                    ]
-                    "remote_host": "https://gitea.example.invalid",
+                )
-                    "default_branch": "main",
-                    "local_checkout_path": ".",
-                    "profiles": {
-                        "author": "a",
-                        "reviewer": "r",
-                        "reconciler": "c",
-                    },
-                    "workflow_paths": {"skill": "skills/x.md"},
-                    "api_token": "secret",
-                }
             ],
-        }
+        })
+        registry = load_registry(path)
+        self.assertEqual(registry.schema_version, 1)
+        self.assertIn(1, SUPPORTED_SCHEMA_VERSIONS)
+        project = registry.projects[0]
+        self.assertEqual(project.status, "active")
+        self.assertIsNone(project.remote_name)
+        self.assertIsNone(project.last_seen_health)
+        step = project.onboarding_checklist[0]
+        self.assertEqual(step.state, "pending")
+        self.assertTrue(step.required)
+        self.assertFalse(onboarding_summary(project).onboarding_complete)
+
+    def test_onboarding_summary_counts_states(self):
+        path = self.write_registry({
+            "version": 2,
+            "projects": [
+                _valid_project(
+                    onboarding_checklist=[
+                        {"id": "a", "title": "A", "description": "d", "state": "complete"},
+                        {"id": "b", "title": "B", "description": "d", "state": "blocked"},
+                        {
+                            "id": "c",
+                            "title": "C",
+                            "description": "d",
+                            "state": "pending",
+                            "required": False,
+                        },
+                        {
+                            "id": "d",
+                            "title": "D",
+                            "description": "d",
+                            "state": "not_applicable",
+                        },
+                    ]
+                )
+            ],
+        })
+        summary = onboarding_summary(load_registry(path).projects[0])
+        self.assertEqual(summary.total, 4)
+        self.assertEqual(summary.complete, 1)
+        self.assertEqual(summary.blocked, 1)
+        self.assertEqual(summary.pending, 1)
+        self.assertEqual(summary.not_applicable, 1)
+        # Only the blocked step is both required and outstanding.
+        self.assertEqual(summary.required_outstanding, 1)
+        self.assertFalse(summary.onboarding_complete)
+
+    def test_last_seen_health_is_parsed_when_present(self):
+        path = self.write_registry({
+            "version": 2,
+            "projects": [
+                _valid_project(
+                    last_seen_health={
+                        "status": "degraded",
+                        "checked_at": "2026-01-01T00:00:00Z",
+                        "detail": "daemon restart pending",
+                    }
+                )
+            ],
+        })
+        health = load_registry(path).projects[0].last_seen_health
+        self.assertIsNotNone(health)
+        self.assertEqual(health.status, "degraded")
+        self.assertEqual(health.checked_at, "2026-01-01T00:00:00Z")
+
+    def test_registry_rejects_credential_keys(self):
+        path = self.write_registry({
+            "version": 1,
+            "projects": [_valid_project(id="bad", api_token="redacted-placeholder")],
+        })
+        with self.assertRaises(RegistryError) as ctx:
+            load_registry(path)
+        self.assertIn("credential", ctx.exception.remediation.lower())
+        self.assertEqual(ctx.exception.field_path, "projects[0].api_token")
+
+    def test_unsupported_version_fails_closed_with_remediation(self):
+        path = self.write_registry({"version": 99, "projects": [_valid_project()]})
+        with self.assertRaises(RegistryError) as ctx:
+            load_registry(path)
+        self.assertIn("unsupported registry version", ctx.exception.message)
+        self.assertIn(str(CURRENT_SCHEMA_VERSION), ctx.exception.remediation)
+        self.assertEqual(ctx.exception.field_path, "version")
+
+    def test_missing_required_field_fails_closed(self):
+        broken = _valid_project()
+        del broken["default_branch"]
+        path = self.write_registry({"version": 2, "projects": [broken]})
+        with self.assertRaises(RegistryError) as ctx:
+            load_registry(path)
+        self.assertIn("default_branch", ctx.exception.message)
+        self.assertEqual(ctx.exception.field_path, "projects[0]")
+
+    def test_unknown_status_fails_closed(self):
+        path = self.write_registry({
+            "version": 2,
+            "projects": [_valid_project(status="mystery")],
+        })
+        with self.assertRaises(RegistryError) as ctx:
+            load_registry(path)
+        self.assertEqual(ctx.exception.field_path, "projects[0].status")
+        self.assertIn("active", ctx.exception.remediation)
+
+    def test_unknown_onboarding_state_fails_closed(self):
+        path = self.write_registry({
+            "version": 2,
+            "projects": [
+                _valid_project(
+                    onboarding_checklist=[
+                        {"id": "a", "title": "A", "description": "d", "state": "almost"}
+                    ]
+                )
+            ],
+        })
+        with self.assertRaises(RegistryError) as ctx:
+            load_registry(path)
+        self.assertEqual(
+            ctx.exception.field_path,
+            "projects[0].onboarding_checklist[0].state",
+        )
+
+    def test_missing_profile_role_fails_closed(self):
+        path = self.write_registry({
+            "version": 2,
+            "projects": [_valid_project(profiles={"author": "a", "reviewer": "r"})],
+        })
+        with self.assertRaises(RegistryError) as ctx:
+            load_registry(path)
+        self.assertEqual(ctx.exception.field_path, "projects[0].profiles.reconciler")
+
+    def test_empty_projects_fails_closed(self):
+        path = self.write_registry({"version": 2, "projects": []})
+        with self.assertRaises(RegistryError) as ctx:
+            load_registry(path)
+        self.assertEqual(ctx.exception.field_path, "projects")
+
+    def test_invalid_json_fails_closed_with_location(self):
         with tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile("w", suffix=".json", delete=False) as handle:
-            json.dump(payload, handle)
+            handle.write("{not json")
             path = Path(handle.name)
-        try:
+        self._temp_paths.append(path)
-            with self.assertRaises(ValueError):
+        with self.assertRaises(RegistryError) as ctx:
-                load_registry(path)
+            load_registry(path)
-        finally:
+        self.assertIn("not valid JSON", ctx.exception.message)
-            path.unlink(missing_ok=True)
+        self.assertIn("line", ctx.exception.remediation)
+
+    def test_missing_file_fails_closed(self):
+        missing = Path(tempfile.gettempdir()) / "webui-registry-does-not-exist.json"
+        with self.assertRaises(RegistryError) as ctx:
+            load_registry(missing)
+        self.assertIn("could not be read", ctx.exception.message)
 
     def test_default_registry_path_points_at_packaged_data(self):
         path = default_registry_path()
@@ -81,31 +270,147 @@ class TestProjectRegistryRoutes(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertIn("prgs-author", response.text)
         self.assertNotIn("child issue", response.text.lower())
 
+    def test_projects_page_shows_status_and_progress(self):
+        response = self.client.get("/projects")
+        self.assertIn("Status", response.text)
+        self.assertIn("Onboarding", response.text)
+        self.assertIn("4/4 complete", response.text)
+
     def test_project_detail_renders_checklist(self):
         response = self.client.get("/projects/gitea-tools")
         self.assertEqual(response.status_code, 200)
         self.assertIn("Onboarding checklist", response.text)
         self.assertIn("Configure execution profiles", response.text)
         self.assertIn("branches/", response.text)
+        self.assertIn("Complete", response.text)
+        self.assertIn("required outstanding 0", response.text)
 
     def test_project_detail_404(self):
         response = self.client.get("/projects/unknown-repo")
         self.assertEqual(response.status_code, 404)
 
-    def test_api_projects_json(self):
+    def test_api_projects_alias_stays_compatible(self):
         response = self.client.get("/api/projects")
         self.assertEqual(response.status_code, 200)
         data = response.json()
-        self.assertEqual(data["version"], 1)
+        # #427 consumers keep these keys.
+        self.assertEqual(data["version"], CURRENT_SCHEMA_VERSION)
+        self.assertIn("source_path", data)
         self.assertEqual(len(data["projects"]), 1)
         self.assertEqual(data["projects"][0]["id"], "gitea-tools")
         self.assertIn("onboarding_checklist", data["projects"][0])
 
+    def test_api_v1_projects_payload(self):
+        response = self.client.get("/api/v1/projects")
+        self.assertEqual(response.status_code, 200)
+        data = response.json()
+        self.assertEqual(data["api_version"], REGISTRY_API_VERSION)
+        self.assertEqual(data["schema_version"], CURRENT_SCHEMA_VERSION)
+        self.assertEqual(data["project_count"], 1)
+        self.assertEqual(data["source"]["kind"], "file")
+        self.assertTrue(data["source"]["inventory_complete"])
+        project = data["projects"][0]
+        self.assertEqual(project["status"], "active")
+        self.assertEqual(project["remote_name"], "prgs")
+        self.assertEqual(
+            project["repo_full_name"], "Scaled-Tech-Consulting/Gitea-Tools"
+        )
+        self.assertTrue(project["onboarding_summary"]["onboarding_complete"])
+        self.assertEqual(project["onboarding_checklist"][0]["state"], "complete")
+        self.assertIsNone(project["last_seen_health"])
+
+    def test_api_v1_project_detail(self):
+        response = self.client.get("/api/v1/projects/gitea-tools")
+        self.assertEqual(response.status_code, 200)
+        data = response.json()
+        self.assertEqual(data["api_version"], REGISTRY_API_VERSION)
+        self.assertEqual(data["project"]["id"], "gitea-tools")
+        self.assertEqual(data["source"]["kind"], "file")
+
+    def test_api_v1_project_detail_missing_fails_closed(self):
+        response = self.client.get("/api/v1/projects/not-registered")
+        self.assertEqual(response.status_code, 404)
+        data = response.json()
+        self.assertEqual(data["error"], "project_not_found")
+        self.assertEqual(data["project_id"], "not-registered")
+        self.assertIn("gitea-tools", data["known_project_ids"])
+        self.assertIn("remediation", data)
+
+    def test_api_v1_projects_is_read_only(self):
+        response = self.client.post("/api/v1/projects", json={})
+        self.assertEqual(response.status_code, 405)
+        self.assertEqual(response.json()["error"], "read-only-mvp")
+
     def test_project_to_dict_is_json_safe(self):
         registry = load_registry()
-        encoded = json.dumps(project_to_dict(registry.projects[0]))
+        dto = project_to_dict(registry.projects[0])
+        encoded = json.dumps(dto)
         self.assertIn("gitea-tools", encoded)
+        # Prose may mention tokens; no serialized *key* may look like a secret.
+        for key in dto:
+            with self.subTest(key=key):
+                self.assertFalse(is_forbidden_key(key))
+
+
+class TestInvalidRegistryFailsClosedOverHttp(RegistryFileCase):
+    def setUp(self):
+        super().setUp()
+        self.path = self.write_registry({"version": 42, "projects": []})
+        self.client = TestClient(create_app())
+
+    def _with_bad_registry(self, url: str):
+        import os
+        from unittest import mock
+
+        with mock.patch.dict(
+            os.environ, {"WEBUI_PROJECT_REGISTRY": str(self.path)}, clear=False
+        ):
+            return self.client.get(url)
+
+    def test_api_v1_reports_actionable_error(self):
+        response = self._with_bad_registry("/api/v1/projects")
+        self.assertEqual(response.status_code, 500)
+        data = response.json()
+        self.assertEqual(data["error"], "registry_invalid")
+        self.assertIn("unsupported registry version", data["detail"])
+        self.assertTrue(data["remediation"])
+        self.assertEqual(data["field_path"], "version")
+
+    def test_unversioned_alias_reports_actionable_error(self):
+        response = self._with_bad_registry("/api/projects")
+        self.assertEqual(response.status_code, 500)
+        self.assertEqual(response.json()["error"], "registry_invalid")
+
+    def test_html_page_reports_actionable_error(self):
+        response = self._with_bad_registry("/projects")
+        self.assertEqual(response.status_code, 500)
+        self.assertIn("Project registry unavailable", response.text)
+        self.assertIn("Remediation", response.text)
+
+
+class TestProjectRegistryApiDocs(unittest.TestCase):
+    def test_api_contract_is_documented(self):
+        self.assertTrue(_API_DOC.is_file(), f"missing {_API_DOC}")
+        text = _API_DOC.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
+        for token in (
+            "/api/v1/projects",
+            "/api/v1/projects/{project_id}",
+            "/api/projects",
+            "onboarding_summary",
+            "last_seen_health",
+            "registry_invalid",
+            "#635",
+        ):
+            with self.subTest(token=token):
+                self.assertIn(token, text)
+
+    def test_route_table_lists_versioned_routes(self):
+        local_dev = (_REPO_ROOT / "docs" / "webui-local-dev.md").read_text(
+            encoding="utf-8"
+        )
+        self.assertIn("/api/v1/projects", local_dev)
+        self.assertIn("webui-project-registry-api.md", local_dev)
 
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
-    unittest.main()
+    unittest.main()

tests/test_webui_worker_registry.py

@@ -0,0 +1,458 @@
+"""Tests for the worker registry and configuration schema (#798, epic #797)."""
+import json
+import sys
+import tempfile
+import unittest
+from pathlib import Path
+
+sys.path.insert(0, str(Path(__file__).resolve().parent.parent))
+
+from webui.worker_registry import (
+    ALLOWED_ROLES,
+    SCHEMA_VERSION,
+    RegistryValidationError,
+    WorkerRegistry,
+    default_registry_path,
+    find_provider,
+    find_worker,
+    history_dir,
+    list_revisions,
+    load_registry,
+    registry_to_dict,
+    registry_to_document,
+    rollback_to_revision,
+    save_registry,
+    validate_payload,
+    worker_to_dict,
+    workers_for_provider,
+)
+
+_EXPECTED_PROVIDER_IDS = ("claude", "grok", "codex", "agy", "kimi-k")
+
+
+def _provider(provider_id: str = "claude", **overrides) -> dict:
+    payload = {
+        "id": provider_id,
+        "display_name": "Claude",
+        "vendor": "Anthropic",
+        "executable": "claude",
+        "available": True,
+        "models": ["claude-opus-4-8"],
+        "notes": "",
+    }
+    payload.update(overrides)
+    return payload
+
+
+def _worker(worker_id: str = "claude-author", **overrides) -> dict:
+    payload = {
+        "id": worker_id,
+        "display_name": "Claude author",
+        "provider": "claude",
+        "model": "claude-opus-4-8",
+        "project": "gitea-tools",
+        "role": "author",
+        "namespace": "gitea-author",
+        "profile": "prgs-author",
+        "workflow": "skills/llm-project-workflow/workflows/work-issue.md",
+        "schedule": {"kind": "cron", "expression": "0 * * * *"},
+        "timeout_seconds": 3600,
+        "enabled": True,
+        "scheduler": {"kind": "launchd", "label": "cc.prgs.claude.author"},
+        "notes": "",
+    }
+    payload.update(overrides)
+    return payload
+
+
+def _document(providers=None, workers=None, **overrides) -> dict:
+    payload = {
+        "version": SCHEMA_VERSION,
+        "revision": 1,
+        "updated_at": "2026-07-22T00:00:00Z",
+        "providers": providers if providers is not None else [_provider()],
+        "workers": workers if workers is not None else [_worker()],
+    }
+    payload.update(overrides)
+    return payload
+
+
+class _TempRegistryCase(unittest.TestCase):
+    """Base case giving each test an isolated registry file."""
+
+    def setUp(self):
+        self._tmp = tempfile.TemporaryDirectory()
+        self.addCleanup(self._tmp.cleanup)
+        self.path = Path(self._tmp.name) / "workers.registry.json"
+
+    def write(self, document: dict) -> Path:
+        self.path.write_text(json.dumps(document, indent=2) + "\n", encoding="utf-8")
+        return self.path
+
+    def parse(self, document: dict) -> WorkerRegistry:
+        return validate_payload(document, source_path=self.path)
+
+
+class TestPackagedRegistry(unittest.TestCase):
+    """AC: the declarative registry is the source of truth and ships with the app."""
+
+    def test_default_path_points_at_packaged_data(self):
+        path = default_registry_path()
+        self.assertEqual(path.name, "workers.registry.json")
+        self.assertEqual(path.parent.name, "data")
+
+    def test_packaged_registry_loads_and_validates(self):
+        registry = load_registry()
+        self.assertEqual(registry.version, SCHEMA_VERSION)
+        self.assertGreaterEqual(registry.revision, 1)
+
+    def test_packaged_registry_declares_all_five_providers(self):
+        registry = load_registry()
+        self.assertEqual(
+            tuple(provider.id for provider in registry.providers),
+            _EXPECTED_PROVIDER_IDS,
+        )
+
+    def test_packaged_registry_carries_no_credentials(self):
+        raw = default_registry_path().read_text(encoding="utf-8").lower()
+        for marker in ("token", "password", "secret", "api_key", "credential"):
+            self.assertNotIn(marker, raw)
+
+
+class TestSeparateEntities(_TempRegistryCase):
+    """AC: providers and configured workers are separate entities."""
+
+    def test_provider_may_exist_with_no_workers(self):
+        registry = self.parse(
+            _document(providers=[_provider("grok", display_name="Grok")], workers=[])
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(len(registry.providers), 1)
+        self.assertEqual(registry.workers, ())
+        self.assertEqual(workers_for_provider(registry, "grok"), ())
+
+    def test_many_workers_may_share_one_provider(self):
+        registry = self.parse(
+            _document(
+                workers=[
+                    _worker("claude-author"),
+                    _worker(
+                        "claude-reviewer",
+                        role="reviewer",
+                        namespace="gitea-reviewer",
+                        profile="prgs-reviewer",
+                        scheduler={"kind": "launchd", "label": "cc.prgs.claude.reviewer"},
+                    ),
+                ]
+            )
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(len(workers_for_provider(registry, "claude")), 2)
+        self.assertEqual(len(registry.providers), 1)
+
+    def test_worker_referencing_unknown_provider_is_refused(self):
+        with self.assertRaises(RegistryValidationError) as ctx:
+            self.parse(_document(workers=[_worker(provider="mystery")]))
+        self.assertIn("unknown provider", str(ctx.exception))
+
+    def test_lookup_helpers(self):
+        registry = self.parse(_document())
+        self.assertIsNotNone(find_worker(registry, "claude-author"))
+        self.assertIsNone(find_worker(registry, "absent"))
+        self.assertIsNotNone(find_provider(registry, "claude"))
+        self.assertIsNone(find_provider(registry, "absent"))
+
+
+class TestRecordedFields(_TempRegistryCase):
+    """AC: records provider, model, project, role, namespace/profile, workflow,
+    schedule, timeout, enabled state, and scheduler metadata."""
+
+    def test_every_required_field_is_recorded(self):
+        registry = self.parse(_document())
+        worker = registry.workers[0]
+        self.assertEqual(worker.provider, "claude")
+        self.assertEqual(worker.model, "claude-opus-4-8")
+        self.assertEqual(worker.project, "gitea-tools")
+        self.assertEqual(worker.role, "author")
+        self.assertEqual(worker.namespace, "gitea-author")
+        self.assertEqual(worker.profile, "prgs-author")
+        self.assertEqual(worker.workflow, "skills/llm-project-workflow/workflows/work-issue.md")
+        self.assertEqual(worker.schedule.kind, "cron")
+        self.assertEqual(worker.schedule.expression, "0 * * * *")
+        self.assertEqual(worker.timeout_seconds, 3600)
+        self.assertTrue(worker.enabled)
+        self.assertEqual(worker.scheduler.kind, "launchd")
+        self.assertEqual(worker.scheduler.label, "cc.prgs.claude.author")
+
+    def test_each_required_field_is_individually_required(self):
+        for field in (
+            "provider", "model", "project", "role", "namespace",
+            "profile", "workflow", "schedule", "timeout_seconds",
+            "enabled", "scheduler", "id", "display_name",
+        ):
+            with self.subTest(field=field):
+                worker = _worker()
+                worker.pop(field)
+                with self.assertRaises(RegistryValidationError):
+                    self.parse(_document(workers=[worker]))
+
+    def test_all_sanctioned_roles_are_accepted(self):
+        for role in ALLOWED_ROLES:
+            with self.subTest(role=role):
+                registry = self.parse(_document(workers=[_worker(role=role)]))
+                self.assertEqual(registry.workers[0].role, role)
+
+    def test_unsanctioned_role_is_refused(self):
+        with self.assertRaises(RegistryValidationError) as ctx:
+            self.parse(_document(workers=[_worker(role="admin")]))
+        self.assertIn("role must be one of", str(ctx.exception))
+
+    def test_worker_dict_round_trips_every_field(self):
+        registry = self.parse(_document())
+        encoded = worker_to_dict(registry.workers[0])
+        self.assertEqual(encoded, _worker())
+        json.dumps(encoded)  # must stay JSON-safe for the #799 API
+
+
+class TestSchemaValidation(_TempRegistryCase):
+    """AC: supports schema validation — and fails closed."""
+
+    def test_unsupported_version_is_refused(self):
+        with self.assertRaises(RegistryValidationError):
+            self.parse(_document(version=2))
+
+    def test_root_must_be_an_object(self):
+        with self.assertRaises(RegistryValidationError):
+            validate_payload([], source_path=self.path)
+
+    def test_providers_must_be_non_empty(self):
+        with self.assertRaises(RegistryValidationError):
+            self.parse(_document(providers=[]))
+
+    def test_unknown_top_level_field_is_refused(self):
+        with self.assertRaises(RegistryValidationError) as ctx:
+            self.parse(_document(fleet=[]))
+        self.assertIn("unknown fields", str(ctx.exception))
+
+    def test_unknown_worker_field_is_refused_not_ignored(self):
+        # A typo'd field must not be silently dropped: "timeout_second" would
+        # otherwise read as "no timeout declared".
+        worker = _worker()
+        worker["timeout_second"] = 30
+        with self.assertRaises(RegistryValidationError) as ctx:
+            self.parse(_document(workers=[worker]))
+        self.assertIn("timeout_second", str(ctx.exception))
+
+    def test_credentials_are_refused_anywhere_in_the_document(self):
+        for label, mutate in (
+            ("provider.api_token", lambda doc: doc["providers"][0].__setitem__("api_token", "x")),
+            ("worker.password", lambda doc: doc["workers"][0].__setitem__("password", "x")),
+            ("root.secret", lambda doc: doc.__setitem__("secret", "x")),
+        ):
+            with self.subTest(field=label):
+                document = _document()
+                mutate(document)
+                with self.assertRaises(ValueError) as ctx:
+                    self.parse(document)
+                self.assertIn("credential", str(ctx.exception).lower())
+
+    def test_duplicate_worker_id_is_refused(self):
+        workers = [_worker("dup"), _worker("dup", scheduler={"kind": "manual"})]
+        with self.assertRaises(RegistryValidationError) as ctx:
+            self.parse(_document(workers=workers))
+        self.assertIn("duplicate worker id", str(ctx.exception))
+
+    def test_duplicate_provider_id_is_refused(self):
+        with self.assertRaises(RegistryValidationError) as ctx:
+            self.parse(_document(providers=[_provider("claude"), _provider("claude")], workers=[]))
+        self.assertIn("duplicate provider id", str(ctx.exception))
+
+    def test_duplicate_launchagent_label_is_refused(self):
+        # Two workers sharing a label would silently overwrite each other's agent.
+        workers = [
+            _worker("a", scheduler={"kind": "launchd", "label": "cc.prgs.same"}),
+            _worker("b", scheduler={"kind": "launchd", "label": "cc.prgs.same"}),
+        ]
+        with self.assertRaises(RegistryValidationError) as ctx:
+            self.parse(_document(workers=workers))
+        self.assertIn("duplicate scheduler label", str(ctx.exception))
+
+    def test_manual_scheduler_needs_no_label_and_many_may_coexist(self):
+        workers = [
+            _worker("a", scheduler={"kind": "manual"}),
+            _worker("b", scheduler={"kind": "manual"}),
+        ]
+        registry = self.parse(_document(workers=workers))
+        self.assertEqual([w.scheduler.label for w in registry.workers], [None, None])
+
+    def test_launchd_scheduler_requires_a_label(self):
+        with self.assertRaises(RegistryValidationError) as ctx:
+            self.parse(_document(workers=[_worker(scheduler={"kind": "launchd"})]))
+        self.assertIn("label is required", str(ctx.exception))
+
+    def test_unknown_scheduler_kind_is_refused(self):
+        with self.assertRaises(RegistryValidationError):
+            self.parse(_document(workers=[_worker(scheduler={"kind": "systemd", "label": "x"})]))
+
+    def test_timeout_must_be_a_positive_bounded_integer(self):
+        for bad in (0, -1, "3600", 1.5, True, 86_401):
+            with self.subTest(timeout=bad):
+                with self.assertRaises(RegistryValidationError):
+                    self.parse(_document(workers=[_worker(timeout_seconds=bad)]))
+
+    def test_enabled_must_be_a_real_boolean(self):
+        for bad in ("true", 1, None):
+            with self.subTest(enabled=bad):
+                with self.assertRaises(RegistryValidationError):
+                    self.parse(_document(workers=[_worker(enabled=bad)]))
+
+    def test_identifier_shape_is_enforced(self):
+        for bad in ("Claude Author", "-leading", "UPPER", ""):
+            with self.subTest(worker_id=bad):
+                with self.assertRaises(RegistryValidationError):
+                    self.parse(_document(workers=[_worker(bad)]))
+
+
+class TestScheduleValidation(_TempRegistryCase):
+    """Schedules are declarations; next-run computation belongs to #803."""
+
+    def test_interval_schedule_requires_positive_seconds(self):
+        registry = self.parse(
+            _document(workers=[_worker(schedule={"kind": "interval", "seconds": 900})])
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(registry.workers[0].schedule.seconds, 900)
+        with self.assertRaises(RegistryValidationError):
+            self.parse(_document(workers=[_worker(schedule={"kind": "interval"})]))
+        with self.assertRaises(RegistryValidationError):
+            self.parse(_document(workers=[_worker(schedule={"kind": "interval", "seconds": 0})]))
+
+    def test_cron_schedule_requires_five_fields(self):
+        with self.assertRaises(RegistryValidationError) as ctx:
+            self.parse(_document(workers=[_worker(schedule={"kind": "cron", "expression": "0 *"})]))
+        self.assertIn("five crontab fields", str(ctx.exception))
+
+    def test_manual_schedule_needs_no_timing(self):
+        registry = self.parse(_document(workers=[_worker(schedule={"kind": "manual"})]))
+        schedule = registry.workers[0].schedule
+        self.assertEqual(schedule.kind, "manual")
+        self.assertIsNone(schedule.seconds)
+        self.assertIsNone(schedule.expression)
+
+    def test_fields_from_the_wrong_kind_are_refused(self):
+        with self.assertRaises(RegistryValidationError) as ctx:
+            self.parse(_document(workers=[_worker(schedule={"kind": "manual", "seconds": 60})]))
+        self.assertIn("not valid for kind", str(ctx.exception))
+
+    def test_unknown_schedule_kind_is_refused(self):
+        with self.assertRaises(RegistryValidationError):
+            self.parse(_document(workers=[_worker(schedule={"kind": "hourly"})]))
+
+
+class TestAtomicPersistence(_TempRegistryCase):
+    """AC: atomic persistence."""
+
+    def test_save_then_load_round_trips(self):
+        registry = self.parse(_document())
+        save_registry(registry, self.path)
+        reloaded = load_registry(self.path)
+        self.assertEqual(
+            [worker_to_dict(w) for w in reloaded.workers],
+            [worker_to_dict(w) for w in registry.workers],
+        )
+
+    def test_save_leaves_no_temp_files_behind(self):
+        registry = self.parse(_document())
+        save_registry(registry, self.path)
+        save_registry(registry, self.path)
+        leftovers = [p.name for p in self.path.parent.iterdir() if p.name.startswith(".")]
+        self.assertEqual(leftovers, [])
+
+    def test_save_refuses_to_persist_an_invalid_document(self):
+        registry = self.parse(_document())
+        broken = WorkerRegistry(
+            version=registry.version,
+            revision=registry.revision,
+            updated_at=registry.updated_at,
+            providers=registry.providers,
+            # A worker whose provider is not declared in the registry.
+            workers=tuple(
+                type(worker)(**{**worker.__dict__, "provider": "vanished"})
+                for worker in registry.workers
+            ),
+            source_path=self.path,
+        )
+        with self.assertRaises(RegistryValidationError):
+            save_registry(broken, self.path)
+        self.assertFalse(self.path.exists(), "invalid save must not create the file")
+
+    def test_document_shape_excludes_local_paths_but_api_shape_includes_it(self):
+        registry = self.parse(_document())
+        self.assertNotIn("source_path", registry_to_document(registry))
+        self.assertEqual(registry_to_dict(registry)["source_path"], str(self.path))
+
+
+class TestVersioningAndRollback(_TempRegistryCase):
+    """AC: versioning and rollback."""
+
+    def _seed(self) -> WorkerRegistry:
+        self.write(_document())
+        return load_registry(self.path)
+
+    def test_revision_increments_on_each_save(self):
+        registry = self._seed()
+        self.assertEqual(registry.revision, 1)
+        second = save_registry(registry, self.path)
+        self.assertEqual(second.revision, 2)
+        third = save_registry(second, self.path)
+        self.assertEqual(third.revision, 3)
+
+    def test_updated_at_is_refreshed_and_utc(self):
+        registry = self._seed()
+        saved = save_registry(registry, self.path)
+        self.assertRegex(saved.updated_at, r"^\d{4}-\d{2}-\d{2}T\d{2}:\d{2}:\d{2}Z$")
+
+    def test_superseded_revisions_are_retained(self):
+        registry = self._seed()
+        second = save_registry(registry, self.path)
+        save_registry(second, self.path)
+        self.assertEqual(list_revisions(self.path), (1, 2))
+        self.assertTrue(history_dir(self.path).is_dir())
+
+    def test_rollback_restores_prior_content_as_a_new_revision(self):
+        self.write(_document(workers=[_worker("original")]))
+        registry = load_registry(self.path)
+
+        changed = WorkerRegistry(
+            version=registry.version,
+            revision=registry.revision,
+            updated_at=registry.updated_at,
+            providers=registry.providers,
+            workers=(),  # operator deletes every worker
+            source_path=self.path,
+        )
+        save_registry(changed, self.path)
+        self.assertEqual(load_registry(self.path).workers, ())
+
+        restored = rollback_to_revision(1, self.path)
+        self.assertEqual([w.id for w in restored.workers], ["original"])
+        # Append-only: the rollback publishes a new head rather than rewinding.
+        self.assertGreater(restored.revision, 2)
+        self.assertEqual([w.id for w in load_registry(self.path).workers], ["original"])
+
+    def test_rollback_to_unknown_revision_fails_closed(self):
+        self._seed()
+        with self.assertRaises(RegistryValidationError) as ctx:
+            rollback_to_revision(99, self.path)
+        self.assertIn("not retained", str(ctx.exception))
+
+    def test_revision_must_be_a_positive_integer(self):
+        for bad in (0, -1, "1", None):
+            with self.subTest(revision=bad):
+                with self.assertRaises(RegistryValidationError):
+                    self.parse(_document(revision=bad))
+
+    def test_history_is_empty_before_any_save(self):
+        self.write(_document())
+        self.assertEqual(list_revisions(self.path), ())
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    unittest.main()

webui/app.py

@@ -11,8 +11,20 @@ from starlette.routing import Route
 
 from webui.deployment_boundary import deployment_snapshot
 from webui.layout import render_page
-from webui.project_registry import find_project, load_registry, registry_to_dict
+from webui.project_registry import (
-from webui.project_views import render_project_detail, render_projects_list
+    ProjectRegistry,
+    RegistryError,
+    find_project,
+    known_project_ids,
+    load_registry,
+    project_detail_to_dict,
+    registry_to_dict,
+)
+from webui.project_views import (
+    render_project_detail,
+    render_projects_list,
+    render_registry_error,
+)
 from webui.prompt_library import find_prompt, library_to_dict
 from webui.prompt_views import render_prompt_detail, render_prompts_page
 from final_report_validator import FINAL_REPORT_TASK_KINDS
@@ -81,14 +93,26 @@ async def api_queue(_request: Request) -> JSONResponse:
     return JSONResponse(queue_snapshot_to_dict(load_queue_snapshot()))
 
 
+def _load_project_registry() -> tuple[ProjectRegistry | None, RegistryError | None]:
+    """Load the registry, converting validation failure into a fail-closed pair."""
+    try:
+        return load_registry(), None
+    except RegistryError as exc:
+        return None, exc
+
+
 async def projects(_request: Request) -> HTMLResponse:
-    registry = load_registry()
+    registry, error = _load_project_registry()
+    if error is not None:
+        return HTMLResponse(render_registry_error(error), status_code=500)
     return HTMLResponse(render_projects_list(registry))
 
 
 async def project_detail(request: Request) -> HTMLResponse:
     project_id = request.path_params["project_id"]
-    registry = load_registry()
+    registry, error = _load_project_registry()
+    if error is not None:
+        return HTMLResponse(render_registry_error(error), status_code=500)
     project = find_project(registry, project_id)
     if project is None:
         return HTMLResponse(
@@ -106,10 +130,47 @@ async def project_detail(request: Request) -> HTMLResponse:
 
 
 async def api_projects(_request: Request) -> JSONResponse:
-    registry = load_registry()
+    """Unversioned MVP alias, retained through Phase 1 (#632 section 6)."""
+    registry, error = _load_project_registry()
+    if error is not None:
+        return JSONResponse(error.to_dict(), status_code=500)
     return JSONResponse(registry_to_dict(registry))
 
 
+async def api_v1_projects(_request: Request) -> JSONResponse:
+    registry, error = _load_project_registry()
+    if error is not None:
+        return JSONResponse(error.to_dict(), status_code=500)
+    return JSONResponse(registry_to_dict(registry))
+
+
+async def api_v1_project_detail(request: Request) -> JSONResponse:
+    project_id = request.path_params["project_id"]
+    registry, error = _load_project_registry()
+    if error is not None:
+        return JSONResponse(error.to_dict(), status_code=500)
+    project = find_project(registry, project_id)
+    if project is None:
+        return JSONResponse(
+            {
+                "error": "project_not_found",
+                "project_id": project_id,
+                "known_project_ids": known_project_ids(registry),
+                "remediation": (
+                    "Request one of the known project ids, or add the project to the "
+                    "registry file named in 'source'."
+                ),
+                "source": {
+                    "kind": "file",
+                    "path": str(registry.source_path),
+                    "inventory_complete": True,
+                },
+            },
+            status_code=404,
+        )
+    return JSONResponse(project_detail_to_dict(registry, project))
+
+
 async def prompts(_request: Request) -> HTMLResponse:
     return HTMLResponse(render_prompts_page())
 
@@ -268,6 +329,12 @@ def create_app(*, bind_host: str | None = None) -> Starlette:
             Route("/projects", projects, methods=["GET"]),
             Route("/projects/{project_id}", project_detail, methods=["GET"]),
             Route("/api/projects", api_projects, methods=["GET"]),
+            Route("/api/v1/projects", api_v1_projects, methods=["GET"]),
+            Route(
+                "/api/v1/projects/{project_id}",
+                api_v1_project_detail,
+                methods=["GET"],
+            ),
             Route("/prompts", prompts, methods=["GET"]),
             Route("/prompts/{prompt_id}", prompt_detail, methods=["GET"]),
             Route("/api/prompts", api_prompts, methods=["GET"]),

webui/data/projects.registry.json

@@ -1,13 +1,15 @@
 {
-  "version": 1,
+  "version": 2,
   "projects": [
     {
       "id": "gitea-tools",
       "repo_name": "Gitea-Tools",
       "gitea_owner": "Scaled-Tech-Consulting",
+      "remote_name": "prgs",
       "remote_host": "https://gitea.prgs.cc",
       "default_branch": "master",
       "local_checkout_path": ".",
+      "status": "active",
       "profiles": {
         "author": "prgs-author",
         "reviewer": "prgs-reviewer",
@@ -26,24 +28,32 @@
         {
           "id": "profiles",
           "title": "Configure execution profiles",
-          "description": "Install author, reviewer, and reconciler MCP profiles (prgs-author, prgs-reviewer, prgs-reconciler) in separate namespaces. Tokens stay in keychain — never in this registry."
+          "description": "Install author, reviewer, and reconciler MCP profiles (prgs-author, prgs-reviewer, prgs-reconciler) in separate namespaces. Tokens stay in keychain — never in this registry.",
+          "state": "complete",
+          "required": true
         },
         {
           "id": "mcp_config",
           "title": "Wire MCP v2 contexts",
-          "description": "Copy and customize gitea-mcp.v2-contexts.example.json for your machine. Map this repo path under projects with default_owner Scaled-Tech-Consulting and default_repo Gitea-Tools."
+          "description": "Copy and customize gitea-mcp.v2-contexts.example.json for your machine. Map this repo path under projects with default_owner Scaled-Tech-Consulting and default_repo Gitea-Tools.",
+          "state": "complete",
+          "required": true
         },
         {
           "id": "wiki_gate",
           "title": "Wiki publication readiness",
-          "description": "For wiki-tracked work, satisfy the live Gitea Wiki proof gate (#224) before closing issues. See docs/wiki/Safety-and-Gates.md."
+          "description": "For wiki-tracked work, satisfy the live Gitea Wiki proof gate (#224) before closing issues. See docs/wiki/Safety-and-Gates.md.",
+          "state": "complete",
+          "required": true
         },
         {
           "id": "branches_layout",
           "title": "Isolate work under branches/",
-          "description": "All LLM task edits happen in worktrees under branches/. Main checkout stays clean; use skills/llm-project-workflow templates for start-issue and review flows."
+          "description": "All LLM task edits happen in worktrees under branches/. Main checkout stays clean; use skills/llm-project-workflow templates for start-issue and review flows.",
+          "state": "complete",
+          "required": true
         }
       ]
     }
   ]
-}
+}

webui/data/workers.registry.json

@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+{
+  "version": 1,
+  "revision": 1,
+  "updated_at": "2026-07-22T00:00:00Z",
+  "providers": [
+    {
+      "id": "claude",
+      "display_name": "Claude",
+      "vendor": "Anthropic",
+      "executable": "claude",
+      "available": true,
+      "models": [
+        "claude-opus-4-8",
+        "claude-sonnet-5",
+        "claude-haiku-4-5-20251001"
+      ],
+      "notes": "Model list is a declaration. Live enumeration and version inspection belong to the provider adapter framework (#800)."
+    },
+    {
+      "id": "grok",
+      "display_name": "Grok",
+      "vendor": "xAI",
+      "executable": "grok",
+      "available": true,
+      "models": [],
+      "notes": "Models enumerated by the provider adapter (#800); not declared here."
+    },
+    {
+      "id": "codex",
+      "display_name": "Codex",
+      "vendor": "OpenAI",
+      "executable": "codex",
+      "available": true,
+      "models": [],
+      "notes": "Models enumerated by the provider adapter (#800); not declared here."
+    },
+    {
+      "id": "agy",
+      "display_name": "AGY",
+      "vendor": "Antigravity",
+      "executable": "agy",
+      "available": true,
+      "models": [],
+      "notes": "MCP allowlist gating applies to this provider; confirm server-side allowlist before configuring a worker."
+    },
+    {
+      "id": "kimi-k",
+      "display_name": "Kimi K",
+      "vendor": "Moonshot AI",
+      "executable": "kimi",
+      "available": true,
+      "models": [],
+      "notes": "Provider id is kimi-k; the executable on PATH is kimi. Models enumerated by the provider adapter (#800)."
+    }
+  ],
+  "workers": []
+}

webui/project_registry.py

@@ -1,4 +1,16 @@
-"""Load and validate the web UI project registry (#427)."""
+"""Load and validate the web UI project registry (#427, evolved for #635).
+
+Phase 1 of the console architecture ADR keeps this loader read-only. It owns
+the versioned project registry contract served at ``/api/v1/projects``:
+
+* the on-disk file carries a ``version`` (schema version 1 or 2);
+* version 1 files stay loadable and are normalized with explicit defaults, so
+  an operator registry written for #427 keeps working;
+* every validation failure raises :class:`RegistryError`, which carries an
+  actionable ``remediation`` string instead of leaking a traceback;
+* serialization never emits credentials — credential-shaped keys are rejected
+  at load time, before any DTO is built.
+"""
 
 from __future__ import annotations
 
@@ -8,27 +20,59 @@ from dataclasses import dataclass
 from pathlib import Path
 from typing import Any
 
-_FORBIDDEN_EXACT_KEYS = frozenset({
+from webui.registry_safety import is_forbidden_key
-    "token",
-    "password",
-    "secret",
-    "credential",
-    "auth",
-    "api_key",
-    "api-key",
-})
-_FORBIDDEN_KEY_PREFIXES = ("auth_", "api_key_", "api-key_")
-_FORBIDDEN_KEY_SUFFIXES = ("_token", "_secret", "_password", "_credential", "_auth")
 
+#: Version of the JSON contract served under ``/api/v1/...``.
+REGISTRY_API_VERSION = "v1"
+
+#: Schema version written by this repository's packaged registry.
+CURRENT_SCHEMA_VERSION = 2
+
+#: Schema versions this loader accepts. Version 1 is normalized on load.
+SUPPORTED_SCHEMA_VERSIONS = (1, 2)
+
+#: Lifecycle state of a registered project.
+PROJECT_STATUSES = ("active", "onboarding", "paused", "archived")
+_DEFAULT_PROJECT_STATUS = "active"
+
+#: Completion state of a single onboarding step.
+ONBOARDING_STATES = ("complete", "pending", "blocked", "not_applicable")
+_DEFAULT_ONBOARDING_STATE = "pending"
+
+#: Redacted, last-seen health of a project's control plane.
+HEALTH_STATUSES = ("healthy", "degraded", "unreachable", "unknown")
+
+class RegistryError(ValueError):
+    """A registry file could not be loaded or failed validation.
+
+    Carries an operator-facing ``remediation`` so routes can fail closed with
+    an actionable message rather than a stack trace.
+    """
+
+    def __init__(
+        self,
+        message: str,
+        *,
+        remediation: str,
+        source_path: Path | None = None,
+        field_path: str | None = None,
+    ) -> None:
+        super().__init__(message)
+        self.message = message
+        self.remediation = remediation
+        self.source_path = source_path
+        self.field_path = field_path
+
+    def to_dict(self) -> dict[str, Any]:
+        """Serialize for a fail-closed JSON error response."""
+        return {
+            "error": "registry_invalid",
+            "detail": self.message,
+            "remediation": self.remediation,
+            "field_path": self.field_path,
+            "source_path": str(self.source_path) if self.source_path else None,
+        }
 
-def _is_forbidden_key(key: str) -> bool:
-    lowered = key.lower()
-    if lowered in _FORBIDDEN_EXACT_KEYS:
-        return True
-    return (
-        lowered.startswith(_FORBIDDEN_KEY_PREFIXES)
-        or lowered.endswith(_FORBIDDEN_KEY_SUFFIXES)
-    )
 
 _REQUIRED_PROJECT_FIELDS = (
     "id",
@@ -49,6 +93,30 @@ class OnboardingStep:
     id: str
     title: str
     description: str
+    state: str = _DEFAULT_ONBOARDING_STATE
+    required: bool = True
+
+
+@dataclass(frozen=True)
+class OnboardingSummary:
+    """Aggregate onboarding progress for a single project."""
+
+    total: int
+    complete: int
+    pending: int
+    blocked: int
+    not_applicable: int
+    required_outstanding: int
+    onboarding_complete: bool
+
+
+@dataclass(frozen=True)
+class ProjectHealth:
+    """Redacted last-seen health. Never carries endpoints or credentials."""
+
+    status: str
+    checked_at: str | None
+    detail: str | None
 
 
 @dataclass(frozen=True)
@@ -63,6 +131,13 @@ class ProjectRecord:
     workflow_paths: dict[str, str]
     schema_paths: dict[str, str]
     onboarding_checklist: tuple[OnboardingStep, ...]
+    status: str = _DEFAULT_PROJECT_STATUS
+    remote_name: str | None = None
+    last_seen_health: ProjectHealth | None = None
+
+    @property
+    def repo_full_name(self) -> str:
+        return f"{self.gitea_owner}/{self.repo_name}"
 
 
 @dataclass(frozen=True)
@@ -71,6 +146,15 @@ class ProjectRegistry:
     projects: tuple[ProjectRecord, ...]
     source_path: Path
 
+    @property
+    def schema_version(self) -> int:
+        """Alias of :attr:`version` — the schema version read from disk."""
+        return self.version
+
+    @property
+    def api_version(self) -> str:
+        return REGISTRY_API_VERSION
+
 
 def default_registry_path() -> Path:
     override = os.environ.get("WEBUI_PROJECT_REGISTRY", "").strip()
@@ -79,52 +163,221 @@ def default_registry_path() -> Path:
     return (Path(__file__).resolve().parent / "data" / "projects.registry.json").resolve()
 
 
-def _reject_credential_keys(obj: Any, *, path: str = "") -> None:
+def _reject_credential_keys(obj: Any, *, path: str = "", source: Path | None = None) -> None:
+    """Recursive credential-key guard that reports an actionable ``field_path``.
+
+    Key *shape* is decided by :func:`webui.registry_safety.is_forbidden_key`, the
+    single source of truth shared with the worker registry (#798).
+    """
     if isinstance(obj, dict):
         for key, value in obj.items():
             key_path = f"{path}.{key}" if path else key
-            if _is_forbidden_key(key):
+            if is_forbidden_key(key):
-                raise ValueError(f"registry must not store credentials ({key_path})")
+                raise RegistryError(
-            _reject_credential_keys(value, path=key_path)
+                    f"registry must not store credentials ({key_path})",
+                    remediation=(
+                        f"Remove the credential-shaped key '{key_path}' from the registry. "
+                        "Tokens live in the keychain and are resolved server-side by "
+                        "gitea_auth; the registry is redacted metadata only."
+                    ),
+                    source_path=source,
+                    field_path=key_path,
+                )
+            _reject_credential_keys(value, path=key_path, source=source)
     elif isinstance(obj, list):
         for index, item in enumerate(obj):
-            _reject_credential_keys(item, path=f"{path}[{index}]")
+            _reject_credential_keys(item, path=f"{path}[{index}]", source=source)
 
 
-def _parse_onboarding(raw: list[dict[str, Any]] | None) -> tuple[OnboardingStep, ...]:
+def _require_enum(
-    if not raw:
+    value: Any,
+    *,
+    allowed: tuple[str, ...],
+    field_path: str,
+    source: Path | None,
+) -> str:
+    text = str(value)
+    if text not in allowed:
+        raise RegistryError(
+            f"{field_path} must be one of {', '.join(allowed)} (got {text!r})",
+            remediation=(
+                f"Set {field_path} to one of: {', '.join(allowed)}. "
+                "Unknown values fail closed so the console never renders an "
+                "unverified state."
+            ),
+            source_path=source,
+            field_path=field_path,
+        )
+    return text
+
+
+def _parse_onboarding(
+    raw: Any,
+    *,
+    project_path: str,
+    source: Path | None,
+) -> tuple[OnboardingStep, ...]:
+    if raw is None:
         return ()
+    if not isinstance(raw, list):
+        raise RegistryError(
+            f"{project_path}.onboarding_checklist must be an array",
+            remediation=(
+                f"Rewrite {project_path}.onboarding_checklist as a JSON array of "
+                "steps with id, title, description, and optional state."
+            ),
+            source_path=source,
+            field_path=f"{project_path}.onboarding_checklist",
+        )
     steps: list[OnboardingStep] = []
-    for item in raw:
+    for index, item in enumerate(raw):
+        step_path = f"{project_path}.onboarding_checklist[{index}]"
+        if not isinstance(item, dict):
+            raise RegistryError(
+                f"{step_path} must be an object",
+                remediation=f"Rewrite {step_path} as an object with id, title, description.",
+                source_path=source,
+                field_path=step_path,
+            )
+        missing = [field for field in ("id", "title", "description") if field not in item]
+        if missing:
+            raise RegistryError(
+                f"{step_path} missing required fields: {', '.join(missing)}",
+                remediation=(
+                    f"Add {', '.join(missing)} to {step_path}. Every onboarding step "
+                    "must be self-describing for an operator who has no chat history."
+                ),
+                source_path=source,
+                field_path=step_path,
+            )
+        state = _require_enum(
+            item.get("state", _DEFAULT_ONBOARDING_STATE),
+            allowed=ONBOARDING_STATES,
+            field_path=f"{step_path}.state",
+            source=source,
+        )
         steps.append(
             OnboardingStep(
                 id=str(item["id"]),
                 title=str(item["title"]),
                 description=str(item["description"]),
+                state=state,
+                required=bool(item.get("required", True)),
             )
         )
     return tuple(steps)
 
 
-def _parse_project(raw: dict[str, Any]) -> ProjectRecord:
+def _parse_health(
+    raw: Any,
+    *,
+    project_path: str,
+    source: Path | None,
+) -> ProjectHealth | None:
+    if raw is None:
+        return None
+    if not isinstance(raw, dict):
+        raise RegistryError(
+            f"{project_path}.last_seen_health must be an object when present",
+            remediation=(
+                f"Rewrite {project_path}.last_seen_health as an object with status "
+                f"(one of {', '.join(HEALTH_STATUSES)}), optional checked_at and detail, "
+                "or remove it. Never store endpoints or credentials here."
+            ),
+            source_path=source,
+            field_path=f"{project_path}.last_seen_health",
+        )
+    status = _require_enum(
+        raw.get("status", "unknown"),
+        allowed=HEALTH_STATUSES,
+        field_path=f"{project_path}.last_seen_health.status",
+        source=source,
+    )
+    checked_at = raw.get("checked_at")
+    detail = raw.get("detail")
+    return ProjectHealth(
+        status=status,
+        checked_at=str(checked_at) if checked_at is not None else None,
+        detail=str(detail) if detail is not None else None,
+    )
+
+
+def _parse_project(raw: Any, *, index: int, source: Path | None) -> ProjectRecord:
+    project_path = f"projects[{index}]"
+    if not isinstance(raw, dict):
+        raise RegistryError(
+            f"{project_path} must be an object",
+            remediation=f"Rewrite {project_path} as a JSON object describing one project.",
+            source_path=source,
+            field_path=project_path,
+        )
+
     missing = [field for field in _REQUIRED_PROJECT_FIELDS if field not in raw]
     if missing:
-        raise ValueError(f"project missing required fields: {', '.join(missing)}")
+        raise RegistryError(
+            f"{project_path} missing required fields: {', '.join(missing)}",
+            remediation=(
+                f"Add {', '.join(missing)} to {project_path}. See "
+                "docs/webui-project-registry-api.md for the field-by-field contract."
+            ),
+            source_path=source,
+            field_path=project_path,
+        )
 
     profiles = raw["profiles"]
     if not isinstance(profiles, dict):
-        raise ValueError("profiles must be an object")
+        raise RegistryError(
+            f"{project_path}.profiles must be an object",
+            remediation=(
+                f"Rewrite {project_path}.profiles as an object mapping "
+                f"{', '.join(_REQUIRED_PROFILE_ROLES)} to MCP profile names."
+            ),
+            source_path=source,
+            field_path=f"{project_path}.profiles",
+        )
     for role in _REQUIRED_PROFILE_ROLES:
         if role not in profiles or not profiles[role]:
-            raise ValueError(f"profiles.{role} is required")
+            raise RegistryError(
+                f"{project_path}.profiles.{role} is required",
+                remediation=(
+                    f"Set {project_path}.profiles.{role} to the configured MCP profile "
+                    "name for that role. Role separation is a workflow-safety invariant."
+                ),
+                source_path=source,
+                field_path=f"{project_path}.profiles.{role}",
+            )
 
     workflow_paths = raw["workflow_paths"]
     if not isinstance(workflow_paths, dict) or not workflow_paths:
-        raise ValueError("workflow_paths must be a non-empty object")
+        raise RegistryError(
+            f"{project_path}.workflow_paths must be a non-empty object",
+            remediation=(
+                f"Add at least a 'skill' entry to {project_path}.workflow_paths pointing "
+                "at the project's canonical workflow skill."
+            ),
+            source_path=source,
+            field_path=f"{project_path}.workflow_paths",
+        )
 
     schema_paths = raw.get("schema_paths") or {}
     if not isinstance(schema_paths, dict):
-        raise ValueError("schema_paths must be an object when present")
+        raise RegistryError(
+            f"{project_path}.schema_paths must be an object when present",
+            remediation=(
+                f"Rewrite {project_path}.schema_paths as an object of label to repo path, "
+                "or remove it."
+            ),
+            source_path=source,
+            field_path=f"{project_path}.schema_paths",
+        )
+
+    status = _require_enum(
+        raw.get("status", _DEFAULT_PROJECT_STATUS),
+        allowed=PROJECT_STATUSES,
+        field_path=f"{project_path}.status",
+        source=source,
+    )
+    remote_name = raw.get("remote_name")
 
     return ProjectRecord(
         id=str(raw["id"]),
@@ -136,61 +389,211 @@ def _parse_project(raw: dict[str, Any]) -> ProjectRecord:
         profiles={role: str(profiles[role]) for role in _REQUIRED_PROFILE_ROLES},
         workflow_paths={key: str(value) for key, value in workflow_paths.items()},
         schema_paths={key: str(value) for key, value in schema_paths.items()},
-        onboarding_checklist=_parse_onboarding(raw.get("onboarding_checklist")),
+        onboarding_checklist=_parse_onboarding(
+            raw.get("onboarding_checklist"),
+            project_path=project_path,
+            source=source,
+        ),
+        status=status,
+        remote_name=str(remote_name) if remote_name else None,
+        last_seen_health=_parse_health(
+            raw.get("last_seen_health"),
+            project_path=project_path,
+            source=source,
+        ),
     )
 
 
 def load_registry(path: Path | None = None) -> ProjectRegistry:
-    """Load the versioned project registry from disk."""
+    """Load the versioned project registry from disk.
+
+    Raises:
+        RegistryError: whenever the file is unreadable, is not valid JSON, or
+            fails schema validation. The error carries an operator remediation.
+    """
     source = (path or default_registry_path()).resolve()
-    raw_text = source.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
+    try:
-    payload = json.loads(raw_text)
+        raw_text = source.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
+    except OSError as exc:
+        raise RegistryError(
+            f"registry file could not be read: {exc.strerror or exc}",
+            remediation=(
+                f"Create a readable registry at {source}, or point "
+                "WEBUI_PROJECT_REGISTRY at an existing file."
+            ),
+            source_path=source,
+        ) from exc
+
+    try:
+        payload = json.loads(raw_text)
+    except json.JSONDecodeError as exc:
+        raise RegistryError(
+            f"registry is not valid JSON: {exc.msg} (line {exc.lineno}, column {exc.colno})",
+            remediation=(
+                f"Fix the JSON syntax in {source} at line {exc.lineno}, column {exc.colno}."
+            ),
+            source_path=source,
+        ) from exc
+
     if not isinstance(payload, dict):
-        raise ValueError("registry root must be an object")
+        raise RegistryError(
+            "registry root must be an object",
+            remediation=(
+                "Wrap the registry in a JSON object with 'version' and 'projects' keys."
+            ),
+            source_path=source,
+        )
 
     version = payload.get("version")
-    if version != 1:
+    if version not in SUPPORTED_SCHEMA_VERSIONS:
-        raise ValueError(f"unsupported registry version: {version!r}")
+        supported = ", ".join(str(item) for item in SUPPORTED_SCHEMA_VERSIONS)
+        raise RegistryError(
+            f"unsupported registry version: {version!r}",
+            remediation=(
+                f"Set 'version' to one of {supported} (current schema is "
+                f"{CURRENT_SCHEMA_VERSION}). Migration notes live in "
+                "docs/webui-project-registry-api.md."
+            ),
+            source_path=source,
+            field_path="version",
+        )
 
-    _reject_credential_keys(payload)
+    _reject_credential_keys(payload, source=source)
 
     projects_raw = payload.get("projects")
     if not isinstance(projects_raw, list) or not projects_raw:
-        raise ValueError("projects must be a non-empty array")
+        raise RegistryError(
+            "projects must be a non-empty array",
+            remediation=(
+                "Add at least one project object to 'projects'. An empty console "
+                "registry fails closed rather than rendering a blank inventory."
+            ),
+            source_path=source,
+            field_path="projects",
+        )
 
-    projects = tuple(_parse_project(item) for item in projects_raw)
+    projects = tuple(
-    return ProjectRegistry(version=version, projects=projects, source_path=source)
+        _parse_project(item, index=index, source=source)
+        for index, item in enumerate(projects_raw)
+    )
+    return ProjectRegistry(version=int(version), projects=projects, source_path=source)
+
+
+def onboarding_summary(project: ProjectRecord) -> OnboardingSummary:
+    """Aggregate a project's onboarding checklist state."""
+    steps = project.onboarding_checklist
+    counts = {state: 0 for state in ONBOARDING_STATES}
+    for step in steps:
+        counts[step.state] += 1
+    required_outstanding = sum(
+        1
+        for step in steps
+        if step.required and step.state in ("pending", "blocked")
+    )
+    return OnboardingSummary(
+        total=len(steps),
+        complete=counts["complete"],
+        pending=counts["pending"],
+        blocked=counts["blocked"],
+        not_applicable=counts["not_applicable"],
+        required_outstanding=required_outstanding,
+        onboarding_complete=required_outstanding == 0,
+    )
 
 
 def project_to_dict(project: ProjectRecord) -> dict[str, Any]:
-    """Serialize a project for JSON API responses."""
+    """Serialize a project for JSON API responses and HTML views.
+
+    The HTML views render from this same DTO, so the console and the API can
+    never disagree about a project's status or onboarding progress.
+    """
+    summary = onboarding_summary(project)
+    health = project.last_seen_health
     return {
         "id": project.id,
         "repo_name": project.repo_name,
         "gitea_owner": project.gitea_owner,
+        "repo_full_name": project.repo_full_name,
         "remote_host": project.remote_host,
+        "remote_name": project.remote_name,
         "default_branch": project.default_branch,
         "local_checkout_path": project.local_checkout_path,
+        "status": project.status,
         "profiles": dict(project.profiles),
         "workflow_paths": dict(project.workflow_paths),
         "schema_paths": dict(project.schema_paths),
         "onboarding_checklist": [
-            {"id": step.id, "title": step.title, "description": step.description}
+            {
+                "id": step.id,
+                "title": step.title,
+                "description": step.description,
+                "state": step.state,
+                "required": step.required,
+            }
             for step in project.onboarding_checklist
         ],
+        "onboarding_summary": {
+            "total": summary.total,
+            "complete": summary.complete,
+            "pending": summary.pending,
+            "blocked": summary.blocked,
+            "not_applicable": summary.not_applicable,
+            "required_outstanding": summary.required_outstanding,
+            "onboarding_complete": summary.onboarding_complete,
+        },
+        "last_seen_health": (
+            None
+            if health is None
+            else {
+                "status": health.status,
+                "checked_at": health.checked_at,
+                "detail": health.detail,
+            }
+        ),
     }
 
 
 def registry_to_dict(registry: ProjectRegistry) -> dict[str, Any]:
+    """Serialize the whole registry, including API provenance (#632 section 6)."""
     return {
+        "api_version": registry.api_version,
+        "schema_version": registry.schema_version,
+        # Retained for the unversioned MVP alias consumers (#427).
         "version": registry.version,
         "source_path": str(registry.source_path),
+        "source": {
+            "kind": "file",
+            "path": str(registry.source_path),
+            "inventory_complete": True,
+        },
+        "project_count": len(registry.projects),
         "projects": [project_to_dict(project) for project in registry.projects],
     }
 
 
+def project_detail_to_dict(
+    registry: ProjectRegistry,
+    project: ProjectRecord,
+) -> dict[str, Any]:
+    """Serialize a single project for ``/api/v1/projects/{project_id}``."""
+    return {
+        "api_version": registry.api_version,
+        "schema_version": registry.schema_version,
+        "source": {
+            "kind": "file",
+            "path": str(registry.source_path),
+            "inventory_complete": True,
+        },
+        "project": project_to_dict(project),
+    }
+
+
 def find_project(registry: ProjectRegistry, project_id: str) -> ProjectRecord | None:
     for project in registry.projects:
         if project.id == project_id:
             return project
-    return None
+    return None
+
+
+def known_project_ids(registry: ProjectRegistry) -> list[str]:
+    return [project.id for project in registry.projects]

webui/project_views.py

@@ -1,34 +1,65 @@
-"""HTML views for project registry pages (#427)."""
+"""HTML views for project registry pages (#427, evolved for #635).
+
+Every view renders from :func:`webui.project_registry.project_to_dict`, the
+same DTO the ``/api/v1/projects`` JSON responses use, so the HTML console and
+the API can never disagree about status or onboarding progress.
+"""
 
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 import html
+from typing import Any
 
 from webui.layout import render_page
-from webui.project_registry import ProjectRecord, ProjectRegistry
+from webui.project_registry import (
+    ProjectRecord,
+    ProjectRegistry,
+    RegistryError,
+    project_to_dict,
+)
+
+_STATE_LABELS = {
+    "complete": "Complete",
+    "pending": "Pending",
+    "blocked": "Blocked",
+    "not_applicable": "Not applicable",
+}
 
 
 def _escape(text: str) -> str:
     return html.escape(text, quote=True)
 
 
+def _progress_label(summary: dict[str, Any]) -> str:
+    total = summary["total"]
+    if not total:
+        return "no steps"
+    label = f"{summary['complete']}/{total} complete"
+    if summary["blocked"]:
+        label += f", {summary['blocked']} blocked"
+    return label
+
+
 def render_projects_list(registry: ProjectRegistry) -> str:
     rows = []
     for project in registry.projects:
+        dto = project_to_dict(project)
         rows.append(
             "<tr>"
-            f"<td><a href=\"/projects/{_escape(project.id)}\">{_escape(project.repo_name)}</a></td>"
+            f"<td><a href=\"/projects/{_escape(dto['id'])}\">{_escape(dto['repo_name'])}</a></td>"
-            f"<td>{_escape(project.gitea_owner)}</td>"
+            f"<td>{_escape(dto['gitea_owner'])}</td>"
-            f"<td>{_escape(project.remote_host)}</td>"
+            f"<td>{_escape(dto['remote_host'])}</td>"
-            f"<td>{_escape(project.default_branch)}</td>"
+            f"<td>{_escape(dto['default_branch'])}</td>"
-            f"<td><code>{_escape(project.profiles['author'])}</code></td>"
+            f"<td><code>{_escape(dto['status'])}</code></td>"
+            f"<td>{_escape(_progress_label(dto['onboarding_summary']))}</td>"
+            f"<td><code>{_escape(dto['profiles']['author'])}</code></td>"
             "</tr>"
         )
     table = (
         "<table class=\"registry\">"
         "<thead><tr>"
         "<th>Repository</th><th>Owner</th><th>Remote</th>"
-        "<th>Branch</th><th>Author profile</th>"
+        "<th>Branch</th><th>Status</th><th>Onboarding</th><th>Author profile</th>"
         "</tr></thead>"
         f"<tbody>{''.join(rows)}</tbody></table>"
     )
@@ -36,32 +67,39 @@ def render_projects_list(registry: ProjectRegistry) -> str:
         "<h2>Projects</h2>"
         "<p>Configured repositories managed by the MCP Control Plane.</p>"
         f"<p class=\"meta\">Registry: <code>{_escape(str(registry.source_path))}</code> "
-        f"(version {registry.version})</p>"
+        f"(schema version {registry.schema_version}, "
+        f"API {_escape(registry.api_version)})</p>"
         f"{table}"
-        "<p><a href=\"/api/projects\">JSON API</a></p>"
+        "<p><a href=\"/api/v1/projects\">JSON API</a> "
+        "(<a href=\"/api/projects\">unversioned alias</a>)</p>"
     )
     return render_page(title="Projects", body_html=body)
 
 
 def render_project_detail(project: ProjectRecord) -> str:
+    dto = project_to_dict(project)
     profile_rows = "".join(
         f"<tr><th>{_escape(role)}</th><td><code>{_escape(name)}</code></td></tr>"
-        for role, name in project.profiles.items()
+        for role, name in dto["profiles"].items()
     )
     workflow_rows = "".join(
         f"<tr><th>{_escape(key)}</th><td><code>{_escape(path)}</code></td></tr>"
-        for key, path in project.workflow_paths.items()
+        for key, path in dto["workflow_paths"].items()
     )
     schema_rows = "".join(
         f"<tr><th>{_escape(key)}</th><td><code>{_escape(path)}</code></td></tr>"
-        for key, path in project.schema_paths.items()
+        for key, path in dto["schema_paths"].items()
     )
     checklist_items = []
-    for index, step in enumerate(project.onboarding_checklist, start=1):
+    for index, step in enumerate(dto["onboarding_checklist"], start=1):
+        state_label = _STATE_LABELS.get(step["state"], step["state"])
+        requirement = "required" if step["required"] else "optional"
         checklist_items.append(
-            "<li>"
+            f"<li class=\"step-{_escape(step['state'])}\">"
-            f"<strong>{index}. {_escape(step.title)}</strong>"
+            f"<strong>{index}. {_escape(step['title'])}</strong>"
-            f"<p>{_escape(step.description)}</p>"
+            f" <span class=\"badge\">{_escape(state_label)}</span>"
+            f" <span class=\"meta\">({_escape(requirement)})</span>"
+            f"<p>{_escape(step['description'])}</p>"
             "</li>"
         )
     checklist_html = (
@@ -69,16 +107,38 @@ def render_project_detail(project: ProjectRecord) -> str:
         if checklist_items
         else "<p>No onboarding steps defined.</p>"
     )
+    summary = dto["onboarding_summary"]
+    summary_html = (
+        "<p class=\"meta\">Onboarding: "
+        f"{_escape(_progress_label(summary))}; required outstanding "
+        f"{summary['required_outstanding']}.</p>"
+    )
+    health = dto["last_seen_health"]
+    health_html = (
+        "<p class=\"meta\">No health probe recorded (Phase 1 is read-only).</p>"
+        if health is None
+        else (
+            "<table class=\"detail\">"
+            f"<tr><th>Status</th><td><code>{_escape(health['status'])}</code></td></tr>"
+            f"<tr><th>Checked at</th><td>{_escape(str(health['checked_at'] or 'unknown'))}</td></tr>"
+            f"<tr><th>Detail</th><td>{_escape(str(health['detail'] or ''))}</td></tr>"
+            "</table>"
+        )
+    )
+    remote_name = dto["remote_name"] or "unset"
     body = (
-        f"<h2>{_escape(project.repo_name)}</h2>"
+        f"<h2>{_escape(dto['repo_name'])}</h2>"
         "<p><a href=\"/projects\">← All projects</a></p>"
         "<h3>Identity</h3>"
         "<table class=\"detail\">"
-        f"<tr><th>Registry id</th><td><code>{_escape(project.id)}</code></td></tr>"
+        f"<tr><th>Registry id</th><td><code>{_escape(dto['id'])}</code></td></tr>"
-        f"<tr><th>Gitea owner</th><td>{_escape(project.gitea_owner)}</td></tr>"
+        f"<tr><th>Status</th><td><code>{_escape(dto['status'])}</code></td></tr>"
-        f"<tr><th>Remote host</th><td>{_escape(project.remote_host)}</td></tr>"
+        f"<tr><th>Gitea owner</th><td>{_escape(dto['gitea_owner'])}</td></tr>"
-        f"<tr><th>Default branch</th><td><code>{_escape(project.default_branch)}</code></td></tr>"
+        f"<tr><th>Repository</th><td><code>{_escape(dto['repo_full_name'])}</code></td></tr>"
-        f"<tr><th>Local checkout</th><td><code>{_escape(project.local_checkout_path)}</code></td></tr>"
+        f"<tr><th>Remote name</th><td><code>{_escape(remote_name)}</code></td></tr>"
+        f"<tr><th>Remote host</th><td>{_escape(dto['remote_host'])}</td></tr>"
+        f"<tr><th>Default branch</th><td><code>{_escape(dto['default_branch'])}</code></td></tr>"
+        f"<tr><th>Local checkout</th><td><code>{_escape(dto['local_checkout_path'])}</code></td></tr>"
         "</table>"
         "<h3>Profiles</h3>"
         f"<table class=\"detail\">{profile_rows}</table>"
@@ -86,8 +146,30 @@ def render_project_detail(project: ProjectRecord) -> str:
         f"<table class=\"detail\">{workflow_rows}</table>"
         "<h3>Schema paths</h3>"
         f"<table class=\"detail\">{schema_rows}</table>"
+        "<h3>Last seen health</h3>"
+        f"{health_html}"
         "<h3>Onboarding checklist</h3>"
-        "<p class=\"meta\">Read-only MVP — complete these steps outside the UI.</p>"
+        "<p class=\"meta\">Read-only — complete these steps outside the UI.</p>"
+        f"{summary_html}"
         f"{checklist_html}"
+        f"<p><a href=\"/api/v1/projects/{_escape(dto['id'])}\">JSON detail</a></p>"
     )
-    return render_page(title=project.repo_name, body_html=body)
+    return render_page(title=dto["repo_name"], body_html=body)
+
+
+def render_registry_error(error: RegistryError) -> str:
+    """Render a fail-closed page for an invalid registry."""
+    source = str(error.source_path) if error.source_path else "unknown"
+    field = error.field_path or "n/a"
+    body = (
+        "<h2>Project registry unavailable</h2>"
+        "<p>The registry failed validation, so the console refuses to render a "
+        "partial inventory.</p>"
+        "<table class=\"detail\">"
+        f"<tr><th>Detail</th><td>{_escape(error.message)}</td></tr>"
+        f"<tr><th>Field</th><td><code>{_escape(field)}</code></td></tr>"
+        f"<tr><th>Source</th><td><code>{_escape(source)}</code></td></tr>"
+        f"<tr><th>Remediation</th><td>{_escape(error.remediation)}</td></tr>"
+        "</table>"
+    )
+    return render_page(title="Project registry unavailable", body_html=body)

webui/registry_safety.py

@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+"""Shared credential-rejection guard for web UI registries (#427, #798).
+
+Registries are operator-editable declarative files that the web UI loads and,
+for the worker registry, writes back. None of them may ever carry a secret:
+credentials belong in the keychain and reach worker processes through
+environment injection, never through a file the browser layer can read.
+
+The check is structural rather than value-based on purpose. A value scanner has
+to guess what a secret looks like; a key scanner refuses the *shape* of a
+credential field, so an operator cannot introduce one by accident and a later
+loader cannot silently pass one through.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from typing import Any
+
+_FORBIDDEN_EXACT_KEYS = frozenset({
+    "token",
+    "password",
+    "secret",
+    "credential",
+    "auth",
+    "api_key",
+    "api-key",
+})
+_FORBIDDEN_KEY_PREFIXES = ("auth_", "api_key_", "api-key_")
+_FORBIDDEN_KEY_SUFFIXES = ("_token", "_secret", "_password", "_credential", "_auth")
+
+
+def is_forbidden_key(key: str) -> bool:
+    """Return True when *key* names a credential field."""
+    lowered = key.lower()
+    if lowered in _FORBIDDEN_EXACT_KEYS:
+        return True
+    return (
+        lowered.startswith(_FORBIDDEN_KEY_PREFIXES)
+        or lowered.endswith(_FORBIDDEN_KEY_SUFFIXES)
+    )
+
+
+def reject_credential_keys(obj: Any, *, path: str = "", subject: str = "registry") -> None:
+    """Raise ValueError when *obj* carries a credential-shaped key at any depth."""
+    if isinstance(obj, dict):
+        for key, value in obj.items():
+            key_path = f"{path}.{key}" if path else key
+            if is_forbidden_key(key):
+                raise ValueError(f"{subject} must not store credentials ({key_path})")
+            reject_credential_keys(value, path=key_path, subject=subject)
+    elif isinstance(obj, list):
+        for index, item in enumerate(obj):
+            reject_credential_keys(item, path=f"{path}[{index}]", subject=subject)

webui/worker_registry.py

@@ -0,0 +1,647 @@
+"""Declarative worker registry and configuration schema (#798, epic #797).
+
+The registry is the single source of truth for the scheduled multi-LLM worker
+fleet. It is a versioned JSON document holding two *separate* entity kinds:
+
+* **Providers** — the LLM runtimes a worker can be built on (Claude, Grok,
+  Codex, AGY, Kimi K). A provider describes the runtime itself: vendor,
+  executable name, models it can serve, and whether it is available on this
+  machine. Providers exist whether or not any worker uses them.
+* **Workers** — a configured *instance*: one provider, one model, one project,
+  one role, one MCP namespace/profile, one workflow, one schedule. Several
+  workers may share a provider; a worker naming an undeclared provider is
+  refused.
+
+Keeping them separate is what lets #799 list all five providers even when a
+provider currently has no configured worker, and it stops provider facts from
+being copied into (and drifting across) every worker record.
+
+Scope boundary. This module owns the data model, its validation, and its
+persistence. It does **not** schedule anything, launch anything, probe provider
+executables, or serve HTTP. Loading a registry never touches a process; the
+live fields a dashboard wants (PID, elapsed time, next run) are derived
+elsewhere (#799, #801, #803, #804) from these declarations.
+
+Safety invariants:
+
+* No credential may be stored (:mod:`webui.registry_safety`), so the registry
+  stays safe to render and to hand to a browser layer.
+* Validation fails closed. Unknown fields are refused rather than ignored, so a
+  typo cannot silently disable a timeout or a role binding.
+* Writes are atomic and every superseded document is retained as a numbered
+  revision, so a bad edit is recoverable by rollback rather than hand-repair.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import json
+import os
+import re
+import tempfile
+from dataclasses import dataclass
+from datetime import datetime, timezone
+from pathlib import Path
+from typing import Any
+
+from webui.registry_safety import reject_credential_keys
+
+SCHEMA_VERSION = 1
+
+#: Roles a worker may hold. These mirror the sanctioned MCP role kinds; a
+#: worker may not invent one, because the role selects the namespace/profile
+#: whose capability gates constrain it.
+ALLOWED_ROLES = ("author", "reviewer", "merger", "reconciler", "cleanup")
+
+#: Scheduler backends the registry can describe. ``manual`` means the worker is
+#: only ever started on request and has no recurring trigger.
+ALLOWED_SCHEDULER_KINDS = ("launchd", "manual")
+
+#: Schedule kinds. Next-run computation belongs to #803; this module only
+#: guarantees the declaration is well formed.
+ALLOWED_SCHEDULE_KINDS = ("interval", "cron", "manual")
+
+_REQUIRED_PROVIDER_FIELDS = ("id", "display_name", "vendor", "executable", "available")
+_OPTIONAL_PROVIDER_FIELDS = ("models", "notes")
+
+_REQUIRED_WORKER_FIELDS = (
+    "id",
+    "display_name",
+    "provider",
+    "model",
+    "project",
+    "role",
+    "namespace",
+    "profile",
+    "workflow",
+    "schedule",
+    "timeout_seconds",
+    "enabled",
+    "scheduler",
+)
+_OPTIONAL_WORKER_FIELDS = ("notes",)
+
+_ID_RE = re.compile(r"^[a-z0-9][a-z0-9._-]*$")
+
+#: Guards against an operator writing a timeout that would let a worker hold a
+#: lease effectively forever. 24h is far above any sanctioned cycle.
+_MAX_TIMEOUT_SECONDS = 86_400
+
+#: How many superseded revisions to retain beside the live file.
+_HISTORY_LIMIT = 20
+
+_TOP_LEVEL_FIELDS = frozenset({"version", "revision", "updated_at", "providers", "workers"})
+
+
+class RegistryValidationError(ValueError):
+    """Raised when a registry document violates the schema."""
+
+
+@dataclass(frozen=True)
+class ProviderRecord:
+    id: str
+    display_name: str
+    vendor: str
+    executable: str
+    available: bool
+    models: tuple[str, ...]
+    notes: str
+
+
+@dataclass(frozen=True)
+class ScheduleSpec:
+    kind: str
+    #: Set for ``interval`` schedules.
+    seconds: int | None
+    #: Set for ``cron`` schedules — a five-field crontab expression.
+    expression: str | None
+
+
+@dataclass(frozen=True)
+class SchedulerSpec:
+    kind: str
+    #: LaunchAgent label; required for ``launchd``, absent for ``manual``.
+    label: str | None
+
+
+@dataclass(frozen=True)
+class WorkerRecord:
+    id: str
+    display_name: str
+    provider: str
+    model: str
+    project: str
+    role: str
+    namespace: str
+    profile: str
+    workflow: str
+    schedule: ScheduleSpec
+    timeout_seconds: int
+    enabled: bool
+    scheduler: SchedulerSpec
+    notes: str
+
+
+@dataclass(frozen=True)
+class WorkerRegistry:
+    version: int
+    revision: int
+    updated_at: str
+    providers: tuple[ProviderRecord, ...]
+    workers: tuple[WorkerRecord, ...]
+    source_path: Path
+
+
+# ── paths ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+
+def default_registry_path() -> Path:
+    """Location of the packaged worker registry, overridable for tests/deploys."""
+    override = os.environ.get("WEBUI_WORKER_REGISTRY", "").strip()
+    if override:
+        return Path(override).expanduser().resolve()
+    return (Path(__file__).resolve().parent / "data" / "workers.registry.json").resolve()
+
+
+def history_dir(path: Path | None = None) -> Path:
+    """Directory holding superseded revisions of *path*."""
+    source = (path or default_registry_path()).resolve()
+    return source.parent / f"{source.name}.history"
+
+
+# ── field helpers ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+
+def _require_exact_fields(
+    raw: Any,
+    *,
+    required: tuple[str, ...],
+    optional: tuple[str, ...],
+    subject: str,
+) -> dict[str, Any]:
+    if not isinstance(raw, dict):
+        raise RegistryValidationError(f"{subject} must be an object")
+    missing = [field for field in required if field not in raw]
+    if missing:
+        raise RegistryValidationError(
+            f"{subject} missing required fields: {', '.join(sorted(missing))}"
+        )
+    unknown = sorted(set(raw) - set(required) - set(optional))
+    if unknown:
+        # Fail closed: silently dropping an unrecognized key is how a typo'd
+        # "timeout_second" ends up meaning "no timeout".
+        raise RegistryValidationError(f"{subject} has unknown fields: {', '.join(unknown)}")
+    return raw
+
+
+def _require_identifier(value: Any, *, subject: str) -> str:
+    text = str(value).strip()
+    if not _ID_RE.match(text):
+        raise RegistryValidationError(
+            f"{subject} must be lowercase alphanumeric with '.', '_', or '-' (got {value!r})"
+        )
+    return text
+
+
+def _require_text(value: Any, *, subject: str) -> str:
+    if not isinstance(value, str):
+        raise RegistryValidationError(f"{subject} must be a string (got {value!r})")
+    text = value.strip()
+    if not text:
+        raise RegistryValidationError(f"{subject} must be a non-empty string")
+    return text
+
+
+def _require_bool(value: Any, *, subject: str) -> bool:
+    if not isinstance(value, bool):
+        raise RegistryValidationError(f"{subject} must be a boolean (got {value!r})")
+    return value
+
+
+def _require_positive_int(value: Any, *, subject: str, maximum: int | None = None) -> int:
+    if isinstance(value, bool) or not isinstance(value, int):
+        raise RegistryValidationError(f"{subject} must be an integer (got {value!r})")
+    if value <= 0:
+        raise RegistryValidationError(f"{subject} must be greater than zero (got {value})")
+    if maximum is not None and value > maximum:
+        raise RegistryValidationError(f"{subject} must not exceed {maximum} (got {value})")
+    return value
+
+
+# ── parsing ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+
+def _parse_provider(raw: Any) -> ProviderRecord:
+    data = _require_exact_fields(
+        raw,
+        required=_REQUIRED_PROVIDER_FIELDS,
+        optional=_OPTIONAL_PROVIDER_FIELDS,
+        subject="provider",
+    )
+    provider_id = _require_identifier(data["id"], subject="provider.id")
+
+    models_raw = data.get("models") or []
+    if not isinstance(models_raw, list):
+        raise RegistryValidationError(f"provider[{provider_id}].models must be an array")
+    models = tuple(
+        _require_text(item, subject=f"provider[{provider_id}].models[]") for item in models_raw
+    )
+
+    return ProviderRecord(
+        id=provider_id,
+        display_name=_require_text(
+            data["display_name"], subject=f"provider[{provider_id}].display_name"
+        ),
+        vendor=_require_text(data["vendor"], subject=f"provider[{provider_id}].vendor"),
+        executable=_require_text(data["executable"], subject=f"provider[{provider_id}].executable"),
+        available=_require_bool(data["available"], subject=f"provider[{provider_id}].available"),
+        models=models,
+        notes=str(data.get("notes") or "").strip(),
+    )
+
+
+def _parse_schedule(raw: Any, *, subject: str) -> ScheduleSpec:
+    if not isinstance(raw, dict):
+        raise RegistryValidationError(f"{subject} must be an object")
+    kind = _require_text(raw.get("kind"), subject=f"{subject}.kind")
+    if kind not in ALLOWED_SCHEDULE_KINDS:
+        raise RegistryValidationError(
+            f"{subject}.kind must be one of {', '.join(ALLOWED_SCHEDULE_KINDS)} (got {kind!r})"
+        )
+
+    seconds: int | None = None
+    expression: str | None = None
+
+    if kind == "interval":
+        if "seconds" not in raw:
+            raise RegistryValidationError(f"{subject}.seconds is required for interval schedules")
+        seconds = _require_positive_int(raw["seconds"], subject=f"{subject}.seconds")
+    elif kind == "cron":
+        if "expression" not in raw:
+            raise RegistryValidationError(f"{subject}.expression is required for cron schedules")
+        expression = _require_text(raw["expression"], subject=f"{subject}.expression")
+        if len(expression.split()) != 5:
+            raise RegistryValidationError(
+                f"{subject}.expression must have five crontab fields (got {expression!r})"
+            )
+
+    allowed = {"kind"}
+    if kind == "interval":
+        allowed.add("seconds")
+    elif kind == "cron":
+        allowed.add("expression")
+    unknown = sorted(set(raw) - allowed)
+    if unknown:
+        raise RegistryValidationError(
+            f"{subject} has fields not valid for kind {kind!r}: {', '.join(unknown)}"
+        )
+
+    return ScheduleSpec(kind=kind, seconds=seconds, expression=expression)
+
+
+def _parse_scheduler(raw: Any, *, subject: str) -> SchedulerSpec:
+    if not isinstance(raw, dict):
+        raise RegistryValidationError(f"{subject} must be an object")
+    kind = _require_text(raw.get("kind"), subject=f"{subject}.kind")
+    if kind not in ALLOWED_SCHEDULER_KINDS:
+        raise RegistryValidationError(
+            f"{subject}.kind must be one of {', '.join(ALLOWED_SCHEDULER_KINDS)} (got {kind!r})"
+        )
+
+    label: str | None = None
+    if kind == "launchd":
+        if "label" not in raw:
+            raise RegistryValidationError(f"{subject}.label is required for launchd schedulers")
+        label = _require_text(raw["label"], subject=f"{subject}.label")
+
+    allowed = {"kind"}
+    if kind == "launchd":
+        allowed.add("label")
+    unknown = sorted(set(raw) - allowed)
+    if unknown:
+        raise RegistryValidationError(
+            f"{subject} has fields not valid for kind {kind!r}: {', '.join(unknown)}"
+        )
+
+    return SchedulerSpec(kind=kind, label=label)
+
+
+def _parse_worker(raw: Any) -> WorkerRecord:
+    data = _require_exact_fields(
+        raw,
+        required=_REQUIRED_WORKER_FIELDS,
+        optional=_OPTIONAL_WORKER_FIELDS,
+        subject="worker",
+    )
+    worker_id = _require_identifier(data["id"], subject="worker.id")
+
+    role = _require_text(data["role"], subject=f"worker[{worker_id}].role")
+    if role not in ALLOWED_ROLES:
+        raise RegistryValidationError(
+            f"worker[{worker_id}].role must be one of {', '.join(ALLOWED_ROLES)} (got {role!r})"
+        )
+
+    return WorkerRecord(
+        id=worker_id,
+        display_name=_require_text(
+            data["display_name"], subject=f"worker[{worker_id}].display_name"
+        ),
+        provider=_require_identifier(data["provider"], subject=f"worker[{worker_id}].provider"),
+        model=_require_text(data["model"], subject=f"worker[{worker_id}].model"),
+        project=_require_text(data["project"], subject=f"worker[{worker_id}].project"),
+        role=role,
+        namespace=_require_text(data["namespace"], subject=f"worker[{worker_id}].namespace"),
+        profile=_require_text(data["profile"], subject=f"worker[{worker_id}].profile"),
+        workflow=_require_text(data["workflow"], subject=f"worker[{worker_id}].workflow"),
+        schedule=_parse_schedule(data["schedule"], subject=f"worker[{worker_id}].schedule"),
+        timeout_seconds=_require_positive_int(
+            data["timeout_seconds"],
+            subject=f"worker[{worker_id}].timeout_seconds",
+            maximum=_MAX_TIMEOUT_SECONDS,
+        ),
+        enabled=_require_bool(data["enabled"], subject=f"worker[{worker_id}].enabled"),
+        scheduler=_parse_scheduler(data["scheduler"], subject=f"worker[{worker_id}].scheduler"),
+        notes=str(data.get("notes") or "").strip(),
+    )
+
+
+def _require_unique(values: list[str], *, subject: str) -> None:
+    seen: set[str] = set()
+    for value in values:
+        if value in seen:
+            raise RegistryValidationError(f"duplicate {subject}: {value}")
+        seen.add(value)
+
+
+def validate_payload(payload: Any, *, source_path: Path) -> WorkerRegistry:
+    """Validate a decoded registry document and return the typed registry.
+
+    Raises :class:`RegistryValidationError` on any violation; never partially
+    accepts a document.
+    """
+    if not isinstance(payload, dict):
+        raise RegistryValidationError("registry root must be an object")
+
+    version = payload.get("version")
+    if version != SCHEMA_VERSION:
+        raise RegistryValidationError(f"unsupported registry version: {version!r}")
+
+    reject_credential_keys(payload, subject="worker registry")
+
+    unknown = sorted(set(payload) - _TOP_LEVEL_FIELDS)
+    if unknown:
+        raise RegistryValidationError(f"registry has unknown fields: {', '.join(unknown)}")
+
+    revision = _require_positive_int(payload.get("revision"), subject="revision")
+    updated_at = _require_text(payload.get("updated_at"), subject="updated_at")
+
+    providers_raw = payload.get("providers")
+    if not isinstance(providers_raw, list) or not providers_raw:
+        raise RegistryValidationError("providers must be a non-empty array")
+    providers = tuple(_parse_provider(item) for item in providers_raw)
+    _require_unique([provider.id for provider in providers], subject="provider id")
+
+    workers_raw = payload.get("workers")
+    if not isinstance(workers_raw, list):
+        raise RegistryValidationError("workers must be an array")
+    workers = tuple(_parse_worker(item) for item in workers_raw)
+    _require_unique([worker.id for worker in workers], subject="worker id")
+
+    # Referential integrity: a worker naming an undeclared provider would look
+    # configured while being unrunnable, which is exactly the ambiguous
+    # ownership the epic requires to fail closed.
+    known_providers = {provider.id for provider in providers}
+    for worker in workers:
+        if worker.provider not in known_providers:
+            raise RegistryValidationError(
+                f"worker[{worker.id}].provider references unknown provider {worker.provider!r}"
+            )
+
+    # A LaunchAgent label identifies a job to launchd; two workers sharing one
+    # would silently overwrite each other's agent.
+    _require_unique(
+        [worker.scheduler.label for worker in workers if worker.scheduler.label],
+        subject="scheduler label",
+    )
+
+    return WorkerRegistry(
+        version=version,
+        revision=revision,
+        updated_at=updated_at,
+        providers=providers,
+        workers=workers,
+        source_path=source_path,
+    )
+
+
+def load_registry(path: Path | None = None) -> WorkerRegistry:
+    """Load and validate the worker registry from disk."""
+    source = (path or default_registry_path()).resolve()
+    payload = json.loads(source.read_text(encoding="utf-8"))
+    return validate_payload(payload, source_path=source)
+
+
+# ── serialization ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+
+def provider_to_dict(provider: ProviderRecord) -> dict[str, Any]:
+    return {
+        "id": provider.id,
+        "display_name": provider.display_name,
+        "vendor": provider.vendor,
+        "executable": provider.executable,
+        "available": provider.available,
+        "models": list(provider.models),
+        "notes": provider.notes,
+    }
+
+
+def _schedule_to_dict(schedule: ScheduleSpec) -> dict[str, Any]:
+    payload: dict[str, Any] = {"kind": schedule.kind}
+    if schedule.kind == "interval":
+        payload["seconds"] = schedule.seconds
+    elif schedule.kind == "cron":
+        payload["expression"] = schedule.expression
+    return payload
+
+
+def _scheduler_to_dict(scheduler: SchedulerSpec) -> dict[str, Any]:
+    payload: dict[str, Any] = {"kind": scheduler.kind}
+    if scheduler.kind == "launchd":
+        payload["label"] = scheduler.label
+    return payload
+
+
+def worker_to_dict(worker: WorkerRecord) -> dict[str, Any]:
+    return {
+        "id": worker.id,
+        "display_name": worker.display_name,
+        "provider": worker.provider,
+        "model": worker.model,
+        "project": worker.project,
+        "role": worker.role,
+        "namespace": worker.namespace,
+        "profile": worker.profile,
+        "workflow": worker.workflow,
+        "schedule": _schedule_to_dict(worker.schedule),
+        "timeout_seconds": worker.timeout_seconds,
+        "enabled": worker.enabled,
+        "scheduler": _scheduler_to_dict(worker.scheduler),
+        "notes": worker.notes,
+    }
+
+
+def registry_to_document(registry: WorkerRegistry) -> dict[str, Any]:
+    """Serialize to the on-disk document shape (no local paths embedded)."""
+    return {
+        "version": registry.version,
+        "revision": registry.revision,
+        "updated_at": registry.updated_at,
+        "providers": [provider_to_dict(provider) for provider in registry.providers],
+        "workers": [worker_to_dict(worker) for worker in registry.workers],
+    }
+
+
+def registry_to_dict(registry: WorkerRegistry) -> dict[str, Any]:
+    """Serialize for JSON API responses (adds the resolved source path)."""
+    document = registry_to_document(registry)
+    document["source_path"] = str(registry.source_path)
+    return document
+
+
+def find_worker(registry: WorkerRegistry, worker_id: str) -> WorkerRecord | None:
+    for worker in registry.workers:
+        if worker.id == worker_id:
+            return worker
+    return None
+
+
+def find_provider(registry: WorkerRegistry, provider_id: str) -> ProviderRecord | None:
+    for provider in registry.providers:
+        if provider.id == provider_id:
+            return provider
+    return None
+
+
+def workers_for_provider(registry: WorkerRegistry, provider_id: str) -> tuple[WorkerRecord, ...]:
+    return tuple(worker for worker in registry.workers if worker.provider == provider_id)
+
+
+# ── persistence ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+
+def _utc_now() -> str:
+    return datetime.now(timezone.utc).strftime("%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%SZ")
+
+
+def _atomic_write(path: Path, payload: str) -> None:
+    """Write *payload* to *path* atomically: temp file in the same dir, fsync, replace."""
+    parent = path.parent
+    parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+    fd, temp_path = tempfile.mkstemp(prefix=f".{path.name}-", suffix=".tmp", dir=parent)
+    try:
+        with os.fdopen(fd, "w", encoding="utf-8") as handle:
+            handle.write(payload)
+            handle.flush()
+            os.fsync(handle.fileno())
+        os.replace(temp_path, path)
+    finally:
+        if os.path.exists(temp_path):
+            try:
+                os.remove(temp_path)
+            except OSError:
+                pass
+
+
+def _revision_path(directory: Path, revision: int) -> Path:
+    return directory / f"rev-{revision:06d}.json"
+
+
+def _prune_history(path: Path) -> None:
+    directory = history_dir(path)
+    revisions = list_revisions(path)
+    excess = len(revisions) - _HISTORY_LIMIT
+    for revision in revisions[: max(0, excess)]:
+        _revision_path(directory, revision).unlink(missing_ok=True)
+
+
+def _archive_current(path: Path) -> int | None:
+    """Copy the live document into the history dir under its own revision number."""
+    if not path.exists():
+        return None
+    try:
+        existing = json.loads(path.read_text(encoding="utf-8"))
+        revision = int(existing.get("revision", 0))
+    except (json.JSONDecodeError, TypeError, ValueError, AttributeError):
+        # An unreadable live file has no trustworthy revision number to file it
+        # under, so it cannot join the history chain.
+        return None
+    if revision <= 0:
+        return None
+    _atomic_write(
+        _revision_path(history_dir(path), revision),
+        json.dumps(existing, indent=2, sort_keys=True) + "\n",
+    )
+    _prune_history(path)
+    return revision
+
+
+def list_revisions(path: Path | None = None) -> tuple[int, ...]:
+    """Revision numbers retained in history for *path*, oldest first."""
+    directory = history_dir(path)
+    if not directory.is_dir():
+        return ()
+    revisions: list[int] = []
+    for entry in directory.glob("rev-*.json"):
+        try:
+            revisions.append(int(entry.stem.split("-", 1)[1]))
+        except (IndexError, ValueError):
+            continue
+    return tuple(sorted(revisions))
+
+
+def save_registry(
+    registry: WorkerRegistry,
+    path: Path | None = None,
+    *,
+    updated_at: str | None = None,
+) -> WorkerRegistry:
+    """Validate, archive the superseded revision, then atomically persist a new one.
+
+    The stored revision is always the previous revision plus one, so a reader
+    can tell two documents apart even when their content is otherwise equal.
+    Returns the registry exactly as persisted.
+    """
+    target = (path or registry.source_path or default_registry_path()).resolve()
+
+    document = registry_to_document(registry)
+    # Re-validate before writing: a registry assembled in memory has not
+    # necessarily been through the loader.
+    validate_payload(document, source_path=target)
+
+    archived = _archive_current(target)
+    document["revision"] = (archived + 1) if archived is not None else registry.revision
+    document["updated_at"] = updated_at or _utc_now()
+
+    persisted = validate_payload(document, source_path=target)
+    _atomic_write(target, json.dumps(document, indent=2, sort_keys=True) + "\n")
+    return persisted
+
+
+def rollback_to_revision(revision: int, path: Path | None = None) -> WorkerRegistry:
+    """Restore a retained *revision* as a new head revision.
+
+    History is append-only: rolling back does not delete the revisions in
+    between, it republishes the chosen one under the next revision number, so a
+    rollback is itself reversible.
+    """
+    target = (path or default_registry_path()).resolve()
+    snapshot_path = _revision_path(history_dir(target), revision)
+    if not snapshot_path.exists():
+        available = ", ".join(str(item) for item in list_revisions(target)) or "(none)"
+        raise RegistryValidationError(
+            f"revision {revision} is not retained for {target.name}; available: {available}"
+        )
+
+    payload = json.loads(snapshot_path.read_text(encoding="utf-8"))
+    restored = validate_payload(payload, source_path=target)
+    return save_registry(restored, target)