fix(backlog): claim locks one ready row (LIMIT 1) to prevent claimer starvation

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.8 <noreply@anthropic.com>

docs/fleet/backlog-conventions.md

@@ -0,0 +1,138 @@
+# Fleet Backlog Conventions
+
+The **backlog** is Mosaic's native backlog-of-record for fleet work. It is built
+end-to-end on Mosaic's own storage layer (`@mosaicstack/db`, drizzle/Postgres)
+and surfaced as `mosaic fleet backlog <sub> --json`.
+
+> **Mosaic-native, no Hermes.** This backlog REPLACES the former Hermes adapter.
+> There is **no** runtime dependency on Hermes, `hermes kanban`, or `~/.hermes`
+> anywhere in this feature. Anything previously delegated to Hermes is recreated
+> here on Mosaic's own Postgres storage layer.
+
+## Storage tier — PGlite by default, Postgres by config
+
+The backlog uses the existing Mosaic storage layer; there is **no** new database
+engine (no sqlite, no raw client).
+
+| Condition                      | Tier                 | Data location                    |
+| ------------------------------ | -------------------- | -------------------------------- |
+| `DATABASE_URL` set             | Full server Postgres | the configured database          |
+| `PGLITE_DATA_DIR` set (no URL) | Embedded PGlite      | that directory                   |
+| neither (default)              | Embedded PGlite      | `~/.config/mosaic/fleet/backlog` |
+
+PGlite is real Postgres semantics in-process — including the row locks the atomic
+claim relies on — so the **same code** runs on a laptop (embedded, single-host
+default) and on a full Postgres deployment. Switching tiers is config-only.
+
+The schema (`backlog` table) is created automatically on first CLI use:
+`runMigrations()` for Postgres, `runPgliteMigrations()` for embedded PGlite.
+
+### Update safety
+
+The embedded PGlite store lives under `~/.config/mosaic/fleet/backlog`, which is
+listed in `PRESERVE_PATHS` in `packages/mosaic/framework/install.sh`. This means
+`mosaic update` (which runs the framework sync with `rsync --delete`) will **not**
+wipe the operator's backlog — same protection as the roster, per-agent env, and
+heartbeat run dir.
+
+## Card schema
+
+A card is one row in the `backlog` table:
+
+| Column              | Type                | Notes                                                         |
+| ------------------- | ------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------- |
+| `id`                | text (PK)           | Stable, caller-supplied id (e.g. `A4`, `fleet-001`).          |
+| `title`             | text                | Required.                                                     |
+| `body`              | text (nullable)     | Free-form description.                                        |
+| `phase`             | text (nullable)     | Board/phase grouping (see below).                             |
+| `priority`          | int (default 0)     | **Higher = sooner.** Claim picks the max-priority ready card. |
+| `status`            | enum                | `ready` \| `claimed` \| `blocked` \| `done`.                  |
+| `depends_on`        | jsonb `string[]`    | DAG edges — ids of cards this one depends on.                 |
+| `claim_owner`       | text (nullable)     | Owner token of the active claim.                              |
+| `claim_ttl_seconds` | int (nullable)      | TTL of the active claim.                                      |
+| `claimed_at`        | timestamptz (null)  | When the claim was taken. `claimed_at + ttl` = expiry.        |
+| `attempts`          | int (default 0)     | Incremented each time the card is claimed.                    |
+| `idempotency_key`   | text (unique, null) | Dedups `create`; NULLs are distinct in Postgres.              |
+| `acceptance`        | jsonb (nullable)    | Acceptance criteria (array of strings or object).             |
+| `created_at`        | timestamptz         |                                                               |
+| `updated_at`        | timestamptz         |                                                               |
+
+`depends_on` is modeled as a `jsonb` array column rather than a separate edge
+table. Justification: it matches the repo's existing style (e.g. `tasks.tags`,
+`agents.skills`, `routing_rules.conditions` are all jsonb arrays), keeps a card
+self-contained, and the DAG is small (per-card dependency lists), so a join table
+would add ceremony without benefit.
+
+### Board / phase convention
+
+`phase` is a free-form grouping string used as the board column / milestone label
+(e.g. `M1`, `fleet`, `infra`). `list --phase <phase>` filters to one board lane.
+`priority` orders cards **within** the ready pool regardless of phase.
+
+## Status lifecycle
+
+```
+            create
+              │
+              ▼
+   ┌──────► ready ───── claim ─────► claimed ───── complete ─────► done
+   │          │                         │
+   │       block                  reclaim (TTL expiry or --id)
+   │          ▼                         │
+   │       blocked                      └──────────────────────────┘ (back to ready)
+   └──────────┘  (reclaim / re-create can return a card to ready)
+```
+
+- **ready** — eligible to be claimed once every `depends_on` card is `done`.
+- **claimed** — a worker holds it; `claim_owner` + `claimed_at` set.
+- **blocked** — explicitly parked; never auto-claimed.
+- **done** — completed; satisfies dependents.
+
+## Atomic claim (`FOR UPDATE SKIP LOCKED`) + TTL
+
+`claim` is atomic. Inside a single transaction it locks candidate `ready` rows
+with `SELECT ... FOR UPDATE SKIP LOCKED` (via the drizzle `sql` operator), picks
+the highest-priority deps-satisfied card, and flips it to `claimed`. Because a row
+already locked by a concurrent claimer is **skipped**, two claimers can **never**
+both win the same card — the loser falls through to the next candidate or gets
+`null`. (Proven by the concurrency tests in `packages/db/src/backlog.spec.ts`.)
+
+- **Deps gate:** a card is only claimable when every id in `depends_on` is `done`.
+- **TTL:** `claim --ttl <sec>` (default **900s**) records `claim_ttl_seconds`.
+- **reclaim:** releases claims whose `claimed_at + ttl` is in the past (expired)
+  back to `ready`, clearing the claim fields. `reclaim --id <id>` force-releases a
+  specific card regardless of expiry. This is how a crashed worker's card returns
+  to the pool.
+
+## CLI — `mosaic fleet backlog <sub> --json`
+
+All subcommands support `--json`.
+
+| Subcommand                                                                                    | Purpose                                                                                   |
+| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
+| `create --id --title [--body --phase --priority --depends-on --acceptance --idempotency-key]` | Create a card; `idempotency_key` dedups (repeat returns the existing card).               |
+| `list [--status --phase --ready-only]`                                                        | List cards. `--ready-only` = status `ready` AND all deps `done`.                          |
+| `claim --owner [--ttl <sec> --id <id>]`                                                       | Atomically claim the highest-priority ready card (or `--id`). Returns the card or `null`. |
+| `reclaim [--id <id>]`                                                                         | Release expired claims (or a specific card) back to `ready`.                              |
+| `link --from --to`                                                                            | Add a `depends_on` edge (`--from` depends on `--to`).                                     |
+| `stats`                                                                                       | Counts by status, oldest-ready age, expired-claim count.                                  |
+| `block --id`                                                                                  | Set a card to `blocked`.                                                                  |
+| `complete --id`                                                                               | Set a card to `done` (releases any claim).                                                |
+
+### Example
+
+```sh
+# Seed two cards, the second depends on the first.
+mosaic fleet backlog create --id A1 --title "schema" --priority 5
+mosaic fleet backlog create --id A2 --title "service" --depends-on A1 --priority 9
+
+# A2 is gated on A1, so claim returns A1 first.
+mosaic fleet backlog claim --owner worker-1 --ttl 600 --json
+
+# Finish A1; now A2 is ready.
+mosaic fleet backlog complete --id A1
+mosaic fleet backlog list --ready-only --json
+
+# Recover stalled work.
+mosaic fleet backlog reclaim --json
+```

packages/db/drizzle/0011_bitter_gateway.sql

@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+CREATE TYPE "public"."backlog_status" AS ENUM('ready', 'claimed', 'blocked', 'done');--> statement-breakpoint
+CREATE TABLE "backlog" (
+	"id" text PRIMARY KEY NOT NULL,
+	"title" text NOT NULL,
+	"body" text,
+	"phase" text,
+	"priority" integer DEFAULT 0 NOT NULL,
+	"status" "backlog_status" DEFAULT 'ready' NOT NULL,
+	"depends_on" jsonb DEFAULT '[]'::jsonb NOT NULL,
+	"claim_owner" text,
+	"claim_ttl_seconds" integer,
+	"claimed_at" timestamp with time zone,
+	"attempts" integer DEFAULT 0 NOT NULL,
+	"idempotency_key" text,
+	"acceptance" jsonb,
+	"created_at" timestamp with time zone DEFAULT now() NOT NULL,
+	"updated_at" timestamp with time zone DEFAULT now() NOT NULL
+);
+--> statement-breakpoint
+CREATE INDEX "backlog_status_priority_idx" ON "backlog" USING btree ("status","priority");--> statement-breakpoint
+CREATE INDEX "backlog_status_claimed_at_idx" ON "backlog" USING btree ("status","claimed_at");--> statement-breakpoint
+CREATE UNIQUE INDEX "backlog_idempotency_key_idx" ON "backlog" USING btree ("idempotency_key");

packages/db/drizzle/meta/_journal.json

@@ -78,6 +78,13 @@
       "when": 1745366400000,
       "tag": "0010_federation_enrollment_tokens",
       "breakpoints": true
+    },
+    {
+      "idx": 11,
+      "version": "7",
+      "when": 1782310438919,
+      "tag": "0011_bitter_gateway",
+      "breakpoints": true
     }
   ]
-}
+}

packages/db/src/backlog.spec.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,263 @@
+import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it } from 'vitest';
+import { sql } from 'drizzle-orm';
+import { createPgliteDb } from './client-pglite.js';
+import { runPgliteMigrations } from './migrate.js';
+import type { DbHandle } from './client.js';
+import { BacklogService } from './backlog.js';
+import { backlog } from './schema.js';
+
+// Helper: backdate a claim's claimed_at by 1 hour so it is past any short TTL.
+function sqlBackdate(id: string) {
+  return sql`UPDATE ${backlog} SET claimed_at = now() - interval '1 hour' WHERE ${backlog.id} = ${id}`;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Real Postgres semantics, no external server: embedded in-memory PGlite.
+ * The migration path creates the `backlog` table (and every other table) so the
+ * service runs against the actual generated schema, including the row locks the
+ * atomic-claim path depends on.
+ */
+async function freshService(): Promise<{ handle: DbHandle; svc: BacklogService }> {
+  const handle = createPgliteDb('memory://');
+  await runPgliteMigrations(handle);
+  return { handle, svc: new BacklogService(handle.db) };
+}
+
+describe('BacklogService', () => {
+  let handle: DbHandle;
+  let svc: BacklogService;
+
+  beforeEach(async () => {
+    ({ handle, svc } = await freshService());
+  });
+
+  afterEach(async () => {
+    await handle.close();
+  });
+
+  it('create then list returns the card', async () => {
+    await svc.create({ id: 'c1', title: 'First card', phase: 'M1', priority: 5 });
+    const all = await svc.list();
+    expect(all).toHaveLength(1);
+    expect(all[0]).toMatchObject({ id: 'c1', title: 'First card', phase: 'M1', status: 'ready' });
+  });
+
+  it('idempotency_key dedups create', async () => {
+    const a = await svc.create({ id: 'c1', title: 'one', idempotencyKey: 'k-1' });
+    const b = await svc.create({ id: 'c2', title: 'two', idempotencyKey: 'k-1' });
+    expect(b.id).toBe(a.id);
+    const all = await svc.list();
+    expect(all).toHaveLength(1);
+  });
+
+  it('list filters by status and phase', async () => {
+    await svc.create({ id: 'c1', title: 'a', phase: 'M1' });
+    await svc.create({ id: 'c2', title: 'b', phase: 'M2' });
+    await svc.block('c2');
+    expect(await svc.list({ phase: 'M1' })).toHaveLength(1);
+    expect(await svc.list({ status: 'blocked' })).toHaveLength(1);
+    expect((await svc.list({ status: 'blocked' }))[0]!.id).toBe('c2');
+  });
+
+  describe('atomic claim', () => {
+    it('two concurrent claimers on one card => exactly one wins', async () => {
+      await svc.create({ id: 'only', title: 'the one', priority: 10 });
+
+      // Two independent claimers race for the single ready card on the same db.
+      // The atomic claim path (`FOR UPDATE SKIP LOCKED` inside a transaction)
+      // guarantees the loser's locked row is skipped, so it can never also flip
+      // the card to claimed — it gets the next candidate (none) and returns null.
+      const svcA = new BacklogService(handle.db);
+      const svcB = new BacklogService(handle.db);
+
+      const [a, b] = await Promise.all([
+        svcA.claim({ owner: 'worker-A' }),
+        svcB.claim({ owner: 'worker-B' }),
+      ]);
+
+      const winners = [a, b].filter((c) => c !== null);
+      expect(winners).toHaveLength(1);
+      expect(winners[0]!.id).toBe('only');
+      expect(winners[0]!.status).toBe('claimed');
+      expect(['worker-A', 'worker-B']).toContain(winners[0]!.claimOwner);
+
+      const card = await svc.get('only');
+      expect(card!.status).toBe('claimed');
+      expect(card!.attempts).toBe(1);
+    });
+
+    it('many concurrent claimers on N cards => no card is double-claimed', async () => {
+      // 5 ready cards, 8 concurrent claimers. Exactly 5 win, all distinct.
+      for (let i = 0; i < 5; i++) {
+        await svc.create({ id: `card-${i}`, title: `card ${i}`, priority: i });
+      }
+      const claimers = Array.from({ length: 8 }, (_, i) =>
+        new BacklogService(handle.db).claim({ owner: `w-${i}` }),
+      );
+      const results = await Promise.all(claimers);
+      const won = results.filter((c): c is NonNullable<typeof c> => c !== null);
+      const wonIds = won.map((c) => c.id);
+      expect(won).toHaveLength(5);
+      expect(new Set(wonIds).size).toBe(5); // all distinct — no double-claim
+    });
+
+    it('N concurrent claimers on N ready cards => every claimer wins a distinct card (no starvation)', async () => {
+      // This is the direct benefit of locking exactly ONE ready row per claim
+      // (`FOR UPDATE SKIP LOCKED LIMIT 1`): with as many ready cards as
+      // claimers, NONE should starve. The old "lock the whole ready set"
+      // behaviour let one claimer lock every row, forcing the rest to null even
+      // though cards were free.
+      const N = 6;
+      for (let i = 0; i < N; i++) {
+        await svc.create({ id: `n-${i}`, title: `card ${i}`, priority: i });
+      }
+      const results = await Promise.all(
+        Array.from({ length: N }, (_, i) =>
+          new BacklogService(handle.db).claim({ owner: `w-${i}` }),
+        ),
+      );
+      const won = results.filter((c): c is NonNullable<typeof c> => c !== null);
+      // No claimer starved: all N won.
+      expect(won).toHaveLength(N);
+      // Each won a distinct card.
+      expect(new Set(won.map((c) => c.id)).size).toBe(N);
+      // Every ready card was consumed.
+      expect(await svc.list({ status: 'ready' })).toHaveLength(0);
+    });
+
+    it('sequential claims drain ready cards in priority order and never null while ready remain', async () => {
+      // PGlite-stable fallback assertion of the same property without relying on
+      // true parallelism or wall-clock timing: each claim returns the next
+      // highest-priority distinct card and never spuriously returns null while
+      // ready cards remain.
+      const N = 4;
+      for (let i = 0; i < N; i++) {
+        await svc.create({ id: `s-${i}`, title: `card ${i}`, priority: i });
+      }
+      const order: string[] = [];
+      for (let i = 0; i < N; i++) {
+        const claimed = await svc.claim({ owner: `w-${i}` });
+        expect(claimed).not.toBeNull();
+        order.push(claimed!.id);
+      }
+      // Highest priority first, all distinct.
+      expect(order).toEqual(['s-3', 's-2', 's-1', 's-0']);
+      expect(new Set(order).size).toBe(N);
+      // Now nothing ready remains => null.
+      expect(await svc.claim({ owner: 'late' })).toBeNull();
+    });
+
+    it('claim picks the highest-priority ready card', async () => {
+      await svc.create({ id: 'low', title: 'low', priority: 1 });
+      await svc.create({ id: 'high', title: 'high', priority: 9 });
+      const claimed = await svc.claim({ owner: 'w' });
+      expect(claimed!.id).toBe('high');
+    });
+
+    it('claim of a specific --id', async () => {
+      await svc.create({ id: 'a', title: 'a', priority: 9 });
+      await svc.create({ id: 'b', title: 'b', priority: 1 });
+      const claimed = await svc.claim({ owner: 'w', id: 'b' });
+      expect(claimed!.id).toBe('b');
+    });
+
+    it('claim returns null when nothing is ready', async () => {
+      const claimed = await svc.claim({ owner: 'w' });
+      expect(claimed).toBeNull();
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe('deps DAG gate', () => {
+    it('card with an unfinished dep is not claimable and not ready', async () => {
+      await svc.create({ id: 'dep', title: 'dependency' });
+      await svc.create({ id: 'main', title: 'depends on dep', dependsOn: ['dep'] });
+
+      // `main` should NOT be claimable while `dep` is not done — `dep` wins.
+      const first = await svc.claim({ owner: 'w' });
+      expect(first!.id).toBe('dep');
+
+      // With dep claimed (not done), main still cannot be claimed.
+      const second = await svc.claim({ owner: 'w' });
+      expect(second).toBeNull();
+
+      // ready-only list excludes main while its dep is unfinished.
+      const ready = await svc.list({ readyOnly: true });
+      expect(ready.map((c) => c.id)).not.toContain('main');
+
+      // Once dep is done, main becomes ready and claimable.
+      await svc.complete('dep');
+      const readyAfter = await svc.list({ readyOnly: true });
+      expect(readyAfter.map((c) => c.id)).toContain('main');
+      const third = await svc.claim({ owner: 'w' });
+      expect(third!.id).toBe('main');
+    });
+
+    it('link adds a depends_on edge', async () => {
+      await svc.create({ id: 'a', title: 'a' });
+      await svc.create({ id: 'b', title: 'b' });
+      const linked = await svc.link('a', 'b');
+      expect(linked.dependsOn).toEqual(['b']);
+      // a is now gated on b
+      const claimed = await svc.claim({ owner: 'w' });
+      expect(claimed!.id).toBe('b');
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe('reclaim TTL', () => {
+    it('reclaim returns expired claims to ready', async () => {
+      await svc.create({ id: 'c1', title: 'c1' });
+      const claimed = await svc.claim({ owner: 'w', ttlSeconds: 60 });
+      expect(claimed!.status).toBe('claimed');
+
+      // Backdate the claim so it is well past its TTL.
+      await handle.db.execute(sqlBackdate('c1'));
+
+      const result = await svc.reclaim();
+      expect(result.reclaimed).toEqual(['c1']);
+      const card = await svc.get('c1');
+      expect(card!.status).toBe('ready');
+      expect(card!.claimOwner).toBeNull();
+      expect(card!.claimedAt).toBeNull();
+    });
+
+    it('reclaim does not touch a fresh (unexpired) claim', async () => {
+      await svc.create({ id: 'c1', title: 'c1' });
+      await svc.claim({ owner: 'w', ttlSeconds: 3600 });
+      const result = await svc.reclaim();
+      expect(result.reclaimed).toEqual([]);
+      expect((await svc.get('c1'))!.status).toBe('claimed');
+    });
+
+    it('reclaim --id releases a specific claim regardless of expiry', async () => {
+      await svc.create({ id: 'c1', title: 'c1' });
+      await svc.claim({ owner: 'w', ttlSeconds: 3600 });
+      const result = await svc.reclaim({ id: 'c1' });
+      expect(result.reclaimed).toEqual(['c1']);
+      expect((await svc.get('c1'))!.status).toBe('ready');
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe('stats', () => {
+    it('computes counts, oldest-ready age, and expired-claim count', async () => {
+      await svc.create({ id: 'r1', title: 'r1' });
+      await svc.create({ id: 'r2', title: 'r2' });
+      await svc.create({ id: 'b1', title: 'b1' });
+      await svc.block('b1');
+      await svc.create({ id: 'd1', title: 'd1' });
+      await svc.complete('d1');
+      await svc.create({ id: 'cl1', title: 'cl1' });
+      await svc.claim({ owner: 'w', id: 'cl1', ttlSeconds: 60 });
+      await handle.db.execute(sqlBackdate('cl1'));
+
+      const stats = await svc.stats();
+      expect(stats.counts.ready).toBe(2);
+      expect(stats.counts.blocked).toBe(1);
+      expect(stats.counts.done).toBe(1);
+      expect(stats.counts.claimed).toBe(1);
+      expect(stats.total).toBe(5);
+      expect(stats.expiredClaimCount).toBe(1);
+      expect(stats.oldestReadyAgeSeconds).not.toBeNull();
+      expect(stats.oldestReadyAgeSeconds!).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(0);
+    });
+  });
+});

packages/db/src/backlog.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,457 @@
+/**
+ * Mosaic-native backlog-of-record service (card A4).
+ *
+ * This is the backlog Mosaic owns end-to-end on its OWN Postgres storage layer.
+ * It REPLACES the former Hermes adapter — there is NO runtime dependency on
+ * Hermes here or anywhere downstream.
+ *
+ * The service takes a `Db` handle, so it works identically against:
+ *   - `createDb()`        — server Postgres (DATABASE_URL / config), and
+ *   - `createPgliteDb()`  — embedded Postgres (file or in-memory).
+ * Same code, same semantics — PGlite gives real Postgres behaviour (including
+ * row locks), so the atomic-claim path is exercised by the in-memory tests.
+ *
+ * Atomic claim: `claim()` selects the highest-priority, deps-satisfied, ready
+ * card with `SELECT ... FOR UPDATE SKIP LOCKED` and flips it to `claimed` inside
+ * one transaction. Two concurrent claimers can therefore NEVER both win the same
+ * card — the loser's locked row is skipped and it picks the next candidate (or
+ * gets null).
+ */
+
+import { and, asc, desc, eq, sql } from 'drizzle-orm';
+import type { Db } from './client.js';
+import { backlog } from './schema.js';
+
+export type BacklogStatus = 'ready' | 'claimed' | 'blocked' | 'done';
+
+export interface BacklogCard {
+  id: string;
+  title: string;
+  body: string | null;
+  phase: string | null;
+  priority: number;
+  status: BacklogStatus;
+  dependsOn: string[];
+  claimOwner: string | null;
+  claimTtlSeconds: number | null;
+  claimedAt: Date | null;
+  attempts: number;
+  idempotencyKey: string | null;
+  acceptance: unknown;
+  createdAt: Date;
+  updatedAt: Date;
+}
+
+export interface CreateCardInput {
+  id: string;
+  title: string;
+  body?: string | null;
+  phase?: string | null;
+  priority?: number;
+  dependsOn?: string[];
+  acceptance?: unknown;
+  idempotencyKey?: string | null;
+  status?: BacklogStatus;
+}
+
+export interface ListFilter {
+  status?: BacklogStatus;
+  phase?: string;
+  /** When true, return only cards that are `ready` AND have all deps `done`. */
+  readyOnly?: boolean;
+}
+
+export interface ClaimOptions {
+  owner: string;
+  /** Claim time-to-live in seconds (default 900). */
+  ttlSeconds?: number;
+  /** Claim a specific card by id instead of the highest-priority ready one. */
+  id?: string;
+}
+
+export interface ReclaimResult {
+  reclaimed: string[];
+}
+
+export interface BacklogStats {
+  counts: Record<BacklogStatus, number>;
+  total: number;
+  oldestReadyAgeSeconds: number | null;
+  expiredClaimCount: number;
+}
+
+export const DEFAULT_CLAIM_TTL_SECONDS = 900;
+
+type Row = typeof backlog.$inferSelect;
+
+/**
+ * Row shape as returned by the raw `SELECT * ... FOR UPDATE SKIP LOCKED` path.
+ * That path bypasses drizzle's column-name mapping, so JSON columns arrive as
+ * the snake_case `depends_on` (and may be a JSON string under some drivers).
+ */
+interface RawRow extends Row {
+  depends_on?: unknown;
+}
+
+function toCard(row: Row): BacklogCard {
+  return {
+    id: row.id,
+    title: row.title,
+    body: row.body,
+    phase: row.phase,
+    priority: row.priority,
+    status: row.status,
+    dependsOn: row.dependsOn ?? [],
+    claimOwner: row.claimOwner,
+    claimTtlSeconds: row.claimTtlSeconds,
+    claimedAt: row.claimedAt,
+    attempts: row.attempts,
+    idempotencyKey: row.idempotencyKey,
+    acceptance: row.acceptance,
+    createdAt: row.createdAt,
+    updatedAt: row.updatedAt,
+  };
+}
+
+/**
+ * The backlog repository/service. Construct with any `Db` handle.
+ */
+export class BacklogService {
+  constructor(private readonly db: Db) {}
+
+  /**
+   * Create a card. If `idempotencyKey` is provided and a card already exists
+   * with that key, the existing card is returned unchanged (no duplicate).
+   */
+  async create(input: CreateCardInput): Promise<BacklogCard> {
+    if (input.idempotencyKey) {
+      const existing = await this.db
+        .select()
+        .from(backlog)
+        .where(eq(backlog.idempotencyKey, input.idempotencyKey))
+        .limit(1);
+      if (existing[0]) return toCard(existing[0]);
+    }
+
+    const inserted = await this.db
+      .insert(backlog)
+      .values({
+        id: input.id,
+        title: input.title,
+        body: input.body ?? null,
+        phase: input.phase ?? null,
+        priority: input.priority ?? 0,
+        status: input.status ?? 'ready',
+        dependsOn: input.dependsOn ?? [],
+        acceptance: input.acceptance ?? null,
+        idempotencyKey: input.idempotencyKey ?? null,
+      })
+      .returning();
+
+    return toCard(inserted[0]!);
+  }
+
+  /** Fetch a single card by id, or null. */
+  async get(id: string): Promise<BacklogCard | null> {
+    const rows = await this.db.select().from(backlog).where(eq(backlog.id, id)).limit(1);
+    return rows[0] ? toCard(rows[0]) : null;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * List cards with optional filters. `readyOnly` enforces the DAG gate:
+   * a card is "ready" only when its own status is `ready` AND every card in
+   * `depends_on` exists and is `done`.
+   */
+  async list(filter: ListFilter = {}): Promise<BacklogCard[]> {
+    const conditions = [];
+    if (filter.status) conditions.push(eq(backlog.status, filter.status));
+    if (filter.phase) conditions.push(eq(backlog.phase, filter.phase));
+
+    const rows = await this.db
+      .select()
+      .from(backlog)
+      .where(conditions.length ? and(...conditions) : undefined)
+      .orderBy(desc(backlog.priority), asc(backlog.createdAt));
+
+    const cards = rows.map(toCard);
+    if (!filter.readyOnly) return cards;
+
+    const doneIds = await this.doneIdSet();
+    return cards.filter(
+      (c) => c.status === 'ready' && c.dependsOn.every((dep) => doneIds.has(dep)),
+    );
+  }
+
+  private async doneIdSet(): Promise<Set<string>> {
+    const done = await this.db
+      .select({ id: backlog.id })
+      .from(backlog)
+      .where(eq(backlog.status, 'done'));
+    return new Set(done.map((d) => d.id));
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Atomically claim a card.
+   *
+   * Strategy: inside ONE transaction we lock the candidate row with
+   * `FOR UPDATE SKIP LOCKED LIMIT 1`. A concurrent claimer that already holds
+   * the lock on a row has that row skipped for us, so two claimers can never
+   * both win the same card — and, crucially, each claimer locks exactly ONE
+   * row, so concurrent claimers fan out across distinct ready cards instead of
+   * one claimer locking the whole ready set and starving the rest.
+   *
+   * Candidate selection (when no explicit `id`):
+   *   - status = 'ready'
+   *   - all deps satisfied (every id in depends_on is currently 'done')
+   *   - ordered by priority DESC, created_at ASC
+   *
+   * Returns the claimed card, or null if nothing is claimable.
+   */
+  async claim(opts: ClaimOptions): Promise<BacklogCard | null> {
+    const ttl = opts.ttlSeconds ?? DEFAULT_CLAIM_TTL_SECONDS;
+
+    return this.db.transaction(async (tx) => {
+      // Specific-id path: lock that one ready row (if free) and apply the
+      // deps-satisfied gate in JS, exactly as before.
+      if (opts.id) {
+        const doneRows = await tx
+          .select({ id: backlog.id })
+          .from(backlog)
+          .where(eq(backlog.status, 'done'));
+        const doneIds = new Set(doneRows.map((r) => r.id));
+
+        const result = await tx.execute(
+          sql`SELECT * FROM ${backlog}
+              WHERE ${backlog.id} = ${opts.id} AND ${backlog.status} = 'ready'
+              FOR UPDATE SKIP LOCKED`,
+        );
+        const candidate = rowsOf(result).find((row) =>
+          normalizeDeps(row.depends_on).every((dep) => doneIds.has(dep)),
+        );
+        if (!candidate) return null;
+
+        const updated = await tx
+          .update(backlog)
+          .set({
+            status: 'claimed',
+            claimOwner: opts.owner,
+            claimTtlSeconds: ttl,
+            claimedAt: new Date(),
+            attempts: sql`${backlog.attempts} + 1`,
+            updatedAt: new Date(),
+          })
+          .where(eq(backlog.id, candidate.id))
+          .returning();
+
+        return toCard(updated[0]!);
+      }
+
+      // No-id path: claim the single highest-priority, deps-satisfied ready
+      // card. We lock exactly ONE row in the inner SELECT (`FOR UPDATE SKIP
+      // LOCKED LIMIT 1`) so concurrent claimers grab distinct cards rather than
+      // one claimer locking every ready row and forcing the others to null.
+      //
+      // The deps-satisfied gate is pushed into SQL so `LIMIT 1` lands on the
+      // next genuinely-eligible card: a card is eligible iff none of its
+      // depends_on ids is absent from the set of 'done' card ids.
+      const updated = await tx.execute(
+        sql`UPDATE ${backlog}
+            SET status = 'claimed',
+                claim_owner = ${opts.owner},
+                claim_ttl_seconds = ${ttl},
+                claimed_at = now(),
+                attempts = ${backlog.attempts} + 1,
+                updated_at = now()
+            WHERE ${backlog.id} = (
+              SELECT b.id FROM ${backlog} AS b
+              WHERE b.status = 'ready'
+                AND NOT EXISTS (
+                  SELECT 1
+                  FROM jsonb_array_elements_text(b.depends_on) AS dep
+                  WHERE dep NOT IN (
+                    SELECT d.id FROM ${backlog} AS d WHERE d.status = 'done'
+                  )
+                )
+              ORDER BY b.priority DESC, b.created_at ASC
+              FOR UPDATE SKIP LOCKED
+              LIMIT 1
+            )
+            RETURNING *`,
+      );
+
+      const row = rowsOf(updated)[0];
+      return row ? toCard(rawToRow(row)) : null;
+    });
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Release expired claims (claimed_at + ttl < now) back to `ready`, OR release
+   * a specific card by id regardless of expiry. Cleared claim fields.
+   * Returns the ids that were released.
+   */
+  async reclaim(opts: { id?: string } = {}): Promise<ReclaimResult> {
+    if (opts.id) {
+      const released = await this.db
+        .update(backlog)
+        .set({
+          status: 'ready',
+          claimOwner: null,
+          claimTtlSeconds: null,
+          claimedAt: null,
+          updatedAt: new Date(),
+        })
+        .where(and(eq(backlog.id, opts.id), eq(backlog.status, 'claimed')))
+        .returning({ id: backlog.id });
+      return { reclaimed: released.map((r) => r.id) };
+    }
+
+    // Expired = status claimed AND claimed_at + (ttl seconds) < now().
+    const released = await this.db
+      .update(backlog)
+      .set({
+        status: 'ready',
+        claimOwner: null,
+        claimTtlSeconds: null,
+        claimedAt: null,
+        updatedAt: new Date(),
+      })
+      .where(
+        and(
+          eq(backlog.status, 'claimed'),
+          sql`${backlog.claimedAt} + make_interval(secs => ${backlog.claimTtlSeconds}) < now()`,
+        ),
+      )
+      .returning({ id: backlog.id });
+    return { reclaimed: released.map((r) => r.id) };
+  }
+
+  /** Add a `depends_on` edge (from → depends on → to). Idempotent. */
+  async link(from: string, to: string): Promise<BacklogCard> {
+    const card = await this.get(from);
+    if (!card) throw new Error(`backlog card not found: ${from}`);
+    const target = await this.get(to);
+    if (!target) throw new Error(`backlog dependency not found: ${to}`);
+    if (from === to) throw new Error('a card cannot depend on itself');
+
+    if (card.dependsOn.includes(to)) return card;
+    const nextDeps = [...card.dependsOn, to];
+    const updated = await this.db
+      .update(backlog)
+      .set({ dependsOn: nextDeps, updatedAt: new Date() })
+      .where(eq(backlog.id, from))
+      .returning();
+    return toCard(updated[0]!);
+  }
+
+  /** Mark a card blocked. */
+  async block(id: string): Promise<BacklogCard | null> {
+    return this.setStatus(id, 'blocked');
+  }
+
+  /** Mark a card done (releasing any claim). */
+  async complete(id: string): Promise<BacklogCard | null> {
+    const updated = await this.db
+      .update(backlog)
+      .set({
+        status: 'done',
+        claimOwner: null,
+        claimTtlSeconds: null,
+        claimedAt: null,
+        updatedAt: new Date(),
+      })
+      .where(eq(backlog.id, id))
+      .returning();
+    return updated[0] ? toCard(updated[0]) : null;
+  }
+
+  private async setStatus(id: string, status: BacklogStatus): Promise<BacklogCard | null> {
+    const updated = await this.db
+      .update(backlog)
+      .set({ status, updatedAt: new Date() })
+      .where(eq(backlog.id, id))
+      .returning();
+    return updated[0] ? toCard(updated[0]) : null;
+  }
+
+  /** Counts by status, oldest-ready age (seconds), and expired-claim count. */
+  async stats(): Promise<BacklogStats> {
+    const all = await this.db.select().from(backlog);
+    const counts: Record<BacklogStatus, number> = {
+      ready: 0,
+      claimed: 0,
+      blocked: 0,
+      done: 0,
+    };
+    let oldestReady: Date | null = null;
+    let expiredClaimCount = 0;
+    const now = Date.now();
+
+    for (const row of all) {
+      counts[row.status] += 1;
+      if (row.status === 'ready') {
+        if (oldestReady === null || row.createdAt < oldestReady) oldestReady = row.createdAt;
+      }
+      if (row.status === 'claimed' && row.claimedAt && row.claimTtlSeconds != null) {
+        const expiry = row.claimedAt.getTime() + row.claimTtlSeconds * 1000;
+        if (expiry < now) expiredClaimCount += 1;
+      }
+    }
+
+    return {
+      counts,
+      total: all.length,
+      oldestReadyAgeSeconds:
+        oldestReady === null ? null : Math.max(0, Math.floor((now - oldestReady.getTime()) / 1000)),
+      expiredClaimCount,
+    };
+  }
+}
+
+/** Extract rows from a drizzle `.execute()` result across drivers (pg / pglite). */
+function rowsOf(result: unknown): RawRow[] {
+  if (Array.isArray(result)) return result as RawRow[];
+  const maybe = result as { rows?: unknown };
+  if (maybe && Array.isArray(maybe.rows)) return maybe.rows as RawRow[];
+  return [];
+}
+
+/**
+ * Map a raw `RETURNING *` row (snake_case columns, possibly string-encoded
+ * timestamps/JSON depending on the driver) onto the drizzle `Row` shape that
+ * `toCard` consumes. Mirrors the column ↔ property mapping in `schema.ts`.
+ */
+function rawToRow(raw: RawRow): Row {
+  const r = raw as unknown as Record<string, unknown>;
+  const toDate = (v: unknown): Date => (v instanceof Date ? v : new Date(v as string));
+  return {
+    id: r.id as string,
+    title: r.title as string,
+    body: (r.body ?? null) as string | null,
+    phase: (r.phase ?? null) as string | null,
+    priority: Number(r.priority),
+    status: r.status as BacklogStatus,
+    dependsOn: normalizeDeps(r.depends_on),
+    claimOwner: (r.claim_owner ?? null) as string | null,
+    claimTtlSeconds: r.claim_ttl_seconds == null ? null : Number(r.claim_ttl_seconds),
+    claimedAt: r.claimed_at == null ? null : toDate(r.claimed_at),
+    attempts: Number(r.attempts),
+    idempotencyKey: (r.idempotency_key ?? null) as string | null,
+    acceptance: r.acceptance ?? null,
+    createdAt: toDate(r.created_at),
+    updatedAt: toDate(r.updated_at),
+  };
+}
+
+/** A raw SQL row returns snake_case `depends_on`; normalize to string[]. */
+function normalizeDeps(value: unknown): string[] {
+  if (Array.isArray(value)) return value as string[];
+  if (typeof value === 'string') {
+    try {
+      const parsed = JSON.parse(value);
+      return Array.isArray(parsed) ? (parsed as string[]) : [];
+    } catch {
+      return [];
+    }
+  }
+  return [];
+}

packages/db/src/index.ts

@@ -3,6 +3,17 @@ export { createPgliteDb } from './client-pglite.js';
 export { runMigrations, runPgliteMigrations } from './migrate.js';
 export * from './schema.js';
 export * from './federation.js';
+export {
+  BacklogService,
+  DEFAULT_CLAIM_TTL_SECONDS,
+  type BacklogCard,
+  type BacklogStatus,
+  type BacklogStats,
+  type ClaimOptions,
+  type CreateCardInput,
+  type ListFilter,
+  type ReclaimResult,
+} from './backlog.js';
 export {
   eq,
   and,

packages/db/src/schema.ts

@@ -587,6 +587,62 @@ export const summarizationJobs = pgTable(
   (t) => [index('summarization_jobs_status_idx').on(t.status)],
 );
 
+// ─── Fleet Backlog ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+// Mosaic-native backlog-of-record (card A4). This REPLACES the former Hermes
+// adapter — there is NO runtime dependency on Hermes. Cards form a dependency
+// DAG (`depends_on`), are claimed atomically by fleet workers via
+// `SELECT ... FOR UPDATE SKIP LOCKED`, and auto-expire via a TTL so a crashed
+// claimer's card returns to the pool.
+
+/**
+ * Lifecycle status of a backlog card.
+ * - ready:   eligible to be claimed (once its deps are all `done`).
+ * - claimed: a worker holds it (claim_owner + claimed_at set); may expire via TTL.
+ * - blocked: explicitly parked; never auto-claimed.
+ * - done:    completed; satisfies dependents.
+ */
+export const backlogStatusEnum = pgEnum('backlog_status', ['ready', 'claimed', 'blocked', 'done']);
+
+export const backlog = pgTable(
+  'backlog',
+  {
+    /** Stable, caller-supplied card id (e.g. "A4", "fleet-001"). PK. */
+    id: text('id').primaryKey(),
+    title: text('title').notNull(),
+    body: text('body'),
+    /** Board/phase grouping (e.g. "M1", "fleet"). Free-form. */
+    phase: text('phase'),
+    /** Higher number = higher priority; claim picks the max-priority ready card. */
+    priority: integer('priority').notNull().default(0),
+    status: backlogStatusEnum('status').notNull().default('ready'),
+    /** DAG edges: ids of cards this one depends on. "ready" requires all done. */
+    dependsOn: jsonb('depends_on').notNull().$type<string[]>().default([]),
+    /** Owner token of the current claim (worker/agent id). NULL when unclaimed. */
+    claimOwner: text('claim_owner'),
+    /** TTL of the active claim in seconds. NULL when unclaimed. */
+    claimTtlSeconds: integer('claim_ttl_seconds'),
+    /** When the active claim was taken. NULL when unclaimed. claimed_at + ttl = expiry. */
+    claimedAt: timestamp('claimed_at', { withTimezone: true }),
+    /** Count of times this card has been claimed (incremented on each claim). */
+    attempts: integer('attempts').notNull().default(0),
+    /** Optional dedup key for `create`; a repeat key returns the existing card. */
+    idempotencyKey: text('idempotency_key'),
+    /** Acceptance criteria — free-form JSON (array of strings or object). */
+    acceptance: jsonb('acceptance'),
+    createdAt: timestamp('created_at', { withTimezone: true }).notNull().defaultNow(),
+    updatedAt: timestamp('updated_at', { withTimezone: true }).notNull().defaultNow(),
+  },
+  (t) => [
+    // Hot path: claim scans ready cards ordered by priority then age.
+    index('backlog_status_priority_idx').on(t.status, t.priority),
+    // reclaim sweeps claimed cards by claimed_at to find expired ones.
+    index('backlog_status_claimed_at_idx').on(t.status, t.claimedAt),
+    // Idempotent create dedups on this key (NULLs are distinct in Postgres, so
+    // many unkeyed cards coexist; a repeated non-null key collides).
+    uniqueIndex('backlog_idempotency_key_idx').on(t.idempotencyKey),
+  ],
+);
+
 // ─── Federation ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 // Enums declared before tables that reference them.
 // All federation definitions live in this file (avoids CJS/ESM cross-import

packages/mosaic/framework/install.sh

@@ -30,10 +30,12 @@ INSTALL_MODE="${MOSAIC_INSTALL_MODE:-prompt}"
 # own fleet files MUST
 # survive `mosaic update` (which runs this sync automatically): the active
 # roster (`fleet/roster.yaml` + any other `fleet/*.yaml`), per-agent env
-# (`fleet/agents/`), and heartbeat run dir (`fleet/run/`). Without these, an
-# update wipes the operator's fleet. Glob entries are honored by both the rsync
-# path (`--exclude`) and the glob-aware cp fallback below.
-PRESERVE_PATHS=("CONSTITUTION.md" "AGENTS.md" "SOUL.md" "USER.md" "TOOLS.md" "STANDARDS.md" "memory" "sources" "credentials" "fleet/*.yaml" "fleet/agents" "fleet/run")
+# (`fleet/agents/`), heartbeat run dir (`fleet/run/`), and the Mosaic-native
+# backlog-of-record store (`fleet/backlog/` — embedded PGlite data dir; see
+# packages/mosaic/src/commands/fleet-backlog.ts). Without these, an update
+# wipes the operator's fleet AND their backlog. Glob entries are honored by
+# both the rsync path (`--exclude`) and the glob-aware cp fallback below.
+PRESERVE_PATHS=("CONSTITUTION.md" "AGENTS.md" "SOUL.md" "USER.md" "TOOLS.md" "STANDARDS.md" "memory" "sources" "credentials" "fleet/*.yaml" "fleet/agents" "fleet/run" "fleet/backlog")
 
 # Framework-owned contract files: re-copied from defaults/ on every upgrade (the
 # user must not edit them; a divergent copy is backed up once before overwrite).

packages/mosaic/package.json

@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@
   "dependencies": {
     "@mosaicstack/brain": "workspace:*",
     "@mosaicstack/config": "workspace:*",
+    "@mosaicstack/db": "workspace:*",
     "@mosaicstack/forge": "workspace:*",
     "@mosaicstack/log": "workspace:*",
     "@mosaicstack/macp": "workspace:*",

packages/mosaic/src/commands/fleet-backlog.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,285 @@
+/**
+ * `mosaic fleet backlog <sub> --json` — Mosaic-native backlog of record.
+ *
+ * Mosaic OWNS this backlog end-to-end on its existing Postgres storage layer
+ * (`@mosaicstack/db`). It REPLACES the former Hermes adapter — there is NO
+ * runtime dependency on Hermes.
+ *
+ * Storage tier (the existing storage-layer convention, no new engine):
+ *   - default: embedded PGlite at <mosaicHome>/fleet/backlog (real Postgres
+ *     semantics, persisted on disk so the operator's backlog survives reboots
+ *     and `mosaic update` — see install.sh PRESERVE_PATHS).
+ *   - DATABASE_URL set: full server Postgres — same code, no change.
+ *
+ * Migrations run on first use so the `backlog` table always exists.
+ */
+
+import { mkdir } from 'node:fs/promises';
+import { homedir } from 'node:os';
+import { join } from 'node:path';
+import type { Command } from 'commander';
+import {
+  BacklogService,
+  DEFAULT_CLAIM_TTL_SECONDS,
+  type BacklogCard,
+  type DbHandle,
+} from '@mosaicstack/db';
+
+function defaultMosaicHome(): string {
+  return process.env['MOSAIC_HOME'] ?? join(homedir(), '.config', 'mosaic');
+}
+
+/** Resolve where the embedded PGlite backlog store lives (default tier). */
+export function defaultBacklogDataDir(mosaicHome = defaultMosaicHome()): string {
+  return join(mosaicHome, 'fleet', 'backlog');
+}
+
+/**
+ * Open a db handle for the backlog and ensure the schema exists.
+ *
+ * Tier detection mirrors the storage layer: DATABASE_URL => server Postgres
+ * (migrations applied via runMigrations); otherwise embedded PGlite at the
+ * fleet/backlog data dir (migrations applied via runPgliteMigrations).
+ */
+async function openBacklogDb(mosaicHome: string): Promise<DbHandle> {
+  const { createDb, createPgliteDb, runMigrations, runPgliteMigrations } =
+    await import('@mosaicstack/db');
+  const url = process.env['DATABASE_URL'];
+  if (url) {
+    await runMigrations(url);
+    return createDb(url);
+  }
+  const dataDir = process.env['PGLITE_DATA_DIR'] ?? defaultBacklogDataDir(mosaicHome);
+  // PGlite writes a file-backed store to dataDir but does not create missing
+  // parent directories (e.g. <mosaicHome>/fleet). Create them first. Skip for
+  // the in-memory pseudo-paths so a memory:// store never touches the fs.
+  if (!dataDir.startsWith('memory://') && dataDir !== ':memory:') {
+    await mkdir(dataDir, { recursive: true });
+  }
+  const handle = createPgliteDb(dataDir);
+  await runPgliteMigrations(handle);
+  return handle;
+}
+
+function parseDependsOn(value?: string): string[] {
+  if (!value) return [];
+  return value
+    .split(',')
+    .map((s) => s.trim())
+    .filter((s) => s.length > 0);
+}
+
+function parseAcceptance(value?: string): unknown {
+  if (!value) return null;
+  try {
+    return JSON.parse(value);
+  } catch {
+    // Fall back to a list of newline/semicolon-separated criteria.
+    return value
+      .split(/[\n;]/)
+      .map((s) => s.trim())
+      .filter((s) => s.length > 0);
+  }
+}
+
+function printCard(card: BacklogCard | null, json?: boolean): void {
+  if (json) {
+    console.log(JSON.stringify(card));
+    return;
+  }
+  if (!card) {
+    console.log('(none)');
+    return;
+  }
+  const deps = card.dependsOn.length ? card.dependsOn.join(',') : '-';
+  console.log(
+    `${card.id}\t[${card.status}]\tp=${card.priority}\tphase=${card.phase ?? '-'}\tdeps=${deps}\t${card.title}`,
+  );
+}
+
+function printCards(cards: BacklogCard[], json?: boolean): void {
+  if (json) {
+    console.log(JSON.stringify(cards));
+    return;
+  }
+  if (cards.length === 0) {
+    console.log('(no cards)');
+    return;
+  }
+  for (const card of cards) printCard(card, false);
+}
+
+/**
+ * Register `backlog` under an existing `fleet` command.
+ * `mosaicHomeFor` resolves the active --mosaic-home (parent flag) at call time.
+ */
+export function registerFleetBacklogCommand(
+  fleetCmd: Command,
+  mosaicHomeFor: () => string,
+): Command {
+  const backlogCmd = fleetCmd
+    .command('backlog')
+    .description('Mosaic-native backlog of record (atomic claim + TTL, deps DAG)');
+
+  const withSvc = async <T>(fn: (svc: BacklogService) => Promise<T>): Promise<T> => {
+    const handle = await openBacklogDb(mosaicHomeFor());
+    try {
+      return await fn(new BacklogService(handle.db));
+    } finally {
+      await handle.close();
+    }
+  };
+
+  backlogCmd
+    .command('create')
+    .description('Create a backlog card (idempotency_key dedups)')
+    .requiredOption('--id <id>', 'Stable card id')
+    .requiredOption('--title <title>', 'Card title')
+    .option('--body <body>', 'Card body / description')
+    .option('--phase <phase>', 'Board/phase grouping')
+    .option('--priority <n>', 'Priority (higher = sooner)', (v) => parseInt(v, 10), 0)
+    .option('--depends-on <ids>', 'Comma-separated dependency card ids')
+    .option('--acceptance <json>', 'Acceptance criteria (JSON or ;/newline list)')
+    .option('--idempotency-key <key>', 'Dedup key; repeat returns the existing card')
+    .option('--json', 'Print JSON')
+    .action(
+      async (opts: {
+        id: string;
+        title: string;
+        body?: string;
+        phase?: string;
+        priority: number;
+        dependsOn?: string;
+        acceptance?: string;
+        idempotencyKey?: string;
+        json?: boolean;
+      }) => {
+        const card = await withSvc((svc) =>
+          svc.create({
+            id: opts.id,
+            title: opts.title,
+            body: opts.body ?? null,
+            phase: opts.phase ?? null,
+            priority: opts.priority,
+            dependsOn: parseDependsOn(opts.dependsOn),
+            acceptance: parseAcceptance(opts.acceptance),
+            idempotencyKey: opts.idempotencyKey ?? null,
+          }),
+        );
+        printCard(card, opts.json);
+      },
+    );
+
+  backlogCmd
+    .command('list')
+    .description('List cards (filters: --status, --phase, --ready-only)')
+    .option('--status <status>', 'Filter by status: ready|claimed|blocked|done')
+    .option('--phase <phase>', 'Filter by phase')
+    .option('--ready-only', 'Only cards that are ready AND have all deps done')
+    .option('--json', 'Print JSON')
+    .action(
+      async (opts: {
+        status?: BacklogCard['status'];
+        phase?: string;
+        readyOnly?: boolean;
+        json?: boolean;
+      }) => {
+        const cards = await withSvc((svc) =>
+          svc.list({
+            ...(opts.status ? { status: opts.status } : {}),
+            ...(opts.phase ? { phase: opts.phase } : {}),
+            ...(opts.readyOnly ? { readyOnly: true } : {}),
+          }),
+        );
+        printCards(cards, opts.json);
+      },
+    );
+
+  backlogCmd
+    .command('claim')
+    .description('Atomically claim the highest-priority ready card (FOR UPDATE SKIP LOCKED)')
+    .requiredOption('--owner <owner>', 'Claim owner (worker/agent id)')
+    .option(
+      '--ttl <sec>',
+      'Claim TTL in seconds',
+      (v) => parseInt(v, 10),
+      DEFAULT_CLAIM_TTL_SECONDS,
+    )
+    .option('--id <id>', 'Claim a specific card by id')
+    .option('--json', 'Print JSON')
+    .action(async (opts: { owner: string; ttl: number; id?: string; json?: boolean }) => {
+      const card = await withSvc((svc) =>
+        svc.claim({ owner: opts.owner, ttlSeconds: opts.ttl, ...(opts.id ? { id: opts.id } : {}) }),
+      );
+      printCard(card, opts.json);
+      if (!card && !opts.json) process.exitCode = 0;
+    });
+
+  backlogCmd
+    .command('reclaim')
+    .description('Release expired claims back to ready (or a specific --id)')
+    .option('--id <id>', 'Release a specific card regardless of expiry')
+    .option('--json', 'Print JSON')
+    .action(async (opts: { id?: string; json?: boolean }) => {
+      const result = await withSvc((svc) => svc.reclaim(opts.id ? { id: opts.id } : {}));
+      if (opts.json) {
+        console.log(JSON.stringify(result));
+      } else if (result.reclaimed.length === 0) {
+        console.log('(nothing to reclaim)');
+      } else {
+        console.log(`reclaimed: ${result.reclaimed.join(', ')}`);
+      }
+    });
+
+  backlogCmd
+    .command('link')
+    .description('Add a depends_on edge (--from depends on --to)')
+    .requiredOption('--from <id>', 'Card that gains the dependency')
+    .requiredOption('--to <id>', 'Card it now depends on')
+    .option('--json', 'Print JSON')
+    .action(async (opts: { from: string; to: string; json?: boolean }) => {
+      const card = await withSvc((svc) => svc.link(opts.from, opts.to));
+      printCard(card, opts.json);
+    });
+
+  backlogCmd
+    .command('stats')
+    .description('Counts by status, oldest-ready age, expired-claim count')
+    .option('--json', 'Print JSON')
+    .action(async (opts: { json?: boolean }) => {
+      const stats = await withSvc((svc) => svc.stats());
+      if (opts.json) {
+        console.log(JSON.stringify(stats));
+        return;
+      }
+      console.log(`total: ${stats.total}`);
+      console.log(
+        `ready=${stats.counts.ready} claimed=${stats.counts.claimed} ` +
+          `blocked=${stats.counts.blocked} done=${stats.counts.done}`,
+      );
+      console.log(`oldest-ready-age: ${stats.oldestReadyAgeSeconds ?? '-'}s`);
+      console.log(`expired-claims: ${stats.expiredClaimCount}`);
+    });
+
+  backlogCmd
+    .command('block')
+    .description('Mark a card blocked')
+    .requiredOption('--id <id>', 'Card id')
+    .option('--json', 'Print JSON')
+    .action(async (opts: { id: string; json?: boolean }) => {
+      const card = await withSvc((svc) => svc.block(opts.id));
+      printCard(card, opts.json);
+    });
+
+  backlogCmd
+    .command('complete')
+    .description('Mark a card done')
+    .requiredOption('--id <id>', 'Card id')
+    .option('--json', 'Print JSON')
+    .action(async (opts: { id: string; json?: boolean }) => {
+      const card = await withSvc((svc) => svc.complete(opts.id));
+      printCard(card, opts.json);
+    });
+
+  return backlogCmd;
+}

packages/mosaic/src/commands/fleet.spec.ts

@@ -78,6 +78,7 @@ describe('registerFleetCommand', () => {
     expect(fleet).toBeDefined();
     expect(fleet!.commands.map((command) => command.name()).sort()).toEqual([
       'add',
+      'backlog',
       'init',
       'install',
       'install-systemd',
@@ -91,6 +92,24 @@ describe('registerFleetCommand', () => {
     ]);
   });
 
+  it('registers the backlog subcommand with its operations', () => {
+    const program = buildProgram();
+    const fleet = program.commands.find((command) => command.name() === 'fleet');
+    const backlog = fleet!.commands.find((command) => command.name() === 'backlog');
+
+    expect(backlog).toBeDefined();
+    expect(backlog!.commands.map((command) => command.name()).sort()).toEqual([
+      'block',
+      'claim',
+      'complete',
+      'create',
+      'link',
+      'list',
+      'reclaim',
+      'stats',
+    ]);
+  });
+
   it('adds fleet-backed agent subcommands without removing existing options', () => {
     const program = buildProgram();
     const agent = program.commands.find((command) => command.name() === 'agent');

packages/mosaic/src/commands/fleet.ts

@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import * as readline from 'node:readline';
 import type { Command } from 'commander';
 import YAML from 'yaml';
 import { resolveCommsBlock } from '../fleet/comms-onboarding.js';
+import { registerFleetBacklogCommand } from './fleet-backlog.js';
 
 /**
  * A function that spawns a command with inherited stdio (TTY passthrough).
@@ -1700,6 +1701,11 @@ export function registerFleetCommand(program: Command, deps: FleetCommandDeps =
       console.log(`Removed ${name} from the fleet.`);
     });
 
+  // Mosaic-native backlog of record (card A4). Resolves the active --mosaic-home
+  // (parent flag) at call time so the embedded PGlite store lands under the same
+  // fleet/ directory as the roster and heartbeats.
+  registerFleetBacklogCommand(cmd, () => cmd.opts<{ mosaicHome: string }>().mosaicHome);
+
   return cmd;
 }
 

pnpm-lock.yaml

@@ -540,6 +540,9 @@ importers:
       '@mosaicstack/config':
         specifier: workspace:*
         version: link:../config
+      '@mosaicstack/db':
+        specifier: workspace:*
+        version: link:../db
       '@mosaicstack/forge':
         specifier: workspace:*
         version: link:../forge