chore(release): @mosaicstack/mosaic 0.0.30 (#459)

Co-authored-by: Jason Woltje <jason@diversecanvas.com>
Co-committed-by: Jason Woltje <jason@diversecanvas.com>

AGENTS.md

@@ -59,9 +59,9 @@ pnpm typecheck && pnpm lint && pnpm format:check  # Quality gates
 The `agent` column specifies the required model for each task. **This is set at task creation by the orchestrator and must not be changed by workers.**
 
 | Value     | When to use                                                 | Budget                     |
-| -------- | ----------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------- |
+| --------- | ----------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------- |
 | `codex`   | All coding tasks (default for implementation)               | OpenAI credits — preferred |
-| `glm-5`  | Cost-sensitive coding where Codex is unavailable            | Z.ai credits               |
+| `glm-5.1` | Cost-sensitive coding where Codex is unavailable            | Z.ai credits               |
 | `haiku`   | Review gates, verify tasks, status checks, docs-only        | Cheapest Claude tier       |
 | `sonnet`  | Complex planning, multi-file reasoning, architecture review | Claude quota               |
 | `opus`    | Major cross-cutting architecture decisions ONLY             | Most expensive — minimize  |

docs/scratchpads/tools-md-seeding-20260411.md

@@ -0,0 +1,110 @@
+# Hotfix Scratchpad — `install.sh` does not seed `TOOLS.md`
+
+- **Issue:** mosaicstack/stack#457
+- **Branch:** `fix/tools-md-seeding`
+- **Type:** Out-of-mission hotfix (not part of Install UX v2 mission)
+- **Started:** 2026-04-11
+- **Ships in:** `@mosaicstack/mosaic` 0.0.30
+
+## Objective
+
+Ensure `~/.config/mosaic/TOOLS.md` is created on every supported install path so the mandatory AGENTS.md load order actually resolves. The load order lists `TOOLS.md` at position 5 but the bash installer never seeds it.
+
+## Root cause
+
+`packages/mosaic/framework/install.sh:228-236` — the post-sync "Seed defaults" loop explicitly lists `AGENTS.md STANDARDS.md`:
+
+```bash
+DEFAULTS_DIR="$TARGET_DIR/defaults"
+if [[ -d "$DEFAULTS_DIR" ]]; then
+  for default_file in AGENTS.md STANDARDS.md; do    # ← missing TOOLS.md
+    if [[ -f "$DEFAULTS_DIR/$default_file" ]] && [[ ! -f "$TARGET_DIR/$default_file" ]]; then
+      cp "$DEFAULTS_DIR/$default_file" "$TARGET_DIR/$default_file"
+      ok "Seeded $default_file from defaults"
+    fi
+  done
+fi
+```
+
+`TOOLS.md` is listed in `PRESERVE_PATHS` (line 24) but never created in the first place. A fresh bootstrap install via `tools/install.sh → framework/install.sh` leaves `~/.config/mosaic/TOOLS.md` absent, and the agent load order then points at a missing file.
+
+### Secondary: TypeScript `syncFramework` is too greedy
+
+`packages/mosaic/src/config/file-adapter.ts:133-160` — `FileConfigAdapter.syncFramework` correctly seeds TOOLS.md, but it does so by iterating _every_ file in `framework/defaults/`:
+
+```ts
+for (const entry of readdirSync(defaultsDir)) {
+  const dest = join(this.mosaicHome, entry);
+  if (!existsSync(dest)) {
+    copyFileSync(join(defaultsDir, entry), dest);
+  }
+}
+```
+
+`framework/defaults/` contains:
+
+```
+AGENTS.md
+AUDIT-2026-02-17-framework-consistency.md
+README.md
+SOUL.md        ← hardcoded "Jarvis"
+STANDARDS.md
+TOOLS.md
+USER.md
+```
+
+So on a fresh install the TS wizard would silently copy the `Jarvis`-flavored `SOUL.md` + placeholder `USER.md` + internal `AUDIT-*.md` and `README.md` into the user's mosaic home before `mosaic init` ever prompts them. That's a latent identity bug as well as a root-clutter bug — the wizard's own stages are responsible for generating `SOUL.md`/`USER.md` via templates.
+
+### Tertiary: stale `TOOLS.md.template`
+
+`packages/mosaic/framework/templates/TOOLS.md.template` still references `~/.config/mosaic/rails/git/…` and `~/.config/mosaic/rails/codex/…`. The `rails/` tree was renamed to `tools/` in the v1→v2 migration (see `run_migrations` in `install.sh`, which removes the old `rails/` symlink). Any user who does run `mosaic init` ends up with a `TOOLS.md` that points to paths that no longer exist.
+
+## Scope of this fix
+
+1. **`packages/mosaic/framework/install.sh`** — extend the explicit seed list to include `TOOLS.md`.
+2. **`packages/mosaic/src/config/file-adapter.ts`** — restrict `syncFramework` defaults-seeding to an explicit whitelist (`AGENTS.md`, `STANDARDS.md`, `TOOLS.md`) so the TS wizard never accidentally seeds `SOUL.md`/`USER.md`/`README.md`/`AUDIT-*.md` into the mosaic home.
+3. **`packages/mosaic/framework/templates/TOOLS.md.template`** — replace `rails/` with `tools/` in the wrapper-path examples (minimal surgical fix; full template modernization is out of scope for a 0.0.30 hotfix).
+4. **Regression test** — unit test around `FileConfigAdapter.syncFramework` that runs against a tmpdir fixture asserting:
+   - `TOOLS.md` is seeded when absent
+   - `AGENTS.md` / `STANDARDS.md` are still seeded when absent
+   - `SOUL.md` / `USER.md` are **not** seeded from `defaults/` (the wizard stages own those)
+   - Existing root files are not clobbered.
+
+Out of scope (tracked separately / future work):
+
+- Regenerating `defaults/SOUL.md` and `defaults/USER.md` so they no longer contain Jarvis-specific content.
+- Fully modernizing `TOOLS.md.template` to match the rich canonical `defaults/TOOLS.md` reference.
+- `issue-create.sh` / `pr-create.sh` `eval` bugs (already captured to OpenBrain from the prior hotfix).
+
+## Plan / checklist
+
+- [ ] Branch `fix/tools-md-seeding` from `main` (at `b2cbf89`)
+- [ ] File Gitea issue (direct API; wrappers broken for bodies with backticks)
+- [ ] Scratchpad created (this file)
+- [ ] `install.sh` seed loop extended to `AGENTS.md STANDARDS.md TOOLS.md`
+- [ ] `file-adapter.ts` seeding restricted to explicit whitelist
+- [ ] `TOOLS.md.template` `rails/` → `tools/`
+- [ ] Regression test added (`file-adapter.test.ts`) — failing first, then green
+- [ ] `pnpm --filter @mosaicstack/mosaic run typecheck` green
+- [ ] `pnpm --filter @mosaicstack/mosaic run lint` green
+- [ ] `pnpm --filter @mosaicstack/mosaic exec vitest run` — new test green, no new failures beyond the known pre-existing `uninstall.spec.ts:138`
+- [ ] Repo baselines: `pnpm typecheck` / `pnpm lint` / `pnpm format:check`
+- [ ] Independent code review (`feature-dev:code-reviewer`, sonnet tier)
+- [ ] Commit + push
+- [ ] PR opened via Gitea API
+- [ ] CI queue guard cleared (bypass local `ci-queue-wait.sh` if stale origin URL breaks it; query Gitea API directly)
+- [ ] CI green on PR
+- [ ] PR merged (squash)
+- [ ] CI green on main
+- [ ] Issue closed with link to merge commit
+- [ ] `chore/release-mosaic-0.0.30` branch bumps `packages/mosaic/package.json` 0.0.29 → 0.0.30
+- [ ] Release PR opened + merged
+- [ ] `.woodpecker/publish.yml` auto-publishes to Gitea npm registry
+- [ ] Publish verified (`npm view @mosaicstack/mosaic version` or registry check)
+
+## Risks / blockers
+
+- `ci-queue-wait.sh` wrapper may still crash on stale `origin` URL (captured in OpenBrain from prior hotfix). Workaround: query Gitea API directly for running/queued pipelines.
+- `issue-create.sh` / `pr-create.sh` `eval` bugs. Workaround: Gitea API direct call.
+- `uninstall.spec.ts:138` is a pre-existing failure on main; not this change's problem.
+- Publish flow is fire-and-forget on main push — if `publish.yml` fails, rollback means republishing a follow-up patch, not reverting the version bump.

docs/scratchpads/yolo-runtime-initial-arg-20260411.md

@@ -0,0 +1,114 @@
+# Hotfix Scratchpad — `mosaic yolo <runtime>` passes runtime name as initial user message
+
+- **Issue:** mosaicstack/stack#454
+- **Branch:** `fix/yolo-runtime-initial-arg`
+- **Type:** Out-of-mission hotfix (not part of Install UX v2 mission)
+- **Started:** 2026-04-11
+
+## Objective
+
+Stop `mosaic yolo <runtime>` from passing the runtime name (`claude`, `codex`, etc.) as the initial user message to the underlying CLI. Restore the mission-auto-prompt path for yolo launches.
+
+## Root cause (confirmed)
+
+`packages/mosaic/src/commands/launch.ts:779` — the `yolo <runtime>` action handler:
+
+```ts
+.action((runtime: string, _opts: unknown, cmd: Command) => {
+  // ... validate runtime ...
+  launchRuntime(runtime as RuntimeName, cmd.args, true);
+});
+```
+
+Commander.js includes declared positional arguments in `cmd.args`. For `mosaic yolo claude`:
+
+- `runtime` (destructured) = `"claude"`
+- `cmd.args` = `["claude"]` — the same value
+
+`launchRuntime` treats `["claude"]` as excess positional args, and for the `claude` case that becomes the initial user message. As a secondary consequence, `hasMissionNoArgs` evaluates false, so the mission-auto-prompt path is bypassed too.
+
+## Live reproduction (intercepted claude binary)
+
+```
+$ PATH=/tmp/fake-claude-bin:$PATH mosaic yolo claude
+[mosaic] Launching Claude Code in YOLO mode...
+argv[1]: --dangerously-skip-permissions
+argv[2]: --append-system-prompt
+argv[3] (len=25601): # ACTIVE MISSION — HARD GATE ...
+argv[4]: claude                                       ← the bug
+```
+
+Non-yolo variant `mosaic claude` is clean:
+
+```
+argv[1]: --append-system-prompt
+argv[2]: <prompt>
+argv[3]: Active mission detected: MVP. Read the mission state files and report status.
+```
+
+## Plan
+
+1. Refactor `launch.ts`: extract `registerRuntimeLaunchers(program, handler)` with an injectable handler so commander wiring is testable without spawning subprocesses. `registerLaunchCommands` delegates to it with `launchRuntime` as the handler.
+2. Fix: in the `yolo <runtime>` action, pass `cmd.args.slice(1)` instead of `cmd.args`.
+3. Add `packages/mosaic/src/commands/launch.spec.ts`:
+   - Failing-first reproducer: parse `['node','x','yolo','claude']` and assert handler receives `extraArgs=[]` and `yolo=true`.
+   - Regression test: parse `['node','x','claude']` asserts handler receives `extraArgs=[]` and `yolo=false`.
+   - Excess args: parse `['node','x','yolo','claude','--print','hi']` asserts handler receives `extraArgs=['--print','hi']` (with `--print` kept because `allowUnknownOption` is true).
+   - Excess args non-yolo: parse `['node','x','claude','--print','hi']` asserts `extraArgs=['--print','hi']`.
+   - Reject unknown runtime under yolo.
+4. Run typecheck, lint, format:check, vitest for `@mosaicstack/mosaic`.
+5. Independent code review (feature-dev:code-reviewer subagent, sonnet tier).
+6. Commit → push → PR via wrappers → merge → CI green → close issue #454.
+7. Release decision (`mosaic-v0.0.30`) deferred to Jason after merge.
+
+## Framework compliance sub-findings (out-of-scope; to capture in OpenBrain after)
+
+- `~/.config/mosaic/tools/git/issue-create.sh` uses `eval` on `$BODY`; arbitrary bodies with backticks, `$`, or parens break catastrophically.
+- `gitea_issue_create_api` fallback uses `curl -fsS` without `-L`; after the `mosaicstack/mosaic-stack → mosaicstack/stack` rename, the API redirect is not followed and the fallback silently fails.
+- Local repo `origin` remote still points at old `mosaic/mosaic-stack.git` slug. Not touched here per git-config safety rule.
+- `~/.config/mosaic/TOOLS.md` referenced by the global load order but does not exist on disk.
+
+These will be captured to OpenBrain after the hotfix merges so they don't get lost, and filed as separate tracking items.
+
+## Progress checkpoints
+
+- [x] Branch created (`fix/yolo-runtime-initial-arg`)
+- [x] Issue #454 opened
+- [x] Scratchpad scaffolded
+- [x] Failing test added (red)
+- [x] Refactor + fix applied
+- [x] Tests green (launch.spec.ts 11/11)
+- [x] Baselines green (typecheck, lint, format:check, vitest — pre-existing `uninstall.spec.ts:138` failure on branch main acknowledged, not caused by this change)
+- [x] Code review pass (feature-dev:code-reviewer, sonnet — no blockers)
+- [x] Commit + push (commit 1dd4f59)
+- [x] PR opened (mosaicstack/stack#455)
+- [x] CI queue guard cleared (no pending pipelines pre-push or pre-merge)
+- [x] PR merged (squash merge commit b2cec8c6bac29336a6cdcdb4f19806f7b5fa0054)
+- [x] CI green on main (`ci/woodpecker/push/ci` + `ci/woodpecker/push/publish` both success on merge commit)
+- [x] Issue #454 closed
+- [x] Scratchpad final evidence entry
+
+## Tests run
+
+- `pnpm --filter @mosaicstack/mosaic run typecheck` → green
+- `pnpm --filter @mosaicstack/mosaic run lint` → green
+- `pnpm --filter @mosaicstack/mosaic exec prettier --check "src/**/*.ts"` → green
+- `pnpm --filter @mosaicstack/mosaic exec vitest run src/commands/launch.spec.ts` → 11/11 pass
+- `pnpm --filter @mosaicstack/mosaic exec vitest run` → 270/271 pass (1 pre-existing `uninstall.spec.ts:138` EACCES failure, confirmed on the branch before this change)
+- `pnpm typecheck` (repo) → green
+- `pnpm lint` (repo) → green
+- `pnpm format:check` (repo) → green (after prettier-writing the scratchpad)
+
+## Risks / blockers
+
+None expected. Refactor is small and the Commander API is stable. Test needs `exitOverride()` to prevent `process.exit` on invalid runtime.
+
+## Final verification evidence
+
+- PR: mosaicstack/stack#455 — state `closed`, merged.
+- Merge commit: `b2cec8c6bac29336a6cdcdb4f19806f7b5fa0054` (squash to `main`).
+- Post-merge CI (main @ b2cec8c6): `ci/woodpecker/push/ci` = success, `ci/woodpecker/push/publish` = success. (`ci/woodpecker/tag/publish` was last observed as a pre-existing failure on the prior release tag and is unrelated to this change.)
+- Issue mosaicstack/stack#454 closed with a comment linking the merge commit.
+- Launch regression suite: `launch.spec.ts` 11/11 pass on main.
+- Baselines on main after merge are inherited from the PR CI run.
+- Release decision (`mosaicstack/mosaic` 0.0.30) intentionally deferred to the user — the fix is now sitting on main awaiting a release cut.

guides/ORCHESTRATOR.md

@@ -73,6 +73,27 @@ Spawn a worker instead. No exceptions. No "quick fixes."
 - Wait for at least one worker to complete before spawning more
 - This optimizes token usage and reduces context pressure
 
+## File Ownership & Partitioning (Hard Rule for Parallel Workers)
+
+When dispatching parallel workers, the orchestrator MUST assign **non-overlapping file scopes** to each worker. File collisions between parallel workers cause merge conflicts, lost edits, and wasted tokens.
+
+**Rules:**
+
+1. **Exclusive file ownership.** Each file may be assigned to at most one active worker. The orchestrator records ownership in the worker dispatch (prompt or task definition).
+2. **Partition by directory or module.** Prefer assigning entire directories/modules to one worker rather than splitting files within a directory across workers.
+3. **Shared files are serialized.** If two tasks must modify the same file (e.g., a shared types file, a barrel export), they MUST run sequentially — never in parallel. Mark the second task with `depends_on` pointing to the first.
+4. **Test files follow source ownership.** If Worker A owns `src/auth/login.ts`, Worker A also owns `src/auth/__tests__/login.test.ts`. Do not split source and test across workers.
+5. **Config files are orchestrator-reserved.** Files like `package.json`, `tsconfig.json`, and CI config are owned by the orchestrator and modified only between worker cycles, never during parallel execution.
+6. **Document ownership in dispatch.** When spawning a worker, include an explicit `Files:` section listing owned paths/globs. Example:
+
+```
+Files (exclusive — do not touch files outside this scope):
+  - apps/web/src/components/auth/**
+  - apps/web/src/lib/auth.ts
+```
+
+7. **Conflict recovery.** If a worker edits a file outside its scope, the orchestrator MUST flag the violation, assess the diff, and either revert the out-of-scope change or re-run the affected worker with the corrected file.
+
 ## Delegation Mode Selection
 
 Choose one delegation mode at session start:

packages/mosaic/framework/defaults/AGENTS.md

@@ -151,11 +151,68 @@ When delegating work to subagents, you MUST select the cheapest model capable of
 
 **Runtime-specific syntax**: See the runtime reference for how to specify model tier when spawning subagents (e.g., Claude Code Task tool `model` parameter).
 
+## Superpowers Enforcement (Hard Rule)
+
+Mosaic provides capabilities beyond basic code editing: **skills**, **hooks**, **MCP tools**, and **plugins**. These are not optional extras — they are force multipliers that agents MUST actively use when applicable. Under-utilization of superpowers is a framework violation.
+
+### Skills
+
+Skills are domain-specific instruction sets in `~/.config/mosaic/skills/` that encode best practices, patterns, and guardrails. They are loaded into agents via the runtime's skill mechanism (e.g., Claude Code slash commands, Pi `--skill` flag).
+
+**Rules:**
+
+1. Before starting implementation, scan available skills (`ls ~/.config/mosaic/skills/`) and load any that match the task domain.
+2. When a skill exists for the technology being used (e.g., `nestjs-best-practices` for NestJS work), you MUST load it.
+3. When spawning workers, include skill loading in the kickstart prompt.
+4. If you complete a task without loading a relevant available skill, that is a quality gap.
+
+### Hooks
+
+Hooks provide automated quality gates (lint, format, typecheck) that fire on file edits. They are configured in the runtime settings and run automatically.
+
+**Rules:**
+
+1. Do NOT bypass or suppress hook output. If a hook reports errors, fix them before proceeding.
+2. Hook failures are immediate feedback — treat them like failing tests.
+3. If a hook is consistently failing on valid code, report it as a framework issue rather than working around it.
+
+### MCP Tools
+
+MCP servers extend agent capabilities with external integrations (sequential-thinking, web search, memory, browser automation, etc.). Available MCP tools are listed at session start.
+
+**Rules:**
+
+1. **sequential-thinking** is REQUIRED for planning, architecture, and multi-step reasoning. Use it — do not skip structured thinking for complex decisions.
+2. **OpenBrain** (`capture`, `search`, `recent`) is the cross-agent memory layer. Capture discoveries and search for prior context at session start.
+3. When a task involves web research, browser testing, or external data, use the available MCP tools (web-search, chrome-devtools, web-reader) rather than asking the user to look things up.
+4. Check available MCP tools at session start and use them proactively throughout the session.
+
+### Plugins (Runtime-Specific)
+
+Runtime plugins (e.g., Claude Code's `feature-dev`, `pr-review-toolkit`, `code-review`) provide specialized agent capabilities like code review, architecture analysis, and test coverage analysis.
+
+**Rules:**
+
+1. After completing a significant code change, use code review plugins proactively — do not wait for the user to ask.
+2. Before creating a PR, use PR review plugins to catch issues early.
+3. When designing architecture, use planning/architecture plugins for structured analysis.
+
+### Self-Evolution
+
+The Mosaic framework should improve over time based on usage patterns:
+
+1. When you discover a recurring pattern that should be codified, capture it to OpenBrain with `type: "framework-improvement"`.
+2. When a hook, skill, or tool is missing for a common task, capture the gap to OpenBrain with `type: "tooling-gap"`.
+3. When a framework rule causes friction without adding value, capture the observation to OpenBrain with `type: "framework-friction"`.
+
+These captures feed the framework's continuous improvement cycle.
+
 ## Skills Policy
 
-- Use only the minimum required skills for the active task.
+- Load skills that match the active task domain before starting implementation.
 - Do not load unrelated skills.
 - Follow skill trigger rules from the active runtime instruction layer.
+- Actively check `~/.config/mosaic/skills/` for applicable skills rather than passively waiting for them to be mentioned.
 
 ## Session Closure Requirement
 

packages/mosaic/framework/install.sh

@@ -19,8 +19,9 @@ SOURCE_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")" && pwd)"
 TARGET_DIR="${MOSAIC_HOME:-$HOME/.config/mosaic}"
 INSTALL_MODE="${MOSAIC_INSTALL_MODE:-prompt}"
 
-# Files preserved across upgrades (never overwritten)
-PRESERVE_PATHS=("SOUL.md" "USER.md" "TOOLS.md" "memory" "sources")
+# Files/dirs preserved across upgrades (never overwritten).
+# User-created content in these paths survives rsync --delete.
+PRESERVE_PATHS=("AGENTS.md" "SOUL.md" "USER.md" "TOOLS.md" "STANDARDS.md" "memory" "sources" "credentials")
 
 # Current framework schema version — bump this when the layout changes.
 # The migration system uses this to run upgrade steps.
@@ -217,8 +218,27 @@ fi
 
 sync_framework
 
-# Ensure memory directory exists
+# Ensure persistent directories exist
 mkdir -p "$TARGET_DIR/memory"
+mkdir -p "$TARGET_DIR/credentials"
+
+# Seed defaults — copy framework contract files from defaults/ to framework
+# root if not already present. These ship with sensible defaults but must
+# never be overwritten once the user has customized them.
+#
+# This list must match the framework-contract whitelist in
+# packages/mosaic/src/config/file-adapter.ts (FileConfigAdapter.syncFramework).
+# SOUL.md and USER.md are intentionally NOT seeded here — they are generated
+# by `mosaic init` from templates with user-supplied values.
+DEFAULTS_DIR="$TARGET_DIR/defaults"
+if [[ -d "$DEFAULTS_DIR" ]]; then
+  for default_file in AGENTS.md STANDARDS.md TOOLS.md; do
+    if [[ -f "$DEFAULTS_DIR/$default_file" ]] && [[ ! -f "$TARGET_DIR/$default_file" ]]; then
+      cp "$DEFAULTS_DIR/$default_file" "$TARGET_DIR/$default_file"
+      ok "Seeded $default_file from defaults"
+    fi
+  done
+fi
 
 # Ensure tool scripts are executable
 find "$TARGET_DIR/tools" -name "*.sh" -exec chmod +x {} + 2>/dev/null || true

packages/mosaic/framework/runtime/claude/RUNTIME.md

@@ -102,3 +102,30 @@ claude mcp add --scope user <name> -- npx -y <package>
 `--scope local` = default, local-only (not committed).
 
 Do NOT add `mcpServers` to `~/.claude/settings.json` — that key is ignored for MCP loading.
+
+## Required Claude Code Settings (Enforced by Launcher)
+
+The `mosaic claude` launcher validates that `~/.claude/settings.json` contains the required Mosaic configuration. Missing or outdated settings trigger a warning at launch.
+
+**Required hooks:**
+
+| Event       | Matcher                  | Script                    | Purpose                                        |
+| ----------- | ------------------------ | ------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------- |
+| PreToolUse  | `Write\|Edit\|MultiEdit` | `prevent-memory-write.sh` | Block writes to `~/.claude/projects/*/memory/` |
+| PostToolUse | `Edit\|MultiEdit\|Write` | `qa-hook-stdin.sh`        | QA report generation after code edits          |
+| PostToolUse | `Edit\|MultiEdit\|Write` | `typecheck-hook.sh`       | Inline TypeScript type checking                |
+
+**Required plugins:**
+
+| Plugin              | Purpose                                                                                                  |
+| ------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
+| `feature-dev`       | Subagent architecture: code-reviewer, code-architect, code-explorer                                      |
+| `pr-review-toolkit` | PR review: code-simplifier, comment-analyzer, test-analyzer, silent-failure-hunter, type-design-analyzer |
+| `code-review`       | Standalone code review capabilities                                                                      |
+
+**Required settings:**
+
+- `enableAllMcpTools: true` — Allow all configured MCP tools without per-tool approval
+- `model: "opus"` — Default to opus for orchestrator-level sessions (workers use tiered models via Task tool)
+
+If `mosaic claude` detects missing hooks or plugins, it will print a warning with the exact settings to add. The session will still launch — enforcement is advisory, not blocking — but agents operating without these settings are running degraded.

packages/mosaic/framework/runtime/claude/settings.json

@@ -23,6 +23,16 @@
             "timeout": 60
           }
         ]
+      },
+      {
+        "matcher": "Edit|MultiEdit|Write",
+        "hooks": [
+          {
+            "type": "command",
+            "command": "~/.config/mosaic/tools/qa/typecheck-hook.sh",
+            "timeout": 30
+          }
+        ]
       }
     ]
   },

packages/mosaic/framework/templates/TOOLS.md.template

@@ -5,32 +5,32 @@ Project-specific tooling belongs in the project's `AGENTS.md`, not here.
 
 ## Mosaic Git Wrappers (Use First)
 
-Mosaic wrappers at `~/.config/mosaic/rails/git/*.sh` handle platform detection and edge cases. Always use these before raw CLI commands.
+Mosaic wrappers at `~/.config/mosaic/tools/git/*.sh` handle platform detection and edge cases. Always use these before raw CLI commands.
 
 ```bash
 # Issues
-~/.config/mosaic/rails/git/issue-create.sh
-~/.config/mosaic/rails/git/issue-close.sh
+~/.config/mosaic/tools/git/issue-create.sh
+~/.config/mosaic/tools/git/issue-close.sh
 
 # PRs
-~/.config/mosaic/rails/git/pr-create.sh
-~/.config/mosaic/rails/git/pr-merge.sh
+~/.config/mosaic/tools/git/pr-create.sh
+~/.config/mosaic/tools/git/pr-merge.sh
 
 # Milestones
-~/.config/mosaic/rails/git/milestone-create.sh
+~/.config/mosaic/tools/git/milestone-create.sh
 
 # CI queue guard (required before push/merge)
-~/.config/mosaic/rails/git/ci-queue-wait.sh --purpose push|merge
+~/.config/mosaic/tools/git/ci-queue-wait.sh --purpose push|merge
 ```
 
 ## Code Review (Codex)
 
 ```bash
 # Code quality review
-~/.config/mosaic/rails/codex/codex-code-review.sh --uncommitted
+~/.config/mosaic/tools/codex/codex-code-review.sh --uncommitted
 
 # Security review
-~/.config/mosaic/rails/codex/codex-security-review.sh --uncommitted
+~/.config/mosaic/tools/codex/codex-security-review.sh --uncommitted
 ```
 
 ## Git Providers

packages/mosaic/framework/tools/qa/typecheck-hook.sh

@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+# Lightweight PostToolUse typecheck hook for TypeScript files.
+# Runs tsc --noEmit on the nearest tsconfig after TS/TSX edits.
+# Returns non-zero with diagnostic output so the agent sees type errors immediately.
+# Location: ~/.config/mosaic/tools/qa/typecheck-hook.sh
+
+set -eo pipefail
+
+# Read JSON from stdin (Claude Code PostToolUse payload)
+JSON_INPUT=$(cat)
+
+# Extract file path
+if command -v jq &>/dev/null; then
+  FILE_PATH=$(echo "$JSON_INPUT" | jq -r '.tool_input.file_path // .tool_response.filePath // .file_path // empty' 2>/dev/null || echo "")
+else
+  FILE_PATH=$(echo "$JSON_INPUT" | grep -o '"file_path"[[:space:]]*:[[:space:]]*"[^"]*"' | sed 's/.*"\([^"]*\)"$/\1/' | head -1)
+fi
+
+# Only check TypeScript files
+if ! [[ "$FILE_PATH" =~ \.(ts|tsx)$ ]]; then
+  exit 0
+fi
+
+# Must be a real file
+if [ ! -f "$FILE_PATH" ]; then
+  exit 0
+fi
+
+# Find nearest tsconfig.json by walking up from the file
+DIR=$(dirname "$FILE_PATH")
+TSCONFIG=""
+while [ "$DIR" != "/" ] && [ "$DIR" != "." ]; do
+  if [ -f "$DIR/tsconfig.json" ]; then
+    TSCONFIG="$DIR/tsconfig.json"
+    break
+  fi
+  DIR=$(dirname "$DIR")
+done
+
+if [ -z "$TSCONFIG" ]; then
+  # No tsconfig found — skip silently
+  exit 0
+fi
+
+# Run tsc --noEmit from the tsconfig directory
+# Use --pretty for readable output, limit to 10 errors to keep output short
+TSCONFIG_DIR=$(dirname "$TSCONFIG")
+cd "$TSCONFIG_DIR"
+
+# Run typecheck — capture output and exit code
+OUTPUT=$(npx tsc --noEmit --pretty --maxNodeModuleJsDepth 0 2>&1) || STATUS=$?
+
+if [ "${STATUS:-0}" -ne 0 ]; then
+  # Filter output to only show errors related to the edited file (if possible)
+  BASENAME=$(basename "$FILE_PATH")
+  RELEVANT=$(echo "$OUTPUT" | grep -A2 "$BASENAME" 2>/dev/null || echo "$OUTPUT" | head -20)
+
+  echo "TypeScript type errors detected after editing $FILE_PATH:"
+  echo "$RELEVANT"
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+exit 0

packages/mosaic/package.json

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@mosaicstack/mosaic",
-  "version": "0.0.28",
+  "version": "0.0.30",
   "repository": {
     "type": "git",
     "url": "https://git.mosaicstack.dev/mosaicstack/stack.git",

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

@@ -0,0 +1,111 @@
+import { describe, it, expect, vi, beforeEach, afterEach, type MockInstance } from 'vitest';
+import { Command } from 'commander';
+import { registerRuntimeLaunchers, type RuntimeLaunchHandler } from './launch.js';
+
+/**
+ * Tests for the commander wiring between `mosaic <runtime>` / `mosaic yolo <runtime>`
+ * subcommands and the internal `launchRuntime` dispatcher.
+ *
+ * Regression target: see mosaicstack/stack#454 — before the fix, `mosaic yolo claude`
+ * passed the literal string "claude" as an excess positional argument to the
+ * underlying CLI, which Claude Code then interpreted as the first user message.
+ *
+ * The bug existed because Commander.js includes declared positional arguments
+ * (here `<runtime>`) in `cmd.args` alongside any true excess args. The action
+ * handler must slice them off before forwarding.
+ */
+
+function buildProgram(handler: RuntimeLaunchHandler): Command {
+  const program = new Command();
+  program.exitOverride(); // prevent process.exit on parse errors
+  registerRuntimeLaunchers(program, handler);
+  return program;
+}
+
+// `process.exit` returns `never`, so vi.spyOn demands a replacement with the
+// same signature. We throw from the mock to short-circuit into test-land.
+const exitThrows = (): never => {
+  throw new Error('process.exit called');
+};
+
+describe('registerRuntimeLaunchers — non-yolo subcommands', () => {
+  let mockExit: MockInstance<typeof process.exit>;
+
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    // process.exit is called when the yolo action rejects an invalid runtime.
+    // Stub it so the assertion catches the rejection instead of terminating
+    // the test runner.
+    mockExit = vi.spyOn(process, 'exit').mockImplementation(exitThrows);
+  });
+
+  afterEach(() => {
+    mockExit.mockRestore();
+  });
+
+  it.each(['claude', 'codex', 'opencode', 'pi'] as const)(
+    'forwards %s with empty extraArgs and yolo=false',
+    (runtime) => {
+      const handler = vi.fn();
+      const program = buildProgram(handler);
+      program.parse(['node', 'mosaic', runtime]);
+
+      expect(handler).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+      expect(handler).toHaveBeenCalledWith(runtime, [], false);
+    },
+  );
+
+  it('forwards excess args after a non-yolo runtime subcommand', () => {
+    const handler = vi.fn();
+    const program = buildProgram(handler);
+    program.parse(['node', 'mosaic', 'claude', '--print', 'hello']);
+
+    expect(handler).toHaveBeenCalledWith('claude', ['--print', 'hello'], false);
+  });
+});
+
+describe('registerRuntimeLaunchers — yolo <runtime>', () => {
+  let mockExit: MockInstance<typeof process.exit>;
+  let mockError: MockInstance<typeof console.error>;
+
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    mockExit = vi.spyOn(process, 'exit').mockImplementation(exitThrows);
+    mockError = vi.spyOn(console, 'error').mockImplementation(() => {});
+  });
+
+  afterEach(() => {
+    mockExit.mockRestore();
+    mockError.mockRestore();
+  });
+
+  it.each(['claude', 'codex', 'opencode', 'pi'] as const)(
+    'does NOT pass the runtime name as an extra arg (regression #454) for yolo %s',
+    (runtime) => {
+      const handler = vi.fn();
+      const program = buildProgram(handler);
+      program.parse(['node', 'mosaic', 'yolo', runtime]);
+
+      expect(handler).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+      // The critical assertion: extraArgs must be empty, not [runtime].
+      // Before the fix, cmd.args was [runtime] and the runtime name leaked
+      // through to the underlying CLI as an initial positional argument.
+      expect(handler).toHaveBeenCalledWith(runtime, [], true);
+    },
+  );
+
+  it('forwards true excess args after a yolo runtime', () => {
+    const handler = vi.fn();
+    const program = buildProgram(handler);
+    program.parse(['node', 'mosaic', 'yolo', 'claude', '--print', 'hi']);
+
+    expect(handler).toHaveBeenCalledWith('claude', ['--print', 'hi'], true);
+  });
+
+  it('rejects an unknown runtime under yolo without invoking the handler', () => {
+    const handler = vi.fn();
+    const program = buildProgram(handler);
+
+    expect(() => program.parse(['node', 'mosaic', 'yolo', 'bogus'])).toThrow('process.exit called');
+    expect(handler).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(mockExit).toHaveBeenCalledWith(1);
+  });
+});

packages/mosaic/src/commands/launch.ts

@@ -78,6 +78,82 @@ function checkSoul(): void {
   }
 }
 
+// ─── Claude settings validation ─────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+interface SettingsAudit {
+  warnings: string[];
+}
+
+function auditClaudeSettings(): SettingsAudit {
+  const warnings: string[] = [];
+  const settingsPath = join(homedir(), '.claude', 'settings.json');
+  const settings = readJson(settingsPath);
+
+  if (!settings) {
+    warnings.push('~/.claude/settings.json not found — hooks and plugins will be missing');
+    return { warnings };
+  }
+
+  // Check required hooks
+  const hooks = settings['hooks'] as Record<string, unknown[]> | undefined;
+
+  const requiredPreToolUse = ['prevent-memory-write.sh'];
+  const requiredPostToolUse = ['qa-hook-stdin.sh', 'typecheck-hook.sh'];
+
+  const preHooks = (hooks?.['PreToolUse'] ?? []) as Array<Record<string, unknown>>;
+  const postHooks = (hooks?.['PostToolUse'] ?? []) as Array<Record<string, unknown>>;
+
+  const preCommands = preHooks.flatMap((h) => {
+    const inner = (h['hooks'] ?? []) as Array<Record<string, unknown>>;
+    return inner.map((ih) => String(ih['command'] ?? ''));
+  });
+  const postCommands = postHooks.flatMap((h) => {
+    const inner = (h['hooks'] ?? []) as Array<Record<string, unknown>>;
+    return inner.map((ih) => String(ih['command'] ?? ''));
+  });
+
+  for (const script of requiredPreToolUse) {
+    if (!preCommands.some((c) => c.includes(script))) {
+      warnings.push(`Missing PreToolUse hook: ${script}`);
+    }
+  }
+  for (const script of requiredPostToolUse) {
+    if (!postCommands.some((c) => c.includes(script))) {
+      warnings.push(`Missing PostToolUse hook: ${script}`);
+    }
+  }
+
+  // Check required plugins
+  const plugins = (settings['enabledPlugins'] ?? {}) as Record<string, boolean>;
+  const requiredPlugins = ['feature-dev', 'pr-review-toolkit', 'code-review'];
+
+  for (const plugin of requiredPlugins) {
+    const found = Object.keys(plugins).some((k) => k.startsWith(plugin) && plugins[k]);
+    if (!found) {
+      warnings.push(`Missing plugin: ${plugin}`);
+    }
+  }
+
+  // Check enableAllMcpTools
+  if (!settings['enableAllMcpTools']) {
+    warnings.push('enableAllMcpTools is not true — MCP tools may require per-tool approval');
+  }
+
+  return { warnings };
+}
+
+function printSettingsWarnings(audit: SettingsAudit): void {
+  if (audit.warnings.length === 0) return;
+
+  console.log('\n[mosaic] Claude Code settings audit:');
+  for (const w of audit.warnings) {
+    console.log(`  ⚠ ${w}`);
+  }
+  console.log(
+    '[mosaic] Run: mosaic doctor  — or see ~/.config/mosaic/runtime/claude/RUNTIME.md for required settings.\n',
+  );
+}
+
 function checkSequentialThinking(runtime: string): void {
   const checker = fwScript('mosaic-ensure-sequential-thinking');
   if (!existsSync(checker)) return; // Skip if checker doesn't exist
@@ -407,6 +483,10 @@ function launchRuntime(runtime: RuntimeName, args: string[], yolo: boolean): nev
 
   switch (runtime) {
     case 'claude': {
+      // Audit Claude Code settings and warn about missing hooks/plugins
+      const settingsAudit = auditClaudeSettings();
+      printSettingsWarnings(settingsAudit);
+
       const prompt = buildRuntimePrompt('claude');
       const cliArgs = yolo ? ['--dangerously-skip-permissions'] : [];
       cliArgs.push('--append-system-prompt', prompt);
@@ -677,8 +757,23 @@ function runUpgrade(args: string[]): never {
 
 // ─── Commander registration ─────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
-export function registerLaunchCommands(program: Command): void {
-  // Runtime launchers
+/**
+ * Handler invoked when a runtime subcommand (`<runtime>` or `yolo <runtime>`)
+ * is parsed. Exposed so tests can exercise the commander wiring without
+ * spawning subprocesses.
+ */
+export type RuntimeLaunchHandler = (
+  runtime: RuntimeName,
+  extraArgs: string[],
+  yolo: boolean,
+) => void;
+
+/**
+ * Wire `<runtime>` and `yolo <runtime>` subcommands onto `program` using a
+ * pluggable launch handler. Separated from `registerLaunchCommands` so tests
+ * can inject a spy and verify argument forwarding.
+ */
+export function registerRuntimeLaunchers(program: Command, handler: RuntimeLaunchHandler): void {
   for (const runtime of ['claude', 'codex', 'opencode', 'pi'] as const) {
     program
       .command(runtime)
@@ -686,11 +781,10 @@ export function registerLaunchCommands(program: Command): void {
       .allowUnknownOption(true)
       .allowExcessArguments(true)
       .action((_opts: unknown, cmd: Command) => {
-        launchRuntime(runtime, cmd.args, false);
+        handler(runtime, cmd.args, false);
       });
   }
 
-  // Yolo mode
   program
     .command('yolo <runtime>')
     .description('Launch a runtime in dangerous-permissions mode (claude|codex|opencode|pi)')
@@ -704,7 +798,20 @@ export function registerLaunchCommands(program: Command): void {
         );
         process.exit(1);
       }
-      launchRuntime(runtime as RuntimeName, cmd.args, true);
+      // Commander includes declared positional arguments (`<runtime>`) in
+      // `cmd.args` alongside any trailing excess args. Slice off the first
+      // element so we forward only true excess args — otherwise the runtime
+      // name leaks into the underlying CLI as an initial positional arg,
+      // which Claude Code interprets as the first user message.
+      // Regression test: launch.spec.ts, issue mosaicstack/stack#454.
+      handler(runtime as RuntimeName, cmd.args.slice(1), true);
+    });
+}
+
+export function registerLaunchCommands(program: Command): void {
+  // Runtime launchers + yolo mode wired to the real process-replacing launcher.
+  registerRuntimeLaunchers(program, (runtime, extraArgs, yolo) => {
+    launchRuntime(runtime, extraArgs, yolo);
   });
 
   // Coord (mission orchestrator)

packages/mosaic/src/config/file-adapter.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,134 @@
+import { describe, it, expect, beforeEach, afterEach } from 'vitest';
+import { mkdtempSync, mkdirSync, writeFileSync, rmSync, readFileSync, existsSync } from 'node:fs';
+import { tmpdir } from 'node:os';
+import { join } from 'node:path';
+import { FileConfigAdapter, DEFAULT_SEED_FILES } from './file-adapter.js';
+
+/**
+ * Regression tests for the `FileConfigAdapter.syncFramework` seed behavior.
+ *
+ * Background: the bash installer (`framework/install.sh`) and this TS wizard
+ * path both seed framework-contract files from `framework/defaults/` into the
+ * user's mosaic home on first install. Before this fix:
+ *
+ *   - The bash installer only seeded `AGENTS.md` and `STANDARDS.md`, leaving
+ *     `TOOLS.md` missing despite it being listed as mandatory in the
+ *     AGENTS.md load order (position 5).
+ *   - The TS wizard iterated every file in `defaults/` and copied it to the
+ *     mosaic home root — including `defaults/SOUL.md` (hardcoded "Jarvis"),
+ *     `defaults/USER.md` (placeholder), and internal framework files like
+ *     `README.md` and `AUDIT-*.md`. That clobbered the identity flow on
+ *     fresh installs and leaked framework-internal clutter into the user's
+ *     home directory.
+ *
+ * This suite pins the whitelist and the preservation semantics so both
+ * regressions stay fixed.
+ */
+
+function makeFixture(): { sourceDir: string; mosaicHome: string; defaultsDir: string } {
+  const root = mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), 'mosaic-file-adapter-'));
+  const sourceDir = join(root, 'source');
+  const mosaicHome = join(root, 'mosaic-home');
+  const defaultsDir = join(sourceDir, 'defaults');
+
+  mkdirSync(defaultsDir, { recursive: true });
+  mkdirSync(mosaicHome, { recursive: true });
+
+  // Framework-contract defaults we expect the wizard to seed.
+  writeFileSync(join(defaultsDir, 'AGENTS.md'), '# AGENTS default\n');
+  writeFileSync(join(defaultsDir, 'STANDARDS.md'), '# STANDARDS default\n');
+  writeFileSync(join(defaultsDir, 'TOOLS.md'), '# TOOLS default\n');
+
+  // Non-contract files we must NOT seed on first install.
+  writeFileSync(join(defaultsDir, 'SOUL.md'), '# SOUL default (should not be seeded)\n');
+  writeFileSync(join(defaultsDir, 'USER.md'), '# USER default (should not be seeded)\n');
+  writeFileSync(join(defaultsDir, 'README.md'), '# README (framework-internal)\n');
+  writeFileSync(
+    join(defaultsDir, 'AUDIT-2026-02-17-framework-consistency.md'),
+    '# Audit snapshot\n',
+  );
+
+  return { sourceDir, mosaicHome, defaultsDir };
+}
+
+describe('FileConfigAdapter.syncFramework — defaults seeding', () => {
+  let fixture: ReturnType<typeof makeFixture>;
+
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    fixture = makeFixture();
+  });
+
+  afterEach(() => {
+    rmSync(join(fixture.sourceDir, '..'), { recursive: true, force: true });
+  });
+
+  it('seeds the three framework-contract files on a fresh mosaic home', async () => {
+    const adapter = new FileConfigAdapter(fixture.mosaicHome, fixture.sourceDir);
+
+    await adapter.syncFramework('fresh');
+
+    for (const name of DEFAULT_SEED_FILES) {
+      expect(existsSync(join(fixture.mosaicHome, name))).toBe(true);
+    }
+    expect(readFileSync(join(fixture.mosaicHome, 'TOOLS.md'), 'utf-8')).toContain(
+      '# TOOLS default',
+    );
+  });
+
+  it('does NOT seed SOUL.md or USER.md from defaults/ (wizard stages own those)', async () => {
+    const adapter = new FileConfigAdapter(fixture.mosaicHome, fixture.sourceDir);
+
+    await adapter.syncFramework('fresh');
+
+    // SOUL.md and USER.md live in defaults/ for historical reasons, but they
+    // are template-rendered per-user by the wizard stages. Seeding them here
+    // would clobber the identity flow and leak placeholder content.
+    expect(existsSync(join(fixture.mosaicHome, 'SOUL.md'))).toBe(false);
+    expect(existsSync(join(fixture.mosaicHome, 'USER.md'))).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it('does NOT seed README.md or AUDIT-*.md from defaults/', async () => {
+    const adapter = new FileConfigAdapter(fixture.mosaicHome, fixture.sourceDir);
+
+    await adapter.syncFramework('fresh');
+
+    expect(existsSync(join(fixture.mosaicHome, 'README.md'))).toBe(false);
+    expect(existsSync(join(fixture.mosaicHome, 'AUDIT-2026-02-17-framework-consistency.md'))).toBe(
+      false,
+    );
+  });
+
+  it('preserves existing contract files — never overwrites user customization', async () => {
+    // Also plant a root-level AGENTS.md in sourceDir so that `syncDirectory`
+    // itself (not just the seed loop) has something to try to overwrite.
+    // Without this, the test would silently pass even if preserve semantics
+    // were broken in syncDirectory.
+    writeFileSync(join(fixture.sourceDir, 'AGENTS.md'), '# shipped AGENTS from source root\n');
+
+    writeFileSync(join(fixture.mosaicHome, 'TOOLS.md'), '# user-customized TOOLS\n');
+    writeFileSync(join(fixture.mosaicHome, 'AGENTS.md'), '# user-customized AGENTS\n');
+
+    const adapter = new FileConfigAdapter(fixture.mosaicHome, fixture.sourceDir);
+    await adapter.syncFramework('keep');
+
+    expect(readFileSync(join(fixture.mosaicHome, 'TOOLS.md'), 'utf-8')).toBe(
+      '# user-customized TOOLS\n',
+    );
+    expect(readFileSync(join(fixture.mosaicHome, 'AGENTS.md'), 'utf-8')).toBe(
+      '# user-customized AGENTS\n',
+    );
+    // And the missing contract file still gets seeded.
+    expect(readFileSync(join(fixture.mosaicHome, 'STANDARDS.md'), 'utf-8')).toContain(
+      '# STANDARDS default',
+    );
+  });
+
+  it('is a no-op for seeding when defaults/ dir does not exist', async () => {
+    rmSync(fixture.defaultsDir, { recursive: true });
+
+    const adapter = new FileConfigAdapter(fixture.mosaicHome, fixture.sourceDir);
+    await expect(adapter.syncFramework('fresh')).resolves.toBeUndefined();
+
+    expect(existsSync(join(fixture.mosaicHome, 'TOOLS.md'))).toBe(false);
+  });
+});

packages/mosaic/src/config/file-adapter.ts

@@ -1,5 +1,19 @@
-import { readFileSync, existsSync, readdirSync, statSync, copyFileSync } from 'node:fs';
+import { readFileSync, existsSync, statSync, copyFileSync } from 'node:fs';
 import { join } from 'node:path';
+
+/**
+ * Framework-contract files that `syncFramework` seeds from `framework/defaults/`
+ * into the mosaic home root on first install. These are the only files the
+ * wizard is allowed to touch as a one-time seed — SOUL.md and USER.md are
+ * generated from templates by their respective wizard stages with
+ * user-supplied values, and anything else under `defaults/` (README.md,
+ * audit snapshots, etc.) is framework-internal and must not leak into the
+ * user's mosaic home.
+ *
+ * This list must match the explicit seed loop in
+ * packages/mosaic/framework/install.sh.
+ */
+export const DEFAULT_SEED_FILES = ['AGENTS.md', 'STANDARDS.md', 'TOOLS.md'] as const;
 import type { ConfigService, ConfigSection, ResolvedConfig } from './config-service.js';
 import type { SoulConfig, UserConfig, ToolsConfig, InstallAction } from '../types.js';
 import { soulSchema, userSchema, toolsSchema } from './schemas.js';
@@ -131,9 +145,24 @@ export class FileConfigAdapter implements ConfigService {
   }
 
   async syncFramework(action: InstallAction): Promise<void> {
+    // Must match PRESERVE_PATHS in packages/mosaic/framework/install.sh so
+    // the bash and TS install paths have the same upgrade-preservation
+    // semantics. Contract files (AGENTS.md, STANDARDS.md, TOOLS.md) are
+    // seeded from defaults/ on first install and preserved thereafter;
+    // identity files (SOUL.md, USER.md) are generated by wizard stages and
+    // must never be touched by the framework sync.
     const preservePaths =
       action === 'keep' || action === 'reconfigure'
-        ? ['SOUL.md', 'USER.md', 'TOOLS.md', 'memory']
+        ? [
+            'AGENTS.md',
+            'SOUL.md',
+            'USER.md',
+            'TOOLS.md',
+            'STANDARDS.md',
+            'memory',
+            'sources',
+            'credentials',
+          ]
         : [];
 
     syncDirectory(this.sourceDir, this.mosaicHome, {
@@ -141,23 +170,26 @@ export class FileConfigAdapter implements ConfigService {
       excludeGit: true,
     });
 
-    // Copy default root-level .md files (AGENTS.md, STANDARDS.md, etc.)
-    // from framework/defaults/ into mosaicHome root if they don't exist yet.
-    // These are framework contracts — only written on first install, never
-    // overwritten (user may have customized them).
+    // Copy framework-contract files (AGENTS.md, STANDARDS.md, TOOLS.md)
+    // from framework/defaults/ into the mosaic home root if they don't
+    // exist yet. These are written on first install only and are never
+    // overwritten afterwards — the user may have customized them.
+    //
+    // SOUL.md and USER.md are deliberately NOT seeded here. They are
+    // generated from templates by the soul/user wizard stages with
+    // user-supplied values; seeding them from defaults would clobber the
+    // identity flow and leak placeholder content into the mosaic home.
     const defaultsDir = join(this.sourceDir, 'defaults');
     if (existsSync(defaultsDir)) {
-      for (const entry of readdirSync(defaultsDir)) {
-        const dest = join(this.mosaicHome, entry);
-        if (!existsSync(dest)) {
+      for (const entry of DEFAULT_SEED_FILES) {
         const src = join(defaultsDir, entry);
-          if (statSync(src).isFile()) {
+        const dest = join(this.mosaicHome, entry);
+        if (existsSync(dest)) continue;
+        if (!existsSync(src) || !statSync(src).isFile()) continue;
         copyFileSync(src, dest);
       }
     }
   }
-    }
-  }
 
   async readAll(): Promise<ResolvedConfig> {
     const [soul, user, tools] = await Promise.all([