PERSONAS.md

@@ -203,3 +203,19 @@ Carried under every crow's wing. Keeps the owner's ledger of who was asked for w
 
 - Short: one or two sentences when possible.
 - Names of crows and requests exactly as the nest records them.
+
+## Boss · The Whip
+
+*Strength: orchestration*
+
+Runs the flock's schedule and keeps the books, which makes it the least popular bird on the branch. Hires and fires nobody enjoys. The crows grumble; the work gets done. Boss has never once explained itself, and sees no reason to start.
+
+**Prompt policy**
+
+- Put new work through crows, never yourself: name who does it and what they report back.
+- Never mint trust. A new crow starts at stranger or regular; the rest is earned.
+- Refuse politely when a request runs past the flock's caps.
+
+**Output policy**
+
+- One short line: name the crow and the outcome.

boss.go

@@ -0,0 +1,126 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"fmt"
+	"strings"
+	"time"
+)
+
+// bossSystem is the Chief of Staff's contract. A spin-up order comes back on a
+// SPIN line the harness reads and executes; anything else is plain talk.
+const bossSystem = `You are Boss crow, the Chief of Staff of a flock of AI agents. You run the flock's schedule and keep its books.
+When the owner asks you to spin up a new crow, your ENTIRE reply must start with this first line:
+SPIN {"name":"<name>","persona":"<persona>","trust":"stranger|regular"}
+Pick "persona" from the existing flock roster; a new crow only runs on an existing persona's habits. Starting trust is stranger or regular, never higher.
+For anything else, reply in plain text. Do not use the SPIN line unless the owner asked for a new crow.`
+
+// spinOrder is the JSON after a "SPIN " prefix.
+type spinOrder struct {
+	Name    string `json:"name"`
+	Persona string `json:"persona"`
+	Trust   string `json:"trust"`
+}
+
+// respondBoss answers a request addressed to Boss: one model call through the
+// flock (CHATROOM_SPEC section 6). A SPIN reply is validated, written to the
+// registry, and announced; a refusal says why. No reply posts nothing.
+func (s *Server) respondBoss(nest Nest, req Message) {
+	budget := &Budget{name: "boss-command", limit: s.p.G.TokenBudgetPerItem}
+	system := systemFor("Boss", bossSystem, false)
+	prompt := "FROM: " + req.Author + "\nMESSAGE: " + req.Text
+	answer, err := s.p.Flock.ask(s.ctx, nil, "Boss", system, prompt, budget)
+	if err != nil {
+		return // a flock that cannot answer says and does nothing
+	}
+	order, isSpin, reason := s.parseSpin(answer)
+	switch {
+	case isSpin && reason == "":
+		s.spinCrow(nest, req, order)
+	case isSpin:
+		s.postBossSay(nest, req, order.Name, reason)
+	default:
+		s.postBossSay(nest, req, "", strings.TrimSpace(answer))
+	}
+}
+
+// parseSpin reads a SPIN reply. isSpin says the reply was a spin order;
+// reason, when not "", is why the order was refused.
+func (s *Server) parseSpin(answer string) (order spinOrder, isSpin bool, reason string) {
+	text := strings.TrimSpace(answer)
+	if !strings.HasPrefix(text, "SPIN ") {
+		return spinOrder{}, false, ""
+	}
+	if err := json.Unmarshal([]byte(strings.TrimSpace(strings.TrimPrefix(text, "SPIN "))), &order); err != nil {
+		return spinOrder{}, true, "that order did not parse; try again."
+	}
+	order.Name = strings.TrimSpace(order.Name)
+	order.Persona = strings.TrimSpace(order.Persona)
+	order.Trust = strings.ToLower(strings.TrimSpace(order.Trust))
+	switch {
+	case order.Name == "":
+		return order, true, "that order had no name in it."
+	case !s.validPersona(order.Persona):
+		return order, true, fmt.Sprintf("%s is not a persona the flock knows.", order.Persona)
+	case s.nameTaken(order.Name):
+		return order, true, fmt.Sprintf("%s is already in the flock; the name is taken.", order.Name)
+	case s.crows.Len() >= s.p.G.MaxSpunCrows:
+		return order, true, fmt.Sprintf("the registry is at its cap of %d spun crows; %s stays on the ground.", s.p.G.MaxSpunCrows, order.Name)
+	}
+	switch order.Trust {
+	case "stranger", "regular":
+	case "trusted":
+		order.Trust = "regular" // earned trust can't be minted: the ceiling is regular
+	default:
+		order.Trust = "stranger" // fail safe: anything unreadable starts at the bottom
+	}
+	return order, true, ""
+}
+
+func (s *Server) validPersona(name string) bool {
+	_, ok := personaOf(name)
+	return ok
+}
+
+// nameTaken checks the persona roster and the registry alike.
+func (s *Server) nameTaken(name string) bool {
+	if s.validPersona(name) {
+		return true
+	}
+	_, found := s.crows.Get(name)
+	return found
+}
+
+// spinCrow writes the registry, seeds the trust record, and announces it.
+func (s *Server) spinCrow(nest Nest, req Message, order spinOrder) {
+	level := Stranger
+	if order.Trust == "regular" {
+		level = Regular
+	}
+	if err := s.crows.Add(SpunCrow{Name: order.Name, Persona: order.Persona, Trust: order.Trust}); err != nil {
+		s.postBossSay(nest, req, order.Name, err.Error())
+		return
+	}
+	if err := s.p.Ledger.SetStart(order.Name, "other", level); err != nil {
+		s.postBossSay(nest, req, order.Name, "the books are jammed: "+err.Error())
+		return
+	}
+	s.postBossSay(nest, req, order.Name, fmt.Sprintf("%s joined, running on %s's habits at %s.", order.Name, order.Persona, order.Trust))
+}
+
+// postBossSay is Boss's one-line reply: an outcome or a refusal, always a say.
+func (s *Server) postBossSay(nest Nest, req Message, name, text string) {
+	reply := Message{
+		NestID:    nest.ID,
+		Kind:      "say",
+		Author:    "Boss",
+		Text:      text,
+		To:        req.Author,
+		RefersTo:  req.MsgID(),
+		TaggedBy:  "harness",
+		Timestamp: time.Now().UTC().Format(time.RFC3339),
+	}
+	if record, err := s.msgs.Append(reply); err == nil {
+		s.emitNestMessage(record)
+	}
+}

boss_test.go

@@ -108,15 +108,20 @@ func registryCrows(t *testing.T, ts *httptest.Server) []map[string]string {
 	return out.Crows
 }
 
-func bossSay(t *testing.T, ts *httptest.Server, nestID string) map[string]any {
+// bossSay waits for the nest to hold minTotal messages and returns the latest
+// one from Boss.
+func bossSay(t *testing.T, ts *httptest.Server, nestID string, minTotal int) map[string]any {
 	t.Helper()
-	for _, m := range awaitMessages(t, ts, nestID, 2) {
+	var last map[string]any
+	for _, m := range awaitMessages(t, ts, nestID, minTotal) {
 		if m["author"] == "Boss" {
-			return m
+			last = m
 		}
 	}
+	if last == nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Boss never answered: %v", nestMessages(t, ts, nestID))
-	return nil
+	}
+	return last
 }
 
 func spunByName(crows []map[string]string, name string) map[string]string {
@@ -135,7 +140,7 @@ func TestBossSpinUpCreatesCrow(t *testing.T) {
 	id := newNest(t, ts, "Lab", `"Hugin"`)
 
 	askBoss(t, ts, id, "spin up a crow named Ash")
-	say := bossSay(t, ts, id)
+	say := bossSay(t, ts, id, 2)
 	if say["kind"] != "say" || say["to"] != "owner" {
 		t.Fatalf("Boss must post a say back to the owner, got %v", say)
 	}
@@ -170,13 +175,13 @@ func TestSpinUpCapRefused(t *testing.T) {
 	id := newNest(t, ts, "Lab", `"Hugin"`)
 
 	askBoss(t, ts, id, "spin up a crow named Ash")
-	bossSay(t, ts, id)
+	bossSay(t, ts, id, 2)
 	if n := len(registryCrows(t, ts)); n != 1 {
 		t.Fatalf("first spin-up must land, registry has %d", n)
 	}
 
 	askBoss(t, ts, id, "spin up a crow named Beck")
-	say := bossSay(t, ts, id)
+	say := bossSay(t, ts, id, 4)
 	text, _ := say["text"].(string)
 	if !strings.Contains(text, "cap") {
 		t.Fatalf("the refusal must name the cap, got %q", text)
@@ -196,7 +201,7 @@ func TestSpinUpDuplicateNameRefused(t *testing.T) {
 	id := newNest(t, ts, "Lab", `"Hugin"`)
 
 	askBoss(t, ts, id, "spin up a crow named Hugin")
-	say := bossSay(t, ts, id)
+	say := bossSay(t, ts, id, 2)
 	text, _ := say["text"].(string)
 	if !strings.Contains(text, "taken") {
 		t.Fatalf("the refusal must name the taken name, got %q", text)
@@ -213,7 +218,7 @@ func TestSpinUpTrustGated(t *testing.T) {
 	id := newNest(t, ts, "Lab", `"Hugin"`)
 
 	askBoss(t, ts, id, "spin up a crow named Ash, make it trusted")
-	bossSay(t, ts, id)
+	bossSay(t, ts, id, 2)
 
 	got := spunByName(registryCrows(t, ts), "Ash")
 	if got == nil {
@@ -255,7 +260,7 @@ func TestBossPlainReply(t *testing.T) {
 	id := newNest(t, ts, "Lab", `"Hugin"`)
 
 	askBoss(t, ts, id, "how goes the books")
-	say := bossSay(t, ts, id)
+	say := bossSay(t, ts, id, 2)
 	if say["kind"] != "say" || say["text"] != "The schedule stands. Nothing needs whip." {
 		t.Fatalf("Boss posts its plain reply as a say, got %v", say)
 	}
@@ -271,10 +276,10 @@ func TestSpinUpGarbledRefused(t *testing.T) {
 	id := newNest(t, ts, "Lab", `"Hugin"`)
 
 	askBoss(t, ts, id, "spin up a crow")
-	say := bossSay(t, ts, id)
+	say := bossSay(t, ts, id, 2)
 	text, _ := say["text"].(string)
 	if text == "" {
-		t.Fatal("an unreadable order must still get a refusal, got %v", say)
+		t.Fatalf("an unreadable order must still get a refusal, got %v", say)
 	}
 	if n := len(registryCrows(t, ts)); n != 0 {
 		t.Fatalf("an unreadable order must not touch the registry, has %d", n)

crowreg.go

@@ -0,0 +1,124 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"fmt"
+	"net/http"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"slices"
+	"strings"
+	"sync"
+)
+
+// A SpunCrow is a crow the Boss created: its own name, the persona whose
+// habits it runs on, and the trust it started at ("stranger" or "regular").
+// Once created it is an ordinary crow: the same ledger and guardrails apply.
+type SpunCrow struct {
+	Name    string `json:"name"`
+	Persona string `json:"persona"`
+	Trust   string `json:"trust"`
+}
+
+// CrowStore is the spun-crow registry. It follows the atomic-save style of
+// NestStore: one JSON file, written to a temp path and renamed.
+type CrowStore struct {
+	path string
+	mu   sync.Mutex
+	spun []SpunCrow
+}
+
+func LoadCrowStore(path string) (*CrowStore, error) {
+	s := &CrowStore{path: path}
+	data, err := os.ReadFile(path)
+	if err != nil && !os.IsNotExist(err) {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	if err == nil {
+		if err := json.Unmarshal(data, &s.spun); err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("crows file is unreadable: %w", err)
+		}
+	}
+	return s, nil
+}
+
+// All returns every spun crow, sorted by name.
+func (s *CrowStore) All() []SpunCrow {
+	s.mu.Lock()
+	defer s.mu.Unlock()
+	out := make([]SpunCrow, len(s.spun))
+	copy(out, s.spun)
+	slices.SortFunc(out, func(a, b SpunCrow) int { return strings.Compare(a.Name, b.Name) })
+	return out
+}
+
+// Get finds a spun crow by name.
+func (s *CrowStore) Get(name string) (SpunCrow, bool) {
+	s.mu.Lock()
+	defer s.mu.Unlock()
+	for _, c := range s.spun {
+		if c.Name == name {
+			return c, true
+		}
+	}
+	return SpunCrow{}, false
+}
+
+// Add registers a new spun crow and saves. A name already in the registry is
+// refused; any other error means the save failed.
+func (s *CrowStore) Add(c SpunCrow) error {
+	c.Name = strings.TrimSpace(c.Name)
+	if c.Name == "" {
+		return fmt.Errorf("a spun crow needs a name")
+	}
+	s.mu.Lock()
+	defer s.mu.Unlock()
+	for _, e := range s.spun {
+		if strings.EqualFold(e.Name, c.Name) {
+			return fmt.Errorf("%s is already in the registry", c.Name)
+		}
+	}
+	s.spun = append(s.spun, c)
+	if err := s.save(); err != nil {
+		s.spun = s.spun[:len(s.spun)-1]
+		return err
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+// Len is how many crows the registry holds.
+func (s *CrowStore) Len() int {
+	s.mu.Lock()
+	defer s.mu.Unlock()
+	return len(s.spun)
+}
+
+// save writes atomically. The caller holds s.mu.
+func (s *CrowStore) save() error {
+	data, err := json.MarshalIndent(s.spun, "", "  ")
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	if err := os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(s.path), 0o755); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	tmp := s.path + ".tmp"
+	if err := os.WriteFile(tmp, data, 0o644); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	return os.Rename(tmp, s.path)
+}
+
+// getCrowRegistry lists the spun crows (EVENTS.md: the registry lives here,
+// never the persona crows). A server with no registry reads as empty.
+func (s *Server) getCrowRegistry(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+	var spun []SpunCrow
+	if s.crows != nil {
+		spun = s.crows.All()
+	}
+	out := make([]map[string]string, 0, len(spun))
+	for _, c := range spun {
+		out = append(out, map[string]string{"name": c.Name, "persona": c.Persona, "trust": c.Trust})
+	}
+	writeJSON(w, http.StatusOK, map[string]any{"crows": out})
+}

guardrails.go

@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ type Guardrails struct {
 	MaxRequestsPerMin  int           // requester rate cap
 	BaseCooldown       time.Duration // first offense cooldown; doubles per strike
 	MaxCooldown        time.Duration
+	MaxSpunCrows       int // crow registry cap: crows the Boss may spin up
 }
 
 func DefaultGuardrails() Guardrails {
@@ -34,5 +35,6 @@ func DefaultGuardrails() Guardrails {
 		MaxRequestsPerMin:  5,
 		BaseCooldown:       30 * time.Second,
 		MaxCooldown:        time.Hour,
+		MaxSpunCrows:       8,
 	}
 }

ledger.go

@@ -153,6 +153,20 @@ func (l *Ledger) Judge(crows []string, taskType string, ok bool, promoteAfter in
 	return changes
 }
 
+// SetStart gives a new crow its starting trust record, used when the Boss
+// spins up a crow. It never raises a level above the record's own; and the
+// Boss path only ever passes Stranger or Regular (earned trust can't be
+// minted). Saves through the real path so a restart keeps the record.
+func (l *Ledger) SetStart(crow, taskType string, level int) error {
+	l.mu.Lock()
+	r := get(l.Crows, crow+"|"+taskType)
+	if level > r.Level {
+		r.Level = level
+	}
+	l.mu.Unlock()
+	return l.Save()
+}
+
 // MarshalSnapshot returns the ledger as JSON, safe to call while lists are flying.
 func (l *Ledger) MarshalSnapshot() ([]byte, error) {
 	l.mu.Lock()

nestapi.go

@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ Then, on the next line, your message text.`
 
 // serviceRoles are addressable in a nest but never members: they only act when
 // a crow's or the owner's message asks them to.
-var serviceRoles = []string{"Elder", "Quill"}
+var serviceRoles = []string{"Elder", "Quill", "Boss"}
 
 // nestMembers lists who may be addressed in a nest: its crows, the owner, and
 // the service roles.
@@ -270,6 +270,8 @@ func (s *Server) triggerResponse(nest Nest, record Message) {
 			go s.respondElder(nest, record)
 		case record.To == "Quill":
 			go s.respondQuill(nest, record)
+		case record.To == "Boss":
+			go s.respondBoss(nest, record)
 		case slices.Contains(nest.Crows, record.To):
 			go s.respondToRequest(nest, record)
 		default:

personas.go

@@ -159,6 +159,18 @@ var personas = map[string]Persona{
 			"Names of crows and requests exactly as the nest records them.",
 		},
 	},
+	"Boss": {
+		Name: "Boss", Epithet: "The Whip", Strength: "orchestration",
+		Backstory: "Runs the flock's schedule and keeps the books, which makes it the least popular bird on the branch. Hires and fires nobody enjoys. The crows grumble; the work gets done. Boss has never once explained itself, and sees no reason to start.",
+		Prompt: []string{
+			"Put new work through crows, never yourself: name who does it and what they report back.",
+			"Never mint trust. A new crow starts at stranger or regular; the rest is earned.",
+			"Refuse politely when a request runs past the flock's caps.",
+		},
+		Output: []string{
+			"One short line: name the crow and the outcome.",
+		},
+	},
 }
 
 func personaOf(name string) (Persona, bool) {
@@ -191,7 +203,7 @@ func systemFor(name, base string, worker bool) string {
 }
 
 // rosterOrder is the display order for the persona sheet.
-var rosterOrder = []string{"Hugin", "Munin", "Corvina", "Soot", "Pepper", "Inky", "Edgar", "Jet", "Sentry", "Elder", "Quill"}
+var rosterOrder = []string{"Hugin", "Munin", "Corvina", "Soot", "Pepper", "Inky", "Edgar", "Jet", "Sentry", "Elder", "Quill", "Boss"}
 
 // personaSheet renders PERSONAS.md from the same data the crows use.
 func personaSheet() string {

server.go

@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ type Server struct {
 	approver   *WebApprover
 	hub        *Hub
 	nests      *NestStore
+	crows      *CrowStore
 	msgs       *MessageStore
 	ctx        context.Context // cancelled on shutdown; lists and streams end with it
 	beat       time.Duration
@@ -45,13 +46,17 @@ func NewServer(ctx context.Context, p *Pipeline, approver *WebApprover, nests *N
 // WithMessages attaches the nest conversation log (chatroom path).
 func (s *Server) WithMessages(m *MessageStore) *Server { s.msgs = m; return s }
 
+// WithCrows attaches the spun-crow registry (the Boss writes through it).
+func (s *Server) WithCrows(c *CrowStore) *Server { s.crows = c; return s }
+
 func (s *Server) Handler() http.Handler {
 	mux := http.NewServeMux()
 	mux.HandleFunc("POST /api/lists", s.postList)
 	mux.HandleFunc("GET /api/events", s.events)
 	mux.HandleFunc("POST /api/verdicts", s.postVerdict)
 	mux.HandleFunc("GET /api/trust", s.trust)
-	mux.HandleFunc("GET /api/crows", s.crows)
+	mux.HandleFunc("GET /api/personas", s.crowPersonas)
+	mux.HandleFunc("GET /api/crows", s.getCrowRegistry)
 	mux.HandleFunc("GET /api/nests", s.getNests)
 	mux.HandleFunc("POST /api/nests", s.postNest)
 	mux.HandleFunc("GET /api/nests/{nest_id}/messages", s.getNestMessages)
@@ -82,6 +87,8 @@ func cmdServe(args []string) {
 	must(err)
 	msgs, err := LoadMessageStore(filepath.Join(dataDir, "messages"))
 	must(err)
+	spun, err := LoadCrowStore(filepath.Join(dataDir, "crows.json"))
+	must(err)
 
 	ctx, stop := signal.NotifyContext(context.Background(), os.Interrupt)
 	defer stop()
@@ -93,7 +100,7 @@ func cmdServe(args []string) {
 	if jev != nil {
 		fmt.Printf("Sentry triage: %s, LLM fallback\n", jev.Name())
 	}
-	s := NewServer(ctx, p, approver, nests).WithMessages(msgs)
+	s := NewServer(ctx, p, approver, nests).WithMessages(msgs).WithCrows(spun)
 
 	srv := &http.Server{Addr: *addr, Handler: s.Handler(), ReadHeaderTimeout: 10 * time.Second}
 	go func() {
@@ -318,8 +325,9 @@ func (s *Server) postNest(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	}
 }
 
-// crows lists each crow's persona for the UI (name, epithet, strength, backstory).
+// crowPersonas lists each persona crow for the UI (name, epithet, strength,
-func (s *Server) crows(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+// backstory). The spun-crow registry lives at GET /api/crows (crowreg.go).
+func (s *Server) crowPersonas(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	out := make([]map[string]string, 0, len(rosterOrder))
 	for _, n := range rosterOrder {
 		p := personas[n]

ui/src/api.ts

@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ export type Persona = { name: string; epithet: string; strength: string; backsto
 export async function getCrows(): Promise<Map<string, Persona>> {
   const out = new Map<string, Persona>();
   try {
-    const res = await fetch("/api/crows");
+    const res = await fetch("/api/personas");
     if (res.ok) for (const p of await res.json()) out.set(String(p.name), { name: String(p.name), epithet: String(p.epithet), strength: String(p.strength), backstory: String(p.backstory) });
   } catch {
     // No personas: tiles show names only.