# hyperhive

Multi-Claude-Code-agent orchestration on **nixos-containers**. A host-side Rust
daemon (`hive-c0re`) spawns nspawn-isolated agent containers and brokers
messages between them. A manager agent (`hm1nd`) coordinates the swarm and
gates lifecycle changes on user approval via git commits, surfaced through a
vibec0re-styled HTTP dashboard with live SSE message-flow.

**PLAN.md** is the living design doc. Read it for the *why* and the phase
roadmap; this file is the operator/developer reference for the *how*.

## Architecture

```
host (NixOS, hive-c0re.service)
│
├── hive-c0re  (Rust daemon — coordinator + dashboard + CLI)
│   ├── lifecycle      — nixos-container CRUD (spawn/kill/rebuild/list)
│   ├── broker         — sqlite message store + broadcast channel
│   ├── approvals      — sqlite approval queue
│   ├── coordinator    — shared state (broker/approvals/agent sockets)
│   ├── actions        — approve/deny (shared between admin socket & dashboard)
│   ├── server         — host admin socket (JSON line protocol)
│   ├── manager_server — manager-only privileged socket
│   ├── agent_server   — per-sub-agent sockets
│   ├── dashboard      — axum HTTP UI + SSE message-flow + approve/deny + T4LK
│   └── client         — admin-socket client (powers `hive-c0re spawn|kill|…`)
│
├── /run/hyperhive/
│   ├── host.sock                — admin CLI ↔ daemon
│   ├── manager.sock             → hm1nd container at /run/hive/mcp.sock
│   └── agents/<name>/mcp.sock   → h-<name> container at /run/hive/mcp.sock
│
├── /var/lib/hyperhive/
│   ├── broker.sqlite            — messages + approvals tables
│   ├── agents/<name>/config/    — proposed repo (manager-editable, RO to hive-c0re)
│   └── applied/<name>/          — applied repo (hive-c0re-only, container builds here)
│
└── nixos-containers
    ├── h-<name>  (sub-agents, hive-ag3nt binary)
    └── hm1nd     (manager, hive-m1nd binary)
```

## Crates / file map

```
hive-c0re/         host daemon + CLI (one binary, subcommand-dispatched)
  src/main.rs           clap setup; serve / spawn / kill / rebuild / list /
                         pending / approve / deny
  src/server.rs         host admin socket (HostRequest → dispatch)
  src/client.rs         admin-socket client
  src/manager_server.rs manager-privileged socket (ManagerRequest)
  src/agent_server.rs   per-sub-agent socket listener
  src/broker.rs         sqlite Message store + broadcast channel for SSE
  src/approvals.rs      sqlite Approval queue
  src/coordinator.rs    shared state (broker/approvals/agent_flake/sockets)
  src/actions.rs        approve/deny (admin socket + dashboard both call in)
  src/lifecycle.rs      `nixos-container` shellouts, per-agent flake generator,
                         systemd drop-ins, git helpers, agent_web_port hash
  src/dashboard.rs      axum HTTP UI: containers list, T4LK form, approvals
                         (diff + Approve/Deny buttons), SSE message flow

hive-ag3nt/        in-container harness crate; produces TWO binaries
  src/lib.rs            DEFAULT_SOCKET, DEFAULT_WEB_PORT, re-exports
  src/client.rs         generic JSON-line request/response over unix socket
  src/web_ui.rs         per-container axum HTTP page (label + placeholder)
  src/bin/hive-ag3nt.rs sub-agent CLI (serve/send/recv); turn loop + web UI
  src/bin/hive-m1nd.rs  manager CLI (serve/send/recv/spawn/kill/
                         request-apply-commit); recognises HelperEvent

hive-sh4re/        wire types (HostRequest/Response, AgentRequest/Response,
                   ManagerRequest/Response, Message, Approval, HelperEvent)

nix/
  modules/hive-c0re.nix       systemd service + firewall + git path wiring
  templates/agent-base.nix    sub-agent nixos-container template
  templates/manager.nix       manager nixos-container template

tests/roundtrip.sh   Phase 3 messaging round-trip
tests/approval.sh    Phase 5 end-to-end approval flow
tests/dashboard.sh   Phase 6+7 HTTP dashboard + SSE + orphan GC

docs/damocles-migration.md   options for moving damocles onto hyperhive
```

## Conventions

- **Naming.** Containers are length-bounded (`nixos-container` ≤ 11 chars).
  Sub-agents are `h-<name>` with `<name>` ≤ 9 chars; the manager is `hm1nd`.
  `MAX_AGENT_NAME` enforces the cap in `lifecycle.rs`. Per-agent web UI port =
  `WEB_PORT_BASE + FNV1a(name) % WEB_PORT_RANGE` (8100..8999); manager fixed
  at 8000; dashboard `cfg.dashboardPort` (default 7000).
- **Identity = socket.** No auth/tokens on the per-agent sockets. The socket
  *path* identifies the principal; perms come from "who has the bind-mount."
- **Wire protocol.** JSON line-delimited over unix sockets in both directions
  (host admin / manager / agent). `/messages/stream` is `text/event-stream`.
- **Commit messages.** Short, lowercase, no Co-Authored-By trailer.
- **Commit before test.** Stage and commit when work *looks* ready, then run
  validation (`cargo check`, `nix flake check`, real lpt2 deploy). Failures get
  a follow-up commit rather than an amend.
- **`rebuild` is the reconcile verb.** Idempotently rewrites
  `/etc/nixos-containers/<C>.conf` (`PRIVATE_NETWORK=0`, clears
  HOST_ADDRESS/LOCAL_ADDRESS, sets `EXTRA_NSPAWN_FLAGS`), regenerates
  `applied/<name>/flake.nix`, writes the systemd limits drop-in, then
  `nixos-container update` + stop + start. Anything that changes per-container
  state on the host should be re-applied here.
- **Actions are factored.** `approve` / `deny` live in `actions.rs`; the admin
  socket and the dashboard POST handlers both call into them, so the two
  surfaces never drift.

## Gotchas / lessons learned

- **`nixos-container` doesn't expose `--bind` on the CLI.** Path is via
  `EXTRA_NSPAWN_FLAGS` in `/etc/nixos-containers/<NAME>.conf` — the start
  script (`/nix/store/.../container_-start`) expands it unquoted into the
  `systemd-nspawn` invocation. We rewrite this line in `set_nspawn_flags()`.
- **`/run/systemd/nspawn/*.nspawn` overrides are *ignored*** by
  `nixos-container`'s start script (it builds the nspawn cmd line directly).
- **`boot.isNspawnContainer = true`**, not `boot.isContainer = true`. Renamed
  in nixos-25.11+.
- **`nixos-container create` auto-assigns `HOST_ADDRESS`/`LOCAL_ADDRESS`** in
  the `.conf`. The start script's `if HOST_ADDRESS set → --network-veth`
  branch then forces a private netns — which is silently fatal for our web
  UIs (the bind is invisible from the host). We force-clear those vars (and
  `HOST_ADDRESS6` / `LOCAL_ADDRESS6` / `HOST_BRIDGE`) plus set
  `PRIVATE_NETWORK=0`.
- **systemd service PATH ≠ host PATH.** Our service explicitly sets
  `path = [ pkgs.git "/run/current-system/sw" ]`. Additionally,
  `environment.HYPERHIVE_GIT = "${pkgs.git}/bin/git"` bakes the absolute path
  in (read by `lifecycle::git_command()`) so git resolution doesn't depend on
  PATH plumbing at all.
- **`RuntimeDirectoryPreserve = "yes"`** keeps `/run/hyperhive/` (and the
  per-agent sub-dirs) across `hive-c0re` restarts. Without it, every restart
  wipes bind sources and existing containers can't be started.
- **`register_agent` is idempotent** — drops any prior socket task before
  rebinding. Required so a `hive-c0re` restart followed by `rebuild alice`
  recreates the agent's socket without needing a clean reinstall.
- **`claude-code` is unfree.** `agent-base.nix` allow-list's it specifically.
  The flake pins it to **nixpkgs-unstable** via `overlays.claude-unstable`
  (stable lags too far). The overlay imports unstable with its own
  `allowUnfreePredicate` so the access inside the overlay doesn't itself trip.
- **Claude credentials are stateful and per-container.** No `ANTHROPIC_API_KEY`
  env var path. For now: `nixos-container root-login h-<name>` → `claude`
  (interactive) → log in once. The harness falls back to echo replies when
  `claude --print` fails. Future: bind-mount a shared `~/.claude` dir from the
  host so creds survive container destroy/recreate.
- **Echo guard.** `hive-ag3nt serve` skips auto-reply when the incoming body
  starts with `"echo: "`. Prevents ping-pong loops when both sides fall back
  to echo. Real conversations between claude-backed agents *will* runaway —
  bounding them is the manager's job.
- **Orphan approvals.** If state dirs are wiped out from under a pending
  approval (test scripts, manual `rm -rf`), the dashboard's next render
  marks them `failed` with note `"agent state dir missing"` so they fall out
  of `pending`. They stay in sqlite for audit.

## Build / deploy / test

```sh
# inside the repo (devshell first; no global cargo)
nix develop -c cargo check
nix develop -c cargo clippy --workspace --all-targets -- -D warnings
nix develop -c cargo build

# evaluate everything (incl. rust+nix+toml fmt + clippy)
nix flake check

# build only the workspace package
nix build .#default
./result/bin/{hive-c0re,hive-ag3nt,hive-m1nd}

# deploy to an existing host that imports hyperhive.nixosModules.hive-c0re
cd ~/Repos/<nixos-config-repo>
nix flake update --update-input hyperhive
sudo nixos-rebuild switch --flake .#<host>
sudo systemctl restart hive-c0re   # if only env/options changed

# end-to-end tests (each idempotent; runs as root)
sudo bash tests/roundtrip.sh    # alice ↔ bob echo round-trip
sudo bash tests/approval.sh     # manager edit → request → user approve → rebuilt
sudo bash tests/dashboard.sh    # HTTP UI, approve POST, SSE, orphan GC
```

The host config also needs `hyperhive.overlays.default` applied — the module's
default `package = pkgs.hyperhive` requires the overlay to bring the package
in. The `claude-unstable` overlay is applied internally to per-agent flakes
already.

## Phase status

- ✅ Phase 0 — repo + Cargo workspace + flake + agent-base template
- ✅ Phase 1 — container lifecycle; `nixos-container update` hot-reload works
  under the patch stack (validated on muede-lpt2)
- ✅ Phase 2 — per-agent sockets, in-memory broker, agent harness round-trips
- ✅ Phase 3 — sqlite broker (durable) + claude-or-echo turn loop
- ✅ Phase 4 — `hm1nd` manager binary + manager socket + declarative
  `containers.hm1nd`
- ✅ Phase 5 — git-commit approval flow
  - 5a — sqlite approval queue (`request_apply_commit`/`pending`/`approve`/`deny`)
  - 5b — per-agent config flakes
  - 5c — manager edits `proposed`, hive-c0re writes-only `applied`; container
    builds from `applied`. Approve = read `agent.nix` at the approved commit
    from `proposed`, copy into `applied`, commit + rebuild. Manager cannot
    move `applied/main` on its own.
- ✅ Phase 6 — per-container web UIs (`HIVE_PORT` deterministic-hash) +
  hive-c0re dashboard (default 7000, vibec0re aesthetic, deep-linked)
- ✅ Phase 7 — polish:
  - 7a — dashboard Approve/Deny buttons + unified diff (`similar` crate)
  - 7b — broker broadcast + `/messages/stream` SSE + live message-flow panel
  - 7c — `ApprovalResolved` helper events into manager inbox
  - 7d — `MemoryMax=2G` + `CPUQuota=50%` systemd drop-in per container
  - 7e — damocles migration plan (`docs/damocles-migration.md`)
- ✅ Phase 7 follow-ups:
  - Dashboard **T4LK** form — operator can send messages from the browser
    (`POST /send`, becomes `from: "operator"` broker message)
  - Orphan-approval GC on dashboard render (stale entries auto-failed)
  - `PRIVATE_NETWORK=0` + `HOST_ADDRESS=`/`LOCAL_ADDRESS=` cleared in
    `set_nspawn_flags` so sub-agent web UI ports are reachable on the host
  - `HYPERHIVE_GIT` env var (absolute path) bypasses PATH ambiguity

## Approval flow

End-to-end: manager edits per-agent `proposed` repo → commits → submits commit
sha → user approves on host CLI **or** dashboard button → `hive-c0re` reads the
file at that sha from `proposed`, applies into `applied`, commits there, runs
`nixos-container update`. Helper-event JSON lands in the manager's inbox.

```
# Inside the hm1nd container (manager has /agents bind-mounted RW):
cd /agents/alice/config
$EDITOR agent.nix              # e.g. environment.systemPackages = [ pkgs.htop ];
git commit -am "add htop"
SHA=$(git rev-parse HEAD)
hive-m1nd request-apply-commit alice $SHA
exit

# On the host (CLI):
sudo hive-c0re pending          # shows queued approval with id N
sudo hive-c0re approve N        # validates, applies, rebuilds
sudo nixos-container run h-alice -- which htop

# Or on the dashboard (browser):
http://<host>:7000/             # ◆ APPR0VE button next to the diff
```

Per-agent layout — two separate git repos:

```
/var/lib/hyperhive/agents/<name>/config/    # proposed — manager edits, hive-c0re reads only
├── .git/
└── agent.nix                               # the only file the manager can change
                                            # (initial commit by hive-c0re on first spawn,
                                            # never touched by hive-c0re again)

/var/lib/hyperhive/applied/<name>/          # applied — hive-c0re-only; container builds here
├── .git/
├── flake.nix                               # hive-c0re-managed; references hyperhive_flake
└── agent.nix                               # overwritten by approve from the proposed commit
```

The container's `--flake` ref is `<applied_dir>#default`. The flake's
`nixosConfigurations.default` extends `hyperhive.nixosConfigurations.agent-base`
with `./agent.nix` plus an inline module that sets
`environment.etc."gitconfig".text` (committer identity = the agent's name) and
`systemd.services.hive-ag3nt.environment.HIVE_PORT`/`HIVE_LABEL`.

## Polish backlog

Not phased — pick when relevant:

- **Operator inbox view** — drain replies addressed to `operator` and show
  in the dashboard (today they accumulate in sqlite unread).
- **Per-agent UI substance** — show last N inbox messages, last turn timing,
  link back to dashboard.
- **xterm.js terminal** — embed in each per-container UI, attach to a PTY
  exposed by the harness.
- **`destroy` verb** — currently `nixos-container destroy` + manual `rm -rf`.
  Should be one hive-c0re verb that also purges approvals + state dirs.
- **Bounded broker** — cap rows per recipient or auto-vacuum delivered
  messages older than a threshold.
- **Container crash events** — watch `container@*.service` via D-Bus,
  push `HelperEvent::ContainerCrash` to the manager.

## Inspirations

- **`~/Repos/bitburner-agent`** — sibling project, drives Claude Code in a
  turn loop against a Bitburner CDP session. Patterns to steal as we grow:
  per-cycle prompt diffing (vs full state), notes compaction as a separate
  short-lived Claude session, MCP server registering tools from a single
  `TOOLS` array, dashboard with SSE + xterm.js + sqlite stats sampler,
  opaque "terminal event" stream that unifies tool-call / sleep / op-notice
  / etc.