release: prepare v0.3.4

docs(release): point consumers to release notes
fix(release): execute publication request safely
2026-09-10 21:07:10 +05:30 · 2026-09-10 20:05:37 +05:30 · 2026-09-10 20:04:29 +05:30 · 2026-09-10 20:02:19 +05:30 · 2026-09-10 19:43:32 +05:30 · 2026-09-10 13:28:05 +05:30
36 changed files with 1526 additions and 125 deletions
@@ -21,6 +21,25 @@ jobs:
    steps:
      - uses: actions/checkout@v4

+      - name: Validate release tag and notes
+        run: |
+          set -euo pipefail
+          VERSION="$(sed -n 's/^version = "\(.*\)"/\1/p' pyproject.toml)"
+          if [ -z "${VERSION}" ]; then
+            echo "::error::could not determine the project version"
+            exit 1
+          fi
+          if [ "${GITHUB_EVENT_NAME}" != "workflow_dispatch" ]; then
+            EXPECTED_TAG="v${VERSION}"
+            ACTUAL_TAG="${GITHUB_REF#refs/tags/}"
+            if [ "${ACTUAL_TAG}" != "${EXPECTED_TAG}" ]; then
+              echo "::error::tag ${ACTUAL_TAG} does not match ${EXPECTED_TAG}"
+              exit 1
+            fi
+          fi
+          python3 scripts/extract_changelog.py CHANGELOG.md "${VERSION}" \
+            --footer packaging/release-footer.md > "${RUNNER_TEMP}/release-body.md"
+
      - name: Set up Python
        uses: actions/setup-python@v5
        with:
@@ -144,20 +163,44 @@ jobs:
        env:
          GITEA_PUBLISH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITEAPACKAGETOKEN }}
        run: |
-          VERSION=${{ steps.version.outputs.version }}
-          # Check if release already exists (idempotent re-runs)
-          EXISTING=$(curl -s -o /dev/null -w '%{http_code}' \
-            -H "Authorization: token ${GITEA_PUBLISH_TOKEN}" \
-            "https://git.bongbetic.com/api/v1/repos/xavierk/Fenris/releases/tags/v${VERSION}")
-          if [ "$EXISTING" = "200" ]; then
-            echo "Release v${VERSION} already exists, skipping creation"
-          else
-            curl --fail -X POST \
-              -H "Authorization: token ${GITEA_PUBLISH_TOKEN}" \
-              -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-              -d "{\"tag_name\":\"v${VERSION}\",\"name\":\"v${VERSION}\"}" \
-              "https://git.bongbetic.com/api/v1/repos/xavierk/Fenris/releases"
+          set -euo pipefail
+          if [ -z "${GITEA_PUBLISH_TOKEN}" ]; then
+            echo "::error::GITEAPACKAGETOKEN repository secret is not configured"
+            exit 1
          fi
+          VERSION=${{ steps.version.outputs.version }}
+          RELEASE_BODY="${RUNNER_TEMP}/release-body.md"
+          if [ ! -s "${RELEASE_BODY}" ]; then
+            echo "::error::validated release body is missing or empty"
+            exit 1
+          fi
+          EXISTING_RELEASE="${RUNNER_TEMP}/existing-release.json"
+          EXISTING=$(curl --silent --show-error -o "${EXISTING_RELEASE}" -w '%{http_code}' \
+            -H "Authorization: token ${GITEA_PUBLISH_TOKEN}" \
+            "https://git.bongbetic.com/api/v1/repos/xavierk/Fenris/releases/tags/v${VERSION}" || true)
+          case "${EXISTING}" in
+            200)
+              echo "Release v${VERSION} exists; resynchronizing its notes"
+              REQUEST="$(python3 scripts/release_request.py --version "${VERSION}" \
+                --body-file "${RELEASE_BODY}" --existing-release "${EXISTING_RELEASE}")"
+              ;;
+            404)
+              REQUEST="$(python3 scripts/release_request.py --version "${VERSION}" \
+                --body-file "${RELEASE_BODY}")"
+              ;;
+            *)
+              echo "::error::release lookup failed with HTTP ${EXISTING}"
+              exit 1
+              ;;
+          esac
+          METHOD="$(printf '%s' "${REQUEST}" | python3 -c "import json,sys; print(json.load(sys.stdin)['method'])")"
+          RELEASE_PATH="$(printf '%s' "${REQUEST}" | python3 -c "import json,sys; print(json.load(sys.stdin)['path'])")"
+          PAYLOAD="$(printf '%s' "${REQUEST}" | python3 -c "import json,sys; print(json.dumps(json.load(sys.stdin)['payload']))")"
+          curl --fail --silent --show-error -X "${METHOD}" \
+            -H "Authorization: token ${GITEA_PUBLISH_TOKEN}" \
+            -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
+            -d "${PAYLOAD}" \
+            "https://git.bongbetic.com/api/v1/repos/xavierk/Fenris${RELEASE_PATH}"

      - name: Attach artifacts to release
        env:
@@ -10,6 +10,11 @@ plan-dash-changes.md

 # Packaging build artifacts
 build/
-dist/*.deb
-dist/*.rpm
-dist/SHA256SUMS*
+dist/
+
+# Local tooling
+graphify-out/
+json
+src/fenris.egg-info/
+.pytest_cache/
+.venv/
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+# Changelog
+
+<!--
+Maintainers add one user-facing entry to Unreleased with each change. A release
+commit bumps pyproject.toml, renames Unreleased to that bare-semver version and
+an ISO date, then restores an empty Unreleased section; tag that commit. Do not
+backfill releases from before this changelog.
+-->
+
+## [Unreleased]
+
+## [0.3.4] - 2026-09-10
+
+### Added
+
+- Add Fenris identity and a polkit authentication notice to the dashboard.
+- Clarify monitoring continuity, deliberate pauses, and quitting in the dashboard and status output.
+- Add per-release notes with installation, verification, and rollback guidance.
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 SHELL := /bin/bash
 PYTHON := python3
 VENV_DIR := /opt/fenris
+VENDOR_DIR := $(VENV_DIR)/vendor
 BIN_DIR := /usr/local/bin
 LIBEXEC_DIR := /usr/libexec/fenris
 UNIT_DIR := /etc/systemd/system
@@ -57,7 +58,7 @@ check-smartctl:

 dist/fenris-*.whl: pyproject.toml src/fenris/*.py
 	@mkdir -p dist
-	$(PYTHON) -m build --wheel -o dist
+	$(PYTHON) -m pip wheel --no-deps --wheel-dir dist .

 # ─── Install ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

@@ -71,11 +72,10 @@ install: check-python check-smartctl dist/fenris-*.whl
 	@sudo groupadd -f fenris
 	@sudo install -d -o root -g fenris -m 2750 $(DATA_DIR)
 	
-	@echo "=== Installing venv with pinned dependencies ==="
+	@echo "=== Installing version-neutral runtime packages ==="
 	@sudo rm -rf $(VENV_DIR)
-	@sudo $(PYTHON) -m venv $(VENV_DIR)
-	@sudo $(VENV_DIR)/bin/pip install --upgrade pip --quiet
-	@sudo $(VENV_DIR)/bin/pip install dist/fenris-*.whl --quiet
+	@sudo install -d -m 0755 $(VENDOR_DIR)
+	@sudo $(PYTHON) -m pip install --disable-pip-version-check --no-compile --target $(VENDOR_DIR) -r requirements.txt dist/fenris-*.whl --quiet
 	
 	@echo "=== Installing wrapper ==="
 	@sudo install -m 0755 scripts/fenris $(BIN_DIR)/fenris
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ import-legacy:
 	@if [ -f "$(LEGACY_HISTORY)" ]; then \
 		echo "=== Detected legacy history: $(LEGACY_HISTORY) ==="; \
 		echo "Running idempotent import..."; \
-		$(VENV_DIR)/bin/python3 -c "import sys; sys.path.insert(0, 'src'); from fenris.legacy import import_legacy_history; from fenris.store import init_store; from pathlib import Path; conn = init_store(Path('$(DATA_DIR)/observations.db')); r = import_legacy_history(conn, Path('$(LEGACY_HISTORY)')); conn.close(); print(f'  Samples imported: {r.get(\"samples_imported\", 0)}'); print(f'  Hours imported: {r.get(\"hours_imported\", 0)}'); print(f'  Malformed lines: {r.get(\"malformed_lines\", 0)}') if not r.get('skipped') else print('  Skipped: already imported')" || echo "  Warning: import failed (non-fatal)"; \
+		PYTHONPATH=$(VENDOR_DIR) $(PYTHON) -c "from fenris.legacy import import_legacy_history; from fenris.store import init_store; from pathlib import Path; conn = init_store(Path('$(DATA_DIR)/observations.db')); r = import_legacy_history(conn, Path('$(LEGACY_HISTORY)')); conn.close(); print(f'  Samples imported: {r.get(\"samples_imported\", 0)}'); print(f'  Hours imported: {r.get(\"hours_imported\", 0)}'); print(f'  Malformed lines: {r.get(\"malformed_lines\", 0)}') if not r.get('skipped') else print('  Skipped: already imported')" || echo "  Warning: import failed (non-fatal)"; \
 	else \
 		echo "=== No legacy history found at $(LEGACY_HISTORY) ==="; \
 	fi
@@ -131,8 +131,10 @@ upgrade: dist/fenris-*.whl
 	@echo "=== Snapshotting database (IN-6) ==="
 	@sudo cp $(DATA_DIR)/observations.db $(DATA_DIR)/observations.db.bak 2>/dev/null || true
 	
-	@echo "=== Installing new wheel with pinned dependencies ==="
-	@sudo $(VENV_DIR)/bin/pip install dist/fenris-*.whl --quiet
+	@echo "=== Installing new version-neutral runtime packages ==="
+	@sudo rm -rf $(VENDOR_DIR)
+	@sudo install -d -m 0755 $(VENDOR_DIR)
+	@sudo $(PYTHON) -m pip install --disable-pip-version-check --no-compile --target $(VENDOR_DIR) -r requirements.txt dist/fenris-*.whl --quiet
 	
 	@echo "=== Syncing units against manifest ==="
 	@sudo install -m 0644 units/fenris-collect.timer $(UNIT_DIR)/
@@ -172,7 +174,7 @@ upgrade: dist/fenris-*.whl
 	done
 	
 	@echo "=== Applying forward-only schema migrations (IN-5, IN-6) ==="
-	@sudo $(VENV_DIR)/bin/python3 -c "from fenris.store import migrate_to_latest; from pathlib import Path; n = migrate_to_latest(Path('$(DATA_DIR)/observations.db')); print(f'  Migration steps applied: {n}') if n else print('  Schema already current')"
+	@sudo env PYTHONPATH=$(VENDOR_DIR) $(PYTHON) -c "from fenris.store import migrate_to_latest; from pathlib import Path; n = migrate_to_latest(Path('$(DATA_DIR)/observations.db')); print(f'  Migration steps applied: {n}') if n else print('  Schema already current')"
 	
 	@echo "=== Upgrade complete ==="

@@ -237,8 +239,9 @@ FENRIS_VERSION := $(shell sed -n 's/^version = "\(.*\)"/\1/p' pyproject.toml)
 # GPG signing — packaging key UID (spec §4)
 PACKAGING_KEY ?= packaging@bongbetic.com

-stage: dist/fenris-*.whl
+stage:
 	@echo "=== Staging packaging tree (v$(FENRIS_VERSION)) ==="
+	$(PYTHON) -m pip wheel --no-deps --wheel-dir dist .
 	bash packaging/stage.sh "$(FENRIS_VERSION)"

 package-deb: stage
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ sudo apt update && sudo apt install fenris
 Replace `bookworm` with your distribution codename (`bookworm`, `jammy`, or
 `noble`).

-### Fedora (dnf)
+### Fedora / openSUSE Tumbleweed (RPM)

 Use the Fenris-owned repo file (not Gitea's auto-generated one):

@@ -53,6 +53,15 @@ sudo dnf config-manager --add-repo \
 sudo dnf install fenris
 ```

+On openSUSE Tumbleweed, add the same standard RPM repository file and install
+with zypper:
+
+```bash
+sudo zypper addrepo --refresh \
+  https://git.bongbetic.com/xavierk/Fenris/raw/branch/main/packaging/fenris.repo fenris
+sudo zypper install fenris
+```
+
 The repo file sets `gpgcheck=1` against the Fenris packaging key (downloaded
 from the raw URL in `gpgkey`) and `repo_gpgcheck=0` (metadata check left to
 TLS).
@@ -91,7 +100,8 @@ For contributors building from source:
 sudo make install
 ```

-This builds a wheel, installs it into `/opt/fenris` with pinned dependencies,
+This builds a wheel, installs its locked pure-Python runtime packages into
+`/opt/fenris/vendor`,
 and places helpers, units, and the polkit policy. Units are dormant by default.

 ```bash
@@ -117,7 +127,7 @@ sudo make upgrade

 What it does:
 1. Snapshots `observations.db` to a one-generation backup (`.bak`).
-2. Installs the new wheel into the same venv with pinned dependencies.
+2. Replaces the locked runtime packages under `/opt/fenris/vendor`.
 3. Syncs units and polkit against the manifest; runs `daemon-reload`.
 4. Restarts the timer **only** if unit contents changed **and** it is active — a running collection run finishes on its mapped interpreter; the next run uses the new code.
 5. Applies forward-only schema migrations (the store directory is never rebuilt; automatic downgrade does not exist).
@@ -149,7 +159,7 @@ make uninstall     # removes artifacts, preserves config and observation history
 make purge         # also removes /etc/fenris and /var/lib/fenris
 ```

-Uninstall performs the sanctioned disable first (`fenris-monitor disable --now`) — an open period closes `user_disabled` — then removes the venv, helpers, units, polkit policy, and wrapper while keeping `/etc/fenris` and the observation store. Reinstalling resumes from the preserved store.
+Uninstall performs the sanctioned disable first (`fenris-monitor disable --now`) — an open period closes `user_disabled` — then removes the runtime packages, helpers, units, polkit policy, and wrapper while keeping `/etc/fenris` and the observation store. Reinstalling resumes from the preserved store.

 ## Cadence drop-ins

@@ -179,6 +189,16 @@ No interval key exists in `/etc/fenris/fenris.conf`. Cadence is a systemd concer
 | `fenris start` / `stop` / `run` | Rejected with a one-line migration pointer — never aliased. |
 | `fenris --device` | Rejected with a pointer to the configuration file. |

+## Reading the dashboard
+
+`fenris` opens the TUI dashboard.
+
+- **Continuity** — the service strip's continuity line (and `fenris status`) reports whether monitoring survives reboots: `monitoring: active in background · persists across reboots`, or `monitoring: does not start on next boot`.
+- **Paused vs. quit** — a full-width `monitoring: paused — deliberate disable` block means collection is stopped (`fenris monitor pause`); resume with `fenris monitor resume`. Pressing `q` only leaves the screen — monitoring keeps running in the background.
+- **Auth banner** — at launch, `privileged actions will prompt for authentication (polkit)` shows once and clears on the first refresh. Privileged actions elevate via polkit; Fenris never asks for sudo.
+
+Per-release notes live on the [releases page](https://git.bongbetic.com/xavierk/Fenris/releases): each entry is the version's `CHANGELOG.md` section — what was added, changed, and fixed — plus standing install and verification instructions.
+
 ## Retired menu options

 The legacy `fenris.sh` menu script and the `fenris.py` monolith have been removed. Here's where the old options went:
@@ -212,7 +232,7 @@ Use a stable `/dev/disk/by-id/` path. Raw `/dev/nvmeX` paths are warned against.
 | sysusers/tmpfiles | `/usr/lib/{sysusers,tmpfiles}.d/fenris.conf` | managed by Makefile |
 | Configuration | `/etc/fenris/fenris.conf` | `/etc/fenris/fenris.conf` |
 | Observation store | `/var/lib/fenris/observations.db` | `/var/lib/fenris/observations.db` |
-| Venv | `/opt/fenris` | `/opt/fenris` |
+| Runtime packages | `/opt/fenris/vendor` | `/opt/fenris/vendor` |
 | Legacy history | — | `./data/history.jsonl` (auto-imported) |

 ---
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ Accepted — resolves [Task: Compose release spec + ADR amending 0004](https://g

 ## Context

-ADR 0004 fixed delivery as `sudo make install` from a source checkout: wheel into a Fenris-owned venv at `/opt/fenris`, a hand-rolled placement manifest, units in `/etc/systemd/system`. The release plan ([map](https://git.bongbetic.com/xavierk/Fenris/issues/33), decisions [Lock channel + toolchain](https://git.bongbetic.com/xavierk/Fenris/issues/38), [Signing + key policy](https://git.bongbetic.com/xavierk/Fenris/issues/39), [Package ownership](https://git.bongbetic.com/xavierk/Fenris/issues/40), [Migration path](https://git.bongbetic.com/xavierk/Fenris/issues/41), [Release cadence](https://git.bongbetic.com/xavierk/Fenris/issues/43)) now ships Fenris as native deb + rpm packages built by nfpm and published to the self-hosted Gitea 1.27.1 package registry, for Debian 12, Ubuntu 22.04/24.04, and Fedora 40+ (x86_64), with dependencies vendored in a bundled venv because every target distro ships `python3-textual` below Fenris's floor. Packages become the primary delivery; ADR 0004's delivery model demotes to a dev fallback.
+ADR 0004 fixed delivery as `sudo make install` from a source checkout: wheel into a Fenris-owned runtime directory at `/opt/fenris`, a hand-rolled placement manifest, units in `/etc/systemd/system`. The release plan ([map](https://git.bongbetic.com/xavierk/Fenris/issues/33), decisions [Lock channel + toolchain](https://git.bongbetic.com/xavierk/Fenris/issues/38), [Signing + key policy](https://git.bongbetic.com/xavierk/Fenris/issues/39), [Package ownership](https://git.bongbetic.com/xavierk/Fenris/issues/40), [Migration path](https://git.bongbetic.com/xavierk/Fenris/issues/41), [Release cadence](https://git.bongbetic.com/xavierk/Fenris/issues/43)) now ships Fenris as native deb + rpm packages built by nfpm and published to the self-hosted Gitea 1.27.1 package registry, for Debian 12, Ubuntu 22.04/24.04, Fedora 40+, and openSUSE Tumbleweed (x86_64), with locked pure-Python dependencies vendored at `/opt/fenris/vendor`. Packages become the primary delivery; ADR 0004's delivery model demotes to a dev fallback.

 The implementation-ready operative contracts live in the [release and packaging specification](../spec/release-packaging.md); this ADR records the decisions and their rationale.

@@ -14,12 +14,12 @@ The implementation-ready operative contracts live in the [release and packaging

 Amendments to ADR 0004, section by section:

-1. **Delivery (amended).** Packages are primary: one deb per codename pool (`bookworm`, `jammy`, `noble`) and one rpm (group `fenris`, Fedora 40+), built by nfpm from a single `packaging/nfpm.yaml` over a staged `--copies` venv at `/opt/fenris`, published to the Gitea Debian/RPM registry and installed with `apt`/`dnf`. `sudo make install` remains as the dev fallback for machines without packages; the two deliveries are mutually exclusive per machine. Version scheme `<pyproject-version>-1`, revision bump on rebuild.
+1. **Delivery (amended).** Packages are primary: one deb per codename pool (`bookworm`, `jammy`, `noble`) and one rpm (group `fenris`, Fedora 40+ and openSUSE Tumbleweed), built by nfpm from a single `packaging/nfpm.yaml` over locked pure-Python runtime packages staged at `/opt/fenris/vendor`, published to the Gitea Debian/RPM registry and installed with `apt`, `dnf`, or `zypper`. `sudo make install` remains as the dev fallback for machines without packages; the two deliveries are mutually exclusive per machine. Version scheme `<pyproject-version>-1`, revision bump on rebuild.
 2. **Layout and manifest (amended).** The hand-rolled manifest model is retired: the dpkg/rpm database **is** the manifest, and nothing like `manifest.txt` ships. Package-owned layout: units in `/usr/lib/systemd/system` (vendor placement; `/etc/systemd/system` is admin-only for drop-ins and enable state); helpers stay in `/usr/libexec/fenris` (exactly `fenris-monitor` and `fenris-collect` — no new polkit-reachable binaries); polkit policy in `/usr/share/polkit-1/actions/`; wrapper at `/usr/bin/fenris` (FHS; `/usr/local/bin` remains `make install`'s). The `fenris` group is declared in `/usr/lib/sysusers.d/fenris.conf` (`g fenris -`) and `/var/lib/fenris` in `/usr/lib/tmpfiles.d/fenris.conf` (`d /var/lib/fenris 2750 root fenris -`), both invoked from the maintainer scripts. The package owns the `/var/lib/fenris` directory only; `observations.db`, WAL sidecars, and `.bak` are never owned and never ghosted — ghost-erase would delete the store, violating 0004 §8.
 3. **Privilege (unchanged).** Root acts through maintainer scripts at install/upgrade/removal time; at runtime, elevation is exclusively polkit, exactly as 0004 §3 and [ADR 0003](0003-service-lifecycle-and-sanctioned-toggle.md) §5 fix it.
 4. **Dormant install (restated for packages).** A fresh package install is fully dormant: postinst/%post performs `systemctl daemon-reload` (plus `systemd-sysusers` and `systemd-tmpfiles --create`) and nothing else — never enable, never preset, never start; no preset file ships. The sanctioned toggle (`fenris monitor resume`) remains the only opt-in.
 5. **Legacy import (narrowed).** Auto-detection of `./data/history.jsonl` is scoped to `make install` only — a package install has no checkout to inspect. `fenris import <path>` remains available as the only import path from packages.
-6. **Upgrade (inherited, maintainer-script mechanics).** Upgrades arrive as packages from the single registry channel. postinst/%post on upgrade: snapshot `observations.db` → one-generation `.bak`, run forward-only schema migrations via inline `/opt/fenris/bin/python3 -c "…migrate_to_latest…"` (no new binaries), `daemon-reload`, and restart `fenris-collect.timer` only if unit contents changed **and** it is active. `/var/lib/fenris` is never rebuilt; a running oneshot finishes on its old interpreter.
+6. **Upgrade (inherited, maintainer-script mechanics).** Upgrades arrive as packages from the single registry channel. postinst/%post on upgrade: snapshot `observations.db` → one-generation `.bak`, run forward-only schema migrations through the target `python3` with `/opt/fenris/vendor` on its import path (no new binaries), `daemon-reload`, and restart `fenris-collect.timer` only if unit contents changed **and** it is active. `/var/lib/fenris` is never rebuilt; a running oneshot finishes on its old interpreter.
 7. **Rollback (unchanged, plus one hard edge).** One-generation `.bak` semantics are unchanged. Package downgrade is additionally unsupported: forward-only store-version refusal means installing an older package over a newer store fails by design; documented rollback = restore the snapshot, then install the old release.
 8. **Removal (mapped).** deb `remove` ≈ `make uninstall` (conffile and store survive); deb `purge` ≈ `make purge` (plus `.bak` and group cleanup); rpm erase ≈ `make uninstall` (unmodified config removed, modified survives as `.rpmsave`; purge is a documented manual command). prerm/%preun performs the sanctioned disable — `fenris-monitor disable --now`, closing the period `user_disabled` — on remove/erase **only, never on upgrade** (deb prerm upgrade case is a no-op; rpm `%preun` gated on `$1 -eq 0`).
 9. **Conffile semantics (new).** `/etc/fenris/fenris.conf` ships as a placeholder-commented default with no active device selector — deb conffile, rpm `%config(noreplace)`. The device selector is entered by hand (root edits the file), as in both prior deliveries; no configuration verb is added to `fenris-monitor`, and [ADR 0003](0003-service-lifecycle-and-sanctioned-toggle.md) §3's read-and-validate-at-collection-time semantics are untouched. On upgrade, local edits survive as-is; a changed package default lands beside them as `.dpkg-new`/`.rpmnew`.
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ Status: Accepted — resolves [Define cross-cutting acceptance criteria](https:/
 - **TUI-1** (A) Variant A "Panes": one dense keyboard-first screen; confidence rendered as evidence (state + contributing facts); boot enablement, runtime activity, last collect outcome, and freshness displayed as four separate facts.
 - **TUI-2** (M) Pause/resume asymmetry and polkit tty passthrough work in a live terminal: pause confirms, resume does not, and the platform agent prompts without breaking the TUI.
 - **TUI-3** (P) Textual runs on Python 3.9+, gated at install time, never a runtime crash.
- **TUI-4** (A) The Panes screen layout is normative: a full-width headline band (lifespan headline or its no-projection wording, confidence state with contributing facts, scenario range); a usage-history pane on the left (write-history sparkline with ▲ habit-change and ? unexplained-gap markers plus legend, habit-split bar with active/idle/powered-off/unknown shares); a drive-health and settings pane on the right (health facts, vendor-wear context line, read-only settings with the endurance baseline and its provenance label); a full-width service strip at the bottom (the four separate service facts, the monitoring-period line, the action legend). Production bindings are `p` pause (asks), `r` resume (does not), `c` collect now, `d` disclosures, `q` quit ([Prototype the TUI information architecture](https://git.bongbetic.com/xavierk/Fenris/issues/3)); the prototype branch is visual reference only.
+- **TUI-4** (A) The Panes screen layout is normative: a full-width headline band (lifespan headline or its no-projection wording, confidence state with contributing facts, scenario range); a usage-history pane on the left (write-history sparkline with ▲ habit-change and ? unexplained-gap markers plus legend, habit-split bar with active/idle/powered-off/unknown shares); a drive-health and settings pane on the right (health facts, vendor-wear context line, read-only settings with the endurance baseline and its provenance label); a full-width service strip at the bottom (the four separate service facts, the monitoring-period line, the action legend). Production bindings are the footer `p pause · r resume · c collect · d disclosures` — pause asks, resume does not — plus a bordered quit rail `q QUIT TUI` visually separate from monitoring state; the rail owns quit and the footer carries no quit entry (bindings amended by [Lock the dashboard wording strings](https://git.bongbetic.com/xavierk/Fenris/issues/57); original [Prototype the TUI information architecture](https://git.bongbetic.com/xavierk/Fenris/issues/3)); the prototype branch is visual reference only.

 ## Failure and recovery (ADR 0005)

@@ -131,3 +131,16 @@ Status: Accepted — resolves [Define cross-cutting acceptance criteria](https:/
 - **AC-3** (A) Any acquisition failure — missing binary, nonzero exit, malformed JSON, unreadable sysfs attribute — fails the whole collection run; no partial sample (identity without counters, or counters without identity) is ever written; the miss surfaces through ADR 0005 freshness, never as degraded identity.
 - **AC-4** (P) `vid`/`ssvid` are read from the PCI sysfs node when present and stored null otherwise; they are segment metadata only, never key components.
 - **AC-5** (P) `make install` verifies `smartctl` and fails cleanly otherwise; the acquisition path adds no Python dependency and no OS package beyond smartmontools (ADR 0004 §9).
+
+## Dashboard clarity and release notes ([Chart Fenris dashboard clarity](https://git.bongbetic.com/xavierk/Fenris/issues/55))
+
+Decided in [Write the dashboard clarity acceptance criteria](https://git.bongbetic.com/xavierk/Fenris/issues/59), from [Prototype the dashboard clarity additions](https://git.bongbetic.com/xavierk/Fenris/issues/56), [Lock the dashboard wording strings](https://git.bongbetic.com/xavierk/Fenris/issues/57), and [Specify the changelog and release-notes mechanism](https://git.bongbetic.com/xavierk/Fenris/issues/58).
+
+- **DC-1** (A) TUI branding: the header bar renders `Fenris — NVMe endurance monitor`; a dimmed `by Bongbetic` sits inline with service facts in the bottom service strip; neither string appears in `fenris status` (TUI-only identity surfaces).
+- **DC-2** (A) Continuity parity, keyed to the boot fact as-is: active + boot-enabled renders `monitoring: active in background · persists across reboots`; boot-disabled renders `monitoring: does not start on next boot` — identical lowercase source strings in the TUI service strip and `fenris status`, including while paused (paused implies boot-disabled; the row still reports the fact). Test impact: feeds the CI-2 sweep (lowercase source-string comparison).
+- **DC-3** (A) Paused presentation (Deliberate disable): the TUI shows a strong state block titled `monitoring: paused — deliberate disable` with subline `paused time is excluded from your usage habit · resume: fenris monitor resume`; `fenris status` prints the same two lines with identical wording. Test impact: feeds the CI-2 sweep (lowercase source-string comparison).
+- **DC-4** (A) Quit affordance distinct from monitoring state: a bordered labelled rail `q QUIT TUI` visually separate from the paused state block; the footer reads `p pause · r resume · c collect · d disclosures` with no quit entry (the rail owns quit); quitting the TUI never alters monitoring state. Amends TUI-4's binding parenthetical.
+- **DC-5** (A) Launch auth banner: `privileged actions will prompt for authentication (polkit)` renders full-width under the header at TUI launch, clears on the first refresh tick, and never reappears in the session; no user-facing string uses "sudo" (polkit-accurate elevation wording only).
+- **DC-6** (A) CHANGELOG.md shape (Keep a Changelog 1.1): `## [Unreleased]` always present at top, even empty; version headings `## [X.Y.Z] - YYYY-MM-DD` with strict ISO date; categories Added/Changed/Fixed only, security folding into Fixed; entries are single `- ` bullets, imperative mood, user-facing, no commit hashes or issue numbers.
+- **DC-7** (A) Extraction fails closed: `scripts/extract_changelog.py` slices the requested version's section verbatim and never reads `[Unreleased]`; a missing or empty section or a malformed date produces `::error::` and a nonzero exit; the release workflow fails when the pushed tag ≠ `v{version from pyproject.toml}` (guard skipped on `workflow_dispatch`).
+- **DC-8** (A/P) Release body: the body is the extracted section verbatim plus the standing footer from `packaging/release-footer.md`; a re-run against an existing release PATCHes the body (re-sync is a feature) while uploaded assets skip idempotently. A covers assembly/PATCH-logic unit tests; P is one scripted `workflow_dispatch` verification of body assembly.
@@ -0,0 +1,122 @@
+# Fenris dashboard clarity specification
+
+**Status: decision-complete.** Assembled by [Assemble the dashboard clarity specification and close the map](https://git.bongbetic.com/xavierk/Fenris/issues/60) from the closed tickets of the Wayfinder map [Chart Fenris dashboard clarity](https://git.bongbetic.com/xavierk/Fenris/issues/55). This document is normative for the follow-up **execution effort**; nothing here is implemented by the map.
+
+**Canonical roles.** The [redesign specification](fenris-redesign.md) (frozen) and [ADRs 0001–0007](../adr/) remain authoritative and untouched — this is a companion spec covering five dashboard clarity additions plus the changelog-driven release-notes mechanism. The [criteria register](acceptance-criteria.md) carries the testable statements: **DC-1–DC-8**, appended by this assembly, with **TUI-4's binding list amended** (§4). Terminology follows the glossary in [`CONTEXT.md`](../../CONTEXT.md), including *Deliberate disable* and *Release*.
+
+**Binding language.** *Must*, *exactly*, and *never* are normative.
+
+## How to read this document
+
+Five screen additions (§1–§5), one release-notes mechanism (§6), the verbatim string register (§7), and the README section to add at execution (§8). Each section cites its criteria. Source strings are lowercase; the TUI may render uppercase via styling only. Typography, governing every string: em-dash `—` separates a title from its qualifier; middle dot `·` joins facts within a line; UTF-8 is assumed. CI parity sweeps compare lowercase source strings — rendering case is styling, not wording.
+
+## 1. Header bar and Bongbetic credit — DC-1
+
+Visual base is treatment A, quiet integration: the existing Panes information architecture is preserved.
+
+- The header bar reads `Fenris — NVMe endurance monitor`.
+- The credit `by Bongbetic` renders dimmed, inline with service facts in the bottom service strip — never in the action row.
+- Both are TUI-only identity surfaces: `fenris status` never renders them.
+
+## 2. Continuity line — DC-2
+
+A labelled `CONTINUITY` row in the service strip (treatment B), mirrored by `fenris status` — the TUI/CLI parity anchor. The row is keyed to the boot fact as-is, independently of run state (Deliberate disable runs `systemctl disable --now`, so paused implies boot-disabled; the row still reports the fact):
+
+- Active + boot enabled: `monitoring: active in background · persists across reboots`
+- Boot disabled: `monitoring: does not start on next boot`
+
+Identical lowercase source strings in the TUI service strip and `fenris status`, including while paused.
+
+## 3. Paused state block — DC-3
+
+Treatment C, strong state blocks: when monitoring is paused, a full-width, high-contrast banner clearly identifying Deliberate disable:
+
+- Title: `monitoring: paused — deliberate disable`
+- Subline: `paused time is excluded from your usage habit · resume: fenris monitor resume`
+
+`fenris status` prints the same two lines with identical wording (state line + consequence line). The resume hint uses the CLI form only; the footer owns key hints — no duplication.
+
+## 4. Quit rail — DC-4 (amends TUI-4)
+
+Treatment B, labelled rails: a prominent bordered `q QUIT TUI` rail, visually separate from the monitoring-state block and the paused banner. The footer becomes `p pause · r resume · c collect · d disclosures` — the rail owns quit; the footer carries no quit entry. Quitting the TUI never alters monitoring state. The register's TUI-4 binding parenthetical is amended accordingly by this assembly.
+
+## 5. Launch auth banner — DC-5
+
+A quiet informational line (treatment A) that never competes with drive state:
+
+- Text: `privileged actions will prompt for authentication (polkit)`
+- Full-width under the header at TUI launch; clears on the first refresh tick; never reappears in the session.
+- TUI-only; `fenris status` never shows it.
+- Elevation wording is polkit-accurate everywhere: no user-facing string uses "sudo" (sudo belongs to install/upgrade docs).
+- Evidence class A: a Textual pilot drives refresh ticks headlessly.
+
+## 6. Changelog and release notes — DC-6, DC-7, DC-8
+
+Implements the existing glossary term *Release* (tag + packages + change notes together). No new glossary terms; no ADR (reversible mechanism).
+
+### 6.1 CHANGELOG.md (source of truth, repo root)
+
+- Keep a Changelog 1.1 shape. `## [Unreleased]` is always present at top, even empty. Version headings are `## [X.Y.Z] - YYYY-MM-DD` — bracketed bare semver, strict ISO date.
+- Categories are `### Added`, `### Changed`, `### Fixed` only; security fixes fold into Fixed.
+- Entries are single `- ` bullets, imperative mood, user-facing phrasing; no commit hashes or issue numbers.
+
+### 6.2 Extraction (release.yml, tag time)
+
+- `scripts/extract_changelog.py` (checked in, unit-tested): takes the changelog path and a version; slices that version's section verbatim; never reads `[Unreleased]`. Fails closed — `::error::` plus nonzero exit — when the section is missing or empty or the date is malformed.
+- Guard: the workflow fails when the pushed tag ≠ `v{version from pyproject.toml}` (guard skipped on `workflow_dispatch`).
+
+### 6.3 Release body
+
+- Body = extracted version section verbatim + standing footer from `packaging/release-footer.md` (channel install one-liners, `sha256sum -c SHA256SUMS.asc` verify, rollback pointer). The footer is standing text; only the changelog section varies.
+- Re-run against an existing release: PATCH the body (changelog re-sync is a feature); uploaded assets/packages keep their current idempotent-skip.
+
+### 6.4 Discipline
+
+- All entries land in `[Unreleased]` as part of the fixing change — no notes-later step.
+- One release commit bumps the pyproject version, renames `[Unreleased]` → the version heading, and restores an empty `[Unreleased]`; the tag points at that commit (tag ↔ pyproject ↔ changelog triple-match, enforced fail-closed by DC-7).
+- No backfill: per-release notes begin with the release shipping this mechanism; `CHANGELOG.md` starts with empty `[Unreleased]`.
+
+## 7. String register (verbatim)
+
+### TUI-only strings (launch/identity surfaces)
+
+| Surface | String |
+|---|---|
+| Header bar | `Fenris — NVMe endurance monitor` |
+| Credit (dimmed, inline with service facts) | `by Bongbetic` |
+| Auth banner (full-width under header at launch, clears on first refresh tick, never reappears) | `privileged actions will prompt for authentication (polkit)` |
+| Quit rail (bordered, labelled) | `q QUIT TUI` |
+| Footer (owns key hints; no quit entry) | `p pause · r resume · c collect · d disclosures` |
+
+### Parity strings (TUI and `fenris status` identical — CI-2)
+
+| Surface | String |
+|---|---|
+| Continuity, active + boot enabled | `monitoring: active in background · persists across reboots` |
+| Continuity, boot disabled | `monitoring: does not start on next boot` |
+| Paused state line | `monitoring: paused — deliberate disable` |
+| Paused consequence line | `paused time is excluded from your usage habit · resume: fenris monitor resume` |
+
+`fenris status` prints the paused state line + consequence line when paused, identical wording to the banner title + subline.
+
+## 8. README section (add at execution)
+
+The README gains a "Reading the dashboard" section after the CLI reference. Verbatim text:
+
+```markdown
+## Reading the dashboard
+
+`fenris` opens the TUI dashboard. Three things it tells you:
+
+- **Continuity** — the service strip's continuity line (and `fenris status`) reports whether monitoring survives reboots: `monitoring: active in background · persists across reboots`, or `monitoring: does not start on next boot`.
+- **Paused vs. quit** — a full-width `monitoring: paused — deliberate disable` block means collection is stopped (`fenris monitor pause`); resume with `fenris monitor resume`. Pressing `q` only leaves the screen — monitoring keeps running in the background.
+- **Auth banner** — at launch, `privileged actions will prompt for authentication (polkit)` shows once and clears on the first refresh. Privileged actions elevate via polkit; Fenris never asks for sudo.
+
+Per-release notes live on the [releases page](https://git.bongbetic.com/xavierk/Fenris/releases): each entry is the version's `CHANGELOG.md` section — what was added, changed, and fixed — plus standing install and verification instructions.
+```
+
+This resolves the map's README-wording fog: the wording is decided here; the actual README edit is execution.
+
+## 9. Out of scope
+
+Executing any of this — code, tests, releases — and any TUI layout or information-architecture redesign beyond the five additions named above. Execution is a fresh effort after handoff.
@@ -14,11 +14,12 @@
 | Ubuntu 22.04 (jammy) | — | deb | `debian/pool/jammy/main` |
 | Ubuntu 24.04 (noble) | — | deb | `debian/pool/noble/main` |
 | Fedora 40+ | every release | rpm | `rpm/fenris` group |
+| openSUSE Tumbleweed | rolling | rpm | `rpm/fenris` group |

 - Architecture: **x86_64 only** (arm64 only if real ARM hardware appears — map fog).
- Dependencies are vendored in a bundled venv for every target: Debian 12 and Ubuntu 22.04/24.04 ship `python3-textual` 0.1.13, far below the floor; Fedora 40+ ships ≥ 0.48 but below the pin ([toolchain research](../research/deb-rpm-toolchain.md)). No distro `python3-textual` dependency ever enters package metadata.
+- Dependencies are vendored as locked, pure-Python runtime packages for every target: Debian 12 and Ubuntu 22.04/24.04 ship `python3-textual` 0.1.13, far below the floor; Fedora 40+ ships ≥ 0.48 but below the pin ([toolchain research](../research/deb-rpm-toolchain.md)). No distro `python3-textual` dependency ever enters package metadata.
 - Package metadata `depends:`/`Requires:` are exactly `python3 (>= 3.10)`, `smartmontools`, `systemd` — the Python floor is 3.10 (oldest supported distro interpreter, Ubuntu 22.04), bumping ADR 0004 §10's 3.9 gate for packages; `make install` keeps the checkout's floor.
- The bundled venv is staged with `python3 -m venv --copies` at `/opt/fenris`: shebangs point at the fixed absolute `/opt/fenris/bin/python`, and the stdlib still comes from the host interpreter, which is why `python3 (>= 3.10)` is a hard dependency.
+- Runtime packages are staged with `python3 -m pip --target /opt/fenris/vendor`; entry points run the target system's `python3` with that directory on the import path. No package ships a copied Python interpreter, avoiding build-host ABI paths and rolling-distribution minor-version breakage.

 ## 2. Distribution channel

@@ -33,7 +34,7 @@
 ## 3. Build toolchain

 - **nfpm** for both formats from a single `packaging/nfpm.yaml` — one config, `overrides:` for per-format deltas, two invocations (`nfpm pkg -p deb`, `nfpm pkg -p rpm`). fpm is dropped entirely (CLI-flag config drifts); no hand rpm spec; dh-virtualenv is deb-only and dormant since 2020.
- **Single source of truth:** version injected from `pyproject.toml`; file lists generated by a staging script (venv `--copies` → `/opt/fenris` tree, plus wrapper, helpers, units, polkit policy, sysusers/tmpfiles fragments) referenced by `nfpm.yaml` as a `type: tree` content entry — no hand-maintained file lists.
+- **Single source of truth:** version injected from `pyproject.toml`; file lists generated by a staging script (locked runtime packages → `/opt/fenris/vendor`, plus wrapper, helpers, units, polkit policy, sysusers/tmpfiles fragments) referenced by `nfpm.yaml` as a `type: tree` content entry — no hand-maintained file lists.
 - **Entry point:** `make package` → `dist/fenris_<v>_amd64.deb` + `dist/fenris-<v>-1.x86_64.rpm`.
 - **Version scheme:** `<pyproject-version>-1` in both formats; a rebuild of the same upstream version bumps the revision (`-2`, `-3`, …) — the same filename is never re-PUT (registry 409s duplicates).
 - **Authoring `nfpm.yaml`, the staging script, and the workflow file is execution** — deliberately not part of the decision map. The [toolchain research doc](../research/deb-rpm-toolchain.md) sketches the pipeline.
@@ -62,7 +63,7 @@ Per [ADR 0007](../adr/0007-package-delivery-amends-0004.md) §2 — the dpkg/rpm

 | Artifact | Location | Ownership |
 |---|---|---|
-| Bundled venv | `/opt/fenris` | package (tree) |
+| Bundled runtime packages | `/opt/fenris/vendor` | package (tree) |
 | Wrapper | `/usr/bin/fenris` | package |
 | Helpers | `/usr/libexec/fenris/{fenris-monitor,fenris-collect}` | package — exactly these two, no new polkit-reachable binaries |
 | Units | `/usr/lib/systemd/system/fenris-collect.{timer,service}` | package (vendor placement; `/etc/systemd/system` is admin-only) |
@@ -76,7 +77,7 @@ Per [ADR 0007](../adr/0007-package-delivery-amends-0004.md) §2 — the dpkg/rpm

 - **preinst / %pre:** abort with a pointer to the migration runbook (§9) if `/var/lib/fenris/manifest.txt` **or** `/etc/systemd/system/fenris-collect.timer` exists (dual marker covers pre-manifest make installs). No auto-clean — scripts never delete files outside the package DB.
 - **postinst / %post (install):** `systemd-sysusers`, `systemd-tmpfiles --create`, `systemctl daemon-reload`. Nothing else — no enable, no preset, no start; no preset file ships.
- **postinst / %post (upgrade):** snapshot `observations.db` → `.bak` (one generation) → forward-only schema migration via inline `/opt/fenris/bin/python3 -c "…migrate_to_latest…"` → `daemon-reload` → restart `fenris-collect.timer` only if unit contents changed **and** it is active. `/var/lib/fenris` is never rebuilt; an in-flight oneshot finishes on its old interpreter.
+- **postinst / %post (upgrade):** snapshot `observations.db` → `.bak` (one generation) → forward-only schema migration via target `python3` with `/opt/fenris/vendor` on its import path → `daemon-reload` → restart `fenris-collect.timer` only if unit contents changed **and** it is active. `/var/lib/fenris` is never rebuilt; an in-flight oneshot finishes on its old interpreter.
 - **prerm / %preun:** sanctioned disable (`fenris-monitor disable --now`, closing the monitoring period `user_disabled`) on remove/erase **only, never on upgrade** — deb prerm upgrade case is a no-op; rpm `%preun` gated on `$1 -eq 0`.
 - **Removal mapping:** deb `remove` ≈ `make uninstall` (conffile + store survive); deb `purge` ≈ `make purge` (+ `.bak`, group cleanup); rpm erase ≈ `make uninstall` (unmodified config removed, modified survives as `.rpmsave`); rpm purge = documented manual command.

@@ -6,6 +6,11 @@
 # The device selector specifies which NVMe drive to monitor.
 # Uncomment and set exactly one device path:
 #
-#   devices = /dev/disk/by-id/nvme-Samsung_SSD_980_PRO_500GB_S5PANS0T123456
+#   device = /dev/disk/by-id/nvme-Samsung_SSD_980_PRO_500GB_S5PANS0T123456
+#
+# The observation store path is optional and defaults to
+# /var/lib/fenris/observations.db when unset:
+#
+#   store_path = /var/lib/fenris/observations.db
 #
 # See https://git.bongbetic.com/xavierk/Fenris for documentation.
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ depends:
  - systemd

 contents:
-  # Staged tree: venv, wrapper, helpers, units, polkit, sysusers, tmpfiles
+  # Staged tree: runtime packages, wrapper, helpers, units, polkit, sysusers, tmpfiles
  - src: build/stage/
    dst: /
    type: tree
@@ -9,7 +9,8 @@ set -eu
 STORE_DIR="/var/lib/fenris"
 STORE_DB="${STORE_DIR}/observations.db"
 STORE_BAK="${STORE_DIR}/observations.db.bak"
-VENV_PYTHON="/opt/fenris/bin/python3"
+RUNTIME_PYTHON="/usr/bin/python3"
+VENDOR_DIR="/opt/fenris/vendor"

 case "${1:-}" in
    configure)
@@ -18,8 +19,8 @@ case "${1:-}" in
            if [ -f "${STORE_DB}" ]; then
                cp "${STORE_DB}" "${STORE_BAK}" 2>/dev/null || true
            fi
-            if [ -x "${VENV_PYTHON}" ] && [ -f "${STORE_DB}" ]; then
-                "${VENV_PYTHON}" -c "
+            if [ -d "${VENDOR_DIR}" ] && [ -f "${STORE_DB}" ]; then
+                PYTHONPATH="${VENDOR_DIR}" "${RUNTIME_PYTHON}" -c "
 from fenris.store import migrate_to_latest
 from pathlib import Path
 n = migrate_to_latest(Path('${STORE_DB}'))
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+## Install
+
+Install Fenris from its package channel after following the [package setup instructions](https://git.bongbetic.com/xavierk/Fenris/src/branch/main/README.md#install-from-package-recommended):
+
+```bash
+sudo apt update && sudo apt install fenris       # Debian / Ubuntu
+sudo dnf install fenris                          # Fedora
+sudo zypper install fenris                       # openSUSE Tumbleweed
+```
+
+## Verify downloads
+
+```bash
+gpg --output SHA256SUMS --decrypt SHA256SUMS.asc
+sha256sum -c SHA256SUMS
+```
+
+## Rollback
+
+Installing an older package over a newer observation store is unsupported. Restore the observation-store snapshot, then install the earlier Release; see the [upgrade and rollback guidance](https://git.bongbetic.com/xavierk/Fenris/src/branch/main/README.md#upgrade).
@@ -5,7 +5,8 @@ set -eu
 STORE_DIR="/var/lib/fenris"
 STORE_DB="${STORE_DIR}/observations.db"
 STORE_BAK="${STORE_DIR}/observations.db.bak"
-VENV_PYTHON="/opt/fenris/bin/python3"
+RUNTIME_PYTHON="/usr/bin/python3"
+VENDOR_DIR="/opt/fenris/vendor"

 if [ "$1" -eq 1 ]; then
    # Fresh install
@@ -17,8 +18,8 @@ elif [ "$1" -ge 2 ]; then
    if [ -f "${STORE_DB}" ]; then
        cp "${STORE_DB}" "${STORE_BAK}" 2>/dev/null || true
    fi
-    if [ -x "${VENV_PYTHON}" ] && [ -f "${STORE_DB}" ]; then
-        "${VENV_PYTHON}" -c "
+    if [ -d "${VENDOR_DIR}" ] && [ -f "${STORE_DB}" ]; then
+        PYTHONPATH="${VENDOR_DIR}" "${RUNTIME_PYTHON}" -c "
 from fenris.store import migrate_to_latest
 from pathlib import Path
 n = migrate_to_latest(Path('${STORE_DB}'))
@@ -43,4 +44,6 @@ print(f'Fenris migration: {n} step(s) applied') if n else None
        fi
        rm -f "${OLD_CONTENT}"
    done
+    # Re-apply placement modes (store dir group access, issue #54)
+    systemd-tmpfiles --create  || true
 fi
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 #
 # VERSION defaults to the version in pyproject.toml.
 # The staged tree contains:
-#   /opt/fenris/          — bundled venv with the built wheel
+#   /opt/fenris/vendor/   — bundled pure-Python application dependencies
 #   /usr/bin/fenris       — unprivileged wrapper
 #   /usr/libexec/fenris/  — fenris-monitor, fenris-collect
 #   /usr/lib/systemd/system/ — fenris-collect.{timer,service}
@@ -35,18 +35,23 @@ rm -rf "${STAGE_DIR}"
 mkdir -p "${STAGE_DIR}"

 # --- Use pre-built wheel from dist/ ---
-WHEEL=$(ls "${REPO_ROOT}"/dist/fenris-*.whl 2>/dev/null | head -1)
+WHEEL=$(ls "${REPO_ROOT}"/dist/fenris-"${VERSION}"-*.whl 2>/dev/null | head -1)
 if [ -z "${WHEEL}" ]; then
    echo "Error: no wheel found in dist/ — run 'make dist/fenris-*.whl' first" >&2
    exit 1
 fi
 echo "  Using wheel: $(basename "${WHEEL}")"

-# --- Create venv with --copies and install wheel ---
-echo "  Creating bundled venv ..."
-python3 -m venv --copies "${STAGE_DIR}/opt/fenris"
-"${STAGE_DIR}/opt/fenris/bin/pip" install --upgrade pip --quiet 2>&1 | tail -1
-"${STAGE_DIR}/opt/fenris/bin/pip" install "${WHEEL}" --quiet 2>&1 | tail -1
+# --- Vendor runtime packages without an interpreter ---
+# A copied Python binary contains an ABI and build-host dynamic-library path.
+# It fails after rolling-distribution Python upgrades (for example Tumbleweed
+# 3.12 -> 3.13).  Fenris and its locked dependencies are pure Python, so place
+# them in a version-neutral directory and execute with the target's python3.
+echo "  Installing version-neutral runtime packages ..."
+VENDOR_DIR="${STAGE_DIR}/opt/fenris/vendor"
+mkdir -p "${VENDOR_DIR}"
+python3 -m pip install --disable-pip-version-check --no-compile \
+    --target "${VENDOR_DIR}" -r "${REPO_ROOT}/requirements.txt" "${WHEEL}"

 # --- Inject version into wrapper from pyproject.toml ---
 # The wrapper has a hardcoded version string; patch it for packaging.
@@ -1,2 +1,2 @@
 # Type  Path              Mode  User   Group  Age  Argument
-d       /var/lib/fenris   2750  root   fenris  -   -
+d       /var/lib/fenris   2770  root   fenris  -   -
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [project]
 name = "fenris"
-version = "0.3.0"
+version = "0.3.4"
 description = "NVMe wear monitor with persistent TUI"
 requires-python = ">=3.9"
 dependencies = [
@@ -0,0 +1,99 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+"""Extract one validated Keep a Changelog version section."""
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import argparse
+from datetime import date
+from pathlib import Path
+import re
+import sys
+
+
+class ChangelogError(ValueError):
+    """A release cannot safely use the supplied changelog."""
+
+
+_SEMVER = r"(?:0|[1-9]\d*)\.(?:0|[1-9]\d*)\.(?:0|[1-9]\d*)"
+_VERSION_HEADING = re.compile(
+    rf"^## \[(?P<version>{_SEMVER})\] - (?P<date>.+)$", re.MULTILINE
+)
+
+
+def extract_version_section(changelog: str, version: str) -> str:
+    """Return *version*'s changelog section without altering its bytes.
+
+    The section ends immediately before the next level-two heading.  A release
+    cannot use an absent, empty, or malformed version section.
+    """
+    if not re.fullmatch(_SEMVER, version):
+        raise ChangelogError(f"requested version is not bare semver: {version!r}")
+
+    heading = next(
+        (match for match in _VERSION_HEADING.finditer(changelog)
+         if match.group("version") == version),
+        None,
+    )
+    if heading is None:
+        if re.search(rf"^## \[{re.escape(version)}\].*$", changelog, re.MULTILINE):
+            raise ChangelogError(f"version {version} has a malformed heading or date")
+        raise ChangelogError(f"version {version} is missing from the changelog")
+
+    heading_date = heading.group("date")
+    if not re.fullmatch(r"\d{4}-\d{2}-\d{2}", heading_date):
+        raise ChangelogError(f"version {version} has a malformed release date")
+    try:
+        date.fromisoformat(heading_date)
+    except ValueError as error:
+        raise ChangelogError(f"version {version} has a malformed release date") from error
+
+    next_heading = re.search(r"^## ", changelog[heading.end():], re.MULTILINE)
+    section_end = heading.end() + next_heading.start() if next_heading else len(changelog)
+    section = changelog[heading.start():section_end]
+    if not re.search(r"^- \S", section[heading.end() - heading.start():], re.MULTILINE):
+        raise ChangelogError(f"version {version} has an empty changelog section")
+    return section
+
+
+def extract_changelog(path: Path, version: str) -> str:
+    """Read and extract a requested version from a changelog file."""
+    try:
+        return extract_version_section(path.read_text(encoding="utf-8"), version)
+    except OSError as error:
+        raise ChangelogError(f"cannot read changelog {path}: {error.strerror}") from error
+
+
+def assemble_release_body(section: str, footer: str) -> str:
+    """Append standing guidance while preserving the extracted section verbatim."""
+    separator = "\n" if section.endswith("\n") else "\n\n"
+    return f"{section}{separator}{footer}"
+
+
+def main(argv: list[str] | None = None) -> int:
+    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description=__doc__)
+    parser.add_argument("changelog", type=Path)
+    parser.add_argument("version")
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--footer",
+        type=Path,
+        help="append this standing release guidance after the extracted section",
+    )
+    args = parser.parse_args(argv)
+    try:
+        section = extract_changelog(args.changelog, args.version)
+        if args.footer:
+            try:
+                footer = args.footer.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
+            except OSError as error:
+                raise ChangelogError(
+                    f"cannot read release footer {args.footer}: {error.strerror}"
+                ) from error
+            section = assemble_release_body(section, footer)
+        sys.stdout.write(section)
+    except ChangelogError as error:
+        print(f"::error::{error}", file=sys.stderr)
+        return 1
+    return 0
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    raise SystemExit(main())
@@ -10,6 +10,29 @@ import argparse
 import os
 import subprocess
 import sys
+from pathlib import Path
+
+
+def add_runtime_packages() -> None:
+    """Make the package-owned, pure-Python dependencies importable.
+
+    RPM and deb installations deliberately use the target system's Python.
+    Their dependencies are vendored without a copied interpreter so a distro
+    Python minor-version update cannot leave Fenris linked to a removed ABI.
+    The legacy development install keeps its venv fallback.
+    """
+    runtime_dir = Path("/opt/fenris")
+    vendor_dir = runtime_dir / "vendor"
+    if vendor_dir.is_dir():
+        sys.path.insert(0, str(vendor_dir))
+        return
+
+    site_packages = next((runtime_dir / "lib").glob("python*/site-packages"), None)
+    if site_packages:
+        sys.path.insert(0, str(site_packages))
+
+
+add_runtime_packages()


 def is_root() -> bool:
@@ -51,8 +74,8 @@ def cmd_tui(args: argparse.Namespace) -> None:

 def cmd_status(args: argparse.Namespace) -> None:
    """Show status."""
-    from fenris.status import print_status
-    print_status()
+    from fenris.status import render_status
+    print(render_status())


 def cmd_sample(args: argparse.Namespace) -> None:
@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+"""Describe the Gitea request that creates or resynchronizes a release."""
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import argparse
+import json
+from pathlib import Path
+import re
+import sys
+from typing import Any
+
+
+_SEMVER = r"(?:0|[1-9]\d*)\.(?:0|[1-9]\d*)\.(?:0|[1-9]\d*)"
+
+
+class ReleaseRequestError(ValueError):
+    """A release request could not be prepared safely."""
+
+
+def build_release_request(
+    version: str, body: str, existing_release: dict[str, Any] | None
+) -> dict[str, Any]:
+    """Return the observable POST or PATCH request for a Gitea release."""
+    if not re.fullmatch(_SEMVER, version):
+        raise ReleaseRequestError(f"version is not bare semver: {version!r}")
+    if existing_release is None:
+        return {
+            "method": "POST",
+            "path": "/releases",
+            "payload": {"tag_name": f"v{version}", "name": f"v{version}", "body": body},
+        }
+
+    release_id = existing_release.get("id")
+    if not isinstance(release_id, int):
+        raise ReleaseRequestError("existing release does not contain an integer id")
+    return {
+        "method": "PATCH",
+        "path": f"/releases/{release_id}",
+        "payload": {"body": body},
+    }
+
+
+def _read_json(path: Path) -> dict[str, Any]:
+    try:
+        value = json.loads(path.read_text(encoding="utf-8"))
+    except (OSError, json.JSONDecodeError) as error:
+        raise ReleaseRequestError(f"cannot read existing release {path}: {error}") from error
+    if not isinstance(value, dict):
+        raise ReleaseRequestError("existing release must be a JSON object")
+    return value
+
+
+def main(argv: list[str] | None = None) -> int:
+    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description=__doc__)
+    parser.add_argument("--version", required=True)
+    parser.add_argument("--body-file", type=Path, required=True)
+    parser.add_argument("--existing-release", type=Path)
+    args = parser.parse_args(argv)
+    try:
+        body = args.body_file.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
+        existing = _read_json(args.existing_release) if args.existing_release else None
+        print(json.dumps(build_release_request(args.version, body, existing)))
+    except (OSError, ReleaseRequestError) as error:
+        print(f"::error::{error}", file=sys.stderr)
+        return 1
+    return 0
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    raise SystemExit(main())
@@ -1,2 +1,2 @@
 """Fenris: NVMe wear monitor with persistent TUI."""
-__version__ = "0.3.0"
+__version__ = "0.3.1"
@@ -15,12 +15,17 @@ import sys
 from datetime import datetime, timezone
 from pathlib import Path

-# Add the venv to path if running from the installed location
+# Package dependencies are vendored independently of the host Python minor
+# version.  Keep the venv fallback for the legacy development install.
 VENV_DIR = Path("/opt/fenris")
 if VENV_DIR.exists():
-    site_packages = next((VENV_DIR / "lib").glob("python*/site-packages"), None)
-    if site_packages:
-        sys.path.insert(0, str(site_packages))
+    vendor_dir = VENV_DIR / "vendor"
+    if vendor_dir.is_dir():
+        sys.path.insert(0, str(vendor_dir))
+    else:
+        site_packages = next((VENV_DIR / "lib").glob("python*/site-packages"), None)
+        if site_packages:
+            sys.path.insert(0, str(site_packages))

 from fenris.store import init_store, get_store_path
 from fenris.collector import run_collection
@@ -21,12 +21,17 @@ import sqlite3
 from datetime import datetime, timezone
 from pathlib import Path

-# Add the venv to path if running from the installed location
+# Package dependencies are vendored independently of the host Python minor
+# version.  Keep the venv fallback for the legacy development install.
 VENV_DIR = Path("/opt/fenris")
 if VENV_DIR.exists():
-    site_packages = next((VENV_DIR / "lib").glob("python*/site-packages"), None)
-    if site_packages:
-        sys.path.insert(0, str(site_packages))
+    vendor_dir = VENV_DIR / "vendor"
+    if vendor_dir.is_dir():
+        sys.path.insert(0, str(vendor_dir))
+    else:
+        site_packages = next((VENV_DIR / "lib").glob("python*/site-packages"), None)
+        if site_packages:
+            sys.path.insert(0, str(site_packages))

 from fenris.store import init_store, get_store_path
 from fenris.monitoring_periods import (
@@ -53,10 +58,6 @@ def cmd_enable(args: argparse.Namespace) -> None:
    - Resume with no open period: opens a new row
    """
    store_path = getattr(args, 'store_path', DEFAULT_STORE_PATH)
-    if not store_path.exists():
-        print("Error: Observation store not found at", store_path, file=sys.stderr)
-        sys.exit(1)
-
    conn = init_store(store_path)
    now = datetime.now(timezone.utc)

@@ -88,7 +88,13 @@ def open_store_readonly(store_path: Path) -> sqlite3.Connection:

    Raises StoreFault if unreadable, NewerSchema if user_version > SCHEMA_VERSION.
    """
-    if not store_path.exists():
+    try:
+        exists = store_path.exists()
+    except OSError as e:
+        # A non-group user stat()ing a 2750 store directory gets
+        # PermissionError before any StoreFault can be raised (issue #54).
+        raise StoreFault("observation store not readable: %s" % e)
+    if not exists:
        raise StoreFault("observation store not found at %s" % store_path)

    try:
@@ -443,7 +449,7 @@ def _format_headline(proj) -> str:


 def _append_service_facts(lines: List[str], service: Dict[str, Any]) -> None:
-    """Append the four separate service facts (§7.3, LC-9)."""
+    """Append service facts and dashboard-clarity monitoring state."""
    boot = "enabled" if service.get("boot_enabled") else "disabled"
    activity = "active" if service.get("timer_active") else "inactive"

@@ -467,6 +473,55 @@ def _append_service_facts(lines: List[str], service: Dict[str, Any]) -> None:

    lines.append("boot: %s · timer: %s · last collect: %s%s · freshness: %s%s"
                 % (boot, activity, collect, collect_age, freshness_str, freshness_age))
+    lines.append("CONTINUITY: %s" % monitoring_continuity(service))
+    if service.get("deliberately_paused"):
+        lines.extend(deliberate_pause_lines())
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Dashboard clarity parity wording (DC-2, DC-3)
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+_CONTINUITY_ACTIVE = "monitoring: active in background · persists across reboots"
+_CONTINUITY_DISABLED = "monitoring: does not start on next boot"
+_PAUSED_TITLE = "monitoring: paused — deliberate disable"
+_PAUSED_CONSEQUENCE = (
+    "paused time is excluded from your usage habit · resume: fenris monitor resume"
+)
+
+
+def monitoring_continuity(service: Dict[str, Any]) -> str:
+    """Return the boot-persistence wording, independent of timer runtime."""
+    return _CONTINUITY_ACTIVE if service.get("boot_enabled") else _CONTINUITY_DISABLED
+
+
+def deliberate_pause_lines() -> List[str]:
+    """Return the exact CLI/TUI presentation for a sanctioned pause."""
+    return [_PAUSED_TITLE, _PAUSED_CONSEQUENCE]
+
+
+def is_deliberately_paused(conn: sqlite3.Connection, service: Dict[str, Any]) -> bool:
+    """Whether the latest closed period was ended by Fenris's own pause path.
+
+    Raw systemd operations have no `user_disabled` row, so they must never be
+    presented as a Deliberate disable. A live enabled timer also wins over a
+    stale period marker, keeping the presentation consistent with service facts.
+    """
+    if service.get("boot_enabled") or service.get("timer_active"):
+        return False
+
+    open_period = conn.execute(
+        "SELECT 1 FROM monitoring_periods WHERE ended_at IS NULL LIMIT 1"
+    ).fetchone()
+    if open_period is not None:
+        return False
+
+    row = conn.execute(
+        "SELECT end_cause FROM monitoring_periods "
+        "WHERE ended_at IS NOT NULL "
+        "ORDER BY ended_at DESC, id DESC LIMIT 1"
+    ).fetchone()
+    return row is not None and row[0] == "user_disabled"


 def format_disclosures() -> str:
@@ -556,6 +611,10 @@ def get_status(store_path: Optional[Path] = None, clock_now: Optional[datetime]

    service["freshness"] = freshness
    service["freshness_age_s"] = freshness_age_s
+    try:
+        service["deliberately_paused"] = is_deliberately_paused(conn, service)
+    except sqlite3.Error:
+        service["deliberately_paused"] = False

    # --- Drive anomalies (§9.7, FL-7) ---
    drive_facts = []
@@ -15,9 +15,19 @@ from typing import Optional
 SCHEMA_VERSION = 1


+# Packaged default placement (spec §8.3). The config may override it, but a
+# fresh install that sets only the device selector must collect cleanly.
+DEFAULT_STORE_PATH = Path("/var/lib/fenris/observations.db")
+
+
 def get_store_path(config: dict) -> Path:
-    """Get the store path from config."""
-    return Path(config["store_path"])
+    """Get the store path from config.
+
+    Falls back to the packaged default when the config does not pin one,
+    so a fresh install whose config holds only the device selector works
+    instead of crashing with KeyError 'store_path' (issue #53).
+    """
+    return Path(config.get("store_path", DEFAULT_STORE_PATH))


 def init_store(store_path: Path) -> sqlite3.Connection:
@@ -31,6 +41,20 @@ def init_store(store_path: Path) -> sqlite3.Connection:
    # Enable WAL mode for concurrent reads during writes
    conn.execute("PRAGMA journal_mode=WAL")

+    # Group members (fenris group) read the live store read-only, but SQLite
+    # in WAL mode needs write access to the db and its -wal/-shm sidecars even
+    # for readers. Best effort: root-created stores stay group-accessible
+    # without relying on the creating process's umask (issue #54).
+    import os as _os
+    for sidecar in (store_path,
+                    store_path.with_name(store_path.name + "-wal"),
+                    store_path.with_name(store_path.name + "-shm")):
+        try:
+            mode = _os.stat(sidecar).st_mode & 0o777
+            _os.chmod(sidecar, mode | 0o060)
+        except OSError:
+            pass
+
    # Check if this is a new database
    cursor = conn.execute("PRAGMA user_version")
    current_version = cursor.fetchone()[0]
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ from typing import Any, Dict, List, Optional

 from textual.app import App, ComposeResult
 from textual.binding import Binding
-from textual.containers import Horizontal, Vertical
+from textual.containers import Container, Horizontal, VerticalScroll
 from textual.screen import ModalScreen
 from textual.widgets import Static

@@ -43,6 +43,9 @@ from .status import (
    format_disclosures,
    freshness_age_human,
    grade_freshness,
+    deliberate_pause_lines,
+    is_deliberately_paused,
+    monitoring_continuity,
    open_store_readonly,
    query_service_state,
    read_config,
@@ -229,6 +232,7 @@ def _query_service_facts(conn: sqlite3.Connection, clock_now: datetime) -> Dict[
        "freshness": freshness,
        "freshness_age_s": None,
        "period": period_info,
+        "deliberately_paused": is_deliberately_paused(conn, svc),
        **svc,
    }

@@ -286,20 +290,38 @@ class DisclosuresScreen(ModalScreen[None]):
 class FenrisTuiApp(App):
    """Fenris Panes TUI — keyboard-first, one dense screen (spec §7)."""

-    TITLE = "Fenris"
-    SUB_TITLE = "NVMe endurance monitor"
+    TITLE = "Fenris — NVMe endurance monitor"
+    SUB_TITLE = ""

    CSS = """
    #main-grid {
        layout: grid;
-        grid-size: 2 3;
+        grid-size: 2 4;
        grid-columns: 3fr 2fr;
-        grid-rows: 8 1fr 7;
-        height: 1fr;
+        grid-rows: 8 10 7 3;
+        height: auto;
    }
+    #main-grid.paused {
+        grid-size: 2 5;
+        grid-rows: 8 5 10 7 3;
+    }
+    #dashboard-scroll { height: 1fr; }
    #headline-band { column-span: 2; }
-    #service-strip { column-span: 2; }
-    .pane { border: round #555555; padding: 0 1; }
+    #paused-banner {
+        column-span: 2;
+        display: none;
+        background: $error 20%;
+        color: $text;
+        height: 100%;
+    }
+    #service-strip { column-span: 2; height: 100%; }
+    #quit-rail {
+        column-span: 2;
+        border: heavy $accent;
+        content-align: center middle;
+        height: 100%;
+    }
+    .pane { border: round #555555; padding: 0 1; height: 100%; }
    #confirm-text { padding: 1 2; }
    #disc-text { padding: 1 2; }
    """
@@ -317,21 +339,27 @@ class FenrisTuiApp(App):
        store_path: Optional[Path] = None,
        config_path: Optional[Path] = None,
        helper_path: Optional[str] = None,
+        refresh_interval_s: float = CADENCE_DEFAULT_S,
        **kwargs,
    ) -> None:
        super().__init__(**kwargs)
        self.store_path = store_path or Path("/var/lib/fenris/observations.db")
        self.config_path = config_path
        self.helper_path = helper_path or "/usr/libexec/fenris/fenris-monitor"
+        self.refresh_interval_s = refresh_interval_s
+        self._show_auth_notice = True
        self._conn: Optional[sqlite3.Connection] = None
        self._clock_now = datetime.now(timezone.utc)

    def compose(self) -> ComposeResult:
-        with Vertical(id="main-grid"):
-            yield Static("", id="headline-band", classes="pane")
-            yield Static("", id="usage-history", classes="pane")
-            yield Static("", id="drive-health", classes="pane")
-            yield Static("", id="service-strip", classes="pane")
+        with VerticalScroll(id="dashboard-scroll"):
+            with Container(id="main-grid"):
+                yield Static("", id="headline-band", classes="pane")
+                yield Static("", id="paused-banner")
+                yield Static("", id="usage-history", classes="pane")
+                yield Static("", id="drive-health", classes="pane")
+                yield Static("", id="service-strip", classes="pane")
+                yield Static("q QUIT TUI", id="quit-rail")

    def on_mount(self) -> None:
        """Set border titles and render initial state."""
@@ -339,8 +367,30 @@ class FenrisTuiApp(App):
        self.query_one("#usage-history").border_title = "usage history"
        self.query_one("#drive-health").border_title = "drive"
        self.query_one("#service-strip").border_title = "service + actions"
+        self._refresh_timer = self.set_interval(
+            self.refresh_interval_s, self.on_refresh_tick
+        )
        self._refresh()

+    def on_refresh_tick(self) -> None:
+        """Refresh dashboard and dismiss launch-only authentication guidance."""
+        self._show_auth_notice = False
+        self._refresh()
+
+    def _headline_prefix(self) -> str:
+        """Render identity and any launch-only guidance above drive state."""
+        lines = ["[bold]Fenris — NVMe endurance monitor[/bold]"]
+        if self._show_auth_notice:
+            lines.append("[dim]privileged actions will prompt for authentication (polkit)[/dim]")
+        return "\n".join(lines)
+
+    def _render_headline(self, body: str = "") -> None:
+        """Render full-width identity, guidance, and current drive state."""
+        text = self._headline_prefix()
+        if body:
+            text += "\n\n" + body
+        self.query_one("#headline-band").update(text)
+
    def _open_store(self) -> Optional[sqlite3.Connection]:
        """Open store read-only, handling faults."""
        try:
@@ -366,28 +416,33 @@ class FenrisTuiApp(App):

    def _render_empty_or_fault(self) -> None:
        """Render empty store greeting or store fault."""
+        self._hide_paused_banner()
        if not self.store_path.exists():
            # Empty store — greeting with enable hint (IN-3)
-            self.query_one("#headline-band").update(
+            self._render_headline(
                "[bold]No observations yet[/bold]\n\n"
                "Enable monitoring: fenris monitor resume"
            )
            self.query_one("#usage-history").update("")
            self.query_one("#drive-health").update("")
            self.query_one("#service-strip").update(
-                "boot: disabled · timer: inactive · last collect: unknown · freshness: empty\n"
-                "p pause · r resume · c collect · d disclosures · q quit"
+                "boot: disabled · timer: inactive · last collect: unknown · freshness: empty · "
+                "[dim]by Bongbetic[/dim]\n"
+                "[bold]CONTINUITY[/bold]  %s\n"
+                "p pause · r resume · c collect · d disclosures"
+                % monitoring_continuity({"boot_enabled": False})
            )
        else:
            # Store fault (FL-4)
-            self.query_one("#headline-band").update(
+            self._render_headline(
                "[bold red]Observation store unreadable[/bold red]\n"
                "Check journalctl -u fenris-collect.service"
            )
            self.query_one("#usage-history").update("")
            self.query_one("#drive-health").update("")
            self.query_one("#service-strip").update(
-                "p pause · r resume · c collect · d disclosures · q quit"
+                "[dim]by Bongbetic[/dim]\n"
+                "p pause · r resume · c collect · d disclosures"
            )

    def _render_all_regions(self, conn: sqlite3.Connection) -> None:
@@ -398,13 +453,9 @@ class FenrisTuiApp(App):
            headline = self._format_headline(proj)
            confidence = self._format_confidence(proj)
            scenario = self._format_scenario(proj)
-            self.query_one("#headline-band").update(
-                headline + "\n" + confidence + "\n" + scenario
-            )
+            self._render_headline(headline + "\n" + confidence + "\n" + scenario)
        except Exception:
-            self.query_one("#headline-band").update(
-                "[bold]No projection available[/bold]"
-            )
+            self._render_headline("[bold]No projection available[/bold]")

        # --- Usage-history pane (§7.2 left) ---
        history = _query_usage_history(conn)
@@ -448,17 +499,47 @@ class FenrisTuiApp(App):
            collect = "ok" if svc.get("last_collect_ok") else "FAILED"
            freshness = svc.get("freshness", "unknown")
            self.query_one("#service-strip").update(
-                "boot: %s · timer: %s · last collect: %s · freshness: %s\n"
+                "boot: %s · timer: %s · last collect: %s · freshness: %s · "
+                "[dim]by Bongbetic[/dim]\n"
+                "[bold]CONTINUITY[/bold]  %s\n"
                "%s\n"
-                "p pause · r resume · c collect · d disclosures · q quit"
-                % (boot, activity, collect, freshness, svc.get("period", ""))
+                "p pause · r resume · c collect · d disclosures"
+                % (
+                    boot, activity, collect, freshness,
+                    monitoring_continuity(svc), svc.get("period", ""),
+                )
            )
+            self._render_paused_banner(svc)
        except Exception:
+            self._hide_paused_banner()
            self.query_one("#service-strip").update(
-                "boot: unknown · timer: unknown · last collect: unknown · freshness: unknown\n"
-                "p pause · r resume · c collect · d disclosures · q quit"
+                "boot: unknown · timer: unknown · last collect: unknown · freshness: unknown · "
+                "[dim]by Bongbetic[/dim]\n"
+                "p pause · r resume · c collect · d disclosures"
            )

+    def _render_paused_banner(self, service: Dict[str, Any]) -> None:
+        """Show the high-contrast Deliberate disable block only when sanctioned."""
+        banner = self.query_one("#paused-banner")
+        if service.get("deliberately_paused"):
+            banner.update(
+                "[bold black on red]%s[/bold black on red]\n%s"
+                % tuple(deliberate_pause_lines())
+            )
+            banner.styles.display = "block"
+            main_grid = self.query_one("#main-grid")
+            main_grid.add_class("paused")
+            main_grid.refresh(layout=True)
+        else:
+            self._hide_paused_banner()
+
+    def _hide_paused_banner(self) -> None:
+        """Ensure an unavailable store cannot retain a stale paused presentation."""
+        self.query_one("#paused-banner").styles.display = "none"
+        main_grid = self.query_one("#main-grid")
+        main_grid.remove_class("paused")
+        main_grid.refresh(layout=True)
+
    def _format_headline(self, proj: ProjectionResult) -> str:
        """Format the lifespan headline (spec §6.11)."""
        if proj.headline_remaining_seconds is None:
@@ -399,6 +399,89 @@ class TestCI2Parity:
        assert "last collect:" in status
        assert "freshness:" in status

+    def test_dashboard_clarity_parity_strings_have_one_status_source(self):
+        """DC-2/DC-3 wording originates in status and the TUI imports it."""
+        status_src = (FENRIS_PKG / "status.py").read_text()
+        tui_src = (FENRIS_PKG / "tui.py").read_text()
+        for wording in (
+            "monitoring: active in background · persists across reboots",
+            "monitoring: does not start on next boot",
+            "monitoring: paused — deliberate disable",
+            "paused time is excluded from your usage habit · resume: fenris monitor resume",
+        ):
+            assert status_src.count(wording) == 1
+            assert wording not in tui_src
+
+    @pytest.mark.asyncio
+    @pytest.mark.parametrize(
+        ("state", "service", "expected_lines"),
+        [
+            (
+                "active_enabled",
+                {"boot_enabled": True, "timer_active": True},
+                ["monitoring: active in background · persists across reboots"],
+            ),
+            (
+                "boot_disabled",
+                {"boot_enabled": False, "timer_active": False},
+                ["monitoring: does not start on next boot"],
+            ),
+            (
+                "deliberately_paused",
+                {"boot_enabled": False, "timer_active": False},
+                [
+                    "monitoring: does not start on next boot",
+                    "monitoring: paused — deliberate disable",
+                    "paused time is excluded from your usage habit · resume: fenris monitor resume",
+                ],
+            ),
+        ],
+    )
+    async def test_dashboard_clarity_monitoring_lines_match_both_views(
+        self, tmp_path, state, service, expected_lines
+    ):
+        """CI-2 synthetic-store sweep covers active, disabled, and paused states."""
+        db = tmp_path / (state + ".db")
+        conn = init_store(db)
+        if state == "active_enabled":
+            ensure_period_open(conn, _clock())
+        elif state == "deliberately_paused":
+            conn.execute(
+                "INSERT INTO monitoring_periods (started_at, ended_at, end_cause) "
+                "VALUES (?, ?, ?)",
+                ("2026-09-30T09:00:00+00:00", "2026-09-30T10:00:00+00:00", "user_disabled"),
+            )
+            conn.commit()
+        conn.close()
+        service_state = {
+            **service,
+            "last_collect_ok": None,
+            "last_collect_age_s": None,
+            "last_collect_reason": None,
+        }
+
+        with patch("fenris.status.query_service_state", return_value=service_state), patch(
+            "fenris.tui.query_service_state", return_value=service_state
+        ):
+            status = get_status(
+                store_path=db, clock_now=_clock(), query_services=True, query_journal=False
+            ).lower()
+            app = FenrisTuiApp(store_path=db)
+            async with app.run_test(size=(100, 40)):
+                tui_text = "\n".join(
+                    (
+                        str(app.query_one("#service-strip").render()),
+                        str(app.query_one("#paused-banner").render()),
+                    )
+                ).lower()
+
+        for expected in expected_lines:
+            assert expected in status
+            assert expected in tui_text
+        if state != "deliberately_paused":
+            assert "monitoring: paused — deliberate disable" not in status
+            assert "monitoring: paused — deliberate disable" not in tui_text
+
    def test_pause_resume_action_names(self):
        tui_keys = {b.key for b in FenrisTuiApp.BINDINGS}
        assert "p" in tui_keys
@@ -0,0 +1,211 @@
+"""Release-note changelog extraction tests (DC-6, DC-7)."""
+import importlib.util
+import json
+import subprocess
+import sys
+from pathlib import Path
+
+import pytest
+
+
+REPO_ROOT = Path(__file__).resolve().parent.parent
+EXTRACTOR_PATH = REPO_ROOT / "scripts" / "extract_changelog.py"
+RELEASE_REQUEST_PATH = REPO_ROOT / "scripts" / "release_request.py"
+CHANGELOG_PATH = REPO_ROOT / "CHANGELOG.md"
+
+
+def _extractor_module():
+    spec = importlib.util.spec_from_file_location("extract_changelog", EXTRACTOR_PATH)
+    assert spec and spec.loader
+    module = importlib.util.module_from_spec(spec)
+    sys.modules[spec.name] = module
+    spec.loader.exec_module(module)
+    return module
+
+
+def test_extracts_the_requested_version_section_verbatim():
+    extractor = _extractor_module()
+    changelog = """# Changelog
+
+## [Unreleased]
+
+## [1.4.0] - 2026-09-10
+
+### Added
+
+- Show a release summary to consumers.
+
+## [1.3.0] - 2026-09-01
+
+### Fixed
+
+- Preserve the observation history during upgrades.
+"""
+    expected = """## [1.4.0] - 2026-09-10
+
+### Added
+
+- Show a release summary to consumers.
+
+"""
+
+    assert extractor.extract_version_section(changelog, "1.4.0") == expected
+
+
+def test_checked_in_changelog_keeps_unreleased_first_and_categories_limited():
+    lines = CHANGELOG_PATH.read_text(encoding="utf-8").splitlines()
+    unreleased = lines.index("## [Unreleased]")
+    version_headings = [
+        index for index, line in enumerate(lines)
+        if line.startswith("## [") and line != "## [Unreleased]"
+    ]
+    first_version = version_headings[0] if version_headings else len(lines)
+    categories = [
+        line.removeprefix("### ")
+        for line in lines[unreleased + 1:first_version]
+        if line.startswith("### ")
+    ]
+
+    assert unreleased < first_version
+    assert set(categories) <= {"Added", "Changed", "Fixed"}
+
+
+def test_release_footer_verifies_the_clearsigned_checksum_asset():
+    footer = (REPO_ROOT / "packaging" / "release-footer.md").read_text(
+        encoding="utf-8"
+    )
+
+    assert "gpg --output SHA256SUMS --decrypt SHA256SUMS.asc" in footer
+    assert "sha256sum -c SHA256SUMS" in footer
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    ("changelog", "expected_error"),
+    [
+        ("# Changelog\n\n## [Unreleased]\n", "missing"),
+        (
+            "# Changelog\n\n## [Unreleased]\n\n## [1.4.0] - 2026-09-10\n",
+            "empty",
+        ),
+        (
+            "# Changelog\n\n## [Unreleased]\n\n## [1.4.0] - 2026-02-30\n\n- Add a note.\n",
+            "malformed release date",
+        ),
+    ],
+)
+def test_fails_closed_for_missing_empty_or_malformed_sections(
+    changelog, expected_error
+):
+    extractor = _extractor_module()
+
+    with pytest.raises(extractor.ChangelogError, match=expected_error):
+        extractor.extract_version_section(changelog, "1.4.0")
+
+
+def test_command_emits_a_workflow_error_and_nonzero_status(tmp_path):
+    changelog = tmp_path / "CHANGELOG.md"
+    changelog.write_text("# Changelog\n\n## [Unreleased]\n", encoding="utf-8")
+
+    result = subprocess.run(
+        [sys.executable, str(EXTRACTOR_PATH), str(changelog), "1.4.0"],
+        capture_output=True,
+        text=True,
+        check=False,
+    )
+
+    assert result.returncode != 0
+    assert result.stderr.startswith("::error::")
+    assert "missing" in result.stderr
+
+
+def test_assembles_a_release_body_without_changing_the_section():
+    extractor = _extractor_module()
+    section = "## [1.4.0] - 2026-09-10\n\n### Added\n\n- Show a release summary.\n"
+    footer = "## Install\n\nUse the package channel.\n"
+
+    assert extractor.assemble_release_body(section, footer) == (
+        section + "\n" + footer
+    )
+
+
+def test_command_can_write_the_complete_release_body(tmp_path):
+    changelog = tmp_path / "CHANGELOG.md"
+    changelog.write_text(
+        "# Changelog\n\n## [Unreleased]\n\n## [1.4.0] - 2026-09-10\n\n"
+        "### Added\n\n- Show a release summary.\n",
+        encoding="utf-8",
+    )
+    footer = tmp_path / "footer.md"
+    footer.write_text("## Install\n\nUse the package channel.\n", encoding="utf-8")
+
+    result = subprocess.run(
+        [
+            sys.executable,
+            str(EXTRACTOR_PATH),
+            str(changelog),
+            "1.4.0",
+            "--footer",
+            str(footer),
+        ],
+        capture_output=True,
+        text=True,
+        check=False,
+    )
+
+    assert result.returncode == 0
+    assert result.stdout == (
+        "## [1.4.0] - 2026-09-10\n\n### Added\n\n- Show a release summary.\n\n"
+        "## Install\n\nUse the package channel.\n"
+    )
+
+
+def test_release_request_command_reports_create_or_patch_decisions(tmp_path):
+    body = tmp_path / "release-body.md"
+    body.write_text("## [1.4.0] - 2026-09-10\n", encoding="utf-8")
+
+    create = subprocess.run(
+        [
+            sys.executable,
+            str(RELEASE_REQUEST_PATH),
+            "--version",
+            "1.4.0",
+            "--body-file",
+            str(body),
+        ],
+        capture_output=True,
+        text=True,
+        check=False,
+    )
+    existing = tmp_path / "existing-release.json"
+    existing.write_text('{"id": 17, "assets": []}', encoding="utf-8")
+    patch = subprocess.run(
+        [
+            sys.executable,
+            str(RELEASE_REQUEST_PATH),
+            "--version",
+            "1.4.0",
+            "--body-file",
+            str(body),
+            "--existing-release",
+            str(existing),
+        ],
+        capture_output=True,
+        text=True,
+        check=False,
+    )
+
+    assert create.returncode == patch.returncode == 0
+    assert json.loads(create.stdout) == {
+        "method": "POST",
+        "path": "/releases",
+        "payload": {
+            "tag_name": "v1.4.0",
+            "name": "v1.4.0",
+            "body": "## [1.4.0] - 2026-09-10\n",
+        },
+    }
+    assert json.loads(patch.stdout) == {
+        "method": "PATCH",
+        "path": "/releases/17",
+        "payload": {"body": "## [1.4.0] - 2026-09-10\n"},
+    }
@@ -52,6 +52,21 @@ class TestIsRoot:
 class TestEnableIdempotentMatrix:
    """§8.6: Period-row idempotent matrix."""

+    def test_first_enable_creates_missing_store(self, store_path):
+        """A fresh package install has a store directory but no database yet."""
+        args = MagicMock(now=False, store_path=store_path)
+
+        with patch("fenris.monitor.subprocess") as mock_sub:
+            mock_sub.run.return_value = MagicMock(returncode=0)
+            cmd_enable(args)
+
+        conn = init_store(store_path)
+        row = conn.execute(
+            "SELECT ended_at FROM monitoring_periods WHERE ended_at IS NULL"
+        ).fetchone()
+        conn.close()
+        assert row is not None
+
    def test_first_opens_period(self, store_path):
        """First-ever enable opens a period at the enable moment."""
        # Initialize store
@@ -78,6 +78,7 @@ DEB_TARGETS = [

 RPM_TARGETS = [
    ("fedora:40", "rpm"),
+    ("opensuse/tumbleweed", "rpm"),
 ]

 ALL_TARGETS = DEB_TARGETS + RPM_TARGETS
@@ -101,11 +102,14 @@ def _build_deb_dockerfile(image: str, pkg_name: str) -> str:

 def _build_rpm_dockerfile(image: str, pkg_name: str) -> str:
    """Dockerfile for testing rpm installation."""
+    install_command = (
+        "zypper --non-interactive install --no-recommends python3 smartmontools systemd dbus-1 && zypper clean --all"
+        if image.startswith("opensuse/")
+        else "dnf install -y --setopt=install_weak_deps=False python3 smartmontools systemd dbus && dnf clean all"
+    )
    return textwrap.dedent(f"""\
        FROM {image}
-        RUN dnf install -y --setopt=install_weak_deps=False \
-            python3 smartmontools systemd dbus && \
-            dnf clean all
+        RUN {install_command}
        COPY dist/{pkg_name} /pkg/{pkg_name}
        RUN rpm -ivh /pkg/{pkg_name}
    """)
@@ -132,13 +136,16 @@ def skip_no_docker():

 def _assert_dormant_layout(container: str, fmt: str, version: str) -> None:
    """Assert the dormant-install contract (spec §6, §7)."""
-    # Venv directory exists with expected structure
+    # Version-neutral vendored runtime exists. It must not contain a copied
+    # Python binary tied to the package build host.
    rc, out = _container_exec(container, "test -d /opt/fenris && echo OK")
-    assert "OK" in out, "Bundled venv not found at /opt/fenris"
+    assert "OK" in out, "Bundled runtime not found at /opt/fenris"

-    # Venv Python binary exists (may not execute if shared libs differ)
-    rc, _ = _container_exec(container, "test -f /opt/fenris/bin/python3")
-    assert rc == 0, "Venv Python binary not found"
+    rc, _ = _container_exec(container, "test -f /opt/fenris/vendor/fenris/__init__.py")
+    assert rc == 0, "Fenris runtime package not found"
+
+    rc, _ = _container_exec(container, "test ! -e /opt/fenris/bin/python3")
+    assert rc == 0, "Package must not ship a copied Python interpreter"

    # Wrapper on PATH
    rc, out = _container_exec(container, "command -v fenris")
@@ -152,6 +159,11 @@ def _assert_dormant_layout(container: str, fmt: str, version: str) -> None:
    rc, out = _container_exec(container, f"grep -q '{version}' /usr/bin/fenris && echo OK")
    assert "OK" in out, f"Version {version} not found in wrapper script"

+    # This catches launcher import-path errors and copied-interpreter ABI
+    # breakage. Status is read-only and succeeds before monitoring setup.
+    rc, out = _container_exec(container, "fenris status")
+    assert rc == 0, f"Installed CLI cannot run: {out}"
+
    # Helpers in /usr/libexec/fenris
    for helper in ("fenris-monitor", "fenris-collect"):
        rc, _ = _container_exec(container, f"test -x /usr/libexec/fenris/{helper}")
@@ -284,8 +296,7 @@ def _assert_upgrade_semantics(container: str, fmt: str, pkg_name: str, version:
    4. Removal scripts are no-ops during upgrade
    5. Downgrade refusal via forward-only version check (tested at Python level)
    """
-    # Create a fake observation store using system Python
-    # (venv Python may not execute if host shared libs differ)
+    # Create a fake observation store using the target system Python.
    _container_exec(
        container,
        "mkdir -p /var/lib/fenris && "
@@ -391,7 +402,7 @@ def _assert_rpm_upgrade_full(container: str, pkg_name: str) -> None:
    # Modify the config file (simulate hand-edited device selector)
    _container_exec(
        container,
-        "echo 'devices = /dev/nvme0n1' > /etc/fenris/fenris.conf",
+        "echo 'device = /dev/nvme0n1' > /etc/fenris/fenris.conf",
    )
    # Record original config hash
    rc, original_hash = _container_exec(
@@ -447,8 +458,8 @@ def _assert_package_files_removed(container: str) -> None:
    )
    assert rc != 0, "Helper should be removed"

-    rc, _ = _container_exec(container, "test -f /opt/fenris/bin/python3")
-    assert rc != 0, "Venv Python should be removed"
+    rc, _ = _container_exec(container, "test -d /opt/fenris/vendor")
+    assert rc != 0, "Vendored runtime packages should be removed"


 def _assert_deb_remove_preserves(container: str) -> None:
@@ -587,10 +598,9 @@ def test_python_floor(skip_no_docker, version):
        assert "python3" in out, f"python3 dependency not declared: {out}"
        assert "3.10" in out, f"Python 3.10 floor not in dependency: {out}"

-        # Verify the bundled venv exists (binary may not execute on the host
-        # interpreter — that's tested separately by the dormant-install test)
-        rc, _ = _container_exec(container, "test -f /opt/fenris/bin/python3")
-        assert rc == 0, "Bundled venv Python binary not found"
+        # Verify the version-neutral bundled runtime exists.
+        rc, _ = _container_exec(container, "test -f /opt/fenris/vendor/fenris/__init__.py")
+        assert rc == 0, "Bundled runtime package not found"

        # fenris on PATH
        rc, _ = _container_exec(container, "command -v fenris")
@@ -324,6 +324,29 @@ class TestCIWorkflow:
        assert "upload" in content.lower() or "publish" in content.lower(), \
            "Workflow must include upload/publish step"

+    def test_workflow_validates_notes_before_publication(self):
+        content = _read(".gitea/workflows/release.yml")
+        assert "scripts/extract_changelog.py" in content, \
+            "Workflow must fail before publication if release notes cannot be extracted"
+        assert "--footer packaging/release-footer.md" in content, \
+            "Workflow must assemble the body from the standing release footer"
+
+    def test_workflow_resynchronizes_existing_release_bodies(self):
+        content = _read(".gitea/workflows/release.yml")
+        assert "scripts/release_request.py" in content, \
+            "Workflow must make the create-versus-update decision through the request seam"
+        assert '"${METHOD}"' in content, \
+            "Workflow must execute the helper-selected create-or-update request"
+        assert 'RELEASE_PATH="$(printf' in content and '\n          PATH="$(printf' not in content, \
+            "Workflow must not overwrite the shell PATH while preparing the request URL"
+
+
+def test_readme_points_consumers_to_release_notes():
+    readme = _read("README.md")
+
+    assert "Per-release notes live on the [releases page]" in readme
+    assert "standing install and verification instructions" in readme
+

 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Tests — Makefile release targets
@@ -415,6 +415,131 @@ class TestServiceFacts:
        assert "last collect:" in result
        assert "freshness:" in result

+    def test_continuity_reports_boot_enabled_independently_of_runtime(self, tmp_path):
+        """Status names reboot continuity while retaining the timer fact."""
+        from fenris.status import get_status
+
+        db = tmp_path / "observations.db"
+        init_store(db)
+        now = datetime(2026, 9, 1, 12, 0, 0, tzinfo=timezone.utc)
+
+        with patch("fenris.status.query_service_state", return_value={
+            "boot_enabled": True, "timer_active": False,
+            "last_collect_ok": None, "last_collect_age_s": None,
+            "last_collect_reason": None,
+        }):
+            result = get_status(store_path=db, clock_now=now,
+                                query_services=True, query_journal=False)
+
+        assert "monitoring: active in background · persists across reboots" in result
+        assert "timer: inactive" in result
+
+    def test_continuity_and_deliberate_pause_are_reported_separately(self, tmp_path):
+        """Only a sanctioned user_disabled period renders the paused wording."""
+        from fenris.status import get_status
+
+        db = tmp_path / "observations.db"
+        conn = init_store(db)
+        conn.execute(
+            "INSERT INTO monitoring_periods (started_at, ended_at, end_cause) "
+            "VALUES (?, ?, ?)",
+            ("2026-09-01T09:00:00+00:00", "2026-09-01T10:00:00+00:00", "user_disabled"),
+        )
+        conn.commit()
+        conn.close()
+        now = datetime(2026, 9, 1, 12, 0, 0, tzinfo=timezone.utc)
+
+        with patch("fenris.status.query_service_state", return_value={
+            "boot_enabled": False, "timer_active": False,
+            "last_collect_ok": None, "last_collect_age_s": None,
+            "last_collect_reason": None,
+        }):
+            result = get_status(store_path=db, clock_now=now,
+                                query_services=True, query_journal=False)
+
+        assert "monitoring: does not start on next boot" in result
+        assert "monitoring: paused — deliberate disable" in result
+        assert "paused time is excluded from your usage habit · resume: fenris monitor resume" in result
+
+    def test_raw_system_state_without_user_disabled_is_not_a_deliberate_pause(self, tmp_path):
+        """A non-sanctioned stop never acquires the deliberate-disable label."""
+        from fenris.status import get_status
+
+        db = tmp_path / "observations.db"
+        conn = init_store(db)
+        conn.execute(
+            "INSERT INTO monitoring_periods (started_at, ended_at, end_cause) "
+            "VALUES (?, ?, ?)",
+            ("2026-09-01T09:00:00+00:00", "2026-09-01T10:00:00+00:00", "migrated"),
+        )
+        conn.commit()
+        conn.close()
+        now = datetime(2026, 9, 1, 12, 0, 0, tzinfo=timezone.utc)
+
+        with patch("fenris.status.query_service_state", return_value={
+            "boot_enabled": False, "timer_active": False,
+            "last_collect_ok": None, "last_collect_age_s": None,
+            "last_collect_reason": None,
+        }):
+            result = get_status(store_path=db, clock_now=now,
+                                query_services=True, query_journal=False)
+
+        assert "monitoring: paused — deliberate disable" not in result
+
+    def test_resumed_open_period_clears_a_previous_deliberate_pause(self, tmp_path):
+        """A later sanctioned resume takes precedence over an older pause."""
+        from fenris.status import get_status
+
+        db = tmp_path / "observations.db"
+        conn = init_store(db)
+        conn.execute(
+            "INSERT INTO monitoring_periods (started_at, ended_at, end_cause) "
+            "VALUES (?, ?, ?)",
+            ("2026-09-01T09:00:00+00:00", "2026-09-01T10:00:00+00:00", "user_disabled"),
+        )
+        conn.execute(
+            "INSERT INTO monitoring_periods (started_at) VALUES (?)",
+            ("2026-09-01T11:00:00+00:00",),
+        )
+        conn.commit()
+        conn.close()
+        now = datetime(2026, 9, 1, 12, 0, 0, tzinfo=timezone.utc)
+
+        with patch("fenris.status.query_service_state", return_value={
+            "boot_enabled": True, "timer_active": True,
+            "last_collect_ok": None, "last_collect_age_s": None,
+            "last_collect_reason": None,
+        }):
+            result = get_status(store_path=db, clock_now=now,
+                                query_services=True, query_journal=False)
+
+        assert "monitoring: paused — deliberate disable" not in result
+
+    def test_live_enabled_service_suppresses_a_stale_pause_marker(self, tmp_path):
+        """A raw re-enable cannot leave a contradictory paused presentation."""
+        from fenris.status import get_status
+
+        db = tmp_path / "observations.db"
+        conn = init_store(db)
+        conn.execute(
+            "INSERT INTO monitoring_periods (started_at, ended_at, end_cause) "
+            "VALUES (?, ?, ?)",
+            ("2026-09-01T09:00:00+00:00", "2026-09-01T10:00:00+00:00", "user_disabled"),
+        )
+        conn.commit()
+        conn.close()
+        now = datetime(2026, 9, 1, 12, 0, 0, tzinfo=timezone.utc)
+
+        with patch("fenris.status.query_service_state", return_value={
+            "boot_enabled": True, "timer_active": True,
+            "last_collect_ok": None, "last_collect_age_s": None,
+            "last_collect_reason": None,
+        }):
+            result = get_status(store_path=db, clock_now=now,
+                                query_services=True, query_journal=False)
+
+        assert "monitoring: paused — deliberate disable" not in result
+

 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Status output structure (§8.8, LC-9)
@@ -441,6 +566,29 @@ class TestStatusOutput:
        assert isinstance(result, str)
        assert len(result) > 0

+    def test_status_excludes_tui_identity_and_auth_notice(self, tmp_path):
+        """CLI status never renders TUI-only identity or launch guidance."""
+        from fenris.status import get_status
+
+        db = tmp_path / "observations.db"
+        init_store(db)
+        now = datetime(2026, 9, 1, 12, 0, 0, tzinfo=timezone.utc)
+
+        with patch("fenris.status.query_service_state", return_value={
+            "boot_enabled": False, "timer_active": False,
+            "last_collect_ok": None, "last_collect_age_s": None,
+            "last_collect_reason": None,
+        }):
+            result = get_status(store_path=db, clock_now=now,
+                                query_services=True, query_journal=False)
+
+        for tui_only in (
+            "Fenris — NVMe endurance monitor",
+            "by Bongbetic",
+            "privileged actions will prompt for authentication (polkit)",
+        ):
+            assert tui_only not in result
+
    def test_status_never_writes(self, tmp_path):
        """Status never writes to the store."""
        from fenris.status import get_status
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+"""Store path resolution from config — regression coverage for issue #53.
+
+A fresh install ships a placeholder-commented config whose only required
+key is the device selector. The collector must not crash with
+KeyError 'store_path' when the key is absent.
+"""
+import sys
+from pathlib import Path
+
+sys.path.insert(0, str(Path(__file__).parent.parent / "src"))
+
+from fenris.store import DEFAULT_STORE_PATH, get_store_path
+
+
+REPO_ROOT = Path(__file__).resolve().parent.parent
+TEMPLATE = REPO_ROOT / "packaging" / "fenris.conf"
+
+
+def _parse_like_load_config(text: str) -> dict:
+    """Mirror collect.load_config()'s key=value parsing rules."""
+    config = {}
+    for line in text.splitlines():
+        line = line.strip()
+        if not line or line.startswith("#"):
+            continue
+        if "=" in line:
+            key, value = line.split("=", 1)
+            config[key.strip()] = value.strip()
+    return config
+
+
+def test_missing_store_path_falls_back_to_default():
+    """Config with only the device selector resolves to the packaged default."""
+    assert get_store_path({"device": "/dev/nvme0n1"}) == DEFAULT_STORE_PATH
+
+
+def test_explicit_store_path_wins():
+    """An explicit store_path override is honored."""
+    assert get_store_path({"store_path": "/tmp/other.db"}) == Path("/tmp/other.db")
+
+
+def test_packaged_template_yields_collectable_config():
+    """The packaged template, once a device is set, must be collector-ready.
+
+    Reproduces the fresh-install path: parse packaging/fenris.conf the way
+    collect.load_config() does, add the device selector, then resolve the
+    store. Issue #53 made this raise KeyError.
+    """
+    config = _parse_like_load_config(TEMPLATE.read_text())
+    config["device"] = "/dev/nvme0n1"
+    assert get_store_path(config) == DEFAULT_STORE_PATH
+
+
+def test_template_documents_store_path():
+    """The template must mention store_path so admins know it is overridable."""
+    assert "store_path" in TEMPLATE.read_text()
@@ -0,0 +1,79 @@
+"""Group access to the observation store — regression coverage for issue #54.
+
+Two defects: (1) a non-group user's stat() on the store directory raised
+PermissionError straight through open_store_readonly(), crashing status/TUI
+instead of degrading to the Store fault view; (2) even group members could
+not open the WAL-mode store because root-created sidecars lacked group write
+and the store directory lacked group execute-then-write.
+"""
+import sqlite3
+import sys
+from pathlib import Path
+
+import pytest
+
+sys.path.insert(0, str(Path(__file__).parent.parent / "src"))
+
+from fenris.store import DEFAULT_STORE_PATH, init_store
+from fenris.status import StoreFault, open_store_readonly
+
+
+def test_stat_permission_error_becomes_store_fault(monkeypatch, tmp_path):
+    """stat() denied (non-group user on a 2750 dir) → StoreFault, not crash."""
+    store = tmp_path / "observations.db"
+    store.write_bytes(b"")
+
+    import pathlib
+
+    def denied(self, follow_symlinks=True):
+        raise PermissionError(13, "Permission denied")
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(pathlib.Path, "exists", denied)
+    with pytest.raises(StoreFault):
+        open_store_readonly(store)
+
+
+def test_connect_failure_becomes_store_fault(tmp_path):
+    """sqlite failures stay wrapped as StoreFault (existing contract)."""
+    garbage = tmp_path / "observations.db"
+    garbage.write_bytes(b"not a database" * 100)
+    with pytest.raises(StoreFault):
+        open_store_readonly(garbage)
+
+
+def test_init_store_leaves_files_group_writable(tmp_path):
+    """Root-created stores must stay readable by WAL readers: db and sidecars
+    need group write after init_store (issue #54)."""
+    store = tmp_path / "observations.db"
+    conn = init_store(store)
+    try:
+        assert (store.stat().st_mode & 0o060) == 0o060, "db not group rw"
+        wal = store.with_name(store.name + "-wal")
+        shm = store.with_name(store.name + "-shm")
+        if wal.exists():
+            assert (wal.stat().st_mode & 0o060) == 0o060, "wal not group rw"
+        if shm.exists():
+            assert (shm.stat().st_mode & 0o060) == 0o060, "shm not group rw"
+    finally:
+        conn.close()
+
+
+def test_readonly_open_works_after_init_store(tmp_path):
+    """The shipped read path opens a store created by init_store."""
+    store = tmp_path / "observations.db"
+    writer = init_store(store)
+    writer.execute("INSERT INTO monitoring_periods (started_at) VALUES ('2026-01-01T00:00:00+00:00')")
+    writer.commit()
+    conn = open_store_readonly(store)
+    assert conn is not None
+    conn.close()
+    writer.close()
+
+
+def test_packaging_ships_group_access():
+    """tmpfiles must create the store dir group-writable; collect unit must
+    keep the umask loose so root-created sidecars stay group-accessible."""
+    repo = Path(__file__).resolve().parent.parent
+    assert "2770" in (repo / "packaging" / "tmpfiles.d" / "fenris.conf").read_text()
+    assert "2750" not in (repo / "packaging" / "tmpfiles.d" / "fenris.conf").read_text()
+    assert "UMask=002" in (repo / "units" / "fenris-collect.service").read_text()
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ Covers:
 Criteria: TUI-1, TUI-4, CI-1, CI-4, IN-3.
 """
 import sqlite3
+from xml.etree import ElementTree
 from datetime import datetime, timedelta, timezone
 from pathlib import Path
 from unittest.mock import patch, MagicMock
@@ -384,6 +385,160 @@ class TestDenseScreen:
            assert "timer:" in strip
            assert "last collect:" in strip
            assert "freshness:" in strip
+            assert "by Bongbetic" in strip
+
+    @pytest.mark.asyncio
+    async def test_service_strip_shows_continuity_and_separate_quit_rail(self, tmp_path):
+        """The visible action footer excludes quit because the rail owns it."""
+        conn = init_store(tmp_path / "test.db")
+        _open_period(conn)
+        conn.close()
+        app = FenrisTuiApp(store_path=tmp_path / "test.db")
+
+        with patch("fenris.tui.query_service_state", return_value={
+            "boot_enabled": True, "timer_active": True,
+            "last_collect_ok": True, "last_collect_age_s": 60,
+            "last_collect_reason": None,
+        }):
+            async with app.run_test():
+                strip = str(app.query_one("#service-strip").render()).lower()
+                rail = str(app.query_one("#quit-rail").render())
+                usage = app.query_one("#usage-history")
+                service = app.query_one("#service-strip")
+                quit_rail = app.query_one("#quit-rail")
+                assert "continuity" in strip
+                assert "monitoring: active in background · persists across reboots" in strip
+                assert "p pause · r resume · c collect · d disclosures" in strip
+                assert "q quit" not in strip
+                assert rail == "q QUIT TUI"
+                assert usage.region.y < service.region.y < quit_rail.region.y
+                assert usage.region.bottom <= service.region.y
+                assert service.region.bottom <= quit_rail.region.y
+
+    @pytest.mark.asyncio
+    async def test_deliberate_pause_banner_is_visible_and_quit_preserves_periods(self, tmp_path):
+        """The Pilot sees the paused block; q leaves persisted monitoring state alone."""
+        db = tmp_path / "test.db"
+        conn = init_store(db)
+        conn.execute(
+            "INSERT INTO monitoring_periods (started_at, ended_at, end_cause) "
+            "VALUES (?, ?, ?)",
+            ("2026-09-01T09:00:00+00:00", "2026-09-01T10:00:00+00:00", "user_disabled"),
+        )
+        conn.commit()
+        conn.close()
+        app = FenrisTuiApp(store_path=db)
+
+        with patch("fenris.tui.query_service_state", return_value={
+            "boot_enabled": False, "timer_active": False,
+            "last_collect_ok": None, "last_collect_age_s": None,
+            "last_collect_reason": None,
+        }), patch("fenris.tui.subprocess.run") as subprocess_run, patch.object(
+            app, "_run_helper"
+        ) as run_helper:
+            async with app.run_test(size=(80, 24)) as pilot:
+                await pilot.pause()
+                paused_banner = app.query_one("#paused-banner")
+                main_grid = app.query_one("#main-grid")
+                assert str(main_grid.styles.layout) == "<grid>"
+                assert main_grid.has_class("paused")
+                assert len(main_grid.styles.grid_rows) == 5
+                banner = str(paused_banner.render()).lower()
+                assert "monitoring: paused — deliberate disable" in banner
+                assert "paused time is excluded from your usage habit · resume: fenris monitor resume" in banner
+                assert paused_banner.region.height >= 5
+                assert paused_banner.region.y < app.query_one("#usage-history").region.y
+                assert app.query_one("#usage-history").region.bottom <= app.query_one(
+                    "#service-strip"
+                ).region.y
+                screenshot = app.export_screenshot()
+                visible_text = " ".join(
+                    "".join(ElementTree.fromstring(screenshot).itertext()).split()
+                )
+                assert "paused time is excluded from your usage habit" in visible_text
+                assert "resume: fenris monitor resume" in visible_text
+                assert "monitoring: does not start on next boot" in str(
+                    app.query_one("#service-strip").render()
+                ).lower()
+                dashboard_scroll = app.query_one("#dashboard-scroll")
+                assert dashboard_scroll.max_scroll_y > 0
+                dashboard_scroll.focus()
+                await pilot.press("end")
+                assert dashboard_scroll.scroll_y == dashboard_scroll.max_scroll_y
+                footer_text = " ".join(
+                    "".join(
+                        ElementTree.fromstring(app.export_screenshot()).itertext()
+                    ).split()
+                )
+                assert "q QUIT TUI" in footer_text
+                await pilot.press("q")
+                assert not app.is_running
+            subprocess_run.assert_not_called()
+            run_helper.assert_not_called()
+
+        conn = sqlite3.connect(db)
+        row = conn.execute(
+            "SELECT ended_at, end_cause FROM monitoring_periods"
+        ).fetchone()
+        conn.close()
+        assert row == ("2026-09-01T10:00:00+00:00", "user_disabled")
+
+    @pytest.mark.asyncio
+    async def test_quit_preserves_an_active_monitoring_period(self, tmp_path):
+        """Quitting an active dashboard never closes or mutates its period."""
+        db = tmp_path / "test.db"
+        conn = init_store(db)
+        _open_period(conn, "2026-09-01T09:00:00+00:00")
+        conn.close()
+        app = FenrisTuiApp(store_path=db)
+
+        with patch("fenris.tui.query_service_state", return_value={
+            "boot_enabled": True, "timer_active": True,
+            "last_collect_ok": None, "last_collect_age_s": None,
+            "last_collect_reason": None,
+        }), patch("fenris.tui.subprocess.run") as subprocess_run, patch.object(
+            app, "_run_helper"
+        ) as run_helper:
+            async with app.run_test() as pilot:
+                await pilot.press("q")
+                assert not app.is_running
+            subprocess_run.assert_not_called()
+            run_helper.assert_not_called()
+
+        conn = sqlite3.connect(db)
+        row = conn.execute(
+            "SELECT started_at, ended_at, end_cause FROM monitoring_periods"
+        ).fetchone()
+        conn.close()
+        assert row == ("2026-09-01T09:00:00+00:00", None, None)
+
+    @pytest.mark.asyncio
+    async def test_branding_and_one_time_auth_banner(self, tmp_path):
+        """Identity is visible at launch; auth notice clears once per session."""
+        app = FenrisTuiApp(
+            store_path=tmp_path / "nonexistent.db",
+            refresh_interval_s=0.2,
+        )
+        auth_notice = "privileged actions will prompt for authentication (polkit)"
+
+        async with app.run_test() as pilot:
+            headline = str(app.query_one("#headline-band").render())
+            assert "Fenris — NVMe endurance monitor" in headline
+            assert auth_notice in headline
+            assert "by Bongbetic" in str(app.query_one("#service-strip").render())
+
+            await pilot.pause(0.25)
+            assert auth_notice not in str(app.query_one("#headline-band").render())
+
+            await pilot.pause(0.25)
+            assert auth_notice not in str(app.query_one("#headline-band").render())
+
+        fresh_app = FenrisTuiApp(
+            store_path=tmp_path / "nonexistent.db",
+            refresh_interval_s=0.2,
+        )
+        async with fresh_app.run_test():
+            assert auth_notice in str(fresh_app.query_one("#headline-band").render())


 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -524,4 +679,3 @@ class TestStateMatrixCombinations:
        # Incomplete provenance → UNVERIFIED tier
        assert proj.baseline_tier.value == "unverified_override"
        conn.close()
-
@@ -7,3 +7,4 @@ After=local-fs.target
 Type=oneshot
 ExecStart=/usr/libexec/fenris/fenris-collect
 TimeoutStartSec=90
+UMask=002
Author	SHA1	Message	Date
xavierk	f406285a0f	release: prepare v0.3.4 Release / release (push) Successful in 1m4s Details	2026-09-10 21:07:10 +05:30
xavierk	608ad7f823	docs(release): point consumers to release notes	2026-09-10 20:05:37 +05:30
xavierk	cfdef63388	fix(release): execute publication request safely	2026-09-10 20:04:29 +05:30
xavierk	f077fa671e	feat(release): publish changelog-driven notes	2026-09-10 20:02:19 +05:30
xavierk	d01df6468f	feat(tui): clarify monitoring continuity and quitting	2026-09-10 19:43:32 +05:30
xavierk	7bbe5cede7	feat(tui): identify Fenris and explain polkit authentication	2026-09-10 13:28:05 +05:30
xavierk	bb5bc9a72e	docs(spec): assemble dashboard clarity spec, DC-1–DC-8 criteria, TUI-4 amendment (wayfinder #60 )	2026-09-10 12:03:31 +05:30
xavierk	4a7661d81c	chore: bump version to 0.3.3 (missed from #54 fix commit) Release / release (push) Successful in 55s Details	2026-09-10 10:01:28 +05:30
xavierk	fb683f52ba	fix(store): degrade on store permission errors, keep store group-readable (issue #54 ) Release / release (push) Successful in 53s Details - open_store_readonly(): stat() PermissionError (non-group user on the 2750 store dir) now maps to StoreFault so status/TUI degrade instead of crashing with a traceback. - init_store(): chmod db + -wal/-shm group rw after WAL setup — SQLite WAL readers need write access to sidecars even for mode=ro opens. - Store dir 2750 → 2770 (tmpfiles + make install) and UMask=002 on the collect unit so root-created files stay group-accessible. - rpm %post upgrade path re-runs systemd-tmpfiles --create to correct placement modes on existing machines. Bump to 0.3.3.	2026-09-10 09:58:24 +05:30
xavierk	512df2ae83	fix(store): default store_path when config omits it (issue #53 ) Release / release (push) Successful in 59s Details Fresh installs shipped a config template with no store_path key while collector.py demanded one via get_store_path() — every first collect crashed with KeyError 'store_path'. Resolve to the packaged default (/var/lib/fenris/observations.db) when absent, document the key in the template, and cover the fresh-install path with regression tests. Bump to 0.3.2.	2026-09-10 09:45:02 +05:30
xavierk	bcbc97a947	chore: ignore local build and tooling artifacts Release / release (push) Successful in 57s Details	2026-09-10 09:27:44 +05:30
xavierk	b593a2742e	fix: make RPM runtime portable on Tumbleweed	2026-09-04 11:46:58 +05:30