release: prepare signed 1.8.21-alpha OTA

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -2,6 +2,13 @@
 
 ## Unreleased
 
+## v1.8.21-alpha (2026-09-30)
+
+- Fixed Bitcoin and other containers being forcibly stopped after ten seconds during managed updates and restarts.
+- Existing installations now receive the same graceful shutdown allowance as new containers, without restarting apps just to apply this setting.
+- Prevented unnecessary Lightning restarts when Bitcoin has stayed running; dependency restarts now require an observed Bitcoin container change.
+- Includes the Cashu payment, optional Bitcoin pruning, Lightning readiness, and explorer improvements from 1.8.20.
+
 ## v1.8.20-alpha (2026-09-29)
 
 - Fixed Cashu file payments rejected despite a shared mint, and preserved the payment amount when mint fees reduce change.

core/Cargo.lock

@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "archipelago"
-version = "1.8.20-alpha"
+version = "1.8.21-alpha"
 dependencies = [
  "anyhow",
  "archipelago-container",

core/archipelago/Cargo.toml

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [package]
 name = "archipelago"
-version = "1.8.20-alpha"
+version = "1.8.21-alpha"
 edition = "2021"
 license.workspace = true
 description = "Archipelago Bitcoin Node OS - Native backend"

core/archipelago/src/container/prod_orchestrator.rs

@@ -1174,15 +1174,21 @@ impl ReconcileReport {
 fn cascade_pairs_for_report<'r>(
     report: &'r ReconcileReport,
     user_stopped: &std::collections::HashSet<String>,
+    changed_backends: &HashSet<String>,
 ) -> Vec<(&'r str, &'static str)> {
     let mut pairs = Vec::new();
     for (backend, action) in &report.actions {
         if !matches!(
             action,
-            ReconcileAction::Installed | ReconcileAction::Started
+            ReconcileAction::NoOp | ReconcileAction::Started | ReconcileAction::Installed
         ) {
             continue;
         }
+        // A successful systemctl start can be a no-op after a transient
+        // Podman inspect failure. Require a witnessed lifecycle change.
+        if !changed_backends.contains(backend) {
+            continue;
+        }
         for dep in crate::app_ops::address_caching_dependents(backend) {
             let dep_untouched = report
                 .actions
@@ -1196,6 +1202,25 @@ fn cascade_pairs_for_report<'r>(
     pairs
 }
 
+/// Only positive runtime evidence permits disrupting an address-caching wallet.
+/// A known absent/stopped backend becoming running, a new container ID, or a
+/// changed start timestamp qualifies. A failed observation never does.
+fn backend_instance_changed(before: Option<&ContainerStatus>, after: &ContainerStatus) -> bool {
+    if after.state != ContainerState::Running || after.id.is_empty() {
+        return false;
+    }
+    let Some(before) = before else {
+        return true;
+    };
+    if before.id.is_empty() {
+        return false;
+    }
+    if before.id != after.id || before.state != ContainerState::Running {
+        return true;
+    }
+    matches!((&before.started_at, &after.started_at), (Some(a), Some(b)) if !a.is_empty() && !b.is_empty() && a != b)
+}
+
 #[derive(Debug, Default)]
 pub struct AdoptionReport {
     pub adopted: Vec<String>,
@@ -1909,12 +1934,33 @@ impl ProdContainerOrchestrator {
             _ => 2,
         });
         // Live container names (any state), for the same recovery check.
-        let present_containers: std::collections::HashSet<String> = self
+        let listed_containers = self.runtime.list_containers().await.ok();
-            .runtime
+        let present_containers: HashSet<String> = listed_containers
-            .list_containers()
+            .as_ref()
-            .await
+            .map(|cs| cs.iter().map(|c| c.name.clone()).collect())
-            .map(|cs| cs.into_iter().map(|c| c.name).collect())
             .unwrap_or_default();
+        // Keep unknown distinct from confirmed absence. Runtime queries can
+        // fail under load while systemd still has a healthy running backend.
+        let mut backend_before: HashMap<String, Option<ContainerStatus>> = HashMap::new();
+        for lm in &manifests {
+            let id = &lm.manifest.app.id;
+            if crate::app_ops::address_caching_dependents(id).is_empty() {
+                continue;
+            }
+            let name = compute_container_name(&lm.manifest);
+            match self.runtime.get_container_status(&name).await {
+                Ok(status) => {
+                    backend_before.insert(id.clone(), Some(status));
+                }
+                Err(_) if listed_containers.is_some() && !present_containers.contains(&name) => {
+                    backend_before.insert(id.clone(), None);
+                }
+                Err(err) => {
+                    tracing::warn!(backend = %id, error = %err,
+                        "cannot observe backend before reconcile; will not infer a dependency restart from an action report");
+                }
+            }
+        }
         let mut report = ReconcileReport::default();
         let disk_gb = self.disk_gb().await;
         let bitcoin_pruned = disk_gb < ARCHIVAL_BITCOIN_DISK_GB
@@ -2096,7 +2142,20 @@ impl ProdContainerOrchestrator {
         // state recovery, repair recreate, boot InstallMissing) moves the
         // address behind a running dependent's back — §C "restart lnd after
         // ANY bitcoin recreate".
-        for (backend, dep) in cascade_pairs_for_report(&report, &user_stopped) {
+        let mut changed_backends = HashSet::new();
+        for (backend, before) in &backend_before {
+            let Some(name) = container_name_by_app_id.get(backend) else {
+                continue;
+            };
+            if let Ok(after) = self.runtime.get_container_status(name).await {
+                if backend_instance_changed(before.as_ref(), &after) {
+                    changed_backends.insert(backend.clone());
+                }
+            }
+        }
+        // A user stop during a slow reconcile pass still takes precedence.
+        let user_stopped = crate::crash_recovery::load_user_stopped(&self.data_dir).await;
+        for (backend, dep) in cascade_pairs_for_report(&report, &user_stopped, &changed_backends) {
             // Same rule as the RPC cascade: hold the dependent's op lock
             // across the restart; skip when a worker is mid-sequence.
             let lock = crate::app_ops::op_lock(dep);
@@ -6409,6 +6468,67 @@ app:
         );
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn backend_cascade_requires_observed_instance_change() {
+        let running = ContainerStatus {
+            id: "container-1".into(),
+            name: "bitcoin-core".into(),
+            state: ContainerState::Running,
+            started_at: Some("start-1".into()),
+            health: None,
+            exit_code: None,
+            image: "bitcoin:1".into(),
+            created: "created-1".into(),
+            ports: vec![],
+            lan_address: None,
+        };
+        assert!(!backend_instance_changed(Some(&running), &running));
+        assert!(backend_instance_changed(None, &running));
+        let mut before = running.clone();
+        before.state = ContainerState::Exited;
+        assert!(backend_instance_changed(Some(&before), &running));
+        before = running.clone();
+        before.id = "old-container".into();
+        assert!(backend_instance_changed(Some(&before), &running));
+        before = running.clone();
+        before.started_at = Some("earlier-start".into());
+        assert!(backend_instance_changed(Some(&before), &running));
+        before.started_at = None;
+        assert!(!backend_instance_changed(Some(&before), &running));
+        before.id.clear();
+        assert!(!backend_instance_changed(Some(&before), &running));
+        let mut after = running.clone();
+        after.state = ContainerState::Exited;
+        assert!(!backend_instance_changed(None, &after));
+        after = running.clone();
+        after.id.clear();
+        assert!(!backend_instance_changed(None, &after));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn cascade_ignores_false_started_report_but_detects_real_exec_drift() {
+        let none = HashSet::new();
+        let mut report = ReconcileReport {
+            actions: vec![
+                ("bitcoin-core".into(), ReconcileAction::Started),
+                ("lnd".into(), ReconcileAction::NoOp),
+            ],
+            failures: vec![],
+        };
+        // systemctl start of an already active unit does not move its address.
+        assert!(cascade_pairs_for_report(&report, &none, &none).is_empty());
+        // A unit exec rewrite can restart Bitcoin while the outer reconcile
+        // action remains NoOp. Runtime evidence still requires LND to reconnect.
+        let changed = ["bitcoin-core".into()].into();
+        report.actions[0].1 = ReconcileAction::NoOp;
+        assert_eq!(
+            cascade_pairs_for_report(&report, &none, &changed),
+            vec![("bitcoin-core", "lnd")]
+        );
+        report.actions[0].1 = ReconcileAction::Left("lifecycle-op-in-flight".into());
+        assert!(cascade_pairs_for_report(&report, &none, &changed).is_empty());
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn cascade_pairs_cover_backend_recreate_with_running_dependent() {
         use std::collections::HashSet;
@@ -6420,6 +6540,7 @@ app:
             failures: vec![],
         };
         let none = HashSet::new();
+        let changed: HashSet<String> = ["bitcoin-core".into(), "bitcoin-knots".into()].into();
 
         // Backend recreated while lnd sat running (NoOp) → cascade.
         let r = report(vec![
@@ -6427,7 +6548,7 @@ app:
             ("lnd", ReconcileAction::NoOp),
         ]);
         assert_eq!(
-            cascade_pairs_for_report(&r, &none),
+            cascade_pairs_for_report(&r, &none, &changed),
             vec![("bitcoin-knots", "lnd")]
         );
 
@@ -6437,7 +6558,7 @@ app:
             ("lnd", ReconcileAction::NoOp),
         ]);
         assert_eq!(
-            cascade_pairs_for_report(&r, &none),
+            cascade_pairs_for_report(&r, &none, &changed),
             vec![("bitcoin-core", "lnd")]
         );
 
@@ -6446,7 +6567,7 @@ app:
             ("bitcoin-knots", ReconcileAction::NoOp),
             ("lnd", ReconcileAction::NoOp),
         ]);
-        assert!(cascade_pairs_for_report(&r, &none).is_empty());
+        assert!(cascade_pairs_for_report(&r, &none, &none).is_empty());
 
         // Dependent itself (re)started this pass → it already resolved the
         // fresh address; no cascade.
@@ -6454,7 +6575,7 @@ app:
             ("bitcoin-knots", ReconcileAction::Installed),
             ("lnd", ReconcileAction::Started),
         ]);
-        assert!(cascade_pairs_for_report(&r, &none).is_empty());
+        assert!(cascade_pairs_for_report(&r, &none, &changed).is_empty());
 
         // User-stopped dependent is never bounced.
         let r = report(vec![
@@ -6462,14 +6583,14 @@ app:
             ("lnd", ReconcileAction::NoOp),
         ]);
         let stopped: HashSet<String> = ["lnd".to_string()].into();
-        assert!(cascade_pairs_for_report(&r, &stopped).is_empty());
+        assert!(cascade_pairs_for_report(&r, &stopped, &changed).is_empty());
 
         // Non-backend recreates don't cascade anything.
         let r = report(vec![
             ("grafana", ReconcileAction::Installed),
             ("lnd", ReconcileAction::NoOp),
         ]);
-        assert!(cascade_pairs_for_report(&r, &none).is_empty());
+        assert!(cascade_pairs_for_report(&r, &none, &changed).is_empty());
     }
 
     #[tokio::test]

core/archipelago/src/container/quadlet.rs

@@ -184,6 +184,7 @@ pub struct QuadletUnit {
     pub no_new_privileges: bool,
     pub cpu_quota: Option<u32>,
     pub restart_policy: RestartPolicy,
+    pub stop_grace_secs: Option<u64>,
 }
 
 impl QuadletUnit {
@@ -216,6 +217,10 @@ impl QuadletUnit {
         let _ = writeln!(s, "[Container]");
         let _ = writeln!(s, "ContainerName={}", self.name);
         let _ = writeln!(s, "Image={}", self.image);
+        let grace = self
+            .stop_grace_secs
+            .unwrap_or_else(|| archipelago_container::runtime::stop_grace_secs_for(&self.name));
+        let _ = writeln!(s, "StopTimeout={grace}");
         // Pull=never: companions are pre-pulled or built. A missing image
         // must surface as a unit start failure, not a silent retry storm.
         let _ = writeln!(s, "Pull=never");
@@ -350,6 +355,15 @@ impl QuadletUnit {
         // the unit stuck in deactivating. Health/status remains app-level state,
         // not a systemd start gate.
         let _ = writeln!(s, "TimeoutStartSec=0");
+        let _ = writeln!(s, "TimeoutStopSec={}", grace.saturating_add(15));
+        // Stop explicitly before Quadlet's generated `podman rm -f`. The
+        // existing container may still carry Podman's old 10-second default;
+        // StopTimeout alone only protects containers created after migration.
+        let _ = writeln!(s, "ExecStop=");
+        let _ = writeln!(
+            s,
+            "ExecStop=/usr/bin/podman stop --ignore --time={grace} --cidfile=%t/%N.cid"
+        );
         // Restart policy + 10s backoff. RestartSec keeps a crash-loop
         // from saturating the journal. Companions: Always. Backends:
         // OnFailure (clean stops stay stopped).
@@ -525,6 +539,9 @@ impl QuadletUnit {
             // Always, not OnFailure: with quadlet's `--rm`, OnFailure left a
             // cleanly-exited app deleted and unrestarted. See RestartPolicy.
             restart_policy: RestartPolicy::Always,
+            stop_grace_secs: Some(super::prod_orchestrator::resolve_stop_grace_secs(
+                manifest, name,
+            )),
         }
     }
 }
@@ -792,7 +809,11 @@ pub async fn stop_service(service: &str) -> Result<()> {
 /// corruption — so the orchestrator passes the per-app grace here. Never waits
 /// less than `QUADLET_STOP_TIMEOUT`.
 pub async fn stop_service_with_timeout(service: &str, timeout: Duration) -> Result<()> {
-    let timeout = timeout.max(QUADLET_STOP_TIMEOUT);
+    let name = service.strip_suffix(".service").unwrap_or(service);
+    let body = fs::read_to_string(unit_dir().await?.join(format!("{name}.container")))
+        .await
+        .unwrap_or_default();
+    let timeout = timeout.max(stop_wait_timeout(name, &body));
     match systemctl_user_status(&["stop", service], timeout).await {
         Ok(status) if status.success() => Ok(()),
         Ok(status) => Err(anyhow!("systemctl --user stop {service} exited {status}")),
@@ -813,6 +834,20 @@ pub async fn stop_service_with_timeout(service: &str, timeout: Duration) -> Resu
     }
 }
 
+/// The command waiter must outlive both the container grace and systemd's
+/// stop deadline. Restart/repair callers must not kill Bitcoin at 45 seconds.
+fn stop_wait_timeout(name: &str, unit_body: &str) -> Duration {
+    Duration::from_secs(stop_grace_from_unit(name, unit_body).saturating_add(30))
+        .max(QUADLET_STOP_TIMEOUT)
+}
+
+fn stop_grace_from_unit(name: &str, unit_body: &str) -> u64 {
+    directive_values(unit_body, "StopTimeout=")
+        .last()
+        .and_then(|value| value.parse::<u64>().ok())
+        .unwrap_or_else(|| archipelago_container::runtime::stop_grace_secs_for(name))
+}
+
 async fn systemctl_user_status(
     args: &[&str],
     timeout: Duration,
@@ -939,6 +974,10 @@ fn directive_values(unit_body: &str, prefix: &str) -> Vec<String> {
 /// that systemd no longer knows about.
 pub async fn disable_remove(unit_name: &str, dir: &Path) -> Result<()> {
     let svc = format!("{unit_name}.service");
+    let path = dir.join(format!("{unit_name}.container"));
+    let body = fs::read_to_string(&path).await.unwrap_or_default();
+    let timeout = stop_wait_timeout(unit_name, &body);
+    let grace = stop_grace_from_unit(unit_name, &body).to_string();
     // Stop first; ignore failure (unit may already be down). BOUNDED — on
     // rootless podman a generated unit can wedge in "deactivating" while
     // `podman rm -f` hangs underneath it, and an unbounded `systemctl stop`
@@ -946,13 +985,12 @@ pub async fn disable_remove(unit_name: &str, dir: &Path) -> Result<()> {
     // the package entry is stranded in `Removing` (a ghost in My Apps that also
     // blocks reinstall). If the graceful stop times out, escalate to
     // SIGKILL + reset-failed so teardown always proceeds.
-    if systemctl_user_status(&["stop", &svc], QUADLET_STOP_TIMEOUT)
+    if systemctl_user_status(&["stop", &svc], timeout)
         .await
         .is_err()
     {
         let _ = kill_and_reset_service(&svc).await;
     }
-    let path = dir.join(format!("{unit_name}.container"));
     if fs::try_exists(&path).await.unwrap_or(false) {
         match fs::remove_file(&path).await {
             Ok(()) => {}
@@ -965,9 +1003,9 @@ pub async fn disable_remove(unit_name: &str, dir: &Path) -> Result<()> {
     // Bounded so a hung podman store can't re-introduce the stall this function
     // exists to avoid.
     let _ = tokio::time::timeout(
-        QUADLET_STOP_TIMEOUT,
+        timeout,
         Command::new("podman")
-            .args(["rm", "-f", unit_name])
+            .args(["rm", "-f", "--ignore", "--time", &grace, unit_name])
             .status(),
     )
     .await;
@@ -992,6 +1030,118 @@ mod tests {
     use super::*;
     use tempfile::tempdir;
 
+    #[test]
+    fn shutdown_grace_covers_container_systemd_and_caller() {
+        for (name, grace) in [
+            ("bitcoin-core", 600),
+            ("bitcoin-knots", 600),
+            ("lnd", 330),
+            ("electrumx", 300),
+            ("other", 30),
+        ] {
+            let unit = QuadletUnit {
+                name: name.into(),
+                ..Default::default()
+            };
+            let body = unit.render();
+            assert!(body.contains(&format!("StopTimeout={grace}\n")));
+            assert!(body.contains(&format!("TimeoutStopSec={}\n", grace + 15)));
+            assert!(body.contains(&format!("podman stop --ignore --time={grace} --cidfile=")));
+            assert_eq!(
+                stop_wait_timeout(name, &body),
+                Duration::from_secs(grace + 30)
+            );
+            // Legacy units have no StopTimeout directive yet.
+            assert_eq!(stop_wait_timeout(name, ""), Duration::from_secs(grace + 30));
+        }
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn custom_stop_grace_survives_render_and_restart_budget() {
+        let manifest: AppManifest = serde_yaml::from_str(
+            r#"
+app:
+  id: custom-db
+  name: Custom database
+  version: 1.0.0
+  stop_grace_secs: 900
+  container:
+    image: example/db:1
+"#,
+        )
+        .unwrap();
+        let unit = QuadletUnit::from_manifest(&manifest, "custom-db");
+        assert_eq!(unit.stop_grace_secs, Some(900));
+        assert_eq!(
+            stop_wait_timeout("custom-db", &unit.render()),
+            Duration::from_secs(930)
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            stop_wait_timeout("lnd", "StopTimeout=invalid"),
+            Duration::from_secs(360)
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn stop_grace_migration_does_not_request_an_execution_restart() {
+        let unit = sample_unit();
+        let new = unit.render();
+        let old = new
+            .lines()
+            .filter(|line| {
+                !line.starts_with("StopTimeout=")
+                    && !line.starts_with("TimeoutStopSec=")
+                    && !line.starts_with("ExecStop=")
+            })
+            .collect::<Vec<_>>()
+            .join("\n");
+        assert!(!exec_changed(&old, &new));
+        assert!(!publish_ports_changed(&old, &new));
+        assert!(!network_aliases_changed(&old, &new));
+        assert!(!health_cmd_changed(&old, &new));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn actual_quadlet_generator_stops_before_forced_removal() {
+        let generator = Path::new("/usr/lib/systemd/system-generators/podman-system-generator");
+        if !generator.exists() {
+            eprintln!(
+                "Quadlet generator unavailable; run this regression on the Linux release host"
+            );
+            return;
+        }
+        let dir = tempdir().unwrap();
+        let unit = QuadletUnit {
+            name: "grace-test".into(),
+            image: "localhost/test:latest".into(),
+            stop_grace_secs: Some(600),
+            ..Default::default()
+        };
+        std::fs::write(dir.path().join("grace-test.container"), unit.render()).unwrap();
+        let output = std::process::Command::new(generator)
+            .args(["--user", "--dryrun"])
+            .env("QUADLET_UNIT_DIRS", dir.path())
+            .output()
+            .unwrap();
+        assert!(
+            output.status.success(),
+            "{}",
+            String::from_utf8_lossy(&output.stderr)
+        );
+        let generated = String::from_utf8_lossy(&output.stdout).to_string()
+            + &String::from_utf8_lossy(&output.stderr);
+        let stop = generated
+            .find("ExecStop=/usr/bin/podman stop --ignore --time=600")
+            .unwrap();
+        let remove = generated.find("ExecStop=/usr/bin/podman rm ").unwrap();
+        assert!(
+            stop < remove,
+            "Legacy container must stop gracefully before removal"
+        );
+        assert!(generated.contains("--stop-timeout 600"));
+        assert!(generated.contains("TimeoutStopSec=615"));
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn render_emits_secret_env_by_reference_never_value() {
         let u = QuadletUnit {

docs/repair-release-20260929.md

@@ -257,3 +257,102 @@ Both catalog and OTA signatures verify against the pinned release root. Staged
 artifact hash/size checks and catalog drift/trust checks pass. User accepted the
 remaining Framework display check and explicitly authorized release. Publication
 and ISO build may proceed; do not regenerate the signed manifest or artifacts.
+
+### Published OTA; ISO withheld after live shutdown defect — 2026-09-30
+
+Signed 1.8.20 OTA/catalog published to git and ngit, with public asset hashes
+verified. Catalog rollout triggered a Bitcoin command update at 08:34 UTC.
+Although the orchestrator allowed a long stop, Quadlet's generated Podman removal
+still used its ten-second default and killed Bitcoin. Core replayed its block
+index; LND later lost its connection to the previous Bitcoin container IP.
+
+Stopped the ISO build and queued boot check; any partial 1.8.20 ISO is invalid
+and must not be published. Preparing 1.8.21 to supersede the immutable signed OTA.
+Installed explicit graceful-stop systemd overrides on dev and Shorty without
+restarting native services. Candidate Quadlet fix adds per-app container, systemd,
+and command-wait budgets, including existing containers and uninstall fallback.
+Focused 43 tests pass, including actual Quadlet generator stop-before-remove order.
+Full tests, disposable slow-stop verification, build and deployment remain pending.
+
+Disposable live regression passed: started an Alpine container with its legacy
+ten-second stop setting, rewrote and reloaded its Quadlet with explicit twenty-
+second graceful stop, verified the same container ID and old internal timeout
+remained running, then stopped it. Its twelve-second shutdown handler completed
+in 12.6 seconds, emitted the completion marker, and exited without SIGKILL/137.
+Fixture had no network or wallet mounts and was removed afterward.
+
+Core finished index loading and resumed unpruned initial sync. LND automatically
+unlocked at 08:47 UTC. The existing backend-address cascade then performed a
+graceful LND restart at 08:57 UTC after Bitcoin reconciliation completed; LND
+automatically unlocked again and reached chain-sync waiting. No manual wallet
+unlock or restart was used for this recovery.
+
+### False dependency restart exposed during monitoring — 09:08 UTC
+
+The initial 1.8.21 candidate passed all 1,557 isolated backend tests and 1,120
+frontend tests. Monitoring nevertheless found another managed LND restart at
+09:08:32 while Bitcoin's container/start timestamp remained unchanged. Management
+logs explicitly attribute it to the backend-address cascade. This also makes
+the earlier 08:57 cascade suspect; it must not be described as a proven necessary
+restart. These service restarts preceded the isolated test executable, whose
+namespace boundaries remain intact.
+
+The cascade trusted Started/Installed action reports. A failed runtime inspection
+followed by successful systemctl start of an already active unit can produce
+Started without changing Bitcoin. Dependency restarts now require observed
+container-ID, running-state, or start-time changes. Failed observations remain
+unknown, not absence; a known absent backend becoming running still qualifies.
+Actual exec-drift restarts are recognized even when their outer report is NoOp.
+Stopped/lifecycle-in-flight dependents remain excluded, and user stop markers
+are re-read after the potentially slow pass. Added runtime-observation and
+false-action/real-exec-drift regression cases; full isolated rerun pending.
+Stopped the first optimized build and preparing new artifacts from this correction.
+
+### Final 1.8.21 artifacts and live verification — 2026-09-30
+
+Source and frontend/AIUI attribution: c993d9dd. Full isolated backend suite:
+1,559 passed, zero failed, four existing hardware/live tests ignored. Frontend
+suite: 1,120 passed; final production type-check/build passed after the last
+release-note-only edit. Optimized backend built in 13m22s.
+
+Staged unsigned 1.8.21 OTA manifest and artifacts:
+- Backend: 64,748,176 bytes; SHA256
+  ff602e85f340aff7e43d9d94f7f84f11f713735c964c0d8ba150e23b065c30eb.
+- Frontend archive: 97,152,546 bytes; SHA256
+  6c0842ec83a440269a353808a4cf154174f5232c9989b4a5448bc6486e1d0620.
+
+Artifact validator passed. Actual archive has flat paths, readable root index,
+and exact fresh AIUI, doctor and LND UI payload bytes. Exact files deployed to
+dev at 09:32 UTC and Shorty at 09:35 UTC; rollback binaries and dashboards under
+root-only /var/lib/archipelago/support/release-1821 on each node. Only management
+services restarted. Existing Bitcoin/Core-or-Knots and native LND container IDs
+and start times were preserved. Correct generated graceful-stop commands are
+present before forced removal on both nodes; temporary grace overrides removed.
+Dev systemd deadlines are 615 seconds for Bitcoin and 345 seconds for LND.
+
+Desktop/mobile Lightning UI checks passed again: waiting for Bitcoin sync,
+unknown balance, no unavailable native RPC requests. Served dashboard and AIUI
+attribution bytes match the release. Native LND states: dev RPC_ACTIVE while
+Bitcoin syncs; Shorty SERVER_ACTIVE. Dev completed full reconciliation passes
+at 09:34:21 and 09:36:40 with Bitcoin/LND NoOp, and no dependency restart.
+Shorty's first full pass completed 09:36:55 with Knots/LND NoOp.
+
+Final paid-file check on these exact binaries passed: fresh one-sat dev-to-Shorty
+purchase, exact one-sat refund on underpayment, identical response aliases,
+correct Files copy, and zero-charge cached repeat. Removed temporary seller
+entries/files and Files copy; retained purchase audit and owned cache. Total net
+transfer across all three live payment rounds in this repair session: three sats.
+
+Remaining: finish Shorty observation and remove temporary diagnostic logging;
+user-local 1.8.21 OTA signature (existing catalog signature remains valid),
+publish git/ngit, build/boot-test/sign and publish the raw 1.8.21 ISO.
+No 1.8.21 release tag or public OTA yet. Do not publish the quarantined partial
+1.8.20 ISO. The existing 1.8.20 git/ngit release notes now explain the withheld ISO
+and pending hotfix; signed 1.8.20 assets remain immutable.
+
+Shorty's second clean full pass completed at 09:38:06 UTC. Removed temporary
+diagnostic logging on both nodes and restarted only management again; native
+Bitcoin and LND IDs/start times remained unchanged, with generated stop settings
+still verified. No temporary graceful-stop overrides remain. Catalog signature
+verifies against the pinned release root; final 1.8.21 artifact validator passes.
+The candidate is ready for the user's local OTA signing ceremony.

neode-ui/package-lock.json

@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 {
   "name": "neode-ui",
-  "version": "1.8.19-alpha",
+  "version": "1.8.21-alpha",
   "lockfileVersion": 3,
   "requires": true,
   "packages": {
     "": {
       "name": "neode-ui",
-      "version": "1.8.19-alpha",
+      "version": "1.8.21-alpha",
       "dependencies": {
         "@scure/bip39": "^2.2.0",
         "@types/dompurify": "^3.0.5",

neode-ui/package.json

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "name": "neode-ui",
   "private": true,
-  "version": "1.8.20-alpha",
+  "version": "1.8.21-alpha",
   "type": "module",
   "scripts": {
     "start": "./start-dev.sh",

neode-ui/src/views/settings/AccountInfoSection.vue

@@ -362,6 +362,19 @@ init()
               </button>
             </div>
             <div class="overflow-y-auto flex-1 min-h-0 space-y-6 pr-1">
+              <!-- v1.8.21-alpha -->
+              <div>
+                <div class="flex items-center gap-2 mb-3">
+                  <span class="text-xs font-mono px-2 py-0.5 rounded bg-orange-500/20 text-orange-300">v1.8.21-alpha</span>
+                  <span class="text-xs text-white/40">September 30, 2026</span>
+                </div>
+                <div class="space-y-3 text-sm text-white/80 pl-3 border-l border-white/10">
+                  <p>Fixed Bitcoin and other containers being forcibly stopped after ten seconds during managed updates and restarts.</p>
+                  <p>Existing installations now receive the same graceful shutdown allowance as new containers, without restarting apps just to apply this setting.</p>
+                  <p>Prevented unnecessary Lightning restarts when Bitcoin has stayed running; dependency restarts now require an observed Bitcoin container change.</p>
+                  <p>Includes the Cashu payment, optional Bitcoin pruning, Lightning readiness, and explorer improvements from 1.8.20.</p>
+                </div>
+              </div>
               <!-- v1.8.20-alpha -->
               <div>
                 <div class="flex items-center gap-2 mb-3">

release-manifest.json

@@ -1,29 +1,34 @@
 {
   "changelog": [
-    "Fixed the embedded AIUI chat page painting a second background and dark scrim over Archy’s dashboard background.",
+    "Fixed Cashu file payments rejected despite a shared mint, and preserved the payment amount when mint fees reduce change.",
-    "Embedded AIUI now stays transparent so the dashboard background appears once.",
+    "Payment failures now report whether a refund actually succeeded; missing files and unsupported payment methods are rejected before charging.",
-    "AIUI background fixes are now included reliably in OTA updates and fresh installations."
+    "Improved saving paid files into Files and reopening purchases without paying again.",
+    "Bitcoin Core and Knots installation offers optional pruning on larger disks, using the same settings as automatic pruning.",
+    "Fixed false missing-port checks that unnecessarily restarted Bitcoin and LND; recovery now respects managed shutdown timeouts.",
+    "LND explains when it is waiting for Bitcoin installation, startup, or sync, without treating normal synchronization as a restart-worthy failure.",
+    "Bitcoin startup messages explain block-index loading without exposing raw RPC errors, and Lightning keeps known balances clearly marked during outages.",
+    "Changed the public transaction-explorer default to mempool.space while preserving local explorers and custom choices."
   ],
   "components": [
     {
-      "current_version": "1.8.19-alpha",
+      "current_version": "1.8.20-alpha",
-      "download_url": "https://source.archipelago-foundation.org/lfg2025/archy/releases/download/v1.8.19-alpha/archipelago",
+      "download_url": "https://source.archipelago-foundation.org/lfg2025/archy/releases/download/v1.8.20-alpha/archipelago",
       "name": "archipelago",
-      "new_version": "1.8.19-alpha",
+      "new_version": "1.8.20-alpha",
-      "sha256": "bb500d02567ad16179179d43138cc6fdafee680835262026eeaa7d1bc8cdd307",
+      "sha256": "16a173129672cbb40c250446ec52ba4a9bd1974cbb3a4988f90c6f3187b7a1f7",
-      "size_bytes": 64495784
+      "size_bytes": 64716656
     },
     {
-      "current_version": "1.8.19-alpha",
+      "current_version": "1.8.20-alpha",
-      "download_url": "https://source.archipelago-foundation.org/lfg2025/archy/releases/download/v1.8.19-alpha/archipelago-frontend-1.8.19-alpha.tar.gz",
+      "download_url": "https://source.archipelago-foundation.org/lfg2025/archy/releases/download/v1.8.20-alpha/archipelago-frontend-1.8.20-alpha.tar.gz",
-      "name": "archipelago-frontend-1.8.19-alpha.tar.gz",
+      "name": "archipelago-frontend-1.8.20-alpha.tar.gz",
-      "new_version": "1.8.19-alpha",
+      "new_version": "1.8.20-alpha",
-      "sha256": "fbbaa237e2ea4e9e576dda9b15fdcf3c59c40bc55bfee4ebbea303b0172fc49b",
+      "sha256": "658b78fce0dfa20a627c987dd153b24cbac15adbde905cc6518744c637e12802",
-      "size_bytes": 97142031
+      "size_bytes": 97152297
     }
   ],
-  "release_date": "2026-09-28",
+  "release_date": "2026-09-29",
-  "signature": "4da9bf766d94c2de6641619a36663106791c7a1d342b729c666662cdde1feabdf11c51994c1cbbe2a0e2b270c316d77763435e976ce22730855b3822bc9d390a",
+  "signature": "326cab454902abcb4f8037751af67aaae2860ecf00300177ec377a1f223a6a85b6e92d49297e7bc29a73220d501e6f4c83ee23477e2b688e33e19d093c6d210b",
   "signed_by": "did:key:z6Mkfu5LT8d4DjETtrkATvHh9Dvcbnr7zBCUwfau8Sw7DLWT",
-  "version": "1.8.19-alpha"
+  "version": "1.8.20-alpha"
 }

releases/manifest.json

@@ -1,29 +1,34 @@
 {
   "changelog": [
-    "Fixed the embedded AIUI chat page painting a second background and dark scrim over Archy’s dashboard background.",
+    "Fixed Cashu file payments rejected despite a shared mint, and preserved the payment amount when mint fees reduce change.",
-    "Embedded AIUI now stays transparent so the dashboard background appears once.",
+    "Payment failures now report whether a refund actually succeeded; missing files and unsupported payment methods are rejected before charging.",
-    "AIUI background fixes are now included reliably in OTA updates and fresh installations."
+    "Improved saving paid files into Files and reopening purchases without paying again.",
+    "Bitcoin Core and Knots installation offers optional pruning on larger disks, using the same settings as automatic pruning.",
+    "Fixed false missing-port checks that unnecessarily restarted Bitcoin and LND; recovery now respects managed shutdown timeouts.",
+    "LND explains when it is waiting for Bitcoin installation, startup, or sync, without treating normal synchronization as a restart-worthy failure.",
+    "Bitcoin startup messages explain block-index loading without exposing raw RPC errors, and Lightning keeps known balances clearly marked during outages.",
+    "Changed the public transaction-explorer default to mempool.space while preserving local explorers and custom choices."
   ],
   "components": [
     {
-      "current_version": "1.8.19-alpha",
+      "current_version": "1.8.20-alpha",
-      "download_url": "https://source.archipelago-foundation.org/lfg2025/archy/releases/download/v1.8.19-alpha/archipelago",
+      "download_url": "https://source.archipelago-foundation.org/lfg2025/archy/releases/download/v1.8.20-alpha/archipelago",
       "name": "archipelago",
-      "new_version": "1.8.19-alpha",
+      "new_version": "1.8.20-alpha",
-      "sha256": "bb500d02567ad16179179d43138cc6fdafee680835262026eeaa7d1bc8cdd307",
+      "sha256": "16a173129672cbb40c250446ec52ba4a9bd1974cbb3a4988f90c6f3187b7a1f7",
-      "size_bytes": 64495784
+      "size_bytes": 64716656
     },
     {
-      "current_version": "1.8.19-alpha",
+      "current_version": "1.8.20-alpha",
-      "download_url": "https://source.archipelago-foundation.org/lfg2025/archy/releases/download/v1.8.19-alpha/archipelago-frontend-1.8.19-alpha.tar.gz",
+      "download_url": "https://source.archipelago-foundation.org/lfg2025/archy/releases/download/v1.8.20-alpha/archipelago-frontend-1.8.20-alpha.tar.gz",
-      "name": "archipelago-frontend-1.8.19-alpha.tar.gz",
+      "name": "archipelago-frontend-1.8.20-alpha.tar.gz",
-      "new_version": "1.8.19-alpha",
+      "new_version": "1.8.20-alpha",
-      "sha256": "fbbaa237e2ea4e9e576dda9b15fdcf3c59c40bc55bfee4ebbea303b0172fc49b",
+      "sha256": "658b78fce0dfa20a627c987dd153b24cbac15adbde905cc6518744c637e12802",
-      "size_bytes": 97142031
+      "size_bytes": 97152297
     }
   ],
-  "release_date": "2026-09-28",
+  "release_date": "2026-09-29",
-  "signature": "4da9bf766d94c2de6641619a36663106791c7a1d342b729c666662cdde1feabdf11c51994c1cbbe2a0e2b270c316d77763435e976ce22730855b3822bc9d390a",
+  "signature": "326cab454902abcb4f8037751af67aaae2860ecf00300177ec377a1f223a6a85b6e92d49297e7bc29a73220d501e6f4c83ee23477e2b688e33e19d093c6d210b",
   "signed_by": "did:key:z6Mkfu5LT8d4DjETtrkATvHh9Dvcbnr7zBCUwfau8Sw7DLWT",
-  "version": "1.8.19-alpha"
+  "version": "1.8.20-alpha"
 }

releases/pending/v1.8.20-alpha/manifest.json

@@ -1,34 +0,0 @@
-{
-  "changelog": [
-    "Fixed Cashu file payments rejected despite a shared mint, and preserved the payment amount when mint fees reduce change.",
-    "Payment failures now report whether a refund actually succeeded; missing files and unsupported payment methods are rejected before charging.",
-    "Improved saving paid files into Files and reopening purchases without paying again.",
-    "Bitcoin Core and Knots installation offers optional pruning on larger disks, using the same settings as automatic pruning.",
-    "Fixed false missing-port checks that unnecessarily restarted Bitcoin and LND; recovery now respects managed shutdown timeouts.",
-    "LND explains when it is waiting for Bitcoin installation, startup, or sync, without treating normal synchronization as a restart-worthy failure.",
-    "Bitcoin startup messages explain block-index loading without exposing raw RPC errors, and Lightning keeps known balances clearly marked during outages.",
-    "Changed the public transaction-explorer default to mempool.space while preserving local explorers and custom choices."
-  ],
-  "components": [
-    {
-      "current_version": "1.8.20-alpha",
-      "download_url": "https://source.archipelago-foundation.org/lfg2025/archy/releases/download/v1.8.20-alpha/archipelago",
-      "name": "archipelago",
-      "new_version": "1.8.20-alpha",
-      "sha256": "16a173129672cbb40c250446ec52ba4a9bd1974cbb3a4988f90c6f3187b7a1f7",
-      "size_bytes": 64716656
-    },
-    {
-      "current_version": "1.8.20-alpha",
-      "download_url": "https://source.archipelago-foundation.org/lfg2025/archy/releases/download/v1.8.20-alpha/archipelago-frontend-1.8.20-alpha.tar.gz",
-      "name": "archipelago-frontend-1.8.20-alpha.tar.gz",
-      "new_version": "1.8.20-alpha",
-      "sha256": "658b78fce0dfa20a627c987dd153b24cbac15adbde905cc6518744c637e12802",
-      "size_bytes": 97152297
-    }
-  ],
-  "release_date": "2026-09-29",
-  "signature": "326cab454902abcb4f8037751af67aaae2860ecf00300177ec377a1f223a6a85b6e92d49297e7bc29a73220d501e6f4c83ee23477e2b688e33e19d093c6d210b",
-  "signed_by": "did:key:z6Mkfu5LT8d4DjETtrkATvHh9Dvcbnr7zBCUwfau8Sw7DLWT",
-  "version": "1.8.20-alpha"
-}

releases/pending/v1.8.21-alpha/manifest.json

@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+{
+  "changelog": [
+    "Fixed Bitcoin and other containers being forcibly stopped after ten seconds during managed updates and restarts.",
+    "Existing installations now receive the same graceful shutdown allowance as new containers, without restarting apps just to apply this setting.",
+    "Prevented unnecessary Lightning restarts when Bitcoin has stayed running; dependency restarts now require an observed Bitcoin container change.",
+    "Includes the Cashu payment, optional Bitcoin pruning, Lightning readiness, and explorer improvements from 1.8.20."
+  ],
+  "components": [
+    {
+      "current_version": "1.8.21-alpha",
+      "download_url": "https://source.archipelago-foundation.org/lfg2025/archy/releases/download/v1.8.21-alpha/archipelago",
+      "name": "archipelago",
+      "new_version": "1.8.21-alpha",
+      "sha256": "ff602e85f340aff7e43d9d94f7f84f11f713735c964c0d8ba150e23b065c30eb",
+      "size_bytes": 64748176
+    },
+    {
+      "current_version": "1.8.21-alpha",
+      "download_url": "https://source.archipelago-foundation.org/lfg2025/archy/releases/download/v1.8.21-alpha/archipelago-frontend-1.8.21-alpha.tar.gz",
+      "name": "archipelago-frontend-1.8.21-alpha.tar.gz",
+      "new_version": "1.8.21-alpha",
+      "sha256": "6c0842ec83a440269a353808a4cf154174f5232c9989b4a5448bc6486e1d0620",
+      "size_bytes": 97152546
+    }
+  ],
+  "release_date": "2026-09-30",
+  "signature": "2ba21dde08284a13f511f11f0b925f09a56c1b36e40424558601b9ab6beea17edfa316e0baa51474bf084fd4da25429ec35a77d9a831554b309845c8226d4f0d",
+  "signed_by": "did:key:z6Mkfu5LT8d4DjETtrkATvHh9Dvcbnr7zBCUwfau8Sw7DLWT",
+  "version": "1.8.21-alpha"
+}