feat(fleet): central fleet dashboard — instances → teams grouped by site

Phase 3 of the edge + control-plane architecture (frontend). The
instructor dashboard becomes fleet-aware: when local instances have
phoned home (central mode), it groups teams under the instance that
reported them, each with an online/offline dot (from heartbeat
last-seen) + team count; otherwise it renders the existing flat grid
unchanged (single-fleet deploys are unaffected).

- src/types.ts: mirror the api — `site?` on TeamSnapshot/SubmissionDTO,
  new InstanceDTO, `instance:update` event + `instances` on snapshot.
- api.ts: getInstances(code) (GET /instances; [] on single-fleet).
- useCollective: instances in state + reducer (snapshot seeds, instance:
  update upserts, an instance-less snapshot preserves known instances),
  polled in the REST seed without dropping the team seed on failure.
- Admin: FleetView (grouped) vs TeamGrid (flat), an Instances stat
  (live/total). Shared TeamGrid extracted from the old inline grid.

Judging already works centrally (submission ids are site-namespaced by
the reporter); deeper site-grouping in Judge + Landing-as-distribution
are deferred (plan's "refined as we go").

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.8 <[email protected]>

api/src/app.test.ts

@@ -99,7 +99,9 @@ describe('collective API', () => {
     it('lists submission summaries with a scored flag', async () => {
       await request(app).post('/submissions').send({ teamId: 't1', code: 'c', add: fullAdd })
       const before = await request(app).get('/submissions').set('X-Access-Code', JUDGE)
-      expect(before.body[0].scored).toBe(false)
+      // the summary must carry the identifying fields, not just `scored`
+      expect(before.body[0]).toMatchObject({ teamId: 't1', scored: false })
+      expect(typeof before.body[0].submittedAt).toBe('string')
       await request(app).post('/scores').set('X-Access-Code', JUDGE).send({ teamId: 't1', total: 8 })
       const after = await request(app).get('/submissions').set('X-Access-Code', JUDGE)
       expect(after.body[0].scored).toBe(true)
@@ -121,4 +123,52 @@ describe('collective API', () => {
       expect(events.some((e) => e.type === 'score:new')).toBe(true)
     })
   })
+
+  describe('federation (central-mode)', () => {
+    const FLEET = 'fleet-secret'
+    let central: ReturnType<typeof createApp>
+    let cEvents: WsEvent[]
+    beforeEach(() => {
+      cEvents = []
+      central = createApp({
+        store: openStore(':memory:'),
+        broadcast: (e) => cEvents.push(e),
+        adminCode: ADMIN,
+        judgeCode: JUDGE,
+        fleetSecret: FLEET,
+        now: () => '2026-07-27T14:00:00.000Z',
+      })
+    })
+
+    it('registers an instance (fleet-secret gated) and broadcasts instance:update', async () => {
+      await request(central).post('/instances/register').send({ id: 'site-a', name: 'Team A laptop' }).expect(401)
+      const res = await request(central)
+        .post('/instances/register')
+        .set('x-fleet-secret', FLEET)
+        .send({ id: 'site-a', name: 'Team A laptop' })
+        .expect(201)
+      expect(res.body).toMatchObject({ id: 'site-a', name: 'Team A laptop', lastSeen: '2026-07-27T14:00:00.000Z' })
+      expect(cEvents.some((e) => e.type === 'instance:update')).toBe(true)
+      const list = await request(central).get('/instances').set('X-Access-Code', ADMIN).expect(200)
+      expect(list.body).toEqual([{ id: 'site-a', name: 'Team A laptop', lastSeen: '2026-07-27T14:00:00.000Z' }])
+    })
+
+    it('heartbeat upserts the same instance by id', async () => {
+      await request(central).post('/instances/register').set('x-fleet-secret', FLEET).send({ id: 'site-a' })
+      await request(central).post('/instances/site-a/heartbeat').set('x-fleet-secret', FLEET).send({}).expect(201)
+      const list = await request(central).get('/instances').set('X-Access-Code', ADMIN)
+      expect(list.body).toHaveLength(1) // still one instance, not duplicated
+      expect(list.body[0]).toMatchObject({ id: 'site-a', name: 'site-a' }) // name falls back to id
+    })
+
+    it('ingests site-tagged team + submission writes so central can group by site', async () => {
+      await request(central).put('/teams/site-a:team-1').send(team('team-1', { site: 'site-a' })).expect(204)
+      await request(central)
+        .post('/submissions')
+        .send({ teamId: 'site-a:team-1', code: 'c', add: fullAdd, site: 'site-a' })
+        .expect(201)
+      const teams = await request(central).get('/teams').set('X-Access-Code', ADMIN)
+      expect(teams.body[0]).toMatchObject({ id: 'site-a:team-1', site: 'site-a' })
+    })
+  })
 })

api/src/app.ts

@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ export function createApp(opts: AppOptions): Express {
       stats: { ...emptyStats, ...(b.stats ?? {}) },
       deviceConnected: !!b.deviceConnected,
       updatedAt: typeof b.updatedAt === 'string' ? b.updatedAt : now(),
+      site: typeof b.site === 'string' ? b.site : '',
     }
     store.upsertTeam(team)
     broadcast({ type: 'team:update', team })
@@ -66,6 +67,7 @@ export function createApp(opts: AppOptions): Express {
       code: b.code,
       add: b.add,
       submittedAt: typeof b.submittedAt === 'string' ? b.submittedAt : now(),
+      site: typeof b.site === 'string' ? b.site : '',
     }
     const summary = store.upsertSubmission(dto)
     broadcast({ type: 'submission:new', submission: summary })
@@ -110,6 +112,11 @@ export function createApp(opts: AppOptions): Express {
     res.json(store.leaderboard())
   })
 
+  // Central-mode fleet view: the local instances that have phoned home.
+  app.get('/instances', requireAnyCode(adminCode, judgeCode), (_req, res) => {
+    res.json(store.listInstances())
+  })
+
   // --- ZeroClaw nodes -----------------------------------------------------
   // Registration holds bearer tokens → admin only. Prompting is a public
   // participant action (like PUT /teams/:id). List/broadcasts never leak tokens.
@@ -150,17 +157,55 @@ export function createApp(opts: AppOptions): Express {
       return res.status(401).json({ error: 'unauthorized' })
     }
     const b = req.body ?? {}
-    if (![b.kitId, b.url, b.token, b.claimCode].every((v) => typeof v === 'string' && v)) {
+    // `url` is optional: an App-Lab-containerised node can't see its host LAN IP,
-      return res.status(400).json({ error: 'kitId, url, token and claimCode are required' })
+    // but its request is SNAT'd to the host, so we derive http://<source-ip>:<port>
+    // from what the server actually sees. An explicit url (e.g. from the shell
+    // self-register) still wins.
+    let url = typeof b.url === 'string' && b.url ? b.url : ''
+    if (!url) {
+      const port = Number.isFinite(Number(b.port)) ? Number(b.port) : 8080
+      const ip = (req.ip ?? '').replace(/^::ffff:/, '') // unwrap IPv4-mapped IPv6
+      if (ip) url = `http://${ip}:${port}`
     }
-    const r = boards.announce({ kitId: b.kitId, url: b.url, token: b.token, claimCode: b.claimCode })
+    const token = typeof b.token === 'string' && b.token ? b.token : 'open-lan'
+    if (![b.kitId, b.claimCode].every((v) => typeof v === 'string' && v) || !url) {
+      return res.status(400).json({ error: 'kitId and claimCode are required (url derived from source IP if omitted)' })
+    }
+    // `hwId` is the durable board key (WiFi MAC + eMMC serial). Older nodes that
+    // don't send it fall back to keying by kitId, so they still self-register.
+    const hwId = typeof b.hwId === 'string' && b.hwId ? b.hwId : b.kitId
+    const r = boards.announce({ hwId, kitId: b.kitId, url, token, claimCode: b.claimCode })
     if (r.claimed && r.teamId && nodes) {
-      await nodes.register({ teamId: r.teamId, url: b.url, token: b.token })
+      await nodes.register({ teamId: r.teamId, url, token })
     }
     broadcastUnclaimed()
-    res.status(201).json({ kitId: b.kitId, claimed: r.claimed })
+    res.status(201).json({ kitId: b.kitId, url, claimed: r.claimed })
   })
 
+  // --- federation: local instances phone home (central-mode) --------------
+  // A per-team local (edge) stack's reporter sidecar registers itself and then
+  // heartbeats. Fleet-secret gated (same shared secret as self-register). The
+  // sidecar replays team/submission writes UP via the public PUT/POST routes,
+  // tagged with `site` (= the instance id), so central becomes the fleet view.
+  const registerInstance = (req: express.Request, res: express.Response) => {
+    if (!fleetSecret || !matches(req.header('x-fleet-secret') ?? '', fleetSecret)) {
+      return res.status(401).json({ error: 'unauthorized' })
+    }
+    const b = req.body ?? {}
+    const id = typeof b.id === 'string' ? b.id : req.params.id
+    if (typeof id !== 'string' || !id) return res.status(400).json({ error: 'id is required' })
+    const instance = {
+      id,
+      name: typeof b.name === 'string' && b.name ? b.name : id,
+      lastSeen: now(),
+    }
+    store.upsertInstance(instance)
+    broadcast({ type: 'instance:update', instance })
+    return res.status(201).json(instance)
+  }
+  app.post('/instances/register', registerInstance)
+  app.post('/instances/:id/heartbeat', registerInstance)
+
   // A participant claims their powered-on board to their team by proving
   // possession of the kit's claim code. Public + rate-limited (no operator in
   // the loop); the bearer token moves straight from the pool into the bridge
@@ -248,6 +293,22 @@ export function createApp(opts: AppOptions): Express {
     res.status(202).json({ accepted: true })
   })
 
+  // Onboarding "say hi": prompt the node and WAIT for its reply (blocking) so the
+  // participant sees their agent answer. Greeting only — never a flash turn.
+  app.post('/nodes/:teamId/say-hi', async (req, res) => {
+    if (!nodes) return res.status(503).json({ error: 'node bridge unavailable' })
+    const b = req.body ?? {}
+    const message = typeof b.message === 'string' && b.message.trim() ? b.message : 'Hi! Introduce yourself in one sentence.'
+    const agent = typeof b.agent === 'string' ? b.agent : undefined
+    try {
+      const reply = await nodes.sayHi(String(req.params.teamId), message, agent)
+      if (reply === null) return res.status(404).json({ error: 'no node registered for team' })
+      res.json({ reply })
+    } catch {
+      res.status(502).json({ error: 'your node did not answer — is it online?' })
+    }
+  })
+
   // Public liveness for a team's board — the wizard/self-test polls this after
   // a claim. Online reflects the bridge's live /health + SSE view.
   app.get('/nodes/:teamId/status', (req, res) => {

api/src/claim-api.test.ts

@@ -11,7 +11,12 @@ const ADMIN = 'admin-code'
 const JUDGE = 'judge-code'
 const FLEET = 'fleet-secret'
 
-const board = { kitId: 'KIT-07', url: 'http://192.168.1.7:8080', token: 'zc_secret_token', claimCode: '418302' }
+const board: { kitId: string; url: string; token: string; claimCode: string; hwId?: string } = {
+  kitId: 'KIT-07',
+  url: 'http://192.168.1.7:8080',
+  token: 'zc_secret_token',
+  claimCode: '418302',
+}
 
 describe('board self-register + claim', () => {
   let store: Store
@@ -51,13 +56,24 @@ describe('board self-register + claim', () => {
       await selfRegister({}, 'wrong-secret').expect(401)
     })
 
-    it('validates the body', async () => {
+    it('validates the body (kitId + claimCode required)', async () => {
-      await selfRegister({ token: '' }).expect(400)
+      await selfRegister({ kitId: '' }).expect(400)
+      await selfRegister({ claimCode: '' }).expect(400)
     })
 
     it('accepts a board presenting the fleet secret', async () => {
       const res = await selfRegister().expect(201)
-      expect(res.body).toEqual({ kitId: 'KIT-07', claimed: false })
+      expect(res.body).toMatchObject({ kitId: 'KIT-07', url: board.url, claimed: false })
+    })
+
+    it('derives the node url from the source IP when url is omitted', async () => {
+      const res = await request(app)
+        .post('/nodes/self-register')
+        .set('x-fleet-secret', FLEET)
+        .send({ kitId: 'KIT-08', claimCode: '4821', port: 8080 })
+        .expect(201)
+      // supertest connects over loopback → derived host is 127.0.0.1
+      expect(res.body.url).toMatch(/^http:\/\/127\.0\.0\.1:8080$/)
     })
 
     it('broadcasts the unclaimed pool and lists it for the instructor', async () => {
@@ -166,7 +182,7 @@ describe('board self-register + claim', () => {
       await request(app).post('/claim').send({ kit: 'KIT-07', teamId: 'team-07', code: '418302' }).expect(201)
       // board reboots with a new IP + a fresh paired token and re-announces
       const res = await selfRegister({ url: 'http://192.168.1.9:8080', token: 'zc_new_token' }).expect(201)
-      expect(res.body).toEqual({ kitId: 'KIT-07', claimed: true })
+      expect(res.body).toMatchObject({ kitId: 'KIT-07', url: 'http://192.168.1.9:8080', claimed: true })
       // the team's binding is refreshed (new url), still online, still not unclaimed
       const list = await request(app).get('/nodes').set('x-access-code', ADMIN).expect(200)
       expect(list.body).toEqual([{ teamId: 'team-07', url: 'http://192.168.1.9:8080', online: true }])
@@ -174,6 +190,18 @@ describe('board self-register + claim', () => {
       expect(pool.body).toEqual({ kits: [] })
     })
 
+    it('recognizes the same board by hwId even after its kit label is re-provisioned', async () => {
+      // a distinct board announces with a durable hwId, then gets claimed
+      await selfRegister({ hwId: 'hw-abc', kitId: 'KIT-XY', claimCode: '999999' }).expect(201)
+      await request(app).post('/claim').send({ kit: 'KIT-XY', teamId: 'team-xy', code: '999999' }).expect(201)
+      // re-provisioned under a new kit label + new IP, SAME hardware → still claimed, no orphan
+      const res = await selfRegister({ hwId: 'hw-abc', kitId: 'KIT-RENAMED', claimCode: '999999', url: 'http://192.168.1.9:8080' }).expect(201)
+      expect(res.body).toMatchObject({ kitId: 'KIT-RENAMED', claimed: true })
+      // the renamed board is not offered as a fresh unclaimed board (only the default KIT-07 remains)
+      const pool = await request(app).get('/nodes/unclaimed').set('x-access-code', ADMIN).expect(200)
+      expect(pool.body).toEqual({ kits: ['KIT-07'] })
+    })
+
     it('lets an instructor release a claimed kit back to the pool for reassignment', async () => {
       await request(app).post('/claim').send({ kit: 'KIT-07', teamId: 'team-07', code: '418302' }).expect(201)
       await request(app).post('/claim/release').send({ kit: 'KIT-07' }).expect(401) // admin only

api/src/claim.test.ts

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import { describe, it, expect } from 'vitest'
 import { createBoardRegistry, MAX_FAILS, WINDOW_MS } from './claim'
 
 const board = (over: Partial<Parameters<ReturnType<typeof createBoardRegistry>['announce']>[0]> = {}) => ({
+  hwId: 'hw-07',
   kitId: 'KIT-07',
   url: 'http://192.168.1.7:8080',
   token: 'zc_secret_token',
@@ -111,4 +112,27 @@ describe('board registry', () => {
     r.announce(board()) // board rebooted and re-registered
     expect(r.claim('KIT-07', '418302', 'team-07', 0)).toMatchObject({ ok: true })
   })
+
+  it('recognizes the same board (durable hwId) even when its kit label changes', () => {
+    const r = createBoardRegistry()
+    r.announce(board())
+    r.claim('KIT-07', '418302', 'team-07', 0)
+    // re-provisioned under a new kit label + new IP, same hardware → still claimed
+    const res = r.announce(board({ kitId: 'KIT-NEW', url: 'http://192.168.1.9:8080' }))
+    expect(res).toEqual({ claimed: true, teamId: 'team-07' })
+    expect(r.isClaimed('KIT-NEW')).toBe(true)
+    expect(r.get('KIT-NEW')?.claimedBy).toBe('team-07')
+    expect(r.unclaimedKits()).toEqual([]) // not a second, separate board
+  })
+
+  it('seeds from persisted boards and reports each mutation via onChange', () => {
+    const saved: string[] = []
+    const r = createBoardRegistry(
+      [{ hwId: 'hw-07', kitId: 'KIT-07', url: 'u', token: 't', claimCode: '418302', claimedBy: 'team-07' }],
+      (b) => saved.push(`${b.hwId}:${b.claimedBy}`),
+    )
+    expect(r.isClaimed('KIT-07')).toBe(true) // restored claim survives restart
+    r.release('KIT-07')
+    expect(saved).toContain('hw-07:null') // release persisted
+  })
 })

api/src/claim.ts

@@ -5,8 +5,13 @@ import { matches } from './auth'
  * bearer token (server-side, never sent to a browser), the per-board claim code
  * an attendee proves possession with (printed / QR-encoded on the kit), and the
  * team it is bound to once claimed (`null` while unclaimed).
+ *
+ * The durable key is `hwId` — a stable hardware fingerprint (WiFi MAC + eMMC
+ * serial) that survives IP change, reboot, laptop-wipe, and OS reflash. `kitId`
+ * is a human-facing label only (it may change if the board is re-provisioned).
  */
 export interface Board {
+  hwId: string
   kitId: string
   url: string
   token: string
@@ -27,11 +32,17 @@ export type ClaimOutcome =
   | { ok: false; reason: 'unknown' | 'bad_code' | 'rate_limited' }
 
 export interface BoardRegistry {
-  /** A board announces itself on boot / on its timer. Upserts url/token/claimCode,
+  /** A board announces itself on boot / on its timer, keyed by its stable `hwId`.
-   *  preserves the existing claim, and reports whether it is already claimed. */
+   *  Upserts url/token/claimCode/kitId, preserves the existing claim (so a board
-  announce(n: { kitId: string; url: string; token: string; claimCode: string }): AnnounceResult
+   *  re-announcing under a new IP — or even a new kitId label — is recognized as
+   *  the same board), and reports whether it is already claimed. */
+  announce(n: { hwId: string; kitId: string; url: string; token: string; claimCode: string }): AnnounceResult
   /** Kit ids of boards that are not yet claimed — never url/token/claimCode. */
   unclaimedKits(): { kitId: string }[]
+  /** Full board snapshot by durable hwId (for persistence / recognition). */
+  getByHwId(hwId: string): Board | undefined
+  /** All boards (for persistence). */
+  all(): Board[]
   isClaimed(kitId: string): boolean
   /**
    * Claim (or resume) a board by proving its code. First claim binds it to
@@ -55,43 +66,70 @@ export interface BoardRegistry {
 export const MAX_FAILS = 5
 export const WINDOW_MS = 60_000
 
-export function createBoardRegistry(seed: Board[] = []): BoardRegistry {
+/**
-  const boards = new Map<string, Board>()
+ * @param seed     boards to restore (from the persistent store) on boot.
-  for (const b of seed) boards.set(b.kitId, { ...b })
+ * @param onChange called with a board whenever it is created or mutated
-  const fails = new Map<string, number[]>() // kitId -> recent failed-attempt timestamps (ms)
+ *                 (announce/claim/release), so the caller can persist it.
+ */
+export function createBoardRegistry(
+  seed: Board[] = [],
+  onChange: (b: Board) => void = () => {},
+): BoardRegistry {
+  const boards = new Map<string, Board>() // keyed by durable hwId
+  for (const b of seed) boards.set(b.hwId, { ...b })
+  const fails = new Map<string, number[]>() // hwId -> recent failed-attempt timestamps (ms)
 
-  const recentFails = (kitId: string, nowMs: number): number => {
+  const recentFails = (hwId: string, nowMs: number): number => {
-    const arr = (fails.get(kitId) ?? []).filter((t) => nowMs - t < WINDOW_MS)
+    const arr = (fails.get(hwId) ?? []).filter((t) => nowMs - t < WINDOW_MS)
-    if (arr.length) fails.set(kitId, arr)
+    if (arr.length) fails.set(hwId, arr)
-    else fails.delete(kitId)
+    else fails.delete(hwId)
     return arr.length
   }
 
+  // kitId is a display label, not the key — resolve it by scan (fleet is small).
+  const byKit = (kitId: string): Board | undefined => [...boards.values()].find((b) => b.kitId === kitId)
+
   return {
     announce(n) {
-      const claimedBy = boards.get(n.kitId)?.claimedBy ?? null
+      const claimedBy = boards.get(n.hwId)?.claimedBy ?? null
-      boards.set(n.kitId, { kitId: n.kitId, url: n.url, token: n.token, claimCode: n.claimCode, claimedBy })
+      const board: Board = {
-      fails.delete(n.kitId)
+        hwId: n.hwId,
+        kitId: n.kitId,
+        url: n.url,
+        token: n.token,
+        claimCode: n.claimCode,
+        claimedBy,
+      }
+      boards.set(n.hwId, board)
+      fails.delete(n.hwId)
+      onChange(board)
       return { claimed: claimedBy !== null, teamId: claimedBy }
     },
     unclaimedKits() {
       return [...boards.values()].filter((b) => b.claimedBy === null).map((b) => ({ kitId: b.kitId }))
     },
+    getByHwId(hwId) {
+      return boards.get(hwId)
+    },
+    all() {
+      return [...boards.values()]
+    },
     isClaimed(kitId) {
-      const b = boards.get(kitId)
+      const b = byKit(kitId)
       return !!b && b.claimedBy !== null
     },
     claim(kitId, code, teamId, nowMs) {
-      const board = boards.get(kitId)
+      const board = byKit(kitId)
       if (!board) return { ok: false, reason: 'unknown' }
-      if (recentFails(kitId, nowMs) >= MAX_FAILS) return { ok: false, reason: 'rate_limited' }
+      if (recentFails(board.hwId, nowMs) >= MAX_FAILS) return { ok: false, reason: 'rate_limited' }
       if (!matches(code, board.claimCode)) {
-        fails.set(kitId, [...(fails.get(kitId) ?? []), nowMs])
+        fails.set(board.hwId, [...(fails.get(board.hwId) ?? []), nowMs])
         return { ok: false, reason: 'bad_code' }
       }
-      fails.delete(kitId)
+      fails.delete(board.hwId)
       if (board.claimedBy === null) {
         board.claimedBy = teamId
+        onChange(board)
         return { ok: true, board, resumed: false }
       }
       return { ok: true, board, resumed: true } // already claimed → resume to the canonical team
@@ -100,23 +138,25 @@ export function createBoardRegistry(seed: Board[] = []): BoardRegistry {
       // Unique per-board codes → the code identifies the board. No match = bad code.
       const board = [...boards.values()].find((b) => matches(code, b.claimCode))
       if (!board) return { ok: false, reason: 'bad_code' }
-      if (recentFails(board.kitId, nowMs) >= MAX_FAILS) return { ok: false, reason: 'rate_limited' }
+      if (recentFails(board.hwId, nowMs) >= MAX_FAILS) return { ok: false, reason: 'rate_limited' }
-      fails.delete(board.kitId)
+      fails.delete(board.hwId)
       if (board.claimedBy === null) {
         board.claimedBy = teamId
+        onChange(board)
         return { ok: true, board, resumed: false }
       }
       return { ok: true, board, resumed: true }
     },
     release(kitId) {
-      const board = boards.get(kitId)
+      const board = byKit(kitId)
       if (!board || board.claimedBy === null) return null
       const freed = board.claimedBy
       board.claimedBy = null
+      onChange(board)
       return freed
     },
     get(kitId) {
-      return boards.get(kitId)
+      return byKit(kitId)
     },
   }
 }

api/src/db.ts

@@ -6,7 +6,9 @@ import type {
   ScoreInput,
   ScoreDTO,
   LeaderboardRow,
+  InstanceDTO,
 } from './types'
+import type { Board } from './claim'
 
 export interface Store {
   upsertTeam(t: TeamSnapshot): void
@@ -17,9 +19,26 @@ export interface Store {
   getSubmission(teamId: string): SubmissionDTO | null
   insertScore(input: ScoreInput, createdAt: string): ScoreDTO
   leaderboard(): LeaderboardRow[]
+  /** Persist a board (keyed by durable hwId) so the registry survives restart. */
+  saveBoard(b: Board): void
+  /** All persisted boards, to seed the in-memory registry on boot. */
+  listBoards(): Board[]
+  /** Register/refresh a federated local instance (central-mode). */
+  upsertInstance(i: InstanceDTO): void
+  /** All known instances (central-mode fleet view). */
+  listInstances(): InstanceDTO[]
   close(): void
 }
 
+interface BoardRow {
+  hw_id: string
+  kit_id: string
+  url: string
+  token: string
+  claim_code: string
+  claimed_by: string | null
+}
+
 interface TeamRow {
   id: string
   name: string
@@ -30,6 +49,7 @@ interface TeamRow {
   stats: string
   device_connected: number
   updated_at: string
+  site: string
 }
 
 function rowToTeam(r: TeamRow): TeamSnapshot {
@@ -43,6 +63,7 @@ function rowToTeam(r: TeamRow): TeamSnapshot {
     stats: JSON.parse(r.stats),
     deviceConnected: !!r.device_connected,
     updatedAt: r.updated_at,
+    site: r.site ?? '',
   }
 }
 
@@ -60,14 +81,16 @@ export function openStore(path = ':memory:'): Store {
       phases TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT '{}',
       stats TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT '{}',
       device_connected INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
-      updated_at TEXT NOT NULL
+      updated_at TEXT NOT NULL,
+      site TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT ''
     );
     CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS submissions (
       team_id TEXT PRIMARY KEY,
       team_name TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
       code TEXT NOT NULL,
       add_json TEXT NOT NULL,
-      submitted_at TEXT NOT NULL
+      submitted_at TEXT NOT NULL,
+      site TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT ''
     );
     CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS scores (
       id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY AUTOINCREMENT,
@@ -78,35 +101,54 @@ export function openStore(path = ':memory:'): Store {
       notes TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
       created_at TEXT NOT NULL
     );
+    CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS boards (
+      hw_id TEXT PRIMARY KEY,
+      kit_id TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
+      url TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
+      token TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
+      claim_code TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
+      claimed_by TEXT
+    );
+    CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS instances (
+      id TEXT PRIMARY KEY,
+      name TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
+      last_seen TEXT NOT NULL
+    );
   `)
 
-  // Migration for DBs created before the `domain` column existed. CREATE TABLE
+  // Migrations for DBs created before a column existed. CREATE TABLE IF NOT
-  // IF NOT EXISTS won't add it to an existing table, so add it defensively.
+  // EXISTS won't add columns to an existing table, so add them defensively.
+  for (const stmt of [
+    `ALTER TABLE teams ADD COLUMN domain TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT ''`,
+    `ALTER TABLE teams ADD COLUMN site TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT ''`,
+    `ALTER TABLE submissions ADD COLUMN site TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT ''`,
+  ]) {
     try {
-    db.exec(`ALTER TABLE teams ADD COLUMN domain TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT ''`)
+      db.exec(stmt)
     } catch {
       /* column already exists — fine */
     }
+  }
 
   const upsertTeamStmt = db.prepare(`
-    INSERT INTO teams (id, name, kit, domain, members, phases, stats, device_connected, updated_at)
+    INSERT INTO teams (id, name, kit, domain, members, phases, stats, device_connected, updated_at, site)
-    VALUES (@id, @name, @kit, @domain, @members, @phases, @stats, @device_connected, @updated_at)
+    VALUES (@id, @name, @kit, @domain, @members, @phases, @stats, @device_connected, @updated_at, @site)
     ON CONFLICT(id) DO UPDATE SET
       name=excluded.name, kit=excluded.kit, domain=excluded.domain, members=excluded.members,
       phases=excluded.phases, stats=excluded.stats,
-      device_connected=excluded.device_connected, updated_at=excluded.updated_at
+      device_connected=excluded.device_connected, updated_at=excluded.updated_at, site=excluded.site
   `)
   const listTeamsStmt = db.prepare('SELECT * FROM teams ORDER BY name')
   const getTeamStmt = db.prepare('SELECT * FROM teams WHERE id = ?')
   const upsertSubStmt = db.prepare(`
-    INSERT INTO submissions (team_id, team_name, code, add_json, submitted_at)
+    INSERT INTO submissions (team_id, team_name, code, add_json, submitted_at, site)
-    VALUES (@team_id, @team_name, @code, @add_json, @submitted_at)
+    VALUES (@team_id, @team_name, @code, @add_json, @submitted_at, @site)
     ON CONFLICT(team_id) DO UPDATE SET
       team_name=excluded.team_name, code=excluded.code,
-      add_json=excluded.add_json, submitted_at=excluded.submitted_at
+      add_json=excluded.add_json, submitted_at=excluded.submitted_at, site=excluded.site
   `)
   const listSubsStmt = db.prepare(`
-    SELECT s.team_id, s.team_name, s.submitted_at,
+    SELECT s.team_id AS teamId, s.team_name AS teamName, s.submitted_at AS submittedAt,
       EXISTS(SELECT 1 FROM scores sc WHERE sc.team_id = s.team_id) AS scored
     FROM submissions s ORDER BY s.submitted_at
   `)
@@ -128,6 +170,21 @@ export function openStore(path = ':memory:'): Store {
   const setPhaseAddStmt = db.prepare(
     `UPDATE teams SET phases = json_set(phases, '$.add', json('true')) WHERE id = ?`,
   )
+  const saveBoardStmt = db.prepare(`
+    INSERT INTO boards (hw_id, kit_id, url, token, claim_code, claimed_by)
+    VALUES (@hw_id, @kit_id, @url, @token, @claim_code, @claimed_by)
+    ON CONFLICT(hw_id) DO UPDATE SET
+      kit_id=excluded.kit_id, url=excluded.url, token=excluded.token,
+      claim_code=excluded.claim_code, claimed_by=excluded.claimed_by
+  `)
+  const listBoardsStmt = db.prepare('SELECT * FROM boards')
+  const upsertInstanceStmt = db.prepare(`
+    INSERT INTO instances (id, name, last_seen)
+    VALUES (@id, @name, @last_seen)
+    ON CONFLICT(id) DO UPDATE SET
+      name=excluded.name, last_seen=excluded.last_seen
+  `)
+  const listInstancesStmt = db.prepare('SELECT * FROM instances ORDER BY name')
 
   return {
     upsertTeam(t) {
@@ -141,6 +198,7 @@ export function openStore(path = ':memory:'): Store {
         stats: JSON.stringify(t.stats),
         device_connected: t.deviceConnected ? 1 : 0,
         updated_at: t.updatedAt,
+        site: t.site ?? '',
       })
     },
     listTeams() {
@@ -157,6 +215,7 @@ export function openStore(path = ':memory:'): Store {
         code: s.code,
         add_json: JSON.stringify(s.add),
         submitted_at: s.submittedAt,
+        site: s.site ?? '',
       })
       // mark the team's final phase complete if we know the team
       if (getTeamStmt.get(s.teamId)) setPhaseAddStmt.run(s.teamId)
@@ -202,6 +261,36 @@ export function openStore(path = ':memory:'): Store {
         scoreCount: r.scoreCount,
       }))
     },
+    saveBoard(b) {
+      saveBoardStmt.run({
+        hw_id: b.hwId,
+        kit_id: b.kitId,
+        url: b.url,
+        token: b.token,
+        claim_code: b.claimCode,
+        claimed_by: b.claimedBy,
+      })
+    },
+    listBoards() {
+      return (listBoardsStmt.all() as BoardRow[]).map((r) => ({
+        hwId: r.hw_id,
+        kitId: r.kit_id,
+        url: r.url,
+        token: r.token,
+        claimCode: r.claim_code,
+        claimedBy: r.claimed_by,
+      }))
+    },
+    upsertInstance(i) {
+      upsertInstanceStmt.run({ id: i.id, name: i.name, last_seen: i.lastSeen })
+    },
+    listInstances() {
+      return (listInstancesStmt.all() as Array<{ id: string; name: string; last_seen: string }>).map((r) => ({
+        id: r.id,
+        name: r.name,
+        lastSeen: r.last_seen,
+      }))
+    },
     close() {
       db.close()
     },

api/src/index.ts

@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ if (!FLEET_SECRET) {
 const store = openStore(DB_PATH)
 const hub = createHub()
 const nodes = createNodeBridge({ broadcast: hub.broadcast })
-const boards = createBoardRegistry()
+const boards = createBoardRegistry(store.listBoards(), (b) => store.saveBoard(b))
 const app = createApp({
   store,
   broadcast: hub.broadcast,

api/src/nodes-api.test.ts

@@ -27,6 +27,10 @@ describe('node bridge + /nodes routes', () => {
       send: async (node, message, agent) => {
         sent.push({ node, message, agent })
       },
+      sendAndWait: async (node, message, agent) => {
+        sent.push({ node, message, agent })
+        return `echo: ${message}`
+      },
       subscribe: () => () => {}, // no live SSE in the unit test
     })
     app = createApp({ store, broadcast: () => {}, adminCode: ADMIN, judgeCode: JUDGE, nodes })
@@ -78,6 +82,20 @@ describe('node bridge + /nodes routes', () => {
     await request(app).post('/nodes/t1/prompt').send({ message: '  ' }).expect(400)
   })
 
+  it('say-hi waits for the node reply; 404s an unregistered team', async () => {
+    await request(app).post('/nodes/ghost/say-hi').send({}).expect(404)
+    await request(app)
+      .post('/nodes')
+      .set('x-access-code', ADMIN)
+      .send({ teamId: 't1', url: 'http://n', token: 'zc_secret' })
+      .expect(201)
+    const res = await request(app).post('/nodes/t1/say-hi').send({ agent: 'cloud' }).expect(200)
+    expect(res.body.reply).toMatch(/^echo: /)
+    // a default greeting is sent when no message is supplied
+    expect(sent.at(-1)?.message).toMatch(/introduce yourself/i)
+    expect(sent.at(-1)?.agent).toBe('cloud')
+  })
+
   it('503s when no bridge is configured', async () => {
     const bare = createApp({ store, broadcast: () => {}, adminCode: ADMIN, judgeCode: JUDGE })
     await request(bare).get('/nodes').set('x-access-code', ADMIN).expect(503)

api/src/nodes.ts

@@ -123,6 +123,22 @@ export async function sendPrompt(node: NodeRef, message: string, agent = 'defaul
   })
 }
 
+/**
+ * Prompt a node and WAIT for its reply text (the blocking `/webhook` response).
+ * Only for non-flashing turns (e.g. the onboarding greeting) — a flash turn must
+ * stay fire-and-forget via {@link sendPrompt} or it hangs the agent's task.
+ */
+export async function promptAndWait(node: NodeRef, message: string, agent = 'default'): Promise<string> {
+  const res = await fetch(`${node.url}/webhook?agent=${encodeURIComponent(agent)}`, {
+    method: 'POST',
+    headers: { authorization: `Bearer ${node.token}`, 'content-type': 'application/json' },
+    body: JSON.stringify({ message }),
+  })
+  if (!res.ok) throw new Error(`webhook ${res.status}`)
+  const body = (await res.json().catch(() => ({}))) as { response?: string }
+  return (body.response ?? '').trim()
+}
+
 export interface SubscribeOptions {
   /** Aborts the whole reconnect loop when fired. */
   signal?: AbortSignal
@@ -219,6 +235,9 @@ export interface NodeBridge {
   remove(teamId: string): void
   list(): NodeView[]
   prompt(teamId: string, message: string, agent?: string): Promise<boolean>
+  /** Say-hi: prompt the node and return its reply text (blocking). `null` if the
+   *  team has no registered node. Non-flash use only (the greeting). */
+  sayHi(teamId: string, message: string, agent?: string): Promise<string | null>
   /** Stream one team's node activity to a participant. Returns an unsubscribe fn. */
   onTeamActivity(teamId: string, listener: (e: WsEvent) => void): () => void
   stopAll(): void
@@ -230,6 +249,7 @@ export interface NodeBridgeDeps {
   /** Injectable for tests. */
   ping?: (n: NodeRef) => Promise<boolean>
   send?: (n: NodeRef, m: string, agent?: string) => Promise<void>
+  sendAndWait?: (n: NodeRef, m: string, agent?: string) => Promise<string>
   subscribe?: (n: NodeRef, onEvent: (e: WsEvent) => void, onStatus: (online: boolean) => void) => () => void
 }
 
@@ -243,6 +263,7 @@ export function createNodeBridge(deps: NodeBridgeDeps): NodeBridge {
   const registry = deps.registry ?? createNodeRegistry()
   const ping = deps.ping ?? pingNode
   const send = deps.send ?? sendPrompt
+  const sendAndWait = deps.sendAndWait ?? promptAndWait
   const subscribe = deps.subscribe ?? ((n, on, onStatus) => subscribeNodeEvents(n, on, { onStatus }))
   const online = new Map<string, boolean>()
   const stops = new Map<string, () => void>()
@@ -287,6 +308,11 @@ export function createNodeBridge(deps: NodeBridgeDeps): NodeBridge {
       await send(node, message, agent)
       return true
     },
+    async sayHi(teamId, message, agent) {
+      const node = registry.get(teamId)
+      if (!node) return null
+      return sendAndWait(node, message, agent)
+    },
     onTeamActivity(teamId, listener) {
       let set = teamListeners.get(teamId)
       if (!set) {

api/src/types.ts

@@ -27,6 +27,9 @@ export interface TeamSnapshot {
   stats: SessionStats
   deviceConnected: boolean
   updatedAt: string
+  /** Federation tag: the local instance (site) this team belongs to. '' on a
+   *  single-fleet deploy; set by the reporter sidecar on a central deploy. */
+  site?: string
 }
 
 export interface SubmissionDTO {
@@ -35,6 +38,18 @@ export interface SubmissionDTO {
   code: string
   add: AddLayers
   submittedAt: string
+  /** Federation tag — see {@link TeamSnapshot.site}. */
+  site?: string
+}
+
+/**
+ * A running local (edge) stack that has registered with the central control
+ * plane. Identified by a stable `site` id; `lastSeen` drives online/offline.
+ */
+export interface InstanceDTO {
+  id: string
+  name: string
+  lastSeen: string
 }
 
 export interface SubmissionSummary {
@@ -72,7 +87,13 @@ export interface LeaderboardRow {
 export type NodeActivityKind = 'thinking' | 'tool' | 'flash' | 'error' | 'response' | 'fallback'
 
 export type WsEvent =
-  | { type: 'snapshot'; teams: TeamSnapshot[]; submissions: SubmissionSummary[]; unclaimed?: string[] }
+  | {
+      type: 'snapshot'
+      teams: TeamSnapshot[]
+      submissions: SubmissionSummary[]
+      unclaimed?: string[]
+      instances?: InstanceDTO[]
+    }
   | { type: 'team:update'; team: TeamSnapshot }
   | { type: 'submission:new'; submission: SubmissionSummary }
   | { type: 'score:new'; teamId: string; total: number }
@@ -80,3 +101,5 @@ export type WsEvent =
   | { type: 'node:activity'; teamId: string; kind: NodeActivityKind; label: string; ts: string }
   // Kit ids of boards that have self-registered but aren't claimed yet.
   | { type: 'unclaimed:update'; kits: string[] }
+  // A local instance (site) registered or heartbeated on the central plane.
+  | { type: 'instance:update'; instance: InstanceDTO }

api/src/ws.test.ts

@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ describe('collective WS feed', () => {
     store = openStore(':memory:')
     const hub = createHub()
     const boards = createBoardRegistry([
-      { kitId: 'KIT-05', url: 'http://b', token: 't', claimCode: '111111', claimedBy: null },
+      { hwId: 'hw-05', kitId: 'KIT-05', url: 'http://b', token: 't', claimCode: '111111', claimedBy: null },
     ])
     const app = createApp({ store, broadcast: hub.broadcast, adminCode: ADMIN, judgeCode: JUDGE })
     server = http.createServer(app)

api/src/ws.ts

@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ export function attachWs(
         teams: store.listTeams(),
         submissions: store.listSubmissions(),
         unclaimed: boards?.unclaimedKits().map((u) => u.kitId) ?? [],
+        instances: store.listInstances(),
       }),
     )
     hub.add(ws)

deploy/lan/.env.example

@@ -6,3 +6,12 @@ JUDGE_CODE=jdg-xxxxxxxx
 FLEET_SECRET=change-me
 # Host port for the web UI. Use 8080 if the box can't bind privileged :80.
 WEB_PORT=80
+
+# --- Federated mode (optional) ----------------------------------------------
+# Only needed if you run the reporter sidecar (`--profile federated`) to mirror
+# this instance UP to the central control plane. Omit for a purely local room.
+# SITE_ID must be unique per team/instance — it namespaces every id at central.
+SITE_ID=team-01
+SITE_NAME=Team 01
+# Central control-plane API base (its /api origin).
+CENTRAL_API=https://apess.redclaw.dev/api

deploy/lan/README.md

@@ -78,6 +78,31 @@ work): a rebooted board re-announces and the API refreshes its binding; a team
 that lost its browser just re-scans the QR + re-enters the code to resume. For
 anything stuck, release the kit from `/admin` and let the team re-claim.
 
+## 4. Federated mode (optional) — phone home to a central dashboard
+
+For a multi-team event you can run **one local stack per team** (each with its
+board) and have every instance mirror its state UP to a **central control
+plane** — a fleet dashboard where judges see the whole cohort at once. This is
+outbound-only, so it works from behind the room's NAT.
+
+```sh
+# in .env, set a UNIQUE SITE_ID per team + the central api base:
+#   SITE_ID=team-07   SITE_NAME="Team 07"   CENTRAL_API=https://apess.redclaw.dev/api
+docker compose --env-file .env -f docker-compose.yml --profile federated up -d --build
+```
+
+The **reporter** sidecar joins the local network, subscribes to the local API's
+WS feed, and replays every `team:update` / submission UP to `CENTRAL_API`,
+**namespaced by `SITE_ID`** (so ids never collide across instances) and
+`site`-tagged (so central groups by team/site). It registers the instance and
+heartbeats on a timer. If the uplink is down, writes queue in an in-memory
+outbox and backfill on reconnect — the local workshop never blocks on it.
+
+Central is **observe-only**: it never touches a board (it can't reach the NAT'd
+boards — only the local stack drives them). Run the central instance from
+`deploy/docker-compose.yml` with the same `FLEET_SECRET`; the reporter presents
+it on every federation call.
+
 ## Notes
 
 - **Data** persists in the `apess-lan-data` volume (`docker compose down` keeps

deploy/lan/docker-compose.yml

@@ -50,6 +50,31 @@ services:
     # Not published: boards + browsers reach the API through the web's /api proxy.
     networks: [apess-lan]
 
+  # Optional edge→central reporter. Enable with `--profile federated`; mirrors
+  # this instance's state UP to the central control plane (outbound-only). Needs
+  # SITE_ID + CENTRAL_API set (see .env.example). Omit the profile for a purely
+  # local, offline single-room workshop.
+  reporter:
+    build:
+      context: ../..
+      dockerfile: deploy/lan/reporter/Dockerfile
+    image: apess-reporter:lan
+    container_name: apess-reporter-lan
+    restart: unless-stopped
+    profiles: [federated]
+    environment:
+      SITE_ID: ${SITE_ID:?set SITE_ID for federated mode}
+      SITE_NAME: ${SITE_NAME:-}
+      CENTRAL_API: ${CENTRAL_API:?set CENTRAL_API for federated mode}
+      FLEET_SECRET: ${FLEET_SECRET:?set FLEET_SECRET}
+      LOCAL_WS: ws://apess-api-lan:3000/ws
+      LOCAL_API: http://apess-api-lan:3000
+      # LOCAL_CODE auths the reporter's read of the local feed — reuse ADMIN_CODE.
+      LOCAL_CODE: ${ADMIN_CODE:?set ADMIN_CODE}
+    depends_on:
+      - apess-api
+    networks: [apess-lan]
+
 networks:
   apess-lan:
     driver: bridge

deploy/lan/reporter/Dockerfile

@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+# APESS reporter sidecar — tiny outbound-only state mirror (edge → central).
+FROM node:22-alpine
+WORKDIR /app
+ENV NODE_ENV=production
+COPY deploy/lan/reporter/package.json ./
+RUN npm install --omit=dev
+COPY deploy/lan/reporter/index.mjs ./
+CMD ["node", "index.mjs"]

deploy/lan/reporter/index.mjs

@@ -0,0 +1,151 @@
+// APESS reporter sidecar — mirrors one local (edge) stack's state UP to the
+// central control plane. Outbound-only (NAT-friendly): it never accepts inbound
+// traffic, it just consumes the LOCAL api's WS feed and replays the public write
+// contract (PUT /teams/:id, POST /submissions) to CENTRAL, tagged with `site`.
+//
+// Failed central writes queue in an in-memory outbox and retry, so a flaky or
+// offline uplink never blocks — the workshop runs fully on the local stack and
+// central backfills when the link returns.
+//
+// Env:
+//   SITE_ID        stable id for this instance (namespaces every id at central)
+//   SITE_NAME      human label for the fleet dashboard (defaults to SITE_ID)
+//   LOCAL_WS       ws url of the local api feed   (default ws://apess-api-lan:3000/ws)
+//   LOCAL_API      http base of the local api     (default http://apess-api-lan:3000)
+//   LOCAL_CODE     admin code — auths the WS + the full-submission read
+//   CENTRAL_API    http base of the central api   (e.g. https://apess.redclaw.dev/api)
+//   FLEET_SECRET   shared secret central gates federation on
+//   HEARTBEAT_MS   instance heartbeat cadence     (default 30000)
+import WebSocket from 'ws'
+
+const SITE_ID = must('SITE_ID')
+const SITE_NAME = process.env.SITE_NAME || SITE_ID
+const LOCAL_WS = process.env.LOCAL_WS || 'ws://apess-api-lan:3000/ws'
+const LOCAL_API = (process.env.LOCAL_API || 'http://apess-api-lan:3000').replace(/\/$/, '')
+const LOCAL_CODE = must('LOCAL_CODE')
+const CENTRAL_API = must('CENTRAL_API').replace(/\/$/, '')
+const FLEET_SECRET = must('FLEET_SECRET')
+const HEARTBEAT_MS = Number(process.env.HEARTBEAT_MS || 30000)
+
+function must(name) {
+  const v = process.env[name]
+  if (!v) {
+    console.error(`[reporter] missing required env ${name}`)
+    process.exit(1)
+  }
+  return v
+}
+const log = (...a) => console.log('[reporter]', ...a)
+const nsId = (id) => `${SITE_ID}:${id}` // namespace a local id so it never collides at central
+
+// --- offline outbox: {key, run: () => fetch-promise} ------------------------
+// keyed so a newer team snapshot collapses the older one still queued.
+const outbox = new Map()
+function enqueue(key, run) {
+  outbox.set(key, run)
+}
+async function flush() {
+  for (const [key, run] of [...outbox]) {
+    try {
+      await run()
+      outbox.delete(key)
+    } catch (e) {
+      // leave it queued; try again next tick
+      log(`outbox retry pending (${outbox.size}) — ${key}: ${e.message}`)
+      break // preserve order; stop on first failure
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+async function central(path, body, method = 'POST') {
+  const res = await fetch(`${CENTRAL_API}${path}`, {
+    method,
+    headers: { 'content-type': 'application/json', 'x-fleet-secret': FLEET_SECRET },
+    body: JSON.stringify(body),
+  })
+  if (!res.ok) throw new Error(`${method} ${path} → ${res.status}`)
+  return res
+}
+
+// --- replay the public write contract UP, namespaced + site-tagged ----------
+function pushTeam(team) {
+  const id = nsId(team.id)
+  enqueue(`team:${id}`, () =>
+    central(`/teams/${encodeURIComponent(id)}`, { ...team, id, site: SITE_ID }, 'PUT'),
+  )
+}
+function pushSubmission(sub) {
+  const teamId = nsId(sub.teamId)
+  enqueue(`sub:${teamId}`, () =>
+    central('/submissions', { ...sub, teamId, site: SITE_ID }),
+  )
+}
+
+// The WS submission:new event only carries a summary — fetch the full record
+// (add layers + code) from the LOCAL api before replaying it up.
+async function fetchFullSubmission(localTeamId) {
+  const res = await fetch(`${LOCAL_API}/submissions/${encodeURIComponent(localTeamId)}`, {
+    headers: { 'x-access-code': LOCAL_CODE },
+  })
+  if (!res.ok) throw new Error(`local GET /submissions/${localTeamId} → ${res.status}`)
+  return res.json()
+}
+
+// --- instance registration + heartbeat --------------------------------------
+async function register() {
+  enqueue('instance', () => central('/instances/register', { id: SITE_ID, name: SITE_NAME }))
+}
+function startHeartbeat() {
+  setInterval(() => {
+    enqueue('instance', () =>
+      central(`/instances/${encodeURIComponent(SITE_ID)}/heartbeat`, { name: SITE_NAME }),
+    )
+    void flush()
+  }, HEARTBEAT_MS)
+}
+
+// --- local WS subscription (auto-reconnecting) ------------------------------
+function connect() {
+  const ws = new WebSocket(`${LOCAL_WS}?code=${encodeURIComponent(LOCAL_CODE)}`)
+  ws.on('open', () => log(`connected to local feed ${LOCAL_WS}`))
+  ws.on('message', async (raw) => {
+    let ev
+    try {
+      ev = JSON.parse(raw.toString())
+    } catch {
+      return
+    }
+    if (ev.type === 'snapshot') {
+      // backfill: replay every known team + submission on (re)connect
+      for (const t of ev.teams ?? []) pushTeam(t)
+      for (const s of ev.submissions ?? []) {
+        try {
+          pushSubmission(await fetchFullSubmission(s.teamId))
+        } catch (e) {
+          log(`snapshot submission skip ${s.teamId}: ${e.message}`)
+        }
+      }
+    } else if (ev.type === 'team:update') {
+      pushTeam(ev.team)
+    } else if (ev.type === 'submission:new') {
+      try {
+        pushSubmission(await fetchFullSubmission(ev.submission.teamId))
+      } catch (e) {
+        log(`submission fetch failed ${ev.submission.teamId}: ${e.message}`)
+      }
+    }
+    void flush()
+  })
+  ws.on('close', () => {
+    log('local feed closed — reconnecting in 3s')
+    setTimeout(connect, 3000)
+  })
+  ws.on('error', (e) => log(`local feed error: ${e.message}`))
+}
+
+log(`starting — site=${SITE_ID} → central ${CENTRAL_API}`)
+await register()
+void flush()
+startHeartbeat()
+connect()
+setInterval(() => void flush(), 15000) // periodic drain even when idle

deploy/lan/reporter/package-lock.json

@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+{
+  "name": "apess-reporter",
+  "version": "1.0.0",
+  "lockfileVersion": 3,
+  "requires": true,
+  "packages": {
+    "": {
+      "name": "apess-reporter",
+      "version": "1.0.0",
+      "dependencies": {
+        "ws": "^8.18.0"
+      }
+    },
+    "node_modules/ws": {
+      "version": "8.21.1",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/ws/-/ws-8.21.1.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-+0NTnW77fFN/DjQi6k/Sq/Yvk4Sgajw7urW8V+asjXnRgDs9gyGkdb7EzgfhA4goXsRIZKE28fzIXBHEzhuiWw==",
+      "license": "MIT",
+      "engines": {
+        "node": ">=10.0.0"
+      },
+      "peerDependencies": {
+        "bufferutil": "^4.0.1",
+        "utf-8-validate": ">=5.0.2"
+      },
+      "peerDependenciesMeta": {
+        "bufferutil": {
+          "optional": true
+        },
+        "utf-8-validate": {
+          "optional": true
+        }
+      }
+    }
+  }
+}

deploy/lan/reporter/package.json

@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+{
+  "name": "apess-reporter",
+  "version": "1.0.0",
+  "private": true,
+  "type": "module",
+  "description": "APESS edge→central reporter sidecar (outbound-only state mirror)",
+  "main": "index.mjs",
+  "scripts": {
+    "start": "node index.mjs"
+  },
+  "dependencies": {
+    "ws": "^8.18.0"
+  }
+}

deploy/uno-q/agent-mode.sh

@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+# agent-mode.sh — flip EVERY agent on the Uno Q between cloud and offline.
+#
+#   cloud   (default, workshop): every agent → anthropic.max (claude-sonnet-5),
+#           full tool set (risk_profile=default), full context (runtime=unoq).
+#           Nothing feels broken; the on-board fallback is NOT in the way.
+#   offline (resilience demo):   every agent → llamacpp.local (on-board Qwen),
+#           lean tools (risk_profile=demo) + lean context (runtime=offline) so
+#           the 0.5B is actually usable. This is the fallback you enable on purpose.
+#
+# Usage:  ./agent-mode.sh [cloud|offline]
+# Env:    SERIAL (default 65301572)
+#
+# Restart note: kills the daemon so the supervisor relaunches it with the new
+# config. Cloud mode needs the Max token in the supervisor's env — if it's not
+# there (e.g. after a bare reboot), run deploy/uno-q/recover.sh first.
+set -u
+MODE="${1:-cloud}"
+SERIAL="${SERIAL:-65301572}"
+CFG=/home/arduino/.zeroclaw/config.toml
+S(){ adb -s "$SERIAL" shell "$@"; }
+
+case "$MODE" in
+  cloud)   PROV="anthropic.max"; RISK="default"; RT="unoq" ;;
+  offline) PROV="llamacpp.local"; RISK="demo";   RT="offline" ;;
+  *) echo "usage: $0 [cloud|offline]"; exit 1 ;;
+esac
+echo "→ setting ALL agents to: provider=$PROV risk=$RISK runtime=$RT"
+
+adb -s "$SERIAL" get-state >/dev/null 2>&1 || { echo "✗ board $SERIAL not attached"; exit 1; }
+S "cp -f $CFG ${CFG}.pre-${MODE}.bak"
+
+# Rewrite every top-level [agents.<name>] block (not its .sub-tables).
+S "python3 - <<'PY'
+import re
+cfg='$CFG'; prov='$PROV'; risk='$RISK'; rt='$RT'
+hdr=re.compile(r'^\[agents\.[A-Za-z0-9_]+\]\$')
+out=[]; ina=False
+for ln in open(cfg).read().split('\n'):
+    if hdr.match(ln): ina=True
+    elif ln.startswith('['): ina=False
+    if ina:
+        if re.match(r'^\s*model_provider\s*=', ln): ln='model_provider = \"%s\"'%prov
+        elif re.match(r'^\s*risk_profile\s*=', ln): ln='risk_profile = \"%s\"'%risk
+        elif re.match(r'^\s*runtime_profile\s*=', ln): ln='runtime_profile = \"%s\"'%rt
+    out.append(ln)
+open(cfg,'w').write('\n'.join(out))
+print('rewrote agent blocks')
+PY"
+
+echo "→ restarting daemon (supervisor relaunches with new config)…"
+S 'for p in $(ps -C zeroclaw -o pid= 2>/dev/null); do kill -9 $p 2>/dev/null; done'
+for i in $(seq 1 15); do
+  sleep 4
+  S 'curl -sf -m3 http://127.0.0.1:8080/health >/dev/null 2>&1' && break
+  printf '.'
+done; echo
+
+echo "=== agents now ==="
+S "awk '/^\[agents\.[A-Za-z0-9_]+\]\$/{a=substr(\$0,9,length(\$0)-9)} /^model_provider/{print a\": \"\$3}' $CFG"
+
+if [ "$MODE" = cloud ]; then
+  N=$(S 'P=$(pgrep -f "[z]eroclaw daemon" | head -1); cat /proc/$P/environ 2>/dev/null | tr "\0" "\n" | grep -c "ANTHROPIC_OAUTH_TOKEN"')
+  [ "${N:-0}" -ge 1 ] && echo "✓ cloud token present in daemon env" \
+    || echo "✗ cloud token NOT in daemon env — run deploy/uno-q/recover.sh (with ANTHROPIC_OAUTH_TOKEN exported)"
+fi
+echo "done ($MODE)."

deploy/uno-q/provision-node-app.sh

@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+# provision-node-app.sh — install the "ZeroClaw Node" App Lab app onto a Uno Q and
+# carry in its runtime bits (binary + config + .secret_key + token + node env), then
+# start it. The app itself is secret-free; this script provisions the secrets.
+#
+# Usage (board on USB, secrets in env):
+#   export ANTHROPIC_OAUTH_TOKEN=sk-ant-oat01-…
+#   KIT_ID=crimson-otter CLAIM_CODE=4821 FLEET_SECRET=apress2026 \
+#     APESS_URL=http://192.168.x.x:3000 ./deploy/uno-q/provision-node-app.sh
+#
+# Env: SERIAL (65301572), NODE_APP_DIR (repo app dir), plus the node-env vars above.
+set -u
+SERIAL="${SERIAL:-65301572}"
+NODE_APP_DIR="${NODE_APP_DIR:-$HOME/projects/zeroclaw/firmware/zeroclaw-node}"
+DEST=/home/arduino/ArduinoApps/zeroclaw-node
+S(){ adb -s "$SERIAL" shell "$@"; }
+ok(){ printf '  \033[32m✓\033[0m %s\n' "$*"; }
+bad(){ printf '  \033[31m✗\033[0m %s\n' "$*"; }
+
+adb -s "$SERIAL" get-state >/dev/null 2>&1 || { bad "board $SERIAL not attached"; exit 1; }
+[ -f "$NODE_APP_DIR/app.yaml" ] || { bad "app not found at $NODE_APP_DIR"; exit 1; }
+[ -n "${ANTHROPIC_OAUTH_TOKEN:-}" ] || { bad "ANTHROPIC_OAUTH_TOKEN not set"; exit 1; }
+
+echo "→ pushing the app to $DEST"
+S "mkdir -p $DEST/bin $DEST/.zeroclaw"
+adb -s "$SERIAL" push "$NODE_APP_DIR/app.yaml"        "$DEST/app.yaml"           >/dev/null
+adb -s "$SERIAL" push "$NODE_APP_DIR/sketch"          "$DEST/"                   >/dev/null
+adb -s "$SERIAL" push "$NODE_APP_DIR/python"          "$DEST/"                   >/dev/null
+ok "app files"
+
+echo "→ carrying in runtime bits (secret-bearing — provisioned, not committed)"
+# binary: reuse the board's known-good one (already the right arch)
+S "cp -f /home/arduino/zeroclaw $DEST/bin/zeroclaw && chmod +x $DEST/bin/zeroclaw"
+# config + enc2 key (the config's secrets are bound to this key)
+S "cp -f /home/arduino/.zeroclaw/config.toml $DEST/.zeroclaw/config.toml"
+S "cp -f /home/arduino/.zeroclaw/.secret_key $DEST/.zeroclaw/.secret_key"
+# web dashboard assets must live inside the app dir (/app in-container), not a host
+# path — carry them in and repoint web_dist_dir so :8080/ serves the dashboard.
+S "cp -rf /home/arduino/web-dist $DEST/web-dist 2>/dev/null; sed -i 's#^web_dist_dir = .*#web_dist_dir = \"/app/web-dist\"#' $DEST/.zeroclaw/config.toml"
+# hardware skills — the [skill_bundles.unoq] bundle loads from shared/skills so the
+# agent knows it's on an Uno Q and how to drive its devices. (copy skills/ directly,
+# not the parent, to avoid cp nesting when the dir already exists.)
+S "rm -rf $DEST/.zeroclaw/shared/skills; mkdir -p $DEST/.zeroclaw/shared && cp -rf /home/arduino/.zeroclaw/shared/skills $DEST/.zeroclaw/shared/skills"
+# cloud token (env-only → written to the board's app dir, never to the repo)
+printf '%s' "$ANTHROPIC_OAUTH_TOKEN" | S "cat > $DEST/.zeroclaw/oauth_token"
+# node env (self-register inputs)
+S "cat > $DEST/.zeroclaw/apess-node.env" <<EOF
+KIT_ID=${KIT_ID:-node-$SERIAL}
+CLAIM_CODE=${CLAIM_CODE:-$(( (RANDOM % 9000) + 1000 ))}
+FLEET_SECRET=${FLEET_SECRET:-}
+APESS_URL=${APESS_URL:-}
+GATEWAY_PORT=${GATEWAY_PORT:-8080}
+EOF
+ok "binary + config + .secret_key + oauth_token + apess-node.env"
+
+echo "→ starting the app (compiles+flashes the matrix sketch, launches daemon in-container)"
+S "cd $DEST && TMPDIR=/tmp timeout 300 arduino-app-cli app start $DEST 2>&1 | tail -4"
+
+# The App Lab app IS the boot mechanism now. Remove the legacy @reboot supervisor
+# cron so it doesn't race the app for :8080 on boot (it wins, and the app fails).
+S 'crontab -l 2>/dev/null | grep -v "zeroclaw-supervisor" | crontab - 2>/dev/null; for p in $(pgrep -f "[z]eroclaw-supervisor"); do kill -9 $p 2>/dev/null; done'
+ok "removed legacy supervisor @reboot cron (App Lab app owns boot now)"
+
+echo "→ enable Run-at-startup for boot persistence:"
+echo "     adb -s $SERIAL shell 'arduino-app-cli properties set default $DEST'"
+ok "provisioned. In App Lab, open 'ZeroClaw Node' → Run."

src/components/AddLayerForm.test.tsx

@@ -1,13 +1,21 @@
-import { describe, it, expect, beforeEach } from 'vitest'
+import { describe, it, expect, beforeEach, vi } from 'vitest'
-import { render, screen } from '@testing-library/react'
+import { render, screen, waitFor } from '@testing-library/react'
 import userEvent from '@testing-library/user-event'
 import { AddLayerForm } from './AddLayerForm'
 import { useSession } from '@/store/session'
+import { askNode } from '@/lib/api'
+
+vi.mock('@/lib/api', async (orig) => ({
+  ...(await orig<typeof import('@/lib/api')>()),
+  askNode: vi.fn(),
+}))
+const mockAsk = vi.mocked(askNode)
 
 describe('AddLayerForm', () => {
   beforeEach(() => {
     useSession.getState().reset()
     sessionStorage.clear()
+    mockAsk.mockReset()
   })
 
   it('writes a string layer (L2) to the store as the user types', async () => {
@@ -29,4 +37,21 @@ describe('AddLayerForm', () => {
     await user.type(screen.getByLabelText(/layer 1/i), 'structural resonance')
     expect(useSession.getState().add.L1).toBe('structural resonance')
   })
+
+  it('Refine is disabled while empty, then reformats the text via the node', async () => {
+    const user = userEvent.setup()
+    useSession.getState().setAddLayer('L1', 'rough notes about impact spikes')
+    mockAsk.mockResolvedValue('Domain: impact monitoring.\n\n- Impact spike\n- Sustained sway')
+    render(<AddLayerForm layer="L1" title="Layer 1" />)
+
+    await user.click(screen.getByRole('button', { name: /refine/i }))
+    await waitFor(() => expect(useSession.getState().add.L1).toMatch(/Impact spike/))
+    // the reformatted text replaced the original notes
+    expect(useSession.getState().add.L1).not.toMatch(/rough notes/)
+  })
+
+  it('Refine is disabled when the layer is empty', () => {
+    render(<AddLayerForm layer="L1" title="Layer 1" />)
+    expect(screen.getByRole('button', { name: /refine/i })).toBeDisabled()
+  })
 })

src/components/AddLayerForm.tsx

@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
-import { useId } from 'react'
+import { useId, useState } from 'react'
 import { Textarea } from '@/components/ui/textarea'
 import { Card, CardContent, CardHeader, CardTitle } from '@/components/ui/card'
+import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button'
 import { useSession, type AddLayers } from '@/store/session'
+import { askNode } from '@/lib/api'
 
 export interface AddLayerFormProps {
   layer: keyof AddLayers
@@ -13,13 +15,37 @@ export interface AddLayerFormProps {
 
 /**
  * Keystone ADD capture component. Drives one layer of the 5-layer Agent Design
- * Document — each layer is free text rendered as a single textarea. All edits
+ * Document — each layer is free text rendered as a single textarea, with a
- * flow straight into the session store.
+ * "Refine" wand that asks the team's node to reformat + structure what they wrote
+ * (meaning preserved) so it's submission-ready.
  */
 export function AddLayerForm({ layer, title, description, placeholder }: AddLayerFormProps) {
   const value = useSession((s) => s.add[layer])
   const setAddLayer = useSession((s) => s.setAddLayer)
+  const teamId = useSession((s) => s.teamId)
   const baseId = useId()
+  const [busy, setBusy] = useState(false)
+  const [error, setError] = useState<string | null>(null)
+
+  const refine = async () => {
+    const text = value.trim()
+    if (!text || busy) return
+    setBusy(true)
+    setError(null)
+    try {
+      const refined = await askNode(
+        teamId,
+        `Reformat and lightly structure the following notes for the "${title}" section of an Agent Design Document. ` +
+          `Preserve the author's meaning and facts — do NOT invent new content. Improve clarity and grammar, and add ` +
+          `light structure (short paragraphs or bullets) where it helps readability. Return ONLY the improved text, no preamble.\n\nNotes:\n${text}`,
+      )
+      if (refined.trim()) setAddLayer(layer, refined.trim())
+    } catch {
+      setError('Could not reach your node — say hi first, then try again.')
+    } finally {
+      setBusy(false)
+    }
+  }
 
   return (
     <Card>
@@ -29,15 +55,29 @@ export function AddLayerForm({ layer, title, description, placeholder }: AddLaye
       </CardHeader>
       <CardContent className="space-y-4">
         <div className="space-y-2">
+          <div className="flex items-center justify-between gap-3">
             <label htmlFor={baseId} className="font-mono text-[10px] uppercase tracking-widest text-muted-foreground">
               {title}
             </label>
+            <Button
+              type="button"
+              size="sm"
+              variant="secondary"
+              className="h-7 px-2.5 font-mono text-[11px] tracking-wider"
+              disabled={!value.trim() || busy}
+              onClick={refine}
+              title="Reformat and structure your notes"
+            >
+              {busy ? 'Refining…' : '🪄 Refine'}
+            </Button>
+          </div>
           <Textarea
             id={baseId}
             placeholder={placeholder}
             value={value}
             onChange={(e) => setAddLayer(layer, e.target.value)}
           />
+          {error && <p role="alert" className="text-xs text-red-500 leading-relaxed">{error}</p>}
         </div>
       </CardContent>
     </Card>

src/components/DomainPicker.test.tsx

@@ -1,12 +1,20 @@
-import { describe, it, expect, beforeEach } from 'vitest'
+import { describe, it, expect, beforeEach, vi } from 'vitest'
-import { render, screen, fireEvent } from '@testing-library/react'
+import { render, screen, fireEvent, waitFor } from '@testing-library/react'
 import { DomainPicker } from './DomainPicker'
 import { useSession } from '@/store/session'
+import { askNode } from '@/lib/api'
+
+vi.mock('@/lib/api', async (orig) => ({
+  ...(await orig<typeof import('@/lib/api')>()),
+  askNode: vi.fn(),
+}))
+const mockAsk = vi.mocked(askNode)
 
 describe('DomainPicker', () => {
   beforeEach(() => {
     useSession.getState().reset()
     sessionStorage.clear()
+    mockAsk.mockReset()
   })
 
   it('binds the input to the session domain', () => {
@@ -22,4 +30,35 @@ describe('DomainPicker', () => {
       expect(screen.getByText(label)).toBeInTheDocument()
     }
   })
+
+  it('disables Refine until a domain is named', () => {
+    render(<DomainPicker />)
+    expect(screen.getByRole('button', { name: /refine/i })).toBeDisabled()
+    fireEvent.change(screen.getByLabelText(/your domain/i), { target: { value: 'air quality' } })
+    expect(screen.getByRole('button', { name: /refine/i })).toBeEnabled()
+  })
+
+  it('refine drafts all four dimensions into the store and opens a modal', async () => {
+    mockAsk.mockImplementation(async (_t, prompt) => {
+      const which = /SKILLS/.test(prompt) ? 'skills'
+        : /POLICIES/.test(prompt) ? 'policies'
+        : /HARNESS/.test(prompt) ? 'harness' : 'loops'
+      return `draft for ${which}`
+    })
+    useSession.getState().setDomain('air quality')
+    render(<DomainPicker />)
+
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole('button', { name: /refine/i }))
+
+    await waitFor(() => expect(useSession.getState().add.L2).toBe('draft for skills'))
+    expect(useSession.getState().add.L3).toBe('draft for policies')
+    expect(useSession.getState().add.L4).toBe('draft for harness')
+    expect(useSession.getState().add.L5).toBe('draft for loops')
+
+    // the Skills card is now done + clickable → clicking pops the modal
+    const skills = await screen.findByTestId('dim-L2')
+    expect(skills).toHaveAttribute('data-state', 'done')
+    fireEvent.click(skills)
+    expect(screen.getByRole('dialog')).toHaveTextContent(/draft for skills/i)
+  })
 })

src/components/DomainPicker.tsx

@@ -1,26 +1,87 @@
-import { useId } from 'react'
+import { useId, useState } from 'react'
 import { Input } from '@/components/ui/input'
-import { useSession } from '@/store/session'
+import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button'
+import { Modal } from '@/components/ui/modal'
+import { useSession, type AddLayers } from '@/store/session'
+import { askNode } from '@/lib/api'
+import { cn } from '@/lib/utils'
 
-/** Generic, domain-agnostic scaffolding prompts for the four design dimensions
+type LayerKey = 'L2' | 'L3' | 'L4' | 'L5'
- *  the team builds next. Deliberately NOT a fixed catalog — just questions. */
+type GenState = 'idle' | 'running' | 'done'
-const DIMENSION_HINTS: { label: string; prompt: string }[] = [
+
-  { label: 'Skills', prompt: 'What domain knowledge must it know?' },
+/** The four design dimensions the domain refine jump-starts, mapped to ADD layers.
-  { label: 'Policies', prompt: 'What may it do autonomously vs. need approval?' },
+ *  Each prompt is failure-first framed so the drafts seed the real deliverable. */
-  { label: 'Harness', prompt: 'When does it decide locally vs. escalate?' },
+const DIMENSIONS: { key: LayerKey; label: string; hint: string; prompt: (d: string) => string }[] = [
-  { label: 'Loops', prompt: 'How often does it check its world + report by exception?' },
+  {
+    key: 'L2',
+    label: 'Skills',
+    hint: 'What domain knowledge must it know?',
+    prompt: (d) =>
+      `Designing an autonomous monitoring agent for this domain: "${d}". In 3–4 concise sentences, describe the SKILLS it needs — the domain knowledge and sensing/interpretation capabilities required to understand this domain. Plain prose, no preamble, no heading.`,
+  },
+  {
+    key: 'L3',
+    label: 'Policies',
+    hint: 'What may it do autonomously vs. need approval?',
+    prompt: (d) =>
+      `Designing an autonomous monitoring agent for this domain: "${d}". In 3–4 concise sentences, describe its POLICIES — what it may do autonomously vs. what needs human approval, and how each thing fails safe (a failure must never read as "nominal"; degrade to unknown/escalate). Plain prose, no preamble, no heading.`,
+  },
+  {
+    key: 'L4',
+    label: 'Harness',
+    hint: 'When does it decide locally vs. escalate?',
+    prompt: (d) =>
+      `Designing an autonomous monitoring agent for this domain: "${d}". In 3–4 concise sentences, describe its HARNESS — the degradation path (cloud → on-board → fully offline) and what still works with no network at all. Plain prose, no preamble, no heading.`,
+  },
+  {
+    key: 'L5',
+    label: 'Loops',
+    hint: 'How often does it check its world + report by exception?',
+    prompt: (d) =>
+      `Designing an autonomous monitoring agent for this domain: "${d}". In 3–4 concise sentences, describe its LOOPS — how often it checks its world, how it reports by exception, and what it does when a cycle fails (stale readings, missed ticks, partial data). Plain prose, no preamble, no heading.`,
+  },
 ]
 
 /**
- * Names the problem domain the team's node is for, plus the events it senses.
+ * Names the problem domain and, via "Refine", asks the team's node to jump-start
- * Bound straight to the session store's free-text `domain`. Below the input we
+ * drafts for the four design dimensions (ADD layers L2–L5). Each card generates
- * surface generic scaffolding prompts for the next four design dimensions.
+ * behind the scenes, turns green when done, and opens a modal with its draft.
+ * Drafts land in the session store so later modules pick them up.
  */
 export function DomainPicker() {
   const domain = useSession((s) => s.domain)
   const setDomain = useSession((s) => s.setDomain)
+  const add = useSession((s) => s.add)
+  const setAddLayer = useSession((s) => s.setAddLayer)
+  const teamId = useSession((s) => s.teamId)
   const inputId = useId()
 
+  const [state, setState] = useState<Record<LayerKey, GenState>>({ L2: 'idle', L3: 'idle', L4: 'idle', L5: 'idle' })
+  const [open, setOpen] = useState<LayerKey | null>(null)
+  const [error, setError] = useState<string | null>(null)
+
+  const anyRunning = Object.values(state).some((s) => s === 'running')
+  const doneCount = DIMENSIONS.filter((d) => state[d.key] === 'done').length
+
+  const refine = () => {
+    if (!domain.trim() || anyRunning) return
+    setError(null)
+    for (const dim of DIMENSIONS) {
+      setState((s) => ({ ...s, [dim.key]: 'running' }))
+      askNode(teamId, dim.prompt(domain))
+        .then((text) => {
+          setAddLayer(dim.key as keyof AddLayers, text.trim())
+          setState((s) => ({ ...s, [dim.key]: 'done' }))
+        })
+        .catch(() => {
+          setState((s) => ({ ...s, [dim.key]: 'idle' }))
+          setError('Could not reach your node — say hi first, then try again.')
+        })
+    }
+  }
+
+  const active = DIMENSIONS.find((d) => d.key === open)
+
   return (
     <div className="space-y-5">
       <div className="space-y-2">
@@ -40,18 +101,65 @@ export function DomainPicker() {
       </div>
 
       <div className="space-y-2">
+        <div className="flex items-center justify-between gap-3">
           <div className="font-mono text-[10px] uppercase tracking-widest text-muted-foreground">
             What you&rsquo;ll design next
           </div>
+          <Button
+            size="sm"
+            variant="secondary"
+            className="h-7 px-2.5 font-mono text-[11px] tracking-wider"
+            disabled={!domain.trim() || anyRunning}
+            onClick={refine}
+            title="Draft all four dimensions from your domain"
+          >
+            {anyRunning ? `Refining… ${doneCount}/4` : doneCount > 0 ? '↻ Refine again' : '✦ Refine'}
+          </Button>
+        </div>
+
         <div className="grid sm:grid-cols-2 gap-3">
-          {DIMENSION_HINTS.map((d) => (
+          {DIMENSIONS.map((d) => {
-            <div key={d.label} className="rounded-md border border-border px-3 py-2.5">
+            const st = state[d.key]
-              <div className="font-mono text-[10px] uppercase tracking-widest text-primary">{d.label}</div>
+            const content = add[d.key]
-              <div className="text-sm text-muted-foreground leading-snug mt-1">{d.prompt}</div>
+            const clickable = st === 'done' && !!content
+            return (
+              <button
+                key={d.key}
+                type="button"
+                data-testid={`dim-${d.key}`}
+                data-state={st}
+                disabled={!clickable}
+                onClick={() => clickable && setOpen(d.key)}
+                className={cn(
+                  'text-left rounded-md border px-3 py-2.5 transition-colors',
+                  st === 'done'
+                    ? 'border-teal/40 bg-teal/10 hover:bg-teal/15 cursor-pointer'
+                    : st === 'running'
+                      ? 'border-amber/40 bg-amber/5'
+                      : 'border-border',
+                )}
+              >
+                <div className="flex items-center justify-between gap-2">
+                  <span className="font-mono text-[10px] uppercase tracking-widest text-primary">{d.label}</span>
+                  {st === 'running' && <span className="w-1.5 h-1.5 rounded-full bg-amber animate-pulse" />}
+                  {st === 'done' && <span className="font-mono text-[9px] uppercase tracking-widest text-teal">ready ✓</span>}
                 </div>
-          ))}
+                <div className="text-sm text-muted-foreground leading-snug mt-1 line-clamp-2">
+                  {st === 'done' && content ? content : d.hint}
                 </div>
+              </button>
+            )
+          })}
         </div>
+        {error && <p role="alert" className="text-xs text-red-500 leading-relaxed">{error}</p>}
+      </div>
+
+      <Modal open={open !== null} onClose={() => setOpen(null)} title={active ? `Draft · ${active.label}` : ''}>
+        <p className="text-sm leading-relaxed whitespace-pre-wrap text-foreground/90">{open ? add[open] : ''}</p>
+        <p className="font-mono text-[10px] text-muted-foreground mt-4 leading-relaxed">
+          A starting draft from your node — refine it further in the modules ahead.
+        </p>
+      </Modal>
     </div>
   )
 }

src/components/OpenYourNode.tsx

@@ -58,9 +58,14 @@ export function OpenYourNode({ variant = 'hero', className }: OpenYourNodeProps)
       )}
     >
       <div>
-        <div className="text-xl font-bold tracking-tight">Open your node →</div>
+        <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
+          <span className="text-xl font-bold tracking-tight">Open your node →</span>
+          <span className="font-mono text-[9px] uppercase tracking-widest text-teal border border-teal/40 bg-teal/10 rounded px-1.5 py-0.5">
+            Connected
+          </span>
+        </div>
         <div className="font-mono text-[10px] text-muted-foreground mt-1 truncate max-w-xs">
-          {device.nodeUrl}
+          {device.port ? `${device.port} · ` : ''}{device.nodeUrl}
         </div>
       </div>
       <span className="w-2.5 h-2.5 rounded-full bg-teal animate-pulse shrink-0" aria-hidden />

src/components/ui/modal.tsx

@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+import { useEffect, type ReactNode } from 'react'
+import { cn } from '@/lib/utils'
+
+export interface ModalProps {
+  open: boolean
+  onClose: () => void
+  title?: ReactNode
+  children: ReactNode
+  className?: string
+}
+
+/** Lightweight accessible modal: dimmed overlay, click-outside + Esc to close. */
+export function Modal({ open, onClose, title, children, className }: ModalProps) {
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (!open) return
+    const onKey = (e: KeyboardEvent) => e.key === 'Escape' && onClose()
+    document.addEventListener('keydown', onKey)
+    return () => document.removeEventListener('keydown', onKey)
+  }, [open, onClose])
+
+  if (!open) return null
+
+  return (
+    <div
+      className="fixed inset-0 z-50 flex items-center justify-center p-4 bg-black/50 backdrop-blur-sm"
+      onClick={onClose}
+      role="presentation"
+    >
+      <div
+        role="dialog"
+        aria-modal="true"
+        className={cn(
+          'w-full max-w-lg max-h-[85vh] overflow-y-auto rounded-xl border border-border bg-background shadow-2xl',
+          className,
+        )}
+        onClick={(e) => e.stopPropagation()}
+      >
+        {title && (
+          <div className="flex items-center justify-between gap-4 border-b border-border px-5 py-3.5 sticky top-0 bg-background">
+            <div className="font-mono text-[11px] uppercase tracking-widest text-primary">{title}</div>
+            <button
+              type="button"
+              aria-label="Close"
+              onClick={onClose}
+              className="text-muted-foreground hover:text-foreground text-lg leading-none"
+            >
+              ×
+            </button>
+          </div>
+        )}
+        <div className="px-5 py-4">{children}</div>
+      </div>
+    </div>
+  )
+}

src/lib/api.ts

@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import type {
   ScoreInput,
   ScoreDTO,
   LeaderboardRow,
+  InstanceDTO,
   WsEvent,
 } from '@/types'
 
@@ -82,6 +83,12 @@ export async function getLeaderboard(code: string): Promise<LeaderboardRow[]> {
   return asJson(await fetch(`${API_BASE}/leaderboard`, { headers: authHeaders(code) }), 'getLeaderboard')
 }
 
+/** Central-mode fleet view: the local instances that have phoned home. Empty on
+ *  a single-fleet deploy (the route just returns []). */
+export async function getInstances(code: string): Promise<InstanceDTO[]> {
+  return asJson(await fetch(`${API_BASE}/instances`, { headers: authHeaders(code) }), 'getInstances')
+}
+
 // --- board onboarding (participant) ---------------------------------------
 export interface ClaimInput {
   teamId: string
@@ -161,6 +168,26 @@ export async function releaseBoard(kit: string, code: string): Promise<{ release
 
 // --- ZeroClaw node (participant) ------------------------------------------
 /** Send a prompt to the team's board, routed to a pre-provisioned agent alias. */
+/** Onboarding "say hi": prompt the team's node and wait for its reply text. */
+export async function sayHi(teamId: string, agent?: string, message?: string): Promise<string> {
+  const res = await fetch(`${API_BASE}/nodes/${encodeURIComponent(teamId)}/say-hi`, {
+    method: 'POST',
+    headers: { 'content-type': 'application/json' },
+    body: JSON.stringify({ agent, message }),
+  })
+  if (!res.ok) {
+    const body = (await res.json().catch(() => ({}))) as { error?: string }
+    throw new Error(body.error ?? `sayHi ${res.status}`)
+  }
+  return ((await res.json()) as { reply: string }).reply
+}
+
+/** Ask the team's node a one-off prompt and wait for its reply (reuses the
+ *  blocking say-hi path). Backs the "Refine" features. Defaults to the cloud agent. */
+export async function askNode(teamId: string, prompt: string, agent = 'cloud'): Promise<string> {
+  return sayHi(teamId, agent, prompt)
+}
+
 export async function sendPrompt(teamId: string, message: string, agent?: string): Promise<void> {
   const res = await fetch(`${API_BASE}/nodes/${encodeURIComponent(teamId)}/prompt`, {
     method: 'POST',

src/lib/useCollective.test.ts

@@ -14,7 +14,15 @@ const team = (id: string): TeamSnapshot => ({
   updatedAt: '2026-07-27T13:00:00.000Z',
 })
 
-const empty: CollectiveState = { teams: {}, submissions: {}, nodes: {}, activity: [], counts: {}, unclaimed: [] }
+const empty: CollectiveState = {
+  teams: {},
+  submissions: {},
+  nodes: {},
+  activity: [],
+  counts: {},
+  unclaimed: [],
+  instances: {},
+}
 
 describe('collectiveReducer', () => {
   it('seeds from a snapshot', () => {
@@ -39,6 +47,31 @@ describe('collectiveReducer', () => {
     expect(next.unclaimed).toEqual(['KIT-07'])
   })
 
+  it('seeds instances from a snapshot and upserts them on instance:update', () => {
+    const seeded = collectiveReducer(empty, {
+      type: 'snapshot',
+      teams: [],
+      submissions: [],
+      instances: [{ id: 'site-a', name: 'Team A', lastSeen: 't0' }],
+    })
+    expect(seeded.instances['site-a'].name).toBe('Team A')
+    const next = collectiveReducer(seeded, {
+      type: 'instance:update',
+      instance: { id: 'site-a', name: 'Team A', lastSeen: 't1' },
+    })
+    expect(next.instances['site-a'].lastSeen).toBe('t1')
+  })
+
+  it('a snapshot without instances preserves the ones already known', () => {
+    const seeded = collectiveReducer(empty, {
+      type: 'instance:update',
+      instance: { id: 'site-a', name: 'Team A', lastSeen: 't0' },
+    })
+    const next = collectiveReducer(seeded, { type: 'snapshot', teams: [team('a')], submissions: [] })
+    expect(next.instances['site-a']).toBeDefined() // not wiped by an instance-less snapshot
+    expect(Object.keys(next.teams)).toEqual(['a'])
+  })
+
   it('preserves unclaimed when a snapshot omits it (REST seed)', () => {
     const seeded = collectiveReducer(empty, { type: 'unclaimed:update', kits: ['KIT-01'] })
     const next = collectiveReducer(seeded, { type: 'snapshot', teams: [team('a')], submissions: [] })

src/lib/useCollective.ts

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import { useEffect, useReducer, useRef, useState } from 'react'
-import { openCollective, getTeams, getSubmissions, getUnclaimed } from './api'
+import { openCollective, getTeams, getSubmissions, getUnclaimed, getInstances } from './api'
-import type { TeamSnapshot, SubmissionSummary, WsEvent, NodeActivityKind } from '@/types'
+import type { TeamSnapshot, SubmissionSummary, InstanceDTO, WsEvent, NodeActivityKind } from '@/types'
 
 export interface NodeActivityEntry {
   teamId: string
@@ -27,10 +27,20 @@ export interface CollectiveState {
   counts: Record<string, NodeCounts>
   /** kit ids of powered-on boards no team has claimed yet. */
   unclaimed: string[]
+  /** siteId → federated local instance (central-mode; empty single-fleet). */
+  instances: Record<string, InstanceDTO>
 }
 
 const MAX_ACTIVITY = 40
-const empty: CollectiveState = { teams: {}, submissions: {}, nodes: {}, activity: [], counts: {}, unclaimed: [] }
+const empty: CollectiveState = {
+  teams: {},
+  submissions: {},
+  nodes: {},
+  activity: [],
+  counts: {},
+  unclaimed: [],
+  instances: {},
+}
 
 const ZERO: NodeCounts = { calls: 0, flashes: 0, errors: 0 }
 const COUNT_KEY: Partial<Record<NodeActivityKind, keyof NodeCounts>> = {
@@ -46,10 +56,15 @@ export function collectiveReducer(state: CollectiveState, event: WsEvent): Colle
       event.teams.forEach((t) => (teams[t.id] = t))
       const submissions: Record<string, SubmissionSummary> = {}
       event.submissions.forEach((s) => (submissions[s.teamId] = s))
-      return { ...state, teams, submissions, unclaimed: event.unclaimed ?? state.unclaimed }
+      const instances = event.instances
+        ? Object.fromEntries(event.instances.map((i) => [i.id, i]))
+        : state.instances
+      return { ...state, teams, submissions, unclaimed: event.unclaimed ?? state.unclaimed, instances }
     }
     case 'unclaimed:update':
       return { ...state, unclaimed: event.kits }
+    case 'instance:update':
+      return { ...state, instances: { ...state.instances, [event.instance.id]: event.instance } }
     case 'team:update':
       return { ...state, teams: { ...state.teams, [event.team.id]: event.team } }
     case 'submission:new':
@@ -96,6 +111,8 @@ export interface Collective {
   activity: NodeActivityEntry[]
   counts: Record<string, NodeCounts>
   unclaimed: string[]
+  /** federated instances, sorted by name (central-mode; empty single-fleet). */
+  instances: InstanceDTO[]
   status: CollectiveStatus
 }
 
@@ -117,7 +134,10 @@ export function useCollective(code: string): Collective {
     const poll = async () => {
       try {
         const [teams, submissions] = await Promise.all([getTeams(code), getSubmissions(code)])
-        if (!cancelled && !live.current) dispatch({ type: 'snapshot', teams, submissions })
+        // instances is central-mode only (empty/absent otherwise) — never let its
+        // failure drop the teams/submissions seed.
+        const instances = await getInstances(code).catch(() => undefined)
+        if (!cancelled && !live.current) dispatch({ type: 'snapshot', teams, submissions, instances })
       } catch {
         /* the WS snapshot may still arrive; leave state as-is */
       }
@@ -159,6 +179,7 @@ export function useCollective(code: string): Collective {
     activity: state.activity,
     counts: state.counts,
     unclaimed: state.unclaimed,
+    instances: Object.values(state.instances).sort((a, b) => a.name.localeCompare(b.name)),
     status,
   }
 }

src/pages/Admin.test.tsx

@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ vi.mock('@/lib/api', () => ({
   getTeams: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue([]),
   getSubmissions: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue([]),
   getUnclaimed: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue([]),
+  getInstances: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue([]),
   releaseBoard: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({ released: true, teamId: null }),
 }))
 
@@ -85,6 +86,30 @@ describe('Admin', () => {
     expect(within(panel).getByText('KIT-09')).toBeInTheDocument()
   })
 
+  it('groups teams under their instance in central (federated) mode', async () => {
+    renderAdmin()
+    const a = { ...team(1), site: 'site-a' }
+    const b = { ...team(2), site: 'site-b' }
+    act(() =>
+      emit({
+        type: 'snapshot',
+        teams: [a, b],
+        submissions: [],
+        instances: [
+          { id: 'site-a', name: 'Team A laptop', lastSeen: new Date().toISOString() },
+          { id: 'site-b', name: 'Team B laptop', lastSeen: new Date().toISOString() },
+        ],
+      }),
+    )
+    // fleet view replaces the flat grid; one section per instance
+    await waitFor(() => expect(screen.getByTestId('fleet-view')).toBeInTheDocument())
+    const sections = screen.getAllByTestId('fleet-instance')
+    expect(sections).toHaveLength(2)
+    const siteA = sections.find((s) => s.getAttribute('data-site') === 'site-a')!
+    expect(within(siteA).getByText('Team A laptop')).toBeInTheDocument()
+    expect(within(siteA).getAllByTestId('team-card')).toHaveLength(1)
+  })
+
   it('gates behind the access code when none is stored', () => {
     sessionStorage.clear()
     renderAdmin()

src/pages/Admin.tsx

@@ -3,10 +3,15 @@ import { Link } from 'react-router-dom'
 import { AccessGate } from '@/components/AccessGate'
 import { TeamCard } from '@/components/TeamCard'
 import { BoardActivity } from '@/components/BoardActivity'
-import { useCollective } from '@/lib/useCollective'
+import { useCollective, type Collective } from '@/lib/useCollective'
 import { useNow } from '@/lib/useNow'
 import { releaseBoard } from '@/lib/api'
 import { cn } from '@/lib/utils'
+import type { TeamSnapshot } from '@/types'
+
+/** A local instance is considered offline if it hasn't heartbeated recently
+ *  (heartbeat cadence is 30s; allow ~2.5× before flagging it down). */
+const INSTANCE_STALE_MS = 75_000
 
 /** Release a mis-claimed / reassigned kit back to the pool so another team can
  *  claim it. The collective WS pushes the refreshed unclaimed list automatically. */
@@ -62,8 +67,110 @@ function Stat({ label, value }: { label: string; value: number | string }) {
   )
 }
 
+/** The team tiles for a set of teams (shared by the flat + grouped views). */
+function TeamGrid({
+  teams,
+  submissions,
+  counts,
+  now,
+}: {
+  teams: TeamSnapshot[]
+  submissions: Collective['submissions']
+  counts: Collective['counts']
+  now: number
+}) {
+  return (
+    <div className="grid grid-cols-2 md:grid-cols-3 xl:grid-cols-5 gap-4" data-testid="team-grid">
+      {teams.map((t) => (
+        <TeamCard
+          key={t.id}
+          team={t}
+          submitted={!!submissions[t.id]}
+          scored={!!submissions[t.id]?.scored}
+          counts={counts[t.id]}
+          now={now}
+        />
+      ))}
+    </div>
+  )
+}
+
+/**
+ * Central-mode fleet view: teams grouped under the local instance (site) that
+ * reported them, each with an online/offline indicator + last-seen. Teams whose
+ * site matches no known instance fall into an "unlinked" group so nothing is
+ * hidden.
+ */
+function FleetView({
+  instances,
+  teams,
+  submissions,
+  counts,
+  now,
+}: {
+  instances: Collective['instances']
+  teams: TeamSnapshot[]
+  submissions: Collective['submissions']
+  counts: Collective['counts']
+  now: number
+}) {
+  const bySite = new Map<string, TeamSnapshot[]>()
+  for (const t of teams) {
+    const site = t.site || '—'
+    ;(bySite.get(site) ?? bySite.set(site, []).get(site)!).push(t)
+  }
+  // instances first (in name order), then any orphan site buckets
+  const known = new Set(instances.map((i) => i.id))
+  const orphanSites = [...bySite.keys()].filter((s) => !known.has(s)).sort()
+
+  const Section = ({
+    id,
+    name,
+    lastSeen,
+  }: {
+    id: string
+    name: string
+    lastSeen?: string
+  }) => {
+    const group = bySite.get(id) ?? []
+    const online = lastSeen ? now - new Date(lastSeen).getTime() < INSTANCE_STALE_MS : false
+    const ageS = lastSeen ? Math.round((now - new Date(lastSeen).getTime()) / 1000) : null
+    return (
+      <div className="space-y-3" data-testid="fleet-instance" data-site={id}>
+        <div className="flex items-center gap-2 border-b border-border pb-1">
+          <span
+            className={cn('w-2 h-2 rounded-full shrink-0', lastSeen ? (online ? 'bg-teal animate-pulse' : 'bg-amber') : 'bg-muted-foreground')}
+          />
+          <span className="font-mono text-xs font-semibold tracking-wide">{name}</span>
+          <span className="font-mono text-[10px] uppercase tracking-widest text-muted-foreground">
+            {group.length} team{group.length === 1 ? '' : 's'}
+            {ageS !== null && ` · ${online ? 'live' : `${ageS}s ago`}`}
+            {!lastSeen && ' · unlinked'}
+          </span>
+        </div>
+        {group.length === 0 ? (
+          <p className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">No teams reported yet.</p>
+        ) : (
+          <TeamGrid teams={group} submissions={submissions} counts={counts} now={now} />
+        )}
+      </div>
+    )
+  }
+
+  return (
+    <div className="space-y-8" data-testid="fleet-view">
+      {instances.map((i) => (
+        <Section key={i.id} id={i.id} name={i.name} lastSeen={i.lastSeen} />
+      ))}
+      {orphanSites.map((s) => (
+        <Section key={s} id={s} name={s === '—' ? 'No site' : s} />
+      ))}
+    </div>
+  )
+}
+
 function AdminBoard({ code }: { code: string }) {
-  const { teams, submissions, nodes, activity, counts, unclaimed, status } = useCollective(code)
+  const { teams, submissions, nodes, activity, counts, unclaimed, instances, status } = useCollective(code)
   const now = useNow()
   const connected = teams.filter((t) => t.deviceConnected).length
   const boardsLive = Object.values(nodes).filter(Boolean).length
@@ -71,6 +178,8 @@ function AdminBoard({ code }: { code: string }) {
   const submittedCount = Object.keys(submissions).length
   const judgedCount = Object.values(submissions).filter((s) => s.scored).length
   const nameFor = (id: string) => teams.find((t) => t.id === id)?.name || id
+  const federated = instances.length > 0 // central-mode: teams arrive tagged by site
+  const instancesLive = instances.filter((i) => now - new Date(i.lastSeen).getTime() < INSTANCE_STALE_MS).length
 
   return (
     <main className="min-h-screen bg-background">
@@ -91,7 +200,8 @@ function AdminBoard({ code }: { code: string }) {
       </header>
 
       <section className="px-8 py-8 max-w-6xl mx-auto space-y-6">
-        <div className="grid grid-cols-2 md:grid-cols-7 gap-px bg-border rounded-md overflow-hidden">
+        <div className={cn('grid grid-cols-2 gap-px bg-border rounded-md overflow-hidden', federated ? 'md:grid-cols-8' : 'md:grid-cols-7')}>
+          {federated && <Stat label="Instances" value={`${instancesLive}/${instances.length}`} />}
           <Stat label="Teams" value={teams.length} />
           <Stat label="Connected" value={connected} />
           <Stat label="Boards live" value={boardsLive} />
@@ -131,21 +241,12 @@ function AdminBoard({ code }: { code: string }) {
           <BoardActivity activity={activity} nameFor={nameFor} />
         </div>
 
-        {teams.length === 0 ? (
+        {teams.length === 0 && !federated ? (
           <p className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">No teams have checked in yet.</p>
+        ) : federated ? (
+          <FleetView instances={instances} teams={teams} submissions={submissions} counts={counts} now={now} />
         ) : (
-          <div className="grid grid-cols-2 md:grid-cols-3 xl:grid-cols-5 gap-4" data-testid="team-grid">
+          <TeamGrid teams={teams} submissions={submissions} counts={counts} now={now} />
-            {teams.map((t) => (
-              <TeamCard
-                key={t.id}
-                team={t}
-                submitted={!!submissions[t.id]}
-                scored={!!submissions[t.id]?.scored}
-                counts={counts[t.id]}
-                now={now}
-              />
-            ))}
-          </div>
         )}
       </section>
     </main>

src/pages/EnvSetup.test.tsx

@@ -1,15 +1,15 @@
-import { describe, it, expect, beforeEach, afterEach, vi } from 'vitest'
+import { describe, it, expect, beforeEach, vi } from 'vitest'
-import { render, screen, fireEvent, act } from '@testing-library/react'
+import { render, screen, fireEvent } from '@testing-library/react'
 import { MemoryRouter } from 'react-router-dom'
 import { EnvSetup } from './EnvSetup'
 import { useSession } from '@/store/session'
-import { getNodeStatus } from '@/lib/api'
+import { sayHi } from '@/lib/api'
 
 vi.mock('@/lib/api', async (orig) => ({
   ...(await orig<typeof import('@/lib/api')>()),
-  getNodeStatus: vi.fn(),
+  sayHi: vi.fn(),
 }))
-const mockNodeStatus = vi.mocked(getNodeStatus)
+const mockSayHi = vi.mocked(sayHi)
 
 function renderPage() {
   return render(
@@ -21,13 +21,14 @@ function renderPage() {
 
 /** Connect a board with a live node URL — the common precondition. */
 function connect(nodeUrl: string | null = 'http://192.168.1.7:8080') {
-  useSession.getState().setDevice({ connected: true, port: 'board · KIT-01', uptimeS: 0, nodeUrl })
+  useSession.getState().setDevice({ connected: true, port: 'board · crimson-otter', uptimeS: 0, nodeUrl })
 }
 
 describe('EnvSetup — Meet your node', () => {
   beforeEach(() => {
     useSession.getState().reset()
     sessionStorage.clear()
+    mockSayHi.mockReset()
   })
 
   it('renders the phase strip set to setup and the heading', () => {
@@ -42,19 +43,17 @@ describe('EnvSetup — Meet your node', () => {
   it('prompts to claim a board first when not connected', () => {
     renderPage()
     expect(screen.getByText(/claim your board first/i)).toBeInTheDocument()
-    expect(screen.queryByRole('link', { name: /open your node/i })).not.toBeInTheDocument()
+    expect(screen.getByRole('button', { name: /say hi to your agent/i })).toBeDisabled()
-    // say-hi is disabled with no device
-    expect(screen.getByRole('button', { name: /say hi \/ confirm online/i })).toBeDisabled()
     expect(screen.getByRole('button', { name: /proceed/i })).toBeDisabled()
   })
 
-  it('renders the Open-your-node CTA to the board url when connected with a nodeUrl', () => {
+  it('shows the node as Connected with the board url when claimed', () => {
     connect('http://192.168.1.7:8080')
     renderPage()
     const link = screen.getByRole('link', { name: /open your node/i })
     expect(link).toHaveAttribute('href', 'http://192.168.1.7:8080')
     expect(link).toHaveAttribute('target', '_blank')
-    expect(link).toHaveAttribute('rel', 'noopener noreferrer')
+    expect(screen.getByText(/^connected$/i)).toBeInTheDocument()
   })
 
   it('falls back to the claim prompt when connected but there is no nodeUrl', () => {
@@ -64,39 +63,34 @@ describe('EnvSetup — Meet your node', () => {
     expect(screen.getByText(/claim your board first/i)).toBeInTheDocument()
   })
 
-  it('requires a domain even after the board is online', async () => {
+  it('says hi to the agent and shows its reply', async () => {
-    vi.useFakeTimers()
+    mockSayHi.mockResolvedValue("Hi! I'm your node — I can read your sensor and drive the matrix.")
-    try {
-      mockNodeStatus.mockResolvedValue({ teamId: 't', online: true })
     connect()
     renderPage()
 
-      fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole('button', { name: /say hi \/ confirm online/i }))
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole('button', { name: /say hi to your agent/i }))
-      await act(async () => {
+    expect(await screen.findByTestId('node-reply')).toHaveTextContent(/read your sensor/i)
-        await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(2000)
+    expect(screen.getByRole('button', { name: /your node replied/i })).toBeInTheDocument()
   })
-      expect(screen.getByText(/online ✓/i)).toBeInTheDocument()
 
-      // online but no domain → still gated
+  it('requires a domain even after the agent replies', async () => {
+    mockSayHi.mockResolvedValue('hello there')
+    connect()
+    renderPage()
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole('button', { name: /say hi to your agent/i }))
+    await screen.findByTestId('node-reply')
     expect(screen.getByRole('button', { name: /proceed/i })).toBeDisabled()
-    } finally {
-      vi.useRealTimers()
-    }
   })
 
-  it('keeps Proceed gated when a domain is named but the board is not confirmed online', () => {
+  it('keeps Proceed gated when a domain is named but the agent has not replied', () => {
     connect()
     useSession.getState().setDomain('air quality')
     renderPage()
     expect(screen.getByRole('button', { name: /proceed/i })).toBeDisabled()
   })
 
-  describe('say hi / online confirmation', () => {
+  it('enables Proceed once the agent has replied AND a domain is named', async () => {
-    beforeEach(() => vi.useFakeTimers())
+    mockSayHi.mockResolvedValue('hello there')
-    afterEach(() => vi.useRealTimers())
-
-    it('enables Proceed once online AND a domain is named, without polluting stats', async () => {
-      mockNodeStatus.mockResolvedValue({ teamId: 't', online: true })
     connect()
     useSession.getState().setDomain('structural stress')
     renderPage()
@@ -104,15 +98,17 @@ describe('EnvSetup — Meet your node', () => {
     const proceed = screen.getByRole('button', { name: /proceed/i })
     expect(proceed).toBeDisabled()
 
-      fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole('button', { name: /say hi \/ confirm online/i }))
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole('button', { name: /say hi to your agent/i }))
-      await act(async () => {
+    await screen.findByTestId('node-reply')
-        await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(2000)
-      })
-
-      expect(screen.getByText(/online ✓/i)).toBeInTheDocument()
     expect(proceed).toBeEnabled()
-      // confirmation polls must NOT be counted as workshop events
     expect(useSession.getState().stats.calls).toBe(0)
   })
+
+  it('surfaces an error when the node does not answer', async () => {
+    mockSayHi.mockRejectedValue(new Error('your node did not answer — is it online?'))
+    connect()
+    renderPage()
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole('button', { name: /say hi to your agent/i }))
+    expect(await screen.findByRole('alert')).toHaveTextContent(/did not answer/i)
   })
 })

src/pages/EnvSetup.tsx

@@ -7,14 +7,10 @@ import { PhaseStrip } from '@/components/PhaseStrip'
 import { OpenYourNode } from '@/components/OpenYourNode'
 import { DomainPicker } from '@/components/DomainPicker'
 import { useSession } from '@/store/session'
-import { getNodeStatus } from '@/lib/api'
+import { sayHi } from '@/lib/api'
 import { cn } from '@/lib/utils'
 
-type SelfTest = 'idle' | 'running' | 'ok'
+type HiState = 'idle' | 'running' | 'ok'
-
-/** Say-hi confirmation: poll the claimed board's liveness this many times. */
-const SELFTEST_POLLS = 12
-const SELFTEST_POLL_MS = 500
 
 export function EnvSetup() {
   const navigate = useNavigate()
@@ -22,27 +18,27 @@ export function EnvSetup() {
   const device = useSession((s) => s.device)
   const domain = useSession((s) => s.domain)
   const completePhase = useSession((s) => s.completePhase)
-  const [selfTest, setSelfTest] = useState<SelfTest>('idle')
+  const [hi, setHi] = useState<HiState>('idle')
+  const [reply, setReply] = useState('')
+  const [hiError, setHiError] = useState<string | null>(null)
 
-  const runSelfTest = async () => {
+  const saidHi = async () => {
-    setSelfTest('running')
+    if (hi === 'running') return
-    // Confirm the claimed board is reachable and online.
+    setHi('running')
-    for (let i = 0; i < SELFTEST_POLLS; i++) {
+    setHiError(null)
+    setReply('')
     try {
-        const s = await getNodeStatus(teamId)
+      // Chat with the agent on the team's own board; a reply means it's live.
-        if (s.online) {
+      const r = await sayHi(teamId, 'cloud')
-          setSelfTest('ok')
+      setReply(r || '(your node replied)')
-          return
+      setHi('ok')
+    } catch (e) {
+      setHiError(e instanceof Error ? e.message : 'Could not reach your node.')
+      setHi('idle')
     }
-      } catch {
-        /* board not registered yet / transient — keep polling */
-      }
-      await new Promise((r) => setTimeout(r, SELFTEST_POLL_MS))
-    }
-    setSelfTest('idle') // couldn't confirm — let them retry
   }
 
-  const ready = device.connected && selfTest === 'ok' && domain.trim().length > 0
+  const ready = device.connected && hi === 'ok' && domain.trim().length > 0
 
   const onProceed = () => {
     completePhase('setup')
@@ -92,26 +88,54 @@ export function EnvSetup() {
           </CardHeader>
           <CardContent className="space-y-4">
             <p className="text-sm text-muted-foreground leading-relaxed">
-              Open your node&rsquo;s dashboard and say hi — it introduces itself and lists the skills
+              Say hi to the agent running on your board. When it replies, your node is live and
-              it already has. Then confirm it&rsquo;s online here.
+              listening — and you&rsquo;re clear to name its domain.
             </p>
+
+            {/* the exchange */}
+            {(hi !== 'idle' || reply) && (
+              <div className="space-y-2" data-testid="say-hi-chat">
+                <div className="flex justify-end">
+                  <span className="rounded-lg bg-primary/10 text-foreground px-3 py-1.5 text-sm max-w-[80%]">Hi 👋</span>
+                </div>
+                {hi === 'running' && (
+                  <div className="flex items-center gap-2 font-mono text-[11px] text-muted-foreground">
+                    <span className="w-2 h-2 rounded-full bg-amber animate-pulse" />
+                    your node is thinking…
+                  </div>
+                )}
+                {reply && (
+                  <div className="flex justify-start">
+                    <span className="rounded-lg border border-teal/40 bg-teal/5 px-3 py-1.5 text-sm max-w-[80%]" data-testid="node-reply">
+                      {reply}
+                    </span>
+                  </div>
+                )}
+              </div>
+            )}
+
             <Button
-              variant="outline"
+              variant={hi === 'ok' ? 'outline' : 'default'}
               className="w-full justify-start"
-              disabled={!device.connected || selfTest === 'running'}
+              disabled={!device.connected || hi === 'running'}
-              onClick={runSelfTest}
+              onClick={saidHi}
             >
               <span
                 className={cn(
                   'w-2 h-2 rounded-full mr-3',
-                  selfTest === 'ok' ? 'bg-teal' : selfTest === 'running' ? 'bg-amber animate-pulse' : 'bg-muted-foreground',
+                  hi === 'ok' ? 'bg-teal' : hi === 'running' ? 'bg-amber animate-pulse' : 'bg-muted-foreground',
                 )}
               />
-              {selfTest === 'ok' ? 'Online ✓' : selfTest === 'running' ? 'Checking…' : 'Say hi / confirm online'}
+              {hi === 'ok' ? 'Your node replied ✓' : hi === 'running' ? 'Waiting for your node…' : 'Say hi to your agent'}
             </Button>
+            {hiError && (
+              <p role="alert" className="text-xs text-red-500 leading-relaxed">{hiError}</p>
+            )}
+            {!device.connected && (
               <p className="font-mono text-[10px] text-muted-foreground leading-relaxed">
-              Confirms the board is reachable and live. Does not count toward your session stats.
+                Bind your board in team registration first.
               </p>
+            )}
           </CardContent>
         </Card>
 

src/types.ts

@@ -13,6 +13,9 @@ export interface TeamSnapshot {
   stats: SessionStats
   deviceConnected: boolean
   updatedAt: string
+  /** Federation tag: the local instance (site) this team belongs to. '' on a
+   *  single-fleet deploy; set by the reporter sidecar on a central deploy. */
+  site?: string
 }
 
 export interface SubmissionDTO {
@@ -21,6 +24,15 @@ export interface SubmissionDTO {
   code: string
   add: AddLayers
   submittedAt: string
+  /** Federation tag — see {@link TeamSnapshot.site}. */
+  site?: string
+}
+
+/** A running local (edge) stack registered with the central control plane. */
+export interface InstanceDTO {
+  id: string
+  name: string
+  lastSeen: string
 }
 
 /** Lightweight queue row for the judge (no full ADD payload). */
@@ -60,7 +72,13 @@ export interface LeaderboardRow {
 export type NodeActivityKind = 'thinking' | 'tool' | 'flash' | 'error' | 'response' | 'fallback'
 
 export type WsEvent =
-  | { type: 'snapshot'; teams: TeamSnapshot[]; submissions: SubmissionSummary[]; unclaimed?: string[] }
+  | {
+      type: 'snapshot'
+      teams: TeamSnapshot[]
+      submissions: SubmissionSummary[]
+      unclaimed?: string[]
+      instances?: InstanceDTO[]
+    }
   | { type: 'team:update'; team: TeamSnapshot }
   | { type: 'submission:new'; submission: SubmissionSummary }
   | { type: 'score:new'; teamId: string; total: number }
@@ -68,3 +86,5 @@ export type WsEvent =
   | { type: 'node:activity'; teamId: string; kind: NodeActivityKind; label: string; ts: string }
   // Kit ids of boards that have self-registered but aren't claimed yet.
   | { type: 'unclaimed:update'; kits: string[] }
+  // A local instance (site) registered or heartbeated on the central plane.
+  | { type: 'instance:update'; instance: InstanceDTO }