## Thinking Path
> - Paperclip is the open source app people use to manage AI agents for
work
> - The server package is published to npm, but its native-runtime
driver code lives in `packages/paperclip-runner`, a private workspace
package that is never published
> - So the server build vendors the runner's compiled code by copying it
in directly, instead of taking it as a normal npm dependency
> - But `cp -R` only copies code, not `node_modules`, so every npm
package the runner imports has to be re-declared by hand in
`server/package.json` to stay resolvable once vendored
> - That hand mirroring step is silent and easy to forget: it missed
`smol-toml` in #13110, and CI stayed green while production crash-looped
3 seconds into every start (#13116)
> - This pull request keeps the proven `cp -R` vendor step exactly as it
was, and adds a build check that derives the required dependency set
from an esbuild scan of the vendored entry points, failing loudly and
precisely if any package the runner actually needs isn't declared in
`server/package.json`
> - The benefit is the dependency list is now verified against the real
module graph instead of hand-copied, so this exact class of bug cannot
pass a green build again -- without changing how the runner's code is
laid out on disk, which several of its modules depend on for unrelated
filesystem lookups
## Linked Issues or Issue Description
Refs: #13110 (introduced the `smol-toml` import that the vendor step
could not resolve), #13116 (the follow-up fix for a different oversight
in the same PR), #11813 (the same "vendored package installed outside
the monorepo dependency graph loses a runtime dependency" failure shape,
in the Kubernetes plugin installer instead of the server build)
No issue exists yet for this specific incident, so per CONTRIBUTING.md
option (B):
**What happened?**
`packages/paperclip-runner/package.json` added `smol-toml` as a runtime
dependency in #13110. `server/package.json`'s existing convention (see
`acpx`, `ajv`) requires mirroring every runtime dependency the vendored
runner imports into `server/package.json` too, because the server build
copies the runner's compiled `dist/` tree with `cp -R` -- code only, no
`node_modules`. That mirroring step was missed. CI never runs the
compiled server (`node dist/index.js`); it only builds it, type-checks
it, and boots the app in dev mode via `tsx` against source, which never
touches the vendored path. So the PR merged green, and the deployed
server crash-looped in production:
```
Error [ERR_MODULE_NOT_FOUND]: Cannot find package 'smol-toml' imported from
/srv/paperclip/app/server/dist/vendor/paperclip-runner/drivers/codex/codex-startup-trust.js
```
**Expected behavior**
Any npm package the vendored runner code needs at runtime should either
be guaranteed present by construction, or the build should fail with a
clear, actionable error before the change ever reaches a PR -- not
silently pass CI and fail only once deployed.
**Steps to reproduce (the original incident)**
1. Add a new runtime dependency to
`packages/paperclip-runner/package.json` (e.g. a TOML parser) and use it
from a module reachable from the runner's `index.ts` export graph.
2. Do not add the same dependency to `server/package.json`.
3. Run `pnpm build` in `server/` -- it succeeds.
4. Run `node dist/index.js` -- it crashes with `ERR_MODULE_NOT_FOUND`
for the new package.
## What Changed
- **Revision note:** the first version of this PR replaced the `cp -R`
vendor step with an esbuild bundle of the runner's entry points.
Greptile's review correctly caught that this broke packaged
ACPX/OpenCode provider startup: several runner modules resolve sibling
build artifacts via `import.meta.url`-relative filesystem paths (not JS
imports) at whatever depth their source file sits at, and bundling
collapses/rearranges that layout. The current version keeps the file
layout untouched and only adds verification. See the second commit's
message for the full explanation.
- `server/scripts/verify-runner-vendor-dependencies.mjs`: a new build
step that runs esbuild with `write: false` (a pure module-graph scan --
nothing is written to disk) against the runner's two entry points server
actually imports (`index.js`, `testing.js`), with `packages: "external"`
so its metafile reports exactly which npm packages the code needs at
runtime. It fails with a precise, actionable error if any of them isn't
declared in `server/package.json`'s `dependencies`. This is deliberately
more precise than "mirror every dependency the runner declares": running
it against this repo's real manifests shows
`packages/paperclip-runner/package.json` declares dependencies
(`react-markdown`, the codex/opencode CLI packages, ...) that only its
unrelated `./react` and `./browser` export subpaths use -- server never
imports those, so a blanket mirror rule would demand dependencies server
doesn't actually need.
- `server/package.json`: added the new check into the `build` script
(right after the runner is built, before the expensive `tsc`/copy steps,
so it fails fast), and added `smol-toml` (`^1.4.2`, matching
`packages/paperclip-runner/package.json`) to `dependencies` -- the
actual missing piece from #13110. The vendor step (`cp -R
../packages/paperclip-runner/dist/. dist/vendor/paperclip-runner/`) is
unchanged from before this PR.
- Widened `server/vitest.config.ts`'s `include` to also run
`scripts/**/*.test.mjs`, and added
`server/scripts/verify-runner-vendor-dependencies.test.mjs` unit-testing
the pure dependency-diff function (`findMissingVendorDependencies`)
against the exact shape of the `smol-toml` incident, plus a case proving
an unreachable dependency (like `react-markdown`) is correctly never
flagged.
- Updated `server/src/__tests__/server-package-build-script.test.ts`'s
existing build-script assertions to match.
## Verification
- `node --check` on the new script -- syntax OK. `node -e` JSON-parsed
the edited `package.json` files after every edit.
- Unit-verified `findMissingVendorDependencies` directly against:
nothing missing, one missing (the `smol-toml` shape), and multiple
missing with stable sort order.
- Ran the actual check against this repo's real
`packages/paperclip-runner/package.json` and `server/package.json` (via
a standalone `node` invocation, since `pnpm build` needs a Rust
toolchain this sandbox doesn't have -- see below) to see its real
output. It correctly reported `smol-toml`, `acpx`, and `ajv` as already
satisfied, and did **not** flag `react-markdown`, `remark-gfm`,
`json-schema-to-ts`, `opencode-ai`, `@openai/codex`, or the
`@agentclientprotocol/*` packages -- confirming the "reachable from
index.js/testing.js" scoping works as intended and doesn't demand
dependencies server doesn't need.
- Built a fixture tree at a real filesystem location (not just
in-process) mimicking `packages/paperclip-runner`: a manifest declaring
both a reachable dependency (`smol-toml`, actually imported by the
fixture's `dist/index.js`/`testing.js`) and an unreachable one
(`react-markdown`, declared but never imported). Copied the real script
next to a fixture `server/package.json` and ran it as its own process
(`node server/scripts/verify-runner-vendor-dependencies.mjs`), twice:
- `smol-toml` missing from the fixture's server dependencies → the
script throws with the exact intended message and exits 1.
- `smol-toml` present, `react-markdown` absent → the script exits 0,
proving the unreachable dependency is correctly never flagged.
- Not verified locally: the real `packages/paperclip-runner` build, and
therefore the check running end-to-end against its true
`dist/index.js`/`dist/testing.js`. This sandbox has no Rust toolchain
(the runner's own build compiles a Cargo binary) and an incomplete
workspace install. CI's `Build` job (`.github/workflows/pr-trusted.yml`)
runs the real thing; I'll watch it on this PR.
## Risks
- The check's precision (scoping to what's reachable from
`index.js`/`testing.js`, rather than every declared runner dependency)
means a dependency that becomes reachable through some *other* export
subpath server starts importing later would need this check's
entry-point list updated too. That list is a 2-line array in the script
with a comment explaining why, and matches the only two paths server/src
actually imports today (verified by a repo-wide search).
- This only changes a build-time check; the actual vendored file layout
(`cp -R` of the runner's whole compiled tree) is byte-for-byte the same
as before this PR, so there's no behavioral change to the running server
beyond `smol-toml` now being present as intended.
- I could not exercise the real Rust-backed build locally (no Cargo in
this sandbox); see Verification. I am relying on CI's `Build` job to
confirm this end to end and will fix forward if it surfaces something
the fixture-based testing didn't.
## Model Used
Claude Sonnet 5 (`claude-sonnet-5`), via Claude Code. Standard
(non-extended) reasoning mode, with tool use (Bash, Read, Edit/Write,
`gh`) for repository exploration, local esbuild-based verification
against hand-built fixtures, and PR authoring. No extended thinking
mode.
## Checklist
- [x] I have included a thinking path that traces from project context
to this change
- [x] I have specified the model used (with version and capability
details)
- [x] I have checked ROADMAP.md and confirmed this PR does not duplicate
planned core work
- [x] I have searched GitHub for duplicate or related PRs and linked
them above
- [x] I have either (a) linked existing issues with `Fixes: #` / `Closes
#` / `Refs #` OR (b) described the issue in-PR following the relevant
issue template
- [x] I have not referenced internal/instance-local Paperclip issues or
links (only public GitHub `#NNN` / `github.com/paperclipai/paperclip`
URLs)
- [x] My branch name describes the change (e.g. `docs/...`, `fix/...`)
and contains no internal Paperclip ticket id or instance-derived details
- [ ] I have run tests locally and they pass — see Verification: full
local verification was not possible (no Rust toolchain, incomplete
workspace install in this sandbox); watching CI's `Build` job on this PR
to confirm.
- [x] I have added or updated tests where applicable
- [ ] I have updated relevant documentation to reflect my changes — no
user-facing docs describe this internal build step; none needed
updating.
- [x] I have considered and documented any risks above
- [ ] All Paperclip CI gates are green — pending, will monitor.
- [ ] Greptile is 5/5 with no open P2s, recommendations, or follow-ups —
addressed the first review round; watching for re-review.
- [x] I will address all Greptile and reviewer comments before
requesting merge
🤖 Generated with [Claude Code](https://claude.com/claude-code)
---------
Co-authored-by: Claude Sonnet 5 <noreply@anthropic.com>
## Thinking Path
> - Paperclip is the open source app people use to manage AI agents for
work
> - The server emits OpenTelemetry spans so operators can trace agent
work
> - Each span needs a service version that identifies the code that
produced it
> - The current service version comes from a static environment value
and can become stale after a rebuild
> - This pull request records the built commit and resolves the service
version from the build stamp, runtime Git, the environment, or an
unknown fallback
> - The benefit is trace data that identifies the correct built commit
during development and deployment
## Linked Issues or Issue Description
**What happened?**
The server used a static `OTEL_SERVICE_VERSION` value for every
OpenTelemetry span. Rebuilds could produce traces with an old commit
value.
**Expected behavior**
The server should report the built commit when a build stamp exists. It
should use runtime Git, the environment value, or `unknown` as fallback.
**Steps to reproduce**
1. Set `OTEL_SERVICE_VERSION` to an old commit value.
2. Build the server at a different commit.
3. Start the server and inspect the OpenTelemetry service version.
4. Confirm that the built commit takes precedence over the old
environment value.
## What Changed
- Add a build script that writes the short Git commit to
`dist/build-info.json`.
- Resolve `service.version` from the build stamp, runtime Git, the
environment, or `unknown`.
- Log the resolved service version once during server startup.
- Add tests for the resolution order and safe behavior without Git.
- Document the resolution order in `doc/observability.md`.
## Verification
- `pnpm --filter @paperclipai/server build`
- `npx vitest run server/src/__tests__/service-version.test.ts`
- `pnpm --filter @paperclipai/server typecheck`
- Confirm that the build stamp contains the short commit.
- Confirm that the stamp wins over the environment value.
- Confirm that a build without Git exits successfully without a stamp.
## Risks
The server now prefers the built commit over `OTEL_SERVICE_VERSION`. A
build without Git uses the existing environment value or `unknown`. The
change needs no schema migration and has a single-commit rollback path.
## Model Used
OpenAI Codex, GPT-5, tool use and code execution. The runtime does not
expose the context window size or reasoning mode.
## Checklist
- [x] I have included a thinking path that traces from project context
to this change
- [x] I have specified the model used (with version and capability
details)
- [x] I have checked ROADMAP.md and confirmed this PR does not duplicate
planned core work
- [x] I have searched GitHub for duplicate or related PRs and linked
them above
- [x] I have either (a) linked existing issues with `Fixes: #` / `Closes
#` / `Refs #` OR (b) described the issue in-PR following the relevant
issue template
- [x] I have not referenced internal/instance-local Paperclip issues or
links (only public GitHub `#NNN` / `github.com/paperclipai/paperclip`
URLs)
- [x] My branch name describes the change (e.g. `docs/...`, `fix/...`)
and contains no internal Paperclip ticket id or instance-derived details
- [x] I have run tests locally and they pass
- [x] I have added or updated tests where applicable
- [x] I have updated relevant documentation to reflect my changes
- [x] I have considered and documented any risks above
- [x] All Paperclip CI gates are green
- [x] Greptile is 5/5 with no open P2s, recommendations, or follow-ups
- [x] I will address all Greptile and reviewer comments before
requesting merge
---------
Co-authored-by: Paperclip <noreply@paperclip.ing>
The dev-watch script was importing tsx via the internal path
'tsx/dist/cli.mjs', which is an undocumented implementation detail
that broke when tsx updated its internal structure.
Switched to the stable public export 'tsx/cli' which is the
officially supported entry point and won't break across versions.
Nicky Leach
vanductai
dotta