## Thinking Path
> - Paperclip is the open source app people use to manage AI agents for
work.
> - The Apps subsystem gives humans and agents governed access to
external tools.
> - The current connection flow hides Apps behind an experimental gate
and repeats setup text.
> - Google sharing choices and generic MCP permissions do not use one
consistent opening model.
> - Self-hosted installs also need a safe default origin for managed
OAuth without a manual config file.
> - This pull request makes Apps available, simplifies connection setup,
and applies one governed permissions model.
> - The benefit is a shorter connection flow that works on a clean
self-hosted install.
## Linked Issues or Issue Description
**What existing behavior does this improve?**
This improves the Apps connection setup flow, managed Google connection
flow, generic MCP connection flow, navigation, and runtime origin
discovery.
**Subsystem affected**
Cross-cutting. This changes `ui/`, `server/`, `packages/shared/`,
connector documentation, and browser tests.
**Current behavior**
Apps require an experimental switch. Setup pages repeat titles and
explanatory copy. Connection names require manual input. Google
credential sharing does not always offer both personal and organization
access. Generic MCP providers do not start with the same permission
choices. Managed OAuth needs a public URL setting even when the request
already has a safe HTTPS origin.
**Proposed behavior**
Apps are available by default. Setup asks only for required permissions
and sharing choices. Paperclip creates conflict-free connection names.
Google apps and generic MCP providers use the same human and agent
access model. Managed OAuth derives a validated same-origin HTTPS URL
when no explicit public URL is set.
**Reason and benefit**
A clean self-hosted install can connect a managed Google app without
hidden setup. Humans can share a service account with their
organization. The shorter flow reduces duplicated choices and setup
errors.
**Breaking changes**
The Apps experimental switch is removed. Existing connection APIs remain
compatible. New connections can receive a numeric suffix when a name
already exists.
No duplicate or related public issue was found.
## What Changed
- Removed the Apps experimental gate and the breadcrumb that leaves the
Apps section.
- Simplified all connection setup pages and moved optional provider
requirements into one small link.
- Added consistent human and agent access choices for Google apps,
Zapier, and generic MCP connections.
- Added organization sharing to Google Workspace credentials while
keeping personal access available.
- Generated connection names automatically and resolved name conflicts
with numeric suffixes.
- Derived a validated public HTTPS origin from the request for
config-free managed OAuth.
- Updated connector contracts, tests, browser coverage, and authoring
documentation.
## Verification
- `pnpm check:token-gates`
- `pnpm -r typecheck`
- `pnpm build`
- `pnpm exec vitest run server/src/__tests__/tool-access-service.test.ts
server/src/__tests__/generic-mcp-connection.test.ts` (273 passed)
- Targeted UI/service regression suite (308 passed)
- Six targeted Playwright connection journeys on a fresh onboarding
instance (6 passed)
- Fresh-install browser proof through Tailscale HTTPS: enrolled with
Paperclip Cloud, connected managed Google Drive, and completed a real
read operation.
- [Exact-head CI
run](https://github.com/paperclipai/paperclip/actions/runs/33669760711):
all 23 matrix jobs passed, including build, typecheck, server,
serialized, canary, and all browser shards.
- Greptile 5/5 on `0ae2a859f269984ee950d0af231a5b09a06f3dfd`, with no
unresolved review threads.
## Risks
Apps are now visible to all operators. The removed experimental flag no
longer hides unfinished app definitions. Managed Google availability
still depends on the Cloud profile rollout and active instance
enrollment. Automatic conflict handling changes only the display name of
a newly conflicting connection.
> I checked [`ROADMAP.md`](ROADMAP.md). MCP Tool Gateway and Apps are
shipped. Connected Apps is planned, and this change improves the
existing shipped connection flow.
## Model Used
OpenAI Codex, GPT-5, with reasoning, browser control, tool use, and code
execution.
## 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>
## Thinking Path
> - Paperclip lets operators give governed tools to AI agents.
> - Connected Apps already support provider OAuth and personal
connection grants.
> - Some providers require one stable callback and do not support
dynamic client registration.
> - Self-hosted Paperclip instances can run at private or changeable
origins.
> - Paperclip Cloud can provide the stable callback while each instance
keeps its durable provider credentials.
> - This pull request adds the instance side of that managed OAuth
protocol and keeps customer-created clients available.
> - The benefit is a safe path to one-click Workspace connections for
hosted and enrolled self-hosted instances.
## Linked Issues or Issue Description
**Subsystem affected**
Cross-cutting. This change updates the server, Apps UI, shared app
definitions, and connection documentation.
**Problem or motivation**
Some OAuth providers require a pre-registered callback and
provider-owned client. An arbitrary self-hosted Paperclip origin cannot
use that client callback directly. Paperclip ID must also stay limited
to product identity instead of resource authorization.
**Proposed solution**
Use the existing Paperclip Cloud application as the fixed callback
broker. Enroll each instance to an exact origin and separate Ed25519 and
X25519 keys. Bind every request and sealed envelope to the instance,
environment, user, company, provider, profile, and exact scope set.
Store durable provider credentials only in the originating instance
vault.
**Alternatives considered**
Customer-created OAuth clients remain available as the independent
fallback. A generic redirect relay was rejected because it would allow
caller-selected destinations and scopes. Paperclip ID was rejected as
the broker because it is the identity boundary. A new service was
rejected because the existing Cloud application already owns customer
login and the public callback origin.
**Roadmap alignment**
This work extends the shipped MCP Tool Gateway and Apps milestone. It
also supports the Connected Apps and Cloud deployments roadmap items.
Companion Cloud implementation:
https://github.com/paperclipai/paperclip-cloud/pull/312
The duplicate search found no related open Paperclip PR or issue.
## What Changed
- Add a `paperclip_cloud_connector` client with signed requests, exact
profile and scope bindings, and X25519-sealed credential handling.
- Add explicit self-hosted enrollment with owner-only instance key
storage and exact HTTPS origins.
- Route managed Google Workspace setup through Paperclip Cloud and
preserve customer-created OAuth clients.
- Keep broker claims retryable until the local vault transaction
commits.
- Keep managed Google per-profile removal local-only to avoid
client-wide provider revocation.
- Add setup status to the Connections page and retain the Paperclip ID
names as compatibility aliases.
- Document the trust boundaries, enrollment, callback, refresh, removal,
and rollout flows.
## Verification
- `pnpm -r typecheck`
- `pnpm --filter @paperclipai/shared exec vitest run
src/app-definitions.test.ts`
- `pnpm --filter @paperclipai/server exec vitest run
src/services/paperclip-cloud-connector.test.ts
src/services/paperclip-cloud-connector-enrollment.test.ts`
- `pnpm --filter @paperclipai/server exec vitest run
src/__tests__/tool-access-service.test.ts -t 'brokered Gmail
OAuth|brokered OAuth state'`
- `pnpm --filter @paperclipai/ui exec vitest run
src/pages/apps/Connections.test.tsx`
- `pnpm check:token-gates`
- `pnpm build`
- The full stable test runner also reproduced existing macOS workspace,
skill-discovery, and listener fixture failures outside the changed
paths. GitHub Linux CI is the authoritative full-suite result.
## Risks
- The managed flow depends on
https://github.com/paperclipai/paperclip-cloud/pull/312. Real provider
profiles stay disabled until Cloud deploys that protocol and the
provider approves the managed client.
- A Cloud outage blocks new authorization and refresh. Existing access
tokens continue to work until expiry.
- Managed Google profile removal only deletes the local grant. This
avoids invalidating the user's other profiles that share the managed
Google client.
- Legacy `paperclip_id_connector` records require a reconnect after
their current access tokens expire. Old Paperclip ID keys and refresh
tokens are not sent to Paperclip Cloud.
> For core feature work, check [`ROADMAP.md`](ROADMAP.md) first and
discuss it in `#dev` before opening the PR. Feature PRs that overlap
with planned core work may need to be redirected — check the roadmap
first. See `CONTRIBUTING.md`.
## Model Used
OpenAI GPT-5.6 (Codex). Agentic coding, tool use, code execution, and
subagents were enabled. The context-window size is not exposed in this
session.
## 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>
## Thinking Path
> - Paperclip is the open source app people use to manage AI agents for
work.
> - App connections need both direct providers and managed provider
hubs.
> - The grant layer now defines safe credential ownership.
> - Composio needs parent and child connection lifecycle rules, and
Gmail needs governed setup.
> - This pull request adds both connector families on the grant
foundation.
> - The benefit is broader app access without weakening credential
isolation.
## Linked Issues or Issue Description
Refs #11965
This is stack 4 of 11. It depends on stack 3 and replaces another
reviewable part of #11965.
## What Changed
- Add Composio parent and child connection support.
- Add Gmail connection setup and governance.
- Preserve credential paths and remove duplicate binding declarations.
- Cascade Composio pause and restore actions to child connections.
## Verification
- `pnpm --filter @paperclipai/server typecheck`
- `pnpm --filter @paperclipai/server exec vitest run
src/__tests__/tool-access-service.test.ts`
- Result: 164 tests passed.
- `pnpm build`
## Risks
- Parent lifecycle changes can affect every Composio child.
- The service restores only children whose provider accounts remain
active.
- Credential binding paths are normalized before secret resolution.
> I checked `ROADMAP.md`. This stack continues the existing app
connection work from #11965 and does not duplicate another planned item.
## Model Used
OpenAI Codex, GPT-5. The runtime model ID and context window were not
exposed. The model used reasoning, tool use, and code execution.
## 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
- [x] My branch name describes the change 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>
Dotta