## 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 is the open source app people use to manage AI agents for
work
> - The Apps system gives agents governed access to external services
> - The managed Google Workspace connector uses separate profiles for
each app and access level
> - Several app definitions and callback paths did not enforce the same
profile contract
> - The default method could also select a customer OAuth setup when a
managed read profile was available
> - This pull request aligns the profile contracts, setup guidance,
default selection, and activity attribution
> - The benefit is a consistent managed connection flow for every Google
Workspace app
## Linked Issues or Issue Description
N/A — no public GitHub issue exists for this follow-up. Related merged
work:
[#12600](https://github.com/paperclipai/paperclip/pull/12600) and
[#12609](https://github.com/paperclipai/paperclip/pull/12609).
This change follows the merged Paperclip Cloud managed OAuth broker
work. It does not add a new broker or provider client.
**What happened?**
The Google Workspace connection definitions could drift from the shared
connector profile registry. The callback activity always named Gmail.
Google Sheets did not show the Developer Preview requirement. The setup
flow could select a customer-owned write method when Cloud advertised
only a managed read profile. The tool-access service had no non-Gmail
managed callback test.
**Expected behavior**
Each managed Google Workspace profile must use its exact app slug, MCP
URL, scopes, ownership, risk tier, and write-tool policy. Callback
activity must name the correct app and profile. Every Google Workspace
card must show the same Developer Preview prerequisite. An available
managed method must be the default within the selected capability. The
customer-owned method must remain available as a fallback.
**Steps to reproduce**
1. Advertise only the `gmail.read` managed profile.
2. Open the Gmail connection setup.
3. Observe that the customer-owned draft method becomes the default.
4. Complete a managed Google Drive callback.
5. Observe that the activity row names Gmail instead of Google Drive.
6. Open the Google Sheets setup.
7. Observe that it does not show the Google Developer Preview
prerequisite.
**Paperclip version or commit**
Current `master` at the start of this follow-up.
**Deployment mode**
Local development. The same connector definitions apply to Cloud-hosted
and self-hosted instances.
**Installation method**
Built from source with pnpm.
**Agent adapter(s) involved**
Not adapter-specific. This change affects the core Apps and tool-access
paths.
## What Changed
- Added one table-driven invariant for all 16 Google Workspace profiles.
- Verified each profile against its app slug, MCP URL, exact scopes,
capability, ownership, grant kind, risk tier, and write-tool allowlist.
- Kept the Google Chat write profile least-privilege because its only
enabled write tool is `send_message`.
- Added the Google Developer Preview prerequisite to Google Sheets.
- Preferred an available Paperclip-managed method before a
customer-owned method.
- Preserved explicit capability selection and the customer OAuth
fallback.
- Switched managed-profile availability from the anonymous global
capability document to the enrolled instance's signed status response,
so internal-pilot profiles cannot be enabled locally without an
authorized instance binding.
- Replaced the Gmail callback activity constant with the validated app
slug and connector profile.
- Added connector and route coverage for signed per-instance
capabilities, including inactive and malformed responses.
- Added a Google Drive callback test that covers the signed profile
request, personal vault refs, encrypted secret rows, catalog filtering,
and non-sensitive activity details.
## Verification
- `pnpm -r typecheck` — passed across all workspaces before the
signed-capability follow-up; final targeted shared and server typechecks
also passed after it.
- `pnpm exec vitest run
server/src/services/paperclip-cloud-connector.test.ts` — passed, 9
tests.
- `pnpm exec vitest run packages/shared/src/app-definitions.test.ts` —
passed, 19 tests.
- `pnpm exec vitest run
server/src/__tests__/tool-access-service.test.ts` — passed, 205 tests.
- `pnpm test:run` — incomplete after the general server group reported
five failures in `server/src/__tests__/workspace-runtime.test.ts`. The
failures are outside the changed files. The run was stopped before the
remaining serialized suites because the shared worktree was needed for a
follow-up edit.
- `pnpm build` — passed on the final tree.
- `git diff --check` — passed on the final tree.
The five full-suite failures were:
- `records teardown and cleanup operations when a recorder is provided`
- `does not accept an occupied allocated port when listener ownership is
unavailable`
- `backfills a pre-existing HTTP-only managed worktree runtime to
verified HTTPS in place`
- `re-adopts a live service whose shell command differs from the
surviving process argv`
- `reuses a registered legacy worktree that already has the branch
checked out`
## Risks
- The default setup method changes when at least one Paperclip-managed
method is available. Explicit read, write, or draft choices still stay
within the selected capability group.
- Managed method availability now depends on Paperclip Cloud's signed
enrolled-instance status. A Cloud outage or an inactive enrollment hides
managed methods while leaving customer-owned OAuth available.
- The callback activity schema gains a non-sensitive `profile` value. It
does not include tokens, account identifiers, emails, tenant
identifiers, or provider error text.
- The profile invariant is strict. A future Google scope or tool change
must update the shared registry and the matching app definition
together.
- There are no database migrations and no public API changes.
> 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 Codex, GPT-5.6, with reasoning, repository tools, code
execution, and test execution. The effective context window was managed
by the Codex task runtime.
## 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
- [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.
> - Connection intents need secure provider implementations to complete
setup.
> - Some providers use managed OAuth or external credential brokers.
> - Those tokens must stay out of durable Paperclip state and fail
closed when refresh fails.
> - This pull request adds managed connector backends and the required
storage contract.
> - The benefit is safer provider setup with governed credential
lifecycles.
## Linked Issues or Issue Description
Refs #11965
This is stack 8 of 11. It depends on stack 7 and replaces another
reviewable part of #11965.
## What Changed
- Add managed Google Workspace and external connector backends.
- Add Vercel Connect support without storing provider bearer tokens.
- Add replay-safe migration 0232 and its generated snapshot.
- Fail closed and clear stale token bindings when organization OAuth
refresh needs reauthorization.
## Verification
- `pnpm --filter @paperclipai/server typecheck`
- `pnpm --filter @paperclipai/server exec vitest run
src/__tests__/tool-access-service.test.ts`
- Result: 194 tests passed.
- `pnpm --filter @paperclipai/db check:migrations`
- `pnpm build`
- `pnpm exec vitest run --project @paperclipai/server
server/src/services/remote-url-credentials.test.ts` (5 passed, including
URL userinfo vault extraction)
## Risks
- Broker metadata errors can block provider setup.
- OAuth refresh failure disables the shared organization connection
until reauthorization.
- Migration 0232 is generated, ordered after 0231, and safe to replay.
> 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 linked the public source pull request with `Refs #`
- [x] I have not referenced internal or 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
Dotta