## Thinking Path
> - Paperclip is the open source app people use to manage AI agents for
work.
> - The full-stack runner campaign checks local and Daytona runner
behavior.
> - A Daytona image content miss starts a cold multi-stage Docker build.
> - Stable dependency and agent CLI layers take most of the image build
time.
> - Development targets must not write shared cache state.
> - This pull request adds a registry cache with a default-branch write
gate.
> - It also puts volatile source inputs after stable install layers.
> - The benefit is a shorter Daytona image build without weaker secret
isolation.
## Linked Issues or Issue Description
**What existing behavior does this improve?**
This improves the Daytona runner image stage in the full-stack E2E
workflow.
**Subsystem affected**
The GitHub Actions runner E2E workflow and its Daytona Docker image are
affected.
**Current behavior**
Each new Daytona image content ID starts with an empty BuildKit cache. A
runner source change also invalidates dependency and agent CLI install
layers because volatile inputs occur before those layers.
**Proposed behavior**
All authorized campaigns can read one GHCR BuildKit cache. Only a
campaign whose target ref is the repository default branch can update
that cache. The Dockerfile installs dependencies and agent CLIs before
it consumes volatile runner source or revision metadata.
**Reason and benefit**
The paid runner matrix spends several minutes building the image before
any selected cell can start. Cache reuse removes repeated stable setup
work and makes focused Daytona iterations faster.
**Breaking changes**
None. The immutable content tag, digest inspection, Cosign signature,
image labels, pinned base images, and provider credential boundary stay
unchanged.
## What Changed
- Read a registry-backed BuildKit cache for Daytona image content
misses.
- Export the cache only when the resolved target ref is the default
branch.
- Keep provider credentials outside the image build and cache.
- Install provider-pack dependencies before runner source is copied.
- Keep expensive agent CLI installs before source revision metadata.
- Add workflow and Docker layer-order contract checks.
## Verification
- `prettier --write .github/workflows/runner-full-stack-e2e.yml
tests/runner-e2e/daytona-image.test.ts
tests/runner-e2e/workflow-security.test.ts`
- `actionlint .github/workflows/runner-full-stack-e2e.yml`
- `git diff --check`
- I did not run a test suite or Docker image build locally. The
requested iteration policy reserves those checks for GitHub Actions.
## Risks
Low risk. BuildKit can use a cache record only when its content key
matches the build instruction and input. Development targets have
read-only cache access. The cache contains public source and build
outputs, but it does not receive provider credentials or the GitHub
token as Docker build inputs.
> 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 with GPT-5, 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
- [ ] 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
- [ ] All Paperclip CI gates are green
- [ ] Greptile is 5/5 with no open P2s, recommendations, or follow-ups
- [x] I will address all Greptile and reviewer comments before
requesting merge