## Thinking Path
> - Paperclip publishes a coordinated set of packages through its
release workflows
> - Bundled packages use a pinned npm CLI so trusted publishing works
consistently
> - The canary publisher now crashes deterministically inside npm before
useful output reaches the workflow log
> - The npm debug log that contains the underlying failure disappears
with the hosted runner
> - This pull request upgrades the pinned publish CLI and preserves both
verbose HTTP activity and npm debug logs on failure
> - The benefit is that the plausible HTTP-layer fix ships immediately,
while any remaining CI-only failure becomes diagnosable
## Linked Issues or Issue Description
- **Problem:** The canary release workflow fails on the first bundled
package with `npm error Exit handler never called!` and no preceding
diagnostic output.
- **Expected behavior:** Bundled packages publish through trusted
publishing, or the workflow retains enough npm diagnostics to identify
the actual failure.
- **Reproduction:** Run the canary release workflow in GitHub Actions;
the failure reproduced on both attempts of run 29948506814.
- **Version/commit:** Current `master` after #10024 and #10030.
- **Deployment mode:** GitHub-hosted release workflow using Node.js 24
and npm trusted publishing.
- Related: #10024, #10030.
## What Changed
- Bumped the bundled publish CLI from npm 11.16.0 to npm 11.18.0.
- Added `--loglevel verbose` to bundled npm publish invocations.
- Dumped the last 300 lines of every npm debug log after failed canary
or stable publishes, with common registry credential forms redacted.
- Updated release assertions to pin npm 11.18.0 and verify verbose
logging.
## Verification
- `pnpm test:release-registry` — 66 tests passed.
- `bash -n scripts/release-lib.sh`.
- Parsed `.github/workflows/release.yml` with Python/PyYAML.
- Smoke-tested npm log redaction with representative Authorization,
`_authToken`, and token environment values.
- Smoke-tested npm debug-log redaction against Authorization,
`_authToken`, and `npm_token` examples.
- `git diff --check origin/master...HEAD`.
- The merge-triggered canary workflow remains the live
trusted-publishing verification.
## Risks
- Low code risk: changes are isolated to the release publisher and its
workflow diagnostics.
- npm 11.18.0 could expose a different registry/runtime regression;
failure-time debug log dumping makes that actionable.
- Verbose npm output increases release log volume but does not change
package contents or dist-tags; common credential forms are redacted
before debug logs are printed.
> 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-5.3 Codex, tool-enabled coding agent with repository
and shell execution; context window size is not exposed in this
environment.
## 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>
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