cargo: compile C for wasm32-wasip2 with a WASI clang

The Nix package, the dev shell, and the test check set CC_wasm32_wasip2
and AR_wasm32_wasip2 to the clang of pkgsCross.wasi32 (wasi-libc), so
build scripts with the cc crate work, for example rusqlite with bundled
SQLite. The runtime-toolchain check links C into a probe with the
packaged host and an empty PATH.

PROTOCOL.md

@@ -59,15 +59,27 @@ it exits. After 5 seconds, it kills the instance.
 
 ## Filesystem
 
-Each instance sees three folders:
+The world folder is the foundation of every instance's filesystem:
 
 | Path | Access | Contents |
 | --- | --- | --- |
-| `/data` | read-write by its actor; readable by every actor | the actor's state |
+| `/` | read-write by every actor | the whole world folder |
-| `/public` | read-write | the files that the actor publishes |
+| `/self` | read-write | alias for the actor's own folder (`public/`, `data/`, `source/`, etc.) |
-| `/actor` | read-only | the `actor/` folder of the world |
+| `/data` | read-write | alias for the actor's state folder |
+| `/public` | read-write | alias for the actor's published files |
+| `/actor` | read-write by every actor | the `actor/` folder of the world |
 
-An actor can write only its own `/data`, but can read every actor's `/data` through `/actor/<id>/data/`. `/data` is not private: any unprotected secret file there is readable by every actor.
+Every actor can read and write every file in the world, including other actors'
+`/actor/<id>/data/` and `/actor/<id>/public/`. Nothing there is private.
+Creating a folder in the world makes it visible to running actors immediately:
+`/config`, `/docs`, `/www`, and `/skills` need no new mounts or host restart.
+New worlds include an empty `/config` for global configuration by convention;
+existing worlds can simply create it. Keep secrets out of global configuration.
+
+Candidate instances see the same writable world root. Their `/self` alias
+points to the scratch actor folder; `/public` and `/data` still point to its
+corresponding children, and network access remains off;
+absolute world paths are not isolated from the live world.
 
 `/actor/<id>/` holds everything about an actor: `actor.wasm`, `actor.json`
 (installed version, running, subscriptions, tapped, watches), `source/`, `public/`, `data/`,
@@ -125,16 +137,21 @@ the request: the request's `type` in past tense (`spawned`, `upgraded`,
 | `type` | Fields | Effect |
 | --- | --- | --- |
 | `spawn` | `actor`, `wasm`, `source`?, `built_by`? | test, then start a new actor |
-| `upgrade` | `actor`, `wasm`, `source`?, `built_by`? | test, then swap the version |
+| `upgrade` | `actor`, `wasm`, `source`?, `built_by`? | test, then swap the version: a running actor is stopped (normal shutdown) and starts the new version; a stopped actor gets the new version and stays stopped, with its mailbox untouched, until `start`. The answer has `running` |
-| `rollback` | `actor`, `version` | go back to an older version |
+| `rollback` | `actor`, `version` | go back to an older version; like `upgrade`, a stopped actor stays stopped. The answer has `running` |
 | `stop`, `start` | `actor` | stop or start an actor |
 | `remove` | `actor` | stop the actor (normal shutdown), then delete its whole folder `/actor/<id>/` (all versions, `data/`, `public/`, logs); answer `{"type": "removed", "actor"}`. Messages to it are then undeliverable, and the ID can be spawned again. An unknown actor or a native one (`broker`, `console`, `cargo`, `fs`) is an `error` |
 | `subscribe`, `unsubscribe` | `actor` | receive (or not) what `actor` publishes |
 | `tap`, `untap` | | receive (or not) a copy of every message the broker routes |
-| `watch`, `unwatch` | `path` | receive (or not) `fs_changed` for every change of `path` or anything under it; answer `{"type": "watching" \| "unwatched", "path"}` with the path as an `/actor/...` path |
+| `watch`, `unwatch` | `path` | receive (or not) `fs_changed` for every change of `path` or anything under it; answer `{"type": "watching" \| "unwatched", "path"}` with the path as an absolute world path |
-| `exit` | | answer `exiting`, stop every actor, and end the `sausage` process (a wrapper like `nix run .#loop` starts it again, updated) |
+| `exit` | | answer `exiting`, stop every actor, and end the `sausage` process with exit code 75 (a wrapper like `nix run .#loop` starts it again, updated) |
 
-Paths are `/actor/...`, or the sender's `/public/...` or `/data/...`.
+**Headless.** `sausage run --headless [dir]` (or `sausage --headless`, or `SAUSAGE_HEADLESS=1`) turns the console input off: the host does not read stdin, so end of input (`/dev/null`) does not stop the world. `nix run .#loop -- --headless <world>` passes it through the loop. It runs until SIGTERM or SIGINT (stops every actor, exit code 0) or a broker `exit` request (exit code 75, as above). Without the flag, EOF on stdin or `/quit` ends the host.
+
+Paths are absolute world paths, or the sender's `/self/...`, `/public/...` or
+`/data/...` aliases. Native senders (such as the console) can also supply
+absolute host paths; apart from `/actor` and these aliases,
+these retain their host meaning.
 
 **Taps.** After `tap`, the sender gets a copy of every message that the
 broker routes (direct messages, replies, and publishes, between any actors,
@@ -174,7 +191,7 @@ change of `path` or a path under it (`/actor/a` covers `/actor/a/x`, not
 - Events come from `fs`. Like tap copies, they are not routed, a full
   mailbox drops them, and they never block the writer. Never answer them.
 - If the OS drops events, every watcher gets one
-  `{"type": "fs_changed", "path": "/actor", "op": "rescan"}`: anything may
+  `{"type": "fs_changed", "path": "/", "op": "rescan"}`: anything may
   have changed.
 - A watch is saved in `actor.json` (`"watches": [...]`) and survives
   restarts and upgrades. `unwatch` with the same path ends it.
@@ -210,7 +227,8 @@ instance. A version without test files passes.
 
 **Swap.** The broker holds the mailbox, stops the old instance, makes the
 top-level `actor.wasm` and `source/` a copy of the new version, and starts
-it. A rollback does the same with the older version.
+it. A stopped actor is not started: it keeps its mailbox and runs the new
+version at the next `start`. A rollback does the same with the older version.
 
 **Crashes.** The broker restarts a crashed actor after 0.5 s, then doubles
 the delay up to 30 s. A new version that crashes 3 times within 30 seconds
@@ -247,6 +265,11 @@ The reply is `{"type": "built", "wasm": "/actor/cargo/public/builds/<n>/<name>.w
 or `{"type": "build_failed", "errors": "...", "tests": {...}}`. Pass
 `wasm`, `source`, and `built_by` on to `spawn` or `upgrade`.
 
+Build scripts can compile C for `wasm32-wasip2`: the host sets
+`CC_wasm32_wasip2` and `AR_wasm32_wasip2` to a WASI clang with wasi-libc, so
+the `cc` crate (for example `rusqlite` with `bundled`) works. Its headers are
+WASI 0.1: C code that needs sockets does not build.
+
 A Rust actor depends on the SDK with `sausage-actor = "0.1"`. `cargo` points
 that dependency at the SDK of the host, which it publishes at
 `/actor/cargo/public/sdk/`.

README.md

@@ -48,6 +48,18 @@ From a clone (`git clone https://gitea.surma.technology/surma/sausage`), the
 same commands are `nix run`, `nix run -- init`, `nix run -- run` and
 `nix run .#loop`.
 
+### Headless
+
+`--headless` (or `SAUSAGE_HEADLESS=1`) turns the console input off: the host
+never reads stdin, so end of input does not stop the world. It runs until
+SIGTERM/SIGINT (clean stop, exit code 0) or a broker `exit` request (exit
+code 75, so the loop starts the newest version). Create the world first
+(`init`), then pass the flag through the loop:
+
+```sh
+nix run git+https://gitea.surma.technology/surma/sausage#loop -- --headless my-world
+```
+
 In the console:
 
 ```text

cli/src/broker.rs

@@ -255,7 +255,9 @@ impl Broker {
         }
         InstanceConfig {
             mounts: vec![
-                Mount { guest: "/actor".into(), host: self.world.actors_root(), writable: false },
+                Mount { guest: "/".into(), host: self.world.root.clone(), writable: true },
+                Mount { guest: "/actor".into(), host: self.world.actors_root(), writable: true },
+                Mount { guest: "/self".into(), host: own.clone(), writable: true },
                 Mount { guest: "/public".into(), host: own.join("public"), writable: true },
                 Mount { guest: "/data".into(), host: own.join("data"), writable: true },
             ],
@@ -331,12 +333,13 @@ impl Broker {
         Ok((component, tests))
     }
 
-    /// Make `version` the current `actor.wasm`, `source/`, and `actor.json`.
+    /// Make `version` the current `actor.wasm`, `source/`, and `actor.json`,
-    pub fn install(&self, id: &str, version: u64) -> Result<()> {
+    /// and record whether the actor runs.
+    pub fn install(&self, id: &str, version: u64, running: bool) -> Result<()> {
         self.world.install_files(id, version)?;
         self.update_meta(id, |m| {
             m.version = Some(version);
-            m.running = true;
+            m.running = running;
         })
     }
 
@@ -360,7 +363,7 @@ impl Broker {
 
     async fn create_version(self: &Arc<Self>, id: &str, meta: &VersionMeta, wasm: &Path, source: Option<&Path>) -> Result<Value> {
         let (_, tests) = self.try_version(id, meta, wasm, source).await?;
-        self.install(id, meta.version)?;
+        self.install(id, meta.version, true)?;
         self.start_supervisor(id, meta.version, true);
         Ok(json!({"type": "spawned", "actor": id, "version": meta.version, "tests": tests}))
     }
@@ -444,7 +447,7 @@ impl Broker {
         self.host_error("the file watcher dropped events; watchers get a rescan, actors a full pass");
         let watchers: Vec<String> =
             self.metas.lock().unwrap().iter().filter(|(_, m)| !m.watches.is_empty()).map(|(id, _)| id.clone()).collect();
-        self.inject(&watchers, vfs::ID, json!({"type": "fs_changed", "path": "/actor", "op": "rescan"}));
+        self.inject(&watchers, vfs::ID, json!({"type": "fs_changed", "path": "/", "op": "rescan"}));
         let report = self.scan().await;
         for change in &report {
             eprintln!("sausage: {change}");
@@ -598,9 +601,9 @@ impl Broker {
                 let on = ty == "watch";
                 let path_s = b["path"].as_str().ok_or_else(|| anyhow!("missing \"path\""))?;
                 let global = self.world.global_path(&self.world.resolve(&env.from, path_s)?);
-                let path = global.ok_or_else(|| anyhow!("{path_s} is not under /actor"))?;
+                let path = global.ok_or_else(|| anyhow!("{path_s} is not under the world root"))?;
                 let path = match path.trim_end_matches('/') {
-                    "" => "/actor".to_string(),
+                    "" => "/".to_string(),
                     p => p.to_string(),
                 };
                 self.update_meta(&env.from, |m| {
@@ -648,7 +651,7 @@ fn same_file(a: &Path, b: &Path) -> bool {
 
 /// Whether the namespace path `path` is `prefix` or inside it.
 fn under(path: &str, prefix: &str) -> bool {
-    path.strip_prefix(prefix).is_some_and(|rest| rest.is_empty() || rest.starts_with('/'))
+    prefix == "/" || path.strip_prefix(prefix).is_some_and(|rest| rest.is_empty() || rest.starts_with('/'))
 }
 
 pub fn truncate(s: &str, max: usize) -> String {

cli/src/cargo_actor.rs

@@ -8,6 +8,9 @@
 //! The broker knows nothing about Rust. This actor is one way to get a
 //! `.wasm` file. Other actors can add other languages.
 //!
+//! Build scripts compile C for WASI with the clang in `CC_wasm32_wasip2`
+//! and `AR_wasm32_wasip2`. The Nix package and the dev shell set both.
+//!
 //! Actors depend on the SDK with `sausage-actor = "0.1"`. The SDK is not
 //! published: this actor copies the SDK of this host to `public/sdk/` (so
 //! that every actor can read it), and points the dependency there in the

cli/src/console.rs

@@ -3,7 +3,8 @@
 //! - `@<actor> <json>` sends a JSON body. `@<actor> <text>` sends
 //!   `{"type": "text", "text": ...}`.
 //! - A line without `@` goes to `agent` as text.
-//! - `/help`, `/quit`. EOF on stdin also quits.
+//! - `/help`, `/quit`. EOF on stdin also quits (not with `--headless`, which
+//!   never reads stdin).
 
 use std::sync::Arc;
 

cli/src/main.rs

@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ use anyhow::{Context, Result, bail};
 use clap::{Parser, Subcommand};
 use include_dir::{Dir, include_dir};
 use serde_json::json;
+use tokio::signal::unix::Signal;
 
 use sausage::world::{ActorMeta, World};
 use sausage::{Host, cargo_actor, console};
@@ -17,6 +18,11 @@ static AGENT_SOURCE: Dir<'_> = include_dir!("$CARGO_MANIFEST_DIR/../agent");
 #[derive(Parser)]
 #[command(version, about)]
 struct Cli {
+    /// Do not read stdin, so end of input does not stop the world. It runs
+    /// until SIGTERM (or SIGINT), or until an actor sends
+    /// `@broker {"type":"exit"}`. Also set by SAUSAGE_HEADLESS=1.
+    #[arg(long, global = true)]
+    headless: bool,
     #[command(subcommand)]
     command: Option<Cmd>,
 }
@@ -91,13 +97,41 @@ async fn init(dir: PathBuf) -> Result<()> {
     Ok(())
 }
 
-async fn run(dir: PathBuf) -> Result<()> {
+/// Install the SIGTERM and SIGINT handlers now (not when first polled).
+fn termination_signals() -> Result<(Signal, Signal)> {
+    use tokio::signal::unix::{SignalKind, signal};
+    let term = signal(SignalKind::terminate()).context("install SIGTERM handler")?;
+    let int = signal(SignalKind::interrupt()).context("install SIGINT handler")?;
+    Ok((term, int))
+}
+
+/// Resolves on SIGTERM or SIGINT.
+async fn termination((mut term, mut int): (Signal, Signal)) {
+    tokio::select! {
+        _ = term.recv() => {}
+        _ = int.recv() => {}
+    }
+}
+
+async fn run(dir: PathBuf, headless: bool) -> Result<()> {
+    // Register the signal handlers before the host starts, so a signal that
+    // arrives early is never the default (kill) action.
+    let signals = if headless { Some(termination_signals()?) } else { None };
     let host = Host::start(&dir).await?;
     tokio::spawn(console::run_mailbox(host.mailbox(console::ID)));
     let broker = host.broker.clone();
-    let exit = tokio::select! {
+    let exit = match signals {
+        Some(signals) => {
+            println!("Sausage headless: running until SIGTERM or an exit request.");
+            tokio::select! {
+                _ = termination(signals) => false,
+                _ = broker.exit_requested() => true,
+            }
+        }
+        None => tokio::select! {
             _ = console::run_input(host.broker.clone()) => false,
             _ = broker.exit_requested() => true,
+        },
     };
     println!("Stopping actors …");
     host.stop().await;
@@ -113,16 +147,18 @@ async fn run(dir: PathBuf) -> Result<()> {
 
 #[tokio::main]
 async fn main() -> Result<()> {
-    match Cli::parse().command {
+    let cli = Cli::parse();
+    let headless = cli.headless || std::env::var("SAUSAGE_HEADLESS").is_ok_and(|v| !v.is_empty() && v != "0");
+    match cli.command {
         Some(Cmd::Init { dir }) => init(dir).await,
-        Some(Cmd::Run { dir }) => run(dir).await,
+        Some(Cmd::Run { dir }) => run(dir, headless).await,
         None => {
             let dir = PathBuf::from("world");
             if !dir.join("actor").is_dir() {
                 println!("No world in ./world yet, creating it (same as `sausage init`).");
                 init(dir.clone()).await?;
             }
-            run(dir).await
+            run(dir, headless).await
         }
     }
 }

cli/src/supervisor.rs

@@ -220,17 +220,16 @@ impl Supervisor {
 
     /// Make `version` current. It is compiled first (unless `component` is
     /// given): if that fails, nothing changes. `data/` and `public/` stay as
-    /// they are.
+    /// they are. A stopped actor stays stopped.
     async fn install(&mut self, version: u64, component: Option<Component>) -> Result<()> {
         let component = match component {
             Some(c) => c,
             None => self.broker.load_version(&self.id, version)?,
         };
         self.stop().await;
-        self.broker.install(&self.id, version)?;
+        self.broker.install(&self.id, version, self.running)?;
         self.version = version;
         self.component = Some(component);
-        self.running = true;
         self.restarts = 0;
         self.restart_at = None;
         Ok(())
@@ -239,20 +238,26 @@ impl Supervisor {
     async fn upgrade(&mut self, version: u64, component: Component, requester: String) -> Result<Value> {
         let previous = self.version;
         self.install(version, Some(component)).await?;
+        if !self.running {
+            // Installed, not started: main runs and mail is read at the next `start`.
+            return Ok(json!({"type": "upgraded", "actor": self.id, "version": version, "previous": previous, "running": false}));
+        }
         self.probation = Some(Probation { previous, since: Instant::now(), crashes: 0, requester });
         if let Err(e) = self.start().await {
             self.rollback(previous).await?;
             bail!("version {version} did not start ({e:#}); rolled back to {previous}");
         }
-        Ok(json!({"type": "upgraded", "actor": self.id, "version": version, "previous": previous}))
+        Ok(json!({"type": "upgraded", "actor": self.id, "version": version, "previous": previous, "running": true}))
     }
 
     async fn rollback(&mut self, version: u64) -> Result<Value> {
         let from = self.version;
         self.install(version, None).await?;
         self.probation = None;
+        if self.running {
             self.start().await?;
-        Ok(json!({"type": "rolled_back", "actor": self.id, "from": from, "to": version}))
+        }
+        Ok(json!({"type": "rolled_back", "actor": self.id, "from": from, "to": version, "running": self.running}))
     }
 
     /// Handle a control request. Returns `true` when the supervisor ends.

cli/src/vfs.rs

@@ -390,8 +390,8 @@ impl preopens::Host for VfsView<'_> {
     fn get_directories(&mut self) -> wasmtime::Result<Vec<(Resource<types::Descriptor>, String)>> {
         let dirs = preopens::Host::get_directories(&mut self.inner)?;
         for (fd, name) in &dirs {
-            if name == "/actor" {
+            if name == "/actor" || name == "/" {
-                self.state.dirs.insert(fd.rep(), "/actor".to_string());
+                self.state.dirs.insert(fd.rep(), name.clone());
             }
         }
         Ok(dirs)

cli/src/watch.rs

@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 //! Events are coalesced per path: once a path is quiet for `QUIET` (or has
 //! kept changing for `MAX_DELAY`), it becomes one change
 //! `{path, op: write | create | remove | rename, to?}` with a namespace path
-//! (`/actor/...`). Then the broker
+//! (relative to the world root, such as `/actor/...` or `/config/...`). Then the broker
 //!
 //! - sends `fs_changed` to the actors that watch the path (`watch` request),
 //! - starts or upgrades an actor whose `actor/<id>/actor.wasm` (or folder
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ impl Pending {
 }
 
 async fn run(broker: Arc<Broker>, mut events: mpsc::UnboundedReceiver<notify::Result<notify::Event>>) {
-    let root = broker.world.actors_root();
+    let root = broker.world.root.clone();
     let mut pending: HashMap<String, Pending> = HashMap::new();
     // Actor checks and full passes. Dropping the set (when the host stops) aborts them.
     let mut tasks = tokio::task::JoinSet::new();
@@ -122,11 +122,11 @@ async fn sleep_until(t: Option<Instant>) {
     }
 }
 
-/// The namespace path (`/actor/...`) of a host path, unless it is outside
+/// The world namespace path of a host path, unless it is outside the
-/// `actor/` or a temporary file of the host.
+/// world or a temporary file of the host.
 fn namespace(root: &Path, path: &Path) -> Option<String> {
     let rel = path.strip_prefix(root).ok()?;
-    let mut out = String::from("/actor");
+    let mut out = String::new();
     for part in rel.components() {
         let name = part.as_os_str().to_str()?;
         if name.starts_with(TMP_PREFIX) {
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ fn namespace(root: &Path, path: &Path) -> Option<String> {
         out.push('/');
         out.push_str(name);
     }
-    Some(out)
+    Some(if out.is_empty() { "/".to_string() } else { out })
 }
 
 /// One change: namespace path, op, and the new path of a rename.
@@ -219,7 +219,7 @@ mod tests {
 
     #[test]
     fn a_rename_is_one_change_and_temp_files_are_skipped() {
-        let root = Path::new("/w/actor");
+        let root = Path::new("/w");
         let now = Instant::now();
         let mut pending = HashMap::new();
         let ev = |kind, paths: &[&str]| {
@@ -236,7 +236,8 @@ mod tests {
             ev(name(RenameMode::Both), &["/w/actor/a/public/x", "/w/actor/a/public/y"]),
             ev(EventKind::Create(notify::event::CreateKind::File), &["/w/actor/a/.sausage-tmp-host-1-actor.json"]),
             ev(name(RenameMode::Both), &["/w/actor/a/.sausage-tmp-host-1-actor.json", "/w/actor/a/actor.json"]),
-            ev(EventKind::Create(notify::event::CreateKind::File), &["/w/.lock"]),
+            ev(EventKind::Create(notify::event::CreateKind::File), &["/outside/.lock"]),
+            ev(EventKind::Create(notify::event::CreateKind::File), &["/w/config/x"]),
         ] {
             for (path, op, to) in changes(root, &e) {
                 add(&mut pending, path, op, to, now);
@@ -250,6 +251,7 @@ mod tests {
             vec![
                 ("/actor/a/actor.json".to_string(), "write", None),
                 ("/actor/a/public/x".to_string(), "rename", Some("/actor/a/public/y".to_string())),
+                ("/config/x".to_string(), "create", None),
             ]
         );
     }

cli/src/world.rs

@@ -1,15 +1,17 @@
 //! On-disk layout of a Sausage world. The folder is the source of truth:
 //! `sausage run` boots every actor that it finds in `actor/`, and then
-//! watches the folder (`watch.rs`).
+//! watches the folder (`watch.rs`). `/self` aliases the running actor's folder;
+//! `/public` and `/data` remain aliases for its `public/` and `data/`.
 //!
 //! ```text
-//! <world>/
+//! <world>/              mounted at /, readable and writable by every actor
+//!   config/             global configuration by convention (no secrets)
 //!   actor/<id>/
 //!     actor.wasm        the current version
 //!     actor.json        version, running, subscriptions, tapped, watches (broker)
 //!     source/           source of the current version
-//!     public/           written by the actor, read-only for others
+//!     public/           published files, readable and writable by everyone
-//!     data/             state, writable only by the actor
+//!     data/             state, readable and writable by everyone
 //!     stderr.log        stderr of the actor and notes of the broker
 //!     versions/<n>/     every version that was installed: actor.wasm, source/, meta.json
 //! ```
@@ -131,6 +133,7 @@ impl World {
         for id in NATIVE {
             world.ensure_actor_dirs(id)?;
         }
+        std::fs::create_dir_all(world.root.join("config"))?;
         Ok(world)
     }
 
@@ -191,8 +194,9 @@ impl World {
 
     /// Map a path in an actor's namespace to a host path.
     ///
-    /// - `/actor/<id>/...` is the global filesystem.
+    /// - Absolute paths are relative to the world root.
-    /// - `/public/...` and `/data/...` belong to `sender`.
+    /// - `/self/...` aliases `sender`'s folder; `/public/...` and `/data/...`
+    ///   alias its corresponding children.
     /// - Native senders (the console) can also give absolute host paths.
     pub fn resolve(&self, sender: &str, path: &str) -> Result<PathBuf> {
         let under = |base: PathBuf, rest: &str| -> Result<PathBuf> {
@@ -212,6 +216,9 @@ impl World {
         if let Some(rest) = prefixed("/actor") {
             return under(self.actors_root(), rest);
         }
+        if let Some(rest) = prefixed("/self") {
+            return under(self.actor_dir(sender), rest);
+        }
         if let Some(rest) = prefixed("/public") {
             return under(self.public_dir(sender), rest);
         }
@@ -221,13 +228,16 @@ impl World {
         if NATIVE.contains(&sender) && Path::new(path).is_absolute() {
             return Ok(PathBuf::from(path));
         }
-        bail!("cannot resolve path {path} for {sender}: use /actor/<id>/..., /public/... or /data/...")
+        if Path::new(path).is_absolute() {
+            return under(self.root.clone(), path);
+        }
+        bail!("cannot resolve path {path} for {sender}: use an absolute world path")
     }
 
     /// The path of a host file in the global filesystem, if it has one.
     pub fn global_path(&self, host: &Path) -> Option<String> {
-        let rel = host.strip_prefix(self.actors_root()).ok()?;
+        let rel = host.strip_prefix(&self.root).ok()?;
-        Some(format!("/actor/{}", rel.display()))
+        Some(format!("/{}", rel.display()))
     }
 }
 

cli/tests/cli.rs

@@ -39,3 +39,47 @@ fn bare_command_without_a_world_starts_init() {
     // It asks before it creates anything.
     assert!(!dir.join("world").exists());
 }
+
+/// Start a headless host on a fresh world with stdin at EOF; returns once it
+/// printed its ready line (printed after the signal handlers are installed).
+fn start_headless(label: &str) -> (std::process::Child, std::io::Lines<std::io::BufReader<std::process::ChildStdout>>) {
+    use std::io::{BufRead, BufReader};
+    let dir = empty_dir(label);
+    let world = dir.join("world");
+    sausage::World::create(&world).unwrap();
+    let mut child = Command::new(env!("CARGO_BIN_EXE_sausage"))
+        .args(["run", "--headless"])
+        .arg(&world)
+        .stdin(Stdio::null())
+        .stdout(Stdio::piped())
+        .stderr(Stdio::null())
+        .spawn()
+        .unwrap();
+    let mut lines = BufReader::new(child.stdout.take().unwrap()).lines();
+    let line = lines.next().expect("host exited before it started").unwrap();
+    assert!(line.contains("headless"), "unexpected first line: {line}");
+    (child, lines)
+}
+
+/// With stdin at EOF (as soon as the host starts), a headless host stays up.
+#[test]
+fn headless_ignores_stdin_eof() {
+    let (mut child, _lines) = start_headless("headless-eof");
+    std::thread::sleep(std::time::Duration::from_millis(500));
+    let alive = child.try_wait().unwrap().is_none();
+    let _ = child.kill();
+    let _ = child.wait();
+    assert!(alive, "headless host exited on stdin EOF");
+}
+
+/// SIGTERM right after the ready line stops the actors and exits with 0.
+#[test]
+fn headless_stops_cleanly_on_sigterm_right_after_ready() {
+    let (mut child, lines) = start_headless("headless-term");
+    let pid = child.id().to_string();
+    assert!(Command::new("kill").args(["-TERM", &pid]).status().unwrap().success());
+    let rest: Vec<String> = lines.map(|l| l.unwrap()).collect();
+    let status = child.wait().unwrap();
+    assert!(status.success(), "exit status {status:?}, output {rest:?}");
+    assert!(rest.iter().any(|l| l.contains("Stopping actors")), "output {rest:?}");
+}

cli/tests/crates/cargo-c/Cargo.toml

@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+[package]
+name = "cargo-c"
+version = "0.1.0"
+edition = "2024"
+
+[dependencies]
+sausage-actor = "0.1"
+
+[build-dependencies]
+cc = "1"
+
+[workspace]

cli/tests/crates/cargo-c/build.rs

@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+// Compile C with the `cc` crate: natively for the unit test, and with the
+// WASI clang (`CC_wasm32_wasip2`) for the actor.
+fn main() {
+    cc::Build::new().file("src/add.c").compile("add");
+}

cli/tests/crates/cargo-c/src/add.c

@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+int c_add(int a, int b) { return a + b; }

cli/tests/crates/cargo-c/src/main.rs

@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+//! Adds two numbers with a C function: `{"type": "add", "a", "b"}` -> `{"type": "sum", "value"}`.
+use sausage_actor::{json, messages, reply};
+
+unsafe extern "C" {
+    fn c_add(a: i32, b: i32) -> i32;
+}
+
+fn add(a: i32, b: i32) -> i32 {
+    unsafe { c_add(a, b) }
+}
+
+fn main() {
+    for message in messages() {
+        let (a, b) = (message.body["a"].as_i64().unwrap_or(0), message.body["b"].as_i64().unwrap_or(0));
+        let _ = reply(&message, json!({"type": "sum", "value": add(a as i32, b as i32)}));
+    }
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    #[test]
+    fn c_code_runs_on_the_host_target() {
+        assert_eq!(super::add(2, 3), 5);
+    }
+}

cli/tests/host.rs

@@ -140,20 +140,20 @@ async fn exit_request_is_answered_and_signals_the_host() {
 }
 
 #[tokio::test]
-async fn filesystem_permissions_and_public_sharing() {
+async fn filesystem_is_writable_and_public_aliases_share_files() {
     let (_, host, mut mailbox) = filesystem_world("filesystem-permissions").await;
     for path in [
-        "/actor/reader/public/denied.txt",
+        "/actor/reader/public/shared.txt",
-        "/actor/writer/public/denied.txt",
+        "/actor/writer/public/shared.txt",
     ] {
-        let denied = ask(
+        let written = ask(
             &host,
             &mut mailbox,
             "writer",
-            json!({"type": "write", "path": path, "text": "denied"}),
+            json!({"type": "write", "path": path, "text": "shared"}),
         )
         .await;
-        assert_eq!(denied.body["type"], "error", "write to {path} succeeded");
+        assert_eq!(written.body["type"], "ok", "write to {path} failed");
     }
 
     let written = ask(
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ async fn filesystem_permissions_and_public_sharing() {
 }
 
 #[tokio::test]
-async fn actors_can_read_but_not_write_other_actor_data() {
+async fn actors_can_read_and_write_other_actor_data() {
     let (_, host, mut mailbox) = filesystem_world("actor-data-sharing").await;
     ask_type(
         &host,
@@ -201,10 +201,10 @@ async fn actors_can_read_but_not_write_other_actor_data() {
         &mut mailbox,
         "reader",
         json!({"type": "write", "path": "/actor/writer/data/x", "text": "changed"}),
-        "error",
+        "ok",
     )
     .await;
-    let unchanged = ask_type(
+    let changed = ask_type(
         &host,
         &mut mailbox,
         "writer",
@@ -212,7 +212,49 @@ async fn actors_can_read_but_not_write_other_actor_data() {
         "content",
     )
     .await;
-    assert_eq!(unchanged.body["text"], "shared");
+    assert_eq!(changed.body["text"], "changed");
+    host.stop().await;
+}
+
+#[tokio::test]
+async fn world_root_is_shared_writable_and_survives_restart() {
+    let (world, host, mut mailbox) = filesystem_world("world-root").await;
+    assert!(world.root.join("config").is_dir());
+    ask_type(&host, &mut mailbox, "writer", json!({"type": "write", "path": "/self/data/x", "text": "self-alias"}), "ok").await;
+    assert_eq!(ask_type(&host, &mut mailbox, "writer", json!({"type": "read", "path": "/data/x"}), "content").await.body["text"], "self-alias");
+    let file = "/config/x";
+    ask_type(&host, &mut mailbox, "writer", json!({"type": "write", "path": file, "text": "first"}), "ok").await;
+    let read = json!({"type": "read", "path": file});
+    assert_eq!(ask_type(&host, &mut mailbox, "reader", read.clone(), "content").await.body["text"], "first");
+    ask_type(&host, &mut mailbox, "reader", json!({"type": "write", "path": file, "text": "second"}), "ok").await;
+    assert_eq!(std::fs::read_to_string(world.root.join("config/x")).unwrap(), "second");
+    for actor in ["writer", "reader"] {
+        assert_eq!(world.resolve(actor, file).unwrap(), world.root.join("config/x"));
+    }
+    assert_eq!(world.global_path(&world.root.join("config/x")).as_deref(), Some(file));
+
+    // Watches use the same world namespace, not only /actor paths.
+    let watching = request(&host, &mut mailbox, json!({"type": "watch", "path": world.root.join("config").display().to_string()})).await;
+    assert_eq!(watching.body, json!({"type": "watching", "path": "/config"}));
+    drain(&mut mailbox, Duration::from_millis(300)).await;
+    std::fs::write(world.root.join("config/event"), "watched").unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(fs_events(drain(&mut mailbox, Duration::from_millis(600)).await),
+        vec![json!({"type": "fs_changed", "path": "/config/event", "op": "create"})]);
+    request(&host, &mut mailbox, json!({"type": "unwatch", "path": world.root.join("config").display().to_string()})).await;
+
+    // A new top-level folder appears in already running instances, without a mount change.
+    std::fs::create_dir(world.root.join("docs")).unwrap();
+    std::fs::write(world.root.join("docs/new"), "host-created").unwrap();
+    let docs = json!({"type": "read", "path": "/docs/new"});
+    assert_eq!(ask_type(&host, &mut mailbox, "reader", docs, "content").await.body["text"], "host-created");
+    ask_type(&host, &mut mailbox, "reader", json!({"type": "write", "path": "/docs/new", "text": "actor-updated"}), "ok").await;
+    assert_eq!(std::fs::read_to_string(world.root.join("docs/new")).unwrap(), "actor-updated");
+    host.stop().await;
+
+    let (host, mut mailbox) = start(&world).await;
+    for actor in ["writer", "reader"] {
+        assert_eq!(ask_type(&host, &mut mailbox, actor, read.clone(), "content").await.body["text"], "second");
+    }
     host.stop().await;
 }
 
@@ -506,6 +548,50 @@ async fn rolls_back_a_crash_loop_to_the_previous_version_without_restoring_data(
     host.stop().await;
 }
 
+#[tokio::test]
+async fn upgrade_and_rollback_keep_a_stopped_actor_stopped() {
+    let world = create_world("upgrade-stopped");
+    let wasm = toolbox_wasm().clone();
+    let (host, mut mailbox) = start(&world).await;
+    let source = passing_source(&world, "source");
+    spawn_type(&host, &mut mailbox, "sleeper", &wasm, &source).await;
+    let stopped = request(&host, &mut mailbox, json!({"type": "stop", "actor": "sleeper"})).await;
+    assert_eq!(stopped.body["type"], "stopped");
+
+    let upgraded = upgrade_actor(&host, &mut mailbox, "sleeper", &wasm, &source).await;
+    assert_eq!(upgraded.body["type"], "upgraded", "{upgraded:?}");
+    assert_eq!(upgraded.body["version"], 2);
+    assert_eq!(upgraded.body["running"], false);
+    let meta = world.read_meta("sleeper");
+    assert_eq!((meta.version, meta.running), (Some(2), false));
+
+    // Mail waits in the mailbox: the stopped actor reads nothing.
+    let waiting = host.broker.send("console", Some("sleeper"), None, None, json!({"type": "version"}));
+    assert!(
+        tokio::time::timeout(Duration::from_millis(500), receive_reply(&mut mailbox, &waiting, Duration::from_secs(10)))
+            .await
+            .is_err(),
+        "a stopped actor must not answer"
+    );
+
+    let rolled_back = request(&host, &mut mailbox, json!({"type": "rollback", "actor": "sleeper", "version": 1})).await;
+    assert_eq!(rolled_back.body["type"], "rolled_back", "{rolled_back:?}");
+    assert_eq!(rolled_back.body["running"], false);
+    assert!(!world.read_meta("sleeper").running);
+
+    // `start` runs the installed version and delivers the waiting message.
+    let started = request(&host, &mut mailbox, json!({"type": "start", "actor": "sleeper"})).await;
+    assert_eq!(started.body["type"], "started");
+    let answer = receive_reply(&mut mailbox, &waiting, Duration::from_secs(10)).await;
+    assert_eq!(answer.body["version"], "1");
+
+    // A running actor still restarts on the new version.
+    let running = upgrade_actor(&host, &mut mailbox, "sleeper", &wasm, &source).await;
+    assert_eq!(running.body["running"], true);
+    assert_eq!(ask(&host, &mut mailbox, "sleeper", json!({"type": "version"})).await.body["version"], "3");
+    host.stop().await;
+}
+
 #[tokio::test]
 async fn explicit_rollback_keeps_current_data() {
     let world = create_world("explicit-rollback");
@@ -683,6 +769,22 @@ async fn cargo_actor_runs_unit_tests_by_default_and_can_skip_them() {
     host.stop().await;
 }
 
+#[tokio::test]
+async fn cargo_actor_compiles_c_code_for_wasi() {
+    let world = create_world("cargo-c");
+    let (host, mut mailbox) = start(&world).await;
+    let source = cargo_source("cargo-c");
+    let id = host.broker.send("console", Some("cargo"), None, None, json!({"type": "build", "source": source.display().to_string()}));
+    let built = receive_reply(&mut mailbox, &id, Duration::from_secs(300)).await;
+    assert_eq!(built.body["type"], "built", "{built:?}");
+    assert_eq!(built.body["tests"]["passed"], 1, "{built:?}");
+    let wasm = host.world.resolve("console", built.body["wasm"].as_str().unwrap()).unwrap();
+    spawn_type(&host, &mut mailbox, "c-add", &wasm, &source).await;
+    let sum = ask_type(&host, &mut mailbox, "c-add", json!({"type": "add", "a": 2, "b": 3}), "sum").await;
+    assert_eq!(sum.body["value"], 5);
+    host.stop().await;
+}
+
 #[tokio::test]
 async fn rejects_invalid_actor_ids() {
     let world = create_world("invalid-id");
@@ -1143,7 +1245,7 @@ async fn a_watcher_overflow_sends_one_rescan_and_runs_a_full_pass() {
     let report = host.broker.clone().overflowed().await;
     assert!(report.iter().any(|r| r["type"] == "spawned" && r["actor"] == "planted"), "{report:?}");
 
-    let rescan = json!({"type": "fs_changed", "path": "/actor", "op": "rescan"});
+    let rescan = json!({"type": "fs_changed", "path": "/", "op": "rescan"});
     assert_eq!(fs_events(drain(&mut mailbox, Duration::from_millis(600)).await), vec![rescan]);
     assert!(bystander.try_recv().is_err(), "an actor without watches got the rescan");
     host.stop().await;

flake.nix

@@ -26,6 +26,14 @@
         # PATH. Keep this same runtime path in the packaged host and exercise
         # the installed binary below with PATH deliberately empty.
         runtimePath = pkgs.lib.makeBinPath [ rust pkgs.stdenv.cc ];
+        # A WASI clang with wasi-libc, so that build scripts (the `cc` crate)
+        # can compile C for wasm32-wasip2. Its headers are WASI 0.1: C code
+        # that needs sockets does not build.
+        wasiCc = pkgs.pkgsCross.wasi32.stdenv.cc;
+        wasiCcEnv = {
+          CC_wasm32_wasip2 = "${wasiCc}/bin/${wasiCc.targetPrefix}cc";
+          AR_wasm32_wasip2 = "${wasiCc}/bin/${wasiCc.targetPrefix}ar";
+        };
         craneLib = (crane.mkLib pkgs).overrideToolchain rust;
         common = {
           pname = "sausage";
@@ -48,9 +56,12 @@
           cargoExtraArgs = "--locked -p sausage";
           doCheck = false;
           nativeBuildInputs = [ pkgs.makeWrapper ];
-          # The `cargo` actor runs cargo at runtime. Build scripts need a C linker.
+          # The `cargo` actor runs cargo at runtime. Build scripts need a C linker,
+          # and C code for WASI needs the WASI clang.
           postInstall = ''
-            wrapProgram $out/bin/sausage --prefix PATH : ${runtimePath}
+            wrapProgram $out/bin/sausage --prefix PATH : ${runtimePath} \
+              --set-default CC_wasm32_wasip2 ${wasiCcEnv.CC_wasm32_wasip2} \
+              --set-default AR_wasm32_wasip2 ${wasiCcEnv.AR_wasm32_wasip2}
           '';
           meta.mainProgram = "sausage";
         });
@@ -84,7 +95,7 @@
         # The binary the host loop runs (`nix run`), built from the same
         # cached dependencies as the tests.
         checks.package = sausage;
-        checks.tests = craneLib.cargoTest (common // {
+        checks.tests = craneLib.cargoTest (common // wasiCcEnv // {
           inherit cargoArtifacts;
           cargoExtraArgs = "--locked ${testPackages}";
           # Nothing builds on the test run's target folder: don't store it.
@@ -114,7 +125,35 @@
           version = "0.1.0"
           edition = "2024"
           TOML
-          printf 'fn main() {}\n' > "$source/src/main.rs"
+          # C code for WASI, compiled with the packaged WASI clang. The native
+          # test build has no C, so it needs no C compiler for the host.
+          printf 'int probe_add(int a, int b) { return a + b; }\n' > "$source/src/add.c"
+          cat > "$source/build.rs" <<'RUST'
+          use std::process::Command;
+          fn main() {
+              if std::env::var("TARGET").unwrap() != "wasm32-wasip2" {
+                  return;
+              }
+              let out = std::env::var("OUT_DIR").unwrap();
+              let cc = std::env::var("CC_wasm32_wasip2").expect("CC_wasm32_wasip2");
+              let ar = std::env::var("AR_wasm32_wasip2").expect("AR_wasm32_wasip2");
+              let object = format!("{out}/add.o");
+              assert!(Command::new(cc).args(["-c", "src/add.c", "-o", &object]).status().unwrap().success());
+              assert!(Command::new(ar).args(["crs", &format!("{out}/libadd.a"), &object]).status().unwrap().success());
+              println!("cargo:rustc-link-search=native={out}");
+              println!("cargo:rustc-link-lib=static=add");
+          }
+          RUST
+          cat > "$source/src/main.rs" <<'RUST'
+          #[cfg(target_os = "wasi")]
+          unsafe extern "C" {
+              fn probe_add(a: i32, b: i32) -> i32;
+          }
+          fn main() {
+              #[cfg(target_os = "wasi")]
+              assert_eq!(unsafe { probe_add(2, 3) }, 5);
+          }
+          RUST
           cat > "$source/tests/probe.rs" <<'RUST'
           #[test]
           fn native_test_harness_runs() {
@@ -161,11 +200,11 @@
         apps.default = { type = "app"; program = "${sausage}/bin/sausage"; };
         apps.loop = { type = "app"; program = "${loop}/bin/sausage-loop"; };
 
-        devShells.default = pkgs.mkShell {
+        devShells.default = pkgs.mkShell (wasiCcEnv // {
           packages = [ rust pkgs.wasmtime pkgs.wasm-tools ];
           shellHook = ''
             export CARGO_HOME="$PWD/.cargo-home"
           '';
-        };
+        });
       });
 }