v0.0.18 - Add prompt options for verb-only session grant vs all-verbs session grant

v0.0.17 - Add n_OS_tr agent migration guide for deny-by-default approval workflow
v0.0.16 - Implement deny-by-default approval model with on-demand nostr_index derivation and --preapprove CLI flag
2026-05-05 07:33:22 -04:00 · 2026-05-04 19:02:41 -04:00 · 2026-05-04 18:44:40 -04:00 · 2026-05-04 08:06:32 -04:00 · 2026-05-04 08:05:38 -04:00 · 2026-05-04 08:03:17 -04:00
39 changed files with 3443 additions and 419 deletions
--- a/.roo/commands/push_release.md
+++ b/.roo/commands/push_release.md
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+---
+description: "This increments our git tag and version number, along with compiling and uploading a new release to our gitea page."
+---
+
+Run increment_and_push.sh -r -p, and supply a good git commit message. For example:
+
+./increment_and_push.sh "Fixed the bug with nip05 implementation"
--- a/Dockerfile.alpine-musl
+++ b/Dockerfile.alpine-musl
@@ -46,7 +46,10 @@ RUN cd /tmp && \

 # Copy and build nostr_core_lib from project resources
 COPY resources/nostr_core_lib /build/nostr_core_lib/
-RUN cd /build/nostr_core_lib && \
+RUN if [ "$(uname -m)" = "aarch64" ] && ! command -v aarch64-linux-gnu-gcc >/dev/null 2>&1; then \
+      ln -s "$(command -v gcc)" /usr/local/bin/aarch64-linux-gnu-gcc; \
+    fi && \
+    cd /build/nostr_core_lib && \
    chmod +x ./build.sh && \
    ./build.sh --nips=1,4,6,19,44

@@ -54,25 +57,33 @@ RUN cd /build/nostr_core_lib && \
 COPY src/ /build/src/

 # Build nsigner as a fully static binary
-RUN gcc -static -Os -ffunction-sections -fdata-sections -Wl,--gc-sections -s -Wall -Wextra -std=c99 \
-    -I/build/nostr_core_lib \
-    -I/build/nostr_core_lib/nostr_core \
-    -I/build/nostr_core_lib/cjson \
-    /build/src/main.c \
-    /build/src/secure_mem.c \
-    /build/src/mnemonic.c \
-    /build/src/role_table.c \
-    /build/src/selector.c \
-    /build/src/enforcement.c \
-    /build/src/dispatcher.c \
-    /build/src/policy.c \
-    /build/src/server.c \
-    /build/src/key_store.c \
-    /build/src/socket_name.c \
-    /build/nostr_core_lib/libnostr_core_x64.a \
-    -o /build/nsigner_static \
-    $(pkg-config --static --libs libcurl openssl) \
-    -lsecp256k1 -lsqlite3 -lz -lpthread -lm
+RUN ARCH="$(uname -m)"; \
+    case "$ARCH" in \
+      aarch64|arm64) NOSTR_LIB="/build/nostr_core_lib/libnostr_core_arm64.a" ;; \
+      x86_64|amd64)  NOSTR_LIB="/build/nostr_core_lib/libnostr_core_x64.a" ;; \
+      *) echo "Unsupported build arch: $ARCH"; exit 1 ;; \
+    esac; \
+    [ -f "$NOSTR_LIB" ] || { echo "Missing nostr core lib: $NOSTR_LIB"; ls -la /build/nostr_core_lib; exit 1; }; \
+    gcc -static -Os -ffunction-sections -fdata-sections -Wl,--gc-sections -s -Wall -Wextra -std=c99 \
+      -I/build/nostr_core_lib \
+      -I/build/nostr_core_lib/nostr_core \
+      -I/build/nostr_core_lib/cjson \
+      /build/src/main.c \
+      /build/src/secure_mem.c \
+      /build/src/mnemonic.c \
+      /build/src/role_table.c \
+      /build/src/selector.c \
+      /build/src/enforcement.c \
+      /build/src/dispatcher.c \
+      /build/src/policy.c \
+      /build/src/server.c \
+      /build/src/transport_frame.c \
+      /build/src/key_store.c \
+      /build/src/socket_name.c \
+      "$NOSTR_LIB" \
+      -o /build/nsigner_static \
+      $(pkg-config --static --libs libcurl openssl) \
+      -lsecp256k1 -lsqlite3 -lz -lpthread -lm

 RUN strip /build/nsigner_static || true
 RUN file /build/nsigner_static && \
--- a/1
+++ b/1
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ SOURCES := \
 	$(SRC_DIR)/dispatcher.c \
 	$(SRC_DIR)/policy.c \
 	$(SRC_DIR)/server.c \
+	$(SRC_DIR)/transport_frame.c \
 	$(SRC_DIR)/key_store.c \
 	$(SRC_DIR)/socket_name.c

--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -237,6 +237,9 @@ Naming rules:
 Discovery:

 - `nsigner list` enumerates currently bound `nsigner_*` abstract sockets by reading `/proc/net/unix`.
+- `nsigner --listen stdio` runs one framed JSON-RPC request/response over stdin/stdout.
+- `nsigner --listen qrexec` is the same stdio framing mode, but caller identity can be derived from `QREXEC_REMOTE_DOMAIN` (displayed as `qubes:<source-vm>`).
+- `nsigner --listen tcp:IPv4:PORT` or `tcp:[IPv6]:PORT` enables TCP listening for non-AF_UNIX clients (for example `tcp:127.0.0.1:8080`, `tcp:[::]:8080`, or `tcp:[fd00::1234]:8080`).

 ### 7.2 ESP32 MCU: USB-CDC serial

@@ -288,6 +291,24 @@ To force a specific socket name (e.g. for scripted clients):
 nsigner --name my_test_signer
 ```

+Qubes/qrexec service mode (single framed request over stdin/stdout):
+
+```bash
+nsigner --listen qrexec
+```
+
+Generic stdio transport mode (single framed request over stdin/stdout):
+
+```bash
+nsigner --listen stdio
+```
+
+TCP transport mode (no TUI; serves requests until terminated):
+
+```bash
+nsigner --listen tcp:[::]:8080
+```
+
 ### 9.2 Send a request (client mode)

 From another terminal, target the signer by its socket name:
@@ -365,6 +386,9 @@ Static build:
 ## 11. Document map

 - [`README.md`](README.md): authoritative behavior specification for the foreground single-program model
+- [`documents/CLIENT_IMPLEMENTATION.md`](documents/CLIENT_IMPLEMENTATION.md): client integration contract and framing behavior
+- [`documents/QUBES_OS.md`](documents/QUBES_OS.md): Qubes OS deployment/integration checklist for dedicated signer qubes
+- [`documents/FIPS_DEPLOYMENT.md`](documents/FIPS_DEPLOYMENT.md): Tier-1 FIPS deployment runbook using loopback TCP listener
 - [`plans/nsigner.md`](plans/nsigner.md): implementation plan and sequencing
 - [`plans/seed_phrase_uses.md`](plans/seed_phrase_uses.md): seed phrase domain/use catalog and caveats
 - [`firmware/README.md`](firmware/README.md): firmware-side notes for MCU transport/UI integration
--- a/build_static.sh
+++ b/build_static.sh
@@ -105,12 +105,29 @@ echo "Platform:     $PLATFORM"
 echo "Output:       $BUILD_DIR/$OUTPUT_NAME"
 echo ""

+if [ "$ARCH" != "$HOST_ARCH" ]; then
+    echo "[0/3] Preparing buildx + QEMU for cross-architecture build"
+    if ! docker buildx inspect >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+        echo "ERROR: docker buildx is not available"
+        exit 1
+    fi
+    docker run --privileged --rm tonistiigi/binfmt --install all >/dev/null
+
+    if ! docker buildx inspect nsigner-builder >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+        docker buildx create --name nsigner-builder --driver docker-container --use >/dev/null
+    else
+        docker buildx use nsigner-builder >/dev/null
+    fi
+    docker buildx inspect --bootstrap >/dev/null
+fi
+
 echo "[1/3] Building builder stage from project root context"
-docker build \
+docker buildx build \
    --platform "$PLATFORM" \
    --target builder \
    -f "$DOCKERFILE" \
    -t "$IMAGE_TAG" \
+    --load \
    "$SCRIPT_DIR"

 echo "[2/3] Extracting static binary"
--- a/documents/CLIENT_IMPLEMENTATION.md
+++ b/documents/CLIENT_IMPLEMENTATION.md
@@ -10,7 +10,12 @@ It is written for agent/tool authors implementing robust request flows against t

 ## 2. Discovery and socket targeting

-`nsigner` listens on Linux AF_UNIX **abstract namespace** sockets.
+`nsigner` currently supports two transport families:
+
+- Linux AF_UNIX **abstract namespace** sockets.
+- Stdio framed mode (`--listen stdio` and `--listen qrexec`) for one request/response exchange.
+
+For AF_UNIX:

 - Socket names are exposed in `/proc/net/unix` with a leading `@`.
 - Typical runtime names: `@nsigner_hairy_dog`, `@nsigner_brave_canyon`.
@@ -40,6 +45,15 @@ Expected output format (one per line):

 Clients should accept both `@nsigner` and `@nsigner_*` names.

+### 2.3 Stdio / qrexec mode
+
+In server mode:
+
+- `nsigner --listen stdio`: reads exactly one framed request from stdin and writes one framed response to stdout.
+- `nsigner --listen qrexec`: same behavior, but caller identity may be tagged from `QREXEC_REMOTE_DOMAIN` as `qubes:<vm-name>`.
+
+This mode is server-side only in the current CLI (the `client` subcommand still targets AF_UNIX).
+
 ---

 ## 3. Transport framing
--- a/documents/FIPS_DEPLOYMENT.md
+++ b/documents/FIPS_DEPLOYMENT.md
@@ -0,0 +1,177 @@
+# FIPS_DEPLOYMENT.md
+
+## 1. Scope
+
+This runbook covers a practical Tier-1 deployment of `nsigner` over a TCP listener, with connectivity provided by FIPS as the network substrate.
+
+Tier-1 objective:
+
+- Keep `nsigner` transport simple (`--listen tcp:IPv4:PORT` or `--listen tcp:[IPv6]:PORT`).
+- Use FIPS to carry traffic between peers.
+- Do not add FIPS runtime dependencies into `nsigner`.
+
+Out of scope in this document:
+
+- Mandatory transport-level TLS/authentication hardening (still planned for a later phase).
+- Automatic caller->npub enrichment from FIPS session metadata.
+
+---
+
+## 2. Architecture
+
+Two cooperating layers:
+
+1. **Signer process layer** (`nsigner`)
+   - Listens on operator-selected TCP endpoint (IPv4 or IPv6).
+   - Uses existing 4-byte big-endian framed JSON-RPC protocol.
+   - Keeps existing policy/prompt behavior.
+
+2. **Network substrate layer** (FIPS)
+   - Establishes peer connectivity between nodes/qubes.
+   - Carries application traffic to the configured signer TCP endpoint.
+
+Conceptually:
+
+`client app -> local FIPS endpoint -> FIPS mesh -> remote FIPS endpoint -> signer TCP endpoint -> nsigner`
+
+---
+
+## 3. Prerequisites
+
+On signer host/qube:
+
+- Built `nsigner` binary.
+- FIPS installed and running.
+- Local firewall policy that keeps signer listener local-only.
+
+On caller host/qube:
+
+- FIPS installed and peered with signer host/qube.
+- A client implementation that speaks `nsigner` framed JSON-RPC (see `documents/CLIENT_IMPLEMENTATION.md`).
+
+Operational assumptions:
+
+- Operator controls both endpoints.
+- Manual verification of peer identity is performed in FIPS tooling before enabling signer traffic.
+
+---
+
+## 4. Start signer in Tier-1 TCP mode
+
+Run `nsigner` in TCP listen mode:
+
+```bash
+./build/nsigner --listen tcp:[::]:8080
+```
+
+Or bind to a specific FIPS ULA address:
+
+```bash
+./build/nsigner --listen tcp:[fd00::1234]:8080
+```
+
+Behavior notes:
+
+- Bind target is operator-controlled; pick the narrowest reachable address that satisfies your topology.
+- No TUI hotkey loop is required in TCP mode; process serves requests until terminated.
+- Caller identity is shown as a TCP endpoint descriptor in activity/prompt context.
+
+---
+
+## 5. FIPS substrate wiring pattern
+
+Because FIPS deployment topologies vary, use this generic pattern:
+
+1. Bind `nsigner` on a deliberate signer endpoint (`[::]:PORT` for broad reach, or specific `fd..` for tighter scope).
+2. Configure FIPS service/forwarding so remote authenticated peer traffic is delivered to that signer endpoint.
+3. On caller side, direct client traffic to the local FIPS ingress endpoint for that remote service.
+
+Validation checklist:
+
+- FIPS session is established between caller and signer nodes.
+- Transport path from caller -> configured signer endpoint succeeds.
+- `nsigner` receives framed request and returns framed response.
+
+---
+
+## 6. Minimal validation flow
+
+### 6.1 Liveness check
+
+From caller side, send a framed `get_public_key` request through the FIPS-backed endpoint.
+
+Request JSON:
+
+```json
+{"id":"1","method":"get_public_key","params":[]}
+```
+
+Expected response:
+
+```json
+{"id":"1","result":"<hex_pubkey>"}
+```
+
+### 6.2 Signing check
+
+Send `sign_event` with explicit role selector:
+
+```json
+{
+  "id": "2",
+  "method": "sign_event",
+  "params": ["<event_json>", {"role":"main"}]
+}
+```
+
+Expected result: signed event JSON in `result`.
+
+### 6.3 Negative check (policy)
+
+Trigger a request path that requires prompt/denial and confirm client handles policy denial as a normal result path.
+
+---
+
+## 7. Security guardrails
+
+- Prefer binding to a specific FIPS IPv6 ULA (`fd..`) rather than wildcard (`[::]`) when possible.
+- Do not expose signer port directly on LAN/WAN.
+- Keep FIPS peer allowlist tight; avoid broad trust domains.
+- Treat FIPS connectivity as transport, not authorization bypass.
+- Preserve interactive approval where required by policy.
+
+---
+
+## 8. Troubleshooting
+
+### 8.1 `invalid tcp listen target`
+
+Cause:
+- `--listen` argument does not match `tcp:HOST:PORT` or `tcp:[IPv6]:PORT`.
+
+Fix:
+- Use valid numeric port and valid IPv4/IPv6 literal host.
+
+### 8.2 Framing parse failures (`parse_error`)
+
+Cause:
+- Client sent line-delimited/raw JSON instead of framed JSON.
+
+Fix:
+- Send 4-byte big-endian length prefix followed by exact UTF-8 JSON payload bytes.
+
+### 8.3 FIPS path up, signer path down
+
+Cause:
+- FIPS session exists but forwarding/service mapping to signer loopback endpoint is missing.
+
+Fix:
+- Verify substrate service routing config and local endpoint mapping.
+
+---
+
+## 9. Next hardening steps (post Tier-1)
+
+- Add automated two-node validation script for operator smoke checks.
+- Add optional identity enrichment from FIPS session metadata (`peer_npub`).
+- Introduce remote TCP mode only with mandatory TLS + authenticated caller key flow.
--- a/documents/N_OS_TR_AGENT_CHANGES.md
+++ b/documents/N_OS_TR_AGENT_CHANGES.md
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+# n_OS_tr Agent Guide: Handling n_signer v0.0.16 Changes
+
+This is a short operational guide for the n_OS_tr agent after the approval-model update in `n_signer`.
+
+## What changed
+
+- `n_signer` is now **deny-by-default**.
+- First-time caller/index combinations require approval unless preapproved.
+- `nostr_index` values can be auto-derived on approval.
+- Policy decisions are visible in activity labels: `:preapprove`, `:session-grant`, `:prompt`, `:no-match`.
+
+## What the agent should do
+
+1. **Always send explicit selector options** in the last `params` item:
+   - Prefer `{"nostr_index": N}` for service identities.
+2. **Expect `policy_denied` on first contact** if caller/index is not preapproved.
+3. **Do not retry blindly** on `policy_denied`.
+   - Surface a clear status: "approval needed".
+4. **Treat `unknown_role` as actionable**:
+   - If using `nostr_index`, request again only after human approval or valid preapprove config.
+5. **Use stable caller identity** (service name / VM identity) so preapprove rules match reliably.
+
+## Required startup pattern for n_OS_tr services
+
+Launch `n_signer` with explicit `--preapprove` entries for each boot service that must sign without prompts.
+
+Example:
+
+```ini
+ExecStart=/usr/bin/n_signer \
+  --preapprove caller=qubes:nostr-relay,role=main \
+  --preapprove caller=qubes:dm-handler,nostr_index=1 \
+  --preapprove caller=qubes:contacts,nostr_index=2 \
+  --preapprove caller=qubes:zaps,nostr_index=3
+```
+
+## Agent error-handling policy (recommended)
+
+- `policy_denied` → stop, mark as "awaiting approval/preapprove".
+- `unknown_role` with `nostr_index` → stop, mark as "identity not yet approved/created".
+- `purpose_mismatch` / `curve_mismatch` → configuration bug; fail hard and alert.
+- `ambiguous_role_selector` → client bug; send exactly one selector field.
+
+## Observability checks
+
+When troubleshooting, inspect n_signer activity lines:
+
+- `ALLOWED:preapprove` → expected for boot services.
+- `ALLOWED:session-grant` → interactive approval happened earlier this session.
+- `ALLOWED:prompt` → just approved now.
+- `DENIED:no-match` → no policy entry matched caller/index.
+
+## Operational rule of thumb
+
+For n_OS_tr system services, rely on `--preapprove` at startup.
+For ad-hoc/manual clients, rely on interactive prompt approvals.
--- a/documents/QUBES_OS.md
+++ b/documents/QUBES_OS.md
@@ -0,0 +1,179 @@
+# QUBES_OS.md
+
+## 1. Goal
+
+Run `n_signer` inside a dedicated Qubes OS qube (for example `vault`-like behavior), and let caller qubes access signing via qrexec with explicit policy control.
+
+This doc outlines what must be implemented/packaged for a reliable Qubes deployment path.
+
+---
+
+## 2. Current status (where we are now)
+
+Implemented in current codebase:
+
+- `nsigner` supports `--listen qrexec` and `--listen stdio`.
+- Framing is transport-agnostic and shared via length-prefixed JSON (`4-byte big-endian length + payload`).
+- In qrexec/stdio mode, server handles one framed request-response exchange.
+- Caller identity extraction supports `QREXEC_REMOTE_DOMAIN`, surfaced as `qubes:<source-vm>` when available.
+
+Still missing for complete Qubes integration:
+
+- qrexec service file + wrapper script artifacts.
+- dom0 qrexec policy artifacts with sane defaults.
+- install/uninstall guidance and verification flow for real Qubes deployment.
+- packaging path (`packaging/qubes/`) and docs wired into README map.
+
+---
+
+## 3. Architecture in Qubes
+
+### 3.1 Components
+
+- **Signer qube** (target): runs `nsigner` service entrypoint.
+- **Caller qube(s)**: apps/tools invoking qrexec service.
+- **dom0 policy**: controls which caller qubes may invoke signer service.
+
+### 3.2 Request path
+
+1. Caller qube invokes qrexec service (e.g. `qubes.NsignerRpc`).
+2. qrexec starts service command inside signer qube.
+3. Service command runs `nsigner --listen qrexec`.
+4. Caller sends framed JSON-RPC request over qrexec stdio channel.
+5. `nsigner` returns framed JSON-RPC response.
+
+### 3.3 Trust and identity
+
+- Source qube identity comes from `QREXEC_REMOTE_DOMAIN`.
+- `n_signer` maps caller as `qubes:<source-vm>` where available.
+- qrexec policy in dom0 remains first enforcement boundary.
+- `n_signer` policy/approval remains second boundary.
+
+---
+
+## 4. Required implementation tasks
+
+## 4.1 Service entrypoint artifacts ✅ Implemented
+
+Implemented repo artifacts:
+
+- `packaging/qubes/rpc/qubes.NsignerRpc`
+- `packaging/qubes/install-service.sh`
+
+`qubes.NsignerRpc` runs:
+
+- `exec /usr/local/bin/nsigner --listen qrexec`
+
+Install inside the signer qube:
+
+```bash
+sudo sh packaging/qubes/install-service.sh
+```
+
+This installs the qrexec service to `/etc/qubes-rpc/qubes.NsignerRpc` with executable permissions.
+
+## 4.2 dom0 policy artifacts ✅ Implemented
+
+Implemented repo artifacts:
+
+- `packaging/qubes/policy.d/40-nsigner.policy`
+- `packaging/qubes/install-policy.sh`
+
+Policy defaults now use explicit `ask` plus deny catch-all:
+
+- `qubes.NsignerRpc * @anyvm @tag:nsigner-signer ask default_target=nsigner-vault`
+- `qubes.NsignerRpc * @anyvm @anyvm deny`
+
+Install in dom0:
+
+```bash
+sudo sh packaging/qubes/install-policy.sh
+```
+
+This installs `/etc/qubes/policy.d/40-nsigner.policy` and prints signer-tag guidance.
+
+## 4.3 Policy model inside n_signer for qubes callers ✅ Implemented
+
+Current code reads caller as `qubes:<vm>` and qrexec default behavior is hardened.
+
+In qrexec mode, default prompt behavior is now:
+
+- `PROMPT_EVERY_REQUEST`
+
+This replaces the previous permissive `PROMPT_NEVER` temporary setting.
+
+## 4.4 Client helper examples ✅ Implemented
+
+Added:
+
+- `documents/qubes_client_examples.md`
+
+Includes:
+
+- shell helper example invoking `qrexec-client-vm` with framed request/response handling
+- Python helper example implementing frame encode/decode over qrexec stdio channel
+- reference to `documents/CLIENT_IMPLEMENTATION.md` for full protocol details
+
+---
+
+## 5. Operational runbook
+
+## 5.1 Setup signer qube
+
+- install `nsigner` binary at `/usr/local/bin/nsigner`
+- run `sudo sh packaging/qubes/install-service.sh`
+- verify `/etc/qubes-rpc/qubes.NsignerRpc` exists and is executable
+
+## 5.2 Setup dom0 policy
+
+- run `sudo sh packaging/qubes/install-policy.sh`
+- tag signer qube (example): `qvm-tags nsigner-vault add nsigner-signer`
+- reload qrexec policy per Qubes procedure/version
+
+## 5.3 Verification
+
+- from caller qube, invoke test request (`get_public_key`)
+- confirm signer qube receives request
+- confirm activity log displays `qubes:<source-vm>` caller prefix
+- validate deny behavior from unauthorized qube
+
+## 5.4 Failure checks
+
+- malformed frame -> parse error response
+- missing policy -> deny path
+- missing `QREXEC_REMOTE_DOMAIN` -> fallback identity path
+
+---
+
+## 6. Security requirements
+
+- Never run signer service in disposable qube if mnemonic persistence is expected.
+- Prefer dedicated minimal template for signer qube.
+- Keep qrexec policy narrowly scoped (explicit source + target).
+- Require user approval for sensitive methods unless explicitly intended otherwise.
+- Log caller identity and method (without secret payload logging).
+
+---
+
+## 7. Documentation tasks
+
+Update these after packaging lands:
+
+- `README.md`
+  - add Qubes deployment subsection under transport/usage
+  - add `documents/QUBES_OS.md` and moved `documents/CLIENT_IMPLEMENTATION.md` in document map
+- `plans/nsigner.md`
+  - mark T1 done with packaging status clearly separated
+
+---
+
+## 8. Definition of done (Qubes)
+
+Qubes integration is considered complete when:
+
+1. qrexec service artifact exists and is installable.
+2. dom0 policy artifact exists with secure default pattern.
+3. End-to-end call from allowed caller qube succeeds.
+4. Call from unauthorized qube is denied.
+5. Caller displayed as `qubes:<vm>` in activity.
+6. README + docs include full setup and troubleshooting.
--- a/documents/SECURITY.md
+++ b/documents/SECURITY.md
@@ -0,0 +1,514 @@
+# SECURITY.md
+
+This document explains how `n_signer` enforces security, written so someone new can understand the model end-to-end without reading the source.
+
+If you only read one section, read [§3 The three concepts](#3-the-three-concepts-identity-index-approval) and [§4 The deny-by-default rule](#4-the-deny-by-default-rule).
+
+> This document describes the security model as implemented in the current release. Design rationale is in [`plans/deny_by_default_approvals.md`](../plans/deny_by_default_approvals.md).
+
+---
+
+## 1. What `n_signer` is, in security terms
+
+`n_signer` is a **single foreground program** that holds a BIP-39 mnemonic in locked memory and signs requests on behalf of local clients. It is not a daemon, not a service, and not a key-management database.
+
+The security posture is intentionally minimalist:
+
+- **One process. One terminal. One human.** The terminal is the trust anchor and the only out-of-band approval surface.
+- **No persistence.** Nothing about the running session is written to disk: no config, no logs, no PID files, no socket pathnames, no state recovery.
+- **Crash equals total wipe.** All sensitive state — mnemonic, derived keys, the policy table, activity buffer — exists only in process RAM (`mlock`'d where applicable) and is unrecoverable after the process ends.
+- **Always-attended operation.** Every first request from a previously unknown caller requires an explicit human approval at the terminal, unless the caller was pre-approved at startup by the OS distribution. Human presence is part of the threat model, not an inconvenience.
+
+Authoritative behavior reference: [`README.md`](../README.md). Implementation roadmap: [`plans/nsigner.md`](../plans/nsigner.md). Approval model plan: [`plans/deny_by_default_approvals.md`](../plans/deny_by_default_approvals.md). Wire contract for clients: [`documents/CLIENT_IMPLEMENTATION.md`](CLIENT_IMPLEMENTATION.md).
+
+---
+
+## 2. Threat model
+
+### 2.1 What `n_signer` is designed to defend against
+
+- **Untrusted local clients** asking the signer to perform operations they should not be allowed to perform.
+- **Drive-by signing** — an unattended program quietly producing signatures the user did not consent to.
+- **Accidental misuse** — a buggy client connecting to the wrong signer instance, or asking for an identity it should not be using.
+- **Post-mortem key recovery** — someone obtaining the disk after a crash, kill, or shutdown and recovering signing keys.
+
+### 2.2 What `n_signer` does **not** defend against
+
+- A compromised kernel or hypervisor (`mlock` cannot save you).
+- Physical access while the program is running and the terminal is unlocked.
+- A malicious user who knows the mnemonic — `n_signer` is a runtime gatekeeper, not a vault.
+- Side channels (timing, power, microarchitectural) that target the underlying crypto libraries.
+- Network adversaries when transports without authentication are explicitly enabled (e.g. `tcp_local`).
+- An OS distribution that ships a malicious `--preapprove` list in its system unit files. The OS is in scope of trust if it pre-approves anything; see [§7](#7-pre-approvals-the-os-distribution-pathway).
+
+### 2.3 Trust anchors
+
+| Anchor | Why it is trusted |
+|---|---|
+| The terminal `n_signer` is attached to | The user types the mnemonic into it and answers approval prompts on it. If the terminal is compromised, the session is compromised. |
+| The kernel and `mlock` / `getrandom` syscalls | Used for in-memory protection and entropy. |
+| The static binary itself | Built reproducibly via [`build_static.sh`](../build_static.sh) and shipped as one musl-static artifact. |
+| The launcher that started `n_signer` | Whoever ran the process chose the `--preapprove` flags. In interactive use that's the human; in `n_OS_tr` boot it's the OS init system. The launcher's integrity is part of the trust chain. |
+
+Everything else — clients, other processes, other users, remote callers — is **untrusted by default** and must clear an approval check.
+
+---
+
+## 3. The three concepts: identity, index, approval
+
+This is the entire user-facing security model. There are exactly three things to know.
+
+```text
+   +----------------+         +-----------------------+         +---------------+
+   |  IDENTITY      |         |  INDEX (or PATH)      |         |  APPROVAL     |
+   |  who is asking |  +----  |  which key to use     |  ----+  |  is this OK?  |
+   +----------------+  |      +-----------------------+      |  +---------------+
+                       |                                     |
+                       |       request resolves to           |
+                       +-------> (identity, index/path) -----+
+                                                             |
+                                                             v
+                                                +----------------------------+
+                                                |  Approved entry exists?    |
+                                                +----------------------------+
+                                                   |yes              |no
+                                                   v                 v
+                                          +-----------------+  +----------------+
+                                          | Sign / encrypt  |  | Prompt human   |
+                                          +-----------------+  +----------------+
+                                                                       |
+                                                          [y]/[a]      |     [n]
+                                                          allow now    |     deny
+                                                          /save        |
+                                                          v            v
+                                                  +-----------------+ +----------------+
+                                                  | Sign / encrypt  | | policy_denied  |
+                                                  +-----------------+ +----------------+
+```
+
+### Identity — *who is asking*
+
+An identity is a tagged caller record built from the transport. Different transports produce different identity tags; the signer never invents identity, it always reads it from the kernel or framework.
+
+| Kind | What it carries | Source of truth |
+|---|---|---|
+| `unix_peer` | `uid`, `pid` from `SO_PEERCRED` on an abstract Unix socket. | Kernel — the client cannot forge it. |
+| `qubes` | source qube name from `QREXEC_REMOTE_DOMAIN`. | Qubes RPC framework. |
+| `tcp_local` | Loopback address of caller. | TCP socket peer address — opt-in transport. |
+| `tcp_remote` | Address plus an authenticated pubkey (planned). | Application-layer authentication. |
+| `fips` | Peer npub from a NIP-46 style flow (planned). | Application-layer authentication. |
+| `usb_serial` | Device path plus an asserted caller (planned). | Trust-on-first-use. |
+
+Identity quality varies. `unix_peer` and `qubes` are vouched for by the kernel or hypervisor — strong. `tcp_local` and `tcp_remote` are transport-asserted only — only as good as the human at the terminal who chose to approve them.
+
+### Index (or path) — *which key*
+
+The signer can derive many keys from one mnemonic. Clients select one in two equivalent ways:
+
+- `nostr_index = N` — shorthand for the Nostr derivation `m/44'/1237'/N'/0/0` per NIP-06.
+- `role_path = "<full BIP-32 path>"` — used for non-Nostr key trees (Bitcoin, SSH, etc.). Pre-registered only; see [§9.2](#92-pre-registration-of-role_path).
+
+The three legacy selector words from the wire protocol — `role`, `nostr_index`, `role_path` — all resolve to a single internal record. From the user's perspective, what matters is "which Nostr identity (by index)" or "which advanced derivation (by path)."
+
+
+### Approval — *is this OK?*
+
+An approval is an in-memory entry that says: *"this identity may use this index/path."* Approvals come from exactly two sources:
+
+1. **The human at the prompt.** When a request arrives that has no matching approval, the signer blocks the request and asks the user. On `[a]` ("allow this caller for this index/path for the rest of the session") the signer adds a session approval. On `[y]` it allows once without saving. On `[n]` it denies.
+2. **Pre-approvals.** When the OS distribution starts `n_signer` with `--preapprove caller=...,nostr_index=...` flags, those become approvals that exist before any request arrives. They never trigger prompts. See [§7](#7-pre-approvals-the-os-distribution-pathway).
+
+Approvals are stored in an in-memory table and vanish on process exit. There is no persistent approval database.
+
+
+---
+
+## 4. The deny-by-default rule
+
+`n_signer` denies any request whose `(identity, index)` pair has no approval. Period.
+
+There is no special case for "same-uid" callers. There is no implicit grant for the user running their own client. Every first request from every caller goes through an approval — either granted by the user at the prompt, or pre-approved by the OS distribution at startup.
+
+This is the single most important property:
+
+- It removes the assumption that "same-uid means trusted" — an assumption that was always more convenience than security.
+- It collapses several mechanisms (policy, role pre-registration, the `[a]` flag) into one (the in-memory approval table).
+- It makes the audit trail trivial: every signed operation maps to either a pre-approval declaration or a logged human approval.
+
+
+---
+
+## 5. The two checks every request must pass
+
+Every signing request runs through this short pipeline. Failure at any step returns an error response and is logged.
+
+```text
+   +----------------------------------------------------------------+
+   | 1. CLIENT                                                      |
+   |    sends length-prefixed JSON-RPC request                      |
+   +----------------------------------------------------------------+
+                                |
+                                v
+   +----------------------------------------------------------------+
+   | 2. TRANSPORT                                                   |
+   |    - reads framed bytes off the socket                         |
+   |    - builds caller_identity_t (uid / qubes vm / tcp peer / ...)|
+   +----------------------------------------------------------------+
+                                |
+                                v
+   +----------------------------------------------------------------+
+   | 3. RESOLVE INDEX                                               |
+   |    - parse selector options from request                       |
+   |    - resolve to a specific (index or path)                     |
+   |    - reject ambiguous selectors                                |
+   +----------------------------------------------------------------+
+                                |
+                                v
+   +----------------------------------------------------------------+
+   | 4. APPROVAL CHECK                                              |
+   |    - is there an approval for (this identity, this index)?     |
+   |        yes  -> ALLOW                                           |
+   |        no   -> PROMPT human (or DENY if non-interactive)       |
+   |    - on [a], append a session approval and continue            |
+   |    - on [y], continue this request only                        |
+   |    - on [n] / EOF, deny                                        |
+   +----------------------------------------------------------------+
+                                |
+                                v
+   +----------------------------------------------------------------+
+   | 5. ENFORCEMENT (verb x purpose x curve)                        |
+   |    - is this verb compatible with the key's declared purpose?  |
+   |    - reject with purpose_mismatch / curve_mismatch otherwise   |
+   +----------------------------------------------------------------+
+                                |
+                                v
+   +----------------------------------------------------------------+
+   | 6. KEY DERIVATION + SIGN                                       |
+   |    - derive key from mnemonic at the resolved path             |
+   |    - perform crypto operation                                  |
+   |    - return signed result                                      |
+   +----------------------------------------------------------------+
+                                |
+                                v
+   +----------------------------------------------------------------+
+   | 7. RESPONSE FRAMED + SENT                                      |
+   |    - activity log line appended with the approval source label |
+   +----------------------------------------------------------------+
+```
+
+There are two independent gates: the **approval check** (does this caller have permission to use this key?) and the **enforcement check** (is this operation compatible with this key?). Both must pass.
+
+### 5.1 Approval check — *does this caller have permission?*
+
+Implemented as a lookup in the in-memory approval table. First match wins; the catch-all is `*` → deny. No approval entry, no signature.
+
+The approval check answers *who* and *which key*. It does not check what the request will do with the key — that is the enforcement check.
+
+### 5.2 Enforcement check — *is this operation compatible with this key?*
+
+The signer enforces a strict `(verb, purpose, curve)` matrix:
+
+| Verb | Required purpose | Required curve |
+|---|---|---|
+| `sign_event` | `nostr` | `secp256k1` |
+| `get_public_key` | `nostr` | `secp256k1` |
+| `nip04_encrypt` / `nip04_decrypt` | `nostr` | `secp256k1` |
+| `nip44_encrypt` / `nip44_decrypt` | `nostr` | `secp256k1` |
+| Any other verb | rejected | rejected |
+
+A pre-approval to use a Bitcoin-purposed key for `sign_event` does **not** override the enforcement matrix. The approval grants access to the key; enforcement still gates the verb. **Fail-closed**: unknown verbs are rejected, never passed through.
+
+This is the layer that prevents (for example) a `bitcoin/secp256k1` key from being used to sign a Nostr event even if some pre-approval entry mistakenly named it. The key's *purpose* is part of its identity; you cannot reuse it across domains.
+
+Test coverage: [`tests/test_enforcement.c`](../tests/test_enforcement.c).
+
+---
+
+## 6. The interactive approval prompt
+
+When a request has no matching approval and `n_signer` is running attached to a terminal, the signer blocks the request, prints a prompt, and waits for a local keystroke.
+
+Target prompt format:
+
+```
+Approval required
+caller:    qubes:nostr-relay
+verb:      sign_event
+index:     nostr_index=0
+purpose:   nostr / secp256k1
+
+[y] allow once
+[a] allow this caller for index 0 for the rest of the session
+[n] deny
+```
+
+The keys mean:
+
+- `[y]` — Allow this single request. No approval is saved; the next request from the same caller will prompt again.
+- `[a]` — Allow, and add a session approval so the same `(caller, index)` pair is silently allowed for the rest of the session.
+- `[n]` — Deny this request. Returns `policy_denied` to the client.
+- EOF / non-interactive — Treated as deny. There is no implicit "allow when nobody is at the terminal" mode. OS distributions that need silent operation use [`--preapprove`](#7-pre-approvals-the-os-distribution-pathway).
+
+### 6.1 What `[a]` does and does not do
+
+- It approves the **specific caller** (e.g. `qubes:nostr-relay`).
+- It approves the **specific index/path** that triggered the prompt.
+- It does **not** approve other callers.
+- It does **not** approve other indices for the same caller — a different `nostr_index` from the same caller will prompt again.
+- It does **not** persist past the process lifetime.
+
+
+### 6.2 New-identity warning
+
+When a request specifies an unregistered `nostr_index`, the prompt says so plainly:
+
+```
+Approval required
+caller:    qubes:nostr-relay
+verb:      get_public_key
+index:     nostr_index=7  (NEW IDENTITY — will be derived if approved)
+
+[y] allow once    [a] allow caller for this new identity    [n] deny
+```
+
+A new identity is just a new derivation of the same mnemonic. It is not a separate key file or a separate seed; it is `m/44'/1237'/7'/0/0` of the existing mnemonic. The user should still see explicitly that they are *creating* a previously-unused identity.
+
+### 6.3 Race-condition behavior
+
+Requests are served one at a time. If a malicious client tries to flood requests during a prompt, only the request being prompted is held; subsequent requests queue or are dropped per the transport's framing. The prompt always names the request being approved. It is not possible for a queued request to "ride along" on an approval intended for an earlier request.
+
+---
+
+## 7. Pre-approvals: the OS distribution pathway
+
+For deployments where multiple system services need keys at boot — `n_OS_tr` and similar — the OS distribution starts `n_signer` with one `--preapprove` flag per service:
+
+```ini
+[Service]
+ExecStart=/usr/bin/n_signer \
+  --preapprove caller=qubes:nostr-relay,role=main \
+  --preapprove caller=qubes:dm-handler,nostr_index=1 \
+  --preapprove caller=qubes:contacts,nostr_index=2 \
+  --preapprove caller=qubes:zaps,nostr_index=3
+```
+
+At startup, `n_signer`:
+
+1. Parses each flag into an approval entry with prompt mode `NEVER`.
+2. Auto-derives any keys those entries depend on (so services don't see "ready" until keys exist).
+3. Writes one log line per pre-approval to stderr so the OS unit's journal records what was authorized.
+4. Begins listening normally. Pre-approved requests are served silently; everything else still hits the prompt or the catch-all deny.
+
+### 7.1 What pre-approvals can do
+
+- Allow a specific named caller to use a specific named key for any verb that key's purpose/curve permits.
+- Auto-create a Nostr identity at a specified `nostr_index` if it does not yet exist.
+- Be inspected: anyone reading the systemd unit (or `ps` output) can see exactly what was authorized.
+
+### 7.2 What pre-approvals cannot do
+
+- **Cannot deny.** Pre-approvals only widen authorization, never narrow it. The user at the terminal is always the source of denial. (The plan deliberately rejects "preapprove deny" entries; see [`plans/deny_by_default_approvals.md`](../plans/deny_by_default_approvals.md) §C.3.)
+- **Cannot wildcard the caller.** Each entry must name exactly one caller. There is no `qubes:*` rule. The OS distribution must know who its services are.
+- **Cannot bypass enforcement.** A pre-approval to use a Nostr key for a hypothetical Bitcoin verb still fails the enforcement matrix in [§5.2](#52-enforcement-check--is-this-operation-compatible-with-this-key).
+- **Cannot pre-register `role_path` derivations.** Only `role=<name>` (an existing role) and `nostr_index=<n>` are allowed in pre-approval specs. Free-form `role_path` derivations remain pre-registration-only by code path. See [§9.2](#92-pre-registration-of-role_path).
+
+### 7.3 Trust implications
+
+Pre-approvals shift the trust boundary. Whoever wrote the systemd unit now decides what the signer will allow without asking. Concretely:
+
+- The unit file's integrity matters. If an attacker can rewrite it, they can pre-approve themselves.
+- The OS launcher's identity-stamping must be trustworthy. If something else can spoof a `qubes:nostr-relay` tag, it inherits that pre-approval.
+- The user retains final authority at the running terminal. Anything *not* pre-approved still goes through the human-approved prompt.
+
+In `n_OS_tr` these properties are part of the OS itself: the unit files are owned by root, the qrexec framework stamps caller identity at the hypervisor level, and the user's terminal is the ultimate arbiter. The trust chain is short and visible.
+
+
+---
+
+## 8. The audit log
+
+Every served (or denied) request appends a line to the in-memory activity buffer that the running TUI displays. Each line includes the **source label** that explains why the verdict was reached.
+
+Target line format:
+
+```
+[2026-05-04 16:03:11] qubes:nostr-relay  sign_event(nostr_index=0)  ALLOWED:preapprove
+[2026-05-04 16:03:14] uid:1000           sign_event(nostr_index=0)  ALLOWED:session-grant
+[2026-05-04 16:03:18] tcp:[::1]:54122    get_public_key(nostr_index=7) ALLOWED:prompt
+[2026-05-04 16:03:21] uid:1001           sign_event(nostr_index=0)  DENIED:no-match
+```
+
+Source labels:
+
+| Label | Meaning |
+|---|---|
+| `:preapprove` | Approval came from a `--preapprove` startup flag. |
+| `:session-grant` | Approval was added earlier this session by a prompt `[a]`. |
+| `:prompt` | Approval was given just now by the user pressing `[y]` or `[a]` at the prompt. |
+| `:no-match` | No approval existed and (in non-interactive mode) the request was denied. |
+
+This makes forensic review fast: every signed operation maps to either a pre-approval (audit the unit file), a session grant (audit the session's earlier prompt activity), or a fresh prompt approval (audit human attention at that moment).
+
+
+---
+
+## 9. The role abstraction (internal plumbing)
+
+Internally `n_signer` uses a structure called a **role** to bundle three things together:
+
+- A derivation path (BIP-32).
+- A purpose label (`nostr`, `bitcoin`, `ssh`, `age`).
+- A curve label (`secp256k1`, `ed25519`, `x25519`).
+
+Roles are the unit of *enforcement* (the matrix in [§5.2](#52-enforcement-check--is-this-operation-compatible-with-this-key) is keyed on role purpose and curve) and the unit of *audit* (every log line names the role used).
+
+### 9.1 Why roles exist as plumbing rather than user-facing concept
+
+- A future where one mnemonic produces Nostr, Bitcoin, SSH, and age keys requires *something* to track per-key purpose. Roles are that thing. Keeping them in the codebase preserves the option without forcing the user to think about them today.
+- Two different identities can use the same role (the same key). The role is the audit unit shared between them, so the activity log is consistent regardless of caller.
+- Enforcement against a role's declared purpose/curve is a defense-in-depth: a Nostr key cannot be coerced into producing a Bitcoin signature even if some approval entry mistakenly named it.
+
+A user reading prompts and the activity log will see "index 0" and "index 7" most of the time, not "role main" or "role nostr_idx_7." Roles surface as labels only in advanced views and the source code.
+
+### 9.2 Pre-registration of `role_path`
+
+The `role_path` selector lets a client specify a BIP-32 path directly, including paths outside the Nostr derivation scheme. These remain **pre-registration-only**:
+
+- The signer ships with an empty `role_path` table.
+- Operators who want non-Nostr keys must register them at startup (mechanism TBD).
+- The interactive prompt does **not** auto-derive `role_path` keys, even with `[a]`. The narrowing in [`plans/deny_by_default_approvals.md`](../plans/deny_by_default_approvals.md) §5 explicitly applies only to `nostr_index`.
+
+The reasoning is that `role_path` is free-form. A malicious or buggy client could request paths that overlap with sensitive domains (bitcoin wallet roots, SSH host keys, age recipients). Auto-derivation in those domains would be a footgun. `nostr_index` is locked to a specific scheme with locked purpose and curve, so auto-derivation there is safe to gate on a single human keystroke.
+
+### 9.3 Role table size limits
+
+`ROLE_TABLE_MAX_ENTRIES` caps the number of distinct roles per session. The plan raises this to 256. Overflow is reported as a clear `role_table_full` error rather than silent truncation or memory unsafety.
+
+---
+
+## 10. Memory safety and zeroization
+
+### 10.1 Locked memory
+
+- The mnemonic and derived private keys live in `mlock`'d allocations managed by [`src/secure_mem.c`](../src/secure_mem.c).
+- These pages are pinned in RAM (no swap to disk) for the process lifetime.
+- On normal shutdown (`q`, `SIGINT`, `SIGTERM`), buffers are explicitly zeroized before unmap.
+
+### 10.2 Crash semantics
+
+If the process dies abnormally, the kernel reclaims its pages. Anything previously `mlock`'d is not flushed to disk because it never could be. There is no swap residue to scrape, no core dump containing keys (if your environment disables core dumps for setuid-equivalent processes — verify locally), and no recovery path.
+
+This is the meaning of "crash equals total wipe is a security feature" in [`plans/nsigner.md:154`](../plans/nsigner.md:154).
+
+### 10.3 No persistence by design
+
+There is no file under `~/.nsigner`, no `/var/lib/nsigner`, no `~/.config/nsigner`, no approval database. The signer is a process whose authority begins when you type the mnemonic and ends when you quit.
+
+If you want something durable: store the mnemonic on paper or hardware, not in `n_signer`.
+
+The only file inputs are `--preapprove` flags from the launcher's command line, evaluated once at startup and never re-read. There is no live config reload.
+
+---
+
+## 11. Transports and their identity quality
+
+Different transports give different identity quality. The wire format (4-byte length prefix + JSON-RPC) and the security checks ([§5](#5-the-two-checks-every-request-must-pass)) are identical across transports.
+
+### 11.1 Abstract namespace Unix sockets (default)
+
+- Address: `@nsigner_<word1>_<word2>` per [`plans/nsigner.md:96`](../plans/nsigner.md:96).
+- Identity: kernel-vouched `uid`, `pid`. Cannot be forged by the client.
+- Risk surface: any local process on the same host. Deny-by-default + per-(caller, index) approvals handle this.
+
+### 11.2 Stdio / qrexec mode
+
+- One framed request, one framed response, then exit.
+- Identity: `qubes:<vm-name>` from `QREXEC_REMOTE_DOMAIN`, vouched for by Qubes.
+- Risk surface: only what Qubes RPC policy permits. See [`packaging/qubes/`](../packaging/qubes/).
+
+### 11.3 TCP (advanced / opt-in)
+
+- Loopback addresses produce `tcp_local` identities. Remote addresses produce `tcp_remote` identities.
+- Identity is **transport-asserted only**. The TCP peer address proves a route, not a principal.
+- For TCP transports the **interactive approval prompt is the real authentication mechanism**. Do not enable TCP transports without a trustworthy local terminal.
+
+### 11.4 Future transports
+
+The roadmap ([`plans/nsigner.md:178`](../plans/nsigner.md:178)) describes additional transports (USB serial, FIPS-style relay). The contract is:
+
+- The transport produces a `caller_identity_t`.
+- The same approval / enforcement / dispatch stack runs unchanged.
+- New transports add new identity *kinds*, not new bypass paths.
+
+---
+
+## 12. Operational guidance
+
+### 12.1 Running interactively (typical desktop use)
+
+- Start `n_signer` only on a terminal you control. No `--preapprove` flags.
+- Type or generate the mnemonic. Generated mnemonics are shown once with no confirmation step ([`plans/nsigner.md:84`](../plans/nsigner.md:84)) — write them down before pressing a key.
+- Stay near the terminal for the first couple of minutes after launch. New clients will prompt for approval. Press `[a]` to grant for the session.
+- Once your usual clients are approved, prompts stop appearing.
+
+### 12.2 Running as a system signer (e.g. `n_OS_tr`)
+
+- Configure pre-approvals in the systemd (or equivalent) unit file. One `--preapprove` flag per service.
+- Verify each pre-approval's caller identity exactly matches what the launcher actually produces. Mismatches cause silent deny (`:no-match` in the log).
+- Treat the unit file as security-sensitive. Restrict write access to root or its equivalent.
+- Keep a terminal attached or piped to where prompts can still be seen. Anything not pre-approved still prompts.
+
+### 12.3 Stopping
+
+- Press `q` for clean shutdown.
+- `Ctrl+C` and `SIGTERM` are equivalent — they zeroize and exit.
+- Closing the terminal is also equivalent. There is no "detach" mode by design.
+
+### 12.4 Auditing
+
+- The activity buffer in the running TUI is the session log. It does not survive the process.
+- For persistent audit, run `n_signer` under a logging supervisor that captures stderr/stdout, knowing the activity buffer reflects post-approval decisions only.
+
+### 12.5 Rotating
+
+- "Rotate" in `n_signer` means: quit, change mnemonic source, restart. There is no in-place rotation because there is no persistent state to migrate.
+
+---
+
+## 13. Relationship to the current codebase
+
+All stages from [`plans/deny_by_default_approvals.md`](../plans/deny_by_default_approvals.md) are implemented in the current codebase. This document therefore describes shipped behavior, not a future target state.
+
+---
+
+## 14. Things that look like bugs but are security features
+
+| Symptom | Reason |
+|---|---|
+| First request from a new client prompts even though it's the same uid | Deny-by-default. Same-uid trust is gone. Press `[a]` once and you won't see prompts from this client again this session. |
+| Killing the process loses all approvals and key derivations | Crash-equals-wipe. Restart with the same mnemonic to rebuild deterministically; re-approve clients. |
+| `purpose_mismatch` when calling `sign_event` against a non-Nostr key | Roles are scoped by purpose. Approvals do not bypass enforcement. |
+| `unknown_role` for an unregistered `role_path` | `role_path` keys are pre-registration-only by design. Use `nostr_index` for ad-hoc Nostr identities. |
+| Pre-approval entry doesn't match incoming requests | Caller identity must match exactly — no wildcards. Verify the launcher tags requests the way the unit file expects. |
+| `role=unknown` in the activity log (current code) | Selector did not resolve. Future versions will prompt to create the identity; current code rejects with `unknown_role` after policy passes. |
+
+---
+
+## 15. Quick reference — the security guarantee in one paragraph
+
+`n_signer` will never sign with a key whose use has not been explicitly approved — either by a human keystroke at the running terminal or by a `--preapprove` flag declared at startup. It will never use a key outside its declared `(purpose, curve)` scope. It will never expose a private key to a client. It will never write key material to disk. Every request is checked twice: once for approval, once for enforcement. Default policy is deny. Approvals vanish on process exit.
+
+If any of these statements becomes false in code, that is a security bug worth filing immediately.
+
+---
+
+## 16. References
+
+- [`README.md`](../README.md) — authoritative behavior spec.
+- [`plans/nsigner.md`](../plans/nsigner.md) — root design plan and decisions log.
+- [`plans/deny_by_default_approvals.md`](../plans/deny_by_default_approvals.md) — the approval model plan this document tracks.
+- [`documents/CLIENT_IMPLEMENTATION.md`](CLIENT_IMPLEMENTATION.md) — wire contract for clients.
+- [`documents/QUBES_OS.md`](QUBES_OS.md) — Qubes RPC integration.
+- [`documents/FIPS_DEPLOYMENT.md`](FIPS_DEPLOYMENT.md) — FIPS-mode deployment notes.
+- [`plans/seed_phrase_uses.md`](../plans/seed_phrase_uses.md) — what one mnemonic can become.
+- [`src/policy.c`](../src/policy.c), [`src/server.c`](../src/server.c), [`src/dispatcher.c`](../src/dispatcher.c), [`src/role_table.c`](../src/role_table.c), [`src/selector.c`](../src/selector.c), [`src/enforcement.c`](../src/enforcement.c) — the security-related code.
--- a/documents/qubes_client_examples.md
+++ b/documents/qubes_client_examples.md
@@ -0,0 +1,93 @@
+# qubes_client_examples.md
+
+This document shows minimal caller-qube examples for invoking `nsigner --listen qrexec` through Qubes qrexec.
+
+For complete protocol details (framing, JSON-RPC, error handling), see `documents/CLIENT_IMPLEMENTATION.md`.
+
+---
+
+## 1) Shell example (`qrexec-client-vm` + framed JSON)
+
+This sends one `get_public_key` request and decodes one framed response.
+
+```bash
+#!/bin/sh
+set -eu
+
+TARGET_QUBE="nsigner-vault"
+SERVICE="qubes.NsignerRpc"
+REQ='{"id":"1","method":"get_public_key","params":[]}'
+
+python3 - "$TARGET_QUBE" "$SERVICE" "$REQ" <<'PY'
+import json
+import struct
+import subprocess
+import sys
+
+target, service, req_json = sys.argv[1], sys.argv[2], sys.argv[3]
+frame = struct.pack(">I", len(req_json.encode("utf-8"))) + req_json.encode("utf-8")
+
+p = subprocess.Popen(
+    ["qrexec-client-vm", target, service],
+    stdin=subprocess.PIPE,
+    stdout=subprocess.PIPE,
+)
+out, _ = p.communicate(frame)
+if p.returncode != 0:
+    raise SystemExit(f"qrexec-client-vm failed: {p.returncode}")
+if len(out) < 4:
+    raise SystemExit("short response (missing frame header)")
+
+n = struct.unpack(">I", out[:4])[0]
+payload = out[4:4+n]
+if len(payload) != n:
+    raise SystemExit("short response payload")
+
+print(json.dumps(json.loads(payload.decode("utf-8")), indent=2))
+PY
+```
+
+---
+
+## 2) Python example (explicit frame helpers over qrexec stdio)
+
+```python
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+import json
+import struct
+import subprocess
+
+
+def frame_encode(obj: dict) -> bytes:
+    payload = json.dumps(obj, separators=(",", ":")).encode("utf-8")
+    return struct.pack(">I", len(payload)) + payload
+
+
+def frame_decode(buf: bytes) -> dict:
+    if len(buf) < 4:
+        raise ValueError("missing frame header")
+    n = struct.unpack(">I", buf[:4])[0]
+    payload = buf[4:4 + n]
+    if len(payload) != n:
+        raise ValueError("short frame payload")
+    return json.loads(payload.decode("utf-8"))
+
+
+def call_nsigner_qrexec(target_qube: str, request: dict) -> dict:
+    proc = subprocess.Popen(
+        ["qrexec-client-vm", target_qube, "qubes.NsignerRpc"],
+        stdin=subprocess.PIPE,
+        stdout=subprocess.PIPE,
+        stderr=subprocess.PIPE,
+    )
+    out, err = proc.communicate(frame_encode(request))
+    if proc.returncode != 0:
+        raise RuntimeError(f"qrexec failed ({proc.returncode}): {err.decode('utf-8', 'replace')}")
+    return frame_decode(out)
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    req = {"id": "1", "method": "get_public_key", "params": []}
+    resp = call_nsigner_qrexec("nsigner-vault", req)
+    print(json.dumps(resp, indent=2))
+```
--- a/increment_and_push.sh
+++ b/increment_and_push.sh
@@ -244,13 +244,7 @@ main() {
    check_git_repo

    if [[ "$RELEASE_MODE" == true ]]; then
-        if [[ "$VERSION_INCREMENT_EXPLICIT" == true ]]; then
-            increment_version "$VERSION_INCREMENT_TYPE"
-        else
-            LATEST_TAG=$(git tag -l 'v*.*.*' | sort -V | tail -n 1 || echo "v0.0.1")
-            NEW_VERSION="$LATEST_TAG"
-            export NEW_VERSION
-        fi
+        increment_version "$VERSION_INCREMENT_TYPE"

        if git tag "$NEW_VERSION" > /dev/null 2>&1; then
            print_success "Created tag: $NEW_VERSION"
--- a/install_qube_fips_nsigner.sh
+++ b/install_qube_fips_nsigner.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,223 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+set -euo pipefail
+
+# User-only installer for Qubes AppVM persistence model.
+# Nothing is written to /usr, /etc, or other root-owned paths.
+#
+# Installs into $HOME:
+#   - nsigner -> ~/.local/bin/nsigner
+#   - startup helper -> ~/start_nsigner.sh
+#
+# Usage:
+#   bash install_qube_fips_nsigner.sh
+#   bash install_qube_fips_nsigner.sh --help
+#
+# Optional env vars:
+#   NSIGNER_VERSION=vX.Y.Z         # optional override; default is latest release tag
+#   NSIGNER_GITEA_TOKEN=<token>    # if n_signer release assets are private
+#   NSIGNER_BINARY_URL=<direct url to nsigner_static_x86_64>
+
+NSIGNER_VERSION="${NSIGNER_VERSION:-}"
+
+PREFIX_BIN="${HOME}/.local/bin"
+
+log() { printf "\033[1;34m[INFO]\033[0m %s\n" "$*"; }
+warn() { printf "\033[1;33m[WARN]\033[0m %s\n" "$*"; }
+err() { printf "\033[1;31m[ERR ]\033[0m %s\n" "$*"; }
+
+show_help() {
+  cat <<EOF
+Usage: bash install_qube_fips_nsigner.sh [options]
+
+User-only install (Qubes AppVM friendly):
+  - n_signer ${NSIGNER_VERSION}
+  - signer startup helper script
+
+Options:
+  -h, --help      Show this help and exit
+
+Optional env vars:
+  NSIGNER_VERSION=vX.Y.Z         # optional override; default is latest release tag
+  NSIGNER_GITEA_TOKEN=<token>    # required if n_signer release assets are private
+  NSIGNER_BINARY_URL=<direct url to nsigner_static_x86_64>
+
+Install paths:
+  ~/.local/bin/nsigner
+  ~/start_nsigner.sh
+EOF
+}
+
+require_cmd() {
+  command -v "$1" >/dev/null 2>&1 || {
+    err "Missing command: $1"
+    exit 1
+  }
+}
+
+install_runtime_deps() {
+  if command -v apt-get >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    log "Installing runtime dependencies via apt"
+    sudo apt-get update
+    sudo apt-get install -y ca-certificates curl jq
+  elif command -v dnf >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    log "Installing runtime dependencies via dnf"
+    sudo dnf install -y ca-certificates curl jq
+  else
+    err "Unsupported distro: need apt-get or dnf to install runtime dependencies"
+    exit 1
+  fi
+}
+
+prepare_dirs() {
+  mkdir -p "${PREFIX_BIN}"
+}
+
+resolve_nsigner_version() {
+  local headers=()
+  local latest_tag=""
+
+  if [[ -n "${NSIGNER_VERSION}" ]]; then
+    return 0
+  fi
+
+  if [[ -n "${NSIGNER_GITEA_TOKEN:-}" ]]; then
+    headers=(-H "Authorization: token ${NSIGNER_GITEA_TOKEN}")
+  fi
+
+  latest_tag="$(curl -fsSL "${headers[@]}" "https://git.laantungir.net/api/v1/repos/laantungir/n_signer/releases" \
+    | jq -r '.[0].tag_name // empty' || true)"
+
+  if [[ -z "${latest_tag}" ]]; then
+    err "Could not resolve latest n_signer release tag from API."
+    err "Set NSIGNER_VERSION explicitly (e.g. NSIGNER_VERSION=v0.0.11)."
+    exit 1
+  fi
+
+  NSIGNER_VERSION="${latest_tag}"
+}
+
+download_nsigner_asset_url() {
+  local headers=()
+  local api_tag_url="https://git.laantungir.net/api/v1/repos/laantungir/n_signer/releases/tags/${NSIGNER_VERSION}"
+
+  if [[ -n "${NSIGNER_GITEA_TOKEN:-}" ]]; then
+    headers=(-H "Authorization: token ${NSIGNER_GITEA_TOKEN}")
+  fi
+
+  curl -fsSL "${headers[@]}" "${api_tag_url}" \
+    | jq -r '.assets[]?.browser_download_url // empty' \
+    | grep -E 'nsigner_static_x86_64$' \
+    | head -n1 || true
+}
+
+install_nsigner() {
+  local release_page=""
+
+  resolve_nsigner_version
+  release_page="https://git.laantungir.net/laantungir/n_signer/releases/tag/${NSIGNER_VERSION}"
+
+  log "Installing n_signer ${NSIGNER_VERSION}"
+  log "Release page: ${release_page}"
+
+  local asset_url="${NSIGNER_BINARY_URL:-}"
+  if [[ -z "${asset_url}" ]]; then
+    asset_url="$(download_nsigner_asset_url)"
+  fi
+
+  if [[ -z "${asset_url}" ]]; then
+    err "Could not find downloadable n_signer x86_64 release binary for ${NSIGNER_VERSION}."
+    err "Provide NSIGNER_BINARY_URL or NSIGNER_GITEA_TOKEN so the release asset can be resolved."
+    exit 1
+  fi
+
+  log "Using n_signer binary URL: ${asset_url}"
+  if [[ -n "${NSIGNER_GITEA_TOKEN:-}" ]]; then
+    curl -fL -H "Authorization: token ${NSIGNER_GITEA_TOKEN}" -o "${PREFIX_BIN}/nsigner" "${asset_url}"
+  else
+    curl -fL -o "${PREFIX_BIN}/nsigner" "${asset_url}"
+  fi
+  chmod 0755 "${PREFIX_BIN}/nsigner"
+  log "Installed ${PREFIX_BIN}/nsigner from release binary"
+}
+
+write_signer_start_script() {
+  local script_path="${HOME}/start_nsigner.sh"
+
+  cat >"${script_path}" <<'EOF'
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+set -euo pipefail
+
+export PATH="$HOME/.local/bin:$PATH"
+LISTEN_TARGET="${NSIGNER_LISTEN_TARGET:-tcp:[::]:8080}"
+
+echo "=== n_signer startup ==="
+echo "listen target: ${LISTEN_TARGET}"
+
+# Optional: print current FIPS identity info if fipsctl is available.
+if command -v fipsctl >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+  if fipsctl show status >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    STATUS_JSON="$(fipsctl show status)"
+  elif sudo -n fipsctl show status >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    STATUS_JSON="$(sudo -n fipsctl show status)"
+  else
+    STATUS_JSON=""
+  fi
+
+  if [[ -n "${STATUS_JSON}" ]]; then
+    FIPS_IPV6="$(printf '%s\n' "${STATUS_JSON}" | sed -n 's/.*"ipv6_addr": "\([^"]*\)".*/\1/p')"
+    FIPS_NPUB="$(printf '%s\n' "${STATUS_JSON}" | sed -n 's/.*"npub": "\([^"]*\)".*/\1/p')"
+    LISTEN_PORT="$(printf '%s\n' "${LISTEN_TARGET}" | sed -n 's/.*:\([0-9][0-9]*\)$/\1/p')"
+    [[ -n "${FIPS_IPV6}" ]] && echo "fips ipv6: ${FIPS_IPV6}"
+    [[ -n "${FIPS_NPUB}" ]] && echo "fips npub: ${FIPS_NPUB}"
+    if [[ -n "${FIPS_NPUB}" && -n "${LISTEN_PORT}" ]]; then
+      echo "fips address: http://${FIPS_NPUB}.fips:${LISTEN_PORT}"
+    fi
+  else
+    echo "fips status: unavailable (run as user in fips group or with sudo)"
+  fi
+fi
+
+echo
+echo "Starting signer..."
+echo "On first remote request, approve in prompt with [y] or [a]."
+exec "$HOME/.local/bin/nsigner" --listen "${LISTEN_TARGET}"
+EOF
+
+  chmod 0755 "${script_path}"
+  log "Wrote ${script_path}"
+}
+
+post_checks() {
+  export PATH="${PREFIX_BIN}:${PATH}"
+
+  log "Running post-install checks"
+  require_cmd nsigner
+  nsigner --version || true
+
+  log "User binaries installed in: ${PREFIX_BIN}"
+  log "If needed, add to shell PATH: export PATH=\"${PREFIX_BIN}:\$PATH\""
+}
+
+main() {
+  if [[ "${1:-}" == "-h" || "${1:-}" == "--help" ]]; then
+    show_help
+    exit 0
+  fi
+
+  if [[ $# -gt 0 ]]; then
+    err "Unknown option: $1"
+    show_help
+    exit 1
+  fi
+
+  install_runtime_deps
+  prepare_dirs
+  install_nsigner
+  write_signer_start_script
+  post_checks
+
+  log "Completed user-only install of n_signer"
+  log "Start signer with: ~/start_nsigner.sh"
+}
+
+main "$@"
--- a/packaging/qubes/install-policy.sh
+++ b/packaging/qubes/install-policy.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+set -eu
+
+POLICY_SRC="packaging/qubes/policy.d/40-nsigner.policy"
+POLICY_DST="/etc/qubes/policy.d/40-nsigner.policy"
+
+if [ ! -f "$POLICY_SRC" ]; then
+    echo "Missing policy source: $POLICY_SRC" >&2
+    exit 1
+fi
+
+install -m 0644 "$POLICY_SRC" "$POLICY_DST"
+
+echo "Installed qrexec policy to $POLICY_DST"
+echo "Tag your signer qube in dom0, for example:"
+echo "  qvm-tags nsigner-vault add nsigner-signer"
+echo "Then reload policy per your Qubes OS version procedures."
--- a/packaging/qubes/install-service.sh
+++ b/packaging/qubes/install-service.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+set -eu
+
+SERVICE_SRC="packaging/qubes/rpc/qubes.NsignerRpc"
+SERVICE_DST="/etc/qubes-rpc/qubes.NsignerRpc"
+
+if [ ! -f "$SERVICE_SRC" ]; then
+    echo "Missing service source: $SERVICE_SRC" >&2
+    exit 1
+fi
+
+install -m 0755 "$SERVICE_SRC" "$SERVICE_DST"
+
+echo "Installed qrexec service to $SERVICE_DST"
+echo "Executable bit set via install -m 0755."
--- a/packaging/qubes/policy.d/40-nsigner.policy
+++ b/packaging/qubes/policy.d/40-nsigner.policy
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+# Qubes OS qrexec policy for nsigner
+# Syntax: service +argument source target action
+# Allow specific qubes to reach the signer qube with user confirmation
+qubes.NsignerRpc * @anyvm @tag:nsigner-signer ask default_target=nsigner-vault
+qubes.NsignerRpc * @anyvm @anyvm deny
--- a/packaging/qubes/rpc/qubes.NsignerRpc
+++ b/packaging/qubes/rpc/qubes.NsignerRpc
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+exec /usr/local/bin/nsigner --listen qrexec
--- a/plans/deny_by_default_approvals.md
+++ b/plans/deny_by_default_approvals.md
@@ -0,0 +1,357 @@
+# Plan: Deny-by-default approvals + on-demand role derivation
+
+Status: **implemented**
+
+This plan replaces several entangled mechanisms (same-uid auto-allow, role pre-registration as a hard rule, global `[a]` flag) with a single, coherent approval model. It also addresses the `n_OS_tr` system-services-at-boot scenario.
+
+If implemented, this plan supersedes:
+
+- The same-uid auto-allow rule in [`policy_init_default()`](../src/policy.c:551).
+- The "role_path / nostr_index must be pre-registered" rule recorded in [`plans/nsigner.md:159`](nsigner.md:159) (the rule is *narrowed*, not removed — see §5).
+- The global `g_prompt_always_allow` flag in [`src/server.c:469`](../src/server.c:469) as the meaning of prompt-`[a]`. The running-TUI `[a]` hotkey is unaffected (or removed; see §11).
+
+---
+
+## 1. Goals
+
+1. **Deny-by-default.** No client can sign or get a public key without an explicit human approval at the terminal **or** an explicit pre-approval declared at startup.
+2. **One approval mechanism.** Both the runtime prompt (human approves a request) and the boot-time pre-approval (OS-level config) populate the **same** in-memory policy table. There is exactly one path through the dispatcher that determines whether to sign.
+3. **On-demand role creation.** When a request specifies an unregistered `nostr_index`, the prompt path may auto-derive a fresh role at that index *only after* the human (or a startup pre-approval) consents. Pre-registration of `role_path` keys remains required.
+4. **Boot-time ergonomics for `n_OS_tr`.** OS-level system services that need keys at boot can be pre-approved by the OS distribution via CLI flags, with no prompts and no on-disk runtime config files.
+5. **Auditable approval source.** The activity log distinguishes between approvals granted at runtime by the user, approvals loaded from startup pre-approvals, and approvals already in place from prior session activity.
+
+## 2. Non-goals
+
+- This plan does **not** add per-verb scoping at the prompt. `[a]` means "this caller may use this role for all verbs the role's purpose/curve permits." Per-verb scoping is a future iteration.
+- This plan does **not** add persistent (across-restart) policy storage. Approvals still vanish on process exit.
+- This plan does **not** introduce capability tokens or any new authentication primitive. Identity remains transport-derived.
+- This plan does **not** change the wire protocol. Clients see the same JSON-RPC request/response shape.
+
+## 3. The new model in one paragraph
+
+The signer maintains an in-memory policy table whose entries are tuples of `(caller_id, role, prompt_mode)`. At startup, the table is empty except for entries declared via `--preapprove` CLI flags (set by `n_OS_tr` system unit files for boot-required services). Every request without a matching policy entry triggers an interactive prompt at the terminal. If the user picks `[a]`, a new policy entry for `(this caller, this role)` is appended to the table and any future request matching that tuple is served silently. If the request specifies an unregistered `nostr_index`, the consent path also derives a fresh role at that index. The `*` catch-all is `PROMPT_DENY` for any caller that hasn't been explicitly added.
+
+## 4. Concept renaming and positioning
+
+The user-facing language collapses to three concepts:
+
+| User-facing term | Internal mapping |
+|---|---|
+| **Identity** | `caller_identity_t` (uid, qubes vm name, tcp peer, etc.) |
+| **Index / Path** | `nostr_index` shorthand or full `role_path` for advanced use |
+| **Approval** | A policy table entry with `prompt_mode = PROMPT_NEVER` |
+
+The word **role** is retained internally (the role table, the [`role_entry_t`](../src/role_table.c:103) struct, derivation paths) but de-emphasized in user-facing prompts and docs. A user reading a prompt sees:
+
+```
+Approval required
+caller:  qubes:nostr-relay
+verb:    sign_event
+index:   nostr_index=0    (resolves to the default identity)
+```
+
+instead of `role: main`. Internally the resolved role is still recorded for audit.
+
+## 5. The narrowed pre-registration rule
+
+The original rule was: **all** selectors must resolve to a pre-registered role.
+
+The new rule is:
+
+> Pre-registration is required for **`role_path`** selectors. For **`nostr_index`** selectors, an unregistered index is a valid prompt trigger, and the role for that index is derived on the fly **after** explicit consent (prompt or `--preapprove`).
+
+Rationale:
+
+- `nostr_index` paths follow a fixed scheme (`m/44'/1237'/<n>'/0/0`) with locked purpose (`nostr`) and curve (`secp256k1`). Auto-derivation cannot accidentally produce a key that mixes purposes. The risk is solely "this is a fresh nostr identity"; the human at the prompt can answer that.
+- `role_path` is free-form and can address any BIP-32 path, including paths that overlap with bitcoin/SSH/age domains. Auto-derivation here would let a malicious or buggy client coerce the signer into producing keys whose purpose the human can't easily verify. We keep that locked.
+- This narrowing is the smallest crack we can open in the original rule that still solves the user's `nostr_index: 1` use case.
+
+[`plans/nsigner.md:159`](nsigner.md:159) ("`role_path` must be pre-registered") remains true. The `nostr_index` clause becomes new and explicit.
+
+## 6. The four pieces of work
+
+### Piece A — Deny-by-default policy
+
+#### A.1 Default policy table
+
+[`policy_init_default()`](../src/policy.c:551) currently inserts two entries:
+
+1. `caller = "uid:<owner>"` → `PROMPT_NEVER` (auto-allow same-uid)
+2. `caller = "*"` → `PROMPT_DENY`
+
+The new default inserts only:
+
+1. `caller = "*"` → `PROMPT_PROMPT`
+
+There is no same-uid special case. Even the user's own client triggers a prompt the first time it connects.
+
+If `--preapprove` flags were given at startup, those entries are appended **before** the catch-all `*` so they win first-match. See §C.
+
+#### A.2 Removal of `g_prompt_always_allow` as a *prompt outcome*
+
+The flag is currently set to 1 by both:
+
+- The interactive prompt's `[a]` outcome ([`src/server.c:684`](../src/server.c:684))
+- The running-TUI `[a]` hotkey ([`src/main.c:974`](../src/main.c:974), [`src/main.c:1239`](../src/main.c:1239))
+
+The prompt's `[a]` no longer flips the flag. Instead it appends a per-`(caller, role)` policy entry. See §B.
+
+The running-TUI `[a]` hotkey can either be:
+
+- Removed, since it is now redundant with explicit per-caller entries, **or**
+- Retained as a debugging/panic mode under a non-default name, e.g. `[A]` (capital) for "auto-approve everything regardless of caller; for development only."
+
+The plan recommends retaining it as a deliberately ugly, capital-letter hotkey so its destructive scope is visible. Default-off; activates only on explicit press.
+
+#### A.3 Wire-level effect
+
+A previously-unknown caller making a first request observes:
+
+1. Length-prefixed request lands.
+2. Selector resolves (or fails — see §B).
+3. Policy lookup returns `POLICY_PROMPT` because no matching entry exists.
+4. Server blocks the request, prints the prompt to the controlling terminal, waits for keystroke.
+5. On `[a]`, server appends `(caller, role) → PROMPT_NEVER` and serves the request.
+6. On `[y]`, server serves once without appending.
+7. On `[n]`, server returns `policy_denied` without appending.
+8. On EOF / non-interactive: server returns `policy_denied`. There is no implicit allow path for non-interactive sessions; OS distributions must use `--preapprove`.
+
+### Piece B — On-demand role derivation at the prompt
+
+#### B.1 Failure path today
+
+When `selector_resolve()` returns `SELECTOR_ERR_NOT_FOUND` for an unregistered `nostr_index`, the request currently dies in the dispatcher with `unknown_role` (error 1002). The user observes nothing in the terminal.
+
+#### B.2 New failure path
+
+The server's request-handling loop checks selector resolution **before** invoking the dispatcher. The new control flow:
+
+```
+1. Receive request, parse method + selector.
+2. Try selector_resolve():
+     a. SELECTOR_OK -> proceed to step 3 with the resolved role.
+     b. SELECTOR_ERR_NOT_FOUND on nostr_index -> proceed to step 3 with
+        a PENDING_DERIVATION marker holding the requested index.
+     c. SELECTOR_ERR_NOT_FOUND on role_path -> reject with unknown_role.
+     d. SELECTOR_ERR_AMBIGUOUS -> reject with ambiguous_role_selector.
+     e. SELECTOR_ERR_NO_DEFAULT -> reject with internal_error
+        (this should never happen if main role is always present).
+3. Determine policy: ALLOW / DENY / PROMPT.
+   - For PENDING_DERIVATION cases, the prompt displays the requested
+     index and clearly states "this will create a new identity."
+4. On PROMPT, ask human; on [a] or [y], proceed; on [n], reject.
+5. On approval to proceed:
+     a. If PENDING_DERIVATION, register a role for that index in the
+        role_table now. Synthesize a name like nostr_idx_7. Trigger
+        key derivation for the new role.
+     b. If [a] (not [y]), append a session policy entry for
+        (caller, resolved-role-name) with PROMPT_NEVER.
+6. Invoke the dispatcher with the resolved role.
+7. Send response, append activity log line including approval source.
+```
+
+#### B.3 Auto-registered role naming
+
+A role auto-registered for `nostr_index = N` is named `nostr_idx_N` by the signer.
+
+- Predictable, so humans reading the activity log can correlate.
+- Will not collide with the built-in `main` (which is `nostr_idx_0` by index but `main` by name; the role table allows lookups by either).
+- Does not require user input at the prompt. Naming UX is a future iteration.
+
+#### B.4 Role-table sizing
+
+[`ROLE_TABLE_MAX_ENTRIES`](../src/role_table.c) is currently small. With on-demand derivation a single session might accumulate dozens of `nostr_idx_*` entries. Bump the constant to an explicit budget (suggest 256). On overflow, return a clear error like `role_table_full` rather than crashing.
+
+#### B.5 Persistence
+
+Same as everything else in n_signer: derived roles vanish on process exit. The next session re-derives `nostr_idx_7` from the same mnemonic, getting the same key. This is normal and intentional.
+
+### Piece C — `--preapprove` CLI flag
+
+#### C.1 Flag syntax
+
+```
+--preapprove <SPEC>
+```
+
+`SPEC` is a comma-separated list of `key=value` pairs. Required keys:
+
+- `caller=<id>` — exact caller identity to match. Format depends on transport:
+  - `uid:1000`
+  - `qubes:work-vm`
+  - `tcp:[fdb8::1]:0` (port 0 means "any port")
+  - `qubes:*` is **not** supported. Wildcards are intentionally restricted to the catch-all entry only.
+- One of:
+  - `role=<name>` — match the role by name. Useful when the OS knows it wants `main`.
+  - `nostr_index=<n>` — match by index. Equivalent to `role=nostr_idx_<n>` after auto-derivation.
+
+Optional keys (deferred for now, but reserved):
+
+- `verbs=<list>` — comma-separated verb list. Default is `*`.
+- `purposes=<list>` — comma-separated purpose list. Default is `*`.
+
+Multiple `--preapprove` flags are allowed; each becomes a separate policy entry.
+
+#### C.2 Example: `n_OS_tr` boot
+
+`n_OS_tr`'s systemd unit file:
+
+```ini
+[Service]
+ExecStart=/usr/bin/n_signer \
+  --preapprove caller=qubes:nostr-relay,role=main \
+  --preapprove caller=qubes:dm-handler,nostr_index=1 \
+  --preapprove caller=qubes:contacts,nostr_index=2 \
+  --preapprove caller=qubes:zaps,nostr_index=3
+```
+
+At startup, n_signer:
+
+1. Parses each `--preapprove` flag into a `policy_entry_t` with `prompt = PROMPT_NEVER`.
+2. For each entry that references an unregistered `nostr_index`, auto-derives the role *immediately at startup* (not lazily — we want all key derivation to happen before services start signaling readiness).
+3. Inserts each policy entry into the table **before** the catch-all `*` deny.
+4. Logs each pre-approval to stderr at boot so the systemd unit's journal records what was preapproved.
+
+When `qubes:nostr-relay` connects and asks for `sign_event` against `role=main`, `policy_check()` matches the preapprove entry, returns `POLICY_ALLOW`, and the request is served with no prompt.
+
+When some other caller (say, a misconfigured systemd service) connects, the catch-all matches and the request is denied (or prompts, in interactive mode — see §C.4).
+
+#### C.3 What `--preapprove` cannot do
+
+- **Cannot deny.** Deny entries can only come from defaults or the prompt's `[n]` (if we ever add caller-deny). Pre-approve only widens.
+- **Cannot match wildcards on caller.** Each entry must specify exactly one caller_id. The OS distribution is responsible for knowing exactly who its services are.
+- **Cannot bypass purpose/curve enforcement.** A pre-approval to use `role=main` for `verb=sign_btc_tx` (a hypothetical bitcoin verb) still fails enforcement because `main`'s purpose is `nostr`. The pre-approval grants access to the role; enforcement still gates the verb.
+
+#### C.4 Interaction with interactive mode
+
+The same binary supports both:
+
+- `n_signer` with no `--preapprove` flags → pure deny-by-default, every first request prompts.
+- `n_signer --preapprove ...` → starts with the listed entries already in the policy table.
+
+Both modes use exactly the same code path. There is no separate "system mode" toggle.
+
+#### C.5 Auditability
+
+When a pre-approval matches, the activity log line includes the source:
+
+```
+qubes:nostr-relay  sign_event(role=main)  ALLOWED:preapprove
+```
+
+So an operator reviewing the log can tell which decisions came from boot config vs. runtime user approvals.
+
+#### C.6 Validation
+
+Bad `--preapprove` syntax fails fast at startup with a clear error message. n_signer refuses to start. This avoids the "I thought I configured this but typoed it" silent-degrade problem.
+
+### Piece D — Audit-log labeling of approval source
+
+#### D.1 The four label values
+
+| Label | Meaning |
+|---|---|
+| `:preapprove` | Matched a policy entry installed via `--preapprove` at startup. |
+| `:session-grant` | Matched a policy entry created earlier in this session by a prompt `[a]`. |
+| `:prompt` | Just-now approved by the user pressing `[y]` or `[a]` at the prompt. |
+| `:auto-allow` | Matched the running-TUI `[a]` panic mode (if retained). |
+
+A line in the activity log under the new model:
+
+```
+[2026-05-04 16:03:11] qubes:nostr-relay  sign_event(role=main)  ALLOWED:preapprove
+[2026-05-04 16:03:14] uid:1000           sign_event(role=main)  ALLOWED:session-grant
+[2026-05-04 16:03:18] tcp:[::1]:54122    get_public_key(role=nostr_idx_7) ALLOWED:prompt
+[2026-05-04 16:03:21] uid:1001           sign_event(role=main)  DENIED:no-match
+```
+
+#### D.2 Implementation
+
+The label is a small enum threaded from `policy_check()` (which returns the matching entry's source tag) and from `prompt_for_policy_decision()` (which returns `:prompt`). `server_handle_one()` includes the label in the activity-log line.
+
+#### D.3 Visibility
+
+The label appears in:
+
+- The TUI's running activity buffer.
+- The structured activity event passed to the `server_activity_cb` callback (so external observers — e.g. a future syslog feeder — can also see the source).
+
+#### D.4 No on-disk persistence
+
+The activity buffer remains in-memory only. If `n_OS_tr` wants persistent audit, it forwards the activity callback to its own logging subsystem outside of n_signer's process.
+
+## 7. Code change inventory
+
+| Module | Change |
+|---|---|
+| [`src/policy.c`](../src/policy.c) | `policy_init_default()` collapses to one entry. `policy_check()` extends to return the matching entry's source label. New helper `policy_table_add_at_position()` to insert before the catch-all. |
+| [`src/server.c`](../src/server.c) | `prompt_for_policy_decision()` rewritten: appends a policy entry on `[a]`, no longer flips the global flag. New pre-derivation control flow in `server_handle_one()`. New CLI parser for `--preapprove`. |
+| [`src/role_table.c`](../src/role_table.c) | Bump `ROLE_TABLE_MAX_ENTRIES` to 256. New `role_table_register_nostr_index(int n)` helper that creates a `nostr_idx_<n>` entry and triggers derivation. |
+| [`src/key_store.c`](../src/key_store.c) | Add a one-role derivation path so newly-registered roles can be derived without re-deriving the whole table. |
+| [`src/dispatcher.c`](../src/dispatcher.c) | No semantic change — dispatcher continues to assume the role exists. The server makes that true before invoking. |
+| [`src/main.c`](../src/main.c) | CLI parsing for `--preapprove`. Remove or restrict the running-TUI `[a]` hotkey. Log preapproves to stderr at boot. |
+| [`tests/test_policy.c`](../tests/test_policy.c) | New tests: deny-by-default, prompt-`[a]` appends entry, preapprove flag parsing, source-label propagation. |
+| [`tests/test_dispatcher.c`](../tests/test_dispatcher.c) | New tests: unregistered nostr_index path with consent-required gating. |
+| [`tests/test_integration.c`](../tests/test_integration.c) | New scenario: `--preapprove` allows scripted client; without it, scripted client gets denied. |
+| [`documents/SECURITY.md`](../documents/SECURITY.md) | Rewritten in identity / index / approval terms (separate task after this plan ships). |
+| [`documents/CLIENT_IMPLEMENTATION.md`](../documents/CLIENT_IMPLEMENTATION.md) | Add a note about possible `policy_denied` on first contact in interactive mode; pointer to `--preapprove` for system services. |
+| [`plans/nsigner.md`](nsigner.md) | Decisions log entry referencing this plan. The `role_path` pre-registration rule remains; the `nostr_index` clause becomes new. |
+
+## 8. Test plan
+
+Tests must cover at minimum:
+
+1. **Default deny.** A startup with no `--preapprove` flags receives a request from any caller and (in non-interactive mode) returns `policy_denied`.
+2. **Prompt `[a]` appends entry.** Inject a non-interactive prompt-default of `ALLOW`, observe a policy entry added, verify a second matching request is served without re-prompting.
+3. **Prompt `[y]` does not append entry.** Same fixture, second request still triggers the prompt path.
+4. **`--preapprove` with `role=main`.** Request from named caller succeeds without prompt; request from any other caller is denied.
+5. **`--preapprove` with `nostr_index=N` for unregistered N.** Role is auto-derived at startup; request succeeds; activity log shows `:preapprove`.
+6. **`--preapprove` cannot bypass enforcement.** Pre-approve `(caller=X, role=main)` and request a verb that violates purpose/curve. Response is `purpose_mismatch` or `curve_mismatch`.
+7. **Unknown `role_path` still rejected.** Even with consent, an unregistered `role_path` returns `unknown_role`. (The narrowing is `nostr_index`-only.)
+8. **Audit-log labels.** Each path produces the expected source tag.
+9. **Multi-instance isolation.** Two n_signers with different `--preapprove` lists serve different requests; cross-instance requests are denied as expected.
+10. **Role table overflow.** Force more than `ROLE_TABLE_MAX_ENTRIES` derivations and observe `role_table_full` instead of corruption.
+
+## 9. Backwards-compatibility implications
+
+- **Existing scripts that rely on same-uid auto-allow break.** They now hit the prompt (interactive) or get denied (non-interactive). Migration path: add `--preapprove caller=uid:1000,role=main` to the startup invocation. We document this prominently.
+- **Interactive desktop users see a prompt the first time their client connects, where today they don't.** This is the intended behavior change. We document it in the README.
+- **Wire protocol unchanged.** No client-side changes required.
+- **Existing `[a]` running-TUI hotkey may change semantics or disappear.** This is the most disruptive UI change for someone who actually uses the panic-allow today. Document the change in the release notes.
+
+## 10. Rollout staging
+
+This is too much to land in one commit. Suggested order:
+
+1. **Stage 1 — deny-by-default + prompt `[a]` appends entry.** Removes the same-uid auto-allow, makes the prompt the source of session-grants. No CLI flag yet. Headless scripts break; we accept that for now and document the workaround as "use stage 2."
+2. **Stage 2 — `--preapprove` CLI flag.** Restores headless ergonomics for OS distributions like `n_OS_tr`.
+3. **Stage 3 — on-demand role derivation at the prompt.** Closes the user-visible `(unknown)` failure mode.
+4. **Stage 4 — audit-log labels and structured activity output.** Forensics + observability.
+5. **Stage 5 — `documents/SECURITY.md` rewrite.** After the code is settled.
+
+Each stage is a self-contained release.
+
+## 11. Open decisions to confirm before coding
+
+- **Q1.** Keep the running-TUI `[a]` hotkey as a panic-allow under a different visual treatment, or remove it entirely? Plan recommends keep, capitalized, default-off.
+- **Q2.** Is `nostr_idx_<n>` an acceptable auto-naming convention, or do we want to ask the user for a name in the prompt? Plan recommends auto-name now, prompt-name later as iteration.
+- **Q3.** Should the prompt's "this will create a new identity" warning differ visually from a normal approval prompt? Plan recommends a clearly distinct extra line in the prompt body.
+- **Q4.** What is the ceiling for `ROLE_TABLE_MAX_ENTRIES`? Plan recommends 256 with a fail-loud overflow.
+- **Q5.** Do we want a TUI panel showing the active session approvals (helpful for the user to see what they've granted)? Plan recommends yes, smallest possible: caller + role + source label. Could be deferred to a later stage.
+
+## 12. After this plan lands: deferred work
+
+- Per-verb scoping at the prompt (the user wants `[a]` to mean "all verbs for this role" but a future `[c]` to mean "let me pick"). Deferred per the user's instruction.
+- Approval revocation hotkeys (`[k]` to clear all session-grants, `[K]` to clear one).
+- Approvals visible-and-editable as a TUI panel.
+- Persistent (cross-restart) approvals — explicitly out of scope; n_signer remains memory-only.
+- `role_path` auto-derivation under prompt — explicitly out of scope; the security argument in §5 stands.
+- Capability tokens for cross-machine transports (FIPS, USB serial) — separate plan, separate threat model.
+
+## 13. References
+
+- [`README.md`](../README.md) — authoritative behavior spec.
+- [`plans/nsigner.md`](nsigner.md) — root design plan; pre-registration rule at line 159.
+- [`documents/CLIENT_IMPLEMENTATION.md`](../documents/CLIENT_IMPLEMENTATION.md) — wire contract.
+- [`documents/SECURITY.md`](../documents/SECURITY.md) — security model document; will be rewritten when this plan lands.
+- [`src/policy.c`](../src/policy.c), [`src/server.c`](../src/server.c), [`src/dispatcher.c`](../src/dispatcher.c), [`src/role_table.c`](../src/role_table.c), [`src/selector.c`](../src/selector.c) — code that changes.
--- a/plans/nsigner.md
+++ b/plans/nsigner.md
@@ -174,3 +174,119 @@ Privacy/UX notes:
 - Expand integration coverage for NIP-04/NIP-44 edge cases and negative-path errors.
 - Document and test static artifact size budgets across targets.
 - Define MCU transport adapter contract to prepare desktop/firmware parity.
+
+## 7. Transport expansion roadmap
+
+Goal: keep one signer core, swap transports underneath without touching dispatcher, policy, or role layers. The wire contract in [`CLIENT_IMPLEMENTATION.md`](../CLIENT_IMPLEMENTATION.md) (4-byte length-prefixed JSON-RPC) stays identical across every transport; only listener and `caller_identity_t` change.
+
+### 7.0 Prerequisite — transport abstraction (Phase T0)
+
+Before adding any new transport, factor a small adapter contract out of [`src/server.c`](../src/server.c) and [`src/main.c`](../src/main.c).
+
+- New header `src/transport.h` declaring an opaque `nsigner_transport_t` with:
+  - `accept(listener) -> connection`
+  - `recv_frame(connection) -> bytes`
+  - `send_frame(connection, bytes)`
+  - `peer_identity(connection) -> caller_identity_t`
+  - `close(connection)` / `shutdown(listener)`
+- Generalize `caller_identity_t` to a tagged union of:
+  - `unix_peer { uid, pid, comm }` (current behavior)
+  - `qubes { source_qube_name }`
+  - `tcp_local { addr }`
+  - `tcp_remote { addr, authenticated_pubkey }`
+  - `fips { peer_npub }`
+  - `usb_serial { device_path, asserted_caller }`
+- Move `recv_framed` / `send_framed` from `server.c` and `main.c` into a single shared `transport_frame.c` so client and server share one framing implementation.
+- Server main loop becomes transport-agnostic (`while accept; recv; dispatch; send`).
+- Tests: extend [`tests/test_integration.c`](../tests/test_integration.c) with a transport-loopback fake to validate the abstraction without binding any real socket.
+
+This refactor is purely internal — no observable change.
+
+### 7.1 Phase T1 — Qubes OS qrexec transport
+
+Use Qubes' native inter-qube primitive instead of inventing one.
+
+- Add a qrexec service script (e.g. `qubes.NsignerRpc`) that execs `nsigner` in a "stdio transport" mode where stdin/stdout carry the existing length-prefixed frame protocol.
+- New CLI: `nsigner --listen stdio` (and `nsigner --listen qrexec`, behaving identically; `qrexec` value is for documentation/intent).
+- Caller identity comes from qrexec environment (`QREXEC_REMOTE_DOMAIN`) and is mapped to `caller_identity_t.kind=qubes`.
+- Reference policy file under `packaging/qubes/policy.d/40-nsigner.policy` showing `ask` / `allow` per source qube.
+- No new attack surface inside nsigner: dom0 enforces who can even invoke the service.
+- Tests: a unit test that injects fake qrexec env vars and a stdio framing harness; an integration script that documents end-to-end install in a Qubes VM (manual, not in CI).
+- Docs: add a "Qubes deployment" section to [`README.md`](../README.md) and to [`CLIENT_IMPLEMENTATION.md`](../CLIENT_IMPLEMENTATION.md).
+
+### 7.2 Phase T2 — TCP transport
+
+Smallest IP-based step; on-ramp for non-Linux clients and for FIPS later.
+
+- New CLI: `nsigner --listen tcp:HOST:PORT` (IPv4 literal) or `nsigner --listen tcp:[IPv6]:PORT`.
+- Current behavior: accepts operator-selected local/remote bind addresses (including `[::]` and `fd..`), pending later transport hardening.
+- Caller identity for TCP: endpoint address/port in caller descriptor. Approval prompt still mandatory.
+- `nsigner list` extended to enumerate active TCP listeners (from internal registry; not from `/proc/net/tcp`).
+- Same framing as AF_UNIX path; no protocol changes.
+- Tests: integration coverage that spawns a child signer with `--listen tcp:127.0.0.1:0` (and one IPv6 case), captures the bound port, runs the same NIP-04/NIP-44/sign_event matrix as AF_UNIX.
+- Docs: extend [`documents/CLIENT_IMPLEMENTATION.md`](../documents/CLIENT_IMPLEMENTATION.md) section 2 with `tcp:` discovery rules and section 3 confirming framing parity.
+
+Implementation checklist (Tier-1 delivery):
+
+- [x] Parse `--listen tcp:HOST:PORT` in [`src/main.c`](../src/main.c).
+- [x] Parse and validate literal IPv4/IPv6 listen targets in [`src/server.c`](../src/server.c).
+- [x] Bind/listen non-blocking TCP sockets and run server loop without TUI dependence.
+- [x] Keep existing framed JSON-RPC protocol unchanged via shared [`src/transport_frame.c`](../src/transport_frame.c).
+- [ ] Add integration test coverage for `tcp:127.0.0.1:PORT` request flow.
+
+### 7.3 Phase T3 — TCP remote with TLS + caller-pubkey auth
+
+Only after T2 is solid.
+
+- New CLI: `nsigner --listen tcp:0.0.0.0:PORT --allow-remote --tls-cert <pem> --tls-key <pem>`.
+- Mandatory: TLS for any non-loopback bind. Refuse to start otherwise.
+- Caller authentication: client must sign a per-connection challenge with its declared npub (Schnorr/secp256k1) before any signer verb is dispatched. Identity becomes `tcp_remote { addr, authenticated_pubkey }`.
+- Failure modes: `transport_tls_required`, `caller_auth_failed`, `caller_auth_timeout` — all surfaced with new error names in dispatcher and documented in [`CLIENT_IMPLEMENTATION.md`](../CLIENT_IMPLEMENTATION.md).
+- Approval prompt now displays `caller=npub:abcd…wxyz` instead of `uid:1000`.
+- Tests: integration test that exercises happy path, wrong-pubkey, replayed-challenge, expired-challenge.
+- Docs: dedicated "Remote TCP deployment" section in `README.md` with strong "do not expose to the public internet without firewalling" warning.
+
+### 7.4 Phase T4 — FIPS substrate integration
+
+FIPS is a *substrate* for an existing TCP listener, not a new transport in nsigner code.
+
+- Deployment topology: nsigner binds a chosen TCP endpoint inside the FIPS network namespace (or on a host where `fips0` is up); peers reach it via `fd00::/8` IPv6 derived from the signer's npub.
+- Optional `caller_kind=fips` enrichment: a small sidecar query (`fipsctl show sessions` style) maps the connecting IPv6 address to a peer npub and feeds it into `caller_identity_t.fips { peer_npub }`. If unavailable, fall back to `tcp_remote` identity.
+- nsigner does not embed FIPS, does not depend on libfips, and does not require Rust.
+- New optional flag: `--peer-id-source fips:/var/run/fips/fips.sock` (path/method TBD per FIPS API).
+- Tests: a Docker-compose fixture borrowed from `resources/fips/testing/` that boots two FIPS nodes, runs nsigner on one, runs a Python client (per snippet in [`documents/CLIENT_IMPLEMENTATION.md`](../documents/CLIENT_IMPLEMENTATION.md)) on the other, and exercises the same verb matrix.
+- Docs: new [`documents/FIPS_DEPLOYMENT.md`](../documents/FIPS_DEPLOYMENT.md) deep-dive describing identity mapping, npub-as-caller, and operator setup. Cross-link from [`README.md`](../README.md) section 7 (Transport).
+
+Execution tasks for initial FIPS trial:
+
+- [x] Deliver T2 TCP listener as FIPS substrate prerequisite.
+- [x] Document signer/caller qube deployment flow in [`documents/FIPS_DEPLOYMENT.md`](../documents/FIPS_DEPLOYMENT.md).
+- [ ] Add two-node operator validation script (manual) using `fipsctl` + framed JSON-RPC client.
+- [ ] Evaluate optional caller identity enrichment from FIPS session metadata.
+
+### 7.5 Phase T5 — USB / serial transport
+
+Two distinct sub-tracks; do not conflate.
+
+- T5a (firmware-side, MCU): ESP32/USB-CDC. Already in the [`firmware/`](../firmware/) track. Same dispatcher; transport adapter is UART read/write loop. `caller_identity_t.kind=usb_serial` with `asserted_caller` because the host claims the identity.
+- T5b (host-side optional): `nsigner --listen serial:/dev/ttyACM0,baud=115200`. Useful for desktop signer reachable by a USB-tethered client. Same frame protocol over the serial line. Marks identity as asserted (low trust) and forces approval prompt.
+- USB-as-Ethernet (gadget mode, RNDIS/ECM) is **not** a separate transport — it reduces to T2/T3.
+- Tests: loopback pty pair (`openpty`) for T5b unit/integration coverage; firmware-side covered in firmware track.
+
+### 7.6 Cross-cutting concerns
+
+Apply once per phase as needed:
+
+- Transport-aware approval prompt: clear visual indication of transport kind and identity (uid vs qube vs npub vs serial-asserted). No silent identity-source confusion.
+- Per-transport policy gates: deny-by-default for new identity kinds until operator explicitly enables them in policy.
+- Discovery (`nsigner list`) becomes per-transport pluggable (proc/net/unix today, internal registry for tcp, qrexec service announce for qubes, fips peer table for fips).
+- Audit logging: include transport kind and identity descriptor in every approval/decision record.
+- Error name parity: every new transport introduces only well-named errors (extend the table in [`CLIENT_IMPLEMENTATION.md`](../CLIENT_IMPLEMENTATION.md) section 5).
+
+### 7.7 Decision points (open)
+
+- D1: Land T0 (refactor) before any transport, or in parallel with T1?
+- D2: Bundle T2 and T3 as one phase, or hard split (loopback-only first, then remote-with-TLS later)?
+- D3: T4 FIPS — embed an explicit `caller_kind=fips` path in nsigner now, or treat FIPS as plain TCP and revisit identity enrichment after a working deployment?
+- D4: T5b host-side serial — in scope for desktop nsigner, or strictly firmware track?
+- D5: Qubes packaging — ship `packaging/qubes/` artifacts in this repo, or document only and let operators wire it up?
--- a/src/dispatcher.c
+++ b/src/dispatcher.c
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ int mnemonic_generate(int word_count, char *out, size_t out_len);
 #define ROLE_PURPOSE_MAX 32
 #define ROLE_CURVE_MAX 16
 #define ROLE_PUBKEY_HEX_MAX 66 /* 64 hex chars + null + pad */
-#define ROLE_TABLE_MAX_ENTRIES 64
+#define ROLE_TABLE_MAX_ENTRIES 256

 /* Purpose enum for fast comparison (string form kept for config/display) */
 typedef enum {
@@ -239,6 +239,12 @@ typedef enum {
    PROMPT_DENY
 } prompt_mode_t;

+typedef enum {
+    POLICY_SOURCE_DEFAULT = 0,   /* the catch-all entry */
+    POLICY_SOURCE_PREAPPROVE,    /* from --preapprove CLI flag */
+    POLICY_SOURCE_SESSION_GRANT  /* from prompt [a] during session */
+} policy_source_t;
+
 /* A single policy entry */
 typedef struct {
    char caller[POLICY_CALLER_MAX_LEN];   /* e.g. "uid:1000" or "*" for any */
@@ -249,6 +255,7 @@ typedef struct {
    char purposes[POLICY_MAX_PURPOSES][ROLE_PURPOSE_MAX];
    int purpose_count;
    prompt_mode_t prompt;
+    policy_source_t source;
 } policy_entry_t;

 /* Policy table */
@@ -277,7 +284,8 @@ int policy_table_add(policy_table_t *table, const policy_entry_t *entry);
 * Returns POLICY_ALLOW, POLICY_DENY, POLICY_PROMPT, or POLICY_NO_MATCH.
 */
 int policy_check(const policy_table_t *table, const char *caller_id,
-                 const char *verb, const char *role_name, const char *purpose);
+                 const char *verb, const char *role_name, const char *purpose,
+                 policy_source_t *out_source);

 /* Parse prompt mode from string */
 prompt_mode_t prompt_mode_from_str(const char *s);
@@ -584,7 +592,10 @@ char *dispatcher_handle_request(dispatcher_ctx_t *ctx, const char *json_request)

    selector_request_init(&selector_req);

-    options_item = cJSON_GetArrayItem(params_item, 1);
+    {
+        int params_count = cJSON_GetArraySize(params_item);
+        options_item = (params_count > 0) ? cJSON_GetArrayItem(params_item, params_count - 1) : NULL;
+    }
    if (cJSON_IsObject(options_item)) {
        tmp = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(options_item, "role");
        if (tmp != NULL) {
--- a/src/enforcement.c
+++ b/src/enforcement.c
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ int mnemonic_generate(int word_count, char *out, size_t out_len);
 #define ROLE_PURPOSE_MAX 32
 #define ROLE_CURVE_MAX 16
 #define ROLE_PUBKEY_HEX_MAX 66 /* 64 hex chars + null + pad */
-#define ROLE_TABLE_MAX_ENTRIES 64
+#define ROLE_TABLE_MAX_ENTRIES 256

 /* Purpose enum for fast comparison (string form kept for config/display) */
 typedef enum {
@@ -239,6 +239,12 @@ typedef enum {
    PROMPT_DENY
 } prompt_mode_t;

+typedef enum {
+    POLICY_SOURCE_DEFAULT = 0,   /* the catch-all entry */
+    POLICY_SOURCE_PREAPPROVE,    /* from --preapprove CLI flag */
+    POLICY_SOURCE_SESSION_GRANT  /* from prompt [a] during session */
+} policy_source_t;
+
 /* A single policy entry */
 typedef struct {
    char caller[POLICY_CALLER_MAX_LEN];   /* e.g. "uid:1000" or "*" for any */
@@ -249,6 +255,7 @@ typedef struct {
    char purposes[POLICY_MAX_PURPOSES][ROLE_PURPOSE_MAX];
    int purpose_count;
    prompt_mode_t prompt;
+    policy_source_t source;
 } policy_entry_t;

 /* Policy table */
@@ -277,7 +284,8 @@ int policy_table_add(policy_table_t *table, const policy_entry_t *entry);
 * Returns POLICY_ALLOW, POLICY_DENY, POLICY_PROMPT, or POLICY_NO_MATCH.
 */
 int policy_check(const policy_table_t *table, const char *caller_id,
-                 const char *verb, const char *role_name, const char *purpose);
+                 const char *verb, const char *role_name, const char *purpose,
+                 policy_source_t *out_source);

 /* Parse prompt mode from string */
 prompt_mode_t prompt_mode_from_str(const char *s);
--- a/src/key_store.c
+++ b/src/key_store.c
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ int mnemonic_generate(int word_count, char *out, size_t out_len);
 #define ROLE_PURPOSE_MAX 32
 #define ROLE_CURVE_MAX 16
 #define ROLE_PUBKEY_HEX_MAX 66 /* 64 hex chars + null + pad */
-#define ROLE_TABLE_MAX_ENTRIES 64
+#define ROLE_TABLE_MAX_ENTRIES 256

 /* Purpose enum for fast comparison (string form kept for config/display) */
 typedef enum {
@@ -241,6 +241,12 @@ typedef enum {
    PROMPT_DENY
 } prompt_mode_t;

+typedef enum {
+    POLICY_SOURCE_DEFAULT = 0,   /* the catch-all entry */
+    POLICY_SOURCE_PREAPPROVE,    /* from --preapprove CLI flag */
+    POLICY_SOURCE_SESSION_GRANT  /* from prompt [a] during session */
+} policy_source_t;
+
 /* A single policy entry */
 typedef struct {
    char caller[POLICY_CALLER_MAX_LEN];   /* e.g. "uid:1000" or "*" for any */
@@ -251,6 +257,7 @@ typedef struct {
    char purposes[POLICY_MAX_PURPOSES][ROLE_PURPOSE_MAX];
    int purpose_count;
    prompt_mode_t prompt;
+    policy_source_t source;
 } policy_entry_t;

 /* Policy table */
@@ -279,7 +286,8 @@ int policy_table_add(policy_table_t *table, const policy_entry_t *entry);
 * Returns POLICY_ALLOW, POLICY_DENY, POLICY_PROMPT, or POLICY_NO_MATCH.
 */
 int policy_check(const policy_table_t *table, const char *caller_id,
-                 const char *verb, const char *role_name, const char *purpose);
+                 const char *verb, const char *role_name, const char *purpose,
+                 policy_source_t *out_source);

 /* Parse prompt mode from string */
 prompt_mode_t prompt_mode_from_str(const char *s);
@@ -312,6 +320,9 @@ typedef struct {
 * Returns number of keys derived, or -1 on error. */
 int crypto_derive_all(key_store_t *store, role_table_t *table, const mnemonic_state_t *mnemonic);

+/* Derive key for exactly one role index. Returns 0 on success, -1 on error. */
+int crypto_derive_one(key_store_t *store, role_table_t *table, const mnemonic_state_t *mnemonic, int role_index);
+
 /* Get the derived private key for a role (by table index). Returns NULL if not derived. */
 const unsigned char *crypto_get_private_key(const key_store_t *store, int role_index);

@@ -520,6 +531,74 @@ int crypto_derive_all(key_store_t *store, role_table_t *table, const mnemonic_st
    return derived_count;
 }

+int crypto_derive_one(key_store_t *store, role_table_t *table, const mnemonic_state_t *mnemonic, int role_index) {
+    role_entry_t *role;
+    derived_key_t *dst;
+    unsigned char priv[32];
+    unsigned char pub[32];
+
+    if (store == NULL || table == NULL || mnemonic == NULL) {
+        return -1;
+    }
+
+    if (!mnemonic_is_loaded(mnemonic)) {
+        return -1;
+    }
+
+    if (role_index < 0 || role_index >= table->count || role_index >= ROLE_TABLE_MAX_ENTRIES) {
+        return -1;
+    }
+
+    role = &table->entries[role_index];
+    dst = &store->keys[role_index];
+
+    role->derived = 0;
+    role->pubkey_hex[0] = '\0';
+
+    secure_buf_free(&dst->private_key);
+    secure_memzero(dst->public_key, sizeof(dst->public_key));
+    secure_memzero(dst->pubkey_hex, sizeof(dst->pubkey_hex));
+    secure_memzero(dst->npub, sizeof(dst->npub));
+    dst->valid = 0;
+
+    if (role->purpose != PURPOSE_NOSTR ||
+        role->curve != CURVE_SECP256K1 ||
+        role->selector_type != SELECTOR_NOSTR_INDEX) {
+        return -1;
+    }
+
+    if (secure_buf_alloc(&dst->private_key, 32) != 0) {
+        return -1;
+    }
+
+    if (nostr_derive_keys_from_mnemonic(mnemonic_get_phrase(mnemonic), role->nostr_index, priv, pub) != 0) {
+        secure_memzero(priv, sizeof(priv));
+        secure_memzero(pub, sizeof(pub));
+        secure_buf_free(&dst->private_key);
+        return -1;
+    }
+
+    memcpy(dst->private_key.data, priv, 32);
+    memcpy(dst->public_key, pub, 32);
+
+    nostr_bytes_to_hex(pub, 32, dst->pubkey_hex);
+    dst->npub[0] = '\0';
+    (void)nostr_key_to_bech32(pub, "npub", dst->npub);
+
+    strncpy(role->pubkey_hex, dst->pubkey_hex, sizeof(role->pubkey_hex) - 1);
+    role->pubkey_hex[sizeof(role->pubkey_hex) - 1] = '\0';
+    role->derived = 1;
+
+    dst->valid = 1;
+    if (store->count < table->count) {
+        store->count = table->count;
+    }
+
+    secure_memzero(priv, sizeof(priv));
+    secure_memzero(pub, sizeof(pub));
+    return 0;
+}
+
 const unsigned char *crypto_get_private_key(const key_store_t *store, int role_index) {
    if (store == NULL || role_index < 0 || role_index >= ROLE_TABLE_MAX_ENTRIES) {
        return NULL;
--- a/src/main.c
+++ b/src/main.c
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ int mnemonic_generate(int word_count, char *out, size_t out_len);
 #define ROLE_PURPOSE_MAX 32
 #define ROLE_CURVE_MAX 16
 #define ROLE_PUBKEY_HEX_MAX 66 /* 64 hex chars + null + pad */
-#define ROLE_TABLE_MAX_ENTRIES 64
+#define ROLE_TABLE_MAX_ENTRIES 256

 /* Purpose enum for fast comparison (string form kept for config/display) */
 typedef enum {
@@ -151,6 +151,9 @@ const char *role_purpose_to_str(role_purpose_t p);
 /* Curve enum to string */
 const char *role_curve_to_str(role_curve_t c);

+/* Register a nostr-index role if missing. Returns 0 on success, -1 on error. */
+int role_table_register_nostr_index(role_table_t *table, int nostr_index);
+

 /* from selector.h */

@@ -241,6 +244,12 @@ typedef enum {
    PROMPT_DENY
 } prompt_mode_t;

+typedef enum {
+    POLICY_SOURCE_DEFAULT = 0,   /* the catch-all entry */
+    POLICY_SOURCE_PREAPPROVE,    /* from --preapprove CLI flag */
+    POLICY_SOURCE_SESSION_GRANT  /* from prompt [a] during session */
+} policy_source_t;
+
 /* A single policy entry */
 typedef struct {
    char caller[POLICY_CALLER_MAX_LEN];   /* e.g. "uid:1000" or "*" for any */
@@ -251,6 +260,7 @@ typedef struct {
    char purposes[POLICY_MAX_PURPOSES][ROLE_PURPOSE_MAX];
    int purpose_count;
    prompt_mode_t prompt;
+    policy_source_t source;
 } policy_entry_t;

 /* Policy table */
@@ -274,12 +284,19 @@ void policy_init_default(policy_table_t *table, uid_t owner_uid);
 /* Add a policy entry. Returns 0 on success, -1 if full. */
 int policy_table_add(policy_table_t *table, const policy_entry_t *entry);

+/* Insert an entry before the final catch-all rule. */
+int policy_table_insert_before_last(policy_table_t *table, const policy_entry_t *entry);
+
+/* Parse a --preapprove spec into a policy entry. */
+int parse_preapprove_spec(const char *spec, policy_entry_t *out_entry, int *out_nostr_index);
+
 /*
 * Check whether caller_id is allowed to invoke `verb` on `role_name` with given `purpose`.
 * Returns POLICY_ALLOW, POLICY_DENY, POLICY_PROMPT, or POLICY_NO_MATCH.
 */
 int policy_check(const policy_table_t *table, const char *caller_id,
-                 const char *verb, const char *role_name, const char *purpose);
+                 const char *verb, const char *role_name, const char *purpose,
+                 policy_source_t *out_source);

 /* Parse prompt mode from string */
 prompt_mode_t prompt_mode_from_str(const char *s);
@@ -373,12 +390,19 @@ char *dispatcher_handle_request(dispatcher_ctx_t *ctx, const char *json_request)
 #define SERVER_SOCKET_NAME_MAX 108
 #define SERVER_MAX_MSG_SIZE    65536

+#define NSIGNER_LISTEN_UNIX   0
+#define NSIGNER_LISTEN_STDIO  1
+#define NSIGNER_LISTEN_QREXEC 2
+#define NSIGNER_LISTEN_TCP    3
+
 /* Caller identity */
 typedef struct {
    uid_t uid;
    gid_t gid;
    pid_t pid;
-    char caller_id[64];  /* "uid:<n>" */
+    int kind;
+    char caller_id[64];     /* "uid:<n>" or "qubes:<vm>" */
+    char source_qube[64];
 } caller_identity_t;

 /* Server context */
@@ -387,6 +411,8 @@ typedef struct {
    char last_error[256];
    int listen_fd;
    int running;
+    int listen_mode;
+    int stdio_handled;
    dispatcher_ctx_t *dispatcher;
    policy_table_t *policy;
    int socket_name_explicit;
@@ -395,6 +421,7 @@ typedef struct {
 /* Initialize server context. socket_name is the abstract namespace name (e.g. "nsigner").
 * socket_name_explicit should be non-zero when provided via --socket-name override. */
 void server_init(server_ctx_t *ctx, const char *socket_name, int socket_name_explicit,
+                 int listen_mode,
                 dispatcher_ctx_t *dispatcher, policy_table_t *policy);

 /* Start listening. Returns 0 on success, -1 on error. */
@@ -441,12 +468,15 @@ int socket_name_random(char *out, size_t out_len);
 /* Version information (auto-updated by build/version tooling) */
 #define NSIGNER_VERSION_MAJOR 0
 #define NSIGNER_VERSION_MINOR 0
-#define NSIGNER_VERSION_PATCH 5
-#define NSIGNER_VERSION "v0.0.5"
+#define NSIGNER_VERSION_PATCH 18
+#define NSIGNER_VERSION "v0.0.18"


 /* NSIGNER_HEADERLESS_DECLS_END */

+int transport_send_framed(int fd, const char *payload);
+int transport_recv_framed(int fd, char **out_payload, size_t max_size);
+
 #include <nostr_core/nostr_common.h>

 #include <arpa/inet.h>
@@ -462,6 +492,7 @@ int socket_name_random(char *out, size_t out_len);
 #include <sys/types.h>
 #include <sys/un.h>
 #include <termios.h>
+#include <time.h>
 #include <unistd.h>

 #define NSIGNER_DEFAULT_SOCKET_NAME "nsigner"
@@ -501,100 +532,6 @@ static int read_line_stdin(char *buf, size_t buf_sz) {
    return 0;
 }

-static int read_full(int fd, void *buf, size_t len) {
-    unsigned char *p = (unsigned char *)buf;
-    size_t off = 0;
-
-    while (off < len) {
-        ssize_t n = read(fd, p + off, len - off);
-        if (n == 0) {
-            return -1;
-        }
-        if (n < 0) {
-            if (errno == EINTR) {
-                continue;
-            }
-            return -1;
-        }
-        off += (size_t)n;
-    }
-
-    return 0;
-}
-
-static int write_full(int fd, const void *buf, size_t len) {
-    const unsigned char *p = (const unsigned char *)buf;
-    size_t off = 0;
-
-    while (off < len) {
-        ssize_t n = write(fd, p + off, len - off);
-        if (n < 0) {
-            if (errno == EINTR) {
-                continue;
-            }
-            return -1;
-        }
-        off += (size_t)n;
-    }
-
-    return 0;
-}
-
-static int send_framed(int fd, const char *payload) {
-    uint32_t len;
-    uint32_t be_len;
-
-    if (payload == NULL) {
-        return -1;
-    }
-
-    len = (uint32_t)strlen(payload);
-    be_len = htonl(len);
-
-    if (write_full(fd, &be_len, sizeof(be_len)) != 0) {
-        return -1;
-    }
-    if (write_full(fd, payload, len) != 0) {
-        return -1;
-    }
-
-    return 0;
-}
-
-static int recv_framed(int fd, char **out_payload) {
-    uint32_t be_len;
-    uint32_t len;
-    char *payload;
-
-    if (out_payload == NULL) {
-        return -1;
-    }
-
-    *out_payload = NULL;
-
-    if (read_full(fd, &be_len, sizeof(be_len)) != 0) {
-        return -1;
-    }
-
-    len = ntohl(be_len);
-    if (len == 0 || len > SERVER_MAX_MSG_SIZE) {
-        return -1;
-    }
-
-    payload = (char *)malloc((size_t)len + 1U);
-    if (payload == NULL) {
-        return -1;
-    }
-
-    if (read_full(fd, payload, len) != 0) {
-        free(payload);
-        return -1;
-    }
-
-    payload[len] = '\0';
-    *out_payload = payload;
-    return 0;
-}

 static int connect_abstract_socket(const char *name) {
    int fd;
@@ -628,12 +565,17 @@ static int connect_abstract_socket(const char *name) {
 static void print_usage(const char *program_name) {
    printf("nsigner - single-binary signer program\n");
    printf("Usage:\n");
-    printf("  %s [--socket-name|--name|-n <name>]       Run signer server + built-in TUI\n", program_name);
+    printf("  %s [--socket-name|--name|-n <name>] [--listen <unix|stdio|qrexec|tcp:HOST:PORT>]\n", program_name);
+    printf("                                           [--preapprove <SPEC>]...\n");
+    printf("                                           Run signer server (unix mode has TUI)\n");
    printf("  %s [--socket-name|--name|-n <name>] client '<json>' Send JSON-RPC request\n", program_name);
    printf("  %s [--socket-name|--name|-n <name>] client -        Read JSON-RPC request from stdin\n", program_name);
    printf("  %s list                                    List running nsigner abstract sockets\n", program_name);
    printf("  %s --help\n", program_name);
    printf("  %s --version\n", program_name);
+    printf("\nOptions:\n");
+    printf("  --preapprove SPEC   Pre-approve a caller for a role (repeatable)\n");
+    printf("                      SPEC: caller=<id>,role=<name> or caller=<id>,nostr_index=<n>\n");
 }

 static int extract_nsigner_socket_from_proc_line(const char *line,
@@ -778,13 +720,13 @@ static int client_main(int argc, char *argv[], const char *socket_name, int sock
        return 1;
    }

-    if (send_framed(fd, request) != 0) {
+    if (transport_send_framed(fd, request) != 0) {
        perror("send");
        close(fd);
        return 1;
    }

-    if (recv_framed(fd, &response) != 0) {
+    if (transport_recv_framed(fd, &response, SERVER_MAX_MSG_SIZE) != 0) {
        perror("recv");
        close(fd);
        return 1;
@@ -799,18 +741,54 @@ static int client_main(int argc, char *argv[], const char *socket_name, int sock

 static void activity_log_cb(const char *message, void *user_data) {
    int idx;
+    time_t now;
+    struct tm tm_now;
+    char ts[16];

    (void)user_data;
    if (message == NULL) {
        return;
    }

+    now = time(NULL);
+    if (localtime_r(&now, &tm_now) != NULL) {
+        (void)strftime(ts, sizeof(ts), "%m%d-%H%M%S", &tm_now);
+    } else {
+        strncpy(ts, "0000-000000", sizeof(ts) - 1);
+        ts[sizeof(ts) - 1] = '\0';
+    }
+
    idx = g_activity_log.count % ACTIVITY_LOG_CAP;
-    strncpy(g_activity_log.lines[idx], message, sizeof(g_activity_log.lines[idx]) - 1);
-    g_activity_log.lines[idx][sizeof(g_activity_log.lines[idx]) - 1] = '\0';
+    (void)snprintf(g_activity_log.lines[idx],
+                   sizeof(g_activity_log.lines[idx]),
+                   "%s %s",
+                   ts,
+                   message);
    g_activity_log.count++;
 }

+static void tcp_activity_stdout_cb(const char *message, void *user_data) {
+    time_t now;
+    struct tm tm_now;
+    char ts[32];
+
+    (void)user_data;
+    if (message == NULL) {
+        return;
+    }
+
+    now = time(NULL);
+    if (localtime_r(&now, &tm_now) != NULL) {
+        (void)strftime(ts, sizeof(ts), "%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S", &tm_now);
+    } else {
+        strncpy(ts, "0000-00-00 00:00:00", sizeof(ts) - 1);
+        ts[sizeof(ts) - 1] = '\0';
+    }
+
+    printf("[%s] %s\n", ts, message);
+    fflush(stdout);
+}
+
 static void render_status(const role_table_t *role_table,
                          const mnemonic_state_t *mnemonic,
                          int derived_count,
@@ -850,7 +828,7 @@ static void render_status(const role_table_t *role_table,
    }

    printf("\nHotkeys\n-------\n");
-    printf("q quit  l lock/reunlock  r refresh  a toggle auto-approve(prompt): %s\n",
+    printf("q/x quit  l lock/reunlock  r refresh  A toggle auto-approve(prompt): %s\n",
           g_auto_approve ? "ON" : "OFF");
    fflush(stdout);
 }
@@ -878,87 +856,105 @@ static int setup_default_role(role_table_t *role_table) {
 static int prompt_load_mnemonic(mnemonic_state_t *mnemonic) {
    char phrase[MNEMONIC_MAX_LEN];
    char phrase_copy[MNEMONIC_MAX_LEN];
-    char mode[16];
-    struct termios old_term;
-    struct termios new_term;
-    int have_term = 0;
+    char mode[MNEMONIC_MAX_LEN];
+    int invalid_attempts = 0;
+    const int max_invalid_attempts = 10;

    if (mnemonic == NULL) {
        return -1;
    }

-    printf("Mnemonic source: [E]nter existing or [G]enerate new (default E): ");
-    fflush(stdout);
-    if (read_line_stdin(mode, sizeof(mode)) != 0) {
-        fprintf(stderr, "Failed to read mnemonic source choice\n");
-        return -1;
-    }
-
-    if (mode[0] == 'g' || mode[0] == 'G') {
-        int idx = 1;
-        char *ctx = NULL;
-        char *word;
-
-        if (mnemonic_generate(12, phrase, sizeof(phrase)) != 0) {
-            fprintf(stderr, "Failed to generate mnemonic\n");
+    while (invalid_attempts < max_invalid_attempts) {
+        printf("Mnemonic source: [E]nter existing or [G]enerate new (default E; you can also paste mnemonic here): ");
+        fflush(stdout);
+        if (read_line_stdin(mode, sizeof(mode)) != 0) {
+            fprintf(stderr, "Failed to read mnemonic source choice\n");
            return -1;
        }

-        strncpy(phrase_copy, phrase, sizeof(phrase_copy) - 1);
-        phrase_copy[sizeof(phrase_copy) - 1] = '\0';
-
-        printf("\nGenerated mnemonic (WRITE THIS DOWN - it will not be shown again):\n");
-        word = strtok_r(phrase_copy, " ", &ctx);
-        while (word != NULL) {
-            printf("%2d. %s\n", idx, word);
-            idx++;
-            word = strtok_r(NULL, " ", &ctx);
+        if ((mode[0] == 'q' || mode[0] == 'Q' || mode[0] == 'x' || mode[0] == 'X') && mode[1] == '\0') {
+            fprintf(stderr, "User requested exit.\n");
+            return -1;
        }

-        if (mnemonic_load(mnemonic, phrase) != 0) {
+        if (strchr(mode, ' ') != NULL && mode[0] != 'g' && mode[0] != 'G') {
+            if (mnemonic_load(mnemonic, mode) == 0) {
+                printf("Seed phrase is valid and accepted.\n");
+                return 0;
+            }
+
+            invalid_attempts++;
+            fprintf(stderr,
+                    "Invalid mnemonic (must be 12/15/18/21/24 words). Attempts: %d/%d\n",
+                    invalid_attempts,
+                    max_invalid_attempts);
+            continue;
+        }
+
+        if (mode[0] == 'g' || mode[0] == 'G') {
+            int idx = 1;
+            char *ctx = NULL;
+            char *word;
+
+            if (mnemonic_generate(12, phrase, sizeof(phrase)) != 0) {
+                fprintf(stderr, "Failed to generate mnemonic\n");
+                return -1;
+            }
+
+            strncpy(phrase_copy, phrase, sizeof(phrase_copy) - 1);
+            phrase_copy[sizeof(phrase_copy) - 1] = '\0';
+
+            printf("\nGenerated mnemonic (WRITE THIS DOWN - it will not be shown again):\n");
+            word = strtok_r(phrase_copy, " ", &ctx);
+            while (word != NULL) {
+                printf("%2d. %s\n", idx, word);
+                idx++;
+                word = strtok_r(NULL, " ", &ctx);
+            }
+
+            if (mnemonic_load(mnemonic, phrase) != 0) {
+                memset(phrase, 0, sizeof(phrase));
+                memset(phrase_copy, 0, sizeof(phrase_copy));
+                fprintf(stderr, "Failed to load generated mnemonic\n");
+                return -1;
+            }
+
+            printf("Seed phrase is valid and accepted.\n");
            memset(phrase, 0, sizeof(phrase));
            memset(phrase_copy, 0, sizeof(phrase_copy));
-            fprintf(stderr, "Failed to load generated mnemonic\n");
+            return 0;
+        }
+
+        printf("Enter mnemonic (12/15/18/21/24 words): ");
+        fflush(stdout);
+
+        if (read_line_stdin(phrase, sizeof(phrase)) != 0) {
+            fprintf(stderr, "Failed to read mnemonic\n");
            return -1;
        }

-        memset(phrase, 0, sizeof(phrase));
-        memset(phrase_copy, 0, sizeof(phrase_copy));
-        return 0;
-    }
-
-    printf("Enter mnemonic (12/15/18/21/24 words): ");
-    fflush(stdout);
-
-    if (isatty(STDIN_FILENO) && tcgetattr(STDIN_FILENO, &old_term) == 0) {
-        new_term = old_term;
-        new_term.c_lflag &= (tcflag_t)~ECHO;
-        if (tcsetattr(STDIN_FILENO, TCSANOW, &new_term) == 0) {
-            have_term = 1;
+        if ((phrase[0] == 'q' || phrase[0] == 'Q' || phrase[0] == 'x' || phrase[0] == 'X') && phrase[1] == '\0') {
+            memset(phrase, 0, sizeof(phrase));
+            fprintf(stderr, "User requested exit.\n");
+            return -1;
        }
-    }

-    if (read_line_stdin(phrase, sizeof(phrase)) != 0) {
-        if (have_term) {
-            (void)tcsetattr(STDIN_FILENO, TCSANOW, &old_term);
+        if (mnemonic_load(mnemonic, phrase) == 0) {
+            printf("Seed phrase is valid and accepted.\n");
+            memset(phrase, 0, sizeof(phrase));
+            return 0;
        }
-        fprintf(stderr, "Failed to read mnemonic\n");
-        return -1;
-    }

-    if (have_term) {
-        (void)tcsetattr(STDIN_FILENO, TCSANOW, &old_term);
-        printf("\n");
-    }
-
-    if (mnemonic_load(mnemonic, phrase) != 0) {
        memset(phrase, 0, sizeof(phrase));
-        fprintf(stderr, "Invalid mnemonic (must be 12/15/18/21/24 words)\n");
-        return -1;
+        invalid_attempts++;
+        fprintf(stderr,
+                "Invalid mnemonic (must be 12/15/18/21/24 words). Attempts: %d/%d\n",
+                invalid_attempts,
+                max_invalid_attempts);
    }

-    memset(phrase, 0, sizeof(phrase));
-    return 0;
+    fprintf(stderr, "Too many invalid mnemonic attempts (%d). Exiting.\n", max_invalid_attempts);
+    return -1;
 }

 static void apply_test_overrides(policy_table_t *policy) {
@@ -994,8 +990,8 @@ static void apply_test_overrides(policy_table_t *policy) {
    if (hotkeys != NULL) {
        const char *p = hotkeys;
        while (*p != '\0') {
-            char ch = (char)tolower((unsigned char)*p);
-            if (ch == 'a') {
+            char ch = *p;
+            if (ch == 'A') {
                g_auto_approve = g_auto_approve ? 0 : 1;
                server_set_prompt_always_allow(g_auto_approve);
            }
@@ -1017,7 +1013,11 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
    const char *socket_name = NSIGNER_DEFAULT_SOCKET_NAME;
    char generated_socket_name[SERVER_SOCKET_NAME_MAX];
    int socket_name_explicit = 0;
+    int listen_mode = NSIGNER_LISTEN_UNIX;
+    const char *listen_target = NSIGNER_DEFAULT_SOCKET_NAME;
    int argi = 1;
+    const char *preapprove_specs[POLICY_MAX_ENTRIES];
+    int preapprove_count = 0;

    while (argi < argc) {
        if (strcmp(argv[argi], "--socket-name") == 0 ||
@@ -1032,14 +1032,56 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
            argi += 2;
            continue;
        }
+        if (strcmp(argv[argi], "--listen") == 0) {
+            if (argi + 1 >= argc) {
+                fprintf(stderr, "Missing value for %s\n", argv[argi]);
+                return 1;
+            }
+            if (strcmp(argv[argi + 1], "unix") == 0) {
+                listen_mode = NSIGNER_LISTEN_UNIX;
+            } else if (strcmp(argv[argi + 1], "stdio") == 0) {
+                listen_mode = NSIGNER_LISTEN_STDIO;
+            } else if (strcmp(argv[argi + 1], "qrexec") == 0) {
+                listen_mode = NSIGNER_LISTEN_QREXEC;
+            } else if (strncmp(argv[argi + 1], "tcp:", 4) == 0) {
+                listen_mode = NSIGNER_LISTEN_TCP;
+                listen_target = argv[argi + 1];
+            } else {
+                fprintf(stderr, "Invalid --listen mode: %s (expected unix|stdio|qrexec|tcp:HOST:PORT)\n", argv[argi + 1]);
+                return 1;
+            }
+            argi += 2;
+            continue;
+        }
+        if (strcmp(argv[argi], "--preapprove") == 0) {
+            if (argi + 1 >= argc) {
+                fprintf(stderr, "Missing value for %s\n", argv[argi]);
+                return 1;
+            }
+            if (preapprove_count >= POLICY_MAX_ENTRIES) {
+                fprintf(stderr, "Too many --preapprove entries (max %d)\n", POLICY_MAX_ENTRIES);
+                return 1;
+            }
+            preapprove_specs[preapprove_count++] = argv[argi + 1];
+            argi += 2;
+            continue;
+        }
        break;
    }

    if (argi < argc && strcmp(argv[argi], "client") == 0) {
+        if (listen_mode != NSIGNER_LISTEN_UNIX) {
+            fprintf(stderr, "--listen is server-only; client mode uses unix abstract sockets\n");
+            return 1;
+        }
        return client_main(argc - argi - 1, argv + argi + 1, socket_name, socket_name_explicit);
    }

    if (argi < argc && strcmp(argv[argi], "list") == 0) {
+        if (listen_mode != NSIGNER_LISTEN_UNIX) {
+            fprintf(stderr, "--listen is server-only; list inspects unix abstract sockets\n");
+            return 1;
+        }
        return list_sockets_main();
    }

@@ -1059,6 +1101,9 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
        return 1;
    }

+    printf("nsigner %s\n", NSIGNER_VERSION);
+    fflush(stdout);
+
    mnemonic_init(&mnemonic);
    if (prompt_load_mnemonic(&mnemonic) != 0) {
        mnemonic_unload(&mnemonic);
@@ -1074,6 +1119,41 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {

    memset(&key_store, 0, sizeof(key_store));

+    owner_uid = getuid();
+    policy_init_default(&policy, owner_uid);
+
+    for (int i = 0; i < preapprove_count; ++i) {
+        policy_entry_t entry;
+        int parsed_nostr_index = -1;
+
+        if (parse_preapprove_spec(preapprove_specs[i], &entry, &parsed_nostr_index) != 0) {
+            mnemonic_unload(&mnemonic);
+            return 1;
+        }
+
+        entry.source = POLICY_SOURCE_PREAPPROVE;
+
+        if (parsed_nostr_index >= 0 && role_table_find_by_nostr_index(&role_table, parsed_nostr_index) == NULL) {
+            if (role_table_register_nostr_index(&role_table, parsed_nostr_index) != 0) {
+                fprintf(stderr,
+                        "ERROR: failed to register role for --preapprove nostr_index=%d\n",
+                        parsed_nostr_index);
+                mnemonic_unload(&mnemonic);
+                return 1;
+            }
+        }
+
+        if (policy_table_insert_before_last(&policy, &entry) != 0) {
+            fprintf(stderr, "ERROR: failed to insert --preapprove policy entry (table full): %s\n", preapprove_specs[i]);
+            mnemonic_unload(&mnemonic);
+            return 1;
+        }
+
+        fprintf(stderr, "[PREAPPROVE] caller=%s role=%s\n", entry.caller, entry.roles[0]);
+    }
+
+    apply_test_overrides(&policy);
+
    if (nostr_init() != 0) {
        fprintf(stderr, "Failed to initialize crypto subsystem\n");
        mnemonic_unload(&mnemonic);
@@ -1090,12 +1170,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {

    dispatcher_init(&dispatcher, &role_table, &mnemonic, &key_store);

-    owner_uid = getuid();
-    policy_init_default(&policy, owner_uid);
-
-    apply_test_overrides(&policy);
-
-    if (!socket_name_explicit) {
+    if (listen_mode == NSIGNER_LISTEN_UNIX && !socket_name_explicit) {
        if (socket_name_random(generated_socket_name, sizeof(generated_socket_name)) != 0) {
            fprintf(stderr, "Failed to generate random socket name\n");
            crypto_wipe(&key_store);
@@ -1106,9 +1181,27 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
        socket_name = generated_socket_name;
    }

-    server_init(&server, socket_name, socket_name_explicit, &dispatcher, &policy);
+    if (listen_mode == NSIGNER_LISTEN_UNIX) {
+        listen_target = socket_name;
+    } else if (listen_mode == NSIGNER_LISTEN_TCP && socket_name_explicit) {
+        fprintf(stderr, "--socket-name is only valid with unix listen mode\n");
+        crypto_wipe(&key_store);
+        nostr_cleanup();
+        mnemonic_unload(&mnemonic);
+        return 1;
+    }
+
+    server_init(&server, listen_target, socket_name_explicit, listen_mode, &dispatcher, &policy);
    if (server_start(&server) != 0) {
-        fprintf(stderr, "Failed to start server on @%s: %s\n", socket_name, server_last_error(&server));
+        if (listen_mode == NSIGNER_LISTEN_UNIX) {
+            fprintf(stderr, "Failed to start server on @%s: %s\n", socket_name, server_last_error(&server));
+        } else if (listen_mode == NSIGNER_LISTEN_TCP) {
+            fprintf(stderr, "Failed to start server on %s: %s\n", listen_target, server_last_error(&server));
+        } else {
+            fprintf(stderr, "Failed to start server (%s): %s\n",
+                    (listen_mode == NSIGNER_LISTEN_QREXEC) ? "qrexec" : "stdio",
+                    server_last_error(&server));
+        }
        crypto_wipe(&key_store);
        nostr_cleanup();
        mnemonic_unload(&mnemonic);
@@ -1118,6 +1211,52 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
    (void)signal(SIGINT, handle_signal);
    (void)signal(SIGTERM, handle_signal);

+    if (listen_mode == NSIGNER_LISTEN_UNIX) {
+        printf("System is ready and waiting for connections on @%s.\n", socket_name);
+    } else if (listen_mode == NSIGNER_LISTEN_TCP) {
+        printf("System is ready and waiting for connections on %s.\n", listen_target);
+    } else if (listen_mode == NSIGNER_LISTEN_QREXEC) {
+        printf("System is ready and waiting for a qrexec request.\n");
+    } else {
+        printf("System is ready and waiting for a stdio request.\n");
+    }
+    fflush(stdout);
+
+    if (listen_mode == NSIGNER_LISTEN_STDIO || listen_mode == NSIGNER_LISTEN_QREXEC) {
+        int hrc = server_handle_one(&server, NULL, NULL);
+        server_stop(&server);
+        crypto_wipe(&key_store);
+        nostr_cleanup();
+        mnemonic_unload(&mnemonic);
+        return (hrc < 0) ? 1 : 0;
+    }
+
+    if (listen_mode == NSIGNER_LISTEN_TCP) {
+        pfds[0].fd = server.listen_fd;
+        pfds[0].events = POLLIN;
+
+        while (g_running && server.running) {
+            int prc = poll(pfds, 1, 200);
+            if (prc < 0) {
+                if (errno == EINTR) {
+                    continue;
+                }
+                break;
+            }
+            if (prc > 0 && (pfds[0].revents & POLLIN)) {
+                if (server_handle_one(&server, tcp_activity_stdout_cb, NULL) < 0) {
+                    break;
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        server_stop(&server);
+        crypto_wipe(&key_store);
+        nostr_cleanup();
+        mnemonic_unload(&mnemonic);
+        return 0;
+    }
+
    memset(&g_activity_log, 0, sizeof(g_activity_log));
    g_auto_approve = 0;
    server_set_prompt_always_allow(0);
@@ -1148,16 +1287,16 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
        if (prc > 0 && (pfds[1].revents & POLLIN)) {
            char ch = '\0';
            if (read(STDIN_FILENO, &ch, 1) > 0) {
-                ch = (char)tolower((unsigned char)ch);
-                if (ch == 'q') {
+                char lower = (char)tolower((unsigned char)ch);
+                if (lower == 'q' || lower == 'x') {
                    g_running = 0;
-                } else if (ch == 'r') {
+                } else if (lower == 'r') {
                    render_status(&role_table, &mnemonic, derived_count, socket_name);
-                } else if (ch == 'a') {
+                } else if (ch == 'A') {
                    g_auto_approve = g_auto_approve ? 0 : 1;
                    server_set_prompt_always_allow(g_auto_approve);
                    render_status(&role_table, &mnemonic, derived_count, socket_name);
-                } else if (ch == 'l') {
+                } else if (lower == 'l') {
                    printf("\n[lock] Session locked. Re-enter mnemonic to unlock.\n");
                    fflush(stdout);
                    crypto_wipe(&key_store);
--- a/src/mnemonic.c
+++ b/src/mnemonic.c
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ int mnemonic_generate(int word_count, char *out, size_t out_len);
 #define ROLE_PURPOSE_MAX 32
 #define ROLE_CURVE_MAX 16
 #define ROLE_PUBKEY_HEX_MAX 66 /* 64 hex chars + null + pad */
-#define ROLE_TABLE_MAX_ENTRIES 64
+#define ROLE_TABLE_MAX_ENTRIES 256

 /* Purpose enum for fast comparison (string form kept for config/display) */
 typedef enum {
@@ -239,6 +239,12 @@ typedef enum {
    PROMPT_DENY
 } prompt_mode_t;

+typedef enum {
+    POLICY_SOURCE_DEFAULT = 0,   /* the catch-all entry */
+    POLICY_SOURCE_PREAPPROVE,    /* from --preapprove CLI flag */
+    POLICY_SOURCE_SESSION_GRANT  /* from prompt [a] during session */
+} policy_source_t;
+
 /* A single policy entry */
 typedef struct {
    char caller[POLICY_CALLER_MAX_LEN];   /* e.g. "uid:1000" or "*" for any */
@@ -249,6 +255,7 @@ typedef struct {
    char purposes[POLICY_MAX_PURPOSES][ROLE_PURPOSE_MAX];
    int purpose_count;
    prompt_mode_t prompt;
+    policy_source_t source;
 } policy_entry_t;

 /* Policy table */
@@ -277,7 +284,8 @@ int policy_table_add(policy_table_t *table, const policy_entry_t *entry);
 * Returns POLICY_ALLOW, POLICY_DENY, POLICY_PROMPT, or POLICY_NO_MATCH.
 */
 int policy_check(const policy_table_t *table, const char *caller_id,
-                 const char *verb, const char *role_name, const char *purpose);
+                 const char *verb, const char *role_name, const char *purpose,
+                 policy_source_t *out_source);

 /* Parse prompt mode from string */
 prompt_mode_t prompt_mode_from_str(const char *s);
--- a/src/policy.c
+++ b/src/policy.c
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ int mnemonic_generate(int word_count, char *out, size_t out_len);
 #define ROLE_PURPOSE_MAX 32
 #define ROLE_CURVE_MAX 16
 #define ROLE_PUBKEY_HEX_MAX 66 /* 64 hex chars + null + pad */
-#define ROLE_TABLE_MAX_ENTRIES 64
+#define ROLE_TABLE_MAX_ENTRIES 256

 /* Purpose enum for fast comparison (string form kept for config/display) */
 typedef enum {
@@ -239,6 +239,12 @@ typedef enum {
    PROMPT_DENY
 } prompt_mode_t;

+typedef enum {
+    POLICY_SOURCE_DEFAULT = 0,   /* the catch-all entry */
+    POLICY_SOURCE_PREAPPROVE,    /* from --preapprove CLI flag */
+    POLICY_SOURCE_SESSION_GRANT  /* from prompt [a] during session */
+} policy_source_t;
+
 /* A single policy entry */
 typedef struct {
    char caller[POLICY_CALLER_MAX_LEN];   /* e.g. "uid:1000" or "*" for any */
@@ -249,6 +255,7 @@ typedef struct {
    char purposes[POLICY_MAX_PURPOSES][ROLE_PURPOSE_MAX];
    int purpose_count;
    prompt_mode_t prompt;
+    policy_source_t source;
 } policy_entry_t;

 /* Policy table */
@@ -277,7 +284,8 @@ int policy_table_add(policy_table_t *table, const policy_entry_t *entry);
 * Returns POLICY_ALLOW, POLICY_DENY, POLICY_PROMPT, or POLICY_NO_MATCH.
 */
 int policy_check(const policy_table_t *table, const char *caller_id,
-                 const char *verb, const char *role_name, const char *purpose);
+                 const char *verb, const char *role_name, const char *purpose,
+                 policy_source_t *out_source);

 /* Parse prompt mode from string */
 prompt_mode_t prompt_mode_from_str(const char *s);
@@ -440,7 +448,9 @@ int socket_name_random(char *out, size_t out_len);

 /* NSIGNER_HEADERLESS_DECLS_END */

+#include <errno.h>
 #include <stdio.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
 #include <string.h>

 static void copy_str(char *dst, size_t dst_sz, const char *src) {
@@ -540,6 +550,112 @@ const char *prompt_mode_to_str(prompt_mode_t m) {
    }
 }

+int parse_preapprove_spec(const char *spec, policy_entry_t *out_entry, int *out_nostr_index) {
+    char *spec_copy;
+    char *token;
+    const char *caller = NULL;
+    const char *role = NULL;
+    int nostr_index = -1;
+    int has_role = 0;
+    int has_nostr_index = 0;
+
+    if (out_nostr_index != NULL) {
+        *out_nostr_index = -1;
+    }
+
+    if (spec == NULL || out_entry == NULL) {
+        fprintf(stderr, "ERROR: invalid --preapprove arguments\n");
+        return -1;
+    }
+
+    spec_copy = (char *)malloc(strlen(spec) + 1);
+    if (spec_copy == NULL) {
+        fprintf(stderr, "ERROR: out of memory parsing --preapprove spec: %s\n", spec);
+        return -1;
+    }
+    memcpy(spec_copy, spec, strlen(spec) + 1);
+
+    token = strtok(spec_copy, ",");
+    while (token != NULL) {
+        char *eq = strchr(token, '=');
+        if (eq == NULL || eq == token || eq[1] == '\0') {
+            fprintf(stderr, "ERROR: invalid --preapprove key=value field: %s\n", spec);
+            free(spec_copy);
+            return -1;
+        }
+
+        *eq = '\0';
+        if (strcmp(token, "caller") == 0) {
+            caller = eq + 1;
+        } else if (strcmp(token, "role") == 0) {
+            role = eq + 1;
+            has_role = 1;
+        } else if (strcmp(token, "nostr_index") == 0) {
+            char *endptr = NULL;
+            long val;
+
+            errno = 0;
+            val = strtol(eq + 1, &endptr, 10);
+            if (errno != 0 || endptr == (eq + 1) || *endptr != '\0' || val < 0) {
+                fprintf(stderr, "ERROR: --preapprove spec has invalid nostr_index= value: %s\n", spec);
+                free(spec_copy);
+                return -1;
+            }
+            nostr_index = (int)val;
+            has_nostr_index = 1;
+        } else {
+            fprintf(stderr, "ERROR: unknown --preapprove field '%s' in spec: %s\n", token, spec);
+            free(spec_copy);
+            return -1;
+        }
+
+        token = strtok(NULL, ",");
+    }
+
+    if (caller == NULL) {
+        fprintf(stderr, "ERROR: --preapprove spec missing 'caller=' field: %s\n", spec);
+        free(spec_copy);
+        return -1;
+    }
+
+    if (!has_role && !has_nostr_index) {
+        fprintf(stderr, "ERROR: --preapprove spec must include 'role=' or 'nostr_index=': %s\n", spec);
+        free(spec_copy);
+        return -1;
+    }
+
+    if (has_role && has_nostr_index) {
+        fprintf(stderr, "ERROR: --preapprove spec has both 'role=' and 'nostr_index=' (use one): %s\n", spec);
+        free(spec_copy);
+        return -1;
+    }
+
+    memset(out_entry, 0, sizeof(*out_entry));
+    strncpy(out_entry->caller, caller, sizeof(out_entry->caller) - 1);
+    out_entry->caller[sizeof(out_entry->caller) - 1] = '\0';
+
+    if (has_role) {
+        strncpy(out_entry->roles[0], role, sizeof(out_entry->roles[0]) - 1);
+        out_entry->roles[0][sizeof(out_entry->roles[0]) - 1] = '\0';
+    } else {
+        if (nostr_index == 0) {
+            strncpy(out_entry->roles[0], "main", sizeof(out_entry->roles[0]) - 1);
+            out_entry->roles[0][sizeof(out_entry->roles[0]) - 1] = '\0';
+        } else {
+            (void)snprintf(out_entry->roles[0], sizeof(out_entry->roles[0]), "nostr_idx_%d", nostr_index);
+        }
+        if (out_nostr_index != NULL) {
+            *out_nostr_index = nostr_index;
+        }
+    }
+
+    out_entry->role_count = 1;
+    out_entry->prompt = PROMPT_NEVER;
+
+    free(spec_copy);
+    return 0;
+}
+
 void policy_table_init(policy_table_t *table) {
    if (table == NULL) {
        return;
@@ -549,8 +665,9 @@ void policy_table_init(policy_table_t *table) {
 }

 void policy_init_default(policy_table_t *table, uid_t owner_uid) {
-    policy_entry_t allow_owner;
-    policy_entry_t deny_all;
+    policy_entry_t prompt_all;
+
+    (void)owner_uid;

    if (table == NULL) {
        return;
@@ -558,15 +675,11 @@ void policy_init_default(policy_table_t *table, uid_t owner_uid) {

    policy_table_init(table);

-    memset(&allow_owner, 0, sizeof(allow_owner));
-    (void)snprintf(allow_owner.caller, sizeof(allow_owner.caller), "uid:%u", (unsigned int)owner_uid);
-    allow_owner.prompt = PROMPT_NEVER;
-    (void)policy_table_add(table, &allow_owner);
-
-    memset(&deny_all, 0, sizeof(deny_all));
-    copy_str(deny_all.caller, sizeof(deny_all.caller), "*");
-    deny_all.prompt = PROMPT_DENY;
-    (void)policy_table_add(table, &deny_all);
+    memset(&prompt_all, 0, sizeof(prompt_all));
+    copy_str(prompt_all.caller, sizeof(prompt_all.caller), "*");
+    prompt_all.prompt = PROMPT_EVERY_REQUEST;
+    prompt_all.source = POLICY_SOURCE_DEFAULT;
+    (void)policy_table_add(table, &prompt_all);
 }

 int policy_table_add(policy_table_t *table, const policy_entry_t *entry) {
@@ -583,10 +696,34 @@ int policy_table_add(policy_table_t *table, const policy_entry_t *entry) {
    return 0;
 }

+int policy_table_insert_before_last(policy_table_t *table, const policy_entry_t *entry) {
+    if (table == NULL || entry == NULL) {
+        return -1;
+    }
+
+    if (table->count >= POLICY_MAX_ENTRIES) {
+        return -1;
+    }
+
+    if (table->count == 0) {
+        return policy_table_add(table, entry);
+    }
+
+    table->entries[table->count] = table->entries[table->count - 1];
+    table->entries[table->count - 1] = *entry;
+    table->count++;
+    return 0;
+}
+
 int policy_check(const policy_table_t *table, const char *caller_id,
-                 const char *verb, const char *role_name, const char *purpose) {
+                 const char *verb, const char *role_name, const char *purpose,
+                 policy_source_t *out_source) {
    int i;

+    if (out_source != NULL) {
+        *out_source = POLICY_SOURCE_DEFAULT;
+    }
+
    if (table == NULL || caller_id == NULL || verb == NULL || role_name == NULL || purpose == NULL) {
        return POLICY_NO_MATCH;
    }
@@ -618,12 +755,20 @@ int policy_check(const policy_table_t *table, const char *caller_id,
            continue;
        }

+        if (out_source != NULL) {
+            *out_source = entry->source;
+        }
+
        if (entry->prompt == PROMPT_DENY) {
            return POLICY_DENY;
        }
        if (entry->prompt == PROMPT_NEVER) {
            return POLICY_ALLOW;
        }
+
+        if (out_source != NULL) {
+            *out_source = POLICY_SOURCE_DEFAULT;
+        }
        return POLICY_PROMPT;
    }

--- a/src/role_table.c
+++ b/src/role_table.c
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ int mnemonic_generate(int word_count, char *out, size_t out_len);
 #define ROLE_PURPOSE_MAX 32
 #define ROLE_CURVE_MAX 16
 #define ROLE_PUBKEY_HEX_MAX 66 /* 64 hex chars + null + pad */
-#define ROLE_TABLE_MAX_ENTRIES 64
+#define ROLE_TABLE_MAX_ENTRIES 256

 /* Purpose enum for fast comparison (string form kept for config/display) */
 typedef enum {
@@ -149,6 +149,9 @@ const char *role_purpose_to_str(role_purpose_t p);
 /* Curve enum to string */
 const char *role_curve_to_str(role_curve_t c);

+/* Register a nostr-index role if missing. Returns 0 on success, -1 on error. */
+int role_table_register_nostr_index(role_table_t *table, int nostr_index);
+

 /* from selector.h */

@@ -239,6 +242,12 @@ typedef enum {
    PROMPT_DENY
 } prompt_mode_t;

+typedef enum {
+    POLICY_SOURCE_DEFAULT = 0,   /* the catch-all entry */
+    POLICY_SOURCE_PREAPPROVE,    /* from --preapprove CLI flag */
+    POLICY_SOURCE_SESSION_GRANT  /* from prompt [a] during session */
+} policy_source_t;
+
 /* A single policy entry */
 typedef struct {
    char caller[POLICY_CALLER_MAX_LEN];   /* e.g. "uid:1000" or "*" for any */
@@ -249,6 +258,7 @@ typedef struct {
    char purposes[POLICY_MAX_PURPOSES][ROLE_PURPOSE_MAX];
    int purpose_count;
    prompt_mode_t prompt;
+    policy_source_t source;
 } policy_entry_t;

 /* Policy table */
@@ -277,7 +287,8 @@ int policy_table_add(policy_table_t *table, const policy_entry_t *entry);
 * Returns POLICY_ALLOW, POLICY_DENY, POLICY_PROMPT, or POLICY_NO_MATCH.
 */
 int policy_check(const policy_table_t *table, const char *caller_id,
-                 const char *verb, const char *role_name, const char *purpose);
+                 const char *verb, const char *role_name, const char *purpose,
+                 policy_source_t *out_source);

 /* Parse prompt mode from string */
 prompt_mode_t prompt_mode_from_str(const char *s);
@@ -440,6 +451,7 @@ int socket_name_random(char *out, size_t out_len);

 /* NSIGNER_HEADERLESS_DECLS_END */

+#include <stdio.h>
 #include <string.h>

 static int str_eq(const char *a, const char *b) {
@@ -533,6 +545,36 @@ role_entry_t *role_table_get_default(role_table_t *table) {
    return role_table_find_by_name(table, "main");
 }

+int role_table_register_nostr_index(role_table_t *table, int nostr_index) {
+    role_entry_t role;
+
+    if (table == NULL || nostr_index < 0) {
+        return -1;
+    }
+
+    if (role_table_find_by_nostr_index(table, nostr_index) != NULL) {
+        return 0;
+    }
+
+    memset(&role, 0, sizeof(role));
+
+    if (nostr_index == 0) {
+        strncpy(role.name, "main", sizeof(role.name) - 1);
+    } else {
+        (void)snprintf(role.name, sizeof(role.name), "nostr_idx_%d", nostr_index);
+    }
+
+    strncpy(role.purpose_str, "nostr", sizeof(role.purpose_str) - 1);
+    strncpy(role.curve_str, "secp256k1", sizeof(role.curve_str) - 1);
+    role.purpose = role_purpose_from_str(role.purpose_str);
+    role.curve = role_curve_from_str(role.curve_str);
+    role.selector_type = SELECTOR_NOSTR_INDEX;
+    role.nostr_index = nostr_index;
+    role.derived = 0;
+
+    return role_table_add(table, &role);
+}
+
 role_purpose_t role_purpose_from_str(const char *s) {
    if (str_eq(s, "nostr")) {
        return PURPOSE_NOSTR;
--- a/src/secure_mem.c
+++ b/src/secure_mem.c
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ int mnemonic_generate(int word_count, char *out, size_t out_len);
 #define ROLE_PURPOSE_MAX 32
 #define ROLE_CURVE_MAX 16
 #define ROLE_PUBKEY_HEX_MAX 66 /* 64 hex chars + null + pad */
-#define ROLE_TABLE_MAX_ENTRIES 64
+#define ROLE_TABLE_MAX_ENTRIES 256

 /* Purpose enum for fast comparison (string form kept for config/display) */
 typedef enum {
@@ -241,6 +241,12 @@ typedef enum {
    PROMPT_DENY
 } prompt_mode_t;

+typedef enum {
+    POLICY_SOURCE_DEFAULT = 0,   /* the catch-all entry */
+    POLICY_SOURCE_PREAPPROVE,    /* from --preapprove CLI flag */
+    POLICY_SOURCE_SESSION_GRANT  /* from prompt [a] during session */
+} policy_source_t;
+
 /* A single policy entry */
 typedef struct {
    char caller[POLICY_CALLER_MAX_LEN];   /* e.g. "uid:1000" or "*" for any */
@@ -251,6 +257,7 @@ typedef struct {
    char purposes[POLICY_MAX_PURPOSES][ROLE_PURPOSE_MAX];
    int purpose_count;
    prompt_mode_t prompt;
+    policy_source_t source;
 } policy_entry_t;

 /* Policy table */
@@ -279,7 +286,8 @@ int policy_table_add(policy_table_t *table, const policy_entry_t *entry);
 * Returns POLICY_ALLOW, POLICY_DENY, POLICY_PROMPT, or POLICY_NO_MATCH.
 */
 int policy_check(const policy_table_t *table, const char *caller_id,
-                 const char *verb, const char *role_name, const char *purpose);
+                 const char *verb, const char *role_name, const char *purpose,
+                 policy_source_t *out_source);

 /* Parse prompt mode from string */
 prompt_mode_t prompt_mode_from_str(const char *s);
--- a/src/selector.c
+++ b/src/selector.c
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ int mnemonic_generate(int word_count, char *out, size_t out_len);
 #define ROLE_PURPOSE_MAX 32
 #define ROLE_CURVE_MAX 16
 #define ROLE_PUBKEY_HEX_MAX 66 /* 64 hex chars + null + pad */
-#define ROLE_TABLE_MAX_ENTRIES 64
+#define ROLE_TABLE_MAX_ENTRIES 256

 /* Purpose enum for fast comparison (string form kept for config/display) */
 typedef enum {
@@ -239,6 +239,12 @@ typedef enum {
    PROMPT_DENY
 } prompt_mode_t;

+typedef enum {
+    POLICY_SOURCE_DEFAULT = 0,   /* the catch-all entry */
+    POLICY_SOURCE_PREAPPROVE,    /* from --preapprove CLI flag */
+    POLICY_SOURCE_SESSION_GRANT  /* from prompt [a] during session */
+} policy_source_t;
+
 /* A single policy entry */
 typedef struct {
    char caller[POLICY_CALLER_MAX_LEN];   /* e.g. "uid:1000" or "*" for any */
@@ -249,6 +255,7 @@ typedef struct {
    char purposes[POLICY_MAX_PURPOSES][ROLE_PURPOSE_MAX];
    int purpose_count;
    prompt_mode_t prompt;
+    policy_source_t source;
 } policy_entry_t;

 /* Policy table */
@@ -277,7 +284,8 @@ int policy_table_add(policy_table_t *table, const policy_entry_t *entry);
 * Returns POLICY_ALLOW, POLICY_DENY, POLICY_PROMPT, or POLICY_NO_MATCH.
 */
 int policy_check(const policy_table_t *table, const char *caller_id,
-                 const char *verb, const char *role_name, const char *purpose);
+                 const char *verb, const char *role_name, const char *purpose,
+                 policy_source_t *out_source);

 /* Parse prompt mode from string */
 prompt_mode_t prompt_mode_from_str(const char *s);
--- a/src/server.c
+++ b/src/server.c
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ int mnemonic_generate(int word_count, char *out, size_t out_len);
 #define ROLE_PURPOSE_MAX 32
 #define ROLE_CURVE_MAX 16
 #define ROLE_PUBKEY_HEX_MAX 66 /* 64 hex chars + null + pad */
-#define ROLE_TABLE_MAX_ENTRIES 64
+#define ROLE_TABLE_MAX_ENTRIES 256

 /* Purpose enum for fast comparison (string form kept for config/display) */
 typedef enum {
@@ -151,6 +151,9 @@ const char *role_purpose_to_str(role_purpose_t p);
 /* Curve enum to string */
 const char *role_curve_to_str(role_curve_t c);

+/* Register a nostr-index role if missing. Returns 0 on success, -1 on error. */
+int role_table_register_nostr_index(role_table_t *table, int nostr_index);
+

 /* from selector.h */

@@ -241,6 +244,12 @@ typedef enum {
    PROMPT_DENY
 } prompt_mode_t;

+typedef enum {
+    POLICY_SOURCE_DEFAULT = 0,   /* the catch-all entry */
+    POLICY_SOURCE_PREAPPROVE,    /* from --preapprove CLI flag */
+    POLICY_SOURCE_SESSION_GRANT  /* from prompt [a] during session */
+} policy_source_t;
+
 /* A single policy entry */
 typedef struct {
    char caller[POLICY_CALLER_MAX_LEN];   /* e.g. "uid:1000" or "*" for any */
@@ -251,6 +260,7 @@ typedef struct {
    char purposes[POLICY_MAX_PURPOSES][ROLE_PURPOSE_MAX];
    int purpose_count;
    prompt_mode_t prompt;
+    policy_source_t source;
 } policy_entry_t;

 /* Policy table */
@@ -260,10 +270,12 @@ typedef struct {
 } policy_table_t;

 /* Policy check result */
-#define POLICY_ALLOW     0
-#define POLICY_DENY     -1
-#define POLICY_PROMPT   -2   /* would need user confirmation */
-#define POLICY_NO_MATCH -3   /* no policy entry matched (fail-closed = deny) */
+#define POLICY_ALLOW               0
+#define POLICY_ALLOW_SESSION_VERB  3   /* allow + save session grant for this caller+role+verb */
+#define POLICY_ALLOW_SESSION_ALL   4   /* allow + save session grant for this caller+role (all verbs) */
+#define POLICY_DENY               -1
+#define POLICY_PROMPT             -2   /* would need user confirmation */
+#define POLICY_NO_MATCH           -3   /* no policy entry matched (fail-closed = deny) */

 /* Initialize policy table */
 void policy_table_init(policy_table_t *table);
@@ -274,12 +286,16 @@ void policy_init_default(policy_table_t *table, uid_t owner_uid);
 /* Add a policy entry. Returns 0 on success, -1 if full. */
 int policy_table_add(policy_table_t *table, const policy_entry_t *entry);

+/* Insert an entry before the final catch-all rule. */
+int policy_table_insert_before_last(policy_table_t *table, const policy_entry_t *entry);
+
 /*
 * Check whether caller_id is allowed to invoke `verb` on `role_name` with given `purpose`.
 * Returns POLICY_ALLOW, POLICY_DENY, POLICY_PROMPT, or POLICY_NO_MATCH.
 */
 int policy_check(const policy_table_t *table, const char *caller_id,
-                 const char *verb, const char *role_name, const char *purpose);
+                 const char *verb, const char *role_name, const char *purpose,
+                 policy_source_t *out_source);

 /* Parse prompt mode from string */
 prompt_mode_t prompt_mode_from_str(const char *s);
@@ -312,6 +328,9 @@ typedef struct {
 * Returns number of keys derived, or -1 on error. */
 int crypto_derive_all(key_store_t *store, role_table_t *table, const mnemonic_state_t *mnemonic);

+/* Derive key for exactly one role index. Returns 0 on success, -1 on error. */
+int crypto_derive_one(key_store_t *store, role_table_t *table, const mnemonic_state_t *mnemonic, int role_index);
+
 /* Get the derived private key for a role (by table index). Returns NULL if not derived. */
 const unsigned char *crypto_get_private_key(const key_store_t *store, int role_index);

@@ -373,12 +392,19 @@ char *dispatcher_handle_request(dispatcher_ctx_t *ctx, const char *json_request)
 #define SERVER_SOCKET_NAME_MAX 108
 #define SERVER_MAX_MSG_SIZE    65536

+#define NSIGNER_LISTEN_UNIX   0
+#define NSIGNER_LISTEN_STDIO  1
+#define NSIGNER_LISTEN_QREXEC 2
+#define NSIGNER_LISTEN_TCP    3
+
 /* Caller identity */
 typedef struct {
    uid_t uid;
    gid_t gid;
    pid_t pid;
-    char caller_id[64];  /* "uid:<n>" */
+    int kind;
+    char caller_id[64];     /* "uid:<n>" or "qubes:<vm>" */
+    char source_qube[64];
 } caller_identity_t;

 /* Server context */
@@ -387,6 +413,8 @@ typedef struct {
    char last_error[256];
    int listen_fd;
    int running;
+    int listen_mode;
+    int stdio_handled;
    dispatcher_ctx_t *dispatcher;
    policy_table_t *policy;
    int socket_name_explicit;
@@ -395,6 +423,7 @@ typedef struct {
 /* Initialize server context. socket_name is the abstract namespace name (e.g. "nsigner").
 * socket_name_explicit should be non-zero when provided via --socket-name override. */
 void server_init(server_ctx_t *ctx, const char *socket_name, int socket_name_explicit,
+                 int listen_mode,
                 dispatcher_ctx_t *dispatcher, policy_table_t *policy);

 /* Start listening. Returns 0 on success, -1 on error. */
@@ -442,6 +471,9 @@ int socket_name_random(char *out, size_t out_len);

 /* NSIGNER_HEADERLESS_DECLS_END */

+int transport_send_framed(int fd, const char *payload);
+int transport_recv_framed(int fd, char **out_payload, size_t max_size);
+
 #include <arpa/inet.h>
 #include <ctype.h>
 #include <errno.h>
@@ -456,6 +488,157 @@ int socket_name_random(char *out, size_t out_len);
 static int g_prompt_always_allow = 0;
 static int g_noninteractive_prompt_default = -1;

+static int caller_id_extract_ipv6(const char *caller_id, char *out_ipv6, size_t out_sz) {
+    const char *start;
+    const char *end;
+    size_t len;
+
+    if (caller_id == NULL || out_ipv6 == NULL || out_sz == 0) {
+        return -1;
+    }
+
+    if (strncmp(caller_id, "tcp:[", 5) != 0) {
+        return -1;
+    }
+
+    start = caller_id + 5;
+    end = strchr(start, ']');
+    if (end == NULL || end[1] != ':') {
+        return -1;
+    }
+
+    len = (size_t)(end - start);
+    if (len == 0 || len >= out_sz) {
+        return -1;
+    }
+
+    memcpy(out_ipv6, start, len);
+    out_ipv6[len] = '\0';
+    return 0;
+}
+
+static int read_cmd_output(const char *cmd, char **out_buf) {
+    FILE *fp;
+    char chunk[512];
+    char *buf = NULL;
+    size_t used = 0;
+    size_t cap = 0;
+
+    if (cmd == NULL || out_buf == NULL) {
+        return -1;
+    }
+
+    *out_buf = NULL;
+    fp = popen(cmd, "r");
+    if (fp == NULL) {
+        return -1;
+    }
+
+    while (fgets(chunk, sizeof(chunk), fp) != NULL) {
+        size_t n = strlen(chunk);
+        if (used + n + 1 > cap) {
+            size_t new_cap = (cap == 0) ? 2048 : cap * 2;
+            while (new_cap < used + n + 1) {
+                new_cap *= 2;
+            }
+            {
+                char *tmp = (char *)realloc(buf, new_cap);
+                if (tmp == NULL) {
+                    free(buf);
+                    (void)pclose(fp);
+                    return -1;
+                }
+                buf = tmp;
+                cap = new_cap;
+            }
+        }
+        memcpy(buf + used, chunk, n);
+        used += n;
+    }
+
+    (void)pclose(fp);
+
+    if (buf == NULL) {
+        return -1;
+    }
+
+    buf[used] = '\0';
+    *out_buf = buf;
+    return 0;
+}
+
+static int lookup_fips_peer_for_ipv6(const char *ipv6,
+                                     char *out_npub,
+                                     size_t out_npub_sz,
+                                     char *out_name,
+                                     size_t out_name_sz) {
+    char *json = NULL;
+    cJSON *root = NULL;
+    cJSON *peers = NULL;
+    int i;
+
+    if (ipv6 == NULL || out_npub == NULL || out_npub_sz == 0 || out_name == NULL || out_name_sz == 0) {
+        return -1;
+    }
+
+    out_npub[0] = '\0';
+    out_name[0] = '\0';
+
+    if (read_cmd_output("fipsctl show peers 2>/dev/null", &json) != 0) {
+        return -1;
+    }
+
+    root = cJSON_Parse(json);
+    free(json);
+    if (root == NULL) {
+        return -1;
+    }
+
+    peers = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(root, "peers");
+    if (!cJSON_IsArray(peers)) {
+        cJSON_Delete(root);
+        return -1;
+    }
+
+    for (i = 0; i < cJSON_GetArraySize(peers); ++i) {
+        cJSON *peer = cJSON_GetArrayItem(peers, i);
+        cJSON *peer_ip;
+        cJSON *peer_npub;
+        cJSON *peer_name;
+
+        if (!cJSON_IsObject(peer)) {
+            continue;
+        }
+
+        peer_ip = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(peer, "ipv6_addr");
+        if (!cJSON_IsString(peer_ip) || peer_ip->valuestring == NULL) {
+            continue;
+        }
+
+        if (strcmp(peer_ip->valuestring, ipv6) != 0) {
+            continue;
+        }
+
+        peer_npub = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(peer, "npub");
+        peer_name = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(peer, "display_name");
+
+        if (cJSON_IsString(peer_npub) && peer_npub->valuestring != NULL) {
+            strncpy(out_npub, peer_npub->valuestring, out_npub_sz - 1);
+            out_npub[out_npub_sz - 1] = '\0';
+        }
+        if (cJSON_IsString(peer_name) && peer_name->valuestring != NULL) {
+            strncpy(out_name, peer_name->valuestring, out_name_sz - 1);
+            out_name[out_name_sz - 1] = '\0';
+        }
+
+        cJSON_Delete(root);
+        return (out_npub[0] != '\0') ? 0 : -1;
+    }
+
+    cJSON_Delete(root);
+    return -1;
+}
+
 void server_set_prompt_always_allow(int enabled) {
    g_prompt_always_allow = enabled ? 1 : 0;
 }
@@ -471,7 +654,8 @@ void server_set_noninteractive_prompt_default(int decision) {
 static int prompt_for_policy_decision(const caller_identity_t *caller,
                                      const char *method,
                                      const char *role_name,
-                                      const char *purpose) {
+                                      const char *purpose,
+                                      int pending_derivation) {
    int ch;

    if (g_prompt_always_allow) {
@@ -488,10 +672,28 @@ static int prompt_for_policy_decision(const caller_identity_t *caller,

    printf("\nApproval required\n");
    printf("caller: %s\n", (caller != NULL) ? caller->caller_id : "unknown");
+    if (caller != NULL && caller->kind == NSIGNER_LISTEN_TCP) {
+        char ipv6[INET6_ADDRSTRLEN];
+        char npub[128];
+        char display_name[128];
+
+        if (caller_id_extract_ipv6(caller->caller_id, ipv6, sizeof(ipv6)) == 0 &&
+            lookup_fips_peer_for_ipv6(ipv6, npub, sizeof(npub), display_name, sizeof(display_name)) == 0) {
+            if (display_name[0] != '\0') {
+                printf("fips peer: %s (%s)\n", npub, display_name);
+            } else {
+                printf("fips peer: %s\n", npub);
+            }
+        }
+    }
    printf("method: %s\n", (method != NULL) ? method : "unknown");
    printf("role: %s\n", (role_name != NULL) ? role_name : "unknown");
    printf("purpose: %s\n", (purpose != NULL) ? purpose : "unknown");
-    printf("[y] allow once  [n] deny  [a] always allow this session\n> ");
+    if (pending_derivation) {
+        printf("  ** NEW IDENTITY — will be derived if approved **\n");
+    }
+    printf("[y] allow once  [n] deny  [e] allow this caller+role+verb for session\n");
+    printf("[a] allow this caller+role for session (all verbs)\n> ");
    fflush(stdout);

    ch = getchar();
@@ -504,8 +706,10 @@ static int prompt_for_policy_decision(const caller_identity_t *caller,

    ch = tolower(ch);
    if (ch == 'a') {
-        g_prompt_always_allow = 1;
-        return POLICY_ALLOW;
+        return POLICY_ALLOW_SESSION_ALL;
+    }
+    if (ch == 'e') {
+        return POLICY_ALLOW_SESSION_VERB;
    }
    if (ch == 'y') {
        return POLICY_ALLOW;
@@ -527,98 +731,81 @@ static void server_set_error(server_ctx_t *ctx, const char *msg) {
    ctx->last_error[sizeof(ctx->last_error) - 1] = '\0';
 }

-static int read_full(int fd, void *buf, size_t len) {
-    unsigned char *p = (unsigned char *)buf;
-    size_t off = 0;

-    while (off < len) {
-        ssize_t n = read(fd, p + off, len - off);
-        if (n == 0) {
+static int parse_tcp_target(const char *target,
+                            int *out_family,
+                            char *out_host,
+                            size_t out_host_sz,
+                            uint16_t *out_port) {
+    const char *p;
+    const char *host_start;
+    const char *host_end;
+    const char *port_start;
+    char port_buf[16];
+    size_t host_len;
+    size_t port_len;
+    char *endptr = NULL;
+    long port_long;
+
+    if (target == NULL || out_family == NULL || out_host == NULL || out_port == NULL ||
+        out_host_sz == 0) {
+        return -1;
+    }
+
+    if (strncmp(target, "tcp:", 4) != 0) {
+        return -1;
+    }
+
+    p = target + 4;
+    if (*p == '[') {
+        host_start = p + 1;
+        host_end = strchr(host_start, ']');
+        if (host_end == NULL || host_end[1] != ':') {
            return -1;
        }
-        if (n < 0) {
-            if (errno == EINTR) {
-                continue;
-            }
+        port_start = host_end + 2;
+    } else {
+        host_start = p;
+        host_end = strrchr(p, ':');
+        if (host_end == NULL || host_end == host_start) {
            return -1;
        }
-        off += (size_t)n;
+        port_start = host_end + 1;
    }

-    return 0;
-}
+    host_len = (size_t)(host_end - host_start);
+    if (host_len == 0 || host_len >= out_host_sz) {
+        return -1;
+    }
+    memcpy(out_host, host_start, host_len);
+    out_host[host_len] = '\0';

-static int write_full(int fd, const void *buf, size_t len) {
-    const unsigned char *p = (const unsigned char *)buf;
-    size_t off = 0;
+    port_len = strlen(port_start);
+    if (port_len == 0 || port_len >= sizeof(port_buf)) {
+        return -1;
+    }
+    memcpy(port_buf, port_start, port_len + 1);

-    while (off < len) {
-        ssize_t n = write(fd, p + off, len - off);
-        if (n < 0) {
-            if (errno == EINTR) {
-                continue;
-            }
+    errno = 0;
+    port_long = strtol(port_buf, &endptr, 10);
+    if (errno != 0 || endptr == port_buf || *endptr != '\0' || port_long < 1 || port_long > 65535) {
+        return -1;
+    }
+
+    {
+        struct in6_addr addr6;
+        struct in_addr addr4;
+
+        if (inet_pton(AF_INET6, out_host, &addr6) == 1) {
+            *out_family = AF_INET6;
+        } else if (inet_pton(AF_INET, out_host, &addr4) == 1) {
+            *out_family = AF_INET;
+        } else {
            return -1;
        }
-        off += (size_t)n;
-    }
-
-    return 0;
-}
-
-static int recv_framed(int fd, char **out_payload) {
-    uint32_t be_len;
-    uint32_t len;
-    char *payload;
-
-    if (out_payload == NULL) {
-        return -1;
-    }
-
-    *out_payload = NULL;
-
-    if (read_full(fd, &be_len, sizeof(be_len)) != 0) {
-        return -1;
-    }
-
-    len = ntohl(be_len);
-    if (len == 0 || len > SERVER_MAX_MSG_SIZE) {
-        return -1;
-    }
-
-    payload = (char *)malloc((size_t)len + 1U);
-    if (payload == NULL) {
-        return -1;
-    }
-
-    if (read_full(fd, payload, len) != 0) {
-        free(payload);
-        return -1;
-    }
-
-    payload[len] = '\0';
-    *out_payload = payload;
-    return 0;
-}
-
-static int send_framed(int fd, const char *payload) {
-    uint32_t len;
-    uint32_t be_len;
-
-    if (payload == NULL) {
-        return -1;
-    }
-
-    len = (uint32_t)strlen(payload);
-    be_len = htonl(len);
-
-    if (write_full(fd, &be_len, sizeof(be_len)) != 0) {
-        return -1;
-    }
-    if (write_full(fd, payload, len) != 0) {
-        return -1;
    }

+    *out_port = (uint16_t)port_long;
    return 0;
 }

@@ -670,7 +857,10 @@ static int extract_method_and_selector(const char *json,

    params_item = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(root, "params");
    if (cJSON_IsArray(params_item)) {
-        options_item = cJSON_GetArrayItem(params_item, 1);
+        {
+            int params_count = cJSON_GetArraySize(params_item);
+            options_item = (params_count > 0) ? cJSON_GetArrayItem(params_item, params_count - 1) : NULL;
+        }
        if (cJSON_IsObject(options_item)) {
            tmp = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(options_item, "role");
            if (cJSON_IsString(tmp) && tmp->valuestring != NULL) {
@@ -697,6 +887,7 @@ static int extract_method_and_selector(const char *json,
 }

 void server_init(server_ctx_t *ctx, const char *socket_name, int socket_name_explicit,
+                 int listen_mode,
                 dispatcher_ctx_t *dispatcher, policy_table_t *policy) {
    if (ctx == NULL) {
        return;
@@ -709,6 +900,8 @@ void server_init(server_ctx_t *ctx, const char *socket_name, int socket_name_exp
        ctx->socket_name[sizeof(ctx->socket_name) - 1] = '\0';
    }
    ctx->listen_fd = -1;
+    ctx->listen_mode = listen_mode;
+    ctx->stdio_handled = 0;
    ctx->dispatcher = dispatcher;
    ctx->policy = policy;
    ctx->socket_name_explicit = socket_name_explicit ? 1 : 0;
@@ -732,6 +925,105 @@ int server_start(server_ctx_t *ctx) {

    server_set_error(ctx, NULL);

+    if (ctx->listen_mode == NSIGNER_LISTEN_STDIO || ctx->listen_mode == NSIGNER_LISTEN_QREXEC) {
+        ctx->listen_fd = STDIN_FILENO;
+        ctx->running = 1;
+        ctx->stdio_handled = 0;
+        server_set_error(ctx, NULL);
+        return 0;
+    }
+
+    if (ctx->listen_mode == NSIGNER_LISTEN_TCP) {
+        int family;
+        uint16_t port;
+        char host[64];
+        int one = 1;
+
+        int prc = parse_tcp_target(ctx->socket_name, &family, host, sizeof(host), &port);
+        if (prc != 0) {
+            (void)snprintf(ctx->last_error,
+                           sizeof(ctx->last_error),
+                           "invalid tcp listen target: %s (expected tcp:IPv4:PORT or tcp:[IPv6]:PORT)",
+                           ctx->socket_name);
+            return -1;
+        }
+
+        fd = socket(family, SOCK_STREAM, 0);
+        if (fd < 0) {
+            (void)snprintf(ctx->last_error,
+                           sizeof(ctx->last_error),
+                           "socket(tcp) failed: %s",
+                           strerror(errno));
+            return -1;
+        }
+
+        (void)setsockopt(fd, SOL_SOCKET, SO_REUSEADDR, &one, sizeof(one));
+
+        if (family == AF_INET) {
+            struct sockaddr_in addr4;
+            memset(&addr4, 0, sizeof(addr4));
+            addr4.sin_family = AF_INET;
+            addr4.sin_port = htons(port);
+            if (inet_pton(AF_INET, host, &addr4.sin_addr) != 1) {
+                close(fd);
+                server_set_error(ctx, "inet_pton(AF_INET) failed for listen target");
+                return -1;
+            }
+            if (bind(fd, (struct sockaddr *)&addr4, sizeof(addr4)) != 0) {
+                (void)snprintf(ctx->last_error,
+                               sizeof(ctx->last_error),
+                               "bind(%s) failed: %s",
+                               ctx->socket_name,
+                               strerror(errno));
+                close(fd);
+                return -1;
+            }
+        } else {
+            struct sockaddr_in6 addr6;
+            memset(&addr6, 0, sizeof(addr6));
+            addr6.sin6_family = AF_INET6;
+            addr6.sin6_port = htons(port);
+            if (inet_pton(AF_INET6, host, &addr6.sin6_addr) != 1) {
+                close(fd);
+                server_set_error(ctx, "inet_pton(AF_INET6) failed for listen target");
+                return -1;
+            }
+            if (bind(fd, (struct sockaddr *)&addr6, sizeof(addr6)) != 0) {
+                (void)snprintf(ctx->last_error,
+                               sizeof(ctx->last_error),
+                               "bind(%s) failed: %s",
+                               ctx->socket_name,
+                               strerror(errno));
+                close(fd);
+                return -1;
+            }
+        }
+
+        if (listen(fd, 16) != 0) {
+            (void)snprintf(ctx->last_error,
+                           sizeof(ctx->last_error),
+                           "listen() failed: %s",
+                           strerror(errno));
+            close(fd);
+            return -1;
+        }
+
+        flags = fcntl(fd, F_GETFL, 0);
+        if (flags < 0 || fcntl(fd, F_SETFL, flags | O_NONBLOCK) != 0) {
+            (void)snprintf(ctx->last_error,
+                           sizeof(ctx->last_error),
+                           "fcntl(O_NONBLOCK) failed: %s",
+                           strerror(errno));
+            close(fd);
+            return -1;
+        }
+
+        ctx->listen_fd = fd;
+        ctx->running = 1;
+        server_set_error(ctx, NULL);
+        return 0;
+    }
+
    fd = socket(AF_UNIX, SOCK_STREAM, 0);
    if (fd < 0) {
        (void)snprintf(ctx->last_error,
@@ -835,6 +1127,56 @@ int server_get_caller(int fd, caller_identity_t *out) {

    memset(out, 0, sizeof(*out));

+    if (fd == STDIN_FILENO) {
+        const char *src = getenv("QREXEC_REMOTE_DOMAIN");
+        out->kind = NSIGNER_LISTEN_STDIO;
+        if (src != NULL && src[0] != '\0') {
+            out->kind = NSIGNER_LISTEN_QREXEC;
+            strncpy(out->source_qube, src, sizeof(out->source_qube) - 1);
+            out->source_qube[sizeof(out->source_qube) - 1] = '\0';
+            (void)snprintf(out->caller_id, sizeof(out->caller_id), "qubes:%.57s", out->source_qube);
+            return 0;
+        }
+
+        out->uid = getuid();
+        out->gid = getgid();
+        out->pid = getpid();
+        (void)snprintf(out->caller_id, sizeof(out->caller_id), "uid:%u", (unsigned int)out->uid);
+        return 0;
+    }
+
+    {
+        struct sockaddr_storage peer;
+        socklen_t peer_len = sizeof(peer);
+        if (getpeername(fd, (struct sockaddr *)&peer, &peer_len) == 0) {
+            if (peer.ss_family == AF_INET) {
+                const struct sockaddr_in *in4 = (const struct sockaddr_in *)&peer;
+                char ip[INET_ADDRSTRLEN];
+                if (inet_ntop(AF_INET, &in4->sin_addr, ip, sizeof(ip)) != NULL) {
+                    out->kind = NSIGNER_LISTEN_TCP;
+                    (void)snprintf(out->caller_id,
+                                   sizeof(out->caller_id),
+                                   "tcp:%s:%u",
+                                   ip,
+                                   (unsigned int)ntohs(in4->sin_port));
+                    return 0;
+                }
+            } else if (peer.ss_family == AF_INET6) {
+                const struct sockaddr_in6 *in6 = (const struct sockaddr_in6 *)&peer;
+                char ip6[INET6_ADDRSTRLEN];
+                if (inet_ntop(AF_INET6, &in6->sin6_addr, ip6, sizeof(ip6)) != NULL) {
+                    out->kind = NSIGNER_LISTEN_TCP;
+                    (void)snprintf(out->caller_id,
+                                   sizeof(out->caller_id),
+                                   "tcp:[%s]:%u",
+                                   ip6,
+                                   (unsigned int)ntohs(in6->sin6_port));
+                    return 0;
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
    if (getsockopt(fd, SOL_SOCKET, SO_PEERCRED, &cred, &len) != 0) {
        return -1;
    }
@@ -842,6 +1184,7 @@ int server_get_caller(int fd, caller_identity_t *out) {
    out->uid = cred.uid;
    out->gid = cred.gid;
    out->pid = cred.pid;
+    out->kind = NSIGNER_LISTEN_UNIX;
    (void)snprintf(out->caller_id, sizeof(out->caller_id), "uid:%u", (unsigned int)out->uid);
    return 0;
 }
@@ -856,34 +1199,52 @@ int server_handle_one(server_ctx_t *ctx, server_activity_cb cb, void *cb_data) {
    char purpose[ROLE_PURPOSE_MAX];
    selector_request_t selector_req;
    role_entry_t *role = NULL;
+    int selector_rc;
    int pchk;
+    policy_source_t policy_src = POLICY_SOURCE_DEFAULT;
+    int pending_derivation = 0;
+    int hard_selector_error = 0;
+    int derivation_error = 0;
    char activity[256];
    const char *verdict = "DENIED";
+    const char *source_label = "no-match";

    if (ctx == NULL || ctx->listen_fd < 0 || ctx->dispatcher == NULL || ctx->policy == NULL) {
        return -1;
    }

-    client_fd = accept(ctx->listen_fd, NULL, NULL);
-    if (client_fd < 0) {
-        if (errno == EAGAIN || errno == EWOULDBLOCK) {
+    if (ctx->listen_mode == NSIGNER_LISTEN_STDIO || ctx->listen_mode == NSIGNER_LISTEN_QREXEC) {
+        if (ctx->stdio_handled) {
            return 0;
        }
-        return -1;
+        client_fd = STDIN_FILENO;
+        ctx->stdio_handled = 1;
+    } else {
+        client_fd = accept(ctx->listen_fd, NULL, NULL);
+        if (client_fd < 0) {
+            if (errno == EAGAIN || errno == EWOULDBLOCK) {
+                return 0;
+            }
+            return -1;
+        }
    }

    if (server_get_caller(client_fd, &caller) != 0) {
-        close(client_fd);
+        if (client_fd != STDIN_FILENO) {
+            close(client_fd);
+        }
        return -1;
    }

-    if (recv_framed(client_fd, &request) != 0) {
+    if (transport_recv_framed(client_fd, &request, SERVER_MAX_MSG_SIZE) != 0) {
        response = strdup("{\"id\":\"null\",\"error\":{\"code\":-32700,\"message\":\"parse_error\"}}");
        if (response != NULL) {
-            (void)send_framed(client_fd, response);
+            (void)transport_send_framed((client_fd == STDIN_FILENO) ? STDOUT_FILENO : client_fd, response);
            free(response);
        }
-        close(client_fd);
+        if (client_fd != STDIN_FILENO) {
+            close(client_fd);
+        }
        return 1;
    }

@@ -892,42 +1253,131 @@ int server_handle_one(server_ctx_t *ctx, server_activity_cb cb, void *cb_data) {
    json_copy_string(purpose, sizeof(purpose), "unknown", "unknown");

    if (extract_method_and_selector(request, method, sizeof(method), &selector_req) == 0) {
-        if (ctx->dispatcher->role_table != NULL &&
-            selector_resolve(&selector_req, ctx->dispatcher->role_table, &role) == SELECTOR_OK &&
-            role != NULL) {
-            json_copy_string(role_name, sizeof(role_name), role->name, "main");
-            json_copy_string(purpose, sizeof(purpose), role_purpose_to_str(role->purpose), "nostr");
+        if (ctx->dispatcher->role_table != NULL) {
+            selector_rc = selector_resolve(&selector_req, ctx->dispatcher->role_table, &role);
+            if (selector_rc == SELECTOR_OK && role != NULL) {
+                json_copy_string(role_name, sizeof(role_name), role->name, "main");
+                json_copy_string(purpose, sizeof(purpose), role_purpose_to_str(role->purpose), "nostr");
+            } else if (selector_rc == SELECTOR_ERR_NOT_FOUND && selector_req.has_nostr_index) {
+                pending_derivation = 1;
+                if (selector_req.nostr_index == 0) {
+                    json_copy_string(role_name, sizeof(role_name), "main", "main");
+                } else {
+                    (void)snprintf(role_name, sizeof(role_name), "nostr_idx_%d", selector_req.nostr_index);
+                }
+                json_copy_string(purpose, sizeof(purpose), "nostr", "nostr");
+            } else if (selector_rc == SELECTOR_ERR_AMBIGUOUS ||
+                       selector_rc == SELECTOR_ERR_NOT_FOUND ||
+                       selector_rc == SELECTOR_ERR_NO_DEFAULT) {
+                hard_selector_error = selector_rc;
+            }
        }
    }

-    pchk = policy_check(ctx->policy, caller.caller_id, method, role_name, purpose);
-    if (pchk == POLICY_PROMPT) {
-        pchk = prompt_for_policy_decision(&caller, method, role_name, purpose);
+    if (hard_selector_error == SELECTOR_ERR_AMBIGUOUS) {
+        response = strdup("{\"id\":\"null\",\"error\":{\"code\":1001,\"message\":\"ambiguous_role_selector\"}}");
+        pchk = POLICY_DENY;
+    } else if (hard_selector_error == SELECTOR_ERR_NO_DEFAULT) {
+        response = strdup("{\"id\":\"null\",\"error\":{\"code\":1003,\"message\":\"no_default_role\"}}");
+        pchk = POLICY_DENY;
+    } else if (hard_selector_error == SELECTOR_ERR_NOT_FOUND) {
+        response = strdup("{\"id\":\"null\",\"error\":{\"code\":1002,\"message\":\"unknown_role\"}}");
+        pchk = POLICY_DENY;
+    } else {
+        pchk = policy_check(ctx->policy, caller.caller_id, method, role_name, purpose, &policy_src);
    }

-    if (pchk == POLICY_ALLOW) {
+    if (pchk == POLICY_PROMPT) {
+        pchk = prompt_for_policy_decision(&caller, method, role_name, purpose, pending_derivation);
+        if (pchk == POLICY_ALLOW_SESSION_VERB || pchk == POLICY_ALLOW_SESSION_ALL) {
+            policy_entry_t grant;
+
+            memset(&grant, 0, sizeof(grant));
+            strncpy(grant.caller, caller.caller_id, sizeof(grant.caller) - 1);
+            strncpy(grant.roles[0], role_name, ROLE_NAME_MAX - 1);
+            grant.role_count = 1;
+            if (pchk == POLICY_ALLOW_SESSION_VERB) {
+                strncpy(grant.verbs[0], method, POLICY_VERB_MAX_LEN - 1);
+                grant.verb_count = 1;
+            }
+            grant.prompt = PROMPT_NEVER;
+            grant.source = POLICY_SOURCE_SESSION_GRANT;
+            if (policy_table_insert_before_last(ctx->policy, &grant) != 0) {
+                pchk = POLICY_DENY;
+            } else {
+                pchk = POLICY_ALLOW;
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    if (pchk == POLICY_ALLOW && pending_derivation) {
+        role_entry_t *new_role;
+        int role_index;
+
+        if (ctx->dispatcher == NULL ||
+            ctx->dispatcher->role_table == NULL ||
+            ctx->dispatcher->key_store == NULL ||
+            ctx->dispatcher->mnemonic == NULL ||
+            role_table_register_nostr_index(ctx->dispatcher->role_table, selector_req.nostr_index) != 0) {
+            derivation_error = 1;
+        } else {
+            new_role = role_table_find_by_nostr_index(ctx->dispatcher->role_table, selector_req.nostr_index);
+            if (new_role == NULL) {
+                derivation_error = 1;
+            } else {
+                role_index = (int)(new_role - &ctx->dispatcher->role_table->entries[0]);
+                if (role_index < 0 || role_index >= ctx->dispatcher->role_table->count ||
+                    crypto_derive_one(ctx->dispatcher->key_store,
+                                      ctx->dispatcher->role_table,
+                                      ctx->dispatcher->mnemonic,
+                                      role_index) != 0) {
+                    derivation_error = 1;
+                } else {
+                    json_copy_string(role_name, sizeof(role_name), new_role->name, role_name);
+                    json_copy_string(purpose, sizeof(purpose), role_purpose_to_str(new_role->purpose), "nostr");
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    if (pchk == POLICY_ALLOW && !derivation_error) {
        verdict = "ALLOWED";
        response = dispatcher_handle_request(ctx->dispatcher, request);
        if (response == NULL) {
            response = strdup("{\"id\":\"null\",\"error\":{\"code\":-32603,\"message\":\"internal_error\"}}");
        }
+    } else if (pchk == POLICY_ALLOW && derivation_error) {
+        verdict = "DENIED";
+        response = strdup("{\"id\":\"null\",\"error\":{\"code\":-32603,\"message\":\"internal_error\"}}");
    } else {
        verdict = "DENIED";
-        response = strdup("{\"id\":\"null\",\"error\":{\"code\":2001,\"message\":\"policy_denied\"}}");
+        if (response == NULL) {
+            response = strdup("{\"id\":\"null\",\"error\":{\"code\":2001,\"message\":\"policy_denied\"}}");
+        }
    }

    if (response != NULL) {
-        (void)send_framed(client_fd, response);
+        (void)transport_send_framed((client_fd == STDIN_FILENO) ? STDOUT_FILENO : client_fd, response);
+    }
+
+    if (pchk == POLICY_ALLOW && policy_src == POLICY_SOURCE_PREAPPROVE) {
+        source_label = "preapprove";
+    } else if (pchk == POLICY_ALLOW && policy_src == POLICY_SOURCE_SESSION_GRANT) {
+        source_label = "session-grant";
+    } else if (pchk == POLICY_ALLOW) {
+        source_label = "prompt";
+    } else {
+        source_label = "no-match";
    }

    (void)snprintf(activity,
                   sizeof(activity),
-                   "uid=%u pid=%d %s(%s) %s",
-                   (unsigned int)caller.uid,
-                   (int)caller.pid,
+                   "%s %s(%s) %s:%s",
+                   caller.caller_id,
                   method,
                   role_name,
-                   verdict);
+                   verdict,
+                   source_label);

    if (cb != NULL) {
        cb(activity, cb_data);
@@ -935,7 +1385,9 @@ int server_handle_one(server_ctx_t *ctx, server_activity_cb cb, void *cb_data) {

    free(request);
    free(response);
-    close(client_fd);
+    if (client_fd != STDIN_FILENO) {
+        close(client_fd);
+    }
    return 1;
 }

@@ -945,7 +1397,9 @@ void server_stop(server_ctx_t *ctx) {
    }

    if (ctx->listen_fd >= 0) {
-        close(ctx->listen_fd);
+        if (ctx->listen_mode == NSIGNER_LISTEN_UNIX || ctx->listen_mode == NSIGNER_LISTEN_TCP) {
+            close(ctx->listen_fd);
+        }
        ctx->listen_fd = -1;
    }
    ctx->running = 0;
--- a/src/socket_name.c
+++ b/src/socket_name.c
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ int mnemonic_generate(int word_count, char *out, size_t out_len);
 #define ROLE_PURPOSE_MAX 32
 #define ROLE_CURVE_MAX 16
 #define ROLE_PUBKEY_HEX_MAX 66 /* 64 hex chars + null + pad */
-#define ROLE_TABLE_MAX_ENTRIES 64
+#define ROLE_TABLE_MAX_ENTRIES 256

 /* Purpose enum for fast comparison (string form kept for config/display) */
 typedef enum {
@@ -241,6 +241,12 @@ typedef enum {
    PROMPT_DENY
 } prompt_mode_t;

+typedef enum {
+    POLICY_SOURCE_DEFAULT = 0,   /* the catch-all entry */
+    POLICY_SOURCE_PREAPPROVE,    /* from --preapprove CLI flag */
+    POLICY_SOURCE_SESSION_GRANT  /* from prompt [a] during session */
+} policy_source_t;
+
 /* A single policy entry */
 typedef struct {
    char caller[POLICY_CALLER_MAX_LEN];   /* e.g. "uid:1000" or "*" for any */
@@ -251,6 +257,7 @@ typedef struct {
    char purposes[POLICY_MAX_PURPOSES][ROLE_PURPOSE_MAX];
    int purpose_count;
    prompt_mode_t prompt;
+    policy_source_t source;
 } policy_entry_t;

 /* Policy table */
@@ -279,7 +286,8 @@ int policy_table_add(policy_table_t *table, const policy_entry_t *entry);
 * Returns POLICY_ALLOW, POLICY_DENY, POLICY_PROMPT, or POLICY_NO_MATCH.
 */
 int policy_check(const policy_table_t *table, const char *caller_id,
-                 const char *verb, const char *role_name, const char *purpose);
+                 const char *verb, const char *role_name, const char *purpose,
+                 policy_source_t *out_source);

 /* Parse prompt mode from string */
 prompt_mode_t prompt_mode_from_str(const char *s);
--- a/src/transport_frame.c
+++ b/src/transport_frame.c
@@ -0,0 +1,104 @@
+#define _GNU_SOURCE
+
+#include <arpa/inet.h>
+#include <errno.h>
+#include <stdint.h>
+#include <stdio.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
+#include <string.h>
+#include <unistd.h>
+
+static int transport_read_full(int fd, void *buf, size_t len) {
+    unsigned char *p = (unsigned char *)buf;
+    size_t off = 0;
+
+    while (off < len) {
+        ssize_t n = read(fd, p + off, len - off);
+        if (n == 0) {
+            return -1;
+        }
+        if (n < 0) {
+            if (errno == EINTR) {
+                continue;
+            }
+            return -1;
+        }
+        off += (size_t)n;
+    }
+
+    return 0;
+}
+
+static int transport_write_full(int fd, const void *buf, size_t len) {
+    const unsigned char *p = (const unsigned char *)buf;
+    size_t off = 0;
+
+    while (off < len) {
+        ssize_t n = write(fd, p + off, len - off);
+        if (n < 0) {
+            if (errno == EINTR) {
+                continue;
+            }
+            return -1;
+        }
+        off += (size_t)n;
+    }
+
+    return 0;
+}
+
+int transport_send_framed(int fd, const char *payload) {
+    uint32_t len;
+    uint32_t be_len;
+
+    if (payload == NULL) {
+        return -1;
+    }
+
+    len = (uint32_t)strlen(payload);
+    be_len = htonl(len);
+
+    if (transport_write_full(fd, &be_len, sizeof(be_len)) != 0) {
+        return -1;
+    }
+    if (transport_write_full(fd, payload, len) != 0) {
+        return -1;
+    }
+
+    return 0;
+}
+
+int transport_recv_framed(int fd, char **out_payload, size_t max_size) {
+    uint32_t be_len;
+    uint32_t len;
+    char *payload;
+
+    if (out_payload == NULL || max_size == 0) {
+        return -1;
+    }
+
+    *out_payload = NULL;
+
+    if (transport_read_full(fd, &be_len, sizeof(be_len)) != 0) {
+        return -1;
+    }
+
+    len = ntohl(be_len);
+    if (len == 0 || len > max_size) {
+        return -1;
+    }
+
+    payload = (char *)malloc((size_t)len + 1U);
+    if (payload == NULL) {
+        return -1;
+    }
+
+    if (transport_read_full(fd, payload, len) != 0) {
+        free(payload);
+        return -1;
+    }
+
+    payload[len] = '\0';
+    *out_payload = payload;
+    return 0;
+}
--- a/tests/test_dispatcher.c
+++ b/tests/test_dispatcher.c
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ int mnemonic_generate(int word_count, char *out, size_t out_len);
 #define ROLE_PURPOSE_MAX 32
 #define ROLE_CURVE_MAX 16
 #define ROLE_PUBKEY_HEX_MAX 66 /* 64 hex chars + null + pad */
-#define ROLE_TABLE_MAX_ENTRIES 64
+#define ROLE_TABLE_MAX_ENTRIES 256

 /* Purpose enum for fast comparison (string form kept for config/display) */
 typedef enum {
@@ -149,6 +149,9 @@ const char *role_purpose_to_str(role_purpose_t p);
 /* Curve enum to string */
 const char *role_curve_to_str(role_curve_t c);

+/* Register a nostr-index role if missing. Returns 0 on success, -1 on error. */
+int role_table_register_nostr_index(role_table_t *table, int nostr_index);
+

 /* from selector.h */

@@ -239,6 +242,12 @@ typedef enum {
    PROMPT_DENY
 } prompt_mode_t;

+typedef enum {
+    POLICY_SOURCE_DEFAULT = 0,   /* the catch-all entry */
+    POLICY_SOURCE_PREAPPROVE,    /* from --preapprove CLI flag */
+    POLICY_SOURCE_SESSION_GRANT  /* from prompt [a] during session */
+} policy_source_t;
+
 /* A single policy entry */
 typedef struct {
    char caller[POLICY_CALLER_MAX_LEN];   /* e.g. "uid:1000" or "*" for any */
@@ -249,6 +258,7 @@ typedef struct {
    char purposes[POLICY_MAX_PURPOSES][ROLE_PURPOSE_MAX];
    int purpose_count;
    prompt_mode_t prompt;
+    policy_source_t source;
 } policy_entry_t;

 /* Policy table */
@@ -277,7 +287,8 @@ int policy_table_add(policy_table_t *table, const policy_entry_t *entry);
 * Returns POLICY_ALLOW, POLICY_DENY, POLICY_PROMPT, or POLICY_NO_MATCH.
 */
 int policy_check(const policy_table_t *table, const char *caller_id,
-                 const char *verb, const char *role_name, const char *purpose);
+                 const char *verb, const char *role_name, const char *purpose,
+                 policy_source_t *out_source);

 /* Parse prompt mode from string */
 prompt_mode_t prompt_mode_from_str(const char *s);
@@ -310,6 +321,9 @@ typedef struct {
 * Returns number of keys derived, or -1 on error. */
 int crypto_derive_all(key_store_t *store, role_table_t *table, const mnemonic_state_t *mnemonic);

+/* Derive key for exactly one role index. Returns 0 on success, -1 on error. */
+int crypto_derive_one(key_store_t *store, role_table_t *table, const mnemonic_state_t *mnemonic, int role_index);
+
 /* Get the derived private key for a role (by table index). Returns NULL if not derived. */
 const unsigned char *crypto_get_private_key(const key_store_t *store, int role_index);

@@ -515,6 +529,9 @@ int main(void) {
    role_table_add(&table, &main_role);
    role_table_add(&table, &ssh_role);

+    check_condition("role_table_register_nostr_index adds index 9",
+        role_table_register_nostr_index(&table, 9) == 0 && role_table_find_by_nostr_index(&table, 9) != NULL);
+
    mnemonic_init(&mnemonic);
    mnemonic_load(&mnemonic, valid_12);

@@ -527,6 +544,19 @@ int main(void) {
    derived = crypto_derive_all(&key_store, &table, &mnemonic);
    check_condition("crypto_derive_all derives at least one key", derived >= 1);

+    {
+        role_entry_t *r9 = role_table_find_by_nostr_index(&table, 9);
+        int idx9 = (r9 != NULL) ? (int)(r9 - &table.entries[0]) : -1;
+
+        check_condition("new role idx9 exists before derive_one", idx9 >= 0);
+        if (idx9 >= 0) {
+            check_condition("crypto_derive_one derives newly registered role",
+                crypto_derive_one(&key_store, &table, &mnemonic, idx9) == 0 &&
+                table.entries[idx9].derived == 1 &&
+                crypto_get_pubkey_hex(&key_store, idx9) != NULL);
+        }
+    }
+
    /* 1. Valid get_public_key no selector -> default main, real pubkey */
    resp = dispatcher_handle_request(&dispatcher,
        "{\"id\":\"1\",\"method\":\"get_public_key\",\"params\":[\"\"]}");
@@ -603,7 +633,7 @@ int main(void) {
    crypto_wipe(&key_store);
    nostr_cleanup();

-    printf("%d/12 tests passed\n", g_passes);
+    printf("%d/%d tests passed\n", g_passes, g_total);

-    return (g_passes == 12 && g_total == 12) ? 0 : 1;
+    return (g_passes == g_total) ? 0 : 1;
 }
--- a/tests/test_enforcement.c
+++ b/tests/test_enforcement.c
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ int mnemonic_generate(int word_count, char *out, size_t out_len);
 #define ROLE_PURPOSE_MAX 32
 #define ROLE_CURVE_MAX 16
 #define ROLE_PUBKEY_HEX_MAX 66 /* 64 hex chars + null + pad */
-#define ROLE_TABLE_MAX_ENTRIES 64
+#define ROLE_TABLE_MAX_ENTRIES 256

 /* Purpose enum for fast comparison (string form kept for config/display) */
 typedef enum {
@@ -239,6 +239,12 @@ typedef enum {
    PROMPT_DENY
 } prompt_mode_t;

+typedef enum {
+    POLICY_SOURCE_DEFAULT = 0,   /* the catch-all entry */
+    POLICY_SOURCE_PREAPPROVE,    /* from --preapprove CLI flag */
+    POLICY_SOURCE_SESSION_GRANT  /* from prompt [a] during session */
+} policy_source_t;
+
 /* A single policy entry */
 typedef struct {
    char caller[POLICY_CALLER_MAX_LEN];   /* e.g. "uid:1000" or "*" for any */
@@ -249,6 +255,7 @@ typedef struct {
    char purposes[POLICY_MAX_PURPOSES][ROLE_PURPOSE_MAX];
    int purpose_count;
    prompt_mode_t prompt;
+    policy_source_t source;
 } policy_entry_t;

 /* Policy table */
@@ -277,7 +284,8 @@ int policy_table_add(policy_table_t *table, const policy_entry_t *entry);
 * Returns POLICY_ALLOW, POLICY_DENY, POLICY_PROMPT, or POLICY_NO_MATCH.
 */
 int policy_check(const policy_table_t *table, const char *caller_id,
-                 const char *verb, const char *role_name, const char *purpose);
+                 const char *verb, const char *role_name, const char *purpose,
+                 policy_source_t *out_source);

 /* Parse prompt mode from string */
 prompt_mode_t prompt_mode_from_str(const char *s);
--- a/tests/test_integration.c
+++ b/tests/test_integration.c
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ int mnemonic_generate(int word_count, char *out, size_t out_len);
 #define ROLE_PURPOSE_MAX 32
 #define ROLE_CURVE_MAX 16
 #define ROLE_PUBKEY_HEX_MAX 66 /* 64 hex chars + null + pad */
-#define ROLE_TABLE_MAX_ENTRIES 64
+#define ROLE_TABLE_MAX_ENTRIES 256

 /* Purpose enum for fast comparison (string form kept for config/display) */
 typedef enum {
@@ -241,6 +241,12 @@ typedef enum {
    PROMPT_DENY
 } prompt_mode_t;

+typedef enum {
+    POLICY_SOURCE_DEFAULT = 0,   /* the catch-all entry */
+    POLICY_SOURCE_PREAPPROVE,    /* from --preapprove CLI flag */
+    POLICY_SOURCE_SESSION_GRANT  /* from prompt [a] during session */
+} policy_source_t;
+
 /* A single policy entry */
 typedef struct {
    char caller[POLICY_CALLER_MAX_LEN];   /* e.g. "uid:1000" or "*" for any */
@@ -251,6 +257,7 @@ typedef struct {
    char purposes[POLICY_MAX_PURPOSES][ROLE_PURPOSE_MAX];
    int purpose_count;
    prompt_mode_t prompt;
+    policy_source_t source;
 } policy_entry_t;

 /* Policy table */
@@ -279,7 +286,8 @@ int policy_table_add(policy_table_t *table, const policy_entry_t *entry);
 * Returns POLICY_ALLOW, POLICY_DENY, POLICY_PROMPT, or POLICY_NO_MATCH.
 */
 int policy_check(const policy_table_t *table, const char *caller_id,
-                 const char *verb, const char *role_name, const char *purpose);
+                 const char *verb, const char *role_name, const char *purpose,
+                 policy_source_t *out_source);

 /* Parse prompt mode from string */
 prompt_mode_t prompt_mode_from_str(const char *s);
--- a/tests/test_mnemonic.c
+++ b/tests/test_mnemonic.c
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ int mnemonic_generate(int word_count, char *out, size_t out_len);
 #define ROLE_PURPOSE_MAX 32
 #define ROLE_CURVE_MAX 16
 #define ROLE_PUBKEY_HEX_MAX 66 /* 64 hex chars + null + pad */
-#define ROLE_TABLE_MAX_ENTRIES 64
+#define ROLE_TABLE_MAX_ENTRIES 256

 /* Purpose enum for fast comparison (string form kept for config/display) */
 typedef enum {
@@ -239,6 +239,12 @@ typedef enum {
    PROMPT_DENY
 } prompt_mode_t;

+typedef enum {
+    POLICY_SOURCE_DEFAULT = 0,   /* the catch-all entry */
+    POLICY_SOURCE_PREAPPROVE,    /* from --preapprove CLI flag */
+    POLICY_SOURCE_SESSION_GRANT  /* from prompt [a] during session */
+} policy_source_t;
+
 /* A single policy entry */
 typedef struct {
    char caller[POLICY_CALLER_MAX_LEN];   /* e.g. "uid:1000" or "*" for any */
@@ -249,6 +255,7 @@ typedef struct {
    char purposes[POLICY_MAX_PURPOSES][ROLE_PURPOSE_MAX];
    int purpose_count;
    prompt_mode_t prompt;
+    policy_source_t source;
 } policy_entry_t;

 /* Policy table */
@@ -277,7 +284,8 @@ int policy_table_add(policy_table_t *table, const policy_entry_t *entry);
 * Returns POLICY_ALLOW, POLICY_DENY, POLICY_PROMPT, or POLICY_NO_MATCH.
 */
 int policy_check(const policy_table_t *table, const char *caller_id,
-                 const char *verb, const char *role_name, const char *purpose);
+                 const char *verb, const char *role_name, const char *purpose,
+                 policy_source_t *out_source);

 /* Parse prompt mode from string */
 prompt_mode_t prompt_mode_from_str(const char *s);
--- a/tests/test_policy.c
+++ b/tests/test_policy.c
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ int mnemonic_generate(int word_count, char *out, size_t out_len);
 #define ROLE_PURPOSE_MAX 32
 #define ROLE_CURVE_MAX 16
 #define ROLE_PUBKEY_HEX_MAX 66 /* 64 hex chars + null + pad */
-#define ROLE_TABLE_MAX_ENTRIES 64
+#define ROLE_TABLE_MAX_ENTRIES 256

 /* Purpose enum for fast comparison (string form kept for config/display) */
 typedef enum {
@@ -239,6 +239,12 @@ typedef enum {
    PROMPT_DENY
 } prompt_mode_t;

+typedef enum {
+    POLICY_SOURCE_DEFAULT = 0,   /* the catch-all entry */
+    POLICY_SOURCE_PREAPPROVE,    /* from --preapprove CLI flag */
+    POLICY_SOURCE_SESSION_GRANT  /* from prompt [a] during session */
+} policy_source_t;
+
 /* A single policy entry */
 typedef struct {
    char caller[POLICY_CALLER_MAX_LEN];   /* e.g. "uid:1000" or "*" for any */
@@ -249,6 +255,7 @@ typedef struct {
    char purposes[POLICY_MAX_PURPOSES][ROLE_PURPOSE_MAX];
    int purpose_count;
    prompt_mode_t prompt;
+    policy_source_t source;
 } policy_entry_t;

 /* Policy table */
@@ -266,18 +273,25 @@ typedef struct {
 /* Initialize policy table */
 void policy_table_init(policy_table_t *table);

-/* Initialize default policy: allow same-uid, deny others */
+/* Initialize default policy table entries. */
 void policy_init_default(policy_table_t *table, uid_t owner_uid);

 /* Add a policy entry. Returns 0 on success, -1 if full. */
 int policy_table_add(policy_table_t *table, const policy_entry_t *entry);

+/* Insert an entry before the final catch-all rule. */
+int policy_table_insert_before_last(policy_table_t *table, const policy_entry_t *entry);
+
+/* Parse a --preapprove spec into a policy entry. */
+int parse_preapprove_spec(const char *spec, policy_entry_t *out_entry, int *out_nostr_index);
+
 /*
 * Check whether caller_id is allowed to invoke `verb` on `role_name` with given `purpose`.
 * Returns POLICY_ALLOW, POLICY_DENY, POLICY_PROMPT, or POLICY_NO_MATCH.
 */
 int policy_check(const policy_table_t *table, const char *caller_id,
-                 const char *verb, const char *role_name, const char *purpose);
+                 const char *verb, const char *role_name, const char *purpose,
+                 policy_source_t *out_source);

 /* Parse prompt mode from string */
 prompt_mode_t prompt_mode_from_str(const char *s);
@@ -486,7 +500,9 @@ static void add_single_entry(policy_table_t *table,

 int main(void) {
    policy_table_t table;
+    policy_entry_t parsed;
    int rc;
+    int parsed_nostr_index;
    uid_t uid = getuid();
    char same_uid[64];
    char other_uid[64];
@@ -494,74 +510,177 @@ int main(void) {
    (void)snprintf(same_uid, sizeof(same_uid), "uid:%u", (unsigned int)uid);
    (void)snprintf(other_uid, sizeof(other_uid), "uid:%u", (unsigned int)(uid + 1U));

-    policy_init_default(&table, uid);
-    rc = policy_check(&table, same_uid, "sign_event", "main", "nostr");
-    check_condition("policy_init_default allows same uid", rc == POLICY_ALLOW);
+    rc = parse_preapprove_spec("caller=uid:1000,role=main", &parsed, &parsed_nostr_index);
+    check_condition("parse_preapprove_spec accepts caller+role", rc == 0);
+    check_condition("parse_preapprove_spec caller set", strcmp(parsed.caller, "uid:1000") == 0);
+    check_condition("parse_preapprove_spec role set", strcmp(parsed.roles[0], "main") == 0);
+    check_condition("parse_preapprove_spec role_count=1", parsed.role_count == 1);
+    check_condition("parse_preapprove_spec prompt=never", parsed.prompt == PROMPT_NEVER);
+    check_condition("parse_preapprove_spec nostr_index unchanged for role", parsed_nostr_index == -1);

-    rc = policy_check(&table, other_uid, "sign_event", "main", "nostr");
-    check_condition("policy_init_default denies different uid", rc == POLICY_DENY);
+    rc = parse_preapprove_spec("caller=uid:1000,nostr_index=0", &parsed, &parsed_nostr_index);
+    check_condition("parse_preapprove_spec accepts caller+nostr_index", rc == 0);
+    check_condition("parse_preapprove_spec nostr_index=0 maps to main", strcmp(parsed.roles[0], "main") == 0);
+    check_condition("parse_preapprove_spec returns parsed nostr_index", parsed_nostr_index == 0);
+
+    rc = parse_preapprove_spec("caller=uid:1000,nostr_index=2", &parsed, &parsed_nostr_index);
+    check_condition("parse_preapprove_spec maps nonzero nostr_index role", strcmp(parsed.roles[0], "nostr_idx_2") == 0);
+    check_condition("parse_preapprove_spec stores nonzero nostr_index", parsed_nostr_index == 2);
+
+    rc = parse_preapprove_spec("role=main", &parsed, &parsed_nostr_index);
+    check_condition("parse_preapprove_spec rejects missing caller", rc == -1);
+    rc = parse_preapprove_spec("caller=uid:1000", &parsed, &parsed_nostr_index);
+    check_condition("parse_preapprove_spec rejects missing role and nostr_index", rc == -1);
+    rc = parse_preapprove_spec("caller=uid:1000,role=main,nostr_index=0", &parsed, &parsed_nostr_index);
+    check_condition("parse_preapprove_spec rejects both role and nostr_index", rc == -1);
+    rc = parse_preapprove_spec("caller=uid:1000,nostr_index=-1", &parsed, &parsed_nostr_index);
+    check_condition("parse_preapprove_spec rejects negative nostr_index", rc == -1);
+    rc = parse_preapprove_spec("caller=uid:1000,nostr_index=abc", &parsed, &parsed_nostr_index);
+    check_condition("parse_preapprove_spec rejects non-numeric nostr_index", rc == -1);
+
+    policy_init_default(&table, uid);
+    rc = policy_check(&table, same_uid, "sign_event", "main", "nostr", NULL);
+    check_condition("policy_init_default prompts same uid", rc == POLICY_PROMPT);
+
+    rc = policy_check(&table, other_uid, "sign_event", "main", "nostr", NULL);
+    check_condition("policy_init_default prompts different uid", rc == POLICY_PROMPT);
+
+    /* Insert before catch-all: matching caller allowed, non-matching still prompted */
+    policy_table_init(&table);
+    add_single_entry(&table, "*", NULL, NULL, NULL, PROMPT_EVERY_REQUEST);
+    {
+        policy_entry_t grant;
+        memset(&grant, 0, sizeof(grant));
+        strncpy(grant.caller, "uid:1000", sizeof(grant.caller) - 1);
+        strncpy(grant.roles[0], "main", sizeof(grant.roles[0]) - 1);
+        grant.role_count = 1;
+        grant.prompt = PROMPT_NEVER;
+        rc = policy_table_insert_before_last(&table, &grant);
+        check_condition("policy_table_insert_before_last succeeds", rc == 0);
+    }
+    rc = policy_check(&table, "uid:1000", "sign_event", "main", "nostr", NULL);
+    check_condition("insert_before_last matching caller returns POLICY_ALLOW", rc == POLICY_ALLOW);
+    rc = policy_check(&table, "uid:2000", "sign_event", "main", "nostr", NULL);
+    check_condition("insert_before_last non-matching caller returns POLICY_PROMPT", rc == POLICY_PROMPT);
+
+    /* Preapprove parse + insert: matching caller allowed, non-matching prompted */
+    policy_init_default(&table, uid);
+    rc = parse_preapprove_spec("caller=uid:1000,role=main", &parsed, &parsed_nostr_index);
+    check_condition("preapprove parse for policy insert succeeds", rc == 0);
+    rc = policy_table_insert_before_last(&table, &parsed);
+    check_condition("preapprove insert_before_last succeeds", rc == 0);
+    rc = policy_check(&table, "uid:1000", "sign_event", "main", "nostr", NULL);
+    check_condition("preapprove allows matching caller+role", rc == POLICY_ALLOW);
+    rc = policy_check(&table, "uid:2000", "sign_event", "main", "nostr", NULL);
+    check_condition("preapprove leaves non-matching caller at POLICY_PROMPT", rc == POLICY_PROMPT);

    /* Exact caller, verb, role, purpose + never => allow */
    policy_table_init(&table);
    add_single_entry(&table, "uid:1000", "sign_event", "main", "nostr", PROMPT_NEVER);
-    rc = policy_check(&table, "uid:1000", "sign_event", "main", "nostr");
+    rc = policy_check(&table, "uid:1000", "sign_event", "main", "nostr", NULL);
    check_condition("exact match returns POLICY_ALLOW", rc == POLICY_ALLOW);

    /* Wildcard caller + deny => deny */
    policy_table_init(&table);
    add_single_entry(&table, "*", "sign_event", "main", "nostr", PROMPT_DENY);
-    rc = policy_check(&table, "uid:2000", "sign_event", "main", "nostr");
+    rc = policy_check(&table, "uid:2000", "sign_event", "main", "nostr", NULL);
    check_condition("wildcard caller with deny returns POLICY_DENY", rc == POLICY_DENY);

    /* Caller no match => POLICY_NO_MATCH */
    policy_table_init(&table);
    add_single_entry(&table, "uid:1000", "sign_event", "main", "nostr", PROMPT_NEVER);
-    rc = policy_check(&table, "uid:9999", "sign_event", "main", "nostr");
+    rc = policy_check(&table, "uid:9999", "sign_event", "main", "nostr", NULL);
    check_condition("caller mismatch returns POLICY_NO_MATCH", rc == POLICY_NO_MATCH);

    /* Verb not in list => no match */
    policy_table_init(&table);
    add_single_entry(&table, "uid:1000", "get_public_key", "main", "nostr", PROMPT_NEVER);
-    rc = policy_check(&table, "uid:1000", "sign_event", "main", "nostr");
+    rc = policy_check(&table, "uid:1000", "sign_event", "main", "nostr", NULL);
    check_condition("verb mismatch returns POLICY_NO_MATCH", rc == POLICY_NO_MATCH);

    /* Role not in list => no match */
    policy_table_init(&table);
    add_single_entry(&table, "uid:1000", "sign_event", "throwaway", "nostr", PROMPT_NEVER);
-    rc = policy_check(&table, "uid:1000", "sign_event", "main", "nostr");
+    rc = policy_check(&table, "uid:1000", "sign_event", "main", "nostr", NULL);
    check_condition("role mismatch returns POLICY_NO_MATCH", rc == POLICY_NO_MATCH);

    /* Purpose not in list => no match */
    policy_table_init(&table);
    add_single_entry(&table, "uid:1000", "sign_event", "main", "bitcoin", PROMPT_NEVER);
-    rc = policy_check(&table, "uid:1000", "sign_event", "main", "nostr");
+    rc = policy_check(&table, "uid:1000", "sign_event", "main", "nostr", NULL);
    check_condition("purpose mismatch returns POLICY_NO_MATCH", rc == POLICY_NO_MATCH);

    /* Empty verbs list means all verbs */
    policy_table_init(&table);
    add_single_entry(&table, "uid:1000", NULL, "main", "nostr", PROMPT_NEVER);
-    rc = policy_check(&table, "uid:1000", "nip44_encrypt", "main", "nostr");
+    rc = policy_check(&table, "uid:1000", "nip44_encrypt", "main", "nostr", NULL);
    check_condition("empty verbs list matches any verb", rc == POLICY_ALLOW);

    /* prompt=first_per_boot => POLICY_PROMPT */
    policy_table_init(&table);
    add_single_entry(&table, "uid:1000", "sign_event", "main", "nostr", PROMPT_FIRST_PER_BOOT);
-    rc = policy_check(&table, "uid:1000", "sign_event", "main", "nostr");
+    rc = policy_check(&table, "uid:1000", "sign_event", "main", "nostr", NULL);
    check_condition("first_per_boot returns POLICY_PROMPT", rc == POLICY_PROMPT);

    /* prompt=every_request => POLICY_PROMPT */
    policy_table_init(&table);
    add_single_entry(&table, "uid:1000", "sign_event", "main", "nostr", PROMPT_EVERY_REQUEST);
-    rc = policy_check(&table, "uid:1000", "sign_event", "main", "nostr");
+    rc = policy_check(&table, "uid:1000", "sign_event", "main", "nostr", NULL);
    check_condition("every_request returns POLICY_PROMPT", rc == POLICY_PROMPT);

    /* First matching entry wins */
    policy_table_init(&table);
    add_single_entry(&table, "uid:1000", "sign_event", "main", "nostr", PROMPT_DENY);
    add_single_entry(&table, "uid:1000", "sign_event", "main", "nostr", PROMPT_NEVER);
-    rc = policy_check(&table, "uid:1000", "sign_event", "main", "nostr");
+    rc = policy_check(&table, "uid:1000", "sign_event", "main", "nostr", NULL);
    check_condition("first matching entry wins", rc == POLICY_DENY);

+    /* Verify out_source for preapprove, session-grant, and default catch-all */
+    policy_table_init(&table);
+    {
+        policy_entry_t pre;
+        policy_entry_t sess;
+        policy_entry_t prompt_all;
+        policy_source_t src = POLICY_SOURCE_DEFAULT;
+
+        memset(&pre, 0, sizeof(pre));
+        strncpy(pre.caller, "uid:1000", sizeof(pre.caller) - 1);
+        strncpy(pre.roles[0], "main", sizeof(pre.roles[0]) - 1);
+        pre.role_count = 1;
+        pre.prompt = PROMPT_NEVER;
+        pre.source = POLICY_SOURCE_PREAPPROVE;
+        rc = policy_table_add(&table, &pre);
+        check_condition("source test preapprove entry add", rc == 0);
+
+        memset(&sess, 0, sizeof(sess));
+        strncpy(sess.caller, "uid:1001", sizeof(sess.caller) - 1);
+        strncpy(sess.roles[0], "main", sizeof(sess.roles[0]) - 1);
+        sess.role_count = 1;
+        sess.prompt = PROMPT_NEVER;
+        sess.source = POLICY_SOURCE_SESSION_GRANT;
+        rc = policy_table_add(&table, &sess);
+        check_condition("source test session entry add", rc == 0);
+
+        memset(&prompt_all, 0, sizeof(prompt_all));
+        strncpy(prompt_all.caller, "*", sizeof(prompt_all.caller) - 1);
+        prompt_all.prompt = PROMPT_EVERY_REQUEST;
+        prompt_all.source = POLICY_SOURCE_DEFAULT;
+        rc = policy_table_add(&table, &prompt_all);
+        check_condition("source test default catch-all add", rc == 0);
+
+        src = POLICY_SOURCE_DEFAULT;
+        rc = policy_check(&table, "uid:1000", "sign_event", "main", "nostr", &src);
+        check_condition("policy_check reports preapprove source", rc == POLICY_ALLOW && src == POLICY_SOURCE_PREAPPROVE);
+
+        src = POLICY_SOURCE_DEFAULT;
+        rc = policy_check(&table, "uid:1001", "sign_event", "main", "nostr", &src);
+        check_condition("policy_check reports session-grant source", rc == POLICY_ALLOW && src == POLICY_SOURCE_SESSION_GRANT);
+
+        src = POLICY_SOURCE_PREAPPROVE;
+        rc = policy_check(&table, "uid:9999", "sign_event", "main", "nostr", &src);
+        check_condition("policy_check resets source for prompt/default", rc == POLICY_PROMPT && src == POLICY_SOURCE_DEFAULT);
+    }
+
    printf("%d/%d tests passed\n", g_passes, g_total);
    return (g_passes == g_total) ? 0 : 1;
 }
--- a/tests/test_role_table.c
+++ b/tests/test_role_table.c
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ int mnemonic_generate(int word_count, char *out, size_t out_len);
 #define ROLE_PURPOSE_MAX 32
 #define ROLE_CURVE_MAX 16
 #define ROLE_PUBKEY_HEX_MAX 66 /* 64 hex chars + null + pad */
-#define ROLE_TABLE_MAX_ENTRIES 64
+#define ROLE_TABLE_MAX_ENTRIES 256

 /* Purpose enum for fast comparison (string form kept for config/display) */
 typedef enum {
@@ -149,6 +149,9 @@ const char *role_purpose_to_str(role_purpose_t p);
 /* Curve enum to string */
 const char *role_curve_to_str(role_curve_t c);

+/* Register a nostr-index role if missing. Returns 0 on success, -1 on error. */
+int role_table_register_nostr_index(role_table_t *table, int nostr_index);
+

 /* from selector.h */

@@ -239,6 +242,12 @@ typedef enum {
    PROMPT_DENY
 } prompt_mode_t;

+typedef enum {
+    POLICY_SOURCE_DEFAULT = 0,   /* the catch-all entry */
+    POLICY_SOURCE_PREAPPROVE,    /* from --preapprove CLI flag */
+    POLICY_SOURCE_SESSION_GRANT  /* from prompt [a] during session */
+} policy_source_t;
+
 /* A single policy entry */
 typedef struct {
    char caller[POLICY_CALLER_MAX_LEN];   /* e.g. "uid:1000" or "*" for any */
@@ -249,6 +258,7 @@ typedef struct {
    char purposes[POLICY_MAX_PURPOSES][ROLE_PURPOSE_MAX];
    int purpose_count;
    prompt_mode_t prompt;
+    policy_source_t source;
 } policy_entry_t;

 /* Policy table */
@@ -277,7 +287,8 @@ int policy_table_add(policy_table_t *table, const policy_entry_t *entry);
 * Returns POLICY_ALLOW, POLICY_DENY, POLICY_PROMPT, or POLICY_NO_MATCH.
 */
 int policy_check(const policy_table_t *table, const char *caller_id,
-                 const char *verb, const char *role_name, const char *purpose);
+                 const char *verb, const char *role_name, const char *purpose,
+                 policy_source_t *out_source);

 /* Parse prompt mode from string */
 prompt_mode_t prompt_mode_from_str(const char *s);
@@ -530,40 +541,28 @@ int main(void) {
    rc = role_table_add(&table, &e_main);
    check_condition("duplicate name rejection returns -2", rc == -2);

+    role_table_init(&table);
+    rc = role_table_register_nostr_index(&table, 7);
+    check_condition("register nostr_index=7 returns 0", rc == 0);
+    found = role_table_find_by_nostr_index(&table, 7);
+    check_condition("register nostr_index=7 creates role", found != NULL);
+    check_condition("registered role name is nostr_idx_7", found != NULL && strcmp(found->name, "nostr_idx_7") == 0);
+    check_condition("registered role purpose nostr", found != NULL && found->purpose == PURPOSE_NOSTR);
+    check_condition("registered role curve secp256k1", found != NULL && found->curve == CURVE_SECP256K1);
+    check_condition("registered role selector type nostr_index", found != NULL && found->selector_type == SELECTOR_NOSTR_INDEX);
+
+    rc = role_table_register_nostr_index(&table, 7);
+    check_condition("register nostr_index=7 idempotent second call", rc == 0);
+    check_condition("register nostr_index=7 idempotent no duplicate", table.count == 1);
+
    role_table_init(&table);
    for (i = 0; i < ROLE_TABLE_MAX_ENTRIES; ++i) {
-        role_entry_t e;
-        char name_buf[ROLE_NAME_MAX];
-
-        memset(&e, 0, sizeof(e));
-        snprintf(name_buf, sizeof(name_buf), "role_%d", i);
-        strncpy(e.name, name_buf, sizeof(e.name) - 1);
-        strncpy(e.purpose_str, "nostr", sizeof(e.purpose_str) - 1);
-        strncpy(e.curve_str, "secp256k1", sizeof(e.curve_str) - 1);
-        e.purpose = PURPOSE_NOSTR;
-        e.curve = CURVE_SECP256K1;
-        e.selector_type = SELECTOR_NOSTR_INDEX;
-        e.nostr_index = i;
-
-        rc = role_table_add(&table, &e);
-        check_condition("fill table role add returns 0", rc == 0);
+        rc = role_table_register_nostr_index(&table, i);
+        check_condition("fill table via register_nostr_index returns 0", rc == 0);
    }

-    {
-        role_entry_t overflow;
-
-        memset(&overflow, 0, sizeof(overflow));
-        strncpy(overflow.name, "overflow", sizeof(overflow.name) - 1);
-        strncpy(overflow.purpose_str, "nostr", sizeof(overflow.purpose_str) - 1);
-        strncpy(overflow.curve_str, "secp256k1", sizeof(overflow.curve_str) - 1);
-        overflow.purpose = PURPOSE_NOSTR;
-        overflow.curve = CURVE_SECP256K1;
-        overflow.selector_type = SELECTOR_NOSTR_INDEX;
-        overflow.nostr_index = 999;
-
-        rc = role_table_add(&table, &overflow);
-        check_condition("table full rejection returns -1", rc == -1);
-    }
+    rc = role_table_register_nostr_index(&table, ROLE_TABLE_MAX_ENTRIES + 7);
+    check_condition("register_nostr_index table full returns -1", rc == -1);

    if (g_failures == 0) {
        printf("ALL TESTS PASSED\n");
--- a/tests/test_selector.c
+++ b/tests/test_selector.c
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ int mnemonic_generate(int word_count, char *out, size_t out_len);
 #define ROLE_PURPOSE_MAX 32
 #define ROLE_CURVE_MAX 16
 #define ROLE_PUBKEY_HEX_MAX 66 /* 64 hex chars + null + pad */
-#define ROLE_TABLE_MAX_ENTRIES 64
+#define ROLE_TABLE_MAX_ENTRIES 256

 /* Purpose enum for fast comparison (string form kept for config/display) */
 typedef enum {
@@ -239,6 +239,12 @@ typedef enum {
    PROMPT_DENY
 } prompt_mode_t;

+typedef enum {
+    POLICY_SOURCE_DEFAULT = 0,   /* the catch-all entry */
+    POLICY_SOURCE_PREAPPROVE,    /* from --preapprove CLI flag */
+    POLICY_SOURCE_SESSION_GRANT  /* from prompt [a] during session */
+} policy_source_t;
+
 /* A single policy entry */
 typedef struct {
    char caller[POLICY_CALLER_MAX_LEN];   /* e.g. "uid:1000" or "*" for any */
@@ -249,6 +255,7 @@ typedef struct {
    char purposes[POLICY_MAX_PURPOSES][ROLE_PURPOSE_MAX];
    int purpose_count;
    prompt_mode_t prompt;
+    policy_source_t source;
 } policy_entry_t;

 /* Policy table */
@@ -277,7 +284,8 @@ int policy_table_add(policy_table_t *table, const policy_entry_t *entry);
 * Returns POLICY_ALLOW, POLICY_DENY, POLICY_PROMPT, or POLICY_NO_MATCH.
 */
 int policy_check(const policy_table_t *table, const char *caller_id,
-                 const char *verb, const char *role_name, const char *purpose);
+                 const char *verb, const char *role_name, const char *purpose,
+                 policy_source_t *out_source);

 /* Parse prompt mode from string */
 prompt_mode_t prompt_mode_from_str(const char *s);
--- a/tests/test_socket_name.c
+++ b/tests/test_socket_name.c
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ int mnemonic_generate(int word_count, char *out, size_t out_len);
 #define ROLE_PURPOSE_MAX 32
 #define ROLE_CURVE_MAX 16
 #define ROLE_PUBKEY_HEX_MAX 66 /* 64 hex chars + null + pad */
-#define ROLE_TABLE_MAX_ENTRIES 64
+#define ROLE_TABLE_MAX_ENTRIES 256

 /* Purpose enum for fast comparison (string form kept for config/display) */
 typedef enum {
@@ -239,6 +239,12 @@ typedef enum {
    PROMPT_DENY
 } prompt_mode_t;

+typedef enum {
+    POLICY_SOURCE_DEFAULT = 0,   /* the catch-all entry */
+    POLICY_SOURCE_PREAPPROVE,    /* from --preapprove CLI flag */
+    POLICY_SOURCE_SESSION_GRANT  /* from prompt [a] during session */
+} policy_source_t;
+
 /* A single policy entry */
 typedef struct {
    char caller[POLICY_CALLER_MAX_LEN];   /* e.g. "uid:1000" or "*" for any */
@@ -249,6 +255,7 @@ typedef struct {
    char purposes[POLICY_MAX_PURPOSES][ROLE_PURPOSE_MAX];
    int purpose_count;
    prompt_mode_t prompt;
+    policy_source_t source;
 } policy_entry_t;

 /* Policy table */
@@ -277,7 +284,8 @@ int policy_table_add(policy_table_t *table, const policy_entry_t *entry);
 * Returns POLICY_ALLOW, POLICY_DENY, POLICY_PROMPT, or POLICY_NO_MATCH.
 */
 int policy_check(const policy_table_t *table, const char *caller_id,
-                 const char *verb, const char *role_name, const char *purpose);
+                 const char *verb, const char *role_name, const char *purpose,
+                 policy_source_t *out_source);

 /* Parse prompt mode from string */
 prompt_mode_t prompt_mode_from_str(const char *s);
Author	SHA1	Message	Date
Laan Tungir	659aeb934a	v0.0.18 - Add prompt options for verb-only session grant vs all-verbs session grant	2026-05-05 07:33:22 -04:00
Laan Tungir	148259040c	v0.0.17 - Add n_OS_tr agent migration guide for deny-by-default approval workflow	2026-05-04 19:02:41 -04:00
Laan Tungir	7ffba2b678	v0.0.16 - Implement deny-by-default approval model with on-demand nostr_index derivation and --preapprove CLI flag	2026-05-04 18:44:40 -04:00
Laan Tungir	cfaa8ff637	v0.0.15 - Publish downloadable release assets for selector parsing fix	2026-05-04 08:06:32 -04:00
Laan Tungir	1317de5cbe	v0.0.14 - Create downloadable release for selector parsing fix	2026-05-04 08:05:38 -04:00
Laan Tungir	fac0ce6503	v0.0.13 - Fix selector parsing to use last params element for nostr_index options	2026-05-04 08:03:17 -04:00
Laan Tungir	ae95ae6859	v0.0.12 - Fix release flow: always increment version in -r mode; include startup confirmations and latest-version installer behavior	2026-05-04 07:21:30 -04:00
Laan Tungir	3efb0edb61	v0.0.11 - Improve startup UX messaging and installer defaults: show mnemonic acceptance, readiness state, and auto-resolve latest release version	2026-05-04 07:18:27 -04:00
Laan Tungir	c5fdb1a207	v0.0.11 - Improve startup UX: print version, visible mnemonic entry, retry up to 10 attempts, and support q/x quit	2026-05-04 07:02:40 -04:00
Laan Tungir	28f50a750f	v0.0.10 - Fix ARM64 static release build via buildx/QEMU and arch-aware nostr_core linking	2026-05-04 05:57:46 -04:00
Laan Tungir	1dd6630311	v0.0.9 - Add timestamped stdout activity logging for TCP mode and show full .fips signer URL in startup helper	2026-05-03 20:37:11 -04:00
Laan Tungir	252d026991	v0.0.8 - Add FIPS npub-aware approval prompt and simplify qube installer to nsigner-only startup flow	2026-05-03 19:50:29 -04:00
Laan Tungir	f9d7b94962	v0.0.7 - Allow TCP non-loopback IPv4/IPv6 binds for FIPS reachability	2026-05-03 11:41:42 -04:00
Laan Tungir	b089bf36e3	v0.0.6 - Tier-1 TCP listener + FIPS deployment documentation	2026-05-02 18:14:20 -04:00