objectstack-ai · os-zhuang · Aug 28, 2026 · Aug 27, 2026 · Aug 27, 2026 · Aug 27, 2026
diff --git a/.changeset/kernel-context-preview-mode-retired.md b/.changeset/kernel-context-preview-mode-retired.md
@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+---
+"@objectstack/spec": minor
+---
+
+feat(spec): retire preview mode — the `'preview'` RuntimeMode value and the whole `KernelContext.previewMode` / `PreviewModeConfig` block (#11846, ADR-0049)
+
+<!-- adr-0087: registered kernel-context-preview-mode-retired -->
+
+**BREAKING** accept-set narrowing and export removal, landing after the
+v17.0.0 cut (the lockstep launch-window convention ships it as `minor`; the
+prescription is registered under protocol major 18 —
+`RETIRED_KEYS_BY_MAJOR[18]` for both walked-shape keys,
+`RETIRED_DEFS_BY_MAJOR[18]` for the def, plus the D3 semantic entry
+`kernel-context-preview-mode-retired` — where `os migrate meta` users will
+look).
+
+The declaration was the sharpest declared-≠-enforced shape on a SECURITY
+surface: the schema promised "bypass auth, simulate admin identity" and named
+a production guard "the runtime must enforce", and NO code path implemented
+either half. Measured zero consumers in objectstack, objectui and cloud
+(cloud#1651, closed 2026-08-26 with positive controls: `RuntimeMode` has zero
+hits repo-wide there, and `ArtifactKernelFactory` — where preview auto-login
+would live if anywhere — has 20+ hits and never touches `previewMode`;
+re-verified in objectstack at dispatch, 2026-08-27). An author — very often
+an AI — could write the six-key block per the reference docs, parse cleanly,
+and get no behaviour and no diagnostic.
+
+FROM → TO:
+
+- `mode: 'preview'` → *(removed value)* — `mode` defaults to `'production'`;
+ use `'development'` for local demo work. The rejection carries the
+ prescription via the enum's own error map (the `HookBodyCapability`
+ precedent); every other mode keeps zod's own message.
+- `previewMode: { … }` on `KernelContext` / `TenantRuntimeContext` →
+ *(removed key)* — tombstoned with `retiredKey()` (the schemas are not
+ `.strict()`, so a bare deletion would be a silent strip): authoring it is
+ now a `tsc` error and a parse error carrying the prescription.
+- `PreviewModeConfigSchema` / `PreviewModeConfig` / `PreviewModeConfigParsed`
+ → *(removed — no replacement)*. The def described behaviour no layer
+ implemented; an exported value schema with no consumer reads as a
+ capability (#3950).
+
+One-line fix: delete the key and the value — neither ever changed runtime
+behaviour, so removing them changes nothing observable. Preview deployment
+ROUTING is untouched: `OS_PREVIEW_MODE` / `OS_PREVIEW_BASE_DOMAINS` keep
+working exactly as documented (deployment routing, never identity). If a
+preview experience becomes a product capability it re-declares fresh, with
+the production-posture hard-refusal as the first-landed half (#11846 ruling
+record, maintainer 2026-08-27).
+
+The retirement kit:
+
+- tombstones at both declarations (`kernel/KernelContext:previewMode` and the
+ `.extend()` copy `kernel/TenantRuntimeContext:previewMode`, both in
+ `RETIRED_KEYS_BY_MAJOR[18]`); the enum value's prescription on
+ `RuntimeMode`'s error map (enum-VALUE retirements register nothing in
+ RETIRED_KEYS_BY_MAJOR and leave the surface ratchets byte-identical)
+- whole-def deletion `kernel/PreviewModeConfig` in `RETIRED_DEFS_BY_MAJOR[18]`
+ (manifest key deliberately removed; the #4725 gate adjudicated it)
+- deliberately NO D2 conversion: a kernel context is constructed by host code
+ at boot — not a stack collection member, never a `sys_metadata` row — so
+ the conversion chain has no seam that would ever see one (the
+ `kernel/Manifest:loading` disposition); the D3 semantic entry carries the
+ prescription
+- pin tests (`kernel/preview-mode-retirement.test.ts`): both rejection sites
+ flip from silent parse to the prescription; zero holders for all 3 retired
+ export names on every public entry; the carrier schemas survive
diff --git a/content/docs/references/index.mdx b/content/docs/references/index.mdx
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 ---
 title: Protocol Reference
-description: Every schema published by @objectstack/spec — 1605 schemas across 14 protocol modules
+description: Every schema published by @objectstack/spec — 1604 schemas across 14 protocol modules
 ---
 
 {/* ⚠️ AUTO-GENERATED — DO NOT EDIT. Run build-docs.ts to regenerate. Hand-written docs live in the module folders under content/docs/. */}
@@ -26,14 +26,14 @@ counts are sums of the rows they head. Regenerate with
 | [Data Protocol](/docs/references/data) | 29 | 166 | Objects, fields, queries, filters, datasources and drivers — the ObjectQL layer. |
 | [Identity Protocol](/docs/references/identity) | 5 | 27 | Users and accounts, organizations, positions, SCIM provisioning. |
 | [Integration Protocol](/docs/references/integration) | 1 | 27 | The single connector protocol (ADR-0097) — catalog descriptors and provider-bound instances. |
-| [Kernel Protocol](/docs/references/kernel) | 31 | 171 | Plugin lifecycle and manifests, capabilities and security, metadata loading, service registry. |
+| [Kernel Protocol](/docs/references/kernel) | 31 | 170 | Plugin lifecycle and manifests, capabilities and security, metadata loading, service registry. |
 | [QA Protocol](/docs/references/qa) | 1 | 8 | Declarative test suites — scenarios, steps, actions and assertions. |
 | [Security Protocol](/docs/references/security) | 5 | 29 | Permission sets, row-level security, sharing rules, tenancy posture. |
 | [Shared Protocol](/docs/references/shared) | 8 | 32 | Primitives used across every protocol — identifiers, HTTP, expressions, error maps, enums. |
 | [Studio Protocol](/docs/references/studio) | 3 | 35 | Studio designer metadata — the authoring surfaces for the protocols above. |
 | [System Protocol](/docs/references/system) | 36 | 291 | The runtime environment — logging, jobs, cache, metrics, notifications, i18n and compliance. |
 | [UI Protocol](/docs/references/ui) | 16 | 152 | Apps, pages, views, dashboards, reports, actions and themes — the ObjectUI layer. |
-| **Total** | **201** | **1605** | 14 protocol modules |
+| **Total** | **201** | **1604** | 14 protocol modules |
 
 ---
 
@@ -217,15 +217,15 @@ The single connector protocol (ADR-0097) — catalog descriptors and provider-bo
 
 ## Kernel Protocol
 
-**Source:** `packages/spec/src/kernel/` · **Import:** `@objectstack/spec/kernel` · **31 pages, 171 schemas**
+**Source:** `packages/spec/src/kernel/` · **Import:** `@objectstack/spec/kernel` · **31 pages, 170 schemas**
 
 Plugin lifecycle and manifests, capabilities and security, metadata loading, service registry.
 
 | File | Schemas |
 | :--- | :--- |
 | [`cli-extension.zod.ts`](/docs/references/kernel/cli-extension) | `OclifPluginConfig` |
 | [`cluster.zod.ts`](/docs/references/kernel/cluster) | `ClusterCapabilityConfig`, `ClusterDriver`, `ClusterTenantIsolation`, `EventClusterOptions`, `EventDeliverySemantics`, `EventScope`, `MetadataChangeOperation`, `ServiceClusterAnnotations`, `ServiceClusterScope`, `ServiceLeaderStrategy` |
-| [`context.zod.ts`](/docs/references/kernel/context) | `KernelContext`, `PreviewModeConfig`, `RuntimeMode`, `TenantRuntimeContext` |
+| [`context.zod.ts`](/docs/references/kernel/context) | `KernelContext`, `RuntimeMode`, `TenantRuntimeContext` |
 | [`dependency-resolution.zod.ts`](/docs/references/kernel/dependency-resolution) | `DependencyResolutionResult`, `DependencyStatusEnum`, `RequiredAction`, `ResolvedDependency` |
 | [`events/bus.zod.ts`](/docs/references/kernel/events-bus) | `EventBusConfig` |
 | [`events/core.zod.ts`](/docs/references/kernel/events-core) | `Event`, `EventMetadata`, `EventPriority`, `EventTypeDefinition` |

diff --git a/content/docs/references/kernel/context.mdx b/content/docs/references/kernel/context.mdx
@@ -5,18 +5,15 @@ description: Context protocol schemas
 
 {/* ⚠️ AUTO-GENERATED — DO NOT EDIT. Run build-docs.ts to regenerate. Hand-written docs live in the module folders under content/docs/. */}
 
-Runtime Mode Enum
-Defines the operating mode of the kernel
-
 <Callout type="info">
 **Source:** `packages/spec/src/kernel/context.zod.ts`
 </Callout>
 
 ## TypeScript Usage
 
 ```typescript
-import { KernelContextSchema, PreviewModeConfigSchema, RuntimeMode, TenantRuntimeContextSchema } from '@objectstack/spec/kernel';
-import type { KernelContext, PreviewModeConfig, RuntimeMode, TenantRuntimeContext } from '@objectstack/spec/kernel';
+import { KernelContextSchema, RuntimeMode, TenantRuntimeContextSchema } from '@objectstack/spec/kernel';
+import type { KernelContext, RuntimeMode, TenantRuntimeContext } from '@objectstack/spec/kernel';
 
 // Validate data
 const result = KernelContextSchema.parse(data);
@@ -31,41 +28,14 @@ const result = KernelContextSchema.parse(data);
 | Property | Type | Required | Description |
 | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
 | **instanceId** | `string` | ✅ | Unique UUID for this running kernel process |
-| **mode** | `Enum<'development' \| 'production' \| 'test' \| 'provisioning' \| 'preview'>` | optional (default: `"production"`) | Kernel operating mode |
+| **mode** | `Enum<'development' \| 'production' \| 'test' \| 'provisioning'>` | optional (default: `"production"`) | Kernel operating mode |
 | **version** | `string` | ✅ | Kernel version |
 | **appName** | `string` | optional | Host application name |
 | **cwd** | `string` | ✅ | Current working directory |
 | **workspaceRoot** | `string` | optional | Workspace root if different from cwd |
 | **startTime** | `integer` | ✅ | Boot timestamp (ms) |
 | **features** | `Record<string, boolean>` | optional (default: `{}`) | Global feature toggles |
-| **previewMode** | `{ autoLogin: boolean; simulatedRole: Enum<'admin' \| 'user' \| 'viewer'>; simulatedUserName: string; readOnly: boolean; … }` | optional | Preview/demo mode configuration (used when mode is "preview") |
-
-### Nested Shape: `KernelContext.previewMode`
-
-| Property | Type | Required | Description |
-| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
-| **autoLogin** | `boolean` | optional (default: `true`) | Auto-login as simulated user, skipping login/registration pages |
-| **simulatedRole** | `Enum<'admin' \| 'user' \| 'viewer'>` | optional (default: `"admin"`) | Permission role for the simulated preview user |
-| **simulatedUserName** | `string` | optional (default: `"Preview User"`) | Display name for the simulated preview user |
-| **readOnly** | `boolean` | optional (default: `false`) | Restrict the preview session to read-only operations |
-| **expiresInSeconds** | `integer` | optional (default: `0`) | Preview session duration in seconds (0 = no expiration) |
-| **bannerMessage** | `string` | optional | Banner message displayed in the UI during preview mode |
-
-
----
-
-## PreviewModeConfig
-
-### Properties
-
-| Property | Type | Required | Description |
-| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
-| **autoLogin** | `boolean` | optional (default: `true`) | Auto-login as simulated user, skipping login/registration pages |
-| **simulatedRole** | `Enum<'admin' \| 'user' \| 'viewer'>` | optional (default: `"admin"`) | Permission role for the simulated preview user |
-| **simulatedUserName** | `string` | optional (default: `"Preview User"`) | Display name for the simulated preview user |
-| **readOnly** | `boolean` | optional (default: `false`) | Restrict the preview session to read-only operations |
-| **expiresInSeconds** | `integer` | optional (default: `0`) | Preview session duration in seconds (0 = no expiration) |
-| **bannerMessage** | `string` | optional | Banner message displayed in the UI during preview mode |
+| **previewMode** | `never` | optional | [REMOVED] `context.previewMode` was removed in @objectstack/spec 17 (#11846, ADR-0049 enforce-or-remove) — nothing ever read the block: none of its six keys (`autoLogin`, `simulatedRole`, `simulatedUserName`, `readOnly`, `expiresInSeconds`, `bannerMessage`) had a consumer in any repo, so an authored block parsed cleanly and configured NOTHING, while its own docstring promised an auth bypass ("skips authentication screens", "simulates an admin identity") and named a production guard no runtime ever received. Delete the key. Preview/demo deployments belong to the deployment layer, which owns auth per-project (`ArtifactKernelFactory` in the cloud distribution); `OS_PREVIEW_MODE` stays there as a routing-only switch. If a preview experience becomes a product capability it re-declares fresh, with the production-posture hard-refusal as the first-landed half (#11846 ruling record). |
 
 
 ---
@@ -80,7 +50,6 @@ Kernel operating mode
 * `production`
 * `test`
 * `provisioning`
-* `preview`
 
 
 ---
@@ -94,31 +63,20 @@ Tenant-aware kernel runtime context
 | Property | Type | Required | Description |
 | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
 | **instanceId** | `string` | ✅ | Unique UUID for this running kernel process |
-| **mode** | `Enum<'development' \| 'production' \| 'test' \| 'provisioning' \| 'preview'>` | optional (default: `"production"`) | Kernel operating mode |
+| **mode** | `Enum<'development' \| 'production' \| 'test' \| 'provisioning'>` | optional (default: `"production"`) | Kernel operating mode |
 | **version** | `string` | ✅ | Kernel version |
 | **appName** | `string` | optional | Host application name |
 | **cwd** | `string` | ✅ | Current working directory |
 | **workspaceRoot** | `string` | optional | Workspace root if different from cwd |
 | **startTime** | `integer` | ✅ | Boot timestamp (ms) |
 | **features** | `Record<string, boolean>` | optional (default: `{}`) | Global feature toggles |
-| **previewMode** | `{ autoLogin: boolean; simulatedRole: Enum<'admin' \| 'user' \| 'viewer'>; simulatedUserName: string; readOnly: boolean; … }` | optional | Preview/demo mode configuration (used when mode is "preview") |
+| **previewMode** | `never` | optional | [REMOVED] `context.previewMode` was removed in @objectstack/spec 17 (#11846, ADR-0049 enforce-or-remove) — nothing ever read the block: none of its six keys (`autoLogin`, `simulatedRole`, `simulatedUserName`, `readOnly`, `expiresInSeconds`, `bannerMessage`) had a consumer in any repo, so an authored block parsed cleanly and configured NOTHING, while its own docstring promised an auth bypass ("skips authentication screens", "simulates an admin identity") and named a production guard no runtime ever received. Delete the key. Preview/demo deployments belong to the deployment layer, which owns auth per-project (`ArtifactKernelFactory` in the cloud distribution); `OS_PREVIEW_MODE` stays there as a routing-only switch. If a preview experience becomes a product capability it re-declares fresh, with the production-posture hard-refusal as the first-landed half (#11846 ruling record). |
 | **tenantId** | `string` | ✅ | Resolved tenant identifier |
 | **tenantPlan** | `Enum<'free' \| 'pro' \| 'enterprise'>` | ✅ | Tenant subscription plan |
 | **tenantRegion** | `string` | optional | Tenant deployment region |
 | **tenantDbUrl** | `string` | ✅ | Tenant database connection URL |
 | **tenantQuotas** | `{ maxUsers?: integer; maxStorage?: integer; apiRateLimit?: integer; maxObjects?: integer; … }` | optional | Tenant resource quotas |
 
-### Nested Shape: `TenantRuntimeContext.previewMode`
-
-| Property | Type | Required | Description |
-| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
-| **autoLogin** | `boolean` | optional (default: `true`) | Auto-login as simulated user, skipping login/registration pages |
-| **simulatedRole** | `Enum<'admin' \| 'user' \| 'viewer'>` | optional (default: `"admin"`) | Permission role for the simulated preview user |
-| **simulatedUserName** | `string` | optional (default: `"Preview User"`) | Display name for the simulated preview user |
-| **readOnly** | `boolean` | optional (default: `false`) | Restrict the preview session to read-only operations |
-| **expiresInSeconds** | `integer` | optional (default: `0`) | Preview session duration in seconds (0 = no expiration) |
-| **bannerMessage** | `string` | optional | Banner message displayed in the UI during preview mode |
-
 ### Nested Shape: `TenantRuntimeContext.tenantQuotas`
 
 | Property | Type | Required | Description |

diff --git a/docs/audits/2026-07-unknown-key-strictness-ledger.counts.md b/docs/audits/2026-07-unknown-key-strictness-ledger.counts.md
@@ -261,7 +261,7 @@ directory rather than per file.
 | `cloud/` | 83 |
 | `identity/` | 32 |
 | `integration/` | 10 |
-| `kernel/` | 272 |
+| `kernel/` | 271 |
 | `qa/` | 6 |
 | `shared/` | 20 |
 | `system/` | 364 |
diff --git a/packages/spec/api-surface/kernel.json b/packages/spec/api-surface/kernel.json
@@ -356,9 +356,6 @@
  "PluginVersionMetadata (type)",
  "PluginVersionMetadataParsed (type)",
  "PluginVersionMetadataSchema (const)",
- "PreviewModeConfig (type)",
- "PreviewModeConfigParsed (type)",
- "PreviewModeConfigSchema (const)",
  "ProtocolFeature (type)",
  "ProtocolFeatureParsed (type)",
  "ProtocolFeatureSchema (const)",

diff --git a/packages/spec/authorable-defaults/kernel.json b/packages/spec/authorable-defaults/kernel.json
@@ -119,11 +119,6 @@
  "kernel/PluginTrustScore:badges = []",
  "kernel/PluginVendor:trustLevel = \"unverified\"",
  "kernel/PluginVendor:verified = false",
- "kernel/PreviewModeConfig:autoLogin = true",
- "kernel/PreviewModeConfig:expiresInSeconds = 0",
- "kernel/PreviewModeConfig:readOnly = false",
- "kernel/PreviewModeConfig:simulatedRole = \"admin\"",
- "kernel/PreviewModeConfig:simulatedUserName = \"Preview User\"",
  "kernel/ProtocolFeature:enabled = true",
  "kernel/RealTimeNotificationConfig:enabled = true",
  "kernel/RealTimeNotificationConfig:eventPattern = \"*\"",

diff --git a/packages/spec/authorable-surface/kernel.json b/packages/spec/authorable-surface/kernel.json
@@ -250,7 +250,7 @@
  "kernel/KernelContext:features",
  "kernel/KernelContext:instanceId",
  "kernel/KernelContext:mode",
- "kernel/KernelContext:previewMode",
+ "kernel/KernelContext:previewMode [RETIRED]",
  "kernel/KernelContext:startTime",
  "kernel/KernelContext:version",
  "kernel/KernelContext:workspaceRoot",
@@ -654,12 +654,6 @@
  "kernel/PluginVersionMetadata:support",
  "kernel/PluginVersionMetadata:version",
  "kernel/PluginVersionMetadata:versionString",
- "kernel/PreviewModeConfig:autoLogin",
- "kernel/PreviewModeConfig:bannerMessage",
- "kernel/PreviewModeConfig:expiresInSeconds",
- "kernel/PreviewModeConfig:readOnly",
- "kernel/PreviewModeConfig:simulatedRole",
- "kernel/PreviewModeConfig:simulatedUserName",
  "kernel/ProtocolFeature:deprecatedSince",
  "kernel/ProtocolFeature:description",
  "kernel/ProtocolFeature:enabled",
@@ -801,7 +795,7 @@
  "kernel/TenantRuntimeContext:features",
  "kernel/TenantRuntimeContext:instanceId",
  "kernel/TenantRuntimeContext:mode",
- "kernel/TenantRuntimeContext:previewMode",
+ "kernel/TenantRuntimeContext:previewMode [RETIRED]",
  "kernel/TenantRuntimeContext:startTime",
  "kernel/TenantRuntimeContext:tenantDbUrl",
  "kernel/TenantRuntimeContext:tenantId",

diff --git a/packages/spec/export-origins/kernel.json b/packages/spec/export-origins/kernel.json
@@ -356,9 +356,6 @@
  "PluginVersionMetadata": "src/kernel/plugin-versioning.zod.ts#PluginVersionMetadata (type)",
  "PluginVersionMetadataParsed": "src/kernel/plugin-versioning.zod.ts#PluginVersionMetadataParsed (type)",
  "PluginVersionMetadataSchema": "src/kernel/plugin-versioning.zod.ts#PluginVersionMetadataSchema (const)",
- "PreviewModeConfig": "src/kernel/context.zod.ts#PreviewModeConfig (type)",
- "PreviewModeConfigParsed": "src/kernel/context.zod.ts#PreviewModeConfigParsed (type)",
- "PreviewModeConfigSchema": "src/kernel/context.zod.ts#PreviewModeConfigSchema (const)",
  "ProtocolFeature": "src/kernel/plugin-capability.zod.ts#ProtocolFeature (type)",
  "ProtocolFeatureParsed": "src/kernel/plugin-capability.zod.ts#ProtocolFeatureParsed (type)",
  "ProtocolFeatureSchema": "src/kernel/plugin-capability.zod.ts#ProtocolFeatureSchema (const)",

diff --git a/packages/spec/json-schema.manifest/kernel.json b/packages/spec/json-schema.manifest/kernel.json
@@ -128,7 +128,6 @@
  "kernel/PluginTrustScore",
  "kernel/PluginVendor",
  "kernel/PluginVersionMetadata",
- "kernel/PreviewModeConfig",
  "kernel/ProtocolFeature",
  "kernel/ProtocolReference",
  "kernel/ProtocolVersion",