@eamonpluto/agentboard 2.2.0 → 2.3.0

package/CHANGELOG.md

@@ -1,5 +1,16 @@
 # Changelog
 
+## 2.3.0 (unpublished)
+
+- Board resolution walks up to the project board (CLI, hook helper, MCP
+  server, opencode tool + plugin), so agents running from subdirectories or
+  detached worktrees stop planting stray boards.
+- Every send echoes its board (`[board <path>]`); optional `board` param on
+  `dm-send` and all MCP tools for an explicit anchor.
+- Writers refuse to auto-create a board at a drive root and fail loudly
+  (set `AGENTBOARD_DIR` / pass `board` instead).
+- Troubleshooting section: split-board recovery, `doctor` flow.
+
 ## 2.2.0
 
 - Hook delivery is now batched (max 5 per poll): the cursor stops at the last

package/README.md

@@ -105,11 +105,21 @@ against the Claude, Codex, and grok-build docs (Antigravity uses
 Or install globally (enables portable `init --portable` wiring):
 
 ```powershell
-cd C:\Users\Surface\Documents\agent-board
-npm i -g .
+npm i -g @eamonpluto/agentboard
 agentboard --help
 ```
 
+## Troubleshooting
+
+- **Two agents see different boards** (every send echoes `[board <path>]`):
+  export `AGENTBOARD_DIR=<board>` so all sessions share one — for in-process
+  tools (opencode `dm-send`) set it where the harness process launches, or
+  pass `board` explicitly per call (`dm-send({..., board: "C:/proj/.agentboard"})`).
+  Writers refuse to auto-create a board at a drive root and fail loudly instead.
+- **`doctor` reports FAIL**: re-run `agentboard init --harness <name>` (merges,
+  never overwrites your own hooks), then follow the printed follow-ups
+  (trust approvals, `AGENTBOARD_AGENT`, restarts).
+
 ## Safety notes / trust boundary
 
 - **Never post secrets on the board.** Post references instead.
@@ -127,9 +137,9 @@ agentboard --help
 ## Publishing (maintainer)
 
 ```powershell
-npm test          # 68 checks, all must pass
+npm test          # 88 checks, all must pass
 npm publish       # ships bin/ + opencode/ + docs (see "files" in package.json)
 ```
 
 After publishing, projects can skip the checkout entirely:
-`npm i -g agentboard` then `agentboard init --harness <name> --portable`.
+`npm i -g @eamonpluto/agentboard` then `agentboard init --harness <name> --portable`.

package/bin/agentboard-hook.js

@@ -46,7 +46,20 @@ function boardDir(args) {
   const i = args.indexOf("--board");
   if (i !== -1 && args[i + 1] && !String(args[i + 1]).startsWith("--")) return path.resolve(args[i + 1]);
   if (process.env.AGENTBOARD_DIR) return path.resolve(process.env.AGENTBOARD_DIR);
-  return path.join(process.cwd(), ".agentboard");
+  return findBoardUpward(process.cwd()) || path.join(process.cwd(), ".agentboard");
+}
+
+// Nearest ancestor (incl. start) containing a .agentboard dir, or null.
+function findBoardUpward(start) {
+  let dir = path.resolve(start);
+  for (;;) {
+    try {
+      if (fs.statSync(path.join(dir, ".agentboard")).isDirectory()) return path.join(dir, ".agentboard");
+    } catch {}
+    const parent = path.dirname(dir);
+    if (parent === dir) return null;
+    dir = parent;
+  }
 }
 
 function getFlag(args, flag) {
@@ -54,6 +67,24 @@ function getFlag(args, flag) {
   return i !== -1 && args[i + 1] !== undefined && !String(args[i + 1]).startsWith("--") ? args[i + 1] : undefined;
 }
 
+// Never silently plant a board at a drive root: fail loudly instead so the
+// misconfiguration surfaces instead of mail landing on a stray board.
+function refuseDriveRootBoard(root, args) {
+  const explicit = args.includes("--board") || !!process.env.AGENTBOARD_DIR;
+  if (explicit) return;
+  let exists = false;
+  try {
+    exists = fs.statSync(root).isDirectory();
+  } catch {}
+  if (exists) return;
+  if (path.dirname(root) === path.parse(root).root) {
+    fail(
+      `refusing to create a board at drive root ${root} — no project board found above cwd. ` +
+        `Pass --board <path> or set AGENTBOARD_DIR.`
+    );
+  }
+}
+
 function cleanName(name, what) {
   if (!name) fail(`missing --from <agent-name> (${what}); or set AGENTBOARD_AGENT=<name>`);
   const c = String(name).trim().replace(/[^A-Za-z0-9_.-]/g, "-").slice(0, 40);
@@ -162,6 +193,7 @@ function writeCursor(root, agent, lastId) {
 
 async function cmdSessionStart(args) {
   const root = boardDir(args);
+  refuseDriveRootBoard(root, args);
   const agent = resolveAgent(args, "agent");
   const input = await readStdinSoon(300);
   const sessionId =
@@ -195,6 +227,11 @@ async function cmdSessionStart(args) {
 
 async function cmdPoll(args) {
   const root = boardDir(args);
+  try {
+    if (!fs.statSync(root).isDirectory()) return; // no board, no mail — silent allow
+  } catch {
+    return;
+  }
   const agent = resolveAgent(args, "agent");
   const style = getFlag(args, "--style") || "claude";
   const valid = new Set(["claude", "codex", "grok", "antigravity-stop", "antigravity-pre"]);

package/bin/agentboard-mcp.js

@@ -36,9 +36,23 @@ const KNOWN_PROTOCOL_VERSIONS = new Set(["2024-11-05", "2025-03-26", "2025-06-18
 // board (mirrors bin/agentboard.js layout v2; no import to stay dep-free)
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-function boardRoot() {
+function boardRoot(override) {
+  if (override) return path.resolve(String(override));
   if (process.env.AGENTBOARD_DIR) return path.resolve(process.env.AGENTBOARD_DIR);
-  return path.join(process.cwd(), ".agentboard");
+  return findBoardUpward(process.cwd()) || path.join(process.cwd(), ".agentboard");
+}
+
+// Nearest ancestor (incl. start) containing a .agentboard dir, or null.
+function findBoardUpward(start) {
+  let dir = path.resolve(start);
+  for (;;) {
+    try {
+      if (fs.statSync(path.join(dir, ".agentboard")).isDirectory()) return path.join(dir, ".agentboard");
+    } catch {}
+    const parent = path.dirname(dir);
+    if (parent === dir) return null;
+    dir = parent;
+  }
 }
 
 function dirs(root) {
@@ -136,13 +150,14 @@ const TOOLS = [
   {
     name: "dm_send",
     description:
-      "Send a direct message to another AI agent via agent-board. Fire-and-forget like Slack: the peer reads it via dm_inbox (or gets it pushed by their harness hook). Use whenever you want to coordinate, share a finding, or ask a peer.",
+      "Send a direct message to another AI agent via agent-board. Fire-and-forget like Slack: the peer reads it via dm_inbox (or gets it pushed by their harness hook). Use whenever you want to coordinate, share a finding, or ask a peer. Pass board (absolute path) when your session runs outside the project so all agents share one board.",
     inputSchema: {
       type: "object",
       properties: {
         from: { type: "string", description: "Your stable agent name, e.g. alice. Keep it constant for the session." },
         to: { type: "string", description: "Recipient agent name, e.g. bob." },
         body: { type: "string", description: "Message text, 1..8000 chars." },
+        board: { type: "string", description: "Optional absolute board path, e.g. C:/proj/.agentboard. Overrides AGENTBOARD_DIR and auto-detection." },
       },
       required: ["from", "to", "body"],
     },
@@ -150,31 +165,38 @@ const TOOLS = [
   {
     name: "dm_inbox",
     description:
-      "Read your direct messages on agent-board. No mark-read side effects; page with after. Poll this often when your harness has no push hook.",
+      "Read your direct messages on agent-board. No mark-read side effects; page with after. Poll this often when your harness has no push hook. Pass board (absolute path) when your session runs outside the project so all agents share one board.",
     inputSchema: {
       type: "object",
       properties: {
         agent: { type: "string", description: "Your agent name." },
         limit: { type: "number", description: "Max messages, newest last. Default 20." },
         after: { type: "string", description: "Only messages after this message id." },
+        board: { type: "string", description: "Optional absolute board path, e.g. C:/proj/.agentboard. Overrides AGENTBOARD_DIR and auto-detection." },
       },
       required: ["agent"],
     },
   },
   {
     name: "dm_agents",
-    description: "List agents known to this agent-board (registered names for addressing DMs).",
-    inputSchema: { type: "object", properties: {} },
+    description: "List agents known to this agent-board (registered names for addressing DMs). Pass board when your session runs outside the project.",
+    inputSchema: {
+      type: "object",
+      properties: {
+        board: { type: "string", description: "Optional absolute board path. Overrides AGENTBOARD_DIR and auto-detection." },
+      },
+    },
   },
   {
     name: "dm_register",
     description:
-      "Register your agent name on this agent-board (optionally binding a harness session id for push routing). Do this once per session.",
+      "Register your agent name on this agent-board (optionally binding a harness session id for push routing). Do this once per session. Pass board when your session runs outside the project.",
     inputSchema: {
       type: "object",
       properties: {
         agent: { type: "string", description: "Your stable agent name." },
         session: { type: "string", description: "Optional harness session/conversation id for push routing." },
+        board: { type: "string", description: "Optional absolute board path. Overrides AGENTBOARD_DIR and auto-detection." },
       },
       required: ["agent"],
     },
@@ -185,9 +207,24 @@ function toolResult(text) {
   return { content: [{ type: "text", text }] };
 }
 
+function isDriveRootMissing(root, explicit) {
+  if (explicit) return false;
+  try {
+    if (fs.statSync(root).isDirectory()) return false;
+  } catch {}
+  return path.dirname(root) === path.parse(root).root;
+}
+
 function callTool(name, args) {
-  const d = ensureBoard(boardRoot());
   const a = args && typeof args === "object" ? args : {};
+  const boardArg = a.board === undefined || a.board === null || String(a.board).trim() === "" ? undefined : String(a.board);
+  const root = boardRoot(boardArg);
+  if (isDriveRootMissing(root, boardArg || process.env.AGENTBOARD_DIR)) {
+    throw new Error(
+      `refusing to create a board at drive root ${root} — pass board (absolute path) or set AGENTBOARD_DIR`
+    );
+  }
+  const d = ensureBoard(root);
   switch (name) {
     case "dm_send": {
       const from = cleanName(a.from, "from");
@@ -200,7 +237,7 @@ function callTool(name, args) {
       const msg = { id, from, to, body, at: new Date().toISOString() };
       fs.mkdirSync(path.join(d.dm, to), { recursive: true });
       writeJson(path.join(d.dm, to, `${id}.json`), msg);
-      return toolResult(`sent ${id} -> ${to}`);
+      return toolResult(`sent ${id} -> ${to} [board ${d.root}]`);
     }
     case "dm_inbox": {
       const agent = cleanName(a.agent, "agent");

package/bin/agentboard.js

@@ -47,7 +47,46 @@ function boardDir(args) {
     return path.join(os.homedir(), ".agentboard", "boards", "default");
   }
   if (process.env.AGENTBOARD_DIR) return path.resolve(process.env.AGENTBOARD_DIR);
-  return path.join(process.cwd(), ".agentboard");
+  // init always plants a board where you stand; every other command walks up
+  // so agents running from a subdirectory land on the project board instead
+  // of silently creating a stray one.
+  if (process.argv[2] === "init") return path.join(process.cwd(), ".agentboard");
+  return findBoardUpward(process.cwd()) || path.join(process.cwd(), ".agentboard");
+}
+
+// Nearest ancestor (incl. start) containing a .agentboard dir, or null.
+function findBoardUpward(start) {
+  let dir = path.resolve(start);
+  for (;;) {
+    try {
+      if (fs.statSync(path.join(dir, ".agentboard")).isDirectory()) return path.join(dir, ".agentboard");
+    } catch {}
+    const parent = path.dirname(dir);
+    if (parent === dir) return null;
+    dir = parent;
+  }
+}
+
+// Never silently plant a board at a drive root (e.g. C:\.agentboard): that
+// means cwd resolution failed (detached harness worktree). Fail loudly so
+// the agent sets --board/AGENTBOARD_DIR instead of talking to a stray board.
+function isExplicitBoard(args) {
+  return args.includes("--board") || args.includes("--global") || !!process.env.AGENTBOARD_DIR;
+}
+
+function refuseDriveRootBoard(root, args) {
+  if (isExplicitBoard(args)) return;
+  let exists = false;
+  try {
+    exists = fs.statSync(root).isDirectory();
+  } catch {}
+  if (exists) return;
+  if (path.dirname(root) === path.parse(root).root) {
+    fail(
+      `refusing to create a board at drive root ${root} — no project board found above cwd. ` +
+        `Run from your project, pass --board <path>, or set AGENTBOARD_DIR.`
+    );
+  }
 }
 
 function dirs(root) {
@@ -63,8 +102,7 @@ function ensureBoard(root) {
   const d = dirs(root);
   for (const p of [d.root, d.agents, d.dm, d.delivered]) {
     fs.mkdirSync(p, { recursive: true });
-  }
-  const metaPath = path.join(d.root, "board.json");
+  }  const metaPath = path.join(d.root, "board.json");
   if (!fs.existsSync(metaPath)) {
     fs.writeFileSync(
       metaPath,
@@ -202,9 +240,26 @@ import fs from "node:fs";
 import path from "node:path";
 import crypto from "node:crypto";
 
-function boardRoot(worktree) {
+function boardRoot(worktree, override) {
+  if (override) return path.resolve(String(override));
   if (process.env.AGENTBOARD_DIR) return path.resolve(process.env.AGENTBOARD_DIR);
-  return path.join(worktree, ".agentboard");
+  const base = worktree || process.cwd();
+  return findBoardUpward(base) || path.join(base, ".agentboard");
+}
+
+// Nearest ancestor (incl. start) containing a .agentboard dir, or null.
+// Harnesses sometimes run agents with a cwd below (or beside) the project;
+// walk-up keeps every session on the same board.
+function findBoardUpward(start) {
+  let dir = path.resolve(start);
+  for (;;) {
+    try {
+      if (fs.statSync(path.join(dir, ".agentboard")).isDirectory()) return path.join(dir, ".agentboard");
+    } catch {}
+    const parent = path.dirname(dir);
+    if (parent === dir) return null;
+    dir = parent;
+  }
 }
 
 function clean(name, what) {
@@ -223,11 +278,12 @@ function writeJsonAtomic(p, obj) {
 
 export default tool({
   description:
-    "Send a direct message to another AI agent via agent-board. Use whenever you want to coordinate, share a finding, or ask a peer. Fire-and-forget like Slack — the peer's session gets it injected into context. Args: from (your stable agent name), to (peer's agent name), body (message text).",
+    "Send a direct message to another AI agent via agent-board. Use whenever you want to coordinate, share a finding, or ask a peer. Fire-and-forget like Slack — the peer's session gets it injected into context. Args: from (your stable agent name), to (peer's agent name), body (message text), board (optional absolute board path when your session runs outside the project).",
   args: {
     from: tool.schema.string().describe("Your stable agent name, e.g. alice. Keep it constant for the session."),
     to: tool.schema.string().describe("Recipient agent name, e.g. bob. They receive it on inbox/listen even before registering."),
     body: tool.schema.string().describe("Message text, 1..8000 chars."),
+    board: tool.schema.string().optional().describe("Optional absolute board path, e.g. C:/proj/.agentboard. Overrides AGENTBOARD_DIR and auto-detection."),
   },
   async execute(args, context) {
     const from = clean(args.from, "from");
@@ -235,7 +291,17 @@ export default tool({
     const body = String(args.body || "").trim();
     if (!body) return "error: empty body";
     if (body.length > 8000) return "error: body too large (max 8000 chars)";
-    const root = boardRoot(context.worktree || context.directory || process.cwd());
+    const boardArg = args.board === undefined || args.board === null || String(args.board).trim() === "" ? undefined : String(args.board);
+    const root = boardRoot(context.worktree || context.directory || process.cwd(), boardArg);
+    if (!boardArg && !process.env.AGENTBOARD_DIR) {
+      let exists = false;
+      try {
+        exists = fs.statSync(root).isDirectory();
+      } catch {}
+      if (!exists && path.dirname(root) === path.parse(root).root) {
+        return \`error: refusing to create a board at drive root \${root} — pass board (absolute path) or set AGENTBOARD_DIR\`;
+      }
+    }
     const now = new Date().toISOString();
     const t = new Date();
     const stamp =
@@ -261,7 +327,7 @@ export default tool({
       sessionId: (context && context.sessionID) || (prev && prev.sessionId) || undefined,
       lastDir: context.worktree || context.directory || undefined,
     });
-    return "sent " + id + " -> " + to;
+    return "sent " + id + " -> " + to + " [board " + root + "]";
   },
 });
 `;
@@ -291,7 +357,20 @@ const POLL_MS = 1000;
 
 function boardRoot(directory) {
   if (process.env.AGENTBOARD_DIR) return path.resolve(process.env.AGENTBOARD_DIR);
-  return path.join(directory, ".agentboard");
+  return findBoardUpward(directory) || path.join(directory, ".agentboard");
+}
+
+// Nearest ancestor (incl. start) containing a .agentboard dir, or null.
+function findBoardUpward(start) {
+  let dir = path.resolve(start);
+  for (;;) {
+    try {
+      if (fs.statSync(path.join(dir, ".agentboard")).isDirectory()) return path.join(dir, ".agentboard");
+    } catch {}
+    const parent = path.dirname(dir);
+    if (parent === dir) return null;
+    dir = parent;
+  }
 }
 
 function readJsonSafe(p) {
@@ -734,7 +813,8 @@ function mergeMcpServers(file, entry) {
 const HARNESS_SECTIONS = {
   opencode: (cli) =>
     `On opencode prefer the \`dm-send\` tool over \`${cli} send\` (same thing, plus it registers your session for push).\n` +
-    `Incoming DMs are inserted into your context automatically by the dm-watch plugin. Restart opencode after \`init\` so the tool + plugin load.`,
+    `Incoming DMs are inserted into your context automatically by the dm-watch plugin. Restart opencode after \`init\` so the tool + plugin load.\n` +
+    `Every send echoes its board (\`[board <path>]\`): if two agents see different boards, export \`AGENTBOARD_DIR=<board>\` so all sessions share one.`,
   claude: (cli) =>
     `On Claude Code use the \`agentboard\` MCP tools (\`dm_send\` / \`dm_inbox\` / \`dm_agents\` / \`dm_register\`) — approve \`.mcp.json\` when prompted.\n` +
     `A Stop hook (\`.claude/settings.json\`) injects waiting DMs at turn end. Set \`AGENTBOARD_AGENT=<you>\` once per terminal so hooks know who you are.`,
@@ -929,11 +1009,13 @@ function touchAgent(d, name, extra) {
 }
 
 function cmdRegister(args) {
-  const d = ensureBoard(boardDir(args));
+  const root = boardDir(args);
+  refuseDriveRootBoard(root, args);
+  const d = ensureBoard(root);
   const agent = resolveAgent(args, "agent");
   const session = getFlag(args, "--session");
   const doc = touchAgent(d, agent, { sessionId: session || undefined, lastDir: process.cwd() });
-  console.log(`registered ${agent}${doc.sessionId ? ` (session ${doc.sessionId})` : ""}`);
+  console.log(`registered ${agent}${doc.sessionId ? ` (session ${doc.sessionId})` : ""} [board ${d.root}]`);
 }
 
 function cmdAgents(args) {
@@ -956,7 +1038,9 @@ function cmdAgents(args) {
 }
 
 function cmdSend(args) {
-  const d = ensureBoard(boardDir(args));
+  const root = boardDir(args);
+  refuseDriveRootBoard(root, args);
+  const d = ensureBoard(root);
   const from = resolveAgent(args, "sender");
   const toRaw = getFlag(args, "--to");
   const to = sanitizeName(toRaw, "recipient");
@@ -970,7 +1054,7 @@ function cmdSend(args) {
   const dir = path.join(d.dm, to);
   fs.mkdirSync(dir, { recursive: true });
   writeJson(path.join(dir, `${id}.json`), msg);
-  console.log(`sent ${id} -> ${to}`);
+  console.log(`sent ${id} -> ${to} [board ${d.root}]`);
 }
 
 function readDMs(d, recipient) {
@@ -991,7 +1075,9 @@ function printMsg(m, showTo, json) {
 }
 
 function cmdInbox(args) {
-  const d = ensureBoard(boardDir(args));
+  const root = boardDir(args);
+  refuseDriveRootBoard(root, args);
+  const d = ensureBoard(root);
   const showAll = args.includes("--all");
   const limit = Number(getFlag(args, "--limit") || 20);
   const after = getFlag(args, "--after");
@@ -1039,7 +1125,9 @@ function cmdInbox(args) {
 }
 
 async function cmdListen(args) {
-  const d = ensureBoard(boardDir(args));
+  const root = boardDir(args);
+  refuseDriveRootBoard(root, args);
+  const d = ensureBoard(root);
   const agent = resolveAgent(args, "listener");
   const timeoutMs = Number(getFlag(args, "--timeout") || 0);
   const json = args.includes("--json");

package/opencode/plugins/dm-watch.js

@@ -23,7 +23,20 @@ const POLL_MS = 1000;
 
 function boardRoot(directory) {
   if (process.env.AGENTBOARD_DIR) return path.resolve(process.env.AGENTBOARD_DIR);
-  return path.join(directory, ".agentboard");
+  return findBoardUpward(directory) || path.join(directory, ".agentboard");
+}
+
+// Nearest ancestor (incl. start) containing a .agentboard dir, or null.
+function findBoardUpward(start) {
+  let dir = path.resolve(start);
+  for (;;) {
+    try {
+      if (fs.statSync(path.join(dir, ".agentboard")).isDirectory()) return path.join(dir, ".agentboard");
+    } catch {}
+    const parent = path.dirname(dir);
+    if (parent === dir) return null;
+    dir = parent;
+  }
 }
 
 function readJsonSafe(p) {

package/opencode/tools/dm-send.js

@@ -21,9 +21,26 @@ import fs from "node:fs";
 import path from "node:path";
 import crypto from "node:crypto";
 
-function boardRoot(worktree) {
+function boardRoot(worktree, override) {
+  if (override) return path.resolve(String(override));
   if (process.env.AGENTBOARD_DIR) return path.resolve(process.env.AGENTBOARD_DIR);
-  return path.join(worktree, ".agentboard");
+  const base = worktree || process.cwd();
+  return findBoardUpward(base) || path.join(base, ".agentboard");
+}
+
+// Nearest ancestor (incl. start) containing a .agentboard dir, or null.
+// Harnesses sometimes run agents with a cwd below (or beside) the project;
+// walk-up keeps every session on the same board.
+function findBoardUpward(start) {
+  let dir = path.resolve(start);
+  for (;;) {
+    try {
+      if (fs.statSync(path.join(dir, ".agentboard")).isDirectory()) return path.join(dir, ".agentboard");
+    } catch {}
+    const parent = path.dirname(dir);
+    if (parent === dir) return null;
+    dir = parent;
+  }
 }
 
 function clean(name, what) {
@@ -42,11 +59,12 @@ function writeJsonAtomic(p, obj) {
 
 export default tool({
   description:
-    "Send a direct message to another AI agent via agent-board. Use whenever you want to coordinate, share a finding, or ask a peer. Fire-and-forget like Slack — the peer's session gets it injected into context. Args: from (your stable agent name), to (peer's agent name), body (message text).",
+    "Send a direct message to another AI agent via agent-board. Use whenever you want to coordinate, share a finding, or ask a peer. Fire-and-forget like Slack — the peer's session gets it injected into context. Args: from (your stable agent name), to (peer's agent name), body (message text), board (optional absolute board path when your session runs outside the project).",
   args: {
     from: tool.schema.string().describe("Your stable agent name, e.g. alice. Keep it constant for the session."),
     to: tool.schema.string().describe("Recipient agent name, e.g. bob. They receive it on inbox/listen even before registering."),
     body: tool.schema.string().describe("Message text, 1..8000 chars."),
+    board: tool.schema.string().optional().describe("Optional absolute board path, e.g. C:/proj/.agentboard. Overrides AGENTBOARD_DIR and auto-detection."),
   },
   async execute(args, context) {
     const from = clean(args.from, "from");
@@ -54,7 +72,17 @@ export default tool({
     const body = String(args.body || "").trim();
     if (!body) return "error: empty body";
     if (body.length > 8000) return "error: body too large (max 8000 chars)";
-    const root = boardRoot(context.worktree || context.directory || process.cwd());
+    const boardArg = args.board === undefined || args.board === null || String(args.board).trim() === "" ? undefined : String(args.board);
+    const root = boardRoot(context.worktree || context.directory || process.cwd(), boardArg);
+    if (!boardArg && !process.env.AGENTBOARD_DIR) {
+      let exists = false;
+      try {
+        exists = fs.statSync(root).isDirectory();
+      } catch {}
+      if (!exists && path.dirname(root) === path.parse(root).root) {
+        return `error: refusing to create a board at drive root ${root} — pass board (absolute path) or set AGENTBOARD_DIR`;
+      }
+    }
     const now = new Date().toISOString();
     const t = new Date();
     const stamp =
@@ -80,6 +108,6 @@ export default tool({
       sessionId: (context && context.sessionID) || (prev && prev.sessionId) || undefined,
       lastDir: context.worktree || context.directory || undefined,
     });
-    return "sent " + id + " -> " + to;
+    return "sent " + id + " -> " + to + " [board " + root + "]";
   },
 });

package/package.json

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@eamonpluto/agentboard",
-  "version": "2.2.0",
+  "version": "2.3.0",
   "description": "Zero-dependency local DM bus for AI coding agents: message another agent, inserted into context, just a tool call.",
   "type": "module",
   "bin": {