bare-agent 0.6.2 → 0.8.0

package/LICENSE

@@ -0,0 +1,202 @@
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package/NOTICE

@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+bare-agent
+Copyright 2026 hamr0
+
+This product includes software developed by hamr0
+(https://github.com/hamr0/bareagent).
+
+Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License").
+You may obtain a copy of the License at:
+
+    http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+
+This NOTICE file is required by Section 4(d) of the License.
+Forks and derivative works MUST preserve this attribution.

package/README.md

@@ -11,9 +11,9 @@
 
 ```
 
-**Agent orchestration in ~1800 lines. Zero required deps. MIT license.**
+**Agent orchestration in ~2.4K lines of core. One required dep ([bareguard](https://npmjs.com/package/bareguard)). Apache 2.0.**
 
-Lightweight enough to understand completely. Complete enough to not reinvent wheels. Not a framework, not 50,000 lines of opinions — just composable building blocks for agents.
+Lightweight enough to understand completely. Complete enough to not reinvent wheels. Not a framework, not 50,000 lines of opinions — just composable building blocks for agents. Single-gate governance via bareguard: every tool call traverses one policy hook, one audit log, one budget cap.
 
 ## Quick start
 
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ Every piece works alone — take what you need, ignore the rest.
 
 | Component | What it does |
 |---|---|
-| **Loop** | Think → act → observe → repeat. Calls any LLM, executes your tools, loops until done. Throws on error by default. Returns estimated USD cost per run. Loop-level `policy` + `audit` gate every tool call (native, MCP, browsing, mobile, user-defined) through one hook, JSONL audit to disk |
+| **Loop** | Think → act → observe → repeat. Calls any LLM, executes your tools, loops until done. Returns estimated USD cost per run. Governance via `Loop({ policy })` — wire bareguard's `Gate` through `wireGate(gate)` and every tool call (native, MCP, browsing, mobile) traverses one chokepoint with per-caller `ctx` routing. Bareguard owns the audit log, budget caps, and halt decisions; Loop respects the verdict. `onError` + `loop:error` surface every silent-ish failure (callback throw, Checkpoint timeout) |
 | **Planner** | Break a goal into a step DAG via LLM. Built-in caching (`cacheTTL`) |
 | **runPlan** | Execute steps in parallel waves. Dependency-aware, failure propagation, per-step retry |
 | **Retry** | Exponential/linear backoff with jitter. Respects `err.retryable` |
@@ -71,7 +71,8 @@ Every piece works alone — take what you need, ignore the rest.
 | **Checkpoint** | Human approval gate. You provide the transport — terminal, Telegram, Slack, whatever |
 | **Scheduler** | Cron (`0 9 * * 1-5`) or relative (`2h`, `30m`). Persisted jobs survive restarts |
 | **Stream** | Structured event emitter. Pipe as JSONL, subscribe in-process, or custom transport |
-| **Errors** | Typed hierarchy — `ProviderError`, `ToolError`, `TimeoutError`, `MaxRoundsError`, `CircuitOpenError` |
+| **Errors** | Typed hierarchy — `ProviderError`, `ToolError`, `TimeoutError`, `CircuitOpenError`, `ValidationError`. Halt decisions (turn cap, budget cap, content rules) come from bareguard, not Loop |
+| **bareguard adapter** | `wireGate(gate)` returns `{ policy, wrapTools }` — one-line wiring to bareguard's `Gate`. Maps gate decisions to Loop's `policy` contract; `wrapTools` decorates tools so `gate.record` fires after every execute. `require('bare-agent/bareguard')` |
 | **Browsing** | Web navigation, clicking, typing, reading via `barebrowse` (17 tools). Two modes: library tools (inline snapshots, pass to Loop) or CLI session (disk-based snapshots, token-efficient for multi-step flows). Optional `assess` tool (privacy scan) when `wearehere` is installed |
 | **Mobile** | Android + iOS device control via `baremobile`. Same two modes: library tools (`createMobileTools` — action tools auto-return snapshots) or CLI session (`baremobile` CLI — disk-based snapshots) |
 | **Shell** | Cross-platform `shell_read`, `shell_grep`, `shell_run` (argv, no shell), `shell_exec` (raw shell). Pure Node — no `grep`/`rg`/`findstr` dependency. Injection-proof `shell_run` for policy-gated use |
@@ -83,7 +84,7 @@ Every piece works alone — take what you need, ignore the rest.
 
 **Cross-language:** Runs as a subprocess. Communicate via JSONL on stdin/stdout from Python, Go, Rust, Ruby, Java, or anything that can spawn a process. Ready-made wrappers in [`contrib/`](contrib/README.md).
 
-**Deps:** 0 required. Optional: `cron-parser` (cron expressions), `better-sqlite3` (SQLite store), `barebrowse` (web browsing), `baremobile` (Android + iOS device control), `wearehere` (privacy assessment via barebrowse).
+**Deps:** 1 required (`bareguard` for governance — single-gate policy + audit + budget). Optional: `cron-parser` (cron expressions), `better-sqlite3` (SQLite store), `barebrowse` (web browsing), `baremobile` (Android + iOS device control), `wearehere` (privacy assessment via barebrowse).
 
 ---
 
@@ -140,15 +141,17 @@ For wiring recipes and API details, see the **[Integration Guide](bareagent.cont
 
 ## The bare ecosystem
 
-Three vanilla JS modules. Zero dependencies. Same API patterns.
+Four vanilla JS modules. Zero deps where possible (bareguard has one). Same API patterns.
 
-| | [**bareagent**](https://npmjs.com/package/bare-agent) | [**barebrowse**](https://npmjs.com/package/barebrowse) | [**baremobile**](https://npmjs.com/package/baremobile) |
-|---|---|---|---|
-| **Does** | Gives agents a think→act loop | Gives agents a real browser | Gives agents Android + iOS devices |
-| **How** | Goal in → coordinated actions out | URL in → pruned snapshot out | Screen in → pruned snapshot out |
-| **Replaces** | LangChain, CrewAI, AutoGen | Playwright, Selenium, Puppeteer | Appium, Espresso, XCUITest |
-| **Interfaces** | Library · CLI · subprocess | Library · CLI · MCP | Library · CLI · MCP |
-| **Solo or together** | Orchestrates both as tools | Works standalone | Works standalone |
+| | [**bareagent**](https://npmjs.com/package/bare-agent) | [**barebrowse**](https://npmjs.com/package/barebrowse) | [**baremobile**](https://npmjs.com/package/baremobile) | [**bareguard**](https://npmjs.com/package/bareguard) |
+|---|---|---|---|---|
+| **Does** | Gives agents a think→act loop | Gives agents a real browser | Gives agents Android + iOS devices | Gates everything an agent does |
+| **How** | Goal in → coordinated actions out | URL in → pruned snapshot out | Screen in → pruned snapshot out | Action in → allow / deny / human-asked out |
+| **Replaces** | LangChain, CrewAI, AutoGen | Playwright, Selenium, Puppeteer | Appium, Espresso, XCUITest | Hand-rolled allowlists, scattered policy code |
+| **Interfaces** | Library · CLI · subprocess | Library · CLI · MCP | Library · CLI · MCP | Library |
+| **Solo or together** | Orchestrates the others as tools | Works standalone | Works standalone | Embedded in bareagent's loop; usable by any runner |
+
+> **Reach 50+ messengers with one Docker container via [beeperbox](https://github.com/hamr0/beeperbox)** — a headless Beeper Desktop that exposes WhatsApp, iMessage, Signal, Telegram, Slack, Discord, RCS, SMS and more as a single MCP server. Wire it through bareagent's MCP bridge; bareguard policies the invocations like any other tool (per-chat allowlists, ask patterns on destructive sends, all the usual layered defense).
 
 **What you can build:**
 
@@ -162,4 +165,4 @@ Three vanilla JS modules. Zero dependencies. Same API patterns.
 
 ## License
 
-MIT
+Apache License, Version 2.0 — see [LICENSE](LICENSE) and [NOTICE](NOTICE).

package/index.js

@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ const { Stream } = require('./src/stream');
 const { Retry } = require('./src/retry');
 const { runPlan } = require('./src/run-plan');
 const { CircuitBreaker } = require('./src/circuit-breaker');
+const { wireGate } = require('./src/bareguard-adapter');
 const {
   BareAgentError,
   ProviderError,
@@ -17,7 +18,6 @@ const {
   TimeoutError,
   ValidationError,
   CircuitOpenError,
-  MaxRoundsError,
 } = require('./src/errors');
 
 module.exports = {
@@ -31,11 +31,11 @@ module.exports = {
   Retry,
   runPlan,
   CircuitBreaker,
+  wireGate,
   BareAgentError,
   ProviderError,
   ToolError,
   TimeoutError,
   ValidationError,
   CircuitOpenError,
-  MaxRoundsError,
 };

package/package.json

@@ -1,14 +1,16 @@
 {
   "name": "bare-agent",
-  "version": "0.6.2",
+  "version": "0.8.0",
   "files": [
     "index.js",
     "src/",
     "bin/",
-    "tools/"
+    "tools/",
+    "LICENSE",
+    "NOTICE"
   ],
-  "description": "Lightweight, composable agent orchestration. ~1800 lines, 0 required deps.",
-  "license": "MIT",
+  "description": "Lightweight, composable agent orchestration for autonomous agents. Single-gate governance via bareguard, cross-platform shell tools, MCP bridge. ~2.4K lines core, one required dep.",
+  "license": "Apache-2.0",
   "author": "hamr0",
   "repository": {
     "type": "git",
@@ -24,7 +26,8 @@
     "./stores": "./src/stores.js",
     "./transports": "./src/transports.js",
     "./tools": "./src/tools.js",
-    "./mcp": "./src/mcp.js"
+    "./mcp": "./src/mcp.js",
+    "./bareguard": "./src/bareguard-adapter.js"
   },
   "engines": {
     "node": ">=18"
@@ -36,8 +39,13 @@
     "ai",
     "tool-calling",
     "planner",
-    "lightweight"
+    "lightweight",
+    "bareguard",
+    "governance"
   ],
+  "dependencies": {
+    "bareguard": "^0.1.1"
+  },
   "optionalDependencies": {
     "barebrowse": "^0.5.0",
     "baremobile": "^0.7.0",

package/src/bareguard-adapter.js

@@ -0,0 +1,93 @@
+'use strict';
+
+/**
+ * Wire a bareguard Gate into bareagent's Loop.
+ *
+ * Returns:
+ *   - `policy`   — async (toolName, args, ctx) closure for `new Loop({ policy })`.
+ *                  Maps gate.check decisions to true (allow) or a deny string
+ *                  (used verbatim by Loop as the LLM-visible reason).
+ *   - `wrapTool` — wraps a single tool so its execute() also calls gate.record
+ *                  with the result + duration (or error). Bareguard owns the
+ *                  audit log and budget tracking; record() is what feeds them.
+ *   - `wrapTools` — convenience: applies wrapTool to an array.
+ *
+ * Halt-severity decisions (budget exhausted, limits.maxTurns hit, etc.) come
+ * back as deny strings tagged `[HALT: <rule>]`. Subsequent rounds halt the
+ * same way; the LLM typically gives up and the loop exits naturally. For
+ * earlier exit, watch the loop:error stream (the closure also calls onError
+ * via Loop's policy-deny path) or wire `onError` to detect halt strings.
+ *
+ * @param {object} gate - A bareguard Gate instance (must have .check and .record).
+ * @returns {{policy: Function, wrapTool: Function, wrapTools: Function}}
+ *
+ * @example
+ *   const { Gate } = require('bareguard');
+ *   const { Loop } = require('bare-agent');
+ *   const { wireGate } = require('bare-agent/bareguard');
+ *
+ *   const gate = new Gate({
+ *     budget: { maxCostUsd: 0.50 },
+ *     limits: { maxTurns: 20 },
+ *     audit:  { path: './audit.jsonl' },
+ *     humanChannel: async (ev) => ({ decision: 'deny' }),
+ *   });
+ *   await gate.init();
+ *
+ *   const { policy, wrapTools } = wireGate(gate);
+ *   const loop = new Loop({ provider, policy });
+ *   await loop.run(messages, wrapTools(myTools));
+ */
+function wireGate(gate) {
+  if (!gate || typeof gate.check !== 'function' || typeof gate.record !== 'function') {
+    throw new Error('[wireGate] expects a bareguard Gate instance (must have .check and .record).');
+  }
+
+  const policy = async (toolName, args, ctx) => {
+    const decision = await gate.check({ type: toolName, args, _ctx: ctx });
+    if (decision.outcome === 'allow') return true;
+    const tag = decision.severity === 'halt'
+      ? `[HALT: ${decision.rule}]`
+      : `[deny: ${decision.rule}]`;
+    return decision.reason ? `${tag} ${decision.reason}` : `${tag} ${toolName} denied`;
+  };
+
+  function wrapTool(tool) {
+    if (!tool || typeof tool.execute !== 'function') {
+      throw new Error('[wireGate.wrapTool] tool must have an execute() function');
+    }
+    const original = tool.execute;
+    return {
+      ...tool,
+      execute: async (args) => {
+        const action = { type: tool.name, args };
+        const startedAt = Date.now();
+        try {
+          const result = await original(args);
+          await gate.record(action, {
+            result: typeof result === 'string' ? result : JSON.stringify(result),
+            durationMs: Date.now() - startedAt,
+          });
+          return result;
+        } catch (err) {
+          await gate.record(action, {
+            error: err?.message || String(err),
+            durationMs: Date.now() - startedAt,
+          });
+          throw err;
+        }
+      },
+    };
+  }
+
+  function wrapTools(tools) {
+    if (!Array.isArray(tools)) {
+      throw new Error('[wireGate.wrapTools] expects an array of tools');
+    }
+    return tools.map(wrapTool);
+  }
+
+  return { policy, wrapTool, wrapTools };
+}
+
+module.exports = { wireGate };

package/src/checkpoint.js

@@ -1,11 +1,24 @@
 'use strict';
 
+const { TimeoutError } = require('./errors');
+
+const DEFAULT_TIMEOUT_MS = 5 * 60 * 1000; // 5 minutes
+
 class Checkpoint {
+  /**
+   * @param {object} options
+   * @param {Array<string>} [options.tools] - Tool names that require approval (exact match).
+   * @param {Function} [options.shouldAsk] - Custom predicate `(toolName, args) => bool` — overrides tools list if set.
+   * @param {Function} options.send - Async `(question, context) => void` to deliver the question.
+   * @param {Function} options.waitForReply - Async `(context) => string` that resolves with the user's reply.
+   * @param {number} [options.timeout=300000] - Ms to wait before auto-denying. 0 disables.
+   */
   constructor(options = {}) {
     this.tools = new Set(options.tools || []);
     this.send = options.send || null;
     this.waitForReply = options.waitForReply || null;
-    this.shouldAskFn = options.shouldAsk || null; // custom predicate override
+    this.shouldAskFn = options.shouldAsk || null;
+    this.timeout = options.timeout !== undefined ? options.timeout : DEFAULT_TIMEOUT_MS;
   }
 
   shouldAsk(toolName, args) {
@@ -14,19 +27,40 @@ class Checkpoint {
   }
 
   /**
-   * Send a question and wait for a reply.
+   * Send a question and wait for a reply. Rejects with TimeoutError if `timeout` ms elapse
+   * without a reply — the Loop catches this, auto-denies the tool call, and routes the
+   * error through loop:error + onError. No silent hangs.
    * @param {string} question - The approval question to send.
    * @param {object} [context={}] - Context passed to send and waitForReply.
    * @returns {Promise<string|null>} The user's reply, or null.
    * @throws {Error} `[Checkpoint] send and waitForReply callbacks required` — when callbacks are missing.
+   * @throws {TimeoutError} When no reply arrives within `timeout` ms.
    */
   async ask(question, context = {}) {
     if (!this.send || !this.waitForReply) {
       throw new Error('[Checkpoint] send and waitForReply callbacks required');
     }
     await this.send(question, context);
-    const reply = await this.waitForReply(context);
-    return reply ?? null;
+    const waitPromise = Promise.resolve(this.waitForReply(context));
+    if (!this.timeout || this.timeout <= 0) {
+      const reply = await waitPromise;
+      return reply ?? null;
+    }
+    let timer;
+    const timeoutPromise = new Promise((_, reject) => {
+      timer = setTimeout(
+        () => reject(new TimeoutError(`[Checkpoint] no reply within ${this.timeout}ms — auto-denied`, {
+          context: { tool: context?.tool, timeout: this.timeout },
+        })),
+        this.timeout,
+      );
+    });
+    try {
+      const reply = await Promise.race([waitPromise, timeoutPromise]);
+      return reply ?? null;
+    } finally {
+      clearTimeout(timer);
+    }
   }
 }
 

package/src/errors.js

@@ -43,12 +43,6 @@ class CircuitOpenError extends BareAgentError {
   }
 }
 
-class MaxRoundsError extends BareAgentError {
-  constructor(message, opts = {}) {
-    super(message || 'Loop exceeded maximum rounds', { code: 'MAX_ROUNDS', retryable: false, ...opts });
-  }
-}
-
 module.exports = {
   BareAgentError,
   ProviderError,
@@ -56,5 +50,4 @@ module.exports = {
   TimeoutError,
   ValidationError,
   CircuitOpenError,
-  MaxRoundsError,
 };

package/src/loop.js

@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 'use strict';
 
-const fs = require('node:fs');
-const { ToolError, MaxRoundsError } = require('./errors');
+const { ToolError } = require('./errors');
 
 // Average pricing per 1K tokens (USD). Adjust these to match your provider's rates.
 // Last updated: 2026-03-18. Source: public provider pricing pages.
@@ -21,6 +20,11 @@ const COST_PER_1K = {
   '_default': { in: 0.002, out: 0.008 },
 };
 
+// Internal safety net only — real iteration bounds come from a wired bareguard
+// Gate via `limits.maxTurns`. If you hit this without bareguard wired, you have
+// no governance and the LLM loop is unbounded by design — wire bareguard.
+const HARD_ROUND_LIMIT = 100;
+
 function estimateCost(model, usage) {
   if (!usage || !model) return null;
   const rates = COST_PER_1K[model] || COST_PER_1K['_default'];
@@ -34,20 +38,17 @@ class Loop {
   /**
    * @param {object} options
    * @param {object} options.provider - LLM provider (must implement generate()).
-   * @param {number} [options.maxRounds=5] - Maximum think/act/observe cycles.
    * @param {string} [options.system] - System prompt prepended to messages.
    * @param {object} [options.checkpoint] - Checkpoint instance for human-in-the-loop.
    * @param {object} [options.retry] - Retry instance for backoff on failures.
    * @param {object} [options.stream] - Stream instance for event emission.
    * @param {object} [options.store] - Store instance for validate() health check.
-   * @param {Function} [options.policy] - Async (toolName, args) => true|false|string. Deny returns the string (or a generic message) to the LLM as tool result.
-   * @param {string} [options.audit] - File path for JSONL audit log. Each tool call appends one line: {ts, tool, args, decision, result|reason|error, durationMs}.
+   * @param {Function} [options.policy] - Async (toolName, args, ctx) => true | string. Recommended wiring: closure that delegates to a bareguard Gate (`require('bare-agent/bareguard').wireGate(gate).policy`). Anything other than `true` denies; a string is fed to the LLM verbatim as the deny reason. All policy/budget/audit decisions live in bareguard — Loop just calls the closure and respects the verdict.
    * @throws {Error} `[Loop] requires a provider` — when options.provider is missing.
    */
   constructor(options = {}) {
     if (!options.provider) throw new Error('[Loop] requires a provider');
     this.provider = options.provider;
-    this.maxRounds = options.maxRounds || 5;
     this.system = options.system || null;
     this.checkpoint = options.checkpoint || null;
     this.retry = options.retry || null;
@@ -58,44 +59,56 @@ class Loop {
     this.throwOnError = options.throwOnError !== undefined ? options.throwOnError : true;
     this.store = options.store || null;
     if (options.policy != null && typeof options.policy !== 'function') {
-      throw new Error('[Loop] options.policy must be a function (toolName, args) => true | false | string');
+      throw new Error('[Loop] options.policy must be a function (toolName, args, ctx) => true | string');
     }
     this.policy = options.policy || null;
-    this.audit = options.audit || null;
     this._stopped = false;
     this._history = []; // for chat() stateful mode
-    this._auditInFlight = new Set();
   }
 
-  // Append one JSONL record. Returns nothing (fire-and-forget for callers)
-  // but tracks the in-flight promise so `flush()` and the end of `run()` can await it.
-  _writeAudit(record) {
-    if (!this.audit) return;
-    let line;
+  // Unified error emitter — every silent-ish failure path routes through here so
+  // operators see callback throws, checkpoint timeouts, stream listener errors
+  // in one place: loop:error stream event + onError callback.
+  _reportError(source, err, extra = {}) {
+    const message = err?.message || String(err);
+    this._safeEmit({ type: 'loop:error', data: { source, error: message, ...extra } });
+    if (this.onError) {
+      try {
+        this.onError(err, { source, ...extra });
+      } catch (cbErr) {
+        console.warn(`[Loop] onError callback threw: ${cbErr.message}`);
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  // Swallow-proof stream emit: a throwing listener must not corrupt Loop state.
+  _safeEmit(event) {
+    if (!this.stream) return;
     try {
-      line = JSON.stringify(record) + '\n';
+      this.stream.emit(event);
     } catch (err) {
-      console.warn(`[Loop] audit serialize failed: ${err.message}`);
-      return;
+      console.warn(`[Loop] stream listener threw on ${event.type}: ${err.message}`);
+      if (this.onError && event.type !== 'loop:error') {
+        try { this.onError(err, { source: 'stream', eventType: event.type }); } catch { /* swallow */ }
+      }
     }
-    const p = fs.promises.appendFile(this.audit, line)
-      .catch(err => console.warn(`[Loop] audit write failed: ${err.message}`))
-      .finally(() => this._auditInFlight.delete(p));
-    this._auditInFlight.add(p);
   }
 
-  // Await any in-flight audit writes. Safe to call multiple times; resolves immediately
-  // when no writes are pending. Called automatically at the end of each `run()`.
-  async flush() {
-    if (this._auditInFlight.size === 0) return;
-    await Promise.all([...this._auditInFlight]);
+  // Fire a user callback without letting its throw kill the loop.
+  _safeCall(name, fn, ...args) {
+    if (!fn) return;
+    try {
+      fn(...args);
+    } catch (err) {
+      this._reportError(`callback:${name}`, err);
+    }
   }
 
   /**
    * Run the think/act/observe loop.
    * @param {Array<object>} messages - Conversation messages in OpenAI format.
    * @param {Array<object>} [tools=[]] - Tool definitions with name, execute, description, parameters.
-   * @param {object} [options={}] - Per-run overrides (system, temperature, etc.).
+   * @param {object} [options={}] - Per-run overrides (system, temperature, ctx, etc.).
    * @returns {Promise<{text: string, toolCalls: Array, usage: object, error: string|null}>}
    * @throws {Error} `[Loop] Tool is missing a name` — when a tool has no name or a non-string name.
    * @throws {Error} `[Loop] Tool "X" is missing an execute() function` — when execute is not a function.
@@ -104,6 +117,7 @@ class Loop {
   async run(messages, tools = [], options = {}) {
     this._stopped = false;
     const system = options.system || this.system;
+    const ctx = options.ctx || null; // per-run opaque blob forwarded to policy
     const msgs = system
       ? [{ role: 'system', content: system }, ...messages]
       : [...messages];
@@ -125,12 +139,12 @@ class Loop {
       }
     }
 
-    this.stream?.emit({ type: 'loop:start', data: { messageCount: msgs.length } });
+    this._safeEmit({ type: 'loop:start', data: { messageCount: msgs.length } });
 
     let lastUsage = { inputTokens: 0, outputTokens: 0 };
     let totalCost = 0;
 
-    for (let round = 0; round < this.maxRounds; round++) {
+    for (let round = 0; round < HARD_ROUND_LIMIT; round++) {
       if (this._stopped) break;
 
       let result;
@@ -138,9 +152,7 @@ class Loop {
         const generate = () => this.provider.generate(msgs, tools, options);
         result = this.retry ? await this.retry.call(generate) : await generate();
       } catch (err) {
-        this.stream?.emit({ type: 'loop:error', data: { error: err.message, round } });
-        this.onError?.(err);
-        await this.flush();
+        this._reportError('provider', err, { round });
         if (this.throwOnError) throw err;
         return { text: '', toolCalls: [], usage: lastUsage, cost: totalCost, error: err.message };
       }
@@ -152,10 +164,9 @@ class Loop {
 
       // No tool calls — LLM gave a final text response
       if (!result.toolCalls || result.toolCalls.length === 0) {
-        this.stream?.emit({ type: 'loop:text', data: { text: result.text } });
-        this.onText?.(result.text);
-        await this.flush();
-        this.stream?.emit({ type: 'loop:done', data: { text: result.text, usage: lastUsage, cost: totalCost } });
+        this._safeEmit({ type: 'loop:text', data: { text: result.text } });
+        this._safeCall('onText', this.onText, result.text);
+        this._safeEmit({ type: 'loop:done', data: { text: result.text, usage: lastUsage, cost: totalCost } });
         return { text: result.text, toolCalls: [], usage: lastUsage, cost: totalCost, error: null };
       }
 
@@ -177,34 +188,46 @@ class Loop {
         if (!tool) {
           const errMsg = `[Loop] Unknown tool: ${tc.name}`;
           msgs.push({ role: 'tool', tool_call_id: tc.id, content: errMsg });
-          this.stream?.emit({ type: 'loop:tool_result', data: { tool: tc.name, error: errMsg } });
+          this._safeEmit({ type: 'loop:tool_result', data: { tool: tc.name, error: errMsg } });
           continue;
         }
 
         // Checkpoint — ask for approval before executing
         if (this.checkpoint?.shouldAsk(tc.name, tc.arguments)) {
-          this.stream?.emit({ type: 'checkpoint:ask', data: { tool: tc.name, args: tc.arguments } });
-          const reply = await this.checkpoint.ask(
-            `Approve ${tc.name}(${JSON.stringify(tc.arguments)})?`,
-            { tool: tc.name, args: tc.arguments }
-          );
-          this.stream?.emit({ type: 'checkpoint:reply', data: { reply } });
+          this._safeEmit({ type: 'checkpoint:ask', data: { tool: tc.name, args: tc.arguments } });
+          let reply;
+          try {
+            reply = await this.checkpoint.ask(
+              `Approve ${tc.name}(${JSON.stringify(tc.arguments)})?`,
+              { tool: tc.name, args: tc.arguments }
+            );
+          } catch (err) {
+            // Checkpoint errors (e.g. timeout, transport failure) auto-deny and
+            // get reported via loop:error + onError. The loop never hangs silently.
+            this._reportError('checkpoint', err, { tool: tc.name });
+            msgs.push({ role: 'tool', tool_call_id: tc.id, content: `[Loop] Checkpoint failed: ${err.message}. Action auto-denied.` });
+            continue;
+          }
+          this._safeEmit({ type: 'checkpoint:reply', data: { reply } });
           if (!reply || reply.toLowerCase() === 'no' || reply.toLowerCase() === 'n') {
             msgs.push({ role: 'tool', tool_call_id: tc.id, content: 'User denied this action.' });
             continue;
           }
         }
 
-        this.stream?.emit({ type: 'loop:tool_call', data: { tool: tc.name, args: tc.arguments } });
-        this.onToolCall?.(tc.name, tc.arguments);
+        this._safeEmit({ type: 'loop:tool_call', data: { tool: tc.name, args: tc.arguments } });
+        this._safeCall('onToolCall', this.onToolCall, tc.name, tc.arguments);
 
         // Policy check — runs before execute. Fail-safe: only verdict === true allows;
         // anything else (false, string, undefined, object, throw) denies. A string verdict
-        // is used verbatim as the deny reason.
+        // is used verbatim as the deny reason. `ctx` (opaque blob passed via
+        // loop.run(msgs, tools, { ctx })) is forwarded as the third arg for per-caller gating.
+        // Recommended wiring: bareguard's Gate via `wireGate(gate).policy` — bareguard
+        // owns budget, audit, and halt decisions; Loop just respects the verdict.
         if (this.policy) {
           let verdict;
           try {
-            verdict = await this.policy(tc.name, tc.arguments);
+            verdict = await this.policy(tc.name, tc.arguments, ctx);
           } catch (err) {
             verdict = `[Loop] policy error: ${err.message}`;
           }
@@ -213,55 +236,30 @@ class Loop {
               ? verdict
               : `[Loop] Tool "${tc.name}" denied by policy`;
             msgs.push({ role: 'tool', tool_call_id: tc.id, content: reason });
-            this.stream?.emit({ type: 'loop:tool_result', data: { tool: tc.name, denied: true, reason } });
-            this._writeAudit({
-              ts: new Date().toISOString(),
-              tool: tc.name,
-              args: tc.arguments,
-              decision: 'deny',
-              reason,
-            });
+            this._safeEmit({ type: 'loop:tool_result', data: { tool: tc.name, denied: true, reason } });
             continue;
           }
         }
 
-        const startedAt = Date.now();
         try {
           const execute = () => tool.execute(tc.arguments);
           const toolResult = this.retry ? await this.retry.call(execute) : await execute();
           const content = typeof toolResult === 'string' ? toolResult : JSON.stringify(toolResult);
           msgs.push({ role: 'tool', tool_call_id: tc.id, content });
-          this.stream?.emit({ type: 'loop:tool_result', data: { tool: tc.name, result: content } });
-          this._writeAudit({
-            ts: new Date().toISOString(),
-            tool: tc.name,
-            args: tc.arguments,
-            decision: 'allow',
-            result: content,
-            durationMs: Date.now() - startedAt,
-          });
+          this._safeEmit({ type: 'loop:tool_result', data: { tool: tc.name, result: content } });
         } catch (err) {
           const toolErr = err instanceof ToolError ? err : new ToolError(err.message, { context: { tool: tc.name } });
           const errMsg = `[Loop] Tool error: ${toolErr.message}`;
           msgs.push({ role: 'tool', tool_call_id: tc.id, content: errMsg });
-          this.stream?.emit({ type: 'loop:tool_result', data: { tool: tc.name, error: errMsg } });
-          this._writeAudit({
-            ts: new Date().toISOString(),
-            tool: tc.name,
-            args: tc.arguments,
-            decision: 'allow',
-            error: toolErr.message,
-            durationMs: Date.now() - startedAt,
-          });
+          this._safeEmit({ type: 'loop:tool_result', data: { tool: tc.name, error: errMsg } });
         }
       }
     }
 
-    // maxRounds exceeded
-    const warning = `[Loop] ended after ${this.maxRounds} rounds without final response`;
-    await this.flush();
-    this.stream?.emit({ type: 'loop:done', data: { text: '', warning, cost: totalCost } });
-    if (this.throwOnError) throw new MaxRoundsError(warning);
+    // Hard safety limit — should never fire under normal usage; bareguard's
+    // limits.maxTurns (or the LLM's natural completion) ends the loop first.
+    const warning = `[Loop] hit internal safety limit of ${HARD_ROUND_LIMIT} rounds. Wire bareguard for proper governance — see bare-agent/bareguard.`;
+    this._safeEmit({ type: 'loop:done', data: { text: '', warning, cost: totalCost } });
     return { text: '', toolCalls: [], usage: lastUsage, cost: totalCost, error: warning };
   }