ethagent 1.0.9 → 1.1.1

package/README.md

@@ -3,118 +3,59 @@
 
 A privacy-first AI agent with a portable Ethereum identity.
 
-ethagent is a terminal agent for coding and project work. It gives the agent a wallet-owned ERC-8004 identity, keeps private continuity encrypted, and publishes public capability metadata as structured JSON so other applications and agents can understand what it can do.
-
-The identity stays portable. The model can change. The private memory stays under wallet-gated encryption.
+ethagent binds an AI agent to a wallet-owned ERC-8004 token. Persona and memory stay encrypted under your wallet signature and pinned to IPFS. Public skills publish as machine-readable JSON so other agents can discover what it does. Swap models, switch machines, restore the same agent from one onchain pointer.
 
 ## Install
 
 ethagent requires Node.js 20 or newer. Install it from npm with `npm install -g ethagent`, then start it with `ethagent`.
 
-On first run, ethagent guides you through model setup and identity setup. You can use a local GGUF model through llama.cpp, or connect OpenAI, Anthropic, or Gemini.
-
-## What It Does
-
-* Runs an AI coding agent in your terminal.
-* Switches between cloud models and local GGUF models.
-* Creates or loads a wallet-owned ERC-8004 agent identity.
-* Encrypts private continuity before IPFS pinning.
-* Publishes public `skills.json` and Agent Card metadata for discovery.
-* Restores the same agent on another machine from the onchain record.
-* Supports workspace tools, managed edit rewind, session resume, context compaction, and MCP servers.
-
 ## First Run
 
-Start with `ethagent`. The setup flow asks for a model path first, then offers identity setup.
-
-You can create a new ERC-8004 agent with a browser wallet, load an agent token you already own, or skip identity setup and add it later from the Identity Hub.
-
-Use `Alt+P` to switch models and `Alt+I` to open the Identity Hub. Inside the agent, `/help` shows the live command list for the version you are running.
+First run walks model setup, then identity setup. You can use a local GGUF model through llama.cpp, or connect OpenAI, Anthropic, or Gemini.
 
-## Identity Hub
+Create a new ERC-8004 agent with a browser wallet, load an agent token you already own, or skip identity setup and add it later from the Identity Hub.
 
-The Identity Hub is where the portable identity is managed.
+Use `Alt+P` to swap models and `Alt+I` to open the Identity Hub. Inside the agent, `/help` shows the live command list for the version you are running.
 
-| Area | What It Controls |
-| --- | --- |
-| Public Metadata | Profile name, description, image, `skills.json`, and Agent Card. |
-| Private Local Files | `SOUL.md`, `MEMORY.md`, and the local copy of `skills.json`. |
-| Recovery | Publishing the current encrypted snapshot or refetching the latest one from chain. |
-| Storage | The Pinata JWT used to pin continuity and metadata to IPFS. |
-| Agent Token | Registry, owner, token, URI, CID, and copyable identity values. |
-
-The hub is a recovery panel, not a history archive. The current tokenURI is the source of truth for the latest published state.
-
-## Continuity
+## Identity & Continuity
 
-Each identity gets a local continuity vault under `~/.ethagent/continuity`.
+The Identity Hub manages the portable identity. Each identity gets a local continuity vault under `~/.ethagent/continuity`.
 
 | File | Visibility | Purpose |
 | --- | --- | --- |
 | `SOUL.md` | Private | Persona, boundaries, standing instructions, and identity framing. |
 | `MEMORY.md` | Private | Durable preferences, project context, decisions, and operating notes. |
-| `skills.json` | Public | Machine-readable capabilities, input modes, output modes, and discovery metadata. |
-
-`SOUL.md` and `MEMORY.md` are encrypted before they are pinned to IPFS. They are not published as plaintext in token metadata.
-
-`skills.json` is public by design. It uses schema `ethagent.public-skills.v1` and is meant to be easy for other agents, apps, and scanners to parse.
-
-## Recovery
+| `skills.json` | Public | Machine-readable capabilities under schema `ethagent.public-skills.v1`, easy for other agents and apps to parse. |
 
-**Publish Snapshot Now** encrypts the current private continuity, pins the public discovery files, writes current registration metadata, and updates the ERC-8004 tokenURI.
+`SOUL.md` and `MEMORY.md` are encrypted before they reach IPFS. They are never published as plaintext in token metadata.
 
-**Refetch Latest Snapshot** reads the current tokenURI from chain, downloads the encrypted continuity envelope, asks the owner wallet to sign the decrypt challenge, and restores local continuity files from the published state.
-
-Publishing replaces the current onchain pointer. Registration metadata contains the current CIDs only.
-
-## Public Discovery
-
-The public registration metadata is intentionally compact. It describes the current state of the agent, not its history.
-
-It can include:
-
-* Agent name, description, and image.
-* Current encrypted continuity CID.
-* Current public `skills.json` CID.
-* Current Agent Card CID.
-* Service entries with canonical `endpoint` values.
-* Registry linkage through `registrations[]`.
-
-This is enough for baseline agent-to-agent discovery and delegation without exposing private memory or installing executable code.
+**Save Snapshot Now** encrypts the current private continuity, pins the public discovery files, writes registration metadata, and updates the ERC-8004 tokenURI. **Refetch Latest Snapshot** reads the current tokenURI from chain, asks the owner wallet to sign the decrypt challenge, and restores local files from the published state. The current tokenURI is the source of truth.
 
 ## Models
 
 ethagent works with OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, and local GGUF models served through a llama.cpp-compatible endpoint.
 
-The model picker can discover provider models, manage cloud API keys, recommend GGUF files for the machine, and start or reconnect to a local runner when supported.
+The model picker discovers provider models, manages API keys, recommends GGUF files for your machine, and starts or attaches to a local runner. The featured local model is [Qwen3.5-9B-Uncensored](https://huggingface.co/HauhauCS/Qwen3.5-9B-Uncensored-HauhauCS-Aggressive); other Hugging Face GGUF models work by repo ID or URL.
 
-The featured local model is [Qwen3.5-9B-Uncensored](https://huggingface.co/HauhauCS/Qwen3.5-9B-Uncensored-HauhauCS-Aggressive). You can also add other Hugging Face GGUF models by repo ID or URL.
+Cloud API keys live in the OS keyring when available, with an encrypted local file under `~/.ethagent` as fallback.
 
-Cloud API keys are stored in the OS keyring when available. If a keyring is unavailable, ethagent uses an encrypted local file under `~/.ethagent`.
+## Tools & Sessions
 
-## Tools And Workspace
+File ops, shell, clipboard, and MCP tools, all permissioned. Managed edits support `/rewind`. Sessions support `/resume`, `/compact`, and `/export`.
 
-ethagent is built for real project work. It can read files, edit files, write new files, delete files, inspect directories, run shell commands, copy text to the clipboard, and connect MCP tools.
-
-Tool use is permissioned. Managed edits are tracked so recent workspace changes can be rewound from inside the agent.
-
-Sessions are local. You can resume prior sessions, export a transcript, compact older context, and review saved project permissions.
+`Shift+Tab` cycles Plan, Accept-Edits, and Chat modes. `Alt+T` toggles reasoning display.
 
 ## Privacy
 
 Public information includes token ownership, tokenURI metadata, public discovery files, and IPFS CIDs.
 
-Private information includes plaintext `SOUL.md`, plaintext `MEMORY.md`, sessions, prompt history, API keys, local permissions, and wallet signatures used for decrypting continuity.
+Private information includes plaintext `SOUL.md`, plaintext `MEMORY.md`, sessions, prompt history, API keys, local permissions, and wallet signatures used for decryption.
 
 Continuity snapshots use an EIP-191 wallet signature as unlock material and encrypt with ML-KEM-1024, HKDF-SHA256, and AES-256-GCM. The unlock signature does not submit a transaction, spend funds, or grant token approval.
 
-If an ERC-8004 token is transferred, the new holder can see public metadata and encrypted backup CIDs. They cannot decrypt private continuity that was encrypted for the previous owner wallet.
-
-## Local Reset
+If an ERC-8004 token is transferred, the new holder can see public metadata and encrypted backup CIDs. They cannot decrypt private continuity that was sealed for the previous owner wallet.
 
-`ethagent reset` deletes local ethagent data from this machine while preserving installed local model assets. It does not burn or transfer ERC-8004 tokens, remove public IPFS content, or mutate onchain metadata.
-
-Before resetting, use **Publish Snapshot Now** if local continuity changes should become the current recoverable state.
+`ethagent reset` deletes local ethagent data from this machine while preserving installed local model assets. It does not burn or transfer ERC-8004 tokens, remove public IPFS content, or mutate onchain metadata. Run **Save Snapshot Now** before resetting if local changes should become the recoverable state.
 
 ## Architecture
 
@@ -129,10 +70,6 @@ Before resetting, use **Publish Snapshot Now** if local continuity changes shoul
 
 The ERC-8004 token is the durable handle. The machine, model, and local session can change around it.
 
-## Links
-
 [npm](https://www.npmjs.com/package/ethagent) · [GitHub](https://github.com/baairon/ethagent) · [ERC-8004](https://eips.ethereum.org/EIPS/eip-8004) · [soul.md](https://soul.md/)
 
-## License
-
-MIT
+MIT License.

package/package.json

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "ethagent",
-  "version": "1.0.9",
+  "version": "1.1.1",
   "description": "A privacy-first AI agent with a portable Ethereum identity",
   "type": "module",
   "main": "bin/ethagent.js",
@@ -47,7 +47,6 @@
     "ink": "^6.8.0",
     "react": "^19.2.4",
     "tsx": "^4.21.0",
-    "update-notifier": "^7.3.1",
     "viem": "^2.48.4",
     "zod": "^3.25.76"
   },

package/src/chat/ChatScreen.tsx

@@ -79,6 +79,7 @@ import { EMPTY_MCP_SNAPSHOT, McpManager, type McpSnapshot } from '../mcp/manager
 type ChatScreenProps = {
   config: EthagentConfig
   onReplaceConfig?: (next: EthagentConfig) => void
+  updateNotice?: string | null
 }
 
 type PendingPlan = {
@@ -122,7 +123,7 @@ async function ensureLocalProviderReady(config: EthagentConfig): Promise<{ ok: t
   return { ok: true }
 }
 
-export const ChatScreen: React.FC<ChatScreenProps> = ({ config: initialConfig, onReplaceConfig }) => {
+export const ChatScreen: React.FC<ChatScreenProps> = ({ config: initialConfig, onReplaceConfig, updateNotice }) => {
   useRegisterKeybindingContext('Chat')
   const { exit } = useApp()
   const [config, setConfig] = useState<EthagentConfig>(initialConfig)
@@ -1109,7 +1110,7 @@ export const ChatScreen: React.FC<ChatScreenProps> = ({ config: initialConfig, o
       }
       overlayRef.current = 'none'
       setOverlay('none')
-      pushNote('snapshot not published yet.', 'dim')
+      pushNote('snapshot not saved yet.', 'dim')
     },
     [continuityEditReview, pushNote],
   )
@@ -1118,7 +1119,7 @@ export const ChatScreen: React.FC<ChatScreenProps> = ({ config: initialConfig, o
     setContinuityEditReview(null)
     overlayRef.current = 'none'
     setOverlay('none')
-    pushNote('snapshot not published yet.', 'dim')
+    pushNote('snapshot not saved yet.', 'dim')
   }, [pushNote])
 
   const handleCopyDone = useCallback(
@@ -1402,7 +1403,7 @@ export const ChatScreen: React.FC<ChatScreenProps> = ({ config: initialConfig, o
       </Text>
     </Box>
   )
-  const header = <BrandSplash contextLine={contextLine} tipLine={tipLine} />
+  const header = <BrandSplash contextLine={contextLine} tipLine={tipLine} updateNotice={updateNotice ?? null} />
   return (
     <ConversationStack
       header={header}

package/src/chat/ContinuityEditReviewView.tsx

@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ export const ContinuityEditReviewView: React.FC<{
 }> = ({ review, onSelect, onCancel }) => (
   <Surface
     title="Private Continuity Updated"
-    subtitle="Review the file, then publish an encrypted snapshot."
+    subtitle="Review the file, then save an encrypted snapshot."
     footer="enter select · esc later"
   >
     <Box flexDirection="column">
@@ -37,8 +37,8 @@ export const ContinuityEditReviewView: React.FC<{
       <Select<ContinuityEditReviewAction>
         options={[
           { value: 'open', label: `open ${review.file}`, hint: 'review the edited private file now' },
-          { value: 'save-publish', label: 'publish snapshot now', hint: 'go directly to wallet approval' },
-          { value: 'later', label: 'later', hint: 'keep the local draft unpublished' },
+          { value: 'save-publish', label: 'save snapshot now', hint: 'go directly to wallet approval' },
+          { value: 'later', label: 'later', hint: 'keep the local draft unsaved' },
         ]}
         onSubmit={onSelect}
         onCancel={onCancel}

package/src/chat/chatTurnOrchestrator.ts

@@ -665,7 +665,7 @@ export async function buildIdentityContinuityContextMessages(
       content: [
         '<identity_continuity_files>',
         `Automatic identity continuity load failed: ${(err as Error).message}`,
-        'If the user asks about continuity, surface this failure and route them to the identity hub.',
+        'If the user asks about continuity, surface this failure and route them to the Identity Hub.',
         '</identity_continuity_files>',
       ].join('\n'),
     }]

package/src/chat/commands.ts

@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ const COMMANDS: CommandSpec[] = [
         if (installed.length === 0) {
           return {
             kind: 'note',
-            text: 'no local model files downloaded. open alt+p and choose "add local model file".',
+            text: 'No local model files downloaded. Open Alt+P and choose "Add Local Model File".',
           }
         }
         const lines = installed.map(m => {
@@ -190,7 +190,7 @@ const COMMANDS: CommandSpec[] = [
           return {
             kind: 'note',
             variant: 'error',
-            text: `'${name}' is not downloaded. open alt+p and choose "view full catalog" or "add local model file".`,
+            text: `'${name}' is not downloaded. Open Alt+P and choose "View Full Catalog" or "Add Local Model File".`,
           }
         }
       } else {
@@ -364,7 +364,7 @@ async function runHuggingFace(args: string, ctx: SlashContext): Promise<SlashRes
       return {
         kind: 'note',
         variant: 'dim',
-        text: 'no local model files downloaded. press alt+p and choose "add local model file".',
+        text: 'No local model files downloaded. Press Alt+P and choose "Add Local Model File".',
       }
     }
     const lines = installed.map(model => {
@@ -382,8 +382,8 @@ async function runHuggingFace(args: string, ctx: SlashContext): Promise<SlashRes
       kind: 'note',
       variant: 'dim',
       text: link
-        ? `alt+p opened. choose "add local model file" and paste: ${link}`
-        : 'alt+p opened. choose "add local model file" and paste the model URL or repo id.',
+        ? `Alt+P opened. Choose "Add Local Model File" and paste: ${link}`
+        : 'Alt+P opened. Choose "Add Local Model File" and paste the model URL or repo ID.',
     }
   }
 

package/src/cli/ResetConfirmView.tsx

@@ -16,27 +16,26 @@ export const ResetConfirmView: React.FC<{
   }
 
   return (
-    <Surface title="reset ethagent?" subtitle="are you sure? this only affects this machine." footer="enter select · esc cancel">
+    <Surface title="Reset Local Data?" subtitle="Deletes this machine's ethagent data. Models and onchain records stay." footer="enter select · esc cancel">
       <Box flexDirection="column">
-        <Section title="will delete" lines={[
+        <Section title="Deletes" lines={[
+          'Identity files, sessions, history, credentials',
           localDataLine(plan.deletePaths.length),
-          'identity metadata, markdown vaults, sessions, prompt history',
-          'rewind history, permissions, credentials',
         ]} />
-        <Section title="will keep" lines={[
-          'installed local LLM assets',
-          ...(plan.preservedPaths.length > 0 ? [`${plan.preservedPaths.length} local model path${plan.preservedPaths.length === 1 ? '' : 's'}`] : ['no local model assets found']),
+        <Section title="Keeps" lines={[
+          'Local GGUF models and llama.cpp runners',
+          ...(plan.preservedPaths.length > 0 ? [`${plan.preservedPaths.length} local model path${plan.preservedPaths.length === 1 ? '' : 's'}`] : ['No local model assets found']),
         ]} />
-        <Section title="not touched" lines={[
-          'onchain agent tokens',
-          'IPFS-pinned snapshots and public metadata',
+        <Section title="Not Touched" lines={[
+          'ERC-8004 tokens and onchain records',
+          'IPFS snapshots and public metadata',
         ]} />
       </Box>
       <Box marginTop={1}>
         <Select<'confirm' | 'cancel'>
           options={[
-            { value: 'confirm', label: 'reset local data', hint: 'delete local ethagent data now' },
-            { value: 'cancel', label: 'cancel', hint: 'leave local data unchanged' },
+            { value: 'confirm', label: 'Reset Local Data', hint: 'Delete local ethagent data now' },
+            { value: 'cancel', label: 'Cancel', hint: 'Leave local data unchanged' },
           ]}
           onSubmit={choice => finish(choice === 'confirm')}
           onCancel={() => finish(false)}
@@ -56,6 +55,6 @@ const Section: React.FC<{ title: string; lines: string[] }> = ({ title, lines })
 )
 
 function localDataLine(count: number): string {
-  if (count === 0) return 'no local ethagent data found'
+  if (count === 0) return 'No local ethagent data found'
   return `${count} local path${count === 1 ? '' : 's'} under ~/.ethagent`
 }

package/src/cli/main.tsx

@@ -12,29 +12,10 @@ import { AppInputProvider, useAppInput } from '../app/input/AppInputProvider.js'
 import { loadConfig, type EthagentConfig } from '../storage/config.js'
 import { runResetCommand } from './reset.js'
 import { runPreviewCommand } from './preview.js'
+import { checkForUpdates } from './updateNotice.js'
+import { Spinner } from '../ui/Spinner.js'
 
 const __dirname = path.dirname(fileURLToPath(import.meta.url))
-const pkgPath = path.resolve(__dirname, '..', '..', 'package.json')
-const pkg = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(pkgPath, 'utf8'))
-
-async function checkForUpdates() {
-  try {
-    const res = await fetch('https://registry.npmjs.org/ethagent/latest', { signal: AbortSignal.timeout(1200) })
-    const { version: latest } = await res.json() as { version: string }
-    if (latest && latest !== pkg.version) {
-      const line1 = ` Update available: ${theme.accentPrimary}${pkg.version}${theme.text} -> ${theme.accentMint}${latest}${theme.text} `
-      const line2 = ` Run ${theme.accentPeach}npm install -g ethagent${theme.text} to update `
-      const border = theme.dim + '─'.repeat(Math.max(line1.length - 20, line2.length - 20) + 10) + theme.text
-      
-      process.stdout.write(`\n${theme.dim}┌${border}┐${theme.text}\n`)
-      process.stdout.write(`${theme.dim}│${theme.text}  ${line1}  ${theme.dim}│${theme.text}\n`)
-      process.stdout.write(`${theme.dim}│${theme.text}  ${line2}  ${theme.dim}│${theme.text}\n`)
-      process.stdout.write(`${theme.dim}└${border}┘${theme.text}\n\n`)
-    }
-  } catch {
-    // Silent fail for offline/timeout
-  }
-}
 
 function readVersion(): string {
   try {
@@ -70,17 +51,24 @@ type AppPhase =
   | { kind: 'cancelled' }
   | { kind: 'error'; message: string }
 
-const AppRoot: React.FC<{ setExitCode: (code: number) => void }> = ({ setExitCode }) => {
+const MIN_STARTUP_SPINNER_MS = 480
+
+function delay(ms: number): Promise<void> {
+  return new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, ms))
+}
+
+const AppRoot: React.FC<{ setExitCode: (code: number) => void; currentVersion: string }> = ({ setExitCode, currentVersion }) => {
   const [phase, setPhase] = useState<AppPhase>({ kind: 'loading' })
+  const [updateNotice, setUpdateNotice] = useState<string | null>(null)
   const { exit } = useApp()
 
   useEffect(() => {
     if (phase.kind !== 'loading') return
     let cancelled = false
-    loadConfig()
+    Promise.all([loadConfig(), delay(MIN_STARTUP_SPINNER_MS)])
       .then(config => {
         if (cancelled) return
-        setPhase(config ? { kind: 'ready', config } : { kind: 'setup' })
+        setPhase(config[0] ? { kind: 'ready', config: config[0] } : { kind: 'setup' })
       })
       .catch((err: unknown) => {
         if (cancelled) return
@@ -89,6 +77,16 @@ const AppRoot: React.FC<{ setExitCode: (code: number) => void }> = ({ setExitCod
     return () => { cancelled = true }
   }, [phase])
 
+  useEffect(() => {
+    let cancelled = false
+    void checkForUpdates(currentVersion)
+      .then(notice => {
+        if (!cancelled) setUpdateNotice(notice)
+      })
+      .catch(() => {})
+    return () => { cancelled = true }
+  }, [currentVersion])
+
   useEffect(() => {
     if (phase.kind === 'cancelled') {
       setExitCode(1)
@@ -111,7 +109,7 @@ const AppRoot: React.FC<{ setExitCode: (code: number) => void }> = ({ setExitCod
   if (phase.kind === 'loading') {
     return (
       <Box padding={1}>
-        <Text color={theme.dim}>Preparing session...</Text>
+        <Spinner label="Starting ethagent..." showElapsed={false} />
       </Box>
     )
   }
@@ -141,16 +139,17 @@ const AppRoot: React.FC<{ setExitCode: (code: number) => void }> = ({ setExitCod
     <ChatScreen
       config={phase.config}
       onReplaceConfig={next => setPhase({ kind: 'ready', config: next })}
+      updateNotice={updateNotice}
     />
   )
 }
 
-async function runDefault(): Promise<number> {
+async function runDefault(currentVersion: string): Promise<number> {
   let exitCode = 0
   const instance = render(
     <AppInputProvider>
       <KeybindingProvider>
-        <AppRoot setExitCode={code => { exitCode = code }} />
+        <AppRoot setExitCode={code => { exitCode = code }} currentVersion={currentVersion} />
       </KeybindingProvider>
     </AppInputProvider>,
     {
@@ -169,9 +168,7 @@ async function main(): Promise<number> {
   const argv = process.argv.slice(2)
   const [cmd, ...rest] = argv
 
-  await checkForUpdates()
-
-  if (!cmd) return runDefault()
+  if (!cmd) return runDefault(readVersion())
   if (cmd === '--version' || cmd === '-v') {
     process.stdout.write(`ethagent ${readVersion()}\n`)
     return 0

package/src/cli/reset.ts

@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ export async function runResetCommand(args: string[] = [], io: ResetCommandIO =
       ? await readTextConfirmation(plan, io)
       : await readInkConfirmation(plan, io)
     if (!confirmed) {
-      write('factory reset cancelled.\n')
+      write('Reset Cancelled.\n')
       return 1
     }
   } else {
@@ -46,12 +46,12 @@ export async function runResetCommand(args: string[] = [], io: ResetCommandIO =
 
   const result = await runFactoryReset({ clearSecrets: io.clearSecrets })
   write([
-    'factory reset complete.',
-    `deleted ${result.deletedPaths.length} local path${result.deletedPaths.length === 1 ? '' : 's'}.`,
-    `cleared ${result.clearedSecretAccounts.length} known secret account${result.clearedSecretAccounts.length === 1 ? '' : 's'}.`,
+    'Reset Complete.',
+    `Deleted ${result.deletedPaths.length} local path${result.deletedPaths.length === 1 ? '' : 's'}.`,
+    `Cleared ${result.clearedSecretAccounts.length} secret account${result.clearedSecretAccounts.length === 1 ? '' : 's'}.`,
     result.preservedPaths.length > 0
-      ? `preserved local LLM assets: ${result.preservedPaths.length} path${result.preservedPaths.length === 1 ? '' : 's'}.`
-      : 'no local model assets were present.',
+      ? `Kept ${result.preservedPaths.length} local model path${result.preservedPaths.length === 1 ? '' : 's'}.`
+      : 'Kept no local model assets.',
     '',
   ].join('\n'))
   return 0
@@ -90,7 +90,6 @@ async function readInkConfirmation(plan: FactoryResetPlan, io: ResetCommandIO):
 
 async function readConfirmation(io: ResetCommandIO): Promise<string> {
   if (io.readConfirmation) {
-    ;(io.write ?? (text => { processStdout.write(text) }))('type confirm to wipe local ethagent data: ')
     return io.readConfirmation()
   }
 
@@ -99,7 +98,7 @@ async function readConfirmation(io: ResetCommandIO): Promise<string> {
     output: io.output ?? processStdout,
   })
   try {
-    return await rl.question('type confirm to wipe local ethagent data: ')
+    return await rl.question('Confirm reset: ')
   } finally {
     rl.close()
   }

package/src/cli/updateNotice.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+type RegistryResponse = {
+  ok?: boolean
+  json: () => Promise<unknown>
+}
+
+type RegistryFetch = (url: string, init: { signal: AbortSignal }) => Promise<RegistryResponse>
+
+const REGISTRY_LATEST_URL = 'https://registry.npmjs.org/ethagent/latest'
+
+export function compareVersions(left: string, right: string): number {
+  const a = parseVersion(left)
+  const b = parseVersion(right)
+  if (!a || !b) return 0
+  for (let i = 0; i < 3; i++) {
+    if (a[i] > b[i]) return 1
+    if (a[i] < b[i]) return -1
+  }
+  return 0
+}
+
+export function isNewerVersion(candidate: string, current: string): boolean {
+  return compareVersions(candidate, current) > 0
+}
+
+export function formatUpdateNotice(currentVersion: string, latestVersion: string): string | null {
+  if (!isNewerVersion(latestVersion, currentVersion)) return null
+  return `update available: ethagent ${currentVersion} -> ${latestVersion}; run npm i -g ethagent`
+}
+
+export async function checkForUpdates(
+  currentVersion: string,
+  options: { fetchImpl?: RegistryFetch; timeoutMs?: number } = {},
+): Promise<string | null> {
+  const fetchImpl = options.fetchImpl ?? fetch
+  const timeoutMs = options.timeoutMs ?? 1200
+  try {
+    const res = await fetchImpl(REGISTRY_LATEST_URL, { signal: AbortSignal.timeout(timeoutMs) })
+    if (res.ok === false) return null
+    const body = await res.json()
+    if (!body || typeof body !== 'object') return null
+    const latest = (body as { version?: unknown }).version
+    return typeof latest === 'string' ? formatUpdateNotice(currentVersion, latest) : null
+  } catch {
+    return null
+  }
+}
+
+function parseVersion(value: string): [number, number, number] | null {
+  const match = /^v?(\d+)\.(\d+)\.(\d+)(?:[-+].*)?$/.exec(value.trim())
+  if (!match) return null
+  return [Number(match[1]), Number(match[2]), Number(match[3])]
+}

package/src/identity/continuity/envelope.ts

@@ -79,15 +79,21 @@ export class ContinuitySnapshotOwnerMismatchError extends Error {
   }
 }
 
+export const CONTINUITY_SNAPSHOT_CHALLENGE_MESSAGES = [
+  'ethagent: save or restore identity files',
+  'Action: encrypt or decrypt local identity files',
+  'Private: SOUL.md, MEMORY.md',
+  'Public: skills.json, public profile',
+  'Safety: no transaction, spending, or approvals',
+  'Version: 1',
+] as const
+
 export function createContinuitySnapshotChallenge(ownerAddress: string): string {
   const checksum = toChecksumAddress(ownerAddress)
   return [
-    'ethagent private continuity',
+    CONTINUITY_SNAPSHOT_CHALLENGE_MESSAGES[0],
     `Owner: ${checksum}`,
-    'Purpose: unlock the encrypted SOUL.md and MEMORY.md snapshot for this device',
-    'Scope: read and restore private agent continuity only',
-    'Safety: this signature does not send a transaction, spend funds, or grant token approval',
-    'Version: 1',
+    ...CONTINUITY_SNAPSHOT_CHALLENGE_MESSAGES.slice(1),
   ].join('\n')
 }
 

package/src/identity/continuity/storage.ts

@@ -287,7 +287,7 @@ export function defaultContinuityFiles(identity: EthagentIdentity, now = new Dat
       '## Private Instructions',
       '',
       '- Keep owner-specific standing instructions in this file.',
-      '- Do not publish this file directly; use encrypted snapshot backup from Identity Hub.',
+      '- Do not share this file directly; save it via the Identity Hub encrypted snapshot.',
       '- Public capabilities belong in skills.json.',
       '',
       '## Boundaries',

package/src/identity/hub/IdentityHub.tsx

@@ -196,7 +196,8 @@ export const IdentityHub: React.FC<IdentityHubProps> = ({ mode, config, initialA
 
   useEffect(() => {
     let cancelled = false
-    if (!identity || step.kind !== 'menu') return
+    if (!identity) return
+    if (step.kind !== 'menu' && step.kind !== 'continuity-private' && step.kind !== 'continuity-public') return
 
     const checkStatus = async () => {
       try {
@@ -591,7 +592,7 @@ export const IdentityHub: React.FC<IdentityHubProps> = ({ mode, config, initialA
     return (
       <WalletApprovalScreen
         title="Refetch Latest Snapshot"
-        subtitle="Wallet approval decrypts the latest published snapshot and overwrites local SOUL.md, MEMORY.md, and skills.json."
+        subtitle="Wallet approval decrypts the latest saved snapshot and overwrites local SOUL.md, MEMORY.md, and skills.json."
         walletSession={walletSession}
         label={restoreProgress?.label ?? 'fetching latest snapshot from chain...'}
         onCancel={() => setStep(step.back)}
@@ -604,13 +605,12 @@ export const IdentityHub: React.FC<IdentityHubProps> = ({ mode, config, initialA
       <PrivateContinuityScreen
         identity={identity}
         config={config}
+        workingStatus={workingStatus}
         ready={continuityReady}
         notice={step.notice}
-        canBackup={canRebackup}
         footer={footer}
         onOpenSoul={() => { void openContinuityFile('soul') }}
         onOpenMemory={() => { void openContinuityFile('memory') }}
-        onBackup={() => setStep({ kind: 'rebackup-confirm', back: { kind: 'continuity-private' } })}
         onBack={back}
       />
     )
@@ -621,13 +621,12 @@ export const IdentityHub: React.FC<IdentityHubProps> = ({ mode, config, initialA
       <PublicSkillsScreen
         identity={identity}
         config={config}
+        workingStatus={workingStatus}
         ready={continuityReady}
         notice={step.notice}
-        canPublish={canRebackup}
         footer={footer}
         onEditProfile={() => openPublicProfileEdit({ kind: 'continuity-public' })}
         onOpenSkills={() => { void openContinuityFile('skills') }}
-        onPublish={() => setStep({ kind: 'rebackup-confirm', back: { kind: 'continuity-public' } })}
         onBack={back}
       />
     )
@@ -784,7 +783,7 @@ export const IdentityHub: React.FC<IdentityHubProps> = ({ mode, config, initialA
 
 async function readPublishedPublicSkills(identity: EthagentIdentity): Promise<string> {
   const cid = identity.publicSkills?.cid
-  if (!cid) throw new Error('no published public skills CID')
+  if (!cid) throw new Error('no saved public skills CID')
   return new TextDecoder().decode(await catFromIpfs(
     identity.backup?.ipfsApiUrl ?? DEFAULT_IPFS_API_URL,
     cid,