G-120 active: libunknown 0.2.2 fixes leaked static-probe interp pinning std channels

Activation: proposed->active flip (user-confirmed), goals_xref score re-run
recorded in detail Notes (nothing beyond the drafting survey).

Holder named: punk::libunknown zipfs_tm_UnknownHandler's builtin-static
shortcircuit leaked its version-probe child interp 'ptest' whenever an
UNVERSIONED package require of a true static reached the handler -
'package vsatisfies $v' with zero requirement args throws wrong#args,
skipping both interp-delete lines. The leaked non-safe child holds
registrations on the process std channels, so 'chan close stderr' left the
OS handle alive and the slot occupied; the next open got a fileN name and
puts stderr failed (punk91/tclsfe-9.1b0 only: Thread is a true static there,
punk905 loads it from a dll so the block never fires).

Fix (0.2.2): auto-named probe interp deleted in try/finally; zero-requirement
requires accept any provided static version; probe errors fall through to the
normal tm search. Disposition recorded in the goal detail: leak, fixed - not
console-ownership machinery.

Verified: bin/punk91 src script recipe yields channel auto-named stderr with
working puts stderr; libunknown+console+repl suites 105/105 pass (tclsh90).
punkproject 0.22.1 + CHANGELOG.

Assisted-by: harness=claude; primary-model=claude-fable-5; api-location=anthropic.com

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -5,6 +5,19 @@ The latest `## [X.Y.Z]` header must match the `version` field in `punkproject.to
 Entries are newest-first; one bullet per notable change. See the root `AGENTS.md`
 "Project Versioning" section for the bump policy.
 
+## [0.22.1] - 2026-07-25
+
+- punk::libunknown 0.2.2 (G-120): the package-unknown static-builtin shortcircuit no longer
+  leaks its version-probe child interp. On kits whose runtime provides Thread (or any
+  required package) as a true static (e.g the tclsfe 9.1b0 runtime behind punk91), an
+  unversioned `package require` made the probe's `package vsatisfies` throw (it requires at
+  least one requirement argument), skipping the interp delete; the leaked child's std-channel
+  registrations then disabled Tcl's std-slot recycling process-wide - after
+  `chan close stderr` the slot stayed occupied and the next opened channel got a fileN name,
+  so `puts stderr` failed. The probe interp is now auto-named and deleted in a try/finally,
+  zero-requirement requires accept any provided static version, and probe errors fall
+  through to the normal tm search instead of aborting the require.
+
 ## [0.22.0] - 2026-07-25
 
 - punk-runtime `list -remote` identity columns (G-119 follow-on; both payloads + rewrapped

GOALS.md

@@ -402,6 +402,6 @@ Detail: goals/G-115-declarative-vfs-composition.md
 Scope: src/buildsuites/suite_tcl90/ (build_tcltls module + crypto-backend build, sources.config + build.zig.zon source records, kit-family bi payload + metadata extension, test_gate record step); src/vfs kit payloads carrying vendored tcltls binaries (current-state reference + recorded disposition only - removal stays G-004-era work); punkbin (as eventual artifact destination via the G-067 library class); consumers punk::imap4 / punk::netbox (package require tls) as verification context
 Detail: goals/G-116-suite-built-tcltls.md
 
-### G-120 [proposed] 9.1-kit script-mode boot pins process std channels: find holder, restore std-slot recycling
+### G-120 [active] 9.1-kit script-mode boot pins process std channels: find holder, restore std-slot recycling
 Scope: src/modules/punk/console-999999.0a1.0.tm; src/modules/punk/repl-999999.0a1.0.tm; src/lib/app-punkscript/; src/vfs/_config/punk_main.tcl
 Detail: goals/G-120-scriptmode-std-channel-pin.md

goals/G-120-scriptmode-std-channel-pin.md

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # G-120 9.1-kit script-mode boot pins process std channels: find holder, restore std-slot recycling
 
-Status: proposed
+Status: active
 Scope: src/modules/punk/console-999999.0a1.0.tm; src/modules/punk/repl-999999.0a1.0.tm; src/lib/app-punkscript/; src/vfs/_config/punk_main.tcl
 Goal: identify what in the 9.1-kit script-mode boot path retains a registration on the process std channels (keeping their std slots occupied and their OS handles alive across an explicit chan close), determine whether that retention is deliberate console-ownership machinery or a leak, and land the recorded disposition so that closing a std channel frees its slot - restoring Tcl's std-channel recycling - without breaking console abstraction behaviour.
 Acceptance: the registration holder is named (module, proc, mechanism) with reproduction evidence; the disposition is recorded here (deliberate-and-documented, or fixed); a script-mode run of the recipe `chan close stderr; open NUL w` on the current 9.1 kit yields a channel auto-named stderr with working puts stderr, and the console + repl module suites (src/tests/modules/punk/console/, src/tests/modules/punk/repl/) pass.
@@ -46,6 +46,38 @@ by absence: strip the suspected stage and re-run the recipe.
 
 ## Notes
 
+- HOLDER (named 2026-07-25): punk::libunknown 0.2.1, proc
+  `zipfs_tm_UnknownHandler`, builtin-static shortcircuit block - the static
+  version-probe child interp (fixed name `ptest`) leaked when
+  `package vsatisfies $static_version {*}$args` threw `wrong # args` on an
+  UNVERSIONED require (zero requirement args) between `interp create` and
+  `interp delete`. A non-safe child interp holds registrations on the process
+  std channels (Tcl shares stdin/stdout/stderr into it at creation), so the
+  leaked child kept the closed stderr's OS handle alive and its std slot
+  occupied - Tcl_CreateChannel's std-slot install never fires.
+- Reproduction evidence (2026-07-25, bin/punk91.exe 9.1b0 script mode):
+  `interp children` -> `ptest` with `chan names` = stderr stdin stdout and
+  `info loaded {}` = {{} Thread}; recipe yielded `file216195028c0` and
+  "can not find channel named stderr". Same-process `interp delete ptest`
+  then recipe -> channel auto-named stderr, puts stderr OK (causality proven).
+  Post-boot re-trigger: `package forget thread; package require thread`
+  recreated the leak on demand (`package require dde` likewise, while
+  SUCCEEDING via the fallback path); step-through isolated
+  `package vsatisfies 3.0.5` (zero requirements) as the throwing call -
+  identical arity error on 9.0.5 and 9.1b0, so the punk91-only symptom is
+  runtime-payload-driven: tclsfe 9.1b0 provides Thread as a true static
+  (`{}` prefix in `info loaded`, hit by boot's unversioned require), while
+  punk905 loads Thread from a dll path (`//zipfs:/app/bin/tcl9thread301.dll`)
+  so the shortcircuit never fires there.
+- DISPOSITION: leak (bug), FIXED - not deliberate console-ownership machinery
+  (the G-007 ownership registry was not involved; the Context ruled-out list
+  stands). Fix = punk::libunknown 0.2.2: auto-named probe interp deleted in a
+  try/finally, zero-requirement requires accept any provided static version,
+  probe errors fall through to the normal tm search instead of aborting the
+  require. Verified under `bin/punk91 src script`: no child interp after boot,
+  recipe yields a channel auto-named stderr with working puts stderr. Suites:
+  libunknown + console + repl (12 files, 105 tests) all pass under native
+  tclsh90 (Tcl 9.0.3).
 - Related: G-118 (achieved 2026-07-25 - see goals/archive/G-118-tclsh-subcommand-review.md;
   console-path machinery + piperepl residue territory; its Notes
   record punk91's runtime as unpatched, ruling out the patch as the holder); G-011
@@ -54,6 +86,10 @@ by absence: strip the suspected stage and re-run the recipe.
   channel-lifetime territory); archived G-007
   (goals/archive/G-007-console-location-transparency.md - the console ownership
   registry lineage the holder most likely belongs to).
+- Activation freshness 2026-07-25: goals_xref.tcl score G-120 re-run at the
+  proposed->active flip - no relationships beyond the drafting survey below (top
+  unlinked hits G-013/G-044/G-008/G-043 are the already-dismissed repl-feature
+  module-path sharers; no goals drafted in the interval).
 - Overlap survey 2026-07-25 (goals_xref.tcl paths over the scope): surfaced
   G-002/003/008/009/010/011/013/014/034/038/042/043/044 (punk/repl + punk/console
   module-path sharing - repl-feature goals, no substantive pin relationship), G-077

punkproject.toml

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
 [project]
 name = "punkshell"
-version = "0.22.0"
+version = "0.22.1"
 license = "BSD-2-Clause"

src/modules/punk/libunknown-0.2.2.tm

@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 # (C) 2025
 #
 # @@ Meta Begin
-# Application punk::libunknown 0.2.1
+# Application punk::libunknown 0.2.2
 # Meta platform     tcl
 # Meta license      MIT
 # @@ Meta End
@@ -18,6 +18,19 @@
 # from src/modules/AGENTS.md "Versioning And Releases" - bumping means
 # renaming the file AND updating the Meta line above, the manpage_begin line
 # below and the provide-block version, then appending a line here):
+#0.2.2 - zipfs_tm_UnknownHandler: the builtin-static shortcircuit probe interp no
+#        longer leaks (G-120). The probe child interp was created under the fixed
+#        name ptest and deleted only on the non-error paths; an unversioned
+#        'package require foo' of a static package made the version check
+#        'package vsatisfies $v' throw (wrong # args - vsatisfies needs >=1
+#        requirement), skipping the delete. The leaked child held registrations
+#        on the process std channels (Tcl shares them into non-safe child
+#        interps), so an explicit 'chan close stderr' left the OS handle alive
+#        and the std slot occupied - the next opened channel got a fileN name
+#        instead of recycling into stderr. Now: auto-named probe interp, deleted
+#        in a try/finally; zero-requirement requires treat any provided version
+#        as satisfying; probe errors fall through to the normal tm search
+#        instead of aborting the require.
 #0.2.1 - zipfs_tm_UnknownHandler: the zipfs static-path can_skip_update state is
 #        written keyed by the SPECIFIC searchpath actually scanned (tm path +
 #        package namespace subdir) to match its reader and libunknown::init's
@@ -42,7 +55,7 @@
 # doctools header
 # ++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++
 #*** !doctools
-#[manpage_begin punkshell_module_punk::libunknown 0 0.2.1]
+#[manpage_begin punkshell_module_punk::libunknown 0 0.2.2]
 #[copyright "2025"]
 #[titledesc {Module API}]  [comment {-- Name section and table of contents description --}]
 #[moddesc {-}]             [comment {-- Description at end of page heading --}]
@@ -190,22 +203,36 @@ tcl::namespace::eval ::punk::libunknown {
         set loaded [lsearch -inline -index 1 -nocase [info loaded] $name]
         if {[llength $loaded] == 2 && [lindex $loaded 0] eq ""} {
             lassign $loaded _ cased_name
-            interp create ptest
+            #Version-probe the static package in a throwaway child interp.
-            ptest eval [list load {} $cased_name]
+            #The child must never outlive this block: a (non-safe) child interp
-            set static_version [ptest eval [list package provide [string tolower $cased_name]]]
+            #holds registrations on the process std channels, so a leaked probe
-            set pname [string tolower $cased_name]
+            #interp disables Tcl's std-slot recycling process-wide (after
-            if {$static_version eq ""} {
+            #'chan close stderr' the OS handle stays alive and the slot stays
-                set static_version [ptest eval [list package provide $cased_name]]
+            #occupied, so the next opened channel cannot become stderr) - G-120.
-                set pname $cased_name
+            set probeinterp [interp create]
-            }
+            try {
-            if {$static_version ne ""} {
+                interp eval $probeinterp [list load {} $cased_name]
-                if {[package vsatisfies $static_version {*}$args]} {
+                set static_version [interp eval $probeinterp [list package provide [string tolower $cased_name]]]
-                    package ifneeded $pname $static_version [list load {} $cased_name]
+                set pname [string tolower $cased_name]
-                    interp delete ptest
+                if {$static_version eq ""} {
-                    return
+                    set static_version [interp eval $probeinterp [list package provide $cased_name]]
+                    set pname $cased_name
+                }
+                if {$static_version ne ""} {
+                    #zero requirements (plain 'package require foo') accepts any
+                    #provided version; package vsatisfies errors without at least
+                    #one requirement argument.
+                    if {![llength $args] || [package vsatisfies $static_version {*}$args]} {
+                        package ifneeded $pname $static_version [list load {} $cased_name]
+                        return
+                    }
                 }
+            } on error {} {
+                #probe failure (e.g a static whose init needs more than a bare
+                #child interp) - not fatal: fall through to the normal tm search.
+            } finally {
+                interp delete $probeinterp
             }
-            interp delete ptest
         }
         #------------------------------
 
@@ -2130,7 +2157,7 @@ namespace eval ::punk::args::register {
 package provide punk::libunknown [tcl::namespace::eval ::punk::libunknown {
     variable pkg punk::libunknown
     variable version
-    set version 0.2.1
+    set version 0.2.2
 }]
 return