diff --git a/build.zig b/build.zig
index aac809e..412651e 100644
--- a/build.zig
+++ b/build.zig
@@ -326,6 +326,7 @@ pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
     if (test_case != null) for ([_][]const u8{
         "vfs-test", // the user-space VFS round-trip client
         "fat-test",
+        "badge-scope-test", // the guessable-id probe: a second process names the first's node and layer
         "shared-memory-server",
         "shared-memory-client",
         "crash-test", // hellos to the device manager, then faults — drives the crash-loop cap
@@ -340,6 +341,7 @@ pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
         "user-memory-test", // aims deliberately bad user pointers at the checked copy layer
         "protocol-registry-test", // drives the registrar: ungranted bind, collision, restart
         "protocol-denied-test", // restriction stage one: an ungranted open answers as absence
+        "protocol-conformance-test", // the reserved verbs, asked of every provider the boot bound
     }) |fixture| {
         const package = b.lazyDependency(fixture, .{}) orelse
             @panic("a test fixture package is missing under test/system/services");
diff --git a/build.zig.zon b/build.zig.zon
index 3313887..bc568ab 100644
--- a/build.zig.zon
+++ b/build.zig.zon
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@
         .@"virtio-gpu" = .{ .path = "system/drivers/virtio-gpu" },
         .@"vfs-test" = .{ .path = "test/system/services/vfs-test", .lazy = true },
         .@"fat-test" = .{ .path = "test/system/services/fat-test", .lazy = true },
+        .@"badge-scope-test" = .{ .path = "test/system/services/badge-scope-test", .lazy = true },
         .@"shared-memory-server" = .{ .path = "test/system/services/shared-memory-server", .lazy = true },
         .@"shared-memory-client" = .{ .path = "test/system/services/shared-memory-client", .lazy = true },
         .@"crash-test" = .{ .path = "test/system/services/crash-test", .lazy = true },
@@ -77,6 +78,7 @@
         .@"user-memory-test" = .{ .path = "test/system/services/user-memory-test", .lazy = true },
         .@"protocol-registry-test" = .{ .path = "test/system/services/protocol-registry-test", .lazy = true },
         .@"protocol-denied-test" = .{ .path = "test/system/services/protocol-denied-test", .lazy = true },
+        .@"protocol-conformance-test" = .{ .path = "test/system/services/protocol-conformance-test", .lazy = true },
         // See `zig fetch --save <url>` for a command-line interface for adding dependencies.
         //.example = .{
         //    // When updating this field to a new URL, be sure to delete the corresponding
diff --git a/docs/device-driver-development/device-manager.md b/docs/device-driver-development/device-manager.md
index 5ddc587..7607cd9 100644
--- a/docs/device-driver-development/device-manager.md
+++ b/docs/device-driver-development/device-manager.md
@@ -64,19 +64,48 @@ restarted instance to rebuild exactly the same ids.
 
 ## The protocol
 
-A `device-manager-protocol` module (the vfs-protocol pattern): extern-struct
-messages, a version in the handshake, reserved fields everywhere. The manager is a
-well-known endpoint (`ipc.register(.device_manager)`); the badge tells it who is
+A `device-manager-protocol` module, defined through the
+[envelope](../os-development/protocol-namespace.md): every packet — request,
+reply, and pushed event alike — begins with the folded `Header`, and **the device
+id is `Header.target`**, the manager's object addressing. The contract is bound at
+`/protocol/device-manager`; the kernel-stamped badge tells the manager who is
 talking; the same endpoint receives its children's exit notifications — one loop,
 one world.
 
-| Direction | Message | Purpose |
+| Direction | Packet | Purpose |
 |---|---|---|
-| driver → manager | `hello { version, role, device_id }` | confirms the argv assignment, starts the deadline clock |
-| bus → manager | `child_added { parent, bus_address, identity, device_id, hid }` | one node the bus discovered |
+| driver → manager | `hello { role, version }` @ the assigned device | confirms the argv assignment, starts the deadline clock |
+| bus → manager | `child_added { parent, bus_address, identity, bus, vendor, device, subsystem, hid }` @ the registered device id | one node the bus discovered |
 | bus → manager | `child_removed { parent, bus_address }` | unplug, or the bus lost it |
-| app → manager | `enumerate` | snapshot of the tree (read-only) |
-| app → manager | `subscribe` | receive published add/remove events |
+| app → manager | `enumerate` (reserved verb 1) | snapshot of the tree: one `ChildEntry` per record in the reply's tail |
+| app → manager | `subscribe` (reserved verb 2) | receive published add/remove events; the subscriber's endpoint rides as the call's capability |
+| manager → app | `child_added` / `child_removed` events | the same two structs, pushed rather than called |
+
+The watcher table behind those last two rows is the **service harness's**
+(`service.Subscribers`, shared with input and power), not the manager's: it
+answers `subscribe`/`unsubscribe`, frames each event once for the fan-out, and
+sweeps a watcher on its exit notification — where the manager previously had no
+sweep for watchers at all. Its own supervised-driver exits are a different thing
+and unchanged, except that a driver's death now arrives twice (the manager is
+both its supervisor and a subscriber to published exits), so the manager retires
+a dead driver's process id as it handles the first and the second finds nothing
+to act on.
+
+Two of what used to be the manager's own operations are the envelope's **reserved**
+verbs, which mean the same thing at every provider in the system, so this protocol
+numbers only three of its own (`hello` = 16, `child_added` = 17,
+`child_removed` = 18) and its two events in their own space (`child_added` = 16,
+`child_removed` = 17). No reply carries a status field: that is the `Status` every
+reply begins with.
+
+`child_added` is the one struct that travels both ways — a bus *calls* it, the
+manager *pushes* it — which is why the operation and event numbering spaces are
+separate: one encoding, both directions, told apart by which way the packet went.
+Folding the operation byte and the device id out of it is also what makes it fit:
+a pushed event is 64 bytes at most, header included, and this one lands exactly on
+that floor. `child_removed` is the single message whose target stays 0, because it
+is addressed by the composite (parent, bus address) and no single `u64` carries a
+pair.
 
 `hello` is the one deadline the manager enforces itself: spawned and silent past the
 deadline means wrong binary, wrong protocol version, or wedged before main — apply
diff --git a/docs/device-driver-development/display.md b/docs/device-driver-development/display.md
index faf06ec..a8ec727 100644
--- a/docs/device-driver-development/display.md
+++ b/docs/device-driver-development/display.md
@@ -106,8 +106,10 @@ The bring-up sequence mirrors a hardware driver's — it is the
 [`usb-xhci-bus` `initialise`](../../system/drivers/usb-xhci-bus/usb-xhci-bus.zig) shape
 (claim → `mmio_map` → run loop) — and the request/reply service shell is the
 [FAT](../../system/services/fat/fat.zig) / [input](../../system/services/input/input.zig) shape
-([`service.run`](../../library/kernel/service.zig) with a `protocol.zig` of
-`extern struct` messages and an `Operation` tag).
+([`service.run`](../../library/kernel/service.zig) over the dispatch table its
+protocol module generates through
+[`envelope.Define`](../os-development/protocol-namespace.md) — one request and
+reply type per verb, and the layer id in the packet header's `target`).
 
 **One process, for now.** v1 is a *single* service that both owns the framebuffer and
 composites — it does not split a "framebuffer driver" from a "compositor" the way input
@@ -209,6 +211,18 @@ shell, a terminal, a cursor, and a wallpaper:
 | `damage`           | mark a region of a layer dirty                                |
 | `present`          | request a repaint: composited at the next frame-clock tick    |
 
+**A layer belongs to the client that created it.** The id is a slot in a
+sixteen-entry table — small, dense, guessable — so every verb above that names one is
+answered only for the task whose `create_layer` produced it, and a layer that is
+somebody else's is refused exactly as one that never existed (`-ENOENT`), so a client
+cannot use the refusal to learn which ids are live
+([protocol-namespace.md](../os-development/protocol-namespace.md): handles are scoped
+per client, validated against the badge). The compositor's own layers — the cursor
+sprite and the startup self-check's pair — are marked service-owned and are created by
+direct call rather than over the protocol, so no client can move or destroy the
+cursor. A dead client's layers are released on its exit notification, the same sweep
+the FAT server runs for open files.
+
 Text is intentionally *not* an operation — a client renders glyphs by blitting tiles
 (the [PSF font](../../system/kernel/font.psf) path the console already uses can move into a
 client). Keeping the protocol to rectangles and tiles keeps the compositor small and the
diff --git a/docs/device-driver-development/input.md b/docs/device-driver-development/input.md
index b3a38d6..62ba9e6 100644
--- a/docs/device-driver-development/input.md
+++ b/docs/device-driver-development/input.md
@@ -22,12 +22,22 @@ event:
 - `JoystickEvent` — `axis` moves (a signed value on a `control` index) and
   `button_down`/`button_up`.
 
-All three travel in one **`InputEvent` envelope** tagged with a `DeviceKind`, so the
-fan-out is a single code path and a subscriber can take a mix of classes on one stream.
-Decode an envelope with `asKeyboard()` / `asMouse()` / `asJoystick()` (each returns null
-unless the tag matches). A subscriber names the classes it wants with a **`device_mask`**,
-and the service routes each event only to subscribers whose mask includes its class — so a
-mouse-only listener never wakes for keystrokes.
+A source publishes any of the three as one **`InputEvent`** tagged with a `DeviceKind`, so
+`publish` is a single verb; decode one with `asKeyboard()` / `asMouse()` / `asJoystick()`
+(each returns null unless the tag matches). On the *delivery* wire the class is the
+packet's own operation instead — the protocol declares one event per class
+([protocol-namespace.md](../os-development/protocol-namespace.md)), so a pushed packet is
+the 16-byte header plus the typed event and nothing carries a tag twice. The client
+helpers re-tag what arrives back into an `InputEvent`, so a subscriber can still take a
+mix of classes on one stream. A subscriber names the classes it wants with a
+**`device_mask`**, and the service routes each event only to subscribers whose mask
+includes its class — so a mouse-only listener never wakes for keystrokes.
+
+**`subscribe` is not this protocol's verb.** Its shape — a synchronous call whose attached
+capability is the subscriber's own endpoint — is what the envelope's *reserved* subscribe
+means at every provider in the system, so the input protocol adopts it rather than
+defining a second spelling of the same thing. The interest mask rides as the packet's
+tail. `publish` is the one verb the protocol defines for itself.
 
 ## Why this needed a new kernel primitive
 
@@ -98,12 +108,25 @@ This is the async counterpart of `ipc_call`, and the input service is its first
   `publishJoystickEvent`. Publishing is a short synchronous `ipc_call` the service answers at
   once; the service's own fan-out is asynchronous, so publishing never blocks on a slow
   subscriber.
-- The **service** ([input.zig](../../system/services/input/input.zig)) keeps a small subscriber
-  table (endpoint handle + owning task id + `device_mask`). On `publish` it `ipc_send`s the
-  event to every subscriber whose mask includes the event's device class. On `subscribe` it
-  stores the passed capability and mask and, as housekeeping, prunes any slot whose owning
-  process has exited (checked against `process_enumerate`) — not for correctness (an async
-  send to an orphaned endpoint is harmless) but to reclaim the slot.
+- The **service** ([input.zig](../../system/services/input/input.zig)) owns none of that
+  machinery any more: the subscriber table (endpoint handle + owning task + interest mask),
+  the reserved `subscribe`/`unsubscribe` verbs, the fan-out, and the dead-subscriber sweep
+  are the shared harness's (`service.Subscribers` in
+  [service.zig](../../library/kernel/service.zig)), so every event stream in the system has
+  identical semantics. What is left in this file is what is actually about input: which
+  class an event belongs to, and which classes a subscriber asked for. On `publish` it names
+  the event's class and the harness `ipc_send`s the packet — framed once — to every
+  subscriber whose mask includes it.
+- **A dead subscriber goes away on its exit notification**, not on a poll. The service used
+  to walk `process_enumerate` on every subscribe and drop slots whose owner had gone; it now
+  subscribes to the kernel's published exits like the FAT server and the compositor do
+  ([process-lifecycle.md](../os-development/process-lifecycle.md)), which reclaims the slot
+  *and* closes the endpoint capability in it promptly rather than at the next subscribe.
+  (The fan-out also drops a subscriber whose `ipc_send` fails, as a backstop for a
+  notification a full ring dropped.)
+- The service runs on the shared harness like every other, so it answers the universal ping
+  and exits on `terminate`; it was the last hand-rolled receive loop in the tree, and the
+  last service a shutdown had to kill rather than ask.
 
 Publisher and subscriber must be **separate processes**: a single thread that both
 published and serviced its own subscription would deadlock (its `publish` call blocks until
diff --git a/docs/file-system-development/vfs-protocol.md b/docs/file-system-development/vfs-protocol.md
index 8d0f818..d34e45d 100644
--- a/docs/file-system-development/vfs-protocol.md
+++ b/docs/file-system-development/vfs-protocol.md
@@ -6,7 +6,10 @@
 > serves it directly (the read-only /system initrd mount, via `fs_node`) or
 > redirects the caller to the owning backend's endpoint plus the rewritten
 > mount-relative path — after which the client speaks THIS protocol to the
-> backend, unchanged. The Zig source of truth is `library/protocol/vfs/vfs-protocol.zig`
+> backend, unchanged. Since P4a the contract is expressed through
+> `envelope.Define` (docs/os-development/protocol-namespace.md), so every
+> packet begins with the universal 16-byte prefix and the open-node id rides
+> in it. The Zig source of truth is `library/protocol/vfs/vfs-protocol.zig`
 > (the `vfs-protocol` module), whose unit test pins a sample of the sizes
 > and values below. This page is the **language-neutral wire specification**
 > of that contract — what a Rust or C client implements ([vdso.md](../os-development/vdso.md)
@@ -22,12 +25,17 @@ also hands back the path rewritten relative to the mount — not from a
 registry lookup. (Service id 1, the old userspace router, is retired.)
 
 - A message is at most **256 bytes** (`message_maximum`).
-- A request is a fixed 32-byte **Request** header followed by an inline
-  payload of at most **224 bytes** (`maximum_payload`) — a path, or write
-  bytes. There is no multi-message request: paths and single reads/writes
-  must fit, and larger transfers loop (see *read* / *write*).
-- A reply is a fixed 24-byte **Reply** header followed by an inline payload —
-  read bytes, a `FileStatus`, or a `DirectoryEntry`.
+- Every packet begins with the 16-byte **envelope prefix**
+  ([protocol-namespace.md](../os-development/protocol-namespace.md)): a
+  `Header` on a request, a `Status` on a reply. The prefix is **folded, not
+  stacked** — the verb and the object being addressed live in it, and no
+  request or reply below repeats either.
+- A request is the header, then the verb's own fixed part (0–16 bytes), then
+  an inline tail of at most **224 bytes** (`maximum_payload`) — a path, or
+  write bytes. There is no multi-message request: paths and single
+  reads/writes must fit, and larger transfers loop (see *read* / *write*).
+- A reply is the status, then the verb's own fixed part, then an inline tail
+  — read bytes, or a directory entry's name.
 - All integers are **little-endian**; layouts are C layout for x86-64
   (`extern struct`), offsets given below so nothing need be inferred.
 
@@ -37,91 +45,108 @@ With clients holding backend node ids directly, a backend records each open
 handle's owner and sweeps a dead client's handles via the published process
 exit events.
 
-## Request header — 32 bytes
+## Request header — 16 bytes
+
+The envelope's `Header`, identical in every danos protocol:
 
 | offset | size | field | meaning |
 |-------:|-----:|-------|---------|
-| 0 | 4 | `operation` | an **Operation** value (below) |
+| 0 | 4 | `operation` | an **Operation** value (below); 0–15 are the reserved universal verbs |
 | 4 | 4 | — | padding |
-| 8 | 8 | `node` | the server-side open-node id from a prior `open`; 0 for path-based operations |
-| 16 | 8 | `offset` | byte position for read/write; entry index (cursor) for readdir; else 0 |
-| 24 | 4 | `len` | payload length for path/write operations; requested byte count for read |
-| 28 | 4 | `flags` | open flags (below); else 0 |
+| 8 | 8 | `target` | **the open-node id** from a prior `open`; 0 for `open` itself and the path-based verbs |
 
-## Reply header — 24 bytes
+## Reply header — 16 bytes
+
+The envelope's `Status`:
 
 | offset | size | field | meaning |
 |-------:|-----:|-------|---------|
 | 0 | 4 | `status` | **0 = success**, negative = failure (signed) |
 | 4 | 4 | — | padding |
-| 8 | 8 | `node` | the new open-node id (for `open`); else 0 |
-| 16 | 4 | `len` | reply payload length in bytes |
-| 20 | 4 | — | padding |
+| 8 | 4 | `len` | reply bytes following this header: the verb's fixed part plus its tail |
+| 12 | 4 | — | padding |
 
-On failure the backend replies `status = -1`, and that reply reaches the
-client directly — there is no party between them on the wire. (Kernel-served
-paths produce no wire replies at all: `fs_resolve`/`fs_node` failures are
-syscall register statuses.) A richer errno vocabulary is future work —
-clients must treat *any* negative status as failure, not match on -1.
+A failing backend replies with the status alone (`len` = 0) and no fixed
+part, and that reply reaches the client directly — there is no party between
+them on the wire. (Kernel-served paths produce no wire replies at all:
+`fs_resolve`/`fs_node` failures are syscall register statuses.) The errno
+vocabulary is the kernel's, continued by the envelope: `ENOENT` = 4 is what a
+backend answers for anything it cannot find or cannot do, `ENOSYS` = 10 for a
+verb it does not implement, `EPROTO` = 11 for a packet shorter than the verb
+it names. Clients must treat *any* negative status as failure rather than
+matching a particular one.
 
 ## Operations
 
-Values are append-only and never renumbered (the same evolution rule every
-danos protocol follows). Send only values from this table: the shipped server
-decodes the operation into an exhaustive enum, so an out-of-range value is
-not answered with a `status = -1` reply — it trips a safety check in safe
-builds and is undefined otherwise. (The `-1` replies cover recognised but
-refused operations, such as `mount` sent to a backend.)
+Values number from 16 (`first_protocol_operation`) in declaration order, and
+are frozen once shipped. Values 0–15 are the envelope's reserved universal
+verbs, which mean the same thing at every provider in the system: `describe`
+(0) answers the protocol's name and version and is implemented by the
+envelope itself, so every backend answers it. A verb outside this table is
+answered `-ENOSYS`; it is never a safety check any more, because the
+dispatch compares numbers rather than decoding an enum.
 
-| value | operation | request payload | reply |
-|------:|-----------|-----------------|-------|
-| 0 | `open` | the path (`len` = its length), `flags` as below | `node` = open-node id |
-| 1 | `close` | — (`node` set) | status only |
-| 2 | `read` | — (`node`, `offset`, `len` = wanted count) | `len` bytes read, payload = the bytes; `len` 0 at end of file |
-| 3 | `write` | the bytes (`node`, `offset`, `len` = count) | `len` = bytes accepted (may be short — loop) |
-| 4 | `status` | — (`node` set) | payload = **FileStatus** (24 bytes) |
-| 5 | `readdir` | — (`node` = a directory, `offset` = cursor) | payload = one **DirectoryEntry** + name; `len` 0 at end |
-| 6 | `mount` | the mount-point path; the backend endpoint rides as the call's **capability** | status only |
-| 7 | `unmount` | the mount-point path | status only |
-| 8 | `mkdir` | the path | status only |
-| 9 | `unlink` | the path | status only |
-| 10 | `rename` | old path, one `0x00`, new path (`len` = total) | status only |
+Each row's *request* and *reply* name the bytes **after** the 16-byte prefix.
+
+| value | operation | request | tail | reply | reply tail |
+|------:|-----------|---------|------|-------|-----------|
+| 16 | `open` | `flags` (4 bytes, below) | the path | `node` (8 bytes) = the open-node id | — |
+| 17 | `close` | — | — | — | — |
+| 18 | `read` | `offset` (8), `len` (4) = wanted count | — | — | the bytes read; `Status.len` 0 at end of file |
+| 19 | `write` | `offset` (8), `len` (4) = count | the bytes | `count` (4) = bytes accepted (may be short — loop) | — |
+| 20 | `status` | — | — | **FileStatus** (24 bytes) | — |
+| 21 | `readdir` | `cursor` (8) | — | one **DirectoryEntry** (16 bytes) | the name |
+| 22 | `mount` | — | the mount-point path; the backend endpoint rides as the call's **capability** | — | — |
+| 23 | `unmount` | — | the mount-point path | — | — |
+| 24 | `mkdir` | — | the path | — | — |
+| 25 | `unlink` | — | the path | — | — |
+| 26 | `rename` | — | old path, one `0x00`, new path | — | — |
+| 27 | `bind` | — | the contract name; the provider's endpoint rides as the call's **capability** | — | — |
 
 Notes per operation:
 
 - **open** — the path is the mount-relative path `fs_resolve` handed back
-  (absolute-shaped: `/notes.txt` under fat's `/mnt/usb` mount). Bare names
+  (absolute-shaped: `/notes.txt` under fat's `/volumes/usb` mount). Bare names
   (`greeting`) resolve nowhere — the flat ramfs is retired, and `fs_resolve`
   refuses non-absolute paths. The returned `node` is the *backend's* own
   open-node id: with the router in the kernel there is no forwarding table,
-  and clients hold backend ids directly (see *Lifetimes and trust*).
+  and clients hold backend ids directly (see *Lifetimes and trust*). Every
+  later packet carries it in `Header.target` — the path is spoken once, here,
+  and integers do the rest.
 - **read / write** — a single exchange moves at most 224 bytes
-  (`maximum_payload`); the client loops, advancing `offset` by the returned
-  `len`, until done (read) or the slice is written (write). A `write` reply
-  shorter than requested is progress, not an error; a `len` of 0 means no
-  forward progress — stop rather than spin.
-- **readdir** — `offset` is a **cursor: the entry index**, not a byte
-  position. Each call returns exactly one entry; the client increments the
-  cursor by 1. A reply with `len` 0 is end-of-directory. The directory must
-  have been opened with the `directory` flag.
+  (`maximum_payload`); the client loops, advancing its own offset by what
+  came back, until done (read) or the slice is written (write). A `write`
+  reply shorter than requested is progress, not an error; a count of 0 means
+  no forward progress — stop rather than spin.
+- **readdir** — `cursor` is the **entry index**, not a byte position. Each
+  call returns exactly one entry; the client increments the cursor by 1. **A
+  `name_len` of 0 is end-of-directory** — the reply's own length cannot say
+  so, because the envelope always sends the fixed reply part. The directory
+  must have been opened with the `directory` flag.
 - **mount / unmount** — RETIRED from the wire: mounting is the `fs_mount`
   syscall now (a filesystem server passes its endpoint handle; possession is
-  the capability, exactly the trust of the old cap-passing op). The op
+  the capability, exactly the trust of the old cap-passing op). The verb
   numbers stay reserved. Mount-prefix semantics are unchanged: prefixes
-  match at path boundaries only (`/mnt/usb` never captures `/mnt/usbextra`),
-  the longest matching prefix wins, and an optional backend-side rewrite
-  prefix maps a mount into the backend's namespace (fat serves `/mnt/usb`
-  from its volume root and `/var` from its `/var` subtree).
+  match at path boundaries only (`/volumes/usb` never captures
+  `/volumes/usbextra`), the longest matching prefix wins, and an optional
+  backend-side rewrite prefix maps a mount into the backend's namespace (fat
+  serves `/volumes/usb` from its volume root and `/system/logs` from its
+  `/system/logs` subtree).
 - **rename** — same-directory rename only: the backend compares the old and
   new parent paths and refuses a mismatch. The client (`file_system`) refuses
   earlier when the two paths resolve to different backend endpoints, but that
   check is coarser than "one mount" — one endpoint can serve several mounts
-  (fat serves `/mnt/usb` and `/var`), so a cross-mount rename reaches the
-  backend and fails on its same-directory check.
+  (fat serves `/volumes/usb`, `/system/configuration` and `/system/logs`), so
+  a cross-mount rename reaches the backend and fails on its same-directory
+  check.
+- **bind** — the protocol registry's claim verb, implemented only by the
+  synthetic `/protocol` backend inside PID 1
+  ([protocol-namespace.md](../os-development/protocol-namespace.md)). A file
+  backend answers `-ENOSYS`.
 
 ## Open flags
 
-Bitwise OR in `Request.flags`, meaningful for `open` only:
+Bitwise OR in `open`'s `flags`, meaningful for `open` only:
 
 | bit | name | meaning |
 |----:|------|---------|
@@ -129,7 +154,7 @@ Bitwise OR in `Request.flags`, meaningful for `open` only:
 | 2 | `directory` | open a directory node for `readdir` rather than a file |
 | 4 | `truncate` | truncate an existing file to zero length on open (replace, don't overwrite in place) |
 
-## FileStatus — 24 bytes (the `status` reply payload)
+## FileStatus — 24 bytes (the `status` reply's fixed part)
 
 | offset | size | field | meaning |
 |-------:|-----:|-------|---------|
@@ -138,12 +163,12 @@ Bitwise OR in `Request.flags`, meaningful for `open` only:
 | 12 | 4 | — | padding |
 | 16 | 8 | `mtime` | modification time, Unix epoch seconds UTC; 0 if the backend keeps none |
 
-## DirectoryEntry — 16 bytes + name (the `readdir` reply payload)
+## DirectoryEntry — 16 bytes + name (the `readdir` reply)
 
 | offset | size | field | meaning |
 |-------:|-----:|-------|---------|
 | 0 | 4 | `kind` | a **NodeKind** value |
-| 4 | 4 | `name_len` | length of the name that follows |
+| 4 | 4 | `name_len` | length of the name that follows; **0 means end of directory** |
 | 8 | 8 | `size` | the entry's size in bytes |
 | 16 | `name_len` | name | the entry's name, not NUL-terminated |
 
@@ -174,7 +199,7 @@ volumes, reserved) remain part of the design.
 ## An open reply may carry a capability
 
 `open` rides `ipc_call`, whose reply direction can hand back an endpoint
-capability alongside the `Reply` header. A file backend never uses it — FAT
+capability alongside the reply. A file backend never uses it — FAT
 answers with a node id and nothing else — but a **synthetic** backend does:
 opening a `protocol` node returns the provider's endpoint, and possession of
 that endpoint *is* the channel. The convention is per-backend, not
@@ -187,10 +212,24 @@ Open-node ids live in the backend. A client that dies without closing leaks
 nothing permanently: the backend (the FAT server) subscribes to the kernel's
 published process-exit events (docs/process-lifecycle.md) and releases a dead
 client's handles. The kernel VFS root needs no sweep at all — its node tokens
-are permanent for a boot and carry no open state. Ids are plain integers, not
-capabilities — a backend trusts its callers with each other's ids today, which
-is acceptable while every client is part of the system image and worth
-revisiting (per-client id namespaces) before third-party binaries arrive.
+are permanent for a boot and carry no open state.
+
+Ids are plain integers rather than capabilities, so the backend **scopes them
+to the caller's badge**: an open node belongs to the task that opened it, and
+every verb that names one — read, write, status, readdir, close — is answered
+only for that task. A node id is a small number drawn from a table of
+thirty-two, trivially guessable, and until this rule a backend honoured every
+client's ids from every other client
+(docs/os-development/protocol-namespace.md: *handles must be scoped per
+client — validated against the badge, or drawn from a per-client id
+namespace*).
+
+The refusal is deliberately **identical to absence**: a node that is somebody
+else's answers `-ENOENT`, exactly as one that was never opened, so a prober
+learns nothing about which ids are live — the same discipline the protocol
+namespace applies to a refused open. The owner is a *task*, because the badge
+is: a threaded client uses a node from the thread that opened it, which is
+already the granularity of the exit sweep that releases it.
 
 ## Evolution rules
 
@@ -198,11 +237,15 @@ What a non-Zig implementation may rely on, and what it must not:
 
 - Operation values, flag bits, `NodeKind` values, and struct layouts are
   **append-only and frozen once shipped**. The unit test in
-  `library/protocol/vfs/vfs-protocol.zig` pins a sample of them (the `DirectoryEntry`
-  size, `NodeKind` 0–1 and 6–7, `Operation` values 0, 4 and 5); this page is
-  the full record of the frozen values.
+  `library/protocol/vfs/vfs-protocol.zig` pins a sample of them (the
+  `DirectoryEntry` size, `NodeKind` 0–1 and 6–7, `Operation` values 16–21, 26
+  and 27); this page is the full record of the frozen values.
+  *The one renumbering this contract has had was the rebase onto the envelope
+  (P4a), which moved every verb above the reserved range — a deliberate
+  flag-day across a system with no third-party clients yet, not a precedent.*
 - The 256-byte message ceiling is a property of the current IPC transport,
   not a promise; clients should read `maximum_payload`-shaped limits from the
   reply lengths they actually get (loop-until-done), not hard-code 224.
-- Negative statuses beyond -1 will appear (an errno vocabulary); success is
-  exactly 0.
+- Success is exactly 0, and the negative statuses come from one system-wide
+  errno vocabulary (the kernel's, continued by the envelope) rather than from
+  this protocol.
diff --git a/docs/os-development/power.md b/docs/os-development/power.md
index 968328f..9f3889d 100644
--- a/docs/os-development/power.md
+++ b/docs/os-development/power.md
@@ -28,28 +28,43 @@ unchanged.
 ## The protocol
 
 The `power-protocol` module ([library/protocol/power/power-protocol.zig](../../library/protocol/power/power-protocol.zig))
-follows the vfs-protocol pattern — extern-struct messages, a version, reserved
-fields. Three operations:
+is defined through the [envelope](protocol-namespace.md), so every packet begins
+with the folded `Header`. `Header.target` is unused in both directions: the
+provider is the only object either side addresses.
 
-| Direction | Operation | Purpose |
+| Direction | Packet | Purpose |
 |---|---|---|
-| subscriber → service | `subscribe` | receive published events; the subscriber's endpoint rides as the call's **capability** (the input/device-manager pattern) |
-| init → service | `shutdown` | orderly shutdown's last step: enter S5 (soft off) |
-| service → subscriber | `event` | a published `EventMessage`, delivered as a buffered message (never sent *to* the service) |
+| subscriber → service | `subscribe` (reserved verb 2) | receive published events; the subscriber's endpoint rides as the call's **capability** (the input/device-manager pattern) |
+| init → service | `shutdown` (verb 16) | orderly shutdown's last step: enter S5 (soft off) |
+| service → subscriber | one event per kind | a published `Notice`, `ipc_send`t as a buffered packet (never sent *to* the service) |
+
+`subscribe` is not one of this protocol's own verbs: a synchronous call whose
+attached capability is the subscriber's endpoint is exactly what the envelope's
+reserved `subscribe` means everywhere, so power adopts it wholesale. And no
+packet carries a version — the reserved `describe` verb is the version handshake,
+asked once at connect time rather than out of every packet's budget.
 
 Events are published, not polled: like the input service, the service holds
 subscriber endpoints as capabilities and `ipc_send`s each event as a buffered
-message, so a slow or dead subscriber can never wedge the source. The event
+packet, so a slow or dead subscriber can never wedge the source. The table, the
+reserved `subscribe`/`unsubscribe` verbs and the fan-out are the **service
+harness's** (`service.Subscribers`), shared with input and the device manager, so
+the acpi service's own code is the ACPI half only — and a subscriber that dies is
+now swept on its exit notification, where before this service had no sweep at
+all. **The kind is the packet's operation** — one declared event per named kind, exactly as the
+input service delivers one per device class — so a subscriber reads *what
+happened* out of the header rather than out of a tag inside the payload. The
 vocabulary is hardware-neutral:
 
-- `power_button` — the button was pressed (a fixed ACPI event on x86).
-- `lid`, `ac`, `battery` — the named GPE-driven events.
-- `notify` — a device notification that maps to none of the above; its `code`
-  (the ACPI `Notify` argument) and the notifying device's `hid` say which device
-  and what happened.
+- `power_button` (event 16) — the button was pressed (a fixed ACPI event on x86).
+- `lid` (17), `ac` (18), `battery` (19) — the named GPE-driven events.
+- `notify` (20) — a device notification that maps to none of the above; its
+  `code` (the ACPI `Notify` argument) and the notifying device's `hid` say which
+  device and what happened.
 
-An `EventMessage` carries the `event` tag plus `code` and an 8-byte `hid`, so a
-generic `notify` is fully described without a second round trip.
+The payload every one of them carries is a `Notice`: `code` plus an 8-byte `hid`,
+so a generic `notify` is fully described without a second round trip, and the
+four named kinds leave both fields zero because the verb already said it all.
 
 **`shutdown` is authority, not information.** It is the only operation that
 *does* something irreversible, so it is gated: the contract is that only init
@@ -58,7 +73,10 @@ sequence over everything else. The acpi service implements this as a **soft
 gate** — it honors `shutdown` only from a process that is a *subscriber*, and
 init is the one subscriber. That stands in for "only the system supervisor may
 power off" without hard-coding a pid, so it still holds under tests where PID 1
-is not init.
+is not init. The question is asked of the harness's table now
+(`Subscribers.has(sender)`), which is why the harness exposes it: the gate is
+unchanged, including the badge being the whole of it — the badge is
+kernel-stamped, so nothing inside a packet can claim to be init.
 
 ## Orderly shutdown
 
diff --git a/docs/os-development/process-lifecycle.md b/docs/os-development/process-lifecycle.md
index 37299e9..99656dc 100644
--- a/docs/os-development/process-lifecycle.md
+++ b/docs/os-development/process-lifecycle.md
@@ -188,9 +188,15 @@ zombie state or privileged snooping:
    state by all along is the id the exit event carries.
 
    Subscription, not broadcast-to-everyone: only processes that asked receive
-   events, the kernel keeps a bounded subscriber table, and delivery is the same
-   non-blocking coalescing notification as everything else — a dying process never
-   waits on its mourners. Subscribing is ungated, like `process_enumerate`: what is
+   events, the kernel keeps a bounded subscriber table (sixteen — a normal boot
+   already fields six, since this is what *every* provider with per-client state
+   releases on), and delivery is the same non-blocking coalescing notification as
+   everything else — a dying process never waits on its mourners.
+   A service does not usually write the sweep itself: the shared service harness
+   subscribes for it and drops a dead task's event subscriptions
+   (`service.Subscribers`), and a provider adds its own handler only for state the
+   harness knows nothing about — open files, layers, device tokens.
+   Subscribing is ungated, like `process_enumerate`: what is
    running (and dying) is not a secret between cooperating processes. Subscribers
    do not receive the exit reason — the filesystem server does not care *why*
    the client died.
@@ -285,6 +291,10 @@ callbacks (`on_terminate`, `on_reload`) for programs that want defaults.
 
 `service` owns the `replyWait` loop and folds every event source — signals,
 child exits, protocol messages — into callbacks, with the vocabulary's defaults:
+it also owns the **subscriber side** of any protocol that declares events
+(`service.Subscribers`: the table, the reserved `subscribe`/`unsubscribe` verbs,
+the fan-out, and the sweep on a subscriber's published exit), so every event
+stream in the system behaves identically.
 `terminate` returns from the loop (clean exit), the common `ping` is answered automatically,
 `reload` is ignored unless overridden. One loop, no locking, nothing reentrant. A
 service author writes domain logic; the lifecycle contract is satisfied by the
diff --git a/docs/security-track-plan.md b/docs/security-track-plan.md
index 8d34a4c..70e53ec 100644
--- a/docs/security-track-plan.md
+++ b/docs/security-track-plan.md
@@ -36,11 +36,11 @@ plain `main` checkout always tells the truth about where the work is.**
 
 | | |
 |---|---|
-| Working on | **P4c** — harness subscriber lift + badge-scoped client ids |
-| Branch carrying it | `feat/security-group-3` (pushed to origin) |
-| On `main` | Phase 0, PM, H1, P1, P2, P3 — groups 1 and 2 merged |
-| Awaiting merge | P4a, P4b — land with the group 3 merge |
-| Suite | 110 cases, all passing |
+| Working on | **H2** — SMEP (group 4) |
+| Branch carrying it | `feat/security-group-4` (cut next) |
+| On `main` | everything through P4c — groups 1, 2 and 3 merged |
+| Awaiting merge | nothing |
+| Suite | 111 cases, all passing |
 | Last updated | 2026-08-01 |
 
 A checkbox below means the phase met its definition of green and was
@@ -67,8 +67,19 @@ group boundary.
 - [x] **merge** group 2 → main, push
 - [x] **P4a** — clean protocols rebased onto `Define` (vfs, block, display, scanout, input; display's one overloaded request split per-operation and its field abuse ended, scanout's bogus 64-byte maximum deleted, directory EOF re-spelled as a nameless entry, input moved onto the service harness; new `protocol-conformance` case asks every reachable provider for `describe` and requires `-ENOSYS` for an undefined verb; suite 110/110)
 - [x] **P4b** — misfit protocols rebased (device-manager, power, usb-transfer; every leading operation byte folded into the header, and with it the `device_id`/`device_token` that followed it — `Header.target` now carries the device in all three. device-manager's own `enumerate`/`subscribe` became the reserved verbs and its three `{status, reserved}` reply structs the envelope's `Status`; `ChildAdded` is one struct under two numbers, a call and an event, landing exactly on the 64-byte push floor. power's kinds became one declared event each, the input protocol's shape, so init reads *what happened* from the header; usb-transfer's control data stage moved to the packet tail in both directions, which made `Status.len` the transferred length and `actual_length` redundant. The two silent-breakage sites — init's byte-offset power parse and acpi's `message[0]` dispatch — are gone, the shutdown badge gate unchanged; three more rows in the conformance table. Suite 110/110)
-- [ ] **P4c** — harness subscriber lift + badge-scoped per-client integers
-- [ ] **merge** group 3 → main, push
+- [x] **P4c** — harness subscriber lift + badge-scoped per-client integers (the
+  subscriber table, the reserved subscribe/unsubscribe verbs, the fan-out and the
+  dead-subscriber sweep are `service.Subscribers` now; input, acpi and
+  device-manager deleted three hand-rolled variants and their three different
+  ideas of when a subscriber goes away, standardizing on published exit
+  notifications — acpi had no sweep at all and input polled the process list on
+  every subscribe. The three guessable-id namespaces are scoped to the opening
+  badge: FAT node ids on every verb that names one, xHCI device tokens on open,
+  control, bulk and interrupt_subscribe, display layers on configure, fill, blit,
+  damage and destroy — each refusing a wrong owner with the *same* answer as an id
+  nobody holds. New `badge-scope` case, two processes of one fixture, every
+  refusal paired with a control; suite 111/111)
+- [x] **merge** group 3 → main, push
 - [ ] **H2** — SMEP on every core
 - [ ] **HS** — SYSRET canonical-RIP guard
 - [ ] **H3** — SMAP + boot-patched `clac`; `-cpu max` in the harness; negative tests
@@ -456,6 +467,33 @@ the wire formats will want them:*
 node id and asserts refusal; kernel-side unit test for the harness sweep.
 Suite 111.
 
+*Landed. Four things the plan had not foreseen:*
+
+- *One sweep idiom means one more kernel subscriber per provider, and the kernel's
+  published-exit table held **eight**. A normal boot now fields six (fat, input,
+  power, device-manager, display, and one per xHCI controller), so the table grew
+  to sixteen. It is not a table anyone notices until a service silently loses its
+  sweep, which is exactly the failure the old ceiling was two subscriptions away
+  from.*
+- *The device manager hears each of its drivers die **twice** now — it is both the
+  supervisor its spawn named and, through the harness, a subscriber to published
+  exits — and the notify ring delivers the two badges separately. Untreated, one
+  death counted as two: the restart backoff doubled and the crash-loop cap fired
+  at half the deaths it names. `onDriverExit` therefore retires the dead process
+  id before it decides anything, and the second notification finds nothing to act
+  on. (The `driver-restart` and `pci-scan` drills are what would have caught it.)*
+- *Refusal-equals-absence has a corollary for the verbs that **release**: FAT's
+  `close` used to answer 0 for an unknown node, so scoping it had to change that
+  too — a foreign node and a free one both answer `-ENOENT`, or the pair would
+  have been an oracle for which ids are live. The same applies to the harness's
+  `unsubscribe`.*
+- *Ownership is per **task**, not per process, because the badge is: the kernel
+  stamps the sending thread's id, which is already the granularity of the exit
+  sweep that releases the state (a worker thread's death releases the handles that
+  worker opened). Nothing in the tree shares an id across its own threads today;
+  a per-process notion would need the kernel to stamp the leader, and belongs with
+  P5's spawner-wired namespaces if it is ever wanted.*
+
 ## H2 — SMEP
 
 - Generalize the cpuid helper (`apic.zig:351-365`, private, subleaf-0) to
diff --git a/library/client/build.zig b/library/client/build.zig
index 0c1f5f0..b090548 100644
--- a/library/client/build.zig
+++ b/library/client/build.zig
@@ -17,10 +17,15 @@ pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
     // (docs/os-development/protocol-namespace.md).
     const channel = kernel.module("channel");
 
+    // A client frames its own packets, so it needs the envelope alongside the
+    // protocol whose verbs it speaks.
+    const envelope = protocol.module("envelope");
+
     _ = b.addModule("display-client", .{
         .root_source_file = b.path("display/display-client.zig"),
         .imports = &.{
             .{ .name = "channel", .module = channel },
+            .{ .name = "envelope", .module = envelope },
             .{ .name = "ipc", .module = ipc },
             .{ .name = "time", .module = time },
             .{ .name = "display-protocol", .module = protocol.module("display-protocol") },
@@ -30,6 +35,7 @@ pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
         .root_source_file = b.path("input/input-client.zig"),
         .imports = &.{
             .{ .name = "channel", .module = channel },
+            .{ .name = "envelope", .module = envelope },
             .{ .name = "ipc", .module = ipc },
             .{ .name = "time", .module = time },
             .{ .name = "input-protocol", .module = protocol.module("input-protocol") },
diff --git a/library/client/display/display-client.zig b/library/client/display/display-client.zig
index 0f2c106..dfad7b2 100644
--- a/library/client/display/display-client.zig
+++ b/library/client/display/display-client.zig
@@ -5,10 +5,13 @@
 
 const std = @import("std");
 const channel = @import("channel");
+const envelope = @import("envelope");
 const ipc = @import("ipc");
 const time = @import("time");
 const display_protocol = @import("display-protocol");
 
+const Protocol = display_protocol.Protocol;
+
 /// The display's current mode, as `info()` reports it.
 pub const Info = struct {
     width: u32,
@@ -35,29 +38,45 @@ fn service() ?ipc.Handle {
     return null;
 }
 
-/// Send one request, receive its reply; true on a zero status. `out` receives the reply
-/// so callers can read `info`/`layer` fields on success.
-fn transact(request: display_protocol.Request, out: *display_protocol.Reply) bool {
-    const h = service() orelse return false;
-    var req = request;
-    var reply: [display_protocol.reply_size]u8 = undefined;
-    const len = ipc.call(h, std.mem.asBytes(&req), &reply) catch return false;
-    if (len < display_protocol.reply_size) return false;
-    out.* = std.mem.bytesToValue(display_protocol.Reply, reply[0..display_protocol.reply_size]);
-    return out.status == 0;
+/// A reply the compositor answered with, kept whole so the caller can decode the
+/// verb's own fixed part out of it.
+const Answered = struct {
+    packet: [display_protocol.message_maximum]u8,
+    len: usize,
+
+    fn bytes(self: *const Answered) []const u8 {
+        return self.packet[0..self.len];
+    }
+};
+
+/// Send one request (`target` addresses a layer, or 0 for the compositor itself)
+/// and keep the reply. Null when the transport failed or the compositor refused.
+fn transact(
+    comptime operation: Protocol.Operation,
+    target: u64,
+    request: Protocol.RequestOf(operation),
+    tail: []const u8,
+) ?Answered {
+    const h = service() orelse return null;
+    var packet: [display_protocol.message_maximum]u8 = undefined;
+    const framed = Protocol.encodeRequest(operation, target, request, tail, &packet) orelse return null;
+    var answered: Answered = .{ .packet = undefined, .len = 0 };
+    answered.len = ipc.call(h, framed, &answered.packet) catch return null;
+    const status = envelope.statusOf(answered.bytes()) orelse return null;
+    if (status.status != 0) return null;
+    return answered;
 }
 
 /// The display's current mode, or null if the service never came up.
 pub fn info() ?Info {
-    var reply: display_protocol.Reply = undefined;
-    if (!transact(.{ .operation = @intFromEnum(display_protocol.Operation.info) }, &reply)) return null;
+    const answered = transact(.info, 0, {}, &.{}) orelse return null;
+    const reply = Protocol.decodeReply(.info, answered.bytes()) orelse return null;
     return .{ .width = reply.width, .height = reply.height, .pitch = reply.pitch, .format = reply.format };
 }
 
 /// Composite the dirty layers and flush the frame to the screen.
 pub fn present() bool {
-    var reply: display_protocol.Reply = undefined;
-    return transact(.{ .operation = @intFromEnum(display_protocol.Operation.present) }, &reply);
+    return transact(.present, 0, {}, &.{}) != null;
 }
 
 /// One selectable display mode.
@@ -66,23 +85,17 @@ pub const Mode = display_protocol.Mode;
 /// Fill `out` with the resolutions the display can switch to; returns how many were written
 /// (zero on the GOP floor, or if the service never came up).
 pub fn modes(out: []Mode) usize {
-    const h = service() orelse return 0;
-    var request = display_protocol.Request{ .operation = @intFromEnum(display_protocol.Operation.get_modes) };
-    var reply: [display_protocol.modes_reply_size]u8 = undefined;
-    const len = ipc.call(h, std.mem.asBytes(&request), &reply) catch return 0;
-    if (len < display_protocol.modes_reply_size) return 0;
-    const answer = std.mem.bytesToValue(display_protocol.ModesReply, reply[0..display_protocol.modes_reply_size]);
-    if (answer.status != 0) return 0;
-    const count = @min(@min(answer.count, display_protocol.max_modes), out.len);
-    for (0..count) |i| out[i] = answer.modes[i];
+    const answered = transact(.get_modes, 0, {}, &.{}) orelse return 0;
+    const offered = Protocol.decodeReply(.get_modes, answered.bytes()) orelse return 0;
+    const count = @min(@min(offered.count, display_protocol.max_modes), out.len);
+    for (0..count) |i| out[i] = offered.modes[i];
     return count;
 }
 
 /// Change the display resolution. Only a native backend that supports mode-setting honours it
 /// (on the GOP floor it returns false); on success the display's `info()` reports the new mode.
 pub fn setMode(width: u32, height: u32) bool {
-    var reply: display_protocol.Reply = undefined;
-    const changed = transact(.{ .operation = @intFromEnum(display_protocol.Operation.set_mode), .width = width, .height = height }, &reply);
+    const changed = transact(.set_mode, 0, .{ .width = width, .height = height }, &.{}) != null;
     if (changed) mode = null; // the cached mode is stale now
     return changed;
 }
@@ -107,93 +120,46 @@ pub fn color(r: u8, g: u8, b: u8) u32 {
 /// A handle to a server-owned layer: a positioned, z-ordered surface the client draws
 /// into by command. Create with `createLayer`; drawing and moves take effect on the next
 /// `present`. Coordinates are signed (a layer may sit partly off-screen).
+///
+/// The id is the packet header's `target` on every call below, so it is named once
+/// per request rather than repeated inside one.
 pub const Layer = struct {
     id: u32,
 
     /// Fill a rectangle of this layer (layer-local coordinates) with a native `colour`.
     pub fn fill(self: Layer, x: i32, y: i32, w: u32, h: u32, colour: u32) bool {
-        var reply: display_protocol.Reply = undefined;
-        return transact(.{
-            .operation = @intFromEnum(display_protocol.Operation.fill_rect),
-            .layer = self.id,
-            .x = @bitCast(x),
-            .y = @bitCast(y),
-            .width = w,
-            .height = h,
-            .colour = colour,
-        }, &reply);
+        return transact(.fill_rect, self.id, .{ .x = x, .y = y, .width = w, .height = h, .colour = colour }, &.{}) != null;
     }
 
     /// Copy a `w`×`h` tile of native pixels (row-major, little-endian bytes) into this
-    /// layer at (`x`, `y`). The tile rides inline in the request, so `w*h*4` must fit
-    /// `display_protocol.maximum_payload`.
+    /// layer at (`x`, `y`). The tile rides inline as the request's tail, so `w*h*4` must
+    /// fit `display_protocol.maximum_payload` — the bound the protocol derives from this
+    /// verb's own fixed part, so the check here can never drift from what fits.
     pub fn blitTile(self: Layer, x: i32, y: i32, w: u32, h: u32, pixels: []const u8) bool {
-        var request = display_protocol.Request{
-            .operation = @intFromEnum(display_protocol.Operation.blit_tile),
-            .layer = self.id,
-            .x = @bitCast(x),
-            .y = @bitCast(y),
-            .width = w,
-            .height = h,
-        };
-        const header = std.mem.asBytes(&request);
-        if (header.len + pixels.len > display_protocol.message_maximum) return false;
-        var buffer: [display_protocol.message_maximum]u8 = undefined;
-        @memcpy(buffer[0..header.len], header);
-        @memcpy(buffer[header.len..][0..pixels.len], pixels);
-        const h_svc = service() orelse return false;
-        var reply: [display_protocol.reply_size]u8 = undefined;
-        const len = ipc.call(h_svc, buffer[0 .. header.len + pixels.len], &reply) catch return false;
-        if (len < display_protocol.reply_size) return false;
-        return std.mem.bytesToValue(display_protocol.Reply, reply[0..display_protocol.reply_size]).status == 0;
+        if (pixels.len > display_protocol.maximum_payload) return false;
+        return transact(.blit_tile, self.id, .{ .x = x, .y = y, .width = w, .height = h }, pixels) != null;
     }
 
     /// Move / restack / show or hide the layer.
     pub fn configure(self: Layer, x: i32, y: i32, z: u32, visible: bool) bool {
-        var reply: display_protocol.Reply = undefined;
-        return transact(.{
-            .operation = @intFromEnum(display_protocol.Operation.configure_layer),
-            .layer = self.id,
-            .x = @bitCast(x),
-            .y = @bitCast(y),
-            .z = z,
-            .visible = if (visible) 1 else 0,
-        }, &reply);
+        return transact(.configure_layer, self.id, .{ .x = x, .y = y, .z = z, .visible = if (visible) 1 else 0 }, &.{}) != null;
     }
 
     /// Mark a rectangle of this layer (layer-local) dirty for the next present — for when
     /// the layer's pixels changed without a drawing call the compositor already tracked.
     pub fn damage(self: Layer, x: i32, y: i32, w: u32, h: u32) bool {
-        var reply: display_protocol.Reply = undefined;
-        return transact(.{
-            .operation = @intFromEnum(display_protocol.Operation.damage),
-            .layer = self.id,
-            .x = @bitCast(x),
-            .y = @bitCast(y),
-            .width = w,
-            .height = h,
-        }, &reply);
+        return transact(.damage, self.id, .{ .x = x, .y = y, .width = w, .height = h }, &.{}) != null;
     }
 
     /// Release the layer and its surface.
     pub fn destroy(self: Layer) bool {
-        var reply: display_protocol.Reply = undefined;
-        return transact(.{ .operation = @intFromEnum(display_protocol.Operation.destroy_layer), .layer = self.id }, &reply);
+        return transact(.destroy_layer, self.id, {}, &.{}) != null;
     }
 };
 
 /// Create a server-owned layer of `w`×`h` pixels at screen (`x`, `y`) with stacking order
 /// `z` (higher is nearer the front), initially visible. Returns a handle, or null.
 pub fn createLayer(x: i32, y: i32, w: u32, h: u32, z: u32) ?Layer {
-    var reply: display_protocol.Reply = undefined;
-    if (!transact(.{
-        .operation = @intFromEnum(display_protocol.Operation.create_layer),
-        .x = @bitCast(x),
-        .y = @bitCast(y),
-        .width = w,
-        .height = h,
-        .z = z,
-        .visible = 1,
-    }, &reply)) return null;
-    return .{ .id = reply.layer };
+    const answered = transact(.create_layer, 0, .{ .x = x, .y = y, .width = w, .height = h, .z = z, .visible = 1 }, &.{}) orelse return null;
+    return .{ .id = (Protocol.decodeReply(.create_layer, answered.bytes()) orelse return null).layer };
 }
diff --git a/library/client/input/input-client.zig b/library/client/input/input-client.zig
index f0818df..fcdbda0 100644
--- a/library/client/input/input-client.zig
+++ b/library/client/input/input-client.zig
@@ -21,12 +21,14 @@
 //!         if (event.asKeyboard()) |k| { ... } else if (event.asMouse()) |m| { ... }
 //!     }
 
-const std = @import("std");
 const channel = @import("channel");
+const envelope = @import("envelope");
 const ipc = @import("ipc");
 const time = @import("time");
 const input_protocol = @import("input-protocol");
 
+const Protocol = input_protocol.Protocol;
+
 pub const DeviceKind = input_protocol.DeviceKind;
 pub const InputEvent = input_protocol.InputEvent;
 pub const KeyEvent = input_protocol.KeyEvent;
@@ -66,31 +68,44 @@ pub const Subscriber = struct {
     /// The endpoint the service delivers events to (created and owned by us; its handle
     /// was handed to the service as a capability at subscribe time).
     endpoint: ipc.Handle,
-    receive: [input_protocol.event_size]u8 = undefined,
+    /// A pushed packet is the folded header plus one typed event, so the buffer is
+    /// the push floor rather than any one event's size.
+    receive: [envelope.post_maximum]u8 = undefined,
 
     /// Block until the next event is pushed, and return it. Events arrive as asynchronous
     /// buffered messages (`ipc_send` from the service), so nothing is owed in reply — the
     /// empty reply this issues is a harmless no-op. Returns null for any non-event wake-up
     /// (there should be none), so callers can loop.
+    ///
+    /// The device class is the packet's operation, so it is read from the header and
+    /// re-tagged into an `InputEvent` here — one decoded type for a caller that took
+    /// several classes on one stream.
     pub fn next(self: *Subscriber) ?InputEvent {
         const got = ipc.replyWait(self.endpoint, &.{}, &self.receive, null);
-        if (!got.isMessage() or got.len < input_protocol.event_size) return null;
-        return std.mem.bytesToValue(InputEvent, self.receive[0..input_protocol.event_size]);
+        if (!got.isMessage()) return null;
+        const packet = self.receive[0..@min(got.len, self.receive.len)];
+        return switch (Protocol.eventOf(packet) orelse return null) {
+            .keyboard => InputEvent.fromKeyboard(Protocol.decodeEvent(.keyboard, packet) orelse return null),
+            .mouse => InputEvent.fromMouse(Protocol.decodeEvent(.mouse, packet) orelse return null),
+            .joystick => InputEvent.fromJoystick(Protocol.decodeEvent(.joystick, packet) orelse return null),
+        };
     }
 };
 
 /// Subscribe to the input classes named in `device_mask` (an OR of `device_*`, or
 /// `device_all`). Creates an endpoint for the service to push to and hands it over as a
-/// capability. Returns a `Subscriber` to loop `next` on, or null on failure.
+/// capability — the envelope's reserved `subscribe`, whose shape this is exactly. Returns
+/// a `Subscriber` to loop `next` on, or null on failure.
 pub fn subscribe(device_mask: u32) ?Subscriber {
     const service = lookupService() orelse return null;
     const endpoint = ipc.createIpcEndpoint() orelse return null;
 
-    var request = input_protocol.Request{ .operation = @intFromEnum(input_protocol.Operation.subscribe), .device_mask = device_mask };
-    var reply: [input_protocol.reply_size]u8 = undefined;
-    const result = ipc.callCap(service, std.mem.asBytes(&request), &reply, endpoint) catch return null;
-    if (result.len < input_protocol.reply_size) return null;
-    if (std.mem.bytesToValue(input_protocol.Reply, reply[0..input_protocol.reply_size]).status != 0) return null;
+    var packet: [input_protocol.message_maximum]u8 = undefined;
+    const framed = input_protocol.encodeSubscribe(device_mask, &packet) orelse return null;
+    var reply: [input_protocol.message_maximum]u8 = undefined;
+    const result = ipc.callCap(service, framed, &reply, endpoint) catch return null;
+    const status = envelope.statusOf(reply[0..result.len]) orelse return null;
+    if (status.status != 0) return null;
     return .{ .endpoint = endpoint };
 }
 
@@ -149,11 +164,12 @@ pub const Publisher = struct {
     service: ipc.Handle,
 
     fn publish(self: Publisher, event: InputEvent) bool {
-        var request = input_protocol.Request{ .operation = @intFromEnum(input_protocol.Operation.publish), .event = event };
-        var reply: [input_protocol.reply_size]u8 = undefined;
-        const len = ipc.call(self.service, std.mem.asBytes(&request), &reply) catch return false;
-        if (len < input_protocol.reply_size) return false;
-        return std.mem.bytesToValue(input_protocol.Reply, reply[0..input_protocol.reply_size]).status == 0;
+        var packet: [input_protocol.message_maximum]u8 = undefined;
+        const framed = Protocol.encodeRequest(.publish, 0, event, &.{}, &packet) orelse return false;
+        var reply: [input_protocol.message_maximum]u8 = undefined;
+        const len = ipc.call(self.service, framed, &reply) catch return false;
+        const status = envelope.statusOf(reply[0..len]) orelse return false;
+        return status.status == 0;
     }
 
     /// Broadcast a keyboard event to every subscriber that took keyboard events.
diff --git a/library/device/block/block.zig b/library/device/block/block.zig
index b2e702c..47c17f5 100644
--- a/library/device/block/block.zig
+++ b/library/device/block/block.zig
@@ -7,12 +7,14 @@
 //! `runtime.dma.alloc`), so whole sectors move without crossing the IPC size
 //! limit — the same handoff usb-storage uses toward the controller.
 
-const std = @import("std");
 const channel = @import("channel");
+const envelope = @import("envelope");
 const ipc = @import("ipc");
 const time = @import("time");
 const block_protocol = @import("block-protocol");
 
+const Protocol = block_protocol.Protocol;
+
 pub const Geometry = struct { block_size: u32, block_count: u64 };
 
 pub const Device = struct {
@@ -20,12 +22,9 @@ pub const Device = struct {
 
     /// The device's block size and total block count.
     pub fn geometry(self: Device) ?Geometry {
-        var request = block_protocol.Request{ .operation = @intFromEnum(block_protocol.Operation.geometry), .lba = 0, .count = 0, .physical = 0 };
-        var reply: [block_protocol.reply_size]u8 = undefined;
-        const n = ipc.call(self.endpoint, std.mem.asBytes(&request), &reply) catch return null;
-        if (n < block_protocol.reply_size) return null;
-        const result = std.mem.bytesToValue(block_protocol.Reply, reply[0..block_protocol.reply_size]);
-        if (result.status != 0) return null;
+        var reply: [block_protocol.message_maximum]u8 = undefined;
+        const answered = self.call(.geometry, {}, null, &reply) orelse return null;
+        const result = Protocol.decodeReply(.geometry, answered) orelse return null;
         return .{ .block_size = result.block_size, .block_count = result.block_count };
     }
 
@@ -34,36 +33,45 @@ pub const Device = struct {
     /// addresses become reachable by the device. Call once per buffer before naming it
     /// in `read`/`write`. Harmless success when no IOMMU is enforcing.
     pub fn attach(self: Device, handle: ipc.Handle) bool {
-        var request = block_protocol.Request{ .operation = @intFromEnum(block_protocol.Operation.attach), .lba = 0, .count = 0, .physical = 0 };
-        var reply: [block_protocol.reply_size]u8 = undefined;
-        const result = ipc.callCap(self.endpoint, std.mem.asBytes(&request), &reply, handle) catch return false;
-        if (result.len < block_protocol.reply_size) return false;
-        return std.mem.bytesToValue(block_protocol.Reply, reply[0..block_protocol.reply_size]).status == 0;
+        var reply: [block_protocol.message_maximum]u8 = undefined;
+        return self.call(.attach, {}, handle, &reply) != null;
     }
 
     /// Read `count` blocks starting at `lba` into the DMA buffer at `physical`.
     pub fn read(self: Device, lba: u64, count: u32, physical: u64) bool {
-        return self.transfer(.read, lba, count, physical);
+        var reply: [block_protocol.message_maximum]u8 = undefined;
+        return self.call(.read, .{ .lba = lba, .count = count, .physical = physical }, null, &reply) != null;
     }
 
     /// Write `count` blocks starting at `lba` from the DMA buffer at `physical`.
     pub fn write(self: Device, lba: u64, count: u32, physical: u64) bool {
-        return self.transfer(.write, lba, count, physical);
+        var reply: [block_protocol.message_maximum]u8 = undefined;
+        return self.call(.write, .{ .lba = lba, .count = count, .physical = physical }, null, &reply) != null;
     }
 
     /// Commit any device write cache to stable media (SCSI SYNCHRONIZE CACHE), so
     /// prior writes survive a power-off. A filesystem calls this before the machine
     /// goes down; no data transfer, so the buffer arguments are unused.
     pub fn flush(self: Device) bool {
-        return self.transfer(.flush, 0, 0, 0);
+        var reply: [block_protocol.message_maximum]u8 = undefined;
+        return self.call(.flush, {}, null, &reply) != null;
     }
 
-    fn transfer(self: Device, operation: block_protocol.Operation, lba: u64, count: u32, physical: u64) bool {
-        var request = block_protocol.Request{ .operation = @intFromEnum(operation), .lba = lba, .count = count, .physical = physical };
-        var reply: [block_protocol.reply_size]u8 = undefined;
-        const n = ipc.call(self.endpoint, std.mem.asBytes(&request), &reply) catch return false;
-        if (n < block_protocol.reply_size) return false;
-        return std.mem.bytesToValue(block_protocol.Reply, reply[0..block_protocol.reply_size]).status == 0;
+    /// One request at the driver. `target` is always 0: one endpoint per device, so
+    /// there is no object within the peer to address.
+    fn call(
+        self: Device,
+        comptime operation: Protocol.Operation,
+        request: Protocol.RequestOf(operation),
+        capability: ?ipc.Handle,
+        reply: []u8,
+    ) ?[]u8 {
+        var packet: [block_protocol.message_maximum]u8 = undefined;
+        const framed = Protocol.encodeRequest(operation, 0, request, &.{}, &packet) orelse return null;
+        const answer = ipc.callCap(self.endpoint, framed, reply, capability) catch return null;
+        const status = envelope.statusOf(reply[0..answer.len]) orelse return null;
+        if (status.status != 0) return null;
+        return reply[0..answer.len];
     }
 };
 
diff --git a/library/device/build.zig b/library/device/build.zig
index 1be56f1..1bb4f99 100644
--- a/library/device/build.zig
+++ b/library/device/build.zig
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@ pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
             .{ .name = "abi", .module = abi },
             .{ .name = "channel", .module = channel },
             .{ .name = "device-abi", .module = device_abi },
+            .{ .name = "envelope", .module = protocol.module("envelope") },
             .{ .name = "system-call", .module = system_call },
             .{ .name = "ipc", .module = ipc },
             .{ .name = "time", .module = time },
@@ -87,6 +88,7 @@ pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
         .root_source_file = b.path("usb/usb.zig"),
         .imports = &.{
             .{ .name = "channel", .module = channel },
+            .{ .name = "envelope", .module = protocol.module("envelope") },
             .{ .name = "ipc", .module = ipc },
             .{ .name = "time", .module = time },
             .{ .name = "usb-transfer-protocol", .module = protocol.module("usb-transfer-protocol") },
@@ -99,6 +101,7 @@ pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
         .root_source_file = b.path("block/block.zig"),
         .imports = &.{
             .{ .name = "channel", .module = channel },
+            .{ .name = "envelope", .module = protocol.module("envelope") },
             .{ .name = "ipc", .module = ipc },
             .{ .name = "time", .module = time },
             .{ .name = "block-protocol", .module = protocol.module("block-protocol") },
diff --git a/library/device/driver/driver.zig b/library/device/driver/driver.zig
index 470bef7..e2651de 100644
--- a/library/device/driver/driver.zig
+++ b/library/device/driver/driver.zig
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ const abi = @import("abi");
 const device_abi = @import("device-abi");
 const sc = @import("system-call");
 const channel = @import("channel");
+const envelope = @import("envelope");
 const ipc = @import("ipc");
 const time = @import("time");
 const device_manager_protocol = @import("device-manager-protocol");
@@ -168,6 +169,9 @@ const lookup_pause_ms: u64 = 20;
 /// (best-effort standalone bring-up) or it refused the handshake. Bus drivers keep the handle
 /// to report children through; a driver that runs fine unsupervised discards it with `_ =`,
 /// and one that requires supervision bails on null. Logs the outcome itself.
+///
+/// The device this driver was assigned is the packet's `Header.target` — the manager's
+/// object addressing, so `no_device` here is a driver that serves none.
 pub fn hello(role: Role, device_id: u64) ?ipc.Handle {
     var attempts: u32 = 0;
     const manager = while (attempts < lookup_attempts) : (attempts += 1) {
@@ -178,15 +182,25 @@ pub fn hello(role: Role, device_id: u64) ?ipc.Handle {
         return null;
     };
 
-    const message = device_manager_protocol.Hello{ .role = @intFromEnum(role), .device_id = device_id };
-    var reply: [device_manager_protocol.reply_size]u8 = undefined;
-    const length = ipc.call(manager, std.mem.asBytes(&message), &reply) catch {
+    var packet: [device_manager_protocol.message_maximum]u8 = undefined;
+    const framed = device_manager_protocol.Protocol.encodeRequest(
+        .hello,
+        device_id,
+        .{ .role = @intFromEnum(role) },
+        &.{},
+        &packet,
+    ) orelse return null;
+
+    var reply: [device_manager_protocol.message_maximum]u8 = undefined;
+    const length = ipc.call(manager, framed, &reply) catch {
         std.log.info("hello call failed", .{});
         return null;
     };
-    if (length < device_manager_protocol.reply_size or
-        std.mem.bytesToValue(device_manager_protocol.HelloReply, reply[0..device_manager_protocol.reply_size]).status != 0)
-    {
+    const status = envelope.statusOf(reply[0..length]) orelse {
+        std.log.info("hello answered nothing readable", .{});
+        return null;
+    };
+    if (status.status != 0) {
         std.log.info("hello refused", .{});
         return null;
     }
diff --git a/library/device/usb/usb.zig b/library/device/usb/usb.zig
index fadb96d..d3aa34a 100644
--- a/library/device/usb/usb.zig
+++ b/library/device/usb/usb.zig
@@ -11,16 +11,24 @@
 //!     _ = device.subscribeInterrupt(address, length); // reports arrive asynchronously
 //!     while (true) { ... ipc.replyWait(device.endpoint, ...) ... }  // its own loop
 //!
-//! Reports are delivered to `device.endpoint` as asynchronous `InterruptReport`
-//! messages (the class driver runs a bare `replyWait` loop to read them, because
-//! the service harness drops buffered-message payloads — see service.zig).
+//! Reports are delivered to `device.endpoint` as asynchronous `interrupt_report`
+//! event packets, decoded with `reportOf` (the class driver runs a bare `replyWait`
+//! loop to read them, because the service harness drops buffered-message payloads
+//! — see service.zig).
+//!
+//! Every packet this file lays down is an envelope packet: the verb and the
+//! device token in the folded `Header`, the transfer's own fields after it, and
+//! a control transfer's data stage in the tail.
 
 const std = @import("std");
 const channel = @import("channel");
+const envelope = @import("envelope");
 const ipc = @import("ipc");
 const time = @import("time");
 const usb_transfer_protocol = @import("usb-transfer-protocol");
 
+const Protocol = usb_transfer_protocol.Protocol;
+
 /// The USB chapter-9 wire ABI and the class taxonomy, re-exported so a class driver reaches
 /// the whole USB domain through its one `usb` import (`usb.abi.getDescriptor`, `usb.ids.Class`).
 pub const abi = @import("usb-abi");
@@ -57,21 +65,41 @@ pub const Device = struct {
         return null;
     }
 
+    /// One request at the bus driver, addressing this device by its token — the
+    /// packet's `Header.target`, so no request body ever names the device again.
+    /// Null covers both a failed transport and a refusal: a class driver has the
+    /// same recourse either way.
+    fn call(
+        self: *Device,
+        comptime operation: Protocol.Operation,
+        request: Protocol.RequestOf(operation),
+        tail: []const u8,
+        capability: ?ipc.Handle,
+        reply: []u8,
+    ) ?[]u8 {
+        var packet: [usb_transfer_protocol.message_maximum]u8 = undefined;
+        const framed = Protocol.encodeRequest(operation, self.token, request, tail, &packet) orelse return null;
+        const answer = ipc.callCap(self.bus, framed, reply, capability) catch return null;
+        const status = envelope.statusOf(reply[0..answer.len]) orelse return null;
+        if (status.status != 0) return null;
+        return reply[0..answer.len];
+    }
+
+    /// The data stage rides the tail in both directions, so the answer's length
+    /// *is* the transferred length — `Status.len`, which the envelope stamps.
     fn controlTransfer(self: *Device, setup: [8]u8, direction_in: bool, data: []u8) ?usize {
-        var request = usb_transfer_protocol.ControlRequest{
-            .device_token = self.token,
+        if (data.len > usb_transfer_protocol.max_inline_data) return null;
+        const outgoing: []const u8 = if (direction_in) &.{} else data;
+        var reply: [usb_transfer_protocol.message_maximum]u8 = undefined;
+        const answered = self.call(.control, .{
             .setup = setup,
             .direction_in = @intFromBool(direction_in),
             .data_length = @intCast(data.len),
-        };
-        if (!direction_in and data.len > 0) @memcpy(request.data[0..data.len], data);
-        var reply: [@sizeOf(usb_transfer_protocol.ControlReply)]u8 = undefined;
-        const length = ipc.call(self.bus, std.mem.asBytes(&request), &reply) catch return null;
-        if (length < @sizeOf(usb_transfer_protocol.ControlReply)) return null;
-        const control_reply = std.mem.bytesToValue(usb_transfer_protocol.ControlReply, reply[0..@sizeOf(usb_transfer_protocol.ControlReply)]);
-        if (control_reply.status != 0) return null;
-        const actual = @min(control_reply.actual_length, data.len);
-        if (direction_in and actual > 0) @memcpy(data[0..actual], control_reply.data[0..actual]);
+        }, outgoing, null, &reply) orelse return null;
+
+        const returned = Protocol.replyTail(.control, answered);
+        const actual = @min(returned.len, data.len);
+        if (direction_in and actual > 0) @memcpy(data[0..actual], returned[0..actual]);
         return actual;
     }
 
@@ -89,15 +117,11 @@ pub const Device = struct {
     /// Begin periodic IN polling of an interrupt endpoint; reports flow back to
     /// `self.endpoint` as asynchronous `InterruptReport` messages.
     pub fn subscribeInterrupt(self: *Device, endpoint_address: u8, max_length: u16) bool {
-        var request = usb_transfer_protocol.InterruptSubscribeRequest{
-            .device_token = self.token,
+        var reply: [usb_transfer_protocol.message_maximum]u8 = undefined;
+        return self.call(.interrupt_subscribe, .{
             .endpoint_address = endpoint_address,
             .max_length = max_length,
-        };
-        var reply: [@sizeOf(usb_transfer_protocol.InterruptSubscribeReply)]u8 = undefined;
-        const length = ipc.call(self.bus, std.mem.asBytes(&request), &reply) catch return false;
-        if (length < @sizeOf(usb_transfer_protocol.InterruptSubscribeReply)) return false;
-        return std.mem.bytesToValue(usb_transfer_protocol.InterruptSubscribeReply, reply[0..@sizeOf(usb_transfer_protocol.InterruptSubscribeReply)]).status == 0;
+        }, &.{}, null, &reply) != null;
     }
 
     /// Hand the controller a DMA-region capability (`handle` — from a `shareable`
@@ -106,31 +130,33 @@ pub const Device = struct {
     /// will name in a `bulk` transfer, before the transfer. Harmless (and a no-op
     /// success) when no IOMMU is enforcing. Returns false on failure.
     pub fn attachDma(self: *Device, handle: ipc.Handle) bool {
-        var request = usb_transfer_protocol.DmaAttachRequest{ .device_token = self.token };
-        var reply: [@sizeOf(usb_transfer_protocol.DmaAttachReply)]u8 = undefined;
-        const result = ipc.callCap(self.bus, std.mem.asBytes(&request), &reply, handle) catch return false;
-        if (result.len < @sizeOf(usb_transfer_protocol.DmaAttachReply)) return false;
-        return std.mem.bytesToValue(usb_transfer_protocol.DmaAttachReply, reply[0..@sizeOf(usb_transfer_protocol.DmaAttachReply)]).status == 0;
+        var reply: [usb_transfer_protocol.message_maximum]u8 = undefined;
+        return self.call(.dma_attach, {}, &.{}, handle, &reply) != null;
     }
 
     /// One bulk transfer (IN or OUT per `endpoint_address`'s direction bit) to or
     /// from the caller's own DMA buffer at `physical`. Returns the bytes moved.
     pub fn bulk(self: *Device, endpoint_address: u8, physical: u64, length: u32) ?u32 {
-        var request = usb_transfer_protocol.BulkRequest{
-            .device_token = self.token,
+        var reply: [usb_transfer_protocol.message_maximum]u8 = undefined;
+        const answered = self.call(.bulk, .{
             .physical_address = physical,
             .length = length,
             .endpoint_address = endpoint_address,
-        };
-        var reply: [@sizeOf(usb_transfer_protocol.BulkReply)]u8 = undefined;
-        const replied = ipc.call(self.bus, std.mem.asBytes(&request), &reply) catch return null;
-        if (replied < @sizeOf(usb_transfer_protocol.BulkReply)) return null;
-        const bulk_reply = std.mem.bytesToValue(usb_transfer_protocol.BulkReply, reply[0..@sizeOf(usb_transfer_protocol.BulkReply)]);
-        if (bulk_reply.status != 0) return null;
-        return bulk_reply.actual_length;
+        }, &.{}, null, &reply) orelse return null;
+        return (Protocol.decodeReply(.bulk, answered) orelse return null).actual_length;
     }
 };
 
+/// Decode one asynchronous interrupt report out of a packet that arrived on the
+/// class driver's own endpoint. Null when it is not one — a stray message, or a
+/// packet too short to carry the report it names. The device it came from is the
+/// packet's `Header.target`, which a single-device class driver never has to read.
+pub fn reportOf(packet: []const u8) ?InterruptReport {
+    const event = Protocol.eventOf(packet) orelse return null;
+    if (event != .interrupt_report) return null;
+    return Protocol.decodeEvent(.interrupt_report, packet);
+}
+
 /// Open `/protocol/usb-transfer` and, on that channel, open the device with the
 /// assigned id, handing over a freshly created endpoint for asynchronous interrupt
 /// reports. Retries while the bus is still coming up (a class driver races the bus
@@ -144,12 +170,17 @@ pub fn open(device_id: u64) ?Device {
     } else return null;
 
     const endpoint = ipc.createIpcEndpoint() orelse return null;
-    var request = usb_transfer_protocol.OpenRequest{ .device_id = device_id };
-    var reply: [@sizeOf(usb_transfer_protocol.OpenReply)]u8 = undefined;
-    const result = ipc.callCap(bus, std.mem.asBytes(&request), &reply, endpoint) catch return null;
-    if (result.len < @sizeOf(usb_transfer_protocol.OpenReply)) return null;
-    const open_reply = std.mem.bytesToValue(usb_transfer_protocol.OpenReply, reply[0..@sizeOf(usb_transfer_protocol.OpenReply)]);
-    if (open_reply.status != 0) return null;
+    // The assigned device id is the target: it is what the caller has before a
+    // token exists, and the token the reply hands back addresses every packet
+    // after this one.
+    var packet: [usb_transfer_protocol.message_maximum]u8 = undefined;
+    const framed = Protocol.encodeRequest(.open, device_id, {}, &.{}, &packet) orelse return null;
+    var reply: [usb_transfer_protocol.message_maximum]u8 = undefined;
+    const result = ipc.callCap(bus, framed, &reply, endpoint) catch return null;
+    const answered = reply[0..result.len];
+    const status = envelope.statusOf(answered) orelse return null;
+    if (status.status != 0) return null;
+    const open_reply = Protocol.decodeReply(.open, answered) orelse return null;
 
     var device = Device{
         .bus = bus,
diff --git a/library/kernel/build.zig b/library/kernel/build.zig
index 081d3ec..4361821 100644
--- a/library/kernel/build.zig
+++ b/library/kernel/build.zig
@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@ pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
             .{ .name = "system-call", .module = system_call },
             .{ .name = "ipc", .module = ipc },
             .{ .name = "vfs-protocol", .module = protocol.module("vfs-protocol") },
+            .{ .name = "envelope", .module = protocol.module("envelope") },
         },
     });
     // The channel is the L1 concept made concrete (docs/os-development/communication.md):
@@ -86,11 +87,14 @@ pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
     });
     // The harness binds the service's contract name at startup, which is a
     // conversation with the registry — hence channel (and time, for the patience
-    // a provider that beat init to the mount needs).
+    // a provider that beat init to the mount needs). It also owns the subscriber
+    // table and the fan-out, which are expressed in the envelope's vocabulary
+    // (the reserved subscribe verb, the push floor) — hence envelope.
     _ = b.addModule("service", .{
         .root_source_file = b.path("service.zig"),
         .imports = &.{
             .{ .name = "channel", .module = channel },
+            .{ .name = "envelope", .module = protocol.module("envelope") },
             .{ .name = "ipc", .module = ipc },
             .{ .name = "process", .module = process },
         },
diff --git a/library/kernel/channel.zig b/library/kernel/channel.zig
index 07b966f..9fe2e91 100644
--- a/library/kernel/channel.zig
+++ b/library/kernel/channel.zig
@@ -192,41 +192,37 @@ fn reach(path: []const u8) ?Registry {
     }
 }
 
-/// One vfs-protocol round trip at a backend: fixed header, inline payload, and
-/// an optional capability in each direction.
+/// One vfs-protocol round trip at a backend: the folded header, the verb's own
+/// fixed part, the name as the packet's tail, and an optional capability in each
+/// direction. Both verbs this file sends address the backend itself (target 0) —
+/// the name in the tail is what they are about.
 fn transact(
+    comptime operation: vfs_protocol.Operation,
     handle: ipc.Handle,
-    operation: vfs_protocol.Operation,
-    payload: []const u8,
+    request: vfs_protocol.Protocol.RequestOf(operation),
+    name: []const u8,
     send_capability: ?ipc.Handle,
-) ?struct { reply: vfs_protocol.Reply, capability: ?ipc.Handle } {
-    var request: [vfs_protocol.message_maximum]u8 = undefined;
-    if (vfs_protocol.request_size + payload.len > request.len) return null;
-    const header = vfs_protocol.Request{
-        .operation = operation,
-        .node = 0,
-        .offset = 0,
-        .len = @intCast(payload.len),
-        .flags = 0,
-    };
-    @memcpy(request[0..vfs_protocol.request_size], std.mem.asBytes(&header));
-    @memcpy(request[vfs_protocol.request_size..][0..payload.len], payload);
+) ?struct { status: envelope.Status, capability: ?ipc.Handle } {
+    var packet: [vfs_protocol.message_maximum]u8 = undefined;
+    const framed = vfs_protocol.Protocol.encodeRequest(operation, 0, request, name, &packet) orelse return null;
 
     var reply: [vfs_protocol.message_maximum]u8 = undefined;
-    const answer = ipc.callCap(handle, request[0 .. vfs_protocol.request_size + payload.len], &reply, send_capability) catch return null;
-    if (answer.len < vfs_protocol.reply_size) return null;
-    return .{
-        .reply = std.mem.bytesToValue(vfs_protocol.Reply, reply[0..vfs_protocol.reply_size]),
-        .capability = answer.cap,
-    };
+    const answer = ipc.callCap(handle, framed, &reply, send_capability) catch return null;
+    const status = envelope.statusOf(reply[0..answer.len]) orelse return null;
+    return .{ .status = status, .capability = answer.cap };
 }
 
 /// Resolve an absolute `/protocol/...` path and take the provider's endpoint out
 /// of the open reply's capability.
 fn openPath(path: []const u8) ?ipc.Handle {
     const registry = reach(path) orelse return null;
-    const answered = transact(registry.handle, .open, registry.path(), null) orelse return null;
-    if (answered.reply.status != 0) return null;
+    const answered = transact(.open, registry.handle, .{ .flags = 0 }, registry.path(), null) orelse return null;
+    if (answered.status.status != 0) {
+        // A refusal carries no channel; anything that arrived anyway would be a
+        // handle-table slot spent for nothing.
+        if (answered.capability) |handle| _ = ipc.close(handle);
+        return null;
+    }
     // The capability *is* the channel — an open that succeeds without one was
     // answered by a file backend, which does not speak protocols.
     return answered.capability;
@@ -257,8 +253,8 @@ pub fn openEndpoint(name: []const u8) ?ipc.Handle {
 /// `-EBUSY` a live provider already holds it.
 pub fn bind(name: []const u8, endpoint: ipc.Handle) ?i32 {
     const registry = reach(root) orelse return null;
-    const answered = transact(registry.handle, .bind, name, endpoint) orelse return null;
-    return answered.reply.status;
+    const answered = transact(.bind, registry.handle, {}, name, endpoint) orelse return null;
+    return answered.status.status;
 }
 
 /// How long a provider keeps offering itself before giving up. The registry is
diff --git a/library/kernel/file-system.zig b/library/kernel/file-system.zig
index f23b37c..30d8986 100644
--- a/library/kernel/file-system.zig
+++ b/library/kernel/file-system.zig
@@ -14,8 +14,13 @@ const std = @import("std");
 const abi = @import("abi");
 const sc = @import("system-call");
 const ipc = @import("ipc");
+const envelope = @import("envelope");
 const vfs_protocol = @import("vfs-protocol");
 
+/// The generated vfs contract: encode/decode for every verb, with the node id
+/// carried in the packet header's `target`.
+const Protocol = vfs_protocol.Protocol;
+
 /// The kind of a filesystem node — re-exported so a caller need not import the
 /// wire protocol.
 pub const Kind = vfs_protocol.NodeKind;
@@ -89,23 +94,24 @@ fn resolve(path: []const u8, flags: usize) ?Route {
     }
 }
 
-const Result = struct { reply: vfs_protocol.Reply, payload: []u8 };
-
-// One request/reply round trip: [Request header][send payload] -> backend ->
-// [Reply header][receive payload]. The receive payload lands in `out`.
-fn transact(h: ipc.Handle, request: vfs_protocol.Request, send: []const u8, out: []u8) ?Result {
-    var message: [vfs_protocol.message_maximum]u8 = undefined;
-    @memcpy(message[0..vfs_protocol.request_size], std.mem.asBytes(&request));
-    const slen = @min(send.len, vfs_protocol.maximum_payload);
-    @memcpy(message[vfs_protocol.request_size..][0..slen], send[0..slen]);
-
-    var rbuf: [vfs_protocol.message_maximum]u8 = undefined;
-    const n = ipc.call(h, message[0 .. vfs_protocol.request_size + slen], &rbuf) catch return null;
-    if (n < vfs_protocol.reply_size) return null;
-    const reply = std.mem.bytesToValue(vfs_protocol.Reply, rbuf[0..vfs_protocol.reply_size]);
-    const rpl = @min(n - vfs_protocol.reply_size, out.len);
-    @memcpy(out[0..rpl], rbuf[vfs_protocol.reply_size..][0..rpl]);
-    return .{ .reply = reply, .payload = out[0..rpl] };
+// One request/reply round trip: frame `[Header][request][tail]`, send it, and
+// hand back the whole reply packet for the caller to decode with the generated
+// helpers. A backend that refused (a negative status) reads as null, which is
+// what every caller here did with it anyway.
+fn transact(
+    comptime operation: Protocol.Operation,
+    handle: ipc.Handle,
+    target: u64,
+    request: Protocol.RequestOf(operation),
+    tail: []const u8,
+    reply: []u8,
+) ?[]u8 {
+    var packet: [vfs_protocol.message_maximum]u8 = undefined;
+    const framed = Protocol.encodeRequest(operation, target, request, tail, &packet) orelse return null;
+    const n = ipc.call(handle, framed, reply) catch return null;
+    const status = envelope.statusOf(reply[0..n]) orelse return null;
+    if (status.status != 0) return null;
+    return reply[0..n];
 }
 
 /// An open file: a VFS node plus a byte cursor. Read and write advance the cursor.
@@ -125,11 +131,13 @@ pub const File = struct {
             return n;
         };
         const want: u32 = @intCast(@min(buffer.len, vfs_protocol.maximum_payload));
-        const request = vfs_protocol.Request{ .operation = .read, .node = self.node, .offset = self.offset, .len = want, .flags = 0 };
-        const r = transact(h, request, &.{}, buffer) orelse return null;
-        if (r.reply.status != 0) return null;
-        self.offset += r.reply.len;
-        return r.reply.len;
+        var reply: [vfs_protocol.message_maximum]u8 = undefined;
+        const answered = transact(.read, h, self.node, .{ .offset = self.offset, .len = want }, &.{}, &reply) orelse return null;
+        const bytes = Protocol.replyTail(.read, answered);
+        const n = @min(bytes.len, buffer.len);
+        @memcpy(buffer[0..n], bytes[0..n]);
+        self.offset += n;
+        return n;
     }
 
     /// Write `data` at the current offset; returns the count written. A single
@@ -139,11 +147,11 @@ pub const File = struct {
     pub fn write(self: *File, data: []const u8) ?usize {
         const h = self.backend orelse return null;
         const want: u32 = @intCast(@min(data.len, vfs_protocol.maximum_payload));
-        const request = vfs_protocol.Request{ .operation = .write, .node = self.node, .offset = self.offset, .len = want, .flags = 0 };
-        const r = transact(h, request, data[0..want], &.{}) orelse return null;
-        if (r.reply.status != 0) return null;
-        self.offset += r.reply.len;
-        return r.reply.len;
+        var reply: [vfs_protocol.message_maximum]u8 = undefined;
+        const answered = transact(.write, h, self.node, .{ .offset = self.offset, .len = want }, data[0..want], &reply) orelse return null;
+        const written = Protocol.decodeReply(.write, answered) orelse return null;
+        self.offset += written.count;
+        return written.count;
     }
 
     /// Write all of `data`, looping past the per-call payload cap. Returns the
@@ -169,11 +177,9 @@ pub const File = struct {
             const a = fsNodeStatus(self.node) orelse return null;
             return .{ .size = a.size, .kind = if (a.kind == file_kind_directory) .directory else .regular, .mtime = a.mtime };
         };
-        const request = vfs_protocol.Request{ .operation = .status, .node = self.node, .offset = 0, .len = 0, .flags = 0 };
-        var buffer: [@sizeOf(vfs_protocol.FileStatus)]u8 = undefined;
-        const r = transact(h, request, &.{}, &buffer) orelse return null;
-        if (r.reply.status != 0 or r.payload.len < @sizeOf(vfs_protocol.FileStatus)) return null;
-        const status = std.mem.bytesToValue(vfs_protocol.FileStatus, buffer[0..@sizeOf(vfs_protocol.FileStatus)]);
+        var reply: [vfs_protocol.message_maximum]u8 = undefined;
+        const answered = transact(.status, h, self.node, {}, &.{}, &reply) orelse return null;
+        const status = Protocol.decodeReply(.status, answered) orelse return null;
         return .{ .size = status.size, .kind = kindFromWire(status.kind), .mtime = status.mtime };
     }
 
@@ -181,8 +187,8 @@ pub const File = struct {
     /// tokens are permanent — nothing to release.
     pub fn close(self: *File) void {
         const h = self.backend orelse return;
-        const request = vfs_protocol.Request{ .operation = .close, .node = self.node, .offset = 0, .len = 0, .flags = 0 };
-        _ = transact(h, request, &.{}, &.{});
+        var reply: [vfs_protocol.message_maximum]u8 = undefined;
+        _ = transact(.close, h, self.node, {}, &.{}, &reply);
     }
 };
 
@@ -193,10 +199,10 @@ pub fn open(path: []const u8, options: OpenOptions) ?File {
         .kernel => |token| return .{ .node = token, .backend = null },
         .backend => |b| {
             const relative = route.backendPath();
-            const request = vfs_protocol.Request{ .operation = .open, .node = 0, .offset = 0, .len = @intCast(relative.len), .flags = options.wireFlags() };
-            const r = transact(b.handle, request, relative, &.{}) orelse return null;
-            if (r.reply.status != 0) return null;
-            return .{ .node = r.reply.node, .backend = b.handle };
+            var reply: [vfs_protocol.message_maximum]u8 = undefined;
+            const answered = transact(.open, b.handle, 0, .{ .flags = options.wireFlags() }, relative, &reply) orelse return null;
+            const opened = Protocol.decodeReply(.open, answered) orelse return null;
+            return .{ .node = opened.node, .backend = b.handle };
         },
     }
 }
@@ -248,15 +254,13 @@ pub const Directory = struct {
             self.cursor += 1;
             return true;
         };
-        const request = vfs_protocol.Request{ .operation = .readdir, .node = self.node, .offset = self.cursor, .len = 0, .flags = 0 };
-        var buffer: [vfs_protocol.message_maximum]u8 = undefined;
-        const r = transact(h, request, &.{}, &buffer) orelse return false;
-        if (r.reply.status != 0 or r.reply.len == 0) return false; // error or EOF
-        if (r.payload.len < vfs_protocol.directory_entry_size) return false;
-        const header = std.mem.bytesToValue(vfs_protocol.DirectoryEntry, r.payload[0..vfs_protocol.directory_entry_size]);
+        var reply: [vfs_protocol.message_maximum]u8 = undefined;
+        const answered = transact(.readdir, h, self.node, .{ .cursor = self.cursor }, &.{}, &reply) orelse return false;
+        const header = Protocol.decodeReply(.readdir, answered) orelse return false;
+        if (header.name_len == 0) return false; // end of directory
         entry.kind = kindFromWire(header.kind);
         entry.size = header.size;
-        const source = r.payload[vfs_protocol.directory_entry_size..];
+        const source = Protocol.replyTail(.readdir, answered);
         const nlen = @min(@min(@as(usize, header.name_len), source.len), entry.name_buffer.len);
         @memcpy(entry.name_buffer[0..nlen], source[0..nlen]);
         entry.name_len = nlen;
@@ -280,13 +284,11 @@ pub fn openDirectory(path: []const u8) ?Directory {
 // A path-based request that returns only a status (mkdir, unlink). Kernel-served
 // paths (the read-only /system) refuse mutation by construction: the resolve
 // must land on a backend.
-fn pathOperation(operation: vfs_protocol.Operation, path: []const u8) bool {
+fn pathOperation(comptime operation: Protocol.Operation, path: []const u8) bool {
     const route = resolve(path, 0) orelse return false;
     if (route != .backend) return false;
-    const relative = route.backendPath();
-    const request = vfs_protocol.Request{ .operation = operation, .node = 0, .offset = 0, .len = @intCast(relative.len), .flags = 0 };
-    const r = transact(route.backend.handle, request, relative, &.{}) orelse return false;
-    return r.reply.status == 0;
+    var reply: [vfs_protocol.message_maximum]u8 = undefined;
+    return transact(operation, route.backend.handle, 0, {}, route.backendPath(), &reply) != null;
 }
 
 /// Create a directory at `path` (its parent must already exist). Returns true on
@@ -336,9 +338,8 @@ pub fn rename(old_path: []const u8, new_path: []const u8) bool {
     @memcpy(payload[0..old_relative.len], old_relative);
     payload[old_relative.len] = 0;
     @memcpy(payload[old_relative.len + 1 ..][0..new_relative.len], new_relative);
-    const request = vfs_protocol.Request{ .operation = .rename, .node = 0, .offset = 0, .len = @intCast(total), .flags = 0 };
-    const r = transact(old_route.backend.handle, request, payload[0..total], &.{}) orelse return false;
-    return r.reply.status == 0;
+    var reply: [vfs_protocol.message_maximum]u8 = undefined;
+    return transact(.rename, old_route.backend.handle, 0, {}, payload[0..total], &reply) != null;
 }
 
 /// Mount a filesystem backend (its server endpoint) at absolute path `target`;
diff --git a/library/kernel/service.zig b/library/kernel/service.zig
index cfde3cd..396f6d6 100644
--- a/library/kernel/service.zig
+++ b/library/kernel/service.zig
@@ -12,6 +12,12 @@
 //! therefore safe, and keeping is explicit; the opposite arrangement quietly
 //! spends a handle-table slot per request.
 //!
+//! The harness also owns the **subscriber side** of a protocol that declares
+//! `.events` — see `Subscribers`. The table, the reserved subscribe/unsubscribe
+//! verbs, the fan-out, and the dead-subscriber sweep live here rather than in
+//! each provider, so every event stream in the system has identical semantics
+//! (docs/os-development/protocol-namespace.md, "Wiring").
+//!
 //! The liveness probe: a **zero-length request is the universal ping**, answered
 //! with a zero-length reply by the harness itself. No protocol's requests start
 //! at length zero, so the encoding cannot collide, and there is nothing for a
@@ -19,9 +25,23 @@
 //! is the diagnosis (see docs/ipc.md).
 
 const channel = @import("channel");
+const envelope = @import("envelope");
 const ipc = @import("ipc");
 const process = @import("process");
 
+/// The harness's handle on a provider's subscriber table, type-erased because
+/// `run` is not generic over the protocol while `Subscribers` is. A service names
+/// its table once, as `Callbacks.subscribers`, and the loop does the rest: it
+/// subscribes to published process exits at startup and drops a dead task's
+/// subscriptions before the service's own notification callback ever sees the
+/// badge.
+pub const SubscriberHooks = struct {
+    /// Ask the kernel for published exit events on this service's endpoint.
+    watch: *const fn (endpoint: ipc.Handle) void,
+    /// Drop everything task `dead` had subscribed.
+    forget: *const fn (dead: u32) void,
+};
+
 pub const Callbacks = struct {
     /// Called once with the service's endpoint before the loop starts — the
     /// place to subscribe to exit events, bind IRQs, or announce readiness.
@@ -60,8 +80,216 @@ pub const Callbacks = struct {
     /// `init` runs, so the service is reachable the moment it serves. A refusal
     /// (not granted, or a live provider already holds the name) aborts startup.
     service: ?[]const u8 = null,
+    /// This provider's subscriber table — `Subscribers(Protocol, Context).hooks`
+    /// — for a protocol that declares `.events`. Naming it here is what buys the
+    /// exit-notification sweep: the loop subscribes to published deaths at
+    /// startup and releases a dead subscriber's slot (and the endpoint capability
+    /// in it) when one lands.
+    subscribers: ?SubscriberHooks = null,
 };
 
+/// How many subscribers one provider fans out to. Bounded like every table in
+/// this system; a subscribe past the end is refused with `-ENOSPC` rather than
+/// silently forgetting an earlier one.
+pub const subscriber_capacity = 8;
+
+/// The interest mask that means "every event of this protocol" — what a
+/// subscriber which named no class gets, and what a provider passes when the
+/// event it is publishing belongs to no class.
+pub const every_event: u32 = 0;
+
+/// The subscriber side of a protocol, for a provider whose contract declares
+/// `.events` (docs/os-development/protocol-namespace.md: *the harness owns the
+/// machinery — the subscriber table, the dead-subscriber sweep, and the fan-out
+/// loop*). Three services hand-rolled this, with three different ideas of when a
+/// dead subscriber goes away — a poll of the process list on subscribe, a drop on
+/// a failed send, and nothing at all. This is the one idiom.
+///
+/// ```zig
+/// const Subscriptions = service.Subscribers(power_protocol.Protocol, void);
+/// ...
+/// fn onMessage(message: []const u8, reply: []u8, sender: u32, arrived: *ipc.Arrival) usize {
+///     return Subscriptions.dispatch({}, handlers, message, sender, arrived, reply);
+/// }
+/// pub fn main() void {
+///     service.run(power_protocol.message_maximum, .{
+///         .service = "power",
+///         .on_message = onMessage,
+///         .subscribers = Subscriptions.hooks,
+///     });
+/// }
+/// ```
+///
+/// What the provider still writes is its own events — `publish(.power_button, 0,
+/// .{})`. Everything else happens here: registering the caller's endpoint on the
+/// reserved `subscribe` verb, taking that capability out of the turn, dropping it
+/// on `unsubscribe` or on the subscriber's death, and framing one packet for the
+/// whole fan-out.
+///
+/// The table is per instantiation (a container-level `var` inside the generic
+/// type), so a process providing two contracts gets two tables and neither can
+/// see the other's subscribers.
+pub fn Subscribers(comptime Protocol: type, comptime Context: type) type {
+    return struct {
+        /// The generated dispatch this provider answers with.
+        pub const Provider = Protocol.Provider(Context);
+        pub const Handlers = Provider.Handlers;
+
+        /// One registered subscriber: the endpoint events are pushed to (the
+        /// capability it handed over at subscribe time, which this slot owns),
+        /// the task that handed it over — the kernel-stamped badge, the only
+        /// source identity there is — and which classes of event it asked for.
+        const Slot = struct {
+            used: bool = false,
+            endpoint: ipc.Handle = 0,
+            task: u32 = 0,
+            interest: u32 = every_event,
+        };
+
+        var slots: [subscriber_capacity]Slot = .{Slot{}} ** subscriber_capacity;
+
+        /// Set when a slot has taken the capability the turn carried, and read
+        /// back in `dispatch`, which is where the turn's `Arrival` lives. The
+        /// generated dispatch hands a handler the raw handle rather than the
+        /// `Arrival` — deliberately, since a handler has no business closing the
+        /// turn's property — so the *claim* has to travel back out this way. One
+        /// turn, one handler, one thread: there is nothing here to race.
+        var claimed = false;
+
+        /// What `Callbacks.subscribers` is given.
+        pub const hooks: SubscriberHooks = .{ .watch = watchExits, .forget = forget };
+
+        fn watchExits(endpoint: ipc.Handle) void {
+            // Published exits, not a poll of the process list: a service must
+            // never depend on clients cleaning up after themselves, and it must
+            // not have to walk the whole table on every subscribe to find out
+            // either (docs/process-lifecycle.md, "Who learns of a death").
+            _ = process.subscribeExits(endpoint);
+        }
+
+        /// Release everything task `dead` had subscribed. The slot owns the
+        /// endpoint capability, so reclaiming the slot closes it — otherwise a
+        /// process that subscribes and dies costs a handle-table slot that never
+        /// comes back.
+        pub fn forget(dead: u32) void {
+            for (&slots) |*slot| {
+                if (slot.used and slot.task == dead) {
+                    _ = ipc.close(slot.endpoint);
+                    slot.* = .{};
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        /// Whether `task` is a subscriber — the gate for an operation a provider
+        /// honours from its subscribers and nobody else. The power service's
+        /// shutdown is the one: the badge is kernel-stamped, so nothing in a
+        /// packet can claim to be the subscriber that already ran the stop
+        /// sequence.
+        pub fn has(task: u32) bool {
+            for (&slots) |*slot| {
+                if (slot.used and slot.task == task) return true;
+            }
+            return false;
+        }
+
+        /// Answer one received packet, with the reserved `subscribe` and
+        /// `unsubscribe` verbs already wired — a provider that leaves those two
+        /// handlers null (every provider should) gets the harness's. The turn's
+        /// capability is peeked, never taken, unless a slot actually kept it.
+        pub fn dispatch(
+            context: Context,
+            handlers: Handlers,
+            packet: []const u8,
+            sender: u32,
+            arrived: *ipc.Arrival,
+            reply: []u8,
+        ) usize {
+            var wired = handlers;
+            if (wired.subscribe == null) wired.subscribe = onSubscribe;
+            if (wired.unsubscribe == null) wired.unsubscribe = onUnsubscribe;
+            claimed = false;
+            const written = Provider.dispatch(context, wired, packet, sender, arrived.peek(), reply);
+            if (claimed) _ = arrived.take();
+            return written;
+        }
+
+        /// Push one event to every subscriber.
+        pub fn publish(
+            comptime event: Protocol.Event,
+            target: u64,
+            payload: Protocol.PayloadOf(event),
+        ) void {
+            publishClass(event, target, payload, every_event);
+        }
+
+        /// Push one event to the subscribers whose interest mask includes
+        /// `class` (a subscriber that named no class takes everything). The
+        /// packet is framed **once**, outside the loop, so every subscriber of a
+        /// class receives identical bytes; and delivery is `ipc.send`, which
+        /// never blocks, so one slow or dead subscriber can never stall the rest
+        /// — the whole reason broadcast is a provider pattern and not a kernel
+        /// primitive.
+        pub fn publishClass(
+            comptime event: Protocol.Event,
+            target: u64,
+            payload: Protocol.PayloadOf(event),
+            class: u32,
+        ) void {
+            var packet: [envelope.post_maximum]u8 = undefined;
+            const framed = Protocol.encodeEvent(event, target, payload, &packet) orelse return;
+            for (&slots) |*slot| {
+                if (!slot.used) continue;
+                if (!wants(slot.*, class)) continue;
+                // The sweep is what normally reclaims a dead subscriber, promptly
+                // and with its capability closed. This is the backstop for a
+                // notification that never arrived: an endpoint's notify ring is
+                // bounded, so a burst of deaths can drop one, and a send to an
+                // endpoint whose owner is gone fails rather than blocking.
+                if (!ipc.send(slot.endpoint, framed)) {
+                    _ = ipc.close(slot.endpoint);
+                    slot.* = .{};
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        fn wants(slot: Slot, class: u32) bool {
+            if (class == every_event) return true; // the event belongs to no class
+            if (slot.interest == every_event) return true; // the subscriber named none
+            return slot.interest & class != 0;
+        }
+
+        /// The reserved `subscribe` verb: register the caller's endpoint (the
+        /// call's capability) for the classes its tail names. A refusal simply
+        /// returns and the turn closes what arrived — the harness's ownership
+        /// rule (`ipc.Arrival`), which is why a subscribe storm against a full
+        /// table cannot spend the handle table.
+        fn onSubscribe(_: Context, invocation: envelope.Invocation(void), _: envelope.Answer(void)) isize {
+            const endpoint = invocation.capability orelse return -envelope.EPROTO; // no endpoint passed
+            const interest = envelope.decodeSubscribe(invocation.tail).interest;
+            for (&slots) |*slot| {
+                if (slot.used) continue;
+                // Appended, not replaced: one task may hold several subscriptions
+                // on different endpoints (a client taking keyboard and mouse as
+                // two streams), and each is its own conversation.
+                slot.* = .{ .used = true, .endpoint = endpoint, .task = invocation.sender, .interest = interest };
+                claimed = true; // the table holds it until that task dies
+                return 0;
+            }
+            return -envelope.ENOSPC; // table full
+        }
+
+        /// The reserved `unsubscribe` verb: every subscription the calling task
+        /// holds here goes, which is exactly what its death would do. It names no
+        /// endpoint because the badge already names the only subscriber a caller
+        /// can speak for — its own.
+        fn onUnsubscribe(_: Context, invocation: envelope.Invocation(void), _: envelope.Answer(void)) isize {
+            if (!has(invocation.sender)) return -envelope.ENOENT;
+            forget(invocation.sender);
+            return 0;
+        }
+    };
+}
+
 /// Run the service: create the endpoint, bind it under the service's contract
 /// name (if it has one), bind signals to it, call `init`, then serve until
 /// `terminate` arrives — at which point the loop returns and main's return is
@@ -74,6 +302,9 @@ pub fn run(comptime maximum_message: usize, callbacks: Callbacks) void {
         if (!channel.bindPatiently(name, endpoint)) return;
     }
     _ = process.bindSignals(endpoint);
+    // Before `init`, so a subscriber that arrives the instant the name is bound
+    // is already covered by the sweep that will release it.
+    if (callbacks.subscribers) |subscribers| subscribers.watch(endpoint);
     if (callbacks.init) |initialise| {
         if (!initialise(endpoint)) return;
     }
@@ -105,6 +336,13 @@ pub fn run(comptime maximum_message: usize, callbacks: Callbacks) void {
                 }
                 continue;
             }
+            // A death sweeps the subscriber table first, then still reaches the
+            // service: a provider often has its own per-client state to release
+            // (open file handles, device tokens, layers) and the same badge is
+            // the notice for both.
+            if (got.isChildExit()) {
+                if (callbacks.subscribers) |subscribers| subscribers.forget(got.childProcessId());
+            }
             if (callbacks.on_notification) |onNotification| onNotification(got.badge);
             continue;
         }
diff --git a/library/protocol/block/block-protocol.zig b/library/protocol/block/block-protocol.zig
index 530d430..339c7fe 100644
--- a/library/protocol/block/block-protocol.zig
+++ b/library/protocol/block/block-protocol.zig
@@ -1,51 +1,61 @@
 //! The block-device wire protocol — what a filesystem (the FAT server) says to a
-//! block driver (usb-storage) over its well-known `.block` endpoint. A protocol
-//! module like vfs-protocol / usb-transfer-protocol: extern-struct messages, an
-//! `Operation` tag, everything in one IPC message.
+//! block driver (usb-storage) over `/protocol/block`. Defined through the
+//! envelope, so every packet begins with the folded `Header`.
+//!
+//! **`Header.target` is always 0 here**: a block driver instance serves exactly
+//! one device over its own endpoint, so there is no object within the peer to
+//! address. A driver that later fronts several volumes gives them target ids and
+//! `enumerate` lists them; nothing else about the protocol changes.
 //!
 //! Data path: read and write move whole blocks to or from a **caller-owned DMA
 //! buffer**, named by its physical address — the same physical-address handoff
 //! usb-storage already uses toward the controller, one layer up. So a 512-byte
-//! sector never has to cross the 256-byte IPC boundary; only the small request /
-//! reply headers do. Under an enforcing IOMMU the buffer's physical addresses are
-//! only reachable by the device once the filesystem has `attach`ed the buffer's
-//! capability (the block server forwards it to the controller); see docs/driver-model.md.
+//! sector never has to cross the packet floor; only the small request / reply
+//! parts do. Under an enforcing IOMMU the buffer's physical addresses are only
+//! reachable by the device once the filesystem has `attach`ed the buffer's
+//! capability (the block server forwards it to the controller); see
+//! docs/driver-model.md.
 
-pub const Operation = enum(u32) {
-    /// geometry() -> { block_size, block_count }
-    geometry = 0,
-    /// read(lba, count, physical): read `count` blocks from `lba` into the buffer
-    read = 1,
-    /// write(lba, count, physical): write `count` blocks at `lba` from the buffer
-    write = 2,
-    /// flush(): commit any device write cache to stable media (no data transfer).
-    /// A filesystem calls this to make prior writes durable — e.g. before power-off,
-    /// so a shutdown-time write isn't lost in the USB flash controller's cache.
-    flush = 3,
-    /// attach(): the caller's DMA-region capability rides the call's cap slot; the
-    /// block server forwards it to the controller so the buffer's physical addresses
-    /// (named in later read/write) are reachable by the device under an enforcing
-    /// IOMMU. Call once per buffer before using it in a transfer.
-    attach = 4,
+const envelope = @import("envelope");
+
+/// The answer to `geometry()`.
+pub const Geometry = extern struct {
+    block_size: u32, // bytes per block (512)
+    _padding: u32 = 0,
+    block_count: u64, // total blocks
 };
 
-pub const Request = extern struct {
-    operation: u32,
-    reserved: u32 = 0,
+/// `read(lba, count, physical)` / `write(...)`: move `count` blocks between the
+/// device and the caller's DMA buffer at `physical`.
+pub const Transfer = extern struct {
     lba: u64,
-    count: u32, // number of blocks (read/write)
-    reserved2: u32 = 0,
-    physical: u64, // caller's DMA buffer physical address (read/write)
+    count: u32,
+    _padding: u32 = 0,
+    physical: u64, // caller's DMA buffer physical address
 };
 
-pub const Reply = extern struct {
-    status: i32, // 0 on success, negative on failure
-    reserved: u32 = 0,
-    block_size: u32, // geometry: bytes per block (512)
-    reserved2: u32 = 0,
-    block_count: u64, // geometry: total blocks; read/write: blocks moved
-};
+/// How many blocks a transfer actually moved.
+pub const Transferred = extern struct { count: u32 };
 
-pub const message_maximum: usize = 256;
-pub const request_size: usize = @sizeOf(Request);
-pub const reply_size: usize = @sizeOf(Reply);
+pub const Protocol = envelope.Define(.{
+    .name = "block",
+    .version = 1,
+    .operations = &.{
+        .{ .name = "geometry", .reply = Geometry },
+        .{ .name = "read", .request = Transfer, .reply = Transferred },
+        .{ .name = "write", .request = Transfer, .reply = Transferred },
+        // flush(): commit any device write cache to stable media (no data
+        // transfer). A filesystem calls this to make prior writes durable —
+        // before power-off, so a shutdown-time write isn't lost in the USB flash
+        // controller's cache.
+        .{ .name = "flush" },
+        // attach(): the caller's DMA-region capability rides the call's cap
+        // slot; the block server forwards it to the controller so the buffer's
+        // physical addresses (named in later read/write) are reachable by the
+        // device under an enforcing IOMMU. Call once per buffer before using it.
+        .{ .name = "attach" },
+    },
+});
+
+pub const Operation = Protocol.Operation;
+pub const message_maximum: usize = Protocol.message_maximum;
diff --git a/library/protocol/build.zig b/library/protocol/build.zig
index a167066..2a81968 100644
--- a/library/protocol/build.zig
+++ b/library/protocol/build.zig
@@ -3,7 +3,8 @@
 //! every conversation depend on the contract by name; neither reaches into the
 //! other's files. Pure flat wire types: no protocol module imports anything.
 //!
-//! One module here is not a protocol but the shape the others are written in:
+//! One module here is not a protocol but the shape the others are written in,
+//! and therefore the one module every other one imports:
 //!
 //!   envelope                 : the packet prefix + comptime Define (docs/os-development/protocol-namespace.md)
 //!
@@ -19,10 +20,12 @@
 const std = @import("std");
 
 pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
+    // Not a protocol, hence not `-protocol`: the envelope is what a protocol is
+    // defined *through*, so it is built first and handed to every protocol
+    // below as their one import.
+    const envelope = b.addModule("envelope", .{ .root_source_file = b.path("envelope/envelope.zig") });
+
     for ([_]struct { name: []const u8, root: []const u8 }{
-        // Not a protocol, hence not `-protocol`: the envelope is what a
-        // protocol is defined *through*.
-        .{ .name = "envelope", .root = "envelope/envelope.zig" },
         .{ .name = "vfs-protocol", .root = "vfs/vfs-protocol.zig" },
         .{ .name = "input-protocol", .root = "input/input-protocol.zig" },
         .{ .name = "block-protocol", .root = "block/block-protocol.zig" },
@@ -32,21 +35,38 @@ pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
         .{ .name = "scanout-protocol", .root = "scanout/scanout-protocol.zig" },
         .{ .name = "power-protocol", .root = "power/power-protocol.zig" },
     }) |protocol| {
-        _ = b.addModule(protocol.name, .{ .root_source_file = b.path(protocol.root) });
+        _ = b.addModule(protocol.name, .{
+            .root_source_file = b.path(protocol.root),
+            .imports = &.{.{ .name = "envelope", .module = envelope }},
+        });
     }
 
     // Standalone `zig build test` for this domain alone; the root build keeps
     // its aggregate test step.
     const test_step = b.step("test", "Run the protocol unit tests");
+    // The envelope tests itself with no import of its own — everything else
+    // imports it, so it is built separately rather than importing itself.
+    const envelope_tests = b.addTest(.{
+        .root_module = b.createModule(.{
+            .root_source_file = b.path("envelope/envelope.zig"), // framing round trips, verb numbering, dispatch, the floors
+            .target = b.resolveTargetQuery(.{}),
+        }),
+    });
+    test_step.dependOn(&b.addRunArtifact(envelope_tests).step);
+
     for ([_][]const u8{
-        "envelope/envelope.zig", // framing round trips, verb numbering, dispatch, the floors
         "vfs/vfs-protocol.zig", // NodeKind / DirectoryEntry sizes + op values
+        "input/input-protocol.zig", // event numbering + the push-floor budget
         "display/display-protocol.zig", // pack(): native pixel encoding per format
+        "device-manager/device-manager-protocol.zig", // the dual-use report, exactly on the push floor
+        "power/power-protocol.zig", // the event kind as the packet's verb
+        "usb-transfer/usb-transfer-protocol.zig", // the tail-carried control stage + the trimmed report
     }) |root| {
         const protocol_tests = b.addTest(.{
             .root_module = b.createModule(.{
                 .root_source_file = b.path(root),
                 .target = b.resolveTargetQuery(.{}),
+                .imports = &.{.{ .name = "envelope", .module = envelope }},
             }),
         });
         test_step.dependOn(&b.addRunArtifact(protocol_tests).step);
diff --git a/library/protocol/device-manager/device-manager-protocol.zig b/library/protocol/device-manager/device-manager-protocol.zig
index a7228e8..3fcb104 100644
--- a/library/protocol/device-manager/device-manager-protocol.zig
+++ b/library/protocol/device-manager/device-manager-protocol.zig
@@ -1,15 +1,48 @@
-//! The device-manager protocol (docs/device-manager.md): what drivers and
-//! applications say to the device manager over its well-known endpoint. The
-//! vfs-protocol pattern — extern-struct messages, a version in the handshake,
-//! reserved fields — so both sides depend on the contract by name. Deliberately
-//! contains nothing lifecycle-shaped: stopping, liveness (the zero-length ping),
-//! and exit reasons are the universal vocabulary of
+//! The device-manager protocol (docs/device-driver-development/device-manager.md):
+//! what drivers and applications say to the device manager over
+//! `/protocol/device-manager`. Defined through the envelope
+//! (docs/os-development/protocol-namespace.md), so every packet — request, reply,
+//! and pushed event alike — begins with the folded `Header`.
+//!
+//! **`Header.target` is the device id.** It was the `device_id` field of three
+//! different messages; folding it into the header is what made the packed
+//! leading operation byte disappear along with it. `no_device` addresses a
+//! driver that serves no enumerated device.
+//!
+//! Two of the manager's four old operations were the reserved verbs under
+//! another name and are gone from this protocol's own numbering: `enumerate`
+//! (the tree, one `ChildEntry` per record in the reply tail) and `subscribe`
+//! (the watcher's endpoint rides as the call's capability). What is left is the
+//! driver-facing half — the handshake and the two tree reports.
+//!
+//! **`ChildAdded` travels in both directions, and says so twice.** A bus driver
+//! *calls* `child_added` to report a device; the manager then *pushes* the same
+//! struct to every subscriber as the `child_added` event. Operations and events
+//! are numbered in separate spaces, so one struct under two numbers is exactly
+//! how the envelope spells "one encoding, both directions" — and the direction
+//! (call vs. send) already tells them apart.
+//!
+//! Deliberately contains nothing lifecycle-shaped: stopping, liveness (the
+//! zero-length ping), and exit reasons are the universal vocabulary of
 //! docs/process-lifecycle.md, not this protocol.
 
-/// The protocol version a driver states in its hello. A manager that cannot
-/// serve a driver's version refuses the hello, and the mismatch is loud at
-/// startup instead of quiet corruption later.
-pub const version: u16 = 1;
+const std = @import("std");
+const envelope = @import("envelope");
+
+/// The protocol version a driver states in its hello, and the version this
+/// contract answers `describe` with. A manager that cannot serve a driver's
+/// version refuses the hello, and the mismatch is loud at startup instead of
+/// quiet corruption later.
+///
+/// `describe` publishes the same number, but it cannot replace this: it tells a
+/// *client* what the provider is, and here it is the **provider** that has to
+/// learn what the client was built against in order to refuse it.
+pub const version = 1;
+
+/// `Header.target` for a driver that serves no enumerated device (a test
+/// fixture, a synthetic source), and `ChildAdded`'s answer for a leaf that was
+/// never `device_register`ed.
+pub const no_device: u64 = ~@as(u64, 0);
 
 /// Which bus a `child_added` came from — stated by the reporting bus driver so
 /// the manager's /system/configuration/devices.csv matcher knows how to read the report's identity
@@ -24,7 +57,7 @@ pub const BusKind = enum(u8) {
     acpi = 3,
 };
 
-/// What kind of driver is talking (docs/driver-model.md's shapes).
+/// What kind of driver is talking (docs/device-driver-development/driver-model.md's shapes).
 pub const Role = enum(u8) {
     /// Owns a controller and reports the devices behind it (`child_added`).
     bus = 1,
@@ -32,58 +65,45 @@ pub const Role = enum(u8) {
     device = 2,
 };
 
-/// The message kinds.
-pub const Operation = enum(u8) {
-    hello = 1,
-    child_added = 2,
-    child_removed = 3,
-    enumerate = 4,
-    subscribe = 5,
-};
-
-/// `Hello.device_id` for a driver that serves no enumerated device (a test
-/// fixture, a synthetic source).
-pub const no_device: u64 = ~@as(u64, 0);
+// --- the per-operation request parts ----------------------------------------
+//
+// Each names the bytes AFTER the prefix. Nothing here carries an operation or a
+// device id: those are the packet header's, folded in once. No reply part
+// carries a status either — that is the `Status` every reply already begins
+// with, so the manager's old three `{status, reserved}` reply structs are gone.
 
 /// The handshake, sent once by every driver the manager spawns — the manager's
 /// one self-enforced deadline: spawned and silent past it means wrong binary,
-/// wrong version, or wedged before main, and the stop sequence follows.
+/// wrong version, or wedged before main, and the stop sequence follows. The
+/// device this driver was assigned (its argv[1]) is `Header.target`.
 pub const Hello = extern struct {
-    operation: u8 = @intFromEnum(Operation.hello),
-    /// A Role value.
+    /// A `Role` value.
     role: u8,
+    _padding: u8 = 0,
     /// The protocol version this driver was built against (`version`).
     version: u16 = version,
-    reserved: u32 = 0,
-    /// The device this driver was assigned (its argv[1]), or `no_device`.
-    device_id: u64,
 };
 
-pub const hello_size = @sizeOf(Hello);
-
-/// The manager's answer to a hello. Nonzero status = refused (version mismatch,
-/// unknown sender); a refused driver should exit cleanly.
-pub const HelloReply = extern struct {
-    status: i32,
-    reserved: u32 = 0,
-};
-
-pub const reply_size = @sizeOf(HelloReply);
-
 /// A bus driver reporting one device it discovered behind its controller
-/// (docs/device-manager.md "the tree"). Identity is the bus's native language —
-/// for USB a port-speed class; the (class, subclass, protocol) triple joins it
-/// once control transfers exist (the USB track). The manager mirrors the child
-/// into its tree; when the reporting driver dies, the manager prunes everything
-/// it reported (the children describe protocol state that died with it) and the
-/// restarted instance rediscovers and re-reports.
+/// (docs/device-driver-development/device-manager.md "the tree"), and the payload
+/// the manager pushes to its subscribers for the same event. Identity is the
+/// bus's native language — for USB a port-speed class, for PCI the class triple.
+/// The manager mirrors the child into its tree; when the reporting driver dies,
+/// the manager prunes everything it reported (the children describe protocol
+/// state that died with it) and the restarted instance rediscovers and
+/// re-reports.
+///
+/// `Header.target` is the kernel device id this child was `device_register`ed
+/// as — what the manager hands a matched driver as its argv assignment — or
+/// `no_device` for an unregistered leaf (a USB port before the descriptor
+/// track). That is the field that used to sit at the end of this struct.
+///
+/// **The field order is the size budget.** An event packet is the header plus
+/// this, within 64 bytes, and three `u64`s round the whole struct up to a
+/// multiple of eight whatever order they sit in — so the small fields are
+/// packed tail-first into the space the rounding pays for anyway. `Define`
+/// checks the result; this comment is why there is no slack in it.
 pub const ChildAdded = extern struct {
-    operation: u8 = @intFromEnum(Operation.child_added),
-    /// A `BusKind` value: which bus reported this child, so the manager reads the
-    /// identity in the right namespace and matches against the right `bus` column.
-    bus: u8 = @intFromEnum(BusKind.unknown),
-    reserved1: u16 = 0,
-    reserved2: u32 = 0,
     /// The reporting driver's own device (the controller) — the child's parent.
     parent: u64,
     /// Where on the bus (for USB: the root port number, 1-based).
@@ -91,10 +111,10 @@ pub const ChildAdded = extern struct {
     /// Bus-specific identity (for USB: the PORTSC port-speed class; for PCI:
     /// the class triple; for ACPI devices, 0 — identity is the hid below).
     identity: u64,
-    /// The kernel device id this child was `device_register`ed as — what the
-    /// manager hands a matched driver as its argv assignment — or `no_device`
-    /// for an unregistered leaf (a USB port before the descriptor track).
-    device_id: u64 = no_device,
+    /// The PCI subsystem id, packed `(subsystem_vendor << 16) | subsystem_device`
+    /// (so it reads vendor-first, matching the CSV's `ssvid:ssid`), or 0 when the
+    /// device has no subsystem id (a bridge, or a non-PCI bus).
+    subsystem: u32 = 0,
     /// The vendor id (PCI vendor / USB idVendor), or 0 when the bus has no such
     /// concept (ACPI). Carried so the manager's /system/configuration/devices.csv matcher can bind
     /// on vendor — a level the bus-native `identity` (a class triple) cannot express.
@@ -103,73 +123,118 @@ pub const ChildAdded = extern struct {
     /// level: this is what lets one virtio-gpu (1AF4:1050) be told from any other
     /// virtio display function without the driver re-confirming after it is spawned.
     device: u16 = 0,
-    /// The PCI subsystem id, packed `(subsystem_vendor << 16) | subsystem_device`
-    /// (so it reads vendor-first, matching the CSV's `ssvid:ssid`), or 0 when the
-    /// device has no subsystem id (a bridge, or a non-PCI bus).
-    subsystem: u32 = 0,
     /// The ACPI hardware id (`_HID`), EISA-decoded (e.g. "PNP0303"), for devices
     /// discovered by firmware string rather than a numeric bus identity. Empty
     /// (all zero) otherwise. Widens for FDT `compatible` strings later.
     hid: [8]u8 = .{0} ** 8,
+    /// A `BusKind` value: which bus reported this child, so the manager reads the
+    /// identity in the right namespace and matches against the right `bus` column.
+    bus: u8 = @intFromEnum(BusKind.unknown),
+    _padding: [7]u8 = .{0} ** 7,
 };
 
-pub const child_added_size = @sizeOf(ChildAdded);
-
-/// A bus driver reporting a device gone (hot-unplug). Not yet sent by any
-/// driver — the port scan has no unplug interrupt — but the manager handles it;
-/// death-pruning covers removal until hotplug lands.
+/// A bus driver reporting a device gone (hot-unplug), and the payload pushed to
+/// subscribers for it.
+///
+/// **This is the one message whose target stays 0.** A removal is addressed by
+/// the composite (parent, bus address) — the reporter knows where the device
+/// *was*, not necessarily what id it had been registered under — and a single
+/// `u64` cannot carry a pair. So the address stays in the payload, where it
+/// always was, and the header addresses the provider itself.
 pub const ChildRemoved = extern struct {
-    operation: u8 = @intFromEnum(Operation.child_removed),
-    reserved0: u8 = 0,
-    reserved1: u16 = 0,
-    reserved2: u32 = 0,
     parent: u64,
     bus_address: u64,
 };
 
-pub const child_removed_size = @sizeOf(ChildRemoved);
-
-/// The manager's answer to a tree report.
-pub const ReportReply = extern struct {
-    status: i32,
-    reserved: u32 = 0,
-};
-
-/// An application asking for the tree (M18.3): the reply is an EnumerateReply
-/// header followed by `count` ChildEntry records.
-pub const Enumerate = extern struct {
-    operation: u8 = @intFromEnum(Operation.enumerate),
-    reserved0: u8 = 0,
-    reserved1: u16 = 0,
-    reserved2: u32 = 0,
-};
-
-pub const EnumerateReply = extern struct {
-    status: i32,
-    /// ChildEntry records following this header.
-    count: u32,
-};
-
+/// One record of the reserved `enumerate` reply: the manager's mirror, one
+/// entry per known child, packed into the reply tail. The count is
+/// `Status.len / @sizeOf(ChildEntry)` — the envelope's reply length says how
+/// many arrived, so no count header is spent on saying it twice.
 pub const ChildEntry = extern struct {
     parent: u64,
     bus_address: u64,
     identity: u64,
 };
 
-/// An application subscribing to published add/remove events (the input-service
-/// pattern): the subscriber's endpoint rides as the call's **capability**, and
-/// events arrive on it as buffered messages whose payload is the same
-/// ChildAdded / ChildRemoved struct the bus drivers send — one encoding, both
-/// directions.
-pub const Subscribe = extern struct {
-    operation: u8 = @intFromEnum(Operation.subscribe),
-    reserved0: u8 = 0,
-    reserved1: u16 = 0,
-    reserved2: u32 = 0,
-};
+/// How many `ChildEntry` records one `enumerate` reply can carry. Paging joins
+/// the protocol if a tree ever outgrows one packet.
+pub const entries_per_reply: usize = (envelope.packet_maximum - envelope.prefix_size) / @sizeOf(ChildEntry);
 
-/// Upper bound on any message in this protocol — sizes the endpoint buffers.
-/// Capped by the kernel's IPC MESSAGE_MAXIMUM (256): an EnumerateReply carries
-/// up to ten ChildEntry records per call, plenty for the mirror's current
-/// bounds; paging joins the protocol if a tree ever outgrows one message.
-pub const message_maximum = 256;
+pub const Protocol = envelope.Define(.{
+    .name = "device-manager",
+    .version = version,
+    .operations = &.{
+        // The driver-facing half. `enumerate` and `subscribe` are not here: they
+        // are the reserved verbs, which mean the same thing at every provider.
+        .{ .name = "hello", .request = Hello },
+        .{ .name = "child_added", .request = ChildAdded },
+        .{ .name = "child_removed", .request = ChildRemoved },
+    },
+    .events = &.{
+        // The watcher-facing half — the same two structs, pushed rather than
+        // called, in the events' own numbering space.
+        .{ .name = "child_added", .payload = ChildAdded },
+        .{ .name = "child_removed", .payload = ChildRemoved },
+    },
+});
+
+pub const Operation = Protocol.Operation;
+pub const Event = Protocol.Event;
+
+/// What the manager sizes its buffers to — the call floor, as every protocol does.
+pub const message_maximum: usize = Protocol.message_maximum;
+
+test "a tree report fits the push floor with the header folded in" {
+    // The dual-use struct is the tight one: `child_added` is both a call and an
+    // event, and the event floor is 64 bytes *including* the header. Forty-one
+    // bytes of content, rounded to 48 by the three u64s' alignment, plus the
+    // 16-byte header — exactly on the floor, which is what folding the operation
+    // byte and the device id out of the payload bought.
+    try std.testing.expectEqual(@as(usize, 48), @sizeOf(ChildAdded));
+    try std.testing.expectEqual(envelope.post_maximum, Protocol.event_maximum);
+    try std.testing.expect(Protocol.event_maximum <= envelope.post_maximum);
+    // Ten records per enumerate reply — what the old count-header layout carried.
+    try std.testing.expectEqual(@as(usize, 10), entries_per_reply);
+}
+
+test "the verb and event numbering, and the device id in the header" {
+    try std.testing.expectEqual(@as(u32, 16), @intFromEnum(Operation.hello));
+    try std.testing.expectEqual(@as(u32, 17), @intFromEnum(Operation.child_added));
+    try std.testing.expectEqual(@as(u32, 18), @intFromEnum(Operation.child_removed));
+    // Events number in their own space, so the same two reports start at 16 too.
+    try std.testing.expectEqual(@as(u32, 16), @intFromEnum(Event.child_added));
+    try std.testing.expectEqual(@as(u32, 17), @intFromEnum(Event.child_removed));
+    // The manager's own enumerate/subscribe became the RESERVED verbs, below the
+    // protocol range entirely.
+    try std.testing.expectEqual(@as(u32, 1), envelope.operation_enumerate);
+    try std.testing.expectEqual(@as(u32, 2), envelope.operation_subscribe);
+
+    var buffer: [message_maximum]u8 = undefined;
+    const hello = Protocol.encodeRequest(.hello, 7, .{ .role = @intFromEnum(Role.bus) }, &.{}, &buffer).?;
+    try std.testing.expectEqual(@as(u64, 7), envelope.headerOf(hello).?.target);
+    try std.testing.expectEqual(@as(u16, 1), Protocol.decodeRequest(.hello, hello).?.version);
+}
+
+test "one struct, two numbers: the report a bus calls and the event a watcher is pushed" {
+    const report = ChildAdded{
+        .parent = 3,
+        .bus_address = 1,
+        .identity = 0x030000,
+        .bus = @intFromEnum(BusKind.pci),
+        .vendor = 0x1AF4,
+    };
+
+    var call: [message_maximum]u8 = undefined;
+    const called = Protocol.encodeRequest(.child_added, 42, report, &.{}, &call).?;
+    try std.testing.expectEqual(Operation.child_added, Protocol.operationOf(called).?);
+    try std.testing.expectEqual(@as(u64, 42), envelope.headerOf(called).?.target);
+
+    var push: [envelope.post_maximum]u8 = undefined;
+    const pushed = Protocol.encodeEvent(.child_added, 42, report, &push).?;
+    try std.testing.expectEqual(envelope.post_maximum, pushed.len);
+    try std.testing.expectEqual(Event.child_added, Protocol.eventOf(pushed).?);
+    try std.testing.expectEqual(@as(u16, 0x1AF4), Protocol.decodeEvent(.child_added, pushed).?.vendor);
+    // Same bytes after the prefix, different verb in it — the direction is what
+    // tells a call from a push, and the numbering spaces never collide.
+    try std.testing.expectEqualSlices(u8, called[envelope.prefix_size..], pushed[envelope.prefix_size..]);
+}
diff --git a/library/protocol/display/display-protocol.zig b/library/protocol/display/display-protocol.zig
index 11ead14..2898568 100644
--- a/library/protocol/display/display-protocol.zig
+++ b/library/protocol/display/display-protocol.zig
@@ -1,93 +1,137 @@
-//! The display wire protocol — what a client says to the display service over its
-//! well-known `.display` endpoint. extern-struct messages with an `Operation` tag, the
-//! same shape as block/vfs/input protocols. The compositor owns the framebuffer and an
-//! ordered stack of **layers**; a client creates layers, draws into them with these
-//! operations, marks damage, and asks for a `present`. v1 surfaces are server-owned (a
-//! client draws by command); shared-memory surfaces are a later milestone (docs/display.md).
+//! The display wire protocol — what a client says to the display service over
+//! `/protocol/display`. The compositor owns the framebuffer and an ordered stack of
+//! **layers**; a client creates layers, draws into them with these operations, marks damage,
+//! and asks for a `present`. v1 surfaces are server-owned (a client draws by command);
+//! shared-memory surfaces are a later milestone (docs/display.md).
+//!
+//! **`Header.target` is the layer** on every verb that names one — the field that used to be
+//! `Request.layer`. `info`, `present`, `set_mode`, `get_modes` and `attach_scanout` address
+//! the compositor itself, so they leave it 0.
+//!
+//! Every verb carries its own request type. The single overloaded 40-byte request this
+//! protocol used to have is gone, and with it the field abuse it invited: `attach_scanout`
+//! spent `x` on a stride, `y` on a refresh rate and `colour` on a pixel format, which no
+//! reader could have guessed and no compiler could have caught.
 
+const envelope = @import("envelope");
 const std = @import("std");
 
-pub const Operation = enum(u32) {
-    /// info() -> { width, height, pitch, format }: the display's current mode.
-    info = 0,
-    /// create_layer(x, y, width, height, z) -> { layer }: a new server-owned surface.
-    create_layer = 1,
-    /// configure_layer(layer, x, y, z, visible): move, restack, show, or hide a layer.
-    configure_layer = 2,
-    /// destroy_layer(layer): release a layer.
-    destroy_layer = 3,
-    /// fill_rect(layer, x, y, width, height, colour): fill a rectangle of a layer.
-    fill_rect = 4,
-    /// blit_tile(layer, x, y, width, height, <inline pixels>): copy a small pixel tile in.
-    blit_tile = 5,
-    /// damage(layer, x, y, width, height): mark a region dirty for the next present.
-    damage = 6,
-    /// present(): composite the dirty layers and flush to the screen.
-    present = 7,
-    /// attach_scanout(x=stride, y=refresh_hz, width, height, colour=format) + <surface
-    /// capability>: a native scanout driver announces itself, handing over the shared scanout
-    /// surface as an `ipc_call` send_cap. The compositor maps it, looks up the driver's
-    /// `.scanout` present channel, and upgrades off the GOP floor (docs/display-v2.md V4).
-    /// `x` is the surface's row stride in pixels, `y` the panel refresh rate from the
-    /// driver's EDID read (0 = unknown; paces the compositor's frame clock), `colour` the
-    /// DisplayFormat.
-    attach_scanout = 8,
-    /// set_mode(width, height): change the display resolution — only a native backend that
-    /// reports `canModeSet` honours it; on the GOP floor it fails (docs/display-v2.md V5).
-    set_mode = 9,
-    /// get_modes() -> ModesReply: the resolutions the display can switch to (empty on GOP).
-    get_modes = 10,
-};
-
-/// The fixed request header. A `blit_tile`'s pixel payload (width*height 32-bit pixels)
-/// follows this header inline in the same message, up to `maximum_payload`.
-pub const Request = extern struct {
-    operation: u32,
-    layer: u32 = 0, // create/configure/destroy/fill/blit/damage: the target layer
-    x: u32 = 0,
-    y: u32 = 0,
+/// The answer to `info()`: the display's current mode.
+pub const Info = extern struct {
     width: u32 = 0,
     height: u32 = 0,
-    z: u32 = 0, // create_layer / configure_layer: stacking order (higher = in front)
-    colour: u32 = 0, // fill_rect: the fill colour (native pixel value)
-    visible: u32 = 1, // configure_layer: 0 hides the layer
-    reserved: u32 = 0,
-};
-
-pub const Reply = extern struct {
-    status: i32, // 0 on success, negative on failure
-    reserved: u32 = 0,
-    // info():
-    width: u32 = 0,
-    height: u32 = 0,
-    pitch: u32 = 0,
+    pitch: u32 = 0, // bytes per row (may exceed width*4)
     format: u32 = 0, // a device-abi DisplayFormat value (0 = rgbx, 1 = bgrx)
-    // create_layer():
-    layer: u32 = 0,
-    reserved2: u32 = 0,
 };
 
+/// `create_layer(...)`: a new server-owned surface. Coordinates are signed — a layer may sit
+/// partly off-screen.
+pub const CreateLayer = extern struct {
+    x: i32,
+    y: i32,
+    width: u32,
+    height: u32,
+    z: u32 = 0, // stacking order (higher = nearer the front)
+    visible: u32 = 1,
+};
+
+/// The layer a `create_layer` established — the integer later packets put in `Header.target`.
+pub const Created = extern struct { layer: u32 };
+
+/// `configure_layer(...)` on `Header.target`: move, restack, show, or hide it.
+pub const ConfigureLayer = extern struct {
+    x: i32,
+    y: i32,
+    z: u32 = 0,
+    visible: u32 = 1, // 0 hides the layer
+};
+
+/// `fill_rect(...)` on `Header.target`: fill a layer-local rectangle with a native pixel value.
+pub const FillRect = extern struct {
+    x: i32,
+    y: i32,
+    width: u32,
+    height: u32,
+    colour: u32,
+};
+
+/// `blit_tile(...)` on `Header.target`: copy a `width`×`height` tile of native pixels
+/// (row-major, little-endian) into the layer. The pixels ride inline as the packet's tail,
+/// up to `maximum_payload`.
+pub const BlitTile = extern struct {
+    x: i32,
+    y: i32,
+    width: u32,
+    height: u32,
+};
+
+/// `damage(...)` on `Header.target`: mark a layer-local region dirty for the next present.
+pub const Damage = extern struct {
+    x: i32,
+    y: i32,
+    width: u32,
+    height: u32,
+};
+
+/// `attach_scanout(...)` + the shared surface as the call's capability: a native scanout
+/// driver announces itself. The compositor maps the surface, opens the driver's
+/// `/protocol/scanout` present channel, and upgrades off the GOP floor (docs/display-v2.md
+/// V4). Each field says what it is, which the old shared request could not.
+pub const AttachScanout = extern struct {
+    /// The surface's row stride in pixels (it is sized to the driver's largest mode).
+    stride: u32,
+    /// The active mode within that surface.
+    width: u32,
+    height: u32,
+    /// A device-abi DisplayFormat value.
+    format: u32,
+    /// The panel refresh rate from the driver's EDID read (0 = unknown); it paces the
+    /// compositor's frame clock.
+    refresh_hz: u32 = 0,
+};
+
+/// `set_mode(width, height)`: change the display resolution — only a native backend that
+/// reports `canModeSet` honours it; on the GOP floor it fails (docs/display-v2.md V5).
+pub const SetMode = extern struct { width: u32, height: u32 };
+
 /// One selectable display mode.
 pub const Mode = extern struct { width: u32, height: u32 };
 pub const max_modes = 4;
 
-/// The reply to `get_modes`: a small fixed list of resolutions the display can switch to.
-pub const ModesReply = extern struct {
-    status: i32,
-    count: u32,
-    modes: [max_modes]Mode,
+/// The answer to `get_modes`: the resolutions the display can switch to (empty on GOP).
+pub const Modes = extern struct {
+    count: u32 = 0,
+    _padding: u32 = 0,
+    modes: [max_modes]Mode = @splat(.{ .width = 0, .height = 0 }),
 };
-pub const modes_reply_size: usize = @sizeOf(ModesReply);
 
-/// The IPC message size — the kernel caps every message at `MESSAGE_MAXIMUM` (256 bytes,
-/// system/kernel/ipc-synchronous.zig), so this matches it (a larger receive/reply buffer
-/// is rejected with -E2BIG). A `blit_tile` therefore carries only a *small* tile inline —
-/// `maximum_payload` bytes = up to 54 pixels, enough for a cursor or small sprite; larger
-/// bitmaps are the deferred shared-memory surface path (docs/display.md).
-pub const message_maximum: usize = 256;
-pub const request_size: usize = @sizeOf(Request);
-pub const reply_size: usize = @sizeOf(Reply);
-pub const maximum_payload: usize = message_maximum - request_size;
+pub const Protocol = envelope.Define(.{
+    .name = "display",
+    .version = 1,
+    .operations = &.{
+        .{ .name = "info", .reply = Info },
+        .{ .name = "create_layer", .request = CreateLayer, .reply = Created },
+        .{ .name = "configure_layer", .request = ConfigureLayer },
+        .{ .name = "destroy_layer" },
+        .{ .name = "fill_rect", .request = FillRect },
+        .{ .name = "blit_tile", .request = BlitTile },
+        .{ .name = "damage", .request = Damage },
+        .{ .name = "present" },
+        .{ .name = "attach_scanout", .request = AttachScanout },
+        .{ .name = "set_mode", .request = SetMode },
+        .{ .name = "get_modes", .reply = Modes },
+    },
+});
+
+pub const Operation = Protocol.Operation;
+pub const message_maximum: usize = Protocol.message_maximum;
+
+/// The largest inline pixel tile a `blit_tile` may carry: the call floor less the header and
+/// this verb's own fixed part — 224 bytes, up to 56 pixels, enough for a cursor or a small
+/// sprite. Larger bitmaps are the deferred shared-memory surface path (docs/display.md).
+/// Per-verb rather than protocol-wide, because with per-operation requests there is no
+/// single "request size" to subtract any more.
+pub const maximum_payload: usize = envelope.packet_maximum - envelope.prefix_size - @sizeOf(BlitTile);
 
 /// Pack an 8-bit-per-channel colour into the display's native 32-bit pixel for `format`
 /// (a device-abi `DisplayFormat`: 0 = rgbx, 1 = bgrx). Shared so a `colour` in a
@@ -113,3 +157,15 @@ test "pack encodes native byte order for rgbx and bgrx" {
     try std.testing.expectEqual(@as(u32, 0x00AA_0000), pack(1, 0xAA, 0, 0));
     try std.testing.expectEqual(@as(u32, 0x0000_3020), pack(0, 0x20, 0x30, 0)); // green in byte 1
 }
+
+test "the layer rides the header, and the blit tile grew with the split" {
+    var buffer: [message_maximum]u8 = undefined;
+    const pixels = [_]u8{0xFF} ** 16;
+    const packet = Protocol.encodeRequest(.blit_tile, 3, .{ .x = 1, .y = 2, .width = 2, .height = 2 }, &pixels, &buffer).?;
+    try std.testing.expectEqual(@as(u64, 3), envelope.headerOf(packet).?.target);
+    try std.testing.expectEqual(@as(i32, 1), Protocol.decodeRequest(.blit_tile, packet).?.x);
+    try std.testing.expectEqual(@as(usize, 16), Protocol.requestTail(.blit_tile, packet).len);
+    // 216 bytes under the old 40-byte shared request; the header plus this
+    // verb's own four fields is 32.
+    try std.testing.expectEqual(@as(usize, 224), maximum_payload);
+}
diff --git a/library/protocol/envelope/envelope.zig b/library/protocol/envelope/envelope.zig
index b82b14a..7c00b8d 100644
--- a/library/protocol/envelope/envelope.zig
+++ b/library/protocol/envelope/envelope.zig
@@ -72,6 +72,41 @@ pub const operation_subscribe: u32 = 2; // capability = the subscriber's endpoin
 pub const operation_unsubscribe: u32 = 3;
 pub const first_protocol_operation: u32 = 16;
 
+/// The optional body of a reserved `subscribe`: **which** of a provider's events
+/// the subscriber wants, as a bit mask whose meaning the protocol defines (the
+/// input service's device classes are the model). A reserved verb carries no
+/// typed request, so this rides the packet's tail — and zero, which is also what
+/// a subscribe that sent no body at all reads as, means *every* event.
+///
+/// The mask lives here rather than in each protocol because the subscriber
+/// machinery is the service harness's (library/kernel/service.zig): the harness
+/// records the number, the protocol decides what its bits mean, and neither has
+/// to know the other.
+pub const Subscription = extern struct { interest: u32 = 0 };
+
+/// Frame a `subscribe` request. The subscriber's own endpoint travels as the
+/// call's *capability*, never in the packet — that is what makes the reverse
+/// path unforgeable.
+pub fn encodeSubscribe(interest: u32, buffer: []u8) ?[]u8 {
+    const header = Header{ .operation = operation_subscribe };
+    const body = Subscription{ .interest = interest };
+    return frame(std.mem.asBytes(&header), std.mem.asBytes(&body), &.{}, buffer);
+}
+
+/// Frame a bare `unsubscribe`: it names no event and no endpoint, because it
+/// means "every subscription this task holds here" (one task, one voice).
+pub fn encodeUnsubscribe(buffer: []u8) ?[]u8 {
+    const header = Header{ .operation = operation_unsubscribe };
+    return frame(std.mem.asBytes(&header), &.{}, &.{}, buffer);
+}
+
+/// The interest mask out of a `subscribe` packet's tail, on the provider's side.
+/// A caller that sent no mask reads as the every-event mask.
+pub fn decodeSubscribe(tail: []const u8) Subscription {
+    if (tail.len < @sizeOf(Subscription)) return .{};
+    return std.mem.bytesToValue(Subscription, tail[0..@sizeOf(Subscription)]);
+}
+
 /// The `describe` reply's fixed part, followed inline by `name_len` bytes of the
 /// protocol's name. This is the version handshake: the version is asked for
 /// once, at connect time, rather than re-carried by every packet out of a
@@ -876,6 +911,21 @@ test "a truncated packet answers -EPROTO" {
 // operation with `.request = extern struct { bytes: [241]u8 }`, or an event with
 // `.payload = extern struct { bytes: [49]u8 }`, fails to compile with the
 // protocol, the verb, and the two numbers named in the message.
+test "a subscribe carries its interest mask in the reserved verb's tail" {
+    var buffer: [packet_maximum]u8 = undefined;
+    const packet = encodeSubscribe(0b101, &buffer).?;
+    try testing.expectEqual(operation_subscribe, headerOf(packet).?.operation);
+    try testing.expectEqual(@as(u32, 0b101), decodeSubscribe(packet[prefix_size..]).interest);
+    // No body at all — and a body too short to be one — read as "every event",
+    // which is what a subscriber that named nothing wants.
+    try testing.expectEqual(@as(u32, 0), decodeSubscribe(&.{}).interest);
+    try testing.expectEqual(@as(u32, 0), decodeSubscribe(&.{ 1, 2 }).interest);
+
+    const bare = encodeUnsubscribe(&buffer).?;
+    try testing.expectEqual(operation_unsubscribe, headerOf(bare).?.operation);
+    try testing.expectEqual(prefix_size, bare.len);
+}
+
 test "the floor counts the header once, and the boundary is exact" {
     try testing.expect(fitsPacket(extern struct { bytes: [240]u8 }));
     try testing.expect(!fitsPacket(extern struct { bytes: [241]u8 }));
diff --git a/library/protocol/input/input-protocol.zig b/library/protocol/input/input-protocol.zig
index 885c60e..c15757f 100644
--- a/library/protocol/input/input-protocol.zig
+++ b/library/protocol/input/input-protocol.zig
@@ -4,25 +4,30 @@
 //! **subscriber** (any program) that subscribes and is then pushed each event.
 //!
 //! The service handles several device classes over one endpoint. Each class has its own
-//! typed event (`KeyEvent`, `MouseEvent`, `JoystickEvent`); they all travel in a common
-//! `InputEvent` envelope tagged with a `DeviceKind`, so the fan-out path is one code path
-//! and a subscriber can take a mix of devices on a single stream. A subscriber declares
-//! which classes it wants with a `device_mask`, and the service routes accordingly.
+//! typed event (`KeyEvent`, `MouseEvent`, `JoystickEvent`); a subscriber declares which
+//! classes it wants with a `device_mask`, and the service routes accordingly.
 //!
-//! Two message shapes ride over the endpoint, tagged by `Operation`, like the
-//! [VFS protocol](../vfs/protocol.zig):
+//! Three shapes ride over the channel, and the envelope names all three
+//! (docs/os-development/protocol-namespace.md):
 //!
-//! - **subscribe / publish**: a synchronous `ipc_call` carrying a `Request`. `subscribe`
-//!   hands the service the subscriber's own endpoint as a capability (`send_cap`) and a
-//!   `device_mask`; `publish` carries an `InputEvent`. The reply is a `Reply`.
-//! - **delivery**: the service pushes each `InputEvent` to every interested subscriber with
-//!   the asynchronous `ipc_send` — no reply owed, and a dead subscriber can never stall the
-//!   broadcast. Received in the subscriber's buffer with `Received.isMessage()` set.
+//! - **subscribe** is the *reserved* verb, not one of this protocol's own: its shape — a
+//!   synchronous call whose attached capability is the subscriber's endpoint — is exactly
+//!   what `envelope.operation_subscribe` means everywhere. The interest mask travels as the
+//!   packet's tail (`envelope.Subscription`), because a reserved verb carries no typed
+//!   request; what this protocol supplies is the *meaning* of its bits — the device classes.
+//! - **publish** is this protocol's one verb: a source sends one `InputEvent` and the
+//!   service answers at once, so publishing never blocks on a slow subscriber.
+//! - **delivery** is an event push: the service `ipc_send`s each event to every interested
+//!   subscriber — no reply owed, so a dead subscriber can never stall the broadcast. The
+//!   packet is the folded header plus the typed event, and **the device class is the
+//!   header's operation**: one event per class, so a subscriber reads the kind from the
+//!   packet rather than from a tag inside the payload.
 //!
-//! This is a danos-native contract, shared by the input service, the `runtime.input`
-//! client helpers, and every source/subscriber. Everything fits one IPC message.
+//! `Header.target` is unused (0) in both directions: the service is the only object either
+//! side addresses.
 
 const std = @import("std");
+const envelope = @import("envelope");
 
 /// The classes of input device the service fans out. Each names a typed event and a bit in
 /// the subscription mask.
@@ -242,14 +247,17 @@ pub const JoystickEvent = extern struct {
     buttons: u32, // current pressed-button bitmask
 };
 
-// --- the common envelope ----------------------------------------------------
+// --- the tagged union of the three ------------------------------------------
 
 /// The largest per-device event, so `InputEvent` can hold any of them inline.
 pub const max_event_size: usize = @max(@sizeOf(KeyEvent), @max(@sizeOf(MouseEvent), @sizeOf(JoystickEvent)));
 
-/// The tagged envelope broadcast to subscribers: a `DeviceKind` plus the raw bytes of the
-/// matching per-device event. Decode it with `asKeyboard`/`asMouse`/`asJoystick` (each
-/// returns null unless `device` matches), or build one with the `from*` constructors.
+/// One event of any class: a `DeviceKind` plus the raw bytes of the matching per-device
+/// event. This is what a source `publish`es (one verb for all three classes) and what a
+/// subscriber's helper hands back after decoding a delivery — on the *delivery* wire the
+/// class is the packet header's operation instead, so this tag never travels there. Decode
+/// it with `asKeyboard`/`asMouse`/`asJoystick` (each returns null unless `device` matches),
+/// or build one with the `from*` constructors.
 pub const InputEvent = extern struct {
     device: u32, // a DeviceKind
     _padding: u32 = 0,
@@ -285,35 +293,88 @@ pub const InputEvent = extern struct {
     }
 };
 
-// --- request / reply --------------------------------------------------------
+// --- the contract -----------------------------------------------------------
 
-/// Which side of a request this is.
-pub const Operation = enum(u32) {
-    subscribe = 0, // register the caller's endpoint (send_cap) for the classes in device_mask
-    publish = 1, // a source submits `event` to broadcast to interested subscribers
-};
+pub const Protocol = envelope.Define(.{
+    .name = "input",
+    .version = 1,
+    .operations = &.{
+        // A source submits one event; the service broadcasts it to whoever wants that class.
+        .{ .name = "publish", .request = InputEvent },
+    },
+    .events = &.{
+        // One per device class: the class is the packet's operation, the typed event its
+        // payload. The push floor is 64 bytes and the header spends 16 of them, so the
+        // widest of these — the 28-byte mouse event — leaves the budget with room to spare.
+        .{ .name = "keyboard", .payload = KeyEvent },
+        .{ .name = "mouse", .payload = MouseEvent },
+        .{ .name = "joystick", .payload = JoystickEvent },
+    },
+});
 
-/// Request header. For `subscribe`, `device_mask` is the OR of `device_*` bits the caller
-/// wants (0 means all) and the caller's receive endpoint travels as the call's capability;
-/// `event` is ignored. For `publish`, `event` is the event to broadcast.
-pub const Request = extern struct {
-    operation: u32, // an Operation
-    device_mask: u32 = 0, // subscribe: interested device classes (0 => all)
-    event: InputEvent = .{ .device = 0 },
-};
-
-/// Reply header. `status` is 0 on success or a negative errno.
-pub const Reply = extern struct {
-    status: i32,
-    _padding: u32 = 0,
-};
-
-pub const request_size: usize = @sizeOf(Request);
-pub const reply_size: usize = @sizeOf(Reply);
+pub const Operation = Protocol.Operation;
+pub const Event = Protocol.Event;
+pub const message_maximum: usize = Protocol.message_maximum;
 pub const event_size: usize = @sizeOf(InputEvent);
 
-comptime {
-    // The delivery path posts a bare InputEvent through ipc_send, so it must fit an
-    // endpoint's async payload slot (POST_MAXIMUM is 64).
-    if (event_size > 64) @compileError("InputEvent must fit the ipc_send payload (POST_MAXIMUM)");
+/// The event class a `DeviceKind` value (as it appears in `InputEvent.device`) is delivered
+/// as. Null for a value no class claims, which is delivered to nobody.
+pub fn eventOfDevice(device: u32) ?Event {
+    return switch (device) {
+        @intFromEnum(DeviceKind.keyboard) => .keyboard,
+        @intFromEnum(DeviceKind.mouse) => .mouse,
+        @intFromEnum(DeviceKind.joystick) => .joystick,
+        else => null,
+    };
+}
+
+/// Frame a `subscribe` request: the reserved verb's header, then the interest mask. Null if
+/// the buffer is too small. The mask itself is the envelope's `Subscription` — the interest
+/// a reserved subscribe carries is universal, and the *meaning* of its bits (here: the
+/// device classes above) is what each protocol supplies. Kept as a named helper because
+/// `device_mask` is what an input caller calls it.
+pub fn encodeSubscribe(device_mask: u32, buffer: []u8) ?[]u8 {
+    return envelope.encodeSubscribe(device_mask, buffer);
+}
+
+test "an event of every class fits the push floor, header included" {
+    // What the hand-rolled comptime assert used to say about `InputEvent`, now
+    // said by `Define` about each typed event — and counting the header, which
+    // the old check did not.
+    try std.testing.expectEqual(envelope.prefix_size + @sizeOf(MouseEvent), Protocol.event_maximum);
+    try std.testing.expect(Protocol.event_maximum <= envelope.post_maximum);
+}
+
+test "the verb numbering, and the class an event carries" {
+    try std.testing.expectEqual(@as(u32, 16), @intFromEnum(Operation.publish));
+    // Events number in their own space, so the three classes start at 16 too.
+    try std.testing.expectEqual(@as(u32, 16), @intFromEnum(Event.keyboard));
+    try std.testing.expectEqual(@as(u32, 17), @intFromEnum(Event.mouse));
+    try std.testing.expectEqual(@as(u32, 18), @intFromEnum(Event.joystick));
+    // subscribe is the RESERVED verb, below the protocol range entirely.
+    try std.testing.expectEqual(@as(u32, 2), envelope.operation_subscribe);
+
+    var buffer: [envelope.post_maximum]u8 = undefined;
+    const packet = Protocol.encodeEvent(.mouse, 0, .{
+        .kind = @intFromEnum(MouseEventKind.motion),
+        .button = 0,
+        .dx = 3,
+        .dy = -4,
+        .scroll_x = 0,
+        .scroll_y = 0,
+        .buttons = 0,
+    }, &buffer).?;
+    try std.testing.expectEqual(Event.mouse, Protocol.eventOf(packet).?);
+    try std.testing.expectEqual(@as(i32, -4), Protocol.decodeEvent(.mouse, packet).?.dy);
+}
+
+test "a subscribe carries its mask in the tail of the reserved verb" {
+    var buffer: [envelope.packet_maximum]u8 = undefined;
+    const packet = encodeSubscribe(device_mouse, &buffer).?;
+    try std.testing.expectEqual(envelope.operation_subscribe, envelope.headerOf(packet).?.operation);
+    // The provider side of this is the service harness's, which reads the same
+    // interest mask out of the tail for every protocol.
+    try std.testing.expectEqual(device_mouse, envelope.decodeSubscribe(packet[envelope.prefix_size..]).interest);
+    // A caller that sent nothing at all reads as the every-class mask.
+    try std.testing.expectEqual(@as(u32, 0), envelope.decodeSubscribe(&.{}).interest);
 }
diff --git a/library/protocol/power/power-protocol.zig b/library/protocol/power/power-protocol.zig
index 8df00bc..6424b9a 100644
--- a/library/protocol/power/power-protocol.zig
+++ b/library/protocol/power/power-protocol.zig
@@ -1,70 +1,104 @@
-//! The power protocol (docs/power.md): system power's domain-named surface,
-//! bound at `/protocol/power`. On x86 the acpi service provides it; on ARM a
-//! PSCI/mailbox service will bind the same name — subscribers never learn which
-//! firmware they are on (docs/discovery.md — firmware neutrality), which is the
-//! whole point of naming the contract rather than the provider
-//! (docs/os-development/protocol-namespace.md).
-//! The vfs-protocol pattern: extern-struct messages, a version, reserved fields.
+//! The power protocol (docs/os-development/power.md): system power's
+//! domain-named surface, bound at `/protocol/power`. On x86 the acpi service
+//! provides it; on ARM a PSCI/mailbox service will bind the same name —
+//! subscribers never learn which firmware they are on (docs/discovery.md —
+//! firmware neutrality), which is the whole point of naming the contract rather
+//! than the provider (docs/os-development/protocol-namespace.md).
+//!
+//! Defined through the envelope, so every packet begins with the folded
+//! `Header`. Three shapes ride the channel, and the envelope names all three:
+//!
+//! - **subscribe** is the *reserved* verb, not one of this protocol's own: a
+//!   synchronous call whose attached capability is the subscriber's endpoint is
+//!   exactly what `envelope.operation_subscribe` means everywhere.
+//! - **shutdown** is this protocol's one verb — the only operation that *does*
+//!   something irreversible, and the reason the provider gates it by badge.
+//! - **the events** are pushes: the service `ipc_send`s each one to every
+//!   subscriber, no reply owed, so a slow or dead subscriber can never wedge the
+//!   source. **The kind is the packet's operation** — one declared event per
+//!   named kind, exactly as the input protocol delivers one per device class —
+//!   so a subscriber reads *what happened* out of the header instead of a tag
+//!   inside the payload. That is what the old `EventMessage`'s two leading bytes
+//!   (an operation byte saying "this is an event", then the kind) fold into.
+//!
+//! `Header.target` is unused (0) in both directions: the provider is the only
+//! object either side addresses. And no packet carries a version any more — the
+//! reserved `describe` verb is the version handshake, asked once at connect time
+//! rather than re-carried out of every packet's budget.
 
-/// The protocol version a client states nowhere yet — reserved for the day a
-/// handshake needs it; requests carry it so a mismatch can be refused loudly.
-pub const version: u16 = 1;
+const std = @import("std");
+const envelope = @import("envelope");
 
-pub const Operation = enum(u8) {
-    /// Subscribe to power events: the subscriber's endpoint rides as the
-    /// call's capability (the input/device-manager pattern); events arrive on
-    /// it as buffered messages carrying an `EventMessage`.
-    subscribe = 1,
-    /// Orderly shutdown's last step: enter S5. Accepted only from PID 1
-    /// (init) — the process that has already run the stop sequence over
-    /// everything else.
-    shutdown = 2,
-    /// The published event payload (never sent *to* the service).
-    event = 3,
-};
-
-/// What happened. The vocabulary is hardware-neutral: a lid is a lid whether
-/// ACPI or a PSCI mailbox reported it.
-pub const Event = enum(u8) {
-    power_button = 1,
-    lid = 2,
-    ac = 3,
-    battery = 4,
-    /// A device notification that maps to none of the named events — the
-    /// `code` and `hid` fields say which device and what code.
-    notify = 5,
-};
-
-pub const Subscribe = extern struct {
-    operation: u8 = @intFromEnum(Operation.subscribe),
-    reserved0: u8 = 0,
-    version: u16 = version,
-    reserved1: u32 = 0,
-};
-
-pub const Shutdown = extern struct {
-    operation: u8 = @intFromEnum(Operation.shutdown),
-    reserved0: u8 = 0,
-    version: u16 = version,
-    reserved1: u32 = 0,
-};
-
-/// A published event, as the buffered-message payload subscribers receive.
-pub const EventMessage = extern struct {
-    operation: u8 = @intFromEnum(Operation.event),
-    /// An Event value.
-    event: u8,
-    reserved0: u16 = 0,
-    /// The device notification code (Notify's second argument), or 0.
+/// What a published event carries beyond its kind. The kind is the packet's
+/// operation, so nothing here repeats it; `power_button`, `lid`, `ac` and
+/// `battery` leave both fields zero and are fully described by the verb alone.
+pub const Notice = extern struct {
+    /// The device notification code (ACPI `Notify`'s second argument), or 0.
     code: u32 = 0,
     /// The notifying device's hardware id (EISA-decoded), or all zero.
     hid: [8]u8 = .{0} ** 8,
 };
 
-pub const Reply = extern struct {
-    status: i32,
-    reserved: u32 = 0,
-};
+pub const Protocol = envelope.Define(.{
+    .name = "power",
+    .version = 1,
+    .operations = &.{
+        // Orderly shutdown's last step: enter S5. Honored only from a
+        // subscriber — init, the process that has already run the stop sequence
+        // over everything else (docs/os-development/power.md, "authority, not
+        // information"). Nothing to say and nothing to answer, so the verb and
+        // the reply's `Status` are the whole exchange.
+        .{ .name = "shutdown" },
+    },
+    .events = &.{
+        // The vocabulary is hardware-neutral: a lid is a lid whether ACPI or a
+        // PSCI mailbox reported it. One event per kind, each carrying the same
+        // `Notice`, because what differs between them is which thing happened —
+        // and that is the header's job now.
+        .{ .name = "power_button", .payload = Notice },
+        .{ .name = "lid", .payload = Notice },
+        .{ .name = "ac", .payload = Notice },
+        .{ .name = "battery", .payload = Notice },
+        // A device notification that maps to none of the named events — the
+        // `code` and `hid` say which device and what happened.
+        .{ .name = "notify", .payload = Notice },
+    },
+});
 
-/// Upper bound on any message in this protocol — sizes endpoint buffers.
-pub const message_maximum = 64;
+pub const Operation = Protocol.Operation;
+
+/// What happened. The event *is* the kind: this is the generated event
+/// enumeration, re-exported under the name this protocol has always called its
+/// vocabulary, with the same members it has always had.
+pub const Event = Protocol.Event;
+
+/// What a provider and a subscriber size their buffers to. This module used to
+/// declare 64 — the *push* floor — which was simply wrong for a protocol whose
+/// requests ride `ipc_call`: a provider sizing its receive buffer to 64 refuses
+/// any caller that sends up to the floor it is entitled to.
+pub const message_maximum: usize = Protocol.message_maximum;
+
+test "the kind is the verb, and an event fits the push floor" {
+    try std.testing.expectEqual(@as(u32, 16), @intFromEnum(Operation.shutdown));
+    try std.testing.expectEqual(@as(u32, 16), @intFromEnum(Event.power_button));
+    try std.testing.expectEqual(@as(u32, 17), @intFromEnum(Event.lid));
+    try std.testing.expectEqual(@as(u32, 18), @intFromEnum(Event.ac));
+    try std.testing.expectEqual(@as(u32, 19), @intFromEnum(Event.battery));
+    try std.testing.expectEqual(@as(u32, 20), @intFromEnum(Event.notify));
+    // subscribe is the RESERVED verb, below the protocol range entirely.
+    try std.testing.expectEqual(@as(u32, 2), envelope.operation_subscribe);
+    try std.testing.expectEqual(envelope.prefix_size + @sizeOf(Notice), Protocol.event_maximum);
+    try std.testing.expect(Protocol.event_maximum <= envelope.post_maximum);
+    // The call floor, not the push floor: `shutdown` is a synchronous call.
+    try std.testing.expectEqual(envelope.packet_maximum, message_maximum);
+}
+
+test "a pushed event names its kind in the header" {
+    var buffer: [envelope.post_maximum]u8 = undefined;
+    const packet = Protocol.encodeEvent(.power_button, 0, .{}, &buffer).?;
+    try std.testing.expectEqual(Event.power_button, Protocol.eventOf(packet).?);
+
+    const notified = Protocol.encodeEvent(.notify, 0, .{ .code = 0x80, .hid = "PNP0C0A\x00".* }, &buffer).?;
+    try std.testing.expectEqual(Event.notify, Protocol.eventOf(notified).?);
+    try std.testing.expectEqual(@as(u32, 0x80), Protocol.decodeEvent(.notify, notified).?.code);
+}
diff --git a/library/protocol/scanout/scanout-protocol.zig b/library/protocol/scanout/scanout-protocol.zig
index 7182e5c..fc88ddf 100644
--- a/library/protocol/scanout/scanout-protocol.zig
+++ b/library/protocol/scanout/scanout-protocol.zig
@@ -1,49 +1,55 @@
 //! The scanout wire protocol — what the compositor says to a native scanout driver (e.g.
-//! virtio-gpu) over its well-known `.scanout` endpoint to put a composited frame on screen.
-//! The driver owns the panel and the shared scanout surface it handed the compositor (via the
-//! display service's `attach_scanout`); the compositor composites into that surface, then asks
-//! the driver to present a damaged rectangle. Tiny by design — one present request. Separate
-//! from the display protocol because the directions differ: clients call the compositor over
-//! `.display`; the compositor calls the driver over `.scanout`. See docs/display-v2.md.
+//! virtio-gpu) over `/protocol/scanout` to put a composited frame on screen. The driver owns
+//! the panel and the shared scanout surface it handed the compositor (via the display
+//! service's `attach_scanout`); the compositor composites into that surface, then asks the
+//! driver to present a damaged rectangle. Tiny by design — one present request. Separate from
+//! the display protocol because the directions differ: clients call the compositor over
+//! `/protocol/display`; the compositor calls the driver over `/protocol/scanout`. See
+//! docs/display-v2.md.
+//!
+//! One scanout per driver instance, so `Header.target` is always 0.
 
-const std = @import("std");
+const envelope = @import("envelope");
 
-pub const Operation = enum(u32) {
-    /// present(x, y, width, height): put the given rectangle of the shared scanout surface on
-    /// the panel (on virtio-gpu: transfer-to-host of the region, then a fenced resource flush).
-    present = 0,
-    /// get_modes() -> ModesReply: the display modes this scanout can switch to (V5).
-    get_modes = 1,
-    /// set_mode(width, height): change the scanout resolution — the shared surface is sized to
-    /// the largest mode, so this just re-points the scanout rectangle; the surface is unchanged.
-    set_mode = 2,
-};
-
-pub const Request = extern struct {
-    operation: u32,
+/// `present(rect)`: put the given rectangle of the shared scanout surface on the panel (on
+/// virtio-gpu: transfer-to-host of the region, then a fenced resource flush).
+pub const Present = extern struct {
     x: u32 = 0,
     y: u32 = 0,
     width: u32 = 0,
     height: u32 = 0,
 };
 
-pub const Reply = extern struct {
-    status: i32, // 0 on success, negative on failure
-    reserved: u32 = 0,
-};
+/// `set_mode(width, height)`: change the scanout resolution — the shared surface is sized to
+/// the largest mode, so this just re-points the scanout rectangle; the surface is unchanged.
+pub const SetMode = extern struct { width: u32, height: u32 };
 
 /// One offered display mode.
 pub const Mode = extern struct { width: u32, height: u32 };
 pub const max_modes = 4;
 
-/// The reply to `get_modes`: a small fixed list of modes.
-pub const ModesReply = extern struct {
-    status: i32,
-    count: u32,
-    modes: [max_modes]Mode,
+/// The answer to `get_modes`: a small fixed list of modes. The success/failure verdict is
+/// the reply's `Status`, so this carries only the modes.
+pub const Modes = extern struct {
+    count: u32 = 0,
+    _padding: u32 = 0,
+    modes: [max_modes]Mode = @splat(.{ .width = 0, .height = 0 }),
 };
 
-pub const message_maximum: usize = 64;
-pub const request_size: usize = @sizeOf(Request);
-pub const reply_size: usize = @sizeOf(Reply);
-pub const modes_reply_size: usize = @sizeOf(ModesReply);
+pub const Protocol = envelope.Define(.{
+    .name = "scanout",
+    .version = 1,
+    .operations = &.{
+        .{ .name = "present", .request = Present },
+        .{ .name = "get_modes", .reply = Modes },
+        .{ .name = "set_mode", .request = SetMode },
+    },
+});
+
+pub const Operation = Protocol.Operation;
+
+/// The call floor, like every synchronous protocol. This module used to declare
+/// 64 — the *push* floor — which was simply wrong: nothing here is pushed, and a
+/// provider sizing its receive buffer to 64 refuses (`-E2BIG`) any caller that
+/// sends up to the floor it is entitled to.
+pub const message_maximum: usize = Protocol.message_maximum;
diff --git a/library/protocol/usb-transfer/usb-transfer-protocol.zig b/library/protocol/usb-transfer/usb-transfer-protocol.zig
index 3f40b26..f23d404 100644
--- a/library/protocol/usb-transfer/usb-transfer-protocol.zig
+++ b/library/protocol/usb-transfer/usb-transfer-protocol.zig
@@ -1,57 +1,66 @@
 //! The USB transfer protocol: what a USB class driver (a keyboard, mouse, or
-//! mass-storage driver) says to the xHCI bus driver over its well-known
-//! `.usb_bus` endpoint to drive its device. The class driver owns no hardware —
-//! it reaches its device entirely through these messages, the way a PS/2 keyboard
-//! driver reaches the 8042 through the ps2-bus. Extern-struct messages tagged by
-//! `Operation`, the vfs-protocol / device-manager-protocol pattern.
+//! mass-storage driver) says to the xHCI bus driver over `/protocol/usb-transfer`
+//! to drive its device. The class driver owns no hardware — it reaches its device
+//! entirely through these packets, the way a PS/2 keyboard driver reaches the
+//! 8042 through the ps2-bus.
+//!
+//! Defined through the envelope (docs/os-development/protocol-namespace.md), so
+//! every packet begins with the folded `Header`. **`Header.target` is the device
+//! token** — the per-open handle the bus driver hands back, which every request
+//! but `open` addressed through a `device_token` field of its own before the
+//! rebase. `open` itself addresses the *assigned device id*, because that is what
+//! the caller has before there is a token.
 //!
 //! The shape:
-//!   - **open** (a capability-passing `ipc.callCap`): the class driver hands over
-//!     its own endpoint (for asynchronous interrupt reports) and its assigned
-//!     device id, and receives a `device_token` plus its interface's endpoints.
-//!   - **control / bulk** (synchronous `ipc.call`): one transfer, answered when
-//!     it completes. Control data travels inline (descriptors, HID/MSC class
-//!     requests are all small); bulk data travels by **physical address** — the
-//!     class driver's own `dma_alloc`'d buffer — so a 512-byte sector never has
-//!     to cross the 256-byte IPC boundary.
+//!   - **open** (a capability-passing call): the class driver hands over its own
+//!     endpoint (for asynchronous interrupt reports); the target is its assigned
+//!     device id, and the reply carries a `device_token` plus its interface's
+//!     endpoints.
+//!   - **control / bulk** (synchronous calls): one transfer, answered when it
+//!     completes. Control data travels **in the packet's tail** in both
+//!     directions (descriptors, HID/MSC class requests are all small), so the
+//!     fixed parts stay tiny and `Status.len` is the transferred length — the
+//!     envelope's own field for "how many bytes follow", which is precisely what
+//!     the old `actual_length` said. Bulk data travels by **physical address** —
+//!     the class driver's own `dma_alloc`'d buffer — so a 512-byte sector never
+//!     has to cross the packet floor.
 //!   - **interrupt_subscribe** (synchronous): arm periodic IN polling of an
 //!     interrupt endpoint; each report the device produces is then pushed to the
-//!     class driver's endpoint as an asynchronous `InterruptReport` (`ipc.send`),
-//!     exactly how the input service delivers events.
+//!     class driver's endpoint as an asynchronous `interrupt_report` event.
+//!     It stays one of **this protocol's own verbs**, not the reserved
+//!     `subscribe`: the reserved verb means "push me this provider's events" and
+//!     carries the subscriber's endpoint, while this names one endpoint address
+//!     on one device and a poll length, and the endpoint it pushes to was handed
+//!     over at `open`. Same word, different contract.
+//!   - **dma_attach**: a class driver hands the controller a DMA-region
+//!     capability (riding the call's cap slot) so the controller binds that
+//!     buffer into its IOMMU domain and may then DMA to the physical addresses
+//!     inside it. Needed once per buffer the class driver will name in a `bulk`
+//!     transfer (its own, or one forwarded to it).
 //!
-//! Single controller assumption: one `.usb_bus` singleton serves QEMU's one xHCI.
-//! A multi-controller machine would need a per-controller endpoint (the device
-//! manager handing each class driver the right one); noted, not built.
+//! Single controller assumption: one provider serves QEMU's one xHCI. A
+//! multi-controller machine would need the controller in the target (or the
+//! spawner wiring each class driver its own channel); noted, not built.
 
-/// Fits one synchronous IPC message (kernel MESSAGE_MAXIMUM).
-pub const message_maximum: usize = 256;
+const std = @import("std");
+const envelope = @import("envelope");
 
-/// The largest inline control-transfer payload. Sized so a whole message
-/// (header + data) stays under `message_maximum`: descriptors and HID/MSC class
-/// requests are all far smaller.
-pub const max_inline_data: usize = 200;
+/// The largest control-transfer data stage. It rides the packet's tail, so the
+/// bound is the call floor less the header and the fixed request part — derived
+/// rather than declared, which is what keeps it honest when a field moves.
+pub const max_inline_data: usize = envelope.packet_maximum - envelope.prefix_size - @sizeOf(Control);
 
-/// The largest interrupt report pushed asynchronously. Sized so `InterruptReport`
-/// fits an `ipc_send` payload slot (POST_MAXIMUM = 64): boot keyboard reports are
-/// 8 bytes, boot mouse reports 3–4.
-pub const max_report_data: usize = 48;
+/// The largest interrupt report pushed asynchronously. An event packet is the
+/// header plus the payload within 64 bytes, so this is what is left after the
+/// report's own four bytes of framing: boot keyboard reports are 8 bytes, boot
+/// mouse reports 3–4, and the whole HID boot vocabulary fits many times over.
+/// A device that produces more has its report truncated, never split.
+pub const max_report_data: usize = 40;
 
 /// Endpoints per interface reported back in an open reply (a boot HID interface
 /// has one interrupt endpoint, a mass-storage interface two bulk endpoints).
 pub const max_reported_endpoints: usize = 4;
 
-pub const Operation = enum(u32) {
-    open = 0,
-    control = 1,
-    interrupt_subscribe = 2,
-    bulk = 3,
-    /// dma_attach: a class driver hands the controller a DMA-region capability (riding
-    /// the call's cap slot) so the controller binds that buffer into its IOMMU domain
-    /// and may then DMA to the physical addresses inside it. Needed once per buffer the
-    /// class driver will name in a `bulk` transfer (its own, or one forwarded to it).
-    dma_attach = 4,
-};
-
 /// The endpoint facts a class driver needs, lifted from the endpoint descriptor
 /// the bus driver already parsed during enumeration.
 pub const Endpoint = extern struct {
@@ -64,114 +73,146 @@ pub const Endpoint = extern struct {
     reserved: [3]u8 = .{ 0, 0, 0 },
 };
 
-/// open: the class driver's receive endpoint rides as the call's capability, and
-/// `device_id` is the interface's assigned id (its argv[1]).
-pub const OpenRequest = extern struct {
-    operation: u32 = @intFromEnum(Operation.open),
-    reserved: u32 = 0,
-    device_id: u64,
-};
+// --- the per-operation request and reply parts ------------------------------
+//
+// Each names the bytes AFTER the prefix. Nothing here carries an operation or a
+// device token: those are the packet header's, folded in once. No reply carries
+// a status either — that is the `Status` every reply begins with.
 
-/// The answer to open: a token scoping every later request to this device, the
-/// interface's class triple (a sanity check), and its endpoints.
-pub const OpenReply = extern struct {
-    status: i32,
-    endpoint_count: u32,
+/// The answer to `open`: the token every later packet puts in `Header.target`,
+/// the interface's class triple (a sanity check), and its endpoints.
+pub const Opened = extern struct {
     device_token: u64,
+    endpoint_count: u32,
     interface_class: u8,
     interface_subclass: u8,
     interface_protocol: u8,
     interface_number: u8,
-    reserved2: u32 = 0,
     endpoints: [max_reported_endpoints]Endpoint = [_]Endpoint{.{ .address = 0, .transfer_type = 0, .max_packet_size = 0, .interval = 0 }} ** max_reported_endpoints,
 };
 
-/// control: one EP0 control transfer. `setup` is a bit-cast `usb_abi.Request`.
-/// For an OUT transfer `data[0..data_length]` is sent; for an IN transfer the
-/// reply carries up to `data_length` bytes back.
-pub const ControlRequest = extern struct {
-    operation: u32 = @intFromEnum(Operation.control),
-    reserved: u32 = 0,
-    device_token: u64,
+/// `control`: one EP0 control transfer on `Header.target`. `setup` is a bit-cast
+/// `usb_abi.Request`. For an OUT transfer the data stage is the request's tail;
+/// for an IN transfer it comes back as the reply's tail, and `Status.len` is how
+/// much of it arrived.
+pub const Control = extern struct {
     setup: [8]u8,
-    direction_in: u8, // 1 = device-to-host (IN), 0 = host-to-device (OUT)
-    reserved2: u8 = 0,
+    /// 1 = device-to-host (IN), 0 = host-to-device (OUT).
+    direction_in: u8,
+    _padding: u8 = 0,
+    /// Bytes of data stage: what an IN transfer asks for, and what an OUT
+    /// transfer's tail carries.
     data_length: u16,
-    reserved3: u32 = 0,
-    data: [max_inline_data]u8 = [_]u8{0} ** max_inline_data,
+    _padding2: u32 = 0,
 };
 
-pub const ControlReply = extern struct {
-    status: i32, // 0 success, negative on failure/stall
-    actual_length: u32,
-    data: [max_inline_data]u8 = [_]u8{0} ** max_inline_data,
-};
-
-/// interrupt_subscribe: begin periodic IN polling of an interrupt endpoint. Each
-/// report the device returns is pushed to the caller's endpoint (handed over at
-/// open) as an asynchronous `InterruptReport`.
-pub const InterruptSubscribeRequest = extern struct {
-    operation: u32 = @intFromEnum(Operation.interrupt_subscribe),
-    reserved: u32 = 0,
-    device_token: u64,
+/// `interrupt_subscribe`: begin periodic IN polling of an interrupt endpoint of
+/// `Header.target`. Each report the device returns is pushed to the endpoint the
+/// caller handed over at `open`, as an `interrupt_report` event.
+pub const InterruptSubscribe = extern struct {
     endpoint_address: u8,
-    reserved2: u8 = 0,
-    max_length: u16, // bytes to request per poll (the endpoint's max packet size)
+    _padding: u8 = 0,
+    /// Bytes to request per poll (the endpoint's max packet size).
+    max_length: u16,
 };
 
-pub const InterruptSubscribeReply = extern struct {
-    status: i32,
-    reserved: u32 = 0,
-};
-
-/// bulk: one bulk IN or OUT transfer. `physical_address` is the class driver's own
-/// `dma_alloc`'d buffer — the controller DMAs straight to/from it, so the bulk
-/// data never crosses IPC. `endpoint_address`'s bit 7 selects IN vs OUT.
-pub const BulkRequest = extern struct {
-    operation: u32 = @intFromEnum(Operation.bulk),
-    reserved: u32 = 0,
-    device_token: u64,
+/// `bulk`: one bulk IN or OUT transfer on `Header.target`. `physical_address` is
+/// the class driver's own `dma_alloc`'d buffer — the controller DMAs straight
+/// to/from it, so the bulk data never crosses IPC. `endpoint_address`'s bit 7
+/// selects IN vs OUT.
+pub const Bulk = extern struct {
     physical_address: u64,
     length: u32,
     endpoint_address: u8,
-    reserved2: u8 = 0,
-    reserved3: u16 = 0,
+    _padding: u8 = 0,
+    _padding2: u16 = 0,
 };
 
-pub const BulkReply = extern struct {
-    status: i32,
-    actual_length: u32,
-};
+/// How many bytes a bulk transfer actually moved. It cannot ride `Status.len`
+/// the way a control transfer's does: nothing follows a bulk reply, because the
+/// data went to the caller's DMA buffer rather than into the packet.
+pub const Transferred = extern struct { actual_length: u32 };
 
-/// dma_attach: the region capability rides the call's cap slot; the body only carries
-/// the device token (scoping) so the controller knows which caller is attaching.
-pub const DmaAttachRequest = extern struct {
-    operation: u32 = @intFromEnum(Operation.dma_attach),
-    reserved: u32 = 0,
-    device_token: u64,
-};
-
-pub const DmaAttachReply = extern struct {
-    status: i32,
-    reserved: u32 = 0,
-};
-
-/// An asynchronous interrupt report, pushed with `ipc.send` to a subscriber's
-/// endpoint. `Received.isMessage()` is set; there is no reply owed.
+/// One asynchronous interrupt report, pushed to the endpoint the class driver
+/// handed over at `open`. The device it came from is `Header.target`.
 pub const InterruptReport = extern struct {
-    device_token: u64,
     endpoint_address: u8,
     length: u8,
-    reserved: u16 = 0,
+    _padding: u16 = 0,
     data: [max_report_data]u8 = [_]u8{0} ** max_report_data,
 };
 
-comptime {
-    const std = @import("std");
-    // Every synchronous message must fit one IPC message; the async report must
-    // fit an ipc_send payload slot.
-    std.debug.assert(@sizeOf(ControlRequest) <= message_maximum);
-    std.debug.assert(@sizeOf(ControlReply) <= message_maximum);
-    std.debug.assert(@sizeOf(OpenReply) <= message_maximum);
-    std.debug.assert(@sizeOf(InterruptReport) <= 64);
+pub const Protocol = envelope.Define(.{
+    .name = "usb-transfer",
+    .version = 1,
+    .operations = &.{
+        // open: the target is the interface's assigned device id (its argv[1]),
+        // and the class driver's receive endpoint rides as the capability.
+        .{ .name = "open", .reply = Opened },
+        .{ .name = "control", .request = Control },
+        .{ .name = "interrupt_subscribe", .request = InterruptSubscribe },
+        .{ .name = "bulk", .request = Bulk, .reply = Transferred },
+        // dma_attach: the region capability rides the call's cap slot; the
+        // target says which caller's device is attaching, so there is nothing
+        // left for a body to carry.
+        .{ .name = "dma_attach" },
+    },
+    .events = &.{
+        .{ .name = "interrupt_report", .payload = InterruptReport },
+    },
+});
+
+pub const Operation = Protocol.Operation;
+pub const Event = Protocol.Event;
+
+/// What both sides size their buffers to — the call floor, as every protocol does.
+pub const message_maximum: usize = Protocol.message_maximum;
+
+test "the budgets, re-verified by Define rather than by hand" {
+    // What the hand-rolled comptime asserts used to say, now said by `Define`
+    // — and counting the header, which the old checks did not.
+    try std.testing.expectEqual(@as(usize, 224), max_inline_data);
+    try std.testing.expect(Protocol.request_maximum <= envelope.packet_maximum);
+    try std.testing.expect(Protocol.reply_maximum <= envelope.packet_maximum);
+    // The report was 48 bytes of data in a 64-byte struct that had no room left
+    // for a header. Folding the device token into the target and trimming the
+    // data to 40 leaves the whole packet at 60 of the 64-byte push floor.
+    try std.testing.expectEqual(@as(usize, 44), @sizeOf(InterruptReport));
+    try std.testing.expectEqual(@as(usize, 60), Protocol.event_maximum);
+    try std.testing.expect(Protocol.event_maximum <= envelope.post_maximum);
+}
+
+test "the verb numbering, and the device token in the header" {
+    try std.testing.expectEqual(@as(u32, 16), @intFromEnum(Operation.open));
+    try std.testing.expectEqual(@as(u32, 17), @intFromEnum(Operation.control));
+    try std.testing.expectEqual(@as(u32, 18), @intFromEnum(Operation.interrupt_subscribe));
+    try std.testing.expectEqual(@as(u32, 19), @intFromEnum(Operation.bulk));
+    try std.testing.expectEqual(@as(u32, 20), @intFromEnum(Operation.dma_attach));
+    try std.testing.expectEqual(@as(u32, 16), @intFromEnum(Event.interrupt_report));
+
+    var buffer: [message_maximum]u8 = undefined;
+    const packet = Protocol.encodeRequest(.control, 9, .{
+        .setup = .{ 0, 6, 0, 1, 0, 0, 18, 0 },
+        .direction_in = 1,
+        .data_length = 18,
+    }, &.{}, &buffer).?;
+    try std.testing.expectEqual(@as(u64, 9), envelope.headerOf(packet).?.target);
+    try std.testing.expectEqual(@as(u16, 18), Protocol.decodeRequest(.control, packet).?.data_length);
+}
+
+test "a control OUT carries its data stage as the packet's tail" {
+    var buffer: [message_maximum]u8 = undefined;
+    const payload = [_]u8{ 1, 2, 3, 4 };
+    const packet = Protocol.encodeRequest(.control, 5, .{
+        .setup = .{ 0x21, 11, 0, 0, 0, 0, 4, 0 },
+        .direction_in = 0,
+        .data_length = payload.len,
+    }, &payload, &buffer).?;
+    try std.testing.expectEqualSlices(u8, &payload, Protocol.requestTail(.control, packet));
+
+    // And the answer to an IN: the bytes follow the (empty) fixed reply part,
+    // with `Status.len` counting exactly them.
+    const answered = Protocol.encodeReply(.control, 0, {}, &payload, &buffer).?;
+    try std.testing.expectEqual(@as(u32, payload.len), envelope.statusOf(answered).?.len);
+    try std.testing.expectEqualSlices(u8, &payload, Protocol.replyTail(.control, answered));
 }
diff --git a/library/protocol/vfs/vfs-protocol.zig b/library/protocol/vfs/vfs-protocol.zig
index 67db6f7..020edd1 100644
--- a/library/protocol/vfs/vfs-protocol.zig
+++ b/library/protocol/vfs/vfs-protocol.zig
@@ -1,52 +1,27 @@
-//! The VFS wire protocol — the message format spoken between a client (via the file
-//! API) and the user-space VFS server over IPC. A request is a fixed `Request` header
-//! followed by an inline payload (a path, or write bytes); a reply is a fixed `Reply`
-//! header followed by an inline payload (read bytes, or a FileStatus). Everything fits
-//! in one IPC message (<= ipc MESSAGE_MAXIMUM = 256 bytes).
+//! The VFS wire protocol — what a client (through the file API,
+//! library/kernel/file-system.zig) says to a filesystem backend over IPC. Defined
+//! through the envelope (docs/os-development/protocol-namespace.md), so every
+//! packet begins with the folded `Header`: the verb in `Header.operation`, and
+//! **the open node id in `Header.target`** — the field that used to be
+//! `Request.node`. A path appears in the conversation once, at `open`; every
+//! packet after it addresses that integer.
 //!
-//! This is a danos-native contract, so it uses danos names throughout. The client
-//! side is `runtime.fs` (library/runtime/fs.zig), which programs use directly.
+//! This is a danos-native contract, so it uses danos names throughout. It is
+//! user-space only — the kernel knows nothing of files or paths; it only routes
+//! (`fs_resolve`) and moves the bytes. The backends that serve it today are the
+//! FAT server (system/services/fat/) and the protocol registry inside PID 1
+//! (system/services/init/), which is a *synthetic* backend: `/protocol` holds
+//! contracts rather than files.
 //!
-//! This is user-space only — the kernel knows nothing of files or paths; it only moves the bytes.
-//! Shared by library/runtime/fs.zig (the client) and the mount backends that serve it (today
-//! the fat server, system/services/fat/). The standalone user-space VFS server it was first
-//! written against has retired — path routing moved into the kernel (system/kernel/vfs.zig,
-//! fs_resolve) — but the protocol module outlived it.
-
-//! **An `open` reply may carry a capability.** The vfs `open` request rides
+//! **An `open` reply may carry a capability.** The `open` request rides
 //! `ipc_call`, and the reply direction of a call can hand back an endpoint
-//! (`ipc.callCap`'s `Reply.cap`). A file backend never uses it — FAT answers
-//! with a node id and nothing else — but a *synthetic* backend does: opening a
+//! (`ipc.callCap`'s `Reply.cap`). A file backend never uses it — FAT answers with
+//! a node id and nothing else — but the registry does: opening a
 //! `NodeKind.protocol` node under `/protocol` returns the provider's endpoint,
-//! which is the channel (docs/os-development/protocol-namespace.md). The
-//! convention is per-backend, not per-operation: a client that did not ask a
-//! synthetic backend simply gets no capability back, exactly as today.
+//! which is the channel. The convention is per-backend, not per-operation: a
+//! client that did not ask a synthetic backend simply gets no capability back.
 
-pub const Operation = enum(u32) {
-    open, // open(path) -> node id (a synthetic backend may reply with a capability instead)
-    close, // close(node)
-    read, // read(node, offset, len) -> bytes
-    write, // write(node, offset, bytes) -> count
-    status, // status(node) -> FileStatus
-    // Appended for the mount router (M5). Values stay stable, so existing clients
-    // and the flat-ramfs tests are unaffected.
-    readdir, // readdir(dir_node, cursor=offset) -> one DirectoryEntry (len==0 => EOF)
-    mount, // mount(prefix payload, capability = backend endpoint)
-    unmount, // unmount(prefix payload)
-    // Appended for filesystem mutation (Phase 2). Path-based (the path is the
-    // payload); a mounted backend handles them, the flat ramfs refuses them.
-    mkdir, // mkdir(path payload) -> status
-    unlink, // unlink(path payload) -> status
-    // rename: the payload is the old path, a single 0x00 separator, then the new
-    // path. Same-directory rename only (the router requires both under one mount).
-    rename, // rename(old\0new payload) -> status
-    // Appended for the protocol namespace (P2). The registry is a synthetic
-    // backend mounted at /protocol: `open` establishes a channel and `readdir`
-    // lists the bound names like any directory, so those two verbs need nothing
-    // new — but *claiming* a name does. A file backend refuses it, alongside the
-    // router verbs it does not implement either; only the registry implements it.
-    bind, // bind(name payload, capability = the provider's endpoint) -> status
-};
+const envelope = @import("envelope");
 
 /// The type of a filesystem node, aligned to the node-kind table
 /// (docs/file-system-development/file-system-hierarchy.md). Fills `FileStatus.kind` and
@@ -67,38 +42,18 @@ pub const NodeKind = enum(u32) {
     protocol = 7,
 };
 
-/// One directory entry, returned by `readdir`: a fixed header followed inline in
-/// the reply payload by `name_len` bytes of name. A zero-length reply is EOF.
+/// One directory entry: the fixed part of a `readdir` reply, followed inline by
+/// `name_len` bytes of name. **A zero `name_len` is end of directory** — the
+/// reply's own length cannot say so any more, because the envelope always sends
+/// the fixed part.
 pub const DirectoryEntry = extern struct {
-    kind: u32, // a NodeKind
-    name_len: u32,
-    size: u64,
+    kind: u32 = 0, // a NodeKind
+    name_len: u32 = 0,
+    size: u64 = 0,
 };
 
 pub const directory_entry_size: usize = @sizeOf(DirectoryEntry);
 
-/// Request header. `node` is the server-side open-file id (from a prior open);
-/// for `open` the path is the payload and `len` is its length. `offset`/`len`
-/// carry the read/write position and count.
-pub const Request = extern struct {
-    operation: Operation,
-    node: u64,
-    offset: u64,
-    len: u32,
-    flags: u32,
-};
-
-/// Reply header. `status` is 0 on success or a negative errno; `node` is the new
-/// open-file id (for `open`); `len` is the payload length (bytes read, or the
-/// FileStatus size).
-pub const Reply = extern struct {
-    status: i32,
-    _padding: u32 = 0,
-    node: u64 = 0,
-    len: u32 = 0,
-    _padding2: u32 = 0,
-};
-
 /// A file's metadata (the danos-native answer to a `status` request). The POSIX
 /// layer maps this onto `struct stat`.
 pub const FileStatus = extern struct {
@@ -110,13 +65,84 @@ pub const FileStatus = extern struct {
     mtime: u64 = 0,
 };
 
-pub const message_maximum: usize = 256;
-pub const request_size: usize = @sizeOf(Request);
-pub const reply_size: usize = @sizeOf(Reply);
-/// Largest inline payload that still fits one IPC message alongside a header.
-pub const maximum_payload: usize = message_maximum - request_size;
+// --- the per-operation request and reply parts ------------------------------
+//
+// Each names the bytes AFTER the prefix. Nothing here carries an operation or a
+// node id: those are the packet header's, folded in once.
 
-/// Open flags (danos-native; `runtime.fs.OpenOptions` maps its booleans onto these).
+/// `open(flags)` with the path as the packet's tail. The one verb that spends a
+/// path; everything after it addresses the node id this returns.
+pub const Open = extern struct { flags: u32 = 0 };
+
+/// The node id an `open` established — the integer every later packet puts in
+/// `Header.target`. Meaningful only between this client and this backend.
+pub const Opened = extern struct { node: u64 };
+
+/// `read(offset, len)` on `Header.target`; the bytes come back as the reply tail.
+pub const Read = extern struct {
+    offset: u64,
+    len: u32,
+    _padding: u32 = 0,
+};
+
+/// `write(offset, len)` on `Header.target`, with the data as the packet's tail.
+pub const Write = extern struct {
+    offset: u64,
+    len: u32,
+    _padding: u32 = 0,
+};
+
+/// How many bytes a `write` actually took — it may be short.
+pub const Written = extern struct { count: u32 };
+
+/// `readdir(cursor)` on `Header.target`: one entry per call, cursor-advanced.
+pub const Readdir = extern struct { cursor: u64 };
+
+/// The contract, whole. Verbs number from `envelope.first_protocol_operation`
+/// (16) in this order; the reserved verbs below it mean what they mean
+/// everywhere. `readdir` stays a protocol verb rather than folding into the
+/// reserved `enumerate`: it enumerates the children of one *node*, where
+/// `enumerate` names a provider's targets.
+pub const Protocol = envelope.Define(.{
+    .name = "vfs",
+    .version = 1,
+    .operations = &.{
+        .{ .name = "open", .request = Open, .reply = Opened },
+        .{ .name = "close" },
+        .{ .name = "read", .request = Read },
+        .{ .name = "write", .request = Write, .reply = Written },
+        .{ .name = "status", .reply = FileStatus },
+        .{ .name = "readdir", .request = Readdir, .reply = DirectoryEntry },
+        // The mount router's two verbs. Path routing lives in the kernel now
+        // (system/kernel/vfs.zig), so no backend implements either; they keep
+        // their numbers so the vocabulary stays the one docs/vfs-protocol.md
+        // describes.
+        .{ .name = "mount" }, // tail = the prefix, capability = the backend's endpoint
+        .{ .name = "unmount" }, // tail = the prefix
+        // Filesystem mutation, path-based: the path is the packet's tail.
+        .{ .name = "mkdir" },
+        .{ .name = "unlink" },
+        // rename: the tail is the old path, a single 0x00 separator, then the
+        // new path. Same-directory rename only.
+        .{ .name = "rename" },
+        // The registry's claim verb (P2): the name is the tail and the
+        // provider's endpoint rides the call as its capability. A file backend
+        // refuses it; only init implements it.
+        .{ .name = "bind" },
+    },
+});
+
+pub const Operation = Protocol.Operation;
+
+/// What a backend sizes its buffers to — the call floor, as every protocol does.
+pub const message_maximum: usize = Protocol.message_maximum;
+
+/// The most inline payload any request may carry: the floor less the header and
+/// the widest fixed request part, so one bound serves every verb (a path, write
+/// data, a read's answer).
+pub const maximum_payload: usize = envelope.packet_maximum - Protocol.request_maximum;
+
+/// Open flags (danos-native; `file_system.OpenOptions` maps its booleans onto these).
 pub const create: u32 = 1;
 /// Open a directory (for readdir) rather than a file. A mounted backend uses
 /// this to open a directory node; the flat ramfs ignores it.
@@ -126,7 +152,7 @@ pub const directory: u32 = 2;
 /// backend frees the old cluster chain; the flat ramfs ignores it.
 pub const truncate: u32 = 4;
 
-test "protocol struct sizes and node kinds" {
+test "the stable wire values: node kinds, entry layout, and the verb numbering" {
     const std = @import("std");
     try std.testing.expectEqual(@as(u32, 0), @intFromEnum(NodeKind.regular));
     try std.testing.expectEqual(@as(u32, 1), @intFromEnum(NodeKind.directory));
@@ -134,11 +160,34 @@ test "protocol struct sizes and node kinds" {
     try std.testing.expectEqual(@as(u32, 6), @intFromEnum(NodeKind.socket));
     try std.testing.expectEqual(@as(u32, 7), @intFromEnum(NodeKind.protocol));
     try std.testing.expectEqual(@as(usize, 16), @sizeOf(DirectoryEntry));
-    // The appended operations keep the original values.
-    try std.testing.expectEqual(@as(u32, 0), @intFromEnum(Operation.open));
-    try std.testing.expectEqual(@as(u32, 4), @intFromEnum(Operation.status));
-    try std.testing.expectEqual(@as(u32, 5), @intFromEnum(Operation.readdir));
-    try std.testing.expectEqual(@as(u32, 10), @intFromEnum(Operation.rename));
-    // The registry's claim verb, appended last with the protocol namespace.
-    try std.testing.expectEqual(@as(u32, 11), @intFromEnum(Operation.bind));
+
+    // The numbering the envelope gives this protocol. These are NEW values: the
+    // rebase moved every verb above the reserved range, so the old 0..11 are
+    // gone and 16..27 are what the wire carries. Pinned because both sides of a
+    // flag-day have to agree on them, not because they may never change again.
+    try std.testing.expectEqual(@as(u32, 16), @intFromEnum(Operation.open));
+    try std.testing.expectEqual(@as(u32, 17), @intFromEnum(Operation.close));
+    try std.testing.expectEqual(@as(u32, 18), @intFromEnum(Operation.read));
+    try std.testing.expectEqual(@as(u32, 19), @intFromEnum(Operation.write));
+    try std.testing.expectEqual(@as(u32, 20), @intFromEnum(Operation.status));
+    try std.testing.expectEqual(@as(u32, 21), @intFromEnum(Operation.readdir));
+    try std.testing.expectEqual(@as(u32, 26), @intFromEnum(Operation.rename));
+    try std.testing.expectEqual(@as(u32, 27), @intFromEnum(Operation.bind));
+    // The payload bound is what it always was, arrived at the other way round:
+    // the header plus the widest fixed request part is 32 bytes of the floor.
+    try std.testing.expectEqual(@as(usize, 224), maximum_payload);
+}
+
+test "the node id rides the header, and a path rides the tail" {
+    const std = @import("std");
+    var buffer: [message_maximum]u8 = undefined;
+
+    const opening = Protocol.encodeRequest(.open, 0, .{ .flags = create }, "/a/b", &buffer).?;
+    try std.testing.expectEqual(@as(u32, create), Protocol.decodeRequest(.open, opening).?.flags);
+    try std.testing.expectEqualStrings("/a/b", Protocol.requestTail(.open, opening));
+    try std.testing.expectEqual(@as(u64, 0), envelope.headerOf(opening).?.target);
+
+    const reading = Protocol.encodeRequest(.read, 7, .{ .offset = 512, .len = 64 }, &.{}, &buffer).?;
+    try std.testing.expectEqual(@as(u64, 7), envelope.headerOf(reading).?.target);
+    try std.testing.expectEqual(@as(u64, 512), Protocol.decodeRequest(.read, reading).?.offset);
 }
diff --git a/system/abi.zig b/system/abi.zig
index ce63bec..9953f98 100644
--- a/system/abi.zig
+++ b/system/abi.zig
@@ -252,8 +252,11 @@ pub const klog_maximum_message: usize = 256;
 pub const fs_route_kernel: u64 = 0; // rdx = node token; serve via fs_node
 pub const fs_route_backend: u64 = 1; // rdx = endpoint handle; speak vfs-protocol
 
-/// fs_node operations — the same numbers as the vfs-protocol Operation enum, so
-/// client code shares one vocabulary.
+/// fs_node operations. These were once the vfs-protocol Operation numbers; the
+/// rebase onto the envelope moved every protocol verb above the reserved range
+/// (16 and up), and these did not follow — they are a *syscall* selector, not a
+/// packet's verb, and renumbering a kernel ABI to track a wire format would be
+/// coupling in the wrong direction. The two vocabularies are simply separate now.
 pub const fs_node_read: u64 = 2;
 pub const fs_node_status: u64 = 4;
 pub const fs_node_readdir: u64 = 5;
diff --git a/system/configuration/protocol.csv b/system/configuration/protocol.csv
index 57fee6f..9ba60e7 100644
--- a/system/configuration/protocol.csv
+++ b/system/configuration/protocol.csv
@@ -148,6 +148,26 @@
 /test/system/services/input-source,          kernel,                          open,       input
 /test/system/services/input-test,            kernel,                          open,       input
 
+# The guessable-id probe (test/system/services/badge-scope-test) runs as two
+# processes of one binary: the owner, which the scenario spawns, and the intruder,
+# which the owner spawns with the ids it holds. Both reach the compositor — the
+# owner to create the layer, the intruder to be refused it — so the binary is
+# named twice, once per supervisor. The second row needs no 'supervise'
+# delegation: the owner was spawned by the KERNEL, which is a chain init can
+# vouch for on its own.
+/test/system/services/badge-scope-test,      kernel,                          open,       display
+/test/system/services/badge-scope-test,      /test/*,                         open,       display
+
+# The conformance probe (test/system/services/protocol-conformance-test) asks
+# every provider its boot bound for the envelope's reserved verbs. It reaches
+# ONLY the two contracts its own scenario boots a provider for, named one at a
+# time exactly like the two rows above — no subtree, no wildcard. Everything else
+# under /protocol stays absent for it, which is the point: the fixture walks the
+# namespace listing and reports what it could not open rather than being handed
+# the tree to make the test look broad.
+/test/system/services/protocol-conformance-test, kernel,                      open,       input
+/test/system/services/protocol-conformance-test, kernel,                      open,       display
+
 # The laundering-deputy probe (test/system/services/protocol-registry-test) runs
 # a grandchild whose supervisor is a fixture nobody authorized — that is the
 # point of it, and its bind must stay refused. It still has to report the verdict
diff --git a/system/drivers/pci-bus/pci-bus.zig b/system/drivers/pci-bus/pci-bus.zig
index 0501f7d..4420664 100644
--- a/system/drivers/pci-bus/pci-bus.zig
+++ b/system/drivers/pci-bus/pci-bus.zig
@@ -229,18 +229,21 @@ fn registerAndReport(bus: u64, dev: u64, function: u64, class_triple: u32) void
         std.log.info("register refused for {d}:{d}.{d}", .{ bus, dev, function });
         return;
     };
-    const report = device_manager_protocol.ChildAdded{
+    // The registered device id is the packet's target — the manager's object
+    // addressing — so the report body carries only where on the bus it sits and
+    // what it is.
+    var packet: [device_manager_protocol.message_maximum]u8 = undefined;
+    const framed = device_manager_protocol.Protocol.encodeRequest(.child_added, registered, .{
         .bus = @intFromEnum(device_manager_protocol.BusKind.pci),
         .parent = bridge_id,
         .bus_address = (bus << 8) | (dev << 3) | function,
         .identity = class_triple,
-        .device_id = registered,
         .vendor = descriptor.vendor,
         .device = descriptor.device,
         .subsystem = descriptor.subsystem,
-    };
+    }, &.{}, &packet) orelse return;
     var reply: [device_manager_protocol.message_maximum]u8 = undefined;
-    _ = ipc.call(manager_handle, std.mem.asBytes(&report), &reply) catch {
+    _ = ipc.call(manager_handle, framed, &reply) catch {
         std.log.info("child report for {d}:{d}.{d} failed", .{ bus, dev, function });
     };
 }
diff --git a/system/drivers/usb-hid/keyboard.zig b/system/drivers/usb-hid/keyboard.zig
index 21b305d..0416288 100644
--- a/system/drivers/usb-hid/keyboard.zig
+++ b/system/drivers/usb-hid/keyboard.zig
@@ -112,9 +112,10 @@ pub fn main(init: process.Init) void {
             if (signals.has(.terminate)) return;
             continue;
         }
-        if (!got.isMessage() or got.len < @sizeOf(usb.InterruptReport)) continue;
-
-        const message = std.mem.bytesToValue(usb.InterruptReport, receive[0..@sizeOf(usb.InterruptReport)]);
+        if (!got.isMessage()) continue;
+        // An `interrupt_report` event packet: the verb in its folded header, the
+        // report after it. Anything else on this endpoint is not ours.
+        const message = usb.reportOf(receive[0..got.len]) orelse continue;
         if (message.length < @sizeOf(hid.KeyboardReport)) continue;
         const report = std.mem.bytesToValue(hid.KeyboardReport, message.data[0..@sizeOf(hid.KeyboardReport)]);
         const transitions = decoder.feed(report);
diff --git a/system/drivers/usb-hid/mouse.zig b/system/drivers/usb-hid/mouse.zig
index 7dc26a5..beb0a64 100644
--- a/system/drivers/usb-hid/mouse.zig
+++ b/system/drivers/usb-hid/mouse.zig
@@ -74,9 +74,10 @@ pub fn main(init: process.Init) void {
             if (signals.has(.terminate)) return;
             continue;
         }
-        if (!got.isMessage() or got.len < @sizeOf(usb.InterruptReport)) continue;
-
-        const message = std.mem.bytesToValue(usb.InterruptReport, receive[0..@sizeOf(usb.InterruptReport)]);
+        if (!got.isMessage()) continue;
+        // An `interrupt_report` event packet: the verb in its folded header, the
+        // report after it. Anything else on this endpoint is not ours.
+        const message = usb.reportOf(receive[0..got.len]) orelse continue;
         const length = @min(message.length, message.data.len);
         const report = hid.parseMouse(message.data[0..length]) orelse continue;
         const mask = buttonMask(report.buttons);
diff --git a/system/drivers/usb-storage/build.zig b/system/drivers/usb-storage/build.zig
index ae8cb90..9fcd217 100644
--- a/system/drivers/usb-storage/build.zig
+++ b/system/drivers/usb-storage/build.zig
@@ -10,8 +10,8 @@ pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
         .name = "usb-storage",
         .root_source_file = b.path("usb-storage.zig"),
         .imports = &.{
-            "block-protocol", "driver", "ipc", "logging", "memory", "process", "service",
-            "time", "usb",
+            "block-protocol", "driver", "envelope", "ipc", "logging", "memory", "process",
+            "service",        "time",   "usb",
         },
     });
     b.installArtifact(exe);
diff --git a/system/drivers/usb-storage/usb-storage.zig b/system/drivers/usb-storage/usb-storage.zig
index 6bb5f75..5db245e 100644
--- a/system/drivers/usb-storage/usb-storage.zig
+++ b/system/drivers/usb-storage/usb-storage.zig
@@ -22,8 +22,16 @@ const logging = @import("logging");
 const usb = @import("usb");
 const scsi = @import("scsi.zig");
 const bot = @import("bulk-only-transport.zig");
+const envelope = @import("envelope");
 const block_protocol = @import("block-protocol");
 
+/// The generated block dispatch. One device per process, so the handler context
+/// is empty and the geometry stays in this file's globals.
+const Serve = block_protocol.Protocol.Provider(void);
+
+const Invocation = envelope.Invocation;
+const Answer = envelope.Answer;
+
 var device_id: u64 = 0;
 var device: usb.Device = undefined;
 var bulk_in: usb.Endpoint = undefined;
@@ -144,53 +152,65 @@ fn initialise(endpoint: ipc.Handle) bool {
     return true;
 }
 
-/// Serve the block protocol: geometry, and whole-block read/write to/from the
-/// caller's DMA buffer (named by physical address).
-fn onMessage(message: []const u8, reply: []u8, sender: u32, arrived: *ipc.Arrival) usize {
-    _ = sender;
-    if (message.len < block_protocol.request_size) return 0;
-    const request = std.mem.bytesToValue(block_protocol.Request, message[0..block_protocol.request_size]);
-    switch (request.operation) {
-        @intFromEnum(block_protocol.Operation.attach) => {
-            // The filesystem's DMA buffer: forward its capability to the controller
-            // so the device can reach it. Never claimed — the binding holds its own
-            // reference, so our copy is the turn's to close, on this path and on the
-            // refusal above it alike.
-            const handle = arrived.peek() orelse return writeReply(reply, .{ .status = -1, .block_size = 0, .block_count = 0 });
-            const ok = device.attachDma(handle);
-            return writeReply(reply, .{ .status = if (ok) 0 else -1, .block_size = 0, .block_count = 0 });
-        },
-        @intFromEnum(block_protocol.Operation.geometry) => {
-            return writeReply(reply, .{ .status = 0, .block_size = block_size, .block_count = block_count });
-        },
-        @intFromEnum(block_protocol.Operation.read) => {
-            const count: u16 = @intCast(request.count);
-            const cdb = scsi.read10(@intCast(request.lba), count);
-            const ok = transact(&cdb, true, request.physical, request.count * block_size);
-            return writeReply(reply, .{ .status = if (ok) 0 else -1, .block_size = block_size, .block_count = if (ok) request.count else 0 });
-        },
-        @intFromEnum(block_protocol.Operation.write) => {
-            const count: u16 = @intCast(request.count);
-            const cdb = scsi.write10(@intCast(request.lba), count);
-            const ok = transact(&cdb, false, request.physical, request.count * block_size);
-            return writeReply(reply, .{ .status = if (ok) 0 else -1, .block_size = block_size, .block_count = if (ok) request.count else 0 });
-        },
-        @intFromEnum(block_protocol.Operation.flush) => {
-            // SYNCHRONIZE CACHE: commit the device's write cache to flash. No data
-            // stage. Makes prior writes durable before a caller (init at shutdown)
-            // cuts power. A device without a volatile cache reports success anyway.
-            const cdb = scsi.synchronizeCache10();
-            const ok = transact(&cdb, false, 0, 0);
-            return writeReply(reply, .{ .status = if (ok) 0 else -1, .block_size = block_size, .block_count = 0 });
-        },
-        else => return 0,
-    }
+// --- serving the block protocol ---------------------------------------------
+//
+// Geometry, and whole-block read/write to and from the caller's DMA buffer
+// (named by physical address). One device per process, so `Header.target` is
+// always 0 and no handler reads it.
+
+/// A transfer the device refused. Every failure here is the same one — the SCSI
+/// command did not complete — so there is one errno for all of them.
+const refused: isize = -envelope.ENOENT;
+
+fn onGeometry(_: void, _: Invocation(void), answer: Answer(block_protocol.Geometry)) isize {
+    answer.set(.{ .block_size = block_size, .block_count = block_count });
+    return 0;
 }
 
-fn writeReply(reply: []u8, value: block_protocol.Reply) usize {
-    const bytes = std.mem.asBytes(&value);
-    @memcpy(reply[0..bytes.len], bytes);
-    return bytes.len;
+fn onRead(_: void, invocation: Invocation(block_protocol.Transfer), answer: Answer(block_protocol.Transferred)) isize {
+    const request = invocation.request;
+    const cdb = scsi.read10(@intCast(request.lba), @intCast(request.count));
+    if (!transact(&cdb, true, request.physical, request.count * block_size)) return refused;
+    answer.set(.{ .count = request.count });
+    return 0;
+}
+
+fn onWrite(_: void, invocation: Invocation(block_protocol.Transfer), answer: Answer(block_protocol.Transferred)) isize {
+    const request = invocation.request;
+    const cdb = scsi.write10(@intCast(request.lba), @intCast(request.count));
+    if (!transact(&cdb, false, request.physical, request.count * block_size)) return refused;
+    answer.set(.{ .count = request.count });
+    return 0;
+}
+
+/// SYNCHRONIZE CACHE: commit the device's write cache to flash. No data stage.
+/// Makes prior writes durable before a caller (init at shutdown) cuts power. A
+/// device without a volatile cache reports success anyway.
+fn onFlush(_: void, _: Invocation(void), _: Answer(void)) isize {
+    const cdb = scsi.synchronizeCache10();
+    return if (transact(&cdb, false, 0, 0)) 0 else refused;
+}
+
+/// The filesystem's DMA buffer: forward its capability to the controller so the
+/// device can reach it. Never claimed — the binding holds its own reference, so
+/// our copy is the turn's to close, on this path and on the refusal alike.
+fn onAttach(_: void, invocation: Invocation(void), _: Answer(void)) isize {
+    const handle = invocation.capability orelse return -envelope.EPROTO;
+    return if (device.attachDma(handle)) 0 else refused;
+}
+
+const handlers = Serve.Handlers{
+    .geometry = onGeometry,
+    .read = onRead,
+    .write = onWrite,
+    .flush = onFlush,
+    .attach = onAttach,
+};
+
+fn onMessage(message: []const u8, reply: []u8, sender: u32, arrived: *ipc.Arrival) usize {
+    // Peeked, never taken: `attach` forwards the capability and the controller's
+    // binding takes its own reference, so this copy stays the turn's to close.
+    return Serve.dispatch({}, handlers, message, sender, arrived.peek(), reply);
 }
 
 pub fn main(init: process.Init) void {
diff --git a/system/drivers/usb-xhci-bus/build.zig b/system/drivers/usb-xhci-bus/build.zig
index 8183a6a..216dfa3 100644
--- a/system/drivers/usb-xhci-bus/build.zig
+++ b/system/drivers/usb-xhci-bus/build.zig
@@ -10,10 +10,10 @@ pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
         .name = "usb-xhci-bus",
         .root_source_file = b.path("usb-xhci-bus.zig"),
         .imports = &.{
-            "channel",        "device-manager-protocol", "driver",  "input-client",
-            "ipc",            "logging",                 "memory",  "mmio",
-            "pci",            "process",                 "service", "time",
-            "usb-abi",        "usb-ids",                 "usb-transfer-protocol",
+            "channel", "device-manager-protocol", "driver",  "envelope",
+            "input-client", "ipc",                  "logging", "memory",
+            "mmio",    "pci",                       "process", "service",
+            "time",    "usb-abi",                   "usb-ids", "usb-transfer-protocol",
         },
     });
     b.installArtifact(exe);
diff --git a/system/drivers/usb-xhci-bus/usb-xhci-bus.zig b/system/drivers/usb-xhci-bus/usb-xhci-bus.zig
index 22e46ce..16bfb7a 100644
--- a/system/drivers/usb-xhci-bus/usb-xhci-bus.zig
+++ b/system/drivers/usb-xhci-bus/usb-xhci-bus.zig
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ const device_manager = @import("driver");
 const memory = @import("memory");
 const logging = @import("logging");
 const device_manager_protocol = @import("device-manager-protocol");
+const envelope = @import("envelope");
 const usb_ids = @import("usb-ids");
 const usb_abi = @import("usb-abi");
 const usb_transfer_protocol = @import("usb-transfer-protocol");
@@ -60,22 +61,33 @@ fn timerInterval() u64 {
     return if (msi_vector != null) reconcile_interval_ms else poll_interval_ms;
 }
 
-/// The class driver endpoints that opened each device, so interrupt reports can
-/// be pushed back to them. Keyed by the device token (the interface's device id).
+/// The class driver that opened each device: the endpoint interrupt reports are
+/// pushed back to, and **the task that opened it** — the kernel-stamped badge, so
+/// a device token is scoped to the client that was given it. Keyed by the device
+/// token (the interface's device id).
+///
+/// The scoping is the point (docs/os-development/protocol-namespace.md: handles
+/// are validated against the badge). A token is a small registered-device id any
+/// process could name, and every packet that carries one used to be honoured from
+/// anyone: a stranger could run control transfers on another driver's device, arm
+/// interrupt polling on it, or redirect its reports.
 const Open = struct {
     used: bool = false,
     device_token: u64 = 0,
+    owner: u32 = 0,
     report_endpoint: usize = 0,
 };
 var opens = [_]Open{.{}} ** 16;
 
-/// Remember (or replace) the endpoint that reports for `device_token`. Returns
-/// whether the table kept the handle — false means the caller still owns it and
-/// must dispose of it. A re-open supersedes the previous endpoint, and the one
-/// it displaced is closed here: the table holds exactly one reference per slot.
-fn recordOpen(device_token: u64, report_endpoint: usize) bool {
+/// Remember (or replace) the endpoint task `owner` receives reports for
+/// `device_token` on. Returns whether the table kept the handle — false means the
+/// caller still owns it and must dispose of it. A re-open by the **same** client
+/// supersedes its previous endpoint, and the one it displaced is closed here: the
+/// table holds exactly one reference per slot.
+fn recordOpen(device_token: u64, owner: u32, report_endpoint: usize) bool {
     for (&opens) |*open| {
         if (open.used and open.device_token == device_token) {
+            if (open.owner != owner) return false; // someone else's device; nothing kept
             if (open.report_endpoint != report_endpoint) _ = ipc.close(open.report_endpoint);
             open.report_endpoint = report_endpoint;
             return true;
@@ -83,13 +95,33 @@ fn recordOpen(device_token: u64, report_endpoint: usize) bool {
     }
     for (&opens) |*open| {
         if (!open.used) {
-            open.* = .{ .used = true, .device_token = device_token, .report_endpoint = report_endpoint };
+            open.* = .{ .used = true, .device_token = device_token, .owner = owner, .report_endpoint = report_endpoint };
             return true;
         }
     }
     return false; // table full: not kept
 }
 
+/// Whether `device_token` is open to task `owner`. An open device belonging to
+/// someone else answers exactly as one that was never opened, so a prober cannot
+/// tell another driver's device from an absent one.
+fn openedBy(device_token: u64, owner: u32) bool {
+    for (&opens) |*open| {
+        if (open.used and open.device_token == device_token) return open.owner == owner;
+    }
+    return false;
+}
+
+/// Whether `device_token` is open at all. Asked only after `openedBy` has said
+/// the caller is not the holder, so an answer of true means *someone else* holds
+/// it — one device, one class driver.
+fn heldByAnother(device_token: u64) bool {
+    for (&opens) |*open| {
+        if (open.used and open.device_token == device_token) return true;
+    }
+    return false;
+}
+
 fn reportEndpointFor(device_token: u64) ?usize {
     for (&opens) |*open| {
         if (open.used and open.device_token == device_token) return open.report_endpoint;
@@ -97,6 +129,23 @@ fn reportEndpointFor(device_token: u64) ?usize {
     return null;
 }
 
+/// Release every device a dead client held: its slot, and the report endpoint
+/// capability in it. Driven by published process exits — the same sweep idiom the
+/// FAT server uses for open files and the harness uses for subscribers — which is
+/// also what lets a restarted class driver re-open the device its predecessor had.
+fn releaseOpensOf(dead: u32) void {
+    for (&opens) |*open| {
+        if (open.used and open.owner == dead) {
+            // The engine first: it holds this endpoint's handle number per
+            // subscription, and the close below frees that number for reuse.
+            if (controller) |*engine| engine.releaseSubscriptions(open.device_token);
+            _ = ipc.close(open.report_endpoint);
+            std.log.info("released device {d} for dead client {d}", .{ open.device_token, dead });
+            open.* = .{};
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 var controller_id: u64 = device_manager_protocol.no_device;
 
 /// Claim the assigned controller, find its register window, and hello the
@@ -104,6 +153,10 @@ var controller_id: u64 = device_manager_protocol.no_device;
 /// manager reads as "meant to stop" — a missing assignment is not a crash loop.
 fn initialise(endpoint: ipc.Handle) bool {
     service_endpoint = endpoint;
+    // Device tokens are per-client state, so this driver needs deaths for the
+    // same reason the FAT server does: a class driver that crashes must not keep
+    // its device open, or its restarted instance could never claim it back.
+    _ = process.subscribeExits(endpoint);
 
     // The transfer contract, bound by hand rather than through the harness's
     // `.service`, because **losing it is not fatal here**. One machine can carry
@@ -386,6 +439,23 @@ fn bringUpBehindHub(manager: ipc.Handle, engine: *library.Controller, hub: *libr
     if (deviceIsHub(usb_device)) _ = engine.setupHub(usb_device);
 }
 
+/// Report one interface gone. A removal is addressed by the composite (parent,
+/// bus address) — a pair no single `Header.target` can carry — so that stays the
+/// packet's body and the target addresses the manager itself. `where` names the
+/// port and interface for the log line, or null where the caller stays quiet
+/// (a hub subtree collapsing reports a great many at once).
+fn reportRemoved(manager: ipc.Handle, bus_address: u64, where: ?struct { port: u32, interface: u8 }) void {
+    var packet: [device_manager_protocol.message_maximum]u8 = undefined;
+    const framed = device_manager_protocol.Protocol.encodeRequest(.child_removed, 0, .{
+        .parent = controller_id,
+        .bus_address = bus_address,
+    }, &.{}, &packet) orelse return;
+    var reply: [device_manager_protocol.message_maximum]u8 = undefined;
+    _ = ipc.call(manager, framed, &reply) catch {
+        if (where) |place| std.log.info("child-removed report for port {d} interface {d} failed", .{ place.port, place.interface });
+    };
+}
+
 /// Tear down a device that disconnected from a hub: recursively tear down its
 /// own downstream devices first if it is a hub, report each interface removed,
 /// then Disable Slot. Mirrors tearDownPort for a hub-attached device.
@@ -398,12 +468,7 @@ fn tearDownHubDevice(manager: ipc.Handle, engine: *library.Controller, dev: *lib
     const key = hubPortKey(dev.parent_slot, dev.parent_port);
     for (dev.interfaces[0..dev.interface_count]) |*interface| {
         if (interface.registered_device_id == 0) continue;
-        const event = device_manager_protocol.ChildRemoved{
-            .parent = controller_id,
-            .bus_address = (@as(u64, key) << 8) | interface.number,
-        };
-        var reply: [device_manager_protocol.message_maximum]u8 = undefined;
-        _ = ipc.call(manager, std.mem.asBytes(&event), &reply) catch {};
+        reportRemoved(manager, (@as(u64, key) << 8) | interface.number, null);
         interface.registered_device_id = 0;
     }
     engine.tearDownDevice(dev);
@@ -428,14 +493,7 @@ fn tearDownPort(manager: ipc.Handle, engine: *library.Controller, port: u32) voi
     std.log.info("port {d} disconnected", .{port});
     for (usb_device.interfaces[0..usb_device.interface_count]) |*interface| {
         if (interface.registered_device_id == 0) continue;
-        const event = device_manager_protocol.ChildRemoved{
-            .parent = controller_id,
-            .bus_address = (@as(u64, port) << 8) | interface.number,
-        };
-        var reply: [device_manager_protocol.message_maximum]u8 = undefined;
-        _ = ipc.call(manager, std.mem.asBytes(&event), &reply) catch {
-            std.log.info("child-removed report for port {d} interface {d} failed", .{ port, interface.number });
-        };
+        reportRemoved(manager, (@as(u64, port) << 8) | interface.number, .{ .port = port, .interface = interface.number });
         interface.registered_device_id = 0;
     }
     engine.tearDownDevice(usb_device);
@@ -469,15 +527,17 @@ fn reportInterface(manager: ipc.Handle, port: u32, interface: library.InterfaceI
         return null;
     };
 
-    const report = device_manager_protocol.ChildAdded{
+    // The registered device id is the packet's target — the manager's object
+    // addressing — so the report body carries only where on the bus it sits.
+    var packet: [device_manager_protocol.message_maximum]u8 = undefined;
+    const framed = device_manager_protocol.Protocol.encodeRequest(.child_added, registered, .{
         .bus = @intFromEnum(device_manager_protocol.BusKind.usb),
         .parent = controller_id,
         .bus_address = (@as(u64, port) << 8) | interface.number,
         .identity = identity,
-        .device_id = registered,
-    };
+    }, &.{}, &packet) orelse return null;
     var reply: [device_manager_protocol.message_maximum]u8 = undefined;
-    _ = ipc.call(manager, std.mem.asBytes(&report), &reply) catch {
+    _ = ipc.call(manager, framed, &reply) catch {
         std.log.info("child report for port {d} interface {d} failed", .{ port, interface.number });
         return null;
     };
@@ -496,59 +556,60 @@ fn reportInterface(manager: ipc.Handle, port: u32, interface: library.InterfaceI
     return registered;
 }
 
-/// Serve the USB transfer protocol: a class driver opens its device, then issues
-/// control / interrupt-subscribe / bulk requests against it.
+/// The generated transfer dispatch. One controller per process, so the handler
+/// context is empty and the open table stays in this file's globals.
+const Serve = usb_transfer_protocol.Protocol.Provider(void);
+
+const Invocation = envelope.Invocation;
+const Answer = envelope.Answer;
+
+/// Every refusal here is the same one — this controller does not (or no longer)
+/// serve the device the packet addressed — so there is one errno for all of them.
+const refused: isize = -envelope.ENOENT;
+
+/// Set by `onOpen` when the open table has taken ownership of the endpoint the
+/// call carried, and read by `onMessage`, where the turn's `Arrival` lives. The
+/// generated dispatch hands a handler the raw handle rather than the `Arrival`,
+/// so the *claim* travels back out this way. One turn, one handler, one thread.
+var capability_claimed = false;
+
 fn onMessage(message: []const u8, reply: []u8, sender: u32, arrived: *ipc.Arrival) usize {
-    _ = sender;
-    if (message.len < 4) return 0;
-    const operation = std.mem.readInt(u32, message[0..4], .little);
-    return switch (operation) {
-        @intFromEnum(usb_transfer_protocol.Operation.open) => handleOpen(message, reply, arrived),
-        @intFromEnum(usb_transfer_protocol.Operation.control) => handleControl(message, reply),
-        @intFromEnum(usb_transfer_protocol.Operation.interrupt_subscribe) => handleSubscribe(message, reply),
-        @intFromEnum(usb_transfer_protocol.Operation.bulk) => handleBulk(message, reply),
-        @intFromEnum(usb_transfer_protocol.Operation.dma_attach) => handleDmaAttach(message, reply, arrived),
-        else => 0,
-    };
+    capability_claimed = false;
+    const written = Serve.dispatch({}, handlers, message, sender, arrived.peek(), reply);
+    if (capability_claimed) _ = arrived.take();
+    return written;
 }
 
-/// dma_attach: bind the class driver's DMA-region capability into the controller's IOMMU
-/// domain, so the controller may DMA to the physical addresses inside that buffer. The
-/// binding holds its own kernel reference, so this never claims the arriving handle —
-/// the turn's `defer` in the harness is the close, on the failure paths as well as this
-/// one.
-fn handleDmaAttach(message: []const u8, reply: []u8, arrived: *ipc.Arrival) usize {
-    if (message.len < @sizeOf(usb_transfer_protocol.DmaAttachRequest)) return writeReply(reply, usb_transfer_protocol.DmaAttachReply{ .status = -1 });
-    const handle = arrived.peek() orelse return writeReply(reply, usb_transfer_protocol.DmaAttachReply{ .status = -1 });
-    const ok = device.dmaBind(controller_id, handle);
-    return writeReply(reply, usb_transfer_protocol.DmaAttachReply{ .status = if (ok) 0 else -1 });
-}
+const handlers = Serve.Handlers{
+    .open = onOpen,
+    .control = onControl,
+    .interrupt_subscribe = onInterruptSubscribe,
+    .bulk = onBulk,
+    .dma_attach = onDmaAttach,
+};
 
-fn writeReply(reply: []u8, value: anytype) usize {
-    const bytes = std.mem.asBytes(&value);
-    @memcpy(reply[0..bytes.len], bytes);
-    return bytes.len;
-}
-
-/// open: resolve the assigned device id to an interface, remember the caller's
-/// endpoint (for interrupt reports), and answer with a device token + the
-/// interface's endpoints so the class driver need not re-read the config.
-fn handleOpen(message: []const u8, reply: []u8, arrived: *ipc.Arrival) usize {
-    if (message.len < @sizeOf(usb_transfer_protocol.OpenRequest)) return writeReply(reply, usb_transfer_protocol.OpenReply{ .status = -1, .endpoint_count = 0, .device_token = 0, .interface_class = 0, .interface_subclass = 0, .interface_protocol = 0, .interface_number = 0 });
-    const request = std.mem.bytesToValue(usb_transfer_protocol.OpenRequest, message[0..@sizeOf(usb_transfer_protocol.OpenRequest)]);
-    const engine = if (controller) |*c| c else return writeReply(reply, usb_transfer_protocol.OpenReply{ .status = -1, .endpoint_count = 0, .device_token = 0, .interface_class = 0, .interface_subclass = 0, .interface_protocol = 0, .interface_number = 0 });
-    const found = engine.findInterface(request.device_id) orelse return writeReply(reply, usb_transfer_protocol.OpenReply{ .status = -1, .endpoint_count = 0, .device_token = 0, .interface_class = 0, .interface_subclass = 0, .interface_protocol = 0, .interface_number = 0 });
+/// open: the target is the class driver's assigned device id. Resolve it to an
+/// interface, remember the caller's endpoint (for interrupt reports), and answer
+/// with a device token — the target of every later packet — plus the interface's
+/// endpoints, so the class driver need not re-read the configuration descriptor.
+fn onOpen(_: void, invocation: Invocation(void), answer: Answer(usb_transfer_protocol.Opened)) isize {
+    const engine = if (controller) |*c| c else return refused;
+    const found = engine.findInterface(invocation.target) orelse return refused;
+    // A device another live client holds is refused exactly as an absent one: one
+    // device, one class driver. The predecessor's slot is released by the exit
+    // sweep, and notifications are delivered ahead of requests, so a *restarted*
+    // driver's open always finds the device free.
+    if (!openedBy(invocation.target, invocation.sender) and heldByAnother(invocation.target)) return refused;
 
     // The report endpoint is claimed only if the open table actually keeps it;
     // a full table leaves it to the turn to close.
-    if (arrived.peek()) |endpoint| {
-        if (recordOpen(request.device_id, endpoint)) _ = arrived.take();
+    if (invocation.capability) |endpoint| {
+        if (recordOpen(invocation.target, invocation.sender, endpoint)) capability_claimed = true;
     }
 
-    var open_reply = usb_transfer_protocol.OpenReply{
-        .status = 0,
+    var opened = usb_transfer_protocol.Opened{
+        .device_token = invocation.target,
         .endpoint_count = found.interface.endpoint_count,
-        .device_token = request.device_id,
         .interface_class = found.interface.class,
         .interface_subclass = found.interface.subclass,
         .interface_protocol = found.interface.protocol,
@@ -556,57 +617,74 @@ fn handleOpen(message: []const u8, reply: []u8, arrived: *ipc.Arrival) usize {
     };
     const count = @min(found.interface.endpoint_count, usb_transfer_protocol.max_reported_endpoints);
     for (found.interface.endpoints[0..count], 0..) |endpoint, index| {
-        open_reply.endpoints[index] = .{
+        opened.endpoints[index] = .{
             .address = endpoint.address,
             .transfer_type = endpoint.transfer_type,
             .max_packet_size = endpoint.max_packet_size,
             .interval = endpoint.interval,
         };
     }
-    return writeReply(reply, open_reply);
+    answer.set(opened);
+    return 0;
 }
 
-/// control: one EP0 control transfer, small data inline both ways.
-fn handleControl(message: []const u8, reply: []u8) usize {
-    if (message.len < @sizeOf(usb_transfer_protocol.ControlRequest)) return writeReply(reply, usb_transfer_protocol.ControlReply{ .status = -1, .actual_length = 0 });
-    const request = std.mem.bytesToValue(usb_transfer_protocol.ControlRequest, message[0..@sizeOf(usb_transfer_protocol.ControlRequest)]);
-    const engine = if (controller) |*c| c else return writeReply(reply, usb_transfer_protocol.ControlReply{ .status = -1, .actual_length = 0 });
-    const found = engine.findInterface(request.device_token) orelse return writeReply(reply, usb_transfer_protocol.ControlReply{ .status = -1, .actual_length = 0 });
+/// control: one EP0 control transfer. The data stage rides the tail in both
+/// directions, so an IN transfer's answer is simply however many bytes were
+/// written into `answer.tail()` — which is what `Status.len` then reports.
+fn onControl(_: void, invocation: Invocation(usb_transfer_protocol.Control), answer: Answer(void)) isize {
+    const engine = if (controller) |*c| c else return refused;
+    if (!openedBy(invocation.target, invocation.sender)) return refused;
+    const found = engine.findInterface(invocation.target) orelse return refused;
+
+    const setup = std.mem.bytesToValue(usb_abi.Request, &invocation.request.setup);
+    const direction_in = invocation.request.direction_in != 0;
+    const room = @min(usb_transfer_protocol.max_inline_data, answer.tail().len);
+    const data_length = @min(@as(usize, invocation.request.data_length), room);
 
-    const setup = std.mem.bytesToValue(usb_abi.Request, &request.setup);
-    const direction_in = request.direction_in != 0;
-    const data_length = @min(request.data_length, usb_transfer_protocol.max_inline_data);
     var data: [usb_transfer_protocol.max_inline_data]u8 = undefined;
-    if (!direction_in) @memcpy(data[0..data_length], request.data[0..data_length]);
+    if (!direction_in) {
+        const supplied = @min(data_length, invocation.tail.len);
+        @memcpy(data[0..supplied], invocation.tail[0..supplied]);
+        if (supplied < data_length) @memset(data[supplied..data_length], 0);
+    }
 
-    const ok = engine.controlTransfer(found.device, setup, data[0..data_length], direction_in);
-    var control_reply = usb_transfer_protocol.ControlReply{ .status = if (ok) 0 else -1, .actual_length = if (ok) data_length else 0 };
-    if (ok and direction_in) @memcpy(control_reply.data[0..data_length], data[0..data_length]);
-    return writeReply(reply, control_reply);
+    if (!engine.controlTransfer(found.device, setup, data[0..data_length], direction_in)) return refused;
+    if (!direction_in) return 0; // nothing follows an OUT: the status is the whole answer
+    @memcpy(answer.tail()[0..data_length], data[0..data_length]);
+    return @intCast(data_length);
 }
 
-/// interrupt_subscribe: arm periodic IN polling; reports flow back asynchronously.
-fn handleSubscribe(message: []const u8, reply: []u8) usize {
-    if (message.len < @sizeOf(usb_transfer_protocol.InterruptSubscribeRequest)) return writeReply(reply, usb_transfer_protocol.InterruptSubscribeReply{ .status = -1 });
-    const request = std.mem.bytesToValue(usb_transfer_protocol.InterruptSubscribeRequest, message[0..@sizeOf(usb_transfer_protocol.InterruptSubscribeRequest)]);
-    const engine = if (controller) |*c| c else return writeReply(reply, usb_transfer_protocol.InterruptSubscribeReply{ .status = -1 });
-    const found = engine.findInterface(request.device_token) orelse return writeReply(reply, usb_transfer_protocol.InterruptSubscribeReply{ .status = -1 });
-    const endpoint = library.Controller.endpointForAddress(found.interface, request.endpoint_address) orelse return writeReply(reply, usb_transfer_protocol.InterruptSubscribeReply{ .status = -1 });
-    const report_endpoint = reportEndpointFor(request.device_token) orelse return writeReply(reply, usb_transfer_protocol.InterruptSubscribeReply{ .status = -1 });
-    const ok = engine.subscribeInterrupt(found.device, endpoint, request.device_token, report_endpoint);
-    return writeReply(reply, usb_transfer_protocol.InterruptSubscribeReply{ .status = if (ok) 0 else -1 });
+/// interrupt_subscribe: arm periodic IN polling; reports flow back asynchronously
+/// to the endpoint this device's `open` handed over.
+fn onInterruptSubscribe(_: void, invocation: Invocation(usb_transfer_protocol.InterruptSubscribe), _: Answer(void)) isize {
+    const engine = if (controller) |*c| c else return refused;
+    if (!openedBy(invocation.target, invocation.sender)) return refused;
+    const found = engine.findInterface(invocation.target) orelse return refused;
+    const endpoint = library.Controller.endpointForAddress(found.interface, invocation.request.endpoint_address) orelse return refused;
+    const report_endpoint = reportEndpointFor(invocation.target) orelse return refused;
+    return if (engine.subscribeInterrupt(found.device, endpoint, invocation.target, report_endpoint)) 0 else refused;
 }
 
 /// bulk: one bulk transfer to/from the class driver's own DMA buffer (by physical
 /// address), so sector-sized data never crosses IPC.
-fn handleBulk(message: []const u8, reply: []u8) usize {
-    if (message.len < @sizeOf(usb_transfer_protocol.BulkRequest)) return writeReply(reply, usb_transfer_protocol.BulkReply{ .status = -1, .actual_length = 0 });
-    const request = std.mem.bytesToValue(usb_transfer_protocol.BulkRequest, message[0..@sizeOf(usb_transfer_protocol.BulkRequest)]);
-    const engine = if (controller) |*c| c else return writeReply(reply, usb_transfer_protocol.BulkReply{ .status = -1, .actual_length = 0 });
-    const found = engine.findInterface(request.device_token) orelse return writeReply(reply, usb_transfer_protocol.BulkReply{ .status = -1, .actual_length = 0 });
-    const endpoint = library.Controller.endpointForAddress(found.interface, request.endpoint_address) orelse return writeReply(reply, usb_transfer_protocol.BulkReply{ .status = -1, .actual_length = 0 });
-    const transferred = engine.bulkTransfer(found.device, endpoint, request.physical_address, request.length);
-    return writeReply(reply, usb_transfer_protocol.BulkReply{ .status = if (transferred != null) 0 else -1, .actual_length = transferred orelse 0 });
+fn onBulk(_: void, invocation: Invocation(usb_transfer_protocol.Bulk), answer: Answer(usb_transfer_protocol.Transferred)) isize {
+    const engine = if (controller) |*c| c else return refused;
+    if (!openedBy(invocation.target, invocation.sender)) return refused;
+    const found = engine.findInterface(invocation.target) orelse return refused;
+    const endpoint = library.Controller.endpointForAddress(found.interface, invocation.request.endpoint_address) orelse return refused;
+    const transferred = engine.bulkTransfer(found.device, endpoint, invocation.request.physical_address, invocation.request.length) orelse return refused;
+    answer.set(.{ .actual_length = transferred });
+    return 0;
+}
+
+/// dma_attach: bind the class driver's DMA-region capability into the controller's IOMMU
+/// domain, so the controller may DMA to the physical addresses inside that buffer. The
+/// binding holds its own kernel reference, so this never claims the arriving handle —
+/// the turn's `defer` in the harness is the close, on the failure paths as well as this
+/// one.
+fn onDmaAttach(_: void, invocation: Invocation(void), _: Answer(void)) isize {
+    const handle = invocation.capability orelse return -envelope.EPROTO;
+    return if (device.dmaBind(controller_id, handle)) 0 else refused;
 }
 
 /// A timer tick or an MSI landed: drain the event ring, reconcile ports, and fan out.
@@ -615,6 +693,12 @@ fn handleBulk(message: []const u8, reply: []u8) usize {
 /// arriving after the drain takes IP 0→1 and fires a fresh edge instead of being
 /// swallowed until the reconcile tick.
 fn onNotification(badge: u64) void {
+    if (badge & ipc.notify_exit_bit != 0) {
+        // A class driver died: release the devices it held, so its successor can
+        // open them and no report is aimed at an endpoint that is gone.
+        releaseOpensOf(@intCast(badge & ~(ipc.notify_badge_bit | ipc.notify_exit_bit)));
+        return;
+    }
     if (badge & ipc.notify_timer_bit != 0) {
         serviceController();
         _ = time.timerOnce(service_endpoint, timerInterval());
@@ -679,14 +763,18 @@ fn serviceController() void {
             if (serviced >= 32) break;
         }
         while (engine.takeReport()) |report| {
-            var message = usb_transfer_protocol.InterruptReport{
-                .device_token = report.device_token,
-                .endpoint_address = report.endpoint_address,
-                .length = @intCast(@min(report.length, usb_transfer_protocol.max_report_data)),
-            };
+            // One `interrupt_report` event packet: the device token in the folded
+            // header, the report after it. A device that produced more than the
+            // push floor admits has its report truncated here, never split.
             const n = @min(report.length, usb_transfer_protocol.max_report_data);
-            @memcpy(message.data[0..n], report.data[0..n]);
-            _ = ipc.send(report.report_endpoint, std.mem.asBytes(&message));
+            var payload = usb_transfer_protocol.InterruptReport{
+                .endpoint_address = report.endpoint_address,
+                .length = @intCast(n),
+            };
+            @memcpy(payload.data[0..n], report.data[0..n]);
+            var packet: [envelope.post_maximum]u8 = undefined;
+            const framed = usb_transfer_protocol.Protocol.encodeEvent(.interrupt_report, report.device_token, payload, &packet) orelse continue;
+            _ = ipc.send(report.report_endpoint, framed);
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/system/drivers/usb-xhci-bus/usb-xhci-library.zig b/system/drivers/usb-xhci-bus/usb-xhci-library.zig
index 89e5f64..fb0862d 100644
--- a/system/drivers/usb-xhci-bus/usb-xhci-library.zig
+++ b/system/drivers/usb-xhci-bus/usb-xhci-library.zig
@@ -1498,6 +1498,24 @@ pub const Controller = struct {
         return true;
     }
 
+    /// Stop reporting for `device_token`: deactivate every subscription tagged
+    /// with it, so no further report is queued and the slot can be reused. Called
+    /// when the class driver that owned the token dies — its endpoint handle is
+    /// closed with it, and a queued report would then be aimed at a handle number
+    /// the bus driver has since given to something else. In-process hub
+    /// subscriptions carry no token and are never touched.
+    ///
+    /// One completion may already be in flight; it finds no active subscription
+    /// and is dropped as a foreign transfer event, which is exactly what it is.
+    pub fn releaseSubscriptions(self: *Controller, device_token: u64) void {
+        for (&self.subscriptions) |*subscription| {
+            if (!subscription.active or subscription.hub != null) continue;
+            if (subscription.device_token != device_token) continue;
+            subscription.active = false;
+            subscription.report_endpoint = 0;
+        }
+    }
+
     // Arm (or re-arm) a subscription's endpoint with a Normal TRB pointing at its
     // report buffer, and ring the endpoint's doorbell so the controller polls it.
     fn armInterrupt(self: *Controller, subscription: *Subscription) void {
diff --git a/system/drivers/virtio-gpu/build.zig b/system/drivers/virtio-gpu/build.zig
index 74e2ba5..eff5518 100644
--- a/system/drivers/virtio-gpu/build.zig
+++ b/system/drivers/virtio-gpu/build.zig
@@ -10,8 +10,8 @@ pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
         .name = "virtio-gpu",
         .root_source_file = b.path("virtio-gpu.zig"),
         .imports = &.{
-            "channel", "display-protocol", "driver", "ipc", "logging", "memory", "mmio", "pci",
-            "process", "scanout-protocol", "service", "time",
+            "channel", "display-protocol", "driver",  "envelope", "ipc",     "logging", "memory",
+            "mmio",    "pci",              "process", "scanout-protocol", "service", "time",
         },
     });
     b.installArtifact(exe);
diff --git a/system/drivers/virtio-gpu/virtio-gpu.zig b/system/drivers/virtio-gpu/virtio-gpu.zig
index 4f5af7c..33d16a5 100644
--- a/system/drivers/virtio-gpu/virtio-gpu.zig
+++ b/system/drivers/virtio-gpu/virtio-gpu.zig
@@ -25,11 +25,19 @@ const memory = @import("memory");
 const logging = @import("logging");
 const mmio = @import("mmio");
 const pci = @import("pci");
+const envelope = @import("envelope");
 const display_protocol = @import("display-protocol");
 const scanout_protocol = @import("scanout-protocol");
 const vp = @import("virtio-pci.zig");
 const vg = @import("virtio-gpu-protocol.zig");
 
+/// The generated scanout dispatch. One scanout per driver instance, so the
+/// handler context is empty and the mode stays in this file's globals.
+const Serve = scanout_protocol.Protocol.Provider(void);
+
+const Invocation = envelope.Invocation;
+const Answer = envelope.Answer;
+
 /// The DisplayFormat (device-abi) our B8G8R8X8 scanout resource presents: bgrx = 1. Handed to
 /// the compositor in the announce so it packs colours in the surface's byte order.
 const display_format_bgrx: u32 = 1;
@@ -482,60 +490,60 @@ fn announce() void {
         std.log.info("no display service to announce to (scanout-only)", .{});
         return;
     };
-    var request = display_protocol.Request{
-        .operation = @intFromEnum(display_protocol.Operation.attach_scanout),
-        .x = max_width, // the shared surface's row stride in pixels (it is sized to the max mode)
-        .y = edid_refresh_hz, // the panel refresh from EDID (0 = unknown) — the frame-clock seed
+    var packet: [display_protocol.message_maximum]u8 = undefined;
+    const framed = display_protocol.Protocol.encodeRequest(.attach_scanout, 0, .{
+        .stride = max_width, // the shared surface's row stride in pixels (it is sized to the max mode)
         .width = current_width,
         .height = current_height,
-        .colour = display_format_bgrx,
-    };
-    var reply: [display_protocol.reply_size]u8 = undefined;
-    _ = ipc.callCap(display, std.mem.asBytes(&request), &reply, surface.handle) catch {
+        .format = display_format_bgrx,
+        .refresh_hz = edid_refresh_hz, // from EDID (0 = unknown) — the frame-clock seed
+    }, &.{}, &packet) orelse return;
+    var reply: [display_protocol.message_maximum]u8 = undefined;
+    _ = ipc.callCap(display, framed, &reply, surface.handle) catch {
         std.log.info("announce to display failed", .{});
         return;
     };
     std.log.info("announced scanout to display", .{});
 }
 
-/// A `scanout_protocol.Reply{status}` written into `reply`.
-fn scanoutStatus(reply: []u8, ok: bool) usize {
-    const response = scanout_protocol.Reply{ .status = if (ok) 0 else -1 };
-    @memcpy(reply[0..scanout_protocol.reply_size], std.mem.asBytes(&response));
-    return scanout_protocol.reply_size;
+// --- serving the scanout protocol -------------------------------------------
+//
+// The compositor drives present / mode queries here. The pixels are already in
+// the shared surface, so a present is a transfer-to-host + fenced flush; a mode
+// change just re-points the scanout rectangle (the surface is sized to the
+// largest mode). One scanout, so `Header.target` is always 0.
+
+/// The device did not take the frame, or the mode asked for is not one this
+/// scanout offers.
+const refused: isize = -envelope.ENOENT;
+
+fn onPresent(_: void, _: Invocation(scanout_protocol.Present), _: Answer(void)) isize {
+    return if (presentFull()) 0 else refused;
 }
 
-/// The `.scanout` service: the compositor drives present / mode queries here. The pixels are
-/// already in the shared surface, so a present is a transfer-to-host + fenced flush; a mode
-/// change just re-points the scanout rectangle (the surface is sized to the largest mode).
-fn onMessage(message: []const u8, reply: []u8, sender: u32, arrived: *ipc.Arrival) usize {
-    _ = sender;
-    _ = arrived; // nothing here takes a capability: the harness closes what arrives
-    if (message.len < scanout_protocol.request_size) return 0;
-    const request = std.mem.bytesToValue(scanout_protocol.Request, message[0..scanout_protocol.request_size]);
-    switch (request.operation) {
-        @intFromEnum(scanout_protocol.Operation.present) => return scanoutStatus(reply, presentFull()),
-        @intFromEnum(scanout_protocol.Operation.get_modes) => {
-            var response = scanout_protocol.ModesReply{ .status = 0, .count = offered_modes.len, .modes = undefined };
-            for (0..scanout_protocol.max_modes) |i| {
-                response.modes[i] = if (i < offered_modes.len)
-                    .{ .width = offered_modes[i].width, .height = offered_modes[i].height }
-                else
-                    .{ .width = 0, .height = 0 };
-            }
-            @memcpy(reply[0..scanout_protocol.modes_reply_size], std.mem.asBytes(&response));
-            return scanout_protocol.modes_reply_size;
-        },
-        @intFromEnum(scanout_protocol.Operation.set_mode) => {
-            const w = request.width;
-            const h = request.height;
-            if (w == 0 or h == 0 or w > max_width or h > max_height) return scanoutStatus(reply, false);
-            current_width = w;
-            current_height = h;
-            return scanoutStatus(reply, setScanoutRect());
-        },
-        else => return 0,
+fn onGetModes(_: void, _: Invocation(void), answer: Answer(scanout_protocol.Modes)) isize {
+    var offered = scanout_protocol.Modes{ .count = offered_modes.len };
+    for (0..@min(offered_modes.len, scanout_protocol.max_modes)) |i| {
+        offered.modes[i] = .{ .width = offered_modes[i].width, .height = offered_modes[i].height };
     }
+    answer.set(offered);
+    return 0;
+}
+
+fn onSetMode(_: void, invocation: Invocation(scanout_protocol.SetMode), _: Answer(void)) isize {
+    const w = invocation.request.width;
+    const h = invocation.request.height;
+    if (w == 0 or h == 0 or w > max_width or h > max_height) return refused;
+    current_width = w;
+    current_height = h;
+    return if (setScanoutRect()) 0 else refused;
+}
+
+const handlers = Serve.Handlers{ .present = onPresent, .get_modes = onGetModes, .set_mode = onSetMode };
+
+fn onMessage(message: []const u8, reply: []u8, sender: u32, arrived: *ipc.Arrival) usize {
+    _ = arrived; // nothing here takes a capability: the harness closes what arrives
+    return Serve.dispatch({}, handlers, message, sender, null, reply);
 }
 
 pub fn main(init: process.Init) void {
@@ -547,7 +555,7 @@ pub fn main(init: process.Init) void {
         std.log.info("malformed device id '{s}'", .{argument});
         return;
     };
-    service.run(256, .{
+    service.run(scanout_protocol.message_maximum, .{
         .service = "scanout",
         .init = initialise,
         .on_message = onMessage,
diff --git a/system/kernel/process.zig b/system/kernel/process.zig
index 4104808..615a8ae 100644
--- a/system/kernel/process.zig
+++ b/system/kernel/process.zig
@@ -1520,7 +1520,15 @@ pub fn exitReasonOf(caller_id: u32, target_id: u32) i64 {
 /// subscriptions — that must release what a dead client held and cannot learn it
 /// any other way (a client that simply never calls again looks like silence).
 /// Bounded like every kernel table; each entry holds its own endpoint reference.
-const exit_subscriber_capacity = 8;
+///
+/// Sixteen, not eight: a subscription is now what *every* provider with
+/// per-client state uses to release it — the FAT server's open files, the input,
+/// power and device-manager subscriber tables (the service harness subscribes for
+/// them), the compositor's layers, and each USB controller driver's device tokens.
+/// A single boot already fields six, and a machine with several xHCI controllers
+/// fields one per controller, so the old ceiling was within two of a service
+/// silently losing its sweep.
+const exit_subscriber_capacity = 16;
 const ExitSubscriber = struct { endpoint: *ipc.Endpoint, owner: u32 };
 var exit_subscribers: [exit_subscriber_capacity]?ExitSubscriber = .{null} ** exit_subscriber_capacity;
 
@@ -1538,16 +1546,27 @@ fn systemProcessSubscribe(state: *architecture.CpuState) void {
     if (t.address_space == 0) return fail(state);
     const endpoint = ipc.resolveHandle(t, architecture.systemCallArg(state, 0)) orelse return failErr(state, ipc.EBADF);
     if (!ipc.ownedBy(endpoint, t)) return failErr(state, ipc.EPERM);
+    const result = subscribeExits(endpoint, t.id);
+    if (result < 0) return failErr(state, @intCast(-result));
+    architecture.setSystemCallResult(state, 0);
+}
+
+/// Take a slot in the published-exit table for `endpoint`, owned by task `owner`.
+/// The body of `process_subscribe` minus the authorization, so a kernel test can
+/// exercise the fan-out (several subscribers, one death, every one notified) that
+/// every provider's release-what-the-dead-client-held sweep is built on. Returns
+/// 0, or -ENOSPC.
+pub fn subscribeExits(endpoint: *ipc.Endpoint, owner: u32) i64 {
     const flags = sync.enter();
     defer sync.leave(flags);
     for (&exit_subscribers) |*slot| {
         if (slot.* == null) {
             endpoint.refcount += 1; // the slot's own reference, dropped on unsubscribe-by-death
-            slot.* = .{ .endpoint = endpoint, .owner = t.id };
-            return architecture.setSystemCallResult(state, 0);
+            slot.* = .{ .endpoint = endpoint, .owner = owner };
+            return 0;
         }
     }
-    failErr(state, ipc.ENOSPC);
+    return -ipc.ENOSPC;
 }
 
 /// signal_bind(endpoint): nominate where this process's signals arrive — the
diff --git a/system/kernel/tests.zig b/system/kernel/tests.zig
index 9d91dd3..a98c662 100644
--- a/system/kernel/tests.zig
+++ b/system/kernel/tests.zig
@@ -250,6 +250,8 @@ pub fn run(case: []const u8, boot_information: *const BootInformation) void {
         protocolRegistryTest(boot_information);
     } else if (eql(case, "protocol-denied")) {
         protocolDeniedTest(boot_information);
+    } else if (eql(case, "protocol-conformance")) {
+        protocolConformanceTest(boot_information);
     } else if (eql(case, "reboot")) {
         rebootTest();
     } else {
@@ -2246,9 +2248,67 @@ fn processKillTest(boot_information: *const BootInformation) void {
     }
     check("neither victim is listed after its kill", !still_listed);
     check("a killed id stays dead (-ESRCH on a second kill)", process.killProcess(me, sleeper) == -ipcsync.ESRCH);
+
+    publishedExitChecks(rd, me);
     result();
 }
 
+/// The mechanism every provider's release-what-a-dead-client-held sweep is built
+/// on (docs/process-lifecycle.md, "Who learns of a death"): a **published** exit,
+/// fanned out to every subscriber rather than only to the supervisor. The service
+/// harness's subscriber sweep, the FAT server's open files, the compositor's
+/// layers and the xHCI driver's device tokens all release on exactly this, and
+/// several of them are subscribed at once in a normal boot — so what is checked
+/// here is the fan-out: three independent subscribers, one death, three
+/// notifications carrying the same badge, none of them the supervisor's.
+///
+/// Run at the end of the process-kill case, because a subscription is for every
+/// death from then on and the checks above spawn victims of their own.
+fn publishedExitChecks(rd: initial_ramdisk.Reader, me: u32) void {
+    var subscribers: [3]*ipcsync.Endpoint = undefined;
+    var subscribed: usize = 0;
+    while (subscribed < subscribers.len) : (subscribed += 1) {
+        subscribers[subscribed] = ipcsync.createIpcEndpoint() orelse break;
+        if (process.subscribeExits(subscribers[subscribed], me) != 0) break;
+    }
+    check("three endpoints subscribed to published exits", subscribed == subscribers.len);
+    if (subscribed != subscribers.len) return;
+
+    // A supervised child so the supervisor notification remains distinguishable:
+    // it lands on `endpoint`, the published ones on the three above.
+    const supervisor_endpoint = ipcsync.createIpcEndpoint() orelse {
+        check("supervisor endpoint allocated", false);
+        return;
+    };
+    var child: u32 = 0;
+    var i: u32 = 0;
+    while (i < rd.count) : (i += 1) {
+        const item = rd.entry(i) orelse continue;
+        if (!eql(initial_ramdisk.basename(item.name), "args-echo")) continue;
+        child = process.spawnProcessSupervised(item.blob, 4, &.{ "args-echo", "published-exit" }, me, supervisor_endpoint) catch 0;
+        break;
+    }
+    check("a clean-exit child spawned for the published exit", child != 0);
+    if (child == 0) return;
+
+    var badge: u64 = 0;
+    var received_cap: u64 = 0;
+    _ = ipcsync.replyWait(supervisor_endpoint, 0, 0, 0, 0, abi.no_cap, &badge, &received_cap);
+    check("the supervisor heard the child end", badge == abi.notify_badge_bit | abi.notify_exit_bit | child);
+
+    // The publication happens in the same locked section as the supervisor's
+    // notification and before it, so all three are already queued: a subscriber
+    // that had not heard would block here and time the harness out rather than
+    // pass vacuously.
+    var heard: usize = 0;
+    for (subscribers) |subscriber| {
+        badge = 0;
+        _ = ipcsync.replyWait(subscriber, 0, 0, 0, 0, abi.no_cap, &badge, &received_cap);
+        if (badge == abi.notify_badge_bit | abi.notify_exit_bit | child) heard += 1;
+    }
+    check("every subscriber heard the same death, not just the supervisor", heard == subscribers.len);
+}
+
 /// M17.1: a dead process's device claims are released by the reap, so a restarted
 /// driver can claim its hardware again (docs/process-lifecycle.md iron rule 1).
 /// First the broker release in isolation — two owners, one released, the other's
@@ -2737,6 +2797,10 @@ fn fatMountTest(boot_information: *const BootInformation) void {
     const init_ok = if (process.spawnBundled("/system/services/init")) true else |_| false;
     check("init spawned (boots the tree, incl. the fat server)", init_ok);
     check("fat-test client spawned", spawnNamed(rd, "fat-test"));
+    // The badge-scoping probe rides the same boot: it needs the fat server for a
+    // node id and the compositor for a layer id, and init starts both. It spawns
+    // its own second process — the intruder — with the ids it holds (P4c).
+    check("badge-scope-test owner spawned", spawnNamed(rd, "badge-scope-test"));
     result();
 }
 
@@ -3898,6 +3962,68 @@ fn protocolDeniedTest(boot_information: *const BootInformation) void {
     result();
 }
 
+/// P4a — the reserved verbs, asked of live providers
+/// (docs/security-track-plan.md P4a; docs/os-development/protocol-namespace.md).
+/// Every protocol rebased onto `envelope.Define` gets `describe` answered from its
+/// specification and `-ENOSYS` for a verb it does not define, without its provider
+/// implementing either — this case is where that stops being a host unit test of
+/// the generated dispatch and becomes an observation of real providers over real
+/// IPC.
+///
+/// The scenario is the assertion's scaffolding, the same shape `protocol-denied`
+/// uses: `/protocol` (init in its registry role) plus the providers the fixture is
+/// granted to reach — the **input service** and the **compositor**, two protocols
+/// of different sizes and different verb counts, so "uniform" means something. The
+/// fixture reads `/protocol`'s own listing rather than a list compiled into it, so
+/// what it checks is what this boot actually bound; the three other P4a protocols
+/// (vfs, block, scanout) sit behind hardware chains this scenario deliberately does
+/// not boot, and the fixture names them on serial as unchecked rather than passing
+/// over them.
+///
+/// The fixture's `protocol-conformance: ok` is the marker; each contract it checks
+/// prints its own line, which the harness's ordered regex reads.
+fn protocolConformanceTest(boot_information: *const BootInformation) void {
+    log("DANOS-TEST-BEGIN: protocol-conformance\n", .{});
+    if (boot_information.initial_ramdisk_len == 0) {
+        check("bootloader handed over an initial_ramdisk", false);
+        result();
+        return;
+    }
+    const image = @as([*]const u8, @ptrFromInt(boot_handoff.physicalToVirtual(boot_information.initial_ramdisk_base)))[0..boot_information.initial_ramdisk_len];
+    const rd = initial_ramdisk.Reader.init(image) orelse {
+        check("initial_ramdisk image is valid", false);
+        result();
+        return;
+    };
+
+    process.setInitialRamdisk(image);
+    check("registry (init) spawned", spawnRegistry(rd));
+    // The two providers under test. Neither needs hardware beyond the framebuffer
+    // the kernel already seeded: input binds /protocol/input and waits for
+    // subscribers, and the compositor binds /protocol/display and composes into
+    // that framebuffer (the display-service scenario boots it exactly this way).
+    check("input service spawned", spawnNamed(rd, "input"));
+    check("display service spawned", spawnNamed(rd, "display"));
+    check("protocol-conformance-test spawned", spawnNamedWithArg(rd, "protocol-conformance-test", "run"));
+
+    const pass_marker = "protocol-conformance: ok";
+    const fail_marker = "protocol-conformance: FAIL";
+    scheduler.setPriority(1);
+    const deadline = architecture.millis() + 20000;
+    var saw_pass = false;
+    var saw_fail = false;
+    while (architecture.millis() < deadline and !saw_pass and !saw_fail) {
+        if (bufferHas(pass_marker)) saw_pass = true;
+        if (bufferHas(fail_marker)) saw_fail = true;
+        scheduler.yield();
+    }
+    scheduler.setPriority(4);
+
+    check("no provider failed the reserved-verb contract", !saw_fail);
+    check("the fixture conformance-checked every provider its scenario boots", saw_pass);
+    result();
+}
+
 fn deviceManagerTest(boot_information: *const BootInformation) void {
     log("DANOS-TEST-BEGIN: device-manager\n", .{});
     if (boot_information.initial_ramdisk_len == 0) {
diff --git a/system/services/acpi/acpi.zig b/system/services/acpi/acpi.zig
index f56978e..b29a7c2 100644
--- a/system/services/acpi/acpi.zig
+++ b/system/services/acpi/acpi.zig
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ const logging = @import("logging");
 const aml = @import("aml");
 const acpi_ids = @import("acpi-ids");
 const device_manager_protocol = @import("device-manager-protocol");
+const envelope = @import("envelope");
 const power_protocol = @import("power-protocol");
 /// AML opcode/prefix bytes by name (`zero_opcode`, `byte_prefix`, …) — so the `_HID`
 /// integer decode names the opcodes instead of bare 0x0A/0x0B/… (docs/coding-standards.md).
@@ -59,15 +60,14 @@ const pwrbtn_bit: u16 = 1 << 8;
 const sci_en_bit: u32 = 1 << 0;
 const slp_en: u32 = 1 << 13;
 
-// The `.power` subscribers: endpoints handed over as capabilities, each
-// receiving events as buffered messages. Dropped on a failed send. The
-// subscriber's task id is kept too — a shutdown request is honored only from a
-// subscriber (init subscribes; a stray process does not), the soft gate that
-// stands in for "only the system supervisor may power off" without hardcoding
-// a pid the kernel's idle tasks would have taken.
-const maximum_subscribers = 8;
-var subscribers: [maximum_subscribers]?ipc.Handle = .{null} ** maximum_subscribers;
-var subscriber_tasks: [maximum_subscribers]u32 = .{0} ** maximum_subscribers;
+/// The `.power` subscribers, kept by the service harness (P4c): endpoints handed
+/// over as capabilities, each receiving events as buffered messages, each swept
+/// when its task dies. The table remembers which task subscribed, which is what
+/// the shutdown gate below asks — a shutdown request is honored only from a
+/// subscriber (init subscribes; a stray process does not), the soft gate that
+/// stands in for "only the system supervisor may power off" without hardcoding a
+/// pid the kernel's idle tasks would have taken.
+const Subscriptions = service.Subscribers(power_protocol.Protocol, void);
 
 // Pass-1 registration record (see main): what pass 2 reports.
 const Registered = struct { hid: [8]u8 = .{0} ** 8, hid_len: usize = 0, device_id: u64 = 0, resource_count: u64 = 0 };
@@ -200,6 +200,7 @@ pub fn main(init: process.Init) void {
         .init = onInit,
         .on_message = onMessage,
         .on_notification = onNotification,
+        .subscribers = Subscriptions.hooks,
     });
 }
 
@@ -241,10 +242,20 @@ fn onInit(endpoint: ipc.Handle) bool {
         else
             std.log.info("device {d}  bus=acpi hid={s}  ({d} resources)", .{ entry.device_id, hid, entry.resource_count });
         if (manager) |h| {
-            var report = device_manager_protocol.ChildAdded{ .bus = @intFromEnum(device_manager_protocol.BusKind.acpi), .parent = node_id, .bus_address = entry.device_id, .identity = 0, .device_id = entry.device_id };
+            // The registered device id is the packet's target, so the body only
+            // says where on the firmware tree the node sits and what it is.
+            var report = device_manager_protocol.ChildAdded{
+                .bus = @intFromEnum(device_manager_protocol.BusKind.acpi),
+                .parent = node_id,
+                .bus_address = entry.device_id,
+                .identity = 0,
+            };
             @memcpy(report.hid[0..entry.hid_len], entry.hid[0..entry.hid_len]);
-            var reply: [device_manager_protocol.message_maximum]u8 = undefined;
-            _ = ipc.call(h, std.mem.asBytes(&report), &reply) catch {};
+            var packet: [device_manager_protocol.message_maximum]u8 = undefined;
+            if (device_manager_protocol.Protocol.encodeRequest(.child_added, entry.device_id, report, &.{}, &packet)) |framed| {
+                var reply: [device_manager_protocol.message_maximum]u8 = undefined;
+                _ = ipc.call(h, framed, &reply) catch {};
+            }
         }
     }
     std.log.info("reported {d} device(s) to the manager", .{registered_count});
@@ -389,13 +400,21 @@ fn dispatchGpe(n: u32) void {
 
 fn publishNotify(node: *aml.Node, code: u64) void {
     // Map the notified device's _HID to a domain event where we recognize it.
+    // The kind IS the packet's verb, so the mapping picks which event to frame
+    // rather than which tag to put in a payload.
     var hid: [8]u8 = .{0} ** 8;
     if (readHid(node, &global_interpreter)) |h| hid = h;
-    const which: power_protocol.Event = if (std.mem.eql(u8, hid[0..7], "PNP0C0A")) .battery else if (std.mem.eql(u8, hid[0..7], "ACPI0003")) .ac else if (std.mem.eql(u8, hid[0..7], "PNP0C0D")) .lid else .notify;
-    var event = power_protocol.EventMessage{ .event = @intFromEnum(which), .code = @truncate(code) };
-    event.hid = hid;
+    const notice = power_protocol.Notice{ .code = @truncate(code), .hid = hid };
     std.log.info("power: notify {s} code {d}", .{ hid[0..7], code });
-    publishEvent(std.mem.asBytes(&event));
+    if (std.mem.eql(u8, hid[0..7], "PNP0C0A")) {
+        Subscriptions.publish(.battery, 0, notice);
+    } else if (std.mem.eql(u8, hid[0..7], "ACPI0003")) {
+        Subscriptions.publish(.ac, 0, notice);
+    } else if (std.mem.eql(u8, hid[0..7], "PNP0C0D")) {
+        Subscriptions.publish(.lid, 0, notice);
+    } else {
+        Subscriptions.publish(.notify, 0, notice);
+    }
 }
 
 /// Two lowercase hex digits of `n` into `out[0..2]`.
@@ -406,23 +425,10 @@ fn writeHex2(out: []u8, n: u32) void {
 }
 
 fn publishButton() void {
-    const event = power_protocol.EventMessage{ .event = @intFromEnum(power_protocol.Event.power_button) };
-    publishEvent(std.mem.asBytes(&event));
-}
-
-fn publishEvent(bytes: []const u8) void {
-    for (&subscribers) |*slot| {
-        if (slot.*) |handle| {
-            if (!ipc.send(handle, bytes)) slot.* = null;
-        }
-    }
-}
-
-fn isSubscriber(task: u32) bool {
-    for (&subscribers, 0..) |*slot, si| {
-        if (slot.* != null and subscriber_tasks[si] == task) return true;
-    }
-    return false;
+    // The kind is the packet's operation, so the harness frames it once and pushes
+    // the same bytes to every subscriber. There is no class here: a power event
+    // goes to everyone who asked for power events.
+    Subscriptions.publish(.power_button, 0, .{});
 }
 
 /// Enter S5 (soft off): write SLP_TYP|SLP_EN to the PM1 control register(s).
@@ -444,48 +450,39 @@ fn enterS5() void {
 // --- harness callbacks --------------------------------------------------------
 
 fn onNotification(badge: u64) void {
-    // The only notification the service binds is the SCI (an IRQ badge).
-    _ = badge;
+    // Two kinds of notification reach this loop now. The SCI is the one this
+    // service binds; the published process exits are the harness's, which it has
+    // already used to sweep the subscriber table before calling here. Everything
+    // that is not a bare IRQ badge must therefore be ignored — treating a death
+    // as an interrupt would clear PM1 status the firmware never set.
+    if (badge & (ipc.notify_exit_bit | ipc.notify_timer_bit | ipc.notify_message_bit | ipc.notify_signal_bit) != 0) return;
     onSci();
 }
 
-/// The `.power` protocol: subscribe (endpoint as the call's capability),
-/// shutdown (PID 1 only). Device discovery uses a different endpoint (the
-/// device manager's), so nothing here handles ChildAdded.
+const Invocation = envelope.Invocation;
+const Answer = envelope.Answer;
+
+/// The power contract: the reserved `subscribe` (the subscriber's endpoint as
+/// the call's capability, answered by the harness) and `shutdown` (subscribers
+/// only). Device discovery uses a different endpoint — the device manager's — so
+/// nothing here handles a tree report.
 fn onMessage(message: []const u8, reply: []u8, sender: u32, arrived: *ipc.Arrival) usize {
-    if (message.len < 1) return 0;
-    switch (message[0]) {
-        @intFromEnum(power_protocol.Operation.subscribe) => {
-            // The subscriber's endpoint is claimed only when a slot takes it;
-            // a full table refuses and the turn closes what arrived.
-            var status: i32 = -1;
-            if (arrived.peek() != null) {
-                for (&subscribers, 0..) |*slot, si| {
-                    if (slot.* == null) {
-                        slot.* = arrived.take();
-                        subscriber_tasks[si] = sender;
-                        status = 0;
-                        break;
-                    }
-                }
-            }
-            const r = power_protocol.Reply{ .status = status };
-            @memcpy(reply[0..@sizeOf(power_protocol.Reply)], std.mem.asBytes(&r));
-            return @sizeOf(power_protocol.Reply);
-        },
-        @intFromEnum(power_protocol.Operation.shutdown) => {
-            // Honored only from a power subscriber — init, which has already run
-            // the stop sequence over everything else. The power service is
-            // mechanism (write S5); deciding *when* to shut down and stopping
-            // the rest of the system first is init's policy.
-            const allowed = isSubscriber(sender);
-            const r = power_protocol.Reply{ .status = if (allowed) 0 else -1 };
-            @memcpy(reply[0..@sizeOf(power_protocol.Reply)], std.mem.asBytes(&r));
-            if (allowed) enterS5();
-            return @sizeOf(power_protocol.Reply);
-        },
-        else => return 0,
-    }
+    return Subscriptions.dispatch({}, handlers, message, sender, arrived, reply);
+}
+
+/// `subscribe` and `unsubscribe` are absent on purpose: the harness answers both.
+const handlers = Subscriptions.Handlers{ .shutdown = onShutdown };
+
+/// Honored only from a power subscriber — init, which has already run the stop
+/// sequence over everything else. The power service is mechanism (write S5);
+/// deciding *when* to shut down and stopping the rest of the system first is
+/// init's policy. The badge is the whole gate: it is kernel-stamped, so nothing
+/// in the packet can claim to be init. The subscriber table moved into the
+/// harness; the question it answers has not changed.
+fn onShutdown(_: void, invocation: Invocation(void), _: Answer(void)) isize {
+    if (!Subscriptions.has(invocation.sender)) return -envelope.EPERM;
+    enterS5();
+    return 0;
 }
 
 /// Depth-first walk: register + report each present device with a _HID, then
diff --git a/system/services/acpi/build.zig b/system/services/acpi/build.zig
index 96fb107..48263fc 100644
--- a/system/services/acpi/build.zig
+++ b/system/services/acpi/build.zig
@@ -14,8 +14,8 @@ pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
         .name = "discovery",
         .root_source_file = b.path("acpi.zig"),
         .imports = &.{
-            "acpi-ids", "aml", "channel", "device-manager-protocol", "driver", "ipc", "logging",
-            "memory", "power-protocol", "process", "service", "time",
+            "acpi-ids", "aml", "channel", "device-manager-protocol", "driver", "envelope",
+            "ipc", "logging", "memory", "power-protocol", "process", "service", "time",
         },
     });
     b.installArtifact(exe);
diff --git a/system/services/device-manager/build.zig b/system/services/device-manager/build.zig
index 256f8d3..80b8f92 100644
--- a/system/services/device-manager/build.zig
+++ b/system/services/device-manager/build.zig
@@ -10,8 +10,8 @@ pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
         .name = "device-manager",
         .root_source_file = b.path("device-manager.zig"),
         .imports = &.{
-            "device-manager-protocol", "device-registry", "driver", "file-system", "ipc",
-            "logging", "memory", "process", "service", "time",
+            "device-manager-protocol", "device-registry", "driver", "envelope", "file-system",
+            "ipc", "logging", "memory", "process", "service", "time",
         },
     });
     b.installArtifact(exe);
diff --git a/system/services/device-manager/device-manager.zig b/system/services/device-manager/device-manager.zig
index 9d7e6e3..6b87d14 100644
--- a/system/services/device-manager/device-manager.zig
+++ b/system/services/device-manager/device-manager.zig
@@ -24,7 +24,17 @@ const time = @import("time");
 const memory = @import("memory");
 const logging = @import("logging");
 const device_manager_protocol = @import("device-manager-protocol");
+const envelope = @import("envelope");
 const registry = @import("device-registry");
+
+/// The generated device-manager dispatch, plus the subscriber machinery the
+/// harness owns (P4c): the watcher table, the reserved `subscribe` verb, the
+/// exit sweep, and the fan-out. One manager per system, so the handler context is
+/// empty and the tables stay in this file's globals.
+const Serve = service.Subscribers(device_manager_protocol.Protocol, void);
+
+const Invocation = envelope.Invocation;
+const Answer = envelope.Answer;
 const fs = @import("file-system");
 
 // --- the device registry ------------------------------------------------------
@@ -148,23 +158,6 @@ var test_scanout_killed = false;
 var test_kill_pid: u32 = 0;
 var test_kill_due_ns: u64 = 0;
 
-/// The application subscribers (M18.3, the input-service pattern): endpoints
-/// handed over as capabilities, each receiving every child add/remove as a
-/// buffered message. A subscriber whose endpoint stops accepting (it died) is
-/// dropped on the failed send.
-const maximum_subscribers = 8;
-var subscribers: [maximum_subscribers]?ipc.Handle = .{null} ** maximum_subscribers;
-
-/// Publish one event (a ChildAdded or ChildRemoved struct, the same encoding
-/// the bus drivers send) to every subscriber.
-fn publishEvent(event: []const u8) void {
-    for (&subscribers) |*slot| {
-        if (slot.*) |handle| {
-            if (!ipc.send(handle, event)) slot.* = null; // dead subscriber
-        }
-    }
-}
-
 /// The manager's mirror of what bus drivers report (docs/device-manager.md "the
 /// tree"): the children, keyed by (parent, bus address), each remembering which
 /// driver instance reported it — that is what death-pruning sweeps by.
@@ -209,8 +202,7 @@ fn pruneChildrenOf(reporter: u32) void {
         if (child.used and child.reporter == reporter) {
             std.log.info("child removed (device {d} port {d})", .{ child.parent, child.bus_address });
             child.used = false;
-            const event = device_manager_protocol.ChildRemoved{ .parent = child.parent, .bus_address = child.bus_address };
-            publishEvent(std.mem.asBytes(&event));
+            Serve.publish(.child_removed, 0, .{ .parent = child.parent, .bus_address = child.bus_address });
         }
     }
 }
@@ -225,7 +217,11 @@ fn childCountOf(reporter: u32) u32 {
     return n;
 }
 
+/// The driver entry a live process id belongs to. Zero is not a process id here:
+/// it is what `onDriverExit` writes back to retire an id it has already acted on,
+/// so a second notification for the same death matches nothing.
 fn driverByProcess(process_id: u32) ?*Driver {
+    if (process_id == 0) return null;
     for (&drivers) |*driver| {
         if (driver.used and driver.process_id == process_id) return driver;
     }
@@ -293,8 +289,17 @@ fn spawnDriver(driver: *Driver) void {
 /// is the whole restart decision: a clean exit meant to stop; anything else
 /// restarts with backoff until the crash-loop cap.
 fn onDriverExit(driver: *Driver) void {
-    pruneChildrenOf(driver.process_id);
-    const reason = process.exitReason(driver.process_id) orelse .fault;
+    const dead = driver.process_id;
+    // One death, two notifications: the manager is this driver's supervisor (its
+    // spawn named this endpoint) *and*, since P4c put the watcher table in the
+    // harness, a subscriber to published exits. Both badges carry the same id, and
+    // the ring delivers them separately — so the id is retired here, before any
+    // decision is taken, and the second notification finds no driver to act on.
+    // Without this the backoff would count one death twice and the crash-loop cap
+    // would fire at half the deaths it names.
+    driver.process_id = 0;
+    pruneChildrenOf(dead);
+    const reason = process.exitReason(dead) orelse .fault;
     if (reason == .exited) {
         driver.state = .stopped;
         std.log.info("{s} exited cleanly; not restarting", .{driver.name()});
@@ -396,58 +401,61 @@ fn initialise(endpoint: ipc.Handle) bool {
 }
 
 fn onMessage(message: []const u8, reply: []u8, sender: u32, arrived: *ipc.Arrival) usize {
-    if (message.len < 1) return 0;
-    switch (message[0]) {
-        @intFromEnum(device_manager_protocol.Operation.child_added) => return onChildAdded(message, reply, sender),
-        @intFromEnum(device_manager_protocol.Operation.child_removed) => return onChildRemoved(message, reply, sender),
-        @intFromEnum(device_manager_protocol.Operation.enumerate) => return onEnumerate(reply),
-        @intFromEnum(device_manager_protocol.Operation.subscribe) => return onSubscribe(reply, arrived),
-        @intFromEnum(device_manager_protocol.Operation.hello) => {},
-        else => return 0,
-    }
-    if (message.len < device_manager_protocol.hello_size) return 0;
-    const hello = std.mem.bytesToValue(device_manager_protocol.Hello, message[0..device_manager_protocol.hello_size]);
-
-    var status: i32 = 0;
-    if (hello.version != device_manager_protocol.version) {
-        status = -1;
-        std.log.info("refused hello (version {d}) from process {d}", .{ hello.version, sender });
-    } else if (driverByProcess(sender)) |driver| {
-        driver.state = .running;
-        std.log.info("hello from {s} (device {d})", .{ driver.name(), hello.device_id });
-        // Resilience drill (V6): once, kill the virtio-gpu driver a moment after it hellos, so
-        // the normal restart policy respawns it — the compositor must survive and re-attach.
-        if (test_scanout_restart_mode and !test_scanout_killed and std.mem.eql(u8, driver.name(), "/system/drivers/virtio-gpu")) {
-            test_scanout_killed = true;
-            test_kill_pid = sender;
-            test_kill_due_ns = time.clock() + 1_500_000_000;
-            _ = time.timerOnce(manager_endpoint, 1600);
-        }
-    } else {
-        status = -1;
-        std.log.info("hello from unknown process {d}", .{sender});
-    }
-    const hello_reply = device_manager_protocol.HelloReply{ .status = status };
-    @memcpy(reply[0..device_manager_protocol.reply_size], std.mem.asBytes(&hello_reply));
-    return device_manager_protocol.reply_size;
+    return Serve.dispatch({}, handlers, message, sender, arrived, reply);
 }
 
-/// A bus driver reported a discovered device: mirror it, and in
-/// test-usb-restart mode kill the reporter once after its second child — the
+/// `subscribe` and `unsubscribe` are absent on purpose: the harness answers both,
+/// and its table is what `publish` fans out over.
+const handlers = Serve.Handlers{
+    .hello = onHello,
+    .child_added = onChildAdded,
+    .child_removed = onChildRemoved,
+    .enumerate = onEnumerate,
+};
+
+/// The handshake. The device this driver was assigned is the packet's target.
+fn onHello(_: void, invocation: Invocation(device_manager_protocol.Hello), _: Answer(void)) isize {
+    if (invocation.request.version != device_manager_protocol.version) {
+        std.log.info("refused hello (version {d}) from process {d}", .{ invocation.request.version, invocation.sender });
+        return -envelope.EPROTO;
+    }
+    const driver = driverByProcess(invocation.sender) orelse {
+        std.log.info("hello from unknown process {d}", .{invocation.sender});
+        return -envelope.EPERM;
+    };
+    driver.state = .running;
+    std.log.info("hello from {s} (device {d})", .{ driver.name(), invocation.target });
+    // Resilience drill (V6): once, kill the virtio-gpu driver a moment after it hellos, so
+    // the normal restart policy respawns it — the compositor must survive and re-attach.
+    if (test_scanout_restart_mode and !test_scanout_killed and std.mem.eql(u8, driver.name(), "/system/drivers/virtio-gpu")) {
+        test_scanout_killed = true;
+        test_kill_pid = invocation.sender;
+        test_kill_due_ns = time.clock() + 1_500_000_000;
+        _ = time.timerOnce(manager_endpoint, 1600);
+    }
+    return 0;
+}
+
+/// A bus driver reported a discovered device: mirror it, publish it, match a
+/// driver for it — and in the restart drills kill the reporter once, the
 /// deterministic trigger for prune -> backoff -> respawn -> re-report.
-fn onChildAdded(message: []const u8, reply: []u8, sender: u32) usize {
-    if (message.len < device_manager_protocol.child_added_size) return 0;
-    const report = std.mem.bytesToValue(device_manager_protocol.ChildAdded, message[0..device_manager_protocol.child_added_size]);
-    var status: i32 = 0;
+fn onChildAdded(_: void, invocation: Invocation(device_manager_protocol.ChildAdded), _: Answer(void)) isize {
+    const report = invocation.request;
+    const sender = invocation.sender;
+    // The registered kernel device id is the packet's target, not a field: what
+    // the manager hands a matched driver as its argv assignment.
+    const device_id = invocation.target;
+
+    var status: isize = 0;
     if (driverByProcess(sender)) |driver| {
-        if (!addChild(report.parent, report.bus_address, report.identity, report.device_id, sender)) status = -1;
+        if (!addChild(report.parent, report.bus_address, report.identity, device_id, sender)) status = -envelope.ENOSPC;
         std.log.info("child added (device {d} port {d}, identity {d}) by {s}", .{ report.parent, report.bus_address, report.identity, driver.name() });
-        if (status == 0) publishEvent(message[0..device_manager_protocol.child_added_size]);
+        if (status == 0) Serve.publish(.child_added, device_id, report);
         // Matching from reports (M19.3), now data-driven via the /system/configuration/devices.csv
         // registry: a registered child gets the most-specific driver its identity
         // matches, once — re-reports after a bus restart dedupe on the registered
         // id, exactly like the registrations do.
-        if (status == 0 and report.device_id != device_manager_protocol.no_device) {
+        if (status == 0 and device_id != device_manager_protocol.no_device) {
             const id = identityFromReport(report);
             if (registry.matchDriver(registry_rules[0..registry_count], id)) |match| {
                 if (match.ambiguous)
@@ -458,15 +466,13 @@ fn onChildAdded(message: []const u8, reply: []u8, sender: u32) usize {
                     if (!alreadySupervised(match.driver)) addDriver(match.driver, device_manager_protocol.no_device, false);
                 } else {
                     // A per-device driver: one instance, the registered id as argv[1].
-                    if (!driverForDevice(report.device_id)) addDriver(match.driver, report.device_id, true);
+                    if (!driverForDevice(device_id)) addDriver(match.driver, device_id, true);
                 }
             }
         }
     } else {
-        status = -1;
+        status = -envelope.EPERM;
     }
-    const report_reply = device_manager_protocol.ReportReply{ .status = status };
-    @memcpy(reply[0..@sizeOf(device_manager_protocol.ReportReply)], std.mem.asBytes(&report_reply));
     if (test_pci_restart_mode and !test_usb_killed) {
         if (driverByProcess(sender)) |driver| {
             if (std.mem.eql(u8, driver.name(), "pci-bus") and childCountOf(sender) >= 3) {
@@ -494,66 +500,47 @@ fn onChildAdded(message: []const u8, reply: []u8, sender: u32) usize {
             }
         }
     }
-    return @sizeOf(device_manager_protocol.ReportReply);
+    return status;
 }
 
-/// A bus driver reported a device gone (hot-unplug; no sender exists yet, but
-/// the handler is protocol-complete — death-pruning covers removal until then).
-fn onChildRemoved(message: []const u8, reply: []u8, sender: u32) usize {
-    if (message.len < device_manager_protocol.child_removed_size) return 0;
-    const report = std.mem.bytesToValue(device_manager_protocol.ChildRemoved, message[0..device_manager_protocol.child_removed_size]);
-    var status: i32 = -1;
+/// A bus driver reported a device gone (hot-unplug). Addressed by the composite
+/// (parent, bus address) the reporter knows, which is why that pair is the
+/// packet's body rather than its target.
+fn onChildRemoved(_: void, invocation: Invocation(device_manager_protocol.ChildRemoved), _: Answer(void)) isize {
+    const report = invocation.request;
+    var status: isize = -envelope.ENOENT;
     for (&children) |*child| {
-        if (child.used and child.parent == report.parent and child.bus_address == report.bus_address and child.reporter == sender) {
+        if (child.used and child.parent == report.parent and child.bus_address == report.bus_address and child.reporter == invocation.sender) {
             std.log.info("child removed (device {d} port {d})", .{ child.parent, child.bus_address });
             child.used = false;
             status = 0;
         }
     }
-    const report_reply = device_manager_protocol.ReportReply{ .status = status };
-    @memcpy(reply[0..@sizeOf(device_manager_protocol.ReportReply)], std.mem.asBytes(&report_reply));
-    return @sizeOf(device_manager_protocol.ReportReply);
+    return status;
 }
 
-/// An application asked for the tree: the mirror, as a header plus entries.
-fn onEnumerate(reply: []u8) usize {
-    var count: u32 = 0;
-    var offset: usize = @sizeOf(device_manager_protocol.EnumerateReply);
+/// The reserved `enumerate` verb: the mirror, one `ChildEntry` per known child,
+/// packed into the reply's tail. How many arrived is the reply's own length —
+/// `Status.len` — so no count header is spent saying it twice.
+fn onEnumerate(_: void, _: Invocation(void), answer: Answer(void)) isize {
+    const entry_size = @sizeOf(device_manager_protocol.ChildEntry);
+    const tail = answer.tail();
+    var written: usize = 0;
     for (&children) |*child| {
         if (!child.used) continue;
-        if (offset + @sizeOf(device_manager_protocol.ChildEntry) > reply.len) break;
+        if (written + entry_size > tail.len) break;
         const entry = device_manager_protocol.ChildEntry{ .parent = child.parent, .bus_address = child.bus_address, .identity = child.identity };
-        @memcpy(reply[offset..][0..@sizeOf(device_manager_protocol.ChildEntry)], std.mem.asBytes(&entry));
-        offset += @sizeOf(device_manager_protocol.ChildEntry);
-        count += 1;
+        @memcpy(tail[written..][0..entry_size], std.mem.asBytes(&entry));
+        written += entry_size;
     }
-    const header = device_manager_protocol.EnumerateReply{ .status = 0, .count = count };
-    @memcpy(reply[0..@sizeOf(device_manager_protocol.EnumerateReply)], std.mem.asBytes(&header));
-    return offset;
-}
-
-/// An application subscribed: its endpoint arrived as the call's capability. The
-/// table taking a slot is what claims it (`take`); a full table refuses and lets
-/// the turn close it, so a subscribe storm cannot spend the handle table too.
-fn onSubscribe(reply: []u8, arrived: *ipc.Arrival) usize {
-    var status: i32 = -1;
-    if (arrived.peek() != null) {
-        for (&subscribers) |*slot| {
-            if (slot.* == null) {
-                slot.* = arrived.take(); // claimed: the table holds it from here
-                status = 0;
-                break;
-            }
-        }
-    }
-    const report_reply = device_manager_protocol.ReportReply{ .status = status };
-    @memcpy(reply[0..@sizeOf(device_manager_protocol.ReportReply)], std.mem.asBytes(&report_reply));
-    return @sizeOf(device_manager_protocol.ReportReply);
+    return @intCast(written);
 }
 
 fn onNotification(badge: u64) void {
     if (badge & ipc.notify_exit_bit != 0) {
         const dead: u32 = @intCast(badge & ~(ipc.notify_badge_bit | ipc.notify_exit_bit));
+        // The harness has already swept the watcher table for this death; what is
+        // left is the manager's own concern, its supervised drivers.
         if (driverByProcess(dead)) |driver| onDriverExit(driver);
         return;
     }
@@ -572,5 +559,6 @@ pub fn main(init: process.Init) void {
         .init = initialise,
         .on_message = onMessage,
         .on_notification = onNotification,
+        .subscribers = Serve.hooks,
     });
 }
diff --git a/system/services/display/backend.zig b/system/services/display/backend.zig
index 5c69982..182fea5 100644
--- a/system/services/display/backend.zig
+++ b/system/services/display/backend.zig
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ const memory = @import("memory");
 const logging = @import("logging");
 const compositor = @import("compositor.zig");
 
+const envelope = @import("envelope");
 const scanout_protocol = @import("scanout-protocol");
 const Rect = compositor.Rect;
 const Surface = compositor.Surface;
@@ -188,45 +189,53 @@ pub const VirtioGpu = struct {
     /// accumulated; the driver transfers + fenced-flushes the whole frame.
     pub fn present(self: *const VirtioGpu, damage: []const Rect) void {
         _ = damage;
-        var request = scanout_protocol.Request{
-            .operation = @intFromEnum(scanout_protocol.Operation.present),
-            .width = self.width,
-            .height = self.height,
-        };
-        var reply: [scanout_protocol.reply_size]u8 = undefined;
-        _ = ipc.call(self.scanout, std.mem.asBytes(&request), &reply) catch {};
+        _ = call(self.scanout, .present, .{ .width = self.width, .height = self.height });
     }
     /// Fill `out` with the driver's offered modes; returns how many were written.
     pub fn modes(self: *const VirtioGpu, out: []Mode) usize {
-        var request = scanout_protocol.Request{ .operation = @intFromEnum(scanout_protocol.Operation.get_modes) };
-        var reply: [scanout_protocol.modes_reply_size]u8 = undefined;
-        const n = ipc.call(self.scanout, std.mem.asBytes(&request), &reply) catch return 0;
-        if (n < scanout_protocol.modes_reply_size) return 0;
-        const answer = std.mem.bytesToValue(scanout_protocol.ModesReply, reply[0..scanout_protocol.modes_reply_size]);
-        if (answer.status != 0) return 0;
-        const count = @min(@min(answer.count, scanout_protocol.max_modes), out.len);
-        for (0..count) |i| out[i] = answer.modes[i];
+        const answered = call(self.scanout, .get_modes, {}) orelse return 0;
+        const offered = Scanout.decodeReply(.get_modes, answered.packet[0..answered.len]) orelse return 0;
+        const count = @min(@min(offered.count, scanout_protocol.max_modes), out.len);
+        for (0..count) |i| out[i] = offered.modes[i];
         return count;
     }
     /// Change the scanout resolution. On success the active `width`/`height` update (the shared
     /// surface — sized to the max mode — is unchanged, so `stride` stays put).
     pub fn setMode(self: *VirtioGpu, w: u32, h: u32) bool {
         if (w == 0 or h == 0 or w > self.stride) return false;
-        var request = scanout_protocol.Request{
-            .operation = @intFromEnum(scanout_protocol.Operation.set_mode),
-            .width = w,
-            .height = h,
-        };
-        var reply: [scanout_protocol.reply_size]u8 = undefined;
-        const n = ipc.call(self.scanout, std.mem.asBytes(&request), &reply) catch return false;
-        if (n < scanout_protocol.reply_size) return false;
-        if (std.mem.bytesToValue(scanout_protocol.Reply, reply[0..scanout_protocol.reply_size]).status != 0) return false;
+        _ = call(self.scanout, .set_mode, .{ .width = w, .height = h }) orelse return false;
         self.width = w;
         self.height = h;
         return true;
     }
 };
 
+const Scanout = scanout_protocol.Protocol;
+
+/// A reply the driver answered with, kept whole so the caller can decode the
+/// verb's own fixed part out of it.
+const Answered = struct {
+    packet: [scanout_protocol.message_maximum]u8,
+    len: usize,
+};
+
+/// One request at the scanout driver. Null covers both a transport failure and a
+/// driver that refused — a present that did not happen is a present that did not
+/// happen, and this backend has nothing to do about either but skip the frame.
+fn call(
+    scanout: ipc.Handle,
+    comptime operation: Scanout.Operation,
+    request: Scanout.RequestOf(operation),
+) ?Answered {
+    var packet: [scanout_protocol.message_maximum]u8 = undefined;
+    const framed = Scanout.encodeRequest(operation, 0, request, &.{}, &packet) orelse return null;
+    var answered: Answered = .{ .packet = undefined, .len = 0 };
+    answered.len = ipc.call(scanout, framed, &answered.packet) catch return null;
+    const status = envelope.statusOf(answered.packet[0..answered.len]) orelse return null;
+    if (status.status != 0) return null;
+    return answered;
+}
+
 /// The pluggable scanout backend. A tagged union so the compositor holds one value and
 /// dispatches without caring which is active; the `virtio` native backend joins `gop` at V4.
 pub const Backend = union(enum) {
diff --git a/system/services/display/build.zig b/system/services/display/build.zig
index 1185086..a3525fa 100644
--- a/system/services/display/build.zig
+++ b/system/services/display/build.zig
@@ -10,8 +10,9 @@ pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
         .name = "display",
         .root_source_file = b.path("display.zig"),
         .imports = &.{
-            "channel", "display-client", "display-protocol", "driver", "input-client", "ipc",
-            "logging", "memory", "scanout-protocol", "service", "thread", "time",
+            "channel", "display-client", "display-protocol", "driver",           "envelope", "input-client",
+            "ipc",     "logging",        "memory",           "process",          "scanout-protocol",
+            "service", "thread",         "time",
         },
         .threaded = true, // real atomics/TLS (docs/threading.md)
     });
diff --git a/system/services/display/display.zig b/system/services/display/display.zig
index cdae4e2..e0ddeb7 100644
--- a/system/services/display/display.zig
+++ b/system/services/display/display.zig
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ const std = @import("std");
 const channel = @import("channel");
 const ipc = @import("ipc");
 const input = @import("input-client");
+const process = @import("process");
 const Thread = @import("thread").Thread;
 const service = @import("service");
 const time = @import("time");
@@ -28,10 +29,22 @@ const logging = @import("logging");
 const compositor = @import("compositor.zig");
 const backend_mod = @import("backend.zig");
 
+const envelope = @import("envelope");
 const display_protocol = @import("display-protocol");
 const Rect = compositor.Rect;
 const Surface = compositor.Surface;
 
+/// The generated display dispatch. One compositor per process, so the handler
+/// context is empty and the layer stack stays in this file's globals.
+const Serve = display_protocol.Protocol.Provider(void);
+
+const Invocation = envelope.Invocation;
+const Answer = envelope.Answer;
+
+/// What a handler returns when the layer named in `Header.target` is not one of
+/// ours, or a mode was refused.
+const refused: isize = -envelope.ENOENT;
+
 /// The active scanout backend — the GOP framebuffer at boot, upgraded to a native driver
 /// (virtio-gpu) when one announces itself (V4).
 var backend: backend_mod.Backend = undefined;
@@ -62,8 +75,22 @@ var background: u32 = 0;
 /// small copies rather than one huge bounding box (see compositor.DamageList).
 const maximum_layers = 16;
 
+/// A layer belongs to the client that created it. `owner` is the kernel-stamped
+/// badge of that task, and `service_owned` (0, an id no task wears) marks the
+/// compositor's own layers — the cursor sprite and the self-check pair — which
+/// this file creates by direct call rather than over the protocol.
+///
+/// Layer ids are slots in a sixteen-entry table: small, dense, and guessable, so
+/// before this field any client could configure, draw into, or destroy any
+/// other's layer — including the cursor. The check lives in the protocol handlers
+/// (docs/os-development/protocol-namespace.md: handles validated against the
+/// badge); the internal helpers stay unscoped precisely so the compositor can
+/// still drive its own.
+const service_owned: u32 = 0;
+
 const Layer = struct {
     used: bool = false,
+    owner: u32 = service_owned,
     x: i32 = 0,
     y: i32 = 0,
     z: u32 = 0,
@@ -177,7 +204,8 @@ fn layerAt(id: u32) ?*Layer {
     return &layers[id];
 }
 
-fn createLayer(x: i32, y: i32, w: u32, h: u32, z: u32, visible: bool) ?u32 {
+/// Create a layer for `owner` — `service_owned` for the compositor's own.
+fn createLayer(owner: u32, x: i32, y: i32, w: u32, h: u32, z: u32, visible: bool) ?u32 {
     if (w == 0 or h == 0) return null;
     const slot = freeLayer() orelse return null;
     const len = @as(usize, w) * h * 4;
@@ -185,6 +213,7 @@ fn createLayer(x: i32, y: i32, w: u32, h: u32, z: u32, visible: bool) ?u32 {
     if (memory.mmapFailed(base)) return null;
     layers[slot] = .{
         .used = true,
+        .owner = owner,
         .x = x,
         .y = y,
         .z = z,
@@ -314,11 +343,18 @@ fn verifyNativePresent() void {
 /// `systemSharedMemoryMap`) — the pixels stay ours after the handle naming them
 /// goes, and a driver that dies and re-announces no longer costs a handle slot
 /// per restart.
-fn attachScanout(stride: u32, width: u32, height: u32, format: u32, refresh_hz: u32, arrived: *ipc.Arrival, reply: []u8) usize {
-    const cap = arrived.peek() orelse return fail(reply);
-    if (width == 0 or height == 0 or stride < width) return fail(reply);
-    const mapped = memory.sharedMap(cap) orelse return fail(reply);
-    const scanout = channel.openEndpoint("scanout") orelse return fail(reply);
+fn onAttachScanout(_: void, invocation: Invocation(display_protocol.AttachScanout), _: Answer(void)) isize {
+    const announce = invocation.request;
+    const stride = announce.stride;
+    const width = announce.width;
+    const height = announce.height;
+    const format = announce.format;
+    const refresh_hz = announce.refresh_hz;
+
+    const cap = invocation.capability orelse return refused;
+    if (width == 0 or height == 0 or stride < width) return refused;
+    const mapped = memory.sharedMap(cap) orelse return refused;
+    const scanout = channel.openEndpoint("scanout") orelse return refused;
     // A second announce means the driver died and was restarted (V6): re-attach to its fresh
     // scanout. (The previous shared mapping leaks — there is no shared_memory_unmap syscall yet — but the
     // frames are the dead driver's, reclaimed on its exit; a handful across a crash is benign.)
@@ -346,7 +382,7 @@ fn attachScanout(stride: u32, width: u32, height: u32, format: u32, refresh_hz:
         "display: scanout re-attached\n"
     else
         "display: scanout upgraded to virtio-gpu\n");
-    return ok(reply);
+    return 0;
 }
 
 /// After the native upgrade is verified, prove the runtime-resolution-change and fenced-present
@@ -401,8 +437,8 @@ fn selfCheck() void {
     const format = backend.info().format;
     const red = display_protocol.pack(format, 0xC0, 0x20, 0x20);
     const green = display_protocol.pack(format, 0x20, 0xC0, 0x20);
-    const bottom = createLayer(100, 100, 80, 80, 0, true) orelse return fail_check("create");
-    const top = createLayer(140, 140, 80, 80, 1, true) orelse return fail_check("create");
+    const bottom = createLayer(service_owned, 100, 100, 80, 80, 0, true) orelse return fail_check("create");
+    const top = createLayer(service_owned, 140, 140, 80, 80, 1, true) orelse return fail_check("create");
     _ = fillLayer(bottom, Rect.init(0, 0, 80, 80), red);
     _ = fillLayer(top, Rect.init(0, 0, 80, 80), green);
     present();
@@ -567,7 +603,7 @@ fn startCursorTracking() void {
     const mode = backend.info();
     cursor_origin_x = @divTrunc(@as(i32, @intCast(mode.width)), 2);
     cursor_origin_y = @divTrunc(@as(i32, @intCast(mode.height)), 2);
-    const id = createLayer(cursor_origin_x, cursor_origin_y, cursor_size, cursor_size, cursor_z, true) orelse {
+    const id = createLayer(service_owned, cursor_origin_x, cursor_origin_y, cursor_size, cursor_size, cursor_z, true) orelse {
         _ = logging.write("display: could not create cursor layer\n");
         return;
     };
@@ -584,6 +620,9 @@ fn startCursorTracking() void {
 
 fn initialise(endpoint: ipc.Handle) bool {
     service_endpoint = endpoint;
+    // Layers are per-client state, so the compositor needs deaths: a client that
+    // crashes leaves its surfaces on screen and its slots spent otherwise.
+    _ = process.subscribeExits(endpoint);
 
     // Pick the scanout backend (GOP today). It logs the reason on failure.
     backend = backend_mod.select() orelse return false;
@@ -609,97 +648,149 @@ fn initialise(endpoint: ipc.Handle) bool {
     return true;
 }
 
-fn writeReply(reply: []u8, value: display_protocol.Reply) usize {
-    const bytes = std.mem.asBytes(&value);
-    @memcpy(reply[0..bytes.len], bytes);
-    return bytes.len;
+// --- the protocol handlers --------------------------------------------------
+//
+// A layer id is `Header.target` on every verb that names one, so no handler
+// reads a layer out of its own request any more. `target` is a u64 and a layer
+// id a u32: a value that does not fit is not a layer of ours, and `layerAt`
+// refuses it the same way an out-of-range one is refused.
+
+/// The layer a packet addresses, **for the task that sent it**: null unless the
+/// target names a used slot this sender created. A layer that is somebody else's
+/// is refused exactly as one that never existed, so a client cannot use the
+/// refusal to learn which ids are live (P3's refusal-equals-absence, applied to
+/// ids rather than names).
+fn targetLayer(target: u64, sender: u32) ?u32 {
+    if (target > std.math.maxInt(u32)) return null; // a layer id is a u32
+    const id: u32 = @intCast(target);
+    const layer = layerAt(id) orelse return null;
+    if (layer.owner != sender) return null;
+    return id;
 }
 
-fn ok(reply: []u8) usize {
-    return writeReply(reply, .{ .status = 0 });
-}
-
-fn fail(reply: []u8) usize {
-    return writeReply(reply, .{ .status = -1 });
-}
-
-fn onMessage(message: []const u8, reply: []u8, sender: u32, arrived: *ipc.Arrival) usize {
-    _ = sender;
-    if (message.len < display_protocol.request_size) return fail(reply);
-    const request = std.mem.bytesToValue(display_protocol.Request, message[0..display_protocol.request_size]);
-    const payload = message[display_protocol.request_size..];
-    // Switch on the raw operation value — an out-of-range one must fail cleanly, not
-    // panic an `@enumFromInt`.
-    switch (request.operation) {
-        @intFromEnum(display_protocol.Operation.info) => {
-            const m = backend.info();
-            return writeReply(reply, .{ .status = 0, .width = m.width, .height = m.height, .pitch = m.pitch, .format = m.format });
-        },
-        @intFromEnum(display_protocol.Operation.create_layer) => {
-            // x/y are signed coordinates carried in the u32 wire fields — reinterpret the
-            // bits (@bitCast), don't range-check (@intCast) which a negative would fail.
-            const slot = createLayer(@bitCast(request.x), @bitCast(request.y), request.width, request.height, request.z, request.visible != 0) orelse return fail(reply);
-            return writeReply(reply, .{ .status = 0, .layer = slot });
-        },
-        @intFromEnum(display_protocol.Operation.configure_layer) => {
-            return if (configureLayer(request.layer, @bitCast(request.x), @bitCast(request.y), request.z, request.visible != 0)) ok(reply) else fail(reply);
-        },
-        @intFromEnum(display_protocol.Operation.destroy_layer) => {
-            return if (destroyLayer(request.layer)) ok(reply) else fail(reply);
-        },
-        @intFromEnum(display_protocol.Operation.fill_rect) => {
-            const local = Rect.init(@bitCast(request.x), @bitCast(request.y), @intCast(request.width), @intCast(request.height));
-            return if (fillLayer(request.layer, local, request.colour)) ok(reply) else fail(reply);
-        },
-        @intFromEnum(display_protocol.Operation.blit_tile) => {
-            return if (blitLayer(request.layer, @bitCast(request.x), @bitCast(request.y), request.width, request.height, payload)) ok(reply) else fail(reply);
-        },
-        @intFromEnum(display_protocol.Operation.damage) => {
-            const l = layerAt(request.layer) orelse return fail(reply);
-            const screen = Rect{ .x = l.x + @as(i32, @bitCast(request.x)), .y = l.y + @as(i32, @bitCast(request.y)), .w = @intCast(request.width), .h = @intCast(request.height) };
-            addDamage(screen.intersect(layerScreenRect(l)));
-            return ok(reply);
-        },
-        @intFromEnum(display_protocol.Operation.present) => {
-            // Scheduled, not immediate: the frame clock composites the accumulated damage
-            // at the next tick, so back-to-back client presents coalesce into one frame.
-            schedulePresent();
-            return ok(reply);
-        },
-        @intFromEnum(display_protocol.Operation.attach_scanout) => {
-            return attachScanout(request.x, request.width, request.height, request.colour, request.y, arrived, reply);
-        },
-        @intFromEnum(display_protocol.Operation.set_mode) => {
-            if (!backend.setMode(request.width, request.height)) return fail(reply);
-            addDamage(screenRect()); // repaint the whole screen at the new resolution
-            present();
-            return ok(reply);
-        },
-        @intFromEnum(display_protocol.Operation.get_modes) => {
-            var list: [4]backend_mod.Mode = undefined;
-            const count = backend.modes(&list);
-            var response = display_protocol.ModesReply{ .status = 0, .count = @intCast(count), .modes = undefined };
-            for (0..display_protocol.max_modes) |i| {
-                response.modes[i] = if (i < count)
-                    .{ .width = list[i].width, .height = list[i].height }
-                else
-                    .{ .width = 0, .height = 0 };
-            }
-            const bytes = std.mem.asBytes(&response);
-            @memcpy(reply[0..bytes.len], bytes);
-            return bytes.len;
-        },
-        else => return fail(reply),
+/// Destroy every layer a dead client left behind — its surface is pages nobody
+/// will ever draw into again, and its slot is one of sixteen. The published
+/// exit events are the notice, the same sweep idiom the FAT server uses for open
+/// files and the harness uses for subscribers.
+fn releaseLayersOf(dead: u32) void {
+    var released: u32 = 0;
+    for (&layers, 0..) |*layer, id| {
+        if (layer.used and layer.owner == dead) {
+            _ = destroyLayer(@intCast(id));
+            released += 1;
+        }
+    }
+    if (released != 0) {
+        std.log.info("released {d} layer(s) for dead client {d}", .{ released, dead });
+        schedulePresent(); // the screen still shows what they painted
     }
 }
 
-/// Two notification sources reach the compositor, and one coalesced badge can carry
-/// both, so each bit is handled independently. A **message-notification** is a poke from
-/// the mouse-listener thread (a buffered self-`ipc.send`, `notify_message_bit`): fold the
-/// newest cursor position into the scene. A **timer** (`notify_timer_bit`) is the frame
-/// clock — or the deferred first native present after `attach_scanout` — either way,
-/// present the accumulated damage.
+fn onInfo(_: void, _: Invocation(void), answer: Answer(display_protocol.Info)) isize {
+    const mode = backend.info();
+    answer.set(.{ .width = mode.width, .height = mode.height, .pitch = mode.pitch, .format = mode.format });
+    return 0;
+}
+
+fn onCreateLayer(_: void, invocation: Invocation(display_protocol.CreateLayer), answer: Answer(display_protocol.Created)) isize {
+    const request = invocation.request;
+    const slot = createLayer(invocation.sender, request.x, request.y, request.width, request.height, request.z, request.visible != 0) orelse return refused;
+    answer.set(.{ .layer = slot });
+    return 0;
+}
+
+fn onConfigureLayer(_: void, invocation: Invocation(display_protocol.ConfigureLayer), _: Answer(void)) isize {
+    const id = targetLayer(invocation.target, invocation.sender) orelse return refused;
+    const request = invocation.request;
+    return if (configureLayer(id, request.x, request.y, request.z, request.visible != 0)) 0 else refused;
+}
+
+fn onDestroyLayer(_: void, invocation: Invocation(void), _: Answer(void)) isize {
+    const id = targetLayer(invocation.target, invocation.sender) orelse return refused;
+    return if (destroyLayer(id)) 0 else refused;
+}
+
+fn onFillRect(_: void, invocation: Invocation(display_protocol.FillRect), _: Answer(void)) isize {
+    const id = targetLayer(invocation.target, invocation.sender) orelse return refused;
+    const request = invocation.request;
+    const local = Rect.init(request.x, request.y, @intCast(request.width), @intCast(request.height));
+    return if (fillLayer(id, local, request.colour)) 0 else refused;
+}
+
+fn onBlitTile(_: void, invocation: Invocation(display_protocol.BlitTile), _: Answer(void)) isize {
+    const id = targetLayer(invocation.target, invocation.sender) orelse return refused;
+    const request = invocation.request;
+    return if (blitLayer(id, request.x, request.y, request.width, request.height, invocation.tail)) 0 else refused;
+}
+
+fn onDamage(_: void, invocation: Invocation(display_protocol.Damage), _: Answer(void)) isize {
+    const id = targetLayer(invocation.target, invocation.sender) orelse return refused;
+    const l = layerAt(id) orelse return refused;
+    const request = invocation.request;
+    const screen = Rect{ .x = l.x + request.x, .y = l.y + request.y, .w = @intCast(request.width), .h = @intCast(request.height) };
+    addDamage(screen.intersect(layerScreenRect(l)));
+    return 0;
+}
+
+fn onPresent(_: void, _: Invocation(void), _: Answer(void)) isize {
+    // Scheduled, not immediate: the frame clock composites the accumulated damage
+    // at the next tick, so back-to-back client presents coalesce into one frame.
+    schedulePresent();
+    return 0;
+}
+
+fn onSetMode(_: void, invocation: Invocation(display_protocol.SetMode), _: Answer(void)) isize {
+    if (!backend.setMode(invocation.request.width, invocation.request.height)) return refused;
+    addDamage(screenRect()); // repaint the whole screen at the new resolution
+    present();
+    return 0;
+}
+
+fn onGetModes(_: void, _: Invocation(void), answer: Answer(display_protocol.Modes)) isize {
+    var list: [4]backend_mod.Mode = undefined;
+    const count = backend.modes(&list);
+    var modes = display_protocol.Modes{ .count = @intCast(count) };
+    for (0..@min(count, display_protocol.max_modes)) |i| {
+        modes.modes[i] = .{ .width = list[i].width, .height = list[i].height };
+    }
+    answer.set(modes);
+    return 0;
+}
+
+const handlers = Serve.Handlers{
+    .info = onInfo,
+    .create_layer = onCreateLayer,
+    .configure_layer = onConfigureLayer,
+    .destroy_layer = onDestroyLayer,
+    .fill_rect = onFillRect,
+    .blit_tile = onBlitTile,
+    .damage = onDamage,
+    .present = onPresent,
+    .attach_scanout = onAttachScanout,
+    .set_mode = onSetMode,
+    .get_modes = onGetModes,
+};
+
+fn onMessage(message: []const u8, reply: []u8, sender: u32, arrived: *ipc.Arrival) usize {
+    // The one capability this service is ever handed is the scanout driver's
+    // shared surface, and `attachScanout` deliberately does not claim it (the
+    // mapping holds its own reference) — so the capability is peeked, never
+    // taken, and the turn closes it.
+    return Serve.dispatch({}, handlers, message, sender, arrived.peek(), reply);
+}
+
+/// Three notification sources reach the compositor, and one coalesced badge can carry
+/// more than one, so each bit is handled independently. A **message-notification** is a
+/// poke from the mouse-listener thread (a buffered self-`ipc.send`, `notify_message_bit`):
+/// fold the newest cursor position into the scene. A **timer** (`notify_timer_bit`) is the
+/// frame clock — or the deferred first native present after `attach_scanout` — either way,
+/// present the accumulated damage. A **published exit** (`notify_exit_bit`) is a client
+/// gone: release the layers it left.
 fn onNotification(badge: u64) void {
+    if (badge & ipc.notify_exit_bit != 0) {
+        releaseLayersOf(@intCast(badge & ~(ipc.notify_badge_bit | ipc.notify_exit_bit)));
+        return;
+    }
     if (badge & ipc.notify_message_bit != 0) renderCursor();
     if (badge & ipc.notify_timer_bit != 0) frameTick();
 }
diff --git a/system/services/fat/build.zig b/system/services/fat/build.zig
index 5051929..1df42bb 100644
--- a/system/services/fat/build.zig
+++ b/system/services/fat/build.zig
@@ -10,8 +10,8 @@ pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
         .name = "fat",
         .root_source_file = b.path("fat.zig"),
         .imports = &.{
-            "block", "file-system", "ipc", "logging", "memory", "process", "service", "time",
-            "vfs-protocol",
+            "block",   "envelope", "file-system", "ipc",  "logging", "memory", "process",
+            "service", "time",     "vfs-protocol",
         },
     });
     b.installArtifact(exe);
diff --git a/system/services/fat/fat.zig b/system/services/fat/fat.zig
index 93e53e3..e62633c 100644
--- a/system/services/fat/fat.zig
+++ b/system/services/fat/fat.zig
@@ -20,8 +20,17 @@ const memory = @import("memory");
 const logging = @import("logging");
 const engine = @import("engine.zig");
 const on_disk = @import("on-disk.zig");
+const envelope = @import("envelope");
 const vfs_protocol = @import("vfs-protocol");
 
+/// The generated vfs dispatch, bound to this server. There is one FAT volume per
+/// process, so the handler context is empty and the state stays where it was: in
+/// this file's globals.
+const Serve = vfs_protocol.Protocol.Provider(void);
+
+const Invocation = envelope.Invocation;
+const Answer = envelope.Answer;
+
 const mount_point = "/volumes/usb";
 
 // The engine's BlockDevice, backed by the `.block` driver plus a DMA bounce
@@ -57,8 +66,9 @@ var ipc_block: IpcBlock = undefined;
 var device_dirty: bool = false;
 var filesystem: engine.FileSystem = undefined;
 
-// Open handles the VFS holds against this backend: each maps a node id to a
-// resolved engine node.
+// Open handles clients hold against this backend: each maps a node id to a
+// resolved engine node, and to the client that opened it. `owner` is the
+// kernel-stamped badge of the opening task — the only source identity there is.
 const OpenNode = struct { used: bool = false, node: engine.Node = undefined, owner: u32 = 0 };
 var open_nodes = [_]OpenNode{.{}} ** 32;
 
@@ -69,22 +79,32 @@ fn allocOpen() ?usize {
     return null;
 }
 
-fn openAt(id: u64) ?*OpenNode {
+/// The open node `id` names **for `owner`** — null unless the id is in range, in
+/// use, and this client's own. Node ids are small integers drawn from a table of
+/// thirty-two, so they are trivially guessable; before this check every client
+/// honoured every other client's ids, which is the hole
+/// docs/os-development/protocol-namespace.md names ("handles must be scoped per
+/// client — validated against the badge"). Nothing else about them changed: they
+/// are still per-session, still swept when their owner dies.
+///
+/// The owner is a *task*, not a process, because the badge is: a threaded client
+/// reads and writes a node from the thread that opened it, exactly as the exit
+/// sweep already released a worker thread's handles when that thread died.
+fn openFor(id: u64, owner: u32) ?*OpenNode {
     if (id >= open_nodes.len) return null;
     const o = &open_nodes[@intCast(id)];
-    return if (o.used) o else null;
+    if (!o.used or o.owner != owner) return null;
+    return o;
 }
 
-fn writeReply(out: []u8, reply: vfs_protocol.Reply, payload: []const u8) usize {
-    @memcpy(out[0..vfs_protocol.reply_size], std.mem.asBytes(&reply));
-    const n = @min(payload.len, out.len - vfs_protocol.reply_size);
-    @memcpy(out[vfs_protocol.reply_size..][0..n], payload[0..n]);
-    return vfs_protocol.reply_size + n;
-}
-
-fn fail(out: []u8) usize {
-    return writeReply(out, .{ .status = -1 }, &.{});
-}
+/// What a handler returns when the thing asked for is not there — a bad node id,
+/// a node that is someone else's, a path that does not resolve, a mutation the
+/// volume refused. One errno for all of them, because a filesystem's failures are
+/// all "no such thing" as far as the file API can act on them — and because
+/// *someone else's* must be indistinguishable from *nobody's*, or the refusal
+/// would itself tell a prober which ids are live (the same discipline the
+/// protocol namespace's refused open follows).
+const refused: isize = -envelope.ENOENT;
 
 /// How often to look for a block device while none is mounted. Storage arriving
 /// is EVENT-shaped (the usb chain registering, possibly after a driver restart),
@@ -204,24 +224,133 @@ fn splitParent(path: []const u8) ParentLeaf {
     };
 }
 
-fn handleOpen(out: []u8, path: []const u8, flags: u32, sender: u32) usize {
+fn onOpen(_: void, invocation: Invocation(vfs_protocol.Open), answer: Answer(vfs_protocol.Opened)) isize {
+    const path = invocation.tail;
+    const flags = invocation.request.flags;
     var node = filesystem.resolve(path);
     if (node == null and flags & vfs_protocol.create != 0) {
         const split = splitParent(path);
-        const parent = filesystem.resolve(split.parent) orelse return fail(out);
+        const parent = filesystem.resolve(split.parent) orelse return refused;
         node = filesystem.createFile(parent, split.leaf);
     }
-    var resolved = node orelse return fail(out);
+    var resolved = node orelse return refused;
     // O_TRUNC: replace an existing file's contents rather than overwriting in place
     // (frees the old chain, so a shorter rewrite leaves no stale tail).
     if (flags & vfs_protocol.truncate != 0 and !resolved.is_directory) {
         filesystem.truncate(&resolved);
     }
-    const index = allocOpen() orelse return fail(out);
-    open_nodes[index] = .{ .used = true, .node = resolved, .owner = sender };
-    return writeReply(out, .{ .status = 0, .node = index }, &.{});
+    const index = allocOpen() orelse return refused;
+    open_nodes[index] = .{ .used = true, .node = resolved, .owner = invocation.sender };
+    answer.set(.{ .node = index });
+    return 0;
 }
 
+fn onRead(_: void, invocation: Invocation(vfs_protocol.Read), answer: Answer(void)) isize {
+    const o = openFor(invocation.target, invocation.sender) orelse return refused;
+    const into = answer.tail();
+    const want = @min(@as(usize, invocation.request.len), into.len);
+    return @intCast(filesystem.readFile(o.node, @intCast(invocation.request.offset), into[0..want]));
+}
+
+fn onWrite(_: void, invocation: Invocation(vfs_protocol.Write), answer: Answer(vfs_protocol.Written)) isize {
+    const o = openFor(invocation.target, invocation.sender) orelse return refused;
+    const data = invocation.tail[0..@min(invocation.tail.len, invocation.request.len)];
+    const n = filesystem.writeFile(&o.node, @intCast(invocation.request.offset), data);
+    answer.set(.{ .count = @intCast(n) });
+    return 0;
+}
+
+fn onStatus(_: void, invocation: Invocation(void), answer: Answer(vfs_protocol.FileStatus)) isize {
+    const o = openFor(invocation.target, invocation.sender) orelse return refused;
+    const kind: vfs_protocol.NodeKind = if (o.node.is_directory) .directory else .regular;
+    answer.set(.{ .size = o.node.size, .kind = @intFromEnum(kind), .mtime = o.node.mtime });
+    return 0;
+}
+
+/// One entry per call. End of directory — a node that is not a directory, or a
+/// cursor past the last child — is an entry with no name, which is how the
+/// protocol spells it now that the reply's length always counts the fixed part.
+fn onReaddir(_: void, invocation: Invocation(vfs_protocol.Readdir), answer: Answer(vfs_protocol.DirectoryEntry)) isize {
+    const o = openFor(invocation.target, invocation.sender) orelse return refused;
+    if (!o.node.is_directory) {
+        answer.set(.{});
+        return 0;
+    }
+    const listing = filesystem.listEntry(o.node, @intCast(invocation.request.cursor)) orelse {
+        answer.set(.{});
+        return 0;
+    };
+    const kind: vfs_protocol.NodeKind = if (listing.is_directory) .directory else .regular;
+    const into = answer.tail();
+    const name_len = @min(listing.name_len, into.len);
+    @memcpy(into[0..name_len], listing.name_buffer[0..name_len]);
+    answer.set(.{ .kind = @intFromEnum(kind), .name_len = @intCast(name_len), .size = listing.size });
+    return @intCast(name_len);
+}
+
+/// Closing is an operation on a node like any other, so it is scoped like any
+/// other: a client may release its own handles and nobody else's. An id that is
+/// not the caller's — free, out of range, or another client's — is refused
+/// identically, so a close cannot be used to ask which ids are live either.
+fn onClose(_: void, invocation: Invocation(void), _: Answer(void)) isize {
+    const o = openFor(invocation.target, invocation.sender) orelse return refused;
+    o.used = false;
+    // Durable-on-close: if any block reached the device since the last flush,
+    // commit its cache to stable media now (best-effort). This is what makes
+    // init's shutdown log flush survive a real power-off, and is the right
+    // default for removable media the user may unplug.
+    if (device_dirty) {
+        _ = ipc_block.device.flush();
+        device_dirty = false;
+    }
+    return 0;
+}
+
+fn onMakeDirectory(_: void, invocation: Invocation(void), _: Answer(void)) isize {
+    const path = invocation.tail;
+    if (filesystem.resolve(path) != null) return refused; // already exists — no duplicate entries
+    const split = splitParent(path);
+    const parent = filesystem.resolve(split.parent) orelse return refused;
+    if (filesystem.createDirectory(parent, split.leaf) == null) return refused;
+    return 0;
+}
+
+fn onUnlink(_: void, invocation: Invocation(void), _: Answer(void)) isize {
+    const split = splitParent(invocation.tail);
+    const parent = filesystem.resolve(split.parent) orelse return refused;
+    if (!filesystem.removeFile(parent, split.leaf)) return refused;
+    return 0;
+}
+
+fn onRename(_: void, invocation: Invocation(void), _: Answer(void)) isize {
+    const both = invocation.tail;
+    const separator = std.mem.indexOfScalar(u8, both, 0) orelse return refused;
+    const old_split = splitParent(both[0..separator]);
+    const new_split = splitParent(both[separator + 1 ..]);
+    // Same-directory rename only.
+    if (!std.mem.eql(u8, old_split.parent, new_split.parent)) return refused;
+    const parent = filesystem.resolve(old_split.parent) orelse return refused;
+    if (!filesystem.rename(parent, old_split.leaf, new_split.leaf)) return refused;
+    return 0;
+}
+
+/// The verbs this backend implements. The three it leaves out — `mount`,
+/// `unmount`, `bind` — answer `-ENOSYS` from the generated dispatch, which is
+/// exactly right: path routing is the kernel's now, and only init implements
+/// `bind` (docs/os-development/protocol-namespace.md). `describe` is the
+/// envelope's own.
+const handlers = Serve.Handlers{
+    .open = onOpen,
+    .close = onClose,
+    .read = onRead,
+    .write = onWrite,
+    .status = onStatus,
+    .readdir = onReaddir,
+    .mkdir = onMakeDirectory,
+    .unlink = onUnlink,
+    .rename = onRename,
+};
+
 /// The vfs protocol has no operation that takes a capability, so `arrived` is
 /// never claimed here — which, under the harness's ownership rule, means the
 /// loop closes whatever a caller attached. That is the point of the rule: this
@@ -230,92 +359,16 @@ fn handleOpen(out: []u8, path: []const u8, flags: u32, sender: u32) usize {
 /// thirty-two until it could accept no capability at all.
 fn onMessage(message: []const u8, out: []u8, sender: u32, arrived: *ipc.Arrival) usize {
     _ = arrived;
-    if (!mounted) return fail(out); // storage not up (yet): fail politely, clients retry
-    if (message.len < vfs_protocol.request_size) return fail(out);
-    const request = std.mem.bytesToValue(vfs_protocol.Request, message[0..vfs_protocol.request_size]);
-    const payload = message[vfs_protocol.request_size..];
-
+    // Storage not up (yet): fail politely, whatever was asked — clients retry.
+    if (!mounted) {
+        const status = envelope.Status{ .status = refused, .len = 0 };
+        @memcpy(out[0..envelope.prefix_size], std.mem.asBytes(&status));
+        return envelope.prefix_size;
+    }
     // Stamp create/write with the current wall-clock time (mtime). Cheap, and it
     // keeps the engine pure (it takes the time as data, not a syscall).
     filesystem.current_time_epoch = time.wallClock();
-
-    switch (request.operation) {
-        .open => return handleOpen(out, payload[0..@min(payload.len, request.len)], request.flags, sender),
-        .read => {
-            const o = openAt(request.node) orelse return fail(out);
-            var buffer: [vfs_protocol.maximum_payload]u8 = undefined;
-            const want = @min(@as(usize, request.len), buffer.len);
-            const n = filesystem.readFile(o.node, @intCast(request.offset), buffer[0..want]);
-            return writeReply(out, .{ .status = 0, .len = @intCast(n) }, buffer[0..n]);
-        },
-        .write => {
-            const o = openAt(request.node) orelse return fail(out);
-            const data = payload[0..@min(payload.len, request.len)];
-            const n = filesystem.writeFile(&o.node, @intCast(request.offset), data);
-            return writeReply(out, .{ .status = 0, .len = @intCast(n) }, &.{});
-        },
-        .status => {
-            const o = openAt(request.node) orelse return fail(out);
-            const kind: vfs_protocol.NodeKind = if (o.node.is_directory) .directory else .regular;
-            const status = vfs_protocol.FileStatus{ .size = o.node.size, .kind = @intFromEnum(kind), .mtime = o.node.mtime };
-            return writeReply(out, .{ .status = 0, .len = @sizeOf(vfs_protocol.FileStatus) }, std.mem.asBytes(&status));
-        },
-        .readdir => {
-            const o = openAt(request.node) orelse return fail(out);
-            if (!o.node.is_directory) return writeReply(out, .{ .status = 0, .len = 0 }, &.{});
-            const listing = filesystem.listEntry(o.node, @intCast(request.offset)) orelse return writeReply(out, .{ .status = 0, .len = 0 }, &.{});
-            const kind: vfs_protocol.NodeKind = if (listing.is_directory) .directory else .regular;
-            const header = vfs_protocol.DirectoryEntry{ .kind = @intFromEnum(kind), .name_len = @intCast(listing.name_len), .size = listing.size };
-            var buffer: [vfs_protocol.maximum_payload]u8 = undefined;
-            @memcpy(buffer[0..vfs_protocol.directory_entry_size], std.mem.asBytes(&header));
-            const nlen = @min(listing.name_len, buffer.len - vfs_protocol.directory_entry_size);
-            @memcpy(buffer[vfs_protocol.directory_entry_size..][0..nlen], listing.name_buffer[0..nlen]);
-            const total = vfs_protocol.directory_entry_size + nlen;
-            return writeReply(out, .{ .status = 0, .len = @intCast(total) }, buffer[0..total]);
-        },
-        .close => {
-            if (openAt(request.node)) |o| o.used = false;
-            // Durable-on-close: if any block reached the device since the last
-            // flush, commit its cache to stable media now (best-effort). This is
-            // what makes init's shutdown log flush survive a real power-off, and is
-            // the right default for removable media the user may unplug.
-            if (device_dirty) {
-                _ = ipc_block.device.flush();
-                device_dirty = false;
-            }
-            return writeReply(out, .{ .status = 0 }, &.{});
-        },
-        .mkdir => {
-            const path = payload[0..@min(payload.len, request.len)];
-            if (filesystem.resolve(path) != null) return fail(out); // already exists — no duplicate entries
-            const split = splitParent(path);
-            const parent = filesystem.resolve(split.parent) orelse return fail(out);
-            if (filesystem.createDirectory(parent, split.leaf) == null) return fail(out);
-            return writeReply(out, .{ .status = 0 }, &.{});
-        },
-        .unlink => {
-            const split = splitParent(payload[0..@min(payload.len, request.len)]);
-            const parent = filesystem.resolve(split.parent) orelse return fail(out);
-            if (!filesystem.removeFile(parent, split.leaf)) return fail(out);
-            return writeReply(out, .{ .status = 0 }, &.{});
-        },
-        .rename => {
-            const both = payload[0..@min(payload.len, request.len)];
-            const sep = std.mem.indexOfScalar(u8, both, 0) orelse return fail(out);
-            const old_split = splitParent(both[0..sep]);
-            const new_split = splitParent(both[sep + 1 ..]);
-            // Same-directory rename only.
-            if (!std.mem.eql(u8, old_split.parent, new_split.parent)) return fail(out);
-            const parent = filesystem.resolve(old_split.parent) orelse return fail(out);
-            if (!filesystem.rename(parent, old_split.leaf, new_split.leaf)) return fail(out);
-            return writeReply(out, .{ .status = 0 }, &.{});
-        },
-        // A backend is never itself a mount target.
-        // Router verbs, and the registry's claim verb: a file backend answers
-        // none of them (docs/os-development/protocol-namespace.md — only init
-        // implements `bind`).
-        .mount, .unmount, .bind => return fail(out),
-    }
+    return Serve.dispatch({}, handlers, message, sender, null, out);
 }
 
 pub fn main() void {
diff --git a/system/services/init/init.zig b/system/services/init/init.zig
index fcef455..ab679d3 100644
--- a/system/services/init/init.zig
+++ b/system/services/init/init.zig
@@ -548,34 +548,43 @@ var heartbeat_running = false;
 /// `pending_capability`. `arrived` is the capability the *request* carried, owned
 /// by the turn — nothing here has to close it, only `bind` has to claim it.
 fn serveRegistry(request_bytes: []const u8, reply: []u8, sender: u32, arrived: *Arrival) usize {
-    if (request_bytes.len < vfs_protocol.request_size)
-        return answer(reply, -envelope.EPROTO, 0, 0);
-    // The header is read field by field rather than reinterpreted whole: the
-    // operation is an enum on the wire and the bytes come from anyone at all, so
-    // a value outside it must be a refusal, never a decoded enum.
+    if (request_bytes.len < envelope.prefix_size)
+        return answer(reply, -envelope.EPROTO, 0);
+    // The header is read field by field rather than reinterpreted whole, and the
+    // verb is compared as a number rather than decoded into the generated
+    // `Operation`: the bytes come from anyone at all, so a value outside the enum
+    // must be a refusal, never an `@enumFromInt`. This is deliberately NOT
+    // `Protocol.Provider.dispatch` for the same reason — PID 1 reads a stranger's
+    // packet, and it reads it by hand.
     const operation = std.mem.readInt(u32, request_bytes[0..4], .little);
-    const cursor = std.mem.readInt(u64, request_bytes[16..24], .little);
-    const declared = std.mem.readInt(u32, request_bytes[24..28], .little);
-    const payload_len = @min(@as(usize, declared), request_bytes.len - vfs_protocol.request_size);
-    const payload = request_bytes[vfs_protocol.request_size..][0..payload_len];
+    const body = request_bytes[envelope.prefix_size..];
 
     if (operation == @intFromEnum(vfs_protocol.Operation.bind))
-        return answer(reply, onBind(sender, payload, arrived), 0, 0);
+        return answer(reply, onBind(sender, body, arrived), 0);
     // Only `bind` claims a capability; one attached to anything else is closed by
     // the turn's `defer` in the loop, along with the ones sent to a request that
     // was too short to name a verb at all.
-    if (operation == @intFromEnum(vfs_protocol.Operation.open)) return onOpen(reply, sender, payload);
-    if (operation == @intFromEnum(vfs_protocol.Operation.readdir)) return onReaddir(reply, cursor);
+    if (operation == @intFromEnum(vfs_protocol.Operation.open)) {
+        // `open`'s fixed part is the flags word, which means nothing to a
+        // namespace; the name follows it as the packet's tail.
+        if (body.len < @sizeOf(vfs_protocol.Open)) return answer(reply, -envelope.EPROTO, 0);
+        return onOpen(reply, sender, body[@sizeOf(vfs_protocol.Open)..]);
+    }
+    if (operation == @intFromEnum(vfs_protocol.Operation.readdir)) {
+        if (body.len < @sizeOf(vfs_protocol.Readdir)) return answer(reply, -envelope.EPROTO, 0);
+        return onReaddir(reply, std.mem.readInt(u64, body[0..8], .little));
+    }
     // Everything else a filesystem answers is meaningless here: `/protocol` holds
     // contracts, not bytes.
-    return answer(reply, -envelope.ENOSYS, 0, 0);
+    return answer(reply, -envelope.ENOSYS, 0);
 }
 
-/// Lay down a vfs reply header (and say how many payload bytes follow it).
-fn answer(reply: []u8, status: i32, node: u64, payload_len: usize) usize {
-    const header = vfs_protocol.Reply{ .status = status, .node = node, .len = @intCast(payload_len) };
-    @memcpy(reply[0..vfs_protocol.reply_size], std.mem.asBytes(&header));
-    return vfs_protocol.reply_size + payload_len;
+/// Lay down the envelope's reply prefix (and say how many payload bytes the
+/// caller has already written after it).
+fn answer(reply: []u8, status: i32, payload_len: usize) usize {
+    const header = envelope.Status{ .status = status, .len = @intCast(payload_len) };
+    @memcpy(reply[0..envelope.prefix_size], std.mem.asBytes(&header));
+    return envelope.prefix_size + payload_len;
 }
 
 /// `bind(name, capability = the provider's endpoint)`. The capability is the
@@ -667,15 +676,19 @@ fn onBind(sender: u32, raw_name: []const u8, arrived: *Arrival) i32 {
 /// other, a line in a world-readable log ring, or a serial write costing
 /// milliseconds.)
 fn onOpen(reply: []u8, sender: u32, raw_name: []const u8) usize {
-    const name = contractName(raw_name) orelse return answer(reply, -envelope.ENOENT, 0, 0);
+    const name = contractName(raw_name) orelse return answer(reply, -envelope.ENOENT, 0);
     refreshProcessTable();
     const identity = identify(sender);
     const permitted = if (identity) |who| mayOpen(who, name) else false;
     const binding = findBinding(name);
-    if (!permitted) return answer(reply, -envelope.ENOENT, 0, 0);
-    const found = binding orelse return answer(reply, -envelope.ENOENT, 0, 0);
+    if (!permitted) return answer(reply, -envelope.ENOENT, 0);
+    const found = binding orelse return answer(reply, -envelope.ENOENT, 0);
     pending_capability = found.endpoint;
-    return answer(reply, 0, 0, 0);
+    // A contract node has no node id — the capability is the whole answer — but
+    // the protocol says an `open` reply carries one, so it carries a zero.
+    const opened = vfs_protocol.Opened{ .node = 0 };
+    @memcpy(reply[envelope.prefix_size..][0..@sizeOf(vfs_protocol.Opened)], std.mem.asBytes(&opened));
+    return answer(reply, 0, @sizeOf(vfs_protocol.Opened));
 }
 
 /// `readdir(cursor)` — the namespace, browsable. One entry per turn, as the vfs
@@ -690,18 +703,25 @@ fn onReaddir(reply: []u8, cursor: u64) usize {
             continue;
         }
         const name = binding.nameSlice();
-        const entry = vfs_protocol.DirectoryEntry{
+        return writeEntry(reply, .{
             .kind = @intFromEnum(vfs_protocol.NodeKind.protocol),
             .name_len = @intCast(name.len),
             .size = binding.task,
-        };
-        const total = vfs_protocol.directory_entry_size + name.len;
-        if (vfs_protocol.reply_size + total > reply.len) return answer(reply, -envelope.EPROTO, 0, 0);
-        @memcpy(reply[vfs_protocol.reply_size..][0..vfs_protocol.directory_entry_size], std.mem.asBytes(&entry));
-        @memcpy(reply[vfs_protocol.reply_size + vfs_protocol.directory_entry_size ..][0..name.len], name);
-        return answer(reply, 0, 0, total);
+        }, name);
     }
-    return answer(reply, 0, 0, 0); // end of directory
+    // End of directory, which the envelope spells as an entry with no name: the
+    // reply's own length cannot say it any more, because the fixed reply part
+    // always travels.
+    return writeEntry(reply, .{}, &.{});
+}
+
+/// One `readdir` reply: the entry, then its name inline.
+fn writeEntry(reply: []u8, entry: vfs_protocol.DirectoryEntry, name: []const u8) usize {
+    const total = vfs_protocol.directory_entry_size + name.len;
+    if (envelope.prefix_size + total > reply.len) return answer(reply, -envelope.EPROTO, 0);
+    @memcpy(reply[envelope.prefix_size..][0..vfs_protocol.directory_entry_size], std.mem.asBytes(&entry));
+    @memcpy(reply[envelope.prefix_size + vfs_protocol.directory_entry_size ..][0..name.len], name);
+    return answer(reply, 0, total);
 }
 
 pub fn main(startup: process.Init) void {
@@ -882,9 +902,12 @@ fn onPowerEvent(sender: u32, payload: []const u8) void {
         std.log.info("ignored a power event from pid {d}: /protocol/power is pid {d}", .{ sender, authorized });
         return;
     }
-    if (payload.len < 2) return;
-    if (payload[0] != @intFromEnum(power_protocol.Operation.event)) return;
-    if (payload[1] == @intFromEnum(power_protocol.Event.power_button)) shutDown();
+    // Read as an envelope packet, never by byte offset: the kind IS the packet's
+    // verb, so a power event is decoded exactly the way every other event in the
+    // system is. A packet whose operation is not one of this protocol's events —
+    // anything else that lands in this mailbox — decodes to null and is dropped.
+    const kind = power_protocol.Protocol.eventOf(payload) orelse return;
+    if (kind == .power_button) shutDown();
 }
 
 /// A supervised boot service died. Find which one and restart it — unless it exited
@@ -935,9 +958,11 @@ fn restartChild(id: u32) void {
 /// init calls owes the same discipline.
 fn subscribePower() void {
     const handle = power_endpoint orelse return;
-    const request = power_protocol.Subscribe{};
+    // The reserved `subscribe` verb: nothing but the header, with our own
+    // endpoint riding as the call's capability.
+    const header = envelope.Header{ .operation = envelope.operation_subscribe };
     var reply: [power_protocol.message_maximum]u8 = undefined;
-    _ = ipc.callCap(handle, std.mem.asBytes(&request), &reply, supervision_endpoint) catch {};
+    _ = ipc.callCap(handle, std.mem.asBytes(&header), &reply, supervision_endpoint) catch {};
 }
 
 /// The stop sequence: persist the log while storage is still up, then terminate
@@ -956,9 +981,11 @@ fn shutDown() void {
         if (child_ids[i] != 0) process.stop(child_ids[i], 2000, supervision_endpoint);
     }
     if (power_endpoint) |h| {
-        const request = power_protocol.Shutdown{};
-        var reply: [power_protocol.message_maximum]u8 = undefined;
-        _ = ipc.call(h, std.mem.asBytes(&request), &reply) catch {};
+        var packet: [power_protocol.message_maximum]u8 = undefined;
+        if (power_protocol.Protocol.encodeRequest(.shutdown, 0, {}, &.{}, &packet)) |framed| {
+            var reply: [power_protocol.message_maximum]u8 = undefined;
+            _ = ipc.call(h, framed, &reply) catch {};
+        }
     }
     // If S5 did not take, init has nothing left to do but idle.
     while (true) time.sleepMillis(1000);
diff --git a/system/services/input/build.zig b/system/services/input/build.zig
index 8c33a3d..c5b57dc 100644
--- a/system/services/input/build.zig
+++ b/system/services/input/build.zig
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
     const exe = build_support.userBinary(b, .{
         .name = "input",
         .root_source_file = b.path("input.zig"),
-        .imports = &.{ "channel", "input-client", "input-protocol", "ipc", "logging", "process", "service" },
+        .imports = &.{ "envelope", "input-protocol", "ipc", "logging", "service" },
     });
     b.installArtifact(exe);
 }
diff --git a/system/services/input/input.zig b/system/services/input/input.zig
index 74ced4b..13b25bb 100644
--- a/system/services/input/input.zig
+++ b/system/services/input/input.zig
@@ -17,146 +17,70 @@
 //!
 //! A subscriber registers by handing the service its own endpoint as a capability (M13
 //! capability passing — this service is its first real consumer). The service keeps that
-//! handle and `ipc.send`s each event to it.
+//! handle and `ipc.send`s each event to it. That is the envelope's reserved `subscribe`
+//! verb, which this protocol adopts rather than defining its own.
+//!
+//! P4a moved this service onto the shared harness (library/kernel/service.zig) — it was the
+//! last hand-rolled receive loop in the tree, and the one service that answered neither the
+//! universal ping nor a `terminate` signal. P4c finished the job: the subscriber table, the
+//! fan-out, and the dead-subscriber sweep are the harness's now
+//! (`service.Subscribers`), so what is left here is what is actually about input — which
+//! device class an event belongs to, and which classes a subscriber asked for. The sweep
+//! that replaced the old prune is the one idiom the system uses everywhere: published
+//! process-exit notifications, not a poll of the process list on every subscribe.
 
-const std = @import("std");
-const channel = @import("channel");
 const ipc = @import("ipc");
-const process = @import("process");
 const service = @import("service");
-const input = @import("input-client");
 const logging = @import("logging");
 const input_protocol = @import("input-protocol");
+const envelope = @import("envelope");
 
-/// One registered subscriber: the endpoint we push events to (a capability it handed us at
-/// subscribe time) and the task id that owns it (the subscribe call's badge), so a slot
-/// left behind by a subscriber that exited can be reclaimed.
-const Subscriber = struct {
-    used: bool = false,
-    endpoint: ipc.Handle = 0,
-    task_id: u32 = 0,
-    /// Which device classes this subscriber wants (an OR of input_protocol.device_*). An event
-    /// is delivered only if its device's bit is set here.
-    device_mask: u32 = 0,
-};
+/// The subscriber side of the input contract: the table, the reserved `subscribe`
+/// verb, the exit sweep, and the fan-out. One fan-out point per process, so the
+/// handler context is empty.
+const Subscriptions = service.Subscribers(input_protocol.Protocol, void);
 
-var subscribers = [_]Subscriber{.{}} ** 8;
+const Invocation = envelope.Invocation;
+const Answer = envelope.Answer;
 
-/// Drop any subscriber whose owning process is no longer alive, so its slot (and the
-/// endpoint reference it holds) can be reused. Cheap and only run on subscribe — the async
-/// `send` to a dead subscriber's orphaned endpoint is harmless (it just fills a queue no
-/// one drains), so this is housekeeping, not correctness.
-fn pruneDeadSubscribers() void {
-    var table: [32]process.ProcessDescriptor = undefined;
-    const total = process.processes(&table);
-    const count = @min(total, table.len);
-    for (&subscribers) |*sub| {
-        if (!sub.used) continue;
-        var alive = false;
-        for (table[0..count]) |descriptor| {
-            if (descriptor.id == sub.task_id) {
-                alive = true;
-                break;
-            }
-        }
-        // The slot owns the endpoint capability it was handed, so reclaiming the
-        // slot closes it — otherwise a process that subscribes and dies costs a
-        // handle-table slot that never comes back.
-        if (!alive) {
-            _ = ipc.close(sub.endpoint);
-            sub.* = .{};
-        }
-    }
-}
-
-/// Register `endpoint` (owned by task `task_id`) to receive the device classes in
-/// `device_mask`. Returns false if the subscriber table is full.
-fn addSubscriber(endpoint: ipc.Handle, task_id: u32, device_mask: u32) bool {
-    for (&subscribers) |*sub| {
-        if (!sub.used) {
-            sub.* = .{ .used = true, .endpoint = endpoint, .task_id = task_id, .device_mask = device_mask };
-            return true;
-        }
-    }
-    return false;
-}
-
-/// Push `event` to every subscriber whose interest mask includes its device class.
-/// `ipc.send` never blocks, so a slow or dead subscriber cannot stall delivery to others.
+/// Push `event` to every subscriber whose interest mask includes its device class. The
+/// class is the packet's operation, so this picks *which event* to publish and the harness
+/// frames it once for the whole fan-out — the mapping from device to class is the only part
+/// of a broadcast that is this service's own.
 fn broadcast(event: input_protocol.InputEvent) void {
-    const bytes = std.mem.asBytes(&event);
-    const bit = input_protocol.deviceBit(event.device);
-    for (&subscribers) |*sub| {
-        if (sub.used and sub.device_mask & bit != 0) _ = ipc.send(sub.endpoint, bytes);
+    const class = input_protocol.deviceBit(event.device);
+    switch (input_protocol.eventOfDevice(event.device) orelse return) { // no class wants it
+        .keyboard => Subscriptions.publishClass(.keyboard, 0, event.asKeyboard() orelse return, class),
+        .mouse => Subscriptions.publishClass(.mouse, 0, event.asMouse() orelse return, class),
+        .joystick => Subscriptions.publishClass(.joystick, 0, event.asJoystick() orelse return, class),
     }
 }
 
-/// Handle one request. `got` carries the sender badge (a task id); `arrived` carries the
-/// capability the request came with, under the same ownership rule the service harness
-/// states (`ipc.Arrival`): **it belongs to the turn, and only a handler that means to keep
-/// it says `take`.** Everything else here — a short message, a `publish`, a subscribe that
-/// finds the table full — simply returns, and the loop closes what arrived. Writes a
-/// `Reply` into `out` and returns its length.
-fn handle(message: []const u8, got: ipc.Received, out: []u8, arrived: *ipc.Arrival) usize {
-    const reply = struct {
-        fn write(buffer: []u8, status: i32) usize {
-            const header = input_protocol.Reply{ .status = status };
-            @memcpy(buffer[0..input_protocol.reply_size], std.mem.asBytes(&header));
-            return input_protocol.reply_size;
-        }
-    };
+fn onPublish(_: void, invocation: Invocation(input_protocol.InputEvent), _: Answer(void)) isize {
+    broadcast(invocation.request);
+    return 0;
+}
 
-    if (message.len < input_protocol.request_size) return reply.write(out, -1);
-    const request = std.mem.bytesToValue(input_protocol.Request, message[0..input_protocol.request_size]);
+/// `subscribe` and `unsubscribe` are absent on purpose: the harness answers both.
+const handlers = Subscriptions.Handlers{ .publish = onPublish };
 
-    switch (@as(input_protocol.Operation, @enumFromInt(request.operation))) {
-        .subscribe => {
-            const endpoint = arrived.peek() orelse return reply.write(out, -1); // no endpoint passed
-            // A zero mask means "everything" (a subscriber that named no class still wants input).
-            const mask = if (request.device_mask == 0) input_protocol.device_all else request.device_mask;
-            pruneDeadSubscribers();
-            if (!addSubscriber(endpoint, @intCast(got.badge), mask)) return reply.write(out, -1); // table full
-            _ = arrived.take(); // claimed: the subscriber table holds it until that task dies
-            return reply.write(out, 0);
-        },
-        .publish => {
-            broadcast(request.event);
-            return reply.write(out, 0);
-        },
-    }
+fn onMessage(message: []const u8, out: []u8, sender: u32, arrived: *ipc.Arrival) usize {
+    return Subscriptions.dispatch({}, handlers, message, sender, arrived, out);
+}
+
+fn initialise(_: ipc.Handle) bool {
+    // The harness has already bound `/protocol/input` by the time this runs, so
+    // "ready" still means what it always meant: the name is claimed and the loop
+    // is about to serve it.
+    _ = logging.write("/system/services/input: ready\n");
+    return true;
 }
 
 pub fn main() void {
-    const endpoint = ipc.createIpcEndpoint() orelse {
-        _ = logging.write("/system/services/input: no endpoint\n");
-        return;
-    };
-    if (!channel.bindPatiently("input", endpoint)) {
-        _ = logging.write("/system/services/input: could not bind /protocol/input\n");
-        return;
-    }
-    _ = logging.write("/system/services/input: ready\n");
-
-    var reply_buffer: [input_protocol.reply_size]u8 = undefined;
-    var reply_len: usize = 0;
-    var receive: [input_protocol.request_size]u8 = undefined;
-    while (true) {
-        const got = ipc.replyWait(endpoint, reply_buffer[0..reply_len], &receive, null);
-        // Whatever capability came with this turn is the turn's, and the turn closes it
-        // unless `handle` claims it (`ipc.Arrival`). The kernel installs a sent capability
-        // whatever the message's length or kind, so this covers the notification
-        // `continue` and every refusal inside `handle` — otherwise about thirty-two
-        // capability-carrying calls, which need no authorization at all, exhaust this
-        // service's handle table and no further subscribe can ever land.
-        var arrived: ipc.Arrival = .{ .handle = got.cap };
-        defer arrived.release();
-
-        // Only synchronous client requests (subscribe/publish) arrive here; nothing sends
-        // this service asynchronous messages, so a notification wake would be spurious.
-        if (got.isNotification()) {
-            reply_len = 0;
-            continue;
-        }
-        reply_len = handle(receive[0..got.len], got, &reply_buffer, &arrived);
-    }
+    service.run(input_protocol.message_maximum, .{
+        .service = "input",
+        .init = initialise,
+        .on_message = onMessage,
+        .subscribers = Subscriptions.hooks,
+    });
 }
diff --git a/test/qemu_test.py b/test/qemu_test.py
index ed37da5..5426a32 100644
--- a/test/qemu_test.py
+++ b/test/qemu_test.py
@@ -658,6 +658,18 @@ CASES = [
      "timeout": 150,
      "expect": r"fat-test: rename ok",
      "fail":   r"fat-test: mutations FAILED|DANOS-TEST-RESULT: FAIL"},
+    # P4c: badge-scoped per-client ids. Two processes of one fixture, on the same
+    # boot: the owner holds a FAT node id and a compositor layer id, the intruder
+    # names both and must be refused — while its own node and layer, and the
+    # owner's after the attempt, keep working. Every refusal is paired with a
+    # control, so a provider that refused everything (or honoured everything)
+    # fails this case rather than passing it. Reuses the fat-mount build.
+    {"name": "badge-scope",
+     "build_case": "fat-mount",
+     "smp":    4,
+     "timeout": 150,
+     "expect": r"(?s)(?=.*badge-scope-test: ok)(?=.*badge-scope-test: owner intact)",
+     "fail":   r"badge-scope-test: FAILED|DANOS-TEST-RESULT: FAIL"},
     # Phase 2d: filesystem timestamps — a freshly-created file's mtime is a real
     # current wall-clock time (stamped from the RTC), read back through stat.
     {"name": "fat-mtime",
@@ -889,6 +901,29 @@ CASES = [
                r"(?=.*protocol-denied: ok)"
                r"(?=.*DANOS-TEST-RESULT: PASS)",
      "fail":   r"DANOS-TEST-RESULT: FAIL|protocol-denied: FAIL"},
+    # The reserved verbs, asked of live providers (P4a). Every protocol built on
+    # envelope.Define answers `describe` out of its specification and `-ENOSYS`
+    # for a verb it does not define, without its provider implementing either —
+    # so a fixture that walks /protocol's own listing and asks both of whatever
+    # it finds is the proof that `Define` hands those verbs to everyone alike.
+    # The scenario boots the registry, the input service and the compositor: two
+    # protocols of different sizes and verb counts, both reached through the real
+    # registry under the manifest's own grants. The other six the fixture knows —
+    # vfs, block, scanout, device-manager, power and usb-transfer — need provider
+    # chains this case does not boot (the last three all arrive with the device
+    # manager, i.e. with the whole driver tree, whose timing would make this
+    # fixture's one namespace snapshot a boot race). It names them as unchecked
+    # rather than skipping them quietly, and the fat-mount / usb-storage /
+    # virtio-gpu / device-list / driver-restart / pci-scan / usb-* /
+    # orderly-shutdown scenarios are their proof.
+    {"name": "protocol-conformance",
+     "expect": r"(?s)(?=.*protocol-conformance: input v\d+ describes itself)"
+               r"(?=.*protocol-conformance: display v\d+ describes itself)"
+               r"(?=.*-> -ENOSYS)"
+               r"(?=.*protocol-conformance: 2 provider\(s\) answered the reserved verbs identically)"
+               r"(?=.*protocol-conformance: ok)"
+               r"(?=.*DANOS-TEST-RESULT: PASS)",
+     "fail":   r"DANOS-TEST-RESULT: FAIL|protocol-conformance: FAIL"},
     # Device manager: a ring-3 service enumerates /system/devices, matches the PCI host
     # bridge to pci-bus, and spawns it — end-to-end proof of discover -> match -> spawn
     # -> driver-up (the spawned pci-bus logs "<N> functions found").
diff --git a/test/system/services/badge-scope-test/badge-scope-test.zig b/test/system/services/badge-scope-test/badge-scope-test.zig
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ab00422
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/system/services/badge-scope-test/badge-scope-test.zig
@@ -0,0 +1,216 @@
+//! test/system/services/badge-scope-test — the guessable-id probe. Two providers
+//! hand small integers to a client and then take them back from anyone who says
+//! the number: the FAT server's node ids (a table of thirty-two) and the
+//! compositor's layer ids (a table of sixteen). P4c scoped both to the badge that
+//! opened them (docs/os-development/protocol-namespace.md — *handles must be
+//! scoped per client, validated against the badge*), and this fixture is the
+//! proof.
+//!
+//! It runs as two processes of the same binary, because the hole is a
+//! *cross-client* one and a single process cannot demonstrate it:
+//!
+//!   - the **owner** (no arguments — the scenario spawns this one) opens a file
+//!     on the volume and creates a layer, keeps both, and spawns
+//!   - the **intruder** (the two ids as argv), which opens a file and a layer of
+//!     its own and then names the owner's.
+//!
+//! Every refusal is paired with the same operation on the intruder's own id, so
+//! the case cannot pass against a provider that refuses everything; and the owner
+//! re-uses both ids after the intruder has finished — including after its attempt
+//! to *close* the file node — so the case cannot pass against a provider that
+//! honoured the intruder and merely reported failure. The pass marker is
+//! `badge-scope-test: ok` from the intruder plus `badge-scope-test: owner intact`
+//! from the owner.
+//!
+//! What it cannot check: which id the intruder was refused *for*. A refusal is
+//! deliberately identical to "no such id" — that is the discipline being tested —
+//! so the fixture proves the boundary by construction (an id it was told about by
+//! its parent, which is holding it) rather than by reading anything back.
+
+const std = @import("std");
+const display = @import("display-client");
+const fs = @import("file-system");
+const ipc = @import("ipc");
+const logging = @import("logging");
+const process = @import("process");
+const time = @import("time");
+
+/// A scratch file on the volume, so the node the intruder tries to write through
+/// is one nothing else reads. (A foreign write that *succeeded* would prove the
+/// bug — it must not also damage the boot volume proving it.)
+const held_path = "/volumes/usb/BADGE.TXT";
+const held_contents = "held";
+
+fn line(comptime format: []const u8, arguments: anytype) void {
+    var buffer: [192]u8 = undefined;
+    _ = logging.write(std.fmt.bufPrint(&buffer, format, arguments) catch return);
+}
+
+/// The fat server mounts /volumes/usb only after the whole USB storage chain is
+/// up, and both instances race it.
+fn waitForVolume() bool {
+    var tries: u32 = 0;
+    while (tries < 1400) : (tries += 1) {
+        if (fs.openDirectory("/volumes/usb")) |opened| {
+            var directory = opened;
+            directory.close();
+            return true;
+        }
+        time.sleepMillis(50);
+    }
+    return false;
+}
+
+pub fn main(init: process.Init) void {
+    if (init.arguments.get(1)) |node_text| {
+        const layer_text = init.arguments.get(2) orelse {
+            _ = logging.write("badge-scope-test: FAILED (intruder without a layer id)\n");
+            return;
+        };
+        const node = std.fmt.parseInt(u64, node_text, 10) catch return;
+        const layer = std.fmt.parseInt(u32, layer_text, 10) catch return;
+        intrude(node, layer);
+        return;
+    }
+    own();
+}
+
+// --- the owner ---------------------------------------------------------------
+
+fn own() void {
+    if (!waitForVolume()) {
+        _ = logging.write("badge-scope-test: FAILED (/volumes/usb never became available)\n");
+        return;
+    }
+    var held = fs.open(held_path, .{ .create = true, .truncate = true }) orelse {
+        _ = logging.write("badge-scope-test: FAILED (owner could not create its file)\n");
+        return;
+    };
+    if ((held.writeAll(held_contents) orelse 0) != held_contents.len) {
+        _ = logging.write("badge-scope-test: FAILED (owner could not write its file)\n");
+        return;
+    }
+    const layer = display.createLayer(240, 40, 32, 32, 3) orelse {
+        _ = logging.write("badge-scope-test: FAILED (owner could not create a layer)\n");
+        return;
+    };
+    _ = layer.fill(0, 0, 32, 32, display.color(0x20, 0x80, 0xC0));
+    line("badge-scope-test: owner holds node {d} and layer {d}\n", .{ held.node, layer.id });
+
+    // The intruder is told both ids outright: guessing them is not what is being
+    // tested (they are small integers — a prober would simply enumerate), and a
+    // fixture that had to search would be asserting on a race instead of on the
+    // rule.
+    var node_text: [24]u8 = undefined;
+    var layer_text: [12]u8 = undefined;
+    const arguments = [_][]const u8{
+        std.fmt.bufPrint(&node_text, "{d}", .{held.node}) catch return,
+        std.fmt.bufPrint(&layer_text, "{d}", .{layer.id}) catch return,
+    };
+    const endpoint = ipc.createIpcEndpoint() orelse {
+        _ = logging.write("badge-scope-test: FAILED (owner has no exit endpoint)\n");
+        return;
+    };
+    const intruder = process.spawnSupervised("badge-scope-test", &arguments, endpoint) orelse {
+        _ = logging.write("badge-scope-test: FAILED (could not spawn the intruder)\n");
+        return;
+    };
+    var receive: [8]u8 = undefined;
+    while (true) {
+        const got = ipc.replyWait(endpoint, &.{}, &receive, null);
+        if (got.isChildExit() and got.childProcessId() == intruder) break;
+    }
+
+    // Both ids must still be the owner's, and still work — the half of the proof
+    // the intruder cannot give, because a provider that had honoured its close or
+    // its destroy would have answered it exactly as one that refused.
+    held.seekTo(0);
+    var buffer: [16]u8 = undefined;
+    const read = held.read(&buffer) orelse 0;
+    const node_intact = read == held_contents.len and std.mem.eql(u8, buffer[0..read], held_contents);
+    const layer_intact = layer.fill(0, 0, 32, 32, display.color(0x20, 0xC0, 0x80));
+    if (node_intact and layer_intact) {
+        _ = logging.write("badge-scope-test: owner intact\n");
+    } else {
+        line("badge-scope-test: FAILED (owner lost its ids: node={} layer={})\n", .{ node_intact, layer_intact });
+    }
+    _ = layer.destroy();
+    held.close();
+}
+
+// --- the intruder -------------------------------------------------------------
+
+fn intrude(foreign_node: u64, foreign_layer: u32) void {
+    if (!waitForVolume()) {
+        _ = logging.write("badge-scope-test: FAILED (/volumes/usb never became available)\n");
+        return;
+    }
+    const node_verdict = probeNode(foreign_node);
+    const layer_verdict = probeLayer(foreign_layer);
+    if (node_verdict and layer_verdict) {
+        _ = logging.write("badge-scope-test: ok\n");
+    } else {
+        _ = logging.write("badge-scope-test: FAILED\n");
+    }
+}
+
+/// The FAT half: the intruder's own node works, the owner's does not.
+fn probeNode(foreign: u64) bool {
+    var mine = fs.open(held_path, .{}) orelse {
+        _ = logging.write("badge-scope-test: FAILED (intruder could not open its own file)\n");
+        return false;
+    };
+    defer mine.close();
+    if (mine.backend == null or mine.node == foreign) {
+        line("badge-scope-test: FAILED (intruder's node {d} is not distinct from {d})\n", .{ mine.node, foreign });
+        return false;
+    }
+
+    var buffer: [16]u8 = undefined;
+    const own_read = (mine.read(&buffer) orelse 0) == held_contents.len;
+
+    // The same backend channel, the same verbs, one different integer. Every one
+    // of these worked before the owner check went in.
+    var forged = fs.File{ .node = foreign, .backend = mine.backend };
+    const read_refused = forged.read(&buffer) == null;
+    const status_refused = forged.attributes() == null;
+    const write_refused = forged.write("intruded") == null;
+    forged.close(); // must not release the owner's node — the owner proves that after we exit
+
+    mine.seekTo(0);
+    const own_read_again = (mine.read(&buffer) orelse 0) == held_contents.len;
+
+    const ok = own_read and own_read_again and read_refused and status_refused and write_refused;
+    line("badge-scope-test: node own={} read_refused={} status_refused={} write_refused={} own_again={}\n", .{
+        own_read, read_refused, status_refused, write_refused, own_read_again,
+    });
+    return ok;
+}
+
+/// The display half: the intruder's own layer obeys it, the owner's ignores it.
+fn probeLayer(foreign: u32) bool {
+    const mine = display.createLayer(200, 40, 32, 32, 4) orelse {
+        _ = logging.write("badge-scope-test: FAILED (intruder could not create a layer)\n");
+        return false;
+    };
+    if (mine.id == foreign) {
+        line("badge-scope-test: FAILED (intruder's layer {d} is not distinct)\n", .{mine.id});
+        return false;
+    }
+    const own_fill = mine.fill(0, 0, 32, 32, display.color(0xC0, 0x40, 0x40));
+    const own_configure = mine.configure(200, 80, 4, true);
+
+    const forged = display.Layer{ .id = foreign };
+    const fill_refused = !forged.fill(0, 0, 32, 32, display.color(0xFF, 0, 0));
+    const configure_refused = !forged.configure(0, 0, 9, false);
+    const destroy_refused = !forged.destroy();
+
+    const own_still = mine.fill(0, 0, 32, 32, display.color(0x40, 0xC0, 0x40));
+    _ = mine.destroy();
+
+    const ok = own_fill and own_configure and own_still and fill_refused and configure_refused and destroy_refused;
+    line("badge-scope-test: layer own={} fill_refused={} configure_refused={} destroy_refused={} own_again={}\n", .{
+        own_fill, fill_refused, configure_refused, destroy_refused, own_still,
+    });
+    return ok;
+}
diff --git a/test/system/services/badge-scope-test/build.zig b/test/system/services/badge-scope-test/build.zig
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..acff449
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/system/services/badge-scope-test/build.zig
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+//! The badge-scope-test fixture as a binary package (docs/build-packages-plan.md):
+//! this file names the binary and EXACTLY the modules its source imports —
+//! build-support resolves each name from the domains this zon declares.
+
+const std = @import("std");
+const build_support = @import("build-support");
+
+pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
+    const exe = build_support.userBinary(b, .{
+        .name = "badge-scope-test",
+        .root_source_file = b.path("badge-scope-test.zig"),
+        .imports = &.{ "display-client", "file-system", "ipc", "logging", "process", "time" },
+    });
+    b.installArtifact(exe);
+}
diff --git a/test/system/services/badge-scope-test/build.zig.zon b/test/system/services/badge-scope-test/build.zig.zon
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9de2d02
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/system/services/badge-scope-test/build.zig.zon
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+.{
+    .name = .badge_scope_test,
+    .version = "0.0.0",
+    .fingerprint = 0x92ab15512c4e5b49, // Changing this has security and trust implications.
+    .minimum_zig_version = "0.16.0",
+    .dependencies = .{
+        // build-support supplies the shared recipe; kernel is implicit in
+        // every binary (the root shim + link script live there). The rest
+        // are exactly the homes of this binary's declared imports.
+        .@"build-support" = .{ .path = "../../../../build-support" },
+        .kernel = .{ .path = "../../../../library/kernel" },
+        // client: the compositor half of the probe talks to /protocol/display
+        // through the same client library every other display client uses.
+        .client = .{ .path = "../../../../library/client" },
+    },
+    .paths = .{""},
+}
diff --git a/test/system/services/crash-test/crash-test.zig b/test/system/services/crash-test/crash-test.zig
index 40fb952..8107a2e 100644
--- a/test/system/services/crash-test/crash-test.zig
+++ b/test/system/services/crash-test/crash-test.zig
@@ -34,9 +34,17 @@ pub fn main(init: process.Init) void {
         if (manager == null) time.sleepMillis(20);
     }
     const h = manager orelse return;
-    const hello = device_manager_protocol.Hello{ .role = @intFromEnum(device_manager_protocol.Role.device), .device_id = assigned };
+    // The assigned device is the packet's target, the manager's object addressing.
+    var packet: [device_manager_protocol.message_maximum]u8 = undefined;
+    const framed = device_manager_protocol.Protocol.encodeRequest(
+        .hello,
+        assigned,
+        .{ .role = @intFromEnum(device_manager_protocol.Role.device) },
+        &.{},
+        &packet,
+    ) orelse return;
     var reply: [device_manager_protocol.message_maximum]u8 = undefined;
-    _ = ipc.call(h, std.mem.asBytes(&hello), &reply) catch return;
+    _ = ipc.call(h, framed, &reply) catch return;
 
     _ = logging.write("crash-test: faulting now\n");
     const poison: *volatile u32 = @ptrFromInt(0xdead0000);
diff --git a/test/system/services/device-list/build.zig b/test/system/services/device-list/build.zig
index 821d42d..09bb551 100644
--- a/test/system/services/device-list/build.zig
+++ b/test/system/services/device-list/build.zig
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
     const exe = build_support.userBinary(b, .{
         .name = "device-list",
         .root_source_file = b.path("device-list.zig"),
-        .imports = &.{ "channel", "device-manager-protocol", "ipc", "logging", "time" },
+        .imports = &.{ "channel", "device-manager-protocol", "envelope", "ipc", "logging", "time" },
     });
     b.installArtifact(exe);
 }
diff --git a/test/system/services/device-list/device-list.zig b/test/system/services/device-list/device-list.zig
index 6df4d9c..f7b84f3 100644
--- a/test/system/services/device-list/device-list.zig
+++ b/test/system/services/device-list/device-list.zig
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 
 const std = @import("std");
 const channel = @import("channel");
+const envelope = @import("envelope");
 const ipc = @import("ipc");
 const time = @import("time");
 const logging = @import("logging");
@@ -29,36 +30,41 @@ pub fn main() void {
     };
 
     // The snapshot — polled briefly, because at boot the bus drivers may still
-    // be scanning: an empty first answer usually just means "too early".
+    // be scanning: an empty first answer usually just means "too early". This is
+    // the envelope's reserved `enumerate` verb, so the request is nothing but a
+    // header and the answer is one `ChildEntry` per record in the reply's tail —
+    // how many arrived is the reply's own length, which is why no count header
+    // says it a second time.
+    const Entry = device_manager_protocol.ChildEntry;
+    const enumerate = envelope.Header{ .operation = envelope.operation_enumerate };
     var reply: [device_manager_protocol.message_maximum]u8 = undefined;
-    var count: u32 = 0;
-    var length: usize = 0;
+    var count: usize = 0;
     tries = 0;
     while (tries < 20) : (tries += 1) {
-        const request = device_manager_protocol.Enumerate{};
-        length = ipc.call(h, std.mem.asBytes(&request), &reply) catch 0;
-        if (length >= @sizeOf(device_manager_protocol.EnumerateReply)) {
-            count = std.mem.bytesToValue(device_manager_protocol.EnumerateReply, reply[0..@sizeOf(device_manager_protocol.EnumerateReply)]).count;
-            if (count != 0) break;
+        const length = ipc.call(h, std.mem.asBytes(&enumerate), &reply) catch 0;
+        if (envelope.statusOf(reply[0..length])) |status| {
+            if (status.status == 0) {
+                const carried = @min(@as(usize, status.len), length - envelope.prefix_size);
+                count = carried / @sizeOf(Entry);
+                if (count != 0) break;
+            }
         }
         time.sleepMillis(100);
     }
     writeLine("device-list: {d} devices\n", .{count});
-    var offset: usize = @sizeOf(device_manager_protocol.EnumerateReply);
-    var index: u32 = 0;
-    while (index < count and offset + @sizeOf(device_manager_protocol.ChildEntry) <= length) : (index += 1) {
-        const entry = std.mem.bytesToValue(device_manager_protocol.ChildEntry, reply[offset..][0..@sizeOf(device_manager_protocol.ChildEntry)]);
+    for (0..count) |index| {
+        const entry = std.mem.bytesToValue(Entry, reply[envelope.prefix_size + index * @sizeOf(Entry) ..][0..@sizeOf(Entry)]);
         writeLine("device-list: device {d} port {d} identity {d}\n", .{ entry.parent, entry.bus_address, entry.identity });
-        offset += @sizeOf(device_manager_protocol.ChildEntry);
     }
 
-    // The subscription: our endpoint rides as the call's capability; events
-    // arrive as buffered messages carrying the same structs the bus sends.
+    // The subscription — the reserved `subscribe` verb: our endpoint rides as
+    // the call's capability, and events arrive as buffered packets carrying the
+    // same structs the bus drivers send, under the events' own numbering.
     const endpoint = ipc.createIpcEndpoint() orelse {
         _ = logging.write("device-list: no endpoint\n");
         return;
     };
-    const subscribe = device_manager_protocol.Subscribe{};
+    const subscribe = envelope.Header{ .operation = envelope.operation_subscribe };
     _ = ipc.callCap(h, std.mem.asBytes(&subscribe), &reply, endpoint) catch {
         _ = logging.write("device-list: subscribe failed\n");
         return;
@@ -68,19 +74,18 @@ pub fn main() void {
     var receive: [device_manager_protocol.message_maximum]u8 = undefined;
     while (true) {
         const got = ipc.replyWait(endpoint, &.{}, &receive, null);
-        if (!got.isMessage() or got.len < 1) continue;
-        switch (receive[0]) {
-            @intFromEnum(device_manager_protocol.Operation.child_added) => {
-                if (got.len < device_manager_protocol.child_added_size) continue;
-                const event = std.mem.bytesToValue(device_manager_protocol.ChildAdded, receive[0..device_manager_protocol.child_added_size]);
-                writeLine("device-list: added (device {d} port {d})\n", .{ event.parent, event.bus_address });
+        if (!got.isMessage()) continue;
+        const packet = receive[0..got.len];
+        const event = device_manager_protocol.Protocol.eventOf(packet) orelse continue;
+        switch (event) {
+            .child_added => {
+                const added = device_manager_protocol.Protocol.decodeEvent(.child_added, packet) orelse continue;
+                writeLine("device-list: added (device {d} port {d})\n", .{ added.parent, added.bus_address });
             },
-            @intFromEnum(device_manager_protocol.Operation.child_removed) => {
-                if (got.len < device_manager_protocol.child_removed_size) continue;
-                const event = std.mem.bytesToValue(device_manager_protocol.ChildRemoved, receive[0..device_manager_protocol.child_removed_size]);
-                writeLine("device-list: removed (device {d} port {d})\n", .{ event.parent, event.bus_address });
+            .child_removed => {
+                const removed = device_manager_protocol.Protocol.decodeEvent(.child_removed, packet) orelse continue;
+                writeLine("device-list: removed (device {d} port {d})\n", .{ removed.parent, removed.bus_address });
             },
-            else => {},
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/test/system/services/protocol-conformance-test/build.zig b/test/system/services/protocol-conformance-test/build.zig
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6b40342
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/system/services/protocol-conformance-test/build.zig
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+//! The protocol-conformance-test fixture as a binary package (docs/build-packages-plan.md):
+//! this file names the binary and EXACTLY the modules its source imports —
+//! build-support resolves each name from the domains this zon declares.
+
+const std = @import("std");
+const build_support = @import("build-support");
+
+pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
+    const exe = build_support.userBinary(b, .{
+        .name = "protocol-conformance-test",
+        .root_source_file = b.path("protocol-conformance-test.zig"),
+        .imports = &.{
+            "block-protocol",
+            "channel",
+            "device-manager-protocol",
+            "display-protocol",
+            "envelope",
+            "file-system",
+            "input-protocol",
+            "ipc",
+            "logging",
+            "power-protocol",
+            "process",
+            "scanout-protocol",
+            "time",
+            "usb-transfer-protocol",
+            "vfs-protocol",
+        },
+    });
+    b.installArtifact(exe);
+}
diff --git a/test/system/services/protocol-conformance-test/build.zig.zon b/test/system/services/protocol-conformance-test/build.zig.zon
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e709188
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/system/services/protocol-conformance-test/build.zig.zon
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+.{
+    .name = .protocol_conformance_test,
+    .version = "0.0.0",
+    .fingerprint = 0xea942427118ba350, // Changing this has security and trust implications.
+    .minimum_zig_version = "0.16.0",
+    .dependencies = .{
+        // build-support supplies the shared recipe; kernel is implicit in
+        // every binary (the root shim + link script live there). The rest
+        // are exactly the homes of this binary's declared imports.
+        .@"build-support" = .{ .path = "../../../../build-support" },
+        .kernel = .{ .path = "../../../../library/kernel" },
+        // envelope: the reserved verbs and the errno a refused one answers;
+        // vfs-protocol: the registry's own readdir, which is where the set
+        // under test comes from; the four -protocol modules: the name, the
+        // version and the verb count each contract's `describe` must report,
+        // read off the contract itself rather than copied beside it.
+        .protocol = .{ .path = "../../../../library/protocol" },
+    },
+    .paths = .{""},
+}
diff --git a/test/system/services/protocol-conformance-test/protocol-conformance-test.zig b/test/system/services/protocol-conformance-test/protocol-conformance-test.zig
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..879d013
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/system/services/protocol-conformance-test/protocol-conformance-test.zig
@@ -0,0 +1,348 @@
+//! protocol-conformance-test — P4a's evidence that `envelope.Define` gives every
+//! provider the reserved verbs, uniformly and without the provider writing a line
+//! for them (docs/security-track-plan.md P4a;
+//! docs/os-development/protocol-namespace.md). One binary, one role, driven by
+//! the `protocol-conformance` kernel case:
+//!
+//! - `protocol-conformance-test run` — for each contract it can reach:
+//!     1. `describe` — the reserved verb 0 — is answered, and the answer names
+//!        *that* protocol: the name it was opened under, the version its module
+//!        declares, and the number of verbs its module declares. No provider in
+//!        the system implements `describe`; the generated dispatch answers it out
+//!        of the specification, which is exactly the claim being checked;
+//!     2. a verb number no protocol in the system defines answers `-ENOSYS`, and
+//!        carries no capability. That is the other half of the same generated
+//!        dispatch: a provider does not have to reject strangers, it gets the
+//!        rejection for free and every provider gives the same one;
+//!     3. `describe` again, after the refusal — a refused verb is an *answer*,
+//!        not a wedged service, so the channel is still good afterwards.
+//!
+//! **The set it checks is read, never hardcoded.** The fixture asks `/protocol`
+//! for its own listing (`readdir`, which the namespace publishes on purpose) and
+//! walks what it finds, so the case cannot drift from what this boot actually
+//! bound. What it opens is bounded by P3: the manifest names this binary against
+//! exactly the two contracts its scenario boots, and an ungranted name is absent
+//! for it like any other client's.
+//!
+//! **What it covers, and what it cannot — the honest list.** The scenario boots
+//! the registry, the input service, and the compositor, so `input` and `display`
+//! are checked end to end over real IPC. The other six contracts in the table
+//! are not asked here, and the reason is the provider, not the protocol:
+//!
+//! - `vfs` — the FAT server, which needs a mounted volume behind the whole USB
+//!   storage chain (the `fat-mount` scenario);
+//! - `block` — the usb-storage driver, which the device manager spawns after
+//!   enumerating an xHCI bus (the `usb-storage` scenario);
+//! - `scanout` — the virtio-gpu driver, which needs an emulated virtio-gpu the
+//!   default harness does not attach (the `virtio-gpu` scenario);
+//! - `device-manager`, `power` and `usb-transfer` — the three P4b rebased. All
+//!   three come with the device manager: it *is* the first, it spawns the
+//!   discovery service that binds the second, and the xHCI driver it spawns
+//!   binds the third. So booting a provider for any one of them means booting
+//!   the whole driver tree here.
+//!
+//! That is the reason this scenario stays at two providers rather than five or
+//! eight. It is not only the cost of booting half the system to send two
+//! packets: this fixture takes **one snapshot** of `/protocol` and checks what
+//! is in it, so a scenario whose bound set depends on how far a driver tree got
+//! by that instant would make the case's own summary a boot race. What proves
+//! the six instead is the scenarios that already drive them end to end —
+//! `fat-mount`, `usb-storage`, `virtio-gpu`, and for the P4b three the
+//! `device-list`, `driver-restart`, `pci-scan`, `usb-*`, `power-button` and
+//! `orderly-shutdown` cases, every one of which is a live conversation over
+//! these wires.
+//!
+//! All six sit in the table below regardless, so a scenario that binds one gets
+//! it conformance-checked without this file being edited — and every run prints,
+//! by name, the ones it found no provider for.
+//!
+//! The registry itself — PID 1 serving `/protocol` — is the one vfs backend
+//! deliberately NOT dispatched through the generated table (it reads a
+//! stranger's packet by hand, `system/services/init/init.zig`), so `describe` is
+//! not asked of it and nothing here claims it.
+//!
+//! Prints `protocol-conformance: ok` on success, or a `protocol-conformance:
+//! FAIL` line naming the step. Spawned bare (the initial-ramdisk sweep starts
+//! every bundled binary), it exits silently so it cannot derange other tests.
+
+const std = @import("std");
+const channel = @import("channel");
+const envelope = @import("envelope");
+const file_system = @import("file-system");
+const ipc = @import("ipc");
+const logging = @import("logging");
+const process = @import("process");
+const time = @import("time");
+const block_protocol = @import("block-protocol");
+const device_manager_protocol = @import("device-manager-protocol");
+const display_protocol = @import("display-protocol");
+const input_protocol = @import("input-protocol");
+const power_protocol = @import("power-protocol");
+const scanout_protocol = @import("scanout-protocol");
+const usb_transfer_protocol = @import("usb-transfer-protocol");
+const vfs_protocol = @import("vfs-protocol");
+
+// --- what conformance means, per contract -----------------------------------
+
+/// One contract this fixture knows how to check, and what the answer must say.
+/// Every field is read off the protocol module itself, so the expectation is the
+/// contract's own definition rather than a number copied beside it — a version
+/// bump or a new verb updates this table by recompiling.
+const Contract = struct {
+    name: []const u8,
+    version: u32,
+    /// How many verbs the module declares — `describe` reports it, so it is
+    /// checked. The reserved verbs are not counted: they are the envelope's.
+    operations: u32,
+    /// Whether this scenario boots a provider for it. A required contract that
+    /// is missing, unreachable or non-conforming fails the case; the rest are
+    /// checked when some other scenario happens to bind them.
+    required: bool,
+};
+
+fn contractOf(comptime Protocol: type, required: bool) Contract {
+    return .{
+        .name = Protocol.protocol_name,
+        .version = Protocol.version,
+        .operations = @typeInfo(Protocol.Operation).@"enum".fields.len,
+        .required = required,
+    };
+}
+
+/// The protocols built on `envelope.Define`. A name listed by `/protocol` that
+/// is absent from here is reported and left alone rather than probed: a
+/// hand-numbered provider would read operation 0 as one of its own verbs, so
+/// asking it for `describe` would *do* something. Only `ps2-bus` is still in
+/// that state today.
+const contracts = [_]Contract{
+    contractOf(input_protocol.Protocol, true), // the input fan-out service
+    contractOf(display_protocol.Protocol, true), // the compositor
+    contractOf(vfs_protocol.Protocol, false), // the FAT server — needs a volume
+    contractOf(block_protocol.Protocol, false), // usb-storage — needs the xHCI chain
+    contractOf(scanout_protocol.Protocol, false), // virtio-gpu — needs the device
+    // The three P4b rebased. Each needs the device manager (and, for the last
+    // two, what the device manager starts), which is more than this scenario
+    // boots — see the header.
+    contractOf(device_manager_protocol.Protocol, false),
+    contractOf(power_protocol.Protocol, false), // the discovery service
+    contractOf(usb_transfer_protocol.Protocol, false), // the xHCI bus driver
+};
+
+/// A verb number no protocol in the system defines, and none plausibly will: far
+/// above the reserved range, so it is unambiguously a protocol verb, and far
+/// above any protocol's verb count, so the generated dispatch has nothing to
+/// match it against. The answer must be `-ENOSYS` at every provider.
+const stranger_operation: u32 = envelope.first_protocol_operation + 4096;
+
+fn fail(step: []const u8) noreturn {
+    _ = logging.write("protocol-conformance: FAIL ");
+    _ = logging.write(step);
+    _ = logging.write("\n");
+    process.exit(1);
+}
+
+fn report(comptime format: []const u8, arguments: anytype) void {
+    var line: [192]u8 = undefined;
+    _ = logging.write(std.fmt.bufPrint(&line, format, arguments) catch return);
+}
+
+// --- reading the namespace ---------------------------------------------------
+
+/// The cadence every client in the tree spends finding a service.
+const resolve_attempts: u32 = 200;
+const resolve_retry_ms: u64 = 20;
+
+/// The registry's endpoint, obtained the way every process obtains it: resolve
+/// `/protocol`. The handle is the kernel's, shared with every other user of the
+/// mount, so it is never ours to close. Patient, because the harness starts the
+/// registrar and this fixture together and a first resolve can land before init
+/// has mounted `/protocol` at all.
+fn registryEndpoint() ?ipc.Handle {
+    var attempt: u32 = 0;
+    while (attempt < resolve_attempts) : (attempt += 1) {
+        var relative: [channel.path_maximum]u8 = undefined;
+        if (file_system.fsResolve(channel.root, 0, &relative)) |route| switch (route) {
+            .kernel => return null, // a kernel route means something other than the registry owns the name
+            .backend => |backend| return backend.handle,
+        };
+        time.sleepMillis(resolve_retry_ms);
+    }
+    return null;
+}
+
+/// One `readdir(cursor)` at the registry, into `into`. Null at end of directory
+/// or on any failure — the caller is walking a listing, and both mean "stop".
+///
+/// The listing is what makes this test un-driftable: `/protocol` publishes what
+/// is bound (protocol-namespace.md — the tree stays diagnosable), so the set
+/// under test is the set this boot actually produced.
+fn entryAt(registry: ipc.Handle, cursor: u64, into: []u8) ?[]u8 {
+    var packet: [vfs_protocol.message_maximum]u8 = undefined;
+    const framed = vfs_protocol.Protocol.encodeRequest(.readdir, 0, .{ .cursor = cursor }, &.{}, &packet) orelse return null;
+
+    var reply: [vfs_protocol.message_maximum]u8 = undefined;
+    const got = ipc.callCap(registry, framed, &reply, null) catch return null;
+    // A readdir owes no capability; one that arrived anyway is a handle slot.
+    if (got.cap) |handle| _ = ipc.close(handle);
+
+    const answer = reply[0..got.len];
+    const status = envelope.statusOf(answer) orelse return null;
+    if (status.status != 0) return null;
+    const entry = vfs_protocol.Protocol.decodeReply(.readdir, answer) orelse return null;
+    if (entry.name_len == 0) return null; // end of directory
+    const text = vfs_protocol.Protocol.replyTail(.readdir, answer);
+    const length = @min(@as(usize, entry.name_len), @min(text.len, into.len));
+    @memcpy(into[0..length], text[0..length]);
+    return into[0..length];
+}
+
+/// The listing, taken once so every later question is asked of one observation
+/// rather than of a namespace that may have moved underneath it.
+const maximum_listed: usize = 32;
+var listed_names: [maximum_listed][channel.name_maximum]u8 = undefined;
+var listed_lengths: [maximum_listed]usize = undefined;
+var listed_count: usize = 0;
+
+fn listedName(index: usize) []const u8 {
+    return listed_names[index][0..listed_lengths[index]];
+}
+
+fn takeListing(registry: ipc.Handle) void {
+    listed_count = 0;
+    var cursor: u64 = 0;
+    while (cursor < maximum_listed) : (cursor += 1) {
+        const name = entryAt(registry, cursor, &listed_names[listed_count]) orelse return;
+        listed_lengths[listed_count] = name.len;
+        listed_count += 1;
+    }
+}
+
+/// Whether `/protocol` currently lists `name`.
+fn listed(registry: ipc.Handle, name: []const u8) bool {
+    var cursor: u64 = 0;
+    while (cursor < maximum_listed) : (cursor += 1) {
+        var scratch: [channel.name_maximum]u8 = undefined;
+        const entry = entryAt(registry, cursor, &scratch) orelse return false;
+        if (std.mem.eql(u8, entry, name)) return true;
+    }
+    return false;
+}
+
+/// Wait until `/protocol` lists `name` — the providers this case needs come up
+/// alongside the fixture, and racing them would make the listing a boot race
+/// rather than an observation.
+fn awaitListed(registry: ipc.Handle, name: []const u8) void {
+    var attempts: u32 = 0;
+    while (attempts < 400) : (attempts += 1) {
+        if (listed(registry, name)) return;
+        time.sleepMillis(20);
+    }
+    report("protocol-conformance: FAIL /protocol never listed {s}\n", .{name});
+    process.exit(1);
+}
+
+// --- the assertions ----------------------------------------------------------
+
+/// The three checks, against one open channel. Every failure is fatal: the point
+/// of the case is that these hold at *every* provider, so one that does not is
+/// not a degraded result, it is the regression.
+fn conform(link: channel.Channel, contract: Contract) void {
+    var buffer: [envelope.packet_maximum]u8 = undefined;
+
+    // 1. The reserved verb no provider implements. `describe` is answered from
+    //    the specification by the generated dispatch, so what comes back is the
+    //    contract's own identity — checked field by field against the module
+    //    this fixture compiled against.
+    const described = link.describe(&buffer) orelse fail("describe was not answered");
+    if (!std.mem.eql(u8, described.name, contract.name)) fail("describe named a different protocol");
+    if (described.description.version != contract.version) fail("describe answered the wrong version");
+    if (described.description.operation_count != contract.operations) fail("describe counted the wrong number of verbs");
+
+    // 2. A number no protocol wears. Nothing in the provider looks at it; the
+    //    dispatch table finds no handler and refuses, identically everywhere.
+    var into: [envelope.packet_maximum]u8 = undefined;
+    const answered = link.call(.{ .operation = stranger_operation }, &.{}, &into) orelse
+        fail("a stranger verb was not answered at all");
+    if (answered.status.status != -envelope.ENOSYS) fail("a stranger verb did not answer -ENOSYS");
+    if (answered.status.len != 0) fail("a refused verb promised a payload");
+    if (answered.capability) |handle| {
+        _ = ipc.close(handle);
+        fail("a refused verb handed back a capability");
+    }
+
+    // 3. A refusal is an answer, not a wedge — so the same channel still works.
+    const again = link.describe(&buffer) orelse fail("the provider stopped answering after a refused verb");
+    if (!std.mem.eql(u8, again.name, contract.name)) fail("describe changed its answer after a refused verb");
+
+    report("protocol-conformance: {s} v{d} describes itself ({d} verbs), verb {d} -> -ENOSYS\n", .{
+        contract.name,
+        contract.version,
+        contract.operations,
+        stranger_operation,
+    });
+}
+
+fn contractIndex(name: []const u8) ?usize {
+    for (contracts, 0..) |contract, index| {
+        if (std.mem.eql(u8, contract.name, name)) return index;
+    }
+    return null;
+}
+
+fn run() void {
+    const registry = registryEndpoint() orelse fail("resolve /protocol");
+
+    // Every contract this scenario is supposed to be able to check must be bound
+    // before the listing is taken, or the case would assert nothing on a slow
+    // boot instead of failing on a broken one.
+    for (contracts) |contract| {
+        if (contract.required) awaitListed(registry, contract.name);
+    }
+
+    takeListing(registry);
+    if (listed_count == 0) fail("/protocol listed nothing at all");
+    report("protocol-conformance: /protocol lists {d} contract(s)\n", .{listed_count});
+
+    var checked = [_]bool{false} ** contracts.len;
+    for (0..listed_count) |index| {
+        const name = listedName(index);
+        const found = contractIndex(name) orelse {
+            // Not a lie of omission: named on serial, with the reason.
+            report("protocol-conformance: {s} skipped — not built on envelope.Define yet\n", .{name});
+            continue;
+        };
+        const contract = contracts[found];
+        const link = channel.Channel.connect(name) orelse {
+            // P3 is in force: an ungranted name is absent for this binary, and
+            // that is a manifest fact, not a failure — unless the scenario is
+            // supposed to have granted it.
+            if (contract.required) fail("a contract this fixture is granted would not open");
+            report("protocol-conformance: {s} skipped — not granted to this fixture\n", .{name});
+            continue;
+        };
+        conform(link, contract);
+        link.close();
+        checked[found] = true;
+    }
+
+    // The vacuity guard, and the honest tail: a required contract that went
+    // unchecked fails the case, and every other one this fixture knows how to
+    // check but found no provider for is named, so the coverage is legible on
+    // serial rather than inferred from what is absent.
+    var count: usize = 0;
+    for (contracts, 0..) |contract, index| {
+        if (checked[index]) {
+            count += 1;
+            continue;
+        }
+        if (contract.required) fail("a contract this scenario boots was never conformance-checked");
+        report("protocol-conformance: {s} not bound in this scenario — no provider to ask\n", .{contract.name});
+    }
+    report("protocol-conformance: {d} provider(s) answered the reserved verbs identically\n", .{count});
+    _ = logging.write("protocol-conformance: ok\n");
+}
+
+pub fn main(startup: process.Init) void {
+    const role = startup.arguments.get(1) orelse return; // bare (ramdisk sweep): stay silent
+    if (std.mem.eql(u8, role, "run")) run();
+}
diff --git a/test/system/services/protocol-denied-test/protocol-denied-test.zig b/test/system/services/protocol-denied-test/protocol-denied-test.zig
index 7e0942b..4976ce0 100644
--- a/test/system/services/protocol-denied-test/protocol-denied-test.zig
+++ b/test/system/services/protocol-denied-test/protocol-denied-test.zig
@@ -95,9 +95,13 @@ const Answer = struct {
     /// Whether a capability rode the reply. The one field that actually matters
     /// to a client: the capability IS the channel.
     capability: bool = false,
-    /// The reply header, decoded — compared field by field as well as byte for
-    /// byte, so a failure says *which* field diverged.
-    reply: vfs_protocol.Reply = .{ .status = 0, .node = 0, .len = 0 },
+    /// The reply's envelope `Status`, decoded — compared field by field as well
+    /// as byte for byte, so a failure says *which* field diverged.
+    status: envelope.Status = .{ .status = 0, .len = 0 },
+    /// The node id the reply carried, or null when it carried no reply body at
+    /// all. A refusal has none; the open of a contract carries a zero, because
+    /// the capability is the whole answer.
+    node: ?u64 = null,
 
     fn bytes(self: *const Answer) []const u8 {
         return self.packet[0..self.length];
@@ -129,33 +133,30 @@ fn registryEndpoint() ?ipc.Handle {
 const resolve_attempts: u32 = 200;
 const resolve_retry_ms: u64 = 20;
 
-/// One vfs-protocol request at the registry: the fixed header, then the contract
-/// name inline. Names go bare (`input`, not `/input`) — the registrar normalises
-/// both, and bare is what `bind` sends.
-fn transact(registry: ipc.Handle, operation: vfs_protocol.Operation, name: []const u8, cursor: u64) ?Answer {
-    var request: [vfs_protocol.message_maximum]u8 = undefined;
-    if (vfs_protocol.request_size + name.len > request.len) return null;
-    const header = vfs_protocol.Request{
-        .operation = operation,
-        .node = 0,
-        .offset = cursor,
-        .len = @intCast(name.len),
-        .flags = 0,
-    };
-    @memcpy(request[0..vfs_protocol.request_size], std.mem.asBytes(&header));
-    @memcpy(request[vfs_protocol.request_size..][0..name.len], name);
+/// One vfs-protocol request at the registry: the folded header, the verb's own
+/// fixed part, then the contract name as the packet's tail. Names go bare
+/// (`input`, not `/input`) — the registrar normalises both, and bare is what
+/// `bind` sends.
+fn transact(
+    registry: ipc.Handle,
+    comptime operation: vfs_protocol.Operation,
+    request: vfs_protocol.Protocol.RequestOf(operation),
+    name: []const u8,
+) ?Answer {
+    var packet: [vfs_protocol.message_maximum]u8 = undefined;
+    const framed = vfs_protocol.Protocol.encodeRequest(operation, 0, request, name, &packet) orelse return null;
 
     var answer: Answer = .{};
-    const got = ipc.callCap(
-        registry,
-        request[0 .. vfs_protocol.request_size + name.len],
-        &answer.packet,
-        null,
-    ) catch return null;
-    if (got.len < vfs_protocol.reply_size) return null;
+    const got = ipc.callCap(registry, framed, &answer.packet, null) catch return null;
     answer.length = got.len;
     answer.capability = got.cap != null;
-    answer.reply = std.mem.bytesToValue(vfs_protocol.Reply, answer.packet[0..vfs_protocol.reply_size]);
+    answer.status = envelope.statusOf(answer.bytes()) orelse return null;
+    answer.node = if (operation == .open) blk: {
+        const opened = vfs_protocol.Protocol.decodeReply(.open, answer.bytes()) orelse break :blk null;
+        // A short reply decodes as garbage rather than absence, so the promised
+        // length is what says whether a body is there at all.
+        break :blk if (answer.status.len < @sizeOf(vfs_protocol.Opened)) null else opened.node;
+    } else null;
     // A capability we did not ask to keep is a handle slot spent; the assertions
     // below only care that one arrived.
     if (got.cap) |handle| _ = ipc.close(handle);
@@ -165,7 +166,7 @@ fn transact(registry: ipc.Handle, operation: vfs_protocol.Operation, name: []con
 /// `open(name)`, kept whole. Null only if the registry could not be reached at
 /// all — a registrar that answered has decided, and its decision is the subject.
 fn openContract(registry: ipc.Handle, name: []const u8) Answer {
-    return transact(registry, .open, name, 0) orelse fail("the registry stopped answering");
+    return transact(registry, .open, .{ .flags = 0 }, name) orelse fail("the registry stopped answering");
 }
 
 /// Whether `/protocol` currently lists `name`. The namespace is browsable on
@@ -177,12 +178,11 @@ fn openContract(registry: ipc.Handle, name: []const u8) Answer {
 fn listed(registry: ipc.Handle, name: []const u8) bool {
     var cursor: u64 = 0;
     while (cursor < 64) : (cursor += 1) {
-        const answer = transact(registry, .readdir, "", cursor) orelse return false;
-        if (answer.reply.status != 0 or answer.reply.len == 0) return false; // end of directory
-        const payload = answer.packet[vfs_protocol.reply_size..answer.length];
-        if (payload.len < vfs_protocol.directory_entry_size) return false;
-        const entry = std.mem.bytesToValue(vfs_protocol.DirectoryEntry, payload[0..vfs_protocol.directory_entry_size]);
-        const text = payload[vfs_protocol.directory_entry_size..];
+        const answer = transact(registry, .readdir, .{ .cursor = cursor }, "") orelse return false;
+        if (answer.status.status != 0) return false;
+        const entry = vfs_protocol.Protocol.decodeReply(.readdir, answer.bytes()) orelse return false;
+        if (entry.name_len == 0) return false; // end of directory
+        const text = vfs_protocol.Protocol.replyTail(.readdir, answer.bytes());
         const length = @min(@as(usize, entry.name_len), text.len);
         if (std.mem.eql(u8, text[0..length], name)) return true;
     }
@@ -207,14 +207,24 @@ fn awaitListed(registry: ipc.Handle, name: []const u8) void {
 /// Every caller-visible field of two answers, compared. `step` names the pair so
 /// a failure says which comparison broke and in which field.
 fn expectIdentical(step: []const u8, refused: Answer, absent: Answer) void {
-    if (refused.reply.status != absent.reply.status) fail(step); // the errno
-    if (refused.reply.node != absent.reply.node) fail(step); // the node id an open would return
-    if (refused.reply.len != absent.reply.len) fail(step); // payload bytes promised
+    if (refused.status.status != absent.status.status) fail(step); // the errno
+    if (!nodesMatch(refused.node, absent.node)) fail(step); // the node id an open would return
+    if (refused.status.len != absent.status.len) fail(step); // payload bytes promised
     if (refused.length != absent.length) fail(step); // reply packet length
     if (refused.capability != absent.capability) fail(step); // the channel itself
     if (!std.mem.eql(u8, refused.bytes(), absent.bytes())) fail(step); // and every byte of it
 }
 
+/// Two node ids agree when both are absent or both are the same value. A refusal
+/// carries none at all now — the envelope sends a bare `Status` — so "no node"
+/// is itself one of the observations that has to match.
+fn nodesMatch(one: ?u64, other: ?u64) bool {
+    if (one) |a| {
+        return if (other) |b| a == b else false;
+    }
+    return other == null;
+}
+
 fn run() void {
     const registry = registryEndpoint() orelse fail("resolve /protocol");
 
@@ -232,14 +242,14 @@ fn run() void {
     // 1. The control. A granted, bound contract opens: success, and the
     //    capability that IS the channel.
     const allowed = openContract(registry, granted_contract);
-    if (allowed.reply.status != 0) fail("a granted open was refused");
+    if (allowed.status.status != 0) fail("a granted open was refused");
     if (!allowed.capability) fail("a granted open carried no channel");
     _ = logging.write("protocol-denied: granted open succeeded\n");
 
     // 2. The refusal. `input` is bound — the listing above proved it — and no
     //    manifest row names this binary against it.
     const refused = openContract(registry, forbidden_contract);
-    if (refused.reply.status != -envelope.ENOENT) fail("an ungranted open did not answer -ENOENT");
+    if (refused.status.status != -envelope.ENOENT) fail("an ungranted open did not answer -ENOENT");
     if (refused.capability) fail("an ungranted open carried a channel");
     _ = logging.write("protocol-denied: ungranted open refused as absent\n");
 
@@ -259,7 +269,7 @@ fn run() void {
     //    what it should, so what steps 2-4 saw was policy and not a registry
     //    that had wedged.
     const again = openContract(registry, granted_contract);
-    if (again.reply.status != 0 or !again.capability) fail("the granted contract stopped opening");
+    if (again.status.status != 0 or !again.capability) fail("the granted contract stopped opening");
     _ = logging.write("protocol-denied: ok\n");
 }
 
diff --git a/test/system/services/protocol-registry-test/protocol-registry-test.zig b/test/system/services/protocol-registry-test/protocol-registry-test.zig
index 14ede1e..24b6a5d 100644
--- a/test/system/services/protocol-registry-test/protocol-registry-test.zig
+++ b/test/system/services/protocol-registry-test/protocol-registry-test.zig
@@ -288,8 +288,10 @@ fn run() void {
     //    — the strongest one available, because a regression does not fail this
     //    line, it takes the entire boot down with it.
     const registry = registryEndpoint() orelse fail("resolve /protocol");
-    const forged = power_protocol.EventMessage{ .event = @intFromEnum(power_protocol.Event.power_button) };
-    if (!ipc.send(registry, std.mem.asBytes(&forged))) fail("post a forged power event");
+    var forged: [envelope.post_maximum]u8 = undefined;
+    const packet = power_protocol.Protocol.encodeEvent(.power_button, 0, .{}, &forged) orelse
+        fail("frame a forged power event");
+    if (!ipc.send(registry, packet)) fail("post a forged power event");
     const still_serving = verdictWithin(forbidden, spare) orelse
         fail("the registrar went silent after a forged power event — it acted on it");
     if (still_serving != -envelope.EPERM) fail("the registry misanswered after a forged power event");