Update golangci-lint to v2.12.2 with canonical config (closes #60)

- Add canonical .golangci.yml (v2 schema, default: all, project
  thresholds for lll/funlen/cyclop/dupl)
- Bump golangci-lint pins from v2.0.2 to v2.12.2 in Makefile
  (go install, new /v2 module path) and Dockerfile (tagged+digest
  Debian image pin)
- Fix all lint findings surfaced by the new linter set across
  cmd/mfer, internal/bork, internal/cli, internal/log, and mfer:
  static sentinel errors (err113), context-aware HTTP and exec
  (noctx), guarded integer conversions and stricter permissions
  (gosec), named constants (mnd, goconst), function decomposition
  (funlen, cyclop, gocognit, nestif), declaration ordering
  (funcorder), t.Parallel/t.TempDir/t.Setenv adoption in tests
  (paralleltest, usetesting), protobuf getters (protogetter), plus
  formatting and style cleanups (wsl_v5, nlreturn, lll, revive,
  testifylint, and others)
- Serialize CLI runs in tests behind a mutex so parallel tests do
  not cross-wire the process-global logger's captured output

The decompositions are behavior-preserving. In particular:

- REPO_POLICIES.md is untouched and stays byte-identical to the
  authoritative copy in the prompts repo
- the mfer.manifest type stays unexported; whether to export it is an
  open owner design question (README question 13)
- directories created by fetch keep mode 0755, because fetched trees
  are content meant to be readable by other uids
- an absent MFFilePath.Mtime is handled explicitly and identically in
  freshen, list, and export rather than being read as the Unix epoch,
  which would classify every entry as changed and rewrite the manifest
  on every freshen
- every user-visible error message renders byte-identically to what it
  did before, with the err113 sentinels wrapped mid-sentence where
  needed; the rendered strings are now pinned by tests

Also fixes an argument-injection defect the lint pass surfaced: key IDs
reach gpg as bare positional arguments, so a key ID beginning with "-"
was parsed by gpg as an option. All positional arguments now follow an
explicit "--" end-of-options marker.

The symlink-escape gap in fetch's path handling, which sanitizePath
does not and cannot address, is filed separately as #86.

.golangci.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+version: "2"
+
+# Config schema uses the golangci-lint v2 layout (settings live under
+# linters.settings, not top-level linters-settings) so that the
+# thresholds below are actually applied by golangci-lint >= v2.
+
+run:
+  timeout: 5m
+  modules-download-mode: readonly
+
+linters:
+  default: all
+  disable:
+    # Genuinely incompatible with project patterns
+    - exhaustruct      # Requires all struct fields
+    - depguard         # Dependency allow/block lists
+    - godot            # Requires comments to end with periods
+    - wsl              # Deprecated, replaced by wsl_v5
+    - wrapcheck        # Too verbose for internal packages
+    - varnamelen       # Short names like db, id are idiomatic Go
+  settings:
+    lll:
+      line-length: 88
+    funlen:
+      lines: 80
+      statements: 50
+    cyclop:
+      max-complexity: 15
+    dupl:
+      threshold: 100
+
+issues:
+  max-issues-per-linter: 0
+  max-same-issues: 0

Dockerfile

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # Lint stage — fast feedback on formatting and lint issues
-# golangci/golangci-lint:v2.0.2 (2026-03-14)
+# golangci/golangci-lint:v2.12.2 (Debian-based), 2026-08-07
-FROM golangci/golangci-lint@sha256:d55581f7797e7a0877a7c3aaa399b01bdc57d2874d6412601a046cc4062cb62e AS lint
+FROM golangci/golangci-lint:v2.12.2@sha256:5cceeef04e53efe1470638d4b4b4f5ceefd574955ab3941b2d9a68a8c9ad5240 AS lint
 
 WORKDIR /src
 COPY go.mod go.sum ./

Makefile

@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ hooks:
 	@script/install-precommit
 
 devprereqs:
-	which golangci-lint || go install -v github.com/golangci/golangci-lint/cmd/golangci-lint@v2.0.2
+	which golangci-lint || go install -v github.com/golangci/golangci-lint/v2/cmd/golangci-lint@v2.12.2
 
 mfer/mf.pb.go: mfer/mf.proto
 	cd mfer && go generate .

TODO.md

@@ -16,13 +16,19 @@ in flight and unmerged.
 
 # Next Step
 
-Land the in-flight compliance branch chore/align-repo-policies: finish and
+Work through the remaining compliance items folded from the 2026-07-02
-commit the uncommitted work (32 modified Go files, new untracked
+audit (the first group under Future Steps): `.editorconfig`, `.gitignore`
-.golangci.yml and TODO.md), confirm `make check` is green, merge the branch
+coverage, gofumpt-based `fmt-check`, README "Getting Started", and the
-(one commit ahead of main as of 2026-07-03) to main, and push.
+rest. `.golangci.yml` and `TODO.md` are tracked and committed as of
+2026-08-07, so the only thing left of the `chore/align-repo-policies`
+branch is the list below.
 
 # Completed Steps
 
+- 2026-08-07: updated golangci-lint to v2.12.2 everywhere it is pinned
+  (`Makefile`, `Dockerfile`), added the canonical `.golangci.yml`
+  (`default: all`), and fixed all resulting lint findings across the
+  codebase
 - 2026-07-07 Adopted scripts-to-rule-them-all: `script/` entrypoints,
   Makefile shims, README Entrypoints section
 - 2026-07-03: aligned repo tooling, docs, and config with standardized
@@ -45,8 +51,6 @@ commit the uncommitted work (32 modified Go files, new untracked
 - Compliance (fold of TODO.md audit 2026-07-02; verify which items the
   in-flight branch already closes, then check off):
   - Add .editorconfig (canonical copy from sneak/prompts)
-  - Add standardized .golangci.yml (present untracked on the branch;
-    user-owned, copy verbatim)
   - Make .gitignore cover secrets (.env, _.key, _.pem), OS files
     (.DS_Store), and editor files (_.swp, _~)
   - Make fmt-check/lint verify with gofumpt, not gofmt -l, so
@@ -55,8 +59,8 @@ commit the uncommitted work (32 modified Go files, new untracked
     install/usage block
   - Move FORMAT.md from repo root to docs/ and update the AGENTS.md
     reference
-  - Pin Makefile-installed Go tools (protoc-gen-go@v1.28.1,
+  - Pin Makefile-installed Go tools (`protoc-gen-go@v1.28.1`,
-    golangci-lint@v2.0.2) by module hash, not mutable tag
+    `golangci-lint@v2.12.2`) by module hash, not mutable tag
   - Set `make test` timeout to 30s (currently 10s)
   - Add explicit README "Rationale" heading (content exists under other
     names); name the author in the README Description first line

cmd/mfer/main.go

@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+// Command mfer generates and verifies file manifests.
 package main
 
 import (
@@ -6,8 +7,13 @@ import (
 	"sneak.berlin/go/mfer/internal/cli"
 )
 
+// Appname is the name of this program.
+const Appname = "mfer"
+
+// Version and Gitrev are injected at build time via -ldflags.
+//
+//nolint:gochecknoglobals // set via ldflags at build time
 var (
-	Appname string = "mfer"
 	Version string
 	Gitrev  string
 )

cmd/mfer/main_test.go

@@ -6,6 +6,20 @@ import (
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
 )
 
-func TestBuild(t *testing.T) {
+// TestAppname pins the program name that main passes to cli.Run; it is
-	assert.True(t, true)
+// the name that appears in usage output and in the log prefix. It also
+// keeps this package compiled under `go test`.
+func TestAppname(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	assert.Equal(t, "mfer", Appname)
+}
+
+// TestVersionDefaults documents that Version and Gitrev are empty unless
+// injected at build time via -ldflags.
+func TestVersionDefaults(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	assert.Empty(t, Version)
+	assert.Empty(t, Gitrev)
 }

internal/bork/error.go

@@ -1,15 +1,14 @@
+// Package bork defines the sentinel errors used by the manifest
+// reader and writer.
 package bork
 
 import (
 	"errors"
-	"fmt"
 )
 
 var (
+	// ErrMissingMagic indicates the input lacks the manifest magic bytes.
 	ErrMissingMagic = errors.New("missing magic bytes in file")
+	// ErrFileTruncated indicates the input ended before the expected length.
 	ErrFileTruncated = errors.New("file/stream is truncated abnormally")
 )
-
-func Newf(format string, args ...interface{}) error {
-	return fmt.Errorf(format, args...)
-}

internal/bork/error_test.go

@@ -1,11 +1,14 @@
-package bork
+package bork_test
 
 import (
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+
+	"sneak.berlin/go/mfer/internal/bork"
 )
 
 func TestBuild(t *testing.T) {
-	assert.NotNil(t, ErrMissingMagic)
+	t.Parallel()
+	assert.Error(t, bork.ErrMissingMagic)
 }

internal/cli/check.go

@@ -1,10 +1,14 @@
+// Package cli implements the mfer command-line interface.
 package cli
 
 import (
 	"encoding/hex"
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
+	"math"
 	"path/filepath"
+	"strconv"
 	"strings"
 	"time"
 
@@ -15,21 +19,254 @@ import (
 	"sneak.berlin/go/mfer/mfer"
 )
 
+// fingerprintHexLen is the length of a full GPG key fingerprint in hex
+// characters.
+const fingerprintHexLen = 40
+
+var (
+	// errNoManifestFound indicates no manifest file was found in the
+	// searched directory.
+	errNoManifestFound = errors.New("no manifest found")
+	// errInvalidFingerprint indicates a malformed --require-signature
+	// fingerprint argument. The length is spliced in from
+	// fingerprintHexLen so the two cannot drift apart.
+	errInvalidFingerprint = errors.New(
+		"invalid fingerprint: must be exactly " +
+			strconv.Itoa(fingerprintHexLen) + " hex characters")
+	// errManifestNotSigned indicates a signature was required but the
+	// manifest is unsigned. It is wrapped mid-sentence so that the
+	// rendered message stays exactly as mfer has always printed it.
+	errManifestNotSigned = errors.New("manifest is not signed")
+	// errSignerMismatch indicates the embedded signing key fingerprint
+	// does not match the required signer. Its text is the mid-sentence
+	// fragment of the rendered message, which users grep for in CI and
+	// which must therefore not change; match it with errors.Is rather
+	// than by reading it.
+	errSignerMismatch = errors.New("does not match required")
+)
+
+// safeUint64 converts a non-negative int64 to uint64, clamping negative
+// values to zero.
+func safeUint64(n int64) uint64 {
+	if n < 0 {
+		return 0
+	}
+
+	return uint64(n)
+}
+
+// safeRateUint64 converts a bytes-per-second rate to uint64 for display.
+//
+// A rate is computed as bytes/elapsed, so it is +Inf when the elapsed
+// time rounds to zero and NaN when zero bytes were processed in zero
+// time. Neither has a defined conversion to uint64, and on amd64 +Inf
+// converts to a number that renders as "8.0 EiB/s"; both display as zero
+// instead.
+func safeRateUint64(rate float64) uint64 {
+	if math.IsNaN(rate) || math.IsInf(rate, 0) || rate <= 0 {
+		return 0
+	}
+
+	if rate >= math.MaxUint64 {
+		return math.MaxUint64
+	}
+
+	return uint64(rate)
+}
+
 // findManifest looks for a manifest file in the given directory.
 // It checks for index.mf and .index.mf, returning the first one found.
 func findManifest(fs afero.Fs, dir string) (string, error) {
 	candidates := []string{"index.mf", ".index.mf"}
 	for _, name := range candidates {
 		path := filepath.Join(dir, name)
+
 		exists, err := afero.Exists(fs, path)
 		if err != nil {
 			return "", err
 		}
+
 		if exists {
 			return path, nil
 		}
 	}
-	return "", fmt.Errorf("no manifest found in %s (looked for index.mf and .index.mf)", dir)
+
+	return "", fmt.Errorf(
+		"%w in %s (looked for index.mf and .index.mf)", errNoManifestFound, dir)
+}
+
+// fetchManifestToTemp downloads a manifest URL to a temporary file and
+// returns the temp file path. The caller is responsible for removing it.
+func (mfa *CLIApp) fetchManifestToTemp(url string) (string, error) {
+	rc, fetchErr := mfa.openManifestReader(url)
+	if fetchErr != nil {
+		return "", fetchErr
+	}
+
+	tmpFile, tmpErr := afero.TempFile(mfa.Fs, "", "mfer-manifest-*.mf")
+	if tmpErr != nil {
+		_ = rc.Close()
+
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("failed to create temp file: %w", tmpErr)
+	}
+
+	tmpPath := tmpFile.Name()
+	_, cpErr := io.Copy(tmpFile, rc)
+	_ = rc.Close()
+	_ = tmpFile.Close()
+
+	if cpErr != nil {
+		_ = mfa.Fs.Remove(tmpPath)
+
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("failed to download manifest: %w", cpErr)
+	}
+
+	return tmpPath, nil
+}
+
+// verifyRequiredSigner enforces the --require-signature fingerprint
+// against the manifest's embedded signing key.
+func verifyRequiredSigner(chk *mfer.Checker, requiredSigner string) error {
+	// Validate fingerprint format: must be exactly 40 hex characters
+	if len(requiredSigner) != fingerprintHexLen {
+		return fmt.Errorf("%w, got %d", errInvalidFingerprint, len(requiredSigner))
+	}
+
+	_, err := hex.DecodeString(requiredSigner)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("invalid fingerprint: must be valid hex: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	if !chk.IsSigned() {
+		return fmt.Errorf("%w, but signature from %s is required",
+			errManifestNotSigned, requiredSigner)
+	}
+
+	// Extract fingerprint from the embedded public key (not from the
+	// signer field). This validates the key is importable and gets its
+	// actual fingerprint.
+	embeddedFP, err := chk.ExtractEmbeddedSigningKeyFP()
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf(
+			"failed to extract fingerprint from embedded signing key: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	// Compare fingerprints - must be exact match (case-insensitive)
+	if !strings.EqualFold(embeddedFP, requiredSigner) {
+		return fmt.Errorf("embedded signing key fingerprint %s %w %s",
+			embeddedFP, errSignerMismatch, requiredSigner)
+	}
+
+	log.Infof("manifest signature verified (signer: %s)", embeddedFP)
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+// reportCheckProgress renders progress updates until the channel closes.
+func reportCheckProgress(progress <-chan mfer.CheckStatus) {
+	for status := range progress {
+		if status.ETA > 0 {
+			log.Progressf("Checking: %d/%d files, %s/s, ETA %s, %d failures",
+				status.CheckedFiles,
+				status.TotalFiles,
+				humanize.IBytes(safeRateUint64(status.BytesPerSec)),
+				status.ETA.Round(time.Second),
+				status.Failures)
+		} else {
+			log.Progressf("Checking: %d/%d files, %s/s, %d failures",
+				status.CheckedFiles,
+				status.TotalFiles,
+				humanize.IBytes(safeRateUint64(status.BytesPerSec)),
+				status.Failures)
+		}
+	}
+
+	log.ProgressDone()
+}
+
+// countCheckFailures consumes check results, counting and logging
+// failures, then closes done.
+func countCheckFailures(
+	results <-chan mfer.Result, failures *int64, done chan<- struct{},
+) {
+	for result := range results {
+		if result.Status != mfer.StatusOK {
+			*failures++
+
+			log.Infof("%s: %s (%s)", result.Status, result.Path, result.Message)
+		} else {
+			log.Verbosef("%s: %s", result.Status, result.Path)
+		}
+	}
+
+	close(done)
+}
+
+// findExtraFiles reports files present on disk but absent from the
+// manifest, counting each as a failure.
+func findExtraFiles(ctx *cli.Context, chk *mfer.Checker, failures *int64) error {
+	extraResults := make(chan mfer.Result, 1)
+	extraDone := make(chan struct{})
+
+	go func() {
+		for result := range extraResults {
+			*failures++
+
+			log.Infof("%s: %s (%s)", result.Status, result.Path, result.Message)
+		}
+
+		close(extraDone)
+	}()
+
+	err := chk.FindExtraFiles(ctx.Context, extraResults)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to check for extra files: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	<-extraDone
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+// runCheck runs the manifest check with progress and result reporting
+// and returns the number of failures.
+func runCheck(ctx *cli.Context, chk *mfer.Checker, showProgress bool) (int64, error) {
+	// Set up results channel
+	results := make(chan mfer.Result, 1)
+
+	// Set up progress channel
+	var progress chan mfer.CheckStatus
+	if showProgress {
+		progress = make(chan mfer.CheckStatus, 1)
+
+		go reportCheckProgress(progress)
+	}
+
+	// Process results in a goroutine
+	var failures int64
+
+	done := make(chan struct{})
+
+	go countCheckFailures(results, &failures, done)
+
+	// Run check
+	err := chk.Check(ctx.Context, results, progress)
+	if err != nil {
+		return 0, fmt.Errorf("check failed: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	// Wait for results processing to complete
+	<-done
+
+	// Check for extra files if requested
+	if ctx.Bool("no-extra-files") {
+		err = findExtraFiles(ctx, chk, &failures)
+		if err != nil {
+			return 0, err
+		}
+	}
+
+	return failures, nil
 }
 
 func (mfa *CLIApp) checkManifestOperation(ctx *cli.Context) error {
@@ -42,24 +279,13 @@ func (mfa *CLIApp) checkManifestOperation(ctx *cli.Context) error {
 
 	// URL manifests need to be downloaded to a temp file for the checker
 	if isHTTPURL(manifestPath) {
-		rc, fetchErr := mfa.openManifestReader(manifestPath)
+		tmpPath, tmpErr := mfa.fetchManifestToTemp(manifestPath)
-		if fetchErr != nil {
-			return fmt.Errorf("check: %w", fetchErr)
-		}
-		tmpFile, tmpErr := afero.TempFile(mfa.Fs, "", "mfer-manifest-*.mf")
 		if tmpErr != nil {
-			_ = rc.Close()
+			return fmt.Errorf("check: %w", tmpErr)
-			return fmt.Errorf("check: failed to create temp file: %w", tmpErr)
-		}
-		tmpPath := tmpFile.Name()
-		_, cpErr := io.Copy(tmpFile, rc)
-		_ = rc.Close()
-		_ = tmpFile.Close()
-		if cpErr != nil {
-			_ = mfa.Fs.Remove(tmpPath)
-			return fmt.Errorf("check: failed to download manifest: %w", cpErr)
 		}
+
 		defer func() { _ = mfa.Fs.Remove(tmpPath) }()
+
 		manifestPath = tmpPath
 	}
 
@@ -77,111 +303,31 @@ func (mfa *CLIApp) checkManifestOperation(ctx *cli.Context) error {
 	// Check signature requirement
 	requiredSigner := ctx.String("require-signature")
 	if requiredSigner != "" {
-		// Validate fingerprint format: must be exactly 40 hex characters
+		err = verifyRequiredSigner(chk, requiredSigner)
-		if len(requiredSigner) != 40 {
-			return fmt.Errorf("invalid fingerprint: must be exactly 40 hex characters, got %d", len(requiredSigner))
-		}
-		if _, err := hex.DecodeString(requiredSigner); err != nil {
-			return fmt.Errorf("invalid fingerprint: must be valid hex: %w", err)
-		}
-
-		if !chk.IsSigned() {
-			return fmt.Errorf("manifest is not signed, but signature from %s is required", requiredSigner)
-		}
-
-		// Extract fingerprint from the embedded public key (not from the signer field)
-		// This validates the key is importable and gets its actual fingerprint
-		embeddedFP, err := chk.ExtractEmbeddedSigningKeyFP()
 		if err != nil {
-			return fmt.Errorf("failed to extract fingerprint from embedded signing key: %w", err)
+			return err
+		}
 	}
 
-		// Compare fingerprints - must be exact match (case-insensitive)
+	log.Infof("manifest contains %d files, %s", chk.FileCount(),
-		if !strings.EqualFold(embeddedFP, requiredSigner) {
+		humanize.IBytes(safeUint64(int64(chk.TotalBytes()))))
-			return fmt.Errorf("embedded signing key fingerprint %s does not match required %s", embeddedFP, requiredSigner)
-		}
-		log.Infof("manifest signature verified (signer: %s)", embeddedFP)
-	}
 
-	log.Infof("manifest contains %d files, %s", chk.FileCount(), humanize.IBytes(uint64(chk.TotalBytes())))
+	failures, err := runCheck(ctx, chk, showProgress)
-
-	// Set up results channel
-	results := make(chan mfer.Result, 1)
-
-	// Set up progress channel
-	var progress chan mfer.CheckStatus
-	if showProgress {
-		progress = make(chan mfer.CheckStatus, 1)
-		go func() {
-			for status := range progress {
-				if status.ETA > 0 {
-					log.Progressf("Checking: %d/%d files, %s/s, ETA %s, %d failures",
-						status.CheckedFiles,
-						status.TotalFiles,
-						humanize.IBytes(uint64(status.BytesPerSec)),
-						status.ETA.Round(time.Second),
-						status.Failures)
-				} else {
-					log.Progressf("Checking: %d/%d files, %s/s, %d failures",
-						status.CheckedFiles,
-						status.TotalFiles,
-						humanize.IBytes(uint64(status.BytesPerSec)),
-						status.Failures)
-				}
-			}
-			log.ProgressDone()
-		}()
-	}
-
-	// Process results in a goroutine
-	var failures int64
-	done := make(chan struct{})
-	go func() {
-		for result := range results {
-			if result.Status != mfer.StatusOK {
-				failures++
-				log.Infof("%s: %s (%s)", result.Status, result.Path, result.Message)
-			} else {
-				log.Verbosef("%s: %s", result.Status, result.Path)
-			}
-		}
-		close(done)
-	}()
-
-	// Run check
-	err = chk.Check(ctx.Context, results, progress)
 	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("check failed: %w", err)
+		return err
-	}
-
-	// Wait for results processing to complete
-	<-done
-
-	// Check for extra files if requested
-	if ctx.Bool("no-extra-files") {
-		extraResults := make(chan mfer.Result, 1)
-		extraDone := make(chan struct{})
-		go func() {
-			for result := range extraResults {
-				failures++
-				log.Infof("%s: %s (%s)", result.Status, result.Path, result.Message)
-			}
-			close(extraDone)
-		}()
-
-		err = chk.FindExtraFiles(ctx.Context, extraResults)
-		if err != nil {
-			return fmt.Errorf("failed to check for extra files: %w", err)
-		}
-		<-extraDone
 	}
 
 	elapsed := time.Since(mfa.startupTime).Seconds()
+
 	rate := float64(chk.TotalBytes()) / elapsed
 	if failures == 0 {
-		log.Infof("checked %d files (%s) in %.1fs (%s/s): all OK", chk.FileCount(), humanize.IBytes(uint64(chk.TotalBytes())), elapsed, humanize.IBytes(uint64(rate)))
+		log.Infof("checked %d files (%s) in %.1fs (%s/s): all OK",
+			chk.FileCount(), humanize.IBytes(safeUint64(int64(chk.TotalBytes()))),
+			elapsed, humanize.IBytes(safeRateUint64(rate)))
 	} else {
-		log.Infof("checked %d files (%s) in %.1fs (%s/s): %d failed", chk.FileCount(), humanize.IBytes(uint64(chk.TotalBytes())), elapsed, humanize.IBytes(uint64(rate)), failures)
+		log.Infof("checked %d files (%s) in %.1fs (%s/s): %d failed",
+			chk.FileCount(), humanize.IBytes(safeUint64(int64(chk.TotalBytes()))),
+			elapsed, humanize.IBytes(safeRateUint64(rate)), failures)
 	}
 
 	if failures > 0 {

internal/cli/entry.go

@@ -7,15 +7,18 @@ import (
 	"github.com/spf13/afero"
 )
 
-// NO_COLOR disables colored output when set. Automatically true if the
+// NoColor disables colored output when set. Automatically true if the
 // NO_COLOR environment variable is present (per https://no-color.org/).
-var NO_COLOR bool
+//
+//nolint:gochecknoglobals // process-wide setting derived from the environment
+var NoColor = noColorEnvSet()
 
-func init() {
+// noColorEnvSet reports whether the NO_COLOR environment variable is
-	NO_COLOR = false
+// present.
-	if _, exists := os.LookupEnv("NO_COLOR"); exists {
+func noColorEnvSet() bool {
-		NO_COLOR = true
+	_, exists := os.LookupEnv("NO_COLOR")
-	}
+
+	return exists
 }
 
 // RunOptions contains all configuration for running the CLI application.
@@ -64,5 +67,6 @@ func RunWithOptions(opts *RunOptions) int {
 	}
 
 	m.run(opts.Args)
+
 	return m.exitCode
 }

internal/cli/entry_test.go

@@ -1,9 +1,13 @@
+//nolint:testpackage // white-box tests exercise unexported internals
 package cli
 
 import (
 	"bytes"
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"math/rand"
+	"os"
+	"sync"
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/spf13/afero"
@@ -13,19 +17,53 @@ import (
 	"sneak.berlin/go/mfer/mfer"
 )
 
-func init() {
+const (
+	testApp         = "mfer"
+	testDir         = "/testdir"
+	testFile1       = "/testdir/file1.txt"
+	testMF          = "/testdir/test.mf"
+	testOutput      = "/output.mf"
+	testOutputTmp   = "/output.mf.tmp"
+	testManifest    = "/manifest.mf"
+	testFlagBase    = "--base"
+	testFlagNoExtra = "--no-extra-files"
+)
+
+var errSimulatedWrite = errors.New("simulated write failure")
+
+// runMu serializes CLI runs: RunWithOptions wires the process-global
+// logger to the run's I/O streams, so parallel runs would cross-wire
+// captured output between tests.
+//
+//nolint:gochecknoglobals // guards process-global logger state in tests
+var runMu sync.Mutex
+
+// runCLI invokes RunWithOptions while holding runMu so parallel tests
+// capture their own output.
+func runCLI(opts *RunOptions) int {
+	runMu.Lock()
+	defer runMu.Unlock()
+
+	return RunWithOptions(opts)
+}
+
+func TestMain(m *testing.M) {
 	// Prevent urfave/cli from calling os.Exit during tests
-	urfcli.OsExiter = func(code int) {}
+	urfcli.OsExiter = func(_ int) {}
+
+	os.Exit(m.Run())
 }
 
 func TestBuild(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	m := &CLIApp{}
 	assert.NotNil(t, m)
 }
 
 func testOpts(args []string, fs afero.Fs) *RunOptions {
 	return &RunOptions{
-		Appname: "mfer",
+		Appname: testApp,
 		Version: "1.0.0",
 		Gitrev:  "abc123",
 		Args:    args,
@@ -36,374 +74,451 @@ func testOpts(args []string, fs afero.Fs) *RunOptions {
 	}
 }
 
-func TestVersionCommand(t *testing.T) {
+func testStdout(t *testing.T, opts *RunOptions) string {
-	fs := afero.NewMemMapFs()
+	t.Helper()
-	opts := testOpts([]string{"mfer", "version"}, fs)
 
-	exitCode := RunWithOptions(opts)
+	buf, ok := opts.Stdout.(*bytes.Buffer)
+	require.True(t, ok)
+
+	return buf.String()
+}
+
+func testStderr(t *testing.T, opts *RunOptions) string {
+	t.Helper()
+
+	buf, ok := opts.Stderr.(*bytes.Buffer)
+	require.True(t, ok)
+
+	return buf.String()
+}
+
+func writeTestFile(t *testing.T, fs afero.Fs, path, content string) {
+	t.Helper()
+
+	require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, path, []byte(content), 0o644))
+}
+
+func TestVersionCommand(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	fs := afero.NewMemMapFs()
+	opts := testOpts([]string{testApp, "version"}, fs)
+
+	exitCode := runCLI(opts)
 
 	assert.Equal(t, 0, exitCode)
-	stdout := opts.Stdout.(*bytes.Buffer).String()
+
+	stdout := testStdout(t, opts)
 	assert.Contains(t, stdout, mfer.Version)
 	assert.Contains(t, stdout, "abc123")
 }
 
 func TestHelpCommand(t *testing.T) {
-	fs := afero.NewMemMapFs()
+	t.Parallel()
-	opts := testOpts([]string{"mfer", "--help"}, fs)
 
-	exitCode := RunWithOptions(opts)
+	fs := afero.NewMemMapFs()
+	opts := testOpts([]string{testApp, "--help"}, fs)
+
+	exitCode := runCLI(opts)
 
 	assert.Equal(t, 0, exitCode)
-	stdout := opts.Stdout.(*bytes.Buffer).String()
+
-	assert.Contains(t, stdout, "generate")
+	stdout := testStdout(t, opts)
-	assert.Contains(t, stdout, "check")
+	assert.Contains(t, stdout, cmdGenerate)
+	assert.Contains(t, stdout, cmdCheck)
 	assert.Contains(t, stdout, "fetch")
 }
 
 func TestGenerateCommand(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	fs := afero.NewMemMapFs()
 
 	// Create test files in memory filesystem
-	require.NoError(t, fs.MkdirAll("/testdir", 0o755))
+	require.NoError(t, fs.MkdirAll(testDir, 0o755))
-	require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, "/testdir/file1.txt", []byte("hello world"), 0o644))
+	writeTestFile(t, fs, testFile1, "hello world")
-	require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, "/testdir/file2.txt", []byte("test content"), 0o644))
+	writeTestFile(t, fs, "/testdir/file2.txt", "test content")
 
-	opts := testOpts([]string{"mfer", "generate", "-q", "-o", "/testdir/test.mf", "/testdir"}, fs)
+	opts := testOpts([]string{testApp, cmdGenerate, "-q", "-o", testMF, testDir}, fs)
 
-	exitCode := RunWithOptions(opts)
+	exitCode := runCLI(opts)
 
-	assert.Equal(t, 0, exitCode, "stderr: %s", opts.Stderr.(*bytes.Buffer).String())
+	assert.Equal(t, 0, exitCode, "stderr: %s", testStderr(t, opts))
 
 	// Verify manifest was created
-	exists, err := afero.Exists(fs, "/testdir/test.mf")
+	exists, err := afero.Exists(fs, testMF)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	assert.True(t, exists)
 }
 
 func TestGenerateAndCheckCommand(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	fs := afero.NewMemMapFs()
 
 	// Create test files with subdirectory
 	require.NoError(t, fs.MkdirAll("/testdir/subdir", 0o755))
-	require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, "/testdir/file1.txt", []byte("hello world"), 0o644))
+	writeTestFile(t, fs, testFile1, "hello world")
-	require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, "/testdir/subdir/file2.txt", []byte("test content"), 0o644))
+	writeTestFile(t, fs, "/testdir/subdir/file2.txt", "test content")
 
 	// Generate manifest
-	opts := testOpts([]string{"mfer", "generate", "-q", "-o", "/testdir/test.mf", "/testdir"}, fs)
+	opts := testOpts([]string{testApp, cmdGenerate, "-q", "-o", testMF, testDir}, fs)
-	exitCode := RunWithOptions(opts)
+	exitCode := runCLI(opts)
-	require.Equal(t, 0, exitCode, "generate failed: %s", opts.Stderr.(*bytes.Buffer).String())
+	require.Equal(t, 0, exitCode, "generate failed: %s", testStderr(t, opts))
 
 	// Check manifest
-	opts = testOpts([]string{"mfer", "check", "-q", "--base", "/testdir", "/testdir/test.mf"}, fs)
+	opts = testOpts([]string{testApp, cmdCheck, "-q", testFlagBase, testDir, testMF}, fs)
-	exitCode = RunWithOptions(opts)
+	exitCode = runCLI(opts)
-	assert.Equal(t, 0, exitCode, "check failed: %s", opts.Stderr.(*bytes.Buffer).String())
+	assert.Equal(t, 0, exitCode, "check failed: %s", testStderr(t, opts))
 }
 
 func TestCheckCommandWithMissingFile(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	fs := afero.NewMemMapFs()
 
 	// Create test file
-	require.NoError(t, fs.MkdirAll("/testdir", 0o755))
+	require.NoError(t, fs.MkdirAll(testDir, 0o755))
-	require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, "/testdir/file1.txt", []byte("hello world"), 0o644))
+	writeTestFile(t, fs, testFile1, "hello world")
 
 	// Generate manifest
-	opts := testOpts([]string{"mfer", "generate", "-q", "-o", "/testdir/test.mf", "/testdir"}, fs)
+	opts := testOpts([]string{testApp, cmdGenerate, "-q", "-o", testMF, testDir}, fs)
-	exitCode := RunWithOptions(opts)
+	exitCode := runCLI(opts)
-	require.Equal(t, 0, exitCode, "generate failed: %s", opts.Stderr.(*bytes.Buffer).String())
+	require.Equal(t, 0, exitCode, "generate failed: %s", testStderr(t, opts))
 
 	// Delete the file
-	require.NoError(t, fs.Remove("/testdir/file1.txt"))
+	require.NoError(t, fs.Remove(testFile1))
 
 	// Check manifest - should fail
-	opts = testOpts([]string{"mfer", "check", "-q", "--base", "/testdir", "/testdir/test.mf"}, fs)
+	opts = testOpts([]string{testApp, cmdCheck, "-q", testFlagBase, testDir, testMF}, fs)
-	exitCode = RunWithOptions(opts)
+	exitCode = runCLI(opts)
 	assert.Equal(t, 1, exitCode, "check should have failed for missing file")
 }
 
-func TestCheckCommandWithCorruptedFile(t *testing.T) {
+func runCheckAfterRewrite(t *testing.T, rewritten, msg string) {
+	t.Helper()
+
 	fs := afero.NewMemMapFs()
 
 	// Create test file
-	require.NoError(t, fs.MkdirAll("/testdir", 0o755))
+	require.NoError(t, fs.MkdirAll(testDir, 0o755))
-	require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, "/testdir/file1.txt", []byte("hello world"), 0o644))
+	writeTestFile(t, fs, testFile1, "hello world")
 
 	// Generate manifest
-	opts := testOpts([]string{"mfer", "generate", "-q", "-o", "/testdir/test.mf", "/testdir"}, fs)
+	opts := testOpts([]string{testApp, cmdGenerate, "-q", "-o", testMF, testDir}, fs)
-	exitCode := RunWithOptions(opts)
+	exitCode := runCLI(opts)
-	require.Equal(t, 0, exitCode, "generate failed: %s", opts.Stderr.(*bytes.Buffer).String())
+	require.Equal(t, 0, exitCode, "generate failed: %s", testStderr(t, opts))
+
+	// Rewrite the file, then check the manifest - it must fail
+	writeTestFile(t, fs, testFile1, rewritten)
+
+	opts = testOpts([]string{testApp, cmdCheck, "-q", testFlagBase, testDir, testMF}, fs)
+	exitCode = runCLI(opts)
+	assert.Equal(t, 1, exitCode, msg)
+}
+
+func TestCheckCommandWithCorruptedFile(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
 
 	// Corrupt the file (change content but keep same size)
-	require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, "/testdir/file1.txt", []byte("HELLO WORLD"), 0o644))
+	runCheckAfterRewrite(t, "HELLO WORLD",
-
+		"check should have failed for corrupted file")
-	// Check manifest - should fail with hash mismatch
-	opts = testOpts([]string{"mfer", "check", "-q", "--base", "/testdir", "/testdir/test.mf"}, fs)
-	exitCode = RunWithOptions(opts)
-	assert.Equal(t, 1, exitCode, "check should have failed for corrupted file")
 }
 
 func TestCheckCommandWithSizeMismatch(t *testing.T) {
-	fs := afero.NewMemMapFs()
+	t.Parallel()
-
-	// Create test file
-	require.NoError(t, fs.MkdirAll("/testdir", 0o755))
-	require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, "/testdir/file1.txt", []byte("hello world"), 0o644))
-
-	// Generate manifest
-	opts := testOpts([]string{"mfer", "generate", "-q", "-o", "/testdir/test.mf", "/testdir"}, fs)
-	exitCode := RunWithOptions(opts)
-	require.Equal(t, 0, exitCode, "generate failed: %s", opts.Stderr.(*bytes.Buffer).String())
 
 	// Change file size
-	require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, "/testdir/file1.txt", []byte("different size content here"), 0o644))
+	runCheckAfterRewrite(t, "different size content here",
-
+		"check should have failed for size mismatch")
-	// Check manifest - should fail with size mismatch
-	opts = testOpts([]string{"mfer", "check", "-q", "--base", "/testdir", "/testdir/test.mf"}, fs)
-	exitCode = RunWithOptions(opts)
-	assert.Equal(t, 1, exitCode, "check should have failed for size mismatch")
 }
 
 func TestBannerOutput(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	fs := afero.NewMemMapFs()
 
 	// Create test file
-	require.NoError(t, fs.MkdirAll("/testdir", 0o755))
+	require.NoError(t, fs.MkdirAll(testDir, 0o755))
-	require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, "/testdir/file1.txt", []byte("hello"), 0o644))
+	writeTestFile(t, fs, testFile1, "hello")
 
 	// Run without -q to see banner
-	opts := testOpts([]string{"mfer", "generate", "-o", "/testdir/test.mf", "/testdir"}, fs)
+	opts := testOpts([]string{testApp, cmdGenerate, "-o", testMF, testDir}, fs)
-	exitCode := RunWithOptions(opts)
+	exitCode := runCLI(opts)
 	assert.Equal(t, 0, exitCode)
 
 	// Banner ASCII art should be in stdout
-	stdout := opts.Stdout.(*bytes.Buffer).String()
+	stdout := testStdout(t, opts)
 	assert.Contains(t, stdout, "___")
 	assert.Contains(t, stdout, "\\")
 }
 
 func TestUnknownCommand(t *testing.T) {
-	fs := afero.NewMemMapFs()
+	t.Parallel()
-	opts := testOpts([]string{"mfer", "unknown"}, fs)
 
-	exitCode := RunWithOptions(opts)
+	fs := afero.NewMemMapFs()
+	opts := testOpts([]string{testApp, "unknown"}, fs)
+
+	exitCode := runCLI(opts)
 	assert.Equal(t, 1, exitCode)
 }
 
 func TestGenerateExcludesDotfilesByDefault(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	fs := afero.NewMemMapFs()
 
 	// Create test files including dotfiles
-	require.NoError(t, fs.MkdirAll("/testdir", 0o755))
+	require.NoError(t, fs.MkdirAll(testDir, 0o755))
-	require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, "/testdir/file1.txt", []byte("hello"), 0o644))
+	writeTestFile(t, fs, testFile1, "hello")
-	require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, "/testdir/.hidden", []byte("secret"), 0o644))
+	writeTestFile(t, fs, "/testdir/.hidden", "secret")
 
 	// Generate manifest without --include-dotfiles (default excludes dotfiles)
-	opts := testOpts([]string{"mfer", "generate", "-q", "-o", "/testdir/test.mf", "/testdir"}, fs)
+	opts := testOpts([]string{testApp, cmdGenerate, "-q", "-o", testMF, testDir}, fs)
-	exitCode := RunWithOptions(opts)
+	exitCode := runCLI(opts)
 	require.Equal(t, 0, exitCode)
 
 	// Check that manifest exists
-	exists, _ := afero.Exists(fs, "/testdir/test.mf")
+	exists, _ := afero.Exists(fs, testMF)
 	assert.True(t, exists)
 
 	// Verify manifest only has 1 file (the non-dotfile)
-	manifest, err := mfer.NewManifestFromFile(fs, "/testdir/test.mf")
+	manifest, err := mfer.NewManifestFromFile(fs, testMF)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	assert.Len(t, manifest.Files(), 1)
-	assert.Equal(t, "file1.txt", manifest.Files()[0].Path)
+	assert.Equal(t, "file1.txt", manifest.Files()[0].GetPath())
 }
 
 func TestGenerateWithIncludeDotfiles(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	fs := afero.NewMemMapFs()
 
 	// Create test files including dotfiles
-	require.NoError(t, fs.MkdirAll("/testdir", 0o755))
+	require.NoError(t, fs.MkdirAll(testDir, 0o755))
-	require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, "/testdir/file1.txt", []byte("hello"), 0o644))
+	writeTestFile(t, fs, testFile1, "hello")
-	require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, "/testdir/.hidden", []byte("secret"), 0o644))
+	writeTestFile(t, fs, "/testdir/.hidden", "secret")
 
 	// Generate manifest with --include-dotfiles
-	opts := testOpts([]string{"mfer", "generate", "-q", "--include-dotfiles", "-o", "/testdir/test.mf", "/testdir"}, fs)
+	opts := testOpts([]string{
-	exitCode := RunWithOptions(opts)
+		testApp, cmdGenerate, "-q", "--include-dotfiles", "-o", testMF, testDir,
+	}, fs)
+	exitCode := runCLI(opts)
 	require.Equal(t, 0, exitCode)
 
 	// Verify manifest has 2 files (including dotfile)
-	manifest, err := mfer.NewManifestFromFile(fs, "/testdir/test.mf")
+	manifest, err := mfer.NewManifestFromFile(fs, testMF)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	assert.Len(t, manifest.Files(), 2)
 }
 
 func TestMultipleInputPaths(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	fs := afero.NewMemMapFs()
 
 	// Create test files in multiple directories
 	require.NoError(t, fs.MkdirAll("/dir1", 0o755))
 	require.NoError(t, fs.MkdirAll("/dir2", 0o755))
-	require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, "/dir1/file1.txt", []byte("content1"), 0o644))
+	writeTestFile(t, fs, "/dir1/file1.txt", "content1")
-	require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, "/dir2/file2.txt", []byte("content2"), 0o644))
+	writeTestFile(t, fs, "/dir2/file2.txt", "content2")
 
 	// Generate manifest from multiple paths
-	opts := testOpts([]string{"mfer", "generate", "-q", "-o", "/output.mf", "/dir1", "/dir2"}, fs)
+	opts := testOpts([]string{
-	exitCode := RunWithOptions(opts)
+		testApp, cmdGenerate, "-q", "-o", testOutput, "/dir1", "/dir2",
-	assert.Equal(t, 0, exitCode, "stderr: %s", opts.Stderr.(*bytes.Buffer).String())
+	}, fs)
+	exitCode := runCLI(opts)
+	assert.Equal(t, 0, exitCode, "stderr: %s", testStderr(t, opts))
 
-	exists, _ := afero.Exists(fs, "/output.mf")
+	exists, _ := afero.Exists(fs, testOutput)
 	assert.True(t, exists)
 }
 
 func TestNoExtraFilesPass(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	fs := afero.NewMemMapFs()
 
 	// Create test files
-	require.NoError(t, fs.MkdirAll("/testdir", 0o755))
+	require.NoError(t, fs.MkdirAll(testDir, 0o755))
-	require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, "/testdir/file1.txt", []byte("hello"), 0o644))
+	writeTestFile(t, fs, testFile1, "hello")
-	require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, "/testdir/file2.txt", []byte("world"), 0o644))
+	writeTestFile(t, fs, "/testdir/file2.txt", "world")
 
 	// Generate manifest
-	opts := testOpts([]string{"mfer", "generate", "-q", "-o", "/manifest.mf", "/testdir"}, fs)
+	opts := testOpts([]string{testApp, cmdGenerate, "-q", "-o", testManifest, testDir}, fs)
-	exitCode := RunWithOptions(opts)
+	exitCode := runCLI(opts)
 	require.Equal(t, 0, exitCode)
 
 	// Check with --no-extra-files (should pass - no extra files)
-	opts = testOpts([]string{"mfer", "check", "-q", "--no-extra-files", "--base", "/testdir", "/manifest.mf"}, fs)
+	opts = testOpts([]string{
-	exitCode = RunWithOptions(opts)
+		testApp, cmdCheck, "-q", testFlagNoExtra, testFlagBase, testDir, testManifest,
+	}, fs)
+	exitCode = runCLI(opts)
 	assert.Equal(t, 0, exitCode)
 }
 
 func TestNoExtraFilesFail(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	fs := afero.NewMemMapFs()
 
 	// Create test files
-	require.NoError(t, fs.MkdirAll("/testdir", 0o755))
+	require.NoError(t, fs.MkdirAll(testDir, 0o755))
-	require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, "/testdir/file1.txt", []byte("hello"), 0o644))
+	writeTestFile(t, fs, testFile1, "hello")
 
 	// Generate manifest
-	opts := testOpts([]string{"mfer", "generate", "-q", "-o", "/manifest.mf", "/testdir"}, fs)
+	opts := testOpts([]string{testApp, cmdGenerate, "-q", "-o", testManifest, testDir}, fs)
-	exitCode := RunWithOptions(opts)
+	exitCode := runCLI(opts)
 	require.Equal(t, 0, exitCode)
 
 	// Add an extra file after manifest generation
-	require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, "/testdir/extra.txt", []byte("extra"), 0o644))
+	writeTestFile(t, fs, "/testdir/extra.txt", "extra")
 
 	// Check with --no-extra-files (should fail - extra file exists)
-	opts = testOpts([]string{"mfer", "check", "-q", "--no-extra-files", "--base", "/testdir", "/manifest.mf"}, fs)
+	opts = testOpts([]string{
-	exitCode = RunWithOptions(opts)
+		testApp, cmdCheck, "-q", testFlagNoExtra, testFlagBase, testDir, testManifest,
+	}, fs)
+	exitCode = runCLI(opts)
 	assert.Equal(t, 1, exitCode, "check should fail when extra files exist")
 }
 
 func TestNoExtraFilesWithSubdirectory(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	fs := afero.NewMemMapFs()
 
 	// Create test files with subdirectory
 	require.NoError(t, fs.MkdirAll("/testdir/subdir", 0o755))
-	require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, "/testdir/file1.txt", []byte("hello"), 0o644))
+	writeTestFile(t, fs, testFile1, "hello")
-	require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, "/testdir/subdir/file2.txt", []byte("world"), 0o644))
+	writeTestFile(t, fs, "/testdir/subdir/file2.txt", "world")
 
 	// Generate manifest
-	opts := testOpts([]string{"mfer", "generate", "-q", "-o", "/manifest.mf", "/testdir"}, fs)
+	opts := testOpts([]string{testApp, cmdGenerate, "-q", "-o", testManifest, testDir}, fs)
-	exitCode := RunWithOptions(opts)
+	exitCode := runCLI(opts)
 	require.Equal(t, 0, exitCode)
 
 	// Add extra file in subdirectory
-	require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, "/testdir/subdir/extra.txt", []byte("extra"), 0o644))
+	writeTestFile(t, fs, "/testdir/subdir/extra.txt", "extra")
 
 	// Check with --no-extra-files (should fail)
-	opts = testOpts([]string{"mfer", "check", "-q", "--no-extra-files", "--base", "/testdir", "/manifest.mf"}, fs)
+	opts = testOpts([]string{
-	exitCode = RunWithOptions(opts)
+		testApp, cmdCheck, "-q", testFlagNoExtra, testFlagBase, testDir, testManifest,
-	assert.Equal(t, 1, exitCode, "check should fail when extra files exist in subdirectory")
+	}, fs)
+	exitCode = runCLI(opts)
+	assert.Equal(t, 1, exitCode,
+		"check should fail when extra files exist in subdirectory")
 }
 
 func TestCheckWithoutNoExtraFilesIgnoresExtra(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	fs := afero.NewMemMapFs()
 
 	// Create test file
-	require.NoError(t, fs.MkdirAll("/testdir", 0o755))
+	require.NoError(t, fs.MkdirAll(testDir, 0o755))
-	require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, "/testdir/file1.txt", []byte("hello"), 0o644))
+	writeTestFile(t, fs, testFile1, "hello")
 
 	// Generate manifest
-	opts := testOpts([]string{"mfer", "generate", "-q", "-o", "/manifest.mf", "/testdir"}, fs)
+	opts := testOpts([]string{testApp, cmdGenerate, "-q", "-o", testManifest, testDir}, fs)
-	exitCode := RunWithOptions(opts)
+	exitCode := runCLI(opts)
 	require.Equal(t, 0, exitCode)
 
 	// Add extra file
-	require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, "/testdir/extra.txt", []byte("extra"), 0o644))
+	writeTestFile(t, fs, "/testdir/extra.txt", "extra")
 
 	// Check WITHOUT --no-extra-files (should pass - extra files ignored)
-	opts = testOpts([]string{"mfer", "check", "-q", "--base", "/testdir", "/manifest.mf"}, fs)
+	opts = testOpts([]string{
-	exitCode = RunWithOptions(opts)
+		testApp, cmdCheck, "-q", testFlagBase, testDir, testManifest,
-	assert.Equal(t, 0, exitCode, "check without --no-extra-files should ignore extra files")
+	}, fs)
+	exitCode = runCLI(opts)
+	assert.Equal(t, 0, exitCode,
+		"check without --no-extra-files should ignore extra files")
 }
 
 func TestGenerateAtomicWriteNoTempFileOnSuccess(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	fs := afero.NewMemMapFs()
 
 	// Create test file
-	require.NoError(t, fs.MkdirAll("/testdir", 0o755))
+	require.NoError(t, fs.MkdirAll(testDir, 0o755))
-	require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, "/testdir/file1.txt", []byte("hello"), 0o644))
+	writeTestFile(t, fs, testFile1, "hello")
 
 	// Generate manifest
-	opts := testOpts([]string{"mfer", "generate", "-q", "-o", "/output.mf", "/testdir"}, fs)
+	opts := testOpts([]string{testApp, cmdGenerate, "-q", "-o", testOutput, testDir}, fs)
-	exitCode := RunWithOptions(opts)
+	exitCode := runCLI(opts)
 	require.Equal(t, 0, exitCode)
 
 	// Verify output file exists
-	exists, err := afero.Exists(fs, "/output.mf")
+	exists, err := afero.Exists(fs, testOutput)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	assert.True(t, exists, "output file should exist")
 
 	// Verify temp file does NOT exist
-	tmpExists, err := afero.Exists(fs, "/output.mf.tmp")
+	tmpExists, err := afero.Exists(fs, testOutputTmp)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
-	assert.False(t, tmpExists, "temp file should not exist after successful generation")
+	assert.False(t, tmpExists,
+		"temp file should not exist after successful generation")
 }
 
 func TestGenerateAtomicWriteOverwriteWithForce(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	fs := afero.NewMemMapFs()
 
 	// Create test file
-	require.NoError(t, fs.MkdirAll("/testdir", 0o755))
+	require.NoError(t, fs.MkdirAll(testDir, 0o755))
-	require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, "/testdir/file1.txt", []byte("hello"), 0o644))
+	writeTestFile(t, fs, testFile1, "hello")
 
 	// Create existing manifest with different content
-	require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, "/output.mf", []byte("old content"), 0o644))
+	writeTestFile(t, fs, testOutput, "old content")
 
 	// Generate manifest with --force
-	opts := testOpts([]string{"mfer", "generate", "-q", "-f", "-o", "/output.mf", "/testdir"}, fs)
+	opts := testOpts([]string{
-	exitCode := RunWithOptions(opts)
+		testApp, cmdGenerate, "-q", "-f", "-o", testOutput, testDir,
+	}, fs)
+	exitCode := runCLI(opts)
 	require.Equal(t, 0, exitCode)
 
 	// Verify output file exists and was overwritten
-	content, err := afero.ReadFile(fs, "/output.mf")
+	content, err := afero.ReadFile(fs, testOutput)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
-	assert.NotEqual(t, "old content", string(content), "manifest should be overwritten")
+	assert.NotEqual(t, "old content", string(content),
+		"manifest should be overwritten")
 
 	// Verify temp file does NOT exist
-	tmpExists, err := afero.Exists(fs, "/output.mf.tmp")
+	tmpExists, err := afero.Exists(fs, testOutputTmp)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
-	assert.False(t, tmpExists, "temp file should not exist after successful generation")
+	assert.False(t, tmpExists,
+		"temp file should not exist after successful generation")
 }
 
 func TestGenerateFailsWithoutForceWhenOutputExists(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	fs := afero.NewMemMapFs()
 
 	// Create test file
-	require.NoError(t, fs.MkdirAll("/testdir", 0o755))
+	require.NoError(t, fs.MkdirAll(testDir, 0o755))
-	require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, "/testdir/file1.txt", []byte("hello"), 0o644))
+	writeTestFile(t, fs, testFile1, "hello")
 
 	// Create existing manifest
-	require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, "/output.mf", []byte("existing"), 0o644))
+	writeTestFile(t, fs, testOutput, "existing")
 
 	// Generate manifest WITHOUT --force (should fail)
-	opts := testOpts([]string{"mfer", "generate", "-q", "-o", "/output.mf", "/testdir"}, fs)
+	opts := testOpts([]string{testApp, cmdGenerate, "-q", "-o", testOutput, testDir}, fs)
-	exitCode := RunWithOptions(opts)
+	exitCode := runCLI(opts)
 	assert.Equal(t, 1, exitCode, "should fail when output exists without --force")
 
 	// Verify original content is preserved
-	content, err := afero.ReadFile(fs, "/output.mf")
+	content, err := afero.ReadFile(fs, testOutput)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	assert.Equal(t, "existing", string(content), "original file should be preserved")
 }
 
 func TestGenerateAtomicWriteUsesTemp(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	// This test verifies that generate uses a temp file by checking
 	// that the output file doesn't exist until generation completes.
 	// We do this by generating to a path and verifying the temp file
@@ -411,183 +526,239 @@ func TestGenerateAtomicWriteUsesTemp(t *testing.T) {
 	fs := afero.NewMemMapFs()
 
 	// Create test file
-	require.NoError(t, fs.MkdirAll("/testdir", 0o755))
+	require.NoError(t, fs.MkdirAll(testDir, 0o755))
-	require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, "/testdir/file1.txt", []byte("hello"), 0o644))
+	writeTestFile(t, fs, testFile1, "hello")
 
 	// Generate manifest
-	opts := testOpts([]string{"mfer", "generate", "-q", "-o", "/output.mf", "/testdir"}, fs)
+	opts := testOpts([]string{testApp, cmdGenerate, "-q", "-o", testOutput, testDir}, fs)
-	exitCode := RunWithOptions(opts)
+	exitCode := runCLI(opts)
 	require.Equal(t, 0, exitCode)
 
 	// Both output file should exist and temp should not
-	exists, _ := afero.Exists(fs, "/output.mf")
+	exists, _ := afero.Exists(fs, testOutput)
 	assert.True(t, exists, "output file should exist")
 
-	tmpExists, _ := afero.Exists(fs, "/output.mf.tmp")
+	tmpExists, _ := afero.Exists(fs, testOutputTmp)
 	assert.False(t, tmpExists, "temp file should be cleaned up")
 
 	// Verify manifest is valid (not empty)
-	content, err := afero.ReadFile(fs, "/output.mf")
+	content, err := afero.ReadFile(fs, testOutput)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
-	assert.True(t, len(content) > 0, "manifest should not be empty")
+	assert.NotEmpty(t, content, "manifest should not be empty")
 }
 
 // failingWriterFs wraps a filesystem and makes writes fail after N bytes
 type failingWriterFs struct {
 	afero.Fs
+
 	failAfter int64
 	written   int64
 }
 
 type failingFile struct {
 	afero.File
+
 	fs *failingWriterFs
 }
 
 func (f *failingFile) Write(p []byte) (int, error) {
 	f.fs.written += int64(len(p))
 	if f.fs.written > f.fs.failAfter {
-		return 0, fmt.Errorf("simulated write failure")
+		return 0, errSimulatedWrite
 	}
+
 	return f.File.Write(p)
 }
 
+//nolint:ireturn // Create must return afero.File to satisfy afero.Fs.
 func (fs *failingWriterFs) Create(name string) (afero.File, error) {
 	f, err := fs.Fs.Create(name)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
+
 	return &failingFile{File: f, fs: fs}, nil
 }
 
 func TestGenerateAtomicWriteCleansUpOnError(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	baseFs := afero.NewMemMapFs()
 
 	// Create test files - need enough content to trigger the write failure
-	require.NoError(t, baseFs.MkdirAll("/testdir", 0o755))
+	require.NoError(t, baseFs.MkdirAll(testDir, 0o755))
-	require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(baseFs, "/testdir/file1.txt", []byte("hello world this is a test file"), 0o644))
+	writeTestFile(t, baseFs, testFile1, "hello world this is a test file")
 
 	// Wrap with failing writer that fails after writing some bytes
 	fs := &failingWriterFs{Fs: baseFs, failAfter: 10}
 
 	// Generate manifest - should fail during write
-	opts := testOpts([]string{"mfer", "generate", "-q", "-o", "/output.mf", "/testdir"}, fs)
+	opts := testOpts([]string{testApp, cmdGenerate, "-q", "-o", testOutput, testDir}, fs)
-	exitCode := RunWithOptions(opts)
+	exitCode := runCLI(opts)
 	assert.Equal(t, 1, exitCode, "should fail due to write error")
 
 	// With atomic writes: output.mf should NOT exist (temp was cleaned up)
 	// With non-atomic writes: output.mf WOULD exist (partial/empty)
-	exists, _ := afero.Exists(baseFs, "/output.mf")
+	exists, _ := afero.Exists(baseFs, testOutput)
-	assert.False(t, exists, "output file should not exist after failed generation (atomic write)")
+	assert.False(t, exists,
+		"output file should not exist after failed generation (atomic write)")
 
 	// Temp file should also not exist
-	tmpExists, _ := afero.Exists(baseFs, "/output.mf.tmp")
+	tmpExists, _ := afero.Exists(baseFs, testOutputTmp)
-	assert.False(t, tmpExists, "temp file should be cleaned up after failed generation")
+	assert.False(t, tmpExists,
+		"temp file should be cleaned up after failed generation")
 }
 
 func TestGenerateValidatesInputPaths(t *testing.T) {
-	fs := afero.NewMemMapFs()
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	seedValidDir := func(t *testing.T, fs afero.Fs) {
+		t.Helper()
 
-	// Create one valid directory
 		require.NoError(t, fs.MkdirAll("/validdir", 0o755))
-	require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, "/validdir/file.txt", []byte("content"), 0o644))
+		writeTestFile(t, fs, "/validdir/file.txt", "content")
+	}
 
 	t.Run("nonexistent path fails fast", func(t *testing.T) {
-		opts := testOpts([]string{"mfer", "generate", "-q", "-o", "/output.mf", "/nonexistent"}, fs)
+		t.Parallel()
-		exitCode := RunWithOptions(opts)
+
+		fs := afero.NewMemMapFs()
+		seedValidDir(t, fs)
+
+		opts := testOpts([]string{
+			testApp, cmdGenerate, "-q", "-o", testOutput, "/nonexistent",
+		}, fs)
+		exitCode := runCLI(opts)
 		assert.Equal(t, 1, exitCode)
-		stderr := opts.Stderr.(*bytes.Buffer).String()
+
+		stderr := testStderr(t, opts)
 		assert.Contains(t, stderr, "path does not exist")
 		assert.Contains(t, stderr, "/nonexistent")
 	})
 
 	t.Run("mix of valid and invalid paths fails fast", func(t *testing.T) {
-		opts := testOpts([]string{"mfer", "generate", "-q", "-o", "/output.mf", "/validdir", "/alsononexistent"}, fs)
+		t.Parallel()
-		exitCode := RunWithOptions(opts)
+
+		fs := afero.NewMemMapFs()
+		seedValidDir(t, fs)
+
+		opts := testOpts([]string{
+			testApp, cmdGenerate, "-q", "-o", testOutput,
+			"/validdir", "/alsononexistent",
+		}, fs)
+		exitCode := runCLI(opts)
 		assert.Equal(t, 1, exitCode)
-		stderr := opts.Stderr.(*bytes.Buffer).String()
+
+		stderr := testStderr(t, opts)
 		assert.Contains(t, stderr, "path does not exist")
 		assert.Contains(t, stderr, "/alsononexistent")
 
 		// Output file should not have been created
-		exists, _ := afero.Exists(fs, "/output.mf")
+		exists, _ := afero.Exists(fs, testOutput)
-		assert.False(t, exists, "output file should not exist when path validation fails")
+		assert.False(t, exists,
+			"output file should not exist when path validation fails")
 	})
 
 	t.Run("valid paths succeed", func(t *testing.T) {
-		opts := testOpts([]string{"mfer", "generate", "-q", "-o", "/output.mf", "/validdir"}, fs)
+		t.Parallel()
-		exitCode := RunWithOptions(opts)
+
+		fs := afero.NewMemMapFs()
+		seedValidDir(t, fs)
+
+		opts := testOpts([]string{
+			testApp, cmdGenerate, "-q", "-o", testOutput, "/validdir",
+		}, fs)
+		exitCode := runCLI(opts)
 		assert.Equal(t, 0, exitCode)
 	})
 }
 
 func TestCheckDetectsManifestCorruption(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	fs := afero.NewMemMapFs()
-	rng := rand.New(rand.NewSource(42))
+	rng := rand.New(rand.NewSource(42)) //nolint:gosec // deterministic test data
 
 	// Create many small files with random names to generate a ~1MB manifest
 	// Each manifest entry is roughly 50-60 bytes, so we need ~20000 files
-	require.NoError(t, fs.MkdirAll("/testdir", 0o755))
+	require.NoError(t, fs.MkdirAll(testDir, 0o755))
 
 	numFiles := 20000
-	for i := 0; i < numFiles; i++ {
+	for range numFiles {
 		// Generate random filename
-		filename := fmt.Sprintf("/testdir/%08x%08x%08x.dat", rng.Uint32(), rng.Uint32(), rng.Uint32())
+		filename := fmt.Sprintf("/testdir/%08x%08x%08x.dat",
+			rng.Uint32(), rng.Uint32(), rng.Uint32())
 		// Small random content
 		content := make([]byte, 16+rng.Intn(48))
-		rng.Read(content)
+		_, _ = rng.Read(content)
 		require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, filename, content, 0o644))
 	}
 
 	// Generate manifest outside of testdir
-	opts := testOpts([]string{"mfer", "generate", "-q", "-o", "/manifest.mf", "/testdir"}, fs)
+	opts := testOpts([]string{testApp, cmdGenerate, "-q", "-o", testManifest, testDir}, fs)
-	exitCode := RunWithOptions(opts)
+	exitCode := runCLI(opts)
 	require.Equal(t, 0, exitCode, "generate should succeed")
 
 	// Read the valid manifest and verify it's approximately 1MB
-	validManifest, err := afero.ReadFile(fs, "/manifest.mf")
+	validManifest, err := afero.ReadFile(fs, testManifest)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
-	require.True(t, len(validManifest) >= 1024*1024, "manifest should be at least 1MB, got %d bytes", len(validManifest))
+	require.GreaterOrEqual(t, len(validManifest), 1024*1024,
+		"manifest should be at least 1MB, got %d bytes", len(validManifest))
 	t.Logf("manifest size: %d bytes (%d files)", len(validManifest), numFiles)
 
 	// First corruption: truncate the manifest
-	require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, "/manifest.mf", validManifest[:len(validManifest)/2], 0o644))
+	require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, testManifest,
+		validManifest[:len(validManifest)/2], 0o644))
 
 	// Check should fail with truncated manifest
-	opts = testOpts([]string{"mfer", "check", "-q", "--base", "/testdir", "/manifest.mf"}, fs)
+	opts = testOpts([]string{
-	exitCode = RunWithOptions(opts)
+		testApp, cmdCheck, "-q", testFlagBase, testDir, testManifest,
+	}, fs)
+	exitCode = runCLI(opts)
 	assert.Equal(t, 1, exitCode, "check should fail with truncated manifest")
 
 	// Verify check passes with valid manifest
-	require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, "/manifest.mf", validManifest, 0o644))
+	require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, testManifest, validManifest, 0o644))
-	opts = testOpts([]string{"mfer", "check", "-q", "--base", "/testdir", "/manifest.mf"}, fs)
+
-	exitCode = RunWithOptions(opts)
+	opts = testOpts([]string{
+		testApp, cmdCheck, "-q", testFlagBase, testDir, testManifest,
+	}, fs)
+	exitCode = runCLI(opts)
 	require.Equal(t, 0, exitCode, "check should pass with valid manifest")
 
 	// Now do 500 random corruption iterations
-	for i := 0; i < 500; i++ {
+	for i := range 500 {
 		// Corrupt: write a random byte at a random offset
 		corrupted := make([]byte, len(validManifest))
 		copy(corrupted, validManifest)
 
 		offset := rng.Intn(len(corrupted))
 		originalByte := corrupted[offset]
+
 		// Make sure we actually change the byte
-		newByte := byte(rng.Intn(256))
+		buf := make([]byte, 1)
+
+		newByte := originalByte
 		for newByte == originalByte {
-			newByte = byte(rng.Intn(256))
+			_, _ = rng.Read(buf)
+			newByte = buf[0]
 		}
+
 		corrupted[offset] = newByte
 
-		require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, "/manifest.mf", corrupted, 0o644))
+		require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, testManifest, corrupted, 0o644))
 
 		// Check should fail with corrupted manifest
-		opts = testOpts([]string{"mfer", "check", "-q", "--base", "/testdir", "/manifest.mf"}, fs)
+		opts = testOpts([]string{
-		exitCode = RunWithOptions(opts)
+			testApp, cmdCheck, "-q", testFlagBase, testDir, testManifest,
-		assert.Equal(t, 1, exitCode, "iteration %d: check should fail with corrupted manifest (offset %d, 0x%02x -> 0x%02x)",
+		}, fs)
+		exitCode = runCLI(opts)
+		assert.Equal(t, 1, exitCode,
+			"iteration %d: check should fail with corrupted manifest "+
+				"(offset %d, 0x%02x -> 0x%02x)",
 			i, offset, originalByte, newByte)
 
 		// Restore valid manifest for next iteration
-		require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, "/manifest.mf", validManifest, 0o644))
+		require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, testManifest, validManifest, 0o644))
 	}
 }

internal/cli/errmsg_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,168 @@
+//nolint:testpackage // white-box tests exercise unexported internals
+package cli
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+)
+
+// errMsgCase is one pinned user-visible error message.
+type errMsgCase struct {
+	name string
+	err  error
+	want string
+}
+
+const (
+	msgFpA = "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA"
+	msgFpB = "BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB"
+)
+
+func checkErrMsgCases(t *testing.T, cases []errMsgCase) {
+	t.Helper()
+
+	for _, tc := range cases {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			t.Parallel()
+			assert.Equal(t, tc.want, tc.err.Error())
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+// TestErrorMessagesVerbatim pins the exact rendered text of the CLI's
+// user-visible error messages.
+//
+// These strings are an interface: they are grepped for in CI pipelines
+// and quoted in bug reports. The messages are assembled by wrapping
+// static sentinels, and it is easy to change what a user sees while
+// only meaning to make an error matchable with errors.Is - which is
+// precisely what happened once already. Any change to a string below is
+// therefore a deliberate, separately stated change, never a side effect
+// of a refactor.
+func TestErrorMessagesVerbatim(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	checkErrMsgCases(t, []errMsgCase{
+		{
+			name: "check: no manifest found",
+			err: fmt.Errorf("%w in %s (looked for index.mf and .index.mf)",
+				errNoManifestFound, "/tmp/x"),
+			want: "no manifest found in /tmp/x " +
+				"(looked for index.mf and .index.mf)",
+		},
+		{
+			name: "check: invalid fingerprint length",
+			err:  fmt.Errorf("%w, got %d", errInvalidFingerprint, 8),
+			want: "invalid fingerprint: must be exactly 40 hex characters, got 8",
+		},
+		{
+			name: "check: manifest not signed",
+			err: fmt.Errorf("%w, but signature from %s is required",
+				errManifestNotSigned, msgFpA),
+			want: "manifest is not signed, but signature from " + msgFpA +
+				" is required",
+		},
+		{
+			name: "check: signer mismatch",
+			err: fmt.Errorf("embedded signing key fingerprint %s %w %s",
+				msgFpA, errSignerMismatch, msgFpB),
+			want: "embedded signing key fingerprint " + msgFpA +
+				" does not match required " + msgFpB,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "gen: path does not exist",
+			err:  fmt.Errorf("%w: %s", errPathNotExist, "nope"),
+			want: "path does not exist: nope",
+		},
+		{
+			name: "gen: output file exists",
+			err:  fmt.Errorf("output file %s %w", "index.mf", errOutputExists),
+			want: "output file index.mf already exists " +
+				"(use --force to overwrite)",
+		},
+		{
+			name: "mfer: unknown command",
+			err:  fmt.Errorf("%w %q", errUnknownCommand, "bogus"),
+			want: `unknown command "bogus"`,
+		},
+	})
+}
+
+// TestFetchErrorMessagesVerbatim pins the fetch and manifest-loader
+// messages; see TestErrorMessagesVerbatim for why.
+func TestFetchErrorMessagesVerbatim(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	checkErrMsgCases(t, []errMsgCase{
+		{
+			name: "manifest_loader: http status",
+			err: fmt.Errorf("failed to fetch %s: %w %d",
+				"https://example.com/index.mf", errHTTPStatus, 404),
+			want: "failed to fetch https://example.com/index.mf: HTTP 404",
+		},
+		{
+			name: "fetch: manifest http status",
+			err: fmt.Errorf("failed to fetch manifest: %w %d",
+				errHTTPStatus, 404),
+			want: "failed to fetch manifest: HTTP 404",
+		},
+		{
+			name: "fetch: file http status",
+			err:  fmt.Errorf("%w %d", errHTTPStatus, 500),
+			want: "HTTP 500",
+		},
+		{
+			name: "fetch: empty path",
+			err:  errEmptyPath,
+			want: "empty path",
+		},
+		{
+			name: "fetch: absolute path",
+			err:  fmt.Errorf("%w: %s", errAbsolutePath, "/etc/passwd"),
+			want: "absolute path not allowed: /etc/passwd",
+		},
+		{
+			name: "fetch: path traversal",
+			err:  fmt.Errorf("%w: %s", errPathTraversal, "../x"),
+			want: "path traversal not allowed: ../x",
+		},
+		{
+			name: "fetch: size mismatch",
+			err: fmt.Errorf("%w: expected %d bytes, got %d",
+				errSizeMismatch, 10, 9),
+			want: "size mismatch: expected 10 bytes, got 9",
+		},
+		{
+			name: "fetch: url required",
+			err:  errURLRequired,
+			want: "URL argument required",
+		},
+		{
+			name: "fetch: hash mismatch",
+			err:  errHashMismatch,
+			want: "hash mismatch",
+		},
+	})
+}
+
+// TestSentinelsAreMatchable checks that the wrapped forms of the
+// messages above remain matchable with errors.Is, which is the reason
+// the sentinels exist at all.
+func TestSentinelsAreMatchable(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	wrapped := fmt.Errorf("embedded signing key fingerprint %s %w %s",
+		"a", errSignerMismatch, "b")
+	require.ErrorIs(t, wrapped, errSignerMismatch)
+
+	wrapped = fmt.Errorf("output file %s %w", "index.mf", errOutputExists)
+	require.ErrorIs(t, wrapped, errOutputExists)
+
+	wrapped = fmt.Errorf("failed to fetch manifest: %w %d", errHTTPStatus, 404)
+	require.ErrorIs(t, wrapped, errHTTPStatus)
+
+	assert.NotErrorIs(t, errHashMismatch, errSizeMismatch)
+}

internal/cli/export.go

@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ func (mfa *CLIApp) exportManifestOperation(ctx *cli.Context) error {
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("export: %w", err)
 	}
+
 	defer func() { _ = rc.Close() }()
 
 	manifest, err := mfer.NewManifestFromReader(rc)
@@ -41,21 +42,23 @@ func (mfa *CLIApp) exportManifestOperation(ctx *cli.Context) error {
 
 	for _, f := range files {
 		entry := ExportEntry{
-			Path:   f.Path,
+			Path:   f.GetPath(),
-			Size:   f.Size,
+			Size:   f.GetSize(),
-			Hashes: make([]string, 0, len(f.Hashes)),
+			Hashes: make([]string, 0, len(f.GetHashes())),
 		}
 
-		for _, h := range f.Hashes {
+		for _, h := range f.GetHashes() {
-			entry.Hashes = append(entry.Hashes, hex.EncodeToString(h.MultiHash))
+			entry.Hashes = append(entry.Hashes, hex.EncodeToString(h.GetMultiHash()))
 		}
 
-		if f.Mtime != nil {
+		if mtime, ok := entryMtime(f); ok {
-			t := time.Unix(f.Mtime.Seconds, int64(f.Mtime.Nanos)).UTC().Format(time.RFC3339Nano)
+			t := mtime.UTC().Format(time.RFC3339Nano)
 			entry.Mtime = &t
 		}
-		if f.Ctime != nil {
+
-			t := time.Unix(f.Ctime.Seconds, int64(f.Ctime.Nanos)).UTC().Format(time.RFC3339Nano)
+		if f.GetCtime() != nil {
+			t := time.Unix(f.GetCtime().GetSeconds(), int64(f.GetCtime().GetNanos())).
+				UTC().Format(time.RFC3339Nano)
 			entry.Ctime = &t
 		}
 
@@ -64,7 +67,9 @@ func (mfa *CLIApp) exportManifestOperation(ctx *cli.Context) error {
 
 	enc := json.NewEncoder(mfa.Stdout)
 	enc.SetIndent("", "  ")
-	if err := enc.Encode(entries); err != nil {
+
+	err = enc.Encode(entries)
+	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("export: failed to encode JSON: %w", err)
 	}
 

internal/cli/export_test.go

@@ -14,9 +14,12 @@ import (
 	"sneak.berlin/go/mfer/mfer"
 )
 
+const testCmdExport = "export"
+
 // buildTestManifest creates a manifest from in-memory files and returns its bytes.
 func buildTestManifest(t *testing.T, files map[string][]byte) []byte {
 	t.Helper()
+
 	sourceFs := afero.NewMemMapFs()
 	for path, content := range files {
 		require.NoError(t, sourceFs.MkdirAll("/", 0o755))
@@ -28,11 +31,15 @@ func buildTestManifest(t *testing.T, files map[string][]byte) []byte {
 	require.NoError(t, s.EnumerateFS(sourceFs, "/", nil))
 
 	var buf bytes.Buffer
+
 	require.NoError(t, s.ToManifest(context.Background(), &buf, nil))
+
 	return buf.Bytes()
 }
 
 func TestExportManifestOperation(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	testFiles := map[string][]byte{
 		"hello.txt":    []byte("Hello, World!"),
 		"sub/file.txt": []byte("nested content"),
@@ -44,9 +51,10 @@ func TestExportManifestOperation(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, "/test.mf", manifestData, 0o644))
 
 	var stdout, stderr bytes.Buffer
-	exitCode := RunWithOptions(&RunOptions{
+
-		Appname: "mfer",
+	exitCode := runCLI(&RunOptions{
-		Args:    []string{"mfer", "export", "/test.mf"},
+		Appname: testApp,
+		Args:    []string{testApp, testCmdExport, "/test.mf"},
 		Stdin:   &bytes.Buffer{},
 		Stdout:  &stdout,
 		Stderr:  &stderr,
@@ -64,28 +72,33 @@ func TestExportManifestOperation(t *testing.T) {
 	for _, e := range entries {
 		pathSet[e.Path] = true
 		assert.NotEmpty(t, e.Hashes, "entry %s should have hashes", e.Path)
-		assert.Greater(t, e.Size, int64(0), "entry %s should have positive size", e.Path)
+		assert.Positive(t, e.Size, "entry %s should have positive size", e.Path)
 	}
+
 	assert.True(t, pathSet["hello.txt"])
 	assert.True(t, pathSet["sub/file.txt"])
 }
 
 func TestExportFromHTTPURL(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	testFiles := map[string][]byte{
 		"a.txt": []byte("aaa"),
 	}
 	manifestData := buildTestManifest(t, testFiles)
 
-	server := httptest.NewServer(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+	server := httptest.NewServer(
+		http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, _ *http.Request) {
 			w.Header().Set("Content-Type", "application/octet-stream")
 			_, _ = w.Write(manifestData)
 		}))
 	defer server.Close()
 
 	var stdout, stderr bytes.Buffer
-	exitCode := RunWithOptions(&RunOptions{
+
-		Appname: "mfer",
+	exitCode := runCLI(&RunOptions{
-		Args:    []string{"mfer", "export", server.URL + "/index.mf"},
+		Appname: testApp,
+		Args:    []string{testApp, testCmdExport, server.URL + "/index.mf"},
 		Stdin:   &bytes.Buffer{},
 		Stdout:  &stdout,
 		Stderr:  &stderr,
@@ -101,21 +114,25 @@ func TestExportFromHTTPURL(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestListFromHTTPURL(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	testFiles := map[string][]byte{
 		"one.txt": []byte("1"),
 		"two.txt": []byte("22"),
 	}
 	manifestData := buildTestManifest(t, testFiles)
 
-	server := httptest.NewServer(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+	server := httptest.NewServer(
+		http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, _ *http.Request) {
 			_, _ = w.Write(manifestData)
 		}))
 	defer server.Close()
 
 	var stdout, stderr bytes.Buffer
-	exitCode := RunWithOptions(&RunOptions{
+
-		Appname: "mfer",
+	exitCode := runCLI(&RunOptions{
-		Args:    []string{"mfer", "list", server.URL + "/index.mf"},
+		Appname: testApp,
+		Args:    []string{testApp, "list", server.URL + "/index.mf"},
 		Stdin:   &bytes.Buffer{},
 		Stdout:  &stdout,
 		Stderr:  &stderr,
@@ -129,6 +146,8 @@ func TestListFromHTTPURL(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestIsHTTPURL(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	assert.True(t, isHTTPURL("http://example.com/manifest.mf"))
 	assert.True(t, isHTTPURL("https://example.com/manifest.mf"))
 	assert.False(t, isHTTPURL("/local/path.mf"))

internal/cli/fetch.go

@@ -2,7 +2,9 @@ package cli
 
 import (
 	"bytes"
+	"context"
 	"crypto/sha256"
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
 	"net/http"
@@ -20,6 +22,45 @@ import (
 	"sneak.berlin/go/mfer/mfer"
 )
 
+const (
+	// progressChanBuffer is the buffer size of the download progress
+	// channel.
+	progressChanBuffer = 10
+
+	// bitsPerByte converts a bytes-per-second rate to bits per second.
+	bitsPerByte = 8
+
+	// dirPerms is the permission mode for directories created for
+	// downloaded files. Fetched trees are content that is normally
+	// published (served by a web server, read by another uid), so the
+	// traversal bit for group and other must stay set.
+	dirPerms os.FileMode = 0o755
+
+	// Bitrate unit thresholds in bits per second.
+	bpsPerGbps = 1e9
+	bpsPerMbps = 1e6
+	bpsPerKbps = 1e3
+)
+
+var (
+	// errURLRequired indicates the fetch command was run without a URL
+	// argument.
+	errURLRequired = errors.New("URL argument required")
+	// errEmptyPath indicates an empty file path in the manifest.
+	errEmptyPath = errors.New("empty path")
+	// errAbsolutePath indicates an absolute file path in the manifest.
+	errAbsolutePath = errors.New("absolute path not allowed")
+	// errPathTraversal indicates a manifest path escaping the target
+	// directory.
+	errPathTraversal = errors.New("path traversal not allowed")
+	// errSizeMismatch indicates a downloaded file with an unexpected
+	// size.
+	errSizeMismatch = errors.New("size mismatch")
+	// errHashMismatch indicates a downloaded file whose hash matches no
+	// manifest hash.
+	errHashMismatch = errors.New("hash mismatch")
+)
+
 // DownloadProgress reports the progress of a single file download.
 type DownloadProgress struct {
 	Path        string        // File path being downloaded
@@ -29,14 +70,98 @@ type DownloadProgress struct {
 	ETA         time.Duration // Estimated time to completion
 }
 
+// httpGet issues a GET request for the given URL using the provided
+// context and returns the response. The caller must close the body.
+//
+// Errors are returned unwrapped: this helper replaced direct http.Get
+// calls, and each caller already supplies its own context string, so
+// adding one here would change user-visible messages.
+func httpGet(ctx context.Context, fileURL string) (*http.Response, error) {
+	req, err := http.NewRequestWithContext(ctx, http.MethodGet, fileURL, nil)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	resp, err := http.DefaultClient.Do(req)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	return resp, nil
+}
+
+// reportDownloadProgress renders download progress until the channel
+// closes, then closes done.
+func reportDownloadProgress(progress <-chan DownloadProgress, done chan<- struct{}) {
+	defer close(done)
+
+	for p := range progress {
+		rate := formatBitrate(p.BytesPerSec * bitsPerByte)
+		if p.ETA > 0 {
+			log.Infof("%s: %s/%s, %s, ETA %s",
+				p.Path, humanize.IBytes(safeUint64(p.BytesRead)),
+				humanize.IBytes(safeUint64(p.TotalBytes)),
+				rate, p.ETA.Round(time.Second))
+		} else {
+			log.Infof("%s: %s/%s, %s",
+				p.Path, humanize.IBytes(safeUint64(p.BytesRead)),
+				humanize.IBytes(safeUint64(p.TotalBytes)), rate)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// manifestBaseURL returns the URL of the directory containing the
+// manifest, with a trailing slash.
+func manifestBaseURL(manifestURL string) (*url.URL, error) {
+	baseURL, err := url.Parse(manifestURL)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("fetch: invalid manifest URL: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	baseURL.Path = path.Dir(baseURL.Path)
+	if !strings.HasSuffix(baseURL.Path, "/") {
+		baseURL.Path += "/"
+	}
+
+	return baseURL, nil
+}
+
+// downloadManifestFiles downloads every file in the manifest, reporting
+// progress on the progress channel.
+func downloadManifestFiles(
+	ctx context.Context,
+	baseURL *url.URL,
+	files []*mfer.MFFilePath,
+	progress chan<- DownloadProgress,
+) error {
+	for _, f := range files {
+		// Sanitize the path to prevent path traversal attacks
+		localPath, err := sanitizePath(f.GetPath())
+		if err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("invalid path in manifest: %w", err)
+		}
+
+		fileURL := baseURL.String() + encodeFilePath(f.GetPath())
+		log.Infof("fetching %s", f.GetPath())
+
+		err = downloadFile(ctx, fileURL, localPath, f, progress)
+		if err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("failed to download %s: %w", f.GetPath(), err)
+		}
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
 func (mfa *CLIApp) fetchManifestOperation(ctx *cli.Context) error {
 	log.Debug("fetchManifestOperation()")
 
 	if ctx.Args().Len() == 0 {
-		return fmt.Errorf("URL argument required")
+		return errURLRequired
 	}
 
 	inputURL := ctx.Args().Get(0)
+
 	manifestURL, err := resolveManifestURL(inputURL)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("invalid URL: %w", err)
@@ -45,14 +170,16 @@ func (mfa *CLIApp) fetchManifestOperation(ctx *cli.Context) error {
 	log.Infof("fetching manifest from %s", manifestURL)
 
 	// Fetch manifest
-	resp, err := http.Get(manifestURL)
+	resp, err := httpGet(ctx.Context, manifestURL)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to fetch manifest: %w", err)
 	}
+
 	defer func() { _ = resp.Body.Close() }()
 
 	if resp.StatusCode != http.StatusOK {
-		return fmt.Errorf("failed to fetch manifest: HTTP %d", resp.StatusCode)
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to fetch manifest: %w %d",
+			errHTTPStatus, resp.StatusCode)
 	}
 
 	// Parse manifest
@@ -65,74 +192,43 @@ func (mfa *CLIApp) fetchManifestOperation(ctx *cli.Context) error {
 	log.Infof("manifest contains %d files", len(files))
 
 	// Compute base URL (directory containing manifest)
-	baseURL, err := url.Parse(manifestURL)
+	baseURL, err := manifestBaseURL(manifestURL)
 	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("fetch: invalid manifest URL: %w", err)
+		return err
-	}
-	baseURL.Path = path.Dir(baseURL.Path)
-	if !strings.HasSuffix(baseURL.Path, "/") {
-		baseURL.Path += "/"
 	}
 
 	// Calculate total bytes to download
 	var totalBytes int64
 	for _, f := range files {
-		totalBytes += f.Size
+		totalBytes += f.GetSize()
 	}
 
-	// Create progress channel
+	// Create progress channel and start progress reporter goroutine
-	progress := make(chan DownloadProgress, 10)
+	progress := make(chan DownloadProgress, progressChanBuffer)
-
-	// Start progress reporter goroutine
 	done := make(chan struct{})
-	go func() {
+
-		defer close(done)
+	go reportDownloadProgress(progress, done)
-		for p := range progress {
-			rate := formatBitrate(p.BytesPerSec * 8)
-			if p.ETA > 0 {
-				log.Infof("%s: %s/%s, %s, ETA %s",
-					p.Path, humanize.IBytes(uint64(p.BytesRead)), humanize.IBytes(uint64(p.TotalBytes)),
-					rate, p.ETA.Round(time.Second))
-			} else {
-				log.Infof("%s: %s/%s, %s",
-					p.Path, humanize.IBytes(uint64(p.BytesRead)), humanize.IBytes(uint64(p.TotalBytes)), rate)
-			}
-		}
-	}()
 
 	// Track download start time
 	startTime := time.Now()
 
 	// Download each file
-	for _, f := range files {
+	dlErr := downloadManifestFiles(ctx.Context, baseURL, files, progress)
-		// Sanitize the path to prevent path traversal attacks
-		localPath, err := sanitizePath(f.Path)
-		if err != nil {
-			close(progress)
-			<-done
-			return fmt.Errorf("invalid path in manifest: %w", err)
-		}
-
-		fileURL := baseURL.String() + encodeFilePath(f.Path)
-		log.Infof("fetching %s", f.Path)
-
-		if err := downloadFile(fileURL, localPath, f, progress); err != nil {
-			close(progress)
-			<-done
-			return fmt.Errorf("failed to download %s: %w", f.Path, err)
-		}
-	}
 
 	close(progress)
 	<-done
 
+	if dlErr != nil {
+		return dlErr
+	}
+
 	// Print summary
 	elapsed := time.Since(startTime)
 	avgBytesPerSec := float64(totalBytes) / elapsed.Seconds()
-	avgRate := formatBitrate(avgBytesPerSec * 8)
+	avgRate := formatBitrate(avgBytesPerSec * bitsPerByte)
 	log.Infof("downloaded %d files (%s) in %.1fs (%s avg)",
 		len(files),
-		humanize.IBytes(uint64(totalBytes)),
+		humanize.IBytes(safeUint64(totalBytes)),
 		elapsed.Seconds(),
 		avgRate)
 
@@ -145,6 +241,7 @@ func encodeFilePath(p string) string {
 	for i, seg := range segments {
 		segments[i] = url.PathEscape(seg)
 	}
+
 	return strings.Join(segments, "/")
 }
 
@@ -153,12 +250,12 @@ func encodeFilePath(p string) string {
 func sanitizePath(p string) (string, error) {
 	// Reject empty paths
 	if p == "" {
-		return "", fmt.Errorf("empty path")
+		return "", errEmptyPath
 	}
 
 	// Reject absolute paths
 	if filepath.IsAbs(p) {
-		return "", fmt.Errorf("absolute path not allowed: %s", p)
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("%w: %s", errAbsolutePath, p)
 	}
 
 	// Clean the path to resolve . and ..
@@ -166,12 +263,12 @@ func sanitizePath(p string) (string, error) {
 
 	// Reject paths that escape the current directory
 	if strings.HasPrefix(cleaned, ".."+string(filepath.Separator)) || cleaned == ".." {
-		return "", fmt.Errorf("path traversal not allowed: %s", p)
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("%w: %s", errPathTraversal, p)
 	}
 
 	// Also check for absolute paths after cleaning (handles edge cases)
 	if filepath.IsAbs(cleaned) {
-		return "", fmt.Errorf("absolute path not allowed: %s", p)
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("%w: %s", errAbsolutePath, p)
 	}
 
 	return cleaned, nil
@@ -183,7 +280,7 @@ func sanitizePath(p string) (string, error) {
 func resolveManifestURL(inputURL string) (string, error) {
 	parsed, err := url.Parse(inputURL)
 	if err != nil {
-		return "", err
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("failed to parse URL: %w", err)
 	}
 
 	// Check if URL already ends with .mf
@@ -214,10 +311,14 @@ type progressWriter struct {
 
 func (pw *progressWriter) Write(p []byte) (int, error) {
 	n, err := pw.w.Write(p)
+
 	pw.written += int64(n)
 	if pw.progress != nil {
-		var bytesPerSec float64
+		var (
-		var eta time.Duration
+			bytesPerSec float64
+			eta         time.Duration
+		)
+
 		elapsed := time.Since(pw.startTime)
 		if elapsed > 0 && pw.written > 0 {
 			bytesPerSec = float64(pw.written) / elapsed.Seconds()
@@ -226,6 +327,7 @@ func (pw *progressWriter) Write(p []byte) (int, error) {
 				eta = time.Duration(float64(remainingBytes)/bytesPerSec) * time.Second
 			}
 		}
+
 		sendProgress(pw.progress, DownloadProgress{
 			Path:        pw.path,
 			BytesRead:   pw.written,
@@ -234,18 +336,19 @@ func (pw *progressWriter) Write(p []byte) (int, error) {
 			ETA:         eta,
 		})
 	}
+
 	return n, err
 }
 
 // formatBitrate formats a bits-per-second value with appropriate unit prefix.
 func formatBitrate(bps float64) string {
 	switch {
-	case bps >= 1e9:
+	case bps >= bpsPerGbps:
-		return fmt.Sprintf("%.1f Gbps", bps/1e9)
+		return fmt.Sprintf("%.1f Gbps", bps/bpsPerGbps)
-	case bps >= 1e6:
+	case bps >= bpsPerMbps:
-		return fmt.Sprintf("%.1f Mbps", bps/1e6)
+		return fmt.Sprintf("%.1f Mbps", bps/bpsPerMbps)
-	case bps >= 1e3:
+	case bps >= bpsPerKbps:
-		return fmt.Sprintf("%.1f Kbps", bps/1e3)
+		return fmt.Sprintf("%.1f Kbps", bps/bpsPerKbps)
 	default:
 		return fmt.Sprintf("%.0f bps", bps)
 	}
@@ -259,53 +362,100 @@ func sendProgress(ch chan<- DownloadProgress, p DownloadProgress) {
 	}
 }
 
-// downloadFile downloads a URL to a local file path with hash verification.
+// tempPathFor computes the temporary download path for a local file.
-// It downloads to a temporary file, verifies the hash, then renames to the final path.
+// For dotfiles, just append .tmp (they're already hidden); for regular
-// Progress is reported via the progress channel.
+// files, prefix with . and append .tmp.
-func downloadFile(fileURL, localPath string, entry *mfer.MFFilePath, progress chan<- DownloadProgress) error {
+func tempPathFor(localPath string) string {
-	// Create parent directories if needed
 	dir := filepath.Dir(localPath)
-	if dir != "" && dir != "." {
-		if err := os.MkdirAll(dir, 0o755); err != nil {
-			return fmt.Errorf("failed to create directory %s: %w", dir, err)
-		}
-	}
-
-	// Compute temp file path in the same directory
-	// For dotfiles, just append .tmp (they're already hidden)
-	// For regular files, prefix with . and append .tmp
 	base := filepath.Base(localPath)
+
 	var tmpName string
 	if strings.HasPrefix(base, ".") {
 		tmpName = base + ".tmp"
 	} else {
 		tmpName = "." + base + ".tmp"
 	}
-	tmpPath := filepath.Join(dir, tmpName)
+
 	if dir == "" || dir == "." {
-		tmpPath = tmpName
+		return tmpName
 	}
 
+	return filepath.Join(dir, tmpName)
+}
+
+// verifyDownloadedHash checks the computed sha256 digest against the
+// manifest entry's hashes; at least one must match.
+func verifyDownloadedHash(digest []byte, entry *mfer.MFFilePath) error {
+	computed, err := multihash.Encode(digest, multihash.SHA2_256)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to encode hash: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	for _, hash := range entry.GetHashes() {
+		if bytes.Equal(computed, hash.GetMultiHash()) {
+			return nil
+		}
+	}
+
+	return errHashMismatch
+}
+
+// downloadFile downloads a URL to a local file path with hash verification.
+// It downloads to a temporary file, verifies the hash, then renames to the final path.
+// Progress is reported via the progress channel.
+func downloadFile(
+	ctx context.Context,
+	fileURL, localPath string,
+	entry *mfer.MFFilePath,
+	progress chan<- DownloadProgress,
+) error {
+	// Enforce the path invariant here rather than relying on the caller,
+	// so every entry point to downloadFile gets the same treatment.
+	localPath, err := sanitizePath(localPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("invalid path: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	// Create parent directories if needed
+	dir := filepath.Dir(localPath)
+	if dir != "" && dir != "." {
+		err := os.MkdirAll(dir, dirPerms)
+		if err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("failed to create directory %s: %w", dir, err)
+		}
+	}
+
+	tmpPath := tempPathFor(localPath)
+
 	// Fetch file
-	resp, err := http.Get(fileURL) //nolint:gosec // URL constructed from manifest base
+	resp, err := httpGet(ctx, fileURL)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("HTTP request failed: %w", err)
 	}
+
 	defer func() { _ = resp.Body.Close() }()
 
 	if resp.StatusCode != http.StatusOK {
-		return fmt.Errorf("HTTP %d", resp.StatusCode)
+		return fmt.Errorf("%w %d", errHTTPStatus, resp.StatusCode)
 	}
 
 	// Determine expected size
-	expectedSize := entry.Size
+	expectedSize := entry.GetSize()
+
 	totalBytes := resp.ContentLength
 	if totalBytes < 0 {
 		totalBytes = expectedSize
 	}
 
-	// Create temp file
+	// Create temp file.
-	out, err := os.Create(tmpPath)
+	//
+	// G304: tmpPath is derived from localPath, which sanitizePath above
+	// constrains lexically to a relative path that does not escape the
+	// destination directory. That is a purely lexical guarantee: it does
+	// not resolve symlinks, so a pre-existing symlink inside the
+	// destination tree can still redirect this write outside of it
+	// (tracked in issue #86).
+	out, err := os.Create(tmpPath) //nolint:gosec // G304: see comment above
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to create temp file: %w", err)
 	}
@@ -328,45 +478,50 @@ func downloadFile(fileURL, localPath string, entry *mfer.MFFilePath, progress ch
 	// Close file before checking errors (to flush writes)
 	closeErr := out.Close()
 
-	// If copy failed, clean up temp file and return error
+	err = finishDownload(
-	if copyErr != nil {
+		tmpPath, localPath, written, expectedSize, h.Sum(nil), entry,
+		copyErr, closeErr)
+	if err != nil {
 		_ = os.Remove(tmpPath)
+
+		return err
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+// finishDownload validates the copy result, verifies size and hash, and
+// moves the temp file into place. On error the caller removes tmpPath.
+func finishDownload(
+	tmpPath, localPath string,
+	written, expectedSize int64,
+	digest []byte,
+	entry *mfer.MFFilePath,
+	copyErr, closeErr error,
+) error {
+	if copyErr != nil {
 		return copyErr
 	}
+
 	if closeErr != nil {
-		_ = os.Remove(tmpPath)
 		return closeErr
 	}
 
 	// Verify size
 	if written != expectedSize {
-		_ = os.Remove(tmpPath)
+		return fmt.Errorf("%w: expected %d bytes, got %d",
-		return fmt.Errorf("size mismatch: expected %d bytes, got %d", expectedSize, written)
+			errSizeMismatch, expectedSize, written)
-	}
-
-	// Encode computed hash as multihash
-	computed, err := multihash.Encode(h.Sum(nil), multihash.SHA2_256)
-	if err != nil {
-		_ = os.Remove(tmpPath)
-		return fmt.Errorf("failed to encode hash: %w", err)
 	}
 
 	// Verify hash against manifest (at least one must match)
-	hashMatch := false
+	err := verifyDownloadedHash(digest, entry)
-	for _, hash := range entry.Hashes {
+	if err != nil {
-		if bytes.Equal(computed, hash.MultiHash) {
+		return err
-			hashMatch = true
-			break
-		}
-	}
-	if !hashMatch {
-		_ = os.Remove(tmpPath)
-		return fmt.Errorf("hash mismatch")
 	}
 
 	// Rename temp file to final path
-	if err := os.Rename(tmpPath, localPath); err != nil {
+	err = os.Rename(tmpPath, localPath)
-		_ = os.Remove(tmpPath)
+	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to rename temp file: %w", err)
 	}
 

internal/cli/fetch_test.go

@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+//nolint:testpackage // white-box tests exercise unexported internals
 package cli
 
 import (
@@ -16,13 +17,21 @@ import (
 	"sneak.berlin/go/mfer/mfer"
 )
 
+const (
+	testFileTxt = "file.txt"
+	testDirFile = "dir/file.txt"
+	testIndexMF = "https://example.com/path/index.mf"
+)
+
 func TestEncodeFilePath(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	tests := []struct {
 		input    string
 		expected string
 	}{
-		{"file.txt", "file.txt"},
+		{testFileTxt, testFileTxt},
-		{"dir/file.txt", "dir/file.txt"},
+		{testDirFile, testDirFile},
 		{"my file.txt", "my%20file.txt"},
 		{"dir/my file.txt", "dir/my%20file.txt"},
 		{"file#1.txt", "file%231.txt"},
@@ -33,6 +42,8 @@ func TestEncodeFilePath(t *testing.T) {
 
 	for _, tt := range tests {
 		t.Run(tt.input, func(t *testing.T) {
+			t.Parallel()
+
 			result := encodeFilePath(tt.input)
 			assert.Equal(t, tt.expected, result)
 		})
@@ -40,23 +51,27 @@ func TestEncodeFilePath(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestSanitizePath(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	// Valid paths that should be accepted
 	validTests := []struct {
 		input    string
 		expected string
 	}{
-		{"file.txt", "file.txt"},
+		{testFileTxt, testFileTxt},
-		{"dir/file.txt", "dir/file.txt"},
+		{testDirFile, testDirFile},
 		{"dir/subdir/file.txt", "dir/subdir/file.txt"},
-		{"./file.txt", "file.txt"},
+		{"./file.txt", testFileTxt},
-		{"./dir/file.txt", "dir/file.txt"},
+		{"./dir/file.txt", testDirFile},
-		{"dir/./file.txt", "dir/file.txt"},
+		{"dir/./file.txt", testDirFile},
 	}
 
 	for _, tt := range validTests {
 		t.Run("valid:"+tt.input, func(t *testing.T) {
+			t.Parallel()
+
 			result, err := sanitizePath(tt.input)
-			assert.NoError(t, err)
+			require.NoError(t, err)
 			assert.Equal(t, tt.expected, result)
 		})
 	}
@@ -78,6 +93,8 @@ func TestSanitizePath(t *testing.T) {
 
 	for _, tt := range invalidTests {
 		t.Run("invalid:"+tt.desc, func(t *testing.T) {
+			t.Parallel()
+
 			_, err := sanitizePath(tt.input)
 			assert.Error(t, err, "expected error for path: %s", tt.input)
 		})
@@ -85,36 +102,105 @@ func TestSanitizePath(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestResolveManifestURL(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	tests := []struct {
 		input    string
 		expected string
 	}{
 		// Already ends with .mf - use as-is
-		{"https://example.com/path/index.mf", "https://example.com/path/index.mf"},
+		{testIndexMF, testIndexMF},
 		{"https://example.com/path/custom.mf", "https://example.com/path/custom.mf"},
 		{"https://example.com/foo.mf", "https://example.com/foo.mf"},
 
 		// Directory with trailing slash - append index.mf
-		{"https://example.com/path/", "https://example.com/path/index.mf"},
+		{"https://example.com/path/", testIndexMF},
 		{"https://example.com/", "https://example.com/index.mf"},
 
 		// Directory without trailing slash - add slash and index.mf
-		{"https://example.com/path", "https://example.com/path/index.mf"},
+		{"https://example.com/path", testIndexMF},
 		{"https://example.com", "https://example.com/index.mf"},
 
 		// With query strings
-		{"https://example.com/path?foo=bar", "https://example.com/path/index.mf?foo=bar"},
+		{
+			"https://example.com/path?foo=bar",
+			"https://example.com/path/index.mf?foo=bar",
+		},
 	}
 
 	for _, tt := range tests {
 		t.Run(tt.input, func(t *testing.T) {
+			t.Parallel()
+
 			result, err := resolveManifestURL(tt.input)
-			assert.NoError(t, err)
+			require.NoError(t, err)
 			assert.Equal(t, tt.expected, result)
 		})
 	}
 }
 
+// scanToManifest scans sourceFs and returns the serialized manifest bytes.
+func scanToManifest(t *testing.T, sourceFs afero.Fs) []byte {
+	t.Helper()
+
+	s := mfer.NewScannerWithOptions(&mfer.ScannerOptions{Fs: sourceFs})
+	require.NoError(t, s.EnumerateFS(sourceFs, "/", nil))
+
+	var manifestBuf bytes.Buffer
+
+	require.NoError(t, s.ToManifest(context.Background(), &manifestBuf, nil))
+
+	return manifestBuf.Bytes()
+}
+
+// chdirTemp switches the working directory to a fresh temp dir for the
+// duration of the test and returns its path.
+func chdirTemp(t *testing.T) string {
+	t.Helper()
+
+	destDir := t.TempDir()
+
+	origDir, err := os.Getwd()
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	require.NoError(t, os.Chdir(destDir))
+	t.Cleanup(func() { _ = os.Chdir(origDir) })
+
+	return destDir
+}
+
+// fetchTestHandler serves the manifest at /index.mf and the given files
+// at their paths.
+func fetchTestHandler(
+	manifestData []byte, testFiles map[string][]byte,
+) http.HandlerFunc {
+	return func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		path := r.URL.Path
+		if path == "/index.mf" {
+			w.Header().Set("Content-Type", "application/octet-stream")
+			_, _ = w.Write(manifestData)
+
+			return
+		}
+
+		// Strip leading slash
+		if len(path) > 0 && path[0] == '/' {
+			path = path[1:]
+		}
+
+		content, exists := testFiles[path]
+		if !exists {
+			http.NotFound(w, r)
+
+			return
+		}
+
+		w.Header().Set("Content-Type", "application/octet-stream")
+		_, _ = w.Write(content)
+	}
+}
+
+//nolint:paralleltest // changes the process-global working directory
 func TestFetchFromHTTP(t *testing.T) {
 	// Create source filesystem with test files
 	sourceFs := afero.NewMemMapFs()
@@ -134,51 +220,14 @@ func TestFetchFromHTTP(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	// Generate manifest using scanner
-	opts := &mfer.ScannerOptions{
+	manifestData := scanToManifest(t, sourceFs)
-		Fs: sourceFs,
-	}
-	s := mfer.NewScannerWithOptions(opts)
-	require.NoError(t, s.EnumerateFS(sourceFs, "/", nil))
-
-	var manifestBuf bytes.Buffer
-	require.NoError(t, s.ToManifest(context.Background(), &manifestBuf, nil))
-	manifestData := manifestBuf.Bytes()
 
 	// Create HTTP server that serves the source filesystem
-	server := httptest.NewServer(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+	server := httptest.NewServer(fetchTestHandler(manifestData, testFiles))
-		path := r.URL.Path
-		if path == "/index.mf" {
-			w.Header().Set("Content-Type", "application/octet-stream")
-			_, _ = w.Write(manifestData)
-			return
-		}
-
-		// Strip leading slash
-		if len(path) > 0 && path[0] == '/' {
-			path = path[1:]
-		}
-
-		content, exists := testFiles[path]
-		if !exists {
-			http.NotFound(w, r)
-			return
-		}
-
-		w.Header().Set("Content-Type", "application/octet-stream")
-		_, _ = w.Write(content)
-	}))
 	defer server.Close()
 
-	// Create destination directory
+	// Change to a fresh destination directory for the test
-	destDir, err := os.MkdirTemp("", "mfer-fetch-test-*")
+	destDir := chdirTemp(t)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	defer func() { _ = os.RemoveAll(destDir) }()
-
-	// Change to dest directory for the test
-	origDir, err := os.Getwd()
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	require.NoError(t, os.Chdir(destDir))
-	defer func() { _ = os.Chdir(origDir) }()
 
 	// Parse the manifest to get file entries
 	manifest, err := mfer.NewManifestFromReader(bytes.NewReader(manifestData))
@@ -189,132 +238,125 @@ func TestFetchFromHTTP(t *testing.T) {
 
 	// Download each file using downloadFile
 	progress := make(chan DownloadProgress, 10)
+
 	go func() {
-		for range progress {
+		for p := range progress {
-			// Drain progress channel
+			_ = p // drain progress channel
 		}
 	}()
 
 	baseURL := server.URL + "/"
+
 	for _, f := range files {
-		localPath, err := sanitizePath(f.Path)
+		localPath, err := sanitizePath(f.GetPath())
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 
-		fileURL := baseURL + f.Path
+		fileURL := baseURL + f.GetPath()
-		err = downloadFile(fileURL, localPath, f, progress)
+		err = downloadFile(context.Background(), fileURL, localPath, f, progress)
-		require.NoError(t, err, "failed to download %s", f.Path)
+		require.NoError(t, err, "failed to download %s", f.GetPath())
 	}
+
 	close(progress)
 
 	// Verify downloaded files match originals
 	for path, expectedContent := range testFiles {
 		downloadedPath := filepath.Join(destDir, path)
+		//nolint:gosec // test-controlled path
 		downloadedContent, err := os.ReadFile(downloadedPath)
 		require.NoError(t, err, "failed to read downloaded file %s", path)
-		assert.Equal(t, expectedContent, downloadedContent, "content mismatch for %s", path)
+		assert.Equal(t, expectedContent, downloadedContent,
+			"content mismatch for %s", path)
 	}
 }
 
+//nolint:paralleltest // changes the process-global working directory
 func TestFetchHashMismatch(t *testing.T) {
 	// Create source filesystem with a test file
 	sourceFs := afero.NewMemMapFs()
 	originalContent := []byte("Original content")
 	require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(sourceFs, "/file.txt", originalContent, 0o644))
 
-	// Generate manifest
+	// Generate and parse manifest
-	opts := &mfer.ScannerOptions{Fs: sourceFs}
+	manifestData := scanToManifest(t, sourceFs)
-	s := mfer.NewScannerWithOptions(opts)
-	require.NoError(t, s.EnumerateFS(sourceFs, "/", nil))
 
-	var manifestBuf bytes.Buffer
+	manifest, err := mfer.NewManifestFromReader(bytes.NewReader(manifestData))
-	require.NoError(t, s.ToManifest(context.Background(), &manifestBuf, nil))
-
-	// Parse manifest
-	manifest, err := mfer.NewManifestFromReader(bytes.NewReader(manifestBuf.Bytes()))
 	require.NoError(t, err)
+
 	files := manifest.Files()
 	require.Len(t, files, 1)
 
 	// Create server that serves DIFFERENT content (to trigger hash mismatch)
 	tamperedContent := []byte("Tampered content!")
-	server := httptest.NewServer(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+
+	server := httptest.NewServer(
+		http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, _ *http.Request) {
 			w.Header().Set("Content-Type", "application/octet-stream")
 			_, _ = w.Write(tamperedContent)
 		}))
 	defer server.Close()
 
-	// Create temp directory
+	// Work in a fresh temp directory
-	destDir, err := os.MkdirTemp("", "mfer-fetch-hash-test-*")
+	chdirTemp(t)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	defer func() { _ = os.RemoveAll(destDir) }()
-
-	origDir, err := os.Getwd()
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	require.NoError(t, os.Chdir(destDir))
-	defer func() { _ = os.Chdir(origDir) }()
 
 	// Try to download - should fail with hash mismatch
-	err = downloadFile(server.URL+"/file.txt", "file.txt", files[0], nil)
+	err = downloadFile(context.Background(),
-	assert.Error(t, err)
+		server.URL+"/file.txt", testFileTxt, files[0], nil)
+	require.Error(t, err)
 	assert.Contains(t, err.Error(), "mismatch")
 
 	// Verify temp file was cleaned up
 	_, err = os.Stat(".file.txt.tmp")
-	assert.True(t, os.IsNotExist(err), "temp file should be cleaned up on hash mismatch")
+	assert.True(t, os.IsNotExist(err),
+		"temp file should be cleaned up on hash mismatch")
 
 	// Verify final file was not created
-	_, err = os.Stat("file.txt")
+	_, err = os.Stat(testFileTxt)
-	assert.True(t, os.IsNotExist(err), "final file should not exist on hash mismatch")
+	assert.True(t, os.IsNotExist(err),
+		"final file should not exist on hash mismatch")
 }
 
+//nolint:paralleltest // changes the process-global working directory
 func TestFetchSizeMismatch(t *testing.T) {
 	// Create source filesystem with a test file
 	sourceFs := afero.NewMemMapFs()
 	originalContent := []byte("Original content with specific size")
 	require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(sourceFs, "/file.txt", originalContent, 0o644))
 
-	// Generate manifest
+	// Generate and parse manifest
-	opts := &mfer.ScannerOptions{Fs: sourceFs}
+	manifestData := scanToManifest(t, sourceFs)
-	s := mfer.NewScannerWithOptions(opts)
-	require.NoError(t, s.EnumerateFS(sourceFs, "/", nil))
 
-	var manifestBuf bytes.Buffer
+	manifest, err := mfer.NewManifestFromReader(bytes.NewReader(manifestData))
-	require.NoError(t, s.ToManifest(context.Background(), &manifestBuf, nil))
-
-	// Parse manifest
-	manifest, err := mfer.NewManifestFromReader(bytes.NewReader(manifestBuf.Bytes()))
 	require.NoError(t, err)
+
 	files := manifest.Files()
 	require.Len(t, files, 1)
 
 	// Create server that serves content with wrong size
 	wrongSizeContent := []byte("Short")
-	server := httptest.NewServer(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+
+	server := httptest.NewServer(
+		http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, _ *http.Request) {
 			w.Header().Set("Content-Type", "application/octet-stream")
 			_, _ = w.Write(wrongSizeContent)
 		}))
 	defer server.Close()
 
-	// Create temp directory
+	// Work in a fresh temp directory
-	destDir, err := os.MkdirTemp("", "mfer-fetch-size-test-*")
+	chdirTemp(t)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	defer func() { _ = os.RemoveAll(destDir) }()
-
-	origDir, err := os.Getwd()
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	require.NoError(t, os.Chdir(destDir))
-	defer func() { _ = os.Chdir(origDir) }()
 
 	// Try to download - should fail with size mismatch
-	err = downloadFile(server.URL+"/file.txt", "file.txt", files[0], nil)
+	err = downloadFile(context.Background(),
-	assert.Error(t, err)
+		server.URL+"/file.txt", testFileTxt, files[0], nil)
+	require.Error(t, err)
 	assert.Contains(t, err.Error(), "size mismatch")
 
 	// Verify temp file was cleaned up
 	_, err = os.Stat(".file.txt.tmp")
-	assert.True(t, os.IsNotExist(err), "temp file should be cleaned up on size mismatch")
+	assert.True(t, os.IsNotExist(err),
+		"temp file should be cleaned up on size mismatch")
 }
 
+//nolint:paralleltest // changes the process-global working directory
 func TestFetchProgress(t *testing.T) {
 	// Create source filesystem with a larger test file
 	sourceFs := afero.NewMemMapFs()
@@ -322,22 +364,18 @@ func TestFetchProgress(t *testing.T) {
 	content := bytes.Repeat([]byte("x"), 100*1024) // 100KB
 	require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(sourceFs, "/large.txt", content, 0o644))
 
-	// Generate manifest
+	// Generate and parse manifest
-	opts := &mfer.ScannerOptions{Fs: sourceFs}
+	manifestData := scanToManifest(t, sourceFs)
-	s := mfer.NewScannerWithOptions(opts)
-	require.NoError(t, s.EnumerateFS(sourceFs, "/", nil))
 
-	var manifestBuf bytes.Buffer
+	manifest, err := mfer.NewManifestFromReader(bytes.NewReader(manifestData))
-	require.NoError(t, s.ToManifest(context.Background(), &manifestBuf, nil))
-
-	// Parse manifest
-	manifest, err := mfer.NewManifestFromReader(bytes.NewReader(manifestBuf.Bytes()))
 	require.NoError(t, err)
+
 	files := manifest.Files()
 	require.Len(t, files, 1)
 
 	// Create server that serves the content
-	server := httptest.NewServer(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+	server := httptest.NewServer(
+		http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, _ *http.Request) {
 			w.Header().Set("Content-Type", "application/octet-stream")
 			w.Header().Set("Content-Length", "102400")
 			// Write in chunks to allow progress reporting
@@ -346,29 +384,27 @@ func TestFetchProgress(t *testing.T) {
 		}))
 	defer server.Close()
 
-	// Create temp directory
+	// Work in a fresh temp directory
-	destDir, err := os.MkdirTemp("", "mfer-fetch-progress-test-*")
+	chdirTemp(t)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	defer func() { _ = os.RemoveAll(destDir) }()
-
-	origDir, err := os.Getwd()
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	require.NoError(t, os.Chdir(destDir))
-	defer func() { _ = os.Chdir(origDir) }()
 
 	// Set up progress channel and collect updates
 	progress := make(chan DownloadProgress, 100)
+
 	var progressUpdates []DownloadProgress
+
 	done := make(chan struct{})
+
 	go func() {
 		for p := range progress {
 			progressUpdates = append(progressUpdates, p)
 		}
+
 		close(done)
 	}()
 
 	// Download
-	err = downloadFile(server.URL+"/large.txt", "large.txt", files[0], progress)
+	err = downloadFile(context.Background(),
+		server.URL+"/large.txt", "large.txt", files[0], progress)
 	close(progress)
 	<-done
 
@@ -380,7 +416,8 @@ func TestFetchProgress(t *testing.T) {
 	// Verify final progress shows complete
 	if len(progressUpdates) > 0 {
 		last := progressUpdates[len(progressUpdates)-1]
-		assert.Equal(t, int64(len(content)), last.BytesRead, "final progress should show all bytes read")
+		assert.Equal(t, int64(len(content)), last.BytesRead,
+			"final progress should show all bytes read")
 		assert.Equal(t, "large.txt", last.Path)
 	}
 

internal/cli/freshen.go

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package cli
 
 import (
 	"crypto/sha256"
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
 	"io/fs"
@@ -16,6 +17,19 @@ import (
 	"sneak.berlin/go/mfer/mfer"
 )
 
+const (
+	// hashBufSize is the read buffer size used when hashing files.
+	hashBufSize = 64 * 1024
+
+	// scanProgressInterval is how many scanned files pass between
+	// progress updates.
+	scanProgressInterval = 100
+)
+
+// errEntryMissingMtime indicates a manifest entry that carries no
+// modification time where one is required to carry it forward unchanged.
+var errEntryMissingMtime = errors.New("manifest entry has no mtime")
+
 // FreshenStatus contains progress information for the freshen operation.
 type FreshenStatus struct {
 	Phase        string        // "scan" or "hash"
@@ -36,87 +50,122 @@ type freshenEntry struct {
 	existing  *mfer.MFFilePath // existing manifest entry if unchanged
 }
 
-func (mfa *CLIApp) freshenManifestOperation(ctx *cli.Context) error {
+// freshenScanner walks the filesystem and compares it against the
-	log.Debug("freshenManifestOperation()")
+// entries of an existing manifest.
+type freshenScanner struct {
+	fs              afero.Fs
+	absBase         string
+	manifestBase    string
+	includeDotfiles bool
+	followSymlinks  bool
+	showProgress    bool
+	existingByPath  map[string]*mfer.MFFilePath
 
-	basePath := ctx.String("base")
+	entries   []*freshenEntry
-	showProgress := ctx.Bool("progress")
+	scanCount int64
-	includeDotfiles := ctx.Bool("include-dotfiles")
+	changed   int64
-	followSymlinks := ctx.Bool("follow-symlinks")
+	added     int64
+	unchanged int64
+}
 
-	// Find manifest file
+// resolveSymlink resolves a symlink to its target's FileInfo. The
-	var manifestPath string
+// second return value is false when the entry should be skipped.
-	var err error
+func (s *freshenScanner) resolveSymlink(path string) (fs.FileInfo, bool) {
-
+	if !s.followSymlinks {
-	if ctx.Args().Len() > 0 {
+		return nil, false
-		arg := ctx.Args().Get(0)
-		info, statErr := mfa.Fs.Stat(arg)
-		if statErr == nil && info.IsDir() {
-			manifestPath, err = findManifest(mfa.Fs, arg)
-			if err != nil {
-				return fmt.Errorf("freshen: %w", err)
 	}
+
+	realPath, err := filepath.EvalSymlinks(path)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, false // Skip broken symlinks
+	}
+
+	realInfo, err := s.fs.Stat(realPath)
+	if err != nil || realInfo.IsDir() {
+		return nil, false
+	}
+
+	return realInfo, true
+}
+
+// recordEntry classifies a scanned file as changed, unchanged, or added
+// relative to the existing manifest.
+func (s *freshenScanner) recordEntry(relPath string, info fs.FileInfo) {
+	existing, inManifest := s.existingByPath[relPath]
+	if !inManifest {
+		s.added++
+
+		log.Verbosef("A %s", relPath)
+		s.entries = append(s.entries, &freshenEntry{
+			path:      relPath,
+			size:      info.Size(),
+			mtime:     info.ModTime(),
+			needsHash: true,
+		})
+
+		return
+	}
+
+	// Check if changed (size or mtime). An entry with no recorded mtime
+	// cannot be compared, so it counts as changed and gets re-hashed;
+	// silently treating the absent mtime as the Unix epoch would classify
+	// every such entry as changed without saying why.
+	existingMtime, haveMtime := entryMtime(existing)
+	if !haveMtime {
+		log.Debugf("%s: manifest entry has no mtime, treating as changed",
+			relPath)
+	}
+
+	if !haveMtime || existing.GetSize() != info.Size() ||
+		!existingMtime.Equal(info.ModTime()) {
+		s.changed++
+
+		log.Verbosef("M %s", relPath)
+		s.entries = append(s.entries, &freshenEntry{
+			path:      relPath,
+			size:      info.Size(),
+			mtime:     info.ModTime(),
+			needsHash: true,
+		})
 	} else {
-			manifestPath = arg
+		s.unchanged++
-		}
+
-	} else {
+		s.entries = append(s.entries, &freshenEntry{
-		manifestPath, err = findManifest(mfa.Fs, ".")
+			path:      relPath,
-		if err != nil {
+			size:      info.Size(),
-			return fmt.Errorf("freshen: %w", err)
+			mtime:     info.ModTime(),
-		}
+			needsHash: false,
+			existing:  existing,
+		})
 	}
+	// Mark as seen
+	delete(s.existingByPath, relPath)
+}
 
-	log.Infof("loading manifest from %s", manifestPath)
+// walk is the afero.Walk callback for the scan phase.
-
+func (s *freshenScanner) walk(path string, info fs.FileInfo, walkErr error) error {
-	// Load existing manifest
-	manifest, err := mfer.NewManifestFromFile(mfa.Fs, manifestPath)
-	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("failed to load manifest: %w", err)
-	}
-
-	existingFiles := manifest.Files()
-	log.Infof("manifest contains %d files", len(existingFiles))
-
-	// Build map of existing entries by path
-	existingByPath := make(map[string]*mfer.MFFilePath, len(existingFiles))
-	for _, f := range existingFiles {
-		existingByPath[f.Path] = f
-	}
-
-	// Phase 1: Scan filesystem
-	log.Infof("scanning filesystem...")
-	startScan := time.Now()
-
-	var entries []*freshenEntry
-	var scanCount int64
-	var removed, changed, added, unchanged int64
-
-	absBase, err := filepath.Abs(basePath)
-	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("freshen: invalid base path: %w", err)
-	}
-
-	err = afero.Walk(mfa.Fs, absBase, func(path string, info fs.FileInfo, walkErr error) error {
 	if walkErr != nil {
 		return walkErr
 	}
 
 	// Get relative path
-		relPath, err := filepath.Rel(absBase, path)
+	relPath, err := filepath.Rel(s.absBase, path)
 	if err != nil {
-			return fmt.Errorf("freshen: failed to compute relative path for %s: %w", path, err)
+		return fmt.Errorf(
+			"freshen: failed to compute relative path for %s: %w", path, err)
 	}
 
 	// Skip the manifest file itself
-		if relPath == filepath.Base(manifestPath) || relPath == "."+filepath.Base(manifestPath) {
+	if relPath == s.manifestBase || relPath == "."+s.manifestBase {
 		return nil
 	}
 
 	// Handle dotfiles
-		if !includeDotfiles && mfer.IsHiddenPath(filepath.ToSlash(relPath)) {
+	if !s.includeDotfiles && mfer.IsHiddenPath(filepath.ToSlash(relPath)) {
 		if info.IsDir() {
 			return filepath.SkipDir
 		}
+
 		return nil
 	}
 
@@ -127,104 +176,166 @@ func (mfa *CLIApp) freshenManifestOperation(ctx *cli.Context) error {
 
 	// Handle symlinks
 	if info.Mode()&fs.ModeSymlink != 0 {
-			if !followSymlinks {
+		realInfo, keep := s.resolveSymlink(path)
-				return nil
+		if !keep {
-			}
-			realPath, err := filepath.EvalSymlinks(path)
-			if err != nil {
-				return nil // Skip broken symlinks
-			}
-			realInfo, err := mfa.Fs.Stat(realPath)
-			if err != nil || realInfo.IsDir() {
 			return nil
 		}
+
 		info = realInfo
 	}
 
-		scanCount++
+	s.scanCount++
 
 	// Check against existing manifest
-		existing, inManifest := existingByPath[relPath]
+	s.recordEntry(relPath, info)
-		if inManifest {
-			// Check if changed (size or mtime)
-			existingMtime := time.Unix(existing.Mtime.Seconds, int64(existing.Mtime.Nanos))
-			if existing.Size != info.Size() || !existingMtime.Equal(info.ModTime()) {
-				changed++
-				log.Verbosef("M %s", relPath)
-				entries = append(entries, &freshenEntry{
-					path:      relPath,
-					size:      info.Size(),
-					mtime:     info.ModTime(),
-					needsHash: true,
-				})
-			} else {
-				unchanged++
-				entries = append(entries, &freshenEntry{
-					path:      relPath,
-					size:      info.Size(),
-					mtime:     info.ModTime(),
-					needsHash: false,
-					existing:  existing,
-				})
-			}
-			// Mark as seen
-			delete(existingByPath, relPath)
-		} else {
-			added++
-			log.Verbosef("A %s", relPath)
-			entries = append(entries, &freshenEntry{
-				path:      relPath,
-				size:      info.Size(),
-				mtime:     info.ModTime(),
-				needsHash: true,
-			})
-		}
 
 	// Report scan progress
-		if showProgress && scanCount%100 == 0 {
+	if s.showProgress && s.scanCount%scanProgressInterval == 0 {
-			log.Progressf("Scanning: %d files found", scanCount)
+		log.Progressf("Scanning: %d files found", s.scanCount)
 	}
 
 	return nil
-	})
+}
 
-	if showProgress {
+// resolveFreshenManifestPath determines the manifest path from the CLI
-		log.ProgressDone()
+// arguments, searching directories for a manifest where needed.
+func (mfa *CLIApp) resolveFreshenManifestPath(ctx *cli.Context) (string, error) {
+	if ctx.Args().Len() == 0 {
+		return findManifest(mfa.Fs, ".")
 	}
 
+	arg := ctx.Args().Get(0)
+
+	info, statErr := mfa.Fs.Stat(arg)
+	if statErr == nil && info.IsDir() {
+		return findManifest(mfa.Fs, arg)
+	}
+
+	return arg, nil
+}
+
+// freshenHasher hashes changed and added files and feeds all entries to
+// a manifest builder.
+type freshenHasher struct {
+	fs             afero.Fs
+	absBase        string
+	showProgress   bool
+	totalHashBytes int64
+	filesToHash    int64
+	startHash      time.Time
+	builder        *mfer.Builder
+
+	hashedFiles int64
+	hashedBytes int64
+}
+
+// reportProgress renders hashing progress for the current byte count.
+func (h *freshenHasher) reportProgress(n int64) {
+	if !h.showProgress {
+		return
+	}
+
+	currentBytes := h.hashedBytes + n
+	elapsed := time.Since(h.startHash)
+
+	var (
+		rate float64
+		eta  time.Duration
+	)
+
+	if elapsed > 0 && currentBytes > 0 {
+		rate = float64(currentBytes) / elapsed.Seconds()
+
+		remaining := h.totalHashBytes - currentBytes
+		if rate > 0 {
+			eta = time.Duration(float64(remaining)/rate) * time.Second
+		}
+	}
+
+	if eta > 0 {
+		log.Progressf("Hashing: %d/%d files, %s/s, ETA %s",
+			h.hashedFiles, h.filesToHash, humanize.IBytes(safeRateUint64(rate)),
+			eta.Round(time.Second))
+	} else {
+		log.Progressf("Hashing: %d/%d files, %s/s",
+			h.hashedFiles, h.filesToHash, humanize.IBytes(safeRateUint64(rate)))
+	}
+}
+
+// processEntry hashes the entry if needed and adds it to the builder.
+func (h *freshenHasher) processEntry(e *freshenEntry) error {
+	if !e.needsHash {
+		// Use existing entry
+		err := addExistingToBuilder(h.builder, e.existing)
+		if err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("failed to add %s: %w", e.path, err)
+		}
+
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	// Need to read and hash the file
+	absPath := filepath.Join(h.absBase, e.path)
+
+	f, err := h.fs.Open(absPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to open %s: %w", e.path, err)
+	}
+
+	hash, bytesRead, err := hashFile(f, h.reportProgress)
+	_ = f.Close()
+
 	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("failed to scan filesystem: %w", err)
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to hash %s: %w", e.path, err)
 	}
 
-	// Remaining entries in existingByPath are removed files
+	h.hashedBytes += bytesRead
-	removed = int64(len(existingByPath))
+	h.hashedFiles++
-	for path := range existingByPath {
+
-		log.Verbosef("D %s", path)
+	// Add to builder with computed hash
+	err = addFileToBuilder(h.builder, e.path, e.size, e.mtime, hash)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to add %s: %w", e.path, err)
 	}
 
-	scanDuration := time.Since(startScan)
+	return nil
-	log.Infof("scan complete in %s: %d unchanged, %d changed, %d added, %d removed",
+}
-		scanDuration.Round(time.Millisecond), unchanged, changed, added, removed)
 
-	// Calculate total bytes to hash
+// writeFreshenedManifest writes the manifest atomically (write to a
-	var totalHashBytes int64
+// temp file, then rename over the target).
-	var filesToHash int64
+func writeFreshenedManifest(
-	for _, e := range entries {
+	afs afero.Fs, builder *mfer.Builder, manifestPath string,
-		if e.needsHash {
+) error {
-			totalHashBytes += e.size
+	tmpPath := manifestPath + ".tmp"
-			filesToHash++
+
-		}
+	outFile, err := afs.Create(tmpPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to create temp file: %w", err)
 	}
 
-	// Phase 2: Hash changed and new files
+	err = builder.Build(outFile)
-	if filesToHash > 0 {
+	_ = outFile.Close()
-		log.Infof("hashing %d files (%s)...", filesToHash, humanize.IBytes(uint64(totalHashBytes)))
+
+	if err != nil {
+		_ = afs.Remove(tmpPath)
+
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to write manifest: %w", err)
 	}
 
-	startHash := time.Now()
+	// Rename temp to final
-	var hashedFiles int64
+	err = afs.Rename(tmpPath, manifestPath)
-	var hashedBytes int64
+	if err != nil {
+		_ = afs.Remove(tmpPath)
 
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to rename manifest: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+// newFreshenBuilder constructs the manifest builder configured from CLI
+// flags.
+func newFreshenBuilder(ctx *cli.Context) *mfer.Builder {
 	builder := mfer.NewBuilder()
 	if ctx.Bool("include-timestamps") {
 		builder.SetIncludeTimestamps(true)
@@ -238,6 +349,77 @@ func (mfa *CLIApp) freshenManifestOperation(ctx *cli.Context) error {
 		log.Infof("signing manifest with GPG key: %s", signKey)
 	}
 
+	return builder
+}
+
+// freshenScan runs the scan phase against the loaded manifest entries
+// and returns the populated scanner and the count of removed files.
+func (mfa *CLIApp) freshenScan(
+	ctx *cli.Context, manifestPath, absBase string,
+	existingByPath map[string]*mfer.MFFilePath,
+) (*freshenScanner, int64, error) {
+	log.Infof("scanning filesystem...")
+
+	startScan := time.Now()
+	showProgress := ctx.Bool("progress")
+
+	scanner := &freshenScanner{
+		fs:              mfa.Fs,
+		absBase:         absBase,
+		manifestBase:    filepath.Base(manifestPath),
+		includeDotfiles: ctx.Bool("include-dotfiles"),
+		followSymlinks:  ctx.Bool("follow-symlinks"),
+		showProgress:    showProgress,
+		existingByPath:  existingByPath,
+	}
+
+	err := afero.Walk(mfa.Fs, absBase, scanner.walk)
+
+	if showProgress {
+		log.ProgressDone()
+	}
+
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, 0, fmt.Errorf("failed to scan filesystem: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	// Remaining entries in existingByPath are removed files
+	removed := int64(len(existingByPath))
+	for path := range existingByPath {
+		log.Verbosef("D %s", path)
+	}
+
+	scanDuration := time.Since(startScan)
+	log.Infof("scan complete in %s: %d unchanged, %d changed, %d added, %d removed",
+		scanDuration.Round(time.Millisecond), scanner.unchanged, scanner.changed,
+		scanner.added, removed)
+
+	return scanner, removed, nil
+}
+
+// hashTotals returns the total byte count and file count of entries
+// that need hashing.
+func hashTotals(entries []*freshenEntry) (int64, int64) {
+	var (
+		totalHashBytes int64
+		filesToHash    int64
+	)
+
+	for _, e := range entries {
+		if e.needsHash {
+			totalHashBytes += e.size
+			filesToHash++
+		}
+	}
+
+	return totalHashBytes, filesToHash
+}
+
+// runFreshenHash processes every entry through the hasher, aborting if
+// the context is canceled.
+func runFreshenHash(
+	ctx *cli.Context, hasher *freshenHasher, entries []*freshenEntry,
+) error {
 	for _, e := range entries {
 		select {
 		case <-ctx.Done():
@@ -245,55 +427,91 @@ func (mfa *CLIApp) freshenManifestOperation(ctx *cli.Context) error {
 		default:
 		}
 
-		if e.needsHash {
+		err := hasher.processEntry(e)
-			// Need to read and hash the file
-			absPath := filepath.Join(absBase, e.path)
-			f, err := mfa.Fs.Open(absPath)
 		if err != nil {
-				return fmt.Errorf("failed to open %s: %w", e.path, err)
+			return err
+		}
 	}
 
-			hash, bytesRead, err := hashFile(f, e.size, func(n int64) {
+	return nil
-				if showProgress {
+}
-					currentBytes := hashedBytes + n
-					elapsed := time.Since(startHash)
-					var rate float64
-					var eta time.Duration
-					if elapsed > 0 && currentBytes > 0 {
-						rate = float64(currentBytes) / elapsed.Seconds()
-						remaining := totalHashBytes - currentBytes
-						if rate > 0 {
-							eta = time.Duration(float64(remaining)/rate) * time.Second
-						}
-					}
-					if eta > 0 {
-						log.Progressf("Hashing: %d/%d files, %s/s, ETA %s",
-							hashedFiles, filesToHash, humanize.IBytes(uint64(rate)), eta.Round(time.Second))
-					} else {
-						log.Progressf("Hashing: %d/%d files, %s/s",
-							hashedFiles, filesToHash, humanize.IBytes(uint64(rate)))
-					}
-				}
-			})
-			_ = f.Close()
 
+// loadExistingEntries loads the manifest and indexes its file entries
+// by path.
+func (mfa *CLIApp) loadExistingEntries(
+	manifestPath string,
+) (map[string]*mfer.MFFilePath, error) {
+	log.Infof("loading manifest from %s", manifestPath)
+
+	// Load existing manifest
+	manifest, err := mfer.NewManifestFromFile(mfa.Fs, manifestPath)
 	if err != nil {
-				return fmt.Errorf("failed to hash %s: %w", e.path, err)
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to load manifest: %w", err)
 	}
 
-			hashedBytes += bytesRead
+	existingFiles := manifest.Files()
-			hashedFiles++
+	log.Infof("manifest contains %d files", len(existingFiles))
 
-			// Add to builder with computed hash
+	// Build map of existing entries by path
-			if err := addFileToBuilder(builder, e.path, e.size, e.mtime, hash); err != nil {
+	existingByPath := make(map[string]*mfer.MFFilePath, len(existingFiles))
-				return fmt.Errorf("failed to add %s: %w", e.path, err)
+	for _, f := range existingFiles {
+		existingByPath[f.GetPath()] = f
 	}
-		} else {
+
-			// Use existing entry
+	return existingByPath, nil
-			if err := addExistingToBuilder(builder, e.existing); err != nil {
+}
-				return fmt.Errorf("failed to add %s: %w", e.path, err)
+
+func (mfa *CLIApp) freshenManifestOperation(ctx *cli.Context) error {
+	log.Debug("freshenManifestOperation()")
+
+	basePath := ctx.String("base")
+	showProgress := ctx.Bool("progress")
+
+	// Find manifest file
+	manifestPath, err := mfa.resolveFreshenManifestPath(ctx)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("freshen: %w", err)
 	}
+
+	existingByPath, err := mfa.loadExistingEntries(manifestPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
 	}
+
+	absBase, err := filepath.Abs(basePath)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("freshen: invalid base path: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	// Phase 1: Scan filesystem
+	scanner, removed, err := mfa.freshenScan(ctx, manifestPath, absBase,
+		existingByPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	// Calculate total bytes to hash
+	totalHashBytes, filesToHash := hashTotals(scanner.entries)
+
+	// Phase 2: Hash changed and new files
+	if filesToHash > 0 {
+		log.Infof("hashing %d files (%s)...", filesToHash,
+			humanize.IBytes(safeUint64(totalHashBytes)))
+	}
+
+	hasher := &freshenHasher{
+		fs:             mfa.Fs,
+		absBase:        absBase,
+		showProgress:   showProgress,
+		totalHashBytes: totalHashBytes,
+		filesToHash:    filesToHash,
+		startHash:      time.Now(),
+		builder:        newFreshenBuilder(ctx),
+	}
+
+	err = runFreshenHash(ctx, hasher, scanner.entries)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
 	}
 
 	if showProgress && filesToHash > 0 {
@@ -302,65 +520,61 @@ func (mfa *CLIApp) freshenManifestOperation(ctx *cli.Context) error {
 
 	// Print summary
 	log.Infof("freshen complete: %d unchanged, %d changed, %d added, %d removed",
-		unchanged, changed, added, removed)
+		scanner.unchanged, scanner.changed, scanner.added, removed)
 
 	// Skip writing if nothing changed
-	if changed == 0 && added == 0 && removed == 0 {
+	if scanner.changed == 0 && scanner.added == 0 && removed == 0 {
 		log.Infof("manifest unchanged, skipping write")
+
 		return nil
 	}
 
 	// Write updated manifest atomically (write to temp, then rename)
-	tmpPath := manifestPath + ".tmp"
+	err = writeFreshenedManifest(mfa.Fs, hasher.builder, manifestPath)
-	outFile, err := mfa.Fs.Create(tmpPath)
 	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("failed to create temp file: %w", err)
+		return err
-	}
-
-	err = builder.Build(outFile)
-	_ = outFile.Close()
-	if err != nil {
-		_ = mfa.Fs.Remove(tmpPath)
-		return fmt.Errorf("failed to write manifest: %w", err)
-	}
-
-	// Rename temp to final
-	if err := mfa.Fs.Rename(tmpPath, manifestPath); err != nil {
-		_ = mfa.Fs.Remove(tmpPath)
-		return fmt.Errorf("failed to rename manifest: %w", err)
 	}
 
 	totalDuration := time.Since(mfa.startupTime)
-	if hashedBytes > 0 {
+	if hasher.hashedBytes > 0 {
-		hashDuration := time.Since(startHash)
+		hashDuration := time.Since(hasher.startHash)
-		hashRate := float64(hashedBytes) / hashDuration.Seconds()
+		hashRate := float64(hasher.hashedBytes) / hashDuration.Seconds()
 		log.Infof("hashed %s in %.1fs (%s/s)",
-			humanize.IBytes(uint64(hashedBytes)), totalDuration.Seconds(), humanize.IBytes(uint64(hashRate)))
+			humanize.IBytes(safeUint64(hasher.hashedBytes)),
+			totalDuration.Seconds(), humanize.IBytes(safeRateUint64(hashRate)))
 	}
-	log.Infof("wrote %d files to %s", len(entries), manifestPath)
+
+	log.Infof("wrote %d files to %s", len(scanner.entries), manifestPath)
 
 	return nil
 }
 
 // hashFile reads a file and computes its SHA256 multihash.
 // Progress callback is called with bytes read so far.
-func hashFile(r io.Reader, size int64, progress func(int64)) ([]byte, int64, error) {
+func hashFile(r io.Reader, progress func(int64)) ([]byte, int64, error) {
 	h := sha256.New()
-	buf := make([]byte, 64*1024)
+	buf := make([]byte, hashBufSize)
+
 	var total int64
 
 	for {
 		n, err := r.Read(buf)
 		if n > 0 {
 			h.Write(buf[:n])
+
 			total += int64(n)
 			if progress != nil {
 				progress(total)
 			}
 		}
+
 		if err == io.EOF {
 			break
 		}
+
+		// Returned unwrapped: the caller renders this as
+		// "failed to hash <path>: <err>" and adding a second layer here
+		// would change that message.
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, total, err
 		}
@@ -375,15 +589,29 @@ func hashFile(r io.Reader, size int64, progress func(int64)) ([]byte, int64, err
 }
 
 // addFileToBuilder adds a new file entry to the builder
-func addFileToBuilder(b *mfer.Builder, path string, size int64, mtime time.Time, hash []byte) error {
+func addFileToBuilder(
-	return b.AddFileWithHash(mfer.RelFilePath(path), mfer.FileSize(size), mfer.ModTime(mtime), hash)
+	b *mfer.Builder, path string, size int64, mtime time.Time, hash []byte,
+) error {
+	return b.AddFileWithHash(
+		mfer.RelFilePath(path), mfer.FileSize(size), mfer.ModTime(mtime), hash)
 }
 
-// addExistingToBuilder adds an existing manifest entry to the builder
+// addExistingToBuilder adds an existing manifest entry to the builder.
+//
+// Entries reach this path only when recordEntry classified them as
+// unchanged, which requires a recorded mtime, so an absent mtime here is
+// an error rather than something to paper over with the Unix epoch.
 func addExistingToBuilder(b *mfer.Builder, entry *mfer.MFFilePath) error {
-	mtime := time.Unix(entry.Mtime.Seconds, int64(entry.Mtime.Nanos))
+	mtime, ok := entryMtime(entry)
-	if len(entry.Hashes) == 0 {
+	if !ok {
+		return fmt.Errorf("%w: %s", errEntryMissingMtime, entry.GetPath())
+	}
+
+	if len(entry.GetHashes()) == 0 {
 		return nil
 	}
-	return b.AddFileWithHash(mfer.RelFilePath(entry.Path), mfer.FileSize(entry.Size), mfer.ModTime(mtime), entry.Hashes[0].MultiHash)
+
+	return b.AddFileWithHash(mfer.RelFilePath(entry.GetPath()),
+		mfer.FileSize(entry.GetSize()), mfer.ModTime(mtime),
+		entry.GetHashes()[0].GetMultiHash())
 }

internal/cli/freshen_test.go

@@ -1,9 +1,12 @@
+//nolint:testpackage // white-box tests exercise unexported internals
 package cli
 
 import (
 	"bytes"
 	"context"
+	"os"
 	"testing"
+	"time"
 
 	"github.com/spf13/afero"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
@@ -11,24 +14,48 @@ import (
 	"sneak.berlin/go/mfer/mfer"
 )
 
-func TestFreshenUnchanged(t *testing.T) {
+// stubFileInfo is a minimal fs.FileInfo for exercising recordEntry
-	// Create filesystem with test files
+// without touching a filesystem.
-	fs := afero.NewMemMapFs()
+type stubFileInfo struct {
+	size  int64
+	mtime time.Time
+}
 
-	require.NoError(t, fs.MkdirAll("/testdir", 0o755))
+func (s stubFileInfo) Name() string       { return "stub" }
-	require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, "/testdir/file1.txt", []byte("content1"), 0o644))
+func (s stubFileInfo) Size() int64        { return s.size }
-	require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, "/testdir/file2.txt", []byte("content2"), 0o644))
+func (s stubFileInfo) Mode() os.FileMode  { return 0 }
+func (s stubFileInfo) ModTime() time.Time { return s.mtime }
+func (s stubFileInfo) IsDir() bool        { return false }
+func (s stubFileInfo) Sys() any           { return nil }
+
+// setupFreshenDir populates /testdir with two files, scans it, and
+// writes the resulting manifest to /testdir/.index.mf.
+func setupFreshenDir(t *testing.T, fs afero.Fs) {
+	t.Helper()
+
+	require.NoError(t, fs.MkdirAll(testDir, 0o755))
+	writeTestFile(t, fs, testFile1, "content1")
+	writeTestFile(t, fs, "/testdir/file2.txt", "content2")
 
 	// Generate initial manifest
 	opts := &mfer.ScannerOptions{Fs: fs}
 	s := mfer.NewScannerWithOptions(opts)
-	require.NoError(t, s.EnumeratePath("/testdir", nil))
+	require.NoError(t, s.EnumeratePath(testDir, nil))
 
 	var manifestBuf bytes.Buffer
+
 	require.NoError(t, s.ToManifest(context.Background(), &manifestBuf, nil))
 
 	// Write manifest to filesystem
-	require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, "/testdir/.index.mf", manifestBuf.Bytes(), 0o644))
+	require.NoError(t,
+		afero.WriteFile(fs, "/testdir/.index.mf", manifestBuf.Bytes(), 0o644))
+}
+
+func TestFreshenUnchanged(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	fs := afero.NewMemMapFs()
+	setupFreshenDir(t, fs)
 
 	// Parse manifest to verify
 	manifest, err := mfer.NewManifestFromFile(fs, "/testdir/.index.mf")
@@ -37,23 +64,10 @@ func TestFreshenUnchanged(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestFreshenWithChanges(t *testing.T) {
-	// Create filesystem with test files
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	fs := afero.NewMemMapFs()
-
+	setupFreshenDir(t, fs)
-	require.NoError(t, fs.MkdirAll("/testdir", 0o755))
-	require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, "/testdir/file1.txt", []byte("content1"), 0o644))
-	require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, "/testdir/file2.txt", []byte("content2"), 0o644))
-
-	// Generate initial manifest
-	opts := &mfer.ScannerOptions{Fs: fs}
-	s := mfer.NewScannerWithOptions(opts)
-	require.NoError(t, s.EnumeratePath("/testdir", nil))
-
-	var manifestBuf bytes.Buffer
-	require.NoError(t, s.ToManifest(context.Background(), &manifestBuf, nil))
-
-	// Write manifest to filesystem
-	require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, "/testdir/.index.mf", manifestBuf.Bytes(), 0o644))
 
 	// Verify initial manifest has 2 files
 	manifest, err := mfer.NewManifestFromFile(fs, "/testdir/.index.mf")
@@ -61,17 +75,17 @@ func TestFreshenWithChanges(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Len(t, manifest.Files(), 2)
 
 	// Add a new file
-	require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, "/testdir/file3.txt", []byte("content3"), 0o644))
+	writeTestFile(t, fs, "/testdir/file3.txt", "content3")
 
 	// Modify file2 (change content and size)
-	require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, "/testdir/file2.txt", []byte("modified content2"), 0o644))
+	writeTestFile(t, fs, "/testdir/file2.txt", "modified content2")
 
 	// Remove file1
-	require.NoError(t, fs.Remove("/testdir/file1.txt"))
+	require.NoError(t, fs.Remove(testFile1))
 
 	// Note: The freshen operation would need to be run here
 	// For now, we just verify the test setup is correct
-	exists, _ := afero.Exists(fs, "/testdir/file1.txt")
+	exists, _ := afero.Exists(fs, testFile1)
 	assert.False(t, exists)
 
 	exists, _ = afero.Exists(fs, "/testdir/file3.txt")
@@ -80,3 +94,104 @@ func TestFreshenWithChanges(t *testing.T) {
 	content, _ := afero.ReadFile(fs, "/testdir/file2.txt")
 	assert.Equal(t, "modified content2", string(content))
 }
+
+// TestFreshenRecordEntryMtimePresence pins the behavior of recordEntry
+// with respect to MFFilePath.Mtime, which is a message pointer with
+// proto3 field presence and may legitimately be absent.
+//
+// An absent mtime must never be read as time.Unix(0, 0): that value
+// never equals a real modification time, so every entry would be
+// classified as changed, re-hashed, and the manifest rewritten
+// unconditionally - the exact inverse of what freshen is for, and
+// silent. An entry with no mtime is therefore "changed" because it
+// cannot be compared, not because it looks like it dates from 1970.
+func TestFreshenRecordEntryMtimePresence(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	const relPath = "file1.txt"
+
+	mtime := time.Unix(1_700_000_000, 0)
+	info := stubFileInfo{size: 8, mtime: mtime}
+
+	for _, tc := range []struct {
+		name      string
+		entry     *mfer.MFFilePath
+		needsHash bool
+		changed   int64
+		unchanged int64
+	}{
+		{
+			name: "matching mtime and size is unchanged",
+			entry: &mfer.MFFilePath{
+				Path:  relPath,
+				Size:  8,
+				Mtime: &mfer.Timestamp{Seconds: mtime.Unix()},
+			},
+			needsHash: false,
+			changed:   0,
+			unchanged: 1,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "absent mtime is changed, not epoch",
+			entry: &mfer.MFFilePath{
+				Path:  relPath,
+				Size:  8,
+				Mtime: nil,
+			},
+			needsHash: true,
+			changed:   1,
+			unchanged: 0,
+		},
+	} {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			t.Parallel()
+
+			s := &freshenScanner{
+				existingByPath: map[string]*mfer.MFFilePath{relPath: tc.entry},
+			}
+			s.recordEntry(relPath, info)
+
+			require.Len(t, s.entries, 1)
+			assert.Equal(t, tc.needsHash, s.entries[0].needsHash)
+			assert.Equal(t, tc.changed, s.changed)
+			assert.Equal(t, tc.unchanged, s.unchanged)
+			assert.Zero(t, s.added)
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+// TestFreshenAddExistingRejectsMissingMtime pins that an entry with no
+// mtime is never carried forward into a rebuilt manifest with a
+// fabricated epoch timestamp.
+func TestFreshenAddExistingRejectsMissingMtime(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	b := mfer.NewBuilder()
+	entry := &mfer.MFFilePath{
+		Path:  "file1.txt",
+		Size:  8,
+		Mtime: nil,
+		Hashes: []*mfer.MFFileChecksum{
+			{MultiHash: []byte{0x12, 0x20}},
+		},
+	}
+
+	err := addExistingToBuilder(b, entry)
+	require.ErrorIs(t, err, errEntryMissingMtime)
+	assert.Contains(t, err.Error(), "file1.txt")
+}
+
+// TestEntryMtime pins the presence semantics the callers depend on.
+func TestEntryMtime(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	got, ok := entryMtime(&mfer.MFFilePath{Mtime: nil})
+	assert.False(t, ok)
+	assert.True(t, got.IsZero())
+
+	got, ok = entryMtime(&mfer.MFFilePath{
+		Mtime: &mfer.Timestamp{Seconds: 1_700_000_000, Nanos: 500},
+	})
+	assert.True(t, ok)
+	assert.Equal(t, time.Unix(1_700_000_000, 500), got)
+}

internal/cli/gen.go

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package cli
 
 import (
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"os"
 	"os/signal"
@@ -16,9 +17,78 @@ import (
 	"sneak.berlin/go/mfer/mfer"
 )
 
-func (mfa *CLIApp) generateManifestOperation(ctx *cli.Context) error {
+var (
-	log.Debug("generateManifestOperation()")
+	// errPathNotExist indicates an input path that does not exist.
+	errPathNotExist = errors.New("path does not exist")
+	// errOutputExists indicates the output file already exists and
+	// --force was not given. It is wrapped mid-sentence so that the
+	// rendered message stays exactly as mfer has always printed it.
+	errOutputExists = errors.New(
+		"already exists (use --force to overwrite)")
+)
 
+// reportEnumProgress renders enumeration progress until the channel
+// closes.
+func reportEnumProgress(progress <-chan mfer.EnumerateStatus, wg *sync.WaitGroup) {
+	defer wg.Done()
+
+	for status := range progress {
+		log.Progressf("Enumerating: %d files, %s",
+			status.FilesFound,
+			humanize.IBytes(safeUint64(int64(status.BytesFound))))
+	}
+
+	log.ProgressDone()
+}
+
+// reportScanProgress renders scan progress until the channel closes.
+func reportScanProgress(progress <-chan mfer.ScanStatus, wg *sync.WaitGroup) {
+	defer wg.Done()
+
+	for status := range progress {
+		if status.ETA > 0 {
+			log.Progressf("Scanning: %d/%d files, %s/s, ETA %s",
+				status.ScannedFiles,
+				status.TotalFiles,
+				humanize.IBytes(safeRateUint64(status.BytesPerSec)),
+				status.ETA.Round(time.Second))
+		} else {
+			log.Progressf("Scanning: %d/%d files, %s/s",
+				status.ScannedFiles,
+				status.TotalFiles,
+				humanize.IBytes(safeRateUint64(status.BytesPerSec)))
+		}
+	}
+
+	log.ProgressDone()
+}
+
+// collectInputPaths validates the input path arguments and returns them
+// as absolute paths.
+func (mfa *CLIApp) collectInputPaths(args cli.Args) ([]string, error) {
+	paths := make([]string, 0, args.Len())
+
+	for i := range args.Len() {
+		inputPath := args.Get(i)
+
+		ap, err := filepath.Abs(inputPath)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("generate: invalid path %q: %w", inputPath, err)
+		}
+		// Validate path exists before adding to list
+		if exists, _ := afero.Exists(mfa.Fs, ap); !exists {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: %s", errPathNotExist, inputPath)
+		}
+
+		log.Debugf("enumerating path: %s", ap)
+		paths = append(paths, ap)
+	}
+
+	return paths, nil
+}
+
+// buildScannerOptions constructs scanner options from the CLI flags.
+func (mfa *CLIApp) buildScannerOptions(ctx *cli.Context) *mfer.ScannerOptions {
 	opts := &mfer.ScannerOptions{
 		IncludeDotfiles:   ctx.Bool("include-dotfiles"),
 		FollowSymLinks:    ctx.Bool("follow-symlinks"),
@@ -29,6 +99,7 @@ func (mfa *CLIApp) generateManifestOperation(ctx *cli.Context) error {
 	// Set seed for deterministic UUID if provided
 	if seed := ctx.String("seed"); seed != "" {
 		opts.Seed = seed
+
 		log.Infof("using deterministic seed for manifest UUID")
 	}
 
@@ -40,136 +111,167 @@ func (mfa *CLIApp) generateManifestOperation(ctx *cli.Context) error {
 		log.Infof("signing manifest with GPG key: %s", signKey)
 	}
 
-	s := mfer.NewScannerWithOptions(opts)
+	return opts
-
+}
-	// Phase 1: Enumeration - collect paths and stat files
-	args := ctx.Args()
-	showProgress := ctx.Bool("progress")
-
-	// Set up enumeration progress reporting
-	var enumProgress chan mfer.EnumerateStatus
-	var enumWg sync.WaitGroup
-	if showProgress {
-		enumProgress = make(chan mfer.EnumerateStatus, 1)
-		enumWg.Add(1)
-		go func() {
-			defer enumWg.Done()
-			for status := range enumProgress {
-				log.Progressf("Enumerating: %d files, %s",
-					status.FilesFound,
-					humanize.IBytes(uint64(status.BytesFound)))
-			}
-			log.ProgressDone()
-		}()
-	}
 
+// enumerateInputs runs the enumeration phase over the argument paths,
+// or the current directory when no arguments are given.
+func (mfa *CLIApp) enumerateInputs(
+	s *mfer.Scanner, args cli.Args, enumProgress chan mfer.EnumerateStatus,
+) error {
 	if args.Len() == 0 {
 		// Default to current directory
-		if err := s.EnumeratePath(".", enumProgress); err != nil {
+		err := s.EnumeratePath(".", enumProgress)
-			return fmt.Errorf("generate: failed to enumerate current directory: %w", err)
-		}
-	} else {
-		// Collect and validate all paths first
-		paths := make([]string, 0, args.Len())
-		for i := 0; i < args.Len(); i++ {
-			inputPath := args.Get(i)
-			ap, err := filepath.Abs(inputPath)
 		if err != nil {
-				return fmt.Errorf("generate: invalid path %q: %w", inputPath, err)
+			return fmt.Errorf(
+				"generate: failed to enumerate current directory: %w", err)
 		}
-			// Validate path exists before adding to list
+
-			if exists, _ := afero.Exists(mfa.Fs, ap); !exists {
+		return nil
-				return fmt.Errorf("path does not exist: %s", inputPath)
 	}
-			log.Debugf("enumerating path: %s", ap)
+
-			paths = append(paths, ap)
+	// Collect and validate all paths first
+	paths, err := mfa.collectInputPaths(args)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
 	}
-		if err := s.EnumeratePaths(enumProgress, paths...); err != nil {
+
+	err = s.EnumeratePaths(enumProgress, paths...)
+	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("generate: failed to enumerate paths: %w", err)
 	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+// cleanupOnSignal installs a handler that removes the temp output file
+// and exits when the process is interrupted. It returns the signal
+// channel so the caller can stop and close it when done.
+func (mfa *CLIApp) cleanupOnSignal(outFile afero.File, tmpPath string) chan os.Signal {
+	sigChan := make(chan os.Signal, 1)
+
+	signal.Notify(sigChan, os.Interrupt, syscall.SIGTERM)
+
+	go func() {
+		sig, ok := <-sigChan
+		if !ok || sig == nil {
+			return // Channel closed normally, not a signal
 		}
+
+		_ = outFile.Close()
+		_ = mfa.Fs.Remove(tmpPath)
+
+		os.Exit(1)
+	}()
+
+	return sigChan
+}
+
+// runEnumeratePhase enumerates all input paths with optional progress
+// reporting and logs the totals.
+func (mfa *CLIApp) runEnumeratePhase(ctx *cli.Context, s *mfer.Scanner) error {
+	// Set up enumeration progress reporting
+	var (
+		enumProgress chan mfer.EnumerateStatus
+		enumWg       sync.WaitGroup
+	)
+
+	if ctx.Bool("progress") {
+		enumProgress = make(chan mfer.EnumerateStatus, 1)
+
+		enumWg.Add(1)
+
+		go reportEnumProgress(enumProgress, &enumWg)
+	}
+
+	err := mfa.enumerateInputs(s, ctx.Args(), enumProgress)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
 	enumWg.Wait()
 
-	log.Infof("enumerated %d files, %s total", s.FileCount(), humanize.IBytes(uint64(s.TotalBytes())))
+	log.Infof("enumerated %d files, %s total", s.FileCount(),
+		humanize.IBytes(safeUint64(int64(s.TotalBytes()))))
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (mfa *CLIApp) generateManifestOperation(ctx *cli.Context) error {
+	log.Debug("generateManifestOperation()")
+
+	s := mfer.NewScannerWithOptions(mfa.buildScannerOptions(ctx))
+
+	// Phase 1: Enumeration - collect paths and stat files
+	err := mfa.runEnumeratePhase(ctx, s)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	showProgress := ctx.Bool("progress")
 
 	// Check if output file exists
 	outputPath := ctx.String("output")
-	if exists, _ := afero.Exists(mfa.Fs, outputPath); exists {
+	if exists, _ := afero.Exists(mfa.Fs, outputPath); exists && !ctx.Bool("force") {
-		if !ctx.Bool("force") {
+		return fmt.Errorf("output file %s %w", outputPath, errOutputExists)
-			return fmt.Errorf("output file %s already exists (use --force to overwrite)", outputPath)
-		}
 	}
 
 	// Create temp file for atomic write
 	tmpPath := outputPath + ".tmp"
+
 	outFile, err := mfa.Fs.Create(tmpPath)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to create temp file: %w", err)
 	}
 
 	// Set up signal handler to clean up temp file on Ctrl-C
-	sigChan := make(chan os.Signal, 1)
+	sigChan := mfa.cleanupOnSignal(outFile, tmpPath)
-	signal.Notify(sigChan, os.Interrupt, syscall.SIGTERM)
-	go func() {
-		sig, ok := <-sigChan
-		if !ok || sig == nil {
-			return // Channel closed normally, not a signal
-		}
-		_ = outFile.Close()
-		_ = mfa.Fs.Remove(tmpPath)
-		os.Exit(1)
-	}()
 
 	// Clean up temp file on any error or interruption
 	success := false
+
 	defer func() {
 		signal.Stop(sigChan)
 		close(sigChan)
+
 		_ = outFile.Close()
+
 		if !success {
 			_ = mfa.Fs.Remove(tmpPath)
 		}
 	}()
 
 	// Phase 2: Scan - read file contents and generate manifest
-	var scanProgress chan mfer.ScanStatus
+	var (
-	var scanWg sync.WaitGroup
+		scanProgress chan mfer.ScanStatus
+		scanWg       sync.WaitGroup
+	)
+
 	if showProgress {
 		scanProgress = make(chan mfer.ScanStatus, 1)
+
 		scanWg.Add(1)
-		go func() {
+
-			defer scanWg.Done()
+		go reportScanProgress(scanProgress, &scanWg)
-			for status := range scanProgress {
-				if status.ETA > 0 {
-					log.Progressf("Scanning: %d/%d files, %s/s, ETA %s",
-						status.ScannedFiles,
-						status.TotalFiles,
-						humanize.IBytes(uint64(status.BytesPerSec)),
-						status.ETA.Round(time.Second))
-				} else {
-					log.Progressf("Scanning: %d/%d files, %s/s",
-						status.ScannedFiles,
-						status.TotalFiles,
-						humanize.IBytes(uint64(status.BytesPerSec)))
-				}
-			}
-			log.ProgressDone()
-		}()
 	}
 
 	err = s.ToManifest(ctx.Context, outFile, scanProgress)
+
 	scanWg.Wait()
+
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to generate manifest: %w", err)
 	}
 
 	// Close file before rename to ensure all data is flushed
-	if err := outFile.Close(); err != nil {
+	err = outFile.Close()
+	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to close temp file: %w", err)
 	}
 
 	// Atomic rename
-	if err := mfa.Fs.Rename(tmpPath, outputPath); err != nil {
+	err = mfa.Fs.Rename(tmpPath, outputPath)
+	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to rename temp file: %w", err)
 	}
 
@@ -177,7 +279,9 @@ func (mfa *CLIApp) generateManifestOperation(ctx *cli.Context) error {
 
 	elapsed := time.Since(mfa.startupTime).Seconds()
 	rate := float64(s.TotalBytes()) / elapsed
-	log.Infof("wrote %d files (%s) to %s in %.1fs (%s/s)", s.FileCount(), humanize.IBytes(uint64(s.TotalBytes())), outputPath, elapsed, humanize.IBytes(uint64(rate)))
+	log.Infof("wrote %d files (%s) to %s in %.1fs (%s/s)", s.FileCount(),
+		humanize.IBytes(safeUint64(int64(s.TotalBytes()))), outputPath, elapsed,
+		humanize.IBytes(safeRateUint64(rate)))
 
 	return nil
 }

internal/cli/list.go

@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ func (mfa *CLIApp) listManifestOperation(ctx *cli.Context) error {
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("list: %w", err)
 	}
+
 	defer func() { _ = rc.Close() }()
 
 	manifest, err := mfer.NewManifestFromReader(rc)
@@ -42,10 +43,17 @@ func (mfa *CLIApp) listManifestOperation(ctx *cli.Context) error {
 
 	for _, f := range files {
 		if longFormat {
-			mtime := time.Unix(f.Mtime.Seconds, int64(f.Mtime.Nanos))
+			// An entry may legitimately carry no mtime; render that as
-			_, _ = fmt.Fprintf(mfa.Stdout, "%d\t%s\t%s%s", f.Size, mtime.Format(time.RFC3339), f.Path, lineEnd)
+			// mtimeAbsent rather than as the Unix epoch.
+			mtimeStr := mtimeAbsent
+			if mtime, ok := entryMtime(f); ok {
+				mtimeStr = mtime.Format(time.RFC3339)
+			}
+
+			_, _ = fmt.Fprintf(mfa.Stdout, "%d\t%s\t%s%s",
+				f.GetSize(), mtimeStr, f.GetPath(), lineEnd)
 		} else {
-			_, _ = fmt.Fprintf(mfa.Stdout, "%s%s", f.Path, lineEnd)
+			_, _ = fmt.Fprintf(mfa.Stdout, "%s%s", f.GetPath(), lineEnd)
 		}
 	}
 

internal/cli/manifest_loader.go

@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 package cli
 
 import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
 	"net/http"
@@ -10,6 +12,17 @@ import (
 	"github.com/urfave/cli/v2"
 )
 
+// manifestFetchTimeout bounds HTTP requests made to fetch a manifest.
+const manifestFetchTimeout = 30 * time.Second
+
+// errHTTPStatus indicates an HTTP response with a non-OK status code.
+//
+// Its text is the literal "HTTP" prefix of the rendered "HTTP <code>"
+// message that mfer has always printed, so that wrapping it does not
+// change any user-visible output. Match it with errors.Is; do not read
+// its message.
+var errHTTPStatus = errors.New("HTTP")
+
 // isHTTPURL returns true if the string starts with http:// or https://.
 func isHTTPURL(s string) bool {
 	return strings.HasPrefix(s, "http://") || strings.HasPrefix(s, "https://")
@@ -19,21 +32,35 @@ func isHTTPURL(s string) bool {
 // The caller must close the returned reader.
 func (mfa *CLIApp) openManifestReader(pathOrURL string) (io.ReadCloser, error) {
 	if isHTTPURL(pathOrURL) {
-		client := &http.Client{Timeout: 30 * time.Second}
+		client := &http.Client{Timeout: manifestFetchTimeout}
-		resp, err := client.Get(pathOrURL) //nolint:gosec // user-provided URL is intentional
+
+		req, err := http.NewRequestWithContext(
+			context.Background(), http.MethodGet, pathOrURL, nil,
+		)
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to fetch %s: %w", pathOrURL, err)
 		}
+
+		resp, err := client.Do(req)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to fetch %s: %w", pathOrURL, err)
+		}
+
 		if resp.StatusCode != http.StatusOK {
 			_ = resp.Body.Close()
-			return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to fetch %s: HTTP %d", pathOrURL, resp.StatusCode)
+
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to fetch %s: %w %d",
+				pathOrURL, errHTTPStatus, resp.StatusCode)
 		}
+
 		return resp.Body, nil
 	}
+
 	f, err := mfa.Fs.Open(pathOrURL)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
+
 	return f, nil
 }
 
@@ -46,11 +73,14 @@ func (mfa *CLIApp) resolveManifestArg(ctx *cli.Context) (string, error) {
 		if isHTTPURL(arg) {
 			return arg, nil
 		}
+
 		info, statErr := mfa.Fs.Stat(arg)
 		if statErr == nil && info.IsDir() {
 			return findManifest(mfa.Fs, arg)
 		}
+
 		return arg, nil
 	}
+
 	return findManifest(mfa.Fs, ".")
 }

internal/cli/mfer.go

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package cli
 
 import (
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
 	"os"
@@ -12,8 +13,24 @@ import (
 	"sneak.berlin/go/mfer/mfer"
 )
 
+// Command and flag names shared across command definitions and tests.
+const (
+	cmdGenerate = "generate"
+	cmdCheck    = "check"
+	cmdExport   = "export"
+
+	flagProgress = "progress"
+
+	manifestArgsUsage = "[manifest file]"
+)
+
+// errUnknownCommand indicates an unrecognized command argument.
+var errUnknownCommand = errors.New("unknown command")
+
 // CLIApp is the main CLI application container. It holds configuration,
 // I/O streams, and filesystem abstraction to enable testing and flexibility.
+//
+//nolint:revive // established name used throughout the codebase and tests
 type CLIApp struct {
 	appname     string
 	version     string
@@ -41,29 +58,34 @@ const banner = `
    \  \:\        \  \:\      \  \::/       \  \:\
     \__\/         \__\/       \__\/         \__\/`
 
-func (mfa *CLIApp) printBanner() {
-	if log.GetLevel() <= log.InfoLevel {
-		_, _ = fmt.Fprintln(mfa.Stdout, banner)
-		_, _ = fmt.Fprintf(mfa.Stdout, "        mfer by @sneak: v%s released %s\n", mfer.Version, mfer.ReleaseDate)
-		_, _ = fmt.Fprintln(mfa.Stdout, "            https://sneak.berlin/go/mfer")
-	}
-}
-
 // VersionString returns the version and git revision formatted for display.
 func (mfa *CLIApp) VersionString() string {
 	if mfa.gitrev != "" {
 		return fmt.Sprintf("%s (%s)", mfer.Version, mfa.gitrev)
 	}
+
 	return mfer.Version
 }
 
+func (mfa *CLIApp) printBanner() {
+	if log.GetLevel() <= log.InfoLevel {
+		_, _ = fmt.Fprintln(mfa.Stdout, banner)
+		_, _ = fmt.Fprintf(mfa.Stdout,
+			"        mfer by @sneak: v%s released %s\n",
+			mfer.Version, mfer.ReleaseDate)
+		_, _ = fmt.Fprintln(mfa.Stdout, "            https://sneak.berlin/go/mfer")
+	}
+}
+
 func (mfa *CLIApp) setVerbosity(c *cli.Context) {
 	_, present := os.LookupEnv("MFER_DEBUG")
-	if present {
+
+	switch {
+	case present:
 		log.EnableDebugLogging()
-	} else if c.Bool("quiet") {
+	case c.Bool("quiet"):
 		log.SetLevel(log.ErrorLevel)
-	} else {
+	default:
 		log.SetLevelFromVerbosity(c.Count("verbose"))
 	}
 }
@@ -85,40 +107,15 @@ func commonFlags() []cli.Flag {
 	}
 }
 
-func (mfa *CLIApp) run(args []string) {
+func (mfa *CLIApp) generateCommand() *cli.Command {
-	mfa.startupTime = time.Now()
+	return &cli.Command{
-
+		Name:    cmdGenerate,
-	if NO_COLOR {
-		// shoutout to rob pike who thinks it's juvenile
-		log.DisableStyling()
-	}
-
-	// Configure log package to use our I/O streams
-	log.SetOutput(mfa.Stdout, mfa.Stderr)
-	log.Init()
-
-	mfa.app = &cli.App{
-		Name:                 mfa.appname,
-		Usage:                "Manifest generator",
-		Version:              mfa.VersionString(),
-		EnableBashCompletion: true,
-		Writer:               mfa.Stdout,
-		ErrWriter:            mfa.Stderr,
-		Action: func(c *cli.Context) error {
-			if c.Args().Len() > 0 {
-				return fmt.Errorf("unknown command %q", c.Args().First())
-			}
-			mfa.printBanner()
-			return cli.ShowAppHelp(c)
-		},
-		Commands: []*cli.Command{
-			{
-				Name:    "generate",
 		Aliases: []string{"gen"},
 		Usage:   "Generate manifest file",
 		Action: func(c *cli.Context) error {
 			mfa.setVerbosity(c)
 			mfa.printBanner()
+
 			return mfa.generateManifestOperation(c)
 		},
 		Flags: append(commonFlags(),
@@ -145,7 +142,7 @@ func (mfa *CLIApp) run(args []string) {
 				Usage:   "Overwrite output file if it exists",
 			},
 			&cli.BoolFlag{
-						Name:    "progress",
+				Name:    flagProgress,
 				Aliases: []string{"P"},
 				Usage:   "Show progress during enumeration and scanning",
 			},
@@ -162,17 +159,22 @@ func (mfa *CLIApp) run(args []string) {
 			},
 			&cli.BoolFlag{
 				Name: "include-timestamps",
-						Usage: "Include createdAt timestamp in manifest (omitted by default for determinism)",
+				Usage: "Include createdAt timestamp in manifest " +
+					"(omitted by default for determinism)",
 			},
 		),
-			},
+	}
-			{
+}
-				Name:      "check",
+
+func (mfa *CLIApp) checkCommand() *cli.Command {
+	return &cli.Command{
+		Name:      cmdCheck,
 		Usage:     "Validate files using manifest file",
-				ArgsUsage: "[manifest file]",
+		ArgsUsage: manifestArgsUsage,
 		Action: func(c *cli.Context) error {
 			mfa.setVerbosity(c)
 			mfa.printBanner()
+
 			return mfa.checkManifestOperation(c)
 		},
 		Flags: append(commonFlags(),
@@ -183,7 +185,7 @@ func (mfa *CLIApp) run(args []string) {
 				Usage:   "Base directory for resolving relative paths from manifest",
 			},
 			&cli.BoolFlag{
-						Name:    "progress",
+				Name:    flagProgress,
 				Aliases: []string{"P"},
 				Usage:   "Show progress during checking",
 			},
@@ -198,14 +200,18 @@ func (mfa *CLIApp) run(args []string) {
 				EnvVars: []string{"MFER_REQUIRE_SIGNATURE"},
 			},
 		),
-			},
+	}
-			{
+}
+
+func (mfa *CLIApp) freshenCommand() *cli.Command {
+	return &cli.Command{
 		Name:      "freshen",
 		Usage:     "Update manifest with changed, new, and removed files",
-				ArgsUsage: "[manifest file]",
+		ArgsUsage: manifestArgsUsage,
 		Action: func(c *cli.Context) error {
 			mfa.setVerbosity(c)
 			mfa.printBanner()
+
 			return mfa.freshenManifestOperation(c)
 		},
 		Flags: append(commonFlags(),
@@ -227,7 +233,7 @@ func (mfa *CLIApp) run(args []string) {
 				Usage: "Include dot (hidden) files (excluded by default)",
 			},
 			&cli.BoolFlag{
-						Name:    "progress",
+				Name:    flagProgress,
 				Aliases: []string{"P"},
 				Usage:   "Show progress during scanning and hashing",
 			},
@@ -239,31 +245,42 @@ func (mfa *CLIApp) run(args []string) {
 			},
 			&cli.BoolFlag{
 				Name: "include-timestamps",
-						Usage: "Include createdAt timestamp in manifest (omitted by default for determinism)",
+				Usage: "Include createdAt timestamp in manifest " +
+					"(omitted by default for determinism)",
 			},
 		),
-			},
+	}
-			{
+}
-				Name:      "export",
+
+func (mfa *CLIApp) exportCommand() *cli.Command {
+	return &cli.Command{
+		Name:      cmdExport,
 		Usage:     "Export manifest contents as JSON",
 		ArgsUsage: "[manifest file or URL]",
 		Action: func(c *cli.Context) error {
 			return mfa.exportManifestOperation(c)
 		},
-			},
+	}
-			{
+}
+
+func (mfa *CLIApp) versionCommand() *cli.Command {
+	return &cli.Command{
 		Name:  "version",
 		Usage: "Show version",
-				Action: func(c *cli.Context) error {
+		Action: func(_ *cli.Context) error {
 			_, _ = fmt.Fprintln(mfa.Stdout, mfa.VersionString())
+
 			return nil
 		},
-			},
+	}
-			{
+}
+
+func (mfa *CLIApp) listCommand() *cli.Command {
+	return &cli.Command{
 		Name:      "list",
 		Aliases:   []string{"ls"},
 		Usage:     "List files in manifest",
-				ArgsUsage: "[manifest file]",
+		ArgsUsage: manifestArgsUsage,
 		Action: func(c *cli.Context) error {
 			return mfa.listManifestOperation(c)
 		},
@@ -278,24 +295,68 @@ func (mfa *CLIApp) run(args []string) {
 				Usage: "Separate entries with NUL character (for xargs -0)",
 			},
 		},
-			},
+	}
-			{
+}
+
+func (mfa *CLIApp) fetchCommand() *cli.Command {
+	return &cli.Command{
 		Name:  "fetch",
 		Usage: "fetch manifest and referenced files",
 		Action: func(c *cli.Context) error {
 			mfa.setVerbosity(c)
 			mfa.printBanner()
+
 			return mfa.fetchManifestOperation(c)
 		},
 		Flags: commonFlags(),
+	}
+}
+
+func (mfa *CLIApp) run(args []string) {
+	mfa.startupTime = time.Now()
+
+	if NoColor {
+		// shoutout to rob pike who thinks it's juvenile
+		log.DisableStyling()
+	}
+
+	// Configure log package to use our I/O streams
+	log.SetOutput(mfa.Stdout, mfa.Stderr)
+	log.Init()
+
+	mfa.app = &cli.App{
+		Name:                 mfa.appname,
+		Usage:                "Manifest generator",
+		Version:              mfa.VersionString(),
+		EnableBashCompletion: true,
+		Writer:               mfa.Stdout,
+		ErrWriter:            mfa.Stderr,
+		Action: func(c *cli.Context) error {
+			if c.Args().Len() > 0 {
+				return fmt.Errorf("%w %q", errUnknownCommand, c.Args().First())
+			}
+
+			mfa.printBanner()
+
+			return cli.ShowAppHelp(c)
 		},
+		Commands: []*cli.Command{
+			mfa.generateCommand(),
+			mfa.checkCommand(),
+			mfa.freshenCommand(),
+			mfa.exportCommand(),
+			mfa.versionCommand(),
+			mfa.listCommand(),
+			mfa.fetchCommand(),
 		},
 	}
 
 	mfa.app.HideVersion = false
+
 	err := mfa.app.Run(args)
 	if err != nil {
 		mfa.exitCode = 1
+
 		log.WithError(err).Debugf("exiting")
 	}
 }

internal/cli/mtime.go

@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+package cli
+
+import (
+	"time"
+
+	"sneak.berlin/go/mfer/mfer"
+)
+
+// mtimeAbsent is printed in place of a modification time when a manifest
+// entry does not carry one.
+const mtimeAbsent = "-"
+
+// entryMtime returns the modification time recorded for a manifest entry.
+//
+// MFFilePath.Mtime is a message pointer with proto3 field presence, so an
+// absent mtime is a representable, on-the-wire-valid state. It must never
+// be conflated with a recorded mtime of the Unix epoch: callers that
+// compare mtimes have to treat "absent" as "unknown", not as
+// 1970-01-01T00:00:00Z, or every entry compares as modified. ok reports
+// whether an mtime was actually recorded.
+func entryMtime(entry *mfer.MFFilePath) (time.Time, bool) {
+	ts := entry.GetMtime()
+	if ts == nil {
+		return time.Time{}, false
+	}
+
+	return time.Unix(ts.GetSeconds(), int64(ts.GetNanos())), true
+}

internal/log/log.go

@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+// Package log provides leveled logging with progress output helpers
+// on top of apex/log and pterm.
 package log
 
 import (
@@ -52,6 +54,11 @@ func (l Level) String() string {
 	}
 }
 
+// callerSkip is the runtime.Caller stack depth from the public Debug
+// helpers to the caller of the log package.
+const callerSkip = 2
+
+//nolint:gochecknoglobals // package-level logger state by design
 var (
 	// mu protects the output writers and level
 	mu sync.RWMutex
@@ -60,7 +67,7 @@ var (
 	// stderr is the writer for log output
 	stderr io.Writer = os.Stderr
 	// currentLevel is our log level (includes Verbose)
-	currentLevel Level = InfoLevel
+	currentLevel = InfoLevel
 )
 
 // SetOutput configures the output writers for the log package.
@@ -68,8 +75,10 @@ var (
 func SetOutput(out, err io.Writer) {
 	mu.Lock()
 	defer mu.Unlock()
+
 	stdout = out
 	stderr = err
+
 	pterm.SetDefaultOutput(out)
 }
 
@@ -77,6 +86,7 @@ func SetOutput(out, err io.Writer) {
 func GetStdout() io.Writer {
 	mu.RLock()
 	defer mu.RUnlock()
+
 	return stdout
 }
 
@@ -84,6 +94,7 @@ func GetStdout() io.Writer {
 func GetStderr() io.Writer {
 	mu.RLock()
 	defer mu.RUnlock()
+
 	return stderr
 }
 
@@ -91,6 +102,7 @@ func GetStderr() io.Writer {
 func DisableStyling() {
 	pterm.DisableColor()
 	pterm.DisableStyling()
+
 	pterm.Debug.Prefix.Text = ""
 	pterm.Info.Prefix.Text = ""
 	pterm.Success.Prefix.Text = ""
@@ -102,7 +114,9 @@ func DisableStyling() {
 // Init initializes the logger with the CLI handler and default log level.
 func Init() {
 	mu.RLock()
+
 	w := stderr
+
 	mu.RUnlock()
 	log.SetHandler(acli.New(w))
 	log.SetLevel(log.DebugLevel) // Let apex/log pass everything; we filter ourselves
@@ -112,11 +126,12 @@ func Init() {
 func isEnabled(l Level) bool {
 	mu.RLock()
 	defer mu.RUnlock()
+
 	return l >= currentLevel
 }
 
 // Fatalf logs a formatted message at fatal level.
-func Fatalf(format string, args ...interface{}) {
+func Fatalf(format string, args ...any) {
 	if isEnabled(FatalLevel) {
 		log.Fatalf(format, args...)
 	}
@@ -130,7 +145,7 @@ func Fatal(arg string) {
 }
 
 // Errorf logs a formatted message at error level.
-func Errorf(format string, args ...interface{}) {
+func Errorf(format string, args ...any) {
 	if isEnabled(ErrorLevel) {
 		log.Errorf(format, args...)
 	}
@@ -144,7 +159,7 @@ func Error(arg string) {
 }
 
 // Warnf logs a formatted message at warn level.
-func Warnf(format string, args ...interface{}) {
+func Warnf(format string, args ...any) {
 	if isEnabled(WarnLevel) {
 		log.Warnf(format, args...)
 	}
@@ -158,7 +173,7 @@ func Warn(arg string) {
 }
 
 // Infof logs a formatted message at info level.
-func Infof(format string, args ...interface{}) {
+func Infof(format string, args ...any) {
 	if isEnabled(InfoLevel) {
 		log.Infof(format, args...)
 	}
@@ -172,7 +187,7 @@ func Info(arg string) {
 }
 
 // Verbosef logs a formatted message at verbose level.
-func Verbosef(format string, args ...interface{}) {
+func Verbosef(format string, args ...any) {
 	if isEnabled(VerboseLevel) {
 		log.Infof(format, args...)
 	}
@@ -186,16 +201,16 @@ func Verbose(arg string) {
 }
 
 // Debugf logs a formatted message at debug level with caller location.
-func Debugf(format string, args ...interface{}) {
+func Debugf(format string, args ...any) {
 	if isEnabled(DebugLevel) {
-		DebugReal(fmt.Sprintf(format, args...), 2)
+		DebugReal(fmt.Sprintf(format, args...), callerSkip)
 	}
 }
 
 // Debug logs a message at debug level with caller location.
 func Debug(arg string) {
 	if isEnabled(DebugLevel) {
-		DebugReal(arg, 2)
+		DebugReal(arg, callerSkip)
 	}
 }
 
@@ -204,18 +219,20 @@ func DebugReal(arg string, cs int) {
 	if !isEnabled(DebugLevel) {
 		return
 	}
+
 	_, callerFile, callerLine, ok := runtime.Caller(cs)
 	if !ok {
 		return
 	}
+
 	tag := fmt.Sprintf("%s:%d: ", filepath.Base(callerFile), callerLine)
 	log.Debug(tag + arg)
 }
 
 // Dump logs a spew dump of the arguments at debug level.
-func Dump(args ...interface{}) {
+func Dump(args ...any) {
 	if isEnabled(DebugLevel) {
-		DebugReal(spew.Sdump(args...), 2)
+		DebugReal(spew.Sdump(args...), callerSkip)
 	}
 }
 
@@ -246,6 +263,7 @@ func SetLevelFromVerbosity(l int) {
 func SetLevel(l Level) {
 	mu.Lock()
 	defer mu.Unlock()
+
 	currentLevel = l
 }
 
@@ -253,6 +271,7 @@ func SetLevel(l Level) {
 func GetLevel() Level {
 	mu.RLock()
 	defer mu.RUnlock()
+
 	return currentLevel
 }
 
@@ -263,7 +282,7 @@ func WithError(e error) *log.Entry {
 
 // Progressf prints a progress message that overwrites the current line.
 // Use ProgressDone() when progress is complete to move to the next line.
-func Progressf(format string, args ...interface{}) {
+func Progressf(format string, args ...any) {
 	pterm.Printf("\r"+format, args...)
 }
 

internal/log/log_test.go

@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
-package log
+package log_test
 
 import (
 	"testing"
 
-	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"sneak.berlin/go/mfer/internal/log"
 )
 
 func TestBuild(t *testing.T) {
-	Init()
+	t.Parallel()
-	assert.True(t, true)
+	log.Init()
 }

mfer/builder.go

@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+// Package mfer implements the mfer manifest file format: building,
+// serializing, verifying, and checking manifests of file trees.
 package mfer
 
 import (
@@ -14,6 +16,27 @@ import (
 	"github.com/multiformats/go-multihash"
 )
 
+// readChunkSize is the buffer size used when reading file contents for
+// hashing.
+const readChunkSize = 64 * 1024
+
+// The errPath* sentinels below are worded as the trailing fragment of the
+// message ValidatePath renders, because the offending path is quoted
+// before them (`path %q ...`). Wrapping them mid-sentence keeps the
+// rendered text exactly as mfer has always printed it. Match them with
+// errors.Is rather than by reading their messages.
+var (
+	errPathEmpty        = errors.New("path cannot be empty")
+	errPathNotUTF8      = errors.New("is not valid UTF-8")
+	errPathBackslash    = errors.New("contains backslash; use forward slashes only")
+	errPathAbsolute     = errors.New("is absolute; must be relative")
+	errPathEmptySegment = errors.New("contains empty segment")
+	errPathDotDot       = errors.New("contains '..' segment")
+	errSizeMismatch     = errors.New("size mismatch")
+	errNegativeSize     = errors.New("size cannot be negative")
+	errEmptyHash        = errors.New("hash cannot be nil or empty")
+)
+
 // ValidatePath checks that a file path conforms to manifest path invariants:
 //   - Must be valid UTF-8
 //   - Must use forward slashes only (no backslashes)
@@ -23,25 +46,31 @@ import (
 //   - Must not be empty
 func ValidatePath(p string) error {
 	if p == "" {
-		return errors.New("path cannot be empty")
+		return errPathEmpty
 	}
+
 	if !utf8.ValidString(p) {
-		return fmt.Errorf("path %q is not valid UTF-8", p)
+		return fmt.Errorf("path %q %w", p, errPathNotUTF8)
 	}
+
 	if strings.ContainsRune(p, '\\') {
-		return fmt.Errorf("path %q contains backslash; use forward slashes only", p)
+		return fmt.Errorf("path %q %w", p, errPathBackslash)
 	}
+
 	if strings.HasPrefix(p, "/") {
-		return fmt.Errorf("path %q is absolute; must be relative", p)
+		return fmt.Errorf("path %q %w", p, errPathAbsolute)
 	}
+
 	for _, seg := range strings.Split(p, "/") {
 		if seg == "" {
-			return fmt.Errorf("path %q contains empty segment", p)
+			return fmt.Errorf("path %q %w", p, errPathEmptySegment)
 		}
+
 		if seg == ".." {
-			return fmt.Errorf("path %q contains '..' segment", p)
+			return fmt.Errorf("path %q %w", p, errPathDotDot)
 		}
 	}
+
 	return nil
 }
 
@@ -68,11 +97,7 @@ type UnixNanos int32
 
 // Timestamp converts ModTime to a protobuf Timestamp.
 func (m ModTime) Timestamp() *Timestamp {
-	t := time.Time(m)
+	return newTimestampFromTime(time.Time(m))
-	return &Timestamp{
-		Seconds: t.Unix(),
-		Nanos:   int32(t.Nanosecond()),
-	}
 }
 
 // Multihash represents a multihash-encoded file hash (typically SHA2-256).
@@ -93,14 +118,6 @@ type Builder struct {
 	fixedUUID         []byte // if set, use this UUID instead of generating one
 }
 
-// SetSeed derives a deterministic UUID from the given seed string.
-// The seed is hashed once with SHA-256 and the first 16 bytes are used
-// as a fixed UUID for the manifest.
-func (b *Builder) SetSeed(seed string) {
-	hash := sha256.Sum256([]byte(seed))
-	b.fixedUUID = hash[:16]
-}
-
 // NewBuilder creates a new Builder.
 func NewBuilder() *Builder {
 	return &Builder{
@@ -109,6 +126,14 @@ func NewBuilder() *Builder {
 	}
 }
 
+// SetSeed derives a deterministic UUID from the given seed string.
+// The seed is hashed once with SHA-256 and the first 16 bytes are used
+// as a fixed UUID for the manifest.
+func (b *Builder) SetSeed(seed string) {
+	hash := sha256.Sum256([]byte(seed))
+	b.fixedUUID = hash[:uuidLength]
+}
+
 // AddFile reads file content from reader, computes hashes, and adds to manifest.
 // Progress updates are sent to the progress channel (if non-nil) without blocking.
 // Returns the number of bytes read.
@@ -119,7 +144,8 @@ func (b *Builder) AddFile(
 	reader io.Reader,
 	progress chan<- FileHashProgress,
 ) (FileSize, error) {
-	if err := ValidatePath(string(path)); err != nil {
+	err := ValidatePath(string(path))
+	if err != nil {
 		return 0, err
 	}
 
@@ -128,7 +154,8 @@ func (b *Builder) AddFile(
 
 	// Read file in chunks, updating hash and progress
 	var totalRead FileSize
-	buf := make([]byte, 64*1024) // 64KB chunks
+
+	buf := make([]byte, readChunkSize)
 
 	for {
 		n, err := reader.Read(buf)
@@ -137,9 +164,11 @@ func (b *Builder) AddFile(
 			totalRead += FileSize(n)
 			sendFileHashProgress(progress, FileHashProgress{BytesRead: totalRead})
 		}
+
 		if err == io.EOF {
 			break
 		}
+
 		if err != nil {
 			return totalRead, err
 		}
@@ -147,7 +176,10 @@ func (b *Builder) AddFile(
 
 	// Verify actual bytes read matches declared size
 	if totalRead != size {
-		return totalRead, fmt.Errorf("size mismatch for %q: declared %d bytes but read %d bytes", path, size, totalRead)
+		return totalRead, fmt.Errorf(
+			"%w for %q: declared %d bytes but read %d bytes",
+			errSizeMismatch, path, size, totalRead,
+		)
 	}
 
 	// Encode hash as multihash (SHA2-256)
@@ -178,6 +210,7 @@ func sendFileHashProgress(ch chan<- FileHashProgress, p FileHashProgress) {
 	if ch == nil {
 		return
 	}
+
 	select {
 	case ch <- p:
 	default:
@@ -188,21 +221,30 @@ func sendFileHashProgress(ch chan<- FileHashProgress, p FileHashProgress) {
 func (b *Builder) FileCount() int {
 	b.mu.Lock()
 	defer b.mu.Unlock()
+
 	return len(b.files)
 }
 
 // AddFileWithHash adds a file entry with a pre-computed hash.
 // This is useful when the hash is already known (e.g., from an existing manifest).
 // Returns an error if path is empty, size is negative, or hash is nil/empty.
-func (b *Builder) AddFileWithHash(path RelFilePath, size FileSize, mtime ModTime, hash Multihash) error {
+func (b *Builder) AddFileWithHash(
-	if err := ValidatePath(string(path)); err != nil {
+	path RelFilePath,
+	size FileSize,
+	mtime ModTime,
+	hash Multihash,
+) error {
+	err := ValidatePath(string(path))
+	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("add file: %w", err)
 	}
+
 	if size < 0 {
-		return errors.New("size cannot be negative")
+		return errNegativeSize
 	}
+
 	if len(hash) == 0 {
-		return errors.New("hash cannot be nil or empty")
+		return errEmptyHash
 	}
 
 	entry := &MFFilePath{
@@ -217,6 +259,7 @@ func (b *Builder) AddFileWithHash(path RelFilePath, size FileSize, mtime ModTime
 	b.mu.Lock()
 	b.files = append(b.files, entry)
 	b.mu.Unlock()
+
 	return nil
 }
 
@@ -225,6 +268,7 @@ func (b *Builder) AddFileWithHash(path RelFilePath, size FileSize, mtime ModTime
 func (b *Builder) SetIncludeTimestamps(include bool) {
 	b.mu.Lock()
 	defer b.mu.Unlock()
+
 	b.includeTimestamps = include
 }
 
@@ -233,6 +277,7 @@ func (b *Builder) SetIncludeTimestamps(include bool) {
 func (b *Builder) SetSigningOptions(opts *SigningOptions) {
 	b.mu.Lock()
 	defer b.mu.Unlock()
+
 	b.signingOptions = opts
 }
 
@@ -243,7 +288,7 @@ func (b *Builder) Build(w io.Writer) error {
 
 	// Sort files by path for deterministic output
 	sort.Slice(b.files, func(i, j int) bool {
-		return b.files[i].Path < b.files[j].Path
+		return b.files[i].GetPath() < b.files[j].GetPath()
 	})
 
 	// Create inner manifest
@@ -263,19 +308,22 @@ func (b *Builder) Build(w io.Writer) error {
 	}
 
 	// Generate outer wrapper
-	if err := m.generateOuter(); err != nil {
+	err := m.generateOuter()
+	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("build: generate outer: %w", err)
 	}
 
 	// Generate final output
-	if err := m.generate(); err != nil {
+	err = m.generate()
+	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("build: generate: %w", err)
 	}
 
 	// Write to output
-	_, err := w.Write(m.output.Bytes())
+	_, err = w.Write(m.output.Bytes())
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("build: write output: %w", err)
 	}
+
 	return nil
 }

mfer/builder_test.go

@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+//nolint:testpackage // white-box tests exercise unexported internals
 package mfer
 
 import (
@@ -10,24 +11,34 @@ import (
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 )
 
+const testFileName = "file.txt"
+
 func TestNewBuilder(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	b := NewBuilder()
 	assert.NotNil(t, b)
 	assert.Equal(t, 0, b.FileCount())
 }
 
 func TestBuilderAddFile(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	b := NewBuilder()
 	content := []byte("test content")
 	reader := bytes.NewReader(content)
 
-	bytesRead, err := b.AddFile("test.txt", FileSize(len(content)), ModTime(time.Now()), reader, nil)
+	bytesRead, err := b.AddFile(
+		"test.txt", FileSize(len(content)), ModTime(time.Now()), reader, nil,
+	)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	assert.Equal(t, FileSize(len(content)), bytesRead)
 	assert.Equal(t, 1, b.FileCount())
 }
 
 func TestBuilderAddFileWithHash(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	b := NewBuilder()
 	hash := make([]byte, 34) // SHA256 multihash is 34 bytes
 
@@ -37,54 +48,71 @@ func TestBuilderAddFileWithHash(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestBuilderAddFileWithHashValidation(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	t.Run("empty path", func(t *testing.T) {
+		t.Parallel()
+
 		b := NewBuilder()
 		hash := make([]byte, 34)
 		err := b.AddFileWithHash("", 100, ModTime(time.Now()), hash)
-		assert.Error(t, err)
+		require.Error(t, err)
 		assert.Contains(t, err.Error(), "path")
 	})
 
 	t.Run("negative size", func(t *testing.T) {
+		t.Parallel()
+
 		b := NewBuilder()
 		hash := make([]byte, 34)
 		err := b.AddFileWithHash("test.txt", -1, ModTime(time.Now()), hash)
-		assert.Error(t, err)
+		require.Error(t, err)
 		assert.Contains(t, err.Error(), "size")
 	})
 
 	t.Run("nil hash", func(t *testing.T) {
+		t.Parallel()
+
 		b := NewBuilder()
 		err := b.AddFileWithHash("test.txt", 100, ModTime(time.Now()), nil)
-		assert.Error(t, err)
+		require.Error(t, err)
 		assert.Contains(t, err.Error(), "hash")
 	})
 
 	t.Run("empty hash", func(t *testing.T) {
+		t.Parallel()
+
 		b := NewBuilder()
 		err := b.AddFileWithHash("test.txt", 100, ModTime(time.Now()), []byte{})
-		assert.Error(t, err)
+		require.Error(t, err)
 		assert.Contains(t, err.Error(), "hash")
 	})
 
 	t.Run("valid inputs", func(t *testing.T) {
+		t.Parallel()
+
 		b := NewBuilder()
 		hash := make([]byte, 34)
 		err := b.AddFileWithHash("test.txt", 100, ModTime(time.Now()), hash)
-		assert.NoError(t, err)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
 		assert.Equal(t, 1, b.FileCount())
 	})
 }
 
 func TestBuilderBuild(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	b := NewBuilder()
 	content := []byte("test content")
 	reader := bytes.NewReader(content)
 
-	_, err := b.AddFile("test.txt", FileSize(len(content)), ModTime(time.Now()), reader, nil)
+	_, err := b.AddFile(
+		"test.txt", FileSize(len(content)), ModTime(time.Now()), reader, nil,
+	)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	var buf bytes.Buffer
+
 	err = b.Build(&buf)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
@@ -93,6 +121,8 @@ func TestBuilderBuild(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestNewTimestampFromTimeExtremeDate(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	// Regression test: newTimestampFromTime used UnixNano() which panics
 	// for dates outside ~1678-2262. Now uses Nanosecond() which is safe.
 	tests := []struct {
@@ -107,15 +137,19 @@ func TestNewTimestampFromTimeExtremeDate(t *testing.T) {
 
 	for _, tt := range tests {
 		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			t.Parallel()
+
 			// Should not panic
 			ts := newTimestampFromTime(tt.time)
-			assert.Equal(t, tt.time.Unix(), ts.Seconds)
+			assert.Equal(t, tt.time.Unix(), ts.GetSeconds())
-			assert.Equal(t, int32(tt.time.Nanosecond()), ts.Nanos)
+			assert.Equal(t, tt.time.Nanosecond(), int(ts.GetNanos()))
 		})
 	}
 }
 
 func TestBuilderDeterministicOutput(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	buildManifest := func() []byte {
 		b := NewBuilder()
 		// Use a fixed createdAt and UUID so output is reproducible
@@ -135,24 +169,32 @@ func TestBuilderDeterministicOutput(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 		for _, f := range files {
 			r := bytes.NewReader([]byte(f.content))
-			_, err := b.AddFile(RelFilePath(f.path), FileSize(len(f.content)), mtime, r, nil)
+			_, err := b.AddFile(
+				RelFilePath(f.path), FileSize(len(f.content)), mtime, r, nil,
+			)
 			require.NoError(t, err)
 		}
 
 		var buf bytes.Buffer
+
 		err := b.Build(&buf)
 		require.NoError(t, err)
+
 		return buf.Bytes()
 	}
 
 	out1 := buildManifest()
 	out2 := buildManifest()
-	assert.Equal(t, out1, out2, "two builds with same input should produce byte-identical output")
+	assert.Equal(t, out1, out2,
+		"two builds with same input should produce byte-identical output")
 }
 
 func TestSetSeedDeterministic(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	b1 := NewBuilder()
 	b1.SetSeed("test-seed-value")
+
 	b2 := NewBuilder()
 	b2.SetSeed("test-seed-value")
 	assert.Equal(t, b1.fixedUUID, b2.fixedUUID, "same seed should produce same UUID")
@@ -160,19 +202,24 @@ func TestSetSeedDeterministic(t *testing.T) {
 
 	b3 := NewBuilder()
 	b3.SetSeed("different-seed")
-	assert.NotEqual(t, b1.fixedUUID, b3.fixedUUID, "different seeds should produce different UUIDs")
+	assert.NotEqual(t, b1.fixedUUID, b3.fixedUUID,
+		"different seeds should produce different UUIDs")
 }
 
 func TestValidatePath(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	valid := []string{
-		"file.txt",
+		testFileName,
 		"dir/file.txt",
 		"a/b/c/d.txt",
 		"file with spaces.txt",
-		"日本語.txt",
+		"日本語.txt", //nolint:gosmopolitan // deliberately tests non-ASCII UTF-8 paths
 	}
 	for _, p := range valid {
 		t.Run("valid:"+p, func(t *testing.T) {
+			t.Parallel()
+
 			assert.NoError(t, ValidatePath(p))
 		})
 	}
@@ -191,42 +238,54 @@ func TestValidatePath(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 	for _, tt := range invalid {
 		t.Run("invalid:"+tt.desc, func(t *testing.T) {
+			t.Parallel()
+
 			assert.Error(t, ValidatePath(tt.path))
 		})
 	}
 }
 
 func TestBuilderAddFileSizeMismatch(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	b := NewBuilder()
 	content := []byte("short")
 	reader := bytes.NewReader(content)
 
 	// Declare wrong size
 	_, err := b.AddFile("test.txt", FileSize(100), ModTime(time.Now()), reader, nil)
-	assert.Error(t, err)
+	require.Error(t, err)
 	assert.Contains(t, err.Error(), "size mismatch")
 }
 
 func TestBuilderAddFileInvalidPath(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	b := NewBuilder()
 	content := []byte("data")
 	reader := bytes.NewReader(content)
 
 	_, err := b.AddFile("", FileSize(len(content)), ModTime(time.Now()), reader, nil)
-	assert.Error(t, err)
+	require.Error(t, err)
 
 	reader.Reset(content)
-	_, err = b.AddFile("/absolute", FileSize(len(content)), ModTime(time.Now()), reader, nil)
+	_, err = b.AddFile(
+		"/absolute", FileSize(len(content)), ModTime(time.Now()), reader, nil,
+	)
 	assert.Error(t, err)
 }
 
 func TestBuilderAddFileWithProgress(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	b := NewBuilder()
 	content := bytes.Repeat([]byte("x"), 1000)
 	reader := bytes.NewReader(content)
 	progress := make(chan FileHashProgress, 100)
 
-	bytesRead, err := b.AddFile("test.txt", FileSize(len(content)), ModTime(time.Now()), reader, progress)
+	bytesRead, err := b.AddFile(
+		"test.txt", FileSize(len(content)), ModTime(time.Now()), reader, progress,
+	)
 	close(progress)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	assert.Equal(t, FileSize(1000), bytesRead)
@@ -235,12 +294,15 @@ func TestBuilderAddFileWithProgress(t *testing.T) {
 	for p := range progress {
 		updates = append(updates, p)
 	}
+
 	assert.NotEmpty(t, updates)
 	// Last update should show all bytes
 	assert.Equal(t, FileSize(1000), updates[len(updates)-1].BytesRead)
 }
 
 func TestBuilderBuildRoundTrip(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	// Build a manifest, deserialize it, verify all fields survive round-trip
 	b := NewBuilder()
 	now := time.Date(2025, 6, 15, 12, 0, 0, 0, time.UTC)
@@ -256,7 +318,9 @@ func TestBuilderBuildRoundTrip(t *testing.T) {
 
 	for _, f := range files {
 		reader := bytes.NewReader(f.content)
-		_, err := b.AddFile(RelFilePath(f.path), FileSize(len(f.content)), ModTime(now), reader, nil)
+		_, err := b.AddFile(
+			RelFilePath(f.path), FileSize(len(f.content)), ModTime(now), reader, nil,
+		)
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 	}
 
@@ -270,42 +334,52 @@ func TestBuilderBuildRoundTrip(t *testing.T) {
 	require.Len(t, mfiles, 3)
 
 	// Verify sorted order
-	assert.Equal(t, "alpha.txt", mfiles[0].Path)
+	assert.Equal(t, "alpha.txt", mfiles[0].GetPath())
-	assert.Equal(t, "beta/delta.txt", mfiles[1].Path)
+	assert.Equal(t, "beta/delta.txt", mfiles[1].GetPath())
-	assert.Equal(t, "beta/gamma.txt", mfiles[2].Path)
+	assert.Equal(t, "beta/gamma.txt", mfiles[2].GetPath())
 
 	// Verify sizes
-	assert.Equal(t, int64(len("alpha content")), mfiles[0].Size)
+	assert.Equal(t, int64(len("alpha content")), mfiles[0].GetSize())
 
 	// Verify hashes are present
 	for _, f := range mfiles {
-		require.NotEmpty(t, f.Hashes, "file %s should have hashes", f.Path)
+		require.NotEmpty(t, f.GetHashes(), "file %s should have hashes", f.GetPath())
-		assert.NotEmpty(t, f.Hashes[0].MultiHash)
+		assert.NotEmpty(t, f.GetHashes()[0].GetMultiHash())
 	}
 }
 
 func TestNewManifestFromReaderInvalidMagic(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	_, err := NewManifestFromReader(bytes.NewReader([]byte("NOT_VALID")))
-	assert.Error(t, err)
+	require.Error(t, err)
 	assert.Contains(t, err.Error(), "invalid file format")
 }
 
 func TestNewManifestFromReaderEmpty(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	_, err := NewManifestFromReader(bytes.NewReader([]byte{}))
 	assert.Error(t, err)
 }
 
 func TestNewManifestFromReaderTruncated(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	// Just the magic with nothing after
 	_, err := NewManifestFromReader(bytes.NewReader([]byte(MAGIC)))
 	assert.Error(t, err)
 }
 
 func TestManifestString(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	b := NewBuilder()
 	content := []byte("test")
 	reader := bytes.NewReader(content)
-	_, err := b.AddFile("test.txt", FileSize(len(content)), ModTime(time.Now()), reader, nil)
+	_, err := b.AddFile(
+		"test.txt", FileSize(len(content)), ModTime(time.Now()), reader, nil,
+	)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	var buf bytes.Buffer
@@ -317,9 +391,12 @@ func TestManifestString(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestBuilderBuildEmpty(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	b := NewBuilder()
 
 	var buf bytes.Buffer
+
 	err := b.Build(&buf)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
@@ -328,9 +405,14 @@ func TestBuilderBuildEmpty(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestBuilderOmitsCreatedAtByDefault(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	b := NewBuilder()
 	content := []byte("hello")
-	_, err := b.AddFile("test.txt", FileSize(len(content)), ModTime(time.Now()), bytes.NewReader(content), nil)
+	_, err := b.AddFile(
+		"test.txt", FileSize(len(content)), ModTime(time.Now()),
+		bytes.NewReader(content), nil,
+	)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	var buf bytes.Buffer
@@ -338,14 +420,21 @@ func TestBuilderOmitsCreatedAtByDefault(t *testing.T) {
 
 	m, err := NewManifestFromReader(&buf)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
-	assert.Nil(t, m.pbInner.CreatedAt, "createdAt should be nil by default for deterministic output")
+	assert.Nil(t, m.pbInner.GetCreatedAt(),
+		"createdAt should be nil by default for deterministic output")
 }
 
 func TestBuilderIncludesCreatedAtWhenRequested(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	b := NewBuilder()
 	b.SetIncludeTimestamps(true)
+
 	content := []byte("hello")
-	_, err := b.AddFile("test.txt", FileSize(len(content)), ModTime(time.Now()), bytes.NewReader(content), nil)
+	_, err := b.AddFile(
+		"test.txt", FileSize(len(content)), ModTime(time.Now()),
+		bytes.NewReader(content), nil,
+	)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	var buf bytes.Buffer
@@ -353,23 +442,32 @@ func TestBuilderIncludesCreatedAtWhenRequested(t *testing.T) {
 
 	m, err := NewManifestFromReader(&buf)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
-	assert.NotNil(t, m.pbInner.CreatedAt, "createdAt should be set when IncludeTimestamps is true")
+	assert.NotNil(t, m.pbInner.GetCreatedAt(),
+		"createdAt should be set when IncludeTimestamps is true")
 }
 
 func TestBuilderDeterministicFileOrder(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	// Two builds with same files in different order should produce same file ordering.
 	// Note: UUIDs differ per build, so we compare parsed file lists, not raw bytes.
 	buildAndParse := func(order []string) []*MFFilePath {
 		b := NewBuilder()
+
 		for _, name := range order {
 			content := []byte("content of " + name)
-			_, err := b.AddFile(RelFilePath(name), FileSize(len(content)), ModTime(time.Unix(1000, 0)), bytes.NewReader(content), nil)
+			_, err := b.AddFile(
+				RelFilePath(name), FileSize(len(content)),
+				ModTime(time.Unix(1000, 0)), bytes.NewReader(content), nil,
+			)
 			require.NoError(t, err)
 		}
+
 		var buf bytes.Buffer
 		require.NoError(t, b.Build(&buf))
 		m, err := NewManifestFromReader(&buf)
 		require.NoError(t, err)
+
 		return m.Files()
 	}
 
@@ -378,10 +476,12 @@ func TestBuilderDeterministicFileOrder(t *testing.T) {
 
 	require.Len(t, files1, 2)
 	require.Len(t, files2, 2)
+
 	for i := range files1 {
-		assert.Equal(t, files1[i].Path, files2[i].Path)
+		assert.Equal(t, files1[i].GetPath(), files2[i].GetPath())
-		assert.Equal(t, files1[i].Size, files2[i].Size)
+		assert.Equal(t, files1[i].GetSize(), files2[i].GetSize())
 	}
-	assert.Equal(t, "a.txt", files1[0].Path)
+
-	assert.Equal(t, "b.txt", files1[1].Path)
+	assert.Equal(t, "a.txt", files1[0].GetPath())
+	assert.Equal(t, "b.txt", files1[1].GetPath())
 }

mfer/checker.go

@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@ import (
 	"github.com/spf13/afero"
 )
 
+var errNoSigningPubKey = errors.New("manifest has no signing public key")
+
 // Result represents the outcome of checking a single file.
 type Result struct {
 	Path    RelFilePath // Relative path from manifest
@@ -24,6 +26,7 @@ type Result struct {
 // Status represents the verification status of a file.
 type Status int
 
+// Verification result statuses reported for each checked file.
 const (
 	StatusOK           Status = iota // File matches manifest (size and hash verified)
 	StatusMissing                    // File not found on disk
@@ -70,7 +73,8 @@ type Checker struct {
 	fs       afero.Fs
 	// manifestPaths is a set of paths in the manifest for quick lookup
 	manifestPaths map[RelFilePath]struct{}
-	// manifestRelPath is the relative path of the manifest file from basePath (for exclusion)
+	// manifestRelPath is the relative path of the manifest file from
+	// basePath (for exclusion)
 	manifestRelPath RelFilePath
 	// signature info from the manifest
 	signature     []byte
@@ -97,9 +101,10 @@ func NewChecker(manifestPath string, basePath string, fs afero.Fs) (*Checker, er
 	}
 
 	files := m.Files()
+
 	manifestPaths := make(map[RelFilePath]struct{}, len(files))
 	for _, f := range files {
-		manifestPaths[RelFilePath(f.Path)] = struct{}{}
+		manifestPaths[RelFilePath(f.GetPath())] = struct{}{}
 	}
 
 	// Compute manifest's relative path from basePath for exclusion in FindExtraFiles
@@ -107,6 +112,7 @@ func NewChecker(manifestPath string, basePath string, fs afero.Fs) (*Checker, er
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
+
 	manifestRel, err := filepath.Rel(abs, absManifest)
 	if err != nil {
 		manifestRel = ""
@@ -118,9 +124,9 @@ func NewChecker(manifestPath string, basePath string, fs afero.Fs) (*Checker, er
 		fs:              fs,
 		manifestPaths:   manifestPaths,
 		manifestRelPath: RelFilePath(manifestRel),
-		signature:       m.pbOuter.Signature,
+		signature:       m.pbOuter.GetSignature(),
-		signer:          m.pbOuter.Signer,
+		signer:          m.pbOuter.GetSigner(),
-		signingPubKey:   m.pbOuter.SigningPubKey,
+		signingPubKey:   m.pbOuter.GetSigningPubKey(),
 	}, nil
 }
 
@@ -133,8 +139,9 @@ func (c *Checker) FileCount() FileCount {
 func (c *Checker) TotalBytes() FileSize {
 	var total FileSize
 	for _, f := range c.files {
-		total += FileSize(f.Size)
+		total += FileSize(f.GetSize())
 	}
+
 	return total
 }
 
@@ -148,7 +155,8 @@ func (c *Checker) Signer() []byte {
 	return c.signer
 }
 
-// SigningPubKey returns the signing public key if the manifest is signed, nil otherwise.
+// SigningPubKey returns the signing public key if the manifest is signed,
+// nil otherwise.
 func (c *Checker) SigningPubKey() []byte {
 	return c.signingPubKey
 }
@@ -158,8 +166,9 @@ func (c *Checker) SigningPubKey() []byte {
 // returns its actual fingerprint from the key material itself.
 func (c *Checker) ExtractEmbeddedSigningKeyFP() (string, error) {
 	if len(c.signingPubKey) == 0 {
-		return "", errors.New("manifest has no signing public key")
+		return "", errNoSigningPubKey
 	}
+
 	return gpgExtractPubKeyFingerprint(c.signingPubKey)
 }
 
@@ -167,10 +176,15 @@ func (c *Checker) ExtractEmbeddedSigningKeyFP() (string, error) {
 // Results are sent to the results channel as files are checked.
 // Progress updates are sent to the progress channel approximately once per second.
 // Both channels are closed when the method returns.
-func (c *Checker) Check(ctx context.Context, results chan<- Result, progress chan<- CheckStatus) error {
+func (c *Checker) Check(
+	ctx context.Context,
+	results chan<- Result,
+	progress chan<- CheckStatus,
+) error {
 	if results != nil {
 		defer close(results)
 	}
+
 	if progress != nil {
 		defer close(progress)
 	}
@@ -178,9 +192,11 @@ func (c *Checker) Check(ctx context.Context, results chan<- Result, progress cha
 	totalFiles := FileCount(len(c.files))
 	totalBytes := c.TotalBytes()
 
-	var checkedFiles FileCount
+	var (
-	var checkedBytes FileSize
+		checkedFiles FileCount
-	var failures FileCount
+		checkedBytes FileSize
+		failures     FileCount
+	)
 
 	startTime := time.Now()
 	lastProgressTime := time.Now()
@@ -196,6 +212,7 @@ func (c *Checker) Check(ctx context.Context, results chan<- Result, progress cha
 		if result.Status != StatusOK {
 			failures++
 		}
+
 		checkedFiles++
 
 		if results != nil {
@@ -205,19 +222,12 @@ func (c *Checker) Check(ctx context.Context, results chan<- Result, progress cha
 		// Send progress at most once per second (rate-limited)
 		if progress != nil {
 			now := time.Now()
+
 			isLast := checkedFiles == totalFiles
 			if isLast || now.Sub(lastProgressTime) >= time.Second {
-				elapsed := time.Since(startTime)
+				bytesPerSec, eta := computeRateETA(
-				var bytesPerSec float64
+					time.Since(startTime), checkedBytes, totalBytes,
-				var eta time.Duration
+				)
-
-				if elapsed > 0 && checkedBytes > 0 {
-					bytesPerSec = float64(checkedBytes) / elapsed.Seconds()
-					remainingBytes := totalBytes - checkedBytes
-					if bytesPerSec > 0 {
-						eta = time.Duration(float64(remainingBytes)/bytesPerSec) * time.Second
-					}
-				}
 
 				sendCheckStatus(progress, CheckStatus{
 					TotalFiles:   totalFiles,
@@ -228,6 +238,7 @@ func (c *Checker) Check(ctx context.Context, results chan<- Result, progress cha
 					ETA:          eta,
 					Failures:     failures,
 				})
+
 				lastProgressTime = now
 			}
 		}
@@ -236,59 +247,6 @@ func (c *Checker) Check(ctx context.Context, results chan<- Result, progress cha
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (c *Checker) checkFile(entry *MFFilePath, checkedBytes *FileSize) Result {
-	absPath := filepath.Join(string(c.basePath), entry.Path)
-	relPath := RelFilePath(entry.Path)
-
-	// Check if file exists
-	info, err := c.fs.Stat(absPath)
-	if err != nil {
-		if errors.Is(err, os.ErrNotExist) || errors.Is(err, afero.ErrFileNotFound) {
-			return Result{Path: relPath, Status: StatusMissing, Message: "file not found"}
-		}
-		return Result{Path: relPath, Status: StatusError, Message: err.Error()}
-	}
-
-	// Check size
-	if info.Size() != entry.Size {
-		*checkedBytes += FileSize(info.Size())
-		return Result{
-			Path:    relPath,
-			Status:  StatusSizeMismatch,
-			Message: "size mismatch",
-		}
-	}
-
-	// Open and hash file
-	f, err := c.fs.Open(absPath)
-	if err != nil {
-		return Result{Path: relPath, Status: StatusError, Message: err.Error()}
-	}
-	defer func() { _ = f.Close() }()
-
-	h := sha256.New()
-	n, err := io.Copy(h, f)
-	if err != nil {
-		return Result{Path: relPath, Status: StatusError, Message: err.Error()}
-	}
-	*checkedBytes += FileSize(n)
-
-	// Encode as multihash and compare
-	computed, err := multihash.Encode(h.Sum(nil), multihash.SHA2_256)
-	if err != nil {
-		return Result{Path: relPath, Status: StatusError, Message: err.Error()}
-	}
-
-	// Check against all hashes in manifest (at least one must match)
-	for _, hash := range entry.Hashes {
-		if bytes.Equal(computed, hash.MultiHash) {
-			return Result{Path: relPath, Status: StatusOK}
-		}
-	}
-
-	return Result{Path: relPath, Status: StatusHashMismatch, Message: "hash mismatch"}
-}
-
 // FindExtraFiles walks the filesystem and reports files not in the manifest.
 // Results are sent to the results channel. The channel is closed when done.
 // Hidden files/directories (starting with .) are skipped, as they are excluded
@@ -298,7 +256,7 @@ func (c *Checker) FindExtraFiles(ctx context.Context, results chan<- Result) err
 		defer close(results)
 	}
 
-	return afero.Walk(c.fs, string(c.basePath), func(walkPath string, info os.FileInfo, err error) error {
+	walkFn := func(walkPath string, info os.FileInfo, err error) error {
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
@@ -320,6 +278,7 @@ func (c *Checker) FindExtraFiles(ctx context.Context, results chan<- Result) err
 			if info.IsDir() {
 				return filepath.SkipDir
 			}
+
 			return nil
 		}
 
@@ -347,7 +306,75 @@ func (c *Checker) FindExtraFiles(ctx context.Context, results chan<- Result) err
 		}
 
 		return nil
-	})
+	}
+
+	return afero.Walk(c.fs, string(c.basePath), walkFn)
+}
+
+func (c *Checker) checkFile(entry *MFFilePath, checkedBytes *FileSize) Result {
+	absPath := filepath.Join(string(c.basePath), entry.GetPath())
+	relPath := RelFilePath(entry.GetPath())
+
+	// Check if file exists
+	info, err := c.fs.Stat(absPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		if errors.Is(err, os.ErrNotExist) || errors.Is(err, afero.ErrFileNotFound) {
+			return Result{
+				Path:    relPath,
+				Status:  StatusMissing,
+				Message: "file not found",
+			}
+		}
+
+		return Result{Path: relPath, Status: StatusError, Message: err.Error()}
+	}
+
+	// Check size
+	if info.Size() != entry.GetSize() {
+		*checkedBytes += FileSize(info.Size())
+
+		return Result{
+			Path:    relPath,
+			Status:  StatusSizeMismatch,
+			Message: "size mismatch",
+		}
+	}
+
+	// Open and hash file
+	f, err := c.fs.Open(absPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		return Result{Path: relPath, Status: StatusError, Message: err.Error()}
+	}
+
+	defer func() { _ = f.Close() }()
+
+	h := sha256.New()
+
+	n, err := io.Copy(h, f)
+	if err != nil {
+		return Result{Path: relPath, Status: StatusError, Message: err.Error()}
+	}
+
+	*checkedBytes += FileSize(n)
+
+	// Encode as multihash and compare
+	computed, err := multihash.Encode(h.Sum(nil), multihash.SHA2_256)
+	if err != nil {
+		return Result{Path: relPath, Status: StatusError, Message: err.Error()}
+	}
+
+	// Check against all hashes in manifest (at least one must match)
+	for _, hash := range entry.GetHashes() {
+		if bytes.Equal(computed, hash.GetMultiHash()) {
+			return Result{Path: relPath, Status: StatusOK}
+		}
+	}
+
+	return Result{
+		Path:    relPath,
+		Status:  StatusHashMismatch,
+		Message: "hash mismatch",
+	}
 }
 
 // sendCheckStatus sends a status update without blocking.
@@ -355,6 +382,7 @@ func sendCheckStatus(ch chan<- CheckStatus, status CheckStatus) {
 	if ch == nil {
 		return
 	}
+
 	select {
 	case ch <- status:
 	default:

mfer/checker_test.go

@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+//nolint:testpackage // white-box tests exercise unexported internals
 package mfer
 
 import (
@@ -12,7 +13,15 @@ import (
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 )
 
+const (
+	testFile1      = "file1.txt"
+	testFile2      = "file2.txt"
+	testExistsFile = "exists.txt"
+)
+
 func TestStatusString(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	tests := []struct {
 		status   Status
 		expected string
@@ -28,19 +37,26 @@ func TestStatusString(t *testing.T) {
 
 	for _, tt := range tests {
 		t.Run(tt.expected, func(t *testing.T) {
+			t.Parallel()
+
 			assert.Equal(t, tt.expected, tt.status.String())
 		})
 	}
 }
 
 // createTestManifest creates a manifest file in the filesystem with the given files.
-func createTestManifest(t *testing.T, fs afero.Fs, manifestPath string, files map[string][]byte) {
+func createTestManifest(
+	t *testing.T, fs afero.Fs, manifestPath string, files map[string][]byte,
+) {
 	t.Helper()
 
 	builder := NewBuilder()
+
 	for path, content := range files {
 		reader := bytes.NewReader(content)
-		_, err := builder.AddFile(RelFilePath(path), FileSize(len(content)), ModTime(time.Now()), reader, nil)
+		_, err := builder.AddFile(
+			RelFilePath(path), FileSize(len(content)), ModTime(time.Now()), reader, nil,
+		)
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 	}
 
@@ -49,10 +65,13 @@ func createTestManifest(t *testing.T, fs afero.Fs, manifestPath string, files ma
 	require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, manifestPath, buf.Bytes(), 0o644))
 }
 
-// createFilesOnDisk creates the given files on the filesystem.
+// createFilesOnDisk creates the given files on the filesystem under
-func createFilesOnDisk(t *testing.T, fs afero.Fs, basePath string, files map[string][]byte) {
+// /data.
+func createFilesOnDisk(t *testing.T, fs afero.Fs, files map[string][]byte) {
 	t.Helper()
 
+	basePath := "/data"
+
 	for path, content := range files {
 		fullPath := basePath + "/" + path
 		require.NoError(t, fs.MkdirAll(basePath, 0o755))
@@ -61,11 +80,15 @@ func createFilesOnDisk(t *testing.T, fs afero.Fs, basePath string, files map[str
 }
 
 func TestNewChecker(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	t.Run("valid manifest", func(t *testing.T) {
+		t.Parallel()
+
 		fs := afero.NewMemMapFs()
 		files := map[string][]byte{
-			"file1.txt": []byte("hello"),
+			testFile1: []byte("hello"),
-			"file2.txt": []byte("world"),
+			testFile2: []byte("world"),
 		}
 		createTestManifest(t, fs, "/manifest.mf", files)
 
@@ -76,12 +99,16 @@ func TestNewChecker(t *testing.T) {
 	})
 
 	t.Run("missing manifest", func(t *testing.T) {
+		t.Parallel()
+
 		fs := afero.NewMemMapFs()
 		_, err := NewChecker("/nonexistent.mf", "/", fs)
 		assert.Error(t, err)
 	})
 
 	t.Run("invalid manifest", func(t *testing.T) {
+		t.Parallel()
+
 		fs := afero.NewMemMapFs()
 		require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, "/bad.mf", []byte("not a manifest"), 0o644))
 		_, err := NewChecker("/bad.mf", "/", fs)
@@ -90,6 +117,8 @@ func TestNewChecker(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestCheckerFileCountAndTotalBytes(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	fs := afero.NewMemMapFs()
 	files := map[string][]byte{
 		"small.txt":  []byte("hi"),
@@ -106,13 +135,15 @@ func TestCheckerFileCountAndTotalBytes(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestCheckAllFilesOK(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	fs := afero.NewMemMapFs()
 	files := map[string][]byte{
-		"file1.txt": []byte("content one"),
+		testFile1: []byte("content one"),
-		"file2.txt": []byte("content two"),
+		testFile2: []byte("content two"),
 	}
 	createTestManifest(t, fs, "/manifest.mf", files)
-	createFilesOnDisk(t, fs, "/data", files)
+	createFilesOnDisk(t, fs, files)
 
 	chk, err := NewChecker("/manifest.mf", "/data", fs)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
@@ -127,21 +158,24 @@ func TestCheckAllFilesOK(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	assert.Len(t, resultList, 2)
+
 	for _, r := range resultList {
 		assert.Equal(t, StatusOK, r.Status, "file %s should be OK", r.Path)
 	}
 }
 
 func TestCheckMissingFile(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	fs := afero.NewMemMapFs()
 	files := map[string][]byte{
-		"exists.txt":  []byte("I exist"),
+		testExistsFile: []byte("I exist"),
 		"missing.txt":  []byte("I don't exist on disk"),
 	}
 	createTestManifest(t, fs, "/manifest.mf", files)
 	// Only create one file
-	createFilesOnDisk(t, fs, "/data", map[string][]byte{
+	createFilesOnDisk(t, fs, map[string][]byte{
-		"exists.txt": []byte("I exist"),
+		testExistsFile: []byte("I exist"),
 	})
 
 	chk, err := NewChecker("/manifest.mf", "/data", fs)
@@ -152,13 +186,17 @@ func TestCheckMissingFile(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	var okCount, missingCount int
+
 	for r := range results {
 		switch r.Status {
 		case StatusOK:
 			okCount++
 		case StatusMissing:
 			missingCount++
+
 			assert.Equal(t, RelFilePath("missing.txt"), r.Path)
+		case StatusSizeMismatch, StatusHashMismatch, StatusExtra, StatusError:
+			// Not expected in this test; counted assertions below will fail.
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -167,14 +205,16 @@ func TestCheckMissingFile(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestCheckSizeMismatch(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	fs := afero.NewMemMapFs()
 	files := map[string][]byte{
-		"file.txt": []byte("original content"),
+		testFileName: []byte("original content"),
 	}
 	createTestManifest(t, fs, "/manifest.mf", files)
 	// Create file with different size
-	createFilesOnDisk(t, fs, "/data", map[string][]byte{
+	createFilesOnDisk(t, fs, map[string][]byte{
-		"file.txt": []byte("short"),
+		testFileName: []byte("short"),
 	})
 
 	chk, err := NewChecker("/manifest.mf", "/data", fs)
@@ -186,21 +226,23 @@ func TestCheckSizeMismatch(t *testing.T) {
 
 	r := <-results
 	assert.Equal(t, StatusSizeMismatch, r.Status)
-	assert.Equal(t, RelFilePath("file.txt"), r.Path)
+	assert.Equal(t, RelFilePath(testFileName), r.Path)
 }
 
 func TestCheckHashMismatch(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	fs := afero.NewMemMapFs()
 	originalContent := []byte("original content")
 	files := map[string][]byte{
-		"file.txt": originalContent,
+		testFileName: originalContent,
 	}
 	createTestManifest(t, fs, "/manifest.mf", files)
 	// Create file with same size but different content
 	differentContent := []byte("different contnt") // same length (16 bytes) but different
-	require.Equal(t, len(originalContent), len(differentContent), "test requires same length")
+	require.Len(t, differentContent, len(originalContent), "test requires same length")
-	createFilesOnDisk(t, fs, "/data", map[string][]byte{
+	createFilesOnDisk(t, fs, map[string][]byte{
-		"file.txt": differentContent,
+		testFileName: differentContent,
 	})
 
 	chk, err := NewChecker("/manifest.mf", "/data", fs)
@@ -212,17 +254,19 @@ func TestCheckHashMismatch(t *testing.T) {
 
 	r := <-results
 	assert.Equal(t, StatusHashMismatch, r.Status)
-	assert.Equal(t, RelFilePath("file.txt"), r.Path)
+	assert.Equal(t, RelFilePath(testFileName), r.Path)
 }
 
 func TestCheckWithProgress(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	fs := afero.NewMemMapFs()
 	files := map[string][]byte{
-		"file1.txt": bytes.Repeat([]byte("a"), 100),
+		testFile1: bytes.Repeat([]byte("a"), 100),
-		"file2.txt": bytes.Repeat([]byte("b"), 200),
+		testFile2: bytes.Repeat([]byte("b"), 200),
 	}
 	createTestManifest(t, fs, "/manifest.mf", files)
-	createFilesOnDisk(t, fs, "/data", files)
+	createFilesOnDisk(t, fs, files)
 
 	chk, err := NewChecker("/manifest.mf", "/data", fs)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
@@ -233,9 +277,7 @@ func TestCheckWithProgress(t *testing.T) {
 	err = chk.Check(context.Background(), results, progress)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
-	// Drain results
+	// results is fully buffered and closed; no draining needed
-	for range results {
-	}
 
 	// Check progress was sent
 	var progressUpdates []CheckStatus
@@ -254,14 +296,17 @@ func TestCheckWithProgress(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestCheckContextCancellation(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	fs := afero.NewMemMapFs()
 	// Create many files to ensure we have time to cancel
 	files := make(map[string][]byte)
-	for i := 0; i < 100; i++ {
+	for i := range 100 {
 		files[string(rune('a'+i%26))+".txt"] = bytes.Repeat([]byte("x"), 1000)
 	}
+
 	createTestManifest(t, fs, "/manifest.mf", files)
-	createFilesOnDisk(t, fs, "/data", files)
+	createFilesOnDisk(t, fs, files)
 
 	chk, err := NewChecker("/manifest.mf", "/data", fs)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
@@ -275,17 +320,19 @@ func TestCheckContextCancellation(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestFindExtraFiles(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	fs := afero.NewMemMapFs()
 	// Manifest only contains file1
 	manifestFiles := map[string][]byte{
-		"file1.txt": []byte("in manifest"),
+		testFile1: []byte("in manifest"),
 	}
 	createTestManifest(t, fs, "/manifest.mf", manifestFiles)
 
 	// Disk has file1 and file2
-	createFilesOnDisk(t, fs, "/data", map[string][]byte{
+	createFilesOnDisk(t, fs, map[string][]byte{
-		"file1.txt": []byte("in manifest"),
+		testFile1: []byte("in manifest"),
-		"file2.txt": []byte("extra file"),
+		testFile2: []byte("extra file"),
 	})
 
 	chk, err := NewChecker("/manifest.mf", "/data", fs)
@@ -301,19 +348,21 @@ func TestFindExtraFiles(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	assert.Len(t, extras, 1)
-	assert.Equal(t, RelFilePath("file2.txt"), extras[0].Path)
+	assert.Equal(t, RelFilePath(testFile2), extras[0].Path)
 	assert.Equal(t, StatusExtra, extras[0].Status)
 	assert.Equal(t, "not in manifest", extras[0].Message)
 }
 
 func TestFindExtraFilesSkipsManifestAndDotfiles(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	fs := afero.NewMemMapFs()
 	manifestFiles := map[string][]byte{
-		"file1.txt": []byte("in manifest"),
+		testFile1: []byte("in manifest"),
 	}
 	createTestManifest(t, fs, "/data/.index.mf", manifestFiles)
-	createFilesOnDisk(t, fs, "/data", map[string][]byte{
+	createFilesOnDisk(t, fs, map[string][]byte{
-		"file1.txt": []byte("in manifest"),
+		testFile1: []byte("in manifest"),
 	})
 	// Create dotfile and manifest that should be skipped
 	require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, "/data/.hidden", []byte("hidden"), 0o644))
@@ -338,17 +387,21 @@ func TestFindExtraFilesSkipsManifestAndDotfiles(t *testing.T) {
 	for _, e := range extras {
 		t.Logf("extra: %s", e.Path)
 	}
+
 	assert.Len(t, extras, 1)
+
 	if len(extras) > 0 {
 		assert.Equal(t, RelFilePath("extra.txt"), extras[0].Path)
 	}
 }
 
 func TestFindExtraFilesContextCancellation(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	fs := afero.NewMemMapFs()
-	files := map[string][]byte{"file.txt": []byte("data")}
+	files := map[string][]byte{testFileName: []byte("data")}
 	createTestManifest(t, fs, "/manifest.mf", files)
-	createFilesOnDisk(t, fs, "/data", files)
+	createFilesOnDisk(t, fs, files)
 
 	chk, err := NewChecker("/manifest.mf", "/data", fs)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
@@ -362,10 +415,12 @@ func TestFindExtraFilesContextCancellation(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestCheckNilChannels(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	fs := afero.NewMemMapFs()
-	files := map[string][]byte{"file.txt": []byte("data")}
+	files := map[string][]byte{testFileName: []byte("data")}
 	createTestManifest(t, fs, "/manifest.mf", files)
-	createFilesOnDisk(t, fs, "/data", files)
+	createFilesOnDisk(t, fs, files)
 
 	chk, err := NewChecker("/manifest.mf", "/data", fs)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
@@ -376,10 +431,12 @@ func TestCheckNilChannels(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestFindExtraFilesNilChannel(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	fs := afero.NewMemMapFs()
-	files := map[string][]byte{"file.txt": []byte("data")}
+	files := map[string][]byte{testFileName: []byte("data")}
 	createTestManifest(t, fs, "/manifest.mf", files)
-	createFilesOnDisk(t, fs, "/data", files)
+	createFilesOnDisk(t, fs, files)
 
 	chk, err := NewChecker("/manifest.mf", "/data", fs)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
@@ -390,6 +447,8 @@ func TestFindExtraFilesNilChannel(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestCheckSubdirectories(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	fs := afero.NewMemMapFs()
 	files := map[string][]byte{
 		"dir1/file1.txt":          []byte("content1"),
@@ -401,6 +460,7 @@ func TestCheckSubdirectories(t *testing.T) {
 	// Create files with full directory structure
 	for path, content := range files {
 		fullPath := "/data/" + path
+
 		require.NoError(t, fs.MkdirAll("/data/dir1/dir2/dir3", 0o755))
 		require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, fullPath, content, 0o644))
 	}
@@ -413,25 +473,30 @@ func TestCheckSubdirectories(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	var okCount int
+
 	for r := range results {
 		assert.Equal(t, StatusOK, r.Status, "file %s should be OK", r.Path)
+
 		okCount++
 	}
+
 	assert.Equal(t, 3, okCount)
 }
 
 func TestCheckMissingFileDetectedWithoutFallback(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	// Regression test: errors.Is(err, errors.New("...")) never matches because
 	// errors.New creates a new value each time. The fix uses os.ErrNotExist instead.
 	fs := afero.NewMemMapFs()
 	files := map[string][]byte{
-		"exists.txt":  []byte("here"),
+		testExistsFile: []byte("here"),
 		"missing.txt":  []byte("not on disk"),
 	}
 	createTestManifest(t, fs, "/manifest.mf", files)
 	// Only create one file on disk
-	createFilesOnDisk(t, fs, "/data", map[string][]byte{
+	createFilesOnDisk(t, fs, map[string][]byte{
-		"exists.txt": []byte("here"),
+		testExistsFile: []byte("here"),
 	})
 
 	chk, err := NewChecker("/manifest.mf", "/data", fs)
@@ -448,25 +513,29 @@ func TestCheckMissingFileDetectedWithoutFallback(t *testing.T) {
 			assert.Equal(t, RelFilePath("missing.txt"), r.Path)
 		}
 	}
+
 	assert.Equal(t, 1, statusCounts[StatusOK], "one file should be OK")
 	assert.Equal(t, 1, statusCounts[StatusMissing], "one file should be MISSING")
 	assert.Equal(t, 0, statusCounts[StatusError], "no files should be ERROR")
 }
 
 func TestFindExtraFilesSkipsDotfiles(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	// Regression test for #16: FindExtraFiles should not report dotfiles
 	// or the manifest file itself as extra files.
 	fs := afero.NewMemMapFs()
 	files := map[string][]byte{
-		"file1.txt": []byte("in manifest"),
+		testFile1: []byte("in manifest"),
 	}
 	createTestManifest(t, fs, "/data/.index.mf", files)
-	createFilesOnDisk(t, fs, "/data", files)
+	createFilesOnDisk(t, fs, files)
 
 	// Add dotfiles and manifest file on disk
 	require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, "/data/.hidden", []byte("dotfile"), 0o644))
 	require.NoError(t, fs.MkdirAll("/data/.git", 0o755))
-	require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, "/data/.git/config", []byte("git config"), 0o644))
+	require.NoError(t,
+		afero.WriteFile(fs, "/data/.git/config", []byte("git config"), 0o644))
 
 	chk, err := NewChecker("/data/.index.mf", "/data", fs)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
@@ -481,17 +550,21 @@ func TestFindExtraFilesSkipsDotfiles(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	// Should report NO extra files — dotfiles and manifest should be skipped
-	assert.Empty(t, extras, "FindExtraFiles should not report dotfiles or manifest file as extra; got: %v", extras)
+	assert.Empty(t, extras,
+		"FindExtraFiles should not report dotfiles or manifest file as extra; got: %v",
+		extras)
 }
 
 func TestFindExtraFilesSkipsManifestFile(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	// The manifest file itself should never be reported as extra
 	fs := afero.NewMemMapFs()
 	files := map[string][]byte{
-		"file1.txt": []byte("content"),
+		testFile1: []byte("content"),
 	}
 	createTestManifest(t, fs, "/data/index.mf", files)
-	createFilesOnDisk(t, fs, "/data", files)
+	createFilesOnDisk(t, fs, files)
 
 	chk, err := NewChecker("/data/index.mf", "/data", fs)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
@@ -505,10 +578,13 @@ func TestFindExtraFilesSkipsManifestFile(t *testing.T) {
 		extras = append(extras, r)
 	}
 
-	assert.Empty(t, extras, "manifest file should not be reported as extra; got: %v", extras)
+	assert.Empty(t, extras,
+		"manifest file should not be reported as extra; got: %v", extras)
 }
 
 func TestCheckEmptyManifest(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	fs := afero.NewMemMapFs()
 	// Create manifest with no files
 	createTestManifest(t, fs, "/manifest.mf", map[string][]byte{})
@@ -527,21 +603,26 @@ func TestCheckEmptyManifest(t *testing.T) {
 	for range results {
 		count++
 	}
+
 	assert.Equal(t, 0, count)
 }
 
 func TestCheckProgressRateLimited(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	// Create many small files - progress should be rate-limited, not one per file.
 	// With rate-limiting to once per second, we should get far fewer progress
 	// updates than files (plus one final update).
 	fs := afero.NewMemMapFs()
 	files := make(map[string][]byte, 100)
-	for i := 0; i < 100; i++ {
+
+	for i := range 100 {
 		name := fmt.Sprintf("file%03d.txt", i)
 		files[name] = []byte("content")
 	}
+
 	createTestManifest(t, fs, "/manifest.mf", files)
-	createFilesOnDisk(t, fs, "/data", files)
+	createFilesOnDisk(t, fs, files)
 
 	chk, err := NewChecker("/manifest.mf", "/data", fs)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
@@ -551,9 +632,7 @@ func TestCheckProgressRateLimited(t *testing.T) {
 	err = chk.Check(context.Background(), results, progress)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
-	// Drain results
+	// results is fully buffered and closed; no draining needed
-	for range results {
-	}
 
 	// Count progress updates
 	var progressCount int
@@ -563,6 +642,8 @@ func TestCheckProgressRateLimited(t *testing.T) {
 
 	// Should be far fewer than 100 (rate-limited to once per second)
 	// At minimum we get the final update
-	assert.GreaterOrEqual(t, progressCount, 1, "should get at least the final progress update")
+	assert.GreaterOrEqual(t, progressCount, 1,
-	assert.Less(t, progressCount, 100, "progress should be rate-limited, not one per file")
+		"should get at least the final progress update")
+	assert.Less(t, progressCount, 100,
+		"progress should be rate-limited, not one per file")
 }

mfer/constants.go

@@ -1,11 +1,17 @@
 package mfer
 
 const (
+	// Version is the current mfer release version.
 	Version = "0.1.0"
+
+	// ReleaseDate is the date on which Version was released.
 	ReleaseDate = "2025-12-17"
 
 	// MaxDecompressedSize is the maximum allowed size of decompressed manifest
 	// data (256 MB). This prevents decompression bombs from consuming excessive
 	// memory.
 	MaxDecompressedSize int64 = 256 * 1024 * 1024
+
+	// uuidLength is the length in bytes of a binary UUID.
+	uuidLength = 16
 )

mfer/deserialize.go

@@ -15,105 +15,174 @@ import (
 	"sneak.berlin/go/mfer/internal/log"
 )
 
+var (
+	errInvalidUUIDLength    = errors.New("invalid UUID length")
+	errInvalidUUIDFormat    = errors.New("invalid UUID format")
+	errUnknownVersion       = errors.New("unknown version")
+	errUnknownCompression   = errors.New("unknown compression type")
+	errCompressedHashWrong  = errors.New("compressed data hash mismatch")
+	errSignatureNoPubKey    = errors.New("signature present but no public key")
+	errDecompressedTooLarge = errors.New("decompressed data exceeds maximum allowed size")
+	errUUIDMismatch         = errors.New("outer and inner UUID mismatch")
+	errInvalidFileFormat    = errors.New("invalid file format")
+)
+
 // validateUUID checks that the byte slice is a valid UUID (16 bytes, parseable).
 func validateUUID(data []byte) error {
-	if len(data) != 16 {
+	if len(data) != uuidLength {
-		return errors.New("invalid UUID length")
+		return errInvalidUUIDLength
 	}
 	// Try to parse as UUID to validate format
 	_, err := uuid.FromBytes(data)
 	if err != nil {
-		return errors.New("invalid UUID format")
+		return errInvalidUUIDFormat
 	}
+
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (m *manifest) deserializeInner() error {
+// validateOuterHeader checks the outer message's version, compression
-	if m.pbOuter.Version != MFFileOuter_VERSION_ONE {
+// type, and UUID.
-		return errors.New("unknown version")
+func (m *manifest) validateOuterHeader() error {
+	if m.pbOuter.GetVersion() != MFFileOuter_VERSION_ONE {
+		return errUnknownVersion
 	}
-	if m.pbOuter.CompressionType != MFFileOuter_COMPRESSION_ZSTD {
+
-		return errors.New("unknown compression type")
+	if m.pbOuter.GetCompressionType() != MFFileOuter_COMPRESSION_ZSTD {
+		return errUnknownCompression
 	}
 
 	// Validate outer UUID before any decompression
-	if err := validateUUID(m.pbOuter.Uuid); err != nil {
+	err := validateUUID(m.pbOuter.GetUuid())
-		return errors.New("outer UUID invalid: " + err.Error())
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("outer UUID invalid: %w", err)
 	}
 
-	// Verify hash of compressed data before decompression
+	return nil
+}
+
+// verifyOuterIntegrity checks the hash of the compressed payload and,
+// if a signature is present, verifies it against the embedded public key.
+func (m *manifest) verifyOuterIntegrity() error {
 	h := sha256.New()
-	if _, err := h.Write(m.pbOuter.InnerMessage); err != nil {
+
+	_, err := h.Write(m.pbOuter.GetInnerMessage())
+	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("deserialize: hash write: %w", err)
 	}
+
 	sha256Hash := h.Sum(nil)
-	if !bytes.Equal(sha256Hash, m.pbOuter.Sha256) {
+	if !bytes.Equal(sha256Hash, m.pbOuter.GetSha256()) {
-		return errors.New("compressed data hash mismatch")
+		return errCompressedHashWrong
 	}
 
-	// Verify signature if present
+	if len(m.pbOuter.GetSignature()) == 0 {
-	if len(m.pbOuter.Signature) > 0 {
+		return nil
-		if len(m.pbOuter.SigningPubKey) == 0 {
+	}
-			return errors.New("signature present but no public key")
+
+	if len(m.pbOuter.GetSigningPubKey()) == 0 {
+		return errSignatureNoPubKey
 	}
 
 	sigString, err := m.signatureString()
 	if err != nil {
-			return fmt.Errorf("failed to generate signature string for verification: %w", err)
+		return fmt.Errorf(
+			"failed to generate signature string for verification: %w", err,
+		)
 	}
 
-		if err := gpgVerify([]byte(sigString), m.pbOuter.Signature, m.pbOuter.SigningPubKey); err != nil {
+	err = gpgVerify(
+		[]byte(sigString),
+		m.pbOuter.GetSignature(),
+		m.pbOuter.GetSigningPubKey(),
+	)
+	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("signature verification failed: %w", err)
 	}
-		log.Infof("signature verified successfully")
-	}
 
-	bb := bytes.NewBuffer(m.pbOuter.InnerMessage)
+	log.Infof("signature verified successfully")
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+// decompressInner decompresses the inner payload, enforcing size limits
+// to prevent decompression bombs.
+func (m *manifest) decompressInner() ([]byte, error) {
+	bb := bytes.NewBuffer(m.pbOuter.GetInnerMessage())
 
 	zr, err := zstd.NewReader(bb)
 	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("deserialize: zstd reader: %w", err)
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("deserialize: zstd reader: %w", err)
 	}
 	defer zr.Close()
 
 	// Limit decompressed size to prevent decompression bombs.
 	// Use declared size + 1 byte to detect overflow, capped at MaxDecompressedSize.
 	maxSize := MaxDecompressedSize
-	if m.pbOuter.Size > 0 && m.pbOuter.Size < int64(maxSize) {
+	if m.pbOuter.GetSize() > 0 && m.pbOuter.GetSize() < maxSize {
-		maxSize = int64(m.pbOuter.Size) + 1
+		maxSize = m.pbOuter.GetSize() + 1
 	}
+
 	limitedReader := io.LimitReader(zr, maxSize)
+
 	dat, err := io.ReadAll(limitedReader)
 	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("deserialize: decompress: %w", err)
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("deserialize: decompress: %w", err)
 	}
+
 	if int64(len(dat)) >= MaxDecompressedSize {
-		return fmt.Errorf("decompressed data exceeds maximum allowed size of %d bytes", MaxDecompressedSize)
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf(
+			"%w of %d bytes", errDecompressedTooLarge, MaxDecompressedSize,
+		)
+	}
+
+	return dat, nil
+}
+
+func (m *manifest) deserializeInner() error {
+	err := m.validateOuterHeader()
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	err = m.verifyOuterIntegrity()
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	dat, err := m.decompressInner()
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
 	}
 
 	isize := len(dat)
-	if int64(isize) != m.pbOuter.Size {
+	if int64(isize) != m.pbOuter.GetSize() {
-		log.Debugf("truncated data, got %d expected %d", isize, m.pbOuter.Size)
+		log.Debugf("truncated data, got %d expected %d", isize, m.pbOuter.GetSize())
+
 		return bork.ErrFileTruncated
 	}
 
 	// Deserialize inner message
 	m.pbInner = new(MFFile)
-	if err := proto.Unmarshal(dat, m.pbInner); err != nil {
+
+	err = proto.Unmarshal(dat, m.pbInner)
+	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("deserialize: unmarshal inner: %w", err)
 	}
 
 	// Validate inner UUID
-	if err := validateUUID(m.pbInner.Uuid); err != nil {
+	err = validateUUID(m.pbInner.GetUuid())
-		return errors.New("inner UUID invalid: " + err.Error())
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("inner UUID invalid: %w", err)
 	}
 
 	// Verify UUIDs match
-	if !bytes.Equal(m.pbOuter.Uuid, m.pbInner.Uuid) {
+	if !bytes.Equal(m.pbOuter.GetUuid(), m.pbInner.GetUuid()) {
-		return errors.New("outer and inner UUID mismatch")
+		return errUUIDMismatch
 	}
 
-	log.Infof("loaded manifest with %d files", len(m.pbInner.Files))
+	log.Infof("loaded manifest with %d files", len(m.pbInner.GetFiles()))
+
 	return nil
 }
 
@@ -122,20 +191,26 @@ func validateMagic(dat []byte) bool {
 	if len(dat) < ml {
 		return false
 	}
+
 	got := dat[0:ml]
 	expected := []byte(MAGIC)
+
 	return bytes.Equal(got, expected)
 }
 
 // NewManifestFromReader reads a manifest from an io.Reader.
+//
+//nolint:revive // unexported-return: exporting manifest is owner question 13
 func NewManifestFromReader(input io.Reader) (*manifest, error) {
 	m := &manifest{}
+
 	dat, err := io.ReadAll(input)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
+
 	if !validateMagic(dat) {
-		return nil, errors.New("invalid file format")
+		return nil, errInvalidFileFormat
 	}
 
 	// remove magic bytes prefix:
@@ -145,12 +220,15 @@ func NewManifestFromReader(input io.Reader) (*manifest, error) {
 
 	// deserialize outer:
 	m.pbOuter = new(MFFileOuter)
-	if err := proto.Unmarshal(dat, m.pbOuter); err != nil {
+
+	err = proto.Unmarshal(dat, m.pbOuter)
+	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
 	// deserialize inner:
-	if err := m.deserializeInner(); err != nil {
+	err = m.deserializeInner()
+	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
@@ -159,14 +237,19 @@ func NewManifestFromReader(input io.Reader) (*manifest, error) {
 
 // NewManifestFromFile reads a manifest from a file path using the given filesystem.
 // If fs is nil, the real filesystem (OsFs) is used.
+//
+//nolint:revive // unexported-return: exporting manifest is owner question 13
 func NewManifestFromFile(fs afero.Fs, path string) (*manifest, error) {
 	if fs == nil {
 		fs = afero.NewOsFs()
 	}
+
 	f, err := fs.Open(path)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
+
 	defer func() { _ = f.Close() }()
+
 	return NewManifestFromReader(f)
 }

mfer/errmsg_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,85 @@
+//nolint:testpackage // white-box tests exercise unexported internals
+package mfer
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+)
+
+// TestValidatePathMessagesVerbatim pins the exact rendered text of every
+// ValidatePath rejection.
+//
+// These strings are user-visible and are assembled by wrapping static
+// sentinels mid-sentence, which makes them easy to reword by accident
+// while refactoring for errors.Is matchability. Changing one is a
+// deliberate change, not a refactoring side effect.
+func TestValidatePathMessagesVerbatim(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	for _, tc := range []struct {
+		name string
+		path string
+		want string
+		is   error
+	}{
+		{
+			name: "empty",
+			path: "",
+			want: "path cannot be empty",
+			is:   errPathEmpty,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "not utf8",
+			path: "a\xffb",
+			want: `path "a\xffb" is not valid UTF-8`,
+			is:   errPathNotUTF8,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "backslash",
+			path: `a\b`,
+			want: `path "a\\b" contains backslash; ` +
+				"use forward slashes only",
+			is: errPathBackslash,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "absolute",
+			path: "/a/b",
+			want: `path "/a/b" is absolute; must be relative`,
+			is:   errPathAbsolute,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "empty segment",
+			path: "a//b",
+			want: `path "a//b" contains empty segment`,
+			is:   errPathEmptySegment,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "dotdot segment",
+			path: "a/../b",
+			want: `path "a/../b" contains '..' segment`,
+			is:   errPathDotDot,
+		},
+	} {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			t.Parallel()
+
+			err := ValidatePath(tc.path)
+			require.Error(t, err)
+			assert.Equal(t, tc.want, err.Error())
+			require.ErrorIs(t, err, tc.is)
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+// TestSerializeInternalErrorMessagesVerbatim pins the two distinct
+// "internal error" messages, which differ between generate and
+// generateOuter and have always done so.
+func TestSerializeInternalErrorMessagesVerbatim(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	m := &manifest{}
+	require.EqualError(t, m.generate(), "internal error: pbInner not set")
+	require.EqualError(t, m.generateOuter(), "internal error")
+}

mfer/gpg.go

@@ -2,13 +2,45 @@ package mfer
 
 import (
 	"bytes"
+	"context"
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
+	"io"
 	"os"
 	"os/exec"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"strings"
 )
 
+const (
+	// privateDirPerms is the permission mode for temporary GPG home
+	// directories.
+	privateDirPerms os.FileMode = 0o700
+
+	// privateFilePerms is the permission mode for temporary key,
+	// signature, and data files.
+	privateFilePerms os.FileMode = 0o600
+
+	// gpgFingerprintField is the record type tag for fingerprint lines
+	// in gpg --with-colons output.
+	gpgFingerprintField = "fpr"
+
+	// gpgFingerprintMinFields is the minimum number of colon-separated
+	// fields in a gpg fingerprint record (the fingerprint is field 10).
+	gpgFingerprintMinFields = 10
+
+	// gpg option names used from more than one call site.
+	gpgOptArmor   = "--armor"
+	gpgOptHomedir = "--homedir"
+	gpgOptVerify  = "--verify"
+)
+
+var (
+	errGPGKeyNotFound      = errors.New("gpg key not found")
+	errFingerprintNotFound = errors.New("fingerprint not found for key")
+	errImportedFPRNotFound = errors.New("fingerprint not found in imported key")
+)
+
 // GPGKeyID represents a GPG key identifier (fingerprint or key ID).
 type GPGKeyID string
 
@@ -17,22 +49,69 @@ type SigningOptions struct {
 	KeyID GPGKeyID
 }
 
-// gpgSign creates a detached signature of the data using the specified key.
+// gpgArgs builds a gpg argument list from opts followed by positional
-// Returns the armored detached signature.
+// arguments, separated by an explicit "--" end-of-options marker.
-func gpgSign(data []byte, keyID GPGKeyID) ([]byte, error) {
+//
-	cmd := exec.Command("gpg", "--batch", "--no-tty",
+// This matters because key IDs reach gpg as bare positional arguments
-		"--detach-sign",
+// (from --sign-key / MFER_SIGN_KEY) and gpg would otherwise parse a value
-		"--armor",
+// beginning with "-" as one of its own options. Callers must route every
-		"--local-user", string(keyID),
+// non-option argument through here.
-	)
+func gpgArgs(opts []string, positional ...string) []string {
+	args := make([]string, 0, len(opts)+1+len(positional))
+	args = append(args, opts...)
+	args = append(args, "--")
+	args = append(args, positional...)
 
-	cmd.Stdin = bytes.NewReader(data)
+	return args
+}
+
+// runGPG runs the gpg binary in batch mode with the given arguments and
+// optional stdin, returning captured stdout and stderr.
+func runGPG(stdin io.Reader, args ...string) (*bytes.Buffer, *bytes.Buffer, error) {
+	fullArgs := append([]string{"--batch", "--no-tty"}, args...)
+
+	// G204: the executable name is a compile-time constant. The arguments
+	// are not, so the guarantee that matters is placement: every
+	// caller-supplied value is passed either as the value of a named
+	// option or after the "--" end-of-options marker inserted by gpgArgs,
+	// and therefore cannot be reinterpreted by gpg as an option.
+	cmd := exec.CommandContext( //nolint:gosec // G204: see comment above
+		context.Background(), "gpg", fullArgs...)
+	cmd.Stdin = stdin
 
 	var stdout, stderr bytes.Buffer
+
 	cmd.Stdout = &stdout
 	cmd.Stderr = &stderr
 
-	if err := cmd.Run(); err != nil {
+	err := cmd.Run()
+
+	return &stdout, &stderr, err
+}
+
+// parseFingerprint extracts the first fingerprint from gpg --with-colons
+// output, or returns ok=false if none is present.
+func parseFingerprint(colonOutput string) (string, bool) {
+	for _, line := range strings.Split(colonOutput, "\n") {
+		fields := strings.Split(line, ":")
+		if len(fields) >= gpgFingerprintMinFields &&
+			fields[0] == gpgFingerprintField {
+			return fields[9], true
+		}
+	}
+
+	return "", false
+}
+
+// gpgSign creates a detached signature of the data using the specified key.
+// Returns the armored detached signature.
+func gpgSign(data []byte, keyID GPGKeyID) ([]byte, error) {
+	stdout, stderr, err := runGPG(bytes.NewReader(data),
+		"--detach-sign",
+		gpgOptArmor,
+		"--local-user", string(keyID),
+	)
+	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("gpg sign failed: %w: %s", err, stderr.String())
 	}
 
@@ -42,22 +121,15 @@ func gpgSign(data []byte, keyID GPGKeyID) ([]byte, error) {
 // gpgExportPublicKey exports the public key for the specified key ID.
 // Returns the armored public key.
 func gpgExportPublicKey(keyID GPGKeyID) ([]byte, error) {
-	cmd := exec.Command("gpg", "--batch", "--no-tty",
+	stdout, stderr, err := runGPG(nil,
-		"--export",
+		gpgArgs([]string{"--export", gpgOptArmor}, string(keyID))...,
-		"--armor",
-		string(keyID),
 	)
-
+	if err != nil {
-	var stdout, stderr bytes.Buffer
-	cmd.Stdout = &stdout
-	cmd.Stderr = &stderr
-
-	if err := cmd.Run(); err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("gpg export failed: %w: %s", err, stderr.String())
 	}
 
 	if stdout.Len() == 0 {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("gpg key not found: %s", keyID)
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: %s", errGPGKeyNotFound, keyID)
 	}
 
 	return stdout.Bytes(), nil
@@ -65,30 +137,21 @@ func gpgExportPublicKey(keyID GPGKeyID) ([]byte, error) {
 
 // gpgGetKeyFingerprint gets the full fingerprint for a key ID.
 func gpgGetKeyFingerprint(keyID GPGKeyID) ([]byte, error) {
-	cmd := exec.Command("gpg", "--batch", "--no-tty",
+	stdout, stderr, err := runGPG(nil,
-		"--with-colons",
+		gpgArgs([]string{"--with-colons", "--fingerprint"}, string(keyID))...,
-		"--fingerprint",
+	)
-		string(keyID),
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf(
+			"gpg fingerprint lookup failed: %w: %s", err, stderr.String(),
 		)
-
-	var stdout, stderr bytes.Buffer
-	cmd.Stdout = &stdout
-	cmd.Stderr = &stderr
-
-	if err := cmd.Run(); err != nil {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("gpg fingerprint lookup failed: %w: %s", err, stderr.String())
 	}
 
-	// Parse the colon-delimited output to find the fingerprint
+	fpr, ok := parseFingerprint(stdout.String())
-	lines := strings.Split(stdout.String(), "\n")
+	if !ok {
-	for _, line := range lines {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: %s", errFingerprintNotFound, keyID)
-		fields := strings.Split(line, ":")
-		if len(fields) >= 10 && fields[0] == "fpr" {
-			return []byte(fields[9]), nil
-		}
 	}
 
-	return nil, fmt.Errorf("fingerprint not found for key: %s", keyID)
+	return []byte(fpr), nil
 }
 
 // gpgExtractPubKeyFingerprint imports a public key into a temporary keyring
@@ -100,54 +163,51 @@ func gpgExtractPubKeyFingerprint(pubKey []byte) (string, error) {
 	if err != nil {
 		return "", fmt.Errorf("failed to create temp dir: %w", err)
 	}
+
 	defer func() { _ = os.RemoveAll(tmpDir) }()
 
 	// Set restrictive permissions
-	if err := os.Chmod(tmpDir, 0o700); err != nil {
+	err = os.Chmod(tmpDir, privateDirPerms)
+	if err != nil {
 		return "", fmt.Errorf("failed to set temp dir permissions: %w", err)
 	}
 
 	// Write public key to temp file
 	pubKeyFile := filepath.Join(tmpDir, "pubkey.asc")
-	if err := os.WriteFile(pubKeyFile, pubKey, 0o600); err != nil {
+
+	err = os.WriteFile(pubKeyFile, pubKey, privateFilePerms)
+	if err != nil {
 		return "", fmt.Errorf("failed to write public key: %w", err)
 	}
 
 	// Import the public key into the temporary keyring
-	importCmd := exec.Command("gpg", "--batch", "--no-tty",
+	_, importStderr, err := runGPG(nil,
-		"--homedir", tmpDir,
+		gpgArgs([]string{gpgOptHomedir, tmpDir, "--import"}, pubKeyFile)...,
-		"--import",
+	)
-		pubKeyFile,
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf(
+			"failed to import public key: %w: %s", err, importStderr.String(),
 		)
-	var importStderr bytes.Buffer
-	importCmd.Stderr = &importStderr
-	if err := importCmd.Run(); err != nil {
-		return "", fmt.Errorf("failed to import public key: %w: %s", err, importStderr.String())
 	}
 
 	// List keys to get fingerprint
-	listCmd := exec.Command("gpg", "--batch", "--no-tty",
+	listStdout, listStderr, err := runGPG(nil,
 		"--homedir", tmpDir,
 		"--with-colons",
 		"--fingerprint",
 	)
-	var listStdout, listStderr bytes.Buffer
+	if err != nil {
-	listCmd.Stdout = &listStdout
+		return "", fmt.Errorf(
-	listCmd.Stderr = &listStderr
+			"failed to list keys: %w: %s", err, listStderr.String(),
-	if err := listCmd.Run(); err != nil {
+		)
-		return "", fmt.Errorf("failed to list keys: %w: %s", err, listStderr.String())
 	}
 
-	// Parse the colon-delimited output to find the fingerprint
+	fpr, ok := parseFingerprint(listStdout.String())
-	lines := strings.Split(listStdout.String(), "\n")
+	if !ok {
-	for _, line := range lines {
+		return "", errImportedFPRNotFound
-		fields := strings.Split(line, ":")
-		if len(fields) >= 10 && fields[0] == "fpr" {
-			return fields[9], nil
-		}
 	}
 
-	return "", fmt.Errorf("fingerprint not found in imported key")
+	return fpr, nil
 }
 
 // gpgVerify verifies a detached signature against data using the provided public key.
@@ -158,54 +218,58 @@ func gpgVerify(data, signature, pubKey []byte) error {
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to create temp dir: %w", err)
 	}
+
 	defer func() { _ = os.RemoveAll(tmpDir) }()
 
 	// Set restrictive permissions
-	if err := os.Chmod(tmpDir, 0o700); err != nil {
+	err = os.Chmod(tmpDir, privateDirPerms)
+	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to set temp dir permissions: %w", err)
 	}
 
 	// Write public key to temp file
 	pubKeyFile := filepath.Join(tmpDir, "pubkey.asc")
-	if err := os.WriteFile(pubKeyFile, pubKey, 0o600); err != nil {
+
+	err = os.WriteFile(pubKeyFile, pubKey, privateFilePerms)
+	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to write public key: %w", err)
 	}
 
 	// Write signature to temp file
 	sigFile := filepath.Join(tmpDir, "signature.asc")
-	if err := os.WriteFile(sigFile, signature, 0o600); err != nil {
+
+	err = os.WriteFile(sigFile, signature, privateFilePerms)
+	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to write signature: %w", err)
 	}
 
 	// Write data to temp file
 	dataFile := filepath.Join(tmpDir, "data")
-	if err := os.WriteFile(dataFile, data, 0o600); err != nil {
+
+	err = os.WriteFile(dataFile, data, privateFilePerms)
+	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to write data: %w", err)
 	}
 
 	// Import the public key into the temporary keyring
-	importCmd := exec.Command("gpg", "--batch", "--no-tty",
+	_, importStderr, err := runGPG(nil,
-		"--homedir", tmpDir,
+		gpgArgs([]string{gpgOptHomedir, tmpDir, "--import"}, pubKeyFile)...,
-		"--import",
+	)
-		pubKeyFile,
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf(
+			"failed to import public key: %w: %s", err, importStderr.String(),
 		)
-	var importStderr bytes.Buffer
-	importCmd.Stderr = &importStderr
-	if err := importCmd.Run(); err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("failed to import public key: %w: %s", err, importStderr.String())
 	}
 
 	// Verify the signature
-	verifyCmd := exec.Command("gpg", "--batch", "--no-tty",
+	_, verifyStderr, err := runGPG(nil,
-		"--homedir", tmpDir,
+		gpgArgs([]string{gpgOptHomedir, tmpDir, gpgOptVerify},
-		"--verify",
+			sigFile, dataFile)...,
-		sigFile,
+	)
-		dataFile,
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf(
+			"signature verification failed: %w: %s", err, verifyStderr.String(),
 		)
-	var verifyStderr bytes.Buffer
-	verifyCmd.Stderr = &verifyStderr
-	if err := verifyCmd.Run(); err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("signature verification failed: %w: %s", err, verifyStderr.String())
 	}
 
 	return nil

mfer/gpg_test.go

@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+//nolint:testpackage // white-box tests exercise unexported internals
 package mfer
 
 import (
@@ -15,35 +16,20 @@ import (
 )
 
 // testGPGEnv sets up a temporary GPG home directory with a test key.
-// Returns the key ID and a cleanup function.
+// Returns the key ID and the GPG home directory; callers must point
-func testGPGEnv(t *testing.T) (GPGKeyID, func()) {
+// GNUPGHOME at the returned directory (via t.Setenv) before using the
+// gpg helpers under test.
+func testGPGEnv(t *testing.T) (GPGKeyID, string) {
 	t.Helper()
 
 	// Check if gpg is installed
-	if _, err := exec.LookPath("gpg"); err != nil {
+	_, err := exec.LookPath("gpg")
+	if err != nil {
 		t.Skip("gpg not installed, skipping signing test")
-		return "", func() {}
 	}
 
-	// Create temporary GPG home directory
+	// Create temporary GPG home directory (0700 by default)
-	gpgHome, err := os.MkdirTemp("", "mfer-gpg-test-*")
+	gpgHome := t.TempDir()
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-
-	// Set restrictive permissions on GPG home
-	require.NoError(t, os.Chmod(gpgHome, 0o700))
-
-	// Save original GNUPGHOME and set new one
-	origGPGHome := os.Getenv("GNUPGHOME")
-	require.NoError(t, os.Setenv("GNUPGHOME", gpgHome))
-
-	cleanup := func() {
-		if origGPGHome == "" {
-			_ = os.Unsetenv("GNUPGHOME")
-		} else {
-			_ = os.Setenv("GNUPGHOME", origGPGHome)
-		}
-		_ = os.RemoveAll(gpgHome)
-	}
 
 	// Generate a test key with no passphrase
 	keyParams := `%no-protection
@@ -57,45 +43,51 @@ Expire-Date: 0
 	paramsFile := filepath.Join(gpgHome, "key-params")
 	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(paramsFile, []byte(keyParams), 0o600))
 
-	cmd := exec.Command("gpg", "--batch", "--gen-key", paramsFile)
+	//nolint:gosec // paramsFile is a test-controlled path inside t.TempDir()
+	cmd := exec.CommandContext(context.Background(), "gpg",
+		"--batch", "--gen-key", paramsFile)
+
 	cmd.Env = append(os.Environ(), "GNUPGHOME="+gpgHome)
+
 	output, err := cmd.CombinedOutput()
 	if err != nil {
-		cleanup()
 		t.Skipf("failed to generate test GPG key: %v: %s", err, output)
-		return "", func() {}
 	}
 
 	// Get the key fingerprint
-	cmd = exec.Command("gpg", "--list-keys", "--with-colons", "test@mfer.test")
+	cmd = exec.CommandContext(context.Background(), "gpg",
+		"--list-keys", "--with-colons", "test@mfer.test")
+
 	cmd.Env = append(os.Environ(), "GNUPGHOME="+gpgHome)
+
 	output, err = cmd.Output()
 	if err != nil {
-		cleanup()
 		t.Fatalf("failed to list test key: %v", err)
 	}
 
 	// Parse fingerprint from output
 	var keyID string
+
 	for _, line := range strings.Split(string(output), "\n") {
 		fields := strings.Split(line, ":")
-		if len(fields) >= 10 && fields[0] == "fpr" {
+		if len(fields) >= gpgFingerprintMinFields &&
+			fields[0] == gpgFingerprintField {
 			keyID = fields[9]
+
 			break
 		}
 	}
 
 	if keyID == "" {
-		cleanup()
 		t.Fatal("failed to find test key fingerprint")
 	}
 
-	return GPGKeyID(keyID), cleanup
+	return GPGKeyID(keyID), gpgHome
 }
 
 func TestGPGSign(t *testing.T) {
-	keyID, cleanup := testGPGEnv(t)
+	keyID, gpgHome := testGPGEnv(t)
-	defer cleanup()
+	t.Setenv("GNUPGHOME", gpgHome)
 
 	data := []byte("test data to sign")
 	sig, err := gpgSign(data, keyID)
@@ -106,8 +98,8 @@ func TestGPGSign(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestGPGExportPublicKey(t *testing.T) {
-	keyID, cleanup := testGPGEnv(t)
+	keyID, gpgHome := testGPGEnv(t)
-	defer cleanup()
+	t.Setenv("GNUPGHOME", gpgHome)
 
 	pubKey, err := gpgExportPublicKey(keyID)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
@@ -117,8 +109,8 @@ func TestGPGExportPublicKey(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestGPGGetKeyFingerprint(t *testing.T) {
-	keyID, cleanup := testGPGEnv(t)
+	keyID, gpgHome := testGPGEnv(t)
-	defer cleanup()
+	t.Setenv("GNUPGHOME", gpgHome)
 
 	fingerprint, err := gpgGetKeyFingerprint(keyID)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
@@ -127,10 +119,47 @@ func TestGPGGetKeyFingerprint(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Len(t, fingerprint, 40, "fingerprint should be 40 hex chars")
 }
 
+// TestGPGArgsSeparatesPositionals pins that caller-supplied values are
+// placed after an end-of-options marker. Key IDs arrive from --sign-key
+// and MFER_SIGN_KEY as bare positional arguments, so without the marker
+// a value beginning with "-" would be parsed by gpg as one of its own
+// options.
+func TestGPGArgsSeparatesPositionals(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	assert.Equal(t,
+		[]string{"--opt-a", "--opt-b", "--", "--version"},
+		gpgArgs([]string{"--opt-a", "--opt-b"}, "--version"))
+
+	assert.Equal(t,
+		[]string{"--opt-c", "--", "sig", "data"},
+		gpgArgs([]string{"--opt-c"}, "sig", "data"))
+
+	assert.Equal(t, []string{"--opt-d", "--"},
+		gpgArgs([]string{"--opt-d"}))
+}
+
+// TestGPGOptionLikeKeyIDIsNotAnOption drives real gpg with a key ID that
+// looks like an option and asserts it is treated as a (nonexistent) key
+// rather than executed as gpg's own --version.
+func TestGPGOptionLikeKeyIDIsNotAnOption(t *testing.T) {
+	_, gpgHome := testGPGEnv(t)
+	t.Setenv("GNUPGHOME", gpgHome)
+
+	pubKey, err := gpgExportPublicKey(GPGKeyID("--version"))
+	require.Error(t, err)
+	require.ErrorIs(t, err, errGPGKeyNotFound)
+	assert.NotContains(t, string(pubKey), "gpg (GnuPG)")
+
+	fpr, err := gpgGetKeyFingerprint(GPGKeyID("--version"))
+	require.Error(t, err)
+	assert.NotContains(t, string(fpr), "gpg (GnuPG)")
+}
+
 func TestGPGSignInvalidKey(t *testing.T) {
 	// Set up test environment (we need GNUPGHOME set)
-	_, cleanup := testGPGEnv(t)
+	_, gpgHome := testGPGEnv(t)
-	defer cleanup()
+	t.Setenv("GNUPGHOME", gpgHome)
 
 	data := []byte("test data")
 	_, err := gpgSign(data, GPGKeyID("NONEXISTENT_KEY_ID_12345"))
@@ -138,8 +167,8 @@ func TestGPGSignInvalidKey(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestBuilderWithSigning(t *testing.T) {
-	keyID, cleanup := testGPGEnv(t)
+	keyID, gpgHome := testGPGEnv(t)
-	defer cleanup()
+	t.Setenv("GNUPGHOME", gpgHome)
 
 	// Create a builder with signing options
 	b := NewBuilder()
@@ -155,6 +184,7 @@ func TestBuilderWithSigning(t *testing.T) {
 
 	// Build the manifest
 	var buf bytes.Buffer
+
 	err = b.Build(&buf)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
@@ -163,26 +193,32 @@ func TestBuilderWithSigning(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	require.NotNil(t, manifest.pbOuter)
 
-	assert.NotEmpty(t, manifest.pbOuter.Signature, "signature should be populated")
+	assert.NotEmpty(t, manifest.pbOuter.GetSignature(),
-	assert.NotEmpty(t, manifest.pbOuter.Signer, "signer should be populated")
+		"signature should be populated")
-	assert.NotEmpty(t, manifest.pbOuter.SigningPubKey, "signing public key should be populated")
+	assert.NotEmpty(t, manifest.pbOuter.GetSigner(), "signer should be populated")
+	assert.NotEmpty(t, manifest.pbOuter.GetSigningPubKey(),
+		"signing public key should be populated")
 
 	// Verify signature is a valid PGP signature
-	assert.Contains(t, string(manifest.pbOuter.Signature), "-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----")
+	assert.Contains(t, string(manifest.pbOuter.GetSignature()),
+		"-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----")
 
 	// Verify public key is a valid PGP public key block
-	assert.Contains(t, string(manifest.pbOuter.SigningPubKey), "-----BEGIN PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK-----")
+	assert.Contains(t, string(manifest.pbOuter.GetSigningPubKey()),
+		"-----BEGIN PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK-----")
 }
 
 func TestScannerWithSigning(t *testing.T) {
-	keyID, cleanup := testGPGEnv(t)
+	keyID, gpgHome := testGPGEnv(t)
-	defer cleanup()
+	t.Setenv("GNUPGHOME", gpgHome)
 
 	// Create in-memory filesystem with test files
 	fs := afero.NewMemMapFs()
 	require.NoError(t, fs.MkdirAll("/testdir", 0o755))
-	require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, "/testdir/file1.txt", []byte("content1"), 0o644))
+	require.NoError(t,
-	require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, "/testdir/file2.txt", []byte("content2"), 0o644))
+		afero.WriteFile(fs, "/testdir/file1.txt", []byte("content1"), 0o644))
+	require.NoError(t,
+		afero.WriteFile(fs, "/testdir/file2.txt", []byte("content2"), 0o644))
 
 	// Create scanner with signing options
 	opts := &ScannerOptions{
@@ -205,14 +241,14 @@ func TestScannerWithSigning(t *testing.T) {
 	manifest, err := NewManifestFromReader(&buf)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
-	assert.NotEmpty(t, manifest.pbOuter.Signature)
+	assert.NotEmpty(t, manifest.pbOuter.GetSignature())
-	assert.NotEmpty(t, manifest.pbOuter.Signer)
+	assert.NotEmpty(t, manifest.pbOuter.GetSigner())
-	assert.NotEmpty(t, manifest.pbOuter.SigningPubKey)
+	assert.NotEmpty(t, manifest.pbOuter.GetSigningPubKey())
 }
 
 func TestGPGVerify(t *testing.T) {
-	keyID, cleanup := testGPGEnv(t)
+	keyID, gpgHome := testGPGEnv(t)
-	defer cleanup()
+	t.Setenv("GNUPGHOME", gpgHome)
 
 	data := []byte("test data to sign and verify")
 	sig, err := gpgSign(data, keyID)
@@ -227,8 +263,8 @@ func TestGPGVerify(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestGPGVerifyInvalidSignature(t *testing.T) {
-	keyID, cleanup := testGPGEnv(t)
+	keyID, gpgHome := testGPGEnv(t)
-	defer cleanup()
+	t.Setenv("GNUPGHOME", gpgHome)
 
 	data := []byte("test data to sign")
 	sig, err := gpgSign(data, keyID)
@@ -244,8 +280,8 @@ func TestGPGVerifyInvalidSignature(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestGPGVerifyBadPublicKey(t *testing.T) {
-	keyID, cleanup := testGPGEnv(t)
+	keyID, gpgHome := testGPGEnv(t)
-	defer cleanup()
+	t.Setenv("GNUPGHOME", gpgHome)
 
 	data := []byte("test data")
 	sig, err := gpgSign(data, keyID)
@@ -258,8 +294,8 @@ func TestGPGVerifyBadPublicKey(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestManifestSignatureVerification(t *testing.T) {
-	keyID, cleanup := testGPGEnv(t)
+	keyID, gpgHome := testGPGEnv(t)
-	defer cleanup()
+	t.Setenv("GNUPGHOME", gpgHome)
 
 	// Create a builder with signing options
 	b := NewBuilder()
@@ -275,6 +311,7 @@ func TestManifestSignatureVerification(t *testing.T) {
 
 	// Build the manifest
 	var buf bytes.Buffer
+
 	err = b.Build(&buf)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
@@ -284,12 +321,12 @@ func TestManifestSignatureVerification(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NotNil(t, manifest)
 
 	// Signature should be present and valid
-	assert.NotEmpty(t, manifest.pbOuter.Signature)
+	assert.NotEmpty(t, manifest.pbOuter.GetSignature())
 }
 
 func TestManifestTamperedSignatureFails(t *testing.T) {
-	keyID, cleanup := testGPGEnv(t)
+	keyID, gpgHome := testGPGEnv(t)
-	defer cleanup()
+	t.Setenv("GNUPGHOME", gpgHome)
 
 	// Create a signed manifest
 	b := NewBuilder()
@@ -303,6 +340,7 @@ func TestManifestTamperedSignatureFails(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	var buf bytes.Buffer
+
 	err = b.Build(&buf)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
@@ -312,6 +350,7 @@ func TestManifestTamperedSignatureFails(t *testing.T) {
 	for i := range data {
 		if i > 100 && data[i] == 'A' {
 			data[i] = 'B'
+
 			break
 		}
 	}
@@ -322,6 +361,8 @@ func TestManifestTamperedSignatureFails(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestBuilderWithoutSigning(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	// Create a builder without signing options
 	b := NewBuilder()
 
@@ -333,6 +374,7 @@ func TestBuilderWithoutSigning(t *testing.T) {
 
 	// Build the manifest
 	var buf bytes.Buffer
+
 	err = b.Build(&buf)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
@@ -341,7 +383,10 @@ func TestBuilderWithoutSigning(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	require.NotNil(t, manifest.pbOuter)
 
-	assert.Empty(t, manifest.pbOuter.Signature, "signature should be empty when not signing")
+	assert.Empty(t, manifest.pbOuter.GetSignature(),
-	assert.Empty(t, manifest.pbOuter.Signer, "signer should be empty when not signing")
+		"signature should be empty when not signing")
-	assert.Empty(t, manifest.pbOuter.SigningPubKey, "signing public key should be empty when not signing")
+	assert.Empty(t, manifest.pbOuter.GetSigner(),
+		"signer should be empty when not signing")
+	assert.Empty(t, manifest.pbOuter.GetSigningPubKey(),
+		"signing public key should be empty when not signing")
 }

mfer/manifest.go

@@ -9,9 +9,18 @@ import (
 	"github.com/multiformats/go-multihash"
 )
 
+var (
+	errOuterNotSet  = errors.New("pbOuter not set")
+	errUUIDNotSet   = errors.New("UUID not set")
+	errSHA256NotSet = errors.New("SHA256 hash not set")
+)
+
 // manifest holds the internal representation of a manifest file.
-// Use NewManifestFromFile or NewManifestFromReader to load an existing manifest,
+// Use NewManifestFromFile or NewManifestFromReader to load an existing
-// or use Builder to create a new one.
+// manifest, or use Builder to create a new one.
+//
+// Whether this type should be exported is an open design question owned by
+// the repository owner; see README design question 13.
 type manifest struct {
 	pbInner        *MFFile
 	pbOuter        *MFFileOuter
@@ -23,8 +32,9 @@ type manifest struct {
 func (m *manifest) String() string {
 	count := 0
 	if m.pbInner != nil {
-		count = len(m.pbInner.Files)
+		count = len(m.pbInner.GetFiles())
 	}
+
 	return fmt.Sprintf("<Manifest count=%d>", count)
 }
 
@@ -33,7 +43,8 @@ func (m *manifest) Files() []*MFFilePath {
 	if m.pbInner == nil {
 		return nil
 	}
-	return m.pbInner.Files
+
+	return m.pbInner.GetFiles()
 }
 
 // signatureString generates the canonical string used for signing/verification.
@@ -41,20 +52,24 @@ func (m *manifest) Files() []*MFFilePath {
 // Requires pbOuter to be set with Uuid and Sha256 fields.
 func (m *manifest) signatureString() (string, error) {
 	if m.pbOuter == nil {
-		return "", errors.New("pbOuter not set")
+		return "", errOuterNotSet
-	}
-	if len(m.pbOuter.Uuid) == 0 {
-		return "", errors.New("UUID not set")
-	}
-	if len(m.pbOuter.Sha256) == 0 {
-		return "", errors.New("SHA256 hash not set")
 	}
 
-	mh, err := multihash.Encode(m.pbOuter.Sha256, multihash.SHA2_256)
+	if len(m.pbOuter.GetUuid()) == 0 {
+		return "", errUUIDNotSet
+	}
+
+	if len(m.pbOuter.GetSha256()) == 0 {
+		return "", errSHA256NotSet
+	}
+
+	mh, err := multihash.Encode(m.pbOuter.GetSha256(), multihash.SHA2_256)
 	if err != nil {
 		return "", fmt.Errorf("failed to encode multihash: %w", err)
 	}
-	uuidStr := hex.EncodeToString(m.pbOuter.Uuid)
+
+	uuidStr := hex.EncodeToString(m.pbOuter.GetUuid())
 	mhStr := hex.EncodeToString(mh)
+
 	return fmt.Sprintf("%s-%s-%s", MAGIC, uuidStr, mhStr), nil
 }

mfer/scanner.go

@@ -43,12 +43,20 @@ type ScanStatus struct {
 
 // ScannerOptions configures scanner behavior.
 type ScannerOptions struct {
-	IncludeDotfiles   bool            // Include files and directories starting with a dot (default: exclude)
+	// IncludeDotfiles includes files and directories starting with a dot
-	FollowSymLinks    bool            // Resolve symlinks instead of skipping them
+	// (default: exclude).
-	IncludeTimestamps bool            // Include createdAt timestamp in manifest (default: omit for determinism)
+	IncludeDotfiles bool
-	Fs                afero.Fs        // Filesystem to use, defaults to OsFs if nil
+	// FollowSymLinks resolves symlinks instead of skipping them.
-	SigningOptions    *SigningOptions // GPG signing options (nil = no signing)
+	FollowSymLinks bool
-	Seed              string          // If set, derive a deterministic UUID from this seed
+	// IncludeTimestamps includes a createdAt timestamp in the manifest
+	// (default: omit for determinism).
+	IncludeTimestamps bool
+	// Fs is the filesystem to use, defaults to OsFs if nil.
+	Fs afero.Fs
+	// SigningOptions holds GPG signing options (nil = no signing).
+	SigningOptions *SigningOptions
+	// Seed, if set, derives a deterministic UUID from this seed.
+	Seed string
 }
 
 // FileEntry represents a file that has been enumerated.
@@ -79,10 +87,12 @@ func NewScannerWithOptions(opts *ScannerOptions) *Scanner {
 	if opts == nil {
 		opts = &ScannerOptions{}
 	}
+
 	fs := opts.Fs
 	if fs == nil {
 		fs = afero.NewOsFs()
 	}
+
 	return &Scanner{
 		files:   make([]*FileEntry, 0),
 		options: opts,
@@ -96,47 +106,63 @@ func (s *Scanner) EnumerateFile(filePath string) error {
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
+
 	info, err := s.fs.Stat(abs)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 	// For single files, use the filename as the relative path
 	basePath := filepath.Dir(abs)
+
 	return s.enumerateFileWithInfo(filepath.Base(abs), basePath, info, nil)
 }
 
 // EnumeratePath walks a directory path and adds all files to the scanner.
 // If progress is non-nil, status updates are sent as files are discovered.
 // The progress channel is closed when the method returns.
-func (s *Scanner) EnumeratePath(inputPath string, progress chan<- EnumerateStatus) error {
+func (s *Scanner) EnumeratePath(
+	inputPath string,
+	progress chan<- EnumerateStatus,
+) error {
 	if progress != nil {
 		defer close(progress)
 	}
+
 	abs, err := filepath.Abs(inputPath)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
+
 	afs := afero.NewReadOnlyFs(afero.NewBasePathFs(s.fs, abs))
+
 	return s.enumerateFS(afs, abs, progress)
 }
 
 // EnumeratePaths walks multiple directory paths and adds all files to the scanner.
 // If progress is non-nil, status updates are sent as files are discovered.
 // The progress channel is closed when the method returns.
-func (s *Scanner) EnumeratePaths(progress chan<- EnumerateStatus, inputPaths ...string) error {
+func (s *Scanner) EnumeratePaths(
+	progress chan<- EnumerateStatus,
+	inputPaths ...string,
+) error {
 	if progress != nil {
 		defer close(progress)
 	}
+
 	for _, p := range inputPaths {
 		abs, err := filepath.Abs(p)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
+
 		afs := afero.NewReadOnlyFs(afero.NewBasePathFs(s.fs, abs))
-		if err := s.enumerateFS(afs, abs, progress); err != nil {
+
+		err = s.enumerateFS(afs, abs, progress)
+		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
 	}
+
 	return nil
 }
 
@@ -144,31 +170,231 @@ func (s *Scanner) EnumeratePaths(progress chan<- EnumerateStatus, inputPaths ...
 // If progress is non-nil, status updates are sent as files are discovered.
 // The progress channel is closed when the method returns.
 // basePath is used to compute absolute paths for file reading.
-func (s *Scanner) EnumerateFS(afs afero.Fs, basePath string, progress chan<- EnumerateStatus) error {
+func (s *Scanner) EnumerateFS(
+	afs afero.Fs,
+	basePath string,
+	progress chan<- EnumerateStatus,
+) error {
 	if progress != nil {
 		defer close(progress)
 	}
+
 	return s.enumerateFS(afs, basePath, progress)
 }
 
-// enumerateFS is the internal implementation that doesn't close the progress channel.
+// Files returns a copy of all files added to the scanner.
-func (s *Scanner) enumerateFS(afs afero.Fs, basePath string, progress chan<- EnumerateStatus) error {
+func (s *Scanner) Files() []*FileEntry {
+	s.mu.RLock()
+	defer s.mu.RUnlock()
+
+	out := make([]*FileEntry, len(s.files))
+	copy(out, s.files)
+
+	return out
+}
+
+// FileCount returns the number of files in the scanner.
+func (s *Scanner) FileCount() FileCount {
+	s.mu.RLock()
+	defer s.mu.RUnlock()
+
+	return FileCount(len(s.files))
+}
+
+// TotalBytes returns the total size of all files in the scanner.
+func (s *Scanner) TotalBytes() FileSize {
+	s.mu.RLock()
+	defer s.mu.RUnlock()
+
+	return s.totalBytes
+}
+
+// ToManifest reads all file contents, computes hashes, and generates a manifest.
+// If progress is non-nil, status updates are sent approximately once per second.
+// The progress channel is closed when the method returns.
+// The manifest is written to the provided io.Writer.
+func (s *Scanner) ToManifest(
+	ctx context.Context, w io.Writer, progress chan<- ScanStatus,
+) error {
+	if progress != nil {
+		defer close(progress)
+	}
+
+	s.mu.RLock()
+	files := make([]*FileEntry, len(s.files))
+	copy(files, s.files)
+	totalFiles := FileCount(len(files))
+
+	var totalBytes FileSize
+	for _, f := range files {
+		totalBytes += f.Size
+	}
+
+	s.mu.RUnlock()
+
+	builder := s.configureBuilder()
+
+	var (
+		scannedFiles FileCount
+		scannedBytes FileSize
+	)
+
+	lastProgressTime := time.Now()
+	startTime := time.Now()
+
+	pt := &scanProgressTracker{
+		progress:     progress,
+		totalFiles:   totalFiles,
+		totalBytes:   totalBytes,
+		startTime:    startTime,
+		lastProgress: &lastProgressTime,
+	}
+
+	for _, entry := range files {
+		// Check for cancellation
+		select {
+		case <-ctx.Done():
+			return ctx.Err()
+		default:
+		}
+
+		bytesRead, err := s.scanFile(builder, pt, entry, scannedFiles, scannedBytes)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+
+		scannedFiles++
+		scannedBytes += bytesRead
+	}
+
+	// Send final progress (ETA is 0 at completion; remaining bytes are 0,
+	// so computeRateETA yields eta 0 and the same average rate as before)
+	if progress != nil {
+		rate, _ := computeRateETA(time.Since(startTime), scannedBytes, totalBytes)
+
+		sendScanStatus(progress, ScanStatus{
+			TotalFiles:   totalFiles,
+			ScannedFiles: scannedFiles,
+			TotalBytes:   totalBytes,
+			ScannedBytes: scannedBytes,
+			BytesPerSec:  rate,
+			ETA:          0,
+		})
+	}
+
+	// Build and write manifest
+	//nolint:contextcheck // Build's GPG signing exec is not cancellable by design
+	return builder.Build(w)
+}
+
+// configureBuilder constructs a manifest builder configured from the
+// scanner options.
+func (s *Scanner) configureBuilder() *Builder {
+	builder := NewBuilder()
+	if s.options.IncludeTimestamps {
+		builder.SetIncludeTimestamps(true)
+	}
+
+	if s.options.SigningOptions != nil {
+		builder.SetSigningOptions(s.options.SigningOptions)
+	}
+
+	if s.options.Seed != "" {
+		builder.SetSeed(s.options.Seed)
+	}
+
+	return builder
+}
+
+// scanFile hashes a single file into the builder, forwarding per-file
+// progress updates, and returns the number of bytes read.
+func (s *Scanner) scanFile(
+	builder *Builder,
+	pt *scanProgressTracker,
+	entry *FileEntry,
+	scannedFiles FileCount,
+	scannedBytes FileSize,
+) (FileSize, error) {
+	// Open file
+	f, err := s.fs.Open(string(entry.AbsPath))
+	if err != nil {
+		return 0, err
+	}
+
+	// Create progress channel for this file
+	var (
+		fileProgress chan FileHashProgress
+		wg           sync.WaitGroup
+	)
+
+	if pt.progress != nil {
+		fileProgress = make(chan FileHashProgress, 1)
+
+		wg.Add(1)
+
+		go func(base FileSize, done FileCount) {
+			defer wg.Done()
+
+			pt.forward(fileProgress, done, base)
+		}(scannedBytes, scannedFiles)
+	}
+
+	// Add to manifest with progress channel
+	bytesRead, err := builder.AddFile(
+		entry.Path,
+		entry.Size,
+		entry.Mtime,
+		f,
+		fileProgress,
+	)
+	_ = f.Close()
+
+	// Close channel and wait for goroutine to finish
+	if fileProgress != nil {
+		close(fileProgress)
+		wg.Wait()
+	}
+
+	if err != nil {
+		return 0, err
+	}
+
+	log.Verbosef("+ %s (%s)", entry.Path, humanize.IBytes(sizeToUint64(bytesRead)))
+
+	return bytesRead, nil
+}
+
+// enumerateFS is the internal implementation that doesn't close the
+// progress channel.
+func (s *Scanner) enumerateFS(
+	afs afero.Fs,
+	basePath string,
+	progress chan<- EnumerateStatus,
+) error {
 	return afero.Walk(afs, "/", func(p string, info fs.FileInfo, err error) error {
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
+
 		if !s.options.IncludeDotfiles && IsHiddenPath(p) {
 			if info.IsDir() {
 				return filepath.SkipDir
 			}
+
 			return nil
 		}
+
 		return s.enumerateFileWithInfo(p, basePath, info, progress)
 	})
 }
 
 // enumerateFileWithInfo adds a file with pre-existing fs.FileInfo.
-func (s *Scanner) enumerateFileWithInfo(filePath string, basePath string, info fs.FileInfo, progress chan<- EnumerateStatus) error {
+func (s *Scanner) enumerateFileWithInfo(
+	filePath string,
+	basePath string,
+	info fs.FileInfo,
+	progress chan<- EnumerateStatus,
+) error {
 	if info.IsDir() {
 		// Manifests contain only files, directories are implied
 		return nil
@@ -193,11 +419,13 @@ func (s *Scanner) enumerateFileWithInfo(filePath string, basePath string, info f
 		realPath, err := filepath.EvalSymlinks(absPath)
 		if err != nil {
 			// Skip broken symlinks
-			return nil
+			return nil //nolint:nilerr // broken symlinks are skipped by design
 		}
+
 		realInfo, err := s.fs.Stat(realPath)
 		if err != nil {
-			return nil
+			// Skip symlinks whose target cannot be stat'd
+			return nil //nolint:nilerr // unreadable targets are skipped by design
 		}
 		// Skip if symlink points to a directory
 		if realInfo.IsDir() {
@@ -232,160 +460,78 @@ func (s *Scanner) enumerateFileWithInfo(filePath string, basePath string, info f
 	return nil
 }
 
-// Files returns a copy of all files added to the scanner.
+// scanProgressTracker carries the shared state needed to report rate-limited
-func (s *Scanner) Files() []*FileEntry {
+// scan progress updates.
-	s.mu.RLock()
+type scanProgressTracker struct {
-	defer s.mu.RUnlock()
+	progress     chan<- ScanStatus
-	out := make([]*FileEntry, len(s.files))
+	totalFiles   FileCount
-	copy(out, s.files)
+	totalBytes   FileSize
-	return out
+	startTime    time.Time
+	lastProgress *time.Time
 }
 
-// FileCount returns the number of files in the scanner.
+// forward relays per-file hash progress to the scan progress channel,
-func (s *Scanner) FileCount() FileCount {
+// rate-limited to one update per second.
-	s.mu.RLock()
+func (pt *scanProgressTracker) forward(
-	defer s.mu.RUnlock()
+	fileProgress <-chan FileHashProgress,
-	return FileCount(len(s.files))
+	scannedFiles FileCount,
-}
+	baseBytes FileSize,
-
+) {
-// TotalBytes returns the total size of all files in the scanner.
-func (s *Scanner) TotalBytes() FileSize {
-	s.mu.RLock()
-	defer s.mu.RUnlock()
-	return s.totalBytes
-}
-
-// ToManifest reads all file contents, computes hashes, and generates a manifest.
-// If progress is non-nil, status updates are sent approximately once per second.
-// The progress channel is closed when the method returns.
-// The manifest is written to the provided io.Writer.
-func (s *Scanner) ToManifest(ctx context.Context, w io.Writer, progress chan<- ScanStatus) error {
-	if progress != nil {
-		defer close(progress)
-	}
-
-	s.mu.RLock()
-	files := make([]*FileEntry, len(s.files))
-	copy(files, s.files)
-	totalFiles := FileCount(len(files))
-	var totalBytes FileSize
-	for _, f := range files {
-		totalBytes += f.Size
-	}
-	s.mu.RUnlock()
-
-	builder := NewBuilder()
-	if s.options.IncludeTimestamps {
-		builder.SetIncludeTimestamps(true)
-	}
-	if s.options.SigningOptions != nil {
-		builder.SetSigningOptions(s.options.SigningOptions)
-	}
-	if s.options.Seed != "" {
-		builder.SetSeed(s.options.Seed)
-	}
-
-	var scannedFiles FileCount
-	var scannedBytes FileSize
-	lastProgressTime := time.Now()
-	startTime := time.Now()
-
-	for _, entry := range files {
-		// Check for cancellation
-		select {
-		case <-ctx.Done():
-			return ctx.Err()
-		default:
-		}
-
-		// Open file
-		f, err := s.fs.Open(string(entry.AbsPath))
-		if err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-
-		// Create progress channel for this file
-		var fileProgress chan FileHashProgress
-		var wg sync.WaitGroup
-		if progress != nil {
-			fileProgress = make(chan FileHashProgress, 1)
-			wg.Add(1)
-			go func(baseScannedBytes FileSize) {
-				defer wg.Done()
 	for p := range fileProgress {
 		// Send progress at most once per second
 		now := time.Now()
-					if now.Sub(lastProgressTime) >= time.Second {
+		if now.Sub(*pt.lastProgress) < time.Second {
-						elapsed := now.Sub(startTime).Seconds()
+			continue
-						currentBytes := baseScannedBytes + p.BytesRead
-						var rate float64
-						var eta time.Duration
-						if elapsed > 0 && currentBytes > 0 {
-							rate = float64(currentBytes) / elapsed
-							remainingBytes := totalBytes - currentBytes
-							if rate > 0 {
-								eta = time.Duration(float64(remainingBytes)/rate) * time.Second
 		}
-						}
+
-						sendScanStatus(progress, ScanStatus{
+		currentBytes := baseBytes + p.BytesRead
-							TotalFiles:   totalFiles,
+		rate, eta := computeRateETA(now.Sub(pt.startTime), currentBytes, pt.totalBytes)
+
+		sendScanStatus(pt.progress, ScanStatus{
+			TotalFiles:   pt.totalFiles,
 			ScannedFiles: scannedFiles,
-							TotalBytes:   totalBytes,
+			TotalBytes:   pt.totalBytes,
 			ScannedBytes: currentBytes,
 			BytesPerSec:  rate,
 			ETA:          eta,
 		})
-						lastProgressTime = now
-					}
-				}
-			}(scannedBytes)
-		}
 
-		// Add to manifest with progress channel
+		*pt.lastProgress = now
-		bytesRead, err := builder.AddFile(
+	}
-			entry.Path,
+}
-			entry.Size,
+
-			entry.Mtime,
+// computeRateETA returns the average throughput over elapsed time and the
-			f,
+// estimated time to process the remaining bytes at that rate.
-			fileProgress,
+func computeRateETA(
+	elapsed time.Duration,
+	done FileSize,
+	total FileSize,
+) (float64, time.Duration) {
+	var (
+		rate float64
+		eta  time.Duration
 	)
-		_ = f.Close()
 
-		// Close channel and wait for goroutine to finish
+	if elapsed > 0 && done > 0 {
-		if fileProgress != nil {
+		rate = float64(done) / elapsed.Seconds()
-			close(fileProgress)
+
-			wg.Wait()
+		remaining := total - done
+		if rate > 0 {
+			eta = time.Duration(float64(remaining)/rate) * time.Second
+		}
 	}
 
-		if err != nil {
+	return rate, eta
-			return err
+}
+
+// sizeToUint64 converts a FileSize to uint64 for display, clamping
+// negative values to zero so the conversion cannot overflow.
+func sizeToUint64(v FileSize) uint64 {
+	if v < 0 {
+		return 0
 	}
 
-		log.Verbosef("+ %s (%s)", entry.Path, humanize.IBytes(uint64(bytesRead)))
+	return uint64(v)
-
-		scannedFiles++
-		scannedBytes += bytesRead
-	}
-
-	// Send final progress (ETA is 0 at completion)
-	if progress != nil {
-		elapsed := time.Since(startTime).Seconds()
-		var rate float64
-		if elapsed > 0 {
-			rate = float64(scannedBytes) / elapsed
-		}
-		sendScanStatus(progress, ScanStatus{
-			TotalFiles:   totalFiles,
-			ScannedFiles: scannedFiles,
-			TotalBytes:   totalBytes,
-			ScannedBytes: scannedBytes,
-			BytesPerSec:  rate,
-			ETA:          0,
-		})
-	}
-
-	// Build and write manifest
-	return builder.Build(w)
 }
 
 // IsHiddenPath returns true if the path or any of its parent directories
@@ -396,17 +542,21 @@ func IsHiddenPath(p string) bool {
 	if tp == "." || tp == "/" {
 		return false
 	}
+
 	if strings.HasPrefix(tp, ".") {
 		return true
 	}
+
 	for {
 		d, f := path.Split(tp)
 		if strings.HasPrefix(f, ".") {
 			return true
 		}
+
 		if d == "" {
 			return false
 		}
+
 		tp = d[0 : len(d)-1] // trim trailing slash from dir
 	}
 }
@@ -417,6 +567,7 @@ func sendEnumerateStatus(ch chan<- EnumerateStatus, status EnumerateStatus) {
 	if ch == nil {
 		return
 	}
+
 	select {
 	case ch <- status:
 	default:
@@ -430,6 +581,7 @@ func sendScanStatus(ch chan<- ScanStatus, status ScanStatus) {
 	if ch == nil {
 		return
 	}
+
 	select {
 	case ch <- status:
 	default:

mfer/scanner_test.go

@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+//nolint:testpackage // white-box tests exercise unexported internals
 package mfer
 
 import (
@@ -12,6 +13,8 @@ import (
 )
 
 func TestNewScanner(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	s := NewScanner()
 	assert.NotNil(t, s)
 	assert.Equal(t, FileCount(0), s.FileCount())
@@ -19,12 +22,18 @@ func TestNewScanner(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestNewScannerWithOptions(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	t.Run("nil options", func(t *testing.T) {
+		t.Parallel()
+
 		s := NewScannerWithOptions(nil)
 		assert.NotNil(t, s)
 	})
 
 	t.Run("with options", func(t *testing.T) {
+		t.Parallel()
+
 		fs := afero.NewMemMapFs()
 		opts := &ScannerOptions{
 			IncludeDotfiles: true,
@@ -37,6 +46,8 @@ func TestNewScannerWithOptions(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestScannerEnumerateFile(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	fs := afero.NewMemMapFs()
 	require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, "/test.txt", []byte("hello world"), 0o644))
 
@@ -54,6 +65,8 @@ func TestScannerEnumerateFile(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestScannerEnumerateFileMissing(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	fs := afero.NewMemMapFs()
 	s := NewScannerWithOptions(&ScannerOptions{Fs: fs})
 	err := s.EnumerateFile("/nonexistent.txt")
@@ -61,11 +74,14 @@ func TestScannerEnumerateFileMissing(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestScannerEnumeratePath(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	fs := afero.NewMemMapFs()
 	require.NoError(t, fs.MkdirAll("/testdir/subdir", 0o755))
 	require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, "/testdir/file1.txt", []byte("one"), 0o644))
 	require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, "/testdir/file2.txt", []byte("two"), 0o644))
-	require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, "/testdir/subdir/file3.txt", []byte("three"), 0o644))
+	require.NoError(t,
+		afero.WriteFile(fs, "/testdir/subdir/file3.txt", []byte("three"), 0o644))
 
 	s := NewScannerWithOptions(&ScannerOptions{Fs: fs})
 	err := s.EnumeratePath("/testdir", nil)
@@ -76,6 +92,8 @@ func TestScannerEnumeratePath(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestScannerEnumeratePathWithProgress(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	fs := afero.NewMemMapFs()
 	require.NoError(t, fs.MkdirAll("/testdir", 0o755))
 	require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, "/testdir/file1.txt", []byte("one"), 0o644))
@@ -100,6 +118,8 @@ func TestScannerEnumeratePathWithProgress(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestScannerEnumeratePaths(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	fs := afero.NewMemMapFs()
 	require.NoError(t, fs.MkdirAll("/dir1", 0o755))
 	require.NoError(t, fs.MkdirAll("/dir2", 0o755))
@@ -114,13 +134,20 @@ func TestScannerEnumeratePaths(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestScannerExcludeDotfiles(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	fs := afero.NewMemMapFs()
 	require.NoError(t, fs.MkdirAll("/testdir/.hidden", 0o755))
-	require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, "/testdir/visible.txt", []byte("visible"), 0o644))
+	require.NoError(t,
-	require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, "/testdir/.hidden.txt", []byte("hidden"), 0o644))
+		afero.WriteFile(fs, "/testdir/visible.txt", []byte("visible"), 0o644))
-	require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, "/testdir/.hidden/inside.txt", []byte("inside"), 0o644))
+	require.NoError(t,
+		afero.WriteFile(fs, "/testdir/.hidden.txt", []byte("hidden"), 0o644))
+	require.NoError(t,
+		afero.WriteFile(fs, "/testdir/.hidden/inside.txt", []byte("inside"), 0o644))
 
 	t.Run("exclude by default", func(t *testing.T) {
+		t.Parallel()
+
 		s := NewScannerWithOptions(&ScannerOptions{Fs: fs, IncludeDotfiles: false})
 		err := s.EnumeratePath("/testdir", nil)
 		require.NoError(t, err)
@@ -131,6 +158,8 @@ func TestScannerExcludeDotfiles(t *testing.T) {
 	})
 
 	t.Run("include when enabled", func(t *testing.T) {
+		t.Parallel()
+
 		s := NewScannerWithOptions(&ScannerOptions{Fs: fs, IncludeDotfiles: true})
 		err := s.EnumeratePath("/testdir", nil)
 		require.NoError(t, err)
@@ -140,34 +169,43 @@ func TestScannerExcludeDotfiles(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestScannerToManifest(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	fs := afero.NewMemMapFs()
 	require.NoError(t, fs.MkdirAll("/testdir", 0o755))
-	require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, "/testdir/file1.txt", []byte("content one"), 0o644))
+	require.NoError(t,
-	require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, "/testdir/file2.txt", []byte("content two"), 0o644))
+		afero.WriteFile(fs, "/testdir/file1.txt", []byte("content one"), 0o644))
+	require.NoError(t,
+		afero.WriteFile(fs, "/testdir/file2.txt", []byte("content two"), 0o644))
 
 	s := NewScannerWithOptions(&ScannerOptions{Fs: fs})
 	err := s.EnumeratePath("/testdir", nil)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	var buf bytes.Buffer
+
 	err = s.ToManifest(context.Background(), &buf, nil)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// Manifest should have magic bytes
-	assert.True(t, buf.Len() > 0)
+	assert.Positive(t, buf.Len())
 	assert.Equal(t, MAGIC, string(buf.Bytes()[:8]))
 }
 
 func TestScannerToManifestWithProgress(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	fs := afero.NewMemMapFs()
 	require.NoError(t, fs.MkdirAll("/testdir", 0o755))
-	require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, "/testdir/file.txt", bytes.Repeat([]byte("x"), 1000), 0o644))
+	require.NoError(t,
+		afero.WriteFile(fs, "/testdir/file.txt", bytes.Repeat([]byte("x"), 1000), 0o644))
 
 	s := NewScannerWithOptions(&ScannerOptions{Fs: fs})
 	err := s.EnumeratePath("/testdir", nil)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	var buf bytes.Buffer
+
 	progress := make(chan ScanStatus, 10)
 
 	err = s.ToManifest(context.Background(), &buf, progress)
@@ -188,12 +226,15 @@ func TestScannerToManifestWithProgress(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestScannerToManifestContextCancellation(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	fs := afero.NewMemMapFs()
 	require.NoError(t, fs.MkdirAll("/testdir", 0o755))
 	// Create many files to ensure we have time to cancel
-	for i := 0; i < 100; i++ {
+	for i := range 100 {
 		name := string(rune('a'+i%26)) + string(rune('0'+i/26)) + ".txt"
-		require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, "/testdir/"+name, bytes.Repeat([]byte("x"), 100), 0o644))
+		require.NoError(t,
+			afero.WriteFile(fs, "/testdir/"+name, bytes.Repeat([]byte("x"), 100), 0o644))
 	}
 
 	s := NewScannerWithOptions(&ScannerOptions{Fs: fs})
@@ -204,24 +245,30 @@ func TestScannerToManifestContextCancellation(t *testing.T) {
 	cancel() // Cancel immediately
 
 	var buf bytes.Buffer
+
 	err = s.ToManifest(ctx, &buf, nil)
 	assert.ErrorIs(t, err, context.Canceled)
 }
 
 func TestScannerToManifestEmptyScanner(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	fs := afero.NewMemMapFs()
 	s := NewScannerWithOptions(&ScannerOptions{Fs: fs})
 
 	var buf bytes.Buffer
+
 	err := s.ToManifest(context.Background(), &buf, nil)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// Should still produce a valid manifest
-	assert.True(t, buf.Len() > 0)
+	assert.Positive(t, buf.Len())
 	assert.Equal(t, MAGIC, string(buf.Bytes()[:8]))
 }
 
 func TestScannerFilesCopiesSlice(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	fs := afero.NewMemMapFs()
 	require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, "/test.txt", []byte("hello"), 0o644))
 
@@ -236,10 +283,13 @@ func TestScannerFilesCopiesSlice(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestScannerEnumerateFS(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	fs := afero.NewMemMapFs()
 	require.NoError(t, fs.MkdirAll("/testdir/sub", 0o755))
 	require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, "/testdir/file.txt", []byte("hello"), 0o644))
-	require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, "/testdir/sub/nested.txt", []byte("world"), 0o644))
+	require.NoError(t,
+		afero.WriteFile(fs, "/testdir/sub/nested.txt", []byte("world"), 0o644))
 
 	// Create a basepath filesystem
 	baseFs := afero.NewBasePathFs(fs, "/testdir")
@@ -252,13 +302,17 @@ func TestScannerEnumerateFS(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestSendEnumerateStatusNonBlocking(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	// Channel with no buffer - send should not block
 	ch := make(chan EnumerateStatus)
 
 	// This should not block
 	done := make(chan bool)
+
 	go func() {
 		sendEnumerateStatus(ch, EnumerateStatus{FilesFound: 1})
+
 		done <- true
 	}()
 
@@ -271,12 +325,16 @@ func TestSendEnumerateStatusNonBlocking(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestSendScanStatusNonBlocking(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	// Channel with no buffer - send should not block
 	ch := make(chan ScanStatus)
 
 	done := make(chan bool)
+
 	go func() {
 		sendScanStatus(ch, ScanStatus{ScannedFiles: 1})
+
 		done <- true
 	}()
 
@@ -289,14 +347,19 @@ func TestSendScanStatusNonBlocking(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestSendStatusNilChannel(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	// Should not panic with nil channel
 	sendEnumerateStatus(nil, EnumerateStatus{})
 	sendScanStatus(nil, ScanStatus{})
 }
 
 func TestScannerFileEntryFields(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	fs := afero.NewMemMapFs()
 	now := time.Now().Truncate(time.Second)
+
 	require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, "/test.txt", []byte("content"), 0o644))
 	require.NoError(t, fs.Chtimes("/test.txt", now, now))
 
@@ -315,11 +378,13 @@ func TestScannerFileEntryFields(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestScannerLargeFileEnumeration(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	fs := afero.NewMemMapFs()
 	require.NoError(t, fs.MkdirAll("/testdir", 0o755))
 
 	// Create 100 files
-	for i := 0; i < 100; i++ {
+	for i := range 100 {
 		name := "/testdir/" + string(rune('a'+i%26)) + string(rune('0'+i/26%10)) + ".txt"
 		require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, name, []byte("data"), 0o644))
 	}
@@ -330,20 +395,20 @@ func TestScannerLargeFileEnumeration(t *testing.T) {
 	err := s.EnumeratePath("/testdir", progress)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
-	// Drain channel
+	// progress is fully buffered and closed; no draining needed
-	for range progress {
-	}
 
 	assert.Equal(t, FileCount(100), s.FileCount())
 	assert.Equal(t, FileSize(400), s.TotalBytes()) // 100 * 4 bytes
 }
 
 func TestIsHiddenPath(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	tests := []struct {
 		path   string
 		hidden bool
 	}{
-		{"file.txt", false},
+		{testFileName, false},
 		{".hidden", true},
 		{"dir/file.txt", false},
 		{"dir/.hidden", true},
@@ -360,6 +425,8 @@ func TestIsHiddenPath(t *testing.T) {
 
 	for _, tt := range tests {
 		t.Run(tt.path, func(t *testing.T) {
+			t.Parallel()
+
 			assert.Equal(t, tt.hidden, IsHiddenPath(tt.path), "IsHiddenPath(%q)", tt.path)
 		})
 	}

mfer/serialize.go

@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import (
 	"crypto/sha256"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
+	"math"
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/google/uuid"
@@ -15,47 +16,80 @@ import (
 // MAGIC is the file format magic bytes prefix (rot13 of "MANIFEST").
 const MAGIC string = "ZNAVSRFG"
 
+var (
+	// errInnerNotSet is returned by generate when the inner manifest is
+	// missing.
+	errInnerNotSet = errors.New("internal error: pbInner not set")
+	// errInternal is returned by generateOuter for the same condition.
+	// The two messages differ, and both are load-bearing for callers that
+	// match on text, so they are kept distinct.
+	errInternal = errors.New("internal error")
+)
+
+// nanosecondsInt32 converts t's nanosecond component to int32.
+// time.Time.Nanosecond is documented to return a value in [0, 999999999],
+// so the conversion cannot overflow. This sits directly in the manifest
+// content path: silently substituting a default would zero every entry's
+// mtime nanos and change the serialized bytes and their hash, so an
+// out-of-contract value is a programming error and panics rather than
+// being papered over.
+func nanosecondsInt32(t time.Time) int32 {
+	n := t.Nanosecond()
+	if n < 0 || n > math.MaxInt32 {
+		panic(fmt.Sprintf(
+			"mfer: time.Time.Nanosecond out of contract: %d", n))
+	}
+
+	return int32(n)
+}
+
 func newTimestampFromTime(t time.Time) *Timestamp {
 	return &Timestamp{
 		Seconds: t.Unix(),
-		Nanos:   int32(t.Nanosecond()),
+		Nanos:   nanosecondsInt32(t),
 	}
 }
 
 func (m *manifest) generate() error {
 	if m.pbInner == nil {
-		return errors.New("internal error: pbInner not set")
+		return errInnerNotSet
 	}
+
 	if m.pbOuter == nil {
 		e := m.generateOuter()
 		if e != nil {
 			return e
 		}
 	}
+
 	dat, err := proto.MarshalOptions{Deterministic: true}.Marshal(m.pbOuter)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("serialize: marshal outer: %w", err)
 	}
-	m.output = bytes.NewBuffer([]byte(MAGIC))
+
+	m.output = bytes.NewBufferString(MAGIC)
+
 	_, err = m.output.Write(dat)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("serialize: write output: %w", err)
 	}
+
 	return nil
 }
 
 func (m *manifest) generateOuter() error {
 	if m.pbInner == nil {
-		return errors.New("internal error")
+		return errInternal
 	}
 
 	// Use fixed UUID if provided, otherwise generate a new one
 	var manifestUUID uuid.UUID
-	if len(m.fixedUUID) == 16 {
+	if len(m.fixedUUID) == uuidLength {
 		copy(manifestUUID[:], m.fixedUUID)
 	} else {
 		manifestUUID = uuid.New()
 	}
+
 	m.pbInner.Uuid = manifestUUID[:]
 
 	innerData, err := proto.MarshalOptions{Deterministic: true}.Marshal(m.pbInner)
@@ -65,23 +99,29 @@ func (m *manifest) generateOuter() error {
 
 	// Compress the inner data
 	idc := new(bytes.Buffer)
+
 	zw, err := zstd.NewWriter(idc, zstd.WithEncoderLevel(zstd.SpeedBestCompression))
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("serialize: create compressor: %w", err)
 	}
+
 	_, err = zw.Write(innerData)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("serialize: compress: %w", err)
 	}
+
 	_ = zw.Close()
 
 	compressedData := idc.Bytes()
 
 	// Hash the compressed data for integrity verification before decompression
 	h := sha256.New()
-	if _, err := h.Write(compressedData); err != nil {
+
+	_, err = h.Write(compressedData)
+	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("serialize: hash write: %w", err)
 	}
+
 	sha256Hash := h.Sum(nil)
 
 	m.pbOuter = &MFFileOuter{
@@ -95,6 +135,15 @@ func (m *manifest) generateOuter() error {
 
 	// Sign the manifest if signing options are provided
 	if m.signingOptions != nil && m.signingOptions.KeyID != "" {
+		return m.signOuter()
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+// signOuter signs the outer message with the configured GPG key and
+// embeds the signature, signer fingerprint, and public key.
+func (m *manifest) signOuter() error {
 	sigString, err := m.signatureString()
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to generate signature string: %w", err)
@@ -104,20 +153,22 @@ func (m *manifest) generateOuter() error {
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to sign manifest: %w", err)
 	}
+
 	m.pbOuter.Signature = sig
 
 	fingerprint, err := gpgGetKeyFingerprint(m.signingOptions.KeyID)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to get key fingerprint: %w", err)
 	}
+
 	m.pbOuter.Signer = fingerprint
 
 	pubKey, err := gpgExportPublicKey(m.signingOptions.KeyID)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to export public key: %w", err)
 	}
+
 	m.pbOuter.SigningPubKey = pubKey
-	}
 
 	return nil
 }

mfer/url.go

@@ -32,12 +32,14 @@ func (b BaseURL) JoinPath(path RelFilePath) (FileURL, error) {
 	for i, seg := range segments {
 		segments[i] = url.PathEscape(seg)
 	}
+
 	ref, err := url.Parse(strings.Join(segments, "/"))
 	if err != nil {
 		return "", err
 	}
 
 	resolved := base.ResolveReference(ref)
+
 	return FileURL(resolved.String()), nil
 }
 

mfer/url_test.go

@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+//nolint:testpackage // white-box tests exercise unexported internals
 package mfer
 
 import (
@@ -8,19 +9,27 @@ import (
 )
 
 func TestBaseURLJoinPath(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	tests := []struct {
 		base     BaseURL
 		path     RelFilePath
 		expected string
 	}{
-		{"https://example.com/dir/", "file.txt", "https://example.com/dir/file.txt"},
+		{"https://example.com/dir/", testFileName, "https://example.com/dir/file.txt"},
-		{"https://example.com/dir", "file.txt", "https://example.com/dir/file.txt"},
+		{"https://example.com/dir", testFileName, "https://example.com/dir/file.txt"},
 		{"https://example.com/", "sub/file.txt", "https://example.com/sub/file.txt"},
-		{"https://example.com/dir/", "file with spaces.txt", "https://example.com/dir/file%20with%20spaces.txt"},
+		{
+			"https://example.com/dir/",
+			"file with spaces.txt",
+			"https://example.com/dir/file%20with%20spaces.txt",
+		},
 	}
 
 	for _, tt := range tests {
 		t.Run(string(tt.base)+"+"+string(tt.path), func(t *testing.T) {
+			t.Parallel()
+
 			result, err := tt.base.JoinPath(tt.path)
 			require.NoError(t, err)
 			assert.Equal(t, tt.expected, string(result))
@@ -29,16 +38,22 @@ func TestBaseURLJoinPath(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestBaseURLString(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	b := BaseURL("https://example.com/")
 	assert.Equal(t, "https://example.com/", b.String())
 }
 
 func TestFileURLString(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	f := FileURL("https://example.com/file.txt")
 	assert.Equal(t, "https://example.com/file.txt", f.String())
 }
 
 func TestManifestURLString(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
 	m := ManifestURL("https://example.com/index.mf")
 	assert.Equal(t, "https://example.com/index.mf", m.String())
 }