Pin CLI error messages by driving their real call sites (closes #87)

errmsg_test.go now calls the function that emits each user-visible CLI
error message and asserts on the full text it returns, instead of
rendering format strings copied from production, so rewording any pinned
message fails the suite. The unknown-command message is driven through
the root command's action.

The signer-mismatch case signs a manifest with a throwaway gpg key and
is skipped where gpg is absent, like the repo's other signing tests.

The freshen mtime-presence test gives the scanned file an epoch mtime,
so it fails if recordEntry reads an absent manifest mtime as the epoch.

Model: opus-4-8 (first implementation); opus-5-5 (completion, this message)

README.md

@@ -23,8 +23,9 @@ javascript library is planned.
 
 # Build Status
 
-CI runs via `script/cibuild` (`docker build .`), which executes `make check`
+CI runs `script/cibuild`, which builds the Docker image with `--no-cache`, so
-(formatting, linting, tests). The `main` branch must always be green.
+the formatting, lint and test steps in the `Dockerfile` run on every build. The
+`main` branch must always be green.
 
 # Entrypoints
 
@@ -56,8 +57,8 @@ provide:
   Docker lint stage, whose image has no node
 - `script/check` — run `script/test`, `script/lint`, and `script/fmt-check`
 - `script/docker` — build the Docker image tagged with the project name
-- `script/cibuild` — CI entrypoint: `docker build .` (the Dockerfile runs the
+- `script/cibuild` — CI entrypoint: builds the image with the same command as
-  checks)
+  `script/docker`, uncached, so the checks in the Dockerfile run every time
 - `script/precommit` — pre-commit checks: `go mod tidy` verification, then
   `script/check`
 - `script/install-precommit` — install the git pre-commit hook that runs

TODO.md

@@ -24,10 +24,12 @@ only thing left of the `chore/align-repo-policies` branch is the list below.
 
 # Completed Steps
 
-- 2026-10-03: every gpg run is killed after one minute or when its caller's
+- 2026-10-03: pinned the CLI error messages by driving the functions that emit
-  context ends, and a timeout reads as "gpg timed out" under the failing
+  them in `internal/cli/errmsg_test.go`, and made the freshen mtime-presence
-  operation; `Builder.Build` and `Checker.ExtractEmbeddedSigningKeyFP` take a
+  test distinguish an absent mtime from the epoch (#87)
-  context, which reaches gpg (#62)
+- 2026-10-03: `script/cibuild` builds the image with the same command as
+  `script/docker`, `--no-cache` included, so the checks in the Dockerfile run on
+  every build, also on an unchanged tree (#89)
 - 2026-10-03: `fetch` removes whatever sits at a file's temp name and then
   creates the temp file only if that name is free, so a hard link left there
   cannot make it write into a file outside the destination directory (#115)
@@ -116,7 +118,8 @@ only thing left of the `chore/align-repo-policies` branch is the list below.
     - Add decompression size limit via io.LimitReader in deserializeInner()
     - Fix errors.Is dead code in checker; make AddFile verify totalRead == size
     - Export manifest type or define a public interface (pending)
-    - Replace GPG subprocess with pure-Go crypto (pending)
+    - Replace GPG subprocess with pure-Go crypto (pending); add timeouts to
+      remaining subprocess calls
 - CLI:
     - Kebab-case primary flag names; fix fetch URL construction with
       url.JoinPath; add http.Client timeout and retry with backoff to fetch;

internal/cli/check.go

@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 package cli
 
 import (
-	"context"
 	"encoding/hex"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
@@ -127,9 +126,7 @@ func (mfa *CLIApp) fetchManifestToTemp(url string) (string, error) {
 
 // verifyRequiredSigner enforces the --require-signature fingerprint
 // against the manifest's embedded signing key.
-func verifyRequiredSigner(
+func verifyRequiredSigner(chk *mfer.Checker, requiredSigner string) error {
-	ctx context.Context, 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))
@@ -148,7 +145,7 @@ func verifyRequiredSigner(
 	// 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(ctx)
+	embeddedFP, err := chk.ExtractEmbeddedSigningKeyFP()
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf(
 			"failed to extract fingerprint from embedded signing key: %w", err)
@@ -306,7 +303,7 @@ func (mfa *CLIApp) checkManifestOperation(ctx *cli.Context) error {
 	// Check signature requirement
 	requiredSigner := ctx.String("require-signature")
 	if requiredSigner != "" {
-		err = verifyRequiredSigner(ctx.Context, chk, requiredSigner)
+		err = verifyRequiredSigner(chk, requiredSigner)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}

internal/cli/errmsg_test.go

@@ -2,167 +2,352 @@
 package cli
 
 import (
-	"fmt"
+	"bytes"
+	"context"
+	"flag"
+	"net/http"
+	"net/http/httptest"
+	"os"
+	"os/exec"
+	"path/filepath"
 	"testing"
 
+	"github.com/spf13/afero"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+	urfcli "github.com/urfave/cli/v2"
+	"sneak.berlin/go/mfer/mfer"
 )
 
-// errMsgCase is one pinned user-visible error message.
+// These tests pin the exact rendered text of the CLI's user-visible error
-type errMsgCase struct {
+// messages. The messages are grepped for in CI pipelines and quoted in bug
-	name string
+// reports, so a reword is a deliberate change, never a refactoring side
-	err  error
+// effect.
-	want string
+//
-}
+// Every case drives the real function that emits the message and asserts on
+// what it returns. No production format string is restated here: a test that
+// only re-rendered a copied format string would keep passing after the real
+// message changed, which is exactly the regression these tests exist to
+// catch.
 
+// Full 40-hex fingerprints used where a message embeds one.
 const (
 	msgFpA = "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA"
 	msgFpB = "BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB"
 )
 
-func checkErrMsgCases(t *testing.T, cases []errMsgCase) {
+// runLocked runs fn while holding runMu, so operations that write to the
+// process-global logger do not race the other CLI runs.
+func runLocked(fn func() error) error {
+	runMu.Lock()
+	defer runMu.Unlock()
+
+	return fn()
+}
+
+// unsignedChecker builds a Checker over a freshly scanned, unsigned manifest.
+func unsignedChecker(t *testing.T) *mfer.Checker {
 	t.Helper()
 
-	for _, tc := range cases {
+	fs := afero.NewMemMapFs()
-		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+	require.NoError(t, fs.MkdirAll("/d", 0o755))
-			t.Parallel()
+	require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, "/d/f.txt", []byte("hi"), 0o644))
-			assert.Equal(t, tc.want, tc.err.Error())
+
-		})
+	s := mfer.NewScannerWithOptions(&mfer.ScannerOptions{Fs: fs})
-	}
+	require.NoError(t, s.EnumeratePath("/d", nil))
+
+	var buf bytes.Buffer
+
+	require.NoError(t, s.ToManifest(context.Background(), &buf, nil))
+	require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, "/d/index.mf", buf.Bytes(), 0o644))
+
+	chk, err := mfer.NewChecker("/d/index.mf", "/d", fs)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.False(t, chk.IsSigned())
+
+	return chk
 }
 
-// TestErrorMessagesVerbatim pins the exact rendered text of the CLI's
+func TestNoManifestFoundMessage(t *testing.T) {
-// user-visible error messages.
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	_, err := findManifest(afero.NewMemMapFs(), "/tmp/x")
+	require.ErrorIs(t, err, errNoManifestFound)
+	assert.EqualError(t, err,
+		"no manifest found in /tmp/x (looked for index.mf and .index.mf)")
+}
+
+func TestVerifyRequiredSignerMessages(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	t.Run("invalid fingerprint length", func(t *testing.T) {
+		t.Parallel()
+
+		err := verifyRequiredSigner(unsignedChecker(t), "12345678")
+		require.ErrorIs(t, err, errInvalidFingerprint)
+		assert.EqualError(t, err,
+			"invalid fingerprint: must be exactly 40 hex characters, got 8")
+	})
+
+	t.Run("manifest not signed", func(t *testing.T) {
+		t.Parallel()
+
+		err := verifyRequiredSigner(unsignedChecker(t), msgFpA)
+		require.ErrorIs(t, err, errManifestNotSigned)
+		assert.EqualError(t, err,
+			"manifest is not signed, but signature from "+msgFpA+" is required")
+	})
+}
+
+// TestSignerMismatchMessage drives verifyRequiredSigner against a real signed
+// manifest. The embedded fingerprint is whatever the generated key produced,
+// so it is read back from the checker and substituted into the expected
+// string; the required signer is a fixed value that cannot match it. Requires
+// gpg and is skipped where it is absent, as the other signing tests are.
 //
-// These strings are an interface: they are grepped for in CI pipelines
+//nolint:paralleltest // signedChecker calls t.Setenv, which bars t.Parallel
-// and quoted in bug reports. The messages are assembled by wrapping
+func TestSignerMismatchMessage(t *testing.T) {
-// static sentinels, and it is easy to change what a user sees while
+	chk := signedChecker(t)
-// only meaning to make an error matchable with errors.Is - which is
+
-// precisely what happened once already. Any change to a string below is
+	embeddedFP, err := chk.ExtractEmbeddedSigningKeyFP()
-// therefore a deliberate, separately stated change, never a side effect
+	require.NoError(t, err)
-// of a refactor.
+
-func TestErrorMessagesVerbatim(t *testing.T) {
+	err = verifyRequiredSigner(chk, msgFpB)
+	require.ErrorIs(t, err, errSignerMismatch)
+	assert.EqualError(t, err,
+		"embedded signing key fingerprint "+embeddedFP+
+			" does not match required "+msgFpB)
+}
+
+// signedChecker builds a Checker over a manifest signed by a throwaway GPG
+// key generated in a temporary GNUPGHOME.
+func signedChecker(t *testing.T) *mfer.Checker {
+	t.Helper()
+
+	_, err := exec.LookPath("gpg")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Skip("gpg not installed, skipping signing test")
+	}
+
+	gpgHome := t.TempDir()
+	params := "%no-protection\n" +
+		"Key-Type: RSA\nKey-Length: 2048\n" +
+		"Name-Real: MFER Test Key\nName-Email: test@mfer.test\n" +
+		"Expire-Date: 0\n%commit\n"
+	paramsFile := filepath.Join(gpgHome, "key-params")
+	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(paramsFile, []byte(params), 0o600))
+
+	//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)
+
+	out, err := cmd.CombinedOutput()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Skipf("failed to generate test GPG key: %v: %s", err, out)
+	}
+
+	t.Setenv("GNUPGHOME", gpgHome)
+
+	b := mfer.NewBuilder()
+	b.SetSigningOptions(&mfer.SigningOptions{KeyID: mfer.GPGKeyID("test@mfer.test")})
+
+	content := []byte("signed file")
+	_, err = b.AddFile("f.txt", mfer.FileSize(len(content)), mfer.ModTime{},
+		bytes.NewReader(content), nil)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	var buf bytes.Buffer
+
+	require.NoError(t, b.Build(&buf))
+
+	fs := afero.NewMemMapFs()
+	require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, "/index.mf", buf.Bytes(), 0o644))
+
+	chk, err := mfer.NewChecker("/index.mf", "/", fs)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.True(t, chk.IsSigned())
+
+	return chk
+}
+
+func TestPathDoesNotExistMessage(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 
-	checkErrMsgCases(t, []errMsgCase{
+	set := flag.NewFlagSet("gen", flag.ContinueOnError)
-		{
+	require.NoError(t, set.Parse([]string{"nope"}))
-			name: "check: no manifest found",
+
-			err: fmt.Errorf("%w in %s (looked for index.mf and .index.mf)",
+	mfa := &CLIApp{Fs: afero.NewMemMapFs()}
-				errNoManifestFound, "/tmp/x"),
+	ctx := urfcli.NewContext(nil, set, nil)
-			want: "no manifest found in /tmp/x " +
+
-				"(looked for index.mf and .index.mf)",
+	_, err := mfa.collectInputPaths(ctx.Args())
-		},
+	require.ErrorIs(t, err, errPathNotExist)
-		{
+	assert.EqualError(t, err, "path does not exist: nope")
-			name: "check: invalid fingerprint length",
+}
-			err:  fmt.Errorf("%w, got %d", errInvalidFingerprint, 8),
+
-			want: "invalid fingerprint: must be exactly 40 hex characters, got 8",
+func TestOutputFileExistsMessage(t *testing.T) {
-		},
+	t.Parallel()
-		{
+
-			name: "check: manifest not signed",
+	fs := afero.NewMemMapFs()
-			err: fmt.Errorf("%w, but signature from %s is required",
+	require.NoError(t, fs.MkdirAll("/d", 0o755))
-				errManifestNotSigned, msgFpA),
+	require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, "/d/f.txt", []byte("hi"), 0o644))
-			want: "manifest is not signed, but signature from " + msgFpA +
+	require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, "/out.mf", []byte("old"), 0o644))
-				" is required",
+
-		},
+	set := flag.NewFlagSet("gen", flag.ContinueOnError)
-		{
+	set.String("output", "", "")
-			name: "check: signer mismatch",
+	set.Bool("force", false, "")
-			err: fmt.Errorf("embedded signing key fingerprint %s %w %s",
+	require.NoError(t, set.Parse([]string{"/d"}))
-				msgFpA, errSignerMismatch, msgFpB),
+	require.NoError(t, set.Set("output", "/out.mf"))
-			want: "embedded signing key fingerprint " + msgFpA +
+
-				" does not match required " + msgFpB,
+	mfa := &CLIApp{Fs: fs}
-		},
+	ctx := urfcli.NewContext(nil, set, nil)
-		{
+
-			name: "gen: path does not exist",
+	// generateManifestOperation writes to the process-global logger during
-			err:  fmt.Errorf("%w: %s", errPathNotExist, "nope"),
+	// enumeration, so serialize with the other CLI runs.
-			want: "path does not exist: nope",
+	err := runLocked(func() error { return mfa.generateManifestOperation(ctx) })
-		},
+	require.ErrorIs(t, err, errOutputExists)
-		{
+	assert.EqualError(t, err,
-			name: "gen: output file exists",
+		"output file /out.mf already exists (use --force to overwrite)")
-			err:  fmt.Errorf("output file %s %w", "index.mf", errOutputExists),
+}
-			want: "output file index.mf already exists " +
+
-				"(use --force to overwrite)",
+// TestUnknownCommandMessage drives the root command's action. run only logs
-		},
+// the error that action returns, so the test lets run build the app with no
-		{
+// command given and then runs that same app on an unknown command to get the
-			name: "mfer: unknown command",
+// error itself.
-			err:  fmt.Errorf("%w %q", errUnknownCommand, "bogus"),
+func TestUnknownCommandMessage(t *testing.T) {
-			want: `unknown command "bogus"`,
+	t.Parallel()
-		},
+
+	mfa := &CLIApp{
+		appname: testApp,
+		Stdout:  &bytes.Buffer{},
+		Stderr:  &bytes.Buffer{},
+		Fs:      afero.NewMemMapFs(),
+	}
+
+	// run points the process-global logger at this app's output, so
+	// serialize with the other CLI runs.
+	err := runLocked(func() error {
+		mfa.run([]string{testApp})
+
+		return mfa.app.Run([]string{testApp, "bogus"})
+	})
+	require.ErrorIs(t, err, errUnknownCommand)
+	assert.EqualError(t, err, `unknown command "bogus"`)
+}
+
+func TestManifestLoaderHTTPStatusMessage(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	server := httptest.NewServer(
+		http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, _ *http.Request) {
+			w.WriteHeader(http.StatusNotFound)
+		}))
+	defer server.Close()
+
+	mfa := &CLIApp{Fs: afero.NewMemMapFs()}
+
+	_, err := mfa.openManifestReader(server.URL + "/foo.mf")
+	require.ErrorIs(t, err, errHTTPStatus)
+	assert.EqualError(t, err,
+		"failed to fetch "+server.URL+"/foo.mf: HTTP 404")
+}
+
+func TestFetchManifestHTTPStatusMessage(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	server := httptest.NewServer(
+		http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, _ *http.Request) {
+			w.WriteHeader(http.StatusNotFound)
+		}))
+	defer server.Close()
+
+	set := flag.NewFlagSet("fetch", flag.ContinueOnError)
+	require.NoError(t, set.Parse([]string{server.URL}))
+
+	mfa := &CLIApp{Fs: afero.NewMemMapFs()}
+	ctx := urfcli.NewContext(nil, set, nil)
+
+	// fetchManifestOperation logs to the process-global logger.
+	err := runLocked(func() error { return mfa.fetchManifestOperation(ctx) })
+	require.ErrorIs(t, err, errHTTPStatus)
+	assert.EqualError(t, err, "failed to fetch manifest: HTTP 404")
+}
+
+func TestFetchFileHTTPStatusMessage(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	server := httptest.NewServer(
+		http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, _ *http.Request) {
+			w.WriteHeader(http.StatusInternalServerError)
+		}))
+	defer server.Close()
+
+	err := downloadFile(context.Background(), server.URL+"/x", "x",
+		&mfer.MFFilePath{}, nil)
+	require.ErrorIs(t, err, errHTTPStatus)
+	assert.EqualError(t, err, "HTTP 500")
+}
+
+func TestURLRequiredMessage(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	set := flag.NewFlagSet("fetch", flag.ContinueOnError)
+	require.NoError(t, set.Parse([]string{}))
+
+	mfa := &CLIApp{Fs: afero.NewMemMapFs()}
+	ctx := urfcli.NewContext(nil, set, nil)
+
+	// fetchManifestOperation logs to the process-global logger.
+	err := runLocked(func() error { return mfa.fetchManifestOperation(ctx) })
+	require.ErrorIs(t, err, errURLRequired)
+	assert.EqualError(t, err, "URL argument required")
+}
+
+func TestSanitizePathMessages(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	t.Run("empty", func(t *testing.T) {
+		t.Parallel()
+
+		_, err := sanitizePath("")
+		require.ErrorIs(t, err, errEmptyPath)
+		assert.EqualError(t, err, "empty path")
+	})
+
+	t.Run("absolute", func(t *testing.T) {
+		t.Parallel()
+
+		_, err := sanitizePath("/etc/passwd")
+		require.ErrorIs(t, err, errAbsolutePath)
+		assert.EqualError(t, err, "absolute path not allowed: /etc/passwd")
+	})
+
+	t.Run("traversal", func(t *testing.T) {
+		t.Parallel()
+
+		_, err := sanitizePath("../x")
+		require.ErrorIs(t, err, errPathTraversal)
+		assert.EqualError(t, err, "path traversal not allowed: ../x")
 	})
 }
 
-// TestFetchErrorMessagesVerbatim pins the fetch and manifest-loader
+func TestSizeMismatchMessage(t *testing.T) {
-// messages; see TestErrorMessagesVerbatim for why.
-func TestFetchErrorMessagesVerbatim(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 
-	checkErrMsgCases(t, []errMsgCase{
+	// finishDownload returns the size-mismatch error before it touches the
-		{
+	// paths, digest, or entry, so those can be zero here.
-			name: "manifest_loader: http status",
+	err := finishDownload("", "", 9, 10, nil, nil, nil, nil)
-			err: fmt.Errorf("failed to fetch %s: %w %d",
+	require.ErrorIs(t, err, errSizeMismatch)
-				"https://example.com/index.mf", errHTTPStatus, 404),
+	assert.EqualError(t, err, "size mismatch: expected 10 bytes, got 9")
-			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
+func TestHashMismatchMessage(t *testing.T) {
-// 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 32-byte digest that matches none of the (empty) manifest hashes.
-		"a", errSignerMismatch, "b")
+	err := verifyDownloadedHash(make([]byte, 32), &mfer.MFFilePath{})
-	require.ErrorIs(t, wrapped, errSignerMismatch)
+	require.ErrorIs(t, err, errHashMismatch)
-
+	require.NotErrorIs(t, err, errSizeMismatch)
-	wrapped = fmt.Errorf("output file %s %w", "index.mf", errOutputExists)
+	assert.EqualError(t, err, "hash mismatch")
-	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/freshen.go

@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 package cli
 
 import (
-	"context"
 	"crypto/sha256"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
@@ -305,7 +304,7 @@ func (h *freshenHasher) processEntry(e *freshenEntry) error {
 // writeFreshenedManifest writes the manifest atomically (write to a
 // temp file, then rename over the target).
 func writeFreshenedManifest(
-	ctx context.Context, afs afero.Fs, builder *mfer.Builder, manifestPath string,
+	afs afero.Fs, builder *mfer.Builder, manifestPath string,
 ) error {
 	tmpPath := manifestPath + ".tmp"
 
@@ -314,7 +313,7 @@ func writeFreshenedManifest(
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to create temp file: %w", err)
 	}
 
-	err = builder.Build(ctx, outFile)
+	err = builder.Build(outFile)
 	_ = outFile.Close()
 
 	if err != nil {
@@ -531,7 +530,7 @@ func (mfa *CLIApp) freshenManifestOperation(ctx *cli.Context) error {
 	}
 
 	// Write updated manifest atomically (write to temp, then rename)
-	err = writeFreshenedManifest(ctx.Context, mfa.Fs, hasher.builder, manifestPath)
+	err = writeFreshenedManifest(mfa.Fs, hasher.builder, manifestPath)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}

internal/cli/freshen_test.go

@@ -110,7 +110,10 @@ func TestFreshenRecordEntryMtimePresence(t *testing.T) {
 
 	const relPath = "file1.txt"
 
-	mtime := time.Unix(1_700_000_000, 0)
+	// The scanned file's mtime is the Unix epoch. If recordEntry ever misreads
+	// an absent manifest mtime as the epoch, the "absent" case below would
+	// compare equal to this and be classified unchanged, so the test fails.
+	mtime := time.Unix(0, 0)
 	info := stubFileInfo{size: 8, mtime: mtime}
 
 	for _, tc := range []struct {

mfer/builder.go

@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@
 package mfer
 
 import (
-	"context"
 	"crypto/sha256"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
@@ -282,9 +281,8 @@ func (b *Builder) SetSigningOptions(opts *SigningOptions) {
 	b.signingOptions = opts
 }
 
-// Build finalizes the manifest and writes it to the writer. ctx bounds the
+// Build finalizes the manifest and writes it to the writer.
-// gpg runs that sign the manifest when signing options are set.
+func (b *Builder) Build(w io.Writer) error {
-func (b *Builder) Build(ctx context.Context, w io.Writer) error {
 	b.mu.Lock()
 	defer b.mu.Unlock()
 
@@ -310,13 +308,13 @@ func (b *Builder) Build(ctx context.Context, w io.Writer) error {
 	}
 
 	// Generate outer wrapper
-	err := m.generateOuter(ctx)
+	err := m.generateOuter()
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("build: generate outer: %w", err)
 	}
 
 	// Generate final output
-	err = m.generate(ctx)
+	err = m.generate()
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("build: generate: %w", err)
 	}

mfer/builder_test.go

@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ package mfer
 
 import (
 	"bytes"
-	"context"
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
 	"time"
@@ -114,7 +113,7 @@ func TestBuilderBuild(t *testing.T) {
 
 	var buf bytes.Buffer
 
-	err = b.Build(context.Background(), &buf)
+	err = b.Build(&buf)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// Should have magic bytes
@@ -178,7 +177,7 @@ func TestBuilderDeterministicOutput(t *testing.T) {
 
 		var buf bytes.Buffer
 
-		err := b.Build(context.Background(), &buf)
+		err := b.Build(&buf)
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 
 		return buf.Bytes()
@@ -326,7 +325,7 @@ func TestBuilderBuildRoundTrip(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	var buf bytes.Buffer
-	require.NoError(t, b.Build(context.Background(), &buf))
+	require.NoError(t, b.Build(&buf))
 
 	m, err := NewManifestFromReader(&buf)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
@@ -384,7 +383,7 @@ func TestManifestString(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	var buf bytes.Buffer
-	require.NoError(t, b.Build(context.Background(), &buf))
+	require.NoError(t, b.Build(&buf))
 
 	m, err := NewManifestFromReader(&buf)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
@@ -398,7 +397,7 @@ func TestBuilderBuildEmpty(t *testing.T) {
 
 	var buf bytes.Buffer
 
-	err := b.Build(context.Background(), &buf)
+	err := b.Build(&buf)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// Should still produce valid manifest with 0 files
@@ -417,7 +416,7 @@ func TestBuilderOmitsCreatedAtByDefault(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	var buf bytes.Buffer
-	require.NoError(t, b.Build(context.Background(), &buf))
+	require.NoError(t, b.Build(&buf))
 
 	m, err := NewManifestFromReader(&buf)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
@@ -439,7 +438,7 @@ func TestBuilderIncludesCreatedAtWhenRequested(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	var buf bytes.Buffer
-	require.NoError(t, b.Build(context.Background(), &buf))
+	require.NoError(t, b.Build(&buf))
 
 	m, err := NewManifestFromReader(&buf)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
@@ -465,7 +464,7 @@ func TestBuilderDeterministicFileOrder(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 
 		var buf bytes.Buffer
-		require.NoError(t, b.Build(context.Background(), &buf))
+		require.NoError(t, b.Build(&buf))
 		m, err := NewManifestFromReader(&buf)
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 

mfer/checker.go

@@ -164,12 +164,12 @@ func (c *Checker) SigningPubKey() []byte {
 // ExtractEmbeddedSigningKeyFP imports the manifest's embedded public key into a
 // temporary keyring and extracts its fingerprint. This validates the key and
 // returns its actual fingerprint from the key material itself.
-func (c *Checker) ExtractEmbeddedSigningKeyFP(ctx context.Context) (string, error) {
+func (c *Checker) ExtractEmbeddedSigningKeyFP() (string, error) {
 	if len(c.signingPubKey) == 0 {
 		return "", errNoSigningPubKey
 	}
 
-	return gpgExtractPubKeyFingerprint(ctx, c.signingPubKey)
+	return gpgExtractPubKeyFingerprint(c.signingPubKey)
 }
 
 // Check verifies all files against the manifest.

mfer/checker_test.go

@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ func createTestManifest(
 	}
 
 	var buf bytes.Buffer
-	require.NoError(t, builder.Build(context.Background(), &buf))
+	require.NoError(t, builder.Build(&buf))
 	require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, manifestPath, buf.Bytes(), 0o644))
 }
 

mfer/deserialize.go

@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ package mfer
 
 import (
 	"bytes"
-	"context"
 	"crypto/sha256"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
@@ -93,9 +92,7 @@ func (m *manifest) verifyOuterIntegrity() error {
 		)
 	}
 
-	// Loading a manifest takes no context; gpgTimeout still bounds gpg.
 	err = gpgVerify(
-		context.Background(),
 		[]byte(sigString),
 		m.pbOuter.GetSignature(),
 		m.pbOuter.GetSigningPubKey(),

mfer/deserialize_path_test.go

@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ package mfer
 
 import (
 	"bytes"
-	"context"
 	"crypto/sha256"
 	"fmt"
 	"testing"
@@ -123,7 +122,7 @@ func TestDeserializeValidManifestRoundTrips(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, b.AddFileWithHash("dir/file.txt", 123, ModTime{}, hash))
 
 	var buf bytes.Buffer
-	require.NoError(t, b.Build(context.Background(), &buf))
+	require.NoError(t, b.Build(&buf))
 
 	m, err := NewManifestFromReader(bytes.NewReader(buf.Bytes()))
 	require.NoError(t, err)

mfer/errmsg_test.go

@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 package mfer
 
 import (
-	"context"
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
@@ -81,7 +80,6 @@ func TestSerializeInternalErrorMessagesVerbatim(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 
 	m := &manifest{}
-	require.EqualError(t, m.generate(context.Background()),
+	require.EqualError(t, m.generate(), "internal error: pbInner not set")
-		"internal error: pbInner not set")
+	require.EqualError(t, m.generateOuter(), "internal error")
-	require.EqualError(t, m.generateOuter(context.Background()), "internal error")
 }

mfer/gpg.go

@@ -10,15 +10,9 @@ import (
 	"os/exec"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"strings"
-	"time"
 )
 
 const (
-	// gpgTimeout bounds every gpg run, which can otherwise wait forever on
-	// a passphrase prompt or a stalled gpg-agent. A minute leaves a person
-	// time to type a passphrase or touch a smartcard.
-	gpgTimeout = time.Minute
-
 	// privateDirPerms is the permission mode for temporary GPG home
 	// directories.
 	privateDirPerms os.FileMode = 0o700
@@ -72,17 +66,8 @@ func gpgArgs(opts []string, positional ...string) []string {
 }
 
 // runGPG runs the gpg binary in batch mode with the given arguments and
-// optional stdin, returning captured stdout and stderr. gpg is killed when
+// optional stdin, returning captured stdout and stderr.
-// ctx ends or gpgTimeout passes, whichever comes first.
+func runGPG(stdin io.Reader, args ...string) (*bytes.Buffer, *bytes.Buffer, error) {
-func runGPG(
-	ctx context.Context, stdin io.Reader, args ...string,
-) (*bytes.Buffer, *bytes.Buffer, error) {
-	// exec.CommandContext kills only gpg itself, and that is enough: a
-	// gpg-agent that gpg starts runs detached in its own session and does
-	// not hold gpg's output open, so Run returns as soon as gpg dies.
-	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(ctx, gpgTimeout)
-	defer cancel()
-
 	fullArgs := append([]string{"--batch", "--no-tty"}, args...)
 
 	// G204: the executable name is a compile-time constant. The arguments
@@ -91,7 +76,7 @@ func runGPG(
 	// 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
-		ctx, "gpg", fullArgs...)
+		context.Background(), "gpg", fullArgs...)
 	cmd.Stdin = stdin
 
 	var stdout, stderr bytes.Buffer
@@ -100,14 +85,6 @@ func runGPG(
 	cmd.Stderr = &stderr
 
 	err := cmd.Run()
-	if err != nil && ctx.Err() != nil {
-		// gpg was killed because ctx ended, which Run reports only as
-		// "signal: killed"; return the reason instead.
-		err = ctx.Err()
-		if errors.Is(err, context.DeadlineExceeded) {
-			err = fmt.Errorf("gpg timed out: %w", err)
-		}
-	}
 
 	return &stdout, &stderr, err
 }
@@ -128,8 +105,8 @@ func parseFingerprint(colonOutput string) (string, bool) {
 
 // gpgSign creates a detached signature of the data using the specified key.
 // Returns the armored detached signature.
-func gpgSign(ctx context.Context, data []byte, keyID GPGKeyID) ([]byte, error) {
+func gpgSign(data []byte, keyID GPGKeyID) ([]byte, error) {
-	stdout, stderr, err := runGPG(ctx, bytes.NewReader(data),
+	stdout, stderr, err := runGPG(bytes.NewReader(data),
 		"--detach-sign",
 		gpgOptArmor,
 		"--local-user", string(keyID),
@@ -143,8 +120,8 @@ func gpgSign(ctx context.Context, data []byte, keyID GPGKeyID) ([]byte, error) {
 
 // gpgExportPublicKey exports the public key for the specified key ID.
 // Returns the armored public key.
-func gpgExportPublicKey(ctx context.Context, keyID GPGKeyID) ([]byte, error) {
+func gpgExportPublicKey(keyID GPGKeyID) ([]byte, error) {
-	stdout, stderr, err := runGPG(ctx, nil,
+	stdout, stderr, err := runGPG(nil,
 		gpgArgs([]string{"--export", gpgOptArmor}, string(keyID))...,
 	)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -159,8 +136,8 @@ func gpgExportPublicKey(ctx context.Context, keyID GPGKeyID) ([]byte, error) {
 }
 
 // gpgGetKeyFingerprint gets the full fingerprint for a key ID.
-func gpgGetKeyFingerprint(ctx context.Context, keyID GPGKeyID) ([]byte, error) {
+func gpgGetKeyFingerprint(keyID GPGKeyID) ([]byte, error) {
-	stdout, stderr, err := runGPG(ctx, nil,
+	stdout, stderr, err := runGPG(nil,
 		gpgArgs([]string{"--with-colons", "--fingerprint"}, string(keyID))...,
 	)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -180,7 +157,7 @@ func gpgGetKeyFingerprint(ctx context.Context, keyID GPGKeyID) ([]byte, error) {
 // gpgExtractPubKeyFingerprint imports a public key into a temporary keyring
 // and extracts its fingerprint. This verifies the key is valid and returns
 // the actual fingerprint from the key material.
-func gpgExtractPubKeyFingerprint(ctx context.Context, pubKey []byte) (string, error) {
+func gpgExtractPubKeyFingerprint(pubKey []byte) (string, error) {
 	// Create temporary directory for GPG operations
 	tmpDir, err := os.MkdirTemp("", "mfer-gpg-fingerprint-*")
 	if err != nil {
@@ -204,7 +181,7 @@ func gpgExtractPubKeyFingerprint(ctx context.Context, pubKey []byte) (string, er
 	}
 
 	// Import the public key into the temporary keyring
-	_, importStderr, err := runGPG(ctx, nil,
+	_, importStderr, err := runGPG(nil,
 		gpgArgs([]string{gpgOptHomedir, tmpDir, "--import"}, pubKeyFile)...,
 	)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -214,7 +191,7 @@ func gpgExtractPubKeyFingerprint(ctx context.Context, pubKey []byte) (string, er
 	}
 
 	// List keys to get fingerprint
-	listStdout, listStderr, err := runGPG(ctx, nil,
+	listStdout, listStderr, err := runGPG(nil,
 		"--homedir", tmpDir,
 		"--with-colons",
 		"--fingerprint",
@@ -235,7 +212,7 @@ func gpgExtractPubKeyFingerprint(ctx context.Context, pubKey []byte) (string, er
 
 // gpgVerify verifies a detached signature against data using the provided public key.
 // It creates a temporary keyring to import the public key for verification.
-func gpgVerify(ctx context.Context, data, signature, pubKey []byte) error {
+func gpgVerify(data, signature, pubKey []byte) error {
 	// Create temporary directory for GPG operations
 	tmpDir, err := os.MkdirTemp("", "mfer-gpg-verify-*")
 	if err != nil {
@@ -275,7 +252,7 @@ func gpgVerify(ctx context.Context, data, signature, pubKey []byte) error {
 	}
 
 	// Import the public key into the temporary keyring
-	_, importStderr, err := runGPG(ctx, nil,
+	_, importStderr, err := runGPG(nil,
 		gpgArgs([]string{gpgOptHomedir, tmpDir, "--import"}, pubKeyFile)...,
 	)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -285,7 +262,7 @@ func gpgVerify(ctx context.Context, data, signature, pubKey []byte) error {
 	}
 
 	// Verify the signature
-	_, verifyStderr, err := runGPG(ctx, nil,
+	_, verifyStderr, err := runGPG(nil,
 		gpgArgs([]string{gpgOptHomedir, tmpDir, gpgOptVerify},
 			sigFile, dataFile)...,
 	)

mfer/gpg_test.go

@@ -4,13 +4,11 @@ package mfer
 import (
 	"bytes"
 	"context"
-	"io"
 	"os"
 	"os/exec"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
-	"time"
 
 	"github.com/spf13/afero"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
@@ -45,11 +43,8 @@ Expire-Date: 0
 	paramsFile := filepath.Join(gpgHome, "key-params")
 	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(paramsFile, []byte(keyParams), 0o600))
 
-	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), gpgTimeout)
-	defer cancel()
-
 	//nolint:gosec // paramsFile is a test-controlled path inside t.TempDir()
-	cmd := exec.CommandContext(ctx, "gpg",
+	cmd := exec.CommandContext(context.Background(), "gpg",
 		"--batch", "--gen-key", paramsFile)
 
 	cmd.Env = append(os.Environ(), "GNUPGHOME="+gpgHome)
@@ -60,7 +55,7 @@ Expire-Date: 0
 	}
 
 	// Get the key fingerprint
-	cmd = exec.CommandContext(ctx, "gpg",
+	cmd = exec.CommandContext(context.Background(), "gpg",
 		"--list-keys", "--with-colons", "test@mfer.test")
 
 	cmd.Env = append(os.Environ(), "GNUPGHOME="+gpgHome)
@@ -95,7 +90,7 @@ func TestGPGSign(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Setenv("GNUPGHOME", gpgHome)
 
 	data := []byte("test data to sign")
-	sig, err := gpgSign(context.Background(), data, keyID)
+	sig, err := gpgSign(data, keyID)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	assert.NotEmpty(t, sig)
 	assert.Contains(t, string(sig), "-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----")
@@ -106,7 +101,7 @@ func TestGPGExportPublicKey(t *testing.T) {
 	keyID, gpgHome := testGPGEnv(t)
 	t.Setenv("GNUPGHOME", gpgHome)
 
-	pubKey, err := gpgExportPublicKey(context.Background(), keyID)
+	pubKey, err := gpgExportPublicKey(keyID)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	assert.NotEmpty(t, pubKey)
 	assert.Contains(t, string(pubKey), "-----BEGIN PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK-----")
@@ -117,7 +112,7 @@ func TestGPGGetKeyFingerprint(t *testing.T) {
 	keyID, gpgHome := testGPGEnv(t)
 	t.Setenv("GNUPGHOME", gpgHome)
 
-	fingerprint, err := gpgGetKeyFingerprint(context.Background(), keyID)
+	fingerprint, err := gpgGetKeyFingerprint(keyID)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	assert.NotEmpty(t, fingerprint)
 	// The fingerprint should be 40 hex chars
@@ -151,12 +146,12 @@ func TestGPGOptionLikeKeyIDIsNotAnOption(t *testing.T) {
 	_, gpgHome := testGPGEnv(t)
 	t.Setenv("GNUPGHOME", gpgHome)
 
-	pubKey, err := gpgExportPublicKey(context.Background(), GPGKeyID("--version"))
+	pubKey, err := gpgExportPublicKey(GPGKeyID("--version"))
 	require.Error(t, err)
 	require.ErrorIs(t, err, errGPGKeyNotFound)
 	assert.NotContains(t, string(pubKey), "gpg (GnuPG)")
 
-	fpr, err := gpgGetKeyFingerprint(context.Background(), GPGKeyID("--version"))
+	fpr, err := gpgGetKeyFingerprint(GPGKeyID("--version"))
 	require.Error(t, err)
 	assert.NotContains(t, string(fpr), "gpg (GnuPG)")
 }
@@ -167,8 +162,7 @@ func TestGPGSignInvalidKey(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Setenv("GNUPGHOME", gpgHome)
 
 	data := []byte("test data")
-	_, err := gpgSign(context.Background(), data,
+	_, err := gpgSign(data, GPGKeyID("NONEXISTENT_KEY_ID_12345"))
-		GPGKeyID("NONEXISTENT_KEY_ID_12345"))
 	assert.Error(t, err)
 }
 
@@ -191,7 +185,7 @@ func TestBuilderWithSigning(t *testing.T) {
 	// Build the manifest
 	var buf bytes.Buffer
 
-	err = b.Build(context.Background(), &buf)
+	err = b.Build(&buf)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// Parse the manifest and verify signature fields are populated
@@ -257,14 +251,14 @@ func TestGPGVerify(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Setenv("GNUPGHOME", gpgHome)
 
 	data := []byte("test data to sign and verify")
-	sig, err := gpgSign(context.Background(), data, keyID)
+	sig, err := gpgSign(data, keyID)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
-	pubKey, err := gpgExportPublicKey(context.Background(), keyID)
+	pubKey, err := gpgExportPublicKey(keyID)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// Verify the signature
-	err = gpgVerify(context.Background(), data, sig, pubKey)
+	err = gpgVerify(data, sig, pubKey)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 }
 
@@ -273,15 +267,15 @@ func TestGPGVerifyInvalidSignature(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Setenv("GNUPGHOME", gpgHome)
 
 	data := []byte("test data to sign")
-	sig, err := gpgSign(context.Background(), data, keyID)
+	sig, err := gpgSign(data, keyID)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
-	pubKey, err := gpgExportPublicKey(context.Background(), keyID)
+	pubKey, err := gpgExportPublicKey(keyID)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// Try to verify with different data - should fail
 	wrongData := []byte("different data")
-	err = gpgVerify(context.Background(), wrongData, sig, pubKey)
+	err = gpgVerify(wrongData, sig, pubKey)
 	assert.Error(t, err)
 }
 
@@ -290,12 +284,12 @@ func TestGPGVerifyBadPublicKey(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Setenv("GNUPGHOME", gpgHome)
 
 	data := []byte("test data")
-	sig, err := gpgSign(context.Background(), data, keyID)
+	sig, err := gpgSign(data, keyID)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// Try to verify with invalid public key - should fail
 	badPubKey := []byte("not a valid public key")
-	err = gpgVerify(context.Background(), data, sig, badPubKey)
+	err = gpgVerify(data, sig, badPubKey)
 	assert.Error(t, err)
 }
 
@@ -318,7 +312,7 @@ func TestManifestSignatureVerification(t *testing.T) {
 	// Build the manifest
 	var buf bytes.Buffer
 
-	err = b.Build(context.Background(), &buf)
+	err = b.Build(&buf)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// Parse the manifest - signature should be verified during load
@@ -347,7 +341,7 @@ func TestManifestTamperedSignatureFails(t *testing.T) {
 
 	var buf bytes.Buffer
 
-	err = b.Build(context.Background(), &buf)
+	err = b.Build(&buf)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// Tamper with the signature by replacing some bytes
@@ -381,7 +375,7 @@ func TestBuilderWithoutSigning(t *testing.T) {
 	// Build the manifest
 	var buf bytes.Buffer
 
-	err = b.Build(context.Background(), &buf)
+	err = b.Build(&buf)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// Parse the manifest and verify signature fields are empty
@@ -396,35 +390,3 @@ func TestBuilderWithoutSigning(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Empty(t, manifest.pbOuter.GetSigningPubKey(),
 		"signing public key should be empty when not signing")
 }
-
-// TestGPGTimeoutKillsGPG puts a fake gpg that never finishes first on
-// PATH and checks that a run past its deadline is killed and reported as
-// a timeout of the named operation, instead of hanging.
-func TestGPGTimeoutKillsGPG(t *testing.T) {
-	binDir := t.TempDir()
-	fakeGPG := []byte("#!/bin/sh\nexec sleep 10\n")
-	//nolint:gosec // G306: the fake gpg has to be executable
-	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(binDir, "gpg"), fakeGPG, 0o700))
-	t.Setenv("PATH", binDir+string(os.PathListSeparator)+os.Getenv("PATH"))
-
-	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 100*time.Millisecond)
-	defer cancel()
-
-	_, err := gpgSign(ctx, []byte("data"), GPGKeyID("any"))
-	require.ErrorIs(t, err, context.DeadlineExceeded)
-	assert.Contains(t, err.Error(), "gpg sign failed: gpg timed out")
-}
-
-// TestBuildPassesContextToSigning checks that a caller can cancel the gpg
-// runs that sign a manifest through the context given to Build.
-func TestBuildPassesContextToSigning(t *testing.T) {
-	t.Parallel()
-
-	b := NewBuilder()
-	b.SetSigningOptions(&SigningOptions{KeyID: "any"})
-
-	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
-	cancel()
-
-	require.ErrorIs(t, b.Build(ctx, io.Discard), context.Canceled)
-}

mfer/scanner.go

@@ -283,7 +283,8 @@ func (s *Scanner) ToManifest(
 	}
 
 	// Build and write manifest
-	return builder.Build(ctx, w)
+	//nolint:contextcheck // Build's GPG signing exec is not cancellable by design
+	return builder.Build(w)
 }
 
 // configureBuilder constructs a manifest builder configured from the

mfer/serialize.go

@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ package mfer
 
 import (
 	"bytes"
-	"context"
 	"crypto/sha256"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
@@ -51,13 +50,13 @@ func newTimestampFromTime(t time.Time) *Timestamp {
 	}
 }
 
-func (m *manifest) generate(ctx context.Context) error {
+func (m *manifest) generate() error {
 	if m.pbInner == nil {
 		return errInnerNotSet
 	}
 
 	if m.pbOuter == nil {
-		e := m.generateOuter(ctx)
+		e := m.generateOuter()
 		if e != nil {
 			return e
 		}
@@ -78,7 +77,7 @@ func (m *manifest) generate(ctx context.Context) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (m *manifest) generateOuter(ctx context.Context) error {
+func (m *manifest) generateOuter() error {
 	if m.pbInner == nil {
 		return errInternal
 	}
@@ -136,7 +135,7 @@ func (m *manifest) generateOuter(ctx context.Context) error {
 
 	// Sign the manifest if signing options are provided
 	if m.signingOptions != nil && m.signingOptions.KeyID != "" {
-		return m.signOuter(ctx)
+		return m.signOuter()
 	}
 
 	return nil
@@ -144,27 +143,27 @@ func (m *manifest) generateOuter(ctx context.Context) error {
 
 // signOuter signs the outer message with the configured GPG key and
 // embeds the signature, signer fingerprint, and public key.
-func (m *manifest) signOuter(ctx context.Context) error {
+func (m *manifest) signOuter() error {
 	sigString, err := m.signatureString()
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to generate signature string: %w", err)
 	}
 
-	sig, err := gpgSign(ctx, []byte(sigString), m.signingOptions.KeyID)
+	sig, err := gpgSign([]byte(sigString), m.signingOptions.KeyID)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to sign manifest: %w", err)
 	}
 
 	m.pbOuter.Signature = sig
 
-	fingerprint, err := gpgGetKeyFingerprint(ctx, m.signingOptions.KeyID)
+	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(ctx, m.signingOptions.KeyID)
+	pubKey, err := gpgExportPublicKey(m.signingOptions.KeyID)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to export public key: %w", err)
 	}

script/cibuild

@@ -1,14 +1,24 @@
 #!/bin/sh
-# script/cibuild: run the CI build. The Dockerfile runs script/check
+# script/cibuild: run the CI build; the Gitea workflow runs this on push.
-# (via make check), so a successful build implies all checks pass.
+# It builds the image with the same command as script/docker. --no-cache
-# Generic: needs no adaptation. The Gitea workflow runs this on push.
+# because the checks the final stage depends on are RUN steps, and a
+# cached one is a check that did not run.
 set -eu
 
-ROOT="$(cd "$(dirname "$0")/.." && pwd -P)"
+SCRIPT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "$0")" && pwd -P)"
+ROOT="$(cd "$SCRIPT_DIR/.." && pwd -P)"
 
 main() {
     cd "$ROOT"
-    docker build .
+    # Own line: a failing command substitution inside an argument does
+    # not trip `set -e`, so the inline form degrades silently to an
+    # empty constant. The VERSION build argument takes precedence over
+    # the version a build stage derives from the .git in the context.
+    version="$(git describe --tags --always --dirty 2>/dev/null || true)"
+    [ -n "$version" ] || version="unknown"
+    docker build --no-cache \
+        --build-arg VERSION="$version" \
+        -t "$("$SCRIPT_DIR/projectname")" .
 }
 
 main "$@"