.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  = errors.New("missing magic bytes in file")
+	// 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)
-		if !strings.EqualFold(embeddedFP, requiredSigner) {
-			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())))
+	log.Infof("manifest contains %d files, %s", chk.FileCount(),
+		humanize.IBytes(safeUint64(int64(chk.TotalBytes()))))
 
-	// Set up results channel
+	failures, err := runCheck(ctx, chk, showProgress)
-	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()
 
-	// Create one valid directory
+	seedValidDir := func(t *testing.T, fs afero.Fs) {
-	require.NoError(t, fs.MkdirAll("/validdir", 0o755))
+		t.Helper()
-	require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, "/validdir/file.txt", []byte("content"), 0o644))
+
+		require.NoError(t, fs.MkdirAll("/validdir", 0o755))
+		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(
-		w.Header().Set("Content-Type", "application/octet-stream")
+		http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, _ *http.Request) {
-		_, _ = w.Write(manifestData)
+			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(
-		_, _ = w.Write(manifestData)
+		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
@@ -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 +17,25 @@ import (
 	"sneak.berlin/go/mfer/mfer"
 )
 
+const (
+	testFileTxt = "file.txt"
+	testDirFile = "dir/file.txt"
+	testIndexMF = "https://example.com/path/index.mf"
+
+	// Exactly what url.Parse renders, with no wrapper of our own.
+	urlParseControlCharErr = `parse "http://example.com/\x7f": ` +
+		`net/url: invalid control character in URL`
+)
+
 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 +46,8 @@ 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 +55,27 @@ 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 +97,8 @@ 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 +106,115 @@ 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)
 		})
 	}
+
+	// The sole caller wraps this error as "invalid URL: %w", so
+	// resolveManifestURL must return url.Parse's error unadorned.
+	t.Run("invalid:control character", func(t *testing.T) {
+		t.Parallel()
+
+		_, err := resolveManifestURL("http://example.com/\x7f")
+		require.ErrorContains(t, err, urlParseControlCharErr)
+		assert.NotContains(t, err.Error(), "failed to parse URL")
+	})
 }
 
+// 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 +234,14 @@ 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 +252,125 @@ 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) {
+
-		w.Header().Set("Content-Type", "application/octet-stream")
+	server := httptest.NewServer(
-		_, _ = w.Write(tamperedContent)
+		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) {
+
-		w.Header().Set("Content-Type", "application/octet-stream")
+	server := httptest.NewServer(
-		_, _ = w.Write(wrongSizeContent)
+		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()
@@ -322,53 +378,47 @@ 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(
-		w.Header().Set("Content-Type", "application/octet-stream")
+		http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, _ *http.Request) {
-		w.Header().Set("Content-Length", "102400")
+			w.Header().Set("Content-Type", "application/octet-stream")
-		// Write in chunks to allow progress reporting
+			w.Header().Set("Content-Length", "102400")
-		reader := bytes.NewReader(content)
+			// Write in chunks to allow progress reporting
-		_, _ = io.Copy(w, reader)
+			reader := bytes.NewReader(content)
-	}))
+			_, _ = io.Copy(w, reader)
+		}))
 	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 +430,8 @@ 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"
@@ -36,195 +50,292 @@ 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 {
+		return nil, false
+	}
 
-	if ctx.Args().Len() > 0 {
+	realPath, err := filepath.EvalSymlinks(path)
-		arg := ctx.Args().Get(0)
+	if err != nil {
-		info, statErr := mfa.Fs.Stat(arg)
+		return nil, false // Skip broken symlinks
-		if statErr == nil && info.IsDir() {
+	}
-			manifestPath, err = findManifest(mfa.Fs, arg)
+
-			if err != nil {
+	realInfo, err := s.fs.Stat(realPath)
-				return fmt.Errorf("freshen: %w", err)
+	if err != nil || realInfo.IsDir() {
-			}
+		return nil, false
-		} else {
+	}
-			manifestPath = arg
+
-		}
+	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, err = findManifest(mfa.Fs, ".")
+		s.unchanged++
-		if err != nil {
+
-			return fmt.Errorf("freshen: %w", err)
+		s.entries = append(s.entries, &freshenEntry{
-		}
+			path:      relPath,
+			size:      info.Size(),
+			mtime:     info.ModTime(),
+			needsHash: false,
+			existing:  existing,
+		})
+	}
+	// Mark as seen
+	delete(s.existingByPath, relPath)
+}
+
+// walk is the afero.Walk callback for the scan phase.
+func (s *freshenScanner) walk(path string, info fs.FileInfo, walkErr error) error {
+	if walkErr != nil {
+		return walkErr
 	}
 
-	log.Infof("loading manifest from %s", manifestPath)
+	// Get relative path
-
+	relPath, err := filepath.Rel(s.absBase, path)
-	// Load existing manifest
-	manifest, err := mfer.NewManifestFromFile(mfa.Fs, manifestPath)
 	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("failed to load manifest: %w", err)
+		return fmt.Errorf(
+			"freshen: failed to compute relative path for %s: %w", path, err)
 	}
 
-	existingFiles := manifest.Files()
+	// Skip the manifest file itself
-	log.Infof("manifest contains %d files", len(existingFiles))
+	if relPath == s.manifestBase || relPath == "."+s.manifestBase {
-
+		return nil
-	// 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
+	// Handle dotfiles
-	log.Infof("scanning filesystem...")
+	if !s.includeDotfiles && mfer.IsHiddenPath(filepath.ToSlash(relPath)) {
-	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)
-		if err != nil {
-			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) {
-			return nil
-		}
-
-		// Handle dotfiles
-		if !includeDotfiles && mfer.IsHiddenPath(filepath.ToSlash(relPath)) {
-			if info.IsDir() {
-				return filepath.SkipDir
-			}
-			return nil
-		}
-
-		// Skip directories
 		if info.IsDir() {
-			return nil
+			return filepath.SkipDir
-		}
-
-		// Handle symlinks
-		if info.Mode()&fs.ModeSymlink != 0 {
-			if !followSymlinks {
-				return nil
-			}
-			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++
-
-		// Check against existing manifest
-		existing, inManifest := existingByPath[relPath]
-		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 {
-			log.Progressf("Scanning: %d files found", scanCount)
 		}
 
 		return nil
-	})
-
-	if showProgress {
-		log.ProgressDone()
 	}
 
-	if err != nil {
+	// Skip directories
-		return fmt.Errorf("failed to scan filesystem: %w", err)
+	if info.IsDir() {
+		return nil
 	}
 
-	// Remaining entries in existingByPath are removed files
+	// Handle symlinks
-	removed = int64(len(existingByPath))
+	if info.Mode()&fs.ModeSymlink != 0 {
-	for path := range existingByPath {
+		realInfo, keep := s.resolveSymlink(path)
-		log.Verbosef("D %s", path)
+		if !keep {
+			return nil
+		}
+
+		info = realInfo
 	}
 
-	scanDuration := time.Since(startScan)
+	s.scanCount++
-	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
+	// Check against existing manifest
-	var totalHashBytes int64
+	s.recordEntry(relPath, info)
-	var filesToHash int64
+
-	for _, e := range entries {
+	// Report scan progress
-		if e.needsHash {
+	if s.showProgress && s.scanCount%scanProgressInterval == 0 {
-			totalHashBytes += e.size
+		log.Progressf("Scanning: %d files found", s.scanCount)
-			filesToHash++
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+// resolveFreshenManifestPath determines the manifest path from the CLI
+// 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
 		}
 	}
 
-	// Phase 2: Hash changed and new files
+	if eta > 0 {
-	if filesToHash > 0 {
+		log.Progressf("Hashing: %d/%d files, %s/s, ETA %s",
-		log.Infof("hashing %d files (%s)...", filesToHash, humanize.IBytes(uint64(totalHashBytes)))
+			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
 	}
 
-	startHash := time.Now()
+	// Need to read and hash the file
-	var hashedFiles int64
+	absPath := filepath.Join(h.absBase, e.path)
-	var hashedBytes int64
 
+	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 hash %s: %w", e.path, err)
+	}
+
+	h.hashedBytes += bytesRead
+	h.hashedFiles++
+
+	// 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)
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+// writeFreshenedManifest writes the manifest atomically (write to a
+// temp file, then rename over the target).
+func writeFreshenedManifest(
+	afs afero.Fs, builder *mfer.Builder, manifestPath string,
+) error {
+	tmpPath := manifestPath + ".tmp"
+
+	outFile, err := afs.Create(tmpPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to create temp file: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	err = builder.Build(outFile)
+	_ = outFile.Close()
+
+	if err != nil {
+		_ = afs.Remove(tmpPath)
+
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to write manifest: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	// Rename temp to final
+	err = afs.Rename(tmpPath, manifestPath)
+	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():
@@ -245,122 +427,154 @@ func (mfa *CLIApp) freshenManifestOperation(ctx *cli.Context) error {
 		default:
 		}
 
-		if e.needsHash {
+		err := hasher.processEntry(e)
-			// Need to read and hash the file
+		if err != nil {
-			absPath := filepath.Join(absBase, e.path)
+			return err
-			f, err := mfa.Fs.Open(absPath)
-			if err != nil {
-				return fmt.Errorf("failed to open %s: %w", e.path, err)
-			}
-
-			hash, bytesRead, err := hashFile(f, e.size, func(n int64) {
-				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()
-
-			if err != nil {
-				return fmt.Errorf("failed to hash %s: %w", e.path, err)
-			}
-
-			hashedBytes += bytesRead
-			hashedFiles++
-
-			// Add to builder with computed hash
-			if err := addFileToBuilder(builder, e.path, e.size, e.mtime, hash); err != nil {
-				return fmt.Errorf("failed to add %s: %w", e.path, err)
-			}
-		} else {
-			// Use existing entry
-			if err := addExistingToBuilder(builder, e.existing); err != nil {
-				return fmt.Errorf("failed to add %s: %w", e.path, err)
-			}
 		}
 	}
 
+	return nil
+}
+
+// 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 nil, 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.GetPath()] = f
+	}
+
+	return existingByPath, nil
+}
+
+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 {
 		log.ProgressDone()
 	}
 
 	// 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)
+		if err != nil {
-		}
+			return fmt.Errorf(
-	} else {
+				"generate: failed to enumerate current directory: %w", err)
-		// 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)
-			}
-			// Validate path exists before adding to list
-			if exists, _ := afero.Exists(mfa.Fs, ap); !exists {
-				return fmt.Errorf("path does not exist: %s", inputPath)
-			}
-			log.Debugf("enumerating path: %s", ap)
-			paths = append(paths, ap)
-		}
-		if err := s.EnumeratePaths(enumProgress, paths...); err != nil {
-			return fmt.Errorf("generate: failed to enumerate paths: %w", err)
 		}
+
+		return nil
 	}
+
+	// Collect and validate all paths first
+	paths, err := mfa.collectInputPaths(args)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	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"))
 	}
 }
@@ -85,10 +107,215 @@ func commonFlags() []cli.Flag {
 	}
 }
 
+func (mfa *CLIApp) generateCommand() *cli.Command {
+	return &cli.Command{
+		Name:    cmdGenerate,
+		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(),
+			&cli.BoolFlag{
+				Name:    "follow-symlinks",
+				Aliases: []string{"L"},
+				Usage:   "Resolve encountered symlinks",
+			},
+			&cli.BoolFlag{
+				Name:    "include-dotfiles",
+				Aliases: []string{"IncludeDotfiles"},
+
+				Usage: "Include dot (hidden) files (excluded by default)",
+			},
+			&cli.StringFlag{
+				Name:    "output",
+				Value:   "./.index.mf",
+				Aliases: []string{"o"},
+				Usage:   "Specify output filename",
+			},
+			&cli.BoolFlag{
+				Name:    "force",
+				Aliases: []string{"f"},
+				Usage:   "Overwrite output file if it exists",
+			},
+			&cli.BoolFlag{
+				Name:    flagProgress,
+				Aliases: []string{"P"},
+				Usage:   "Show progress during enumeration and scanning",
+			},
+			&cli.StringFlag{
+				Name:    "sign-key",
+				Aliases: []string{"s"},
+				Usage:   "GPG key ID to sign the manifest with",
+				EnvVars: []string{"MFER_SIGN_KEY"},
+			},
+			&cli.StringFlag{
+				Name:    "seed",
+				Usage:   "Seed value for deterministic manifest UUID",
+				EnvVars: []string{"MFER_SEED"},
+			},
+			&cli.BoolFlag{
+				Name: "include-timestamps",
+				Usage: "Include createdAt timestamp in manifest " +
+					"(omitted by default for determinism)",
+			},
+		),
+	}
+}
+
+func (mfa *CLIApp) checkCommand() *cli.Command {
+	return &cli.Command{
+		Name:      cmdCheck,
+		Usage:     "Validate files using manifest file",
+		ArgsUsage: manifestArgsUsage,
+		Action: func(c *cli.Context) error {
+			mfa.setVerbosity(c)
+			mfa.printBanner()
+
+			return mfa.checkManifestOperation(c)
+		},
+		Flags: append(commonFlags(),
+			&cli.StringFlag{
+				Name:    "base",
+				Aliases: []string{"b"},
+				Value:   ".",
+				Usage:   "Base directory for resolving relative paths from manifest",
+			},
+			&cli.BoolFlag{
+				Name:    flagProgress,
+				Aliases: []string{"P"},
+				Usage:   "Show progress during checking",
+			},
+			&cli.BoolFlag{
+				Name:  "no-extra-files",
+				Usage: "Fail if files exist in base directory that are not in manifest",
+			},
+			&cli.StringFlag{
+				Name:    "require-signature",
+				Aliases: []string{"S"},
+				Usage:   "Require manifest to be signed by the specified GPG key ID",
+				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: manifestArgsUsage,
+		Action: func(c *cli.Context) error {
+			mfa.setVerbosity(c)
+			mfa.printBanner()
+
+			return mfa.freshenManifestOperation(c)
+		},
+		Flags: append(commonFlags(),
+			&cli.StringFlag{
+				Name:    "base",
+				Aliases: []string{"b"},
+				Value:   ".",
+				Usage:   "Base directory for resolving relative paths",
+			},
+			&cli.BoolFlag{
+				Name:    "follow-symlinks",
+				Aliases: []string{"L"},
+				Usage:   "Resolve encountered symlinks",
+			},
+			&cli.BoolFlag{
+				Name:    "include-dotfiles",
+				Aliases: []string{"IncludeDotfiles"},
+
+				Usage: "Include dot (hidden) files (excluded by default)",
+			},
+			&cli.BoolFlag{
+				Name:    flagProgress,
+				Aliases: []string{"P"},
+				Usage:   "Show progress during scanning and hashing",
+			},
+			&cli.StringFlag{
+				Name:    "sign-key",
+				Aliases: []string{"s"},
+				Usage:   "GPG key ID to sign the manifest with",
+				EnvVars: []string{"MFER_SIGN_KEY"},
+			},
+			&cli.BoolFlag{
+				Name: "include-timestamps",
+				Usage: "Include createdAt timestamp in manifest " +
+					"(omitted by default for determinism)",
+			},
+		),
+	}
+}
+
+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(_ *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: manifestArgsUsage,
+		Action: func(c *cli.Context) error {
+			return mfa.listManifestOperation(c)
+		},
+		Flags: []cli.Flag{
+			&cli.BoolFlag{
+				Name:    "long",
+				Aliases: []string{"l"},
+				Usage:   "Show size and mtime",
+			},
+			&cli.BoolFlag{
+				Name:  "print0",
+				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 NO_COLOR {
+	if NoColor {
 		// shoutout to rob pike who thinks it's juvenile
 		log.DisableStyling()
 	}
@@ -106,196 +333,30 @@ func (mfa *CLIApp) run(args []string) {
 		ErrWriter:            mfa.Stderr,
 		Action: func(c *cli.Context) error {
 			if c.Args().Len() > 0 {
-				return fmt.Errorf("unknown command %q", c.Args().First())
+				return fmt.Errorf("%w %q", errUnknownCommand, c.Args().First())
 			}
+
 			mfa.printBanner()
+
 			return cli.ShowAppHelp(c)
 		},
 		Commands: []*cli.Command{
-			{
+			mfa.generateCommand(),
-				Name:    "generate",
+			mfa.checkCommand(),
-				Aliases: []string{"gen"},
+			mfa.freshenCommand(),
-				Usage:   "Generate manifest file",
+			mfa.exportCommand(),
-				Action: func(c *cli.Context) error {
+			mfa.versionCommand(),
-					mfa.setVerbosity(c)
+			mfa.listCommand(),
-					mfa.printBanner()
+			mfa.fetchCommand(),
-					return mfa.generateManifestOperation(c)
-				},
-				Flags: append(commonFlags(),
-					&cli.BoolFlag{
-						Name:    "follow-symlinks",
-						Aliases: []string{"L"},
-						Usage:   "Resolve encountered symlinks",
-					},
-					&cli.BoolFlag{
-						Name:    "include-dotfiles",
-						Aliases: []string{"IncludeDotfiles"},
-
-						Usage: "Include dot (hidden) files (excluded by default)",
-					},
-					&cli.StringFlag{
-						Name:    "output",
-						Value:   "./.index.mf",
-						Aliases: []string{"o"},
-						Usage:   "Specify output filename",
-					},
-					&cli.BoolFlag{
-						Name:    "force",
-						Aliases: []string{"f"},
-						Usage:   "Overwrite output file if it exists",
-					},
-					&cli.BoolFlag{
-						Name:    "progress",
-						Aliases: []string{"P"},
-						Usage:   "Show progress during enumeration and scanning",
-					},
-					&cli.StringFlag{
-						Name:    "sign-key",
-						Aliases: []string{"s"},
-						Usage:   "GPG key ID to sign the manifest with",
-						EnvVars: []string{"MFER_SIGN_KEY"},
-					},
-					&cli.StringFlag{
-						Name:    "seed",
-						Usage:   "Seed value for deterministic manifest UUID",
-						EnvVars: []string{"MFER_SEED"},
-					},
-					&cli.BoolFlag{
-						Name:  "include-timestamps",
-						Usage: "Include createdAt timestamp in manifest (omitted by default for determinism)",
-					},
-				),
-			},
-			{
-				Name:      "check",
-				Usage:     "Validate files using manifest file",
-				ArgsUsage: "[manifest file]",
-				Action: func(c *cli.Context) error {
-					mfa.setVerbosity(c)
-					mfa.printBanner()
-					return mfa.checkManifestOperation(c)
-				},
-				Flags: append(commonFlags(),
-					&cli.StringFlag{
-						Name:    "base",
-						Aliases: []string{"b"},
-						Value:   ".",
-						Usage:   "Base directory for resolving relative paths from manifest",
-					},
-					&cli.BoolFlag{
-						Name:    "progress",
-						Aliases: []string{"P"},
-						Usage:   "Show progress during checking",
-					},
-					&cli.BoolFlag{
-						Name:  "no-extra-files",
-						Usage: "Fail if files exist in base directory that are not in manifest",
-					},
-					&cli.StringFlag{
-						Name:    "require-signature",
-						Aliases: []string{"S"},
-						Usage:   "Require manifest to be signed by the specified GPG key ID",
-						EnvVars: []string{"MFER_REQUIRE_SIGNATURE"},
-					},
-				),
-			},
-			{
-				Name:      "freshen",
-				Usage:     "Update manifest with changed, new, and removed files",
-				ArgsUsage: "[manifest file]",
-				Action: func(c *cli.Context) error {
-					mfa.setVerbosity(c)
-					mfa.printBanner()
-					return mfa.freshenManifestOperation(c)
-				},
-				Flags: append(commonFlags(),
-					&cli.StringFlag{
-						Name:    "base",
-						Aliases: []string{"b"},
-						Value:   ".",
-						Usage:   "Base directory for resolving relative paths",
-					},
-					&cli.BoolFlag{
-						Name:    "follow-symlinks",
-						Aliases: []string{"L"},
-						Usage:   "Resolve encountered symlinks",
-					},
-					&cli.BoolFlag{
-						Name:    "include-dotfiles",
-						Aliases: []string{"IncludeDotfiles"},
-
-						Usage: "Include dot (hidden) files (excluded by default)",
-					},
-					&cli.BoolFlag{
-						Name:    "progress",
-						Aliases: []string{"P"},
-						Usage:   "Show progress during scanning and hashing",
-					},
-					&cli.StringFlag{
-						Name:    "sign-key",
-						Aliases: []string{"s"},
-						Usage:   "GPG key ID to sign the manifest with",
-						EnvVars: []string{"MFER_SIGN_KEY"},
-					},
-					&cli.BoolFlag{
-						Name:  "include-timestamps",
-						Usage: "Include createdAt timestamp in manifest (omitted by default for determinism)",
-					},
-				),
-			},
-			{
-				Name:      "export",
-				Usage:     "Export manifest contents as JSON",
-				ArgsUsage: "[manifest file or URL]",
-				Action: func(c *cli.Context) error {
-					return mfa.exportManifestOperation(c)
-				},
-			},
-			{
-				Name:  "version",
-				Usage: "Show version",
-				Action: func(c *cli.Context) error {
-					_, _ = fmt.Fprintln(mfa.Stdout, mfa.VersionString())
-					return nil
-				},
-			},
-			{
-				Name:      "list",
-				Aliases:   []string{"ls"},
-				Usage:     "List files in manifest",
-				ArgsUsage: "[manifest file]",
-				Action: func(c *cli.Context) error {
-					return mfa.listManifestOperation(c)
-				},
-				Flags: []cli.Flag{
-					&cli.BoolFlag{
-						Name:    "long",
-						Aliases: []string{"l"},
-						Usage:   "Show size and mtime",
-					},
-					&cli.BoolFlag{
-						Name:  "print0",
-						Usage: "Separate entries with NUL character (for xargs -0)",
-					},
-				},
-			},
-			{
-				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(),
-			},
 		},
 	}
 
 	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"),
+		"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"),
+		"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     = "0.1.0"
+	// 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")
-		}
-
-		sigString, err := m.signatureString()
-		if err != nil {
-			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 {
-			return fmt.Errorf("signature verification failed: %w", err)
-		}
-		log.Infof("signature verified successfully")
 	}
 
-	bb := bytes.NewBuffer(m.pbOuter.InnerMessage)
+	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,
+		)
+	}
+
+	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")
+
+	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 {
-	var stdout, stderr bytes.Buffer
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf(
-	cmd.Stdout = &stdout
+			"gpg fingerprint lookup failed: %w: %s", err, stderr.String(),
-	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,
 	)
-	var importStderr bytes.Buffer
+	if err != nil {
-	importCmd.Stderr = &importStderr
+		return "", fmt.Errorf(
-	if err := importCmd.Run(); err != nil {
+			"failed to import public key: %w: %s", err, importStderr.String(),
-		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,
 	)
-	var importStderr bytes.Buffer
+	if err != nil {
-	importCmd.Stderr = &importStderr
+		return fmt.Errorf(
-	if err := importCmd.Run(); err != nil {
+			"failed to import public key: %w: %s", err, importStderr.String(),
-		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,
 	)
-	var verifyStderr bytes.Buffer
+	if err != nil {
-	verifyCmd.Stderr = &verifyStderr
+		return fmt.Errorf(
-	if err := verifyCmd.Run(); err != nil {
+			"signature verification failed: %w: %s", err, verifyStderr.String(),
-		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.
+	for p := range fileProgress {
-func (s *Scanner) TotalBytes() FileSize {
+		// Send progress at most once per second
-	s.mu.RLock()
+		now := time.Now()
-	defer s.mu.RUnlock()
+		if now.Sub(*pt.lastProgress) < time.Second {
-	return s.totalBytes
+			continue
-}
-
-// 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
+		currentBytes := baseBytes + p.BytesRead
-		f, err := s.fs.Open(string(entry.AbsPath))
+		rate, eta := computeRateETA(now.Sub(pt.startTime), currentBytes, pt.totalBytes)
-		if err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
 
-		// Create progress channel for this file
+		sendScanStatus(pt.progress, ScanStatus{
-		var fileProgress chan FileHashProgress
+			TotalFiles:   pt.totalFiles,
-		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 {
-						elapsed := now.Sub(startTime).Seconds()
-						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{
-							TotalFiles:   totalFiles,
-							ScannedFiles: scannedFiles,
-							TotalBytes:   totalBytes,
-							ScannedBytes: currentBytes,
-							BytesPerSec:  rate,
-							ETA:          eta,
-						})
-						lastProgressTime = now
-					}
-				}
-			}(scannedBytes)
-		}
-
-		// 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 err
-		}
-
-		log.Verbosef("+ %s (%s)", entry.Path, humanize.IBytes(uint64(bytesRead)))
-
-		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,
+			TotalBytes:   pt.totalBytes,
-			ScannedBytes: scannedBytes,
+			ScannedBytes: currentBytes,
 			BytesPerSec:  rate,
-			ETA:          0,
+			ETA:          eta,
 		})
+
+		*pt.lastProgress = now
+	}
+}
+
+// computeRateETA returns the average throughput over elapsed time and the
+// estimated time to process the remaining bytes at that rate.
+func computeRateETA(
+	elapsed time.Duration,
+	done FileSize,
+	total FileSize,
+) (float64, time.Duration) {
+	var (
+		rate float64
+		eta  time.Duration
+	)
+
+	if elapsed > 0 && done > 0 {
+		rate = float64(done) / elapsed.Seconds()
+
+		remaining := total - done
+		if rate > 0 {
+			eta = time.Duration(float64(remaining)/rate) * time.Second
+		}
 	}
 
-	// Build and write manifest
+	return rate, eta
-	return builder.Build(w)
+}
+
+// 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
+	}
+
+	return uint64(v)
 }
 
 // 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{
@@ -95,29 +135,40 @@ func (m *manifest) generateOuter() error {
 
 	// Sign the manifest if signing options are provided
 	if m.signingOptions != nil && m.signingOptions.KeyID != "" {
-		sigString, err := m.signatureString()
+		return m.signOuter()
-		if err != nil {
-			return fmt.Errorf("failed to generate signature string: %w", err)
-		}
-
-		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(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
 }
+
+// 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)
+	}
+
+	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(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())
 }