Delete the oldest report files to stay under the size cap (closes #54)

When a report would take the report files past DATA_DIR_MAX_BYTES,
reportbuf now deletes the oldest report files until it fits, and does
the same at start when files left by an earlier run are already past
it. A file joins the files that may be deleted only once it is
completely written, so a file still being written is never deleted. A
report is refused with 507 only when the reports waiting to be written
fill the cap on their own, and then no file is deleted. The reports of
a failed write stop counting, and the part of its file written is
removed. A file whose deletion fails keeps counting; one already
deleted by hand counts as freed.

Model: opus-5-5

README.md

@@ -218,7 +218,7 @@ What the [upaas](https://git.eeqj.de/sneak/upaas) app for netwatch needs:
     - `REPORTS_PER_MINUTE`, default `60`: reports each client address may send a
       minute
     - `DATA_DIR_MAX_BYTES`, default `1073741824` (1 GiB): the most room the
-      report files may take
+      report files may take; the oldest are deleted to stay under it
     - `CORS_ALLOWED_ORIGINS`, default empty: other origins whose pages may call
       the API
     - `DEBUG`, default `false`: debug logging

TODO.md

@@ -23,6 +23,15 @@ latest run passes.
 
 # Completed Steps
 
+- 2026-10-03: `DATA_DIR_MAX_BYTES` is now how much of the report files is kept
+  (issue #54): when a report would take them past it, the oldest report files
+  are deleted to make room, each deletion logged, and at start files already
+  past it are deleted the same way. A file still being written is never deleted.
+  A report is refused with 507 only when the reports waiting to be written fill
+  the cap on their own, and then no file is deleted. The reports of a failed
+  write stop counting, and the part of its file written is removed. A file that
+  cannot be deleted still counts until the next start; one already deleted by
+  hand counts as freed
 - 2026-10-03: each target check times out after 80% of the refresh interval
   (issue #78), 24 seconds at 30 seconds, where it was capped at 3 seconds. A
   round started early, after an interval change or when the recovery probe finds

backend/README.md

@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ Internal packages in `internal/` follow standard Go project layout:
 | `BIND_ADDRESS`         | empty                | IP address to listen on; empty listens on every interface                                                |
 | `PORT`                 | `8080`               | HTTP listen port                                                                                         |
 | `DATA_DIR`             | `./data/reports`     | Directory for compressed reports                                                                         |
-| `DATA_DIR_MAX_BYTES`   | `1073741824` (1 GiB) | Largest total size of the report files in `DATA_DIR`; see [Report limits](#report-limits)                |
+| `DATA_DIR_MAX_BYTES`   | `1073741824` (1 GiB) | Most bytes of report files kept in `DATA_DIR`, oldest deleted first; see [Report limits](#report-limits) |
 | `DEBUG`                | `false`              | Enable debug logging                                                                                     |
 | `TRUSTED_PROXIES`      | loopback + RFC1918   | Comma-separated CIDRs whose `X-Forwarded-For` / `X-Real-IP` headers are trusted for client IP resolution |
 | `REPORTS_PER_MINUTE`   | `60`                 | Reports each client address may send a minute; see [Report limits](#report-limits)                       |
@@ -148,11 +148,17 @@ credentials, so it is bounded instead. Both refusals below answer with the same
   `X-RateLimit-Reset` headers.
 - **Size cap.** The report files in `DATA_DIR` may total at most
   `DATA_DIR_MAX_BYTES`, counting the files already there at start. Reports
-  waiting in memory count at their uncompressed size until they are written, so
+  waiting in memory count at their uncompressed size until they are written;
-  a report that would take the total past the cap is refused with 507, and
+  those lost to a failed write stop counting, and the part of its file written
-  nothing of it is stored. Deleting report files frees room only at the next
+  is removed. When a report would take the total past the cap, the oldest report
-  start, when the files are counted again. The default of 1 GiB is small enough
+  files are deleted to make room, and each deletion is logged with the file's
-  for any host; set it to the space you can give `DATA_DIR`.
+  name and size; a file still being written is never deleted. A report is
+  refused with 507, and nothing of it is stored, only when the reports waiting
+  to be written fill the cap on their own, and then no file is deleted. At
+  start, report files past the cap, as after lowering it, are deleted the same
+  way. So the cap is how much of the newest reports is kept: the default of 1
+  GiB is small enough for any host; set it to the space you can give
+  `DATA_DIR`.
 
 ### CORS
 
@@ -170,7 +176,6 @@ starting, with an error naming `CORS_ALLOWED_ORIGINS`.
 - Add integration test that POSTs a report and verifies the compressed output
 - Add report decompression/query endpoint
 - Add metrics (Prometheus) for buffer size, flush count, report count
-- Add retention policy to prune old report files
 
 ## License
 

backend/internal/handlers/report.go

@@ -86,11 +86,12 @@ func (s *Handlers) decodeErrorStatus(err error) int {
 }
 
 // appendErrorStatus logs a failure to store a report and returns
-// the status to send: 507 when the report files are at their size
+// the status to send: 507 when the reports waiting to be written fill
-// cap, otherwise 500.
+// the size cap, otherwise 500.
 func (s *Handlers) appendErrorStatus(err error) int {
 	if errors.Is(err, reportbuf.ErrFull) {
-		s.log.Warn("report refused: report files at their size cap")
+		s.log.Warn("report refused: " +
+			"reports waiting to be written fill the size cap")
 
 		return http.StatusInsufficientStorage
 	}

backend/internal/handlers/report_test.go

@@ -68,9 +68,9 @@ func TestHandleReportStorageFailureIsNon2xx(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-// TestHandleReportFullIs507 checks the answer when the report files
+// TestHandleReportFullIs507 checks the answer when the reports waiting
-// are at their size cap: 507 and the usual error body, which tells
+// to be written fill the size cap: 507 and the usual error body, which
-// the client nothing more.
+// tells the client nothing more.
 func TestHandleReportFullIs507(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 

backend/internal/reportbuf/export_test.go

@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 package reportbuf
 
-import "time"
+import (
+	"os"
+	"time"
+)
 
 // Flush writes the buffered reports to a file now, as the periodic
 // flush does, so tests need not wait a minute for it.
@@ -13,3 +16,10 @@ func (b *Buffer) Flush() error {
 func (b *Buffer) StopClock(at time.Time) {
 	b.now = func() time.Time { return at }
 }
+
+// OnFileCreated makes the buffer call fn with each report file it
+// writes from now on, once the file is created and before anything is
+// written to it.
+func (b *Buffer) OnFileCreated(fn func(f *os.File)) {
+	b.fileCreated = fn
+}

backend/internal/reportbuf/reportbuf.go

@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 // Package reportbuf accumulates telemetry reports in memory
-// and periodically flushes them to zstd-compressed JSONL files.
+// and periodically flushes them to zstd-compressed JSONL files,
+// deleting the oldest files to keep them under a size cap.
 package reportbuf
 
 import (
@@ -37,9 +38,10 @@ const (
 	fileSuffix = ".jsonl.zst"
 )
 
-// ErrFull is returned by Append when storing the report would
+// ErrFull is returned by Append when the reports waiting to be
-// take the report files past the configured maximum size.
+// written leave no room for the report under the configured maximum
-var ErrFull = errors.New("report files at their size cap")
+// size, however many report files are deleted.
+var ErrFull = errors.New("reports waiting to be written fill the size cap")
 
 // Params defines the dependencies for Buffer.
 type Params struct {
@@ -49,15 +51,32 @@ type Params struct {
 	Logger *logger.Logger
 }
 
+// reportFile is a report file that may be deleted to make room, with
+// the size it counts for in usedBytes.
+type reportFile struct {
+	name string
+	size int64
+}
+
 // Buffer accumulates JSON lines in memory and flushes them
 // to zstd-compressed files on disk.
 type Buffer struct {
-	buf      bytes.Buffer
+	buf     bytes.Buffer
-	dataDir  string
+	dataDir string
-	done     chan struct{}
+	done    chan struct{}
-	log      *slog.Logger
+	// fileCreated is called with each report file once it is
-	maxBytes int64
+	// created, before anything is written to it: it does nothing,
-	mu       sync.Mutex
+	// except in tests that hold the write open or make it fail.
+	fileCreated func(f *os.File)
+	// files are the report files that may be deleted to make room,
+	// oldest first: those in dataDir at start, then each one this
+	// buffer writes, once it is complete. A file still being written
+	// is not among them. filesBytes is their total size.
+	files      []reportFile
+	filesBytes int64
+	log        *slog.Logger
+	maxBytes   int64
+	mu         sync.Mutex
 	// now is the clock report files are named by: time.Now, except
 	// in tests that need two flushes to share a timestamp.
 	now func() time.Time
@@ -66,8 +85,8 @@ type Buffer struct {
 	seq      atomic.Uint64
 	stopOnce sync.Once
 	// usedBytes is what Append checks against maxBytes: the size
-	// of the report files in dataDir, plus the reports not yet
+	// of the report files in dataDir, plus the reports waiting to
-	// written to one at their uncompressed size.
+	// be written to one at their uncompressed size.
 	usedBytes int64
 }
 
@@ -83,11 +102,12 @@ func New(
 	}
 
 	b := &Buffer{
-		dataDir:  dir,
+		dataDir:     dir,
-		done:     make(chan struct{}),
+		done:        make(chan struct{}),
-		log:      params.Logger.Get(),
+		fileCreated: func(*os.File) {},
-		maxBytes: params.Config.DataDirMaxBytes,
+		log:         params.Logger.Get(),
-		now:      time.Now,
+		maxBytes:    params.Config.DataDirMaxBytes,
+		now:         time.Now,
 	}
 
 	lc.Append(fx.Hook{
@@ -97,12 +117,28 @@ func New(
 				return fmt.Errorf("create data dir: %w", err)
 			}
 
-			// Report files left by earlier runs count too.
+			// Report files left by earlier runs count too, and are
-			b.usedBytes, err = reportFilesSize(b.dataDir)
+			// the first to be deleted to make room.
+			files, err := reportFiles(b.dataDir)
 			if err != nil {
 				return err
 			}
 
+			b.mu.Lock()
+
+			b.files = files
+			for _, f := range files {
+				b.filesBytes += f.size
+			}
+
+			b.usedBytes = b.filesBytes
+
+			// The files may be past the cap, if it was lowered since
+			// the last run.
+			b.deleteOldestFiles(0)
+
+			b.mu.Unlock()
+
 			go b.flushLoop()
 
 			return nil
@@ -128,9 +164,10 @@ func New(
 }
 
 // Append marshals v as a single JSON line and appends it to
-// the buffer. It stores nothing and returns ErrFull if the line
+// the buffer. If the line would take usedBytes past maxBytes, the
-// would take usedBytes past maxBytes. If the buffer reaches the
+// oldest report files are deleted to make room; it stores nothing
-// size threshold, it is drained and written to disk
+// and returns ErrFull if that cannot make room. If the buffer
+// reaches the size threshold, it is drained and written to disk
 // asynchronously.
 func (b *Buffer) Append(v any) error {
 	line, err := json.Marshal(v)
@@ -142,6 +179,8 @@ func (b *Buffer) Append(v any) error {
 
 	b.mu.Lock()
 
+	b.deleteOldestFiles(lineBytes)
+
 	if b.usedBytes+lineBytes > b.maxBytes {
 		b.mu.Unlock()
 
@@ -171,6 +210,37 @@ func (b *Buffer) Append(v any) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
+// deleteOldestFiles deletes report files, oldest first, until n more
+// bytes fit under maxBytes. It deletes none when the reports waiting
+// to be written leave no room for n even with every file gone, since
+// that would lose the files for nothing. The caller must hold b.mu.
+func (b *Buffer) deleteOldestFiles(n int64) {
+	for b.usedBytes+n > b.maxBytes && len(b.files) > 0 {
+		if b.usedBytes-b.filesBytes+n > b.maxBytes {
+			return
+		}
+
+		f := b.files[0]
+		b.files = b.files[1:]
+		b.filesBytes -= f.size
+
+		// A file already gone, deleted by hand, has freed its room too.
+		err := os.Remove(filepath.Join(b.dataDir, f.name))
+		if err != nil && !errors.Is(err, fs.ErrNotExist) {
+			// The file is still there, so it still counts. It is
+			// not tried again until the next start.
+			b.log.Error("delete report file failed",
+				"file", f.name, "error", err)
+
+			continue
+		}
+
+		b.usedBytes -= f.size
+		b.log.Info("deleted report file to make room",
+			"file", f.name, "bytes", f.size)
+	}
+}
+
 // flushLoop runs a ticker that periodically flushes buffered
 // data to disk until the done channel is closed.
 func (b *Buffer) flushLoop() {
@@ -217,15 +287,41 @@ func (b *Buffer) drainBuf() []byte {
 	return data
 }
 
-// writeFile creates a timestamped zstd-compressed JSONL file
+// writeFile writes data, reports drained from the buffer, to a new
-// in the data directory.
+// timestamped zstd-compressed JSONL file in the data directory.
 func (b *Buffer) writeFile(data []byte) error {
 	// The timestamp comes first, so the names sort by time; the number
 	// after it tells apart files named in the same millisecond.
 	ts := b.now().UTC().Format("2006-01-02T15-04-05.000Z")
 	name := fmt.Sprintf("%s%s-%d%s", filePrefix, ts, b.seq.Add(1), fileSuffix)
-	path := filepath.Join(b.dataDir, name)
 
+	size, err := b.createFile(filepath.Join(b.dataDir, name), data)
+
+	// The reports no longer wait to be written, so they stop counting
+	// at their uncompressed size. If the write failed they are lost;
+	// otherwise they count as the file, which from here on may be
+	// deleted to make room.
+	b.mu.Lock()
+	defer b.mu.Unlock()
+
+	b.usedBytes -= int64(len(data))
+
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	b.usedBytes += size
+	b.files = append(b.files, reportFile{name: name, size: size})
+	b.filesBytes += size
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+// createFile creates the file at path holding data compressed with
+// zstd, and returns its size. If the write fails once the file is
+// created, it removes the file, so that a failed write leaves nothing
+// behind to take room.
+func (b *Buffer) createFile(path string, data []byte) (int64, error) {
 	// path is built from the operator-supplied dataDir plus a
 	// generated timestamp and number, so it carries no external input.
 	f, err := os.OpenFile( //nolint:gosec // see comment above
@@ -234,61 +330,65 @@ func (b *Buffer) writeFile(data []byte) error {
 		filePerms,
 	)
 	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("create report file: %w", err)
+		return 0, fmt.Errorf("create report file: %w", err)
 	}
 
-	// Closes the file on the early returns below. The success
+	b.fileCreated(f)
-	// path closes it explicitly to check the error; closing it
-	// a second time here is harmless.
-	defer func() { _ = f.Close() }()
 
+	size, err := writeCompressed(f, data)
+	if err != nil {
+		_ = f.Close()
+
+		return 0, errors.Join(err, os.Remove(path))
+	}
+
+	err = f.Close()
+	if err != nil {
+		err = fmt.Errorf("close report file: %w", err)
+
+		return 0, errors.Join(err, os.Remove(path))
+	}
+
+	return size, nil
+}
+
+// writeCompressed writes data to f compressed with zstd, and returns
+// the size of f.
+func writeCompressed(f *os.File, data []byte) (int64, error) {
 	enc, err := zstd.NewWriter(f)
 	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("create zstd encoder: %w", err)
+		return 0, fmt.Errorf("create zstd encoder: %w", err)
 	}
 
 	_, err = enc.Write(data)
 	if err != nil {
 		_ = enc.Close()
 
-		return fmt.Errorf("write compressed data: %w", err)
+		return 0, fmt.Errorf("write compressed data: %w", err)
 	}
 
 	err = enc.Close()
 	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("close zstd encoder: %w", err)
+		return 0, fmt.Errorf("close zstd encoder: %w", err)
 	}
 
 	info, err := f.Stat()
 	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("stat report file: %w", err)
+		return 0, fmt.Errorf("stat report file: %w", err)
 	}
 
-	err = f.Close()
+	return info.Size(), nil
-	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("close report file: %w", err)
-	}
-
-	// The reports counted at their uncompressed size while they
-	// waited; now they count as the file. After a failed write they
-	// stay counted as they were, which errs toward refusing reports
-	// early rather than letting the files pass the cap.
-	b.mu.Lock()
-	b.usedBytes += info.Size() - int64(len(data))
-	b.mu.Unlock()
-
-	return nil
 }
 
-// reportFilesSize returns the total size of the report files in
+// reportFiles returns the report files in dir, oldest first:
-// dir.
+// os.ReadDir sorts them by name, and the names sort by time.
-func reportFilesSize(dir string) (int64, error) {
+func reportFiles(dir string) ([]reportFile, error) {
 	entries, err := os.ReadDir(dir)
 	if err != nil {
-		return 0, fmt.Errorf("read data dir: %w", err)
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("read data dir: %w", err)
 	}
 
-	var total int64
+	files := make([]reportFile, 0, len(entries))
 
 	for _, entry := range entries {
 		name := entry.Name()
@@ -299,11 +399,11 @@ func reportFilesSize(dir string) (int64, error) {
 
 		info, err := entry.Info()
 		if err != nil {
-			return 0, fmt.Errorf("stat report file: %w", err)
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("stat report file: %w", err)
 		}
 
-		total += info.Size()
+		files = append(files, reportFile{name: name, size: info.Size()})
 	}
 
-	return total, nil
+	return files, nil
 }

backend/internal/reportbuf/reportbuf_test.go

@@ -139,11 +139,19 @@ func lineBytes(t *testing.T, report any) int {
 	return len(line) + 1
 }
 
+// TestAppendPastCapIsRefused fills the cap with a report not yet
+// written. The next report is refused, and the report file already in
+// DATA_DIR is kept: it is smaller than a report, so deleting it could
+// not make room.
 func TestAppendPastCapIsRefused(t *testing.T) {
 	report := map[string]string{"id": "cap"}
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	earlier := reportFilePath(dir, 1)
 
-	t.Setenv("DATA_DIR", t.TempDir())
+	writeBytes(t, earlier, 1)
-	t.Setenv("DATA_DIR_MAX_BYTES", strconv.Itoa(lineBytes(t, report)))
+
+	t.Setenv("DATA_DIR", dir)
+	t.Setenv("DATA_DIR_MAX_BYTES", strconv.Itoa(1+lineBytes(t, report)))
 
 	buf := startBuffer(t)
 
@@ -156,24 +164,38 @@ func TestAppendPastCapIsRefused(t *testing.T) {
 	if !errors.Is(err, reportbuf.ErrFull) {
 		t.Fatalf("report past the cap: error = %v, want ErrFull", err)
 	}
+
+	if !exists(t, earlier) {
+		t.Fatal("report file deleted, though that could not make room")
+	}
 }
 
-// TestCapCountsReportFilesAlreadyInDataDir starts on a data
+// TestOldestReportFileDeletedFirst starts on a data directory holding
-// directory holding a report file from an earlier run, and a file
+// report files from an earlier run, and a file that is not a report,
-// that is not a report, which must not count.
+// which neither counts nor is ever deleted. Nothing is deleted while
-func TestCapCountsReportFilesAlreadyInDataDir(t *testing.T) {
+// there is room; then only the oldest report file is.
-	const earlierBytes = 100
+func TestOldestReportFileDeletedFirst(t *testing.T) {
+	const fileBytes = 100
 
-	report := map[string]string{"id": "cap"}
+	report := map[string]string{"id": "oldest"}
 	dir := t.TempDir()
+	oldest := reportFilePath(dir, 1)
+	kept := []string{
+		reportFilePath(dir, 2),
+		reportFilePath(dir, 3),
+		filepath.Join(dir, "notes.txt"),
+	}
 
-	writeBytes(t, filepath.Join(dir, "reports-2026-01-01T00-00-00.000Z.jsonl.zst"),
+	writeBytes(t, oldest, fileBytes)
-		earlierBytes)
+
-	writeBytes(t, filepath.Join(dir, "notes.txt"), 10*earlierBytes)
+	for _, path := range kept {
+		writeBytes(t, path, fileBytes)
+	}
 
 	t.Setenv("DATA_DIR", dir)
+	// Room for the three report files and one report.
 	t.Setenv("DATA_DIR_MAX_BYTES",
-		strconv.Itoa(earlierBytes+lineBytes(t, report)))
+		strconv.Itoa(3*fileBytes+lineBytes(t, report)))
 
 	buf := startBuffer(t)
 
@@ -182,9 +204,55 @@ func TestCapCountsReportFilesAlreadyInDataDir(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("report that fills the cap exactly: %v", err)
 	}
 
+	if !exists(t, oldest) {
+		t.Fatal("oldest report file deleted while there was room")
+	}
+
 	err = buf.Append(report)
-	if !errors.Is(err, reportbuf.ErrFull) {
+	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("report past the cap: error = %v, want ErrFull", err)
+		t.Fatalf("report past the cap: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	if exists(t, oldest) {
+		t.Fatal("oldest report file kept when room was needed")
+	}
+
+	for _, path := range kept {
+		if !exists(t, path) {
+			t.Fatalf("%s deleted; only the oldest report file should be", path)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// TestStartDeletesFilesPastCap starts on report files past the cap,
+// as after the cap is lowered: the oldest are deleted until the rest
+// fit.
+func TestStartDeletesFilesPastCap(t *testing.T) {
+	const fileBytes = 100
+
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	oldest := reportFilePath(dir, 1)
+	kept := []string{reportFilePath(dir, 2), reportFilePath(dir, 3)}
+
+	writeBytes(t, oldest, fileBytes)
+
+	for _, path := range kept {
+		writeBytes(t, path, fileBytes)
+	}
+
+	t.Setenv("DATA_DIR", dir)
+	t.Setenv("DATA_DIR_MAX_BYTES", strconv.Itoa(len(kept)*fileBytes))
+
+	startBuffer(t)
+
+	if exists(t, oldest) {
+		t.Fatal("oldest report file kept, though the files were past the cap")
+	}
+
+	for _, path := range kept {
+		if !exists(t, path) {
+			t.Fatalf("%s deleted, though the rest fit without it", path)
+		}
 	}
 }
 
@@ -195,8 +263,9 @@ func TestWrittenReportsCountAtFileSize(t *testing.T) {
 	// Repetitive, so its file is far smaller than its JSON.
 	report := map[string]string{"id": strings.Repeat("a", 1000)}
 	size := lineBytes(t, report)
+	dir := t.TempDir()
 
-	t.Setenv("DATA_DIR", t.TempDir())
+	t.Setenv("DATA_DIR", dir)
 	// Room for the report twice over only if the first one counts
 	// at its file's size by the time the second arrives.
 	t.Setenv("DATA_DIR_MAX_BYTES", strconv.Itoa(2*size-1))
@@ -217,13 +286,22 @@ func TestWrittenReportsCountAtFileSize(t *testing.T) {
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("second report, after the first was written: %v", err)
 	}
+
+	if !hasReportFile(t, dir) {
+		t.Fatal("first report's file deleted, though the second fit beside it")
+	}
 }
 
-// TestWrittenReportsKeepCounting writes one report file after another
+// TestWrittenFilesDeletedToMakeRoom writes one report file after
-// under a small cap: each report must be taken while the files on disk
+// another under a small cap. Every report must be taken; files are
-// leave room for it, and refused once they do not.
+// deleted only when the report would not fit beside them, and the
-func TestWrittenReportsKeepCounting(t *testing.T) {
+// files kept leave room for it.
-	const maxBytes = 200
+func TestWrittenFilesDeletedToMakeRoom(t *testing.T) {
+	const (
+		maxBytes = 200
+		// One file each, which take far more than maxBytes together.
+		reports = 50
+	)
 
 	report := map[string]string{"id": "written"}
 	size := int64(lineBytes(t, report))
@@ -234,23 +312,24 @@ func TestWrittenReportsKeepCounting(t *testing.T) {
 
 	buf := startBuffer(t)
 
-	// Every file takes at least a byte, so they fill the cap within
+	for range reports {
-	// maxBytes rounds.
+		before := reportFilesBytes(t, dir)
-	for range maxBytes {
-		used := reportFilesBytes(t, dir)
 
 		err := buf.Append(report)
-		if used+size > maxBytes {
+		if err != nil {
-			if !errors.Is(err, reportbuf.ErrFull) {
+			t.Fatalf("with %d bytes of report files: %v", before, err)
-				t.Fatalf("with %d bytes of report files: error = %v, "+
-					"want ErrFull", used, err)
-			}
-
-			return
 		}
 
-		if err != nil {
+		after := reportFilesBytes(t, dir)
-			t.Fatalf("with %d bytes of report files: %v", used, err)
+
+		if before+size <= maxBytes && after != before {
+			t.Fatalf("files deleted, though the report fit beside "+
+				"their %d bytes", before)
+		}
+
+		if after+size > maxBytes {
+			t.Fatalf("%d bytes of report files kept, leaving no room "+
+				"for the report", after)
 		}
 
 		err = buf.Flush()
@@ -258,8 +337,199 @@ func TestWrittenReportsKeepCounting(t *testing.T) {
 			t.Fatalf("flush: %v", err)
 		}
 	}
+}
 
-	t.Fatal("the report files never filled the cap")
+// TestFailedDeletionStillCounts makes deleting the oldest report file
+// fail. It is still there, so it still takes room, and the next oldest
+// is deleted in its place.
+func TestFailedDeletionStillCounts(t *testing.T) {
+	const fileBytes = 100
+
+	report := map[string]string{"id": "stuck"}
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	stuck := reportFilePath(dir, 1)
+	next := reportFilePath(dir, 2)
+	newest := reportFilePath(dir, 3)
+
+	for _, path := range []string{stuck, next, newest} {
+		writeBytes(t, path, fileBytes)
+	}
+
+	t.Setenv("DATA_DIR", dir)
+	t.Setenv("DATA_DIR_MAX_BYTES", strconv.Itoa(3*fileBytes))
+
+	buf := startBuffer(t)
+
+	// A directory that is not empty cannot be deleted, even by root,
+	// which the tests run as in the backend image.
+	err := os.Remove(stuck)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("remove %s: %v", stuck, err)
+	}
+
+	err = os.Mkdir(stuck, 0o750)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("make directory %s: %v", stuck, err)
+	}
+
+	writeBytes(t, filepath.Join(stuck, "file"), 1)
+
+	err = buf.Append(report)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("report past the cap: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	if exists(t, next) {
+		t.Fatal("next oldest report file kept: the failed deletion " +
+			"counted as making room")
+	}
+
+	if !exists(t, newest) {
+		t.Fatal("newest report file deleted, though deleting one made room")
+	}
+}
+
+// TestFileDeletedByHandFreesRoom deletes the oldest report file by
+// hand after start. When room is needed, its room counts as freed, so
+// no other file is deleted.
+func TestFileDeletedByHandFreesRoom(t *testing.T) {
+	const fileBytes = 100
+
+	report := map[string]string{"id": "by-hand"}
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	gone := reportFilePath(dir, 1)
+	kept := reportFilePath(dir, 2)
+
+	writeBytes(t, gone, fileBytes)
+	writeBytes(t, kept, fileBytes)
+
+	t.Setenv("DATA_DIR", dir)
+	t.Setenv("DATA_DIR_MAX_BYTES", strconv.Itoa(2*fileBytes))
+
+	buf := startBuffer(t)
+
+	err := os.Remove(gone)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("remove %s: %v", gone, err)
+	}
+
+	err = buf.Append(report)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("report past the cap: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	if !exists(t, kept) {
+		t.Fatal("report file deleted, though the one deleted by hand " +
+			"had made room")
+	}
+}
+
+// TestFileBeingWrittenIsNeverDeleted holds a write open, its file
+// created but not complete, while a report needs room. The file may
+// not be deleted to make it, so the report is refused. Once the write
+// is complete, the file is deleted when room is needed.
+func TestFileBeingWrittenIsNeverDeleted(t *testing.T) {
+	report := map[string]string{"id": "writing"}
+
+	t.Setenv("DATA_DIR", t.TempDir())
+	t.Setenv("DATA_DIR_MAX_BYTES", strconv.Itoa(lineBytes(t, report)))
+
+	buf := startBuffer(t)
+
+	created := make(chan string)
+	release := make(chan struct{})
+
+	buf.OnFileCreated(func(f *os.File) {
+		created <- f.Name()
+
+		<-release
+	})
+
+	err := buf.Append(report)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("report that fills the cap exactly: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	flushed := make(chan error)
+
+	go func() { flushed <- buf.Flush() }()
+
+	writing := <-created
+
+	// Errorf, not Fatalf, until the write is released, so that a
+	// failure here does not leave it held.
+	err = buf.Append(report)
+	if !errors.Is(err, reportbuf.ErrFull) {
+		t.Errorf("report while the first was being written: "+
+			"error = %v, want ErrFull", err)
+	}
+
+	if !exists(t, writing) {
+		t.Error("report file deleted while it was being written")
+	}
+
+	close(release)
+
+	err = <-flushed
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("flush: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	// Writes from here on, the final one at stop included, go
+	// through unheld.
+	buf.OnFileCreated(func(*os.File) {})
+
+	err = buf.Append(report)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("report after the write was complete: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	if exists(t, writing) {
+		t.Fatal("complete report file kept when room was needed")
+	}
+}
+
+// TestFailedWriteStopsCounting makes a write fail once its file is
+// created. Its reports are lost, so they stop counting, and the part of
+// the file written is removed, so it takes no room.
+func TestFailedWriteStopsCounting(t *testing.T) {
+	report := map[string]string{"id": "failed"}
+
+	t.Setenv("DATA_DIR", t.TempDir())
+	t.Setenv("DATA_DIR_MAX_BYTES", strconv.Itoa(lineBytes(t, report)))
+
+	buf := startBuffer(t)
+
+	var failed string
+
+	// Closing the file under the write makes the write fail.
+	buf.OnFileCreated(func(f *os.File) {
+		failed = f.Name()
+
+		_ = f.Close()
+	})
+
+	err := buf.Append(report)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("report that fills the cap exactly: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	err = buf.Flush()
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("flush succeeded, though its file was closed under it")
+	}
+
+	if exists(t, failed) {
+		t.Fatal("file of the failed write kept")
+	}
+
+	// Writes from here on, the final one at stop included, succeed.
+	buf.OnFileCreated(func(*os.File) {})
+
+	err = buf.Append(report)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("report after the failed write: %v", err)
+	}
 }
 
 // TestConcurrentAppendsStopAtCap appends from many goroutines at once
@@ -407,6 +677,14 @@ func readReportFiles(t *testing.T, dir string) []string {
 	return contents
 }
 
+// reportFilePath returns the path in dir of a report file named as
+// written on the given day of January 2026, so that a lower day sorts
+// as older.
+func reportFilePath(dir string, day int) string {
+	return filepath.Join(dir,
+		fmt.Sprintf("reports-2026-01-%02dT00-00-00.000Z-1.jsonl.zst", day))
+}
+
 func writeBytes(t *testing.T, path string, n int) {
 	t.Helper()
 
@@ -416,6 +694,21 @@ func writeBytes(t *testing.T, path string, n int) {
 	}
 }
 
+func exists(t *testing.T, path string) bool {
+	t.Helper()
+
+	_, err := os.Stat(path)
+	if errors.Is(err, fs.ErrNotExist) {
+		return false
+	}
+
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("stat %s: %v", path, err)
+	}
+
+	return true
+}
+
 func hasReportFile(t *testing.T, dir string) bool {
 	t.Helper()