Rewrite the README sentence by sentence (closes #157)

The old text failed the issue's prose rules: a 60-word sentence on the
content security policy, a markdown table of settings, comma-chained
lists of batch sizes and error codes, undefined jargon and an edge case
in the opening. The new text leads with what RouteWatch is, why it
exists and how to run it, then the pages, the API and the blocklists,
then the settings, memory and upaas, and last the design and the
development workflow. Every statement was checked against the code on
next. The PR body lists where the old text disagreed with the code.

Model: fable-5-1

TODO.md

@@ -35,15 +35,6 @@ tested.
 
 # Completed Steps
 
-- 2026-10-27: the tests of `internal/routewatch` no longer fail on a loaded
-  host. Five of them gave `HandleMessage` two seconds to apply a full prefix
-  batch, which under the race detector can take longer. A test now waits up to
-  15 seconds for each step it expects. The tests of the handlers' limits give
-  the handlers small ones, so the package no longer runs past its 90-second
-  limit (closes #213, #215)
-- 2026-10-27: the server works out the home page's cards every minute until it
-  stops. It used to work them out only once, at startup: the end of the context
-  that `Start` is given stopped the refreshes (closes #211)
 - 2026-10-27: README "Rationale" says why RouteWatch exists: to answer our other
   services' questions about IP addresses, from its own routing table and the
   WHOIS details it keeps. It still says what RIS Live does not give (closes

internal/routewatch/app_integration_internal_test.go

@@ -509,6 +509,8 @@ func announcementFeed(prefixes []string) string {
 func TestShutdownWritesTheUpdatesQueuedInTheStreamer(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 
+	const maxWait = 10 * time.Second
+
 	prefixes := []string{"192.0.2.0/24", "198.51.100.0/24", "203.0.113.0/24"}
 	feed := announcementFeed(prefixes)
 
@@ -554,9 +556,9 @@ func TestShutdownWritesTheUpdatesQueuedInTheStreamer(t *testing.T) {
 	for range cap(linesSeen) {
 		select {
 		case <-linesSeen:
-		case <-time.After(stepTimeout):
+		case <-time.After(maxWait):
 			t.Fatalf("the streamer did not read %d lines within %s",
-				cap(linesSeen), stepTimeout)
+				cap(linesSeen), maxWait)
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -569,8 +571,8 @@ func TestShutdownWritesTheUpdatesQueuedInTheStreamer(t *testing.T) {
 
 	select {
 	case <-shutDown:
-	case <-time.After(stepTimeout):
+	case <-time.After(maxWait):
-		t.Fatalf("Shutdown did not return within %s", stepTimeout)
+		t.Fatalf("Shutdown did not return within %s", maxWait)
 	}
 
 	store.mu.Lock()
@@ -607,16 +609,21 @@ func freePort(t *testing.T) int {
 	return addr.Port
 }
 
-// TestShutdownDoesNotWaitForABlockedWrite starts the HTTP server and has the
+// TestShutdownReturnsByItsDeadlineWhileAWriteIsBlocked starts the HTTP server
-// AS handler start a write that the store holds until the test ends, past
+// and has the AS handler start a write that the store holds until the test
-// Shutdown's deadline. Shutdown must return without waiting for the write, with
+// ends, past Shutdown's deadline. Shutdown must return within its deadline
-// the HTTP server stopped, and must neither checkpoint nor close the database:
+// plus a small margin, with the HTTP server stopped, and must neither
-// the real one would wait for the write.
+// checkpoint nor close the database: the real one would wait for the write.
 // Before the fix Shutdown waited for the write.
-func TestShutdownDoesNotWaitForABlockedWrite(t *testing.T) {
+func TestShutdownReturnsByItsDeadlineWhileAWriteIsBlocked(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 
-	const deadline = 100 * time.Millisecond
+	const (
+		deadline = 100 * time.Millisecond
+		// margin is how long Shutdown may take after its deadline, to stop
+		// the HTTP server.
+		margin = 2 * time.Second
+	)
 
 	blocking := newBlockingStore()
 	defer blocking.releaseWrites()
@@ -660,9 +667,9 @@ func TestShutdownDoesNotWaitForABlockedWrite(t *testing.T) {
 
 	select {
 	case <-shutDown:
-	case <-time.After(deadline + stepTimeout):
+	case <-time.After(deadline + margin):
 		t.Fatalf("Shutdown did not return within %s of its deadline while "+
-			"a write was blocked", stepTimeout)
+			"a write was blocked", margin)
 	}
 
 	var dialer net.Dialer
@@ -737,6 +744,8 @@ func (s *closeOrderStore) record(call string) {
 func TestShutdownCheckpointsAndClosesTheDatabaseLast(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 
+	const deadline = 10 * time.Second
+
 	store := &closeOrderStore{Store: newMockStore()}
 	log := logger.New()
 	cfg := &config.Config{}
@@ -754,7 +763,7 @@ func TestShutdownCheckpointsAndClosesTheDatabaseLast(t *testing.T) {
 		Path: ristypes.ASPath{Sequence: []int{testASNA}},
 	})
 
-	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(t.Context(), stepTimeout)
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(t.Context(), deadline)
 	defer cancel()
 
 	rw.Shutdown(ctx)

internal/routewatch/ashandler.go

@@ -40,13 +40,9 @@ type ASHandler struct {
 	db     database.Store
 	logger *logger.Logger
 
-	// batchMaxSize is asnBatchMaxSize. Only HandleMessage reads it, so a test
-	// may lower it before it hands the handler a message.
-	batchMaxSize int
-
 	// Batching. mu guards batch and writing only: the flush goroutine takes
 	// the batch under mu and writes it after releasing mu, so HandleMessage
-	// waits for a database write only while batch is at batchMaxSize.
+	// waits for a database write only while batch is at asnBatchMaxSize.
 	mu    sync.Mutex
 	batch []asnOp
 	// writing is how many operations the flush goroutine took from batch
@@ -85,7 +81,6 @@ func newASHandler(
 	h := &ASHandler{
 		db:          db,
 		logger:      logger,
-		batchMaxSize: asnBatchMaxSize,
 		batch:       make([]asnOp, 0, asnBatchSize),
 		batchFullCh: make(chan struct{}, 1),
 		stopCh:      make(chan context.Context, 1),
@@ -132,7 +127,7 @@ func (h *ASHandler) HandleMessage(msg *ristypes.RISMessage) {
 	// While the batch is at its maximum size, wait until the flush goroutine
 	// takes it. Meanwhile the handler takes nothing off its queue, which
 	// fills, and the streamer drops messages for it.
-	for len(h.batch) >= h.batchMaxSize {
+	for len(h.batch) >= asnBatchMaxSize {
 		h.batchTaken.Wait()
 	}
 
@@ -156,7 +151,7 @@ func (h *ASHandler) HandleMessage(msg *ristypes.RISMessage) {
 
 	// A full batch wakes the flush goroutine. If it is writing, the wake-up
 	// waits in batchFullCh and the batch keeps growing until the write ends
-	// or the batch reaches batchMaxSize.
+	// or the batch reaches asnBatchMaxSize.
 	if len(h.batch) >= asnBatchSize {
 		select {
 		case h.batchFullCh <- struct{}{}:

internal/routewatch/ashandler_internal_test.go

@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ func TestASHandlerStoresTheEarliestAndLatestTimesOfANewAS(t *testing.T) {
 	db := newTestDatabase(t)
 
 	// Built without NewASHandler's flush goroutine, so the test flushes itself.
-	h := &ASHandler{db: db, logger: logger.New(), batchMaxSize: asnBatchMaxSize}
+	h := &ASHandler{db: db, logger: logger.New()}
 
 	first := peerAnnouncement(testPeerIP, testV4Prefix)
 	second := peerAnnouncement(testPeerIP, testV4Prefix)
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ func TestASHandlerRecordsNothingFromAPathWithASZero(t *testing.T) {
 	store := newMockStore()
 
 	// Built without NewASHandler's flush goroutine, so the test flushes itself.
-	h := &ASHandler{db: store, logger: logger.New(), batchMaxSize: asnBatchMaxSize}
+	h := &ASHandler{db: store, logger: logger.New()}
 
 	msg := peerAnnouncement(testPeerIP, testV4Prefix)
 	msg.Path = decodePath(t, testASNA, 0, testASNB)

internal/routewatch/asnfetcher_internal_test.go

@@ -224,7 +224,7 @@ func TestASNFetcherStopReturnsByItsDeadline(t *testing.T) {
 
 	select {
 	case <-lookupStarted:
-	case <-time.After(stepTimeout):
+	case <-time.After(handleMessageTimeout):
 		t.Fatal("the fetcher did not start the lookup")
 	}
 
@@ -240,22 +240,22 @@ func TestASNFetcherStopReturnsByItsDeadline(t *testing.T) {
 
 	select {
 	case <-f.done:
-	case <-time.After(stepTimeout):
+	case <-time.After(handleMessageTimeout):
 		t.Fatal("the fetcher goroutine did not return after the lookup ended")
 	}
 }
 
 // TestRecordKeepsOnlyTheStatsWindow records a success and a failure every
-// second, by a clock the test sets, for three times statsWindow, and never
+// second, by a clock the test sets, far longer than statsWindow, and never
 // asks for the stats. The fetcher must keep only the times within the last
 // statsWindow.
 func TestRecordKeepsOnlyTheStatsWindow(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 
 	const (
+		records = 100_000
 		step    = time.Second
 		want    = int(statsWindow / step)
-		records = 3 * want
 	)
 
 	clock := time.Now()

internal/routewatch/batchwrite_internal_test.go

@@ -19,15 +19,9 @@ import (
 )
 
 const (
-	// stepTimeout is how long a test waits for a step it expects, such as
+	// handleMessageTimeout is how long a test waits for HandleMessage to
-	// HandleMessage returning, a write starting or Shutdown returning, before
+	// return, or for a write to start, before it fails.
-	// it fails. Only a step that never comes should reach it. On a loaded
+	handleMessageTimeout = 2 * time.Second
-	// host, under the race detector, HandleMessage takes seconds to apply a
-	// full prefix batch. The helpers below bound every wait with it, Stop
-	// included. A test that hangs in one of them waits out at most two of
-	// these bounds, its step's and Stop's, and then fails with its own
-	// message. That leaves time before go test's 90-second timeout.
-	stepTimeout = 15 * time.Second
 
 	// stillWaitingAfter is how long a test watches a HandleMessage that must
 	// wait. One that does not wait returns well within it.
@@ -204,7 +198,7 @@ func lastLogged(t *testing.T, logs *bytes.Buffer) stopLog {
 	return logged
 }
 
-// returnsInTime reports whether f returns within stepTimeout.
+// returnsInTime reports whether f returns within handleMessageTimeout.
 func returnsInTime(f func()) bool {
 	done := make(chan struct{})
 
@@ -216,22 +210,11 @@ func returnsInTime(f func()) bool {
 	select {
 	case <-done:
 		return true
-	case <-time.After(stepTimeout):
+	case <-time.After(handleMessageTimeout):
 		return false
 	}
 }
 
-// stopInTime stops h, with no deadline, and fails the test if Stop does not
-// return within stepTimeout. It only marks the test failed, so it can be
-// deferred.
-func stopInTime(t *testing.T, h interface{ Stop(ctx context.Context) }) {
-	t.Helper()
-
-	if !returnsInTime(func() { h.Stop(t.Context()) }) {
-		t.Errorf("Stop did not return within %s", stepTimeout)
-	}
-}
-
 // startBlockedWrite hands h the messages in fill and waits until h starts to
 // write them to store. The prefix, AS and peer handlers start when fill fills
 // their batch, and the peering handler on its timer. store holds the write
@@ -257,7 +240,7 @@ func startBlockedWrite(
 
 	select {
 	case <-store.writeStarted:
-	case <-time.After(stepTimeout):
+	case <-time.After(handleMessageTimeout):
 		t.Fatal("the handler did not start to write the messages")
 	}
 }
@@ -278,7 +261,7 @@ func handleWhileAWriteIsBlocked(
 ) {
 	t.Helper()
 
-	defer stopInTime(t, h)
+	defer h.Stop(t.Context())
 	defer store.releaseWrites()
 
 	startBlockedWrite(t, store, h, fill)
@@ -292,9 +275,7 @@ func handleWhileAWriteIsBlocked(
 // while store holds the write, hands h the messages in toMax, which bring its
 // next batch to its maximum size, and the message extra. HandleMessage for
 // extra must wait until the test lets the write finish, and return after. Then
-// it stops h, which writes what it holds. The tests lower h's maximum batch
+// it stops h, which writes what it holds.
-// size to one batch, so toMax is one batch: the real maximum of ten batches is
-// slow to reach under the race detector.
 func handleAtMaxBatchSize(
 	t *testing.T,
 	store *blockingStore,
@@ -307,19 +288,14 @@ func handleAtMaxBatchSize(
 ) {
 	t.Helper()
 
-	defer stopInTime(t, h)
+	defer h.Stop(t.Context())
 	defer store.releaseWrites()
 
 	startBlockedWrite(t, store, h, fill)
 
-	if !returnsInTime(func() {
 	for _, msg := range toMax {
 		h.HandleMessage(msg)
 	}
-	}) {
-		t.Fatal("HandleMessage did not return while the batch grew to its " +
-			"maximum size")
-	}
 
 	returned := make(chan struct{})
 
@@ -339,7 +315,7 @@ func handleAtMaxBatchSize(
 
 	select {
 	case <-returned:
-	case <-time.After(stepTimeout):
+	case <-time.After(handleMessageTimeout):
 		t.Fatal("HandleMessage did not return after the database write finished")
 	}
 }
@@ -369,13 +345,9 @@ func stopWhileAWriteIsBlocked(
 
 	startBlockedWrite(t, store, h, fill)
 
-	if !returnsInTime(func() {
 	for _, msg := range extra {
 		h.HandleMessage(msg)
 	}
-	}) {
-		t.Fatal("HandleMessage did not return while a database write was blocked")
-	}
 
 	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(t.Context(), stopDeadline)
 	defer cancel()
@@ -389,7 +361,7 @@ func stopWhileAWriteIsBlocked(
 
 	select {
 	case <-done:
-	case <-time.After(stepTimeout):
+	case <-time.After(handleMessageTimeout):
 		t.Fatal("the flush goroutine did not return after the write finished")
 	}
 }
@@ -408,8 +380,7 @@ func TestPrefixHandlerSkipsItsLastWriteAfterTheStopDeadline(t *testing.T) {
 
 	store := newBlockingStore()
 	h := newPrefixHandler(store, newErrorLogger(&logs),
-		routetable.New(routetable.Params{}), longerThanAnyTest,
+		routetable.New(routetable.Params{}), longerThanAnyTest)
-		maxTableChangesPerWrite)
 	fill := slices.Repeat([]string{testV4Prefix}, prefixBatchSize)
 	stopWhileAWriteIsBlocked(t, store, h, h.done,
 		[]*ristypes.RISMessage{prefixAnnouncement(fill)},
@@ -626,7 +597,7 @@ func TestPeeringHandlerStopCountsTheWriteInProgress(t *testing.T) {
 
 	select {
 	case <-h.done:
-	case <-time.After(stepTimeout):
+	case <-time.After(handleMessageTimeout):
 		t.Fatal("the processing goroutine did not return after the write " +
 			"finished")
 	}
@@ -647,7 +618,7 @@ func TestPeeringHandlerStartsNoWriteAfterTheStopDeadline(t *testing.T) {
 	const processInterval = 10 * time.Millisecond
 
 	store := newBlockingStore()
-	h := newPeeringHandler(store, logger.New(), processInterval, maxTrackedPaths)
+	h := newPeeringHandler(store, logger.New(), processInterval)
 	stopWhileAWriteIsBlocked(t, store, h, h.done,
 		[]*ristypes.RISMessage{
 			{Path: ristypes.ASPath{Sequence: []int{testASNA, testASNB}}},
@@ -743,11 +714,9 @@ func TestPrefixHandlerWaitsAtTheMaximumBatchSize(t *testing.T) {
 	const extraPrefix = "198.51.100.0/24"
 
 	store := newBlockingStore()
-	h := newPrefixHandler(store, logger.New(), routetable.New(routetable.Params{}),
+	h := NewPrefixHandler(store, logger.New(), routetable.New(routetable.Params{}))
-		longerThanAnyTest, maxTableChangesPerWrite)
-	h.batchMaxSize = prefixBatchSize
 	fill := slices.Repeat([]string{testV4Prefix}, prefixBatchSize)
-	toMax := slices.Repeat([]string{testV4Prefix}, prefixBatchSize)
+	toMax := slices.Repeat([]string{testV4Prefix}, prefixBatchMaxSize)
 	handleAtMaxBatchSize(t, store, h,
 		[]*ristypes.RISMessage{prefixAnnouncement(fill)},
 		[]*ristypes.RISMessage{prefixAnnouncement(toMax)},
@@ -767,9 +736,8 @@ func TestASHandlerWaitsAtTheMaximumBatchSize(t *testing.T) {
 
 	store := newBlockingStore()
 	h := newASHandler(store, logger.New(), longerThanAnyTest)
-	h.batchMaxSize = asnBatchSize
 	fill := ristypes.ASPath{Sequence: slices.Repeat([]int{testASNA}, asnBatchSize)}
-	toMax := ristypes.ASPath{Sequence: slices.Repeat([]int{testASNA}, asnBatchSize)}
+	toMax := ristypes.ASPath{Sequence: slices.Repeat([]int{testASNA}, asnBatchMaxSize)}
 	handleAtMaxBatchSize(t, store, h,
 		[]*ristypes.RISMessage{{Path: fill}},
 		[]*ristypes.RISMessage{{Path: toMax}},
@@ -787,7 +755,7 @@ func TestASHandlerWaitsAtTheMaximumBatchSize(t *testing.T) {
 // TestPeerHandlerWaitsAtTheMaximumBatchSize must not have its flush timer fire.
 // A timer flush during the fill would take only part of it. The batch would
 // then reach its maximum size before the test's last message, and the test
-// would fail.
+// would hang.
 func TestPeerHandlerWaitsAtTheMaximumBatchSize(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 
@@ -795,11 +763,10 @@ func TestPeerHandlerWaitsAtTheMaximumBatchSize(t *testing.T) {
 
 	store := newBlockingStore()
 	h := newPeerHandler(store, logger.New(), longerThanAnyTest)
-	h.batchMaxSize = peerBatchSize
 	message := []*ristypes.RISMessage{{Peer: testPeerIP}}
 	handleAtMaxBatchSize(t, store, h,
 		slices.Repeat(message, peerBatchSize),
-		slices.Repeat(message, peerBatchSize),
+		slices.Repeat(message, peerBatchMaxSize),
 		&ristypes.RISMessage{Peer: otherPeerIP})
 
 	store.mu.Lock()
@@ -829,7 +796,6 @@ func TestHandlersWakeTheFlushGoroutineWhenTheBatchIsFull(t *testing.T) {
 			batchSize: prefixBatchSize,
 			handle: func(n int) chan struct{} {
 				h := &PrefixHandler{
-					batchMaxSize: prefixBatchMaxSize,
 					batchFullCh: make(chan struct{}, 1),
 					table:       routetable.New(routetable.Params{}),
 				}
@@ -843,10 +809,7 @@ func TestHandlersWakeTheFlushGoroutineWhenTheBatchIsFull(t *testing.T) {
 			name:      "AS",
 			batchSize: asnBatchSize,
 			handle: func(n int) chan struct{} {
-				h := &ASHandler{
+				h := &ASHandler{batchFullCh: make(chan struct{}, 1)}
-					batchMaxSize: asnBatchMaxSize,
-					batchFullCh:  make(chan struct{}, 1),
-				}
 				// The origin AS and each AS in the path are one update each.
 				h.HandleMessage(&ristypes.RISMessage{
 					Path: ristypes.ASPath{Sequence: slices.Repeat([]int{testASNA}, n-1)},
@@ -859,10 +822,7 @@ func TestHandlersWakeTheFlushGoroutineWhenTheBatchIsFull(t *testing.T) {
 			name:      "peer",
 			batchSize: peerBatchSize,
 			handle: func(n int) chan struct{} {
-				h := &PeerHandler{
+				h := &PeerHandler{batchFullCh: make(chan struct{}, 1)}
-					batchMaxSize: peerBatchMaxSize,
-					batchFullCh:  make(chan struct{}, 1),
-				}
 				for range n {
 					h.HandleMessage(&ristypes.RISMessage{Peer: testPeerIP})
 				}

internal/routewatch/dbmaintainer_internal_test.go

@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ func TestDBMaintainerStopReturnsByItsDeadline(t *testing.T) {
 
 	select {
 	case <-store.started:
-	case <-time.After(stepTimeout):
+	case <-time.After(handleMessageTimeout):
 		t.Fatal("the maintainer did not start the checkpoint")
 	}
 
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ func TestDBMaintainerStopReturnsByItsDeadline(t *testing.T) {
 
 	select {
 	case <-m.done:
-	case <-time.After(stepTimeout):
+	case <-time.After(handleMessageTimeout):
 		t.Fatal("the maintenance goroutine did not return after the " +
 			"checkpoint ended")
 	}

internal/routewatch/peerhandler.go

@@ -43,14 +43,10 @@ type PeerHandler struct {
 	db     database.Store
 	logger *logger.Logger
 
-	// batchMaxSize is peerBatchMaxSize. Only HandleMessage reads it, so a test
-	// may lower it before it hands the handler a message.
-	batchMaxSize int
-
 	// Batching. mu guards peerBatch and writing only: the flush goroutine
 	// takes the batch under mu and writes it after releasing mu, so
 	// HandleMessage waits for a database write only while peerBatch is at
-	// batchMaxSize.
+	// peerBatchMaxSize.
 	mu        sync.Mutex
 	peerBatch []peerUpdate
 	// writing is how many updates the flush goroutine took from peerBatch
@@ -90,7 +86,6 @@ func newPeerHandler(
 	h := &PeerHandler{
 		db:          db,
 		logger:      logger,
-		batchMaxSize: peerBatchMaxSize,
 		peerBatch:   make([]peerUpdate, 0, peerBatchSize),
 		batchFullCh: make(chan struct{}, 1),
 		stopCh:      make(chan context.Context, 1),
@@ -140,7 +135,7 @@ func (h *PeerHandler) HandleMessage(msg *ristypes.RISMessage) {
 	// While the batch is at its maximum size, wait until the flush goroutine
 	// takes it. Meanwhile the handler takes nothing off its queue, which
 	// fills, and the streamer drops messages for it.
-	for len(h.peerBatch) >= h.batchMaxSize {
+	for len(h.peerBatch) >= peerBatchMaxSize {
 		h.batchTaken.Wait()
 	}
 
@@ -154,7 +149,7 @@ func (h *PeerHandler) HandleMessage(msg *ristypes.RISMessage) {
 
 	// A full batch wakes the flush goroutine. If it is writing, the wake-up
 	// waits in batchFullCh and the batch keeps growing until the write ends
-	// or the batch reaches batchMaxSize.
+	// or the batch reaches peerBatchMaxSize.
 	if len(h.peerBatch) >= peerBatchSize {
 		select {
 		case h.batchFullCh <- struct{}{}:

internal/routewatch/peerhandler_internal_test.go

@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ func TestPeerHandlerWritesTheEarliestAndLatestTimesOfANewPeer(t *testing.T) {
 
 	// Built without NewPeerHandler's flush goroutine, so the test flushes
 	// itself.
-	h := &PeerHandler{db: store, logger: logger.New(), batchMaxSize: peerBatchMaxSize}
+	h := &PeerHandler{db: store, logger: logger.New()}
 
 	first := peerAnnouncement(testPeerIP, testV4Prefix)
 	second := peerAnnouncement(testPeerIP, testV4Prefix)

internal/routewatch/peeringhandler.go

@@ -42,10 +42,6 @@ type PeeringHandler struct {
 	db     database.Store
 	logger *logger.Logger
 
-	// maxPaths is the most paths asPaths holds: maxTrackedPaths, except in
-	// tests that give a smaller one.
-	maxPaths int
-
 	// In-memory AS path tracking: each path, JSON-encoded, with the earliest
 	// and the latest time an update carried it.
 	mu           sync.Mutex
@@ -66,22 +62,19 @@ type PeeringHandler struct {
 // periodically processes accumulated AS paths into peering records. The
 // handler begins processing immediately upon creation.
 func NewPeeringHandler(db database.Store, logger *logger.Logger) *PeeringHandler {
-	return newPeeringHandler(db, logger, peeringProcessInterval, maxTrackedPaths)
+	return newPeeringHandler(db, logger, peeringProcessInterval)
 }
 
 // newPeeringHandler is NewPeeringHandler with the processing timer's interval,
-// processInterval, in place of peeringProcessInterval, and the most paths it
+// processInterval, in place of peeringProcessInterval. A test gives a short
-// holds, maxPaths, in place of maxTrackedPaths. A test gives a short interval to
+// one to have the timer start a write.
-// have the timer start a write, and a small maxPaths to fill the map quickly.
 func newPeeringHandler(
 	db database.Store, logger *logger.Logger, processInterval time.Duration,
-	maxPaths int,
 ) *PeeringHandler {
 	h := &PeeringHandler{
 		db:      db,
 		logger:  logger,
 		asPaths: make(map[string]database.SeenTimes),
-		maxPaths: maxPaths,
 		stopCh:  make(chan context.Context, 1),
 		done:    make(chan struct{}),
 	}
@@ -138,7 +131,7 @@ func (h *PeeringHandler) HandleMessage(msg *ristypes.RISMessage) {
 	defer h.mu.Unlock()
 
 	seen, exists := h.asPaths[key]
-	if !exists && len(h.asPaths) >= h.maxPaths {
+	if !exists && len(h.asPaths) >= maxTrackedPaths {
 		// Map is full; drop this new path and count it.
 		h.droppedPaths++
 

internal/routewatch/peeringhandler_internal_test.go

@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"maps"
 	"slices"
+	"strconv"
 	"sync"
 	"testing"
 	"time"
@@ -19,10 +20,6 @@ const (
 	testASNB = 64501
 	testASNC = 64502
 	testASND = 64503
-
-	// testMaxTrackedPaths is a limit of the path map that a test fills
-	// quickly, in place of maxTrackedPaths.
-	testMaxTrackedPaths = 10
 )
 
 // recordingStore wraps mockStore to count every RecordPeering call, so a
@@ -58,7 +55,6 @@ func newTestHandler(db database.Store) *PeeringHandler {
 		db:      db,
 		logger:  logger.New(),
 		asPaths: make(map[string]database.SeenTimes),
-		maxPaths: maxTrackedPaths,
 	}
 }
 
@@ -248,28 +244,25 @@ func TestPeeringHandlerStopWritesTheRemainingPaths(t *testing.T) {
 
 // TestPeeringHandlerCapDropsAndCounts verifies that a full map drops new paths
 // and counts them, while a path already tracked is refreshed rather than
-// dropped. The handler's limit is small, and its timer does not fire.
+// dropped.
 func TestPeeringHandlerCapDropsAndCounts(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 
 	store := &recordingStore{mockStore: newMockStore()}
-	h := newPeeringHandler(store, logger.New(), longerThanAnyTest,
+	h := newTestHandler(store)
-		testMaxTrackedPaths)
-
-	defer stopInTime(t, h)
 
 	now := time.Now().UTC()
 
-	// Fill the map to exactly its limit, including one real path key so the
+	// Fill the map to exactly maxTrackedPaths, including one real path key so
-	// "already tracked" branch can be exercised. The other paths are of one
+	// the "already tracked" branch can be exercised. The filler keys are never
-	// AS, so they carry no peering.
+	// processed in this test, so their contents do not matter.
 	existing := pathKey(t, testASNA, testASNB)
 
 	h.mu.Lock()
 	h.asPaths[existing] = database.SeenTimes{First: now, Last: now}
 
-	for asn := 1; len(h.asPaths) < testMaxTrackedPaths; asn++ {
+	for i := 0; len(h.asPaths) < maxTrackedPaths; i++ {
-		h.asPaths[pathKey(t, asn)] = database.SeenTimes{First: now, Last: now}
+		h.asPaths[strconv.Itoa(i)] = database.SeenTimes{First: now, Last: now}
 	}
 	h.mu.Unlock()
 
@@ -277,9 +270,8 @@ func TestPeeringHandlerCapDropsAndCounts(t *testing.T) {
 	handle(h, now.Add(time.Second), testASNA, testASNC)
 
 	tracked, dropped := snapshot(h)
-	if tracked != testMaxTrackedPaths {
+	if tracked != maxTrackedPaths {
-		t.Fatalf("want map size %d after drop, got %d", testMaxTrackedPaths,
+		t.Fatalf("want map size %d after drop, got %d", maxTrackedPaths, tracked)
-			tracked)
 	}
 
 	if dropped != 1 {
@@ -291,9 +283,8 @@ func TestPeeringHandlerCapDropsAndCounts(t *testing.T) {
 	handle(h, refreshed, testASNA, testASNB)
 
 	tracked, dropped = snapshot(h)
-	if tracked != testMaxTrackedPaths {
+	if tracked != maxTrackedPaths {
-		t.Fatalf("want map size %d after refresh, got %d", testMaxTrackedPaths,
+		t.Fatalf("want map size %d after refresh, got %d", maxTrackedPaths, tracked)
-			tracked)
 	}
 
 	if dropped != 1 {
@@ -312,21 +303,17 @@ func TestPeeringHandlerCapDropsAndCounts(t *testing.T) {
 
 // TestPeeringHandlerRunResetsTheDroppedCount fills the map, has the handler
 // drop one path, and runs the processing. The count of dropped paths is the
-// run's own, so it is 0 again after the run. The handler's limit is small, and
+// run's own, so it is 0 again after the run.
-// its timer does not fire.
 func TestPeeringHandlerRunResetsTheDroppedCount(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 
-	h := newPeeringHandler(newMockStore(), logger.New(), longerThanAnyTest,
+	h := newTestHandler(newMockStore())
-		testMaxTrackedPaths)
-
-	defer stopInTime(t, h)
 
 	now := time.Now().UTC()
 
 	// Paths of one AS carry no peering, so the run records nothing.
 	h.mu.Lock()
-	for asn := 1; len(h.asPaths) < testMaxTrackedPaths; asn++ {
+	for asn := 1; len(h.asPaths) < maxTrackedPaths; asn++ {
 		h.asPaths[pathKey(t, asn)] = database.SeenTimes{First: now, Last: now}
 	}
 	h.mu.Unlock()

internal/routewatch/prefixhandler.go

@@ -60,17 +60,10 @@ type PrefixHandler struct {
 	metrics *metrics.Tracker
 	table   *routetable.Table
 
-	// batchMaxSize is prefixBatchMaxSize. Only HandleMessage reads it, so a
-	// test may lower it before it hands the handler a message.
-	batchMaxSize int
-	// tableChangesPerWrite is maxTableChangesPerWrite, except in tests that
-	// give a smaller one.
-	tableChangesPerWrite int
-
 	// Batching. mu guards batch, writing and writingTableChanges only: the
 	// flush goroutine takes them under mu and writes them after releasing
 	// mu, so HandleMessage waits for a database write only while batch is at
-	// batchMaxSize.
+	// prefixBatchMaxSize.
 	mu    sync.Mutex
 	batch []seenPrefix
 	// writing is how many updates the flush goroutine took and has not
@@ -126,27 +119,21 @@ func (u prefixUpdate) announcesRoute() bool {
 func NewPrefixHandler(
 	db database.Store, logger *logger.Logger, table *routetable.Table,
 ) *PrefixHandler {
-	return newPrefixHandler(db, logger, table, prefixBatchTimeout,
+	return newPrefixHandler(db, logger, table, prefixBatchTimeout)
-		maxTableChangesPerWrite)
 }
 
 // newPrefixHandler is NewPrefixHandler with the flush timer's interval,
-// batchTimeout, in place of prefixBatchTimeout, and tableChangesPerWrite in
+// batchTimeout, in place of prefixBatchTimeout. A test that the timer must not
-// place of maxTableChangesPerWrite. A test that the timer must not disturb
+// disturb gives an interval longer than the test runs.
-// gives an interval longer than the test runs. A test of writes split over
-// several flushes gives a small tableChangesPerWrite, so that it exceeds it
-// with few changes.
 func newPrefixHandler(
 	db database.Store, logger *logger.Logger, table *routetable.Table,
-	batchTimeout time.Duration, tableChangesPerWrite int,
+	batchTimeout time.Duration,
 ) *PrefixHandler {
 	h := &PrefixHandler{
 		db:          db,
 		logger:      logger,
 		table:       table,
 		batch:       make([]seenPrefix, 0, prefixBatchSize),
-		batchMaxSize:         prefixBatchMaxSize,
-		tableChangesPerWrite: tableChangesPerWrite,
 		batchFullCh: make(chan struct{}, 1),
 		stopCh:      make(chan context.Context, 1),
 		done:        make(chan struct{}),
@@ -204,7 +191,7 @@ func (h *PrefixHandler) HandleMessage(msg *ristypes.RISMessage) {
 	// While the batch is at its maximum size, wait until the flush goroutine
 	// takes it. Meanwhile the handler takes nothing off its queue, which
 	// fills, and the streamer drops messages for it.
-	for len(h.batch) >= h.batchMaxSize {
+	for len(h.batch) >= prefixBatchMaxSize {
 		h.batchTaken.Wait()
 	}
 
@@ -252,7 +239,7 @@ func (h *PrefixHandler) HandleMessage(msg *ristypes.RISMessage) {
 
 	// A full batch wakes the flush goroutine. If it is writing, the wake-up
 	// waits in batchFullCh and the batch keeps growing until the write ends
-	// or the batch reaches batchMaxSize.
+	// or the batch reaches prefixBatchMaxSize.
 	if len(h.batch) >= prefixBatchSize {
 		select {
 		case h.batchFullCh <- struct{}{}:
@@ -263,7 +250,7 @@ func (h *PrefixHandler) HandleMessage(msg *ristypes.RISMessage) {
 
 // Stop stops the flush goroutine, which makes one last flush before it returns,
 // and waits for it until ctx ends. That flush writes at most
-// tableChangesPerWrite of the routing table's changes, and the prefixes of
+// maxTableChangesPerWrite of the routing table's changes, and the prefixes of
 // the updates the handler holds. Once ctx has ended the flush goroutine skips
 // that last flush, and a write still running is lost when the process exits. A
 // failed write of the table's changes is not retried either. Stop logs how many
@@ -391,13 +378,14 @@ func (h *PrefixHandler) applyToTable(update prefixUpdate) {
 	})
 }
 
-// writeTableChanges writes at most tableChangesPerWrite changes of the routing
+// writeTableChanges writes at most maxTableChangesPerWrite changes of the
-// table in memory, and every peer the table numbered since the last write.
+// routing table in memory, and every peer the table numbered since the last
+// write.
 // When the write fails, they go back to the table, so that a later write writes
 // them again, each pair with its content then.
 func (h *PrefixHandler) writeTableChanges() {
 	h.mu.Lock()
-	changes, newPeers := h.table.TakeChanges(h.tableChangesPerWrite)
+	changes, newPeers := h.table.TakeChanges(maxTableChangesPerWrite)
 	h.writingTableChanges = len(changes)
 	h.mu.Unlock()
 

internal/routewatch/prefixhandler_internal_test.go

@@ -237,10 +237,9 @@ func TestPrefixHandlerStopLogsNothingWhenItWroteEverything(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-// longerThanAnyTest is a timer interval that no test lasts. A test gives it to
+// longerThanAnyTest is a flush timer interval that no test lasts. A test whose
-// newPrefixHandler, newASHandler, newPeerHandler or newPeeringHandler when the
+// prefix, AS or peer handler must flush only when its batch is full and on Stop
-// handler must write only when its batch is full, when the test says, or on
+// gives it to newPrefixHandler, newASHandler or newPeerHandler.
-// Stop.
 const longerThanAnyTest = time.Hour
 
 // prefixHandlerWithoutTimer returns a prefix handler that writes to store and
@@ -251,8 +250,6 @@ func prefixHandlerWithoutTimer(store database.Store) *PrefixHandler {
 		db:     store,
 		logger: logger.New(),
 		table:  routetable.New(routetable.Params{}),
-		batchMaxSize:         prefixBatchMaxSize,
-		tableChangesPerWrite: maxTableChangesPerWrite,
 	}
 }
 

internal/routewatch/prefixhandler_table_internal_test.go

@@ -30,13 +30,12 @@ const (
 
 	// firstManyPrefix is the first prefix announceManyPrefixes announces.
 	firstManyPrefix = "10.0.0.0/32"
-
-	// testMaxTableChangesPerWrite is a limit of one write of the routing
-	// table's changes that a test exceeds quickly, in place of
-	// maxTableChangesPerWrite.
-	testMaxTableChangesPerWrite = 10
 )
 
+// tableWriteTimeout is how long a test waits for the flush timer to write the
+// routing table's changes: a few ticks of it.
+const tableWriteTimeout = 5 * prefixBatchTimeout
+
 // tableCase is one test of the routing table in memory: the messages handed to
 // the prefix handler, and for each prefix the peers that carry it with each
 // origin AS after them.
@@ -277,9 +276,9 @@ func TestPrefixHandlerWritesTheTableChangesEachSecond(t *testing.T) {
 				t.Fatalf("wrote %+v, want the pair of %s and AS%d with "+
 					"removed %t", changes, prefix, testASNB, step.wantRemoved)
 			}
-		case <-time.After(stepTimeout):
+		case <-time.After(tableWriteTimeout):
 			t.Fatalf("the routing table's change was not written within %s",
-				stepTimeout)
+				tableWriteTimeout)
 		}
 	}
 }
@@ -376,32 +375,25 @@ func (s *tableWriteSizesStore) WriteRouteChanges(
 // takes, then flushes three times. The first write must hold as many pairs as
 // one write takes, and the peer. The second must hold the other pairs, and the
 // third flush must write nothing. The database must then hold the table in
-// memory. The handler's limit is small, and its timer does not fire.
+// memory.
 func TestPrefixHandlerWritesManyTableChangesOverSeveralFlushes(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 
 	const (
-		pairs   = testMaxTableChangesPerWrite * 3 / 2
+		pairs   = maxTableChangesPerWrite * 3 / 2
 		flushes = 3
 	)
 
 	db := newTestDatabase(t)
 	store := &tableWriteSizesStore{Database: db}
-	table := routetable.New(routetable.Params{})
+	h := prefixHandlerWithoutTimer(store)
-	announceManyPrefixes(table, pairs)
+	announceManyPrefixes(h.table, pairs)
-
-	h := newPrefixHandler(store, logger.New(), table, longerThanAnyTest,
-		testMaxTableChangesPerWrite)
-
-	defer stopInTime(t, h)
 
 	for range flushes {
 		h.flushBatch()
 	}
 
-	wantChanges := []int{
+	wantChanges := []int{maxTableChangesPerWrite, pairs - maxTableChangesPerWrite}
-		testMaxTableChangesPerWrite, pairs - testMaxTableChangesPerWrite,
-	}
 	wantNewPeers := []int{1, 0}
 
 	if !slices.Equal(store.changes, wantChanges) ||
@@ -423,11 +415,11 @@ func TestPrefixHandlerWritesManyTableChangesOverSeveralFlushes(t *testing.T) {
 // takes. Its last flush writes one write's worth, so Stop must log the pairs
 // that no write took, and must not say that the stop deadline passed. The
 // flush timer must not fire, or its writes could leave no pairs for Stop to
-// log. The handler's limit of one write is small.
+// log.
 func TestPrefixHandlerStopLogsTheTableChangesLeftUnwritten(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 
-	const pairs = testMaxTableChangesPerWrite + 1
+	const pairs = maxTableChangesPerWrite + 1
 
 	var logs bytes.Buffer
 
@@ -435,8 +427,7 @@ func TestPrefixHandlerStopLogsTheTableChangesLeftUnwritten(t *testing.T) {
 	table := routetable.New(routetable.Params{})
 	announceManyPrefixes(table, pairs)
 
-	h := newPrefixHandler(store, newErrorLogger(&logs), table, longerThanAnyTest,
+	h := newPrefixHandler(store, newErrorLogger(&logs), table, longerThanAnyTest)
-		testMaxTableChangesPerWrite)
 	h.Stop(t.Context())
 
 	written := 0

internal/server/home_internal_test.go

@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@ import (
 	"strconv"
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
-	"testing/synctest"
 	"time"
 
 	"git.eeqj.de/sneak/routewatch/internal/database"
@@ -342,66 +341,6 @@ func TestStartedServerWorksOutTheCards(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-// TestStartedServerWorksOutTheCardsUntilStop starts a server with a context
-// that ends as soon as Start returns. It runs in a synctest bubble, whose clock
-// is fake: time.Sleep there moves the clock on and returns at once. The server
-// must work the cards out again a minute later, and no more after Stop. Each
-// time it works them out, it keeps a new copy. Before the fix the end of
-// Start's context stopped the goroutine that works them out.
-func TestStartedServerWorksOutTheCardsUntilStop(t *testing.T) {
-	t.Parallel()
-
-	// The server is made outside the bubble. The streamer's metrics start a
-	// goroutine that never returns, and a bubble waits for each of its
-	// goroutines to return.
-	s := newServerWithTable(t, newCardsTable())
-
-	synctest.Test(t, func(t *testing.T) {
-		ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(t.Context())
-
-		err := s.Start(ctx)
-		if err != nil {
-			t.Fatalf("Start: %v", err)
-		}
-
-		cancel()
-
-		// The bubble's clock moves only while each of its goroutines waits
-		// on the bubble, and the goroutine that serves HTTP waits on the
-		// network. The test sends no request, so it closes the HTTP server.
-		_ = s.srv.Close()
-
-		synctest.Wait()
-
-		started := s.cards.Load()
-		if started == nil {
-			t.Fatal("the server did not work out the cards when it started")
-		}
-
-		time.Sleep(homeCardsRefreshInterval)
-		synctest.Wait()
-
-		if s.cards.Load() == started {
-			t.Error("the server did not work out the cards again a minute " +
-				"after its start context ended")
-		}
-
-		err = s.Stop(t.Context())
-		if err != nil {
-			t.Fatalf("Stop: %v", err)
-		}
-
-		stopped := s.cards.Load()
-
-		time.Sleep(homeCardsRefreshInterval)
-		synctest.Wait()
-
-		if s.cards.Load() != stopped {
-			t.Error("the server worked out the cards again after Stop")
-		}
-	})
-}
-
 // waitUntil fails the test unless done reports true within maxWait.
 func waitUntil(t *testing.T, maxWait time.Duration, done func() bool) {
 	t.Helper()

internal/server/server.go

@@ -82,12 +82,6 @@ type Server struct {
 	// cards is the copy of the home page's cards that the pages serve, nil
 	// until the server first works them out
 	cards atomic.Pointer[homeCards]
-
-	// stopCards ends the goroutine that works out the cards, and
-	// cardsStopped is closed once it has returned. Both are nil until Start
-	// starts the goroutine.
-	stopCards    context.CancelFunc
-	cardsStopped chan struct{}
 }
 
 // New creates a new HTTP server that reads routes from table, the routing
@@ -117,8 +111,7 @@ func New(
 // Start listens on the configured port and serves HTTP in the background.
 // It returns an error if it cannot listen, for example because the port is
 // already in use. ctx bounds opening the port, not serving. Once listening,
-// the server works out the home page's cards every minute until Stop: the end
+// the server works out the home page's cards every minute until ctx ends.
-// of ctx does not stop it.
 func (s *Server) Start(ctx context.Context) error {
 	const (
 		network           = "tcp"
@@ -155,22 +148,16 @@ func (s *Server) Start(ctx context.Context) error {
 		}
 	}()
 
-	ctx, s.stopCards = context.WithCancel(context.WithoutCancel(ctx))
-	s.cardsStopped = make(chan struct{})
-
 	go func() {
-		defer close(s.cardsStopped)
-
 		s.keepHomeCardsFresh(ctx, homeCardsRefreshInterval)
 	}()
 
 	return nil
 }
 
-// Stop stops the goroutine that works out the home page's cards, and waits
+// Stop stops the HTTP server. It waits, until ctx ends, for the requests in
-// until it has returned or ctx ends. It then stops the HTTP server. It waits,
+// progress to finish, and then closes the connections of those still running
-// until ctx ends, for the requests in progress to finish, and then closes the
+// and returns ctx's error.
-// connections of those still running and returns ctx's error.
 func (s *Server) Stop(ctx context.Context) error {
 	if s.srv == nil {
 		return nil
@@ -178,16 +165,6 @@ func (s *Server) Stop(ctx context.Context) error {
 
 	s.logger.Info("Stopping HTTP server")
 
-	// Start returns before it starts the goroutine when it cannot listen.
-	if s.stopCards != nil {
-		s.stopCards()
-
-		select {
-		case <-s.cardsStopped:
-		case <-ctx.Done():
-		}
-	}
-
 	err := s.srv.Shutdown(ctx)
 	if err != nil {
 		return errors.Join(err, s.srv.Close())