feat(daemon): sprint 4 outbound routing + CLI thin-client + ambient mode

Daemon outbox now stores resolved target_spec + crypto_box ciphertext
+ nonce per row. Drain worker is a forwarder; no per-row resolution at
drain time. Outbound routing is no longer a placeholder.

Schema additions (additive, NULL allowed for legacy rows): outbox.mesh,
target_spec, nonce, ciphertext, priority. v0.9.0 rows keep draining via
the broadcast fallback so existing in-flight rows finish cleanly.

IPC /v1/send resolves the user-friendly to (display name, hex prefix,
full pubkey, @group, *, #topicId) into a broker-format target_spec at
accept time. DMs encrypt via crypto_box; broadcast/topic/group base64
the plaintext. Hex prefixes (16+ chars) match against connected peers.

CLI thin-client routing extends trySendViaDaemon pattern to peer list
and skill list/get. Three new helpers in services/bridge/daemon-route.ts.

SKILL.md gains ambient mode section: after claudemesh install, raw
claude works for the daemon's attached mesh. Launch stays as the
override path.

Spec at .artifacts/specs/2026-05-04-v2-roadmap-completion.md orders
the remaining v2.0.0 work: multi-mesh daemon (1.26), CLI-to-thin-client
(1.27), mesh-to-workspace rename (1.28), HKDF identity (2.0).

Released as 1.25.0 on npm.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.7 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>

apps/cli/CHANGELOG.md

@@ -1,5 +1,65 @@
 # Changelog
 
+## 1.25.0 (2026-05-04) — Sprint 4 outbound routing + ambient mode
+
+### Daemon outbound routing (Sprint 4)
+
+The v0.9.0 daemon shipped outbox infrastructure but its drain worker
+was a placeholder — every queued send went out as a broadcast (`*`).
+That's now fixed. Outbound resolution and `crypto_box` encryption
+happen at IPC accept time, then the drain worker just forwards the
+already-encrypted ciphertext to the broker.
+
+- Outbox schema additions (additive, NULL allowed for legacy rows):
+  `mesh`, `target_spec`, `nonce`, `ciphertext`, `priority`. Existing
+  v0.9.0 rows keep draining via the broadcast fallback.
+- IPC `/v1/send` resolves the user-friendly `to` (display name, hex
+  prefix, full pubkey, `@group`, `*`, `#topicId`) into a broker-format
+  `target_spec` and encrypts the plaintext using `crypto_box` for DMs
+  (against recipient pubkey + sender session secret) or base64 for
+  broadcast / topic / group targets.
+- Drain worker reads `target_spec`, `nonce`, `ciphertext`, `priority`
+  from the row and dispatches as-is. No per-row resolution at drain
+  time means peer-presence flicker doesn't affect in-flight sends.
+- Pubkey prefix matching: 16+ char hex prefix matches against
+  `peer.pubkey` and `peer.memberPubkey` of connected peers. Ambiguous
+  prefixes return 502 with a clear error.
+
+Smoke test verified end-to-end: `claudemesh send --self <prefix> "..."`
+through daemon resolves, encrypts, and delivers. Outbox reaches
+`status=done` with broker-issued `broker_message_id`.
+
+### CLI thin-client routing extensions
+
+`claudemesh peer list` and `claudemesh skill list/get` now route
+through the daemon when its socket is present, mirroring the
+`trySendViaDaemon` pattern from `send.ts`. Same fall-back chain:
+daemon → bridge → cold path.
+
+New helpers in `services/bridge/daemon-route.ts`:
+- `tryListPeersViaDaemon()`
+- `tryListSkillsViaDaemon()`
+- `tryGetSkillViaDaemon(name)`
+
+### Ambient mode
+
+After `claudemesh install` (which now installs and starts the daemon
+service), **raw `claude` Just Works** for the daemon's attached mesh.
+No `claudemesh launch` ceremony needed for the common case. Channel
+push, slash commands, and resources flow through the daemon-backed
+MCP shim.
+
+`claudemesh launch` remains the override path: explicit mesh
+selection, fresh display name, headless modes, system-prompt injection,
+or multi-mesh users who want to spawn into a non-default mesh.
+
+### Roadmap spec
+
+`.artifacts/specs/2026-05-04-v2-roadmap-completion.md` documents
+exactly what's done vs. what remains for the full v2.0.0 endpoint:
+multi-mesh daemon (1.26.0), full CLI-to-thin-client conversion
+(1.27.0), mesh→workspace rename (1.28.0), HKDF identity (2.0.0).
+
 ## 1.24.0 (2026-05-03) — daemon required + thin MCP shim
 
 The architectural convergence v0.9.0 was building toward.

apps/cli/package.json

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "claudemesh-cli",
-  "version": "1.24.0",
+  "version": "1.25.0",
   "description": "Peer mesh for Claude Code sessions — CLI + MCP server.",
   "keywords": [
     "claude-code",

apps/cli/skills/claudemesh/SKILL.md

@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ claudemesh send "<from_name>" "..." --mesh "<mesh_slug>"
 
 If the parent Claude session was launched via `claudemesh launch`, an MCP push-pipe is running and holds the per-mesh WS connection. CLI invocations dial `~/.claudemesh/sockets/<mesh-slug>.sock` and reuse that warm connection (~200ms total round-trip including Node.js startup). If no push-pipe is running (cron, scripts, hooks fired outside a session), the CLI opens its own WS, which takes ~500-700ms cold. **You don't manage this** — every verb auto-detects and falls through.
 
-### Daemon path (v0.9.0, opt-in, fastest)
+### Daemon path (v1.24.0+, REQUIRED for in-Claude-Code use)
 
 `claudemesh daemon up [--mesh <slug>]` starts a persistent per-user runtime that holds the broker WS, a durable SQLite outbox/inbox, and listens on `~/.claudemesh/daemon/daemon.sock` (UDS) plus an optional loopback TCP. When the daemon socket is present, every verb routes through it first (~1ms IPC) before falling back to bridge / cold paths. The send envelope carries a caller-stable `client_message_id`, so a `claudemesh send` that started before a daemon crash survives the restart via the on-disk outbox.
 
@@ -60,11 +60,15 @@ claudemesh daemon outbox requeue <id>                  # re-enqueue an aborted/d
 claudemesh daemon down                                 # SIGTERM + wait
 ```
 
-`claudemesh install` (MCP + hooks registration) and the daemon are independent — install does not start the daemon, and the daemon does not require install. Run both for the warmest path: install gives you the in-session push-pipe, daemon gives you cross-invocation persistence and a survivable outbox.
+As of 1.24.0 `claudemesh install` registers the MCP entry **and** installs/starts the daemon service for the user's primary mesh. The MCP shim hard-requires the daemon to be running — it bails at boot with actionable instructions if the socket isn't present. There is no fallback. CLI verbs (`send`, `peer list`, `inbox`, `skill list/get`, etc.) keep working without a daemon via bridge or cold paths, but for any in-Claude-Code use the daemon must be up.
+
+### Ambient mode (1.25.0+)
+
+Once `claudemesh install` has run (registers MCP entry + starts daemon service), **raw `claude` Just Works** for the daemon's attached mesh. No `claudemesh launch` ceremony, no manual flags, no per-session keypair. Channel push, slash commands, and resources all flow through the daemon-backed MCP shim. Use `claudemesh launch` only when you need to override defaults (different mesh, custom display name, system-prompt injection, headless modes).
 
 ## Spawning new sessions (no wizard)
 
-`claudemesh launch` is the canonical way to start a new Claude Code session connected to claudemesh. Pass every required flag up front so no interactive prompt fires — that's what makes the verb scriptable from tmux send-keys, AppleScript/iTerm spawn helpers, hooks, cron, and the `claudemesh launch` you call from inside another session. **Always use this verb, never `claude` directly with hand-rolled flags** — it sets up the per-session ed25519 keypair, exports `CLAUDEMESH_DISPLAY_NAME`, isolates the mesh config in a tmpdir, and passes the `--dangerously-load-development-channels server:claudemesh` plumbing that the MCP push-pipe needs.
+`claudemesh launch` remains useful for non-default cases: explicit mesh selection, fresh display name, headless `--quiet` runs, system-prompt injection, multi-mesh users with one daemon attached to mesh A who want to spawn into mesh B. For the common case (single joined mesh, daemon installed), prefer raw `claude`. Pass every required flag up front so no interactive prompt fires — that's what makes the verb scriptable from tmux send-keys, AppleScript/iTerm spawn helpers, hooks, cron, and the `claudemesh launch` you call from inside another session.
 
 ### Full flag surface
 

apps/cli/src/commands/peers.ts

@@ -67,7 +67,17 @@ async function listPeersForMesh(slug: string): Promise<PeerRecord[]> {
   const joined = config.meshes.find((m) => m.slug === slug);
   const selfMemberPubkey = joined?.pubkey ?? null;
 
-  // Try warm path first.
+  // Daemon path — preferred when running. Same routing pattern as send.ts:
+  // ~1 ms IPC round-trip; broker WS already warm in the daemon.
+  try {
+    const { tryListPeersViaDaemon } = await import("~/services/bridge/daemon-route.js");
+    const dr = await tryListPeersViaDaemon();
+    if (dr !== null) {
+      return dr.map((p) => annotateSelf(p as PeerRecord, selfMemberPubkey, null));
+    }
+  } catch { /* daemon route helper not available; fall through */ }
+
+  // Try warm bridge path next.
   const bridged = await tryBridge(slug, "peers");
   if (bridged && bridged.ok) {
     const peers = bridged.result as PeerRecord[];

apps/cli/src/commands/platform-actions.ts

@@ -273,6 +273,24 @@ export async function runSqlSchema(opts: Flags): Promise<number> {
 // ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
 
 export async function runSkillList(opts: Flags & { query?: string }): Promise<number> {
+  // Daemon path — preferred when running. Mirror trySendViaDaemon shape.
+  try {
+    const { tryListSkillsViaDaemon } = await import("~/services/bridge/daemon-route.js");
+    const dr = await tryListSkillsViaDaemon();
+    if (dr !== null) {
+      const skills = dr as Array<{ name: string; description: string; author: string; tags: string[] }>;
+      if (opts.json) { emitJson(skills); return EXIT.SUCCESS; }
+      if (skills.length === 0) { render.info(dim("(no skills)")); return EXIT.SUCCESS; }
+      render.section(`mesh skills (${skills.length})`);
+      for (const s of skills) {
+        process.stdout.write(`  ${bold(s.name)} ${dim("· by " + s.author)}\n`);
+        process.stdout.write(`    ${s.description}\n`);
+        if (s.tags?.length) process.stdout.write(`    ${dim("tags: " + s.tags.join(", "))}\n`);
+      }
+      return EXIT.SUCCESS;
+    }
+  } catch { /* fall through to cold path */ }
+
   return await withMesh({ meshSlug: opts.mesh ?? null }, async (client) => {
     const skills = await client.listSkills(opts.query);
     if (opts.json) { emitJson(skills); return EXIT.SUCCESS; }
@@ -289,6 +307,27 @@ export async function runSkillList(opts: Flags & { query?: string }): Promise<nu
 
 export async function runSkillGet(name: string, opts: Flags): Promise<number> {
   if (!name) { render.err("Usage: claudemesh skill get <name>"); return EXIT.INVALID_ARGS; }
+  // Daemon path first.
+  try {
+    const { tryGetSkillViaDaemon } = await import("~/services/bridge/daemon-route.js");
+    const dr = await tryGetSkillViaDaemon(name);
+    if (dr !== null) {
+      const skill = dr as { name: string; description: string; instructions: string; tags: string[]; author: string; createdAt: string };
+      if (opts.json) { emitJson(skill); return EXIT.SUCCESS; }
+      render.section(skill.name);
+      render.kv([
+        ["author", skill.author],
+        ["created", skill.createdAt],
+        ["tags", skill.tags?.join(", ") || dim("(none)")],
+      ]);
+      render.blank();
+      render.info(skill.description);
+      render.blank();
+      process.stdout.write(skill.instructions + "\n");
+      return EXIT.SUCCESS;
+    }
+  } catch { /* fall through */ }
+
   return await withMesh({ meshSlug: opts.mesh ?? null }, async (client) => {
     const skill = await client.getSkill(name);
     if (!skill) { render.err(`skill "${name}" not found`); return EXIT.NOT_FOUND; }

apps/cli/src/daemon/db/outbox.ts

@@ -20,6 +20,12 @@ export interface OutboxRow {
   aborted_at: number | null;
   aborted_by: string | null;
   superseded_by: string | null;
+  /** Sprint 4 routing: NULL on v0.9.0 rows, drained via broadcast fallback. */
+  mesh: string | null;
+  target_spec: string | null;
+  nonce: string | null;
+  ciphertext: string | null;
+  priority: string | null;
 }
 
 export function migrateOutbox(db: SqliteDb): void {
@@ -46,13 +52,35 @@ export function migrateOutbox(db: SqliteDb): void {
     CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS outbox_aborted
       ON outbox(status, aborted_at) WHERE status = 'aborted';
   `);
+
+  // v1.25.0 / Sprint 4: real outbound routing. Adds the broker-format
+  // target spec, mesh slug, and the already-encrypted ciphertext+nonce so
+  // the drain worker can dispatch each row without re-resolving names or
+  // re-running crypto. Existing rows from v0.9.0 land with NULLs and get
+  // drained via the legacy broadcast fallback (preserves no-regression).
+  const hasMesh        = columnExists(db, "outbox", "mesh");
+  const hasTargetSpec  = columnExists(db, "outbox", "target_spec");
+  const hasNonce       = columnExists(db, "outbox", "nonce");
+  const hasCiphertext  = columnExists(db, "outbox", "ciphertext");
+  const hasPriority    = columnExists(db, "outbox", "priority");
+  if (!hasMesh)        db.exec(`ALTER TABLE outbox ADD COLUMN mesh TEXT`);
+  if (!hasTargetSpec)  db.exec(`ALTER TABLE outbox ADD COLUMN target_spec TEXT`);
+  if (!hasNonce)       db.exec(`ALTER TABLE outbox ADD COLUMN nonce TEXT`);
+  if (!hasCiphertext)  db.exec(`ALTER TABLE outbox ADD COLUMN ciphertext TEXT`);
+  if (!hasPriority)    db.exec(`ALTER TABLE outbox ADD COLUMN priority TEXT`);
+}
+
+function columnExists(db: SqliteDb, table: string, column: string): boolean {
+  const rows = db.prepare(`PRAGMA table_info(${table})`).all<{ name: string }>();
+  return rows.some((r) => r.name === column);
 }
 
 export function findByClientId(db: SqliteDb, clientMessageId: string): OutboxRow | null {
   const row = db.prepare(`
     SELECT id, client_message_id, request_fingerprint, payload, enqueued_at,
            attempts, next_attempt_at, status, last_error, delivered_at,
-           broker_message_id, aborted_at, aborted_by, superseded_by
+           broker_message_id, aborted_at, aborted_by, superseded_by,
+           mesh, target_spec, nonce, ciphertext, priority
       FROM outbox WHERE client_message_id = ?
   `).get<OutboxRow>(clientMessageId);
   return row ?? null;
@@ -64,14 +92,21 @@ export interface InsertPendingInput {
   request_fingerprint: Uint8Array;
   payload: Uint8Array;
   now: number;
+  /** Sprint 4: routing fields. Optional only for legacy/v0.9.0 callers. */
+  mesh?: string;
+  target_spec?: string;
+  nonce?: string;
+  ciphertext?: string;
+  priority?: string;
 }
 
 export function insertPending(db: SqliteDb, input: InsertPendingInput): void {
   db.prepare(`
     INSERT INTO outbox (
       id, client_message_id, request_fingerprint, payload,
-      enqueued_at, attempts, next_attempt_at, status
-    ) VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?, ?, 0, ?, 'pending')
+      enqueued_at, attempts, next_attempt_at, status,
+      mesh, target_spec, nonce, ciphertext, priority
+    ) VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?, ?, 0, ?, 'pending', ?, ?, ?, ?, ?)
   `).run(
     input.id,
     input.client_message_id,
@@ -79,6 +114,11 @@ export function insertPending(db: SqliteDb, input: InsertPendingInput): void {
     input.payload,
     input.now,
     input.now,
+    input.mesh         ?? null,
+    input.target_spec  ?? null,
+    input.nonce        ?? null,
+    input.ciphertext   ?? null,
+    input.priority     ?? null,
   );
 }
 
@@ -108,7 +148,8 @@ export function listOutbox(db: SqliteDb, p: ListOutboxParams = {}): OutboxRow[]
   const sql = `
     SELECT id, client_message_id, request_fingerprint, payload, enqueued_at,
            attempts, next_attempt_at, status, last_error, delivered_at,
-           broker_message_id, aborted_at, aborted_by, superseded_by
+           broker_message_id, aborted_at, aborted_by, superseded_by,
+           mesh, target_spec, nonce, ciphertext, priority
       FROM outbox
      ${where.length ? "WHERE " + where.join(" AND ") : ""}
      ORDER BY enqueued_at DESC
@@ -122,7 +163,8 @@ export function findById(db: SqliteDb, id: string): OutboxRow | null {
   return db.prepare(`
     SELECT id, client_message_id, request_fingerprint, payload, enqueued_at,
            attempts, next_attempt_at, status, last_error, delivered_at,
-           broker_message_id, aborted_at, aborted_by, superseded_by
+           broker_message_id, aborted_at, aborted_by, superseded_by,
+           mesh, target_spec, nonce, ciphertext, priority
       FROM outbox WHERE id = ?
   `).get<OutboxRow>(id) ?? null;
 }

apps/cli/src/daemon/drain.ts

@@ -26,6 +26,12 @@ interface PendingRow {
   request_fingerprint: Uint8Array;
   payload: Uint8Array;
   attempts: number;
+  /** Sprint 4 routing fields. NULL on legacy v0.9.0 rows → broadcast fallback. */
+  target_spec: string | null;
+  nonce: string | null;
+  ciphertext: string | null;
+  priority: string | null;
+  mesh: string | null;
 }
 
 export interface DrainOptions {
@@ -80,7 +86,8 @@ export function startDrainWorker(opts: DrainOptions): DrainHandle {
 async function drainOnce(opts: DrainOptions, log: NonNullable<DrainOptions["log"]>): Promise<void> {
   const now = Date.now();
   const rows = opts.db.prepare(`
-    SELECT id, client_message_id, request_fingerprint, payload, attempts
+    SELECT id, client_message_id, request_fingerprint, payload, attempts,
+           target_spec, nonce, ciphertext, priority, mesh
       FROM outbox
      WHERE status = 'pending' AND next_attempt_at <= ?
      ORDER BY enqueued_at
@@ -93,21 +100,30 @@ async function drainOnce(opts: DrainOptions, log: NonNullable<DrainOptions["log"
     if (markInflight(opts.db, row.id, now) === 0) continue; // raced with another drainer
     const fpHex = bufferToHex(row.request_fingerprint);
 
-    // For v0.9.0-against-legacy-broker the daemon doesn't yet route by
-    // destination_kind/ref — we send the raw payload as a *self*-target so
-    // the broker accepts it for round-tripping. Sprint 4 reads the actual
-    // destination from the outbox row and encrypts/routes properly. The
-    // important thing here is that the row transitions correctly.
-    const sessionKeys = opts.broker.getSessionKeys();
-    const targetSpec  = "*"; // broadcast — leaves shape valid pre-routing
-    const nonce       = await randomNonce();
-    const ciphertext  = Buffer.from(row.payload).toString("base64");
+    // Sprint 4: use the row's resolved target/ciphertext if present.
+    // Legacy v0.9.0 rows (NULL on these columns) fall back to the
+    // broadcast smoke-test shape so existing in-flight rows still drain.
+    let targetSpec: string;
+    let nonce:      string;
+    let ciphertext: string;
+    let priority:   "now" | "next" | "low";
+    if (row.target_spec && row.nonce && row.ciphertext) {
+      targetSpec = row.target_spec;
+      nonce      = row.nonce;
+      ciphertext = row.ciphertext;
+      priority   = (row.priority === "now" || row.priority === "low") ? row.priority : "next";
+    } else {
+      targetSpec = "*";
+      nonce      = await randomNonce();
+      ciphertext = Buffer.from(row.payload).toString("base64");
+      priority   = "next";
+    }
 
     let res;
     try {
       res = await opts.broker.send({
         targetSpec,
-        priority: "next",
+        priority,
         nonce,
         ciphertext,
         client_message_id: row.client_message_id,
@@ -118,7 +134,6 @@ async function drainOnce(opts: DrainOptions, log: NonNullable<DrainOptions["log"
       backoffPending(opts.db, row.id, row.attempts + 1, "exception", String(e));
       continue;
     }
-    void sessionKeys;  // silence unused for now
 
     if (res.ok) {
       markDone(opts.db, row.id, res.messageId, Date.now());

apps/cli/src/daemon/ipc/handlers/send.ts

@@ -31,6 +31,14 @@ export interface SendRequest {
   /** Destination kind + ref must be supplied by the IPC layer after parsing `to`. */
   destination_kind: DestKind;
   destination_ref: string;
+  /** Sprint 4: pre-resolved broker-format target (pubkey hex, "#topicId", @group, *). */
+  target_spec?: string;
+  /** Sprint 4: pre-encrypted ciphertext (base64). For DMs: crypto_box. For broadcast/topic: base64-of-plaintext. */
+  ciphertext?: string;
+  /** Sprint 4: nonce that pairs with ciphertext (base64). */
+  nonce?: string;
+  /** Sprint 4: which mesh this send is for (single-mesh daemon today; multi-mesh later). */
+  mesh?: string;
 }
 
 export type AcceptOutcome =
@@ -80,6 +88,11 @@ export function acceptSend(req: SendRequest, deps: AcceptDeps): AcceptOutcome {
         request_fingerprint: fingerprint,
         payload: body,
         now,
+        mesh: req.mesh,
+        target_spec: req.target_spec,
+        nonce: req.nonce,
+        ciphertext: req.ciphertext,
+        priority: req.priority,
       });
       return { kind: "accepted_pending", status: 202, client_message_id: clientId };
     }

apps/cli/src/daemon/ipc/server.ts

@@ -42,6 +42,10 @@ export interface IpcServerOptions {
   broker?: DaemonBrokerClient;
   /** Notify when a new outbox row was inserted (drains can wake). */
   onPendingInserted?: () => void;
+  /** Mesh secret key (hex) used to encrypt outbound DMs at accept time. */
+  meshSecretKey?: string;
+  /** Mesh slug attached to this daemon — stamped on outbox rows for the drain. */
+  meshSlug?: string;
 }
 
 export interface IpcServerHandle {
@@ -64,6 +68,8 @@ export function startIpcServer(opts: IpcServerOptions): IpcServerHandle {
     bus: opts.bus,
     broker: opts.broker,
     onPendingInserted: opts.onPendingInserted,
+    meshSecretKey: opts.meshSecretKey,
+    meshSlug: opts.meshSlug,
   });
 
   // --- UDS listener -------------------------------------------------------
@@ -123,6 +129,8 @@ function makeHandler(opts: {
   bus?: EventBus;
   broker?: DaemonBrokerClient;
   onPendingInserted?: () => void;
+  meshSecretKey?: string;
+  meshSlug?: string;
 }) {
   const tokenBytes = Buffer.from(opts.localToken, "utf8");
 
@@ -363,6 +371,21 @@ function makeHandler(opts: {
           respond(res, 400, { error: parsed.error });
           return;
         }
+        // Sprint 4: resolve `to` → broker-format target_spec and encrypt at
+        // accept time, then store ciphertext+nonce on the outbox row. This
+        // crystallises routing so the drain worker is just a forwarder.
+        if (opts.broker && opts.meshSecretKey) {
+          try {
+            const routed = await resolveAndEncrypt(parsed.req, opts.broker, opts.meshSecretKey, opts.meshSlug ?? null);
+            parsed.req.target_spec = routed.target_spec;
+            parsed.req.ciphertext  = routed.ciphertext;
+            parsed.req.nonce       = routed.nonce;
+            parsed.req.mesh        = routed.mesh;
+          } catch (e) {
+            respond(res, 502, { error: "route_failed", detail: String(e) });
+            return;
+          }
+        }
         const outcome = acceptSend(parsed.req, { db: opts.outboxDb });
         switch (outcome.kind) {
           case "accepted_pending":
@@ -481,6 +504,79 @@ function parseSendRequest(body: unknown, idempotencyHeader: string | string[] |
   };
 }
 
+/**
+ * Sprint 4: resolve a user-friendly `to` (peer name, pubkey hex, @group, *,
+ * topic name, "#topicId") into a broker-format target_spec, and encrypt
+ * the plaintext payload appropriately for the destination kind.
+ *
+ * - DM by 64-char hex pubkey: target_spec = pubkey hex, ciphertext via
+ *   crypto_box (recipient pubkey + sender session secret).
+ * - DM by display name: resolve via broker.listPeers, then same as above.
+ * - Group / broadcast / topic: target_spec = `@<group>` / `*` / `#<topicId>`,
+ *   ciphertext = base64(plaintext) [matches the cold path's pre-encryption
+ *   convention until topic crypto lands].
+ */
+async function resolveAndEncrypt(
+  req: SendRequest,
+  broker: DaemonBrokerClient,
+  meshSecretKey: string,
+  meshSlug: string | null,
+): Promise<{ target_spec: string; ciphertext: string; nonce: string; mesh: string }> {
+  const { encryptDirect } = await import("~/services/crypto/box.js");
+  const { randomBytes } = await import("node:crypto");
+  const to = req.to.trim();
+
+  // Topic by id ("#<topicId>") — hex-like 20+ chars.
+  if (to.startsWith("#") && /^#[0-9a-z_-]{20,}$/i.test(to)) {
+    const ciphertext = Buffer.from(req.message, "utf8").toString("base64");
+    const nonce = randomBytes(24).toString("base64");
+    return { target_spec: to, ciphertext, nonce, mesh: meshSlug ?? "" };
+  }
+
+  // Group, broadcast — pass through. (Topic-by-name resolution happens
+  // when the daemon hooks topic_list later; not required for v1.25.0.)
+  if (to.startsWith("@") || to === "*") {
+    const ciphertext = Buffer.from(req.message, "utf8").toString("base64");
+    const nonce = randomBytes(24).toString("base64");
+    return { target_spec: to, ciphertext, nonce, mesh: meshSlug ?? "" };
+  }
+
+  // 64-char hex pubkey → DM directly.
+  if (/^[0-9a-f]{64}$/i.test(to)) {
+    const sessionKeys = broker.getSessionKeys();
+    const senderSecret = sessionKeys?.sessionSecretKey ?? meshSecretKey;
+    const env = await encryptDirect(req.message, to, senderSecret);
+    return { target_spec: to, ciphertext: env.ciphertext, nonce: env.nonce, mesh: meshSlug ?? "" };
+  }
+
+  // Hex prefix (16+ chars but <64) → resolve via peer list prefix match.
+  // Matches the ergonomics of `claudemesh peer list` which shows 16-char
+  // prefixes, so users naturally paste prefixes back.
+  const peers = await broker.listPeers().catch(() => []);
+  if (/^[0-9a-f]{16,63}$/i.test(to)) {
+    const matches = peers.filter((p) =>
+      p.pubkey.toLowerCase().startsWith(to.toLowerCase()) ||
+      (p.memberPubkey ?? "").toLowerCase().startsWith(to.toLowerCase()),
+    );
+    if (matches.length === 0) throw new Error(`no peer matching prefix "${to}"`);
+    if (matches.length > 1) throw new Error(`prefix "${to}" is ambiguous (${matches.length} matches)`);
+    const recipient = matches[0]!.pubkey;
+    const sessionKeys = broker.getSessionKeys();
+    const senderSecret = sessionKeys?.sessionSecretKey ?? meshSecretKey;
+    const env = await encryptDirect(req.message, recipient, senderSecret);
+    return { target_spec: recipient, ciphertext: env.ciphertext, nonce: env.nonce, mesh: meshSlug ?? "" };
+  }
+
+  // Otherwise — display name.
+  const match = peers.find((p) => p.displayName.toLowerCase() === to.toLowerCase());
+  if (!match) throw new Error(`peer "${to}" not found`);
+  const recipient = match.pubkey;
+  const sessionKeys = broker.getSessionKeys();
+  const senderSecret = sessionKeys?.sessionSecretKey ?? meshSecretKey;
+  const env = await encryptDirect(req.message, recipient, senderSecret);
+  return { target_spec: recipient, ciphertext: env.ciphertext, nonce: env.nonce, mesh: meshSlug ?? "" };
+}
+
 function respond(res: ServerResponse, status: number, body: unknown) {
   const json = JSON.stringify(body);
   res.statusCode = status;

apps/cli/src/daemon/run.ts

@@ -159,6 +159,10 @@ export async function runDaemon(opts: RunDaemonOptions = {}): Promise<number> {
     bus,
     broker,
     onPendingInserted: () => drain?.wake(),
+    // Sprint 4: IPC accept-send needs these to resolve targets and
+    // encrypt at accept time so the drain worker is just a forwarder.
+    meshSecretKey: mesh.secretKey,
+    meshSlug: mesh.slug,
   });
 
   try {

apps/cli/src/services/bridge/daemon-route.ts

@@ -7,6 +7,50 @@ import { existsSync } from "node:fs";
 import { ipc } from "~/daemon/ipc/client.js";
 import { DAEMON_PATHS } from "~/daemon/paths.js";
 
+/** Try fetching the peer list through the daemon (~1ms warm IPC).
+ *  Returns null when the daemon socket isn't present so the caller can
+ *  fall back to bridge / cold paths. */
+export async function tryListPeersViaDaemon(): Promise<unknown[] | null> {
+  if (!existsSync(DAEMON_PATHS.SOCK_FILE)) return null;
+  try {
+    const res = await ipc<{ peers?: unknown[] }>({ path: "/v1/peers", timeoutMs: 3_000 });
+    if (res.status !== 200) return null;
+    return Array.isArray(res.body.peers) ? res.body.peers : [];
+  } catch (err) {
+    const msg = String(err);
+    if (/ENOENT|ECONNREFUSED|ipc_timeout/.test(msg)) return null;
+    return null;
+  }
+}
+
+/** Try fetching mesh-published skills through the daemon. */
+export async function tryListSkillsViaDaemon(): Promise<unknown[] | null> {
+  if (!existsSync(DAEMON_PATHS.SOCK_FILE)) return null;
+  try {
+    const res = await ipc<{ skills?: unknown[] }>({ path: "/v1/skills", timeoutMs: 3_000 });
+    if (res.status !== 200) return null;
+    return Array.isArray(res.body.skills) ? res.body.skills : [];
+  } catch (err) {
+    const msg = String(err);
+    if (/ENOENT|ECONNREFUSED|ipc_timeout/.test(msg)) return null;
+    return null;
+  }
+}
+
+/** Try fetching one skill body through the daemon. */
+export async function tryGetSkillViaDaemon(name: string): Promise<unknown | null> {
+  if (!existsSync(DAEMON_PATHS.SOCK_FILE)) return null;
+  try {
+    const res = await ipc<{ skill?: unknown }>({
+      path: `/v1/skills/${encodeURIComponent(name)}`,
+      timeoutMs: 3_000,
+    });
+    if (res.status === 404) return null;
+    if (res.status !== 200) return null;
+    return res.body.skill ?? null;
+  } catch { return null; }
+}
+
 export type DaemonSendOk = {
   ok: true;
   messageId: string;