diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 3a2738a..2e14993 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -66,11 +66,13 @@ jobs:
         run: |
           sudo apt-get update -qq
           sudo apt-get install -y shellcheck jq
-          pip install --quiet ruff pyyaml
+          pip install --quiet 'ruff==0.15.12' pyyaml
       - name: set git identity for fixture vault commits
         run: |
           git config --global user.email "ci@cheshirecode.test"
           git config --global user.name "ci-fixture"
           git config --global init.defaultBranch main
       - name: run worklog-skill test mode
-        run: bash tests/run.sh worklog-skill
+        run: |
+          ruff --version
+          bash tests/run.sh worklog-skill
diff --git a/skills/worklog/SKILL.md b/skills/worklog/SKILL.md
index 55aa22d..b54c5c3 100644
--- a/skills/worklog/SKILL.md
+++ b/skills/worklog/SKILL.md
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ Once a known mode is parsed: run preamble (per table), read `modes/<mode>.md`, f
 
 | Mode    | Preamble | `references/protocol.md` | Reads AGENTS.md? | lessons.md? |
 |---------|----------|--------------------------|------------------|-------------|
-| init    | `--full` | no                       | yes              | quickref (limit=15) |
+| init    | default / `--light` → `--minimal`; explicit `--full` → `--full` | no | yes | quickref (limit=15) |
 | sync    | `--full` | only when creating or hand-editing a task | only for an edge case the reference does not answer | no |
 | status  | `--minimal` | no                    | no               | no |
 | context | `--minimal` | no                    | no               | no |
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ Run helpers from a shell that has the target clone's environment loaded. Prefer
 cd "$WORKLOG_REPO" && "$WORKLOG_BIN/preamble.sh" [--minimal|--full]
 ```
 
-Emits `LDAP=`, `PROJECTS_DIR=`, `NAMESPACE=`, `PULL=` key/value lines plus a `### roster` block (top 15 active tasks by `last_updated`, one tab-separated line each). Internally handles: LDAP resolve (24h cached), namespace bootstrap, rate-limited `git pull` (5-min stamp), `.gitconfig.lock` cleanup, autosave-if-dirty.
+Emits `LDAP=`, `PROJECTS_DIR=`, `NAMESPACE=`, `PULL=` key/value lines plus a `### roster` block (top 15 active tasks by `last_updated`, one tab-separated line each). Both paths resolve LDAP and inspect the namespace/roster. Full mode additionally handles the rate-limited pull and dirty-tree autosave.
 
 Skip re-invocation within the same session — preamble.sh is idempotent but the tool turns aren't free.
 
diff --git a/skills/worklog/bin/_lint.py b/skills/worklog/bin/_lint.py
index f3f1a9a..c6cbbbf 100755
--- a/skills/worklog/bin/_lint.py
+++ b/skills/worklog/bin/_lint.py
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@
   - `repos` is a list (or absent).
   - Relations (`parent_slug`, `related[].slug`, `supersedes`, `superseded_by`,
     `reopens`) resolve to real task files under people/*/{active,archive}/.
+  - Task Markdown lives only under people/*/{active,archive}/ and slugs are
+    globally unique across task-bearing state directories.
   - `related[]` entries have a `note`.
   - State/status consistency: files under archive/ should have
     `status: archived` (warn if not).
@@ -78,6 +80,64 @@ def _collect(root: pathlib.Path) -> list[tuple[pathlib.Path, str]]:
   return out
 
 
+def _task_slug(path: pathlib.Path) -> str:
+  text = path.read_text()
+  match = FRONTMATTER_RE.match(text)
+  if match:
+    try:
+      frontmatter = yaml.safe_load(match.group(1)) or {}
+    except yaml.YAMLError:
+      frontmatter = {}
+    if isinstance(frontmatter, dict) and frontmatter.get("slug"):
+      return str(frontmatter["slug"])
+  return path.stem
+
+
+def _layout_issues(root: pathlib.Path) -> list[dict[str, Any]]:
+  people = root / "people"
+  issues: list[dict[str, Any]] = []
+  task_paths: list[pathlib.Path] = []
+
+  for ldap_dir in sorted(people.glob("*")):
+    if not ldap_dir.is_dir():
+      continue
+    for state_dir in sorted(path for path in ldap_dir.iterdir() if path.is_dir()):
+      if state_dir.name in {"active", "archive"}:
+        task_paths.extend(sorted(state_dir.glob("*.md")))
+        continue
+      if state_dir.name == "transcripts":
+        continue
+      markdown = sorted(state_dir.rglob("*.md"))
+      task_paths.extend(markdown)
+      if markdown:
+        rel = state_dir.relative_to(root)
+        issues.append({
+          "file": str(rel),
+          "state": "layout",
+          "errors": [
+            f"unknown task state directory '{rel}' contains {len(markdown)} "
+            "Markdown task file(s); supported states: active, archive"
+          ],
+          "warnings": [],
+        })
+
+  paths_by_slug: dict[str, list[pathlib.Path]] = {}
+  for path in task_paths:
+    paths_by_slug.setdefault(_task_slug(path), []).append(path)
+  for slug, paths in sorted(paths_by_slug.items()):
+    if len(paths) < 2:
+      continue
+    rendered = ", ".join(str(path.relative_to(root)) for path in paths)
+    issues.append({
+      "file": "people",
+      "state": "layout",
+      "errors": [f"duplicate slug '{slug}' appears in: {rendered}"],
+      "warnings": [],
+    })
+
+  return issues
+
+
 def _strict_yaml(raw: str) -> tuple[dict[str, Any] | None, str | None]:
   try:
     fm = yaml.safe_load(raw)
@@ -583,6 +643,7 @@ def main() -> None:
       sys.exit(2)
   else:
     files = all_files
+  layout_report = [] if single_file else _layout_issues(root)
   known_slugs: set[str] = set()
   for path, _ in all_files:
     text = path.read_text()
@@ -621,8 +682,8 @@ def main() -> None:
       if missing and _apply_fix_related(path, missing):
         fixed_files.append((str(path.relative_to(root)), missing))
 
-  report: list[dict[str, Any]] = []
-  total_errors = 0
+  report: list[dict[str, Any]] = list(layout_report)
+  total_errors = sum(len(issue["errors"]) for issue in layout_report)
   total_warnings = 0
   for path, state in files:
     errors, warnings = _lint_file(
diff --git a/skills/worklog/bin/codex-surface-check.sh b/skills/worklog/bin/codex-surface-check.sh
index 43782bf..58d059f 100755
--- a/skills/worklog/bin/codex-surface-check.sh
+++ b/skills/worklog/bin/codex-surface-check.sh
@@ -15,9 +15,9 @@ SCRIPT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")" && pwd)"
 REPO_ROOT="$(resolve_worklog_repo)" || exit 1
 cd "$REPO_ROOT"
 
-EXPECTED=(help init sync status context plan spawn export import lint project scrape-slack review)
 CODEX_SKILL_PATH="${CODEX_SKILL_PATH:-$HOME/.codex/skills/worklog/SKILL.md}"
 MODE_INIT_PATH="${MODE_INIT_PATH:-$SCRIPT_DIR/../modes/init.md}"
+MODE_REGISTRY_PATH="${MODE_REGISTRY_PATH:-$SCRIPT_DIR/../modes/registry.md}"
 
 case "${1:-}" in
   -h|--help)
@@ -29,6 +29,8 @@ the same worklog command names.
 
 Environment:
   CODEX_SKILL_PATH=/path/to/SKILL.md   override local Codex skill path
+  MODE_REGISTRY_PATH=/path/to/registry.md
+                                       override public mode registry
 EOF
     exit 0
     ;;
@@ -40,6 +42,24 @@ EOF
     ;;
 esac
 
+if [[ ! -f "$MODE_REGISTRY_PATH" ]]; then
+  echo "codex-surface-check: mode registry not found at $MODE_REGISTRY_PATH" >&2
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+EXPECTED=()
+while IFS= read -r cmd; do
+  [[ -n "$cmd" ]] && EXPECTED+=("$cmd")
+done < <(
+  sed -n '/MODE_REGISTRY_BEGIN/,/MODE_REGISTRY_END/ {
+    s/^- \([a-z0-9-][a-z0-9-]*\)$/\1/p
+  }' "$MODE_REGISTRY_PATH"
+)
+if [[ ${#EXPECTED[@]} -eq 0 ]]; then
+  echo "codex-surface-check: mode registry is empty or malformed" >&2
+  exit 1
+fi
+
 SURFACES=("README.md" "AGENTS.md")
 if [[ -f "$CODEX_SKILL_PATH" ]]; then
   SURFACES+=("$CODEX_SKILL_PATH")
diff --git a/skills/worklog/modes/init.md b/skills/worklog/modes/init.md
index 900e07f..f6a007d 100644
--- a/skills/worklog/modes/init.md
+++ b/skills/worklog/modes/init.md
@@ -1,5 +1,10 @@
 # Mode: `init`
 
+**Routing contract:** Default and `--light` use `preamble.sh --minimal`; only
+explicit `--full` uses `preamble.sh --full`. Select the preamble from the user
+flag before reading this mode. Light init must not pull, autosave, commit, push,
+or rebuild caches.
+
 Onboard a session. Light by default; escalates to a full external scan when drift is detected or the user explicitly asks.
 
 ## Detection — light vs. full
@@ -48,17 +53,25 @@ drift:
 ready — which task?
 ```
 
-## Tracker hydration (MUST, on every init)
+## Tracker hydration (after focus selection)
+
+The active-task list is orientation, not an instruction to materialize every
+durable task in an ephemeral tracker.
 
-After printing the active-task list and before asking "which task?", **hydrate the in-session tracker** for any active task with ≥3 unchecked items in its `## Next` section. Per AGENTS.md § In-session progress visibility:
+Do not hydrate `TaskCreate` or `update_plan` before the user selects a task.
 
-- **Claude Code:** invoke `TaskCreate` for each unchecked `- [ ]` item under `## Next`. Use the slug as the task's `metadata.slug` so the tracker entry maps back to its source task file.
-- **OpenAI Codex CLI:** emit an initial `update_plan` populated from the same `## Next` items.
-- **Cursor:** populate the canvas todo card / Plan Mode entries.
+After the user selects or resumes a slug, run
+`"$WORKLOG_BIN/context.sh" <slug>`. Its "Tracker-ready snippet" formats that
+task's unchecked `## Next` items. Hydrate only that focused task:
 
-Run `"$WORKLOG_BIN/context.sh" <slug>` for any focused task — its output's "Tracker-ready snippet" section formats each unchecked item ready to paste/exec.
+- **Claude Code:** invoke `TaskCreate` for its unchecked items, using the slug
+  as `metadata.slug`.
+- **OpenAI Codex CLI:** emit `update_plan` for the same focused items.
+- **Cursor:** populate the focused canvas todo card / Plan Mode entries.
 
-Skip hydration only when every active task is at ≤2 unchecked items (single-step or trivial). Don't wait for the user to ask. Drift evidence: 2026-04-27 review session ran ~30 multi-step commits with zero `TaskCreate` invocations despite the system reminder firing repeatedly (`docs/lessons.md` 2026-04 entry).
+Skip hydration when the selected task has at most two unchecked items. The
+durable task files remain the multi-task backlog; the tracker mirrors only the
+work this session intends to execute.
 
 ## Full path
 
diff --git a/skills/worklog/modes/registry.md b/skills/worklog/modes/registry.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..205ef80
--- /dev/null
+++ b/skills/worklog/modes/registry.md
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+# Public mode registry
+
+One public command per line, in menu order. `codex-surface-check.sh` consumes
+the marked block; keep behavior and prose in `SKILL.md` and the selected mode
+file.
+
+<!-- MODE_REGISTRY_BEGIN -->
+- help
+- init
+- sync
+- status
+- context
+- plan
+- spawn
+- export
+- import
+- lint
+- project
+- scrape-slack
+- review
+<!-- MODE_REGISTRY_END -->
diff --git a/skills/worklog/tests/cache/test_stale_consumers.sh b/skills/worklog/tests/cache/test_stale_consumers.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..e1b1363
--- /dev/null
+++ b/skills/worklog/tests/cache/test_stale_consumers.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,83 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+set -euo pipefail
+
+ROOT="$(cd "$(dirname "$0")/../.." && pwd)"
+WORKLOG_BIN="$ROOT/bin"
+TMP="$(mktemp -d)"
+trap 'rm -rf "$TMP"' EXIT
+
+mkdir -p "$TMP/people/tester/active" "$TMP/people/tester/archive"
+git -C "$TMP" init -q
+git -C "$TMP" config user.email tester@example.com
+git -C "$TMP" config user.name Tester
+
+cat > "$TMP/people/tester/active/cache-task.md" <<'EOF'
+---
+slug: cache-task
+kind: investigation
+status: draft
+project: sample
+last_updated: 2026-07-25
+next_action: Read the original task state
+repos: [sample]
+---
+
+## Context
+Derived-view invalidation fixture.
+
+## Next
+- [ ] Read the original task state
+EOF
+
+WORKLOG_REPO="$TMP" WORKLOG_LDAP=tester \
+  "$WORKLOG_BIN/search.sh" --list --status=draft \
+  | grep -Eq '^active  +draft  +cache-task$'
+[[ -s "$TMP/.cache/index.jsonl" ]]
+
+sleep 1
+python3 - "$TMP/people/tester/active/cache-task.md" <<'PY'
+from pathlib import Path
+import sys
+
+path = Path(sys.argv[1])
+text = path.read_text()
+text = text.replace("status: draft", "status: in-progress")
+text = text.replace(
+    "Read the original task state",
+    "Use the updated raw task state",
+)
+path.write_text(text)
+PY
+
+WORKLOG_REPO="$TMP" WORKLOG_LDAP=tester \
+  "$WORKLOG_BIN/search.sh" --list --status=in-progress \
+  | grep -Eq '^active  +in-progress  +cache-task$'
+if WORKLOG_REPO="$TMP" WORKLOG_LDAP=tester \
+  "$WORKLOG_BIN/search.sh" --list --status=draft 2>/dev/null | grep -q 'cache-task'; then
+  echo "FAIL: stale index returned the old task status"
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+WORKLOG_REPO="$TMP" WORKLOG_LDAP=tester \
+  "$WORKLOG_BIN/compact-kernels.sh" >/dev/null
+touch -t 202001010000 \
+  "$TMP/.cache/compact-kernels.md" \
+  "$TMP/.cache/compact-kernels.json"
+
+preamble="$(
+  WORKLOG_REPO="$TMP" WORKLOG_LDAP=tester \
+    "$WORKLOG_BIN/preamble.sh" --minimal
+)"
+grep -q 'roster-health: stale' <<< "$preamble"
+if grep -q 'Use the updated raw task state' <<< "$preamble"; then
+  echo "FAIL: stale kernel content leaked into the preamble roster"
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+context="$(
+  WORKLOG_REPO="$TMP" WORKLOG_LDAP=tester \
+    "$WORKLOG_BIN/context.sh" cache-task
+)"
+grep -q 'Use the updated raw task state' <<< "$context"
+
+echo "ok: stale index rebuilds and stale kernels fall through to raw context"
diff --git a/skills/worklog/tests/init/test_light_init.sh b/skills/worklog/tests/init/test_light_init.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..33ef9fb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/skills/worklog/tests/init/test_light_init.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+set -euo pipefail
+
+ROOT="$(cd "$(dirname "$0")/../.." && pwd)"
+WORKLOG_BIN="$ROOT/bin"
+SKILL_ROOT="$ROOT/SKILL.md"
+INIT_MODE="$ROOT/modes/init.md"
+TMP="$(mktemp -d)"
+trap 'rm -rf "$TMP"' EXIT
+
+grep -Fq 'default / `--light` → `--minimal`' "$SKILL_ROOT"
+grep -Fq 'explicit `--full` → `--full`' "$SKILL_ROOT"
+grep -Fq 'Default and `--light` use `preamble.sh --minimal`' "$INIT_MODE"
+grep -Fq 'Do not hydrate `TaskCreate` or `update_plan` before the user selects a task.' "$INIT_MODE"
+if grep -Fq 'for any active task with ≥3 unchecked items' "$INIT_MODE"; then
+  echo "FAIL: init still hydrates every multi-step active task"
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+mkdir -p "$TMP/people/tester/active" "$TMP/people/tester/archive" "$TMP/.cache"
+git -C "$TMP" init -q
+git -C "$TMP" config user.email tester@example.com
+git -C "$TMP" config user.name Tester
+
+cat > "$TMP/people/tester/active/light-init.md" <<'EOF'
+---
+slug: light-init
+kind: investigation
+status: in-progress
+project: sample
+last_updated: 2026-07-25
+next_action: Verify light init
+repos: [sample]
+---
+
+## Context
+Dirty-clone light-init fixture.
+
+## Next
+Verify light init.
+EOF
+
+printf '[]\n' > "$TMP/.cache/compact-kernels.json"
+printf 'keep\n' > "$TMP/.cache/preamble-pull-stamp"
+git -C "$TMP" add people .cache
+git -C "$TMP" commit -qm "fixture"
+printf '\ndirty\n' >> "$TMP/people/tester/active/light-init.md"
+
+before_status="$(git -C "$TMP" status --porcelain)"
+before_kernel_mtime="$(stat -f %m "$TMP/.cache/compact-kernels.json" 2>/dev/null || stat -c %Y "$TMP/.cache/compact-kernels.json")"
+before_pull_mtime="$(stat -f %m "$TMP/.cache/preamble-pull-stamp" 2>/dev/null || stat -c %Y "$TMP/.cache/preamble-pull-stamp")"
+
+WORKLOG_REPO="$TMP" WORKLOG_LDAP=tester \
+  "$WORKLOG_BIN/preamble.sh" --minimal >/dev/null
+
+after_status="$(git -C "$TMP" status --porcelain)"
+after_kernel_mtime="$(stat -f %m "$TMP/.cache/compact-kernels.json" 2>/dev/null || stat -c %Y "$TMP/.cache/compact-kernels.json")"
+after_pull_mtime="$(stat -f %m "$TMP/.cache/preamble-pull-stamp" 2>/dev/null || stat -c %Y "$TMP/.cache/preamble-pull-stamp")"
+
+[[ "$after_status" == "$before_status" ]]
+[[ "$after_kernel_mtime" == "$before_kernel_mtime" ]]
+[[ "$after_pull_mtime" == "$before_pull_mtime" ]]
+
+echo "ok: default/light init routes to non-mutating minimal preamble"
diff --git a/skills/worklog/tests/lint/test_file_scope.sh b/skills/worklog/tests/lint/test_file_scope.sh
index 79bf88d..0546b59 100755
--- a/skills/worklog/tests/lint/test_file_scope.sh
+++ b/skills/worklog/tests/lint/test_file_scope.sh
@@ -80,4 +80,54 @@ if "$WORKLOG_BIN/lint.sh" --file=people/tester/active/missing-task.md >/tmp/work
 fi
 grep -q 'is not a tracked task file' /tmp/worklog-lint-missing.out
 
-echo "ok: lint --file scope"
+mkdir -p people/tester/archived
+cat > people/tester/archived/good-task.md <<'EOF'
+---
+slug: good-task
+kind: impl
+status: archived
+project: sample
+last_updated: 2026-06-12
+next_action: —
+repos: [sample]
+---
+
+## Context
+Invisible duplicate in an unsupported state directory.
+
+## Next
+None.
+EOF
+
+# Transcripts are supported auxiliary Markdown and intentionally share task slugs.
+mkdir -p people/tester/transcripts
+cat > people/tester/transcripts/good-task.md <<'EOF'
+# Transcript
+
+Session evidence for good-task.
+EOF
+
+layout_json="$("$WORKLOG_BIN/lint.sh" --format=json 2>/dev/null || true)"
+printf '%s' "$layout_json" | python3 -c '
+import json, sys
+d = json.load(sys.stdin)
+errors = [
+    error
+    for issue in d["issues"]
+    for error in issue["errors"]
+]
+assert any("unknown task state directory" in error and "archived" in error for error in errors), errors
+assert any("duplicate slug" in error and "good-task" in error for error in errors), errors
+assert not any("transcripts" in error for error in errors), errors
+'
+
+# File-scoped lint remains scoped to the requested canonical task.
+good_json="$("$WORKLOG_BIN/lint.sh" --file=people/tester/active/good-task.md --format=json)"
+printf '%s' "$good_json" | python3 -c '
+import json, sys
+d = json.load(sys.stdin)
+assert d["total_files"] == 1, d
+assert d["total_errors"] == 0, d
+'
+
+echo "ok: lint --file scope and vault layout"
diff --git a/skills/worklog/tests/surface/test_mode_registry.sh b/skills/worklog/tests/surface/test_mode_registry.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..5e65f9a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/skills/worklog/tests/surface/test_mode_registry.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+set -euo pipefail
+
+ROOT="$(cd "$(dirname "$0")/../.." && pwd)"
+WORKLOG_BIN="$ROOT/bin"
+TMP="$(mktemp -d)"
+trap 'rm -rf "$TMP"' EXIT
+
+mkdir -p "$TMP/repo/people/tester/active" "$TMP/repo/people/tester/archive"
+cp "$ROOT/templates/README.md" "$TMP/repo/README.md"
+cp "$ROOT/templates/AGENTS.md" "$TMP/repo/AGENTS.md"
+git -C "$TMP/repo" init -q
+
+WORKLOG_REPO="$TMP/repo" \
+WORKLOG_LDAP=tester \
+CODEX_SKILL_PATH="$ROOT/SKILL.md" \
+MODE_REGISTRY_PATH="$ROOT/modes/registry.md" \
+MODE_INIT_PATH="$ROOT/modes/init.md" \
+  "$WORKLOG_BIN/codex-surface-check.sh" >/dev/null
+
+awk '
+  /MODE_REGISTRY_END/ { print "- fixture-mode" }
+  { print }
+' "$ROOT/modes/registry.md" > "$TMP/registry.md"
+
+if WORKLOG_REPO="$TMP/repo" \
+  WORKLOG_LDAP=tester \
+  CODEX_SKILL_PATH="$ROOT/SKILL.md" \
+  MODE_REGISTRY_PATH="$TMP/registry.md" \
+  MODE_INIT_PATH="$ROOT/modes/init.md" \
+    "$WORKLOG_BIN/codex-surface-check.sh" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+  echo "FAIL: checker ignored a registry-only mode"
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+echo "ok: command surfaces follow the packaged mode registry"