kandev/docs/plans/database-selection-continuity/task-01-preserve-database-path-provenance.md

id, title, status, wave, depends_on, plan, requirements, acceptance_criteria, system_design

id	title	status	wave	depends_on	plan	requirements	acceptance_criteria	system_design
01-preserve-database-path-provenance	Preserve database path provenance	done	1		plan.md	REQ-PLATFORM-STARTUP-CONFIGURATION-PARITY-002	AC-PLATFORM-STARTUP-CONFIGURATION-PARITY-002.1 AC-PLATFORM-STARTUP-CONFIGURATION-PARITY-002.3	../../specs/platform/system-design/startup-database-selection-continuity.md

Task 01: Preserve Database Path Provenance

Summary

Keep a launcher-derived default database path classified as a default when the backend reloads configuration. Preserve explicit environment, YAML, and dev-isolated paths and add the regression seam needed by persistence selection.

In scope

• Stop synthesizing a public database-path override for the normal derived default.
• Preserve ambient explicit environment values, selected YAML configuration, and dev managed overrides.
• Add launcher tests for child source provenance and resolved-path display behavior.

Out of scope

• Legacy database inspection or copying.
• SQLite schema and backup behavior.
• Public documentation.

Acceptance

• A default launch child resolves <home>/data/kandev.db with SourceDefault and no generated KANDEV_DATABASE_PATH.
• Explicit environment and YAML paths retain their existing precedence and source.
• Dev-mode repository isolation still supplies its managed database path.

Verification

cd apps/backend && go test ./internal/launcher -run '^(Test.*DatabasePath|TestBackendEnv.*Database)' -count=1
cd apps/backend && go test ./internal/launcher -count=1

Files likely touched

• apps/backend/internal/launcher/env.go
• apps/backend/internal/launcher/bootstrap_test.go
• apps/backend/internal/launcher/database_path_test.go

Dependencies

None.

Risks

• Removing the generated override must not remove an inherited operator override or the dev launcher's later managed override.

Parallelism

sequential

Inputs

• REQ-PLATFORM-STARTUP-CONFIGURATION-PARITY-002
• docs/specs/platform/system-design/startup-database-selection-continuity.md
• ADR 2026-08-20-startup-configuration-source-parity

Results

• Added TestBackendEnvDoesNotSynthesizeDefaultDatabasePath and TestBackendEnvPreservesExplicitEnvironmentDatabasePath.
• Updated backendEnvForConfig so only an explicit environment database source is emitted as KANDEV_DATABASE_PATH; default and YAML sources remain typed.
• Focused check passed: go test ./internal/launcher -run '^(Test.*DatabasePath|TestBackendEnv.*Database)' -count=1.
• Package check passed with inherited harness variables cleared: unset KANDEV_INTERNAL_CONFIG_FILE KANDEV_DATABASE_PATH; go test ./internal/launcher -count=1.