feat(vendor): --exclude plus content-type selection (--types/--exclude-types)

vendor add gains --exclude a,b,c (all mode minus those ids) as the mirror
of --include, for taking the majority of a source while dropping a few
items. Mutual exclusion with --include is a hard error, unknown ids fail
naming the available ones (generalized checkIDEntries).

vendor add and vendor select gain --types (allow-list) and --exclude-types
(deny-list) over the four content types. The filter is stored as the
optional, v2-compatible Selection.exclude_types field and survives vendor
update: new upstream items of an excluded type never enter the work
repository (unlike id expansion, which would silently re-admit them).
--types/--exclude-types replace the filter on select, absent flags keep
it, and --mode all clears it along with include/exclude.

Also fixes materializeTree to create the staging directory for an empty
selection — previously select-to-zero failed at the staging rename.

README.md

@@ -89,11 +89,23 @@ executed.
 - Default: vendor **everything** (`mode: all`).
 - `--include a,b,c` switches the source to **include mode**: only those ids
   arrive, and new upstream items do **not** arrive automatically.
+- `--exclude a,b,c` keeps **all mode** minus those ids — for taking the
+  majority of a source while dropping a few items.
+- `--types skills,commands` (**allow-list**) and `--exclude-types agents,mcp`
+  (**deny-list**) filter whole content types. The filter is stored as
+  `exclude_types` in the lockfile and **survives updates**: new upstream items
+  of an excluded type never enter the work repository. `--types` covering all
+  four types normalizes to no filter; excluding all four fails at the
+  zero-selection guard.
 - Hard errors, enforced by `vendor add`, `vendor update`, `vendor select`
   and `validate`:
   - `all` combined with an include list → error
   - an exclude list without `all` → error (not supported in v2 selections)
-  - an include entry that no longer exists upstream → error naming the item
+  - an include or exclude entry that no longer exists upstream → error naming the item
+  - `--include` combined with `--exclude` → error
+  - `--types` combined with `--exclude-types` → error
+  - unknown type names → error listing `skills, commands, agents, mcp`
+  - an include entry belonging to a type the type filter excludes → error
 
 (`vendor select` changes selections later — see
 [Changing your selection later](#changing-your-selection-later) below.)
@@ -107,6 +119,7 @@ advancing the pinned revision (that is `vendor update`'s job):
 agent-lib vendor select superpowers --add tdd,brainstorm   # include mode: grow
 agent-lib vendor select superpowers --remove review,debug  # include mode: shrink
 agent-lib vendor select superpowers --remove review        # all mode: move to exclude
+agent-lib vendor select superpowers --types skills         # replace the type filter
 agent-lib vendor select superpowers --mode all             # reset: take everything again
 ```
 
@@ -116,8 +129,11 @@ agent-lib vendor select superpowers --mode all             # reset: take everyth
 - **all mode**: `--remove` moves ids onto the exclude list (lockfile v2
   supports exclude in all mode) and deletes their folders; `--add` is a hard
   error — everything is already selected.
-- `--mode all` clears include/exclude and re-materializes the full pinned
-  upstream, reporting what appeared.
+- `--types` / `--exclude-types` **replace** the content-type filter
+  (same semantics as on `vendor add`); when neither flag is passed, the
+  stored filter stays as-is.
+- `--mode all` clears include/exclude **and the type filter** and
+  re-materializes the full pinned upstream, reporting what appeared.
 
 Every select re-runs the collision checks and honors the lockfile rename map
 — you can hand-add a rename for a not-yet-selected item, then `--add` it

internal/cli/vendor.go

@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ func newVendorCmd() *cobra.Command {
 
 func newVendorAddCmd() *cobra.Command {
 	var ref string
-	var include []string
+	var include, exclude, onlyTypes, excludeTypes []string
 	var renames []string
 	cmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "add <name> <url>",
@@ -34,7 +34,10 @@ func newVendorAddCmd() *cobra.Command {
 		Long: "Clones the source (in-process, via go-git), discovers skills, commands,\n" +
 			"agents and MCP fragments, materializes the selection under external/<name>/\n" +
 			"and pins URL, ref, revision, selection and renames in the lockfile.\n" +
-			"Default selection is everything; --include switches to an explicit list.\n" +
+			"Default selection is everything; --include switches to an explicit list,\n" +
+			"--exclude keeps everything except the listed ids. --types (allow-list) and\n" +
+			"--exclude-types (deny-list) filter whole content types and survive updates:\n" +
+			"new upstream items of an excluded type never enter the work repository.\n" +
 			"Collisions abort with a hard error; resolve them with --rename upstream=deployed.",
 		Args: cobra.ExactArgs(2),
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
@@ -47,6 +50,9 @@ func newVendorAddCmd() *cobra.Command {
 				URL:          args[1],
 				Ref:          ref,
 				Include:      splitList(include),
+				Exclude:      splitList(exclude),
+				OnlyTypes:    splitList(onlyTypes),
+				ExcludeTypes: splitList(excludeTypes),
 				Renames:      renameMap,
 			}
 			if err := vendor.Add(".", opts, cmd.OutOrStdout()); err != nil {
@@ -57,6 +63,9 @@ func newVendorAddCmd() *cobra.Command {
 	}
 	cmd.Flags().StringVar(&ref, "ref", "", "branch or tag to track (default: the source's default branch)")
 	cmd.Flags().StringSliceVar(&include, "include", nil, "comma-separated item ids to vendor (switches selection to include mode)")
+	cmd.Flags().StringSliceVar(&exclude, "exclude", nil, "comma-separated item ids to skip (keeps all mode, drops these ids)")
+	cmd.Flags().StringSliceVar(&onlyTypes, "types", nil, "comma-separated content types to take: skills, commands, agents, mcp (allow-list)")
+	cmd.Flags().StringSliceVar(&excludeTypes, "exclude-types", nil, "comma-separated content types to skip: skills, commands, agents, mcp (deny-list)")
 	cmd.Flags().StringSliceVar(&renames, "rename", nil, "deployed-name override upstream-id=deployed-name (repeatable)")
 	return cmd
 }
@@ -75,6 +84,7 @@ func splitList(in []string) []string {
 
 func newVendorSelectCmd() *cobra.Command {
 	var add, remove []string
+	var onlyTypes, excludeTypes []string
 	var mode string
 	cmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "select <name>",
@@ -83,9 +93,11 @@ func newVendorSelectCmd() *cobra.Command {
 			"Include mode: --add appends ids (validated against the pinned upstream),\n" +
 			"--remove drops ids and deletes their folders. All mode: --remove moves ids\n" +
 			"onto the exclude list; --add is an error (everything is selected already).\n" +
-			"--mode all resets to everything: include/exclude lists are cleared and the\n" +
-			"full pinned upstream is re-materialized. Collisions re-run on every change;\n" +
-			"renames from the lockfile are honored. The revision never moves — that is\n" +
+			"--types/--exclude-types replace the content-type filter (skills, commands,\n" +
+			"agents, mcp); absent flags keep it as-is. --mode all resets to everything:\n" +
+			"include/exclude lists and the type filter are cleared and the full pinned\n" +
+			"upstream is re-materialized. Collisions re-run on every change; renames\n" +
+			"from the lockfile are honored. The revision never moves — that is\n" +
 			"vendor update's job.",
 		Args: cobra.ExactArgs(1),
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
@@ -96,6 +108,8 @@ func newVendorSelectCmd() *cobra.Command {
 				Add:          splitList(add),
 				Remove:       splitList(remove),
 				ModeAll:      mode == "all",
+				OnlyTypes:    splitList(onlyTypes),
+				ExcludeTypes: splitList(excludeTypes),
 			}
 			if _, err := vendor.Select(".", args[0], opts, cmd.OutOrStdout()); err != nil {
 				return fmt.Errorf("vendor select: %w", err)
@@ -105,6 +119,8 @@ func newVendorSelectCmd() *cobra.Command {
 	}
 	cmd.Flags().StringSliceVar(&add, "add", nil, "comma-separated upstream ids to add to the selection")
 	cmd.Flags().StringSliceVar(&remove, "remove", nil, "comma-separated upstream ids to remove from the selection")
-	cmd.Flags().StringVar(&mode, "mode", "", "switch selection mode (only \"all\": clear include/exclude, take everything)")
+	cmd.Flags().StringSliceVar(&onlyTypes, "types", nil, "content types to take: skills, commands, agents, mcp (allow-list; replaces the type filter)")
+	cmd.Flags().StringSliceVar(&excludeTypes, "exclude-types", nil, "content types to skip: skills, commands, agents, mcp (deny-list; replaces the type filter)")
+	cmd.Flags().StringVar(&mode, "mode", "", "switch selection mode (only \"all\": clear include/exclude and the type filter, take everything)")
 	return cmd
 }

internal/e2e/vendor_exclude_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,75 @@
+package e2e
+
+import (
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+// TestVendorAddExcludeMode pins --exclude: all mode minus the listed ids,
+// materialized and recorded in the lockfile as mode "all" with an exclude
+// list.
+func TestVendorAddExcludeMode(t *testing.T) {
+	h := newHarness(t)
+	standardFixture(h, t)
+
+	h.mustRun(t, "vendor", "add", "curated", h.upstreamDir, "--exclude", "broken-skill,scout")
+
+	for _, p := range []string{
+		"external/curated/skills/good-skill/SKILL.md",
+		"external/curated/commands/review.md",
+		"external/curated/mcp/search.yaml",
+	} {
+		if _, err := os.Stat(filepath.Join(h.workDir, p)); err != nil {
+			t.Errorf("non-excluded item must be materialized: %s", p)
+		}
+	}
+	for _, p := range []string{
+		"external/curated/skills/broken-skill/SKILL.md",
+		"external/curated/agents/scout.md",
+	} {
+		if _, err := os.Stat(filepath.Join(h.workDir, p)); err == nil {
+			t.Errorf("excluded item must NOT be materialized: %s", p)
+		}
+	}
+
+	lock := readFile(t, filepath.Join(h.workDir, "agent-lib.lock.json"))
+	if !contains(lock, `"mode": "all"`) {
+		t.Errorf("exclude keeps all mode:\n%s", lock)
+	}
+	if !contains(lock, `"exclude": [`) {
+		t.Errorf("exclude list must be recorded:\n%s", lock)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestVendorAddExcludeTypoFailsClean pins the typo protection for --exclude.
+func TestVendorAddExcludeTypoFailsClean(t *testing.T) {
+	h := newHarness(t)
+	standardFixture(h, t)
+
+	out, err := h.run(t, "vendor", "add", "curated", h.upstreamDir, "--exclude", "good-skill,nope")
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatalf("typo in exclude list must fail:\n%s", out)
+	}
+	if !contains(out, "exclude entry") && !contains(out, "not found upstream") {
+		t.Errorf("error must name the unknown exclude entry:\n%s", out)
+	}
+	if _, statErr := os.Stat(filepath.Join(h.workDir, "external/curated")); statErr == nil {
+		t.Error("failed add must not leave an external area behind")
+	}
+}
+
+// TestVendorAddIncludeAndExcludeConflict pins the mutual exclusion.
+func TestVendorAddIncludeAndExcludeConflict(t *testing.T) {
+	h := newHarness(t)
+	standardFixture(h, t)
+
+	out, err := h.run(t, "vendor", "add", "curated", h.upstreamDir,
+		"--include", "good-skill", "--exclude", "scout")
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatalf("--include and --exclude together must fail:\n%s", out)
+	}
+	if !contains(out, "--include and --exclude cannot be combined") {
+		t.Errorf("error must explain the conflict:\n%s", out)
+	}
+}

internal/e2e/vendor_types_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,162 @@
+package e2e
+
+import (
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+// TestVendorAddTypesAllowList pins --types: only the listed content types
+// enter the work repository, recorded as the canonical exclude_types
+// complement.
+func TestVendorAddTypesAllowList(t *testing.T) {
+	h := newHarness(t)
+	standardFixture(h, t)
+
+	h.mustRun(t, "vendor", "add", "curated", h.upstreamDir, "--types", "skills,commands")
+
+	if _, err := os.Stat(filepath.Join(h.workDir, "external/curated/skills/good-skill/SKILL.md")); err != nil {
+		t.Error("allowed skill must be materialized")
+	}
+	if _, err := os.Stat(filepath.Join(h.workDir, "external/curated/commands/review.md")); err != nil {
+		t.Error("allowed command must be materialized")
+	}
+	for _, p := range []string{
+		"external/curated/agents/scout.md",
+		"external/curated/mcp/search.yaml",
+	} {
+		if _, err := os.Stat(filepath.Join(h.workDir, p)); err == nil {
+			t.Errorf("item of a non-allowed type must NOT be materialized: %s", p)
+		}
+	}
+
+	lock := readFile(t, filepath.Join(h.workDir, "agent-lib.lock.json"))
+	if !contains(lock, `"exclude_types": [`) {
+		t.Errorf("type filter must be recorded as exclude_types:\n%s", lock)
+	}
+	if !contains(lock, `"agents"`) || !contains(lock, `"mcp"`) {
+		t.Errorf("exclude_types must hold the complement (agents, mcp):\n%s", lock)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestVendorAddExcludeTypesDenyList pins --exclude-types and its unknown-type
+// validation.
+func TestVendorAddExcludeTypesDenyList(t *testing.T) {
+	h := newHarness(t)
+	standardFixture(h, t)
+
+	h.mustRun(t, "vendor", "add", "curated", h.upstreamDir, "--exclude-types", "agents,mcp")
+
+	if _, err := os.Stat(filepath.Join(h.workDir, "external/curated/skills/good-skill/SKILL.md")); err != nil {
+		t.Error("skill must be materialized")
+	}
+	if _, err := os.Stat(filepath.Join(h.workDir, "external/curated/agents/scout.md")); err == nil {
+		t.Error("agent of an excluded type must NOT be materialized")
+	}
+
+	out, err := h.run(t, "vendor", "add", "other", h.upstreamDir, "--exclude-types", "skillz")
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatalf("unknown type must fail:\n%s", out)
+	}
+	if !contains(out, "unknown content type") || !contains(out, "skills, commands, agents, mcp") {
+		t.Errorf("error must list the valid type names:\n%s", out)
+	}
+
+	out, err = h.run(t, "vendor", "add", "other", h.upstreamDir, "--types", "skills", "--exclude-types", "mcp")
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatalf("--types and --exclude-types together must fail:\n%s", out)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestVendorTypesSurviveUpdate pins the whole point of exclude_types: items
+// of an excluded type that appear upstream later must not slip back in on
+// vendor update.
+func TestVendorTypesSurviveUpdate(t *testing.T) {
+	h := newHarness(t)
+	standardFixture(h, t)
+	h.mustRun(t, "vendor", "add", "curated", h.upstreamDir, "--types", "skills")
+
+	// upstream gains a new agent and a new skill
+	h.write(t, "agents/latecomer.md", "---\nname: Latecomer\n---\nbody\n")
+	h.write(t, "skills/new-skill/SKILL.md", "---\nname: New Skill\ndescription: fresh\n---\n# New\n")
+	h.commitUpstream(t, "add latecomer agent and new skill")
+
+	h.mustRun(t, "vendor", "update", "curated")
+
+	if _, err := os.Stat(filepath.Join(h.workDir, "external/curated/skills/new-skill/SKILL.md")); err != nil {
+		t.Error("new skill of an allowed type must be vendored by update")
+	}
+	if _, err := os.Stat(filepath.Join(h.workDir, "external/curated/agents/latecomer.md")); err == nil {
+		t.Error("new agent of an excluded type must NOT re-enter on update")
+	}
+	lock := readFile(t, filepath.Join(h.workDir, "agent-lib.lock.json"))
+	if !contains(lock, `"exclude_types": [`) {
+		t.Errorf("type filter must survive the update:\n%s", lock)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestVendorSelectTypeFilter pins vendor select parity: --exclude-types /
+// --types replace the filter, absent flags keep it, --mode all clears it.
+func TestVendorSelectTypeFilter(t *testing.T) {
+	h := newHarness(t)
+	standardFixture(h, t)
+	h.mustRun(t, "vendor", "add", "curated", h.upstreamDir, "--types", "skills")
+
+	// replacing the filter via --types
+	h.mustRun(t, "vendor", "select", "curated", "--types", "commands")
+	if _, err := os.Stat(filepath.Join(h.workDir, "external/curated/skills/good-skill/SKILL.md")); err == nil {
+		t.Error("skill must be dropped after narrowing the type filter")
+	}
+	if _, err := os.Stat(filepath.Join(h.workDir, "external/curated/commands/review.md")); err != nil {
+		t.Error("command must be materialized after widening the type filter")
+	}
+
+	// an id-only change keeps the type filter
+	h.mustRun(t, "vendor", "select", "curated", "--remove", "review")
+	if _, err := os.Stat(filepath.Join(h.workDir, "external/curated/commands/review.md")); err == nil {
+		t.Error("excluded command must be gone")
+	}
+	lock := readFile(t, filepath.Join(h.workDir, "agent-lib.lock.json"))
+	if !contains(lock, `"exclude_types": [`) || !contains(lock, `"skills"`) {
+		t.Errorf("type filter must survive an id-only select:\n%s", lock)
+	}
+
+	// --mode all clears everything, including the type filter
+	h.mustRun(t, "vendor", "select", "curated", "--mode", "all")
+	for _, p := range []string{
+		"external/curated/skills/good-skill/SKILL.md",
+		"external/curated/commands/review.md",
+		"external/curated/agents/scout.md",
+		"external/curated/mcp/search.yaml",
+	} {
+		if _, err := os.Stat(filepath.Join(h.workDir, p)); err != nil {
+			t.Errorf("--mode all must re-materialize everything: %s", p)
+		}
+	}
+	lock = readFile(t, filepath.Join(h.workDir, "agent-lib.lock.json"))
+	if contains(lock, `"exclude_types": [`) {
+		t.Errorf("--mode all must clear the type filter:\n%s", lock)
+	}
+
+	// --mode all combined with type flags stays an error
+	out, err := h.run(t, "vendor", "select", "curated", "--mode", "all", "--types", "skills")
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatalf("--mode all with --types must fail:\n%s", out)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestVendorAddIncludeVsTypeFilter pins the explicit conflict error when an
+// include id belongs to a type the filter excludes.
+func TestVendorAddIncludeVsTypeFilter(t *testing.T) {
+	h := newHarness(t)
+	standardFixture(h, t)
+
+	out, err := h.run(t, "vendor", "add", "curated", h.upstreamDir,
+		"--include", "scout", "--exclude-types", "agents")
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatalf("include id of an excluded type must fail:\n%s", out)
+	}
+	if !contains(out, "type filter excludes") {
+		t.Errorf("error must explain the conflict:\n%s", out)
+	}
+}

internal/lockfile/lockfile.go

@@ -68,11 +68,15 @@ const (
 )
 
 // Selection expresses what enters the work repository: everything minus
-// Exclude (mode all), or exactly Include (mode include).
+// Exclude (mode all), or exactly Include (mode include). ExcludeTypes
+// filters whole content types (skills, commands, agents, mcp) on top of
+// either mode and survives updates: new upstream items of an excluded
+// type never enter the work repository.
 type Selection struct {
 	Mode         SelectionMode `json:"mode"`
 	Exclude      []string      `json:"exclude,omitempty"`
 	Include      []string      `json:"include,omitempty"`
+	ExcludeTypes []string      `json:"exclude_types,omitempty"`
 }
 
 // Source pins one vendored git source.
@@ -140,6 +144,7 @@ func (l *Lockfile) Save(path string) error {
 	for _, src := range l.Sources {
 		sort.Strings(src.Selection.Exclude)
 		sort.Strings(src.Selection.Include)
+		sort.Strings(src.Selection.ExcludeTypes)
 		sort.Strings(src.Warnings)
 		for _, items := range src.Inventory {
 			sort.Strings(items)

internal/vendor/add.go

@@ -25,6 +25,9 @@ type AddOptions struct {
 	URL          string
 	Ref          string
 	Include      []string
+	Exclude      []string
+	OnlyTypes    []string
+	ExcludeTypes []string
 	Renames      map[string]string
 }
 
@@ -68,12 +71,29 @@ func Add(workDir string, opts AddOptions, stdout io.Writer) error {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	sel := lockfile.Selection{Mode: lockfile.ModeAll}
-	if len(opts.Include) > 0 {
-		sel = lockfile.Selection{Mode: lockfile.ModeInclude, Include: opts.Include}
-		if err := checkIncludeEntries(items, opts.Include, opts.Name); err != nil {
+	if len(opts.Include) > 0 && len(opts.Exclude) > 0 {
+		return fmt.Errorf("--include and --exclude cannot be combined (a v2 selection is either include mode or all mode minus excludes)")
+	}
+	excludeTypes, err := TypeFilter(opts.OnlyTypes, opts.ExcludeTypes)
+	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
+
+	sel := lockfile.Selection{Mode: lockfile.ModeAll, ExcludeTypes: excludeTypes}
+	switch {
+	case len(opts.Include) > 0:
+		sel = lockfile.Selection{Mode: lockfile.ModeInclude, Include: opts.Include, ExcludeTypes: excludeTypes}
+		if err := checkIDEntries(items, opts.Include, opts.Name, "include"); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+	case len(opts.Exclude) > 0:
+		sel.Exclude = opts.Exclude
+		if err := checkIDEntries(items, opts.Exclude, opts.Name, "exclude"); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+	}
+	if err := checkIncludeVsTypes(items, sel, opts.Name); err != nil {
+		return err
 	}
 
 	selected := applySelection(items, sel)
@@ -147,21 +167,96 @@ func discoveryFromTreeRoot(root string) lockfile.Discovery {
 	return d
 }
 
-func checkIncludeEntries(items []discovery.Item, include []string, name string) error {
+// checkIDEntries fails when any id is not available upstream (not discovered
+// or skipped) — typo protection for include and exclude lists alike.
+func checkIDEntries(items []discovery.Item, ids []string, name, flag string) error {
 	available := map[string]bool{}
 	for _, it := range items {
 		if !it.Skipped {
 			available[it.UpstreamID] = true
 		}
 	}
-	for _, want := range include {
+	for _, want := range ids {
 		if !available[want] {
-			return fmt.Errorf("source %q: include entry %q not found upstream (available: %s)", name, want, strings.Join(sortedKeys(available), ", "))
+			return fmt.Errorf("source %q: %s entry %q not found upstream (available: %s)", name, flag, want, strings.Join(sortedKeys(available), ", "))
 		}
 	}
 	return nil
 }
 
+// checkIncludeVsTypes fails when an include id belongs to a type excluded by
+// the type filter — silently dropping it would betray the explicit include.
+func checkIncludeVsTypes(items []discovery.Item, sel lockfile.Selection, name string) error {
+	if sel.Mode != lockfile.ModeInclude || len(sel.ExcludeTypes) == 0 {
+		return nil
+	}
+	excluded := map[string]bool{}
+	for _, t := range sel.ExcludeTypes {
+		excluded[t] = true
+	}
+	for _, it := range items {
+		if it.Skipped || !excluded[it.Type] {
+			continue
+		}
+		for _, id := range sel.Include {
+			if id == it.UpstreamID {
+				return fmt.Errorf("source %q: include entry %q belongs to type %s, which the type filter excludes", name, id, it.Type)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+// TypeFilter translates --types (allow-list) and --exclude-types (deny-list)
+// into the canonical exclude_types list: the complement of the allow-list,
+// or the deny-list verbatim. Both empty means no filter (nil). A filter that
+// would exclude nothing normalizes to nil; a filter excluding everything is
+// returned as-is and fails later at the zero-selection guard.
+func TypeFilter(only, exclude []string) ([]string, error) {
+	if len(only) > 0 && len(exclude) > 0 {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("--types and --exclude-types cannot be combined")
+	}
+	if len(only) == 0 && len(exclude) == 0 {
+		return nil, nil
+	}
+	names := only
+	if len(names) == 0 {
+		names = exclude
+	}
+	valid := map[string]bool{}
+	for _, t := range lockfile.Types {
+		valid[t] = true
+	}
+	var unknown []string
+	for _, t := range names {
+		if !valid[t] {
+			unknown = append(unknown, t)
+		}
+	}
+	if len(unknown) > 0 {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("unknown content type(s) %s (valid: %s)", strings.Join(unknown, ", "), strings.Join(lockfile.Types, ", "))
+	}
+	if len(exclude) > 0 {
+		out := append([]string{}, exclude...)
+		sort.Strings(out)
+		return out, nil
+	}
+	allowed := map[string]bool{}
+	for _, t := range only {
+		allowed[t] = true
+	}
+	var out []string
+	for _, t := range lockfile.Types {
+		if !allowed[t] {
+			out = append(out, t)
+		}
+	}
+	if len(out) == 0 {
+		return nil, nil
+	}
+	return out, nil
+}
+
 func applySelection(items []discovery.Item, sel lockfile.Selection) []discovery.Item {
 	exclude := map[string]bool{}
 	for _, e := range sel.Exclude {
@@ -171,11 +266,18 @@ func applySelection(items []discovery.Item, sel lockfile.Selection) []discovery.
 	for _, i := range sel.Include {
 		include[i] = true
 	}
+	excludedTypes := map[string]bool{}
+	for _, t := range sel.ExcludeTypes {
+		excludedTypes[t] = true
+	}
 	var out []discovery.Item
 	for _, it := range items {
 		if it.Skipped {
 			continue
 		}
+		if excludedTypes[it.Type] {
+			continue
+		}
 		switch sel.Mode {
 		case lockfile.ModeInclude:
 			if include[it.UpstreamID] {
@@ -251,6 +353,9 @@ func reportAdd(w io.Writer, name string, src *lockfile.Source, discovered, selec
 	fmt.Fprintf(w, "  rev: %s\n", src.Rev)
 	fmt.Fprintf(w, "discovered %d items (%s)\n", real, counts(discovered))
 	fmt.Fprintf(w, "selected   %d items (%s)\n", len(selected), counts(selected))
+	if len(src.Selection.ExcludeTypes) > 0 {
+		fmt.Fprintf(w, "type filter: excluding %s\n", strings.Join(src.Selection.ExcludeTypes, ", "))
+	}
 	fmt.Fprintf(w, "materialized under %s/\n", filepath.Join(externalDir, name))
 	if len(src.Warnings) > 0 {
 		fmt.Fprintf(w, "warnings:\n")

internal/vendor/select.go

@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@ type SelectOptions struct {
 	Add          []string
 	Remove       []string
 	ModeAll      bool
+	OnlyTypes    []string
+	ExcludeTypes []string
 }
 
 // Select changes what a vendored source contributes — without advancing the
@@ -60,6 +62,9 @@ func Select(workDir, name string, opts SelectOptions, stdout io.Writer) (*Change
 	if err := validateSelectIDs(items, src, opts, name); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
+	if err := checkIncludeVsTypes(items, newSel, name); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
 
 	selected := applySelection(items, newSel)
 	if err := checkCollisions(workDir, lf, name, selected, src.Renames); err != nil {
@@ -99,6 +104,9 @@ func Select(workDir, name string, opts SelectOptions, stdout io.Writer) (*Change
 	}
 
 	fmt.Fprintf(stdout, "source %s: selection updated at pinned rev %s (mode %s)\n", name, short(src.Rev), newSel.Mode)
+	if len(newSel.ExcludeTypes) > 0 {
+		fmt.Fprintf(stdout, "  type filter: excluding %s\n", strings.Join(newSel.ExcludeTypes, ", "))
+	}
 	printChangeReport(stdout, report)
 	return report, nil
 }
@@ -106,30 +114,43 @@ func Select(workDir, name string, opts SelectOptions, stdout io.Writer) (*Change
 // planSelection derives the new selection from the flags — pure, before any
 // upstream contact: --mode all resets to everything; include mode grows and
 // shrinks the include list; all mode --remove moves ids onto the exclude
-// list.
+// list. --types/--exclude-types replace the type filter (absent flags keep
+// it; --mode all clears it along with include/exclude).
 func planSelection(src *lockfile.Source, opts SelectOptions, name string) (lockfile.Selection, error) {
+	typeFilter, err := TypeFilter(opts.OnlyTypes, opts.ExcludeTypes)
+	if err != nil {
+		return lockfile.Selection{}, err
+	}
 	if opts.ModeAll {
-		if len(opts.Add) > 0 || len(opts.Remove) > 0 {
-			return lockfile.Selection{}, fmt.Errorf("--mode all cannot be combined with --add or --remove")
+		if len(opts.Add) > 0 || len(opts.Remove) > 0 || typeFilter != nil {
+			return lockfile.Selection{}, fmt.Errorf("--mode all cannot be combined with --add, --remove, --types or --exclude-types")
 		}
 		return lockfile.Selection{Mode: lockfile.ModeAll}, nil
 	}
-	if len(opts.Add) == 0 && len(opts.Remove) == 0 {
-		return lockfile.Selection{}, fmt.Errorf("nothing to do: pass --add <ids>, --remove <ids> or --mode all")
+	if len(opts.Add) == 0 && len(opts.Remove) == 0 && typeFilter == nil {
+		return lockfile.Selection{}, fmt.Errorf("nothing to do: pass --add <ids>, --remove <ids>, --types/--exclude-types or --mode all")
 	}
+	var newSel lockfile.Selection
 	if src.Selection.Mode == lockfile.ModeAll {
 		if len(opts.Add) > 0 {
 			return lockfile.Selection{}, fmt.Errorf("source %q: everything is already selected in all mode; use --remove <ids> to exclude items", name)
 		}
-		return lockfile.Selection{
+		newSel = lockfile.Selection{
 			Mode:    lockfile.ModeAll,
 			Exclude: unionIDs(src.Selection.Exclude, opts.Remove),
-		}, nil
 		}
-	return lockfile.Selection{
+	} else {
+		newSel = lockfile.Selection{
 			Mode:    lockfile.ModeInclude,
 			Include: unionIDs(minusIDs(src.Selection.Include, opts.Remove), opts.Add),
-	}, nil
+		}
+	}
+	if typeFilter != nil {
+		newSel.ExcludeTypes = typeFilter
+	} else {
+		newSel.ExcludeTypes = src.Selection.ExcludeTypes
+	}
+	return newSel, nil
 }
 
 // validateSelectIDs checks flag ids against the pinned upstream (and, for
@@ -137,7 +158,7 @@ func planSelection(src *lockfile.Source, opts SelectOptions, name string) (lockf
 // before anything is mutated.
 func validateSelectIDs(items []discovery.Item, src *lockfile.Source, opts SelectOptions, name string) error {
 	if len(opts.Add) > 0 {
-		if err := checkIncludeEntries(items, opts.Add, name); err != nil {
+		if err := checkIDEntries(items, opts.Add, name, "include"); err != nil {
 			return fmt.Errorf("--add: %w", err)
 		}
 	}
@@ -153,7 +174,7 @@ func validateSelectIDs(items []discovery.Item, src *lockfile.Source, opts Select
 		}
 	}
 	if len(opts.Remove) > 0 && src.Selection.Mode == lockfile.ModeAll {
-		if err := checkIncludeEntries(items, opts.Remove, name); err != nil {
+		if err := checkIDEntries(items, opts.Remove, name, "exclude"); err != nil {
 			return fmt.Errorf("--remove: %w", err)
 		}
 	}

internal/vendor/update.go

@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ func computeUpdate(workDir string, lf *lockfile.Lockfile, name string, withColli
 	}
 
 	if src.Selection.Mode == lockfile.ModeInclude {
-		if err := checkIncludeEntries(items, src.Selection.Include, name); err != nil {
+		if err := checkIDEntries(items, src.Selection.Include, name, "include"); err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
 	}
@@ -250,6 +250,11 @@ func cleanupStaleStaging(workDir string) {
 }
 
 func materializeTree(tree discovery.Tree, selected []discovery.Item, renames map[string]string, dst string) error {
+	// Create dst even for an empty selection: the caller swaps it in with a
+	// rename, which fails when nothing materialized the directory.
+	if err := os.MkdirAll(dst, 0o755); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 	for _, it := range selected {
 		dep := deployedName(it.UpstreamID, renames)
 		base := filepath.Join(dst, it.Type)

scripts/e2e-acceptance.sh

@@ -81,6 +81,26 @@ assert_no_file "$WR3/external" "no partial external area"
 assert_file "$WR3/external/sp/skills/sp-good/SKILL.md" "renamed folder carries deployed name"
 assert_no_file "$WR3/external/sp/skills/good-skill" "upstream name absent after rename"
 
+step "vendor add selection flags (--exclude, --types)"
+WR4="$WORK/work-repo-4"
+mkdir -p "$WR4"
+(cd "$WR4" && "$BIN" vendor add cur "$UP" --exclude broken-skill) > "$WORK/exclude.log" 2>&1
+assert_exit_zero $? "add --exclude succeeds"
+assert_no_file "$WR4/external/cur/skills/broken-skill" "excluded skill absent"
+assert_file "$WR4/external/cur/skills/good-skill/SKILL.md" "non-excluded skill present"
+assert_contains "$WR4/agent-lib.lock.json" '"exclude": [' "exclude list pinned"
+WR5="$WORK/work-repo-5"
+mkdir -p "$WR5"
+(cd "$WR5" && "$BIN" vendor add typed "$UP" --types skills,commands) > "$WORK/types.log" 2>&1
+assert_exit_zero $? "add --types succeeds"
+assert_no_file "$WR5/external/typed/agents" "agent type filtered out"
+assert_no_file "$WR5/external/typed/mcp" "mcp type filtered out"
+assert_contains "$WR5/agent-lib.lock.json" '"exclude_types": [' "type filter pinned"
+set +e
+(cd "$WR5" && "$BIN" vendor add bad "$UP" --include good-skill --exclude broken-skill) > "$WORK/flagconflict.log" 2>&1; RCX=$?
+set -e
+assert_exit_nonzero "$RCX" "--include + --exclude rejected"
+
 step "validate / list / inspect"
 (cd "$WR" && "$BIN" validate) > "$WORK/validate.log" 2>&1
 assert_exit_zero $? "healthy state validates"
@@ -114,6 +134,15 @@ assert_no_file "$WR/external/superpowers" "remove leaves no residue"
 (cd "$WR" && "$BIN" vendor add superpowers "$UP") >/dev/null 2>&1
 git -C "$WR" add -A && git -C "$WR" commit -qm "vendor superpowers (publication = commit && push)"
 
+step "vendor select type filter parity"
+(cd "$WR5" && "$BIN" vendor select typed --exclude-types skills) > "$WORK/types-select.log" 2>&1
+assert_exit_zero $? "select --exclude-types succeeds"
+assert_no_file "$WR5/external/typed/skills" "skills dropped after narrowing the filter"
+assert_contains "$WORK/types-select.log" "type filter" "select reports the type filter"
+(cd "$WR5" && "$BIN" vendor select typed --mode all) > "$WORK/types-reset.log" 2>&1
+assert_exit_zero $? "select --mode all clears the filter"
+assert_file "$WR5/external/typed/skills/good-skill/SKILL.md" "skills restored after --mode all"
+
 step "employee sync"
 HOME_DIR="$WORK/employee-home"
 STATE="$WORK/employee-state"
@@ -142,6 +171,31 @@ assert_exit_zero "$RC2" "second sync succeeds"
 printf '%s' "$OUT2" > "$WORK/sync2.log"
 assert_contains "$WORK/sync2.log" "kept:" "second run keeps everything"
 
+step "default branch stays fresh without ref"
+DB="$WORK/db-repo"
+mkdir -p "$DB/skills/db-skill"
+git -C "$DB" init -q -b main
+printf -- '---\nname: DB\n---\n# v1\n' > "$DB/skills/db-skill/SKILL.md"
+git -C "$DB" add -A && git -C "$DB" commit -qm "db v1"
+DBCFG="$WORK/db-config.json"
+printf '{"repo_url":"%s"}\n' "$DB" > "$DBCFG"
+DBHOME="$WORK/db-home"; DBSTATE="$WORK/db-state"
+mkdir -p "$DBHOME" "$DBSTATE"
+set +e
+HOME="$DBHOME" USERPROFILE="$DBHOME" AGENT_LIB_STATE_DIR="$DBSTATE" \
+  "$BIN" sync --config "$DBCFG" >/dev/null 2>&1; RCDB=$?
+set -e
+assert_exit_zero "$RCDB" "first default-branch sync (clone)"
+printf -- '---\nname: DB\n---\n# v2\n' > "$DB/skills/db-skill/SKILL.md"
+git -C "$DB" add -A && git -C "$DB" commit -qm "db v2"
+set +e
+HOME="$DBHOME" USERPROFILE="$DBHOME" AGENT_LIB_STATE_DIR="$DBSTATE" \
+  "$BIN" sync --config "$DBCFG" > "$WORK/db2.log" 2>&1; RCDB2=$?
+set -e
+assert_exit_zero "$RCDB2" "second default-branch sync (fetch)"
+assert_contains "$WORK/db2.log" "updated:  1" "default branch advanced past the clone-time revision"
+grep -q "# v2" "$DBHOME/.agents/skills/db-skill/SKILL.md" && ok "fresh content deployed" || fail "stale clone-time content served"
+
 step "protected sync: local modification wins"
 printf -- '---\nname: Own Skill\n---\n# MY EDITS\n' > "$HOME_DIR/.agents/skills/own-skill/SKILL.md"
 printf -- '---\nname: Own Skill\ndescription: v2\n---\n# Upstream v2\n' > "$WR/skills/own-skill/SKILL.md"
@@ -153,6 +207,18 @@ assert_contains "$WORK/sync3.log" "skipped (local modifications kept): 1" "modif
 grep -q "MY EDITS" "$HOME_DIR/.agents/skills/own-skill/SKILL.md" && ok "local version kept" || fail "local version overwritten"
 assert_contains "$STATE/sync.log" "SKIP skills/own-skill" "warning logged with item and reason"
 
+step "forced sync: repository version wins"
+set +e
+OUTF="$(HOME="$HOME_DIR" USERPROFILE="$HOME_DIR" AGENT_LIB_STATE_DIR="$STATE" \
+  "$BIN" sync --config "$CFG" --force 2>&1)"; RCF=$?
+set -e
+assert_exit_zero "$RCF" "sync --force succeeds"
+printf '%s' "$OUTF" > "$WORK/syncf.log"
+assert_contains "$WORK/syncf.log" "updated:" "forced overwrite reported as update"
+grep -q "Upstream v2" "$HOME_DIR/.agents/skills/own-skill/SKILL.md" && ok "repository version restored" || fail "local modification survived --force"
+# re-introduce drift so the upstream-deletion walk below has a modified copy
+printf -- '---\nname: Own Skill\n---\n# MY EDITS\n' > "$HOME_DIR/.agents/skills/own-skill/SKILL.md"
+
 step "self-created item survives"
 MINE="$HOME_DIR/.agents/skills/my-private-skill"
 mkdir -p "$MINE" && printf -- '---\nname: Mine\n---\n' > "$MINE/SKILL.md"
@@ -189,6 +255,18 @@ set +e; OUTSJ="$(HOME="$HOME_DIR" USERPROFILE="$HOME_DIR" AGENT_LIB_STATE_DIR="$
 assert_exit_nonzero "$RCSJ" "status --json keeps drift exit code"
 printf '%s' "$OUTSJ" | grep -q '"problematic_drift": true' && ok "json drift flag set" || fail "json drift flag missing"
 
+step "forced sync after upstream deletion removes modified copies"
+set +e
+OUTR="$(HOME="$HOME_DIR" USERPROFILE="$HOME_DIR" AGENT_LIB_STATE_DIR="$STATE" \
+  "$BIN" sync --config "$CFG" --force 2>&1)"; RCR=$?
+set -e
+assert_exit_zero "$RCR" "sync --force after deletion succeeds"
+printf '%s' "$OUTR" > "$WORK/syncr.log"
+assert_contains "$WORK/syncr.log" "removed:" "forced removals reported"
+assert_no_file "$HOME_DIR/.agents/skills/own-skill" "modified skill removed by force"
+assert_no_file "$HOME_DIR/.config/opencode/agents/scout.md" "modified agent removed by force"
+assert_file "$MINE/SKILL.md" "unmanaged item survives --force untouched"
+
 step "unreachable repository keeps state"
 BEFORE="$(cat "$HOME_DIR/.agents/skills/fresh-skill/SKILL.md")"
 printf '{"repo_url":"%s","ref":"main"}\n' "$WORK/nonexistent-repo" > "$CFG"