feat(client): config search chain, --repo zero-config override, actionable missing-config error

sync/status now resolve the work repository from a fallback chain:
--repo flag > --config flag > AGENT_LIB_CONFIG env > user-level config
(XDG / AppData) > admin platform default. --repo works without any
config file; tokens fall back to AGENT_LIB_GIT_TOKEN/AGENT_LIB_GIT_USER
without ever overriding a configured token. A completely empty chain
yields an error listing every searched location, a minimal config
example and the --repo shortcut.

Closes beads: agent-lib-9o8

README.md

@@ -123,6 +123,9 @@ agent-lib sync     # pull the work repository and deploy
 agent-lib status   # report local state; exit 1 when updates are blocked
 ```
 
+Both accept `--repo <url>` / `--ref <ref>` for config-free personal use —
+see [Configuration](#configuration) below.
+
 Deployment mapping (OpenCode target):
 
 | Type | Destination |
@@ -149,9 +152,22 @@ an unreachable repository never leaves a half-deployed machine.
 
 ### Configuration
 
-The client config is admin-provided (fleet rollout), JSON at
-`C:\ProgramData\agent-lib\config.json` on Windows, `/etc/agent-lib/config.json`
-elsewhere. Override per run with `--config` or `AGENT_LIB_CONFIG`:
+The repository to pull comes from the first source that provides one:
+
+1. `--repo <url>` flag (works with **no config file at all**)
+2. `--config <path>` flag
+3. `AGENT_LIB_CONFIG` env
+4. user-level config (personal machines)
+5. admin-protected platform default (fleet rollout)
+
+| Source | Linux / macOS | Windows |
+|---|---|---|
+| user-level config | `$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/agent-lib/config.json` (default `~/.config/agent-lib/config.json`) | `%AppData%\agent-lib\config.json` |
+| admin default | `/etc/agent-lib/config.json` | `%ProgramData%\agent-lib\config.json` |
+
+`--repo` overrides a `repo_url` from any discovered config; `--ref` narrows it
+to a branch or tag. When no config exists anywhere, the error lists every
+searched location, a minimal working example, and the `--repo` shortcut.
 
 ```json
 {
@@ -163,7 +179,18 @@ elsewhere. Override per run with `--config` or `AGENT_LIB_CONFIG`:
 ```
 
 The token is used for basic auth only. It never appears in the lockfile, the
-manifest, logs or error messages.
+manifest, logs or error messages. On `--repo` runs (or when the discovered
+config carries no token) `AGENT_LIB_GIT_TOKEN` / `AGENT_LIB_GIT_USER` supply
+credentials instead — env never overrides a configured token.
+
+**Personal quickstart (no fleet, no config):**
+
+```sh
+agent-lib sync --repo https://github.com/you/your-agent-content.git
+```
+
+The work repository must be a committed git repository (sync pulls it
+read-only via go-git; local uncommitted state is ignored).
 
 ### Notifications
 
@@ -192,6 +219,7 @@ flag that drives the non-zero exit code — suitable for headless drift checks.
 
 | Symptom | Cause / fix |
 |---|---|
+| `error: … no client config found. Searched (in order): …` | No config anywhere. Create one where the error suggests, or skip it: `agent-lib sync --repo <url>`. |
 | `error: … include entry "x" not found upstream` | Typo, or the item was renamed/removed upstream. Fix the lockfile include list, or re-add with a corrected `--include`. |
 | `error: … collides with own skills "x"` | Deployed-name collision. Add `--rename <upstream>=<deployed>` (add) or fix the rename map (update). |
 | `validate` reports tree/lockfile divergence | Someone edited `external/` by hand. Re-run `vendor update <source>` to restore the pinned state. |

internal/cli/status.go

@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ import (
 )
 
 func newStatusCmd() *cobra.Command {
-	var configPath string
+	var configPath, repoURL, ref string
 	var asJSON bool
 	cmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "status",
@@ -20,7 +20,8 @@ func newStatusCmd() *cobra.Command {
 			"agent-lib version is included in the report.",
 		Args: cobra.NoArgs,
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
-			report, err := client.Status(client.SyncOptions{ConfigPath: configPath})
+			opts := client.SyncOptions{ConfigPath: configPath, RepoURL: repoURL, Ref: ref}
+			report, err := client.Status(opts)
 			if err != nil {
 				return fmt.Errorf("status: %w", err)
 			}
@@ -37,7 +38,9 @@ func newStatusCmd() *cobra.Command {
 			return nil
 		},
 	}
-	cmd.Flags().StringVar(&configPath, "config", "", "client config path (default: "+client.ConfigEnv+" env or platform default)")
+	cmd.Flags().StringVar(&configPath, "config", "", "client config path (default: "+client.ConfigEnv+" env, user config, or platform default)")
+	cmd.Flags().StringVar(&repoURL, "repo", "", "work repository URL or path — overrides any config, works without one")
+	cmd.Flags().StringVar(&ref, "ref", "", "branch or tag to pull (requires --repo)")
 	cmd.Flags().BoolVar(&asJSON, "json", false, "machine-readable output")
 	return cmd
 }

internal/cli/sync.go

@@ -9,22 +9,26 @@ import (
 )
 
 func newSyncCmd() *cobra.Command {
-	var configPath string
+	var configPath, repoURL, ref string
 	cmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "sync",
 		Short: "Pull the work repository and deploy its content to OpenCode",
-		Long: "Pulls the fleet-configured work repository (config from --config, " +
-			"AGENT_LIB_CONFIG, or the admin-protected platform default) and deploys " +
-			"skills, commands and agents into the OpenCode runtime paths. " +
+		Long: "Pulls the work repository and deploys skills, commands and agents " +
+			"into the OpenCode runtime paths. The repository comes from --repo, " +
+			"or from the config chain: --config, " + client.ConfigEnv + " env, the " +
+			"user-level config, or the admin-protected platform default. " +
 			"Idempotent: re-running changes nothing when content and disk match.",
 		Args: cobra.NoArgs,
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
-			if _, err := client.Sync(client.SyncOptions{ConfigPath: configPath}, cmd.OutOrStdout()); err != nil {
+			opts := client.SyncOptions{ConfigPath: configPath, RepoURL: repoURL, Ref: ref}
+			if _, err := client.Sync(opts, cmd.OutOrStdout()); err != nil {
 				return fmt.Errorf("sync: %w", err)
 			}
 			return nil
 		},
 	}
-	cmd.Flags().StringVar(&configPath, "config", "", "client config path (default: "+client.ConfigEnv+" env or platform default)")
+	cmd.Flags().StringVar(&configPath, "config", "", "client config path (default: "+client.ConfigEnv+" env, user config, or platform default)")
+	cmd.Flags().StringVar(&repoURL, "repo", "", "work repository URL or path — overrides any config, works without one")
+	cmd.Flags().StringVar(&ref, "ref", "", "branch or tag to pull (requires --repo)")
 	return cmd
 }

internal/client/config.go

@@ -8,9 +8,13 @@ import (
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"runtime"
+	"strings"
+
+	"github.com/m3tam3re/agent-lib/internal/gitsource"
 )
 
-// ClientConfig is the admin-protected fleet configuration for sync.
+// ClientConfig is the client configuration for sync: fleet-provided or
+// personal, discovered via the search chain or overridden inline.
 type ClientConfig struct {
 	RepoURL   string `json:"repo_url"`
 	Ref       string `json:"ref,omitempty"`
@@ -20,14 +24,8 @@ type ClientConfig struct {
 
 // ConfigEnv names the override environment variables.
 const (
-	ConfigEnv     = "AGENT_LIB_CONFIG"
-	StateDirEnv   = "AGENT_LIB_STATE_DIR"
-	defaultConfig = `{
-  "repo_url": "",
-  "ref": "",
-  "token": "",
-  "token_user": ""
-}`
+	ConfigEnv   = "AGENT_LIB_CONFIG"
+	StateDirEnv = "AGENT_LIB_STATE_DIR"
 )
 
 // DefaultConfigPath returns the admin-protected config location per platform:
@@ -42,16 +40,128 @@ func DefaultConfigPath() string {
 	return "/etc/agent-lib/config.json"
 }
 
-// LoadClientConfig reads the config from flagPath, the override env, or the
-// platform default — in that order.
+// UserConfigPath returns the user-level config location per platform:
+// XDG_CONFIG_HOME or ~/.config on Linux/macOS, AppData on Windows.
+func UserConfigPath() string {
+	if runtime.GOOS == "windows" {
+		if ad := os.Getenv("AppData"); ad != "" {
+			return filepath.Join(ad, "agent-lib", "config.json")
+		}
+		if home, err := os.UserHomeDir(); err == nil {
+			return filepath.Join(home, "AppData", "Roaming", "agent-lib", "config.json")
+		}
+		return ""
+	}
+	if xdg := os.Getenv("XDG_CONFIG_HOME"); xdg != "" {
+		return filepath.Join(xdg, "agent-lib", "config.json")
+	}
+	home, err := os.UserHomeDir()
+	if err != nil {
+		return ""
+	}
+	return filepath.Join(home, ".config", "agent-lib", "config.json")
+}
+
+// configCandidate is one link in the config search chain.
+type configCandidate struct {
+	path string
+	desc string
+}
+
+// ConfigSearchChain returns the ordered locations a client config is looked
+// up in: the --config flag, the AGENT_LIB_CONFIG env, the user-level config
+// and the admin-protected platform default. The flag and env entries are
+// only included when actually set.
+func ConfigSearchChain(flagPath string) []configCandidate {
+	chain := make([]configCandidate, 0, 4)
+	if flagPath != "" {
+		chain = append(chain, configCandidate{path: flagPath, desc: "--config flag"})
+	}
+	if envPath := os.Getenv(ConfigEnv); envPath != "" {
+		chain = append(chain, configCandidate{path: envPath, desc: ConfigEnv + " env"})
+	}
+	if p := UserConfigPath(); p != "" {
+		chain = append(chain, configCandidate{path: p, desc: "user config"})
+	}
+	chain = append(chain, configCandidate{path: DefaultConfigPath(), desc: "admin default"})
+	return chain
+}
+
+// MissingConfigError reports that no client config exists anywhere in the
+// search chain — carrying the searched locations and the way out.
+type MissingConfigError struct {
+	Chain []configCandidate
+}
+
+func (e *MissingConfigError) Error() string {
+	var b strings.Builder
+	b.WriteString("no client config found. Searched (in order):\n")
+	for _, c := range e.Chain {
+		fmt.Fprintf(&b, "  - %s (%s)\n", c.path, c.desc)
+	}
+	b.WriteString("\nCreate one — minimal working example:\n\n")
+	b.WriteString(`  {"repo_url": "https://git.example.com/company/agent-content.git", "ref": "main"}` + "\n")
+	if p := UserConfigPath(); p != "" {
+		fmt.Fprintf(&b, "\nat %s (personal) or %s (fleet rollout).\n", p, DefaultConfigPath())
+	} else {
+		fmt.Fprintf(&b, "\nat %s (fleet rollout).\n", DefaultConfigPath())
+	}
+	b.WriteString("\nOr skip the config entirely:\n\n  agent-lib sync --repo <url> [--ref <ref>]\n")
+	return b.String()
+}
+
+// LoadClientConfig resolves and reads the client config via the search
+// chain: --config flag, AGENT_LIB_CONFIG env, user-level config, admin
+// default — first existing file wins. Explicit flag/env paths that do not
+// exist are hard errors; a completely empty chain yields *MissingConfigError.
 func LoadClientConfig(flagPath string) (*ClientConfig, error) {
-	path := flagPath
-	if path == "" {
-		path = os.Getenv(ConfigEnv)
+	path, ok, err := resolveConfigPath(flagPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
 	}
-	if path == "" {
-		path = DefaultConfigPath()
+	if !ok {
+		return nil, &MissingConfigError{Chain: ConfigSearchChain(flagPath)}
 	}
+	return readClientConfig(path)
+}
+
+// LoadOptionalConfig behaves like LoadClientConfig but returns (nil, nil)
+// when no config exists anywhere — for runs that carry their own --repo.
+// Malformed existing configs are still hard errors.
+func LoadOptionalConfig(flagPath string) (*ClientConfig, error) {
+	path, ok, err := resolveConfigPath(flagPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	if !ok {
+		return nil, nil
+	}
+	return readClientConfig(path)
+}
+
+// resolveConfigPath walks the search chain and returns the config to read.
+// The flag and env legs must exist when set (explicit intent); the user and
+// admin legs are skipped when absent.
+func resolveConfigPath(flagPath string) (path string, found bool, err error) {
+	if flagPath != "" {
+		return flagPath, true, nil
+	}
+	if envPath := os.Getenv(ConfigEnv); envPath != "" {
+		return envPath, true, nil
+	}
+	if p := UserConfigPath(); p != "" {
+		if _, statErr := os.Stat(p); statErr == nil {
+			return p, true, nil
+		}
+	}
+	admin := DefaultConfigPath()
+	if _, statErr := os.Stat(admin); statErr == nil {
+		return admin, true, nil
+	}
+	return "", false, nil
+}
+
+func readClientConfig(path string) (*ClientConfig, error) {
 	data, err := os.ReadFile(path)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("reading client config %s: %w", path, err)
@@ -66,6 +176,19 @@ func LoadClientConfig(flagPath string) (*ClientConfig, error) {
 	return &cfg, nil
 }
 
+// FillTokenAuth completes the config's credentials from the environment:
+// AGENT_LIB_GIT_TOKEN / AGENT_LIB_GIT_USER are only consulted when the
+// discovered config carries no token — env never overrides a config token.
+func (c *ClientConfig) FillTokenAuth() {
+	if c == nil || c.Token != "" {
+		return
+	}
+	if token := os.Getenv(gitsource.TokenEnv); token != "" {
+		c.Token = token
+		c.TokenUser = os.Getenv(gitsource.UserEnv)
+	}
+}
+
 // StateDir returns the client state directory: the override env, then the
 // platform default (LocalAppData on Windows, XDG state elsewhere).
 func StateDir() (string, error) {

internal/client/config_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,165 @@
+package client
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func writeConfigFile(t *testing.T, path, repoURL string) {
+	t.Helper()
+	if err := os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(path), 0o755); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	data, err := json.Marshal(map[string]string{"repo_url": repoURL, "ref": "main"})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if err := os.WriteFile(path, data, 0o600); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+}
+
+// runIsolated points HOME/XDG at empty temp dirs and clears the override env
+// so chain tests never see the real machine's config.
+func runIsolated(t *testing.T, fn func()) {
+	t.Helper()
+	base := t.TempDir()
+	home := filepath.Join(base, "home")
+	xdg := filepath.Join(base, "xdg-config")
+	for _, d := range []string{home, xdg} {
+		if err := os.MkdirAll(d, 0o755); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+	}
+	t.Setenv("HOME", home)
+	t.Setenv("XDG_CONFIG_HOME", xdg)
+	t.Setenv(ConfigEnv, "")
+	fn()
+}
+
+func TestUserConfigPathHonorsXDG(t *testing.T) {
+	runIsolated(t, func() {
+		base := t.TempDir()
+		t.Setenv("XDG_CONFIG_HOME", base)
+		want := filepath.Join(base, "agent-lib", "config.json")
+		if got := UserConfigPath(); got != want {
+			t.Errorf("UserConfigPath() = %q, want %q", got, want)
+		}
+	})
+}
+
+func TestLoadClientConfigChainOrder(t *testing.T) {
+	runIsolated(t, func() {
+		base := t.TempDir()
+		flagCfg := filepath.Join(base, "flag.json")
+		envCfg := filepath.Join(base, "env.json")
+		userCfg := filepath.Join(os.Getenv("XDG_CONFIG_HOME"), "agent-lib", "config.json")
+		writeConfigFile(t, flagCfg, "https://flag.example/repo")
+		writeConfigFile(t, envCfg, "https://env.example/repo")
+		writeConfigFile(t, userCfg, "https://user.example/repo")
+
+		assertRepo := func(name, got, want string) {
+			t.Helper()
+			if got != want {
+				t.Errorf("%s: repo_url = %q, want %q", name, got, want)
+			}
+		}
+
+		cfg, err := LoadClientConfig(flagCfg)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		assertRepo("flag beats env and user", cfg.RepoURL, "https://flag.example/repo")
+
+		t.Setenv(ConfigEnv, envCfg)
+		cfg, err = LoadClientConfig("")
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		assertRepo("env beats user", cfg.RepoURL, "https://env.example/repo")
+
+		t.Setenv(ConfigEnv, "")
+		cfg, err = LoadClientConfig("")
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		assertRepo("user picked up without flags", cfg.RepoURL, "https://user.example/repo")
+	})
+}
+
+func TestLoadClientConfigMissingIsActionable(t *testing.T) {
+	runIsolated(t, func() {
+		_, err := LoadClientConfig("")
+		if err == nil {
+			t.Fatal("empty chain must fail")
+		}
+		var missing *MissingConfigError
+		if e, ok := err.(*MissingConfigError); !ok {
+			t.Fatalf("error must be MissingConfigError, got %T: %v", err, err)
+		} else {
+			missing = e
+		}
+		msg := missing.Error()
+		userPath := UserConfigPath()
+		for _, want := range []string{
+			"no client config found",
+			userPath,
+			DefaultConfigPath(),
+			`"repo_url"`,
+			"--repo",
+		} {
+			if !strings.Contains(msg, want) {
+				t.Errorf("error message must mention %q:\n%s", want, msg)
+			}
+		}
+	})
+}
+
+func TestLoadOptionalConfigNilWhenEmpty(t *testing.T) {
+	runIsolated(t, func() {
+		cfg, err := LoadOptionalConfig("")
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("empty chain must be (nil, nil), got %v", err)
+		}
+		if cfg != nil {
+			t.Errorf("cfg must be nil, got %+v", cfg)
+		}
+	})
+}
+
+func TestLoadOptionalConfigMalformedStillFails(t *testing.T) {
+	runIsolated(t, func() {
+		userCfg := filepath.Join(os.Getenv("XDG_CONFIG_HOME"), "agent-lib", "config.json")
+		writeConfigFile(t, userCfg, "")
+		if _, err := LoadOptionalConfig(""); err == nil {
+			t.Error("user config with empty repo_url must fail even in optional mode")
+		}
+	})
+}
+
+func TestLoadClientConfigExplicitFlagMustExist(t *testing.T) {
+	runIsolated(t, func() {
+		_, err := LoadClientConfig(filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "nope.json"))
+		if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "nope.json") {
+			t.Errorf("explicit --config pointing nowhere must name the path, got %v", err)
+		}
+	})
+}
+
+func TestFillTokenAuthEnvOnlyFillsEmptyToken(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Setenv("AGENT_LIB_GIT_TOKEN", "env-token")
+	t.Setenv("AGENT_LIB_GIT_USER", "env-user")
+	fromEnv := &ClientConfig{}
+	fromEnv.FillTokenAuth()
+	if fromEnv.Token != "env-token" || fromEnv.TokenUser != "env-user" {
+		t.Errorf("empty token must be filled from env: %+v", fromEnv)
+	}
+	configured := &ClientConfig{Token: "config-token", TokenUser: "config-user"}
+	configured.FillTokenAuth()
+	if configured.Token != "config-token" || configured.TokenUser != "config-user" {
+		t.Errorf("env must never override a config token: %+v", configured)
+	}
+}

internal/client/sync.go

@@ -10,9 +10,13 @@ import (
 	"github.com/m3tam3re/agent-lib/internal/target"
 )
 
-// SyncOptions parameterize a client sync run.
+// SyncOptions parameterize a client sync run. RepoURL (with optional Ref)
+// is the inline --repo override: it works without any config file and beats
+// a repo_url discovered in the config chain.
 type SyncOptions struct {
 	ConfigPath string
+	RepoURL    string
+	Ref        string
 }
 
 // prepared is everything sync and status share: the pulled repository, the
@@ -28,7 +32,10 @@ type prepared struct {
 // prepare pulls, inventories, hashes and plans — the complete read-only
 // front half of a client run.
 func prepare(opts SyncOptions) (*prepared, error) {
-	cfg, err := LoadClientConfig(opts.ConfigPath)
+	if opts.RepoURL == "" && opts.Ref != "" {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("--ref requires --repo (it only overrides the repository to pull)")
+	}
+	cfg, err := resolveRunConfig(opts)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
@@ -82,6 +89,33 @@ func prepare(opts SyncOptions) (*prepared, error) {
 	return &prepared{paths: paths, pull: pull, manifest: manifest, items: items, plan: plan}, nil
 }
 
+// resolveRunConfig applies the --repo inline override to the config chain:
+// with --repo, any discovered config only contributes auth (and ref, unless
+// --ref is also given); without --repo, a config with a repo_url is required.
+func resolveRunConfig(opts SyncOptions) (*ClientConfig, error) {
+	if opts.RepoURL == "" {
+		cfg, err := LoadClientConfig(opts.ConfigPath)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		cfg.FillTokenAuth()
+		return cfg, nil
+	}
+	cfg, err := LoadOptionalConfig(opts.ConfigPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	if cfg == nil {
+		cfg = &ClientConfig{}
+	}
+	cfg.RepoURL = opts.RepoURL
+	if opts.Ref != "" {
+		cfg.Ref = opts.Ref
+	}
+	cfg.FillTokenAuth()
+	return cfg, nil
+}
+
 // Sync pulls the work repository, plans the sync as a pure function over
 // (inventory, manifest, disk facts) and executes the plan. Validation and
 // hashing happen before the first mutation; unreachable repositories fail

internal/e2e/config_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,239 @@
+package e2e
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+// configChainEnv isolates HOME/XDG/AGENT_LIB_* so config-chain e2e tests see
+// only the fixture paths they explicitly create.
+type configChainEnv struct {
+	home     string
+	xdg      string
+	stateDir string
+}
+
+func newConfigChainEnv(t *testing.T) *configChainEnv {
+	t.Helper()
+	base := t.TempDir()
+	env := &configChainEnv{
+		home:     filepath.Join(base, "home"),
+		xdg:      filepath.Join(base, "xdg"),
+		stateDir: filepath.Join(base, "state"),
+	}
+	for _, d := range []string{env.home, env.xdg, env.stateDir} {
+		if err := os.MkdirAll(d, 0o755); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+	}
+	return env
+}
+
+func (e *configChainEnv) run(t *testing.T, extraEnv map[string]string, args ...string) (string, error) {
+	t.Helper()
+	cmd := agentLibCmd(args...)
+	scrubbed := []string{}
+	for _, kv := range os.Environ() {
+		if strings.HasPrefix(kv, "AGENT_LIB_") || strings.HasPrefix(kv, "XDG_CONFIG_HOME=") || strings.HasPrefix(kv, "HOME=") {
+			continue
+		}
+		scrubbed = append(scrubbed, kv)
+	}
+	cmd.Env = append(scrubbed,
+		"HOME="+e.home, "USERPROFILE="+e.home,
+		"XDG_CONFIG_HOME="+e.xdg,
+		"AGENT_LIB_STATE_DIR="+e.stateDir,
+	)
+	for k, v := range extraEnv {
+		cmd.Env = append(cmd.Env, k+"="+v)
+	}
+	out, err := cmd.CombinedOutput()
+	return string(out), err
+}
+
+func (e *configChainEnv) userConfigPath() string {
+	return filepath.Join(e.xdg, "agent-lib", "config.json")
+}
+
+func (e *configChainEnv) writeUserConfig(t *testing.T, repoURL string) {
+	t.Helper()
+	writeJSONConfig(t, e.userConfigPath(), repoURL)
+}
+
+func writeJSONConfig(t *testing.T, path, repoURL string) {
+	t.Helper()
+	if err := os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(path), 0o755); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	data, err := json.Marshal(map[string]string{"repo_url": repoURL, "ref": "main"})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if err := os.WriteFile(path, data, 0o600); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+}
+
+// buildNamedRepo creates a committed work repo whose skills/<id>/SKILL.md
+// carries a distinctive id, so the deployed skill identifies the winning
+// config source.
+func buildNamedRepo(t *testing.T, h *harness, dir, skillID string) {
+	t.Helper()
+	h.git(t, dir, "init", "-b", "main")
+	p := filepath.Join(dir, "skills", skillID, "SKILL.md")
+	os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(p), 0o755)
+	os.WriteFile(p, []byte("---\nname: "+skillID+"\n---\n# "+skillID+"\n"), 0o644)
+	h.git(t, dir, "add", "-A")
+	h.git(t, dir, "commit", "-m", "repo with "+skillID)
+}
+
+func deployedSkillPath(home, skillID string) string {
+	return filepath.Join(home, ".agents", "skills", skillID, "SKILL.md")
+}
+
+func TestSyncRepoFlagZeroConfig(t *testing.T) {
+	h := newHarness(t)
+	env := newConfigChainEnv(t)
+	repo := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "work")
+	os.MkdirAll(repo, 0o755)
+	buildNamedRepo(t, h, repo, "zero-config-skill")
+
+	out, err := env.run(t, nil, "sync", "--repo", repo)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("zero-config sync via --repo failed: %v\n%s", err, out)
+	}
+	if _, err := os.Stat(deployedSkillPath(env.home, "zero-config-skill")); err != nil {
+		t.Error("--repo must deploy without any config file")
+	}
+	if _, err := os.Stat(filepath.Join(env.stateDir, "manifest.json")); err != nil {
+		t.Error("--repo run must write a manifest")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSyncRepoFlagOverridesConfiguredRepo(t *testing.T) {
+	h := newHarness(t)
+	env := newConfigChainEnv(t)
+	repoA := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "repo-a")
+	repoB := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "repo-b")
+	os.MkdirAll(repoA, 0o755)
+	os.MkdirAll(repoB, 0o755)
+	buildNamedRepo(t, h, repoA, "from-config-skill")
+	buildNamedRepo(t, h, repoB, "from-flag-skill")
+	env.writeUserConfig(t, repoA)
+
+	out, err := env.run(t, nil, "sync", "--repo", repoB)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("sync with --repo over config failed: %v\n%s", err, out)
+	}
+	if _, err := os.Stat(deployedSkillPath(env.home, "from-flag-skill")); err != nil {
+		t.Error("--repo must beat the configured repo_url")
+	}
+	if _, err := os.Stat(deployedSkillPath(env.home, "from-config-skill")); err == nil {
+		t.Error("configured repo must not also deploy")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSyncUserConfigDiscoveredWithoutFlags(t *testing.T) {
+	h := newHarness(t)
+	env := newConfigChainEnv(t)
+	repo := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "work")
+	os.MkdirAll(repo, 0o755)
+	buildNamedRepo(t, h, repo, "user-config-skill")
+	env.writeUserConfig(t, repo)
+
+	out, err := env.run(t, nil, "sync")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("sync with only a user-level config failed: %v\n%s", err, out)
+	}
+	if _, err := os.Stat(deployedSkillPath(env.home, "user-config-skill")); err != nil {
+		t.Error("user-level config must be picked up without flags or env")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSyncConfigSearchOrder(t *testing.T) {
+	h := newHarness(t)
+	env := newConfigChainEnv(t)
+	flagRepo := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "flag-repo")
+	envRepo := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "env-repo")
+	os.MkdirAll(flagRepo, 0o755)
+	os.MkdirAll(envRepo, 0o755)
+	buildNamedRepo(t, h, flagRepo, "flag-wins-skill")
+	buildNamedRepo(t, h, envRepo, "env-wins-skill")
+	flagCfg := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "flag.json")
+	envCfg := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "env.json")
+	writeJSONConfig(t, flagCfg, flagRepo)
+	writeJSONConfig(t, envCfg, envRepo)
+	env.writeUserConfig(t, envRepo)
+
+	out, err := env.run(t, map[string]string{"AGENT_LIB_CONFIG": envCfg}, "sync", "--config", flagCfg)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("flag>env sync failed: %v\n%s", err, out)
+	}
+	if _, err := os.Stat(deployedSkillPath(env.home, "flag-wins-skill")); err != nil {
+		t.Error("--config flag must beat AGENT_LIB_CONFIG")
+	}
+
+	out, err = env.run(t, map[string]string{"AGENT_LIB_CONFIG": envCfg}, "sync")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("env>user sync failed: %v\n%s", err, out)
+	}
+	if _, err := os.Stat(deployedSkillPath(env.home, "env-wins-skill")); err != nil {
+		t.Error("AGENT_LIB_CONFIG must beat the user config")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSyncMissingConfigErrorIsActionable(t *testing.T) {
+	newHarness(t)
+	env := newConfigChainEnv(t)
+
+	out, err := env.run(t, nil, "sync")
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatalf("sync without any config must fail:\n%s", out)
+	}
+	for _, want := range []string{
+		"no client config found",
+		"user config",
+		"admin default",
+		env.userConfigPath(),
+		`"repo_url"`,
+		"--repo",
+	} {
+		if !contains(out, want) {
+			t.Errorf("missing-config error must mention %q:\n%s", want, out)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSyncRefWithoutRepoIsError(t *testing.T) {
+	newHarness(t)
+	env := newConfigChainEnv(t)
+	out, err := env.run(t, nil, "sync", "--ref", "main")
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatalf("--ref without --repo must fail:\n%s", out)
+	}
+	if !contains(out, "--ref requires --repo") {
+		t.Errorf("error must explain the --ref/--repo relationship:\n%s", out)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestStatusRepoFlagZeroConfig(t *testing.T) {
+	h := newHarness(t)
+	env := newConfigChainEnv(t)
+	repo := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "work")
+	os.MkdirAll(repo, 0o755)
+	buildNamedRepo(t, h, repo, "status-repo-skill")
+
+	if out, err := env.run(t, nil, "sync", "--repo", repo); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("sync failed: %v\n%s", err, out)
+	}
+	out, err := env.run(t, nil, "status", "--repo", repo, "--json")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("status --repo --json failed: %v\n%s", err, out)
+	}
+	if !contains(out, `"in_sync": true`) {
+		t.Errorf("status via --repo must report in sync:\n%s", out)
+	}
+}