diff --git a/AGENTS.md b/AGENTS.md
index 0b170e2..ca83fd3 100644
--- a/AGENTS.md
+++ b/AGENTS.md
@@ -182,6 +182,22 @@ Revisit only if the stated reason stops holding.
     example it keeps the route table and the in-handler guard deriving from one function, so 29 routes
     × 2 gate sites cannot drift. Generalised, it would make authorization a function of the transport
     verb — a route table must answer "what does this need?" on its own.
+- **A gate is one of three, named exactly once, and `session` is a first-class one.** A route or nav
+  node names exactly one of `public`, `session`, `permission` — discovery refuses none, two, and a
+  flag spelled anything but `true`, so a forgotten gate fails the boot rather than publishing a page.
+  `src/auth/gate.ts` is the one home of the rule the plugin router, the host's own route table and
+  the menu all read. Exactly-one-gate is a discovery-time rule on manifests, not a runtime
+  invariant: `allows({}, user)` stays open **by design**, because the central override's `groups`
+  builds header nodes that carry no gate. Making `allows` fail closed would hide every
+  operator-grouped section. `session` exists because a plugin whose data is
+  the visitor's own — their upstream account, their own tokens — has no distinction a permission could
+  name; the alternative, granting every newly registered user a permission, couples the identity
+  lifecycle to a Keto write that nothing retries when it fails. A page scoped to "mine" joins on
+  `ctx.user.id`, never the email — an address is user-changeable and can be reassigned to someone
+  who would then inherit the previous holder's rows.
+- **The reference plugin's two shift pages duplicate a view model and markup on purpose.** An example
+  is read far more often than it is changed, and each page reads top to bottom on its own. **Valid
+  while `examples/plugins/scheduling` stays a teaching artifact rather than a maintained product.**
 - **A `:read`-only holder must never be shown a write affordance.** The list/detail models carry
   `canWrite` and the views drop create/save/delete/add/remove; the permission picker still renders,
   disabled, because *seeing* who holds what is the point of `:read`. A **write-intent GET** (a create
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 32d8a85..9a30aba 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ folder under `plugins/` goes live after a restart. Create `plugins/hello/plugin.
 import { definePlugin } from "@plainpages/plugin-api";
 
 export default definePlugin({
-  apiVersion: "0.3.0",
+  apiVersion: "0.4.0",
   nav: [{ href: "/hello", id: "hello", label: "Hello", public: true }],
   routes: [
     { method: "GET", path: "/", public: true, handler: () => ({ html: "<h1>Hello from my plugin</h1>" }) },
@@ -231,6 +231,7 @@ Against the reference plugins' actual routes:
 | Request | Gate | alice | bob | carol | anonymous |
 | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
 | `GET /scheduling` | `public: true` | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
+| `GET /scheduling/mine` | `session: true` | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | → `/login` |
 | `GET /scheduling/shifts` | `scheduling:read` | ✅ | ✅ | 403 | → `/login` |
 | `GET /scheduling/shifts/new` | `scheduling:write` | ✅ | 403 | 403 | → `/login` |
 | `POST /scheduling/shifts` | `scheduling:write` | ✅ | 403 | 403 | → `/login` |
@@ -349,9 +350,9 @@ import { definePlugin } from "@plainpages/plugin-api";
 import { listThings, createThings } from "./handlers.ts";
 
 export default definePlugin({
-  apiVersion: "0.3.0",                // semver string of the host contract this plugin was built against (see Versioning)
+  apiVersion: "0.4.0",                // semver string of the host contract this plugin was built against (see Versioning)
 
-  // Nav fragment, merged into the global menu and permission-filtered per user.
+  // Nav fragment, merged into the global menu and gate-filtered per user.
   // `icon` is a Lucide icon by its sprite id (src/ui/icons.ts).
   nav: [{ href: "/things", icon: "i-cal", id: "things:list", label: "Things", permission: "things:read" }],
 
@@ -361,7 +362,7 @@ export default definePlugin({
     { description: "Create and edit things", name: "things:write" },
   ],
 
-  // Route handlers, mounted under the plugin's path (/things). `permission` gates first.
+  // Route handlers, mounted under the plugin's path (/things). The gate runs first.
   routes: [
     { method: "GET",  path: "/", permission: "things:read",  handler: listThings },
     { method: "POST", path: "/", permission: "things:write", handler: createThings },
@@ -378,7 +379,7 @@ folder-derived `id` to produce the loaded `Plugin`.
 | `apiVersion` | yes | Semver string of the host contract the plugin was built against. See [Versioning](#contract-versioning). |
 | `home` | no | A `RouteHandler` that owns the **public** landing `/`. At most one plugin may declare it. See [The landing pages](#the-landing-pages-home--dashboard). |
 | `dashboard` | no | A `RouteHandler` that owns the **gated** app home `/dashboard`. At most one plugin may declare it. See [The landing pages](#the-landing-pages-home--dashboard). |
-| `nav` | no | `NavNode[]` fragment (same shape `composeNav` consumes). `icon` is a Lucide sprite id (`src/ui/icons.ts`); node `id`s must be globally unique. A `label` that names a catalog key is [translated](#languages-i18n); anything else renders as written. |
+| `nav` | no | `NavNode[]` fragment (same shape `composeNav` consumes). Every node names [exactly one gate](#public-pages--menu-items). `icon` is a Lucide sprite id (`src/ui/icons.ts`); node `id`s must be globally unique. A `label` that names a catalog key is [translated](#languages-i18n); anything else renders as written. |
 | `permissions` | no | Permissions this plugin gates on. See [Nav & permission gates](#nav--permission-gates). |
 | `routes` | no | See [Routes & handlers](#routes--handlers). |
 | `hooks` | no | See [Hooks](#hooks). |
@@ -389,13 +390,13 @@ A plugin may be routes-only, nav-only, or hooks-only — every collection field
 
 ### Routes & handlers
 
-A route is `{ method, path, permission?, public?, handler }`. `path` is **relative to the plugin's
+A route is `{ method, path, handler }` plus [exactly one gate](#public-pages--menu-items) —
+`permission`, `public: true` or `session: true`. `path` is **relative to the plugin's
 mount path `/<id>`** (so `path: "/:id"` in the `things` plugin serves `/things/:id`); the host matches
 `method` + the resolved full path, extracts `:name` segments into `ctx.params.name`, runs the
-`permission` gate ([a coarse JWT-claim check](#nav--permission-gates)), then calls the handler with
+gate ([a coarse JWT-claim check](#nav--permission-gates)), then calls the handler with
 the [request context](#requestcontext). A failed gate redirects an **anonymous** visitor to `/login`
 with the page as `return_to`; a **signed-in** user lacking the permission gets the **403** page.
-`public: true` means no gate at all (see [Public pages](#public-pages--menu-items)).
 
 `method` is one of `GET HEAD POST PUT PATCH DELETE`. A `GET` route also answers `HEAD`.
 
@@ -470,7 +471,7 @@ import { definePlugin } from "@plainpages/plugin-api";
 import { landing, board } from "./pages.ts";
 
 export default definePlugin({
-  apiVersion: "0.3.0",
+  apiVersion: "0.4.0",
   home: landing,     // owns "/" — the public front page
   dashboard: board,  // owns "/dashboard" — the post-login app home
 });
@@ -569,20 +570,28 @@ system plugins you author or vendor. An ordinary domain plugin ignores it.
 
 A plugin's `nav` fragment is merged into the global menu by `composeNav` (`src/ui/nav.ts`), which
 applies the central override and then **filters per user** by the permissions in the session JWT: a
-node shows iff it is `public`, declares no `permission`, or the user holds that name. A node's `icon`
-is a **Lucide icon** by sprite id (e.g. `i-cal` → lucide `calendar`); the available ids are
-`ICON_NAMES` in `src/ui/icons.ts`, and adding one means registering its lucide name there.
+node shows iff it is `public`, is `session` and someone is signed in, or names a `permission` the
+user holds. A node's `icon` is a **Lucide icon** by sprite id (e.g. `i-cal` → lucide `calendar`); the
+available ids are `ICON_NAMES` in `src/ui/icons.ts`, and adding one means registering its lucide name
+there.
 
 **Gating a section header.** A `permission` on the header takes the whole subtree with it. When the
-children need *different* permissions, leave the header ungated and gate each child — `composeNav`
-drops a header whose children all filtered out. That only works while the header carries **no
-`href`**: give it one and it survives as an ungated leaf, visible to everyone.
+children need *different* permissions, mark the header `public: true` — it then gates nothing, each
+child decides, and `composeNav` drops a header whose children all filtered out. That only works while
+the header carries **no `href`**: give it one and it survives as a leaf, visible to everyone.
 
 #### Public pages & menu items
 
-A route or nav node marked **`public: true`** is reachable by anyone and shows in everyone's menu.
-That is the same as omitting `permission`, but stated outright so public is a deliberate choice
-rather than a forgotten gate. The two are **mutually exclusive** — declaring both is refused at boot.
+A route or nav node marked **`public: true`** is reachable by anyone and shows in everyone's menu —
+open stated outright, so it is a deliberate choice rather than a forgotten gate.
+
+**`session: true`** takes any signed-in user, with no grant to hold — for a plugin whose data is the
+visitor's own. An anonymous visitor is bounced to `/login` with the page as `return_to`, exactly as a
+permission gate does.
+
+Every route and nav node names **exactly one** of the three, spelled `true` (or a permission name).
+Naming none, naming two, or spelling one `false` is refused at boot — so a forgotten gate fails the
+plugin instead of publishing a page.
 
 A public page still renders in the native shell; for an anonymous visitor `ctx.user` is `null`, the
 shell shows a **Sign in** link in place of the profile block, the gated **Dashboard** link is hidden,
@@ -635,7 +644,7 @@ The host detects collisions across all discovered plugins with `findConflicts` a
 Mount-path uniqueness needs no rule of its own — it follows from the id check. Discovery also
 rejects **per-manifest shape errors**: a non-array `nav`/`routes`/`permissions`, a non-function
 `home`/`dashboard`, a permission name that isn't [`<resource>:<action>`](#naming-a-permission), or a
-route/nav node setting both `public` and `permission`.
+route/nav node that does not name [exactly one gate](#public-pages--menu-items).
 
 ### Hooks
 
@@ -747,7 +756,7 @@ camel humps both becoming underscores — so `upstream` on the `scheduling` plug
 
 ```ts
 export default definePlugin({
-  apiVersion: "0.3.0",
+  apiVersion: "0.4.0",
   settings: [
     { key: "upstream", type: "url", required: true, description: "Base URL of the backend" },
     { key: "pageSize", type: "number", default: 25 },
@@ -801,7 +810,7 @@ import { definePlugin } from "@plainpages/plugin-api";
 let sql: ReturnType<typeof postgres>;
 
 export default definePlugin({
-  apiVersion: "0.3.0",
+  apiVersion: "0.4.0",
   storage: true,
   hooks: {
     onBoot: async (boot) => {
@@ -911,9 +920,10 @@ The menu is **driven entirely by config** and assembled from two sources:
    export default defineMenu({ branding: { name: "Acme Ops" }, override: { hide: ["teams"] } });
    ```
 
-Every nav item may carry a `permission`; the rendered tree is **filtered per user** from the session
-JWT (no per-request authz call), so the menu only shows what that person can reach. An item may
-instead be **`public: true`** to show it to everyone — mutually exclusive with `permission`.
+Every nav node a **plugin** declares names one gate — a `permission`, **`public: true`** (everyone)
+or **`session: true`** (anyone signed in); a header this override groups takes none, and shows
+whenever a child does. The rendered tree is **filtered per user** from the session JWT (no
+per-request authz call), so the menu only shows what that person can reach.
 Branding (name, logo, default theme) renders in the app shell.
 
 **One menu, one shell, everywhere.** A single menu (`src/ui/chrome.ts` `buildPluginChrome`) renders
diff --git a/e2e-tests/full-flow.spec.ts b/e2e-tests/full-flow.spec.ts
index a884569..b043e7d 100644
--- a/e2e-tests/full-flow.spec.ts
+++ b/e2e-tests/full-flow.spec.ts
@@ -193,6 +193,12 @@ test.describe.serial("authenticated admin journey", () => {
     await page.goto("/scheduling/shifts");
     await expect(page.locator("h1")).toHaveText("Shifts");
     await expect(page.locator("table")).toContainText("Morning — Front desk"); // seeded by the mock upstream
+
+    // The admin owns none of the demo's rows, so an empty page is the no-leak assertion.
+    await page.goto("/scheduling/mine");
+    await expect(page.locator("h1")).toHaveText("My shifts");
+    await expect(page.getByText("No shifts are assigned to admin@plainpages.local")).toBeVisible();
+    await expect(page.locator("table")).not.toContainText("Morning — Front desk");
   });
 
   test("plugin settings: the screen names the variable that sets each declared key", async () => {
diff --git a/e2e-tests/visual.spec.ts b/e2e-tests/visual.spec.ts
index 02dd07e..01c2720 100644
--- a/e2e-tests/visual.spec.ts
+++ b/e2e-tests/visual.spec.ts
@@ -143,11 +143,11 @@ test("unknown routes serve the 404 page (a real user-facing flow, covered end-to
   await expect(page.getByRole("link", { name: "Back home" })).toBeVisible();
 });
 
-// The reference plugin (plugins/scheduling) ships discovered in the image. Its public Overview is
-// reachable by anyone and its menu header shows for everyone; the shifts list stays permission-gated,
-// so an anonymous visitor is bounced to sign in. The authenticated list/form flow is the full
-// E2E (full-flow.spec). Side-effect-free.
-test("the reference plugin: public Overview is open to all, the gated Shifts redirects to /login", async ({ page, request }) => {
+// The reference plugin (plugins/scheduling) ships discovered in the image, and shows all three
+// gates: the public Overview is reachable by anyone, My shifts takes any session, and the shifts
+// list needs a permission. The authenticated list/form flow is the full E2E (full-flow.spec).
+// Side-effect-free.
+test("the reference plugin: public Overview is open to all, My shifts takes any session, the gated Shifts redirects to /login", async ({ page, request }) => {
   // `request` is the isolated API context — it doesn't carry the beforeEach session cookie, so these
   // probes are genuinely anonymous.
   // The public overview is reachable with no session (200), not bounced to sign in.
@@ -166,10 +166,23 @@ test("the reference plugin: public Overview is open to all, the gated Shifts red
   expect(res.status()).toBe(303);
   expect(res.headers()["location"]).toBe("/login?return_to=%2Fscheduling%2Fshifts");
 
+  // A `session: true` route bounces an anonymous visitor the same way — no permission involved.
+  const mine = await request.get("/scheduling/mine", { maxRedirects: 0 });
+  expect(mine.status()).toBe(303);
+  expect(mine.headers()["location"]).toBe("/login?return_to=%2Fscheduling%2Fmine");
+
   // The signed-in member (no scheduling permission) sees the public Scheduling → Overview leaf in the nav,
   // but the gated Shifts leaf is filtered out.
   await page.goto("/dashboard");
   await expect(page.locator('.sidebar a[href="/dashboard"]')).toHaveCount(1); // the one unified menu renders
   await expect(page.locator('.sidebar a[href="/scheduling"]')).toHaveCount(1); // public Overview shown
   await expect(page.locator('.sidebar a[href="/scheduling/shifts"]')).toHaveCount(0); // gated leaf filtered out
+  await expect(page.locator('.sidebar a[href="/scheduling/mine"]')).toHaveCount(1); // session gate: a session is enough
+
+  // No shifts upstream on this stack, so this also pins the degraded page: the reason, never a 500
+  // and never a claim about what is assigned.
+  await page.goto("/scheduling/mine");
+  await expect(page.getByRole("heading", { name: "My shifts" })).toBeVisible();
+  await expect(page.getByText("Couldn't reach the scheduling service")).toBeVisible();
+  await expect(page.getByText("No shifts are assigned to")).toHaveCount(0);
 });
diff --git a/examples/plugins/admin/admin-shared.ts b/examples/plugins/admin/admin-shared.ts
index 97b28fd..8e8b424 100644
--- a/examples/plugins/admin/admin-shared.ts
+++ b/examples/plugins/admin/admin-shared.ts
@@ -35,10 +35,9 @@ export function actionForMethod(method: string): AdminAction {
   return verb === "GET" || verb === "HEAD" ? "read" : "write";
 }
 
-// The plugin's nav fragment: an ungated "Admin" header + its three screens, each gated on its own
-// read permission. The header carries no `permission` because a user may hold one screen's and not
-// another's; composeNav drops a header left with no visible children, so a user holding none of the
-// three never sees the section. The host current-marks the active item — no `current`/`open` here.
+// The plugin's nav fragment: the "Admin" header + its four screens, each gated on its own read
+// permission. composeNav drops a header left with no visible children, so a user holding none of
+// them never sees the section. The host current-marks the active item — no `current`/`open` here.
 export const ADMIN_NAV: NavNode = {
   children: [
     { href: ADMIN_USERS_BASE, icon: "i-users", id: "users", label: "admin.nav.users", permission: permissionName("users", "read") },
@@ -49,6 +48,7 @@ export const ADMIN_NAV: NavNode = {
   icon: "i-shield",
   id: "admin",
   label: "admin.nav.section", // a key in this plugin's catalog; the host translates nav labels
+  public: true, // the header gates nothing; every child needs a permission, and an empty header is dropped
 };
 
 // The screen gate: a signed-in user holding this request's `<resource>:<action>`. Each route already
diff --git a/examples/plugins/admin/plugin.ts b/examples/plugins/admin/plugin.ts
index d5ce0c6..6a407c0 100644
--- a/examples/plugins/admin/plugin.ts
+++ b/examples/plugins/admin/plugin.ts
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ const clients = on("oauth2-clients");
 const pluginSettings = on("plugin-settings");
 
 export default definePlugin({
-  apiVersion: "0.3.0", // the host contract this was built against — a literal, never HOST_API_VERSION
+  apiVersion: "0.4.0", // the host contract this was built against — a literal, never HOST_API_VERSION
 
   nav: [ADMIN_NAV],
 
diff --git a/examples/plugins/scheduling/README.md b/examples/plugins/scheduling/README.md
index 50c623d..70f64e3 100644
--- a/examples/plugins/scheduling/README.md
+++ b/examples/plugins/scheduling/README.md
@@ -15,8 +15,12 @@ What it demonstrates:
   `POST /scheduling/shifts` CSRF-verifies it (`ctx.verifyCsrf`) and forwards the create upstream,
   then POST-redirect-GET. The form body lives in the plugin's own `views/partials/shift-form.ejs`,
   reusing the core `field` partial.
-- **Permission-gated nav** — the "Shifts" nav leaf and routes are gated on `scheduling:read` /
-  `scheduling:write`; the whole "Scheduling" section is invisible to anyone without the grant.
+- **All three route gates** — the Overview is `public` (anyone), "My shifts" is `session` (any
+  signed-in visitor, showing only rows assigned to them), and "Shifts" is gated on `scheduling:read` /
+  `scheduling:write`; a leaf whose gate a visitor fails is invisible in the menu.
+- **Ownership joined on the identity id** — "My shifts" asks the upstream for `assigneeId=ctx.user.id`,
+  the opaque subject id, and renders the row's separate `assignee` display name. An email address is
+  user-changeable and can be reassigned to someone else, who would then inherit those rows.
 - **Its own translations** — every string comes from `i18n/en-US.ts` (`sv-SE.ts` beside it), including
   the nav labels, which are catalog keys in the manifest. `shifts.count` shows a plural message, and
   the views carry the visitor's language onto their links with `localeHref()`.
@@ -38,9 +42,14 @@ Your backend must expose two routes; the plugin treats any non-2xx as a recovera
 
 | Route | Request | Success | Response body |
 | --- | --- | --- | --- |
-| `GET /shifts` | `Accept: application/json` | `200` | JSON array of `{ id, title, assignee, start, end }` (all strings; missing fields coerce to `""`) |
+| `GET /shifts` | `Accept: application/json`, optional `?assigneeId=<id>` | `200` | JSON array of `{ id, title, assignee, assigneeId, start, end }` (all strings; missing fields coerce to `""`). With `assigneeId`, only that person's rows |
 | `POST /shifts` | JSON body `{ title, assignee, start, end }` | `2xx` | ignored (the plugin POST-redirect-GETs back to the list) |
 
+`POST /shifts` carries the assignee as a **display name only**, so a shift created through this
+plugin's form belongs to nobody and surfaces on no one's "My shifts" — don't go hunting for it
+there. Resolving a name to an identity id needs a directory this demo has none of; a real backend
+does that join at create time and stores the `assigneeId` alongside the name.
+
 Domain rules (overlap, capacity, time ordering) live in your backend — reject with a 4xx and the
 form re-renders. The plugin only validates that `title` and `assignee` are non-empty.
 
@@ -50,6 +59,8 @@ cosmetically) — normalise to your backend's format there if it matters.
 
 ## Granting access
 
-A user sees Scheduling once they hold the `scheduling:read` permission in Keto (and `scheduling:write`
-to create). The one-command bootstrap grants both to the demo admin, so the seeded
-`admin@plainpages.local` can use it immediately.
+A user sees the shift list once they hold the `scheduling:read` permission in Keto (and
+`scheduling:write` to create). The one-command bootstrap grants both to the demo admin, so the seeded
+`admin@plainpages.local` can use it immediately. "My shifts" needs no grant at all — signing in is
+its whole gate; it lists the rows this demo upstream holds against the signed-in visitor's id, and
+the demo's seeded rows belong to three made-up people, so a freshly seeded admin sees it empty.
diff --git a/examples/plugins/scheduling/i18n/en-US.ts b/examples/plugins/scheduling/i18n/en-US.ts
index 1b59bd7..cd4fa9a 100644
--- a/examples/plugins/scheduling/i18n/en-US.ts
+++ b/examples/plugins/scheduling/i18n/en-US.ts
@@ -13,12 +13,16 @@ const messages = {
   "scheduling.filter.searchLabel": "Search shifts",
   "scheduling.filter.searchPlaceholder": "Search title or assignee…",
   "scheduling.form.submit": "Create shift",
+  "scheduling.mine.empty": "No shifts are assigned to {{email}}.",
+  "scheduling.mine.title": "My shifts",
+  "scheduling.nav.mine": "My shifts",
   "scheduling.nav.overview": "Overview",
   "scheduling.nav.section": "Scheduling",
   "scheduling.nav.shifts": "Shifts",
   "scheduling.new.title": "New shift",
   "scheduling.overview.lead":
     "Scheduling coordinates shifts across your team. Anyone can read this overview; the shift list itself is available to people with the <code>scheduling:read</code> permission.",
+  "scheduling.overview.mine": "See my shifts",
   "scheduling.overview.signIn": "Sign in to view shifts",
   "scheduling.overview.title": "Scheduling",
   "scheduling.overview.view": "View shifts",
diff --git a/examples/plugins/scheduling/i18n/sv-SE.ts b/examples/plugins/scheduling/i18n/sv-SE.ts
index 24edc86..20cb8c5 100644
--- a/examples/plugins/scheduling/i18n/sv-SE.ts
+++ b/examples/plugins/scheduling/i18n/sv-SE.ts
@@ -9,12 +9,16 @@ const messages: SchedulingMessages = {
   "scheduling.filter.searchLabel": "Sök pass",
   "scheduling.filter.searchPlaceholder": "Sök på namn eller person…",
   "scheduling.form.submit": "Skapa pass",
+  "scheduling.mine.empty": "Inga pass är tilldelade {{email}}.",
+  "scheduling.mine.title": "Mina pass",
+  "scheduling.nav.mine": "Mina pass",
   "scheduling.nav.overview": "Översikt",
   "scheduling.nav.section": "Schemaläggning",
   "scheduling.nav.shifts": "Pass",
   "scheduling.new.title": "Nytt pass",
   "scheduling.overview.lead":
     "Schemaläggningen samordnar teamets pass. Alla kan läsa den här översikten; själva passlistan kräver behörigheten <code>scheduling:read</code>.",
+  "scheduling.overview.mine": "Visa mina pass",
   "scheduling.overview.signIn": "Logga in för att se passen",
   "scheduling.overview.title": "Schemaläggning",
   "scheduling.overview.view": "Visa pass",
diff --git a/examples/plugins/scheduling/plugin.ts b/examples/plugins/scheduling/plugin.ts
index eb2b30f..215a24d 100644
--- a/examples/plugins/scheduling/plugin.ts
+++ b/examples/plugins/scheduling/plugin.ts
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 // folder, rename it, point it at your own backend. Full contract: README.md → Building plugins.
 
 import { definePlugin } from "@plainpages/plugin-api";
-import { createShift, createUpstream, listShifts, newShiftForm, overview, READ, SCHEDULING_PATH, SHIFTS_PATH, WRITE } from "./shifts.ts";
+import { createShift, createUpstream, listShifts, MINE_PATH, myShifts, newShiftForm, overview, READ, SCHEDULING_PATH, SHIFTS_PATH, WRITE } from "./shifts.ts";
 
 // The upstream this plugin reads/writes — a stand-in for your real backend (the plugin is
 // stateless). Its URL is a declared setting, so it is resolved and validated before onBoot hands it
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ let upstreamUrl = "";
 const upstream = createUpstream(() => upstreamUrl);
 
 export default definePlugin({
-  apiVersion: "0.3.0", // the host contract this was built against — a literal, never HOST_API_VERSION
+  apiVersion: "0.4.0", // the host contract this was built against — a literal, never HOST_API_VERSION
 
   // onBoot runs after discovery, before the server listens — where a plugin receives its resolved
   // settings. A malformed URL already failed the boot by then; the host validated the declared type.
@@ -25,11 +25,13 @@ export default definePlugin({
   nav: [{
     children: [
       { href: SCHEDULING_PATH, id: "scheduling:overview", label: "scheduling.nav.overview", public: true },
+      { href: MINE_PATH, id: "scheduling:mine", label: "scheduling.nav.mine", session: true },
       { href: SHIFTS_PATH, id: "scheduling:shifts", label: "scheduling.nav.shifts", permission: READ },
     ],
     icon: "i-cal",
     id: "scheduling",
     label: "scheduling.nav.section",
+    public: true, // the header gates nothing; each child names its own gate, and an empty header is dropped
   }],
 
   // Roles this plugin introduces (docs + Keto seeding). Namespaced `<id>:<action>`.
@@ -38,10 +40,9 @@ export default definePlugin({
     { description: "Create and edit shifts", name: WRITE },
   ],
 
-  // Mounted under /scheduling; `permission` gates before the handler runs. The overview is `public`
-  // (anyone may reach /scheduling, signed in or not); the rest need a permission.
   routes: [
     { handler: overview(), method: "GET", path: "/", public: true },
+    { handler: myShifts(upstream), method: "GET", path: "/mine", session: true },
     { handler: listShifts(upstream), method: "GET", path: "/shifts", permission: READ },
     { handler: newShiftForm(), method: "GET", path: "/shifts/new", permission: WRITE },
     { handler: createShift(upstream), method: "POST", path: "/shifts", permission: WRITE },
diff --git a/examples/plugins/scheduling/shifts.test.ts b/examples/plugins/scheduling/shifts.test.ts
index 9e43918..41742bb 100644
--- a/examples/plugins/scheduling/shifts.test.ts
+++ b/examples/plugins/scheduling/shifts.test.ts
@@ -4,29 +4,29 @@ import { Readable } from "node:stream";
 import test from "node:test";
 // Import only from the @plainpages/plugin-api barrel — the same contract boundary shifts.ts uses (the host may
 // refactor any deeper src/* freely behind it); the test models the dev/test story the contract preaches.
-import { englishTranslator, GuardError, Log, type PageChrome, type RequestContext, type RouteResult } from "@plainpages/plugin-api";
+import { englishTranslator, GuardError, Log, type PageChrome, type RequestContext, type RouteResult, type User } from "@plainpages/plugin-api";
 import enUS from "./i18n/en-US.ts";
 import {
-  buildFormModel, createShift, createUpstream, listShifts, newShiftForm, overview, readInput,
+  buildFormModel, createShift, createUpstream, listShifts, myShifts, newShiftForm, overview, readInput,
   SHIFTS_PATH, type Shift, type ShiftInput, type ShiftsUpstream, UpstreamError, validate,
 } from "./shifts.ts";
 
 const t = englishTranslator(enUS); // this plugin's catalog then the host's, as the host would chain them
 const CHROME: PageChrome = { brand: { name: "Test" }, csrfToken: "tok", nav: [], signInHref: "/login", user: { email: "", initials: "T", name: "Tester" } };
 
-function fakeCtx(opts: { body?: string; permissions?: string[]; url?: string; verifyCsrf?: (s: string | null | undefined) => boolean } = {}): RequestContext {
+function fakeCtx(opts: { body?: string; permissions?: string[]; url?: string; user?: User; verifyCsrf?: (s: string | null | undefined) => boolean } = {}): RequestContext {
   const url = new URL(opts.url ?? "http://localhost/scheduling/shifts");
   const req = Readable.from(opts.body != null ? [Buffer.from(opts.body)] : []) as unknown as IncomingMessage;
   return {
-    chrome: CHROME, declaredPermissions: [], declaredSettings: [], user: null, locale: "en-US", localeHref: (href) => href, locales: ["en-US"], log: new Log("none"), params: {},
+    chrome: CHROME, declaredPermissions: [], declaredSettings: [], user: opts.user ?? null, locale: "en-US", localeHref: (href) => href, locales: ["en-US"], log: new Log("none"), params: {},
     query: url.searchParams, req, res: {} as ServerResponse, permissions: opts.permissions ?? [], t, url,
     verifyCsrf: opts.verifyCsrf ?? (() => true),
   };
 }
 
 const SHIFTS: Shift[] = [
-  { assignee: "Avery Kline", end: "12:00", id: "1", start: "08:00", title: "Morning desk" },
-  { assignee: "Blair Mora", end: "17:00", id: "2", start: "12:00", title: "Afternoon support" },
+  { assignee: "Avery Kline", assigneeId: "019bdc1a-3f27-7c41-9a6e-2b1d4f8e05a3", end: "12:00", id: "1", start: "08:00", title: "Morning desk" },
+  { assignee: "Blair Mora", assigneeId: "019bdc1a-4a83-7de2-8f05-6c93a71be4d8", end: "17:00", id: "2", start: "12:00", title: "Afternoon support" },
 ];
 const fakeUpstream = (over: Partial<ShiftsUpstream> = {}): ShiftsUpstream => ({ create: async () => {}, list: async () => SHIFTS, ...over });
 
@@ -63,11 +63,11 @@ test("createUpstream.list fetches /shifts, asks for JSON, and maps the rows", as
   const http = (async (url, init) => {
     seen = String(url);
     assert.equal((init?.headers as Record<string, string>).accept, "application/json");
-    return new Response(JSON.stringify([{ assignee: "A", end: "2", id: "x", start: "1", title: "T", extra: "ignored" }]), { status: 200 });
+    return new Response(JSON.stringify([{ assignee: "A", assigneeId: "019bdc1a-5b6e-7a90-b3c7-84f01d2ea9b6", end: "2", id: "x", start: "1", title: "T", extra: "ignored" }]), { status: 200 });
   }) as typeof fetch;
   const shifts = await createUpstream(() => "http://up:4000/", http).list(); // trailing slash trimmed
   assert.equal(seen, "http://up:4000/shifts");
-  assert.deepEqual(shifts, [{ assignee: "A", end: "2", id: "x", start: "1", title: "T" }]);
+  assert.deepEqual(shifts, [{ assignee: "A", assigneeId: "019bdc1a-5b6e-7a90-b3c7-84f01d2ea9b6", end: "2", id: "x", start: "1", title: "T" }]);
 });
 
 test("createUpstream throws UpstreamError carrying the status on a non-2xx", async () => {
@@ -115,14 +115,21 @@ test("listShifts degrades to a recoverable error page when the upstream is down
 
 // ---- public overview handler (a page anyone can reach, gated data stays behind the permission) ----
 
-test("overview renders a public page for anyone; it links straight to Shifts only for a reader", async () => {
+test("overview renders a public page for anyone, and its CTA names the best gate the visitor passes", async () => {
   const anon = asView(await overview()(fakeCtx())); // user null, no permissions
   assert.equal(anon.view, "overview");
   assert.equal(anon.data["chrome"], CHROME);
   assert.equal(anon.data["canRead"], false); // anonymous → prompt to sign in, no shifts link
+  assert.equal(anon.data["signedIn"], false);
 
   const reader = asView(await overview()(fakeCtx({ permissions: ["scheduling:read"] })));
   assert.equal(reader.data["canRead"], true); // a reader gets a link straight to the shifts list
+
+  // Signed in but ungranted: the page must not invite them to sign in again.
+  const member = asView(await overview()(fakeCtx({ user: { email: "m@example.test", id: "01a06091-baa3-7a1f-9c62-0e3ab6d2f5c1", permissions: [] } })));
+  assert.equal(member.data["canRead"], false);
+  assert.equal(member.data["signedIn"], true);
+  assert.equal(member.data["mineHref"], "/scheduling/mine");
 });
 
 // ---- create handler ----
@@ -171,3 +178,38 @@ test("buildFormModel marks title/assignee required and attaches field errors", (
   assert.equal(title.error, "needed");
   assert.equal(fields.find((f) => f.name === "start")!.required, undefined);
 });
+
+// ---- the session-gated page: the visitor's own rows ----
+
+test("my shifts scopes the upstream read by the visitor's id, and names them in the empty state", async () => {
+  const user: User = { email: "Blair.Mora@example.test", id: "01a06091-baa3-71f4-a068-4879972979ff", permissions: [] };
+  const mine: Shift = { assignee: "Blair Mora", assigneeId: user.id, end: "22:00", id: "3", start: "17:00", title: "Evening on-call" };
+  let asked: { assigneeId?: string } | undefined;
+
+  const upstream = fakeUpstream({ list: async (opts) => { asked = opts; return [mine]; } });
+  const r = asView(await myShifts(upstream)(fakeCtx({ url: "http://localhost/scheduling/mine", user })));
+  assert.equal(r.view, "mine");
+  assert.deepEqual(asked, { assigneeId: "01a06091-baa3-71f4-a068-4879972979ff" }); // the id, never the address
+  const table = r.data["table"] as { emptyText: string; rows: { name: string }[] };
+  assert.deepEqual(table.rows.map((row) => row.name), ["Evening on-call"]);
+  assert.match(table.emptyText, /Blair\.Mora@example\.test/); // an empty page still says whose it is
+
+  // `requireSession` narrows `ctx.user` from `User | null` to `User` — the one part of the route's
+  // `session: true` guarantee the contract cannot state in the handler's type.
+  await assert.rejects(async () => { await myShifts(fakeUpstream())(fakeCtx()); }, GuardError);
+});
+
+test("my shifts degrades to the reason alone when the upstream is down, claiming nothing about what is assigned", async () => {
+  const user: User = { email: "Blair.Mora@example.test", id: "01a06091-baa3-71f4-a068-4879972979ff", permissions: [] };
+  const down = fakeUpstream({ list: async () => { throw new UpstreamError("down", 503); } });
+  const r = asView(await myShifts(down)(fakeCtx({ url: "http://localhost/scheduling/mine", user })));
+  assert.match(String(r.data["error"]), /scheduling service/i);
+  assert.deepEqual((r.data["table"] as { rows: unknown[] }).rows, []); // mine.ejs drops the count + table while `error` is set
+});
+
+test("my shifts drops a row the upstream returned that is not the visitor's", async () => {
+  const user: User = { email: "Blair.Mora@example.test", id: "01a06091-baa3-71f4-a068-4879972979ff", permissions: [] };
+  const theirs: Shift = { assignee: "Avery Kline", assigneeId: "019bdc1a-3f27-7c41-9a6e-2b1d4f8e05a3", end: "12:00", id: "9", start: "08:00", title: "Not mine" };
+  const r = asView(await myShifts(fakeUpstream({ list: async () => [theirs] }))(fakeCtx({ url: "http://localhost/scheduling/mine", user })));
+  assert.deepEqual((r.data["table"] as { rows: unknown[] }).rows, []); // a backend ignoring the scope must not leak through this page
+});
diff --git a/examples/plugins/scheduling/shifts.ts b/examples/plugins/scheduling/shifts.ts
index 2ba44f9..47bc6ab 100644
--- a/examples/plugins/scheduling/shifts.ts
+++ b/examples/plugins/scheduling/shifts.ts
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 // pure functions against a mock upstream with no network (README.md → Local dev & test story).
 
 // One import from the host's @plainpages/plugin-api barrel — the stable author surface (see README.md → Building plugins).
-import { can, CSRF_FIELD, englishTranslator, GuardError, type PageChrome, parseListQuery, readFormBody, type RouteHandler, type Translate, tracedFetch } from "@plainpages/plugin-api";
+import { can, CSRF_FIELD, englishTranslator, GuardError, type PageChrome, parseListQuery, readFormBody, requireSession, type RouteHandler, type Translate, tracedFetch } from "@plainpages/plugin-api";
 import enUS from "./i18n/en-US.ts";
 
 // The plugin's own English (its catalog, then the host's), for a view model built outside a request:
@@ -16,12 +16,14 @@ const EN: Translate = englishTranslator(enUS);
 
 export const SCHEDULING_PATH = "/scheduling"; // the plugin's public overview page
 export const SHIFTS_PATH = "/scheduling/shifts";
+export const MINE_PATH = "/scheduling/mine"; // the visitor's own shifts — a session is the whole gate
 export const READ = "scheduling:read"; // the permission gating the list + nav
 export const WRITE = "scheduling:write"; // the permission gating create
 
 export interface Shift {
   id: string;
-  assignee: string;
+  assignee: string; // display name, rendered in the table
+  assigneeId: string; // who the shift belongs to — an opaque id, the same one `ctx.user.id` carries
   end: string;
   start: string;
   title: string;
@@ -46,7 +48,9 @@ export class UpstreamError extends Error {
 
 export interface ShiftsUpstream {
   create(input: ShiftInput): Promise<void>;
-  list(): Promise<Shift[]>;
+  // `assigneeId` scopes the read at the source, which is where an ownership rule belongs (README →
+  // Three tiers of "may I?"); without it the caller would hold everyone's rows to render one page.
+  list(opts?: { assigneeId?: string }): Promise<Shift[]>;
 }
 
 // REST client over the upstream service (a stand-in for the customer's real backend). `fetch`
@@ -65,8 +69,9 @@ export function createUpstream(baseUrl: () => string, fetchImpl: typeof fetch =
       });
       if (!res.ok) throw new UpstreamError(`create shift failed (${res.status})`, res.status);
     },
-    async list() {
-      const res = await fetchImpl(`${base()}/shifts`, { headers: { accept: "application/json" } });
+    async list(opts = {}) {
+      const query = opts.assigneeId == null ? "" : `?${new URLSearchParams({ assigneeId: opts.assigneeId })}`;
+      const res = await fetchImpl(`${base()}/shifts${query}`, { headers: { accept: "application/json" } });
       if (!res.ok) throw new UpstreamError(`list shifts failed (${res.status})`, res.status);
       const data: unknown = await res.json();
       return Array.isArray(data) ? data.map(toShift) : [];
@@ -78,7 +83,7 @@ const str = (v: unknown): string => (typeof v === "string" ? v : v == null ? ""
 
 function toShift(raw: unknown): Shift {
   const r = (raw ?? {}) as Record<string, unknown>;
-  return { assignee: str(r["assignee"]), end: str(r["end"]), id: str(r["id"]), start: str(r["start"]), title: str(r["title"]) };
+  return { assignee: str(r["assignee"]), assigneeId: str(r["assigneeId"]), end: str(r["end"]), id: str(r["id"]), start: str(r["start"]), title: str(r["title"]) };
 }
 
 // ---- view models (pure; the EJS views read these) -----------------------------------
@@ -186,6 +191,41 @@ export function newShiftForm(): RouteHandler {
   return (ctx) => ({ data: buildFormModel({ chrome: ctx.chrome, t: ctx.t }), view: "shift-new" });
 }
 
+export function myShifts(upstream: ShiftsUpstream): RouteHandler {
+  return async (ctx) => {
+    const user = requireSession(ctx);
+    let shifts: Shift[] = [];
+    let error: string | undefined;
+    try {
+      // Join on the id, never the email: an address is user-changeable and can be reassigned to
+      // someone else, which would hand them the previous holder's rows. The re-filter is
+      // defence-in-depth: a backend that ignores an unknown query param would answer with everyone.
+      shifts = (await upstream.list({ assigneeId: user.id })).filter((s) => s.assigneeId === user.id);
+    } catch (err) {
+      ctx.log.warn("scheduling upstream unreachable", { error: String(err) });
+      error = ctx.t("scheduling.upstream.list");
+    }
+    return { data: buildMineModel({ chrome: ctx.chrome, email: user.email, ...(error ? { error } : {}), shifts, t: ctx.t }), view: "mine" };
+  };
+}
+
+export function buildMineModel(opts: { chrome: PageChrome; email: string; error?: string; shifts: Shift[]; t?: Translate }) {
+  const t = opts.t ?? EN;
+  return {
+    breadcrumbs: [{ label: t("scheduling.mine.title") }],
+    chrome: opts.chrome,
+    count: t("scheduling.shifts.count", { count: opts.shifts.length }),
+    ...(opts.error ? { error: opts.error } : {}),
+    table: {
+      caption: t("scheduling.mine.title"),
+      columns: [{ label: t("scheduling.table.shift") }, { label: t("scheduling.table.start") }, { label: t("scheduling.table.end") }],
+      emptyText: t("scheduling.mine.empty", { email: opts.email }),
+      rows: opts.shifts.map((s) => ({ cells: [{ rowHeader: { text: s.title } }, s.start, s.end], name: s.title })),
+    },
+    title: t("scheduling.mine.title"),
+  };
+}
+
 // Public overview: a page anyone may reach — its route + nav node are marked `public`, so the
 // gate lets an anonymous visitor through and the menu option shows for everyone. The real data
 // (the shifts list) stays behind `scheduling:read`; a reader gets a link straight to it, anyone
@@ -196,7 +236,9 @@ export function overview(): RouteHandler {
       breadcrumbs: [{ label: ctx.t("scheduling.nav.overview") }],
       canRead: can(ctx, READ),
       chrome: ctx.chrome,
+      mineHref: ctx.localeHref(MINE_PATH),
       shiftsHref: ctx.localeHref(SHIFTS_PATH), // a plugin carries the visitor's locale onto its own links
+      signedIn: ctx.user !== null,
       signInHref: ctx.localeHref(`/login?return_to=${encodeURIComponent(ctx.localeHref(SHIFTS_PATH))}`),
       title: ctx.t("scheduling.overview.title"),
     },
diff --git a/examples/plugins/scheduling/views/mine.ejs b/examples/plugins/scheduling/views/mine.ejs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d92dc20
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/plugins/scheduling/views/mine.ejs
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+<%#
+  Scheduling · the visitor's own shifts (reference plugin).
+  Data: chrome, title, breadcrumbs, count, table, error?
+%><%
+  const navHtml = include("partials/nav-tree", { nodes: chrome.nav });
+  const tableHtml = include("partials/data-table", table);
+  const alertHtml = locals.error ? include("partials/alert", { text: locals.error, tone: "neg" }) : "";
+-%>
+<%- include("partials/shell", {
+  body: '<div class="scheduling-page">' + alertHtml + (locals.error ? '' : '<p class="shift-count">' + count + '</p>' + tableHtml) + '</div>',
+  brand: chrome.brand,
+  breadcrumbs,
+  csrfToken: chrome.csrfToken,
+  nav: navHtml,
+  styles: ["/public/scheduling/scheduling.css"],
+  theme: chrome.theme,
+  title,
+  user: chrome.user,
+}) %>
diff --git a/examples/plugins/scheduling/views/overview.ejs b/examples/plugins/scheduling/views/overview.ejs
index 01ac6cf..10a7d20 100644
--- a/examples/plugins/scheduling/views/overview.ejs
+++ b/examples/plugins/scheduling/views/overview.ejs
@@ -3,12 +3,16 @@
   nav node are marked `public`, so an anonymous visitor is let through and the menu option shows for
   everyone. The actual shifts data stays behind `scheduling:read`: a reader gets a link straight to
   it, anyone else a prompt to sign in. Rendered in the native shell via ctx.chrome.
-  Data: chrome, title, breadcrumbs, canRead, shiftsHref, signInHref
+  Data: chrome, title, breadcrumbs, canRead, mineHref, shiftsHref, signedIn, signInHref
 %><%
   const navHtml = include("partials/nav-tree", { nodes: chrome.nav });
+  // One CTA per gate the visitor passes: the list needs the permission, "My shifts" only a session,
+  // and sign-in is offered to nobody who already has one.
   const cta = canRead
     ? '<a class="btn btn-primary" href="' + shiftsHref + '">' + t("scheduling.overview.view") + '</a>'
-    : '<a class="btn btn-primary" href="' + signInHref + '">' + t("scheduling.overview.signIn") + '</a>';
+    : signedIn
+      ? '<a class="btn btn-primary" href="' + mineHref + '">' + t("scheduling.overview.mine") + '</a>'
+      : '<a class="btn btn-primary" href="' + signInHref + '">' + t("scheduling.overview.signIn") + '</a>';
 -%>
 <%- include("partials/shell", {
   actions: "",
diff --git a/examples/shifts-upstream/server.ts b/examples/shifts-upstream/server.ts
index c769d4f..959f3e6 100644
--- a/examples/shifts-upstream/server.ts
+++ b/examples/shifts-upstream/server.ts
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 // of the app: stdlib only, in-memory (state resets on restart), no auth. Point PLUGIN_SETTING_SCHEDULING_UPSTREAM
 // at your real service in production.
 //
-//   GET  /shifts  → 200 [ { id, title, assignee, start, end }, … ]
+//   GET  /shifts  → 200 [ { id, title, assigneeId, assignee, start, end }, … ]   (?assigneeId=<id> → only theirs)
 //   POST /shifts  → 201 { id, … }   (body: { title, assignee, start, end })
 
 import { randomUUID } from "node:crypto";
@@ -11,10 +11,12 @@ import { createServer } from "node:http";
 
 const PORT = Number(process.env.PORT ?? 4000);
 
+// `assigneeId` is the identity the rows are owned by — an opaque, stable subject id, which is what
+// `ctx.user.id` carries. These are this demo's own people; a real backend joins on your IdP's ids.
 const shifts = [
-  { id: randomUUID(), title: "Morning — Front desk", assignee: "Avery Kline", start: "2026-06-22 08:00", end: "2026-06-22 12:00" },
-  { id: randomUUID(), title: "Afternoon — Support", assignee: "Blair Mora", start: "2026-06-22 12:00", end: "2026-06-22 17:00" },
-  { id: randomUUID(), title: "Evening — On-call", assignee: "Casey Nguyen", start: "2026-06-22 17:00", end: "2026-06-22 22:00" },
+  { id: randomUUID(), title: "Morning — Front desk", assigneeId: "019bdc1a-3f27-7c41-9a6e-2b1d4f8e05a3", assignee: "Avery Kline", start: "2026-06-22 08:00", end: "2026-06-22 12:00" },
+  { id: randomUUID(), title: "Afternoon — Support", assigneeId: "019bdc1a-4a83-7de2-8f05-6c93a71be4d8", assignee: "Blair Mora", start: "2026-06-22 12:00", end: "2026-06-22 17:00" },
+  { id: randomUUID(), title: "Evening — On-call", assigneeId: "019bdc1a-5b6e-7a90-b3c7-84f01d2ea9b6", assignee: "Casey Nguyen", start: "2026-06-22 17:00", end: "2026-06-22 22:00" },
 ];
 
 const json = (res, status, body) => {
@@ -33,10 +35,14 @@ const readBody = (req) =>
 
 createServer(async (req, res) => {
   const url = new URL(req.url ?? "/", "http://localhost");
-  if (url.pathname === "/shifts" && req.method === "GET") return json(res, 200, shifts);
+  if (url.pathname === "/shifts" && req.method === "GET") {
+    const assigneeId = url.searchParams.get("assigneeId");
+    if (assigneeId === null) return json(res, 200, shifts);
+    return json(res, 200, shifts.filter((s) => s.assigneeId === assigneeId));
+  }
   if (url.pathname === "/shifts" && req.method === "POST") {
     const b = await readBody(req);
-    const shift = { id: randomUUID(), assignee: String(b.assignee ?? ""), end: String(b.end ?? ""), start: String(b.start ?? ""), title: String(b.title ?? "") };
+    const shift = { id: randomUUID(), assignee: String(b.assignee ?? ""), assigneeId: "", end: String(b.end ?? ""), start: String(b.start ?? ""), title: String(b.title ?? "") };
     shifts.push(shift);
     return json(res, 201, shift);
   }
diff --git a/release-tooling/contract-version.test.ts b/release-tooling/contract-version.test.ts
index 65fec87..df5b356 100644
--- a/release-tooling/contract-version.test.ts
+++ b/release-tooling/contract-version.test.ts
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ test("readHostApiVersion pulls the constant out of the real source, and returns
 test("bumping HOST_API_VERSION is a deliberate act, so pin the shipped value", () => {
   // Not a substitute for the release gate — this test cannot see a tag. It is the tripwire that
   // makes an accidental edit fail here rather than at release time.
-  assert.equal(readHostApiVersion(readFileSync("src/plugin-host/plugin.ts", "utf8")), "0.3.0");
+  assert.equal(readHostApiVersion(readFileSync("src/plugin-host/plugin.ts", "utf8")), "0.4.0");
 });
 
 test("every author-facing apiVersion sample matches the shipped contract", () => {
diff --git a/release-tooling/dockerhub-overview.md.tmpl b/release-tooling/dockerhub-overview.md.tmpl
index 988dac5..bd4a988 100644
--- a/release-tooling/dockerhub-overview.md.tmpl
+++ b/release-tooling/dockerhub-overview.md.tmpl
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@ into the app. Create `plugins/hello/plugin.ts`:
 import { definePlugin } from "@plainpages/plugin-api";
 
 export default definePlugin({
-  apiVersion: "0.3.0",
+  apiVersion: "0.4.0",
   nav: [{ href: "/hello", id: "hello", label: "Hello", public: true }],
   routes: [
     { method: "GET", path: "/", public: true, handler: () => ({ html: "<h1>Hello from my plugin</h1>" }) },
diff --git a/src/auth/gate.test.ts b/src/auth/gate.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0c133cb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/auth/gate.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+import assert from "node:assert/strict";
+import { test } from "node:test";
+import type { User } from "../http/context.ts";
+import { allows, gatesSet } from "./gate.ts";
+
+const holder: User = { email: "holder@example.test", id: "01a06091-ba9f-765f-abf4-b5144c314bc7", permissions: ["x:read"] };
+const stranger: User = { email: "stranger@example.test", id: "01a06091-baa3-7b4d-810a-c9ee7e559d98", permissions: [] };
+
+test("allows: ungated and public are open to anyone; session needs a user; permission needs the token", () => {
+  assert.equal(allows({}, null), true);
+  assert.equal(allows({ public: true }, null), true);
+
+  assert.equal(allows({ session: true }, null), false);
+  assert.equal(allows({ session: true }, stranger), true); // signed in is the whole gate — no grant
+
+  assert.equal(allows({ permission: "x:read" }, null), false);
+  assert.equal(allows({ permission: "x:read" }, stranger), false);
+  assert.equal(allows({ permission: "x:read" }, holder), true);
+});
+
+test("gatesSet names the gates a declaration sets, so discovery can refuse more than one", () => {
+  assert.deepEqual(gatesSet({}), []);
+  assert.deepEqual(gatesSet({ session: true }), ["session"]);
+  assert.deepEqual(gatesSet({ permission: "x:read", public: true }), ["public", "permission"]);
+  assert.deepEqual(gatesSet({ permission: "x:read", public: true, session: true }), ["public", "session", "permission"]);
+  // Only `true` sets a gate, so a manifest spelling one `false` names none — which discovery refuses.
+  assert.deepEqual(gatesSet({ public: false, session: false }), []);
+});
diff --git a/src/auth/gate.ts b/src/auth/gate.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7c7857d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/auth/gate.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+// One home for the gate rule, so the router and the menu can never disagree about what a visitor
+// may reach. README → Public pages & menu items.
+import type { User } from "../http/context.ts";
+
+const GATES = ["public", "session", "permission"] as const;
+
+export interface Gate {
+  permission?: string; // the Keto Permission the caller must hold, `<resource>:<action>`
+  public?: boolean; // anyone, signed in or not
+  session?: boolean; // any signed-in user, no grant to hold; anonymous is sent to /login
+}
+
+export function allows(gate: Gate, user: User | null): boolean {
+  if (gate.public === true) return true;
+  if (gate.session === true) return user !== null;
+  return gate.permission == null || (user?.permissions.includes(gate.permission) ?? false);
+}
+
+export function gatesSet(gate: Gate | null | undefined): string[] {
+  if (gate == null) return [];
+  return GATES.filter((name) => (name === "permission" ? gate.permission != null : gate[name] === true));
+}
diff --git a/src/auth/login.test.ts b/src/auth/login.test.ts
index abbe3d7..5327bad 100644
--- a/src/auth/login.test.ts
+++ b/src/auth/login.test.ts
@@ -92,12 +92,24 @@ test("completeLogin returns null and touches nothing when there is no active ses
   assert.equal(touched, false);
 });
 
-test("completeLogin maps a missing email trait to null and throws if the tokenizer yields no JWT", async () => {
-  const identity: Identity = { id: ID, traits: {} };
+test("completeLogin throws if the tokenizer yields no JWT", async () => {
+  const identity: Identity = { id: ID, traits: { email: "admin@plainpages.local" } };
   const kratosPublic = publicStub({ whoami: async () => ({ active: true, identity }) as Session }); // never returns a tokenized JWT
   await assert.rejects(completeLogin({ keto: ketoStub(), kratosAdmin: adminStub(), kratosPublic }, "c"), /tokenizer returned no JWT/);
 });
 
+// An identity with no email is no session, decided here so /auth/complete and remintSession cannot
+// disagree: `claimsToUser` reads a token carrying none as anonymous, so minting one would hand the
+// browser a cookie every later request refuses.
+test("completeLogin refuses an identity carrying no email, before it mints anything", async () => {
+  const identity: Identity = { id: ID, traits: {} };
+  let touched = false;
+  const kratosAdmin = adminStub({ updateMetadataPublic: async () => { touched = true; return { id: ID }; } });
+  const kratosPublic = publicStub({ whoami: async () => ({ active: true, identity, tokenized: "h.p.s" }) as Session });
+  assert.equal(await completeLogin({ keto: ketoStub(), kratosAdmin, kratosPublic }, "c"), null);
+  assert.equal(touched, false); // no Keto read, no metadata write, no JWT
+});
+
 test("remintSession: a live Kratos session → fresh cookie + refreshed user; a dead session → a clearing cookie + null", async () => {
   const identity: Identity = { id: ID, traits: { email: "admin@plainpages.local" } };
   const kratosPublic = publicStub({ whoami: async (o) => (o?.tokenizeAs ? { active: true, identity, tokenized: "h.p.s" } : { active: true, identity }) as Session });
diff --git a/src/auth/login.ts b/src/auth/login.ts
index 7cc55c2..621c24d 100644
--- a/src/auth/login.ts
+++ b/src/auth/login.ts
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ export interface LoginDeps {
 }
 
 export interface CompletedLogin {
-  email: string | null;
+  email: string;
   userId: string;
   jwt: string;
   permissions: string[];
@@ -61,7 +61,13 @@ export async function completeLogin(deps: LoginDeps, cookie: string | undefined)
   if (!session?.identity) return null;
   const userId = session.identity.id;
   const emailTrait = session.identity.traits?.["email"];
-  const email = typeof emailTrait === "string" ? emailTrait : null;
+  const email = typeof emailTrait === "string" ? emailTrait : "";
+  // No email is no session: `claimsToUser` reads a token carrying none as anonymous, so minting one
+  // would hand the browser a cookie every later request refuses.
+  if (!email) {
+    currentLog()?.warn("session dropped: identity has no email", { sub: userId });
+    return null;
+  }
 
   const permissions = await readPermissions(deps.keto, userId);
   await deps.kratosAdmin.updateMetadataPublic(userId, { permissions });
@@ -87,7 +93,7 @@ export interface Reminted {
 export async function remintSession(deps: LoginDeps, cookie: string | undefined, options: { secure?: boolean } = {}): Promise<Reminted> {
   const completed = await completeLogin(deps, cookie);
   if (!completed) return { setCookie: clearSessionCookie(options), user: null };
-  return { setCookie: sessionCookie(completed.jwt, options), user: { email: completed.email ?? "", id: completed.userId, permissions: completed.permissions } };
+  return { setCookie: sessionCookie(completed.jwt, options), user: { email: completed.email, id: completed.userId, permissions: completed.permissions } };
 }
 
 // Build the Set-Cookie for our session JWT. HttpOnly + SameSite=Lax by default; `secure` is
diff --git a/src/auth/routes.test.ts b/src/auth/routes.test.ts
index fa9ed2d..89bf278 100644
--- a/src/auth/routes.test.ts
+++ b/src/auth/routes.test.ts
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 import { test } from "node:test";
 import assert from "node:assert/strict";
 import { AUTH_FLOWS } from "./flow-view.ts";
+import { gatesSet } from "./gate.ts";
 import type { HydraAdmin } from "./hydra-admin.ts";
 import type { KetoClient } from "./keto-client.ts";
 import type { KratosAdmin } from "./kratos-admin.ts";
@@ -39,8 +40,12 @@ test("hydra alone ⇒ only RP-initiated logout of the OAuth2 group (login/consen
 });
 
 test("everything wired ⇒ the full group: OAuth2 challenges, consent GET+POST, /auth/complete", () => {
-  const got = keys(buildAuthRoutes(deps({ hydra, keto, kratos, kratosAdmin })));
+  const routes = buildAuthRoutes(deps({ hydra, keto, kratos, kratosAdmin }));
+  const got = keys(routes);
   for (const key of ["GET /auth/complete", "GET /login", "GET /oauth2/consent", "GET /oauth2/login", "GET /oauth2/logout", "POST /logout", "POST /oauth2/consent"]) {
     assert.ok(got.includes(key), key);
   }
+  // Discovery enforces exactly one gate per plugin declaration; nothing checks the host's own table
+  // at boot, so a route added here without a gate would be silently public.
+  for (const route of routes) assert.deepEqual(gatesSet(route), ["public"], `${route.method} ${route.path}`);
 });
diff --git a/src/auth/routes.ts b/src/auth/routes.ts
index da64706..df810e0 100644
--- a/src/auth/routes.ts
+++ b/src/auth/routes.ts
@@ -240,20 +240,20 @@ export function buildAuthRoutes({ hydra, keto, kratos, kratosAdmin, menu, secure
   const routes: BuiltinRoute[] = [];
   if (kratos) {
     for (const [path, flowType] of Object.entries(AUTH_FLOWS)) {
-      routes.push({ handler: flowPage(kratos, flowType, secureCookies), method: "GET", path });
+      routes.push({ handler: flowPage(kratos, flowType, secureCookies), method: "GET", path, public: true });
     }
-    routes.push({ handler: logout(kratos, secureCookies), method: "POST", path: "/logout" });
+    routes.push({ handler: logout(kratos, secureCookies), method: "POST", path: "/logout", public: true });
   }
   if (hydra && kratos) {
     const provider = { hydra, kratos };
-    routes.push({ handler: oauthLogin(provider, secureCookies), method: "GET", path: "/oauth2/login" });
-    routes.push({ handler: consentScreen(provider, menu.branding.name), method: "GET", path: "/oauth2/consent" });
-    routes.push({ handler: consentDecision(provider), method: "POST", path: "/oauth2/consent" });
+    routes.push({ handler: oauthLogin(provider, secureCookies), method: "GET", path: "/oauth2/login", public: true });
+    routes.push({ handler: consentScreen(provider, menu.branding.name), method: "GET", path: "/oauth2/consent", public: true });
+    routes.push({ handler: consentDecision(provider), method: "POST", path: "/oauth2/consent", public: true });
   }
-  if (hydra) routes.push({ handler: oauthLogout(hydra), method: "GET", path: "/oauth2/logout" });
+  if (hydra) routes.push({ handler: oauthLogout(hydra), method: "GET", path: "/oauth2/logout", public: true });
   if (kratos && kratosAdmin && keto) {
-    routes.push({ handler: completeAuth({ keto, kratosAdmin, kratosPublic: kratos }, secureCookies), method: "GET", path: "/auth/complete" });
+    routes.push({ handler: completeAuth({ keto, kratosAdmin, kratosPublic: kratos }, secureCookies), method: "GET", path: "/auth/complete", public: true });
   }
-  routes.push({ handler: errorSink, method: "GET", path: "/error" });
+  routes.push({ handler: errorSink, method: "GET", path: "/error", public: true });
   return routes;
 }
diff --git a/src/http/app.test.ts b/src/http/app.test.ts
index b4041f6..5901282 100644
--- a/src/http/app.test.ts
+++ b/src/http/app.test.ts
@@ -609,6 +609,7 @@ test("guards map to responses: requireSession → /login, a failed can/check →
       { handler: (ctx) => { if (!can(ctx, "admin")) throw new GuardError(403, "no"); return { html: "ok" }; }, method: "GET", path: "/admin-only" },
       { handler: async (ctx) => { if (!(await check(keto, ctx, { namespace: "Resource", object: ctx.params.id ?? "", relation: "view" }))) throw new GuardError(403, "no"); return { html: "seen" }; }, method: "GET", path: "/doc/:id" },
       { handler: () => ({ html: "gated" }), method: "GET", path: "/gated", permission: "secret:read" }, // declarative route gate
+      { handler: () => ({ html: "mine" }), method: "GET", path: "/mine", session: true }, // declarative session gate
     ],
   };
   const app = createApp({ jwks: staticJwks([ecJwk]), plugins: [guarded] });
@@ -642,6 +643,12 @@ test("guards map to responses: requireSession → /login, a failed can/check →
   assert.equal(gDenied.status, 403);
   assert.match(await gDenied.text(), /403/); // the rendered 403.ejs over HTTP
   assert.equal((await fetch(url + "/guarded/gated", auth(["secret:read"]))).status, 200);
+
+  // declarative `session` gate: anonymous → sign in, and any signed-in user through, grant or none.
+  const sAnon = await fetch(url + "/guarded/mine", { redirect: "manual" });
+  assert.equal(sAnon.status, 303);
+  assert.equal(sAnon.headers.get("location"), "/login?return_to=%2Fguarded%2Fmine");
+  assert.equal((await fetch(url + "/guarded/mine", auth([]))).status, 200);
 });
 
 test("plugin hooks: onRequest can short-circuit a request and onResponse observes the handler result", async (t) => {
diff --git a/src/http/app.ts b/src/http/app.ts
index 39d57f1..6a65e9c 100644
--- a/src/http/app.ts
+++ b/src/http/app.ts
@@ -28,7 +28,8 @@ import { DEFAULT_MENU, type MenuConfig } from "../ui/menu-config.ts";
 import { declaredPermissions, type Plugin, type RouteHandler, type RouteResult } from "../plugin-host/plugin.ts";
 import type { PluginSettings } from "../plugin-host/settings.ts";
 import type { SystemCapabilities } from "../plugin-host/system.ts";
-import { allowedMethods, isAuthorized, matchRoute } from "../plugin-host/router.ts";
+import { allows, type Gate } from "../auth/gate.ts";
+import { allowedMethods, matchRoute } from "../plugin-host/router.ts";
 import { buildAuthRoutes } from "../auth/routes.ts";
 import { securityHeaders } from "./security-headers.ts";
 import { localPath } from "./safe-url.ts";
@@ -156,7 +157,6 @@ export function createApp(options: AppOptions = {}): Server {
   // "/dashboard", gated to a signed-in user. A plugin may own it via `dashboard`; else the built-in
   // starter page.
   const serveDashboard = async (ctx: RequestContext, csrf: RequestCsrf, contextFor: PluginContextFactory): Promise<RouteResult | null> => {
-    if (!ctx.user) return { redirect: loginRedirect(ctx), status: 303 };
     // The page carries the Sign-out form, so Set-Cookie a fresh CSRF token here when absent.
     csrf.setCookie();
     if (dashboardPlugin) {
@@ -173,8 +173,8 @@ export function createApp(options: AppOptions = {}): Server {
   // routes.ts, capability-gated on the wired clients) plus the two landing slots above.
   const builtinRoutes: BuiltinRoute[] = [
     ...buildAuthRoutes({ hydra, keto, kratos, kratosAdmin, menu, secureCookies }),
-    { handler: serveHome, method: "GET", path: "/" },
-    { handler: serveDashboard, method: "GET", path: "/dashboard" },
+    { handler: serveHome, method: "GET", path: "/", public: true },
+    { handler: serveDashboard, method: "GET", path: "/dashboard", session: true },
   ];
 
   // The request handler. Run inside runWithLog (below) so the per-request logger is ambient: every
@@ -278,15 +278,19 @@ export function createApp(options: AppOptions = {}): Server {
         }
       }
 
+      // Anonymous → sign in, remembering the page as return_to; a signed-in user who simply lacks
+      // the permission gets the 403 page.
+      const refuse = async (gate: Gate, gateCtx: RequestContext): Promise<void> => {
+        if (!gateCtx.user) { res.writeHead(303, { location: carryLocale(loginRedirect(gateCtx)) }).end(); return; }
+        reqLog.warn("forbidden: missing permission", { path: pathname, required: gate.permission ?? "", sub: gateCtx.user.id });
+        sendHtml(res, 403, await renderPage("403", {}));
+      };
+
       const match = matchRoute(plugins, method, pathname);
       if (match) {
         const routeCtx = contextFor(match.plugin.id, match.params);
-        if (!isAuthorized(match.route, routeCtx.permissions)) {
-          // Anonymous → sign in, remembering the page as return_to; a signed-in user who simply
-          // lacks the permission gets the 403 page.
-          if (!routeCtx.user) { res.writeHead(303, { location: loginRedirect(routeCtx) }).end(); return; }
-          reqLog.warn("forbidden: missing permission", { path: pathname, required: match.route.permission ?? "", sub: routeCtx.user.id });
-          sendHtml(res, 403, await renderPage("403", {}));
+        if (!allows(match.route, routeCtx.user)) {
+          await refuse(match.route, routeCtx);
           return;
         }
         csrfMint.setCookie();
@@ -300,6 +304,7 @@ export function createApp(options: AppOptions = {}): Server {
 
       const builtin = matchBuiltinRoute(builtinRoutes, method, pathname);
       if (builtin) {
+        if (!allows(builtin, ctx.user)) { await refuse(builtin, ctx); return; }
         await sendResult(res, await builtin.handler(ctx, csrfMint, contextFor), viewsFor(ctx), carryLocale);
         return;
       }
diff --git a/src/http/builtin-routes.ts b/src/http/builtin-routes.ts
index b1877a9..1c24997 100644
--- a/src/http/builtin-routes.ts
+++ b/src/http/builtin-routes.ts
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 // mint (host-only — a plugin reads the token via ctx.chrome instead). app.ts matches this table
 // after plugin routes — exact path, a GET route also answering HEAD like the plugin router — and
 // pipes the result through sendResult against the core views.
+import type { Gate } from "../auth/gate.ts";
 import type { RequestContext } from "./context.ts";
 import type { RouteResult } from "../plugin-host/plugin.ts";
 
@@ -19,7 +20,7 @@ export interface RequestCsrf {
 // own context — otherwise the plugin's keys render as bare keys on the pages it owns.
 export type PluginContextFactory = (pluginId: string) => RequestContext;
 
-export interface BuiltinRoute {
+export interface BuiltinRoute extends Gate {
   // Returns a RouteResult, or null when the handler wrote to ctx.res itself
   // (the landing slots dispatch a plugin's own result against that plugin's views).
   handler: (ctx: RequestContext, csrf: RequestCsrf, contextFor: PluginContextFactory) => Promise<RouteResult | null> | RouteResult | null;
diff --git a/src/plugin-host/discovery.test.ts b/src/plugin-host/discovery.test.ts
index 14ef216..76d2665 100644
--- a/src/plugin-host/discovery.test.ts
+++ b/src/plugin-host/discovery.test.ts
@@ -20,8 +20,8 @@ function scaffold(t: TestContext, files: Record<string, string>): string {
 }
 
 const full = (id: string): string =>
-  `export default { apiVersion: "${HOST_API_VERSION}", nav: [{ id: "${id}:root", label: "${id}" }], ` +
-  `routes: [{ method: "GET", path: "/", handler: () => ({ html: "${id}" }) }] };`;
+  `export default { apiVersion: "${HOST_API_VERSION}", nav: [{ id: "${id}:root", label: "${id}", public: true }], ` +
+  `routes: [{ method: "GET", path: "/", public: true, handler: () => ({ html: "${id}" }) }] };`;
 
 test("a missing plugins/ dir means zero plugins, not an error (clean clone)", async () => {
   assert.deepEqual(await discoverPlugins({ dir: join(tmpdir(), "pp-does-not-exist-xyz") }), []);
@@ -62,6 +62,15 @@ const badCases: Array<{ name: string; files: Record<string, string>; match: RegE
   { name: "duplicate nav id across plugins", files: { "a/plugin.ts": full("a").replace("a:root", "dup"), "b/plugin.ts": full("b").replace("b:root", "dup") }, match: /nav id "dup"/ },
   { name: "a route marked public AND permission is contradictory", files: { "contra/plugin.ts": `export default { apiVersion: "${HOST_API_VERSION}", routes: [{ method: "GET", path: "/", public: true, permission: "x:read", handler: () => ({ html: "x" }) }] };` }, match: /contra.*public.*permission/s },
   { name: "a nav node marked public AND permission is contradictory", files: { "contranav/plugin.ts": `export default { apiVersion: "${HOST_API_VERSION}", nav: [{ id: "n", label: "N", public: true, permission: "x:read" }] };` }, match: /contranav.*public.*permission/s },
+  { name: "a route marked session AND permission is contradictory", files: { "contrasess/plugin.ts": `export default { apiVersion: "${HOST_API_VERSION}", routes: [{ method: "GET", path: "/", session: true, permission: "x:read", handler: () => ({ html: "x" }) }] };` }, match: /contrasess.*session.*permission/s },
+  { name: "a route marked public AND session is contradictory", files: { "contrapub/plugin.ts": `export default { apiVersion: "${HOST_API_VERSION}", routes: [{ method: "GET", path: "/", public: true, session: true, handler: () => ({ html: "x" }) }] };` }, match: /contrapub.*public.*session/s },
+  { name: "a route whose session flag is a truthy non-boolean is refused, not read as ungated", files: { "truthy/plugin.ts": `export default { apiVersion: "${HOST_API_VERSION}", routes: [{ method: "GET", path: "/", session: "yes", handler: () => ({ html: "x" }) }] };` }, match: /truthy.*session.*true/s },
+  { name: "a nav node whose public flag is a truthy non-boolean is refused too", files: { "truthynav/plugin.ts": `export default { apiVersion: "${HOST_API_VERSION}", nav: [{ id: "n", label: "N", public: 1 }] };` }, match: /truthynav.*public.*true/s },
+  { name: "a nav node marked session AND permission is contradictory", files: { "contrasessnav/plugin.ts": `export default { apiVersion: "${HOST_API_VERSION}", nav: [{ id: "n", label: "N", session: true, permission: "x:read" }] };` }, match: /contrasessnav.*session.*permission/s },
+  // A gate is named, never forgotten: a route or node without one would be an open page nobody chose.
+  { name: "a route naming no gate at all is refused, not served to everyone", files: { "nogate/plugin.ts": `export default { apiVersion: "${HOST_API_VERSION}", routes: [{ method: "GET", path: "/", handler: () => ({ html: "x" }) }] };` }, match: /nogate.*names no gate/s },
+  { name: "a nav node naming no gate at all is refused too — a section header says `public` outright", files: { "nogatenav/plugin.ts": `export default { apiVersion: "${HOST_API_VERSION}", nav: [{ id: "n", label: "N" }] };` }, match: /nogatenav.*names no gate/s },
+  { name: "a gate set to false is refused — it reads as a gate but sets none", files: { "falsegate/plugin.ts": `export default { apiVersion: "${HOST_API_VERSION}", routes: [{ method: "GET", path: "/", public: false, handler: () => ({ html: "x" }) }] };` }, match: /falsegate.*public.*true/s },
   // A permission name is <resource>:<action> wherever the manifest mentions one. Enforced here, not
   // only in the admin GUI, so it holds for a plugin installed without that GUI.
   { name: "a route gating on a bare word", files: { "bare/plugin.ts": `export default { apiVersion: "${HOST_API_VERSION}", routes: [{ method: "GET", path: "/", permission: "admin", handler: () => ({ html: "x" }) }] };` }, match: /bare.*admin.*<resource>:<action>/s },
@@ -96,12 +105,19 @@ test("a discovery failure tells the operator their plugins/ copy may just be out
   });
 });
 
-test("a route + nav node may be marked public and load fine", async (t) => {
-  const dir = scaffold(t, { "pub/plugin.ts": `export default { apiVersion: "${HOST_API_VERSION}", nav: [{ href: "/pub", id: "n", label: "N", public: true }], routes: [{ method: "GET", path: "/", public: true, handler: () => ({ html: "x" }) }] };` });
+test("a route + nav node may be marked public, or session, and load fine", async (t) => {
+  const dir = scaffold(t, {
+    "pub/plugin.ts": `export default { apiVersion: "${HOST_API_VERSION}", nav: [{ href: "/pub", id: "n", label: "N", public: true }], routes: [{ method: "GET", path: "/", public: true, handler: () => ({ html: "x" }) }] };`,
+    "sess/plugin.ts": `export default { apiVersion: "${HOST_API_VERSION}", nav: [{ href: "/sess", id: "s", label: "S", session: true }], routes: [{ method: "GET", path: "/", session: true, handler: () => ({ html: "x" }) }] };`,
+  });
   const plugins = await discoverPlugins({ dir });
-  assert.equal(plugins.length, 1);
-  assert.equal(plugins[0]?.routes?.[0]?.public, true);
-  assert.equal(plugins[0]?.nav?.[0]?.public, true);
+  assert.equal(plugins.length, 2);
+  const pub = plugins.find((p) => p.id === "pub");
+  const sess = plugins.find((p) => p.id === "sess");
+  assert.equal(pub?.routes?.[0]?.public, true);
+  assert.equal(pub?.nav?.[0]?.public, true);
+  assert.equal(sess?.routes?.[0]?.session, true);
+  assert.equal(sess?.nav?.[0]?.session, true);
 });
 
 test("`admin` is not reserved — the admin screens ship as a drop-in plugin mounted at /admin", async (t) => {
@@ -127,7 +143,7 @@ test("a plugin may carry its own package.json, node_modules and dependencies", a
     "shop/node_modules/price-tag/package.json": `{ "name": "price-tag", "version": "1.0.0", "type": "module", "exports": "./index.js" }`,
     "shop/node_modules/price-tag/index.js": `export default (n) => \`\${n} kr\`;`,
     "shop/plugin.ts": `import { definePlugin } from "@plainpages/plugin-api";\nimport price from "price-tag";\n` +
-      `export default definePlugin({ apiVersion: "${HOST_API_VERSION}", routes: [{ method: "GET", path: "/", handler: () => ({ html: price(20) }) }] });`,
+      `export default definePlugin({ apiVersion: "${HOST_API_VERSION}", routes: [{ method: "GET", path: "/", public: true, handler: () => ({ html: price(20) }) }] });`,
   });
 
   const plugins = await discoverPlugins({ dir });
diff --git a/src/plugin-host/discovery.ts b/src/plugin-host/discovery.ts
index 660d603..9b73049 100644
--- a/src/plugin-host/discovery.ts
+++ b/src/plugin-host/discovery.ts
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 import { existsSync, readdirSync, readFileSync } from "node:fs";
 import { dirname, join } from "node:path";
 import { fileURLToPath, pathToFileURL } from "node:url";
+import { type Gate, gatesSet } from "../auth/gate.ts";
 import { checkApiVersion, findConflicts, isValidPermissionName, isValidPluginId, RESERVED_PLUGIN_IDS, type Plugin, type PluginManifest } from "./plugin.ts";
 import { settingsDeclError } from "./settings.ts";
 import { isValidStoragePluginId, MAX_STORAGE_PLUGIN_ID_LENGTH } from "./storage.ts";
@@ -146,46 +147,43 @@ function shapeError(manifest: PluginManifest): string | null {
     const settings = settingsDeclError(manifest.settings);
     if (settings) return settings;
   }
-  // `public` and `permission` are contradictory on the same route/nav node — "open to all" vs
-  // "needs this permission". Refuse rather than silently pick one, so the author's intent is unambiguous.
   for (const route of Array.isArray(manifest.routes) ? manifest.routes : []) {
-    if (route?.public === true && route.permission != null) return `route "${route.method} ${route.path}" sets both public and permission — they are mutually exclusive`;
-  }
-  const navContradiction = findPublicNavContradiction(manifest.nav);
-  if (navContradiction) return navContradiction;
-  // Every permission name the manifest mentions — gated on or declared — must be `<resource>:<action>`.
-  // A bare word names a role, and roles are groups here (README → Naming a permission).
-  for (const route of Array.isArray(manifest.routes) ? manifest.routes : []) {
-    if (route?.permission != null && !isValidPermissionName(route.permission)) {
-      return `route "${route.method} ${route.path}" gates on "${route.permission}"; a permission name is <resource>:<action>, e.g. "things:read"`;
-    }
+    const gate = gateError(`route "${route?.method} ${route?.path}"`, route);
+    if (gate) return gate;
   }
+  const navGate = findNavGateError(manifest.nav);
+  if (navGate) return navGate;
   for (const decl of Array.isArray(manifest.permissions) ? manifest.permissions : []) {
     if (decl?.name == null || !isValidPermissionName(decl.name)) {
       return `declared permission "${decl?.name}" is not <resource>:<action>, e.g. "things:read"`;
     }
   }
-  const navPermission = findInvalidNavPermission(manifest.nav);
-  if (navPermission) return navPermission;
   return null;
 }
 
-// Recurse the nav fragment: a node that is both `public` and `permission`-gated is contradictory.
-function findPublicNavContradiction(nodes: PluginManifest["nav"]): string | null {
-  for (const node of Array.isArray(nodes) ? nodes : []) {
-    if (node?.public === true && node.permission != null) return `nav node "${node.label ?? node.id ?? "?"}" sets both public and permission — they are mutually exclusive`;
-    const inChild = findPublicNavContradiction(node?.children);
-    if (inChild) return inChild;
+// Every rule a declaration's gate must satisfy. Exactly one gate, always: a missing one would be an
+// open page nobody chose, and anything but `true` (a `false`, a `"yes"`) sets no gate while looking
+// like it does. A permission name is `<resource>:<action>` because a bare word names a role, and
+// roles are groups here (README → Naming a permission).
+function gateError(what: string, gate: Gate | null | undefined): string | null {
+  for (const flag of ["public", "session"] as const) {
+    const value = gate?.[flag];
+    if (value !== undefined && value !== true) return `${what} sets ${flag} to ${JSON.stringify(value)}; a gate is declared with \`true\``;
+  }
+  const gates = gatesSet(gate);
+  if (gates.length === 0) return `${what} names no gate; name exactly one — public, session or permission`;
+  if (gates.length > 1) return `${what} sets ${gates.join(" and ")}; name exactly one — public, session or permission`;
+  if (gate?.permission != null && !isValidPermissionName(gate.permission)) {
+    return `${what} gates on "${gate.permission}"; a permission name is <resource>:<action>, e.g. "things:read"`;
   }
   return null;
 }
 
-function findInvalidNavPermission(nodes: PluginManifest["nav"]): string | null {
+function findNavGateError(nodes: PluginManifest["nav"]): string | null {
   for (const node of Array.isArray(nodes) ? nodes : []) {
-    if (node?.permission != null && !isValidPermissionName(node.permission)) {
-      return `nav node "${node.label ?? node.id ?? "?"}" gates on "${node.permission}"; a permission name is <resource>:<action>, e.g. "things:read"`;
-    }
-    const inChild = findInvalidNavPermission(node?.children);
+    const err = gateError(`nav node "${node?.label ?? node?.id ?? "?"}"`, node);
+    if (err) return err;
+    const inChild = findNavGateError(node?.children);
     if (inChild) return inChild;
   }
   return null;
diff --git a/src/plugin-host/plugin-api.ts b/src/plugin-host/plugin-api.ts
index 03d1ec7..e3adaca 100644
--- a/src/plugin-host/plugin-api.ts
+++ b/src/plugin-host/plugin-api.ts
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@ export type { RequestContext, User } from "../http/context.ts";
 export type { PageChrome } from "../ui/chrome.ts";
 export type { NavNode } from "../ui/nav.ts";
 export { can, check, GuardError, requireSession } from "../auth/guards.ts";
+// The three coarse gates a route or nav node may declare — `Route` and `NavNode` both extend it.
+export type { Gate } from "../auth/gate.ts";
 // Translation: `ctx.t` and the view-level `t(...)` do the work at runtime — these are for
 // authoring a plugin's own catalogs (plugins/<id>/i18n/<locale>.ts) and for building a translator
 // in a unit test. `PluralMessage` types a message that varies with a count.
diff --git a/src/plugin-host/plugin.ts b/src/plugin-host/plugin.ts
index 313d667..4c4716f 100644
--- a/src/plugin-host/plugin.ts
+++ b/src/plugin-host/plugin.ts
@@ -4,13 +4,14 @@
 // A plugin's identity is its folder under plugins/: folder name = `id` (isValidPluginId), mount =
 // `/<id>`. Neither is in the manifest — the host derives them, so they can't drift or be claimed twice.
 
+import type { Gate } from "../auth/gate.ts";
 import type { RequestContext } from "../http/context.ts";
 import type { NavNode } from "../ui/nav.ts";
 import { envName, type SettingDecl, type SettingsOf } from "./settings.ts";
 import type { StorageCredentials } from "./storage.ts";
 
 // The Plainpages release this contract ships in — see README → Contract versioning.
-export const HOST_API_VERSION = "0.3.0";
+export const HOST_API_VERSION = "0.4.0";
 
 export type HttpMethod = "DELETE" | "GET" | "HEAD" | "PATCH" | "POST" | "PUT";
 
@@ -24,14 +25,10 @@ export type RouteResult =
 
 export type RouteHandler = (ctx: RequestContext) => Promise<RouteResult | void> | RouteResult | void;
 
-export interface Route {
+export interface Route extends Gate {
   handler: RouteHandler;
   method: HttpMethod;
   path: string; // relative to the plugin's mount path `/<id>`; ":name" segments → ctx.params.name
-  permission?: string; // coarse gate — the Keto Permission the caller must hold; checked before the handler runs
-  // Same as omitting `permission`, but stated outright so public is a deliberate choice rather than
-  // a forgotten gate. Mutually exclusive with `permission` (discovery refuses both).
-  public?: boolean;
 }
 
 // A Keto Permission this plugin gates on — declared for docs/seeding. Names are a shared global
diff --git a/src/plugin-host/router.test.ts b/src/plugin-host/router.test.ts
index 27e3447..a4246a6 100644
--- a/src/plugin-host/router.test.ts
+++ b/src/plugin-host/router.test.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import assert from "node:assert/strict";
 import { test } from "node:test";
 import type { Plugin, Route } from "./plugin.ts";
-import { allowedMethods, isAuthorized, matchRoute } from "./router.ts";
+import { allowedMethods, matchRoute } from "./router.ts";
 
 const noop: Route["handler"] = () => ({ html: "x" });
 
@@ -54,14 +54,3 @@ test("allowedMethods lists methods at a path (GET implies HEAD); empty when the
   assert.deepEqual(allowedMethods(plugins, "/x/a"), ["GET", "HEAD", "POST"]);
   assert.deepEqual(allowedMethods(plugins, "/x/missing"), []);
 });
-
-test("isAuthorized: open routes pass; gated routes require the permission token; public is explicitly open", () => {
-  const open: Route = { handler: noop, method: "GET", path: "/" };
-  const gated: Route = { handler: noop, method: "GET", path: "/", permission: "x:read" };
-  const pub: Route = { handler: noop, method: "GET", path: "/", public: true }; // blessed public alias
-  assert.equal(isAuthorized(open, []), true);
-  assert.equal(isAuthorized(gated, []), false);
-  assert.equal(isAuthorized(gated, ["x:read"]), true);
-  assert.equal(isAuthorized(gated, ["other"]), false);
-  assert.equal(isAuthorized(pub, []), true); // open to anonymous, like omitting permission — but stated outright
-});
diff --git a/src/plugin-host/router.ts b/src/plugin-host/router.ts
index 072e735..8ac5c70 100644
--- a/src/plugin-host/router.ts
+++ b/src/plugin-host/router.ts
@@ -73,10 +73,3 @@ export function allowedMethods(plugins: Plugin[], pathname: string): string[] {
   }
   return [...methods].sort();
 }
-
-// Coarse permission gate: a route marked `public` (or one with no `permission`) is open; otherwise
-// the user's permissions (from the session JWT) must include the token. The same rule composeNav uses
-// for the menu. `public` and `permission` are mutually exclusive (discovery refuses both).
-export function isAuthorized(route: Route, permissions: string[]): boolean {
-  return route.public === true || route.permission == null || permissions.includes(route.permission);
-}
diff --git a/src/ui/chrome.ts b/src/ui/chrome.ts
index 24e1b04..984cd87 100644
--- a/src/ui/chrome.ts
+++ b/src/ui/chrome.ts
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ import { composeNav, type NavNode } from "./nav.ts";
 import type { Plugin } from "../plugin-host/plugin.ts";
 import { branding, shellUser, type ShellUser } from "./shell-context.ts";
 
-const DASHBOARD_NAV: NavNode = { href: "/dashboard", icon: "i-grid", id: "dashboard", label: "nav.dashboard" };
+const DASHBOARD_NAV: NavNode = { href: "/dashboard", icon: "i-grid", id: "dashboard", label: "nav.dashboard", session: true };
 
 export interface PageChrome {
   brand: { logo?: string; name: string; sub?: string };
@@ -35,8 +35,7 @@ export interface ChromeOptions {
 export function buildPluginChrome(opts: ChromeOptions): PageChrome {
   const t = opts.t ?? ENGLISH;
   const carryLocale = opts.localeHref ?? ((href: string) => href);
-  // Dashboard is gated, so an anonymous click would only dead-end at /login.
-  const fragments: NavNode[][] = opts.user ? [[DASHBOARD_NAV]] : [];
+  const fragments: NavNode[][] = [[DASHBOARD_NAV]];
   // A plugin's nav labels are keys in *its* catalog, so translate each fragment with that plugin's
   // translator before merging. composeNav then runs the core one over the result; already-translated
   // text passes through it.
@@ -44,8 +43,7 @@ export function buildPluginChrome(opts: ChromeOptions): PageChrome {
     if (p.nav?.length) fragments.push(translateNav(p.nav, opts.translatorFor?.(p.id) ?? t));
   }
 
-  const permissions = opts.user?.permissions ?? [];
-  const nav = composeNav(fragments, opts.menu.override, permissions, t);
+  const nav = composeNav(fragments, opts.menu.override, opts.user ?? null, t);
   if (opts.currentPath) {
     // Mark by the *best* (longest) href that is the path or a parent of it, so a sub-path like
     // /admin/users/new marks the Users base leaf (/admin/users) and the dashboard marks Dashboard.
diff --git a/src/ui/nav.test.ts b/src/ui/nav.test.ts
index 90a2a07..12e79fc 100644
--- a/src/ui/nav.test.ts
+++ b/src/ui/nav.test.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,12 @@
 import assert from "node:assert/strict";
 import { test } from "node:test";
+import type { User } from "../http/context.ts";
 import { composeNav, type NavNode } from "./nav.ts";
 
+function viewer(...permissions: string[]): User {
+  return { email: "viewer@example.test", id: "01a06091-ba9f-765f-abf4-b5144c314bc7", permissions };
+}
+
 // Two plugin fragments; ids let the override target nodes, `permission` gates per permission.
 const fragments: NavNode[][] = [
   [{
@@ -15,7 +20,7 @@ const fragments: NavNode[][] = [
 ];
 
 test("composeNav merges fragments, filters by permission, and emits clean render nodes", () => {
-  const tree = composeNav(fragments, {}, ["scheduling:read"]);
+  const tree = composeNav(fragments, {}, viewer("scheduling:read"));
 
   // Reports gone (no reports:read), Manage gone (no scheduling:admin), header kept with Shifts.
   // Output carries no `id`/`permission` and omits absent fields — ready for nav-tree.ejs.
@@ -30,7 +35,7 @@ test("composeNav drops gated subtrees, empty headers, and (with no permissions)
     { id: "admin", label: "Admin", permission: "users:read", children: [{ href: "/u", id: "u", label: "Users" }] },
     { id: "free", label: "Free", children: [{ href: "/d", id: "d", label: "Docs" }] },
   ]];
-  assert.deepEqual(composeNav(gatedHeader, {}, []), [
+  assert.deepEqual(composeNav(gatedHeader, {}, viewer()), [
     { label: "Free", children: [{ href: "/d", label: "Docs" }] },
   ]);
 
@@ -39,26 +44,31 @@ test("composeNav drops gated subtrees, empty headers, and (with no permissions)
     { id: "sec", label: "Section", children: [{ href: "/x", id: "x", label: "X", permission: "x:read" }] },
     { href: "/hub", id: "hub", label: "Hub", children: [{ href: "/y", id: "y", label: "Y", permission: "y:read" }] },
   ]];
-  assert.deepEqual(composeNav(emptyHeader, {}, []), [{ href: "/hub", label: "Hub" }]);
+  assert.deepEqual(composeNav(emptyHeader, {}, viewer()), [{ href: "/hub", label: "Hub" }]);
 
   // No fragments / no permissions → empty tree, never throws.
   assert.deepEqual(composeNav(), []);
 });
 
-test("composeNav keeps a node marked public for everyone — the blessed public alias", () => {
-  // A header with one public child + one gated child: with no permissions, the public child keeps the
-  // header alive (the gated child is filtered out) — so a plugin can show a public menu option to all.
+test("composeNav shows a public node to everyone and a session node to any signed-in user", () => {
+  // A header with a public child, a session child and a gated child: the public child keeps the
+  // header alive for an anonymous visitor — so a plugin can show a menu option to all.
   const frag: NavNode[][] = [[{
     icon: "i-cal", id: "sched", label: "Scheduling",
     children: [
       { href: "/scheduling", id: "overview", label: "Overview", public: true },
+      { href: "/scheduling/mine", id: "mine", label: "Mine", session: true },
       { href: "/scheduling/shifts", id: "shifts", label: "Shifts", permission: "scheduling:read" },
     ],
   }]];
-  // `public` is filter-only (like id/permission) — never rendered into the output node.
-  assert.deepEqual(composeNav(frag, {}, []), [
+  // `public`/`session` are filter-only (like id/permission) — never rendered into the output node.
+  assert.deepEqual(composeNav(frag, {}, null), [
     { icon: "i-cal", label: "Scheduling", children: [{ href: "/scheduling", label: "Overview" }] },
   ]);
+  // Signed in with no permission at all: the session node appears, the permission-gated one does not.
+  assert.deepEqual(composeNav(frag, {}, viewer()), [
+    { icon: "i-cal", label: "Scheduling", children: [{ href: "/scheduling", label: "Overview" }, { href: "/scheduling/mine", label: "Mine" }] },
+  ]);
 });
 
 test("composeNav applies the override: rename, group, order, hide (then filters)", () => {
@@ -74,7 +84,7 @@ test("composeNav applies the override: rename, group, order, hide (then filters)
     groups: [{ icon: "i-box", id: "grp", label: "Group", open: true, children: ["b", "c"] }], // wrap b+c
     order: ["grp", "a"],                                     // grp before the lone a
     hide: ["c"],                                             // remove c from inside the group
-  }, ["secrets:read"]);
+  }, viewer("secrets:read"));
 
   // grp emitted (b only, c hidden), reordered before a; Secret kept now that permission "secrets:read" is present.
   assert.deepEqual(tree, [
diff --git a/src/ui/nav.ts b/src/ui/nav.ts
index 9cf72f8..6ee6885 100644
--- a/src/ui/nav.ts
+++ b/src/ui/nav.ts
@@ -1,12 +1,14 @@
 // composeNav: merge each plugin's nav fragment into one tree, apply the central override, then
-// permission-filter per user. Pure and I/O-free — menu gating reads the JWT `permissions` claim,
-// never Keto. A node is visible iff it is `public`, declares no `permission`, or the user holds that
-// name; a gated header hides its whole subtree, and a pure header left with no children is dropped.
+// filter per user. Pure and I/O-free — menu gating reads the JWT `permissions` claim, never Keto.
+// A node is visible iff `allows` passes its gate; a gated header hides its whole subtree, and a pure
+// header left with no children is dropped.
 
+import { allows, type Gate } from "../auth/gate.ts";
+import type { User } from "../http/context.ts";
 import { ENGLISH } from "../i18n/english.ts";
 import type { Translate } from "../i18n/translate.ts";
 
-export interface NavNode {
+export interface NavNode extends Gate {
   id?: string; // stable key for override targeting; stripped from the rendered tree
   children?: NavNode[];
   count?: number;
@@ -15,12 +17,10 @@ export interface NavNode {
   icon?: string;
   label: string;
   open?: boolean;
-  permission?: string; // required permission token; consumed by the filter, never rendered
-  public?: boolean; // show to everyone, signed in or not — the blessed alias for "no permission", stated outright; consumed by the filter, never rendered. Mutually exclusive with permission (discovery refuses both).
 }
 
 // Central override (config/menu.ts). Targets nodes by `id`; applied rename → group →
-// order → hide, then the per-user permission filter runs last.
+// order → hide, then the per-user gate filter runs last.
 export interface NavOverride {
   groups?: NavGroupSpec[]; // wrap top-level nodes (by id) under a new header
   hide?: string[]; // remove nodes by id, at any depth (incl. a group's id)
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ export interface NavGroupSpec {
 export function composeNav(
   fragments: NavNode[][] = [],
   override: NavOverride = {},
-  permissions: string[] = [],
+  user: User | null = null,
   t: Translate = ENGLISH,
 ): NavNode[] {
   let nodes: NavNode[] = fragments.flat();
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ export function composeNav(
   if (override.groups?.length) nodes = applyGroups(nodes, override.groups);
   if (override.order?.length) nodes = applyOrder(nodes, override.order);
   if (override.hide?.length) nodes = hideTree(nodes, new Set(override.hide));
-  return filterByRoles(nodes, new Set(permissions)).map((node) => toRenderNode(node, t));
+  return filterByGate(nodes, user).map((node) => toRenderNode(node, t));
 }
 
 function renameTree(nodes: NavNode[], rename: Record<string, string>): NavNode[] {
@@ -104,19 +104,19 @@ function hideTree(nodes: NavNode[], hide: Set<string>): NavNode[] {
   return out;
 }
 
-function filterByRoles(nodes: NavNode[], permissions: Set<string>): NavNode[] {
+function filterByGate(nodes: NavNode[], user: User | null): NavNode[] {
   const out: NavNode[] = [];
   for (const n of nodes) {
-    if (n.public !== true && n.permission != null && !permissions.has(n.permission)) continue; // gated → drop node + subtree (public always shows)
+    if (!allows(n, user)) continue; // gated → drop node + subtree
     if (!n.children) { out.push(n); continue; }
-    const children = filterByRoles(n.children, permissions);
+    const children = filterByGate(n.children, user);
     if (children.length === 0 && n.href == null) continue; // empty pure header → drop
     out.push({ ...n, children });
   }
   return out;
 }
 
-// Strip the helper-only fields (id/permission) and drop absent ones, so the tree is exactly
+// Strip the helper-only fields (id and the gate) and drop absent ones, so the tree is exactly
 // what nav-tree.ejs reads. Labels (a manifest's, or the central override's rename) pass through
 // `t` on the way out: a label that names a catalog key is translated, any other renders as written.
 function toRenderNode(n: NavNode, t: Translate): NavNode {
diff --git a/todo.md b/todo.md
index b4250c1..a69772a 100644
--- a/todo.md
+++ b/todo.md
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 - [ ] Decide what `ICON_NAMES` (`src/ui/icons.ts`) actually is. `i-chart`, `i-copy`, `i-download` and `i-sliders` have no caller anywhere — so either they go, or the comment should say the palette is curated and may carry an id ahead of its first use. Not cosmetic: the sprite is inlined into every page, and the rule decides whether a future removal is routine cleanup or a plugin-facing regression.
 - [ ] Decide (once) whether the CSRF token staying unbound to `sub`/session is accepted. `src/auth/csrf.ts` signs `<nonce>.<HMAC(secret, nonce)>` with no session binding, so any validly-signed token passes for any user — an attacker who can write cookies on the origin can fix a token they know. Standard for unbound signed double-submit and plausibly fine behind `SameSite=Lax` + HSTS. Accepted ⇒ record it in AGENTS.md and README → Security model; not accepted ⇒ bind the nonce to `sub`.
 - [ ] Verify the documented Docker commands on macOS and fix whatever misbehaves — **macOS is a supported dev host**, but nothing here has been run on one. Two suspects, both from the `--user "$(id -u):$(id -g)"` idiom: a macOS `id -g` is `20`, which is `dialout` inside the noble image rather than a user group, and Docker Desktop remaps bind-mount ownership in its own VM layer. The same question covers rootless Docker, where README already says to *drop* the flag.
+- [ ] Map Kratos' 401 on a self-service flow init, so an anonymous `GET /settings` with no `?flow` renders instead of 500ing. `flowPage` (`src/auth/routes.ts`) maps 403/404/410 → restart the flow, 400 `session_already_available` → `/auth/complete`, and ≥500 → the themed 503, then rethrows everything else — and Kratos answers the settings-flow init with 401 when there is no session. `/settings` is correctly `public` (the recovery flow lands there with a live Kratos session but no app JWT), so the gate is not the fix: a 401 should redirect to `/login` with the page as `return_to`. No E2E covers an anonymous hit on a flow page that needs a session.
 
 ### Architectural review findings (2026-07-02)
 
diff --git a/views/index.ejs b/views/index.ejs
index 988cd16..29a9dee 100644
--- a/views/index.ejs
+++ b/views/index.ejs
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
         <p>${t("dashboard.starter.intro")}</p>
         <p>${t("dashboard.starter.replace")}</p>
 <pre class="code-block"><code>export default definePlugin({
-  apiVersion: "0.3.0",
+  apiVersion: "0.4.0",
   // view names plugins/&lt;id&gt;/views/&lt;view&gt;.ejs, rendered in this same shell
   dashboard: (ctx) =&gt; ({ view: "dashboard", data: { /* … */ } }),
 });</code></pre>