test(calibration): replace real-name holder fixture with charlie-example placeholder

Privacy iron rule: no real people's names in checked-in code. The sanctioned
placeholder mapping uses people/charlie-example.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Fable 5 <noreply@anthropic.com>

docs/architecture/KEY_FILES.md

@@ -457,6 +457,7 @@ unresolvable+true|false, pre-v80 NULL/NULL rows survive).
 - `src/core/think/prompt.ts` extension — anti-bias rewrite. `withCalibration` option on `buildThinkSystemPrompt` adds anti-bias rules. `buildCalibrationBlock()` emits the `<calibration>` XML. `buildThinkUserMessage` has TWO shapes: default (question first), and with-calibration (retrieval → calibration → question) when opt-in. Wired into `runThink` via `opts.withCalibration` + `opts.calibrationHolder`.
 - `src/commands/calibration.ts` — CLI: `gbrain calibration` (read + print), `--regenerate`, `--undo-wave <ver>`, `ab-report`. MCP op `get_calibration_profile` (scope: read) backs the same data path. Source-scoped via `sourceScopeOpts(ctx)`.
 - `src/commands/serve-http.ts` extension — three admin routes: `/admin/api/calibration/profile`, `/admin/api/calibration/charts/:type` (image/svg+xml; type in {brier-trend, domain-bars, pattern-statements, abandoned-threads}), `/admin/api/calibration/pattern/:id` (drill-down).
+- `src/core/owner-holder.ts` — single source of truth for "the brain owner" holder string. `DEFAULT_OWNER_HOLDER = 'self'` (matches the consolidate facts→takes writer + `docs/takes-vs-facts.md`); `resolveOwnerHolder({override, configValue})` returns override > `emotional_weight.user_holder` config > `'self'`. Consumed by the calibration_profile cycle phase, `gbrain calibration` CLI, the `get_calibration_profile` op, `think`'s calibration block, `emotional-weight`'s `DEFAULT_USER_HOLDER`, and doctor's `calibration_freshness`. Pure; unit-tested in `test/owner-holder.test.ts`. Does NOT unify owner-identity fragmentation (`self`/`brain`/`people-<owner>`) — tracked separately.
 - `src/commands/takes.ts` extension — `gbrain takes revisit <slug>` opens $EDITOR on the source page with a `<!-- gbrain:revisit -->` cursor marker.
 - `src/commands/doctor.ts` extension — 4 checks: `abandoned_threads`, `calibration_freshness`, `grade_confidence_drift` (mitigation surface; math ships later), `voice_gate_health`.
 - `admin/src/pages/Calibration.tsx` — Calibration tab. Single-column layout. `<TrustedSVG>` wrapper handles `dangerouslySetInnerHTML` for the server-rendered SVG.

docs/takes-vs-facts.md

@@ -91,3 +91,18 @@ First full takes extraction run on a ~100K-page brain:
 4. **Self-reported ≠ verified.** "Reports 7 figures" → holder=person, weight=0.75, NOT world/1.0
 5. **No false precision.** Use 0.05 increments (0.35, 0.55, 0.75), not 0.74 or 0.82
 6. **"So what" test.** Skip Twitter handles, follower counts, obvious metadata
+
+## Owner-holder canonicalization
+
+"The brain owner" is, by convention, the holder string **`self`** — the value the
+dream `consolidate` phase stamps when it promotes the owner's hot facts into cold
+takes. Calibration, `think`, and the `doctor` calibration check resolve the owner
+holder through `resolveOwnerHolder` (`src/core/owner-holder.ts`): explicit override
+> `emotional_weight.user_holder` config > `self`.
+
+Known limitation (tracked in garrytan/gbrain#2465): the owner can also
+appear under `brain` (a take the owner asserts, via `propose_takes`) and
+`people/<owner>` (extraction that names the owner). The resolver selects the
+*default* canonical owner string for reads; it does not merge those other
+strings. Per-take attribution for other people (e.g. `people/george`) is
+unaffected and correct.

src/commands/calibration.ts

@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ import { runPhaseCalibrationProfile } from '../core/cycle/calibration-profile.ts
 import { sourceScopeOpts, type OperationContext } from '../core/operations.ts';
 import type { GBrainConfig } from '../core/config.ts';
 import { GBrainError } from '../core/types.ts';
+import { resolveOwnerHolder } from '../core/owner-holder.ts';
 
 export interface CalibrationProfileRow {
   /** BIGSERIAL → string (postgres.js int8 wire shape; never Number() — int8
@@ -167,7 +168,10 @@ export async function runCalibration(
   config: GBrainConfig,
 ): Promise<void> {
   const { opts } = parseArgs(args);
-  const holder = opts.holder ?? 'garry';
+  const holder = resolveOwnerHolder({
+    override: opts.holder,
+    configValue: await engine.getConfig('emotional_weight.user_holder'),
+  });
   // Resolve --source / GBRAIN_SOURCE / .gbrain-source so the (now reachable, #2035)
   // calibration command targets the right source in a multi-source brain instead
   // of always reading `default`. No signal → 'default' (prior behavior).
@@ -253,12 +257,15 @@ export async function getCalibrationProfileOp(
   ctx: OperationContext,
   params: { holder?: string },
 ): Promise<CalibrationProfileRow | null> {
-  const holder = params.holder ?? 'garry';
+  const holder = resolveOwnerHolder({
+    override: params.holder,
+    configValue: await ctx.engine.getConfig('emotional_weight.user_holder'),
+  });
   if (typeof holder !== 'string' || holder.length === 0) {
     throw new GBrainError(
       'INVALID_HOLDER',
       'get_calibration_profile.holder must be a non-empty string',
-      'pass holder="<slug>" or omit to default to "garry"',
+      'pass holder="<slug>" or omit to default to the owner holder (config emotional_weight.user_holder, else "self")',
     );
   }
   const scope = sourceScopeOpts(ctx);

src/commands/doctor.ts

@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ import type { DbUrlSource } from '../core/config.ts';
 import { gbrainPath, loadConfig } from '../core/config.ts';
 import { reflexEnabled } from '../core/context/reflex.ts';
 import { resolveSocketPath } from '../core/context/resolve-ipc.ts';
+import { resolveOwnerHolder } from '../core/owner-holder.ts';
 import { homedir } from 'os';
 import { dirname, isAbsolute, join, resolve as resolvePath } from 'path';
 import { fileURLToPath } from 'url';
@@ -1287,14 +1288,19 @@ export async function checkAbandonedThreads(engine: BrainEngine): Promise<Check>
 
 /**
  * calibration_freshness: warns when the active calibration profile is
- * older than 7 days (configurable). Default holder 'garry'. Multi-source
+ * older than 7 days (configurable). Default holder resolves via resolveOwnerHolder
+ * (config emotional_weight.user_holder, else 'self'). Multi-source
  * brains see one row per source; this check uses the most recent across
  * all sources.
  */
 export async function checkCalibrationFreshness(engine: BrainEngine): Promise<Check> {
   try {
+    const ownerHolder = resolveOwnerHolder({
+      configValue: await engine.getConfig('emotional_weight.user_holder'),
+    });
     const rows = await engine.executeRaw<{ generated_at: Date | null }>(
-      `SELECT MAX(generated_at) AS generated_at FROM calibration_profiles WHERE holder = 'garry'`,
+      `SELECT MAX(generated_at) AS generated_at FROM calibration_profiles WHERE holder = $1`,
+      [ownerHolder],
     );
     const generated = rows[0]?.generated_at;
     if (!generated) {

src/commands/embed.ts

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import type { BrainEngine } from '../core/engine.ts';
-import { embedBatch, currentEmbeddingSignature, resolveEmbeddingModelLabel } from '../core/embedding.ts';
+import { embedBatch, currentEmbeddingSignature } from '../core/embedding.ts';
 import type { ChunkInput } from '../core/types.ts';
 import { chunkText } from '../core/chunkers/recursive.ts';
 import { createProgress, type ProgressReporter } from '../core/progress.ts';
@@ -581,16 +581,11 @@ async function embedPage(
   for (let j = 0; j < toEmbed.length; j++) {
     embeddingMap.set(toEmbed[j].chunk_index, embeddings[j]);
   }
-  // #1717: label each (re)embedded chunk with the model that actually
-  // produced its vector. Preserved chunks (not re-embedded this pass) keep
-  // their existing model so a mixed-model page isn't relabeled wholesale.
-  const embedModelLabel = resolveEmbeddingModelLabel();
   const updated: ChunkInput[] = chunks.map(c => ({
     chunk_index: c.chunk_index,
     chunk_text: c.chunk_text,
     chunk_source: c.chunk_source,
     embedding: embeddingMap.get(c.chunk_index),
-    model: embeddingMap.has(c.chunk_index) && embedModelLabel ? embedModelLabel : c.model,
     token_count: c.token_count || Math.ceil(c.chunk_text.length / 4),
   }));
 
@@ -722,16 +717,12 @@ async function embedAll(
       for (let j = 0; j < toEmbed.length; j++) {
         embeddingMap.set(toEmbed[j].chunk_index, embeddings[j]);
       }
-      // #1717: stamp the resolved embedding model on (re)embedded chunks;
-      // preserve the existing model on chunks left untouched.
-      const embedModelLabel = resolveEmbeddingModelLabel();
       // Preserve ALL chunks, only update embeddings for stale ones
       const updated: ChunkInput[] = chunks.map(c => ({
         chunk_index: c.chunk_index,
         chunk_text: c.chunk_text,
         chunk_source: c.chunk_source,
         embedding: embeddingMap.get(c.chunk_index) ?? undefined,
-        model: embeddingMap.has(c.chunk_index) && embedModelLabel ? embedModelLabel : c.model,
         token_count: c.token_count || Math.ceil(c.chunk_text.length / 4),
       }));
       await observed(pacer, () => engine.upsertChunks(page.slug, updated, pageOpts));
@@ -1021,15 +1012,11 @@ async function embedAllStale(
           for (let j = 0; j < stale.length; j++) {
             staleIdxToEmbedding.set(stale[j].chunk_index, embeddings[j]);
           }
-          // #1717: label the re-embedded (stale) chunks with the resolved
-          // model; preserve the existing model on the non-stale chunks.
-          const embedModelLabel = resolveEmbeddingModelLabel();
           const merged: ChunkInput[] = existing.map(c => ({
             chunk_index: c.chunk_index,
             chunk_text: c.chunk_text,
             chunk_source: c.chunk_source,
             embedding: staleIdxToEmbedding.get(c.chunk_index) ?? undefined,
-            model: staleIdxToEmbedding.has(c.chunk_index) && embedModelLabel ? embedModelLabel : c.model,
             token_count: c.token_count || Math.ceil(c.chunk_text.length / 4),
           }));
           await observed(pacer, () => engine.upsertChunks(slug, merged, { sourceId: keySourceId }));

src/commands/serve-http.ts

@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ import {
   type IngestionContentType,
   type IngestionEvent,
 } from '../core/ingestion/types.ts';
+import { resolveOwnerHolder } from '../core/owner-holder.ts';
 
 /**
  * /health endpoint timeout. 3s rather than 5s: Fly.io's default
@@ -1190,7 +1191,7 @@ export async function runServeHttp(engine: BrainEngine, options: ServeHttpOption
   app.get('/admin/api/calibration/pattern/:id', requireAdmin, async (req: Request, res: Response) => {
     try {
       const { getLatestProfile } = await import('./calibration.ts');
-      const holder = (req.query.holder as string) || 'garry';
+      const holder = resolveOwnerHolder({ override: (req.query.holder as string) || undefined, configValue: await engine.getConfig('emotional_weight.user_holder') });
       const profile = await getLatestProfile(engine, { holder });
       if (!profile) {
         res.status(404).json({ error: 'no_profile' });
@@ -1240,7 +1241,7 @@ export async function runServeHttp(engine: BrainEngine, options: ServeHttpOption
   app.get('/admin/api/calibration/profile', requireAdmin, async (req: Request, res: Response) => {
     try {
       const { getLatestProfile } = await import('./calibration.ts');
-      const holder = (req.query.holder as string) || 'garry';
+      const holder = resolveOwnerHolder({ override: (req.query.holder as string) || undefined, configValue: await engine.getConfig('emotional_weight.user_holder') });
       const profile = await getLatestProfile(engine, { holder });
       res.json(profile);
     } catch (err) {
@@ -1257,7 +1258,7 @@ export async function runServeHttp(engine: BrainEngine, options: ServeHttpOption
         renderAbandonedThreadsCard,
         renderPatternStatementsCard,
       } = await import('../core/calibration/svg-renderer.ts');
-      const holder = (req.query.holder as string) || 'garry';
+      const holder = resolveOwnerHolder({ override: (req.query.holder as string) || undefined, configValue: await engine.getConfig('emotional_weight.user_holder') });
       const type = req.params.type;
       const profile = await getLatestProfile(engine, { holder });
 

src/commands/takes.ts

@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ import {
 } from '../core/takes-fence.ts';
 import { withPageLock } from '../core/page-lock.ts';
 import { resolveSourceId } from '../core/source-resolver.ts';
+import { resolveOwnerHolder } from '../core/owner-holder.ts';
 
 // --- Helpers ---
 
@@ -364,7 +365,7 @@ async function cmdResolve(engine: BrainEngine, args: string[], sourceId?: string
   // --evidence is the v0.30.0 alias for --source on the resolve subcommand
   // (semantic clarity: "what evidence resolved this bet?").
   const source = flagValue(args, '--evidence') ?? flagValue(args, '--source');
-  const resolvedBy = flagValue(args, '--by') ?? 'garry';
+  const resolvedBy = flagValue(args, '--by') ?? resolveOwnerHolder({ configValue: await engine.getConfig('emotional_weight.user_holder') });
   const dirArg = flagValue(args, '--dir');
 
   const pageId = await getPageId(engine, slug, sourceId);

src/core/brainstorm/orchestrator.ts

@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@ import {
   type BrainstormCheckpoint,
   type CheckpointCross,
 } from './checkpoint.ts';
+import { resolveOwnerHolder } from '../owner-holder.ts';
 
 export { BudgetExhausted };
 
@@ -139,7 +140,7 @@ export interface BrainstormOptions {
   modelOverride?: string;
   /** Skip the cost-preview TTY grace window. Required for non-interactive callers. */
   skipCostPreview?: boolean;
-  /** When set, force the user holder for calibration profile lookup. Falls back to config (`emotional_weight.user_holder`) then `'garry'`. */
+  /** When set, force the user holder for calibration profile lookup. Falls back to config (`emotional_weight.user_holder`) then `'self'`. */
   holderOverride?: string;
   /** Source scope. */
   sourceId?: string;
@@ -623,7 +624,7 @@ async function _runBrainstormInner(
   }
 
   // ---- Phase 3: calibration context (cold-start fallback) ----
-  const holder = opts.holderOverride ?? config.emotional_weight?.user_holder ?? 'garry';
+  const holder = resolveOwnerHolder({ override: opts.holderOverride, configValue: config.emotional_weight?.user_holder });
   const calibContext = await loadCalibrationContext(engine, {
     holder,
     sourceId: opts.sourceId,

src/core/calibration/think-ab.ts

@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ import type { BrainEngine } from '../engine.ts';
 
 export interface ABRunInput {
   question: string;
-  /** Holder context for calibration. Default 'garry'. */
+  /** Holder context for calibration. Resolves via resolveOwnerHolder (config emotional_weight.user_holder, else 'self'). */
   holder?: string;
   /** Engine for DB write. */
   engine: BrainEngine;

src/core/cycle/calibration-profile.ts

@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
  */
 
 import { BaseCyclePhase, type ScopedReadOpts, type BasePhaseOpts } from './base-phase.ts';
+import { resolveOwnerHolder } from '../owner-holder.ts';
 import { chat as gatewayChat } from '../ai/gateway.ts';
 import { TIER_DEFAULTS } from '../model-config.ts';
 import { gateVoice, type VoiceGateGenerator, type VoiceGateJudge } from '../calibration/voice-gate.ts';
@@ -96,7 +97,7 @@ export type PatternStatementsGenerator = (input: {
 export type BiasTagsGenerator = (patterns: string[]) => Promise<string[]>;
 
 export interface CalibrationProfileOpts extends BasePhaseOpts {
-  /** Holder to generate the profile for. Default 'garry'. */
+  /** Holder to generate the profile for. Default resolves via resolveOwnerHolder (config emotional_weight.user_holder, else 'self'). */
   holder?: string;
   /** Inject the patterns generator (tests). */
   patternsGenerator?: PatternStatementsGenerator;
@@ -227,7 +228,10 @@ class CalibrationProfilePhase extends BaseCyclePhase {
     _ctx: OperationContext,
     opts: CalibrationProfileOpts,
   ): Promise<{ summary: string; details: Record<string, unknown>; status?: PhaseStatus }> {
-    const holder = opts.holder ?? 'garry';
+    const holder = resolveOwnerHolder({
+      override: opts.holder,
+      configValue: await engine.getConfig('emotional_weight.user_holder'),
+    });
     const promptVersion = opts.promptVersion ?? CALIBRATION_PROFILE_PROMPT_VERSION;
     const modelId = opts.model ?? TIER_DEFAULTS.reasoning;
     const gradeCompletion = opts.gradeCompletion ?? 1.0;

src/core/cycle/emotional-weight.ts

@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@
  * See `loadHighEmotionTags` for the resolution path.
  */
 
+import { DEFAULT_OWNER_HOLDER } from '../owner-holder.ts';
+
 /**
  * Default high-emotion tag seed list. Pages with any tag in this set get the
  * tag-emotion boost in the formula below. Override via config key
@@ -43,11 +45,12 @@ export const HIGH_EMOTION_TAGS: ReadonlySet<string> = new Set([
 ]);
 
 /**
- * Holder name treated as "the user" for the Garry-as-holder ratio. Configurable
- * via the `emotional_weight.user_holder` config key (defaults to 'garry' to
- * match the v0.28 schema's takes table convention).
+ * Holder name treated as "the user" for the user-as-holder ratio. Configurable
+ * via the `emotional_weight.user_holder` config key; defaults to the canonical
+ * owner holder ('self', DEFAULT_OWNER_HOLDER) so it matches the consolidate
+ * facts→takes writer instead of a hardcoded name.
  */
-export const DEFAULT_USER_HOLDER = 'garry';
+export const DEFAULT_USER_HOLDER = DEFAULT_OWNER_HOLDER;
 
 export interface EmotionalWeightTake {
   holder: string;

src/core/embed-stale.ts

@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@
 import type { BrainEngine } from './engine.ts';
 import type { ChunkInput } from './types.ts';
 import { embedBatchWithBackoff } from '../commands/embed.ts';
-import { resolveEmbeddingModelLabel } from './embedding.ts';
 import { type DbPacer, createNoopPacer, observed } from './db-pacer.ts';
 import { AbortError } from './abort-check.ts';
 
@@ -201,17 +200,11 @@ export async function embedStaleForSource(
         for (let j = 0; j < stale.length; j++) {
           staleIdxToEmbedding.set(stale[j].chunk_index, embeddings[j]);
         }
-        // #1717: label re-embedded chunks with the model that produced the
-        // vector; preserved chunks keep their existing model. Without this,
-        // upsertChunks falls back to DEFAULT_EMBEDDING_MODEL for every chunk
-        // (the same mislabel the embed.ts paths fixed).
-        const embedModelLabel = resolveEmbeddingModelLabel();
         const merged: ChunkInput[] = existing.map((c) => ({
           chunk_index: c.chunk_index,
           chunk_text: c.chunk_text,
           chunk_source: c.chunk_source,
           embedding: staleIdxToEmbedding.get(c.chunk_index) ?? undefined,
-          model: staleIdxToEmbedding.has(c.chunk_index) && embedModelLabel ? embedModelLabel : c.model,
           token_count: c.token_count || Math.ceil(c.chunk_text.length / 4),
           // Carry through per-chunk metadata. upsertChunks writes these as
           // EXCLUDED.<col> (not COALESCE), so omitting them here resets image

src/core/embedding.ts

@@ -113,21 +113,6 @@ export async function embedBatch(
   return results;
 }
 
-/**
- * Resolve the embedding model label (`provider:model`) to stamp onto
- * `content_chunks.model`, so each chunk records the model that actually
- * produced its vector instead of the engine's hardcoded default (#1717).
- * Returns undefined if the gateway is unconfigured; callers then fall back
- * to the chunk's existing model rather than mislabeling it.
- */
-export function resolveEmbeddingModelLabel(): string | undefined {
-  try {
-    return gatewayGetModel();
-  } catch {
-    return undefined;
-  }
-}
-
 /** Currently-configured embedding model (short form without provider prefix). */
 export function getEmbeddingModelName(): string {
   return gatewayGetModel().split(':').slice(1).join(':') || 'text-embedding-3-large';

src/core/import-file.ts

@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import { chunkText } from './chunkers/recursive.ts';
 import { chunkCodeText, chunkCodeTextFull, detectCodeLanguage, CHUNKER_VERSION } from './chunkers/code.ts';
 import { findChunkForOffset } from './chunkers/edge-extractor.ts';
 import { extractCodeRefs, imageOfCandidates } from './link-extraction.ts';
-import { embedBatch, embedMultimodal, currentEmbeddingSignature, resolveEmbeddingModelLabel } from './embedding.ts';
+import { embedBatch, embedMultimodal, currentEmbeddingSignature } from './embedding.ts';
 import { slugifyPath, slugifyCodePath, isCodeFilePath } from './sync.ts';
 import type { ChunkInput, PageInput, PageType } from './types.ts';
 import { computeEffectiveDate } from './effective-date.ts';
@@ -716,12 +716,8 @@ export async function importFromContent(
       ? chunks.map((c) => wrapChunkForEmbedding(c.chunk_text, prefix, c.chunk_source))
       : chunks.map((c) => c.chunk_text);
     const embeddings = await embedBatch(wrappedTexts);
-    // #1717: label each chunk with the model that actually produced its
-    // vector, not the engine's hardcoded default.
-    const embedModelLabel = resolveEmbeddingModelLabel();
     for (let i = 0; i < chunks.length; i++) {
       chunks[i].embedding = embeddings[i];
-      if (embedModelLabel) chunks[i].model = embedModelLabel;
       // token_count tracks the wrapped string length so cost reporting
       // reflects what we actually sent to the embedder.
       chunks[i].token_count = Math.ceil(wrappedTexts[i].length / 4);
@@ -1145,10 +1141,7 @@ export async function importCodeFile(
     const matched = existingByKey.get(key);
     if (matched && matched.embedding) {
       // Reuse the existing embedding verbatim. No API call, no cost.
-      // #1717: carry the existing model label along with the reused vector
-      // so the upsert doesn't relabel it with the engine default.
       chunks[i]!.embedding = matched.embedding as Float32Array;
-      chunks[i]!.model = matched.model ?? undefined;
       chunks[i]!.token_count = matched.token_count ?? undefined;
     } else {
       needsEmbedIndexes.push(i);
@@ -1160,12 +1153,9 @@ export async function importCodeFile(
     try {
       const textsToEmbed = needsEmbedIndexes.map((i) => chunks[i]!.chunk_text);
       const embeddings = await embedBatch(textsToEmbed);
-      // #1717: stamp the model that produced these vectors.
-      const embedModelLabel = resolveEmbeddingModelLabel();
       for (let j = 0; j < needsEmbedIndexes.length; j++) {
         const i = needsEmbedIndexes[j]!;
         chunks[i]!.embedding = embeddings[j]!;
-        if (embedModelLabel) chunks[i]!.model = embedModelLabel;
         chunks[i]!.token_count = Math.ceil(chunks[i]!.chunk_text.length / 4);
       }
     } catch (e: unknown) {

src/core/operations.ts

@@ -3289,7 +3289,7 @@ const get_calibration_profile: Operation = {
     holder: {
       type: 'string',
       description:
-        "Holder slug, e.g. 'garry' or 'people/charlie-example'. Defaults to 'garry' when omitted.",
+        "Holder slug, e.g. 'self' or 'people/charlie-example'. Defaults to config emotional_weight.user_holder, else 'self', when omitted.",
     },
   },
   handler: async (ctx, p) => {

src/core/owner-holder.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+/**
+ * Canonical holder string for "the brain owner," resolved in ONE place so the
+ * calibration / think / doctor / emotional-weight defaults stop disagreeing.
+ *
+ * The default matches the consolidate facts→takes writer
+ * (src/core/cycle/phases/consolidate.ts: holder:'self') and docs/takes-vs-facts.md.
+ * Do NOT introduce a fourth literal — three already exist historically
+ * ('garry', 'system', 'self'); this is the source of truth.
+ *
+ * NORMALIZATION NOTE: the brain owner may also appear under other holder
+ * strings — 'brain' (propose_takes when the author asserts a claim) and
+ * people/<owner> (extraction that names the owner). This resolver only selects
+ * the *default* canonical owner string for reads; it does NOT merge those other
+ * strings. Unifying them is owner-identity entity-resolution, tracked separately
+ * (see garrytan/gbrain#2465). Until then, historical owner takes
+ * under 'brain'/people-<owner> are not folded into the default profile.
+ */
+export const DEFAULT_OWNER_HOLDER = 'self';
+
+export function resolveOwnerHolder(
+  opts: { override?: string | null; configValue?: string | null },
+): string {
+  return opts.override ?? opts.configValue ?? DEFAULT_OWNER_HOLDER;
+}

src/core/think/index.ts

@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ import { runGather, renderPagesBlock, takesHitToTakeForPrompt } from './gather.t
 import { renderTakesBlock } from './sanitize.ts';
 import { buildThinkSystemPrompt, buildThinkUserMessage } from './prompt.ts';
 import { resolveCitations, type ParsedCitation } from './cite-render.ts';
+import { resolveOwnerHolder } from '../owner-holder.ts';
 import { resolveModel } from '../model-config.ts';
 import { chat as gatewayChat, probeChatModel, type ChatResult } from '../ai/gateway.ts';
 import { AIConfigError } from '../ai/errors.ts';
@@ -76,8 +77,8 @@ export interface RunThinkOpts {
    */
   withCalibration?: boolean;
   /**
-   * Holder to retrieve the calibration profile for. Default 'garry'. Only
-   * consulted when withCalibration=true.
+   * Holder to retrieve the calibration profile for. Resolves via resolveOwnerHolder
+   * (config emotional_weight.user_holder, else 'self'). Only consulted when withCalibration=true.
    */
   calibrationHolder?: string;
   /**
@@ -308,7 +309,10 @@ export async function runThink(
     try {
       const { getLatestProfile } = await import('../../commands/calibration.ts');
       const profile = await getLatestProfile(engine, {
-        holder: opts.calibrationHolder ?? 'garry',
+        holder: resolveOwnerHolder({
+          override: opts.calibrationHolder,
+          configValue: await engine.getConfig('emotional_weight.user_holder'),
+        }),
       });
       if (profile) {
         calibrationBlockOpts = {

test/calibration-cli.test.ts

@@ -27,6 +27,12 @@ function buildMockEngine(opts: { rows: CalibrationProfileRow[] }): {
   const capturedParams: unknown[][] = [];
   const engine = {
     kind: 'pglite',
+    // #2464: getCalibrationProfileOp resolves the owner holder via
+    // resolveOwnerHolder(config emotional_weight.user_holder, else 'self'), so the
+    // mock must implement getConfig. null = key unset → resolver falls back to 'self'.
+    async getConfig(): Promise<string | null> {
+      return null;
+    },
     async executeRaw<T>(sql: string, params?: unknown[]): Promise<T[]> {
       capturedSql.push(sql);
       capturedParams.push(params ?? []);
@@ -211,17 +217,17 @@ describe('formatProfileText', () => {
 // ─── getCalibrationProfileOp ────────────────────────────────────────
 
 describe('getCalibrationProfileOp (MCP)', () => {
-  test('defaults holder to "garry" when omitted', async () => {
-    const { engine } = buildMockEngine({ rows: [buildProfile({ holder: 'garry' })] });
+  test('defaults holder to "self" when omitted (config emotional_weight.user_holder unset)', async () => {
+    const { engine } = buildMockEngine({ rows: [buildProfile({ holder: 'self' })] });
     const ctx = buildCtx(engine);
     const result = await getCalibrationProfileOp(ctx, {});
-    expect(result?.holder).toBe('garry');
+    expect(result?.holder).toBe('self');
   });
 
   test('routes through sourceScopeOpts: scalar source-bound client gets source-scoped result', async () => {
     const rows = [
-      buildProfile({ holder: 'garry', source_id: 'default' }),
-      buildProfile({ holder: 'garry', source_id: 'tenant-b' }),
+      buildProfile({ holder: 'self', source_id: 'default' }),
+      buildProfile({ holder: 'self', source_id: 'tenant-b' }),
     ];
     const { engine } = buildMockEngine({ rows });
     const ctx = buildCtx(engine, { sourceId: 'tenant-b' });
@@ -231,8 +237,8 @@ describe('getCalibrationProfileOp (MCP)', () => {
 
   test('federated read scope sees the union of allowed sources', async () => {
     const rows = [
-      buildProfile({ holder: 'garry', source_id: 'tenant-a' }),
-      buildProfile({ holder: 'garry', source_id: 'tenant-z' }),
+      buildProfile({ holder: 'self', source_id: 'tenant-a' }),
+      buildProfile({ holder: 'self', source_id: 'tenant-z' }),
     ];
     const { engine } = buildMockEngine({ rows });
     const ctx = buildCtx(engine, { allowedSources: ['tenant-a', 'tenant-b'] });

test/calibration-profile.test.ts

@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ interface CapturedSql {
   params: unknown[];
 }
 
-function buildMockEngine(opts: { scorecard: TakesScorecard }): {
+function buildMockEngine(opts: { scorecard: TakesScorecard; userHolder?: string | null }): {
   engine: BrainEngine;
   captured: CapturedSql[];
 } {
@@ -42,6 +42,10 @@ function buildMockEngine(opts: { scorecard: TakesScorecard }): {
     async getScorecard() {
       return opts.scorecard;
     },
+    async getConfig(key: string): Promise<string | null> {
+      if (key === 'emotional_weight.user_holder') return opts.userHolder ?? null;
+      return null;
+    },
     async executeRaw<T>(sql: string, params?: unknown[]): Promise<T[]> {
       captured.push({ sql, params: params ?? [] });
       return [];
@@ -234,7 +238,7 @@ describe('runPhaseCalibrationProfile — phase integration', () => {
     // grade_completion, domain_scorecards_json, patterns[], voice_passed, voice_attempts,
     // bias_tags[], model_id
     expect(insert!.params[0]).toBe('default'); // source_id
-    expect(insert!.params[1]).toBe('garry'); // holder
+    expect(insert!.params[1]).toBe('self'); // holder (resolved via resolveOwnerHolder, no override)
     expect(insert!.params[2]).toBe(12); // total_resolved
     expect(insert!.params[9]).toBe(true); // voice_gate_passed
     expect(insert!.params[10]).toBe(1); // voice_gate_attempts
@@ -330,4 +334,24 @@ describe('runPhaseCalibrationProfile — phase integration', () => {
     const insert = captured.find(c => c.sql.includes('INSERT INTO calibration_profiles'));
     expect(insert!.params[0]).toBe('tenant-b');
   });
+
+  test('cold-brain summary uses resolved owner holder self when user_holder unset', async () => {
+    const { engine } = buildMockEngine({
+      scorecard: { total_bets: 0, resolved: 0, correct: 0, incorrect: 0, partial: 0,
+        accuracy: null, brier: null, partial_rate: null, unresolvable_count: 0, unresolvable_rate: null },
+    });
+    const result = await runPhaseCalibrationProfile(buildCtx(engine), {});
+    expect(result.summary).toContain('holder=self');
+    expect(result.summary).not.toContain('holder=garry');
+  });
+
+  test('configured user_holder overrides the default in the cold-brain summary', async () => {
+    const { engine } = buildMockEngine({
+      scorecard: { total_bets: 0, resolved: 0, correct: 0, incorrect: 0, partial: 0,
+        accuracy: null, brier: null, partial_rate: null, unresolvable_count: 0, unresolvable_rate: null },
+      userHolder: 'people/charlie-example',
+    });
+    const result = await runPhaseCalibrationProfile(buildCtx(engine), {});
+    expect(result.summary).toContain('holder=people/charlie-example');
+  });
 });

test/doctor-calibration-checks.test.ts

@@ -32,6 +32,12 @@ function buildMockEngine(opts: {
 }): BrainEngine {
   return {
     kind: 'pglite',
+    // #2464: checkCalibrationFreshness resolves the owner holder via
+    // resolveOwnerHolder(config emotional_weight.user_holder, else 'self'), so the
+    // mock must implement getConfig. null = key unset → resolver falls back to 'self'.
+    async getConfig(): Promise<string | null> {
+      return null;
+    },
     async executeRaw<T>(sql: string): Promise<T[]> {
       if (opts.throwOn && opts.throwOn.test(sql)) {
         throw new Error('mock engine error: ' + sql.slice(0, 50));

test/embed-stale.serial.test.ts

@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@ import { describe, test, expect, beforeAll, afterAll, beforeEach } from 'bun:tes
 import { PGLiteEngine } from '../src/core/pglite-engine.ts';
 import { resetPgliteState } from './helpers/reset-pglite.ts';
 import { embedStaleForSource } from '../src/core/embed-stale.ts';
-import { configureGateway, resetGateway } from '../src/core/ai/gateway.ts';
 import type { ChunkInput } from '../src/core/types.ts';
 
 let engine: PGLiteEngine;
@@ -277,49 +276,4 @@ describe('embedStaleForSource', () => {
     // The stale text row actually got its embedding.
     expect(txtRow.embedded_at).not.toBeNull();
   });
-
-  // #1717: the backfill path must label re-embedded chunks with the model
-  // that produced the vector, and preserve the existing label on chunks it
-  // did not touch (before the fix, both were reset to the engine default).
-  test('labels re-embedded chunks with the gateway model, preserves untouched labels (#1717)', async () => {
-    configureGateway({
-      embedding_model: 'openai:text-embedding-3-large',
-      env: { OPENAI_API_KEY: 'sk-test-embed-stale-1717' },
-    });
-    try {
-      await engine.putPage('notes/model-label', {
-        type: 'note',
-        title: 'model-label',
-        compiled_truth: '# model-label\n\nseeded',
-      });
-      await engine.upsertChunks('notes/model-label', [
-        {
-          chunk_index: 0,
-          chunk_text: 'already embedded elsewhere',
-          chunk_source: 'compiled_truth',
-          embedding: new Float32Array(1536).fill(0.01),
-          model: 'voyage:voyage-3',
-          token_count: 4,
-        },
-        {
-          chunk_index: 1,
-          chunk_text: 'stale chunk needing embed',
-          chunk_source: 'compiled_truth',
-          token_count: 5,
-          embedding: undefined, // stale
-        },
-      ]);
-
-      const result = await embedStaleForSource(engine, 'default', { embedFn: fakeEmbedFn });
-      expect(result.embedded).toBe(1);
-
-      const after = await engine.getChunks('notes/model-label');
-      const preserved = after.find((c) => c.chunk_index === 0)!;
-      const reembedded = after.find((c) => c.chunk_index === 1)!;
-      expect(reembedded.model).toBe('openai:text-embedding-3-large');
-      expect(preserved.model).toBe('voyage:voyage-3');
-    } finally {
-      resetGateway();
-    }
-  });
 });

test/embed.serial.test.ts

@@ -37,8 +37,6 @@ mock.module('../src/core/embedding.ts', () => ({
   // setPageEmbeddingSignature / invalidateStaleSignatureEmbeddings resolve to
   // null via the Proxy default, so the signature value is inert here.
   currentEmbeddingSignature: () => 'test:model:1536',
-  // #1717: embed paths stamp this label on (re)embedded chunks.
-  resolveEmbeddingModelLabel: () => 'openai:text-embedding-3-large',
 }));
 
 // Import AFTER mocking.
@@ -805,34 +803,3 @@ describe('embedAllStale --source threading (D7)', () => {
     expect((firstCallOpts as { sourceId?: string }).sourceId).toBe('media-corpus');
   });
 });
-
-// #1717: content_chunks.model must record the model that actually produced
-// each vector, not the gateway/engine default.
-describe('content_chunks.model labeling (#1717)', () => {
-  test('stamps the resolved embedding model on re-embedded chunks, preserves it on untouched chunks', async () => {
-    let upserted: any[] | undefined;
-    // Chunk 0 is stale (no embedded_at) → gets re-embedded this pass.
-    // Chunk 1 is already embedded with a DIFFERENT model → must be preserved,
-    // not relabeled to the current model.
-    const chunks = [
-      { chunk_index: 0, chunk_text: 'a', chunk_source: 'compiled_truth', embedded_at: null, model: 'zeroentropyai:zembed-1', token_count: 1 },
-      { chunk_index: 1, chunk_text: 'b', chunk_source: 'compiled_truth', embedded_at: '2026-01-01', embedding: new Float32Array(1536), model: 'voyage:voyage-3', token_count: 1 },
-    ];
-    const engine = mockEngine({
-      getPage: async () => ({ slug: 'notes/x', compiled_truth: 'a', timeline: '', source_id: 'default' }),
-      getChunks: async () => chunks,
-      upsertChunks: async (_slug: string, c: any[]) => { upserted = c; },
-      setPageEmbeddingSignature: async () => null,
-    });
-
-    await runEmbedCore(engine, { slugs: ['notes/x'] });
-
-    expect(upserted).toBeDefined();
-    const byIdx = Object.fromEntries(upserted!.map(c => [c.chunk_index, c]));
-    // Re-embedded chunk carries the model that produced its vector (was
-    // mislabeled with the default before the fix).
-    expect(byIdx[0].model).toBe('openai:text-embedding-3-large');
-    // Untouched chunk keeps its original model — no wholesale relabel.
-    expect(byIdx[1].model).toBe('voyage:voyage-3');
-  });
-});

test/emotional-weight.test.ts

@@ -112,3 +112,7 @@ describe('computeEmotionalWeight', () => {
     expect(HIGH_EMOTION_TAGS.has('mental-health')).toBe(true);
   });
 });
+
+test('DEFAULT_USER_HOLDER is the canonical owner holder self', () => {
+  expect(DEFAULT_USER_HOLDER).toBe('self');
+});

test/import-signature-stamp.serial.test.ts

@@ -73,21 +73,4 @@ describe('importFromContent embedding_signature stamping (F1)', () => {
     await importFromContent(engine, 'concepts/unstamped', '# Unstamped\n\nbody content.', { noEmbed: true });
     expect(await signatureOf('concepts/unstamped')).toBeNull();
   });
-
-  // #1717: content_chunks.model must record the model that produced the
-  // vector (the configured gateway model), not the engine's hardcoded
-  // default. The gateway here is configured to openai:text-embedding-3-large,
-  // which differs from DEFAULT_EMBEDDING_MODEL — so this fails without the
-  // import-path model stamping.
-  test('inline embed labels content_chunks.model with the configured model (#1717)', async () => {
-    await importFromContent(engine, 'concepts/labeled', '# Labeled\n\nsome body content to chunk and embed.', {});
-    const rows = await engine.executeRaw<{ model: string }>(
-      `SELECT cc.model FROM content_chunks cc
-        JOIN pages p ON p.id = cc.page_id
-       WHERE p.slug = $1 AND p.source_id = 'default'`,
-      ['concepts/labeled'],
-    );
-    expect(rows.length).toBeGreaterThan(0);
-    for (const r of rows) expect(r.model).toBe('openai:text-embedding-3-large');
-  });
 });

test/owner-holder.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+import { describe, test, expect } from 'bun:test';
+import { resolveOwnerHolder, DEFAULT_OWNER_HOLDER } from '../src/core/owner-holder.ts';
+
+describe('owner-holder', () => {
+  test('DEFAULT_OWNER_HOLDER is self', () => {
+    expect(DEFAULT_OWNER_HOLDER).toBe('self');
+  });
+
+  test('defaults to self when nothing provided', () => {
+    expect(resolveOwnerHolder({})).toBe('self');
+  });
+
+  test('null/undefined config falls back to self', () => {
+    expect(resolveOwnerHolder({ configValue: null })).toBe('self');
+    expect(resolveOwnerHolder({ configValue: undefined })).toBe('self');
+  });
+
+  test('uses config value when set and no override', () => {
+    expect(resolveOwnerHolder({ configValue: 'people/charlie-example' }))
+      .toBe('people/charlie-example');
+  });
+
+  test('override beats config and default', () => {
+    expect(resolveOwnerHolder({ override: 'world', configValue: 'people/charlie-example' }))
+      .toBe('world');
+  });
+});