fix(mail): prevent message type failures (#960)

internal/cmd/install.go

@@ -11,9 +11,9 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 	"github.com/steveyegge/gastown/internal/beads"
-	"github.com/steveyegge/gastown/internal/constants"
 	"github.com/steveyegge/gastown/internal/claude"
 	"github.com/steveyegge/gastown/internal/config"
+	"github.com/steveyegge/gastown/internal/constants"
 	"github.com/steveyegge/gastown/internal/deps"
 	"github.com/steveyegge/gastown/internal/formula"
 	"github.com/steveyegge/gastown/internal/shell"
@@ -408,11 +408,8 @@ func initTownBeads(townPath string) error {
 
 	// Configure custom types for Gas Town (agent, role, rig, convoy, slot).
 	// These were extracted from beads core in v0.46.0 and now require explicit config.
-	configCmd := exec.Command("bd", "config", "set", "types.custom", constants.BeadsCustomTypes)
+	if err := beads.EnsureCustomTypes(beadsDir); err != nil {
-	configCmd.Dir = townPath
+		return fmt.Errorf("ensuring custom types: %w", err)
-	if configOutput, configErr := configCmd.CombinedOutput(); configErr != nil {
-		// Non-fatal: older beads versions don't need this, newer ones do
-		fmt.Printf("   %s Could not set custom types: %s\n", style.Dim.Render("⚠"), strings.TrimSpace(string(configOutput)))
 	}
 
 	// Configure allowed_prefixes for convoy beads (hq-cv-* IDs).

internal/mail/mailbox.go

@@ -212,6 +212,10 @@ func (m *Mailbox) identityVariants() []string {
 
 // queryMessages runs a bd list query with the given filter flag and value.
 func (m *Mailbox) queryMessages(beadsDir, filterFlag, filterValue, status string) ([]*Message, error) {
+	if err := beads.EnsureCustomTypes(beadsDir); err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("ensuring custom types: %w", err)
+	}
+
 	args := []string{"list",
 		"--type", "message",
 		filterFlag, filterValue,
@@ -829,8 +833,8 @@ func (m *Mailbox) rewriteLegacy(messages []*Message) error {
 	for _, msg := range messages {
 		data, err := json.Marshal(msg)
 		if err != nil {
-			_ = file.Close()         // best-effort cleanup
+			_ = file.Close()       // best-effort cleanup
-			_ = os.Remove(tmpPath)   // best-effort cleanup
+			_ = os.Remove(tmpPath) // best-effort cleanup
 			return err
 		}
 		_, _ = file.WriteString(string(data) + "\n") // non-fatal: partial write is acceptable

internal/mail/router.go

@@ -189,6 +189,13 @@ func (r *Router) resolveBeadsDir(_ string) string { // address unused: all mail
 	return filepath.Join(r.townRoot, ".beads")
 }
 
+func (r *Router) ensureCustomTypes(beadsDir string) error {
+	if err := beads.EnsureCustomTypes(beadsDir); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("ensuring custom types: %w", err)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
 // isTownLevelAddress returns true if the address is for a town-level agent or the overseer.
 func isTownLevelAddress(address string) bool {
 	addr := strings.TrimSuffix(address, "/")
@@ -214,10 +221,10 @@ const (
 
 // ParsedGroup represents a parsed @group address.
 type ParsedGroup struct {
-	Type      GroupType
+	Type     GroupType
-	RoleType  string // witness, crew, polecat, dog, etc.
+	RoleType string // witness, crew, polecat, dog, etc.
-	Rig       string // rig name for rig-scoped groups
+	Rig      string // rig name for rig-scoped groups
-	Original  string // original @group string
+	Original string // original @group string
 }
 
 // parseGroupAddress parses a @group address into its components.
@@ -697,6 +704,9 @@ func (r *Router) sendToSingle(msg *Message) error {
 	}
 
 	beadsDir := r.resolveBeadsDir(msg.To)
+	if err := r.ensureCustomTypes(beadsDir); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 	_, err := runBdCommand(args, filepath.Dir(beadsDir), beadsDir)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("sending message: %w", err)
@@ -807,6 +817,9 @@ func (r *Router) sendToQueue(msg *Message) error {
 
 	// Queue messages go to town-level beads (shared location)
 	beadsDir := r.resolveBeadsDir("")
+	if err := r.ensureCustomTypes(beadsDir); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 	_, err = runBdCommand(args, filepath.Dir(beadsDir), beadsDir)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("sending to queue %s: %w", queueName, err)
@@ -878,6 +891,9 @@ func (r *Router) sendToAnnounce(msg *Message) error {
 
 	// Announce messages go to town-level beads (shared location)
 	beadsDir := r.resolveBeadsDir("")
+	if err := r.ensureCustomTypes(beadsDir); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 	_, err = runBdCommand(args, filepath.Dir(beadsDir), beadsDir)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("sending to announce %s: %w", announceName, err)
@@ -951,6 +967,9 @@ func (r *Router) sendToChannel(msg *Message) error {
 
 	// Channel messages go to town-level beads (shared location)
 	beadsDir := r.resolveBeadsDir("")
+	if err := r.ensureCustomTypes(beadsDir); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 	_, err = runBdCommand(args, filepath.Dir(beadsDir), beadsDir)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("sending to channel %s: %w", channelName, err)
@@ -988,6 +1007,9 @@ func (r *Router) pruneAnnounce(announceName string, retainCount int) error {
 	}
 
 	beadsDir := r.resolveBeadsDir("")
+	if err := r.ensureCustomTypes(beadsDir); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 
 	// Query existing messages in this announce channel
 	// Use bd list with labels filter to find messages with announce:<name> label