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+# Property Layers: Multi-Level Configuration
+
+> Implementation guide for Gas Town's configuration system.
+> Created: 2025-01-06
+
+## Overview
+
+Gas Town uses a layered property system for configuration. Properties are
+looked up through multiple layers, with earlier layers overriding later ones.
+This enables both local control and global coordination.
+
+## The Four Layers
+
+```
+┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
+│ 1. WISP LAYER (transient, town-local)                       │
+│    Location: <rig>/.beads-wisp/config/                      │
+│    Synced: Never                                            │
+│    Use: Temporary local overrides                           │
+└─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────────┘
+                              │ if missing
+                              ▼
+┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
+│ 2. RIG BEAD LAYER (persistent, synced globally)             │
+│    Location: <rig>/.beads/ (rig identity bead labels)       │
+│    Synced: Via git (all clones see it)                      │
+│    Use: Project-wide operational state                      │
+└─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────────┘
+                              │ if missing
+                              ▼
+┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
+│ 3. TOWN DEFAULTS                                            │
+│    Location: ~/gt/config.json or ~/gt/.beads/               │
+│    Synced: N/A (per-town)                                   │
+│    Use: Town-wide policies                                  │
+└─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────────┘
+                              │ if missing
+                              ▼
+┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
+│ 4. SYSTEM DEFAULTS (compiled in)                            │
+│    Use: Fallback when nothing else specified                │
+└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
+```
+
+## Lookup Behavior
+
+### Override Semantics (Default)
+
+For most properties, the first non-nil value wins:
+
+```go
+func GetConfig(key string) interface{} {
+    if val := wisp.Get(key); val != nil {
+        if val == Blocked { return nil }
+        return val
+    }
+    if val := rigBead.GetLabel(key); val != nil {
+        return val
+    }
+    if val := townDefaults.Get(key); val != nil {
+        return val
+    }
+    return systemDefaults[key]
+}
+```
+
+### Stacking Semantics (Integers)
+
+For integer properties, values from wisp and bead layers **add** to the base:
+
+```go
+func GetIntConfig(key string) int {
+    base := getBaseDefault(key)    // Town or system default
+    beadAdj := rigBead.GetInt(key) // 0 if missing
+    wispAdj := wisp.GetInt(key)    // 0 if missing
+    return base + beadAdj + wispAdj
+}
+```
+
+This enables temporary adjustments without changing the base value.
+
+### Blocking Inheritance
+
+You can explicitly block a property from being inherited:
+
+```bash
+gt rig config set gastown auto_restart --block
+```
+
+This creates a "blocked" marker in the wisp layer. Even if the rig bead
+or defaults say `auto_restart: true`, the lookup returns nil.
+
+## Rig Identity Beads
+
+Each rig has an identity bead for operational state:
+
+```yaml
+id: gt-rig-gastown
+type: rig
+name: gastown
+repo: git@github.com:steveyegge/gastown.git
+prefix: gt
+
+labels:
+  - status:operational
+  - priority:normal
+```
+
+These beads sync via git, so all clones of the rig see the same state.
+
+## Two-Level Rig Control
+
+### Level 1: Park (Local, Ephemeral)
+
+```bash
+gt rig park gastown      # Stop services, daemon won't restart
+gt rig unpark gastown    # Allow services to run
+```
+
+- Stored in wisp layer (`.beads-wisp/config/`)
+- Only affects this town
+- Disappears on cleanup
+- Use: Local maintenance, debugging
+
+### Level 2: Dock (Global, Persistent)
+
+```bash
+gt rig dock gastown      # Set status:docked label on rig bead
+gt rig undock gastown    # Remove label
+```
+
+- Stored on rig identity bead
+- Syncs to all clones via git
+- Permanent until explicitly changed
+- Use: Project-wide maintenance, coordinated downtime
+
+### Daemon Behavior
+
+The daemon checks both levels before auto-restarting:
+
+```go
+func shouldAutoRestart(rig *Rig) bool {
+    status := rig.GetConfig("status")
+    if status == "parked" || status == "docked" {
+        return false
+    }
+    return true
+}
+```
+
+## Configuration Keys
+
+| Key | Type | Behavior | Description |
+|-----|------|----------|-------------|
+| `status` | string | Override | operational/parked/docked |
+| `auto_restart` | bool | Override | Daemon auto-restart behavior |
+| `max_polecats` | int | Override | Maximum concurrent polecats |
+| `priority_adjustment` | int | **Stack** | Scheduling priority modifier |
+| `maintenance_window` | string | Override | When maintenance allowed |
+| `dnd` | bool | Override | Do not disturb mode |
+
+## Commands
+
+### View Configuration
+
+```bash
+gt rig config show gastown           # Show effective config (all layers)
+gt rig config show gastown --layer   # Show which layer each value comes from
+```
+
+### Set Configuration
+
+```bash
+# Set in wisp layer (local, ephemeral)
+gt rig config set gastown key value
+
+# Set in bead layer (global, permanent)
+gt rig config set gastown key value --global
+
+# Block inheritance
+gt rig config set gastown key --block
+
+# Clear from wisp layer
+gt rig config unset gastown key
+```
+
+### Rig Lifecycle
+
+```bash
+gt rig park gastown          # Local: stop + prevent restart
+gt rig unpark gastown        # Local: allow restart
+
+gt rig dock gastown          # Global: mark as offline
+gt rig undock gastown        # Global: mark as operational
+
+gt rig status gastown        # Show current state
+```
+
+## Examples
+
+### Temporary Priority Boost
+
+```bash
+# Base priority: 0 (from defaults)
+# Give this rig temporary priority boost for urgent work
+
+gt rig config set gastown priority_adjustment 10
+
+# Effective priority: 0 + 10 = 10
+# When done, clear it:
+
+gt rig config unset gastown priority_adjustment
+```
+
+### Local Maintenance
+
+```bash
+# I'm upgrading the local clone, don't restart services
+gt rig park gastown
+
+# ... do maintenance ...
+
+gt rig unpark gastown
+```
+
+### Project-Wide Maintenance
+
+```bash
+# Major refactor in progress, all clones should pause
+gt rig dock gastown
+
+# Syncs via git - other towns see the rig as docked
+bd sync
+
+# When done:
+gt rig undock gastown
+bd sync
+```
+
+### Block Auto-Restart Locally
+
+```bash
+# Rig bead says auto_restart: true
+# But I'm debugging and don't want that here
+
+gt rig config set gastown auto_restart --block
+
+# Now auto_restart returns nil for this town only
+```
+
+## Implementation Notes
+
+### Wisp Storage
+
+Wisp config stored in `.beads-wisp/config/<rig>.json`:
+
+```json
+{
+  "rig": "gastown",
+  "values": {
+    "status": "parked",
+    "priority_adjustment": 10
+  },
+  "blocked": ["auto_restart"]
+}
+```
+
+### Rig Bead Labels
+
+Rig operational state stored as labels on the rig identity bead:
+
+```bash
+bd label add gt-rig-gastown status:docked
+bd label remove gt-rig-gastown status:docked
+```
+
+### Daemon Integration
+
+The daemon's lifecycle manager checks config before starting services:
+
+```go
+func (d *Daemon) maybeStartRigServices(rig string) {
+    r := d.getRig(rig)
+
+    status := r.GetConfig("status")
+    if status == "parked" || status == "docked" {
+        log.Info("Rig %s is offline, skipping auto-start", rig)
+        return
+    }
+
+    d.ensureWitness(rig)
+    d.ensureRefinery(rig)
+}
+```
+
+## Related Documents
+
+- `~/gt/docs/hop/PROPERTY-LAYERS.md` - Strategic architecture
+- `wisp-architecture.md` - Wisp system design
+- `agent-as-bead.md` - Agent identity beads (similar pattern)