refactor(signal): retire the in-Emacs signel client to the archive

Agents drive Signal via signal-cli and signal-mcp, so the interactive client earns no keep. I moved signal-config.el and its seven test files to archive/ per the pasture convention, dropped the require from init.el, removed the dashboard's Signal launcher (row sizes now 5 4 3 2, tests updated), and unregistered the C-; M prefix from the running daemon. The ~/code/signel fork repo is untouched. The spec record stays IMPLEMENTED with a retirement history line, and the messenger-unification draft carries a premise-shift note.

14 files changed, 25 insertions, 19 deletions

diff --git a/archive/README.org b/archive/README.org
index bbc30a14..e292065a 100644
--- a/archive/README.org
+++ b/archive/README.org
@@ -46,6 +46,13 @@ Retired files keep their origin directory so a restore is a straight move back:
 - =mu4e-org-contacts-setup.el= — nothing requires it; its featurep gate would
   be nil at init in any case. The live mu4e contacts wiring lives in
   =mu4e-org-contacts-integration.el=.
+- =signal-config.el= — the in-Emacs Signal client (forked signel at
+  =~/code/signel= + signal-cli), retired whole on Craig's call 2026-07-14:
+  agents drive Signal via signal-cli / signal-mcp, so the interactive Emacs
+  client earns no keep. The fork repo itself is untouched. Its seven test
+  files moved to =archive/tests/= with it (=test-signal-config*.el=,
+  =test-signel-*.el=). The spec record is
+  =docs/specs/signal-client-spec.org= (IMPLEMENTED, then retired).
 
 ** archive/custom/
 
diff --git a/modules/signal-config.el b/archive/modules/signal-config.el
index a1ec7933..a1ec7933 100644
--- a/modules/signal-config.el
+++ b/archive/modules/signal-config.el
diff --git a/tests/test-signal-config--contact-cache.el b/archive/tests/test-signal-config--contact-cache.el
index 720e0c3a..720e0c3a 100644
--- a/tests/test-signal-config--contact-cache.el
+++ b/archive/tests/test-signal-config--contact-cache.el
diff --git a/tests/test-signal-config-notify.el b/archive/tests/test-signal-config-notify.el
index 1a772289..1a772289 100644
--- a/tests/test-signal-config-notify.el
+++ b/archive/tests/test-signal-config-notify.el
diff --git a/tests/test-signal-config.el b/archive/tests/test-signal-config.el
index f8bf4410..f8bf4410 100644
--- a/tests/test-signal-config.el
+++ b/archive/tests/test-signal-config.el
diff --git a/tests/test-signel-cancel-input.el b/archive/tests/test-signel-cancel-input.el
index b2a7ef89..b2a7ef89 100644
--- a/tests/test-signel-cancel-input.el
+++ b/archive/tests/test-signel-cancel-input.el
diff --git a/tests/test-signel-input-preservation.el b/archive/tests/test-signel-input-preservation.el
index e8ce4ddb..e8ce4ddb 100644
--- a/tests/test-signel-input-preservation.el
+++ b/archive/tests/test-signel-input-preservation.el
diff --git a/tests/test-signel-notify-function.el b/archive/tests/test-signel-notify-function.el
index e3d97af5..e3d97af5 100644
--- a/tests/test-signel-notify-function.el
+++ b/archive/tests/test-signel-notify-function.el
diff --git a/tests/test-signel-rpc-dispatch.el b/archive/tests/test-signel-rpc-dispatch.el
index 5ae023d6..5ae023d6 100644
--- a/tests/test-signel-rpc-dispatch.el
+++ b/archive/tests/test-signel-rpc-dispatch.el
diff --git a/docs/specs/messenger-unification-spec.org b/docs/specs/messenger-unification-spec.org
index c92ba1a7..7847fd04 100644
--- a/docs/specs/messenger-unification-spec.org
+++ b/docs/specs/messenger-unification-spec.org
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 :PROPERTIES:
 :ID:       4bfc2011-8ffc-4765-8886-91df12141171
 :END:
+- 2026-07-14 Tue @ 01:10:00 -0500 — premise shift: the signel client was retired to archive/ (agents drive Signal via signal-cli), so the registry example, the "signel remains the running reference" language, and the backend list all need a rewrite before this leaves DRAFT — the live in-Emacs backends are now telega and Slack, with smoke (~/code/smoke) still the future native adopter. Also landed since the 06-11 survey: slack-config gained signel-shape notification hardening (c69f2f56) and telega notifications are on (5bc5ef7a), so the shared cj/messenger-notify extraction has two live call sites ready.
 - 2026-07-04 Sat @ 15:30:41 -0500 — retrofitted to status-heading convention; keyword DRAFT from existing :STATUS: not-started (held open for more ideas)
 
 * Problem
diff --git a/docs/specs/signal-client-spec.org b/docs/specs/signal-client-spec.org
index c3d54da4..56c9ea1a 100644
--- a/docs/specs/signal-client-spec.org
+++ b/docs/specs/signal-client-spec.org
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 :PROPERTIES:
 :ID:       0cabd6ee-c458-47b5-a8af-3ee054b25821
 :END:
+- 2026-07-14 Tue @ 01:10:00 -0500 — RETIRED from the config (Craig's call, ~an hour after the IMPLEMENTED flip): agents drive Signal via signal-cli / signal-mcp, so the interactive in-Emacs client earns no keep. signal-config.el and its seven test files moved to archive/ (see archive/README.org); the C-; M prefix unregistered; the ~/code/signel fork repo untouched. Keyword stays IMPLEMENTED as the honest record of what was built.
 - 2026-07-14 Tue @ 01:01:32 -0500 — IMPLEMENTED (Craig's call): v1 is shipped and in daily use — forked signel engine, contact picker with cached contacts (lifecycle hardened 703b4841 / 1296cc45), notifications with sound gating and script-with-fallback delivery, bottom-30% window rule. Next-generation client work belongs to the smoke project (~/code/smoke, its own architecture spec), which the messenger-unification spec designates as the ground-up replacement; signal-config.el stays the running reference until smoke reaches parity.
 - 2026-07-04 Sat @ 15:30:41 -0500 — retrofitted to status-heading convention; keyword DOING from existing :STATUS: doing
 
diff --git a/init.el b/init.el
index d1128602..caa2c68e 100644
--- a/init.el
+++ b/init.el
@@ -78,7 +78,6 @@
 (require 'slack-config)          ;; slack client via emacs-slack
 (require 'pearl-config)          ;; Linear.app issue tracking via pearl (deepsat + craigjennings)
 (require 'telega-config)         ;; telegram client via telega.el (TDLib in docker)
-(require 'signal-config)         ;; signal client via forked signel + signal-cli
 (require 'eshell-config)         ;; emacs shell configuration
 (require 'eat-config)            ;; EAT terminal + the F12 dock-and-remember toggle
 (require 'ai-term)               ;; in-Emacs Claude launcher (vertical-split EAT terminal)
diff --git a/modules/dashboard-config.el b/modules/dashboard-config.el
index 53f19b72..d5aa501d 100644
--- a/modules/dashboard-config.el
+++ b/modules/dashboard-config.el
@@ -68,7 +68,6 @@
 (declare-function cj/erc-switch-to-buffer-with-completion "erc-config")
 (declare-function cj/telega "telega-config")
 (declare-function cj/slack-start "slack-config")
-(declare-function cj/signel-message "signal-config")
 (declare-function cj/kill-all-other-buffers-and-windows "undead-buffers")
 
 ;; External package commands invoked by launchers.
@@ -149,15 +148,15 @@ Adjust this if the title doesn't appear centered under the banner image.")
    (list "i" #'nerd-icons-faicon  "nf-fa-comments"     "IRC"        "Emacs Relay Chat"       (lambda () (cj/erc-switch-to-buffer-with-completion)))
    (list "G" #'nerd-icons-faicon  "nf-fa-telegram"     "Telegram"   "Telega Telegram Client" (lambda () (cj/telega)))
    (list "s" #'nerd-icons-faicon  "nf-fa-slack"        "Slack"      "Slack Client"           (lambda () (cj/slack-start)))
-   (list "l" #'nerd-icons-octicon "nf-oct-issue_tracks" "Linear"    "Linear Issue Tracker"   (lambda () (pearl-list-issues)))
-   (list "S" #'nerd-icons-mdicon  "nf-md-message"      "Signal"     "Signal Messenger"       (lambda () (cj/signel-message))))
+   (list "l" #'nerd-icons-octicon "nf-oct-issue_tracks" "Linear"    "Linear Issue Tracker"   (lambda () (pearl-list-issues))))
   "Dashboard launcher table: (KEY ICON-FN ICON-NAME LABEL TOOLTIP ACTION).
 Drives both `dashboard-navigator-buttons' and the dashboard-mode-map keys.")
 
-(defconst cj/dashboard--row-sizes '(5 4 3 3)
+(defconst cj/dashboard--row-sizes '(5 4 3 2)
   "Navigator row lengths.  Must sum to the number of `cj/dashboard--launchers'.
-The top row carries Weather alongside the core tools; the last row groups
-Slack, Linear, and Signal together.")
+The top row carries Weather alongside the core tools; the last row pairs
+Slack and Linear.  (Signal left the table when the signel client was
+retired to archive/ -- agents drive Signal via signal-cli.)")
 
 (defun cj/dashboard--navigator-button (l)
   "Build a `dashboard-navigator-buttons' entry from launcher L."
diff --git a/tests/test-dashboard-config-launchers.el b/tests/test-dashboard-config-launchers.el
index 53c46caa..76fbcc42 100644
--- a/tests/test-dashboard-config-launchers.el
+++ b/tests/test-dashboard-config-launchers.el
@@ -28,20 +28,21 @@
 ;; Telegram moved from "g" to "G" so "g" is free for dashboard refresh.
 ;; Signal ("S") added as the 14th launcher.
 ;; Weather ("w") added after Agenda as the 15th launcher (top-row daily glance).
-(defconst test-dash--keys '("c" "d" "t" "a" "w" "r" "b" "f" "m" "e" "i" "G" "s" "l" "S"))
+(defconst test-dash--keys '("c" "d" "t" "a" "w" "r" "b" "f" "m" "e" "i" "G" "s" "l"))
 
 ;; ----------------------------- launcher table --------------------------------
 
 (ert-deftest test-dashboard-launchers-keys-in-order ()
-  "Normal: 15 launchers with the expected keys in display order."
-  (should (= 15 (length cj/dashboard--launchers)))
+  "Normal: 14 launchers with the expected keys in display order.
+(Signal left the table when the signel client was retired to archive/.)"
+  (should (= 14 (length cj/dashboard--launchers)))
   (should (equal test-dash--keys (mapcar (lambda (l) (nth 0 l)) cj/dashboard--launchers))))
 
 (ert-deftest test-dashboard-launchers-labels-in-order ()
   "Normal: labels in display order (Telegram and Slack reordered so Slack sits
 next to Linear on the last navigator row)."
   (should (equal '("Code" "Files" "Terminal" "Agenda" "Weather" "Feeds" "Books"
-                   "Flashcards" "Music" "Email" "IRC" "Telegram" "Slack" "Linear" "Signal")
+                   "Flashcards" "Music" "Email" "IRC" "Telegram" "Slack" "Linear")
                  (mapcar (lambda (l) (nth 3 l)) cj/dashboard--launchers))))
 
 (ert-deftest test-dashboard-row-sizes-cover-all-launchers ()
@@ -51,9 +52,9 @@ next to Linear on the last navigator row)."
 
 ;; --------------------------- navigator rows ----------------------------------
 
-(ert-deftest test-dashboard-navigator-rows-grouped-5-4-3-3 ()
-  "Normal: navigator derives rows per `cj/dashboard--row-sizes' (5 4 3 3), with
-Weather joining the top row and Slack, Linear, and Signal sharing the last row."
+(ert-deftest test-dashboard-navigator-rows-grouped-5-4-3-2 ()
+  "Normal: navigator derives rows per `cj/dashboard--row-sizes' (5 4 3 2), with
+Weather joining the top row and Slack and Linear pairing on the last row."
   (cl-letf (((symbol-function 'nerd-icons-faicon)  (lambda (n &rest _) (concat "I:" n)))
             ((symbol-function 'nerd-icons-devicon) (lambda (n &rest _) (concat "I:" n)))
             ((symbol-function 'nerd-icons-mdicon)  (lambda (n &rest _) (concat "I:" n)))
@@ -62,10 +63,10 @@ Weather joining the top row and Slack, Linear, and Signal sharing the last row."
             ((symbol-function 'nerd-icons-wicon)   (lambda (n &rest _) (concat "I:" n))))
     (let ((rows (cj/dashboard--navigator-rows)))
       (should (= 4 (length rows)))
-      (should (equal '(5 4 3 3) (mapcar #'length rows)))
+      (should (equal '(5 4 3 2) (mapcar #'length rows)))
       (should (equal '("Code" "Files" "Terminal" "Agenda" "Weather")
                      (mapcar (lambda (b) (nth 1 b)) (nth 0 rows))))
-      (should (equal '("Slack" "Linear" "Signal")
+      (should (equal '("Slack" "Linear")
                      (mapcar (lambda (b) (nth 1 b)) (nth 3 rows))))
       (let ((btn (car (car rows))))            ; (icon label tooltip action nil " " "")
         (should (string= "I:nf-fa-code" (nth 0 btn)))
@@ -100,7 +101,6 @@ Weather joining the top row and Slack, Linear, and Signal sharing the last row."
               ((symbol-function 'cj/slack-start) (lambda (&rest _) (push 'slack calls)))
               ((symbol-function 'cj/telega) (lambda (&rest _) (push 'tg calls)))
               ((symbol-function 'pearl-list-issues) (lambda (&rest _) (push 'linear calls)))
-              ((symbol-function 'cj/signel-message) (lambda (&rest _) (push 'signal calls)))
               ;; wttrin is invoked via `call-interactively', so the stub must be
               ;; a command -- a plain variadic lambda masked the real arity bug.
               ((symbol-function 'wttrin) (lambda (&rest _) (interactive) (push 'weather calls))))
@@ -112,9 +112,8 @@ Weather joining the top row and Slack, Linear, and Signal sharing the last row."
       (should (memq 'linear calls))
       (should (memq 'm-toggle calls))
       (should (memq 'm-load calls))
-      (should (memq 'signal calls))
       (should (memq 'weather calls))
-      (should (= 16 (length calls))))))   ; 15 keys, Music fires two
+      (should (= 15 (length calls))))))   ; 14 keys, Music fires two
 
 (provide 'test-dashboard-config-launchers)
 ;;; test-dashboard-config-launchers.el ends here