Add a Start date field to the definition edit sheet (#237)

Co-authored-by: dev_agent <17+dev_agent@code.cubecraftcreations.com>
Co-committed-by: dev_agent <17+dev_agent@code.cubecraftcreations.com>

admin/src/definitions/DefinitionsTab.test.tsx

@@ -1118,3 +1118,95 @@ describe("DefinitionsTab icon picker", () => {
     expect(rowIcon(screen.getByTestId("definition-20"))).toBeNull();
   });
 });
+
+/* ── Start date ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────── */
+
+function startDateInput(s: HTMLElement): HTMLInputElement {
+  return within(s).getByLabelText("Start date", { selector: "input" }) as HTMLInputElement;
+}
+
+describe("DefinitionsTab start date", () => {
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    sessionStorage.clear();
+    storeTokens({ access_token: "at-123", expires_in: 600 });
+  });
+
+  afterEach(() => {
+    cleanup();
+    vi.unstubAllGlobals();
+    vi.useRealTimers();
+  });
+
+  it("a new task defaults to today and POSTs the chosen start date", async () => {
+    vi.useFakeTimers({ toFake: ["Date"] });
+    vi.setSystemTime(new Date(2026, 8, 23, 9, 0)); // Wed 23 Sep 2026, local
+    await renderReady();
+
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: "New" }));
+    const s = sheet();
+    const input = startDateInput(s);
+    expect(input.type).toBe("date");
+    expect(input.value).toBe("2026-09-23");
+
+    fireEvent.change(within(s).getByRole("textbox", { name: "Title" }), {
+      target: { value: "Feed the cat" },
+    });
+    fireEvent.click(within(s).getByRole("button", { name: /Assigned children/ }));
+    fireEvent.click(within(s).getByRole("checkbox", { name: "Declan" }));
+    fireEvent.click(within(s).getByRole("button", { name: "Evening" }));
+    fireEvent.change(input, { target: { value: "2026-10-15" } });
+
+    await act(async () => {
+      fireEvent.click(within(s).getByRole("button", { name: "Save changes" }));
+    });
+    expect(api.writes()).toHaveLength(1);
+    expect(api.writes()[0].method).toBe("POST");
+    expect((api.writes()[0].body as { rule: DefinitionRule }).rule.start_date).toBe("2026-10-15");
+  });
+
+  it("an edit pre-fills the definition's start date and PATCHes a changed one", async () => {
+    await renderReady();
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByTestId("definition-10"));
+    const s = sheet();
+    const input = startDateInput(s);
+    expect(input.value).toBe("2026-01-01");
+
+    fireEvent.change(input, { target: { value: "2026-11-02" } });
+    await act(async () => {
+      fireEvent.click(within(s).getByRole("button", { name: "Save changes" }));
+    });
+    expect(api.writes()).toEqual([
+      expect.objectContaining({
+        method: "PATCH",
+        path: "/api/v1/admin/quest-definitions/10",
+        body: expect.objectContaining({ rule: rule({ start_date: "2026-11-02" }) }),
+      }),
+    ]);
+  });
+
+  it("the occurrence preview requests the chosen start date", async () => {
+    await renderReady();
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByTestId("definition-10"));
+    const s = sheet();
+    await waitFor(() => expect(api.previews()).toHaveLength(1));
+
+    fireEvent.change(startDateInput(s), { target: { value: "2027-03-01" } });
+    await settleDebounce();
+    await waitFor(() => expect(api.previews()).toHaveLength(2));
+    expect((api.previews()[1].body as { rule: DefinitionRule }).rule.start_date).toBe(
+      "2027-03-01",
+    );
+  });
+
+  it("a cleared start date is not submitted", async () => {
+    await renderReady();
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByTestId("definition-10"));
+    const s = sheet();
+    fireEvent.change(startDateInput(s), { target: { value: "" } });
+    await act(async () => {
+      fireEvent.click(within(s).getByRole("button", { name: "Save changes" }));
+    });
+    expect(api.writes()).toHaveLength(0);
+    expect(within(s).getByText("Pick a start date.")).toBeTruthy();
+  });
+});

admin/src/definitions/DefinitionsTab.tsx

@@ -177,6 +177,7 @@ function parseWhole(value: string, min: number, max: number): number | null {
 function buildRule(draft: Draft): DefinitionRule | string {
   const interval = parseWhole(draft.interval, 1, 999);
   if (interval === null) return "Interval must be a whole number of at least 1.";
+  if (draft.startDate === "") return "Pick a start date.";
   const rule: DefinitionRule = {
     rule_type: "daily",
     interval,
@@ -740,6 +741,16 @@ function EditSheet({
             <OccurrencePreview ruleKey={previewKey} />
           </Field>
 
+          <Field label="Start date" id="defs-label-start">
+            <input
+              className="defs-input"
+              type="date"
+              aria-labelledby="defs-label-start"
+              value={draft.startDate}
+              onChange={(e) => update({ startDate: e.target.value })}
+            />
+          </Field>
+
           <Field label="Due time" id="defs-label-due">
             {orderedWindows.length === 0 ? (
               <p className="defs-hint">Pick a window to set its due time.</p>

custom_components/nestquest/core/quest_definitions.py

@@ -235,6 +235,11 @@ async def create_quest_definition(
     transaction, so the returned bundle is a consistent creation
     snapshot.  Raises ValueError on any rejected argument; a rejected or
     failed create persists nothing.
+
+    After the write, :func:`~.materialize.regenerate_for_definition`
+    materializes the new definition's instances over the rolling horizon
+    (host clock, :data:`~.const.DEFAULT_HORIZON_DAYS`), so it reaches the
+    board without waiting for an unrelated write.
     """
     name = _validate_text(title, "title", required=True)
     assert name is not None
@@ -269,6 +274,9 @@ async def create_quest_definition(
             ) from error
         raise
     decoded_rule = schedule_rule_from_storage(storage)
+
+    await regenerate_for_definition(database, snapshot.definition.id)
+
     return CreatedQuestDefinition(
         definition=snapshot.definition,
         rule=decoded_rule,

deploy/RUNBOOK.md

@@ -551,3 +551,72 @@ The file provider reloads the dynamic file on save.
 | 5 | Panel refused externally | section 9 check 4 | `403` |
 | 6 | Non-Traefik source refused | from a LAN machine other than `10.60.1.33`/`10.60.1.14`: `curl -s -o /dev/null -w '%{http_code}\n' http://10.60.1.14:8081/` | `403` (nginx `deny all`) |
 | 7 | Proxy source allowed | on `10.60.1.14`: `curl -s -o /dev/null -w '%{http_code}\n' http://10.60.1.14:8081/` | `200` |
+
+## 11. Upgrades and rollback
+
+The API applies pending schema migrations when it starts (FastAPI
+lifespan, before `/health` answers), so **the first start of a new
+version is the point of no return** for any migration it carries. A
+build refuses a database whose schema version is newer than it
+understands ("newer than this integration understands … downgrades are
+not supported") and does not start.
+
+### Migration 9 (multiple presence patterns)
+
+Migration 9 creates `presence_patterns`, copies every row of the old
+one-per-child `presence_schedules` table into it as a `home` pattern
+named `Home schedule`, and **drops `presence_schedules`**. Version 0.7.1
+refuses the resulting version-9 database, and could not read
+`presence_patterns` anyway, so the only way back to 0.7.1 is a copy of
+the database taken **before** the first start on the new version.
+
+**Before the first start on the new version**, with the old version
+still deployed:
+
+1. Stop writers (as section 8 step 1):
+
+       dc stop api litestream
+
+2. Copy the database file beside the live one with SQLite's online
+   backup (includes anything still in the WAL), then check it:
+
+       ts=$(date -u +%Y%m%dT%H%M%SZ)
+       dc run --rm --no-deps --entrypoint sqlite3 litestream \
+         /var/lib/nestquest/nestquest.db \
+         ".backup /var/lib/nestquest/pre-v9-$ts.db"
+       dc run --rm --no-deps --entrypoint sqlite3 litestream \
+         /var/lib/nestquest/pre-v9-$ts.db \
+         'PRAGMA integrity_check;' \
+         'SELECT version FROM nestquest_schema_version;' \
+         'SELECT count(*) FROM presence_schedules;'
+
+   Expect `ok`, schema version `8`, and the number of presence
+   schedules. Write down `$ts`.
+
+3. Also record the Litestream replica position and the UTC time, so a
+   point-in-time restore (section 8, `-timestamp`) can reach the
+   pre-upgrade state even if the local copy is lost:
+
+       dc up -d litestream
+       dc exec litestream litestream status      # note the txid
+       date -u +%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%SZ               # note the time
+       dc stop litestream
+
+   The replica only covers the 7-day retention window (section 7).
+
+4. Deploy the new version (sections 1–2) and run section 9. Confirm the
+   live database is at version `9` (the section 8 step 3 `sqlite3`
+   command against `nestquest.db`, with
+   `'SELECT version FROM nestquest_schema_version;'`) and that the
+   Schedule tab lists each child's old schedule as a `Home schedule`
+   pattern.
+
+**Rollback to 0.7.1:** check out and build 0.7.1 (section 1), then put
+the pre-upgrade database back with section 8: either steps 1 and 4–6
+with `pre-v9-<ts>.db` in place of `nestquest.db.restored`, or the full
+restore with `-timestamp` set to the time noted in step 3. Presence
+pattern changes made after the upgrade are not in that copy and are
+lost. Once the new version has proven itself, remove the copy:
+`dc run --rm --no-deps --entrypoint rm litestream -f /var/lib/nestquest/pre-v9-<ts>.db`.
+
+This rollback has not yet been rehearsed.

design/ADMIN-SPEC.md

@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ One card, rows divided by `--nq-a-divider`, row padding 11px 13px:
 meta 11px/600 (`3 of 7 · 1 overdue`; all-done in `--nq-a-success`; away reads
 `Away · returns <Mon D>`) · 82×6px progress track with gradient fill. An away child's
 avatar is flat `#9898A8` and the row carries a lowercase `override` pill when the absence
-comes from a presence override rather than the pattern.
+comes from a presence override rather than a presence pattern.
 
 ### 2.4 Roomy variant (1h)
 Header becomes a hero: kicker 11px/700 uppercase, `8 of 12 done` 32px/800, 10px gradient
@@ -89,19 +89,54 @@ yet defined** — pick 24–40 household-relevant glyphs and ship them as a grid
 
 ## 4. Schedule (1f)
 
-- Header `Schedule` / `2-week cycle · anchor <weekday>, <Mon D>`.
+A child has **zero or more** presence patterns (schema 9). Each pattern has a name, a
+kind (`Home` or `Away`), its own cycle length (1–4 weeks), its own anchor date, and a
+weekday set per cycle week. The screen shows one child at a time.
+
+- Header `Schedule` / `<Child> · N patterns` (`<Child> · no patterns, home every day`
+  when the child has none).
+- **Child** chip row: one chip per child; the selected chip drives everything below.
 - **Month grid** card: month label 11px/700 uppercase + chevron pair; weekday initials
-  10px/700 `--nq-a-ink-tertiary`; day cells `aspect-ratio: 1`, radius 6px —
+  10px/700 `--nq-a-ink-tertiary`, **Sunday first** (`S M T W T F S`); day cells
-  rotation-home days `--nq-a-selected` with `#201F7A` numerals, away days
+  `aspect-ratio: 1`, radius 6px — home days `--nq-a-selected` with `#201F7A` numerals,
-  `--nq-a-page` with `--nq-a-ink-secondary`, override days `--nq-a-warning-bg` with
+  away days `--nq-a-page` with `--nq-a-ink-secondary`, override days
-  `--nq-a-warning-ink` and a 1px warning border, today filled with the brand gradient in
+  `--nq-a-warning-bg` with `--nq-a-warning-ink` and a 1px warning border, today filled
-  white 800. Legend row beneath, 10.5px/600, one swatch per state.
+  with the brand gradient in white 800. Legend row beneath, 10.5px/600, one swatch per
-- **Presence pattern** card: one row per child, name 13px/700 + rule 12px/600
+  state (`Home`, `Away`, `Override · away`, `Override · home`, `Today`), then the note
-  (`Weeks 1 & 3 of cycle`, `Every day`).
+  "Combined from every pattern: away beats home; overrides beat both."
+- The grid shows the child's **combined** presence, first match wins: an override
+  covering the date; else away if any Away pattern covers it; else home if any Home
+  pattern covers it; else away when the child has at least one Home pattern (a Home
+  pattern lists the days the child is here); else home (only Away patterns, or none).
+- **Presence patterns** card: `Add` text action; one row per pattern with
+  `calendar-check` (Home) / `calendar-x` (Away), title = pattern name 13px/700, meta
+  `Home · Every 2 weeks` 12px/600, and the weekday set (`Thu, Fri` for a 1-week cycle,
+  otherwise `Week 1: Sat, Sun · Week 2: No days`). Trailing `pencil` opens the pattern
+  editor (§4.1); trailing `trash-2` asks `Delete pattern?` inline before deleting. With
+  no patterns the card reads "No patterns for <Child> — home every day."
 - **Overrides** card: `Add` text action; rows with `calendar-x` / `calendar-check`,
   title `<Child> away · <Mon D – D>`, meta reason, trailing `trash-2`.
-- Cycle position is always computed from the anchor date. **Never** from ISO week numbers
+- Cycle position is always computed from each pattern's own anchor date. **Never** from
-  or week parity (D-004).
+  ISO week numbers or week parity (D-004).
+- Weekday numbering on the wire stays **Monday=0 .. Sunday=6**; Sunday-first is display
+  order only.
+
+### 4.1 Pattern editor
+
+Pushed screen with a back chevron; title `New pattern` / `Edit pattern`, sub "Repeating
+presence for <Child>". Form card fields:
+
+- **Name** text field (required, not blank).
+- **Covered days are** 2-up segmented (`Away` / `Home`), selected = `#18181D`.
+- **Cycle length** select (`1 week` … `4 weeks`) and **Anchor date** side by side.
+  Changing the cycle length keeps existing weeks and adds new weeks covering no day.
+- One **weekday picker** per cycle week, labelled `Week N · from <Mon D>` (the date is
+  anchor + (N−1) weeks): seven toggle cells in **Sunday-first** order
+  (`Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa`). A week may cover no day.
+
+Footer: `Cancel` (flex 1, white, bordered) + `Save pattern` (flex 2, gradient), as the
+override editor (§6). Save stays disabled until the name is set, the anchor is a valid
+date, and something changed.
 
 ## 5. History (1g)
 

design/ENTITIES-AND-SERVICES.md

@@ -19,6 +19,14 @@ Planned surface from CTXD CONTEXT.MD, adjusted for the design decisions in
 | `sensor.nestquest_cycle_day` | int | 1d sub-line, 1f header |
 | *configured* `weather.<entity>` | HA core | panel dock |
 
+`present_today` is the child's **combined** presence across all of their presence patterns
+(a child has zero or more, each `home` or `away`) and overrides, first match wins: an
+override covering the date; else absent if any `away` pattern covers it; else present if
+any `home` pattern covers it; else absent when the child has at least one `home` pattern;
+else present. `cycle_day` is the 1-based day in the first patterned child's lowest-id
+pattern, from that pattern's anchor date (never ISO week numbers or parity); `0` when no
+child has a pattern.
+
 Per-instance data is too granular for entity state. The cards read the day's instance list
 from an attribute payload on the per-child sensor (or a websocket command —
 implementer's call), shaped:
@@ -45,12 +53,17 @@ implementer's call), shaped:
 | `nestquest.create_quest_definition` | **yes** | 1e `New` |
 | `nestquest.update_quest_definition` | **yes** | 1e sheet `Save changes` |
 | `nestquest.set_quest_definition_active` | **yes** | 1e row action |
-| `nestquest.set_presence_pattern` | **yes** | 1f presence card |
 | `nestquest.create_presence_override` | **yes** | 1i `Save override` |
 | `nestquest.delete_presence_override` | **yes** | 1f override row `trash-2` |
 | `nestquest.export_history_csv` | **yes** | 1g `CSV` |
 | `nestquest.manage_child` | **yes** | settings |
 
+Presence patterns have no HA service: the admin surface is the PWA (ARCHITECTURE §10),
+which manages a child's patterns through the admin API —
+`GET`/`POST /api/v1/admin/children/{child_id}/presence-patterns` to list and add, and
+`PATCH`/`DELETE /api/v1/admin/presence-patterns/{pattern_id}` to edit and delete one
+pattern (1f patterns card and pattern editor).
+
 `complete_quest` payload from the panel:
 
 ```yaml

design/IMPLEMENTATION-ORDER.md

@@ -11,7 +11,9 @@ rather than aliasing.
 
 - `schema.py`: `task_definitions` → `quest_definitions`, `task_instances` →
   `quest_instances`. Keep `completion_events`, `children`, `admin_users`,
-  `schedule_rules`, `presence_schedules`, `presence_overrides`.
+  `schedule_rules`, `presence_patterns`, `presence_overrides`. (`presence_patterns` —
+  zero or more `home`/`away` patterns per child — replaced the retired one-per-child
+  schedule table in schema 9; migration 9 converts its rows into `home` patterns.)
 - `db.py` / `store.py`: rename DAO methods and any SQL literals.
 - `const.py`: no table names live there today; keep it that way.
 - `tests/test_schema.py`, `tests/test_store.py`, `tests/test_db.py`: update expectations.
@@ -43,8 +45,9 @@ Nullable int. Set for panel completions, null for admin ones. Still append-only.
 
 ## 2. Engines and materialisation
 Unchanged in intent: pure recurrence engine, pure presence engine with anchor-date
-arithmetic, daily materialiser over `horizon_days` at `day_rollover_time`. Only the
+arithmetic (per pattern, each with its own anchor; since schema 9 it combines a child's
-instance fan-out changes (assignees × windows).
+patterns and overrides first-match-wins), daily materialiser over `horizon_days` at
+`day_rollover_time`. Only the instance fan-out changes (assignees × windows).
 
 ## 3. Services, permissions, entities
 Implement the service table in `ENTITIES-AND-SERVICES.md` §2 behind the permission

docs/ARCHITECTURE.md

@@ -61,6 +61,44 @@ two-writer problem entirely.
 - **Backups:** continuous replication (e.g. Litestream) plus a proven restore.
   A configured-but-untested backup is not a backup.
 
+### Presence model (schema 9)
+
+A child has **zero or more** presence patterns, stored one row each in
+`presence_patterns` (`child_id` is not unique):
+
+| Column | Meaning |
+|---|---|
+| `name` | Label shown in the admin PWA, not blank |
+| `kind` | `home` or `away` — what the pattern claims on the days it covers |
+| `cycle_length_weeks` | 1–4; the pattern's own repeating cycle |
+| `anchor_date` | ISO date that starts week 1 of the pattern's cycle |
+| `pattern` | Pipe-separated weekday sets, one CSV segment per cycle week, weekdays **Monday=0 .. Sunday=6** (e.g. `0,2,4\|1,3`); an empty segment covers no day that week |
+
+Cycle position is anchor-date arithmetic per pattern — **never** ISO week
+numbers or week parity (D-004). A child's presence on a date is decided
+first match wins:
+
+1. A presence override covering the date — its flag is the answer.
+2. Any `away` pattern covers the date — **away**.
+3. Any `home` pattern covers the date — **present**.
+4. The child has at least one `home` pattern — **away** (a home pattern lists
+   the days the child is home; every other day is away).
+5. Otherwise (only `away` patterns, or no patterns) — **present**.
+
+The core presence engine, the snapshot's `present_today`, the materialiser's
+skip-on-away-days rule, and the admin PWA's month grid all apply this order.
+The admin plane manages patterns with
+`GET`/`POST /api/v1/admin/children/{child_id}/presence-patterns` and
+`PATCH`/`DELETE /api/v1/admin/presence-patterns/{pattern_id}`.
+
+**Migration 9** replaced the older one-schedule-per-child table: it creates
+`presence_patterns`, copies every old schedule row into a `home` pattern
+named `Home schedule` (cycle length, anchor date and weekday sets
+unchanged, row id kept), and drops the old table, all in one transaction.
+A lone `home` pattern answers exactly as the old schedule did, so no
+child's presence changes. The drop is one-way and 0.7.1 refuses a
+version-9 database; see the rollback step in `deploy/RUNBOOK.md` §11.
+
 ## 4. Authentication: two planes
 
 The kid panel and the admin PWA have opposite trust levels, so they use

tests/test_api_admin_uncomplete.py

@@ -514,8 +514,10 @@ async def test_regenerate_household_never_duplicates(
     client = admin_household.client
     database = admin_household.database
 
-    before = await _instance_count(database)
+    # The seed's creates materialized the horizon BEFORE Ada's custody
-    assert before > 0  # the seed already materialized a few days
+    # pattern existed, so the first household walk may legitimately
+    # drop her away-day rows; only the second run must be stable.
+    assert await _instance_count(database) > 0
 
     first = await client.post(
         "/api/v1/admin/regenerate", json={}, headers=_admin_headers()
@@ -525,9 +527,8 @@ async def test_regenerate_household_never_duplicates(
     assert body["scope"] == "household"
     assert body["definition_id"] is None
     assert body["child_id"] is None
-    assert body["count"] >= before
+    assert body["count"] > 0
     after_first = await _instance_count(database)
-    assert after_first >= before
 
     second = await client.post(
         "/api/v1/admin/regenerate", json={}, headers=_admin_headers()
@@ -544,17 +545,18 @@ async def test_regenerate_definition_scope_rematerializes(
 ) -> None:
     """The definition scope rebuilds that definition's horizon, twice, stably.
 
-    Creating a definition through the admin route materializes NOTHING
+    Creating a definition through the admin route already materializes
-    (the core's create path does not regenerate); the scoped regenerate
+    its horizon (the core's create path regenerates); the scoped
-    call is what materializes its instances, and re-running it leaves
+    regenerate call rebuilds the same rows, and re-running it leaves
-    the row count exactly where the first run left it.
+    the row count exactly where the create left it.
     """
     client = admin_api.client
     database = admin_api.database
     ada = await _create_child(client, "Ada")
     definition_id = await _create_daily_definition(client, [ada])
 
-    assert await _instance_count(database) == 0
+    created_count = await _instance_count(database)
+    assert created_count > 0
 
     first = await client.post(
         "/api/v1/admin/regenerate",
@@ -568,7 +570,7 @@ async def test_regenerate_definition_scope_rematerializes(
     assert body["child_id"] is None
     assert body["count"] > 0
     after_first = await _instance_count(database)
-    assert after_first == body["count"]
+    assert after_first == body["count"] == created_count
 
     second = await client.post(
         "/api/v1/admin/regenerate",

tests/test_api_missed_sweep.py

@@ -151,12 +151,17 @@ async def _seed_missed_household(
             database, yesterday_iso, yesterday_iso, today=yesterday
         )
         # Today's quest: created after the yesterday walk so it has no
-        # past-due instance, then materialized for today only.
+        # past-due instance; ``end_date`` keeps it (and create's horizon
+        # regeneration) to today only.
         await _quest_definitions.create_quest_definition(
             database,
             "Recoverable chore",
             _recurrence.ScheduleRule.from_dict(
-                {"rule_type": "daily", "start_date": today_iso}
+                {
+                    "rule_type": "daily",
+                    "start_date": today_iso,
+                    "end_date": today_iso,
+                }
             ),
             [ada.id],
             [("afternoon", "17:00")],

tests/test_api_panel.py

@@ -149,13 +149,18 @@ async def _seed_household(
             (today + datetime.timedelta(days=3)).isoformat(),
             today=today,
         )
-        # The stale quest is created AFTER the today walk, so its only
+        # The stale quest's rule ends YESTERDAY, so create's own
-        # instance is the yesterday one written below.
+        # regeneration writes nothing and its only instance is the
+        # yesterday one written below.
         await _quest_definitions.create_quest_definition(
             database,
             "Stale chore",
             _recurrence.ScheduleRule.from_dict(
-                {"rule_type": "daily", "start_date": yesterday_iso}
+                {
+                    "rule_type": "daily",
+                    "start_date": yesterday_iso,
+                    "end_date": yesterday_iso,
+                }
             ),
             [ada.id],
             [("morning", "09:00")],

tests/test_core_sweep.py

@@ -102,15 +102,20 @@ async def _seed_missed_household(
             database, "Old chore", rule, [ada.id], [("evening", "18:30")]
         )
         await materialize(database, yesterday_iso, yesterday_iso, today=yesterday)
-        # A quest due TODAY (created after the yesterday walk so it has
+        # A quest due TODAY only (created after the yesterday walk so it
-        # no past-due instance): the post-downtime catch-up run's
+        # has no past-due instance; ``end_date`` keeps create's horizon
+        # regeneration to today): the post-downtime catch-up run's
         # target — inside [watermark=today, later_today) but not
         # inside the day-one sweep's window.
         await create_quest_definition(
             database,
             "Recoverable chore",
             ScheduleRule.from_dict(
-                {"rule_type": "daily", "start_date": today_iso}
+                {
+                    "rule_type": "daily",
+                    "start_date": today_iso,
+                    "end_date": today_iso,
+                }
             ),
             [ada.id],
             [("afternoon", "17:00")],

tests/test_materialize.py

@@ -468,7 +468,11 @@ async def _materialize_with_change(
     proceeds with the snapped presence).  This deterministically
     exercises the snapshot-to-insert gap that a config edit can
     interleave into.
+
+    ``create_quest_definition`` already materializes its horizon, so the
+    table is cleared first: the gated walk must be the only writer.
     """
+    await database.execute("DELETE FROM quest_instances")
     original_upsert = QuestInstancesDao.upsert_if_valid
     entered = asyncio.Event()
     release = asyncio.Event()

tests/test_quest_definitions.py

@@ -168,6 +168,42 @@ def test_create_several_children_several_windows_with_due_times(
     _with_db(tmp_path, "create-many.db")(_body)
 
 
+def test_create_materializes_future_instances(tmp_path) -> None:
+    """A fresh create regenerates its rolling horizon immediately.
+
+    Without this the new definition has no ``quest_instances`` rows until
+    some unrelated write regenerates it, so it never reaches the board.
+    """
+    assert DEFAULT_HORIZON_DAYS >= 7
+
+    async def _body(database, children, rules, definitions, child):
+        today = _today_iso()
+        created = await create_quest_definition(
+            database,
+            "Take out bins",
+            ScheduleRule(
+                rule_type=RuleType.WEEKLY,
+                weekday_set={0},
+                start_date=today,
+            ),
+            [child.id],
+            ["morning"],
+        )
+        rows = await database.fetch_all(
+            "SELECT child_id, due_date FROM quest_instances "
+            "WHERE definition_id = ?",
+            (created.definition.id,),
+        )
+        assert rows, "create materialized no instances"
+        assert {row[0] for row in rows} == {child.id}
+        for _child_id, due_date in rows:
+            assert due_date >= today
+            assert datetime.date.fromisoformat(due_date).weekday() == 0
+        return None
+
+    _with_db(tmp_path, "create-materializes.db")(_body)
+
+
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # create_quest_definition: argument rejections
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------