@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+---
+'@objectstack/metadata-protocol': patch
+---
+
+fix(metadata-protocol): the layered read of a flow name a managed package ships reports the package's flow as the effective layer, as the by-name read and the flow list do (#21002)
+
+Clause-②: no
+
+`flow` is in ADR-0126's Regime C: a managed package's flow is sealed, and there is no overlay read path for it. The flow list, `GET /api/v1/meta/flow`, and the by-name read, `GET /api/v1/meta/flow/:name`, already serve the package's flow for a name a managed package ships (#20913, #20946). The layered read, `GET /api/v1/meta/flow/:name/layers`, did not: for such a name it reported a stored flow of that name as the effective layer, while its lock and provenance flags named the package. So the layered read and the other two read doors answered two different flows for one name.
+
+The layered read now decides the effective layer with the same check the other two doors use. For a name a managed package ships, the effective layer is the package's flow, with or without a package scope, whatever the stored flow's own package binding or markings say. The stored flow is still reported, as a separate layer of its own scope that does not take effect. The deprecated layers flag on the by-name read answers the same.
+
+The stored flow is not deleted, rewritten or refused. Flow names no managed package ships, organization-scoped rows and every other metadata type are read as before.
@@ -0,0 +1,303 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2026 ObjectStack. Licensed under the Apache-2.0 license.
+
+/**
+ * [#21002, #20761 ruling rule 1, ADR-0126 §2 / §3] The layered read of a flow
+ * name the loader's set holds reports the loader's body as the effective layer
+ * — the body the by-name read and the list serve for that name — and a stored
+ * row of that name as a shadowed layer, never as the effective layer under the
+ * package's lock and provenance flags.
+ *
+ * `flow` is Regime C: the packaged base is locked, "⛔ Never silent override,
+ * never an overlay read path". Since #20913 the flattened view and since
+ * #20946 `getMetaItem` apply that by name, with the stored-row predicate
+ * (`isShippedFlowName`). `getMetaItemLayered` computed its effective layer as
+ * overlay-wins, so for such a name it answered the stored body while its
+ * docblock promised "what `getMetaItem` would return". It now decides the
+ * effective layer with the same predicate, and keeps the row in `overlay`.
+ *
+ * The registry double is the one `protocol.flow-by-name-shipped-name.test.ts`
+ * uses: the real `SchemaRegistry`'s key shape (`<package>:<name>` for a loader
+ * entry, the bare name for a hydrated row), its `getItem` precedence (the bare
+ * slot first) and its artifact lookup (package-scoped code-artifact entries
+ * first). `@objectstack/objectql` cannot be imported here: it depends on this
+ * package. The cold-boot proof over the real composition is
+ * `flow-shipped-name-layered-read.dogfood.test.ts`.
+ *
+ * Controls: a flow name no managed package ships keeps its stored row as the
+ * effective layer, a shipped name with no stored row is unchanged, an
+ * organization-scoped flow row is out of the read's reach, and a type in the
+ * overlay regime keeps overlay-wins.
+ */
+import { describe, expect, it } from 'vitest';
+import { assertEngineFindOnePredicate, isCodeArtifactBody } from '@objectstack/metadata-core';
+import { ObjectStackProtocolImplementation } from './protocol.js';
+
+const PACKAGE_ID = 'com.example.pkg';
+const SHIPPED = 'pkg_flow';
+const CUSTOMER = 'customer_flow';
+const ORG_ID = 'org_a';
+
+const flowBody = (name: string, label: string, extra: Record<string, unknown> = {}) => ({
+    name,
+    label,
+    type: 'autolaunched',
+    nodes: [
+        { id: 'start', type: 'start', label: 'Start' },
+        { id: label === 'LOADER' ? 'end' : 'stored_end', type: 'end', label: 'End' },
+    ],
+    edges: [{ id: 'e1', source: 'start', target: label === 'LOADER' ? 'end' : 'stored_end' }],
+    ...extra,
+});
+
+interface StoredRow {
+    id: string;
+    type: string;
+    name: string;
+    organization_id: string | null;
+    package_id: string | null;
+    state: string;
+    metadata: string;
+}
+
+const storedRow = (type: string, name: string, body: unknown, extra: Partial<StoredRow> = {}): StoredRow => ({
+    id: `r_${type}_${name}_${extra.organization_id ?? 'env'}`,
+    type,
+    name,
+    organization_id: null,
+    package_id: null,
+    state: 'active',
+    metadata: JSON.stringify(body),
+    ...extra,
+});
+
+/**
+ * A registry double with the real `SchemaRegistry`'s two key shapes, its
+ * `getItem` precedence and its artifact lookup. `registerItem` stamps a package
+ * entry the way `applyProtection` does and leaves a bare registration's
+ * provenance alone.
+ */
+function registryDouble() {
+    const byType = new Map<string, Map<string, Record<string, unknown>>>();
+    const collection = (type: string) => {
+        if (!byType.has(type)) byType.set(type, new Map());
+        return byType.get(type)!;
+    };
+    return {
+        registerItem(type: string, item: Record<string, unknown>, keyField = 'name', packageId?: string) {
+            const name = String(item[keyField]);
+            if (packageId) {
+                if (item._packageId === undefined) item._packageId = packageId;
+                if (item._provenance === undefined) item._provenance = 'package';
+                collection(type).set(`${packageId}:${name}`, item);
+            } else {
+                collection(type).set(name, item);
+            }
+        },
+        listItems(type: string, packageId?: string) {
+            const all = [...(byType.get(type)?.values() ?? [])];
+            return packageId ? all.filter((it) => it._packageId === packageId) : all;
+        },
+        /** The real precedence: the bare slot, then prefer-local, then the first composite. */
+        getItem(type: string, name: string, packageId?: string) {
+            const entries = byType.get(type);
+            if (!entries) return undefined;
+            const direct = entries.get(name);
+            if (direct) return direct;
+            if (packageId) {
+                const local = entries.get(`${packageId}:${name}`);
+                if (local) return local;
+            }
+            for (const [key, item] of entries) if (key.endsWith(`:${name}`)) return item;
+            return undefined;
+        },
+        getArtifactItem(type: string, name: string, packageId?: string) {
+            const entries = [...(byType.get(type)?.entries() ?? [])];
+            const scoped = entries.filter(([key, it]) => key.endsWith(`:${name}`) && isCodeArtifactBody(it));
+            const local = packageId ? scoped.find(([, it]) => it._packageId === packageId) : undefined;
+            if (local) return local[1];
+            if (scoped[0]) return scoped[0][1];
+            const bare = byType.get(type)?.get(name);
+            return bare && isCodeArtifactBody(bare) ? bare : undefined;
+        },
+        bare(type: string, name: string) {
+            return byType.get(type)?.get(name);
+        },
+        getObject: () => undefined,
+        registerObject: () => undefined,
+        getPackage: () => undefined,
+        isPackageDisabled: () => false,
+        applyNavContributions: (app: unknown) => app,
+    };
+}
+
+/**
+ * The engine double: `find` / `findOne` over `sys_metadata` rows, plus the
+ * registry. ⛔ No `insert` / `update` / `delete` — the read paths under test
+ * issue no write verb.
+ */
+function harness(rows: StoredRow[]) {
+    const registry = registryDouble();
+    // What the loader registered: one packaged flow and one packaged view.
+    registry.registerItem('flow', flowBody(SHIPPED, 'LOADER'), 'name', PACKAGE_ID);
+    registry.registerItem('view', { name: 'pkg_view', label: 'LOADER VIEW' }, 'name', PACKAGE_ID);
+    const matching = (where: Record<string, unknown>) => {
+        for (const k of Object.keys(where)) {
+            if (k.startsWith('$')) throw new Error(`[test double] unsupported WHERE combinator '${k}'`);
+        }
+        return rows.filter((r) =>
+            Object.entries(where).every(([k, v]) => v === undefined || (r as unknown as Record<string, unknown>)[k] === v),
+        );
+    };
+    const engine: any = {
+        async find(table: string, opts?: { where?: Record<string, unknown>; limit?: number }) {
+            if (table !== 'sys_metadata') return [];
+            const matched = matching(opts?.where ?? {});
+            // `check:objectql-double-limit` — the caller's bound, applied after the filter.
+            return opts?.limit === undefined ? matched : matched.slice(0, opts.limit);
+        },
+        async findOne(table: string, opts?: { where?: Record<string, unknown> }) {
+            // `check:engine-double-contract` — refuses what the real engine refuses.
+            assertEngineFindOnePredicate(table, opts);
+            if (table !== 'sys_metadata') return null;
+            return matching(opts?.where ?? {})[0] ?? null;
+        },
+        registry,
+    };
+    const protocol = new ObjectStackProtocolImplementation(engine, () => new Map());
+    return { protocol, registry };
+}
+
+type Layer = Record<string, unknown> & { label?: unknown; nodes?: unknown };
+interface LayeredAnswer {
+    code: Layer | null;
+    overlay: Layer | null;
+    overlayScope: 'org' | 'env' | null;
+    effective: Layer | null;
+    packageId?: string;
+    provenance?: string;
+}
+
+const layered = async (protocol: ObjectStackProtocolImplementation, request: Record<string, unknown>) =>
+    (await protocol.getMetaItemLayered(request as any)) as unknown as LayeredAnswer;
+const byName = async (protocol: ObjectStackProtocolImplementation, request: Record<string, unknown>) =>
+    ((await protocol.getMetaItem(request as any)) as { item: Layer }).item;
+const listed = async (protocol: ObjectStackProtocolImplementation, name: string) =>
+    ((await protocol.getMetaItems({ type: 'flow' })) as { items: Layer[] }).items
+        .filter((it) => it.name === name);
+
+describe('[#21002] the layered read of a shipped flow name reports the loader\'s body as the effective layer', () => {
+    it('a shipped name with an environment-wide stored row: the effective layer is the loader\'s body, and the row is a shadowed layer', async () => {
+        const { protocol } = harness([storedRow('flow', SHIPPED, flowBody(SHIPPED, 'STORED'))]);
+
+        const answer = await layered(protocol, { type: 'flow', name: SHIPPED });
+
+        expect(answer.effective?.label).toBe('LOADER');
+        expect(answer.code?.label).toBe('LOADER');
+        // The stored row is still reported, as stored, with its own scope.
+        expect(answer.overlay?.label).toBe('STORED');
+        expect(answer.overlayScope).toBe('env');
+        // The package's flags describe the effective layer, which is the loader's.
+        expect(answer.packageId).toBe(PACKAGE_ID);
+        expect(answer.provenance).toBe('package');
+    });
+
+    it('it does so after the row was hydrated — the registry\'s bare copy of the row stands in for neither layer', async () => {
+        const { protocol, registry } = harness([storedRow('flow', SHIPPED, flowBody(SHIPPED, 'STORED'))]);
+        await protocol.getMetaItemsForExecution({ type: 'flow' }); // hydrates the row under the bare key
+        expect(registry.bare('flow', SHIPPED)?.label).toBe('STORED');
+
+        const answer = await layered(protocol, { type: 'flow', name: SHIPPED });
+
+        expect(answer.effective?.label).toBe('LOADER');
+        expect(answer.code?.label).toBe('LOADER');
+        expect(answer.overlay?.label).toBe('STORED');
+    });
+
+    it('the layered read, the by-name read and the list answer one and the same body', async () => {
+        const { protocol } = harness([storedRow('flow', SHIPPED, flowBody(SHIPPED, 'STORED'))]);
+
+        const answer = await layered(protocol, { type: 'flow', name: SHIPPED });
+        const served = await byName(protocol, { type: 'flow', name: SHIPPED });
+        const list = await listed(protocol, SHIPPED);
+
+        expect(list.map((it) => it.label)).toEqual(['LOADER']);
+        expect(answer.effective?.label).toBe(served.label);
+        expect(answer.effective?.nodes).toEqual(served.nodes);
+        expect(answer.effective?.nodes).toEqual(list[0].nodes);
+    });
+
+    it('the package-scoped read and the plural type spelling answer the same', async () => {
+        for (const request of [
+            { type: 'flow', name: SHIPPED, packageId: PACKAGE_ID },
+            { type: 'flows', name: SHIPPED },
+        ]) {
+            const { protocol } = harness([storedRow('flow', SHIPPED, flowBody(SHIPPED, 'STORED'))]);
+            const answer = await layered(protocol, request);
+            expect(answer.effective?.label).toBe('LOADER');
+            expect(answer.overlay?.label).toBe('STORED');
+        }
+    });
+
+    it('a row bound to the shipping package, or one whose own body claims its provenance, is judged by name alone', async () => {
+        for (const row of [
+            storedRow('flow', SHIPPED, flowBody(SHIPPED, 'STORED'), { package_id: PACKAGE_ID }),
+            storedRow('flow', SHIPPED, flowBody(SHIPPED, 'STORED', { _packageId: PACKAGE_ID, _provenance: 'package' })),
+        ]) {
+            for (const request of [
+                { type: 'flow', name: SHIPPED },
+                { type: 'flow', name: SHIPPED, packageId: PACKAGE_ID },
+            ]) {
+                const { protocol } = harness([row]);
+                const answer = await layered(protocol, request);
+                expect(answer.effective?.label).toBe('LOADER');
+                expect(answer.overlay?.label).toBe('STORED');
+            }
+        }
+    });
+
+    it('control: a flow name no managed package ships keeps its stored row as the effective layer', async () => {
+        const { protocol } = harness([storedRow('flow', CUSTOMER, flowBody(CUSTOMER, 'CUSTOMER'))]);
+
+        const answer = await layered(protocol, { type: 'flow', name: CUSTOMER });
+
+        expect(answer.effective?.label).toBe('CUSTOMER');
+        expect(answer.overlay?.label).toBe('CUSTOMER');
+        expect(answer.overlayScope).toBe('env');
+    });
+
+    it('control: a shipped name with no stored row is unchanged', async () => {
+        const { protocol } = harness([]);
+
+        const answer = await layered(protocol, { type: 'flow', name: SHIPPED });
+
+        expect(answer.effective?.label).toBe('LOADER');
+        expect(answer.overlay).toBeNull();
+        expect(answer.overlayScope).toBeNull();
+    });
+
+    it('control: an organization-scoped flow row is out of the read\'s reach', async () => {
+        const { protocol } = harness([
+            storedRow('flow', SHIPPED, flowBody(SHIPPED, 'ORG ROW'), { organization_id: ORG_ID }),
+            storedRow('flow', CUSTOMER, flowBody(CUSTOMER, 'ORG ROW'), { organization_id: ORG_ID }),
+        ]);
+
+        const shipped = await layered(protocol, { type: 'flow', name: SHIPPED, organizationId: ORG_ID });
+        expect(shipped.effective?.label).toBe('LOADER');
+        expect(shipped.overlay).toBeNull();
+        expect(shipped.overlayScope).toBeNull();
+
+        const customer = await layered(protocol, { type: 'flow', name: CUSTOMER, organizationId: ORG_ID });
+        expect(customer.overlay).toBeNull();
+        expect(customer.effective).toBeNull();
+    });
+
+    it('control: an overlay of a packaged type in the overlay regime is still the effective layer', async () => {
+        const { protocol } = harness([storedRow('view', 'pkg_view', { name: 'pkg_view', label: 'OVERLAY VIEW' })]);
+
+        const answer = await layered(protocol, { type: 'view', name: 'pkg_view' });
+
+        expect(answer.effective?.label).toBe('OVERLAY VIEW');
+        expect(answer.code?.label).toBe('LOADER VIEW');
+        expect(answer.overlay?.label).toBe('OVERLAY VIEW');
+    });
+});
@@ -9035,7 +9035,10 @@ export class ObjectStackProtocolImplementation implements
      * Phase 3a-layered-get: return the 3 layers of a metadata item
      * separately — `code` (artifact-loaded baseline), `overlay` (per-org
      * customisation row, if any), and `effective` (what `getMetaItem`
-     * would return, i.e. overlay-wins merge).
+     * would return, i.e. overlay-wins merge — except for a flow name the
+     * loader ships, where `getMetaItem` serves the loader's body, so
+     * `effective` is the code layer and a stored row of that name is
+     * reported in `overlay` as a shadowed layer, #21002).
      *
      * Drives the "Code default vs Overlay vs Effective" diff tab in the
      * generic Metadata Resource Edit page. Admins can see exactly what
@@ -9369,7 +9372,31 @@ export class ObjectStackProtocolImplementation implements
         // the tenant actually stored: a code-declared extension is not a tenant
         // customisation, and #7556 drew that boundary deliberately (the same
         // reason `governServedItem` is called here and never on `overlay`).
-        const effectiveBase: unknown | null = overlay !== null
+        //
+        // ── [#21002, #20761 ruling rule 1, ADR-0126 §2 / §3] A shipped FLOW name ──
+        //
+        // `flow` is Regime C: the packaged base is locked, "⛔ Never silent
+        // override, never an overlay read path". For a flow name the loader's
+        // set holds, the flattened view (#20913) and {@link getMetaItem}
+        // (#20946) serve the loader's body, and a stored row of that name is
+        // neither merged into the package's slot nor lets it stand in for it.
+        // `effective` is "what `getMetaItem` would return", so for such a name
+        // it is the CODE layer, decided by the SAME stored-row predicate,
+        // {@link isShippedFlowName}, judged by NAME — ⛔ no fourth precedence
+        // path of this method's own. Overlay-wins here served the stored body
+        // as the effective layer while the lock and provenance flags (resolved
+        // from `code` first, below) named the package.
+        //
+        // The stored row is still REPORTED: `overlay` / `overlayScope` keep the
+        // row as stored, a shadowed layer of its own scope beside the effective
+        // one, never the effective layer itself. The code layer needs no
+        // registry-half call ({@link isStoredFlowEntryOfShippedName}): it reads
+        // the loader's set (`lookupArtifactItem`, blind to tenant-authored rows)
+        // before the registry's bare slot, and a shipped name is by definition
+        // one that set holds. Every other type, and a flow name no managed
+        // package ships, keeps overlay-wins. What becomes of the stored rows
+        // themselves (keep, refuse, migrate) is not decided here.
+        const effectiveBase: unknown | null = overlay !== null && !this.isShippedFlowName(request.type, request.name)
             ? this.foldObjectExtendersFromRegistry(request.type, request.name, overlay)
             : code;
         const effective: unknown | null = this.governServedObject(request.type, effectiveBase);