Move skip detection to a server, and find that it detects ads

The server is Peter's design and it works: listend polls the phone's feed
list, mirrors the newest 8 episodes per show, detects across all of them at
once, and serves the offsets *and the audio they belong to*. Deployed on
tungsten behind Apache at https://listen.terst.org. FingerprintWorker and
MidrollWorker are deleted -- the battery drain is gone because the work is.

Serving the audio is load-bearing. Dynamic ad insertion turned out to be on
every episode: Grass Apes declares 22:05 and the server was served 28:18. An
offset measured on one copy is minutes wrong for another, so the phone has to
play the bytes the detector examined. The offsets land in the same columns the
on-device detector wrote, so playback needed no changes and there is no
migration.

**The headline finding is a failure, and it is proved rather than suspected.**
Detection reported the intro confirmed on 8 of 8 Radiolab episodes and passed
its self-check. It had locked onto an advertisement. The chosen segment was
searched for in an ad-free copy of the same episode fetched hours earlier:
r = 0.0621. It is in the ad break, not the programme.

The confirmation threshold assumes three *independently fetched* episodes.
Mirroring 8 within one minute from the same ad server makes them maximally
dependent -- whatever campaign is running is in all of them, identical -- and
SelfCheck cannot catch it, because the segments genuinely are the same audio.
Moving to a server fixed the cost problem and broke the independence the
safety mechanism rests on. The published offsets are head-window matches, so
they happen to skip pre-roll advertising, which is useful by accident and will
move whenever the campaign rotates. It is not intro detection and is not
described as such anywhere.

The fix, not made: record when each episode was fetched and require the
agreeing episodes to span more than one fetch occasion. Reasoning, and an
argument for detecting the ads directly instead, in docs/detection-findings.md.

Also recorded there: two tooling traps that each cost real time. `android-ui
tap` can land on the soft keyboard, because the dump reports layout
coordinates the IME does not move -- a Save button and a text field both
appeared tapped and neither fired. And the server's token is alphanumeric now
because `adb shell input text` ate the leading "-" of a base64url one and
produced a silent 401 that looked like broken wiring.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5 <noreply@anthropic.com>
Claude-Session: https://claude.ai/code/session_018AwnALZL6bD4VBtATDVv3B

9 files changed, 1683 insertions, 0 deletions

diff --git a/server/internal/api/api.go b/server/internal/api/api.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b6f14ff
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/internal/api/api.go
@@ -0,0 +1,198 @@
+// Package api serves the phone: what to skip, and the audio those offsets belong to.
+package api
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"net/http"
+	"net/url"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+
+	"github.com/terst/listen/server/internal/store"
+)
+
+// Fetcher is asked to mirror an episode the phone wants and the server does not have.
+//
+// Asynchronous on purpose: the phone gets an immediate "pending" rather than holding a request
+// open for the length of a download.
+type Fetcher interface {
+	Request(feedURL, guid, enclosureURL, title string)
+}
+
+// Options configures the server.
+type Options struct {
+	// Token guards everything but health. This serves a private library over the open
+	// internet.
+	Token string
+	// AudioDir is where mirrored episodes live.
+	AudioDir string
+	// OnSubscriptions is called when the phone sends its list, so a newly-subscribed show is
+	// polled at once rather than at the next interval. Optional.
+	OnSubscriptions func(feeds []string)
+}
+
+// Server is the HTTP surface.
+type Server struct {
+	state   *store.State
+	fetcher Fetcher
+	opts    Options
+}
+
+// New builds the server.
+func New(state *store.State, fetcher Fetcher, opts Options) *Server {
+	return &Server{state: state, fetcher: fetcher, opts: opts}
+}
+
+type episodeResponse struct {
+	// Status is "ready" when the audio can be played now, or "pending" when the server has
+	// been asked to fetch it. There is deliberately no "unknown": an episode the phone knows
+	// about is one the server can be told to go and get.
+	Status     string `json:"status"`
+	AudioURL   string `json:"audioUrl,omitempty"`
+	DurationMs int64  `json:"durationMs,omitempty"`
+	IntroMs    *int64 `json:"introMs,omitempty"`
+	OutroMs    *int64 `json:"outroMs,omitempty"`
+	// Detected says whether detection has run over this episode's show, so the phone can tell
+	// "looked and found nothing" apart from "not looked at yet" -- a distinction the app got
+	// wrong when the readout said "None" for both.
+	Detected bool `json:"detected"`
+}
+
+// Handler returns the routed, authenticated handler.
+func (s *Server) Handler() http.Handler {
+	mux := http.NewServeMux()
+	mux.HandleFunc("/api/health", s.health)
+	mux.HandleFunc("/api/subscriptions", s.authed(s.subscriptions))
+	mux.HandleFunc("/api/episode", s.authed(s.episode))
+	mux.HandleFunc("/audio/", s.authed(s.audio))
+	return mux
+}
+
+func (s *Server) health(w http.ResponseWriter, _ *http.Request) {
+	writeJSON(w, http.StatusOK, map[string]string{"status": "ok"})
+}
+
+// authed accepts the token in the Authorization header or the query string.
+//
+// The query string is not laziness: a media player fetching audio cannot always be made to set
+// a header, and an audio URL the phone cannot use as given would be useless.
+func (s *Server) authed(next http.HandlerFunc) http.HandlerFunc {
+	return func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		if s.opts.Token == "" || !s.tokenOK(r) {
+			w.Header().Set("WWW-Authenticate", `Bearer realm="listen"`)
+			writeJSON(w, http.StatusUnauthorized, map[string]string{"error": "unauthorized"})
+			return
+		}
+		next(w, r)
+	}
+}
+
+func (s *Server) tokenOK(r *http.Request) bool {
+	if header := r.Header.Get("Authorization"); strings.HasPrefix(header, "Bearer ") {
+		if strings.TrimPrefix(header, "Bearer ") == s.opts.Token {
+			return true
+		}
+	}
+	return r.URL.Query().Get("token") == s.opts.Token
+}
+
+func (s *Server) subscriptions(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+	if r.Method != http.MethodPost {
+		writeJSON(w, http.StatusMethodNotAllowed, map[string]string{"error": "post only"})
+		return
+	}
+	var body struct {
+		Feeds []string `json:"feeds"`
+	}
+	if err := json.NewDecoder(r.Body).Decode(&body); err != nil {
+		writeJSON(w, http.StatusBadRequest, map[string]string{"error": "expected {\"feeds\":[...]}"})
+		return
+	}
+	removed := s.state.SetFeeds(body.Feeds)
+	if s.opts.OnSubscriptions != nil {
+		s.opts.OnSubscriptions(s.state.Feeds())
+	}
+	writeJSON(w, http.StatusOK, map[string]any{
+		"feeds":   len(s.state.Feeds()),
+		"removed": removed,
+	})
+}
+
+func (s *Server) episode(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+	q := r.URL.Query()
+	feedURL, guid := q.Get("feed"), q.Get("guid")
+	enclosure, title := q.Get("enclosure"), q.Get("title")
+
+	if feedURL == "" || (guid == "" && enclosure == "" && title == "") {
+		writeJSON(w, http.StatusBadRequest,
+			map[string]string{"error": "feed and at least one of guid, enclosure or title are required"})
+		return
+	}
+
+	found := s.state.Match(feedURL, guid, enclosure, title)
+	if found == nil || !found.Mirrored() {
+		// Ask for it rather than refusing. Everything Peter actually listens to should end up
+		// with offsets, including an episode older than the ones kept by default.
+		s.fetcher.Request(feedURL, guid, enclosure, title)
+		writeJSON(w, http.StatusOK, episodeResponse{Status: "pending"})
+		return
+	}
+	if _, err := os.Stat(filepath.Join(s.opts.AudioDir, found.Path)); err != nil {
+		// The record claims a file that has gone. Treat it as not mirrored and fetch again.
+		s.fetcher.Request(feedURL, found.GUID, found.EnclosureURL, found.Title)
+		writeJSON(w, http.StatusOK, episodeResponse{Status: "pending"})
+		return
+	}
+
+	writeJSON(w, http.StatusOK, episodeResponse{
+		Status:     "ready",
+		AudioURL:   "/audio/" + found.ID + "?token=" + url.QueryEscape(s.opts.Token),
+		DurationMs: found.DurationMs,
+		IntroMs:    found.IntroMs,
+		OutroMs:    found.OutroMs,
+		Detected:   found.DetectedAtUnix != 0,
+	})
+}
+
+func (s *Server) audio(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+	id := strings.TrimPrefix(r.URL.Path, "/audio/")
+	// No separators: an id is a flat hex string, and anything else is an attempt to read
+	// outside the audio directory.
+	if id == "" || strings.ContainsAny(id, "/\\") || strings.Contains(id, "..") {
+		http.NotFound(w, r)
+		return
+	}
+
+	found := s.episodeByID(id)
+	if found == nil {
+		http.NotFound(w, r)
+		return
+	}
+	path := filepath.Join(s.opts.AudioDir, found.Path)
+	info, err := os.Stat(path)
+	if err != nil || info.IsDir() {
+		http.NotFound(w, r)
+		return
+	}
+	// ServeFile handles Range, If-Modified-Since and the content type, which a podcast player
+	// needs for seeking.
+	http.ServeFile(w, r, path)
+}
+
+func (s *Server) episodeByID(id string) *store.Episode {
+	for _, show := range s.state.Shows() {
+		for _, e := range show.Episodes {
+			if e.ID == id && e.Mirrored() {
+				return e
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func writeJSON(w http.ResponseWriter, status int, body any) {
+	w.Header().Set("Content-Type", "application/json")
+	w.WriteHeader(status)
+	_ = json.NewEncoder(w).Encode(body)
+}
diff --git a/server/internal/api/api_test.go b/server/internal/api/api_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..21ef1de
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/internal/api/api_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,325 @@
+package api
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"net/http"
+	"net/http/httptest"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/terst/listen/server/internal/feed"
+	"github.com/terst/listen/server/internal/store"
+)
+
+const token = "s3cret"
+
+type fakeFetcher struct{ asked []string }
+
+func (f *fakeFetcher) Request(feedURL, guid, enclosureURL, title string) {
+	f.asked = append(f.asked, feedURL+" "+guid+" "+enclosureURL)
+}
+
+func newServer(t *testing.T) (*Server, *store.State, *fakeFetcher, string) {
+	t.Helper()
+	audioDir := t.TempDir()
+	st := store.New()
+	fetcher := &fakeFetcher{}
+	return New(st, fetcher, Options{Token: token, AudioDir: audioDir}), st, fetcher, audioDir
+}
+
+func get(t *testing.T, s *Server, path string) *httptest.ResponseRecorder {
+	t.Helper()
+	req := httptest.NewRequest(http.MethodGet, path, nil)
+	req.Header.Set("Authorization", "Bearer "+token)
+	rec := httptest.NewRecorder()
+	s.Handler().ServeHTTP(rec, req)
+	return rec
+}
+
+func post(t *testing.T, s *Server, path, body string) *httptest.ResponseRecorder {
+	t.Helper()
+	req := httptest.NewRequest(http.MethodPost, path, strings.NewReader(body))
+	req.Header.Set("Authorization", "Bearer "+token)
+	rec := httptest.NewRecorder()
+	s.Handler().ServeHTTP(rec, req)
+	return rec
+}
+
+// This serves a private library over the public internet, so nothing but health is reachable
+// without the token.
+
+func TestRejectsAnUnauthenticatedRequest(t *testing.T) {
+	s, _, _, _ := newServer(t)
+	for _, path := range []string{"/api/episode?feed=f&guid=g", "/api/subscriptions", "/audio/abc"} {
+		req := httptest.NewRequest(http.MethodGet, path, nil)
+		rec := httptest.NewRecorder()
+		s.Handler().ServeHTTP(rec, req)
+		if rec.Code != http.StatusUnauthorized {
+			t.Errorf("%s: status %d, want 401", path, rec.Code)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestRejectsAWrongToken(t *testing.T) {
+	s, _, _, _ := newServer(t)
+	req := httptest.NewRequest(http.MethodGet, "/api/episode?feed=f&guid=g", nil)
+	req.Header.Set("Authorization", "Bearer wrong")
+	rec := httptest.NewRecorder()
+	s.Handler().ServeHTTP(rec, req)
+	if rec.Code != http.StatusUnauthorized {
+		t.Errorf("status %d, want 401", rec.Code)
+	}
+}
+
+// A media player cannot always set headers on the request it makes for audio, so the token is
+// accepted in the query string too -- which is what makes the returned audio URL usable as-is.
+func TestAcceptsTheTokenAsAQueryParameter(t *testing.T) {
+	s, st, _, audioDir := newServer(t)
+	seedMirrored(t, st, audioDir, "hello")
+
+	req := httptest.NewRequest(http.MethodGet, "/audio/"+episodeID(st)+"?token="+token, nil)
+	rec := httptest.NewRecorder()
+	s.Handler().ServeHTTP(rec, req)
+	if rec.Code != http.StatusOK {
+		t.Fatalf("status %d, want 200", rec.Code)
+	}
+	if rec.Body.String() != "hello" {
+		t.Errorf("body %q", rec.Body.String())
+	}
+}
+
+func TestHealthNeedsNoToken(t *testing.T) {
+	s, _, _, _ := newServer(t)
+	req := httptest.NewRequest(http.MethodGet, "/api/health", nil)
+	rec := httptest.NewRecorder()
+	s.Handler().ServeHTTP(rec, req)
+	if rec.Code != http.StatusOK {
+		t.Errorf("status %d, want 200", rec.Code)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSubscriptionsReplacesTheFeedList(t *testing.T) {
+	s, st, _, _ := newServer(t)
+	rec := post(t, s, "/api/subscriptions", `{"feeds":["https://a","https://b"]}`)
+	if rec.Code != http.StatusOK {
+		t.Fatalf("status %d: %s", rec.Code, rec.Body.String())
+	}
+	if got := st.Feeds(); len(got) != 2 {
+		t.Errorf("feeds %v, want 2", got)
+	}
+}
+
+// The phone sends its list when it refreshes, and waiting up to a poll interval before acting
+// on it would mean a newly-subscribed show has nothing for hours.
+func TestSubscriptionsTriggersAPollImmediately(t *testing.T) {
+	audioDir := t.TempDir()
+	st := store.New()
+	notified := make(chan []string, 1)
+	s := New(st, &fakeFetcher{}, Options{
+		Token:    token,
+		AudioDir: audioDir,
+		OnSubscriptions: func(feeds []string) {
+			notified <- feeds
+		},
+	})
+
+	req := httptest.NewRequest(http.MethodPost, "/api/subscriptions", strings.NewReader(`{"feeds":["https://a"]}`))
+	req.Header.Set("Authorization", "Bearer "+token)
+	s.Handler().ServeHTTP(httptest.NewRecorder(), req)
+
+	select {
+	case feeds := <-notified:
+		if len(feeds) != 1 || feeds[0] != "https://a" {
+			t.Errorf("notified with %v", feeds)
+		}
+	default:
+		t.Error("subscriptions did not trigger a poll")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSubscriptionsRejectsRubbish(t *testing.T) {
+	s, _, _, _ := newServer(t)
+	if rec := post(t, s, "/api/subscriptions", `not json`); rec.Code != http.StatusBadRequest {
+		t.Errorf("status %d, want 400", rec.Code)
+	}
+}
+
+// An episode nobody has heard of still gets a useful answer: the server is told enough to go
+// and fetch it, and says so, rather than returning a bare 404 the phone can only give up on.
+func TestAnUnknownEpisodeIsRequestedAndReportedPending(t *testing.T) {
+	s, _, fetcher, _ := newServer(t)
+
+	rec := get(t, s, "/api/episode?feed=https://f&guid=g1&enclosure=https://cdn/1.mp3&title=One")
+	if rec.Code != http.StatusOK {
+		t.Fatalf("status %d: %s", rec.Code, rec.Body.String())
+	}
+	var got episodeResponse
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(rec.Body.Bytes(), &got); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if got.Status != "pending" {
+		t.Errorf("status %q, want pending", got.Status)
+	}
+	if len(fetcher.asked) != 1 {
+		t.Errorf("fetcher asked %d times, want 1", len(fetcher.asked))
+	}
+}
+
+func TestAKnownButUnmirroredEpisodeIsRequestedAndReportedPending(t *testing.T) {
+	s, st, fetcher, _ := newServer(t)
+	st.Merge("https://f", "A Show", []feed.Episode{
+		{GUID: "g1", Title: "One", EnclosureURL: "https://cdn/1.mp3", PublishedUnix: 100},
+	})
+
+	rec := get(t, s, "/api/episode?feed=https://f&guid=g1")
+	var got episodeResponse
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(rec.Body.Bytes(), &got); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if got.Status != "pending" {
+		t.Errorf("status %q, want pending", got.Status)
+	}
+	if len(fetcher.asked) != 1 {
+		t.Errorf("fetcher asked %d times, want 1", len(fetcher.asked))
+	}
+}
+
+// Audio becomes usable as soon as it is mirrored, whether or not detection has run. Waiting for
+// offsets before handing over playable audio would make the server strictly worse than
+// downloading from the publisher.
+func TestAMirroredEpisodeIsReadyEvenWithoutOffsets(t *testing.T) {
+	s, st, _, audioDir := newServer(t)
+	seedMirrored(t, st, audioDir, "audio-bytes")
+
+	rec := get(t, s, "/api/episode?feed=https://f&guid=g1")
+	var got episodeResponse
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(rec.Body.Bytes(), &got); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if got.Status != "ready" {
+		t.Fatalf("status %q, want ready", got.Status)
+	}
+	if got.AudioURL == "" {
+		t.Error("no audio url")
+	}
+	if got.IntroMs != nil || got.OutroMs != nil {
+		t.Errorf("reported offsets that were never detected: %v %v", got.IntroMs, got.OutroMs)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestAMirroredEpisodeReportsItsDetectedOffsets(t *testing.T) {
+	s, st, _, audioDir := newServer(t)
+	seedMirrored(t, st, audioDir, "audio-bytes")
+	e := st.Match("https://f", "g1", "", "")
+	intro, outro := int64(16652), int64(11000)
+	e.IntroMs, e.OutroMs, e.DurationMs = &intro, &outro, 1325113
+
+	rec := get(t, s, "/api/episode?feed=https://f&guid=g1")
+	var got episodeResponse
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(rec.Body.Bytes(), &got); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if got.IntroMs == nil || *got.IntroMs != 16652 {
+		t.Errorf("introMs %v, want 16652", got.IntroMs)
+	}
+	if got.OutroMs == nil || *got.OutroMs != 11000 {
+		t.Errorf("outroMs %v, want 11000", got.OutroMs)
+	}
+	if got.DurationMs != 1325113 {
+		t.Errorf("durationMs %d, want the measured length", got.DurationMs)
+	}
+}
+
+// The audio URL has to carry the token, or the phone gets a link it cannot use.
+func TestTheAudioUrlIsUsableAsGiven(t *testing.T) {
+	s, st, _, audioDir := newServer(t)
+	seedMirrored(t, st, audioDir, "audio-bytes")
+
+	rec := get(t, s, "/api/episode?feed=https://f&guid=g1")
+	var got episodeResponse
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(rec.Body.Bytes(), &got); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	req := httptest.NewRequest(http.MethodGet, got.AudioURL, nil)
+	rec2 := httptest.NewRecorder()
+	s.Handler().ServeHTTP(rec2, req)
+	if rec2.Code != http.StatusOK {
+		t.Fatalf("fetching the url it gave returned %d", rec2.Code)
+	}
+	if rec2.Body.String() != "audio-bytes" {
+		t.Errorf("body %q", rec2.Body.String())
+	}
+}
+
+// Seeking is the normal case for a podcast, so byte ranges have to work.
+func TestAudioSupportsRangeRequests(t *testing.T) {
+	s, st, _, audioDir := newServer(t)
+	seedMirrored(t, st, audioDir, "0123456789")
+
+	req := httptest.NewRequest(http.MethodGet, "/audio/"+episodeID(st)+"?token="+token, nil)
+	req.Header.Set("Range", "bytes=3-5")
+	rec := httptest.NewRecorder()
+	s.Handler().ServeHTTP(rec, req)
+
+	if rec.Code != http.StatusPartialContent {
+		t.Fatalf("status %d, want 206", rec.Code)
+	}
+	if rec.Body.String() != "345" {
+		t.Errorf("body %q, want %q", rec.Body.String(), "345")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestAudioForAnUnknownIdIs404(t *testing.T) {
+	s, _, _, _ := newServer(t)
+	if rec := get(t, s, "/audio/nope"); rec.Code != http.StatusNotFound {
+		t.Errorf("status %d, want 404", rec.Code)
+	}
+}
+
+// A record that claims a file which is no longer there must not 500.
+func TestAudioForAMissingFileIs404(t *testing.T) {
+	s, st, _, audioDir := newServer(t)
+	seedMirrored(t, st, audioDir, "gone")
+	os.Remove(filepath.Join(audioDir, st.Match("https://f", "g1", "", "").Path))
+
+	if rec := get(t, s, "/audio/"+episodeID(st)); rec.Code != http.StatusNotFound {
+		t.Errorf("status %d, want 404", rec.Code)
+	}
+}
+
+// An id containing path separators must not be able to read outside the audio directory.
+func TestAudioIdCannotEscapeTheAudioDirectory(t *testing.T) {
+	s, _, _, _ := newServer(t)
+	for _, id := range []string{"..%2f..%2fetc%2fpasswd", "../../etc/passwd"} {
+		rec := get(t, s, "/audio/"+id)
+		if rec.Code == http.StatusOK {
+			t.Errorf("%q was served", id)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestEpisodeNeedsAFeedAndSomeIdentity(t *testing.T) {
+	s, _, _, _ := newServer(t)
+	if rec := get(t, s, "/api/episode"); rec.Code != http.StatusBadRequest {
+		t.Errorf("status %d, want 400", rec.Code)
+	}
+}
+
+func seedMirrored(t *testing.T, st *store.State, audioDir, contents string) {
+	t.Helper()
+	st.Merge("https://f", "A Show", []feed.Episode{
+		{GUID: "g1", Title: "One", EnclosureURL: "https://cdn/1.mp3", PublishedUnix: 100},
+	})
+	e := st.Match("https://f", "g1", "", "")
+	e.Path = e.ID + ".mp3"
+	if err := os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(audioDir, e.Path), []byte(contents), 0o644); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+}
+
+func episodeID(st *store.State) string {
+	return st.Match("https://f", "g1", "", "").ID
+}
diff --git a/server/internal/feed/feed.go b/server/internal/feed/feed.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..edc58be
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/internal/feed/feed.go
@@ -0,0 +1,143 @@
+// Package feed parses a podcast RSS feed down to the few fields the server needs.
+package feed
+
+import (
+	"encoding/xml"
+	"fmt"
+	"sort"
+	"strconv"
+	"strings"
+	"time"
+)
+
+// Episode is one audio episode as its feed describes it.
+type Episode struct {
+	GUID  string
+	Title string
+	// EnclosureURL is where the audio is, and the fallback identity when a GUID moves.
+	EnclosureURL  string
+	EnclosureType string
+	PublishedUnix int64
+	// DeclaredDurationMs is the feed's claim, which is routinely wrong -- a show using dynamic
+	// ad insertion declares the ad-free length. Useful for ordering, not for arithmetic.
+	DeclaredDurationMs int64
+}
+
+// Channel is a show and its audio episodes, newest first.
+type Channel struct {
+	Title    string
+	Episodes []Episode
+}
+
+type rss struct {
+	Channel struct {
+		Title string `xml:"title"`
+		Items []struct {
+			Title     string `xml:"title"`
+			GUID      string `xml:"guid"`
+			PubDate   string `xml:"pubDate"`
+			Duration  string `xml:"http://www.itunes.com/dtds/podcast-1.0.dtd duration"`
+			Enclosure struct {
+				URL  string `xml:"url,attr"`
+				Type string `xml:"type,attr"`
+			} `xml:"enclosure"`
+		} `xml:"item"`
+	} `xml:"channel"`
+}
+
+// Parse reads a feed and returns its audio episodes, newest first.
+//
+// Audio only: video was cut from the app's scope, and a YouTube or Facebook episode has no
+// enclosure the server could fetch regardless -- its audio only exists once yt-dlp has resolved
+// it, which stays the phone's job.
+func Parse(raw []byte) (*Channel, error) {
+	var doc rss
+	if err := xml.Unmarshal(raw, &doc); err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("parse feed: %w", err)
+	}
+	if doc.Channel.Title == "" && len(doc.Channel.Items) == 0 {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("parse feed: no channel found")
+	}
+
+	out := &Channel{Title: strings.TrimSpace(doc.Channel.Title)}
+	for _, item := range doc.Channel.Items {
+		if !isAudio(item.Enclosure.Type, item.Enclosure.URL) {
+			continue
+		}
+		out.Episodes = append(out.Episodes, Episode{
+			GUID:               strings.TrimSpace(item.GUID),
+			Title:              strings.TrimSpace(item.Title),
+			EnclosureURL:       strings.TrimSpace(item.Enclosure.URL),
+			EnclosureType:      strings.TrimSpace(item.Enclosure.Type),
+			PublishedUnix:      parseDate(item.PubDate),
+			DeclaredDurationMs: parseDuration(item.Duration),
+		})
+	}
+
+	// Newest first. Feeds are not reliably ordered, and the retention rule depends on this.
+	sort.SliceStable(out.Episodes, func(i, j int) bool {
+		return out.Episodes[i].PublishedUnix > out.Episodes[j].PublishedUnix
+	})
+	return out, nil
+}
+
+func isAudio(mediaType, url string) bool {
+	if url == "" {
+		return false
+	}
+	if strings.HasPrefix(strings.ToLower(mediaType), "audio/") {
+		return true
+	}
+	// Some feeds omit or mistype the enclosure type; fall back to the extension rather than
+	// dropping a real episode over a publisher's metadata slip.
+	if mediaType == "" {
+		lower := strings.ToLower(url)
+		for _, ext := range []string{".mp3", ".m4a", ".aac", ".ogg", ".opus", ".flac", ".wav"} {
+			if strings.Contains(lower, ext) {
+				return true
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
+// dateLayouts covers what podcast feeds actually emit, which is RFC 1123 with and without a
+// named zone plus a few near-misses.
+var dateLayouts = []string{
+	time.RFC1123Z, time.RFC1123, time.RFC822Z, time.RFC822, time.RFC3339,
+	"Mon, 2 Jan 2006 15:04:05 -0700",
+	"Mon, 2 Jan 2006 15:04:05 MST",
+	"Mon, 02 Jan 2006 15:04 -0700",
+	"2 Jan 2006 15:04:05 -0700",
+}
+
+func parseDate(raw string) int64 {
+	raw = strings.TrimSpace(raw)
+	if raw == "" {
+		return 0
+	}
+	for _, layout := range dateLayouts {
+		if t, err := time.Parse(layout, raw); err == nil {
+			return t.Unix()
+		}
+	}
+	return 0
+}
+
+// parseDuration reads itunes:duration, which appears as bare seconds, mm:ss, or hh:mm:ss.
+func parseDuration(raw string) int64 {
+	raw = strings.TrimSpace(raw)
+	if raw == "" {
+		return 0
+	}
+	parts := strings.Split(raw, ":")
+	var total int64
+	for _, p := range parts {
+		n, err := strconv.ParseInt(strings.TrimSpace(p), 10, 64)
+		if err != nil {
+			return 0
+		}
+		total = total*60 + n
+	}
+	return total * 1000
+}
diff --git a/server/internal/feed/feed_test.go b/server/internal/feed/feed_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e62558f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/internal/feed/feed_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,145 @@
+package feed
+
+import "testing"
+
+// Real podcast feeds, trimmed. The shapes here are the ones that actually caused trouble in
+// the Android parser and are worth not relearning: a GUID that is not a URL, an enclosure whose
+// type is video, CDATA titles, and an itunes:duration in three different formats.
+
+const sample = `<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
+<rss version="2.0" xmlns:itunes="http://www.itunes.com/dtds/podcast-1.0.dtd">
+<channel>
+  <title>A Show</title>
+  <item>
+    <title><![CDATA[Newest Episode]]></title>
+    <guid isPermaLink="false">tag:example,2026:1</guid>
+    <pubDate>Fri, 03 Oct 2026 10:00:00 -0000</pubDate>
+    <itunes:duration>00:22:05</itunes:duration>
+    <enclosure url="https://cdn.example/1.mp3" type="audio/mpeg" length="21000000"/>
+  </item>
+  <item>
+    <title>Second Episode</title>
+    <guid>https://example.com/2</guid>
+    <pubDate>Fri, 26 Sep 2026 10:00:00 -0000</pubDate>
+    <itunes:duration>1325</itunes:duration>
+    <enclosure url="https://cdn.example/2.mp3" type="audio/mpeg"/>
+  </item>
+  <item>
+    <title>A Video One</title>
+    <guid>https://example.com/3</guid>
+    <pubDate>Fri, 19 Sep 2026 10:00:00 -0000</pubDate>
+    <enclosure url="https://cdn.example/3.mp4" type="video/mp4"/>
+  </item>
+  <item>
+    <title>No Enclosure At All</title>
+    <guid>https://example.com/4</guid>
+  </item>
+  <item>
+    <title>Minutes And Seconds</title>
+    <guid>https://example.com/5</guid>
+    <pubDate>Fri, 12 Sep 2026 10:00:00 -0000</pubDate>
+    <itunes:duration>31:02</itunes:duration>
+    <enclosure url="https://cdn.example/5.mp3" type="audio/mpeg"/>
+  </item>
+</channel>
+</rss>`
+
+func TestParsesTheChannelTitle(t *testing.T) {
+	ch, err := Parse([]byte(sample))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if ch.Title != "A Show" {
+		t.Errorf("title %q, want %q", ch.Title, "A Show")
+	}
+}
+
+// Audio only. Video was cut from the app's scope, and an episode whose audio comes from yt-dlp
+// has no enclosure the server could fetch anyway.
+func TestKeepsOnlyAudioEnclosures(t *testing.T) {
+	ch, err := Parse([]byte(sample))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if len(ch.Episodes) != 3 {
+		var got []string
+		for _, e := range ch.Episodes {
+			got = append(got, e.Title)
+		}
+		t.Fatalf("kept %d episodes (%v), want 3 audio ones", len(ch.Episodes), got)
+	}
+	for _, e := range ch.Episodes {
+		if e.EnclosureURL == "https://cdn.example/3.mp4" {
+			t.Error("kept a video enclosure")
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestReadsTheFieldsNeededToIdentifyAnEpisode(t *testing.T) {
+	ch, err := Parse([]byte(sample))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	first := ch.Episodes[0]
+	if first.Title != "Newest Episode" {
+		t.Errorf("title %q, want CDATA content unwrapped", first.Title)
+	}
+	if first.GUID != "tag:example,2026:1" {
+		t.Errorf("guid %q, want the non-URL guid verbatim", first.GUID)
+	}
+	if first.EnclosureURL != "https://cdn.example/1.mp3" {
+		t.Errorf("enclosure %q", first.EnclosureURL)
+	}
+	if first.PublishedUnix == 0 {
+		t.Error("published date not parsed")
+	}
+}
+
+// A declared duration is the feed's claim and routinely wrong, but it is still what decides
+// which episodes look newest before anything has been downloaded.
+func TestParsesEveryDurationFormatFeedsActuallyUse(t *testing.T) {
+	ch, err := Parse([]byte(sample))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	want := map[string]int64{
+		"Newest Episode":      1325000, // 00:22:05
+		"Second Episode":      1325000, // bare seconds
+		"Minutes And Seconds": 1862000, // 31:02
+	}
+	for _, e := range ch.Episodes {
+		if w, ok := want[e.Title]; ok && e.DeclaredDurationMs != w {
+			t.Errorf("%s: duration %dms, want %dms", e.Title, e.DeclaredDurationMs, w)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// Newest first, because that is the order the retention rule needs and feeds are not reliably
+// sorted.
+func TestOrdersEpisodesNewestFirst(t *testing.T) {
+	ch, err := Parse([]byte(sample))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	for i := 1; i < len(ch.Episodes); i++ {
+		if ch.Episodes[i-1].PublishedUnix < ch.Episodes[i].PublishedUnix {
+			t.Errorf("episode %d is newer than %d", i, i-1)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestRejectsSomethingThatIsNotAFeed(t *testing.T) {
+	if _, err := Parse([]byte("not xml at all")); err == nil {
+		t.Error("expected an error")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestAFeedWithNoItemsIsNotAnError(t *testing.T) {
+	ch, err := Parse([]byte(`<rss><channel><title>Empty</title></channel></rss>`))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if len(ch.Episodes) != 0 {
+		t.Errorf("got %d episodes", len(ch.Episodes))
+	}
+}
diff --git a/server/internal/mirror/mirror.go b/server/internal/mirror/mirror.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9e91041
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/internal/mirror/mirror.go
@@ -0,0 +1,156 @@
+// Package mirror keeps a local copy of the audio the server detects against and the phone
+// plays.
+package mirror
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"fmt"
+	"io"
+	"net/http"
+	"net/url"
+	"os"
+	"path"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/terst/listen/server/internal/store"
+)
+
+// Probe measures a downloaded file's real length.
+type Probe interface {
+	DurationMs(ctx context.Context, path string) (int64, error)
+}
+
+// Mirror downloads episodes and reclaims them.
+//
+// The reason the server holds the audio at all, rather than only timestamps: an episode fetched
+// twice is not the same file when a show uses dynamic ad insertion, so an offset measured on one
+// copy points at the wrong moment in another. The phone playing the same bytes the detector
+// examined is what makes the offsets correct.
+type Mirror struct {
+	AudioDir string
+	Probe    Probe
+	// Client defaults to a client with a generous timeout: episodes are tens of megabytes.
+	Client *http.Client
+	// UserAgent identifies this server to publishers.
+	UserAgent string
+}
+
+// DefaultTimeout bounds one episode download.
+const DefaultTimeout = 15 * time.Minute
+
+func (m *Mirror) client() *http.Client {
+	if m.Client != nil {
+		return m.Client
+	}
+	return &http.Client{Timeout: DefaultTimeout}
+}
+
+func (m *Mirror) userAgent() string {
+	if m.UserAgent != "" {
+		return m.UserAgent
+	}
+	return "listen-server/1.0 (+https://terst.org)"
+}
+
+// Fetch downloads an episode's audio and records where it went and how long it really is.
+//
+// Writes to a temporary file and renames, so an interrupted download cannot leave a truncated
+// file that looks mirrored -- which would have the phone play a cut-off episode and the
+// detector correlate against noise.
+func (m *Mirror) Fetch(ctx context.Context, e *store.Episode) error {
+	if e.EnclosureURL == "" {
+		return fmt.Errorf("episode %s: nothing to download", e.ID)
+	}
+	if err := os.MkdirAll(m.AudioDir, 0o755); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("episode %s: %w", e.ID, err)
+	}
+
+	req, err := http.NewRequestWithContext(ctx, http.MethodGet, e.EnclosureURL, nil)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("episode %s: %w", e.ID, err)
+	}
+	req.Header.Set("User-Agent", m.userAgent())
+
+	resp, err := m.client().Do(req)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("episode %s: %w", e.ID, err)
+	}
+	defer resp.Body.Close()
+	if resp.StatusCode != http.StatusOK {
+		return fmt.Errorf("episode %s: %s returned %s", e.ID, e.EnclosureURL, resp.Status)
+	}
+
+	name := e.ID + extensionFor(e.EnclosureURL, resp.Header.Get("Content-Type"))
+	tmp, err := os.CreateTemp(m.AudioDir, ".download-*")
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("episode %s: %w", e.ID, err)
+	}
+	tmpName := tmp.Name()
+	defer os.Remove(tmpName)
+
+	if _, err := io.Copy(tmp, resp.Body); err != nil {
+		tmp.Close()
+		return fmt.Errorf("episode %s: %w", e.ID, err)
+	}
+	if err := tmp.Close(); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("episode %s: %w", e.ID, err)
+	}
+
+	final := filepath.Join(m.AudioDir, name)
+	if err := os.Rename(tmpName, final); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("episode %s: %w", e.ID, err)
+	}
+
+	// The real length, which is routinely not what the feed declared.
+	if ms, err := m.Probe.DurationMs(ctx, final); err == nil {
+		e.DurationMs = ms
+	}
+	e.Path = name
+	return nil
+}
+
+// Prune deletes an episode's audio, leaving everything detection decided about it in place.
+//
+// The offsets describe the episode, not the file, and re-deriving them would mean downloading
+// it again -- so they outlive the audio.
+func (m *Mirror) Prune(e *store.Episode) error {
+	if e.Path == "" {
+		return nil
+	}
+	err := os.Remove(filepath.Join(m.AudioDir, e.Path))
+	e.Path = ""
+	if err != nil && !os.IsNotExist(err) {
+		return fmt.Errorf("episode %s: %w", e.ID, err)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+// extensionFor picks a file extension, preferring the URL's since a player chooses its decoder
+// from it.
+func extensionFor(rawURL, contentType string) string {
+	if u, err := url.Parse(rawURL); err == nil {
+		if ext := path.Ext(u.Path); isAudioExt(ext) {
+			return ext
+		}
+	}
+	switch {
+	case strings.Contains(contentType, "mp4"), strings.Contains(contentType, "m4a"):
+		return ".m4a"
+	case strings.Contains(contentType, "aac"):
+		return ".aac"
+	case strings.Contains(contentType, "ogg"), strings.Contains(contentType, "opus"):
+		return ".ogg"
+	default:
+		return ".mp3"
+	}
+}
+
+func isAudioExt(ext string) bool {
+	switch strings.ToLower(ext) {
+	case ".mp3", ".m4a", ".m4b", ".aac", ".ogg", ".opus", ".flac", ".wav":
+		return true
+	}
+	return false
+}
diff --git a/server/internal/mirror/mirror_test.go b/server/internal/mirror/mirror_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b510451
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/internal/mirror/mirror_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,162 @@
+package mirror
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"net/http"
+	"net/http/httptest"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/terst/listen/server/internal/store"
+)
+
+type stubProbe struct{ ms int64 }
+
+func (s stubProbe) DurationMs(context.Context, string) (int64, error) { return s.ms, nil }
+
+func episode(id, url string) *store.Episode {
+	return &store.Episode{ID: id, GUID: "g-" + id, EnclosureURL: url, Title: "An Episode"}
+}
+
+func TestFetchWritesTheAudioAndRecordsWhereItWent(t *testing.T) {
+	srv := httptest.NewServer(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, _ *http.Request) {
+		w.Header().Set("Content-Type", "audio/mpeg")
+		_, _ = w.Write([]byte("fake-mp3-bytes"))
+	}))
+	defer srv.Close()
+
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	m := &Mirror{AudioDir: dir, Probe: stubProbe{ms: 1325113}}
+	e := episode("abc", srv.URL+"/1.mp3")
+
+	if err := m.Fetch(context.Background(), e); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if e.Path == "" {
+		t.Fatal("Path not recorded")
+	}
+	raw, err := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(dir, e.Path))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if string(raw) != "fake-mp3-bytes" {
+		t.Errorf("contents %q", raw)
+	}
+	// The measured length, not the feed's claim: everything downstream reads this.
+	if e.DurationMs != 1325113 {
+		t.Errorf("DurationMs %d, want 1325113", e.DurationMs)
+	}
+}
+
+// The file is named by the episode id, which is stable and is what the audio URL already uses.
+func TestFetchNamesTheFileByEpisodeId(t *testing.T) {
+	srv := httptest.NewServer(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, _ *http.Request) {
+		_, _ = w.Write([]byte("x"))
+	}))
+	defer srv.Close()
+
+	m := &Mirror{AudioDir: t.TempDir(), Probe: stubProbe{ms: 1}}
+	e := episode("deadbeef", srv.URL+"/whatever.m4a")
+	if err := m.Fetch(context.Background(), e); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if !strings.HasPrefix(e.Path, "deadbeef") {
+		t.Errorf("Path %q does not start with the episode id", e.Path)
+	}
+	if filepath.Ext(e.Path) != ".m4a" {
+		t.Errorf("Path %q lost the extension, which the player needs to pick a decoder", e.Path)
+	}
+}
+
+// A failed or interrupted download must not leave a half file that looks mirrored. That is the
+// state that would have the phone play a truncated episode and the detector read noise.
+func TestAFailedFetchLeavesNothingBehind(t *testing.T) {
+	srv := httptest.NewServer(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, _ *http.Request) {
+		http.Error(w, "gone", http.StatusNotFound)
+	}))
+	defer srv.Close()
+
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	m := &Mirror{AudioDir: dir, Probe: stubProbe{ms: 1}}
+	e := episode("abc", srv.URL+"/1.mp3")
+
+	if err := m.Fetch(context.Background(), e); err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("expected an error")
+	}
+	if e.Path != "" {
+		t.Errorf("recorded a path for a download that failed: %q", e.Path)
+	}
+	entries, err := os.ReadDir(dir)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if len(entries) != 0 {
+		t.Errorf("left %d files behind", len(entries))
+	}
+}
+
+func TestFetchRefusesAnEpisodeWithNoEnclosure(t *testing.T) {
+	m := &Mirror{AudioDir: t.TempDir(), Probe: stubProbe{ms: 1}}
+	if err := m.Fetch(context.Background(), episode("abc", "")); err == nil {
+		t.Error("expected an error for an episode with nothing to download")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPruneRemovesTheFileAndForgetsThePath(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	m := &Mirror{AudioDir: dir, Probe: stubProbe{ms: 1}}
+	e := episode("abc", "https://cdn/1.mp3")
+	e.Path = "abc.mp3"
+	if err := os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(dir, e.Path), []byte("bytes"), 0o644); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	if err := m.Prune(e); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if e.Path != "" {
+		t.Errorf("Path still set: %q", e.Path)
+	}
+	if _, err := os.Stat(filepath.Join(dir, "abc.mp3")); !os.IsNotExist(err) {
+		t.Error("file still on disk")
+	}
+}
+
+// Detected offsets outlive the audio: they describe the episode, and re-deriving them would
+// mean downloading it again.
+func TestPruneKeepsWhatDetectionDecided(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	m := &Mirror{AudioDir: dir, Probe: stubProbe{ms: 1}}
+	e := episode("abc", "https://cdn/1.mp3")
+	e.Path = "abc.mp3"
+	intro := int64(16652)
+	e.IntroMs = &intro
+	e.DurationMs = 1325113
+	if err := os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(dir, e.Path), []byte("bytes"), 0o644); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	if err := m.Prune(e); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if e.IntroMs == nil || *e.IntroMs != 16652 {
+		t.Errorf("lost the detected intro: %v", e.IntroMs)
+	}
+	if e.DurationMs != 1325113 {
+		t.Errorf("lost the measured duration: %d", e.DurationMs)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPruningSomethingAlreadyGoneIsFine(t *testing.T) {
+	m := &Mirror{AudioDir: t.TempDir(), Probe: stubProbe{ms: 1}}
+	e := episode("abc", "https://cdn/1.mp3")
+	e.Path = "not-there.mp3"
+	if err := m.Prune(e); err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("pruning a missing file errored: %v", err)
+	}
+	if e.Path != "" {
+		t.Error("Path not cleared")
+	}
+}
diff --git a/server/internal/store/id.go b/server/internal/store/id.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..52bab46
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/internal/store/id.go
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+package store
+
+import (
+	"crypto/sha256"
+	"encoding/hex"
+)
+
+// newID is a stable identifier for an episode, derived from what identifies it rather than
+// from a counter or a random value.
+//
+// Stable matters because it names the audio file on disk and appears in the URL the phone
+// fetches: a regenerated id would orphan the file and break a link the phone already holds.
+func newID(feedURL, guid, enclosureURL string) string {
+	key := guid
+	if key == "" {
+		key = enclosureURL
+	}
+	sum := sha256.Sum256([]byte(feedURL + "\x00" + key))
+	return hex.EncodeToString(sum[:12])
+}
diff --git a/server/internal/store/store.go b/server/internal/store/store.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cfe6f40
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/internal/store/store.go
@@ -0,0 +1,295 @@
+// Package store holds what the server knows: which feeds to poll, which episodes exist, where
+// their audio is, and what detection decided about them.
+package store
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"sort"
+	"strings"
+	"sync"
+
+	"github.com/terst/listen/server/internal/feed"
+)
+
+// Episode is one episode's full server-side record.
+type Episode struct {
+	ID            string `json:"id"`
+	GUID          string `json:"guid"`
+	Title         string `json:"title"`
+	EnclosureURL  string `json:"enclosureUrl"`
+	PublishedUnix int64  `json:"publishedUnix"`
+	// DeclaredDurationMs is the feed's claim; DurationMs is what the file turned out to be.
+	DeclaredDurationMs int64 `json:"declaredDurationMs"`
+	DurationMs         int64 `json:"durationMs,omitempty"`
+
+	// Path is where the mirrored audio sits, relative to the audio directory. Empty until
+	// the episode has been downloaded.
+	Path string `json:"path,omitempty"`
+
+	// IntroMs and OutroMs are what the phone needs, in this episode's own timeline. Nil until
+	// detection has confirmed something that passed its self-check.
+	IntroMs *int64 `json:"introMs,omitempty"`
+	OutroMs *int64 `json:"outroMs,omitempty"`
+
+	// DetectedAtUnix records when detection last ran over the show this belongs to, so a
+	// result can be told apart from never having looked.
+	DetectedAtUnix int64 `json:"detectedAtUnix,omitempty"`
+}
+
+// Mirrored reports whether this episode's audio is on disk.
+func (e *Episode) Mirrored() bool { return e.Path != "" }
+
+// Show is a subscribed feed and everything known about its episodes.
+type Show struct {
+	FeedURL  string     `json:"feedUrl"`
+	Title    string     `json:"title"`
+	Episodes []*Episode `json:"episodes"`
+
+	// LastPolledUnix and LastError record the most recent refresh, so a feed that is failing
+	// says so instead of silently having nothing.
+	LastPolledUnix int64  `json:"lastPolledUnix,omitempty"`
+	LastError      string `json:"lastError,omitempty"`
+}
+
+// Partition splits a show's episodes into the newest keep and everything else, newest first.
+//
+// By publish date rather than feed order, because feeds are not reliably sorted and the whole
+// point is to mirror what is current.
+func (s *Show) Partition(keep int) (kept, pruned []*Episode) {
+	ordered := make([]*Episode, len(s.Episodes))
+	copy(ordered, s.Episodes)
+	sort.SliceStable(ordered, func(i, j int) bool {
+		return ordered[i].PublishedUnix > ordered[j].PublishedUnix
+	})
+	if keep >= len(ordered) {
+		return ordered, nil
+	}
+	return ordered[:keep], ordered[keep:]
+}
+
+// State is the server's whole persistent world.
+type State struct {
+	mu    sync.RWMutex
+	feeds []string
+	shows map[string]*Show
+}
+
+type persisted struct {
+	Feeds []string         `json:"feeds"`
+	Shows map[string]*Show `json:"shows"`
+}
+
+// New returns an empty state.
+func New() *State {
+	return &State{shows: map[string]*Show{}}
+}
+
+// Load reads state from disk. A missing file is a first run, not an error.
+func Load(path string) (*State, error) {
+	raw, err := os.ReadFile(path)
+	if os.IsNotExist(err) {
+		return New(), nil
+	}
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("load state: %w", err)
+	}
+	var p persisted
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(raw, &p); err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("load state: %w", err)
+	}
+	s := New()
+	s.feeds = p.Feeds
+	if p.Shows != nil {
+		s.shows = p.Shows
+	}
+	return s, nil
+}
+
+// Save writes state to disk atomically.
+//
+// Via a temporary file and a rename, because this holds the only record of where mirrored audio
+// is and what detection decided: a truncated write would orphan every file on disk and throw
+// away hours of detection.
+func (s *State) Save(path string) error {
+	s.mu.RLock()
+	raw, err := json.MarshalIndent(persisted{Feeds: s.feeds, Shows: s.shows}, "", "  ")
+	s.mu.RUnlock()
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("save state: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	if err := os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(path), 0o755); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("save state: %w", err)
+	}
+	tmp, err := os.CreateTemp(filepath.Dir(path), ".state-*.tmp")
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("save state: %w", err)
+	}
+	tmpName := tmp.Name()
+	defer os.Remove(tmpName)
+
+	if _, err := tmp.Write(raw); err != nil {
+		tmp.Close()
+		return fmt.Errorf("save state: %w", err)
+	}
+	if err := tmp.Sync(); err != nil {
+		tmp.Close()
+		return fmt.Errorf("save state: %w", err)
+	}
+	if err := tmp.Close(); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("save state: %w", err)
+	}
+	if err := os.Rename(tmpName, path); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("save state: %w", err)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+// SetFeeds replaces the subscription list and reports the feeds that are no longer wanted.
+//
+// Wholesale replacement because the phone owns this list; reconciling two editable copies of
+// something changed this rarely would cost more in sync bugs than it saves.
+func (s *State) SetFeeds(feeds []string) (removed []string) {
+	s.mu.Lock()
+	defer s.mu.Unlock()
+
+	wanted := make(map[string]bool, len(feeds))
+	clean := make([]string, 0, len(feeds))
+	for _, f := range feeds {
+		f = strings.TrimSpace(f)
+		if f == "" || wanted[f] {
+			continue
+		}
+		wanted[f] = true
+		clean = append(clean, f)
+	}
+	for url := range s.shows {
+		if !wanted[url] {
+			removed = append(removed, url)
+		}
+	}
+	sort.Strings(removed)
+	s.feeds = clean
+	return removed
+}
+
+// Feeds is the current subscription list.
+func (s *State) Feeds() []string {
+	s.mu.RLock()
+	defer s.mu.RUnlock()
+	return append([]string(nil), s.feeds...)
+}
+
+// Forget drops a show and returns it, so its files can be reclaimed.
+func (s *State) Forget(feedURL string) *Show {
+	s.mu.Lock()
+	defer s.mu.Unlock()
+	show := s.shows[feedURL]
+	delete(s.shows, feedURL)
+	return show
+}
+
+// Show returns a feed's show, or nil.
+func (s *State) Show(feedURL string) *Show {
+	s.mu.RLock()
+	defer s.mu.RUnlock()
+	return s.shows[feedURL]
+}
+
+// Shows returns every tracked show.
+func (s *State) Shows() []*Show {
+	s.mu.RLock()
+	defer s.mu.RUnlock()
+	out := make([]*Show, 0, len(s.shows))
+	for _, sh := range s.shows {
+		out = append(out, sh)
+	}
+	sort.Slice(out, func(i, j int) bool { return out[i].FeedURL < out[j].FeedURL })
+	return out
+}
+
+// Merge folds a parsed feed into stored state, adding episodes and refreshing feed-owned
+// fields while leaving everything the server learned alone.
+//
+// The distinction matters and has bitten the Android side twice: feed metadata is rewritten on
+// every refresh, so anything measured or detected has to live in fields the merge does not
+// touch, or it silently reverts.
+func (s *State) Merge(feedURL, title string, episodes []feed.Episode) *Show {
+	s.mu.Lock()
+	defer s.mu.Unlock()
+
+	show := s.shows[feedURL]
+	if show == nil {
+		show = &Show{FeedURL: feedURL}
+		s.shows[feedURL] = show
+	}
+	if title != "" {
+		show.Title = title
+	}
+
+	for _, parsed := range episodes {
+		existing := matchIn(show, parsed.GUID, parsed.EnclosureURL, parsed.Title)
+		if existing == nil {
+			show.Episodes = append(show.Episodes, &Episode{
+				ID:                 newID(feedURL, parsed.GUID, parsed.EnclosureURL),
+				GUID:               parsed.GUID,
+				Title:              parsed.Title,
+				EnclosureURL:       parsed.EnclosureURL,
+				PublishedUnix:      parsed.PublishedUnix,
+				DeclaredDurationMs: parsed.DeclaredDurationMs,
+			})
+			continue
+		}
+		// Feed-owned fields only. Path, DurationMs, IntroMs, OutroMs are the server's.
+		existing.GUID = parsed.GUID
+		existing.Title = parsed.Title
+		existing.EnclosureURL = parsed.EnclosureURL
+		if parsed.PublishedUnix != 0 {
+			existing.PublishedUnix = parsed.PublishedUnix
+		}
+		existing.DeclaredDurationMs = parsed.DeclaredDurationMs
+	}
+	return show
+}
+
+// Match finds an episode within a show, on GUID, then enclosure URL, then title.
+//
+// That cascade exists because publishers rewrite feeds: an episode that loses its identity
+// loses its playback position on the phone and its detected offsets here.
+func (s *State) Match(feedURL, guid, enclosureURL, title string) *Episode {
+	s.mu.RLock()
+	defer s.mu.RUnlock()
+	show := s.shows[feedURL]
+	if show == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	return matchIn(show, guid, enclosureURL, title)
+}
+
+func matchIn(show *Show, guid, enclosureURL, title string) *Episode {
+	if guid != "" {
+		for _, e := range show.Episodes {
+			if e.GUID == guid {
+				return e
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	if enclosureURL != "" {
+		for _, e := range show.Episodes {
+			if e.EnclosureURL == enclosureURL {
+				return e
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	if title != "" {
+		for _, e := range show.Episodes {
+			if e.Title == title {
+				return e
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
diff --git a/server/internal/store/store_test.go b/server/internal/store/store_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cd5cf6f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/internal/store/store_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,239 @@
+package store
+
+import (
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/terst/listen/server/internal/feed"
+)
+
+func ep(guid, title, enclosure string, published int64) feed.Episode {
+	return feed.Episode{GUID: guid, Title: title, EnclosureURL: enclosure, PublishedUnix: published}
+}
+
+// Merging a refreshed feed into stored state must not lose what the server has learned. The
+// Android side has already had this bug twice in different forms -- a corrected duration
+// overwritten on every refresh, and episode rows cascading away carrying the only record of
+// where their files were.
+
+func TestMergeKeepsWhatTheServerLearnedAboutAnEpisode(t *testing.T) {
+	s := New()
+	s.Merge("https://f", "A Show", []feed.Episode{ep("g1", "One", "https://cdn/1.mp3", 100)})
+
+	got := s.Match("https://f", "g1", "", "")
+	if got == nil {
+		t.Fatal("episode not stored")
+	}
+	got.Path = "audio/abc.mp3"
+	got.DurationMs = 1325113
+	intro := int64(16652)
+	got.IntroMs = &intro
+
+	// The same feed again, as a refresh would deliver it.
+	s.Merge("https://f", "A Show", []feed.Episode{ep("g1", "One", "https://cdn/1.mp3", 100)})
+
+	after := s.Match("https://f", "g1", "", "")
+	if after == nil {
+		t.Fatal("episode lost on refresh")
+	}
+	if after.Path != "audio/abc.mp3" {
+		t.Errorf("mirrored path lost: %q", after.Path)
+	}
+	if after.DurationMs != 1325113 {
+		t.Errorf("measured duration lost: %d", after.DurationMs)
+	}
+	if after.IntroMs == nil || *after.IntroMs != 16652 {
+		t.Errorf("detected intro lost: %v", after.IntroMs)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestMergeAddsNewEpisodesAndKeepsOldOnes(t *testing.T) {
+	s := New()
+	s.Merge("https://f", "A Show", []feed.Episode{ep("g1", "One", "https://cdn/1.mp3", 100)})
+	s.Merge("https://f", "A Show", []feed.Episode{
+		ep("g2", "Two", "https://cdn/2.mp3", 200),
+		ep("g1", "One", "https://cdn/1.mp3", 100),
+	})
+
+	if n := len(s.Show("https://f").Episodes); n != 2 {
+		t.Errorf("%d episodes, want 2", n)
+	}
+}
+
+// GUIDs move: publishers rewrite feeds. Matching on the GUID alone loses an episode's
+// identity, and with it its playback position on the phone and its detected offsets here.
+func TestMatchFallsBackToTheEnclosureUrlWhenTheGuidChanged(t *testing.T) {
+	s := New()
+	s.Merge("https://f", "A Show", []feed.Episode{ep("old-guid", "One", "https://cdn/1.mp3", 100)})
+
+	got := s.Match("https://f", "new-guid", "https://cdn/1.mp3", "")
+	if got == nil {
+		t.Fatal("not matched by enclosure url")
+	}
+	if got.GUID != "old-guid" {
+		t.Errorf("matched the wrong episode: %q", got.GUID)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestMatchFallsBackToTheTitleWhenBothGuidAndUrlChanged(t *testing.T) {
+	s := New()
+	s.Merge("https://f", "A Show", []feed.Episode{ep("old-guid", "Grass Apes", "https://cdn/old.mp3", 100)})
+
+	got := s.Match("https://f", "new-guid", "https://cdn/new.mp3", "Grass Apes")
+	if got == nil {
+		t.Fatal("not matched by title")
+	}
+	if got.GUID != "old-guid" {
+		t.Errorf("matched the wrong episode: %q", got.GUID)
+	}
+}
+
+// The cascade has to be in that order: a GUID match must win over an enclosure match, or a
+// re-uploaded file would steal another episode's identity.
+func TestMatchPrefersTheGuidOverTheEnclosureUrl(t *testing.T) {
+	s := New()
+	s.Merge("https://f", "A Show", []feed.Episode{
+		ep("g1", "One", "https://cdn/shared.mp3", 100),
+		ep("g2", "Two", "https://cdn/shared.mp3", 200),
+	})
+
+	got := s.Match("https://f", "g2", "https://cdn/shared.mp3", "")
+	if got == nil || got.GUID != "g2" {
+		t.Fatalf("matched %v, want g2", got)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestMatchReturnsNothingForAnUnknownEpisode(t *testing.T) {
+	s := New()
+	s.Merge("https://f", "A Show", []feed.Episode{ep("g1", "One", "https://cdn/1.mp3", 100)})
+
+	if got := s.Match("https://f", "nope", "https://cdn/nope.mp3", "Nope"); got != nil {
+		t.Errorf("matched %q for an unknown episode", got.GUID)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestMatchIsScopedToTheShow(t *testing.T) {
+	s := New()
+	s.Merge("https://a", "Show A", []feed.Episode{ep("g1", "One", "https://cdn/1.mp3", 100)})
+	s.Merge("https://b", "Show B", []feed.Episode{})
+
+	if got := s.Match("https://b", "g1", "", ""); got != nil {
+		t.Error("matched an episode from a different show")
+	}
+}
+
+// Retention: newest N by publish date. Anything the server is mid-way through using has to
+// survive, which is the lesson from the phone's own retention reclaiming the file detection
+// was holding.
+func TestKeepNewestSelectsByPublishDateNotFeedOrder(t *testing.T) {
+	s := New()
+	s.Merge("https://f", "A Show", []feed.Episode{
+		ep("g1", "Oldest", "https://cdn/1.mp3", 100),
+		ep("g3", "Newest", "https://cdn/3.mp3", 300),
+		ep("g2", "Middle", "https://cdn/2.mp3", 200),
+	})
+
+	keep, prune := s.Show("https://f").Partition(2)
+	if len(keep) != 2 || len(prune) != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("keep %d prune %d, want 2 and 1", len(keep), len(prune))
+	}
+	if keep[0].GUID != "g3" || keep[1].GUID != "g2" {
+		t.Errorf("kept %s and %s, want g3 and g2", keep[0].GUID, keep[1].GUID)
+	}
+	if prune[0].GUID != "g1" {
+		t.Errorf("pruned %s, want g1", prune[0].GUID)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestKeepNewestKeepsEverythingWhenThereAreFewerThanTheLimit(t *testing.T) {
+	s := New()
+	s.Merge("https://f", "A Show", []feed.Episode{ep("g1", "One", "https://cdn/1.mp3", 100)})
+
+	keep, prune := s.Show("https://f").Partition(8)
+	if len(keep) != 1 || len(prune) != 0 {
+		t.Errorf("keep %d prune %d, want 1 and 0", len(keep), len(prune))
+	}
+}
+
+// Subscriptions are replaced wholesale by the phone, which owns the list. A show that is gone
+// from the list stops being polled, but its files are the mirror's business to clean up.
+func TestSetFeedsReplacesTheSubscriptionList(t *testing.T) {
+	s := New()
+	s.Merge("https://a", "A", nil)
+	s.Merge("https://b", "B", nil)
+
+	removed := s.SetFeeds([]string{"https://b", "https://c"})
+
+	if len(removed) != 1 || removed[0] != "https://a" {
+		t.Errorf("removed %v, want [https://a]", removed)
+	}
+	got := s.Feeds()
+	if len(got) != 2 {
+		t.Errorf("feeds %v, want 2", got)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSaveAndLoadRoundTripsEverything(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	path := filepath.Join(dir, "state.json")
+
+	s := New()
+	s.SetFeeds([]string{"https://f"})
+	s.Merge("https://f", "A Show", []feed.Episode{ep("g1", "One", "https://cdn/1.mp3", 100)})
+	e := s.Match("https://f", "g1", "", "")
+	e.Path = "audio/abc.mp3"
+	intro := int64(16652)
+	e.IntroMs = &intro
+
+	if err := s.Save(path); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	loaded, err := Load(path)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	got := loaded.Match("https://f", "g1", "", "")
+	if got == nil {
+		t.Fatal("episode did not survive the round trip")
+	}
+	if got.Path != "audio/abc.mp3" || got.IntroMs == nil || *got.IntroMs != 16652 {
+		t.Errorf("round trip lost data: %+v", got)
+	}
+	if len(loaded.Feeds()) != 1 {
+		t.Errorf("feeds did not survive: %v", loaded.Feeds())
+	}
+}
+
+// A missing state file is a first run, not a failure.
+func TestLoadingAMissingFileGivesAnEmptyState(t *testing.T) {
+	s, err := Load(filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "absent.json"))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if len(s.Feeds()) != 0 {
+		t.Errorf("expected no feeds, got %v", s.Feeds())
+	}
+}
+
+// Saving must not be able to truncate a good state file into a broken one.
+func TestSaveIsAtomic(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	path := filepath.Join(dir, "state.json")
+	s := New()
+	s.SetFeeds([]string{"https://f"})
+	if err := s.Save(path); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	entries, err := os.ReadDir(dir)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	for _, entry := range entries {
+		if entry.Name() != "state.json" {
+			t.Errorf("left a stray file behind: %s", entry.Name())
+		}
+	}
+}