diff --git a/assets/INDEX.md b/assets/INDEX.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..d6a19df63b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/assets/INDEX.md
@@ -0,0 +1,106 @@
+# Asset register
+
+Generated by [`toolchain/assets/sync-index.mjs`](../toolchain/assets/sync-index.mjs).
+Do not hand-edit — rerun the generator.
+
+- Bucket: `s3://assets-aesthetic-computer` (`sfo3`, DigitalOcean Spaces)
+- Mirrored locally to the gitignored `system/public/assets/` tree
+- Listed: **2026-09-10**
+- Contents: **34,356 objects**, **92 GB**
+
+The bytes live in Spaces; this file is the register. Anything in the
+bucket appears below whether or not anyone has described it — a prefix
+with an empty note is a prompt to write one.
+
+| Prefix | Files | Size | First | Last | Note |
+|---|---:|---:|---|---|---|
+| `false.work/` | 55 | 35 GB | 2025-10-30 | 2026-07-24 |  |
+| `private/pop-workspace/` | 11,951 | 23 GB | 2026-07-27 | 2026-09-07 | Pop track working media: raw vocal stems and alignment caches. Billable to regenerate. |
+| `whistlegraph/` | 6,582 | 11 GB | 2023-10-21 | 2026-09-05 | Whistlegraph archive and harvested media. |
+| `private/vault-workspace/` | 3,680 | 6.4 GB | 2026-07-27 | 2026-09-10 | Personal vault workspace archives (grants, marketing drafts, internal reports). |
+| `pruttipal/` | 209 | 2.2 GB | 2024-04-18 | 2026-04-24 |  |
+| `spiderlily/` | 2 | 1.8 GB | 2025-12-17 | 2026-03-14 |  |
+| `os/` | 4 | 1.7 GB | 2026-03-10 | 2026-03-14 |  |
+| `sosoft/` | 480 | 1.5 GB | 2026-08-25 | 2026-08-26 |  |
+| `private/day-workspaces/` | 1,027 | 979 MB | 2026-07-30 | 2026-07-30 | Dated whole-workspace snapshots. |
+| `pop/` | 261 | 913 MB | 2026-05-18 | 2026-09-01 | Published pop media (beds, mixes) — see pop/ASSETS.md for the policy. |
+| `private/regarde/` | 1,841 | 901 MB | 2026-08-12 | 2026-08-13 | REGARDE render workspaces (confidential). |
+| `jeffreys/` | 1,065 | 771 MB | 2026-01-04 | 2026-05-24 |  |
+| `private/client-assets/` | 2 | 734 MB | 2026-07-24 | 2026-07-24 | Client deliverables and source media under NDA. |
+| `snappidagg/` | 317 | 673 MB | 2026-01-06 | 2026-01-06 |  |
+| `private/pop-release/` | 29 | 631 MB | 2026-08-12 | 2026-08-12 | Mastered pop releases staged for distribution. |
+| `gigs/` | 95 | 535 MB | 2026-03-06 | 2026-04-02 |  |
+| `papers/` | 119 | 412 MB | 2026-02-18 | 2026-08-06 | Paper figures, readings audio, and cassette material. |
+| `screenshots/` | 103 | 394 MB | 2024-03-15 | 2024-04-18 |  |
+| `2018/` | 1 | 204 MB | 2026-07-19 | 2026-07-19 |  |
+| `justanothersystem/` | 61 | 204 MB | 2026-02-27 | 2026-03-23 |  |
+| `podcast/` | 22 | 191 MB | 2026-07-03 | 2026-08-31 |  |
+| `bgm/` | 36 | 186 MB | 2024-04-18 | 2026-03-12 |  |
+| `oskie/` | 13 | 184 MB | 2026-01-01 | 2026-01-28 |  |
+| `gm/` | 3,889 | 181 MB | 2026-05-08 | 2026-05-08 |  |
+| `private/build-workspace/` | 272 | 180 MB | 2026-08-12 | 2026-08-12 | Build artifacts too large for git. |
+| `wipppps/` | 16 | 176 MB | 2025-03-18 | 2025-09-03 |  |
+| `audio/` | 2 | 170 MB | 2026-04-05 | 2026-04-05 |  |
+| `m4l/` | 112 | 116 MB | 2026-01-15 | 2026-08-04 |  |
+| `menuband/` | 29 | 104 MB | 2026-04-28 | 2026-08-25 |  |
+| `laer-klokken/` | 1 | 84 MB | 2026-07-14 | 2026-07-14 |  |
+| `sno/` | 24 | 69 MB | 2023-11-16 | 2026-03-14 |  |
+| `marketing/` | 37 | 54 MB | 2026-06-02 | 2026-06-02 |  |
+| `lacma-2026/` | 13 | 45 MB | 2026-04-22 | 2026-04-23 |  |
+| `n64/` | 1 | 32 MB | 2025-11-16 | 2025-11-16 |  |
+| `digitpain/` | 20 | 29 MB | 2023-10-21 | 2023-11-21 |  |
+| `type/` | 1,544 | 12 MB | 2023-10-21 | 2026-09-10 |  |
+| `images/` | 14 | 9.5 MB | 2023-10-21 | 2026-03-27 |  |
+| `bonneville/` | 11 | 8.8 MB | 2026-05-19 | 2026-05-19 |  |
+| `dev/` | 1 | 8.7 MB | 2024-10-12 | 2024-10-12 |  |
+| `sotce-net/` | 11 | 5.0 MB | 2024-06-26 | 2026-09-09 |  |
+| `(bucket root)` | 13 | 4.8 MB | 2026-01-18 | 2026-07-24 |  |
+| `mvis/` | 16 | 4.3 MB | 2024-03-24 | 2025-08-31 |  |
+| `klokkentales/` | 186 | 3.8 MB | 2026-09-08 | 2026-09-10 |  |
+| `comodiddies/` | 2 | 3.5 MB | 2026-06-11 | 2026-06-11 |  |
+| `gameboy/` | 61 | 2.1 MB | 2025-11-14 | 2025-12-15 |  |
+| `aesthetic-inc/` | 4 | 1.7 MB | 2024-10-21 | 2026-03-12 |  |
+| `direct/` | 2 | 1.2 MB | 2024-11-18 | 2024-11-18 |  |
+| `plugins/` | 7 | 889 KB | 2026-04-11 | 2026-04-11 |  |
+| `sundarakarma.com/` | 7 | 531 KB | 2025-07-01 | 2025-07-03 |  |
+| `besospesos/` | 10 | 492 KB | 2026-06-11 | 2026-06-11 |  |
+| `libs/` | 2 | 447 KB | 2025-01-23 | 2025-01-23 |  |
+| `sounds/` | 20 | 230 KB | 2024-04-18 | 2024-04-18 |  |
+| `fonts/` | 5 | 228 KB | 2025-12-15 | 2025-12-15 |  |
+| `ordfish/` | 56 | 187 KB | 2023-10-21 | 2023-10-21 |  |
+| `files/` | 4 | 97 KB | 2024-03-24 | 2024-04-05 |  |
+| `kidlisp.com/` | 3 | 85 KB | 2026-01-13 | 2026-03-09 |  |
+| `rain/` | 2 | 16 KB | 2024-01-03 | 2024-01-03 |  |
+| `ableton/` | 2 | 16 KB | 2026-01-03 | 2026-01-15 |  |
+| `builds.false.work/` | 1 | 13 KB | 2025-11-13 | 2025-11-13 |  |
+| `ticketed-pieces/` | 1 | 6.5 KB | 2024-05-20 | 2024-05-20 |  |
+
+## Restoring
+
+```bash
+# whole public tree (what npm run assets:sync:down does)
+aws s3 sync s3://assets-aesthetic-computer system/public/assets \
+  --endpoint-url https://sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com
+
+# one prefix
+aws s3 sync s3://assets-aesthetic-computer/<prefix> <local-dir> \
+  --endpoint-url https://sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com --region sfo3
+```
+
+## Pushing
+
+Spaces on sfo3 will exit 0 while silently stranding files under the
+default 10-way concurrency, so large pushes go at 3 and get counted
+afterwards. Private material must carry `--acl private`; the repo's
+`assets:sync:up` bakes in `--acl public-read` and must never be reused
+for it.
+
+```bash
+printf '[default]\ns3 =\n    max_concurrent_requests = 3\n' > /tmp/awscfg/config
+AWS_CONFIG_FILE=/tmp/awscfg/config AWS_RETRY_MODE=standard AWS_MAX_ATTEMPTS=10 \
+  aws s3 sync <local-dir> s3://assets-aesthetic-computer/private/<area>/<name> \
+  --endpoint-url https://sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com --region sfo3 \
+  --acl private --exclude '*.DS_Store'
+
+node toolchain/assets/sync-index.mjs   # then re-register
+```
diff --git a/assets/index.json b/assets/index.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c61f56b7a0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/assets/index.json
@@ -0,0 +1,492 @@
+{
+  "generated": "2026-09-10T16:25:46.759Z",
+  "bucket": "assets-aesthetic-computer",
+  "endpoint": "https://sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com",
+  "region": "sfo3",
+  "totals": {
+    "files": 34356,
+    "bytes": 98972540242
+  },
+  "prefixes": [
+    {
+      "prefix": "false.work/",
+      "files": 55,
+      "bytes": 38054644141,
+      "newest": "2026-07-24",
+      "oldest": "2025-10-30",
+      "note": ""
+    },
+    {
+      "prefix": "private/pop-workspace/",
+      "files": 11951,
+      "bytes": 25086695695,
+      "newest": "2026-09-07",
+      "oldest": "2026-07-27",
+      "note": "Pop track working media: raw vocal stems and alignment caches. Billable to regenerate."
+    },
+    {
+      "prefix": "whistlegraph/",
+      "files": 6582,
+      "bytes": 11524866440,
+      "newest": "2026-09-05",
+      "oldest": "2023-10-21",
+      "note": "Whistlegraph archive and harvested media."
+    },
+    {
+      "prefix": "private/vault-workspace/",
+      "files": 3680,
+      "bytes": 6890099217,
+      "newest": "2026-09-10",
+      "oldest": "2026-07-27",
+      "note": "Personal vault workspace archives (grants, marketing drafts, internal reports)."
+    },
+    {
+      "prefix": "pruttipal/",
+      "files": 209,
+      "bytes": 2327753619,
+      "newest": "2026-04-24",
+      "oldest": "2024-04-18",
+      "note": ""
+    },
+    {
+      "prefix": "spiderlily/",
+      "files": 2,
+      "bytes": 1957661226,
+      "newest": "2026-03-14",
+      "oldest": "2025-12-17",
+      "note": ""
+    },
+    {
+      "prefix": "os/",
+      "files": 4,
+      "bytes": 1822163426,
+      "newest": "2026-03-14",
+      "oldest": "2026-03-10",
+      "note": ""
+    },
+    {
+      "prefix": "sosoft/",
+      "files": 480,
+      "bytes": 1638598258,
+      "newest": "2026-08-26",
+      "oldest": "2026-08-25",
+      "note": ""
+    },
+    {
+      "prefix": "private/day-workspaces/",
+      "files": 1027,
+      "bytes": 1026134563,
+      "newest": "2026-07-30",
+      "oldest": "2026-07-30",
+      "note": "Dated whole-workspace snapshots."
+    },
+    {
+      "prefix": "pop/",
+      "files": 261,
+      "bytes": 957571449,
+      "newest": "2026-09-01",
+      "oldest": "2026-05-18",
+      "note": "Published pop media (beds, mixes) — see pop/ASSETS.md for the policy."
+    },
+    {
+      "prefix": "private/regarde/",
+      "files": 1841,
+      "bytes": 944426609,
+      "newest": "2026-08-13",
+      "oldest": "2026-08-12",
+      "note": "REGARDE render workspaces (confidential)."
+    },
+    {
+      "prefix": "jeffreys/",
+      "files": 1065,
+      "bytes": 808953343,
+      "newest": "2026-05-24",
+      "oldest": "2026-01-04",
+      "note": ""
+    },
+    {
+      "prefix": "private/client-assets/",
+      "files": 2,
+      "bytes": 769988968,
+      "newest": "2026-07-24",
+      "oldest": "2026-07-24",
+      "note": "Client deliverables and source media under NDA."
+    },
+    {
+      "prefix": "snappidagg/",
+      "files": 317,
+      "bytes": 705197832,
+      "newest": "2026-01-06",
+      "oldest": "2026-01-06",
+      "note": ""
+    },
+    {
+      "prefix": "private/pop-release/",
+      "files": 29,
+      "bytes": 661622650,
+      "newest": "2026-08-12",
+      "oldest": "2026-08-12",
+      "note": "Mastered pop releases staged for distribution."
+    },
+    {
+      "prefix": "gigs/",
+      "files": 95,
+      "bytes": 561131692,
+      "newest": "2026-04-02",
+      "oldest": "2026-03-06",
+      "note": ""
+    },
+    {
+      "prefix": "papers/",
+      "files": 119,
+      "bytes": 432048923,
+      "newest": "2026-08-06",
+      "oldest": "2026-02-18",
+      "note": "Paper figures, readings audio, and cassette material."
+    },
+    {
+      "prefix": "screenshots/",
+      "files": 103,
+      "bytes": 413131731,
+      "newest": "2024-04-18",
+      "oldest": "2024-03-15",
+      "note": ""
+    },
+    {
+      "prefix": "2018/",
+      "files": 1,
+      "bytes": 214059546,
+      "newest": "2026-07-19",
+      "oldest": "2026-07-19",
+      "note": ""
+    },
+    {
+      "prefix": "justanothersystem/",
+      "files": 61,
+      "bytes": 213440054,
+      "newest": "2026-03-23",
+      "oldest": "2026-02-27",
+      "note": ""
+    },
+    {
+      "prefix": "podcast/",
+      "files": 22,
+      "bytes": 200081622,
+      "newest": "2026-08-31",
+      "oldest": "2026-07-03",
+      "note": ""
+    },
+    {
+      "prefix": "bgm/",
+      "files": 36,
+      "bytes": 195426721,
+      "newest": "2026-03-12",
+      "oldest": "2024-04-18",
+      "note": ""
+    },
+    {
+      "prefix": "oskie/",
+      "files": 13,
+      "bytes": 192615798,
+      "newest": "2026-01-28",
+      "oldest": "2026-01-01",
+      "note": ""
+    },
+    {
+      "prefix": "gm/",
+      "files": 3889,
+      "bytes": 190313378,
+      "newest": "2026-05-08",
+      "oldest": "2026-05-08",
+      "note": ""
+    },
+    {
+      "prefix": "private/build-workspace/",
+      "files": 272,
+      "bytes": 188501527,
+      "newest": "2026-08-12",
+      "oldest": "2026-08-12",
+      "note": "Build artifacts too large for git."
+    },
+    {
+      "prefix": "wipppps/",
+      "files": 16,
+      "bytes": 184648734,
+      "newest": "2025-09-03",
+      "oldest": "2025-03-18",
+      "note": ""
+    },
+    {
+      "prefix": "audio/",
+      "files": 2,
+      "bytes": 178378157,
+      "newest": "2026-04-05",
+      "oldest": "2026-04-05",
+      "note": ""
+    },
+    {
+      "prefix": "m4l/",
+      "files": 112,
+      "bytes": 121936999,
+      "newest": "2026-08-04",
+      "oldest": "2026-01-15",
+      "note": ""
+    },
+    {
+      "prefix": "menuband/",
+      "files": 29,
+      "bytes": 109276760,
+      "newest": "2026-08-25",
+      "oldest": "2026-04-28",
+      "note": ""
+    },
+    {
+      "prefix": "laer-klokken/",
+      "files": 1,
+      "bytes": 88161822,
+      "newest": "2026-07-14",
+      "oldest": "2026-07-14",
+      "note": ""
+    },
+    {
+      "prefix": "sno/",
+      "files": 24,
+      "bytes": 72828157,
+      "newest": "2026-03-14",
+      "oldest": "2023-11-16",
+      "note": ""
+    },
+    {
+      "prefix": "marketing/",
+      "files": 37,
+      "bytes": 56752737,
+      "newest": "2026-06-02",
+      "oldest": "2026-06-02",
+      "note": ""
+    },
+    {
+      "prefix": "lacma-2026/",
+      "files": 13,
+      "bytes": 47049339,
+      "newest": "2026-04-23",
+      "oldest": "2026-04-22",
+      "note": ""
+    },
+    {
+      "prefix": "n64/",
+      "files": 1,
+      "bytes": 33554432,
+      "newest": "2025-11-16",
+      "oldest": "2025-11-16",
+      "note": ""
+    },
+    {
+      "prefix": "digitpain/",
+      "files": 20,
+      "bytes": 30776725,
+      "newest": "2023-11-21",
+      "oldest": "2023-10-21",
+      "note": ""
+    },
+    {
+      "prefix": "type/",
+      "files": 1544,
+      "bytes": 12747271,
+      "newest": "2026-09-10",
+      "oldest": "2023-10-21",
+      "note": ""
+    },
+    {
+      "prefix": "images/",
+      "files": 14,
+      "bytes": 9941502,
+      "newest": "2026-03-27",
+      "oldest": "2023-10-21",
+      "note": ""
+    },
+    {
+      "prefix": "bonneville/",
+      "files": 11,
+      "bytes": 9244465,
+      "newest": "2026-05-19",
+      "oldest": "2026-05-19",
+      "note": ""
+    },
+    {
+      "prefix": "dev/",
+      "files": 1,
+      "bytes": 9086963,
+      "newest": "2024-10-12",
+      "oldest": "2024-10-12",
+      "note": ""
+    },
+    {
+      "prefix": "sotce-net/",
+      "files": 11,
+      "bytes": 5203003,
+      "newest": "2026-09-09",
+      "oldest": "2024-06-26",
+      "note": ""
+    },
+    {
+      "prefix": "(bucket root)",
+      "files": 13,
+      "bytes": 5020045,
+      "newest": "2026-07-24",
+      "oldest": "2026-01-18",
+      "note": ""
+    },
+    {
+      "prefix": "mvis/",
+      "files": 16,
+      "bytes": 4534524,
+      "newest": "2025-08-31",
+      "oldest": "2024-03-24",
+      "note": ""
+    },
+    {
+      "prefix": "klokkentales/",
+      "files": 186,
+      "bytes": 4023638,
+      "newest": "2026-09-10",
+      "oldest": "2026-09-08",
+      "note": ""
+    },
+    {
+      "prefix": "comodiddies/",
+      "files": 2,
+      "bytes": 3628794,
+      "newest": "2026-06-11",
+      "oldest": "2026-06-11",
+      "note": ""
+    },
+    {
+      "prefix": "gameboy/",
+      "files": 61,
+      "bytes": 2228224,
+      "newest": "2025-12-15",
+      "oldest": "2025-11-14",
+      "note": ""
+    },
+    {
+      "prefix": "aesthetic-inc/",
+      "files": 4,
+      "bytes": 1815553,
+      "newest": "2026-03-12",
+      "oldest": "2024-10-21",
+      "note": ""
+    },
+    {
+      "prefix": "direct/",
+      "files": 2,
+      "bytes": 1257715,
+      "newest": "2024-11-18",
+      "oldest": "2024-11-18",
+      "note": ""
+    },
+    {
+      "prefix": "plugins/",
+      "files": 7,
+      "bytes": 910285,
+      "newest": "2026-04-11",
+      "oldest": "2026-04-11",
+      "note": ""
+    },
+    {
+      "prefix": "sundarakarma.com/",
+      "files": 7,
+      "bytes": 543563,
+      "newest": "2025-07-03",
+      "oldest": "2025-07-01",
+      "note": ""
+    },
+    {
+      "prefix": "besospesos/",
+      "files": 10,
+      "bytes": 503426,
+      "newest": "2026-06-11",
+      "oldest": "2026-06-11",
+      "note": ""
+    },
+    {
+      "prefix": "libs/",
+      "files": 2,
+      "bytes": 457865,
+      "newest": "2025-01-23",
+      "oldest": "2025-01-23",
+      "note": ""
+    },
+    {
+      "prefix": "sounds/",
+      "files": 20,
+      "bytes": 235414,
+      "newest": "2024-04-18",
+      "oldest": "2024-04-18",
+      "note": ""
+    },
+    {
+      "prefix": "fonts/",
+      "files": 5,
+      "bytes": 233708,
+      "newest": "2025-12-15",
+      "oldest": "2025-12-15",
+      "note": ""
+    },
+    {
+      "prefix": "ordfish/",
+      "files": 56,
+      "bytes": 191408,
+      "newest": "2023-10-21",
+      "oldest": "2023-10-21",
+      "note": ""
+    },
+    {
+      "prefix": "files/",
+      "files": 4,
+      "bytes": 99791,
+      "newest": "2024-04-05",
+      "oldest": "2024-03-24",
+      "note": ""
+    },
+    {
+      "prefix": "kidlisp.com/",
+      "files": 3,
+      "bytes": 87507,
+      "newest": "2026-03-09",
+      "oldest": "2026-01-13",
+      "note": ""
+    },
+    {
+      "prefix": "rain/",
+      "files": 2,
+      "bytes": 16882,
+      "newest": "2024-01-03",
+      "oldest": "2024-01-03",
+      "note": ""
+    },
+    {
+      "prefix": "ableton/",
+      "files": 2,
+      "bytes": 16064,
+      "newest": "2026-01-15",
+      "oldest": "2026-01-03",
+      "note": ""
+    },
+    {
+      "prefix": "builds.false.work/",
+      "files": 1,
+      "bytes": 13655,
+      "newest": "2025-11-13",
+      "oldest": "2025-11-13",
+      "note": ""
+    },
+    {
+      "prefix": "ticketed-pieces/",
+      "files": 1,
+      "bytes": 6687,
+      "newest": "2024-05-20",
+      "oldest": "2024-05-20",
+      "note": ""
+    }
+  ]
+}