docs: README + env.example for search, PMs, webhook/SSO helpers

Wire table gains the search, private-message, webhook and SSO
rows; the library surface shows Search/SendMessage calls and a
server-side helper section (WebhookHandler, SSOLogin, secret
loaders); the CLI reference lists the four new commands including
their secret env vars. env.example documents the DISCOURSE_KEY
alias and the two commented-out secrets.

Part of Redmine 507 (Discourse Go client).

README.md

@@ -9,10 +9,12 @@ land). AGPLv3.
 Status: 2026-08-29 — v0 complete and green: categories (list/create),
 topics (create/list/latest/get), posts (create/update/get), current-user
 identity probe, raw JSON passthrough for everything else, typed error
-classes, thin CLI. Built and tested entirely against a fake Discourse
+classes, thin CLI. Same-day additions (Redmine 507): full-text search,
-(no live writes). Live reads verified against community.turnsys.com;
+private-message send, and the webhook + SSO (Discourse Connect) secret
-category creation 403s with the current key (needs the admin-scoped key)
+helpers. Built and tested entirely against a fake Discourse (no live
-— see "Live verification" below.
+writes). Live reads verified against community.turnsys.com; category
+creation 403s with the current key (needs the admin-scoped key) — see
+"Live verification" below.
 
 ## What it implements
 
@@ -30,6 +32,10 @@ The wire protocol, in plain REST with stdlib:
 | posts create | `POST /posts.json` — `topic_id`+`raw` |
 | posts update | `PUT /posts/<id>.json` — `{post: {raw, edit_reason}}` |
 | posts get | `GET /posts/<id>.json` |
+| search | `GET /search.json?term=...&page=N` — grouped posts/topics/users/categories hits; term operators (`@user`, `#category`, `order:latest`) pass through |
+| message send | `POST /posts.json` — `title`+`raw`+`target_usernames`/`target_group_names`/`target_emails` (comma-joined) instead of a category; creates a private-message topic |
+| webhook verify | `X-Discourse-Event-Signature` — sha256-HMAC hex (with `sha256=` prefix) over the raw body, constant-time compare |
+| SSO verify/response | Discourse Connect — sha256-HMAC hex over the base64 `sso` string; payload = urlencoded fields (nonce, return_sso_url / email, external_id, ...) |
 | raw anything | `Do(ctx, METHOD, path, body, out)` — JSON in, JSON out; unmodeled endpoints never block on a client release |
 
 Auth is the header pair `Api-Key` + `Api-Username` on every request.
@@ -55,8 +61,37 @@ res.URL(baseURL) // https://forum/t/<slug>/<topic_id>
 
 p, _ := c.CreatePost(ctx, discourse.CreatePostRequest{TopicID: res.TopicID, Raw: "reply"})
 _, _  = c.UpdatePost(ctx, p.PostID, "edited", "typo")
+
+hits, _ := c.Search(ctx, discourse.SearchRequest{Term: "fleet briefing", Page: 1})
+// hits.Posts[0].TopicID / .Blurb; also .Topics, .Users, .Categories
+
+pm, _ := c.SendMessage(ctx, discourse.SendMessageRequest{
+    Title: "Briefing landed", Raw: markdown,
+    TargetUsernames: []string{"ops", "reachableceo"},
+})
+pm.URL(c.BaseURL()) // private-message topic link
 ```
 
+### Webhook + SSO helpers (server side)
+
+```go
+// webhook receiver: verify before trusting anything
+http.Handle("/hooks/discourse", discourse.WebhookHandler(secret, func(evt *discourse.WebhookEvent) {
+    // evt.Event == "post_created" etc.; evt.Body is the raw JSON
+}))
+err := discourse.VerifyWebhook(secret, body, sigHeader) // standalone
+
+// Discourse Connect (SSO) login endpoint
+redirect, err := discourse.SSOLogin(ctx, secret, r.FormValue("sso"), r.FormValue("sig"),
+    map[string]string{"email": u.Email, "external_id": u.ID, "username": u.Handle})
+http.Redirect(w, r, redirect, http.StatusFound)
+
+// secrets: env-only, trimmed, never logged
+secret, _ := discourse.WebhookSecretFromEnv() // DISCOURSE_WEBHOOK_SECRET
+secret, _ := discourse.SSOSecretFromEnv()     // DISCOURSE_SSO_SECRET
+```
+Bad signatures are the typed `ErrBadSignature` — drop the delivery.
+
 Errors classify via `errors.Is`: `ErrForbidden` (403 — key lacks scope),
 `ErrUnauthorized` (401), `ErrNotFound`, `ErrRateLimited` (429, with
 `APIError.RetryAfter`), `ErrServer`, `ErrUnreachable`,
@@ -84,7 +119,8 @@ End-to-end smoke — builds the CLI, boots the fake Discourse in a
 container on `127.0.0.1:8610`, drives the real binary from the host
 through a 0600 env file (whoami / category list+create / topic create /
 topic list by id and slug / post reply / post update / raw passthrough /
-typed 404 / redaction sweep / bad-key exit code):
+search / private-message send / webhook verify good+bad sig / sso
+verify good+bad sig / typed 404 / redaction sweep / bad-key exit code):
 ```sh
 ./dev.sh smoke
 ```
@@ -99,7 +135,8 @@ Credentials NEVER arrive via flags or arguments:
 ```sh
 mkdir -p ~/.config/discourse-go && umask 077
 cp env.example ~/.config/discourse-go/env
-# fill in DISCOURSE_URL / DISCOURSE_API_KEY / DISCOURSE_API_USERNAME
+# fill in DISCOURSE_URL / DISCOURSE_API_KEY (or DISCOURSE_KEY) /
+# DISCOURSE_API_USERNAME, and the webhook/SSO secrets if used
 ```
 Then `set -a; . ~/.config/discourse-go/env; set +a` before the CLI (or
 source it in the service env). For the harness, the key resolves through
@@ -116,11 +153,16 @@ discourse-go topics show ID
 discourse-go topics create -title TITLE -category ID [-file PATH | -raw TEXT]
 discourse-go posts create -topic ID [-file PATH | -raw TEXT]
 discourse-go posts update ID [-file PATH | -raw TEXT] [-reason TEXT]
+discourse-go search TERM [-page N]
+discourse-go messages send -title TITLE -to USER[,USER...] [-group NAMES] [-email ADDRS] [-file PATH | -raw TEXT]
+discourse-go webhook verify SIG          # delivery body on stdin, secret from DISCOURSE_WEBHOOK_SECRET
+discourse-go sso verify SSO SIG          # secret from DISCOURSE_SSO_SECRET; prints the payload as JSON
 discourse-go raw METHOD PATH [-data JSON|@file]
 ```
 Perm levels: 1 = reply/see, 2 = create posts, 3 = full. Output is JSON.
 Exit codes: 0 ok, 1 usage/config, 2 API/transport error (the message
-names the class).
+names the class). `webhook verify` / `sso verify` need no instance
+credentials — only their secret.
 
 ## Live verification (community.turnsys.com, 2026-08-29)
 

categories.go

@@ -28,13 +28,13 @@ type Category struct {
 // means "default: everyone full" — for restricted categories set it
 // explicitly, e.g. {"staff": 3, "trust_level_0": 1}.
 type CreateCategoryRequest struct {
-	Name              string         `json:"name"`
+	Name             string         `json:"name"`
-	Color             string         `json:"color"`      // 6 hex digits, no '#'
+	Color            string         `json:"color"`      // 6 hex digits, no '#'
-	TextColor         string         `json:"text_color"` // 6 hex digits, no '#'
+	TextColor        string         `json:"text_color"` // 6 hex digits, no '#'
-	Permissions       map[string]int `json:"permissions,omitempty"`
+	Permissions      map[string]int `json:"permissions,omitempty"`
-	Position          int            `json:"position,omitempty"`
+	Position         int            `json:"position,omitempty"`
-	ParentCategoryID  int            `json:"parent_category_id,omitempty"`
+	ParentCategoryID int            `json:"parent_category_id,omitempty"`
-	Description       string         `json:"description,omitempty"`
+	Description      string         `json:"description,omitempty"`
 }
 
 // ListCategories returns the instance's categories (one request; the

cmd/discourse-go/commands.go

@@ -144,6 +144,60 @@ func runPosts(ctx context.Context, c *discourse.Client, args []string) (any, err
 	return nil, fmt.Errorf("unknown posts subcommand %q", args[0])
 }
 
+func runSearch(ctx context.Context, c *discourse.Client, args []string) (any, error) {
+	fs := flag.NewFlagSet("search", flag.ContinueOnError)
+	page := fs.Int("page", 1, "result page, 1-based")
+	if err := fs.Parse(flagsFirst(args)); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	if fs.NArg() != 1 {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("search needs exactly one TERM (quote it; @user, #category and order:latest operators pass through)")
+	}
+	return c.Search(ctx, discourse.SearchRequest{Term: fs.Arg(0), Page: *page})
+}
+
+func runMessages(ctx context.Context, c *discourse.Client, args []string) (any, error) {
+	if len(args) == 0 {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("messages needs a subcommand (send)")
+	}
+	switch args[0] {
+	case "send":
+		fs := flag.NewFlagSet("messages send", flag.ContinueOnError)
+		title := fs.String("title", "", "message title (required)")
+		to := fs.String("to", "", "recipient usernames, comma-separated (repeatable targets below)")
+		group := fs.String("group", "", "recipient group names, comma-separated")
+		email := fs.String("email", "", "recipient emails, comma-separated (invite external users)")
+		raw := fs.String("raw", "", "markdown body inline")
+		file := fs.String("file", "", "markdown body from file (overrides -raw)")
+		if err := fs.Parse(flagsFirst(args[1:])); err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		body, err := bodyFrom(*file, *raw)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		return c.SendMessage(ctx, discourse.SendMessageRequest{
+			Title:            *title,
+			Raw:              body,
+			TargetUsernames:  splitComma(*to),
+			TargetGroupNames: splitComma(*group),
+			TargetEmails:     splitComma(*email),
+		})
+	}
+	return nil, fmt.Errorf("unknown messages subcommand %q", args[0])
+}
+
+// splitComma splits a comma-separated flag value, dropping empties.
+func splitComma(s string) []string {
+	var out []string
+	for _, v := range strings.Split(s, ",") {
+		if v = strings.TrimSpace(v); v != "" {
+			out = append(out, v)
+		}
+	}
+	return out
+}
+
 func runRaw(ctx context.Context, c *discourse.Client, args []string) (any, error) {
 	if len(args) < 2 {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("raw needs METHOD and PATH")

cmd/discourse-go/main.go

@@ -29,12 +29,18 @@ Usage:
   discourse-go topics create -title TITLE -category ID [-file PATH | -raw TEXT]
   discourse-go posts create -topic ID [-file PATH | -raw TEXT]
   discourse-go posts update ID [-file PATH | -raw TEXT] [-reason TEXT]
+  discourse-go search TERM [-page N]
+  discourse-go messages send -title TITLE -to USER[,USER...] [-file PATH | -raw TEXT]
+  discourse-go webhook verify SIG            (delivery body on stdin)
+  discourse-go sso verify SSO SIG            (Discourse Connect payload check)
   discourse-go raw METHOD PATH [-data JSON]
 
 Environment (0600 env file, sourced before the call):
   DISCOURSE_URL            instance root, e.g. https://community.turnsys.com
-  DISCOURSE_API_KEY        API key (never a flag, never logged)
+  DISCOURSE_API_KEY        API key (DISCOURSE_KEY works too; never a flag, never logged)
   DISCOURSE_API_USERNAME   the user the key acts as (default: system)
+  DISCOURSE_WEBHOOK_SECRET webhook signature secret (webhook verify)
+  DISCOURSE_SSO_SECRET     Discourse Connect secret (sso verify)
 
 Perm levels: 1 = reply/see, 2 = create posts, 3 = full.
 raw PATH is everything after the instance root, e.g. /groups.json.
@@ -54,6 +60,15 @@ func run(args []string) int {
 	ctx, stop := signal.NotifyContext(context.Background(), os.Interrupt, syscall.SIGTERM)
 	defer stop()
 
+	// Secret-helper commands never touch an instance: run them before
+	// client construction so they work without DISCOURSE_URL/DISCOURSE_API_KEY.
+	switch args[0] {
+	case "webhook":
+		return runWebhook(args[1:])
+	case "sso":
+		return runSSO(args[1:])
+	}
+
 	client, err := discourse.NewFromEnv()
 	if err != nil {
 		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "discourse-go: %v\n", err)
@@ -74,6 +89,10 @@ func run(args []string) int {
 		out, err = runTopics(ctx, client, args[1:])
 	case "posts":
 		out, err = runPosts(ctx, client, args[1:])
+	case "search":
+		out, err = runSearch(ctx, client, args[1:])
+	case "messages":
+		out, err = runMessages(ctx, client, args[1:])
 	case "raw":
 		out, err = runRaw(ctx, client, args[1:])
 	case "help", "-h", "--help":

cmd/discourse-go/secretscmd.go

@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+// Secret-helper commands: they never touch an instance, so they run
+// before client construction and read only their own env secrets.
+package main
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"fmt"
+	"io"
+	"os"
+	"strings"
+
+	"git.knownelement.com/ukrrs/mopac-discourse-go"
+)
+
+// runWebhook implements `webhook verify SIG`: the raw delivery body on
+// stdin, the X-Discourse-Event-Signature value as the argument, the
+// secret from DISCOURSE_WEBHOOK_SECRET. Exit 0 = signature valid.
+func runWebhook(args []string) int {
+	if len(args) != 2 || args[0] != "verify" {
+		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "webhook needs: verify SIG (delivery body on stdin)\n\n%s", usage)
+		return 1
+	}
+	secret, err := discourse.WebhookSecretFromEnv()
+	if err != nil {
+		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "discourse-go: %v\n", err)
+		return 1
+	}
+	body, err := io.ReadAll(os.Stdin)
+	if err != nil {
+		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "discourse-go: read stdin: %v\n", err)
+		return 1
+	}
+	if err := discourse.VerifyWebhook(secret, body, args[1]); err != nil {
+		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "discourse-go: %v\n", err)
+		return 2
+	}
+	fmt.Printf("verified %d bytes\n", len(body))
+	return 0
+}
+
+// runSSO implements `sso verify SSO SIG`: checks a Discourse Connect
+// login redirect's sso/sig pair against DISCOURSE_SSO_SECRET and prints
+// the decoded payload as JSON. Exit 0 = signature valid.
+func runSSO(args []string) int {
+	if len(args) != 3 || args[0] != "verify" {
+		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "sso needs: verify SSO SIG (sso+sig from the login URL)\n\n%s", usage)
+		return 1
+	}
+	secret, err := discourse.SSOSecretFromEnv()
+	if err != nil {
+		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "discourse-go: %v\n", err)
+		return 1
+	}
+	vals, err := discourse.VerifySSO(secret, args[1], args[2])
+	if err != nil {
+		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "discourse-go: %v\n", err)
+		return 2
+	}
+	obj := map[string]string{}
+	for k, v := range vals {
+		obj[k] = strings.Join(v, ",")
+	}
+	enc := json.NewEncoder(os.Stdout)
+	enc.SetIndent("", "  ")
+	if err := enc.Encode(obj); err != nil {
+		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "discourse-go: encode payload: %v\n", err)
+		return 1
+	}
+	return 0
+}

discourse.go

@@ -117,11 +117,16 @@ func New(baseURL, apiKey, apiUsername string) (*Client, error) {
 	}, nil
 }
 
-// NewFromEnv builds a client from DISCOURSE_URL, DISCOURSE_API_KEY and
+// NewFromEnv builds a client from DISCOURSE_URL, the API key
-// DISCOURSE_API_USERNAME (default "system"). The intended source is a
+// (DISCOURSE_API_KEY, falling back to the shorter DISCOURSE_KEY alias)
-// 0600 env file (see env.example), sourced before the process starts.
+// and DISCOURSE_API_USERNAME (default "system"). The intended source is
+// a 0600 env file (see env.example), sourced before the process starts.
 func NewFromEnv() (*Client, error) {
-	return New(os.Getenv("DISCOURSE_URL"), os.Getenv("DISCOURSE_API_KEY"), os.Getenv("DISCOURSE_API_USERNAME"))
+	key := os.Getenv("DISCOURSE_API_KEY")
+	if key == "" {
+		key = os.Getenv("DISCOURSE_KEY")
+	}
+	return New(os.Getenv("DISCOURSE_URL"), key, os.Getenv("DISCOURSE_API_USERNAME"))
 }
 
 // String renders the client for logs: base url + acting username only.

discourse_test.go

@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import (
 	"encoding/json"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
+	"io"
 	"net/http"
 	"net/http/httptest"
 	"strings"
@@ -18,15 +19,19 @@ const testKey = "test-api-key-0123456789"
 // enforces the Api-Key/Api-Username headers, serves the endpoints the
 // client covers, and records every request for assertions.
 type fakeDiscourse struct {
-	mu       sync.Mutex
+	mu         sync.Mutex
-	requests []string // "METHOD path"
+	requests   []string // "METHOD path"
-	cats     map[int]Category
+	uris       []string // "METHOD path?query" — for query assertions
-	nextCat  int
+	cats       map[int]Category
-	posts    map[int]postRec // post id -> record
+	nextCat    int
-	nextPost int
+	posts      map[int]postRec // post id -> record
-	topics   map[int]topicRec
+	nextPost   int
-	nextT    int
+	topics     map[int]topicRec
-	srv      *httptest.Server
+	nextT      int
+	searchFail int
+	pms        []pmRec // private messages, in creation order
+	lastBody   string  // raw JSON body of the last POST /posts.json
+	srv        *httptest.Server
 }
 
 type postRec struct {
@@ -41,6 +46,13 @@ type topicRec struct {
 	Cat   int
 }
 
+type pmRec struct {
+	TopicID int
+	Title   string
+	Targets []string
+	Raw     string
+}
+
 func newFake(t *testing.T) *fakeDiscourse {
 	t.Helper()
 	f := &fakeDiscourse{
@@ -82,15 +94,15 @@ func newFake(t *testing.T) *fakeDiscourse {
 			}
 			if req.Name == "denied" { // simulate a non-admin key
 				writeJSON(w, 403, map[string]any{
-					"errors":              []string{"You are not permitted to view the requested resource."},
+					"errors":            []string{"You are not permitted to view the requested resource."},
-					"error_description":   "Access denied",
+					"error_description": "Access denied",
 				})
 				return
 			}
 			f.mu.Lock()
 			cat := Category{
 				ID: f.nextCat, Name: req.Name,
-				Slug: strings.ToLower(strings.ReplaceAll(req.Name, " ", "-")),
+				Slug:  strings.ToLower(strings.ReplaceAll(req.Name, " ", "-")),
 				Color: req.Color, TextColor: req.TextColor, Position: req.Position,
 			}
 			f.nextCat++
@@ -109,13 +121,47 @@ func newFake(t *testing.T) *fakeDiscourse {
 			writeJSON(w, 405, nil)
 			return
 		}
-		var req CreatePostRequest
+		body, err := io.ReadAll(r.Body)
-		if err := json.NewDecoder(r.Body).Decode(&req); err != nil {
+		if err != nil {
+			writeJSON(w, 400, map[string]any{"errors": []string{"bad body"}})
+			return
+		}
+		var req struct {
+			CreatePostRequest
+			TargetUsernames  string `json:"target_usernames"`
+			TargetGroupNames string `json:"target_group_names"`
+			TargetEmails     string `json:"target_emails"`
+		}
+		if err := json.Unmarshal(body, &req); err != nil {
 			writeJSON(w, 400, map[string]any{"errors": []string{"bad json"}})
 			return
 		}
 		f.mu.Lock()
 		defer f.mu.Unlock()
+		f.lastBody = string(body)
+		if req.TargetUsernames != "" || req.TargetGroupNames != "" || req.TargetEmails != "" {
+			// private-message creation
+			targets := splitCSV(req.TargetUsernames)
+			for _, name := range append(append(targets, splitCSV(req.TargetGroupNames)...), splitCSV(req.TargetEmails)...) {
+				if strings.HasPrefix(name, "denied") {
+					writeJSON(w, 403, map[string]any{"errors": []string{"You are not permitted to view the requested resource."}})
+					return
+				}
+			}
+			if strings.TrimSpace(req.Title) == "" {
+				writeJSON(w, 422, map[string]any{"errors": []string{"Title can't be blank"}})
+				return
+			}
+			tid := f.nextT
+			f.nextT++
+			slug := strings.ToLower(strings.ReplaceAll(req.Title, " ", "-"))
+			f.pms = append(f.pms, pmRec{TopicID: tid, Title: req.Title, Targets: targets, Raw: req.Raw})
+			pid := f.nextPost
+			f.nextPost++
+			f.posts[pid] = postRec{Post: Post{ID: pid, TopicID: tid, PostNumber: 1, Raw: req.Raw}}
+			writeJSON(w, 200, map[string]any{"id": pid, "topic_id": tid, "topic_slug": slug})
+			return
+		}
 		if req.TopicID == 0 { // topic creation
 			if strings.TrimSpace(req.Title) == "" || req.Category == 0 {
 				writeJSON(w, 422, map[string]any{"errors": []string{"Title can't be blank"}})
@@ -158,7 +204,7 @@ func newFake(t *testing.T) *fakeDiscourse {
 		case http.MethodPut:
 			var body struct {
 				Post struct {
-					Raw       string `json:"raw"`
+					Raw        string `json:"raw"`
 					EditReason string `json:"edit_reason"`
 				} `json:"post"`
 			}
@@ -179,6 +225,26 @@ func newFake(t *testing.T) *fakeDiscourse {
 			writeJSON(w, 405, nil)
 		}
 	})
+	mux.HandleFunc("/search.json", func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		if !f.auth(w, r) {
+			return
+		}
+		if f.searchFail != 0 {
+			writeJSON(w, f.searchFail, map[string]any{"errors": []string{"You are not permitted to view the requested resource."}})
+			return
+		}
+		writeJSON(w, 200, map[string]any{
+			"posts": []map[string]any{{
+				"id": 55, "topic_id": 12, "username": "reachableceo", "post_number": 1,
+				"blurb":                "the fleet briefing for September",
+				"created_at":           "2026-08-29T10:00:00.000Z",
+				"topic_title_headline": "Fleet briefing 2026-09-01",
+			}},
+			"topics":     []map[string]any{{"id": 12, "title": "Fleet briefing 2026-09-01", "slug": "fleet-briefing-2026-09-01"}},
+			"users":      []map[string]any{{"id": 5, "username": "reachableceo", "name": "Charles"}},
+			"categories": []map[string]any{{"id": 2, "name": "MOPAC Briefings", "slug": "mopac-briefings"}},
+		})
+	})
 	mux.HandleFunc("/latest.json", func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 		if !f.auth(w, r) {
 			return
@@ -203,6 +269,7 @@ func newFake(t *testing.T) *fakeDiscourse {
 func (f *fakeDiscourse) auth(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) bool {
 	f.mu.Lock()
 	f.requests = append(f.requests, r.Method+" "+r.URL.Path)
+	f.uris = append(f.uris, r.Method+" "+r.URL.RequestURI())
 	f.mu.Unlock()
 	if r.Header.Get("Api-Key") != testKey || r.Header.Get("Api-Username") != "system" {
 		writeJSON(w, 403, map[string]any{"errors": []string{"Bad or missing API key"}})
@@ -222,12 +289,40 @@ func (f *fakeDiscourse) saw(substr string) bool {
 	return false
 }
 
+// sawQuery asserts a GET hit path with a query substring ("term=x",
+// "page=2").
+func (f *fakeDiscourse) sawQuery(path, param string) bool {
+	f.mu.Lock()
+	defer f.mu.Unlock()
+	for _, u := range f.uris {
+		if strings.HasPrefix(u, "GET "+path+"?") && strings.Contains(u, param) {
+			return true
+		}
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
 func writeJSON(w http.ResponseWriter, code int, body any) {
 	w.Header().Set("Content-Type", "application/json")
 	w.WriteHeader(code)
 	_ = json.NewEncoder(w).Encode(body)
 }
 
+// splitCSV splits a comma-joined target list ("ops,reachableceo").
+func splitCSV(s string) []string {
+	if s == "" {
+		return nil
+	}
+	parts := strings.Split(s, ",")
+	out := parts[:0]
+	for _, p := range parts {
+		if p = strings.TrimSpace(p); p != "" {
+			out = append(out, p)
+		}
+	}
+	return out
+}
+
 func testClient(t *testing.T, f *fakeDiscourse) *Client {
 	t.Helper()
 	c, err := New(f.srv.URL, testKey, "")
@@ -246,6 +341,33 @@ func TestNewRejectsBadInput(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestNewFromEnvKeyAlias(t *testing.T) {
+	f := newFake(t)
+	// alias alone works: DISCOURSE_KEY is accepted for the API key
+	t.Setenv("DISCOURSE_URL", f.srv.URL)
+	t.Setenv("DISCOURSE_API_USERNAME", "system")
+	t.Setenv("DISCOURSE_API_KEY", "")
+	t.Setenv("DISCOURSE_KEY", testKey)
+	c, err := NewFromEnv()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("NewFromEnv with DISCOURSE_KEY: %v", err)
+	}
+	if _, err := c.CurrentUser(context.Background()); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("alias key must authenticate against the fake: %v", err)
+	}
+	// explicit DISCOURSE_API_KEY wins over the alias (fake 403s any other key)
+	t.Setenv("DISCOURSE_API_KEY", "not-the-key")
+	t.Setenv("DISCOURSE_KEY", testKey)
+	c, err = NewFromEnv()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("NewFromEnv: %v", err)
+	}
+	_, err = c.CurrentUser(context.Background())
+	if !errors.Is(err, ErrForbidden) {
+		t.Fatalf("primary key must take precedence over the alias, got %v", err)
+	}
+}
+
 func TestCurrentUser(t *testing.T) {
 	f := newFake(t)
 	c := testClient(t, f)

env.example

@@ -7,8 +7,17 @@ DISCOURSE_URL=https://community.turnsys.com
 
 # Discourse API key (Admin API > Keys, or a user API key). Creating
 # categories requires an admin-scoped key; a standard key 403s there.
+# DISCOURSE_KEY is accepted as an alias when DISCOURSE_API_KEY is unset.
 DISCOURSE_API_KEY=replace-me
 
 # The user the key acts as (must match the key's allowed username, or be
 # "system" for global keys).
 DISCOURSE_API_USERNAME=reachableceo
+
+# Webhook payload secret (Admin > Settings > API > web hook). Only the
+# `webhook verify` command and the server-side helpers need it.
+#DISCOURSE_WEBHOOK_SECRET=replace-me
+
+# Discourse Connect (SSO) shared secret (Admin > Settings > Login >
+# discourse connect secret). Only the SSO helpers need it.
+#DISCOURSE_SSO_SECRET=replace-me

messages.go

@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
+// Private messages: sent through the same POST /posts.json endpoint as
+// topics, but with target_usernames / target_group_names / target_emails
+// instead of a category — Discourse then creates a private-message topic
+// (archetype private_message) visible only to sender and recipients.
+package discourse
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"fmt"
+	"strings"
+)
+
+// SendMessageRequest sends a private message. Exactly one of the three
+// target lists is the common case; any non-empty one works. At least one
+// target overall is required — Discourse 422s without one.
+type SendMessageRequest struct {
+	Title            string
+	Raw              string
+	TargetUsernames  []string
+	TargetGroupNames []string
+	TargetEmails     []string
+}
+
+// sendMessageWire is the POST /posts.json body: Discourse expects the
+// target lists comma-joined strings, not JSON arrays.
+type sendMessageWire struct {
+	Title            string `json:"title"`
+	Raw              string `json:"raw"`
+	TargetUsernames  string `json:"target_usernames,omitempty"`
+	TargetGroupNames string `json:"target_group_names,omitempty"`
+	TargetEmails     string `json:"target_emails,omitempty"`
+}
+
+// SendMessageResult is the response: a fresh private-message topic,
+// same shape as a topic creation (URL() renders its link).
+type SendMessageResult = CreateTopicResult
+
+// SendMessage posts a private message and returns the new PM topic's
+// ids. Unknown recipients fail server-side as 403 (ErrForbidden) —
+// that is the "not permitted to view the requested resource" case.
+func (c *Client) SendMessage(ctx context.Context, req SendMessageRequest) (*SendMessageResult, error) {
+	if strings.TrimSpace(req.Title) == "" {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: message title is required", ErrInvalidRequest)
+	}
+	if strings.TrimSpace(req.Raw) == "" {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: message raw body is required", ErrInvalidRequest)
+	}
+	if len(req.TargetUsernames) == 0 && len(req.TargetGroupNames) == 0 && len(req.TargetEmails) == 0 {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: at least one target (username, group or email) is required", ErrInvalidRequest)
+	}
+	wire := sendMessageWire{
+		Title:            req.Title,
+		Raw:              req.Raw,
+		TargetUsernames:  strings.Join(cleanList(req.TargetUsernames), ","),
+		TargetGroupNames: strings.Join(cleanList(req.TargetGroupNames), ","),
+		TargetEmails:     strings.Join(cleanList(req.TargetEmails), ","),
+	}
+	var out SendMessageResult
+	if err := c.Post(ctx, "/posts.json", wire, &out); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	if out.TopicID == 0 {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: message sent but response carries no topic_id", ErrMalformedResponse)
+	}
+	return &out, nil
+}
+
+// cleanList trims whitespace and drops empties from a target list.
+func cleanList(in []string) []string {
+	out := make([]string, 0, len(in))
+	for _, v := range in {
+		if v = strings.TrimSpace(v); v != "" {
+			out = append(out, v)
+		}
+	}
+	return out
+}

messages_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,96 @@
+package discourse
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func TestSendMessageRequiresTargets(t *testing.T) {
+	f := newFake(t)
+	c := testClient(t, f)
+	_, err := c.SendMessage(context.Background(), SendMessageRequest{Title: "t", Raw: "r"})
+	if !errors.Is(err, ErrInvalidRequest) {
+		t.Fatalf("want ErrInvalidRequest without targets, got %v", err)
+	}
+	if f.saw("/posts.json") {
+		t.Fatal("no request should have been sent without targets")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSendMessageRequiresTitleAndRaw(t *testing.T) {
+	c, _ := New("https://ok.example", testKey, "")
+	if _, err := c.SendMessage(context.Background(), SendMessageRequest{Raw: "r", TargetUsernames: []string{"ops"}}); !errors.Is(err, ErrInvalidRequest) {
+		t.Fatalf("missing title: want ErrInvalidRequest, got %v", err)
+	}
+	if _, err := c.SendMessage(context.Background(), SendMessageRequest{Title: "t", TargetUsernames: []string{"ops"}}); !errors.Is(err, ErrInvalidRequest) {
+		t.Fatalf("missing raw: want ErrInvalidRequest, got %v", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSendMessage(t *testing.T) {
+	f := newFake(t)
+	c := testClient(t, f)
+	res, err := c.SendMessage(context.Background(), SendMessageRequest{
+		Title:           "Fleet ping",
+		Raw:             "check the briefing",
+		TargetUsernames: []string{"ops", "reachableceo"},
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("SendMessage: %v", err)
+	}
+	if res.TopicID == 0 || res.TopicSlug == "" {
+		t.Fatalf("want topic ids in result, got %+v", res)
+	}
+	if u := res.URL(f.srv.URL); !strings.Contains(u, "/t/fleet-ping/") {
+		t.Fatalf("PM URL should be /t/<slug>/<id>, got %q", u)
+	}
+	body := f.lastBody
+	for _, want := range []string{`"title":"Fleet ping"`, `"target_usernames":"ops,reachableceo"`} {
+		if !strings.Contains(body, want) {
+			t.Fatalf("wire body missing %s: %s", want, body)
+		}
+	}
+	if strings.Contains(body, `"target_usernames":["`) {
+		t.Fatalf("targets must be comma-joined, not a JSON array: %s", body)
+	}
+	if got := f.pms; len(got) != 1 || got[0].TopicID != res.TopicID || got[0].Title != "Fleet ping" {
+		t.Fatalf("fake did not record the PM: %+v", got)
+	}
+	if got := f.pms[0].Targets; len(got) != 2 || got[0] != "ops" || got[1] != "reachableceo" {
+		t.Fatalf("recipients not recorded: %+v", got)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSendMessageGroupAndEmailTargets(t *testing.T) {
+	f := newFake(t)
+	c := testClient(t, f)
+	_, err := c.SendMessage(context.Background(), SendMessageRequest{
+		Title:            "Bulk",
+		Raw:              "hi",
+		TargetGroupNames: []string{"staff", "admins"},
+		TargetEmails:     []string{"a@x.test"},
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("SendMessage: %v", err)
+	}
+	for _, want := range []string{`"target_group_names":"staff,admins"`, `"target_emails":"a@x.test"`} {
+		if !strings.Contains(f.lastBody, want) {
+			t.Fatalf("wire body missing %s: %s", want, f.lastBody)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSendMessageForbiddenIsTyped(t *testing.T) {
+	f := newFake(t)
+	c := testClient(t, f)
+	_, err := c.SendMessage(context.Background(), SendMessageRequest{
+		Title:           "nope",
+		Raw:             "x",
+		TargetUsernames: []string{"denied"},
+	})
+	if !errors.Is(err, ErrForbidden) {
+		t.Fatalf("want ErrForbidden for undeliverable recipient, got %v", err)
+	}
+}

search.go

@@ -0,0 +1,74 @@
+// Search: GET /search.json — full-text search across posts, topics,
+// users and categories. The term supports Discourse's search operators
+// (@user, #category, order:latest, ...); they pass through untouched.
+package discourse
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"fmt"
+	"net/url"
+	"strconv"
+	"strings"
+)
+
+// SearchRequest is the GET /search.json query. Term is required; Page is
+// 1-based (0 means "leave unset" — Discourse then returns page 1).
+type SearchRequest struct {
+	Term string
+	Page int
+}
+
+// SearchPost is one post hit: the match lives in Blurb (a plain-text
+// excerpt around the match) while TopicTitleHeadline carries the topic
+// title with <em> highlights around matched words.
+type SearchPost struct {
+	ID                 int    `json:"id"`
+	TopicID            int    `json:"topic_id"`
+	PostNumber         int    `json:"post_number"`
+	Username           string `json:"username"`
+	Name               string `json:"name"`
+	Blurb              string `json:"blurb"`
+	TopicTitleHeadline string `json:"topic_title_headline"`
+	CreatedAt          string `json:"created_at"`
+	LikeCount          int    `json:"like_count"`
+}
+
+// SearchTopic is one topic hit.
+type SearchTopic struct {
+	ID    int    `json:"id"`
+	Title string `json:"title"`
+	Slug  string `json:"slug"`
+}
+
+// SearchUser is one user hit.
+type SearchUser struct {
+	ID       int    `json:"id"`
+	Username string `json:"username"`
+	Name     string `json:"name"`
+}
+
+// SearchResult groups the four hit lists Discourse returns; whichever
+// classes matched are non-empty, the rest are nil.
+type SearchResult struct {
+	Posts      []SearchPost  `json:"posts"`
+	Topics     []SearchTopic `json:"topics"`
+	Users      []SearchUser  `json:"users"`
+	Categories []Category    `json:"categories"`
+}
+
+// Search runs a full-text search and returns the grouped hits.
+func (c *Client) Search(ctx context.Context, req SearchRequest) (*SearchResult, error) {
+	if strings.TrimSpace(req.Term) == "" {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: search term is required", ErrInvalidRequest)
+	}
+	q := url.Values{}
+	q.Set("term", req.Term)
+	if req.Page > 1 {
+		q.Set("page", strconv.Itoa(req.Page))
+	}
+	var res SearchResult
+	if err := c.Get(ctx, "/search.json?"+q.Encode(), &res); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	return &res, nil
+}

search_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+package discourse
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func TestSearchRequiresTerm(t *testing.T) {
+	f := newFake(t)
+	c := testClient(t, f)
+	_, err := c.Search(context.Background(), SearchRequest{})
+	if !errors.Is(err, ErrInvalidRequest) {
+		t.Fatalf("want ErrInvalidRequest for empty term, got %v", err)
+	}
+	if f.saw("/search.json") {
+		t.Fatal("no request should have been sent for an empty term")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSearchQueriesAndParses(t *testing.T) {
+	f := newFake(t)
+	c := testClient(t, f)
+	res, err := c.Search(context.Background(), SearchRequest{Term: "fleet briefing"})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Search: %v", err)
+	}
+	if !f.sawQuery("/search.json", "term=fleet+briefing") {
+		t.Fatal("search term not sent as the term= query parameter")
+	}
+	if len(res.Posts) != 1 || res.Posts[0].TopicID != 12 || res.Posts[0].Username != "reachableceo" {
+		t.Fatalf("posts not parsed: %+v", res.Posts)
+	}
+	if res.Posts[0].Blurb == "" {
+		t.Fatal("blurb not parsed")
+	}
+	if len(res.Topics) != 1 || res.Topics[0].Title != "Fleet briefing 2026-09-01" {
+		t.Fatalf("topics not parsed: %+v", res.Topics)
+	}
+	if len(res.Users) != 1 || res.Users[0].Username != "reachableceo" {
+		t.Fatalf("users not parsed: %+v", res.Users)
+	}
+	if len(res.Categories) != 1 || res.Categories[0].Slug != "mopac-briefings" {
+		t.Fatalf("categories not parsed: %+v", res.Categories)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSearchEncodesTermAndPage(t *testing.T) {
+	f := newFake(t)
+	c := testClient(t, f)
+	if _, err := c.Search(context.Background(), SearchRequest{Term: "a b&c=d", Page: 2}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Search: %v", err)
+	}
+	if !f.sawQuery("/search.json", "term=a+b%26c%3Dd") {
+		t.Fatal("term not url-encoded (a b&c=d must not smuggle extra params)")
+	}
+	if !f.sawQuery("/search.json", "page=2") {
+		t.Fatal("page not sent as the page= query parameter")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSearchTypedErrors(t *testing.T) {
+	f := newFake(t)
+	c := testClient(t, f)
+	f.searchFail = 403
+	_, err := c.Search(context.Background(), SearchRequest{Term: "x"})
+	if !errors.Is(err, ErrForbidden) {
+		t.Fatalf("want ErrForbidden, got %v", err)
+	}
+}

smoke/fakediscourse/main.go

@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ type server struct {
 	nextCat  int
 	nextPost int
 	nextT    int
+	pms      []map[string]any // recorded private messages, creation order
 }
 
 func main() {
@@ -69,7 +70,7 @@ func main() {
 			name, _ := req["name"].(string)
 			cat := map[string]any{
 				"id": s.nextCat, "name": name,
-				"slug": strings.ToLower(strings.ReplaceAll(name, " ", "-")),
+				"slug":  strings.ToLower(strings.ReplaceAll(name, " ", "-")),
 				"color": orDefault(req["color"], "3AB54A"), "text_color": orDefault(req["text_color"], "FFFFFF"),
 				"topic_count": 0,
 			}
@@ -88,6 +89,23 @@ func main() {
 			s.nextPost++
 			if topicID == 0 {
 				title, _ := req["title"].(string)
+				if tu, _ := req["target_usernames"].(string); tu != "" || hasAnyKey(req, "target_group_names", "target_emails") {
+					// private-message creation
+					if strings.Contains(str(req["target_usernames"]), "denied") {
+						reply(w, 403, map[string]any{"errors": []string{"You are not permitted to view the requested resource."}})
+						return
+					}
+					tid := s.nextT
+					s.nextT++
+					slug := strings.ToLower(strings.ReplaceAll(title, " ", "-"))
+					s.pms = append(s.pms, map[string]any{
+						"topic_id": tid, "title": title,
+						"target_usernames": req["target_usernames"], "raw": req["raw"],
+					})
+					s.posts[pid] = map[string]any{"id": pid, "topic_id": tid, "raw": req["raw"], "post_number": 1}
+					reply(w, 200, map[string]any{"id": pid, "topic_id": tid, "topic_slug": slug})
+					return
+				}
 				catID, _ := req["category"].(float64)
 				tid := s.nextT
 				s.nextT++
@@ -127,6 +145,24 @@ func main() {
 		case path == "/latest.json" && r.Method == "GET":
 			reply(w, 200, map[string]any{"topic_list": map[string]any{"topics": s.topics}})
 
+		case path == "/search.json" && r.Method == "GET":
+			term := strings.ToLower(r.URL.Query().Get("term"))
+			var topics, posts []map[string]any
+			for _, t := range s.topics {
+				if term != "" && strings.Contains(strings.ToLower(str(t["title"])), term) {
+					topics = append(topics, t)
+					posts = append(posts, map[string]any{
+						"id": 900 + t["id"].(int), "topic_id": t["id"], "username": "smoker",
+						"blurb":                "match on " + str(t["title"]),
+						"topic_title_headline": t["title"],
+					})
+				}
+			}
+			reply(w, 200, map[string]any{"posts": posts, "topics": topics, "users": []any{}, "categories": []any{}})
+
+		case path == "/__pms.json" && r.Method == "GET":
+			reply(w, 200, map[string]any{"private_messages": s.pms})
+
 		default:
 			reply(w, 404, map[string]any{"errors": []string{"not found on the smoke instance"}})
 		}
@@ -147,3 +183,19 @@ func orDefault(v any, def string) any {
 	}
 	return def
 }
+
+// str renders any as a display string (missing keys -> "").
+func str(v any) string {
+	s, _ := v.(string)
+	return s
+}
+
+// hasAnyKey reports whether any of the keys holds a non-empty string.
+func hasAnyKey(m map[string]any, keys ...string) bool {
+	for _, k := range keys {
+		if str(m[k]) != "" {
+			return true
+		}
+	}
+	return false
+}

smoke/smoke.sh

@@ -96,6 +96,38 @@ CLI posts update "$POST_ID" -raw "edited body" -reason smoke | tee -a "$capture"
 echo "--- raw passthrough"
 CLI raw GET /latest.json | tee -a "$capture" | grep -q '"topic_list"' || { echo "smoke: raw GET failed" >&2; exit 1; }
 
+echo "--- search"
+CLI search "Smoke Topic" | tee -a "$capture" | grep -q '"Smoke Topic"' || { echo "smoke: search failed" >&2; exit 1; }
+
+echo "--- private message send + delivery record"
+CLI messages send -title "Smoke PM" -to ops,reachableceo -raw "pm body" | tee -a "$capture" | grep -q '"topic_slug": "smoke-pm"' || { echo "smoke: PM send failed" >&2; exit 1; }
+CLI raw GET /__pms.json | tee -a "$capture" | grep -q '"target_usernames": "ops,reachableceo"' || { echo "smoke: PM recipients not recorded" >&2; exit 1; }
+
+echo "--- webhook verify: good sig exits 0, bad sig exits 2"
+WHSEC="smoke-webhook-secret"
+printf '{"post":{"id":101}}' > .smoke/hook-body
+SIG=$(python3 -c 'import hmac,hashlib,sys; print("sha256="+hmac.new(sys.argv[1].encode(),open(sys.argv[2],"rb").read(),hashlib.sha256).hexdigest())' "$WHSEC" .smoke/hook-body)
+( set -a; DISCOURSE_WEBHOOK_SECRET="$WHSEC"; set +a; exec ./bin/discourse-go webhook verify "$SIG" ) < .smoke/hook-body >>"$capture" 2>&1 \
+    || { echo "smoke: webhook verify (good sig) failed" >&2; exit 1; }
+set +e
+( set -a; DISCOURSE_WEBHOOK_SECRET="$WHSEC"; set +a; exec ./bin/discourse-go webhook verify "sha256=deadbeef" ) < .smoke/hook-body >"$PWD/.smoke/badsig" 2>&1
+code=$?
+set -e
+if [ "$code" -ne 2 ]; then echo "smoke: bad webhook sig exit=$code want 2" >&2; exit 1; fi
+grep -q "bad signature" "$PWD/.smoke/badsig" || { echo "smoke: bad-signature message missing" >&2; exit 1; }
+
+echo "--- sso verify: decoded payload + tamper rejection"
+SSOSEC="smoke-sso-secret"
+SSO=$(python3 -c 'import base64; print(base64.b64encode(b"nonce=smoke123&return_sso_url=https%3A%2F%2Fapp.test%2Fcb").decode())')
+SSIG=$(python3 -c 'import hmac,hashlib,sys; print(hmac.new(sys.argv[1].encode(),sys.argv[2].encode(),hashlib.sha256).hexdigest())' "$SSOSEC" "$SSO")
+( set -a; DISCOURSE_SSO_SECRET="$SSOSEC"; set +a; exec ./bin/discourse-go sso verify "$SSO" "$SSIG" ) | tee -a "$capture" | grep -q '"nonce": "smoke123"' \
+    || { echo "smoke: sso verify failed" >&2; exit 1; }
+set +e
+( set -a; DISCOURSE_SSO_SECRET="$SSOSEC"; set +a; exec ./bin/discourse-go sso verify "$SSO" "deadbeef" ) >/dev/null 2>&1
+code=$?
+set -e
+if [ "$code" -ne 2 ]; then echo "smoke: bad sso sig exit=$code want 2" >&2; exit 1; fi
+
 echo "--- redaction: no key material in any captured output"
 if grep -q "$SMOKE_KEY" "$capture"; then
     echo "smoke: KEY LEAKED in output" >&2

topics.go

@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ type Topic struct {
 	CategoryID int    `json:"category_id"`
 	CreatedAt  string `json:"created_at"`
 	Closed     bool   `json:"closed"`
-	Archived  bool   `json:"archived"`
+	Archived   bool   `json:"archived"`
 	PostStream struct {
 		Posts []Post `json:"posts"`
 	} `json:"post_stream"`

webhook.go

@@ -0,0 +1,204 @@
+// Webhook + SSO helpers: the secret-handling side of talking to
+// Discourse from a server.
+//
+// Webhooks: Discourse signs each delivery's raw body with the webhook
+// secret as HMAC-SHA256 hex in X-Discourse-Event-Signature (with a
+// "sha256=" prefix). Never trust an unsigned or mis-signed delivery —
+// the endpoint is internet-facing by nature.
+//
+// SSO (Discourse Connect): Discourse redirects users to your site with
+// ?sso=<base64 payload>&sig=<hex HMAC-SHA256 of that base64 string>
+// signed with the shared SSO secret; you answer by redirecting back to
+// return_sso_url with a payload signed the same way.
+//
+// Secrets arrive via environment (DISCOURSE_WEBHOOK_SECRET /
+// DISCOURSE_SSO_SECRET, see WebhookSecretFromEnv / SSOSecretFromEnv) —
+// never flags, never arguments, never logged, never echoed in errors.
+package discourse
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"crypto/hmac"
+	"crypto/sha256"
+	"encoding/base64"
+	"encoding/hex"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"io"
+	"net/http"
+	"net/url"
+	"os"
+	"strings"
+)
+
+// ErrBadSignature: HMAC verification failed (webhook or SSO). The
+// payload must be treated as attacker-controlled and dropped.
+var ErrBadSignature = errors.New("discourse: bad signature")
+
+// WebhookSecretFromEnv reads DISCOURSE_WEBHOOK_SECRET (trimmed).
+func WebhookSecretFromEnv() ([]byte, error) {
+	return secretFromEnv("DISCOURSE_WEBHOOK_SECRET")
+}
+
+// SSOSecretFromEnv reads DISCOURSE_SSO_SECRET (trimmed).
+func SSOSecretFromEnv() ([]byte, error) {
+	return secretFromEnv("DISCOURSE_SSO_SECRET")
+}
+
+func secretFromEnv(name string) ([]byte, error) {
+	v := strings.TrimSpace(os.Getenv(name))
+	if v == "" {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: %s is not set", ErrInvalidRequest, name)
+	}
+	return []byte(v), nil
+}
+
+// VerifyWebhook checks a Discourse webhook signature: HMAC-SHA256 hex
+// digest of the raw request body under secret, constant-time compared.
+// Discourse sends the digest with a "sha256=" prefix; both forms pass.
+func VerifyWebhook(secret, body []byte, signature string) error {
+	sig := strings.TrimPrefix(strings.TrimSpace(signature), "sha256=")
+	want, err := hex.DecodeString(sig)
+	if err != nil || len(want) != sha256.Size {
+		return fmt.Errorf("%w: signature is not a sha256 hex digest", ErrBadSignature)
+	}
+	m := hmac.New(sha256.New, secret)
+	m.Write(body)
+	if !hmac.Equal(want, m.Sum(nil)) {
+		return ErrBadSignature
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+// WebhookEvent is one verified webhook delivery.
+type WebhookEvent struct {
+	ID    string          // X-Discourse-Event-Id (delivery id)
+	Type  string          // X-Discourse-Event-Type ("post", "topic", "user", ...)
+	Event string          // X-Discourse-Event ("post_created", ...)
+	Body  json.RawMessage // raw JSON payload, unmodified
+}
+
+// ParseWebhook verifies and decodes an incoming webhook request. It
+// consumes r.Body, so wrap with http.MaxBytesReader first if the
+// endpoint is exposed. Signature failure returns ErrBadSignature.
+func ParseWebhook(secret []byte, r *http.Request) (*WebhookEvent, error) {
+	body, err := io.ReadAll(io.LimitReader(r.Body, 8<<20))
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: read body: %v", ErrUnreachable, err)
+	}
+	if err := VerifyWebhook(secret, body, r.Header.Get("X-Discourse-Event-Signature")); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	if !json.Valid(body) {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: payload is not JSON", ErrMalformedResponse)
+	}
+	return &WebhookEvent{
+		ID:    r.Header.Get("X-Discourse-Event-Id"),
+		Type:  r.Header.Get("X-Discourse-Event-Type"),
+		Event: r.Header.Get("X-Discourse-Event"),
+		Body:  json.RawMessage(body),
+	}, nil
+}
+
+// WebhookHandler adapts ParseWebhook to net/http: bad signatures get
+// 403 and are never dispatched; verified deliveries go to next, which
+// must not panic-write after the handler returns.
+func WebhookHandler(secret []byte, next func(*WebhookEvent)) http.HandlerFunc {
+	return func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		evt, err := ParseWebhook(secret, r)
+		if err != nil {
+			http.Error(w, "invalid signature", http.StatusForbidden)
+			return
+		}
+		next(evt)
+		w.WriteHeader(http.StatusOK)
+	}
+}
+
+// VerifySSO verifies a Discourse Connect (SSO) login redirect: sso is
+// the base64 payload, sig the hex HMAC-SHA256 of the base64 string
+// (not of the decoded payload). Returns the payload's fields — always
+// nonce and return_sso_url.
+func VerifySSO(secret []byte, sso, sig string) (url.Values, error) {
+	sigBytes, err := hex.DecodeString(strings.TrimSpace(sig))
+	if err != nil || len(sigBytes) != sha256.Size {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: sso signature is not a sha256 hex digest", ErrBadSignature)
+	}
+	m := hmac.New(sha256.New, secret)
+	m.Write([]byte(sso))
+	if !hmac.Equal(sigBytes, m.Sum(nil)) {
+		return nil, ErrBadSignature
+	}
+	raw, err := base64.StdEncoding.DecodeString(sso)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: sso payload is not base64: %v", ErrBadSignature, err)
+	}
+	vals, err := url.ParseQuery(string(raw))
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: sso payload is not a querystring: %v", ErrBadSignature, err)
+	}
+	return vals, nil
+}
+
+// BuildSSOResponse builds the signed response payload: nonce (copied
+// from the incoming request) plus the identity fields Discourse accepts
+// (email, external_id, username, name, avatar_url, admin, moderator,
+// add_groups, remove_groups, ...). Returns the base64 payload and its
+// hex signature, ready for SSORedirectURL.
+func BuildSSOResponse(secret []byte, nonce string, params map[string]string) (string, string, error) {
+	if strings.TrimSpace(nonce) == "" {
+		return "", "", fmt.Errorf("%w: sso response requires the request's nonce", ErrInvalidRequest)
+	}
+	vals := url.Values{}
+	vals.Set("nonce", nonce)
+	for k, v := range params {
+		if v != "" {
+			vals.Set(k, v)
+		}
+	}
+	raw := vals.Encode()
+	b64 := base64.StdEncoding.EncodeToString([]byte(raw))
+	m := hmac.New(sha256.New, secret)
+	m.Write([]byte(b64))
+	return b64, hex.EncodeToString(m.Sum(nil)), nil
+}
+
+// SSORedirectURL assembles the return redirect: returnURL with sso and
+// sig query parameters appended.
+func SSORedirectURL(returnURL, sso, sig string) (string, error) {
+	u, err := url.Parse(returnURL)
+	if err != nil || u.Scheme == "" || u.Host == "" {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("%w: return_sso_url %q is not absolute", ErrInvalidRequest, returnURL)
+	}
+	q := u.Query()
+	q.Set("sso", sso)
+	q.Set("sig", sig)
+	u.RawQuery = q.Encode()
+	return u.String(), nil
+}
+
+// SSOLogin is the full server-side SSO dance for one request: verify
+// the incoming sso/sig pair, build the signed response with the user's
+// identity, and return the URL to redirect the user's browser to.
+// The context is unused today (pure crypto) but keeps the signature
+// future-proof for lookups (e.g. fetching the external user's groups).
+func SSOLogin(ctx context.Context, secret []byte, sso, sig string, params map[string]string) (string, error) {
+	vals, err := VerifySSO(secret, sso, sig)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+	nonce := vals.Get("nonce")
+	if nonce == "" {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("%w: sso payload carries no nonce", ErrBadSignature)
+	}
+	returnURL := vals.Get("return_sso_url")
+	if returnURL == "" {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("%w: sso payload carries no return_sso_url", ErrBadSignature)
+	}
+	b64, respSig, err := BuildSSOResponse(secret, nonce, params)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+	return SSORedirectURL(returnURL, b64, respSig)
+}

webhook_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,228 @@
+package discourse
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"crypto/hmac"
+	"crypto/sha256"
+	"encoding/base64"
+	"encoding/hex"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"errors"
+	"net/http"
+	"net/http/httptest"
+	"net/url"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+const testWebhookSecret = "whsec-test-0123456789"
+const testSSOSecret = "ssosec-test-0123456789"
+
+func hmacHex(secret string, data []byte) string {
+	m := hmac.New(sha256.New, []byte(secret))
+	m.Write(data)
+	return hex.EncodeToString(m.Sum(nil))
+}
+
+// --- webhook payload verification ---
+
+func TestVerifyWebhookGoodSignature(t *testing.T) {
+	body := []byte(`{"post":{"id":55,"topic_id":12}}`)
+	sig := hmacHex(testWebhookSecret, body)
+	if err := VerifyWebhook([]byte(testWebhookSecret), body, sig); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("good sig rejected: %v", err)
+	}
+	if err := VerifyWebhook([]byte(testWebhookSecret), body, "sha256="+sig); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("sha256=-prefixed sig rejected: %v", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestVerifyWebhookBadSignature(t *testing.T) {
+	body := []byte(`{"post":{"id":55}}`)
+	err := VerifyWebhook([]byte(testWebhookSecret), body, "deadbeef")
+	if !errors.Is(err, ErrBadSignature) {
+		t.Fatalf("want ErrBadSignature, got %v", err)
+	}
+	err = VerifyWebhook([]byte("other-secret"), body, hmacHex(testWebhookSecret, body))
+	if !errors.Is(err, ErrBadSignature) {
+		t.Fatalf("wrong secret must fail, got %v", err)
+	}
+	if err := VerifyWebhook([]byte(testWebhookSecret), nil, ""); !errors.Is(err, ErrBadSignature) {
+		t.Fatalf("empty signature must fail, got %v", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestParseWebhookVerifiesAndExtracts(t *testing.T) {
+	body := []byte(`{"post":{"id":55,"post_number":2}}`)
+	req := httptest.NewRequest(http.MethodPost, "/hooks/discourse", bytes.NewReader(body))
+	req.Header.Set("X-Discourse-Event-Id", "0d8417a0-1c2b-4d7b")
+	req.Header.Set("X-Discourse-Event-Type", "post")
+	req.Header.Set("X-Discourse-Event", "post_created")
+	req.Header.Set("X-Discourse-Event-Signature", "sha256="+hmacHex(testWebhookSecret, body))
+
+	evt, err := ParseWebhook([]byte(testWebhookSecret), req)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("ParseWebhook: %v", err)
+	}
+	if evt.ID != "0d8417a0-1c2b-4d7b" || evt.Type != "post" || evt.Event != "post_created" {
+		t.Fatalf("headers not extracted: %+v", evt)
+	}
+	var payload struct {
+		Post struct {
+			ID         int `json:"id"`
+			PostNumber int `json:"post_number"`
+		} `json:"post"`
+	}
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(evt.Body, &payload); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("body not preserved: %v", err)
+	}
+	if payload.Post.ID != 55 || payload.Post.PostNumber != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("body mangled: %s", evt.Body)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestWebhookHandlerRejectsAndAccepts(t *testing.T) {
+	body := []byte(`{"topic":{"id":12}}`)
+	got := 0
+	h := WebhookHandler([]byte(testWebhookSecret), func(evt *WebhookEvent) { got++ })
+
+	r := httptest.NewRequest(http.MethodPost, "/", bytes.NewReader(body))
+	r.Header.Set("X-Discourse-Event-Signature", hmacHex("wrong", body))
+	w := httptest.NewRecorder()
+	h(w, r)
+	if w.Code != http.StatusForbidden || got != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("bad sig: want 403 + no dispatch, got %d dispatch=%d", w.Code, got)
+	}
+
+	r = httptest.NewRequest(http.MethodPost, "/", bytes.NewReader(body))
+	r.Header.Set("X-Discourse-Event-Signature", "sha256="+hmacHex(testWebhookSecret, body))
+	r.Header.Set("X-Discourse-Event", "topic_created")
+	w = httptest.NewRecorder()
+	h(w, r)
+	if w.Code != http.StatusOK || got != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("good sig: want 200 + dispatch, got %d dispatch=%d", w.Code, got)
+	}
+}
+
+// --- SSO (Discourse Connect) ---
+
+func ssoPayload(t *testing.T, fields string) (string, string) {
+	t.Helper()
+	b64 := base64.StdEncoding.EncodeToString([]byte(fields))
+	return b64, hmacHex(testSSOSecret, []byte(b64))
+}
+
+func TestVerifySSO(t *testing.T) {
+	b64, sig := ssoPayload(t, "nonce=cb68251eefb35f7e&return_sso_url=https%3A%2F%2Fapp.example.test%2Fsso%2Fcallback")
+	vals, err := VerifySSO([]byte(testSSOSecret), b64, sig)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("VerifySSO: %v", err)
+	}
+	if vals.Get("nonce") != "cb68251eefb35f7e" {
+		t.Fatalf("nonce not decoded: %q", vals.Get("nonce"))
+	}
+	if vals.Get("return_sso_url") != "https://app.example.test/sso/callback" {
+		t.Fatalf("return url not decoded: %q", vals.Get("return_sso_url"))
+	}
+}
+
+func TestVerifySSORejectsTampering(t *testing.T) {
+	b64, sig := ssoPayload(t, "nonce=abc")
+	if _, err := VerifySSO([]byte(testSSOSecret), b64+"x", sig); !errors.Is(err, ErrBadSignature) {
+		t.Fatalf("tampered payload must fail, got %v", err)
+	}
+	if _, err := VerifySSO([]byte("other"), b64, sig); !errors.Is(err, ErrBadSignature) {
+		t.Fatalf("wrong secret must fail, got %v", err)
+	}
+	if _, err := VerifySSO([]byte(testSSOSecret), "!!not-base64!!", sig); err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("undecodable payload must fail")
+	}
+	if _, err := VerifySSO([]byte(testSSOSecret), "", ""); !errors.Is(err, ErrBadSignature) {
+		t.Fatalf("empty sso/sig must fail, got %v", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestBuildSSOResponseRoundTrip(t *testing.T) {
+	b64, sig, err := BuildSSOResponse([]byte(testSSOSecret), "cb68251eefb35f7e", map[string]string{
+		"email":       "charles@turnsys.com",
+		"external_id": "7",
+		"username":    "reachableceo",
+		"admin":       "true",
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("BuildSSOResponse: %v", err)
+	}
+	vals, err := VerifySSO([]byte(testSSOSecret), b64, sig)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("round-trip verify: %v", err)
+	}
+	for k, want := range map[string]string{
+		"nonce": "cb68251eefb35f7e", "email": "charles@turnsys.com",
+		"external_id": "7", "username": "reachableceo", "admin": "true",
+	} {
+		if got := vals.Get(k); got != want {
+			t.Fatalf("field %s: want %q got %q", k, want, got)
+		}
+	}
+	if _, err := base64.StdEncoding.DecodeString(b64); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("response not std base64: %v", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestBuildSSOResponseRequiresNonce(t *testing.T) {
+	if _, _, err := BuildSSOResponse([]byte(testSSOSecret), "", map[string]string{"email": "x@y.test"}); !errors.Is(err, ErrInvalidRequest) {
+		t.Fatalf("empty nonce: want ErrInvalidRequest, got %v", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSSORedirectURL(t *testing.T) {
+	u, err := SSORedirectURL("https://app.example.test/sso/callback", "c29tZXBheWxvYWQ=", "aabbcc")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("SSORedirectURL: %v", err)
+	}
+	parsed, err := url.Parse(u)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("parse: %v", err)
+	}
+	if parsed.Scheme != "https" || parsed.Host != "app.example.test" {
+		t.Fatalf("host mangled: %s", u)
+	}
+	q := parsed.Query()
+	if q.Get("sso") != "c29tZXBheWxvYWQ=" || q.Get("sig") != "aabbcc" {
+		t.Fatalf("query mangled: %s", u)
+	}
+}
+
+// --- secret loading from env ---
+
+func TestSecretsFromEnv(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Setenv("DISCOURSE_WEBHOOK_SECRET", " hook-secret ")
+	t.Setenv("DISCOURSE_SSO_SECRET", " sso-secret ")
+	wh, err := WebhookSecretFromEnv()
+	if err != nil || string(wh) != "hook-secret" {
+		t.Fatalf("webhook secret: %q %v", wh, err)
+	}
+	sso, err := SSOSecretFromEnv()
+	if err != nil || string(sso) != "sso-secret" {
+		t.Fatalf("sso secret: %q %v", sso, err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSecretsFromEnvMissing(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Setenv("DISCOURSE_WEBHOOK_SECRET", "")
+	t.Setenv("DISCOURSE_SSO_SECRET", "")
+	if _, err := WebhookSecretFromEnv(); !errors.Is(err, ErrInvalidRequest) {
+		t.Fatalf("missing webhook secret: want ErrInvalidRequest, got %v", err)
+	}
+	if _, err := SSOSecretFromEnv(); !errors.Is(err, ErrInvalidRequest) {
+		t.Fatalf("missing sso secret: want ErrInvalidRequest, got %v", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestWebhookSecretNeverLeaksInError(t *testing.T) {
+	body := []byte(`{}`)
+	err := VerifyWebhook([]byte(testWebhookSecret), body, "bad")
+	if strings.Contains(err.Error(), testWebhookSecret) {
+		t.Fatalf("secret leaked in error: %v", err)
+	}
+}