refactor: require explicit sqlite paths

README.md

@@ -57,16 +57,16 @@ app = App(store=SQLiteStore(Path(".agentmsgs.db")))
 
 ### MCP server
 
-Start the MCP server over stdio:
+Start the MCP server over stdio with an explicit SQLite path:
 
 ```bash
-uv run agentmsgs-mcp --transport stdio
+uv run agentmsgs-mcp --transport stdio --db-path ./agentmsgs.db
 ```
 
 Or use HTTP:
 
 ```bash
-uv run agentmsgs-mcp --transport http
+uv run agentmsgs-mcp --transport http --db-path ./agentmsgs.db
 ```
 
 Choose a shared database file when separate clients or processes should communicate:
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ For a temporary, process-local server, use the in-memory store:
 uv run agentmsgs-mcp --in-memory --transport stdio
 ```
 
-The in-memory mode is synchronized for concurrent calls within that server, but its data disappears on restart and is not shared with another server process. The default database is `.agentmsgs.db` in the workspace root.
+The in-memory mode is synchronized for concurrent calls within that server, but its data disappears on restart and is not shared with another server process. SQLite mode requires an explicit `--db-path`.
 
 See all server options with:
 

src/agentmsgs/mcp/server.py

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 import argparse
+from pathlib import Path
 
 from fastmcp import FastMCP
 from fastmcp.utilities.logging import get_logger
@@ -9,7 +10,6 @@ from agentmsgs.core.app import App
 from agentmsgs.core.types import Agent, Message
 from agentmsgs.stores.memory import InMemoryStore
 from agentmsgs.stores.sqlite import SQLiteStore
-from agentmsgs.utils import WORKSPACE_ROOT
 
 logger = get_logger(__name__)  # WHY
 mcp = FastMCP("agentmsgs")
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ def main() -> None:
         description="Run the AgentMsgs MCP server.",
         epilog=(
             "Examples:\n"
-            "  agentmsgs-mcp --transport stdio\n"
+            "  agentmsgs-mcp --transport stdio --db-path ./agentmsgs.db\n"
             "  agentmsgs-mcp --transport stdio --db-path ./shared-agentmsgs.db\n"
             "  agentmsgs-mcp --in-memory --transport stdio"
         ),
@@ -180,11 +180,11 @@ def main() -> None:
 
     parser.add_argument(
         "--db-path",
-        type=str,
-        default=str(WORKSPACE_ROOT / ".agentmsgs.db"),
+        type=Path,
+        default=None,
         help=(
-            "SQLite database path. Used unless --in-memory is set. "
-            "Defaults to .agentmsgs.db in the workspace root."
+            "SQLite database path. Required unless --in-memory is set. "
+            "The path is used exactly as supplied."
         ),
     )
     parser.add_argument(
@@ -203,6 +203,8 @@ def main() -> None:
         _app = App(store=InMemoryStore())
         logger.info("Using in-memory store for MCP server.")
     else:
+        if args.db_path is None:
+            parser.error("--db-path is required unless --in-memory is set")
         _app = App(store=SQLiteStore(args.db_path))
         logger.info("Using SQLite store at %s for MCP server.", args.db_path)
 

src/agentmsgs/stores/sqlite.py

@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@ from contextlib import contextmanager
 from pathlib import Path
 
 from agentmsgs.core.types import Agent, Message, Thread, ThreadInfo, ThreadReadState
-from agentmsgs.utils import WORKSPACE_ROOT
 
 _SCHEMA = """
 PRAGMA journal_mode=WAL;
@@ -21,7 +20,7 @@ CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS cursors (thread_id TEXT NOT NULL, agent_id TEXT NOT N
 
 
 class SQLiteStore:
-    def __init__(self, path: Path = WORKSPACE_ROOT / ".agentmsgs.db") -> None:
+    def __init__(self, path: Path) -> None:
         self.path = Path(path)
         # ensure parent exists
         if self.path.parent and not self.path.parent.exists():

src/agentmsgs/utils.py

@@ -1,6 +0,0 @@
-from pathlib import Path
-
-WORKSPACE_ROOT = Path(__file__).parent.parent.parent
-assert WORKSPACE_ROOT / "src" / "agentmsgs" / "utils.py" == Path(__file__), (
-    "this file should be located at src/agentmsgs/utils.py"
-)

tests/test_store_sqlite.py

@@ -2,9 +2,16 @@ import pathlib
 import tempfile
 import uuid
 
+import pytest
+
 from agentmsgs.stores.sqlite import SQLiteStore
 
 
+def test_sqlite_store_requires_explicit_path():
+    with pytest.raises(TypeError):
+        SQLiteStore()
+
+
 def test_sqlite_persists_across_handles():
     with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as d:
         p = pathlib.Path(d) / "test.db"