feat(channels): harden channel_id binding (extends d336314)

Layers richer config validation, an explicit adapter allowlist, and a
stricter bridge routing path on top of upstream `d336314` ("binding
rule"), which shipped the same `channel_id` field as our PR #1127 in a
parallel implementation. Replaces upstream's `sender_user_id`/
`platform_id` heuristic with a single source of truth shared between
config validation and routing.

## What changes vs upstream `d336314`

**Data model** (`openfang-types/src/config.rs`)
- `#[serde(deny_unknown_fields)]` on `AgentBinding` so a typo at the
  binding level (e.g. `match_rules` plural) fails loudly instead of
  silently leaving the rule defaulted to "match everything". Upstream
  has it on `BindingMatchRule` only.
- New `pub const CHANNELS_WITH_PLATFORM_ID_AS_CHANNEL` (19 adapters:
  discord, slack, telegram, matrix, mattermost, teams, webex,
  rocketchat, nextcloud, pumble, revolt, guilded, feishu, lark,
  keybase, google_chat, line, twist, flock, twitch). Single source of
  truth shared with the bridge — no drift between routing and
  validation paths possible. Hybrid adapters (IRC, Zulip) are
  excluded; see source comment.
- Startup validation: warn when a binding sets `channel_id` for a
  non-supporting adapter, or when `channel_id` is set without
  `channel`. Documents the metadata escape hatch in the warning.
- Top-level `KernelConfig` keeps no `deny_unknown_fields` — comment
  explains the §5.5 scoping decision so a future reader doesn't
  "tighten" it without realizing it would break forward-compat keys.

**Bridge** (`openfang-channels/src/bridge.rs`)
- Replaces upstream's `sender_channel_id()` heuristic ("if metadata has
  `sender_user_id` and it differs from `platform_id`, assume
  `platform_id` IS the channel") with `binding_context_for(message)`,
  which delegates to `ChannelMessage::channel_id()`. The heuristic
  worked for Discord/Slack but would fail silently on Matrix, Teams,
  Mattermost, Telegram, etc. — adapters whose `platform_id` IS the
  channel ID but whose metadata does not happen to set
  `sender_user_id` differently.
- Routes both dispatch paths (text + blocks) through
  `resolve_with_context` so `guild_id` and `channel_id` bindings can
  match. (Upstream's `resolve_with_channel_id` only handled
  channel_id.)

**Channels types** (`openfang-channels/src/types.rs`)
- New `ChannelMessage::channel_id()` accessor: reads `platform_id` for
  allowlisted adapters, falls back to `metadata["channel_id"]` for
  opt-in adapters, else `None`. Case-folds `Custom(...)` variants so
  a stray `Custom("Twitch")` cannot silently slip past the allowlist
  (the validation path lowercases user input — accessor must match).

**Tests** (+8 in `bridge.rs`, +5 in `config.rs`, +1 in `types.rs`)
- Bridge: Discord/Telegram/Matrix/custom-supported/user-id-only-adapter
  /metadata-fallback/guild-id-from-metadata/Email-returns-None
  coverage of `binding_context_for` and `channel_id()`.
- Config: typo rejection on both `BindingMatchRule` and `AgentBinding`;
  channel_id-without-channel warning; unsupported-adapter warning;
  no-warning for discord/slack/telegram.
- Types: `channel_id()` case-insensitivity for Custom variants
  including the Lark/Feishu Intl spelling.

**Docs** (`docs/channel-adapters.md`)
- Routing section rewritten: bindings are step 1 in the resolution
  order. New "Bindings" subsection documents the rule shape, the
  `peer_id` vs `channel_id` distinction (the easy confusion), full
  specificity table, the adapter allowlist with the metadata escape
  hatch, and the strict-field parsing rule.

## Why this layering instead of replacing d336314

Upstream's commit and our PR #1127 are functionally equivalent on
Discord and Slack. Shipping a richer extension on top is less churn
than ripping out the upstream commit and substituting ours, and keeps
the API surface upstream just added (`resolve_with_channel_id`)
intact for any third-party consumers.

`cargo check --workspace` and `cargo test -p openfang-types -p
openfang-channels --lib` (850 tests) pass.

crates/openfang-channels/src/bridge.rs

@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 //! `BridgeManager` which owns running adapters and dispatches messages.
 
 use crate::formatter;
-use crate::router::AgentRouter;
+use crate::router::{AgentRouter, BindingContext};
 use crate::types::{
     default_phase_emoji, AgentPhase, ChannelAdapter, ChannelContent, ChannelMessage, ChannelUser,
     LifecycleReaction,
@@ -679,31 +679,33 @@ fn sender_user_id(message: &ChannelMessage) -> &str {
         .unwrap_or(&message.sender.platform_id)
 }
 
-/// Extract the channel/conversation ID from a message, for bindings whose
-/// `match_rule.channel_id` is set.
+/// Build a `BindingContext` for routing the given inbound message.
 ///
-/// On Discord and Slack, `sender.platform_id` already holds the channel/
-/// conversation ID (per `discord.rs` and `slack.rs`, where the user ID lives
-/// in metadata under `sender_user_id`). On other adapters where the platform
-/// ID is the user, callers can opt-in by stashing the channel ID under the
-/// `sender_channel_id` metadata key.
-fn sender_channel_id(message: &ChannelMessage) -> Option<&str> {
-    if let Some(v) = message
-        .metadata
-        .get("sender_channel_id")
-        .and_then(|v| v.as_str())
-    {
-        return Some(v);
-    }
-    // On Discord/Slack, the metadata `sender_user_id` is set and differs from
-    // `sender.platform_id` — in that case, platform_id IS the channel ID.
-    let user_in_meta = message
-        .metadata
-        .get("sender_user_id")
-        .and_then(|v| v.as_str());
-    match user_in_meta {
-        Some(uid) if uid != message.sender.platform_id => Some(&message.sender.platform_id),
-        _ => None,
+/// Populates `channel_id` so per-channel bindings (e.g. `channel_id = "<discord_channel>"`)
+/// can route to dedicated agents. The channel ID source is delegated to
+/// [`ChannelMessage::channel_id`] — the single source of truth shared with
+/// config validation (see `CHANNELS_WITH_PLATFORM_ID_AS_CHANNEL` in
+/// `openfang-types::config`). `peer_id` uses the resolved user ID, not
+/// `sender.platform_id`, so user-scoped bindings still match correctly on
+/// Discord/Slack/etc. where `platform_id` holds the channel.
+///
+/// This replaces the earlier heuristic `sender_channel_id()` (which inferred
+/// "platform_id is the channel" from "metadata has `sender_user_id`"). The
+/// allowlist is explicit, the metadata-fallback path is documented, and
+/// adapters can be added or removed in one place (`openfang-types::config`)
+/// without touching this file.
+fn binding_context_for(message: &ChannelMessage) -> BindingContext {
+    BindingContext {
+        channel: channel_type_str(&message.channel).to_string(),
+        account_id: None,
+        peer_id: sender_user_id(message).to_string(),
+        channel_id: message.channel_id(),
+        guild_id: message
+            .metadata
+            .get("guild_id")
+            .and_then(|v| v.as_str())
+            .map(String::from),
+        roles: Vec::new(),
     }
 }
 
@@ -1029,13 +1031,15 @@ async fn dispatch_message(
     // Route to agent (standard path).
     // Use sender_user_id() so user-keyed bindings (peer_id) match for adapters like
     // Discord/Slack where sender.platform_id is the channel ID, not the user ID.
-    // Pass the channel/conversation ID separately so bindings with `channel_id`
-    // can match (e.g. "messages in Discord channel X → agent Y").
-    let agent_id = router.resolve_with_channel_id(
+    // Use resolve_with_context so channel_id-scoped (and guild_id-scoped)
+    // bindings can route per channel — see binding_context_for() for the
+    // single-source-of-truth allowlist.
+    let binding_ctx = binding_context_for(message);
+    let agent_id = router.resolve_with_context(
         &message.channel,
         sender_user_id(message),
         message.sender.openfang_user.as_deref(),
-        sender_channel_id(message),
+        &binding_ctx,
     );
 
     let agent_id = match agent_id {
@@ -1476,12 +1480,13 @@ async fn dispatch_with_blocks(
 ) {
     // Route to agent (same logic as text path).
     // Use sender_user_id() so user-keyed bindings match for Discord/Slack;
-    // pass channel_id so per-room bindings match too.
-    let agent_id = router.resolve_with_channel_id(
+    // resolve_with_context lets channel_id-scoped bindings match per room.
+    let binding_ctx = binding_context_for(message);
+    let agent_id = router.resolve_with_context(
         &message.channel,
         sender_user_id(message),
         message.sender.openfang_user.as_deref(),
-        sender_channel_id(message),
+        &binding_ctx,
     );
 
     let agent_id = match agent_id {
@@ -2181,6 +2186,122 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(GroupPolicy::default(), GroupPolicy::MentionOnly);
     }
 
+    // -- binding_context_for / ChannelMessage::channel_id() coverage --
+    //
+    // These tests pin the routing-time behavior so future adapter additions to
+    // CHANNELS_WITH_PLATFORM_ID_AS_CHANNEL cannot silently regress the bridge.
+
+    fn make_msg_for_ctx(
+        channel: ChannelType,
+        platform_id: &str,
+        metadata: Vec<(&str, serde_json::Value)>,
+    ) -> ChannelMessage {
+        let mut md = std::collections::HashMap::new();
+        for (k, v) in metadata {
+            md.insert(k.to_string(), v);
+        }
+        ChannelMessage {
+            channel,
+            platform_message_id: "msg-1".to_string(),
+            sender: crate::types::ChannelUser {
+                platform_id: platform_id.to_string(),
+                display_name: "Tester".to_string(),
+                openfang_user: None,
+            },
+            content: ChannelContent::Text("hi".to_string()),
+            target_agent: None,
+            timestamp: chrono::Utc::now(),
+            is_group: true,
+            thread_id: None,
+            metadata: md,
+        }
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_binding_context_for_discord_uses_platform_id_as_channel() {
+        let msg = make_msg_for_ctx(ChannelType::Discord, "1234567890", vec![]);
+        let ctx = binding_context_for(&msg);
+        assert_eq!(ctx.channel, "discord");
+        assert_eq!(ctx.channel_id.as_deref(), Some("1234567890"));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_binding_context_for_telegram_uses_platform_id_as_channel() {
+        // Regression guard: Telegram is on the channel-ID allowlist.
+        let msg = make_msg_for_ctx(ChannelType::Telegram, "-100123", vec![]);
+        let ctx = binding_context_for(&msg);
+        assert_eq!(ctx.channel, "telegram");
+        assert_eq!(ctx.channel_id.as_deref(), Some("-100123"));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_binding_context_for_matrix_uses_room_id_from_platform_id() {
+        let msg = make_msg_for_ctx(ChannelType::Matrix, "!room:server.tld", vec![]);
+        let ctx = binding_context_for(&msg);
+        assert_eq!(ctx.channel_id.as_deref(), Some("!room:server.tld"));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_binding_context_for_custom_supported_adapter() {
+        // Custom("twitch") is on the allowlist.
+        let msg = make_msg_for_ctx(
+            ChannelType::Custom("twitch".to_string()),
+            "channel-foo",
+            vec![],
+        );
+        let ctx = binding_context_for(&msg);
+        assert_eq!(ctx.channel, "twitch");
+        assert_eq!(ctx.channel_id.as_deref(), Some("channel-foo"));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_binding_context_for_user_id_adapter_returns_none() {
+        // Reddit's platform_id is the post author, not a subreddit/conversation.
+        // The bridge must not surface that as `channel_id` (would silently match
+        // user-scoped bindings against a user ID).
+        let msg = make_msg_for_ctx(
+            ChannelType::Custom("reddit".to_string()),
+            "u/some-user",
+            vec![],
+        );
+        let ctx = binding_context_for(&msg);
+        assert_eq!(ctx.channel, "reddit");
+        assert!(ctx.channel_id.is_none());
+        // peer_id still falls through to platform_id (sender_user_id default).
+        assert_eq!(ctx.peer_id, "u/some-user");
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_binding_context_for_metadata_fallback() {
+        // For non-allowlisted adapters, metadata["channel_id"] is the
+        // documented escape hatch — verify the bridge honors it.
+        let msg = make_msg_for_ctx(
+            ChannelType::Custom("reddit".to_string()),
+            "u/some-user",
+            vec![("channel_id", serde_json::json!("r/rust"))],
+        );
+        let ctx = binding_context_for(&msg);
+        assert_eq!(ctx.channel_id.as_deref(), Some("r/rust"));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_binding_context_for_metadata_guild_id() {
+        let msg = make_msg_for_ctx(
+            ChannelType::Discord,
+            "1234567890",
+            vec![("guild_id", serde_json::json!("99999"))],
+        );
+        let ctx = binding_context_for(&msg);
+        assert_eq!(ctx.guild_id.as_deref(), Some("99999"));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_channel_message_channel_id_email_returns_none() {
+        // Email's platform_id is the sender address — not a channel.
+        let msg = make_msg_for_ctx(ChannelType::Email, "alice@example.com", vec![]);
+        assert!(msg.channel_id().is_none());
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn test_channel_type_str() {
         assert_eq!(channel_type_str(&ChannelType::Telegram), "telegram");

crates/openfang-channels/src/types.rs

@@ -97,6 +97,60 @@ pub struct ChannelMessage {
     pub metadata: HashMap<String, serde_json::Value>,
 }
 
+// Re-export the adapter allowlist from openfang-types so config validation
+// and routing share a single source of truth (no drift between the two).
+pub use openfang_types::config::CHANNELS_WITH_PLATFORM_ID_AS_CHANNEL;
+
+impl ChannelMessage {
+    /// Return the platform-native channel/conversation ID for this message,
+    /// suitable for matching against an `AgentBinding`'s `channel_id` field.
+    ///
+    /// Resolution order:
+    /// 1. For adapters in [`CHANNELS_WITH_PLATFORM_ID_AS_CHANNEL`],
+    ///    `sender.platform_id` already *is* the channel ID (these adapters
+    ///    overload the field because it doubles as the send target).
+    /// 2. Otherwise, fall back to `metadata["channel_id"]` if present (any
+    ///    adapter can opt in by populating that key).
+    /// 3. Otherwise, `None`.
+    ///
+    /// This is the central routing-time accessor — config validation and the
+    /// router both consult it (directly or via the same allowlist) so the two
+    /// cannot drift.
+    pub fn channel_id(&self) -> Option<String> {
+        // For builtin variants the string is already lowercase by construction.
+        // For `Custom(s)`, adapters _should_ register lowercase names but we
+        // case-fold here so a stray `Custom("Twitch")` cannot silently slip
+        // past the allowlist (and out of step with the validation path, which
+        // already lowercases user input). Allocates only on the Custom arm.
+        let channel_str: std::borrow::Cow<'_, str> = match &self.channel {
+            ChannelType::Telegram => "telegram".into(),
+            ChannelType::Discord => "discord".into(),
+            ChannelType::Slack => "slack".into(),
+            ChannelType::WhatsApp => "whatsapp".into(),
+            ChannelType::Signal => "signal".into(),
+            ChannelType::Matrix => "matrix".into(),
+            ChannelType::Email => "email".into(),
+            ChannelType::Teams => "teams".into(),
+            ChannelType::Mattermost => "mattermost".into(),
+            ChannelType::WebChat => "webchat".into(),
+            ChannelType::CLI => "cli".into(),
+            ChannelType::Mqtt => "mqtt".into(),
+            ChannelType::Custom(s) => s.to_lowercase().into(),
+        };
+        if CHANNELS_WITH_PLATFORM_ID_AS_CHANNEL
+            .iter()
+            .any(|c| *c == channel_str.as_ref())
+        {
+            Some(self.sender.platform_id.clone())
+        } else {
+            self.metadata
+                .get("channel_id")
+                .and_then(|v| v.as_str())
+                .map(String::from)
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 /// Agent lifecycle phase for UX indicators.
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize, PartialEq)]
 #[serde(rename_all = "snake_case")]
@@ -365,6 +419,34 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(back, ChannelType::Email);
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn test_channel_id_custom_arm_is_case_insensitive() {
+        // A stray capitalized Custom variant must still resolve through the
+        // allowlist. The validation path lowercases user input; the routing
+        // path needs the same case-fold to stay in sync.
+        let make = |name: &str| ChannelMessage {
+            channel: ChannelType::Custom(name.to_string()),
+            platform_message_id: "m".to_string(),
+            sender: ChannelUser {
+                platform_id: "C123".to_string(),
+                display_name: "x".to_string(),
+                openfang_user: None,
+            },
+            content: ChannelContent::Text("hi".to_string()),
+            target_agent: None,
+            timestamp: Utc::now(),
+            is_group: false,
+            thread_id: None,
+            metadata: HashMap::new(),
+        };
+        assert_eq!(make("twitch").channel_id().as_deref(), Some("C123"));
+        assert_eq!(make("Twitch").channel_id().as_deref(), Some("C123"));
+        assert_eq!(make("TWITCH").channel_id().as_deref(), Some("C123"));
+        // Lark spelling (Feishu Intl) must also match.
+        assert_eq!(make("lark").channel_id().as_deref(), Some("C123"));
+        assert_eq!(make("Lark").channel_id().as_deref(), Some("C123"));
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn test_channel_content_variants() {
         let text = ChannelContent::Text("hello".to_string());

crates/openfang-types/src/config.rs

@@ -733,7 +733,12 @@ impl Default for VaultConfig {
 }
 
 /// Agent binding — routes specific channel/account/peer patterns to agents.
+///
+/// `deny_unknown_fields` so typos at the binding level (e.g. `match_rule` →
+/// `match_rules`) fail loudly at config-load instead of silently leaving the
+/// rule defaulted to "match everything".
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+#[serde(deny_unknown_fields)]
 pub struct AgentBinding {
     /// Target agent name or ID.
     pub agent: String,
@@ -741,6 +746,50 @@ pub struct AgentBinding {
     pub match_rule: BindingMatchRule,
 }
 
+/// Lowercased channel-name strings whose adapters place a channel/conversation/
+/// room/space/chat ID directly in `ChannelMessage::sender.platform_id` (these
+/// adapters overload that field because it doubles as the send target).
+///
+/// Single source of truth shared between:
+/// - Config validation (warn the user when their `channel_id` binding targets
+///   an adapter that doesn't populate `ctx.channel_id`).
+/// - `ChannelMessage::channel_id()` in `openfang-channels::types` (routing-time
+///   accessor that reads from this list to decide where to source the ID).
+///
+/// Adapters not listed fall back to `metadata["channel_id"]` if present, then
+/// `None`. Hybrid adapters whose `platform_id` flips between channel and user
+/// based on `is_group` (IRC, Zulip) are intentionally excluded — a single
+/// channel-scoped binding would silently match DMs.
+///
+/// Compared against the lowercased `channel` string from `BindingMatchRule`
+/// or from `channel_type_str()` at routing time.
+pub const CHANNELS_WITH_PLATFORM_ID_AS_CHANNEL: &[&str] = &[
+    "discord",
+    "slack",
+    "telegram",
+    "matrix",
+    "mattermost",
+    "teams",
+    "webex",
+    "rocketchat",
+    "nextcloud",
+    "pumble",
+    "revolt",
+    "guilded",
+    "feishu",
+    // Feishu Intl region emits `Custom("lark")` from `feishu.rs` (region.as_str()
+    // returns "lark" when configured for international). Listed alongside
+    // "feishu" so both regional spellings resolve identically at routing and
+    // validation time.
+    "lark",
+    "keybase",
+    "google_chat",
+    "line",
+    "twist",
+    "flock",
+    "twitch",
+];
+
 /// Match rule for agent bindings. All specified (non-None) fields must match.
 ///
 /// `#[serde(deny_unknown_fields)]` is intentional: a typo like `channnel_id` or
@@ -755,7 +804,18 @@ pub struct BindingMatchRule {
     /// Specific account/bot ID within the channel.
     #[serde(default)]
     pub account_id: Option<String>,
-    /// Peer/user ID for DM routing.
+    /// Peer/user ID. Matches `BindingContext::peer_id`, which the bridge
+    /// populates from `ChannelMessage::sender_user_id()` — i.e. the platform's
+    /// *user* identity (Discord user ID, Slack user ID, etc.).
+    ///
+    /// Note: the legacy `AgentRouter::resolve()` entry point (kept for tests
+    /// and any caller without bridge context) builds a synthetic context
+    /// where `peer_id` is filled from the raw `platform_user_id` argument. On
+    /// adapters that overload `platform_id` as the channel ID (Discord, Slack,
+    /// …), passing those callers a channel-scoped value will match here. New
+    /// code should route through `resolve_with_context` and a bridge-built
+    /// `BindingContext`. For platform-native channel/conversation matching,
+    /// use `channel_id` instead.
     #[serde(default)]
     pub peer_id: Option<String>,
     /// Guild/server ID (Discord/Slack).
@@ -766,6 +826,8 @@ pub struct BindingMatchRule {
     /// ID (`C…`/`D…`/`G…`); on Telegram it is the chat ID; on IRC it is the
     /// channel name. Bridges populate this from the message's channel/conversation
     /// identifier so bindings can route by room independent of which user posted.
+    /// Pair with `channel` to disambiguate across platforms (channel IDs are
+    /// not portable).
     #[serde(default)]
     pub channel_id: Option<String>,
     /// Role-based routing (user must have at least one).
@@ -1050,6 +1112,14 @@ impl Default for ThinkingConfig {
 }
 
 /// Top-level kernel configuration.
+///
+/// `deny_unknown_fields` is intentionally *not* applied here. Spec §5.5 scoped
+/// strict-field validation to bindings (`AgentBinding` + `BindingMatchRule`),
+/// where silent no-op routing is the failure mode worth catching loudly.
+/// Adding it to the top-level kernel struct would also reject forward-compat
+/// keys, downstream-fork-only keys, and "I'm trying out a future field early"
+/// workflows — a wider behavior change than this PR's mandate. If we want it
+/// later, it ships as its own decision.
 #[derive(Clone, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 #[serde(default)]
 pub struct KernelConfig {
@@ -3723,6 +3793,42 @@ impl KernelConfig {
             SearchProvider::DuckDuckGo | SearchProvider::Auto => {}
         }
 
+        // --- Binding validation (channel_id) ---
+        // Use the shared allowlist (CHANNELS_WITH_PLATFORM_ID_AS_CHANNEL) so this
+        // validation cannot drift from the routing-time accessor in
+        // ChannelMessage::channel_id(). Adapters not on the list may still
+        // populate ctx.channel_id via metadata["channel_id"], but we cannot
+        // detect that statically — so we warn conservatively and document the
+        // metadata escape hatch in docs/channel-adapters.md.
+        for (idx, binding) in self.bindings.iter().enumerate() {
+            let rule = &binding.match_rule;
+            if let Some(ref cid) = rule.channel_id {
+                match rule.channel.as_deref() {
+                    None => {
+                        warnings.push(format!(
+                            "Binding #{} (agent='{}') sets channel_id='{}' without channel; \
+                             channel IDs are not portable across platforms. Pair with channel = \"discord\" (or similar).",
+                            idx, binding.agent, cid
+                        ));
+                    }
+                    Some(ch) => {
+                        let ch_lower = ch.to_lowercase();
+                        if !CHANNELS_WITH_PLATFORM_ID_AS_CHANNEL
+                            .iter()
+                            .any(|p| *p == ch_lower)
+                        {
+                            warnings.push(format!(
+                                "Binding #{} (agent='{}') sets channel_id='{}' for channel='{}', \
+                                 but the {} adapter does not populate ctx.channel_id from sender.platform_id; \
+                                 this binding will only match if the adapter writes channel_id into message metadata.",
+                                idx, binding.agent, cid, ch, ch
+                            ));
+                        }
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
         // --- Production bounds validation ---
         // Clamp dangerous zero/extreme values to safe defaults instead of crashing.
         warnings
@@ -3782,6 +3888,106 @@ mod tests {
         assert!(toml_str.contains("log_level"));
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn test_binding_match_rule_deny_unknown_fields_rejects_typo() {
+        // Typo (`channnel_id` with three n's) should fail to parse rather than
+        // silently producing a no-op rule that matches every message.
+        let toml_input = r#"
+            channel = "discord"
+            channnel_id = "12345"
+        "#;
+        let result: Result<BindingMatchRule, _> = toml::from_str(toml_input);
+        assert!(
+            result.is_err(),
+            "expected deny_unknown_fields to reject typo'd field, got: {:?}",
+            result
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_agent_binding_deny_unknown_fields() {
+        // A typo at the AgentBinding level (`match_rules` plural instead of
+        // `match_rule`) must fail config load — silent default would make the
+        // binding a wildcard.
+        let toml_str = r#"
+            agent = "x"
+            [match_rules]
+            channel = "discord"
+        "#;
+        let result: Result<AgentBinding, _> = toml::from_str(toml_str);
+        assert!(
+            result.is_err(),
+            "expected deny_unknown_fields rejection, got Ok"
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_validate_warns_channel_id_without_channel() {
+        let mut config = KernelConfig::default();
+        config.bindings.push(AgentBinding {
+            agent: "ghost".to_string(),
+            match_rule: BindingMatchRule {
+                channel_id: Some("99999".to_string()),
+                ..Default::default()
+            },
+        });
+        let warnings = config.validate();
+        assert!(
+            warnings
+                .iter()
+                .any(|w| w.contains("channel_id") && w.contains("without channel")),
+            "expected channel_id-without-channel warning, got: {:?}",
+            warnings
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_validate_warns_channel_id_for_unsupported_adapter() {
+        // Reddit's `platform_id` is the post author, not a subreddit; no
+        // per-conversation channel_id, so the binding can never match.
+        let mut config = KernelConfig::default();
+        config.bindings.push(AgentBinding {
+            agent: "ghost".to_string(),
+            match_rule: BindingMatchRule {
+                channel: Some("reddit".to_string()),
+                channel_id: Some("r/something".to_string()),
+                ..Default::default()
+            },
+        });
+        let warnings = config.validate();
+        assert!(
+            warnings
+                .iter()
+                .any(|w| w.contains("reddit") && w.contains("does not populate")),
+            "expected unsupported-adapter warning, got: {:?}",
+            warnings
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_validate_no_warning_for_supported_adapters() {
+        // Discord, Slack, Telegram all overload platform_id as the channel ID —
+        // these must not warn.
+        for ch in ["discord", "slack", "telegram"] {
+            let mut config = KernelConfig::default();
+            config.bindings.push(AgentBinding {
+                agent: "ok".to_string(),
+                match_rule: BindingMatchRule {
+                    channel: Some(ch.to_string()),
+                    channel_id: Some("X".to_string()),
+                    ..Default::default()
+                },
+            });
+            let warnings = config.validate();
+            assert!(
+                !warnings.iter().any(|w| w.contains("does not populate")),
+                "did not expect channel_id-coverage warning for {}, got: {:?}",
+                ch,
+                warnings
+            );
+        }
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn test_discord_config_defaults() {
         let dc = DiscordConfig::default();

docs/channel-adapters.md

@@ -608,10 +608,63 @@ Features:
 
 The `AgentRouter` determines which agent receives an incoming message. The routing logic is:
 
-1. **Per-channel default**: Each channel config has a `default_agent` field. Messages from that channel go to that agent.
-2. **User-agent binding**: If a user has previously been associated with a specific agent (via commands or configuration), messages from that user route to that agent.
-3. **Command prefix**: Users can switch agents by sending a command like `/agent coder` in the chat. Subsequent messages will be routed to the "coder" agent.
-4. **Fallback**: If no routing applies, messages go to the first available agent.
+1. **Bindings** (most specific first). Declarative `[[bindings]]` rules in `config.toml` map message attributes (channel, channel_id, peer_id, guild_id, account_id, roles) to agents. The router scores each rule by specificity and picks the highest-scoring match.
+2. **Per-channel default**: Each channel config has a `default_agent` field. Messages from that channel go to that agent.
+3. **User-agent binding**: If a user has previously been associated with a specific agent (via commands or configuration), messages from that user route to that agent.
+4. **Command prefix**: Users can switch agents by sending a command like `/agent coder` in the chat. Subsequent messages will be routed to the "coder" agent.
+5. **Fallback**: If no routing applies, messages go to the first available agent.
+
+### Bindings
+
+A binding has an `agent` (the target) and a `match_rule` (the criteria). All non-empty fields in the rule must match.
+
+```toml
+# Route a specific Discord channel to a dedicated agent.
+[[bindings]]
+agent = "researcher-medical"
+match_rule = { channel = "discord", channel_id = "1234567890" }
+
+[[bindings]]
+agent = "researcher-business"
+match_rule = { channel = "discord", channel_id = "9876543210" }
+
+# Catch-all for the same user on any other channel.
+[[bindings]]
+agent = "assistant"
+match_rule = { channel = "discord", peer_id = "user_discord_id" }
+```
+
+**`peer_id` vs `channel_id`** — these are easy to confuse and the difference matters:
+
+- `peer_id` matches the **user** (Discord user ID, Slack user ID, etc.).
+- `channel_id` matches the **channel/conversation** (Discord text channel, Slack conversation, Telegram chat).
+
+Use `peer_id` for "messages from this person." Use `channel_id` for "messages in this room."
+
+**Specificity scores** (higher wins):
+
+| Field        | Score |
+| ------------ | ----- |
+| `peer_id`    | 8     |
+| `channel_id` | 8     |
+| `guild_id`   | 4     |
+| `roles`      | 2     |
+| `account_id` | 2     |
+| `channel`    | 1     |
+
+A binding's score is the sum of its set fields. `peer_id` and `channel_id` are equally specific, so a rule with both (16) beats either alone (8). Ties are broken by declaration order in the config.
+
+**Adapter coverage for `channel_id`** — the following adapters populate `ctx.channel_id` directly from `sender.platform_id` (their "user" field is overloaded as a channel/conversation/room/space ID because that field doubles as the send target):
+
+`discord`, `slack`, `telegram`, `matrix`, `mattermost`, `teams`, `webex`, `rocketchat`, `nextcloud`, `pumble`, `revolt`, `guilded`, `feishu`, `lark`, `keybase`, `google_chat`, `line`, `twist`, `flock`, `twitch`.
+
+(Feishu Intl region emits `Custom("lark")` rather than `Custom("feishu")`; both spellings are recognized.)
+
+Adapters not on this list (Reddit, Bluesky, Mastodon, Signal, Email, ntfy, Discourse, etc.) carry a *user* ID in `platform_id` and have no per-conversation concept, or use a hybrid scheme (IRC, Zulip flip between channel and user based on `is_group`). Bindings targeting `channel_id` on those platforms will only match if the adapter writes a `channel_id` key into message metadata.
+
+The kernel emits a startup warning when a binding sets `channel_id` for a non-supporting adapter, so misconfigurations surface early instead of silently routing nowhere. The single source of truth for this list is `CHANNELS_WITH_PLATFORM_ID_AS_CHANNEL` in `openfang-types::config`, consumed by both routing (`ChannelMessage::channel_id()`) and config validation.
+
+**Strict parsing** — `AgentBinding` and `BindingMatchRule` use `#[serde(deny_unknown_fields)]`. Typos at the binding level (e.g. `match_rules` for `match_rule`, `channnel_id` for `channel_id`) fail config load with a clear error rather than parsing into a no-op rule that silently matches every message. Existing configs that work today are unaffected; only configs with stray/misspelled fields inside a `[[bindings]]` block need a fix. The top-level `KernelConfig` deliberately stays permissive so unrecognized top-level keys (forward-compat, downstream forks) don't break startup.
 
 ---