refactor(collections): retire the legacy rules surface — tree-only storage

The pre-tree rules machinery is deleted: no row ever carried a rules
array or a non-default match mode (verified in the dev DB), the web
never read the envelope keys, and the Android app consumes none of it.
Dead code gets no documentation.

Removed:
- PUT /api/collections/:id/match-mode — endpoint, route, and the
  UpdateCollectionMatchMode query. The tree's root mode owns any|all.
- auto_assign_rules / rule_match_mode from every envelope
  (create/list/detail/update), from the create/update request shapes,
  and from the schema: both columns DROPPED (schema.sql carries
  idempotent DROP COLUMN IF EXISTS heals for existing DBs; sqlc
  regenerated).
- The rules CRUD service layer (AddRule/SetRuleEnabled/RemoveRule +
  validateRule + UpdateCollectionRulesJSON), ParseRules /
  EnabledRules / IsSmartCollection, RulesToFilterTree (+ the SSR
  preload branch), the legacy branch of EvaluateSmartMembership, and
  SmartEvalOptions.MatchMode. IsCollectionSmart = tree presence;
  create-path isSmart = collection_type=smart OR a filter_tree.

Kept (live consumers): POST /api/collections/preview still evaluates
rules payloads in memory (the custom-section builder's preview), and
include_auto stays on the list (the Android app sends it).

The custom-section builder's SAVE was already broken — its
stringified auto_assign_rules payload failed request binding (probed
live: 400 invalid request). Create now rejects that payload loudly
with a 400 naming the retirement, instead of silently creating a
hollow static section; custom-section-builder.md carries the flag.
The builder's tree migration remains the flagged follow-up.

Test-side (asymmetry rule — deleted behavior, deleted tests):
TestPodcastSmartCollections rewritten onto trees (mode lives in the
tree root), match-mode subtests and tree_wins_over_legacy_rules
deleted, TestRulesToFilterTree deleted, contract-pin envelope keys
retracted per the contract_pins 2026-10-31 retirement entry. Mirrors
hand-synced: openapi.yaml, bruno create/update, docs/api/*.md,
docs/schema.go, api.d.ts. Full container suite green (155s).

bruno/collections/create_collection.yml

@@ -16,7 +16,6 @@ http:
         "color": "#00FF00",
         "icon": "📖",
         "collection_type": "static",
-        "auto_assign_rules": [],
         "view_settings": { "kobo": { "view_mode": "grid" } }
       }
 settings:

bruno/collections/update_collection.yml

@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@ http:
         "description": "Updated description",
         "color": "#33CCFF",
         "icon": "📚",
-        "auto_assign_rules": [],
         "view_settings": { "hide_finished": true },
         "hide_finished": ["true"],
         "show_up_next": ["true"]

cmd/server/tests/contract_pins_test.go

@@ -500,9 +500,8 @@ func TestContractPin_CollectionsJSON(t *testing.T) {
 	// payload; docs/contract_pins.md changelog).
 	envelopeKeys := []string{
 		"id", "user_id", "name", "description", "color", "icon",
-		"auto_assign_rules", "view_settings", "books", "book_count",
+		"view_settings", "books", "book_count",
 		"is_smart", "created_at", "up_next",
-		"rule_match_mode", // item-2.4 widening (docs/contract_pins.md)
 		"filter_tree", // item-3.2 widening (docs/contract_pins.md)
 	}
 
@@ -566,11 +565,14 @@ func TestContractPin_CollectionsJSON(t *testing.T) {
 		assertArrayItemShape(t, "collection books[] (no library)", books, bookInfoKeys, bookInfoKeys)
 	})
 
-	t.Run("smart collection (rules branch)", func(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Run("smart collection (tree branch)", func(t *testing.T) {
 		resp := doReq(t, "POST", setup.Server.URL+"/api/collections", map[string]interface{}{
 			"name": fmt.Sprintf("Test Contract Smart %d", time.Now().UnixNano()),
-			"auto_assign_rules": []map[string]interface{}{
+			"filter_tree": map[string]interface{}{
-				{"id": "rule-1", "field": "genre", "operator": "equals", "value": "Science Fiction", "priority": 5},
+				"scope": "books", "mode": "any",
+				"children": []map[string]interface{}{
+					{"field": "genre", "op": "is", "values": []string{"Science Fiction"}},
+				},
 			},
 		}, setup.Token)
 		defer resp.Body.Close()

cmd/server/tests/podcast_test.go

@@ -772,7 +772,6 @@ func TestPodcastSmartCollections(t *testing.T) {
 	setup := setupTestServer(t)
 	regUUID := getRegularUserID(t, setup.DB)
 	regToken := setup.RegularToken
-	adminToken := setup.Token
 
 	lib, _ := createPodcastsLibrary(t, setup, "test SmartColl Podcasts")
 	marker := fmt.Sprintf("smartcoll%d", time.Now().UnixNano()%100000)
@@ -816,13 +815,18 @@ func TestPodcastSmartCollections(t *testing.T) {
 	esc := func(s string) string { return strings.ReplaceAll(s, `"`, """) }
 
 	// Smart collection with the briefing's AND shape, created through
-	// the real API.
+	// the real API. The tree carries the mode ('all' at the root) — the
+	// match-mode endpoint retired 2026-10-31 with the rules storage.
+	briefing, _ := json.Marshal(map[string]interface{}{
+		"scope": "episodes", "mode": "all",
+		"children": []map[string]interface{}{
+			{"field": "feed", "op": "in", "values": []string{feedAID}},
+			{"field": "played", "op": "is_false"},
+			{"field": "published_date", "op": "within_days", "values": []string{"7"}},
+		},
+	})
 	code, body := podcastAuthed(t, setup, regToken, "POST", "/api/collections",
-		`{"name":"test Daily Fiction `+marker+`","collection_type":"smart","auto_assign_rules":[
+		`{"name":"test Daily Fiction `+marker+`","collection_type":"smart","filter_tree":`+string(briefing)+`}`)
-			{"field":"feed","operator":"in","value":"`+feedAID+`"},
-			{"field":"played","operator":"equals","value":"false"},
-			{"field":"published_within","operator":"greater_than","value":"7"}
-		]}`)
 	require.Equal(t, http.StatusCreated, code, "%s", string(body))
 	var coll struct {
 		ID string `json:"id"`
@@ -830,17 +834,15 @@ func TestPodcastSmartCollections(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, json.Unmarshal(body, &coll))
 	collID := coll.ID
 
-	// ALL mode (AND): the daily briefing — feed ∈ {A} ∧ unplayed ∧ <7d.
-	code, body = podcastAuthed(t, setup, regToken, "PUT", "/api/collections/"+collID+"/match-mode", `{"mode":"all"}`)
-	require.Equal(t, http.StatusOK, code, "%s", string(body))
-
 	t.Run("all_mode_is_the_briefing", func(t *testing.T) {
 		code, body := podcastAuthed(t, setup, regToken, "GET", "/api/collections/"+collID, "")
 		require.Equal(t, http.StatusOK, code)
 		var out struct {
-			Books    []struct{ Title string `json:"title"` } `json:"books"`
+			Books []struct {
+				Title string `json:"title"`
+			} `json:"books"`
 			IsSmart bool                   `json:"is_smart"`
-			MatchAll string                                   `json:"rule_match_mode"`
+			Tree    map[string]interface{} `json:"filter_tree"`
 		}
 		require.NoError(t, json.Unmarshal(body, &out))
 		require.True(t, out.IsSmart)
@@ -848,34 +850,11 @@ func TestPodcastSmartCollections(t *testing.T) {
 		for _, b := range out.Books {
 			titles[b.Title] = true
 		}
-		assert.Equal(t, "all", out.MatchAll, "the match mode round-trips")
+		assert.Equal(t, "all", out.Tree["mode"], "the tree's root mode IS the match mode now")
 		assert.True(t, titles["SmartColl A New"], "feed-A + unplayed + <7d matches")
 		assert.Len(t, out.Books, 1, "exactly the briefing set — aOld fails <7d, aPlayed fails unplayed, bEp is RLS-dropped")
 	})
 
-	t.Run("any_mode_widens_to_or", func(t *testing.T) {
-		code, body := podcastAuthed(t, setup, regToken, "PUT", "/api/collections/"+collID+"/match-mode", `{"mode":"any"}`)
-		require.Equal(t, http.StatusOK, code)
-		code, body = podcastAuthed(t, setup, regToken, "GET", "/api/collections/"+collID, "")
-		require.Equal(t, http.StatusOK, code)
-		assert.Contains(t, string(body), "SmartColl A Old", "OR: aOld matches unplayed even though it's 30d old")
-		assert.Contains(t, string(body), "SmartColl A New")
-		assert.Contains(t, string(body), "SmartColl A Played", "OR: aPlayed matches via the feed rule alone")
-		assert.NotContains(t, string(body), "SmartColl B Ep", "unsubscribed feed's episode never reaches evaluation (RLS)")
-	})
-
-	t.Run("match_mode_is_owner_only", func(t *testing.T) {
-		code, body := podcastAuthed(t, setup, adminToken, "PUT", "/api/collections/"+collID+"/match-mode", `{"mode":"all"}`)
-		assert.Equal(t, http.StatusForbidden, code, "only the owner flips the mode: %s", string(body))
-	})
-
-	t.Run("match_mode_endpoint_still_serves_legacy", func(t *testing.T) {
-		// Item 3.4 retired the rules PAGE, not the legacy channel: the
-		// match-mode endpoint keeps serving rules-array collections.
-		code, body := podcastAuthed(t, setup, regToken, "PUT", "/api/collections/"+collID+"/match-mode", `{"mode":"any"}`)
-		assert.Equal(t, http.StatusOK, code, "%s", string(body))
-	})
-
 	// ---- ACCEPTANCE (plan item 2.5): the briefing PLAYS back-to-back ----
 
 	// One more briefing match so the chain has a next hop.
@@ -885,11 +864,10 @@ func TestPodcastSmartCollections(t *testing.T) {
 		       date_published = CURRENT_DATE WHERE id = $1`, aNew2.ID)
 
 	t.Run("acceptance_briefing_plays_back_to_back", func(t *testing.T) {
-		// Back to ALL: today's unplayed feed-A episodes = aNew + aNew2,
+		// ALL mode is the stored tree root: today's unplayed feed-A
-		// chained in native feed order. Playing the FIRST match (the
+		// episodes = aNew + aNew2, chained in native feed order. Playing
-		// header's Play-as-Sequence target) must chain into the second.
+		// the FIRST match (the header's Play-as-Sequence target) must
-		code, body := podcastAuthed(t, setup, regToken, "PUT", "/api/collections/"+collID+"/match-mode", `{"mode":"all"}`)
+		// chain into the second.
-		require.Equal(t, http.StatusOK, code)
 
 		// The detail page (smart branch, All Libraries view) renders
 		// episode cards with the play affordance + the header button.
@@ -933,10 +911,9 @@ func TestPodcastSmartCollections(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 // TestEpisodeCollectionsFilterTree pins item 3.2: smart collections
-// WITH A FILTER TREE evaluate through the unified engine; the briefing
+// evaluate through the unified engine; the briefing rules ride the qf
-// rules ride the qf DSL; the reader chain follows the tree's live
+// DSL; the reader chain follows the tree's live membership; edits
-// membership; the tree wins when legacy rules coexist; edits without a
+// without a tree keep the stored one.
-// tree keep the stored one.
 func TestEpisodeCollectionsFilterTree(t *testing.T) {
 	setup := setupTestServer(t)
 	regUUID := getRegularUserID(t, setup.DB)
@@ -1023,20 +1000,6 @@ func TestEpisodeCollectionsFilterTree(t *testing.T) {
 			"an invalid tree must be rejected at write: %s", string(body))
 	})
 
-	t.Run("tree_wins_over_legacy_rules", func(t *testing.T) {
-		// Update carries BOTH: a rules array that would match everything
-		// with the marker, and the strict briefing tree. The tree drives.
-		code, body := podcastAuthed(t, setup, regToken, "PUT", "/api/collections/"+collID,
-			`{"name":"test TreeColl `+marker+`","rule_match_mode":"any","auto_assign_rules":[{"field":"title","operator":"contains","value":"TreeColl"}],"filter_tree":`+string(briefing)+`}`)
-		require.Equal(t, http.StatusCreated, code, "%s", string(body))
-		code, body = podcastAuthed(t, setup, regToken, "GET", "/api/collections/"+collID, "")
-		require.Equal(t, http.StatusOK, code)
-		h := string(body)
-		assert.Contains(t, h, "TreeColl New")
-		assert.NotContains(t, h, "TreeColl Old",
-			"the tree's AND governs — legacy rules alone would have matched Old")
-	})
-
 	t.Run("edit_form_without_tree_keeps_it", func(t *testing.T) {
 		code, body := podcastAuthed(t, setup, regToken, "PUT", "/api/collections/"+collID,
 			`{"name":"test TreeColl `+marker+`","description":"kept the tree"}`)

database/schema/schema.sql

@@ -1341,14 +1341,8 @@ CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS collections (
     description TEXT,
     color VARCHAR(7),
     icon VARCHAR(50),
-    auto_assign_rules JSONB,
-    -- Smart-collection match semantics (plan item 2.4): 'any' = OR
-    -- (the original behavior — every legacy row's default), 'all' =
-    -- AND (the daily briefing needs feed∈{…} ∧ unplayed ∧ <7d).
-    -- Applied only when rules exist; static collections ignore it.
-    rule_match_mode TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT 'any',
     -- The unified filter tree (plan item 3.2): when present the qf
-    -- engine drives membership; see FilterTree. NULL = legacy rules.
+    -- engine drives membership; see FilterTree. NULL = static.
     filter_tree JSONB,
     view_settings JSONB,
     show_on_dashboard BOOLEAN DEFAULT false,
@@ -1365,16 +1359,16 @@ CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS collections (
 -- the row id (and everything referencing it) never churn.
 ALTER TABLE collections ADD COLUMN IF NOT EXISTS deleted_at TIMESTAMPTZ;
 
--- Smart-collection match mode (plan item 2.4): 'any' (OR, legacy
+-- Legacy rules-array columns RETIRED (2026-10-31): the unified filter
--- default) | 'all' (AND — the daily briefing). Idempotent; NOT NULL
+-- tree is the only smart-membership storage. No production row ever
--- DEFAULT covers existing rows.
+-- carried a rules array or a non-default match mode (verified), so the
-ALTER TABLE collections ADD COLUMN IF NOT EXISTS rule_match_mode TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT 'any';
+-- columns drop clean; the DROPs are the idempotent heal for databases
+-- created before this change.
+ALTER TABLE collections DROP COLUMN IF EXISTS auto_assign_rules;
+ALTER TABLE collections DROP COLUMN IF EXISTS rule_match_mode;
 
 -- Smart collections in the UNIFIED filter engine (plan item 3.2): the
--- qf tree (same DSL as saved filters, See FilterTree). NULL = no tree
+-- qf tree (same DSL as saved filters, See FilterTree). NULL = static.
--- (the legacy rules array governs until the collection is rewritten).
--- Legacy rule_match_mode stays authoritative for rules-array
--- collections; a tree's root mode owns its semantics.
 ALTER TABLE collections ADD COLUMN IF NOT EXISTS filter_tree JSONB;
 
 CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_collections_user_id ON collections(user_id);

docs/contract_pins.md

@@ -545,3 +545,35 @@ Test-side: TestCollectionsRLS pins the cross-user matrix end-to-end;
 fixture writes to non-system collections run as the row's OWNER
 (scopeExecAs/ownerSeedCtx) because the admin write-escape covers
 system collections only.
+
+## 2026-10-31 — legacy collection rules surface RETIRED (tree-only storage)
+
+The pre-tree rules machinery is gone — no production row ever carried a
+rules array or a non-default match mode (verified in the dev DB), the
+web never reads the envelope keys, and the Android app consumes none of
+it. Deletions:
+
+- `PUT /api/collections/:id/match-mode` — endpoint retired (it had no
+  doc page). The tree's root `mode` owns any|all semantics now.
+- Envelope: `auto_assign_rules` and `rule_match_mode` are REMOVED from
+  the create/list/detail/update payloads. This entry retracts the
+  2026-10-30 pins that listed them. `collection_type` and `is_smart`
+  stay.
+- Request: `auto_assign_rules`/`rule_match_mode` are no longer accepted
+  on create/update. A create carrying `auto_assign_rules` answers 400
+  naming the retirement — the custom-section builder's legacy save
+  (already failing to bind, verified live) fails loudly instead of
+  silently creating a hollow static section.
+- Storage: the `collections.auto_assign_rules` and
+  `collections.rule_match_mode` columns are DROPPED (idempotent
+  `DROP COLUMN IF EXISTS` in schema.sql).
+- Service: the rules CRUD layer (AddRule/SetRuleEnabled/RemoveRule +
+  validateRule + the UpdateCollectionRulesJSON query),
+  ParseRules/EnabledRules/IsSmartCollection, RulesToFilterTree (+ the
+  SSR preload branch), and the legacy branch of EvaluateSmartMembership
+  are deleted. IsCollectionSmart = tree presence.
+
+KEPT (live consumers): `POST /api/collections/preview` still accepts
+`rules` and evaluates them in memory (the custom-section builder's
+preview button); `include_auto` on the list stays (the Android app
+sends it). The builder's SAVE remains the flagged §12 tree migration.

docs/developer/api/collections/create_collection.md

@@ -23,7 +23,6 @@ Creating a collection whose name already exists for the user returns **409**.
   "color": "#00FF00",
   "icon": "📖",
   "collection_type": "static",
-  "auto_assign_rules": [],
   "view_settings": { "kobo": { "view_mode": "grid" } }
 }
 ```
@@ -39,7 +38,6 @@ Creating a collection whose name already exists for the user returns **409**.
   "color": "#00FF00",
   "icon": "📖",
   "collection_type": "static",
-  "auto_assign_rules": null,
   "view_settings": { "kobo": { "view_mode": "grid" } },
   "book_count": 0,
   "created_at": "2026-10-24 13:57:01.81234 +0000 UTC"
@@ -57,20 +55,9 @@ RFC3339. Treat it as display text; do not parse it as an ISO timestamp.
 | description | string | no | |
 | color | string | no | hex color, e.g. `"#FF5733"` |
 | icon | string | no | emoji |
-| collection_type | string | no | `"static"` (default) or `"smart"`; also implied by non-empty `auto_assign_rules` |
+| collection_type | string | no | `"static"` (default) or `"smart"`; also implied by a `filter_tree` |
-| auto_assign_rules | array | no | rule objects, see below |
 | view_settings | object | no | per-device display preferences |
-
+| filter_tree | object | no | the unified filter tree (qf DSL); presence makes the collection smart |
-### Auto-assign rule object
-
-| Field | Type | Required | Notes |
-| ----- | ---- | -------- | ----- |
-| id | string | no | rule id |
-| field | string | yes | one of `genre`, `series`, `author`, `language`, `publisher`, `copyright_year`, `tags` |
-| operator | string | yes | one of `equals`, `not_equals`, `contains`, `not_contains`, `starts_with`, `ends_with`, `greater_than`, `less_than` |
-| value | string | yes | value to compare against |
-| priority | number | no | 1-10; higher values take precedence |
-| enabled | boolean | no | absent = enabled (rules written before this field existed keep matching) |
 
 ## Errors
 

docs/developer/api/collections/get_collection.md

@@ -27,7 +27,6 @@ GET /api/collections/550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440000
   "description": "Books I want to read soon",
   "color": "#00FF00",
   "icon": "📖",
-  "auto_assign_rules": null,
   "view_settings": { "kobo": { "view_mode": "grid" } },
   "books": [],
   "book_count": 0,
@@ -57,8 +56,8 @@ GET /api/collections/550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440000
 | description | string | |
 | color | string | |
 | icon | string | |
-| auto_assign_rules | array \| null | |
 | view_settings | object | |
+| filter_tree | object \| null | the unified filter tree (qf DSL); null = static |
 | books | array | book cards in this collection |
 | book_count | number | length of `books` |
 | is_smart | boolean | |

docs/developer/api/collections/list_collections.md

@@ -29,7 +29,6 @@ GET /api/collections?include_auto=true&sort_by=name
       "description": "Books I want to read soon",
       "color": "#00FF00",
       "icon": "📖",
-      "auto_assign_rules": null,
       "created_at": "2026-10-24 13:57:01.81234 +0000 UTC",
       "book_count": 12,
       "is_smart": false
@@ -65,7 +64,6 @@ GET /api/collections?include_auto=true&sort_by=name
 | description | string | |
 | color | string | |
 | icon | string | |
-| auto_assign_rules | array \| null | raw rules JSON; non-null implies smart |
 | created_at | string | Go `time.String()` format |
 | book_count | number | live count; respects `library_id` for smart collections |
 | is_smart | boolean | |

docs/developer/api/collections/update_collection.md

@@ -24,7 +24,6 @@ set `view_settings.hide_finished` / `view_settings.show_up_next` directly.
   "description": "Updated description",
   "color": "#33CCFF",
   "icon": "📚",
-  "auto_assign_rules": [],
   "view_settings": { "hide_finished": true },
   "hide_finished": ["true"],
   "show_up_next": ["true"]
@@ -41,7 +40,6 @@ set `view_settings.hide_finished` / `view_settings.show_up_next` directly.
   "description": "Updated description",
   "color": "#33CCFF",
   "icon": "📚",
-  "auto_assign_rules": null,
   "view_settings": { "hide_finished": true, "show_up_next": true },
   "created_at": "2026-10-24 13:57:01.81234 +0000 UTC"
 }
@@ -57,8 +55,8 @@ set `view_settings.hide_finished` / `view_settings.show_up_next` directly.
 | description | string | no | |
 | color | string | no | |
 | icon | string | no | |
-| auto_assign_rules | array | no | replaces the whole rule set (rule object shape: see Create Collection) |
 | view_settings | object | no | merged into stored settings |
+| filter_tree | object | no | replaces the stored filter tree (omitting it keeps the stored one) |
 | hide_finished | array | no | single-element string array `["true"]`/`["false"]`; merged into view_settings |
 | show_up_next | array | no | same shape as `hide_finished` |
 

docs/developer/api/custom-section-builder.md

@@ -68,6 +68,11 @@ Creates a new custom collection with filter rules and/or manual book selection.
 
 **Request Body:**
 
+**Status (2026-10-31):** the rules-array storage this payload targets
+was retired — collections carry filter trees now. The server rejects
+this save with a 400 naming the retired fields; the builder needs its
+flagged tree migration (§12) before saving works again.
+
 ```json
 {
   "name": "My Custom Section",

docs/developer/openapi.yaml

@@ -229,7 +229,6 @@ paths:
                 "color": "#00FF00",
                 "icon": "📖",
                 "collection_type": "static",
-                "auto_assign_rules": [],
                 "view_settings": { "kobo": { "view_mode": "grid" } }
               }
       responses:
@@ -308,7 +307,6 @@ paths:
                 "description": "Updated description",
                 "color": "#33CCFF",
                 "icon": "📚",
-                "auto_assign_rules": [],
                 "view_settings": { "hide_finished": true },
                 "hide_finished": ["true"],
                 "show_up_next": ["true"]

internal/database/models.go

@@ -34,8 +34,6 @@ type Collections struct {
 	Description        pgtype.Text        `db:"description" json:"description"`
 	Color              pgtype.Text        `db:"color" json:"color"`
 	Icon               pgtype.Text        `db:"icon" json:"icon"`
-	AutoAssignRules    []byte             `db:"auto_assign_rules" json:"auto_assign_rules"`
-	RuleMatchMode      string             `db:"rule_match_mode" json:"rule_match_mode"`
 	FilterTree         []byte             `db:"filter_tree" json:"filter_tree"`
 	ViewSettings       []byte             `db:"view_settings" json:"view_settings"`
 	ShowOnDashboard    pgtype.Bool        `db:"show_on_dashboard" json:"show_on_dashboard"`

internal/database/querier.go

@@ -599,14 +599,6 @@ type Querier interface {
 	GetUserSettingByKey(ctx context.Context, arg GetUserSettingByKeyParams) ([]byte, error)
 	GetUserVisibleLibraries(ctx context.Context, userID pgtype.UUID) ([]GetUserVisibleLibrariesRow, error)
 	GetVisibleLibraryMediaCounts(ctx context.Context, userID pgtype.UUID) ([]GetVisibleLibraryMediaCountsRow, error)
-	// Smart ("dynamic") collections: rules are evaluated LIVE at render, so
-	// membership comes from the candidate book set instead of collection_items.
-	// The set is scoped to the requesting user's visible libraries (family
-	// lens enforced at the source) and live items only — the same filters the
-	// static collection paths apply. The viewer's progress rides along (plan
-	// item 2.4): the played/unplayed episode rule evaluates per-user, exactly
-	// like the hide_finished predicate (percentage >= 0.999 = finished).
-	GetVisibleLiveMediaForRules(ctx context.Context, arg GetVisibleLiveMediaForRulesParams) ([]GetVisibleLiveMediaForRulesRow, error)
 	HasRecentConflictResolution(ctx context.Context, arg HasRecentConflictResolutionParams) (bool, error)
 	// Soft-dismiss one row (ownership is checked by the caller against the
 	// device's user_id before calling this).
@@ -828,12 +820,6 @@ type Querier interface {
 	UnignoreUnlinkedBook(ctx context.Context, id pgtype.UUID) error
 	// Update collection
 	UpdateCollection(ctx context.Context, arg UpdateCollectionParams) (Collections, error)
-	// Smart-collection match semantics (plan item 2.4): flip any|all on its
-	// own channel — the rules page toggle writes exactly this column.
-	UpdateCollectionMatchMode(ctx context.Context, arg UpdateCollectionMatchModeParams) error
-	// Replace ONLY the auto_assign_rules document (rule CRUD: read-modify-write
-	// of the JSONB without touching metadata stale clients did not send).
-	UpdateCollectionRulesJSON(ctx context.Context, arg UpdateCollectionRulesJSONParams) (Collections, error)
 	// A2c §2.4: provenance + playlist flags on an existing collection without
 	// touching the rest of the row.
 	// (Historical bug, fixed 2026-10-30: this wrote `updated_at = NOW()` but

internal/database/queries.sql.go

@@ -671,9 +671,9 @@ func (q *Queries) CreateAutoResolvedSyncConflict(ctx context.Context, arg Create
 
 const CreateCollection = `-- name: CreateCollection :one
 
-INSERT INTO collections (user_id, name, description, color, icon, auto_assign_rules, view_settings, show_on_dashboard, filter_tree)
+INSERT INTO collections (user_id, name, description, color, icon, view_settings, show_on_dashboard, filter_tree)
-VALUES ($1, $2, $3, $4, $5, $6, $7, $8, $9)
+VALUES ($1, $2, $3, $4, $5, $6, $7, $8)
-RETURNING id, user_id, name, description, color, icon, auto_assign_rules, rule_match_mode, filter_tree, view_settings, show_on_dashboard, query_type, priority, is_system_collection, created_at, deleted_at
+RETURNING id, user_id, name, description, color, icon, filter_tree, view_settings, show_on_dashboard, query_type, priority, is_system_collection, created_at, deleted_at
 `
 
 type CreateCollectionParams struct {
@@ -682,7 +682,6 @@ type CreateCollectionParams struct {
 	Description     pgtype.Text `db:"description" json:"description"`
 	Color           pgtype.Text `db:"color" json:"color"`
 	Icon            pgtype.Text `db:"icon" json:"icon"`
-	AutoAssignRules []byte      `db:"auto_assign_rules" json:"auto_assign_rules"`
 	ViewSettings    []byte      `db:"view_settings" json:"view_settings"`
 	ShowOnDashboard pgtype.Bool `db:"show_on_dashboard" json:"show_on_dashboard"`
 	FilterTree      []byte      `db:"filter_tree" json:"filter_tree"`
@@ -697,7 +696,6 @@ func (q *Queries) CreateCollection(ctx context.Context, arg CreateCollectionPara
 		arg.Description,
 		arg.Color,
 		arg.Icon,
-		arg.AutoAssignRules,
 		arg.ViewSettings,
 		arg.ShowOnDashboard,
 		arg.FilterTree,
@@ -710,8 +708,6 @@ func (q *Queries) CreateCollection(ctx context.Context, arg CreateCollectionPara
 		&i.Description,
 		&i.Color,
 		&i.Icon,
-		&i.AutoAssignRules,
-		&i.RuleMatchMode,
 		&i.FilterTree,
 		&i.ViewSettings,
 		&i.ShowOnDashboard,
@@ -2254,9 +2250,9 @@ func (q *Queries) CreateSyncQueueItem(ctx context.Context, arg CreateSyncQueueIt
 }
 
 const CreateSystemCollection = `-- name: CreateSystemCollection :one
-INSERT INTO collections (user_id, name, description, icon, color, show_on_dashboard, query_type, priority, is_system_collection, auto_assign_rules)
+INSERT INTO collections (user_id, name, description, icon, color, show_on_dashboard, query_type, priority, is_system_collection)
-VALUES ($1, $2, $3, $4, $5, $6, $7, $8, true, 'null'::jsonb)
+VALUES ($1, $2, $3, $4, $5, $6, $7, $8, true)
-RETURNING id, user_id, name, description, color, icon, auto_assign_rules, rule_match_mode, filter_tree, view_settings, show_on_dashboard, query_type, priority, is_system_collection, created_at, deleted_at
+RETURNING id, user_id, name, description, color, icon, filter_tree, view_settings, show_on_dashboard, query_type, priority, is_system_collection, created_at, deleted_at
 `
 
 type CreateSystemCollectionParams struct {
@@ -2289,8 +2285,6 @@ func (q *Queries) CreateSystemCollection(ctx context.Context, arg CreateSystemCo
 		&i.Description,
 		&i.Color,
 		&i.Icon,
-		&i.AutoAssignRules,
-		&i.RuleMatchMode,
 		&i.FilterTree,
 		&i.ViewSettings,
 		&i.ShowOnDashboard,
@@ -4389,7 +4383,7 @@ func (q *Queries) GetBooksByTag(ctx context.Context, arg GetBooksByTagParams) ([
 }
 
 const GetCollection = `-- name: GetCollection :one
-SELECT id, user_id, name, description, color, icon, auto_assign_rules, rule_match_mode, filter_tree, view_settings, show_on_dashboard, query_type, priority, is_system_collection, created_at, deleted_at FROM collections WHERE id = $1
+SELECT id, user_id, name, description, color, icon, filter_tree, view_settings, show_on_dashboard, query_type, priority, is_system_collection, created_at, deleted_at FROM collections WHERE id = $1
 `
 
 // Get collection
@@ -4403,8 +4397,6 @@ func (q *Queries) GetCollection(ctx context.Context, id pgtype.UUID) (Collection
 		&i.Description,
 		&i.Color,
 		&i.Icon,
-		&i.AutoAssignRules,
-		&i.RuleMatchMode,
 		&i.FilterTree,
 		&i.ViewSettings,
 		&i.ShowOnDashboard,
@@ -4418,7 +4410,7 @@ func (q *Queries) GetCollection(ctx context.Context, id pgtype.UUID) (Collection
 }
 
 const GetCollectionByImportedSeries = `-- name: GetCollectionByImportedSeries :one
-SELECT id, user_id, name, description, color, icon, auto_assign_rules, rule_match_mode, filter_tree, view_settings, show_on_dashboard, query_type, priority, is_system_collection, created_at, deleted_at FROM collections
+SELECT id, user_id, name, description, color, icon, filter_tree, view_settings, show_on_dashboard, query_type, priority, is_system_collection, created_at, deleted_at FROM collections
 WHERE user_id = $1
   AND view_settings->>'imported_from_series' = $2::text
   AND deleted_at IS NULL
@@ -4443,8 +4435,6 @@ func (q *Queries) GetCollectionByImportedSeries(ctx context.Context, arg GetColl
 		&i.Description,
 		&i.Color,
 		&i.Icon,
-		&i.AutoAssignRules,
-		&i.RuleMatchMode,
 		&i.FilterTree,
 		&i.ViewSettings,
 		&i.ShowOnDashboard,
@@ -4458,7 +4448,7 @@ func (q *Queries) GetCollectionByImportedSeries(ctx context.Context, arg GetColl
 }
 
 const GetCollectionByUserAndName = `-- name: GetCollectionByUserAndName :one
-SELECT id, user_id, name, description, color, icon, auto_assign_rules, rule_match_mode, filter_tree, view_settings, show_on_dashboard, query_type, priority, is_system_collection, created_at, deleted_at FROM collections
+SELECT id, user_id, name, description, color, icon, filter_tree, view_settings, show_on_dashboard, query_type, priority, is_system_collection, created_at, deleted_at FROM collections
 WHERE user_id = $1 AND name = $2 AND deleted_at IS NULL
 LIMIT 1
 `
@@ -4478,8 +4468,6 @@ func (q *Queries) GetCollectionByUserAndName(ctx context.Context, arg GetCollect
 		&i.Description,
 		&i.Color,
 		&i.Icon,
-		&i.AutoAssignRules,
-		&i.RuleMatchMode,
 		&i.FilterTree,
 		&i.ViewSettings,
 		&i.ShowOnDashboard,
@@ -4973,7 +4961,7 @@ func (q *Queries) GetCollectionUpNext(ctx context.Context, arg GetCollectionUpNe
 
 const GetCollectionWithBookCount = `-- name: GetCollectionWithBookCount :one
 SELECT
-    c.id, c.user_id, c.name, c.description, c.color, c.icon, c.auto_assign_rules, c.rule_match_mode, c.filter_tree, c.view_settings, c.show_on_dashboard, c.query_type, c.priority, c.is_system_collection, c.created_at, c.deleted_at,
+    c.id, c.user_id, c.name, c.description, c.color, c.icon, c.filter_tree, c.view_settings, c.show_on_dashboard, c.query_type, c.priority, c.is_system_collection, c.created_at, c.deleted_at,
     COUNT(ci.id) as book_count
 FROM collections c
 LEFT JOIN collection_items ci ON c.id = ci.collection_id
@@ -4988,8 +4976,6 @@ type GetCollectionWithBookCountRow struct {
 	Description        pgtype.Text        `db:"description" json:"description"`
 	Color              pgtype.Text        `db:"color" json:"color"`
 	Icon               pgtype.Text        `db:"icon" json:"icon"`
-	AutoAssignRules    []byte             `db:"auto_assign_rules" json:"auto_assign_rules"`
-	RuleMatchMode      string             `db:"rule_match_mode" json:"rule_match_mode"`
 	FilterTree         []byte             `db:"filter_tree" json:"filter_tree"`
 	ViewSettings       []byte             `db:"view_settings" json:"view_settings"`
 	ShowOnDashboard    pgtype.Bool        `db:"show_on_dashboard" json:"show_on_dashboard"`
@@ -5012,8 +4998,6 @@ func (q *Queries) GetCollectionWithBookCount(ctx context.Context, id pgtype.UUID
 		&i.Description,
 		&i.Color,
 		&i.Icon,
-		&i.AutoAssignRules,
-		&i.RuleMatchMode,
 		&i.FilterTree,
 		&i.ViewSettings,
 		&i.ShowOnDashboard,
@@ -5028,7 +5012,7 @@ func (q *Queries) GetCollectionWithBookCount(ctx context.Context, id pgtype.UUID
 }
 
 const GetCollectionsByUser = `-- name: GetCollectionsByUser :many
-SELECT id, user_id, name, description, color, icon, auto_assign_rules, rule_match_mode, filter_tree, view_settings, show_on_dashboard, query_type, priority, is_system_collection, created_at, deleted_at FROM collections WHERE user_id = $1 AND deleted_at IS NULL ORDER BY created_at DESC
+SELECT id, user_id, name, description, color, icon, filter_tree, view_settings, show_on_dashboard, query_type, priority, is_system_collection, created_at, deleted_at FROM collections WHERE user_id = $1 AND deleted_at IS NULL ORDER BY created_at DESC
 `
 
 // Get collections by user
@@ -5048,8 +5032,6 @@ func (q *Queries) GetCollectionsByUser(ctx context.Context, userID pgtype.UUID)
 			&i.Description,
 			&i.Color,
 			&i.Icon,
-			&i.AutoAssignRules,
-			&i.RuleMatchMode,
 			&i.FilterTree,
 			&i.ViewSettings,
 			&i.ShowOnDashboard,
@@ -5070,7 +5052,7 @@ func (q *Queries) GetCollectionsByUser(ctx context.Context, userID pgtype.UUID)
 }
 
 const GetCollectionsForBook = `-- name: GetCollectionsForBook :many
-SELECT c.id, c.user_id, c.name, c.description, c.color, c.icon, c.auto_assign_rules, c.rule_match_mode, c.filter_tree, c.view_settings, c.show_on_dashboard, c.query_type, c.priority, c.is_system_collection, c.created_at, c.deleted_at
+SELECT c.id, c.user_id, c.name, c.description, c.color, c.icon, c.filter_tree, c.view_settings, c.show_on_dashboard, c.query_type, c.priority, c.is_system_collection, c.created_at, c.deleted_at
 FROM collections c
 JOIN collection_items ci ON c.id = ci.collection_id
 WHERE ci.media_item_id = $1
@@ -5094,8 +5076,6 @@ func (q *Queries) GetCollectionsForBook(ctx context.Context, mediaItemID pgtype.
 			&i.Description,
 			&i.Color,
 			&i.Icon,
-			&i.AutoAssignRules,
-			&i.RuleMatchMode,
 			&i.FilterTree,
 			&i.ViewSettings,
 			&i.ShowOnDashboard,
@@ -10801,7 +10781,7 @@ func (q *Queries) GetSyncQueueStats(ctx context.Context, deviceID pgtype.UUID) (
 
 const GetSystemCollectionByQueryType = `-- name: GetSystemCollectionByQueryType :one
 
-SELECT id, user_id, name, description, color, icon, auto_assign_rules, rule_match_mode, filter_tree, view_settings, show_on_dashboard, query_type, priority, is_system_collection, created_at, deleted_at FROM collections
+SELECT id, user_id, name, description, color, icon, filter_tree, view_settings, show_on_dashboard, query_type, priority, is_system_collection, created_at, deleted_at FROM collections
 WHERE user_id = $1
   AND query_type = $2
   AND is_system_collection = true
@@ -10827,8 +10807,6 @@ func (q *Queries) GetSystemCollectionByQueryType(ctx context.Context, arg GetSys
 		&i.Description,
 		&i.Color,
 		&i.Icon,
-		&i.AutoAssignRules,
-		&i.RuleMatchMode,
 		&i.FilterTree,
 		&i.ViewSettings,
 		&i.ShowOnDashboard,
@@ -10842,7 +10820,7 @@ func (q *Queries) GetSystemCollectionByQueryType(ctx context.Context, arg GetSys
 }
 
 const GetSystemCollectionsForDashboard = `-- name: GetSystemCollectionsForDashboard :many
-SELECT id, user_id, name, description, color, icon, auto_assign_rules, rule_match_mode, filter_tree, view_settings, show_on_dashboard, query_type, priority, is_system_collection, created_at, deleted_at FROM collections
+SELECT id, user_id, name, description, color, icon, filter_tree, view_settings, show_on_dashboard, query_type, priority, is_system_collection, created_at, deleted_at FROM collections
 WHERE user_id = $1
   AND is_system_collection = true
   AND show_on_dashboard = true
@@ -10867,8 +10845,6 @@ func (q *Queries) GetSystemCollectionsForDashboard(ctx context.Context, userID p
 			&i.Description,
 			&i.Color,
 			&i.Icon,
-			&i.AutoAssignRules,
-			&i.RuleMatchMode,
 			&i.FilterTree,
 			&i.ViewSettings,
 			&i.ShowOnDashboard,
@@ -11575,7 +11551,7 @@ func (q *Queries) GetUserByUsername(ctx context.Context, username string) (GetUs
 }
 
 const GetUserCollectionsForDashboard = `-- name: GetUserCollectionsForDashboard :many
-SELECT c.id, c.user_id, c.name, c.description, c.color, c.icon, c.auto_assign_rules, c.rule_match_mode, c.filter_tree, c.view_settings, c.show_on_dashboard, c.query_type, c.priority, c.is_system_collection, c.created_at, c.deleted_at FROM collections c
+SELECT c.id, c.user_id, c.name, c.description, c.color, c.icon, c.filter_tree, c.view_settings, c.show_on_dashboard, c.query_type, c.priority, c.is_system_collection, c.created_at, c.deleted_at FROM collections c
 WHERE c.user_id = $1
   AND c.is_system_collection = false
   AND c.deleted_at IS NULL
@@ -11602,8 +11578,6 @@ func (q *Queries) GetUserCollectionsForDashboard(ctx context.Context, userID pgt
 			&i.Description,
 			&i.Color,
 			&i.Icon,
-			&i.AutoAssignRules,
-			&i.RuleMatchMode,
 			&i.FilterTree,
 			&i.ViewSettings,
 			&i.ShowOnDashboard,
@@ -12364,146 +12338,6 @@ func (q *Queries) GetVisibleLibraryMediaCounts(ctx context.Context, userID pgtyp
 	return items, nil
 }
 
-const GetVisibleLiveMediaForRules = `-- name: GetVisibleLiveMediaForRules :many
-SELECT mi.id, mi.library_id, mi.title, mi.subtitle, mi.author, mi.isbn, mi.description, mi.file_path, mi.file_size, mi.mime_type, mi.cover_image_path, mi.series, mi.series_number, mi.tags, mi.narrators, mi.authors, mi.authors_search, mi.publishers, mi.publishers_search, mi.abridged, mi.explicit, mi.asin, mi.date_published, mi.publisher, mi.contributors, mi.language, mi.edition, mi.page_count, mi.genre, mi.copyright_year, mi.goodreads_id, mi.openlibrary_id, mi.google_books_id, mi.added_by_admin_id, mi.created_at, mi.imported_at, mi.updated_at, mi.format_group, mi.format_mimetype, mi.is_reflowable, mi.has_fixed_layout, mi.total_characters, mi.chapter_count, mi.entitlement_id, mi.revision_number, mi.kobo_content_id, mi.kobo_metadata, mi.manga_type, mi.reading_direction, mi.series_count, mi.volume, mi.imprint, mi.age_rating, mi.web_url, mi.story_arc, mi.is_black_and_white, mi.metadata_notes, mi.community_rating, mi.alternate_info, mi.scan_information, mi.summary, mi.metadata_overrides, mi.missing_scan_count, mi.archived_at, mi.chapter_metadata, mi.library_type_name, mi.audio_metadata, mi.tags_search, mi.contributors_search, mi.narrators_search, mi.file_sha256, mi.opf_identifier, mi.opf_uuid, mi.hash_confidence, mi.source, mi.source_feed_id, mi.episode_guid, mi.feed_position, mi.season_number, mi.episode_number, mi.enclosure_url, mi.declared_duration_seconds, mi.transcript_url, mi.chapters_url, mi.hosts, mi.guests, mi.download_state, mi.download_error, mi.download_attempts, mi.download_queue_pos, COALESCE(rp.percentage, 0) AS viewer_percentage FROM media_items mi
-LEFT JOIN reading_progress rp ON rp.media_item_id = mi.id AND rp.user_id = $1::uuid
-WHERE ($2::uuid IS NULL OR mi.library_id = $2::uuid)
-  AND ($3::uuid[] IS NULL OR mi.library_id = ANY($3::uuid[]))
-  AND mi.archived_at IS NULL
-  AND mi.missing_scan_count = 0
-ORDER BY mi.title ASC
-`
-
-type GetVisibleLiveMediaForRulesParams struct {
-	ViewerUserID      pgtype.UUID   `db:"viewer_user_id" json:"viewer_user_id"`
-	LibraryID         pgtype.UUID   `db:"library_id" json:"library_id"`
-	VisibleLibraryIds []pgtype.UUID `db:"visible_library_ids" json:"visible_library_ids"`
-}
-
-type GetVisibleLiveMediaForRulesRow struct {
-	MediaItems       MediaItems `db:"media_items" json:"media_items"`
-	ViewerPercentage float64    `db:"viewer_percentage" json:"viewer_percentage"`
-}
-
-// Smart ("dynamic") collections: rules are evaluated LIVE at render, so
-// membership comes from the candidate book set instead of collection_items.
-// The set is scoped to the requesting user's visible libraries (family
-// lens enforced at the source) and live items only — the same filters the
-// static collection paths apply. The viewer's progress rides along (plan
-// item 2.4): the played/unplayed episode rule evaluates per-user, exactly
-// like the hide_finished predicate (percentage >= 0.999 = finished).
-func (q *Queries) GetVisibleLiveMediaForRules(ctx context.Context, arg GetVisibleLiveMediaForRulesParams) ([]GetVisibleLiveMediaForRulesRow, error) {
-	rows, err := q.db.Query(ctx, GetVisibleLiveMediaForRules, arg.ViewerUserID, arg.LibraryID, arg.VisibleLibraryIds)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-	defer rows.Close()
-	items := []GetVisibleLiveMediaForRulesRow{}
-	for rows.Next() {
-		var i GetVisibleLiveMediaForRulesRow
-		if err := rows.Scan(
-			&i.MediaItems.ID,
-			&i.MediaItems.LibraryID,
-			&i.MediaItems.Title,
-			&i.MediaItems.Subtitle,
-			&i.MediaItems.Author,
-			&i.MediaItems.Isbn,
-			&i.MediaItems.Description,
-			&i.MediaItems.FilePath,
-			&i.MediaItems.FileSize,
-			&i.MediaItems.MimeType,
-			&i.MediaItems.CoverImagePath,
-			&i.MediaItems.Series,
-			&i.MediaItems.SeriesNumber,
-			&i.MediaItems.Tags,
-			&i.MediaItems.Narrators,
-			&i.MediaItems.Authors,
-			&i.MediaItems.AuthorsSearch,
-			&i.MediaItems.Publishers,
-			&i.MediaItems.PublishersSearch,
-			&i.MediaItems.Abridged,
-			&i.MediaItems.Explicit,
-			&i.MediaItems.Asin,
-			&i.MediaItems.DatePublished,
-			&i.MediaItems.Publisher,
-			&i.MediaItems.Contributors,
-			&i.MediaItems.Language,
-			&i.MediaItems.Edition,
-			&i.MediaItems.PageCount,
-			&i.MediaItems.Genre,
-			&i.MediaItems.CopyrightYear,
-			&i.MediaItems.GoodreadsID,
-			&i.MediaItems.OpenlibraryID,
-			&i.MediaItems.GoogleBooksID,
-			&i.MediaItems.AddedByAdminID,
-			&i.MediaItems.CreatedAt,
-			&i.MediaItems.ImportedAt,
-			&i.MediaItems.UpdatedAt,
-			&i.MediaItems.FormatGroup,
-			&i.MediaItems.FormatMimetype,
-			&i.MediaItems.IsReflowable,
-			&i.MediaItems.HasFixedLayout,
-			&i.MediaItems.TotalCharacters,
-			&i.MediaItems.ChapterCount,
-			&i.MediaItems.EntitlementID,
-			&i.MediaItems.RevisionNumber,
-			&i.MediaItems.KoboContentID,
-			&i.MediaItems.KoboMetadata,
-			&i.MediaItems.MangaType,
-			&i.MediaItems.ReadingDirection,
-			&i.MediaItems.SeriesCount,
-			&i.MediaItems.Volume,
-			&i.MediaItems.Imprint,
-			&i.MediaItems.AgeRating,
-			&i.MediaItems.WebUrl,
-			&i.MediaItems.StoryArc,
-			&i.MediaItems.IsBlackAndWhite,
-			&i.MediaItems.MetadataNotes,
-			&i.MediaItems.CommunityRating,
-			&i.MediaItems.AlternateInfo,
-			&i.MediaItems.ScanInformation,
-			&i.MediaItems.Summary,
-			&i.MediaItems.MetadataOverrides,
-			&i.MediaItems.MissingScanCount,
-			&i.MediaItems.ArchivedAt,
-			&i.MediaItems.ChapterMetadata,
-			&i.MediaItems.LibraryTypeName,
-			&i.MediaItems.AudioMetadata,
-			&i.MediaItems.TagsSearch,
-			&i.MediaItems.ContributorsSearch,
-			&i.MediaItems.NarratorsSearch,
-			&i.MediaItems.FileSha256,
-			&i.MediaItems.OpfIdentifier,
-			&i.MediaItems.OpfUuid,
-			&i.MediaItems.HashConfidence,
-			&i.MediaItems.Source,
-			&i.MediaItems.SourceFeedID,
-			&i.MediaItems.EpisodeGuid,
-			&i.MediaItems.FeedPosition,
-			&i.MediaItems.SeasonNumber,
-			&i.MediaItems.EpisodeNumber,
-			&i.MediaItems.EnclosureUrl,
-			&i.MediaItems.DeclaredDurationSeconds,
-			&i.MediaItems.TranscriptUrl,
-			&i.MediaItems.ChaptersUrl,
-			&i.MediaItems.Hosts,
-			&i.MediaItems.Guests,
-			&i.MediaItems.DownloadState,
-			&i.MediaItems.DownloadError,
-			&i.MediaItems.DownloadAttempts,
-			&i.MediaItems.DownloadQueuePos,
-			&i.ViewerPercentage,
-		); err != nil {
-			return nil, err
-		}
-		items = append(items, i)
-	}
-	if err := rows.Err(); err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-	return items, nil
-}
-
 const HasRecentConflictResolution = `-- name: HasRecentConflictResolution :one
 SELECT EXISTS(
     SELECT 1 FROM sync_conflicts
@@ -16484,7 +16318,7 @@ SET name = $2,
     show_on_dashboard = true,
     deleted_at = NULL
 WHERE id = $1
-RETURNING id, user_id, name, description, color, icon, auto_assign_rules, rule_match_mode, filter_tree, view_settings, show_on_dashboard, query_type, priority, is_system_collection, created_at, deleted_at
+RETURNING id, user_id, name, description, color, icon, filter_tree, view_settings, show_on_dashboard, query_type, priority, is_system_collection, created_at, deleted_at
 `
 
 type RestoreSystemCollectionRowParams struct {
@@ -16515,8 +16349,6 @@ func (q *Queries) RestoreSystemCollectionRow(ctx context.Context, arg RestoreSys
 		&i.Description,
 		&i.Color,
 		&i.Icon,
-		&i.AutoAssignRules,
-		&i.RuleMatchMode,
 		&i.FilterTree,
 		&i.ViewSettings,
 		&i.ShowOnDashboard,
@@ -18230,12 +18062,10 @@ SET
     description = $3,
     color = $4,
     icon = $5,
-    auto_assign_rules = $6,
+    view_settings = $6,
-    view_settings = $7,
+    filter_tree = $7
-    rule_match_mode = $8,
-    filter_tree = $9
 WHERE id = $1
-RETURNING id, user_id, name, description, color, icon, auto_assign_rules, rule_match_mode, filter_tree, view_settings, show_on_dashboard, query_type, priority, is_system_collection, created_at, deleted_at
+RETURNING id, user_id, name, description, color, icon, filter_tree, view_settings, show_on_dashboard, query_type, priority, is_system_collection, created_at, deleted_at
 `
 
 type UpdateCollectionParams struct {
@@ -18244,9 +18074,7 @@ type UpdateCollectionParams struct {
 	Description  pgtype.Text `db:"description" json:"description"`
 	Color        pgtype.Text `db:"color" json:"color"`
 	Icon         pgtype.Text `db:"icon" json:"icon"`
-	AutoAssignRules []byte      `db:"auto_assign_rules" json:"auto_assign_rules"`
 	ViewSettings []byte      `db:"view_settings" json:"view_settings"`
-	RuleMatchMode   string      `db:"rule_match_mode" json:"rule_match_mode"`
 	FilterTree   []byte      `db:"filter_tree" json:"filter_tree"`
 }
 
@@ -18258,9 +18086,7 @@ func (q *Queries) UpdateCollection(ctx context.Context, arg UpdateCollectionPara
 		arg.Description,
 		arg.Color,
 		arg.Icon,
-		arg.AutoAssignRules,
 		arg.ViewSettings,
-		arg.RuleMatchMode,
 		arg.FilterTree,
 	)
 	var i Collections
@@ -18271,59 +18097,6 @@ func (q *Queries) UpdateCollection(ctx context.Context, arg UpdateCollectionPara
 		&i.Description,
 		&i.Color,
 		&i.Icon,
-		&i.AutoAssignRules,
-		&i.RuleMatchMode,
-		&i.FilterTree,
-		&i.ViewSettings,
-		&i.ShowOnDashboard,
-		&i.QueryType,
-		&i.Priority,
-		&i.IsSystemCollection,
-		&i.CreatedAt,
-		&i.DeletedAt,
-	)
-	return i, err
-}
-
-const UpdateCollectionMatchMode = `-- name: UpdateCollectionMatchMode :exec
-UPDATE collections SET rule_match_mode = $2 WHERE id = $1
-`
-
-type UpdateCollectionMatchModeParams struct {
-	ID            pgtype.UUID `db:"id" json:"id"`
-	RuleMatchMode string      `db:"rule_match_mode" json:"rule_match_mode"`
-}
-
-// Smart-collection match semantics (plan item 2.4): flip any|all on its
-// own channel — the rules page toggle writes exactly this column.
-func (q *Queries) UpdateCollectionMatchMode(ctx context.Context, arg UpdateCollectionMatchModeParams) error {
-	_, err := q.db.Exec(ctx, UpdateCollectionMatchMode, arg.ID, arg.RuleMatchMode)
-	return err
-}
-
-const UpdateCollectionRulesJSON = `-- name: UpdateCollectionRulesJSON :one
-UPDATE collections SET auto_assign_rules = $2 WHERE id = $1 RETURNING id, user_id, name, description, color, icon, auto_assign_rules, rule_match_mode, filter_tree, view_settings, show_on_dashboard, query_type, priority, is_system_collection, created_at, deleted_at
-`
-
-type UpdateCollectionRulesJSONParams struct {
-	ID              pgtype.UUID `db:"id" json:"id"`
-	AutoAssignRules []byte      `db:"auto_assign_rules" json:"auto_assign_rules"`
-}
-
-// Replace ONLY the auto_assign_rules document (rule CRUD: read-modify-write
-// of the JSONB without touching metadata stale clients did not send).
-func (q *Queries) UpdateCollectionRulesJSON(ctx context.Context, arg UpdateCollectionRulesJSONParams) (Collections, error) {
-	row := q.db.QueryRow(ctx, UpdateCollectionRulesJSON, arg.ID, arg.AutoAssignRules)
-	var i Collections
-	err := row.Scan(
-		&i.ID,
-		&i.UserID,
-		&i.Name,
-		&i.Description,
-		&i.Color,
-		&i.Icon,
-		&i.AutoAssignRules,
-		&i.RuleMatchMode,
 		&i.FilterTree,
 		&i.ViewSettings,
 		&i.ShowOnDashboard,

internal/database/queries/queries.sql

@@ -3489,8 +3489,8 @@ DELETE FROM device_file_aliases WHERE id = $1;
 
 -- Create collection
 -- name: CreateCollection :one
-INSERT INTO collections (user_id, name, description, color, icon, auto_assign_rules, view_settings, show_on_dashboard, filter_tree)
+INSERT INTO collections (user_id, name, description, color, icon, view_settings, show_on_dashboard, filter_tree)
-VALUES ($1, $2, $3, $4, $5, $6, $7, $8, $9)
+VALUES ($1, $2, $3, $4, $5, $6, $7, $8)
 RETURNING *;
 
 -- A2c §2.4: provenance + playlist flags on an existing collection without
@@ -3502,11 +3502,6 @@ RETURNING *;
 -- dropping the phantom column write.)
 UPDATE collections SET view_settings = $2 WHERE id = $1;
 
--- Smart-collection match semantics (plan item 2.4): flip any|all on its
--- own channel — the rules page toggle writes exactly this column.
--- name: UpdateCollectionMatchMode :exec
-UPDATE collections SET rule_match_mode = $2 WHERE id = $1;
-
 -- Get collection
 -- name: GetCollection :one
 SELECT * FROM collections WHERE id = $1;
@@ -3533,18 +3528,11 @@ SET
     description = $3,
     color = $4,
     icon = $5,
-    auto_assign_rules = $6,
+    view_settings = $6,
-    view_settings = $7,
+    filter_tree = $7
-    rule_match_mode = $8,
-    filter_tree = $9
 WHERE id = $1
 RETURNING *;
 
--- Replace ONLY the auto_assign_rules document (rule CRUD: read-modify-write
--- of the JSONB without touching metadata stale clients did not send).
--- name: UpdateCollectionRulesJSON :one
-UPDATE collections SET auto_assign_rules = $2 WHERE id = $1 RETURNING *;
-
 -- Delete collection
 -- name: DeleteCollection :exec
 DELETE FROM collections WHERE id = $1;
@@ -4034,8 +4022,8 @@ RETURNING *;
 DELETE FROM collection_items WHERE collection_id = $1;
 
 -- name: CreateSystemCollection :one
-INSERT INTO collections (user_id, name, description, icon, color, show_on_dashboard, query_type, priority, is_system_collection, auto_assign_rules)
+INSERT INTO collections (user_id, name, description, icon, color, show_on_dashboard, query_type, priority, is_system_collection)
-VALUES ($1, $2, $3, $4, $5, $6, $7, $8, true, 'null'::jsonb)
+VALUES ($1, $2, $3, $4, $5, $6, $7, $8, true)
 RETURNING *;
 
 -- name: ResetSystemCollectionMetadata :exec
@@ -4151,22 +4139,6 @@ LIMIT sqlc.narg('limit');
 -- name: CountCollectionItems :one
 SELECT COUNT(*) FROM collection_items WHERE collection_id = $1;
 
--- Smart ("dynamic") collections: rules are evaluated LIVE at render, so
--- membership comes from the candidate book set instead of collection_items.
--- The set is scoped to the requesting user's visible libraries (family
--- lens enforced at the source) and live items only — the same filters the
--- static collection paths apply. The viewer's progress rides along (plan
--- item 2.4): the played/unplayed episode rule evaluates per-user, exactly
--- like the hide_finished predicate (percentage >= 0.999 = finished).
--- name: GetVisibleLiveMediaForRules :many
-SELECT sqlc.embed(mi), COALESCE(rp.percentage, 0) AS viewer_percentage FROM media_items mi
-LEFT JOIN reading_progress rp ON rp.media_item_id = mi.id AND rp.user_id = sqlc.narg('viewer_user_id')::uuid
-WHERE (sqlc.narg('library_id')::uuid IS NULL OR mi.library_id = sqlc.narg('library_id')::uuid)
-  AND (sqlc.narg('visible_library_ids')::uuid[] IS NULL OR mi.library_id = ANY(sqlc.narg('visible_library_ids')::uuid[]))
-  AND mi.archived_at IS NULL
-  AND mi.missing_scan_count = 0
-ORDER BY mi.title ASC;
-
 -- Live item count for a STATIC collection (rule-free cards on the
 -- collections page); same live filter as GetCollectionItems, plus the
 -- future-hybrid excluded exclusion and an optional library scope.

internal/docs/schema.go

@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ var Schemas = map[string]Schema{
 		Response: json.RawMessage(`{
 			"id": "", "user_id": "", "name": "", "description": "",
 			"color": "", "icon": "", "collection_type": "",
-			"auto_assign_rules": null, "view_settings": {},
+			"view_settings": {},
 			"book_count": 0, "created_at": ""
 		}`),
 	},
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ var Schemas = map[string]Schema{
 	"GET /api/collections/:id": {
 		Response: json.RawMessage(`{
 			"id": "", "user_id": "", "name": "", "description": "",
-			"color": "", "icon": "", "auto_assign_rules": null,
+			"color": "", "icon": "",
 			"view_settings": {}, "books": [], "book_count": 0,
 			"is_smart": false, "up_next": [], "created_at": ""
 		}`),
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ var Schemas = map[string]Schema{
 		Request: handlers.UpdateCollectionRequest{},
 		Response: json.RawMessage(`{
 			"id": "", "user_id": "", "name": "", "description": "",
-			"color": "", "icon": "", "auto_assign_rules": null,
+			"color": "", "icon": "",
 			"view_settings": {}, "created_at": ""
 		}`),
 	},
@@ -609,15 +609,6 @@ var Schemas = map[string]Schema{
 			"id": "", "chain_order": "", "view_settings": {}
 		}`),
 	},
-	"PUT /api/collections/:id/rules/:ruleId": {
-		// Handler is SetRuleEnabled: toggle only, request {enabled required},
-		// response {collection_id, is_smart}.
-		Request: json.RawMessage(`{"enabled": false}`),
-		Response: json.RawMessage(`{
-			"collection_id": "", "is_smart": false
-		}`),
-	},
-
 	// --- Beam batch 7: scanner ---
 	"POST /api/scanner/scan": {
 		Request: handlers.ScanLibraryRequest{},

internal/handlers/collections.go

@@ -39,8 +39,13 @@ type CreateCollectionRequest struct {
 	Description    string `form:"description" json:"description"`
 	Color          string `form:"color" json:"color"`
 	Icon           string `form:"icon" json:"icon"`
-	CollectionType  string                 `form:"collection_type" json:"collection_type"` // "static" (default) or "smart" (rule-based)
+	CollectionType string `form:"collection_type" json:"collection_type"` // "static" (default) or "smart"
-	AutoAssignRules []services.Rule        `form:"auto_assign_rules" json:"auto_assign_rules"`
+	// Retired custom-section-builder payload (2026-10-31): the rules
+	// ARRAY storage is gone — the filter tree is the only smart
+	// membership. The field exists ONLY so the builder's legacy save
+	// fails LOUDLY (400) instead of silently creating a hollow static
+	// section. Remove it at the builder's tree migration.
+	AutoAssignRules json.RawMessage        `json:"auto_assign_rules"`
 	ViewSettings    map[string]interface{} `form:"view_settings" json:"view_settings"`
 	// The unified filter tree (item 3.2): when present the collection's
 	// smart membership runs through the qf engine. INVALID trees are a
@@ -105,13 +110,9 @@ func resolveTreePayload(jsonTree any, formTree string) any {
 
 type UpdateCollectionRequest struct {
 	Name string `form:"name" json:"name" validate:"required"`
-	// Smart-collection match semantics (item 2.4): "any" (OR) | "all"
-	// (AND). Empty/invalid keeps the stored value.
-	RuleMatchMode string `form:"rule_match_mode" json:"rule_match_mode"`
 	// The unified filter tree (item 3.2): when present the collection's
 	// smart membership runs through the qf engine. INVALID trees are a
-	// 400 (ParseFilterTree at the handler); a tree supersedes
+	// 400 (ParseFilterTree at the handler). JSON bodies bind FilterTree; form bodies bind
-	// auto_assign_rules. JSON bodies bind FilterTree; form bodies bind
 	// FilterTreeForm (echo's binder cannot set an any-typed field from
 	// a form string — see CreateCollectionRequest).
 	FilterTree     any                    `json:"filter_tree"`
@@ -119,7 +120,6 @@ type UpdateCollectionRequest struct {
 	Description    string                 `form:"description" json:"description"`
 	Color          string                 `form:"color" json:"color"`
 	Icon           string                 `form:"icon" json:"icon"`
-	AutoAssignRules []services.Rule        `form:"auto_assign_rules" json:"auto_assign_rules"`
 	ViewSettings   map[string]interface{} `form:"view_settings" json:"view_settings"`
 	// A2c §3.3: playlist toggles — merged into view_settings server-side
 	// (nil = untouched). []string because the form posts a hidden "false"
@@ -163,7 +163,6 @@ type CollectionSummary struct {
 	Description string    `json:"description"`
 	Color       string    `json:"color"`
 	Icon        string    `json:"icon"`
-	AutoAssignRules json.RawMessage `json:"auto_assign_rules"`
 	CreatedAt   string    `json:"created_at"`
 	BookCount   int       `json:"book_count"`
 	IsSmart     bool      `json:"is_smart"`
@@ -207,6 +206,14 @@ func (h *CollectionHandler) CreateCollection(c *echo.Context) error {
 		return c.JSON(http.StatusBadRequest, map[string]string{"error": err.Error()})
 	}
 
+	// The custom-section builder still posts the RETIRED rules payload
+	// (its save was already failing to bind — verified 2026-10-31).
+	// Reject loudly rather than silently creating a hollow section.
+	if len(req.AutoAssignRules) > 0 {
+		return c.JSON(http.StatusBadRequest, map[string]string{
+			"error": "auto_assign_rules was retired — collections carry filter trees now (the custom-section builder needs its flagged tree migration)",
+		})
+	}
 	treeJSON, treeErr := parseRequestFilterTree(resolveTreePayload(req.FilterTree, req.FilterTreeForm))
 	if treeErr != nil {
 		return c.JSON(http.StatusBadRequest, map[string]string{"error": treeErr.Error()})
@@ -218,7 +225,6 @@ func (h *CollectionHandler) CreateCollection(c *echo.Context) error {
 		req.Description,
 		req.Color,
 		req.Icon,
-		req.AutoAssignRules,
 		req.ViewSettings,
 		treeJSON,
 	)
@@ -230,7 +236,7 @@ func (h *CollectionHandler) CreateCollection(c *echo.Context) error {
 	}
 
 	bookCount := int32(0)
-	isSmart := req.CollectionType == "smart" || len(req.AutoAssignRules) > 0
+	isSmart := req.CollectionType == "smart" || treeJSON != nil
 	response := map[string]interface{}{
 		"id":              uuid.UUID(collection.ID.Bytes).String(),
 		"user_id":         uuid.UUID(collection.UserID.Bytes).String(),
@@ -239,7 +245,6 @@ func (h *CollectionHandler) CreateCollection(c *echo.Context) error {
 		"color":           utils.PgTextString(collection.Color),
 		"icon":            utils.PgTextString(collection.Icon),
 		"collection_type": map[bool]string{true: "smart", false: "static"}[isSmart],
-		"auto_assign_rules": collection.AutoAssignRules,
 		"view_settings":   collection.ViewSettings,
 		"book_count":      bookCount,
 		"created_at":      collection.CreatedAt.Time.String(),
@@ -292,7 +297,6 @@ func (h *CollectionHandler) GetCollections(c *echo.Context) error {
 				matches, evalErr := h.collectionService.EvaluateSmartMembership(c.Request().Context(), col, services.SmartEvalOptions{
 					LibraryID:    libUUID,
 					VisibleIDs:   visibleIDs,
-					MatchMode:    col.RuleMatchMode,
 					ViewerUserID: MustGetAuthenticatedUser(c).ID,
 				})
 				if evalErr == nil {
@@ -315,7 +319,6 @@ func (h *CollectionHandler) GetCollections(c *echo.Context) error {
 			Description: utils.PgTextString(col.Description),
 			Color:       utils.PgTextString(col.Color),
 			Icon:        utils.PgTextString(col.Icon),
-			AutoAssignRules: col.AutoAssignRules,
 			CreatedAt:   col.CreatedAt.Time.String(),
 			BookCount:   bookCount,
 			IsSmart:     isSmart,
@@ -371,7 +374,6 @@ func (h *CollectionHandler) GetCollection(c *echo.Context) error {
 		matches, evalErr := h.collectionService.EvaluateSmartMembership(c.Request().Context(), collection, services.SmartEvalOptions{
 			LibraryID:    libUUID,
 			VisibleIDs:   visibleIDs,
-			MatchMode:    collection.RuleMatchMode,
 			ViewerUserID: MustGetAuthenticatedUser(c).ID,
 		})
 		if evalErr != nil {
@@ -485,9 +487,7 @@ func (h *CollectionHandler) GetCollection(c *echo.Context) error {
 		"description":   utils.PgTextString(collection.Description),
 		"color":         utils.PgTextString(collection.Color),
 		"icon":          utils.PgTextString(collection.Icon),
-		"auto_assign_rules": json.RawMessage(collection.AutoAssignRules),
 		"view_settings": viewSettings,
-		"rule_match_mode":   collection.RuleMatchMode,
 		"filter_tree":   treeEnvelope(collection.FilterTree),
 		"books":         bookList,
 		"book_count":    len(bookList),
@@ -539,9 +539,7 @@ func (h *CollectionHandler) UpdateCollection(c *echo.Context) error {
 		req.Description,
 		req.Color,
 		req.Icon,
-		req.AutoAssignRules,
 		req.ViewSettings,
-		req.RuleMatchMode,
 		treeJSON,
 	)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -561,7 +559,6 @@ func (h *CollectionHandler) UpdateCollection(c *echo.Context) error {
 		"description":   utils.PgTextString(collection.Description),
 		"color":         utils.PgTextString(collection.Color),
 		"icon":          utils.PgTextString(collection.Icon),
-		"auto_assign_rules": json.RawMessage(collection.AutoAssignRules),
 		"view_settings": json.RawMessage(collection.ViewSettings),
 		"created_at":    collection.CreatedAt.Time.String(),
 	}
@@ -624,9 +621,9 @@ func (h *CollectionHandler) SetCollectionChainOrder(c *echo.Context) error {
 	if err != nil {
 		return c.JSON(http.StatusNotFound, map[string]string{"error": "collection not found"})
 	}
-	// Same owner gate as the sibling config mutations (SetMatchMode,
+	// Same owner gate as the sibling config mutation (ReorderItems) —
-	// ReorderItems) — my endpoint writes the row, so it must not let a
+	// my endpoint writes the row, so it must not let a non-owner flip
-	// non-owner flip someone else's chain order.
+	// someone else's chain order.
 	if u, ok := c.Get("user").(database.Users); ok {
 		owns, err := h.collectionService.UserOwnsCollection(c.Request().Context(), collectionID, uuid.UUID(u.ID.Bytes))
 		if err != nil || !owns {
@@ -1035,15 +1032,13 @@ func (h *CollectionHandler) rejectSmartMutation(c *echo.Context, collectionID uu
 		return echo.NewHTTPError(http.StatusNotFound, "collection not found")
 	}
 	if services.IsCollectionSmart(collection) {
-		return echo.NewHTTPError(http.StatusBadRequest, "smart collections are rule-based — membership is managed by the collection's rules, not by hand")
+		return echo.NewHTTPError(http.StatusBadRequest, "smart collections are tree-based — membership is managed by the collection's filter tree, not by hand")
 	}
 	return nil
 }
 
-// AddRule handles POST /api/collections/:id/rules — appends one rule to
-// the ruleset. The first rule converts a static collection to smart.
 // treeEnvelope renders the stored filter tree for the envelope: nil
-// (legacy/static collections) serializes as null, trees as the object.
+// (static collections) serializes as null, trees as the object.
 func treeEnvelope(t []byte) any {
 	if len(t) == 0 {
 		return nil
@@ -1255,43 +1250,6 @@ func (h *CollectionHandler) PreviewCollection(c *echo.Context) error {
 // (A2c §3.2). Owner-only; the payload is the COMPLETE ordered id list —
 // ids omitted keep their relative order appended after (the service never
 // deletes membership).
-// SetMatchMode handles PUT /api/collections/:id/match-mode (plan item
-// 2.4): flips the smart ruleset's semantics any|all on its own channel
-// — the rules page toggle writes exactly this column, nothing else.
-func (h *CollectionHandler) SetMatchMode(c *echo.Context) error {
-	collectionID, err := uuid.Parse(c.Param("id"))
-	if err != nil {
-		return c.JSON(http.StatusBadRequest, map[string]string{"error": "invalid collection id"})
-	}
-	user, ok := c.Get("user").(database.Users)
-	if !ok {
-		return c.JSON(http.StatusUnauthorized, map[string]string{"error": "unauthorized"})
-	}
-
-	var req struct {
-		Mode string `json:"mode" form:"mode" validate:"required,oneof=any all"`
-	}
-	if err := c.Bind(&req); err != nil {
-		return c.JSON(http.StatusBadRequest, map[string]string{"error": "mode must be any or all"})
-	}
-	if err := c.Validate(&req); err != nil {
-		return c.JSON(http.StatusBadRequest, map[string]string{"error": err.Error()})
-	}
-
-	owns, err := h.collectionService.UserOwnsCollection(c.Request().Context(), collectionID, uuid.UUID(user.ID.Bytes))
-	if err != nil || !owns {
-		return c.JSON(http.StatusForbidden, map[string]string{"error": "only the collection owner can change it"})
-	}
-
-	if err := h.db.UpdateCollectionMatchMode(c.Request().Context(), database.UpdateCollectionMatchModeParams{
-		ID:            pgtype.UUID{Bytes: collectionID, Valid: true},
-		RuleMatchMode: req.Mode,
-	}); err != nil {
-		return c.JSON(http.StatusInternalServerError, map[string]string{"error": err.Error()})
-	}
-	return c.JSON(http.StatusOK, map[string]string{"mode": req.Mode})
-}
-
 func (h *CollectionHandler) ReorderItems(c *echo.Context) error {
 	collectionID, err := uuid.Parse(c.Param("id"))
 	if err != nil {

internal/router/collections.go

@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@ func registerCollectionsRoutes(cfg *Config) {
 	collections.GET("/:id/books", cfg.CollectionHandler.GetBookCollections)
 	collections.POST("/:id/books", cfg.CollectionHandler.AddBooks)
 	collections.PUT("/:id/items/order", cfg.CollectionHandler.ReorderItems)
-	collections.PUT("/:id/match-mode", cfg.CollectionHandler.SetMatchMode)
 	// The chain's listening order lives ON the collection (plan §10 R2):
 	// merges into view_settings; the episode chain producer honors it.
 	collections.PUT("/:id/view-settings", cfg.CollectionHandler.SetCollectionChainOrder)

internal/router/frontend.go

@@ -569,7 +569,6 @@ func registerFrontendRoutes(cfg *Config) {
 					col, services.SmartEvalOptions{
 						LibraryID:    libScope,
 						VisibleIDs:   visibleIDs,
-						MatchMode:    col.RuleMatchMode,
 						ViewerUserID: func() pgtype.UUID {
 							uid, _ := uuid.Parse(user.ID)
 							return uuidToPGType(uid)
@@ -702,9 +701,9 @@ func registerFrontendRoutes(cfg *Config) {
 		}
 
 		// The editor's vocabulary + prefill (item 3.4): the unified
-		// builder in the collection's scope. A stored tree renders as-is;
+		// builder in the collection's scope. A stored tree renders
-		// a legacy rules array preloads as its CONVERTED tree
+		// as-is. (The legacy rules-array preload retired 2026-10-31
-		// (RulesToFilterTree) — the upgrade lands at the first Apply.
+		// with the rules-array storage — the tree is the only form.)
 		scope := "books"
 		treeJSON := "{}"
 		if len(collection.FilterTree) > 0 {
@@ -714,13 +713,6 @@ func registerFrontendRoutes(cfg *Config) {
 					treeJSON = string(b)
 				}
 			}
-		} else if rules := cfg.CollectionHandler.CollectionService().ParseRules(collection.AutoAssignRules); len(rules) > 0 {
-			if t, cerr := services.RulesToFilterTree(rules, collection.RuleMatchMode); cerr == nil {
-				scope = t.FilterScope()
-				if b, merr := json.Marshal(t); merr == nil {
-					treeJSON = string(b)
-				}
-			}
 		}
 		fieldsPayload, merr := json.Marshal(services.FilterFieldsPayload(scope))
 		if merr != nil {

internal/router/helpers.go

@@ -288,7 +288,6 @@ func collectionDataFromRow(collection database.Collections, collectionID string,
 		Icon:        collection.Icon.String,
 		IsSystem:    collection.IsSystemCollection.Bool,
 		IsSmart:     isSmart,
-		MatchMode:   collection.RuleMatchMode,
 		ChainOrder:  chainOrder,
 		BookCount:   bookCount,
 	}
@@ -312,7 +311,6 @@ func (cfg *Config) collectionBooksForScope(c *echo.Context, userUUID uuid.UUID,
 			collection, services.SmartEvalOptions{
 				LibraryID:    libScope,
 				VisibleIDs:   visibleIDs,
-				MatchMode:    collection.RuleMatchMode,
 				ViewerUserID: pgtype.UUID{Bytes: userUUID, Valid: true},
 			})
 		if evalErr != nil {

internal/router/reader.go

@@ -341,7 +341,6 @@ func buildSmartCollectionSequenceContext(c *echo.Context, cfg *Config, item *dat
 	}
 	matches, err := colService.EvaluateSmartMembership(ctx, coll, services.SmartEvalOptions{
 		VisibleIDs:   visibleIDs,
-		MatchMode:    coll.RuleMatchMode,
 		ViewerUserID: userID,
 	})
 	if err != nil {

internal/services/collection_service.go

@@ -32,42 +32,6 @@ type Rule struct {
 	Enabled *bool `json:"enabled,omitempty"`
 }
 
-// Known rule fields and operators — the rules builder UI and the
-// persisted JSONB documents must agree with this vocabulary.
-// Episode fields (plan item 2.4): feed/downloaded/published_within ride
-// the media row; played reads the VIEWER's progress (the candidate
-// query carries it — SmartEvalOptions) so "unplayed" is per-user.
-var ruleFields = map[string]bool{
-	"genre": true, "series": true, "author": true, "language": true,
-	"publisher": true, "copyright_year": true, "tags": true,
-	// Episode collections (plan item 2.4):
-	"title": true, "description": true,
-	"feed": true, "played": true, "downloaded": true, "published_within": true,
-}
-
-var ruleOperators = map[string]bool{
-	"equals": true, "not_equals": true, "contains": true, "not_contains": true,
-	"starts_with": true, "ends_with": true, "greater_than": true, "less_than": true,
-	"in": true, // multi-value (comma-separated) — the feed multi-select
-}
-
-// Smart-collection match semantics (plan item 2.4): 'any' = OR (the
-// legacy behavior), 'all' = AND (the daily briefing).
-const (
-	RuleMatchAny = "any"
-	RuleMatchAll = "all"
-)
-
-func ValidRuleMatchMode(m string) bool {
-	return m == RuleMatchAny || m == RuleMatchAll
-}
-
-// RuleValidationError reports a rule payload the evaluator could never
-// honor (unknown field/operator, empty value).
-type RuleValidationError struct{ Msg string }
-
-func (e *RuleValidationError) Error() string { return e.Msg }
-
 // RuleEvaluation represents the result of evaluating a rule
 type RuleEvaluation struct {
 	RuleID     string  `json:"rule_id"`
@@ -96,20 +60,10 @@ func NewCollectionService(db *database.Queries, search ...*SearchService) *Colle
 	return svc
 }
 
-// CreateCollection creates a new collection. filterTree (item 3.2)
+// CreateCollection creates a new collection. filterTree (item 3.2), when
-// replaces autoAssignRules as the smart engine's source when present —
+// present, makes it smart — the qf engine is the only membership source
-// both may coexist on the row (tree wins at evaluation).
+// (the legacy rules-array storage retired 2026-10-31).
-func (s *CollectionService) CreateCollection(ctx context.Context, userID uuid.UUID, name, description, color, icon string, autoAssignRules []Rule, viewSettings map[string]any, filterTree []byte) (database.Collections, error) {
+func (s *CollectionService) CreateCollection(ctx context.Context, userID uuid.UUID, name, description, color, icon string, viewSettings map[string]any, filterTree []byte) (database.Collections, error) {
-	// Convert rules to JSONB ([]byte)
-	var rulesJSON []byte
-	if len(autoAssignRules) > 0 {
-		var err error
-		rulesJSON, err = json.Marshal(autoAssignRules)
-		if err != nil {
-			return database.Collections{}, fmt.Errorf("failed to marshal auto-assign rules: %v", err)
-		}
-	}
-
 	// Convert view settings to JSONB ([]byte)
 	var settingsJSON []byte
 	if len(viewSettings) > 0 {
@@ -126,7 +80,6 @@ func (s *CollectionService) CreateCollection(ctx context.Context, userID uuid.UU
 		Description:  pgtype.Text{String: description, Valid: description != ""},
 		Color:        pgtype.Text{String: color, Valid: color != ""},
 		Icon:         pgtype.Text{String: icon, Valid: icon != ""},
-		AutoAssignRules: rulesJSON,
 		ViewSettings: settingsJSON,
 		FilterTree:   filterTree,
 	})
@@ -164,18 +117,13 @@ func (s *CollectionService) GetUserCollections(ctx context.Context, userID uuid.
 	return collections, nil
 }
 
-// UpdateCollection updates a collection
+// UpdateCollection rewrites the collection row. filterTree semantics:
-// UpdateCollection rewrites the collection row. ruleMatchMode empty or
+// nil = leave the stored tree untouched (forms don't send trees).
-// invalid = keep the stored value (the edit form only sends the toggles
+func (s *CollectionService) UpdateCollection(ctx context.Context, collectionID uuid.UUID, name, description, color, icon string, viewSettings map[string]any, filterTree []byte) (database.Collections, error) {
-// it renders — plan item 2.4). filterTree semantics: nil = leave the
-// stored tree untouched.
-func (s *CollectionService) UpdateCollection(ctx context.Context, collectionID uuid.UUID, name, description, color, icon string, autoAssignRules []Rule, viewSettings map[string]any, ruleMatchMode string, filterTree []byte) (database.Collections, error) {
 	// A2c §3.3: the edit form carries only the toggles it renders — merge
 	// them OVER the stored view_settings so provenance keys
 	// (imported_from_series) and anything else on the row survive.
-	existingMode := RuleMatchAny
 	if existing, err := s.db.GetCollection(ctx, pgtype.UUID{Bytes: collectionID, Valid: true}); err == nil {
-		existingMode = existing.RuleMatchMode
 		if filterTree == nil {
 			filterTree = existing.FilterTree // nil = untouched (forms don't send trees)
 		}
@@ -201,20 +149,6 @@ func (s *CollectionService) UpdateCollection(ctx context.Context, collectionID u
 			}
 		}
 	}
-	if !ValidRuleMatchMode(ruleMatchMode) {
-		ruleMatchMode = existingMode
-	}
-
-	// Convert rules to JSONB ([]byte)
-	var rulesJSON []byte
-	if len(autoAssignRules) > 0 {
-		var err error
-		rulesJSON, err = json.Marshal(autoAssignRules)
-		if err != nil {
-			return database.Collections{}, fmt.Errorf("failed to marshal auto-assign rules: %v", err)
-		}
-	}
-
 	// Convert view settings to JSONB ([]byte)
 	var settingsJSON []byte
 	if len(viewSettings) > 0 {
@@ -231,9 +165,7 @@ func (s *CollectionService) UpdateCollection(ctx context.Context, collectionID u
 		Description:  pgtype.Text{String: description, Valid: description != ""},
 		Color:        pgtype.Text{String: color, Valid: color != ""},
 		Icon:         pgtype.Text{String: icon, Valid: icon != ""},
-		AutoAssignRules: rulesJSON,
 		ViewSettings: settingsJSON,
-		RuleMatchMode:   ruleMatchMode,
 		FilterTree:   filterTree,
 	})
 
@@ -316,162 +248,7 @@ func (s *CollectionService) GetBookCollections(ctx context.Context, mediaItemID
 	}
 
 	return collections, nil
-}
+} // EnabledRules filters a ruleset down to the rules that participate in// validateRule checks a rule payload the evaluator will have to honor.// AddRule appends a rule to the collection's ruleset, generating an id// SetRuleEnabled flips a single rule's enabled flag in place.// RemoveRule deletes a single rule from the ruleset. Removing the LAST// SmartEvalOptions scopes a smart collection's live evaluation.
-
-// ParseRules decodes a collection's auto_assign_rules JSONB into typed
-// rules. "null", empty, and malformed docs mean "no rules".
-func (s *CollectionService) ParseRules(raw []byte) []Rule {
-	if len(raw) == 0 {
-		return nil
-	}
-	var rules []Rule
-	if err := json.Unmarshal(raw, &rules); err != nil {
-		return nil
-	}
-	return rules
-}
-
-// IsSmartCollection derives the collection type: a non-empty ruleset
-// makes it SMART (live-matched), an empty/absent ruleset makes it STATIC
-// (stored collection_items links).
-func (s *CollectionService) IsSmartCollection(raw []byte) bool {
-	return len(s.ParseRules(raw)) > 0
-}
-
-// EnabledRules filters a ruleset down to the rules that participate in
-// live evaluation (absent enabled = enabled for backward compatibility).
-func (s *CollectionService) EnabledRules(rules []Rule) []Rule {
-	enabled := make([]Rule, 0, len(rules))
-	for _, rule := range rules {
-		if rule.Enabled == nil || *rule.Enabled {
-			enabled = append(enabled, rule)
-		}
-	}
-	return enabled
-}
-
-// validateRule checks a rule payload the evaluator will have to honor.
-func (s *CollectionService) validateRule(rule Rule) error {
-	if !ruleFields[rule.Field] {
-		return &RuleValidationError{Msg: "unknown rule field: " + rule.Field}
-	}
-	if !ruleOperators[rule.Operator] {
-		return &RuleValidationError{Msg: "unknown rule operator: " + rule.Operator}
-	}
-	if strings.TrimSpace(rule.Value) == "" {
-		return &RuleValidationError{Msg: "rule value is required"}
-	}
-	if rule.Priority < 0 || rule.Priority > 10 {
-		return &RuleValidationError{Msg: "priority must be between 0 and 10"}
-	}
-	return nil
-}
-
-// AddRule appends a rule to the collection's ruleset, generating an id
-// when the caller did not supply one. Adding the first rule CONVERTS a
-// static collection to smart (type is derived from rules presence).
-func (s *CollectionService) AddRule(ctx context.Context, collectionID uuid.UUID, rule Rule) (database.Collections, Rule, error) {
-	if err := s.validateRule(rule); err != nil {
-		return database.Collections{}, Rule{}, err
-	}
-
-	collection, err := s.GetCollection(ctx, collectionID)
-	if err != nil {
-		return database.Collections{}, Rule{}, err
-	}
-
-	rules := s.ParseRules(collection.AutoAssignRules)
-	if rule.ID == "" {
-		rule.ID = uuid.NewString()
-	}
-	rules = append(rules, rule)
-
-	rulesJSON, marshalErr := json.Marshal(rules)
-	if marshalErr != nil {
-		return database.Collections{}, Rule{}, fmt.Errorf("failed to marshal rules: %w", marshalErr)
-	}
-
-	updated, err := s.db.UpdateCollectionRulesJSON(ctx, database.UpdateCollectionRulesJSONParams{
-		ID:              pgtype.UUID{Bytes: collectionID, Valid: true},
-		AutoAssignRules: rulesJSON,
-	})
-	if err != nil {
-		return database.Collections{}, Rule{}, fmt.Errorf("failed to save rules: %w", err)
-	}
-	return updated, rule, nil
-}
-
-// SetRuleEnabled flips a single rule's enabled flag in place.
-func (s *CollectionService) SetRuleEnabled(ctx context.Context, collectionID uuid.UUID, ruleID string, enabled bool) (database.Collections, error) {
-	collection, err := s.GetCollection(ctx, collectionID)
-	if err != nil {
-		return database.Collections{}, err
-	}
-	rules := s.ParseRules(collection.AutoAssignRules)
-	found := false
-	for i := range rules {
-		if rules[i].ID == ruleID {
-			rules[i].Enabled = &enabled
-			found = true
-			break
-		}
-	}
-	if !found {
-		return database.Collections{}, fmt.Errorf("rule not found: %s", ruleID)
-	}
-
-	rulesJSON, marshalErr := json.Marshal(rules)
-	if marshalErr != nil {
-		return database.Collections{}, fmt.Errorf("failed to marshal rules: %w", marshalErr)
-	}
-
-	updated, err := s.db.UpdateCollectionRulesJSON(ctx, database.UpdateCollectionRulesJSONParams{
-		ID:              pgtype.UUID{Bytes: collectionID, Valid: true},
-		AutoAssignRules: rulesJSON,
-	})
-	if err != nil {
-		return database.Collections{}, fmt.Errorf("failed to save rules: %w", err)
-	}
-	return updated, nil
-}
-
-// RemoveRule deletes a single rule from the ruleset. Removing the LAST
-// rule converts the collection back to static (type is derived).
-func (s *CollectionService) RemoveRule(ctx context.Context, collectionID uuid.UUID, ruleID string) (database.Collections, error) {
-	collection, err := s.GetCollection(ctx, collectionID)
-	if err != nil {
-		return database.Collections{}, err
-	}
-	rules := s.ParseRules(collection.AutoAssignRules)
-	kept := make([]Rule, 0, len(rules))
-	found := false
-	for _, rule := range rules {
-		if rule.ID == ruleID {
-			found = true
-			continue
-		}
-		kept = append(kept, rule)
-	}
-	if !found {
-		return database.Collections{}, fmt.Errorf("rule not found: %s", ruleID)
-	}
-
-	rulesJSON, marshalErr := json.Marshal(kept)
-	if marshalErr != nil {
-		return database.Collections{}, fmt.Errorf("failed to marshal rules: %w", marshalErr)
-	}
-
-	updated, err := s.db.UpdateCollectionRulesJSON(ctx, database.UpdateCollectionRulesJSONParams{
-		ID:              pgtype.UUID{Bytes: collectionID, Valid: true},
-		AutoAssignRules: rulesJSON,
-	})
-	if err != nil {
-		return database.Collections{}, fmt.Errorf("failed to save rules: %w", err)
-	}
-	return updated, nil
-}
-
-// SmartEvalOptions scopes a smart collection's live evaluation.
 type SmartEvalOptions struct {
 	// LibraryID, when valid, restricts matching to one library (the
 	// detail page's library switcher).
@@ -479,10 +256,6 @@ type SmartEvalOptions struct {
 	// VisibleIDs is the requesting user's visible-library set (family
 	// lens). Empty means no visible-library filter.
 	VisibleIDs []pgtype.UUID
-	// MatchMode is the collection's rule_match_mode: "any" (OR —
-	// legacy default) or "all" (AND — the daily briefing). Empty
-	// resolves to "any".
-	MatchMode string
 	// ViewerUserID scopes the candidate query's progress join — the
 	// played/unplayed rule is per-user. Zero UUID = no viewer (played
 	// rules then see "unplayed" for everything, honestly).
@@ -490,127 +263,18 @@ type SmartEvalOptions struct {
 }
 
 // IsCollectionSmart is the ONE smart detection: a collection is smart
-// when it carries the unified filter tree (item 3.2) or a legacy rules
+// when it carries the unified filter tree (item 3.2). Every surface
-// array (item 2's shape). Every surface routes through this — rules
+// routes through this. (The legacy rules-array branch retired
-// presence alone misses tree collections.
+// 2026-10-31 — the tree is the only smart storage.)
 func IsCollectionSmart(coll database.Collections) bool {
-	if len(coll.FilterTree) > 0 {
+	return len(coll.FilterTree) > 0
-		return true
-	}
-	var rules []Rule
-	if err := json.Unmarshal(coll.AutoAssignRules, &rules); err != nil {
-		return false
-	}
-	return len(rules) > 0
 }
 
 // EvaluateSmartMembership is THE single smart evaluator (item 3.2):
-// tree-bearing collections evaluate through the unified filter engine;
+// tree-bearing collections evaluate through the unified filter engine.
-// legacy rule arrays keep per-item evaluation until rewritten. One
-// call site surface, two storage epochs.
 func (s *CollectionService) EvaluateSmartMembership(ctx context.Context, coll database.Collections, opts SmartEvalOptions) ([]database.MediaItems, error) {
-	if len(coll.FilterTree) > 0 {
 	return s.evaluateTreeMembership(ctx, coll, opts)
 }
-	return s.EvaluateSmartCollection(ctx, s.ParseRules(coll.AutoAssignRules), opts)
-}
-
-// RulesToFilterTree converts a legacy rules array + its match mode
-// into a qf tree so a collection upgrades to the unified engine at its
-// first edit (item 3.2): zero-rewrite back-compat at read, one-way
-// upgrade at write. Episode rules map mechanically (feed→in-list,
-// played/downloaded→booleans, published_within→published_date
-// within_days); legacy operators without an engine equivalent
-// (starts_with/ends_with) fall back to contains — documented, and the
-// operator labels stay in the rules docs.
-func RulesToFilterTree(rules []Rule, matchMode string) (*FilterTree, error) {
-	children := make([]FilterChild, 0, len(rules))
-	scope := ""
-	for _, r := range rules {
-		child, err := ruleToFilterChild(r)
-		if err != nil {
-			return nil, err
-		}
-		if episodeOnlyFields[r.Field] {
-			scope = ScopeEpisodes
-		}
-		children = append(children, child)
-	}
-	if len(children) == 0 {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("no rules to convert")
-	}
-	mode := RuleMatchAny
-	if matchMode == RuleMatchAll {
-		mode = RuleMatchAll
-	}
-	return &FilterTree{Scope: scope, Mode: mode, Children: children}, nil
-}
-
-func ruleToFilterChild(r Rule) (FilterChild, error) {
-	child := FilterChild{Field: r.Field}
-	switch r.Field {
-	case "feed":
-		// The rules format stores comma-separated feed IDs in one value.
-		child.Op = OpIn
-		child.Values = splitRuleValues(r.Value)
-		return child, nil
-	case "downloaded":
-		child.Op = isTrueFalse(r.Value == "true")
-		return child, nil
-	case "played":
-		child.Op = isTrueFalse(r.Value == "true")
-		return child, nil
-	case "published_within":
-		child.Field = "published_date"
-		child.Op = OpWithinDays
-		child.Values = []string{r.Value}
-		return child, nil
-	}
-	// Registry fields: legacy operators → engine operators.
-	switch r.Operator {
-	case "equals":
-		child.Op = OpIs
-	case "not_equals":
-		child.Op = OpIsNot
-	case "contains":
-		child.Op = OpContains
-	case "not_contains":
-		child.Op = OpNotContains
-	case "greater_than":
-		child.Op = OpAtLeast
-	case "less_than":
-		child.Op = OpAtMost
-	case "in":
-		child.Op = OpIn
-		child.Values = splitRuleValues(r.Value)
-	case "starts_with", "ends_with":
-		// No engine equivalent — contains is the honest nearest.
-		child.Op = OpContains
-	default:
-		return FilterChild{}, fmt.Errorf("legacy rule operator %q has no filter-engine equivalent", r.Operator)
-	}
-	child.Values = []string{r.Value}
-	return child, nil
-}
-
-func isTrueFalse(b bool) string {
-	if b {
-		return OpIsTrue
-	}
-	return OpIsFalse
-}
-
-func splitRuleValues(v string) []string {
-	parts := strings.Split(v, ",")
-	out := make([]string, 0, len(parts))
-	for _, p := range parts {
-		p = strings.TrimSpace(p)
-		if p != "" {
-			out = append(out, p)
-		}
-	}
-	return out
-}
 
 func (s *CollectionService) evaluateTreeMembership(ctx context.Context, coll database.Collections, opts SmartEvalOptions) ([]database.MediaItems, error) {
 	tree, err := ParseFilterTree(string(coll.FilterTree))
@@ -621,87 +285,12 @@ func (s *CollectionService) evaluateTreeMembership(ctx context.Context, coll dat
 		return nil, errors.New("tree collections require the search service (constructor wiring)")
 	}
 	return s.search.ComposedLiveMedia(ctx, opts.ViewerUserID, opts.LibraryID, opts.VisibleIDs, tree)
-}
+} // mediaItemMatchesAnyRule is the legacy OR path, kept for callers that// episodeFinished is THE canonical finished definition (same predicate
-
-// EvaluateSmartCollection resolves a smart collection's membership LIVE:
-// every visible live book matched by at least one enabled rule is in.
-// No stored links are consulted — "truly dynamic," always current.
-func (s *CollectionService) EvaluateSmartCollection(ctx context.Context, rules []Rule, opts SmartEvalOptions) ([]database.MediaItems, error) {
-	enabled := s.EnabledRules(rules)
-	if len(enabled) == 0 {
-		return []database.MediaItems{}, nil
-	}
-
-	var visibleArg []pgtype.UUID
-	if len(opts.VisibleIDs) > 0 {
-		visibleArg = opts.VisibleIDs
-	}
-	items, err := s.db.GetVisibleLiveMediaForRules(ctx, database.GetVisibleLiveMediaForRulesParams{
-		LibraryID:         opts.LibraryID,
-		VisibleLibraryIds: visibleArg,
-		ViewerUserID:      opts.ViewerUserID,
-	})
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to load candidate books: %w", err)
-	}
-
-	mode := opts.MatchMode
-	if !ValidRuleMatchMode(mode) {
-		mode = RuleMatchAny
-	}
-	matches := make([]database.MediaItems, 0, len(items))
-	for _, row := range items {
-		if s.mediaItemMatches(mode, row.MediaItems, row.ViewerPercentage, enabled) {
-			matches = append(matches, row.MediaItems)
-		}
-	}
-	return matches, nil
-}
-
-// mediaItemMatches evaluates the enabled rules under the collection's
-// match mode: "any" (OR — legacy) or "all" (AND — the briefing).
-// viewerPercentage is the requesting user's progress for this item
-// (0 when none) — the played/unplayed episode rule reads it.
-func (s *CollectionService) mediaItemMatches(mode string, item database.MediaItems, viewerPercentage float64, rules []Rule) bool {
-	if len(rules) == 0 {
-		return false
-	}
-	if mode == RuleMatchAll {
-		for _, rule := range rules {
-			if !s.mediaItemMatchesRule(item, viewerPercentage, rule) {
-				return false
-			}
-		}
-		return true
-	}
-	for _, rule := range rules {
-		if s.mediaItemMatchesRule(item, viewerPercentage, rule) {
-			return true
-		}
-	}
-	return false
-}
-
-// mediaItemMatchesAnyRule is the legacy OR path, kept for callers that
-// predate match modes.
-func (s *CollectionService) mediaItemMatchesAnyRule(item database.MediaItems, rules []Rule) bool {
-	return s.mediaItemMatches(RuleMatchAny, item, 0, rules)
-}
-
-// episodeFinished is THE canonical finished definition (same predicate
 // as hide_finished): viewer progress percentage >= 0.999.
 func episodeFinished(viewerPercentage float64) bool {
 	return viewerPercentage >= 0.999
 }
 
-// mediaItemMatchesRule evaluates one rule against one item.
-func (s *CollectionService) mediaItemMatchesRule(item database.MediaItems, viewerPercentage float64, rule Rule) bool {
-	if rule.Enabled != nil && !*rule.Enabled {
-		return false
-	}
-	return s.FieldMatches(item, viewerPercentage, rule.Field, rule.Operator, rule.Value)
-}
-
 // FieldMatches is THE single rule evaluator (the rules-builder preview
 // delegates here too — one vocabulary, one semantics). Episode/user-state
 // fields (feed/played/downloaded/published_within) evaluate directly;

internal/services/collection_service_test.go

@@ -2,12 +2,9 @@ package services
 
 import (
 	"bookhoard/internal/database"
-	"encoding/json"
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/jackc/pgx/v5/pgtype"
-	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
-	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 )
 
 func TestEvaluateRules_Equality(t *testing.T) {
@@ -280,44 +277,7 @@ func TestEvaluateRules_PriorityBoost(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-func TestRulesToFilterTree(t *testing.T) {
+// TestRulesToFilterTree retired 2026-10-31 with the function it tested:
-	t.Run("episode_rules_map_mechanically", func(t *testing.T) {
+// rules-array storage is gone, the filter tree is the only smart
-		rules := []Rule{
+// membership. (Tests of deleted behavior are deleted — the asymmetry
-			{ID: "1", Field: "feed", Operator: "in", Value: "feed-a, feed-b"},
+// rule.)
-			{ID: "2", Field: "played", Operator: "equals", Value: "false"},
-			{ID: "3", Field: "downloaded", Operator: "equals", Value: "true"},
-			{ID: "4", Field: "published_within", Operator: "greater_than", Value: "7"},
-		}
-		tree, err := RulesToFilterTree(rules, RuleMatchAll)
-		require.NoError(t, err)
-		assert.Equal(t, RuleMatchAll, tree.Mode, "the collection's match mode becomes the tree mode")
-		assert.Equal(t, ScopeEpisodes, tree.Scope, "episode rules force the episodes scope")
-		require.Len(t, tree.Children, 4)
-		assert.Equal(t, FilterChild{Field: "feed", Op: OpIn, Values: []string{"feed-a", "feed-b"}}, tree.Children[0])
-		assert.Equal(t, FilterChild{Field: "played", Op: OpIsFalse}, tree.Children[1])
-		assert.Equal(t, FilterChild{Field: "downloaded", Op: OpIsTrue}, tree.Children[2])
-		assert.Equal(t, FilterChild{Field: "published_date", Op: OpWithinDays, Values: []string{"7"}}, tree.Children[3])
-		// The converted tree parses under the strict engine.
-		b, _ := json.Marshal(tree)
-		_, err = ParseFilterTree(string(b))
-		require.NoError(t, err, "converted tree must satisfy the engine grammar")
-	})
-
-	t.Run("book_rules_map_and_stay_books_scope", func(t *testing.T) {
-		rules := []Rule{
-			{Field: "genre", Operator: "equals", Value: "fantasy"},
-			{Field: "author", Operator: "contains", Value: "Voss"},
-			{Field: "copyright_year", Operator: "greater_than", Value: "1990"},
-			{Field: "tags", Operator: "starts_with", Value: "dyst"},
-		}
-		tree, err := RulesToFilterTree(rules, RuleMatchAny)
-		require.NoError(t, err)
-		assert.Equal(t, "", tree.Scope, "no episode rules → the books scope (legacy default)")
-		assert.Equal(t, RuleMatchAny, tree.Mode)
-		assert.Equal(t, FilterChild{Field: "genre", Op: OpIs, Values: []string{"fantasy"}}, tree.Children[0])
-		assert.Equal(t, FilterChild{Field: "copyright_year", Op: OpAtLeast, Values: []string{"1990"}}, tree.Children[2])
-		// Documented fallback: rules ops without an engine equivalent
-		// (starts_with/ends_with) become contains.
-		assert.Equal(t, OpContains, tree.Children[3].Op)
-	})
-}

internal/services/dashboard_service.go

@@ -292,56 +292,15 @@ func (s *DashboardService) getUserCollectionItems(ctx context.Context, coll data
 	}
 
 	// The query filters excluded rows in SQL and embeds the media row,
-	// so the items are MediaItems as-is.
+	// so the items are MediaItems as-is. (The legacy auto-assign branch
-	var manualNonExcluded []database.MediaItems
+	// retired 2026-10-31 with the rules-array storage: smart user
+	// collections evaluate on their detail page; sections render their
+	// stored membership.)
+	items := make([]database.MediaItems, 0, len(manualItems))
 	for _, row := range manualItems {
-		manualNonExcluded = append(manualNonExcluded, row.MediaItems)
+		items = append(items, row.MediaItems)
 	}
-
+	return items, nil
-	var autoItems []database.MediaItems
-	if len(coll.AutoAssignRules) > 0 {
-		var rules []Rule
-		if err := json.Unmarshal(coll.AutoAssignRules, &rules); err == nil && len(rules) > 0 {
-			allLibraryItems, err := s.db.GetLibraryItems(ctx, libraryID)
-			if err == nil {
-				for _, item := range allLibraryItems {
-					alreadyInCollection := false
-					for _, manualItem := range manualNonExcluded {
-						manualUUID := uuid.UUID(manualItem.ID.Bytes)
-						itemUUID := uuid.UUID(item.ID.Bytes)
-						if manualUUID == itemUUID {
-							alreadyInCollection = true
-							break
-						}
-					}
-					if alreadyInCollection {
-						continue
-					}
-
-					// Legacy dashboard auto-assign path: no viewer progress
-					// loaded here (the dashboard's own hide_finished handles
-					// queue semantics) — played rules evaluate unplayed, honestly.
-					evaluations := s.collectionService.EvaluateRules(item, 0, rules)
-					for _, eval := range evaluations {
-						if eval.Matches {
-							autoItems = append(autoItems, item)
-							break
-						}
-					}
-				}
-			}
-		}
-	}
-
-	var finalItems []database.MediaItems
-	finalItems = append(finalItems, manualNonExcluded...)
-	finalItems = append(finalItems, autoItems...)
-
-	if len(finalItems) > limit {
-		finalItems = finalItems[:limit]
-	}
-
-	return finalItems, nil
 }
 
 func (s *DashboardService) GetDashboardPreferences(ctx context.Context, userID uuid.UUID, libraryID pgtype.UUID) (database.UserDashboardPreferences, error) {

internal/services/media_scanner.go

@@ -433,7 +433,6 @@ func (s *MediaScanner) upsertPlaylistCollection(ctx context.Context, entry Serie
 		UserID:          owner,
 		Name:            entry.Name,
 		Description:     pgtype.Text{String: description, Valid: true},
-		AutoAssignRules: nil, // jsonb NULL — an empty []byte encodes as bytea and 22P02s
 		ViewSettings:    viewSettings,
 		ShowOnDashboard: pgtype.Bool{Bool: true, Valid: true}, // playlists land on the dashboard by design; hide via dashboard prefs
 	})

web/src/types/api.d.ts

@@ -95,7 +95,6 @@ interface CollectionData {
   description: string;
   color: string;
   icon: string;
-  auto_assign_rules?: unknown;
   created_at: string;
   book_count?: number;
 }