@@ -133,6 +133,18 @@ See [Logging API](../logging/api.md) for full reference.
 
 A `Map` of all resources registered on this Harper server, keyed by their URL path. Each entry contains the resource class, path, and routing metadata. Use this to look up or enumerate registered resources programmatically.
 
+### `secrets`
+
+A read-only, name→value map of the scoped secrets granted to the current component (plus any `process.env`-resolved values it declared). Read secrets from the encrypted [secrets store](../security/secrets.md) without them landing in `process.env`:
+
+```javascript
+import { secrets } from 'harper';
+
+const { STRIPE_KEY } = secrets;
+```
+
+A module-top-level destructure is the recommended idiom — it binds correctly under every component loader. See [Secrets](../security/secrets.md) for full reference.
+
 ### `config`
 
 The configuration object for the current application, as provided by the component's configuration (e.g. `config.yaml`). Defaults to an empty object if no configuration is provided.
 
@@ -13,6 +13,10 @@ Harper supports loading environment variables in Harper applications `process.en
 If you are looking for information on how to configure your Harper installation using environment variables, see [Configuration](../configuration/overview.md) section for more information.
 :::
 
+:::tip
+For production credentials, prefer the encrypted, replicated [secrets store](../security/secrets.md) over a committed `.env` file. Secrets are stored as ciphertext, delivered to components via `process.env` or a per-component `secrets` accessor, and never appear in operation logs or replication payloads. The same `enc:v1:` envelope format also lets you encrypt individual `.env` values at rest.
+:::
+
 ## Configuration
 
 | Option     | Type                 | Required | Description                                                                            |
 
@@ -606,6 +606,55 @@ Additional parameters:
 
 - `urlPath` — override the HTTP URL path the component is mounted at (e.g. `"/api/v2"`)
 - `install_allow_scripts` — set to `true` to allow npm pre/post install scripts (disabled by default)
+- `credentials` — credentials for installing a component from a private npm registry or private git repository (see below)
+
+#### Deploy credentials (`credentials`)
+
+When a component is installed from a private source, `credentials` supplies the authentication. It is an array of entries; each entry is one of two kinds, identified by its key:
+
+- **npm registry auth** — an entry with a `registry` key, applied to a private npm registry.
+- **git host auth** — an entry with a `host` key, applied to a private git repository fetched by reference (e.g. `package: "github:my-org/my-app#semver:v1.2.3"`).
+
+An entry provides its credential exactly one of two ways — a literal `token`, or a `secret` reference:
+
+| Field      | Kind | Description                                                                                                         |
+| ---------- | ---- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
+| `registry` | npm  | The registry URL or host the credential applies to. **Required** for an npm entry.                                  |
+| `scope`    | npm  | Optional npm `@scope` (e.g. `"@my-org"`) the entry applies to; omit to set the default registry.                    |
+| `host`     | git  | The bare git host the credential applies to (e.g. `"github.com"`). **Required** for a git entry.                    |
+| `username` | git  | Optional git HTTPS username. Defaults to `x-access-token` (GitHub); GitLab uses `oauth2`, Bitbucket `x-token-auth`. |
+| `token`    | both | A literal auth token, **or**                                                                                        |
+| `secret`   | both | The name of an [`hdb_secret`](../security/secrets.md) row to resolve the token from.                                |
+
+A provided **`token`** is not treated as ephemeral: Harper ingests it into the encrypted [secrets store](../security/secrets.md) and references it everywhere, so package-reference deploys keep working through rollback, reboot, and new peers joining — without re-supplying the token. The token is encrypted at rest, stripped from the operation before replication and from the operations log, and only ever crosses the cluster as ciphertext. A git-host token is additionally served to git **from memory** (via a credential helper) — it is never written to a file or into a URL. Using a **`secret`** reference names an existing store row directly. Ingesting a token requires custody on the deploying node; on OSS core without custody, a literal token falls back to a transient, this-node-only credential (not persisted or replicated).
+
+Ingested tokens are stored under a derived name granted to the component — `deploy.<component>.<registry>` for a registry entry, `deploy.<component>.git.<host>` for a git entry — so re-deploying with a rotated token idempotently updates the same row.
+
+Private npm registry:
+
+```json
+{
+	"operation": "deploy_component",
+	"project": "my-app",
+	"package": "npm:@my-org/my-app@1.2.3",
+	"credentials": [{ "registry": "https://registry.my-org.com", "scope": "@my-org", "token": "npm_..." }]
+}
+```
+
+Private git repository (token resolved from an existing secret):
+
+```json
+{
+	"operation": "deploy_component",
+	"project": "my-app",
+	"package": "github:my-org/my-app#semver:v1.2.3",
+	"credentials": [{ "host": "github.com", "secret": "deploy.my-app.git.github_com" }]
+}
+```
+
+:::note
+`credentials` replaces the earlier `registryAuth` field (renamed while the feature was in alpha, before it grew to carry git-host credentials). `registryAuth` is now rejected with an error directing you to `credentials`.
+:::
 
 The response includes a `deployment_id` that can be used to query the deployment record:
 
@@ -724,6 +773,117 @@ Adds an SSH key (must be ed25519) for authenticating deployments from private re
 
 ---
 
+## Secrets
+
+Operations for managing the encrypted [secrets store](../security/secrets.md) (`system.hdb_secret`). All secret operations are **`super_user` only**. Values are never returned or logged by any of these operations.
+
+Detailed documentation: [Secrets](../security/secrets.md)
+
+:::tip
+Prefer a UI? [Harper Studio](../studio/overview.md) provides a graphical interface for creating, granting, and rotating secrets — it drives these operations for you, so you don't have to hand-craft the request bodies below.
+:::
+
+| Operation                | Description                                                    | Role Required |
+| ------------------------ | -------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------- |
+| `set_secret`             | Creates or updates a secret and chooses its delivery tier      | super_user    |
+| `grant_secret`           | Adds a component to a scoped secret's grants (idempotent)      | super_user    |
+| `revoke_secret`          | Removes a component from a scoped secret's grants (idempotent) | super_user    |
+| `list_secrets`           | Lists secret metadata — never envelopes or values              | super_user    |
+| `delete_secret`          | Deletes a secret row                                           | super_user    |
+| `get_secrets_public_key` | Returns the cluster public key for client-side encryption      | super_user    |
+
+### `set_secret`
+
+Creates or updates a secret. Supply exactly one of `value` (plaintext, encrypted on ingest — requires custody on this node) or `envelope` (an `enc:v1:` ciphertext produced client-side against `get_secrets_public_key`). The delivery tier is `processEnv: true` **or** `grants` — the two are mutually exclusive. On update, tier and metadata default to the stored row, so a value rotation preserves the tier without re-specifying it.
+
+| Parameter    | Type     | Description                                                                     |
+| ------------ | -------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
+| `name`       | string   | Secret name (word characters, dots, dashes). **Required.**                      |
+| `value`      | string   | Plaintext value; encrypted immediately, then discarded. Requires custody.       |
+| `envelope`   | string   | `enc:v1:` ciphertext (alternative to `value`).                                  |
+| `processEnv` | boolean  | `true` delivers the secret via `process.env` (global tier).                     |
+| `grants`     | string[] | Components allowed to read the secret via the `secrets` accessor (scoped tier). |
+| `metadata`   | object   | Optional free-form label object (not a payload store).                          |
+
+```json
+{
+	"operation": "set_secret",
+	"name": "STRIPE_KEY",
+	"value": "sk_live_...",
+	"grants": ["payments-service"]
+}
+```
+
+Response:
+
+```json
+{ "name": "STRIPE_KEY", "kid": "<hex fingerprint>", "created": true }
+```
+
+### `grant_secret` / `revoke_secret`
+
+Add or remove a component from a scoped secret's grants list. Both are idempotent. A `processEnv` (global) secret cannot be granted — convert it with `set_secret` `processEnv: false` first.
+
+```json
+{ "operation": "grant_secret", "name": "STRIPE_KEY", "component": "payments-service" }
+```
+
+Response includes the updated `grants` array and a `changed` flag (`false` when the call was a no-op).
+
+### `list_secrets`
+
+Returns metadata for every secret — **never** envelopes or values. Each entry includes `name`, `kid`, `grants`, `processEnv`, `metadata`, `unverified`, `updated_by`, timestamps, and `kid_matches_custody` (so a stale row on a cloned/rekeyed node is immediately visible). The response also carries the node's `custody_fingerprint` (`null` when no custody is held).
+
+```json
+{ "operation": "list_secrets" }
+```
+
+Response:
+
+```json
+{
+	"secrets": [
+		{
+			"name": "STRIPE_KEY",
+			"kid": "a1b2c3d4...",
+			"grants": ["payments-service"],
+			"processEnv": false,
+			"metadata": {},
+			"unverified": false,
+			"updated_by": "admin",
+			"__createdtime__": 1700000000000,
+			"__updatedtime__": 1700000000000,
+			"kid_matches_custody": true
+		}
+	],
+	"custody_fingerprint": "a1b2c3d4..."
+}
+```
+
+### `delete_secret`
+
+Removes a secret row by `name`. Not cryptographic erasure — audit/transaction logs and backups retain the encrypted envelope.
+
+```json
+{ "operation": "delete_secret", "name": "STRIPE_KEY" }
+```
+
+### `get_secrets_public_key`
+
+Returns the cluster secrets public key for client-side envelope encryption. Requires custody on the node.
+
+```json
+{ "operation": "get_secrets_public_key" }
+```
+
+Response:
+
+```json
+{ "public_key": "-----BEGIN PUBLIC KEY-----\n...", "fingerprint": "<hex sha256>" }
+```
+
+---
+
 ## Replication & Clustering
 
 Operations for configuring and managing Harper cluster replication.