diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 6a8a9d2..597158b 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -92,6 +92,7 @@ The `migrate`, `migrate:status`, `migrate:rollback`, `serve` and admin commands
 | [festival](modules/festival/README.md) | Typed, synchronous event bus with listener priorities, payload collection and stop-when-handled dispatch. |
 | [fetchguard](modules/fetchguard/README.md) | Guarded outbound HTTPS fetcher that blocks private and reserved addresses and enforces host, size and timeout limits. |
 | [lagoon](modules/lagoon/README.md) | Postgres data layer: the shared GORM connection, per-plugin migrations, model helpers and file attachments. |
+| [lighthouse](modules/lighthouse/README.md) | Transport-neutral realtime: a publisher interface with pluggable drivers, subscribe-time channel authorization, and model broadcasts enqueued in the write transaction. |
 | [pact](modules/pact/README.md) | Capability interfaces that compiled plugins implement to contribute routes, config, migrations, middleware, commands, admin screens, translations, mail templates and jobs. |
 | [party](modules/party/README.md) | Compiled plugin registry that orders plugins by their dependencies and runs their Register and Boot lifecycle. |
 | [phrasebook](modules/phrasebook/README.md) | Namespaced translation catalogs loaded from plugin YAML, with locale fallback, placeholder interpolation and CLDR pluralization. |
diff --git a/modules/lighthouse/README.md b/modules/lighthouse/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b69ebc1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/lighthouse/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,151 @@
+# lighthouse
+
+Transport-neutral realtime: a publisher interface with pluggable drivers, subscribe-time channel authorization, and model broadcasts enqueued in the write transaction.
+
+`import "git.golem15.com/golem15/summercms/modules/lighthouse"`
+
+`import _ "git.golem15.com/golem15/summercms/modules/lighthouse/centrifugo"`
+
+## Overview
+
+lighthouse is the SummerCMS counterpart of the WinterCMS websockets plugin. The package itself knows no transport. It owns the interfaces application code writes against, and a driver package supplies the transport. A driver registers itself from its `init` function, the way `database/sql` drivers do, and the application picks one with `realtime.driver`.
+
+`lighthouse.From` builds the app-scoped `lighthouse.Service` on first use and publishes it on the app. The service holds the selected driver, the application's user lookup, and the broadcast settings.
+
+A driver may need HTTP endpoints, such as a token route for signed-in users or a callback the realtime server calls. It declares them as `lighthouse.Route` values, each tagged with a `lighthouse.Surface`. The application mounts them once with `lighthouse.Mount` and decides the guard, group and rate-limit bucket per surface. Switching drivers never edits the application's route file.
+
+The `centrifugo` sub-package is the Centrifugo driver. It has a hand-rolled `net/http` client for the Centrifugo HTTP API, a token issuer with the claims of the WinterCMS `JwtTokenGenerator`, and the token route handler.
+
+## Features
+
+- Driver selection by `realtime.driver`. The built-in drivers are `null` (the default; it discards everything), `log` (logs channel names and the event, never the payload) and `memory` (`lighthouse.MemoryDriver` records every `lighthouse.Publication` for tests). An unknown name is a boot error that lists the registered drivers.
+- Third-party drivers: `lighthouse.RegisterDriver` with a `lighthouse.DriverFactory`. A duplicate name panics at init.
+- The `lighthouse.Publisher` interface (`Publish` for one channel, `Broadcast` for several) and the `lighthouse.Driver` interface, which adds `Name` and `Routes`.
+- Route mounting by surface: `lighthouse.UserAuth`, `lighthouse.ServerToServer` and `lighthouse.Public`. `lighthouse.Mount` puts user and public routes in `Group` and server-to-server routes in `GroupRaw`, each with the surface middleware followed by `lighthouse.Surfaces.Middleware`. A `lighthouse.UserAuth` route with no user middleware is refused, so a token route can never be mounted without a guard. Every route is validated before any is registered.
+- Users and actors: the application installs a `lighthouse.UserLookup` with `lighthouse.Service.SetUserLookup`. `lighthouse.Service.User` loads a `lighthouse.User` (id and display name). `lighthouse.Service.Actor` returns the `lighthouse.Actor` of a request, and `lighthouse.SystemActor` when there is no signed-in user or the principal is a backend admin.
+- Centrifugo driver (`centrifugo.Driver`, driver name `centrifugo`):
+  - `centrifugo.Client` POSTs `publish`, `broadcast`, `presence` and `unsubscribe` calls with `Authorization: apikey <key>` and a 5 s timeout. The publish body is `{"channel":…,"data":{"event":…,"payload":…,"timestamp":"…+00:00"}}`, with an empty payload sent as `[]`. Any 2xx status counts as success. With an empty API key nothing is sent and the call returns `centrifugo.ErrNotConfigured`. The key never appears in logs or errors.
+  - `centrifugo.TokenIssuer` signs HS256 tokens with five generators, the same as the WinterCMS generator: `ForUser` (claims `sub`, `exp`, `info` with only `name`), `Subscription`, `Anonymous` (`sub` "" and a 5-minute lifetime), `ForIdentifier` (an empty `info` is encoded as `[]`) and `SubscriptionForIdentifier`. It refuses to sign with an empty secret.
+  - `centrifugo.TokenHandler` serves the token route. It answers 401 `{"error":"Unauthorized"}` when no user is signed in, 503 `{"error":"WebSocket not configured"}` when the token secret is empty, and otherwise 200 `{"token":"…"}`. It sends `Cache-Control: no-cache, private` and no trailing newline.
+
+## Usage
+
+An application selects the driver in `config/realtime.yaml`:
+
+```yaml
+driver: centrifugo
+centrifugo:
+  token_secret: ""   # set with SUMMER_REALTIME__CENTRIFUGO__TOKEN_SECRET
+```
+
+A plugin imports the driver package for its side effect, builds the service at Boot and installs a user lookup:
+
+```go
+package acme
+
+import (
+	"context"
+
+	"git.golem15.com/golem15/summercms/modules/backpack"
+	"git.golem15.com/golem15/summercms/modules/lighthouse"
+	_ "git.golem15.com/golem15/summercms/modules/lighthouse/centrifugo"
+)
+
+func (p *Plugin) Boot(app *backpack.App) error {
+	svc, err := lighthouse.From(app)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	p.realtime = svc
+	svc.SetUserLookup(func(ctx context.Context, id uint) (lighthouse.User, bool, error) {
+		return lookupAcmeUser(ctx, id) // the application's own user model
+	})
+	return nil
+}
+```
+
+and mounts the driver's routes once:
+
+```go
+func (p *Plugin) Routes(r pact.Router) error {
+	return lighthouse.Mount(r, p.realtime.Driver(), lighthouse.Surfaces{
+		UserAuth:       surf.Use("jwt.auth"),
+		ServerToServer: surf.Use(),
+		Middleware:     surf.Use("throttle:acme-realtime"),
+	})
+}
+```
+
+Tests select the memory driver and read what was published:
+
+```go
+mem := svc.Driver().(*lighthouse.MemoryDriver)
+for _, pub := range mem.Publications() {
+	fmt.Println(pub.Method, pub.Channels, pub.Event)
+}
+```
+
+## API reference
+
+### lighthouse
+
+| Identifier | Description |
+|------------|-------------|
+| `lighthouse.From(app)` | The app's `*lighthouse.Service`, built and published on first use. |
+| `lighthouse.Service` | The realtime service: `Driver`, `Logger`, `Namespace`, `Queue`, `Timeout`, `SetUserLookup`, `User`, `Actor`. |
+| `lighthouse.Publisher` | `Publish(ctx, channel, event, payload)` and `Broadcast(ctx, channels, event, payload)`. |
+| `lighthouse.Driver` | `lighthouse.Publisher` plus `Name()` and `Routes()`. |
+| `lighthouse.DriverFactory` | `func(app, svc) (lighthouse.Driver, error)`. |
+| `lighthouse.RegisterDriver(name, factory)` | Registers a driver from an `init` function. |
+| `lighthouse.MemoryDriver`, `lighthouse.NewMemoryDriver`, `lighthouse.Publication` | The recording driver and its records (`Method`, `Channels`, `Event`, `Payload`, `Timestamp`). |
+| `lighthouse.Route` | `Name`, `Method`, `Path`, `Surface`, `Handler`. |
+| `lighthouse.Surface`, `lighthouse.UserAuth`, `lighthouse.ServerToServer`, `lighthouse.Public` | Who calls a route. |
+| `lighthouse.Surfaces` | Application middleware per surface plus `Middleware` for every route. |
+| `lighthouse.Mount(r, driver, surfaces)` | Registers a driver's routes. |
+| `lighthouse.User`, `lighthouse.UserLookup` | A user id with a display name, and the application's lookup. |
+| `lighthouse.Actor`, `lighthouse.SystemActor` | Who caused a broadcast: `{"user_id":…,"name":…}`. |
+| `lighthouse.DurationSetting(cfg, path)` | Reads a duration string or an integer number of seconds. |
+| `lighthouse.DefaultDriver`, `lighthouse.DefaultQueue`, `lighthouse.DefaultTimeout` | Defaults of `realtime.driver`, `realtime.broadcast_queue` and `realtime.broadcast_timeout`. |
+
+### lighthouse/centrifugo
+
+| Identifier | Description |
+|------------|-------------|
+| `centrifugo.Config`, `centrifugo.LoadConfig` | The `realtime.centrifugo.*` settings with their defaults. |
+| `centrifugo.Client`, `centrifugo.NewClient` | HTTP API client: `Publish`, `Broadcast`, `Presence`, `Unsubscribe`, `Enabled`, `DebugInfo`. |
+| `centrifugo.DebugInfo` | `api_url`, `enabled`, `api_key_set`. |
+| `centrifugo.TokenIssuer`, `centrifugo.NewTokenIssuer` | HS256 token generators: `ForUser`, `Subscription`, `Anonymous`, `ForIdentifier`, `SubscriptionForIdentifier`, `Configured`. |
+| `centrifugo.TokenHandler(svc, issuer)` | The token route handler. |
+| `centrifugo.Driver`, `centrifugo.NewDriver`, `centrifugo.DriverName` | The `lighthouse.Driver`, with `Client`, `Issuer` and `Config` accessors. |
+| `centrifugo.ErrNotConfigured` | Returned when the API key or token secret an operation needs is empty. |
+
+## Configuration
+
+| Key | Default | Description |
+|-----|---------|-------------|
+| `realtime.driver` | `null` | `null`, `log`, `memory`, or a registered driver such as `centrifugo`. |
+| `realtime.broadcast_namespace` | `""` | Prefix applied to broadcast channel names. |
+| `realtime.broadcast_queue` | `broadcasts` | River queue of broadcast jobs. |
+| `realtime.broadcast_timeout` | `5` | Broadcast job timeout, in seconds or as a duration string. |
+| `realtime.centrifugo.api_url` | `http://127.0.0.1:8001/api` | Centrifugo HTTP API base. |
+| `realtime.centrifugo.api_key` | `""` | HTTP API key; empty disables publishing. |
+| `realtime.centrifugo.token_secret` | `""` | HS256 token secret; empty makes the token route answer 503. |
+| `realtime.centrifugo.token_ttl` | `3600` | Token lifetime, in seconds or as a duration string. |
+| `realtime.centrifugo.ws_url` | `/ws` | WebSocket URL of the Centrifugo server. |
+| `realtime.centrifugo.proxy_secret` | `""` | Expected `X-Centrifugo-Secret` of subscribe proxy calls. |
+| `realtime.centrifugo.token_path` | `/api/realtime/token` | Path of the token route. |
+| `realtime.centrifugo.subscribe_path` | `/api/realtime/subscribe` | Path of the subscribe proxy route. |
+
+## Dependencies
+
+- `backpack`, `bouncer`, `compass`, `pact` and `wire` from this repository.
+- `github.com/golang-jwt/jwt/v5` (centrifugo token signing).
+- The Centrifugo client is plain `net/http`; no Centrifugo SDK is used.
+
+## Testing
+
+```bash
+go test ./modules/lighthouse/...
+```
+
+A test selects `realtime.driver: memory` and reads `lighthouse.MemoryDriver.Publications`, or points `realtime.centrifugo.api_url` at an `httptest` server to see the exact Centrifugo requests.
diff --git a/modules/lighthouse/centrifugo/client.go b/modules/lighthouse/centrifugo/client.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6416427
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/lighthouse/centrifugo/client.go
@@ -0,0 +1,203 @@
+package centrifugo
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"io"
+	"log/slog"
+	"net/http"
+	"strconv"
+	"time"
+
+	"git.golem15.com/golem15/summercms/modules/wire"
+)
+
+// requestTimeout bounds every Centrifugo API call, as the WinterCMS client
+// does.
+const requestTimeout = 5 * time.Second
+
+// maxResponseBytes caps how much of a response body is read.
+const maxResponseBytes = 1 << 20
+
+// ErrNotConfigured is returned when the secret or key an operation needs
+// is empty: publishing without an API key, or signing without a token
+// secret.
+var ErrNotConfigured = errors.New("centrifugo: not configured")
+
+// Client calls the Centrifugo HTTP API. It is safe for concurrent use.
+type Client struct {
+	apiURL string
+	apiKey string
+	hc     *http.Client
+	log    *slog.Logger
+	now    func() time.Time
+}
+
+// DebugInfo is the connection summary Client.DebugInfo returns. It never
+// carries the API key.
+type DebugInfo struct {
+	APIURL    string `json:"api_url"`
+	Enabled   bool   `json:"enabled"`
+	APIKeySet bool   `json:"api_key_set"`
+}
+
+// NewClient returns a client for cfg.APIURL and cfg.APIKey. hc may be nil
+// for a client with a 5s timeout; every request is also bounded by 5s.
+func NewClient(cfg Config, hc *http.Client) *Client {
+	if hc == nil {
+		hc = &http.Client{Timeout: requestTimeout}
+	}
+	return &Client{
+		apiURL: cfg.APIURL,
+		apiKey: cfg.APIKey,
+		hc:     hc,
+		log:    slog.Default(),
+		now:    time.Now,
+	}
+}
+
+// Enabled reports whether an API key is configured.
+func (c *Client) Enabled() bool { return c != nil && c.apiKey != "" }
+
+// DebugInfo returns the API URL and whether the client is enabled.
+func (c *Client) DebugInfo() DebugInfo {
+	if c == nil {
+		return DebugInfo{}
+	}
+	return DebugInfo{APIURL: c.apiURL, Enabled: c.Enabled(), APIKeySet: c.apiKey != ""}
+}
+
+type eventData struct {
+	Event     string          `json:"event"`
+	Payload   json.RawMessage `json:"payload"`
+	Timestamp wire.Time       `json:"timestamp"`
+}
+
+type publishRequest struct {
+	Channel string    `json:"channel"`
+	Data    eventData `json:"data"`
+}
+
+type broadcastRequest struct {
+	Channels []string  `json:"channels"`
+	Data     eventData `json:"data"`
+}
+
+type presenceRequest struct {
+	Channel string `json:"channel"`
+}
+
+type unsubscribeRequest struct {
+	User    string `json:"user"`
+	Channel string `json:"channel"`
+}
+
+// Publish POSTs {"channel":…,"data":{"event":…,"payload":…,"timestamp":…}}
+// to {api_url}/publish. An empty payload is sent as []. Any 2xx status is
+// success, including Centrifugo's 200 responses that carry an error body.
+func (c *Client) Publish(ctx context.Context, channel, event string, payload json.RawMessage) error {
+	if !c.Enabled() {
+		return ErrNotConfigured
+	}
+	body := publishRequest{Channel: channel, Data: c.data(event, payload)}
+	_, err := c.post(ctx, "/publish", body)
+	return err
+}
+
+// Broadcast POSTs the same data with "channels" to {api_url}/broadcast. No
+// request is sent for an empty channel list.
+func (c *Client) Broadcast(ctx context.Context, channels []string, event string, payload json.RawMessage) error {
+	if !c.Enabled() {
+		return ErrNotConfigured
+	}
+	if len(channels) == 0 {
+		return nil
+	}
+	body := broadcastRequest{Channels: channels, Data: c.data(event, payload)}
+	_, err := c.post(ctx, "/broadcast", body)
+	return err
+}
+
+// Presence returns result.presence of {api_url}/presence for channel. It
+// returns an empty map, never nil, when the client is disabled or the call
+// fails; the error says why.
+func (c *Client) Presence(ctx context.Context, channel string) (map[string]any, error) {
+	out := map[string]any{}
+	if !c.Enabled() {
+		return out, ErrNotConfigured
+	}
+	raw, err := c.post(ctx, "/presence", presenceRequest{Channel: channel})
+	if err != nil {
+		return out, err
+	}
+	var resp struct {
+		Result struct {
+			Presence map[string]any `json:"presence"`
+		} `json:"result"`
+	}
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(raw, &resp); err != nil {
+		c.log.Warn("centrifugo: presence response is not JSON", slog.String("channel", channel))
+		return out, fmt.Errorf("centrifugo: presence: %w", err)
+	}
+	if resp.Result.Presence != nil {
+		out = resp.Result.Presence
+	}
+	return out, nil
+}
+
+// Unsubscribe POSTs {"user":"<id>","channel":…} to {api_url}/unsubscribe.
+func (c *Client) Unsubscribe(ctx context.Context, userID uint, channel string) error {
+	if !c.Enabled() {
+		return ErrNotConfigured
+	}
+	body := unsubscribeRequest{User: strconv.FormatUint(uint64(userID), 10), Channel: channel}
+	_, err := c.post(ctx, "/unsubscribe", body)
+	return err
+}
+
+func (c *Client) data(event string, payload json.RawMessage) eventData {
+	if len(bytes.TrimSpace(payload)) == 0 {
+		payload = json.RawMessage("[]")
+	}
+	return eventData{Event: event, Payload: payload, Timestamp: wire.Time{Time: c.now()}}
+}
+
+// post sends body and returns the response body of a 2xx answer. The API
+// key appears only in the Authorization header, never in logs or errors.
+func (c *Client) post(ctx context.Context, method string, body any) ([]byte, error) {
+	var buf bytes.Buffer
+	enc := json.NewEncoder(&buf)
+	enc.SetEscapeHTML(false)
+	if err := enc.Encode(body); err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("centrifugo: %s: encode: %w", method, err)
+	}
+	if ctx == nil {
+		ctx = context.Background()
+	}
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(ctx, requestTimeout)
+	defer cancel()
+	req, err := http.NewRequestWithContext(ctx, http.MethodPost, c.apiURL+method, bytes.NewReader(bytes.TrimSuffix(buf.Bytes(), []byte("\n"))))
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("centrifugo: %s: %w", method, err)
+	}
+	req.Header.Set("Authorization", "apikey "+c.apiKey)
+	req.Header.Set("Content-Type", "application/json")
+	resp, err := c.hc.Do(req)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("centrifugo: %s: %w", method, err)
+	}
+	defer resp.Body.Close()
+	raw, _ := io.ReadAll(io.LimitReader(resp.Body, maxResponseBytes))
+	if resp.StatusCode < 200 || resp.StatusCode > 299 {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("centrifugo: %s: HTTP %d", method, resp.StatusCode)
+	}
+	if bytes.Contains(raw, []byte(`"error"`)) {
+		// Centrifugo reports API errors as 200 with an error body. The
+		// WinterCMS client counts those as success; so does this one.
+		c.log.Debug("centrifugo: API answered with an error body", slog.String("method", method), slog.Int("status", resp.StatusCode))
+	}
+	return raw, nil
+}
diff --git a/modules/lighthouse/centrifugo/config.go b/modules/lighthouse/centrifugo/config.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5dc3c06
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/lighthouse/centrifugo/config.go
@@ -0,0 +1,78 @@
+// Package centrifugo is the Centrifugo driver of lighthouse: an HTTP API
+// client, a connection and subscription token issuer, and the subscribe
+// proxy handler. Import it for its side effect to register the
+// "centrifugo" realtime.driver.
+package centrifugo
+
+import (
+	"strings"
+	"time"
+
+	"git.golem15.com/golem15/summercms/modules/compass"
+	"git.golem15.com/golem15/summercms/modules/lighthouse"
+)
+
+// Default values of the realtime.centrifugo.* keys.
+const (
+	DefaultAPIURL        = "http://127.0.0.1:8001/api"
+	DefaultTokenTTL      = 3600 * time.Second
+	DefaultWSURL         = "/ws"
+	DefaultTokenPath     = "/api/realtime/token"
+	DefaultSubscribePath = "/api/realtime/subscribe"
+)
+
+// Config is the realtime.centrifugo.* configuration.
+type Config struct {
+	// APIURL is the Centrifugo HTTP API base, without a trailing method.
+	APIURL string
+	// APIKey authenticates publishes; empty disables them.
+	APIKey string
+	// TokenSecret signs connection and subscription tokens (HS256); empty
+	// makes the token route answer 503.
+	TokenSecret string
+	// TokenTTL is the lifetime of issued tokens.
+	TokenTTL time.Duration
+	// WSURL is the WebSocket URL the client connects to.
+	WSURL string
+	// ProxySecret is the X-Centrifugo-Secret header value the subscribe
+	// proxy expects; empty denies every subscribe.
+	ProxySecret string
+	// TokenPath and SubscribePath are the mounted route paths.
+	TokenPath     string
+	SubscribePath string
+}
+
+// LoadConfig reads realtime.centrifugo.* from c, filling the defaults.
+// token_ttl is an integer number of seconds or a duration string.
+func LoadConfig(c *compass.Config) Config {
+	cfg := Config{
+		APIURL:        DefaultAPIURL,
+		TokenTTL:      DefaultTokenTTL,
+		WSURL:         DefaultWSURL,
+		TokenPath:     DefaultTokenPath,
+		SubscribePath: DefaultSubscribePath,
+	}
+	if c == nil {
+		return cfg
+	}
+	str := func(key string) string { return strings.TrimSpace(c.String("realtime.centrifugo." + key)) }
+	if v := str("api_url"); v != "" {
+		cfg.APIURL = strings.TrimSuffix(v, "/")
+	}
+	cfg.APIKey = str("api_key")
+	cfg.TokenSecret = str("token_secret")
+	cfg.ProxySecret = str("proxy_secret")
+	if d := lighthouse.DurationSetting(c, "realtime.centrifugo.token_ttl"); d > 0 {
+		cfg.TokenTTL = d
+	}
+	if v := str("ws_url"); v != "" {
+		cfg.WSURL = v
+	}
+	if v := str("token_path"); v != "" {
+		cfg.TokenPath = v
+	}
+	if v := str("subscribe_path"); v != "" {
+		cfg.SubscribePath = v
+	}
+	return cfg
+}
diff --git a/modules/lighthouse/centrifugo/driver.go b/modules/lighthouse/centrifugo/driver.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8662bb2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/lighthouse/centrifugo/driver.go
@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
+package centrifugo
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"net/http"
+
+	"git.golem15.com/golem15/summercms/modules/backpack"
+	"git.golem15.com/golem15/summercms/modules/lighthouse"
+)
+
+// DriverName is the realtime.driver value of this driver.
+const DriverName = "centrifugo"
+
+func init() {
+	lighthouse.RegisterDriver(DriverName, func(app *backpack.App, svc *lighthouse.Service) (lighthouse.Driver, error) {
+		var cfg Config
+		if app != nil {
+			cfg = LoadConfig(app.Config)
+		} else {
+			cfg = LoadConfig(nil)
+		}
+		return NewDriver(svc, cfg, nil), nil
+	})
+}
+
+// Driver is the Centrifugo lighthouse.Driver: it publishes through Client
+// and declares the token route (UserAuth) and the subscribe proxy route
+// (ServerToServer).
+type Driver struct {
+	svc    *lighthouse.Service
+	cfg    Config
+	client *Client
+	issuer *TokenIssuer
+}
+
+// NewDriver builds the driver for svc from cfg. hc may be nil (see
+// NewClient).
+func NewDriver(svc *lighthouse.Service, cfg Config, hc *http.Client) *Driver {
+	c := NewClient(cfg, hc)
+	c.log = svc.Logger()
+	return &Driver{
+		svc:    svc,
+		cfg:    cfg,
+		client: c,
+		issuer: NewTokenIssuer(cfg.TokenSecret, cfg.TokenTTL),
+	}
+}
+
+// Name returns "centrifugo".
+func (d *Driver) Name() string { return DriverName }
+
+// Config returns the driver's configuration.
+func (d *Driver) Config() Config { return d.cfg }
+
+// Client returns the HTTP API client.
+func (d *Driver) Client() *Client { return d.client }
+
+// Issuer returns the token issuer.
+func (d *Driver) Issuer() *TokenIssuer { return d.issuer }
+
+// Publish sends event to one channel through Client.Publish.
+func (d *Driver) Publish(ctx context.Context, channel, event string, payload json.RawMessage) error {
+	return d.client.Publish(ctx, channel, event, payload)
+}
+
+// Broadcast sends event to several channels through Client.Broadcast.
+func (d *Driver) Broadcast(ctx context.Context, channels []string, event string, payload json.RawMessage) error {
+	return d.client.Broadcast(ctx, channels, event, payload)
+}
+
+// Routes returns GET token_path (UserAuth, TokenHandler).
+func (d *Driver) Routes() []lighthouse.Route {
+	return []lighthouse.Route{
+		{Name: "token", Method: http.MethodGet, Path: d.cfg.TokenPath, Surface: lighthouse.UserAuth, Handler: TokenHandler(d.svc, d.issuer)},
+	}
+}
diff --git a/modules/lighthouse/centrifugo/handlers.go b/modules/lighthouse/centrifugo/handlers.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f84e4be
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/lighthouse/centrifugo/handlers.go
@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+package centrifugo
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"net/http"
+
+	"git.golem15.com/golem15/summercms/modules/bouncer"
+	"git.golem15.com/golem15/summercms/modules/lighthouse"
+)
+
+type errorBody struct {
+	Error string `json:"error"`
+}
+
+type tokenBody struct {
+	Token string `json:"token"`
+}
+
+// TokenHandler issues the connection token of the signed-in user. It must
+// be mounted behind a user guard (the UserAuth surface).
+//
+//   - no principal, or no user for it: 401 {"error":"Unauthorized"}
+//   - no token secret: 503 with the WinterCMS not-configured error body
+//   - otherwise 200 {"token":"…"} (see TokenIssuer.ForUser)
+func TokenHandler(svc *lighthouse.Service, issuer *TokenIssuer) http.HandlerFunc {
+	return func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		p, ok := bouncer.User(r.Context())
+		if !ok || p == nil || p.ID == 0 {
+			writeJSON(w, http.StatusUnauthorized, errorBody{Error: "Unauthorized"})
+			return
+		}
+		u, found, err := svc.User(r.Context(), p.ID)
+		if err != nil || !found {
+			writeJSON(w, http.StatusUnauthorized, errorBody{Error: "Unauthorized"})
+			return
+		}
+		if !issuer.Configured() {
+			writeJSON(w, http.StatusServiceUnavailable, errorBody{Error: "WebSocket not configured"})
+			return
+		}
+		tok, err := issuer.ForUser(u)
+		if err != nil {
+			svc.Logger().Error("realtime: token signing failed", "error", err)
+			writeJSON(w, http.StatusInternalServerError, errorBody{Error: "Internal server error"})
+			return
+		}
+		writeJSON(w, http.StatusOK, tokenBody{Token: tok})
+	}
+}
+
+// writeJSON writes v with no trailing newline and no HTML escaping, plus the
+// Content-Type and Cache-Control headers of a Laravel JSON response.
+func writeJSON(w http.ResponseWriter, status int, v any) {
+	var buf bytes.Buffer
+	enc := json.NewEncoder(&buf)
+	enc.SetEscapeHTML(false)
+	if err := enc.Encode(v); err != nil {
+		w.WriteHeader(http.StatusInternalServerError)
+		return
+	}
+	h := w.Header()
+	h.Set("Content-Type", "application/json")
+	h.Set("Cache-Control", "no-cache, private")
+	w.WriteHeader(status)
+	_, _ = w.Write(bytes.TrimSuffix(buf.Bytes(), []byte("\n")))
+}
diff --git a/modules/lighthouse/centrifugo/token.go b/modules/lighthouse/centrifugo/token.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5252111
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/lighthouse/centrifugo/token.go
@@ -0,0 +1,145 @@
+package centrifugo
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"strconv"
+	"time"
+
+	"git.golem15.com/golem15/summercms/modules/lighthouse"
+	"github.com/golang-jwt/jwt/v5"
+)
+
+// anonymousTTL is the lifetime of Anonymous tokens.
+const anonymousTTL = 300 * time.Second
+
+// TokenIssuer signs Centrifugo connection and subscription tokens with
+// HS256. Its claims match the WinterCMS JwtTokenGenerator. It is safe for
+// concurrent use.
+type TokenIssuer struct {
+	secret []byte
+	ttl    time.Duration
+	// Now is the clock used for exp; nil means time.Now.
+	Now func() time.Time
+}
+
+// NewTokenIssuer returns an issuer for secret with tokens valid for ttl
+// (DefaultTokenTTL when ttl is not positive).
+func NewTokenIssuer(secret string, ttl time.Duration) *TokenIssuer {
+	if ttl <= 0 {
+		ttl = DefaultTokenTTL
+	}
+	return &TokenIssuer{secret: []byte(secret), ttl: ttl}
+}
+
+// Configured reports whether a signing secret is set.
+func (i *TokenIssuer) Configured() bool { return i != nil && len(i.secret) > 0 }
+
+type userInfo struct {
+	Name *string `json:"name"`
+}
+
+type userClaims struct {
+	Sub  string   `json:"sub"`
+	Exp  int64    `json:"exp"`
+	Info userInfo `json:"info"`
+}
+
+type channelClaims struct {
+	Sub     string `json:"sub"`
+	Channel string `json:"channel"`
+	Exp     int64  `json:"exp"`
+}
+
+type anonymousClaims struct {
+	Sub string `json:"sub"`
+	Exp int64  `json:"exp"`
+}
+
+type identifierClaims struct {
+	Sub  string          `json:"sub"`
+	Exp  int64           `json:"exp"`
+	Info json.RawMessage `json:"info"`
+}
+
+// ForUser returns a connection token with exactly the claims sub (the user
+// id as a string), exp (now + TTL) and info {"name": u.Name}. info carries
+// nothing else: no email, no other ids.
+func (i *TokenIssuer) ForUser(u lighthouse.User) (string, error) {
+	return i.sign(userClaims{Sub: userSub(u.ID), Exp: i.exp(i.ttl), Info: userInfo{Name: u.Name}})
+}
+
+// Subscription returns a subscription token with the claims sub, channel
+// and exp.
+func (i *TokenIssuer) Subscription(u lighthouse.User, channel string) (string, error) {
+	return i.sign(channelClaims{Sub: userSub(u.ID), Channel: channel, Exp: i.exp(i.ttl)})
+}
+
+// Anonymous returns a connection token with sub "" and exp now + 5 minutes.
+func (i *TokenIssuer) Anonymous() (string, error) {
+	return i.sign(anonymousClaims{Sub: "", Exp: i.exp(anonymousTTL)})
+}
+
+// ForIdentifier returns a connection token for a non-user identifier with
+// the claims sub, exp and info. An empty info is encoded as [], as the
+// WinterCMS generator's empty PHP array is.
+func (i *TokenIssuer) ForIdentifier(identifier string, info map[string]any) (string, error) {
+	raw := json.RawMessage("[]")
+	if len(info) > 0 {
+		b, err := marshal(info)
+		if err != nil {
+			return "", err
+		}
+		raw = b
+	}
+	return i.sign(identifierClaims{Sub: identifier, Exp: i.exp(i.ttl), Info: raw})
+}
+
+// SubscriptionForIdentifier returns a subscription token for a non-user
+// identifier with the claims sub, channel and exp.
+func (i *TokenIssuer) SubscriptionForIdentifier(identifier, channel string) (string, error) {
+	return i.sign(channelClaims{Sub: identifier, Channel: channel, Exp: i.exp(i.ttl)})
+}
+
+func (i *TokenIssuer) exp(ttl time.Duration) int64 {
+	now := time.Now
+	if i != nil && i.Now != nil {
+		now = i.Now
+	}
+	return now().Add(ttl).Unix()
+}
+
+func (i *TokenIssuer) sign(claims any) (string, error) {
+	if !i.Configured() {
+		return "", ErrNotConfigured
+	}
+	raw, err := marshal(claims)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+	return jwt.NewWithClaims(jwt.SigningMethodHS256, orderedClaims(raw)).SignedString(i.secret)
+}
+
+func userSub(id uint) string { return strconv.FormatUint(uint64(id), 10) }
+
+func marshal(v any) ([]byte, error) {
+	var buf bytes.Buffer
+	enc := json.NewEncoder(&buf)
+	enc.SetEscapeHTML(false)
+	if err := enc.Encode(v); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	return bytes.TrimSuffix(buf.Bytes(), []byte("\n")), nil
+}
+
+// orderedClaims keeps the claim order of the struct it was marshalled
+// from. The jwt.Claims methods are never used for signing.
+type orderedClaims json.RawMessage
+
+func (c orderedClaims) MarshalJSON() ([]byte, error)               { return c, nil }
+func (orderedClaims) GetExpirationTime() (*jwt.NumericDate, error) { return nil, nil }
+func (orderedClaims) GetIssuedAt() (*jwt.NumericDate, error)       { return nil, nil }
+func (orderedClaims) GetNotBefore() (*jwt.NumericDate, error)      { return nil, nil }
+func (orderedClaims) GetIssuer() (string, error)                   { return "", nil }
+func (orderedClaims) GetSubject() (string, error)                  { return "", nil }
+func (orderedClaims) GetAudience() (jwt.ClaimStrings, error)       { return nil, nil }
diff --git a/modules/lighthouse/drivers.go b/modules/lighthouse/drivers.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..300ab85
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/lighthouse/drivers.go
@@ -0,0 +1,194 @@
+package lighthouse
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"fmt"
+	"log/slog"
+	"sort"
+	"sync"
+	"time"
+
+	"git.golem15.com/golem15/summercms/modules/backpack"
+)
+
+// Publisher sends an event to realtime channels. Channels are final names:
+// the broadcast job lowercases them and applies the namespace before it
+// calls a Publisher.
+type Publisher interface {
+	// Publish sends event to one channel.
+	Publish(ctx context.Context, channel, event string, payload json.RawMessage) error
+	// Broadcast sends event to several channels in one call.
+	Broadcast(ctx context.Context, channels []string, event string, payload json.RawMessage) error
+}
+
+// Driver is a realtime transport. Routes lists the HTTP endpoints the
+// transport needs (token issuing, subscribe authorization); the application
+// mounts them with Mount.
+type Driver interface {
+	Publisher
+	// Name is the realtime.driver value that selects the driver.
+	Name() string
+	// Routes returns the driver's HTTP routes; nil when it has none.
+	Routes() []Route
+}
+
+// DriverFactory builds a driver for an app. svc is the Service being built:
+// its Registry, User lookup and Logger are available to handlers, but its
+// Driver is not set yet.
+type DriverFactory func(app *backpack.App, svc *Service) (Driver, error)
+
+// driverTable is the init-time driver registry, like database/sql's: it is
+// written only from package init functions and read when a Service is built.
+var driverTable = struct {
+	mu        sync.RWMutex
+	factories map[string]DriverFactory
+}{factories: map[string]DriverFactory{}}
+
+// RegisterDriver makes a driver available under name. Call it from the
+// driver package's init function. A duplicate name, an empty name or a nil
+// factory panics.
+func RegisterDriver(name string, f DriverFactory) {
+	if name == "" {
+		panic("lighthouse: RegisterDriver with an empty name")
+	}
+	if f == nil {
+		panic("lighthouse: RegisterDriver " + name + " with a nil factory")
+	}
+	driverTable.mu.Lock()
+	defer driverTable.mu.Unlock()
+	if _, dup := driverTable.factories[name]; dup {
+		panic("lighthouse: RegisterDriver called twice for driver " + name)
+	}
+	driverTable.factories[name] = f
+}
+
+func driverFactory(name string) (DriverFactory, bool) {
+	driverTable.mu.RLock()
+	defer driverTable.mu.RUnlock()
+	f, ok := driverTable.factories[name]
+	return f, ok
+}
+
+func driverNames() []string {
+	driverTable.mu.RLock()
+	defer driverTable.mu.RUnlock()
+	names := make([]string, 0, len(driverTable.factories))
+	for n := range driverTable.factories {
+		names = append(names, n)
+	}
+	sort.Strings(names)
+	return names
+}
+
+func init() {
+	RegisterDriver("null", func(*backpack.App, *Service) (Driver, error) { return nullDriver{}, nil })
+	RegisterDriver("log", func(app *backpack.App, svc *Service) (Driver, error) {
+		return &logDriver{log: svc.Logger()}, nil
+	})
+	RegisterDriver("memory", func(*backpack.App, *Service) (Driver, error) { return NewMemoryDriver(), nil })
+}
+
+// nullDriver discards every publication. Broadcast jobs are not even
+// enqueued while it is selected.
+type nullDriver struct{}
+
+func (nullDriver) Name() string    { return "null" }
+func (nullDriver) Routes() []Route { return nil }
+func (nullDriver) Publish(context.Context, string, string, json.RawMessage) error {
+	return nil
+}
+func (nullDriver) Broadcast(context.Context, []string, string, json.RawMessage) error {
+	return nil
+}
+
+// logDriver logs the channel names and event of each publication at Info.
+// It never logs the payload.
+type logDriver struct {
+	log *slog.Logger
+}
+
+func (d *logDriver) Name() string    { return "log" }
+func (d *logDriver) Routes() []Route { return nil }
+
+func (d *logDriver) Publish(_ context.Context, channel, event string, _ json.RawMessage) error {
+	d.log.Info("realtime publish", slog.String("channel", channel), slog.String("event", event))
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (d *logDriver) Broadcast(_ context.Context, channels []string, event string, _ json.RawMessage) error {
+	d.log.Info("realtime broadcast", slog.Any("channels", channels), slog.String("event", event))
+	return nil
+}
+
+// Publication is one call recorded by MemoryDriver.
+type Publication struct {
+	// Method is "publish" or "broadcast".
+	Method    string
+	Channels  []string
+	Event     string
+	Payload   json.RawMessage
+	Timestamp time.Time
+}
+
+// MemoryDriver records publications for tests and payload comparisons. It
+// is safe for concurrent use.
+type MemoryDriver struct {
+	mu   sync.Mutex
+	pubs []Publication
+}
+
+// NewMemoryDriver returns an empty memory driver.
+func NewMemoryDriver() *MemoryDriver { return &MemoryDriver{} }
+
+// Name returns "memory".
+func (d *MemoryDriver) Name() string { return "memory" }
+
+// Routes returns nil: the memory driver has no HTTP surface.
+func (d *MemoryDriver) Routes() []Route { return nil }
+
+// Publish records a single-channel publication.
+func (d *MemoryDriver) Publish(_ context.Context, channel, event string, payload json.RawMessage) error {
+	return d.record("publish", []string{channel}, event, payload)
+}
+
+// Broadcast records a multi-channel publication.
+func (d *MemoryDriver) Broadcast(_ context.Context, channels []string, event string, payload json.RawMessage) error {
+	return d.record("broadcast", channels, event, payload)
+}
+
+func (d *MemoryDriver) record(method string, channels []string, event string, payload json.RawMessage) error {
+	if d == nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("lighthouse: memory driver is nil")
+	}
+	d.mu.Lock()
+	defer d.mu.Unlock()
+	d.pubs = append(d.pubs, clonePublication(Publication{
+		Method:    method,
+		Channels:  channels,
+		Event:     event,
+		Payload:   payload,
+		Timestamp: time.Now(),
+	}))
+	return nil
+}
+
+// Publications returns a copy of the recorded publications in call order.
+func (d *MemoryDriver) Publications() []Publication {
+	if d == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	d.mu.Lock()
+	defer d.mu.Unlock()
+	out := make([]Publication, len(d.pubs))
+	for i, p := range d.pubs {
+		out[i] = clonePublication(p)
+	}
+	return out
+}
+
+func clonePublication(p Publication) Publication {
+	p.Channels = append([]string(nil), p.Channels...)
+	p.Payload = append(json.RawMessage(nil), p.Payload...)
+	return p
+}
diff --git a/modules/lighthouse/lighthouse.go b/modules/lighthouse/lighthouse.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cf1904e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/lighthouse/lighthouse.go
@@ -0,0 +1,173 @@
+// Package lighthouse is the transport-neutral realtime layer: a publisher
+// interface with pluggable drivers, subscribe-time channel authorization,
+// and model broadcasts enqueued in the write transaction.
+//
+// Models, authorizers and application code talk only to this package. A
+// driver package (for example lighthouse/centrifugo) is imported for its
+// side effect of registering itself, and is chosen with realtime.driver.
+package lighthouse
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"log/slog"
+	"strings"
+	"sync"
+	"time"
+
+	"git.golem15.com/golem15/summercms/modules/backpack"
+	"git.golem15.com/golem15/summercms/modules/compass"
+)
+
+const (
+	// DefaultDriver is the driver used when realtime.driver is empty.
+	DefaultDriver = "null"
+	// DefaultQueue is the River queue of broadcast jobs when
+	// realtime.broadcast_queue is empty.
+	DefaultQueue = "broadcasts"
+	// DefaultTimeout is the broadcast job timeout when
+	// realtime.broadcast_timeout is empty.
+	DefaultTimeout = 5 * time.Second
+)
+
+// Service is the app-scoped realtime service. Get it with From.
+type Service struct {
+	app       *backpack.App
+	driver    Driver
+	log       *slog.Logger
+	namespace string
+	queue     string
+	timeout   time.Duration
+
+	mu     sync.RWMutex
+	lookup UserLookup
+}
+
+// From returns the app's Service, building and publishing it on first use.
+// The first call reads realtime.driver (default "null"),
+// realtime.broadcast_namespace (default ""), realtime.broadcast_queue
+// (default "broadcasts") and realtime.broadcast_timeout (default 5s; an
+// integer number of seconds or a duration string) and builds the driver
+// through its registered factory. An unknown driver name is an error.
+func From(app *backpack.App) (*Service, error) {
+	if app == nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("lighthouse: app is nil")
+	}
+	if s, ok := app.Lookup[*Service](); ok && s != nil {
+		return s, nil
+	}
+	svc := newService(app)
+	name := DefaultDriver
+	if app.Config != nil {
+		if v := strings.TrimSpace(app.Config.String("realtime.driver")); v != "" {
+			name = strings.ToLower(v)
+		}
+	}
+	factory, ok := driverFactory(name)
+	if !ok {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("lighthouse: unknown realtime.driver %q (registered: %s; a driver package must be imported to register itself)", name, strings.Join(driverNames(), ", "))
+	}
+	d, err := factory(app, svc)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("lighthouse: driver %s: %w", name, err)
+	}
+	if d == nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("lighthouse: driver %s returned nil", name)
+	}
+	svc.driver = d
+	if err := app.Publish(svc); err != nil {
+		if existing, ok := app.Lookup[*Service](); ok && existing != nil {
+			return existing, nil
+		}
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("lighthouse: %w", err)
+	}
+	return svc, nil
+}
+
+func newService(app *backpack.App) *Service {
+	svc := &Service{
+		app:     app,
+		log:     loggerFromApp(app),
+		queue:   DefaultQueue,
+		timeout: DefaultTimeout,
+	}
+	if app == nil || app.Config == nil {
+		return svc
+	}
+	c := app.Config
+	svc.namespace = strings.TrimSpace(c.String("realtime.broadcast_namespace"))
+	if v := strings.TrimSpace(c.String("realtime.broadcast_queue")); v != "" {
+		svc.queue = v
+	}
+	if d := DurationSetting(c, "realtime.broadcast_timeout"); d > 0 {
+		svc.timeout = d
+	}
+	return svc
+}
+
+// Driver returns the driver selected by realtime.driver.
+func (s *Service) Driver() Driver {
+	if s == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	return s.driver
+}
+
+// Logger returns the app logger the service and its driver log through.
+func (s *Service) Logger() *slog.Logger {
+	if s == nil || s.log == nil {
+		return slog.Default()
+	}
+	return s.log
+}
+
+// Namespace returns realtime.broadcast_namespace.
+func (s *Service) Namespace() string {
+	if s == nil {
+		return ""
+	}
+	return s.namespace
+}
+
+// Queue returns the River queue broadcast jobs are enqueued on.
+func (s *Service) Queue() string {
+	if s == nil {
+		return DefaultQueue
+	}
+	return s.queue
+}
+
+// Timeout returns the per-job timeout of a broadcast job.
+func (s *Service) Timeout() time.Duration {
+	if s == nil {
+		return DefaultTimeout
+	}
+	return s.timeout
+}
+
+// DurationSetting reads path as a duration string ("5s") or an integer
+// number of seconds. It returns 0 when the key is missing or invalid.
+func DurationSetting(c *compass.Config, path string) time.Duration {
+	if c == nil {
+		return 0
+	}
+	raw := strings.TrimSpace(c.String(path))
+	if raw == "" {
+		return 0
+	}
+	if d, err := time.ParseDuration(raw); err == nil && d > 0 {
+		return d
+	}
+	if n := c.Int(path); n > 0 {
+		return time.Duration(n) * time.Second
+	}
+	return 0
+}
+
+func loggerFromApp(app *backpack.App) *slog.Logger {
+	if app != nil {
+		if log, ok := app.Lookup[*slog.Logger](); ok && log != nil {
+			return log
+		}
+	}
+	return slog.Default()
+}
diff --git a/modules/lighthouse/route.go b/modules/lighthouse/route.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..17e7b14
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/lighthouse/route.go
@@ -0,0 +1,142 @@
+package lighthouse
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"net/http"
+	"strings"
+
+	"git.golem15.com/golem15/summercms/modules/pact"
+)
+
+// Surface says who calls a driver route, so the application can put it
+// behind the right guard and group.
+type Surface int
+
+const (
+	// UserAuth routes are called by a signed-in browser user; they mount
+	// behind the application's user guard.
+	UserAuth Surface = iota + 1
+	// ServerToServer routes are called by the realtime server itself; they
+	// mount in a raw group without the house envelope.
+	ServerToServer
+	// Public routes need no authentication.
+	Public
+)
+
+// String returns the surface name.
+func (s Surface) String() string {
+	switch s {
+	case UserAuth:
+		return "UserAuth"
+	case ServerToServer:
+		return "ServerToServer"
+	case Public:
+		return "Public"
+	default:
+		return fmt.Sprintf("Surface(%d)", int(s))
+	}
+}
+
+// Route is an HTTP endpoint declared by a driver.
+type Route struct {
+	// Name identifies the route inside the driver (for example "token").
+	Name string
+	// Method is GET, POST, PUT, PATCH or DELETE.
+	Method string
+	// Path is the absolute request path.
+	Path    string
+	Surface Surface
+	Handler http.HandlerFunc
+}
+
+// Surfaces holds the application's middleware for each surface. Middleware
+// is appended after the surface middleware on every route, so a guard in
+// UserAuth runs before a throttle in Middleware.
+type Surfaces struct {
+	UserAuth       []string
+	ServerToServer []string
+	Public         []string
+	Middleware     []string
+}
+
+// Mount registers the driver's routes on r. UserAuth and Public routes go
+// through r.Group and ServerToServer routes through r.GroupRaw, each with
+// the surface middleware followed by s.Middleware. A nil driver, or one
+// without routes, mounts nothing. A UserAuth route with an empty
+// s.UserAuth is an error: the application must never expose a user route
+// without a guard. Every route is validated before any is registered.
+func Mount(r pact.Router, d Driver, s Surfaces) error {
+	if r == nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("lighthouse: router is nil")
+	}
+	if d == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	routes := d.Routes()
+	for _, rt := range routes {
+		if err := validateRoute(d, rt, s); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+	}
+	for _, rt := range routes {
+		mw := append(append([]string{}, surfaceMiddleware(rt.Surface, s)...), s.Middleware...)
+		add := func(g pact.Router) { addRoute(g, rt) }
+		if rt.Surface == ServerToServer {
+			r.GroupRaw("/", mw, add)
+		} else {
+			r.Group("/", mw, add)
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func validateRoute(d Driver, rt Route, s Surfaces) error {
+	where := fmt.Sprintf("lighthouse: driver %s route %q", d.Name(), rt.Name)
+	if rt.Handler == nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("%s has no handler", where)
+	}
+	if !strings.HasPrefix(rt.Path, "/") {
+		return fmt.Errorf("%s path %q must be absolute", where, rt.Path)
+	}
+	switch strings.ToUpper(rt.Method) {
+	case http.MethodGet, http.MethodPost, http.MethodPut, http.MethodPatch, http.MethodDelete:
+	default:
+		return fmt.Errorf("%s has unsupported method %q", where, rt.Method)
+	}
+	switch rt.Surface {
+	case UserAuth:
+		if len(s.UserAuth) == 0 {
+			return fmt.Errorf("%s is a UserAuth route but Surfaces.UserAuth is empty; mount it behind a user guard", where)
+		}
+	case ServerToServer, Public:
+	default:
+		return fmt.Errorf("%s has unknown surface %v", where, rt.Surface)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func surfaceMiddleware(surface Surface, s Surfaces) []string {
+	switch surface {
+	case UserAuth:
+		return s.UserAuth
+	case ServerToServer:
+		return s.ServerToServer
+	default:
+		return s.Public
+	}
+}
+
+func addRoute(g pact.Router, rt Route) {
+	switch strings.ToUpper(rt.Method) {
+	case http.MethodGet:
+		g.Get(rt.Path, rt.Handler)
+	case http.MethodPost:
+		g.Post(rt.Path, rt.Handler)
+	case http.MethodPut:
+		g.Put(rt.Path, rt.Handler)
+	case http.MethodPatch:
+		g.Patch(rt.Path, rt.Handler)
+	case http.MethodDelete:
+		g.Delete(rt.Path, rt.Handler)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/modules/lighthouse/users.go b/modules/lighthouse/users.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8027a5b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/lighthouse/users.go
@@ -0,0 +1,71 @@
+package lighthouse
+
+import (
+	"context"
+
+	"git.golem15.com/golem15/summercms/modules/bouncer"
+)
+
+// User is the identity a realtime driver needs: the id and display name.
+type User struct {
+	ID   uint
+	Name *string
+}
+
+// UserLookup loads a user by id. found is false when no such user exists.
+type UserLookup func(ctx context.Context, id uint) (user User, found bool, err error)
+
+// SetUserLookup installs the application's user lookup.
+func (s *Service) SetUserLookup(fn UserLookup) {
+	if s == nil {
+		return
+	}
+	s.mu.Lock()
+	s.lookup = fn
+	s.mu.Unlock()
+}
+
+// User loads user id through the installed lookup. Without a lookup it
+// returns User{ID: id} with a nil Name and found true.
+func (s *Service) User(ctx context.Context, id uint) (User, bool, error) {
+	if s == nil {
+		return User{ID: id}, true, nil
+	}
+	s.mu.RLock()
+	fn := s.lookup
+	s.mu.RUnlock()
+	if fn == nil {
+		return User{ID: id}, true, nil
+	}
+	return fn(ctx, id)
+}
+
+// Actor is who caused a broadcast. It marshals as {"user_id":…,"name":…}.
+type Actor struct {
+	UserID *uint   `json:"user_id"`
+	Name   *string `json:"name"`
+}
+
+// SystemActor is the actor of writes made without a signed-in user:
+// {"user_id":null,"name":"System"}.
+func SystemActor() Actor {
+	name := "System"
+	return Actor{Name: &name}
+}
+
+// Actor returns the actor of the request in ctx. No principal, or a
+// backend-admin principal, gives SystemActor: the WinterCMS frontend user is
+// empty in backend requests. Otherwise it is the principal's id and the
+// looked-up name (nil when the lookup fails or finds nothing).
+func (s *Service) Actor(ctx context.Context) Actor {
+	p, ok := bouncer.User(ctx)
+	if !ok || p == nil || p.Backend {
+		return SystemActor()
+	}
+	id := p.ID
+	a := Actor{UserID: &id}
+	if u, found, err := s.User(ctx, id); err == nil && found {
+		a.Name = u.Name
+	}
+	return a
+}