diff --git a/.devcontainer/devcontainer.json b/.devcontainer/devcontainer.json
index 5173657..7024001 100644
--- a/.devcontainer/devcontainer.json
+++ b/.devcontainer/devcontainer.json
@@ -34,5 +34,5 @@
   "remoteUser": "vscode",
   "onCreateCommand": "sudo chown -R vscode:vscode /home/vscode/.claude /home/vscode/.codex /home/vscode/.cache",
   "postCreateCommand": ".devcontainer/setup-agents",
-  "postAttachCommand": "if [ -x script/refresh-codespaces-private-port ]; then exec script/refresh-codespaces-private-port; else exec .firstdraft/design/script/refresh-codespaces-private-port; fi"
+  "postAttachCommand": "if [ -x script/refresh-codespaces-private-port ]; then exec script/refresh-codespaces-private-port; elif [ -x .firstdraft/design/script/refresh-codespaces-private-port ]; then exec .firstdraft/design/script/refresh-codespaces-private-port; fi"
 }
diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index 892d251..cd75213 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -216,16 +216,21 @@ as the runtime discriminator and
 the current CLI's visibility command is the supported control surface. This is a containment for an observed
 provider registration defect, not a custom tunnel or application workaround.
 
-The `postAttachCommand` resolves that same helper at `script/refresh-codespaces-private-port` before root adoption
-and `.firstdraft/design/script/refresh-codespaces-private-port` afterward. This uses the standard
+The `postAttachCommand` runs the executable helper at `script/refresh-codespaces-private-port` first, or at
+`.firstdraft/design/script/refresh-codespaces-private-port` when only the archived helper remains. If neither is
+executable, it succeeds without changing port registration. Retained planning context is optional for application
+work; no helper is copied into generated application source to replace it. This uses the standard
 [Dev Container shell lifecycle](https://containers.dev/implementors/json_reference/#lifecycle-scripts), not a new
 service: the [reference implementation](https://github.com/devcontainers/cli/blob/main/src/spec-common/injectHeadless.ts)
 runs a string command in `/bin/sh` with the workspace as its working directory. An inline path selection survives
 the move even when the already-running container retains its original lifecycle configuration. Helper errors still
 propagate, including its active-listener refusal; no port policy changes with the path. The focused
-`script/check-codespaces-private-port.mjs` exercises the configured command before and after a fixture's `script/`
-directory moves under `.firstdraft/design/`, alongside the existing private-port and listener cases. That local proof
-is not a new Codespaces observation.
+`script/check-codespaces-private-port.mjs` exercises root precedence, archived execution, non-executable or removed
+helpers, and the existing private-port and listener cases. Both helper locations preserve actual failures; the
+guard does not turn a failed refresh into success. Existing containers can retain the lifecycle command recorded
+when they were created; this source change does not rewrite their provider metadata. These shell checks do not
+qualify fresh-template attachment or private preview after reattachment and stop/start. Those provider observations
+remain under [Service #730](https://github.com/firstdraft/firstdraft/issues/730).
 
 The repaired tunnel exposed the already-recorded generated Rails HostAuthorization boundary. Do not copy the
 student template's broad `config.hosts.clear` or disabled origin check into Drawing Board. Generated-app host and
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index a242a14..84eacd5 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -439,7 +439,10 @@ run `chmod 600 .env` and try again.
 After root Compile, use the generated application's README and the exact Rails error instead of rerunning Drawing
 Board setup or its doctor. The old tooling is under `.firstdraft/design/`, and the existing container's PATH still
 reflects its pre-Compile layout. If a reconnect says the private-port refresh found an active listener, stop `bin/dev` before
-rerunning `.firstdraft/design/script/refresh-codespaces-private-port`; do not weaken its listener guard.
+rerunning `.firstdraft/design/script/refresh-codespaces-private-port` if you retained that helper; do not weaken its
+listener guard. The current template skips this refresh when neither the original nor archived helper is executable,
+so removing the optional planning archive does not require recreating its tools. An older Codespace can retain its
+earlier attach command; see the [lifecycle details](CONTRIBUTING.md#work-on-the-template).
 
 If a Codespaces forwarded-port URL reaches Rails' **Blocked hosts** page, stop and tell your agent. Do not disable
 Rails host checks; the generated target must own that correction.
diff --git a/script/check b/script/check
index 06d7332..4f269b4 100755
--- a/script/check
+++ b/script/check
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ node script/check-image-receipt.mjs
 # shellcheck disable=SC1091
 source .devcontainer/agent-versions.env
 
-for script in script/agent-smoke .devcontainer/setup-agents bin/agent-doctor bin/review-plan-with-claude bin/review-plan-with-codex script/application-smoke script/check script/check-depth-one script/devcontainer-image-smoke script/devcontainer-smoke script/initialize-application script/selenium; do
+for script in script/agent-smoke .devcontainer/setup-agents bin/agent-doctor bin/review-plan-with-claude bin/review-plan-with-codex script/application-smoke script/check script/check-depth-one script/devcontainer-image-smoke script/devcontainer-smoke script/initialize-application script/refresh-codespaces-private-port script/selenium; do
   bash -n "$script"
   if [[ ! -x "$script" ]]; then
     echo "$script must be executable." >&2
diff --git a/script/check-codespaces-private-port.mjs b/script/check-codespaces-private-port.mjs
index a7f674b..a868ca5 100755
--- a/script/check-codespaces-private-port.mjs
+++ b/script/check-codespaces-private-port.mjs
@@ -284,8 +284,22 @@ esac
     assert.equal(fs.readFileSync(statePath, "utf8"), "private");
   }
 
-  fs.mkdirSync(path.join(workspaceRoot, ".firstdraft", "design"), {recursive: true});
-  fs.renameSync(path.join(workspaceRoot, "script"), path.join(workspaceRoot, ".firstdraft", "design", "script"));
+  const archiveRoot = path.join(workspaceRoot, ".firstdraft", "design");
+  const archivedScriptRoot = path.join(archiveRoot, "script");
+  const archivedRefresher = path.join(archivedScriptRoot, "refresh-codespaces-private-port");
+  fs.mkdirSync(archivedScriptRoot, {recursive: true});
+  fs.writeFileSync(archivedRefresher, "#!/bin/sh\nexit 99\n", {mode: 0o755});
+  fs.writeFileSync(statePath, "private");
+  fs.writeFileSync(logPath, "");
+  const preferredRoot = run();
+  assert.equal(preferredRoot.status, 0, preferredRoot.stderr);
+  assert.match(preferredRoot.stdout, /private visibility confirmed/);
+
+  const rootFailure = run({MOCK_PUBLIC_FAILURE: "true"});
+  assert.equal(rootFailure.status, 42, rootFailure.stderr);
+
+  fs.rmSync(archivedScriptRoot, {recursive: true});
+  fs.renameSync(path.join(workspaceRoot, "script"), archivedScriptRoot);
   for (let attach = 0; attach < 2; attach += 1) {
     fs.writeFileSync(statePath, "private");
     fs.writeFileSync(logPath, "");
@@ -308,13 +322,23 @@ esac
   assert.equal(adoptedOutside.status, 0, adoptedOutside.stderr);
   assert.match(adoptedOutside.stdout, /skipped outside GitHub Codespaces/);
 
-  fs.renameSync(path.join(workspaceRoot, ".firstdraft", "design", "script"), path.join(workspaceRoot, ".firstdraft", "design", "missing-script"));
-  fs.writeFileSync(logPath, "");
-  const missingHelper = run();
-  assert.notEqual(missingHelper.status, 0);
-  assert.match(missingHelper.stderr, /\.firstdraft\/design\/script\/refresh-codespaces-private-port/);
-  assert.deepEqual(logLines(), []);
-  console.log("Codespaces post-attach contracts passed before and after root adoption, including listener guards.");
+  const archivedFailure = run({MOCK_PUBLIC_FAILURE: "true"});
+  assert.equal(archivedFailure.status, 42, archivedFailure.stderr);
+
+  fs.chmodSync(archivedRefresher, 0o644);
+  for (const archivePresent of [true, false]) {
+    if (!archivePresent) fs.rmSync(archiveRoot, {recursive: true});
+    for (const listener of ["false", "true"]) {
+      fs.writeFileSync(logPath, "");
+      const noExecutableHelper = run({MOCK_LISTENER: listener});
+      assert.equal(noExecutableHelper.status, 0, noExecutableHelper.stderr);
+      assert.equal(noExecutableHelper.stdout, "");
+      assert.equal(noExecutableHelper.stderr, "");
+      assert.deepEqual(logLines(), []);
+      assert.equal(fs.readFileSync(statePath, "utf8"), "private");
+    }
+  }
+  console.log("Codespaces post-attach contracts passed with root, archived, and absent helpers, preserving helper failures.");
 } finally {
   fs.rmSync(temporaryRoot, {recursive: true, force: true});
 }