feat(preview): real preview environments — clone, deploy, TTL, promote (#67)

Preview environments were bookkeeping only: a fabricated deployment row
marked "running" and a fake *.preview.containr.local URL. Now a preview
is a real service clone — full config copy (source, env, volumes, access),
git_branch pinned to the requested branch, its own preview hostname under
the clone's node default domain, and a real deployment through the queue.

- cloneServiceRow extracted from handleCloneService for reuse
- preview_environments.preview_service_id links to the clone
- minute sweeper: expires past-TTL previews (removes clone runtime + row)
  and syncs preview status from the clone's live service status
- delete/cleanup paths tear the clone down, not just the row
- promote redeploys the SOURCE service at the preview branch and retires
  the clone — a real deployment, not a pending stub

Verified live: create → clone → deploy → running container; TTL expiry →
clone + container gone; promote → real deploy on the source, preview
stopped. Unit test covers the DNS-safe clone naming.

Generated with [Devin](https://devin.ai)

Co-authored-by: Devin <158243242+devin-ai-integration[bot]@users.noreply.github.com>

ROADMAP2.md

@@ -520,8 +520,9 @@ and wired refs, one click or one CLI call.
 - [x] **Gateway traffic path** — `/g/:slug/*` mounted → api_key auth →
   rpm + monthly quota → `gateway/proxy.go` → usage_counters /
   metrics_timeseries / incident_events.
-- [ ] **Preview environments runtime** — real build+deploy+subdomain+TTL
-  (bookkeeping only now). Pairs with clone + multi-domain.
+- [x] **Preview environments runtime** — previews are real service clones:
+  branch override, queued deployment, node-domain hostnames, TTL sweeper,
+  promote = redeploy of the source at the preview branch.
 - [ ] **Environments** — env switcher, per-env vars/domains, promote.
 - [ ] **sqlc port** — ~140 raw `database/sql` sites → `sqlc/queries/`.
 - [ ] **Tests** — canvas/wizard frontend coverage, deployment/template/

app/backend/internal/api/preview_environments.go

@@ -2,7 +2,12 @@ package api
 
 import (
 	"containr/internal/database"
+	"containr/internal/database/sqlcdb"
+	"containr/internal/deployment"
+	"containr/internal/deployqueue"
+	"context"
 	"database/sql"
+	"encoding/json"
 	"fmt"
 	"net/http"
 	"strings"
@@ -26,6 +31,10 @@ type PreviewEnvironment struct {
 	CreatedAt   time.Time  `json:"created_at" db:"created_at"`
 	UpdatedAt   time.Time  `json:"updated_at" db:"updated_at"`
 
+	// PreviewServiceID is the cloned service this preview actually deploys;
+	// its status is the source of truth while the preview is active.
+	PreviewServiceID *uuid.UUID `json:"preview_service_id,omitempty" db:"preview_service_id"`
+
 	// Related data
 	Service      *Service   `json:"service,omitempty"`
 	DeploymentID *uuid.UUID `json:"deployment_id,omitempty"`
@@ -78,7 +87,7 @@ func handleGetPreviewEnvironments(c *gin.Context) {
 
 	// Get preview environments for the project with service info
 	rows, err := db.(*database.DB).Query(
-		`SELECT pe.id, pe.project_id, pe.service_id, pe.branch_name, pe.pr_number, 
+		`SELECT pe.id, pe.project_id, pe.service_id, pe.preview_service_id, pe.branch_name, pe.pr_number,
 				pe.environment, pe.status, pe.url, pe.expires_at, pe.created_at, pe.updated_at,
 				s.id as service_id, s.name as service_name, s.type as service_type
 			FROM preview_environments pe
@@ -101,7 +110,7 @@ func handleGetPreviewEnvironments(c *gin.Context) {
 		var serviceType sql.NullString
 
 		err := rows.Scan(
-			&env.ID, &env.ProjectID, &env.ServiceID, &env.BranchName, &env.PRNumber,
+			&env.ID, &env.ProjectID, &env.ServiceID, &env.PreviewServiceID, &env.BranchName, &env.PRNumber,
 			&env.Environment, &env.Status, &env.URL, &env.ExpiresAt, &env.CreatedAt, &env.UpdatedAt,
 			&serviceID, &serviceName, &serviceType,
 		)
@@ -215,87 +224,111 @@ func handleCreatePreviewEnvironment(c *gin.Context) {
 		ttlHours = 24 // Default 24 hours
 	}
 
-	// Create preview environment
+	// A preview is a real service: clone the source, pin it to the
+	// requested branch, swap its domains for a preview hostname, and run a
+	// normal deployment through the queue. Expiry sweeps the clone away.
+	envName := generatePreviewEnvironmentName(req.BranchName)
+	cloneName := previewServiceName(service.Name, req.BranchName)
+	cloneID, err := cloneServiceRow(db.(*database.DB), req.ServiceID, req.ProjectID, cloneName, "")
+	if err != nil {
+		c.JSON(http.StatusInternalServerError, gin.H{"error": "Failed to clone service for preview"})
+		return
+	}
+
+	// The clone's branch override is what makes it a preview — everything
+	// else (env vars, volumes, builder, resources) stays identical.
+	if _, err := db.(*database.DB).Exec(
+		`UPDATE services SET git_branch = $1, domain = '', updated_at = NOW() WHERE id = $2`,
+		req.BranchName, cloneID,
+	); err != nil {
+		_, _ = db.(*database.DB).Exec(`DELETE FROM services WHERE id = $1`, cloneID)
+		c.JSON(http.StatusInternalServerError, gin.H{"error": "Failed to configure preview service"})
+		return
+	}
+	// Cloned service_domains would collide with the parent's Traefik
+	// router — previews get their own hostname or none.
+	if _, err := db.(*database.DB).Exec(
+		`DELETE FROM service_domains WHERE service_id = $1`, cloneID,
+	); err != nil {
+		_, _ = db.(*database.DB).Exec(`DELETE FROM services WHERE id = $1`, cloneID)
+		c.JSON(http.StatusInternalServerError, gin.H{"error": "Failed to configure preview domains"})
+		return
+	}
+	previewHost := resolvePreviewHost(db.(*database.DB), cloneID, envName)
+	if previewHost != "" {
+		_, _ = db.(*database.DB).Exec(
+			`INSERT INTO service_domains (service_id, domain, is_default, cert_type) VALUES ($1, $2, true, 'tls')`,
+			cloneID, previewHost,
+		)
+	}
+
+	expiresAt := time.Now().Add(time.Duration(ttlHours) * time.Hour)
 	env := PreviewEnvironment{
 		ID:          uuid.New(),
 		ProjectID:   req.ProjectID,
 		ServiceID:   req.ServiceID,
 		BranchName:  req.BranchName,
 		PRNumber:    req.PRNumber,
-		Environment: generatePreviewEnvironmentName(req.BranchName),
+		Environment: envName,
 		Status:      "building",
-		ExpiresAt:   &[]time.Time{time.Now().Add(time.Duration(ttlHours) * time.Hour)}[0],
+		ExpiresAt:   &expiresAt,
 		CreatedAt:   time.Now(),
 		UpdatedAt:   time.Now(),
 	}
+	if previewHost != "" {
+		env.URL = "https://" + previewHost
+	}
 
-	// Insert preview environment into database
 	_, err = db.(*database.DB).Exec(
 		`INSERT INTO preview_environments
-			(id, project_id, service_id, branch_name, pr_number, environment, 
+			(id, project_id, service_id, preview_service_id, branch_name, pr_number, environment,
 			 status, url, expires_at, created_at, updated_at)
-			VALUES ($1, $2, $3, $4, $5, $6, $7, $8, $9, $10, $11)`,
-		env.ID, env.ProjectID, env.ServiceID, env.BranchName, env.PRNumber,
+			VALUES ($1, $2, $3, $4, $5, $6, $7, $8, $9, $10, $11, $12)`,
+		env.ID, env.ProjectID, env.ServiceID, cloneID, env.BranchName, env.PRNumber,
 		env.Environment, env.Status, env.URL, env.ExpiresAt, env.CreatedAt, env.UpdatedAt,
 	)
-
 	if err != nil {
+		_, _ = db.(*database.DB).Exec(`DELETE FROM services WHERE id = $1`, cloneID)
 		c.JSON(http.StatusInternalServerError, gin.H{"error": "Failed to create preview environment"})
 		return
 	}
 
 	deploymentID := uuid.New()
-	sanitizedBranch := strings.ReplaceAll(req.BranchName, "/", "-")
-	sanitizedBranch = strings.ReplaceAll(sanitizedBranch, "_", "-")
-	version := fmt.Sprintf("preview-%s-%d", sanitizedBranch, time.Now().Unix())
-	startedAt := time.Now().UTC()
-	completedAt := startedAt
-
-	_, deployErr := db.(*database.DB).Exec(
+	_, err = db.(*database.DB).Exec(
 		`INSERT INTO deployments
-			(id, service_id, version, commit_hash, status, started_at, completed_at, deployment_log, created_at, updated_at)
-		 VALUES ($1, $2, $3, $4, $5, $6, $7, $8, NOW(), NOW())`,
-		deploymentID,
-		req.ServiceID,
-		version,
-		req.BranchName,
-		"running",
-		startedAt,
-		completedAt,
-		fmt.Sprintf("Preview environment %s activated for branch %s", env.Environment, req.BranchName),
-	)
-	if deployErr != nil {
-		_, _ = db.(*database.DB).Exec(
-			`UPDATE preview_environments
-			 SET status = 'failed', updated_at = NOW()
-			 WHERE id = $1`,
-			env.ID,
+			(id, service_id, version, commit_hash, status, created_at, updated_at)
+		 VALUES ($1, $2, $3, $4, 'pending', NOW(), NOW())`,
+		deploymentID, cloneID, "preview-"+env.Environment, req.BranchName,
 	)
+	if err != nil {
+		_, _ = db.(*database.DB).Exec(`DELETE FROM preview_environments WHERE id = $1`, env.ID)
+		_, _ = db.(*database.DB).Exec(`DELETE FROM services WHERE id = $1`, cloneID)
 		c.JSON(http.StatusInternalServerError, gin.H{"error": "Failed to provision preview deployment"})
 		return
 	}
-
-	if strings.TrimSpace(env.URL) == "" {
-		env.URL = fmt.Sprintf("https://%s.preview.containr.local", env.Environment)
-	}
-	env.Status = "running"
-	env.UpdatedAt = time.Now().UTC()
 	env.DeploymentID = &deploymentID
 
-	_, err = db.(*database.DB).Exec(
-		`UPDATE preview_environments
-		 SET status = $1, url = $2, updated_at = $3
-		 WHERE id = $4`,
-		env.Status,
-		env.URL,
-		env.UpdatedAt,
-		env.ID,
-	)
-	if err != nil {
-		c.JSON(http.StatusInternalServerError, gin.H{"error": "Failed to finalize preview environment"})
-		return
+	if engineValue, exists := c.Get("deployment_engine"); exists && engineValue != nil {
+		if engine, ok := engineValue.(*deployment.DeploymentEngine); ok {
+			cloneService, loadErr := loadServiceForDeploy(db.(*database.DB), cloneID)
+			if loadErr == nil {
+				engineInstance := engine
+				d := DeploymentModel{ID: deploymentID, ServiceID: cloneID, Status: "pending", CreatedAt: time.Now(), UpdatedAt: time.Now()}
+				getDeployQueue(c).Enqueue(cloneID, deployqueue.Job{
+					DeploymentID: deploymentID,
+					Run: func(jctx context.Context) {
+						runDeploymentAndSync(jctx, db.(*database.DB), engineInstance, &d, cloneService, CreateDeploymentRequest{Branch: req.BranchName, Trigger: "preview"}, userID.(string))
+					},
+				})
+			}
+		}
 	}
 
+	LogAuditWithRequest(c, "service", req.ServiceID.String(), "preview.create", map[string]interface{}{
+		"preview_environment_id": env.ID.String(),
+		"preview_service_id":     cloneID.String(),
+		"branch":                 req.BranchName,
+	})
 	c.JSON(http.StatusCreated, gin.H{"preview_environment": env})
 }
 
@@ -321,7 +354,7 @@ func handleGetPreviewEnvironment(c *gin.Context) {
 	var serviceName sql.NullString
 	var serviceType sql.NullString
 	err = db.(*database.DB).QueryRow(
-		`SELECT pe.id, pe.project_id, pe.service_id, pe.branch_name, pe.pr_number,
+		`SELECT pe.id, pe.project_id, pe.service_id, pe.preview_service_id, pe.branch_name, pe.pr_number,
 				pe.environment, pe.status, pe.url, pe.expires_at, pe.created_at, pe.updated_at,
 				s.id as service_id, s.name as service_name, s.type as service_type
 			FROM preview_environments pe
@@ -331,7 +364,7 @@ func handleGetPreviewEnvironment(c *gin.Context) {
 				OR EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM project_members pm WHERE pm.project_id = p.id AND pm.user_id = $2))`,
 		envID, userID, contextIsAdmin(c),
 	).Scan(
-		&env.ID, &env.ProjectID, &env.ServiceID, &env.BranchName, &env.PRNumber,
+		&env.ID, &env.ProjectID, &env.ServiceID, &env.PreviewServiceID, &env.BranchName, &env.PRNumber,
 		&env.Environment, &env.Status, &env.URL, &env.ExpiresAt, &env.CreatedAt, &env.UpdatedAt,
 		&serviceID, &serviceName, &serviceType,
 	)
@@ -480,22 +513,19 @@ func handleDeletePreviewEnvironment(c *gin.Context) {
 		return
 	}
 
-	cleanupID := uuid.New()
-	cleanupStartedAt := time.Now().UTC()
-	cleanupCompletedAt := cleanupStartedAt
-
-	_, _ = db.(*database.DB).Exec(
-		`INSERT INTO deployments
-			(id, service_id, version, status, started_at, completed_at, deployment_log, created_at, updated_at)
-		 VALUES ($1, (SELECT service_id FROM preview_environments WHERE id = $2), $3, $4, $5, $6, $7, NOW(), NOW())`,
-		cleanupID,
-		envID,
-		"preview-cleanup",
-		"rolled_back",
-		cleanupStartedAt,
-		cleanupCompletedAt,
-		"Preview environment resources cleaned up",
-	)
+	// Tear down the clone's runtime and row — the preview is the clone.
+	var cloneID *uuid.UUID
+	_ = db.(*database.DB).QueryRow(
+		`SELECT preview_service_id FROM preview_environments WHERE id = $1`, envID,
+	).Scan(&cloneID)
+	if cloneID != nil {
+		if engineValue, exists := c.Get("deployment_engine"); exists && engineValue != nil {
+			if engine, ok := engineValue.(*deployment.DeploymentEngine); ok {
+				removeServiceRuntime(c.Request.Context(), db.(*database.DB), engine, *cloneID)
+			}
+		}
+		_, _ = db.(*database.DB).Exec(`DELETE FROM services WHERE id = $1`, *cloneID)
+	}
 
 	// Delete preview environment
 	_, err = db.(*database.DB).Exec(
@@ -542,13 +572,13 @@ func handlePromotePreviewEnvironment(c *gin.Context) {
 	// Get preview environment details
 	var env PreviewEnvironment
 	err = db.(*database.DB).QueryRow(
-		`SELECT pe.id, pe.project_id, pe.service_id, pe.branch_name, pe.environment, pe.status
+		`SELECT pe.id, pe.project_id, pe.service_id, pe.preview_service_id, pe.branch_name, pe.environment, pe.status
 			FROM preview_environments pe
 			JOIN projects p ON pe.project_id = p.id
 			WHERE pe.id = $1 AND (p.owner_id = $2 OR $3::bool)`,
 		envID, userID, contextIsAdmin(c),
 	).Scan(
-		&env.ID, &env.ProjectID, &env.ServiceID, &env.BranchName, &env.Environment, &env.Status,
+		&env.ID, &env.ProjectID, &env.ServiceID, &env.PreviewServiceID, &env.BranchName, &env.Environment, &env.Status,
 	)
 
 	if err != nil {
@@ -562,38 +592,53 @@ func handlePromotePreviewEnvironment(c *gin.Context) {
 		return
 	}
 
+	// Promote is a real redeploy: the source service builds the preview's
+	// branch onto its own deployment track.
 	deploymentID := uuid.New()
 	promotionVersion := fmt.Sprintf("promote-%s-%d", strings.ReplaceAll(env.BranchName, "/", "-"), time.Now().Unix())
 	_, err = db.(*database.DB).Exec(
-		`INSERT INTO deployments (id, service_id, version, status, created_at, updated_at)
-		 VALUES ($1, $2, $3, $4, NOW(), NOW())`,
-		deploymentID, env.ServiceID, promotionVersion, "pending",
+		`INSERT INTO deployments (id, service_id, version, commit_hash, status, created_at, updated_at)
+		 VALUES ($1, $2, $3, $4, 'pending', NOW(), NOW())`,
+		deploymentID, env.ServiceID, promotionVersion, env.BranchName,
 	)
 	if err != nil {
 		c.JSON(http.StatusInternalServerError, gin.H{"error": "Failed to create promotion deployment"})
 		return
 	}
 
-	if _, err := db.(*database.DB).Exec(
-		`UPDATE services
-		 SET environment = $1, updated_at = NOW()
-		 WHERE id = $2`,
-		req.TargetEnvironment, env.ServiceID,
-	); err != nil {
-		c.JSON(http.StatusInternalServerError, gin.H{"error": "Failed to update service target environment"})
+	sourceService, loadErr := loadServiceForDeploy(db.(*database.DB), env.ServiceID)
+	if loadErr != nil {
+		c.JSON(http.StatusInternalServerError, gin.H{"error": "Failed to load promotion target service"})
 		return
 	}
+	if engineValue, exists := c.Get("deployment_engine"); exists && engineValue != nil {
+		if engine, ok := engineValue.(*deployment.DeploymentEngine); ok {
+			engineInstance := engine
+			d := DeploymentModel{ID: deploymentID, ServiceID: env.ServiceID, Status: "pending", CreatedAt: time.Now(), UpdatedAt: time.Now()}
+			getDeployQueue(c).Enqueue(env.ServiceID, deployqueue.Job{
+				DeploymentID: deploymentID,
+				Run: func(jctx context.Context) {
+					runDeploymentAndSync(jctx, db.(*database.DB), engineInstance, &d, sourceService, CreateDeploymentRequest{Branch: env.BranchName, Trigger: "promote"}, userID.(string))
+				},
+			})
+		}
+	}
 
-	previewStatus := "stopped"
-	if req.CreateBackup {
-		previewStatus = "expired"
+	// Promotion retires the preview — the clone's containers and row go.
+	if env.PreviewServiceID != nil {
+		if engineValue, exists := c.Get("deployment_engine"); exists && engineValue != nil {
+			if engine, ok := engineValue.(*deployment.DeploymentEngine); ok {
+				removeServiceRuntime(c.Request.Context(), db.(*database.DB), engine, *env.PreviewServiceID)
+			}
+		}
+		_, _ = db.(*database.DB).Exec(`DELETE FROM services WHERE id = $1`, *env.PreviewServiceID)
 	}
 
 	if _, err := db.(*database.DB).Exec(
 		`UPDATE preview_environments
-		 SET status = $1, updated_at = NOW()
-		 WHERE id = $2`,
-		previewStatus, env.ID,
+		 SET status = 'stopped', updated_at = NOW()
+		 WHERE id = $1`,
+		env.ID,
 	); err != nil {
 		c.JSON(http.StatusInternalServerError, gin.H{"error": "Failed to update preview environment status"})
 		return
@@ -608,7 +653,7 @@ func handlePromotePreviewEnvironment(c *gin.Context) {
 			"create_backup":          req.CreateBackup,
 			"deployment_id":          deploymentID,
 			"status":                 "queued",
-			"preview_status":         previewStatus,
+			"preview_status":         "stopped",
 		},
 	})
 }
@@ -639,7 +684,7 @@ func handleCleanupExpiredPreviewEnvironments(c *gin.Context) {
 
 	// Find expired preview environments for user's projects
 	rows, err := db.(*database.DB).Query(
-		`SELECT pe.id, pe.project_id, pe.service_id, pe.branch_name, pe.environment
+		`SELECT pe.id, pe.project_id, pe.service_id, pe.preview_service_id, pe.branch_name, pe.environment
 			FROM preview_environments pe
 			JOIN projects p ON pe.project_id = p.id
 			WHERE (p.owner_id = $1 OR $2::bool) AND pe.expires_at < NOW() AND pe.status != 'expired'`,
@@ -655,7 +700,7 @@ func handleCleanupExpiredPreviewEnvironments(c *gin.Context) {
 	for rows.Next() {
 		var env PreviewEnvironment
 		err := rows.Scan(
-			&env.ID, &env.ProjectID, &env.ServiceID, &env.BranchName, &env.Environment,
+			&env.ID, &env.ProjectID, &env.ServiceID, &env.PreviewServiceID, &env.BranchName, &env.Environment,
 		)
 		if err != nil {
 			continue
@@ -663,10 +708,9 @@ func handleCleanupExpiredPreviewEnvironments(c *gin.Context) {
 		expiredEnvs = append(expiredEnvs, env)
 	}
 
-	// Mark expired environments as expired and trigger cleanup
+	// Mark expired environments as expired and tear down their clones
 	cleanupCount := 0
 	for _, env := range expiredEnvs {
-		// Update status to expired
 		_, err := db.(*database.DB).Exec(
 			"UPDATE preview_environments SET status = 'expired', updated_at = NOW() WHERE id = $1",
 			env.ID,
@@ -674,7 +718,14 @@ func handleCleanupExpiredPreviewEnvironments(c *gin.Context) {
 		if err != nil {
 			continue
 		}
-
+		if env.PreviewServiceID != nil {
+			if engineValue, exists := c.Get("deployment_engine"); exists && engineValue != nil {
+				if engine, ok := engineValue.(*deployment.DeploymentEngine); ok {
+					removeServiceRuntime(c.Request.Context(), db.(*database.DB), engine, *env.PreviewServiceID)
+				}
+			}
+			_, _ = db.(*database.DB).Exec(`DELETE FROM services WHERE id = $1`, *env.PreviewServiceID)
+		}
 		cleanupCount++
 	}
 
@@ -684,3 +735,157 @@ func handleCleanupExpiredPreviewEnvironments(c *gin.Context) {
 		"expired_environments": expiredEnvs,
 	})
 }
+
+// previewServiceName builds the clone's service name — deterministic enough
+// to spot in lists, short enough for dnsLabel-derived hostnames.
+func previewServiceName(serviceName, branch string) string {
+	label := dnsLabel(serviceName + "-" + branch)
+	if label == "" {
+		return "preview-" + uuid.NewString()[:8]
+	}
+	return label + "-preview"
+}
+
+// resolvePreviewHost picks a preview hostname under the clone's node default
+// domain — same source as serviceAutoDomains. Returns "" when no node
+// carries a default domain; the preview still runs, reachable internally.
+func resolvePreviewHost(db *database.DB, cloneID uuid.UUID, envName string) string {
+	label := dnsLabel(envName)
+	if label == "" {
+		return ""
+	}
+	var nodeID sql.NullString
+	var spread bool
+	if err := db.QueryRow(
+		`SELECT node_id, COALESCE(spread, false) FROM services WHERE id = $1`, cloneID,
+	).Scan(&nodeID, &spread); err != nil {
+		return ""
+	}
+	q := sqlcdb.New(db.DB)
+	ctx := context.Background()
+	var base string
+	switch {
+	case nodeID.Valid && nodeID.String != "":
+		if a, err := q.GetAgent(ctx, nodeID.String); err == nil {
+			base = a.DefaultDomain
+		}
+	case spread:
+		if bases, err := q.ListSchedulableAgentDomains(ctx, json.RawMessage(tagsJSON(servicePlacementTags(db, cloneID)))); err == nil && len(bases) > 0 {
+			base = bases[0]
+		}
+	default:
+		// Local preview: borrow the first node default domain if any —
+		// still better than no hostname for a Traefik-fronted local host.
+		if bases, err := q.ListSchedulableAgentDomains(ctx, json.RawMessage("[]")); err == nil && len(bases) > 0 {
+			base = bases[0]
+		}
+	}
+	if base == "" {
+		return ""
+	}
+	return label + "." + base
+}
+
+// loadServiceForDeploy hydrates the Service fields runDeploymentAndSync
+// needs — mirrors the loader in handleDeployService.
+func loadServiceForDeploy(db *database.DB, serviceID uuid.UUID) (Service, error) {
+	var service Service
+	err := db.QueryRow(
+		`SELECT s.id, s.project_id, s.name, s.type, s.status, s.image, s.command,
+		        s.environment, s.git_repo, s.git_branch, s.build_path, s.cpu, s.memory,
+		        COALESCE(s.replicas, 1), COALESCE(s.port, 0),
+		        COALESCE(s.domain, ''), COALESCE(s.healthcheck_path, ''),
+		        COALESCE(s.restart_policy, 'unless-stopped'),
+		        COALESCE(s.builder, 'auto'), COALESCE(s.cpu_reserve, ''),
+		        COALESCE(s.memory_reserve, ''), COALESCE(s.static_build_cmd, ''),
+		        COALESCE(s.static_dir, ''),
+		        s.created_at, s.updated_at
+		 FROM services s
+		 WHERE s.id = $1`,
+		serviceID,
+	).Scan(
+		&service.ID, &service.ProjectID, &service.Name, &service.Type, &service.Status,
+		&service.Image, &service.Command, &service.Environment, &service.GitRepo,
+		&service.GitBranch, &service.BuildPath, &service.CPU, &service.Memory,
+		&service.Replicas, &service.Port, &service.Domain, &service.HealthCheckPath,
+		&service.RestartPolicy, &service.Builder, &service.CPUReserve,
+		&service.MemoryReserve, &service.StaticBuildCmd, &service.StaticDir,
+		&service.CreatedAt, &service.UpdatedAt,
+	)
+	return service, err
+}
+
+// StartPreviewSweeper expires preview environments past their TTL — tears
+// down each clone's runtime and row, marks the preview expired.
+func StartPreviewSweeper(ctx context.Context, db *database.DB, engine *deployment.DeploymentEngine) {
+	if db == nil || engine == nil {
+		return
+	}
+	go func() {
+		ticker := time.NewTicker(time.Minute)
+		defer ticker.Stop()
+		for {
+			select {
+			case <-ctx.Done():
+				return
+			case <-ticker.C:
+				sweepExpiredPreviews(ctx, db, engine)
+				syncPreviewStatuses(ctx, db)
+			}
+		}
+	}()
+}
+
+// sweepExpiredPreviews retires previews whose TTL elapsed.
+func sweepExpiredPreviews(ctx context.Context, db *database.DB, engine *deployment.DeploymentEngine) {
+	rows, err := db.QueryContext(ctx,
+		`SELECT id, preview_service_id FROM preview_environments
+		 WHERE expires_at < NOW() AND status NOT IN ('expired', 'stopped')`)
+	if err != nil {
+		return
+	}
+	var ids []uuid.UUID
+	var clones []uuid.UUID
+	for rows.Next() {
+		var id uuid.UUID
+		var cloneID *uuid.UUID
+		if err := rows.Scan(&id, &cloneID); err == nil {
+			ids = append(ids, id)
+			if cloneID != nil {
+				clones = append(clones, *cloneID)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	rows.Close()
+	for _, cloneID := range clones {
+		removeServiceRuntime(ctx, db, engine, cloneID)
+		_, _ = db.ExecContext(ctx, `DELETE FROM services WHERE id = $1`, cloneID)
+	}
+	for _, id := range ids {
+		_, _ = db.ExecContext(ctx,
+			`UPDATE preview_environments SET status = 'expired', updated_at = NOW() WHERE id = $1`, id)
+	}
+}
+
+// syncPreviewStatuses folds the clone's live service status into the
+// preview row so list/detail endpoints reflect the real deploy state.
+func syncPreviewStatuses(ctx context.Context, db *database.DB) {
+	_, _ = db.ExecContext(ctx, `
+		UPDATE preview_environments pe
+		SET status = derived.st, updated_at = NOW()
+		FROM (
+			SELECT pe2.id,
+				CASE
+					WHEN s.status IN ('running', 'deployed') THEN 'running'
+					WHEN s.status IN ('failed', 'error') THEN 'failed'
+					WHEN s.status IN ('building', 'deploying', 'queued', 'pending', 'cloning') THEN 'building'
+					ELSE pe2.status
+				END AS st
+			FROM preview_environments pe2
+			JOIN services s ON pe2.preview_service_id = s.id
+		) derived
+		WHERE pe.id = derived.id
+		  AND pe.status IN ('building', 'running', 'failed')
+		  AND pe.status <> derived.st
+	`)
+}

app/backend/internal/api/preview_environments_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+package api
+
+import (
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func TestPreviewServiceName(t *testing.T) {
+	cases := []struct {
+		svc, branch string
+		want        string
+	}{
+		{"whoami-web", "feature-x", "whoami-web-feature-x-preview"},
+		{"My App", "feat/JARV-123_foo", "my-app-feat-jarv-123-foo-preview"},
+		{"svc", "", "svc-preview"},
+	}
+	for _, tc := range cases {
+		got := previewServiceName(tc.svc, tc.branch)
+		if got != tc.want {
+			t.Fatalf("previewServiceName(%q,%q) = %q, want %q", tc.svc, tc.branch, got, tc.want)
+		}
+		if len(got) > 63 {
+			t.Fatalf("name exceeds DNS label limit: %q", got)
+		}
+	}
+	// A name that sanitizes to nothing must still be usable.
+	if got := previewServiceName("!!!", "%%%"); !strings.HasPrefix(got, "preview-") {
+		t.Fatalf("expected fallback name, got %q", got)
+	}
+}

app/backend/internal/api/routes.go

@@ -111,6 +111,7 @@ func SetupRoutes(router *gin.Engine, db *database.DB, redis *database.Redis, cfg
 
 	// Sleep sweeper — scales idle services to zero and prunes wake containers.
 	StartSleepSweeper(context.Background(), db, dockerClient, deploymentEngine, cfg.Port)
+	StartPreviewSweeper(context.Background(), db, deploymentEngine)
 
 	// Audit retention — prunes rows past AUDIT_RETENTION_DAYS (default 90).
 	StartAuditRetention(context.Background(), db)

app/backend/internal/api/service_ops.go

@@ -67,22 +67,45 @@ func handleCloneService(c *gin.Context) {
 	if req.Environment != "" {
 		environment = req.Environment
 	}
-	if environment == "" {
-		environment = "production"
-	}
-	environmentID, err := getProjectEnvironmentID(db.(*database.DB), targetProjectID, environment)
+
+	newID, err := cloneServiceRow(db.(*database.DB), source.ID, targetProjectID, name, environment)
 	if err != nil {
-		c.JSON(http.StatusInternalServerError, gin.H{"error": "Failed to resolve target environment"})
+		c.JSON(http.StatusInternalServerError, gin.H{"error": "Failed to clone service"})
 		return
 	}
 
-	maintenance, basicAuth := serviceAccess(db.(*database.DB), source.ID)
+	LogAuditWithRequest(c, "service", source.ID.String(), "service.clone", map[string]interface{}{"cloned_to": newID.String(), "name": name})
+	c.JSON(http.StatusCreated, gin.H{"service_id": newID, "name": name, "message": "Service cloned"})
+}
+
+// cloneServiceRow copies a service's full configuration — source, build
+// settings, volumes, access gates, domains, and variables — under a new id
+// in the target project. The clone starts stopped. An empty environment
+// inherits the source's. Used by the clone endpoint and preview
+// environments, which additionally override git_branch and domains.
+func cloneServiceRow(db *database.DB, sourceID uuid.UUID, targetProjectID uuid.UUID, name, environment string) (uuid.UUID, error) {
+	var sourceEnv string
+	if err := db.QueryRow(`SELECT COALESCE(environment, '') FROM services WHERE id = $1`, sourceID).Scan(&sourceEnv); err != nil {
+		return uuid.Nil, err
+	}
+	if environment == "" {
+		environment = sourceEnv
+	}
+	if environment == "" {
+		environment = "production"
+	}
+	environmentID, err := getProjectEnvironmentID(db, targetProjectID, environment)
+	if err != nil {
+		return uuid.Nil, err
+	}
+
+	maintenance, basicAuth := serviceAccess(db, sourceID)
 	newID := uuid.New()
 	now := time.Now()
 	// string() so pq sends text — []byte would go as bytea and fail ::jsonb.
-	volumesJSON := string(loadServiceVolumesJSON(db.(*database.DB), source.ID))
+	volumesJSON := string(loadServiceVolumesJSON(db, sourceID))
 
-	_, err = db.(*database.DB).Exec(
+	_, err = db.Exec(
 		`INSERT INTO services
 			(id, project_id, name, environment_id, service_type, source_type, source_url, image_name,
 				 build_command, start_command, type, status, image, command, environment,
@@ -98,35 +121,30 @@ func handleCloneService(c *gin.Context) {
 				 $9, $9
 			FROM services WHERE id = $10`,
 		newID, targetProjectID, name, environmentID, environment, volumesJSON,
-		maintenance, basicAuth, now, source.ID,
+		maintenance, basicAuth, now, sourceID,
 	)
 	if err != nil {
-		c.JSON(http.StatusInternalServerError, gin.H{"error": "Failed to clone service"})
-		return
+		return uuid.Nil, err
 	}
 
-	if _, err := db.(*database.DB).Exec(
+	if _, err := db.Exec(
 		`INSERT INTO service_domains (service_id, domain, is_default, cert_type)
 		 SELECT $1, domain, is_default, cert_type FROM service_domains WHERE service_id = $2`,
-		newID, source.ID,
+		newID, sourceID,
 	); err != nil {
-		_, _ = db.(*database.DB).Exec(`DELETE FROM services WHERE id = $1`, newID)
-		c.JSON(http.StatusInternalServerError, gin.H{"error": "Failed to clone service domains"})
-		return
+		_, _ = db.Exec(`DELETE FROM services WHERE id = $1`, newID)
+		return uuid.Nil, err
 	}
 	// Variable values are copied as stored — ciphertext stays ciphertext.
-	if _, err := db.(*database.DB).Exec(
+	if _, err := db.Exec(
 		`INSERT INTO environment_variables (id, service_id, key, value, is_secret)
 		 SELECT gen_random_uuid(), $1, key, value, is_secret FROM environment_variables WHERE service_id = $2`,
-		newID, source.ID,
+		newID, sourceID,
 	); err != nil {
-		_, _ = db.(*database.DB).Exec(`DELETE FROM services WHERE id = $1`, newID)
-		c.JSON(http.StatusInternalServerError, gin.H{"error": "Failed to clone service variables"})
-		return
+		_, _ = db.Exec(`DELETE FROM services WHERE id = $1`, newID)
+		return uuid.Nil, err
 	}
-
-	LogAuditWithRequest(c, "service", source.ID.String(), "service.clone", map[string]interface{}{"cloned_to": newID.String(), "name": name})
-	c.JSON(http.StatusCreated, gin.H{"service_id": newID, "name": name, "message": "Service cloned"})
+	return newID, nil
 }
 
 type MoveServiceRequest struct {

app/backend/migrations_goose/20261115000000_preview_environments_runtime.sql

@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+-- +goose Up
+ALTER TABLE public.preview_environments
+    ADD COLUMN IF NOT EXISTS preview_service_id uuid REFERENCES public.services(id) ON DELETE SET NULL;
+
+CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_preview_environments_expiry
+    ON public.preview_environments (expires_at)
+    WHERE status NOT IN ('expired', 'stopped');
+
+-- +goose Down
+DROP INDEX IF EXISTS public.idx_preview_environments_expiry;
+ALTER TABLE public.preview_environments DROP COLUMN IF EXISTS preview_service_id;

app/frontend/src/generated/api-types.ts

@@ -12495,6 +12495,11 @@ export interface components {
             project_id?: string;
             /** Format: uuid */
             service_id?: string;
+            /**
+             * Format: uuid
+             * @description The cloned service the preview actually deploys; its live status drives the preview status.
+             */
+            preview_service_id?: string;
             branch_name?: string;
             pr_number?: number;
             /** @description Generated name, e.g. preview-{branch}-{ts} */

docs/api/openapi.yaml

@@ -9564,6 +9564,10 @@ components:
         service_id:
           type: string
           format: uuid
+        preview_service_id:
+          type: string
+          format: uuid
+          description: The cloned service the preview actually deploys; its live status drives the preview status.
         branch_name:
           type: string
         pr_number: