Let auto-build slots run their own build command under their own name

A branches.<name>.autoBuild.times entry is now either a plain HH:MM
string or an object with time, its own buildCommand, and a name, so a
nightly slot can run a fuller check than the on-commit builds. The
watcher passes the slot's command and name to the executor, persisted in
the build result — UI restarts, gittally retry, and the startup recovery
repeat a build with the command and name it originally ran under.

A named slot (e.g. master@nightly) gets its own pool: repository
grouping, retention count, branches-view row (sorted after its branch),
latest status, and permanent latest-green artifact link are keyed by the
build name, while origin lookups, gone-branch pruning, worktrees, and
Gitea links/statuses stay keyed by the real branch. Without a name,
slot builds share the branch's pool as before.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Fable 5 <noreply@anthropic.com>

.claude/skills/architecture/SKILL.md

@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ Three places must stay in sync when config keys change: the `GitTallyConfig` dat
 
 ## Build Execution
 
-`BuildExecutor` runs builds asynchronously: up to `builds.maxConcurrent` branches concurrently (default 1), but never more than one build per branch at a time. Each branch builds in its own reusable git worktree at `.git/gittally/worktrees/<branchKey>` (`BranchWorkspaces`), checked out detached at the requested commit — the primary checkout is never used for builds. Status transitions are persisted via `BuildResultRepository` (JSON file under `.git/gittally/`), published to Gitea non-fatally, and emitted as `BuildStatusChangedEvent`s. Cancellation addresses a build by artifact key and terminates the whole process tree. Future code (watcher, server, UI) must not assume a single running build.
+`BuildExecutor` runs builds asynchronously: up to `builds.maxConcurrent` branches concurrently (default 1), but never more than one build per branch at a time. Each branch builds in its own reusable git worktree at `.git/gittally/worktrees/<branchKey>` (`BranchWorkspaces`), checked out detached at the requested commit — the primary checkout is never used for builds. Status transitions are persisted via `BuildResultRepository` (JSON file under `.git/gittally/`), published to Gitea non-fatally, and emitted as `BuildStatusChangedEvent`s. An auto-build slot (`autoBuild.times` entry) may carry its own `buildCommand` and `name`; the watcher passes them to `startBuild` as `buildCommandOverride` and `name`, persisted in the build result — UI restart and startup recovery pass the recorded values on, so a build always repeats with the command and name it originally ran under. Both are resolved watcher-side from the repo install/project config; the worktree layer cannot change them. `BuildResult.name` (default: the branch) keys everything display- and retention-side — repository grouping (`latestPerName`), retention pools, branches-view rows, permanent latest-green links — while `BuildResult.branch` keys everything git-side: origin lookups, gone-from-origin pruning, worktrees (a named slot builds in its branch's worktree, serialized with the branch's other builds), and Gitea links/statuses. Cancellation addresses a build by artifact key and terminates the whole process tree. Future code (watcher, server, UI) must not assume a single running build.
 
 On context close (e.g. systemd SIGTERM), a `ContextClosedEvent` listener in `BuildExecutor` terminates the process trees of all executing builds and waits (bounded) until their results are persisted as INTERRUPTED — a shutdown is never recorded as FAILED. Builds still queued stay PENDING and start no process. Both are re-enqueued by the watcher's startup recovery; INTERRUPTED therefore publishes as Gitea state `pending`, not `failure` (`GiteaStateMapping`).
 

docs/configuration.md

@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ The repo install config (`.git/gittally/.gittally.yml`) wins on any key present
 When a branch builds, its build config is resolved with an extra layer: the `.gittally.yml`
 committed on the branch being built (read from its build worktree) overrides the two layers
 above, giving the precedence **worktree > repo install > project**. So a branch can change its
-own `buildCommand`, `cleanCommand`, `artifactDirs`, log file names, `autoBuild`, and
+own `buildCommand`, `cleanCommand`, `artifactDirs`, log file names, and
 `docker.image`/`dockerfile`/`context`/`env`.
 
 This layer applies **only** to the build itself. A pinned set is always taken from the repo
@@ -27,9 +27,9 @@ install/project config and can never be set from the worktree:
 - the container sandbox policy: `docker.enabled` and `docker.network`.
 
 This keeps a branch from disabling its own build container, changing its network mode, or
-reaching credentials. Watcher decisions that happen before a build exists — `autoBuild`
-scheduling and the `requirePullRequest` gate — are still read from the repo install/project
-config, because there is no worktree at that point.
+reaching credentials. Watcher decisions that happen before a build exists — the whole
+`autoBuild` section (schedule and slot commands) and the `requirePullRequest` gate — are
+read from the repo install/project config, because there is no worktree at that point.
 
 ## Inspect the Effective Config
 
@@ -147,7 +147,13 @@ branches:
     requirePullRequest: false
     autoBuild:
       enabled: false        # whether to rebuild on schedule
-      times: ["01:00"]      # UTC times HH:MM for scheduled builds
+      # UTC times HH:MM for scheduled builds. An entry may carry its own build
+      # command, so a nightly slot can run a fuller check than the on-commit
+      # builds, and a name recording its builds in a separate pool (see notes below):
+      #   - time: "01:00"
+      #     buildCommand: ./gradlew fullCheck
+      #     name: main@nightly
+      times: ["01:00"]
     # Optional Docker build runtime; when enabled, the clean and build commands
     # run inside a container instead of natively (see notes below).
     docker:
@@ -169,8 +175,15 @@ branches:
       enabled: true
 
   master:
+    buildCommand: ./gradlew --console=plain --no-daemon quickCheck
     autoBuild:
       enabled: true
+      times:
+        # the nightly rebuild runs the full check instead of the quick on-commit
+        # one, recorded separately as master@nightly
+        - time: "01:00"
+          buildCommand: ./gradlew --console=plain --no-daemon completeCheck
+          name: master@nightly
 
   release:
     buildCommand: ./gradlew --console=plain --no-daemon --no-build-cache test jacocoReport
@@ -224,6 +237,25 @@ Without the `main` override, direct pushes and merges to `main` would never buil
 A plain git origin (no Gitea/GitHub) serves no `refs/pull/*/head` at all, so gated branches would never build there.
 For such origins, disable all gates globally with `watcher.pullRequestGate: false` — typically in the machine-specific `.git/gittally/.gittally.yml`, so the committed configuration keeps the gates for forge-backed environments.
 
+### Notes on `branches.<name>.autoBuild.times`
+
+Each entry is either a plain `HH:MM` string or an object with `time` and optional `buildCommand` and `name`; both forms mix freely in one list.
+A slot without its own command runs the branch's regular `buildCommand`.
+The typical use is a quick check on every commit and a fuller, slower check in the nightly slot of the same branch.
+
+A slot's command is recorded in the build result.
+Restarting such a build from the UI re-runs it with the slot's command, and the startup recovery re-enqueues an interrupted one likewise — a build is always repeated with the command it originally ran.
+Manual `gittally build <branch>` runs and watcher builds for new commits always use the regular `buildCommand`.
+
+Without a `name`, a slot's builds share the branch's history, retention pool, and permanent latest-green link — on a busy branch, the regular builds can displace the nightly build and its artifacts within a day.
+A slot `name` (e.g. `master@nightly`) records the slot's builds in their own pool instead: an own row in the branches view (sorted after its branch), an own `retentionPerBranch` count, an own latest status, and an own permanent artifact link.
+The URL key is the sanitized name — `master@nightly` is served as `/branches/master_nightly/…`.
+The builds still run in the branch's worktree, one build per branch at a time, and the Gitea commit status is still reported per commit in the shared status context, so the last build of a commit wins there regardless of its name.
+Do not name a slot like an existing branch — the pools would merge.
+The name's results live as long as the underlying branch exists on origin.
+
+The whole `autoBuild` section is a watcher decision made before a build worktree exists, so — unlike `buildCommand` itself — it is read from the repo install/project config and cannot be changed by the `.gittally.yml` committed on the branch being built.
+
 ### Notes on `watcher.fastForwardLocalRefs`
 
 Builds run in worktrees that share the primary checkout's `.git`, so a build tool can read `refs/heads/*` there.

src/main/kotlin/de/hoennig/gittally/build/BuildExecutor.kt

@@ -67,15 +67,27 @@ class BuildExecutor(
      * not cancel-requested), that build is returned instead of stacking a duplicate —
      * a double-triggered UI restart must not queue the same commit twice. Re-running
      * a *finished* build stays possible; this only guards the active queue.
+     * A [buildCommandOverride] (from an auto-build slot with its own command) replaces
+     * the branch's configured `buildCommand`; since the command differs, such a build
+     * never counts as a duplicate of a regular build of the same commit.
+     * A [name] (from a named auto-build slot) records the result under that name
+     * instead of the branch name, giving the slot its own history and retention pool;
+     * the build still runs in the branch's worktree, serialized with the branch's
+     * other builds.
      */
     fun startBuild(
         branch: String,
         commit: String,
         workingDir: Path = Paths.get("."),
+        buildCommandOverride: String? = null,
+        name: String = branch,
     ): RunningBuild {
         val duplicate =
             builds.values.firstOrNull {
-                !it.cancelled.get() && it.runningBuild.branch == branch && it.runningBuild.commit == commit
+                !it.cancelled.get() &&
+                    it.runningBuild.name == name &&
+                    it.runningBuild.commit == commit &&
+                    it.runningBuild.buildCommandOverride == buildCommandOverride
             }
         if (duplicate != null) {
             log.info("build of branch {} at commit {} is already queued or running; not queueing a duplicate", branch, commit)
@@ -86,19 +98,23 @@ class BuildExecutor(
         val runningBuild =
             RunningBuild(
                 branch = branch,
+                name = name,
                 commit = commit,
-                artifactKey = ArtifactKeys.buildKey(branch, startedAt),
+                artifactKey = ArtifactKeys.buildKey(name, startedAt),
                 startedAt = startedAt,
                 stagingDir = stagingDir,
                 liveLogFile = stagingDir.resolve(LIVE_LOG_FILE),
+                buildCommandOverride = buildCommandOverride,
             )
         val pending =
             BuildResult(
                 branch = branch,
+                name = name,
                 commit = commit,
                 status = BuildStatus.PENDING,
                 startedAt = startedAt,
                 duration = null,
+                buildCommandOverride = buildCommandOverride,
                 artifactKey = runningBuild.artifactKey,
             )
         repository.append(pending)
@@ -244,11 +260,12 @@ class BuildExecutor(
         workspace: Path,
     ): Int {
         val branchConfig = branchConfig(build.runningBuild.branch, build.workingDir, workspace)
+        val buildCommand = build.runningBuild.buildCommandOverride ?: branchConfig.buildCommand
         val stagingDir = build.runningBuild.stagingDir
         Files.newOutputStream(stagingDir.resolve(branchConfig.stdoutLog)).use { stdoutLog ->
             Files.newOutputStream(stagingDir.resolve(branchConfig.stderrLog)).use { stderrLog ->
                 Files.newOutputStream(build.runningBuild.liveLogFile).use { liveLog ->
-                    writeLiveLogHeader(liveLog, build.runningBuild, branchConfig, workspace)
+                    writeLiveLogHeader(liveLog, build.runningBuild, branchConfig, buildCommand, workspace)
                     if (branchConfig.cleanCommand.isNotBlank()) {
                         val cleanExitCode =
                             runCommand(build, branchConfig, branchConfig.cleanCommand, workspace, stdoutLog, stderrLog, liveLog)
@@ -259,7 +276,7 @@ class BuildExecutor(
                     if (build.cancelled.get() || shuttingDown.get()) {
                         return CANCELLED_EXIT_CODE
                     }
-                    return runCommand(build, branchConfig, branchConfig.buildCommand, workspace, stdoutLog, stderrLog, liveLog)
+                    return runCommand(build, branchConfig, buildCommand, workspace, stdoutLog, stderrLog, liveLog)
                 }
             }
         }
@@ -357,11 +374,13 @@ class BuildExecutor(
                 )
             } ?: BuildResult(
                 branch = runningBuild.branch,
+                name = runningBuild.name,
                 commit = runningBuild.commit,
                 status = status,
                 startedAt = runningBuild.startedAt,
                 runningSince = runningBuild.runningSince,
                 duration = duration,
+                buildCommandOverride = runningBuild.buildCommandOverride,
                 artifactKey = runningBuild.artifactKey,
             ).also { repository.append(it) }
         eventPublisher.publishEvent(BuildStatusChangedEvent(updated))
@@ -408,15 +427,22 @@ class BuildExecutor(
         liveLog: OutputStream,
         runningBuild: RunningBuild,
         branchConfig: BranchConfig,
+        buildCommand: String,
         workspace: Path,
     ) {
         val header =
             buildString {
                 appendLine("building branch: ${runningBuild.branch}")
+                if (runningBuild.name != runningBuild.branch) {
+                    appendLine("build name: ${runningBuild.name}")
+                }
                 appendLine("commit: ${runningBuild.commit}")
                 appendLine("started: ${runningBuild.startedAt}")
                 appendLine("workspace: $workspace")
-                appendLine("build command: ${branchConfig.buildCommand}")
+                if (runningBuild.buildCommandOverride != null) {
+                    appendLine("triggered by: auto-build slot with its own build command")
+                }
+                appendLine("build command: $buildCommand")
                 if (branchConfig.cleanCommand.isNotBlank()) {
                     appendLine("clean command: ${branchConfig.cleanCommand}")
                 }

src/main/kotlin/de/hoennig/gittally/build/BuildResult.kt

@@ -4,7 +4,15 @@ import java.time.Duration
 import java.time.Instant
 
 data class BuildResult(
+    /** The git branch that was built — Gitea links and origin lookups always use this. */
     val branch: String,
+    /**
+     * The build name this result is recorded under: the branch name, unless a named
+     * auto-build slot (`autoBuild.times[].name`, e.g. `master@nightly`) set its own.
+     * History rows, retention pools, latest status, and the permanent latest-green
+     * artifact links are all keyed by this name.
+     */
+    val name: String = branch,
     val commit: String,
     val status: BuildStatus,
     /** When the build was accepted (enqueued); the time until [runningSince] is queue wait. */
@@ -13,5 +21,11 @@ data class BuildResult(
     val runningSince: Instant? = null,
     /** Pure build execution time (from [runningSince]), without the queue wait. */
     val duration: Duration? = null,
+    /**
+     * Command dictated by the auto-build slot that triggered this build; null means the
+     * branch's configured `buildCommand` was used. A restart or startup-recovery re-run
+     * repeats the build with this command, so a build always reruns what it originally ran.
+     */
+    val buildCommandOverride: String? = null,
     val artifactKey: String,
 )

src/main/kotlin/de/hoennig/gittally/build/BuildResultRepository.kt

@@ -2,12 +2,18 @@ package de.hoennig.gittally.build
 
 import java.time.Instant
 
+/**
+ * Entries are grouped by [BuildResult.name] — the branch name, unless a named
+ * auto-build slot records its builds under its own name. Every "latest", retention
+ * pool, and green lookup works on that name; only the gone-from-origin pruning
+ * looks at the underlying [BuildResult.branch].
+ */
 interface BuildResultRepository {
     fun append(result: BuildResult)
 
-    /** Applies [transform] to the newest entry of [branch]; returns null if the branch has no entries. */
+    /** Applies [transform] to the newest entry recorded under [name]; returns null if there is none. */
     fun updateLatest(
-        branch: String,
+        name: String,
         transform: (BuildResult) -> BuildResult,
     ): BuildResult?
 
@@ -17,13 +23,13 @@ interface BuildResultRepository {
         transform: (BuildResult) -> BuildResult,
     ): BuildResult?
 
-    fun latestFor(branch: String): BuildResult?
+    fun latestFor(name: String): BuildResult?
 
-    /** The newest SUCCESS entry of [branch] — the build behind the permanent `/branches/…` links. */
-    fun latestGreenFor(branch: String): BuildResult?
+    /** The newest SUCCESS entry recorded under [name] — the build behind the permanent `/branches/…` links. */
+    fun latestGreenFor(name: String): BuildResult?
 
-    /** The newest entry of each branch, newest first. */
-    fun latestPerBranch(): List<BuildResult>
+    /** The newest entry of each build name, newest first. */
+    fun latestPerName(): List<BuildResult>
 
     /** All entries, newest first. */
     fun history(): List<BuildResult>
@@ -33,17 +39,17 @@ interface BuildResultRepository {
 
     /**
      * Startup recovery: RUNNING entries and PENDING entries superseded by a newer entry
-     * of the same branch become INTERRUPTED. Returns the changed entries.
+     * of the same build name become INTERRUPTED. Returns the changed entries.
      */
     fun markStaleRunningAsInterrupted(): List<BuildResult>
 
     /**
-     * Keeps the newest [retentionPerBranch] entries per branch and drops entries of branches
-     * not contained in [originBranches]. With [retentionCutoff], entries started before the
-     * cutoff are dropped even within the retention count — except each branch's newest entry,
-     * so dormant branches keep their last status. With [keepLatestGreen], the newest SUCCESS
-     * entry of each surviving branch is kept even beyond both limits, so the permanent
-     * `/branches/…` artifact links stay valid while newer builds fail.
+     * Keeps the newest [retentionPerBranch] entries per build name and drops entries whose
+     * branch is not contained in [originBranches]. With [retentionCutoff], entries started
+     * before the cutoff are dropped even within the retention count — except each name's
+     * newest entry, so dormant branches keep their last status. With [keepLatestGreen], the
+     * newest SUCCESS entry of each surviving name is kept even beyond both limits, so the
+     * permanent `/branches/…` artifact links stay valid while newer builds fail.
      * PENDING and RUNNING entries are never removed, regardless of all limits and even
      * when their branch is gone from [originBranches] — a queued or executing build
      * belongs to the executor, and pruning its result would make it invisible in UI

src/main/kotlin/de/hoennig/gittally/build/FileBuildResultRepository.kt

@@ -38,12 +38,12 @@ class FileBuildResultRepository(
     }
 
     override fun updateLatest(
-        branch: String,
+        name: String,
         transform: (BuildResult) -> BuildResult,
     ): BuildResult? {
         synchronized(lock) {
             val results = load()
-            val index = indexOfLatest(results, branch) ?: return null
+            val index = indexOfLatest(results, name) ?: return null
             val updated = transform(results[index])
             save(results.toMutableList().also { it[index] = updated })
             return updated
@@ -66,19 +66,19 @@ class FileBuildResultRepository(
         }
     }
 
-    override fun latestFor(branch: String): BuildResult? {
+    override fun latestFor(name: String): BuildResult? {
         val results = load()
-        return indexOfLatest(results, branch)?.let { results[it] }
+        return indexOfLatest(results, name)?.let { results[it] }
     }
 
-    override fun latestGreenFor(branch: String): BuildResult? =
+    override fun latestGreenFor(name: String): BuildResult? =
         load()
-            .filter { it.branch == branch && it.status == BuildStatus.SUCCESS }
+            .filter { it.name == name && it.status == BuildStatus.SUCCESS }
             .maxByOrNull { it.startedAt }
 
-    override fun latestPerBranch(): List<BuildResult> =
+    override fun latestPerName(): List<BuildResult> =
         load()
-            .groupBy { it.branch }
+            .groupBy { it.name }
             .values
             .map { entries -> entries.reduce(::laterOf) }
             .sortedByDescending { it.startedAt }
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ class FileBuildResultRepository(
             val updated =
                 results.map { result ->
                     val superseded =
-                        results.any { it.branch == result.branch && it.startedAt.isAfter(result.startedAt) }
+                        results.any { it.name == result.name && it.startedAt.isAfter(result.startedAt) }
                     if (result.status == BuildStatus.RUNNING ||
                         (result.status == BuildStatus.PENDING && superseded)
                     ) {
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ class FileBuildResultRepository(
                 active.toSet() +
                     results
                         .filter { it.branch in originBranchSet }
-                        .groupBy { it.branch }
+                        .groupBy { it.name }
                         .values
                         .flatMap { entries ->
                             val newest =
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ class FileBuildResultRepository(
                                     .sortedByDescending { it.startedAt }
                                     .take(retentionPerBranch.coerceAtLeast(0))
                                     .filterIndexed { index, entry ->
-                                        // the branch's newest entry is never age-pruned
+                                        // the name's newest entry is never age-pruned
                                         index == 0 || retentionCutoff == null || !entry.startedAt.isBefore(retentionCutoff)
                                     }
                             val latestGreen =
@@ -163,14 +163,14 @@ class FileBuildResultRepository(
         }
     }
 
-    /** The index of the newest entry of [branch]; on equal timestamps the later appended entry wins. */
+    /** The index of the newest entry recorded under [name]; on equal timestamps the later appended entry wins. */
     private fun indexOfLatest(
         results: List<BuildResult>,
-        branch: String,
+        name: String,
     ): Int? {
         var latest: Int? = null
         results.forEachIndexed { index, result ->
-            if (result.branch == branch &&
+            if (result.name == name &&
                 (latest == null || !result.startedAt.isBefore(results[latest].startedAt))
             ) {
                 latest = index

src/main/kotlin/de/hoennig/gittally/build/RunningBuild.kt

@@ -5,7 +5,10 @@ import java.time.Instant
 
 /** Handle to a build accepted by the [BuildExecutor]; log paths become valid once the build runs. */
 data class RunningBuild(
+    /** The git branch being built. */
     val branch: String,
+    /** The build name the result is recorded under; the branch name unless a named auto-build slot set its own. */
+    val name: String = branch,
     val commit: String,
     val artifactKey: String,
     val startedAt: Instant,
@@ -13,6 +16,8 @@ data class RunningBuild(
     val stagingDir: Path,
     /** Combined stdout+stderr log, written live while the build runs. */
     val liveLogFile: Path,
+    /** Command dictated by the triggering auto-build slot; null runs the branch's configured `buildCommand`. */
+    val buildCommandOverride: String? = null,
 ) {
     /** Set by the executor when the build leaves the queue and starts executing. */
     @Volatile

src/main/kotlin/de/hoennig/gittally/commands/ConsoleBuildRunner.kt

@@ -37,8 +37,10 @@ class ConsoleBuildRunner(
         branch: String,
         commit: String,
         workingDir: Path = Paths.get("."),
+        buildCommandOverride: String? = null,
+        name: String = branch,
     ): BuildStatus {
-        val build = buildExecutor.startBuild(branch, commit, workingDir)
+        val build = buildExecutor.startBuild(branch, commit, workingDir, buildCommandOverride, name)
         var printed = 0L
         var result: BuildResult? = null
         while (result?.status?.isTerminal != true) {

src/main/kotlin/de/hoennig/gittally/commands/InitCommand.kt

@@ -199,7 +199,12 @@ class InitCommand(
                 requirePullRequest: false
                 autoBuild:
                   enabled: false        # whether to rebuild on schedule
-                  times: ["01:00"]      # UTC times HH:MM for scheduled builds
+                  # UTC times HH:MM for scheduled builds; an entry may carry its own
+                  # command and a name for a separate history/artifact pool:
+                  #   - time: "01:00"
+                  #     buildCommand: ./gradlew fullCheck
+                  #     name: main@nightly
+                  times: ["01:00"]
                 docker:
                   enabled: false        # run clean/build commands in a Docker container instead of natively
                   image: ""             # image for the build container; required when enabled

src/main/kotlin/de/hoennig/gittally/commands/RetryCommand.kt

@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ class RetryCommand(
         val failed: List<BuildResult>
         try {
             fetchBestEffort()
-            failed = repository.latestPerBranch().filter { it.status == BuildStatus.FAILED }
+            failed = repository.latestPerName().filter { it.status == BuildStatus.FAILED }
         } catch (e: Exception) {
             System.err.println("error: ${e.message}")
             return ExitCode.USAGE
@@ -51,7 +51,8 @@ class RetryCommand(
                 continue
             }
             println("retrying branch ${result.branch} at commit ${commit.take(12)}")
-            val status = consoleBuildRunner.buildAndStream(result.branch, commit, workingDir)
+            // a failed auto-slot build retries with its recorded command, under its name
+            val status = consoleBuildRunner.buildAndStream(result.branch, commit, workingDir, result.buildCommandOverride, result.name)
             if (status != BuildStatus.SUCCESS) {
                 anyFailed = true
             }

src/main/kotlin/de/hoennig/gittally/commands/StatusCommand.kt

@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ class StatusCommand(
     var history: Boolean = false
 
     override fun call(): Int {
-        val results = if (history) repository.history() else repository.latestPerBranch()
+        val results = if (history) repository.history() else repository.latestPerName()
         if (results.isEmpty()) {
             println("(no builds recorded)")
         } else {
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ class StatusCommand(
         val rows =
             results.map {
                 listOf(
-                    it.branch,
+                    it.name,
                     it.status.name.lowercase(),
                     it.commit.take(12),
                     UiFormats.timestamp(it.startedAt),

src/main/kotlin/de/hoennig/gittally/config/AutoBuildSlotFormat.kt

@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+package de.hoennig.gittally.config
+
+import com.fasterxml.jackson.core.JsonGenerator
+import com.fasterxml.jackson.core.JsonParser
+import com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.DeserializationContext
+import com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.JsonDeserializer
+import com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.JsonNode
+import com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.JsonSerializer
+import com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.SerializerProvider
+
+/**
+ * Accepts both YAML forms of an [AutoBuildSlot] entry: a plain `HH:MM` string, or an
+ * object with `time` and optional `buildCommand` and `name`.
+ */
+class AutoBuildSlotDeserializer : JsonDeserializer<AutoBuildSlot>() {
+    override fun deserialize(
+        parser: JsonParser,
+        context: DeserializationContext,
+    ): AutoBuildSlot {
+        val node = parser.readValueAsTree<JsonNode>()
+        if (node.isTextual) {
+            return AutoBuildSlot(time = node.asText())
+        }
+        if (node.isObject) {
+            val time =
+                node.get("time")?.takeIf { it.isTextual }?.asText()
+                    ?: throw context.instantiationException(AutoBuildSlot::class.java, "auto-build slot object needs a 'time' (HH:MM)")
+            return AutoBuildSlot(
+                time = time,
+                buildCommand = node.get("buildCommand")?.asText() ?: "",
+                name = node.get("name")?.asText() ?: "",
+            )
+        }
+        throw context.instantiationException(
+            AutoBuildSlot::class.java,
+            "auto-build slot must be an HH:MM string or an object with 'time' and optional 'buildCommand' and 'name'",
+        )
+    }
+}
+
+/** Writes the compact form back: a plain string unless the slot carries its own command or name. */
+class AutoBuildSlotSerializer : JsonSerializer<AutoBuildSlot>() {
+    override fun serialize(
+        slot: AutoBuildSlot,
+        generator: JsonGenerator,
+        provider: SerializerProvider,
+    ) {
+        if (slot.buildCommand.isBlank() && slot.name.isBlank()) {
+            generator.writeString(slot.time)
+            return
+        }
+        generator.writeStartObject()
+        generator.writeStringField("time", slot.time)
+        if (slot.buildCommand.isNotBlank()) {
+            generator.writeStringField("buildCommand", slot.buildCommand)
+        }
+        if (slot.name.isNotBlank()) {
+            generator.writeStringField("name", slot.name)
+        }
+        generator.writeEndObject()
+    }
+}

src/main/kotlin/de/hoennig/gittally/config/GitTallyConfig.kt

@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 package de.hoennig.gittally.config
 
+import com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.annotation.JsonDeserialize
+import com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.annotation.JsonSerialize
+
 data class GitTallyConfig(
     val server: ServerConfig = ServerConfig(),
     val git: GitConfig = GitConfig(),
@@ -148,5 +151,30 @@ data class DockerConfig(
 
 data class AutoBuildConfig(
     val enabled: Boolean = false,
-    val times: List<String> = listOf("01:00"),
+    /**
+     * Daily UTC slots. Each entry is either a plain `HH:MM` time or an object with
+     * `time` and its own `buildCommand` — so a nightly slot can run a fuller check
+     * than the on-commit builds of the same branch.
+     */
+    val times: List<AutoBuildSlot> = listOf(AutoBuildSlot("01:00")),
+)
+
+/**
+ * One scheduled auto-build slot; in YAML either a plain `HH:MM` string or an object
+ * (`time` plus optional `buildCommand` and `name`) — see [AutoBuildSlotDeserializer].
+ */
+@JsonDeserialize(using = AutoBuildSlotDeserializer::class)
+@JsonSerialize(using = AutoBuildSlotSerializer::class)
+data class AutoBuildSlot(
+    /** UTC time of day, `HH:MM`. */
+    val time: String,
+    /** Command this slot's build runs; empty runs the branch's [BranchConfig.buildCommand]. */
+    val buildCommand: String = "",
+    /**
+     * Build name this slot's builds are recorded under (e.g. `master@nightly`); empty
+     * records them under the branch name. A named slot gets its own history, retention
+     * pool, latest status, and permanent latest-green artifact link, so its builds are
+     * not displaced by the branch's regular builds.
+     */
+    val name: String = "",
 )

src/main/kotlin/de/hoennig/gittally/server/ApiDtos.kt

@@ -9,7 +9,10 @@ val BuildStatus.jsonName: String
     get() = name.lowercase()
 
 data class BuildResultDto(
+    /** The git branch that was built; the UI links this to Gitea. */
     val branch: String,
+    /** The build name the result is recorded under; the UI displays and restarts by this (= [branch] unless a named auto-build slot). */
+    val name: String = branch,
     val commit: String,
     val status: String,
     val startedAt: Instant,
@@ -17,7 +20,7 @@ data class BuildResultDto(
     val runningSince: Instant? = null,
     val durationSeconds: Long?,
     val artifactKey: String,
-    /** The permanent branch URL, set only on the build it resolves to — the branch's latest green build. */
+    /** The permanent branch URL, set only on the build it resolves to — the name's latest green build. */
     val latestGreenUrl: String? = null,
 ) {
     companion object {
@@ -26,13 +29,14 @@ data class BuildResultDto(
             isLatestGreen: Boolean = false,
         ) = BuildResultDto(
             branch = result.branch,
+            name = result.name,
             commit = result.commit,
             status = result.status.jsonName,
             startedAt = result.startedAt,
             runningSince = result.runningSince,
             durationSeconds = result.duration?.seconds,
             artifactKey = result.artifactKey,
-            latestGreenUrl = if (isLatestGreen) BranchPermalinks.permanentUrl(result.branch) else null,
+            latestGreenUrl = if (isLatestGreen) BranchPermalinks.permanentUrl(result.name) else null,
         )
     }
 }
@@ -45,7 +49,10 @@ data class BuildResultDto(
  * where it resolves to.
  */
 data class BranchDto(
+    /** The git branch; the UI links this to Gitea. */
     val branch: String,
+    /** The row's build name; = [branch], except for the extra rows of named auto-build slots. */
+    val name: String = branch,
     val commit: String,
     val status: String,
     val startedAt: Instant?,
@@ -60,9 +67,11 @@ data class BranchDto(
             headCommit: String,
             latest: BuildResult?,
             isLatestGreen: Boolean = false,
+            name: String = branch,
         ) = if (latest == null) {
             BranchDto(
                 branch = branch,
+                name = name,
                 commit = headCommit,
                 status = CommitStatusDto.UNKNOWN_STATUS,
                 startedAt = null,
@@ -72,13 +81,14 @@ data class BranchDto(
         } else {
             BranchDto(
                 branch = branch,
+                name = name,
                 commit = latest.commit,
                 status = latest.status.jsonName,
                 startedAt = latest.startedAt,
                 runningSince = latest.runningSince,
                 durationSeconds = latest.duration?.seconds,
                 artifactKey = latest.artifactKey,
-                latestGreenUrl = if (isLatestGreen) BranchPermalinks.permanentUrl(branch) else null,
+                latestGreenUrl = if (isLatestGreen) BranchPermalinks.permanentUrl(name) else null,
             )
         }
     }
@@ -87,6 +97,8 @@ data class BranchDto(
 /** One entry of `GET /api/builds/current`; the log grows while the build runs. */
 data class CurrentBuildDto(
     val branch: String,
+    /** The build name; = [branch] unless a named auto-build slot triggered this build. */
+    val name: String = branch,
     val commit: String,
     val artifactKey: String,
     val status: String,

src/main/kotlin/de/hoennig/gittally/server/BranchListing.kt

@@ -9,8 +9,10 @@ import java.nio.file.Paths
 /**
  * The branches-view data, shared by the JSON API and the server-rendered page:
  * every origin branch joined with its latest build (or an `unknown` placeholder
- * when never built), ordered like the legacy branches view — main/master first,
- * then flat names, then hierarchical names, alphabetical within each group.
+ * when never built), plus one extra row per named auto-build slot that has recorded
+ * builds (e.g. `master@nightly`, sorted right after its branch). Ordered like the
+ * legacy branches view — main/master first, then flat names, then hierarchical
+ * names, alphabetical within each group.
  * Legacy listed local branches; the new watcher's branch universe is origin.
  */
 @Component
@@ -18,21 +20,27 @@ class BranchListing(
     private val gitService: GitService,
     private val repository: BuildResultRepository,
 ) {
-    fun branches(workingDir: Path = Paths.get(".")): List<BranchDto> =
-        gitService
-            .originBranchHeads(workingDir)
-            .entries
-            .sortedWith(compareBy({ sortGroup(it.key) }, { it.key }))
-            .map { (branch, headCommit) ->
-                val latest = repository.latestFor(branch)
-                BranchDto.from(
-                    branch,
-                    headCommit,
-                    latest,
-                    // the permanent link belongs to the build it resolves to, not to every build of the branch
-                    isLatestGreen = latest != null && latest.artifactKey == repository.latestGreenFor(branch)?.artifactKey,
-                )
+    fun branches(workingDir: Path = Paths.get(".")): List<BranchDto> {
+        val heads = gitService.originBranchHeads(workingDir)
+        val branchRows =
+            heads.map { (branch, headCommit) ->
+                // latestFor groups by build name, so a named slot's results never shadow the branch row
+                BranchDto.from(branch, headCommit, repository.latestFor(branch))
             }
+        val namedRows =
+            repository
+                .latestPerName()
+                .filter { it.name != it.branch && it.branch in heads }
+                .map { latest -> BranchDto.from(latest.branch, latest.commit, latest, name = latest.name) }
+        return (branchRows + namedRows)
+            .sortedWith(compareBy({ sortGroup(it.branch) }, { it.branch }, { it.name }))
+            .map { row ->
+                // the permanent link belongs to the build it resolves to, not to every build of the name
+                val isLatestGreen =
+                    row.artifactKey.isNotEmpty() && row.artifactKey == repository.latestGreenFor(row.name)?.artifactKey
+                if (isLatestGreen) row.copy(latestGreenUrl = BranchPermalinks.permanentUrl(row.name)) else row
+            }
+    }
 
     private fun sortGroup(branch: String): Int =
         when {

src/main/kotlin/de/hoennig/gittally/server/BranchPermalinks.kt

@@ -10,36 +10,38 @@ import org.springframework.web.server.ResponseStatusException
 /**
  * Resolves the permanent `/branches/<branch-key>/…` artifact URLs: the key is the
  * hash-free [ArtifactKeys.permanentBranchKey] (the full [ArtifactKeys.branchKey]
- * works too), and the target is the branch's latest green build. Resolution happens
- * per request, so a permanent URL follows every new green build and stays valid as
- * long as the branch exists on origin and has ever built successfully — green only,
- * a permanent link never points at a failed build's artifacts.
+ * works too) of a build name — a branch, or a named auto-build slot like
+ * `master@nightly` — and the target is that name's latest green build. Resolution
+ * happens per request, so a permanent URL follows every new green build and stays
+ * valid as long as the branch exists on origin and the name has ever built
+ * successfully — green only, a permanent link never points at a failed build's
+ * artifacts.
  */
 @Component
 class BranchPermalinks(
     private val repository: BuildResultRepository,
 ) {
     fun latestGreenBuild(branchKey: String): BuildResult {
-        val branches =
+        val names =
             repository
-                .latestPerBranch()
-                .map { it.branch }
+                .latestPerName()
+                .map { it.name }
                 .filter { branchKey == ArtifactKeys.permanentBranchKey(it) || branchKey == ArtifactKeys.branchKey(it) }
-        val branch =
-            when (branches.size) {
+        val name =
+            when (names.size) {
                 0 -> throw ResponseStatusException(HttpStatus.NOT_FOUND, "no recorded builds for branch key '$branchKey'")
-                1 -> branches.single()
+                1 -> names.single()
                 else -> throw ResponseStatusException(
                     HttpStatus.CONFLICT,
-                    "branch key '$branchKey' is ambiguous (${branches.joinToString()}); use the full branch key with hash suffix",
+                    "branch key '$branchKey' is ambiguous (${names.joinToString()}); use the full branch key with hash suffix",
                 )
             }
-        return repository.latestGreenFor(branch)
-            ?: throw ResponseStatusException(HttpStatus.NOT_FOUND, "branch '$branch' has no successful build")
+        return repository.latestGreenFor(name)
+            ?: throw ResponseStatusException(HttpStatus.NOT_FOUND, "branch '$name' has no successful build")
     }
 
     companion object {
-        /** The permanent artifact-index URL of [branch], shown in the branches view. */
-        fun permanentUrl(branch: String): String = "/branches/${ArtifactKeys.permanentBranchKey(branch)}"
+        /** The permanent artifact-index URL of the build name (branch or named slot), shown in the branches view. */
+        fun permanentUrl(name: String): String = "/branches/${ArtifactKeys.permanentBranchKey(name)}"
     }
 }

src/main/kotlin/de/hoennig/gittally/server/BuildsApiController.kt

@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ class BuildsApiController(
     var workingDir: Path = Paths.get(".")
 
     @GetMapping("/api/builds/latest")
-    fun latest(): List<BuildResultDto> = repository.latestPerBranch().map { BuildResultDto.from(it, it.isLatestGreen()) }
+    fun latest(): List<BuildResultDto> = repository.latestPerName().map { BuildResultDto.from(it, it.isLatestGreen()) }
 
     /** The legacy branches view: every origin branch with its latest build or `unknown`. */
     @GetMapping("/api/branches")
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ class BuildsApiController(
     @GetMapping("/api/builds/history")
     fun history(): List<BuildResultDto> = repository.history().map { BuildResultDto.from(it, it.isLatestGreen()) }
 
-    private fun BuildResult.isLatestGreen(): Boolean = repository.latestGreenFor(branch)?.artifactKey == artifactKey
+    private fun BuildResult.isLatestGreen(): Boolean = repository.latestGreenFor(name)?.artifactKey == artifactKey
 
     /** The currently executing builds — several are possible, up to `builds.maxConcurrent`. */
     @GetMapping("/api/builds/current")
@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@ class BuildsApiController(
         return buildExecutor.currentBuilds().map { build ->
             CurrentBuildDto(
                 branch = build.branch,
+                name = build.name,
                 commit = build.commit,
                 artifactKey = build.artifactKey,
                 status =
@@ -84,9 +85,11 @@ class BuildsApiController(
     }
 
     /**
-     * Re-enqueues the branch's last recorded commit — or its origin head for a branch
-     * never built, so the branches view can trigger first builds like legacy.
-     * The branch is a parameter, not a path variable, because branch names may contain
+     * Re-enqueues the last recorded commit of the build name [branch] — or the origin
+     * head for a branch never built, so the branches view can trigger first builds like
+     * legacy. A restarted auto-slot build re-runs the command its slot dictated, under
+     * the slot's name.
+     * The name is a parameter, not a path variable, because branch names may contain
      * slashes (Tomcat rejects encoded slashes in the path by default).
      */
     @PostMapping("/api/builds/restart")
@@ -95,14 +98,23 @@ class BuildsApiController(
         @RequestHeader(name = TOKEN_HEADER, required = false) headerToken: String?,
     ): ResponseEntity<Any> {
         rejectBadToken(headerToken)?.let { return it }
+        val latest = repository.latestFor(branch)
         val commit =
-            repository.latestFor(branch)?.commit
+            latest?.commit
                 ?: gitService.originHeadCommit(branch, workingDir)
                 ?: return notFound("branch '$branch' has no recorded build and no origin counterpart")
-        val running = buildExecutor.startBuild(branch, commit)
+        // a restarted build repeats what it originally ran: same branch, name, and command
+        val running =
+            buildExecutor.startBuild(
+                branch = latest?.branch ?: branch,
+                commit = commit,
+                buildCommandOverride = latest?.buildCommandOverride,
+                name = latest?.name ?: branch,
+            )
         return ResponseEntity.accepted().body(
             BuildResultDto(
                 branch = running.branch,
+                name = running.name,
                 commit = running.commit,
                 status = BuildStatus.PENDING.jsonName,
                 startedAt = running.startedAt,

src/main/kotlin/de/hoennig/gittally/server/UiController.kt

@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ class UiController(
     @GetMapping("/")
     fun latest(model: Model): String {
         val links = baseModel(model, view = "latest", pageTitle = "Latest Builds")
-        model.addAttribute("rows", repository.latestPerBranch().map { BuildRowView.from(it, links, permanentUrlOf(it)) })
+        model.addAttribute("rows", repository.latestPerName().map { BuildRowView.from(it, links, permanentUrlOf(it)) })
         model.addAttribute("apiPath", "/api/builds/latest")
         model.addAttribute("allowRestart", true)
         model.addAttribute("emptyMessage", "No builds recorded yet.")
@@ -84,10 +84,10 @@ class UiController(
         return "builds"
     }
 
-    /** The permanent branch URL belongs to the build it resolves to — the branch's latest green build. */
+    /** The permanent branch URL belongs to the build it resolves to — the name's latest green build. */
     private fun permanentUrlOf(result: BuildResult): String? =
-        if (repository.latestGreenFor(result.branch)?.artifactKey == result.artifactKey) {
-            BranchPermalinks.permanentUrl(result.branch)
+        if (repository.latestGreenFor(result.name)?.artifactKey == result.artifactKey) {
+            BranchPermalinks.permanentUrl(result.name)
         } else {
             null
         }
@@ -100,6 +100,7 @@ class UiController(
             buildExecutor.currentBuilds().map { build ->
                 CurrentBuildView(
                     branch = build.branch,
+                    name = build.name,
                     commit = build.commit,
                     commitAbbrev = build.commit.take(12),
                     status =

src/main/kotlin/de/hoennig/gittally/server/UiViews.kt

@@ -92,7 +92,10 @@ object UiFormats {
 
 /** One row of the build tables; [latestGreenUrl] only on the build that permanent link resolves to. */
 data class BuildRowView(
+    /** The git branch — target of the Gitea link and the copy button. */
     val branch: String,
+    /** The displayed build name; = [branch] unless a named auto-build slot recorded the build. */
+    val name: String,
     val commit: String,
     val commitAbbrev: String,
     val status: String,
@@ -115,6 +118,7 @@ data class BuildRowView(
             latestGreenUrl: String? = null,
         ) = BuildRowView(
             branch = result.branch,
+            name = result.name,
             commit = result.commit,
             commitAbbrev = result.commit.take(12),
             status = result.status.jsonName,
@@ -135,6 +139,7 @@ data class BuildRowView(
             links: GiteaWebLinks,
         ) = BuildRowView(
             branch = entry.branch,
+            name = entry.name,
             commit = entry.commit,
             commitAbbrev = entry.commit.take(12),
             status = entry.status,
@@ -174,6 +179,8 @@ data class LogFileView(
 /** One card of the current-builds view; the live log is fetched by `gittally.js`. */
 data class CurrentBuildView(
     val branch: String,
+    /** The displayed build name; = [branch] unless a named auto-build slot triggered the build. */
+    val name: String,
     val commit: String,
     val commitAbbrev: String,
     val status: String,

src/main/kotlin/de/hoennig/gittally/watcher/AutoBuildState.kt

@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.ObjectMapper
 import com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.SerializationFeature
 import com.fasterxml.jackson.module.kotlin.readValue
 import com.fasterxml.jackson.module.kotlin.registerKotlinModule
+import de.hoennig.gittally.config.AutoBuildSlot
 import org.slf4j.LoggerFactory
 import java.nio.file.Files
 import java.nio.file.Path
@@ -26,15 +27,15 @@ object AutoBuildSlots {
 
     /** The latest valid slot at or before [now], or null when no slot is due yet today. */
     fun latestDueSlot(
-        times: List<String>,
+        times: List<AutoBuildSlot>,
         now: LocalTime,
-    ): String? =
+    ): AutoBuildSlot? =
         times
             .mapNotNull { slot ->
                 try {
-                    LocalTime.parse(slot.trim()) to slot
+                    LocalTime.parse(slot.time.trim()) to slot
                 } catch (_: DateTimeParseException) {
-                    log.warn("skipping invalid auto-build time slot '{}': expected HH:MM", slot)
+                    log.warn("skipping invalid auto-build time slot '{}': expected HH:MM", slot.time)
                     null
                 }
             }.filter { (parsed, _) -> !parsed.isAfter(now) }

src/main/kotlin/de/hoennig/gittally/watcher/Watcher.kt

@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ class Watcher(
         }
         val restartable =
             repository
-                .latestPerBranch()
+                .latestPerName()
                 .filter { it.status == BuildStatus.INTERRUPTED || it.status == BuildStatus.PENDING }
         for (result in restartable) {
             val commit = gitService.originHeadCommit(result.branch, workingDir)
@@ -110,7 +110,8 @@ class Watcher(
                 repository.updateByArtifactKey(result.artifactKey) { it.copy(status = BuildStatus.INTERRUPTED) }
             }
             log.info("restarting unfinished build of branch {}", result.branch)
-            buildExecutor.startBuild(result.branch, commit, workingDir)
+            // an interrupted auto-slot build re-runs the command its slot dictated, under its name
+            buildExecutor.startBuild(result.branch, commit, workingDir, result.buildCommandOverride, result.name)
         }
     }
 
@@ -144,9 +145,9 @@ class Watcher(
                 lastPollError = null,
                 queuedBranches =
                     repository
-                        .latestPerBranch()
+                        .latestPerName()
                         .filter { it.status == BuildStatus.PENDING || it.status == BuildStatus.RUNNING }
-                        .map { it.branch },
+                        .map { it.name },
             )
     }
 
@@ -216,8 +217,10 @@ class Watcher(
         config: GitTallyConfig,
         pullRequestHeads: Lazy<Set<String>>,
         workingDir: Path,
+        buildCommandOverride: String? = null,
+        name: String = branch,
     ): Boolean {
-        val latest = repository.latestFor(branch)
+        val latest = repository.latestFor(name)
         if (latest?.status == BuildStatus.PENDING || latest?.status == BuildStatus.RUNNING) {
             return false
         }
@@ -233,7 +236,7 @@ class Watcher(
             return false
         }
         log.info("enqueueing build of branch {} at commit {}", branch, commit)
-        buildExecutor.startBuild(branch, commit, workingDir)
+        buildExecutor.startBuild(branch, commit, workingDir, buildCommandOverride, name)
         return true
     }
 
@@ -261,16 +264,27 @@ class Watcher(
         val timeOfDay = LocalTime.ofInstant(now, ZoneOffset.UTC)
         for ((branch, branchConfig) in autoBuildBranches) {
             val slot = AutoBuildSlots.latestDueSlot(branchConfig.autoBuild.times, timeOfDay) ?: continue
-            if (autoBuildState.isTriggered(branch, today, slot)) {
+            if (autoBuildState.isTriggered(branch, today, slot.time)) {
                 continue
             }
             if (branch !in originBranches) {
                 log.warn("skipping auto build of branch {}: branch is not on origin", branch)
                 continue
             }
-            // rebuilding the already-built commit is the point of an auto build
-            if (startBuildIfDue(branch, allowSameCommit = true, config, pullRequestHeads, workingDir)) {
-                autoBuildState.markTriggered(branch, today, slot)
+            // rebuilding the already-built commit is the point of an auto build; a slot
+            // with its own command dictates it, and a named slot records under its name
+            val started =
+                startBuildIfDue(
+                    branch,
+                    allowSameCommit = true,
+                    config,
+                    pullRequestHeads,
+                    workingDir,
+                    slot.buildCommand.ifBlank { null },
+                    slot.name.ifBlank { branch },
+                )
+            if (started) {
+                autoBuildState.markTriggered(branch, today, slot.time)
             }
         }
     }
@@ -307,7 +321,7 @@ class Watcher(
         // never delete under a build that is still queued or executing
         buildExecutor.currentBuilds().forEach { keep += ArtifactKeys.branchKey(it.branch) }
         repository
-            .latestPerBranch()
+            .latestPerName()
             .filter { it.status == BuildStatus.PENDING || it.status == BuildStatus.RUNNING }
             .forEach { keep += ArtifactKeys.branchKey(it.branch) }
         var removed = false

src/main/resources/static/gittally.js

@@ -258,8 +258,9 @@ function actionButton(symbol, title, className, dataset) {
 
 function renderBuildRow(build, allowRestart) {
     const row = document.createElement("tr");
+    const displayName = build.name || build.branch;
     row.dataset.artifactKey = build.artifactKey || "";
-    row.dataset.branch = build.branch;
+    row.dataset.branch = displayName;
     row.dataset.startedAt = build.startedAt || "";
     row.dataset.runningSince = build.runningSince || "";
     row.dataset.status = build.status || "unknown";
@@ -274,8 +275,8 @@ function renderBuildRow(build, allowRestart) {
     const branchTools = elem("span", "link-tools");
     branchTools.appendChild(
         giteaRepoUrl
-            ? externalLink(giteaRepoUrl + "/src/branch/" + encodeBranchPath(build.branch), build.branch)
-            : elem("span", null, build.branch),
+            ? externalLink(giteaRepoUrl + "/src/branch/" + encodeBranchPath(build.branch), displayName)
+            : elem("span", null, displayName),
     );
     branchTools.appendChild(copyButton(build.branch, "branch name"));
     branchCell.appendChild(branchTools);
@@ -332,7 +333,7 @@ function renderBuildRow(build, allowRestart) {
     const actionsCell = elem("td", "actions-cell");
     const actions = elem("div", "actions");
     if (allowRestart) {
-        actions.appendChild(actionButton("↻", "Restart build", null, { action: "restart", branch: build.branch }));
+        actions.appendChild(actionButton("↻", "Restart build", null, { action: "restart", branch: displayName }));
     }
     if (build.artifactKey) {
         actions.appendChild(
@@ -386,10 +387,11 @@ function renderBuildCard(build) {
     const header = elem("header", "build-card-header");
     header.appendChild(statusBadge(build.status || "running"));
     const branchTools = elem("span", "branch link-tools");
+    const displayName = build.name || build.branch;
     branchTools.appendChild(
         giteaRepoUrl
-            ? externalLink(giteaRepoUrl + "/src/branch/" + encodeBranchPath(build.branch), build.branch)
-            : elem("span", null, build.branch),
+            ? externalLink(giteaRepoUrl + "/src/branch/" + encodeBranchPath(build.branch), displayName)
+            : elem("span", null, displayName),
     );
     header.appendChild(branchTools);
     const commitCode = elem("code");

src/main/resources/templates/builds.html

@@ -24,15 +24,15 @@
                 <td class="empty" colspan="7" th:text="${emptyMessage}">No builds recorded yet.</td>
             </tr>
             <tr th:each="row : ${rows}"
-                th:attr="data-artifact-key=${row.artifactKey},data-branch=${row.branch},data-started-at=${row.startedAtIso},data-running-since=${row.runningSinceIso},data-status=${row.status}">
+                th:attr="data-artifact-key=${row.artifactKey},data-branch=${row.name},data-started-at=${row.startedAtIso},data-running-since=${row.runningSinceIso},data-status=${row.status}">
                 <td data-label="Status">
                     <span th:class="'status status-' + ${row.status}" th:text="${row.status}">success</span>
                 </td>
                 <td class="branch" data-label="Branch">
                     <span class="link-tools">
                         <a th:if="${row.branchUrl != null}" th:href="${row.branchUrl}" target="_blank"
-                           rel="noopener noreferrer" th:text="${row.branch}">main</a>
-                        <span th:if="${row.branchUrl == null}" th:text="${row.branch}">main</span>
+                           rel="noopener noreferrer" th:text="${row.name}">main</a>
+                        <span th:if="${row.branchUrl == null}" th:text="${row.name}">main</span>
                         <button class="copy-button" type="button" th:attr="data-copy=${row.branch}"
                                 title="Copy branch name" aria-label="Copy branch name">⧉</button>
                     </span>
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@
                 <td class="actions-cell">
                     <div class="actions">
                         <button th:if="${allowRestart}" class="action-button" type="button" data-action="restart"
-                                th:attr="data-branch=${row.branch}" title="Restart build"
+                                th:attr="data-branch=${row.name}" title="Restart build"
                                 aria-label="Restart build">↻</button>
                         <button th:if="${row.artifactKey != ''}" class="action-button delete-button" type="button"
                                 data-action="delete" th:attr="data-artifact-key=${row.artifactKey}"

src/main/resources/templates/current.html

@@ -15,8 +15,8 @@
                 <span th:class="'status status-' + ${build.status}" th:text="${build.status}">running</span>
                 <span class="branch link-tools">
                     <a th:if="${build.branchUrl != null}" th:href="${build.branchUrl}" target="_blank"
-                       rel="noopener noreferrer" th:text="${build.branch}">main</a>
-                    <span th:if="${build.branchUrl == null}" th:text="${build.branch}">main</span>
+                       rel="noopener noreferrer" th:text="${build.name}">main</a>
+                    <span th:if="${build.branchUrl == null}" th:text="${build.name}">main</span>
                 </span>
                 <code>
                     <a th:if="${build.commitUrl != null}" th:href="${build.commitUrl}" target="_blank"
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@
                             th:attr="data-artifact-key=${build.artifactKey}" title="Cancel build">× Cancel</button>
                 </span>
             </header>
-            <pre class="live-log" th:attr="aria-label='live log of ' + ${build.branch}"></pre>
+            <pre class="live-log" th:attr="aria-label='live log of ' + ${build.name}"></pre>
         </section>
     </div>
 </main>

src/test/kotlin/de/hoennig/gittally/build/BuildExecutorTest.kt

@@ -219,6 +219,50 @@ class BuildExecutorTest : FunSpec() {
             }
         }
 
+        test("a build command override replaces the branch's build command and is recorded in the result") {
+            val h = harness(buildCommand = "echo regular-\$branch")
+
+            val nightly = h.executor.startBuild("main", "sha-1", h.workingDir, "echo nightly-\$branch")
+            awaitStatus(h, "main", BuildStatus.SUCCESS)
+            awaitIdle(h)
+
+            val stdoutLog = Files.readString(nightly.stagingDir.resolve("build.stdout.log"))
+            stdoutLog shouldContain "nightly-main"
+            stdoutLog shouldNotContain "regular-main"
+            Files.readString(nightly.liveLogFile) shouldContain "triggered by: auto-build slot"
+            h.repository
+                .latestFor("main")
+                .shouldNotBeNull()
+                .buildCommandOverride shouldBe "echo nightly-\$branch"
+
+            // the same branch without an override runs the regular command
+            val regular = h.executor.startBuild("main", "sha-2", h.workingDir)
+            awaitStatus(h, "main", BuildStatus.SUCCESS)
+            awaitIdle(h)
+            Files.readString(regular.stagingDir.resolve("build.stdout.log")) shouldContain "regular-main"
+            h.repository
+                .latestFor("main")
+                .shouldNotBeNull()
+                .buildCommandOverride shouldBe null
+        }
+
+        test("a named build is recorded under its name, keyed by the sanitized name") {
+            val h = harness(buildCommand = "echo regular-\$branch")
+
+            val build = h.executor.startBuild("main", "sha-1", h.workingDir, "echo nightly-\$branch", "main@nightly")
+            awaitStatus(h, "main@nightly", BuildStatus.SUCCESS)
+            awaitIdle(h)
+
+            val result = h.repository.latestFor("main@nightly").shouldNotBeNull()
+            result.branch shouldBe "main"
+            result.name shouldBe "main@nightly"
+            result.artifactKey shouldBe build.artifactKey
+            build.artifactKey shouldContain "main_nightly"
+            Files.readString(build.liveLogFile) shouldContain "build name: main@nightly"
+            // the branch's own pool stays empty — the named build does not shadow it
+            h.repository.latestFor("main") shouldBe null
+        }
+
         test("startBuild returns the active build of the same branch and commit instead of stacking a duplicate") {
             val h = harness("sleep 30")
 
@@ -228,6 +272,10 @@ class BuildExecutorTest : FunSpec() {
             duplicate.artifactKey shouldBe first.artifactKey
             h.repository.history().map { it.artifactKey } shouldContainExactly listOf(first.artifactKey)
 
+            // a build of the same commit with a command override runs a different command — not a duplicate
+            val nightly = h.executor.startBuild("main", "abc123", h.workingDir, "echo full-check")
+            nightly.artifactKey shouldNotBe first.artifactKey
+
             // another commit of the branch is a distinct build, queued behind the first
             val newerCommit = h.executor.startBuild("main", "abc124", h.workingDir)
             newerCommit.artifactKey shouldNotBe first.artifactKey
@@ -237,6 +285,7 @@ class BuildExecutorTest : FunSpec() {
             val again = h.executor.startBuild("main", "abc123", h.workingDir)
             again.artifactKey shouldNotBe first.artifactKey
 
+            h.executor.cancel(nightly.artifactKey).shouldBeTrue()
             h.executor.cancel(newerCommit.artifactKey).shouldBeTrue()
             h.executor.cancel(again.artifactKey).shouldBeTrue()
             eventually(30.seconds) {

src/test/kotlin/de/hoennig/gittally/build/FileBuildResultRepositoryTest.kt

@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ class FileBuildResultRepositoryTest : FunSpec() {
             val repository = FileBuildResultRepository(newFile())
 
             repository.history().shouldBeEmpty()
-            repository.latestPerBranch().shouldBeEmpty()
+            repository.latestPerName().shouldBeEmpty()
             repository.latestFor("main").shouldBeNull()
         }
 
@@ -99,19 +99,52 @@ class FileBuildResultRepositoryTest : FunSpec() {
             repository.latestGreenFor("unknown").shouldBeNull()
         }
 
-        test("latestPerBranch returns one entry per branch, newest first") {
+        test("latestPerName returns one entry per build name, newest first") {
             val repository = FileBuildResultRepository(newFile())
             repository.append(result(branch = "main", startedOffsetSeconds = 0))
             repository.append(result(branch = "main", startedOffsetSeconds = 60))
             repository.append(result(branch = "feature/x", startedOffsetSeconds = 120))
 
-            repository.latestPerBranch() shouldContainExactly
+            repository.latestPerName() shouldContainExactly
                 listOf(
                     result(branch = "feature/x", startedOffsetSeconds = 120),
                     result(branch = "main", startedOffsetSeconds = 60),
                 )
         }
 
+        test("a named result forms its own pool for latest, green, supersession, and retention") {
+            val repository = FileBuildResultRepository(newFile())
+            repository.append(result(branch = "main", status = BuildStatus.SUCCESS, startedOffsetSeconds = 0))
+            repository.append(
+                result(branch = "main", status = BuildStatus.FAILED, startedOffsetSeconds = 10, artifactKey = "nightly-10")
+                    .copy(name = "main@nightly"),
+            )
+            repository.append(result(branch = "main", status = BuildStatus.SUCCESS, startedOffsetSeconds = 20))
+
+            repository.latestFor("main")!!.artifactKey shouldBe "main-20"
+            repository.latestFor("main@nightly")!!.artifactKey shouldBe "nightly-10"
+            // the branch pool's green build does not leak into the nightly pool
+            repository.latestGreenFor("main@nightly").shouldBeNull()
+            repository.latestPerName().map { it.name } shouldContainExactlyInAnyOrder listOf("main", "main@nightly")
+
+            // retention counts per name: retention 1 keeps the nightly although the branch built more recently
+            val removed = repository.prune(listOf("main"), retentionPerBranch = 1)
+            removed.map { it.artifactKey } shouldContainExactly listOf("main-0")
+            repository.history().map { it.artifactKey } shouldContainExactlyInAnyOrder listOf("main-20", "nightly-10")
+        }
+
+        test("prune drops a named pool once its underlying branch is gone from origin") {
+            val repository = FileBuildResultRepository(newFile())
+            repository.append(
+                result(branch = "gone", status = BuildStatus.SUCCESS, startedOffsetSeconds = 0, artifactKey = "nightly-key")
+                    .copy(name = "gone@nightly"),
+            )
+
+            val removed = repository.prune(listOf("main"), retentionPerBranch = 3)
+
+            removed.map { it.artifactKey } shouldContainExactly listOf("nightly-key")
+        }
+
         test("updateLatest transforms only the newest entry of the branch") {
             val repository = FileBuildResultRepository(newFile())
             repository.append(result(branch = "main", status = BuildStatus.SUCCESS, startedOffsetSeconds = 0))

src/test/kotlin/de/hoennig/gittally/commands/RetryCommandTest.kt

@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ class RetryCommandTest : FunSpec() {
         }
 
         test("retries every branch whose latest build failed, but no others") {
-            every { repository.latestPerBranch() } returns
+            every { repository.latestPerName() } returns
                 listOf(
                     result("main", BuildStatus.FAILED),
                     result("feature/ok", BuildStatus.SUCCESS),
@@ -52,19 +52,19 @@ class RetryCommandTest : FunSpec() {
                 )
             every { gitService.originHeadCommit("main", dir) } returns "head-main"
             every { gitService.originHeadCommit("feature/y", dir) } returns "head-y"
-            every { consoleBuildRunner.buildAndStream(any(), any(), dir) } returns BuildStatus.SUCCESS
+            every { consoleBuildRunner.buildAndStream(any(), any(), dir, anyNullable(), any()) } returns BuildStatus.SUCCESS
 
             var exitCode = -1
             captureConsole { exitCode = command().call() }
 
             exitCode shouldBe 0
-            verify { consoleBuildRunner.buildAndStream("main", "head-main", dir) }
-            verify { consoleBuildRunner.buildAndStream("feature/y", "head-y", dir) }
-            verify(exactly = 0) { consoleBuildRunner.buildAndStream("feature/ok", any(), dir) }
+            verify { consoleBuildRunner.buildAndStream("main", "head-main", dir, null, "main") }
+            verify { consoleBuildRunner.buildAndStream("feature/y", "head-y", dir, null, "feature/y") }
+            verify(exactly = 0) { consoleBuildRunner.buildAndStream("feature/ok", any(), dir, anyNullable(), any()) }
         }
 
         test("exits with code 1 when a retried build fails again") {
-            every { repository.latestPerBranch() } returns listOf(result("main", BuildStatus.FAILED))
+            every { repository.latestPerName() } returns listOf(result("main", BuildStatus.FAILED))
             every { gitService.originHeadCommit("main", dir) } returns "head-main"
             every { consoleBuildRunner.buildAndStream("main", "head-main", dir) } returns BuildStatus.FAILED
 
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ class RetryCommandTest : FunSpec() {
         }
 
         test("skips failed branches that are gone from origin") {
-            every { repository.latestPerBranch() } returns listOf(result("gone", BuildStatus.FAILED))
+            every { repository.latestPerName() } returns listOf(result("gone", BuildStatus.FAILED))
             every { gitService.originHeadCommit("gone", dir) } returns null
 
             var exitCode = -1
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ class RetryCommandTest : FunSpec() {
         }
 
         test("prints a hint when there is nothing to retry") {
-            every { repository.latestPerBranch() } returns
+            every { repository.latestPerName() } returns
                 listOf(
                     result("main", BuildStatus.SUCCESS),
                     result("feature/x", BuildStatus.INTERRUPTED),

src/test/kotlin/de/hoennig/gittally/commands/StatusCommandTest.kt

@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ class StatusCommandTest : FunSpec() {
         }
 
         test("prints the latest build per branch as a table with short commits and legacy duration format") {
-            every { repository.latestPerBranch() } returns
+            every { repository.latestPerName() } returns
                 listOf(
                     result("main", BuildStatus.SUCCESS),
                     result("feature/x", BuildStatus.FAILED, duration = null),
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ class StatusCommandTest : FunSpec() {
         }
 
         test("prints a hint when no builds are recorded yet") {
-            every { repository.latestPerBranch() } returns emptyList()
+            every { repository.latestPerName() } returns emptyList()
 
             var exitCode = -1
             val console = captureConsole { exitCode = StatusCommand(repository).call() }

src/test/kotlin/de/hoennig/gittally/config/ConfigLoaderTest.kt

@@ -47,6 +47,39 @@ class ConfigLoaderTest : FunSpec() {
             loader.load(dir).builds.maxConcurrent shouldBe 3
         }
 
+        test("autoBuild.times accepts plain HH:MM entries and slot objects with their own build command, mixed") {
+            val dir = Files.createTempDirectory("gittally-test")
+            dir.resolve(".gittally.yml").toFile().writeText(
+                """
+                branches:
+                  main:
+                    autoBuild:
+                      enabled: true
+                      times:
+                        - "01:00"
+                        - time: "04:00"
+                          buildCommand: ./gradlew fullCheck
+                          name: main@nightly
+                """.trimIndent(),
+            )
+
+            val times =
+                loader
+                    .load(dir)
+                    .branches
+                    .getValue("main")
+                    .autoBuild.times
+
+            times shouldBe
+                listOf(
+                    AutoBuildSlot("01:00"),
+                    AutoBuildSlot("04:00", "./gradlew fullCheck", "main@nightly"),
+                )
+            // config:print round-trip: a slot without its own command serializes back to the plain string
+            loader.toYaml(times) shouldBe
+                "- \"01:00\"\n- time: \"04:00\"\n  buildCommand: \"./gradlew fullCheck\"\n  name: \"main@nightly\"\n"
+        }
+
         test("repo install config overrides project config for same keys") {
             val dir = Files.createTempDirectory("gittally-test")
             dir.resolve(".gittally.yml").toFile().writeText(

src/test/kotlin/de/hoennig/gittally/server/BranchListingTest.kt

@@ -27,6 +27,10 @@ class BranchListingTest : FunSpec() {
         )
 
     init {
+        beforeEach {
+            every { repository.latestPerName() } returns emptyList()
+        }
+
         test("orders main/master first, then flat names, then hierarchical names") {
             every { gitService.originBranchHeads(any()) } returns
                 mapOf(
@@ -69,14 +73,36 @@ class BranchListingTest : FunSpec() {
         test("a failed latest build carries no permanent URL — it belongs to the older green build") {
             every { gitService.originBranchHeads(any()) } returns mapOf("feature/x" to "aaa")
             every { repository.latestFor("feature/x") } returns
-                mainResult.copy(branch = "feature/x", status = BuildStatus.FAILED, artifactKey = "failed-key")
+                mainResult.copy(branch = "feature/x", name = "feature/x", status = BuildStatus.FAILED, artifactKey = "failed-key")
             every { repository.latestGreenFor("feature/x") } returns
-                mainResult.copy(branch = "feature/x", artifactKey = "green-key")
+                mainResult.copy(branch = "feature/x", name = "feature/x", artifactKey = "green-key")
 
             val branches = listing.branches()
 
             branches[0].status shouldBe "failed"
             branches[0].latestGreenUrl shouldBe null
         }
+
+        test("a named slot pool gets its own row right after its branch") {
+            val nightly =
+                mainResult.copy(name = "main@nightly", status = BuildStatus.FAILED, artifactKey = "nightly-key")
+            every { gitService.originBranchHeads(any()) } returns mapOf("main" to "head", "develop" to "d")
+            every { repository.latestFor("main") } returns mainResult
+            every { repository.latestFor("develop") } returns null
+            every { repository.latestGreenFor("main") } returns mainResult
+            every { repository.latestGreenFor("main@nightly") } returns null
+            every { repository.latestGreenFor("develop") } returns null
+            every { repository.latestPerName() } returns listOf(mainResult, nightly)
+
+            val rows = listing.branches()
+
+            rows.map { it.name } shouldBe listOf("main", "main@nightly", "develop")
+            rows[1].branch shouldBe "main"
+            rows[1].status shouldBe "failed"
+            rows[1].artifactKey shouldBe "nightly-key"
+            // the branch row keeps its own status and permanent link, untouched by the nightly
+            rows[0].status shouldBe "success"
+            rows[0].latestGreenUrl shouldBe "/branches/main"
+        }
     }
 }

src/test/kotlin/de/hoennig/gittally/server/BranchPermalinksTest.kt

@@ -33,21 +33,21 @@ class BranchPermalinksTest : FunSpec() {
 
     init {
         test("resolves the hash-free permanent key to the branch's latest green build") {
-            every { repository.latestPerBranch() } returns listOf(result("feature/x"), result("main"))
+            every { repository.latestPerName() } returns listOf(result("feature/x"), result("main"))
             every { repository.latestGreenFor("feature/x") } returns result("feature/x")
 
             permalinks.latestGreenBuild("feature_x") shouldBe result("feature/x")
         }
 
         test("resolves the full branch key with hash suffix") {
-            every { repository.latestPerBranch() } returns listOf(result("feature/x"))
+            every { repository.latestPerName() } returns listOf(result("feature/x"))
             every { repository.latestGreenFor("feature/x") } returns result("feature/x")
 
             permalinks.latestGreenBuild(ArtifactKeys.branchKey("feature/x")) shouldBe result("feature/x")
         }
 
         test("an unknown branch key answers 404") {
-            every { repository.latestPerBranch() } returns listOf(result("main"))
+            every { repository.latestPerName() } returns listOf(result("main"))
 
             val exception = shouldThrow<ResponseStatusException> { permalinks.latestGreenBuild("gone") }
 
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ class BranchPermalinksTest : FunSpec() {
         }
 
         test("a branch without a green build answers 404") {
-            every { repository.latestPerBranch() } returns listOf(result("main", status = BuildStatus.FAILED))
+            every { repository.latestPerName() } returns listOf(result("main", status = BuildStatus.FAILED))
             every { repository.latestGreenFor("main") } returns null
 
             val exception = shouldThrow<ResponseStatusException> { permalinks.latestGreenBuild("main") }
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ class BranchPermalinksTest : FunSpec() {
         }
 
         test("a permanent key matching several branches answers 409 and names the candidates") {
-            every { repository.latestPerBranch() } returns listOf(result("feature/x"), result("feature_x"))
+            every { repository.latestPerName() } returns listOf(result("feature/x"), result("feature_x"))
 
             val exception = shouldThrow<ResponseStatusException> { permalinks.latestGreenBuild("feature_x") }
 
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ class BranchPermalinksTest : FunSpec() {
         }
 
         test("with ambiguous permanent keys the full branch key still resolves") {
-            every { repository.latestPerBranch() } returns listOf(result("feature/x"), result("feature_x"))
+            every { repository.latestPerName() } returns listOf(result("feature/x"), result("feature_x"))
             every { repository.latestGreenFor("feature/x") } returns result("feature/x")
 
             permalinks.latestGreenBuild(ArtifactKeys.branchKey("feature/x")) shouldBe result("feature/x")
@@ -82,5 +82,14 @@ class BranchPermalinksTest : FunSpec() {
         test("permanentUrl uses the hash-free branch key") {
             BranchPermalinks.permanentUrl("feature/x") shouldBe "/branches/feature_x"
         }
+
+        test("resolves a named slot pool to its own latest green build") {
+            val nightly = result("main").copy(name = "main@nightly", artifactKey = "nightly-key")
+            every { repository.latestPerName() } returns listOf(result("main"), nightly)
+            every { repository.latestGreenFor("main@nightly") } returns nightly
+
+            // sanitized like any branch key: the '@' becomes '_' in the URL
+            permalinks.latestGreenBuild("main_nightly") shouldBe nightly
+        }
     }
 }

src/test/kotlin/de/hoennig/gittally/server/BuildsApiControllerTest.kt

@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ class BuildsApiControllerTest : FunSpec() {
         }
 
         test("latest answers one entry per branch with lowercase status and duration in seconds") {
-            every { repository.latestPerBranch() } returns listOf(successResult)
+            every { repository.latestPerName() } returns listOf(successResult)
 
             mockMvc
                 .perform(get("/api/builds/latest"))
@@ -151,9 +151,9 @@ class BuildsApiControllerTest : FunSpec() {
 
         test("restart enqueues the branch's last recorded commit, also for branch names with slashes") {
             val liveLogFile = tempDir.resolve("restart.log")
-            every { repository.latestFor("feature/topic") } returns successResult.copy(branch = "feature/topic")
+            every { repository.latestFor("feature/topic") } returns successResult.copy(branch = "feature/topic", name = "feature/topic")
             every { buildExecutor.startBuild("feature/topic", successResult.commit) } returns
-                runningBuild(liveLogFile).copy(branch = "feature/topic")
+                runningBuild(liveLogFile).copy(branch = "feature/topic", name = "feature/topic")
 
             mockMvc
                 .perform(
@@ -167,12 +167,58 @@ class BuildsApiControllerTest : FunSpec() {
             verify { buildExecutor.startBuild("feature/topic", successResult.commit) }
         }
 
+        test("restart of an auto-slot build repeats its recorded build command") {
+            val liveLogFile = tempDir.resolve("auto-restart.log")
+            every { repository.latestFor("main") } returns successResult.copy(buildCommandOverride = "./gradlew fullCheck")
+            every { buildExecutor.startBuild("main", successResult.commit, buildCommandOverride = "./gradlew fullCheck") } returns
+                runningBuild(liveLogFile).copy(buildCommandOverride = "./gradlew fullCheck")
+
+            mockMvc
+                .perform(post("/api/builds/restart").param("branch", "main").header(BuildsApiController.TOKEN_HEADER, "secret"))
+                .andExpect(status().isAccepted)
+                .andExpect(jsonPath("$.status").value("pending"))
+
+            // so a restarted nightly build repeats its slot's command, not the regular one
+            verify { buildExecutor.startBuild("main", successResult.commit, buildCommandOverride = "./gradlew fullCheck") }
+        }
+
+        test("restart of a named slot build re-runs under its name on its real branch") {
+            val liveLogFile = tempDir.resolve("named-restart.log")
+            every { repository.latestFor("main@nightly") } returns
+                successResult.copy(name = "main@nightly", buildCommandOverride = "./gradlew fullCheck")
+            every {
+                buildExecutor.startBuild(
+                    "main",
+                    successResult.commit,
+                    buildCommandOverride = "./gradlew fullCheck",
+                    name = "main@nightly",
+                )
+            } returns runningBuild(liveLogFile).copy(name = "main@nightly")
+
+            mockMvc
+                .perform(
+                    post("/api/builds/restart")
+                        .param("branch", "main@nightly")
+                        .header(BuildsApiController.TOKEN_HEADER, "secret"),
+                ).andExpect(status().isAccepted)
+                .andExpect(jsonPath("$.name").value("main@nightly"))
+
+            verify {
+                buildExecutor.startBuild(
+                    "main",
+                    successResult.commit,
+                    buildCommandOverride = "./gradlew fullCheck",
+                    name = "main@nightly",
+                )
+            }
+        }
+
         test("restart of a never-built branch enqueues its origin head commit") {
             val liveLogFile = tempDir.resolve("first-build.log")
             every { repository.latestFor("fresh") } returns null
             every { gitService.originHeadCommit("fresh", any()) } returns successResult.commit
             every { buildExecutor.startBuild("fresh", successResult.commit) } returns
-                runningBuild(liveLogFile).copy(branch = "fresh")
+                runningBuild(liveLogFile).copy(branch = "fresh", name = "fresh")
 
             mockMvc
                 .perform(post("/api/builds/restart").param("branch", "fresh").header(BuildsApiController.TOKEN_HEADER, "secret"))

src/test/kotlin/de/hoennig/gittally/server/UiControllerTest.kt

@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ class UiControllerTest : FunSpec() {
         }
 
         test("latest view renders the empty state, and the nav no longer offers the current view") {
-            every { repository.latestPerBranch() } returns emptyList()
+            every { repository.latestPerName() } returns emptyList()
 
             mockMvc
                 .perform(get("/"))
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ class UiControllerTest : FunSpec() {
         }
 
         test("latest view renders rows with badge, Gitea links, artifact link, actions, and token") {
-            every { repository.latestPerBranch() } returns listOf(successResult)
+            every { repository.latestPerName() } returns listOf(successResult)
 
             mockMvc
                 .perform(get("/"))
@@ -188,9 +188,15 @@ class UiControllerTest : FunSpec() {
         test("history view renders mixed history without restart actions") {
             every { repository.history() } returns
                 listOf(
-                    successResult.copy(branch = "main", status = BuildStatus.RUNNING, duration = null, artifactKey = "run-key"),
+                    successResult.copy(
+                        branch = "main",
+                        name = "main",
+                        status = BuildStatus.RUNNING,
+                        duration = null,
+                        artifactKey = "run-key",
+                    ),
                     successResult,
-                    successResult.copy(branch = "feature/x", status = BuildStatus.FAILED, artifactKey = "failed-key"),
+                    successResult.copy(branch = "feature/x", name = "feature/x", status = BuildStatus.FAILED, artifactKey = "failed-key"),
                 )
 
             mockMvc
@@ -479,7 +485,7 @@ class UiControllerTest : FunSpec() {
 
         test("branch names with HTML metacharacters render escaped") {
             val nasty = "feat/<script>alert('x')</script>"
-            every { repository.latestPerBranch() } returns listOf(successResult.copy(branch = nasty))
+            every { repository.latestPerName() } returns listOf(successResult.copy(branch = nasty, name = nasty))
 
             mockMvc
                 .perform(get("/"))

src/test/kotlin/de/hoennig/gittally/watcher/AutoBuildStateTest.kt

@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 package de.hoennig.gittally.watcher
 
+import de.hoennig.gittally.config.AutoBuildSlot
 import io.kotest.core.spec.style.FunSpec
 import io.kotest.matchers.booleans.shouldBeFalse
 import io.kotest.matchers.booleans.shouldBeTrue
@@ -13,19 +14,27 @@ import java.time.LocalTime
 class AutoBuildStateTest : FunSpec() {
     private fun stateFile(): Path = Files.createTempDirectory("gittally-autobuild-test").resolve("auto-builds.json")
 
+    private fun slots(vararg times: String) = times.map { AutoBuildSlot(it) }
+
     init {
         test("latestDueSlot picks the latest slot at or before now") {
-            val times = listOf("01:00", "11:00", "13:00")
+            val times = slots("01:00", "11:00", "13:00")
 
             AutoBuildSlots.latestDueSlot(times, LocalTime.parse("00:59")).shouldBeNull()
-            AutoBuildSlots.latestDueSlot(times, LocalTime.parse("01:00")) shouldBe "01:00"
-            AutoBuildSlots.latestDueSlot(times, LocalTime.parse("12:00")) shouldBe "11:00"
-            AutoBuildSlots.latestDueSlot(times, LocalTime.parse("23:59")) shouldBe "13:00"
+            AutoBuildSlots.latestDueSlot(times, LocalTime.parse("01:00"))?.time shouldBe "01:00"
+            AutoBuildSlots.latestDueSlot(times, LocalTime.parse("12:00"))?.time shouldBe "11:00"
+            AutoBuildSlots.latestDueSlot(times, LocalTime.parse("23:59"))?.time shouldBe "13:00"
+        }
+
+        test("latestDueSlot answers the whole slot including its build command") {
+            val slot = AutoBuildSlot(time = "01:00", buildCommand = "./gradlew fullCheck")
+
+            AutoBuildSlots.latestDueSlot(listOf(slot), LocalTime.parse("02:00")) shouldBe slot
         }
 
         test("latestDueSlot skips invalid slots but keeps the valid ones") {
-            AutoBuildSlots.latestDueSlot(listOf("25:99", "nope", "02:00"), LocalTime.parse("12:00")) shouldBe "02:00"
-            AutoBuildSlots.latestDueSlot(listOf("25:99"), LocalTime.parse("12:00")).shouldBeNull()
+            AutoBuildSlots.latestDueSlot(slots("25:99", "nope", "02:00"), LocalTime.parse("12:00"))?.time shouldBe "02:00"
+            AutoBuildSlots.latestDueSlot(slots("25:99"), LocalTime.parse("12:00")).shouldBeNull()
         }
 
         test("latestDueSlot of an empty slot list is null") {

src/test/kotlin/de/hoennig/gittally/watcher/WatcherTest.kt

@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import de.hoennig.gittally.build.GitWorktreeWorkspaces
 import de.hoennig.gittally.build.RunningBuild
 import de.hoennig.gittally.config.ArtifactsConfig
 import de.hoennig.gittally.config.AutoBuildConfig
+import de.hoennig.gittally.config.AutoBuildSlot
 import de.hoennig.gittally.config.BranchConfig
 import de.hoennig.gittally.config.ConfigLoader
 import de.hoennig.gittally.config.GitTallyConfig
@@ -78,7 +79,7 @@ class WatcherTest : FunSpec() {
             every { gitService.worktreePrune(any()) } returns Unit
             every { gitService.fastForwardLocalBranches(any()) } returns emptyList()
             every { buildExecutor.currentBuilds() } returns emptyList()
-            every { buildExecutor.startBuild(any(), any(), any()) } answers {
+            every { buildExecutor.startBuild(any(), any(), any(), anyNullable(), any()) } answers {
                 val branch = firstArg<String>()
                 val commit = secondArg<String>()
                 startedBuilds += branch to commit
@@ -92,14 +93,18 @@ class WatcherTest : FunSpec() {
             branch: String,
             status: BuildStatus,
             commit: String = "commit-0",
+            buildCommandOverride: String? = null,
+            name: String = branch,
         ): BuildResult {
             val startedAt = noon.minusSeconds(3600).plusSeconds(seedCounter++)
             val result =
                 BuildResult(
                     branch = branch,
+                    name = name,
                     commit = commit,
                     status = status,
                     startedAt = startedAt,
+                    buildCommandOverride = buildCommandOverride,
                     artifactKey = ArtifactKeys.buildKey(branch, startedAt),
                 )
             repository.append(result)
@@ -136,7 +141,7 @@ class WatcherTest : FunSpec() {
             branches =
                 mapOf(
                     "default" to BranchConfig(),
-                    "main" to BranchConfig(autoBuild = AutoBuildConfig(enabled = true, times = times.toList())),
+                    "main" to BranchConfig(autoBuild = AutoBuildConfig(enabled = true, times = times.map { AutoBuildSlot(it) })),
                 ),
         )
 
@@ -349,7 +354,7 @@ class WatcherTest : FunSpec() {
                                 "main" to
                                     BranchConfig(
                                         requirePullRequest = true,
-                                        autoBuild = AutoBuildConfig(enabled = true, times = listOf("11:00")),
+                                        autoBuild = AutoBuildConfig(enabled = true, times = listOf(AutoBuildSlot("11:00"))),
                                     ),
                             ),
                     ),
@@ -374,9 +379,80 @@ class WatcherTest : FunSpec() {
             harness.watcher.poll(harness.workingDir)
 
             harness.startedBuilds shouldContainExactly listOf("main" to "commit-abc")
+            // a plain HH:MM slot runs the branch's regular buildCommand — no override
+            verify { harness.buildExecutor.startBuild("main", "commit-abc", any(), null) }
             harness.autoBuildState().isTriggered("main", LocalDate.parse("2026-07-07"), "11:00").shouldBeTrue()
         }
 
+        test("an auto-build slot with its own build command dictates that command for the build") {
+            val harness =
+                Harness(
+                    GitTallyConfig(
+                        branches =
+                            mapOf(
+                                "default" to BranchConfig(),
+                                "main" to
+                                    BranchConfig(
+                                        autoBuild =
+                                            AutoBuildConfig(
+                                                enabled = true,
+                                                times = listOf(AutoBuildSlot("11:00", "./gradlew fullCheck")),
+                                            ),
+                                    ),
+                            ),
+                    ),
+                )
+            harness.seed("main", BuildStatus.SUCCESS, commit = "commit-abc")
+            every { harness.gitService.originBranches(any()) } returns listOf("main")
+            every { harness.gitService.originHeadCommit("main", any()) } returns "commit-abc"
+
+            harness.watcher.poll(harness.workingDir)
+
+            verify { harness.buildExecutor.startBuild("main", "commit-abc", any(), "./gradlew fullCheck") }
+            harness.autoBuildState().isTriggered("main", LocalDate.parse("2026-07-07"), "11:00").shouldBeTrue()
+        }
+
+        test("a named auto-build slot records under its name, even while the branch's regular build is running") {
+            val harness =
+                Harness(
+                    GitTallyConfig(
+                        branches =
+                            mapOf(
+                                "default" to BranchConfig(),
+                                "main" to
+                                    BranchConfig(
+                                        autoBuild =
+                                            AutoBuildConfig(
+                                                enabled = true,
+                                                times = listOf(AutoBuildSlot("11:00", "./gradlew fullCheck", "main@nightly")),
+                                            ),
+                                    ),
+                            ),
+                    ),
+                )
+            // the branch's own pool is busy; the named slot has its own pool and is not blocked by it
+            harness.seed("main", BuildStatus.RUNNING, commit = "commit-abc")
+            every { harness.gitService.originBranches(any()) } returns listOf("main")
+            every { harness.gitService.originHeadCommit("main", any()) } returns "commit-abc"
+
+            harness.watcher.poll(harness.workingDir)
+
+            verify { harness.buildExecutor.startBuild("main", "commit-abc", any(), "./gradlew fullCheck", "main@nightly") }
+            harness.autoBuildState().isTriggered("main", LocalDate.parse("2026-07-07"), "11:00").shouldBeTrue()
+        }
+
+        test("a commit-triggered build never carries a build command override") {
+            val harness = Harness()
+            every { harness.gitService.originBranches(any()) } returns listOf("main")
+            every { harness.gitService.localBranches(any()) } returns listOf("main")
+            every { harness.gitService.hasNewCommits("main", any()) } returns true
+            every { harness.gitService.originHeadCommit("main", any()) } returns "commit-main"
+
+            harness.watcher.poll(harness.workingDir)
+
+            verify { harness.buildExecutor.startBuild("main", "commit-main", any(), null) }
+        }
+
         test("an auto-build slot stays untriggered while the branch is still building") {
             val harness = Harness(autoBuildConfig("11:00"))
             harness.seed("main", BuildStatus.RUNNING, commit = "commit-abc")
@@ -420,6 +496,23 @@ class WatcherTest : FunSpec() {
             harness.startedBuilds shouldContainExactly listOf("main" to "commit-2")
         }
 
+        test("startup recovery re-enqueues an interrupted auto-slot build with its recorded command and name") {
+            val harness = Harness()
+            harness.seed(
+                "main",
+                BuildStatus.INTERRUPTED,
+                commit = "commit-1",
+                buildCommandOverride = "./gradlew fullCheck",
+                name = "main@nightly",
+            )
+            every { harness.gitService.originHeadCommit("main", any()) } returns "commit-1"
+
+            harness.watcher.recoverOnStartup(harness.workingDir)
+
+            // otherwise a restart mid-nightly-build would repeat it with the regular command, in the wrong pool
+            verify { harness.buildExecutor.startBuild("main", "commit-1", any(), "./gradlew fullCheck", "main@nightly") }
+        }
+
         test("startup recovery closes out an orphaned PENDING build of a branch gone from origin") {
             val harness = Harness()
             val orphan = harness.seed("gone", BuildStatus.PENDING, commit = "commit-1")