feat(windows-host): SessionPlan — resolve capture/topology/encoder once per session (Goal-1 stage 3)

New src/session_plan.rs: a Copy `SessionPlan { capture, topology, encoder, bit_depth, hdr }`
resolved ONCE from HostConfig (+ the negotiated bit_depth) at the top of `virtual_stream`,
logged, and threaded through build_pipeline_with_retry/build_pipeline. The three scattered
Windows dispatch points now read this one typed artifact instead of re-deriving from config
(plan §2.4, the "capture and encode disagree on the backend" hazard):

  * capture: capture::capture_virtual_output takes a CaptureBackend IN (was re-reading
    config().idd_push / capture_backend / no_wgc internally). CaptureBackend::resolve() is the
    single resolver, shared with the GameStream + spike call sites.
  * topology: virtual_stream reads plan.topology; should_use_helper is deleted (its body is
    session_plan::resolve_topology, verbatim). The IDD-push reconnect-preempt guard reads
    plan.capture too.
  * encoder: recorded as EncoderBackend from encode::windows_resolved_backend (config-backed +
    GPU-vendor cached since stage 2 -> already a single source). Threading encoder/input_format
    into the encoder+capturer opens (which removes the capture->windows_resolved_backend()
    back-reference recomputed in dxgi.rs) is stage 5.

Behavior-preserving by construction: each resolved decision is provably equivalent to the
pre-stage-3 reads (same config() + the same cached running_as_system()/GPU-vendor probes), so
old==new. SessionPlan is platform-neutral so it threads the shared virtual_stream/build_pipeline
signatures; on Linux it resolves to the single portal/single-process path.

Also fixes a pre-existing mod-ordering fmt drift in main.rs (mod config; / mod capture;).

Verified: Linux cargo check + clippy (-D warnings) + fmt clean on the touched files. Box build
(Windows compile) + on-glass (NVENC + IDD-push + mode switch) pending on the RTX box.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.8 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>

crates/punktfunk-host/src/capture.rs

@@ -315,8 +315,10 @@ pub fn open_portal_monitor() -> Result<Box<dyn Capturer>> {
 pub fn capture_virtual_output(
     vout: crate::vdisplay::VirtualOutput,
     _want_hdr: bool,
+    _capture: crate::session_plan::CaptureBackend,
 ) -> Result<Box<dyn Capturer>> {
-    // The Linux host stays 8-bit (HDR is blocked upstream), so `want_hdr` is unused here.
+    // The Linux host stays 8-bit (HDR is blocked upstream), so `want_hdr` is unused here; the capture
+    // backend is always the portal (the `CaptureBackend` arg is a Windows-only dispatch — ignored here).
     linux::PortalCapturer::from_virtual_output(vout).map(|c| Box::new(c) as Box<dyn Capturer>)
 }
 
@@ -334,7 +336,9 @@ pub(crate) fn wgc_disabled() -> bool {
 pub fn capture_virtual_output(
     vout: crate::vdisplay::VirtualOutput,
     want_hdr: bool,
+    capture: crate::session_plan::CaptureBackend,
 ) -> Result<Box<dyn Capturer>> {
+    use crate::session_plan::CaptureBackend;
     let target = vout.win_capture.clone().ok_or_else(|| {
         anyhow::anyhow!(
             "SudoVDA target not yet an active display (needs a WDDM GPU to activate it)"
@@ -343,9 +347,10 @@ pub fn capture_virtual_output(
     let pref = vout.preferred_mode;
     let keep = vout.keepalive;
     // P2 direct frame push (kill DDA): consume frames straight from the pf-vdisplay driver's shared
-    // ring — no Desktop Duplication, no win32u reparenting hook. Opt-in while it's A/B'd against DDA;
+    // ring — no Desktop Duplication, no win32u reparenting hook. Resolved once in the `SessionPlan`
-    // `idd_push` takes the keepalive (owns the virtual display) so there's no fall-through.
+    // (was re-derived from `config().idd_push` here); `IddPush` takes the keepalive (owns the virtual
-    if crate::config::config().idd_push {
+    // display) so there's no fall-through.
+    if capture == CaptureBackend::IddPush {
         // Recreate the monitor + ring per session (fix-teardown): a FRESH monitor reliably gets a
         // working IddCx swap-chain, whereas a REUSED monitor's swap-chain dies after ~2 sessions and
         // the host can't revive it. The driver's recreate crash (target id resolved to 0) is fixed by
@@ -370,9 +375,9 @@ pub fn capture_virtual_output(
     // overlay/independent-flip planes DXGI Desktop Duplication misses (the frozen-HDR-animation bug),
     // and has no ACCESS_LOST-on-overlay churn. DDA stays available via PUNKTFUNK_CAPTURE=dda and is
     // the secure-desktop (lock/UAC) fallback (WGC can't capture those). `keep` is moved into the
-    // chosen backend (it owns the SudoVDA keepalive), so there's no open-time auto-fallback.
+    // chosen backend (it owns the SudoVDA keepalive), so there's no open-time auto-fallback. The
-    let backend = crate::config::config().capture_backend.as_str();
+    // backend choice (`dda`/`dxgi`/`PUNKTFUNK_NO_WGC` → DDA, else WGC) is now resolved once in the plan.
-    if backend == "dda" || backend == "dxgi" || wgc_disabled() {
+    if capture == CaptureBackend::Dda {
         return dxgi::DuplCapturer::open(target, pref, keep, false)
             .map(|c| Box::new(c) as Box<dyn Capturer>);
     }
@@ -418,6 +423,7 @@ pub fn capture_virtual_output(
 pub fn capture_virtual_output(
     _vout: crate::vdisplay::VirtualOutput,
     _want_hdr: bool,
+    _capture: crate::session_plan::CaptureBackend,
 ) -> Result<Box<dyn Capturer>> {
     anyhow::bail!("virtual-output capture requires Linux or Windows")
 }

crates/punktfunk-host/src/gamestream/stream.rs

@@ -134,8 +134,12 @@ fn run(
         // IDD-push bypasses WGC.) Acceptable for the experimental IDD-push A/B path; HDR over IDD-push
         // is wired only for punktfunk/1 (want_hdr = negotiated bit_depth >= 10). TODO: derive want_hdr
         // from a GameStream HDR flag once StreamConfig carries one.
-        let mut capturer =
+        let mut capturer = capture::capture_virtual_output(
-            capture::capture_virtual_output(vout, false).context("capture virtual output")?;
+            vout,
+            false,
+            crate::session_plan::CaptureBackend::resolve(),
+        )
+        .context("capture virtual output")?;
         capturer.set_active(true);
         return stream_body(&mut *capturer, &sock, cfg, running, force_idr, rfi_range);
     }

crates/punktfunk-host/src/main.rs

@@ -15,8 +15,8 @@
 #![allow(dead_code)]
 
 mod audio;
-mod config;
 mod capture;
+mod config;
 mod discovery;
 #[cfg(target_os = "linux")]
 mod dmabuf_fence;
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ mod punktfunk1;
 mod pwinit;
 #[cfg(target_os = "windows")]
 mod service;
+mod session_plan;
 mod session_tuning;
 mod spike;
 mod vdisplay;

crates/punktfunk-host/src/punktfunk1.rs

@@ -2184,12 +2184,18 @@ fn virtual_stream(
     // This thread runs the capture+encode loop (single-process: Linux / synthetic / NO_WGC DDA) — or
     // tail-calls the relay below. Elevate it so a CPU-heavy game can't deschedule our GPU submission.
     boost_thread_priority(true);
+    // Resolve the per-session capture / topology / encoder decision ONCE (Goal-1 stage 3): the deployed
+    // path now reads this typed `SessionPlan` instead of re-deriving from config at each dispatch site
+    // (the latent "capture and encode disagree on the backend" hazard, plan §2.4). `bit_depth` is the
+    // only per-session input — capture/topology/encoder are otherwise pure functions of `HostConfig`.
+    let plan = crate::session_plan::SessionPlan::resolve(bit_depth);
+    tracing::info!(?plan, "resolved session plan");
     // Windows two-process secure-desktop path: when the host runs as SYSTEM (required for the secure
     // desktop + SendInput), WGC can't activate in-process, so we capture the normal desktop via a
     // helper spawned in the user session and relay its AUs. (Single-process WGC/DDA is used as the
     // user, and stays the path on Linux.) See docs/windows-secure-desktop.md.
     #[cfg(target_os = "windows")]
-    if should_use_helper() {
+    if plan.topology == crate::session_plan::SessionTopology::TwoProcessRelay {
         return virtual_stream_relay(
             session,
             mode,
@@ -2220,11 +2226,11 @@ fn virtual_stream(
     // driver-churning teardown of a monitor under a still-live session. Register THIS session's stop so
     // the next reconnect preempts it.
     #[cfg(target_os = "windows")]
-    let idd_setup_guard = crate::config::config()
+    let idd_push_session = plan.capture == crate::session_plan::CaptureBackend::IddPush;
-        .idd_push
-        .then(|| IDD_SETUP_LOCK.lock().unwrap());
     #[cfg(target_os = "windows")]
-    if crate::config::config().idd_push {
+    let idd_setup_guard = idd_push_session.then(|| IDD_SETUP_LOCK.lock().unwrap());
+    #[cfg(target_os = "windows")]
+    if idd_push_session {
         let prev = IDD_SESSION_STOP.lock().unwrap().replace(stop.clone());
         if let Some(prev_stop) = prev {
             prev_stop.store(true, Ordering::SeqCst);
@@ -2233,7 +2239,7 @@ fn virtual_stream(
     }
     let mut vd = crate::vdisplay::open(compositor)?;
     let (mut capturer, mut enc, mut frame, mut interval) =
-        build_pipeline_with_retry(&mut vd, mode, bitrate_kbps, bit_depth)?;
+        build_pipeline_with_retry(&mut vd, mode, bitrate_kbps, bit_depth, plan)?;
     // Setup done — release the IDD-push setup lock so the next reconnect can begin (and preempt us).
     #[cfg(target_os = "windows")]
     drop(idd_setup_guard);
@@ -2362,6 +2368,7 @@ fn virtual_stream(
                             cur_mode,
                             bitrate_kbps,
                             bit_depth,
+                            plan,
                         )?;
                         Ok((new_vd, pipe))
                     })();
@@ -2405,7 +2412,7 @@ fn virtual_stream(
             // Build the new pipeline BEFORE dropping the old one: the host already acked
             // the switch as accepted, so a rebuild failure must not kill an otherwise
             // healthy session — keep streaming the current mode and log instead.
-            match build_pipeline(&mut vd, new_mode, bitrate_kbps, bit_depth) {
+            match build_pipeline(&mut vd, new_mode, bitrate_kbps, bit_depth, plan) {
                 Ok(next_pipe) => {
                     (capturer, enc, frame, interval) = next_pipe;
                     cur_mode = new_mode;
@@ -2450,7 +2457,7 @@ fn virtual_stream(
                 tracing::warn!(error = %format!("{e:#}"), rebuild = capture_rebuilds,
                     "capture lost — rebuilding pipeline in place");
                 let (new_cap, new_enc, new_frame, new_interval) =
-                    build_pipeline_with_retry(&mut vd, cur_mode, bitrate_kbps, bit_depth)
+                    build_pipeline_with_retry(&mut vd, cur_mode, bitrate_kbps, bit_depth, plan)
                         .context("rebuild after capture loss")?;
                 capturer = new_cap;
                 enc = new_enc;
@@ -2569,29 +2576,6 @@ fn virtual_stream(
     Ok(())
 }
 
-/// Should this host take the two-process (SYSTEM host + user-session WGC helper) path? Yes when it's
-/// running as SYSTEM — the only account that can capture the secure desktop + drive SendInput on it,
-/// and the account under which in-process WGC won't activate. `PUNKTFUNK_FORCE_HELPER` forces it on
-/// (for testing the relay as a normal user); `PUNKTFUNK_NO_HELPER` forces it off. `PUNKTFUNK_NO_WGC`
-/// also forces it off — that mode runs pure single-process DDA (one capturer for the normal AND secure
-/// desktop, Apollo-style), which has no WGC helper to relay.
-#[cfg(target_os = "windows")]
-fn should_use_helper() -> bool {
-    let cfg = crate::config::config();
-    if cfg.no_helper || crate::capture::wgc_disabled() {
-        return false;
-    }
-    // IDD direct-push captures IN-PROCESS in Session 0: the pf-vdisplay driver delivers frames to the
-    // SYSTEM host's session via shared memory and NVENC is headless, so no user-session WGC helper is
-    // needed for VIDEO (and a Session-1 helper couldn't open the Session-0 shared textures anyway).
-    // NOTE: input injection (SendInput) from Session 0 can't reach the user's Session-1 desktop yet —
-    // a known follow-up; this path validates the video transport. See docs/windows-virtual-display-rust-port.md.
-    if cfg.idd_push {
-        return false;
-    }
-    cfg.force_helper || crate::capture::wgc_relay::running_as_system()
-}
-
 /// Windows two-process video stream: the SYSTEM host creates the SudoVDA virtual output (and holds
 /// its keepalive = the sole topology/isolation owner), spawns the WGC helper in the user session to
 /// capture+encode the NORMAL desktop, and relays the helper's AUs onto the QUIC data plane via the
@@ -3041,6 +3025,7 @@ fn build_pipeline_with_retry(
     mode: punktfunk_core::Mode,
     bitrate_kbps: u32,
     bit_depth: u8,
+    plan: crate::session_plan::SessionPlan,
 ) -> Result<Pipeline> {
     // ~10s first-frame wait per attempt. 8 gives a ~90s budget for the SLOW case: a host-managed
     // gamescope session cold-starting Steam Big Picture (the SteamOS/Bazzite takeover) can take
@@ -3050,7 +3035,7 @@ fn build_pipeline_with_retry(
     const MAX_ATTEMPTS: u32 = 8;
     let mut backoff = std::time::Duration::from_millis(500);
     for attempt in 1..=MAX_ATTEMPTS {
-        match build_pipeline(vd, mode, bitrate_kbps, bit_depth) {
+        match build_pipeline(vd, mode, bitrate_kbps, bit_depth, plan) {
             Ok(pipe) => {
                 if attempt > 1 {
                     tracing::info!(attempt, "pipeline up after retry");
@@ -3109,6 +3094,7 @@ fn build_pipeline(
     mode: punktfunk_core::Mode,
     bitrate_kbps: u32,
     bit_depth: u8,
+    plan: crate::session_plan::SessionPlan,
 ) -> Result<Pipeline> {
     let vout = vd.create(mode).context("create virtual output")?;
     // The backend reports the refresh it actually achieved in `preferred_mode.2` (KWin may cap a
@@ -3131,7 +3117,7 @@ fn build_pipeline(
     // VIDEO_CAP_10BIT + host opted in via PUNKTFUNK_10BIT) is our HDR path → BT.2020 PQ Rgb10a2;
     // otherwise the FP16 IDD frames are converted to 8-bit SDR. (Ignored by non-IDD-push backends,
     // which auto-detect HDR from the monitor state.)
-    let mut capturer = crate::capture::capture_virtual_output(vout, bit_depth >= 10)
+    let mut capturer = crate::capture::capture_virtual_output(vout, plan.hdr, plan.capture)
         .context("capture virtual output")?;
     capturer.set_active(true);
     let frame = capturer.next_frame().context("first frame")?;

crates/punktfunk-host/src/session_plan.rs

@@ -0,0 +1,155 @@
+//! `SessionPlan` — the per-session capture / topology / encoder decision, resolved **once** from
+//! [`HostConfig`](crate::config) (+ the handshake-negotiated bit depth) into a typed, logged value.
+//!
+//! **Goal-1 stage 3** (`docs/windows-host-goal1-plan.md`): before this, the Windows session decision was
+//! re-derived at three call sites — the capture backend inside `capture::capture_virtual_output`, the
+//! process topology in `punktfunk1::should_use_helper`, and the encode backend in
+//! `encode::windows_resolved_backend` — each reading [`config`](crate::config) independently, with no
+//! single owner (the latent "capture and encode disagree on the backend" hazard, plan §2.4). `SessionPlan`
+//! resolves them together, once, so the deployed path reads one typed artifact.
+//!
+//! Stage 3 routes the **capture** and **topology** decisions through the plan (see
+//! `capture::capture_virtual_output` taking [`CaptureBackend`] in, and `virtual_stream` reading
+//! [`SessionTopology`]). The **encoder** is resolved by `encode::windows_resolved_backend` (config-backed
+//! and GPU-vendor cached since stage 2, so already a single source) and *recorded* here as
+//! [`EncoderBackend`]. Threading `encoder`/`input_format` into the encoder + capturer opens — which
+//! removes the `capture → encode::windows_resolved_backend()` back-reference recomputed in `dxgi.rs` —
+//! is **stage 5**.
+//!
+//! The type is platform-neutral so it threads through the shared `virtual_stream`/`build_pipeline`
+//! signatures; on Linux it resolves to the single portal/single-process path (the 3-way dispatch is a
+//! Windows-only concern).
+
+/// Where a session's frames come from.
+#[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub enum CaptureBackend {
+    /// Linux: the xdg ScreenCast portal → PipeWire (the only Linux capture path).
+    Portal,
+    /// Windows: IDD direct-push — frames pulled straight from the pf-vdisplay driver's shared ring
+    /// (in-process, Session 0; no Desktop Duplication, no WGC helper).
+    IddPush,
+    /// Windows: DXGI Desktop Duplication (`PUNKTFUNK_CAPTURE=dda|dxgi` or `PUNKTFUNK_NO_WGC`).
+    Dda,
+    /// Windows: Windows.Graphics.Capture (the composed-desktop default), with a DDA watchdog fallback.
+    Wgc,
+}
+
+impl CaptureBackend {
+    /// Resolve the capture backend from [`config`](crate::config). This is the single resolver shared by
+    /// [`SessionPlan::resolve`] and the standalone callers (GameStream / spike), so they can't drift.
+    #[cfg(target_os = "linux")]
+    pub fn resolve() -> Self {
+        CaptureBackend::Portal
+    }
+
+    /// Windows precedence (identical to the pre-stage-3 `capture_virtual_output` branch order):
+    /// IDD-push wins; else an explicit `dda`/`dxgi` request or `PUNKTFUNK_NO_WGC` selects DDA; else WGC.
+    #[cfg(target_os = "windows")]
+    pub fn resolve() -> Self {
+        let cfg = crate::config::config();
+        if cfg.idd_push {
+            CaptureBackend::IddPush
+        } else if matches!(cfg.capture_backend.as_str(), "dda" | "dxgi")
+            || crate::capture::wgc_disabled()
+        {
+            CaptureBackend::Dda
+        } else {
+            CaptureBackend::Wgc
+        }
+    }
+
+    #[cfg(not(any(target_os = "linux", target_os = "windows")))]
+    pub fn resolve() -> Self {
+        CaptureBackend::Portal
+    }
+}
+
+/// How a session is structured across processes.
+#[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub enum SessionTopology {
+    /// One process captures + encodes (Linux; Windows non-SYSTEM / IDD-push / `NO_WGC`).
+    SingleProcess,
+    /// SYSTEM host + a user-session WGC helper relay (the Windows normal-desktop path under SYSTEM,
+    /// where in-process WGC can't activate). See `virtual_stream_relay`.
+    TwoProcessRelay,
+}
+
+/// The resolved encode backend (recorded for logging / stages 4–5; the per-session encoder open still
+/// resolves via `encode::windows_resolved_backend`, which is config-backed + GPU-vendor cached).
+#[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub enum EncoderBackend {
+    /// Linux: NVENC vs VAAPI is auto-detected inside `encode::open_video` (not modeled here).
+    PlatformAuto,
+    Nvenc,
+    Amf,
+    Qsv,
+    Software,
+}
+
+/// The per-session decision, resolved once. `Copy` so it threads through the capture/encode chain
+/// without ceremony (stage 4 folds it, with the rest of the arg soup, into a `SessionContext`).
+#[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug)]
+pub struct SessionPlan {
+    pub capture: CaptureBackend,
+    pub topology: SessionTopology,
+    pub encoder: EncoderBackend,
+    /// Handshake-negotiated encode bit depth (8, or 10 = HEVC Main10).
+    pub bit_depth: u8,
+    /// The IDD-push HDR hint (`bit_depth >= 10`) — the want-HDR flag the capturer was passed before.
+    /// Non-IDD-push Windows backends ignore it and auto-detect HDR from the monitor; Linux is 8-bit.
+    pub hdr: bool,
+}
+
+impl SessionPlan {
+    /// Resolve the whole plan once from [`config`](crate::config) + the negotiated `bit_depth`.
+    pub fn resolve(bit_depth: u8) -> Self {
+        SessionPlan {
+            capture: CaptureBackend::resolve(),
+            topology: resolve_topology(),
+            encoder: resolve_encoder(),
+            bit_depth,
+            hdr: bit_depth >= 10,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+/// Process topology. On Windows this is the former `punktfunk1::should_use_helper` logic verbatim; on
+/// every other platform the session is always single-process.
+#[cfg(target_os = "windows")]
+fn resolve_topology() -> SessionTopology {
+    let cfg = crate::config::config();
+    // `NO_HELPER`/`NO_WGC` force single-process; IDD-push captures in-process in Session 0 (no helper);
+    // otherwise the helper runs when forced or when we're SYSTEM (in-process WGC can't activate there).
+    let helper = if cfg.no_helper || crate::capture::wgc_disabled() {
+        false
+    } else if cfg.idd_push {
+        false
+    } else {
+        cfg.force_helper || crate::capture::wgc_relay::running_as_system()
+    };
+    if helper {
+        SessionTopology::TwoProcessRelay
+    } else {
+        SessionTopology::SingleProcess
+    }
+}
+
+#[cfg(not(target_os = "windows"))]
+fn resolve_topology() -> SessionTopology {
+    SessionTopology::SingleProcess
+}
+
+#[cfg(target_os = "windows")]
+fn resolve_encoder() -> EncoderBackend {
+    match crate::encode::windows_resolved_backend() {
+        crate::encode::WindowsBackend::Nvenc => EncoderBackend::Nvenc,
+        crate::encode::WindowsBackend::Amf => EncoderBackend::Amf,
+        crate::encode::WindowsBackend::Qsv => EncoderBackend::Qsv,
+        crate::encode::WindowsBackend::Software => EncoderBackend::Software,
+    }
+}
+
+#[cfg(not(target_os = "windows"))]
+fn resolve_encoder() -> EncoderBackend {
+    EncoderBackend::PlatformAuto
+}

crates/punktfunk-host/src/spike.rs

@@ -76,7 +76,12 @@ pub fn run(opts: Options) -> Result<()> {
                     refresh_hz: opts.fps,
                 })
                 .context("create virtual output")?;
-            capture::capture_virtual_output(vout, false).context("capture virtual output")?
+            capture::capture_virtual_output(
+                vout,
+                false,
+                crate::session_plan::CaptureBackend::resolve(),
+            )
+            .context("capture virtual output")?
         }
     };
 

docs/windows-host-goal1-plan.md

@@ -44,12 +44,23 @@ classes of `env::var` read are deliberately **kept live** and documented in `con
 Risk: medium (semantics-preservation). Verify: Linux `cargo check`/`clippy`/`fmt` green (the Windows-only
 edits are 1:1 substitutions, compile-verified on the box as part of Stage 3's build).
 
-**Stage 3 — `SessionPlan` (the single biggest clarity lever, plan §2.4).**
+**Stage 3 — `SessionPlan` (the single biggest clarity lever, plan §2.4). ✅ IMPLEMENTED (this commit; on-glass pending).**
-Resolve `display/capture/topology/encoder/format/hdr/bit_depth` ONCE from `HostConfig` into a typed
+New `src/session_plan.rs`: a `Copy` `SessionPlan { capture, topology, encoder, bit_depth, hdr }` resolved
-`SessionPlan`; replace the 3-place dispatch (`capture_virtual_output`, `should_use_helper`/`virtual_stream`,
+**once** from `HostConfig` (+ the negotiated `bit_depth`) in `virtual_stream`, logged, and threaded through
-`windows_resolved_backend`) with reads off the plan. Fixes the capture/encode backend-disagreement bug
+`build_pipeline_with_retry`/`build_pipeline`. The three dispatch points now read it:
-class. Risk: medium-high (rewires the deployed decision). Verify: box build + on-glass re-test (NVENC +
+- **capture** — `capture::capture_virtual_output` takes a `CaptureBackend` IN (was re-deriving from
-IDD-push + a mode switch).
+  `config().idd_push`/`capture_backend`/`no_wgc`); `CaptureBackend::resolve()` is the one resolver (also
+  used by the GameStream + spike call sites).
+- **topology** — `virtual_stream` reads `plan.topology` (`should_use_helper` deleted; its logic is
+  `session_plan::resolve_topology`, verbatim). The IDD-preempt guard reads `plan.capture` too.
+- **encoder** — recorded as `EncoderBackend` from `encode::windows_resolved_backend` (config-backed +
+  GPU-vendor cached since stage 2, already a single source). Threading `encoder`/`input_format` into the
+  encoder + capturer opens (which removes the `dxgi.rs` back-reference) is **stage 5**.
+
+Every decision is provably equivalent to the pre-stage-3 scattered reads (same `config()` + cached probes),
+so it is behavior-preserving. Risk: medium-high (rewires the deployed decision). Verify: box build (Windows
+compile, which also covers stage 2's Windows-only edits) + on-glass re-test (NVENC + IDD-push + a mode
+switch) — **pending** (RTX box `192.168.1.173`).
 
 **Stage 4 — `SessionContext` + `SessionFactory`/`Session`.**
 Bundle the 12–13-arg `#[allow(too_many_arguments)]` signatures into `SessionContext`; `SessionFactory.build()`