Release 0.4.0-rc.5

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -6,8 +6,36 @@ All notable changes to Jarl are documented here. The format follows
 
 ## [Unreleased]
 
+### Upgrading from 0.3
+
+- Back up first (`sudo jarld backup`).
+- When jarld first starts, it rewrites named's configuration: options
+  move into their new fixed order, and every view gets its view key in
+  `match-clients` and `keys.conf`. It is checked with named-checkconf
+  before named reloads, like any apply. Files you changed by hand are left
+  alone; the log then says to run `jarl resync`.
+- The systemd unit changed (it allows `AF_NETLINK`). The package replaces
+  it; an override that adds `AF_NETLINK` (`systemctl edit jarl`) does no
+  harm and can be removed.
+- The database moves to schema 8 (disabled zones, client groups) as
+  jarld starts.
+- If statistics showed a spike after views were created or changed, see
+  "Statistics" under Fixed: the bad minutes can be removed from
+  `/var/lib/jarl/stats.db` (minute rows have `res = 'm'`; the hours and
+  days that include them are `'h'` and `'d'`).
+
 ### Added
 
+- Different blocking for different devices (docs/blocking.md), like
+  Pi-hole's groups, in one view and without loading any list twice.
+  Client groups put devices (addresses, networks or ACLs of them) at a
+  blocking step: `off` (only your rules), `normal` (the default), or steps
+  you add above it, each including the lists of the steps below. Lists
+  start at a step. Jarl puts a small "gate" policy zone in front of each
+  step's lists that lets the devices below that step through. Web UI: a
+  Devices panel on the Blocking page and a step on each list. CLI: `jarl
+  block step`, `jarl block group`, `jarl blocklist update --step`. API:
+  `/blocking/steps`, `/blocking/groups`. Database schema 8.
 - View keys: every view gets a TSIG key, `jarl-view-NAME`, at the front of
   its match-clients, so a query signed with it lands in that view from any
   address. Jarl signs its delegation check's queries to this server's own
@@ -75,7 +103,11 @@ All notable changes to Jarl are documented here. The format follows
   reorder them; view links everywhere open the view's page.
 - Web UI: A and AAAA records have a **+ CNAME** button that fills in the
   add form with a CNAME pointing to the record's name, leaving only the
-  alias's name to type.
+  alias's name to type. It shows when the row is hovered or focused
+  (always on touch screens).
+- Blocking page: how many queries each blocklist blocked in the last 24
+  hours, and your rules together, with statistics on (linking to the
+  Statistics page).
 - Options are kept in one fixed order, in named.conf, the web UI and the
   CLI: grouped by topic (files, listening, access control, recursion and
   forwarding, DNSSEC, transfers and notify, then the rest), alphabetical
@@ -119,6 +151,9 @@ All notable changes to Jarl are documented here. The format follows
 
 ### Fixed
 
+- Reverting a changeset added needless "restore" operations for
+  blocklists, rules and views that hadn't changed: copying the state
+  turned their empty view lists into missing ones.
 - Under the shipped systemd unit, jarld couldn't list the host's
   addresses (it needs a netlink socket, which `RestrictAddressFamilies`
   didn't allow), so the name server checks didn't recognize this server's

README.md

@@ -172,8 +172,9 @@ review step.
 ## Status
 
 Version 0.3.0 is the current release, and 0.4.0 is in testing
-(0.4.0-rc.3): it adds blocking (blocklists and your own rules, like
+(0.4.0-rc.5): it adds blocking (blocklists and your own rules, like
-Pi-hole, done by named), disabling zones, server statistics and view keys. 0.3.0 added disabled records, script-friendly
+Pi-hole, done by named, with different blocking for different devices),
+disabling zones, server statistics and view keys. 0.3.0 added disabled records, script-friendly
 CLI output and client names in the statistics, on top of 0.2.0's DNSSEC
 signing, Porkbun support, two-factor login and view colours. Jarl is feature-complete for one server's configuration.
 Managing several servers from one jarld and dynamic updates are not

VERSION

@@ -1 +1 @@
-0.4.0-rc.3
+0.4.0-rc.5

cmd/jarl/blocking.go

@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ named answers "doesn't exist" for the domains on them (docs/blocking.md).
 Hosts, plain domain and Adblock (||domain^) lists work. Your own block and
 allow rules ('jarl block') take precedence over every list.`}
 	var views []string
-	var comment string
+	var comment, step string
 
 	list := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "list",
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ allow rules ('jarl block') take precedence over every list.`}
 				return err
 			}
 			return output(lists, func(w io.Writer) {
-				fmt.Fprintln(w, "NAME\tSTATE\tDOMAINS\tVIEWS\tUPDATED\tMEMORY\tURL")
+				fmt.Fprintln(w, "NAME\tSTATE\tSTEP\tDOMAINS\tVIEWS\tUPDATED\tMEMORY\tURL")
 				for _, b := range lists {
 					domains, updated, mem := "-", "-", "-"
 					if s := b.Status; s != nil && s.UpdatedAt != nil {
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ allow rules ('jarl block') take precedence over every list.`}
 					if b.MemoryMB > 0 {
 						mem = fmt.Sprintf("~%d MB", b.MemoryMB)
 					}
-					fmt.Fprintf(w, "%s\t%s\t%s\t%s\t%s\t%s\t%s\n", b.Name, b.State, domains, viewsText(b.Views, b.AutoViews), updated, mem, b.URL)
+					fmt.Fprintf(w, "%s\t%s\t%s\t%s\t%s\t%s\t%s\t%s\n", b.Name, b.State, b.Step, domains, viewsText(b.Views, b.AutoViews), updated, mem, b.URL)
 				}
 				for _, b := range lists {
 					if b.Status != nil && b.Status.Error != "" {
@@ -95,6 +95,9 @@ allow rules ('jarl block') take precedence over every list.`}
 			}
 			body := map[string]any{"name": args[0], "url": args[1]}
 			viewsBody(body, views)
+			if step != "" {
+				body["step"] = step
+			}
 			if comment != "" {
 				body["comment"] = comment
 			}
@@ -111,6 +114,7 @@ allow rules ('jarl block') take precedence over every list.`}
 	}
 	add.Flags().StringArrayVar(&views, "view", nil, "a view it applies to (repeat for several; default: every view that offers recursion)")
 	add.Flags().StringVar(&comment, "comment", "", "comment")
+	add.Flags().StringVar(&step, "step", "", "the blocking step it starts at (default: normal; see 'jarl block step')")
 
 	var rename, newURL string
 	update := &cobra.Command{
@@ -136,6 +140,9 @@ allow rules ('jarl block') take precedence over every list.`}
 			if f.Changed("comment") {
 				body["comment"] = comment
 			}
+			if f.Changed("step") {
+				body["step"] = step
+			}
 			viewsBody(body, views)
 			if len(body) == 0 {
 				return fmt.Errorf("nothing to change (see --help)")
@@ -151,6 +158,7 @@ allow rules ('jarl block') take precedence over every list.`}
 	update.Flags().StringVar(&newURL, "url", "", "new URL")
 	update.Flags().StringArrayVar(&views, "view", nil, `a view it applies to (repeat for several; "auto": every view that offers recursion)`)
 	update.Flags().StringVar(&comment, "comment", "", "new comment")
+	update.Flags().StringVar(&step, "step", "", "the blocking step it starts at (normal, or a step above it)")
 
 	toggle := func(disable bool) *cobra.Command {
 		verb := map[bool]string{true: "disable", false: "enable"}[disable]
@@ -394,6 +402,8 @@ names below it (docs/blocking.md).`}
 					switch {
 					case m.Result == "none":
 						fmt.Fprintf(w, "%snot blocked\n", where)
+					case m.List != "" && m.Step != "":
+						fmt.Fprintf(w, "%sblocked for clients at step %s and above, by blocklist %s (entry %s); not for others\n", where, m.Step, m.List, m.Entry)
 					case m.List != "":
 						fmt.Fprintf(w, "%sblocked by blocklist %s (entry %s)\n", where, m.List, m.Entry)
 					default:
@@ -473,7 +483,7 @@ at once. "indefinitely" pauses until 'jarl block resume'.
 		},
 	}
 
-	cmd.AddCommand(addRule("block"), addRule("allow"), list, del, check, pause, resume)
+	cmd.AddCommand(addRule("block"), addRule("allow"), list, del, check, pause, resume, blockStepCmd(), blockGroupCmd())
 	return cmd
 }
 

cmd/jarl/clientgroups.go

@@ -0,0 +1,271 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"io"
+	"net/url"
+	"strings"
+
+	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
+
+	"jarl/internal/api"
+)
+
+// Blocking steps and client groups (docs/blocking.md).
+
+func blockStepCmd() *cobra.Command {
+	cmd := &cobra.Command{Use: "step", Aliases: []string{"steps"}, Short: "Blocking steps: which lists apply to which client groups",
+		Long: `Steps decide which blocklists a client group gets. Each step includes the
+lists of the steps below it, plus its own:
+
+  off      only your rules (built in)
+  normal   your rules + the normal lists; clients not in a group (built in)
+  strict   normal + the lists at step strict (a step you add)
+  ...
+
+Lists start at a step ('jarl blocklist update LIST --step strict'), client
+groups are at one ('jarl block group add kids 10.10.0.50 --step strict').`}
+	list := &cobra.Command{
+		Use:   "list",
+		Short: "List the steps, lowest first",
+		Args:  cobra.NoArgs,
+		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
+			c, err := newClient()
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+			var steps []api.BlockStep
+			if err := c.Get(ctx(), "/blocking/steps", nil, &steps); err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+			return output(steps, func(w io.Writer) {
+				fmt.Fprintln(w, "STEP\tLISTS\tGROUPS\tCOMMENT")
+				fmt.Fprintln(w, "off\t-\t(built in)\tonly your rules")
+				fmt.Fprintln(w, "normal\t-\t(built in)\tthe default")
+				for _, s := range steps {
+					fmt.Fprintf(w, "%s\t%s\t%s\t%s\n", s.Name, orDash(strings.Join(s.Lists, ", ")), orDash(strings.Join(s.Groups, ", ")), s.Comment)
+				}
+			})
+		},
+	}
+	var comment string
+	add := &cobra.Command{
+		Use:   "add NAME",
+		Short: "Add a step above the existing ones",
+		Args:  cobra.ExactArgs(1),
+		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
+			c, err := newClient()
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+			resp, err := c.Mutate(ctx(), "POST", "/blocking/steps", nil, map[string]any{"name": args[0], "comment": comment})
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+			return report(resp)
+		},
+	}
+	add.Flags().StringVar(&comment, "comment", "", "comment")
+	rename := &cobra.Command{
+		Use:   "rename STEP NEW-NAME",
+		Short: "Rename a step",
+		Args:  cobra.ExactArgs(2),
+		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
+			c, err := newClient()
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+			resp, err := c.Mutate(ctx(), "PATCH", "/blocking/steps/"+url.PathEscape(args[0]), nil, map[string]any{"name": args[1]})
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+			return report(resp)
+		},
+	}
+	order := &cobra.Command{
+		Use:     "order STEP...",
+		Short:   "Set the order of the steps above normal, lowest first",
+		Example: "  jarl block step order strict very-strict",
+		Args:    cobra.MinimumNArgs(1),
+		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
+			c, err := newClient()
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+			resp, err := c.Mutate(ctx(), "POST", "/blocking/steps/order", nil, map[string]any{"steps": args})
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+			return report(resp)
+		},
+	}
+	del := &cobra.Command{
+		Use:   "delete STEP",
+		Short: "Delete a step (refused while lists or groups use it)",
+		Args:  cobra.ExactArgs(1),
+		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
+			c, err := newClient()
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+			resp, err := c.Mutate(ctx(), "DELETE", "/blocking/steps/"+url.PathEscape(args[0]), nil, nil)
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+			return report(resp)
+		},
+	}
+	cmd.AddCommand(list, add, rename, order, del)
+	return cmd
+}
+
+func blockGroupCmd() *cobra.Command {
+	cmd := &cobra.Command{Use: "group", Aliases: []string{"groups"}, Short: "Client groups: blocking steps for some devices",
+		Long: `A client group puts devices at a blocking step: off (only your rules),
+normal, or a step you added ('jarl block step'). Members are addresses,
+prefixes, or ACLs made of them. Devices not in a group are at normal.
+named must see the devices' own addresses (not a router forwarding for
+them), and they need fixed addresses (DHCP reservations).`}
+	list := &cobra.Command{
+		Use:   "list",
+		Short: "List client groups",
+		Args:  cobra.NoArgs,
+		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
+			c, err := newClient()
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+			var groups []api.ClientGroup
+			if err := c.Get(ctx(), "/blocking/groups", nil, &groups); err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+			return output(groups, func(w io.Writer) {
+				fmt.Fprintln(w, "GROUP\tSTEP\tMEMBERS\tVIEWS\tCOMMENT")
+				for _, g := range groups {
+					fmt.Fprintf(w, "%s\t%s\t%s\t%s\t%s\n", g.Name, g.Step, orDash(strings.Join(g.Members, ", ")), viewsText(g.Views, g.AutoViews), g.Comment)
+				}
+			})
+		},
+	}
+	var step, comment string
+	var views []string
+	add := &cobra.Command{
+		Use:   "add NAME MEMBER...",
+		Short: "Add a client group",
+		Example: `  jarl block group add work 10.10.0.20 --step off
+  jarl block group add kids 10.10.0.50 10.10.0.51 2001:db8:1::/64 --step strict
+  jarl block group add guests guest-net --step normal      # an ACL`,
+		Args: cobra.MinimumNArgs(1),
+		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
+			c, err := newClient()
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+			body := map[string]any{"name": args[0], "members": args[1:], "comment": comment}
+			if step != "" {
+				body["step"] = step
+			}
+			viewsBody(body, views)
+			resp, err := c.Mutate(ctx(), "POST", "/blocking/groups", nil, body)
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+			return report(resp)
+		},
+	}
+	add.Flags().StringVar(&step, "step", "", "the group's step: off, normal (default) or one you added")
+	add.Flags().StringArrayVar(&views, "view", nil, "a view it applies in (repeat for several; default: every view with blocking)")
+	add.Flags().StringVar(&comment, "comment", "", "comment")
+	var addM, removeM []string
+	var rename string
+	update := &cobra.Command{
+		Use:   "update GROUP",
+		Short: "Change a group's members, step, name, views or comment",
+		Example: `  jarl block group update kids --add 10.10.0.52 --remove 10.10.0.50
+  jarl block group update kids --step very-strict`,
+		Args: cobra.ExactArgs(1),
+		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
+			c, err := newClient()
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+			body := map[string]any{}
+			f := cmd.Flags()
+			if len(addM) > 0 || len(removeM) > 0 {
+				var g api.ClientGroup
+				var all []api.ClientGroup
+				if err := c.Get(ctx(), "/blocking/groups", nil, &all); err != nil {
+					return err
+				}
+				for _, x := range all {
+					if x.Name == strings.ToLower(args[0]) {
+						g = x
+					}
+				}
+				if g.ID == 0 {
+					return fmt.Errorf("client group %s not found", args[0])
+				}
+				drop := map[string]bool{}
+				for _, m := range removeM {
+					drop[m] = true
+				}
+				members := []string{}
+				for _, m := range g.Members {
+					if !drop[m] {
+						members = append(members, m)
+					}
+				}
+				body["members"] = append(members, addM...)
+			}
+			if f.Changed("step") {
+				body["step"] = step
+			}
+			if f.Changed("name") {
+				body["name"] = rename
+			}
+			if f.Changed("comment") {
+				body["comment"] = comment
+			}
+			viewsBody(body, views)
+			if len(body) == 0 {
+				return fmt.Errorf("nothing to change (see --help)")
+			}
+			resp, err := c.Mutate(ctx(), "PATCH", "/blocking/groups/"+url.PathEscape(args[0]), nil, body)
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+			return report(resp)
+		},
+	}
+	update.Flags().StringArrayVar(&addM, "add", nil, "add a member (repeat for several)")
+	update.Flags().StringArrayVar(&removeM, "remove", nil, "remove a member (repeat for several)")
+	update.Flags().StringVar(&step, "step", "", "new step")
+	update.Flags().StringVar(&rename, "name", "", "new name")
+	update.Flags().StringArrayVar(&views, "view", nil, `a view it applies in (repeat; "auto": every view with blocking)`)
+	update.Flags().StringVar(&comment, "comment", "", "new comment")
+	del := &cobra.Command{
+		Use:   "delete GROUP",
+		Short: "Delete a client group (its devices go back to normal)",
+		Args:  cobra.ExactArgs(1),
+		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
+			c, err := newClient()
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+			resp, err := c.Mutate(ctx(), "DELETE", "/blocking/groups/"+url.PathEscape(args[0]), nil, nil)
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+			return report(resp)
+		},
+	}
+	cmd.AddCommand(list, add, update, del)
+	return cmd
+}
+
+func orDash(s string) string {
+	if s == "" {
+		return "-"
+	}
+	return s
+}

docs/api.md

@@ -420,14 +420,19 @@ Needs `blocking:read` (`blocking:write` to change). See
 | Method | Path | Body / query |
 |--------|------|--------------|
 | GET | `/blocking/lists` | each with `views` (where it applies), `auto_views` (not chosen: every view that offers recursion), `state` (ok, waiting, error, disabled, idle), `status` (`entries`, `records`, `skipped`, `checked_at`, `updated_at`, `error`) and `memory_mb` (named's memory for it, estimated) |
-| POST | `/blocking/lists` | `{"name": "hagezi-multi", "url": "https://...", "views": ["internal"], "comment": ""}` (`views` empty or absent: automatic); jarld downloads it right after |
+| POST | `/blocking/lists` | `{"name": "hagezi-multi", "url": "https://...", "views": ["internal"], "comment": "", "step": "normal"}` (`views` empty or absent: automatic; `step` the blocking step it starts at); jarld downloads it right after |
 | GET / PATCH / DELETE | `/blocking/lists/{id or name}` | PATCH any of `name`, `url`, `views`, `disabled`, `comment` |
 | POST | `/blocking/lists/{id or name}/refresh` | download now and wait; `?force=1` even when the server says nothing changed. Returns the list; a failed update is in `state` and `status.error` |
 | GET | `/blocking/rules` | each with `views` and `auto_views` |
 | POST | `/blocking/rules` | `{"name": "doubleclick.net", "action": "block", "exact": false, "views": [], "comment": ""}` (`action` block or allow; `exact`: only the name, not the names below it) |
 | PATCH / DELETE | `/blocking/rules/{id}` | |
 | DELETE | `/blocking/rules` | `?name=DOMAIN[&view=V][&missing_ok=1]`: the rules for a domain |
-| GET | `/blocking/check` | `?name=DOMAIN`: per view with blocking, `{view, result: blocked\|allowed\|none, entry, rule_id, list}` (what applies when blocking isn't paused) |
+| GET | `/blocking/check` | `?name=DOMAIN`: per view with blocking, `{view, result: blocked\|allowed\|none, entry, rule_id, list, step}` (what applies to normal devices when blocking isn't paused; `step` when only devices at that step or above are blocked) |
+| GET / POST | `/blocking/steps` | the steps above normal, lowest first, with the `lists` and `groups` at each; POST `{"name": "strict", "comment": ""}` adds one on top |
+| PATCH / DELETE | `/blocking/steps/{id or name}` | `{"name", "position", "comment"}`; delete is refused while lists or groups use it |
+| POST | `/blocking/steps/order` | `{"steps": ["strict", "very-strict"]}`: every step above normal, lowest first |
+| GET / POST | `/blocking/groups` | client groups; POST `{"name": "kids", "members": ["10.10.0.50", "tablets"], "step": "strict", "views": []}` |
+| PATCH / DELETE | `/blocking/groups/{id or name}` | the same fields |
 | GET | `/blocking/status` | `{paused_until, paused_indefinitely}` (null and false when not paused) |
 | POST | `/blocking/pause` | `{"minutes": 15}` (1 to 1440): let every name through until then; jarld resumes by itself. `{"indefinitely": true}`: until resumed |
 | POST | `/blocking/resume` | end a pause now |

docs/blocking.md

@@ -147,6 +147,56 @@ A list's state is **ok** (in use), **waiting** (not downloaded yet),
 **error** (the last update failed; the previous version stays in use),
 **disabled**, or **idle** (it applies to no view, so it does nothing).
 
+## Different blocking for different devices
+
+Client groups give some devices less or more blocking than the rest, like
+Pi-hole's groups: no blocking for a work laptop, an extra list for the
+kids' tablets.
+
+**Steps** decide which lists a device gets. Each step includes the lists
+of the steps below it, plus its own:
+
+| Step | Gets |
+|------|------|
+| `off` (built in) | only your rules |
+| `normal` (built in) | your rules and the normal lists; every device not in a group |
+| `strict` (one you add) | normal, plus the lists at step `strict` |
+| `very-strict` (one you add) | strict, plus the lists at step `very-strict` |
+
+Every list starts at a step (normal unless you choose one), and every
+group is at a step. Your rules apply at every step, `off` included.
+
+```sh
+jarl block step add strict
+jarl blocklist update social-media --step strict
+jarl block group add work 10.10.0.20 --step off
+jarl block group add kids 10.10.0.50 10.10.0.51 2001:db8:1::/64 --step strict
+jarl block group list
+```
+
+In the web UI, the Blocking page's **Devices** panel holds the steps and
+the groups, and each list has a step.
+
+- **Members** are addresses, networks (`10.10.0.0/24`), or ACLs made only
+  of those (`key`, `localnets` and `!` can't be used: blocking matches
+  clients by address). A device is in one group: two groups with the same
+  address are refused, but a more specific address in another group wins
+  (`10.10.0.0/24` in one group, `10.10.0.20` in another).
+- **Steps only add.** A group gets everything up to its step, so "kids get
+  list A, guests get list B, and neither gets the other's" can't be done
+  with steps. That needs a view per group, each with its own lists (and
+  their memory).
+- Lists aren't copied per step: each is loaded once, and the steps cost a
+  small zone each. Lists at a step no group reaches block nothing (Jarl
+  warns, and shows them as "no effect").
+- named must see the device's own address. When a router hands out itself
+  as DNS server and forwards to named, every query comes from the router,
+  and groups can't tell devices apart. Devices also need fixed addresses
+  (DHCP reservations); IPv6 privacy addresses change, so add a device's
+  network, or rely on its IPv4 address.
+- `jarl block check NAME` (and the Blocking page) answers for normal
+  devices, and says when a list of a higher step blocks the name.
+
 ## Checking a name
 
 `jarl block check NAME`, or the box at the top of the Blocking page, says
@@ -194,6 +244,10 @@ names, and the clients with the most blocked queries (`jarl stats summary`,
 breakdown blocklist`). Blocked answers are left out of the NXDOMAIN figures, which
 are about names that really don't exist.
 
+The Blocking page shows the last 24 hours too: a **Blocked (24h)** column
+for each list, and one count for your rules together (named logs which
+policy zone matched, not which rule in it).
+
 Without statistics named doesn't log what it blocks at all.
 
 ## Memory and performance
@@ -250,6 +304,16 @@ response-policy {
   blocking in the same view: Jarl refuses the change and says so.
 - Rewrites are logged to Jarl's response log when statistics read it, and
   not at all otherwise.
+- With client groups, a **gate** zone stands in front of the lists of each
+  step: `off.gate.jarl.invalid` before the normal lists,
+  `STEP.gate.jarl.invalid` before a step's. named checks the zones in
+  order and the first match decides; a gate matches the devices below its
+  step by address (`rpz-client-ip` triggers) with `rpz-passthru`, so they
+  never reach the lists behind it. A gate is never logged, and its file is
+  next to the rules zone (`/var/lib/bind/jarl/VIEW/strict.gate.jarl.invalid.rpz`).
+  For "everyone except these devices", a gate lists the address ranges
+  around them, at most a few hundred entries. named matches IPv4 clients as
+  IPv4-mapped IPv6 addresses, so the IPv6 part leaves `::ffff:0:0/96` out.
 
 Lists and rules need the `blocking` permission ([permissions.md](permissions.md)).
 

docs/cli.md

@@ -476,6 +476,12 @@ jarl block delete DOMAIN [--view V] | --id ID
 jarl block check DOMAIN                          # blocked? by which rule or list?
 jarl block pause [DURATION]                      # let everything through for a while (default 10m, at most 24h)
 jarl block pause indefinitely                    # ... until 'jarl block resume'
+jarl block step list | add NAME | rename STEP NEW | order STEP... | delete STEP
+jarl block group list
+jarl block group add NAME MEMBER... [--step S] [--view V]...   # addresses, networks or ACLs
+jarl block group update GROUP [--add M] [--remove M] [--step S] [--name N]
+jarl block group delete GROUP
+jarl blocklist update LIST --step STEP           # devices at that step or above get it
 jarl block resume
 ```
 

docs/validation.md

@@ -115,6 +115,11 @@ From [blocking.md](blocking.md).
 | `blocking_view_missing` | error | A list or rule names a view that doesn't exist |
 | `blocking_no_view` | warning | A list or rule applies to no view: none offers recursion, and blocking only changes recursive answers |
 | `blocking_no_recursion` | warning | A list or rule names a view that doesn't offer recursion, where it has no effect |
+| `blocking_step_missing` | error | A list or client group is at a step that doesn't exist (a list can't be at `off`) |
+| `client_group_member_invalid` | error | Client group members are addresses, networks, or ACLs made only of those |
+| `client_group_overlap` | error | The same address or network is in two client groups of a view |
+| `client_group_empty` | warning | A client group has no members |
+| `blocklist_step_unused` | warning | A list is at a step that no client group reaches, so it blocks nothing |
 
 ## Security lints
 

internal/api/types.go

@@ -506,6 +506,27 @@ type Blocklist struct {
 	// MemoryMB estimates what named needs for the list, in all its views.
 	MemoryMB int    `json:"memory_mb,omitempty"`
 	Pending  string `json:"pending,omitempty"`
+	// Step is the name of the step the list starts at ("normal" or one
+	// above it).
+	Step string `json:"step"`
+}
+
+// BlockStep is a blocking step above normal as returned by the API, with
+// what uses it.
+type BlockStep struct {
+	model.BlockStep
+	Lists   []string `json:"lists"`
+	Groups  []string `json:"groups"`
+	Pending string   `json:"pending,omitempty"`
+}
+
+// ClientGroup is a client group as returned by the API.
+type ClientGroup struct {
+	model.ClientGroup
+	Step      string   `json:"step"`
+	Views     []string `json:"views"`
+	AutoViews bool     `json:"auto_views,omitempty"`
+	Pending   string   `json:"pending,omitempty"`
 }
 
 // BlockRule is a block or allow rule as returned by the API.

internal/blocking/clients.go

@@ -0,0 +1,180 @@
+package blocking
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"math"
+	"net/netip"
+	"sort"
+	"strings"
+)
+
+// Client steps (docs/blocking.md): named checks policy zones in order and
+// the first match decides, so a "gate" zone that lets some clients through
+// (rpz-passthru, matched on the client's address) keeps them from every
+// zone after it. Jarl puts a gate in front of the lists of each step,
+// letting through the clients whose step is below it.
+
+// GateSuffix follows a gate's name: off.gate.jarl.invalid,
+// strict.gate.jarl.invalid.
+const GateSuffix = ".gate.jarl.invalid"
+
+// v4Mapped holds the IPv4-mapped IPv6 addresses.
+var v4Mapped = netip.MustParsePrefix("::ffff:0:0/96")
+
+// GateZone returns the policy zone name of the gate in front of a step's
+// lists ("off" for the gate in front of the normal lists).
+func GateZone(step string) string { return step + GateSuffix }
+
+// Assignment gives the addresses in Prefix a step rank (-1 off, 0 normal,
+// 1, 2, ... the steps above it).
+type Assignment struct {
+	Prefix netip.Prefix
+	Rank   int
+}
+
+// PassBelow returns the fewest prefixes that cover exactly the addresses whose
+// rank is below k. An address has the rank of the most specific
+// assignment containing it, and rank 0 (normal) when none does. When two
+// assignments have the same prefix, the higher rank counts (validation
+// refuses that anyway).
+func PassBelow(assigns []Assignment, k int) []netip.Prefix {
+	var out []netip.Prefix
+	for _, root := range []netip.Prefix{netip.MustParsePrefix("0.0.0.0/0"), netip.MustParsePrefix("::/0")} {
+		var mine []Assignment
+		if !root.Addr().Is4() {
+			// named matches IPv4 clients as IPv4-mapped IPv6 addresses:
+			// keep IPv6 prefixes clear of them, so only the IPv4 ones
+			// decide for IPv4 clients.
+			mine = append(mine, Assignment{v4Mapped, math.MaxInt})
+		}
+		rank := 0
+		for _, a := range assigns {
+			p := a.Prefix.Masked()
+			if p.Addr().Is4() != root.Addr().Is4() {
+				continue
+			}
+			if p.Bits() == 0 {
+				rank = max(rank, a.Rank)
+				continue
+			}
+			mine = append(mine, Assignment{p, a.Rank})
+		}
+		for _, p := range cover(root, rank, mine, k) {
+			if p.Bits() == 0 {
+				// A trigger needs at least one bit: use both halves.
+				lo, hi := halves(p)
+				out = append(out, lo, hi)
+				continue
+			}
+			out = append(out, p)
+		}
+	}
+	return out
+}
+
+// cover returns the prefixes inside p whose addresses have a rank below k.
+// rank is p's own; inside are the assignments strictly inside p.
+func cover(p netip.Prefix, rank int, inside []Assignment, k int) []netip.Prefix {
+	if len(inside) == 0 {
+		if rank < k {
+			return []netip.Prefix{p}
+		}
+		return nil
+	}
+	var out []netip.Prefix
+	lo, hi := halves(p)
+	full := 0
+	for _, h := range []netip.Prefix{lo, hi} {
+		var sub []Assignment
+		for _, a := range inside {
+			if a.Prefix.Bits() > h.Bits() && h.Contains(a.Prefix.Addr()) {
+				sub = append(sub, a)
+			}
+		}
+		c := cover(h, ownRank(inside, h, rank), sub, k)
+		if len(c) == 1 && c[0] == h {
+			full++
+		}
+		out = append(out, c...)
+	}
+	if full == 2 {
+		return []netip.Prefix{p}
+	}
+	return out
+}
+
+// ownRank is the rank of h: its own assignments' (the highest), or the
+// inherited one without any.
+func ownRank(inside []Assignment, h netip.Prefix, inherited int) int {
+	r, found := 0, false
+	for _, a := range inside {
+		if a.Prefix == h {
+			if !found || a.Rank > r {
+				r = a.Rank
+			}
+			found = true
+		}
+	}
+	if !found {
+		return inherited
+	}
+	return r
+}
+
+// halves splits a prefix into its two halves.
+func halves(p netip.Prefix) (netip.Prefix, netip.Prefix) {
+	bits := p.Bits() + 1
+	lo := netip.PrefixFrom(p.Addr(), bits).Masked()
+	b := lo.Addr().AsSlice()
+	i := (bits - 1) / 8
+	b[i] |= 0x80 >> ((bits - 1) % 8)
+	a, _ := netip.AddrFromSlice(b)
+	return lo, netip.PrefixFrom(a, bits)
+}
+
+// ClientIPOwner returns the policy zone owner name that matches clients
+// in p (an rpz-client-ip trigger): 32.37.0.10.10.rpz-client-ip for
+// 10.10.0.37/32, 64.zz.3d7f.8013.2a02.rpz-client-ip for 2a02:8013:3d7f::/64.
+func ClientIPOwner(p netip.Prefix) string {
+	p = p.Masked()
+	a := p.Addr()
+	var labels []string
+	if a.Is4() {
+		b := a.As4()
+		labels = []string{fmt.Sprint(b[3]), fmt.Sprint(b[2]), fmt.Sprint(b[1]), fmt.Sprint(b[0])}
+	} else {
+		// RFC 5952 text, with "zz" for the "::" and the words reversed.
+		s := a.String()
+		var words []string
+		if left, right, ok := strings.Cut(s, "::"); ok {
+			if left != "" {
+				words = append(words, strings.Split(left, ":")...)
+			}
+			words = append(words, "zz")
+			if right != "" {
+				words = append(words, strings.Split(right, ":")...)
+			}
+		} else {
+			words = strings.Split(s, ":")
+		}
+		for i := len(words) - 1; i >= 0; i-- {
+			labels = append(labels, words[i])
+		}
+	}
+	return fmt.Sprint(p.Bits()) + "." + strings.Join(labels, ".") + ".rpz-client-ip"
+}
+
+// GateZoneFile renders a gate: every client in prefixes passes.
+func GateZoneFile(title string, prefixes []netip.Prefix) string {
+	owners := make([]string, 0, len(prefixes))
+	for _, p := range prefixes {
+		owners = append(owners, ClientIPOwner(p))
+	}
+	sort.Strings(owners)
+	var sb strings.Builder
+	sb.WriteString(header(title, 1))
+	for _, o := range owners {
+		sb.WriteString(o + "\tCNAME\trpz-passthru.\n")
+	}
+	return sb.String()
+}

internal/blocking/clients_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,96 @@
+package blocking
+
+import (
+	"net/netip"
+	"slices"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func pfx(s string) netip.Prefix { return netip.MustParsePrefix(s) }
+
+// rankOf is the rank PassBelow's model gives an address.
+func rankOf(assigns []Assignment, a netip.Addr) int {
+	best, bits := 0, -1
+	for _, x := range assigns {
+		if x.Prefix.Contains(a) && x.Prefix.Bits() >= bits {
+			if x.Prefix.Bits() > bits || x.Rank > best {
+				best = x.Rank
+			}
+			bits = x.Prefix.Bits()
+		}
+	}
+	return best
+}
+
+func covered(ps []netip.Prefix, a netip.Addr) bool {
+	for _, p := range ps {
+		if p.Contains(a) {
+			return true
+		}
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
+func TestPassBelow(t *testing.T) {
+	assigns := []Assignment{
+		{pfx("10.10.0.20/32"), -1},   // work laptop: off
+		{pfx("10.10.0.0/24"), 2},     // the kids' network: very strict
+		{pfx("10.10.0.50/32"), 1},    // except one tablet: strict
+		{pfx("2a02:db8::/64"), 1},    // an IPv6 network: strict
+		{pfx("2a02:db8::99/128"), 0}, // one device in it: normal
+	}
+	probe := []string{"10.10.0.20", "10.10.0.21", "10.10.0.50", "10.10.0.51", "10.10.1.1", "192.168.1.1", "0.0.0.1", "255.255.255.255",
+		"2a02:db8::1", "2a02:db8::99", "2a02:db8:0:1::1", "::1", "ffff::1"}
+	for k := 0; k <= 3; k++ {
+		gate := PassBelow(assigns, k)
+		for _, s := range probe {
+			a := netip.MustParseAddr(s)
+			if want := rankOf(assigns, a) < k; covered(gate, a) != want {
+				t.Errorf("k=%d %s: passes=%v, want %v (rank %d)", k, s, !want, want, rankOf(assigns, a))
+			}
+		}
+		for _, p := range gate {
+			if p.Bits() == 0 {
+				t.Errorf("k=%d: a /0 trigger", k)
+			}
+			// named matches IPv4 clients as ::ffff:a.b.c.d: no IPv6
+			// prefix may reach them.
+			if p.Addr().Is6() && p.Overlaps(v4Mapped) {
+				t.Errorf("k=%d: %s covers IPv4-mapped addresses", k, p)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	// Off clients only, before the normal lists.
+	if got := PassBelow(assigns, 0); !slices.Equal(got, []netip.Prefix{pfx("10.10.0.20/32")}) {
+		t.Errorf("off gate = %v", got)
+	}
+	// Nobody above normal: everyone passes the gate of step 1: two IPv4
+	// halves, and IPv6 around the IPv4-mapped /96 (96 prefixes).
+	if got := PassBelow(nil, 1); len(got) != 2+96 {
+		t.Errorf("empty step-1 gate = %v", got)
+	}
+	// The complement of one IPv4 address is 32 prefixes (plus IPv6's 96).
+	if got := PassBelow([]Assignment{{pfx("10.10.0.50/32"), 1}}, 1); len(got) != 32+96 {
+		t.Errorf("complement of one address: %d prefixes", len(got))
+	}
+}
+
+func TestClientIPOwner(t *testing.T) {
+	for p, want := range map[string]string{
+		"10.10.0.37/32":            "32.37.0.10.10.rpz-client-ip",
+		"10.10.0.0/24":             "24.0.0.10.10.rpz-client-ip",
+		"2a02:db8::/64":            "64.zz.db8.2a02.rpz-client-ip",
+		"2a02:db8::1/128":          "128.1.zz.db8.2a02.rpz-client-ip",
+		"::/1":                     "1.zz.rpz-client-ip",
+		"2001:db8:1:2:3:4:5:6/128": "128.6.5.4.3.2.1.db8.2001.rpz-client-ip",
+	} {
+		if got := ClientIPOwner(pfx(p)); got != want {
+			t.Errorf("%s: %s, want %s", p, got, want)
+		}
+	}
+	z := GateZoneFile("t", []netip.Prefix{pfx("10.10.0.20/32")})
+	if !strings.Contains(z, "32.20.0.10.10.rpz-client-ip\tCNAME\trpz-passthru.\n") {
+		t.Errorf("gate zone:\n%s", z)
+	}
+}

internal/blocking/zone.go

@@ -40,6 +40,9 @@ type Match struct {
 	Entry  string `json:"entry,omitempty"` // the matching entry: the name, or *.parent
 	RuleID int64  `json:"rule_id,omitempty"`
 	List   string `json:"list,omitempty"` // the blocklist, when a list matched
+	// Step is the list's step when it is above normal: only clients at
+	// that step or above get this answer (others: none).
+	Step string `json:"step,omitempty"`
 }
 
 // Actions of rules.

internal/engine/blocklists.go

@@ -335,7 +335,9 @@ func (l *limitedReader) Read(p []byte) (int, error) {
 
 // CheckBlocking reports, for every view with blocking, whether name is
 // blocked or allowed there, and by which rule or list. It looks names up
-// the way named does: rules first, then the lists in order.
+// the way named does: rules first, then the lists in order. The answer is
+// for clients at the normal step; a list of a higher step that blocks the
+// name says so (Match.Step), and clients at step off skip every list.
 func (e *Engine) CheckBlocking(st *model.State, name string) ([]blocking.Match, error) {
 	n, err := blocking.NormalizeName(name)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -349,8 +351,8 @@ func (e *Engine) CheckBlocking(st *model.State, name string) ([]blocking.Match,
 			out = append(out, blocking.Match{View: z.View, Result: "none"})
 			cur = &out[len(out)-1]
 		}
-		if cur.Result != "none" {
+		if cur.Result != "none" || z.IsGate() {
-			continue // an earlier zone decided
+			continue // an earlier zone decided, or a gate (it never blocks)
 		}
 		if z.ListID == 0 {
 			owner, act, ok := blocking.MatchRules(blocking.RuleEntries(render.ViewRules(st, z.ViewID)), n)
@@ -372,7 +374,11 @@ func (e *Engine) CheckBlocking(st *model.State, name string) ([]blocking.Match,
 			feeds[z.File] = entry
 		}
 		if entry != "" {
-			cur.Result, cur.Entry, cur.List = "blocked", entry, st.Blocklists[z.ListID].Name
+			b := st.Blocklists[z.ListID]
+			cur.Result, cur.Entry, cur.List = "blocked", entry, b.Name
+			if b.StepID != model.StepNormal {
+				cur.Step = st.StepName(b.StepID)
+			}
 		}
 	}
 	return out, nil

internal/engine/blockops.go

@@ -117,6 +117,16 @@ func applyBlocklistPut(st *model.State, op model.Op, c *applyCtx) error {
 	if in.Disabled != nil {
 		b.Disabled = *in.Disabled
 	}
+	step, given, err := stepRef(st, in.Step, in.StepID)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	if given {
+		if step == model.StepOff {
+			return errf(KindBadRequest, "a blocklist starts at normal or a step above it, not off")
+		}
+		b.StepID = step
+	}
 	if in.Comment != nil {
 		b.Comment = *in.Comment
 	}
@@ -226,6 +236,11 @@ func blockingUsers(st *model.State, viewID int64) []string {
 			out = append(out, ruleLabel(r))
 		}
 	}
+	for _, g := range st.SortedClientGroups() {
+		if slices.Contains(g.ViewIDs, viewID) {
+			out = append(out, "client group "+g.Name)
+		}
+	}
 	return out
 }
 

internal/engine/clientgroups.go

@@ -0,0 +1,263 @@
+package engine
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"net/netip"
+	"strings"
+
+	"jarl/internal/model"
+)
+
+// ---- blocking steps and client groups (docs/blocking.md)
+
+// stepRef resolves a step given by name or ID. ok is false when neither
+// is given.
+func stepRef(st *model.State, name *string, id *int64) (int64, bool, error) {
+	switch {
+	case name != nil:
+		s, found := st.StepByName(*name)
+		if !found {
+			return 0, true, errf(KindBadRequest, "blocking step %q does not exist (steps: %s)", *name, stepNames(st))
+		}
+		return s, true, nil
+	case id != nil:
+		if _, found := st.StepRank(*id); !found {
+			return 0, true, errf(KindBadRequest, "blocking step %d does not exist", *id)
+		}
+		return *id, true, nil
+	}
+	return 0, false, nil
+}
+
+// stepNames lists the steps for messages: "off, normal, strict".
+func stepNames(st *model.State) string {
+	names := []string{"off", "normal"}
+	for _, s := range st.OrderedBlockSteps() {
+		names = append(names, s.Name)
+	}
+	return strings.Join(names, ", ")
+}
+
+// NormalizeMember checks a client group member: an address, a prefix or
+// an ACL name (an ACL's own elements are checked by validation). It
+// returns the canonical form.
+func NormalizeMember(st *model.State, m string) (string, error) {
+	m = strings.TrimSpace(m)
+	if a, err := netip.ParseAddr(m); err == nil {
+		if a.Zone() != "" {
+			return "", errf(KindBadRequest, "%q: an address with a zone can't be matched", m)
+		}
+		return a.Unmap().String(), nil
+	}
+	if p, err := netip.ParsePrefix(m); err == nil {
+		return p.Masked().String(), nil
+	}
+	if a := st.ACLByName(m); a != nil {
+		return a.Name, nil
+	}
+	return "", errf(KindBadRequest, "%q is not an address, a prefix (10.10.0.0/24) or an ACL", m)
+}
+
+func applyBlockStepPut(st *model.State, op model.Op, c *applyCtx) error {
+	if err := c.require(blockingAction()); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	var in BlockStepInput
+	if err := decode(op.Data, &in); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	var s *model.BlockStep
+	if op.Kind == OpBlockStepCreate {
+		if op.ID <= 0 || st.BlockSteps[op.ID] != nil {
+			return errf(KindConflict, "step ID %d is already in use", op.ID)
+		}
+		if in.Name == nil {
+			return errf(KindBadRequest, "a blocking step needs a name")
+		}
+		pos := 0
+		for _, o := range st.BlockSteps {
+			pos = max(pos, o.Position+1)
+		}
+		s = &model.BlockStep{ID: op.ID, Position: pos}
+	} else {
+		s = st.BlockSteps[op.ID]
+		if s == nil {
+			return errf(KindNotFound, "blocking step %d does not exist", op.ID)
+		}
+		if err := checkVersion(op, s.Version, "step "+s.Name); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+	}
+	if in.Name != nil {
+		name := strings.ToLower(strings.TrimSpace(*in.Name))
+		if !blocklistNameRe.MatchString(name) || name == "off" || name == "normal" {
+			return errf(KindBadRequest, "step name %q: use 1 to 40 lowercase letters, digits and hyphens, like strict (off and normal are built in)", *in.Name)
+		}
+		if id, found := st.StepByName(name); found && id != s.ID {
+			return errf(KindConflict, "step %s already exists", name)
+		}
+		s.Name = name
+	}
+	if in.Position != nil {
+		s.Position = *in.Position
+	}
+	if in.Comment != nil {
+		s.Comment = *in.Comment
+	}
+	s.Touch(c.user(), c.now)
+	st.BlockSteps[s.ID] = s
+	return nil
+}
+
+func applyBlockStepDelete(st *model.State, op model.Op, c *applyCtx) error {
+	if err := c.require(blockingAction()); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	s := st.BlockSteps[op.ID]
+	if s == nil {
+		return errf(KindNotFound, "blocking step %d does not exist", op.ID)
+	}
+	if err := checkVersion(op, s.Version, "step "+s.Name); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	if users := stepUsers(st, s.ID); len(users) > 0 {
+		return errf(KindConflict, "step %s is used by %s; move them to another step first", s.Name, strings.Join(users, ", "))
+	}
+	delete(st.BlockSteps, s.ID)
+	return nil
+}
+
+// stepUsers lists the blocklists and client groups at a step.
+func stepUsers(st *model.State, id int64) []string {
+	var out []string
+	for _, b := range st.SortedBlocklists() {
+		if b.StepID == id {
+			out = append(out, "blocklist "+b.Name)
+		}
+	}
+	for _, g := range st.SortedClientGroups() {
+		if g.StepID == id {
+			out = append(out, "client group "+g.Name)
+		}
+	}
+	return out
+}
+
+func applyClientGroupPut(st *model.State, op model.Op, c *applyCtx) error {
+	if err := c.require(blockingAction()); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	var in ClientGroupInput
+	if err := decode(op.Data, &in); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	var g *model.ClientGroup
+	if op.Kind == OpClientGroupCreate {
+		if op.ID <= 0 || st.ClientGroups[op.ID] != nil {
+			return errf(KindConflict, "client group ID %d is already in use", op.ID)
+		}
+		if in.Name == nil {
+			return errf(KindBadRequest, "a client group needs a name")
+		}
+		g = &model.ClientGroup{ID: op.ID, Members: []string{}, StepID: model.StepNormal, ViewIDs: []int64{}}
+	} else {
+		g = st.ClientGroups[op.ID]
+		if g == nil {
+			return errf(KindNotFound, "client group %d does not exist", op.ID)
+		}
+		if err := checkVersion(op, g.Version, "client group "+g.Name); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+	}
+	if in.Name != nil {
+		name := strings.ToLower(strings.TrimSpace(*in.Name))
+		if !blocklistNameRe.MatchString(name) {
+			return errf(KindBadRequest, "client group name %q: use 1 to 40 lowercase letters, digits and hyphens, like kids", *in.Name)
+		}
+		if other := st.ClientGroupByName(name); other != nil && other.ID != g.ID {
+			return errf(KindConflict, "client group %s already exists", name)
+		}
+		g.Name = name
+	}
+	if in.Members != nil {
+		members := []string{}
+		seen := map[string]bool{}
+		for _, m := range *in.Members {
+			if strings.TrimSpace(m) == "" {
+				continue
+			}
+			n, err := NormalizeMember(st, m)
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+			if !seen[n] {
+				seen[n] = true
+				members = append(members, n)
+			}
+		}
+		g.Members = members
+	}
+	step, given, err := stepRef(st, in.Step, in.StepID)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	if given {
+		g.StepID = step
+	}
+	ids, err := viewIDs(st, in.Views, in.ViewIDs)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	if ids != nil {
+		g.ViewIDs = ids
+	}
+	if in.Comment != nil {
+		g.Comment = *in.Comment
+	}
+	g.Touch(c.user(), c.now)
+	st.ClientGroups[g.ID] = g
+	return nil
+}
+
+func applyClientGroupDelete(st *model.State, op model.Op, c *applyCtx) error {
+	if err := c.require(blockingAction()); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	g := st.ClientGroups[op.ID]
+	if g == nil {
+		return errf(KindNotFound, "client group %d does not exist", op.ID)
+	}
+	if err := checkVersion(op, g.Version, "client group "+g.Name); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	delete(st.ClientGroups, g.ID)
+	return nil
+}
+
+// ---- expansion
+
+func (x *expander) blockStepCreate(req Request) ([]model.Op, error) {
+	return x.simpleCreate(req, OpBlockStepCreate, func(data json.RawMessage) (string, error) {
+		var in BlockStepInput
+		if err := decode(data, &in); err != nil {
+			return "", err
+		}
+		if in.Name == nil {
+			return "", errf(KindBadRequest, "a blocking step needs a name")
+		}
+		return "add blocking step " + strings.ToLower(*in.Name), nil
+	})
+}
+
+func (x *expander) clientGroupCreate(req Request) ([]model.Op, error) {
+	return x.simpleCreate(req, OpClientGroupCreate, func(data json.RawMessage) (string, error) {
+		var in ClientGroupInput
+		if err := decode(data, &in); err != nil {
+			return "", err
+		}
+		if in.Name == nil {
+			return "", errf(KindBadRequest, "a client group needs a name")
+		}
+		return "add client group " + strings.ToLower(*in.Name), nil
+	})
+}

internal/engine/clientgroups_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,123 @@
+package engine
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+
+	"jarl/internal/model"
+)
+
+func clientGroup(name, step string, members ...string) Request {
+	return NewRequest(OpClientGroupCreate, 0, ClientGroupInput{Name: &name, Step: &step, Members: &members})
+}
+
+func TestClientGroups(t *testing.T) {
+	env := newEnv(t)
+	setupZone(env)
+	_, srv := newListServer(t, "||ads.example^\n")
+	env.submit(env.admin,
+		NewRequest(OpBlockStepCreate, 0, BlockStepInput{Name: model.Ptr("strict")}),
+		NewRequest(OpACLCreate, 0, ACLInput{Name: model.Ptr("tablets"), Elements: &[]string{"10.0.0.50", "10.0.0.51"}}),
+	)
+	env.submit(env.admin,
+		blocklist("ads", srv.URL+"/a.txt"),
+		NewRequest(OpBlocklistCreate, 0, BlocklistInput{Name: model.Ptr("social"), URL: model.Ptr(srv.URL + "/s.txt"), Step: model.Ptr("strict")}),
+		clientGroup("work", "off", "10.0.0.20"),
+		clientGroup("kids", "strict", "tablets", "2001:db8:1::/64"),
+	)
+	conf, _ := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(env.dir, "etc/named.conf"))
+	c := string(conf)
+	// Off clients pass before the normal lists, everyone below strict
+	// before the strict ones; gates aren't logged.
+	want := "response-policy {\n" +
+		"\t\tzone \"off.gate.jarl.invalid\" min-update-interval 0 log no;\n" +
+		"\t\tzone \"ads.blocklist.jarl.invalid\" min-update-interval 0 log no;\n" +
+		"\t\tzone \"strict.gate.jarl.invalid\" min-update-interval 0 log no;\n" +
+		"\t\tzone \"social.blocklist.jarl.invalid\" min-update-interval 0 log no;\n"
+	if !strings.Contains(c, want) {
+		t.Errorf("response-policy:\n%s", c)
+	}
+	gate := func(name string) string {
+		b, err := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(env.dir, "zones/_default", name+".gate.jarl.invalid.rpz"))
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		return string(b)
+	}
+	if g := gate("off"); !strings.Contains(g, "32.20.0.0.10.rpz-client-ip\tCNAME\trpz-passthru.\n") || strings.Count(g, "rpz-client-ip") != 1 {
+		t.Errorf("off gate:\n%s", g)
+	}
+	// Everyone but the kids' tablets (via the ACL) and network passes.
+	sg := gate("strict")
+	for _, notIn := range []string{"32.50.0.0.10.rpz-client-ip", "32.51.0.0.10.rpz-client-ip", "64.zz.1.db8.2001.rpz-client-ip"} {
+		if strings.Contains(sg, notIn) {
+			t.Errorf("strict gate lets %s through:\n%s", notIn, sg)
+		}
+	}
+	// 10.0.0.0/27 holds the work laptop, 10.0.0.52/30 the next addresses
+	// after the tablets, 128.0.0.0/1 the upper half of IPv4.
+	for _, in := range []string{"27.0.0.0.10.rpz-client-ip", "30.52.0.0.10.rpz-client-ip", "1.0.0.0.128.rpz-client-ip"} {
+		if !strings.Contains(sg, in) {
+			t.Errorf("strict gate lacks %s:\n%s", in, sg)
+		}
+	}
+
+	st := env.state()
+	strict, _ := st.StepByName("strict")
+	// A step that lists or groups use can't be deleted.
+	if e := env.submitErr(env.admin, NewRequest(OpBlockStepDelete, strict, nil)); e.Kind != KindConflict || !strings.Contains(e.Message, "blocklist social") {
+		t.Errorf("deleting a used step: %+v", e)
+	}
+	// One client, one group; ACLs must hold addresses only.
+	if e := env.submitErr(env.admin, clientGroup("dup", "normal", "10.0.0.20")); e.Kind != KindValidation || !strings.Contains(e.Message, "10.0.0.20/32 is in client groups") {
+		t.Errorf("an address in two groups: %+v", e)
+	}
+	env.submit(env.admin, NewRequest(OpACLCreate, 0, ACLInput{Name: model.Ptr("keyed"), Elements: &[]string{"localnets"}}))
+	if e := env.submitErr(env.admin, clientGroup("bad", "normal", "keyed")); e.Kind != KindValidation || !strings.Contains(e.Message, "isn't an address") {
+		t.Errorf("an ACL with a key: %+v", e)
+	}
+	for _, req := range []Request{clientGroup("x", "nope", "10.1.1.1"), clientGroup("y", "normal", "not-an-acl"), clientGroup("Bad Name", "normal")} {
+		if e := env.submitErr(env.admin, req); e.Kind != KindBadRequest {
+			t.Errorf("%s: %+v", req.Data, e)
+		}
+	}
+	// A more specific address in another group is fine: it wins.
+	env.submit(env.admin, clientGroup("guest", "normal", "2001:db8:1::9"))
+	if sg := gate("strict"); !strings.Contains(sg, "128.9.zz.1.db8.2001.rpz-client-ip") {
+		t.Errorf("the guest inside the kids' network passes the strict gate:\n%s", sg)
+	}
+
+	// The kids' group gone: the strict list blocks nobody (a warning).
+	kids := env.state().ClientGroupByName("kids")
+	res := env.submit(env.admin, NewRequest(OpClientGroupDelete, kids.ID, nil))
+	found := false
+	for _, p := range res.Problems {
+		found = found || p.Code == "blocklist_step_unused"
+	}
+	if !found {
+		t.Errorf("no warning for a step no group reaches: %+v", res.Problems)
+	}
+	// Reverting brings it back.
+	rev, err := env.e.Revert(context.Background(), res.ChangesetID, env.admin)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if len(rev.Ops) != 1 {
+		t.Errorf("revert ops: %+v (only the deleted group should come back)", rev.Ops)
+	}
+	if _, err := env.e.Apply(context.Background(), rev.ID, env.admin, ApplyOptions{}); err != nil || env.state().ClientGroupByName("kids") == nil {
+		t.Fatalf("revert: %v", err)
+	}
+	// Renaming the ACL renames the member; deleting it is refused.
+	tablets := env.state().ACLByName("tablets")
+	env.submit(env.admin, NewRequest(OpACLUpdate, tablets.ID, ACLInput{Name: model.Ptr("pads")}))
+	if g := env.state().ClientGroupByName("kids"); g.Members[0] != "pads" {
+		t.Errorf("ACL rename: members %v", g.Members)
+	}
+	if e := env.submitErr(env.admin, NewRequest(OpACLDelete, tablets.ID, nil)); e.Kind != KindConflict || !strings.Contains(e.Message, "client group kids") {
+		t.Errorf("deleting an ACL a group uses: %+v", e)
+	}
+}

internal/engine/diffops.go

@@ -104,9 +104,19 @@ func DiffOps(from, to *model.State) []model.Op {
 			add(OpRecordUpdate, k, o.Version, in, fmt.Sprintf("restore %s %s %s", n.Name, n.Type, n.Data))
 		}
 	}
+	// Steps before the lists and groups that use them.
+	for _, k := range sortedKeys(to.BlockSteps) {
+		n := to.BlockSteps[k]
+		in := BlockStepInput{Name: &n.Name, Position: model.Ptr(n.Position), Comment: &n.Comment}
+		if o, ok := from.BlockSteps[k]; !ok {
+			add(OpBlockStepCreate, k, 0, in, "add blocking step "+n.Name)
+		} else if !sameObject(o, n) {
+			add(OpBlockStepUpdate, k, o.Version, in, "restore blocking step "+n.Name)
+		}
+	}
 	for _, k := range sortedKeys(to.Blocklists) {
 		n := to.Blocklists[k]
-		in := BlocklistInput{Name: &n.Name, URL: &n.URL, ViewIDs: model.Ptr(append([]int64{}, n.ViewIDs...)), Disabled: &n.Disabled, Comment: &n.Comment}
+		in := BlocklistInput{Name: &n.Name, URL: &n.URL, ViewIDs: model.Ptr(append([]int64{}, n.ViewIDs...)), Disabled: &n.Disabled, Comment: &n.Comment, StepID: model.Ptr(n.StepID)}
 		if o, ok := from.Blocklists[k]; !ok {
 			add(OpBlocklistCreate, k, 0, in, "add blocklist "+n.Name)
 		} else if !sameObject(o, n) {
@@ -122,7 +132,21 @@ func DiffOps(from, to *model.State) []model.Op {
 			add(OpBlockRuleUpdate, k, o.Version, in, "restore rule: "+ruleLabel(n))
 		}
 	}
+	for _, k := range sortedKeys(to.ClientGroups) {
+		n := to.ClientGroups[k]
+		in := ClientGroupInput{Name: &n.Name, Members: model.Ptr(append([]string{}, n.Members...)), StepID: model.Ptr(n.StepID), ViewIDs: model.Ptr(append([]int64{}, n.ViewIDs...)), Comment: &n.Comment}
+		if o, ok := from.ClientGroups[k]; !ok {
+			add(OpClientGroupCreate, k, 0, in, "add client group "+n.Name)
+		} else if !sameObject(o, n) {
+			add(OpClientGroupUpdate, k, o.Version, in, "restore client group "+n.Name)
+		}
+	}
 	// Deletions, most dependent objects first.
+	for _, k := range sortedKeys(from.ClientGroups) {
+		if _, ok := to.ClientGroups[k]; !ok {
+			add(OpClientGroupDelete, k, from.ClientGroups[k].Version, nil, "delete client group "+from.ClientGroups[k].Name)
+		}
+	}
 	for _, k := range sortedKeys(from.BlockRules) {
 		if _, ok := to.BlockRules[k]; !ok {
 			add(OpBlockRuleDelete, k, from.BlockRules[k].Version, nil, "delete rule: "+ruleLabel(from.BlockRules[k]))
@@ -133,6 +157,11 @@ func DiffOps(from, to *model.State) []model.Op {
 			add(OpBlocklistDelete, k, from.Blocklists[k].Version, nil, "delete blocklist "+from.Blocklists[k].Name)
 		}
 	}
+	for _, k := range sortedKeys(from.BlockSteps) {
+		if _, ok := to.BlockSteps[k]; !ok {
+			add(OpBlockStepDelete, k, from.BlockSteps[k].Version, nil, "delete blocking step "+from.BlockSteps[k].Name)
+		}
+	}
 	for _, k := range sortedKeys(from.Records) {
 		if _, ok := to.Records[k]; !ok {
 			o := from.Records[k]

internal/engine/engine.go

@@ -501,13 +501,15 @@ func (e *Engine) makePlan(ctx context.Context, base, work *model.State, user str
 	if len(work.Zones) != len(base.Zones) {
 		pl.configChanged = true
 	}
-	// Rules zones whose content changed. New ones come with a change to
+	// Rules zones and gates whose content changed. New ones come with a
-	// named.conf, and reconfig loads them.
+	// change to named.conf, and reconfig loads them.
 	for _, z := range pl.out.Policy {
 		if z.ListID != 0 || !changedPaths[z.File] {
 			continue
 		}
-		if slices.Contains(baseOut.Policy, z) {
+		if slices.ContainsFunc(baseOut.Policy, func(o render.PolicyZone) bool {
+			return o.Name == z.Name && o.ViewID == z.ViewID && o.File == z.File
+		}) {
 			pl.reloadPolicy = append(pl.reloadPolicy, z)
 		}
 	}

internal/engine/expand.go

@@ -264,6 +264,30 @@ func (x *expander) expand(req Request) ([]model.Op, error) {
 			verb = "delete rule: "
 		}
 		return []model.Op{x.versioned(req, r.Version, verb+ruleLabel(r))}, nil
+	case OpBlockStepCreate:
+		return x.blockStepCreate(req)
+	case OpBlockStepUpdate, OpBlockStepDelete:
+		s := x.st.BlockSteps[req.ID]
+		if s == nil {
+			return nil, errf(KindNotFound, "blocking step %d does not exist", req.ID)
+		}
+		verb := "change blocking step "
+		if req.Op == OpBlockStepDelete {
+			verb = "delete blocking step "
+		}
+		return []model.Op{x.versioned(req, s.Version, verb+s.Name)}, nil
+	case OpClientGroupCreate:
+		return x.clientGroupCreate(req)
+	case OpClientGroupUpdate, OpClientGroupDelete:
+		g := x.st.ClientGroups[req.ID]
+		if g == nil {
+			return nil, errf(KindNotFound, "client group %d does not exist", req.ID)
+		}
+		verb := "change client group "
+		if req.Op == OpClientGroupDelete {
+			verb = "delete client group "
+		}
+		return []model.Op{x.versioned(req, g.Version, verb+g.Name)}, nil
 	}
 	return nil, errf(KindBadRequest, "unknown operation %q", req.Op)
 }

internal/engine/inputs.go

@@ -39,6 +39,13 @@ const (
 	OpBlockRuleDelete = "blockrule.delete"
 	OpBlockingPause   = "blocking.pause"
 
+	OpBlockStepCreate   = "blockstep.create"
+	OpBlockStepUpdate   = "blockstep.update"
+	OpBlockStepDelete   = "blockstep.delete"
+	OpClientGroupCreate = "clientgroup.create"
+	OpClientGroupUpdate = "clientgroup.update"
+	OpClientGroupDelete = "clientgroup.delete"
+
 	// Requests only: disabling and enabling records, by ID or by match
 	// (zone, name, type and optionally data), become record.update
 	// operations.
@@ -50,7 +57,8 @@ const (
 var OpKinds = []string{OpZoneCreate, OpZoneUpdate, OpZoneDelete, OpRecordCreate, OpRecordUpdate, OpRecordDelete, OpRRSetReplace,
 	OpViewCreate, OpViewUpdate, OpViewDelete, OpViewReorder, OpACLCreate, OpACLUpdate, OpACLDelete,
 	OpTSIGCreate, OpTSIGUpdate, OpTSIGDelete, OpOptionCreate, OpOptionUpdate, OpOptionDelete, OpSettingsUpdate,
-	OpBlocklistCreate, OpBlocklistUpdate, OpBlocklistDelete, OpBlockRuleCreate, OpBlockRuleUpdate, OpBlockRuleDelete, OpBlockingPause}
+	OpBlocklistCreate, OpBlocklistUpdate, OpBlocklistDelete, OpBlockRuleCreate, OpBlockRuleUpdate, OpBlockRuleDelete, OpBlockingPause,
+	OpBlockStepCreate, OpBlockStepUpdate, OpBlockStepDelete, OpClientGroupCreate, OpClientGroupUpdate, OpClientGroupDelete}
 
 // Request is an operation as submitted by a client. Requests are expanded
 // into one or more stored operations (for example an A record with "ptr"
@@ -236,6 +244,31 @@ type BlocklistInput struct {
 	ViewIDs  *[]int64  `json:"view_ids,omitempty"`
 	Disabled *bool     `json:"disabled,omitempty"`
 	Comment  *string   `json:"comment,omitempty"`
+	// Step is the step the list starts at, by name ("normal" or a step
+	// above it) or ID (StepID; 0 is normal).
+	Step   *string `json:"step,omitempty"`
+	StepID *int64  `json:"step_id,omitempty"`
+}
+
+// BlockStepInput creates or updates a blocking step above Normal.
+// Position orders the steps (new steps go on top).
+type BlockStepInput struct {
+	Name     *string `json:"name,omitempty"`
+	Position *int    `json:"position,omitempty"`
+	Comment  *string `json:"comment,omitempty"`
+}
+
+// ClientGroupInput creates or updates a client group. Members are
+// addresses, prefixes or ACL names; the step is given by name ("off",
+// "normal" or a step) or ID; views as for BlocklistInput.
+type ClientGroupInput struct {
+	Name    *string   `json:"name,omitempty"`
+	Members *[]string `json:"members,omitempty"`
+	Step    *string   `json:"step,omitempty"`
+	StepID  *int64    `json:"step_id,omitempty"`
+	Views   *[]string `json:"views,omitempty"`
+	ViewIDs *[]int64  `json:"view_ids,omitempty"`
+	Comment *string   `json:"comment,omitempty"`
 }
 
 // BlockRuleInput creates or updates a block or allow rule. Views as for

internal/engine/ops.go

@@ -106,6 +106,14 @@ func applyOp(st *model.State, op model.Op, c *applyCtx) error {
 		err = applyBlockRulePut(st, op, c)
 	case OpBlockRuleDelete:
 		err = applyBlockRuleDelete(st, op, c)
+	case OpBlockStepCreate, OpBlockStepUpdate:
+		err = applyBlockStepPut(st, op, c)
+	case OpBlockStepDelete:
+		err = applyBlockStepDelete(st, op, c)
+	case OpClientGroupCreate, OpClientGroupUpdate:
+		err = applyClientGroupPut(st, op, c)
+	case OpClientGroupDelete:
+		err = applyClientGroupDelete(st, op, c)
 	case OpBlockingPause:
 		err = applyBlockingPause(st, op, c)
 	default:

internal/engine/refs.go

@@ -152,6 +152,11 @@ func FindRefs(st *model.State, kind refKind, name string) []string {
 			out = append(out, "view "+v.Name)
 		}
 	}
+	for _, g := range st.SortedClientGroups() {
+		if _, hit := rewriteElements(g.Members, kind, name, name); hit {
+			out = append(out, "client group "+g.Name)
+		}
+	}
 	var opts []string
 	for _, o := range st.Options {
 		stmt, err := namedconf.ParseOptionValue(o.Name, o.Value)
@@ -188,6 +193,12 @@ func renameRefs(st *model.State, kind refKind, old, new string, c *applyCtx) {
 			v.Touch(c.user(), c.now)
 		}
 	}
+	for _, g := range st.ClientGroups {
+		if l, hit := rewriteElements(g.Members, kind, old, new); hit {
+			g.Members = l
+			g.Touch(c.user(), c.now)
+		}
+	}
 	for _, o := range st.Options {
 		stmt, err := namedconf.ParseOptionValue(o.Name, o.Value)
 		if err != nil {

internal/model/blocking.go

@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 package model
 
 import (
+	"fmt"
+	"net/netip"
 	"slices"
 	"sort"
 	"strings"
@@ -17,10 +19,126 @@ type Blocklist struct {
 	// that offers recursion (see BlockingViews).
 	ViewIDs  []int64 `json:"view_ids"`
 	Disabled bool    `json:"disabled,omitempty"`
+	// StepID is the blocking step the list starts at: StepNormal for
+	// every client, or a BlockStep for the clients of groups at that step
+	// or above.
+	StepID  int64  `json:"step_id"`
 	Comment string `json:"comment"`
 	Meta
 }
 
+// Built-in blocking steps (BlockStep IDs are positive).
+const (
+	StepOff    int64 = -1 // no blocklists (rules still apply)
+	StepNormal int64 = 0  // the default: every client not in a group
+)
+
+// BlockStep is a blocking step above Normal. Steps are ordered: each
+// includes the lists of the steps below it, plus its own (docs/blocking.md).
+type BlockStep struct {
+	ID       int64  `json:"id"`
+	Name     string `json:"name"`
+	Position int    `json:"position"`
+	Comment  string `json:"comment"`
+	Meta
+}
+
+// ClientGroup gives the clients with these addresses a blocking step.
+type ClientGroup struct {
+	ID   int64  `json:"id"`
+	Name string `json:"name"`
+	// Members are addresses, prefixes, or names of ACLs made of them.
+	Members []string `json:"members"`
+	StepID  int64    `json:"step_id"`  // StepOff, StepNormal or a BlockStep
+	ViewIDs []int64  `json:"view_ids"` // as for Blocklist
+	Comment string   `json:"comment"`
+	Meta
+}
+
+// OrderedBlockSteps returns the steps above Normal, lowest first.
+func (s *State) OrderedBlockSteps() []*BlockStep {
+	out := make([]*BlockStep, 0, len(s.BlockSteps))
+	for _, st := range s.BlockSteps {
+		out = append(out, st)
+	}
+	sort.Slice(out, func(i, j int) bool {
+		if out[i].Position != out[j].Position {
+			return out[i].Position < out[j].Position
+		}
+		return out[i].ID < out[j].ID
+	})
+	return out
+}
+
+// StepRank orders steps: -1 for Off, 0 for Normal, 1, 2, ... for the
+// steps above it. ok is false for a step that doesn't exist.
+func (s *State) StepRank(id int64) (rank int, ok bool) {
+	switch id {
+	case StepOff:
+		return -1, true
+	case StepNormal:
+		return 0, true
+	}
+	for i, st := range s.OrderedBlockSteps() {
+		if st.ID == id {
+			return i + 1, true
+		}
+	}
+	return 0, false
+}
+
+// StepName returns a step's name ("off" and "normal" for the built-in
+// ones).
+func (s *State) StepName(id int64) string {
+	switch id {
+	case StepOff:
+		return "off"
+	case StepNormal:
+		return "normal"
+	}
+	if st := s.BlockSteps[id]; st != nil {
+		return st.Name
+	}
+	return fmt.Sprintf("step %d", id)
+}
+
+// StepByName finds a step by name, the built-in ones included.
+func (s *State) StepByName(name string) (int64, bool) {
+	name = strings.ToLower(strings.TrimSpace(name))
+	switch name {
+	case "off":
+		return StepOff, true
+	case "normal":
+		return StepNormal, true
+	}
+	for _, st := range s.BlockSteps {
+		if strings.EqualFold(st.Name, name) {
+			return st.ID, true
+		}
+	}
+	return 0, false
+}
+
+// ClientGroupByName finds a client group by name.
+func (s *State) ClientGroupByName(name string) *ClientGroup {
+	for _, g := range s.ClientGroups {
+		if strings.EqualFold(g.Name, name) {
+			return g
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+// SortedClientGroups returns the client groups ordered by name.
+func (s *State) SortedClientGroups() []*ClientGroup {
+	out := make([]*ClientGroup, 0, len(s.ClientGroups))
+	for _, g := range s.ClientGroups {
+		out = append(out, g)
+	}
+	sort.Slice(out, func(i, j int) bool { return out[i].Name < out[j].Name })
+	return out
+}
+
 // Block rule actions.
 const (
 	BlockActionBlock = "block"
@@ -134,3 +252,28 @@ func (s *State) BlockingViews(viewIDs []int64) []int64 {
 	}
 	return out
 }
+
+// GroupPrefixes returns the addresses of a client group as prefixes: its
+// own, and those of the ACLs it names (and the ACLs they name). Elements
+// that aren't addresses are left out (validation reports them).
+func (s *State) GroupPrefixes(g *ClientGroup) []netip.Prefix {
+	var out []netip.Prefix
+	seen := map[string]bool{}
+	var add func(elems []string)
+	add = func(elems []string) {
+		for _, e := range elems {
+			e = strings.TrimSpace(e)
+			if a, err := netip.ParseAddr(e); err == nil {
+				a = a.Unmap()
+				out = append(out, netip.PrefixFrom(a, a.BitLen()))
+			} else if p, err := netip.ParsePrefix(e); err == nil {
+				out = append(out, p.Masked())
+			} else if acl := s.ACLByName(e); acl != nil && !seen[acl.Name] {
+				seen[acl.Name] = true
+				add(acl.Elements)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	add(g.Members)
+	return out
+}

internal/model/model.go

@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ package model
 
 import (
 	"encoding/json"
+	"slices"
 	"sort"
 	"strings"
 	"time"
@@ -249,6 +250,8 @@ type State struct {
 	// Blocking (docs/blocking.md).
 	Blocklists   map[int64]*Blocklist
 	BlockRules   map[int64]*BlockRule
+	BlockSteps   map[int64]*BlockStep
+	ClientGroups map[int64]*ClientGroup
 }
 
 // NewState returns an empty state with default settings.
@@ -264,6 +267,8 @@ func NewState() *State {
 
 		Blocklists:   map[int64]*Blocklist{},
 		BlockRules:   map[int64]*BlockRule{},
+		BlockSteps:   map[int64]*BlockStep{},
+		ClientGroups: map[int64]*ClientGroup{},
 	}
 }
 
@@ -280,12 +285,14 @@ func (s *State) Clone() *State {
 
 		Blocklists:   make(map[int64]*Blocklist, len(s.Blocklists)),
 		BlockRules:   make(map[int64]*BlockRule, len(s.BlockRules)),
+		BlockSteps:   make(map[int64]*BlockStep, len(s.BlockSteps)),
+		ClientGroups: make(map[int64]*ClientGroup, len(s.ClientGroups)),
 	}
-	c.Settings.Nameservers = append([]string(nil), s.Settings.Nameservers...)
+	c.Settings.Nameservers = slices.Clone(s.Settings.Nameservers)
 	for id, v := range s.Views {
 		n := *v
-		n.MatchClients = append([]string(nil), v.MatchClients...)
+		n.MatchClients = slices.Clone(v.MatchClients)
-		n.MatchDestinations = append([]string(nil), v.MatchDestinations...)
+		n.MatchDestinations = slices.Clone(v.MatchDestinations)
 		if v.MatchRecursiveOnly != nil {
 			b := *v.MatchRecursiveOnly
 			n.MatchRecursiveOnly = &b
@@ -294,7 +301,7 @@ func (s *State) Clone() *State {
 	}
 	for id, a := range s.ACLs {
 		n := *a
-		n.Elements = append([]string(nil), a.Elements...)
+		n.Elements = slices.Clone(a.Elements)
 		c.ACLs[id] = &n
 	}
 	for id, k := range s.Keys {
@@ -319,14 +326,24 @@ func (s *State) Clone() *State {
 	}
 	for id, b := range s.Blocklists {
 		n := *b
-		n.ViewIDs = append([]int64(nil), b.ViewIDs...)
+		n.ViewIDs = slices.Clone(b.ViewIDs)
 		c.Blocklists[id] = &n
 	}
 	for id, r := range s.BlockRules {
 		n := *r
-		n.ViewIDs = append([]int64(nil), r.ViewIDs...)
+		n.ViewIDs = slices.Clone(r.ViewIDs)
 		c.BlockRules[id] = &n
 	}
+	for id, st := range s.BlockSteps {
+		n := *st
+		c.BlockSteps[id] = &n
+	}
+	for id, g := range s.ClientGroups {
+		n := *g
+		n.Members = slices.Clone(g.Members)
+		n.ViewIDs = slices.Clone(g.ViewIDs)
+		c.ClientGroups[id] = &n
+	}
 	return c
 }
 

internal/render/blocking.go

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package render
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
+	"net/netip"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"slices"
 	"strings"
@@ -21,9 +22,16 @@ type PolicyZone struct {
 	ViewID int64  // 0 without views
 	View   string // "" without views
 	File   string
-	ListID int64 // the blocklist; 0 for the rules zone
+	ListID int64 // the blocklist; 0 for the rules zone and gates
+	// Gate, for a gate zone: the clients it lets through (past every zone
+	// after it), and the step whose lists it is in front of.
+	Gate     []netip.Prefix
+	GateStep string
 }
 
+// IsGate reports whether z is a gate zone.
+func (z PolicyZone) IsGate() bool { return z.GateStep != "" }
+
 // BlocklistsDir holds the zone files of downloaded blocklists, one per
 // list, shared by the views that use it.
 func (p Paths) BlocklistsDir() string { return filepath.Join(p.CacheDir, "blocklists") }
@@ -41,7 +49,9 @@ func (p Paths) rulesFile(view string) string {
 
 // PolicyZones returns the policy zones named loads, per view in view
 // order, each view's in the order named checks them: the rules zone first
-// (rules win over lists), then the enabled lists by name.
+// (rules win over lists), then for each step (normal, then the steps above
+// it) a gate letting through the clients below that step, when there are
+// any, and the step's enabled lists by name.
 func PolicyZones(s *model.State, p Paths) []PolicyZone {
 	var out []PolicyZone
 	rules, lists := s.SortedBlockRules(), s.SortedBlocklists()
@@ -65,11 +75,27 @@ func PolicyZones(s *model.State, p Paths) []PolicyZone {
 				break
 			}
 		}
+		assigns := ClientAssignments(s, vid)
+		for k, step := range append([]int64{model.StepNormal}, stepIDs(s)...) {
+			var tier []PolicyZone
 			for _, b := range lists {
-			if !b.Disabled && slices.Contains(s.BlockingViews(b.ViewIDs), vid) {
+				if !b.Disabled && b.StepID == step && slices.Contains(s.BlockingViews(b.ViewIDs), vid) {
-				zones = append(zones, PolicyZone{Name: blocking.ListZone(b.Name), ViewID: vid, View: view, File: p.BlocklistFile(b.ID), ListID: b.ID})
+					tier = append(tier, PolicyZone{Name: blocking.ListZone(b.Name), ViewID: vid, View: view, File: p.BlocklistFile(b.ID), ListID: b.ID})
 				}
 			}
+			if len(tier) == 0 {
+				continue
+			}
+			// The clients below this step pass, and never see its lists.
+			if pass := blocking.PassBelow(assigns, k); len(pass) > 0 {
+				name := "off"
+				if k > 0 {
+					name = s.StepName(step)
+				}
+				zones = append(zones, PolicyZone{Name: blocking.GateZone(name), ViewID: vid, View: view, File: p.gateFile(view, name), Gate: pass, GateStep: s.StepName(step)})
+			}
+			zones = append(zones, tier...)
+		}
 		// While paused, every view with blocking gets a rules zone: it
 		// lets everything through.
 		if hasRules || s.Settings.BlockingPaused() && len(zones) > 0 {
@@ -80,6 +106,39 @@ func PolicyZones(s *model.State, p Paths) []PolicyZone {
 	return out
 }
 
+// gateFile returns a view's gate zone file for a step.
+func (p Paths) gateFile(view, name string) string {
+	return filepath.Join(p.ZoneDir, ViewDir(view), blocking.GateZone(name)+".rpz")
+}
+
+// stepIDs returns the IDs of the steps above normal, lowest first.
+func stepIDs(s *model.State) []int64 {
+	var out []int64
+	for _, st := range s.OrderedBlockSteps() {
+		out = append(out, st.ID)
+	}
+	return out
+}
+
+// ClientAssignments returns the step ranks the client groups of a view
+// give addresses (blocking.PassBelow).
+func ClientAssignments(s *model.State, viewID int64) []blocking.Assignment {
+	var out []blocking.Assignment
+	for _, g := range s.SortedClientGroups() {
+		if !slices.Contains(s.BlockingViews(g.ViewIDs), viewID) {
+			continue
+		}
+		rank, ok := s.StepRank(g.StepID)
+		if !ok {
+			continue
+		}
+		for _, p := range s.GroupPrefixes(g) {
+			out = append(out, blocking.Assignment{Prefix: p, Rank: rank})
+		}
+	}
+	return out
+}
+
 // ViewRules returns the rules that apply in a view (0 without views).
 func ViewRules(s *model.State, viewID int64) []blocking.Rule {
 	var out []blocking.Rule
@@ -106,7 +165,9 @@ func writeResponsePolicy(w *confWriter, zones []PolicyZone, logRewrites bool) {
 		// changed (at most every blocking.refresh), so named's default
 		// delay for batching frequent updates only adds a wait.
 		opts := []string{"min-update-interval 0"}
-		if !logRewrites {
+		// A gate lets most queries through: logging that would double
+		// the response log, and it blocks nothing.
+		if !logRewrites || z.IsGate() {
 			opts = append(opts, "log no")
 		}
 		w.write(fmt.Sprintf("\t\tzone %s%s;\n", namedconf.QuoteString(z.Name), prefixSpace(strings.Join(opts, " "))))
@@ -132,8 +193,11 @@ func writePolicyZones(w *confWriter, s *model.State, zones []PolicyZone, out *Ou
 	for _, z := range zones {
 		w.write("\n")
 		label := "blocking: your rules"
-		if z.ListID != 0 {
+		switch {
+		case z.ListID != 0:
 			label = "blocking: blocklist " + s.Blocklists[z.ListID].Name
+		case z.IsGate():
+			label = "blocking: clients below step " + z.GateStep
 		}
 		w.begin("blocking", z.ListID, label)
 		w.write(fmt.Sprintf("%szone %s {\n%s\ttype primary;\n%s\tfile %s;\n%s\tallow-query { none; };\n%s\tallow-transfer { none; };\n%s\tnotify no;\n%s};\n",
@@ -143,6 +207,14 @@ func writePolicyZones(w *confWriter, s *model.State, zones []PolicyZone, out *Ou
 			out.Blocklists = appendUnique(out.Blocklists, z.File)
 			continue
 		}
+		if z.IsGate() {
+			title := "Clients that skip the lists from step " + z.GateStep + " on"
+			if z.View != "" {
+				title += " in view " + z.View
+			}
+			out.Files = append(out.Files, &File{Path: z.File, Content: []byte(blocking.GateZoneFile(title, z.Gate)), Mode: 0o640, Kind: KindPolicy})
+			continue
+		}
 		title := "Blocking rules"
 		if z.View != "" {
 			title += " for view " + z.View

internal/server/h_blocking.go

@@ -33,11 +33,11 @@ func viewNames(st *model.State, ids []int64) []string {
 
 func presentBlocklist(st *model.State, b *model.Blocklist, status *model.BlocklistStatus) api.Blocklist {
 	views := st.BlockingViews(b.ViewIDs)
-	out := api.Blocklist{Blocklist: *b, Views: viewNames(st, views), AutoViews: len(b.ViewIDs) == 0 && len(st.Views) > 0, Status: status}
+	out := api.Blocklist{Blocklist: *b, Views: viewNames(st, views), AutoViews: len(b.ViewIDs) == 0 && len(st.Views) > 0, Status: status, Step: st.StepName(b.StepID)}
 	switch {
 	case b.Disabled:
 		out.State = "disabled"
-	case len(views) == 0:
+	case len(views) == 0 || !stepReached(st, b, views):
 		out.State = "idle"
 	case status != nil && status.Error != "":
 		out.State = "error"

internal/server/h_clientgroups.go

@@ -0,0 +1,265 @@
+package server
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"net/http"
+	"slices"
+	"strconv"
+
+	"jarl/internal/api"
+	"jarl/internal/auth"
+	"jarl/internal/engine"
+	"jarl/internal/model"
+)
+
+// Blocking steps and client groups (docs/blocking.md).
+
+func presentBlockStep(st *model.State, s *model.BlockStep) api.BlockStep {
+	out := api.BlockStep{BlockStep: *s, Lists: []string{}, Groups: []string{}}
+	for _, b := range st.SortedBlocklists() {
+		if b.StepID == s.ID {
+			out.Lists = append(out.Lists, b.Name)
+		}
+	}
+	for _, g := range st.SortedClientGroups() {
+		if g.StepID == s.ID {
+			out.Groups = append(out.Groups, g.Name)
+		}
+	}
+	return out
+}
+
+func presentClientGroup(st *model.State, g *model.ClientGroup) api.ClientGroup {
+	return api.ClientGroup{ClientGroup: *g, Step: st.StepName(g.StepID), Views: viewNames(st, st.BlockingViews(g.ViewIDs)), AutoViews: len(g.ViewIDs) == 0 && len(st.Views) > 0}
+}
+
+func stepObject(st *model.State, id int64) any {
+	if s := st.BlockSteps[id]; s != nil {
+		return presentBlockStep(st, s)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func groupObject(st *model.State, id int64) any {
+	if g := st.ClientGroups[id]; g != nil {
+		return presentClientGroup(st, g)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (s *Server) listBlockSteps(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request, p *auth.Principal) error {
+	if err := requireBlocking(p); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	st, base, err := s.states(r)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	out := []api.BlockStep{}
+	for _, x := range st.OrderedBlockSteps() {
+		o := presentBlockStep(st, x)
+		o.Pending = pending(base, base != nil && base.BlockSteps[x.ID] == nil, base != nil && base.BlockSteps[x.ID] != nil && base.BlockSteps[x.ID].Version != x.Version)
+		out = append(out, o)
+	}
+	if base != nil {
+		for _, x := range base.OrderedBlockSteps() {
+			if st.BlockSteps[x.ID] == nil {
+				o := presentBlockStep(base, x)
+				o.Pending = "delete"
+				out = append(out, o)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	writeJSON(w, http.StatusOK, out)
+	return nil
+}
+
+// stepByPath finds a step above normal by ID or name.
+func stepByPath(r *http.Request, st *model.State) (*model.BlockStep, error) {
+	ref := r.PathValue("id")
+	if id, err := strconv.ParseInt(ref, 10, 64); err == nil {
+		if x := st.BlockSteps[id]; x != nil {
+			return x, nil
+		}
+	} else if id, ok := st.StepByName(ref); ok && id > 0 {
+		return st.BlockSteps[id], nil
+	}
+	return nil, notFound("blocking step %s not found (off and normal are built in)", ref)
+}
+
+func (s *Server) createBlockStep(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request, p *auth.Principal) error {
+	body, err := readBody(r)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	return s.mutate(w, r, p, "", []engine.Request{request(engine.OpBlockStepCreate, 0, body)}, stepObject)
+}
+
+func (s *Server) updateBlockStep(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request, p *auth.Principal) error {
+	st, err := s.state(r)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	x, err := stepByPath(r, st)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	body, err := readBody(r)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	id := x.ID
+	return s.mutate(w, r, p, "", []engine.Request{request(engine.OpBlockStepUpdate, id, body)}, func(st *model.State, _ int64) any { return stepObject(st, id) })
+}
+
+func (s *Server) deleteBlockStep(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request, p *auth.Principal) error {
+	st, err := s.state(r)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	x, err := stepByPath(r, st)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	return s.mutate(w, r, p, "", []engine.Request{request(engine.OpBlockStepDelete, x.ID, nil)}, nil)
+}
+
+// orderBlockSteps: POST /blocking/steps/order {"steps": ["strict",
+// "very-strict"]} (names or IDs as strings) sets the order of the steps
+// above normal, lowest first.
+func (s *Server) orderBlockSteps(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request, p *auth.Principal) error {
+	st, err := s.state(r)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	var in struct {
+		Steps []string `json:"steps"`
+	}
+	if err := decodeJSON(r, &in); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	if len(in.Steps) != len(st.BlockSteps) {
+		return badRequest("give every step above normal once (%d)", len(st.BlockSteps))
+	}
+	var reqs []engine.Request
+	seen := map[int64]bool{}
+	for i, ref := range in.Steps {
+		var x *model.BlockStep
+		if id, err := strconv.ParseInt(ref, 10, 64); err == nil {
+			x = st.BlockSteps[id]
+		} else if id, ok := st.StepByName(ref); ok && id > 0 {
+			x = st.BlockSteps[id]
+		}
+		if x == nil || seen[x.ID] {
+			return badRequest("step %q doesn't exist or is given twice", ref)
+		}
+		seen[x.ID] = true
+		if x.Position != i {
+			data, _ := json.Marshal(engine.BlockStepInput{Position: model.Ptr(i)})
+			reqs = append(reqs, request(engine.OpBlockStepUpdate, x.ID, data))
+		}
+	}
+	if len(reqs) == 0 {
+		writeJSON(w, http.StatusOK, map[string]string{"message": "the steps are already in that order"})
+		return nil
+	}
+	return s.mutate(w, r, p, "", reqs, nil)
+}
+
+func (s *Server) listClientGroups(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request, p *auth.Principal) error {
+	if err := requireBlocking(p); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	st, base, err := s.states(r)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	out := []api.ClientGroup{}
+	for _, g := range st.SortedClientGroups() {
+		o := presentClientGroup(st, g)
+		o.Pending = pending(base, base != nil && base.ClientGroups[g.ID] == nil, base != nil && base.ClientGroups[g.ID] != nil && base.ClientGroups[g.ID].Version != g.Version)
+		out = append(out, o)
+	}
+	if base != nil {
+		for _, g := range base.SortedClientGroups() {
+			if st.ClientGroups[g.ID] == nil {
+				o := presentClientGroup(base, g)
+				o.Pending = "delete"
+				out = append(out, o)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	writeJSON(w, http.StatusOK, out)
+	return nil
+}
+
+func groupByPath(r *http.Request, st *model.State) (*model.ClientGroup, error) {
+	ref := r.PathValue("id")
+	if id, err := strconv.ParseInt(ref, 10, 64); err == nil {
+		if g := st.ClientGroups[id]; g != nil {
+			return g, nil
+		}
+	} else if g := st.ClientGroupByName(ref); g != nil {
+		return g, nil
+	}
+	return nil, notFound("client group %s not found", ref)
+}
+
+func (s *Server) createClientGroup(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request, p *auth.Principal) error {
+	body, err := readBody(r)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	return s.mutate(w, r, p, "", []engine.Request{request(engine.OpClientGroupCreate, 0, body)}, groupObject)
+}
+
+func (s *Server) updateClientGroup(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request, p *auth.Principal) error {
+	st, err := s.state(r)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	g, err := groupByPath(r, st)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	body, err := readBody(r)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	id := g.ID
+	return s.mutate(w, r, p, "", []engine.Request{request(engine.OpClientGroupUpdate, id, body)}, func(st *model.State, _ int64) any { return groupObject(st, id) })
+}
+
+func (s *Server) deleteClientGroup(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request, p *auth.Principal) error {
+	st, err := s.state(r)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	g, err := groupByPath(r, st)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	return s.mutate(w, r, p, "", []engine.Request{request(engine.OpClientGroupDelete, g.ID, nil)}, nil)
+}
+
+// stepReached reports whether any client gets a list: always for a list at
+// normal; for one above it, when a client group with members in one of its
+// views is at its step or above.
+func stepReached(st *model.State, b *model.Blocklist, views []int64) bool {
+	rank, _ := st.StepRank(b.StepID)
+	if rank <= 0 {
+		return true
+	}
+	for _, g := range st.ClientGroups {
+		r, ok := st.StepRank(g.StepID)
+		if !ok || r < rank || len(st.GroupPrefixes(g)) == 0 {
+			continue
+		}
+		for _, v := range st.BlockingViews(g.ViewIDs) {
+			if slices.Contains(views, v) {
+				return true
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	return false
+}

internal/server/routes.go

@@ -69,6 +69,15 @@ func (s *Server) routes() {
 	m.HandleFunc("DELETE "+p+"/blocking/rules", s.authed(s.deleteBlockRulesByName))
 	m.HandleFunc("PATCH "+p+"/blocking/rules/{id}", s.authed(s.updateBlockRule))
 	m.HandleFunc("DELETE "+p+"/blocking/rules/{id}", s.authed(s.deleteBlockRule))
+	m.HandleFunc("GET "+p+"/blocking/steps", s.authed(s.listBlockSteps))
+	m.HandleFunc("POST "+p+"/blocking/steps", s.authed(s.createBlockStep))
+	m.HandleFunc("POST "+p+"/blocking/steps/order", s.authed(s.orderBlockSteps))
+	m.HandleFunc("PATCH "+p+"/blocking/steps/{id}", s.authed(s.updateBlockStep))
+	m.HandleFunc("DELETE "+p+"/blocking/steps/{id}", s.authed(s.deleteBlockStep))
+	m.HandleFunc("GET "+p+"/blocking/groups", s.authed(s.listClientGroups))
+	m.HandleFunc("POST "+p+"/blocking/groups", s.authed(s.createClientGroup))
+	m.HandleFunc("PATCH "+p+"/blocking/groups/{id}", s.authed(s.updateClientGroup))
+	m.HandleFunc("DELETE "+p+"/blocking/groups/{id}", s.authed(s.deleteClientGroup))
 	m.HandleFunc("GET "+p+"/blocking/check", s.authed(s.checkBlocking))
 	m.HandleFunc("GET "+p+"/blocking/status", s.authed(s.blockingStatus))
 	m.HandleFunc("POST "+p+"/blocking/pause", s.authed(s.pauseBlocking(false)))

internal/store/state.go

@@ -150,14 +150,14 @@ func loadState(ctx context.Context, e execer) (*model.State, error) {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	rows, err = e.QueryContext(ctx, `SELECT id, name, url, view_ids, disabled, comment, version, created_at, updated_at, created_by, updated_by FROM blocklists`)
+	rows, err = e.QueryContext(ctx, `SELECT id, name, url, view_ids, disabled, step_id, comment, version, created_at, updated_at, created_by, updated_by FROM blocklists`)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 	for rows.Next() {
 		b := &model.Blocklist{}
 		var views, ca, ua string
-		if err := rows.Scan(&b.ID, &b.Name, &b.URL, &views, &b.Disabled, &b.Comment, &b.Version, &ca, &ua, &b.CreatedBy, &b.UpdatedBy); err != nil {
+		if err := rows.Scan(&b.ID, &b.Name, &b.URL, &views, &b.Disabled, &b.StepID, &b.Comment, &b.Version, &ca, &ua, &b.CreatedBy, &b.UpdatedBy); err != nil {
 			rows.Close()
 			return nil, err
 		}
@@ -187,6 +187,44 @@ func loadState(ctx context.Context, e execer) (*model.State, error) {
 	if err := closeRows(rows); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
+
+	rows, err = e.QueryContext(ctx, `SELECT id, name, position, comment, version, created_at, updated_at, created_by, updated_by FROM block_steps`)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	for rows.Next() {
+		s := &model.BlockStep{}
+		var ca, ua string
+		if err := rows.Scan(&s.ID, &s.Name, &s.Position, &s.Comment, &s.Version, &ca, &ua, &s.CreatedBy, &s.UpdatedBy); err != nil {
+			rows.Close()
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		s.CreatedAt, s.UpdatedAt = parseTS(ca), parseTS(ua)
+		st.BlockSteps[s.ID] = s
+	}
+	if err := closeRows(rows); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	rows, err = e.QueryContext(ctx, `SELECT id, name, members, step_id, view_ids, comment, version, created_at, updated_at, created_by, updated_by FROM client_groups`)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	for rows.Next() {
+		g := &model.ClientGroup{}
+		var members, views, ca, ua string
+		if err := rows.Scan(&g.ID, &g.Name, &members, &g.StepID, &views, &g.Comment, &g.Version, &ca, &ua, &g.CreatedBy, &g.UpdatedBy); err != nil {
+			rows.Close()
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		json.Unmarshal([]byte(members), &g.Members)
+		json.Unmarshal([]byte(views), &g.ViewIDs)
+		g.CreatedAt, g.UpdatedAt = parseTS(ca), parseTS(ua)
+		st.ClientGroups[g.ID] = g
+	}
+	if err := closeRows(rows); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
 	return st, nil
 }
 
@@ -204,7 +242,7 @@ func (t *Tx) SaveState(old, new *model.State) error {
 // ReplaceState replaces the stored configuration with st (used by import
 // and tests).
 func (t *Tx) ReplaceState(st *model.State) error {
-	for _, tbl := range []string{"views", "acls", "tsig_keys", "zones", "records", "options", "blocklists", "block_rules"} {
+	for _, tbl := range []string{"views", "acls", "tsig_keys", "zones", "records", "options", "blocklists", "block_rules", "block_steps", "client_groups"} {
 		if _, err := t.tx.ExecContext(t.ctx, "DELETE FROM "+tbl); err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
@@ -272,17 +310,31 @@ func saveState(ctx context.Context, e execer, old, new *model.State) error {
 		return err
 	}
 	if err := diffMap(old.Blocklists, new.Blocklists, func(b *model.Blocklist) error {
-		_, err := e.ExecContext(ctx, `INSERT OR REPLACE INTO blocklists (id, name, url, view_ids, disabled, comment, version, created_at, updated_at, created_by, updated_by) VALUES (?,?,?,?,?,?,?,?,?,?,?)`,
+		_, err := e.ExecContext(ctx, `INSERT OR REPLACE INTO blocklists (id, name, url, view_ids, disabled, step_id, comment, version, created_at, updated_at, created_by, updated_by) VALUES (?,?,?,?,?,?,?,?,?,?,?,?)`,
-			b.ID, b.Name, b.URL, jsonText(nonNilIDs(b.ViewIDs)), b.Disabled, b.Comment, b.Version, ts(b.CreatedAt), ts(b.UpdatedAt), b.CreatedBy, b.UpdatedBy)
+			b.ID, b.Name, b.URL, jsonText(nonNilIDs(b.ViewIDs)), b.Disabled, b.StepID, b.Comment, b.Version, ts(b.CreatedAt), ts(b.UpdatedAt), b.CreatedBy, b.UpdatedBy)
 		return err
 	}, func(id int64) error { return del(ctx, e, "blocklists", id) }); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	return diffMap(old.BlockRules, new.BlockRules, func(r *model.BlockRule) error {
+	if err := diffMap(old.BlockRules, new.BlockRules, func(r *model.BlockRule) error {
 		_, err := e.ExecContext(ctx, `INSERT OR REPLACE INTO block_rules (id, name, action, exact, view_ids, comment, version, created_at, updated_at, created_by, updated_by) VALUES (?,?,?,?,?,?,?,?,?,?,?)`,
 			r.ID, r.Name, r.Action, r.Exact, jsonText(nonNilIDs(r.ViewIDs)), r.Comment, r.Version, ts(r.CreatedAt), ts(r.UpdatedAt), r.CreatedBy, r.UpdatedBy)
 		return err
-	}, func(id int64) error { return del(ctx, e, "block_rules", id) })
+	}, func(id int64) error { return del(ctx, e, "block_rules", id) }); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	if err := diffMap(old.BlockSteps, new.BlockSteps, func(s *model.BlockStep) error {
+		_, err := e.ExecContext(ctx, `INSERT OR REPLACE INTO block_steps (id, name, position, comment, version, created_at, updated_at, created_by, updated_by) VALUES (?,?,?,?,?,?,?,?,?)`,
+			s.ID, s.Name, s.Position, s.Comment, s.Version, ts(s.CreatedAt), ts(s.UpdatedAt), s.CreatedBy, s.UpdatedBy)
+		return err
+	}, func(id int64) error { return del(ctx, e, "block_steps", id) }); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	return diffMap(old.ClientGroups, new.ClientGroups, func(g *model.ClientGroup) error {
+		_, err := e.ExecContext(ctx, `INSERT OR REPLACE INTO client_groups (id, name, members, step_id, view_ids, comment, version, created_at, updated_at, created_by, updated_by) VALUES (?,?,?,?,?,?,?,?,?,?,?)`,
+			g.ID, g.Name, jsonText(nonNil(g.Members)), g.StepID, jsonText(nonNilIDs(g.ViewIDs)), g.Comment, g.Version, ts(g.CreatedAt), ts(g.UpdatedAt), g.CreatedBy, g.UpdatedBy)
+		return err
+	}, func(id int64) error { return del(ctx, e, "client_groups", id) })
 }
 
 func nonNilIDs(ids []int64) []int64 {

internal/store/store.go

@@ -304,6 +304,28 @@ CREATE TABLE blocklist_status (
 	// 7: disabled zones, kept but not loaded by named.
 	`
 ALTER TABLE zones ADD COLUMN disabled INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0;
+`,
+	// 8: blocking steps and client groups (docs/blocking.md).
+	`
+ALTER TABLE blocklists ADD COLUMN step_id INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0;
+CREATE TABLE block_steps (
+	id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY,
+	name TEXT NOT NULL,
+	position INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
+	comment TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
+	version INTEGER NOT NULL, created_at TEXT NOT NULL, updated_at TEXT NOT NULL,
+	created_by TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT '', updated_by TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT ''
+);
+CREATE TABLE client_groups (
+	id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY,
+	name TEXT NOT NULL,
+	members TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT '[]',
+	step_id INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
+	view_ids TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT '[]',
+	comment TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
+	version INTEGER NOT NULL, created_at TEXT NOT NULL, updated_at TEXT NOT NULL,
+	created_by TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT '', updated_by TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT ''
+);
 `,
 }
 

internal/validate/blocking.go

@@ -1,9 +1,11 @@
 package validate
 
 import (
+	"net/netip"
 	"strings"
 
 	"jarl/internal/model"
+	"jarl/internal/namedconf"
 )
 
 // checkBlocking checks blocklists and block/allow rules (docs/blocking.md).
@@ -67,6 +69,7 @@ func (c *checker) checkBlocking() {
 			seen[key] = r
 		}
 	}
+	c.checkClientGroups(effective)
 	// Jarl writes the response-policy statement where blocking is used;
 	// named allows one per view (or for the server).
 	for vid := range used {
@@ -91,3 +94,94 @@ func (c *checker) blockingScope(viewID int64) string {
 	}
 	return ""
 }
+
+// checkClientGroups checks blocking steps and client groups: steps exist,
+// members are addresses (directly or through ACLs), and no address is in
+// two groups of the same view.
+func (c *checker) checkClientGroups(effective func(objType string, id int64, label string, ids []int64) []int64) {
+	for _, b := range c.s.SortedBlocklists() {
+		if _, ok := c.s.StepRank(b.StepID); !ok || b.StepID == model.StepOff {
+			c.errf("blocking_step_missing", "blocklist", b.ID, "blocklist %s is at step %d, which doesn't exist", b.Name, b.StepID)
+		}
+	}
+	// The highest step any group reaches, per view: lists above it block
+	// nothing.
+	top := map[int64]int{}
+	seen := map[string]*model.ClientGroup{} // view|prefix -> first group
+	for _, g := range c.s.SortedClientGroups() {
+		label := "client group " + g.Name
+		rank, ok := c.s.StepRank(g.StepID)
+		if !ok {
+			c.errf("blocking_step_missing", "clientgroup", g.ID, "%s is at step %d, which doesn't exist", label, g.StepID)
+		}
+		if len(g.Members) == 0 {
+			c.warnf("client_group_empty", "clientgroup", g.ID, "%s has no members", label)
+		}
+		for _, m := range g.Members {
+			c.checkMember(g, m, map[string]bool{})
+		}
+		views := effective("clientgroup", g.ID, label, g.ViewIDs)
+		prefixes := c.s.GroupPrefixes(g)
+		for _, vid := range views {
+			if len(prefixes) > 0 {
+				top[vid] = max(top[vid], rank)
+			}
+			for _, p := range prefixes {
+				key := c.blockingScope(vid) + "|" + p.String()
+				if first := seen[key]; first != nil && first.ID != g.ID {
+					c.errf("client_group_overlap", "clientgroup", g.ID, "%s is in client groups %s and %s; a client can only be in one (a more specific prefix in another group is fine)", p, first.Name, g.Name)
+					continue
+				}
+				seen[key] = g
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	for _, b := range c.s.SortedBlocklists() {
+		rank, ok := c.s.StepRank(b.StepID)
+		if !ok || rank == 0 || b.Disabled {
+			continue
+		}
+		reached := false
+		for _, vid := range c.s.BlockingViews(b.ViewIDs) {
+			if top[vid] >= rank {
+				reached = true
+			}
+		}
+		if !reached {
+			c.warnf("blocklist_step_unused", "blocklist", b.ID, "blocklist %s blocks nothing: it is at step %s, and no client group is at that step or above", b.Name, c.s.StepName(b.StepID))
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// checkMember checks one member of a client group: an address, a prefix,
+// or an ACL whose elements are (recursively) addresses and prefixes.
+func (c *checker) checkMember(g *model.ClientGroup, m string, seen map[string]bool) {
+	if _, err := netip.ParseAddr(m); err == nil {
+		return
+	}
+	if _, err := netip.ParsePrefix(m); err == nil {
+		return
+	}
+	acl := c.s.ACLByName(m)
+	if acl == nil {
+		c.errf("client_group_member_invalid", "clientgroup", g.ID, "client group %s: %q is not an address, a prefix or an ACL", g.Name, m)
+		return
+	}
+	if seen[acl.Name] {
+		return
+	}
+	seen[acl.Name] = true
+	for _, e := range acl.Elements {
+		el, err := namedconf.ParseAMElement(e)
+		if err != nil {
+			continue // reported for the ACL
+		}
+		if el.Negated || el.Kind == namedconf.AMKey || el.Kind == namedconf.AMNested || el.Kind == namedconf.AMName && el.IsBuiltin() {
+			c.errf("client_group_member_invalid", "clientgroup", g.ID, "client group %s uses ACL %s, whose element %q isn't an address or a prefix: blocking matches clients by address only", g.Name, acl.Name, e)
+			continue
+		}
+		if el.Kind == namedconf.AMName {
+			c.checkMember(g, el.Name, seen)
+		}
+	}
+}

internal/web/static/assets/pages/blocking.js

@@ -22,7 +22,12 @@ let refreshTimer = null;
 
 export async function render(el, params, query) {
   clearTimeout(refreshTimer);
-  const [lists, rules, views, status] = await Promise.all([get("/blocking/lists", draftQuery()), get("/blocking/rules", draftQuery()), get("/views"), get("/blocking/status")]);
+  // Queries blocked in the last day, per list and for the rules together
+  // (null without query statistics, or without permission to see them).
+  const [lists, rules, views, status, hitList, steps, groups] = await Promise.all([get("/blocking/lists", draftQuery()), get("/blocking/rules", draftQuery()), get("/views"), get("/blocking/status"),
+    can("stats") ? get("/stats/breakdown", { group: "blocklist", since: "24h" }).catch(() => null) : null,
+    get("/blocking/steps", draftQuery()), get("/blocking/groups", draftQuery())]);
+  const hits = hitList ? Object.fromEntries(hitList.map((e) => [e.key, e.count])) : null;
   const writable = can("blocking", true);
   const recursive = lists.concat(rules).find((x) => x.auto_views);
   const autoViews = recursive ? recursive.views : null;
@@ -53,8 +58,9 @@ export async function render(el, params, query) {
       h("form", { class: "actions", onsubmit: runCheck },
         h("label", { class: "muted" }, "Check a name"), checkName, h("button", { type: "submit" }, "Check")),
       checkOut),
-    rulesPanel(rules, views, autoViews, writable),
+    rulesPanel(rules, views, autoViews, writable, hits),
-    listsPanel(lists, views, autoViews, writable));
+    listsPanel(lists, views, autoViews, writable, hits, steps),
+    devicesPanel(groups, steps, views, autoViews, writable));
   if (checkName.value) runCheck();
 
   // Lists are downloaded in the background, and a pause ends by itself:
@@ -110,7 +116,8 @@ function checkResult(name, res, rules, writable) {
         m.view ? h("span", { class: "muted" }, "view " + m.view + ": ") : null,
         m.result === "blocked" ? badge("blocked", "err") : m.result === "allowed" ? badge("allowed", "ok") : badge("not blocked", ""),
         " ",
-        m.list ? ["by blocklist ", h("strong", null, m.list), " (entry ", h("code", null, m.entry), ")"]
+        m.list && m.step ? ["for devices at step ", h("strong", null, m.step), " and above, by blocklist ", h("strong", null, m.list), " (entry ", h("code", null, m.entry), "); other devices aren't blocked"]
+          : m.list ? ["by blocklist ", h("strong", null, m.list), " (entry ", h("code", null, m.entry), ")"]
           : m.result !== "none" ? ["by your rule to ", rule ? rule.action : "", " ", h("code", null, rule ? rule.name : m.entry.replace(/^\*\./, "")), rule && !rule.exact ? " and below" : ""] : null);
     })),
     action);
@@ -172,7 +179,8 @@ async function editDialog(title, path, rows, data) {
   ], { sticky: true });
 }
 
-function editList(l, views, autoViews) {
+function editList(l, views, autoViews, steps) {
+  const step = stepSelect(steps, l.step, false);
   const name = input({ value: l.name, class: "mono" });
   const url = input({ value: l.url, class: "mono", style: { width: "100%" } });
   const comment = input({ value: l.comment || "" });
@@ -180,8 +188,9 @@ function editList(l, views, autoViews) {
   editDialog("Edit blocklist " + l.name, "/blocking/lists/" + l.id, [
     ["Name", name], ["URL", url, "A new URL is downloaded right after saving."],
     vp.picker ? ["Views", vp.picker, "None ticked: every view that offers recursion."] : null,
+    steps.length ? ["Step", step, "Devices at this step or above get the list. normal: every device except those at off."] : null,
     ["Comment", comment],
-  ], () => ({ name: name.value.trim(), url: url.value.trim(), views: vp.value(), comment: comment.value }));
+  ], () => ({ name: name.value.trim(), url: url.value.trim(), views: vp.value(), comment: comment.value, step: step.value }));
 }
 
 function editRule(r, views, autoViews) {
@@ -207,7 +216,12 @@ function viewsCell(x) {
   return x.auto_views ? [x.views.join(", "), h("span", { class: "muted small" }, " (auto)")] : x.views.join(", ");
 }
 
-function rulesPanel(rules, views, autoViews, writable) {
+// hitsLink shows a count of blocked queries, linking to the statistics.
+function hitsLink(n) {
+  return h("a", { href: "#/stats?since=24h", title: "queries blocked in the last 24 hours; more on the Statistics page" }, (n || 0).toLocaleString());
+}
+
+function rulesPanel(rules, views, autoViews, writable, hits) {
   const name = input({ placeholder: "ads.example.com", class: "mono" });
   const action = select([["block", "Block"], ["allow", "Allow"]], "block");
   const exact = checkbox("only this exact name", false);
@@ -230,6 +244,7 @@ function rulesPanel(rules, views, autoViews, writable) {
     h("div", { class: "f" }, h("label", null, " "), h("button", { class: "primary", type: "submit" }, "Add rule")));
   return h("div", { class: "panel" },
     h("h2", null, "Your rules"),
+    hits && rules.some((r) => r.action === "block") ? h("p", { class: "small" }, "Blocked ", hitsLink(hits.rules), " queries in the last 24 hours (all rules together: named doesn't say which rule matched).") : null,
     h("p", { class: "muted small" }, "A rule covers the domain and every name below it, unless it's for the exact name only. Rules beat every blocklist, and the most specific rule wins: allowing cdn.example.com overrides blocking example.com for cdn.example.com and the names below it."),
     writable ? [form, err] : null,
     table([
@@ -243,21 +258,33 @@ function rulesPanel(rules, views, autoViews, writable) {
     ].filter(Boolean), rules, { empty: "No rules yet.", rowClass: (r) => r.pending ? "pending-" + r.pending : "" }));
 }
 
-function listsPanel(lists, views, autoViews, writable) {
+// stepSelect picks a step: off (only for groups), normal and the steps
+// above it.
+function stepSelect(steps, value, withOff) {
+  const opts = [];
+  if (withOff) opts.push(["off", "off (only your rules)"]);
+  opts.push(["normal", "normal" + (withOff ? " (like devices in no group)" : " (every device)")]);
+  steps.filter((s) => s.pending !== "delete").forEach((s) => opts.push([s.name, s.name]));
+  return select(opts, value || "normal");
+}
+
+function listsPanel(lists, views, autoViews, writable, hits, steps) {
   const name = input({ placeholder: "hagezi-multi", class: "mono", style: { width: "11em" } });
   const url = input({ placeholder: "https://…", class: "mono" });
   const vp = viewPicker(views, autoViews);
+  const listStep = stepSelect(steps, "normal", false);
   const err = h("div");
   const form = h("form", { class: "inline-form", onsubmit: async (ev) => {
     ev.preventDefault();
     try {
-      const r = await change("POST", "/blocking/lists", { name: name.value.trim(), url: url.value.trim(), views: vp.value() });
+      const r = await change("POST", "/blocking/lists", { name: name.value.trim(), url: url.value.trim(), views: vp.value(), step: listStep.value });
       toast(describeResult(r) + (r.applied ? " — jarld downloads it now" : ""));
       rerender();
     } catch (e) { mount(err, errorBox(e)); }
   } },
     h("div", { class: "f" }, h("label", null, "Name"), name),
     h("div", { class: "f grow" }, h("label", null, "URL"), url),
+    steps.length ? h("div", { class: "f" }, h("label", null, "Step"), listStep) : null,
     vp.el,
     h("div", { class: "f" }, h("label", null, " "), h("button", { class: "primary", type: "submit" }, "Add list")));
   const used = new Set(lists.map((l) => l.url));
@@ -273,12 +300,14 @@ function listsPanel(lists, views, autoViews, writable) {
       { label: "Name", render: (l) => [h("strong", { class: "mono" }, l.name), l.pending ? [" ", pendingBadge(l.pending)] : null] },
       { label: "State", render: (l) => { const [t, k] = stateBadge[l.state] || [l.state, ""]; return [badge(t, k), l.status && l.status.error ? h("div", { class: "small err-text" }, l.status.error) : null]; } },
       { label: "Domains", render: (l) => l.status && l.status.updated_at ? l.status.entries.toLocaleString() : "–", tdClass: "right" },
+      hits ? { label: "Blocked (24h)", render: (l) => hitsLink(hits[l.name]), class: "right", tdClass: "right" } : null,
+      steps.length ? { label: "Step", render: (l) => l.step === "normal" ? h("span", { class: "muted" }, "normal") : badge(l.step, "accent") } : null,
       views.length ? { label: "Views", render: viewsCell } : null,
       { label: "Updated", render: (l) => l.status && l.status.updated_at ? h("span", { title: "checked " + time(l.status.checked_at) }, relTime(l.status.updated_at)) : "–", tdClass: "small" },
       { label: "Memory", render: (l) => l.memory_mb ? h("span", { title: "named's memory for this list, estimated (all its views)" }, "~" + l.memory_mb + " MB") : "–", tdClass: "small right" },
       { label: "URL", render: (l) => h("a", { href: l.url, target: "_blank", rel: "noopener", class: "small mono", title: l.url }, shortURL(l.url)) },
       writable ? { label: "", render: (l) => l.pending === "delete" ? "" : h("span", null,
-        h("button", { class: "small", onclick: () => editList(l, views, autoViews) }, "Edit"), " ",
+        h("button", { class: "small", onclick: () => editList(l, views, autoViews, steps) }, "Edit"), " ",
         h("button", { class: "small", disabled: l.state === "disabled" || !!l.pending, title: "Download it now (it is checked daily anyway)", onclick: () => refresh(l) }, "Refresh"), " ",
         h("button", { class: "small", onclick: () => toggle(l) }, l.disabled ? "Enable" : "Disable"), " ",
         h("button", { class: "small danger", onclick: () => del("/blocking/lists/" + l.id, "blocklist " + l.name) }, "Delete")), tdClass: "actions-cell" } : null,
@@ -318,3 +347,125 @@ async function del(path, what) {
   } catch (e) { toast(e.message, "err", 8000); }
 }
 
+
+// ---- devices: blocking steps and client groups (docs/blocking.md)
+
+// devicesPanel shows the steps (each includes the lists of the steps
+// below it) and the client groups that put devices at a step.
+function devicesPanel(groups, steps, views, autoViews, writable) {
+  const live = steps.filter((s) => s.pending !== "delete");
+  const name = input({ placeholder: "kids", class: "mono", style: { width: "9em" } });
+  const members = input({ placeholder: "10.10.0.50 10.10.0.51 or an ACL", class: "mono" });
+  const step = stepSelect(steps, live.length ? live[0].name : "off", true);
+  const vp = viewPicker(views, autoViews);
+  const err = h("div");
+  const form = h("form", { class: "inline-form", onsubmit: async (ev) => {
+    ev.preventDefault();
+    try {
+      const r = await change("POST", "/blocking/groups", { name: name.value.trim(), members: splitMembers(members.value), step: step.value, views: vp.value() });
+      toast(describeResult(r));
+      rerender();
+    } catch (e) { mount(err, errorBox(e)); }
+  } },
+    h("div", { class: "f" }, h("label", null, "Group"), name),
+    h("div", { class: "f grow" }, h("label", null, "Devices"), members),
+    h("div", { class: "f" }, h("label", null, "Step"), step),
+    vp.el,
+    h("div", { class: "f" }, h("label", null, " "), h("button", { class: "primary", type: "submit" }, "Add group")));
+  return h("div", { class: "panel" },
+    h("h2", null, "Devices"),
+    h("p", { class: "muted small" }, "Give some devices less or more blocking. Each step gets the lists of the steps below it plus its own; devices in no group are at normal. Your rules apply at every step. named must see the devices' own addresses (not a router's), so give them fixed ones."),
+    stepsLine(steps, writable),
+    writable ? [form, err] : null,
+    table([
+      { label: "Group", render: (g) => [h("strong", { class: "mono" }, g.name), g.pending ? [" ", pendingBadge(g.pending)] : null] },
+      { label: "Step", render: (g) => g.step === "off" ? badge("off", "") : g.step === "normal" ? h("span", { class: "muted" }, "normal") : badge(g.step, "accent") },
+      { label: "Devices", render: (g) => g.members.length ? h("span", { class: "mono small" }, g.members.join(", ")) : h("span", { class: "muted" }, "none") },
+      views.length ? { label: "Views", render: viewsCell } : null,
+      { label: "Comment", render: (g) => h("span", { class: "muted" }, g.comment || "") },
+      writable ? { label: "", render: (g) => g.pending === "delete" ? "" : h("span", null,
+        h("button", { class: "small", onclick: () => editGroup(g, steps, views, autoViews) }, "Edit"), " ",
+        h("button", { class: "small danger", onclick: () => del("/blocking/groups/" + g.id, "client group " + g.name) }, "Delete")), tdClass: "actions-cell" } : null,
+    ].filter(Boolean), groups, { empty: "No groups: every device is at normal.", rowClass: (g) => g.pending ? "pending-" + g.pending : "" }));
+}
+
+// splitMembers turns "a, b c" into a list.
+function splitMembers(s) {
+  return s.split(/[\s,;]+/).map((x) => x.trim()).filter(Boolean);
+}
+
+// stepsLine shows the steps in order, with controls for the ones above
+// normal.
+function stepsLine(steps, writable) {
+  const live = steps.filter((s) => s.pending !== "delete");
+  const order = async (ids) => {
+    try {
+      const r = await change("POST", "/blocking/steps/order", { steps: ids.map(String) });
+      toast(describeResult(r));
+      rerender();
+    } catch (e) { toast(e.message, "err", 8000); }
+  };
+  const move = (i, d) => {
+    const ids = live.map((s) => s.id);
+    [ids[i], ids[i + d]] = [ids[i + d], ids[i]];
+    order(ids);
+  };
+  const add = async () => {
+    const n = await promptName("Add a step", "Name of the new step (above the others), e.g. strict", "");
+    if (!n) return;
+    try {
+      const r = await change("POST", "/blocking/steps", { name: n });
+      toast(describeResult(r));
+      rerender();
+    } catch (e) { toast(e.message, "err", 8000); }
+  };
+  const rename = async (s) => {
+    const n = await promptName("Rename step " + s.name, "New name", s.name);
+    if (!n || n === s.name) return;
+    try {
+      const r = await change("PATCH", "/blocking/steps/" + s.id, { name: n });
+      toast(describeResult(r));
+      rerender();
+    } catch (e) { toast(e.message, "err", 8000); }
+  };
+  const chip = (label, title) => h("span", { class: "step-chip", title }, label);
+  const items = [chip("off", "only your rules"), chip("normal", "your rules and the normal lists; devices in no group")];
+  live.forEach((s, i) => {
+    const used = s.lists.length || s.groups.length;
+    items.push(h("span", { class: "step-chip accent", title: "lists: " + (s.lists.join(", ") || "none") + "; groups: " + (s.groups.join(", ") || "none") },
+      s.name, s.pending ? [" ", pendingBadge(s.pending)] : null,
+      writable ? h("span", { class: "step-tools" },
+        h("button", { class: "small", disabled: i === 0, title: "Move down: fewer lists", onclick: () => move(i, -1) }, "←"),
+        h("button", { class: "small", disabled: i === live.length - 1, title: "Move up: more lists", onclick: () => move(i, 1) }, "→"),
+        h("button", { class: "small", title: "Rename", onclick: () => rename(s) }, "✎"),
+        h("button", { class: "small danger", disabled: !!used, title: used ? "In use by lists or groups" : "Delete", onclick: () => del("/blocking/steps/" + s.id, "step " + s.name) }, "×")) : null));
+  });
+  return h("div", { class: "steps-line" }, h("span", { class: "muted small" }, "Steps: "),
+    items.map((x, i) => [i ? h("span", { class: "muted" }, " → ") : null, x]),
+    writable ? [" ", h("button", { class: "small", onclick: add }, "Add step")] : null);
+}
+
+// promptName asks for a short name in a dialog.
+async function promptName(title, label, value) {
+  const i = input({ value, class: "mono" });
+  const v = await modal(title, h("div", { class: "form-grid" }, field(label, i)), [
+    { label: "Cancel", value: null },
+    { label: "OK", kind: "primary", value: true, onclick: () => !!i.value.trim() },
+  ]);
+  return v === true ? i.value.trim() : null;
+}
+
+function editGroup(g, steps, views, autoViews) {
+  const name = input({ value: g.name, class: "mono" });
+  const members = input({ value: g.members.join(" "), class: "mono", style: { width: "100%" } });
+  const step = stepSelect(steps, g.step, true);
+  const comment = input({ value: g.comment || "" });
+  const vp = viewPicker(views, autoViews, ownViews(g));
+  editDialog("Edit client group " + g.name, "/blocking/groups/" + g.id, [
+    ["Name", name],
+    ["Devices", members, "Addresses, networks (10.10.0.0/24) or ACLs, separated by spaces. A device can be in one group; a more specific address in another group wins."],
+    ["Step", step],
+    vp.picker ? ["Views", vp.picker, "None ticked: every view with blocking."] : null,
+    ["Comment", comment],
+  ], () => ({ name: name.value.trim(), members: splitMembers(members.value), step: step.value, views: vp.value(), comment: comment.value }));
+}

internal/web/static/assets/pages/zone.js

@@ -482,7 +482,7 @@ async function recordsTab(el, zone, query) {
       { label: "Comment", render: (r) => [r.pending ? [pendingBadge(r.pending), " "] : null, h("span", { class: "muted" }, r.comment || "")] },
       { label: "", render: (r) => r.pending === "delete" ? "" : h("span", null,
         !reverse && (r.type === "A" || r.type === "AAAA") && !r.disabled
-          ? [h("button", { class: "small", title: "Add a CNAME record that points to " + r.name.replace(/\.$/, ""), onclick: () => aliasTo(r) }, "+ CNAME"), " "] : null,
+          ? [h("button", { class: "small reveal", title: "Add a CNAME record that points to " + r.name.replace(/\.$/, ""), onclick: () => aliasTo(r) }, "+ CNAME"), " "] : null,
         h("button", { class: "small", title: "Edit", onclick: () => edit(r) }, "Edit"), " ",
         r.disabled
           ? h("button", { class: "small toggle", title: "Put the record back in the zone", onclick: () => toggle(r) }, "Enable")

internal/web/static/assets/style.css

@@ -320,6 +320,18 @@ td.break { word-break: break-all; }
 }
 
 .refreshing { opacity: 0.6; transition: opacity 0.2s; }
+/* Secondary row actions show when the row is hovered or focused; touch
+   screens, which can't hover, always show them. Opacity keeps them in the
+   layout (no shifting) and reachable with Tab. */
+tr .reveal { opacity: 0; transition: opacity 0.1s; }
+tr:hover .reveal, tr:focus-within .reveal { opacity: 1; }
+@media (hover: none) { tr .reveal { opacity: 1; } }
+/* Blocking steps, in order, on the Blocking page. */
+.steps-line { display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; align-items: center; gap: 4px; margin: 4px 0 10px; }
+.step-chip { display: inline-flex; align-items: center; gap: 4px; padding: 2px 8px; border: 1px solid var(--border); border-radius: 12px; font-family: var(--mono); font-size: 13px; background: var(--panel); }
+.step-chip.accent { border-color: var(--accent); }
+.step-tools { display: inline-flex; gap: 2px; margin-left: 2px; }
+.step-tools button { padding: 0 5px; min-width: 0; }
 h2.section { margin: 24px 0 10px; font-size: 18px; }
 .filter-row { display: flex; align-items: center; gap: 10px; flex-wrap: wrap; margin-bottom: 12px; }
 .segmented { display: inline-flex; border: 1px solid var(--border); border-radius: var(--radius); overflow: hidden; background: var(--panel); }

scripts/e2e.sh

@@ -486,7 +486,7 @@ expect_rpz "an Adblock entry blocks the names below it" x.tracker.adbraun.test t
 expect_rpz "a hosts entry blocks the name" ads.adbraun.test test.blocklist.jarl.invalid.
 expect_rpz "but not the names below it" sub.ads.adbraun.test none
 run "blocklist list" 0 $J blocklist list
-contains "^test  *ok  *2 "
+contains "^test  *ok  *normal  *2 "
 run "block allow" 0 $J block allow ok.tracker.adbraun.test
 expect_rpz "an allow rule beats the list" deep.ok.tracker.adbraun.test none
 expect_rpz "the rest of the list still blocks" x.tracker.adbraun.test test.blocklist.jarl.invalid.
@@ -516,6 +516,42 @@ printf '<html>gone</html>\n' > $E/lists/list.txt
 run "a broken download fails (exit 2)" 2 $J blocklist refresh test --force
 contains "no domains found"
 expect_rpz "and the previous version stays" x.new.adbraun.test test.blocklist.jarl.invalid.
+# Client groups and steps: per-device blocking in one view, by client
+# address. 127.0.0.2 and .3 are in homelab too, so they get view internal.
+rpz_from() { # SOURCE NAME
+	$DIG +tries=1 +time=3 -b "$1" -p $DNS @127.0.0.1 "$2" A | awk '$4 == "SOA" && $1 ~ /jarl\.invalid\.$/ {print $1; f = 1} END {if (!f) print "none"}'
+}
+expect_rpz_from() { # DESC SOURCE NAME WANT
+	local got
+	for i in $(seq 30); do got=$(rpz_from "$2" "$3"); [ "$got" = "$4" ] && break; sleep 0.2; done
+	if [ "$got" = "$4" ]; then ok "$1: $3 from $2 -> $4"; else bad "$1: $3 from $2 -> $got, want $4"; fi
+}
+printf '||social.adbraun.test^\n' > $E/lists/strict.txt
+run "block step add" 0 $J block step add strict
+run "blocklist add at a step" 0 $J blocklist add social http://127.0.0.1:$LISTS/strict.txt --step strict
+contains "applied"
+run "a step no group reaches: warned" 0 $J status
+contains "blocks nothing"
+run "block group add (off)" 0 $J block group add work 127.0.0.2 --step off
+run "block group add (strict, with an IPv6 network)" 0 $J block group add kids 127.0.0.3 2001:db8:77::/64 --step strict
+run "block group list" 0 $J block group list
+contains "kids  *strict  *127.0.0.3, 2001:db8:77::/64"
+expect_rpz_from "normal: the normal list" 127.0.0.1 x.new.adbraun.test test.blocklist.jarl.invalid.
+expect_rpz_from "normal: not the strict list" 127.0.0.1 x.social.adbraun.test none
+expect_rpz_from "off: no lists" 127.0.0.2 x.new.adbraun.test none
+expect_rpz_from "off: but your rules" 127.0.0.2 blocked.adbraun.test rules.jarl.invalid.
+expect_rpz_from "strict: the strict list" 127.0.0.3 x.social.adbraun.test social.blocklist.jarl.invalid.
+expect_rpz_from "strict: and the normal list" 127.0.0.3 x.new.adbraun.test test.blocklist.jarl.invalid.
+run "block check names the step" 0 $J block check x.social.adbraun.test
+contains "for clients at step strict and above"
+run "a step in use can't be deleted (exit 5)" 5 $J block step delete strict
+run "move the work laptop to normal" 0 $J block group update work --step normal
+expect_rpz_from "now normal" 127.0.0.2 x.new.adbraun.test test.blocklist.jarl.invalid.
+run "block group delete" 0 $J block group delete work
+run "block group delete kids" 0 $J block group delete kids
+run "blocklist delete social" 0 $J blocklist delete social --yes
+run "block step delete" 0 $J block step delete strict
+run "no gates left" 1 grep -q 'gate.jarl.invalid' $E/etc-jarl/named.conf
 run "blocklist disable" 0 $J blocklist disable test
 expect_rpz "a disabled list doesn't block" x.new.adbraun.test none
 run "blocklist delete" 0 $J blocklist delete test --yes