@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+---
+'@object-ui/data-objectstack': patch
+---
+
+fix(data-objectstack): a plain list read of an object the server does not know rejects with its 404 code and sentence instead of reading as an empty list
+
+Clause-②: no
+Metadata-protocol: none
+
+`ObjectStackAdapter.find` on its plain path (no `$expand`, no `$search`) used to turn every 404 into `{ data: [], total: 0 }` and remember the resource, so every later read of it answered empty without asking the server. That memo exists for optional platform collections such as `sys_presence` and `sys_activity`, whose absence means the deployment does not install the feature. It also swallowed the 404 `OBJECT_NOT_FOUND` of a list's own object, so an object that failed to register read as "no data yet".
+
+The empty answer and the memo now apply only to names in the platform registry (`isPlatformProvidedObjectName` from `@objectstack/spec`). A 404 on any other object is rethrown with its code, status and message, and is not remembered, so lists, boards, widgets and pickers over a missing object show their load-failure state. A dashboard figure over a missing object no longer reads 0. Enable-block denials (`OBJECT_API_DISABLED`, `OBJECT_API_METHOD_NOT_ALLOWED`) are rethrown as before.
@@ -66,6 +66,7 @@ function makeAdapter(status: number, body: unknown) {
     );
   });
   const ds: any = new ObjectStackAdapter({ baseUrl: 'http://test.local', fetch: fetchImpl });
+  ds.__fetch = fetchImpl;
   return ds;
 }
 
@@ -154,3 +155,53 @@ describe('object list · an OBJECT_API_DISABLED 404 is not an empty list (#4408)
     expect(container.querySelector('[data-testid="list-error-state"]')).toBeNull();
   });
 });
+
+/**
+ * objectstack#29782 — the same masking one code over, on the list's plain
+ * read path. An object that failed to register answers 404
+ * `OBJECT_NOT_FOUND`. The adapter's plain `find()` (no `$expand`, no
+ * `$search`) degraded that to zero rows and memoised it, so the list said
+ * "no data yet" about an object that does not exist, and #29704's panel
+ * (the server's sentence and code) was reachable only on the raw path. The
+ * empty answer now belongs to platform collections alone
+ * (`isPlatformProvidedObjectName`); `sys_jwks` above is one, which is why the
+ * bare-404 control there still reads empty.
+ */
+describe('object list · a 404 OBJECT_NOT_FOUND on the plain read path is not an empty list (objectstack#29782)', () => {
+  const missingSchema: ListViewSchema = {
+    type: 'list-view',
+    objectName: 'crm_invoice',
+    fields: ['name'],
+  } as ListViewSchema;
+
+  it("shows the server's sentence and code, not the empty state", async () => {
+    const ds = makeAdapter(404, {
+      success: false,
+      error: { code: 'OBJECT_NOT_FOUND', message: "Object 'crm_invoice' is not registered" },
+    });
+    const { container } = render(
+      <SchemaRendererProvider dataSource={ds}>
+        <ListView schema={missingSchema} dataSource={ds} />
+      </SchemaRendererProvider>,
+    );
+
+    const panel = await waitFor(() => {
+      const el = container.querySelector('[data-testid="list-error-state"]');
+      expect(el).not.toBeNull();
+      return el as HTMLElement;
+    });
+
+    expect(panel.textContent).toContain("Object 'crm_invoice' is not registered");
+    expect(panel.querySelector('[data-testid="list-error-code"]')?.textContent).toBe('OBJECT_NOT_FOUND');
+    expect(panel.textContent).not.toMatch(/connection/i);
+    expect(container.querySelector('[data-testid="empty-state"]')).toBeNull();
+
+    // Every data read the list made took the plain path: the masking lived
+    // there, so a read that went raw would make this pass for the wrong reason.
+    const dataCalls = (ds.__fetch.mock.calls as unknown[][])
+      .map(([url]) => String(url))
+      .filter((u) => u.includes('/data/'));
+    expect(dataCalls.length).toBeGreaterThan(0);
+    expect(dataCalls.every((u) => !/populate=|[$]?search=/.test(decodeURIComponent(u)))).toBe(true);
+  });
+});
@@ -140,10 +140,13 @@ describe('ObjectStackDataSource.find — enable-block denials are surfaced, not
   });
 
   it('CONTROL: a 404 RECORD_NOT_FOUND is not an enable-block denial', async () => {
+    // On a platform collection, so the 404 takes the optional-collection
+    // branch. A non-registry object's 404 is rethrown instead
+    // (findMissingObject-29782.test.ts).
     const find = vi.fn().mockRejectedValue(clientError('No such record', 404, 'RECORD_NOT_FOUND'));
     const ds = makeDS(find);
 
-    await expect(ds.find('account')).resolves.toMatchObject({ data: [], total: 0 });
+    await expect(ds.find('sys_comment')).resolves.toMatchObject({ data: [], total: 0 });
   });
 
   it('CONTROL: a 2xx with zero rows resolves as an ordinary empty result', async () => {
 
@@ -0,0 +1,164 @@
+/**
+ * ObjectUI
+ * Copyright (c) 2024-present ObjectStack Inc.
+ *
+ * This source code is licensed under the MIT license found in the
+ * LICENSE file in the root directory of this source tree.
+ */
+
+/**
+ * A plain list read of an object the server does not know must reach the
+ * surface as a failure, not as "no data yet".
+ *
+ * `find()`'s SDK path (no `$expand`, no `$search`) degraded every 404 to
+ * `{ data: [], total: 0 }` and memoised the resource in `missingResources`.
+ * That memo exists for OPTIONAL platform collections (`sys_presence`,
+ * `sys_activity`, …), whose absence means "this deployment does not install
+ * the feature". It also swallowed the 404 of a list's OWN object: an object
+ * that failed to register answered 404 `OBJECT_NOT_FOUND`, the list showed its
+ * empty state, and every later read of that object short-circuited to empty
+ * without asking again.
+ *
+ * The error code cannot split the two cases: an uninstalled `sys_presence` and
+ * an unregistered `crm_invoice` both answer 404 `OBJECT_NOT_FOUND`. The split
+ * is by name, against the platform's curated registry
+ * (`isPlatformProvidedObjectName`, @objectstack/spec): a registry name keeps
+ * the empty answer and the memo; any other object's 404 is rethrown and not
+ * memoised.
+ */
+
+import { describe, it, expect, vi } from 'vitest';
+import { isPlatformProvidedObjectName } from '@objectstack/spec/system';
+import { ObjectStackAdapter } from './index';
+
+/** An error shaped the way `@objectstack/client`'s fetch wrapper throws one. */
+function clientError(message: string, httpStatus: number, code?: string) {
+  const err = new Error(message) as Error & { httpStatus: number; code?: string };
+  err.httpStatus = httpStatus;
+  if (code) err.code = code;
+  return err;
+}
+
+function makeDS(find: any) {
+  const ds: any = new ObjectStackAdapter({
+    baseUrl: 'http://test.local',
+    fetch: vi.fn(async () =>
+      new Response(JSON.stringify({ success: true, data: { capabilities: {}, routes: {} } }), {
+        status: 200,
+        headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
+      })),
+  });
+  ds.connected = true;
+  ds.connectionState = 'connected';
+  ds.client = { data: { find } };
+  return ds;
+}
+
+const MISSING = 'crm_invoice';
+const NOT_FOUND_SENTENCE = "Object 'crm_invoice' is not registered";
+
+describe('find — a 404 on a non-platform object is rethrown, not emptied', () => {
+  it('the names these tests lean on sit on the right side of the registry', () => {
+    expect(isPlatformProvidedObjectName(MISSING)).toBe(false);
+    expect(isPlatformProvidedObjectName('sys_presence')).toBe(true);
+    expect(isPlatformProvidedObjectName('sys_activity')).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it('REJECTS a plain find answered 404 OBJECT_NOT_FOUND, with the code, status and sentence', async () => {
+    const find = vi.fn().mockRejectedValue(clientError(NOT_FOUND_SENTENCE, 404, 'OBJECT_NOT_FOUND'));
+    const ds = makeDS(find);
+
+    await expect(ds.find(MISSING, { $top: 0 })).rejects.toMatchObject({
+      code: 'OBJECT_NOT_FOUND',
+      httpStatus: 404,
+      message: NOT_FOUND_SENTENCE,
+    });
+  });
+
+  it('does not memoise it: a second find asks the server again and rejects again', async () => {
+    const find = vi.fn().mockRejectedValue(clientError(NOT_FOUND_SENTENCE, 404, 'OBJECT_NOT_FOUND'));
+    const ds = makeDS(find);
+
+    await expect(ds.find(MISSING)).rejects.toMatchObject({ code: 'OBJECT_NOT_FOUND' });
+    await expect(ds.find(MISSING, { $top: 25 })).rejects.toMatchObject({ code: 'OBJECT_NOT_FOUND' });
+    expect(find).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2);
+  });
+
+  it('a bare 404 with no code on a non-platform object is rethrown too', async () => {
+    const find = vi.fn().mockRejectedValue(clientError('Not found', 404));
+    const ds = makeDS(find);
+
+    await expect(ds.find(MISSING)).rejects.toMatchObject({ httpStatus: 404 });
+    await expect(ds.find(MISSING)).rejects.toMatchObject({ httpStatus: 404 });
+    expect(find).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2);
+  });
+
+  it('over the real client: the wrapped 404 envelope reaches the caller as code + status', async () => {
+    const dataUrls: string[] = [];
+    const fetchImpl = vi.fn(async (url: RequestInfo | URL) => {
+      const href = String(url);
+      if (href.includes('/data/')) {
+        dataUrls.push(href);
+        return new Response(
+          JSON.stringify({ success: false, error: { code: 'OBJECT_NOT_FOUND', message: NOT_FOUND_SENTENCE } }),
+          { status: 404, headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' } },
+        );
+      }
+      return new Response(JSON.stringify({ success: true, data: { capabilities: {}, routes: {} } }), {
+        status: 200,
+        headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
+      });
+    });
+    const ds: any = new ObjectStackAdapter({ baseUrl: 'http://test.local', fetch: fetchImpl });
+    ds.connected = true;
+    ds.connectionState = 'connected';
+
+    await expect(ds.find(MISSING, { $top: 0 })).rejects.toMatchObject({
+      code: 'OBJECT_NOT_FOUND',
+      httpStatus: 404,
+    });
+    await expect(ds.find(MISSING, { $top: 0 })).rejects.toMatchObject({ code: 'OBJECT_NOT_FOUND' });
+    expect(dataUrls).toHaveLength(2);
+    expect(dataUrls.every((u) => u.includes(`/data/${MISSING}`))).toBe(true);
+  });
+});
+
+describe('find — CONTROLS: the platform optional-collection half is unchanged', () => {
+  it('CONTROL: a registry name answered 404 OBJECT_NOT_FOUND degrades to empty and is memoised', async () => {
+    const find = vi.fn().mockRejectedValue(clientError("Object 'sys_presence' not found", 404, 'OBJECT_NOT_FOUND'));
+    const ds = makeDS(find);
+
+    await expect(ds.find('sys_presence')).resolves.toMatchObject({ data: [], total: 0 });
+    // Short-circuited: the second call never reaches the server.
+    await expect(ds.find('sys_presence', { $top: 5 })).resolves.toMatchObject({ data: [], total: 0 });
+    expect(find).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+  });
+
+  it('CONTROL: the memo is per resource: an emptied platform name does not empty a missing object', async () => {
+    const find = vi.fn(async (resource: string) => {
+      throw clientError(`Object '${resource}' not found`, 404, 'OBJECT_NOT_FOUND');
+    });
+    const ds = makeDS(find);
+
+    await expect(ds.find('sys_activity')).resolves.toMatchObject({ data: [], total: 0 });
+    await expect(ds.find(MISSING)).rejects.toMatchObject({ code: 'OBJECT_NOT_FOUND' });
+  });
+
+  it('CONTROL: an enable-block denial still rethrows, on a platform name and on any other', async () => {
+    const find = vi.fn().mockRejectedValue(clientError('Object API is disabled', 404, 'OBJECT_API_DISABLED'));
+    const ds = makeDS(find);
+
+    await expect(ds.find('sys_jwks')).rejects.toMatchObject({ code: 'OBJECT_API_DISABLED', httpStatus: 404 });
+    await expect(ds.find(MISSING)).rejects.toMatchObject({ code: 'OBJECT_API_DISABLED', httpStatus: 404 });
+    // Neither is memoised: the platform name is asked again.
+    await expect(ds.find('sys_jwks')).rejects.toMatchObject({ code: 'OBJECT_API_DISABLED' });
+    expect(find).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(3);
+  });
+
+  it('CONTROL: a 2xx with zero rows on a non-platform object is still an ordinary empty result', async () => {
+    const find = vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({ records: [], total: 0 });
+    const ds = makeDS(find);
+
+    await expect(ds.find(MISSING)).resolves.toMatchObject({ data: [], total: 0 });
+  });
+});
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ import { isRefusedTextComparand, textComparandRefusalReason } from '@objectstack
 import type { ApiError, BatchUpdateResponse, ValidateDataIssue } from '@objectstack/spec/api';
 import { ValidateDataIssueSchema } from '@objectstack/spec/api';
 import { stripReadDecorations } from '@objectstack/spec/kernel';
+import { isPlatformProvidedObjectName } from '@objectstack/spec/system';
 // #4237 — the metadata save door's advisory reader, shared with `MetadataClient`
 // rather than forked. ONE reader, two call sites: the other client class calls it
 // from `MetadataClient.save` (#4133/#4236), this one from the interceptor below.
@@ -3448,10 +3449,13 @@ export class ObjectStackAdapter<T = unknown> implements DataSource<T> {
   private inflightFieldAccess = new Map<string, Promise<RecordFieldAccess | null>>();
   private unansweredFieldAccess = new Set<string>();
   private fieldAccessUnsupported = false;
-  // Resources that have responded 404 at least once (collection not installed
-  // on this backend). Subsequent find() calls short-circuit to an empty result
-  // so optional collections like sys_presence don't hammer the server with
-  // failing requests on every record open / panel render.
+  // Platform collections that have responded 404 at least once (the package
+  // that registers them is not installed on this backend). Subsequent find()
+  // calls short-circuit to an empty result so optional collections like
+  // sys_presence don't hammer the server with failing requests on every record
+  // open / panel render. Only names in the platform registry
+  // (`isPlatformProvidedObjectName`, @objectstack/spec) ever enter it: a 404
+  // on any other object is the surface's own object missing, and is rethrown.
   private missingResources = new Set<string>();
   // Set once the server has told us it can't do a cross-object transactional
   // batch (the client SDK's data.batchTransaction threw HTTP 404/405/501). After
@@ -3812,9 +3816,10 @@ export class ObjectStackAdapter<T = unknown> implements DataSource<T> {
    * Converts OData-style params to ObjectStack query options.
    */
   async find(resource: string, params?: QueryParams): Promise<QueryResult<T>> {
-    // Short-circuit when this resource has previously responded 404 — the
-    // collection isn't installed on this backend. Callers (AppHeader,
-    // RecordDetailView, …) treat empty data as "feature unavailable".
+    // Short-circuit when this platform collection has previously responded
+    // 404 — the package that registers it isn't installed on this backend.
+    // Callers (AppHeader, RecordDetailView, …) treat empty data as "feature
+    // unavailable". Only registry names are ever memoised (see the catch).
     if (this.missingResources.has(resource)) {
       return { data: [], total: 0 } as QueryResult<T>;
     }
@@ -3849,7 +3854,21 @@ export class ObjectStackAdapter<T = unknown> implements DataSource<T> {
         // (objectui#4408). Rethrow so the surface can say what happened; the
         // `missingResources` memo must not absorb it either, or the very first
         // denial would silently pin every later call to empty.
-        if (!isApiAccessDeniedError(err) && is404Error(err)) {
+        //
+        // A 404 degrades to empty ONLY for a platform-provided collection
+        // (the curated registry in @objectstack/spec): there, absence means
+        // "this deployment does not install the feature", and the optional
+        // probes read empty as exactly that. The error code cannot make this
+        // split: an uninstalled sys_presence and a list's own unregistered
+        // object both answer 404 `OBJECT_NOT_FOUND`. Any other object is the
+        // surface's own, so its 404 is rethrown, unmemoised, and the surface's
+        // load-failure state shows the server's code and sentence instead of
+        // "no data yet" (an object that failed to register is not empty).
+        if (
+          !isApiAccessDeniedError(err)
+          && is404Error(err)
+          && isPlatformProvidedObjectName(resource)
+        ) {
           // Mark the resource so subsequent calls don't repeat the 404.
           this.missingResources.add(resource);
           return { data: [], total: 0 } as QueryResult<T>;