---
phase: 01-topic-start-hardening
plan: 02
subsystem: runtime
tags: [aitp, explainability, topic-dashboard, runtime-bundle]
requires:
  - phase: 01-topic-start-hardening
    provides: Source-grounded topic-start defaults
provides:
  - machine-readable status explainability
  - operator-console explainability rendering
  - resume/dashboard explainability rendering
affects: [phase-01, runtime-resume, status-surfaces]
tech-stack:
  added: []
  patterns: [status_explainability surface, durable route/evidence/human-need summaries]
key-files:
  created: []
  modified: [research/knowledge-hub/runtime/scripts/sync_topic_state.py, research/knowledge-hub/runtime/scripts/orchestrate_topic.py, research/knowledge-hub/runtime/README.md, research/knowledge-hub/tests/test_runtime_scripts.py]
key-decisions:
  - "Keep explainability machine-readable in topic_state and render it outward into markdown surfaces."
patterns-established:
  - "Runtime status questions should be answerable from durable artifacts instead of chat reconstruction."
requirements-completed: [STAT-01, STAT-02, STAT-03]
duration: 20min
completed: 2026-03-31
---

# Phase 1: Topic-Start Hardening Summary

**Runtime status surfaces now explain why a topic is here, what route it is following, what evidence returned last, and what human need remains**

## Performance

- **Duration:** 20 min
- **Started:** 2026-03-31T04:40:00+08:00
- **Completed:** 2026-03-31T05:00:00+08:00
- **Tasks:** 2
- **Files modified:** 4

## Accomplishments
- Added machine-readable `status_explainability` synthesis.
- Rendered explainability into resume and operator-console surfaces.
- Locked the rendering with runtime-script regression coverage.

## Task Commits

Each task was completed in the working tree without atomic git commits in this session.

1. **Task 1: Build machine-readable status explainability** - `(uncommitted)`
2. **Task 2: Render explainability into runtime surfaces** - `(uncommitted)`

**Plan metadata:** `(retroactive summary)`

## Files Created/Modified
- `research/knowledge-hub/runtime/scripts/sync_topic_state.py` - explainability synthesis
- `research/knowledge-hub/runtime/scripts/orchestrate_topic.py` - explainability rendering
- `research/knowledge-hub/runtime/README.md` - runtime explainability contract
- `research/knowledge-hub/tests/test_runtime_scripts.py` - explainability regressions

## Decisions Made
- Explainability belongs in `topic_state.json` first and markdown surfaces second.

## Deviations from Plan

None - plan executed exactly as written.

## Issues Encountered

None

## User Setup Required

None - no external service configuration required.

## Next Phase Readiness

- Runtime surfaces now provide enough visibility to support checkpoint and steering durability.

---
*Phase: 01-topic-start-hardening*
*Completed: 2026-03-31*
