# α closeout — Cycle 421

**Cycle:** [cnos#421](https://github.com/usurobor/cnos/issues/421) — Track A1 of [cnos#405](https://github.com/usurobor/cnos/issues/405)
**Branch:** `cycle/421`
**Author:** α (collapsed γ+α+β on δ)
**Date:** 2026-05-23

## What α shipped

Two new files; one new directory:

| Path | Lines | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| `docs/gamma/design/ccnf-o-track-a1-survey.md` | 382 | Survey + 5 pinned decisions + 6 refined sub-issue paragraphs + 10 deferred questions |
| `docs/gamma/design/README.md` | 26 | New directory's Document Map; categorical separation from `docs/gamma/essays/` |

`docs/gamma/design/` is a new directory in the repo — the survey doc establishes the directory's purpose (decision artifacts; survey + decision class per `cnos.core/skills/design/SKILL.md §1.0`).

## What α did NOT ship

Per the hard rules in `gamma-scaffold.md` (and AC8 / AC9 / AC11 verifications in `self-coherence.md`):

- No CUE schemas (`schemas/ccnf-o/` does not exist).
- No Go types (`src/go/` untouched).
- No `cn cdd verify` changes.
- No `src/packages/` edits anywhere (cdd / cds / cdr / handoff / core / eng all untouched).
- No CCNF kernel changes (CDD.md / COHERENCE-CELL.md / COHERENCE-CELL-NORMAL-FORM.md untouched).
- No #405 tracker body edits.
- No `docs/gamma/essays/README.md` edits (the survey landed in `docs/gamma/design/`; `essays/README.md` does not need a row).

## Decision summary (the five pins)

1. **Name:** CCNF-O.
2. **Surface inventory:** 20 surfaces classified — 12 universal (U), 7 handoff-resident (H, CCNF-O may type, handoff owns), 1 split (Finding + closeout chain).
3. **Higher-level forms:** all 6 universal in shape; only SubstantialCycle's per-realization artifact-set fill is realization-specific.
4. **TSC integration v0.1 scope:** Track B1 dispatches in parallel with Track A2 (3 touchpoints; 4 Track-A1-only dependencies, all met).
5. **Package location:** new `cnos.ccnf-o` package (peer to `cnos.cdd` / `cnos.cds` / `cnos.cdr` / `cnos.handoff`); option (a) and (c) rejected with rationale.

## Dispatchable next moves

Two cycles become dispatchable on close-of-#421:

- **Track A2** — type dispatch-prompt + implementation-contract schemas; generate Go via `cue exp gengotypes`; wire into `cn cdd verify`. Empirical anchor: #393. Dispatch brief shape pinned in §6 of the survey.
- **Track B1** — design TSC report attachment for accepted CCNF receipts. Empirical anchor: `docs/gamma/essays/DECREASING-INCOHERENCE.md §"Per-shipment artifact contract"`. Dispatch brief shape pinned in §6 of the survey. **May dispatch in parallel with Track A2.**

## Findings / protocol gaps surfaced this cycle

None. The cycle is a clean survey-and-pin cycle; no `cdd-skill-gap`, `cdd-protocol-gap`, `cdd-tooling-gap`, or `cdd-metric-gap` surfaced. `protocol_gap_count = 0` — `cdd-iteration.md` is a courtesy stub per cycle/401 convention.

## β verdict

APPROVE — Round 1. See [`beta-review.md`](beta-review.md).

## Operator action on close

Merge `cycle/421` to `main` with `--no-ff` and message `Merge cycle/421: Track A1 of #405 — CCNF-O survey + name-pick + sub-issue queue. Closes #421.`. #405 stays open; Tracks A2 + B1 dispatchable thereafter.
