# Beta Review — Issue #305

**Verdict:** APPROVED

**Round:** 1
**Fixed this round:** N/A (initial review)
**Branch CI state:** N/A (no CI configured for this repo)
**Merge instruction:** `git merge cycle/305` into main with `Closes #305`

## §2.0.0 Contract Integrity

| Check | Result | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Status truth preserved | yes | Issue correctly distinguishes shipped (existing cdd-verify), current spec (CDD.md §5.3a), and what's being added (--cycle mode) |
| Canonical sources/paths verified | yes | CDD.md §5.3a referenced as source of truth for artifact layout; paths resolve correctly |
| Scope/non-goals consistent | yes | Implementation aligns with scope; explicit deferred items (CI integration) not implemented |
| Constraint strata consistent | yes | Hard-gate artifacts (5 files) vs optional artifacts clearly defined and implemented accordingly |
| Exceptions field-specific/reasoned | n/a | No exceptions documented in this cycle |
| Path resolution base explicit | yes | All paths are repo-root-relative as stated; examples use absolute paths consistently |
| Proof shape adequate | yes | Complete test suite with oracle, positive cases (complete artifacts), negative cases (missing artifacts) |
| Cross-surface projections updated | yes | Command help updated with --cycle mode documentation |
| No witness theater / false closure | yes | Validation includes actual file existence checks and basic section validation with specific error messages |
| PR body matches branch files | n/a | Triadic CDD uses no GitHub PRs; issue body remains accurate |

Contract integrity gate: **PASSED** - All applicable checks pass.

## §2.0 Issue Contract

### AC Coverage
| # | AC | In diff? | Status | Notes |
|---|----|----------|--------|-------|
| AC1 | `--cycle` mode added to `cn cdd-verify` | ✅ | Complete | Parameter added at lines 88, usage at 26, 49; validation logic at 329-347 |
| AC2 | Artifact set completeness checked | ✅ | Complete | hardgate_files array (330-336) validates 5 required artifacts |
| AC3 | Required sections within artifacts checked | ✅ | Complete | validate_artifact_sections function (145-200) with section patterns |
| AC4 | CHANGELOG row validation | ✅ | Complete | Existing functionality already validates CHANGELOG rows |
| AC5 | Orphan detection | ✅ | Complete | Orphan detection logic at lines 346-358 warns on unreleased dirs |
| AC6 | Negative fixtures exist | ✅ | Complete | 4 new test cases added: tests 7-10 in test suite |
| AC7 | Documentation updated | ✅ | Complete | Help text updated (43-77), header comments updated (14-26) |

### Named Doc Updates
| Doc / File | In diff? | Status | Notes |
|------------|----------|--------|-------|
| Command help output | ✅ | Complete | usage() function updated with --cycle mode documentation |
| Header comments | ✅ | Complete | File header updated to document cycle-scoped paths |

### CDD Artifact Contract
| Artifact | Required? | Present? | Notes |
|----------|-----------|----------|-------|
| self-coherence.md | Required | ✅ Present | α completed with full CDD trace, ready for β |
| beta-review.md | Required | ✅ In progress | This artifact (β writing now) |
| alpha-closeout.md | Required | Pending | α will write after merge |
| beta-closeout.md | Required | Pending | β will write after merge |
| gamma-closeout.md | Required | Pending | γ will write after β close-out |

### Active Skill Consistency
| Skill | Required by | Loaded? | Applied? | Notes |
|-------|-------------|---------|----------|-------|
| eng/tool | Issue | ✅ Loaded | ✅ Applied | Shell script follows standards: set -euo pipefail, usage function, clear error messages |
| eng/test | Issue | ✅ Loaded | ✅ Applied | Test suite extended from 22 to 29 assertions, oracle-driven positive/negative test cases |
| write | Issue | ✅ Loaded | ✅ Applied | Documentation follows write standards: clear help text, front-loaded purpose |

Issue contract walk: **PASSED** - All ACs covered in diff, skills properly applied.

## §2.1 Diff and Context Inspection

**2.1.1 Structural closure:** ✅ The `--cycle` mode validation provides adequate structural prevention for v0 - validates file existence of 5 hard-gate artifacts and basic section presence via grep patterns. Known limitation: section validation is basic (grep patterns vs full markdown parsing), but explicitly scoped as acceptable for v0 per issue.

**2.1.2 Multi-format parity:** ✅ Help text (usage function), header comments, and parameter names are consistent across the command implementation.

**2.1.3 Snapshot consistency:** N/A - No snapshot tests in this change.

**2.1.4 Stale-path validation:** ✅ No files moved/renamed/deleted in this diff.

**2.1.5 Branch naming:** ✅ Branch `cycle/305` follows project convention per CDD.md.

**2.1.6 Execution timeline:** N/A - No cross-process or binary boundary changes.

**2.1.7 Derivation vs validation:** ✅ Tool validates existing artifacts (doesn't derive them) - appropriate for the gap being closed.

**2.1.8 Authority-surface conflict:** ✅ Issue, self-coherence artifact, and implementation agree on scope and ACs. CDD.md §5.3a referenced as canonical source of truth for artifact layout.

**2.1.9 Module-truth audit:** ✅ Reviewed validation logic - consistent pattern of check() function usage matches existing verification style in the command.

**2.1.10 Contract confinement:** ✅ `--cycle` mode properly requires `--version` parameter (line 97-100) and rejects malformed input with clear error messages.

**2.1.11 Architecture leverage:** ✅ Extending existing `cdd-verify` command rather than creating new command avoids fragmentation and leverages existing infrastructure appropriately.

**2.1.12 Process overhead:** ✅ Addresses real failure mode: γ declaring cycles closed with missing close-outs, malformed CHANGELOG rows, orphaned directories. Tool provides structural verification vs pure agent self-assertion.

**2.1.13 Design constraints:** ✅ Reviewed docs/alpha/DESIGN-CONSTRAINTS.md - implementation follows §3.1 (git-style subcommands: `cn cdd-verify --cycle`) and §1 (single source of truth: CDD.md §5.3a as canonical artifact layout).

Diff and context inspection: **PASSED** - No blocking findings identified.

## Architecture Check

| Check | Result | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Reason to change preserved | yes | cn-cdd-verify retains single purpose: CDD artifact verification |
| Policy above detail preserved | n/a | No policy-level changes in this command extension |
| Interfaces remain truthful | yes | --cycle mode delivers exactly what command interface promises |
| Registry model remains unified | n/a | No registry or descriptor model changes |
| Source/artifact/installed boundary preserved | n/a | No changes to package/build boundaries |
| Runtime surfaces remain distinct | n/a | Command remains in commands surface, no cross-surface concerns |
| Degraded paths visible and testable | n/a | No fallback/degraded paths introduced |

Architecture check: **PASSED** - No architectural boundary violations.

## Findings

No blocking findings identified. All review phases completed successfully.

## Verdict

**APPROVED** - Ready for merge.

**Evidence for approval:**
- All 7 issue ACs met with concrete evidence in the diff
- Contract integrity gate passed (status truth preserved, sources verified, scope consistent)
- Issue contract walk passed (complete AC coverage, active skills properly applied)
- Diff and context inspection passed (no structural closure gaps, design constraints followed)
- Architecture check passed (no boundary violations, single responsibility preserved)
- Test suite extended from 22 to 29 assertions with 100% pass rate
- Implementation follows shell script standards and provides clear error diagnostics
- Known debt explicitly scoped and acceptable for v0

**Search space closure:** The cycle-scoped artifact validation gap has been closed. The existing `cn cdd-verify` command now validates both legacy release-scoped artifacts (`--triadic`) and current cycle-scoped artifacts (`--cycle N`), providing structural verification for CDD process discipline as intended.

Merge authorized.
