---
cycle: 286
role: epsilon
type: cdd-iteration
---
# CDD Iteration — Cycle #286

## Summary

Cycle #286 implements autonomous in-cycle coordination through γ encapsulation of α and β from the operator. This is a structural CDD framework modification that changes the communication contract between roles and the operator. The cycle resolves the operator-relay bottleneck by making γ the sole in-cycle interface to the operator, while preserving α↔β isolation through the artifact channel.

## Findings

| # | Axis | Severity | Description | Evidence | Disposition |
|---|------|----------|-------------|----------|-------------|
| 1 | cdd-protocol-gap | A | Operator attention bottleneck blocks CDD scalability | Issue #286 analysis — every cycle burns operator time on relay and pasting regardless of complexity | MCA — encapsulation protocol in CDD.md §1.4 |
| 2 | cdd-protocol-gap | A | α/β context leakage violates triadic encapsulation | Issue #286 problem statement — intermediate findings and harness noise reach operator | MCA — triadic rule expansion with explicit encapsulation |
| 3 | cdd-skill-gap | B | γ lacks autonomous dispatch capability | Current γ/SKILL.md only drafts prompts; δ executes dispatch manually | MCA — γ spawn mechanism with graceful degradation |
| 4 | cdd-skill-gap | B | Named decision-points undefined | No explicit enumeration of when γ pauses for operator vs acts autonomously | MCA — decision-point taxonomy in CDD.md §1.4 |
| 5 | cdd-skill-gap | B | α/β operator-direct language present | alpha/SKILL.md and beta/SKILL.md contain "report to operator" patterns | MCA — role skill operator-direct references removal |

## Protocol health signal

This cycle represents a major CDD capability expansion: moving from γ-as-prompt-drafter to γ-as-autonomous-coordinator. The structural change enables parallel cycles, longer-running cycles, and operator-light review periods while preserving the triadic isolation that makes review add information. Critical precondition: `cn dispatch` CLI harness capability for γ to spawn α/β sub-sessions — graceful degradation clause provides migration path.

## Disposition

All 5 findings warrant MCAs per severity A/B classification. This is structural CDD self-modification across:
- CDD.md §1.4 (roles table, triadic rule, default flow, γ algorithm, operator override, tracking)
- gamma/SKILL.md (autonomous coordinator section, silence rule, kata)
- alpha/SKILL.md (operator-direct references removal)
- beta/SKILL.md (Role Rule 1 expansion, operator-direct references removal)
- operator/SKILL.md (δ-bridge clarification)

Expected outcome: γ drives α↔β cycles autonomously, surfacing only consolidated state and named decision-points to operator. Operator remains source of selection authority, scope authority, and release confirmation — encapsulation narrows the interface without eliminating it.