# γ closeout — Cycle 423

**Cycle:** [cnos#423](https://github.com/usurobor/cnos/issues/423) — Build-fix for cnos#416 cross-repo stub missing triggers
**Branch:** `cycle/423` (from `origin/main` @ `7a1f7024`)
**Closer:** γ (collapsed γ+α+β on δ)
**Date:** 2026-05-23

## What this cycle shipped

A P0 build-fix: one frontmatter-only addition to the cnos#416 compatibility stub so the activation validator stops reporting `IssueEmptyTriggers` against it.

| Artifact | Path | Disposition | Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cross-repo stub triggers fix | `src/packages/cnos.cdd/skills/cdd/cross-repo/SKILL.md` | Modified (+3/-0) | Frontmatter-only addition: `triggers: [cross-repo-moved, handoff-extracted]` |
| γ scaffold | `.cdd/unreleased/423/gamma-scaffold.md` | New | Cycle scaffold (D1 plan + hard rules + 7 ACs) |
| Self-coherence | `.cdd/unreleased/423/self-coherence.md` | New | AC1–AC7 mechanical pass-set |
| α closeout | `.cdd/unreleased/423/alpha-closeout.md` | New | α-side close |
| β review | `.cdd/unreleased/423/beta-review.md` | New | Substantive review; APPROVE Round 1 |
| β closeout | `.cdd/unreleased/423/beta-closeout.md` | New | β-side close + release-readiness signal for δ |
| γ closeout | `.cdd/unreleased/423/gamma-closeout.md` | New | this file |
| cdd-iteration (binding finding) | `.cdd/unreleased/423/cdd-iteration.md` | New | `protocol_gap_count = 1`; `cdd-skill-gap`; next-MCA |
| INDEX.md row | `.cdd/iterations/INDEX.md` | Appended | Cycle 423 row: findings=1, patches=1, MCAs=1, no-patch=0 |

## The boundary this cycle names

cnos#416 (Sub 2 of #404) authored a 28-line compatibility pointer to replace the canonical cross-repo SKILL.md inside `cnos.cdd` when handoff was extracted to its own package. The dispatch brief was thorough on canonical-side authoring (the new 643-line handoff SKILL.md), citation re-pointing (5 cdd-side skills), and extraction-map updates — but it did not enumerate the activation validator's "every SKILL.md needs non-empty `triggers:`" requirement, because the activation/Validate skill was not loaded as a Tier 3 reference. The stub-authoring step proceeded with `artifact_class: pointer` and `status: moved` framing but no `triggers:`, and CI went red on the post-v3.82.0 merge.

cycle/423 patches the data (add triggers field) rather than the contract (modify Validate to exempt pointer skills). The architectural alternative — having Validate skip `artifact_class: pointer` skills from the empty-triggers check — is cleaner but more invasive, and is recorded as a next-MCA disposition for operator selection at next-MCA dispatch.

## Findings + dispositions

**One binding finding** — `cdd-skill-gap` (loaded-skill miss). See `cdd-iteration.md`.

- **Patch in this cycle:** add triggers to the cnos#416 stub (α-423 commit). Unblocks CI; restores green on main.
- **next-MCA disposition:** patch the cdd dispatch template (or activation/SKILL.md, or stub-authoring pattern docs) to require non-empty `triggers:` on all SKILL.md files including pointers; OR patch `internal/activation/Validate` to exempt `artifact_class: pointer` skills from the empty-triggers check. Operator picks.
- **First AC for eventual MCA:** "every SKILL.md frontmatter ships with non-empty `triggers:` OR `internal/activation/Validate` skips `artifact_class: pointer` skills".

## Other corpus issues (out of scope for this cycle)

The post-fix corpus validation reports 26 total issues across 85 skills. None are `IssueEmptyTriggers` (the only kind the test treats as failure); the remainder are `IssueConflictingTriggers` / `IssueMissingFrontmatter` / similar that the test logs for visibility but does not assert against. Per the cycle's hard rule "no other skill edits," these are deferred. If any warrant patching, a follow-on cycle should:

1. Survey the 26 by kind.
2. Triage corpus-level fixes (duplicate trigger keywords across skills; missing frontmatter fields).
3. Either fix the corpus or strengthen the test's contract to assert against more issue kinds.

This survey is itself a candidate next-MCA target alongside the dispatch-brief patch.

## Release-readiness signal for δ

The v3.82.0 tag was blocked on this build-fix. After cycle/423 merges:

- `go test ./...` is green on `main`.
- δ may push the `v3.82.0` tag via `scripts/release.sh` per `cnos.cdd/skills/cdd/release/SKILL.md §2.6`.
- The Stop condition from cycle/422's RELEASE.md (pause protocol evolution post-tag) remains in effect; the next phase is field application of CDS/CDR + handoff/memory-return testing, **plus** operator-side decision on the next-MCA disposition recorded by this cycle.

## Operator action on close

```bash
git push -u origin cycle/423
gh pr create --base main --head cycle/423 \
  --title "Build-fix for cnos#416 cross-repo stub missing triggers" \
  --body "Closes #423"
# After merge with --no-ff and message "Merge cycle/423: Build-fix for cnos#416 cross-repo stub missing triggers. Closes #423.":
scripts/release.sh   # pushes v3.82.0 tag (now unblocked)
```

The branch is **NOT merged** by this cycle's agent; operator merges and pushes the tag.
