---
cycle: 344
role: beta
round: 1
---

# Beta Review — Cycle #344

**Verdict:** REQUEST CHANGES

**Round:** 1
**Branch CI state:** docs-only cycle; no CI jobs on `cycle/344` (declared by α per pre-review gate row 10; accepted)
**Review-diff base:** `origin/main` @ `9783a469dc95914bbd47f2abfdb4562c91df7c7c` (re-fetched synchronously before this pass; matches base SHA in α's review-readiness signal)
**Review-diff head:** `origin/cycle/344` @ `fef5cc0528c60ddbb6a93598d9c9e1aafda878b5`
**β identity verified:** `git config user.email` → `beta@cdd.cnos` ✅

---

## §2.0.0 Contract Integrity

| Check | Result | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Status truth preserved | yes | `self-coherence.md` status field transitions from `in-progress` → `review-ready`; docs-only classification is consistent across issue body, self-coherence §Gap, and §2.5b dispatch context |
| Canonical sources/paths verified | yes | 3 cross-reference targets resolve: `CDD.md`, `operator/SKILL.md`, `post-release/SKILL.md` — all exist; path forms are correct (`activation/SKILL.md` in CDD.md, `../activation/SKILL.md` in operator and post-release) |
| Scope/non-goals consistent | yes | Cycle A scope (prose-only, no reference impl, no tsc adoption) is consistent between issue body, self-coherence §Gap, and the diff — no code surface shipped |
| Constraint strata consistent | yes | OQ #35 deviation (every-cycle cdd-iteration.md vs epsilon "only when findings") is declared as a deviation with rationale; no other constraint strata violations observed — **F1 below is a consequence of this deviation not being propagated to post-release/SKILL.md §5.6b** |
| Exceptions field-specific/reasoned | yes | OQ deviations are documented with rationale (OQ #35: "activation skill is the authoritative prescription") |
| Path resolution base explicit | yes | Relative links use consistent `../activation/SKILL.md` form from operator/post-release; `activation/SKILL.md` form from CDD.md (same directory) |
| Proof shape adequate | yes | A.AC1–A.AC6 each have oracle commands, positive checks, and negative checks per issue body; oracles are runnable shell commands |
| Cross-surface projections updated | **no** | CDD.md, operator/SKILL.md, post-release/SKILL.md updated; **post-release/SKILL.md §5.6b body not reconciled with new activation §22 cadence policy** — see F1 |
| No witness theater / false closure | yes | Self-coherence §A.AC6 reports 9/9 OK on §24 verification; β independently ran §24 and confirmed 9/9 OK |
| PR body matches branch files | n/a | Triadic protocol — no PR body; self-coherence.md is the branch artifact; it matches the diff |

---

## §2.0 Issue Contract

### AC Coverage

| # | AC | In diff? | Status | Notes |
|---|----|----------|--------|-------|
| A.AC1 | activation/SKILL.md exists, §1–§24, 600–1100 lines, no stubs/TODO | yes | PASS | `rg '^## §'` → 24 hits; `wc -l` → 623; no TODO/tbd; each section substantive (≥3 sentences) — verified by read |
| A.AC2 | Cross-references in CDD.md, operator/SKILL.md, post-release/SKILL.md | yes | PASS | 3 external hits in `rg 'activation/SKILL.md'`; each in contextually appropriate section; paths resolve ✅ |
| A.AC3 | Notification interface transport-agnostic | yes | PASS | §10.1 defines 4 events; §10.2 defines 5-property contract; Telegram named as reference adapter only; Slack example given; no transport-specific assumptions in contract section |
| A.AC4 | Secrets prescription concrete and minimal | yes | PASS | §11 has labeled table with `CDD_TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN` and `CDD_TELEGRAM_CHAT_ID`; both in `CDD_*` namespace; explicit prohibition on tokens; no example tokens present |
| A.AC5 | Activation checklist numbered and runnable | yes | PASS | §23 has 20 numbered steps (within 18–24); each step has a "Verify:" line; no forward dependencies; each step ≤2 sentences |
| A.AC6 | cnos self-activation marker files present | yes | PASS with note | All 6 marker files exist on branch; §24 verification 9/9 OK confirmed by β; but see F1 — the cross-reference insert in post-release/SKILL.md §5.6b creates an internal contradiction |

### Named Doc Updates

| Doc / File | In diff? | Status | Notes |
|------------|----------|--------|-------|
| `src/packages/cnos.cdd/skills/cdd/activation/SKILL.md` (new) | yes | PASS | 623 lines, 24 sections |
| `src/packages/cnos.cdd/skills/cdd/CDD.md` | yes | PASS | ≤3-line pointer before "Invocation model" |
| `src/packages/cnos.cdd/skills/cdd/operator/SKILL.md` | yes | PASS | ≤3-line pointer before "Algorithm" |
| `src/packages/cnos.cdd/skills/cdd/post-release/SKILL.md` | yes | **PARTIAL** | Pointer inserted at §5.6b; but §5.6b body retains "Empty cycles produce no file" which directly contradicts the pointer's target (§22: every cycle writes cdd-iteration.md) — F1 |
| `.cdd/CDD-VERSION` | yes | PASS | SHA `6d4bb436` + tag `3.74.0`; format correct |
| `.cdd/DISPATCH` | yes | PASS | `§5.2 — single-session δ-as-γ via Agent tool (Claude Code)` |
| `.cdd/CADENCE` | yes | PASS | `rolling-docs` with explanatory comment |
| `.cdd/OPERATORS` | yes | PASS | Table with alpha/beta/gamma rows; required columns present |
| `.cdd/MCAs/INDEX.md` | yes | PASS | Table with `(none)` empty row; matches §15 prescription |
| `.cdd/skills/README.md` | yes | PASS | cnos-as-source declaration; references canonical skill location |
| `.cdd/iterations/cross-repo/README.md` | yes | PASS | `{target}/{slug}/` naming convention documented |

**Extra files in diff (not in issue scope):**
- `.cdd/unreleased/344/alpha-prompt.md` — dispatch prompt record; within α role scope (cycle documentation)
- `.cdd/unreleased/344/beta-prompt.md` — dispatch prompt record; within α role scope (cycle documentation)

These are not in the A.AC scope but are legitimate cycle documentation. No finding.

### CDD Artifact Contract

| Artifact | Required? | Present? | Notes |
|----------|-----------|----------|-------|
| `self-coherence.md` | yes | yes | 267 lines; CDD Trace through step 7; §OQ-Decisions has 37 entries |
| `beta-review.md` | yes | yes | This file (being written) |
| `alpha-closeout.md` | no (pre-merge) | n/a | Per alpha/SKILL.md §2.8 bounded-dispatch; deferred to re-dispatch after merge per declared debt item 2 |

### Active Skill Consistency

| Skill | Required by | Loaded? | Applied? | Notes |
|-------|-------------|---------|----------|-------|
| `CDD.md` | β load order §1 | yes | yes | Lifecycle and role contract |
| `beta/SKILL.md` | β load order §2 | yes | yes | Role surface, pre-merge gate |
| `review/SKILL.md` | β load order §3 | yes | yes | 3-phase review, §3.13 honest-claim checks |
| `release/SKILL.md` | β load order §4 | yes | yes | §2.5b docs-only disconnect; no version bump, no tag |

---

## Findings

| # | Finding | Evidence | Severity | Type |
|---|---------|----------|----------|------|
| F1 | **post-release/SKILL.md §5.6b: pointer targets activation §22 ("every cycle writes cdd-iteration.md") while §5.6b body retains "Empty cycles produce no file" — direct contradiction in same scope** | Diff: pointer added to §5.6b; unchanged "**Empty cycles produce no file.**" line in same section on cycle/344. activation/SKILL.md §22 plainly states "every cycle produces a cdd-iteration.md." Two instructions in the same scope give contradictory cadence policy. | D | honest-claim, judgment |
| F2 | **§14 illustrative template uses `wc -l activation/SKILL.md → 847` but actual file is 623 lines — measurement quoted in the doc is not reproducible** | `wc -l src/packages/cnos.cdd/skills/cdd/activation/SKILL.md` at HEAD → 623, not 847. Appears in: §14 table `Example claim` column and the `Suggested claims.md structure` reproducibility entry. review/SKILL.md §3.13(a): every measurement quoted in a doc must be reproducible from artifacts in this commit. | B | honest-claim |
| F3 | **§23 step 18 lacks a governing section reference; §23 introduction says each step references the governing section** | Steps 1–17 and 19–20 all reference a section number (§3, §4, §8, …). Step 18 says "Populate `.cdd/iterations/INDEX.md` — create if not already present during scaffold." with no section anchor. α acknowledges this in §Debt item 3. | A | judgment |

## Regressions Required (D-level)

**F1 — post-release/SKILL.md §5.6b cadence contradiction:**

- *Positive case:* An operator reading post-release/SKILL.md §5.6b after this cycle, following the pointer to activation/SKILL.md §22, reads "every cycle produces cdd-iteration.md." Operator writes cdd-iteration.md for a clean cycle. Correct.
- *Negative case:* An operator reading post-release/SKILL.md §5.6b without following the pointer reads "Empty cycles produce no file." Operator omits cdd-iteration.md for a clean cycle. Incorrect per activation §22 policy.

The same operator, reading both sentences, has no tiebreaker. A cross-reference that leads to a conflicting policy makes the skill non-executable.

**Required fix:** Update post-release/SKILL.md §5.6b to reconcile with the new activation §22 policy. Remove or qualify the "Empty cycles produce no file" statement (since OQ #35 explicitly decided that every cycle writes cdd-iteration.md and the activation skill is authoritative). Suggest replacing with: "See [`cdd/activation/SKILL.md §22`](../activation/SKILL.md#22-cdd-iteration-cadence) for the cadence declaration: every cycle produces `cdd-iteration.md`; an empty findings list is itself signal."

Note: epsilon/SKILL.md §1 also still says "empty cycles produce no file" — this is acknowledged in self-coherence §Debt item 1 and deferred to a follow-on cycle. That deferral is acceptable. However, post-release/SKILL.md §5.6b is NOT deferred — it is the section being updated in this cycle, and the update itself introduced the contradiction. The pointer lands in the same paragraph as the contradicting text; this must be fixed in this cycle.

## Notes

- **§22 / epsilon conflict:** Self-coherence §Debt item 1 correctly identifies the epsilon/SKILL.md §1 conflict. This is acceptable debt for a follow-on cycle. The activation skill's claim to authority over the cadence policy (OQ #35 decision) is coherent. β does not object to the deferral of the epsilon patch — but the post-release/SKILL.md §5.6b body must be updated in this cycle because this cycle introduced the pointer.
- **Claims.md not present:** The dispatch requires no claims.md for Cycle A (docs-only, no code). The §14 prescription is prospective (for future cycles). β notes F2 as an improvement to the template, not a missing artifact.
- **§24 verification:** β ran the verification independently; all 9 checks pass.
- **OQ-Decisions:** 37 entries confirmed; all decisions recorded with rationale where deviating from recommendation.

---

# Beta Review — Round 2

**Verdict:** APPROVED

**Round:** 2
**Fixed this round:** `ca34cd1b` (F1), `54b1d3a2` (F2 + F3), `ebd2e63f` (bonus: ROLES.md lychee link) closes F1, F2, F3
**Branch CI state:** docs-only cycle; no CI jobs on `cycle/344` (unchanged from R1 declaration; explicit per pre-review gate row 10)
**Review-diff base:** `origin/main` @ `9783a469dc95914bbd47f2abfdb4562c91df7c7c` (re-fetched synchronously before this pass; unchanged from R1)
**Review-diff head:** `origin/cycle/344` @ `ebd2e63fa6d81fc022e206df44c46eee5b0b1d20`
**β identity verified:** `git config user.email` → `beta@cdd.cnos` ✅

---

## §2.0.0 Contract Integrity (R2 — narrowed to affected surfaces)

R2 scope is restricted to the three fixed surfaces (post-release/SKILL.md §5.6b, activation/SKILL.md §14 and §23 step 18) plus the bonus ROLES.md link fix in CDD.md. All R1 rows that returned `yes` or `n/a` are unchanged.

| Check | Result | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cross-surface projections updated | yes | post-release/SKILL.md §5.6b now reads "every cycle produces `cdd-iteration.md`; an empty findings list is itself signal" — consistent with activation §22 and OQ #35 decision; "Empty cycles produce no file" removed ✅ |
| Canonical sources/paths verified | yes | ROLES.md link in CDD.md changed from `/ROLES.md` (root-relative, lychee-incompatible) to `../../../../ROLES.md` (relative, resolves correctly from CDD.md location) ✅ |

---

## §2.0 Issue Contract (R2 — narrowed)

### AC Coverage (R2)

| # | AC | Fix verified | Notes |
|---|----|-------------|-------|
| A.AC1 | activation/SKILL.md line count correct | `grep "847" activation/SKILL.md` → 0 hits ✅; §14 now reads `wc -l activation/SKILL.md → 623` ✅ | F2 closed |
| A.AC5 | §23 step 18 has governing section ref | line 582: `**Populate \`.cdd/iterations/INDEX.md\`** (§3)` — `(§3)` anchor present ✅ | F3 closed |
| A.AC6 | post-release/SKILL.md §5.6b coherent | `grep "Empty cycles produce no file" post-release/SKILL.md` → 0 hits ✅; replacement text is activation §22-consistent ✅ | F1 closed |

### Named Doc Updates (R2 — fixed surfaces only)

| Doc / File | Fix | Status |
|------------|-----|--------|
| `src/packages/cnos.cdd/skills/cdd/post-release/SKILL.md §5.6b` | "Empty cycles produce no file" removed; both paragraphs now point to activation §22 cadence declaration | PASS |
| `src/packages/cnos.cdd/skills/cdd/activation/SKILL.md §14` | `wc -l → 847` → `wc -l → 623` in table and claims.md structure block | PASS |
| `src/packages/cnos.cdd/skills/cdd/activation/SKILL.md §23 step 18` | `(§3)` reference added | PASS |
| `src/packages/cnos.cdd/skills/cdd/CDD.md` | ROLES.md link changed from `/ROLES.md` to `../../../../ROLES.md` | PASS |

---

## Findings (R2)

| # | Finding | Evidence | Severity | Type |
|---|---------|----------|----------|------|
| — | No new findings | All R1 findings resolved; no regressions introduced by fix commits | — | — |

## Pre-merge Gate (R2)

| # | Row | Result |
|---|-----|--------|
| 1 | Identity truth | `git config user.email` → `beta@cdd.cnos` ✅ (re-asserted from `alpha@cdd.cnos` at session start) |
| 2 | Canonical-skill freshness | `git fetch --verbose origin main` → up to date; `origin/main` @ `9783a469` — unchanged from R1 base SHA ✅ |
| 3 | Non-destructive merge-test | `git worktree add /tmp/cnos-merge-344/wt origin/main && git merge --no-ff --no-commit origin/cycle/344` → zero unmerged paths, exit 0; worktree torn down ✅ |

**Merge instruction:** `git merge --no-ff cycle/344` into `main` with `Closes #344`
