# Beta Close-Out — Cycle #346

**Reviewer:** β
**Date:** 2026-05-12
**Merge commit:** `2cfb3696`
**Branch merged:** `cycle/346` → `main`

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## Cycle Summary

Cycle #346 harmonized `epsilon/SKILL.md §1` with `activation/SKILL.md §22` on the question of whether `cdd-iteration.md` is produced unconditionally (every cycle) or only when `cdd-*-gap` findings exist. The prior epsilon §1 text conditioned production on findings, creating a survivorship-bias ambiguity. activation §22 already prescribed every-cycle production as the authoritative source. This cycle brought epsilon §1 and gamma §2.10 row 14 into alignment with that prescription.

**Files changed:**
- `src/packages/cnos.cdd/skills/cdd/epsilon/SKILL.md` §1 — second paragraph replaced (primary fix, α R1)
- `src/packages/cnos.cdd/skills/cdd/gamma/SKILL.md` §2.10 row 14 — parenthetical replaced (R1 finding F1, α fix round)

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## Review Record

| Round | Verdict | Findings | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| R1 | REQUEST CHANGES | F1 (C): gamma §2.10 row 14 parenthetical stale | epsilon fix clean; gamma cross-surface not updated |
| R2 | APPROVED | none remaining | F1 resolved; three-surface consistent; fix surgical |

**F1 resolution:** The stale parenthetical "(Empty cycles — no `cdd-*-gap` findings — produce no file and skip this row.)" was replaced in commit `ec22426f` with the correct prescription: empty-findings cycles still write `cdd-iteration.md` per `epsilon/SKILL.md §1` and `activation/SKILL.md §22`, and the closure gate checks INDEX.md only when findings ≥1.

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## Release Evidence

| Check | Result |
|---|---|
| R2-1: `rg 'produce no file and skip this row' gamma/SKILL.md` → exit 1 | PASS |
| R2-2: `rg 'still write.*cdd-iteration' gamma/SKILL.md` → ≥1 hit row 14 | PASS |
| epsilon §1 prescribes every-cycle production | PASS |
| activation §22 prescribes every-cycle production | PASS |
| gamma §2.10 row 14 consistent with epsilon §1 and activation §22 | PASS |
| Fix commit `ec22426f`: 1 file, 1 line changed, no collateral edits | PASS |
| Merge commit on main: `2cfb3696` | confirmed |

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## Three-Surface Consistency (post-merge)

| Surface | Prescription |
|---|---|
| `gamma/SKILL.md §2.10 row 14` | empty-findings cycles still write `cdd-iteration.md`; INDEX row optional when no findings; gate checks INDEX only when findings ≥1 |
| `epsilon/SKILL.md §1` | every cycle writes `cdd-iteration.md`; empty findings list is signal |
| `activation/SKILL.md §22` | every cycle produces `cdd-iteration.md`; conditioning on findings produces survivorship bias |

All three surfaces consistent.

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## Engineering Observations

- The diverge/rebase situation on main (two commits ahead, four behind) required a `--rebase` pull before merge; no content was lost. The add/add conflict on `beta-review.md` and `self-coherence.md` arose because the R1 β-review commit had already landed on `origin/main` before the fix-round commits were pushed to the branch. Resolved by taking the branch version (which includes all content) as the merge resolution.
- The fix round demonstrates the CDD cycle discipline working as intended: R1 found a genuine cross-surface inconsistency, α fixed it surgically, R2 verified the fix with mechanical oracles and confirmed scope integrity.

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β signals cycle #346 closed.
