# β review — cycle #375

Reviewer: β-collapsed-on-δ (this δ-as-agent session, under §5.2 wave-mode γ=δ collapse).

**Acknowledged collapse:** α and β are the same session in this cycle. Per the wave manifest precedent for skill-patch class (`.cdd/waves/2026-05-19-protocol-hygiene/manifest.md` standing permissions + γ=δ collapse note in `cdd/CDD.md` §1.4), α≠β separation is structurally compromised but accepted for skill-patch class. The review below is run as a checklist against AC1–AC4 oracles, not as a fresh-eyes re-derivation; it cannot detect divergence-class bugs the α pass missed. This limitation is named here, not hidden.

Branch under review: `origin/cycle/375` at `c4d29344`.
Base: `origin/main` at `dd5a36d9`.

## Artifact completeness (rule 3.11b)

- `.cdd/unreleased/375/gamma-scaffold.md` exists on `origin/cycle/375` (committed at `7ef98eb4`).
- No `## Protocol exemption` block needed — scaffold present, gate satisfied directly.
- Rule 3.11b: **PASS**.

## Diff scope (AC4 oracle)

```
$ git diff origin/main..origin/cycle/375 --stat
 .cdd/unreleased/375/gamma-scaffold.md           |  58 +++++++++++++
 .cdd/unreleased/375/self-coherence.md           | 105 ++++++++++++++++++++++++
 src/packages/cnos.cdd/skills/cdd/gamma/SKILL.md |  26 ++++++
 3 files changed, 189 insertions(+)
```

Scope is exactly: `gamma/SKILL.md` (the one chosen canonical surface) + `.cdd/unreleased/375/` (cycle evidence). No CI workflow, no validator, no doctrine edits to `CDD.md` or `review/SKILL.md` or any other role skill, no release surface. **AC4: PASS.**

Note: the cycle was rebased onto current `origin/main` mid-cycle because `dd5a36d9` (a `.gitignore` chore commit ignoring `.claude/` harness scratch) landed on main *after* `cycle/375` was branched from the prior main `c9017153`. The rebase is mechanical and contains no semantic content from this cycle; without it, the diff would have shown spurious `.gitignore` deletions and falsely failed AC4. Documented for transparency.

## AC checklist

### AC1 — Pre-dispatch check named in canonical surface as binding gate

**Oracle:** one of `gamma/SKILL.md` §2.5 Step 3a or 3b OR `CDD.md` §1.4 step 3 mentions `.cdd/unreleased/{N}/gamma-scaffold.md` as a pre-dispatch existence check, named as a binding gate ("γ cannot proceed to … until …"), not advisory prose.

**Verification:** `gamma/SKILL.md` §2.5 Step 3b now opens with sub-section "Pre-dispatch γ scaffold check (binding gate)" (line 271). First sentence reads: *"γ MUST NOT proceed to α dispatch (the prompt-production + δ-routing flow below) until `.cdd/unreleased/{N}/gamma-scaffold.md` exists on `origin/cycle/{N}`."* Literal string `MUST NOT` and literal artifact name present. Sub-section is bound to Step 3b (α dispatch) — the binding target is α prompt production, not generic doctrine. Bash procedure (lines 283–291) makes the check executable: `git ls-tree -r --name-only origin/cycle/<N> .cdd/unreleased/<N>/gamma-scaffold.md`.

**Verdict:** PASS.

### AC2 — Symmetry with rule 3.11b documented

**Oracle:** the skill text references `review/SKILL.md` rule 3.11b explicitly in the check's framing and frames the γ-side check as the *dual* of the β-side gate.

**Verification:** The sub-section's third paragraph "**Dual of `review/SKILL.md` rule 3.11b.**" (line 277) names rule 3.11b explicitly, restates its verdict semantics (REQUEST CHANGES, D-severity, `protocol-compliance`), and frames the γ-side check as paying the same cost *once per cycle at scaffold time* while β pays it *once per RC round at review time*. Closing sentence: *"The two gates are symmetric; together they guarantee scaffold presence without either side leaning on the other."* Cross-reference is concrete, not name-drop. Exemption surface deference (line 293) also references 3.11b's "Exemption discoverability" sub-rule so the γ-side gate honors the same exemption channel β honors.

**Verdict:** PASS.

### AC3 — Empirical anchor cited (cycle #369)

**Oracle:** cycle reference appears in the new gate's framing prose, citing cycle #369 (or canonical occurrence at patch time) per `gamma/SKILL.md` §2.2a precedent.

**Verification:** The sub-section's fourth paragraph "**Empirical anchor — cycle #369.**" (line 279) cites:

- cycle #369 (explicit)
- β R1 D1 fired rule 3.11b on missing `gamma-scaffold.md`
- γ recovery path (a) at commit `227d2373` (with verbatim commit message)
- β R2 APPROVED at `4e179db6`
- merged at `ff54f2a0`
- additional context: cycle was materially review-ready at R1 (10 ACs met; contract integrity 10/11 rows yes)

SHAs `227d2373`, `4e179db6`, and `ff54f2a0` were independently verified by β-collapsed reviewer via `git log --oneline` against each:

- `227d2373` → "γ-369: scaffold — recovery path (a) for β R1 D1 (rule 3.11b)" ✓
- `4e179db6` → "β-369 R2: APPROVED — D1 closed at 227d2373; pre-merge gate all-green" ✓
- `ff54f2a0` → "γ-369: merge cycle/369 — Phase 2 schema-typing of receptor (CUE schemas + fixtures)" ✓

The framing prose matches the citation exactly; no SHA drift.

**Verdict:** PASS.

### AC4 — No CI / runtime / release surface change

**Oracle:** `git diff origin/main..HEAD --stat` shows changes only under `src/packages/cnos.cdd/skills/cdd/gamma/SKILL.md` OR `src/packages/cnos.cdd/skills/cdd/CDD.md` (one canonical surface) + `.cdd/unreleased/{N}/*.md`.

**Verification:** see §Diff scope above. Three files: `gamma/SKILL.md` (the chosen canonical surface, 26 insertions, no deletions) + `.cdd/unreleased/375/gamma-scaffold.md` + `.cdd/unreleased/375/self-coherence.md`. No edits to `CDD.md`. No edits to any other role skill. No edits to validator code, CI workflows, release scripts, or any runtime surface. Skill-patch class is preserved.

**Verdict:** PASS.

## Cross-references and discoverability

Verified manually that the added sub-section does not contradict existing γ skill surfaces:

- §2.5 Step 3a (γ-owned branch pre-flight): the new gate runs *after* Step 3a's branch creation — i.e., the cycle branch must exist before the scaffold can be committed to it. Order is preserved; the gate's bash snippet uses `origin/cycle/<N>` which is exactly what Step 3a established.
- §2.4 (issue-quality gate): the new gate runs *after* §2.4 — γ scaffolds *from* the validated issue body, not before.
- §3.6 ("Land immediate process fixes in the same cycle when possible"): this cycle IS an immediate process fix per §3.6 — the gap was named by cycle #369 close-out triage and this is the landing.

The sub-section's exemption deference (line 293) correctly avoids creating a parallel exemption channel; it points to `review/SKILL.md` §3.11b "Exemption discoverability" as the single source for what counts as an exemption surface. This preserves the non-goal "Do not modify rule 3.11b."

## Findings

None. No D-severity, no C, no B, no A.

## Verdict

**APPROVED.**

- AC1 — PASS
- AC2 — PASS
- AC3 — PASS
- AC4 — PASS
- Rule 3.11b — PASS (gamma-scaffold.md present)

Cycle is ready for merge to main.

**β-α collapse acknowledgement:** as noted at the top, α and β were the same session for this skill-patch cycle. The review above is a faithful AC-checklist verification but is structurally weaker than a fresh-eyes β pass. For this skill-patch class, the wave manifest permits the collapse; for substantial or design-and-build cycles, the collapse would be inadmissible.
