# KORA v0.2.0-alpha Pre-Merge Self-Review

Status: internal pre-merge self-review / not released

Historical status at time of writing; `v0.2.0-alpha` has since been published: https://github.com/Krako-Labs/KORA/releases/tag/v0.2.0-alpha

Source branch: `task108_pre_merge_self_review`

Base branch: `origin/task107_merge_readiness_pr_packet`

Target branch for eventual PR: `main`

Public truth checked: `origin/main 17d0665b6e9eb48bd54a83ae2dda2e59f416a40f`

Report date: 2026-05-05

## Scope Reviewed

This review covers the Task 101-107 branch chain for the `v0.2.0-alpha` benchmark evidence expansion path.

Reviewed areas:

- benchmark runner changes
- deterministic expected-output validation
- benchmark summary generation
- tests for correctness/error/fallback coverage
- `.gitignore` generated-artifact rules
- raw benchmark artifact policy
- draft release notes
- readiness check report
- merge-readiness PR packet
- package/version metadata
- tracked JSON and JSONL artifacts
- claim hygiene in new scripts, tests, and docs

## Branch Chain Reviewed

| Task | Commit | Review status |
|---|---|---|
| Task 101 | `04d6dd6710ff202765d6debc034c2dfa2557cdad` | Included |
| Task 102 | `c35fd7a6f5f6bed40e65c76217ee453f066cdddb` | Included |
| Task 103 | `b7e9d59533056e900fcaa3b272878138936f099a` | Included |
| Task 104 | `37b4cbd71b086e2b161a874dbc255972d1bb28c9` | Included |
| Task 105 | `7fc346976be6502d87cb8108a2670ea163215659` | Included |
| Task 106 | `5eeba65f1c17901c16a978f3615f2882a03e2049` | Included |
| Task 107 | `4ac9c2c8b4359ac023bf415ed838a996c84e898d` | Included |

The chain is linear on top of `origin/main 17d0665b6e9eb48bd54a83ae2dda2e59f416a40f`.

## Files Added or Modified by the Chain

| Path | Status |
|---|---|
| `.gitignore` | Modified |
| `docs/reports/benchmark_artifact_policy.md` | Added |
| `docs/reports/v0.2.0-alpha-merge-readiness-pr-packet.md` | Added |
| `docs/reports/v0.2.0-alpha-readiness-check.md` | Added |
| `docs/reports/v0.2.0-alpha-release-notes-draft.md` | Added |
| `experiments/run_benchmark.py` | Modified |
| `experiments/summarize_benchmark_results.py` | Added |
| `tests/test_benchmark_runner.py` | Modified |
| `tests/test_benchmark_summary.py` | Added |

No package/version file changes were found.

## Claim Hygiene Review

Result: pass for pre-merge review.

The safe claim is present and bounded where needed:

> In a reproducible 100-task deterministic-heavy benchmark workload, KORA-controlled execution avoided 80 of 100 simulated model invocations versus a naive direct baseline.

New docs and summary generation text consistently frame the benchmark as reproducible simulated benchmark evidence.

Forbidden claims were searched and reviewed. The new materials explicitly avoid or negate the following claims:

- production cost reduction proof
- real API-cost reduction proof
- production benchmark proof
- full runtime-integrated benchmark evidence
- broad workload superiority proof
- energy reduction evidence

No unsupported production/API-cost/energy claim was found in the Task 101-107 changed files.

## Artifact Policy Review

Result: pass for pre-merge review.

Raw generated benchmark result artifacts are not tracked.

Tracked benchmark-related JSON files are source fixtures or workload definitions:

- `experiments/workloads/deterministic_heavy_v0.json`
- `experiments/workloads/deterministic_heavy_v1_100.json`
- `docs/reports/sample_telemetry_input.json`
- example graph JSON files

Generated benchmark outputs remain ignored:

- `experiments/results/*.json`
- `experiments/results/*.jsonl`
- `docs/reports/*.json`
- `docs/reports/*.jsonl`
- `docs/reports/generated/`

Markdown reports under `docs/reports/` remain trackable, which is needed for policy, release-note draft, readiness-check, merge-packet, and this self-review report.

## Test and Validation Review

Result: pass for branch-chain validation.

Validation commands run in this self-review:

| Command | Result |
|---|---|
| `python3 -m pytest` | Passed, `50 passed` |
| `python3 -m kora --help` | Passed |
| `python3 -m kora examples list` | Passed |
| `python3 -m kora run hello_kora` | Passed |
| `python3 -m kora run retry_demo` | Passed |
| `python3 -m kora run direct_vs_kora -- --offline` | Passed |
| Regenerate `deterministic_heavy_v1_100` under `/tmp` and compare with tracked workload | Passed |
| `experiments/run_benchmark.py --mode dry-run` for `deterministic_heavy_v1_100` | Passed |
| `experiments/run_benchmark.py --mode direct-baseline` for `deterministic_heavy_v1_100` | Passed |
| `experiments/run_benchmark.py --mode kora-controlled` for `deterministic_heavy_v1_100` | Passed |
| `experiments/summarize_benchmark_results.py` using `/tmp` artifacts | Passed |

Fresh generated summary path:

```text
/tmp/kora_deterministic_heavy_v1_100.summary.task108.md
```

Benchmark counters confirmed:

| Metric | Value |
|---|---:|
| Total tasks | `100` |
| Deterministic/no-model tasks | `80` |
| Fallback/model-candidate tasks | `20` |
| Direct-baseline simulated model invocations | `100` |
| KORA-controlled simulated model invocations | `20` |
| Avoided simulated model invocations | `80` |
| Avoided invocation rate | `80%` |
| Deterministic outputs checked | `80` |
| Deterministic expected-output mismatches | `0` |
| Fallback/model-candidate tasks skipped for deterministic output validation | `20` |

## Risk Register

| Risk | Status | Mitigation |
|---|---|---|
| Branch chain has not yet been merged into public `origin/main`. | Open | Open PR and review/merge the chain intentionally. |
| Final validation from merged public HEAD is still pending. | Open | Rerun full validation after merge to `origin/main`. |
| Benchmark is deterministic-heavy and simulated-invocation based, not production evidence. | Open by design | Keep claim boundary and non-claims in release materials. |
| Raw artifact freeze decision is unresolved. | Open | Decide after merge whether any raw artifacts should become frozen release evidence. |
| `CHANGELOG.md` is not yet updated. | Open | Update only after merge readiness is confirmed. |
| Git tag/GitHub Release approval is not yet granted. | Open | Tag/release only after explicit final approval. |

## Release-Readiness Gaps

- Task 101-108 branch chain still needs PR review.
- Task 101-108 branch chain still needs merge into `main`.
- Final public HEAD validation still needs to run after merge.
- `CHANGELOG.md` needs a reviewed `v0.2.0-alpha` update after merge readiness is confirmed.
- Raw artifact freeze policy decision remains open.
- Git tag approval remains open.
- GitHub Release approval remains open.

## Go/No-Go Recommendation

Recommendation: go for opening a PR; no-go for release/tag creation.

Rationale:

- The branch chain is coherent and linear.
- The implementation remains minimal and evidence-bound.
- Validation passes.
- Raw generated benchmark artifacts are not tracked.
- Claim hygiene is acceptable for alpha release preparation.
- Remaining blockers are release-process blockers, not validation failures in the branch chain.

## Required Next Action

Open the PR using the merge-readiness packet, review the Task 101-108 chain, and merge only after review. After merge, run final validation from public `origin/main` before updating `CHANGELOG.md`, tagging, or creating a GitHub Release.

## Release Actions Not Performed

- No merge to `main`.
- No Git tag.
- No GitHub Release.
- No package version update.
- No raw benchmark JSON artifacts committed.
