kaola-workflow-finalize

name	kaola-workflow-finalize
description	Use when reviewed Kaola-Workflow for Codex work, also called kaola-workflow, needs final validation, documentation docking, issue or roadmap closure, archiving, and Git finalization.

Codex Profile Freshness Gate

On every entry or resume into this skill, before any role probe, retry, re-plan, or real dispatch, run the normal preflight gate, not --doctor. Resolve exactly one enabled installed Kaola edition from codex plugin list --json, then execute the bundled kaola-workflow-codex-preflight.js from that edition's exact marketplace/name/version cache tuple. Never search $PWD/plugins or select the lexically first cache entry:

if ! KAOLA_CODEX_PLUGIN_LIST_OUT="$(codex plugin list --json 2>&1)"; then
  printf 'profile_preflight_refused: plugin metadata unavailable: %s\n' "$KAOLA_CODEX_PLUGIN_LIST_OUT" >&2
  exit 1
fi
if ! KAOLA_CODEX_PLUGIN_META="$(node -e '
const value=JSON.parse(process.argv[1]);
const allowed=new Set(["kaola-workflow","kaola-workflow-gitlab","kaola-workflow-gitea"]);
const rows=(Array.isArray(value.installed)?value.installed:[]).filter(row => row && row.installed === true && row.enabled === true && allowed.has(row.name));
if(rows.length!==1)throw new Error(`expected exactly one enabled installed Kaola edition; got ${rows.length}`);
const row=rows[0];
for(const [label,item] of [["marketplace",row.marketplaceName],["name",row.name],["version",row.version]])if(typeof item!=="string"||item==="."||item===".."||!/^[A-Za-z0-9._-]+$/.test(item))throw new Error(`unsafe ${label}`);
if(row.pluginId!==`${row.name}@${row.marketplaceName}`)throw new Error("plugin identity mismatch");
process.stdout.write([row.marketplaceName,row.name,row.version].join("\t"));
' "$KAOLA_CODEX_PLUGIN_LIST_OUT" 2>&1)"; then
  printf 'profile_preflight_refused: invalid plugin metadata: %s\n' "$KAOLA_CODEX_PLUGIN_META" >&2
  exit 1
fi
IFS=$'\t' read -r KAOLA_CODEX_MARKETPLACE KAOLA_CODEX_PLUGIN_NAME KAOLA_CODEX_PLUGIN_VERSION <<< "$KAOLA_CODEX_PLUGIN_META"
KAOLA_CODEX_CACHE_ROOT="$HOME/.codex/plugins/cache"
if ! KAOLA_CODEX_PREFLIGHT="$(node -e '
const fs=require("fs"),path=require("path");
const [home,base,marketplace,name,version]=process.argv.slice(1);
const resolvedHome=path.resolve(home),resolvedBase=path.resolve(base);
if(resolvedBase!==path.join(resolvedHome,".codex","plugins","cache"))throw new Error("plugin cache root escapes HOME");
let cursor=resolvedHome;
const homeStat=fs.lstatSync(cursor);
if(homeStat.isSymbolicLink()||!homeStat.isDirectory())throw new Error("HOME is unsafe");
const parts=[".codex","plugins","cache",marketplace,name,version,"scripts","kaola-workflow-codex-preflight.js"];
for(let index=0;index<parts.length;index+=1){
  cursor=path.join(cursor,parts[index]);
  const stat=fs.lstatSync(cursor);
  if(stat.isSymbolicLink())throw new Error(`symlink cache component: ${cursor}`);
  if(index<parts.length-1&&!stat.isDirectory())throw new Error(`non-directory cache component: ${cursor}`);
  if(index===parts.length-1&&!stat.isFile())throw new Error(`preflight is not a regular file: ${cursor}`);
}
process.stdout.write(cursor);
' "$HOME" "$KAOLA_CODEX_CACHE_ROOT" "$KAOLA_CODEX_MARKETPLACE" "$KAOLA_CODEX_PLUGIN_NAME" "$KAOLA_CODEX_PLUGIN_VERSION" 2>&1)"; then
  printf 'profile_preflight_refused: exact active preflight unavailable: %s\n' "$KAOLA_CODEX_PREFLIGHT" >&2
  exit 1
fi
KAOLA_CODEX_PREFLIGHT_ARGS=(--project-root "$PWD" --no-autofix --json)
if [ -n "${KAOLA_CODEX_PREFLIGHT_PLAN:-}" ]; then
  KAOLA_CODEX_PREFLIGHT_ARGS+=(--plan "$KAOLA_CODEX_PREFLIGHT_PLAN")
fi
if ! KAOLA_CODEX_PREFLIGHT_OUT="$(node "$KAOLA_CODEX_PREFLIGHT" "${KAOLA_CODEX_PREFLIGHT_ARGS[@]}" 2>&1)"; then
  printf 'profile_preflight_refused: %s\n' "$KAOLA_CODEX_PREFLIGHT_OUT" >&2
  exit 1
fi
if ! KAOLA_CODEX_PREFLIGHT_STATUS="$(node -e 'const v=JSON.parse(process.argv[1]);if(typeof v.status!=="string")throw new Error("missing status");process.stdout.write(v.status)' "$KAOLA_CODEX_PREFLIGHT_OUT" 2>&1)"; then
  printf 'profile_preflight_refused: malformed preflight result: %s\n' "$KAOLA_CODEX_PREFLIGHT_STATUS" >&2
  exit 1
fi
if [ "$KAOLA_CODEX_PREFLIGHT_STATUS" != ok ]; then
  printf 'profile_preflight_refused: %s\n' "$KAOLA_CODEX_PREFLIGHT_OUT" >&2
  exit 1
fi

The exact active cache root is $HOME/.codex/plugins/cache/$KAOLA_CODEX_MARKETPLACE/$KAOLA_CODEX_PLUGIN_NAME/$KAOLA_CODEX_PLUGIN_VERSION. The base invocation is --project-root "$PWD" --no-autofix --json; the gate merges persisted config from HOME through the repository root to "$PWD". When this skill owns a frozen adaptive plan, set KAOLA_CODEX_PREFLIGHT_PLAN to that exact plan before running the block so --plan is also enforced. Continue only after exit 0 and parsed status: "ok". Exact-byte drift such as profile_bytes_mismatch is profile_preflight_refused: STOP before any agents.spawn_agent call, never record subagent-invoked, and do not relabel profile/config drift as tool unavailability or local fallback. Re-run the gate if the installed profile set changes.

Kaola-Workflow Finalize

In-progress re-plan control plane

This fence outranks every Finalization prerequisite and side effect. Before validation, contractor dispatch, archive, closure, roadmap, commit, or sink work, read the project state and transaction status. If either reports replan_in_progress, the frozen parent remains authoritative and Finalization is forbidden. Read-only orientation reports the exact replan_phase, transaction_id, parent_plan_hash, child_plan_hash (or none), and last_cas_result.

The single legal mutation while the fence is active is:

REPLAN_SCRIPT="plugins/kaola-workflow-gitlab/scripts/kaola-gitlab-workflow-replan.js"
if [ ! -f "$REPLAN_SCRIPT" ]; then
  REPLAN_SCRIPT="$(find "$HOME/.codex/plugins/cache" -path '*/kaola-workflow-gitlab/*/scripts/kaola-gitlab-workflow-replan.js' -print -quit 2>/dev/null)"
fi
[ -n "$REPLAN_SCRIPT" ] && [ -f "$REPLAN_SCRIPT" ] || { echo "BLOCKED: kaola-gitlab-workflow-replan.js unavailable" >&2; exit 1; }
node "$REPLAN_SCRIPT" resume --project {project} --json

decision:ask remains advisory. If resume returns replan_planner_dispatch_required, dispatch the genuine workflow-planner profile in Re-plan dispatch mode with only repository root, project, transaction_id, dispatch_nonce, profile identity, the exact .cache/replan-planner-packet.json path, and its reason/source evidence. No role sequence, node ids, dependencies, write sets, cardinality, shape, model, or exact DAG fragment may come from the orchestrator; that is planner_control_boundary_violation. Only the planner writes the seeded workflow-plan.next.md and .cache/replan-planner-attestation.json; then run the same resume command. Missing or mismatched proof is replan_planner_attestation_invalid.

An invalid child uses the bounded unfrozen child-repair loop with the same planner and verbatim validator errors; the main session never repairs the child DAG. At the bound, stop with typed evidence—never finalize the parent, start another claim, or route to another path. A verified legacy-v1 parent transitions through the same fenced resume path; normal legacy behavior outside a transaction remains unchanged.

Finalization proves the work is complete and records closure metadata.

Reviewer Contract Version and Freshness Gate

For an adaptive plan, resolve the frozen contract version before accepting any gate evidence. Under plan_schema_version: 2 and contract_version: 2, --verdict-check verifies normalized receipts from the planner-designated code_certifier and, when present, security_certifier; a plain verdict line is not sufficient. Each receipt must match the frozen resolved_profile_hash, review_context_hash, and recomputed current candidate_digest. Treat a mismatch as the typed failure schema-2 certifier receipt is stale for the current candidate and block finalization.

For every certifier, read its canonical review context and enforce every nonempty validation_obligations entry against the canonical pass receipts in .cache/validation-vectors/. The obligated command/vector identities and current candidate must match exactly; a missing, failed, inconclusive, timed-out, signaled, drifted, or stale receipt keeps the final gate open. Only after all certifier and validation-vector freshness checks pass may the existing adaptive finalization gates authorize closure.

A verified frozen legacy plan with contract_version: 1 keeps its existing schema-1 verdict/evidence semantics and does not acquire schema-2 receipt requirements. Never upgrade or rewrite that plan in place.

Adaptive is the only workflow path. Read workflow_path: adaptive from kaola-workflow/{project}/workflow-state.md and require a frozen workflow-plan.md (re-check plan_hash) whose ## Node Ledger rows are all complete or n/a; on corruption or an incomplete ledger, stop with a typed refusal (Adaptive plan is not complete or its plan_hash failed. Run /kaola-workflow-plan-run first.). Read the plan + Node Ledger as the Phase 1-5 substitute.

The adaptive completion check is script-enforced, not prose: run all four gates and capture each exit code DIRECTLY (never gate on a piped | tail, which reports the tail's exit and masks failure):

validator_script="plugins/kaola-workflow-gitlab/scripts/kaola-gitlab-workflow-plan-validator.js"
if [ ! -f "$validator_script" ]; then
  validator_script="$(find "$HOME/.codex/plugins/cache" -path '*/kaola-workflow-gitlab/*/scripts/kaola-gitlab-workflow-plan-validator.js' -print -quit 2>/dev/null)"
fi
PLAN="kaola-workflow/${KAOLA_PROJECT}/workflow-plan.md"
node "$validator_script" "$PLAN" --resume-check --json; RC=$?
node "$validator_script" "$PLAN" --gate-verify   --json; GV=$?
# forward --base to the whole-plan --barrier-check ONLY, mirroring the
# --finalize-check forwarding so the attribution sweep can scope to a project's OWN diff
# on a SHARED multi-issue branch. Sourced from the KAOLA_FINALIZE_BASE env var, defaulting
# to UNSET (→ the validator's `origin/main` default — byte-equivalent to today for
# branch-per-issue runs, so the four-chain walkthrough stays green). The per-node
# --barrier-check STILL rejects --base (the anti-laundering guard) — unchanged.
BARRIER_BASE="${KAOLA_FINALIZE_BASE:-}"
BARRIER_BASE_ARG=()
[ -n "$BARRIER_BASE" ] && BARRIER_BASE_ARG=(--base "$BARRIER_BASE")
node "$validator_script" "$PLAN" --barrier-check --json "${BARRIER_BASE_ARG[@]}"; BC=$?
node "$validator_script" "$PLAN" --verdict-check --json; VC=$?
if [ "$RC" -ne 0 ] || [ "$GV" -ne 0 ] || [ "$BC" -ne 0 ] || [ "$VC" -ne 0 ]; then
  echo "BLOCKED: adaptive barrier failed (resume=$RC gate=$GV barrier=$BC verdict=$VC) — run /kaola-workflow-plan-run first"; exit 1
fi

• --resume-check proves plan_hash integrity + structure + closed library.
• --gate-verify proves every completed code/sensitive node is post-dominated by a completed reviewer in the ## Node Ledger — closing the G1/H5 leak where a required reviewer node is silently marked n/a at runtime. G3: a non-delegable main-session-gate must be complete — never n/a — and post-dominate completed code nodes.
• --barrier-check re-scans the files actually written (git diff vs the merge-base of HEAD and origin/main) and refuses a sensitive write with no security-reviewer node, or an out-of-allowlist production write — closing H1/H3.
• --verdict-check reads every completed code-reviewer, security-reviewer, adversarial-verifier, and main-session-gate node's .cache/{node-id}.md and requires a machine-readable verdict: pass with findings_blocking: 0. Any nonzero exit blocks the merge — this proves every gate-role node recorded a passing verdict before the plan closes. Exception: an investigation adversarial-verifier that post-dominates no code-producing or sensitive node is exempt from this check — its refutation is analytical output, not a finalize block (applies to both sequence and fanout majority-refute shapes). A change-gate adversarial-verifier (post-dominates a code-producing or sensitive node) keeps full --verdict-check coverage.

On any failure stop with a typed refusal (do not proceed): Adaptive plan failed the script-enforced barrier. Run /kaola-workflow-plan-run first.

If workflow-plan.md is absent, cmdFinalize refuses unconditionally — before any archive/close side effect — with the typed finalize_gate_unverified / adaptive_plan_missing refusal (there is no retired fast/full verifier to shell and no N/A pass):

BLOCKED: finalize_gate_unverified (adaptive_plan_missing) — restore the frozen workflow-plan.md before Finalization.

Validation Gate (dual-mode by repo kind)

--finalize-check auto-detects mode; the attribution sweep runs for both. Never gate on CI. These typed refusals are classified structurally — do not string-match; the remedy for a stale receipt/hash is always a full re-run, never a hand-patch.

• Self-host (npm) (declares test:kaola-workflow:*): machine-gated on a fresh, valid .cache/chain-receipt.json. The main session runs kaola-workflow-run-chains.js after all code + test-consumed prose/docs land, as the last pre-Finalization action (do NOT delegate — the contractor only verifies). Precedence-ordered refusals: chains_unverified (absent), chains_stale (codeTreeHash ≠ code-relevant tree; inert docs + workflow state do not trigger it), chains_red (a real failing chain, accepted_red: false — fix it or waive --accept-known-red <name>:<open-issue>).
• Consumer (non-npm) (no test:kaola-workflow:*): does NOT run chains — the agent owns verification and records .cache/final-validation.md with a column-0 verdict: pass + validated_candidate_hash: (produce it with the plan-validator's --candidate-hash --json mode via $validator_script, computed LAST). --finalize-check gates on final_validation_unverified / final_validation_failed / final_validation_unbound / final_validation_stale. When the candidate is unchanged since a terminal change-gate run, cite it with source: cited:<node-id>, validated_command, validated_at_head, reuse_boundary, plus a fresh validated_candidate_hash:. Any doubt → run the command. The attribution sweep runs for both repo kinds.

Run-Gap Sweep Gate

Finalization is machine-gated on a clean run-gap sweep. Before proceeding past the prerequisite check, verify .cache/run-gaps.json and finalization-summary.md's ## Run gaps section and stop with a typed refusal if the following is true (checked after the Chain-Receipt Gate above):

• gaps_unswept — emitted by kaola-gitlab-workflow-gap-sweep.js --check (resolved the same way as claim_script above) when .cache/run-gaps.json contains a swept reason class with no matching entry in the ## Run gaps section of finalization-summary.md, or when that section is absent while swept classes exist. Remedy: for each real run-discovered defect (in_run_repair, deferred_red_chain, or manual:<slug>), file a follow-up issue with the forge and record filed: #N in the ## Run gaps section. If the item is not a product defect (upstream flake, tool-environment noise, or an already-filed and tracked waiver), record noise: <one-line justification> instead.
• observed_gap_unseeded — emitted by the same --check call when an entry already written into finalization-summary.md's ## Run gaps section (mapped to filed: or noise:) has no matching machine-swept entry in .cache/run-gaps.json — i.e. someone hand-typed a ## Run gaps row for a gap the scanner never observed, bypassing machine verification entirely. Remedy: append the matching gap: <class> — <text> line to .cache/run-gaps-manual.md, re-run the scanner so it is actually swept, then re-run --check.

These typed refusals are classified structurally — do not string-match.

Goal Attestation (advisory, v1)

Export KAOLA_GOAL before finalizing (or set a goal: line in the plan's Meta block) so cmdFinalize's advisory goal_check records satisfied; see docs/api.md § Goal Attestation for the full enum and rationale.

Goal Contract

Continue until final validation, acceptance audit, documentation docking, roadmap refresh, archive decision, and Git finalization evidence are complete. Before declaring completion, audit every explicit requirement against concrete evidence. Stop only for true external authorization, materially user-owned choices, or ambiguity that blocks correctness.

Guardrails

• Run or cite fresh final validation before claiming completion.
• Do not close issues until acceptance criteria pass.
• Do not archive incomplete workflow folders.
• Do not stage unrelated user changes.
• Commit And Push happens after docs, issues, roadmap, archive, and metadata are complete.

Required Steps

1. Final validation: on self-host (npm) run the four-chain receipt gate (test suite, type check, lint, build) after all test-consumed prose/docs and code changes have landed, as the last pre-Finalization action; on a consumer (non-npm) repo run the plan's ## Meta validation_command once against the final candidate state, or cite fresh prior evidence with source: cited:<node-id>, validated_command, validated_at_head, and reuse_boundary. Save output to .cache/final-validation.md, then bind it: record a column-0 validated_candidate_hash: line produced by the plan-validator's --candidate-hash --json as the LAST action, after every file the validation covered has landed. Any doubt about the boundary means run the command.

2. Acceptance check: verify Phase 1 success criteria, Phase 3 tasks, tests, review status, and absence of debug artifacts. Adaptive's --verdict-check barrier (see the Prerequisite gate above) is the sole compliance gate.

   ACTIVE_WORKTREE_PATH="$(node -e "try{const fs=require('fs');const s=fs.readFileSync('kaola-workflow/' + process.env.KAOLA_PROJECT + '/workflow-state.md','utf8');const m=s.match(/^worktree_path:\\s*(.+)$/m);process.stdout.write(m?m[1].trim():'');}catch(e){}" 2>/dev/null)" || true
   [ -z "$ACTIVE_WORKTREE_PATH" ] && ACTIVE_WORKTREE_PATH="$(pwd)"
   

3. Documentation update: use the doc-updater Codex agent role when documentation changes are needed. Record status as subagent-invoked in the compliance ledger if delegation occurred, local-fallback-explicit if the user explicitly authorized local execution, or local-fallback-tool-unavailable if the subagent tooling was unavailable. Pass Working directory: ${ACTIVE_WORKTREE_PATH} to the doc-updater agent. Update docs only when behavior, API, setup, architecture, env, roadmap, or user-facing workflow changed. Save output to .cache/doc-updater.md or write a no-impact reason. Anti-fabrication (required): instruct doc-updater to transcribe verified ground truth — actual node <script> --json/--help output, real function signatures, or existing schema read from the code — for any API/schema/CLI-output/config section, or emit BLOCK: <what it needs> instead of inventing field names, keys, enum values, or example numbers; treat any untraceable structured section as a docking gap (BLOCKED).

4. Documentation Docking: compare changed files with README.md, API docs, architecture docs, changelog, .env.example, roadmap, and issue comments when relevant. Save .cache/doc-docking.md with verdict DOCKED or BLOCKED.

5. Closure decision: scan all phase files for deferred items or user decisions. Ask before reorganizing issues or roadmap.

6. Refresh kaola-workflow/ROADMAP.md.

7. Archive is performed atomically by cmdFinalize in step 8b below. Do not perform a manual copy or git mv here.

   Keep-open partial-close terminal. If the Closure Decision Gate keeps the issue OPEN (partial implementation, residual follow-ups), the durable signal is one optional line in the ## Sink block: issue_action: comment_keep_open (default when absent: close), written by the main session at the gate with user approval. Still archive through the SAME finalize subcommand, adding --keep-open (the contractor adds --keep-issue-open to cmdFinalize when the field is present). It stamps the archived workflow-state.md terminal (last_result: closed_keep_open, issue_disposition: kept-open, no active next_command), PRESERVES kaola-workflow/.roadmap/issue-N.md, and regenerates ROADMAP.md still listing #N (closure invariant keep-open-roadmap-preserved enforces it). Never archive by manual mv/git mv. Keep-open is merge-sink-only: sink-merge --keep-issue-open notes WITHOUT closing; an MR/PR sink would auto-close via its Closes #N body, so Step 9 refuses a non-merge sink (and the exit-3 MR/PR auto-pivot) under keep-open, and sink-mr.js/sink-pr.js refuse a project carrying issue_action: comment_keep_open.

8. Commit and push only approved files.

   Staging Guard

   Enforce the single-project rule. If more than one kaola-workflow/*/ project is staged at once, split the commit:

   PROJECT_COUNT=$(git diff --cached --name-only \
     | grep '^kaola-workflow/' \
     | grep -v '^kaola-workflow/archive/' \
     | grep -v '^kaola-workflow/\.roadmap/' \
     | grep -v '^kaola-workflow/ROADMAP\.md$' \
     | awk -F'/' 'NF>=3 {print $2}' | sort -u | grep -c . || true)
   if [ "${PROJECT_COUNT:-0}" -gt 1 ]; then
     echo "BLOCKED: split your commit — multiple kaola-workflow projects staged." >&2
     exit 1
   fi
   

   If the check fails, do not stage; split the commit or coordinate manually.

   Before delegating to the contractor: gate on repo kind:

   • Self-host (npm) — the repo's package.json declares the test:kaola-workflow:* scripts: run kaola-workflow-run-chains.js (main session, resolved the same way as claim_script above) after all test-consumed prose/docs and code changes have landed, as the last pre-Finalization action. The contractor only VERIFIES the resulting .cache/chain-receipt.json — it does not run the chains. cmdFinalize (Step 8b) enforces the finalize gate fail-closed before the archive rename; the contractor will return finalize_gate_unverified if the receipt is absent, stale, or red. If chains_stale fires, rerun the full gated runner; validation-invisible workflow state and inert docs do not stale the receipt.
   • Consumer (non-npm) — the repo has no test:kaola-workflow:* scripts: do NOT invoke kaola-workflow-run-chains.js (it would only return chains_config_missing). The gate is the agent's own .cache/final-validation.md with a column-0 verdict: pass, produced by running the plan's ## Meta validation_command or by citing an unchanged terminal change-gate validation run with source: cited:<node-id>, validated_command, validated_at_head, and reuse_boundary; --finalize-check auto-detects consumer mode (absence of the npm scripts) and gates on that file. Any doubt about the boundary means run the command.

   The mechanical finalization below — the artifact mirror, the cmdFinalize archive + status close (with --keep-worktree, merge path only), roadmap refresh, and the chore: finalize ${KAOLA_PROJECT} commit gate — is deterministic bookkeeping. The contractor Codex agent role is the SOLE HOME of this procedure and the session MUST delegate it; the contractor runs the scripts and authors the durable bookkeeping but never dispatches a role, judges, or asks the user. Only if the contractor subagent tooling is genuinely unavailable may the session run it inline, and that fallback MUST be logged as local-fallback-tool-unavailable in the ## Required Agent Compliance ledger. The current session keeps the sink dispatch and issue-close decision. Because a subagent runs in its own shell, capture the sink metadata (SINK_BRANCH, SINK_KIND, SINK_ISSUE_FLAG, ACTIVE_WORKTREE_PATH) in THIS session before delegating — they are reused at the sink step and do not cross the delegation boundary.

   Attestation boundary: the contractor's Step 8b passes --attest-contractor-spawn to cmdFinalize, so a genuinely delegated run back-fills its own dispatch marker and the closure receipt reads finalize_contractor_attested: attested even where the SubagentStart hook cannot fire (a contractor dispatched into a linked worktree, or a hookless harness) — the main session must never pass that flag on an inline run. The adaptive plan's finalize (<node>) Required Agent Compliance row is recorded main-session-direct (its in-plan sink bookkeeping is main-session-direct by the plan-run contract); that row neither requires nor replaces the contractor's delegation of mechanical finalization here. When the session legitimately runs the mechanical finalization inline (tooling unavailable), it records local-fallback-tool-unavailable with evidence and does NOT pass --attest-contractor-spawn; the resulting finalize_contractor_attested: missing plus the ATTESTATION WARNING is the truthful, expected, non-blocking outcome.

   Warning persistence: cmdFinalize also appends a ## Attestation section to the archived finalization-summary.md, recording both status fields plus any non-empty ATTESTATION WARNING verbatim — a clean-looking summary must never silently drop a warning that occurred; never remove or summarize this section away.

   Finalization recovery contract (tribal knowledge). Three recovery rules are binding, not optional lore: (1) sync order is worktree→main BEFORE the mirror — the worktree holds the complete ledger and the main copy is stale, so sync worktree→main first; the mirror only pushes Finalization artifacts INTO the worktree and must never overwrite a complete worktree ledger with a staler main copy (the Step-8a guard below enforces this — on a refusal, sync worktree→main, do not bypass it); (2) the machinery never authors the implementation commit — if it is missing at finalize, surface it and stop, do not cover for it; (3) after a sink-merge rebase detour, repair the MAIN checkout named in the failure's git -C <path> line, never cd the deleted worktree, and finish with --force-with-lease.

   Before mirroring artifacts, resolve the linked worktree and copy Finalization artifacts:

   # Artifact mirror: copy Finalization artifacts from main worktree to linked worktree.
   # Mirror MUST run after all Finalization artifact writes.
   _COORD_ROOT_RAW="$(git rev-parse --git-common-dir 2>/dev/null || echo ".git")"
   if [[ "$_COORD_ROOT_RAW" != /* ]]; then _COORD_ROOT_RAW="$(pwd)/$_COORD_ROOT_RAW"; fi
   ACTIVE_WORKTREE_PATH="$(pwd)"
   _WT="$(node -e "try{const fs=require('fs');const s=fs.readFileSync('kaola-workflow/' + process.env.KAOLA_PROJECT + '/workflow-state.md','utf8');const m=s.match(/^worktree_path:\\s*(.+)$/m);process.stdout.write(m?m[1].trim():'');}catch(e){}" 2>/dev/null)" || true
   [ -n "$_WT" ] && [ -d "$_WT" ] && ACTIVE_WORKTREE_PATH="$_WT"
   if [ "$ACTIVE_WORKTREE_PATH" != "$(pwd)" ]; then
     # ledger-regression guard. Refuse to copy a STALER main plan over a MORE-COMPLETE worktree
     # plan (which would reset a finished run's ledger complete->pending). FAIL-OPEN on the first sync.
     # The guard is forge-neutral (kaola-workflow-ledger-compare.js) but ships in this edition's tree.
     ledger_compare_script="plugins/kaola-workflow-gitlab/scripts/kaola-workflow-ledger-compare.js"
     if [ ! -f "$ledger_compare_script" ]; then
       ledger_compare_script="$(find "$HOME/.codex/plugins/cache" -path '*/kaola-workflow-gitlab/*/scripts/kaola-workflow-ledger-compare.js' -print -quit 2>/dev/null)"
     fi
     if [ -n "$ledger_compare_script" ] && ! node "$ledger_compare_script" \
         --source "kaola-workflow/${KAOLA_PROJECT}/workflow-plan.md" \
         --dest "$ACTIVE_WORKTREE_PATH/kaola-workflow/${KAOLA_PROJECT}/workflow-plan.md"; then
       echo "REFUSED: main copy staler than the worktree ledger; sync worktree->main FIRST" >&2
       exit 1
     fi
     mkdir -p "$ACTIVE_WORKTREE_PATH/kaola-workflow/${KAOLA_PROJECT}/"
     cp -R "kaola-workflow/${KAOLA_PROJECT}/." "$ACTIVE_WORKTREE_PATH/kaola-workflow/${KAOLA_PROJECT}/"
     git status --porcelain | while IFS= read -r line; do
       f="${line:3}"
       case "$f" in kaola-workflow/*) continue;; esac
       if [ -f "$(pwd)/$f" ]; then
         mkdir -p "$ACTIVE_WORKTREE_PATH/$(dirname "$f")"
         cp "$(pwd)/$f" "$ACTIVE_WORKTREE_PATH/$f"
       fi
     done
   fi
   

   Step 8b - Finalize (Archive + Status Close)

   This step runs only when sink: merge. For sink: mr or sink: pr, skip to the commit gate so sink-mr.js can write MR metadata into the active folder and watch-mr can archive it when the MR merges or closes.

   Capture sink metadata from the active state before archive. Do not read kaola-workflow/${KAOLA_PROJECT}/workflow-state.md again after this point on the merge path, because cmdFinalize renames it into archive/.

   claim_script="plugins/kaola-workflow-gitlab/scripts/kaola-gitlab-workflow-claim.js"
   if [ ! -f "$claim_script" ]; then
     claim_script="$(find "$HOME/.codex/plugins/cache" -path '*/kaola-workflow-gitlab/*/scripts/kaola-gitlab-workflow-claim.js' -print -quit 2>/dev/null)"
   fi
   SINK_STATE_FILE="kaola-workflow/${KAOLA_PROJECT}/workflow-state.md"
   SINK_KIND=$(awk '/^## Sink/,0' "$SINK_STATE_FILE" | grep '^sink:' | awk '{print $2}')
   SINK_KIND="${SINK_KIND:-merge}"
   SINK_BRANCH=$(grep '^branch:' "$SINK_STATE_FILE" | awk '{print $2}')
   SINK_ISSUE=$(grep '^issue_iid:' "$SINK_STATE_FILE" | awk '{print $2}')
   [ -z "$SINK_ISSUE" ] && SINK_ISSUE=$(grep '^issue_number:' "$SINK_STATE_FILE" | awk '{print $2}')
   SINK_ISSUE_FLAG=""
   [ -n "$SINK_ISSUE" ] && [ "$SINK_ISSUE" != "unset" ] && SINK_ISSUE_FLAG="--issue $SINK_ISSUE"
   SINK_ISSUE_NUMBERS=$(awk '/^## Sink/,0' "$SINK_STATE_FILE" | grep '^issue_numbers:' | awk '{print $2}')  # bundle members
   [ -z "$SINK_ISSUE_NUMBERS" ] && SINK_ISSUE_NUMBERS=$(grep '^issue_numbers:' "$SINK_STATE_FILE" | awk '{print $2}')
   SINK_ISSUE_NUMBERS_FLAG=""
   [ -n "$SINK_ISSUE_NUMBERS" ] && SINK_ISSUE_NUMBERS_FLAG="--issue-numbers $SINK_ISSUE_NUMBERS"
   # keep-open partial-close terminal — issue_action defaults to close when absent.
   SINK_ISSUE_ACTION=$(awk '/^## Sink/,0' "$SINK_STATE_FILE" | grep '^issue_action:' | awk '{print $2}')
   SINK_ISSUE_ACTION="${SINK_ISSUE_ACTION:-close}"
   SINK_KEEP_OPEN_FLAG=""
   [ "$SINK_ISSUE_ACTION" = "comment_keep_open" ] && SINK_KEEP_OPEN_FLAG="--keep-issue-open"
   if [ "$SINK_KIND" = "merge" ]; then
     (cd "$ACTIVE_WORKTREE_PATH" && node "$claim_script" finalize \
       --project "$KAOLA_PROJECT" \
       --keep-worktree $SINK_KEEP_OPEN_FLAG)
   fi
   

   Main-worktree cleanup is atomic. cmdFinalize now cleans up both the linked worktree's kaola-workflow/${KAOLA_PROJECT}/ AND the main repo's copy. After fs.renameSync archives the linked-worktree copy, archiveProjectDir compares mainRootFromCoord(getCoordRoot(root)) with root (both passed through fs.realpathSync to resolve symlinked tmpdirs). If they differ, the main repo's kaola-workflow/${KAOLA_PROJECT}/ is removed. When cwd resolves to the same directory as the git common-dir's parent (typically when KAOLA_WORKTREE_NATIVE=0, or when cmdFinalize is invoked manually from the main repo), the cleanup is a no-op because main root === caller root.

   When it runs, this atomically writes status: closed + step: complete to workflow-state.md and renames kaola-workflow/${KAOLA_PROJECT}/ → kaola-workflow/archive/${KAOLA_PROJECT}/ in the linked worktree. The rename is staged and committed in the commit gate below.

   sink-merge will refuse with exit 1 if kaola-workflow/${KAOLA_PROJECT}/workflow-state.md is still present on the branch HEAD when it runs; this is a safety guard that ensures finalize always precedes the merge.

   Before sink dispatch, stage only approved implementation, docs, roadmap, archive, and workflow artifacts for this project, then create the final conventional commit on the workflow branch:

   : "${ACTIVE_WORKTREE_PATH:=$(pwd)}"
   git -C "$ACTIVE_WORKTREE_PATH" status --short
   git -C "$ACTIVE_WORKTREE_PATH" add <approved-files-only>
   git -C "$ACTIVE_WORKTREE_PATH" commit -m "chore: finalize ${KAOLA_PROJECT}"
   git -C "$ACTIVE_WORKTREE_PATH" status --short
   

   If there is nothing to commit, verify and record that the branch already contains the final candidate commit. Do not run a sink with uncommitted final changes.

   After the commit gate, dispatch to the correct sink script using the sink metadata captured before archive:

   scripts_dir="$(dirname "$claim_script")"
   : "${SINK_BRANCH:?SINK_BRANCH must be captured before archive}"
   : "${SINK_KIND:=merge}"
   : "${SINK_ISSUE_FLAG:=}"
   : "${SINK_ISSUE_NUMBERS_FLAG:=}"
   : "${SINK_KEEP_OPEN_FLAG:=}"
   # keep-open is merge-sink-only — refuse an MR/PR sink before dispatch.
   if [ "$SINK_KIND" != "merge" ] && [ -n "$SINK_KEEP_OPEN_FLAG" ]; then
     echo "BLOCKED: issue_action: comment_keep_open is only supported on the merge sink. MR/PR sinks close via the merged MR; switch sink: merge or remove issue_action." >&2
     exit 1
   fi
   case "$SINK_KIND" in
     mr|pr)
       node "$scripts_dir/kaola-gitlab-workflow-sink-mr.js" --branch "$SINK_BRANCH" $SINK_ISSUE_FLAG --project "$KAOLA_PROJECT"
       ;;
     merge|*)
       node "$scripts_dir/kaola-gitlab-workflow-sink-merge.js" --branch "$SINK_BRANCH" $SINK_ISSUE_FLAG $SINK_ISSUE_NUMBERS_FLAG $SINK_KEEP_OPEN_FLAG --project "$KAOLA_PROJECT"
       _SINK_MERGE_EXIT=$?
       if [ "$_SINK_MERGE_EXIT" -eq 3 ]; then
         # keep-open is merge-sink-only — never auto-pivot to an MR sink (its Closes #N body
         # would close the kept-open issue; watch-mr would delete the preserved roadmap source).
         if [ -n "$SINK_KEEP_OPEN_FLAG" ]; then
           echo "BLOCKED: sink-merge exited 3 (merge-impossible) on a keep-open run. Keep-open is merge-sink-only: the MR fallback body closes the issue on merge and watch-mr would delete the preserved roadmap source. Remediate the merge blocker (see .cache/sink-fallback.json) and re-run sink-merge; do not pivot to an MR sink." >&2
           exit 1
         fi
         node "$scripts_dir/kaola-gitlab-workflow-claim.js" sink-fallback \
           --project "$KAOLA_PROJECT"
         node "$scripts_dir/kaola-gitlab-workflow-sink-mr.js" --branch "$SINK_BRANCH" $SINK_ISSUE_FLAG --project "$KAOLA_PROJECT"
         exit $?
       fi
       [ "$_SINK_MERGE_EXIT" -ne 0 ] && exit "$_SINK_MERGE_EXIT"
       ;;
   esac
   

   Script-owned worktree sink (--sink mode)

   When the branch carries a worktree run (recorded run_posture: worktree), use the --sink flag to replace the manual 8-step choreography:

   node "$scripts_dir/kaola-gitlab-workflow-sink-merge.js" \
     --branch "$SINK_BRANCH" $SINK_ISSUE_FLAG $SINK_ISSUE_NUMBERS_FLAG \
     $SINK_KEEP_OPEN_FLAG \
     --project "$KAOLA_PROJECT" \
     --sink --json
   

   --sink mode runs a single resumable transaction:

   1. Preflight — refuses sink_blocked with blocked_paths listing any foreign dirt; zero mutation on refusal. Auto-stashes the claim-time .roadmap/issue-N.md if present.
   2. Push branch — git push -u origin {branch} (creates upstream if absent)
   3. Rebase — rebases onto origin/main (--force-with-lease on branch)
   4. Test — runs npm test (four-chain gate for cross-edition diffs)
   5. FF-merge — fast-forward merges branch into main
   6. Push main — git push origin main
   7. Close issue — idempotent (probe-before-close)
   8. Archive — via cmdFinalize internals
   9. Cleanup — stash restore, remove worktree

   Co-tenant merge protocol. Each lane cleans up its own branch, worktree, and kaola-workflow/<project>/ folder ONLY AFTER its own merge lands — cleanup follows the merge, not the other way around. When two sessions run concurrently: the first finisher merges normally; the later finisher rebases onto the updated main and retries the fast-forward merge. A true content conflict halts and asks a human — it is NEVER auto-resolved. Do not clean up another session's branch, worktree, or project folder.

   Crash-resume: a step-receipt at kaola-workflow/{project}/.cache/sink-receipt.json tracks each step. Re-running the command after a crash resumes from the last incomplete step — no double-apply.

Sink result handling and closure-audit reconciliation sweep

Transactional catch (n1's sink_incomplete emit): when --sink --json returns result:"refuse" with reason:"sink_incomplete", the sink did NOT complete — do NOT treat it as success. Branch on step:

• step:"push_main" + push_main:"failed" — the merge landed locally but the remote was NOT advanced. The deliverable is not on the remote. Re-run --sink to resume (the receipt makes the push step idempotent). Resolve any remote fault first.
• step:"closure" + remote_issue_closed:"partial" + failed_issue_closures:[...] — the merge is on the remote but one or more issues could not be closed. Close the listed issues manually (glab issue close N) or resolve the forge fault, then re-run --sink.

In either case, the receipt preserves the partial state so --sink resumes from the incomplete step without double-applying completed steps.

Reconciliation sweep (defense-in-depth): after a successful sink, run closure-audit.js as the after-the-fact drift detector — it flags a closed issue still carrying workflow:in-progress, a stale roadmap source, or an un-archived merged-MR folder that escaped the inline catch.

node "$scripts_dir/kaola-gitlab-workflow-closure-audit.js"            # dry-run: JSON report (default)
# node "$scripts_dir/kaola-gitlab-workflow-closure-audit.js" --execute  # repair safe local drift

Dry-run (default) reports findings as JSON without mutating state. Pass --execute to repair safe local drift (stale .roadmap sources, ROADMAP rows, workflow:in-progress label on closed issues). It never deletes folders or worktrees.

Two-mechanism rationale: the inline sink_incomplete emit is the immediate transactional catch (fires at sink time, refuses the sinked status so the caller knows immediately). closure-audit is the periodic broad reconciliation sweep (runs after the fact, catches drift that the inline path cannot reach — e.g. a label left behind by a prior partial run or a folder not archived). Together they form the defense-in-depth complement: transactional catch + reconciliation sweep.

Summary File

Plain invoked is intentional for non-Codex-role workflow gates such as final validation, documentation docking, roadmap refresh, archive, and final commit; delegation vocabulary applies only to Codex role rows like doc-updater.

# Finalization - Summary: {project}

## Delivered
...

## Final Validation Evidence
command, result, evidence path

## Documentation Docking
DOCKED, .cache/doc-docking.md

## Required Agent Compliance
| Requirement | Status | Evidence | Skip Reason |
|-------------|--------|----------|-------------|
| final validation | invoked | .cache/final-validation.md | |
| doc-updater | subagent-invoked/local-fallback-explicit/local-fallback-tool-unavailable/N/A | .cache/doc-updater.md | reason if N/A |
| documentation docking | invoked | .cache/doc-docking.md | |
| roadmap refresh | invoked | kaola-workflow/ROADMAP.md | |
| archive completed folder | invoked | kaola-workflow/archive/{project} | |
| final commit and push | invoked | git status --short --branch | clean and synced |

sink-receipt.json / sink-fallback.json are transaction journals owned by the sink script — they exist on disk only for crash-resume, and a terminally successful sink deletes them itself. A "clean and synced" check that finds one afterwards (an older cycle's residue) must DELETE the file, never commit it; a journal is never part of the deliverable.

State remains in workflow-state.md until archive is complete.

Completion Contract

This skill closes exactly one issue. After issue #N is closed and the active folder is archived, the single-issue completion contract is satisfied. Stop and await explicit re-direction from the user. Do not auto-route into the next issue in line.