@productbrain/mcp 0.0.1-beta.5916 → 0.0.1-beta.5955

package/dist/{chunk-PTC2REQA.js → chunk-W3MF7EC3.js}

@@ -1072,7 +1072,8 @@ var batchCaptureRealOutputSchema = z3.object({
     // stays a draft) — the same path that now also emits coherencyRefusal. The strict schema must
     // accept it or a refused response fails to validate on `status` (codex review, completing the
     // coherencyRefusal contract fix).
-    status: z3.enum(["draft", "committed", "proposed", "draft_on_failure"]),
+    status: z3.enum(["draft", "committed", "proposed", "draft_on_failure", "draft_spine_floor"]),
+    spineFloor: z3.object({ relationType: z3.string(), parentKind: z3.string(), exempt: z3.boolean() }).optional(),
     classifiedBy: z3.enum(["llm", "heuristic", "explicit"]).optional(),
     confidence: z3.number().optional(),
     confidenceTier: z3.enum(["high", "medium", "low"]).optional(),
@@ -1096,6 +1097,7 @@ var batchCaptureRealOutputSchema = z3.object({
   committed: z3.number(),
   proposed: z3.number(),
   drafts: z3.number(),
+  spineFloored: z3.number().optional(),
   classified: z3.number().optional(),
   autoCommitApplied: z3.boolean(),
   skippedLowConfidence: z3.array(z3.object({
@@ -1554,6 +1556,8 @@ var groundingGovernanceEntrySchema = z4.object({
   collectionSlug: z4.string()
 });
 var groundingReportSchema = z4.object({
+  // TASK-156: null preserves uncertainty for unavailable checks or an older server response.
+  scanTruncated: z4.boolean().nullable(),
   related: z4.array(groundingRelatedEntrySchema),
   duplicates: z4.array(groundingDuplicateEntrySchema),
   governance: z4.array(groundingGovernanceEntrySchema)
@@ -1680,6 +1684,9 @@ function reconcileBatchPreviewDuplicate(tracker, args) {
   return null;
 }
 
+// src/lib/readinessNotices.ts
+var READINESS_PROVISIONAL_LINE = "Readiness is provisional: its sample omitted accepted entries. Counts are lower bounds, apparent gaps may already be covered, and the overall stage is unverified.";
+
 // src/tools/smart-capture.ts
 var GENERIC_PROFILE = {
   governedDraft: false,
@@ -1759,6 +1766,8 @@ function inferRelationType(_sourceCollection, _targetCollection, profile) {
 var AUTO_LINK_CONFIDENCE_THRESHOLD = 35;
 var MAX_AUTO_LINKS = 5;
 var MAX_SUGGESTIONS = 5;
+var SPINE_FLOOR_SENTENCE = "kept as a draft; it can be accepted once its spine above is accepted \u2014 the promote door checks the whole spine and names the first missing rung.";
+var SPINE_FLOOR_EXEMPT_SENTENCE = "kept as a draft, though this workspace is not yet enforcing the spine above it \u2014 it can be accepted as-is.";
 var BR_STD_ENTRY_ID_REGEX = /^(BR|STD)-\d+$/;
 var entryIdSchema = z5.string().regex(BR_STD_ENTRY_ID_REGEX).optional().describe("Only for business-rules and standards. Must match BR-NNN or STD-NNN. Omit for all other collections \u2014 IDs are auto-generated.");
 var captureSchema = z5.object({
@@ -2066,12 +2075,14 @@ var captureSuccessOutputSchema = z5.object({
   entryId: z5.string(),
   collection: z5.string(),
   name: z5.string(),
-  // "draft_on_failure" is emitted when an auto-commit is REFUSED/failed (stays a draft) — the
-  // same path that also emits coherencyRefusal; the strict schema must accept it or fail.
-  status: z5.enum(["draft", "committed", "proposed", "draft_on_failure"]),
+  // Single captures report the persisted draft; batch captures distinguish the draft reason.
+  status: z5.enum(["draft", "committed", "proposed", "draft_on_failure", "draft_spine_floor"]),
   // WP-480 S1: `qualityScore` (required, client N/10) deleted — a named, accepted
   // breaking output-contract change. The server verdict stays as `qualityVerdict`.
   qualityVerdict: z5.record(z5.unknown()).optional(),
+  qualityHints: z5.array(z5.record(z5.unknown())).optional(),
+  relationSuggestions: z5.array(z5.record(z5.unknown())).optional(),
+  groundingReport: captureSinglePreviewOutputSchema.shape.groundingReport.optional(),
   classifier: captureClassifierSchema.optional(),
   studioUrl: z5.string().optional(),
   warnings: z5.array(z5.string()).optional(),
@@ -2089,6 +2100,8 @@ var captureSuccessOutputSchema = z5.object({
     slug: z5.string(),
     status: z5.literal("proposal-pending")
   }).optional(),
+  // TASK-160: the server's birth-floor verdict must survive the strict output contract.
+  spineFloor: z5.object({ relationType: z5.string(), parentKind: z5.string(), exempt: z5.boolean() }).optional(),
   // WP-465 surface parity: structured coherency refusal when an auto-commit is gate-refused.
   // Loose record — the CoherencyRefusal contract is authored in
   // convex/lib/gates/coherencyControls.ts; re-declaring it here would be a second SSOT.
@@ -2178,7 +2191,7 @@ function registerSmartCaptureTools(server) {
     "capture",
     {
       title: "Capture",
-      description: "The tool for creating knowledge entries \u2014 single or batch. Two actions:\n\n- **capture**: Create a single entry. Creates an entry, auto-links related entries, and returns a quality scorecard \u2014 all in one call. Provide a name and description; `collection` is optional \u2014 the classifier auto-routes when omitted.\n- **batch**: Create multiple entries in one call via `items[]` (absorbs batch-capture). Each item may carry inline `relations` created right after that entry is captured.\n\n**action=capture details:**\nSupported collections with smart profiles: tensions, business-rules, glossary, decisions, features, audiences, strategy, standards, chains, insights, principles.\nAll other collections get an ENT-{random} ID and sensible defaults.\n\n**Explicit data:** When you know the schema, pass `data: { field: value }` to set fields directly. Top-level `name` and `description` always win for those fields. `data` wins over inference for all other fields.\n\n**Compound capture:** Pass `links` to create relations in the same call (skips auto-link discovery). In Open mode, entries commit by default when `autoCommit` is omitted. Pass `autoCommit: true` to promote the entry from draft to SSOT immediately after linking when you want to be explicit. Governed collections (glossary, business-rules, principles, standards, strategy, features, architecture) will warn but still commit \u2014 use only when you're certain.\n\nEntries are created as `draft` first, then may publish immediately depending on governance and `autoCommit`. Use `entries action=update` for post-creation adjustments.",
+      description: "The tool for creating knowledge entries \u2014 single or batch. Two actions:\n\n- **capture**: Create a single entry. Creates an entry, auto-links related entries, and returns a quality scorecard \u2014 all in one call. Provide a name and description; `collection` is optional \u2014 the classifier auto-routes when omitted.\n- **batch**: Create multiple entries in one call via `items[]` (absorbs batch-capture). Each item may carry inline `relations` created right after that entry is captured.\n\n**action=capture details:**\nSupported collections with smart profiles: tensions, business-rules, glossary, decisions, features, audiences, strategy, standards, chains, insights, principles.\nAll other collections get an ENT-{random} ID and sensible defaults.\n\n**Explicit data:** When you know the schema, pass `data: { field: value }` to set fields directly. Top-level `name` and `description` always win for those fields. `data` wins over inference for all other fields.\n\n**Compound capture:** Pass `links` to create relations in the same call (skips auto-link discovery). In Open mode, entries commit by default when `autoCommit` is omitted. Pass `autoCommit: true` to promote the entry from draft to SSOT immediately after linking when you want to be explicit. Governed collections (glossary, business-rules, principles, standards, strategy, features, architecture) will warn but still commit \u2014 use only when you're certain. An objective, key result or work package is always born draft first \u2014 `autoCommit: true` has no effect on that first birth even with a complete spine; commit it explicitly afterward.\n\nEntries are created as `draft` first, then may publish immediately depending on governance and `autoCommit`. Use `entries action=update` for post-creation adjustments.",
       inputSchema: captureCompoundSchema,
       annotations: { readOnlyHint: false, destructiveHint: false, openWorldHint: false }
     },
@@ -2265,9 +2278,8 @@ async function handleCapture(server, { collection, name, description, context, e
     };
   }
   const profile = await getProfile(resolvedCollection);
-  const skipAutoDiscoveryEarly = links && links.length > 0;
   const groundingStart = Date.now();
-  const groundingPromise = !skipAutoDiscoveryEarly && (name || description) ? kernelQuery("chain.suggestLinksForCapture", {
+  const groundingPromise = name || description ? kernelQuery("chain.suggestLinksForCapture", {
     entries: [{ name, description: description ?? "", collectionHint: resolvedCollection }],
     limit: 5,
     threshold: 2
@@ -2286,6 +2298,8 @@ async function handleCapture(server, { collection, name, description, context, e
     collectionSlug: g.collectionSlug
   }));
   const groundingReport = {
+    // null preserves uncertainty for unavailable checks or an older server response.
+    scanTruncated: typeof groundingEntry?.scanTruncated === "boolean" ? groundingEntry.scanTruncated : null,
     related: groundingRelated.map((r) => ({
       entryId: r.entryId,
       name: r.name,
@@ -2303,9 +2317,10 @@ async function handleCapture(server, { collection, name, description, context, e
     })),
     governance: groundingGovernance
   };
+  const groundingCaveat = !groundingEntry ? "Grounding could not be completed; duplicate presence is unknown. Review existing entries before creating another." : groundingReport.scanTruncated !== false ? "Grounding covered a bounded sample; completeness is unverified and additional matching entries may exist. Review existing entries before creating another." : "";
   if (suggestOnly) {
     const hasSuggestions = groundingReport.related.length > 0 || groundingReport.duplicates.length > 0;
-    const summaryText = hasSuggestions ? `Grounding preview for "${name}": ${groundingReport.related.length} related, ${groundingReport.duplicates.length} possible duplicates. No entry created.` : `Grounding preview for "${name}": no similar entries found. Safe to capture.`;
+    const summaryText = hasSuggestions ? `Grounding preview for "${name}": ${groundingReport.related.length} related, ${groundingReport.duplicates.length} possible duplicates. No entry created.` : groundingEntry ? `Grounding preview for "${name}": no similar entries found in this check. No entry created.` : `Grounding preview for "${name}": duplicate check unavailable. No entry created.`;
     return {
       content: [{
         type: "text",
@@ -2313,7 +2328,9 @@ async function handleCapture(server, { collection, name, description, context, e
 
 ${summaryText}
 
-` + (groundingReport.related.length > 0 ? `## Related entries
+` + (groundingCaveat ? `${groundingCaveat}
+
+` : "") + (groundingReport.related.length > 0 ? `## Related entries
 ${groundingReport.related.map((r) => `- **${r.entryId}** ${r.name} [${r.collectionSlug}] \u2014 ${r.reasoning}`).join("\n")}
 
 ` : "") + (groundingReport.duplicates.length > 0 ? `## Possible duplicates
@@ -2420,6 +2437,7 @@ ${groundingReport.governance.map((g) => `- **${g.entryId}** ${g.name} [${g.colle
   let authorityDomainFromCreate;
   let coachingFromCreate;
   let wasAutoCommittedServerSide = false;
+  let spineFloor;
   try {
     const result2 = await kernelMutation("chain.createEntry", {
       collectionSlug: resolvedCollection,
@@ -2527,6 +2545,7 @@ No DB writes \u2014 call without \`preview:true\` to capture for real.${result2.
     if (created.status === "active") {
       wasAutoCommittedServerSide = true;
     }
+    spineFloor = created.spineFloor;
   } catch (error) {
     const msg = error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error);
     if (isGatewayTimeout(error)) return buildCaptureOutcomeUnknownResult(error, name, msg);
@@ -2569,7 +2588,7 @@ Use \`entries action=get\` to inspect the existing entry, or \`entries action=up
   const linksSuggested = [];
   const userLinkResults = [];
   const advisedLinks = [];
-  let conflictCandidates = [];
+  const conflictCandidates = groundingReport.duplicates.filter((candidate) => candidate.matchType === "possible_duplicate" && candidate.entryId !== finalEntryId).slice(0, 3).map((candidate) => ({ entryId: candidate.entryId, name: candidate.name, collection: candidate.collectionSlug }));
   const pendingRelations = [];
   const skipAutoDiscovery = links && links.length > 0;
   const searchQuery = extractSearchTerms(name, description);
@@ -2646,7 +2665,6 @@ Use \`entries action=get\` to inspect the existing entry, or \`entries action=up
       const reason = c.confidence >= AUTO_LINK_CONFIDENCE_THRESHOLD ? "high relevance (already linked)" : `"${c.name.toLowerCase().split(/\s+/).filter((w) => `${name} ${description}`.toLowerCase().includes(w) && w.length > 3).slice(0, 2).join('", "')}" appears in content`;
       linksSuggested.push({ entryId: c.entryId, name: c.name, collection: c.collSlug, reason, preview: c.preview });
     }
-    conflictCandidates = candidates.filter((c) => c.entryId && c.entryId !== finalEntryId).slice(0, 3).map((c) => ({ entryId: c.entryId, name: c.name, collection: c.collSlug }));
   }
   if (links && links.length > 0 && finalEntryId) {
     for (const link of links) {
@@ -2678,8 +2696,8 @@ Use \`entries action=get\` to inspect the existing entry, or \`entries action=up
     entryWarnings.push(`Auto-linking partially failed: ${err instanceof Error ? err.message : "unknown error"}`);
     return null;
   }) : Promise.resolve(null);
-  const cardinalityPromise = resolvedCK ? kernelQuery("chain.checkCardinalityWarning", { canonicalKey: resolvedCK }).catch(() => null) : Promise.resolve(null);
-  const contradictionPromise = runContradictionCheck(name, description);
+  const cardinalityPromise = resolvedCK ? kernelQuery("chain.checkCardinalityWarning", { canonicalKey: resolvedCK, excludeEntryId: internalId }).catch(() => null) : Promise.resolve(null);
+  const contradictionPromise = runContradictionCheck(name, description, finalEntryId, internalId);
   const coachingPromise = coachingFromCreate !== void 0 ? Promise.resolve(coachingFromCreate) : kernelMutation("quality.evaluateHeuristicAndSchedule", {
     entryId: finalEntryId,
     context: "capture"
@@ -2768,14 +2786,7 @@ Use \`entries action=get\` to inspect the existing entry, or \`entries action=up
     }
   }
   const freshGovernanceMode = await refreshWorkspaceGovernanceMode();
-  const shouldAutoCommit = shouldAutoCommitCapture(autoCommit, freshGovernanceMode);
-  if (shouldAutoCommit && finalEntryId && conflictCandidates.length === 0) {
-    try {
-      const conflictResults = await kernelQuery("chain.searchEntries", { query: name });
-      conflictCandidates = (conflictResults ?? []).filter((r) => r.entryId && r.entryId !== finalEntryId && r._id !== internalId).slice(0, 3).map((r) => ({ entryId: r.entryId, name: r.name, collection: r.collectionSlug ?? "unknown" }));
-    } catch {
-    }
-  }
+  const shouldAutoCommit = !spineFloor && shouldAutoCommitCapture(autoCommit, freshGovernanceMode);
   let finalStatus = "draft";
   let commitError = null;
   let commitRefusal = null;
@@ -2906,6 +2917,11 @@ Use \`entries action=get\` to inspect the existing entry, or \`entries action=up
     } else {
       lines.push(`Error: ${commitError}. Entry saved as draft \u2014 use \`entries action=commit entryId="${finalEntryId}"\` to promote when ready.`);
     }
+  } else if (spineFloor) {
+    lines.push("");
+    lines.push("## Saved as draft");
+    lines.push(`**${name}** ${spineFloor.exempt ? SPINE_FLOOR_EXEMPT_SENTENCE : SPINE_FLOOR_SENTENCE}`);
+    lines.push(`Next: \`entries action=commit entryId="${finalEntryId}"\`.`);
   }
   if (shouldAutoCommit && conflictCandidates.length > 0) {
     lines.push("");
@@ -2925,6 +2941,7 @@ Use \`entries action=get\` to inspect the existing entry, or \`entries action=up
       lines.push(`${i + 1}. **${s.entryId ?? "(no ID)"}**: ${s.name} [${s.collection}]${preview2}`);
     }
   }
+  if (groundingCaveat) lines.push("", groundingCaveat);
   if (format === "human") {
     const hasDuplicates = groundingReport.duplicates.length > 0;
     const hasRelated = groundingReport.related.length > 0;
@@ -2962,11 +2979,11 @@ Use \`entries action=get\` to inspect the existing entry, or \`entries action=up
     for (const rs of relationSuggestionsFromCreate) {
       lines.push(`- **${rs.relationType}** \u2192 ${rs.targetEntryId} "${rs.targetName}" (confidence: ${rs.confidence})`);
     }
-    lines.push(`_Create with: \`relations action=create fromId="${finalEntryId}" toId="TARGET-ID" type="TYPE"\`_`);
+    lines.push(`_Create with: \`relations action=create from="${finalEntryId}" to="TARGET-ID" type="TYPE"\`_`);
   }
   if (authorityDomainFromCreate) {
     lines.push("");
-    lines.push(`domain: ${authorityDomainFromCreate.slug} (proposal pending \u2014 ratify at session close)`);
+    lines.push(`domain: ${authorityDomainFromCreate.slug} (proposal pending \u2014 closing the session does not ratify it. A workspace owner or admin can review it with \`pb authority-domains review\` before deciding whether to ratify.)`);
   }
   if (formativeHints.length > 0) {
     trackCaptureQualityHints(wsCtx.workspaceId, {
@@ -3001,11 +3018,11 @@ Use \`entries action=get\` to inspect the existing entry, or \`entries action=up
   }
   if (contradictionWarnings.length > 0) {
     lines.push("");
-    lines.push("\u26A0 Contradiction check: proposed entry matched existing governance entries:");
+    lines.push("\u26A0 Contradiction check: captured entry matched existing governance entries:");
     for (const w of contradictionWarnings) {
       lines.push(`- ${w.name} (${w.collection}, ${w.entryId}) \u2014 has 'governs' relation to ${w.governsCount} entries`);
     }
-    lines.push("Run `context action=gather` on these entries before accepting.");
+    lines.push("Review the matched governance entries and reconcile any actual conflict.");
   }
   if (entryWarnings.length > 0) {
     lines.push("");
@@ -3043,7 +3060,9 @@ Use \`entries action=get\` to inspect the existing entry, or \`entries action=up
   }
   try {
     const readiness = await kernelQuery("chain.workspaceReadiness");
-    if (readiness && readiness.gaps && readiness.gaps.length > 0) {
+    if (readiness?.sampleTruncated) {
+      lines.push("", `## Workspace Readiness: ${readiness.score}% (provisional sample)`, READINESS_PROVISIONAL_LINE);
+    } else if (readiness && readiness.gaps && readiness.gaps.length > 0) {
       const topGaps = readiness.gaps.slice(0, 2);
       lines.push("");
       lines.push(`## Workspace Readiness: ${readiness.score}%`);
@@ -3126,6 +3145,8 @@ Use \`entries action=get\` to inspect the existing entry, or \`entries action=up
           relationSuggestions: relationSuggestionsFromCreate,
           // TEN-2365: capture-time authority-domain proposal (PENDING ratification), when filed.
           ...authorityDomainFromCreate && { authorityDomain: authorityDomainFromCreate },
+          // WP-745 TASK-160 (PR #901 review): the machine-readable projection — was reaching the human text only.
+          ...spineFloor && { spineFloor },
           // WP-318 S2: Pre-write grounding report — always included (empty arrays when no suggestions)
           groundingReport
         },
@@ -3145,7 +3166,8 @@ async function handleBatchCapture(server, { entries, autoCommit, preview }) {
   const createdBy = agentId ? `agent:${agentId}` : "capture";
   const wsCtx = await getWorkspaceContext();
   const freshGovernanceModeForBatch = await refreshWorkspaceGovernanceMode();
-  const autoCommitApplied = shouldAutoCommitCapture(autoCommit, freshGovernanceModeForBatch);
+  const shouldAutoCommitBatch = shouldAutoCommitCapture(autoCommit, freshGovernanceModeForBatch);
+  let autoCommitApplied = false;
   const needsClassification = entries.map((e, i) => ({ ...e, index: i })).filter((e) => !e.collection);
   let classificationMap = /* @__PURE__ */ new Map();
   if (needsClassification.length > 0) {
@@ -3399,11 +3421,13 @@ async function handleBatchCapture(server, { entries, autoCommit, preview }) {
       ];
       if (!preview) resolveGapsForEntry(entry.name, result2.entryId);
       const batchWasAutoCommittedServerSide = result2.status === "active";
-      let finalStatus = batchWasAutoCommittedServerSide ? "committed" : "draft";
+      const batchSpineFloor = result2.spineFloor;
+      let finalStatus = batchWasAutoCommittedServerSide ? "committed" : batchSpineFloor ? "draft_spine_floor" : "draft";
       let commitError;
       let commitRefusal;
       let contradictionAdvisory;
       if (batchWasAutoCommittedServerSide) {
+        if (!preview) autoCommitApplied = true;
         await recordSessionActivity({ entryModified: internalId });
         trackChainEntryCommitted(wsCtx.workspaceId, {
           entry_id: finalEntryId,
@@ -3498,9 +3522,10 @@ async function handleBatchCapture(server, { entries, autoCommit, preview }) {
           if (relationsProposedCount > 0) {
             batchEntryWarnings.push(`${relationsProposedCount} inline relation(s) converted to an agent proposal (misuse pattern) \u2014 review in Cortex UI.`);
           }
-          if (!preview && autoCommitApplied && !batchWasAutoCommittedServerSide) {
+          if (!preview && shouldAutoCommitBatch && !batchWasAutoCommittedServerSide && !batchSpineFloor) {
             try {
               const semanticConflicts = await discoverSemanticConflicts(entry.name, entry.description, resolvedSlug);
+              autoCommitApplied = true;
               const commitResult = await kernelMutation("chain.commitEntry", {
                 entryId: finalEntryId,
                 author: agentId ? `agent:${agentId}` : void 0,
@@ -3555,6 +3580,8 @@ async function handleBatchCapture(server, { entries, autoCommit, preview }) {
             ...commitError ? { commitError } : {},
             // WP-465 surface parity: thread full refusal payload for coherency-refused batch entries.
             ...commitRefusal ? { commitRefusal } : {},
+            ...batchSpineFloor ? { spineFloor: batchSpineFloor } : {},
+            // WP-745 TASK-160: read by the render below.
             // WP-485 Slice 2b (R2, FEAT-1370): the server's contradiction advisory (DEC-1321 —
             // advisory only, never blocking) — visible, never a silent success.
             ...contradictionAdvisory ? { contradictionAdvisory } : {},
@@ -3594,6 +3621,7 @@ async function handleBatchCapture(server, { entries, autoCommit, preview }) {
   const proposed = created.filter((r) => r.status === "proposed");
   const drafts = created.filter((r) => r.status === "draft");
   const commitFailed = created.filter((r) => r.status === "draft_on_failure");
+  const spineFloored = created.filter((r) => r.status === "draft_spine_floor");
   const classifiedCount = created.filter((r) => r.classifiedBy && r.classifiedBy !== "explicit").length;
   await server.sendLoggingMessage({
     level: "info",
@@ -3621,8 +3649,9 @@ async function handleBatchCapture(server, { entries, autoCommit, preview }) {
   }
   if (created.length > 0) {
     const commitFailedSegment = commitFailed.length > 0 ? `, ${commitFailed.length} commit-failed` : "";
+    const spineFloorSegment = spineFloored.length > 0 ? `, ${spineFloored.length} spine-floored` : "";
     lines.push(
-      `**Statuses:** ${committed.length} committed, ${proposed.length} proposed, ${drafts.length} draft${commitFailedSegment}.`
+      `**Statuses:** ${committed.length} committed, ${proposed.length} proposed, ${drafts.length} draft${spineFloorSegment}${commitFailedSegment}.`
     );
     lines.push("");
   }
@@ -3666,11 +3695,13 @@ _Use \`entries action=move\` to correct any misclassified entries._`);
     lines.push("");
     lines.push("_Re-capture these with an explicit `collection` or use the suggested collection._");
   }
-  if (commitFailed.length > 0) {
+  if (commitFailed.length > 0 || spineFloored.length > 0) {
     lines.push("");
     lines.push("## Saved as draft");
-    for (const r of commitFailed) {
-      if (r.commitRefusal) {
+    for (const r of [...spineFloored, ...commitFailed]) {
+      if (r.spineFloor) {
+        lines.push(`- **${r.entryId}**: ${r.name} [${r.collection}] \u2014 ${r.spineFloor.exempt ? SPINE_FLOOR_EXEMPT_SENTENCE : SPINE_FLOOR_SENTENCE} Next: \`entries action=commit entryId="${r.entryId}"\`.`);
+      } else if (r.commitRefusal) {
         lines.push(`- **${r.entryId}**: ${r.name} [${r.collection}]`);
         const refusalText = coherencyRefusedResult("batch-capture", r.entryId ?? "", r.commitRefusal, { headingLevel: 3 }).content[0].text;
         lines.push(...refusalText.split("\n"));
@@ -3694,10 +3725,10 @@ _Use \`entries action=move\` to correct any misclassified entries._`);
     const entriesWithOverlaps = created.filter((r) => r.overlapCount && r.overlapCount > 0);
     if (entriesWithOverlaps.length > 0) {
       lines.push("");
-      lines.push("## Potential Overlaps");
-      lines.push(`${entriesWithOverlaps.length} ${entriesWithOverlaps.length === 1 ? "entry has" : "entries have"} similar existing entries. Consider reviewing for duplicates:`);
+      lines.push("## Related-entry Suggestions");
+      lines.push(`${entriesWithOverlaps.length} ${entriesWithOverlaps.length === 1 ? "entry has" : "entries have"} link candidates. Review their relevance before linking:`);
       for (const r of entriesWithOverlaps) {
-        lines.push(`- **${r.entryId}**: ${r.name} \u2014 ${r.overlapCount} similar ${r.overlapCount === 1 ? "entry" : "entries"}`);
+        lines.push(`- **${r.entryId}**: ${r.name} \u2014 ${r.overlapCount} link ${r.overlapCount === 1 ? "candidate" : "candidates"}`);
       }
     }
   }
@@ -3739,8 +3770,9 @@ _Use \`entries action=move\` to correct any misclassified entries._`);
   const skippedNote = skippedLowConfidence.length > 0 ? `, ${skippedLowConfidence.length} skipped (low confidence)` : "";
   const classifiedNote = classifiedCount > 0 ? `, ${classifiedCount} auto-classified` : "";
   const commitFailedNote = commitFailed.length > 0 ? `, ${commitFailed.length} commit-failed` : "";
-  const summary = failed.length > 0 || unknownOutcomeEntries.length > 0 || skippedLowConfidence.length > 0 || commitFailed.length > 0 ? `Batch captured ${created.length}/${entries.length} entries (${failed.length} failed${unknownOutcomeSummaryNote(unknownOutcomeEntries)}${skippedNote}, ${committed.length} committed, ${proposed.length} proposed, ${drafts.length} draft${commitFailedNote}${classifiedNote}).` : `Batch captured ${created.length} entries successfully (${committed.length} committed, ${proposed.length} proposed, ${drafts.length} draft${classifiedNote}).`;
-  const firstDraft = drafts[0];
+  const spineFloorNote = spineFloored.length > 0 ? `, ${spineFloored.length} spine-floored` : "";
+  const summary = failed.length > 0 || unknownOutcomeEntries.length > 0 || skippedLowConfidence.length > 0 || commitFailed.length > 0 || spineFloored.length > 0 ? `Batch captured ${created.length}/${entries.length} entries (${failed.length} failed${unknownOutcomeSummaryNote(unknownOutcomeEntries)}${skippedNote}, ${committed.length} committed, ${proposed.length} proposed, ${drafts.length} draft${spineFloorNote}${commitFailedNote}${classifiedNote}).` : `Batch captured ${created.length} entries successfully (${committed.length} committed, ${proposed.length} proposed, ${drafts.length} draft${classifiedNote}).`;
+  const firstDraft = drafts[0] ?? spineFloored[0] ?? commitFailed[0];
   const next = [];
   if (created.length > 0) {
     next.push({ tool: "relations", description: "Discover connections", parameters: { action: "suggest", entryId: created[0].entryId } });
@@ -3776,6 +3808,8 @@ _Use \`entries action=move\` to correct any misclassified entries._`);
             ...r.commitError ? { commitError: r.commitError } : {},
             // WP-465 surface parity: thread full refusal payload into batch structured output.
             ...r.commitRefusal ? { coherencyRefusal: r.commitRefusal } : {},
+            ...r.spineFloor ? { spineFloor: r.spineFloor } : {},
+            // WP-745 TASK-160: the projection a machine consumer receives; was human-render only (Copilot review, PR #901).
             ...r.authorityDomain ? { domain: r.authorityDomain.slug } : {},
             // TEN-957 (WP-484 S2): inline relations created for this entry.
             ...r.relationsCreated ? { relationsCreated: r.relationsCreated } : {},
@@ -3792,6 +3826,7 @@ _Use \`entries action=move\` to correct any misclassified entries._`);
           proposed: proposed.length,
           drafts: drafts.length,
           ...commitFailed.length > 0 ? { commitFailed: commitFailed.length } : {},
+          ...spineFloored.length > 0 ? { spineFloored: spineFloored.length } : {},
           ...classifiedCount > 0 ? { classified: classifiedCount } : {},
           autoCommitApplied,
           ...skippedLowConfidence.length > 0 && {
@@ -3865,7 +3900,7 @@ async function recordCommitFailure({
     }
   }
 }
-async function runContradictionCheck(name, description) {
+async function runContradictionCheck(name, description, excludeEntryId, excludeDocId) {
   const warnings = [];
   try {
     const keyTerms = tokenizeText(`${name} ${description}`).filter((w) => w.length >= 4 && !STOP_WORDS.has(w)).slice(0, 8);
@@ -3875,7 +3910,13 @@ async function runContradictionCheck(name, description) {
       kernelQuery("chain.searchEntries", { query: searchQuery, collectionSlug: "business-rules" }),
       kernelQuery("chain.searchEntries", { query: searchQuery, collectionSlug: "architecture" })
     ]);
-    const allGov = [...govResults ?? [], ...archResults ?? []].slice(0, 5);
+    const seen = /* @__PURE__ */ new Set();
+    const allGov = [...govResults ?? [], ...archResults ?? []].filter((entry) => {
+      const id = entry.entryId ?? entry._id;
+      if (!id || excludeEntryId && entry.entryId === excludeEntryId || excludeDocId && entry._id === excludeDocId || seen.has(id)) return false;
+      seen.add(id);
+      return true;
+    }).slice(0, 5);
     for (const entry of allGov) {
       const entryTokens = new Set(tokenizeText(`${entry.name} ${entry.data?.description ?? ""}`));
       const matched = keyTerms.filter((t) => entryTokens.has(t));
@@ -4859,7 +4900,7 @@ var entriesSchema = z10.object({
   entryIds: z10.array(z10.string().max(200)).min(1).max(20).optional().describe("Entry IDs for 'batch', e.g. ['TYPE-strategy', 'STR-jljeg7']"),
   collection: z10.string().max(200).optional().describe("Collection slug \u2014 for 'list'/'search': scope filter, e.g. 'glossary', 'tracking-events'. For 'preflight': the collection the entry would be composed into (required)."),
   status: entriesStatusFilterSchema.optional().describe(
-    "For 'list': one lifecycle value (draft|active|accepted|deprecated|archived; active/accepted are the same trust level). For 'search': one value OR an array of up to 5 (e.g. ['active','accepted']). For 'update': draft|active|deprecated|archived ONLY \u2014 'accepted' is set via 'commit', never 'update'. Workflow values use `workflowStatus` instead."
+    "For 'list': defaults to accepted entries (active/accepted); use status='draft' to discover drafts. One lifecycle value (draft|active|accepted|deprecated|archived). For 'search': one value OR an array of up to 5 (e.g. ['active','accepted']). For 'update': draft|active|deprecated|archived ONLY \u2014 'accepted' is set via 'commit', never 'update'. Workflow values use `workflowStatus` instead."
   ),
   tag: z10.string().max(200).optional().describe("For 'list': filter by internal tag."),
   label: z10.string().max(200).optional().describe("For 'list': filter by label slug \u2014 matches entries across all collections."),
@@ -4943,7 +4984,7 @@ var entriesActionUnion = z10.discriminatedUnion("action", [
 ]);
 var ENTRIES_ACTION_SPECS = {
   preflight: { params: ["collection", "canonicalKey", "links"], description: "Inspect structure before composition; no writes or permission grant." },
-  list: { params: ["collection", "status", "tag", "label"], description: "Browse entries; all params optional." },
+  list: { params: ["collection", "status", "tag", "label"], description: "Browse accepted entries by default; status='draft' lists drafts. All params optional." },
   get: { params: ["entryId"], description: "Fetch one entry by ID." },
   batch: { params: ["entryIds"], description: "Fetch up to 20 entries by ID." },
   search: { params: ["query", "collection", "status"], description: "Full-text search; query is required (min 2 chars)." },
@@ -5337,7 +5378,7 @@ async function handleBatch(entryIds) {
 async function handleList(collection, status2, tag, label) {
   let entries;
   if (label) {
-    entries = await kernelQuery("chain.listEntriesByLabel", { labelSlug: label });
+    entries = await kernelQuery("chain.listEntriesByLabel", { labelSlug: label, acceptedOnly: !status2 });
     if (status2) {
       entries = entries.filter((e) => e.status === status2);
     }
@@ -5349,10 +5390,11 @@ async function handleList(collection, status2, tag, label) {
     });
   }
   if (entries.length === 0) {
+    const emptyMessage = `No entries match the given filters.${!status2 ? " Default list scope is accepted entries (active/accepted); use status='draft' to discover drafts." : ` Status filter: ${status2}.`}`;
     return {
-      content: [{ type: "text", text: "No entries match the given filters." }],
+      content: [{ type: "text", text: emptyMessage }],
       structuredContent: success(
-        "No entries match the given filters.",
+        emptyMessage,
         { entries: [], total: 0 },
         [{ tool: "collections", description: "List collections", parameters: { action: "list" } }]
       )
@@ -7210,8 +7252,9 @@ function formatSteeringBrief(result2) {
   lines.push(`${delta.newEntries.length} new entries since last steering brief${delta.truncated ? " (TRUNCATED)" : ""}`);
   lines.push("");
   lines.push("## Workspace Readiness");
-  lines.push(`Score: **${readiness.score}%** (${readiness.passedChecks}/${readiness.totalChecks} checks passed)`);
-  if (readiness.gaps.length > 0) {
+  lines.push(`Score: **${readiness.score}%**${readiness.sampleTruncated ? " (provisional sample)" : ""} (${readiness.passedChecks}/${readiness.totalChecks} checks passed)`);
+  if (readiness.sampleTruncated) lines.push(READINESS_PROVISIONAL_LINE);
+  if (!readiness.sampleTruncated && readiness.gaps.length > 0) {
     lines.push("");
     lines.push("**Gaps:**");
     for (const gap of readiness.gaps.slice(0, 5)) {
@@ -7228,7 +7271,7 @@ function formatSteeringBrief(result2) {
   return {
     content: [{ type: "text", text: lines.join("\n") }],
     structuredContent: success(
-      `Steering brief: ${changes.entries.length} changes, ${delta.newEntries.length} new entries, ${readiness.score}% readiness.`,
+      `Steering brief: ${changes.entries.length} changes, ${delta.newEntries.length} new entries, ${readiness.score}% readiness${readiness.sampleTruncated ? " (provisional sample; gaps unverified)" : ""}.`,
       { ...result2, trustFilterActive: true }
     )
   };
@@ -8745,19 +8788,30 @@ function sanitizeSingleLineField(str) {
 }
 
 // src/tools/orient-rituals.ts
+var SPINE_UNAVAILABLE_LINE = "Spine check: unavailable \u2014 orient fetch failed, retry `orient`";
 function buildRitualsSurfaceLines(view, opts) {
   const lines = [""];
   if (opts?.fetchFailed) {
     lines.push("Direction: unavailable \u2014 orient fetch failed, retry `orient`");
-    lines.push("Spine check: unavailable \u2014 orient fetch failed, retry `orient`");
+    lines.push(SPINE_UNAVAILABLE_LINE);
     return lines;
   }
   lines.push(view?.directionLine ?? "Direction: not computed yet \u2014 `pb direction refresh`");
   if (view?.verdictAskLine) lines.push(view.verdictAskLine);
-  lines.push(view?.spineLine ?? "Spine check: not computed yet \u2014 `pb quality spine-check`");
+  if (view?.spineLine) lines.push(view.spineLine);
   if (view?.atCapLine) lines.push(view.atCapLine);
   return lines;
 }
+async function fetchAndRenderSetupSpineLine(kernelQuery2) {
+  try {
+    const view = await kernelQuery2("chain.getRitualsSurface", {
+      now: Math.floor(Date.now() / 6e4) * 6e4
+    });
+    return view?.spineLine ? [view.spineLine] : [];
+  } catch {
+    return [SPINE_UNAVAILABLE_LINE];
+  }
+}
 function toSafeCodeSpan(text) {
   const longestBacktickRun = (text.match(/`+/g) ?? []).reduce((max, run) => Math.max(max, run.length), 0);
   const fence = "`".repeat(longestBacktickRun + 1);
@@ -9096,15 +9150,18 @@ function pickNextTensionPrompt(openTensions) {
     cta: "Want to discuss this tension or capture a decision about it?"
   };
 }
-async function buildSetupResponse(agentSessionId) {
+async function buildSetupResponse(agentSessionId, sampleTruncated) {
   await kernelMutation(
     "setup.stampMcpOnlySurface",
     {}
   );
   const skill = await loadSkillBody(PB_SETUP_SKILL_ENTRY_ID);
   const { oriented, orientationStatus } = await tryMarkOriented(agentSessionId);
+  const spineLines = await fetchAndRenderSetupSpineLine(kernelQuery);
   return {
-    text: skill.body,
+    text: `${skill.body}${spineLines.length > 0 ? `
+${spineLines.join("\n")}` : ""}${sampleTruncated ? `
+${READINESS_PROVISIONAL_LINE} Reuse existing knowledge when following setup.` : ""}`,
     structuredContent: success(
       `pb-setup ready. Delivering SKILL-pb-setup body (${skill.body.length} chars).`,
       {
@@ -9112,9 +9169,11 @@ async function buildSetupResponse(agentSessionId) {
         skillEntryId: skill.entryId,
         skillBody: skill.body,
         stage: "setup",
+        sampleTruncated,
         oriented,
         orientationStatus,
         ...agentSessionId ? { sessionId: agentSessionId } : {},
+        ...spineLines[0] !== void 0 ? { spineLine: spineLines[0] } : {},
         instructions: "Read skillBody and follow it; use entries/orient MCP tools per PAT-227."
       }
     )
@@ -9149,8 +9208,9 @@ async function buildOrientResponse(wsCtx, agentSessionId, errors, task) {
     errors.push(`Readiness: ${e instanceof Error ? e.message : String(e)}`);
   }
   const lines = [];
-  const isLowReadiness = readiness !== null && readiness.score < 50;
-  const isHighReadiness = readiness !== null && readiness.score >= 50;
+  const isLowReadiness = readiness !== null && !readiness.sampleTruncated && readiness.score < 50;
+  if (readiness?.sampleTruncated) lines.push(READINESS_PROVISIONAL_LINE, "");
+  const showExistingContext = readiness !== null && (readiness.sampleTruncated || readiness.score >= 50);
   const stage = readiness?.stage ?? null;
   const captureBehaviorNote = wsCtx.governanceMode === "open" ? "_In Open mode, user-authored captures are accepted immediately unless you ask me to keep them as drafts._" : "_Everything I capture stays pending until you confirm._";
   const coherence = await buildCoherenceSection();
@@ -9208,9 +9268,9 @@ async function buildOrientResponse(wsCtx, agentSessionId, errors, task) {
         lines.push("");
       }
     }
-    lines.push("_Need a collection that doesn't exist yet? Just ask \u2014 I'll set it up._");
+    lines.push("_Need a collection that doesn't exist yet? Creating one is not available through this tool. Ask a platform admin to provision it, or enable the module ontology pack that owns it._");
     lines.push("");
-  } else if (isHighReadiness) {
+  } else if (showExistingContext) {
     let activeBets = [];
     try {
       const betsEntries = await kernelQuery("chain.listEntries", { collectionSlug: "work-packages" });
@@ -9276,7 +9336,7 @@ async function buildOrientResponse(wsCtx, agentSessionId, errors, task) {
         const committedCollections = new Set(committed.map((e) => e.collectionId));
         if (committed.length >= 10 && committedCollections.size >= 3) {
           lines.push("");
-          lines.push(`_${committed.length} entries across ${committedCollections.size} collections on the Chain._`);
+          lines.push(`_Context sample: ${committed.length} accepted/active entries across ${committedCollections.size} collections._`);
         }
       } catch {
       }
@@ -9328,13 +9388,13 @@ async function buildOrientResponse(wsCtx, agentSessionId, errors, task) {
     lines.push("");
   }
   const { oriented, orientationStatus } = await tryMarkOriented(agentSessionId, coherence?.snapshot ?? void 0);
-  const stageLabel = stage ?? "active";
+  const stageLabel = `${stage ?? "active"}${readiness?.sampleTruncated ? " (provisional sample)" : ""}`;
   const gapCount = readiness?.gaps?.length ?? 0;
   const summaryParts = [`Product Brain ready. Stage: ${stageLabel}.`];
-  if (gapCount > 0) summaryParts.push(`${gapCount} gap${gapCount === 1 ? "" : "s"}.`);
+  if (gapCount > 0) summaryParts.push(`${gapCount} ${readiness?.sampleTruncated ? "potential " : ""}gap${gapCount === 1 ? "" : "s"}${readiness?.sampleTruncated ? " in sampled entries; absence unverified" : ""}.`);
   if (openTensions.length > 0) summaryParts.push(`${openTensions.length} open tension${openTensions.length === 1 ? "" : "s"}.`);
   const next = [];
-  if (gapCount > 0) {
+  if (gapCount > 0 && !readiness?.sampleTruncated) {
     next.push({ tool: "capture", description: "Fill a gap", parameters: {} });
   }
   if (openTensions.length > 0) {
@@ -9346,6 +9406,7 @@ async function buildOrientResponse(wsCtx, agentSessionId, errors, task) {
       summaryParts.join(" "),
       {
         stage,
+        sampleTruncated: readiness?.sampleTruncated ?? null,
         readinessScore: readiness?.score ?? null,
         totalGaps: gapCount,
         openTensions: openTensions.length,
@@ -9381,14 +9442,16 @@ async function handleStartPb({ task }) {
     };
   }
   let stage = null;
+  let sampleTruncated = false;
   try {
     const readiness = await kernelQuery("chain.workspaceReadiness");
     stage = readiness?.stage ?? "blank";
+    sampleTruncated = readiness?.sampleTruncated === true;
   } catch {
     errors.push("Readiness check unavailable \u2014 showing workspace summary.");
   }
   if (stage === "blank" || stage === "seeded") {
-    const result2 = await buildSetupResponse(agentSessionId);
+    const result2 = await buildSetupResponse(agentSessionId, sampleTruncated);
     return {
       content: textContent(`${result2.text}
 
@@ -9396,7 +9459,7 @@ ${FEEDBACK_SUBMIT_HINT}`),
       structuredContent: result2.structuredContent
     };
   }
-  if (stage === "grounded" || stage === "connected") {
+  if (!sampleTruncated && (stage === "grounded" || stage === "connected")) {
     void kernelMutation("chain.setOnboardingCompleted", {}).catch(() => {
     });
   }
@@ -9701,16 +9764,17 @@ async function _handleOrient({ mode = "full", tier, task, scope, startupSignals,
   } catch (e) {
     errors.push(`Readiness: ${e instanceof Error ? e.message : String(e)}`);
   }
-  if (readiness?.stage === "blank") {
+  const sampleTruncated = readiness?.sampleTruncated === true || orientView?.sampleTruncated === true;
+  if (readiness?.stage === "blank" && !sampleTruncated) {
     const scanLines = [
       `# Welcome to ${wsCtx?.workspaceName ?? "your workspace"}`,
       "",
-      "Your workspace is fresh \u2014 let's set it up.",
+      "No accepted user-authored entries were found; drafts may already exist.",
       "",
-      "**Recommended:** call the `start` tool instead of `orient` for the best first-run experience.",
-      "It will guide you through setting up your workspace \u2014 you can tell me about your product, scan your codebase, or use a preset.",
+      "For your current task, follow the spine guidance below: discover and reuse existing knowledge before creating anything.",
+      "Capture only what the task needs, inspect its returned status, and read it back. Accept it only if it remains a draft; already accepted or committed entries need no extra acceptance.",
       "",
-      "Or tell me about your product and I'll start capturing knowledge directly."
+      "Full onboarding is optional: call `orient action=start` if you want guided workspace setup. If you already ran setup, continue your task without restarting it."
     ];
     scanLines.push(...buildRitualsSurfaceLines(orientView, { fetchFailed: orientFetchFailed || orientView?.fetchFailed === true }));
     let oriented = false;
@@ -9728,16 +9792,17 @@ async function _handleOrient({ mode = "full", tier, task, scope, startupSignals,
     const blankResult = {
       content: [{ type: "text", text: scanLines.join("\n") }],
       structuredContent: success(
-        "Workspace is blank. Use `orient action=start` for guided setup.",
-        { stage: "blank", readinessScore: readiness?.score ?? 0, oriented, orientationStatus: orientationStatus2, redirectHint: "Use `orient action=start` for the full guided setup experience." },
-        [{ tool: "orient", description: "Guided workspace setup", parameters: { action: "start" } }]
+        "No accepted user-authored entries found. Follow the spine guidance for your task; full onboarding is optional.",
+        { stage: "blank", readinessScore: readiness?.score ?? 0, oriented, orientationStatus: orientationStatus2, redirectHint: "Optional full onboarding: `orient action=start`. Continue an existing task using the spine guidance." },
+        task ? [] : [{ tool: "orient", description: "Optional full workspace onboarding", parameters: { action: "start" } }]
       )
     };
     reportOrientWrapperBytes(blankResult, false, resolvedTier, taskMeaningful);
     return blankResult;
   }
-  const lines = [];
-  const isLowReadiness = readiness && readiness.score < 50;
+  const lines = sampleTruncated ? [READINESS_PROVISIONAL_LINE, ""] : [];
+  const isLowReadiness = !sampleTruncated && readiness && readiness.score < 50;
+  const stageQualifier = sampleTruncated ? " (provisional sample)" : "";
   if (wsCtx) {
     lines.push(`# ${wsCtx.workspaceName}`);
     lines.push(`_Workspace \`${wsCtx.workspaceSlug}\` \u2014 Product Brain is healthy._`);
@@ -9757,7 +9822,7 @@ async function _handleOrient({ mode = "full", tier, task, scope, startupSignals,
   }
   if (mode === "brief") {
     const briefStage = readiness?.stage ?? (readiness?.score != null ? readiness.score < 50 ? "seeded" : "grounded" : "unknown");
-    lines.push(`Brain stage: ${briefStage}`);
+    lines.push(`Brain stage: ${briefStage}${stageQualifier}`);
     lines.push(...buildDirectionLines(orientView));
     if (orientView?.strategicContext) {
       const sc = orientView.strategicContext;
@@ -9821,12 +9886,12 @@ async function _handleOrient({ mode = "full", tier, task, scope, startupSignals,
       lines.push("");
       lines.push(...briefWna);
     }
-    const briefGaps = readiness?.gaps ?? [];
+    const briefGaps = sampleTruncated ? [] : readiness?.gaps ?? [];
     if (briefGaps.length > 0) {
       const oneLiner = formatGapOneLiner(briefGaps[0]);
       if (oneLiner) lines.push(oneLiner);
     }
-    const briefClassificationGaps = briefGaps.filter((g) => g.id?.startsWith?.(PURPOSE_GAP_PREFIX));
+    const briefClassificationGaps = (readiness?.gaps ?? []).filter((g) => g.id?.startsWith?.(PURPOSE_GAP_PREFIX));
     if (briefClassificationGaps.length > 0) {
       lines.push(`${briefClassificationGaps.length} collection(s) with weak purpose \u2014 classification may be inaccurate.`);
     }
@@ -9912,10 +9977,11 @@ async function _handleOrient({ mode = "full", tier, task, scope, startupSignals,
     const briefResult = {
       content: [{ type: "text", text: lines.join("\n") }],
       structuredContent: success(
-        `Oriented (brief). Stage: ${readiness?.stage ?? "unknown"}.`,
+        `Oriented (brief). Stage: ${readiness?.stage ?? "unknown"}${stageQualifier}.`,
         {
           mode: "brief",
           stage: readiness?.stage ?? "unknown",
+          sampleTruncated,
           oriented: hasTaskGrounding ? isSessionOriented() : false,
           sessionId: agentSessionId,
           taskGroundingStatus: hasTaskGrounding ? "task_scoped" : task ? "missing_task_context" : "workspace_only",
@@ -9955,7 +10021,7 @@ async function _handleOrient({ mode = "full", tier, task, scope, startupSignals,
   if (isLowReadiness && wsCtx?.createdAt) {
     const ageDays = Math.floor((Date.now() - wsCtx.createdAt) / (1e3 * 60 * 60 * 24));
     if (ageDays >= 30) {
-      lines.push(`Your workspace has been around for ${ageDays} days and is still at the **${orientStage}** stage.`);
+      lines.push(`Your workspace has been around for ${ageDays} days and is still at the **${orientStage}${stageQualifier}** stage.`);
       lines.push("Let's close the gaps \u2014 or if the current structure doesn't fit, we can reshape it.");
       lines.push("");
     }
@@ -9986,7 +10052,7 @@ async function _handleOrient({ mode = "full", tier, task, scope, startupSignals,
         lines.push("");
       }
     }
-    lines.push("_Need a collection that doesn't exist yet? Just ask \u2014 I'll set it up._");
+    lines.push("_Need a collection that doesn't exist yet? Creating one is not available through this tool. Ask a platform admin to provision it, or enable the module ontology pack that owns it._");
     lines.push("");
   } else if (readiness) {
     const fmt = (e) => {
@@ -10006,7 +10072,7 @@ async function _handleOrient({ mode = "full", tier, task, scope, startupSignals,
       fullCoherenceSnapshot = fullCoherence.snapshot ?? void 0;
     }
     if (task) {
-      lines.push(`**Brain stage: ${orientStage}.** Working on: **${task}**`);
+      lines.push(`**Brain stage: ${orientStage}${stageQualifier}.** Working on: **${task}**`);
       lines.push("");
       lines.push(...buildDirectionLines(orientView));
       if (orientView?.strategicContext) {
@@ -10233,7 +10299,7 @@ async function _handleOrient({ mode = "full", tier, task, scope, startupSignals,
         lines.push(...formatRecoveryBlock(recoveryBlock));
       }
     } else {
-      lines.push(`**Brain stage: ${orientStage}.**`);
+      lines.push(`**Brain stage: ${orientStage}${stageQualifier}.**`);
       lines.push("");
       const scNoTaskLines = buildDirectionLines(orientView);
       if (scNoTaskLines.length > 0) lines.push(...scNoTaskLines, "");
@@ -10349,10 +10415,11 @@ async function _handleOrient({ mode = "full", tier, task, scope, startupSignals,
   const fullResult = {
     content: [{ type: "text", text: lines.join("\n") }],
     structuredContent: success(
-      `Oriented (full). Stage: ${orientStage}. ${isLowReadiness ? "Low readiness \u2014 gaps remain." : "Ready."}`,
+      `Oriented (full). Stage: ${orientStage}${stageQualifier}. ${sampleTruncated ? "Provisional readiness sample." : isLowReadiness ? "Low readiness \u2014 gaps remain." : "Ready."}`,
       {
         mode: "full",
         stage: orientStage,
+        sampleTruncated,
         oriented: hasTaskGrounding ? isSessionOriented() : false,
         sessionId: agentSessionId,
         taskGroundingStatus: hasTaskGrounding ? "task_scoped" : task ? "missing_task_context" : "workspace_only",
@@ -12194,6 +12261,51 @@ async function handleAuditRun(entryId, phase) {
   };
 }
 
+// src/lib/spineVerdictRead.ts
+function isRecord(value) {
+  return typeof value === "object" && value !== null && !Array.isArray(value);
+}
+function isStringArray(value) {
+  return Array.isArray(value) && value.every((item) => typeof item === "string");
+}
+function isStructural(value) {
+  if (!isRecord(value) || typeof value.passed !== "boolean" || !isStringArray(value.missing) || !isRecord(value.duplicateSingletons) || !isStringArray(value.unconnectedStrategyIds) || value.visionConnectedToPurpose !== null && typeof value.visionConnectedToPurpose !== "boolean") return false;
+  for (const key of ["purpose", "vision"]) {
+    const ids = value.duplicateSingletons[key];
+    if (ids !== null && !isStringArray(ids)) return false;
+  }
+  for (const key of [
+    "strategiesWithUnknownConnectivity",
+    "unconnectedObjectiveIds",
+    "objectivesWithUnknownConnectivity",
+    "unconnectedKeyResultIds",
+    "keyResultsWithUnknownConnectivity"
+  ]) {
+    if (value[key] != null && !isStringArray(value[key])) return false;
+  }
+  return value.visionPurposeConnectivityTruncated === void 0 || typeof value.visionPurposeConnectivityTruncated === "boolean";
+}
+function isStrategy(value) {
+  if (!isRecord(value) || typeof value.entryId !== "string" || !isRecord(value.refusal) || typeof value.refusal.hasRefusalSignal !== "boolean") return false;
+  return value.rogerMartin === null || isRecord(value.rogerMartin) && typeof value.rogerMartin.isStrategicChoice === "boolean" && typeof value.rogerMartin.reasoning === "string";
+}
+function isStory(value) {
+  return value === null || isRecord(value) && typeof value.passed === "boolean" && (value.failedCriterion === null || typeof value.failedCriterion === "string") && Array.isArray(value.criteria) && value.criteria.every((item) => isRecord(item) && typeof item.id === "string" && typeof item.passed === "boolean" && typeof item.reasoning === "string");
+}
+function readSpineVerdict(value) {
+  if (!isRecord(value) || typeof value.noSpineEntries !== "boolean") return { kind: "malformed" };
+  if (value.noSpineEntries) return { kind: "empty" };
+  if (!isStructural(value.structural) || !Array.isArray(value.perStrategy) || !value.perStrategy.every(isStrategy) || !isStory(value.story)) return { kind: "malformed" };
+  for (const key of ["strategiesTruncated", "perStrategyEvaluationTruncated", "objectivesTruncated", "keyResultsTruncated"]) {
+    if (value[key] !== void 0 && typeof value[key] !== "boolean") return { kind: "malformed" };
+  }
+  return { kind: "graded", verdict: value };
+}
+function describeSpineStaleness(changedMemberCount, membershipTruncated = false) {
+  const reason = changedMemberCount > 0 ? `${membershipTruncated ? "at least " : ""}${changedMemberCount} entr${changedMemberCount === 1 ? "y" : "ies"} changed or joined/left the spine since this was computed` : "freshness could not be verified; the changed-entry count is unknown";
+  return reason + (membershipTruncated ? "; membership scan incomplete" : "");
+}
+
 // src/tools/spine-check.ts
 async function handleSpineCheck(story, refresh = false) {
   const scheduleResult = await kernelMutation(
@@ -12203,26 +12315,59 @@ async function handleSpineCheck(story, refresh = false) {
   const row = await kernelQuery("quality.getLatestSpineVerdict", {});
   const stillRunning = scheduleResult.scheduled;
   if (!row) {
-    const text = stillRunning ? "Spine check started \u2014 no prior result exists yet. It runs asynchronously (LLM calls can take 25s+ each); re-run this in a few seconds to read the result." : "No spine check has been run yet, and none is currently running. Pass refresh:true to start one.";
+    const text = stillRunning ? "Spine check started \u2014 no prior result exists yet. It runs asynchronously (LLM calls can take 25s+ each); re-run this in a few seconds to read the result." : scheduleResult.reason === "already-in-flight" ? "A spine check is already running \u2014 no prior result exists yet. Re-run quality action=spine-check in a few seconds to read its result." : "No spine check has been run yet, and none is currently running. Pass refresh:true to start one.";
+    return {
+      content: [{ type: "text", text }],
+      structuredContent: success(text, {
+        hasVerdict: false,
+        checkStarted: stillRunning,
+        stillRunning: stillRunning || scheduleResult.reason === "already-in-flight"
+      })
+    };
+  }
+  const parsed = readSpineVerdict(row.verdict);
+  const freshnessData = { stale: row.stale, staleMemberIds: row.staleMemberIds, membershipTruncated: row.membershipTruncated ?? false };
+  const staleReason = describeSpineStaleness(row.staleMemberIds.length, row.membershipTruncated);
+  if (parsed.kind === "empty") {
+    const pending = stillRunning || scheduleResult.reason === "already-in-flight";
+    const freshness = (row.stale ? ` Stale: ${staleReason}.` : "") + (pending ? " A check is running; re-run quality action=spine-check in a few seconds to read its result." : row.stale ? " Run quality action=spine-check refresh=true to refresh it." : "");
+    const text = `The last spine check found no accepted purpose, vision or strategy.${freshness}`;
     return {
       content: [{ type: "text", text }],
-      structuredContent: success(text, { hasVerdict: false, checkStarted: stillRunning })
+      structuredContent: success(text, {
+        hasVerdict: true,
+        noSpineEntries: true,
+        ...freshnessData,
+        stillRunning: pending,
+        scheduled: scheduleResult.scheduled,
+        scheduleReason: scheduleResult.reason
+      })
     };
   }
-  const { verdict } = row;
-  if (verdict.noSpineEntries) {
+  if (parsed.kind === "malformed") {
+    const pending = stillRunning || scheduleResult.reason === "already-in-flight";
+    const text = `Stored spine verdict is malformed \u2014 ${pending ? "a check is running; re-run quality action=spine-check in a few seconds to read its result." : "run quality action=spine-check refresh=true to replace it."}`;
     return {
-      content: [{ type: "text", text: "No spine entries yet \u2014 nothing to check." }],
-      structuredContent: success("No spine entries yet.", { hasVerdict: true, noSpineEntries: true })
+      content: [{ type: "text", text }],
+      structuredContent: success(text, {
+        hasVerdict: true,
+        malformed: true,
+        ...freshnessData,
+        scheduled: scheduleResult.scheduled,
+        stillRunning: pending,
+        scheduleReason: scheduleResult.reason
+      })
     };
   }
+  const { verdict } = parsed;
   const lines = ["## Spine Check"];
   if (stillRunning) {
     lines.push(`> A new check was just triggered and is still running asynchronously \u2014 the result below is from the PREVIOUS run (${new Date(row.createdAt).toISOString()}). Re-run in a few seconds for the fresh result.`, "");
   } else if (scheduleResult.reason === "already-in-flight") {
     lines.push(`> A check is already running (started earlier, not by this call) \u2014 showing the best available result (${new Date(row.createdAt).toISOString()}). Re-run in a few seconds.`, "");
-  } else if (row.stale) {
-    lines.push(`> STALE \u2014 ${row.staleMemberIds.length} member entry(ies) changed since this was computed. Pass refresh:true to recompute.`, "");
+  }
+  if (row.stale) {
+    lines.push(`> STALE \u2014 ${staleReason}.${stillRunning || scheduleResult.reason === "already-in-flight" ? "" : " Pass refresh:true to recompute."}`, "");
   }
   const s = verdict.structural;
   lines.push(`Structural completeness: ${s.passed ? "PASS" : "FAIL"}`);
@@ -12249,7 +12394,7 @@ async function handleSpineCheck(story, refresh = false) {
     lines.push("", `One-story judgment [unvalidated, on-demand]: ${verdict.story.passed ? "PASS" : "FAIL"}`);
     if (!verdict.story.passed && verdict.story.failedCriterion) lines.push(`Failed criterion: ${verdict.story.failedCriterion}`);
   } else if (row.includesStoryPass) {
-    lines.push("", "One-story judgment: requested, but the LLM pass did not return a usable result (timeout or parse failure). Pass refresh:true to retry \u2014 a plain re-run will not reschedule it.");
+    lines.push("", "One-story judgment: requested, but the LLM pass did not return a usable result (timeout or parse failure). Run quality action=spine-check story=true refresh=true to retry \u2014 a plain re-run will not reschedule it.");
   } else {
     lines.push("", "One-story judgment: not run this pass \u2014 pass story=true to run it.");
   }
@@ -12262,7 +12407,7 @@ async function handleSpineCheck(story, refresh = false) {
         noSpineEntries: false,
         structuralPassed: s.passed,
         storyPassed: verdict.story?.passed ?? null,
-        stale: row.stale,
+        ...freshnessData,
         stillRunning,
         scheduled: scheduleResult.scheduled,
         scheduleReason: scheduleResult.reason
@@ -12351,7 +12496,12 @@ var qualitySpineCheckOutputSchema = z24.object({
   noSpineEntries: z24.boolean().optional(),
   structuralPassed: z24.boolean().optional(),
   storyPassed: z24.boolean().nullable().optional(),
-  stale: z24.boolean().optional()
+  stale: z24.boolean().optional(),
+  // TASK-156: a capped membership scan must stay distinguishable from a complete one, and a
+  // malformed verdict needs its own discriminator — both were silently stripped before this.
+  staleMemberIds: z24.array(z24.string()).optional(),
+  membershipTruncated: z24.boolean().optional(),
+  malformed: z24.boolean().optional()
 });
 function registerQualityTools(server) {
   const qualityHandlers = {
@@ -14629,8 +14779,8 @@ async function handleWorkspaceStatus() {
   const { score, totalChecks, passedChecks, checks, gaps, stats, governanceMode } = result2;
   const scoringVersion = result2.scoringVersion ?? "v1";
   const stage = result2.stage ?? "seeded";
-  const stageLabel = STAGE_LABELS[stage] ?? stage;
-  const stageDescription = STAGE_DESCRIPTIONS[stage] ?? "";
+  const stageLabel = `${STAGE_LABELS[stage] ?? stage}${result2.sampleTruncated ? " (provisional sample)" : ""}`;
+  const stageDescription = result2.sampleTruncated ? READINESS_PROVISIONAL_LINE : STAGE_DESCRIPTIONS[stage] ?? "";
   const scoreBar = "\u2588".repeat(Math.round(score / 10)) + "\u2591".repeat(10 - Math.round(score / 10));
   const lines = [
     `# Brain Status: ${stageLabel}`,
@@ -14639,14 +14789,14 @@ async function handleWorkspaceStatus() {
     `${scoreBar} ${stageLabel} \xB7 ${score}%`,
     `**Governance:** ${governanceMode ?? "open"}${(governanceMode ?? "open") !== "open" ? " (accepts require proposal)" : ""}`,
     "",
-    "## Stats",
-    `- **Entries:** ${stats.totalEntries} (${stats.activeCount} active, ${stats.draftCount} draft)`,
+    "## Sampled counts",
+    `- **Entries:** ${stats.totalEntries} (${stats.activeCount} accepted/active, ${stats.draftCount} draft)`,
     `- **Relations:** ${stats.totalRelations}`,
     `- **Collections:** ${stats.collectionCount}`,
     `- **Orphaned:** ${stats.orphanedCount} committed entries with no relations`,
     ""
   ];
-  if (gaps.length > 0) {
+  if (gaps.length > 0 && !result2.sampleTruncated) {
     lines.push("## Gaps");
     for (const gap of gaps) {
       const action = gap.capabilityGuidance ?? gap.guidance;
@@ -14657,7 +14807,7 @@ async function handleWorkspaceStatus() {
   }
   const passed = checks.filter((c) => c.passed);
   if (passed.length > 0) {
-    lines.push("## Passing checks");
+    lines.push(result2.sampleTruncated ? "## Checks observed in the provisional sample" : "## Passing checks");
     for (const check of passed) {
       lines.push(`- [x] ${check.label} (${check.current}/${check.required})`);
     }
@@ -14671,6 +14821,7 @@ async function handleWorkspaceStatus() {
   }
   const statusData = {
     stage,
+    sampleTruncated: result2.sampleTruncated ?? null,
     scoringVersion,
     readinessScore: score,
     activeEntries: stats.activeCount,
@@ -14679,14 +14830,14 @@ async function handleWorkspaceStatus() {
     gaps: gaps.map((g) => ({
       id: g.id,
       label: g.label,
-      guidance: g.capabilityGuidance ?? g.guidance
+      guidance: result2.sampleTruncated ? "Unverified gap in sampled entries. Review existing knowledge before adding more." : g.capabilityGuidance ?? g.guidance
     })),
     ...orgHealth && { organisationHealth: orgHealth }
   };
   return {
     content: [{ type: "text", text: lines.join("\n") }],
     structuredContent: success(
-      `Brain: ${stageLabel} (${score}%). ${stats.activeCount} active entries, ${gaps.length} gap(s).`,
+      `Brain: ${stageLabel} (${score}%). ${stats.activeCount} accepted/active entries in the sample, ${gaps.length} ${result2.sampleTruncated ? "potential gap(s); absence unverified" : "gap(s)"}.`,
       statusData
     )
   };
@@ -14747,6 +14898,7 @@ var organisationHealthSchema = z29.object({
 });
 var healthStatusOutputSchema = z29.object({
   stage: z29.enum(["blank", "seeded", "grounded", "connected"]).optional().default("seeded"),
+  sampleTruncated: z29.boolean().nullable().optional(),
   scoringVersion: z29.enum(["v1", "v2"]).optional().default("v1"),
   readinessScore: z29.number(),
   activeEntries: z29.number(),
@@ -16941,4 +17093,4 @@ export {
   createProductBrainServer,
   initFeatureFlags
 };
-//# sourceMappingURL=chunk-PTC2REQA.js.map
+//# sourceMappingURL=chunk-W3MF7EC3.js.map